Hong Kong: Security law maintains order, safety

Hong Kong ranking sixth in terms of order and security in the 2022 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index is sufficient proof of the important role of the National Security Law in maintaining the city's order and security, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said today.

In response to media enquiries, the Hong Kong SAR Government noted that the overall ranking of Hong Kong remains high in the index, attaining the sixth in East Asia and the Pacific, and the 22nd out of 140 countries and jurisdictions worldwide.

It pointed out that such a position is higher than some western countries that often unreasonably criticise Hong Kongs rule of law and human rights situation.

Moreover, Hong Kong reaching sixth in terms of order and security proves that the National Security Law has not only restored order from chaos and strengthened the rule of law, but also earned recognition in the international community.

Additionally, Hong Kong's ranking of ninth in the world in terms of absence of corruption is a testament to the effectiveness of the city's anti-corruption work and its culture of probity.

The Hong Kong SAR Government also said it believes that the slight adjustment of Hong Kong's ranking in some aspects is possibly due to the lack of an accurate and overall understanding of the city's real situation.

It stated that it will step up its efforts in explaining Hong Kong's situation to ensure that others have a correct understanding of the system in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong SAR Government underscored that it totally disagrees with the opinions made by a relevant person as reported by the media, saying the content of which, if true, only reflects the lack of understanding of Hong Kong's real situation by that person.

In fact, since the city's reunification with the motherland, the Hong Kong SAR Government explained that it has been firmly committed to safeguarding the rights and freedoms of the people, both of which are protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights. The courts of the Hong Kong SAR have also been exercising their judicial power independently in accordance with the law.

Noting that Hong Kong has become safer, more stable and better protected in all aspects after the implementation of the National Security Law, the Hong Kong SAR Government emphasised that countries around the world take threat to national security seriously and China is no exception.

Under the National Security Law, the Chief Executive appoints a list of designated judges to handle cases concerning national security, while the assignment of judges to handle particular cases remains the sole responsibility of the Judiciary.

The system of designated judges under the National Security Law does not in any way affect the independence of the Judiciary, the Hong Kong SAR Government stressed.

As the court noted in the Tong Ying-kit case, no reasonable, fair-minded and well-informed observer would think that a designated judge is or may be no longer independent of the Government, it added.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
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Soon after Diwali, people especially 'poorvanchalis' start preparing for the Chhath Puja. This ancient Hindu Vedic festival is mainly celebrated in Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern Uttar Pradesh in India and Nepal. Also referred to as Surya Shashti, Chhath, Mahaparv, Chhath Parv, Dala Puja, Pratihar and Dala Chhath, the four-day-long festival is dedicated to the deity Surya and Shashthi Devi. As part of the ritual, women fast for the well-being of their sons and the happiness of their families. They also offer Arghya to Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. Chhath Puja 2022 date The four-day festival starts on October 28, which is a Friday, with the main day and the last day of the puja, being celebrated on October 31, which is falling on Monday. On each day, people observe the Chhath and follow rigorous rituals. As per Drik Panchang, sunrise on Chhath Puja will be at 06:43 am, and sunset will happen at 06:03 pm. The Shashthi tithi begins at 05:49 am on October 30 and ends at 03:27 am on October 31. Chhath Puja History and significance Chhath is performed to seek blessings from the Sun God for a healthy, happy, and prosperous life. It is believed that sunlight has cure for various diseases and conditions. It has a healing effect that can benefit ill people. Taking a dip in the holy river also has certain medicinal benefits. The main purpose of Chhath Puja is to help the Vrattis gain mental purity and mental and physical power. The festival requires maintaining utmost cleanliness. Chhath Puja rituals Chhath Puja is celebrated by people by following different rituals. The first day of Chhath Puja is known as Kaddu Bhaat or Nahai Khai. On this day the parvaitin (the main worshiper who observes fast) cooks the Satvik Kaddu Bhaat along with pulse and serves it as a bhog to the deity in the afternoon. The second day of Chhath Puja is known as Kharana. On this day, the parvaitin cooks roti and rice kheer and serves it as a bhog to the 'Chandradevta' (Moon God). A full day fast without water is observed on the third main day of Chhath Puja. The main ritual of the day is to offer Arghya to the setting Sun. On the fourth and final day of Chhath, Dusri Arghya is given to the rising Sun and it is known as Usha Arghya. The 36 hours long fast is broken after giving Arghya to the Sun. Wish you all a Happy Chhath Puja! (ANI)
Union Minister of State Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that National Education Policy (NEP-2020) aims at de-linking degree from education and livelihood opportunities. Addressing the students and the youth at Krishna Mahavidyalaya at Thakurdwar in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, Dr Jitendra Singh said, NEP-2020 also supplements Start-Up ecosystem with the promise to open new career and entrepreneurship opportunities for students and youth in India. Dr Jitendra Singh said NEP- 2020 introduced by Prime Minister Modi will reorient India's Education Policy as per global benchmarks. Describing it as the biggest path-breaking reform in India since independence, the Minister said, the new policy is not only progressive and visionary but is also in keeping with the emerging needs and requirements of 21st century India. He said it gives due priority to the inherent talent, knowledge, skill and aptitude of the students, rather than focusing only on degrees. On the occasion, Singh said that linking degrees with education has taken a heavy toll on our education system and society as well and one of the fall-outs has been an increasing number of educated unemployed. The Minister said NEP-2020 is having provisions for multiple entry/exit options thus providing academic flexibility to the students. He said this will have a positive impact on the students related to the availing of different career opportunities at different times, depending upon their intrinsic learning and inherent aptitude. Referring to Skill India Mission, Dr Jitendra Singh urged the students to imbibe multiple skills to be successful in life as there are ample examples to show that those equipped with the latest skills are doing wonders in the world today. Dr Jitendra Singh also urged the students and the youth to explore livelihood opportunities in the booming Start-up sector in the country. He informed the gathering that only in August this year, the Uttar Pradesh government injected Rs 4,000 crore into the state's start-up corpus for employment generation and economic activity. The fresh infusion of capital has been made to constitute the maiden 'UP Innovation Fund' that will be mandated to provide seed capital to start-ups. Dr Jitendra Singh gave full credit to the futuristic vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had given a call for Start-Up India, Stand-Up India in 2015, which led to a mass interest, as a result of which the number of start-ups in India has increased from mere 350 in 2014 to over 80,000 in 2022 with more than 105 unicorns. Dr Jitendra Singh noted with satisfaction that the Uttar Pradesh government plans to have at least one incubator in every district by 2023. As of now, there are 47 incubators in 20 districts. He told the youth of Moradabad that Uttar Pradesh is catching up fast in startup race and as of today there are more than 6,500 startups already registered in the state. The government has also decided to set up two centres of excellence in the state with one coming up in IIT-Kanpur for the promotion of drone technology. Dr Jitendra Singh said, Noida has turned out to be the most preferred destination for startups followed by Ghaziabad, Agra, Lucknow and Gorakhpur in the Purvanchal region and now is the time for the innovative minds of the Western UP to take a lead in the Startups movement. He said the green and farm-rich belt of the Western region can be a fertile ground for Agri-tech and Dairy startups. The Minister promised all support from the Ministry of Science and Technology to support the StartUps ecosystem. (ANI)
As per reports, the 12-floor high-rise spread over 8.96 acres on Anna Salai, was constructed at a cost of Rs 320 crores, an official release said.

"An operation control centre has been established in the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) head office building to monitor the Phases I and II operations," the official release added.

"This will function as a backup during the crisis and in case of technical issues in the existing Operation Control Room functioning in Koyambedu," an official release said.

The event was attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Legislative Assembly, representatives of local bodies and other dignitaries. (ANI)
After a TRS party MLA alleged that he was being lured to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress attacked the BJP for horse trading. "BJP horse trading in Telangana exposed. BJP has money made out of corruption to sabotage democracy. Telangana running rate for Operation Lotus - Rs 100 cr for those who lead MLAs, Rs 50 cr for every MLA who comes. How did BJP get this money? What is ED & IT doing now?" Congress leader BK Hariprasad said. However, Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) scripted the poaching drama to malign the BJP, and demanded that the police reveal details like the amount of cash seized from three persons arrested in the case. Dismissing the allegations that the BJP tried to lure four TRS MLAs with huge sums of money, important positions and contracts, he said the BJP would have gained nothing by making four MLAs defect to the party. He wondered why the police were not revealing how much money was seized and where it came from. Addressing a press conference, the minister denied any links with the accused in the case. The Cyberabad police on Wednesday arrested three persons from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad when they were allegedly trying to lure four TRS MLAs to the BJP. On a complaint by one of the MLAs, Pilot Rohit Reddy, police registered a case against Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati. The TRS leaders have alleged that Nanda Kumar is close to Kishan Reddy. --IANS miz/bg ( 288 Words) 2022-10-27-19:36:07 (IANS)
Former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Friday took a dig at the Shinde-Fadnavis government after the 'Tata Airbus Project' moved to Gujarat from Maharastra and said that the industry has no faith in the "Khoke government". Earlier on Thursday, the Defence Officials informed that the C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force will be manufactured by Tata-Airbus at Vadodara in Gujarat. "Since July, I have been continuously demanding that 'Tata Airbus project' should not be moved out of Maharashtra. But it happened again. Why are the projects in Maharashtra going out for the last three months?," Thackeray tweeted. Thackeray further lambasted the double-engine government and said that the state government engine has failed engine even if the Centre is doing well but the state government has failed miserably. "It can be seen that the industry has no faith in the Khoke government. Now even after 4 projects escape from Maharashtra, will the Industries Minister resign?," he tweeted. The scathing attack comes after the states lost multiple projects like the Vedant Foxconn project. "While we were in power in the state and BJP at the Centre, we brought investment of Rs 80,000 crore from Davos and Rs 6.5 lakh crore investment during the Covid period," he said. He further expressed that he isn't unhappy the project is going out of Maharashtra. "The question is why isn't the government doing anything to bring it to the state? Chief Ministers of other states are coming to Maharashtra to hold meetings and summits with investors, but when our CM went, he went for himself," Thackeray added. Former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the CM went to Delhi only for himself and said, "CM Eknath Shinde did not discuss about Maharashtra and the various project". Thackeray further asked the government to declare wet drought compensation and changes in parameters for the farmers. "Our slogan is simple 'Give or Go', either you give help to Farmers or vacant the chair," he said. (ANI)
MDMK General Secretary Vaiko on Thursday came out strongly against the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, accusing it and its chief K. Annamalai of trying to politicise the Coimbatore car blast case to gain a foothold in the state. Addressing media persons at Krishnagiri, he said Annamalai was indulging in reckless allegations and irresponsible statements and that this has become his habit. He said that however much the BJP tries, it won't get a foothold in the Dravida land. The MDMK chief said: "These are the same people who have been silent on the issues of worshipping Godse and the symbolic shooting of the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh." He said that the Tamil Nadu government was dealing with the Coimbatore blast case with an iron hand and added that immediately after the blast, had traced down those behind it. This swift action was a clear indicator of the efficiency of the Tamil Nadu Police, he added. Even after the Tamil Nadu police had Proved its mettle, the state government had recommended an NIA investigation showing the bonhomie the state government has with the NIA in investigating crucial cases, he said. Vaiko also said that the BJP does not have any right to comment against the anti-Hindi agitation as even in Karnataka where the saffron party was in power, there are objections to the three-language policy and people have come up against Hindi imposition. He said that the history of the anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu dates back to 85 years when pioneer social reformers of the Dravidians, Periyar and Marimalai Adigar had spearheaded that movement. --IANS aal/vd ( 284 Words) 2022-10-27-21:06:06 (IANS)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the October 23 car blast case in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore in which one person was killed, an official said on Thursday. Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, C. Sylendrababu said on the direction from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA officials would now work out the modalities in the case. The order for the investigation of the case was issued by the Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It may be noted that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin who also holds the Home portfolio had requested the NIA to take over the probe on Wednesday after a high-level meeting of officials in which the state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and DGP were also present. It may be noted that the Deputy Inspector General of NIA, K.B. Vandana, and the Superintendent of the premier agency, Sreejith are in Coimbatore and have conducted some preliminary inquiries regarding the blast. Six persons have also been arrested. The Unlawful Atrocities (Prevention) Act -- UAPA, has been revoked against all the arrested individuals. Tamil Nadu Police have already seized 75 kg of potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminum powder, and charcoal from the residence of Jameesha Mubin who was killed in the blast. Mubin, a 25-year-old engineering graduate was charred to death in the early morning explosion of the car triggered by the explosion of a gas cylinder. He was previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 regarding his social media contact with the main accused in the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Nadu police had immediately after the car blast arrested five accomplices of Mubin which included Mohammed Thalka, son of Nawab Khan who is the brother of Al-Umma founder and the main culprit in the Coimbatore serial bomb blast of 1998, February 14 in which 56 people died and 200 people injured. The others arrested are -- Mohammed Azharuddin, Mohammed Riyaz, Firoz Ismail, and Mohammed Navas Ismail. Of them, Firoz Ismail was deported from the United Arab Emirates in 2019 after he was found to have links with the Islamic State. Mubin's cousin Afsar Khan was also arrested on Thursday after questioning him for two days. Police found that he was instrumental in buying the chemicals through online commercial sites. A strong police contingent comprising more than 3,000 personnel is camping at Coimbatore as Ukkadam -- where the blast happened, is a communally sensitive area. The police are also tracing chemicals like potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur, and aluminum powder that are purchased through commercial websites and have sent notices to major online platforms. --IANS aal/pgh ( 454 Words) 2022-10-27-21:52:01 (IANS)
"Budgam Police today filed a charge sheet against four accused (three adults, one juvenile) in a case of terror attack on minorities at Gopalpora Chadoora.

The four accused persons are Altaf Farooq Rather, son of Farooq Ahmad Rather and resident of Dharambugh Kralpora, Suhail Ahmad Malik, son of Abdul Hamid Malik and resident of Panzan Chadoora, Faizan Khursheed Panjabi, son of Khursheed Ahmad and resident of Dharambugh Kralpora, and a juvenile.

On August 15, a grenade attack took place on minority family's house at Gopalpora Chadoora in which Karan Kumar, son of Anil Kumar, was injured and taken to hospital.

"Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 147/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Chadoora and investigation was taken up," police said.

"During the course of investigation, offences under section 307 IPC, 16, 18 ,23 39 ULPA were established against the above four accused (including a juvenile) and the charge sheet to this effect was produced before competent court today in shortest possible time of 72 days after obtaining the sanction from the competent authority," police said.

--IANS zi/vd

( 224 Words)

2022-10-27-22:04:04 (IANS)
"Most of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon are unable to secure daily life necessities," Leni Stenseth, deputy commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said during a press conference held at the UNRWA headquarters in Beirut, Xinhua news agency reported.

Some Palestinian families have stopped sending their children to schools because of the high transportation cost, while others have reduced their daily meals, Stenseth told the press conference after her visit to Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

She called for an urgent emergency plan to secure $13.2 million before the end of the year to support the hospital and medical sectors and transport costs to guarantee proper education for children.

Hoda Samra, UNRWA's public information officer in Lebanon, told Xinhua that the steep increase in poverty rate among Palestinians in Lebanon is attributed to the rapidly deteriorating socio-economic situation in the country, as well as the high cost of living and low purchasing power of the refugees.

At the beginning of 2022, the number was 75 per cent and now it has soared to 93 per cent, Smara noted.

The UNRWA estimates that 210,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon.

--IANS int/arm

( 242 Words)

2022-10-26-22:40:04 (IANS)
The US on Wednesday called out to Iran to stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians as the war between Kyiv and Moscow escalated in the past few weeks and added that deepening ties between Russia and Iran are moving beyond weapons. "We're concerned Moscow may be advising Iran to manage protests (Mahsa Amini protests) as Russia has extensive experience in suppressing open demonstrations. Our message to Iran is clear: Stop killing people, stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a press briefing. As protests in Iran continue and are only becoming violent with every passing day, the White House secretary said the administration is highly concerned that Russia may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage women-led and anti-government protests, The Hill reported. "The administration is concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage protests," Karine Jean-Pierre said while referring to Iran's deadly crackdowns on women-led demonstrations. Furthermore, the US also refuted claims of denials by Russia that Iran is supplying weaponized drones in its aggression on Ukraine, reported The Hill. "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," she added. After the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini under police custody, there have been widespread rallies and strikes throughout the Kurdish region of Iran. Public expressions of anger at Amini's death and Iran's decades-old mandatory public headscarf policy for women quickly evolved into Iranian protesters calling for more freedoms and the death of Iran's Islamist rulers. Meanwhile, on October 17 earlier, the United States strongly condemned early morning drone strikes on Kyiv as it rebuked Russia for "reprehensible" attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. "More desperate and reprehensible Russian attacks this morning against civilians and civilian infrastructure. We admire the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people. We will stand with you for as long as it takes," the US embassy in Ukraine tweeted. Ukraine's capital city Kyiv was rocked by multiple explosions in the attack by "Kamikaze" drones and several residential buildings were damaged during the attack. Kyiv claimed Moscow used Iranian-supplied drones in the strikes against major Ukrainian cities in recent weeks and pleaded with Western countries to step up their assistance in the face of the new challenge. (ANI)
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. --IANS ashis/arm ( 609 Words) 2022-10-26-23:16:02 (IANS)
Taliban rule in Afghanistan has escalated levels of poverty and unemployment in the war-ravaged country resulting in the lives of Afghans becoming "unbearably hard," said World Food Programme (WFP) in a statement. Highlighting the country's food insecurity, the World Food Programme tweeted on Wednesday and stated that the majority of the population is in dire need of humanitarian assistance, Khaama Press reported. "Over half of the population of Afghanistan is suffering from hunger and immediately needs assistance," WFP said, adding that it has supported over 10 million women through livelihood support and capital creation. Moreover, the poverty rates in Afghanistan have climbed to 97 per cent as per UN reports and nine out of ten persons cannot afford enough food, reported Khaama Press. The World Food Program estimated that nearly 19 million Afghans face food insecurity on World Food Day which was observed on October 16. Amid the Ukraine war, the World Food Programme has called for USD 1.1 billion to continue delivering monthly food and nutritional assistance for the next six months to 15 million acutely food-insecure people in Afghanistan. World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Afghanistan condemned the ongoing economic crisis in Afghanistan as people in the country are on the brink of starvation and facing poverty. In a tweet, OCHA in Afghanistan wrote, "19 M people are facing food insecurity, 25M people are living in poverty, 5.8M people are in protracted internal displacement, thousands of houses damaged by floods and earthquakes," expressing concerns about the plight of Afghans. "To survive the winter, they require food, nutrition support, warm clothing & a roof over their heads," tweeted OCHA. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme has also raised concerns about the economic crisis in Afghanistan. "The economic crisis wiped out jobs, salaries & livelihoods across Afghanistan, helping families & communities support themselves is more important than ever," wrote WFP on Twitter. The rising crisis in Afghanistan has hit small enterprises the hardest and private companies have laid off more than half of their employees due to a shortage in sales and a drastic decline in the consumer demand for products. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday hosted in-person Diwali reception following a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This event, which follows the White House's biggest Diwali event on Monday, received guests from the diplomatic and religious communities, from the private sector and from all across civil society. "Simply to you: it's an honour - an honour to host you at the State Department for this first in-person Diwali since before the pandemic," Blinken said in his remarks at a Diwali reception. "Over the past few days, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists have decorated their homes with rungolee; they've shared sweets; they've given thanks through pooja; they've lit sparklers. All around the world, from the streets of New Delhi, to the parks of Kuala Lumpur, to right down the street at the White House, people have gathered to share in the simple joy of being around friends and family," he added. Speaking to the diplomatic, and civil society members present at the reception, Blinken said they are playing an invaluable role in helping to connect the US with local populations abroad, and "by pushing us to do more to support religious freedom around the world." On Monday, the White House hosted the biggest Diwali reception ever on Monday which also saw the presence of several Indian Americans from the Biden administration. "We are honoured to host you. This is the first Diwali reception of this scale in the White House ever to be held. We have more Asian Americans than ever before in history and we want to thank you for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture," US President Joe Biden said during a reception to celebrate Diwali at the White House. Wishing a happy Diwali to more than one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists celebrating Diwali, Biden thanked the Asian American community in the US for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture. "As we host the official White House Diwali reception, we are honoured to light the diya surrounded by members of the most diverse Administration in American history--led by Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American and South Asian American to become Vice President," he added. Biden thanked for the optimism, courage, and empathy demonstrated by the incredible South Asian community all across America. Diwali is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and exchanging gifts mark the festival. (ANI)
As many as 400 to 500 people clashed in the Canadian city of Mississauga Monday evening during the Diwali celebration, police said. Mississauga-based online news outlet Insauga said the fight took place in the Malton area, a video of which is making rounds on social media. The video shows Police officers trying to separate crowds at a Diwali celebration. "One group can be seen waving Indian flags, while the other held banners supporting the Khalistan referendum movement," according to Insauga. Peel Regional Police said officers received reports of a fight in the area of Goreway and Etude drives on Monday night. Police said they received reports of hundreds of people fighting in a local parking lot. "FIGHT - Goreway Dr / Etude Dr #Mississauga - #PRP responded to reports of 400-500 people fighting in a parking lot - #PRP located one person with injuries - Male being assessed by @Peel_Paramedics- #PRP remaining in the area as things have calmed down - C/R 9:41pm - 22-0357908," Peel Regional Police said in a tweet. Police officers told Global News that fireworks were set off in a mall parking lot. However, Peel police were not sure if this led to the altercation. No arrests have been made, the Canadian publication added. Not too long ago, India asked Canada to stop the so-called "Khalistan Referendums" by the anti-India elements on November 6 in Ontario. The Centre has asked the Canadian government to act against those who promote terror and violence against the largest democracy in the world. Responding to a media query, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the issue of the referendum conducted by separatist groups has been taken up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and as well as with the Canadian authorities. India has made it clear that it will continue to voice these issues both in New Delhi, Ottawa and elsewhere. "We have taken it up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and also in Canada with the Canadian authorities. We will continue to take up these issues both in New Delhi, Ottawa & elsewhere," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated on so-called "Khalistan Referendums" in Canada. (ANI)
Pakistan spy chief Nadeem Anjum and Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday held an unprecedented joint press conference over the mystery surrounding the killing of senior Pakistan journalist Arshad 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. "Since Arshad was an investigative journalist, he also looked into the cypher issue when it surfaced," DG ISPR was quoted as saying by Geo News. "Facts linked with the cypher and Arshad Sharif's death need to be found. So there is no ambiguity left in this regard," he added. Arshad Sharif was gunned down in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, though the police later in a statement expressed regret on what they called an "unfortunate incident." Kenyan media had initially quoted the local police as saying that Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the police in an incident of "mistaken identity." Pak media reports say the frequent change in statements by the police in Kenya has created doubts in the minds of people back home. Former Pakistan prime minister chief Imran Khan alleged that Arshad was a "targeted killing" for exposing the two key political families of Sharif and Zardari. Paying tribute to the slain journalist, former prime minister Imran Khan claimed that Arshad Sharif was killed in a "targeted attack" as he was a true professional who had exposed the two political families and their corruption in his television programmes with proof, The News International reported. Besides PTI, a number of journalists and several media organisations 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. (ANI)
Amid the surge in activities of anti-India elements in Canada, High Commissioner Cameron MacKay on Thursday said the Justin Trudeau government supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. "Canada supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," MacKay, responded to a question by ANI, in an apparent clarification of his earlier remarks. The envoy who was visiting the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in the national capital was asked about the measures that the Canadian government was taking to deal with the Khalistani outfit, which is proscribed in India. MacKay, earlier today, said all faiths are welcome in Canada, in response to how Canada was dealing with increasing anti-India elements in his country. On how Canada was dealing with increasing anti-India elements in his country, the High Commissioner repeated, "In Canada, we love people of all faiths." India recently served a demarche to the Canadian government, asking it to stop the so-called Khalistan referendum organized by the proscribed organisation in Ontario on November 6. The Centre has asked the Canadian government to act against those who promote terror and violence against the largest democracy in the world. When asked about the so-called referendums by 'Anti India' outfits, the High Commissioner MacKay said, "All faiths are welcome in Canada" and repeated the statement once more for the third time Earlier, responding to a media query, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said the issue of the so-called referendum conducted by separatist groups has been taken up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and as well as with the Canadian authorities. India has made it clear that it will continue to voice these issues both in New Delhi, Ottawa and elsewhere, he said. Meanwhile, last month India had issued an advisory for its nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant amid increasing incidents of crimes and anti-India activities in the country. In a statement, the external affairs ministry said Indian missions have taken up these incidents with the Canadian authorities and requested them to probe these crimes. The MEA noted that there has been a sharp increase in incidents of hate crimes, sectarian violence and anti-India activities in Canada. "In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant," the statement added. (ANI)
The fourth India-North Macedonia Foreign Office Consultations were held in Delhi where both sides reviewed bilateral relations and also exchanged views on security issues of mutual interest. Taking to Twitter, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote, "4th India-North Macedonia Foreign Office Consultations held in Delhi. A comprehensive review of bilateral relations including high-level political exchanges, and enhanced cooperation in trade and investment undertaken. Both sides also exchanged views on security issues of mutual interest." Relations between India and the Republic of North Macedonia are warm and cordial. North Macedonia supported India's candidature in various multilateral forums. India was one of the 40 co-sponsors of the Resolution in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) for the admission of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM]. The Second Foreign Office Consultations between India and Macedonia took place in New Delhi on September 15, 2010. Vivek Katju, then Secretary (West) led the Indian delegation while the Macedonian delegation was led by Zoran Petrov, then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In 2006, the Government of Macedonia appointed an Indian businessman in New Delhi as its Honorary Consul before proceeding to open a full-fledged Embassy in New Delhi on October 7, 2008. The Government of India appointed an Honorary Consul to Macedonia in 2008. The Macedonian government appointed an Honorary Consul in Kolkata in 2009 as a follow-up of the Macedonian FM's visit. Macedonia has subsequently appointed Honorary Consuls in Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Then Macedonian Prime Minister Gruevski accompanied by his Dy. PM and Finance Minister and the Minister of Foreign Investments visited India during January 11-17, 2015 for Vibrant Gujarat and CII-Partnership Summits. Earlier, the same delegation visited India from March 5-8, 2012 to showcase the investment and business opportunities in Macedonia to Indian investors. In continuation of the Macedonian PM's 2012 visit, Dy. PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, accompanied by the Ministers of Information Society and Administration and Foreign Investments and Director of Technological Industrial Development Zones, visited India in October 2012 on a visit and gave a presentation on benefits Macedonia offered to investors in six Indian cities. Former Minister of State for External Affairs, Preneet Kaur, accompanied by a business delegation of the CII, visited Macedonia on 10-11 July 2012 and met then FM Nikola Poposki, Dy. PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavrevski and Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Policy and former FM, Antonio Milososki. The talks focussed on the potential for improving the bilateral cooperation between the two countries including economy, culture, and education and science. (ANI)
Fiji will be hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference next year from February 15-17, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said at an event held here in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar launched the logo and website of Vishwa Hindi Diwas along with V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Permanent Secretary for Fijian Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts Anjeela Jokhan. Speaking at the event, Anjeela Jokhan said that Fiji is privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host the prestigious event and hailed the partnership with India. "We are honoured to have been nominated by the Indian government as the next year's host for the World Hindi Conference as this platform will provide us with a wonderful opportunity to promote and celebrate Hindi, one of our country's main languages. Indeed Fiji feels blessed and privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host this prestigious event," said Fijian Secretary Anjeela Jokhan. "We will do our best to make this conference a grand success. Fiji Hindi is in fact enshrined in the Fiji Constitution as one of our official languages. Not only this we also teach Hindi in our primary and secondary schools. While it is compulsory for students of Indian origin in primary schools, it is an optional subject in secondary schools. Hindi is also taught in our universities," she added. Jokhan noted that the partnership with the government of India has grown from strength to strength over the past 52 years and the people of our nations have been deeply enriched through our bilateral interactions and engagements. The official added, "Our two nations have an undeniable bond which can be seen in mutual understanding and respect that we have for each other's sovereignty, common development and shared prosperity." "It is based on our shared history which is rooted in age-old ties of culture. In Fiji, we have a very cordial relationship with the High Commission of India that enables us to celebrate together many events such as Yoga Day, World Hindi Day, and so forth. In fact, in 2020 we held Regional Hindi Conference in Suva", she continued saying. Further highlighting the contribution made by the Fijian scholars towards developing Hindi, she said that the country looks forward to hosting the event. "With a significant portion of our population having Indian heritage, we have worked together to ensure the protection and promotion of our languages, traditions, and culture. We are proud to say that Fijian scholars have made a contribution towards developing Hindi not just in Fiji but across the world via the Fijian diaspora." Fiji looks forward to hosting this event from February 15-17, 2023, she highlighted and said, "We look forward to hosting this significant event in our country. We know that we will receive the Indian diaspora from a number of nations and this will give our people the opportunity to develop networks and friendship." The three-day conference would be held in the Fijian city of Nadi. (ANI)
Outgoing Qatar Ambassador Mohammed Khater Ibrahim Al Khater along with his delegation meets Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar at the Vice Presidential House on Thursday. India-Qatar's ties have progressed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi activated the Look West policy as the Indian premier has taken a personal interest in actively engaging with the Qatari leadership.Earlier, then Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also visited Qatar and interacted with the Indian diaspora describing India as a huge country with a large population where diverse languages and cultures reside in Unity and its people live with peace and harmony. Highlighting the Government's vision to create a new India we can all be proud of, he acknowledged the 7.80 lakh strong Indian community in Qatar and designated them as a living bridge between the two nations. "Indian business people who are strengthening trade & economic partnerships; and the Indian Armed Forces Veterans who after diligently serving India are adding value through their experiences to our trusted partner Qatar. Indeed, the diversity of our community in Qatar is extraordinary," he had said in a statement while interacting with the Indian community in Doha. Talking about the comprehensive energy partnership in a further statement, he said that the cooperation between India and Qatar is strengthening in the defense, security, healthcare, and education sectors. A start-up bridge between India and Qatar was launched during Naidu's visit to Qatar to link the innovative ecosystems of the two countries. Meanwhile, India and Qatar will soon mark the 50th anniversary of India and Qatar establishing full diplomatic relations. "Our constitutional architecture is the firm foundation of 'inclusion', of leaving no one behind. It is the vision that finds an echo in the overarching philosophy of the present Government, led by Prime Minister Modi that believes in "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas," he said during his discussion. During his last leg of a three-nation tour, then Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu addressed the members of the Indian diaspora in Doha. "India-Qatar ties have progressed since PM Modi motivated the 'Look West' policy. He has taken a personal interest in engaging with the Qatar leadership," he said during the interaction with the Indian community. He also addressed members of the business community at India-Qatar Business Forum during his visit and highlighted the strength of the ties as he called for building an enabling environment and forging more collaborations for mutual benefit. As a part of his visit, then Vice President Naidu launched the "India-Qatar Start-Up bridge" to link the start-up ecosystems of the two countries at the India-Qatar Business Forum while he also visited the Qatar National Museum in Doha. (ANI)
During his maiden visit to Russia since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova. The ministers will hold talks on November 8 in Moscow where they will discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the international agenda. Jaishankar's visit to Moscow comes at a crucial time when the war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated in recent times. This visit is also coming at a time when the Indian embassy in Kyiv has issued a fresh advisory asking all Indian citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately in view of escalating hostilities in the Ukraine war. During UNGA, the External Affairs Minister met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and exchanged views on Ukraine. ''A wide-ranging conversation with FM Sergey Lavrov at #UNGA 77. Discussed our bilateral cooperation. Exchanged views on Ukraine, G-20 and UN reforms,'' Jaishankar tweeted. The meeting was held just hours before Lavrov's address to the high-level UN General Assembly's general debate where he called for UNSC reform and backed India in an expanded Security Council. As the Ukraine conflict has dominated the world's top diplomatic stage, India at UNGA strongly called for the need to end the war through diplomacy and openly addressed its stand on the Kyiv-Moscow conflict. Speaking at the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA), Jaishankar said, "We are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, each time, is straight and honest. India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there," strongly asserted. "We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles," he said, reiterating India's stand on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. While pressing the need for diplomacy, Jaishankar said that they are on the side that calls for dialogue. Almost every leader during the week reiterated the impact of the conflict, "We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, even as they stare at escalating costs of food, fuel and fertilizers," Jaishankar said in his address. "It is therefore in our collective interest to work constructively, both within the United Nations and outside, in finding an early resolution to this conflict," he concluded. During the UNSC meeting on Ukraine, Jaishankar recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "this cannot be an era of war". "Let me emphasize that even in conflict situations, there can be no justification for violation of human rights or of international law. Where any such acts occur, it is imperative that they are investigated in an objective and independent manner. This was the position we took with regard to the killings in Bucha, and this is the position we take even today. The Council will also recall that we had then supported calls for an independent investigation into the Bucha incident." Jaishankar said, making it one of the toughest statements on Russia in the last seven months, since the invasion of Ukraine. Jaishankar also met in person with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters here and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasizes cessation of all hostilities and returns to dialogue and diplomacy. Jaishankar in US defended India's defence procurement saying that it is in its national interest. "We get our military equipment is not a new issue or changed due to geo-political changes" and that New Delhi has not faced problems in terms of spare parts supply in the past from Russia, he had said during a press conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Earlier, he also defended India's oil purchases from Russia.(ANI)
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A constable was killed in a grenade attack on a police station in Dhadar in the Kachhi District of Pakistan's Balochistan, media reports said citing officials. According to the officials, the grenade attack was carried out by unidentified motorcyclists in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Due to the impact of the blast, a police building was damaged and windowpanes of nearby houses shattered. However, other police officials inside the police station remained safe, reported Dawn. Police constable Abid Hussain Solangi sustained multiple injuries and was taken to the district hospital in Dhadar where he succumbed to his injuries. This is the second such incident in the week, as a day ago, a police constable who was escorting health workers was killed in a targeted attack during a polio eradication campaign in the Pishin district in Pakistan's Balochistan province. Police officials said the polio volunteers remained safe. Pishin police head constable suffered gunshot wounds while covering the health workers and was later killed, reported the media portal. Last week, two Pakistan security officials on Friday were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Johan area of Kalat district.Levies officials said unidentified people planted an IED by the roadside and detonated it by remote control while the security personnel was passing through the area in a vehicle. Two officials lost their lives on the spot while three others sustained injuries. Soon after the incident, security forces launched a search operation in the area to trace the suspects behind the explosion. Ziaullah Langove, the chief minister's adviser on home and tribal affairs, condemned the IED blast and expressed his grief over the martyrdom of two security personnel. Balochistan is in conflict with Pakistan Government since 1947. The cause of conflict along with ethnicity includes economic and political exclusion. Balochistan is the largest province by geographical area in Pakistan, constituting approximately 43 percent of the total area of Pakistan. it is Pakistan's largest province, as well as is poorest and least populated. The grievances of the masses relating to political, economic, and cultural rights, have given rise to nationalist movements; the absence of problem-resolution mechanisms, even in the democratic setups; continued negligence of the well-being of the masses that has been the hallmark, though out Pakistan since its creation. Moreover, 70 percent of people in Balochistan live in poverty. The maternal death rate in Pakistan is 278 per 100,000, whereas in Balochistan it stands at 785. Natural gas was discovered at Sui in Balochistan, yet major parts of the province are still deprived of natural gas.It's important to understand that the violence in Balochistan is not just because of terrorism. The insurgents are mostly local people longing for their constitutional rights and welfare. Therefore, most of the insurgent movements in Balochistan have been linked with deprivation and underdevelopment. (ANI)
Over the killing of TV anchor Arshad Sharif in Kenya, senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda said that the "plan was hatched" inside Pakistan, media reports said. These remarks by the PTI leader came hours after the Pakistani government reconstituted the inquiry committee meant to probe the Sharif's killing. During a presser on Wednesday, Vawda refuted any involvement of the military establishment in the tragic incident, reported Dawn. As the death of the famous journalist broke out in Nairobi on Sunday night, social media was abuzz with allegations of involvement of the military. In the press conference that was held at the National Press Club, Vawda predicted "bloodshed" of several innocent people as well as some prominent PTI leaders ahead of the party's long march set to be launched from Lahore on Friday. However, in a strong reaction to this statement by Vawda, PTI leaders accused him of sabotaging the long march. Later, while giving two days to the leader for explaining his statement he made during press conference, the PTI suspended Vawda's party membership. During the press conference, the leader claimed that there were some "enemies in the guise of friends" who had misguided Arshad to leave the country although the anchor had "good relations" with the military establishment and there was no threat to his life at home. "I have already informed Imran Khan about the enemies in the guise of friends and those within the party who believe in a conspiracy theory," he added. In yet another claim, he said the journalist was killed from a close range or from within the vehicle in which he was travelling. "Nobody will find Arshad's mobile phone and laptop as all evidence have been eliminated," he said, reported Dawn. Vawda also expressed fear that he could be killed as he has exposed the "enemies pretending to be friends". He warned that if he was 'eliminated' his killers would meet the same fate. "I have recorded a video, spent millions of rupees and named them so they will also be killed if I am assassinated," he stated. "The establishment has nothing to do with Arshad's killing as he was in contact with them and enjoyed good relations with it. He was brainwashed under a conspiracy... he was misguided," he added. "In fact, his [Arshad's] visa had expired, which is why he had to leave that country. He was ready to return to Pakistan but was threatened that he will be killed if did so," he added. Pakistan spy chief Nadeem Anjum and Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday held an unprecedented joint press conference over the mystery surrounding the killing of senior Pakistan journalist Arshad 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. "Since Arshad was an investigative journalist, he also looked into the cypher issue when it surfaced," DG ISPR was quoted as saying by Geo News. "Facts linked with the cypher and Arshad Sharif's death need to be found. So there is no ambiguity left in this regard," he added. Arshad Sharif was gunned down in Kenya allegedly by the local police on Sunday night, though the police later in a statement expressed regret on what they called an "unfortunate incident." Kenyan media had initially quoted the local police as saying that Arshad Sharif was shot dead by the police in an incident of "mistaken identity." Pak media reports say the frequent change in statements by the police in Kenya has created doubts in the minds of people back home. Former Pakistan prime minister chief Imran Khan alleged that Arshad was a "targeted killing" for exposing the two key political families of Sharif and Zardari. Paying tribute to the slain journalist, former prime minister Imran Khan claimed that Arshad Sharif was killed in a "targeted attack" as he was a true professional who had exposed the two political families and their corruption in his television programmes with proof, The News International reported. Besides PTI, a number of journalists and several media organisations 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. (ANI)
Highlighting that efforts are on to get Hindi recognized as an official language at United Nations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that though progress has been made in that direction it will take some time. "You would know Hindi is being used in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As far as the use of Hindi in its headquarters is concerned, we have an MoU with them, they are using it in social media and newsletters. It will take some time in expanding this. It is not so easy that a language is introduced in the UN process," Jaishankar said at the 12th World Hindi Conference held here in New Delhi. "Work is being done on it, progress has been made and it is our expectation that this will move forward," he added. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also launched the logo and website of Vishwa Hindi Diwas along with V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Permanent Secretary for Fijian Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts Anjeela Jokhan. Fiji will be hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference next year from February 15-17, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said at the event. Speaking at the event, Anjeela Jokhan said that Fiji is privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host the prestigious event and hailed the partnership with India. "We are honoured to have been nominated by the Indian government as the next year's host for the World Hindi Conference as this platform will provide us with a wonderful opportunity to promote and celebrate Hindi, one of our country's main languages. Indeed, Fiji feels blessed and privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host this prestigious event," said Fijian Secretary Anjeela Jokhan. "We will do our best to make this conference a grand success. Fiji Hindi is in fact enshrined in the Fiji Constitution as one of our official languages. Not only this we also teach Hindi in our primary and secondary schools. While it is compulsory for students of Indian origin in primary schools, it is an optional subject in secondary schools. Hindi is also taught in our universities," she added. Jokhan noted that the partnership with the government of India has grown from strength to strength over the past 52 years and the people of our nations have been deeply enriched through our bilateral interactions and engagements. The official added, "Our two nations have an undeniable bond which can be seen in mutual understanding and respect that we have for each other's sovereignty, common development and shared prosperity." "It is based on our shared history which is rooted in age-old ties of culture. In Fiji, we have a very cordial relationship with the High Commission of India that enables us to celebrate together many events such as Yoga Day, World Hindi Day, and so forth. In fact, in 2020 we held Regional Hindi Conference in Suva", she continued saying. Further highlighting the contribution made by the Fijian scholars towards developing Hindi, she said that the country looks forward to hosting the event. "With a significant portion of our population having Indian heritage, we have worked together to ensure the protection and promotion of our languages, traditions, and culture. We are proud to say that Fijian scholars have made a contribution towards developing Hindi not just in Fiji but across the world via the Fijian diaspora." Fiji looks forward to hosting this event from February 15-17, 2023, she highlighted and said, "We look forward to hosting this significant event in our country. We know that we will receive the Indian diaspora from a number of nations and this will give our people the opportunity to develop networks and friendship." The three-day conference would be held in the Fijian city of Nadi. (ANI)
While fully supporting India's G-20 Presidency beginning in December, the German delegation at a meeting in New Delhi praised the concrete environment and climate actions taken by India despite the huge size and population. Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav held a fruitful meeting with the Committee on Environment of German Federal Parliament headed by Member of Parliament (MdB) Harald Ebner, on Thursday at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi. In the meeting, they discussed global environmental, climate change, and other related challenges, and how Germany and India can work together to find sustainable solutions to these challenges. As Per the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in the meeting, issues related to a sustainable lifestyle, circular economy, e-wastes, conservation of water bodies, drinking water, the problem of fertilizers, urban migration, sectoral climate action plans, and achievements were discussed. "The Union Environment Minister acknowledged the support given by Germany to India for addressing challenges relating to the environment and climate change. He appreciated Germany's support in Ganga Rejuvenation and stated that India and Germany must work together to address global environmental challenges," the ministry said in a statement. The Minister highlighted that India has been undertaking numerous concrete climate actions under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both domestically and globally. These include NCAP, Biofuel, Kalyan Yojana, Amrit Sarovar, 500 GW target of RE, BS-VI, etc. India always endeavors to be part of the solution, and not part of the problem, Yadav said. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav elaborated on India's global commitment to addressing climate change, by spearheading global initiatives like International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT), and specially thanked Germany for joining ISA. He emphasized the need for mindful consumption and circular economy, and that India is promoting circular economy from three aspects-Legal, Capacity, and Market economy. While responding to the questions raised by the German delegation, Union Minister Yadav stressed that India's climate actions are based on the principle of CBDR-RC. He stated that India achieved the targets mentioned in the 1st NDC on renewable energy and energy intensity before time. Further, India has enhanced these targets along with the launch of Mission LiFE. Concluding the meeting, both sides acknowledged the contribution of the Indo-German Bilateral Cooperation on environment and climate and agreed to further strengthen the same and also explore how both countries can work together in areas like conservation of water bodies, circular economy, and e-waste. (ANI)
UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in India Friday for his first official trip to the country - to meet his counterpart and discuss strengthening the UK-India relationship. In Mumbai on Friday, he will pay his respects to those who lost their lives in the city's terror attack at the Taj Palace Hotel in 2008. On Saturday, he will travel to New Delhi to speak at the Special Meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee. He will call on countries to work together to fight online terrorism - including global terror recruitment campaigns and live streaming of attacks. In New Delhi, the Foreign Secretary is also due to meet Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to discuss the latest on the 2030 Roadmap, the landmark commitment to boost cooperation between the UK and India over the next decade under a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Since it was launched last year, huge progress has been made, including the start of ambitious free trade negotiations, the expansion of the defence and security partnership, including through a visit to India last year by late Queen Elizabeth and the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), and joint exercises to enhance cyber security collaboration. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said, "Our relationship with India is hugely important to me; as the world's largest democracy, India is a natural partner for the UK in the Indo-Pacific. It is an economic and tech powerhouse. Our deeper ties will boost both our economies and help to tackle global security challenges." "I look forward to working even more closely with India when it takes up the G20 Presidency in December," he added. (ANI)
The Conservative MP and former member of the intelligence and security committee (ISC) Mark Pritchard said a "breakdown" in trust between MI5 and the home secretary, Suella Braverman, must be "sorted asap", media reported. A report by the Daily Mail claimed Braverman was investigated by national security officials earlier this year as part of an MI5-linked inquiry into a security breach relating to a British spy. The investigation found "no conclusive evidence" of the identity of the leaker. The newspaper said Braverman, who was attorney general at the time, was seeking an injunction against the BBC to stop it from identifying a spy accused of using his position to terrorise his former partner. The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, described the allegations as "extremely serious." She added, "There needs to be an urgent investigation into the home secretary's security breaches, including these new allegations while she was attorney general. "The prime minister needs to say whether he knew about these allegations when he reappointed her. Ignoring warnings about security risks when appointing a home secretary is highly irresponsible and dangerous." Tory MP Caroline Nokes has questioned the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary, just days after she was forced to resign for a security breach, The Guardian reported. Speaking to the BBC, she said there were "big questions" hanging over the issue and called for a full inquiry. She said, "I think what is apparent is that there are big questions hanging over this whole issue. And to be frank I would like to see them cleared up so that the home secretary can get on with her job." --IANS san/uk ( 290 Words) 2022-10-27-19:42:03 (IANS)
Amid the deteriorating situation of Afghan women and girls due to Taliban rule, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, said that severe restrictions have been put in place in the country in order to render women "invisible" in society, as the terror outfit has imposed numerous restrictions on women and girls. The UN special envoy made the remarks during a press conference in New York where he claimed that the fall of the country to the Taliban is worse than what Afghan women and girls went through in 1996, Khaama Press reported. "There are many restrictions and severe barriers for women and girls who are excluded largely from employment, political and public life with limits on freedom of movement, association, expression and it fits the pattern of gender segregation aimed at making women invisible," Bennett said. He further noted that there were many obvious examples of discrimination against minorities like Hazaras, Shiites, Sufis, Sikhs, and Hindus in Afghanistan, reported Khaama Press. As per several statistics, more than three million girls have been denied access to education for 402 days, making the war-torn nation the only country where girls are prohibited from attending school past the sixth grade. Bennett further deplored the human rights violations in Afghanistan and emphasized his concern about the media, which is also facing ever-increasing restrictions by the Taliban. Earlier also, UN experts cautioned that Afghanistan's future is "bleak" if more is not done to improve the deteriorating human rights situation, especially for women and girls.Since they took control of the country in August 2021, the Taliban have violated women's and girls' rights to education, work, and free movement and decimated the system of protection and support for those fleeing domestic violence. The group has also detained women and girls for minor violations of discriminatory rules and contributed to a surge in the rates of child, early and forced marriage in Afghanistan. Various rights group is calling on the Taliban to implement major policy changes and measures to uphold the rights of women and girls. Since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has been the country's de facto authority. Despite initial public commitments to uphold the rights of women and girls, the Taliban introduced policies of systematic discrimination that violate their rights. Women and girls across Afghanistan reacted to this crackdown with a wave of protests. In response, the Taliban targeted protesters with harassment and abuse, arbitrary arrest and detention, enforced disappearance, and physical and psychological torture. (ANI)
Never in the history of Pakistan, a joint presser has been done by the DGISPR (Director General Inter-Services Public Relations) and DGISI (Director General Inter-Services Intelligence), that too with revelations that are not only explosive, but will also change the overall standing of the country's politics, strategic political alliances and political agenda going forward. On a day when slain Pakistani journalist and anchor Arshad Sharif, who was brutally killed in a shootout in Kenya allegedly in a case of mistaken identity (as per the Kenyan police authorities), was being laid to rest, the explosive joint press conference by DGISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and DGISI Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum sent shockwaves to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his narrative of a conspiracy that led to regime change in the country, and put serious questions over Imran Khan, a leading news channel's owner Salman Iqbal and other elements that led to the killing of Arshad Sharif. Arshad Sharif's murder The media talk was focused on talking about the tragic murder of Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it. "This press conference is being held in the context of presenting facts, so that facts, fiction and opinion can be differentiated. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been specifically informed about the sensitivity of the press conference," said DGISPR Babar Iftikhar. Talking more into the key pointers related to the journalist's murder, Iftikhar said that Arshad Sharif was among many of those journalists who were fed with a propaganda based narrative built by Imran Khan in the wake of the cypher, which allegedly led to the regime change conspiracy in the country. The DGISPR also stated that Arshad Sharif's employer and prominent news channel ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army, adding that its CEO Salman Iqbal should be brought back to Pakistan and investigated. It was also revealed that the threat letter and alert that was issued by the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) government was fake, as the DGISPR confirmed that the intelligence agencies had no information of any such threat to Arshad Sharif. "The threat letter by Khyber Pukhtunkhwa government was issued as part of the plan to create grounds to compel Arshad to leave Pakistan. Arshad did not want to leave Pakistan," said Iftikhar. "ARY CEO Salman Iqbal then asked for immediate arrangements for Arshad Sharif's exit from Pakistan and he was given KP government's protocol to fly from the Peshawar airport. His plane ticket was also booked and paid by ARY Digital," added the DGISPR. The DGISPR and the DGISI confirmed that no one forced Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan as Sharif did not face any threat in the country. The statements from the DGISPR and the DGISI can be seen as parallel to the recent claim by Imran Khan that he was the one who asked Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan after he was informed of imminent threats form TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) splinter groups, which, as per the 'threat letter', wanted to assassinate him. It is also important to note that while Arshad Sharif was in Kenya since September, he was in contact with or either staying with two persons -- Khurram Ahmed and Waqar Ahmed. It was reported that Khurram Ahmed was driving the vehicle, which was sprayed with bullets by the Kenyan police, two of which hit Arshad in the head and the back. However, the driver remained unharmed. The first call that Khurram made after Arshad was shot was to ARY CEO Salman Iqbal, and not to his family or any other journalist. The farm house that Arshad was going to in Kenya is also owned by Salman Iqbal, which has raised even more questions over the contacts and connections related to Arshad's killing. The DGISPR and the DGISI emphasised that a thorough investigation should be conducted into the matter, and if a UN body, or an international independent body, is to be involved in it, it should be done on priority. DGISI & DGISPR demolish Imran's narrative Demolishing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's narrative that his government was ousted from power through a conspiracy, revealed through the cypher and implemented by his opposition political parties along with the military establishment in what he terms as a regime change, the DGISPR said the reality of the cypher and the March 27 narrative built through it was "far from reality" and in fact poles apart. Babar Iftikhar said that the intelligence agencies and the military had already made it abundantly clear that there was no proof of a conspiracy in the cypher, a fact that was conveyed to the government clearly during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. However, he added that a different narrative was built in the name of regime change and its propaganda tools became journalists and social media influencers. DGISI Nadeem Ahmed Anjum said that he was compelled and forced to come and do a joint press conference as "lies continued to be spread and kept repeating themselves, which were being accepted by majority of the youth of the country". "I also came today because opting to remain silent for long is not the right option when lies are becoming more vocal. Besides, it is necessary to determine the factors due to which a particular narrative is being built and people are being misled," he said. "Chief of Army staff (COAS) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa was also targeted and faced criticism. And attempts were made to create a divide in the society," the DGISI added. Talking about how Imran Khan waved a piece of paper during the March 27 public rally in Islamabad, Iftikhar said, "It was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality. "Several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the baseless and unfounded narrative surrounding it. The Army was expected to intervene in domestic politics. The word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse. To all this baseless narrative, the Army chief and the institution showed restraint and we tried our best that politicians sit together to resolve their issues." Anjum said the nation has given him the responsibility to take secrets to the grave. "But when needed and when necessary, I will bring those facts to light. Last year, the establishment decided that it would restrict itself to its constitutional role... The Army had an intense discussion and we reached the conclusion that the country's benefit lies in us restricting ourselves to our constitutional role and remaining out of politics," the DGISI said. He said that in March, there was "a lot of pressure" but the institution and the Army chief decided to limit the military to its constitutional role. The DGISI also slammed Imran Khan for openly targeting the military establishment in the day while meeting the same institution's personnel during the night with a wish list of things he intended to see be done in order to bring him back into power. "You (Imran Khan) meet quietly at night through the back door and express your unconstitutional wishes, but call the Army chief a traitor in broad daylight. That's a big contradiction between your words and your actions," Anjum said. Anjum also said that Imran Khan had offered COAS Bajwa an unlimited extension in office in March, when the no-confidence motion was at its peak and the opposition parties were ganging up against Khan to oust his government from power. "The offer was made because the no-confidence motion was at its peak," he said. The unprecedented and explosive press conference has opened up a new Pandora's Box that would be a massive blow to Imran Khan's upcoming long march, his narrative of regime change and his anti-establishment position. In addition, the press conference directly hinted at Imran Khan and his KP government of being involved in the murder of Arshad Sharif, which in itself is a massive damage to Khan and will have an impact on his public support for the long march at large. --IANS hamza/arm ( 1368 Words) 2022-10-27-20:04:03 (IANS)
Surge in crime rates in Pakistan's Karachi has created fear psychosis and a sense of insecurity among the locals as around two-thirds of the population of the metropolis have experienced such incidents in one way or the other and almost one-fourth have directly suffered the loss of lives, Dawn reported citing a recent study. "We carried out a study in all seven districts of the city that showed an increase in street crimes is making Karachiites more frightened and making them feel more insecure," said Kashif Hafeez of Pulse Consultant, a research organisation with nationwide operations. Regarding the growing crime rates, the study noted that the people of Karachi described it as alarming. "The response, as feared, showed a very serious and alarming situation. Some 69 per cent, or you can say seven out of 10 people, we reached out reported that someone in their family circle or friends has been victim to street crime," said Hafeez, Dawn reported. When the survey was carried out among people aged between 16 years and 55 years, 23 per cent of people claimed losing belongings to street criminals. Moreover, the data compiled by police showcased a massive surge in criminal offences between January and September compared to the same period of the last year. Snatching of mobile phones and theft of vehicles has also become a regular affair in Karachi. The law and order situation in Karachi has been only deteriorating with every passing day and the local authorities do not tend to pay heed to it despite numerous people losing lives. For over three decades, Karachi has been an epicentre of target killings for reasons ranging from ethno-political to sectarian disputes and from land mafia rivalries to personal vendetta and political outrage, reported Asian Lite International. During the last couple of years, Karachi has seen frequent outbreaks of violence which have claimed hundreds of lives of innocent people. Over 56,500 cases of street crime have been reported in Karachi, the financial hub of Pakistan, during the current year. Over 19,000 mobile phones were snatched from citizens, while 104 cars were forcefully taken and 1,383 bikes were stolen. Around 35,000 citizens were deprived of their motorbikes. The recent history of violence in Karachi underlines one point clearly: the city is quickly falling victim to the temptations of 'power and influence' on the part of political players, reported Asian Lite International. Besides, the ethnic factor is deeply entrenched in the ongoing criminal and political violence in the city. Pashtuns, who are estimated to constitute 20-25 per cent of Karachi's population have been politically marginalized in the city, but now they are asserting themselves and accordingly rearrangements in the political spectrum are causing violent episodes. Furthermore, the flocking of suspected terrorists from tribal areas due to the ongoing military operations in the tribal regions further complicates the situation. (ANI)
(Adds state television and media reports on deaths)

DUBAI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Iran's Supreme Leader vowed on Thursday to retaliate against those threatening the country's security after the massacre of Shi'ite pilgrims, an assault claimed by Islamic State which threatens to inflame tensions amid widespread anti-government protests.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the assailants "will surely be punished" and called on Iranians to unite. "We all have a duty to deal with the enemy and its traitorous or ignorant agents," he said in a statement read on state television a day after the attack killed 15 people.

Khamenei's call for unity appeared to be directed mostly at government loyalists and not protesters whose nearly six-week-old movement is seen by authorities as a threat to national security.

Iran's clerical rulers have faced nationwide demonstrations since the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, on Sept. 16.

Iranians have called for the death of Khamenei and an end to the Islamic Republic during the protests, which have become one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution, drawing many Iranians on to the streets.

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 that predominantly Shi'ite Iran uses for hardline Sunni Muslim militants such as Islamic State.

A senior official said the suspected attacker was in critical condition after being shot by police.

"We have not been able to interrogate him yet," said deputy provincial governor Easmail Mohebipour, quoted by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

CCTV footage broadcast on state TV on Thursday showed the attacker entering the shrine after hiding an assault rifle in a bag and shooting as worshippers tried to flee and hide in corridors.

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Islamic State, which once posed a security threat across the Middle East, has claimed previous violence in Iran, including deadly twin attacks in 2017 that targeted parliament and the tomb of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Since the peak of its power, when it ruled millions of people in the Middle East and struck fear across the world with deadly bombings and shootings, Islamic State has slipped back into the shadows.

Iran often accuses the West and its regional rivals Israel and Saudi Arabia of fomenting attacks. Saudi Arabia denies this and Israel usually declines to comment on its moves against the Islamic Republic.

Wednesday's killing of Shi'ite pilgrims came on the same day that Iranian security forces clashed with increasingly strident protesters marking 40 days since Amini's death.

Iranian leaders may have hoped that the shrine attack would draw attention away from the unrest but there is no sign that is happening.

The official news agency IRNA said protesters angry over the "suspect" death of a demonstrator broke windows of banks, a tax office and other public buildings in the northwestern city of Mahabad.

The Kurdish human rights group Hengaw said security forces killed at least five people during protests on Thursday in the northwest of the country, where many Kurds live. Three were killed in the city of Mahabad and another two in Baneh, it said.

State television confirmed the death of three people in Mahabad, saying they died after protesters attempted to occupy government and security centres. It showed footage of a burning building that was surrounded by demonstrators.

Separately, state media said two Basij militiamen were killed in an attack in the northern city of Amol, which has been a hotbed of protests. Tasnim news agency said a member of the elite Revolutionary Guards had been killed in Tehran province by "rioters" using a hand grenade.

Iranian human rights groups said there were unconfirmed reports that some members of Amini's family were under house arrest. Reuters could not verify these reports. Reuters tried to reach Amini's father and brother.

The authorities, who have accused the United States and other Western countries of fomenting what they call "riots", have yet to declare a death toll, but state media have said about 30 members of the security forces have been killed.

The activist news agency HRANA said in a posting that at least 252 protesters had been killed in the unrest, including 36 minors. It said more than 13,800 people had been arrested in protests in 122 cities and towns and some 109 universities. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Writing by Michael Georgy and Dominic Evans; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Nick Macfie, Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
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One person is in custody and a second remains at large after a historic drug bust on the South Coast of Massachusetts earlier this week yielded more than $1M in cash, fentanyl, and cocaine, law enforcement officials said.

Vinicio Marrero Arias, 38, of New Bedford, was arrested earlier this week on charges of trafficking in excess of 200 grams of fentanyl, as well as trafficking in excess of 18 grams of cocaine, according to the New Bedford Police Department.

Amado Delgado Mendez, 30, also of New Bedford, remains on the loose and has an active warrant for his arrest.

After recently concluding a monthslong investigation into drug distribution, detectives assigned to the departments Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau executed a search warrant at addresses on Cottage Street and Plainville Road in New Bedford, as well as several storage containers and vehicles that were allegedly being used to store and transport illicit drugs throughout the area.

In total, $1,295,274 in cash, 830 grams of fentanyl, and 28 grams of cocaine were seized, along with digital scales, cutting agents, a hydraulic press, a vacuum sealer, and various other packaging materials, according to police.

In a statement, New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira said, A seizure of this magnitude can only be achieved through meticulous investigative skills and commitment...New Bedford police officers are relentless in their pursuit of individuals who poison the community for profit. Today, we celebrate the fruits of this labor. Tonight, they will be back out on the streets, looking for the next target. Im immensely proud of the work being performed by them.

Anyone with information on Mendezs whereabouts is urged to contact New Bedford police at 508-991-6300.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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(Getty/Penguin Random House)

The Duke of Sussexs long-awaited memoir will be released in January, publisher Penguin Random House announced today.

In a statement, it also revealed that Prince Harrys memoir, which was first announced last year, would be titled Spare.

In a description of the book, which is available for pre-order for 28, its blurb reads: It was one of the most searing images of the 20th century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mothers coffin as the world watched in sorrow - and horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on.

For Harry, this is that story at last.

With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Royal fans have been quick to share their reactions to the title of the book, which appears to be a play on the heir and the spare phrase that is often used for children of those direct in line to the British throne.

As William, Prince of Wales became the heir when he was born Prince Harry, as his younger brother, was labelled the spare.

Prince Harry calling his memoir Spare is a gorgeous shot, 10/10, no notes, will absolutely be buying, one user wrote on Twitter.

Prince Harry calling his memoir SPARE is a gorgeous shot, 10/10, no notes, will absolutely be buying   a good melon (alien superstar) (@levaudevillianv) October 27, 2022

Another added: The book is named Spare. Prince Harry ate that.

Buzzfeeds celebrity reporter, Stephanie Soteriou, tweeted: The power of Prince Harry calling his memoir Spare is just iconic.

The power of Prince Harry calling his memoir Spare is just  iconic.  Stephanie Soteriou (@StephanieRiou) October 27, 2022

Another person wrote: Harry calling his memoir Spare is absolutely sending me, accompanied by several sobbing emoji.

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Did Prince Harry just title his memoir Spare?!?! Yo this gonna [sic] be good, one fan predicted.

Another suggested that, by calling his memoir Spare, Harry was reclaiming a word that was meant as an insult.

Another person added: Even the title speaks volumes about the way he feels he has been treated.

Harry and the Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior members of the royal family in early 2020.

Later, Meghan Markle revealed she didnt feel as if she got the mental health support she needed while she was a working royal, and that she faced some racist comments ahead of the birth of her and Harrys first child, Archie.

Spare by Prince Harry will be released on 10 January 2023.
Midterm lawsuits are mounting as Election Day nears and early voting has opened in some states. Also in the news: Russia claims to have conducted a training aimed at executing a "massive nuclear strike." A USA TODAY report on how Ohio's fringe abortion law could set the stage for post-Roe America.

 I'm Nicole Fallert, the writer behind Daily Briefing. Comfy in your own skin? A famous artist needs over 2,500 people to pose in a massive nude photoshoot.

Let's go with Thursday's news.

Midterm lawsuits loom days away from voting

Election Day is 12 days away. But in courtrooms across the country, efforts to sow doubt over the outcome have already begun. Since the start of this year, more than 100 lawsuits have been filed largely by Republicans around the midterm election. They call into question mail-in voting rules, voter access, voting machines, voting registration, the counting of mismarked absentee ballots and access for partisan poll watchers.

Why it matters: Its the most litigation ever before an election  and its a strategy shift born of the failures of allies of former President Donald Trump to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Anxiety for Democrats: Pennsylvania Democrat John Fettermans 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 Bidens presidency.

Republican support is rising ahead of Election Day, with inflation driving voters.

Billionaires have 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.

There's also the actual voting part: A county in Nevada is scheduled to start an unprecedented hand count fueled by voting machine conspiracy theories.

A poll worker handles ballots for the midterm election, in the presence of observers from both Democrat and Republican parties, at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center (MCTEC) in Phoenix, Arizona, on October 25, 2022.

Putin oversees training for 'massive nuclear strike'

Russian 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. Meanwhile, the Kremlin acknowledged Wednesday a large number of Russia's new draftees have not being properly equipped for combat. Read more

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A photograph taken on October 24, 2022 shows a poster displaying a Russian soldier with a slogan reading 'Glory to the Heroes of Russia' decorating a street in Moscow on October 24, 2022.

More news to know now

 Good weather for pumpkin carving? Check your local forecast here.

Darrell Brooks found guilty of killing 6 with SUV in Wisconsin Christmas parade

Darrell Brooks Jr. was found guilty on dozens of criminal charges Wednesday after a jury found him responsible for driving through a 2021 Christmas parade, which left six people dead and dozens injured in Waukesha, a Milwaukee suburb. The jury deliberated for two hours Tuesday before coming back Wednesday morning. In total, it took the panel a little more than three hours to find Brooks guilty of all 76 charges brought against him in the attack, including six counts of first-degree intentional homicide, which carry mandatory life in prison terms. The four-week long trial was replete with disruptions and delays from Brooks, who decided to represent himself less than a week before the trial's first day. Read more

How Ohios fringe abortion law set the stage for post-Roe America

The story of how a onetime bellwether state like Ohio led a slow, determined push to steadily weaken and then nearly eliminate abortion rights is in many ways a case study for what has happened around the country. Long before the Supreme Court reversed Roe, anti-abortion activists recognized that demographic shifts and gerrymandered statehouse districts would entrench Republican majorities and allow them to push abortion restrictions that polls show are unpopular with most Americans. Read more

A second woman has accused Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker of paying for an abortion. Walker has denied the claim.

Kentucky voters could explicitly ban the right to abortions with state constitution amendment.

Alito: Leaked draft abortion opinion pinned conservative justices as ''targets for assassination.''

Arizona's attorney general and abortion rights groups have struck a deal to delay the enforcement of an 1864 abortion ban.

 Can't read this story about Ohio? That's because it's subscriber-only. If you'd like to support our newsroom's reporting, please consider joining our subscriber community.

Just for subscribers:

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Why 'Chief Twit' Elon Musk brought along a sink on his visit to Twitter headquarters

Elon Musk is sending public signals that he plans to complete his takeover of Twitter. The billionaire who runs Tesla and SpaceX posted a video clip of himself walking into Twitters San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink and tweeted: Let that sink in," referring to a popular meme. He also changed his Twitter bio to Chief Twit and made arrangements to address Twitter staff on Friday, the closing deadline for his $44 billion takeover of the company. He faces a Friday 5 p.m. ET deadline to complete the deal or litigation in a Delaware court will resume. A Twitter spokesman confirmed that Musk was in the companys headquarters this week. Read more

Elon Musk is sending public signals that he's ready to close his $44 billion deal for Twitter.

 Photo of the day: 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever': See Rihanna, Lupita Nyong'o, more on red carpet 

It's about time to yell "Wakanda forever!" once more. Written and directed by Ryan Coogler, the blockbuster Marvel sequel "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (in theaters Nov. 11) again puts the spotlight on the high-tech African nation  a central location in the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe. But things are different now than they were in 2018, when the original film became a pop-culture phenomenon and garnered a best picture Oscar nomination: Star Chadwick Boseman died two years ago. Read more

Namor's Mayan-inspired kingdom is a new foe in ''Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.''

Rihanna is leading the ''Wakanda Forever'' soundtrack. Here's what we know.

Click here to see more photos of the film's stars on the red carpet.

Barbadian singer Rihanna (L) and US rapper A$AP Rocky rrive for the world premiere of Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California, on October 26, 2022.

One more thing

Toni Morrison and Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be featured on US Postal Service "Forever" stamps in 2023

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note, shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this  subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Midterms, Darrell Brooks, Russia, abortion, Rihanna: Daily Briefing
A 2-year-old girl in China washed her fathers MacBook with soap after hearing him say it was full of trash during breakfast.

The incident happened inside the family's home in Chinas Shandong province on Oct. 20 when the girl's mother, surnamed Zhang, heard the water running inside their bathroom. Zhang was shocked to find her husbands MacBook submerged in soapy water and their daughter preparing to wash the laptop with more soap.

Zhang filmed the incident and latershared it online. The video shows the 2-year-old girl, nicknamed Duomi, washing the dirty laptop in a basin with water running over it. She prepares to lather the laptop with more soap before her mother pulls the MacBook out from the water.

Her father was asleep and snoring loudly. I heard someone was doing something in our bathroom, the mother reportedly told local newspaper Jinan Times. I entered the bathroom and saw what my daughter was doing. I almost died from anger.

More from NextShark: 'Welcome to hell': Video of handler abusing dog at training school in Singapore sparks outrage

She later explained that their daughter heard her father, surnamed Wang, complaining that there was too much trash on his computer while eating breakfast and took it upon herself to help clean it for him.

Zhang tried to turn on the 9,000 yuan (approximately $1,245) Apple laptop shortly after and again days later but to no avail. While the mother admitted she felt angry at first, she could not help but be amused by her daughter's gesture to help her father.

At that time I really wanted to hit her to teach her a lesson. But my second thought was that she is too young to understand what she did was wrong, she said.

More from NextShark: I'm tired of taking care of her: Japanese woman, 68, surrenders after suffocating bedridden daughter

The video reportedly went viral on Weibo, where it has been viewed over 100 million times. Some users found humor in the viral clip, with one writing, What a good job shes done! Only thing is that it wasted a computer.

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Another Weibo user shared a similar experience they had with a family member, writing, My younger sister liked washing mobile phones when she was two-three years old. My fathers, my mothers and my mobile were all put in the water by her. She has been beaten for this, but she didnt remember the lesson.

More from NextShark: Black Asian USC student faces backlash for advocating 'Lunar New Year' over 'Chinese New Year'

Featured Image via Hua Tuan Jin Cu

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Cherokee County father fatally shoots his teenage daughter before killing himself
(Getty)

Its a pure delight when celebrities pull out all the stops to bring us the most elaborate and outrageous Halloween costumes. Spooky season is the perfect time of the year for them to stretch their creative wings and transform themselves into someone (or something) else for a time.

But when it comes to celebrity couples, we have high expectations, especially for those who are known for loving all things Halloween. And boy, some of them do not disappoint. From punny pairings to classic couples, our favourite Halloween couple looks are always thoughtful, considered, and, most importantly, epic.

While some celebrities have got their costume choices spectacularly wrong in the past, as shown here, there are others who have pulled it off with flair. Here, weve ranked the best celebrity couple Halloween costumes of all time.

20. Beyonce and Jay-Z

A power couple dressed as another power couple? Power move. In 2016, Beyonce and Jay-Z dressed as iconic Barbie and Ken dolls complete with life-sized packaging boxes to pose in. However, they lose points for not making it a family affair and dressing Blue Ivy up as one of the younger Barbies. At least she wore a leather jacket with Barbie emblazoned on the back to keep it in theme.

19. Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson

(Instagram/Miley Cyrus)

When they were still dating in 2019, Miley Cyrus and Cody Simpson went full punk for Halloween by dressing as Billy Idol and his long-time girlfriend Perri Lister. Cyrus turned up the heat in a corset and thigh-high fishnet stockings, while Simpson was fully clad in black leather and studs. Rock on.

18. Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams

(Getty Images)

Sarah Hyland and Wells Adams are big-time fans of Halloween and have previously come out with some seriously good fancy dress, like Eleven and Dustin from Stranger Things in 2017 or David Bowie and Freddie Mercury in 2019. But their 2018 couples costume pun Taco Belle has a special place in our hearts.

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17. Brian Keys and Hunter McGrady

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Plus-size model Hunter McGrady and husband Brian Keys take on Prince Eric and Ariel from The Little Mermaid is super cute. No Ariel costume would be complete without a dinglehopper, which McGrady gamely raked through her red wig while her handsome prince stood by her side.

16. Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson

At the height of Game of Thrones fever in 2017, Khloe Kardashian and then-partner Tristan Thompson turned heads as Daenerys Tagaryen and Khal Drogo. Their highly elaborate costumes involved leather, fur, metallic armour, and fake tattoos. Thompson even sported fake facial hair to bring Khal Drogo to life. Sadly, modern-day Thompson is far from the sun and stars to Kardashian after his paternity scandal. Yikes.

15. Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake

(Getty/Casamigos)

NSYNC-era Justin Timberlake was the most iconic (not least because he was hanging on Britney Spearss arm), and Jessica Biel knows this. So in 2019, the 40-year-old star dressed up like her husband, curly ramen hair and all, and took centre stage while Timberlake dressed like a giant microphone to let his wife live her boyband dreams. Some dreams do come true.

14. Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmerman

(Getty Images for Casamigos)

The most Halloween-y of Halloween couples, Jack Skellington and Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, got the pop star treatment in 2019 when Steve Aoki and Nicole Zimmerman chose them for their Halloween look. While Aoki stayed true to Skellingtons signature stripes, Zimmerman glammed up Sallys look with a satin red jumpsuit and a silver-fringed jacket. Well allow it.

13. Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner absolutely killed it as the most romantic of spooky couples, Gomez and Morticia Addams. Perfection; no notes.

12. Dylan Sprouse and Barbara Palvin

(Getty Images for SVEDKA)

We love it when celebrities turn to non-Western pop culture for inspiration. Dylan Sprouse and girlfriend Barbara Palvin have dressed up as anime characters for Halloween at least twice now, but their take on Ashitaka and San from Studio Ghiblis Princess Mononoke in 2019 takes the cake.

11. Josh Duhamel and Fergie

(Getty Images)

The late Karl Lagerfelds love for his Birman cat Choupette ran so deep that he once said he wished he could marry her. He told CNN: There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals I never thought that I would fall in love like this with a cat. Looks like Josh Duhamel and Fergie decided to make his wish come true in 2015.

10. Emily Ratajkowski and Jeff Magid

(Getty)

Were not sure how much yellow body paint Emily Ratajkowski and her then-boyfriend Jeff Magid used to transform into Marge and Homer Simpson from The Simpsons in 2015. Twenty tubes? Fifty? Only the couple and their makeup artists will ever know.

9. Antoni Porowski and Kevin Harrington

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Who said VHS was dead? Well, it is at least declared undead thanks to Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski and his boyfriend Kevin Harrington, who dressed up as zombie Blockbuster employees covered in cobwebs and bits of popcorn in 2019.

8. Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld

(Getty Images for Good+ Foundatio)

The Big Bad Wolf revealed himself to be Jerry Seinfeld in 2018 when he and his wife Jessica dressed as characters from childhood fairytale favourite, the Little Red Riding Hood. The pair brought the cautionary tale to life for a good cause in 2018, when they hosted the GOOD+ Foundations third annual Halloween Bash.

7. Christian Siriano and Brad Walsh

(Getty)

Talk about surrealism meets realism. Designer Christian Siriano and his former husband Brad Walsh brought Picassos paintings to life in 2015 when they attended Heidi Klums annual Halloween party as real-life renditions of the artists cubist characters.

6. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom

(Startraks/Shutterstock)

Are you telling me these arent Hilary and Bill Clinton? we hear you say. Yes, thats correct  its actually Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom, who used facial prosthetics to transform themselves into the former US president and Democractic presidential candidate. This costume gets our vote for one of Perrys best ever.

5. Winnie Harlow and Kyle Kuzma

Bride of Frankenstein, but make it fashion, as Tyra Banks would say. Winnie Harlow certainly fulfilled the brief when she and former boyfriend Kyle Kuzma took on Frankensteins Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein in 2020.

4. Jenna Fischer and Lee Kirk

It turns out that The Office star Jenna Fischer and her husband Lee Kirk are bigger fans of The Great British Bake Off than anyone else. In 2019, the couple dressed up as judges Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. While the latter is still a judge on the show, Mary Berry was replaced by Prue Leith in 2016. Time for some judging of our own  while Fischer nails Berrys national treasure look, we think Kirk hasnt quite got the steely blue-eyed stare Hollywood is known for. Better luck next time.

3. The Weeknd and Bella Hadid

(Getty Images for SVEDKA Vodka)

Legend has it that if you call out, Beetlejuice! three times, The Weeknd will appear.

2. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend

In memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, we just had to include Chrissy Teigen and John Legends 2018 Halloween costumes. They dressed as the royal couple, with Legends red costume adorned with medals and Teigen matching the colour of her hat to her coat, just like the late monarch was known for doing. Its what she wouldve wanted.

1. Heidi Klum and Tom Kaulitz

(Getty Images for Heidi Klum)

Heidi Klum is the undisputed queen of Halloween, and this costume was her ultimate best. At the 20th anniversary of her legendary Halloween parties, Klum set the bar in outer space when she slithered out of a biohazard truck with bloodied glass windows with her husband Tom Kaulitz, who dressed as a zombie astronaut. Presumably, her outfit was so good that it killed him. Heidi remains undefeated.
Three Asian countries have made it into the list of National Geographics breathtaking places to visit in 2023.

The 25 locations, chosen for their "wonder, rewarding to travelers of all ages, and supportive of local communities and ecosystems," are framed under the five categories of Community, Nature, Culture, Family and Adventure.

The first Asian location mentioned in the National Geographic list is Laos, a country in Southeast Asia known for its amazing views and unexplored lands. Also called the Land of the Million Elephants, Laos is one of the countries in the region separated by the Mekong River, along with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

More from NextShark: Thailand now officially recognizes esports as a professional sport

Next up on the list is Busan in South Korea. With a population of around 3.6 million, Busan is regarded as the second-most populous city in South Korea after the capital, Seoul, with over 9.9 million residents.

Home of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the city offers a wide range of parks to visit, including the APEC Naru Park, which has an overlook view of the Gwangan Bridge (or Diamond Bridge). The U.N. Memorial Cemetery and Park, a park dedicated to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War, can also be found in Busan.

More from NextShark: How Asian countries voted on UN resolution demanding Russia withdraw from Ukraine

The last location in Asia featured on National Geographics 25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023 is Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Luoyang City in Central Chinas Henan Province.

The Longmen Grottoes contain Chinas largest and most impressive Chinese stone carving art from the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907). The site has over 2,300 caves and niches, almost 110,000 Buddhist stone statues and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles.

More from NextShark: Vietnamese parents forced to buy back children as human trafficking crisis in Cambodia escalates

The statues found on the grottoes were entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion.

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Featured Image via Gary Todd

More from NextShark: Los Angeles-Hong Kong business class fare reaches $13,000 after quarantine requirements dropped
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.
SHEFFIELD, Mass. (AP)  Three students from India who were attending universities in Connecticut died in a two-vehicle crash in western Massachusetts this week, authorities said Thursday.

Five other people were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries suffered in the crash at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday in Sheffield, according to a statement from the Berkshire district attorney's office.

A northbound minivan occupied by seven people collided with a southbound pickup truck with just a driver, authorities said.

Six people in the minivan attended the University of New Haven and one attended Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, according to the district attorney's office.

The three people who died at the scene were identified by prosecutors as Prem Kumar Reddy Goda, 27; Pavani Gullapally, 22; and Sai Narasimha Patamsetti, 22. The four people who were in the van who survived were all 22 or 23.

Goda was studying for his master's in computer science at Sacred Heart, the university confirmed.

Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to Prems family, friends and those of you who knew him," Dean Catherine McCabe of the school's college of business and technology said in a statement.

Patamsetti was a business analytics graduate student and Gullapally was a civil engineering graduate student, New Haven Dean of Students Ophelie Rowe-Allen said in a statement.

The driver of the truck was a 46-year-old local man.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
MARS-II RADAR SYSTEM

According to the statement, in total Ukraine received five MARS II MLRS and 14 PzH-2000 howitzers  as part of a joint effort with the Netherlands. The report also says that Berlin handed over two naval drones to Kyiv, and is preparing to hand over 6,100 155mm artillery shells and 186,000 shells for 40mm grenade launchers.

Read also: German foreign minister calls air defense systems a priority for Ukraine, not tanks

This latest package of German security assistance to Ukraine was initially announced on Oct 12.

On Oct. 11, Germany announced it has handed over the first IRIS-T air defense system to Ukraine. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that Germany will transfer three more IRIS-Ts to Kyiv as soon as they are manufactured.

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

Ukrainian Air Force recently said IRIS-T turned out to be exceptionally effective at securing critical infrastructure against Russian missile and drone strikes.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
adidas + KANYE WEST New Partnership Announcement

Adidas CMO Eric Liedtke and Kanye West at Milk Studios on June 28, 2016 in Hollywood, Calif. Credit - Jonathan LeibsonGetty Images

The news earlier this week that Adidas had become the latest company to end a product relationship with Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, was neither surprising nor unexpected. Pressure was mounting in the wake of Yes conspiratorial antisemitic remarks, and the walls were closing in on him as more and more celebrities and other public figures spoke out.

But just as companies lined up to end their partnerships with Ye, extremists were embracing him. White supremacists were praising him and raising their arms in Nazi salutes. Faced with this pressure, the Adidas decision should have been inevitable. And yet, the company internally wrestled with this for nearly two weeks, even as Ye doubled down on his hateful words.

Even in the face of direct tauntsYe told a podcaster I can say antisemitic s*** and Adidas cant drop methe German companys leadership seemed unmoved. For a company whose founders were Nazis, who supported the Hitler Youth movement and signed letters Heil Hitler, their silence was deafening.

Ultimately, Adidas did the right thing and got out of the business of bigotry. They dropped Ye. But their failure to take more immediate action in the face of Yes unrepentant antisemitism raises new questions about corporate responsibility in the face of hate. These questions will continue to have larger repercussions for corporate America, especially as even more massive social media brands like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube grapple with how to effectively counter the rising antisemitism and harassment on their own platforms.

What role do large companies play in countering hate? How responsible are companies for the hate their brand ambassadors, partners, employees, orin the case of social media companieseven their users espouse? As head of ADL, one of the oldest organizations fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate in the U.S., these are questions we tackle every day. In the case of Adidas, the answer was clear, which is why I engaged in tough conversations with Adidas executives, institutional investors and shareholders, and many others over the past two weeks, to get them to take meaningful action.

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Read More: Adidas Dark History Is in the Spotlight as It Ends Deal With Kanye West Over His Antisemitic Comments

All of these questions matter deeply. We cant end hate if we overlook it. And although no act of hate should go unchecked, the damage done by Yes unapologetic antisemitism is immeasurable.

Ye is no run-of-the-mill misguided celebrity. Hes on another level completely. Ye is one of the most well-known entertainers in the world. Hes a celebrity with hundreds of millions of fansmore than 31 million fans on Twitter alone and one of the most widely followed people on the platform. To put that in perspective, his Twitter following alone is more than double the entirety of the world Jewish population. And hes more than a celebrity, hes also a massive profit center for several consumer brands and a brand in and of himself.

So, when he wore a racist White Lives Matter shirt and then launched into anti-Jewish tirades, it was critical that everyone speak out and for brands to step up to do the right thing. After all, Ye was crystal clear in his antisemitism. The antisemitic conspiracy theories Ye unleashed have been around for millennia: Jewish power, Jewish control of Hollywood, Jewish greed, and Jewish responsibility for societal problems. These are all classic antisemitic tropes.

While it is bad enough to hear these ideas espoused in a closed white supremacist Facebook group, it is quite another to hear a celebrity pull the proverbial genie out of the bottle in front of millions.

Whats worse, Yes remarks came in an environment when antisemitic incidents have reached a historic, 40-year high. Four years ago to this day, a white supremacist who imbibed in similar hateful theories barged into the Tree of Life synagogue and murdered 11 worshippers. This attack and others are still fresh in peoples minds. The American Jewish community remains on edge and continues to live in significant fear and anxiety. We know all too well that when a celebrity of Yes stature takes to his platforms and claims Jews are out to get him, all it takes is one person to take those words to heart and to take action.

Which brings me back to Adidass initial silence in the face of Yes hate speech.

At a time when participation in organized religion is down significantly and when faith in our civic institutions and government is near historic lows, corporate brands are playing a more critical role as cultural trend-setters, societal advocates and role models. Today, many people define themselves through their connection to brands, whether it is a shoe company or social media platform. In short, brands matter.

And when household-name brands like Adidas say they uphold a set of values, such as opposition to racism, antisemitism and other forms of hate, they should be expected to abide by them. Which explains the reaction to Adidas when, at first, they apparently didnt.

We will not win the battle for hearts and mindsor end antisemitism, racism, and hatewithout corporate support. But it doesnt stop there: Government leaders need to take more of a role too, both in denouncing hate even when it emanates from within their own ranks and in pushing forward policies that take aim at companies who allow hatred to spread.

It takes a whole-of-society approach. And if theres anything to learn from the Adidas debacle, more and more Americans are looking to our corporate and civic leaders to step up.
An ex-Air Force lieutenant colonel from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey faced a court-martial before the militarys top court yesterday.

Former Lt. Col. Norbert King II, previously of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron, was charged with sexual assault and committing a sexual act upon a minor, according to court documents.

King was found guilty by a panel at his base in Aug. 2018 and was sentenced to three years of confinement and dismissal from the service. His sentence was affirmed by the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals in Aug. 2021 before it was subsequently heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces yesterday.

Airman who plotted to kill spouse for insurance money appears in court

The allegations against King stemmed from an incident in Sept. 2016, when he sexually assaulted his 17-year-old daughter at their home. The minor fled to a nearby friends house, whose parents called the police. Forensic testing later found male DNA on her clothes that did not exclude King as a suspect.

During the early stages of the case, an individual from the court-martial panel was removed after being selected to attend Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. While prosecutors asserted that the removal was appropriate, Kings defense team decried the move and argued it should warrant reversing Kings conviction and sentence.

This particular case marks only one of several sexual assault court-martial cases the top military court will be hearing this term. Of the 12 cases the court has heard or announced it will hear before the end of the year, eight relate to sexual assault.

Military sexual assault reform is slow going, but thats the plan

The Department of Defense released its annual sexual assault prevention report last month, which demonstrated how the militarys sexual assault problem has only gotten worse.

The status of when a final decision will be reached in Kings trial is unclear at this time.
WASHINGTON  The Air Force is planning to replace the two squadrons of F-15C Eagle fighters it has stationed at Kadena Air Base in Japan with a rotational force of fighters.

A source familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because the Pentagon hasnt yet announced its plans, said the rotational force will be at least a short-term solution to replace the F-15Cs stationed on the Okinawa base as the older fighters are retired.

Kadena now has at least 48 F-15s as part of the 18th Wings 44th and 67th fighter squadrons.

The source said the Defense Department hasnt decided on the longer-term plan for Kadenas fighter force, and whether the base will stick with having squadrons of fighters rotating through on temporary deployments or whether other fighter units will be permanently deployed.

It will also take a while for Kadenas F-15Cs to return to the United States, the source said. The Air Force typically flies aircraft back in waves in these situations, and backfills them with rotational forces in the interim.

Financial Times first reported the Air Forces plan to move to a system of rotational fighter deployments at Kadena.

The Air Force and Pentagon would not comment on the record by press time.

The Air Force is moving to retire large swaths of its aging F-15C fleet, many of which are pushing 40 years old and reaching the end of their lives, and replace them with newly-built F-15EX fighters.

Congress gave the Air Force permission to retire 48 F-15C and D fighters, the services full request, as part of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The Air Force also wants to cut another 61 F-15Cs in 2023. This would reduce the F-15C fleet to 107, roughly half its 2021 size.

Kadenas 18th Wing also has E-3 Sentries, KC-135 Stratotankers, and HH-60G Pave Hawks.
Amal Clooney revealed that her and husband George Clooneys son drew a picture of a prison and said that President Vladimir Putin should be there amid Russias ongoing war on Ukraine.

The 44-year-old human rights lawyer opened up about her five-year-old twins, Ella and Alexander, on Tuesday, while appearing at the launch of the Get Her There campaign, which is program that aims to improve eduction opportunities for girls all across the country.

Speaking on the panel with Michelle Obama and Melinda Gates, Amal expressed how her children are the real driving force behind the work that she does for the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which she co-founded with her husband.

She also noted that while her children arent quite on top of current events, Alexander has noticed some of the work shes doing on the affairs happening in Ukraine, including Putins invasion of the country.

My son drew a picture the other day of a prison, and he was like, Putin should be here, Amal shared during the panel, via People.

Amal also explained that she will keep speaking to her children about current events, as they continue to get older.

I do think about in a few years when theyre more than five when they start to learn about some of these issues that were talking about and whats happening in the world, she continued. When they ask us, What did you do about this? What did you say about that? Ive thought about what will my answer be, and I hope it will be a good one.

George and Amal, who married in 2014 and welcomed their children in 2017, have previously spoken out about their family. During an interview with Today earlier this month, the 61-year-old actor joked that hed like to be out of it when his daughter begins to date.

No. I kind of like the idea of being sort of out of it, when my daughter starts to date, he said, before imitating his daughter in the future as she says: Papa, I want you to meet ... hes a drummer in a band.

In December 2020, he also revealed the dumb parenting mistake that he made by allowing his children to learn Italian, since both George and Amal dont speak language.

We did a really dumb thing which is, they speak fluent Italian, the Midnight Sky star said, while appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! I mean fluent Italian at three. But I dont speak Italian, my wife doesnt speak Italian, so weve armed them with a language.
An American who volunteered to fight against Russia in Ukraine described the carnage he saw on the front lines  saying the battle for Ukrainians is against "pure evil."

"Anybody in the West that asks Ukraine to just do peace talks, they need to go through these villages. They need to see what's been done to these people," said the man, who wants to be known only by his call sign, Elvis.

"This is nothing like any conflict in the past 70 to 80 years," he told CBS News. "This war is not sustainable, for either side."

Originally from Tennessee, Elvis fought in Ukraine because he was horrified by Russia's invasion of the country. While there, he said he repeatedly witnessed Russian forces using white phosphorus munitions  something Russia previously denied.

"It comes down extremely slow, but there's nothing you can do, and everything it touches just incinerates," Elvis said, describing one incident where he witnessed between 20 and 30 Ukrainian fighters "burning alive" before some committed suicide to end their suffering.

"A lot of guys have suicide pistols, and you'd hear them scream, and then they would say goodbye and then blow their own heads off," he said.

What is white phosphorus, and what does it mean that Russia may be using it in Ukraine?

White phosphorus is a wax-like chemical substance that ignites instantly when it comes into contact with oxygen. Its primary function in weaponry is to burn brightly, and it is used in incendiary munitions by militaries around the world, including the United States, often to illuminate targets as part of tracer munitions at night.

But it can be extremely dangerous when used as a weapon, causing deep burns, even through bone.

"There are certain weapons that I've seen used on the battlefield in Ukraine that  okay, it's war, I get it  but there's certain weapons that are used that, if the rest of world could see what they cause, what that looks like when someone dies because of that, there would be a lot bigger outcry," Elvis said.

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The fighter said he has been traumatized by his experience on the battlefield, and that he's worried one of his fellow fighters may commit suicide because of what they went through together.

But he believes Ukraine's fight against Russia's invasion is a righteous war. And he wants more to be done to stop the conflict.

"If China invaded the U.S., hypothetically, leveled Los Angeles, leveled Seattle, Portland, massacred thousands, do you think the U.S. would just sue for peace? No," he said.

Affirmative action before Supreme Court again: CBS News Flash Oct. 31, 2022

An update on "Ballet in Exile" | 60 Minutes

David Sedaris: The 60 Minutes Interview
By Greg Torode

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping's new generals may have been selected for their political loyalty to him, but those ties could serve at least one vital military purpose in any Taiwan invasion plan: ensuring cohesion and decisiveness.

Although the Politburo's seven-man Standing Committee would make the ultimate decision on any Taiwan action, the Central Military Commission would forge and execute the battle plan, eight Asian and Western military attaches say.

Three new generals were appointed to the top command body on Sunday after the Communist Party's five-yearly congress - an event at which Xi said China would "never promise to give up the use of force" to take control of the self-ruled island.

Four security analysts and four military attaches say Russia's Ukrainian quagmire has shown how vital speed - both in build-up and execution - would be to any Chinese plan, in part to prevent Taiwanese forces and international support from mobilising.

"If Xi Jinping is going to the pull the trigger on Taiwan, then he can't afford any dissent from the Central Military Commission," said Singapore-based strategic adviser Alexander Neill.

"To secure any kind of advantage they would have to move fast, lightning fast," Neill added. "There is no room for dithering. That has always been Chinese thinking on Taiwan, and the Ukraine stalemate has confirmed the need to avoid getting bogged down in a slow logistical build up."

In his first two terms, Xi purged thousands of officers on corruption allegations and has attempted to tighten the party's control over the military.

Xi further strengthened his grip on his military command, with three new generals appointed to the seven-person commission and an extension beyond retirement age granted to his closest military confidante, General Zhang Youxia.

"This breaking of precedent is being used to his advantage to achieve two aims at once," said James Char, a military scholar at Sinagpore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, referring to keeping Zhang in his post past retirement. "To ensure the PLA's top soldier is someone well-versed in operational command and is politically reliable."

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The Chinese Defence Ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters.

Some analysts and attaches described the commission as a tightly interconnected group that blends operational experience and political loyalty while maintaining a link to China's last shooting war, against Vietnam.

Zhang, 72, is described in the Pentagon's 2021 report on China's military modernisation as a People's Liberation Army "princeling" whose father served with Xi's father at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.

One of Zhang's proteges, General Li Shangfu, was also promoted to the commission. Crucially, Li has experience with the People's Liberation Army's digitised strategic support forces, a body that covers electronic, cyber and space warfare.

General He Weidong will serve as the second vice-chairman below Zhang. He was promoted to the position after his command of the reformed Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for Taiwan operations.

He oversaw the unprecedented military drills and missile tests surrounding Taiwan in August that Beijing unleashed to protest the visit to Taipei by U.S. House of Representatives leader Nancy Pelosi.

General He is widely known to be connected to Xi through his service in the former 31st Group Army in Fujian during Xi's time in that province, which faces Taiwan.

It is a background He shares with leading political commissar Admiral Miao Hua, who remains on the commission.

The new line-up straddles a military generation, given the promotion of General Liu Zhenli, who has been in command of forces around Beijing and has experience in the People's Armed Police, China's internal security forces.

Liu, 58, along with Zhang, has combat experience dating to the ill-fated conflict with Vietnam, which rumbled on to the late 1980s.

"That link to the problematic Vietnam campaign is a reminder that for all of the PLA's advances in recent years, there is a glaring lack of modern combat experience," said one Asian military attache, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"All the drills, exercises and parades can't replace that. As cohesive as this team might be, there are glaring questions about the PLA's ability to wage war - for them, and for those of us on the outside looking in," added the attache, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Which member of the commission will serve as Defence Minister, replacing the retiring Wei Fenghe, will emerge when the National People's Congress confirms a new governing team in March.

The position, which includes an extensive military-diplomatic role, is seen as less crucial than the work of the commission itself, which operates amid strict secrecy out of an imposing command centre in western Beijing.

(Reporting By Greg Torode. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Darwin Nunez celebrates scoring Liverpools second goal against Ajax (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire)

Andy Robertson has praised Darwin Nunezs start at Liverpool and says comparing the Uruguayan to Erling Haaland is not fair.

Nunez headed in from Robertsons corner in Wednesdays 3-0 Champions League win at Ajax to register his sixth Reds goal since joining them from Benfica in June.

That has come in a total of 13 appearances, with the 23-year-old forward part of the starting line-up in only seven of those games.

Asked about expectations on Nunez and comparisons with Haaland, who has continued his remarkable scoring record with 22 goals in 16 Manchester City starts following his summer move from Borussia Dortmund, Robertson said: The only reason theyre getting compared is because they play the same position and they moved in the same window.

Really its not fair on anyone  if it was vice versa, it wouldnt be fair on Haaland either. Its two incredible players, and were delighted to have Darwin here.

Hes still young, which everyone forgets, and in front of goal hes been really clinical, in terms of hes maybe not played as many minutes, with the three-game ban (served in August after being sent off against Crystal Palace) and a couple of injuries.

And hes still adapting, but hes getting there, and (on Wednesday) you could really see what his threats are. I think he caused Ajax a lot of problems and they were always worried about him, and he got his goal that he definitely deserved.

The left-back added: I think he has settled in really well. His English is getting better, hes settled with his family and things like that, and that always helps off the pitch. And then on the pitch, I think hes settling really well. His goal-to-minute ratio is very good.

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And you can see the problems he can cause, in behind and hes a strong runner and he can be powerful in the air. He took his goal very well.

Nunez scored shortly after the interval, to make it 2-0, having missed a good chance just before half-time, seeing his strike come back off a post.

And Robertson said: He was really disappointed with himself at half-time, we had to kind of tell him not to beat himself up too much. But luckily he reacted really well and at the start of the second half he goes and gets his goal.

Its a big miss at the end of the first half, of course it is, but good strikers react. He was really disappointed, but he obviously used that disappointment to his advantage in terms of being angry and wanting to be in front of goal again, he didnt shy away from that, and it was an unbelievable header and thats what good strikers do.

Its a hell of a sign for him to bounce back from that, go again and get the goal he needed, and it certainly helped the team as well.

Liverpool secured a place in the Champions League last 16 with a game to spare with the win at the Johan Cruyff Arena, having needed only a point.

Napoli and Liverpool progress from Group A. Who will go furthest?#UCL pic.twitter.com/9ukezaTwug  UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 26, 2022

The first half saw Ajax show the greater attacking threat, including Steven Berghuis rattling the woodwork early on, before Jurgen Klopps men took the lead via Mohamed Salahs 42nd-minute finish.

Nunez hit a post two minutes later, then extended the lead four minutes into the second half, and Harvey Elliott subsequently wrapped things up with a fine strike another three minutes after that.

Liverpool join Group A leaders Napoli in the next round ahead of concluding their group campaign on Tuesday by hosting the Italian side, who they are three points behind and lost 4-1 to in their European campaign opener.

Before that match, they are back in Premier League action on Saturday evening, taking on Leeds at Anfield.
(Bloomberg) -- When Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took to a stage in July to discuss his plan to ban the states pension system from including Environmental, Social and Governance factors in its investment decisions, he framed it as a way to keep politics out of the process.

Most Read from Bloomberg

What DeSantis didnt mention is that the $200 billion Florida Retirement System is already being used in a very small way to serve ideological and social objectives. They just happen to jibe with the interests of the governor and his two fellow Republican trustees.

Our economys going to be much better off if everything is not politicized, DeSantis said while standing in front of a bright red sign proclaiming GOVERNMENT of LAWS. NOT WOKE CEOs.

Under DeSantis, the State Board of Administration, which manages Floridas pensions and other funds, has halted new investment in the parent of a popular ice cream brand for closing shops in Israeli-controlled territories. And its continued to support a program whose primary mission is to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into supporting Florida businesses and jobs.

In response to questions, DeSantiss press office referred to his earlier statements on ESG.

As a fiduciary, the State Board of Administrations (SBA) obligation has been and will continue to be focused on maximizing returns for our states most important public servants over and above political, social and ideological objectives, Emilie Oglesby, an SBA spokeswoman, said in an email. Neither the SBA nor its managers use ESG ratings as a way to screen or limit the available investment opportunity set.

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The US Labor Department, the federal regulator that oversees corporate pensions and whose guidance is followed by many public ones, has lumped programs like Floridas together with ESG under the rubric of impact or economically targeted investing.

When pension trustees pursue such side hustles, financial returns and risk to beneficiaries must be paramount, the agency has said. The cost of veering from these guidelines could mount quickly as public funds rush to enact policies for or against ESG, and around controversial investments such as firearms and energy.

The Florida Retirement System has been a solid performer in recent years, posting a 9.6% annual return in the decade through June 2020, according to the National Association of State Retirement Administrators. That put it ahead of most public pension systems and in line with mega-cap peers in states like California, New York and Wisconsin.

To hear DeSantis tell it, his states ban on ESG is part of a policy of pursuing a lone objective. Investment decisions must be based purely on pecuniary factors [which] do not include the consideration of the furtherance of social, political, or ideological interests, his office said in unveiling the anti-ESG policy.

The term pecuniary factors was originally coined by Donald Trumps Labor Department and has been interpreted by Wall Street as code for a hardline policy against ESG and other mission-related investments, according to Joshua Lichtenstein, a partner in Ropes & Grays ESG practice.

Its a very specific term with a very specific history, he says. DeSantiss language indicates a strict interpretation.

The governor left no doubt that his interpretation of pecuniary factors excludes ESG. But apparently not Judea and Samaria, as he described the Israeli-occupied territories where Ben & Jerrys closed its shops, triggering Floridas investment office to add the parent to its scrutinized companies that boycott Israel list in July 2021.

As a matter of law and principle, the State of Florida will not tolerate discrimination against the State of Israel or the Israeli people, the governor said in a press release at the time. I will not stand idly by as woke corporate ideologues seek to boycott and divest from our ally, Israel.

The decision, which prohibits new investments but does not require divestment from existing ones, affected Unilever Plc, which acquired Ben & Jerrys in 2000. The British consumer goods giant has been a relatively strong performer this year, with its stock dipping slightly amid double-digit market losses.

Separately, the State Board of Administration runs an impact-investing initiative known as the Florida Growth Fund. It focuses on technology and growth enterprises that have a significant presence in the state of Florida.

The result of a 2008 law, it has invested over $800 million in 69 technology and growth companies and 46 private-equity funds under DeSantis and his predecessors. Enterprises that have received program funds have put $1.6 billion into capital spending and created 23,658 jobs, which was consistent with increases in statewide jobs, according to a January report by Floridas Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability.

For Floridas investment office, the growth program appears to have yielded mediocre results. Three of its funds, founded between 2009 and 2014, have performed in the second, third and fourth quartiles among peers, according to Bloomberg data.

It is the job of the SBA to comply with all laws adopted by the Florida Legislature and all rules and policies of the Trustees regardless of the laws enactment date, spokeswoman Oglesby said. She declined comment on specific investments.

Florida has plenty of company in straying from the pecuniary straight-and-narrow. Scores of public, corporate and union pensions make economically targeted investments to support favored causes, including tech ventures, affordable housing and job creation. In targeting companies deemed hostile toward Israel, Florida has been joined by states as politically diverse as Arizona, New Jersey, New York and Texas.

Read More: BlackRock ESG Troubles Mount as Missouri Pulls $500 Million

Politics isnt the only factor animating the ESG debate. Investors also remain split over whether its goal is to save the world or merely screen a portfolio for assets especially vulnerable to risks like climate change.

The confusion was on display in Texas last summer when the state boycotted financial firms that shun fossil fuel investments. The following month, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas added an ESG reference to its investment policy statement.

In making investment decisions, the Investment Division will consider ESG factors that are material to long-term returns and levels of risk, it said.

In Florida, the governor is not the only one playing ESG politics. BNY Mellon listed the Florida SBAs adoption of its ESG data and analytics among its accomplishments in its 2021 Enterprise ESG Report. The bank was compensated for its analytics software not with dollars but with the right to put out a joint press release, according to a contract between a bank affiliate and Florida's investment office that was obtained through a public records request.

BNY Mellon declined to comment, citing a policy of not discussing client matters.

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PITTSBURGH (AP)  In what has become an annual ritual, Pittsburgh's Jewish community Thursday honored the memory of the 11 Jews who were murdered on this date in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

For many community leaders, their grief is mixed with dismay over the continued and growing incidents of antisemitism in the United States and beyond.

That included the widely publicized comments of Ye, the rap superstar formerly known as Kanye West, who voiced antisemitic stereotypes in interviews and social media, including a tweet that he would soon go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE."

It is horribly sad that this week as our community tries to remember and heal, we are retraumatized with antisemitism once again making the headlines," said a statement from Laura Cherner, director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh.

It is horrifying to see someone with such large platform casually espouse antisemitic conspiracy theories with such conviction and little regard for the violent impact his words may have," she added.

Thursday's ceremony, held outdoors in Pittsburgh's Schenley Park on a balmy autumn afternoon, was marked by music, prayers in Hebrew and English, and candle-lighting.

Despite concerns over rising antisemitism, participants said afterward they were focused on remembering the victims and what they stood for in being martyred during worship.

We're not defined by the people who would do us harm, said Lauren Bairnsfather, director of the Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh and one of the event's speakers. "We're defined by our culture and tradition and the way we treat people. Remembrance is a strong part of it. I feel rising in me the strong commitment to live a Jewish life."

Audrey Glickman, a survivor of the attack, agreed. As troubling as comments like Ye's are, at least now it's out in front, she said. People can see it, and people are saying, 'That isn't good,' instead of it being underground.

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The Anti-Defamation League recorded 2,717 incidents of harassment, vandalism or violence targeting Jews in 2021  the highest annual total since it began tracking these incidents in 1979.

We don't see any meaningful decrease in 2022, added Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL's CEO.

Words often lead to action, he warned. Theres a reason thats so worrying to a community that was worrying before."

The concern also has risen after former President Donald Trump stated on his social media platform that U.S. Jews need to get their act together and show appreciation for Israel before it's too late. Trump said American Jewish voters, most of whom voted for his opponents, failed to appreciate what he has done for Israel.

Jewish advocates say that builds on antisemitic tropes that Jewish loyalties belong more to Israel than the U.S., with Greenblatt saying Trump's too late phrase sounds like a threat in an environment where Jews already feel threatened.

Antisemitism is also on the mind of top political leaders, including President Joe Biden.

In a statement, he mourned the attack: We stand with the community of Squirrel Hilland Jewish communities across America and around the worldin resolving to combat antisemitism and hate in all of its forms. This is especially true as we witness an ugly increase in antisemitism in America.

The Tree of Life shootings claimed the lives of 11 worshippers from the host congregation and two other congregations worshipping in its building, Dor Hadash and New Light.

It was followed by deadly attacks at a synagogue in California, a kosher market in New Jersey and a Hanukkah house party in New York, and by a hostage standoff at a Texas synagogue  each committed by assailants who targeted Jews, authorities said.

Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president for the Union for Reform Judaism, said Ye's words come amid a rise in antisemitism from the right and the left and pretty much across the spectrum."

The increase is in not only rhetoric, but in physical attacks on Jews and the Jewish community, he said.

A federal judge has set an April trial date for Robert Bowers, who faces more than 60 federal charges related to the Tree of Life massacre, including alleged hate crimes. He has pleaded not guilty. He could face the death penalty.

The three targeted congregations are now meeting in neighboring synagogues. A new Tree of Life nonprofit organization is currently raising funds toward renovating the now-shuttered synagogue as a complex that would house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism.

Jacobs applauded the move by apparel company Adidas to cut its sponsorship ties with Ye, though he said that is just a start

To have someone like Kanye West spewing out the hate, the vitriol and the really pure form of anti-Semitism is extraordinarily impactful and painful and needs to have strong responses," Jacobs said.

Cherner, of the Pittsburgh Jewish federation, said vigilance against antisemitism must be constant.

The Jewish community fears that after a handful of non-Jewish celebrities speak out with a generic statement about condemning antisemitism, we will never hear from them on the topic again, she said. The community is tired of saying Never again when antisemitism continues to be on the rise and Jews continue to be targets of conspiracy theories and violence.

Holly Huffnagle, U.S. director for combating antisemitism at the American Jewish Committee, noted that it was Ye's death con tweet where everyone woke up.

But Ye had gotten by with much less controversy after making numerous other troubling comments, she said, such as associating Jews with greed and secret power.

Ye also seeming to draw on claims that have circulated in some Black nationalist circles, that Black people rather than modern Ashkenazi Jews are the true descendants of Israel, Huffnagle said. The attackers of the New Jersey kosher market shared that ideology, she said.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
A man wanted for shooting a woman in the leg has not been caught hours after a standoff in southwest Atlanta.

Channel 2s Candace McCowan reported from the SWAT scene live on WSB Tonight at 11 p.m. Wednesday.

Police responded to 1939 Shepherd Circle around 6:12 p.m. after getting a call about a person shot.

They found a woman shot in the leg. She went to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators say she was shot by her boyfriend who was still inside the home.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police blocked off part of the neighborhood for hours. Doorbell camera video shared with McCowan showed SWAT team officers running through a yard.

The standoff ended overnight. Police told Channel 2 that the man was not inside the house and they are still looking for him.

Police were able to find the suspects gun in the house.

No description of the shooter has been released.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
PHOENIX (AP)  The Republicans on a rural Arizona county board that wanted to conduct a full hand count in the upcoming midterm vote have clarified they will follow Arizona state law allowing only partial hand counts following a harshly worded letter from the state's election director who threatened legal action.

The Board wishes to follow all applicable requirements in statutes and the Elections Procedure Manual when conducting its expanded precinct hand count audit, reads the Wednesday letter signed by Cochise County Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby. The third supervisor, Democrat Ann English, had voted against a full hand count and did not sign.

That will mean that there will not be a full count of every item on every ballot, said the letter that the two board members sent to Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and State Elections Director Kori Lorick after an emergency meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Hobbs appeared satisfied in a response on her secretary of state Twitter account.

Under Arizona law, counties hand count ballots from a percentage of voting locations to ensure initial results are accurate," she wrote. "Cochise County clarified that they voted to expand this audit and will not attempt an unlawful hand count of every race on every ballot.

Confusion was widespread after the board voted 2-1 to Monday approve a 100% county wide hand count audit of the votes in the midterm election after a chaotic hours-long meeting attended by more than 100 people. Cochise County is located in southeastern Arizona along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Lorick said in a letter to the board Tuesday that she had serious concerns about its intentions, particularly considering the lack of any details and the fact that the election is just two weeks away.

Lorick said a specific Arizona statute cited in the measure approved for a precinct hand count details how such a count can be carried out and must exclude early ballots that comprise about 80% of votes in Arizona.

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The board members in heavily Republican Cochise County have been under intense pressure to allow a hand count of all ballots from voters who believed false claims of fraud in the 2020 vote.

Theres no evidence in Arizona or elsewhere in the United States that fraud, problems with ballot-counting equipment or other voting issues had any impact on the 2020 presidential election outcome.

Republican Kari Lake grabbed onto Lorick's letter to bash Hobbs, the Democrat she is competing against for the governors seat in the upcoming election.

Lake accused Hobbs of arrogance toward local officials who are trying to restore faith and confidence in our elections and said the Cochise board has every right to expand the statutory hand count.

A federal judge in August dismissed a lawsuit by Lake and Mark Finchem, the Republican nominee to replace Hobbs as secretary of state. The suit sought to require the states officials to count ballots by hand in November because of unfounded claims of voting machine problems.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors that oversees a largely rural area east of Phoenix is also being pressured by constituents to do a hand count.

When asked about that possibility, Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer told the board Wednesday that the Arizona law requiring a sample hand count of precincts to check on vote counting machines was put in place about 20 years ago and bars counties from expanding them.

Once they put those put those proscriptions in place, once they put those statutory guidelines in place, we cannot go out of bounds, Volkmer said. So yes, it would be illegal at this point to do a full hand count.

Pinal County Supervisor Kevin Cavanagh pressed the issue, even while acknowledging it doesn't appear to be legally available. He asked the county attorney to return for a more detailed presentation at a meeting next week where the board will consider hand counts again.

And that would be a discussion and possible action item, Cavanaugh said.

___

AP Writer Bob Christie contributed to this report from Phoenix.

____

Follow APs coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections

Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections.
Photo: Mario Tama (Getty Images)

On Wednesday, Phoenix police confirmed that the campaign headquarters of Katie Hobbs, Arizonas secretary of state and the Democratic nominee for governor, had been burglarized the evening before. According to a police spokesperson, items were taken from the property sometime during the night, and on Thursday, the police tweeted that an arrest had been made in connection with the burglary. Its unclear still as of Thursday afternoon whether the incident was politically motivated.



In a statement shared on Wednesday evening, Hobbswhos currently running a tight race against Trump-backed Republican Kari women arent equal to men Lakeemphasized that the burglary is the latest in a long pattern of violent right-wing threats against her, ever since she helped certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Read more

Secretary Hobbs and her staff have faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign, the statement from Hobbs campaign said. It continued: Lets be clear: for nearly two years, Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous information and inciting threats against anyone they see fit. The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation.

Statement from our campaign on tonight's news: pic.twitter.com/OLqPMa5pYt  Katie Hobbs (@katiehobbs) October 27, 2022

In an interview with Jezebel earlier this year, Hobbs recalled that far-right trolls threatened my children and my husbands job as a therapist at a childrens hospital. People called my office saying that I deserve to die and asking, What is she wearing today? So shell be easy to get, she told me. At one point, Donald Trumps supporters gathered in a crowd outside her house. In August, the FBI arrested one man for threatening to bomb Hobbs personal space if she didnt resign as secretary of state.

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Some on social media are comparing the burglary on her headquarters to Watergate, the 1970s scandal that revealed President Richard Nixon had been surveilling his political opponents.

As a proponent of disinformation about the 2020 campaign, Lake, the Arizona Democratic Party says, bears some responsibility for the threats and harassment targeting Hobbs. In a Wednesday tweet the Arizona Democratic Party called the Phoenix break-in a direct result of Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate.

Unfortunately, Katie and so many other elected officials are victims of threats and intimidation tactics like this. Make no mistakethis is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violenceand it is despicable, the party wrote.

To be clear, theres nothing linking Lakes campaign to the burglary. Despite claims from Lakes campaign that Hobbs is smearing Lake and blaming her for the crime, neither Hobbs nor the Arizona Democratic Party have suggested shes responsible for it. At the same time, its notable that the burglary comes amid ongoing, concerning threats targeting Hobbs that speak to the enduring harms of the Big Liea conspiracy theory that Lake has been peddling throughout the campaign trail.

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As Ive watched the Arizona statewide elections, Ive wondered what would have happened had the Democrats run the right candidate for governor.

At the moment, theyve got Katie Hobbs, who so far has failed to prove she can adapt to the ever-changing environment of high-stakes politics.

She has made two large mistakes this campaign. She demurred from debating Republican Kari Lake and failed to shore up her problem with minority voters.

But its the debate that lingers. Her refusal to engage in one feeds doubts both left and right that she has the mettle to compete. Hobbs seems to fear Kari Lake and her polished anchorwoman poise and delivery.

Democrats' best candidate is for attorney general

Had the Democrats run the right candidate for governor, this wouldnt be an issue.

I suspect no one tells Kris Mayes what to do, but had the Democrats run her for governor instead of attorney general, none of this would be a problem.

Kris Mayes would not have ducked a debate with Kari Lake. She would have relished it.

She would have taken all of Kari Lakes conspiracy theories and election denials and wrapped them around her feet the way they rope calves at the Worlds Oldest Rodeo in Mayes hometown of Prescott.

Where they stand: Attorney general debate gets heated on abortion, experience

Mayes is one of the sharpest thinkers in Arizona politics. Shes tough and accomplished and can bring it.

She reminds me of something former Arizona Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett used to say: Confidence is earned.

Mayes is confident and always on the attack in her attorney general race because she has clocked a lot of time as a journalist in the cauldron of presidential politics and as a regulator taking on the titans of Big Power.

She can think on her feet. She can think ahead. She can drive an agenda.

If this were a Mayes vs. Lake matchup, it would not be the Democrat who feels fear.

Kris Mayes has earned her confidence

Kris Mayes, the Democratic candidate for Arizona Attorney General, speaks as the Arizona Democratic Party hosts a Unity Rally with statewide candidates to energize Democratic voters and volunteers ahead of the November election at Carpenters Union Hall on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022.

If you read this as professional courtesy among journalists, dont. I know Mayes as a newsmaker. I could care less that she ever worked at The Republic. Furthermore, former journalists will tell you that Ive not been kind to them lately.

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In her first career, Mayes was a reporter who wrote on politics for The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic. She aspired to cover presidential politics and become one of The Boys on the Bus, the title of journalist Timothy Crouses legendary chronicle of the 1972 presidential campaign.

But she was denied access to John McCains bus when he ran for president in 2000. McCain, who could be cantankerous, was nursing a decade-long grudge against his hometown newspaper and made no room for its reporter on his Straight Talk Express.

There was plenty of room for other journalists. Just none for The Republics.

That didnt stop Mayes. She followed Straight Talk in a rental car, writing stories on the Arizona candidate for his hometown newspaper.

Then came the Washington Posts Howard Kurtz sniffing around, asking why the McCain campaign had shunned its local paper and its woman reporter.

Pretty soon Straight Talked turned to Sweet Talk. McCain dialed up the charm.

Even Maverick McCain had a change of heart

Kris, Kris, Kris, come here,  the senator said to Mayes at a campaign stop in New Hampshire. He grabbed her by the arm and tugged her toward the bus, recounted David Fritze, Mayes editor at the time.

As Mayes described it then, We went into the bus, and everybody in the McCain campaign started cheering. Im like, Oh my God, my moment in the sun. Ive made it to the bus. 

But Mayes added a little rural-Arizona seasoning to that moment, a little rugged individualism, when she added, I kind of liked being the girl not on the bus.

Mayes got her undergraduate and law degree from Arizona State University and Masters from Columbia. While earning her law degree, then Gov. Janet Napolitano chose her to be her press secretary.

No doubt Napolitano, tough minded and a stickler for details, saw a kindred soul in Mayes.

One of my strongest memories of Napolitano was how she used to shoo away staff when it came time to describe the details of her spending blueprint. Other governors would turn the details over to their budget director. Not Napolitano. She had full command of the numbers and the room.

Mayes is wired the same way. Regulatory law is a labyrinth of minutia and technical complexity that she mastered when Napolitano appointed her to the Corporation Commission. Mayes used her knowledge to challenge the utilities, hold the line on price increases and push for new renewable energy standards.

Katie Hobbs could learn a lot from Mayes

Confidence is earned, and Mayes is using hers to set the agenda in the attorney generals race and to magnify the inexperience of her opponent, Abe Hamadeh, who has become the speed bag to her punches.

If Mayes has a weakness, it is her temptation to use her knowledge as a cudgel. I once watched her work over an APS engineer in one of our editorial board meetings in a way that was merciless and over the top. Her criticism may have been legitimate, but it was a bad look. She needed to know when she had won. When to ease up.

These are small things, but they go to likeability, which can be a big thing in a governors race.

She has all the tools for the top job and is most likeable and genuine when she talks about her love of Arizona, the state where she grew up.

Democrats would have done well to put her at the top of the ticket.

They may one day yet.

As for a contest with Kari Lake, well see that if they both win their 2022 elections.

Because I can imagine Lake as governor and Mayes as attorney general.

But I cant imagine them ever getting along.

Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kris Mayes, not Katie Hobbs, should be running for Arizona governor
Phoenix police have made an arrest in the break-in of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Katie Hobbs' campaign headquarters in Phoenix, the department said in a statement Thursday morning.

Police had responded to a commercial burglary call at the office in midtown Phoenix on Tuesday afternoon.

"An arrest has been made regarding a commercial burglary that occurred near Virginia Avenue and Central Avenue on Oct. 25, 2022. More information will be released later today," the statement said.

The department in a previous statement said, "Information was learned that items were taken from the property sometime during the night."

An arrest has been made regarding a commercial burglary that occurred near Virginia Avenue and Central Avenue on October 25, 2022. More information will be released later today. pic.twitter.com/j7Ch7F1WD9  Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) October 27, 2022

The campaign released photographs of a person it said was identified as the suspect by the Phoenix Police Department after police reviewed the surveillance footage. The images show a younger man wearing shorts, a short-sleeved T-shirt and a backpack.

It is unclear whether the man in the photos was the person arrested. Phoenix Police did not immediately respond to request for comment.

At a campaign stop with the Arizona and national leaders of Planned Parenthood in downtown Phoenix on Thursday, Hobbs declined to address news of the arrest or answer a question about what was taken from her campaign headquarters.

On Wednesday, when news of the burglary first broke, Nicole DeMont, campaign manager for Hobbs, said, "We continue to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate, and we are thankful to the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department for their work to keep us safe.

Story continues

Elections: As midterms loom, what's shaping undecided voters' opinions in 5 charts

Which party will control the Senate?: Here's every seat up for grabs in the 2022 midterms

Secretary Hobbs and her staff have faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign. Throughout this race, we have been clear that the safety of our staff and of the secretary is our No. 1 priority."

No one was at the office at the time of the break-in and several items were taken, said Sarah Robinson, spokeswoman for the Hobbs campaign.

The campaign's statement Wednesday also implied that Republican nominee Kari Lake and her supporters contributed to the incident by "spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit."

Lake told CNN that the statement was "absolutely absurd" and that "this sounds like Jussie Smollett part two."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Burglary at Katie Hobbs Phoenix campaign office for Arizona governor
Former Trump Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark was reminded of the time his house was searched by federal investigators  and he was filmed waiting outside in his underpants  after his attempted mockery of actor and former California GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger went awry.

On Wednesday, Clark attacked Schwarzenegger for filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case of Moore v. Harper, which may result in the nixing of protections against extreme partisan gerrymandering.

You know when faux Republican the Ahhnold is de-mothballed to file an amicus brief at the Supreme Court  one authored by significant Democrat Supreme Court practitioner David Frederick, the Dem party is very, very concerned about how Moore v. Harper could come out at the S Ct, Clark snarked on Twitter.

You know when faux Republican "the Ahhnold" is de-mothballed to file an amicus brief at the Supreme Court--one authored by significant Democrat Supreme Court practitioner David Frederick, the Dem party is very, very concerned about how Moore v. Harper could come out at the S Ct. https://t.co/Za5w6ewFla  Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) October 26, 2022

Schwarzenegger, who has long campaigned against the process of gerrymandering, pulled no punches with his response.

The former bodybuilder shared this photograph of Clark during the search of his property amid an investigation into efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.

Thanks for the kind message! I loved this photo of you, but if you want some tips on squatting to build up those legs, Im here for you. https://t.co/ssMZSzy4NOpic.twitter.com/xSmBPi7B47  Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) October 26, 2022

Thanks for the kind message! I loved this photo of you, but if you want some tips on squatting to build up those legs, Im here for you, the actor cracked in his reply which has now gone viral.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The Chinese regime had furious words for Republican Senator Josh Hawley after he proposed legislation to sanction its authoritarian leader Xi Jinping for presiding over human-rights abuses against the Muslim population in Xinjiang.

In a Monday letter obtained by Axios, the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., slammed Hawleys bill as arrogant and despicable, accusing him of undermining Xi and the Chinese Communist Party.

Senator Hawley is trying to smear the 20th CPC National Congress and the leadership of the CPC, to divide the relationship between the CPC and the Chinese people, and even dare to claim to sanction Chinas top leadership, Li Xiang, counselor with the Chinese embassy, wrote.

The letter reiterated Chinas oft repeated claim that Western accusations of genocide in Xinjiang are grossly inaccurate. In August, a U.N. report documented serious human rights violations against the Uighur Muslims, including forced labor, forced sterilization, suppression of speech and language, and outright torture.

An independent U.N. expert charged that some of the Chinese governments activities there could amount to crimes against humanity. Li claimed Chinas forceful measures in Xinjiang were not about ethnicity, human rights or religion but about anti-terrorism, anti-separatism, and de-radicalization.

The US and some Western forces seek to destabilize Xinjiang and use it to contain China. This unjust, pernicious political agenda will not have peoples political support and will only end in failure, Li said.

Hawleys bill, introduced last week, likely prompted an angry rebuke because it would level sanctions directly at Xi, who is poised to secure a third term as the leader of the CCP and consolidate his power. The bill would hit Xi and his top CCP lieutenants with Magnitsky sanctions, freezing any assets within reach of the Western financial system and barring them from traveling to the U.S.

While Joe Biden is distracted, Xi Jinping is rapidly consolidating power within the Chinese Communist Party, power he intends to use to compel the world to turn a blind eye to the crimes of his regime. But we must not look away. We must hold Xi and his lieutenants accountable for their crimes against humanity and we can start by imposing real costs for their complicity in the atrocities in Xinjiang, Hawley said in a statement.

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The CCP has recently put on several public displays to demonstrate Xis authority. For example, last week former Chinese president Hu Jintao, now elderly, was physically removed from a session of congress after new members of the CCPs Central Committee were selected in a process that takes place once every five years. Hu resisted and appeared distressed as he was escorted out.

Li wrote that China expects major U.S. political players to adopt a conciliatory approach toward China and not seek a new Cold War.

The Chinese side urges Senator Hawley to abandon the Cold-War zero-sum mentality and ideological prejudice against China, look at CPC and Chinese governments Xinjiang policy correctly, stop the advancement of this bill, stop any attack and smear against CPC and Chinese leadership, stop any action to undermine Chinas sovereignty and security, and stop moving even further down the wrong and dangerous path, Li said.

More from National Review
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Southeast Asian foreign ministers acknowledged Thursday that their efforts to bring peace to Myanmar haven't succeeded and agreed to increase their determination to end violence in the country, where a military takeover last year set off a crisis that threatens to destabilize the region.

Recent events in Myanmar, including a military air strike on Sunday that reportedly killed as many as 80 members of the Kachin ethnic minority and the execution of political prisoners in July, have heightened worries among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

At a special meeting on Myanmar in Jakarta, Indonesia, ASEAN foreign ministers said their efforts haven't achieved significant progress and called for concrete, practical and time-bound actions to strengthen the implementation of a five-point consensus the group reached in April last year on ways to seek peace.

ASEAN, which includes Myanmar, has tried to play a peacemaking role since shortly after the countrys military seized power in February last year, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The five-point consensus calls for the immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties.

Myanmars government initially agreed to the consensus but has made little effort to implement it, aside from seeking humanitarian aid and allowing ASEAN's envoy, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, to visit. But it refused to allow him to meet with Suu Kyi, who was arrested and is being tried on a variety of charges that critics say are contrived to sideline her from politics.

In response, ASEAN has not allowed Myanmars leaders to participate in its official meetings, though working-level officials have joined some.

The meeting agreed that ASEAN should not be discouraged, but even more determined to help Myanmar to bring about a peaceful solution the soonest possible, Prak Sokhonn, who chaired the meeting, said in a statement.

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Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the ministers expressed their concern and disappointment, and in some cases frustration, with the lack of significant progress in the implementation of the consensus. Instead of progressing, the situation was even said to be deteriorating and worsening, she said.

The acts of violence once again must stop immediately, Marsudi said. Without a cessation of violence, there will be no conducive conditions for the resolution of this political crisis.

A statement issued late Thursday night by Myanmars Foreign Ministry said it will not be bound by the outcomes of the meeting because it was held by the other nine ASEAN countries without Myanmars attendance.

It insisted that Myanmars military government has been implementing the five-point roadmap by cooperating with ASEANs special envoy, holding peace talks with ethnic rebel groups and providing humanitarian assistance.

Thursdays meeting came ahead of ASEANs annual summit on Nov. 11-13, where a top focus of the leaders will be the Myanmar crisis, which has threatened the groups unity. ASEAN members traditionally avoid criticizing each other, and the violence unleashed by Myanmars military is widely seen as exposing the groups powerlessness in dealing with a geopolitical and humanitarian emergency that could affect all of them.

Growing numbers of refugees are fleeing Myanmar and seeking asylum throughout the region.

The U.S.-based group Human Rights Watch said an estimated 70,000 have fled to neighboring countries since the military took power and urged Southeast Asian leaders to ensure their governments dont force people back to Myanmar.

Rather than protecting asylum seekers from the juntas violence and persecution, regional actors are forcing Myanmar refugees and other nationals back into harms way, said Shayna Bauchner, a researcher for the group.

Malaysian authorities reportedly have accelerated deportations to Myanmar, returning over 2,000 people since April without allowing the United Nations refugee agency to assess their asylum claims, while Thai authorities have pushed asylum seekers back across the Myanmar border without verifying their protection needs, Human Rights Watch said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

___

Peck reported from Bangkok. Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report.
A political action committee that supports Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates announced that it is withdrawing its endorsement of Rep. Michelle Steel (R, CA-48) over rhetoric used during her campaign.

In a statement, the Asian Americans for Good Government PAC (AAGG-PAC) noted that its members expressed extreme concern regarding the accusations, negative advertisement, and red baiting that are coming from the 45th congressional race.

The groups website notes that Negative campaigning will result in withdrawal of AAGG-PAC endorsement and support.

Steel, who is currently running in California's 45th congressional district due to redistricting, has been focusing her campaign on attacking Democrat Jay Chen with accusations he is friendly to China and communism.

More from NextShark: Sri Lankan grandma makes history as oldest masters degree earner at Canadas York University

Steels camp has been portraying Chen as a Communist sympathizer that supports the controversial Confucius Institution, sending out fliers featuring an edited image of Chen holding a Communist Manifesto in a fake classroom adorned with portraits of communist leaders.

The allegations reportedly stem from Chens time on the school board of a San Gabriel Valley school district, which voted in 2010 to adopt a free Chinese language and culture class for one of its middle schools. The plan was eventually scrapped after local residents objected to the Confucius Institutes programs due to its ties to the Chinese government.

For supporters, the China-backed programs promote Chinese language and cultural programs, while opponents allege they are fronts for espionage and other illegal activities.

More from NextShark: Eileen Gus comment advocating VPN workaround for Chinese internet censorship is in turn censored

The AAGG-PAC stated that Promotion of these stereotypes and false accusations could lead to an increase in AAPI hate incidents and discrimination.

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In response, Steels campaign stated that it had never acquired any form of endorsement from the AAGG-PAC to begin with. Based on campaign finance data, it has not received any donations from the group.

So far, the PAC has only made a $3,000 contribution to Rep. Young Kim (R, CA-39) and $2,055 to Rep. Doris Matsui (D, CA-06) in the current campaign season.

More from NextShark: India to surpass China as world's most populous country next year, says UN

California Reps. Mike Honda (D, CA-17), Ted Lieu (D, CA-33), Judy Chu (D, CA-27) and Anna Eshoo (D, CA-18), as well as 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang, have received funds from AAGG-PAC in previous elections.

AAGG-PAC Executive Director Amy Fabi told the OC Register in an email that the committee currently doesnt have any endorsements up for review, noting that Chen himself has not applied for an endorsement.

More from NextShark: Survivors of Korean internment camp being described as real-life 'Squid Game' press for justice

Featured Image via Michelle Steel
NEW PALTZ, N.Y.  In late August, Democrat Pat Ryan pulled off a special election win that revved up the party's base with his focus on one key issue: abortion rights.

If the fall of Roe v. Wade could propel Ryan to victory in New Yorks Hudson Valley , in exactly the sort of suburban House district that will decide control of the chamber, then it could do the same for Democrats all over the nation come November. Or so the thinking went.

Now Ryan has to win again, in a new district  and hes putting that strategy to the test.

"Our message has not changed, Ryan said in an interview. The intensity is only stronger, and I think we are going to see another rejection of this whole 'red wave' idea thats out there that we certainly dispelled in our race."

But polls and a shift in election strategy by candidates across the country suggest abortion alone wont keep the House in Democratic hands. Republicans are finding new success with messaging focused on crime and the economy, and Democrats are responding in kind.

Ryan is among them. His interview came just moments before he stood with local law enforcement officials to promote the Invest to Protect Act, a bill in Congress that would boost funding for small police departments.



The news conference was surely strategic: His opponent, state Assemblymember Colin Schmitt, has joined other Republican candidates nationwide in pushing a tough-on-crime message. He has sought to tie Ryan to the state's contentious bail laws , which have limited the ability of judges to set cash bail for accused criminals and that Republicans  and some Democrats  blame for a spike in crime.

"Theres a great kind of disconnect they feel with Albany, to Washington," Schmitt said in an interview after campaigning at the Goshen Farmers Market in Orange County with his wife, Nikki Pagano-Schmitt.

"One-party control has a lot to do with that. Here in the Hudson Valley, we tend to be that moderate, ticket-splitting area, and we feel left behind because of the economic issues, the public safety issues, the immigration issues."

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The district, New Yorks new 18th, is one of the biggest battlegrounds in the state  a mix of blue-collar workers, New York City police officers, firefighters and a growing influx of urban transplants buying up homes through the rolling hills and farmland.

POLITICO's midterm forecast lists the district as leaning Democratic, as have several major prognosticators. New York has at least six close House races that will help determine which party controls the chamber in January.

The 18th District is a more advantageous one on paper for Ryan than the 19th District race he won two months ago, when he beat Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro with 51 percent of the vote.

And now Ryan has the power of incumbency, allowing him to build off his August victory and significantly outraise and outspend Schmitt in a pitched battle on the airwaves over crime and abortion rights. Ryan has raised $3.4 million and spent $2.8 million, compared to Schmitt's $1.8 million raised and $1.3 million spent, records show.

National Republicans have tried to make up the difference for Schmitt, pumping $3 million into ads and mailers aimed at beating Ryan, while Democrats have spent $2.2 million to knock down Schmitt.



The new district, which President Joe Biden would have won by 9 percentage points in 2020, stretches across Orange, Dutchess and Ulster counties.

How important is this race? Biden visited Poughkeepsie in the district earlier this month to promote IBM's plan to put $20 billion into its sprawling, once-massive industrial park. And Ryan was at Biden's side.

"The presidents delivered. People want us to deliver. Thats what they want, and thats what they should want and expect," Ryan said.

The race is between two young, rising stars in New York politics. Schmitt, 32, said voters are more concerned about pocketbook issues than abortion rights.

Schmitt calls Ryan "extreme" on abortion  which he has highlighted in ads  because the congressman supports New York's abortion laws, which allow for the procedure throughout pregnancy in the absence of fetal viability or to protect the life or health of the patient.

Schmitt is anti-abortion rights but has stopped short of saying he opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest.

"I view it from a commonsense, compassionate approach, and I find that most people in this district are talking to me about these commonsense issues: crime, economy, immigration," Schmitt said.



Ryan, 40, who served two tours in Iraq in the U.S. Army, counters that Republicans want to strip abortion rights nationally, pointing to the federal 15-week abortion ban proposed last month by South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

"Talking about abortion rights that have been such a wedge, divisive issue for most of my life in a way that was unifying as an idea of freedom was very potent, because that is a shared American value," Ryan said.

Princella Whatley, a vendor at the Goshen market, said abortion rights are critically important to her. She wouldn't vote for a candidate opposed to abortion rights.

"A woman has the right to do what she wants with her body," she said after Schmitt walked by. "I dont think anybody has the right to tell you what your view is or what you choose to do. You dont know peoples circumstances."

But others were focused on the pocketbook issues that Schmitt and Republicans hope will outweigh the attention on abortion.

"We need help for small businesses," Sarah Gailie, a greenhouse vendor, said. "We need a Republican in right now."
My phone was red with the news advising foreigners to return home  at least until things settle down.

I was just coming home. What does it mean to return home? What happened while I was on vacation? I may go to Istanbul, but where will my team members, our people, and the millions of Ukrainians go? I was following the news constantly and for several months we have been discussing various scenarios with our Special Situation Team and looking into possibilities of what to do in case of escalations from Russias side. What did I miss? How can this really happen? I want to go to my home in Kyiv

Drove to the office early next morning  to understand the reality on the ground, to find answers to hundreds of questions in my mind. I was confused, anxious and at the same time enjoying the sunshine that was greeting me, along with the freshness of the cold winter as I was driving next to the Dnipro river.

The office was a breath of fresh air. Two people from our team were sipping their coffees and enjoying their usual chats. They read the recommendations, but they had a different perspective  the West is worrying too much, the war in the East has been ongoing since 2014, it will be all ok Their smiles were liberating, and their usual strength gave me the power to let go of my doubts. Nothing had really changed; everyone was busy celebrating Christmas with their friends and families. So, I enjoyed my cup of coffee, chatting cheerfully with them, and getting on with our usual tasks.

As the embassies of international community started closing one by one, asking their personnel to leave Ukraine, I had no choice. Schools converted to fully online learning. Documents for our Labrador were arranged, suitcases prepared  very light ones though, as we were going to come back in a month at most. What did anyone of us know at that time And I waved goodbye to my husband, 2 kids, and dog for a plane to Istanbul at the end of January 2022, with tears pouring down my face like I have never experienced before

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I went home, charged several power banks, went to the supermarket to buy some water and sustainable food, and opened my laptop to keep going  to act normal, trying to stay strong and resilient.

This is just a temporary situation.

All will be well.

Not panicking, to avoid creating further panic in our organization.



The next two weeks were just as bumpy as the start of January, until eventually I had to leave Ukraine on February 13th, when there was the rumor about airspace being potentially closed within the next 24 hours. I had to leave my beloved home in thirty minutes to catch the plane. I couldnt comprehend what I was experiencing, why I was leaving, and what was ahead. How was I supposed to face my team and our people the next day, when they were staying and I was leaving???

On February 24th, I woke up in the middle of the night, with the alarm system that was set up in our phones to be activated only in case of true danger. The war had started, and the missiles were all over Ukraine  not only in specific regions, or cities. It was worse than the worst-case scenario that we were even dared to contemplate. What we had been preparing for for months had become our worst nightmare.

Being outside of Ukraine at that very specific moment gave me the opportunity not to think about myself or my family, but just to be there for our people, and for our organization. We were connected instantly with our teams  fortunately the internet was still working. Priority was to ensure their safety and security  every morning began with a check-in of our teams and every evening ended in the same manner. We created a database to keep track of the locations of our almost two thousand employees and their relatives  a mission impossible almost to date

Getting organized to manage the chaos was our challenge. People we would count on in our teams were still on the move, running for their own lives. So, we turned to the Ukrainians who were abroad, who were able to speak the language, knew the people, understood the circumstances, no matter in which country or time zone they were in. We created a call-center in Krakow and leveraged the consumer call-center in Moldova.

Our colleagues working in marketing, legal, finance, human resources became simple call-center agents  trying their best to guide, to soothe, and to show that we are there for each other. Our security and safety teams in bordering countries got organized to welcome any person, women, children, and family members that could cross the border and bring them to a safe and warm location with some food in the fridge and toys on the bed for the kids following their heart-breaking journey.

It was the 4th night after the start of the war, we received a message in our corporate channels from one of our employees from Ivano-Frankivsk, they they were starting a self-led platform to support each other - which roads to drive from, where to find fuel, available homes people can sleep overnight, and medicines that can be delivered to those in need.

We repurposed our transportation buses for evacuation from Kharkiv, where we have a factory and sales office with more than 600 employees. Who has ever organized an evacuation in their lives? There was no time to think about these questions, no time for self-doubt.

This was the time to work together collaboratively, leveraging each other. It was action mode  counting the families who are ready to leave their homes, convincing and calming down each family over and over again, organizing the buses, extracting fuel from the factory premises, preparing food, water, accommodations while planning the pick-up routes, and then changing the routes again and again because it was simply too hard for some and there were others who wanted to join. In the first round, we evacuated more than 200 people, and in total, almost two thousand people.

We leave no one behind very quickly became our motto, and soon grannies, nieces, nephews and pets, including a pregnant dog and guinea pigs, joined us in the journey. Each life that was saved gave us the strength to continue.

All these efforts were done by people who were themselves in need of actual support, but who were selflessly there for each other, just because they had something to offer. There were women, who were taking care of their own kids, husbands, and the elderly, while being constantly on the phones to lend a helping hand, even sometimes working from shelters or calling others from under the blankets so that the lights of the phones would not be visible at night.

There were men who were driving families of other employees to train stations at any hour. There were parents carrying disabled adult children on their backs because getting their wheelchairs was just not possible. There were women who left behind their husbands with weary eyes and took their children to a completely unknown location, to ensure the next generations would be saved and safe from the constant shelling and the air raids. And there were men who sent out their wives and kids to safer locations while staying behind in dangerous locations to distribute humanitarian aid to the elderly. There are young generations advocating in volunteering projects to rebuild schools and help those in need.

The past three years revealed the toughness and flexibility of all people in Ukraine. Yet, there is a special place in my heart for Ukrainian women. Their resilience Their powerful smile beating the constant worries Their passion to succeed at work even during the times of war Their constant creativity and positivity to leap forward to create the new Their inner care for their own well-being, putting an oxygen mask on themselves first to be able to help others Being a tutor in the evenings to ensure kids are well-equipped for the future and will not miss out on their math classes Being a patient daughter to rationally explain to their parents in distant villages to move into safety, while reluctantly and silently consenting to their choices to remain in their hometowns Their compassion and fight for all those in need  advocating for the needs and rights of more vulnerable people

My kids are asking every day when they can go back to their home and their friends. I dont know when, but I know that day will come, and Ukraine will win the war with shining stars. Till then, we stay strong, lean on each other, remain positive and continue to put care in the heart of our actions.

Glory to Ukraine!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 18:06

Anti-tank missile systems NLAW and Javelin, as well as German-made man-portable anti-tank grenade launcher Panzerfaust 3 that the Ukrainian army uses in combat have been demonstrated to Belarusian soldiers.

Source: Belaruski Hajun, an independent Belarusian military monitoring media outlet

Details: Commanders of the Armed Forces of Belarus gathered in order to generalise the experience of war in Ukraine and correct the armys combat training program in a new academic year at the Osipovitskii firing range in Minsk Oblast (Belarus) on 26 October.

The soldiers examined the NLAW and Javelin, as well as Panzerfaust 3.

Quote: "Most likely, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have passed a few of captured samples to their colleagues, so that the Belarusian could see a famous Javelin with their own eyes and not on images from the Internet.

There are no reports whether the Russian colleagues demonstrated how to use the Western weapons. We hope that the Belarusian soldiers have themselves seen the results of using NLAW, Javelin, and Panzerfaust 3 on armoured vehicles online."

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday compared Republican plans on taxes and spending if they take control of Congress in November to the economic plan rolled out by Britain's former Prime Minister Liz Truss, warning of similar results.

"You read about what happened in England recently, and the last Prime Minister, she wanted to cut taxes for the super wealthy," Biden said during a fundraising call for Michigan lawmaker Cynthia Axne.

"It caused economic chaos in the country. Well, that's what they did last time and they want to do it again. And they want to make that tax cut permanent  that $2 trillion," Biden said.

Some Republicans on the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees taxation and tariffs, have pledged to make permanent part of the tax cuts introduced in 2017 under President Donald Trump.

Truss introduced a tax cut on Britain's richest that sparked turmoil in the financial markets and rebellion in her party, and was forced to resign after 44 days.

Biden has refocused on the U.S. economy in recent days, as support for Democrats wanes days ahead of the midterm elections that will shape the next two years of his presidency.

(Reporting by Eric Beech, Writing by Heather Timmons; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
ALBANY, N.Y.  With Democrats clinging to control of Congress, deeply blue New York isn't the first place you'd expect to find President Joe Biden.

But here we are: Biden made his second trip in 21 days to upstate New York when he visited Syracuse on Thursday afternoon, less than two weeks before the midterm elections.

He touted Micron Inc.'s planned $100 billion computer chip manufacturing facility just three weeks after touring IBM's sprawling Poughkeepsie campus to herald its own pledged $20 billion expansion  two projects spurred by federal and state investments.

And the presidential pomp could not come at a better time for Democrats in New York  where a slate of tight races could decide control of the House and Gov. Kathy Hochul faces a closer-than-expected challenge from GOP foe Lee Zeldin. Despite growing midterm anxiety in the White House, Biden's entry into battleground races has been limited and highly calculated.

Folks, we're here to celebrate one most significant investments in American history again, not hyperbole," Biden told the crowd. "And it's going to ensure that the future is made in America. Its one of the bright spots around the country that should give us a sense of optimism and hope about who we are as a nation.



Biden's event is in the heart of one of the biggest toss-up races in the nation: The contest between Democrat Francis Conole and Republican Brandon Williams to succeed moderate GOP Rep. John Katko in New York's 22nd District. It's also an area where Hochul will need to perform well to win. A Biden visit can rev up the party base while highlighting new jobs long sought in a region sapped by decades of manufacturing declines, party leaders said.

The president is "in demand in New York because hes more popular in New York than he in some other places," state Democratic Committee chair Jay Jacobs said Wednesday. "And I will tell you, hes highlighting an achievement in New York" to bring in new jobs.

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When Biden visited Poughkeepsie on Oct. 6, he was quick to highlight another House candidate in a tough race: Rep. Pat Ryan who "proved the pundits wrong" winning a special election in August and now is vying for a full term in another close race.

Hochul said Thursday that the Micron deal males "this is not just a chips corridor. This is chips country. This is New York State, and we're gonna build it here in New York."

Even some local Republicans praised Biden's event as a means to highlight the Micron deal, which comes thanks to the federal CHIPS and Science Act passed by Congress in August. The legislation provides tax credits for U.S. companies and a $10 billion Green CHIPS incentive in New York.

"Having the president here is going to validate the investment," Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, a Republican, said Wednesday. "Hopefully it will make the community believe in the investment more. I dont know if theres a political agenda. Hopefully, its not so much."



Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led the effort to broker the Micron deal announced Oct. 4, and he joined Biden on Thursday, having encouraged the president's visit. He praised Hochul's role, too.

"We make an unstoppable team, and if I didn't have her fighting alongside me for New York, we wouldn't be here celebrating today," Schumer said of the governor.

Syracuse also happens to be a special place for the president: His first wife, Neilia, was from nearby Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes and graduated from Syracuse University. They lived in Syracuse from 1966 to 1968 as he obtained his law degree. In fact, his home there was recently put up for sale.

Biden noted his local roots and also touted Hochul.

When I was up here as a law student, we had Kodak, Corning, General Electric," he said. "The governor's always believed it could be that way again. She thought that would be the case, and the region is poised to lead the world in advanced manufacturing. Not a joke, poised to lead the world.

In a state with twice as many Democrats as Republicans, Biden is more popular in New York than other places: A Siena College poll last week showed his approval at 53 percent positive to 43 percent negative  making him more liked than Hochul.

But in the swing 22nd District, Biden isn't nearly as popular. He was viewed unfavorably by 53 percent of voters and favorably by 42 percent, an Oct. 4 Siena poll showed. And while 76 percent of Democrats viewed him positively, 82 percent of Republicans had a negative view of the president.

That's on par with the presidents approval rating nationally, a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll Wednesday found.

"I think its a jump ball if there is an advantage" for either side with Biden coming to the district, McMahon said.

Biden isn't expected to attend any fundraisers on the trip, and Conole  the Democrat running for the 22nd District seat  is not expected to attend because it is government event, his campaign said. The Siena poll showed Republican rival Williams with a 5-point lead over Conole, 45 percent to 40 percent, heading into the final weeks before Election Day, Nov. 8.

POLITICOs forecast lists the race as one of the nation's 28 toss-ups. It's also a district that Biden carried by 8 percentage points in 2020.

Jacobs said Biden's latest stop in New York won't just help the state's candidates, it will promote Biden's national domestic agenda. Last month, the president visited Ohio for Intel's groundbreaking on a $20 billion semiconductor plant prompted by the CHIPS bill.

State Republicans, however, are not impressed by Biden's trip.

"Republicans have the momentum and a visit from this failed President  who even a majority of Democrats don't want to see run again  certainly isn't going to stop it," state GOP chairman Nick Langworthy, who is running for Congress in Western New York, said in a statement.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden on Thursday signed an international agreement that compels the United States and other countries to limit use of hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning that are far more powerful than carbon dioxide.

The Senate ratified the so-called Kigali Amendment to the 1987 Montreal Protocol on ozone pollution last month in a rare bipartisan vote. The measure requires participating nations to phase down production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, also known as HFCs, by 85% over the next 14 years, as part of a global phaseout intended to slow climate change.

HFCs are considered a major driver of global warming. Nearly 200 nations reached a deal in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, to limit HFCs and find substitutes more friendly to the atmosphere. More than 130 nations, including China, India and Russia, have formally ratified the agreement, which scientists say could help the world avoid a half-degree Celsius of global warming.

Biden pledged to embrace the Kigali deal during the 2020 presidential campaign and submitted the agreement to the Senate last year. In a related action, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued a rule limiting U.S. production and use of HFCs in line with the Kigali agreement. The EPA rule followed a 2020 law passed by Congress authorizing a 15-year phaseout of HFCs in the U.S.

White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi said formal ratification of the Kigali agreement  with Biden's signature  means the U.S. is all-in on reducing HFCs and advancing global efforts to combat climate change.

The agreement should lead to tens of thousands of new jobs and billions of dollars in exports as clean technologies are developed to replace HFCs around the world, Zaidi said.

It's a real boost for investments in these cleaner technologies''  many of which have been developed in the U.S.  that also helps us tackle the climate crisis,'' he said in an interview.

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Ratification of the amendment was supported by an unusual coalition that included major environmental and business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

This is one of those truly rare things you get in the policy world where it is a win-win for the environment and business, Chris Jahn, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council, an industry group, said after the Senate vote. Ratification of the amendment should allow U.S. businesses to meet growing demand refrigerators and air conditioning units in Asia, South America and Europe, Jahn and other business leaders said.

Some Republican senators opposed the treaty, saying it would give China preferential treatment by designating it as a developing country.

The Senate approved a largely symbolic amendment by GOP Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Mike Lee of Utah declaring that China is not a developing country and should not be treated as such by the United Nations or other intergovernmental organizations.
(Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden is weighing a joint effort with neighboring countries to aid Haiti, as rapidly deteriorating safety and health conditions stoke fears that intervention in the Caribbean nation may be necessary to prevent collapse.

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The US is searching for options -- including potentially a mission led by another country -- to quell violence, confront armed gangs, address a spiraling humanitarian crisis and respond to a cholera outbreak, people familiar with the deliberations said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

While nothing has been formally ruled out, dispatching US troops is unlikely and not under advanced consideration, the people said. Bidens administration is wary of doing anything unilaterally, and instead is studying what joint efforts with neighbors -- including Canada and Latin American countries -- might be feasible, the people said.

Further steps could include more funding, material aid, security forces or trainers being dispatched to the country, according to the people.

With midterm elections that will determine whether Democrats keep control of Congress just two weeks out, Bidens appetite for any foreign intervention to quell a brewing humanitarian crisis is seen as minimal.

Hes already under substantial pressure from Republicans over a spike in the number of migrants from Latin American nations including Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela crossing the southern border, and GOP lawmakers are starting to balk at providing aid to Ukraine. Should Republicans win control of one or both chambers of Congress, the political cost to Biden of intervening in Haiti would rise.

Somalia Fallout

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After World War II the US contributed soldiers for peacekeeping missions around the world, and missions to Haiti, Somalia and the Balkans all featured a strong American presence in the 1990s. But the deaths of 18 US soldiers in Somalia, documented in the book Black Hawk Down, led the US to drastically scale back its involvement in such missions.

Haiti has endured decades of political instability, receiving several humanitarian missions and billions in foreign aid assistance that did little to take the country out of its cycle of poverty and lawlessness. The situation only worsened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, which makes any foreign intervention even less likely to succeed.

On the streets of the Caribbean island, many recall the US-led military intervention of 1994 called Uphold Democracy, and the decade-long UN mission to Haiti that ended in 2017. Neither of them brought the political stability or the end of violence they promised, said Joseph Harold Pierre, a Port-au-Prince-based political analyst.

Those missions were not successful because in Haiti we did not have a government capable of guiding those missions, he said.

To make things more complex, Prime Minister Ariel Henry is seen as illegitimate by many after he swept into power without an election following Moises assassination.

Thousands of Haitians are currently enduring famine-like conditions as gang violence and protests paralyze the economy and hamper delivery of food, the UNs World Food Programme has said. Haiti has asked the UN, the US and others for troops to help tamp down the violence and control gangs.

Stoking Unrest

With the situation at a boil, neighboring nations are grappling with how to help without stoking the unrest or repeating interventionist mistakes of the past, the people said.

The US and Canada have delivered armored vehicles this month to Haiti, with USAID staff already on the ground. The UNs Security Council voted last week in favor of a solution proposed by Mexico and the US to impose sanctions on certain figures in Haiti who the multilateral body said are fueling unrest.

The US and its partners do see the status quo as unsustainable given the security situation, the public health situation, the economic situation that Haitians are confronting, State Department Spokesman Ned Price said. Were continuing to work with our partners to determine the next steps.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last week that conversations were ongoing with partners with necessary experience that have expressed the interest of leading that effort and contributing to a non-UN mission.

The United States is considering the most effective ways to directly support, enable, and resource such an effort, she said.

Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, has spoken this month with leaders from the region, including an Oct. 14 call with the president of Suriname, Chan Santokhi, who chairs Caricom, a group of Caribbean nations.

The Canadian leader also mustered a meeting of his Incident Response Group, a mix of high-level ministers and aides. Trudeau and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly are weighing options, the people said.

Trudeau and Caricom leaders discussed the need to remove gang blockades around the country exacerbating a humanitarian crisis, curb rising hunger and impose sanctions on corrupt officials. They also addressed ways to facilitate inclusive, Haitian-led dialog toward free and fair elections, Trudeaus office said in a statement.

--With assistance from Jim Wyss.

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa has released a toolkit to guide local communities looking to create "police-free" schools.

Featured on the ACLU of Iowa website, the Advocating for Police-Free Schools in Iowa toolkit was released in response to "increased concerns" over the impact of police officers in public schools and arrest rates, particularly among Black students. The organization said the toolkit was made for educators, parents, students and community members to use to advocate for a school without police officers, otherwise known as school resource officers.

Law-enforcement officers prepare to participate in a two-day active-shooter training event with deputies from the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, school-resource officers, firefighters and about 250 educators at Sevier Middle School on Wednesday, August 3, 2022.

Black students in Iowa are almost eight times more likely to be arrested than white students, according to the 2017-2018 Civil Rights Data Collection from the U.S. Department of Education. That makes Iowa the third worst state in the country for its discrepancy rate in arrests of Black and white students, the ACLU of Iowa said in a news release.

Data also show Latinx students are twice as likely to be arrested than white students, and students with disabilities are three times as likely to be arrested than students without disabilities.

"The problem with police officers in schools is that they focus on precisely what they are trained to do  question, detain, handcuff and arrest," the ACLU of Iowa said.

"Arrests and referrals to law enforcement create criminal records that follow students around for the rest of their lives, making lifelong access to housing, employment, and social services much more difficult," the release said.

Des Moines Public Schools last year ended its more than two-decade-old school resource officer agreement with the Des Moines Police Department. Discussions about whether there should be police officers in Des Moines schools began over the summer following the May killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: ACLU of Iowa releases toolkit to create 'police-free' schools
VANCOUVER, Canada (AP)  The U.S. and Canada will work together to cut the insecurity knot that has allowed gangs to create a humanitarian crisis in Haiti, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.

But neither Blinken nor Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly committed their country to leading a military force to the Caribbean nation.

This is a work in progress and we are continuing to pursue it, Blinken told a news conference in Ottawa during his first visit to Canada.

Blinken said Canada and the U.S. agree that more likely needs to be done to support the Haitian national police to restore their grip on security.

Weve been talking about what that might look like, said Blinken. We have both been talking to a variety of countries to gauge their interest in and willingness to participate in that.

Joly said Canada has sent an assessment mission to gather information to find the solutions that are supported by Hattians.

Haitis interim government has operated in chaos since the July 2021 assassination of former president Jovenel Moise.

Since September, armed gangs have been blockading fuel access, leading to a shortage of basic goods, clean water and medical services, all during a cholera outbreak.

Canada and the U.S. have sent tanks, and the United Nations is considering a military intervention to restore order, which has been endorsed by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Later, prior to a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Blinken said Canada and the U.S. are the two most integrated countries in the world and have a history of working together to solve issues.

Not one of the problems that is having an effect on our own people or what we need to deal with around the world can be solved by one of us acting alone, he said. The more we find ways to cooperate, to work together, the more effective were going to be.

During the news conference Blinken and Joly reiterated their support for Ukraine, condemned Iran for its treatment of women and for supplying drones to Russia, and pledged to work together to increase Arctic security.

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Blinken called Russias use of Iranian drones to kill Ukrainian civilians and destroy infrastructure as appalling.

We keep working with our allies and partners to deter and counter Irans provision of these weapons, he said.

Joly said Canada said stands with the women and girls in Iran who are fighting against tyranny.

Womens rights are human rights, she said. We have a moral obligation to support the brave women of Iran and hold those persecuting them accountable.

There have been protests across Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly.

Blinken also touched on Canadian and U.S. citizens being held by other countries.

Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were held in China for over 1,000 days in what was seen as a retaliation for the arrest in Canada of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou.

U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner is facing a nine-year jail term in Russia after being convicted of smuggling and possessing cannabis oil.

We support Canadas efforts to rally countries around the world in ending the unlawful practice of detaining innocent individuals and using them as political pawns, said Blinken. Both our countries have suffered from this.
Reticulated Python Mark Kostich/iStock/Getty Images

A 54-year-old missing woman in Indonesia was swallowed whole by a python, police said.

A search party looking for the woman discovered an unusually bloated snake.

After killing and cutting open the python, they discovered the woman's intact body in its stomach.

Authorities in Indonesia were looking for a missing 54-year-old woman at her place of work when they stumbled across a 22-foot-long python that appeared unusually bloated.

They killed and cut open the snake, and found the woman's body, whole and intact, inside the snake's stomach.

The woman, identified as Jahrah, went to work at a rubber plantation in Jambi, located on the island of Sumatra, on Sunday morning. She was reported missing that evening when she did not return home, local media outlets reported, per the BBC.

After her husband found some of her clothes and work tools he called a search party. A day later, the snake with the bulging body was found.

"The victim was found in the snake's stomach," local police chief AKP S Harefa told local outlets, adding the snake was up to 7 meters, or around 22 feet. Harefa told CNN Indonesia they were able to confirm it was the missing woman after cutting open its belly.

"The victim's body was not destroyed when we found her inside the snake, meaning that she had only been recently swallowed whole," local police said, according to The Washington Post.

It's unusual for pythons to swallow humans, though there are on rare occasions similar reports. In 2017, video captured a man in Indonesia who had gone missing and was later found inside a 23-foot-long python. The following year a woman, also in Indonesia, was swallowed whole by a python while checking on her crop.

Pythons do typically swallow their food whole, with their unique anatomy allowing their jaws to expand wide enough to encapsulate objects much larger than the circumference of their own bodies.

"They are constrictors, so what they do is coil their body around you. They will give you a hug of death. You breathe in and your body gets smaller, it tightens its grip, and you can't breathe out," Nathan Rusli, director of the Indonesia Herpetofauna Foundation, told The Post. "The top and bottom jaw of a snake is connected by ligaments, it's quite flexible. They can swallow prey larger than the size of their head."

Rusli also said he guessed the snake in the latest incident was a reticulated python, which can grow up to well over 20 feet long.

Read the original article on Insider
A Virginia man facing several felony charges after allegedly shooting at Myrtle Beach Police officers during a lengthy standoff must remain in jail until, a judge ruled Thursday.

William Berry Hodges, 45, barricaded himself Tuesday morning inside a home in the area of Longleaf Circle when police responded to a report there of a domestic dispute. No officers were injured.

The standoff lasted hours before Hodges set a mattress on fire inside the home, causing the house to catch on fire and him to come out and surrender, according to police.

Hodges is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer, tying her up and threatening to kill her. Police say she escaped from the home Tuesday and fled to a Myrtle Beach fire station to report the abuse.

In total, hes facing 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of second-degree arson, one count of cruelty to animals and two weapons possession charges.

Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock spoke during the bond hearing, urging the judge to deny bond because Hodges presented a clear danger to the community, while a Horry County solicitor suggested that hes a flight risk because he was already on probation for similar charges in Virginia and wasnt even supposed to be in South Carolina.

Hodges disputed both assertions, telling the judge that he was helping to establish a residence in Myrtle Beach for his mom, and his probation officer knew that. He offered to submit to house arrest and live with his mom.

But the judge agreed with Prock and the solicitor in denying bond.

Hodges got emotional when listening to the judge discuss the animal cruelty charge, which stems from his dog dying in the house fire. Fire officials had initially believed Hodges let the dog out of the house, according to police, but Hodges tearfully claimed during Thursdays hearing that police wouldnt let him.
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP)  An election recount confirmed a staunchly pro-Russia Bosnian Serb leaders victory over an opposition challenger who accused him of vote-rigging in the contest for the presidency of Bosnia's Serb-run part.

Bosnias top electoral body announced Thursday the recount showed the contested Oct 2. election was won by Bosnian Serb hardliner Milorad Dodik. The Central Election Commission said the repeated count revealed numerous irregularities it had notified judicial authorities about but that none were on a level that would have changed the outcome of the vote.

The election included races for all levels of government in the Balkan countrys Serb-dominated and Bosniak-Croat parts, as well as for the joint central institutions that link the two.

Dodik declared victory shortly after polling stations closed, but his main contender, Jelena Trivic, insisted the vote was rigged and claimed she was the winner.

Dodik has been practically unchallenged as Bosnia's top Serb leader for over a decade despite being sanctioned by the West for corruption. He advocates the separation of Bosnias Serb-run part, Republika Srpska, from the rest of the country and having it become part of neighbouring Serbia.

He used the election campaign to champion his secessionist agenda and his close ties with Russia. In September, he traveled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and secure his explicit endorsement.

Dodiks increasing anti-Western rhetoric has raised fears in Europe and the United States that the Kremlin might use him to create further instability in volatile Bosnia to avert some attention from its war in Ukraine.

Separatist ambitions among ethnic Serbs sparked Bosnias devastating 1992-95 war, which killed more than 100,000 people, displaced millions and shattered the country for years to come. A U.S.-brokered peace agreement that ended the war created the Serb and Bosniak-Croat entities, tied loosely by joint, multi-ethnic institutions.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Thousands of Brazilian fans were arriving in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil on Wednesday to watch the Copa Libertadores final between Flamengo and Athletico.

Organizers fear the Monumental Stadium might not be at its full capacity for Saturday's all-Brazil final due to the high cost of travelling to the country.

Flamengo was the first team to arrive and it was welcomed by supporters at the local airport. Hours later, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's Athletico flew in.

Clubs and organizers have tried to lure more fans into travelling to Ecuador for the final to fill the 60,000-seat stadium. Airline tickets for Brazilian fans to fly in cost an average of $1,000.

Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores title in 1981 and 2019. Athletico has not yet won South America's most prestigious club tournament. This year's final is the third consecutive all-Brazilian affair, which was won by Palmeiras the last two editions.

___

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
The UK has signed three new trade agreements since Brexit. Photo: Reuters/Stringer

MPs have urged the UK to set out the impact of new post-Brexit trade agreements on Britain's economy.

MPs on the International Trade committee (ITC) said the government should produce a document explaining at the national, regional and sectoral level, and update this following the ramifications of new agreements.

The UK has signed three trade deals since officially leaving the European Union on 31 January 2021.

Recent research showed that Brexit reduced the overall trade flows between the continent and the UK by nearly one-fifth. Trade to the EU dropped by 20% relative to the scenario in which Brexit had not occurred, according to Economic and Social Research Institute analysis. Trade in the opposite direction fell 16% on the same basis.

The cross-party committee of MPs also called for the government to create a "single trade strategy" to allow for better scrutiny of trade agreements.

The strategy should demonstrate what the government wants to "achieve from its negotiations and how new deals will support this", the committee said.

Read more: UK on course for a deep recession as downturn worsens

Angus Brendan MacNeil MP, chair of the ITC, said: "Since leaving the European Union, the UK has negotiated two brand-new free trade deals.

"Despite warm words, the government has swerved our scrutiny and deliberately prevented MPs from being given a proper say on these vitally important agreements.

"Its clear that the current approach is not fit for purpose. Thats why the government must commit to full and proper scrutiny of trade agreements and accept our recommendations as a matter of urgency."

Read more: Rishi Sunak pushes back crucial autumn budget to 17 November

The UK economy is facing a "profound crisis" new prime minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday, something that has been reiterated by statistical releases, which show the economy is headed for a deep recession.

Britain's economic policymaking credibility has been shattered following former PM Liz Truss's disastrous mini-budget, which caused turbulence in financial markets, pushed up mortgage costs and forced the Bank of England to intervene in government bonds to prevent a collapse in pension funds.

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Big parts of the mini-budget was scrapped by chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who will deliver a full autumn fiscal statement on 17 November alongside forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

Hunt is seeking reportedly seeking to find ways to fill a fiscal blackhole of 35bn when he delivers his delayed fiscal plans next month. The Treasury has drawn up a list of 104 options to cut spending as the government tries to get the public finances back on a sustainable footing, Bloomberg reported, citing officials.

Watch: What is a recession and how do we spot one?
Two months after a Star-Telegram investigation uncovered systemic sexual abuse at a Fort Worth federal prison, administrators continue to evade questions regarding the facility, known as FMC Carswell.

A months-long Star-Telegram investigation published on Aug. 26 shed light on misconduct at Federal Medical Center Carswell. The nations only medical prison for women, FMC Carswell had the highest rate and number of sexual assault allegations against staff at any federal womens prison from 2014 to 2018, the Star-Telegram found. In that period, 35 women at Carswell reported they were sexually assaulted by a staff member.

Despite the concerning reports of cover-ups and abuse at Carswell, the Bureau of Prisons continues to evade questions regarding the allegations of systemic abuse. Administrators have declined interview requests, given blanket statements in answer to questions and failed to provide detailed plans about how the Bureau of Prisons intends to address the problems.

Reports of misconduct at the prison continue to be ignored or not addressed in a timely way, said Jennifer Howard, the president of Carswells staff union.

Currently, Management officials are able to operate with impunity, in blatant disregard for federal law, executive orders, judicial orders, and BOP policy, Howard said in an email this week to the Star-Telegram. Nothing happens to Management officials for these violations; in fact, they are often moved and promoted, resulting in toxic practices being rewarded and continued within the Agency.

Director Colette Peters was sworn in as the head of the Bureau of Prisons in August. On Sept. 7, the Star-Telegram requested an interview with Peters regarding abuse at Carswell. Bureau spokesperson Scott Taylor said Peters schedule is very full her first few months, but we can re-visit this request in the future.

To determine when Peters may be available for an interview, the Star-Telegram requested Peters appointment calendar through a Freedom of Information Act request. In response, the agency said the request would take a substantial amount of time because it must be searched for and collected from a field office. One month later, the Star-Telegram had not received Peters calendar.

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On Oct. 11, the Star-Telegram again requested to speak with Peters regarding abuse at Carswell. A spokesperson again said the directors schedule does not permit an interview at this time.

However, we recognize the importance of the matter at hand and can re-visit the request in the future, spokesperson Randilee Giamusso said.

Misconduct continues

During the Star-Telegrams investigation, women incarcerated or formerly incarcerated at the prison described a culture in which staff abuse or harass women with impunity and reports of sexual assault result in retaliation. One former Carswell staff member said she reported Lt. Luis Curiel for raping women at the prison and was retaliated against by other staff and management. She was ultimately fired and is in the process of filing a whistleblower complaint.

In a separate whistleblower complaint filed in July, the union president at FMC Carswell laid out accusations of corruption, misconduct and malfeasance, in regards to general misconduct and violation of policies. Howard said many of those issues, including untimely investigations and retaliation against those who report misconduct, continue at Carswell.

Howard said she personally faced retaliation within days of the union filing a formal grievance with the regional director reporting FMC Carswell management for wrongdoing and misconduct. Management escalated their retaliation against her, she said, after she spoke with the Star-Telegram.

After the Star-Telegram published an article in July about the whistleblower complaint, Howard said, she learned she was under investigation for four charges. One charge was for being absent without leave while she was on pre-approved time off for union duties, she said. Howard said she was recently cleared of the charge.

So many investigations are untimely, in many cases with staff home on paid administrative leave, Howard said, yet retaliatory investigations against staff who report misconduct are conducted promptly.

Meanwhile, women at the prison say they believe sexual abuse continues to occur.

In response to the Star-Telegrams inquiry about any new assault allegations, Taylor, the Bureau spokesman, said Bureau staff do not discuss potential allegations of staff misconduct nor do we confirm or deny the existence of a corresponding investigation or whether a specific staff member was disciplined.

Taylor said the Bureau of Prisons takes allegations of staff misconduct seriously and, consistent with national policy, refers all allegations for investigation.

A report released Oct. 12 from the Department of Justices Office of the Inspector General voiced serious concerns about the way the Bureau of Prisons investigates sexual misconduct allegations. The Bureau of Prisons does not consider the testimony of incarcerated people to be enough on its own to take action against an employee accused of sexual misconduct, according to the report. This increases the likelihood that employees engaging in misconduct avoid accountability for their actions and remain on staff, thereby posing serious insider threat potential, including the risk of serious harm to inmates, the report says.

Demand for accountability

In response to the Star-Telegrams reporting on Carswell, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey urged the House Committee on the Judiciary to hold a hearing in North Texas to investigate sexual assaults in federal prisons. Veasey sent a letter on Sept. 7 to Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Sheila Jackson Lee, chair of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. As of Thursday, Nadler and Jacksons offices had not responded to Star-Telegram inquiries on the status of the hearing request.

Hearings can take months to schedule, but Veasey said the claims at Carswell must be investigated swiftly.

I am deeply disturbed by reports that Fort Worth's FMC Carswell prison had the highest number of sexual abuse claims out of all U.S. women's prisons.https://t.co/3amhBS5MTw  Rep. Marc Veasey (@RepVeasey) August 31, 2022

Veasey has met with personnel from Carswell to investigate misconduct claims, according to Veaseys deputy chief of staff, Emily Druckman. In addition, Veasey will continue to work with his colleagues in Congress and the Administration to push for justice for these victims and institutional change, Druckman said.

Other local leaders have been silent on abuse at Carswell. U.S. Rep Kay Grangers office has not replied to multiple Star-Telegram inquiries about the reports of abuse in her district.

Other congressional leaders have called for accountability across the agency in response to alleged cover-ups, sexual abuse by staff and administrative retaliation against whistleblowers at facilities across the country.

For example, in September, Peters faced questions from senators at a Senate judiciary hearing about alleged mismanagement and corruption across the bureau. The hearing focused in part on the findings of an Associated Press investigation published in February, which unveiled rampant sexual assault by staff at FCI Dublin, a federal facility in California.

We recognize the gravity of the alleged misconduct within some of our institutions in recent years, Peters said in her opening statement at the Sept. 29 hearing. Employee misconduct is always unacceptable and must never be tolerated.

Howard said the union would like to see federal and local leaders advocate for oversight, accountability, and transparency from the Bureau of Prisons. Since Peters spoke at the Senate Judiciary Committee, Howard said, the agency has been less combative toward the union and communication has increased. However, she said, many of the issues at Carswell remain pending, with either limited to no follow-through from the Agency, despite efforts, correspondence, and communication from the Union, and certainly no solutions offered from Warden Smith or the Agency.

Darkest places in the country

Kevin Ring, the president of the advocacy group FAMM, or Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said Peters seems like a compassionate and capable leader, but she alone cannot change the culture within the Bureau of Prisons.

He urged members of Congress to co-sponsor the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan bill that would create external oversight of complaints against the Bureau of Prisons. The bill, introduced on Sept. 30, would create an ombudsman office to independently handle investigations into Bureau of Prisons misconduct and set up unannounced and increased inspections of federal facilities.

Unless they get a system of independent oversight, its foolhardy to think that one person is going to change that culture, Ring said. The biggest thing she could do to show her commitment is to support oversight and realize that the inspector general could be a friend and not a problem.

The concept of an independent oversight group has long been called for by advocates  Julie Abbate, national advocacy director of Just Detention International, previously told the Star-Telegram an ombudsman or an oversight facility would ensure women have a safe place to report sexual assault.

FAMM also urged the Department of Justice to consider compassionate release for those victimized by sexual violence while in Bureau of Prisons custody. Sexual assault survivors told the Star-Telegram mental health care is lacking in prison  being incarcerated exacerbates their PTSD.

Its a really bad environment, Ring said. Its like they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant. And our prisons are the darkest places in the country.
A man in a stolen Infiniti used a sledgehammer to try to break into a Memphis liquor store early Monday morning, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

MPD said two black Infinitis pulled up to a liquor store on Getwell around 1:30 a.m. on October 24.

At least one of those cars was stolen and a man got out of it with a sledgehammer, according to police.

Police released video of the man banging the sledgehammer into the store door, but the glass didnt break.

Between two and five other men waited in the Infinitis while the one man tried to break in, police said.

According to MPD, all of the men involved have been breaking into liquor stores across Memphis over the past few days.

One of the vehicles was a black Infiniti G37 with a broken sunroof and a Texas Longhorn emblem on the left side of the trunk lid and the Tennessee tag 9X7-6R8.

The other Infiniti had the temp tag Q8Y6KQO4.

If you know who these men are, Memphis Police urge you to call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Any information which leads to an arrest, in this case, could be worth up to $2,000.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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More than 300 business groups on Thursday warned that the U.S. is once again nearing a nationwide rail strike and urged President Biden to intervene in contract negotiations.

The message comes after workers at two railroad unions voted down tentative deals, raising the chances of a lockout. The vote has prompted fears that workers at the largest rail unions may reject an agreement partially brokered by the White House in September, setting the stage for national rail shutdown next month.

Unfortunately, we have seen two unions reject the agreement and there are concerns that others may follow. If that were to be the case, we could witness a strike that would shut down the entire freight rail system, business groups representing farmers, automakers, retailers and dozens of other industries wrote in a letter to Biden.

Even a short-lived rail shutdown would devastate the U.S. economy, which relies on freight railroads to carry around 30 percent of the nations cargo, including large quantities of food, fuel and chemicals that cannot be transported in other ways.

Six of the 12 main rail unions have ratified a contract based on recommendations from a White House-appointed board, but many workers say it doesnt do enough to address their concerns about lacking sick time, dangerous working conditions and unpredictable hours.

The nation came within hours of a strike last month before the White House brokered a last-minute deal between the two largest rail unions and the freight railroads that provided unpaid sick leave. Democratic leaders in Congress have said that lawmakers would vote to prevent a strike if needed.

Because the White House played such a central role in the process, we believe it can be helpful in continuing to move the process forward in a positive direction, the business groups wrote. Otherwise, Congress will be called upon to act.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, Alliance for Automotive Innovation, American Bakers Association, National Retail Federation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce signed on to Thursdays letter, among other influential groups.

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Companies that rely on rail to transport goods have become increasingly hostile toward the railroad industry, which reported massive profits this year despite persistent disruptions driven by a shortage of train conductors and engineers. Railroads laid off nearly 30 percent of their workforce in recent years, leaving them unprepared for an increase in demand.

A fragile and volatile supply chain requires a strong rail network. Now is not the time to deny reasonable benefits for a labor community that has been decimated by losses in recent years, Eric Byer, president of the National Association of Chemical Distributors, wrote in an opinion piece this month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Oct. 27ALBANY  Byne Church and Christian School announced Thursday that they would jointly serve as hosts of Night to Shine 2023, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. The unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, celebrates people with special needs and will be held in-person by host churches around the world simultaneously on Feb. 10.

Byne officials say they are excited to be a part of this worldwide movement that God is using as a catalyst to change how cultures embrace people with disabilities and to rally the church worldwide to honor their local community of people with special needs, ensuring they know they are valued and loved.

Every guest of Night to Shine enters the event on a red carpet, complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi. Once inside, guests receive the royal treatment, including hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors, a dance floor ... all leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.

"I'm so excited Night to Shine 2023 will be back in-person," Tim Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, said in a news release. "All around the world, individuals with special needs are going to be celebrated like they should be. We've been able to adapt over the last couple of years, but we can't wait to be back together in person to cheer for every guest as they walk the red carpet, as they dance the night away with their friends, as they are crowned king or queen of the prom, and most importantly, as every single one of them is told that their life has purpose and they are loved by us and the God of this universe."

As sponsor of Night to Shine, the Tim Tebow Foundation will provide each host church with the official 2023 Night to Shine Planning Manual, personalized guidance and support from a Tim Tebow Foundation staff member, the opportunity to apply for financial grants, and access to planning resources that will assist the churches in creating an unforgettable night for their honored guests. The foundation also offers ongoing disability ministry resources through Shine On, a ministry that equips the global church and families living with disabilities with innovative resources, training, and programs to eliminate barriers and cultivate a life-giving community.

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Byne will partner with organizations that serve people with special needs and local schools to ensure everyone has information and access to the event. Persons over the age of 14 are encouraged to volunteer. All volunteers must complete a background check and attend training. Night to Shine is free for guests with special needs. Companies, organizations, and individuals are encouraged to sponsor the event.

Night to Shine launched in 2015 with 44 host churches and 15,000 volunteers honoring more than 7,000 kings and queens of the prom. In February 2020, 721 host churches and 215,000 volunteers came together to celebrate 110,000 honored guests with special needs. Over the past two years, Night to Shine innovated and endured through the pandemic with the first-ever virtual Night to Shine, celebrating thousands of honored guests through unique adaptations including a complete virtual video experience and socially distanced Shine Thru drive-thru events.

For additional information on the Night to Shine hosted by Byne Church in Albany, visit www.ntsbyne.com.

For more information on the worldwide movement of Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, visit www.timtebowfoundation.org/night-to-shine.
Oscar Martinez grew up in Santa Ana, a gentrifying city in Southern California near Anaheim, where his single mother supported three children.

Martinez lived in poverty and was surrounded by violence and drugs, he said. He and his two sisters often spent nights in their car to find shelter away from the violence his stepfather inflicted on his mother.

It was his dream to become a police officer, he said, but he never saw that becoming a reality. His family had negative experiences with police officers, as many Latinos do. But eventually, Martinez decided he wanted to be a support system to people, like his family, who dont trust the police.

Thats the reason why Im here, because I want to help out, I want to make a difference, Martinez said in an interview with the Idaho Statesman. I want to be a support system for those people that are not being heard.

Martinez said when he first started working in the Caldwell Police Department it was hard to get work done because he was one of a few officers who spoke Spanish. He was always helping other officers with the language instead of working his own cases.

Martinez is one of nine Latino officers in the Caldwell Police Department, which patrols a city that is 36% Latino. But Caldwells police force is only 14% Latino, according to data from the department.

Police Chief Rex Ingram, who joined the department in July, told the Statesman that he is trying to bridge the gap between the Latino community and the overwhelmingly white force.

Ingram, who is partially Hispanic, said in an August interview that the department is working to hire more officers of color and who speak Spanish. But Ingram said the community first needs to trust the department.

You have to hire from the community, and you have to bring in folks that are from your community that look like you and you look like them, Ingram said.

Caldwell police spokesperson Char Jackson said by email that Caldwell has 12 vacancies, 11 of which are for officers.

Last week, the Caldwell Police Department officially swore in four new officers  all of them are people of color.

Many Latinos slow to trust law enforcement

Nationwide, many Latinos trust the police less than non-Latinos. According to a survey by the Cato Institute, 78% of non-Hispanics say they would definitely report a crime, compared with 57% of Hispanics.

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Margie Gonzalez, executive director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs, said many Latinos across the state struggle with relationships with the police. There is a language barrier between people who speak only Spanish or prefer to communicate in Spanish, when most officers in Idaho dont speak Spanish.

Many Latino immigrants lacking permanent legal status also worry about how local police work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, and about harassment from officers, Gonzalez said.

Martinez and his family felt a similar way about police growing up, he said. One day while living in Santa Ana, Martinez said his mother called police because people were smoking marijuana outside their home. He said police responded two hours later, long after the smokers had left the area.

She got a bad taste for police, Martinez said. That was kind of the tradition: People dont call the cops because theyre always late for everything.

Martinez moved to Idaho nearly five years ago and had to make an adjustment to the culture here. He moved from Santa Ana, where the population more culturally and racially diverse than Idaho.

Ingram said he sees a racial disconnect between white officers and Latino residents.

How many victims are not reporting crimes because they just simply dont trust the badge? Ingram said.

Martinez said many Latinos worry that local police will turn undocumented people over to federal immigration enforcement for deportation.

That belief is not unfounded. In 2019, an Idaho Press report found that Canyon County jail staffers worked closely with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement when they believed they had booked someone who was undocumented.

Caldwell officers are not going to report undocumented immigrants to ICE unless there is a criminal charge against them, Ingram told the Statesman. This isnt a policy change, he said, but an approach to handling previous mistreatment of immigrants.

While immigration law is a federal responsibility, ICEs fugitive-operations officers rely heavily on local law enforcement agencies to turn over people in the U.S. illegally whom ICE has identified as wanted.

An undocumented Caldwell resident can call the police to report a crime without fear of deportation, he said.

Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram speaks during an Aug. 10, 2022 press conference. Since joining the role in July Ingram has made an effort to hire more officers of color.

What I want the community to know is that they dont have to worry about calling the police to report something and about the officers asking them, Hey, do you have your papers?, Ingram said, referring to legal residency documents.

Ingram said that in Los Angeles both the LAPD  where Ingram previously worked  and the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department dont work with U.S. immigration authorities either.

Thats the environment Im coming from, Ingram said. You do your thing, but were not gonna assist you.

How other Canyon County agencies compare

None of the law enforcement agencies in Canyon County have ethnic makeups that fully reflect the Latino communities they serve, according to data provided to the Statesman.

The Canyon County Sheriffs Office staff is roughly 14% Latino, though Latinos make up 26% of Canyon Countys population.

In Nampa, the police department doesnt track race or ethnicity data, spokesperson Carmen Boeger said. She estimated that of the departments 207 employees, roughly 20 to 25 are Latino. Nampa is almost 25% Latino, census data showed.

It isnt uncommon for the data to be incomplete. In Idaho, its up to the individual agencies to collect their own data on how many Latinos work in their departments, as no state agency is collecting the data, according to a report generated by the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs.

Martinez plays in a band with students at Canyon Springs High School, an alternative high school in the Caldwell School District. He said music is a way he connects with the students.

You just see the wall breaking

Ed Moreno, an officer and the Hispanic community liaison for the Boise Police Department, has spent seven years working with the Latino community. After years of speaking Spanish to Latinos who interact with police and interacting with them at events besides police incidents, Moreno said he is finally starting to see a difference.

When you start interacting with them in their language, you just see the wall breaking, Moreno said by phone. Then when you start educating them on our justice system and the services available to them in the department, you start building trust within the community.

Latinos are underrepresented in Boises department too. The department is 3% Latino, while the city is 9%, according to data from the department and the Census Bureau.

When Moreno first started as the liaison, he said he did not receive support from the departments partners in Canyon County.

I didnt really get a whole lot of assistance from our partners in Nampa or Caldwell, Moreno said. Im like, Youre at the epicenter. Theres a high concentration of Latinos there with agriculture. Thats where theyre at.

Today, about 12 officers in the Caldwell Police Department speak Spanish.

Ingram, who speaks Spanish, has done interviews on LaGranD, a Spanish radio station in the Treasure Valley.

I talked about not only recruiting more Hispanic officers, but really solidifying the relationship that my community needs to have as a police department and be able to trust us, Ingram said.

Gonzalez, whose state agency hosted the states first cultural competency training for law enforcement in 2020, said she hopes Ingram will bring changes to Caldwell. But she said she has been let down for years by Canyon County law enforcement when it comes to following through with Latino community outreach. She said she will believe the push when she sees results.

Im more than willing to help them if there really is a genuine interest, Gonzalez said. The need is there, but is there a genuine interest?

Martinez, left, plays Spanish music on bass guitar with students at Canyon Springs High. As a former alternative school student himself, Martinez hopes he has made an impact on the students.

When Martinez first started at the Caldwell Police Department, nearly five years ago, he struggled as one of just a few Latino officers who spoke Spanish.

When I first started, and throughout the beginning of my career, I was getting tied up with trying to help everybody, Martinez said.

The department received a couple of applications from people who heard him on LaGranD, Martinez said.

Martinez said he sees the number of Latino officers improving under Ingram.

I think that will benefit not only (the department), but the community as well, he said. Then maybe we can start building that trust again. We need to reflect the population of the community.

The Caldwell Police Department recently hired four new officers and they were sworn in during a Caldwell City Council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The officers from left to right: Moises Montes, Dwight Penkey, Nilton Melara and Shawn Sopoaga.

Caldwell police fills four vacancies

Since the Statesman interviewed Ingram in late August, the Caldwell Police Department has hired four people of color, including Deputy Chief Shawn Sopoaga.

Sopoaga, who is Polynesian, joined from the Boise Police Department where he was a lieutenant and worked as recruiting coordinator and watch commander, according to a news release from Caldwell.

I knew that this guy was something special, Ingram said on Thursday, Oct. 20 at a Caldwell City Council meeting

Ingram was sworn in as Caldwell Police Chief in June.

The other new officers are Moises Montes, Nilton Melara and Dwight Penkey.

Penkey, who is African American, previously worked for the Ada County Sheriffs Office as a jail deputy.

Montes and Melara are Latino and Spanish-speaking. Their hiring boosted the departments Latino makeup from roughly 10% to 14%

Montes previously worked as a deputy with the Owyhee County Sheriffs Office. Melara worked with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department and then as a correctional officer in the Idaho Department of Correction.

As you can see, we have a very diverse group of men up here, Ingram said during the council meeting. This should be an example (of) my commitment to my community on how diverse this police department is going to become in the near future.

Former Caldwell police officer found guilty of evidence destruction and witness tampering

Struggling to pay rising prices of produce? This group says immigration reform will help
Families gather in Costa Mesa last month to protest the California Department of Developmental Services and the Regional Center of Orange County. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

The system charged with ensuring that California adults with developmental disabilities get crucial services is plagued with stark differences in spending by race, ethnicity and where people live, according to a report released Wednesday by a disability advocacy group.

The report from Disability Voices United, titled "A Matter of Race and Place," builds on long-standing concerns about racial disparities at regional centers  a system of nonprofits that are responsible for coordinating services for developmentally disabled children and adults. It also underscores dramatic differences in spending between centers serving different parts of California.

"We shouldn't have 21 different ways that people are receiving services," said Judy Mark, president of Disability Voices United, who is also the parent of an adult served by a regional center. "It shouldn't be based on where you live or what your race or ethnicity is."

Regional centers provide assistance under contracts with the California Department of Developmental Services, which has invested tens of millions of dollars in recent years to try to close racial and ethnic gaps in spending. Earlier this year, the legal advocacy group Public Counsel found racial disparities had nonetheless persisted in spending on services for children and teens.

The report released Wednesday found similar kinds of problems with spending on adults with developmental disabilities. And at the majority of regional centers, disparities in spending between Latino and white adults had worsened over time, the report concluded.

The Department of Developmental Services said it welcomed the report and "has made it a priority to approach these discrepancies in a thoughtful and systematic way."

"Although important progress has been made in recent years, there still is much room for improvement," the department said in a statement.

Amy Westling, executive director of the Assn. of Regional Center Agencies, said a number of factors drive spending levels at the centers, including whether they are supporting lots of people with more costly needs who used to live in state-operated centers, different caps on rates that centers pay for services and challenges finding easy-to-access services in areas without big cities.

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Some regional centers have argued that spending gaps are the result of cultural differences in whether adults live at home with their families, rather than in more expensive facilities, the report said. But among adults living at home, Disability Voices United still found disparities in how much regional centers were spending on clients of different races and ethnicities.

Lanterman Regional Center, which serves an area that includes central L.A., Hollywood, Glendale and Pasadena, had the state's biggest gap by dollars  $8,561 in fiscal year 2020-2021  in average spending per person on adults of different racial and ethnic groups who were living at home, with Latinos getting the least, the report found.

Lanterman Executive Director Melinda Sullivan said in a statement that the regional center understands there are concerns surrounding disparities and was taking time to carefully review the report. The center "will continue our efforts to improve upon equities in the levels of services provided to all Lanterman families and individuals served regardless of race or ethnicity," she said.

In Southern California, racial disparities in dollars spent on adults living at home were also especially apparent at the North Los Angeles and Orange County regional centers, the report found. At a news conference, Claudia Rivera said that the Regional Center of Orange County had repeatedly turned her down to obtain many services for her two sons with disabilities.

Her 29-year-old son has repeatedly gotten lost for days or even weeks, Rivera said, and the only assistance the regional center has provided their family is 30 hours per month of respite care  someone to temporarily watch her son at home.

"It's been really hard for me. I've even wanted to die when he gets lost because I don't know what to do," Rivera told reporters through an interpreter, speaking in Spanish.

Larry Landauer, executive director of the Regional Center of Orange County, said he could not comment on any individual client, but that what the Orange County parent had described was "not acceptable." Landauer said his center had been studying disparities and pursued "intensive case management" for Latino clients who had gotten little or no services.

"We've always been trained, under [state law], to say, 'What is the need of this individual?'" he said.

Mark faulted a "culture of no" at regional centers that is easier to fight for those with more resources, including white families and English speakers. Fernando Gomez, a parent and co-founder of Integrated Community Collaborative, said "the system is just so hard to navigate."

Westling, whose association represents regional centers across California, said the group's analysis had found that overall regional center spending on Latino and Asian people living with their families was "only slightly below parity" compared with white adults, and that spending on white and Black adults living with their families was similar. Mark said their new analysis differed by examining individual centers, rather than statewide figures.

The report also found that "where you live matters as much as your race." Some centers have been spending much more per person than others, Disability Voices United found. Among them was Westside Regional Center, which serves western and coastal parts of Los Angeles County.

Westside Regional Center was spending an average of more than $30,000 each on adult clients living at home  nearly three times as much as San Diego Regional Center, which was spending an average of less than $11,000 on each adult living at home, the report found.

Mark pointed out that Latino adults living at home and served by Westside did not get as much on average as their white counterparts, but they were receiving more services than "almost every other adult living at home  regardless of race" at other regional centers.

Disability Voices United also found "enormous differences" in what regional centers were spending to support adults who were living away from their families in their own places. Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center was spending an average of more than $80,000 for each of those clients, compared with roughly $14,000 per client at Inland Regional Center, which serves clients in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the report found. And the report also found big differences from center to center in spending on adults in residential settings.

Disability Voices United argued that to address the inequities, California lawmakers and the Department of Developmental Services need to step up oversight and accountability for regional centers with big disparities, including reassessing the individual plans for clients at inequitable centers to see if more services should be approved.

It also called for state lawmakers to demand accountability for the money spent to address inequities and target the state grants to geographic areas and groups worst affected by disparities.

The Department of Developmental Services said it had enlisted Georgetown University to evaluate its grant program to ensure the money was going to effective efforts, among other steps to address disparities. The department added that although costs of services differ from region to region, it was seeking to minimize those differences through a new program that would add $2.1 billion to support services by 2024-25.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Rep. David Valadao; Assemblyman Rudy Salas

Rep. David Valadao; Rudy Salas Credit - Bill ClarkCQ-Roll Call/Getty Images; Rich PedroncelliAP

The race to win Californias 22nd congressional district in the midterms has become one of the tightest House races in the country. The outcome is set to prove whether Republicans who have bucked Donald Trump can still have a place in their party, whether Democrats can keep Latino voters on their side, and how big of a majority the GOP can win in the House.

Though several polls and historical trends point to Republicans ultimately winning control of the House in the midterms, the size of that majority could vary, and Californias 22nd district is one of only a few seats in the country with the potential to sway one way or another.

The Republican on the ticket, Congressman David Valadao, was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach former President Trump in 2021. Most of the other nine lost their primaries after that vote or chose not to seek reelection. But while Trump didnt endorse Valadao, nor did he endorse his opponent in the primary, and Valadao hung on. For Republicans, keeping the 22nd districtwhich is currently held by a Republican and neighbors House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthys 23rd districtcould be key in padding a majority if they take over the House.

This is one of the most competitive seats in the country because in order for Republicans to win the House, we need to keep this seat. Ive won in tight races before because I stay focused on the district and the issues that matter to the Valley, Valadao said in a statement to TIME. Voters have a choice this November between a Congressman that actually shows up for them and takes the tough votes, and one that has made a career of ducking votes and trying to hide his positions from voters.

Read More: 5 House Races That Will Determine Whether Democrats Keep Power

But Democrats view the district as one that can be flipped in their favor. Though Republicans have won District 22 in recent election cycles, it has been historically competitive, and redistricting added more Democratic voters to the district. The bluer turf, combined with Valadaos vote against Trump, could give an edge to Democratic candidate Rudy Salas, a California assemblyman.

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Literally, this is Kevin [McCarthys] backyard, says Mark Martinez, chair of the Department of Political Science at California State University Bakersfield, which resides in the district. So this congressional district would be a slap in the face for [McCarthy] to lose.

Valadao and Salas have campaigned aggressively, and have raised more than $2 million each so far in trying to secure the seat. The voters here, they dont vote for the party, they vote for the candidate, says Abby Olmstead, Salas campaign manager. Theyre really looking for the person whos going to do the most good for the most amount of people to really deliver.

Latest polling by RMG Research and David Binder Research find Salas ahead of Valadao by five and eight points, respectively. But while Salas has an advantage after redistricting, historically low voter turnout among Latino Democrats in the district, according to Martinez and Madrid, could work in Valadaos favor. California 22, which is nearly 60% Latino, will be a test case for whether Republicans can make significant inroads with Latino voters, if Valadao wins. What it shows is that they will be able to break into the California Latino electorate, which is the toughest electorate for Republicans to break into, says Mike Madrid, a Republican political consultant.

Read More: Republican Mayra Flores Won Over Key Texas Latinos. Can She Do It Again?

Some voters may find issues in Valadaos voting record. Valadao has several times voted against capping the price of insulin, and diabetes is a prevailing issue in the regiona point Salas has made in his campaign ads. This directly is a vote against the interests of the people who live in this region, says Martinez. It also remains to be seen how the Supreme Courts decision last term to overturn Roe v. Wade will animate the electorate; Valadao is a co-sponsor of a bill that would ban abortion nationally. Despite Valadaos vote to impeach Trump, Republicans nationally have continued to support him financially in the days leading up to election day. Punchbowl News reported on Oct. 20 that the Republican super PAC Defending Main Street spent six figures on a radio ad attacking Salas as a jet-setter who spends more time on vacation than legislating. Salas, meanwhile, has the endorsement of the United Farm Workers, one of the most influential organizing groups in the region, the same labor group famous for advocacy led by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the 1960s. The majority of our congressional districts are not competitive, Martinez says. But this is one of the areas where we actually have a competitive race consistently. This is the way democracy is supposed to be.
Canadas national police service has announced that it has begun an investigation into alleged criminal activity at the Chinese police stations reportedly set up in Ontario.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed the investigation in a statement to CP24 without specifying the nature of the reported criminal activity nor the locations of the so-called police stations in the Greater Toronto Area.

"The (force) 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," RCMP spokesperson Camille Boily-Lavoie was quoted as saying. "As the RCMP is currently investigating the incident, there will be no further comment on the matter at this time.

Spanish-based non-government organization Safeguard Defenders claimed that while the stations present themselves as offices that assist Chinese citizens living abroad, they also serve a more sinister purpose.

More from NextShark: Interpol issues red notice for Luna, TerraUSD co-founder Do Kwon

The NGO has been looking into what it has deemed a coordinated effort by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) to force Chinese nationals living abroad accused of fraud to return home.

In its 21-page report released last month, the NGO noted that China reported it has successfully "persuaded 230,000 fraud suspects to return home between April 2021 and July 2022.

According to Safeguard Defenders, China has opened a total of 54 police service stations in 30 countries, including three in Canadas Greater Toronto Area.

More from NextShark: 1 in 3 Asian Americans Fear Getting Racially Attacked, Pew Research Center Survey Reveals

"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," the RCMP further stated.

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The report highlighted the different schemes the stations have implemented, including depriving suspects' children in China the right to education and other penalties faced by the suspects relatives who were deemed "guilty by association."

The report stated: Whether the targets are dissidents, corrupt officials or low-level criminals, the problem remains the same: The use of irregular methods  often combining carrots with sticks  against the targeted individual or their family members in China undermines any due process and the most basic rights of suspects.

More from NextShark: 'Heart Surgeon #1' From 'The Office' Crowdfunds for Medical Bills After Heart Attack

In the U.S., Republican lawmakers have demanded an investigation into how the Chinese police have established a branch in New York.

The lawmakers accused the Chinese police service stations of coercing purported Chinese fugitives abroad to return to China to face legal proceedings, which is euphemistically dubbed as persuading to return in Chinese parlance. By doing so, China avoids scrutiny on its human rights record in relation to repatriating alleged fugitives overseas by eschewing formal international cooperation mechanisms.

In a statement to CP24, the consulate general of the Peoples Republic of China in Canada denied the stations involvement in any criminal investigation or relevant activity, noting that their local volunteers are not Chinese police officers.

More from NextShark: NYPD Lieutenant Admits Saying 'High Yellow' and 'Chinky Eyes', But She Was Only 'Joking'

In order to solve their practical difficulties, the local authorities in Fujian, China, have set up an online service platform, the consulate said. For services such as drivers license 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.

Featured Image via CBC News: The National
Photos of the family of James Williams, 46, who had been shooting celebratory gunfire into the air to ring in 2022 was shot to death by a Canton Police officer firing through the family's enclosed wooden security fence. Monday, January 3, 2021.

CANTON  Calls for transparency and accountability were at forefront of comments made by community leaders Thursday following news that officer Robert Huber will not face discipline for fatally shooting James Williams on Jan. 1.

The city's internal review concluded Huber did not violate department policies.

Mayor Thomas Bernabei sent out 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.

The mayor said in his release that the Use of Force Review Board  which consisted of the investigative division commander, patrol division commander, training bureau commander, a patrol shift sergeant, a patrol officer and a city attorney  found that Huber acted within departmental policies.

James Williams coverage: His family's lawsuit against Canton

Timeline of events: James Williams' death at his Canton home

Bernabei called Williams' death tragic and said he agreed with the findings of the review.

"This incident is tragic for the family of Mr. Williams. They have lost a husband and father and friend under tragic circumstances. My prayers go out to them. I also offer my prayers to Officer Huber and his family as well. 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," Bernabei said in the release.

Williams, 46, was killed at his home in the 2300 block of 10th Street SW shortly after midnight on New Year's Day while Huber was investigating a report of gunfire. Williams was firing a Ruger AR-556 rifle in the air from behind his partially fenced patio when Huber fired at Williams through the fence without warning.

Members of Williams' family said he was firing into the air to celebrate the new year.

A Stark County grand jury last month decided not to indict Huber on any criminal charges tied to Williams' death.

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Community leaders call for reform

Colin Meeker, an attorney representing the Williams family in a federal civil rights lawsuit, told the Repository Wednesday he wasn't surprised by the outcome and that a formal statement would be released later.

Baker, Dublikar, Beck, Wiley & Mathews, the law firm representing Huber, said the firm has no comment at this time.

Canton City Councilwoman Chris Smith, D-4, said she was disappointed by the outcome.

"It's really hard for me to really speak on it," she said. "I'm still just disgusted that he didn't get anything or wasn't charged with anything because I still feel that a life is gone, a father is gone, a husband is gone."

Smith was one of three Canton City Council members who left a council meeting last month in solidarity with people protesting the grand jury's decision. She also coordinated a statement earlier this year calling for a swift investigation into the shooting that was cosigned by four other members of council.

Smith said she doesn't feel satisfied with the justice system and that she has deep sympathy for Williams' family.

Hector McDaniel, president of the Stark County NAACP, said the agency is conducting a thorough review of the documents related to the investigation and will be putting out a formal statement to the community after it has finished that process.

"What we're going to share is not just going to be a statement," he said. "We're actually going to, again, be looking at reform. We're actually going to be looking at, 'How do we take this tragic incident and push for reform, policy, training kind of changes?'"

McDaniel said the situation is worth more than a single comment and that it needs to be used to address issues in the community, particularly the relationship between law enforcement and the community.

He also said he had an opportunity to speak to Williams' wife, Marquetta, after he heard the news.

"The concern, again, is how do we move this tragic situation, and how can we get some positive outcomes as a result of it?" McDaniel said.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Community reacts to no discipline for Canton officer in fatal shooting
The photo zone with the inscription

The documents reveal that weeks before the start of the Ukrainian September counter-offensive, Russian knew they were being surveilled. Their electronic warfare equipment was constantly breaking. Furthermore, U.S.-made HIMARS rocket artillery began to strike their command posts, which seriously damaged Russian troop morale.

Read also: SBU neutralizes Russian mercenary squads in Kharkiv Oblast

Mostly it was the 11th Army Corps  part of the Russian Baltic Fleet  operating in Balakliia and its surroundings. A group of invaders, called Balakliya, was led by Colonel Ivan Popov. Earlier he participated in the wars in Chechnya and Georgia. His wife confirmed that Popov led troops in eastern Ukraine, was injured and hospitalized during the retreat from Balakliia, and was promoted to general afterwards.

The military commandant in the city went by the call sign Granite. He oversaw at least one torture chamber, where civilians were beaten and electrocuted.

In late August, the morale of Russian troops was extremely poor, as they suffered serious losses, were demoralized, and some refused to fight. Some units had only 20% of required personnel.

Read also: Modern Russia is an artificial state, former FM Klimkin says

In addition to the Russian military, mobilized people from occupied Donbas were also present in the area. Compared to the Russians, their salaries were much lower, and their equipment was worse. One of them had his fingers wounded after his 1891-designed Mosin rifle exploded.

The documents had a description of the battle in mid-July for the village of Hrakove near Balakliia. Ukrainian forces went on the offensive and forced the Russians to retreat. But the commander of the Russian troops ordered not to give up the village and sent for reinforcements. Eventually, the Russians were able to recapture lost positions, but lost at least one tank, two armored personnel carriers and other vehicles; 39 invaders were injured, seven were killed, and 21 were MIA.

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Read also: US to send four HIMARS launchers to Ukraine within next military aid package

Around that time, Ukrainian forces launched a HIMARS strike at the Russian base, killing 12 enemy troops. By the end of July, Russian troops were already convinced that Ukraine was planning an offensive on this axis. So, the invaders decided to bolster their units here, but by the end of August they were able to recruit only 71% of the required number of soldiers.

Read also: Kharkiv territorial defense fighters tell the story of the liberation of Kharkiv Oblast

In early September, the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast. Ukrainian troops managed to liberate 421 settlements, including Izyum and Balakliia.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
This article originally appeared on Velo News

Richard Carapaz is almost certain to race the Tour de France in 2023 with Jonathan Vaughters telling VeloNews that the route suits his new marquee signing and that the main discussion is over approach and tactics.

Carapaz signed from Ineos Grenadiers over the winter and massively improves EF Education-EasyPost's future grand tour ambitions. The former Giro d'Italia winner has been on the podium in the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana and has forged a career as one of the most dynamic and exciting riders in the men's peloton.

The coming weeks will determine Carapaz's Tour de France approach.

"Our first performance team meeting is in London on November 10 and then the first team get-together is in December but looking at the routes for the Giro and the Tour, the Tour definitely favors Richard's abilities more. Definitely everyone, including Richard himself, is leaning towards him doing the Tour de France," Vaughters told VeloNews.

Also read:

The main question mark at this point is whether the American team goes all-in on Carapaz's GC hopes or whether the rider takes a different approach. At the Vuelta a Espana this year he won three mountain stages and the mountains jersey, and Vaughters watched on with great interest as his new signing delivered a performance that indicated that racing for a top-five doesn't always provide a huge return on investment and effort when it comes to excitement or exposure.

"We'll have to see how he's performing during the year to determine the goal. He's really versatile as a rider, and he's ridden GC before but the way he rode the Vuelta, where he got the mountains jersey and won three stages, from a sponsor's perspective, that's a lot more spectacular than following the GC riders," Vaughters said.

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"So, we'll have to take into account how he wants to race the Tour, and then we'll have to take into account how the sponsors feel about that. Then we'll come up with a plan. I've become a bit less of a fan of just focusing on GC in grand tours, just because it can be a bit dull.

It has to be a decision we take with him, and it's a complex decision. That being said, it's highly likely that he'll do the Tour de France. Watching him race the Vuelta made me think about whether it's best to focus on GC. The way he raced the Vuelta was super impressive, so if he could transfer that to the Tour de France, that would be incredible. There's a decision to be made there."

If Carapaz does mount a challenge for the yellow jersey then the next question is whether the team builds its entire roster around that purpose. There is real depth within the team but there are also several proven grand tour stage winners with Magnus Cort, Alberto Bettiol, and Rigoberto Uran all recent examples. Vaughters doesn't envisage a challenge of EF's philosophy even if Carapaz does target the overall standings.

"It's a long discussion and we've not had that yet but it's been in our nature to have an attacking team that goes after the race. We put riders in breaks and give guys the chance to go for stage wins, he said.

We saw with Jumbo-Visma that they were able to let Wout van Aert go and do his race and still achieve their goals as a team. I dont think we need to change the history of our team for the last 15 years and go all-in on an attempted GC. I'm not ruling out going all-in Carapaz but it's not how we've raced the Tour in the past."

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Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said Thursday the upheaval of the U.S. school system from the coronavirus pandemic should be embraced as an opportunity to build a better one for students.

We have to embrace this disruption in education and not build it back the way it was before, Cardona said at The Atlantics Education Summit.

The session with the secretary comes the week the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores came out, showing major drops in mathematics and reading for fourth and eighth graders during the pandemic.

Cardona said he is very confident we can reverse the drop in scores, but that even the ones from before the pandemic in 2019 were not acceptable.

In 2019  our Black and brown kids were underperforming by 10, 15 points on average, and nobody was talking about it, he said.

Cardona emphasized the need to invest in education differently to build a new system that works for all students.

In rebuilding that system, Cardona pointed to addressing the teacher shortage, calling it a crisis, as well as efforts on student debt relief.

The Biden administration rolled out applications for its student debt relief program this month, but a court ruling from last week will prevent the relief from being given out until the legality of the initiative is resolved.

Cardona encouraged borrowers to keep applying and said the federal government is ready to fight these lawsuits.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
What started as simple posts to share her experiences with her son has now led one mother and her child to the ultimate brand deal with Target.

Started off by sharing videos taking my son to the store with a mini cart teaching him to be more comfortable in places that might be overwhelming since hes on the Autism spectrum, wrote Kyra Henry via Twitter.

Started off by sharing videos taking my son to the store with a mini cart teaching him to be more comfortable places that might be overwhelming since hes on the Autism spectrum. Then he ended up getting a brand deal with Target to launch the mini carts pic.twitter.com/7nN1fB5NAR  Kyra Henry (@kyraamoore) October 26, 2022

Now, they are celebrating a brand deal with Target to launch the mini carts.

The thread includes more details about the partnership, as well as one of the original clips that Henry shared to TikTok of her son Kyren. He can be seen shopping in the grocery store on his own while putting all of his favorite items into a mini cart.

Heres one of his original shopping videos pic.twitter.com/km1aWB2KyH  Kyra Henry (@kyraamoore) October 27, 2022

Collaborating With Target

Henry shared more news about the brand partnership with Target via Instagram.

I think Kyren has the perfect costume this year thanks to the launch of the mini carts @target, she wrote in a caption accompanied by a clip of her son preparing for the fall festivities with the cart not too far behind. Not only did Target make the cutest mini shipping carts, but they also have the best Fall Party decorations. I love having themed parties for my kids and Target had everything I needed!

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Heres one of his original shopping videos pic.twitter.com/km1aWB2KyH  Kyra Henry (@kyraamoore) October 27, 2022

Authentic Partnerships Matter

This is not only a win for Kyren and Henry, but it also sends a message that often times the best way for brands to market products is through consumers who can touch everyday people.

As previously reported by AfroTech, viral sensations like Tariq The Corn Kid are the perfect example. He has not on become an official corn ambassador in one of the nations top corn producers, South Dakota, but also made cameos with brands like Chipotle.
DETROIT  For infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness, enrollment in an early learning program can be a major boon. Quality child care and programs such as Early Head Start can keep young children on track developmentally, while also allowing staff to connect families with housing assistance and other services.

But new research in 20 states shows that less than 8% of infants and toddlers experiencing homelessness are attending an early childhood program.

The reach of these early learning programs for children experiencing homelessness is not what we need to see if we actually want to see children truly thriving in their lives and in their education, said Jennifer Erb-Downward, senior research associate at Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan. And it's an opportunity that we're missing.

Jennifer Erb-Downward, MPH, a Senior Research Associate for Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan.

1.3 million homeless young children  a very conservative estimate

Around 1.3 million children younger than 6 are experiencing homelessness, a traumatic experience that harms young children and has been found to be associated with delays in language, literacy and social-emotional development, according to SchoolHouse Connection, a national nonprofit working to overcome homelessness through education, and the organization behind the new research.

Little kids are actually at the highest risk of experiencing homelessness; nationally, individuals are most likely to enter shelter or transitional housing as infants, followed by young children from ages 1 to 5.

But counting them  essential for serving them  has always been a barrier.

One of the challenges that we face is that there is no single program when we're talking about early childhood, said Erb-Downward. This means that we're looking at numbers across multiple different programs, making it much harder to figure out how many children in these very early years are experiencing homelessness.

Once children get a bit older, its a little easier to identify those without stable housing. Public schools identified 1.5 million children experiencing homelessness in the 2017-2018 school year  the highest number ever recorded. But experts point out that the rate is certainly higher, since that figure represents the number of children known to school officials to be experiencing homelessness.

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'The foundation for all future learning'

Families in these difficult circumstances might think they cant access early childhood programs: They lack a permanent address; they might not be able to find that birth certificate or immunization record they assume is required for enrollment; they cant always find or afford transportation to a center.

Add to that a lack of awareness among early care providers about identifying and assisting these kids, and many families experiencing homelessness just never bother enrolling their children.

The years from prenatal to age 3 are the foundation for all future learning behavior and health, said Barbara Duffield, executive director of SchoolHouse Connection. We know that homelessness can have long-lasting consequences, but it doesn't have to. High quality early learning programs can mitigate the harm of homelessness and can help young children thrive.

For this study, researchers applied U.S. Department of Education estimates for the number of first-graders experiencing homelessness to the population of children under the age of 3.

This really represents a very conservative way of estimating the number of children in these very early infant toddler years who are experiencing homelessness, said Erb-Downward. But it gives us a really, really critical starting point, because even with this very, very conservative estimate, we see a huge gap in the number of children who we estimate to be experiencing homelessness and the number of children who are actually receiving these very, very critical supports.

Terrence George, Superintendent at Covenant House Academy delivers food to the home of one of his students after a Gleaners food distribution on May 8, 2020. Administrators and teachers of Covenant House Academy have been working hard to make sure homeless students and students with housing and food insecurities get the help they need.

The lasting effects of homelessness start earlier than you think

Longer periods of homelessness have been associated with worse health outcomes for children. The stress it causes in young kids can lead to harmful changes in brain and body function, contributing to higher levels of stress-related chronic diseases later in life.

The younger and longer a child experiences homelessness, the greater the cumulative toll of negative health outcomes, which can have lifelong effects on the child, the family, and the community, researchers wrote in a 2015 Housing Policy Research brief.

Experiencing homelessness as a baby  and even before birth  can have deleterious health effects. The 2015 research found that young children who experienced only prenatal homelessness were more likely to be in fair or poor health and more likely to have been hospitalized since birth compared with children who did not experience prenatal homelessness.

Caregivers of children who experienced homelessness as babies or toddlers also reported those children to be in fair or poor health, in addition to being at higher risk for developmental delays compared to children who never experienced homelessness.

That 2015 research also found that infants who experienced homelessness for longer than six months were significantly more likely to be at risk for developmental delays, to be in fair or poor health, to require hospitalizations and to be overweight.

Later in life, experiencing homelessness detracts from students ability to perform in school. Students struggling with homelessness fared worse educationally and continue to face educational risks even after being housed.

What would it take to get more homeless children into learning programs?

At the highest level, Erb-Downward pointed out that the expanded child tax credit resulted in a drop in childhood poverty. That public policy brought the national child poverty rate to a historic low of 5%  half of what it had been. Funding that type of program could have a huge impact on families in reducing poverty, she said.

Other policy recommendations in the report released Wednesday were to double down on efforts to collect data and implement federal policies, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. That legislation, which applies to public preschools, mandates that children experiencing homelessness can enroll immediately without the typically required documents, continue attending their preschool even if they move out of the attendance area and receive transportation to preschool.

That legislation also requires school districts to have a point person expressly dedicated to identifying children experiencing homelessness and linking them with services and support. The report authors point out early childhood programs could have a similar position.

States have a role to play, the authors write, in strengthening the practices that connect families with young children experiencing homelessness to high-quality early childhood programs. Small things can make a big difference, such as extending deadlines for families to submit required documents.

How to make improvements

Notably Illinois, prioritize children experiencing homelessness for public preschool outreach and recruiting.

On a more local level, recommendations focused on improving community outreach and building staff awareness.

Erin Patterson, Director of Education Initiatives at SchoolHouse Connection, recommended expanding the use of navigators, which some states implemented using rescue plan funding, to increase outreach to families experiencing homelessness.

They're providing a bridge between our early childhood systems and our K-12 systems, which are historically disjointed and siloed but can actually work together not just to increase identification but provide seamless supports and services and those warm handoffs between pre-K and kindergarten years, so that so that a family doesn't have to start all over again and hope that someone will see that they are experiencing homelessness, said Patterson.

Aminah Wyatt-Jones, VP of Child Development Programs at Ada S. McKinley Community Services in Chicago, suggested building parent ambassadors into the program model of early learning programs.

They are the ones that have a trust within their communities, Wyatt-Jones said. They are the ones who are knowledgeable and have lived experiences of being in those programs and can communicate that into their larger community.

Many more recommendations can be found in the report.

The next phase of the research by SchoolHouse Connection with support from the Pritzker Family Foundation will be to identify states where policies and practices have led to higher rates of enrollment, in the hopes of replicating them nationally.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Children without homes rarely enrolled in early learning programs
Officials in China this week called out Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) after he proposed sanctions on Chinese President Xi Jinping for human rights abuses in the country.

In a letter sent to Hawleys office on Monday, first reported by Axios, Chinese Embassy counselor Li Xiang wrote that the lawmakers proposed bill would grossly interfere with the countrys internal affairs, citing Hawleys action as arrogant and despicable.

Li said the Chinese Communist Party has always maintained a close bond with the people and that the partys task is to build China into a great modern socialist country.

Senator Hawley is trying to smear the 20th CPC National Congress and the leadership of the CPC, to divide the relationship between the CPC and the Chinese people, and even dare to claim to sanction Chinas top leadership, which are blatantly working against the more than 96 million Party members and the 1.4 billion Chinese people, and are pure wishful thinking and will get nowhere, Li wrote in his letter.

Li also denounced the accusations that China is committing genocide against the Uyghur people in the Xinjiang region of the country, referring to it as an out-and-out lie, and said authorities have implemented decisive measures to fight the ongoing terrorism and separatism in the region. Li added that the region has enjoyed sustained economic growth, social harmony and stability, better living standards, as well as freedom of religious beliefs and religious harmony.

Chinas response comes after Hawley introduced legislation to sanction Xi along with other prominent Chinese officials over human rights violations against the Uyghur people, saying, We must hold Xi and his lieutenants accountable for their crimes against humanity and we can start by imposing real costs for their complicity in the atrocities in Xinjiang.

The Chinese Embassy also dismissed the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights August report on human rights violations in the Xinjiang region as completely illegal, null and void, adding it was orchestrated and produced by the U.S. and its Western allies.

The Chinese side urges Senator Hawley to abandon the Cold-War zero-sum mentality and ideological prejudice against China, look at CPC and Chinese governments Xinjiang policy correctly, stop the advancement of this bill, stop any attack and smear against CPC and Chinese leadership, stop any action to undermine Chinas sovereignty and security, and stop moving even further down the wrong and dangerous path, Li concluded in his letter. Please immediately pass along the above solemn positions to Senator Hawley himself.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China attaches great importance to Sino-U.S. military relations and is willing to see China and the U.S. have military communications but "red lines" remain, a Chinese defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

If the U.S. wishes to strengthen military communications, it should "respect China's interests and major concerns", Tan Kefei told a news conference on Thursday, according to the ministry's official social media account.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Martin Quin Pollard; editing by John Stonestreet)
By David Kirton

SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) - China's Huawei Technologies reported modest revenue growth for a second quarter on Thursday, citing steady growth in its ICT infrastructure business as it finds its footing after U.S. sanctions knocked its once mighty handset business.

Huawei posted revenue of 445.8 billion yuan ($62.03 billion)for the first three quarters, 10 billion yuan less than it saw in the same period a year earlier, the company said on Thursday.

Profits fell 42.45% in the same period to 26.75 billion yuan, based on Reuters calculations, a drop a company spokesperson attributed to investment in research and development and new business areas.

Revenue for the third quarter alone came to 144.2 billion yuan, up 6.5% on a year earlier, based on Reuters calculations.

Performance was in line with the company's forecast, said rotating Chairman Eric Xu.

"The decline in our device business continued to slow down, and our ICT infrastructure business maintained steady growth."

The United States placed Huawei on an export blacklist in 2019, banning the telecom giant from buying components and technology from U.S. companies without U.S. government approval.

The move largely hobbled Huawei's handset business, which commanded 42% of the China market in 2019. The company is now a bit player behind rivals, including its former budget unit Honor, which it sold in 2020.

Huawei is pushing to develop other businesses that are less dependent on U.S. technology, including smart car components, energy efficiency systems and cloud services.

In its first nine months the Aito M5 vehicle, which Huawei jointly developed with Seres, ranked 10th among all electric SUV models by sales in China, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

($1 = 7.1870 Chinese yuan)

(Additional reporting by Zhang Yang; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
By Farah Master

HONG KONG (Reuters) - An online post about a newlywed in China, who was rung up by her local government asking if she was pregnant, garnered tens of thousands of comments on Thursday before being removed, with many netizens saying they had experienced similar calls.

The debate comes on the heels of President Xi Jinping declaring at the Communist Party's 20th Congress last week that China would establish a policy to boost birth rates and improve the country's population development strategy.

In the post on Weibo, a Twitter-like service, a user named 'lost shuyushou' described a colleague's experience in which the colleague answered a call from the Nanjing city government's women's health service.

The post quoted the colleague as saying she was told by an official that the local government "wants newlyweds to be pregnant within a year and their target is to make a phone call every quarter."

The Nanjing municipal government and the National Health Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The post was taken down a few hours after it was posted along with all the comments.

Having imposed a one-child policy from 1980 to 2015, China has acknowledged its population is on the brink of shrinking - a potential crisis that will test its ability to pay and care for its elderly.

New births are set to drop below 10 million from last year's 10.6 million, a decline that will follow an 11.5% slide in 2020.

More recently, China's uncompromising "zero-COVID" policy of promptly stamping out any outbreaks with strict controls on people's lives may have caused profound, lasting damage to their desire to have children, demographers say.

Some experts and activists are also concerned by the government's ramping up of rhetoric about the value of women's traditional roles and setbacks to women's rights, such as new policies which discourage abortions that are not medically necessary.

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One person who posted in the comment section of the original post on Thursday said she got married in August last year and had since been twice rung up by her local government, which she did not name.

The first time she was asked if she was taking folic acid and if she was preparing to conceive. The second time, she was asked if she was already pregnant.

"You are married, why are you still not preparing for pregnancy? Take the time to have a baby," she said she was told.

(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
BEIJING (AP)  Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe held a recent telephone call with his Russia counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, to exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual concern, an official said Thursday.

Speaking at a monthly briefing, Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Tan Kefei gave no further details and did not say exactly when the call took place.

China has tacitly backed Russia in its aggression against Ukraine, accusing the U.S. and NATO of provoking the conflict and refusing to refer to it as an invasion in deference to Moscow. China has stopped short of providing Russia with arms or becoming directly involved in the conflict, something the U.S. has strongly warned against.

Just weeks before Russia's February invasion, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin saying their countries had a no limits friendship.

Putin reaffirmed that relationship most recently in a congratulatory message to Xi on Sunday on his receiving an unprecedented third term as head of China's Communist Party.

Shoigu called his counterparts in India and China on Wednesday to share Moscows concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

China and Russia have increasingly aligned their foreign policies in opposition to the U.S.-led Western world order. However, Russia's setbacks in its invasion have seen Beijing take an increasingly dominant role in the relationship, although China is also currently dealing with a faltering economy.

The Russian invasion has refocused attention on China's threat to use military force to annex Taiwan, the self-governing island republic and close U.S. ally that it claims as its own territory.

Taiwan has joined the U.S. and its allies in backing Ukraine. On Wednesday, its foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said Taipei would offer an additional $56 million to Kyiv to reconstruct schools, hospitals and other infrastructure destroyed by Russia. Taiwan will also offer scholarships for Ukrainians to study on the island, Wu said.

Ukrainian legislator Kira Rudik, who is part of a delegation visiting Taiwan this week, said the island could be the next front in the fight for democracy.

This is why we need to support each other, this is why we are getting closer and closer in our relationship. We are going to win this war together, Rudik was quoted as saying by Taiwan's Central News Agency.
Chris Redd attends the 2021 iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in New York. (Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press)

Chris Redd is out of the hospital after a stranger punched him in the face outside of a comedy club in New York City.

The "Saturday Night Live" alum arrived at the Comedy Cellar in Greenwich Village on Wednesday night and was approached upon exiting his car by someone who punched him in the face and fled the scene, according to a spokesperson for the New York Police Department.

When police showed up at the venue around 9:40 p.m., Redd had sustained a laceration to his face. Emergency medical services transported the comedian to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated and released. The NYPD statement noted that the assailant attacked Redd "without prior conversation or provocation." The suspect's identity and location are unknown.

Representatives for Redd did not immediately respond Thursday to the Los Angeles Times' request for comment.

In September, The Times confirmed that Redd would not be returning for the 48th season of "Saturday Night Live." The 37-year-old comic  known during his time on the show for his impressions of prominent figures such as New York City Mayor Eric Adams and rapper Kanye West  was among several veteran cast members to exit the long-running sketch comedy series after Season 47.

Other fan-favorite players who recently departed the show include Kate McKinnon, Pete Davidson, Aidy Bryant and Melissa Villasenor.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
New York City has seen thousands of asylum seekers bused in from Texas since the spring, straining social services and prompting Mayor Eric Adams to declare a state of emergency this month.

Corporations have stepped in to help as the city responds to the crisis, according to Christine Quinn, former New York City Council speaker and current CEO of the homelessness non-profit WIN.

In New York City, I do want to say that companies have stepped up and you know, donating clothes and donating other items that we need, Quinn recently told Yahoo Finance's editor-in-chief, Andy Serwer.

Since spring, over 21,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, The New York Times reported on Oct. 21, citing city officials. Many are fleeing Venezuela due to its severe economic decline and have been bused in from Texas by the state's governor, Greg Abbott. who is sending the migrants north in response to "President Biden's open border policies."

As a result, homeless shelters have swelled. Nearly 64,000 people occupy the shelters, according to the NYC Department of Homeless Services, well over NYCs 2019 record of 39,365 people.

In efforts to mitigate the crisis, WIN, the largest provider of family shelter and housing to homeless New York families, has served over 200 families seeking asylum. Recently, it has also worked with meat distributors to get families discounted food, according to The New York Times. Quinn credits companies including Pepsi, BlackRock, Blackstone, and the New York Mets for supporting the non-profits work.

Migrants seeking asylum wait to board a bus at a checkpoint in Eagle Pass, Texas, the United States, on Oct. 10, 2022. (Photo by Nick Wagner/Xinhua via Getty Images) TO GO WITH World Insights: Migrants bused into storm eye of U.S. partisan fights amid midterms

We're a lot of companies, I mean, one thing companies can do is if they don't have a giving arm, right, they need to get one, Quinn said. And that may be in the form of grants, maybe in the form of events, buying tables, however you want to do it.

New York companies have also recently teamed up with city officials to tackle homelessness more broadly. For instance, Mayor Adams in July launched an initiative called the Homeless Assistance Fund, a private-public partnership dedicated to fighting homeless in New York City. More than 60 companies have contributed to the launch of the fund including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Bloomberg LP among others. They had pledged $8 million to the cause as of July.

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Quinn insists that New York businesses have a responsibility to help the homeless.

You can't, in my opinion, exist in the city of New York and have all most of your employees come from New York, and think you don't get to give back because every day you're walking the streets, or police are protecting you or firefighters are protecting you, etc, Quinn asserted. You need to give back.

Quinn added that companies can also use their communications platforms to effect change. For instance, New York City companies and local government joined forces to implement the Homeless Assistance Fund after more than 10,000 private sector employees signaled their concern about homelessness in a Morning Consult survey in March. Quinn says other companies should note their example.

So, if you're a company and you feel like my employees are saying there's too much homelessness in this city, and it bothers them, okay we'll make an affirmative statement that you think the city needs to spend more money on housing Quinn said. I can say this having been in government. Businesses get listened to by government.

Quinn, a Democrat, served as the first female and openly gay speaker of the New York City Council from 2006-2013. Since 2015, she has served as the president and chief executive officer of WIN, previously Women in Need. The non-profit runs 14 shelters and 400 supportive housing units in New York City.

Dylan Croll is a reporter and researcher at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @CrollonPatrol.

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Georgie Henley is done hiding her scars.

The actor, famous for her role as Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia films, opened up about her battle with necrotizing fasciitis, also known as the flesh-eating disease, in a deeply candid Instagram post on Tuesday.

When I was 18 years old and in my sixth week of university, I contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and punishing infection that nearly claimed my life and wrought havoc throughout my body, Henley revealed.

While the actor said shed spoken about her health privately, the social media post marked the first time she shared her journey publicly.

In order to prevent the amputation of my left hand and arm, I received grueling invasive surgery, and later extensive reconstructive surgery, which resulted in a series of skin grafts and scars, she explained.

Henley said it has taken me a long time to heal both physically and mentally, but that she was finally ready to talk about her battle and show her scars after years of hiding them.

My scars are not something to be ashamed of, the 27-year-old said, alongside a photo showing her scars. 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.

Henley attending a party for

Henley attending a party for "Narnia" on Nov. 17, 2005 in New York City. (Photo: Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Henleys friends and fans praised the actor for sharing her story in supportive comments on the post.

Love you, geo, wrote The Crown actor Emma Corrin, while model Charli Howard shared, You are gorgeous inside and out.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
A file photo of CIA Director William J. Burns. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

CIA Director William J. Burns secretly went to Ukraine earlier this month, two sources told CNN.

Burns met with Zelenskyy and pledged continued US support amid Russia's invasion.

His trips are usually kept secret, The New York Times reported.

CIA director William J. Burns made a secret visit to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledge deeper US support, CNN reported Wednesday, citing two sources familiar with the trip.

Burns traveled to Kyiv earlier this month, CNN said. His trips are usually kept secret, The New York Times reported.

"While there, he reinforced the US commitment to provide support to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, including continued intelligence sharing," said on official to CNN, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

It is unclear how many trips Burns has made to Ukraine since the start of Russia's invasion in February. However, he also flew to Kyiv immediately before the invasion, according to The Times.

The report came after US officials have become increasingly worried that President Vladimir Putin could use a "dirty bomb" to escalate the war as Russia continues to suffer setbacks in Ukraine.

A "dirty bomb" is a type of explosive that uses conventional explosives to spread radioactive material.

But Burns told CBS News last month that the intelligence community has not seen "any practical evidence" that there is an "imminent threat."

US intelligence has extensively helped Ukraine oppose Russia, including in its counteroffensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region last month, The Hill reported.

The success was largely the result of months of strategizing and sharing intelligence between American and Ukrainian officials, an unnamed senior defense official told The Hill.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Amateur and professional scientists alike have created breathtaking renderings of Jupiter using raw image data from NASAs JunoCam.

Since launching in 2011, NASAs Juno spacecraft has made more than 44 orbits of our solar systems largest planet. The attached visible-light JunoCam has been capturing the gas giant in all its glory over the past six years and sending the images back to Earth.

3D

Not only has NASA open-sourced all the files, but it has also requested the help of volunteer citizen scientists around the world to help process the data. In June of this year, it began the Jovian Vortex Hunter project, aimed at studying the different types of clouds that form on Jupiter, in order to better understand how the atmosphere of the largest planet in the solar system works, according to Ramanakumar Sankar, the project lead and a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Minnesota.

With your help, Sankar added, we could learn so much about the Jovian atmosphere and processes that form the amazing clouds that we see.

Astronomers from all parts of the globe have since created incredible representations of Jupiters clouds and surfaces, ranging from the ultra-realistic to the overly artistic. Here are a few stand-outs from the almost 500 images submitted so far:

Frosting Clouds

3D

At the Europlanet Science Congress (EPSC) 2022 in Granada, Dr. Gerald Eichstadt used the JunoCams data on reflected light to create a 3D model with individual needles corresponding to the height of Jupiters clouds. The resulting picture looks like it could be the whipped frosting top of a cupcake.

The Juno mission provides us with an opportunity to observe Jupiter in a way which is essentially inaccessible by Earth-based telescopic observations. We can look at the same cloud features from very different angles within only a few minutes, says Dr. Eichstatdt. This has opened up a new opportunity to derive 3D elevation models of Jupiters cloud-tops. The images of the wonderful chaotic storms on Jupiter seem to come to life, showing clouds rising at different altitudes.

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Saturated Hues

Bjorn Jonsson's

Using images taken from only 3,300 miles above Jupiters cloud tops, citizen scientist Bjorn Jonsson made a side-by-side picture of the planets colors as they would be interpreted by the human eye and the colors with deeper saturation to sharpen the smaller cloud features.

Blue South Pole

While most of Jupiters surface appears to be a reddish-brown color, footage from the JunoCam taken 11,747 miles above the planets clouds revealed that its North Pole is actually covered in icy swirls of blue. Dr. Eichstadt and fellow citizen scientist Sean Doran processed that data into an image of gorgeous denim-colored whirlpools, showing how the higher altitude clouds cast shadows on their surroundings.

Candy-Colored Moon

Fall Colors of Europa, a kaleidoscopic image of Jupiters icy moon Europa by citizen scientist Fernando Garcia.

Calling it the Fall Colors of Europa, citizen scientist Fernando Garcia created a kaleidoscopic image of Jupiters icy moon Europa. Using data captured during the JunoCams close fly-by on September 29th, 2022, Garcia gave the moon (which is thought to have twice as much water as Earth does) a psychedelic makeover.

South Pole Cyclones

Color-enhanced image of the storms and cyclones at Jupiters South Pole by citizen scientist Roman Tkachenko.

Citizen scientist Roman Tkachenko pulled data from the JunoCam to color-enhance an image of the storms and cyclones at Jupiters south pole in intricate and striking detail.

Jupiter  Van Gogh Style

Citizen Scientist used digital paint to turn Jupiter's Northern Jets into colorful swirls reminiscent of Vincent Van Gogh's

Turning Jupiters Northern Jets into artistic whirls akin to those in Vincent Van Goghs Starry Night, citizen scientist Brian Swift used digital paint to highlight an aerial view of Jet N5.

The Juno spacecraft is expected to continue orbiting Jupiter for another six years fir a total of 80 passes around the gas giant, collecting images the entire time. That leaves plenty of time for more scientists and artists to get in on the action to make their very own masterpieces.

The post Citizen Scientists Create Stunning Pictures of Jupiter with the Help of NASAs JunoCam first appeared on Dornob.
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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is being heralded by some in the City as a safe pair of hands due in part to his resume: An MBA from Stanford University, a stint at Goldman Sachs and some time at The Childrens Investment Fund. It also helps that he accurately predicted Liz Truss's fiscal plan would be heartily rejected by investors. But while many finance professionals say they're appreciative of Sunak's moderate tone, editor Katherine Griffiths reports that some are worried their dream of a reformed, City of London 2.0 is dead.

In this week's In the City, Griffiths along with editor Tom Metcalf join David Merritt and Francine Lacqua to discuss Sunak's vision (such as it is) for the City, what his leadership means for a post-Brexit Britain and mounting concerns from banks about the possibility of higher taxes to keep the UK afloat.

Plus, senior executive editor Simon Kennedy joins to discuss his discovery of a "Goldman globe." Since the end of 2005, there have only been about 48 hours in which an alumnus of the Wall Street giant didn't hold either the position of prime minister, finance minister, central bank chief or their equivalents in a G-7 country.

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Linden Community & Columbus Ohio Stop The Violence walk a neighborhood behind the Northern Lights shopping center on Sept. 19, shouting messages about stopping gun violence and bringing the Linden community together. The Facebook group was created by Linden community advocate Derrick Russell, a former gang leader of the Short North Posse and convicted drug dealer who has been out of prison for 15 years.

So Columbus has sued a Franklin County judge, alleging that he is dragging his feet in a gun control case while violence rages on the city's streets.

It does seem a little odd that Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Stephen. L. McIntosh has yet to issue a decision in a lawsuit filed by the city three years ago that challenges the constitutionality of a 2019 state law. That law prevented cities including Columbus from passing local regulations on guns.

The city argues that the Ohio General Assembly violated the state constitution by infringing on home-rule authority when it passed Ohio House Bill 228. Then-Gov. John Kasich vetoed the bill, but the legislature overrode him.

In the new lawsuit, filed Monday with the Ohio Supreme Court, Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein's office alleges that a status conference was held in the case more than two years ago, but that McIntosh has not ruled on any pending legal issues.

"Justice delayed is justice denied, and the Court has remained silent on this case for more than three years as gun violence continues to devastate our communities," Klein said.

Zach Klein has served as Columbus city attorney since 2018, leading efforts to defend voting rights at the state and national level.

Assistant City Attorney Richard N. Coglianese begins his memorandum of support in the lawsuit with that exact phrase.

McIntosh declined through his bailiff to comment to The Dispatch. Whether or not the judge is at fault in this matter, though, he'd be justified if he raised his eyebrows and chuckled to himself upon reading the second sentence of Coglianese's memo.

"The City of Columbus has been at the forefront of trying to address issues of gun violence," the lawsuit states.

Come again?

Columbus Dispatch Metro columnist Theodore Decker

Columbus calling out a judge for a sluggish response to matters of gun violence is like a snail calling out a tortoise for poking along.

To recap, the city maintains McIntosh has yet to rule in a case three years old. Let's look at the other side of this foot race:

December 2017: Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, in an emailed statement, goes on the record about gun violence.

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"We cannot forget that the people who have died by gun violence are not statistics," he said. "They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, people who shopped beside us in grocery stores and sat next to us at churches and mosques."

The year ended with 143 people slain in the city. It was, at the time, the most killings in a single year in Columbus on record.

March 2018: In a letter to then-Gov. Kasich, Ginther, Klein and Council President Shannon G. Hardin write that they would "lead boldly and without reservation to reduce gun violence. We urge you to join us."

The city ended the year with 103 homicides.

March 2019: Columbus files the suit that McIntosh has not ruled on.

The city ended the year with 104 homicides.

October 2020: Homicidal violence has surged all year.

"Solving this crisis is not easy," Ginther said. "If there was a simple solution, we would have done it already."

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther addresses media about ongoing and new initiatives to curb violence in the city during a news conference on Oct. 22, 2020 at the Michael B. Coleman Government Center in Columbus.

In one positive development, he announced that David Kennedy, a criminologist at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York will spearhead a six-month analysis to pinpoint who is causing the violence in Columbus and then work with the city to stop it by reducing street-level beefs among groups of people. The approach, known as Group Violence Intervention or GVI, will be beset by leadership problems.

December 2020: At the Franklin County Coroner's office, Dr. Anahi Ortiz broadcast her frustration over what she perceived as a lack of action by the city to stem the violence.

"We have had 9 homicides this week alone," she said via Twitter. "Where are the city leaders? Why is the solution to always hire a consulting firm? While the leadership of this city continues to drag their feet people continue to die."

The year ended with another record, 175 killings.

February 2021: Ortiz again: "And the violence continues. Virtual town halls, speeches by the mayor, none of these address how to deal with the problem right now! Violence erupts in Columbus overnight with 7 separate shootings."

March 2021: "Let me be clear, this is just the start," Ginther said, talking about various anti-violence efforts.

May 2021: "Put the guns down," Ginther urged at a news conference outside City Hall, less than a mile from Bicentennial Park, where a 16-year-old girl was killed and five other teens wounded.

The year ended in another record, with 204 homicide victims.

More:Here's where homicides have occurred in Columbus

January 2022: "Were of course frustrated because were still like, 'What is going on? How come were not moving forward on this initiative?'" said James Wynn, co-president of the interfaith social justice group BREAD (Building Responsibility, Equality And Dignity.) The group was instrumental in pushing the city to work with Kennedy and start a GVI-type initiative.

February 2022: Ginther and other city leaders announced that they are taking the step of declaring gun violence a public health crisis and will treat it as one, an idea that had been advocated by local experts for more than a decade.

May 2022: Mary Counter, of BREAD, said her group remains frustrated. In her words, the city is moving "at a snail's pace."

As of Sunday, the city's homicide count for the year stood at 117.

Theodore Decker is the Dispatch metro columnist.

tdecker@dispatch.com

@Theodore_Decker

Get more political analysis by listening to the Ohio Politics Explained podcast

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Snail's-pace Columbus blasts judge for moving too slowly on gun issue
The Cook Political Report said on Thursday that it would be shifting its rating of the Arizona Senate race from lean Democrat to toss up less than two weeks ahead of the November midterms.

Jessica Taylor, Cooks Senate and governors editor, said the nonpartisan election handicapper was shifting the race back to a toss up because recent private polling has shown the race between Sen. Mark Kelley (D) and Republican Blake Masters tightening up despite the fact that Democrats are outspending Republicans in the state by a 2-to-1 margin.

Even recent public surveys have shown the two polling within the margin of error. A poll from the left-leaning Data for Progress released on Wednesday showed the candidates tied at 47 percent each.

While Taylor noted that Kelly was favored to win among all of the Senate seats theyve rated as toss ups, she said that if Arizona is falling, many states before it already have, most likely, including Nevada and maybe Georgia.

Given the spending disparity, some Democrats rightly worry about what the race would look like were they not so heavily outspending Masters, underscoring again just how important the fundraising advantage has been across the board for Democrats. Kelly outperformed Biden in the state in 2020 by two points, but it was also by a much narrower margin than polling two years ago, she also noted.

The Senate Republicans campaign arm slashed spending in the race in August, and a super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) canceled $9.6 million in spending in the state in September. And while former President Trump has traveled to Arizona twice this year, hes notably left the state out of a last-minute campaign blitz.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Lawmakers in Costa Rica are working to make the Central American country a Bitcoin-friendly nation, with significantly lower taxes on crypto.

This week, Costa Rican lawmaker Johana Obando presented a bill to Congress for regulating the crypto market in the Central American country.

Obando, who now has a laser eyes meme on her Twitter page, said that the Cryptoassets Market Law (MECA) would give protection to individual virtual private property, to the self-custody of crypto-assets and to decentralization without interference from the countrys central bankbut in perfect harmony with it.

El dia de manana estare presentando un proyecto de ley para otorgar seguridad juridica a las empresas Fintech y similares de Costa Rica y promover la economia digital y el uso de criptoactivos. #MECA #Criptomonedas #Criptoactivos pic.twitter.com/AY8OqYpAZr  Johana Obando (@JohanaDiputada) October 23, 2022

The idea is to have a law that recognizes what digital assets are and allow those who want to buy, sell, spend and store their crypto do sowithout interference from the Costa Rican government.

Presented along with Congressmen Luis Diego Vargas and Jorge Dengo, the bill would not allow the government to tax cryptocurrencies when used to buy goods. It also wouldnt let the government tax crypto sitting in cold storageand crypto produced by the mining industry wouldnt be subject to profit tax, either. Profits from crypto trading, however, would be subject to income taxes under the bill.

In short, the lawmakers want the Costa Rican government to recognize what crypto is and allow people to hold it and largely spend it freely. This, Obando said on Twitter, would eventually attract foreign investors, fintech companies, and create jobs for Costa Ricans.

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But Obando made it very clear that the law would be different from El Salvadors Bitcoin Law.

In El Salvador, Bitcoin is legal tendermeaning businesses must accept it if they have the technological means to do so.

El Salvadors Bukele Remains Popular Despite Bad Bitcoin Bets, Slumping Economy

Does this bill propose the same as El Salvador? Absolutely not, Obando said on Twitter. MECA introduces cryptocurrencies as a private virtual currency, of free access and circulation, and does not oblige the State to acquire or replace them.

El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. But the Central American nations president, Nayib Bukele, has been criticized for the law (and his personal investments in cryptocurrency, which he claims he buys on a whim, naked on his phone.)

The Costan Rican bill is similar to the one presented in Panama earlier this year: the so-called Crypto Law wanted to regulate the use of Bitcoin and legalize decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs)but the countrys president vetoed it.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Paraguay is working to draw up clear regulations for the Bitcoin mining industry, and Chiles senate this month approved a fintech bill which hopes to regulate the crypto industry.
This weekend marks a decade since Sandy  a hurricane downgraded to a superstorm  made landfall in New Jersey, causing more than $30 billion in damages and laying waste to swaths of the Jersey Shore and other areas in the state. The storm raged for over a week, starting in the Caribbean, and ending in the northeastern United States. Sandy left destruction in 24 states from Maine to Florida, but those of us in New Jersey and neighboring New York bore the brunt of it.

In New Jersey, one of the hardest-hit municipalities was the borough of Union Beach, which in 2012 had a little more than 6,000 residents. In fact, the most iconic image that comes to mind when we think of the storms impact on New Jersey is the half-torn yellow house on Front Street in Union Beach. High winds and storm surge caused the most extensive damage in the borough. Almost 60 properties were destroyed and 629 properties  22% of the boroughs total housing stock  was damaged, according to post-storm estimates from T&M Associates.

But in the last 10 years since the superstorm, Union Beach and several New Jersey municipalities have placed safeguards against the next Sandy. One example has been elevating structures to protect them from damage. Since Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency developed new mapping that required homeowners to rebuild a minimum of one foot above the 100-year storm elevation. There are several tactics that have ensured municipalities will be better equipped to handle 100-year storms.

Elevating or dry-proofing Structures

People with flood insurance could get their homes restored (up to $250,000 per household), or they could have applied for the Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) coverage, which if they qualified, received up to $30,000 to elevate their homes. Those without flood insurance had to seek funding through FEMA. Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protections Blue Acres Program offered to purchase damaged properties and leave the area as natural land. Structures that cannot be elevated, like local businesses in Union Beach for example, are dry proofed. Dry proofing means sealing outer doors and lower-level windows and creating a dam where water cannot creep through.

Up to 75% of homes in Union Beachs flood zone have been elevated since 2012. Starting this shortly this year, the borough will begin to undergo a series of upgrades, including flood gates and walls, levies and sand berms  the project is expected to take six years.

Some municipalities are receiving federal funding for these upgrades. Highlands, which was battered by Sandy, received $128.7 million for a flood control project from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Disaster Relief Supplemental laws.

Redirecting stormwater runoff

Some municipalities use construction techniques that allow for increased infiltration of stormwater runoff into groundwater aquifers  or bodies of saturated rock and sediment through which water passes. This specific technique would help if a hurricane produced a significant rain event. Municipalities like Sea Bright in Monmouth County have also built flood walls to protect property from storm surges. Some flood walls predate Sandy, and some may have been improved since the superstorm.

Rebuilding sewer pump stations

Another way to minimize or eliminate damage from future hurricanes or storm surges is to stormproof existing sewer pump stations. The South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority in Belmar was rebuilt after Sandy because of the significant electrical and mechanical damage it underwent during the storm. For this example, our team at T&M provided conceptual, preliminary, and final design of the new pump station and mobile enclosure. The design included converting the existing dry well pump room into a combination wet/dry well by constructing a dividing wall. Ultimately, the mobile enclosure, which houses the electrical controls, can be relocated off-site prior to a major storm event and then brought back to restore normal operation of the pump station. This is something other municipalities and counties can adopt to prevent significant storm surge damage.

The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy's severe flooding is seen on Coolidge Avenue in Seaside Heights, looking toward Ortley Beach.

Restoring natural sediment along New Jersey's coastline

Municipalities like Long Branch, Spring Lake, Belmar and Deal have opted to restore natural sediment along their coastlines which can regulate erosion along the Jersey Shore, New Jersey Monthly magazine has reported. Additionally, some communities have set up raingardens to help thwart flooding during hurricane season.

Creating a living shoreline

My firm worked with the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation to rehabilitate Berkeley Island County Park  now John C. Bartlett Jr. County Park at Berkeley Island  which sits on a 25-acre peninsula in the Barnegat Bay. The park lost extensive shoreline and large portions of its parking lot and entrance road to severe erosion. The parks elevation was raised above the base flood elevation level and living shorelines, stone revetments, offshore breakwaters, and a new bulkhead were used to reestablish the shoreline and protect the park from future erosion and storms.

A living shoreline is a stabilized coastal edge made of natural materials like plants, rock, or sand. At the time, the use of living shorelines in New Jersey for shoreline stabilization has been limited and minimal guidance exists regarding the design of this innovative technique. The final design was developed through a collaborative process involving Stevens Institute of Technology, T&M, Ocean County and the NJDEP. This project and process will help refine a set of guidelines for future shoreline stabilization projects. Being one of the first living shorelines in the state, it will serve as a pilot project.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), living shorelines, which mimic a shoreline's natural state, help protect coastal communities from the impacts of hurricanes and help affected communities bounce back faster.

Whats next?

While we dont know when the next 100-year  or larger  superstorm like Sandy will make landfall in New Jersey, this year has been an above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic, according to NOAA.

As part of President Joe Bidens infrastructure package, New Jersey is receiving $20 million for one of its projects: to elevate a main evacuation route for Atlantic City, which will help residents travel safely before a superstorm makes landfall. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also has provided funds in water infrastructure, which will positively impact New Jerseys waterways for years.

The states municipalities and counties also have done a lot to prepare for future potentially crippling storms. In many cases, it has required significant collaboration among various partners. For example, the New Jersey Resilient Coastal Communities Initiative has an online self-assessment tool to help communities reduce vulnerability and increase preparedness through planning, mitigation and adaptation, according to Rutgers University, an important participant in this initiative. The website includes mapping tools, municipal maps, and risk communication information.

On a micro level, other effective ways to protect against flood damage include raising electrical boxes and major appliances; installing sewer backflow valves; and buying flood insurance, according to FEMA. The federal agency also suggests fortifying garage doors, keeping outdoor gear in sheds or securely strapped to prevent them from becoming windborne missiles; and ensuring trees are planted correctly to minimize damage caused by high winds.

New Jersey needs to continue to make these strides to strengthen our resilience and able to withstand superstorms like Sandy.

Robert Keady is the municipal practice leader for T&M Associates, a leading national consulting, engineering, environmental, technical services and construction management company based in Middletown.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey Superstorm Sandy infrastructure resiliency is key
Count Binface is attempting to kick out Boris Johnson in the next election. (Reuters)

The Conservatives are way behind in the polls and facing wipeout at the next general election if Rishi Sunak can not quickly transform the party's fortunes.

But Boris Johnson is facing extra pressure from old enemy Count Binface, who is calling on all other parties to unite behind him.

Johnson, who has a majority of over 7,000 in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, is expected to stand again as an MP when the next election rolls around.

However, the recent disastrous polling for the Tories means Johnson, like a number of his high-profile colleagues, currently faces an uphill struggle to secure his seat  and former foe Binface is looking to pounce with calls for an anti-rubbish coalition.

Count Binface wants other parties to stand down to allow him to beat Boris Johnson. (PA/Getty)

Speaking on Times Radio, Binface said: I am hereby calling for all other parties to stand down in Uxbridge and South Ruislip because not only does Boris Johnson deserves to lose but he deserves to lose this way  to me.

He has made a mockery of British politics. Its time the good people of Britain gave him some payback and made a mockery of him.

Binface stood against Johnson in the 2019 election, which saw the former prime minister secure 25,351 votes, compared to Binfaces 69 votes.

Watch: Labour leads calls for general election

And though Binfaces calls are likely to fall on deaf ears, a recent shock Opinium poll has highlighted just how under-threat Johnson is in the normally safe Tory seat.

The poll for the Trades Union Congress (TUC) using the MRP method to estimate constituency-level results, put Labour on 411 seats compared to the Tories on 137.

Boris Johnson faces losing his seat at the next election on current polling. (Reuters)

If replicated in the general election it would mean Johnson would lose his seat, along with other senior Tories including chancellor Jeremy Hunt, former business secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg and environment secretary Therese Coffey.

The poll suggested the Tories would lose 219 seats in total, obliterating their current majority and leaving Labour winning on a landslide, with 411 seats.

Alarmingly for the Tories, the survey of over 10,000 adults was taken on 26 to 30 September  two weeks before Liz Truss U-turned on large parts of her mini-budget and Tory polling slumped to its lowest levels.

The poll suggests a complete collapse in support in the so-called red wall seats in the north of England, seen as key constituencies in giving the Tories their majority in 2019.
Baroness Floella Benjamin and Moira Stuart will guest host Countdown. (Getty)

Countdown is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary with a star line-up of guest hosts over a month of special episodes.

The quiz show is Channel 4's longest-running programme, having launched together in November 1982, so is the jewel in its current 40 years of broadcasting celebration.

Read more: Anne Robinson 'retired' from TV after Countdown 'swansong'

Helping to mark the milestone is a big-name cast of guest hosts, with Baroness Floella Benjamin, Sir Trevor McDonald, Reverend Richard Coles and Moira Stuart all set to present a week of episodes each.

Sir Trevor McDonald guest hosted Countdown in 2021. (Channel 4)

All Countdown fans, they will take over hosting duties in November and join series regulars Rachel Riley on maths questions and Susie Dent in Dictionary Corner.

This isn't the first time Sir Trevor has hosted the daytime quiz  in 2021, he presented an episode for Channel 4's Black to Front Project.

Read more: Doc Martin fans devastated as Martin Clunes drama ends

Countdown's current host is Colin Murray, who recently took over from Anne Robinson after a year in the role as the show's first female presenter.

Other regular hosts over the years have included Richard Whiteley who originally presented it, followed by Des Lynam, Des O'Connor, Jeff Stelling and Nick Hewer.

Reverend Richard Coles will also host for a week. (Getty Images)

Carol Vorderman was the resident maths whizz before Riley took over in 2008.

As usual, Dent will be joined by a number of celebrity guests in Dictionary Corner throughout November.

For Baroness Benjamin's week, Judge Rob Rinder will be in Dictionary Corner, followed by former BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker in Reverend Coles' week, University Challenge quizzer Bobby Seagull with Sir Trevor, and Christopher Biggins will join Stuart.

Rob Rinder will join Dictionary Corner. (Getty Images for Orion Books)

Jo Street, head of daytime and features at Channel 4, said: We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming these national treasures to the Countdown hotseat to mark this 40th anniversary milestone and are equally delighted to have enticed the remarkable Sir Trevor McDonald back to Salford.

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"Countdown is a much loved institution, and we couldnt imagine Channel 4 without it. Heres to the next 40!

The month of special episodes begins on Monday, 31 October with Baroness Benjamin at 2.10pm on weekdays.

Watch: Lorraine Kelly urges Carol Vorderman to be new Countdown host
Chicago Public Schools leaders, students and faculty gathered at Gage Park High School early this week to celebrate the districts record 82.9% four-year graduation rate. In addition, the district boasted $1.5 billion in scholarships awarded to the Class of 2022, as well as freshman-on-track rates rising to pre-pandemic levels, a measure of the percentage of students likely to graduate.

Just two days later, though, district officials offered a more sobering look at student achievement with a presentation to the Board of Education of new testing data highlighting what they called an overall decline in student performance.

The districtwide data showed student proficiency in math and reading fell, with officials proposing a blueprint for addressing gaps that puts a priority on equitable access to resources.

These proficiency declines were based on student assessments conducted during the pandemic and are in line with state and national trends, CPS officials said. Data from the Nations Report Card showed that CPS students are scoring lower in math and reading than in years past. The report is conducted every year, testing a representative sample of CPS students. Over 5,000 students across 140 schools tested this year in fourth and eighth grades, Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova said.

The differences in reading scores were not statistically significant, though the five-year trend is downward, Chkoumbova said, In math, however, scores fell significantly in both fourth and eighth grade. In addition to these declines, opportunity gaps are widening in some areas, specifically in fourth grade reading and math, driven by falling scores among Black and Latino students, according to the district.

Data from the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, as well as from PSAT and SAT tests, reveal similar declines. The biggest drop was experienced by ninth graders, where 36% of students who took the PSAT exam met benchmarks in 2022, compared to 47% in 2019, according to data from CPS.

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While the data can be very sobering, we know that our students have the resilience to rebound, Chkoumbova said.

CPS CEO Pedro Martinez emphasized that the declines do not represent a deficiency of CPS students ability but rather the impact of the pandemic.

Tests are not designed to adjust for that trauma, he said.

For now, Martinez said hes confident this school year will serve as a recovery year. Meanwhile, CPS blueprint, which he calls a reimagining, will target pre-existing achievement gaps that the pandemic only worsened.

CPS plan centers on strengthening its instructional core approach, which targets quality curriculums, teacher practices and student engagement. Immediate goals are to increase the number of teachers in classrooms, expand CPS Tutor Corps and ensure schools have ample intervention staff to increase student support. Schools with the highest needs will receive priority for resources.

To manage the current teacher shortage, Martinez said CPS has hired more than 100 certified substitute teachers who each teach the same class every day to provide stability.

CPS plan also involves empowering each school under the thinking that improvement comes from within, Chkoumbova said. This approach involves budgeting for school leadership teams and professional team developments, she said.

As for CPS ability to fund its programming, Martinez said in the short term, the districts enrollment declines provide an advantage to leverage resources where they are needed most. But he emphasized that stabilizing enrollment will be the crucial in the future.

Martinez said long term, CPS will also look beyond test scores as metrics of success but will also consider qualities like being ethical and collaborative leaders, citing conversations with human resources directors and other business officials.

If we want social mobility, we need our students to get high-paying jobs, Martinez said.

mellis@chicagotribune.com
By Noele Illien, Oliver Hirt and John O'Donnell

ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse plans to raise 4 billion Swiss francs ($4 billion) from investors, cut thousands of jobs and shift its focus from investment banking towards rich clients as the bank attempts to put years of scandals behind it, sending its shares sliding.

Chairman Axel Lehmann dubbed the plan a "blueprint for success", but it fell flat with investors after the bank's unexpected 4 billion Swiss franc third-quarter loss.

Its stock price, which has hit record lows in the past few weeks, fell as much as 18.6% by the close of trading, valuing the bank at around 10 billion francs.

The cost of insuring the bank's debt against default, as measured by credit default swaps, rose during the day to 254 basis points versus 232 in the early morning, although lower than Wednesday's close, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Analysts said many questions were unanswered.

"You come away with the feeling that they were rushed into issuing (the news) this morning with a deeply incomplete plan," Goldman Sachs analysts wrote, but one whose "improbably low" targets will be beaten.

"Resolute execution and no further missteps will be key and it will take time until results will begin to show," Vontobel analyst Andreas Venditti said.

Credit Suisse said clients pulled funds in recent weeks at a pace that saw the lender breach some regulatory requirements for liquidity, highlighting the impact of wild market swings and a social media storm.

The group said it was stable throughout.

The turnaround plan has many elements, from cutting jobs to refocusing on banking for the wealthy.

It will cut 2,700 jobs, or 5% of its workforce by the end of this year, and ultimately reduce its workforce by roughly 9,000 to about 43,000 by the end of 2025.

The Swiss bank also aims to separate out its investment bank to create CS First Boston, focused on advisory work such as mergers and acquisitions and arranging deals on capital markets.

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The bank envisions selling a stake but keeping roughly 50% in the new business, said one person familiar with the issue. It is also exploring the possibility of an initial public offering.

SAUDI INFLUENCE

Saudi National Bank (SNB), majority-owned by the government of Saudi Arabia, said it will invest up to 1.5 billion francs in Credit Suisse to take a stake of up to 9.9% and may invest in the investment bank.

The move bolsters Saudi influence in one of Switzerland's best-known banks. Olayan Group, one of the biggest Saudi family-owned conglomerates, with a multibillion dollar investment portfolio, also owns a 5% stake in the bank.

The Qatar Investment Authority - which owns about 5% of the Swiss bank - declined to comment on whether it plans to buy any shares.

Proxy adviser Ethos Foundation said it was disappointed it took Credit Suisse so long to follow a path that rival UBS had taken to increase focus on wealth management, while pruning back investment banking.

It criticised the bank for letting SNB get a big stake at a bargain-basement price, adding: "This plan is dramatic for the current shareholders who will suffer a very significant dilution effect."

However, investment management firm Harris Associates, which has a 10% stake, said it welcomed the "aggressive" approach the Swiss bank was taking to improve its performance.

Credit Suisse said it will create a capital release unit to wind down non-strategic, higher-risk businesses, while announcing plans to sell a large part of its securitised products business to an investor group led by Apollo.

The bank will also wind down some trading businesses in emerging markets and equities.

Its heavy third-quarter loss was due in large part to write-offs linked to its investment banking overhaul, including adjustments for lost tax credits.

JPMorgan analysts said that "question marks remain" over the restructuring of investment banking, adding that the share sale would also weigh on the stock.

The revamp, aiming to overcome the bank's worst crisis in its history, is the third attempt in recent years by successive CEOs to turn the group around. (Graphic: Credit Suisse goes off piste Credit Suisse goes off piste, https://graphics.reuters.com/CREDITSUISSEGP-REVAMP/lbpggrokepq/chart.png)

Once a symbol for Swiss reliability, the bank's reputation has been tarnished by scandals, including an unprecedented prosecution at home involving laundering money for a criminal gang.

The bank had been pushing to sell assets to raise money and free up capital to try to limit how much cash it would have to raise from investors to fund its overhaul, handle its legacy litigation costs and retain a cushion for rough markets ahead.

Credit Suisse's string of costly and morale-sapping blunders triggered a wholesale change of management.

Last year, the bank took a $5.5 billion loss from the unravelling of U.S. investment firm Archegos and had to freeze $10 billion worth of supply chain finance funds linked to insolvent British financier Greensill, highlighting risk-management failings.

Its deepening problems even put it on the radar of day traders earlier this month, when a frenzy of wild speculation about its health sent its stock price into a tailspin to a record low.

($1 = 0.9858 Swiss francs)

(Additional reporting by Michael Shields in Zurich and Yousef Saba in Dubai; Writing by John O'Donnell; Editing by Edmund Klamann, Jane Merriman and Deepa Babington)
New York police respond to a shooting in Brooklyn in April 2021, amid a rise in shootings that year. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Different approaches to justice are on the ballot in November 2022 in some public prosecutor and Congressional elections around the country, revealing a deep divide about how differently Americans feel about crime and its consequences.

Many Republican Congressional and prosecutor candidates are focusing their electoral messages on crime, accusing Democrats of being dangerously liberal, amid a seeming rise of crime in some places.

They are also saying that policies backed by Democrats like bail reform threaten public safety. Bail reform allows people who have been charged with a misdemeanor or a nonviolent felony to remain free pending the outcome of their cases, avoiding the scenario where people are held in jail because they are too poor to pay even modest amounts of bail.

The Republican message likely resonates with some voters.

An October 2022 Politico poll showed that voters rank crime as a top area of concern, trailing only the economy and abortion.

Democrats, meanwhile, have responded by supporting gun safety proposals and pointing to House of Representative bills that they supported and passed in September 2022, giving more money to local police departments. In other cases, Democrat candidates have largely avoided the topic of crime altogether, and instead have kept their focus on other key issues like abortion.

Against this backdrop, some local prosecutors running for election are arguing that public safety and new ways of thinking about incarceration can go hand in hand.

As a scholar who writes and teaches about criminal justice and wrongful convictions, I know that top prosecutors have tremendous power when deciding how justice is meted out  what crimes to charge, which people to bring charges against, and how cases are prosecuted.

How they choose to wield that control has significant consequences for poor people, communities of color, victims of crimes and society at large.

Jose Garza, district attorney of Travis County, Texas, is one of the progressive prosecutors elected in recent years. Spencer Selvidge for The Washington Post via Getty Images

A new way of thinking about justice

Public prosecutors are government officials who are tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes. They operate at different levels of government, ranging from state attorneys general  the highest law enforcement officer in state government  to county attorneys.

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Prosecutors have traditionally positioned themselves as tough on crime, and measure their success by the number and severity of convictions they oversee.

But after the Black Lives Matter movement intensified around 2016, nontraditional candidates, sometimes called progressive prosecutors, began running in local elections  and winning office. This followed growing public awareness about law enforcements treatment of people of color, and their disproportionate representation in prisons.

There are roughly 1,200 public prosecutor races on the ballot in November 2022, including 30 state races for attorney general.

Only 20 or so contested races now involve prosecutors with notable reform agendas  though other reform-oriented local prosecutors were elected earlier in 2022 and still others are not up for reelection this term.

Many of these change-oriented prosecutors say they want to incarcerate fewer people.

Many of them have also pledged not to prosecute low-level misdemeanor offenses, like drug possession or trespassing. These kinds of charges disproportionately, and often unnecessarily, affect people of color and the poor, resulting in lasting criminal records.

These prosecutors believe they can change the system from within, improving the overall fairness of the United States criminal legal system, while keeping the community safe.

Counties and local districts in Republican-leaning states like Texas, Kansas and Virginia all elected reform-minded prosecutors over the last few years. In the last decade, voters in major cities like Chicago and Philadelphia also elected prosecutors with new visions for justice.

A sign in Los Angeles advertises bail bonds in 2019, when California became the first state to abolish bail in most cases for suspects who cannot afford it and are awaiting trial. Mario Tama/Getty Images

An uneven reception

Aside from not seeking cash bail for most low-level cases, some progressive prosecutors have also stopped prosecuting marijuana possession and most prostitution cases against sex workers.

This new style of prosecutor, however, has also experienced backlash at the polls. Critics argue that progressive prosecutors are bad for public safety, suggesting that rises in crime since the pandemic are partially because of their reform policies.

But a 2021 study found no significant effects of these reforms on local crime rates.

One of the authors of that study argues that refusing to prosecute nonviolent misdemeanor offenses may actually reduce crime. Not prosecuting certain crimes can help people avoid a criminal record, which, in turn, can help them find stable housing and work.

Another October 2022 study found found no connection between progressive crime policies and increased homicide rates, either during the pandemic or before 2022.

Yet, despite the complexity of crime data, attacks on reformist prosecutors have gained momentum.

Chesa Boudin, a former public defender who was first elected San Franciscos top prosecutor in 2020,, lost his position in a 2022 recall election amid criticism that his policies led to a spike in crime.

In July 2022, Marilyn Mosby lost her bid to retain her Baltimore prosecutor post in the Maryland Democratic primary. And Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg continues to face criticism because of his support for bail reform in New York, where he led the effort that banned cash bail in most cases in 2019.

These prosecutors have been accused of releasing alleged criminal offenders from jail before a trial  who then go on to commit new crimes.

Yet, while there are people who committed crimes after being released from pretrial detention, research shows that, in practice, reducing the use of cash bail has little to no effect on the percentage of people rearrested for criminal behavior.

Common ground

Research also shows that people of both major political parties are concerned about wrongful convictions, which are estimated to constitute about 4% of all convictions.

I believe change-oriented prosecutors make a difference in wrongful conviction cases. There are approximately 2,300 prosecutor offices in the country, and only around 100 Conviction Integrity Units specifically devoted to re-investigating cases for potential errors.

Yet, nearly one out of three exonerations between 2015 and 2022 were obtained with the help of a Conviction Integrity Unit. In these cases, prosecutors looked retrospectively at convictions their offices had obtained and then worked to reverse false convictions.

The effectiveness of these special units varies dramatically, often reflecting the head prosecutors commitment to righting past wrongs.

When a prosecutor is willing to say that they made a mistake, thats one step toward creating a more fair and legitimate system for all.

It also helps to free the innocent.

Recently, Adnan Syed, subject of the popular Serial podcast, was freed after decades in prison for a 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend that prosecutors now say he did not commit. A reform-minded prosecutor in Baltimore County helped lead a new investigation that found a lack of DNA evidence pinning Syed to the murder, leading to his release.

Erica Suter, director of the Innocence Project and Adnan Syeds attorney, speaks on Sept. 19, 2022, when Syeds murder conviction was overturned. Charlotte Plantive/AFP via Getty Images

Different ways forward

Crime has been an effective platform for Republican candidates in the past, and they have placed it front and center in the final weeks leading up to the midterm elections in 2022. While many Democratic district attorneys and attorneys general take a more traditional approach to crime in their election campaigns, others promise a new approach to crime and justice.

Voters across the country are being presented with different visions of how to maintain public safety. Contested prosecutor elections are a referendum on those competing visions of justice.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Jessica S. Henry, Montclair State University. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

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Jessica S. Henry 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.
HAVANA (AP)  When Hurricane Ian tore through western Cuba in late September, causing an island-wide blackout, it left the government grappling with a deepening energy crisis and simmering discontent among Cubans.

It also once again thrust the Caribbean island into the middle of an escalating tug-of-war between its seaside neighbor, the United States, and ally, Russia.

At a time when Cuba is urging the Biden administration to ease U.S. sanctions that it says stifle hurricane recovery efforts, Russian oil has flooded into the island, providing relief to debilitating blackouts.

Russia has shipped an estimated $352 million in oil to Cuba since the start of the Ukraine war, the biggest inflow from Russia this century and enough to cover about 40% of the shortfall in the island's supplies, according to independent estimates. The sales also potentially alleviated the weight of international sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

In an increasingly complex geopolitical situation, the island nation has been left with its hands tied.

(It leaves them) between a rock and a hard place, said William LeoGrande, a professor at American University who has tracked Cuba for years. Cuba cant afford to alienate either side in what is shaping up to be a new Cold War.

But this time, 60 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, Cubas tough spot lies not in nuclear weapons, but rather its deepening energy crisis.

Cuba has depended on foreign oil as its primary energy source for decades.

Until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Soviets sold Cuba oil well below market price. Later, Cuba hatched a similar deal with socialist ally Venezuela at the height of its oil boom, sending Cuban medics in exchange for discounted petroleum.

Since Venezuela has fallen into its own crisis, though, Cuba has been left short on both oil and a way to pay for it.

Despite speculation that Venezuela may be fronting part of the costs, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Cossio told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday that Cuba, of course, pays."

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Cuba has to buy petroleum for the well-being of the economy, and it's willing to buy it from whoever sells it to us, Cossio said.

Meanwhile, key power plants slowly decayed over years of deferred maintenance. The Cuban government struggled to bolster its own energy sector and harness the islands potential for solar and wind energy.

The lack of investment is something the Caribbean nation blames on American sanctions meant to cripple the nations economy.

The blockade deprives Cuba of indispensable financial resources, Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez said at a recent news conference. The national electric energy system is passing through an extremely grave situation thats the result of these limitations.

The American embargo stretches back to the Cold War, though Cuba had a brief respite during the Obama administration. Restrictions came back into full force under the Trump administration, exacerbating economic turmoil caused by COVID-19.

While President Joe Biden has eased certain sanctions, many of the measures have stayed in place. Rodriguez says that they have cost Cuba $3 billion in seven months.

American officials and critics blame Cuba's economic woes on mismanagement and failures to bolster its private sector.

Preexisting economic turmoil and blackouts came to a head this fall when Cubas power grid took a double hit.

In August, a crucial oil storage facility east of Havana caught fire, and in late September, Hurricane Ian tore through western Cuba, throwing the entire island into a blackout.

The Category 3 hurricane left three dead, at least 14,000 homes destroyed and the energy system with long-term damage.

Sporadic hours-long blackouts have fueled discontent, sparking small protests across the island, the first since larger protests in 2021. Many demonstrators last year were detained and issued harsh sentences.

Meanwhile, the island is facing its biggest migratory exodus in decades.

Cuba has found some respite in oil shipped in from Russia, which has been looking for new markets as international sanctions imposed for its invasion of Ukraine have cut it off from many other customers.

Increased sales to China, India and even Cuba have helped Russia ease the economic brunt of sanctions. Its likely also helped Cuba stay afloat, explained Jorge Pinon, senior research fellow at the University of Texas at Austins Energy Center, which tracks the shipments.

We know that Russian storage tanks are full.  They need to move that stuff, Pinon said. So good news for Cuba, and good news for Russia that Cuba is in that situation.

Russia has sent at least eight shipments totaling 4.3 million barrels of oil, mainly crude, to Cuba since the beginning of the Ukraine war, according to Pinons center. And Pinon noted two more shipments are on their way. The center analyzes reports from oil tracking services and independently confirms the data using satellite technology.

Cuba, which largely depends on crude oil for power, runs a crude production deficit of about 60%. It fills the gap with Venezuelan crude  which accounts for about 60%  and Russian  which accounts for about 40%.

Since the turn of the century, Russia had sent only two shipments to Cuba: one in 2017 worth $35.3 million and another in 2018 worth $55.8 million, according to U.N. Comtrade data.

Russia has offered sharp discounts to other nations, though its unclear how much Cubans are paying or how they are doing so in the midst of their economic crisis.

Cuba has also contracted at least four floating power plants from a Turkish company. They can be plugged into a power grid for an extra boost of energy. That helped ease the worst of the blackouts, but LeoGrande noted the ships were a patchwork investment, likely expensive, and not a long-term solution.

At the same time, Cuba is among just a handful of countries in the United Nations to avoid condemning Russia for annexation of four regions of Ukraine. Rather, the Caribbean nation abstained from voting.

They need to maintain a good relationship with Russia, said LeoGrande. Its just too important and a lifeline for them to put it at risk.

But Cuba's hesitancy to denounce Russia on a global stage could complicate the slow thawing of its icy relationship with the U.S.

While the Biden administration has not followed through on campaign promises to reverse Trump-era restrictions, both the August fire and the hurricane have opened up a conversation between the two governments.

The Biden administration announced this month it would provide $2 million in hurricane relief to Cuba, following a Cuban appeal for assistance  though the administration made clear that the resources would be distributed through independent aid organizations instead of the Cuban government.

In August, the American government also provided 43 fire suits to Cuba following the blaze in the oil storage facility.

Rodriguez, Cuba's foreign affairs minister, thanked the U.S. for the October offer over Twitter, saying it will add up to our recovery efforts in support of the victims" of the hurricane.

He was quick to add, however, that sanctions have hampered recovery efforts, calling them a constant hurricane.

___

An earlier version of this story misstated William LeoGrande's first name.
Sir Jonathan Pryce says he is hugely disappointed by the reaction of his fellow artistes to the forthcoming fifth series of The Crown on Netflix.

In recent weeks, both Dame Judi Dench and former prime minister Sir John Major have criticised reported storylines in the forthcoming episodes, which will launch on 9 November.

There have been calls for Netflix to add a disclaimer to the start of each episode stating that The Crown is a fictionalised drama.

Speaking to Deadline, Pryce, who plays Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh in the new season, said he understood Major voicing his disquiet because he was there, but added: Im hugely disappointed by my fellow artistes.

He added that the vast majority of people know its a drama, arguing that theyve been watching it for four seasons.

Pryce also suggested public criticism of The Crown came about because of an enhanced sensitivity because of the passing of the Queen.

Last week, Netflix added a disclaimer its latest trailer in response to the backlash.

It had already described the show as fictionalised drama in its press materials, on social media and on The Crowns landing page on its platform.

Lesley Manville, who plays Princess Margaret in the upcoming series, told the US publication the criticism was certainly heightened by the death of the Queen in September.

Imelda Staunton, who plays the Queen, added: In a way, it is understandable. It is understandable people still feel a bit like their nerve endings are still a little bit raw.

She said she doesnt think its undignified, though, continuing: We think its honest and true and respectful. Peter Morgans been writing about the Queen since Helen Mirren [was in The Queen]. He obviously adores this family in many ways, and hell show both sides of the characters, for good or for worse. Hell show them and make no judgement, hell leave that up to the audience.

Imelda Staunton as The Queen and Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip in The Crown (Netflix)

Manville said: I wouldnt be involved with something that I felt was crossing the line. I dont think the series does at all.

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In a letter to The Times this month, Dench argued The Crown had begun to verge on crude sensationalism.

Major, meanwhile, described the forthcoming scenes (which will reportedly depict the King, then the Prince of Wales, plotting to oust the Queen) as malicious nonsense.

The series is expected to show Charles, played by Dominic West, cutting short a holiday with Diana, Princess of Wales, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, to host a secret meeting with the former PM at Highgrove in 1991.

A spokeswoman for The Crown previously said: The Crown has always been presented as a drama based on historical events.

Series five is a fictional dramatisation, imagining what could have happened behind closed doors during a significant decade for the royal family  one that has already been scrutinised and well-documented by journalists, biographers and historians.

The fifth series of The Crown is set to launch on 9 November.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Cryptocurrency predictions site Polymarket has started its 2022 Midterms Live Forecast and is predicting Republicans will comfortably control both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.

The site is giving an overall 64% chance of Republicans taking control of Congress, and 87% chance of them winning the House, indicating Democrats could be in for a rude shock. According to the site, the tightest Senate races will be in the states of Arizona (Democrats having a 51% chance of winning), Georgia (Republicans having a 52% chance of winning), and Pennsylvania (Republicans edging out with a 63% chance of winning).

Polymarket lets people trade on the likelihood of future events in real-time as a tamper-proof smart contract on an Ethereum layer 2 platform.

So far midterms-related trading has resulted in a volume of $340,500 and liquidity of $62,600. The 2022 U.S. midterm elections will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in which all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 Senate seats will be contested.

"Time and time again, prediction markets prove more accurate than traditional polls and pundits," tweeted Shayne Coplan, CEO of Polymarket HQ. "Yet the true value comes from generating unbiased forecasts as a public good," he added.

4/ Time and time again, prediction markets prove more accurate than traditional polls and pundits (@NateSilver538).



Polymarket has the most liquidity and volume for Midterm markets in the world.



Yet the true value comes from generating unbiased forecasts as a public good.  Shayne Coplan (@shayne_coplan) October 26, 2022

In January, Polymarket was fined $1.4 million and ordered to cease its offering by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The predictions site then started a new platform, which gave access to only non-U.S. users.

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The site has also accepted bets on Will Russia use a nuclear weapon before 2023? following increased calls by Russian authorities to utilize such weapons. The odds offered then was 17 to 1, meaning you'd win $17 for every $1 you bet. On the other hand, betting correctly on "No" would win you $1.06 for every $1 you bet. This translates to a 6% probability of Russia using a nuke this year.

The site is also taking bets on the question of "who will win the U.S. 2024 Republican presidential nomination?", with Donald Trump leading the pack.

Read More: Why Crypto Whales Love This Prediction Market
This photo provided by the Tennessee Department of Correction shows death row inmate Henry Hodges. Hodges cut off his own penis in a prison cell after slitting his wrists and asking to be put on suicide watch, his attorney Kelley Henry said on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (Tennessee Department of Correction via AP) (AP)

A death row inmate in Tennessee slit his wrists, was denied a request to be put on suicide watch, and subsequently cut off his own penis, his attorney said this week.

On Thursday, Kelley Henry, the attorney representing death row inmate Henry Hodges, said her client cut off his own penis after he requested to be put on suicide watch. Prior to that, he had slit his own wrists.

She visited him at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, where she found him being kept nude in 4-point and 6-point restraints for a week.

The attorney told the Associated Press she plans to file a complaint in the state court on Friday, alleging that her clients civil rights have been infringed.

"He needs competent mental health care," Ms Henry said. Surely the prison can find a place to put him where he is not a danger to himself or others and does not have to be tied down like an animal.

A spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Correction was not immediately available for comment.

Hodges reportedly became upset earlier in October and began to smear his feces around his cell after guards refused to let him have a special food package he ordered. According to the attorney, Hodges was denied the food because he only had a clear conduct record for five months rather than the required six needed to receive special packages.

After he began smearing feces, a guard allegedly decided to stop feeding him. Then, on 7 October, he slit his wrists with a razor he had in his cell, the attorney said.

Hodges asked to be put on suicide watch after being taken to the infirmary, but a "high-ranking correctional officer" allegedly told the individual treating him that the inmate was just trying to manipulate them, the attorney said. Hodges was then sent back to his cell after receiving treatment.

While in his cell, Hodges used broken glass and other razors he had stashed away to mutilate himself.

"He used that to completely sever his penis," Ms Henry said.

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Surgeons at Vanderbilt University Medical Centre treated him and reattached his penis. He was hospitalised for weeks and was then returned to the prison, where he was allegedly strapped to a thin mattress on top of a concrete block.

Hodges was reportedly put in 4-point restraints, but managed to wriggle a hand free and use it to rip out his catheter, his attorney said. That prompted prison officials to place him in 6-point restraints, which include straps at his biceps.

After agreeing to take his medication, Hodges was returned to 4-point restraints. He has not been allowed to walk or leave his bed since he returned to the prison, his attorney said.

Hodges has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder mixed type with psychotic episodes, his attorney said.

She said Hodges is "enduring ongoing psychiatric harm as a result of these conditions," and noted that he was on a hunger strike.

Hodges was sentenced to death in 1992 after he was convicted of murdering a telephone repairman, Ronald Bassett, in 1990. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison for robbing Mr Bassett.

He was also convicted of killing a chemical engineer in North Carolina shortly after he killed Mr Bassett.
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.

Well break down Russias most recent accusations and the Western response, plus details of President Bidens meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House.

This is Defense & National Security, your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. For The Hill, Im Ellen Mitchell.

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Fears of a Russian false flag attack are rising

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.

Pushback: 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.

Ripped from the playbook: 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.

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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.

What is a dirty bomb?: 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.

Earlier claims: 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.

Roundly dismissed: 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.

Read the rest here

Biden talks Iran, antisemitism with Israeli president

President Biden hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Wednesday to discuss threats posed by Iran as concern grows over its strengthening relationship with Russia.

Biden emphasized to Herzog his pledge to ensure Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon. The White House expressed concern on Wednesday that Russia may be advising Iran on best practices to manage protests as the Iranian government has violently cracked down on women-led anti-government protests.

Also discussed: Biden and Herzog discussed the new maritime agreement between Israel and Lebanon. Biden called it a historic breakthrough thats going to create new hope and economic opportunities for the people in Lebanon, and it enhances stability and security for the people of Israel.

The agreement between Lebanon and Israel establishes a sea boundary between the two countries. The border between them has been monitored by United Nations peacekeepers for over 40 years.

Bidens energy envoy traveled to Beirut on Wednesday as part of the final steps in securing the agreement.

A condemnation: Biden in the meeting condemned antisemitism, which is in the spotlight in the U.S. recently amid the backlash and fallout over antisemitic remarks by the rapper Ye. The president highlighted the U.S. support for Israels further regional integration into the Arab world.

Additionally, Biden condemned the persistent scourge of anti-Semitism, including anti-Israel bias in international fora, according to the White House. In that regard, the President reaffirmed the United States strong opposition to the open-ended and biased nature of the UN Commission of Inquiry established in May 2021, which continues a longstanding pattern of unfairly singling out Israel and does nothing to establish conditions for peace.

Read the full story here

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies will hold a virtual talk on Breaking the Nuclear Taboo after 77 Years: Are Putins Threats Credible, Crazy, or Just Psywar? at 5:30 a.m.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will hold the 2022 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, with discussions on Can the Russo-Ukrainian War End Without Nuclear Use? and Tick, Tick, Book? Presidential Decision-making in a Nuclear Attack, at 9 a.m.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies will host a discussion on U.S. cybersecurity, with National Cyber Director Chris Inglis and Anne Neuberger, deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, at 10 a.m.

WHAT WERE READING

Well, thats it for today! Check out The Hills Defense and National Security pages for the latest coverage. See you tomorrow!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Angelo Colon-Ortiz, 36 (2017 - The Boston Globe)

A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty to killing a Google employee six years ago.

Thirty-six-year-old Angelo Colon-Ortiz, who worked as a delivery worker, killed Vanessa Marcotte, 27, while she was on a morning jog on 7 August 2016. Marcottes body was found partially clothed in a wooded area just half a mile from her mothers house in Princeton, where she had been visiting from New York.

Under the plea agreement with the prosecution, Colon-Ortiz accepted charges of second-degree murder and unarmed robbery. He was sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole in 45 years, the Worcester County District Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Investigators determined DNA underneath Marcottes fingernails matched Colon-Ortizs after a warrant was obtained for his arrest in April 2017. He had been in custody without bond since and had initially pleaded not guilty to the murder of Marcotte.

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, Marcottes family said after the hearing.

Vanessa Marcotte (Instagram)

The completion of this case is the result of the tireless and committed work of the Massachusetts State Police, Princeton Police and Assistant District Attorneys who were involved in the investigation and prosecution of Vanessas killer, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D Early said.

We know nothing can bring Vanessa back, but we know, through the meticulous work of the prosecutors and investigators involved, justice will be served, and the plea allows Vanessas family to move on from this tragedy.

Marcotte graduated from Boston University in 2011 and stayed in the Boston area for several years. In January 2015, she started a new job as a healthcare account manager at Google in New York City.

The Marcotte family listens to court proceedings on Wednesday, 26 October 2022, in Worcester

She was found partially clothed and with burned marks on her body.

An autopsy determined that she was strangled. She also suffered blunt-force trauma to the head and her torso and a fractured nose.

Marcottes mother, Rossana Marcotte, gave a victim impact statement during the Wednesday hearing.

One thing I remember very clearly is the smile on her face as she left to go for her walk, Ms Marcotte told the court. That is the last time I would see her lovely smile. When she smiled, I smiled. My heart was full.
Insiders who bought US$10.0k worth of Anglo American plc (LON:AAL) stock in the last year recovered part of their losses as the stock rose by 5.4% last week. However, the purchase is proving to be an expensive wager as insiders are yet to get ahead of their losses which currently stand at US$424 since the time of purchase.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares.

View our latest analysis for Anglo American

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Anglo American

While there weren't any large insider transactions in the last twelve months, it's still worth looking at the trading.

You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

Anglo American is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket.

Insider Ownership

Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 0.2% of Anglo American shares, worth about UK67m. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

So What Does This Data Suggest About Anglo American Insiders?

Our data shows a little insider buying, but no selling, in the last three months. That said, the purchases were not large. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Insiders own shares in Anglo American and we see no evidence to suggest they are worried about the future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. At Simply Wall St, we've found that Anglo American has 2 warning signs (1 is significant!) that deserve your attention before going any further with your analysis.

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Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Experts testified about evidence that allegedly helped link now 71-year-old Michael Sharpe to decades-old DNA samples collected from four cases in the 1980s, testimony presented during the third day of his trial on kidnapping charges.

Four women testified earlier this week about the nights in 1984 that each awoke to find a strange man lurking in the darkness of their bedrooms  a man who allegedly blindfolded, assaulted and threatened them with a gun and went unidentified for nearly 40 years.

In 2020, investigators used DNA samples collected from items in the womens homes, including a bed sheet, a towel and a face mask the assailant left behind, to finally find an alleged match after 36 years.

The states cold case unit had obtained a John Doe warrant, meaning they knew everything about the person they were looking to arrest in connection to the assaults, including a DNA profile, but did not know his name. Using DNA databases, they were able to identify four possible suspects, including Michael Sharpe.

One by one, they eliminated the first three after obtaining their DNA in a series of rouses, according to Michael Sheldon, a supervisory inspector for the cold case unit.

For the first potential suspect, they used a pen to collect DNA. Detectives went to Manchester home and asked a resident if he would be willing to sign a petition. He agreed and touched a sterilized pen that was placed into evidence and tested against the DNA from the assault scenes. It was not a match.

Next, they followed a different man from his house, determined that he was the only one to drive his car that day, and tested a cigarette he tossed from his car window. The DNA did not match.

Then, they moved on to their next two potential matches, one of whom was Michael Sharpe. Detectives traveled to Massachusetts, where they asked one of the men to sign a form stating that he was not aware of a Medicare fraud case. He touched two pens that were tested and ruled him out.

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Lastly, they went to the home of Michael Sharpe in Marlborough, Connecticut, where investigators decided to find DNA by sifting through his trash. They contacted the local garbage collection company and asked them to isolate Sharpes garbage, which detectives picked up and brought to CSP Troop K headquarters in Colchester.

They placed a blue tarp on the floor in the troops garage and laid out all of the trash from the home Sharpe, a former Connecticut charter school CEO convicted previously of embezzlement and fraud, shared with two other people.

They looked for identifying information in the trash that would link Sharpe to certain items, proving they were not from the other people, and came across two black belts in the same bag as mail addressed to Sharpe, Sheldon testified.

The DNA on the belts was a match, giving investigators an opportunity to get a court order for a cheek swab-style DNA test, Sheldon said. They collected the swab at about 7:30 on a November morning in 2020. About six hours later, they had a match, he testified.

Sharpes DNA was a match for the DNA recovered from bodily fluid at the womens homes, and he was arrested a short time later, Sheldon testified.

On Thursday, prosecutors entered into evidence photos of the black belts and the evidence bags containing the belts themselves.

After making few objections in the first two days of the trial, Sharpes defense team objected to state prosecutors showing photos of the mail addressed to Sharpe that was found near the belts that contained his DNA, because it was addressed to: Dr. Michael Sharpe. Sharpe is not a doctor.

Supervisory Assistant States Attorney John F. Fahey pointed out that Sharpes fraudulent claims that he earned a doctorate have been well-documented, including in reporting by The Hartford Courant, he said in court. Showing the mail addressed to Dr. Michael Sharpe served two purposes: identifying whom the items belonged to in that trash bag and connecting to victims testimony that the man who attacked them sounded well-educated by nodding to the fact that Sharpe was able to pass, for at least a time, as someone who earned a doctorate.

Fahey said that Sharpes defense teams line of questioning indicated to him that they will argue that the victims described a white man as their attacker. Some of the victims did testify that, at the time of the attacks, they told police that their attacker sounded white. Sharpe is Black.

The women testified that his voice sounded calm and soothing until it became aggressive when he was aggravated, and each said that he sounded well-educated.

Some of the victims, identified only as Jane Doe 1 to 4 in court, said their hands touched their attackers hair at some point during the attack and said his hair felt coarse and cropped close to the head.

An investigator who testified Wednesday was shown a photo of Sharpe taken in 1984, in which his dark tightly curled hair was cropped close to his head. Sharpe is now bald.

Sharpes defense attorney R. Bruce Lorenzen argued that photos of the mail addressed to Dr. Sharpe would be prejudicial for the jury to see.

Judge Frank M. DAddabbo Jr. said he was concerned about the impression the false title would have on the jury and said he wanted more time to think about whether those photos could be shown. He said he would rule on the matter Friday.

A forensic analyst also testified on Thursday that in 2003, computer programs that analyze DNA data found that all four DNA profiles collected from the victims were likely to have come from the same person.

Though a DNA match is never absolutely definitive, the analyst said during cross examination by Lorenzen, the likelihood of a DNA match with the evidence from the alleged crime scenes was about 1 in 7 billion. The seven billion figure is representative of the population of the world at the time of the testing, he said.

Sharpe is charged with four counts of first-degree kidnapping. Kidnapping is defined by Connecticut law as restraining someone with the intent to prevent their liberation.

Victims testified this week that because Sharpe allegedly threatened to kill them, held a gun to some of their heads and blindfolded them so they could not see, they felt like they could not leave, call out for help or call 911 without risking being killed.

Some of the victims, who have already testified and are not going to be called as witnesses by the defense, sat in on the trial Thursday, at times becoming emotional as investigators described the evidence.

The trial is scheduled to resume Friday morning at 10 in Hartford Superior Court. After the weekend, the trial will take a brief break on Monday and resume again Tuesday morning. The defense is expected to rest their case before then, according to prosecutors.

The judge has said he expects the trial to last six to seven days before the jury starts deliberating.

Sharpe is free from custody on a promise to appear. If convicted, he faces up to 100 years in prison.
ESSEX COUNTY, Mass. (WHNT)  It was DNA evidence that linked an Alabama man to the murder of an 11-year-old Massachusetts girl in 1988, according to the Essex County Assistant District Attorney.

Marvin C. Skip McClendon, Jr., 74, was arrested on April 26, 2022, at his Bremen, Ala. home on a fugitive-from-justice warrant. He pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the killing of Melissa Missy Tremblay over 30 years ago.

At a court hearing in September, ADA Jessica Strasnick specified where that DNA evidence was found leading to McClendons arrest.

Specifically, the defendants DNA was found under the fingernails of the 11-year-old victim. The defendant offers no innocent explanation for this discovery, Strasnick wrote in court papers.

At the time of Missys death, McClendon, then 41, was in and out of work as a Corrections Officer for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections.

Missys body was found lying on the train tracks of the old Boston & Maine Railway Yard. She had been stabbed multiple times. According to DA Johnathan Blodgett, her left leg had been amputated by a train car after she died.

She had disappeared from the streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts, on a late September evening in 1988 while playing around the neighborhood of the LaSalle Social Club. She was reported missing by her mother around 9 p.m. after she and her boyfriend had frantically searched for her.

Her body was found the next day, just one block away from the social club, authorities said.

A van that had been seen in the area was similar to a van that the suspect drove at the time, prosecutors said. No motive for the killing was disclosed.

At the time, authorities found that McClendon had lived in Chelmsford during the time of Missys murder, and had multiple ties to the Lawrence area  including a church he attended.

The case was never fully closed, and Missys family never gave up hope that her killer would one day be caught.

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McClendon was indicted for the murder on June 15 by an Essex County grand jury. On May 13, he pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing.

McClendons defense lawyer, Henry Fasoldt, filed a motion to dismiss the case against him. That motion will be argued at a hearing set for December 27.

The 74-year-old remains in the custody of the Middleton House of Correction in Massachusetts without bail. He is reportedly kept in protective custody and isnt allowed to leave his cell unless escorted by guards.

Fasoldt wrote in a court document that as a retired corrections officer accused of murdering a child, [McClendon] is at an elevated risk of violence from other inmates during his incarceration, adding that in practice, this means that [he] does not leave his cell until approximately 11 p.m. each night. At that time, he is permitted to shower followed by a short period of recreation.

If convicted, the charge of first-degree murder carries a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A doctor working out of a walk-in clinic in Los Banos has been indicted by a federal grand jury on a host of offenses, including mail fraud and money laundering, as part of a disability insurance fraud scheme estimated at $53 million.

The 46-year-old faces drugs charges for alleged use of a DEA registration number and fraudulently obtaining possession of a controlled substance.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, Sohail Mamdani submitted more than 6,000 initial disability insurance claims to the Californias Employment Development Department (EDD) from February 2020 to March of this year. This, despite Mamdani never having seen or treated the majority of the claimants, the statement says.

Mamdani, who operated the Walk-In Medical Clinic in Los Banos, is also alleged to have charged purported patients fees for both the initial disability claim and any supplemental claims. He also structured financial transactions in order to avoid federal reporting requirements, according to court documents.

The potential intended losses to EDD were up to $99 million, with potential actual losses of over $53 million, the statement says.

The doctor was separately charged with using another doctors DEA registration number and writing fraudulent prescriptions to obtain drugs for himself.

The mail fraud charge has a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000 (or up to twice the gross gain or gross loss caused by the fraud), the Justice Department says. Additionally, Mamdani faces another 20 years in prison if convicted of the money laundering charges (which also carries a fine of up to $500,000).

The drug charges each have a maximum penalty of four years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
As restaurant errors go, bringing a patron an egg-yolk omelet with a bit of white in it does not sound like a recipe for disaster. But toss in a side order of fries instead of a salad and pour in two celebrities who are masters of their respective universes, and what should have been an innocuous and entirely forgettable incident turned into something much more last week.

The brouhaha between Keith McNally and James Corden seems to have left a bit of egg on the faces of both. Longtime restaurateur-to-the-stars McNally took to Instagram to call late-night talk show host Corden the most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago. He continued: I dont often 86 a customer, to day [sic] I 86d Corden.

(Mealtime with Mister Manners is a column that delves into a smorgasbord of modern-day dining dilemmas. Please submit your etiquette questions at the bottom of this page.)

A case for Maxwell Smart?

It would nearly have taken the bumbling luck of Agent 86, as played by the late Don Adams on televisions "Get Smart," to have sorted out the string of apologies, words of forgiveness, downplaying, amplifying and hand-wringing that resulted over the next seven days. The histrionics ultimately died down with Corden issuing an all-out mea culpa on his eponymous show this past Monday night and McNally responding by closing the whole ugly chapter with an Instagram post that announced: Im going to lift the ban on Corden and ban myself from Balthazar for 2 weeks.

If any further proof were needed of the sarcasm implied in the oft-quoted phrase Celebrities, theyre just like us, surely this was it.

Doing the math on eighty-sixing

The distasteful skirmish begged the question: Is eighty-sixing (or canceling) a customer actually a thing? Do restaurants ever take the drastic step of telling a patron never to darken their door again? Though exceedingly rare, it seems the answer is yes. And not just as part of publicity stunts, such as New Orleans eatery Blue Oak BBQ's banning non-customer Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his unsportsmanlike conduct during a September game against the Saints. Or business-saving measures such as a Chinese restaurants denying future entry to a famed live-streamer who was devouring its profits as fast as he was racking up views for his binges of its all-you-can-eat menu.

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When clients cross the line

Lee Skeet, chef and proprietor of the 12-seat restaurant Cora in Cardiff, Wales, has had a full house in his seafood-focused establishment since opening in January. And though the vast majority of his guests have been grateful for the opportunity to sample the cuisine of a toque whose background includes a stint at the Michelin-starred restaurant Hedone, in London, one group in May proved a glaring exception.

Lee Skeet, chef and owner of Cora, in Cardiff, Wales, found himself at the center of a media whirlwind when he told a group of misbehaving patrons they were no longer welcome at his eatery. (Lee Skeet)

Six customers Skeet describes as arrogant men in suits" were condescending and insulting to his lone staffer, 22-year-old Lily Griffith. Once they had gone, she emotionally recounted to her boss the abuse she had been enduring all night long.

"Theyd been talking down to her, saying things like, Why can't you get a proper job? and You must have to work seven days a week to make any money,'" Skeet recounted. Dissatisfied with one of the wines they had been served, one of the patrons even grabbed Griffith by the arm and insisted she smell the bottle.

Related: You've swirled, sniffed and sipped  but you didn't swoon. Now what?

The tale made the chefs blood boil, and he immediately fired off an email to the customers requesting their banking information so he could reverse their tab, asserting he wanted nothing to do with their money before concluding: I would thank you to never come back to my restaurant.

After screenshotting and tweeting the email, Skeet and Griffith received an unanticipated avalanche of support. With more than 130,000 likes to date, his Twitter missive garnered the attention of outlets from the BBC to The Mirror, with reporters swarming his intimate restaurant. The David-and-Goliath quality of the incident delivered just desserts when news leaked that the law firm where the patrons worked had launched an internal investigation into its employees behavior.

Im not clout chasing or looking for likes.



I just think we should start calling out rich people who think they can treat people like crap pic.twitter.com/sN5wplXDed    (@leeskeet) May 4, 2022

Skeet never did hear from the rude customers. And just as well, because he changed his mind about the refund and decided to give the entire tab  1,000  to Griffith as hazard pay.

A delicate dance

Georgette Farkas, former director of marketing and public relations for chef Daniel Boulud and herself the proprietor of the late, lamented fine-dining establishment Rotisserie Georgette on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, called to mind the one occasion that nearly caused her to eighty-six a patron, albeit less publicly than Skeet did.

I had an incident with a customer who was not just rude, but extremely racist with some of my staff, she recalls. Though Farkas was not in the restaurant at the time of the incident, she practiced what she would say upon the patrons next visit: I'm sorry, sir, but this restaurant is not a good fit for you. When the customer did indeed come back, Farkas  a professional who is known in the industry for her gentility  was torn between standing by her principles of human decency and abiding by those of hospitality. She ultimately opted for the latter.

Georgette Farkas (Bill Milne)

I will forever feel bad about that because I felt like I hadnt stood up for the dignity of my staff, she said. If shed had the chance to relive that interaction, she is confident she would have followed her conscience.

The struggle is real

In an industry whose core mission is to feed and delight its patrons  charmless though they can sometimes be  turning a blind eye to a certain degree of boorishness comes with the territory.

Mike Balsamo, a restaurant industry professional who has worked as a general manager in restaurants throughout Greater New York, says that he has a zero tolerance policy when a patron is aggressively rude to one of his staff members. (Karina Comella)

Michael Balsamo, a restaurant professional for more than 20 years, including stints with BR Guest, the BLT Steak group and Main Street Restaurant Partners, recalled a particularly demanding patron who minced no words with a host who couldnt seat him immediately.

He didn't want to wait, so he started cursing at her," he said. When the same patron came back for a meal a few days later, Balsamo made it a point to let his feelings be known: If you have an issue, you can talk to me, but I won't tolerate that sort of behavior toward my staff, he told the patron.

Reflecting on what seems to be an increase of hostility by customers in restaurants, Balsamo finds no comparable scenarios in other industries. Mistakes happen at the doctor, they happen at the mechanic, they happen at the grocery store. Do you yell at your doctor if they don't call you right back in five minutes? Hospitality seems to take the brunt of people's displeasure.

Its hot enough in the kitchen

Its time entitled, demanding and outright rude patrons dialed it down. Just because a server is trained to be gracious and understanding does not give any customer the right to dish out abuse. You may not be eighty-sixed, but if you start using heated language, you may find yourself in a place nearly as dreaded and far colder  restaurant Siberia.

Submit your dining etiquette questions here:

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Don't forget to bring extra garlic...just in case.

Travelers in Romania can kick their Halloween plans up a notch by celebrating the spooky holiday in Bran Castle  better known as the home of Count Dracula himself.

Ghosts, ghouls, and  yes  vampires can head to the castle on Saturday, Oct. 29, for an over-the-top Halloween celebration by day or night, according to the castles Facebook page. Tickets for the event can be purchased online and start at about $14.

blue sky in my pocket/Getty Images

All creatures, from A to Zombies, get your invitations ready. Or popcorn, if you don't make it, the castle wrote on Facebook. The Bran Castle Halloween party is about to begin.

For the day tour, the castle will welcome both adults and children between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. with a tour of the property. Children under 7 will be allowed in for free.

Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images

Then in the evening, the castle will reopen to adults at 7 p.m. for a Halloween Tour by Night. There will also be a hosted vampire gourmet dinner at the Castle restaurant with a holiday-themed menu.

Bran Castle, which was first built in the 1300s and is located in Transylvania, is believed to be the inspiration for Irish author Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, "Dracula." However, the author never visited Romania himself or the property, according to the castle.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the castle also served as a vaccination center, handing out a "diploma" to those who received the shot, certifying they were vaccinated at Bran Castle.

Beyond Romania, Halloween fans can celebrate the holiday around the world in places like Salem, MA, famous for its witch trials, or Savannah, GA, which is famous for its plentiful ghost stories.

And in Mexico, travelers can celebrate Dia de los Muertos, which is a joyous commemoration of loved ones who have passed. The holiday takes place over two days, Nov. 1 (All Saints' Day) and Nov. 2.

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
By Kirstin Ridley and Carolyn Cohn

LONDON (Reuters) - Aircraft leasing firm Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has filed a London lawsuit against 11 insurers, including Lloyd's of London, AIG, Chubb and Swiss Re, two months after it wrote off almost $600 million for 19 aircraft stuck in Russia.

The High Court claim also names Fidelis Insurance Ireland, HDI Global Speciality, Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company, Great Lakes Insurance, Global Aerospace Underwriting Managers, Starr Europe Insurance and Axis Speciality Europe.

A spokesperson for Lloyd's said the insurer was "not at liberty to share information on any specific claim, policy or policyholder." Munich Re, Great Lakes' parent, AIG and Swiss Re declined to comment.

The other insurers and DAE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

But lessors have vowed to pursue insurers since losing control of more than 400 leased planes worth almost $10 billion after Western countries sanctioned Russia over the war in Ukraine and Moscow blocked the jets from leaving.

The claim has been lodged in London four months after Dublin-based AerCap, the world's biggest aircraft lessor, filed a $3.5 billion insurance lawsuit over more than 100 of its jets seized in Russia.

DAE, which said in August it had written off $576.5 million for its planes, noted in its half-year results statement in August that it had "no way to determine whether these aircraft will be returned at any point in the future."

"The group has insurance in respect of the aircraft in question under a number of insurance policies and the group has filed insurance claims to recover amounts due under the policies," it added.

Details of the claim, which was filed last week, are not yet publicly available.

(Reporting by Kirstin Ridley and Carolyn Cohn in London; Additional reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
President Joe Biden was met by Pennsylvania Lt Gov and Senate candidate John Fetterman at Pittsburgh International Airport (AP)

Just a couple of months ago, it looked like Democrats might achieve an almost impossible feat in modern electoral politics. The end of Roe v Wade and ongoing attacks on abortion rights had galvanised voters, giving the party hope of keeping their majority in Congress, even while the incumbent Democratic presidents approval ratings were deep underwater.

In the last few weeks, however, their gravity-defying act looks to have ended. An average of polls show Republicans with the momentum heading into the final stretch. Since August, the GOP has led on the generic ballot  that is, national polling on which party voters will support in the Midterms. Voter enthusiasm, a key indicator of strength, has also trended higher for Republicans .

Those polls may not tell the whole story, however. With voting already underway across the country, early ballot returns may offer a glimmer of hope for Democrats, according to Michael McDonald, an election expert and associate professor of political science at the University of Florida who monitors early voting data.

If theres one tea leaf to read, besides overall turnout, it is potentially about the direction or how close some of these interesting Senate elections may be, he told The Independent this week, while cautioning that it was still very early in the process and things could change.

Mail ballot return rates are the percentage of people who requested a ballot and returned it, which may give some clues about voter enthusiasm.

According to the early voting data , while mail ballot return rates nationally have slightly favoured Republicans, Democrats have the edge in return rates in those key Senate races that will decide control of the chamber.

Im looking at the mail ballot return rates nationally, and registered Democrats are returning their ballot at a slightly lower rate than what youre seeing for registered Republicans, he said. But if you look at some of these competitive senate races where we have party registration data, places like Pennsylvania and North Carolina and Arizona, you see a different story  you actually see a greater share of registered Democrats returning their mail ballots than Republicans.

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That means that national polling largely matches up with early voting data in showing a generic Republican lead, but Democratic enthusiasm may be most prevalent where it matters, in those deciding states.

It explains why nationally, if you view a generic ballot, there had been this story for the last week that Democrats are suddenly in trouble because their enthusiasm is waning and Republicans are picking up. But the national news is one thing, and when the national polls are including states like California, where theres no real marquee election or gubernatorial or US senate election to draw people to the polls, its not surprising. Theres not as much enthusiasm there as you might find in, say, Pennsylvania or North Carolina or Georgia.

Polling has been notoriously difficult and error-strewn in recent years , but early voting data can offer the first concrete signpost of voter behaviour. In 2020, early voting numbers foretold a record-breaking turnout.

Professor McDonald wrote this week that in Pennsylvania, one of the most closely watched and important races in the country for deciding control of the senate, registered Democrats have returned 39.9 per cent of their requested mail ballots compared to 37.9 per cent of Republicans.

Pennsylvania Democrats also have a lopsided advantage in mail ballot requests, so the sum of the request and return advantage translates into nearly a four-fold advantage for Democrats among returned mail ballots, he wrote.

Similar trends are visible in Arizona and North Carolina, he added, where Democratic return rates outnumber Republicans by 10.3 per cent to 9.0 per cent, and 28.2 per cent to 27.3 per cent.

The early data also suggests that this years midterms may break records for the number of votes cast, overcoming 2018s previous record, which was the highest turnout since 1914. Nearly 15 million people have already voted, with two weeks to go.

Professor McDonald said those numbers reflect a growing tendency towards polarisation in American politics.

It just makes sense that weve entered this period of time in our politics where were highly polarized and people believe that their vote matters. And when people believe or their vote matters, theyre more likely to cast a ballot, he said.

Both parties have cast this years midterms as crucial to the fate of the country.

Dozens of Republican candidates running for office across the country have embraced conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, including several running for positions that oversee the administration of elections. If they are successful, they may be able to overturn the results of a free and fair election in 2024, handing victory to their preferred candidate.

At the beginning of the midterm campaign, president Joe Biden cast the vote as a battle for democracy.

Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic, Mr Biden in a September speech in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Theyre working right now as I speak in state after state to give power to decide elections in America to partisans and cronies, empowering election deniers to undermine democracy itself.

Republicans, meanwhile, have put a renewed focus on crime and inflation, two issues on which they have used to realise big gains in recent weeks .
Photo: The Canadian Press Colin Thatcher, former MLA of Saskatchewan and convicted murderer, walks out of the chamber after the speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Heywood Yu

Saskatchewan kicked off its fall legislative session Wednesday with a tough-on-crime throne speech presented while a former cabinet minister turned notorious convicted killer sat in the chamber.

Colin Thatcher, 84, said he was happy to accept an invitation from his good friend, Saskatchewan Party legislature member Lyle Stewart.

Wearing a blazer and bolo tie, Thatcher sat next to a provincial police chief as Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirasty delivered the speech laying out the agenda for the session.

Mirasty said the government is set in the coming days to introduce legislation akin to Alberta's proposed sovereignty act, the Saskatchewan First Act, which would define that Saskatchewan has exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources and economic future.

But it was the focus to crack down on crime, with Thatcher's attendance, that drew the most reaction.

"Many Saskatchewan residents see the federal government as too lenient on violent offenders who commit gun crimes and too focused on punishing law-abiding gun owners," Mirasty said.

"This session, my government will take significant action to crack down on the illegal and violent use of firearms in the commission of crimes to ensure families feel safe in their communities."

Thatcher's ex-wife JoAnn Wilson was found beaten and shot to death in the garage of her Regina home in 1983. The killing followed a tense breakup between the couple and a bitter custody dispute over their three children.

Thatcher, an energy minister under former Conservative premier Grant Devine, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He served 22 years behind bars before he was granted full parole in 2006.

He has always maintained his innocence.

When asked by a reporter in the rotunda if he thinks the province needs tougher crime measures, Thatcher laughed and said "enough" before walking away. He then joined Stewart for tea at a social gathering.

"Colin was a longtime MLA, and he's a constituent of mine and a friend of mine and that's why I (invited him) and I'm happy that I did," Stewart told The Canadian Press, adding it was the first time he'd invited Thatcher to a throne speech.

"If anybody has a right to be here, it's Colin Thatcher."

He added that Thatcher, "a fine individual," has had a tough life because of his time in prison.

Both Stewart and Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell said they weren't concerned about the optics of having Thatcher at the speech.

Premier Scott Moe was unavailable for comment.

Thatcher has previously visited the legislature as a convicted killer. In 2006, he attended a ceremony honouring dead premiers that included his father, former Liberal premier Ross Thatcher.

Opposition NDP Leader Carla Beck called the invitation for Thatcher to attend Wednesday's event "stunning."

"It's a government that's increasingly showing us they're out of touch, making sloppy mistakes," Beck said.

The province's rate of domestic violence is one of the highest in the country, she said.

"I would say that the decisions made and the stunning lack of self-awareness by this government today won't go unnoticed by Saskatchewan people. I'm sure."
A marcher carries a sign with the #MeToo hashtag during the Women's March in Seattle in 2018. (Ted S. Warren / Associated Press)

Five years after the #MeToo movement exposed pervasive sexual harassment and abuse in politics , show business and many other industries, cases playing out in California courtrooms are revealing how difficult it is for women to come forward with accusations against powerful men. Theyre experiencing verbal abuse, fighting shame, and confronting fears of retaliation.

California's First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker who was an aspiring actress in the early 2000s, is displaying remarkable bravery by participating in the Los Angeles rape trial of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who is accused of assault by eight women. His defense attorney described Siebel Newsom in court Monday as a bimbo who traded sex for career advancement in Hollywood. And that was just on the trials opening day. The insults and innuendos will probably get nastier when Siebel Newsom takes the stand in the weeks ahead.

With four children ages 6 to 13, and husband Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigning for reelection, it would be understandable if Siebel Newsom chose to hide the details of her 18-year-old rape allegation from the public by declining to participate in Weinsteins trial. Nothing requires her to relive the nightmare on the stand. Her family life would undoubtedly be simpler if she buried the memories and stayed quiet.

But Siebel Newsom has agreed to testify, and thats a commendable act of courage. Shes making personal sacrifices in pursuit of justice and to protect other women from similar abuse.

In another Hollywood rape trial underway in Los Angeles, a woman who accused actor Danny Masterson of raping her in 2003 while threatening her with a gun described fears that reporting the incident to police would get her expelled from the Scientology religion she, her family and Masterson belonged to. My life would be over," she said in court. "My parents would have to disconnect from me."

Meanwhile, a settlement in a Sacramento case involving a former assemblyman accused of sexual misconduct by several women shows the limits of confidential reporting . Even when victims believe theyre speaking confidentially during a workplace investigation, that privacy can unravel in a lawsuit.

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In the case of former Assemblyman Matt Dababneh, a Democrat from the San Fernando Valley, a judge ruled in 2020 that he had a right to know the identities of 52 witnesses who spoke confidentially to investigators looking into a claim that he had trapped a woman in a bathroom and made her watch him masturbate . After the judges ruling, the Assembly settled Dababnehs lawsuit by giving him the list of names, essentially revealing the identities of the witnesses but sparing them from further disclosures that could have come out if the case had advanced to trial.

This is the reason why many survivors dont come forward, one of the witnesses told Times reporters Taryn Luna and Hannah Wiley. She thought her interview with investigators about the allegation that Dababneh offered her a raise to convince a college student to sleep with him would be kept confidential.

Advocates are rightly concerned that the revelation will have a chilling effect on those willing to come forward to report sexual misconduct in the Capitol in the future.

Legislative leaders have acknowledged the need to improve the system they established to investigate workplace misconduct claims in response to the #MeToo movement. The settlement of Dababnehs lawsuit makes clear that the changes must include ensuring that people who talk to investigators know in what circumstances their confidentiality could be breached.

The shame and fear people experience in making sexual abuse claims public is whats kept many of them silent for so long and allowed powerful perpetrators to get away with their crimes. The #MeToo movement made inroads in changing the culture by empowering some women to speak out. But that doesnt mean its easy.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An impending revolution in the automobile market has come across quite the snag during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

In Florida, electric vehicles have become an increasingly popular pick for residents, with over 95,000 registered in the state at the end of 2021. However, in the wake of the Category 4 hurricane that hit the state last month, these vehicles have been more akin to a time bomb.

Saltwater flooding in the state's coastal areas caused the lithium ion batteries in electric vehicles to combust, catching fire. Firefighters near Naples had to put out six blazes related to the vehicles in the days following Ian's landfall.

Eric Wachsman, director of Maryland's Energy Institute, stated that the qualities of lithium ion battery cells that allow them to move a passenger vehicle also make these cells vulnerable to ignition, due to the cells having closely placed electrodes that are filled with a flammable liquid electrolyte.

"This flammable liquid could get into what's called a thermal runaway situation where it just starts sort of boiling, and that results in a fire," he told CNBC in January.

This undated photo provided by National Transportation Safety Board, The Orange County Fire Authority battles a fire on a burning vehicle inside a garage in Orange County, Calif. When firefighters removed the SUV from the garage to assess the fire, they identified the fuel source as the SUV's high-voltage battery pack. U.S. safety investigators say electric vehicle fires pose risks to first responders, and manufacturers have inadequate guidelines to keep them safe. (Orange County Sheriff's Department/National Transportation Safety Board via AP)

Florida's chief financial officer and state fire marshal, Jimmy Patronis, wrote on Twitter that "as those batteries corrode, fires start," giving a "new challenge" to Florida firefighters. Patronis also asked Jack Danielson, executive director of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, for "immediate guidance" on the issue.

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"In my experience, Southwest Florida has a significant number of (electric vehicles) in use, and if those (vehicles) were left behind, exposed to storm surge, and sitting in garages, there is a risk of fires," Patronis wrote.

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Responding to Patronis, Danielson wrote that firefighters and other first responders "not involved in immediate lifesaving missions" should identify flooded electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries and move them "at least 50 feet" away from other structures, vehicles and combustibles, in order to eliminate any possible collateral damage from electric vehicle combustion.

"Test results specific to saltwater submersion show that salt bridges can form within the battery back and provide a path for short circuit and self-heating," Danielson wrote. "This can lead to fire ignition. As with other forms of battery degradation, the time period for this transition from self-heating to fire ignition can vary greatly."

According to a study by AutoinsuranceEZ, battery electric vehicles have a .03% chance of igniting, while internal combustion engines of non-electric vehicles have a 1.5% chance. On top of that, electric vehicle fires require more water to extinguish flames, according to Emma Sutcliffe, project director of EV FireSafe in Melbourne, Australia.

Electric vehicles have become a nuisance for Florida first responders, having to put out flames from vehicles that became submerged in saltwater after Hurricane Ian. (Photo via Getty Images)

Sutcliffe noted that electric vehicle batteries can also re-ignite hours, or perhaps days, after the fire is initially controlled.

"A lot of the time, firefighters and fire agencies are just expected to kind of figure it out," Sutcliffe told CNBC.

Patronis echoed this sentiment, stating that much of the guidance he has received on the topic of submerged vehicles "does not address specific risks associated with exposure of (electric vehicles) to salt water."

"[I] saw with my own eyes an [electric vehicle] continuously reignite, as fire teams doused the vehicle with tens of thousands of gallons of water," Patronis said.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., addressed a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, D, about the topic, highlighting the harm that can be done by electric vehicle ignition, including the loss of some homes in the aftermath of Ian.

"This emerging threat has forced local fire departments to divert resources away from hurricane recovery to control and contain these dangerous fires," Scott wrote to Buttigieg, claiming that these fires can take more than six hours to burn out, and adding, "Alarmingly, even after the car fires have been extinguished, they can reignite in an instant."

Two delivery vehicles of the Florida Eis Manufaktur are standing up at a press event on CO2-free delivery traffic for e-delivery vehicles and e-trucks to small e-charging stations. Electric vehicles have come under question in the state after a string of fires. (Photo by Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Supporters of the electric vehicle industry have pushed back on the words of Scott, including Joe Britton, executive director of the Zero Emission Transportation Association. Britton said that Scott's statements about the safety of electric vehicles were "misleading."

Vilas Pol, a professor of chemical engineering at Purdue University, said that lead-acid batteries found in both electric and gas vehicles can also catch fire via saltwater submersion, much like lithium-ion batteries. However, Pol also noted that the risk of those fires reigniting is smaller than fires from lithium-ion batteries.

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Patrick Pleul/picture alliance via Getty Images

Elon Musk bought Twitter for $44B on Thursday, but he's still the richest person in the world.

A notorious workaholic, Musk doesn't spend his money on lavish vacations or expensive hobbies.

Here's how Musk makes and spends his $212 billion fortune.

Decades before becoming a father of nine and amassing a $212 billion fortune, Musk taught himself to code as a child growing up in South Africa. By the time he was 12, he sold the source code for his first video game for $500.

SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk works at his desk in 2008. OnInnovation/Flickr

Source: MONEY

Just before his 18th birthday, Musk moved to Canada and worked a series of hard labor jobs, including shoveling grain, cutting logs, and eventually cleaning out the boiler room in a lumber mill for $18 an hour  an impressive wage in 1989.

OnInnovation/Flickr

Sources: MONEY, Esquire - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Musk got a pay cut to $14 an hour when he started a summer internship alongside his brother, Kimbal, at the Bank of Nova Scotia after cold-calling  and impressing  a top executive there.

Elon Musk, founder, CEO and lead designer at SpaceX and co-founder of Tesla, speaks at the International Space Station Research and Development Conference in Washington, U.S., July 19, 2017. Aaron P. Bernstein/Reuters

Sources: MONEY, Esquire - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

After he arrived for his freshman year at Queens University in 1990, Musk quickly picked up a side hustle selling computer parts and full PCs to other students. "I could build something to suit their needs like a tricked-out gaming machine or a simple word processor that cost less than what they could get in a store," Musk said.

Elon Musk. Larry Busacca/Getty Images for The New York Times

Sources: MONEY, Esquire - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Within two years, Musk transferred to the University of Pennsylvania on a partial scholarship.

f11photo/Shutterstock

Sources: MONEY, Esquire - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

To cover the rest of his tuition, Musk and a buddy would turn their house into a speakeasy on the weekends, charging $5 at the door. "I was paying my own way through college and could make an entire month's rent in one night," Musk said.

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Tesla Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, reacts to a reporter's question following the electric automakers initial public offering on Nasdaq, Tuesday, June, 29, 2010 in New York. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Sources: MONEY, Esquire - Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Musk graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics and an economics degree from the Wharton School and moved on to Stanford to pursue his PhD.

REUTERS / Phil McCarten

Source: MONEY

He left the program within days to build an internet startup with his brother. They started Zip2, a city guide software for newspapers, with $28,000 in seed money from their father.

Kimbal Musk, Elon's brother. Fred Prouser/Reuters

Source: MONEY

Four years later, in 1999, they sold Zip2 for $307 million, earning Musk $22 million. He invested more than half of his earnings to cofound X.com, an online banking service.

Elon Musk at SpaceX Hyperloop Pod II competition in Hawthorne, California Reuters/Mike Blake

Source: MONEY

The company quickly merged with its rival and became PayPal, with Musk as the majority shareholder. In 2002, eBay bought PayPal and Musk walked away with $180 million.

Paypal CEO Dan Schulman (C) celebrates with employees during the company's relisting on the Nasdaq in New York. Reuters/Lucas Jackson

Source: MONEY

Musk turned his attention to his new space exploration company, SpaceX, after leaving PayPal. A few years later he cofounded electric-car maker, Tesla, and then SolarCity, a solar power systems provider. The success of these companies eventually launched him into the billion-dollar club  but not before he went broke.

Reuters

Source: VentureBeat

In late 2008, Musk divorced his first wife and it took a toll on his finances. A year later, Musk said he "ran out of cash" and had been living off loans from friends while trying to keep his companies afloat.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Sources: VentureBeat, Forbes, TechCrunch

But when Tesla debuted on the stock market in 2010, Musk's fortune skyrocketed. By 2012, he appeared on Forbes' richest list for the first time with a net worth of $2 billion.

Tesla

Source: Forbes

Nearly a decade later, Musk has amassed an $228 billion fortune  but it's not very liquid. Remarkably, Musk made his billions without ever taking a paycheck from Tesla, because the CEO refuses his minimum salary every year. By 2020, Tesla cut his paycheck down to zero.

Getty/Kevork Djansezian

Source: Bloomberg, Insider

Musk's complicated salary structure means that he's awarded stock options when Tesla hits challenging performance metrics. When Tesla does well, Musk's wealth soars.

Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Source: Insider

But Musk has said himself that he's cash-poor. "Some people think I have a lot of cash," Musk told investor Cathie Wood on a podcast last year. "I actually don't." Like a lot of other high-powered executives, Musk relies on mortgages and credit day-to-day.

Elon Musk Pool

Source: Insider

Over the years, the CEO has purchased more than $100 million in residential property in California. He has since offloaded much of his real estate after vowing to sell it all and "own no house" last year.

Google Maps

Source: The Real Deal, Variety, Insider

As the leader of one of the preeminent auto-makers, it's no surprise Musk has an affinity for cars. Back in 2013, he paid $920,000 at an auction for the Lotus Esprit submarine car used in a James Bond movie.

AP

Source: MONEY, CNBC

In addition to driving Teslas, Musk has owned a few gas-powered cars including a Ford Model T, a Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster, a McLaren F1 (which he later totaled), an Audi Q7, a Hamann BMW M5, and a Porsche 911.

Not Elon Musk's Jaguar. DeFacto/Wikimedia Commons

Source: Insider

Despite having funds to spare, Musk isn't a fan of lavish vacations  or any vacations for that matter. In 2015, he said he'd only taken two weeks off since founding SpaceX about 12 years earlier.

Yichuan Cao/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Sources: Inc, Quartz

Musk has five children with his first wife, Justine Musk. In a 2014 tweet, Musk said he takes the kids on an annual camping trip. "I'm a pretty good dad," he said. "I have the kids for slightly more than half the week and spend a fair bit of time with them. I also take them with me when I go out of town."

Elon Musk with two of his sons and now ex-wife Talulah Riley. AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Sources: Twitter, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Musk and Canadian musician Grimes welcomed a baby boy in May 2020 named X  A-Xii Musk  they appear to call the baby "X" for short. The two also had a second child, a daughter named Exa Dark Siderl Musk or "Y" for short, via surrogate mother. (Musk and Grimes have since broken up.)

Musk and Grimes. Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Source: Insider, Insider

Insider also reported that Musk quietly had twins in November 2021 with one of his top executives at Neuralink, Shivon Zilis.

Adrees Latif/Reuters

Source: Business Insider

At the end of the day, the multibillionaire says he enjoys inexpensive hobbies like listening to music, playing video games, and reading books. "Hang out with kids, see friends, normal stuff," he said. "Sometimes go crazy on Twitter. But usually it's work more."

REUTERS/Stephen Lam

Source: Quartz

In August 2018, Musk told The New York Times that he had taken to working 120 hours a week. "There were times when I didn't leave the factory for three or four days  days when I didn't go outside," he told The Times. "This has really come at the expense of seeing my kids. And seeing friends."

Engineer and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk of The Boring Company listens as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel talks about constructing a high speed transit tunnel at Block 37 during a news conference on June 14, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images/Joshua Lott

Source: The New York Times

Musk said on an earnings call in 2017 that he doesn't have a desk at the Tesla factory: "I always move my desk to wherever  I don't really have a desk actually  I move myself to wherever the biggest problem is in Tesla. I really believe that one should lead from the front lines, and that's why I'm here."

Benjamin Zhang/Business Insider

Sources: Insider, Fortune

Musk admitted to spending "many late nights" at Tesla's Nevada Gigafactory re-writing software during a production sprint for the Model 3.

Elon Musk showing YouTuber Marques Browne around the Gigafactory 1 Marques Browne/YouTube

Source: Fortune

For a story published in August 2018, Insider reporters spoke with 42 Tesla employees who said Musk is a visionary, but also unpredictably demanding.

Tesla Motors

Source: Insider

Musk said in June 2019 that he even planned to spend his 48th birthday on June 28 at work, improving the company's "global logistics."

Tesla CEO Elon Musk walks onto the stage to introduce the Model Y at the company's design studio Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Hawthorne, Calif. AP

Source: Insider

Musk told CBS' "60 Minutes" that he is, in fact, "somewhat impulsive" and doesn't "really want to try to adhere to some CEO template."

Getty

Source: Insider

Not only does Musk spend a ton of time at Tesla, he also spends a lot of his money on the company. In the first six months of 2018, he bought more than $35 million worth of shares in Tesla.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Source: CNN

Musk also invests a lot of time, energy, and resources into SpaceX.

John Raoux / AP Images

Source: Insider

SpaceX has raised billions to develop, build, and launch Starlink  an effort to cover Earth in ultra-fast broadband internet  and build the prototype of Starship, a gargantuan reusable space vehicle designed to bring people to Mars. The company was valued at $100 billion as of October 2021.

The Es'hail-2 mission launches toward space aboard one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets on November 15, 2018. SpaceX/Flickr (public domain)

Source: Insider, CNBC

Musk also helms The Boring Company, which he founded in 2016 to develop and construct underground tunnels in an effort to mitigate traffic.

The Boring Company's Hawthorne, California, Tunnel. Robyn Beck/Pool via REUTERS

Source: Insider

According to The New York Times, The Boring Company raised over $112 million in 2018  and more than 90% of it came from Musk. In 2019, the company raised outside funding for the first time to the tune of around $120 million.

The Boring Company

Source: The New York Times, Insider

In 2012, Musk signed The Giving Pledge, vowing to donate the majority of his wealth during his lifetime. Though he's already in the business of improving our environment and the future during his day job, Musk has made sizable donations to causes he cares about, including a $10 million gift to the Future of Life Institute to regulate artificial intelligence.

jurvetson / Flickr

Sources: Twitter, Insider

Musk found himself in legal trouble with the SEC in 2018 after he tweeted that he had obtained the funding to take Tesla private, which moved the company's stock price. Musk reached a settlement with the SEC in April 2019 in which he and Tesla both agreed to pay a $20 million penalty.

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Source: Insider

Musk moved Tesla share price again in May 2020, sending it down 13% after tweeting "Tesla stock price is too high imo."

FILE PHOTO: Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk speaks at an opening ceremony for Tesla China-made Model Y program in Shanghai Reuters

Source: Markets Insider

Musk's Twitter habits once again got him into legal trouble in 2019 after he called the British cave diver who helped rescue a Thai soccer team a "pedo guy"; the diver sued Musk, claiming defamation, but a jury ruled in Musk's favor.

A courtroom sketch of British cave diver Vernon Unsworth during his defamation suit against Elon Musk. REUTERS/Mona Shafer Edwards

Source: Insider

Musk's net worth soared in 2020 amid the pandemic, increasing by 197% between March and August, according to an analysis by the Institute for Policy Studies. By December 2020, Musk had become the world's second-richest person behind Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Jeff Bezos, left, and Elon Musk. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Source: Insider

Only a few months later, Musk became the world's richest person and his net worth has only grown since: In October 2021, Musk's wealth increased by $36 billion in a single day, the largest gain ever recorded by Bloomberg's Billionaires Index.

Elon Musk. Steve Nesius/Reuters

Source: Insider

But after shares of Tesla plunged by 16%, Musk lost $50 billion in just two days. Tesla's share price dipped after a string of headlines, including a tweet from Musk asking if he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock. Still, Musk remains $78 billion richer than Bezos as of October 27.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk Britta Pedersen / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

Source: Insider

Tanza Loudenback and Taylor Nicole Rogers contributed to an earlier version of this story.

His latest and perhaps most exorbitant purchase came Thursday when Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion. Investment banks have agreed to help finance the purchase, while Musk pays the rest in cash.

Elon Musks Twitter account is displayed on the screen of an iPhone on April 26, 2022 in Paris, France. Chesnot/Getty Images

Source: The New York Times

Read the original article on Business Insider
The North East of England has the highest rate of shop vacancies in the UK. Photo: Andrew Winning/Reuters

The number of shuttered shops in the UK edged lower for forth consecutive quarter, but vacancies remain higher than before the pandemic.

A joint report from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Local Data Company (LDC) said the UKs shop vacancy rate was 13.9% in the third quarter of 2022, which was 0.1 percentage points below the second quarter level.

The BRC-LDC vacancy monitor found high street vacancies fell slightly to 13.9% quarter-on-quarter, shopping centre vacancies dropped 0.1 percentage points to 18.8% and retail parks remained the location with the lowest vacancy rates, at 9.7%.

Read more: Christmas: Two-thirds of shoppers cutting back on spending

The overall shop vacancy rate improved for the fourth consecutive quarter; however, vacancies remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Some locations are benefitting from a pickup in tourism and a gradual return to offices, but levels of footfall are still below those of 2019, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said.

This gave some businesses the confidence to start investing, opening new stores around the country, especially in retail parks. But the North-South divide is again laid bare in these figures.

While the North has seen some of the biggest improvements in openings over the last year, they still have some of the highest vacancy rates in the country, with one in five shops closed in the North East.

The figures show that London, South East and East of England had the lowest vacancy rates. The highest rates were in the North East, followed by Wales and the West Midlands.

The costs of operating in many towns and cities remains high and demand will be tested by the fragile economy and falling consumer confidence in the lead up to Christmas. Higher costs are already pushing up prices and the industry faces a government imposed extra 800m business rates bill from April 2023, Dickinson said.

Read more: UK real pay falls at fastest pace since 2010 financial crisis

Story continues

"This will force many retailers to make tough decisions about whether to invest in new stores or close existing ones. Government should freeze business rates and reform the broken transitional relief system. This will support investment in communities across the country and help keep prices low for consumers.

Watch: What is a recession and how do we spot one?
A United Nations report says international climate pledges fall short of whats needed, greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new high and the hole in the ozone layer shrinks slightly.

This is Overnight Energy & Environment, your source for the latest news focused on energy, the environment and beyond. For The Hill, were Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk.

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Pledges to cut emissions are insufficient, UN finds

Promises to cut emissions by governments around the world are not ambitious enough to significantly counter global warming, which will likely subject future generations to worsening effects from climate change.

What are we looking at? A new report from the United Nations has found that by the year 2100, the world will probably have warmed by between 2.1 and 2.9 degrees Celsius  or about 3.8 to 5.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thats warmer than the goals agreed to under the Paris Agreement  in which countries said they would seek to limit warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius  and preferably below 1.5 degrees.

Surpassing these levels of warming is expected to subject more people to heat waves, intense storms, sea level rise and food insecurity.



Global warming is typically compared to pre-industrial times, before humans began to burn planet-warming fossil fuels.

Too little, too late? The U.N.s report shows that global pledges have been improving, but that the world is still on track to increase its emissions in the coming decade.

It predicted that under current climate commitments, global emissions will be about 10.6 percent higher in 2030 than they were in 2010. However, this is an improvement compared to a similar assessment last year, which predicted that emissions would increase by 13.7 percent.

Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, called on countries to update their goals in light of the finding.

Story continues

We are still nowhere near the scale and pace of emission reductions required to put us on track toward a 1.5 degrees Celsius world. To keep this goal alive, national governments need to strengthen their climate action plans now and implement them in the next eight years, Stiell said in a written statement.

Read more about the report here.





Greenhouse gases in atmosphere hit new high

The concentration of planet-warming gases in the atmosphere once again reached new highs last year, according to a new report.

The report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) found that planet-warming gases carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were at 149 percent, 262 percent and 124 percent, respectively, of their pre-industrial levels.



This is a measure of how much of the gases remain trapped in the atmosphere in total, and is not a measure of new greenhouse gas emissions that are added annually.

Because the most common greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, lasts in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, its concentrations are expected to continue to grow rather than diminish for a very long time.

This heats up the planet and exacerbates climate impacts such as heat waves, sea level rise and food insecurity.

And thats not all: The report also found a relatively high increase in carbon dioxide concentrations, saying that the increase from 2020 to 2021 was larger than the average annual growth from the last decade.

Meanwhile, methane concentrations saw their largest increase on record. Methane has more than 25 times the power of carbon dioxide to warm the Earth but usually only lasts for about 12 years in the atmosphere.

The head of the WMO  which is part of the United Nations  said the finding underscores the importance of taking action on climate change.

Read more about the report here.





ROUND AND ROUND

Vice President Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan visited Seattle on Wednesday to tout the first installment of cleaner school buses that will be funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

The first $1 billion of $5 billion total will go to support 2,468 new school buses in all 50 states, as well as D.C., territories and tribal institutions.

Nearly all  95 percent  of these buses will be electric. The rest will be powered by natural gas or propane. The buses will serve 389 school districts.



Yet they represent only a small fraction of the countrys fleet of approximately 500,000 school buses.

A White House fact sheet noted that buses that run on diesel, rather than electricity, produce pollution that can worsen lung problems like asthma.

In a statement, Regan celebrated the clean school bus program as a way to cut down on this pollution.

Read more about the announcement here.





Antarctic ozone hole shrinks slightly

The hole in the Antarctic ozone layer shrank to about 8.9 million square miles in 2022, continuing a year-over-year trend, according to the latest data from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The stratospheric layer, which absorbs the majority of hazardous ultraviolet radiation from the sun, thins above the Antarctic during the regions spring season, which extends from September to December. Chemicals from man-made substances attach to polar clouds throughout the regions winter and then damage the layer once the sun rises.

Over time, steady progress is being made, and the hole is getting smaller, said Paul Newman, chief scientist for Earth sciences at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center, said in a statement. 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.

Atmospheric scientists had been concerned the January eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai volcano in the South Pacific could lead to a wider than usual hole after a 1991 eruption had similar effects, but no such extra depletion was apparent in the data.

This year, NASA and NOAA researchers determined the ozone hole reached a single-day maximum width of 10.2 million square miles early this October but has been shrinking since. Last year, the maximum width was about 9.6 millions square miles and, as in 2022, began shrinking in mid-October.

Read more about the NASA announcement here.





KERRY: A NUMBER OF ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING AT COP27

President Bidens special climate envoy John Kerry gave some clues about upcoming U.S. announcements at a global climate summit during a press call with reporters on Wednesday, but did not share specifics.

The United States is going to make a number of announcements when we get there. I hope youll forgive me Im not going to make them today, he said.

But, he signaled there could be news relating to financing the energy transition, providing new money to help countries adapt to climate impacts and to efforts to cut down on releases of a planet-warming gas called methane.

We will drive additional financing to accelerate the transition worldwide. We will be working on multilateral development bank guidelines in order to make more money available for lending. We will be announcing different initiatives including increased effort on the global methane pledge, additional funding for adaptation and resilience from president Biden and the U.S.





ICYMI

Space station performs debris avoidance maneuver

Biden envoy to oversee signing of Lebanon, Israel maritime deal

Almost every child on Earth will face frequent heat waves by 2050: UNICEF





WHAT WERE READING

You Cant Always Trust Claims on Non-Toxic Cookware (Consumer Reports)

NC gov executive order to up EV trucks and buses on NC roads (The Raleigh News & Observer)

EPA: All options are on the table regarding a possible federal takeover of Jacksons water system (CBS News)

U.S. Officials Had a Secret Oil Deal With the Saudis. Or So They Thought. (The New York Times)

Nova Scotia touted its huge green energy plant. Turns out its powered by coal (The Guardian)





Lighter click: These boots are made for waddlin





Thats it for today, thanks for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment page for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The European Union has frozen Russian assets

Around $10.8 billion in assets were frozen in the last six months, said Wigand. In total, 1,350 individuals and organizations were affected by EU sanctions against Russia, including assets such as bank accounts, real estate, and luxury yachts.

Read also: Global oil market adjusting as Russia hit by sanctions, says Saudi Aramco

Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Ireland, Italy, and Austria are leading the way in terms of freezing Russian assets, as these countries have the highest concentrations of Russian wealth abroad.

When asked about Hungarys apparent reluctance to implement EU sanctions, Wigand said that some countries still have homework to do.

Read also: Zelenskyy approves NSDC decision on sanctions on 3,600 Russian individuals and companies

On Oct. 21, the European Council urged the European Commission to develop a program to direct frozen Russian assets towards financing Ukraines post-war recovery.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
CHISINAU, Moldova (AP)  Tudor Popescu swings his ax down on a log, then feeds the split wood into a stove that heats his home in the capital of Moldova. As the nights turn chilly, the stack of firewood has been growing higher around him  his provisions for the coming winter.

In the past, Popescu relied on natural gas to keep warm in the mornings and firewood in the evenings. But gas is now in shorter supply, creating a crisis in his small Eastern European country.

I won't use gas anymore, so it's going to only be wood, Popescu said. "But what I have isn't enough."

Europe's energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder. But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. Foresters are putting GPS devices into logs to track the valuable stocks, and fears are rising about the environmental impact of increased air pollution and tree-cutting.

In the former Soviet republic of Moldova, leaders worry that this winter could be devastating for many of its people because of the high cost of electricity and heat, with European natural gas prices roughly triple what they were in early 2021 despite falling from August's record highs. Europes poorest country, with pro-Western aspirations but part of its territory controlled by Russian troops, has seen Russian energy giant Gazprom slash natural gas supplies by 30% recently and threaten more cuts.

The clamor for firewood is not limited to poorer nations like Moldova but has surged across richer regions of Europe, too. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic's state-owned forests are seeing much stronger demand for the limited amounts of firewood they sell as part of their sustainable forest management.

Often it's coming from people who have never ordered firewood before and seem unaware that it needs to be purchased two years ahead so it can dry out enough to be burned in wood stoves, according to the forest service in southwest Germany's state of Hesse.

Story continues

German forest rangers also are seeing more people gathering fallen wood in forests, often not knowing it's illegal.

Czech state forests, which sell wood only for household consumption, have had to limit the amount of firewood sold to individuals to prevent speculative purchases.

In Poland, demand for small firewood from state forests grew 46% and larger firewood was up 42% through the end of August from a year earlier. This was even before fall, when demand for firewood is highest.

There is, of course, an increased interest in firewood in forest districts because today it is the cheapest fuel available, said Michal Gzowski, spokesman for Polands State Forests. Small firewood is probably the cheapest heating material in the EU countries.

He said theft of firewood, which has always existed to some extent, is rising.

To deter theft, the forestry department in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia is experimenting with hiding GPS tracking devices in logs, spokeswoman Nicole Fiegler said.

There hasnt been a sudden rash of large-scale thefts, but the recent price increases have stirred fears from small forest plot holders, who could face major losses if a stack of logs gets swiped.

Its more a situation of anxiety and fears, Fiegler said, noting the increased value of firewood.

Foresters in the neighboring Hesse region have been using GPS trackers since 2013 and say they have been able to solve several thefts that way.

Austrian police warned last week of a significant rise in fraudsters claiming to sell firewood and wood pellets online, while several companies across the country were raided on suspicion that they had engaged in price rigging.

The German Pellet Institute also is warning buyers to beware of fake sellers who demand payment in advance and then disappear.

Germanys statistics agency says prices for firewood and wood pellets made from sawdust that can be used in central home heating rose over 85% in August from a year earlier.

Pellet prices per ton fell 2.6% in October but remain almost 200% higher than a year ago, the pellet institute says. Even so, heating with pellets is cheaper than natural gas for those equipped to burn them, it says. Gas costs 20.9 cents per kilowatt hour of heat, while pellets cost 14.88 cents.

In the United Kingdom, prices of firewood also are going up.

Weve seen a massive increase in demand as energy costs rise, said Nic Snell, managing director of Certainly Wood, which bills itself as the biggest firewood supplier in the U.K. selling about 20,000 tons of wood a year.

Snell estimated that his companys kiln-dried hardwood is 15% to 20% more expensive than last year and could become more as the weather gets colder.

He said demand for his domestically sourced firewood was boosted by pricier imported wood from countries like Latvia and Lithuania. Transport costs, mainly for fuel, have pushed up the price of imports, which used to be cheaper than British wood but are now more expensive.

In Denmark, the demand for wood-burning stoves is growing along with firewood itself. The Danish sales site DBA said searches for wood pellets have exploded by over 1,300% in the past year.

The government and environmentalists have warned Danes planning to burn firewood to consider the risks: fire can be a hazard to health, while smoke contributes to particle pollution.

There is also the damaging environmental impact of chopping down more trees.

Egzona Shala, head of an environmental organization in Kosovo, where electricity prices have spiked, says the cutting of forest trees there has significantly increased. Her group, EcoZ, has been monitoring forests in mountainous areas and has found people illegally cutting trees at 5 a.m. in some cases. The firewood is then sold around the capital.

Often those cut are young trees. The forests, she said, are being subjected to "vulgar deforestation without any criteria and control.

___

Gera reported from Warsaw, Poland, and McHugh from Frankfurt, Germany. AP reporters Monika Scislowska in Warsaw; Kelvin Chan in London; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; Philipp Jenne in Austria; Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania; and Karel Janicek in Prague contributed.
Oct. 26A school staff member who formerly worked in St. Joseph has pleaded guilty to a federal enticement charge in connection with his newer job in St. Louis.

James Q. Jenkins admitted guilt last month before District Judge Ronnie L. White for one federal felony charge of "coercion and enticement of a minor" and a separate felony charge of "transfer of obscene material to minors." The guilty pleas came as part of an agreement with the U.S. attorney's office. The crimes occurred between October 2020 and September 2021, after Jenkins left his job with the St. Joseph School District and moved to the Hancock Place School District in St. Louis.

During his 2018-2020 employment in St. Joseph, officials counseled Jenkins and then placed him on administrative leave, the federal investigation found, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. These punishments took place because of "inappropriate behavior" with female students here, the U.S. attorney's office said. It is not clear under what circumstances Jenkins decided to move to St. Louis.

After taking his job at Hancock High School as a counselor, the news release said, Jenkins interacted with students in unlawful ways, including by sending an obscene photo of himself to a 15-year-old. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch first reported the story. Charges including second-degree rape remain pending against Jenkins on a state level in St. Louis County.

Aside from any penalties that may ensue at the state level, Jenkins faces a likely sentence at the federal level of at least 10 years in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. A life sentence is possible. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20.

Regarding Jenkins' previous 2018-20 employment with the St. Joseph School District, during which no crimes are known to have been committed by Jenkins, the SJSD said it is preparing a statement for release as soon as all facts are known within the district. The SJSD statement remained pending on Wednesday evening.

Marcus Clem can be reached at marcus.clem@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NPNowClem
On the evening of Sunday, Oct. 9, I had an accident resulting in a trip to the emergency department at Kelowna General Hospital.

The purpose of this letter is to highlight the astonishingly kind, prompt, and top-notch care I received.

Intake and initial assessment took only minutes. I was in triage shortly after that, then X-rays, followed by the casting of a broken wrist and treatment for a dislocated finger.

Every person I encountered was caring, quick and fully engaged. (And the ER department certainly ramped right up after my arrival). I was in and out in 5 hours.

The nurses, technicians, and two doctors who attended my injuries were consistently attentive and compassionate. There were even some lighthearted moments, and a few laughs.

I've had three subsequent follow-ups at the ortho clinic, where I've experienced similar prompt attention and high quality, expeditious care by very fine employees.

To all KGH staff and volunteers, I cannot thank you enough. You're all angels.

There is much discussion these days about the overall state of healthcare in Canada. During my recent minor crisis, it all came together beautifully.

To the residents of Kelowna and farther afield, please remember to be patient and show some appreciation and kindness to all healthcare workers.

Our wonderful community is all the better for them.

Stephen Lukas, West Kelowna
A former Warminster police officer is expected to be sentenced later this year after entering a no contest plea to sexually abusing five boys starting in 1989.

In a hearing Thursday, James C. Carey acknowledged that Bucks County prosecutors have enough evidence against him to prove their case to a judge or jury. His only comments during the proceedings were in answer to routine questions he was asked.

Four of his five victims and their supporters were in the courtroom to hear the plea, which is not an admission of guilt, but holds the same weight at sentencing. Carey also had supporters present.

"We love you," said one woman as Carey was led away after the hearing. "You are very loved."

Former Warminster Police Officer James Carey has pleaded no contest to sexually abusing five boys during his time with the department, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

Carey entered an open plea, meaning there is no negotiated sentencing deal in place. He faces the possibility of 94 to 185 years in prison, according to prosecutors.

He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5-10 years based on guidelines for two of the charges against him. Bucks County Judge Wallace Bateman Jr. deferred sentencing for 30 to 45 days.

Carey must undergo a mandatory evaluation by the state sexual offender board to determine if he is a sexually violent predator, which carries greater restrictions under Megans Law. The evaluation will take place after he is sentenced.

County detectives are still analyzing the contents of Carey's cellphone, which was confiscated in 2020, First Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Schorn said. Earlier this month, Schorn revealed detectives cracked the password protected device, which could result in additional charges.

Carey, 54, of Cape May Courthouse, New Jersey, was scheduled for trial Monday on more than 100 counts of child sexual abuse in a case that went before a Bucks County investigating grand jury last year, which recommended charging him. Instead of putting the case before a jury, he pled Thursday.

Carey pled no contest to 20 counts, including charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16, statutory rape, corruption of minors, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault without consent, and indecent assault without consent. The crimes took place mostly between 1991 and 1999.

Story continues

Earlier this month, the district attorneys office dropped misdemeanor counts of official oppression and unlawful contact with a minor against Carey, citing an expired statute of limitations.

Exclusive details on Carey retirement:Warminster couldn't fire troubled cop James Carey. So it offered him a secret retirement deal

James Carey's victims testifyMen describe alleged abuse by ex-Warminster police officer: 'I thought he was being a role model'

Four of the five victims are expected to offer victim impact statements at sentencing, Schorn said. The fifth victim lives in Japan, but he also is expected to submit a statement.

These men are some of the most courageous people I have ever met, Schorn said after the hearing.

Careys attorney Sara Webster declined comment after the hearing.

Carey has been incarcerated since his April 2021 arrest.

Court documents allege that Carey sexually abused children in his care from 1987 until 2000. He worked briefly for North Wales and Warwick police departments before landing in Warminster in 1989.

His duties in Warminster included working as the D.A.R.E. officer at Log College Middle School, where he met and befriended his alleged victims, many who had difficult home situations and involvement with law enforcement, according to court documents.

Carey also took part in other community activities, including those hosted by the Warminster Fire Department, Warminster Recreation Center and the Boy Scouts of America, where he had contact with victims, prosecutors alleged.

Authorities contend that Carey used his position as a police officer to develop a close relationship with his victims, and gain their trust in order to take advantage of them sexually, Schorn said.

Carey threatened his victims, who engaged in smoking pot and underage drinking, with arrest, and he warned them that no one would believe them, Schorn said. The men were also afraid that others would find out about the abuse.

His victims, who are now in their 30s and 40s, previously testified that some of the sexual abuse occurred while Carey was on duty and wearing his police uniform. At least two men claimed they were sexually assaulted in Carey's police cruiser.

Warminster and the Bucks County District Attorneys Office investigated Carey for allegations of inappropriate conduct with minors in 2001 and 2006, but did not have enough evidence to file criminal charges.

The investigation was reopened in 2020 after one of his victims reported the previous abuse to Warminster police. The now 40-year-old man told authorities Carey sexually abused him a half dozen times starting when he was in eighth grade in 1997.

Schorn also praised the Bucks County detectives assigned to the case for tracking down four additional victims.

While two victims knew each other at the time Carey abused them, none of the five were aware that Carey had abused the others until they were called to testify at his preliminary hearing last year, Schorn said.

Warminster supervisors fired Carey in 2005 after an internal investigation found his conduct at the scene of a domestic call months earlier had violated multiple department policies. He was ordered rehired in 2006 after filing a grievance with the police union and binding arbitration found in his favor, but it does not appear he resumed working as an officer.

The supervisors quietly fired Carey a second time in 2007 after losing an appeal to overturn the arbitrators decision, and township supervisors approved his retirement in 2009.

How bad acts witnesses could testifyFacing over 100 sex abuse charges, ex-Warminster cop could face witnesses with 'eerily similar' stories, ADA says

What did DA find on Carey's cell phone?Will ex-Warminster cop face new charges in sex abuse case? 'Concerning content' on cell phone

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Ex-Warminster cop James Carey pleads to sex abuse of 5 boys
A former police officer in York County was sentenced to 30 years in a South Carolina prison late Wednesday after a jury found him guilty on child sex charges.

Charles Chuck Eugene Price, 50, was found guilty of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor and another sex-related charge, according to prosecutors and court records. The Herald is not identifying one of those charges to protect the victims identity.

S.C. Circuit Court Judge Craig Brown of Florence sentenced Price to the maximum of 30 years allowed under state law after a two-day trial. Jurors deliberated most of Wednesday afternoon before returning the guilty verdicts around 6 p.m.

Price was fired in October 2020 from his job as a sergeant in the police department at Winthrop University in Rock Hill when State Law Enforcement Division agents arrested him. Price worked previously as a police officer for the towns of Fort Mill and Clover.

Wednesdays conviction represents just some of the more than 50 sex-related charges the former officer faces that go back more than a decade.

Prices lawyer, Benjamin Hasty of the David W. Martin Law Group, said his client denies all of the allegations. Price intends to appeal the guilty verdict and sentence, Hasty said after court.

Prosecutors: Victim is courageous

During the trial, prosecutors Sharon Ohayon and Chris Epting of the 16th Circuit Solicitors Office presented DNA evidence they argued proved the charges against Price.

After court, Ohayon and Epting said the victims bravery to report the crimes led to the investigation, arrest and successful prosecution.

We are thankful for victims who are courageous enough to come forward and maintain faith in the justice system despite the sometimes lengthy process, for the diligent work by SLED Agents Jake Drake and Melissa Wallace  without which we could not prove our cases, and especially to the jurors who took time out of their lives to help us get the justice these victims deserve, Ohayon and Epting said. We hope this verdict will help the victims find closure and start the healing process.

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Still, dozens of charges against Price that allege sexual assaults and crimes involving children remain pending, prosecutors said.

It remains unclear when prosecutors will schedule the remaining cases for trial.

After the investigation began in 2020, Price was arrested and has been jailed without bail ever since.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. doesnt have a government agency that tells the nation whos won an election right away. Every state has its own process for counting votes, and news organizations play a key role.

The Associated Press is the only news organization that does all of the math, down to the county level, gathering voting information and passing it along to member news organizations and customers. Stephen Ohlemacher, AP Election Decision Editor, calls elections  the single largest act of journalism that happens every two years.

But its not a one-night affair.

Heres how it works:

PREP, PREP AND MORE PREP

For years, AP has employed a full-time elections research team that works year-round to ensure that other AP entities involved in race calling  the vote count team, decision desk and newsroom  know as much as possible about what to expect once Election Day arrives.

That includes details that vary state to state on things like when and how people can vote, how those votes are counted and any changes since the last election.

Since different states count ballots at different times, it might take longer to declare a winner in some places. There are also varying rules on when recounts or runoffs might be necessary.

All of this means that we won't know who won every race on election night.

A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING

With political reporters based in key states around the country  and reporters on the ground in all 50 states  AP has an unparalleled footprint for election-related coverage in text, photos, video and live video. From the places they know the best, AP reporters are sending in what they're seeing at the polls and reporting any issues that arise.

Besides its own journalists, the AP has about 4,000 stringers  temporary freelancers  who, through years of trusted relationships with county clerks and other local officials, gather vote totals at the local level and feed them to AP's vote entry centers.

Hundreds of vote entry clerks answer those calls, take down the tallies and enter the results into APs election database. Since many states and counties display their election night results on websites, some clerks monitor those sites and enter results into the database, too.

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ACCURACY MATTERS MOST

All the numbers are checked multiple times for accuracy.

Vote entry clerks ask questions to verify the information they're getting, like whether there are problems in the stringers county, and challenge the details if something seems off.

Automated checks also spot any issues with the data, like inconsistencies with a countys previous voting history or other data. For example, if more votes are reported as being cast than there are registered voters in a county, an alert will pop up on the clerks screen and summon a supervisor.

APs team of full-time election research and quality control analysts monitor and examine the results for anomalies, using sophisticated statistical tools and APs own research to ensure accuracy.

In 2020, AP was 99.9% accurate in calling U.S. races, and 100% accurate in the presidential and congressional races for each state.

WHO MAKES THE CALLS  AND HOW?

On election night itself, race callers in each state are equipped with detailed information from APs election research team, including demographics, the number of absentee ballots, and political issues that may affect the outcome of races they must call.

According to Ohlemacher, about 60 people will be involved in declaring winners in more than 7,000 races across the country in this year's general election, with some specifically focusing on types of races, like Congress, gubernatorial and legislative contests.

The senior editors of APs decision team, based in Washington, provide the final approval on races for president, governor, U.S. Senate and key races for U.S. House, and consult with race callers around the country on other statewide races.

The AP does not make projections and will only declare a winner when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap.

When the votes come in and they meet our expectations, it makes it much easier to declare a winner, Ohlemacher said. "When the votes come in and contradict what our expectations are, thats when we slam on the brakes. We dont call a winner until there is no path for the trailing candidate to catch the leader.

___

Meg Kinnard reported from New York. She can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

___

Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections.

Follow APs coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections
By Martin Petty

(Reuters) - Foreign ministers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are meeting on Thursday to discuss an intensifying crisis in Myanmar, 18 months after agreeing a peace plan with its military rulers.

WHY IS THE MEETING HAPPENING?

ASEAN's peace effort is the only official diplomatic process in play, but it has so far been a failure, with the junta unwilling to implement a so-called "five-point consensus" that it agreed to with ASEAN in April 2021.

ASEAN holds its annual summit next month and will be joined by numerous world leaders. The United Nations has backed the ASEAN plan, but international patience is wearing thin, with suspicion the generals are paying lip service and buying time to consolidate power and crush opponents before a 2023 election, knowing they could then control the outcome.

For ASEAN to remain credible as a mediator, it may need to present a new strategy before the summit.

WHAT IS THE CONSENSUS?

The agreement includes an immediate end of hostilities, all parties engaging in constructive dialogue, allowing an ASEAN envoy to mediate and meet all stakeholders, and for ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance.

So far, the only success cited by ASEAN chair Cambodia has been allowing some humanitarian access, but that has been limited and conditional.

WHAT HAVE THE SPECIAL ENVOYS DONE?

ASEAN has had two Myanmar special envoys and both have expressed frustration with the junta for denying them access to other stakeholders, including deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is on trial, accused of multiple crimes.

The junta has refused to engage opponents or civil society groups and has outlawed a shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and an alliance of sidelined lawmakers, designating them "terrorists". It has vowed to destroy resistance groups but its offensives have killed a large number of civilians and prompted frequent international condemnation.

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Current ASEAN envoy Prak Sokhonn, Cambodia's foreign minister, has complained of an absence of political will from all sides, with the lack of trust preventing anyone from coming to the negotiating table.

He said he understood criticism that his visits were one-sided and could legitimise the junta. His only notable meeting have been with the generals so far, with many cancelled. He has unsuccessfully sought the military's blessing to engage the NUG in dialogue.

HOW HAS THE JUNTA RESPONDED?

The military government has accused critical ASEAN members of meddling and warned them not to engage with the NUG. In August it cited "notable progress" on the peace plan, without providing specifics, but said its commitment would be determined by developments on the ground.

It has accused its opponents of trying to sabotage the ASEAN plan and has justified military offensives as necessary to secure the country and enable political talks.

Instead of advocating for the five-point ASEAN plan, the generals have instead been pushing a five-step roadmap of their own towards a new election, with few similarities.

WHAT APPROACHES MIGHT ASEAN TAKE?

It is unclear what proposals the foreign ministers will bring to the meeting.

Suspending Myanmar as an ASEAN member would be extremely unlikely, as would any trade sanctions, and the junta has demonstrated it will not respond to threats. Modifying the plan could be interpreted as concessions to the military.

Malaysia's foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah has said the consensus must be seriously reviewed for its relevance "and if it should be replaced with something better".

Singapore in August said the military had disrespected ASEAN's peace effort and engaging with the junta had limited value without progress.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last month said he would be proposing a new approach on Myanmar that "at the very least" would bring the junta or its representatives to the table.

His strategy may meet resistance, however.

ASEAN has so far opted to bar the generals from key summits and invited non-political representatives instead, which the junta has declined.

(Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Channel 9 meteorologist Kassandra Crimi said she is watching two areas of potential tropical development over the next two to five days.

She said there are no threats to Florida now, but that shes continuing to keep her eye on the tropics.

The first area, in the southwest Atlantic, could produce a surface low later on Wednesday. Crimi said there is decent potential for this system to evolve into a subtropical depression over the next few days as it lifts toward Bermuda.

Read: BPS approves plan for Hurricane Ian makeup days

The second area, in the eastern Caribbean, has decent potential but looks to be a bit slower. Crimi said environmental conditions will become better for tropical development over the weekend.

Crimi said this could lead to a tropical depression early next week that would move west into the central Caribbean Sea.

Read: Central Florida Zoo reopens after suffering damage, flooding from Hurricane Ian

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Whitney Hall (R) embraces a friend atop the remains of his home amidst wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Pine Island residents Wolfgang Nester (R) and his son Sebastian walk amongst the wreckage lef in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A chair sits on a flooded roadway in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian is shown on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A burned vehicle from an electrical fire following Hurricane Ian in Venice, Florida, US, on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. Two million electricity customers in Florida remained without power Friday morning, according to the tracking site poweroutage.us. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

MATLACHA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Whitney Hall waves to a friend from the remains of his home while waving the American flag amidst wreckage left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on the island of Matlacha on September 30, 2022 in Matlacha, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Sue Lepisto hugs her neighbor after they saw each other when they came to visit what was left of their homes after Hurricane Ian passed through on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Their homes were flooded with about 6 feet of water. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Brian Siebert becomes emotional as he looks at what remains of his home after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Siebert feels like he has lost everything in the apartment because there was about 6 feet of water that inundated it. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Frank Bruno speaks with members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team as they look for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Bruno said he road the storm out in his home and told the search team members that he was okay. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Deb McGinty walks with outstretched arms near her apartment as she said she was,

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Lucy Montoya hugs niece Judy Sanchez after seeing her for the first time since Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. Montoya said she road the storm out in the apartment and had to flee through a window because of flood waters in the middle of the storm to a second floor apartment. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Val Stuart talks on a cell phone as she sits on the bed she setup on the floor after the apartment she was staying in was flooded when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mrs. Stuart who evacuated from Sanibel before the storm ended up staying in the apartment and had to flee in the middle of the storm through a window because of flood waters to a second floor apartment. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Jordan Reidy carries his dog, Ivory, back to their second-floor apartment after fleeing when Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Reidy and his mother plan to stay at the home because they feel like they have no where else to go. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Omar Sanchez walks through flood waters to his apartment after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. Mr. Sanchez said he had to flee from his first floor apartment to the second floor because flood waters inundated it. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A member of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue team looks for anyone needing help after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A woman walks down the stairs from her house as a creek overflows from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue residents from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue a 93 year-old resident from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs use a fanboat to rescue residents from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

A man stops in front of his house as a creek overflows from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

Osceloa County Sheriffs speaks to a resident as a creek rises from flooding following Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Kissimmee, Florida. - Forecasters expect Hurricane Ian to cause life-threatening storm surges in the Carolinas on Friday after unleashing devastation in Florida, where it left a yet unknown number of dead in its wake. After weakening across Florida, Ian regained its Category 1 status in the Atlantic Ocean and was headed toward the Carolinas, the US National Hurricane Center said Friday. (Photo by Bryan R. Smith / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this aerial view, vehicles line up to purchase gasoline in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: In this aerial view, vehicles drive through standing water left in the wake of Hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surges, and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A fallen sign following Hurricane Ian in Venice, Florida, US, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Ian, now a hurricane again, is threatening to carve a new path of destruction through South Carolina Friday when it roars ashore north of Charleston. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 29: Members of the Florida National Guard look for stranded residents in a flooded neighborhood in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The storm has caused widespread power outages and flash flooding in Central Florida as it crossed through the state after making landfall in the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 hurricane. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: A wall of a condo was torn off as hurricane Ian passed through on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ron Waselenchuk inspects his sailboat which was pushed ashore by hurricane Ian on September 30, 2022 in Fort Myers, Florida. The hurricane brought high winds, storm surge and rain to the area causing severe damage. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Damage to a McDonald's restaurant following Hurricane Ian in Venice, Florida, US, on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Ian, now a hurricane again, is threatening to carve a new path of destruction through South Carolina Friday when it roars ashore north of Charleston. Photographer: Tristan Wheelock/Bloomberg via Getty Images

ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 29: Street signs are seen in the water in a flooded street in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The storm has caused widespread power outages and flash flooding in Central Florida as it crossed through the state after making landfall in the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 hurricane. (Photo by Paul Hennessy/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In this aerial view, boats sit grounded in a woodland area and along the side of the road after being pushed by rising water from Hurricane Ian near Fort Myers Beach on September 29, 2022, in San Carlos Island, Florida.

In this aerial view, the Sanibel Causeway bridge collapsed in places after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

In this aerial view, a neighborhood remains flooded near downtown after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

Boats sit atop one another in a marina near Fort Myers Beach on September 29, 2022, in San Carlos Island, Florida.

A man documents storm damage with his phone after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Vehicles float in the water after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Doc's Beach House after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Seth Jones, left, sorts through storm damaged video games as Jason Crosser looks on at Crossers storm damaged business, 8-Bit Hall of Fame, after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In this aerial view, a home burns after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

A man looks out to the Gulf of Mexico after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Naples, Florida.

A woman walks her bike past boats blocking a road after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In this aerial view, cars sit in floodwater near downtown after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

In this aerial view, the Sanibel Causeway bridge collapsed in places after Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Sanibel, Florida.

A storm damaged building after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Meagan Hoeschler recovers a family surf board on the beach after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Naples, Florida.

Storm debris fills a street after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

A car sits in floodwater after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Orlando, Florida.

Storm damaged vehicles after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

People walk along a sidewalk blocked by boats after Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022, in Bonita Springs, Florida.

In an aerial view, damaged buildings are seen as Hurricane Ian passed through the area on September 29, 2022, in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
(Bloomberg) -- Facebook and Instagram are running millions of dollars in ads from so-called pink-slime newsrooms  partisan organizations masquerading as local media outlets  in battleground states heading into the midterm elections, according to a report Thursday from NewsGuard.

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The media watchdog, which rates the credibility of news outlets, said that both left- and right-leaning organizations are relying on the tactic, spending a total of about $3.94 million on Facebook and Instagram ads so far in 2022. The ads, which are able to reach highly specific audiences using proprietary tools, have been featured on Facebook and Instagram feeds more than 115 million times, NewsGuard found.

The result is a new kind of political dark money, according to the report, which analyzed the social networks Ad Library, a database of their political ads. The partisan networks can, and often do, identify their funders as seemingly apolitical entities.

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said in response that  while news publishers connected to political entities are allowed on Facebook  they arent eligible to be included in the services News feature and are held to the same standards as political entities when it comes to advertising.

People access political information in many ways, but on Facebook they benefit from a level of transparency around political advertising that not only leads the tech industry, but TV, radio and print, as well, said Andy Stone, a spokesperson for the company.

In August 2019, ahead of the 2020 US presidential election, Facebook and Instagram updated their advertising policies to require paid for disclosures on political ads running on those services. A year later, the company added a rule for news publishers connected to political entities that barred them from claiming a news exemption in Metas ads authorization process.

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Facebook has other transparency measures in place, including the Ad Library used by NewsGuard and a page transparency feature that shows what group is behind every Facebook page  along with some information about where page managers are located. But in spite of these policies, the news sites identified by NewsGuard are allowed to create and manage their own disclosures, NewsGuard said.

Operations such as Courier Newsroom, the American Independent and the Main Street Sentinel on the left, and Metric Media on the right, have run ads on Facebook and Instagram while veiling their ties to partisan donors on the services, the report found. Their spending has been increasing in the weeks ahead of the Nov. 8 elections, according to the watchdog.

In one example that NewsGuard identified, an article from the Main Street Sentinel was used in an ad to target millions of Facebook and Instagram feeds in Michigan, reporting that the states Republican gubernatorial candidate, Tudor Dixon, said that a 14-year-old girl raped by her uncle was a perfect example of a case in which abortion should not be allowed under the law. On Facebook and Instagram feeds, the post carried a sponsored label, saying it was paid for by the Main Street Sentinel.

The quote attributed to Dixon was accurate, but the article left out that she favors a statewide ban that makes allowances to save the life of the mother. Moreover, the article wasnt a case of a local news outlet simply wanting to get more eyes on its journalism, NewsGuard said. As Axios reported in March, the Main Street Sentinels listed publisher, Star Spangled Media LLC, was formed in February and had a connection to Will Robinson, a Democratic strategist. Other investors arent known, but the site has run multiple stories with President Joe Biden and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer as beneficiaries.

The other operations identified by NewsGuard have a similar structure of being used by partisan operatives. In 2020, the New York Times reported that Metric Media, another network named in NewsGuards report, runs a fast-growing propaganda network of about 1,300 websites in all 50 states, taking advantage of a void left by vanishing local news outlets across the country. In some cases, the Times found, Metric Media outlets print physical newspapers and deliver them directly to peoples doorsteps.

When reached for comment, some of the news sites identified by NewsGuard objected to the way they were characterized.

Tara McGowan, a former Democratic operative and founder of Courier Newsroom, said that grouping Courier with the other publications mentioned by NewsGuard was inappropriate. The company added that its outlets were eligible for Facebook's News feature, unlike the others named in NewsGuard's report. Courier is using every tool available to us to better inform passive news consumers who are being inundated with disinformation online, McGowan said in a statement.

Because of this, old guard media elites have decided to paint us with the same broad brush they use for actual so-called pink-slime operations like the ones mentioned by NewsGuards report. The media companys website says that it prioritizes hiring reporters and editors who live in the communities it serves.

The executive editor of the American Independent, meanwhile, said that outlet is combating this disinformation by delivering readers relevant, fact-based reporting through both our national and state news platforms.

Right-wing extremists have flooded Facebook with conspiracy theories and lies disguised as news and designed to influence the media, said the editor, Jessica McCreight.

Metric Media and the Main Street Sentinel didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The NewsGuard report found that Meta bears responsibility for contributing to the deception, by adopting tools and ad policies that facilitate the schemes.

The company provides the ideological networks with powerful tools to target audiences in battleground states, with loose standards that can be manipulated by partisan actors, NewsGuard said.

(Updates with additional comment from Courier in 13th paragraph.)

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The family of a 23-year-old college graduate who died after consuming Kratom have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of playing a role in their loved ones death.

Ethan Pope died on December 3, 2021 after his family says he consumed O.P.M.S. Black Liquid Kratom, which is legal and widely available to buy in Georgia but virtually unregulated.

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This shouldve never happened, said Ethans mother, Dana Pope during a news conference at the State Capitol Thursday. He should be here today with his family not in a decorative box on our bookshelf.

You dont expect to go into a store and find something similar to heroin between energy drinks and breath mints, said attorney Matt Wetherington . We intend to hold every single person and entity involved in the distribution and sale of these products responsible.

Kratom, which is derived from a plant in Southeast Asia, can be swallowed as a pill, brewed as a tea or crushed or smoked. Its used as a mood booster, energy supplement and pain reliever. It has also become a go-to for many people suffering from opioid withdrawal and substance abuse.

An autopsy conducted on Ethans body determined he died as a result of cardiac arrest due to mitragynine intoxication, according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday.

The Kratom products sold in the United States frequently have additional additives that are not disclosed, including fentanyl, other opioids and toxic heavy metals, added Wetherington. The CDC has reported over 100 deaths as of 2017 directly attributed to Kratom exposure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Mitragyna speciosa, commonly known as kratom, a plant which grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. FDA is concerned that kratom, which affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine, appears to have properties that expose users to the risks of addiction, abuse, and dependence.

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There are no FDA-approved uses for kratom, and the agency has received concerning reports about the safety of kratom. FDA is actively evaluating all available scientific information on this issue and continues to warn consumers not to use any products labeled as containing the botanical substance kratom or its psychoactive compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. FDA encourages more research to better understand kratoms safety profile, including the use of kratom combined with other drugs.

Channel 2 reached out to attorneys representing all defendants named in the lawsuit and all but one declined to comment.

The American Kratom Association is a consumer advocacy group dedicated to education and responsible use of Kratom, wrote Daniel Delnero, an attorney representing A.K.A. " it was improperly added to this lawsuit, and we will vigorously defend the spurious claims against it.

Channel 2 also attempted to speak with several businesses that sell the product but they declined to comment .

Ethans brother and sister desperately miss their big brother, said Ethans mother as she fought back tears. Their lives will never be the same.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
Smoke emerging from chimneys

Plumes of smoke rise from chimneys at an industrial area in Greece. Credit - Getty ImagesAlexandros Maragos

The United Nations is sounding the alarm about the worlds inadequate effort to slow climate change. In a series of reports released this week, the international organization makes clear that emissions are not falling fast enough to stop global temperatures from rising 1.5C above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century.

One of the reports released on Wednesday, which analyzes the most recent mitigation plans (called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs) issued by the 193 countries under the Paris Climate Agreement, finds that were on track to increase emissions by 10.6% by 2030, compared to 2010 levelsa trajectory that would bump temperatures 2.5C by 2100.

Another report released on Thursday, which dives deeper into the gap between our emissions plans and our climate goals, illustrates our poor chances of getting the job done. If countries continue with their current policies, theres a 20% chance of global warming exceeding 3C. If they follow the climate action promises outlined in their NDCs, those odds drop to about 13%.

To avoid tipping past the 1.5C threshold, global emissions need to be cut by about half in the next eight years. The only scenario where theres a chance of that happening, as the below chart shows, is if G20 and other high-emitting countries go beyond their NDCs and achieve net-zero targets, too. The UN notes, however, that this scenario is optimistic.



While all parties to the Paris Agreement are obligated to have an NDC and to pursue the measures within it, each country decides for itself what its climate mitigation goals should look likeand those goals arent legally binding. Net-zero emissions targets are often even more toothless because only a handful of countries have a meaningful road map to achieve them.

The lack of substantive action year after year means that the odds of being in the 1.5C to 2C range are shrinking as the odds of falling in the 2.5C to 3C range are growing. That kind of temperature difference may seem like a marginal shift on paper, but its a dramatic shift in reality. According to Carbon Brief, which outlines how life would transform in different warming scenarios, average drought length stretches from two months at 1.5C to four months at 2C. The share of plants that would no longer have a suitable climate to grow doubles from 8% to 16%. And, by the end of the century, the number of people in coastal areas who are flooded jumps from 60 million people per year to 72 million per year.

The sobering UN reports come one month before the parties meet in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to further climate talks. At last years conference in Glasgow, Scotland, attendees were blunt about the slim chances of meeting the 1.5C goal, which was originally set in 2015. Now, the reality is even clearerand the stakes are even higher to meaningfully address impending catastrophe.
The FBI on Wednesday arrested an El Paso man accused of assaulting a police officer during the U.S. Capitol attack by pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6, 2021.

FBI agents arrested David Rene Arredondo, 47, at a home in the 1200 block of Morgan Marie Street in the far East Side, officials said Thursday. He is being held without bond at the El Paso County Jail in Downtown.

Arredondo is accused being part of a pro-Donald Trump mob that stormed into the Capitol, seeking to halt the certification of President Joe Biden's election victory.

Arredondo was charged in Washington, D.C., on felony charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement officers and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder, as well as misdemeanor charges.

Arredondo is accused of illegally entering the Capitol grounds and grabbing and pulling the arm of a police officer who was attempting to stop the mob from entering the Capitol doors, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Federal investigators allegedly identified Arredondo as a man seen in video recordings during the assault at the Capitol, according to a federal criminal complaint.

The complaint document states: "In the video, DAVID ARREDONDO can be seen grabbing the arm of a police officer who was surrounded by a mob of rioters. A different police officer can be seen being pulled away by the mob and falling to the ground. DAVID ARREDONDO can be seen grabbing the arm of the other police officer who is trying to keep a door to the Capitol shut, and attempting to pull the officer away from the door in an apparent effort to facilitate the entry of other rioters into the Capitol."

More:US Rep. Veronica Escobar reflects on Jan. 6 insurrection at US Capitol one year later

The man identified as Arredondo is wearing a red Trump-style cap, sunglasses and a gaiter during the assault but his face, including a salt-and-pepper beard, is visible in another security camera image included in the document.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that video evidence allegedly shows that Arredondo entered the Capitol Building through the East Rotunda Doors and remained inside for nearly 40 minutes.

Capitol police officers in riot gear push back demonstrators trying to break a door of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C.

A multi-agency task force investigation of the Capitol attack allegedly found that Arredondo and two relatives traveled together on Southwest Airlines from El Paso to Washington on Jan. 4 and returned Jan. 8, according to the complaint. Records show they stayed at the Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington.

A search warrant found geolocation information showing that a cellphone linked to Arredondo was present at the U.S. Capitol during the time of the riot, the document adds.

More:Columbus Day, a US Army captain and the Tigua statue vandalism of 2017

A witness as well as surveillance and comparisons to photos on social media allegedly matched Arredondo with photos of the rioter who grabbed the police officer, the complaint states.

The case was investigated by the FBI in El Paso and the West Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force with help from the FBI in Washington and the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 880 people have been arrested in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol, including more than 270 suspects charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, the Department of Justice stated.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man accused of assaulting police during Jan. 6 Capitol attack
Photo: The Canadian Press Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique.

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki sent the Ontario Provincial Police a text message a week after anti-COVID-19 mandate protesters arrived in Ottawa to say the federal government was losing, or had already lost, confidence in the local police force.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique is testifying Thursday at a public inquiry into the Liberal government's decision to invoke the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history, arguing its temporary and extraordinary powers were needed to end the blockades.

New evidence at the inquiry includes a document containing text messages Carrique exchanged with Lucki, showing the RCMP boss was hearing concerns from federal ministers about the Ottawa police force's ability to deal with the protest.

"Between you and I only, (Government of Canada) is losing (or) lost confidence in OPS  we gotta get to safe action (or) enforcement," Lucki texted Carrique on Feb. 5.

"'Cause if they go the Emergency Measures Act, you or (I) may be brought into lead  not something I want."

Lucki then said she was on a call with cabinet ministers, although she did not name them.

"Trying to calm them down," she wrote. "Not easy when they see cranes, structures, horses, bouncing castles in downtown Ottawa. Any suggesting for calming them?"

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are among the eight federal cabinet ministers who have agreed to testify at the inquiry in the coming weeks.

Lawyers for the inquiry have been focusing their questions for Carrique on what kind of resources the OPP sent to Ottawa and other cities that were dealing with blockades.

During his testimony, he said the OPP is responsible for policing nearly 330 communities across the provinceas well as its major highways, and learned the "Freedom Convoy" was on its way to Ottawa about two weeks before it arrived.

He said he believed Ottawa police would stop large trucks from going downtown and parking around Parliament Hill, and that had he known otherwise he would have asked more questions and could have offered extra resources.

He also said the force's intelligence showed protesters were expressing a "commitment for long-term activity" and were making "demands that could not be realized in the short term, or at all."

Before testifying Thursday, Carrique did an interview with the commission, a summary of which has been made public.

It shows the OPP boss didn't think it was wise for Ottawa police or city officials to have been publicly calling for 1,800 more officers to deal with the protests, because it showed demonstrators they were overwhelmed.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has a warning for parents after instances of kids being abducted and transported through rideshare companies.

Its important to note that these abductions are extremely rare, but the FBI is issuing the warning because of the high impact of this type of crime.

The FBI identified a few examples of criminals using rideshare companies to abduct victims. One instance involved a 16-year-old boy who requested a rideshare trip to Texas; the FBI says he was given a drink and then later woke up inside a home about 20 miles away from his original destination. Another instance involved a man from Colorado meeting a minor on social media and then persuading the victim to sneak out of their home to enter a rideshare vehicle at 2 a.m. -- they were later found at an airport during a layover.

SEE MORE: Local Lyft, Uber drivers push ride-sharing companies to do more to keep them safe.

None of these types of abductions have been reported in North Carolina, but the FBI put out a warning across the country.

Authorities say criminals began using rideshare companies to abduct kids because it gave them more privacy. Since those abductions happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing and wearing a mask also helped them avoid detection.

Ultimately, the FBI says the best tip for prevention is awareness. Authorities say if you see suspicious behavior involving children, report the incident to law enforcement immediately. If you or someone you know is the target or victim of an abduction, call 911 or contact the local FBI field office.

(WATCH BELOW: Disturbing video shows vicious assault and kidnapping; CMPD looking for victim and suspect)




WASHINGTON  The U.S. State Department released plans Thursday to better track weapons supplied to Ukraine, voicing fears Russian forces could capture and use them to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces.

Pro-Russian forces capture of Ukrainian weapons  including donated materiel  has been the main vector of diversion so far and could result in onward transfers, the plan reads. Russia probably will also use these weapons to develop countermeasures, propaganda, or to conduct false-flag operations.

The warning comes amid Russias unfounded claims Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb on its own soil, which U.S. officials see as a potential pretext for Moscow to escalate the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also accused Russia of planning to blow up a huge dam near Kherson and blame it on Ukrainians.

Since Russia launched its war in Ukraine eight months ago, the U.S. has been speeding more than $17 billion in military aid, from shoulder-fired rockets, howitzers and armored vehicles to advanced air defense systems. U.S. lawmakers and officials in Europe, which is also providing billions in weapons, have in recent weeks stepped up calls for stiffer oversight.

The State Department is especially concerned about two classes of weapons: man-portable air defense systems, including the thousands of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles sent by the U.S., and anti-tank/all-purpose tactical guided missiles, including thousands of Javelins the U.S. sent.

The State Department said, as part of the plan, it is working with Kyiv to clear explosive remnants of the war, an activity that would enable on-the-ground accounting for and securing of weapons, the plan says.

As in any conflict, we remain vigilant to the possibility that criminal and non-state actors may attempt to illicitly acquire weapons from sources in Ukraine, including members of the Russian military, during or following the conflict, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

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The one-page plan released Thursday offered a number of actions, some for next year, others for 2024 and beyond  but few details about how they would be implemented.

Among other steps in the plan, U.S. embassy personnel in Kyiv would help Ukraine increase weapons tracking. Beyond that, the State Department plans to bolster training for Ukrainian forces on protecting their borders and destroying found weapons and ammunition to deny them to non-state actors and protect civilians.

In the future, the U.S. also wants to deploy contracted de-mining units to work alongside Kyivs forces and train border forces to recognize man-portable air defense systems and anti-tank weapons.

So far, Ukrainian forces have been keeping small arms and other weapons from ending up on the black market and Ukraine has committed to safeguarding weapons donated by the U.S., but the plan acknowledges the chaotic nature of combat can make this difficult.

The race to arm Ukraine highlights Wests worry of losing tech secrets

This summer, the European Union launched a new platform to discuss organized crime in the region with an eye toward the illegal smuggling of diverted weapons. The law enforcement agency Europol said then it was working with Ukrainian officials to reduce the risk of illegal arms transfers.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, in a June interview with the Financial Times, pushed back against western concerns the country could become a source of smuggled weapons, but acknowledged it needed to expand its arms tracking systems.

Reznikov disclosed that some of Ukraines allies had sent military representatives to the country to observe the flow of their donated weapons and he invited others to follow suit. He also said Ukraine was using NATO software, acquired in 2019, to monitor the destination and use of weapons provided by the west.

We need to survive. We have no reason to smuggle arms out of Ukraine, he told the Financial Times.

The arms control community has been pressing the Biden administration for months to conduct stronger oversight. The number and variety of arms sent to Ukraine, and the potential they will overwhelm Ukraines ability to absorb and track them, have been worrisome to arms control advocates.

The quantity of weapons that has gone to Ukraine already is larger than than any year to Afghanistan and Iraq since 9/11, said Rachel Stohl, the director of Stimson Centers conventional defense program. This [State Department tracking effort] is very much focused on the most high-tech sophisticated weapons. Light weapons have a huge diversion risk.

Stohl hailed the Biden administrations new plan for addressing these concerns, but she said it lacks details about implementation and said its effectiveness remains to be seen.

Some of the things theyre laying out should be done as a matter of course. You shouldnt be transferring weapons to a recipient if you cant be sure how those weapon are being used or by the people you intended to use them, Stohl said.
John Fetterman mocked Senate rival Dr Mehmet Ozs abortion remarks as he acknowledged missing words during their election debate in Pennsylvania.

Fetterman, who is still recovering from a stroke that has left him with some auditory processing and speech issues, told a crowd in Pittsburgh that it was the pro-Trump Republican who still had the worst line of the night.

Last night Oz said that - and I want to get this right - quote local political leaders should decide whether a woman should be able to get an abortion. Basically, like (GOP candidate for Pennsylvania Governor) Doug Mastriano.

You know for some of the focus on some of the words that I miss, he really has to say that he had the worst line of that night.

Going into the debate a CNN poll found that 51 per cent of likely voters support Mr Fetterman, a Democrat, compared to 45 per cent for Dr Oz.

Fetterman was in Pittsburgh on Wednesday evening to attend a campaign event with musician Dave Matthews.

Fetterman: You know, for some of the focus on the words that I miss, he really has to say that he has the worst line of that night. pic.twitter.com/HT3hJCvdAt  Acyn (@Acyn) October 27, 2022

The Democrat told the crowd at the event that doing the debate wasnt exactly easy.

Knew it wasnt going to be easy after having a stroke after five months. In fact, I dont think it has ever been done before in American political history actually. You know, after that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up.

Fetterman: Doing that debate wasn't exactly easy. Knew it wasn't going to be easy after having a stroke after five months. You know, after that stroke, I got knocked down, but I got back up. pic.twitter.com/yTHGqNELOh  Acyn (@Acyn) October 27, 2022

Mr Fetterman, who has been fully cleared by his doctors, also acknowledged his health issues and recovery at the beginning of the debate.

Lets also talk about the elephant in the room. I had a stroke. Hes never let me forget that, Mr Fetterman said.

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.
The 2022 Florida Python Challenge culled a total of 231 of the invasive snakes from South Florida.

Close to 1,000 participants from 32 states and as far away as Canada and Latvia fanned out across the southern tier of the peninsula over a 10-day period from Aug. 5 to 14 to poke and prod through swamps and grasslands in search of the snakes, which are well camouflaged and often hide in dense underbrush.

The winner of this years competition was 19-year-old Matthew Concepcion, of Palmetto Bay, who snatched 28 Burmese pythons from South Florida ecosystems, and bagged the $10,000 Ultimate Grand Prize, courtesy of the Bergeron Everglades Foundation.

Dustin the Wildman Crum of Ochopee, star of the Discovery Channels Guardians of the Glades show, won $1,500 for the longest python, at a length of 11 feet, 0.24 inches. Its the second year in a row hes won the largest snake. Last years snake was 15 feet, 9 inches.

Deadly impact

Burmese pythons, which are indigenous to southeast Asia, are thought to have slithered their way into the Everglades in the 1990s via the exotic pet trade. Theyve thrived, establishing breeding populations as far south as Key Largo and as far north at the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in western Palm Beach County. The largest ever recorded in Florida was 18 feet long.

They prey on deer, racoons, possums, alligators and other indigenous species, and possibly make it more difficult for endangered Florida panthers to find prey.

The U.S. Geological Survey says there are tens of thousands of the snakes holed up in Florida, with some estimates being as high as 300,000. Females can lay as many as 100 eggs per clutch. The state says that more than 17,000 of invasive animals have been removed from the wild since 2,000.

A method to the madness

Concepcion has been an outdoor fanatic since he was kid and his parents bought a house on a canal, where he learned to fish. Hes been python hunting for the past five years, and said it can take months to find your first snake, but once you do, the joy is like being a little kid in a candy shop.

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If I cant go out and fish, then Im out hunting [python] all night, he said. Its a love-hate relationship. Sometimes youre out there for like 15 hours and you dont even see one snake. And the next night you go out for the first five minutes you see three back to back. Its definitely a mental game.

In his five years of hunting, hes been bitten four or five times, he said. You cant just pull your hand out, because the snakes teeth are angled backward. You have to let the snake lose interest in you, or put alcohol in its mouth to get them off.

He said hes seen python eating owls in the wee hours of the night, and nabbed his largest snake while scouting for the Python Challenge this year, just before sunrise on Loop Road in the Everglades. It measured 15 feet, 11 inches.

Concepcion said he typically hunts at night because thats when the big snakes move, around 4 or 5 in the morning. He said they seek out the warmth of roads, where he spots them with his car lights.

This years Python Challenge was a little different, though. After only finding one snake on the roads of the Everglades, he shifted strategies. I worked a levee, caught a couple hatchings, and was like, Dang, this might be the ticket! So every single night from then on, I went out there  just before sundown to sunup.

He walked the canal, probing the underbrush with a flashlight. The smaller snakes are so well camouflaged that Concepcion said he looks for their shadows cast by the flashlight beam, instead of the actual snakes. Larger snakes are easier to spot. They will have a slightly purple tint to them. Theyre really beautiful.

How does being up all night for 10 days affect his day job of working on charter boats as a mate?

Uft. I actually told my job I was going to have to take a break and pursue this, he says. When hunting comes around, thats what I have to do. Luckily he [my boss] was cool about it.

As for the $10,000, Concepcion says he doesnt want to touch it, but admits hes considering buying a powerful lighting setup for his truck, which will help him spot more snakes.
Recalled Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder

York Region officials in Ontario are reminding residents to not consume the recalled Mr. Right brand Keampferia Galanga Powder (sand ginger powder), after after one person was hospitalized due to aconite contamination.

The sand ginger power (Product code: AT154m UPC: 69 892102 8038) was recalled on Sept. 11 and the contaminated product is responsible for 11 cases of severe illness in York Region after poisoning at a restaurant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Ministry of Health and York Region worked to ensure the product was removed from food establishments and grocery stores, and York Region has confirmed that the powder was not distributed or sold after the initial recall.

"York Region once again strongly urges any residents and businesses to review the contents of their kitchens to ensure they do not have any of this product and to dispose of it immediately, if found," a news release published on Wednesday reads.

Anyone who has the recalled product in their home is urged to wear gloves while handling the product to dispose of it in the garbage, and should wash their hands thoroughly.

"The recalled product is toxic and can cause severe illness and death if not treated immediately," information from York Region reads. "Food contaminated with aconite may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick."

"If you have consumed the recalled product and are experiencing symptoms (which can occur within minutes after consumption), seek immediate medical attention."

The symptoms of aconite poisoning can include:

Numbness to lips, face and extremities

Nausea

Vomiting

Abdominal pain and weakness

Individuals can contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with any questions.
A judge announced Wednesday a Springfield, Missouri, man, formerly of New Brunswick, is guilty of murdering three people in a two-day span in 2018.

Luis Perez, 27, was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of assault. Greene County Missouri Judge Thomas Mountjoy presided over a bench trial for Perez in June and then took the last four-plus months to consider the evidence before announcing his verdict.

Court documents say this case started when Perez was kicked out of a home in the 900 block of East Locust Street.

Police say Perez returned to the home early on Nov. 1, 2018, and opened fire on his ex-roommates, killing Steven Marler and Aaron "Joshua" Hampton and injuring two others.

The next day, police say Perez killed Sabrina Starr, a 21-year-old woman who had provided him with the gun he used in the other two killings.

More:Mother of Springfield homicide victim works to change 'sanctuary city' rules

In the days after Perez was charged with the killings, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued a scathing news release criticizing Middlesex County for not holding Perez in jail in December 2017 when he was arrested there on suspicion of multiple felonies, including assault, aggravated assault and child abuse. ICE said it had asked that Perez be held in jail while it started deportation proceedings against him since he is originally from Mexico and was in the country illegally.

According to its website, Middlesex County has a policy of declining requests by ICE to detain some inmates, if those people have not been convicted of certain serious offenses.

Perez came to Springfield from New Jersey not long before the killings.

Hampton's mother, Deborah Elkins, has made it her mission to advocate for the end of sanctuary cities. Over the last four years she has joined up with an organization called Angel Families and has spoken on Capitol Hill about the issue.

Elkins said Wednesday was "a day of jubilation" to see Perez found guilty.

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"Today we're the victors and our children are the heroes," Elkins said of her and the other mothers impacted by this case.

Elkins said Wednesday was a difficult day to see her son in the news all over again and think about the anniversary of the shooting, but the verdict offered some measure of relief and closure. At the sentencing hearing early next year, she plans to make her victim impact statement about her son and his positive qualities instead of focusing on Perez.

Prosecutors initially announced they would seek the death penalty against Perez before reconsidering. He will instead be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the three murder convictions.

One of Perez's co-defendants in this case already has been convicted. Nyadia Burden pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, admitting she bought the bullets Perez used in the killings.

Two others have pending charges. Dalia Garcia is charged with tampering with physical evidence after police say she burned some of the clothing worn during the homicides. And Aaron Anderson is charged with being an accessory to murder.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Former New Brunswick man found guilty of murdering three people
Former Nashville police officer Andrew Delke, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after fatally shooting a man in 2018, was released from jail today, his lawyer confirmed.

Delke, 29, who is white, shot Daniel Hambrick, 25, who was Black, in the back three times as he ran away after a North Nashville traffic stop on July 26, 2018. The shooting spurred on conversation about policing and racial bias in Nashville.

"He appreciates the strong support he received from the Fraternal Order of Police and many citizens," Delke's lawyer, David Raybin, told The Tennessean in a text message Thursday.

Delke was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting. Under the terms of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to three years in prison in July 2021. He served his sentence in Nashville in a facility run by the Davidson County Sherriff's Office. The deal allowed Delke to be released in less time with standard jail credits.

Delke's release date was previously set for Dec. 3. Raybin maintained that Delke was released Thursday due to earning jail credits. Delke received monthly program and behavior credits, DCSO spokesperson Jon Adams told The Tennessean Thursday. All eligible felons sentenced by the state can earn credits, Adams said.

Reporter Mariah Timms contributed to this story.

Find reporter Rachel Wegner at RAwegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville officer Andrew Delke, convicted in fatal shooting, released
Photo: The Canadian Press A motorist drives on a service road along the closed Trans-Canada Highway as floodwaters fill the ditches beside the highway and farmland in Abbotsford, B.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry is calling for a comprehensive flood control plan for B.C.'s Fraser Valley following last year's historic floods. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

The Senate committee on agriculture and forestry is calling for a comprehensive flood control plan for British Columbia's Fraser Valley following last year's catastrophic floods.

Last November, historic rainfall caused flooding of 15,000 hectares of land, affecting more than 1,000 farms and 2.5 million livestock, washing out highway and railway infrastructure, and causing an estimated $285 million in damage.

The committee said its study into the flooding and its impacts shows a flood control plan is "critical to protecting the vulnerable Fraser Valley region" from future, and potentially worse, disasters.

"Floods like those in southwest British Columbia in November 2021 will inevitably happen again and the damage they cause could be much worse," Sen. Robert Black, chairman of the committee, said in a news release.

"To protect Fraser Valley residents, farmers and their livelihoods, the federal government must invest in and help the B.C. government update the provinces outdated flood mitigation infrastructure."

The committee said the plan should include a timeline for dike upgrades and calls for the creation of a committee to examine flood mitigation measures, emergency preparedness and response strategies.

It should be developed by the federal and provincial governments in collaboration with other stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, so it reflects the various challenges that different communities face when hit by flooding, the committee said.

The report also calls for co-operation between the Canadian and United States governments to address transboundary water issues, including the Nooksack River, which overflowed in the U.S. and was a major contributor to the flooding in the Fraser Valley.

Sen. Paula Simons, deputy chair of the committee, told a news conference Thursday that in addition to last year, the Nooksack River flooded in 1990, 1995 and 2006.

"This is a long-standing issue that residents, First Nations and governments have been concerned about for many years," she said.

"The committee believes that if nothing changes, this situation will simply happen again and again. It's essential that Canadian and U.S. officials work together on measures to manage transboundary waters like the Nooksack River and limit the impact of future flooding events."

Simons said the need for major updates to dikes had been known for years but nothing had been done to address the situation. She cited a 2015 study that found 87 per cent of the dikes in the Lower Mainland of B.C. were "in less-than-fair condition" and 71 per cent were "expected to fail simply by overtopping" in the event of a flood.

"To be told that it's 70 to 80 per cent of the dikes (that) are not going to be equipped to do the job required of them is a pretty sobering realization," she said.

Simons said that though the committee is encouraged the B.C. and Washington state governments are working together to prevent and respond to future flooding of the Nooksack River, co-ordination with federal governments is also needed.

"It's not going to be an easy fix, but I think the disaster of last November is a very sharp, forceful reminder that we have to make our diplomacy as efficient as possible in this area, because this is something that's not one order of government and not one country can solve."
The Department of Justice (DOJ) wont press federal civil rights charges against the South Carolina sheriffs deputies who used pepper spray and a stun gun against Jamal Sutherland before he died in police custody.

The two deputies at the Charleston County Detention Center forcibly extracted Sutherland, a Black man with a mental illness, from his cell for a bond hearing and restrained him when he did not comply with their requests. Sutherland died after an hour of resuscitation attempts.

The deputies were identified as Brian Houle and Lindsay Fickett.

DOJ prosecutors initiated a review to determine whether the deputies force against Sutherland constituted misconduct that broke federal laws.

Nearly two years after Sutherlands death, the DOJ said in a Thursday statement that prosecutors determined that insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that deputies willfully violated the federal criminal civil rights statutes.

The case is now closed without federal prosecution, but the DOJ noted that its conclusion is limited strictly to an application of the high legal standard required to prosecute cases under federal civil rights laws [and] does not reflect an assessment of any other aspect of the incident that led to Sutherlands death.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge welcomes the community to Zoom discussion, The Impact of Overturning Roe vs. Wade on the People of Tennessee," at noon Tuesday.

The League has invited a panel of experts in this field:

Carole Myers  moderator, professor of the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville;

Chloe Akers, criminal defense attorney;

London Lamar, state senator from the 33rd Senate District (Shelby County);

Corinne Rovetti, Certified Family Nurse Practitioner;

Nikki Zite, M.D., UTK professor in the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and vice chair of Education and Advocacy.

Other forum sponsors are the American Association of University Women - Oak Ridge, Tennessee Health Care Campaign, and Womens Interfaith of Oak Ridge.

The overturn of Roe vs. Wade destroyed 50 years of legal precedents, and along with the trigger ban law of Tennessee, physicians and health care providers could now face felony charges. No exceptions are allowed under the law.

FILE - Abortion-rights activists leave hangers on the fence as they protest outside the Supreme Court in Washington, July 4, 2022. A majority of Americans say Congress should pass a law guaranteeing access to legal abortion nationwide. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) ORG XMIT: WX207

The League of Women Voters has studied reproductive health care extensively prior to Roe vs. Wade and has engaged with all significant abortion-related lawsuits and federal legislation since Roe. The League believes that all people should have access to a basic level of quality healthcare at an affordable cost, including abortion, and that public policy must affirm the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices," according to the League news release announcing the event.

Those wishing to attend can use the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84258578548; or you may email maryannreeves1@att.net for more information.

The forum will also appear a few days later on the Leagues website at https://my.lwv.org/tennessee/oak-ridge.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Tennessee impact of Roe vs. Wade reversal
PARIS (AP)  In a show of Frances military prowess, President Emmanuel Macron visited a Caesar cannon firing range and missile testing facility Thursday alongside his army minister.

The Elysee presidential palace said the presidential visit to the test center of the General Directorate of Armaments and to see ammunition manufacturing activities on the Nexter Arrowtech site -- both in the Cher region of central France -- is aimed to remind military manufacturers of the objective of producing enough, more quickly and at controlled prices.

It comes four months after Macron set out the need to adapt the French military to new conditions amid war in Europe.

In June, the French leader ordered his armed forces ministers to reassess military strategy and weapon manufacturing because of this high-intensity war that has returned to European soil. He said that France must increase its military capacity and speed.

Macrons rhetoric and visit in Cher highlights the dilemma of many NATO members, who have sent billions of dollars worth of arms to Ukraine to help the war effort -- yet are well-aware the need to be prepared themselves if Russia targets them next.

Weapons shortages across Europe, including in France, could force hard choices for Ukraines allies.

Earlier this month, France pledged air defense systems to protect Ukrainian cities against drone strikes, as well as an expanded training program for Ukrainian soldiers, as it seeks to puncture perceptions that Macrons centrist government has lagged in supporting Ukraine militarily against the Russian invasion.

___
Municipal Court Judge Frances Munoz in her chambers in Newport Beach in 1997. (Los Angeles Times)

Before becoming the first Latina trial judge in California history, Frances Munoz appeared in an Orange County courtroom as a public defender, representing a young Latino during his arraignment in a criminal case.

Munoz tried to persuade Judge Ken Williams, who had a reputation as a feisty and irreverent jurist, that her client should be released on his own recognizance.

If you're so confident that he's not a danger to society," the judge countered, I'll release him to you.

Munoz agreed and took the young man into her home  but hid her kitchen knives just in case. On the next court date, she reported that her client caused her no trouble.

The story of Munoz's daring, oversized heart became part of Orange County courtroom lore, especially as she followed by taking her own place on the bench and in history.

On Jan. 25, 1978, Gov. Jerry Brown appointed her as a trial judge in the Harbor Judicial District in Newport Beach, a first for a Latina in California and perhaps the nation.

Munoz, who served on the bench for 23 years before retiring in 2001, died Oct. 17 from cardiac arrest after a lifetime of advocacy in law, education and immigration reform. She was 92.

I found her to be calm and deliberative, said Frederick Aguirre, a retired Orange County Superior Court judge who counted Munoz as a close friend. She did not rush her decisions."

The fifth of 11 siblings, Munoz was born on Sept. 17, 1930, in the mining town of Miami, Ariz.

Her father, a Mexican immigrant from the state of Jalisco, later moved the family to Puritan, Colo., where he worked as a coal miner.

In 1941, the family moved again, this time to California, where they settled in Corona. The Munoz children, including Frances, attended segregated Mexican schools while their father worked as an agricultural picker.

Through the inequities, she was the first among her siblings to graduate from high school.

Afterward, Munoz lived in Echo Park while managing a furniture store in Los Angeles. She took night classes at Los Angeles City College while her brother Gregory moved in with her to attend UCLA.

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Munoz encouraged him to study law and helped pay for his education through real estate investments she had made.

She put the bug in my ear and kept it there until I finished law school, Gregory told The Times in 2000.

At 40, Munoz earned a law degree of her own from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles after attending UCLA.

She followed her brother to Orange County ,where he had started a private practice. In 1972, she was the first Latina and only the second woman to be employed at the county's public defender's office.

Alongside other Latino legal professionals, Munoz helped found the Orange County Mexican American Lawyers Club in 1974, which would later be renamed the Hispanic Bar Assn. of Orange County.

One of our primary goals was to ensure that Latinos who were qualified and experienced were being appointed or elected to the bench at that time, Aguirre said.

Four years later, Brown made his history-making appointment of Munoz.

Aguirre believes Munoz was the first Latina trial judge in the nation, coming before Carmen B. Ciparik was named to the Criminal Court of New York CIty by Mayor Ed Koch later in 1978 and the subsequent election of Judge Patricia Madrid in New Mexico.

Outside the courtroom, Munoz dedicated her free time to community advocacy.

From a humble office inside St. Joachim Catholic Church in Costa Mesa, she helped numerous immigrants living in the U.S. illegally to apply for amnesty under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

Munoz showed a passion for youth through educational advocacy. She tutored students at Madison Elementary in Santa Ana and started her own Extended Education for Excellence program in 1989.

In 1993, Munoz established the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund, which offers scholarships to first-generation college students in Orange County.

"The organization she founded didn't just give me a scholarship, it gave me the confidence to believe in my education and believe in myself," said Camilo Romero, who attended UC Berkeley in 2000 before becoming an attorney and befriending Munoz.

Since 1993, $3.8 million in financial assistance has been distributed through about 2,600 scholarships.

"Judge Munoz was a very powerful advocate and was skilled at bringing influential leaders together in support of first-generation students and their families," said Monica Guillena, administrative director for the fund.

Munoz also co-founded the Luevano Foundation, a charitable group that awards scholarships to Latino students who otherwise couldnt afford to attend Catholic schools in the county.

"Francis felt the most important thing in life was education for children and that family came first," said Vera Munoz-Harrison, her sister. "She felt honored to serve immigrants and the community."

Gregory joined his sister on the bench when Gov. Gray Davis appointed him to be an Orange County Superior Court judge in 1999. He served for 14 years before retiring. He died last year at 83 while battling Parkinsons disease.

Frances Munoz continued as an assigned judge until she was 86. She collected numerous honorifics, including a lifetime achievement award from the Hispanic Bar Assn. of Orange County and a spirit award for achievement in law and public service from the California Latino Legislative Caucus.

"She was well-prepared, professional, ethical, and just a wonderful colleague," said U.S. District Judge David O. Carter, who was Munoz's supervising judge.

Two years ago, Munoz was featured in a "Poderosas" mural project in Costa Mesa that honored Latinas including labor leader Dolores Huerta and Sylvia Mendez, who integrated a Mexican school in Westminster following a landmark civil rights lawsuit.

"The wall honors her legacy as a proud advocate and judge," said Romero, whose family home provided the brick wall that served as a canvas. "It served as a tribute to a woman whose unassuming nature otherwise belies her incredible life story."

On her 90th birthday, Munoz was surprised with an early unveiling of her digital portrait by local artist Alicia Rojas.

"Being the first is not as important as not being the last," Munoz said that day. "The legal profession, particularly the bench, still has a long way to go to reflect our community. Perhaps then, the contributions of our immigrant families will truly be valued."

Munoz was never married and had no children. She is survived by four sisters as well as 25 nephews and nieces.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Fresno City Council President Nelson Esparza faced a setback Thursday in his fight to dismiss criminal charges against him, including one felony charge for attempted extortion.

Another judge presided over Esparzas arraignment hearing on Thursday because Fresno Superior Court Judge Jon Kapetan was absent. Esparzas attorney, Mark Coleman, entered a not-guilty plea on his clients behalf.

Esparza hoped Kapetan would hear a motion to dismiss the case on Thursday. Instead, Judge Alvin Harrell presided over the arraignment and agreed to set a pre-preliminary hearing for Nov. 2. A preliminary hearing, where the judge reviews evidence to determine whether the case should go to trial, was scheduled for Nov. 10.

Obviously, were disappointed that were experiencing this two-week delay here, Esparza told reporters outside the courthouse Thursday. I was really looking forward to bringing this to a resolution today. But, you know, well be back here in two weeks, and I will look forward to bringing it to a speedy resolution.

The courtroom was packed with Esparzas supporters, including his partner, mother, current and former staffers, and Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Tyler Maxwell.

Coleman said he and other attorneys on Esparzas case were surprised by Kapetans absence on Thursday. He said he and Esparza hope the motion to dismiss the case will be heard before the preliminary hearing.

Before Esparzas initial appearance in court last month, his attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing the conversation the case is based on was confidential and attorney-client privileged.

The Fresno County District Attorneys Office filed the charges against Esparza in July. The complaint alleges Esparza threatened the employment of former Fresno City Attorney Doug Sloan, who later left his post for a similar job in Santa Monica.

Esparzas colleague, Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, first made the allegation publicly in May. Esparza sued Bredefeld for defamation but later dropped the case.

According to an affidavit filed earlier this summer, Sloan told investigators Esparza threatened to fire him if he did work for councilmembers outside the council majority. The conversation between Sloan and Esparza occurred in late April, one day after a closed session meeting in which Sloans job performance was reviewed.

Councilmembers Esparza, Miguel Arias, Tyler Maxwell, and Esmeralda Soria, all Democrats, often form the majority vote on action items and are broadly considered the council majority. Councilmember Garry Bredefeld is the lone Republican on the council, and Councilmembers Luis Chavez and Mike Karbassi, also Democrats, sometimes cast the swing votes.
Made.com ended a month-long sale process, which it hoped could inject the funds needed to stay afloat. Photo: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Shares in struggling furniture retailer Made.com (MADE.L) crashed on Thursday after it abandoned hopes of finding a buyer a day after suspending sales to new customers.

Bosses said they have realised there is "no reasonable prospect" that an acceptable rescue offer will be tabled as it teeters on the brink of collapse.

The group ended a month-long sale process, which it hoped could inject the funds needed to stay afloat.

Read more: FTSE 100: Lloyds profits slump as it braces for loan losses

"Having considered the nature of ongoing discussions with interested parties as part of the companys strategic review process, the board has concluded that there is no reasonable prospect that an offer for the company will be forthcoming and has accordingly decided to terminate the formal sales process," Made.com said.

Made.com halted new orders for customers, roughly a year after shares were listed. Company shares extended their decline on Thursday, down as much as 17% in mid-morning trade in London.

It comes as the business said last week that it has received "a number of non-binding indicative proposals" from potential buyers.

But by Tuesday it was forced to tell shareholders that the sale talks failed to bring an acceptable bid to fruition. Shares fell 93% after the announcement.

While shares rebounded 20% on Thursday morning, they were still down around 90% compared with last Friday, a swift reversal for a company which first sold shares a year ago as sales were boosted by pandemic lockdown buying.

Read more: Christmas: Two-thirds of shoppers cutting back on spending

The collapse comes as customers have reined in spending in recent months as the cost of living rises.

The furniture seller said it will need to secure 70m ($81m) in funding to last through the next 18 months, adding that it might have to cut staff numbers.

"The board of Made will continue to look to preserve value for its creditors and shareholders as part of the ongoing strategic review and a further update will be made as and when appropriate," the retailer said.

Watch: What are SPACs?
Finn Russell has been dropped by Scotland for the upcoming autumn internationals (Getty Images)

Gareth Thomas maintains maverick Finn Russell simply isnt worth the risk.

The fly-halfs controversial omission continues to dominate the build-up to Scotlands four-match Autumn international campaign, starting against Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday.

And Wales legend Thomas, no shrinking violet himself on or off the field, believes boss Gregor Townsend was right to freeze the 30-year-old out of his squad.

Hes probably Scotlands greatest-ever individual player, said Thomas. But no individual is bigger than the team.

If an individual doesnt contribute to the team, that could end up being your downfall. When you have a great player like Finn, a maverick, theres also the prospect of an individual failure.

When he tries things that come off, everybody cheers it. But when they dont come off, whos cleaning up after him all the time?

Thomas captained Wales to a Six Nations grand slam in 2005 and managed to get the best out of Gavin Henson, one of the modern games truly mercurial talents.

He said: I played with brilliant individual players and wed try to instil the team ethic into them. If they dont get it, theres no place for them.

Id rather be a part of a squad that were all average but playing to the same plan and playing for each other, rather than brilliant individuals who had no care for other people.

You have to respect Gregors decision not to take the risk.

Thomas also leapt to the defence of Russells replacements, with Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings and Ross Thompson well capable of taking the ten jersey for Townsend this autumn.

Blair Kinghorn could start at fly-half for Scotland and Thomas insists he isnt a rubbish player (Getty Images)

We need to realise these arent rubbish players, he said. Theyre not bad, theyre not being picked just because he didnt want to take the risk of Finn.

They have different attributes, different leadership qualities that he sees as more relevant to where Scotland are as a team now.

Having not made Townsends squad, Russell subsequently shone in the club colours of Racing 92 as they beat Montpellier, a statement performance that saw him named in the Top 14 Team of the Week.

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In the aftermath, Russell expressed the view that international omission could help him in the long run, a reaction that Thomas was buoyed by.

He said: The sign of any good player is longevity in their career. No player goes through a long career without being dropped, having injuries or setbacks and having to adapt.

Its a sign of maturity from Finn, its a sign of how much he wants to get back in. Hes not rebelling against it, hes not saying hes better than it or Scotland arent good enough for him.

It shows where hes at. Hes not sulking and he wants to come back as a better individual and a better team player.

Russell impressed for club side Racing 92 in the immediate aftermath of his Scotland omission (AFP via Getty Images)

Thomas was in Glasgow this week as the face of the Tackle HIV awareness campaign, aiming to tackle stigma and misunderstanding of HIV.

The visit was part of the campaigns national Myth Bus Tour, that saw the vehicle parked outside the SEC, hosting a leading international congress on HIV.

Thomas said: We need to go to uncomfortable places and have uncomfortable conversations.

Science means that HIV is no longer a death sentence but the language that people use and the public education isnt there yet, thats what we need to change.

Tackle HIV, a campaign led by Gareth Thomas in partnership with ViiV Healthcare and the Terrence Higgins Trust, aims to tackle the stigma and misunderstanding around HIV. Visit www.tacklehiv.org and follow @tacklehiv
The Department of Justice issued new rules barring the agency from using subpoenas, search warrants and certain court orders to seize information or records from journalists as it probes leaks of government information, a major policy shift promised last year by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Garland first put in place temporary policies in July 2021 amid reports the DOJ, under then-Attorney General William Barr, had secretly sought email records of reporters from several news outlets that reported critically on the Trump administration. Targets included journalists at CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times, and the revelations prompted fury from advocates for the free press.

The formal adoption of the new regulations represents a major policy shift for the Justice Department and will limit the agencys ability to pursue investigations into leaks from within the government.

These regulations recognize the crucial role that a free and independent press plays in our democracy, Garland said in a statement Wednesday. Because freedom of the press requires that members of the news media have the freedom to investigate and report the news, the new regulations are intended to provide enhanced protection to members of the news media from certain law enforcement tools and actions that might unreasonably impair newsgathering.

Attorney General Garland Announces Revised Justice Department News Media Policyhttps://t.co/6SHav36D7H  Justice Department (@TheJusticeDept) October 26, 2022

President Joe Biden also vowed that he would not allow the seizure of reporters records to continue, calling the practice simply wrong.

The change was hailed by free press advocates.

This is a watershed moment, Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said in a statement. The new policy marks a historic shift in protecting the rights of news organizations reporting on stories of critical public importance.

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NEW: Today, @TheJusticeDept announced historic changes to its news media guidelines prohibiting subpoenas and other types of legal process against the press in all but narrow circumstances.



Full statement from Executive Director Bruce D. Brown: https://t.co/jeTysic5aWpic.twitter.com/cXIrGOPPLX  Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (@rcfp) October 26, 2022

There are some carve-outs to the new policies. The DOJ would still be able to seize the records of reporters suspected of committing crimes, or in other highly specific circumstances.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
WASHINGTON  A Georgia prosecutor on Thursday urged the Supreme Court not to block a requirement that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., testify in an investigation into whether former President Donald Trump and his allies tried to interfere in the 2020 election.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said in court papers that Graham had failed to persuasively argue that limited questioning by a grand jury would violate the Constitution's speech or debate clause, which protects lawmakers from investigations over comments they make as part of their official duties.

Last week, the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Grahams attempt to avoid answering questions about phone calls he made to Georgia election officials after the 2020 election. Graham has said he made the calls as part of his duties leading up to Congress vote to certify the election results; as a result, he argues in an emergency application filed at the Supreme Court last week, a subpoena from a Fulton County special grand jury infringed upon the speech or debate clause.

"Should the senator's application be granted, the grand jury's work will be delayed indefinitely, ensuring that information that could either clear the innocent of suspicion or increase scrutiny on the guilty will continue to lie beyond the grand jury's grasp," Willis wrote.

She noted that under the lower court ruling, Graham would be immune from questioning about legislative activities and future disputes could be adjudicated by the lower court.

On Monday, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency applications that arise from Georgia, temporarily blocked the grand jury subpoena from being enforced while the court determines its next steps.

The appeals court ruled that Graham's interpretation of the speech or debate clause was too broad and that he should answer some key questions from the grand jury, including whether he consulted with Trumps campaign before he made the calls.

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Willis is investigating a pair of post-election phone calls Graham made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff. Raffensperger, a Republican, has said Graham pressed him about his power to reject certain absentee ballots, which he took as a suggestion to toss out legally cast votes. Graham has denied that was his intention, saying he was trying to understand the state's process for verifying ballot signatures.

The grand jury subpoena said Graham also made reference to allegations of widespread voter fraud" that was "consistent with public statements made by known affiliates of the Trump campaign.

Texas, joined by nine other conservative-leaning states, has filed a brief backing Graham.

As an influential member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham helped ensure that Trump was able to make three appointments to the Supreme Court. His legal team is led by Don McGahn, who was Trumps White House counsel.

Grahams lawyers argue that the court needs to step in or else Grahams constitutional immunities will be lost, and his statutorily guaranteed appeal mooted, the moment the local Georgia prosecutor questions him.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
There have been two recent letters to Castanet from people who are obviously very scared of getting COVID and want to exhort us all to get booster shots.

I am not an anti-vaxxer. I believe that anyone who wants to get vaccinated should absolutely be free to do so. What I am against is the (what I consider to be) coercion and bullying that went into promoting the first round of the vaccine.

A true vaccine would actually give you immunity against infection, which is not what happens with the MRNA vaccines.

Even the greatest proponents of the vaccine have dialled back their claims, to the point where they now say it will reduce the severity of any infection. Fair enough, if you feel that this is right for you then do it, but let's not start any panicked talk about mandating injections for adults who are free to make up their own minds.

Those who are uncertain about getting jabbed might want to consider the following facts:

A director of Pfizer admitted to the European Parliament, after questioning from a Dutch MEP, that Pfizer never tested the vaccine for transmissibility prior to the rollout. The reason given was that it had no time to test for it. In other words, it had no idea whether a vaccinated person could transmit the virus or not.

Despite that (B.C.s) Provincial Health Authority told everybody that being vaccinated would prevent transmission.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Center for Disease Control, tweeted Sept. 22 "Laboratory data suggest these updated vaccines provide increased protection against currently circulating variants. If you received your last COVID-19 vaccine (more than two months) ago, I encourage you to join me and get your updated vaccine now.

Recently she announced she had COVID and was isolating at home.

Pfizer is now looking to increase the price of its vaccine shot from US$30 to between US$110-130, a fourfold increase. What it will charge in Canada I have yet to find out, but if it is in the region of CAD150, then we have to ask whether this is good use of our tax dollars.

Given that Pfizer has already earned around US$36 billion from their vaccine, and its use is promoted to us at every turn, you wonder whether their motives are purely to keep milking the cash cow.

I have already had COVID. It was unpleasant, but not unbearable. If I get it again I will do the same thing I did last timestay at home, avoid contact with family and friends, and pop Tylenol regularly.

I would do the same if I had flu or a cold. This seems to me to be a safer strategy than relying on a vaccine but, again, it is all about personal choice.

Peter Emery, Kelowna
Republicans appear undaunted by new abortion allegations against Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, with national GOP headliners continuing to campaign for him and no immediate shift in the polls.

Conservatives in the state say they are more concerned about control of the Senate chamber shifting to Republicans than they are about an individual candidate, and they are willing to look past Walkers personal scandals as a result. Current polling averages show the two candidates in a dead heat.

What I like about Herschel is he stood up there and he said, I want to say first up, I've given my life to Jesus Christ. Some of those things in my past are over, said Mike Abernathy, an Evangelical pastor in Georgia. I believe that and I'll go with that.



The most recent allegations came from an anonymous woman who alleged via Zoom at a press conference that Walker pressured her to have an abortion when they were dating in the early 1990s, drove her to a clinic and paid for the procedure. She was the second ex-girlfriend to tell a similar story of Walker pressing to end a pregnancy and paying for the procedure.

Walker, who as a candidate has said he opposes abortion in all situations including rape and incest, has denied both sets of allegations. Walker called the story a lie in a Fox News interview and then got straight back to the campaign trail flanked by Republicans, whove flown to Georgia to help Walker in the final weeks before Election Day.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) campaigned with Walker on his statewide bus tour stop in Cumming, Ga. on Wednesday and the pair also did a joint appearance on Fox News Hannity show, where Walker again denied the allegations.

If youre a conservative, they dont give a damn about the truth. Theyre trying to destroy his life 13 days before the election, Graham said.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was set to join Walkers bus tour at stops in Monroe and Dublin, Ga., on Thursday.



Earlier in the summer, Walker was confronted with accusations that he had been an absentee father to three other children he had out of wedlock, after reporting from the Daily Beast. The following weekend, he was embraced by Faith & Freedom leader Ralph Reed.

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On Oct. 4, The Daily Beast reported that a different ex-girlfriend of Walker was also encouraged to get an abortion that Walker then paid for. Walker also called that story a lie.

Christian Walker, Walkers son and a conservative social media influencer, piled on, calling his father a liar. In multiple tweets and video posts, Christian Walker accused his father of not living up to the moral, Christian, upright man that he portrays himself to be on the campaign trail.

Afterwards, Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) flew into Georgia to campaign with Walker.

Public polling in the race has shown little change from the Walker scandals. Warnock started the summer up as much as 10 points over Walker, but the two are now tied.

On Thursday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee released its own internal polling for the race that they said shows Walker ahead by 7 points. It was difficult to gauge the validity of the poll because the committee did not release the full data set.
Jeff Swensen/Getty

In Dinesh DSouzas unhinged, widely maligned, and discredited pseudo-documentary 2,000 Mules, he accuses a number of American voters of acting as mulestrafficking fake ballots in order to tip the result of the 2020 presidential election.

These so-called couriers were featured prominently in the film, which used surveillance footage of them placing the ballots into drop-boxes, and supposedly catching them in their villainy. As DSouzas ominous voiceover in the movie proclaimed: What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes.

The only problem, of course, is that it was all false, according to one of the voters spotlighted as an alleged mule. Mark Andrews filed suit against DSouza on Wednesday, insisting DSouza and his collaborators falsely accused him of ballot fraud by combining junk pseudoscience and excerpted surveillance video of innocent voters in the May 2022 documentary.

2,000 Mules showed Andrews, with his face blurred, depositing five ballots into a Georgia drop-box in 2020, according to his federal complaint. In fact, the video of Mr. Andrews shows him legally dropping off ballots for himself and his family, a voting method expressly authorized by Georgia law, it states.

A state probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found that Andrews had committed no wrongdoing, and dismissed a complaint filed against him as a result of the documentary in May.

At all times, Defendants knew that their portrayals of Mr. Andrews were lies, as was the entire narrative of 2,000 Mules, the lawsuit explains. But they have continued to peddle these lies in order to enrich themselves. As of the filing of this lawsuit, Defendants social media accounts and website still promote the film using Mr. Andrews as an example of a criminal mule.

Later in the 123-page complaint, it explains: Defendants promoted the film and their mules narrative on television, radio, online, and via other mediaincluding in front of millions of Fox News viewersand repeatedly showed images of Mr. Andrews as an exemplar mule.

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Names as co-defendants in the suit are DSouzas partners, Gregg Phillips and Catherine Engelbrecht of True the Vote, a controversial, conservative vote-monitoring organization. In September, the group was sued by Konnech, an election logistics software company, accusing Phillips and Engelbrecht of stealing data and conducting a xenophobic smear campaign against its chief executive.

The organization is confident that the claims regarding True the Vote in this litigation will be found to be without merit, a True the Vote spokesperson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Andrews suit is seeking an undefined amount of money, claiming defamation, intimidation, and invasion of privacy. As a Black man who grew up in the American South before passage of the Voting Rights Act, Mr. Andrews deeply cherishes the right to vote, has always been proud to cast his ballot, and has worked tirelessly to instill these same values in his family, it claims.

Now, because of Defendants conspiracy to defame and intimidate Mr. Andrews, he will never again be able to vote without looking over his shoulder.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Georgie Henley opens up about flesh-eating bacterial infection that left her arm scarred (Getty Images)

Georgie Henley opened up about her battle with a rare and punishing bacterial infection that nearly resulted in her arm being amputated.

Henley, 27, who played Lucy in The Chronicles of Narnia films, spoke candidly about her health diagnosis on her Instagram on Tuesday where she shared a professional headshot in which the scars on her arm could be seen.

In the post, Henley revealed that she contracted necrotising fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria, nearly a decade ago when she was 18. When I was 18 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, she wrote.

Henley then recalled having to undergo a gruelling invasive surgery in order to prevent amputation of her left arm and hand. In addition to the surgery to save her arm, the former child star also underwent extensive reconstructive surgery.

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, she wrote.

In the emotional post, the actor said its been a long journey to healing both mentally and physically, and that she has hidden her scars entirely in any professional context for the last nine years.

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, she wrote.

Henley, who said that she has been open about her scars in her personal life, shared that her dedication to hiding her scars professionally has meant covering them in makeup or bandages, or wearing long sleeves whenever [she] might be photographed.

She also divulged that because of Hollwoods focus on looks, she was worried her scars would prevent her from getting work.

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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, she wrote. 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.

Henley continued on to share that she has since realised that her scars are not something to be ashamed of.

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, she continued. They do not affect my capacity as an actor, and Im proud to be a person who has visible scars in this industry.

She expressed her gratitude to the hospital that treated her for its exceptional care, and for her friends and family, who have provided her with enduring love and support throughout the hardest of times.

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 wrote.

Henley concluded the candid post by saying she plans to talk more about her experience in the future, but for now she is simply happy to feel, for the first time in a very long time, finally free.

Necrotising fasciitis is a rare bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body and can cause death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bacteria that causes the flesh-eating disease often enters the body through a break in the skin, with the CDC noting that the infection then kills the bodys soft tissue found around muscles, nerves, fat, and blood vessels.

Treatment for the infection requires hospitalisation, with the CDC stating that antibiotics and surgery are typically the first lines of defence. However, the agency states that, even with surgery, up to one in five people died from the infection in the most recent five years. Approximately 700 to 1,150 cases have occurred each year in the United States since 2010, though the organization also states that this is likely an underestimate.

While the disease can be deadly, the CDC says contracting necrotising fasciitis is rare. Most people who get the illness have other health problems that may lower the bodys ability to fight infection.

On Instagram, Henleys post has been met with an outpouring of support from fans, followers and industry peers, with many applauding her for her bravery.

Love you Geo, Emma Corrin wrote, while Pearl Mackie commented: Love you Georgie!

Keep being your incredible self and thank you for sharing your experience. You are truly amazing and thank you for being such a positive role model for me, someone else wrote.

The post also prompted praise from individuals who have their own scars, with another person thanking Henley for the representation.

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for this - as someone with surgery scars of my own, this means the absolute world to me. Youre so incredibly strong and we all love you so much, they wrote.
By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc on Thursday posted a higher-than-expected third-quarter profit on the back of strong demand for its HIV and cancer drugs, which helped offset lower sales of its COVID-19 antiviral drug and acquisition expenses.

The U.S. biotech company also increased its forecast for full-year revenue and earnings, sending its shares up 4% to $73 in after-hours trade.

Quarterly revenue fell 5% to $7 billion, but was still ahead of the average Wall Street estimate of $6.12 billion, according to Refinitiv data.

Sales of COVID treatment remdesivir, sold under the brand name Veklury, fell 52% from a year earlier to $925 million. But that was still well ahead of analysts' estimates of $328 million.

"What you've seen is an over performance ... both on Veklury, but also, I think, very importantly on our base business," Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day told Reuters.

The company said adjusted quarterly profit fell 28% to $1.90 per share, which also beat Wall Street expectations of $1.43 per share. Net income fell to $1.42 per share from $2.05 per share.

The CEO said Gilead expects demand for Veklury, an intravenous drug given to hospitalized patients, to continue to slow, but "like the rest of the world, we've had to struggle to look into the crystal ball and know exactly where the pandemic can go."

Gilead is also developing an oral COVID antiviral and expects to launch a Phase 3 trial of that drug within the next several months.

Gilead's HIV product sales increased 7% to $4.5 billion in the quarter, driven by higher prices and demand.

Sales of cancer drug Trodelvy rose 78% to $180 million, while sales of Gilead's cancer cell therapies jumped 79% to $398 million.

HIV and oncology sales were ahead of expectations, which "is notable across the portfolio and important as they go forward as a key area of growth," Jefferies analyst Michael Yee said in an email.

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Gilead expects to hear from the Food and Drug Administration in December on its application for long-acting HIV treatment lenacapavir and in February on a filing to expand use of Trodelvy for breast cancer patients.

The FDA declined to approve Gileads application for Hepcludex, a hepatitis D treatment, due to concerns about manufacturing and administration, the company said.

For the full year, Gilead said it now expects product sales of $25.9 billion to $26.2 billion, up from a previous forecast of $24.5 billion to $25 billion.

The company also raised its outlook for 2022 adjusted earnings to between $3.35 and $3.55 per share from a previous range of $2.90 to $3.30.

"The increased guidance is also strong in this environment of heightened uncertainty across the global macro and points to the defensive nature and attractive business at names like Gilead in biotech," Yee said.

(Reporting by Deena Beasley; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Deepa Babington)
The oil market is undergoing restructuring

While Moscow is redirecting crude flows to Asia from Europe, other producers are making the opposite switch, Amin Nasser, chief executive officer of the worlds biggest oil company, said at the Future Investment Initiative event in Riyadh.

Read also: EU seeks deal to cap Russian oil prices after Putins threats, reports Bloomberg

A realignment is happening. Russians, with the right discount, are able to place their crude in different markets.

Those discounts are helping Russia overcome the difficulties it has securing insurance and shipping for its oil, Nasser said, as the United States and Europe tighten sanctions following Russian dictator Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine.

There are logistical issues, insurance issues, Nasser said.

Read also: Russia and Saudi Arabia agree to significantly cut oil production

But thats being handled with the right discounts. The flow is going to Asia  though, it takes longer. And crude that used to go to Asia is now being directed to Europe and other parts of the world.

In September, Russias oil export revenues fell to $15.3 billion, which is the lowest figure this year, against the background of a drop in oil exports and oil prices.

Read also: Big Four oil firm Halliburton leaves Russian market

The United States offers to limit the price of Russian oil to $60 per barrel. This is probably enough to reduce Moscows energy revenues while still ensuring it is profitable to extract.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Seventeen-year-old Matthew Francis Hill had a blank stare and was not speaking during an attack Tuesday on his family that killed his grandmother and seriously injured his mother and a sister, according to a charges filed Thursday.

The Ramsey County attorneys office charged Hill by juvenile petition with second-degree murder and first-degree assault resulting in great bodily harm in connection with the brutal attack at the familys home in the 1000 block of Ryan Avenue in Roseville.

Less than an hour later, Hill was arrested by St. Paul police officers after someone reported seeing a juvenile male running without shoes near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, which is about two and a half miles from the home. The caller had been alerted through an emergency alert sent out by Ramsey Countys 911 and dispatch center.

Later, in an interview with police, Hill did not speak or move much and stared off in the distance, which a detective described as a thousand-yard stare, according to the charges. Hill said he felt like he was going crazy, which he described as being someone else.

Hill attacked his grandmother, Patricia Frances Maslow, 88, while she was lying in bed, charges allege. A multi-tool with the knife blade open was found lying on her chest, and the Ramsey County Medical Examiner later determined Maslows cause of death as homicide caused by blunt- and sharp-force trauma.

When Hills mother went into Maslows room, the teen attacked the 55-year-old with a baseball bat, then hit his 23-year-old sister with it several times. Both women sustained head and facial injuries that likely will result in permanent disfigurement, charges say.

The county attorneys office has filed a request to have Hill certified to stand trial as an adult. He made an initial appearance in juvenile court Thursday.

This is a heartbreaking case, Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said in a statement. We will do everything in our power to support this familys healing as it proceeds through our justice system. A very special thank you to the first responders in the Roseville law enforcement community for their work these past few days.

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ASSAULT DETAILED

According to the criminal complaint:

Hills 20-year-old sister called 911 at 10:23 a.m. and said he went crazy and attacked family members with a baseball bat and fled the home.

When officers arrived at the home, off Lexington Avenue and near County Road B, they saw blood on the outside of the front door. Once inside, they saw Hills 23-year-old sister with head wounds and his mother with significant injuries to her face and head. Both were bleeding profusely.

Maslow was unresponsive and covered in blood in a hospital bed in a rear bedroom on the homes first floor.

Fire department medics responded and detected a faint pulse. Once Allina medics arrived on scene, her pulse was lost and she was pronounced dead.

Detectives responded to the home and saw a bloody, black aluminum baseball bat inside the front door. A significant amount of blood was in the stairwell and hallways.

Police issued an emergency area alert with a description of Hill.

Hills 20-year-old sister told police she lives at the home with her father, mother, two sisters, two brothers and grandmother. She said she awoke to screaming coming from downstairs, went there and saw her 23-year-old sister with a bloodied face struggling with Hill over a baseball bat.

She said her sister was screaming that Hill had gone crazy and to call 911. While on the phone with the 911 operator, she saw Hill drop the bat and run from the house. She described Hill as having a blank stare and not speaking to her or anyone else during the assault.

A 29-year-old sister said her father and older brother were at work at the time of the attack. She said she came upon Hill and her 23-year-old sister wrestling to get control of the bat. He then fled.

MOTHER ATTACKED, SISTER FOUGHT

Hills mother and 23-year-old sister were transported to Regions Hospital for their injuries.

His mother suffered facial, skull, jaw, arm and hand fractures, and scalp lacerations. She underwent several surgeries and remains hospitalized.

The sister suffered scalp lacerations that required 10 sutures and 7 staples to repair. Shes been released from the hospital, according to police.

Two other sisters were treated for minor injuries that did not require hospitalization.

Officers interviewed the mother and sister at the hospital.

Hills mother told police she was in the upstairs of the home when she heard her mother, Maslow, ring a bell she uses when she needs help from a family member. When she went to her room, Hill suddenly attacked her. She said she couldnt see what Hill was using to hit her, but she could tell he was hitting her with something. She indicated it appeared as though her mother was dead.

The sister said she was sleeping in her room when she awoke to the sound of her mother and brother yelling in her grandmothers living area. She went to see what was going on and saw Hill swinging a metal baseball bat.

She said Hill then attacked her and hit her in the head with the bat multiple times. When she tried to wrestle the bat away from Hill, he dropped it. She grabbed the bat and struck Hill in the head. Hill was able to overpower her and again gain control of the bat. She yelled at Hill to leave, and he eventually fled the house.

She said she felt like Hill was going to kill her and her family.

DID NOT KNOW WHO HE WAS

At approximately 11:09 a.m., St. Paul officers spotted Hill walking on Stella Street toward Como Avenue. He was wearing pajama shorts, a T-shirt and white socks. His hands were red with dried blood, and he had noticeable blood splatter on his face, arms and clothes. He was taken into custody without incident. Officers noted Hills eyes were wide open and glazed over, and he was seemingly unable to verbally communicate.

Hill was transported to the Roseville Police Department for an interview, but he was largely nonverbal and staring off in the distance. Hill stated he did not know who he was and that who he is changes, the complaint states.

When asked if he felt someone else was using his body to commit the murder and assaults, Hill replied, Id like to say that it is not me. Im not very sure who me is.

When asked if he is saying he didnt commit the murder and assaults, Hill replied, No, Im not saying that.

When asked if he felt responsible, Hill replied, I think I have to be.

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By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Alphabet unit Google's Google Play Store is the target of an EU antitrust investigation, the company said in a regulatory filing, a move that could expose the U.S. tech giant to another billion-euro fine.

Over the last decade, Google has incurred 8.25 billion euros ($8.24 billion) in EU antitrust fines following three investigations into its business practices.

"In May 2022, the EC (European Commission) and the CMA (Britain's Competition and Markets Authority) each opened a formal investigation into Google Play's business practices," Google said in a quarterly earnings filing dated Oct. 25.

The European Union antitrust watchdog declined to comment.

EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether Google's threat to remove apps from its Play Store if app developers use other payment options instead of its own billing system has hurt the developers, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters in August.

Fees charged by Google and Apple at their mobile app stores have drawn criticism from developers who say they are excessive.

Separately, Google said on Thursday it will appeal its record 4.1-billion-euro EU antitrust fine at Europe's top court after a lower tribunal threw out its challenge last month.

The Luxembourg-based General Court broadly backed the Commission's 2018 decision but pruned the fine to 4.125 billion euros from 4.34 billion euros.

Judges agreed with the European Union competition watchdog that Google had imposed unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators to consolidate the dominant position of its search engine.

"We are preparing our appeal. The deadline for the court is Dec. 1," a Google spokesperson said.

The company can only appeal on matters of law to the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union.

The bloc is boosting its antitrust power with new landmark tech rules curbing online gatekeepers, companies which control access to their platforms and data there, with which the companies will have to comply in the first quarter of 2024.

($1 = 0.9990 euros)

(Reporting by Foo Yun CheeEditing by Tomasz Janowski, Barbara Lewis and Susan Fenton)
Republican Party chairwoman Ronna McDaniel mocked the speaking abilities of President Joe Biden and Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman of Pennsylvania during an appearance on a radio show on Thursday.

Ms McDaniels disparaging comments came after host Hugh Hewitt brought up that Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to appear with Mr Fetterman in Philadelphia on Friday.

I hope there are cameras and microphones, because you put those three together, and they could say anything, Ronna, Mr Hewitt said.

Maybe they can get a full sentence out, Ms McDaniel replied.

Mr Fettermans speaking ability was in the spotlight earlier this week, when he met his Republican opponent Mehmet Oz for the first and only debate of their closely watched Senate contest in Pennsylvania. Mr Fetterman suffered a stroke in May, and the debate was the first time that many people were watching him speak in its aftermath.

The stroke impacted Mr Fettermans auditory processing ability, though it did not impact him cognitive function. As an accomodation, the debate employed closed captioning so Mr Fetterman could read questions from the moderators and responses from Dr Oz on a screen to be sure that he was not missing anything they were saying.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel mocks President Biden  who has been open about having a stutter  and Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman (D), who is recovering from a stroke:



"Maybe they can get a full sentence out." pic.twitter.com/BoXD4Ynvl9  The Recount (@therecount) October 27, 2022

Much of the media focus in the aftermath debate was on Mr Fettermans speaking ability rather than the substance of the debate with Dr Oz  coverage that many learning difference advocates and supporters of the Democrat called ableist.

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Several other senators have suffered strokes in recent years and recovered while in office. Sen Mark Kirk of Illinois suffered a stroke in office and served out the remainder of his term before losing re-election to Sen Tammy Duckworth in 2016, while Sen Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico suffered a stroke earlier this year and has continued to serve.

But the media spotlight on Mr Fetterman, running in a race that could determine control of the Senate, has been more intense than the focus on those other senators. Mr Fetterman largely stayed off the campaign trail while recovering over the summer, but has returned to events in recent weeks to varied reviews.

Dr Ozs debate performance also got mixed reviews. His comment that local political leaders should be involved in making decisions about abortion care along with women and their doctors was immediately turned into an advertisement for Mr Fettermans campaign.

Mr Biden, meanwhile, had a speech impediment as a child that he has spoken openly about and worked throughout his life to manage.

Mr Hewitt and Ms McDaniel joked that, because of Mr Biden and Ms Harris unpopularity, Mr Fetterman would not be well served by their presence in the state.

Biden said, Between the two of us, we may be able to finish a full sentence, Ms McDaniel said.

Mr Hewitt suggested that Mr Fettermans campaign is toast, even though he continues to lead Mr Oz in a majority of public polls and is considered a slight favourite to win the race by the elections forecaster FiveThirtyEight.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is expanding his national political tour ahead of the midterm elections  this time to bolster two red-state Republicans facing unexpectedly tough reelection bids.

Youngkin has been called in to campaign for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, both of whom are looking to fend off Democratic challengers in races that were once regarded as shoo-ins for the Republicans.

The Virginia governor is also heading to New York on Oct. 31 to campaign for Rep. Lee Zeldin, a blue-state Republican who is waging a surprisingly strong campaign against the states Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul.

It is part of a broader nationwide blitz that has raised Youngkins profile  and sparked speculation that he is preparing a potential 2024 presidential bid. The governor, who was elected last year and is barred by state law from running for reelection to a second consecutive term, has already campaigned in a dozen states, established a pair of political organizations and held meetings with top Republican donors.



The buzz is likely to increase next month, when Youngkin headlines a dinner at the Las Vegas home of Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson. The event is part of the Republican Jewish Coalitions annual conference, which is expected to draw a range of prospective 2024 candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

(Adelson, one of the Republican Partys most sought-after donors and the widow of the late casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, has said she doesnt intend to back a candidate in the GOPs 2024 presidential nominating contest.)

Youngkin has not waved off speculation that he is considering a bid for the White House. Responding to a question about his interest while campaigning in Arizona last week, the governor said he was flattered by the whole discussion, but that his focus was on delivering for Virginians and on the midterm election.

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Youngkin is set to hold separate rallies on Nov. 2 for Noem and Stitt, both of whom are seeking second terms. Noem is running against Democrat Jamie Smith, the South Dakota state House minority leader. While one survey released by South Dakota State University earlier this month showed Noem only leading Smith by 4 percentage points, Noem enjoyed a much larger lead in a recent survey by The Hill and Emerson College.



Noem appears to be taking the race seriously: She has spent extensively out of her campaign account and has been running TV ads targeting Smith.

In Oklahoma, a pair of recent polls have shown Stitt narrowly trailing Democrat Joy Hofmeister, the state superintendent of education and a former Republican who switched parties. With the governor facing stiff opposition from the states Native American tribes, the Republican Governors Association has launched a last-minute TV advertising campaign bolstering the incumbent.

In New York, meanwhile, several recent surveys have shown Zeldin only trailing Hochul by single digits, despite the states liberal tilt. Zeldin has been attacking the incumbent  who ascended to the office last year after previously serving as lieutenant governor  over crime, running ads saying that violent crime has been getting much worse under Hochul.

Youngkin adviser Kristin Davison said the governors upcoming trips to the three states illustrates his appeal across the ideological spectrum, arguing that he won Virginia last year by hugging everyone and bringing together Republicans, Democrats, and Independents around kitchen table issues  cost of living, education, and crime.



A host of other would-be 2024 candidates are also hitting the trail ahead of the midterm election. Former President Donald Trump, who appears to be edging closer to a comeback bid, is also embarking on an aggressive campaign tour: On Wednesday, he announced that he will hold a rally next week in Iowa  home of the GOPs first-in-the-nation nominating caucuses.
Photo: The Canadian Press Former B.C. attorney general and housing minister David Eby arrives for a news conference in a park in downtown Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. Eby will be sworn in as British Columbia's new premier by Lt. Gov. Janet Austin on Nov. 18, the office of outgoing leader John Horgan has announced. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

David Eby will be sworn in as British Columbia's new premier by Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin on Nov. 18, the office of outgoing leader John Horgan has announced.

The Office of the Premier says in a news release that the ceremony to make Eby B.C.'s 37th premier will take place at Government House, with further details to be provided soon.

Eby became premier-designate last week after being acclaimed as leader of the New Democrats, about four months after Horgan announced his impending retirement for health reasons.

The premier's office says the November break of the fall legislative session will be extended leading up to the swearing-in, and Eby will meet the assembly as premier in the week of Nov. 21.

Eby, a former attorney general and housing minister, has said he wants to sit as premier during the current session to start work as soon as possible on key issues such as housing, health care and public safety.

The 46-year-old premier-in-waiting ended up as the only candidate for the job, after the NDP disqualified challenger Anjali Appadurai.
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On October 24, Hollywood said an emotional goodbye to Leslie Jordan, who died in a car crash at the age of 67. According to reports, the actor may have experienced a medical emergency behind the wheel. While his most recent role was playing head baker Phil on the sitcom Call Me Kat, fans are remembering him for his work on a different show.

More than two decades ago, in February 2001, Leslie made the first of 15 total appearances on the NBC series Will & Grace. He portrayed wealthy New York City socialite Beverley Leslie opposite Megan Mullally's character Karen Walker. Folks may remember him for uttering the now iconic line: "Karen Walker. I thought I smelled gin and regret."

While viewers always wished he would reunite with his Will & Grace castmates, NBC made their dreams come true before his death. In a September 6 video on Instagram, Leslie and Megan reunited to repeat their famous lines all over again. "Still frenemies 20 years later ," the show captioned the clip.

Despite the Instagram Reel being shared on social media a month ago, the snippet started making the rounds on social media again. Many took the opportunity to pay tribute to the actor and his comedic timing.

" love you so much! And I miss you even more," one person wrote. "One of The ULTIMATE in dynamic comedy pairing! ," another follower noted. "I love this so much. Writing, delivery, all of it  Perfect!!!" a different fan added.

Fans weren't the only ones reminiscing about Leslie's work. The cast of Will & Grace paid their own tributes to the late actor, wit Megan being particularly poignant.

"My heart is breaking. I really cant believe it," she wrote on Instagram. "Leslie Jordan was, hands down, one of the greats. People use that expression a lot, and Im not sure its always applicable. There arent that many people who are truly great at anything. but Leslie was flawlessly funny, a virtuoso of comedy. His timing, his delivery, all apparently effortless. You cant get any better than that."

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She continued: "I was just with him last month. The Prestigious National Book Festival was showcasing Leslie and his best-selling book in Washington D.C., and hed asked me to come interview him for his event ... Love you, Leslie. Miss you already. And one thing I know for sure there will never ever be another you."

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If it were just Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushing this idea of vote fraud investigation teams, that would be disturbing enough. (Phelan M. Ebenhack / Associated Press)

Last December, Richard Molina was ousted as mayor of Edinburg, Texas.

Why should you care? Because what happened to Molina in Edinburg could be coming to a town near you. Our cautionary tale begins where many of our recent scary stories begin: the 2016 general election.

As you may recall, President Trump chirped about voter fraud for months after his inauguration because he couldnt handle the fact he had lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton. In an attempt to validate his unsubstantiated claims that millions had voted illegally, in May 2017 Trump established the Advisory Commission on Election Integrity. He asked the Republican-led, 11-member committee to find proof of the widespread corruption that didnt exist.

Of course nothing was found.

But down in Texas, something was started.

Footage from police officers body cameras in Florida has troubled the nation in recent weeks by showing Gov. Ron DeSantis election police harassing people for voting. But it wasnt DeSantis who came up with this latest incarnation of election police, and it didnt start this year.

Back in 2018, the Lone Star State  and its eager-to-please attorney general, Ken Paxton  used Trumps lies about 2016 to justify creating a voter fraud unit. Some saw the move as Paxton positioning himself to replace the embattled Jeff Sessions as Trumps attorney general. Others wondered whether he was seeking a presidential pardon because he had been indicted. Regardless of why Paxton started the fraud unit, its how he has used it thats disturbing.

An ACLU analysis found in 2021 that more than 70% of the voter fraud cases out of Paxtons office had targeted Black and Latino voters. When Paxton heard of Hervis Rogers, a 60-something Black man who stood in line for more than six hours to vote in 2020, the state attorney general had him arrested for voter fraud. The primary was in March, but Rogers parole didnt end until June. He said he didnt know he was violating parole by voting.

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The maximum sentence for that offense is 20 years in Texas. Given Rogers age, that could have meant life in prison.

You want to know what kind of person Paxton is? That tells you everything you need to know.

Rogers arrest looks a lot like whats happening in Florida, where many of the people arrested for fraud had been told by the state that they could vote. Last week a district court judge tossed out the case against Rogers, saying the attorney general had overreached. I hope those Floridians receive similar justice.

I also hope the chilling nature of the video puts an end to this farce.

A year ago Paxton spent $2 million to close just three cases. On Monday, he announced a new 2022 General Election Integrity Team staffed with lawyers and investigators  investing more resources on a problem he knows does not exist.

Kris Kobach, a candidate for attorney general in Kansas, was vice chair of Trumps 2017 voter fraud commission that found nothing  and he still claims theres mass voter fraud. Earlier this year Republicans floated the idea of similar fraud police units in Georgia and Arizona despite the two states having conducted multiple, high-profile recounts that only disprove the case for mass voter fraud.

But much like the wave of conservative bills targeting critical race theory and transgender children, the voter fraud conversation was never based on the facts. Just fear and political calculation.

Which brings us to Edinburg.

Molina was elected mayor of this South Texas town in 2017. He was arrested in 2019, accused of bribery and telling voters they could change their addresses to vote in an upcoming election. He was acquitted this August but by then had already lost credibility and his bid for reelection.

Heres a man who was born in Edinburg, worked as a police officer there and served on the City Council, and now his career has been upended by a voter fraud unit that was born out of lies.

I dont know whether he was a good mayor. I dont know if he would have won reelection had he and his wife, who is still awaiting trial, not been ensnared in Paxtons pet project. What I do know is that the night of the Edinburg election last year, the incoming mayor, Ramiro Garza Jr., told a reporter he wanted to build back trust in our city government.

Its impossible to extrapolate how much of a role Molinas arrest played in the outcome, but judging from Gazas comments, voters in the community viewed it as one. And that is the hidden danger lurking in the shadows. Unscrupulous fraud arrests could interrupt registration drives and campaign meetings, damage reputations, derail fundraisers or impact election outcomes all under the guise of law and order.

No wonder 2020 election deniers are calling for more.

@LZGranderson

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Brittney Griner will enter a system of isolation, grueling labor and psychological torment when she is transferred to a penal colony, the successor to the infamous Russian gulag, to fulfill a nine-year sentence handed down Tuesday in Moscow, former prisoners and advocates said.

Human rights violations are a regular feature of many of the camps, according to the U.S. State Department, human rights groups and others who have maintained regular contact with prisoners in Russia. That the WNBA star, who lost her appeal Tuesday, is a gay Black woman could add unknown variables to a penal system that is known to be remote and harrowing.

Conditions in prisons and detention centers varied but were often harsh and life threatening, a 2021 State Department report on Russian human rights abuses said. Overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to health care, food shortages, and inadequate sanitation were common in prisons, penal colonies, and other detention facilities.

Image: Brittney Griner (Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP - Getty Images)

The report notes that physical and sexual abuse by prison guards was systemic, that torture of prisoners was pervasive  at times resulting in death or suicide  and that discriminatory protections against women and people of color were not often enforced. The law also does not prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Russian prisons are grim, even relative to prisons in other countries. And the Putin regime has ramped up hostility towards gays and lesbians as part of its broader policy of hard-line nationalism, said Muriel Atkin, a Russian history professor at George Washington University.

That adds further concerns to a fraught situation. While tensions between the White House and the Kremlin continue to boil over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Griners agent, Lindsay Colas, emphasized Tuesday that she believes Moscow is using Griners imprisonment as leverage against the U.S.

Brittney Griners nine-plus year sentence is regarded as harsh and extreme by Russian legal standards, Colas said in a statement Tuesday on Twitter. Todays disappointing, yet unsurprising, appeal outcome further validates the fact that she is being held hostage and is being used as a political pawn. Brittney Griner is being held by Russia simply because she is an American.

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The type of penal colony Griner  who was arrested for carrying two cartridges of cannabis oil  will be sent to is most likely a repurposed Soviet gulag, a brutal system of labor camps and prisons that incarcerated millions of people from the 1920s to the 1950s. Prisoners were used for farming, mining or logging in sparsely populated areas of the country or worked in sweatshop conditions.

Typically such compounds are found in the far northern and eastern reaches of Russia as part of a unique system that aims to both imprison and exile convicts, according to an Amnesty International report published last year. It can often take weeks for prisoners to arrive at the prisons on prison trucks and specially designed train carriages called Stolypins.

Imprisoned women stand during a morning inspection at a women's prison in Sarapul, central Russia, in 2021. (Yuri Tutov / AP)

Prisoners are extremely vulnerable and can be difficult to locate during the arduous journeys, Amnesty International noted. That has gained notice with the imprisonment of high-profile figures, such as oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Pussy Riot band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, among others.

Treating incarcerated women like cattle

Tolokonnikova provided some insight into a Russian prison camp in a letter to a Russian media outlet in 2013, a year into her sentence, in which she declared a hunger strike for the conditions she and others were forced to live in.

For those imprisoned alongside her in Penal Colony No. 14 in the Republic of Mordovia, she described working up to 17-hour days in a sewing shop, sleep deprivation, freezing conditions, a lack of basic hygiene, dangerous and humiliating working conditions, and regular assaults on other prisoners.

Tolokonnikova said that she was spared some of the abuse because of her celebrity but that she would continue her hunger strike until the administration starts obeying the law and stops treating incarcerated women like cattle ejected from the realm of justice for the purpose of stoking the production of the sewing industry; until they start treating us like humans.

The conditions do not seem to have changed since then.

Trevor Reed, a U.S. citizen and former Marine, spent nearly two years in a Russian penal colony also in Mordovia, about eight hours east of Moscow, until the Biden administration was able to negotiate his release.

Reed refused to work in the camps and was put in solitary confinement for months as a result, said Jonathan Franks, who consulted on the negotiations on behalf of the family. Reed lost over 40 pounds and became extremely sick, as he was not given adequate clothes to deal with the cold Russian winter and was fed substandard food like spoiled meat that the prison cats wouldnt even eat, Franks said.

The Russian hinterlands are pretty bleak, he said. The prisons barely feed the prisoners, so its often on the families to deliver most of the nutrition, and that has become increasingly difficult when it became impossible to engage in financial transactions in Russia.

Russia Siberia Penal Colony (Ilya Naymushin / Sputnik via AP)

Anna Berbeneva fled Russia with her husband after he was arrested for protesting Russias first invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Now a member of the Voices of Russian Opposition in Sacramento in California, she corresponded with Russian prisoners for many years to give their cases greater attention.

She said the inmates would tell in their letters how administrators of the jails would use and abuse them.

They can torture them, they can threaten them, they can blackmail them or do whatever they want. Theyre like a toy to the jail administration, Berbeneva said. Nobody can protect them.

Franks said he believed that, like Tolokonnikova, Griner could get greater protections than other prisoners because the Russians view her as valuable, although he added that you can be psychologically traumatized and physically safe at the same time.

Black, gay and female in a Russian penal colony

Rudra Sil, a Russian historian and political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said he is not exactly sure what life will be like for Griner if she is moved to a penal colony. But if form and history hold true, he said, it will undoubtedly be brutal for her as a high-profile gay Black woman.

Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon, a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania who focuses on the Black experience in Russia, agreed. She noted that Russia can use much about Griner to make outlandish requests as the Kremlin preys upon Americas racial tensions and culture war issues.

Shes Black. Shes gay. And this is a marijuana case, Julian-Varnon told NPR. What are the three biggest issues in the United States in terms of domestic politics? Marijuana convictions, LGBTQ issues, anti-Black racism  and the carceral system.

Imprisoned women wait to be escorted for work at a women's prison outside the city of Orel, central Russia, in 2011. (Yuri Tutov / AP file)

Julian-Varnon said racism against Black people in Russia has heightened in recent years under Vladimir Putin, which does not bode well for Griner.

The image of suffering, particularly African American suffering, became the controlling image of Blackness in Russia. ... In many ways, Russia has always used anti-Black racism and Black suffering for its own gain, she said.

That image, Julian-Varnon said, may have played a part in the denial of Griners appeal and the possibility of nine years in prison. What Brittney represents is new in terms of treatment of African Americans in Russia, because she no longer has the privilege that many African Americans had. African Americans were treated better than Africans in the Soviet Union. The Africans were seen as the little brothers who needed socialist education and needed the leadership of the Soviet Union to obtain modernity.

But that has changed, Atkin said, along with some major gender issues. According to a report by Penal Reform International, an organization that supports criminal justice reform around the world, there are about 69,000 women in Russian prisons, and the conditions are hostile. Russia has been undergoing a process of reform of the criminal justice system over the last 20 years, but there is still far too little consideration given to the promotion of gender equality and protection of the rights of women and girls in conflict with the law, the report said.

Sil said Griners being a Black gay woman will make it even harder to reach a diplomatic agreement or secure her release.

Even in the best of times, it is not easy to simply get someone released in a foreign country, especially if there is a legal process getting underway, he said. Still, sometimes deals are cut and exchanges do take place.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
HONOLULU (AP)  Hawaii officials are warning residents of the Big Island that the worlds largest active volcano, Mauna Loa, is sending signals that it may erupt.

Scientists say an eruption isnt imminent, but they are on alert because of a recent spike in earthquakes at the volcanos summit. Experts say it would take just a few hours for lava to reach homes closest to vents on the volcano, which last erupted in 1984.

Hawaiis civil defense agency is holding meetings across the island to educate residents about how to prepare for a possible emergency. They recommend having a go bag with food, identifying a place to stay once they leave home and making a plan for reuniting with family members.

Not to panic everybody, but they have to be aware of that you live on the slopes of Mauna Loa. Theres a potential for some kind of lava disaster, said Talmadge Magno, the administrator for Hawaii County Civil Defense.

The volcano makes up 51% of the Hawaii Island landmass, so a large portion of the island has the potential to be affected by an eruption, Magno said.

Theres been a surge of development on the Big Island in recent decades  its population has more than doubled to 200,000 today from 92,000 in 1980  and many newer residents werent around when Mauna Loa last erupted 38 years ago. All the more reason why Magno said officials are spreading the word about the science of the volcano and urging people to be prepared.

Mauna Loa, rising 13,679 feet (4,169 meters) above sea level, is the much larger neighbor to Kilauea volcano, which erupted in a residential neighborhood and destroyed 700 homes in 2018. Some of its slopes are much steeper than Kilaueas so when it erupts, its lava can flow much faster.

During a 1950 eruption, the mountains lava traveled 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the ocean in less than three hours.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, said Mauna Loa has been in a state of heightened unrest since the middle of last month when the number of summit earthquakes jumped from 10 to 20 per day to 40 to 50 per day.

Story continues

Scientists believe more earthquakes are occurring because more magma is flowing into Mauna Loa's summit reservoir system from the hot spot under the earth's surface that feeds molten rock to Hawaii's volcanoes.

The temblors have declined in frequency in recent days but could rise again.

More than 220 people attended a community meeting last weekend that county civil defense officials held in Ocean View, a neighborhood that lava could reach in hours if molten rock erupts through vents on Mauna Loas southwest flank.

Bob Werner, an Ocean View resident who didnt attend the meeting, said its wise to be aware of a possible eruption but not to fear it. Hes not concerned that the neighborhood would be completely cut off, if lava flows across the only road connecting it to the bigger towns of Kailua-Kona and Hilo, where many people do their shopping.

The greater concern is it will be extremely annoying to drive an extra hour or two hours to get the same stuff, he said.

Ryan Williams, the owner of the Margarita Village bar in Hilo, said the volcanic unrest wasnt worrying customers who are used to warnings.

There could still be a heightened sense of urgency since officials have been holding town hall meetings, urging people to prepare.

But everything Ive read or heard, they trying to kind of assure people that conditions have not changed, Williams said. Theres no imminent eruption, but just to be alert.

Magno said his agency is talking to residents now because communities closest to vents likely wouldnt have enough time to learn how to respond and prepare once the observatory raises its alert level to watch, which means an eruption is imminent.

The current alert level is advisory meaning the volcano is showing signs of unrest yet theres no indication an eruption is likely or certain.

Residents in other parts of the island would have more time to react.

Lava from Mauna Loas northeast flank could take days or weeks to reach residential communities. Thats because the mountains slopes on that side are relatively gentle and because towns are farther from volcanic vents.

Frank Trusdell, research geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, said all of Mauna Loas eruptions in recorded history have started in its summit crater. About half of them stayed there, while the other half later spewed lava from vents lower down the mountain.

Lava erupting from the summit generally doesnt travel far enough to reach residential areas.

Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843. It last erupted in 1984 when lava flowed down its eastern flank only to stop 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) short of Hilo, the Big Islands most populous town.

Mauna Loa also has a history of disgorging huge volumes of lava.

In the 1950 eruption, which lasted for 23 days, Mauna Loa released 1,000 cubic meters (1,307 cubic yards) of lava per second. In contrast, Kilauea released 300 cubic meters (392 cubic yards) per second in 2018.

The earthquakes could continue for a while before any eruption: increased seismic activity lasted for a year before a 1975 eruption and a year-and-a-half before the 1984 one. Alternatively, the temblors could subside and Mauna Loa may not erupt this time.

Trusdell said residents should look at his agencys maps and learn how quickly lava may show up in their neighborhood. He also urged people living in one of the short-notice areas to pay attention if the summit turns red.

All you got to do is look up there and see the glow. You grab your stuff, throw it in the car and drive. Go! he said.

They can always go home after if the lava ultimately doesnt flow into their neighborhood, he said.

-

Associated Press Writer Mark Thiessen contributed to this report from Anchorage, Alaska.
A worker inspects cannabis for imperfections in Redwood Valley, California, on May 1, 2019. Gabrielle Lurie / San Francisco Chronicle via AP

The death of an employee early this year at a licensed cannabis facility in Massachusetts is calling attention to the very real threat that the job poses to the health of some workers in the relatively new industry.

Lorna McMurrey, 27, died three days after being admitted to the hospital on Jan. 7 of occupational asthma due to exposure to ground cannabis in a cultivation facility in Holyoke for the brand Trulieve, according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration report.

The OSHA inspection also revealed that employees in the flower production area were not provided effective information and training on the hazards involved in the cannabis production and grinding process.

Occupational asthma occurs when people inhale fumes, gases, dust, or other harmful substances in their workplace that cause inflammation in their respiratory tract. Symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, all of which could result in death in severe cases. Common occupational irritants include ammonia, sulfur dioxide, latex, mold, hydrochloric acid, animal proteins, and flour (which can lead to whats known as bakers asthma).

In many cases, people who have occupational asthma also have allergies that may trigger their respiratory symptoms. This is called allergic asthma, and it affects about 60% of people with the condition.

Occupational asthma has become the most common work-related lung disease in developed nations, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and is estimated to represent up to 15% of all asthma cases in the US. People who work in the healthcare, construction, agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing industries know the risks all too well; research shows the highest proportion of cases occur in these fields.

However, researchers told BuzzFeed News the relationship between respiratory diseases and cannabis exposure in the workplace is complicated  many other factors, such as the presence of other irritants like mold and pesticides and personal cannabis use, could play a role in workers health issues.

Story continues

McMurreys death suggests occupational asthma could be a problem in the burgeoning cannabis industry, which adds thousands of employees each year. As legalization expands, experts anticipate the condition may become more common among workers in indoor grow facilities and they say current estimates of its prevalence are likely underreported.

In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Trulieve contested several claims from initial reports, including that it had only offered employees paper masks, that McMurrey was working in the flower grinding room, and that a supervisor told her to continue working after she said she didnt feel well.

The company said N95 masks were available, that McMurrey was actually working in the pre-roll area, and that she had opted to go back to work.

Trulieve will continue to operate its facilities in a manner that fully protects the health and safety of all employees, the company said. We are confident we did so in January and will continue to do so going forward.

As with any industry, there are potential occupational hazards and protecting employee health and safety must be the absolute highest priority, National Cannabis Industry Association cofounder and CEO Aaron Smith wrote. We hope that was the case in this terrible matter.

BuzzFeed News could not reach the McMurrey family, but Dave Bruneau, McMurreys stepfather, told the Boston Globe that she had asked for a respirator to wear to work several weeks before she died.

She said the air was full of dust. You could see it and it would stick to your skin and stuff, Bruneau told the Globe. My heart fell into my shoes when the nurse at the hospital told me she was brain-dead from a lack of oxygen. I want people to know what happened to her, and I dont want it to happen to anyone else.

What to know about occupational asthma

Occupational asthma falls into two categories: work-aggravated asthma, which is the exacerbation of someones preexisting asthma symptoms while at work, and new-onset asthma, which occurs when a person without a history of asthma develops symptoms when they work.

New-onset asthma can be broken down into two subcategories, according to Carolyn Reeb-Whitaker, principal investigator for the Occupational Respiratory Disease Surveillance Program in Washington state.

The first is occupational asthma without latency  also known as reactive airways dysfunction syndrome  meaning symptoms begin suddenly after someone is exposed to high concentrations of a chemical, dust, or another substance. The second is occupational asthma with latency, meaning it takes days, weeks, or months before a person becomes asthmatic.

Reeb-Whitaker and colleagues published a study in 2021 that analyzed 784 work-related asthma cases in Washington between 2009 and 2016. The majority of cases involved people with work-aggravated asthma in the healthcare industry. The highest proportion of new-onset asthma cases occurred in the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, manufacturing, and construction fields. Mold; cleaning materials; and dust from hop plants, wood, and cedar were mostly responsible for triggering these cases.

Regardless of the type of occupational asthma a person has, symptoms are usually always worse during work and improve when theyre off the clock. The level of hazard can depend on the intensity and length of exposure and the conditions inside a workplace, like where the ventilation systems are, Reeb-Whitaker told BuzzFeed News.

However, symptoms can persist even when exposure stops, the AAAAI says. Its also possible to develop occupational asthma even if youre using protective equipment like respirators, gloves, eye goggles, and exhaust ventilation systems.

People who smoke and have a family history of allergies are more likely to develop occupational asthma, especially to certain irritants like flour, animals, and latex, according to the AAAAI.

Workers who experience allergic asthma typically develop it months or years after prolonged exposure to a substance because it takes time for their immune system to become sensitized to it. This process involves the production of allergic antibodies called IgE that can generate inflammation in the airways, sometimes causing an asthma attack.

However, its a gray fine line between allergy crossing into asthma, Whitaker said, because both conditions share similar symptoms.

A Trulieve medical marijuana dispensary in Orlando, on April 24, 2018 Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Service via Getty Images

An allergist can help determine if symptoms are allergy- or asthma-related (or both), which is important because early detection and treatment are key to avoid serious reactions. In some cases, steroid-containing inhalers can reduce the risk of asthma attacks, but the primary treatment is to generally avoid the irritant. Otherwise, workers run the risk of permanent lung damage, disability, or death.

As of now, its difficult to estimate how big of a problem the rapidly expanding cannabis industry is to workers health, said Coralynn Sack, a physician-scientist at the University of Washington studying environmental and occupational lung disease.

Cannabis is still illegal under federal law, complicating the ability to conduct research in the industry, Sack said. Exposure to harmful substances can also vary widely depending on whether it occurs in indoor or outdoor facilities.

We dont have enough information about the occupational health risks in the cannabis industry. What we do know comes from research in the hop (used to make a variety of products like beer) and hemp textile markets, studies of which have shown high rates of respiratory illnesses among workers. (Both hop and hemp are related to the cannabis plant.)

The cannabis industry prefers indoor grow facilities because its easy to control the light, humidity, and temperature for optimal quality and crop yield. But its a high-maintenance process that requires intense manual labor, and the conditions foster an environment where different irritants and allergens can thrive.

Watering and drying of cannabis plants leads to bacterial and fungal growth; the curing process can encourage mold; and the grinding, harvesting, and trimming steps release large amounts of volatile organic compounds like terpenes and organic dust that can irritate the respiratory system. Not to mention the chemicals like pesticides that are used during the grow process.

This vast array of toxic substances makes it nearly impossible to determine whats causing a workers symptoms, Whitaker said, but experts do have a lot of suspicion that cannabis is capable of causing asthma.

Data shows that inhalation is the primary cause of occupational asthma, but there are published reports of workers experiencing allergic reactions after touching the plant. (Theres no evidence that employees have gotten high during work as a result of inhaling cannabis dust, Sack said.)

A small survey of 31 employees in an indoor grow facility in Seattle found that 71% reported one or more of them work-aggravated symptoms  65% reported that symptoms affected their respiratory tract, 39% their eyes, 32% their nose, and 26% their skin. Seven of the employees had abnormal lung function tests. Generally, workers with increasing exposure to cannabis dust were more likely to experience occupational asthma.

About half of those surveyed had skin prick tests  exams that check for immediate allergic reactions  that were positive for cannabis.

We really dont know much about the prevalence of cannabis allergy, but experts say its becoming more common as legalization expands in the US.

People can develop allergies to cannabis at any time via inhaling, smoking, touching, or eating the plant. Symptoms vary depending on the method of exposure. Touching cannabis can cause rashes, hives, or swelling, and workers who inhale cannabis dust can experience a runny nose, sneezing, itching, eye swelling, and asthma.

While its unclear how much someone needs to be exposed to cannabis to experience occupational asthma or allergies, researchers speculate that high-dose exposures could be as risky as chronic lower-dose ones. For the most part, repeated exposures can lead to progressively stronger responses.

The AAAAI also warns of potentially serious allergic reactions as a result of cross-reactivity  in which proteins in one substance are similar to those found in another  between cannabis and certain foods such as tomatoes, peaches, and hazelnuts, all of which share specific allergy-causing proteins. The clinical term for this is cannabis-fruit/vegetable syndrome, and it has been associated with cross-reactivity with tobacco, natural latex, and some plant-based alcoholic drinks.

A standard skin prick test can determine if youre allergic to cannabis. The only treatment option is to avoid the plant or reduce exposure to prevent a serious reaction.

The other problem with understanding the health risks cannabis workers face is that many of them use the drug recreationally. The survey of Seattle employees found that 97% were recreational users and 81% smoked cannabis several times a day.

The health risks associated with regular cannabis use largely depend on how the drug is consumed, but the good news is that using it on your personal time is not likely to expose you to the same health risks that workers in the industry face.

But Sack and Whitaker said there are some lessons that recreational users can take from all this.

A recreational user who's only ingesting cannabis has a very low exposure risk compared to someone working in a cannabis processing facility, but nonetheless, they should take care to observe their health symptoms, Whitaker said. If they feel that with repeated use they are having respiratory problems, they should talk to their doctor.
To view past editions of The Hills 12:30 Report, click here: https://bit.ly/30ARS1U

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> A midday take on whats happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Habreaks down crying hysterically.

NEWS THIS MORNING

Im always looking to celebrate any bit of good news:

After six months of steady declines, the U.S. economy has rebounded with a 2.6 percent growth rate in the third quarter.

Details: U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) grew at annualized rate of 2.6 between July and September, up from declines of 1.6 percent in the second quarter and 0.6 percent in third quarter of 2022, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Thursday.

What economists had expected: A growth rate of 2.3 percent

Its not all good news, though: Even though the growth numbers suggest an economy growing relatively strong, there were warnings signs within the report about a slowdown.

More on what this means, via The Hills Sylvan Lane

REACTIONS:

From President Biden: For months, doomsayers have been arguing that the US economy is in a recession and Congressional Republicans have been rooting for a downturn. But today we got further evidence that our economic recovery is continuing to power forward. Read Bidens full statement

Politicos Ben White has a more pessimistic reaction: Dont be fooled by 2.6% Q3 GDP. I mean, great, better than negative. But strip out volatile trade/inventories and you get 0.1% real final sales to private domestic purchasers. Conditions for recession remain ripe as Fed hikes continue and impact spreads. Whites full tweets on the news

From Market Watch: U.S. economy grows 2.6% in the third quarter  but recession worries arent going away

MEANWHILE  MORTGAGE RATES HIT A 20-YEAR HIGH:

Mortgage rates topped 7 percent this week, the highest level in 20 years  and the latest sign that the Federal Reserves aggressive moves to slow the broader economy are hitting the housing market hard already. Full story from The Washington Posts Rachel Siegel and Kathy Orton

Story continues

Its Thursday. Im Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and whats coming up. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here.

 Happening on Friday

They hopped off the plane at PHL with a dream and some talking points:

President Biden and Vice President Harris are making a rare campaign trail appearance together on Friday in Philadelphia to campaign for Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman following his debate performance that has worried operatives.

For context on the rarity of this joint appearance: The last time Biden and Harris shared a stage outside of the White House together was the Congressional Black Caucus Foundations Phoenix Awards in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 1. But the two havent appeared together for an event outside of D.C since a January event in Atlanta.

WHITE HOUSE PIVOTS TO CLOSING ARGUMENT ON ECONOMY:

From The Hills Brett Samuels and Alex Gangitano

 On the campaign trail

Lots of nerves in both parties:

The battle for the Senate majority is going down to the wire as a series of races across the country tighten in the days before the election, a process that is alternatively giving hope while also panicking partisans in both parties.

For example in Wisconsin: Democrats have their eyes on Wisconsin, where a new poll from CNN found Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) clinging to just a 1-point lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

And in Iowa: In Iowa, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) has been seen as a heavy favorite to win an eighth term. But Democrats are starting to believe Mike Franken could have a chance at an upset.

More Senate races that are getting extremely close, via The Hills Al Weaver

BTW, COOK POLITICAL REPORT SHIFTED ARIZONA TO A TOSS UP:

It had been in the lean Democrat category before Thursday. Details and reasoning

OH, GOOD. ANOTHER SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGE TO WORRY ABOUT:

A shortage of the paper used to make ballots could impact Election Day, according to ABC Newss Nicole Moeder, Devin Dwyer and Isabella Meneses.

What we know: The 2022 election cycle will use an estimated 30 million pounds of paper, according to industry experts. Soaring demand and a shortage of manufacturers during the pandemic have pinched national stockpiles, leaving little room for error. The full story

 In other news

Ye showed up at Skechers unannounced:

Rapper and designer Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, showed up at the Skechers headquarters unannounced on Wednesday, a day after being dropped by Adidas over antisemitic remarks.

What happened when he showed up?: Executives escorted Ye out of the building.

Statement from Skechers: Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West. We condemn his recent divisive remarks and do not tolerate antisemitism or any other form of hate speech. The Company would like to again stress that West showed up unannounced and uninvited to Skechers corporate offices.

Full story from CNBCs Mike Calia

^ Side note: I learned today that it is spelled Skechers, not Sketchers, and the revelation is really irking me.

^ PLUS, FORBES REMOVED YE FROM BILLIONAIRE STATUS:

On Tuesday, Forbes, one of the leading trackers of wealth among the worlds financial elites, declared it had dropped Ye from its list of billionaires. It estimated the Adidas deal accounted for $1.5 billion of his net worth, but Forbes now estimates it at a mere $400 million. Where that $400 million comes from, from CNN Businesss Chris Isidore.

HERES A LIST OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE CUT TIES WITH YE:

Including Gap, Balenciaga and TJ Maxx. The full list

 Latest with COVID

 THE COVID-19 NUMBERS

Cases to date: 97 million

Death toll: 1,065,152

Current hospitalizations: 20,185

Shots administered: 632 million

Fully vaccinated: 68.2 percent of Americans

CDC data here.

 Notable tweets

Elon is at Twitter HQ:

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk tweeted a video on Wednesday of him walking into Twitters headquarters. Watch

Why this is significant: Musks deadline to buy Twitter is Friday. If he does not buy Twitter by the deadline set by a Delaware judge, the matter could go to trial. Tech Crunch explains why

If anyone needs me this afternoon, Ill be deeply staring into the abyss pondering the universe:

CBS News tweeted, Watch the moment a meteor glowed and lit up the sky right before it slammed into Earths atmosphere and broke apart above Nova Scotia, Canada, on Friday. Watch

 On tap

The House and Senate are out. President Biden is in New York. Vice President Harris is in Washington, D.C., with no public events scheduled.

9 a.m. : Biden received his daily briefing.

12:25 p.m. : Biden leaves for Syracuse, N.Y.

5:15 p.m.: Biden leaves for New Castle, Del.

All times Eastern.

 What to watch

1:15 p.m. : White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre gaggles with reporters aboard Air Force One. Livestream

3:30 p.m.: Biden delivers remarks on Microns plan to invest in CHIPS manufacturing in upstate New York. Livestream

 In lighter news

Today is National Potato Day.

And to leave you feeling dance-y, heres a bird channeling its inner Michael Jackson.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Arnold Schwarzenegger met with Kalush Orchestra

It was fantastic to meet Kalush Orchestra, the Eurovision champions from Ukraine, Schwarzenegger tweeted.

You inspire me!

Schwarzenegger also posted several photos with members of the Ukrainian band, in one of which he could be seen wearing one of band vocalist Oleh Psiuks famous pink panama hats.

Kalush Orchestra is on tour in North America. On Oct. 23, the band gave a concert in Los Angeles, California. Schwarzenegger was the governor of this state in 2003-2006.

Read also: Britain confirmed to host Eurovision 2023 instead of Ukraine

Earlier on Oct. 21, Kalush Orchestra and the Finnish rock band The Rasmus released a joint version of the rock bands song In the Shadows called In the Shadows of Ukraine.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Re. Some thoughts on the homeless in Kelowna

Yes, the problem is not limited to Kelowna. It's in pretty much in every city and many small towns .

It's also not just a Canadian thing, but is a huge problem in other countries. A quick look on Youtube, looking at cities like Vancouver or Seattle, shows the magnitude of the problem.

Basically, we have three types of homeless people and the last two types can overlap, people with mental health issues can also become drug addicts.

Harmless homeless. These people are the ones with the best chance to help. We want to give them food, financial assistance, shelter and hopefully eventually get them permanent housing and employment.

I am in favour of the city putting up a tiny house-type of camp on the edge of the city with some buses tasked to get them around.

The next type of homeless are the potentially dangerous homeless, who have mental health issues. Many can be very dangerous. Some are so dangerous, they need to be in institutionalized for their own safety and the safety of others.

This would require the support of all levels of government. Some may not need to be permanently institutionalized and some may be treatable and function in society. There is some overlap with non-mental health issues.

People with physical health issues and disabilities should obviously be given treatment and offered lots of support financially.

The third type of homeless are the dangerous criminal and drug-addicted homeless.These individuals are the big problem. Many are addicted to hard drug addicts.

In the old days, many homeless people were addicted to alcohol. Nowadays, many are addicted to meth. Meth is a horrible horrible drug. It is very addictive. It destroys a person physicallytheir heart , organs etc. and it is also a drug that causes extreme violence.

There is no such thing as safe street meth, even without things to cut it such as Fentanyl and other deadly substances, some of which antidotes have no effect on.

We also have (people) using other drugs in various cities and locations drugs such as cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxy etc. Many have zero respect for anyone. They are the ones doing the really bad behaviours that make (residents) very upset.

I regularly see these people publicly defecate, urinate and sometimes expose themselves, as well as engaging in sex acts in public. Often, they throw garbage and litter wherever they are. Another very dangerous habit is leaving needles, which pose a high risk of HIV (and other) infection to anyone that steps on a (discarded needle) in a park, a playground or on the street .

These hardcore drug addicts are very unstable. They can attack strangers for pretty much no reason. They attack each other. They (appear to) have no moral code, no respect for property for anything the drugs have taken over. They will do anything to feed their habit for these hard drugs. The new small-quantity, no-arrest law will likely make it even easier to sell these drugs. But you cant arrest users with small amounts as there is no room in jails.

There are (safe injection sites) to use drugs where they can be supervised. Im not sure how I feel on that subject.

(People) with addictions to these hard drugs will do all sorts of criminal behaviours. Some will join the sex trade. Many will commit break-ins, shoplift, steal and assaults others. Some will join gangs. Criminals are closely tied to the drug and homeless world. Dealers sell the addicts drugs, act as pimps, (and have them carry drugs). They get them to steal in order to pay for their habits. Its a vicious cycle. Many young lives are destroyed by these predators .

So, what are some things that can be or should be done?

Some of these things might seem heartless but sometimes it takes tough love. Currently, having lived in Kelowna for more than 10 years, I see no progress being made. I think many studies were done but see no concrete effects.

 I see many homeless camping on Leon Avenue (downtown) near the Gospel Mission. I see many of them go to our main park (City Park) and hang there, doing all those horrible things mentioned above. It is our main tourist park.

 I see them constantly panhandling and sometimes, they get very aggressive. I see blankets, tents, shopping carts piled high in city park and in many places throughout the city.

 I see them hanging out in front of (grocery stores), right in front of no panhandling signs and downtown, another main tourist site. I see them panhandling on street medians, staggering around and sometimes getting aggressive with motorists.

 I see them hanging out near gas stations and other convenience stores, and hanging in various parks and other tourist-type places. Last year, I called the city when they were there was a camp that was growing daily beside the farmers outdoor market near the Orchard Park Shopping Centre.

In a previous recent letter, l appealled to the authorities to stop the panhandling on medians. It is a very dangerous and annoying thing. I urged the public not to give money or food to any person panhandling on the medians. I never said we shouldnt give them food and other financial support in appropriate placesdesignated places. In the middle of street is not a proper place for panhandling.

In a another previous letter, I wrote about the excessive the deer population in and near the city and that I am in favour of a deer cull. (We could) give the meat to food bank.

Allan Brown
HOPEWELL  A candidate for the Ward 7 City Council seat is facing a charge of assault and battery after a run-in last month with a person he claimed was trespassing on his property.

Dominic R. Holloway, 35, was arrested in late September in connection with the Sept. 14 incident, according to Hopewell Police and court records. Holloway, the only declared candidate for the seat, faces up to a year in jail and/or a $2,500 fine if he is convicted.

The next hearing on the case is set for Nov. 28, almost three weeks after Election Day, in Hopewell General District Court. A misdemeanor conviction is not considered an automatic disqualification for seeking and holding public office in Virginia.

The victim, identified in court records as Harold Deane, 48, of South Chesterfield, is facing one charge of misdemeanor trespassing in the incident, He also is set for a Nov. 28 hearing in Hopewell.

In an email to The Progress-Index seeking comment, Holloway replied, "I do not have any comment I wish to share at this time about the alleged assault [and] battery charges."

There are four council seats up for grabs in wards 1, 2, 3 and 7. The races in wards 1 and 2 are contested. The Ward 3 incumbent, Vice Mayor Johnny Partin Jr., is running unopposed.

In Ward 1, first-term incumbent Debbie Randolph is being challenged by Rita Joyner, who chairs the city's Architectural Review Board and is a former president of Hopewell Downtown Partnership. In Ward 2, two people  Michael Harris and former city general registrar Yolanda Stokes  are competing for the seat being vacated by Arlene Holloway.

More:Petersburg's potential casino partner offers overview of services but no details on city plan

More:The Freedom Support Center is back: Offers services to veterans and the community

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on Twitter at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell council candidate faces assault and battery charge
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Chuck Schumer was caught on a hot mic dishing about Democrats' chances of holding the Senate.

Schumer was overheard telling Biden that Georgia looks increasingly bad for the party.

The New Yorker did say that Democrats may have reason to hope in Nevada.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was caught on a hot mic on Thursday telling President Joe Biden that things were "going downhill" in the Georgia Senate race with less than two weeks to go before the midterm elections.

"The state where we're going downhill is Georgia," Schumer said of Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock's highly charged reelection bid. "It's hard to believe that they will go for Herschel Walker."

Schumer's candid evaluation was caught while he and Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York were huddling with the president in Syracuse, New York, where the president was touting his party's economic plan. Warnock, who remains pastor of the legendary Ebenezer Baptist Church, has struggled to sew up his reelection against former Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker, a Trump-backed challenger. According to FiveThirtyEight's weighted polling average, Walker is improving as Warnock clings to a narrow lead.

The top Senate Democrat was also overheard telling Biden that Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman's shaky debate performance "didn't hurt us too much." Fetterman is trying to flip a seat against former TV doctor Mehmet Oz, but the race has grown tighter as Oz's campaign assails Fetterman's health in the wake of his stroke in May. Fetterman was open during the debate about how he might struggle due to his ongoing recovery, which is exactly what occurred.

Schumer also said the party is "picking up steam" in Nevada where Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has looked increasingly vulnerable to former Nevada Attorney General Adam Laxalt's challenge.

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Pundits view the Senate majority as too close to call even as they have increased the projected number of Republican House seats well past the number needed to flip that chamber. It is possible that the longest evenly split Senate in history could stretch into a new Congress in January.

Asked about the comments a spokesperson for Schumer emphasized the party's optimism.

"Schumer believes the Democratic candidates will win," Justin Goodmnan, a Schumer spokesperson, said in a statement.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Government of Ukraine sent a request to the IAEA after Russia accused Kyiv of allegedly preparing

The government of Ukraine sent a request to the IAEA to conduct checks, after Russia accused Kyiv of allegedly preparing dirty bombs. The inspections aim to detect any possible undeclared nuclear activities and materials related to the development of dirty bombs.

Read also: Ukraines military intelligence chief dismisses dirty bomb allegations

The IAEA added that one of the two sites was inspected a month ago and no undeclared nuclear activity or materials were found there.

The IAEA inspectors will conduct independent verification at these locations  in accordance with Ukraines procedures  to detect any diversion of nuclear material, any undeclared production or processing of nuclear material, and determine that there are no undeclared nuclear material and activities, Grossi said.

Read also: IAEA chief agrees to urgently send experts to Ukraine amid Russian allegations, says FM Kuleba

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.

Ukraine invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to send inspectors to examine all Ukrainian nuclear facilities  including the ones where Russia claims the dirty bomb is being developed.

Read also: IAEA begins negotiations on creation of a safe zone around occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
An investigation into policies at Seattle Pacific University prohibiting employees from engaging in same-sex sexual activity will go forth after Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by the school attempting to stop it.

SPU students and staff organized a sit-in and called for the removal of the universitys board of trustees in May after they voted to keep in place policies that prohibit employees from engaging in same-sex sexual activity.

In response to complaints from Washingtonians, Ferguson sent a letter to the university asking four basic questions about its policies.

The university then filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Fergusons office from investigating its hiring practices, at which point Ferguson publicly confirmed that his office was investigating the school and a policy that required the school to refuse to hire LGBTQ staff.

Ferguson filed a motion in August to dismiss SPUs lawsuit and asked the court to dismiss the universitys attempt to quash the investigations. SPU filed an amended complaint, which Ferguson moved to dismiss as well.

On Wednesday, a judge granted Fergusons motion, ruling that SPU was asking for a change in state law that cant be granted by the federal court.

My office respects the religious views of all Washingtonians and the constitutional rights afforded to religious institutions, Ferguson said. As a person of faith, I share that view. Seattle Pacific University, however, is not above the law. Instead of answering questions about its hiring process, the university filed a federal lawsuit arguing that it is above the law to such an extraordinary degree that my office cannot even send it a letter asking for information about its employment policies.

We remain committed to serving our students and campus community in a way that honors our Christian faith and mission, said SPU interim president Pete Menjares. The government should not interfere with our ability to operate out of our sincerely held religious beliefs. We are disappointed with todays ruling, but the court did not decide whether the state can investigate our universitys internal affairs. We will continue to defend ourselves from unlawful interference with our Christian mission.
By Chavi Mehta and Katie Paul

(Reuters) - Wall Street is losing patience over Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg's enormous and experimental bets on his metaverse project that helped drive up the company's overall costs by a fifth in the third quarter.

Investors rushed to dump Meta Platforms Inc's stock after hours, pushing it down 20% and wiping $67 billion off its market value after the company posted its fourth straight decline in quarterly profit.

The Facebook-parent said its overall expenses could rise as much as 16% next year and anticipates that operating losses at Reality Labs - the unit responsible for bringing the metaverse to life - "will grow significantly" next year.

One Meta shareholder had recently voiced concerns calling the company's investments "super-sized and terrifying". Analysts on Wednesday called them "confusing and confounding" and Meta's inability to cut costs "extremely disturbing".

On a post-earnings conference call, Jefferies analyst Brent Thill asked executives: "I think kind of summing up how investors are feeling right now is that there are just too many experimental bets versus proven bets on the core ... I think everyone would love to hear why you think this pays off."

In the July-September quarter, losses at Reality Labs ballooned to a whopping $3.67 billion from $2.63 billion a year earlier. Revenue nearly halved.

"It would be a mistake for us to not focus on any of these areas that will be fundamentally important to our future," Zuckerberg said on the call.

"I know that sometimes when we ship a product ... people say: 'Hey, you're spending all this money, and you've produced this thing,' and I think that's not really the right way to think about it."

"...we're doing leading work that will become ... eventually mature products at different cadences in different periods of time over the next five to 10 years."

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He spoke about the company's various efforts, including a recently unveiled virtual and mixed reality headset called Quest Pro that is priced at $1,500 and a social metaverse platform where people can express themselves via avatars.

He said Meta is investing in two other areas: augmented reality and neural interfaces.

BIG GAMBLE

"The metaverse ... feels like a one big gamble given the economic crisis," said Paolo Pescatore, an analyst at PP Foresight, adding that the journey ahead was going to be "long and painful".

"People are not rushing out of their seats to buy a VR headset or even watch 360 degree videos ... The new device still feels like an expensive toy," he said.

At a time when other tech companies such as Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet are cutting jobs or slowing hiring, Meta's headcount surged 32% in the third quarter from the end of the second.

In an open letter to Zuckerberg on Monday, Meta shareholder Altimeter Capital Management called on Meta to streamline by cutting jobs and capital expenditure.

The fund suggested Meta cap annual investments in the metaverse to $5 billion instead of the current $10 billion.

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru and Katie Paul in Palo Alto, Calif, additional reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Writing by Sayantani Ghosh; Editing by Sam Holmes)
Photo: The Canadian Press

B.C. had 44 COVID-19 deaths in the week ending Oct. 22, which is the highest weekly death count reported since mid-June, the B.C. government announced Thursday (Oct. 27).

The death count is up by 12 from the week ending Oct. 15 and is the highest number reported since Jun.16, when the province reported 50 COVID-19 deaths.

The province's data is widely seen as inaccurate, but it provides some insight into trends.

The province's methodology for calculating COVID-19 deaths is to include everyone who has died after having officially tested positive for COVID-19 within the past month  a process that could include people who die in car accidents. It also starts the countdown for that 30-day window when a person first tests positive for COVID-19, and does not reset the clock for subsequent detected infections.

Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry said in April, when she introduced this new counting methodology, that the province's Vital Statistics Agency would later determine that some deaths were not due to COVID-19 and that it would remove those deaths from the province's overall death toll. That process would mean that the death toll would be rising on a weekly basis by less than the number of new weekly deaths  the opposite of what is happening.

Despite B.C. counting 44 new deaths in the week up to Oct. 22, it raised its overall COVID-19 death toll by 59, to 4,485.

This data discrepancy follows a similar trend from the previous week's update when 44 cases were reported but the death toll increased by 53.

B.C.'s Ministry of Health has not been able to explain why this keeps happening, and has told Glacier Media that data "may be incomplete."

Other new data said there are 292 people with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals in the week ending Oct. 27, including 20 in intensive care units (ICUs). That is down from 389 people with COVID-19 in B.C. hospitals, including 21 in ICUs, one week ago. But total hospitalizations increased from 29,206 to 29,475 week-over-week, which is an increase of 269.

B.C.'s count for COVID-19 hospital patients includes those who are in hospital for different reasons, and who just happened to test positive for COVID-19. Henry has said that about half of the hospital patients counted as having COVID-19 are these "incidental" cases.

B.C.'s official number of new COVID-19 infections detected in the week up until Oct. 22 is 534  down by 94 from the 628 infections detected in the week up until Oct. 15. Despite this, the government's total count for COVID-19 infections during the pandemic increased by 531 to 387,451.

Data for new infections has long been widely dismissed. Even Henry, earlier this year, called the data for new cases "not accurate." This is because in December she started telling people who were vaccinated and had mild symptoms to not get tested and to simply self-isolate. She said at the time that this was to increase testing capacity for those with more serious symptoms and those who are more vulnerable.

The province no longer reports how many seniors' care homes have active outbreaks.

With files from Glen Korstrom
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraqi lawmakers approved a new government on Thursday ending more than a year of deadlock, but still faces many challenges.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani,52, who previously served as Iraq's human rights minister as well as minister of labour and social affairs, will head the new government.

Sudani's picks for 21 ministries passed during a parliament vote on the Cabinet. He named the former head of the state-run South Gas Co. (SGC) Hayan Abdul Ghani as oil minister, kept Fuad Hussein as foreign minister for a second term, and Taif Sami as finance minister.

Sudani vowed to reform the economy, fight corruption, improve deteriorating public services, combat poverty and unemployment among other things.

He also promised to amend the election law within three months and hold early parliamentary elections within a year.

"The epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life is more deadly than the corona pandemic and has been the cause of many economic problems, weakening the state's authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor public services," Sudani said in his speech in parliament ahead of the vote.

Sudani is the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc known as the Coordination Framework, an alliance of Iran-aligned factions. He took over from former prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who had been leading a caretaker government, after anti-government protesters took to the streets in their thousands in 2019, demanding jobs and the departure of Iraq's ruling elite.

They accuse the political class that took over after the 2003 U.S. invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein of corruption that has driven the country into dysfunction and economic ruin.

Thursday's parliament vote comes a year after an election in which populist Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the biggest winner but failed to rally support to form a government.

Sadr withdrew his 73 lawmakers in August and said he would quit politics, prompting the worst violence in Baghdad for years when his loyalists stormed government buildings and fought rival Shi'ite groups, most of them backed by Iran and with armed wings.

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Sadr, who has not declared his next move, has a track record of radical action, including fighting U.S. forces, quitting cabinets, and protesting against governments. Many fear protests by his supporters. Sadr appeared to oppose Sudani's candidacy because he is an ally of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The year long political paralysis has left Iraq without a budget for 2022, holding up spending on much-needed infrastructure projects and economic reform.

Iraqis say the situation is exacerbating a lack of services and jobs even as Baghdad earns record oil income because of high crude prices and has seen no major wars since the defeat of Islamic State five years ago.

"The government will be facing very touch challenges and have put forward a very ambitious program which could help stop the bleeding and get back on track if this program is implemented," said Farhad Alaaldin, chairman of the Iraq Advisory Council, a policy research institute.

(Reporting by Lilian Wagdy and Amina Ismail; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis)
BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraq's parliament gave its vote of confidence to a new Cabinet on Thursday, breaking a yearlong political stalemate. It's the first government since 2005 that doesn't include members from the bloc of a powerful Shiite cleric.

A majority of the 253 lawmakers present voted to appoint 21 ministers, with two posts  the Construction and Housing Ministry and the Environment Ministry  remaining undecided. Despite those two unresolved appointments, the approved Cabinet lineup constitutes a quorum.

The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is the first since 2005 that does not include seats for the bloc of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Iraq held early elections more than a year ago in response to mass anti-government protests that began in October 2019 in Baghdad and across southern Iraq. Protesters called for the overhaul of the political system established after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Following the election, which gave a plurality to the alliance led by al-Sadr, political infighting delayed the forming of a government for more than a year. This was driven largely by a political rivalry between al-Sadr and Iran-backed former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Al-Sadrs bloc withdrew from the parliament amid the stalemate. In July, following the nomination of Mohammed al-Sudani for prime minister by Iran-backed parties, followers of al-Sadr stormed the heavily fortified Green Zone and the Iraqi parliament.

The following month, street fights between followers of al-Sadr and members of the rival Popular Mobilization Forces left at least 30 people dead and dozens more injured. Following the clashes, al-Sadr withdrew his followers from the parliament.

After their withdrawal, al-Sadrs rivals in the Coordination Framework group led by al-Maliki were able to form an alliance with Kurdish and Sunnis parties on forming a government.

On Oct. 13, Iraqi lawmakers elected former minister Abdul Latif Rashid president, following a barrage of rocket attacks earlier in the day, in a first step toward naming a new government.

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The lead-up to Thursdays vote was marked by anxiety about more potential violence, but the streets of the capital remained quiet.

Independent lawmaker Raed al-Maliki said he anticipates that al-Sadr will wait to observe the public's reception of the new government before reacting.

I expect that street protests will begin if this government doesnt succeed, he said, noting that the new Cabinet will face major challenges in terms of reforms, combating corruption, climate change and unemployment.

Along with the Cabinet post appointments, parliament approved a program that includes amending the elections law within three months of the ministers being sworn in, with early elections to be held within a year after that. The document also calls for measures to fight corruption, speed up reconstruction of areas damaged by armed conflict and return the displaced to their homes. It also calls for the elimination of uncontrolled weapons held by non-state actors.

Al-Sudani said ahead of the vote that the new government will combat the epidemic of corruption that has affected all aspects of life ... and has been the cause of many economic problems, weakening the states authority, increasing poverty, unemployment, and poor public services.

He also promised the Cabinet will work to build the capabilities of local governments and to find sustainable solutions to the outstanding issues with Iraqs Kurdistan Regional Government through a true partnership based on rights and duties.

Former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, speaking after the vote, defended his own governments record and urged all political blocs to support every endeavor of the new government on the path of stability and growth and defending democracy and human rights.

On Friday in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the formation of a new Iraqi government, taking note that women hold three of the 21 ministerial positions, and expressed hope that the remaining two Cabinet posts will be filled swiftly, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The secretary-general urges the new government to deliver on the longstanding demands of the people of Iraq for reform, accountability and a better future, Dujarric said.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this story.
MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's tax authorities are investigating profits reported by Pfizer Inc's local unit Pfizer Italia srl, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

"Italian tax authorities regularly monitor and investigate taxes paid by Pfizer and Pfizer cooperates with these controls and investigations," the U.S. pharmaceuticals company said.

"Pfizer complies with the laws and obligations to the Italian tax authorities", it added in an emailed statement.

Italy's finance police and revenue agency declined comment.

The checks being carried out by the finance police in Rome are an administrative audit not a criminal probe and Pfizer has not yet been informed of the findings, the two sources said.

At the end of the process the police must under Italian law report the outcome to the company involved and the state revenue agency, which then draws up a so-called deed of acceptance of the assessment and the payment of any amount deemed due.

(Reporting by Emilio Parodi; Editing by Gavin Jones and Alexander Smith)
The fireworks at Disney's Magic Kingdom look spectacular ... if you can get close enough to see them. Orlando Sentinel/Getty Images, Amanda Krause/Insider

I think Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, is a must-visit vacation spot.

But there are still aspects of visiting that can be disappointing to some fans.

As seen in photos, crowds can be intense and rainstorms can dampen bright days at the theme park.

Magic Kingdom is the heart of Disney World in Orlando, Florida  but it's not always magical to visit.

Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in April 2022. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Read more: I visited every attraction at Disney World's Magic Kingdom. Here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.

I've been visiting regularly since I was 2 years old and have experienced the park at its best and worst.

Author Amanda Krause's recent trip to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World was in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Alongside princesses, rides, and delicious food, a typical day may also include long lines, overpriced merchandise, and giant crowds.

Amanda Krause ordered a swirl of Dole Whip, which was hollow on the inside. Amanda Krause/Insider

Though I've found most parkgoers are lovely, it can feel hectic when crowds gather around Cinderella Castle to wait for the park to open and take photos.

Parkgoers wait around Cinderella Castle before Magic Kingdom opens in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Once the ropes are dropped, many fans race to popular rides like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan's Flight, which can feel a little stressful.

Disney World visitors can be seen rushing to their favorite rides in the morning in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

But even those who get there early have to spend time in line. I rushed to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train during my last visit and still spent 20 minutes waiting.

People in line for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train minutes after Magic Kingdom's opening in 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Most rides, like Peter Pan's Flight, have fun, interactive decor to keep parkgoers entertained while they wait. But the hallways still felt dark and cramped to me.

Peter Pan's Flight had small, cramped queues in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

And depending on which ride you go on, you might have to sit with other parkgoers. Of course, this can be for the best  sometimes you meet great people.

Parkgoers rode the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Some parkgoers may be disappointed when they find sections of Magic Kingdom under construction during their visit, like when I tried to visit Fantasyland in 2021.

Landmarks like the Beast's castle are covered in scaffolding during construction in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Others might be bummed when they realize that you can't actually visit each part of the theme park. Most of Ariel's castle in Fantasyland, for example, is just for show.

Ariel's castle in Fantasyland isn't open to the public. Amanda Krause/Insider

When it's time to eat, you might be disappointed again. Restaurants at Magic Kingdom tend to be crowded at all hours of the day.

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Both seated dining and quick-service restaurants were crowded in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

And you might not always get what you bargained for. I loved every bite of Dole Whip when I tried it in 2021, but I didn't expect the dessert's giant swirls to be hollow inside.

You don't get as much Dole Whip as you might think, as I experienced in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Read more: I tried Disney World's Dole Whip for the first time, and it was one of the best desserts I've ever eaten

You can see many of your favorite characters, like Mickey Mouse and friends, up close in Magic Kingdom at parades, meet-and-greets, and more.

Characters on a parade float at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

But you can't always hug your favorite characters. Sometimes, you have to greet them from a distance.

The Country Bear Jamboree's Liver Lips greeted parkgoers from a balcony in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

As I walked around the park in 2021, I skipped a few rides because the listed wait times were long. I was bummed when I realized the signs weren't always accurate, and I could have ridden more rides.

A wait-time sign at the entrance to the Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

If you're on a ride that gets stuck, you might be there for a while. When I rode the People Mover, I found myself stuck in a dark, noisy room for almost 30 minutes and left with a headache.

A view from the People Mover when it was temporarily stuck in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Even classic attractions like Prince Charming's Royal Carrousel can be disappointing.

The whimsical Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is located near Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom. Amanda Krause/Insider

Its popularity with kids means that there will probably be a ton of strollers in your way as you approach it for a photo.

You couldn't get too close to this carousel thanks to an abundance of strollers in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Need to get away from the crowds? You won't find much reprieve in Magic Kingdom's shops.

Shops on Main Street, USA, at Disney World Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

And they can add an extra layer of frustration, as expensive items often don't have prices on them. I had to bring these Minnie Ears to a cash register to learn they cost $30.

A Minnie Mouse headband with no price tag at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

And if you want to visit another Disney theme park in the middle of the day, you might want to avoid the Monorail. I've found that it gets crowded fast.

The monorail outside Magic Kingdom is frequently crowded, like it was in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Read more: I tried all of Disney World's free transportation, and the best option has a history of crashing

In my opinion, the best way to avoid crowds can also be annoying for some. Florida's dark clouds and frequent rain tend to drive people away, and if you don't mind getting soaked, you can get on rides quicker.

It frequently storms in Florida, bringing rain and dark clouds to the theme park, like it did in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

After the day comes to a close, you can experience one of Magic Kingdom's most iconic shows: the nightly fireworks.

Magic Kingdom's fireworks in September 2021. Orlando Sentinel/Getty Images

But if you want to see the show with a close view, you'll have to spend at least an hour of your day holding a good spot.

People held spots to watch the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

Once the fireworks start, expect to have thousands of people in front of you. I think the late-night crowds in 2021 were the worst I've experienced.

Crowds gathered to watch Magic Kingdom's fireworks in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

And thousands more people may be behind you. I found myself worried about how I'd leave the park after my visit in 2021.

Crowds gathered to watch fireworks at Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

After the firework show, those crowds followed me outside the park to resort shuttles and other transportation.

Magic Kingdom crowds left the theme park in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

I love visiting Magic Kingdom. It encapsulates the heart of Disney World, and there's so much fun to experience, from iconic rides to delicious snacks.

Main Street, USA, at Disney World Magic Kingdom in August 2021. Amanda Krause/Insider

But, as I tell anyone who visits, I think it's good to keep expectations in check. Disney isn't actually magical, after all.

Heavy traffic is seen at the entrance to Walt Disney World in July 2020. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Read the original article on Insider
Three visiting deputies from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office assisted the Collier County Sheriffs Office with an invasive 14-foot-long invasive Burmese python during hurricane Ian cleanup.

Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on October 26, deputies with the CCSO and JSO responded to an East Naples neighborhood after a resident reported seeing a large invasive Burmese python in the buses between two homes.

One of the JSO deputies reportedly humanely euthanized the 14-foot-long snake.

Non-native Burmese pythons have established a breeding population in South Florida due to being imported as exotic pets and released into the wild by owners who are unable to take care of them due to their large size.

The large snakes are known to eat imperiled species such as wood storks, Key Largo woodrats, and limpkins, as well as large animals such as alligators, white-tailed deer and bobcats. This also causes competition with local predators for food, habitat and space.

Jacksonville deputies will not have a snakeskin to take home as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation removed the snakes carcass for proper disposal.

Members of JSO have been assisting Collier County with hurricane Ian recovery efforts and the Collier County Sheriffs Office.

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WASHINGTON  A Jan. 6 rioter who dragged former Washington, D.C., Police Officer Michael Fanone into the crowd on the steps of the U.S. Capitol was sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison Thursday.

Albuquerque Head, 43, of Tennessee, was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison, a bit shy of the 96 months prosecutors had requested but still one of the longest sentences to date in the Capitol riot cases. Head will get credit for the roughly 18 months he has spent locked up already.

Fanone urged U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to sentence Head to the maximum, saying Head had cut his career in law enforcement short. Fanone suffered a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury in the assault on Jan. 6, 2021, and ended up resigning from the Metropolitan Police Department.

Albuquerque Head, circled in red, on the steps in front of a tunnel at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (U.S. District Court for D.C.)

Show him the same mercy that he showed me on Jan. 6  which is none," Fanone said.

Head dragged Fanone into the mob on Jan. 6 while yelling I got one! Before that, he used a police shield to push against a line of police officers in the western-facing tunnel of the Capitol, where some of the most violent acts of the insurrection took place. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting or impeding officers.

Jackson said Heads actions were "some of the darkest acts committed on one of our nations darkest days." She pointed out all the opportunities Head had to remove himself from the battle against police but instead re-armed with a police shield and went back to the front line.

Jackson described Fanone as Heads prey and his trophy. She also described Fanone as someone who was protecting America during the riot.

Image: Michael Fanone (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades / Sipa USA via AP file)

Jackson also pointed out the irony that Fanone was attacked under a Blue Lives Matter flag. The people attacking Fanone didnt think Blue Lives mattered much at all when officers were standing in their way, she said.

"Mr. Head didn't just get caught up in something. This case is not about getting carried away," Jackson said. Fanone, she said, "was protecting America. That's who Officer Fanone was. That's what Officer Fanone was doing."

Story continues

Jackson said it was important to send a message to those who would seek to overturn elections in the future.

Albuquerque Head, right, is pushed back by police officers toward the mouth of a tunnel at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jon Farina via U.S. District Court for D.C.)

"People need to understand that they can't do this, or anything like this, again. They can't try to force their will on the American people once the American people have already spoken at the ballot box. That's the opposite of democracy  it's tyranny. And the threat to democracy, the dark shadow of tyranny, unfortunately, has not gone away," Jackson said.

"There are people who are still disseminating the lie that the election was stolen. They're doing it today," she continued. "And the people who are stoking that anger for their own selfish purposes, they need to think about the havoc they've wreaked, the lives they've ruined, the harm to their supporters' families, even, and the threat to this country's foundation."

Fanone, who has testified before the House Jan. 6 committee and recently wrote a book about the insurrection, said the notoriety he has found since he was nearly killed on Jan. 6 hasn't been worth it, and he said he is devastated that he lost his career in law enforcement.

I would trade all of this attention to return to policing," he said. "But I cant do that.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Tennessee man was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Washington, D.C., police officer Michael Fanone during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Albuquerque Head, 43, pleaded guilty in May to assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, and he will be placed on three years of supervised release following his prison time.

His 90-month sentence is less than prosecutors 96-month request, but it exceeds Heads request to the court for 60 months. He will also pay restitution in an amount to be decided later by the court.

Court documents show Head pushed against a police line in a tunnel located in the Capitols lower west terrace.

Head subsequently wrapped his arm around Fanones neck and pulled him into the mob for 25 seconds, yelling I got one!

After Fanone pushed away from Head, another defendant who has yet to be sentenced, Daniel Rodriguez, allegedly tased the officer as others assaulted him and threw objects at him.

The court documents only refer to him as M.F., but Fanone has publicly identified himself as the officer in question.

Fanone gained national attention after testifying publicly before the House Jan. 6 committee last summer, when he described the incident and railed against former President Trump and other elected officials who he said downplayed the riots severity.

The assault irrevocably changed my life, Fanone wrote in a CNN op-ed published last month just before the sentencing of another defendant who assaulted him.

I suffered a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury, Fanone added, also noting that it required him to ultimately resign from the agency. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and I still struggle with PTSD nearly every day.

Court proceedings for Rodriguez and Thomas Sibick, who also allegedly assaulted Fanone, are ongoing.

Prosecutors have arrested more than 880 individuals in connection with the riot, including more than 270 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, the Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Capitol rioter who grabbed former Metropolitan Police Department officer Mike Fanone and dragged him into the mob, where he was grievously injured, was sentenced Thursday in federal court to 90 months, or 7 1/2 years, behind bars.

Prosecutors had sought an eight-year sentence for Tennessee resident Albuquerque Cosper Head. However, his punishment is still one of the harshest to be handed down to any rioter so far. Fanone left law enforcement the year after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack and has become one of the most visible figures advocating for justice.

Asked for a reaction to the sentence, Fanone told HuffPost, Like a real American, I accept the sentence handed down by the court.

The longest sentence handed down to any rioters has been 10 years, given to a retired New York police officer who assaulted another law enforcement official.

Head agreed to a deal where he pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting a police officer. Prosecutors say he wrapped his arm around Fanones neck as officers tried to push rioters back through an archway leading into the Capitol and yelled, I got one! while pulling Fanone deeper into the mob.

Members of the crowd beat Fanone and pinned him down, seizing his police radio and badge. One person threatened to kill him with his service weapon. Fanone was tased repeatedly at the base of his skull by rioter Daniel Rodriguez, who was sentenced in September to slightly less time than Head  86 months.

The mob backed off after Fanone yelled, I got kids! He blacked out and regained consciousness to find his partner and others, trying to ensure he was alright.

Fanone ended up suffering a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury.

The public spotlight that found him in the wake of the riot eventually made keeping his job untenable, he explained in interviews to promote a memoir he released earlier this month.

I would trade all this attention to return to policing, Fanone said in court Thursday, per ABC News. But I cant do that. And the catalyst for the loss of my career and the suffering that Ive endured in the past 18 months is Albuquerque Head.

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Judge Amy Berman Jackson pointed out the irony that Fanone was beaten in the crowd with a Blue Lives Matter flag, NBC News reported.

People need to understand that they cant do this, or anything like this, again. They cant try to force their will on the American people once the American people have already spoken at the ballot box. Thats the opposite of democracy. Its tyranny, the judge said, per NBC.

Andy Campbell contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan and Lithuania have decided to upgrade bilateral ties and start up security dialogue, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday, as the Baltic country faces diplomatic row with China over Taiwan.

Lithuania has come under sustained Chinese pressure to reverse a decision last year to allow Taiwan to open a de facto embassy in the Capital Vilnius under its own name.

"Japan and Lithuania are important partners that share basic values such as freedom, human rights and the rule of law," Kishida told a joint news conference in Tokyo with his Lithuanian counterpart Ingrida Simonyte.

"I'm glad we can upgrade our ties to strategic partnership at the time of Prime Minister Simonyte's Japan visit ... In valuing the fact that Lithuania is conducting its diplomacy in a resolute matter, we also decided to start up security dialogue."

China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, has downgraded diplomatic relations with Lithuania and pressured multinational companies to sever ties with it.

Taiwan's government strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's 23 million people can decide its future.

"Recent geopolitical challenges from North Korea's reckless and dangerous missile launches and Chinese economic coercion and to the brutal, large-scale war that Russia has started in Europe show a need for like-minded nations to cooperate closer together," Simonyte said.

"This partnership serves the mutual interest of our nations and it is aimed at making the world a better and safer place for democracy and all the freedom-loving people," she said.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Tomasz Janowski)
Jesse Marsch is under mounting pressure to halt Leeds slide down the table (PA Wire)

Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch claims he retains the support of the clubs board following a series of meetings this week.

A section of Leeds fans have called for Marsch to go after seeing their side slip into the Premier League relegation zone, while a trip to Liverpool awaits on Saturday as they bid to halt an eight-game winless run.

Marsch said: They (the board) have been very supportive. Ive spoken with Angus (Kinnear, chief executive), Andrea (Radrizzani, chairman) and Victor (Orta, director of football) multiple times.

Weve done a few things, were modifying our World Cup schedule to think about how we can maximise what we need in the moment, everything from matches to where we are travelling for training.

Weve talked about adding staff, were looking carefully at things like psychologists and adding to the complexity of what were doing as staff.

Transfers obviously, and they have been very supportive, but of course Im not dumb, I understand exactly that if we dont win games I put them in a very difficult situation to continue to support me.

Some feel it is a long way back for the 48-year-old American, who first heard the fans turn against him in significant numbers during the recent defeat at Leicester.

The Marsch out chants grew louder in last Sundays home loss to Fulham, but the Leeds boss said the protests were understandable given his side had taken only two points from the last 24 available.

I think Elland Road was not overly negative, he added. I actually thought the way that they treated the team and the situation were in, given the negativity they could be feeling, I felt its a fanbase that still loves the club and their team.

They all recognise were not in a situation we want to be in. Of course, some of them want me out. Some people just want to see us find a way to turn the corner because they can see that the performances are not bad.

Its normal. Whether its with the board or whether its with the team, we have to find a way to start getting results or the questions come more and more in my direction.

Few Whites fans will be optimistic of a first win since August at Anfield on Saturday evening, and a daunting challenge could be even harder given five players are in a race to be fit.

Marsch confirmed Luis Sinisterra (foot), Liam Cooper (glute), Tyler Adams (calf), Rodrigo (adductor) and Joe Gelhardt (knee) were all doubtful and will be assessed.
First lady Jill Biden will campaign on Sunday alongside Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), the head of House Democrats campaign arm who is in a tough reelection fight.

Biden will travel to New York for a series of events to support Democratic candidates and the state Democratic Party, the White House announced Thursday.

The first lady will appear alongside Maloney in Mount Kisco for a political finance event before traveling to Plainview for an event with Robert Zimmerman, the Democratic candidate in New Yorks 3rd Congressional District.

The first lady will also deliver remarks at a Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee event in New York City on Sunday evening.

Maloney is facing an increasingly competitive race. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report on Monday shifted its rating of the race from lean Democrat to toss up.

Last week the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a super PAC aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), took out a $4 million ad buy for Maloneys race, on top of $2 million the group had previously spent. And this week the National Republican Congressional Committee announced it was increasing its ad buy for the district by $867,000, making the groups total spending in the race almost $1.8 million.

Maloney, who currently represents New Yorks 18th Congressional District, is the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and is one of the highest-profile vulnerable lawmakers on the ballot next month. He is facing state Assemblyman Mike Lawler (R) in this midterm election.

He made the controversial decision to run in the 17th Congressional District this year after redistricting pushed Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), who currently represents the 17th District, into running in the 10th District and ultimately losing his primary.

Jill Bidens trip to New York comes as shes become increasingly visible on the campaign trail for Democrats. The first lady has strong favorability ratings and is one of the most sought after surrogates for Democrats as President Biden and Vice President Harris deal with middling approval ratings.

The first lady will also campaign for New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in the coming days.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
First lady Jill Biden. STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Jill Biden has veto power over her husband running for reelection in 2024, allies say.

But she's not expected to use it. She supports his intention to run.

She's been touting his achievements, hoping he'll win a "few more partners in Congress" in November.

Political advisors had been in Jill Biden's living room for hours, trying to persuade her husband to run for president, while she sat by the pool, "fuming."

She and Joe Biden, then a senator, had already decided against a second presidential bid in 2004. She had "forbidden any campaign talk."

And then, her temper got the best of her.

"A Sharpie caught my eye," she wrote in her memoir "Where The Light Enters." "I drew NO on my stomach in big letters, and marched through the room in my bikini.

"Needless to say, they got the message," she continued.

Twenty years later, the first lady still holds the power of "NO" when it comes to her husband's political aspirations.

She wields this influence as her family endures enormous scrutiny over their son Hunter facing possible criminal charges and questions about Joe Biden's mental acuity as he approaches his 80th birthday.

That approach has been decidedly rocky. In recent weeks, Joe Biden called out for Rep. Jackie Walorski  she is dead  at a public event and mispronounced the name of the United Kingdom's prime minister, Rishi Sunak.

When asked last week if his wife backs him running, the president's awkward, lengthy pause, prompting a nudge from MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart  "Mr. President?"  only added to Republican criticism online, with GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel calling the exchange "scary."

The president ultimately said his wife thinks "that we're doing something very important, and that I shouldn't walk away from it." He has his "intention" is to run in 2024. The president has not, however, made a formal decision and has not officially filed re-election campaign paperwork that would trigger various federal requirements, such as adhering to fundraising limits and disclosing campaign income and expenditures.

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Jill Biden, for her part, isn't expected break out the Sharpie again, at least anytime soon. Evidence of her support for her husband's presidency can be found all over the midterm elections campaign trail. Between writing classes she teaches at Northern Virginia Community College, she has been zig-zagging across the country for campaign events and fundraisers, raising millions of dollars for Democrats and touting Biden's achievements in office, from gun safety legislation to prescription drug affordability.

"Just imagine what he could do with a few more partners in Congress," she said at a recent fundraiser in Nashville.

Jill Biden's advice will be the primary advice Joe Biden will rely on as he makes that decision, said South Carolina Sen. Dick Harpootlian, a former state party chairman and member of the Biden 2020 finance committee.

"Joe Biden wouldn't have run in '20 if Jill Biden had not wanted him to run and he won't run in '24 if Jill Biden doesn't want him to run," he told Insider.

Former US Sen. Ted Kaufman, Biden's longtime chief of staff in the Senate, called Jill Biden "a full partner" and "someone he turns to" in his decision making.

The couple, Jill Biden said this month on NBC's Today show, has been "a little bit too busy" to discuss 2024, but she affirmed her support.

"I'm sure it will be a discussion," Jill Biden said. "Look at all Joe has done. He has kept true to what he said he would do, and so I think he just needs to keep going."

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden watch fireworks go off on national mall from the White House on July 4, 2022, in Washington, DC. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

'That's ridiculous'

The Bidens' 45-year marriage is the second for both. The president lost his first wife and daughter in a 1972 car crash. Jill Biden divorced her first husband after five years and married Joe Biden two years later. Together, they have one biological daughter, Ashley, and they raised the president's two sons, Hunter and Beau, who died from brain cancer in 2015.

She doesn't think of herself as an advisor to her husband.

"I listen to him, he listens to me. It's a marriage," she said on CBS.

She has been married to Joe Biden since 1977 and she fiercely defends her family. For all of Joe Biden's official, gun-toting security, Jill Biden became known as her husband's bouncer during the 2020 campaign after twice helping to eject protesters from rallies.

When her husband held a nearly two-hour news conference in January, she was the one asking his aides why no one tried to stop it, the New York Times reported.

Asked on CBS about polls that show Americans have concerns about Joe Biden's mental fitness, she shook her head in exasperation.

"I think that's ridiculous," she said.

She also dismissed questions from NBC about their son, Hunter, who is under federal investigation for possible tax crimes and a false statement on a gun application and who has long been a target of Republican congressional scrutiny.

"Everybody and their brother has investigated Hunter," she told NBC. "They keep at it, and at it, and at it. I know that Hunter is innocent. I love my son, and I will keep looking forward."

'First lady of the moment'

Jill Biden is a professor who grades tough, a "Philly girl" who is stoked about the World Series, and a fitness buff who squeezes barre and cycle classes into her travel schedule. She is also a known prankster, who once stuffed herself inside an overhead bin on Air Force Two to give someone a scare and who posed last year as a flight attendant named "Jasmine" to trick reporters on April Fool's Day.

What she isn't, is a born politico. She's a self-described introvert married to an extrovert and she says in her memoir that she was "never a natural as a 'political spouse.'" She forced herself through discomfort before feeling she was "getting the hang of this political wife thing."

Becoming first lady was also a challenge.

"I had to be, with all that was happening, First Lady of the moment," she said at a July fundraiser.

But her stamp on the role is groundbreaking as the first president's wife to continue her professional career as first lady. She loves being known two days out of the week as simply "Dr. B," the students' English professor, she often says. "Of course you should" continue teaching, her husband told her after the 2008 election, she wrote.

First lady Jill Biden tours a classroom at the James Rushton Early Learning Center in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 9, 2021. Photo by ANNA MONEYMAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Jill Biden came into her role as first lady with a focus on issues she worked on during her eight years as second lady  education, helping military families, and fighting cancer after their son Beau died at age 46.

She's a natural envoy to the teachers unions who supported her husband's 2020 campaign, particularly given that Jill Biden herself is a member of the largest one. Teaching gives her a "link to the real world" outside the bubble of the White House, said Michael LaRosa, her former press secretary. Events are scheduled around her teaching two days a week and she grades papers on the plane.

On World Teachers' Day this month, Jill Biden spoke on The Kelly Clarkson Show about visiting Uvalde, Texas, where 19 elementary schoolers and two teachers were killed in a school shooting.

"Having lost a child, myself  it was just devastating," she said. "We've got to do more. We must ban assault weapons."

She also told teachers in the audience: "I said to my students, you have to have a plan in your head if there's an active shooter on campus."

'Dig a little deeper'

Jill Biden has built up her political voice over the years  all in her unmistakable accent from the Philadelphia suburbs.

"You know you're hearing real America when you hear her pronounce the word 'coffee,'" LaRosa said.

She has been working to mobilize women at recent events with a midterm elections message focusing on her husband's accomplishments and her personal experience growing up in an era before Roe v. Wade, the landmark case guaranteeing abortion rights that the Supreme Court struck down in June.

Jill Biden tells the audience of friend who could only get an abortion in the pre-Roe days by being declared mentally unfit.

"We will not let some radical Republican agenda be the legacy we leave for our daughters and granddaughters," she said at an event in San Francisco.

At fundraising events, she has asked donors to "dig a little deeper, give a little bit more."

She has participated in 10 fundraising events for the Democratic National Committee and her events, emails, texts, and direct mail have brought in millions for Democrats up and down the ticket, according to a DNC spokesperson.

In the past month, she's appeared at campaign events with Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, Florida US Senate candidate Val Demings and Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist. She went to Rhode Island on Wednesday and is headed on Saturday to New Hampshire for political events with Sen. Maggie Hassan and the state Democratic Party.

"Jill Biden is a really big draw," said a Murray campaign spokesperson. The campaign raised "well over six figures" at their event with her.

She talks to people across the country and exchanges information with her husband, Kaufman said. "That's the way the partnership works," he said. "She's just an incredible surrogate for him" and her impact will be "extensive" during the midterms.

First lady Jill Biden attends a rally for Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat from Florida, and Florida gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist, also a Florida Democrat, on October 15, 2022, in Orlando, Florida. Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

'A vital image'

Jill Biden's support of her husband's political future hasn't always gone smoothly. Her office issued an apology once after she pointed to "bodegas"  which she mispronounced  and "breakfast tacos" to laud Latino diversity. She has been trying to learn Spanish in recent years as a way to connect with Spanish-speaking students at her community college and she's taking classes online.

Her favorability rating, in limited polling on her, was only slightly positive  34% favorable, 29% unfavorable and 37% unsure, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS between June and July.

Former first lady Michelle Obama  Gallup's reigning "Most Admired Woman"  continues to overshadow Jill Biden in many respects, including periodic mentions in punditry and polls alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a potential 2024 Democratic presidential nominee if Joe Biden decides to forego re-election.

Democratic pollster Celinda Lake suggested that Jill Biden's rating was reflective of her husband's popularity and not specific to her. People sometimes bring up Jill Biden and say positive things about her during focus group discussions on Democrats, Lake said. They like that she continues teaching, that she's in touch with real people and that she can speak to her husband's character.

"We're not short of negative arguments," Lake said. "What we need to do is be able to bring to women voters, in particular, who are swamped with their lives, a sense that 'we are getting things done for you, we get your life' and she's really good on that."

At 71, Jill Biden is more than eight years younger than her husband and projects a "vital image" that is "useful to the Biden brand," especially if the criticism of her husband is that his public speaking style seems "slow and old-mannish," said Ohio University professor Katherine Jellison, who studies first ladies.

With midterm early voting already underway in many states, Joe Biden needs whatever help he can get. A sitting president's party typically performs badly during midterm elections. While Democrats today control both the House and Senate, Republicans are favored to win the House, and they have a shot at controlling the Senate. More Republicans in Congress will only further hamper Biden's agenda during the last two years of his term, giving him less to run on in 2024.

A Republican-controlled House, specifically, would also almost certainly launch investigations into Hunter Biden and various aspects of the Biden administration. Some House Republicans are also itching to impeach Joe Biden, and regardless of the reasons offered, there'd be little stopping them except themselves.

Jill Biden has stressed the high stakes of this election. Getting out on the campaign trail now will also allow her to test strategies or topics that she can use for a potential 2024 campaign.

"This is a key moment for her," Jellison said.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on May 18, 2022. ERIN SCHAFF/AFP via Getty Images

'It may be his name on the ticket, but '

When Jill Biden wanted her husband to run for president in 2008, she organized a family meeting, stood up to drive home her point, and said, "it's time. You have to run," she wrote.

In 2020, Joe Biden told his friend Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware that his wife wanted him to run even more than he did, Carper recalled in an interview with Insider. She later, during a fundraiser, described that election against Donald Trump as "a choice between good and evil."

Biden isn't expected to make a firm decision on running in 2024 until after the midterm elections, and likely, early next year.

The first lady wrote in her memoir that her husband "always understood that a public life was his choice, not mine," so the family decides together on his campaigns.

"It may be his name on the ticket, but all of us  me, the kids, and now the grandkidshave to talk to reporters, show up at rallies, and deal with the scrutiny," she wrote.

LaRosa said the first lady is traveling the country and the world now to support her husband because she believes in what he's doing.

But does she truly want him to run again? Will she use her power of "NO" if she believes the notion of occupying the White House until 2029  nearly 60 years after Joe Biden first entered elected politics  is just too much?

"She will always be supportive of what he wants, and you start from there," LaRosa said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Texas judge agreed to reduce the cash bond for the two brothers charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault in the deadly attack on a group of migrants last month.

One month after the attack that killed one person and seriously injured another, Michael and Mark Sheppard appeared before Judge Roy Ferguson of the 394th District Court of Texas on Thursday morning.

After hearing from their defense lawyers and the state prosecutor, Ferguson lowered the cash bond, originally set at $250,000 for each brother. The state prosecutor voiced concerns for public safety if the brothers are released and warned they might be a flight risk. The defense argued that the Sheppards have limited financial resources to cover the additional bond.

Mark Sheppard now faces a $50,000 cash or surety bond and a $200,000 personal recognizance bond. A PR bond requires no money be posted and is basically based on a signature that a defendant promises to show up to court.

Michael Sheppard, the alleged shooter, faces a $75,000 cash or surety bond and a $175,000 PR bond. Michael Sheppard appeared from the Brewster County Jail and Mark Sheppard appeared from the Presidio County Jail. Both brothers were transferred out of the Hudspeth County Jail earlier this month.

Attorney Brent Mayr, representing Michael Sheppard, and attorney Richard Esper, representing Mark Sheppard, had submitted writs of habeas corpus challenging the brothers' ongoing pretrial detention and asking for an appearance before a judge. State prosecutor Kevin Marcantel appeared before Ferguson.

The Sheppard brothers are charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the attack Sept. 27 south of Sierra Blanca in which Mexican migrant Jesus Sepulveda was killed and a woman was shot in the stomach.

Investigators say a group of migrants had stopped to drinking water out of Fivemile Tank in rural Hudspeth County when they were attacked by gunman who fired two shots. One migrant was killed and a woman was wounded.

More:'She's still very scared': Attorneys seek release for survivors of Hudspeth County attack

Defense lawyers make case for lower bond

The Sheppard brothers were first arrested Sept. 29 on manslaughter charges. They were released on $250,000 bond each on Oct. 3. In Thursday's hearing, attorneys Mayr and Esper called Cathy Drake, proprietor of Permian Bail Bond in Odessa, as their sole witness. Drake did not connect to the virtual hearing and Esper shared her testimony.

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According to Esper, Drake posted bond for the brothers with the assistance of their relatives in Florida and the Carolinas. She drove them to El Paso and they intended to travel to Florida to be with family. While in El Paso, Mark Sheppard met with Esper, whom his relatives had retained to represent him. A Hudspeth County sheriff's deputy then informed Drake there was a new arrest warrant for aggravated assault.

Esper questioned why the assault charges were filed later, after the brothers already had posted bond. The Sheppards returned to Sierra Blanca and turned themselves in Oct. 4. Esper said Drake has known the brothers "for several years" and does not consider them a danger to the community.

In the Hudspeth County Jail, Mark Sheppard was examined by a doctor who identified "early signs of dementia." Esper said Mark Sheppard had a stroke nine months ago and he is concerned about his health while in jail.

Mayr said he objects to the "illegal, oppressive bond" placed on his client. He said the Sheppards do not have "significant assets" to post for the bond and their relatives are seeking to sell a home in Florida to contribute to legal expenses. Mayr also submitted to the judge three letters from Sierra Blanca residents speaking to Michael Sheppard's character.

Mark Sheppard, in a white and orange jumpsuit, sat in silence, occasionally averting his gaze as the attorneys spoke. Michael Sheppard, in a pink jumpsuit, stared straight into the camera, expressing little emotion. Audio or visual recording of the hearing, streamed on YouTube, was prohibited.

Ferguson presides over the 394th Judicial District Court, which includes Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. He also is known as the judge in the cat lawyer viral video.

More:Sheppard brothers back in custody facing aggravated assault charges

'What they did is horrible'

State prosecutor Marcantel said the aggravated assault charges came after the manslaughter charges because authorities were waiting to see if the second victim, the woman shot in the stomach, would survive. When it was clear she would survive her injuries, prosecutors brought the assault charges.

The lawyer for the wounded woman has told the El Paso Times that the victim feared for her safety after learning the brothers were initially released on bond. Other members of the group who survived the shooting were placed in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in El Paso. After several weeks in detention, they were released and continue to cooperate with law enforcement.

Marcantel proceeded to read the affidavit filed by the Texas Rangers. He pointed out that Michael Sheppard allegedly used a shotgun, which would require him to be at close range. He questioned the brothers' account that they mistook the migrants for javelinas and pointed out that Mark Sheppard changed his story to investigators.

"What they did is horrible," Marcantel said. "I'm surprised it's not a higher charge than manslaughter.

"I'm not buying this whole mistake thing," he said. "In my mind, that makes them a danger to the public. I dont know what they're going to do when they get out of jail."

Marcantel said the prosecutor's office was open to a split bond at $125,000 cash bond and $125,000 PR bond for each brother.

Mayr abruptly left the hearing around 9:35 a.m. because he was called to appear in a trial. He originally had asked Ferguson to change the time of the hearing because he had to appear in court.

After less than an hour of statements, Ferguson reached his decision. Michael Sheppard now must post $75,000 in cash or surety bonds from an approved company. For the remaining $175,000 PR bond, he is not required to post money upfront but will be liable for the entire amount if he does not show up in court.

Mark Sheppard's cash bond is slightly lower, at $50,000, with a $200,000 personal recognizance bond.

A family member of Jesus Sepulveda clutches a photo of the 22-year-old migrant who was killed on Sept. 27 in Hudspeth County. Authorities returned the man's remains to family members in Juarez.

More:'We're destroyed': Sepulveda family returns home with migrant son's remains

Investigation ongoing

Thursday's hearing was one of the first windows into the state's case against Michael and Mark Sheppard. A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson in El Paso said the incident report is still not complete because the investigation is ongoing.

The Hudspeth County Sheriff's office has not responded to the El Paso Times' requests for further information. The Brewster County Sheriff's Office and the Presidio County Sheriff's Office have declined to comment on the case.

More:Family of migrant killed in Hudspeth County demands justice

Staff writer Martha Pskowski may be reached at mpskowski@elpasotimes.com and @psskow on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Judge reduces cash bond for Sheppard brothers in migrant's death
The man charged in the February shooting death of Charlotte Area Transit System bus driver Ethan Rivera will remain in custody for the foreseeable future, according to a news report.

WBTV reported Thursday that Dru Darian Thavychith, 21, will not receive bond. According to the station, Riveras mother and fiancee pleaded with the judge to not set a bond. Thavychiths lawyer, however, argued that he is not a flight risk because he called the police on himself in Kansas, according to WBTV, before he was extradited to Charlotte.

Riveras mother just begged judge to not let Thavychith out. There should be no bond for murder she said. @WBTV_News  Caroline Hicks WBTV (@CarolineHicksTV) October 27, 2022

Thavychith was arrested March 1 outside Kansas City, Missouri, after a two-week, four-state manhunt, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. He is charged with first-degree murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. If convicted, he faces mandatory life in prison without parole.

Ethan Rivera, had worked as a bus driver for CATS for just over a year when he was shot on Feb. 11, in what Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police call a road-rage incident. He died a day later.

Mecklenburg County prosecutors will not be seeking the death penalty against Thavychith, they said previously.

Earlier this month CATS CEO John Lewis announced his resignation from his position as CEO effective Nov. 30. Lewis received heavy criticism over driver safety following Riveras death.
A judge said a Capitol rioter treated Officer Michael Fanone as "prey" and a "trophy" on January 6.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced the rioter to more than 7 years, or 90 months, in prison.

Prosecutors had recommended an 8-year sentence and showed pictures of Fanone's scarred neck.

Calling him one of the "most serious offenders," a federal judge on Thursday sentenced Capitol rioter Albuquerque Cosper Head to more than 7 years in prison for pulling then-police Officer Michael Fanone into the pro-Trump mob during the January 6, 2021 attack.

"He was your prey, he was your trophy," said Judge Amy Berman Jackson, as she ordered Head to serve 90 months in prison, with credit for the time he's served since his arrest in April 2021.

Under a plea agreement in May, Head admitted to joining in the brutal assault on Fanone, who resigned from the Washington, DC, police force and later testified publicly before the House committee investigating the January 6 attack.

Prosecutors alleged that Head grabbed hold of a riot shield during the January 6 attack and used it against police officers protecting the Capitol. When he lost control of the shield, he wrapped his arm around Fanone's neck and yelled out, "I got one," as he dragged the police officer into the crowd outside the Capitol.

Following his arrest, Head claimed that he had been trapped in the Lower West Terrace tunnel by the crowd. His lawyer, in a court filing, said Head "became entangled" with Fanone.

But Jackson said that claim was belied by video footage that showed Head's enthusiastic participation in the assault.

Head, she said, "had to want to get there."

"When you grab someone by the neck, you are the actor, you are the initiator," Jackson added.

In the aftermath of the January 6 attack, Fanone has emerged as one of the highest-profile police officers who protected the Capitol that day. With a "Blue Lives Matter" flag swirling overhead, Fanone was stunned with a Taser during the attack, with members of the mob yelling, "Kill him!" and "Get his gun!"

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"Kill him with his own gun," another member of the crowd yelled, according to court papers filed by the Justice Department.

Ahead of Head's sentencing, prosecutors recommended that he receive an 8-year prison term. Prosecutors included a photograph of burns marks from the Taser that left scarring on the back of Fanone's neck. Fanone has said he suffered a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury during the assault.

Prosecutors showed scarring on Michael Fannone's neck in a court filing recommending an 8-year prison term for Albuquerque Head. US attorney's office in Washington, DC

On Thursday, Jackson described the prosecution against Head as "one of the most serious cases there is" stemming from the January 6 attack.

Of Fanone, she said, "It was unmissable. He was in uniform. He was on duty, and he was doing his job."

"He was protecting America," the judge added. "That's who Officer Fanone was, that's what Officer Fanone was doing."

This is a developing story.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jurgen Klopp has escaped a touchline ban after his sending off against Manchester City earlier this month, though the Liverpool manager has been hit with a 30,000 fine by the FA.

Klopp was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor in the closing stages of Liverpools fiery win over City after appearing to shout in the face of the linesman for not awarding a foul on forward Mohamed Salah.

The German admitted that his emotions had spilled over late in the match and Klopp accepted his behaviour had been improper after he was later charged by the FA.

Klopp was able to be on the touchline as Liverpool were defeated by Nottingham Forest last weekend and will not face a touchline ban ahead of the home match against Leeds on Saturday.

More follows
US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has temporarily blocked a subpoena from the House committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol seeking phone records for an Arizona Republican Party official who joined a scheme to falsely declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Justice Kagan issued an administrative stay on 26 October, giving the full court a chance to weigh in on the decision.

She gave the House committee until Friday to submit a response to an emergency application from Arizona Republican Party chair Kelli Ward, who was among so-called alternate electors subpoenaed by the committee.

The alternate elector plot from the former president and his allies relied on a bogus legal theory involving a slate of fraudulent certificates from key states that falsely asserted Mr Trumps electoral college votes.

The House select committee investigating the events leading up to and surrounding the attack on the Capitol on 6 January, 2021, when a joint session of Congress convened to certify the results of that election, has issued subpoenas for dozens of people involved with the scheme.

Lower courts have rejected Ms Wards arguments to block the subpoena.

Among their arguments to reject their subpoena, Ms Ward and her husband Michael Ward, both doctors, have claimed that disclosing their records to the committee would violate their medical privacy. The committee only is seeking Ms Wards records.

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, lawyers for the couple wrote in legal filings.

The subpoena seeks information from a T-Mobile-linked mobile phone, along with phone numbers, IP addresses and other devices that connected with the phone in the elections aftermath.

The Supreme Court also is considering a separate emergency appeal from Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is also trying to block a subpoena  one that seeks his testimony in a Georgia grand jury investigation into allegations of election interference in the state.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas issued a similar temporary stay as the full court considers how to proceed.
Editors note: The following guest commentary is in response to the October 23 Eagle editorial Vote No on Kansas ballot questions 1 and 2 and protect our Constitution.

Many factors contribute to a states economic success and its job growth. Tax policy usually gets most of the headlines, but energy costs, access to a strong workforce, and adequate infrastructure are a few other examples crucial to a competitive business environment.

But one you may not have considered is the states regulatory climate. In 2019, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University created a system to effectively track a states regulatory burden and how those regulations can stifle investment and economic activity. While Kansas fairs better than our surrounding states, our regulatory code still contains more than 73,000 regulations with 3.3 million words.

As states and local governments pass more regulations, it becomes harder for job-creators of all sizes to comply. That is why the Kansas Chamber and the states business community began working more than five years ago to reduce the states regulatory burden and to eliminate unnecessary and outdated restrictions.

Passage of Constitutional Amendment Question #1 on the November ballot would enact a simple, common-sense way for Kansas to take its next step in becoming a more competitive state.

The language in the Constitutional Amendment is straightforward:

Whenever the legislature by law has authorized any officer or agency within the executive branch of government to adopt rules and regulations that have the force and effect of law, the legislature may provide by law for the revocation or suspension of any such rule and regulation, or any portion thereof, upon a vote of a majority of the members then elected or appointed and qualified in each house.

The proposed amendment is hardly a power-grab by the Kansas Legislature as some overzealous Kansas editorial writers have opined. It simply allows state lawmakers the authority to repeal a regulation  not the underlying law that grants the authority to the state agency for the regulation.

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Often, agencies will promulgate rules and regulations that are inconsistent with legislative intent of the law passed by the Legislature, or even contrary to what was clear in the authorizing statute.

As regulations have the impact of a law, a yes vote for Question 1 is one way to restore the balance of power when the administrative branch goes beyond its constitutional authority to execute what the legislature has enabled.

Passing Question 1 is completely consistent with the separations of powers doctrine as it is the legislative branch (with the signature of a Governor in most cases) that creates laws, not the executive branch.

Regulations do protect the public  but remember, it is the Kansas Legislature that provides the authority to do so in the first place and repealing a regulation that is contrary to the underlying law, also protects the public, probably more so.

Unnecessary government red tape and job-killing regulations especially hurt Kansas citizens. Economists have linked government overreach to increased poverty in the state, in addition to lower levels of entrepreneurship. Kansass poverty rate climbed 18% in 18 years as the states regulatory burdens increased 72%. Across the board, researchers have discovered that states with more regulations exhibit higher poverty rates.

While large businesses have the lawyers and accountants to wade through the maze of Kansas more than 73,000 regulations, regulations have a bigger impact on small firms.

Members of the Kansas Chamber come from all industries and are in all areas of the state. More than half have 100 employees or less. They are main-street retailers and large retailers; the largest manufacturers in the state and the smallest; small and large financial service firms; small agri-business and the largest agri-businesses; and independent insurance agencies and insurance companies.

On behalf of the Kansas business community, we ask Kansas voters to support Question #1 and vote yes to help make Kansas more competitive and to spur more economic success for all.

Alan Cobb is the president and chief executive officer of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce.
Kansas City police sergeant Matthew T. Neal pleaded guilty Thursday to smashing the face of a 15-year-old boy in the parking lot of a fast food chicken restaurant on Troost Avenue almost three years ago.

Neal, who faced a third-degree assault charge, was placed on four years probation and has to surrender his law enforcement license.

As part of his plea agreement with prosecutors, Neal was ordered to write a letter of apology to the victim.

Circuit Court Judge S. Margene Burnett told Neal that she would not impose a prison sentence but any probation violation could result in sentencing him to four years in prison.

In admitting his guilt during a virtual hearing, Neal avoided a criminal trial that was scheduled to begin Nov. 14. Neal had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge.

We are thankful to have resolved this case favorably, said attorney Molly Hastings, who represented Neal in court Thursday.

The plea agreement also prohibits Neal from carrying a firearm or having any contact with the victim or his family. He also required to complete an anger management class.

A Jackson County grand jury indicted Neal for the 2019 incident that happened in front of the Go Chicken Go restaurant at 51st Street and Troost Avenue following a vehicle pursuit.

The teen suffered bruising to his head, broken teeth and a gash on his head. As he was lying on the parking lot pavement, Neal forced his knee on the back of the teens head, prosecutors said.

The victim was heard saying, I cant breathe, prosecutors said.

In January 2021, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners agreed to pay the teen $725,000 to settle an excessive use of force claim against Neal and Officer Dylan Pifer.

Tom Porto, an attorney who represented the victim, said he and his client were pleased with the outcome of the criminal case.

Its significant that a sergeant voluntarily pleaded guilty, Porto said.

Capt. Leslie Foreman, a police spokesperson, said Neal left the department Thursday.

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The victim in this incident had a negative experience with a member of the KCPD, Foreman said in a statement emailed to The Star. This is extremely regrettable and the incident has been reviewed and discussed at all levels of the department.

We expect Department members to treat all citizens with dignity and respect at all times, and it did not happen in this case.

Foreman said the incident was reviewed by the Jackson County Prosecutors office, which ultimately filed charges against Neal.

We respect the judicial process and the outcome determined by the court, Foreman said.

According to charging documents, the teen was a passenger in a car that fled as police attempted to pull it over.

The vehicle occupied by the teen came to a stop in the restaurant parking lot. The driver and the teen exited the vehicle and got on their knees with their hands up.

The teen did not struggle or pull away. Neal pressed his knee into the teens head and neck, pinning his face into the pavement and forcing him to struggle to breathe, prosecutors said.

The teen was not arrested nor charged with any crime associated with the vehicle pursuit. He was treated at Childrens Mercy Hospital, where he received six stitches near his hairline.

Civil rights organizations have long criticized the police department and former police chief Rick Smith for their handling of police officers accused of using excessive force against Black people.

Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2, the Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity, said the guilty plea on Thursday supports their call that the police department hold its officers accountable.

He (Neal) should have been fired years ago. How long does it take them to complete an assault investigation of their own? McDonald told The Star.

I recall over 10 officers witnessed this event and the chief only learned about it when Jean Peters Bakers office was filing charges. The system is broken.

Three Kansas City police officers currently face criminal charges.

Former officers Matthew Brummett and Charles Prichard are both charged with felony assault for allegedly using excessive force when they arrested Breona Hill, a transgender woman, in May 2019.

The alleged assault was captured on video showing the officers pinning her to the ground and slamming her head into the pavement. They are scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 28, according to court records.

Nicholas McQuillen is charged with a misdemeanor assault after he was seen in a viral video dousing a man and his teenage daughter with pepper spray at a protest at the Plaza in the summer of 2020.

McQuillen, who is currently assigned to the patrol division, is scheduled to go to trial on those charges on Dec. 12. Earlier this year, the police department paid $110,000 in a legal settlement to the teenage girl.

Eric J. DeValkenaere, a former detective, was sentenced to six years in prison for the Dec. 3, 2019, shooting death of a Black man. He remains free on bond while he appeals the conviction.

DeValkenaere was convicted of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the killing of Cameron Lamb, who was backing his pickup truck into his garage when he was shot.

A Jackson County judge sentenced DeValkenaere to three years on the involuntary manslaughter conviction and six years on the armed criminal action conviction, the sentences to run concurrently.
Kanye West Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

The fallout from Kanye West's antisemitic remarks is continuing, as the rapper has been escorted out of Skechers' corporate officers after an unwelcome visit.

The footwear company said in a statement that Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, "showed up unannounced and uninvited" to its corporate offices in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"Considering Ye was engaged in unauthorized filming, two Skechers executives escorted him and his party from the building after a brief conversation," the company said. "Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West."

Ye seemingly visited Skechers looking for a new home for his Yeezy shoes, according to TMZ, which notes he may not have realized Skechers is owned by a Jewish family. Earlier this week, Adidas announced it would end a partnership with Ye over the rapper's recent "unacceptable, hateful and dangerous" antisemitic comments, though Bloomberg reports the company still plans to sell Yeezy designs without the branding.

As a result of the terminated Adidas deal, Forbes said Ye is officially no longer a billionaire and that his net worth is now $400 million. In a return to Instagram, the rapper claimed he lost "2 billion dollars in one day" over what he described as "love speech."

Meanwhile, TMZ reports Ye's private school, Donda Academy, has closed its doors for the rest of the 2022-2023 school year. The principal, Jason Angell, reportedly said in an email to parents this step was being taken "at the discretion of our founder."

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The Kettering Police Department (KPD) is asking the public for help in identifying a person suspected of stealing cars throughout Dayton and Kettering, according to a KPD spokesperson.

KPD asks if you have any information on the suspect pictured below to please contact Detective Jung at 937-296-2460, the spokesperson said.

>>Far from a victimless crime; Area law enforcement agencies team up to battle spike in car thefts

There has been an uptick in cars being stolen in our area this year.

A tremendous spike is how Major Jason Hall with the Dayton Police Department described it.

The City of Dayton has had over 1,000 stolen vehicles this year, a 61% increase in car thefts compared to 2021, according to Hall.

>>Hyundai reportedly stolen from UD campus

This week, Dayton police sent two campus alerts regarding car thefts on the University of Dayton campus.

There was an incident where a vehicle owner on campus reported their Hyundai Sonata was missing, a spokesperson for UD Public Safety said.

Public Safety determined the vehicle was likely taken right before a different Hyundai was stolen in Kettering and found abandoned with its engine running in A Lot on UD campus, the spokesperson said.

>>Richmond man identified as suspect arrested after hours-long standoff in Preble County

Due to the recent thefts, law enforcement agencies throughout the Miami Valley have began to team up and track down people stealing cars to return them to their owners.

News Center 7 are working to learn if these thefts are connected and we will update this story as we learn more.
A KFC employee was shot while standing outside of the restaurant after a fight broke out nearby, police in Georgia said.

It was around 9:30 p.m. Oct. 26 when the Atlanta Police Department was called to the KFC on Joseph E. Lowery Boulevard, according to a news release from the department.

Officers found a KFC worker suffering from a gunshot wound, police told McClatchy News in an email. The worker was taken to a hospital and is in serious condition, according to the release.

Investigators learned that the worker had been standing outside of the KFC when a fight broke out among of group of male suspects nearby, according to the release. The dispute escalated to gunfire, police said, and the KFC worker was struck by a stray bullet.

The victim does not appear to be an intended target at this time, police said.

The worker had to undergo emergency surgery following the shooting, police told WSBTV.

Shortly after the shooting outside the KFC, officers were called to a second location where shots were fired, police said in the release.

Investigators found shell casings at the second location, but no people were shot, the release said. A building had damage from bullets, according to the release.

Police have not announced any arrests or named any suspects and the investigation is ongoing, the release said.

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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

Kourtney Kardashian spoke about her Las Vegas wedding to Travis Barker on "The Kardashians."

She said that the Elvis impersonator officiating the wedding kept calling her Khloe, her sister's name.

She also said that she "blacked out" during the wedding and didn't remember parts of it.

Kourtney Kardashian Barker said that the Elvis impersonator who married her and Travis Barker in Las Vegas after the Grammys kept calling her by her sister's name, Khloe.

On season two, episode six of Hulu's "The Kardashians," which aired Thursday, Kardashian Barker shared the story behind her and Barker's spontaneous chapel wedding. TMZ was the first to report in April that the couple had been married by an Elvis impersonator following the Grammy Awards.

Kardashian Barker said that she was a "hot slob kebab" that evening, and that she "blacked out" during the ceremony, threw up after, and didn't remember parts of it, like walking down the aisle.

However, she did remember one thing: the Elvis impersonator kept calling her by the wrong name.

"When Elvis was marrying us, he's like, 'I, Khloe, take thee, Travis,' and I just like lost my mind, fell straight on the floor, and we like couldn't get up," Kardashian Barker said during a confessional.

"When they were like, 'Do you, Travis, take Khloe,' we just like fell to the ground," Barker said, showing footage of the ceremony to their gathered friends. "He kept calling her Khloe."

Kardashian Barker shared photos from the wedding in an April 6 Instagram post, showing her and Barker with their heads pressed together, kissing, and walking down the aisle hand in hand. In the post's caption, she confirmed that she and Barker had gotten married without a license, meaning that they weren't legally married following the ceremony.

During the episode, Kardashian Barker explained that she and Barker tried to obtain a license but weren't able to given that they were married at 2 a.m.

"I'm sure we probably could have got a license the next day, but what could be a more fun night in Vegas?" she said in a confessional. "I am truly living my best life. Don't let anyone tell you any different."

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The two held their wedding in Italy the following month after getting legally married in Santa Barbara, California on May 15.

New episodes of "The Kardashians" season two are released Thursdays on Hulu.

Read the original article on Insider
THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 13:29

The Kremlin said that they have not asked the President of Guinea-Bissau to relay any messages for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Source: RIA Novosti (RIA News), a pro-Kremlin Russian media outlet, quoting Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov

Quote from Peskov: "There has not been a specific message in this instance, and there was never any talk about it."

Details: Peskov added that the President of Guinea-Bissau has "expressed a desire to convey Putins position [that Ukraine is blocking negotiations with the Russian Federation despite Russias willingness to negotiate - ed.] to the Ukrainian side during his meetings in Ukraine."

Previously: 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.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Coronavirus structure

Credit - Getty ImageAndriy Onufriyenko

On October 14, a team of scientists at Boston University released a pre-print study reporting that they had created a version of SARS-CoV-2 combining two features of different, existing strains that boosted its virulence and transmissibility. Scientists and the public raised questions about the work, which refocused attention on such experiments, and prompted the U.S. government to investigate whether the research followed protocols for these kinds of studies.

The concerns surround what is known as gain-of-function studies, in which viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens are created in the labeither intentionally or unintentionallythat possess more virulent and disease-causing features than is found in nature. The controversy is especially fraught in the context of COVID-19, as questions about where the virus originatedwhether it jumped from animals to people or whether it was created in the Wuhan Virology Institute by scientists studying earlier coronavirusesremain unresolved.

Those questions continue to plague experiments involving SARS-CoV-2, and heighten scrutiny on such experiments, especially by government regulators, and might have been unremarkable had they involved other viruses, says a scientist who requested not to be on the record. In fact, lab studies pushing the virus toward becoming resistant to known drugs are requested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrationsuch work helps doctors and patients have a clear idea of the likelihood that a virus would become resistant to new therapies.

More from TIME

The B.U. scientists were trying to answer a different, but related question of what made Omicron better able to escape the protection provided by the immune system and vaccines. To do so, they created chimeric viruses that contained some genetic material from the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, and some from the Omicron BA.1 strain, focusing on the virus key feature, the spike protein, which alerts the immune system into action. By comparing the altered viruses to the original version of SARS-CoV-2, they could determine whether mutations in Omicrons spike region were responsible for making the virus resistant to vaccines, or if different sections of the viral genome contributed to this escape.

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In the process, however, the team created a version of the virus that they found was 80% lethal in lab mice. That finding was reported in the pre-print study that had not been peer-reviewed by other scientists. The Daily Mail cited the result, raising alarms about a lab-created, highly lethal version of SARS-CoV-2. The work exposed unresolved questions about what gain-of-function research entails, how it should be regulated, and who bears responsibility for such studies.

What Boston University researchers actually did

These questions arent new, nor is the B.U. study the first to focus attention on them. Most experts support the need to conduct such studies, arguing that they are essential for understanding new pathogens, from SARS-CoV-2 to HIV. Others, however, feel such work is an unnecessarily dangerous way of getting those answers, and adamantly believe alternative strategies should be used.

In the U.S., the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the largest funder of biomedical research, calls such entities enhanced potential pandemic pathogens, and has guidelines for reviewing such studies before they are approvedbut only if the work is funded using public monies from that specific federal department. If not, then oversight responsibilities are unclear. The layer of HHS oversight is over HHS grants, says Marc Lipsitch, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Lipsitch is among a number of experts who have advocated for stronger review of such studies since concerns were raised by similar experiments with the influenza H5N1 strain in the 2010s that generated more virulent versions of the virus in the lab. If the grant is from another federal department, there is no required oversight. If you use private funding, there is no oversight.

In a statement provided to TIME, the agency said that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), which is part of NIH, did not review nor issue awards for the experiment described in the B.U. pre-print study that has triggered the current discussion. The NIH is investigating whether indirect federal dollars were used in conducting the experiment, and if so, whether B.U. scientists failed to follow federal policies governing research into potentially dangerous pathogens.

For its part, Boston University officials said the experiment was performed using university funding, and that NIAID was acknowledged in the manuscript because of tools and platforms that were used in this research; they did not fund this research directly. We believe that funding streams for tools do not require an obligation to report. B.U. also said in a statement that the research did not involve gain of function.

Its a gray area, says Dr. David Ho, professor of microbiology and immunology and director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Columbia University, and thats part of the problem when it comes to deciding if anyone should be overseeing such work, and if so, who. I think this [work] is borderline gain-of-function, he says. It does provide a valuable scientific contribution in that they showed that the virulence factor is outside the spike chain. That science is important.

What does gain-of-function mean?

The back and forth over whether the experiment involved gain of function work, and what role, if any, government health officials have in overseeing it, reflects the ambiguous state of this precarious research that has remained unresolved for decades. Even with government-funded studies, scientists dont have clearcut instructions for exactly what constitutes gain-of-function research that would require additional scrutiny.

Would modifying viruses to understand which mutations made them more virulent, and more able to evade drugs and vaccines, fall into this category? Virus experts do such work routinely, says Ho, and he himself has conducted such experiments for years with HIV, as well as with SARS-CoV-2. Whats more, these new versions of viruses and bacteria are constantly being created by nature as well, in response to natural selection pressures. Thats why scientists mutate viruses like SARS-CoV-2 to understand which changes the virus might develop next out in the real world, and what they would mean for existing vaccines and treatments. These mutations are going to occur naturally, says Ho. We are trying to get ahead of itthats just routine for many virus studies. The problem right now is there is a lack of clear guidelines, both from the government and from the [scientific] journals.

That lack of clarity is both confusing and hindering understanding of SARS-CoV-2, says Ho. His lab has scaled back some of its experiments exploring how the virus becomes resistant to existing vaccines and therapies out of concern it might fall into the category of gain-of-function research. Science is being slowed down a little bit because of these concerns, he says. In the lab, we are selecting for viruses with drug resistance and antibody resistance, and from my HIV days, these studies are all routine and in fact required by the FDA. How will you generate the next generation of drugs or antibody therapies if you dont know which mutations contribute to resistance? To me, a lot of these studies are not gain-of-function, they are relevant studies to advance our knowledge of the virus to guide us to the next generation of therapeutics.

FDAs requirements that scientists demonstrate what it might take for viruses to become resistant to drugs conflict with what the HHS considers enhanced potential pandemic pathogens. HHS deems these to be bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that are likely highly transmissible and capable of wide, uncontrollable spread in human populations and highly virulent, making them likely to cause significant morbidity and/or mortality in humans, according to a fact sheet on the agencys website. These include certain versions of the influenza virus capable of causing widespread disease, such as H5N1 and H7N9, as well as the original SARS and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses.

Boston University maintains that the version of the virus its scientists created at the universitys National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratories is actually less lethal, at 80%, than the original virus, which was 100% deadly in the mice when they were exposed to the virus at certain concentrations. The university also said its researchers were given permission to conduct the research by the universitys internal review board.

But Lipsitch says that such boards often dont have the expertise to evaluate whether a study has the likelihood of producing a potentially dangerous public health threat. Were all familiar with research that puts participants at risk, like vaccine trials, he says. But the idea of research that puts people who have no idea the risk is even happening, like people across the country who could get a virus if it spreads [from a lab] globally, thats a relatively new phenomenon. And thats why its so badly regulated, because we never really had to think about it before.

Under the current system, the burden of alerting authoritieseither at a researchers own institution or at the HHSlies with the individual scientist. Ho says if any of his research ended up creating something in the lab that was more virulent and potentially a threat to public health, he would inform both his institution as well as NIH and Centers for Disease Control, regardless of whether the funding was coming from there. I think thats what any responsible, diligent scientist would do.

The problem is that the incentives for sounding the alarm arent necessarily aligned to do so, since alerting authorities almost certainly would halt the research and potentially even trigger a wider review of the laboratorys activities.

What experts say needs to change

In February 2022, the NIH and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy asked the countrys biosafety board, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) to review current policies regarding gain-of-function researchand consider whether more oversight is needed even on studies that are not funded with government dollars and issue recommendations by the end of the year

The debate over how best to manage research with dangerous pathogens moved from government and academic circles into the public eye during the last major infectious disease epidemic, involving influenza. In 2014, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy issued a temporary ban on funding gain-of-function research involving flu, and the MERS and SARS coronaviruses, which halted 18 studies underway at the time. The moratorium stemmed from concerns over certain studies funded by NIH on H5N1 that could potentially create more virulent and even lethal versions of the virus that could be devastating if they escaped and spread among the worlds population.

The ban was lifted in December 2017 by the NIH, after the HHS issued new guidelines for reviewing such research, including the creation of an independent panel of experts to review any proposals for these types of studies submitted to the HHS. Those reviewers were tasked with considering whether such research was absolutely necessary, and whether there was no alternative way to gain the same knowledge that proved less risky to both the scientists and society. Three research proposals have been awarded under these guidelines, two involving influenza in which the reviewers decided there were no alternative ways to answer the scientific questions posed, and another that was initially approved and required additional security measures but was ultimately replaced by alternative studies not requiring the more stringent review.

Still, some experts feel more could be done to justify such studies, including being more transparent with the public about who is reviewing the experiments, their comments, and the risks and benefits of the work. The NSABBs recommendations are likely to reflect the recent worries over SARS-CoV-2s origins, and attempt to provide clearer guidance for researchers who are interested in undertaking gain of function research. And based on how the scientific community has responded to previous biosecurity concerns, Ho says it is likely that the government will lean toward requiring some type of review of all research that might lead to creating enhanced potential pandemic pathogens, even if the work is not paid for by public funds.

Better oversight is necessary, as many in the field argue that these types of studies are essential in a world more easily threatened by virulent diseases. I would not like to see a blanket ban on this kind of experiment, because we are learning things from it, says Lipsitch. I would like to see much more careful review of this type of experiment so we are doing them with the understanding of what the risks and benefits are.
Haiti deserves praise for becoming the worlds first Black republic in 1804. Other nations in the Caribbean wouldnt be republics till many years after, with Barbados as the most recent in 2021. But the Haitian Revolution wouldnt have been possible without its architect, Toussaint Louverture.

As noted by History, Louverture not only succeeded in freeing Haiti, he helped precipitate the downfall of European colonialism in the western hemisphere. Over time, other islands pushed for their own freedom. Revolts erupted across the English, Spanish and French- speaking Caribbean.

Haiti, then called Saint-Domingue, was under French control since 1697. Louverture was born in 1743 and spent a good portion of his life enslaved before entering the military.

In 1791, revolution sparked. The chief reason was to rid Haiti of the institution of slavery. But supporters also pointed to the revolution taking place in France at the time. If France could rid itself of tyranny and eventually become a republic, then surely Haiti could do the same.

History notes, as the islands enslaved workers organized to burn plantations and kill many owners, the newly-freed Toussaint laid low. He tended to his own land, while continuing to oversee his former owners plantation. Eventually, wielding knowledge of African and Creole medicinal techniques, he entered the war as a physician. But he quickly distinguished himself as a canny tactician and a strategic, charismatic leader.

Louvertures military resume was impressive. He not only outfoxed French forces, but British and Spanish ones, too. According to The New Yorker, he united the islands Black and mixed-race populations under his command, outmaneuvered three successive French commissioners, defeated the British and overpowered the Spanish. Then in 1801, despite suffering serious battle wounds, he authored a new abolitionist constitution for Saint Domingue.

Meanwhile, Frances Napolean Bonaparte saw Louverture as a thorn in his side. Bonaparte dispatched twenty- thousand men to overthrow him in 1802. Louverture ordered one of his generals, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, to set fire to the capital city so that those who come to re-enslave us always have before their eyes the image of hell they deserve.

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General Dessalines, also a former slave, assumed a more prominent leadership role when the French arrested Louverture and took him to France. Bonaparte wanted to re-introduce slavery, prompting Dessalines to orchestrate a new, crushing revolt. At last, in November 1803, France surrendered, and Haiti became independent on January 1, 1804.

Dessalines declared himself Emperor of Haiti, and did all he could to ensure it would retain independence until his assassination in 1806.

Unfortunately, Louverture never saw Haiti again and preceded Dessalines in death by three years. After the French imprisoned Louverture in a prison high in the French Alps, Haitis most prominent founding father succumbed to extreme cold, isolation and disease.

Freedom is never free and who better to confirm this than Haiti? The loss of so many of its people during the revolution wasnt the only injustice. Since France couldnt enslave Haiti anymore, it was determined to make it pay in the most literal sense. Forbes reports in 1825, barely two decades after winning independence, Haiti had to pay reparations to the French slaveholders it had overthrown.

The amount was outrageous by any standard, let alone for a young, poor nation with no friends in high places. But the French insisted out of spite, and it was the only way Haiti could avoid further conflict with them.

It took until 1947 for Haiti to come out of debt. But, Forbes notes, decades of making regular payments rendered the Haitian government chronically insolvent, helping to create a pervasive climate of instability from which the country still hasnt recovered.

After he died, Toussaint Louverture was buried without ceremony by his captors, but his place as Haitis hero is secure.
Oct. 26BEMIDJI  TrekNorth

junior Cecelia Humphrey was initially nervous to become a student leader, but after hosting over 200 students from northwest Minnesota schools for a fall summit on Monday, she's glad she did it.

Along with being the TrekNorth student council president, Humphrey was also named president of the Northwest Division Board for the

Minnesota Association of Student Councils,

which provides leadership opportunities to students throughout the state.

As the northwest division president, she had the chance to invite student councils and their advisors from across the region to answer the question, "What is Your Why?" right on her stomping grounds.

"TrekNorth is such a small school, and (running for president) was a big step," Humphrey said. "Just to speak at a big summit like this and represent the area as an Indigenous woman ... It was nerve-wracking, but I'm really glad that I did it."

Starting off as a large group gathering at the Bemidji National Guard Armory before students headed to break-out sessions at TrekNorth Junior and Senior High School, the morning began with the TrekNorth Choir singing the national anthem and a drum group playing a flag song before the Northwest Division Board took turns explaining what their "why" is.

"It was one of the questions I asked the board to get to know them," Humphrey said regarding early planning stages for the summit. "It was asking why they were in student council, why they are the way they are and what motivates them. We all agreed that it would make a good topic and main theme for the summit."

Bemidji State Social Work Professor Ashley Charwood was the morning's keynote speaker and detailed life experiences that helped to mold her "why."

"My 'why' is to really think about how I can become a great and better version of myself while also building up other people," Charwood said during her speech. "I also wanted to be a mentor and a role model as part of my 'why.'"

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TrekNorth Executive Director Erica Harmsen spoke to students on the "why" that led to the creation of TrekNorth in 2003, stating that two teachers wanted a school where college preparation, outdoor adventure and service learning were areas of focus.

"They had a dream that kids would grow to be critical thinkers and be a positive force in their communities, local and global," Harmsen said, "by taking (advanced placement) classes, hiking the Appalachian Trail, hiking the Superior Trail, working in shelters in Chicago ... so they created TrekNorth."

Driving home the theme, Harmsen left off, "my 'why' is looking out and seeing all of you who are going to be leaders someday. Right now, you're learning how to be the best you and how you can help your communities, schools and regions."

Break-out sessions focused on building leadership skills and knowledge, and included discussions on student council planning, team building and being an elected leader. Leading the sessions included Leech Lake member Arnold Dahl-Wooley and Bemidji City Councilor Audrey Thayer among other community members and educators.

Of course, students would also have a chance to figure out their "why."

"My 'why' is to represent the area and the people around us and honor the Indigenous people which I descend from," Humphrey said, addressing the attendees.

Though her October has been a little crazy with planning the summit, Humphrey is finding ways to set limits and boundaries for herself. Such a skill seems necessary as Humphrey is also the president of TrekNorth's National Honor Society.

"I'm a very big perfectionist and I don't like being behind or lacking," she said. "I'm starting to get the gist of how to balance it all."

Humphrey credits Harmsen, TrekNorth Student Council Advisor Jodie Olson and Northwest Division Advisor Randy Huie for supporting her throughout her leadership ventures.

"Everyone who is helping out with this, they knew I was kind of nervous to take this step," Humphrey said, "but they've been great with me and I'm very, very grateful."

Humphrey looks ahead to the rest of the school year which will offer more summits and conventions, most notably a state convention in the spring. Addressing a lack of diversity at certain conventions and creating friendships over commonalities makes these events her favorite part of student council.

"Everyone is so nice because they all have the same goals and aspirations when you want to be a student leader and want to have this image for yourself," Humphrey left off, "and you think 'this is great because all these people are like me.'"
BEIRUT (AP)  Lebanon and Israel signed copies of a U.S.-mediated sea border deal on Thursday and delivered them to the U.N. in the coastal border town of Naqoura.

The agreement to demarcate the maritime border comes after months of indirect talks mediated by Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy for energy affairs, and would mark a major breakthrough in relations between the two nations, which have formally been at war since Israels creation in 1948.

Lebanon and Israel both claim around 860 square kilometers (330 square miles) of the Mediterranean Sea that are home to offshore gas fields. Lebanon hopes that demarcating maritime borders will pave the way for gas exploration to help lift it out of its crippling economic crisis, which has plunged three-quarters of its population into poverty. Israel hopes that the deal will reduce the risk of war with Lebanons Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Lebanon and Israel sent delegations to the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon, who received separately signed copies of the maritime border deal and confirmed coordinates from both countries.

U.S. President Joe Biden in a published statement Thursday said the deal serves the interests of both Lebanon and Israel.

This agreement takes us one step closer to realizing a vision for a Middle East that is more secure, integrated, and prosperous, delivering benefits for all the people of the region, the statement read.

Hochstein met with President Michel Aoun, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Speaker Nabih Berri earlier Thursday before heading to Naqoura. Following the signing, he headed to Israel to meet Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

This agreement was written with the idea in mind that it was between two countries that dont have diplomatic relations, Hochstein told reporters at the Baabda Presidential Palace. I think the good will and good faith efforts by all parties is whats going to make this move forward.

Lapid signed the agreement following Hochsteins meeting with Aoun, according to a statement from his office.

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There is a rare consensus in all security systems on the importance of the agreement, Lapid said. The Israeli Cabinet approved the deal in a special session. This is also an economic achievement. Yesterday, gas production began from the Karish Platform.

Tensions briefly flared between Lebanon and Israel last summer, after Israel began drilling in the Karish gas field as negotiations took place. Prior to the agreement, Lebanon considered the area to be disputed, while Israel said it was part of its U.N.-recognized exclusive economic zone.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah briefly commented on the agreement in a televised address, and asserted that, contrary to what had been declared by some Israeli officials, its signing did not signal a recognition of Israel or the normalization of ties between the two states.

We in Hezbollah consider that what happened from start to end to the results is a great, great victory for Lebanon, for the state, the people, and the resistance, he said.

On the other side of the border, Lior Haiat, a spokesperson in the Israeli prime minister's office, said, This is a historic day. We have reached an agreement with an enemy country that will bring security to our maritime border, but it also brings benefits to Lebanon.

It was not immediately clear when drilling will begin, but cash-strapped Lebanon is hoping French oil giant Total will start drilling early next year after both parties signed the agreement.

Under the agreement, the disputed waters would be divided along a line straddling the Qana natural gas field. Gas production would be based on the Lebanese side, but Israel would be compensated for gas extracted from its side of the line.

President Aoun earlier this month in a televised address announced Lebanons approval of the sea border deal. The Israeli Supreme Court rejected four legal challenges against the deal, after its government also approved the plan.

In 2017, Lebanon approved licenses for an international consortium including Frances Total, Italys ENI and Russias Novatek to move forward with offshore oil and gas development for two of 10 blocks in the Mediterranean Sea. Novatek recently withdrew and officials, including Energy Minister Walid Fayad, have said that Qatar is interested in filling that gap.

I truly believe and hope this can be an economic turning point in Lebanon for a new era of investment and continued support to lift up the economy, Hochstein said.

Lebanon has since reached out to Syria and Cyprus to start direct negotiations over their northern and western maritime borders as well.

___

Associated Press writers Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem, and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report.
By Maya Gebeily and Maayan Lubell

BAABDA/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Lebanese and Israeli leaders finalised a U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation deal on Thursday, bringing a measure of accommodation between the enemy states as they eye offshore energy exploration.

Leaders from Lebanon, Israel and the United States have all hailed the deal as "historic" but the possibility of a wider diplomatic breakthrough remains slim.

As a result, there was no joint signing ceremony: Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed a letter approving the deal at his palace in Baabda in the presence of the U.S. official who mediated the accord, Amos Hochstein.

"We have heard about the Abraham Accords. Today there is a new era. It could be the Amos Hochstein accord," said top Lebanese negotiator and deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, referring to the 2020 U.S.-brokered normalisation of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed separately in Jerusalem, saying the deal was a "tremendous achievement" that had produced Lebanon's de facto recognition of Israel.

"It is not every day that an enemy country recognises the state of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community," Lapid told his Cabinet in broadcast remarks.

In a pre-recorded interview aired later on Thursday, Aoun said delineating the boundary would prevent war with Israel and that the full status of the southern border would be resolved later through "dialogue."

But he insisted the accord did not constitute a peace agreement with Israel, after having earlier said the deal was purely "technical" and would have "no political dimensions or impacts that contradict Lebanon's foreign policy".

Lebanon does not recognize Israel's right to exist and still considers itself at war with its neighbour, with laws barring contact with Israeli officials.

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'CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURE'

Lower-level delegations from each country headed to the United Nations' peacekeeping base at Naqoura along their contested land border, which has yet to be delineated.

There, the delegations entered the same tent, each standing on a side of a table, and submitted their signed copies of the deal to U.S. officials and their new coordinates for the maritime border to the United Nations, officially bringing the deal into force, an Israeli official and a Lebanese source told Reuters.

"I hope it will serve as a confidence-building measure that promotes more security and stability in the region and economic benefits for both countries," said the U.N.'s Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka.

The accord comes days ahead of major political milestones for both Israel and Lebanon.

Aoun's term is set to end on Oct. 31 and political sources say he was keen to seal the deal as the crowning achievement of his six years in office.

Israel holds elections on Nov. 1, its fifth in less than four years.

Hochstein said the accord should be adhered to even if officials change on either side and the United States would continue to play a guarantor role to ensure it remains in force.

"If one side violates the deal, both sides lose," he said.

The accord removes one source of potential conflict between Israel and Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and could help alleviate Lebanon's economic crisis.

An offshore energy discovery - while not enough on its own to resolve Lebanon's deep economic problems - would be a major boon, providing badly needed hard currency and possibly one day easing crippling blackouts.

Offshore areas in the eastern Mediterranean and Levant have yielded major gas discoveries in the past decade and interest has grown since Russia's February invasion of Ukraine disrupted gas pipeline flows.

In a statement on Thursday, U.S. President Joe Biden said energy in the region "should not be a cause for conflict, but a tool for cooperation, stability, security and prosperity".

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah, on Thursday called it a "very big victory for Lebanon."

He said the fighters and military resources that his group had mobilised as a form of pressure to ensure talks went well could now be de-activated, announcing: "Mission accomplished."

Nasrallah also said the Lebanese government had been careful to ensure that the negotiations and approval protocols had no hint of "normalization" with Israel.

(Reporting by Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams, Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily; Writing by Maayan Lubell and Maya Gebeily; Editing by William Maclean, Nick Macfie, Toby Chopra and Jonathan Oatis)
The day Madison Sparrow left home for the final time, she donned a pair of ghost earrings.

She didnt wear jewelry often, but earrings were even rarer, her mother said. It was less than a month before Halloween, though, and Sparrow wanted to be festive to get ice cream with a friend she hadnt seen in several months.

What happened after 17-year-old Sparrow walked out her front door on the afternoon of Oct. 2, 2020, however, would be no ghost story. Instead, the hours, days, weeks and two years that followed became a real-life nightmare for Sparrows family, friends and the Newark community.

Heather Sparrow Murphy looks over mementos of her daughter, Madison Sparrow, in Madison's bedroom.

On Thursday, some of that nightmare came to an end. After less than three hours of deliberation, a New Castle County jury found Noah Sharp, Sparrows ex-boyfriend, guilty of murdering Sparrow.

The jury also found Sharp guilty of conspiring with Annika Stalczynski  the friend Sparrow was supposed to get ice cream with the day of her death  to commit the crime.

BACKGROUND:Madison Sparrow's murder suspect's family testifies before closing arguments at trial

The verdict, which prompted almost no visible reaction from Sharp or his mother, yet left Sparrow's family and friends in relieved tears, came after eight days of evidence and more than 250 exhibits presented by prosecutors.

The defenses case, which Sharps attorneys made in less than three hours Wednesday morning, consisted largely of the statements of just three witnesses: Sharps mother, brother and grandmother.

Attorney General Kathy Jennings said Thursday afternoon she was "grateful to the jury for doing the right thing." She added that for Sparrow's family and friends, however, "closure is much more elusive than justice."

"Madison was a daughter, a friend and a wonderful person," Jennings said. "Her loss is too great to measure and everyone who knew and loved her is in our hearts today."

Sparrow's mother, Heather Sparrow Murphy, who sat through every day of the trial, said she had "no words" following the verdict.

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Instead, she gave a phrase her daughter used to use:

"Embrace the light, not the dark," Murphy said, quoting Sparrow. "Love wins."

The trial

During the trial, the jury heard from nearly 30 witnesses, the majority of whom were called by prosecutors.

Through their testimony, the witnesses laid out the plot to kill Sparrow, which Sharp and Stalczynski began planning via text message, FaceTime and in person at least 10 days before the murder.

The jury viewed the text exchanges between Sharp and Stalczynski that discussed what weapons the teens would use and how theyd dispose of Sparrows body. Ultimately, the two decided they would kill Sparrow at Maclary Elementary School near Newark and dispose of her body about 15 minutes south, near a warehouse.

SPARROW'S MURDER:How two people she once loved committed the ultimate betrayal

At several points during the trial, Sharps defense team attempted to argue that someone else could have had control of Sharps devices and that it wasnt him texting Stalczynski. Given their verdict, it appears the jury rejected this argument.

In court proceedings, the jury watched hours worth of video of Sharps interviews with police at Delaware State Police Troop 2 in Glasgow. Over the course of several days, they heard how Sharps ever-changing stories ultimately crumbled, culminating in a confession.

They also saw, through police video, how Sharp led detectives to where he and Stalczynski buried Sparrow in a 2- or 3-foot grave  a decision the teens made after unsuccessfully drowning Sparrows body in the Christina River under I-95 several dozen yards away.

And the jury listened as several detectives testified that they found a bare footprint in the mud next to the river  where paving blocks from Stalczynskis home and Sparrows burned clothing were found  of which they created a cast.

A Delaware State Police fingerprint analyst then testified that from the cast, she was able to obtain enough detail of the print of the big toe to compare it to an inking of Sharps big toe. The two matched, she said.

During his various interviews with police, Sharp said he often walked barefoot. An employee of Sobieski Inc., the heating and cooling company that has a warehouse close to where Sharp and Stalczynski disposed of Sparrows body, also testified that he saw Sharp not wearing shoes.

Perhaps most anticipated in the trial, though, was Stalczynskis Monday morning testimony. She pleaded guilty in May to murder and conspiracy in exchange for an agreement that prosecutors will ask for 30 years in prison.

The plea documents required her to testify.

STALCZYNSKI SPEAKS:Why kill Madison Sparrow? Former friend, accomplice takes the stand in murder trial

Over a period of about three hours, she quietly confirmed what prosecutors had already presented to the jury the week prior, testifying that her role in the plot was borne out of Sharps claims to her that Sparrow was spreading (her) business.

Sparrows family and friends have repeatedly said the girl wasnt the type to talk badly about her friends. Stalczynski hinted on Monday that she now realizes Sharp may have not been truthful with her.

We was all friends  and he was messing with both of us, Stalczynski said.

Sharps defense team made much of the now-19-year-olds plea agreement and testimony, suggesting during closing arguments on Wednesday afternoon that Stalczynski was not to be believed.

Monika Germono, one of Sharps three defense attorneys, told the jury not to be fooled by Stalczynskis small build or quiet voice.

Shes the one who received a plea to 30 years, Germono said.

It remains unclear how much weight the jury ultimately gave her testimony.

Ultimately, however, it may have been the defense witnesses  coupled with the previous seven days of evidence  that sealed Sharps fate.

TRIAL COVERAGE:Confessions from murder suspect dominate Madison Sparrow trial. What's coming next?

During their back-to-back testimony, Sharps mother and brother contradicted each other several times. At least once, Sharps mom also contradicted herself.

Nikia Sharp testified Wednesday that her son wasnt particularly wet when he arrived home on the evening of Oct. 2, while David Sharp said his brother was very wet.

I dont know if he'd been crawling through mud or water or what, David Sharp testified.

Nikia Sharp also said that soon after her son got home, Stalczynski came into the house and was calm.

But David Sharp said the teen stormed in and slammed the door twice. When questioned by prosecutor John Downs about Stalczynskis demeanor, David Sharp said: When you slam a door, I dont think youd describe it as calm.

In closing arguments, neither Sharps defense team nor the prosecutors noted these inconsistencies.

Instead, the defense argued that police molded Sharps confession while prosecutors urged the jury not to overthink what they had heard over a period of eight days.

Dont outsmart your common sense, said Deputy Attorney General Matt Frawley. You know when something doesn't make sense, you know when something doesn't add up.

The verdict

When the verdict was returned to Judge Ferris Wharton just after 1 p.m. Thursday, he reminded courtroom spectators to remain composed, something he had said Wednesday afternoon after Sharp's family began audibly reacting from the spectator section of the courtroom.

Heeding this, the courtroom was silent as the jury entered, with spectators sitting up a little straighter in their seats. When the foreperson announced guilty on all three charges, several of Sparrow's family members and close friends began crying silently. Others put their hands on each other's backs.

A memorial to Madison Sparrow stands in front of Maclary Elementary School nearly two years after she was murdered in a wooded park adjacent to the school.

Exiting the courtroom, they hugged the chief investigating officer and each other as they wiped away tears.

Sharp's mother did not react when the verdict was read, and while his face was not visible, Sharp also did not appear to respond either, only leaning slightly to one side. As he was led away in handcuffs, he looked back briefly at his mother, giving her a toothy smile.

Sentencing will take place in January. Sharp will be sentenced to life in prison, the mandatory punishment for first-degree murder. Stalczynski does not yet have a sentencing date.

Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on Twitter at @izzihughes_

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Madison Sparrow killing: Jury reaches verdict in murder trial
The Ritz-Carlton hotel and luxury condo high-rises in downtown L.A. loom over Pico-Union, the most overcrowded area of Los Angeles. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

To the editor: As an L.A. County social worker in the 1970s, I had a caseload at any given time of 60 clients recently released from state mental institutions into Los Angeles. The areas I served included skid row, downtown L.A., Westlake-MacArthur Park and Pico-Union. My clients stayed housed because rents for studios and one-bedroom apartments were affordable. Nobody chose to live on the streets. ("L.A.'s love of sprawl made it America's most overcrowded place. Poor people pay a deadly price," Oct. 19)

By 1980, landlords discovered that they could charge families more than individual tenants. The loss of single-room occupancy units aggravated the problem.

As rents continued to increase throughout L.A. County, homeless individuals and families began spilling onto the streets, resulting in the intractable humanitarian crisis we are experiencing today.

Rather than fight for more decent and affordable rental housing for everyone, local leadership has instead allowed faulty government policies to take control. The negative physical, developmental and emotional impacts of overcrowding, substandard housing and homelessness are well-documented.

This is not rocket science. Shame on us for not fixing the problem by now.

Tanya Tull, Los Angeles

The writer founded the groups Para Los Ninos, A Community of Friends and Beyond Shelter.

..

To the editor: Your report on overcrowding is an honest and timely view of housing in Los Angeles. It points out why our homeless count continues to increase.

The favored approach for helping homeless individuals and families is "housing first," which dictates placement in permanent housing prior to receiving services. The problem with this approach is that there is virtually no housing.

The Housing Authority of the city of Los Angeles places about 5% of those who apply for federal Section 8 assistance in permanent housing. Recently, The Times reported that local agencies returned nearly $150 million in unspent funds meant for housing homeless people to the federal government.

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Another issue is that many of the families and individuals living in those crowded conditions qualify under the definition of the federal Housing and Urban Development Department as being homeless. This would increase our homeless count by a substantial amount. You could refer to them as our invisible homeless.

I have lived in the Los Angeles area for more than 65 years, worked in homeless services for more than 30 years and watched this problem develop and increase over these years. There is no easy solution, but I believe an honest appraisal of the problem and our failed approaches would be a good start.

Jim Howat, Long Beach

..

To the editor: The photograph of the badly overcrowded Pico-Union neighborhood with downtown's shiny Ritz-Carlton hotel in the background presents a definite irony.

The city has handed many millions in tax subsidies to developers of these upscale hotels, while just a few blocks away working people struggle with some of the city's worst housing conditions. If ever a picture offered the city a reason to reorder its priorities, this would be it.

Dennis Hathaway, Venice

..

To the editor: Our family home was and still is in the Pico-Union area. When we were in school in the 1930s and 40s, our classmates and neighbors were white, and we were Filipino Americans.

As The Times describes, the area is now overcrowded and inhabited largely by immigrants from Mexico and Central America. The living conditions that are conducive to the spread of COVID-19 are sad but unavoidable.

Mayoral candidates Rick Caruso and Karen Bass have discussed homelessness extensively, but I have not seen proposals for addressing overcrowded areas like Pico-Union in their plans to alleviate the need for affordable housing. How do Caruso and Bass intend to solve another housing crisis in our city?

Lenore Navarro Dowling, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: I noticed the term "white spot," used by early 20th century boosters of Los Angeles, referenced in your article. Here is what I found about that term in researching my book, "The Long Winding Road of Harry Raymond."

The term "white spot" was imported from grayscale business activity maps published by the National Chamber of Commerce, which depicted areas experiencing poor (solid black), fair (dark gray) or good (light gray) business conditions.

In March 1921, one such map showed Los Angeles as the only area in the nation where business activity was not "at a standstill." The Los Angeles Times seized on the image, utilizing it in a publicity campaign for the region. A few years later, it had a new slogan: "Keep the white spot white," and eventually the term expanded to imply not just excellent business conditions, but moral and spiritual values.

Many other areas and cities across the nation embraced the term to describe their business prosperity in years to come. While later writers suggested the term had racial undertones, no such allusion was made in the days when the "white spot" metaphor was popular.

Patrick Jenning, Rancho Mirage

..

To the editor: The Times published more than 5,000 words about overcrowding in L.A., and not one was about the nearly 1 million people in this county who are in the country illegally. Regardless of one's belief of whether those people should be allowed to stay, it is their presence that is the main reason that L.A. is America's most overcrowded place.

This was an excellent article detailing the racism and terrible policies that negatively impacted so many people over the past century, but it was disingenuous at best to fail to acknowledge the impact that illegal immigration has had on overcrowding.

The authors likely knew this was the case with their statement, "More homes are overcrowded in Los Angeles than in any other large U.S. county, a Times analysis of census data found  a situation that has endured for three decades, with no sign of abating."

Until now, those three decades saw the highest number of people illegally entering the country ever.

Don Rosenberg, Westlake Village

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 10: Lin-Manuel Miranda attends Netflix's tick, tick...BOOM! World Premiere on November 10, 2021 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Netflix)

Presley Ann/Getty Lin-Manuel Miranda

Lin-Manuel Miranda is among the creatives on a new Broadway musical inspired by the 1977 MGM movie New York, New York that starred Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli.

The show's creative team features a slew of Broadway greats, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winners and Academy Award nominees John Kander and Fred Ebb (music and lyrics), Tony Award nominee David Thompson and Sharon Washington (co-book writers), and five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman (direction and choreography).

Miranda, 42, will write additional lyrics for the stage version.

Kander gave insight into the type of show the group is creating. "In 1945, World War II ended," he said in a statement. "In the years that immediately followed, hundreds of thousands of ex-servicemen and women  myself included  descended on New York City, a tough, gritty, beautiful dream palace, filled with youthful energy and optimism."

RELATED: Lin-Manuel Miranda Says He's 'Passed Down His Love for Music' to His Sons: 'They Make Up Songs'

" 'The sadness is over!' " the Tony Award winner continued. " 'This is where I can become the person I was meant to become!' And this is the New York of our story."

New York, New York marks the first new Kander and Ebb musical to open on Broadway since 2015's The Visit, which was nominated for five Tony Awards.

This production reunites Kander with director and choreographer Stroman. Casting and additional creative team members will be announced at a later date.

Performances begin March 24, 2023, and opening night is set for April 26, 2023.

RELATED VIDEO: Lin-Manuel Miranda Calls Andrew Garfield "The Greatest Gift a First Time Director Could Ask For"

At a recent event, Manuel talked to PEOPLE about his most recent project: The Little Mermaid live-action film.

The Hamilton creator shared what it has been like collaborating with Disney on the upcoming remake starring Halle Bailey.

"It's a great joy and privilege to be a part of it," he said in September of working with the company. "Disney knows that when they have a movie that is set in a certain part of the world, the eyes of the world are on them, and they take that responsibility really seriously."

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While Moana and Encanto were historic in their own right, he said that working on The Little Mermaid is extra special as the film holds special significance for him as a creator.

"The Little Mermaid was the movie that made me fall in love with musicals," he said. "I still think about that moment when those opening notes of 'Under the Sea' started and the feeling of the hair going up on the back of my neck and not believing that I was seeing a musical number happening underwater. Every time I try to write for Disney, I'm trying to get that feeling again."
A Littleton man was arrested on a warrant for murder in Indiana, according to Indiana State Police.

Jason Palmer, 45, was arrested while at a Sinclair Gas Station on Indianas Route 1 Wednesday and charged with murder, aggravated assault and concealing a death.

Troopers were told Palmer was in the back of the gas station in a semi-tractor trailer. Palmer was taken into custody without incident.

Palmer was wanted for a alleged murder in Georgia. Palmer was taken to Wayne County Jail and will be held with no bond pending extraction back to Georgia.

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OLHA HLUSHCHENKO  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 07:25

Ukraines defence forces have repelled several Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and have struck clusters of Russian military personnel and equipment over the course of the past 24 hours.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 27 October.

Details: Over the course of the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk Oblast) and Bakhmut, Ivanhrad, Maiorsk, Soledar, Krasnohorivka and Marinka (Donetsk Oblast).

Russian forces are continuing to fire on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the line of contact and to reinforce their defence positions on the left bank of the River Dnipro. They are also conducting extensive aerial reconnaissance.

Russian forces carried out 4 missile strikes and 18 airstrikes, as well as over 56 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) over the course of the past 24 hours.

The cities of Kupiansk, Druzhkivka and Zaporizhzhia came under Russian fire.

There were no significant changes on the Volyn and Polissia fronts. The Republic of Belarus is continuing to aid and support Russias military aggression against Ukraine by allowing Russian forces to use its territory, airspace and infrastructure. There is an ongoing threat of missile and air strikes from the territory of Belarus, including with the use of attack UAVs.

On other fronts, the Russians continued to fire on military and civilian targets:

On the Slobozhanshchyna front : Russian forces deployed mortars and tubed and rocket artillery on the territory of the Russian Federation to fire on areas in and around Chuhunivka, Strilecha, Dvorichna, Kamianka, Krasne and Starytsia;

On the Kupiansk front : Russian forces deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Berestove, Kyslivka, Kotliarivka and Fyholivka;

On the Lyman front : the Russians deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in the vicinity of Hrekivka, Druzheliubivka, Makiivka, Terny, Torske, Yampolivka, Spirne, Nevske, Verkhnokamianske and Zarichne;

On the Bakhmut front : the Russians deployed tank guns and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Andriivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Maiorsk, New-York, Yakovlivka, Zelenopillia and Ozarianivka;

On the Avdiivka front : the Russians fired on areas in and around Marinka, Vodiane, Novomykhailivka, Pervomaiske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil and Novokalynove;

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts: the Russians fired artillery on areas in and around Orikhiv, Vremivka, Dorozhnianka, Malynivka, Novoukrainka, Huliaipole, Zaliznychne, Novopil, Neskuchne, Olhivske and Bilohiria;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front: 20 cities, towns and villages situated along the line of contact came under Russian fire. The city of Nikopol sustained damage as a result of Russian shelling.

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Russian military personnel conscripted a week ago are continuing to arrive on the temporarily occupied territory in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. They lack motivation and are unwilling to take part in hostilities in Ukraine. There are occasional instances of desertion.

Russia continues to suffer losses in Ukraine. The General Staff has confirmed that on 25 October, Ukrainian forces struck a cluster of Russian weapons and equipment and several ammunition dumps in the vicinity of Beryslav in Kherson Oblast. The number of Russian personnel killed in the operation has yet to be confirmed.

Around 100 wounded Russian soldiers have been hospitalised in the municipal hospital in Holubivka, Luhansk Oblast over the course of 2425 October. Several surgical brigades have been dispatched from Luhansk and Kadiivka to assist with treating the soldiers.

Ukrainian aircraft carried out five airstrikes on 26 October, striking a cluster of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment, three strong points and an anti-aircraft defence system. In addition, Ukrainian air defence forces struck down a Russian Ka-52 helicopter, an Kh-59 missile and 17 attack UAVs.

Ukraines Rocket Forces and Artillery struck four Russian command posts, eight areas where Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment were concentrated, three ammunition storage points and six other critical military targets.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!




David Stearns, a popular Mets target, has stepped down as president of baseball operations for the Milwaukee Brewers. While he announced his intention to stay in Milwaukee as a consultant to owner Mark Attanasio and the baseball ops department, speculation started immediately that he could return to his Mets roots.

The club made the announcement Thursday morning. The New York City native worked for the Mets baseball ops department out of college and guided the Brewers through a franchise-record streak of four consecutive postseason appearances. Matt Arnold, the clubs senior vice president and general manager since 2020, will replace Stearns.

This is not an easy decision for me and is something I have been wrestling with for a long time, Stearns said in a statement. Mark Attanasio and I have had an open dialogue and we both knew this day could eventually come. It has been a priority for both of us that any transition would take place while the organization is in a healthy position with solid leadership and a talented roster going forward. That is certainly the case today.

He later reinforced his intention to stay in Milwaukee at a press conference.

Im also not going anywhere, Stearns told reporters. Im going to be here in Milwaukee. Im committed to serving Mark and Matt in an advisory capacity as the organization works through this transition.

Stearns joined the Brewers in October 2015 after working as an assistant general manager with the Houston Astros. He started as the general manager and was named president of baseball operations before the 2019 season. The club enjoyed its best run of success in recent history under Stearns. He acquired Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins in 2018 and he went on to have an MVP season in Milwaukee. The Brewers reached the NLCS that season and came a game short of reaching the World Series for the first time since 1982.

This success garnered the interest of the Mets and owner Steve Cohen. The club asked for permission to interview Stearns for the president of baseball operations role in each of the past two seasons and was denied. They would still need permission for another interview because Stearns is still under contract for another year.

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The Mets have not hired a president of baseball ops. Bill Eppler was hired as the general manager last winter but the club was unable to find another candidate to put above him. Team president Sandy Alderson will retire this winter and will be involved in the search for his successor.

Stearns, who also spent time with Cleveland and at the league offices, could end up taking over another operations department next year, but for the time being it sounds as though hes ready to take a step back from baseball.

There are other parts of life, and at this point, Im looking forward to gaining some time that I havent really had before, he said. Im looking forward to taking a deep breath, Im looking forward to spending time with my family, looking forward to spending time with friends and Im looking forward to pursuing some other interests.
A bipartisan group of attorneys general is asking Albertsons to delay a $4 billion payout to its shareholders until they can complete a review of Krogers planned acquisition of the grocery chain.

Kroger earlier this month announced it was paying $20 billion to buy Albertsons, the parent company of Jewel-Osco. The deal is expected to close in early 2024, if it is approved by the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, and survives any court challenges.

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The merger agreement included a special dividend of up to $4 billion  or $6.85 per share  that Albertsons is scheduled to pay its shareholders on Nov. 7.

In an open letter sent to Albertsons this week, six attorneys general said the dividend  which equals nearly one-third of Albertsons $11 billion market value  would deprive the company of the cash it needs to operate while regulators review the merger.

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The letter also said its unclear if the deal will be approved, since federal and state laws forbid mergers that substantially lessen competition. Together, Albertsons and Cincinnati-based Kroger would control around 13% of the U.S. grocery market.

The chains have substantial overlap in several geographic areas, including Chicago. Kroger has 2,750 supermarkets in 35 states, including 44 Chicago-area Marianos stores and about 10 Food 4 Less stores. Albertsons has more than 2,200 supermarkets in 34 states, including 188 Jewel stores, most of which are in the Chicago area.

Should any regulatory challenge to the merger succeed, or should the parties abandon the transaction, Albertsons would have to continue 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, the letter said.

A Jewel-Osco store at the intersection of 61st Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago is pictured Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Albertsons, which owns Jewel, recently announced plans to merge with rival Kroger, which owns the Mariano's and Food 4 Less grocery chains in the Chicago area. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)

The letter was signed by the Democratic attorneys general of Illinois, the District of Columbia, California and Washington and the Republican attorneys general of Arizona and Idaho. Albertsons is based in Boise, Idaho.

The proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger could severely reduce competition, lead to increased food prices at a time families are struggling to keep up, and worsen food insecurity impacting low-income and minority communities in particular, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a news release Thursday. It is imperative that neither company act to potentially affect a merger outcome while state attorneys general continue our review.

In a statement, Albertsons said the merger announcement and special dividend mark the successful completion of a strategic review begun in February of the companys future. The company had nearly $29 billion in assets at the end of September, including $3.4 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

We are confident that we will maintain our strong financial position as we work toward the closing of the merger, Albertsons said.

The attorneys general asked Albertsons to respond by Friday to its letter. A spokesperson for District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine wouldnt say Thursday if Albertsons had responded because the office doesnt comment on investigations.

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But Racine said the attorneys general will consider litigation to stop the dividend payment if Albertsons doesnt agree to a delay. Attorneys general can also sue to block a merger, alone or alongside the Department of Justice, as they did in 2019 when T-Mobile bought its smaller rival Sprint.

Among those who could gain the most from Albertsons dividend payment is Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm. Cerberus led a consortium of investors that bought Albertsons in 2006. It helped finance Albertsons 2015 purchase of the Safeway chain and took Albertsons public in 2020. Cerberus owns nearly 30% of Albertsons shares.

Chicago Tribune contributed.
The race to represent the 17th Congressional District has turned national, as national Republican super PACs have poured millions into Assemblyman Mike Lawlers bid to oust one of the GOPs top targets: Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The DCCC, meanwhile, has responded with a $600,000 media buy to shore up the campaign of the five-term incumbent fighting for his political life in New York Citys northern suburbs.

Republicans have made it a competitive race by painting a view of suburban life that includes crime rampant and inflation depleting bank accounts. It's the message shared by gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin in his bid to oust Gov. Kathy Hochul. They've tied Maloney to the state's bail reform, based on a statement he made favoring reforms in 2018 when he lost a bid for the Democratic nomination for state attorney general.

Democrats have portrayed Lawler as a loyal follower of former President Donald Trump, who opposes elective abortion rights. They say Lawler has mischaracterized Maloney's role in the bail issue because he lost his bid for attorney general and never served in the state Legislature, which approved the reforms that Maloney did not write.

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So it goes in the new 17th Congressional District, which includes Rockland and Putnam counties, Westchester north of I-287 and three towns in southeast Dutchess. The voting precincts in the new district gave Democrat Joe Biden a 10-percentage point win in 2020 presidential election.

National political superstars have descended on the Hudson Valley to help raise cash in the campaigns final two weeks.

On Sunday, First Lady Jill Biden will appear at a Westchester fundraiser for Maloney at a private residence.

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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday came to the Rockland Country Club in Sparkill for a $150-a-plate breakfast while House Whip Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, will headline a Lawler fundraiser in Wesley Hills on Thursday. Earlier this fall, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, appeared on Lawlers behalf at a fundraiser in Rye.

At stake is control of the U.S. House, where the Democrats hold a narrow majority, and midterm elections traditionally favoring the party thats out of power.

The amount spent on the race skyrocketed in recent weeks, with the investment of an estimated $7 million from the National Republican Campaign Committee and the Congressional Leadership Fund.

Maloney has raised close to $5 million while Lawlers fundraising has yet to top $1 million, according to Sept. 30 campaign finance reports.

The national media has arrived as well, with national television film crews and political reporters showing up Wednesday morning at The Bristal, an assisted living complex in an Armonk office park. There, Maloney showcased Democrat-backed policies to a roomful of senior citizens. He touted the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered Medicare premiums, capped annual prescription drug costs at $2,000 a year, and empowered the federal government to negotiate drug prices for its Medicare program.

We are going to finally take on these big drug companies and negotiate prices, Maloney said. These savings are really going to add up because right now, the big drug companies have been getting away with murder.

Federal bill for state issue

Following the breakfast in Sparkill on Tuesday, Lawler spoke with the press on what he sees as the failure of New York state to curb crime in the wake of the states bail reforms, which included fewer crimes requiring those charged to post money to keep themselves out of jail before their cases were adjudicated.

Assemblyman Mike Lawler and former N.J. Governor Chris Christie offer comments on cash bail reform at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill on Tuesday, October 25, 2022.

Lawler backs a proposed federal law that would allow the federal government to intervene in New Yorks criminal justice system. It would waive the states immunity from lawsuits filed by crime victims if they were injured by someone who had been charged with a crime but were released without posting ball while they awaited their day in court.

Lawler said the threat of lawsuits would bring the state of New York to its knees, forcing the state Legislature to reform its bail laws to make the dangerousness of someone arrested for a crime an allowable consideration when a judge contemplated setting bail. Lawler even wants crime victims to have the opportunty to sue elected officials who favor bail reform.

He said the bill proposed by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-Staten Island, would bring the power of the federal government into states like New York to pressure the state to repeal its reforms.

It will force New York state to choose whats more important: protecting victims or criminals, said Lawler. If New York state refuses to protect victims and ensure the safety of its residents, they should be held accountable, and the very politicians who are allowing it  they should be sued.

Statistics clash with bail rhetoric

Lawler on Tuesday railed against the rise in crime, citing statistics from New York City, which lies outside of the 17th Congressional District. He said crime statistics show increases in murder, car thefts, and robberies in the city.

Since cashless bail took effect on Jan. 1, 2020, index crimes in New York City are up 36%, and 40% of those released on non-monetary bail for felony offenses have been rearrested, he said. It has been one disastrous policy decision after the next.

As for the 17th Congressional District, Lawler said: Weve seen an uptick in the number of murders. Weve seen an uptick in the number of car thefts. Weve seen an uptick in the number of drugs and gang activity coming into our communities.

Its unclear where Lawler obtained his crime data.

State crime statistics for the four suburban counties in his district  Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess  show an overall decline in crime from 2020 to 2021, according to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

In these four counties, Index crime  which includes both violent and property crimes  fell 11%, from 17,128 to 15,276, the state report found. Index crimes are eight crimes that all jurisdictions report under federal crime-reporting standards.

In 2021, murders in these four Hudson Valley counties were down 35%, from 42 in 2020 to 27 in 2021. Car thefts across the four counties dipped 6%, while property crimes fell 12%.

Tax Watch asked Lawlers campaign if it had statistics to buttress Lawlers claims that crime was on the rise in the suburbs. Spokesperson Bill OReilly said he would research the issue but did not provide any statistics.

U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney D-NY, center, attends a roundtable discussion about clean water, at the Nyack Center in Nyack, Oct. 21, 2022. At left is Legislator Harriet Cornell, and right is Joe Rand, a village trustee.

Maloney acknowledged he knows some suburbanites visiting New York City who tell him they feel less safe, noting the rise in homelessness on city streets.

None of us is saying that we dont have to worry about crime or a rise in crime in the city, said Maloney. But look, Lawler is trying to exploit the issue and whip up concerns to win an election.

Soon it will be up to voters, with early voting starting Saturday, and Election Day on Nov. 8. The nation will be watching.

Follow David McKay Wilson on Twitter @davidmckay415.

Subscribers can sign up for his weekly newsletter. Read his columns in the archive.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Maloney, Lawler target of Republican, Democrat national attention
GRAND RAPIDS  The man who called Calhoun County 911 dispatchers more than 140 times and threatened to kill the dispatcher the day before the assault on the U.S. Capitol could spend two years in a federal prison for his intimidation.

On Wednesday, U.S . District Judge Janet Neff sentenced Jonathan Munafo, 35, to two years in prison and three years of supervised released for threatening emergency dispatch personnel and tying up an emergency phone line for three hours. He most recently lived in Florida.

Munafo pleaded guilty to the charges in May. He had faced up to five years in prison for communicating a threat in interstate commerce.

Violence, threats of violence, or intimidation is never the answer, U.S. Attorney Mark Totten said in a release issued by the U.S. Attorneys Office. My office will not tolerate this behavior, especially when it interferes with the life-saving duties of first responders and jeopardizes the publics safety. Our public servants on the front lines should never be subjected to this type of harassment for simply doing their jobs.

Munafo called the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office on Jan. 5, 2021, demanding to speak to a sheriffs deputy or sergeant, according to investigators. He identified himself as Yankee Patriot and aggressively badgered the dispatcher, investigators said.

The dispatchers supervisor had taken control of the call when Munafo became more threatening. According to investigator, he demanded a cop get on the phone or its going to go way worse for your family.

Im telling you, this isnt a  threat, its a promise, Munafo said, according to police. Im gonna cut your throat. Im gonna make you eat your  nose. Im gonna hurt you bad for this.

Munafo made more than 140 calls to the dispatch center that day, even though the supervisor communicated that the line was needed for real emergency calls.

Calhoun County Sheriffs Office and FBI investigators concluded Munafo placed the calls from a truck stop in North Carolina. The next day, Munafo participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, police said.

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Munafo has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. for multiple offenses, including assaulting a U.S. Capitol police officer and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, among seven other counts.

He is supposed to appear at a future date in the District of Columbia to face those charges.

Contact Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-303-8432. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.

Calhoun County Sheriff Department

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Man sent to prison after calling Calhoun County 911 more than 140 times
A man convicted of several sex related crimes with a minor will face a minimum sentence of 118 years.

A man found guilty of more than 15 sex related crimes involving a child was sentenced to a minimum of 118 years by the New Hanover County Superior Court Thursday.

A jury on Thursday, following a four-day trial, found Alfredo Duran-Rivas, 34, guilty of 3 counts of rape of a child, 1 count of statutory sex offense of a child, 4 counts of taking indecent liberties with children, 5 counts of first degree sexual exploitation of a minor, and 5 counts of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor, according to a press release from District Attorney Ben David.

Evidence presented in court based on an investigation by the New Hanover County Sheriffs Department established that Duran-Reyes sexually abused the child and recorded the assaults on two cell phones over multiple occasions in 2017 and 2018, the release states.

Reporter John Orona can be reached at 910-343-2327 or jorona@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: man convicted of 18 sex crimes with child gets over 100 years jail
A man has died in a freak accident that saw him get pinned to a ticket machine in a parking garage in Atlanta, Georgia.

Police were sent to the scene on Peachtree Street in the Midtown neighbourhood of the city on Thursday just after midnight.

Law enforcement officials said the man had neglected to put his truck in park before opening his door to reach the ticket machine to open the gate to exit the garage.

When the truck rolled forward as he was partly outside of it, he was pressed to the ticket kiosk.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, police added. The name of the driver hasnt been publicised.

According to WXIA, the garage is used by the Starling Atlanta Midtown hotel.

A representative for the hotel said they had no information to provide concerning the incident, NBC News reported.

Police said an investigation into the death is active.

The accident early on Thursday comes almost two years after a 23-year-old woman from Columbus, Ohio, was killed when she was exiting a parking garage.

Victoria Strauss dropped her card just after 11.30pm on 18 January last year as she attempted to pay.

She opened the door and bent down to grab the card when she accidentally accelerated, striking the parking kiosk, according to Columbus police.

Law enforcement added at the time that she became pinned between the door of her vehicle and the door frame and died on the scene, NBC News reported.
A Tennessee man who dragged a police officer into a mob of rioters, initiating one of the most harrowing acts of violence during the U.S. Capitol attack, was sentenced on Thursday to more than seven years in prison.

Albuquerque Cosper Head declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced him to seven years and six months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. The judge said Head was responsible for some of the darkest acts committed on one of our nations darkest days.

Head's prison sentence is six months shy of the statutory maximum in his case. It's also the second-longest so far among hundreds of cases arising from the Capitol siege on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress prepared to certify President Joe Biden's electoral victory.

The dark shadow of tyranny unfortunately has not gone away, Jackson said. There are people who are still disseminating the lie that the election was stolen. Theyre doing it today. And the people who are stoking that anger for their own selfish purposes, they need to think about the havoc theyve wreaked, the lives theyve ruined.

Head engaged in some of the most barbaric violence during the Capitol riot, repeatedly assaulting police officers who were guarding a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, according to prosecutors.

Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone was on the front lines of the battle for control of the tunnel entrance when Head grabbed him. Head yelled Ive got one!" as he wrapped his arms around Fanone's neck and dragged him into the crowd outside the tunnel, prosecutors said.

He was your prey. He was your trophy, Jackson told Head, 43.

Head restrained Fanone while other rioters beat and shocked the officer with a stun gun at the base of his skull. Fanone lost consciousness during the assault, which his body camera captured on video.

"Although Head was separated from Officer Fanone in the moments that followed, Head would have been able to hear the sound of the taser being activated again, Officer Fanones screams of agony, and the yells from another rioter to Kill him with his own gun! prosecutors wrote in a court filing.

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During Thursday's sentencing hearing, Fanone said the attack gave him a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury and ultimately cost him his career. He has written a book about his Jan. 6 experience and testified at a hearing held by the House committee investigating the insurrection.

I would trade all of this attention to return to policing, but I can't do that, he said. And the catalyst for my loss of career and the suffering that I've endured in the past 18 months is Albuquerque Head.

Other rioters have been charged with assaulting Fanone, including Kyle Young, an Iowa man who grabbed Fanone by the wrist while others yelled, Kill him! and Get his gun! Jackson sentenced Young last month to seven years and two months in prison.

Daniel D.J. Rodriguez, a California man charged with using the stun gun on Fanone, is scheduled to go on trial in February 2023. Thomas Sibick, a riot defendant from New York, is charged with stealing the officer's badge and police radio during the melee.

Head, a construction worker from Kingsport, Tennessee, was arrested in April 2021 and pleaded guilty to an assault charge in May 2022. He has a criminal record that includes approximately 45 previous arrests.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of eight years, the statutory maximum sentence that he faced.

Fanone also asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence. He recalled how Head initially told him, Im going to try to help you out here. You hear me? before shouting that he got one.

I would ask you to show Mr. Head the same mercy that he showed me on January 6th, which, in case there's any question in this courtroom, is none, Fanone said.

Head's attorney, Nicholas Wallace, requested a five-year prison sentence.

There is no evidence that Mr. Head made advance plans with much effort or that he came to D.C. prepared for a battle. His series of bad decisions, as outlined above, while serious, is far from the worst conduct that day, Wallace wrote.

Head told FBI agents that he drove to Washington to attend the Stop the Steal rally, where then-President Donald Trump addressed a crowd of supporters. Joining the mob at the tunnel, Head wielded a riot shield as a weapon and used a second shield to shove against Fanone and other officers, according to prosecutors.

When Officer Fanone used his hand to brace himself on the doorframe in the midst of the struggle, Head struck the officers hand with his own hand, causing the officer to lose his grip on the doorframe, prosecutors wrote.

After he pulled Fanone into the crowd, Head became separated from the officer. When others in the crowd surrounded Fanone to protect him from his assailants, Head repeatedly reached toward the officer and tried to grab him again, prosecutors said. Fanone's body camera showed him collapsing after his protectors escorted him back to the police line.

Fanone's partner tried to revive him, saying, Come on, Mike. Come on, buddy. Were going duck hunting soon.

Regaining consciousness after nearly two and a half minutes, Fanone asked, Did we take that door back?

The courage and sacrifice that Officer Fanone showed on that day is incredible, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for what he has lost," Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Gardner told the judge.

Also Thursday, a man from Covington, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon for entering the Capitol on Jan. 6 and discharging fire extinguishers on police, the Justice Department said.

Nicholas James Brockhoff, 21, also obtained a helmet belonging to an officer and wore it when he entered a Senate conference room from a broken window, prosecutors said. Brockhoff helped kick a door leading to another conference room, tore open a box and went through papers.

Brockhoff was arrested in May 2021 in Counce, Tennessee. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing scheduled for March 24.

Approximately 900 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct on Jan. 6. More than 430 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanor offenses. Over 300 have been sentenced, with roughly half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years, according to an AP review of court records.

More than 100 police officers were injured at the Capitol. Around 20 defendants have been sentenced for assaulting police on Jan. 6, the Justice Department says.

___

For full coverage of the Capitol riot, go to https://www.apnews.com/capitol-siege
Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021. Samuel Corum / Getty Images

A rioter who dragged a police officer into the violent crowd during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol was sentenced to more than seven years in prison on Thursday  the second-longest sentence so far for a participant in the insurrection.

Albuquerque Cosper Head, a 43-year-old construction worker from Johnson City, Tennessee, was first arrested in April 2021 and pleaded guilty to assaulting Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone in May 2022.

Prosecutors said that during the attack on the Capitol, Head, who has a lengthy criminal history with around 45 prior arrests, wrapped his arm around Fanone's neck and yelled, "Ive got one!" to other rioters.

Head then "forcibly dragged Officer Fanon into the riotous mob, isolating him as the crowd violently assaulted the officer," as stated in court documents. "Head continued to restrain Officer Fanone while another rioter applied a taser to the base of the officers skull."

As a result of the assault, Fanone had a heart attack and sustained a traumatic brain injury. He resigned from his job in December 2021.

In court documents, prosecutors called Head's behavior on Jan. 6 some of the most barbaric violence" that occurred that day.

On Thursday, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Head to seven years and six months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. In the hearing, the judge said that Head was responsible for some of the darkest acts committed on one of our nations darkest days.

Last year, Fanone testified in front of the congressional Jan. 6 committee investigating the attack, where he told the panel that he was grabbed, beaten, tased, all while being called a traitor to my country" and that the assault caused him to have a heart attack.

The rioters, he said, attempted to strip off his firearm and threatened to kill him with it. They ripped off his radio, seized his ammunition, and beat him with their fists and hard metal objects, Fanone said.

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He recalled that some of them began chanting, "Get his gun and kill him with his own gun."

I feel like I went to hell and back to protect them and the people in this room, Fanone said. Too many are now telling me that hell doesnt exist or that hell actually wasnt that bad. The indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful.

Michael Fanone is sworn in before testifying to the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Head is one of the many people charged in connection with the assault on Fanone. Among them is co-defendant Kyle Young, who was sentenced last month to 86 months in prison (approximately 7 years).

More than 100 police officers were injured at the Capitol on Jan. 6. So far, about 900 people have been charged with federal crimes for their behavior during the insurrection, according to the Associated Press.

More on this
Memphis Police is asking the publics help for information on a forgery of identity at a bank.

On Sep. 20 at approximately 11:55 AM, Memphis Police responded to a forgery at First Horizon Bank on Summer Avenue.

A man was contacted by his bank, that an unknown man attempted to take money out of the victims account, police said.

Police also said that the suspect had a drivers license with the victims information on it.

The amount of the attempted theft was approximately $26,000.

No arrests have been made at this time, as this is still an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers at 901-528-2274.

If an arrest is made, you could be eligible to receive cash from Crime Stoppers of Memphis and Shelby County, Inc.

Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood.

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A worker exits a home on East 27th Street last year in South L.A. after the LAPD's botched detonation of a cache of fireworks damaged homes and injured several people. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

A man whose cache of illegal fireworks in South L.A. brought out the LAPD bomb squad, whose bungled detonation blew up a residential neighborhood and injured 17 people last year, was sentenced Wednesday to five months in prison and two years of supervised release.

Arturo Ceja III, 27, pleaded guilty in August 2021 in federal court to the unlicensed transport of explosives from Nevada to California.

Ceja was not fined and will pay no restitution, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Los Angeles police discovered Ceja's stash in the backyard of a home on East 27th Street on June 30, 2021, after receiving a tip regarding illegal sales.

Among the 16 tons of explosive materials, police said, were homemade fireworks that were deemed too volatile to haul away from the home. Instead, they were put into a "total containment vessel" where they would be detonated on-site by the Los Angeles Police Department.

One technician raised concerns about the number of explosives being loaded into the vessel, according to an LAPD inspector general's report released in March.

This is too much to do one shot. Were gonna break it up, right? the technician recalled saying to a colleague.

The concerns were not heeded and the technician was told he should "relax," according to the report.

As the bomb squad worked to quantify how much material needed to be disposed of, the lead technician skipped a crucial step, the inspector general noted: He did not weigh the explosives but only estimated.

The vessel, rated to hold 33 pounds of explosives, was loaded with 39.8 pounds of material, investigators with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found.

When the materials were finally detonated, the results were catastrophic.

Foundations were cracked, windows were shattered and more than a dozen people suffered injuries, including cuts and hearing loss.

Over 30 properties were damaged and more than 80 residents were displaced.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
FILE PHOTO: A patient receives medication in a hospital bed. Getty Images

David Erwin, 60, almost died from a fungal infection in his brain, lungs, and spine.

He had previously survived cancer and completed chemotherapy, which put him at a higher risk of infection.

The fungus that nearly killed him can be found inside many homes and backyards.

After surviving a bout of throat cancer, David Erwin was not getting better.

Erwin, now 60, completed chemotherapy in 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported. Even after his doctors gave him the all-clear, he said he continued to experience symptoms including debilitating back pain and partial paralysis.

Months later, a neurosurgeon would remove a suspicious mass from his brain. The mass was not cancer, but a common fungus: Aspergillus fumigatus, a species of mold that's found everywhere from flower beds to carpets.

Most people inhale mold spores without realizing it. Aspergillus commonly grows both outdoors and inside households, and public health experts say there's no point in trying to avoid breathing it in.

But for people who are immunocompromised  like Erwin, whose immune system was made weaker by chemotherapy  these fungi pose a more acute threat. In Erwin's case, Aspergillus found a home not only in his brain, but also in his lungs and spine.

Erwin narrowly survived his infection, but the fungus that took over his brain and body remains a pathogen of concern, according to a recent report from the World Health Organization.

Bad fungi are a major public health threat

The WHO published a list of health-threatening fungal pathogens on Tuesday, naming 19 species of fungi that pose a danger for public health.

Aspergillus was assigned the highest priority level, along with a fungus that can cause meningitis and two species associated with yeast infections. The priority list is meant to establish a ranking for future research and medical development, as there are only four classes of medication available to treat fungal infections.

Tracking and treating fungal infections has also proven to be a global challenge, as many of the tests used to identify them are not widely available around the world. Most diagnostic tests for fungi are costly and therefore reserved for high-income settings, according to the WHO report.

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Fungal infections are especially dangerous for patients who are already severely ill: those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, and chronic lung infections. A growing number of people are immunocompromised due to treatments such as chemotherapy or medications taken with organ transplants, experts told WSJ.

Fungal infections in the US

Although fungal infections are known to land thousands of Americans in hospitals every year, there is not yet a formal surveillance system to track illnesses caused by fungi in the US.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 75,000 people in the US are hospitalized with fungal infections every year, and that at least 20% of those infections are caused by Aspergillus mold.

The real impact of fungal infections may be much greater, as the burden of disease only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who are immunocompromised by COVID-19 or drugs prescribed to treat it have a higher risk of contracting secondary infections, such as aspergillosis, but they aren't always counted.

More than 7,000 deaths in 2021 were at least partially explained by fungal infections, according to monitoring by the National Vital Statistics System.

Last month, the CDC urged patients and healthcare providers to consider fungi as an explanation for infections not responding to treatment, which could lead to more diagnoses in the future.

Read the original article on Insider
A Dayton man was sentenced to prison on Thursday for causing the death of another man during a fight in 2020.

Harvey Tyrone Bell Sr., 49, was sentenced to serve at least 11 years in prison after being convicted of involuntary manslaughter, according to Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr.

>> Previous Coverage: Dayton man charged with murder for December assault at Dayton grocery store

On December 29, 2020, Dayton police were dispatched to the Food City Supermarket in the 1800 block of Germantown Street on a report of a fight.

Officers located the victim, 47-year-old Michael Goode, who was unconscious and had an obvious head injury.

On January 19, 2021, Goode died as a result of his injuries, having never regained consciousness.

According to Heck, the investigation determined Bell had been in an altercation with Goode and sucker punched him inside the supermarket, causing him to fall through the door, striking his head on the concrete and causing severe head trauma.

Bell pled guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter on October 6, 2022.

On Thursday, Bell was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence of 11 years in prison and could serve up to 16 and a half years, Heck said.




As the CTA faces ongoing complaints of unreliable service and concerns about safety, Chicago aldermen once again sought to bring agency leaders in front of the City Council.

Though their effort was temporarily delayed Wednesday, some three dozen aldermen signed on to a proposal that would require quarterly hearings on CTA service levels, security and other issues. If CTA President Dorval Carter and agency officials failed to participate in a hearing, City Council could not consider measures that would distribute money to the transit agency, unless required to disburse it by law.

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The proposal came after aldermen blasted Carter for failing to show up to an earlier City Council hearing, instead sending other agency officials, and as the CTA is seeking council approval for a transit tax district to fund part of the planned 5.6-mile extension of the Red Line south to 130th Street.

CTA President Dorval Carter speaks to the press on July 16, 2021, at the CTA 95th/Dan Ryan Red Line Station. (Vashon Jordan Jr. / Chicago Tribune)

But Aldermen Scott Waguespack and Jason Ervin, two allies of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, blocked the proposal on CTA hearings after it was introduced by sending it to the Rules Committee, where legislation often stalls.

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The CTA has struggled with persistent concerns about safety, unpredictable service and inaccurate trackers as ridership plummeted during the pandemic. Carter and Chicago police have repeatedly said they were boosting security and police presence on the system, and Carter recently outlined a broad plan to address complaints that includes upgrades to trackers and adjusting schedules to take into account a staff shortage that the agency says is largely behind the service challenges.

Still, in a visual representation of concerns expressed by several aldermen, North Side Ald. Andre Vasquez arrived to the City Council meeting Wednesday wearing a giant cardboard ghost with the CTA logo printed in the center. The sole City Council member dressed for Halloween, he said he symbolized being ghosted by the transit system, as he sought to gather support from colleagues for the proposal.

Im sorry that I couldnt stick to character because I actually showed up on time, Vasquez, 40th, said.

Vasquez said he had broad backing for his proposal because everyone feels it. And he thinks the agency must be held accountable, especially when theyre asking us for support and money.

The public understands that the transportation system is a public good, Vasquez said. When theyre waiting 45 minutes, even longer, for buses and trains that dont show up, when theyre concerned about getting on the train system because of safety, they want answers now.

Asked in a post-council news conference whether the legislation was blocked so she could curb aldermen from having more say in the CTA, Lightfoot scoffed, Thats a ridiculous suggestion, frankly.

Commuters board a CTA Red Line train during rush hour at the 95th Street CTA Red Line Station in Chicago on Aug. 30, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

Transportation is absolutely critical in our city, Lightfoot said. The CTA, like almost every single organization that Im aware of, has significant challenges in hiring and filling vacancies. Yes, of course, there needs to be more, I think, communication across the board.

Lightfoot did not comment directly on Vasquezs proposal but defended her attempts to reach CTA leadership.

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The communication I think has to be better, she said. Ive been very clear about that to the chairman of the CTA board. Dorval Carter reports to a board, and weve just got to make sure that the communication is clear.

Though Carter did not show up to the earlier City Council hearing, CTA spokesman Brian Steele said Wednesday the CTA would follow any ordinance that passed.

President Carter has always worked with, and continues an open dialogue with, the City Council on a wide variety of issues related to transit service across the entire city, he said.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com

ayin@chicagotribune.com
A woman was found dead in a puddle of blood outside her workplace after Minnesota authorities say she was shot by a co-worker.

The co-worker, 36-year-old Michael Carpenter, faces a murder charge in the death of Nicole Hammond, 28, according to the St. Cloud Police Department. An autopsy revealed that she was shot once in the neck.

Hammond had repeatedly rejected Carpenters advances over the previous month, a probable cause statement shows. Text messages revealed Hammond texted Carpenter the night before the Oct. 24 shooting, telling him she did not want to be touched or manipulated by him, police said.

The shooting took place around 7 a.m. Monday outside the business in St. Cloud, which is about 65 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Hammond was pronounced dead at the scene, with a single shell casing near her, police said in the probable cause statement.

One witness said they heard the gunshot, then saw Carpenter jog to his vehicle before driving away, police said. Carpenter was also seen by a second witness as he was putting on a black jacket while wearing black pants, according to court records.

Police later found Carpenter wearing the same outfit. A 9mm pistol and a loaded magazine were found in his vehicle as officers executed a search warrant, police said.

In a statement in which police said he gave contradictory information, Carpenter said he walked toward Hammonds car when he heard the gunshot, but ran away when he was too traumatized after seeing her body, the probable cause statement says.

He didnt render aid, go to work, nor did he call 9-1-1, police said.

Co-workers said Carpenter has a bad temper, and he told officers he was upset about his text message conversation with Hammond the night before the shooting, according to court records.

Carpenter faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty of the second-degree murder charge. He remains in the Benton County Jail on Thursday, Oct. 27.

Hammond was described by one co-worker as beautiful, smart (and) determined.

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Rob Dubow, Hammonds boss, said the business had no idea about Carpenters unwanted advances, FOX 9 reported.

Women should be able to go to work without being hit on by their co-workers, said one woman in a Facebook post, sharing a statement from Violence Free Minnesota. Women should be able to say they arent interested in someone without worrying about being murdered.

FedEx employee retaliates after failed test, killing his instructor, PA officials say

Jack in the Box staff fight ends with one facing homicide charge, Tennessee cops say
A Kansas man threatened in June to murder Rep. Jake LaTurner, a federal indictment alleges, sparking four months of courtroom proceedings that have drawn virtually no public attention.

A federal grand jury indicted Chase Neill on June 22 on one count of threatening a federal official. Neill was accused of threatening earlier that month to assault and murder LaTurner, a Republican representing Kansas 2nd Congressional District, which spans most of the eastern parts of the state.

A U.S. magistrate judge found Neill had also made threats of violence against other members of Congress, who werent identified in court documents. Neill has only been indicted for allegedly threatening LaTurner.

Neill is alleged to have left a voicemail with LaTurners office threatening to kill him, and left other voicemails indicating his belief that he was obligated by God to issue warnings (and detail the consequences of ignoring those warnings) to certain public figures, according to a court document.

A proposed witness list offered by prosecutors includes Allen Askew, a LaTurner aide, and lists the custodian of records for the phone company T-Mobile. LaTurner is also listed as a proposed prosecution witness, along with an FBI special agent and a Lawrence Police Department detective.

Rep. LaTurner is not going to comment on any pending litigation and legal proceedings at this time. Rep. LaTurners office will continue to cooperate with local and federal law enforcement on this matter, LaTurner spokesman Mike Howard said in a statement.

LaTurner was elected to Congress in 2020, after serving as Kansas treasurer. He is running for reelection against Democrat Patrick Schmidt. Beginning with this election, the district includes the northern half of Wyandotte County under the revised boundaries passed by the Kansas Legislature.

Neills competency to stand trial is now under evaluation, with the next hearing in the case set for Nov. 8, Election Day. In September, U.S. District Court Judge Holly Teeter ordered a psychological or psychiatric examination. Its unclear if the examination of Neill, who is being held in the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, has taken place.

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There is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Neill has a mental disease and that the mental disease renders him unable to assist properly in his defense, Teeter wrote in a Sept. 7 order.

Neill is represented by federal public defenders, who declined to comment.

The case against Neill comes as members of Congress and politicians across the country are confronting a rising number of threats and violent rhetoric. In November 2021, a Missouri man was sentenced 2.5 years in prison for threatening to kill Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, and Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee.
Malaysia is the eighth Asian country selected by the organization as the honoree for the citywide festival salute.

Authentic cultural and educational exhibits will be open throughout the month of May and with special live performances, lectures, and economic development events during International Week, from May 8 - May 14, according to a media release.

Malaysia is in southeast Asia and consists of two geographical regions separated by the South China Sea.

Malaysia is a culturally rich nation with a cosmopolitan capital city that serves as headquarters for a prosperous economy. said Leigh Shockey, 2023 Memphis in May Board Chair, We are excited to share the stories and exotic culture of this important country with Memphis and discover how Malaysia is known as truly Asia.

Malaysia is a country of many cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.

The countrys population is approximately 33 million, and the official language is Malay, but residents also speak English, Tamil, and Cantonese.

Islam is Malaysias official religion, with about 60% of the population identifying as Muslim.

A group cultural tour of the country led by Shockey is slated for Mar. 11 - Mar. 19, with business and government leaders in attendance, according to a media release.

Revenues from Memphis in Mays major events provide funding to support the international salute, and cultural, educational, and economic development programs.

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A Layton, Utah, man is accused of writing out a plan in a notebook in his bedroom to bomb a Catholic school in Kennewick.

Cesar Olveda was nearly 600 miles away from St. Joseph Catholic School when he allegedly made a Instagram post threatening to bomb the school on Fourth Avenue, according to court documents.

The post also called for the FBI to come and get me and gave his street address where he lives with his mother.

Olveda then sent the post to Layton police about noon on Oct. 14, and it was forwarded to Kennewick police.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, also gave Layton police information showing that the post came from an internet connection owned by Olveda.

Officers spoke with his mother. She apologized for anything he might have done that day, and described him to police as being mentally unstable.

Hill Air Force Base agents detained Olveda and took him to Layton police.

He refused to speak with them, requesting an attorney.

A search of Olvedas bedroom turned up a journal detailing his intentions to bomb St. Joes.

While its unclear why Olveda singled out the private Kennewick school, he has relatives who live in Kennewick, according to public records.

He is currently being held without bail in the Davis County, Utah, jail on charges of making a threat of terrorism.
Meta is aiming to operate more efficiently, according to its CFO. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters

Meta said during an earnings call it plans to condense its workplaces as more staff work remotely.

Meta's CFO said the company was making "significant changes across the board to operate more efficiently."

The social-media giant has embraced remote work, with top executives working from abroad.

Meta said on Wednesday it was planning to reduce its office space as more employees choose to work from home.

When releasing its third-quarter results, the social-media giant said total expenses in the third quarter came to $22.05 billion, up 19% from the same period last year. This included a $413 million impairment loss for some operating leases as part of efforts to match its office facilities footprint with anticipated operating needs, it added.

It comes as Meta, notably its top executives, shifts to remote work.

Dave Wehner, Meta's chief financial officer, said in an earnings call the company was making "significant changes across the board to operate more efficiently" and had "increased scrutiny on all areas of operating expenses."

Wehner said these changes "will take time to play out" because they follow "a substantial investment cycle."

"Some steps, like the ongoing rationalization of our office footprint, will lead to incremental costs in the near term," Wehner said.

Meta expected 2022 total expenses would be between $85 billion and $87 billion, with an estimated $900 million in extra fees "related to consolidating our office facilities footprint," he said.

Wehner added that Meta projected 2023 total expenses are set to be between $96 billion and $101 billion, with $2 billion estimated to go towards consolidating the company's office footprint.

The 2023 costs come as "we continue to rationalize our real estate footprint," Susan Li, Meta's vice president of finance, said later in the call.

Meta has embraced remote work, especially its senior executives. CEO Mark Zuckerberg likes to work from his compound in Hawaii, while Instagram boss Adam Mosseri has recently traveled and worked remotely from Los Angeles, Cape Cod, and also Hawaii, sources told The Wall Street Journal.

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Meta employees are expected to spend at least half their time in the office. Having said that, any full-time Meta employee whose job can be done online can apply to become a fully remote worker.

Meta did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Mexican officials seized these weapons and ammunition, including rows of .50-caliber bullets capable of downing aircraft, ripping through engine blocks and armored tanks. They were sent to CJNG cartel members by Portland native Robert Allen Cummins, who allegedly teamed with his friend, Erik Flores Elortegui, to fill cartel orders.

PORTLAND, Ore.  A joint Mexico-U.S. investigation linked a weapon used to blast a Mexican military helicopter out of the sky to a supplier from Oregon, federal firearms officials confirmed to The Courier Journal.

Eight Mexican soldiers with SEDENA, Mexico's national defense, and one Mexican police officer died in the 2015 crash on a mission to arrest top U.S. target El Mencho, the world's most powerful cartel boss. But the link between the incident and Portland, Oregon, had not been made public until now.

"That's huge," Matt Donahue, retired chief of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's foreign operations, said after learning of the connection.

Erik Flores Elortegui, a Mexican native and U.S. citizen who lived in Portland, now tops the Most Wanted list of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is blamed with supplying cartel members with a belt-fed .50-caliber semi-automatic rifle, said Jason Chudy, spokesman for the ATF's Seattle Field Division, which includes Oregon.

"After it was recovered, we obtained information, and we were able to trace it back to Erik Flores," he said.

Erik Flores Elortegui is on the top of the ATF's Most Wanted list for allegedly supplying the CJNG cartel with a military-grade weapon used to down a Mexican military helicopter.

The short summary under his photo on the ATF's website mentions an indictment charging the 40-year-old fugitive with illegally buying weapons and smuggling them out of the U.S., but it doesn't describe the ensuing death toll.

The Mexican Attorney General's office asked the ATF to trace a .50-caliber semi-automatic machine gun they say helped take down the military helicopter in an infamous May 1, 2015, incident that rattled law enforcement on both sides of the border.

Along with the nine who died, there were others who were injured. Ivan Morales, the only other Mexican police officer on board, had to crawl through the fiery wreckage and suffered severe burns and disfigurement.

A Mexican soldier watches the horizon for cartel members after CJNG downed a military helicopter with a grenade in Villa Purificacin, Jalisco. The deadly 2015 attack was part of escalating violence during CJNG's power grab.

They had been on a mission so secretive that they weren't told about it until they hurried in the darkness to a caravan of six helicopters at the Colima airport, six hours south of Puerto Vallarta, and headed out to capture the leader of global powerhouse Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or CJNG.

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Many Americans don't know his name  Ruben Oseguera Cervantes or El Mencho  but he plays a big role in the availability of illegal drugs in bustling cities and rural towns across the U.S., driving up record-high overdose deaths.

Ivan Morales loved being a Mexican federal police officer. Now he is disfigured and unable to return to work after the CJNG cartel shot down a military helicopter with a grenade in 2015, killing several and leaving Morales with severe burns.

After learning of his hideout, the military flew north over the mountain peaks of rural Jalisco, cartel headquarters.

El Mencho and his team of mercenaries were ready inside their own caravan of trucks and heavily armed. Mexican officials told the ATF the cartel fired the .50-caliber semi-automatic machine gun from Portland along with other weapons. A round tore through the rotor of Morales' aircraft, causing it to catch on fire and spiral to the ground.

Ivan Morales, 37, a Mexican federal police officer, ran through flames to escape the wreckage of a military helicopter shot down by CJNG. He was on a mission to arrest cartel leader El Mencho.

During an interview with The Courier Journal in 2019, Morales said: "I thought I was going to die." Before leaving home early that morning, his wife told him he was going to be a father for the first time. The then-33-year-old repeatedly told paramedics and doctors so they would understand that despite the severity of his injuries, he had to fight to live.

CJNG, which has an army of 5,000, also set up "narco blockades," road blocks at major intersections to the main city, Guadalajara. They set businesses on fire, blew up gas tanks at convenience stores and created chaos.

"That was a message to the Mexican government from El Mencho, saying: 'We run Jalisco. Don't come after me again. Don't do it again or this will be the result,'" said Donahue, who worked for years in Mexico City, overseeing agents hunting for El Mencho and teaming with SEDENA soldiers.

"It absolutely worked," he said.

"If you look at today, the Mexican government has zero control of Jalisco, and Guerrero, as well," Donahue said. "The military does not go in there. The Navy does not go in there."

More:Outbreak of Mexican cartel violence targeting innocents raises worries of whats to come

Guerrero, known for its coastal tourist town of Acapulco, is one of six Mexican states with "do not travel" warnings from the U.S. State Department. Department officials also advise reconsidering travel to Jalisco.

CJNG produces an enormous amount of illicit drugs in both Guerrero and Jalisco, known as "narco states."

In this wanted poster, the U.S. announces a rare $10 million reward for help finding El Mencho, a ruthless cartel boss and billionaire.

The downing of the helicopter and ensuing violence is a key reason why El Mencho remains free to this day, despite a decade-long search by the DEA and a $10 million reward.

"Even though there's a warrant for his arrest in Mexico as well as the United States, they haven't even taken a run at him since then," Donahue said.

"That tactic  attacking innocent people, blowing everything up and going after government buildings  worked for him. They know he'll do it again."

Mexican officials initially said an RPG, a rocket propelled grenade launcher, was used to strike the helicopter's rotor and down the aircraft. It's unclear whether investigators believe the helicopter was struck by both. It's also unclear where Mexican investigators found the .50-caliber and how they know CJNG used it to help down the aircraft.

Matt Donahue, who retired as chief of DEA's foreign operations discussed the viciousness of CJNG during an interview with the Courier Journal in Mexico City in 2019.- "They want to control the entire drug market. if that takes them killing other cartels or killing innocent people they will do it."

Donahue said he would like to see the evidence collected by Mexican officials, pointing out that cartel members also acquire weapons from other countries.

"I would like to see Mexico authorities share that information with U.S. law enforcement authorities and utilize that evidence and charge Mencho with shooting down that helicopter and his trafficking activities."

The infamous Sinaloa Cartel and its leader "El Chapo" had remained the dominant cartel, but this was a sign of CJNG's capabilities and ruthlessness. With El Chapo now serving a life sentence in a U.S. prison and his cartel fractured with feuding family members, CJNG emerged as the world's most powerful drug cartel.

Security experts weigh in:With drug cartel violence, is it safe to travel to Mexico?

A special investigative report in 2019 by The Courier Journal warned of CJNG's ruthlessness in Mexico and its reach across the U.S. into small towns. CJNG is based in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, in the state of Jalisco. But it has expanded operations in the majority of Mexico's states. And CJNG has been detected on every continent except Antarctica.

Both CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel are blamed for the bulk of illicit fentanyl in the U.S., which propelled the overdose death toll to a record 108,000 deaths last year.

But Mexico officials point out that the cartels flourish because of the U.S. demand for drugs and the U.S. supply of military-grade weapons.

CJNG frequently shows off its army on social media. U.S. drug agents believe it has 5,000-plus members.

In Mexico, civilians with gun permits can buy from one store. In Oregon, buyers can buy from 1,208. Portland alone has 53 gun stores and pawn shops selling firearms, according to the ATF's Seattle Field Division, which also includes Oregon.

ATF agents went to a Mexican Army base in Colima, south of Jalisco, in 2016 to help trace the gun, Chudy said.

ATF confirmed the .50-caliber had been purchased by Flores Elortegui at a gun shop in Rainier, a town on the south bank of the Columbia River across from Longview, Washington.

He lied on the ATF form, claiming he wanted the $15,350 gun for himself, the indictment alleges. He listed his home as Beaverton, Oregon, seven miles southwest of downtown Portland.

Some documents remained sealed, and it's unclear how and why he allegedly partnered with CJNG. He was born in Ramon Corona in the Mexican state of Durango, but became a U.S. citizen in 2009 in Portland, according to the ATF.

ATF agents already had been investigating Flores Elortegui and his co-defendant Robert Allen Cummins for making at least 25 straw purchases of weapons and accessories in 2013 and 2014 and illegally exporting guns, according to court records. A federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment against both men in September 2015, but it initially was sealed.

Portland native Robert Allen Cummins' attorney said in court documents that his client didn't think of the danger to innocent people when he bought and smuggle "exotic" weapons, some capable of downing aircraft, to the ruthless CJNG cartel in Mexico.

Now unsealed, the indictment alleges: California co-conspirators, who weren't named, made deposits in November 2013 totaling about $52,000 in San Ysidro and Calexico into Flores Elortegui's bank accounts. A month later, Flores Elortegui spent about $14,000 at Oregon stores buying several guns, including a .50-caliber rifle, several AK-47 type rifles and a .38-caliber super pistol.

The pattern of bank deposits and gun purchases continued. On May 15, 2014, Cummins paid $38,100 in cash for 14 guns bought some of the guns, including several military-grade weapons and three .50-caliber rifles. The two men tried to hide their crimes by texting about large amounts of "burritos."

Cummins handed off several of the guns to Flores Elortegui, who drove them to the border May 18, 2014, and checked into a motel in Calexico. The next day, he drove across the border to Mexicali, Mexico.

Weeks later, the Mexican military seized many of the same guns, including two of the .50-caliber rifles from a tractor-trailer in San Luis Rio de Colorado in the state of Sonora, prosecutors allege in court documents. The guns and a large amount of ammunition, magazines and firearm accessories were wrapped in thin plastic and tucked inside bales of alfalfa.

Cummins ended up selling a gun to an undercover ATF agent, court records show. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to illegal buy and smuggle guns.

Cummins was a lifelong resident of Lane County, Oregon, and a known fishing guide before he was enticed into the "exotic" gun market by Flores Elortegui, his attorney noted in the defense sentencing memo asking for leniency.

"Mr. Cummins is an almost child-like individual who was excited about guns and the gun culture and never considered the consequences of placing instruments of destruction into the stream of commerce until he was facing the certainty of prison time, the loss of his life savings and the loss of his business," this attorney argued.

Prosecutors portrayed Cummins in the government's sentencing memo as a willing middle man, pointing to his statements to an undercover ATF agent. He bragged how he buys and sells thousands of dollars worth of firearms without a license and "operates far from the edge of legal."

US tourists beware:Popular Mexico getaway plagued by drug cartel intimidation and violence

A judge sentenced him in February 2017 to serve three years and four months in federal prison and then remain on supervised release for three years.

Prosecutors brought him back before a judge in April to ask that his release be revoked due to a violation, court records show. The document explaining the alleged violation remains sealed, and the revocation hearing has been postponed.

Flores Elortegui remains at large and ATF officials haven't said if they have indications that he fled to Mexico. Agents ask that anyone with information about his whereabouts to call the 24-hour hotline at 888-ATF-TIPS.

Reporter Beth Warren: bwarren@courier-journal.com; 502-582-7164; Twitter @BethWarrenCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Oregon man tied to downing of helicopter by El Mencho's CJNG cartel
Former Vice President Mike Pence is endorsing Republican Cyndi Carrascos run for Marion County Prosecutor.

Marion County and Indianapolis need a prosecutor that is going to fight back against the defund the police movement and put the rule of law FIRST, Pence said in a statement provided to IndyStar. That is why I am so proud to endorse Cyndi Carrasco for Marion County Prosecutor. Cyndi is a proven and dedicated public servant that has a plan to restore safety, security, and prosperity to our beloved capital city.

Pence claimed in the statement that Americas public safety crisis was a result of the radical left.

More:Who donated to Ryan Mears, Cyndi Carrasco campaigns for Marion County Prosecutor?

It is happening right here in Indianapolis, as well, Pence said.

Mike Pence for Indiana, a political action committee, is also giving $10,000 to her campaign. U.S. Rep. Greg Pence, the former vice presidents brother, signaled support for Carrasco when Greg Pence for Congress gave Carrasco $2,500 earlier this year.

Pence's endorsement shows how high-profile the county race has become. An elected position that oversees the bureaucratic legal world of courts and crime has been thrust into the spotlight by a spike in Indianapolis homicides during the pandemic, which Mears' detractors pin on him and his approach to criminal justice.

They also say controversial decisions by the Democrat  like his decision not to enforce Indiana's new abortion law or low-level marijuana possession crimes  fall in line with a national trend of progressive prosecutors putting their convictions above the law.

More:Indianapolis faces a 'public safety crisis.' Cyndi Carrasco says Ryan Mears is the problem.

More:Ryan Mears' run for Marion County prosecutor looked weak. Did 2022 change that?

Mears has defended his time atop the office by pointing out that homicides ticked up across the country during the pandemic, and that crime in general is a symptom of society failing to address the quality-of-life ills faced by city residents.

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It's not the first race Pence has become involved in this year. The former vice president has backed Hamilton County Prosecutor candidate Greg Garrison, a close friend and former conservative talk show host who won the Republican primary against incumbent D. Lee Buckingham.

He also participated in a fundraiser event earlier this year for Diego Morales, the embattled Republican candidate for Indiana Secretary of State who has been accused of sexual assault by two women.

The elections take place Nov. 8.

Call IndyStar courts reporter Johnny Magdaleno at 317-273-3188 or email him at jmagdaleno@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @IndyStarJohnny

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Pence leans into Marion County prosecutor race with endorsement
As demand for electric cars continues to grow, so does the need for a mineral critical to its function: nickel, which makes batteries last longer, so cars can go farther.

But the United States produces less than 1% of the world's nickel supply, and American electric vehicle makers rely on supplies from places like Russia, China and Indonesia.

Now, one metals company, Talon, wants to turn 100 acres of American farmland into the largest source of nickel in the United States  but some are concerned about the possible impact.

Talon recently launched the Tamarack Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project located in Tamarack, Minnesota, with the goal of providing a domestic source of nickel to be used in the electric vehicle industry. The metals company drilled nearly 500 test holes  and found some of the world's best nickel.

"This is a world class deposit," Todd Malan, chief external affairs officer and head of climate strategy for Talon Metals, told CBS News.

With the success of the test holes, Talon hopes to open the mine in 2026, when the only other nickel mine in the United States is set to close. It is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to the state, and the company already has a deal to supply nickel to Tesla. It still needs to be approved by the state of Minnesota before it officially opens.

But some in the area have questions.

"Where is the scientific data that says this is safe?" said Melanie Benjamin, who leads the executive branch of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, whose tribal land in less than two miles from the proposed mine.

Benjamin worries about pollution impacting the fragile wetlands where native tribes fish and hunt and have harvested wild rice for generations.

"There is a spiritual connection to the water, to the plants, to the animals, to the land. It's going to devastate the land, and the land may never come back from that devastation. That's pretty scary," said Benjamin.

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Local homeowners in Tamarack are also worried about sulfuric acid runoff from the mine leaking into pristine waterways.

But Talon said it will process the nickel out of state, and that the deep-underground mine poses little risk to the environment.

"We totally understand the context and the history," Talon's Todd Malan said. "We understand how precious this environment is."

Still, many have a hard time taking a mining company at its word.

"Asking Talon or asking any mining company about how they're going to take care of the community environment is kind of like asking the fox how he's taking care of the chicken coop," said Thomas Anderson, who has a home in Tamarack.

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was hospitalized Wednesday after wrecking his SUV while swerving to avoid a dog on a rural road, law enforcement officials said.

Barbour, 75, had the wreck near Wolf Lake outside Yazoo City, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Jackson. Barbour lives in Yazoo City.

Yazoo County Sheriff Jake Sheriff told The Associated Press that Barbour was airlifted to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson after the wreck, which happened at about 5:30 p.m. A news release from the Mississippi Highway Patrol hours later described Barbour as stable and alert" with injuries that were not life-threatening.

Barbour is a Republican and served two terms as governor, from January 2004 to January 2012. His first term was shaped by Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed large swaths of the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2005.

Barbour helped secure billions of dollars from the federal government for Katrina recovery and was criticized for directing $570 million to a port expansion project instead of low-income housing.

The restoration program is important to recapturing a major portion of the regions job base and to filling a national need for more port capacity, Barbour said in a May 2009 statement to a U.S. Senate committee.

Barbour was White House political director for President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s and chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997. Barbour was high-profile Washington lobbyist before becoming governor and returned to lobbying after leaving office.

Sheriff said Barbour told emergency responders that a dog ran out in front of him, and the former governor swerved and hit a culvert. The BMW SUV ended up on its side. Barbour was wearing a seat belt, and the airbag deployed, Sheriff said.

Sheriff said officers did not find a dog near the accident site.

Barbour had a cut on the side of his head and told emergency responders that his hip and left shoulder hurt, Sheriff said.
Emmett Till is finally getting the recognition he deserves in Mississippi.

On Friday, a 9-foot-tall bronze statue of the teenager was unveiled in Rail Spike Park in Greenwood, Mississippi, NPR reports.

The statue shows Till dressed in slacks, a dress shirt and a tie. One of his hands rests on the brim of his hat, creating an image thats parallel to those out there of the teen.

The ceremony paying homage to Till saw many attendees wiping away tears and applauding as the statue was revealed. Its an incredible moment for the community  the statues location is close to where Till was kidnapped and slain for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a store.

Wake Up Everybody, an R&B song by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, played as a tarp was pulled off the statue. People couldnt help but get a closer look at the piece of art, and many snapped pictures and videos of the historic moment.

Change has come, and it will continue to happen, Leflore County High School senior Madison Harper said during the dedication, NPR reports. Decades ago, our parents and grandparents could not envision that a moment like today would transpire.

One attendee, Anna-Maria Webster, couldnt stop the tears from streaming down her face.

Its beautiful to be here, she said, according to NPR.

Webster added that she cant imagine what Tills mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, went through.

During the time of Tills murder, there werent any Black elected officials in office. His death helped changed that. And now, while theres only one Black member in Mississippis current congressional delegation  Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson  this monument shows the Southern state may be heading in the right direction.

But you, know, change has a way of becoming slower and slower, Thompson said, as reported by The Vicksburg Post. What we have to do in dedicating this monument to Emmett Till is recommit ourselves to the spirit of making a difference in our community.
Mizzou Academy is branching out to offer resources for home school families.

Mizzou Academy is updating outdated online child care training videos, using a $7.5 million grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The 30 online, on-demand videos must be produced by the end of July, said Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, director of Mizzou Academy.

"It's very fast," Fishman-Weaver said.

DESE oversees child care facilities in the state.

Mizzou Academy is an online elementary, middle and high school with around 7,000 students in Missouri and worldwide. With the grant, Mizzou Academy is reaching into child care, Fishman-Weaver said.

"We're taking a team approach" using child care professionals across the UM System, she said.

Columbia Public Schools teachers also will be involved along with videographers, she said. Mizzou Academy also is collaborating with faculty in the Department of Human Development and Family Science. Fishman-Weaver's team includes Rachel Thibodeau-Nielsen, Francisco Palermo, Louis Manfra and Michelle Matthews.

Much of the filming takes place in the University of Missouri Child Development Lab, a working preschool on campus, she said.

"They have partnered with us," Fishman-Weaver said. "These kids are part of the face of the videos. It gives these videos an authenticity."

The first phase will be updated videos on topics including emergency preparedness, safe sleep, and inclusive practices for children with disabilities. The topics exist now in the online training video library, she said.

The second phase of videos will cover new topics, including readiness for kindergarten and supporting multilingual learners, Fishman-Weaver said.

Palermo will be involved with the video for multilingual children, he said in a news release about the grant.

This topic is personal for me, as I was born in Puerto Rico and moved to the mainland as a child, Palermo said. Getting adjusted in school was hard, as teachers would criticize me for not paying attention when I asked questions. I was paying attention, the language barrier just made understanding the content more difficult. I want to be supportive toward those that may now be in a similar situation."

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People who view the videos will receive credit for them, Fishman-Weaver said. They are geared toward preschool teachers, daycare staff, paraprofessionals, child-care administrators and after-school providers. The reach for the training is such that it may benefit babysitters, Fishman-Weaver said.

"We believe in what we're doing," Fishman-Weaver said. "We believe it matters."

Many of the existing videos are outdated, with a monotone narration, which is the reason an update was needed, according to the news release.

"This project is going to make a huge difference," Fishman-Weaver said. "This investment in childhood is really important for our state."

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Mizzou Academy plans to help train child care workers in Missouri
Lea Bossler, who birthed a nonviable infant at 25 weeks, speaks against the LR-131 ballot measure at a rally (left); Montana state Rep. Matt Regier (right) is an architect of the ballot measure.

Last year, Montana resident Lea Bossler experienced pregnancy complications that meant she had to give birth at 25 weeks. Her newborn daughter was diagnosed with fetal inflammatory response syndrome, and when Bossler and her husband learned she wouldnt survive, they chose to say goodbye.



An initiative on the Montana ballot next month would take that choice away from couples like Bossler and her husband. LR-131 (aka the Born Alive Infant Protection Act) would target and criminalize doctors for not providing life-saving care to the newborneven when no amount of action from doctors could realistically keep the baby alive, and families just want to be with their dying infant in its final moments.

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Her childs death under LR-131 would have been extremely traumatic for everyone, rather than beautiful and peaceful, Bossler told NPR earlier this week.

The measure is the product of years of anti-abortion fearmongering, Hillary-Anne Crosby, an organizer working on the campaign to oppose the measure, told Jezebel. Under the initiative, doctors who fail to provide life-saving medical care to any infants born after natural or induced labor, cesarean section, induced abortion, or another method would face up to 20 years in prison and $50,000 in fines. Republican state Rep. Matt Regier, one of the architects of the measure, has claimed its purpose is to protect infant survivors of abortion. But the actual outcome would be harm to families like Bosslers. Scenarios about hypothetical babies living through abortionslike what Regier describes when promoting the ballot measuresimply dont happen.

Montanans are being told theyre voting on a measure thats just going to protect infants born as a result of an abortion, but what theyre actually voting on is forcing care on nonviable infants...when families otherwise would have received spiritual comfort and palliative care, Crosby said.



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Abortion is on the ballot in Montana. Voters will decide fate of the 'Born Alive' law https://t.co/uInG0K5SYs pic.twitter.com/vOPGjBMlA8  WCMU Public Radio (@WCMUNews) October 26, 2022

Families suffering from the loss of a child shouldnt be subject to criminalization, surveillance, and state investigation on top of their pain, Crosby added.



Abortions later in pregnancy are highly rare, and overwhelmingly stem from emergency pregnancy complications and fetal conditions, or delays as a result of barriers and extreme abortion restrictions (though, as Jezebel has long maintained, there are no right or wrong reasons to have an abortion). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, only about 1% of abortions in the U.S. occur after 21 weeks. One study found that out of 5,000 infants born before 27 weeks, none of the infants born before 22 weeks survived.

No external polling indicates how Montanans might vote on LR-131, but medical groups and experts have expressed concern that its deceptive language and framing could sway the election. Last week, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the Montana Section of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology sent a letter to Montanas secretary of state, taking specific issue with state-distributed voter guides that include false claims from the pro-LR-131 side that the measure will have no effect on families when labor begins spontaneously. Experts say this is plainly untrue.

Theyre using the title of this referendum and the intentionally difficult language around this referendum to make it about abortion, Dr. Lauren Wilson, a doctor based in Missoula, told the Independent Record earlier this month. But when it comes down to it, it denies parents the choice of how to respond to a pregnancy tragedy, and essentially makes comfort care for a newborn with a terminal medical condition illegal.

Maybe he hasnt read his own bill language, so well leave this here: https://t.co/IRJNDSyFx6



In the proposed law: medically appropriate and reasonable actions to preserve the life and health of the infant



Interesting how he leaves out those last 9 words in each interview.  No on LR-131 (@NoLR131) October 25, 2022

Aileen Gleizer, a board member of Montanas abortion fund, told Jezebel that when Roe v. Wade fell in June, they were inundated with questions from confused, desperate callers. LR-131s misguided language about abortion has prompted even more confused calls. We get calls from clients sometimes asking if they would retroactively be punished, Gleizer said. That level of fear and anxiety is part of the dangerous nature of this measure, which [backers are framing] as being about abortion and scaring people about having abortions.

The ballot measure makes the state among the first in the nation to directly vote on abortion rights post-Roe, months after Kansas resoundingly defeated an anti-abortion measure in August. In Montana, abortion remains legal, as the states constitution enshrines rights to privacy and bodily autonomy, although the state already bans abortion at or after viability.

Existing Montana law already prohibits infanticide, and a 2002 federal law grants infants that are born alive the same rights as all people. The only purpose LR-131 serves is to further equate abortion with murder, and doctors and abortion providerswho routinely face violence and death threatswith murderers.

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Metra and U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi are calling for checks on a proposed railroad merger that would bring more freight trains to parts of the Chicago area, saying the merger has the potential to worsen delays along a west suburban commuter rail line.

As the proposed merger stands now  without a series of measures that Metra and Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Schaumburg, say could lessen the effects of increased freight traffic  the rail agency opposes the merger, Metra Executive Director Jim Derwinski said.

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U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi speaks while Metra CEO Jim Derwinski, left, and Metra Chief Operating Officer Kevin McCann wait during a news conference about Metra and proposed freight line mergers on Oct. 26, 2022, at Union Station in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Were looking at a post-COVID world here, which means everything is changing. Ridership patterns are changing, patterns of our passengers are changing and therefore we need to be nimble, Derwinski said Wednesday. We feel that the merger at this point in time, as applied, does not give Metra a good future.

Metra and suburban communities along the Milwaukee District West line have repeatedly voiced opposition to the proposed merger, which would combine the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads in a $31 billion deal.

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In federal filings, Canadian Pacific has disputed that the merger will affect Metra, saying there is enough capacity on the line to handle more trains. A Canadian Pacific spokesman said the agency has been proactively reaching out to communities to address concerns, and federal regulators were addressing appropriate mitigations.

The proposal is still under review by the federal Surface Transportation Board but, if approved, it would create the only railroad linking Canada, Mexico and the United States. It would be the first major railroad merger since the 1990s.

It is expected to bring more freight trains to parts of Metras Milwaukee District West line, which runs to Schaumburg and Elgin. Metra shares tracks with Canadian Pacific along the line, as it does along the Milwaukee District North line. Canadian Pacific is projecting the merger could add an average of about eight extra freight trains per day to parts of the Milwaukee District West, bringing the total number to an average of just over 11 per day by 2027.

Nine communities, including Itasca, Elgin, Hanover Park and DuPage County, have formed a coalition opposing the merger, saying it would increase delays at rail crossings, congestion, noise and vibrations. That could cause health and safety hazards for residents and pose problems for first responders trying to reach emergencies who find their paths blocked by trains at road crossings, they have said.

The coalition, Metra and Krishnamoorthi have also disputed Canadian Pacifics estimate of the number of trains that could pass through the Chicago suburbs and questioned the railroads modeling. The railroad has said in federal filings that concerns about higher-than-estimated numbers of trains passing through the area are unfounded.

Metra has said the merger could increase delays and exacerbate safety issues for passengers, and on Wednesday commuter rail officials joined Hanover Park Village President Rodney Craig and Krishnamoorthi to highlight concerns about the potential for further delays. They gathered at Chicago Union Station, which is the terminal of the Milwaukee District West line and which is owned by Amtrak, which supports the merger.

Hanover Park Village President Rodney Craig speaks about the Canadian Pacific Railway, Oct. 26, 2022, at Union Station in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Krishnamoorthis office made public an analysis of Metra data that it said showed the three daily Canadian Pacific trains now running along the Milwaukee District West line cause delays to Metra trains, including during rush periods. The frequency of delays and the duration of delays increased from 2017 to 2021, according to Krishnamoorthis office.

Krishnamoorthi said the delays would likely worsen if the merger moves forward as currently proposed and the number of freight trains traveling along the tracks increases.

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I can see hundreds of thousands of people who would otherwise take Metra instead prefer to drive downtown, clog our roads, cause detrimental environmental impact and set public transit back by decades in our region, he said.

A spokesman for Canadian Pacific highlighted Metra data showing 95.7% of Milwaukee District West trains were on time in September  it would have been 96.3% without freight train interference, according to Metra  and that freight train interference accounted for 8% of all Metra delays systemwide.

Krishnamoorthi has called for an additional study of the effects of the rail merger specific to the Chicago area, after a broader draft federal report issued in August found that apart from train noise, which could result in adverse impacts at some locations, the potential adverse impacts of the Proposed Acquisition would be negligible, minor, and/or temporary.

I think (the extra study is) unprecedented, but the negative impact on the Chicago area would be unprecedented by this particular merger, he said.

He said imposing a set of conditions on the merger could make it more palatable, a request that has been echoed by Metra and the communities along the line. That could include transferring dispatching rights, or the right to control train movement over the tracks, from Canadian Pacific to Metra, which owns the tracks. For the communities along the tracks, separating the tracks from roadways via underpasses or overpasses could also be helpful, he said.

Canadian Pacific has rejected the suggestion that Metras conditions should be imposed on the merger, saying in a filing that Metra was using the merger as a vehicle for addressing a host of perceived pre-existing conditions.

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The railroad said it has committed to measures like allowing Metra to return to pre-pandemic schedules and reporting on the growth in the number and length of trains, as well as Metra delays caused by freight trains. If delays reach a certain level, the freight railroad proposed following a series of steps to assess and discuss a plan of action with Metra.

But the railroad disagrees with Metras request to transfer dispatching rights along the line, saying in a filing, the conditions Metra seeks are overreaching and would cause public interest harm without any offsetting benefit.

sfreishtat@chicagotribune.com
Oct. 26According to Moscow Police officers, there is at least one fentanyl overdose per week in Latah County on average.

This was shared to parents, students and school administrators during a presentation on drugs in the community Tuesday at Moscow High School.

Cpl. Ryan Snyder told those in attendance that fentanyl often comes in the form of counterfeit pills of other drugs like Xanax or oxycontin. They can also come in any color.

This leads to people unwittingly ingesting something far more dangerous than what they anticipated.

"Unfortunately people don't know what they're buying when they're buying stuff on the street," he said.

He added that fentanyl is cheap and causes a strong high. Sellers are profiting off it, but people are also dying because it is so potent, Snyder said.

Moscow PD investigated more than 40 fentanyl cases in 2021, significantly more than heroin or meth. The number of fentanyl cases has increased in recent years.

Officer Mitch Nunes said drugs lead to property crimes as addicts attempt to steal valuables to sell for drug money.

He reminded parents of local resources that are available for their children such as the school resource officer, school counselor, youth probation and the Latah Recovery Center. He encouraged parents to be observant of changes in their child's behavior.

Nunes informed attendees that Idaho has medical amnesty that protects anyone who overdoses or reports an overdose from being prosecuted if they call emergency personnel.

Joining Nunes and Snyder on Tuesday was Moscow's new drug-sniffing K-9, Ragnar. The yellow Labrador happily let the children in the audience pet him while his handler, Snyder, answered their questions.

Nunes said Ragnar's early effect on the police department was "instantly felt," since the dog joined the department in June.

Ragnar is used primarily during traffic stops and will alert Snyder of any suspicious odors, Nunes said.

Moscow School District Superintendent Greg Bailey was in attendance and said he is open to the police bringing Ragnar to the schools occasionally, but would like input from the community before allowing that to happen.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
Oct. 27DAHLONEGA, Ga.  For the third year in a row, the University of North Georgia (UNG) and the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta have teamed up to offer scholarships to UNG students of Mexican/Latinx descent.

A new element of this year's $6,000 grant from the Mexican consulate, which is matched by $8,000 from UNG, is its focus on future educators. Dr. Christian Bello Escobar, director of academic and clinical engagement in the College of Education, is the principal investigator for the grant.

The grant is funded through the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) via the IME-BECAS Program; "becas" is the Spanish word for scholarships.

This year, the UNG scholarship program is a collaboration between the College of Education, Enrollment Management, the Latinx faculty and staff committee, and the Multicultural Student Affairs office, according to a press release from the university.

Seven recipients will receive $1,000 for each semester of the 2022-23 academic year: Melissa Castaneda, Emely Arroyo, Giselle Tovar, Mariano Morin, Naomi Da Rosa, Betzaida Romulo, and Keila Osorio.

Romulo is from Moultrie, Ga.

"There's a huge need to increase Latinx teachers in the area," Bello Escobar said. "We are grateful to have these funds to help support the educational needs of our region while supporting the ever-increasing Latinx UNG student population."

Dr. Sheri Hardee, dean of the College of Education, considers the grant a valuable tool to assist students.

"We are excited about the ways in which IME-Becas funding will enhance our current efforts to support Latinx students in achieving their educational goals, particularly Latinx students preparing for careers in education," Hardee said. "I cannot stress enough the importance of the recruitment, support, and retention of Latinx educators in our region, across the state, and nationally."

In addition to the financial support, these UNG students are taking part in a two-semester leadership development program that includes having a UNG Latinx faculty or staff mentor.

"Research has shown that support groups through mentorship and involvement are vital to the persistence of Latinx college students. Students in minoritized communities tend to gravitate toward one another. As a result, having mentors with similar identities provides a more robust connection, leading to student success and retention, which is the overall goal of this year's program," Bello Escobar said.

Scholarship applications were open to full-time, degree-seeking students with at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
TILL (2022)

(L to R) Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till-Mobley and Whoopi Goldberg as Alma Carthan in TILL, directed by Chinonye Chukwu, released by Orion Pictures. Credit - Lynsey Weatherspoon / Orion Pictures

The new movie Till, expanding to wide release on Friday, does not draw its title solely from the name of Emmett Till, the boy whose 1955 lynching remains one of American historys best-known examples of racial brutality. The movie is also the story of the activism that horrific crime inspired in the life of Mamie Till-Mobley, his mother.

Till is a film about love, a film about justice, and a film about determination, says its director, Chinonye Chukwu. Thats the movie she wanted to make. On screen, there are staggering moments in which Till-Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), almost broken, puts her hands on the mutilated remains of her sonthe way, she says, a mother would. There is a scene in which she stands determined and stoic as mourners at his funeral react, in some cases physically, to the sight of her sons mangled corpse. There are scenes in which she contends with the dual burdens of racism and sexism and struggles to be heard. And the film gives its final moments to Till-Mobley, drawing a line from her demands for justice all the way to an anti-lynching bill that finally became law this year.

When the producers behind Till approached Chukwu, she was initially hesitant and only agreed on a few conditions, she tells TIME. She would not make a film that portrayed physical acts of violence but would, in a way consistent with Till-Mobleys decision to open her sons casket, allow the world to see what American racism has done.

I thought, I would be really excited about telling this story if it was told through Mamies point of view and it was about her journey, her fight for justice, the love that existed here between a mother and her son, Chukwu says. She is the foundation of the story and I wanted to center her, a Black woman, and her rightful place in history.

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Emmett Tills story features prominently in this cultural moment. But Chukwus stance highlights another truth about Black stories in popular culture: some stories are more likely than others to be told. Stories about men, stories with so-called sympathetic central characters, stories in which the complexity of individuals is all too often blotted out. They are, more often than not, the tales of indefatigable underdogs who overcome. If the story is unavoidably sad, it must also feature some redemptive ending note. And, if the subject in any way involves the toll of American racism, the stories all too often implicate only places, policies, and people in the past.

Read more: Till and the Act of Witnessing Black Trauma Onscreen in 2022

And there are many stories, particularly stories about Black women, that continue to struggle mightily to be made.

The go-to explanationor lie, wrapped in an excusesays film critic Elvis Mitchell, director of a new documentary about Black film, Is That Black Enough For You?!? (in theaters now and streaming on Netflix starting Nov. 11), is that movies prominently featuring Black characters are risky and often unprofitable projects. In reality, Superfly, a 1972 neo-noir directed by Gordon Parks and distributed by Warner Bros., was so profitable, a former executive told Mitchell, that it kept the studio afloat. Several Black films that cost relatively little to makeor were given limited budgetsturned substantial profits during the same period, Mitchell says. Yet when a new important movie featuring Black characters emerges, its success tends to be treated as a surprise. Think Robert Townsends Hollywood Shuffle, Spike Lees Do The Right Thing, Barry Jenkins Moonlight, and Ryan Cooglers Black Panther.

Others struggle to get that far. One prime example involves the actor Aunjanue Ellis and the story of Fannie Lou Hamer, the Mississippi sharecropper and civil rights activist who helped force the Democratic Party to include Black voters in the presidential nomination process.

Ellis, who played Venus and Serena Williams mother in last years King Richard, grew up in Mississippi, the granddaughter of a Black pastor who welcomed the Freedom Riders at one of the first locations where they traveled to challenge the segregation of public facilities. When his church was attacked, he was arrested on false charges he had bombed his own church, she says. She was raised with intimate knowledge of Mississippi civil rights history and the potential danger of activism. But not once in school did she hear the name Fannie Lou Hamer.

Read more: God Is Not Going to Put It in Your Lap. What Made Fannie Lou Hamers Message on Civil Rights So RadicalAnd So Enduring

Hamer was a Mississippi sharecropper who, after only learning in the 1960s that Black Americans had the right to vote, registered and then worked to get others to do the same, even amid threats and actual violence. She helped to found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, famously challenging her states white-only establishment Democratic Party while also resisting the directives of male civil rights leaders to stand down. Hamer, the granddaughter of people who had been enslaved, was beaten while jailed, left with permanent disabilities. She was one of many Black women involuntarily sterilized, robbing her of the children she had long wanted. She struggled with depression. She was an American woman who changed America and was damaged in the fight.

In the early days of the pandemic, Aunjanue Ellis found herself with free time and a host of unfamiliar worries. She used those early months to learn more about Hamercoming to feel that Hamers story could serve as a guiding light. The next step was clear: Ellis knew the north star she had discovered in Hamer should become more than a personal education project. She wanted to help tell this story to the world.

But Ellis, much as she wanted to portray Hamer on screen, says she could not find a writer to take on the story, even amid a flood of based-on-a-true-story biopics and streaming docu-series about white American anti-heroes. So she decided to try to write a limited series about Hamer herself. It didnt get much traction, but a second attempt, this time a film screenplay called Sunflower: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story, did. Christine Sawnson, a director committed to the project, secured a $10,000 grant from the organization Chromatic Black via its Ida B. Wells Disrupting the Master Narrative Film Fund, to shoot a single scene. It consists primarily of Ellis delivering a version of the speech Hammer gave at the 1964 Democratic National Committee convention. The speech details Hamers arrest and beating along with the systemic brutality deployed to suppress Black voters in Mississippi and includes a simple but astonishing refrain: That flag is drenched in our blood. A few producers took meetings. Swanson submitted the script to a competition for scripts about women leaders, unbeknownst to Ellis. As a result, in 2022, Ellis won an Athenas List Award.

But a production plan fell apart, she says, and the project is now back at square one.

There is, Ellis believes, still a pervasive fear of the risk involved in telling more complicated stories of less-than-perfect but deeply influential extraordinary Black human beings. They have presented the project to white producers who said no and Black ones who said the same. One producer described their storytelling approach as a high-wire act. That stuck with Ellis.

Its unclear to her why that is a bad thing. Stories about Black women that do not stay on the ground, she says, are full of at least as much potential as what is now widely regarded as the definitive Mississippi Civil Rights era film, 1988s Mississippi Burning, the story of the investigation into the real-life murders of three civil rights activists working to register voters. The movie, which was nominated for a best picture Oscar, tells the story through the eyes and experiences of a white character portrayed by Gene Hackman. Whatever its merits, Ellis says, it also contributed mightily to the still pervasive idea that Black Mississippians were so deeply and effectively oppressed that they did nothing to liberate themselves.

What you see is often this rehashing or reinvention or a retelling of stories of prominent historical figures, being told in different variations, she says.  Weve had several manifestations and interactions of MLKs story, some of them are coming up soon. And its not that we dont need [them]. Theres so much that we dont know, so much that we need to learn at this moment from any of those folks. But there are so many more, particularly women, who were, if we are really candid, the architects of those movements. The women were doing the building and the grunt work, but theres not enough attention paid.

The limits, she says, apply not just to which stories are told but also which types of stories Black women writers and directors often get to tell.

That kind of cinematic act, she says, of pushing against those norms, is really, honestlyits defiant.

And for those who doubt that stories are told on the screen matter, Ellis points out that changes to history curricula across the country have, in recent years, only made it less likely that most students will ever hear of Fannie Lou Hamer or others like her.

Of course, what is regarded as defiant does sometimes evolve.

More recently, Ellis and her sister wrote and sold a series that is a fictionalized account of real events in a Mississippi community where, since 2000, a rash of what many locals believe to be lynchings have been deemed suicides by local authorities. The concept has been optioned by producers and a major publishing house plans to distribute a comic-strip version.

And a woman like Mamie Till-Mobley caneven if 67 years after the events that made her an activist and grieving motherend up at the center of her own story.
The discovery this week of human remains in a submerged vehicle allows Rainbow City police to close a missing persons case, and leaves Gadsden investigators examining the validity of a decades-old murder confession.

Alan Douglas Livingston, 25, was reported missing April 19, 1983  last seen three days earlier visiting a friend at what was then Forest River Apartments.

Gadsden Police Chief Lamar Jaggears and Capt. Bobby Jackson said authorities hope to get DNA from the sibling of the man reported missing in Rainbow City, to confirm the identify of skeletal remains found in an SUV submerged in the Coosa River.

Even without the DNA identification, they have a lot to tell them who they've found: the brown 1980 Ford Bronco matches the description of Livingston's vehicle, and a driver's license, Goodyear ID and Social Security card found in the vehicle bear his name, Sgt. Eric Phillips said.

What we know:Remains of man missing for 39 years believed to be found in Coosa River

FBI dive teams worked in and around the Coosa River behind Summer Waters Apartments to retrieve evidence  including the skeletal remains  from the Bronco buried up to the windshield and filled with river silt.

The divers told local officers this recovery, after more than 39 years, is the oldest recovery of a body underwater the FBI had worked on, as far as they could determine.

Rainbow City Det. Jordan McCartney said it's hoped that forensic examination of the remains will reveal what caused Livingston's death  and give confirmation to a confession made in Texas months after Livingston disappeared.

Larry Williamson was chief at Rainbow City when Livingston was reported missing, McCartney said, and headed an extensive investigation, with assistance from Gadsden police, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Etowah County Sheriff's Office.

Livingston was from Ohio. His father worked with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, as did Livingston, who was transferred to Gadsden, McCartney said. He didn't have family in the area. A friend and co-worker reported the young man missing after he missed several days at work, something that was out of character for him.

Story continues

The search effort and investigation didn't find him, McCartney said, and judging by their file, investigators didn't have an indication of what happened to him.

At the time, Phillips said, the Goodyear corporation had its own police department and it also investigated the case. Gadsden police received five pages of details from that investigation, but it didn't lead to answers either.

Summer brought a break in the case, however  from out of state.

The confession

In June 1983, an Arkansas patrolman saw a man hitchhiking and gave him a ride, Phillips related. Moments after he dropped the man at an interstate exit, he heard a BOLO dispatch: Be on a lookout for a suspect in a murder in Clarksville, Texas. The description matched the man he'd just dropped off. The officer went back, found the man and took him into custody without any problem.

When Texas/Arkansas investigators questioned the suspect about the murder, he told them the male victim in the case made an advance toward him, upsetting him, and he went to his vehicle, got a baseball bat and beat the man with it, leaving him still alive. "In truth, the victim has been stabbed to death," Phillips recounted.

The Texas investigators posed an off-the-cuff question: Have you ever done anything like this before?

"Yeah," he told them, "in Gadsden, Alabama."

McCartney said the suspect gave investigators there the name of the victim, Alan Livingston. They contacted authorities in Gadsden and Rainbow City, giving a new avenue for the investigation.

Williamson and other investigators, from Gadsden, Rainbow City and the ABI, went to Texas and interviewed the suspect several times.

Phillips said the man told them he met Livingston when both frequented Players Lounge, then a Gadsden nightspot, and other bars or lounges in the area. At the time Roth was a transient, living for about three months in an abandoned house in the Fifth or Sixth Street area.

"Taco Bell was new in Gadsden at the time," Phillips said.

When investigators came back to Gadsden, they talked to employees at Taco Bell and Jack's, who said they remembered Roth coming in. Sometimes they gave food to the homeless man.

Roth told investigators he and Livingston were at the what became known as the bird sanctuary, located between the back parking lot of the Gadsden Mall and South 11th Street. He claimed Livingston made an advance toward him, and he hit Livingston in the head with a board. As with his Texas victim, Phillips said, he told the Alabama investigators when he left him, Livingston was alive.

But that was one of many stories Roth told investigators. He said he left LIvingston at the bird sanctuary, covering him with leaves. He said he buried him. He claimed to have put the victim in the Bronco, drove to Texas and pushed the vehicle in a river; that he drove the Bronco to Sheffield and abandoned it when it ran out of gas.

None of his stories directed investigators to the Coosa River, to the area behind the East Gadsden apartment complex. Because they never got enough information to find Livingston or his vehicle, they couldn't bring charges, Phillips and McCartney said.

Texas investigators fared better. Roth was convicted in the Clarksville murder, and he remained in prison till 2012, when he was moved to a nursing home because of failing health.

The Livingston case was never closed; McCartney said the department reviews older unsolved cases about once a year, but they found nothing new to investigate.

The orange buoy marks the approximate spot where a vehicle was found in January in the Coosa River. A Virginia man who travels and conducts searches related to missing persons cases using sonar found the vehicle.

The discovery

Chris Overstreet is a scuba diver and EMT from Virginia. His team travels around looking into missing persons cases, and in January, he was in Northeast Alabama looking into a couple of cases. He was conducting a water search on the Coosa River using sonar when he discovered a vehicle in about 18 feet of water, 30 feet from the shoreline behind what is now Summer Waters Apartments.

When he dove at the location, Overstreet discovered it was a 1980s model, in silt up to its hood. He immediately called Gadsden police.

The Gadsden Police Department and the Etowah County Dive Team launched an investigation. Jackson said they determined they had no means to raise the vehicle, filled with silt up the windshield, from the water. "It would have come apart in their hands," he said, after decades underwater.

Gadsden detectives and Gadsden Police Certified Public Safety Diver Lieutenant Jon Alred consulted with Jaggears, who asked for the FBIs assistance. Other agencies and the state Marine Police had been consulted already, and no one had the equipment needed, Jaggears said. The FBI had far more resources to call upon.

Working through Gadsden FBI Office Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Strunk, that help was obtained. In February, FBI divers came to Gadsden to examine the scene. They didn't have a dredge  used to scoop up mud or bring up items from the mud in a river or seabed  for the job either.

So they built one, the local officers said, and that's the reason for the lapse in time between the Bronco's discovery and the removal of evidence from it. Jackson said they had to build a piece of equipment and test it before they risking its use on a potential crime scene, when evidence could be lost if the equipment didn't work properly.

In addition to dive teams from Los Angeles and Miami, an underwater evidence recovery team from Washington, D.C., and FBI personnel from the Birmingham field office and the Gadsden office assisted in the work done on the river on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Officers said that included pulling silt and mud out of the vehicle and filtering it to look for evidence. It was an impressive operation, local authorities said, and it proved fruitful. They were able to recover the skeletal remains and other items from the Bronco while it remained submerged in the river.

The Etowah County Coroner's Office will see to getting the remains to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for examination. The Etowah County District Attorney's Office will look at whether to bring charges against Roth in connection with Livingston's death.

From speaking with Roth's parole officer, Phillips said, he thinks the 71-year-old suspect's health could be a factor in whether he faces trial.

The case featured multiple law enforcement agencies working together, Jaggears said, and the cooperation between them was the key to coming to this resolution  that and the determination to continue investigations, no matter how long it takes.

The determined effort was there from the start of the investigation. McCartney said the Rainbow City officers who probed that initial missing person case were diligent. Opening the case file and reading their reports, he said, was like going back in time to 1983.

He, too, stressed the importance of the agencies working together. "This was not something one agency could have done alone," McCartney said.

Gadsden's Mayor-elect Craig Ford said he was "extremely proud" of the Gadsden Police Department. "The fact that they did not let this case go unsolved speaks volumes about their dedication to our community," Ford said in a statement. "This is a true demonstration of collaboration between agencies and the lengths that our police department will go to in order to keep our city safe from criminals."

Gadsden is open for business, he said, but not for criminals. Ford said he wants a safe city that "everyone is proud of and not afraid to live in."

The case is a testament, Jackson, who heads Gadsden's investigative division, to interagency cooperation, and to continuing an investigation, no matter how long it takes.

"We're not going to stop," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Remains believed to be man missing for 39 years found in Coosa River
Earth as seen from Nasas Lucy spacecraft while 380,000 miles away (Nasa)

Nasas Lucy mission flew past Earth on 16 October as part of its multi-year journey to visit the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, and it took some photos on home to accompany it on its long journey through deep space.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Nasa released several images Lucys cameras took of both the Earth and Moon as it passed as close as 224 miles of Earth  lower than the orbit of the International Space Station. The opportunity provided operators a chance to calibrate the spacecrafts cameras, and new views of home for humans stuck on Earth.

Lucy snapped the first of the two Earth images on 13 October while still 890,000 miles from our planet, providing a portrait of a small, marble-like Earth floating in the blackness of space.

Our planet Earth as seen from 890,000 miles away  the image was taken by Nasas Lucy spacecraft as it prepared to fly past Earth on its way to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids (Nasa)

The spacecraft took a second Earth image on 15 October, this time from 380,000 miles away, in which Hadar Ethiopia, in Africa, is clearly visible, according to a Nasa blog post. Hadar is the region where a 3.2-million-year-old fossilized skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis, a human ancestor, was discovered in 1974. Dubbed Lucy, the skeleton is Lucy the spacecrafts namesake.

Lucy also trained its cameras on the Moon, grabbing more detailed images from lower altitude than the images published of its fly by Earth.

One stunning image shows the width of the Moon and the border between lunar day and night, and is a mosaic composed of five different exposures taken when Lucy was about 140,000 miles from the Moon. The bottom of the image highlights the heavily cratered lunar southern highlands, while the top highlights Mare Imbrium, an ancient impact basin that was once filled with lava.

This large photo of the Moon is a mosaic of five images taken by Nasas Lucy spacecraft on 16 October from about 140,000 miles from the Moon (Nasa)

Nasa also released a single image of Mare Imbrium, and another single image of the lunar central highlands, the latter taken when Lucy was about 160,000 miles from the Moon.

Launched on 16 October 2021, Lucy is Nasas first mission to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, two swarms of space rocks that share the big planets orbit, but fly either 60 degrees ahead or behind the gas giant.

Lucys flyby was the first of three such maneuvers the spacecraft will use to get up to speed to visit the Jupiter Trojans. The spacecraft will perform another close buzz of our planet in 2024 before finally heading out into deep space. It will visit four asteroids in the leading swarm of Jupiter Trojans beginning in 2027, and flyby Earth again in 2031 to swing itself out to visit the trailing swarm of Jupiter Trojans in 2033.
This week's Cup Series playoff race is at Martinsville Speedway, one of NASAR's original outposts. Here are few things to know about the half-mile track in southern Virginia . . .

Actually, it's not in Martinsville

You might consider Martinsville off the beaten path, just above the Carolina line in southern Virginia. But the speedway is actually outside of Martinsville, in Ridgeway (Population: Nearly bout 700).

That shape looks familiar

The field drives through Turn 2 during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Martinsville, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The speedway pre-dates NASCAR. The half-mile track was one of the first asphalt ovals in the South, opening in 1947 and becoming part of NASCARs inaugural schedule in 1948. With tight turns book-ending relatively long straights, it's often described as a paperclip.

HOMESTEAD RECAP: Kyle Larson wins, Bubba Wallace sits, and tiny Martinsville will play a big role

THE CASE FOR CHASE: Is Chase Elliott already a NASCAR Hall of Famer? The numbers say yes

NASCAR runs the show

For years, the track was owned jointly by one of the original partners, H. Clay Earles, and NASCARs France family. In 2004, the France family, though International Speedway Corp., bought sole ownership of the track and today its part of the NASCAR portfolio.

Martinsville Hot Dog: Legendary

The famous Martinsville hot dog.

For anyone visiting Martinsville Speedway, one of their lasting memories is the famous Martinsville hot dog. Its a red, slender Jesse Jones-brand dog on a steamed bun, topped with mustard, chili and southern-style slaw.

Tucked away

Martinsville is about an hour north of Greensboro, N.C., and an hour east of Andy Griffiths hometown of Mount Airy, N.C.

William Byron won his grandfather clock earlier this year by winning the track's springtime race.

The Martinsville Grandfather Clock

The Masters hands out a green jacket to its winners. Since 1964, winners at Martinsville have received a full-sized grandfather clock. Won't keep you warm, but will keep you on time.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR race in Martinsville: What to know about track, tradition
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has not yet seen any indications that Russia's ongoing annual "Grom" exercises of its nuclear forces may be a cover for a real deployment, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday observed a portion of the so-called "Grom" exercises by Russia's strategic nuclear forces, which Moscow says has involved Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarines and Tupolev strategic bomber planes.

The drills have presented a potential challenge to the United States and its allies. Putin has muddied the waters about his intentions after threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia in its unraveling invasion of Ukraine.

Western officials, however, have expressed confidence in their ability to detect any indications that Russia might be moving to employ such a weapon.

Austin did not signal concern, in brief remarks to reporters on the issue.

"We haven't seen anything to cause us to believe, at this point, that is some kind of cover activity," Austin said.

With Ukrainian forces advancing into Russian-occupied Kherson province, threatening a major defeat for Moscow, Russia Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu phoned Austin on Sunday to communicate allegations that Ukraine was planning to carry out an attack with a "dirty bomb."

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the allegation showed Moscow was planning such an attack with an explosive device laced with radioactive material, and sought to blame Kyiv.

Austin played down such concerns.

"We have not seen anything to indicate that Putin has made a decision to use a dirty bomb, nor have we seen any indications that the Ukrainians are planning such a thing," Austin said.

But questions are also circulating about whether Moscow might use a lower-yield "tactical" nuclear weapon.

Austin said declined to outline the kinds of potential responses that the United States and its allies would consider if Moscow took such a step.

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"We have been very clear from the very beginning that you would see a very significant response from the international community," Austin said.

Austin's remarks came on the same day that the Pentagon released a new nuclear strategy document that, among other things, canceled development of nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missiles.

Asked what message canceling that weapon sent to Moscow and Beijing, Austin told reporters there was already enough capability in the nuclear inventory already.

"I don't think this sends any message to Putin," Austin said. "He understands what our capability is."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Rami Ayyub; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
There was no military object among targets of Russian missile strikes, the General Staff reported

According to him, Russia focused on destroying the energy infrastructure of Ukraine.

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar, in turn, said that the Kremlin wants to intimidate the population and the country's leadership with attacks on infrastructure facilities.

However, Moscow has miscalculated, as Ukrainians cannot be broken, she said.

Read also: Russia fires 36 missiles at Ukraine, most downed, says Zelenskyy

According to Malyar, the Russian military has focused on destroying transport infrastructure and energy facilities in order to deprive Ukrainians of heating and electricity.

"However, it is impossible to break us and it is also impossible to intimidate Ukrainians  this is actually the main mistake of the enemy, because he could not foresee it," Malyar said.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Its Thursday, Chicago.

Were so close to the weekend, and a very spooky weekend at that. If you still dont know what your Halloweekend plans will be, consider checking out a horror movie-themed cafe in Avondale, cooking a vintage Halloween recipe from the archives of the Tribunes Mary Meade, or reading one of our horror-lit picks.

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We also have Louisa Chus review of Nine Bar, Chinatowns first craft cocktail bar that serves small bites like crispy crab Rangoon and a mai tai with an orgeat syrup made from almond cookies.

Theres a lot going on in local theater right now too. Oak Parks Madison Street Theater just debuted Man and Moon, a new play about a man facing cancer and the girl he befriends. We have Mercury Theater Chicagos entire 2023 lineup, as well as a review for its staging of the murder-mystery classic Clue.

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And if youre looking for non-spooky things to do, check out the Field Museums Philippine Heritage Collection as Filipino American History Month comes to a close, or a discussion with author George Saunders at the Chicago Humanities Festival in Hyde Park.

Enjoy the weekend, and well see you back here next week.

 Lauryn Azu, deputy senior editor

A traditional woven Filipino-designed top is displayed at Chicago's Field Museum on Oct. 13, 2022. (Michael Blackshire / Chicago Tribune)

Chicagoans are uniquely positioned to learn more about Filipino culture and history through the Field Museums archives, which contain more than 13,000 objects from the islands. The museums Philippine Heritage Collection is one of the largest collections in the United States  a perfect draw as Filipino American History Month draws to a close. Read the entire story here.

A paper mache hand sits on a table as Anna Pesut prepares to bite into a sandwich during a Halloween party at The Brewed, a horror-themed coffee shop in Chicago, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

If youve seen the horror cult classic The Brood, figuring out whats going on at this part-cafe, part-movie memorabilia museum in Avondale will be a no-brainer. Read about what they have in store for Halloween here.

Peter Danger Wilde and Clare Wols in "Man and Moon" by 16th Street Theater and Dragonfly Theatre Company. (Glenn Felix Willoughby/HANDOUT)

In Man and Moon, a man confronting his own mortality and a girl named after the moon seem to have little in common at first, but they learn to trust and support one another, writes critic Emily McClanathan. Read her review of the Madison Street Theater production here.

The 2021 Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beer at Credit Union 1 Arena. (FOBAB)

The founders of the Festival of Wood & Barrel Aged Beer, taking place Nov. 4 and 5 this year at the University of Illinois at Chicago, never expected that 20 years later, the festival would still be going strong. Tribune reporter Josh Noel speaks with founders Jeff Sparrow, Pete Crowley and Todd Ashman about their journey making FOBAB one of the nations most iconic beer festivals.

Brendan Gleeson, left, and Colin Farrell in "The Banshees of Inisherin." (Searchlight Pictures/Zuma Press/TNS)

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Director Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin is a new dramedy about a friendship dissolving amid the backdrop of the 1922-23 Irish Civil War, and it premieres in theaters Friday. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson star as the two friends in a small island off the coast of Ireland, but the standoff turns increasingly lurid and mutilating, writes Tribune critic Michael Phillips in his review.

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The dumplings at Nine Bar, 216 W. Cermak Road in Chicago, are seen on Oct. 20, 2022. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

Nine Bar owner Lily Wang likes to describe the space as an Asian-ish cocktail bar thats behind Chinatowns Moon Palace Express, writes Tribune critic Louisa Chu in her review. Wangs parents own Moon Palace Express, and together they are drawing an intergenerational crowd with an intentionally small and thoughtful, yet innovative offering of food and drinks. Read Chus entire review here.

Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller, from left, Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller, Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan and Theo James as Cameron Sullivan in Season 2 of The White Lotus. (HBO)

Transporting viewers from Hawaii to Sicily in Season 2, HBOs The White Lotus is a fantasia of wealth and misery  forever intertwined  but is an incomplete world populated by incomplete characters, Tribune critic Nina Metz says in her review.

Though actors Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy are standouts and the visuals are first-class, its not enough to save viewers from a lacking script without a definite overarching statement, Metz writes. The White Lotus will air Sundays on HBO beginning Oct. 30.

Noted author George Saunders is shown in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago on Jan. 9, 2013. (Alex Garcia / Chicago Tribune)

Author, MacArthur genius grant winner and Oak Forest native George Saunders has a new collection of stories out, titled Liberation Day. On Saturday, hes returning to his hometown for the Chicago Humanities Festival, and Tribune reporter Chris Borrelli interviews him ahead of the festival here.

Diana Murphy, left, 36, and Mariel Mayo Heinemann, 35, were roommates in a three-bedroom apartment above the restaurant Folklore in Chicagos Wicker Park neighborhood from 2009 to 2018. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)

Eight Chicagoans share their experiences living above a restaurant, from Me Dee Cafe in Ravenswood to Smyth in the West Loop. In a sprawling, cacophonous city, when a restaurant is your neighbor, you get the feeling that someones always looking out for you, writes Maggie Hennessy.

A traveler walks through Terminal 3 at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Dec. 28, 2021. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

If youre seeing Halloween decorations at the store, you should take that as a sign the holiday travel season is just around the corner. And you know what that means: Cue the expensive flights! Weve rounded up tips on how to save when flights are over 40% more expensive than last year.
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog on Thursday said a seventh North Korea nuclear test would be further "confirmation of a program which is moving full steam ahead in a way that is incredibly concerning."

"Everybody is holding its breath about this," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi said. "Further tests, of course, means that they are refining the preparations and the construction of their arsenal."

He told reporters in New York that the IAEA is following very closely and that "we hope it doesn't happen, but indications unfortunately go direct in another direction."

The United States and its allies believe North Korea could be about to resume nuclear bomb testing for the first time since 2017.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Dan Whitcomb)
(Bloomberg) -- Northern Ireland is set for a second election this year after the biggest unionist party again prevented the regions government from forming, amid a row over post-Brexit trade rules that has major implications for the UK.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The UKs Northern Ireland Secretary Christopher Heaton-Harris said he will call an election, though declined to set a date for it, after the midnight deadline passed without breaking the deadlock. The Democratic Unionist Party stopped the selection of an Assembly Speaker for a fourth time on Thursday.

I have limited options ahead of me, I am under a legal duty to call an election within 12 weeks, Heaton-Harris told reporters in Belfast on Friday. Ive had lots and lots of talks with parties and will continue to do so, he said, adding he will be giving more information on the election next week. Previously he indicated he would call the vote for a weekend in December.

Its the latest development in a long-running political impasse in Northern Ireland, after the Brexit deal signed between the UK and European Union exacerbated tensions in the region. The decision to keep Northern Ireland in the blocs single market -- which both sides agreed was necessary to avoid a border on the island of Ireland -- angered unionists who say it undermines the regions trade and political ties to the rest of mainland Britain.

The DUP has refused to participate in the regions government since February having made their involvement conditional on the UK scrapping that part of the Brexit deal, which is known as the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Political Headache

It presents a significant political headache for the UK government in London, which has re-started negotiations with the EU on trying to fix the protocol for the first time in eight months, and had hoped to use the prospect of a deal to persuade the DUP to re-form the government.

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Theres also potential for diplomatic tensions if an election does not result in the restoration of a power-sharing regional government. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said this week Northern Ireland should not return to direct rule from the UK as has been the case in the past, but rather a new form of power-sharing between Dublin and London could take effect, he said.

But the DUP and UK have said they wont to agree to such an outcome.

The situation has been further complicated by the recent shifting of the political ground in Northern Ireland.

Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which largely ended decades of sectarian conflict in the region, the positions of First Minister and Deputy First Minster -- usually one unionist and one nationalist -- are equal and one cannot be in place without the other.

Digging In

The role of First Minister has typically been held by a unionist party leader. But in the last election in May, nationalists Sinn Fein become the regions biggest party and nominated Michelle ONeill to the job. Ever since, the DUP has refused to take part and there is little sign of any softening of their position.

There is no doubt that having an election at this time wont change anything in terms of the issues and the challenges that we face in Northern Ireland, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said Thursday in Belfast.

With the impasse still unresolved 24 weeks after the May election, caretaker ministers will now be removed from office and the Northern Ireland assembly, which has only sat for special recalls since the election -- will also be dissolved. Heaton-Harris must call an assembly election within 12 weeks.

The political vacuum comes as people in Northern Ireland grapple with a cost-of-living crisis, with no regional government in place to help fix it.

In a survey published by Queens University Belfast and Lucid Talk on Thursday, only 30% of people agreed with the DUPs position, that the executive should not be established until the Northern Ireland protocol is scrapped.

--With assistance from Ellen Milligan.

(Updates with Heaton-Harris comments in second and third paragraph)

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The number of people in prison who haven't been sentenced or convicted is at the highest number in 50 years. (PA)

The numbers of prisoners who are facing trial but have yet to be found guilty has reached a 50-year high, new figures show.

There are 14,507 people on remand in England and Wales, a more than 30% increase since before the pandemic.

People on remand are either those who have been charged with a crime but have yet to have their trial in court and been officially found guilty and given a sentence by a judge.

Or they can be prisoners who have had their trial and been found guilty but have not been sentenced.

A court can put a person on remand for a variety of reasons, including if they think the defendant will not appear at their trial or thinks they could commit a crime while on bail.

Between 2016 and the start of the pandemic in 2020, the remand population was below 10,000 but has increased ever since.

Read more: Prison officer who had phone sex with inmates is jailed

The government said the recent barrister's strike has likely contributed to the rise in the number of people on remand. (PA)

The government said recent industrial action by barristers is likely to have also contributed to this record figure.

The untried prison population rose by 15% (to 9,711) when compared to the end of September 2021 while the convicted unsentenced population rose by 5% (to 4,796) over the same period.

The most common prisoners on remand were those accused of violence against another person or people accused of drug offences.

The news comes as police-recorded crime in England and Wales has hit a new high, figures released on Thursdays showed.

A total of 6.5 million crimes were recorded in the 12 months to June 2022, up from the previous all-time high of 6.3 million in the year to March.

Read more: Moment burglar who savagely murdered pensioner, 86, in front of her husband is arrested

General view of category C prison HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough. (PA)

The figure is also up 12% compared with the year to June 2021, when crime levels were affected by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The total includes 196,889 sexual offences, up 20% year-on-year from 164,043 and 21% higher than pre-pandemic levels.

There were 70,600 rape offences recorded in the year to June, another record high and an increase of 20% from 59,046 in 2019/20.

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The number has nearly doubled in just over six years, from 36,321 in 2015/16.

Domestic abuse related offences totalled 912,181 in the year to June, up 6% on the previous 12 months and up 14% on 2019/20.

Knife crime remains below pre-pandemic levels, mainly because the number of knife-enabled robberies was 27% lower in the year to June compared with 2019/20.

Homicide numbers are also still below pre-pandemic levels, with 679 recorded in the year to June, a drop of 5% on the year to March 2020.
New York Times columnist Bret Stephens thanked Ye, the rapper formally known as Kanye West, for raising public awareness about antisemitism after several major companies cut ties with the performer over his antisemitic comments.

Stephens, who is Jewish, wrote in the Times this week hed like to express a sort of gratitude to Ye.

With a few outbursts in a few days  you threatened in a tweet this month to go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE and its been downhill from there  youve probably done more to raise public awareness about the persistence, prevalence and nature of antisemitism than any other recent event, Stephens wrote.

Ye has sparked widespread condemnation, been temporarily banned from leading social media platforms and has lost a number of business partners over his recent antisemitic comments suggesting Jewish people control the media, politics and Hollywood.

The rapper is one of the most successful pop artists of all time, and experts in hate speech warn his rhetoric could embolden white supremacists and antisemites around the world.

So far, this has been one of the most underreported stories in the country  itself a telling indicator in an era that is otherwise hyper-attuned to prejudice and hate, Stephens wrote.

Honest would also be admitting that you speak for more people than many Americans would have cared to admit. For that, but only that, you deserve thanks.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The future of a powerful financial watchdog agency has been upended by a federal court, with both its funding and its independence now in danger.

A panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus (CFPB) unique power to fund its own operations is unconstitutional.

For the time being, the decision raises more questions than it answers, wrote Ian Katz, director at research consultancy Capital Alpha Partners, in an analysis.

It will likely be appealed to the full Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and could eventually end up before the Supreme Court, Katz added.

If the conservative-majority justices sustain the ruling, the CFPB may be unable to enforce financial rules or crack down on fraud without Congress stepping in to fund it. But that would also give Republican lawmakers, whove long griped about the agency, a chance to undermine it for good.

As Republicans have said all along, the CFPBs double-insulated, independent funding mechanism is unconstitutional and makes it wholly unaccountable, Rep. Patrick McHenry (N.C.), the top Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, said in a statement responding to the ruling.

McHenry would lead efforts to revamp the CFPB if the GOP takes control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections.

Bringing the CFPB under the appropriations process would make it more accountable to the American people through their elected representatives, he added.

The CFPB has been a partisan flashpoint since it was created in 2011 by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law as part of the response to the Great Recession.

The brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the CFPB was granted unprecedented power and independence to enforce laws meant to protect Americans from fraud and abuse from the financial sector. Over its 11 years in operation, the CFPB has issued sweeping new rules and reeled in more than $10 billion in fines paid by firms that allegedly abused, deceived or discriminated against customers.

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Republicans have taken several steps to tame the CFPB from within since its creation.

Former President Trump overrode the agencys line of succession in 2017 by appointing then-White House budget director Mick Mulvaney to serve as its acting chief.

After a federal court deemed Mulvaney the rightful acting head of the CFPB amid a power struggle with a Democratic holdover deputy director, Trumps pick curtailed several agency rules and reined in its efforts to enforce lending discrimination laws.

Congress deliberately ensured the independent funding of the CFPB, so that the consumer watchdog could protect consumers and help create an economy that centers working families, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said in a statement in the wake of the 5th Circuit ruling.

It is not a coincidence that, while other financial regulators . all have independent funding structures, Wall Street chose to attack the one financial regulator charged with protecting consumers.

The CFPB is led by a single director  appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate  who has total authority over the agencys ability to write new financial rules and punish financial firms that break them.

The CFPB was also able to forge its own path without congressional interference thanks to its unique source of funding.

Most federal agencies are funded through the congressional appropriations process, where lawmakers can allocate money to the executive branch for specific purposes and with strings attached.

Other agencies, such as the Federal Reserve System and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, are independently funded through fees paid by financial firms. That gives those agencies the ability to set their own agendas without approval from Congress.

But the CFPB has a unique layer of protection: It secures its funding through a simple budget request from the director to the Federal Reserve System, which is obligated to fulfill it up to an exceedingly high threshold.

Even among self-funded agencies, the Bureau is unique. The Bureaus perpetual self-directed, double-insulated funding structure goes a significant step further than that enjoyed by the other agencies on offer, wrote 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Cory Wilson, a Trump appointee, writing on behalf of a unanimous panel of two other judges nominated by the previous president.

The ruling leaves several questions about the future of the CFPB open, likely until the Supreme Court settles the matter.

The court last year already ruled one aspect of the CFPBs structure unconstitutional, stripping the directors protection from being fired by the president, and seems poised to curb it again.

Another ruling against the agency could affect the legality of the dozens of regulations it has issued over its decade-plus of existence and may leave other laws the agency is charged with enforcing up for grabs.

Even so, the chaos the uncertainty could cause for the financial sector may force Democrats and Republicans to find a bipartisan solution that could pass through a divided Congress.

Democrats have historically resisted attempts to change the structure of the CFPB from a directorate to a five-person commission and place the agency under congressional appropriations. But they may be left with no other choice if a GOP-controlled House is responsible for rebooting the agency after a major court ruling.

The CFPBs funding setup has been opposed by Republicans since the bureau was born a dozen years ago. Congress deliberately provided the CFPB a separate funding mechanism so that it wouldnt be at the mercy of politics, Katz wrote.

Conservative judges may make that untenable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Former President Obama in a new ad spotlights abortion rights and election deniers in Pennsylvania  a state that will play a critical role in whether Democrats can preserve their majority in the Senate.

In Pennsylvania, youve got some important choices to make this year. So when the fate of our democracy and a womans right to choose are on the line, vote Democrat on Nov. 8, Obama says in the 15-second ad, which was released Thursday by Senate Democrats campaign arm.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said it was a part of a previously announced seven-figure ad campaign in the state. The ad is targeting likely voters on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Connected TV, where viewers will be guided toward IWillVote.com/PA. Axios was the first to report about the ad.

The ad comes ahead of Obamas and President Bidens expected travel to the state on Nov. 5 to stump for Pennsylvania Senate hopeful John Fetterman (D) and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro (D).

While recent polling has shown Shapiro maintaining a lead over Republican candidate Doug Mastriano, a state senator known for his embrace of election conspiracy theories and hard-line abortion views, the Senate race between Fetterman and Republican Mehmet Oz has tightened up.

Thats prompted former President Trump to make plans to return to the state for a third time this year, on Nov. 5, where hell be holding another rally for his endorsees, including Mastriano and Oz.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Portland native Robert Allen Cummins' attorney said in court documents that his client didn't think of the danger to innocent people when he bought and smuggled "exotic" weapons, some capable of downing aircraft, to the CJNG cartel in Mexico.

PORTLAND, Ore.  A joint Mexico-U.S. investigation linked a weapon used to blast a Mexican military helicopter out of the sky to a supplier from Oregon, federal firearms officials confirmed to The Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Eight Mexican soldiers with SEDENA, Mexico's national defense, and one Mexican police officer died in the 2015 crash on a mission to arrest top U.S. target El Mencho, the world's most powerful cartel boss. But the link between the incident and Portland, Oregon, had not been made public until now.

Erik Flores Elortegui, a Mexican native and U.S. citizen who lived in Portland, now tops the Most Wanted list of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is blamed for supplying cartel members with a belt-fed .50-caliber semiautomatic rifle, said Jason Chudy, spokesman for the ATF's Seattle Field Division, which includes Oregon.

GUN DEALERS SUED: Mexico sues 5 Arizona gun dealers, claims they are contributing to deadly cartel violence

'BONE-CHILLING' DEATHS: How the US appointed 'drug czar' plans to counter cartels, reduce overdose deaths

The short summary under his photo on the ATF's website mentions an indictment charging the 40-year-old fugitive with illegally buying weapons and smuggling them out of the U.S., but it doesn't describe the ensuing death toll.

Most Wanted screenshot of ATF website showing Erik Flores Elortegui.

The Mexican Attorney General's office asked the ATF to trace a .50-caliber semiautomatic machine gun they say helped take down the military helicopter in a May 1, 2015, incident that rattled law enforcement on both sides of the border. After it was recovered, officials traced it back to Flores Elortegui.

Along with the nine who died, there were others who were injured. Ivan Morales, the only other Mexican police officer on board, had to crawl through the fiery wreckage and suffered severe burns and disfigurement.

They had been on a mission so secretive they weren't told about it until they hurried in the darkness to a caravan of six helicopters at the Colima airport, six hours south of Puerto Vallarta and headed out to capture the leader of global powerhouse Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.

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Ivan Morales loved being a Mexican federal police officer. Now he is disfigured and unable to return to work after the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel shot down a military helicopter with a grenade in 2015, killing several and leaving Morales with severe burns.

Many Americans don't know his name  Ruben Oseguera Cervantes or El Mencho  but he plays a big role in the availability of illegal drugs in bustling cities and rural towns across the U.S., driving up record-high overdose deaths.

After learning of his hideout, the military flew north over the mountain peaks of rural Jalisco, cartel headquarters.

El Mencho and his team of mercenaries were ready inside their own caravan of trucks and heavily armed. Mexican officials told the ATF the cartel fired the .50-caliber semiautomatic machine gun from Portland along with other weapons. A round tore through the rotor of Morales' aircraft, causing it to catch on fire and spiral to the ground.

During an interview with The Courier Journal in 2019, Morales said: "I thought I was going to die." Before leaving home early that morning, his wife told him he was going to be a father for the first time. The then-33-year-old repeatedly told paramedics and doctors so they would understand that despite the severity of his injuries, he had to fight to live.

Ivan Morales, 37, a Mexican federal police officer, ran through flames to escape the wreckage of a military helicopter shot down by Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion. He was on a mission to arrest cartel leader El Mencho.

Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, which has an army of 5,000, also set up "narco blockades," roadblocks at major intersections to the main city, Guadalajara. They set businesses on fire, blew up gas tanks at convenience stores and created chaos.

"That was a message to the Mexican government from El Mencho, saying: 'We run Jalisco. Don't come after me again. Don't do it again or this will be the result,'" said Matt Donahue, retired chief of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's foreign operations. .

"If you look at today, the Mexican government has zero control of Jalisco, and Guerrero, as well," Donahue said. "The military does not go in there. The Navy does not go in there."

During an interview in Mexico City in 2019, Matthew Donahue, head of DEA's foreign operations, told The Courier Journal about the viciousness of Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion: "They want to control the entire drug market. If that takes them killing other cartels or killing innocent people, they will do it."

Guerrero, known for its coastal tourist town of Acapulco, is one of six Mexican states with "do not travel" warnings from the U.S. State Department. Department officials also advise reconsidering travel to Jalisco.

Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion produces an enormous amount of illicit drugs in both Guerrero and Jalisco, known as "narco states."

'I STARTED TO HEAR THE SCREAMS': An outbreak of Mexican cartel violence targeting innocents

DANGEROUS DESTINATIONS: US tourists warned about popular Mexico spots plagued by drug cartel intimidation, violence

The downing of the helicopter and ensuing violence is a key reason why El Mencho remains free to this day, despite a decadelong search by the DEA and a $10 million reward.

"Even though there's a warrant for his arrest in Mexico as well as the United States, they haven't even taken a run at him since then," Donahue said.

"That tactic  attacking innocent people, blowing everything up and going after government buildings  worked for him. They know he'll do it again."

Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion frequently shows off its army on social media. U.S. drug agents believe it has 5,000-plus members.

A Mexican soldier watches the horizon for cartel members after Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion downed a military helicopter with a grenade in Villa Purificacin, Jalisco. The deadly 2015 attack was part of escalating violence during the cartel's power grab.

A special investigative report in 2019 by The Courier Journal warned of the cartel's ruthlessness in Mexico and its reach across the U.S. into small towns. The cartel is based in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, in the state of Jalisco. But it has expanded operations in the majority of Mexico's states. And the cartel has been detected on every continent except Antarctica.

Both Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion and the Sinaloa Cartel are blamed for the bulk of illicit fentanyl in the U.S., which propelled the overdose death toll to a record 108,000 deaths last year.

But Mexican officials point out that the cartels flourish because of the U.S. demand for drugs and the U.S. supply of military-grade weapons.

ATF confirmed the .50-caliber had been purchased by Flores Elortegui at a gun shop in Rainier, a town on the south bank of the Columbia River across from Longview, Washington.

He lied on the ATF form, claiming he wanted the $15,350 gun for himself, the indictment alleges. He listed his home as Beaverton, Oregon, 7 miles southwest of downtown Portland.

Portland, Ore. men sent cartel members in Mexico these weapons, including rows of .50-caliber bullets capable of downing aircraft.

Flores Elortegui remains at large and ATF officials haven't said whether they have indications he fled to Mexico. Agents ask anyone with information about his whereabouts to call the 24-hour hotline at 888-ATF-TIPS.

Contact Beth Warren at bwarren@courier-journal.com or follow her on Twitter @BethWarrenCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Oregon man tied to downing of helicopter by El Mencho's CJNG cartel
shirtless Oscar Isaac in Moon Knight

After the finale of Moon Knight season one, fans of the Marvel Studios and Disney+ series got clear confirmation of another personality living in the body of Marc Spector (Oscar Isaac), teasing that there is definitely more to the story. Its been six months and still no official word, we dont deserve it.

Moon Knight stans have been eagerly anticipating any sort of announcement from the Marvel camp but San Diego Comic Con and Disneys D23 Expo has come and gone with...nothing. Only Isaac has sprung up on showrunner Mohamed Diabs daughters social media to tease itnot only once but twice like during promotion for his graphic novel Head Wounds.

Read more

But in an interview with Collider this week, Isaac clarified a little bit about whether he can officially say the show is coming back. We cant definitively say that. I need my teasing abilities. Cant drain me of those. he said, before adding (and we can feel the wink through the screen) What a cock tease I am. Always been. So hell continue to edge us until Kevin Feige has enough of the thirsty demands for Marc, Stephen and Jake to return. Come on Feige, give us the green light for season two, or at least Midnight Sons!

Isaac continued. I hope so. Well see what happens. But at the moment, theres no official word. Theres nothing in the works. He said of the experience filming the first season, Moon Knight was so amazing, but also so incredibly draining. I just put every bit of myself into that. Every bit of output I could. That its just been a year of input, just taking stuff in as opposed to having to put anything out other than headphones. So at the moment, Im going to do a play next year and then well see what happens after that.

And so every day we wake up, then we start to break up, lonely are fans without love.

oscar isaac cry

Moon Knight season one is now streaming on Disney+



Story continues





Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

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Chef Sarah Grueneberg prepares tortelloni di zucca, which is made with squash, at Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in Chicago on Oct. 26, 2022. Her new cookbook is Listen to Your Vegetables. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

When chef Sarah Grueneberg sat down to write her cookbook, she knew vegetables had to be the star.

Growing up in Houston and cooking with her grandparents on their ranch, she got to know produce from an early age. She shares those conversations in her new book, Listen to Your Vegetables (Harvest, $45), and includes well-written recipes for everything from humble oven-roasted tomato sauce to a fancy salad of shaved mushroom and celery with truffle vinaigrette.

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Her casual, approachable treatment of vegetables might surprise fans who know her accolades. The former executive chef of Chicagos Michelin-starred Spiaggia opened Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio in 2015, and has stacked up dozens of awards and TV appearances over the years. But fame has not spoiled her down-to-earth charm.

I love to cook at home, and I realized that not all chefs cook at home, Grueneberg said. Im not fulfilled if I cant cook professionally and for friends and family at home.

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Chef Sarah Grueneberg holds a copy of her new book, Listen to Your Vegetables, at Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio on Oct. 26, 2022. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Naturally, many of the recipes in Listen to Your Vegetables skew Italian, as Grueneberg shares the innate love and respect for vegetables that characterize Italian cooking. While vegetable focused, its not a vegetarian cookbook, and she and co-author Kate Heddings made sure to include a chapter on the fresh handmade pasta Grueneberg made her name on. The book is packed with lush and instructive photos by Stephen Hamilton and engaging drawings of anthropomorphized vegetables by Chicago illustrator Andrew Jesernig like the eggplant Queen Aubergine, and a groovy group of mushrooms that really do look like fun-guys.

We met up at Chicagos Green City Market late in the summer, where she said, Every vegetable has something that it wants. I like to think about the personality of the vegetable. Salt, for example, is eggplants best friend  you kind of surrender yourself to that fact.

Cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage make up what she calls the hearty bunch. Theyre fridge warriors you can keep for weeks. Shelling peas and cranberry beans, just open them up and put them in the freezer. That way, youll have them on hand when you want to make her chilled summer bean salad with chile garlic oil. Cooking beans, she writes can be a wild ride, but Grueneberg is here to help you master the technique.

At the market, she spots the Tropea onions. (The little torpedo; they roast really nicely because they turn into petals  we do these on our steak at the restaurant.) Then come piles of chile peppers, and the secret of the dark leafy greens. I love the Tuscan kale because of the texture, and spigarello, but they are all really interchangeable.

Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. >

Grueneberg loves to share the useful techniques shes collected over the years. She insists on simple, traditional tricks like hand-grating tomatoes for her bruschetta. Her dry grilling method of cooking vegetables like asparagus, peppers, eggplant, onions and zucchini is a revelation. As she writes in the notes that accompany her grilled asparagus recipe, when you douse your vegetables in oil and put them on a hot grill, the result is burned oil and not nicely charred veggies. Instead, putting dry veggies on a hot clean grill avoids flare-ups, and allows them first to char and develop an intense flavor.

Chef Sarah Grueneberg chops kale at her restaurant, Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, in Chicago. She has stacked up dozens of awards and TV appearances. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Her breezy, humble, market-driven style of cooking fits the useful weeknight profile and still leaves room for some showstopper recipes like carrot and lamb merguez sausage lasagna.

I think theres some people who are going to open the book and say, I want to cook this afternoon  like a big project. I tried to balance project recipes with simple ones like the roasted rapini. Thats because as Chicagoans, we all know in the wintertime our Sundays are involving a Dutch oven and lots of wine and some jazz.

Gruenebergs engaging, encouraging tone comes right off the page, as if shes right there, talking you through a recipe. Her sophisticated dishes like pumpkin pesto gnocchi share page retail with a take on her moms skillet chicken thighs with artichokes, adapted from the Louisville Junior League Cookbook. She explains the differences between twirling versus stabbing pasta shapes, and how to match them with vegetable cuts and sauces.

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Anyone who has ever visited the local green market and brought home more fresh produce than they can carry will enjoy Gruenebergs expert guidance and vegetable wisdom. One simply has to know how to tune in and listen up.

Lisa Futterman is a freelance writer.

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.
PROVIDENCE  The leader of the Pagans outlaw motorcycle gang admitted Thursday to conspiring with fellow members to trafficking drugs and firearms and received 10 years behind bars.

Deric Tuna McGuire, 38, of North Smithfield, pleaded no contest to nine charges involving drugs, firearms and stolen goods in exchange for the state's dismissal of dozens of other counts, according to Attorney General Peter F. Neronhas office.

Superior Court Judge Robert D. Krause sentenced McGuire to 20 years, with 10 to serve and 20 years probation, said Brian Hodge, spokesman for the office. He must pay $80,229 in restitution and forfeit six cars linked to the sprawling conspiracy.

Previous Coverage:Alleged leader of outlaw Pagans motorcycle gang returns to prison after violating bail

The charges against the Pagans Motorcycle Club RI chapter leader

The charges include possession of 1 ounce to 1 kilogram of cocaine; multiple counts of conspiring to violate drug laws by trafficking cocaine and marijuana, conspiring to sell concealed weapons to a prohibited person, conspiring to provide false documents to a public official and conspiring to knowingly receive stolen goods over $10,000 for the purposes of procuring a loan, Hodge said.

He received credit for time he has served since his arrest in 2018 after raids that netted drugs and weapons, including a rocket launcher. McGuire, who had been on home confinement, was taken into custody by deputy sheriffs in court on Thursday and returned to the Adult Correctional Institutions.

He had faced more than 200 counts linked to the alleged conspiracy. He was represented by Jack Cicilline.

Make no mistake, the defendant and the organized criminal enterprise he stood at the center of represent a significant risk to the safety of Rhode Islanders, Attorney General Peter F. Neronha said in a statement. The defendant made it his job to place guns in the hands of those who could otherwise not pass a background check. He funded his criminal enterprise by trafficking drugs and stealing valuables from others. Through the hard work of the Rhode Island State Police, in partnership with our prosecutors, this defendant and his associates are off the streets and unable to threaten public safety.

Story continues

Previous coverage:RI Supreme Court upholds suppression of wiretap evidence in motorcycle gang investigation

Deric "Tuna" McGuire is led into Superior Court in 2018.

It was a sudden end to the case against McGuire, whom authorities identify as the leader of the Pagans Motorcycle Club chapter in Rhode Island.

Superior Court Judge Netti C. Vogel dealt state prosecutors a blow in 2019 when she struck key wiretap evidence from the case after determining that only the Superior Court presiding justice or the next-senior Superior Court judge can authorize wiretap interceptions.

In McGuires case, Presiding Justice Alice B. Gibney had instead assigned Judge Melanie Wilk Thunberg to handle the warrants in McGuires case while she was out on medical leave. Gibney did so to avoid creating a conflict for Krause, the most senior Superior Court judge, who was expected to later preside over McGuires case as it worked its way through the courts.

The state Supreme Court in May upheld Vogels ruling, meaning the case would proceed without the wiretap evidence. It is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Joseph McBurney and James Baum.

State and federal agents had wiretapped at least seven different telephones used by McGuire over the course of a year, capturing him being recruited to lead a new Rhode Island chapter of the Pagans outlaw motorcycle gang and documenting his illegal drug operation, authorities alleged.

Life sentences:Jury convicts alleged gang members Hay and Hang in 2018 drive-by slaying of David Page

Operation Patched Out

The investigation, dubbed Operation Patched Out, led to 29 raids in May 2018 and the seizure of drugs and weapons. More than 50 people were arrested and charged with crimes authorities said were tied to two alleged Woonsocket-based motorcycle gangs, the Pagans and the Kryptmen.

McGuire returned to prison for a period of time earlier this year after aurthorities accused him of violating his bail terms by consorting with motorcycle gang members.

Reentry Project:They spent much of their lives in prison. This program helps them break up with their past.

Late Journal publisher's family:Metcalf family embroiled in ugly financial dispute, pitting children against mother

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Pagans biker gang leader Deric 'Tuna' McGuire gets 10 years in prison
By Daniela Desantis

ASUNCION (Reuters) - Paraguay's aviation authority said on Thursday it had opened an investigation after a LATAM Airline plane's nose was destroyed during a severe storm that forced it to make an emergency landing.

Flight LA1325, operated by LATAM Airlines Paraguay, had been caught in severe weather while flying to Asuncion from Santiago de Chile late on Wednesday. Videos and images on social media showed the airborne aircraft shaking badly while lightning flashed outside.

The tip of the plane's nose was shattered and the windshield had small cracks, the head of Paraguay's National Directorate of Civil Aeronautics (DINAC), Felix Kanasawa, told local radio.

"This issue is under investigation, both on the DINAC side and on the side of the airline," Kanasawa said.

The General Directorate of Civil Aeronautics of Chile said in a statement on Twitter that the aircraft, an Airbus 320, made an emergency landing "due to extreme and unforeseen weather conditions".

LATAM Airlines Paraguay said in a statement that the aircraft "experienced severe weather conditions" that forced it to make an emergency landing around 11pm local time on Wednesday, which it managed to do successfully.

"Both passengers and crew are in good condition," it added.

(Additional reporting by Fabian Cambero in Santiago, editing by Deepa Babington)
To anyone familiar with partisan politics in 2022, the immigration battles of 20 or even 10 years ago look like something from another universe.

In 2007, leftist Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont joined 15 Democrats in blocking a bill from a Republican president that would have provided legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants.

In 2013, 14 Senate Republicans backed a bill from a Democratic president that would have granted citizenship to millions of undocumented immigrants. That measure died in the House.

Today, Democrats and Republicans could not stand farther apart on immigration. In 2022 Gallup polls, 86 percent of Republicans said they were worried about illegal immigration, compared to 38 percent of Democrats. For many Republicans heading to the polls this fall, the border looms as an unprecedented national crisis.

In 2001, by contrast, Democrat and Republican views on immigration were more aligned. That year, illegal immigration worried 56 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of Republicans. At the time, few in either party worried about immigrants all that much.

Its really only in the last decade that immigration has been viewed as a number-one issue facing the country by, really, anyone, said Justin Gest, associate professor of policy and government at George Mason University.

Today, immigration touches a cultural nerve with both parties. Yet, not long ago, the immigration debate was mostly about economics. Pro-labor Democrats feared undocumented immigrants might steal jobs and undercut salaries for Americans. Pro-business Republicans embraced immigrants for their ability to fill low-wage jobs. A parade of Republican presidents and candidates, from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush to John McCain, ran on pro-immigration platforms.

Political scientists say we may never see their like again.

Its very hard to imagine what a pro-immigrant Republican would look like, and how theyd position themselves in their party, said Michael Jones-Correa, the presidents distinguished professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania.

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Immigration emerged as a top-drawer issue for many Republicans with the 2016 election of President Trump, who promised to build a wall between the United States and Mexico to halt illegal crossings for good.

Trump sort of ratcheted up the rhetoric against immigration in a way that hadnt been previously seen, said Gest, author of the 2022 book Majority Minority.

Six years later, the border wall remains incomplete and illegal crossings stand at an all-time high. Border agents tracked 2.8 million illegal entries in the fiscal year that ended in September, breaking the previous record by more than 1 million. Agents detained travelers from across the globe, many fleeing unstable economies in Central and South America and beyond.

Republicans accuse the Biden administration of tacitly encouraging illegal immigration by slackening Trump-era restrictions, admitting unaccompanied children and emboldening thwarted crossers to try again and again.

Laura Ries, director of the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation, likens current policy to a catch-and-release program.

This year, Republican governors in border states have bused thousands of migrants to New York, Washington, D.C., and other Democrat-led cities in ironic protest.

Republicans draw the line at legal versus illegal immigration, Ries said, supporting one and opposing the other. But these days, that line is blurred or even erased by the other side.

Democrats accuse Republicans of fighting all immigration. Anti-immigrant sentiment has swept the globe in recent years, driven by rising tides of migration and embraced by conservative political parties.

The wall was a symbol, said Douglas Rivlin of Americas Voice, a nonprofit that advocates for immigrant rights. It would have saved us a lot of money if we had just erected a statue of a middle finger and pointed it at Mexico. And it would have had the same effect on illegal immigration.

Paradoxically, given the current climate among conservatives, overall American support for immigration runs high. The share of Americans who believe immigration is good for the country reached 77 percent in 2020, the last year of the Trump presidency, up from 57 percent in 2010. It dipped to 70 percent in 2022.

The national goodwill toward immigrants reflects near-unanimous support among Democrats, many of whom now associate anti-immigrant sentiment with xenophobia or worse. Yet, in the latest Gallup poll on the subject, 46 percent of Republicans agreed with the Democrats that immigration is a net positive.

People really do have a romantic view of immigration, Rivlin said, and sometimes a cartoonishly negative impression of immigrants.

Modern immigration policy begins with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which set a national priority of allowing legal immigration primarily to reunite splintered families, with lower quotas for immigrants seeking employment and political refuge.

It also ends there. The antiquated immigration system hasnt really been revisited in 60 or 70 years, Jones-Correa said. And part of the reason it hasnt been revisited is because of the increasing divide between the two parties.

The 1965 act set a framework for legal immigration. Two decades later, Reagan collaborated with a Democratic Congress to address illegal immigration with the landmark Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986. The agreement satisfied pro-business Republicans and pro-labor Democrats with a carrot-and-stick approach, allowing amnesty for the undocumented while expanding border patrols and penalties for new arrivals.

It wasnt so much about politics back then, said Ries of the Heritage Foundation. You werent seeing caravans back then. It wasnt leading to border crises. And so, you would get politicians who would fall on one side or the other of the issue based on the merits.

Reagans reforms saw a major overhaul in 1996, when former President Clinton, a Democrat, signed legislation that was mostly stick, cracking down on undocumented immigrants who commit crimes or stay too long, and targeting smugglers.

George W. Bush attempted immigration reform in 2006 and 2007. Former President Obama tried again in 2012 and 2013. Both efforts failed.

Throughout that era, immigration was largely a centrist issue that brought together moderate Republicans and moderate Democrats, Gest said. And it was a matter of, could you convince enough people on the left and right flank to pass laws.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, worked with Bush on the 2007 reform, but only 11 Republicans joined him in the final vote.

Fourteen Senate Republicans, including Graham and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, and every Democrat supported Obama in his 2013 immigration reform. That measure died in the House.

The anti-immigrant rhetoric that fueled the Trump campaign ignited during the Obama years, part of a broader conservative movement that branded Democrats as hopelessly soft on the border.

From a conservative perspective, Ries said, Democrats bailed on meaningful immigration reform when they came to view immigrants as potential voters.

The message that Democrats had failed on immigration spread along with the migrants, who had fanned out from border states and immigrant hubs to settle across small-town America starting in the 1990s, catapulting immigration from a regional issue into a national one.

Im walking into my grocery store, and people arent speaking English, and its not the country I recognize, Jones-Correa said. Republican representatives begin listening to their constituents and going, Yeah, this is an issue.

This fall, many Republican candidates are targeting what they perceive as the Biden administrations immigration missteps on the campaign trail.

But anti-immigrant politics can exact a price. In 1994, Pete Wilson, then the Republican governor of California, campaigned on Proposition 187, a ballot initiative to bar undocumented immigrants from state services. The measure passed, but the resulting backlash drove Republicans from favor in California.

Pro-immigrant sentiment also factored in Trumps defeat at the polls in 2020.

Here we are in 2022, and theyre doubling down on the same strategy, Rivlin said of the Republican effort. And I think the question is, Does it mobilize the base? Probably. And then you go back to that Pete Wilson example.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Yvon Chouinard

A rock climber who founded the outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard has given the company away after nearly 50 years at the helm. And the beneficiary isnt family  his wife and two adult children gave up their ownership rights as well. Instead, Chouinard established a special trust and nonprofit organization that preserves the companys independence while donating all the profits  roughly $100 million a year  to address the climate crisis and protect wild lands around the globe.

Hopefully this will influence a new form of capitalism that doesnt end up with a few rich people and a bunch of poor people, Mr. Chouinard, 83, told the The New York Times, which reports that the gift (valued at around $3 billion) will not be tax deductible  making the Chouinards among the most charitable families in the country.

Chouinard founded Patagonia in 1973 and it became one of the first companies to insist on organic cotton, offer on-site childcare, and donate a percentage of all sales to charity. One of the first certified B Corps (a designation that a business is meeting high standards of accountability), Patagonia recently changed its mission to Were in business to save our home planet.

Chouinard, who lived out of his van in the early years and continues to live modestly, told the Times he was motivated by the climate crisis and the global pandemic  and being called a one-percenter. I was in Forbes magazine listed as a billionaire, which really, really pissed me off, he said. I dont have $1 billion in the bank. I dont drive Lexuses.

In a statement announcing the donation Chouinard said, Instead of going public, you could say were going purpose. Instead of extracting value from nature and transforming it into wealth for investors, well use the wealth Patagonia creates to protect the source of all wealth.

This story is part of The Advocates 2022 People Of The Year issue, which is out on newsstands Nov. 1. To get your own copy directly, support queer media and subscribe  or download yours for Amazon, Kindle, Nook, or Apple News.
The late Rep. Don Youngs (R-Alaska) two children and one of his former staffers cut ads in support of Rep. Mary Peltolas (D-Alaska) bid to win Youngs former seat next month.

Peltola won a special election in August in a stunning upset to replace Young, who died earlier this year, for the remainder of his term, and she is now running for a full term to represent Alaskas lone House seat in Novembers midterm elections.

My father believed in Alaska and Alaskan people, and Mary Peltola is going to carry on that legacy, Dawn Vallely, one of Youngs two daughters, says in the ad, adding that her father would be thrilled by Peltolas August victory.

Today I handed Mary my fathers bolo tie. Its a symbol of all of Alaska and service to Alaska, Joni Nelson, Youngs other daughter, says in the ad, which was released on Thursday by Peltolas campaign.

In the second ad, Youngs former communications director, Zack Brown, says his support for Peltola isnt about party.

It doesnt matter if youre a Republican, a Democrat or an independent, Brown says. Mary Peltolas gonna fight for you. In these final weeks until Election Day, Im asking you to take a look at Mary Peltola, to think about her work ethic, what shes done, and to consider how important it is that Alaska continues to have a strong voice like Congressman Young, with fire in the belly, that will continue to put Alaska first.

Brown was one of 11 of Youngs former staffers and friends to endorse Peltola, who will once again face Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III next month, as she did in August, in an Oct. 25 Anchorage Daily News op-ed.

The endorsements come after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said last week she would support Peltola, and the Democrat reciprocated by indicating support for Murkowskis reelection bid.

Murkowski appears poised to cruise to another term in the upper chamber, while Peltolas race is seen as a closer contest.

Despite their different parties, the two Alaskans have similar views on abortion and are building similar coalitions through the states crucial Native vote. Peltola is the first Alaska Native elected to Congress.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Rob Carr/Getty

Penn State University has nixed its grand idea to create a Center for Racial Justice, two years after proposing the center as an endeavor to boost diversity efforts and challenge racism.

In a press release Wednesday, the university said it would be enhancing current diversity, equity, and inclusion programs rather than starting a new project.

There is remarkable [diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging] scholarship and practice underway by current faculty, staff, and students across the University, and we remain deeply committed to continuing to build on the foundation of scholarly research and programming around racism and racial bias at Penn State, newly installed university president Neeli Bendapudi said in the release. I have determined that enhancing support for current efforts by people who know Penn State best will be more impactful than investing in a new venture, and so we will not pursue efforts to launch a Center for Racial Justice.

According to the press release, Bendapudi decided to ditch the center after speaking with the university community and realizing that the school already has organizations in place that focus on racial equity.

There is so much potential at Penn State for us to expand, connect, and invest in the work of our faculty experts and existing networks in a way that grows our impact and standing as an institution in this scholarly discipline, Bendapudi was quoted as saying.

Particularly, the university said it wants to direct its resources toward the schools Center for Education and Civil Rights, which focuses on equity within education; Rock Ethics Institute, a research center that covers a wide variety of issues; and Africana Research Center, which teaches the legacy of the African Diaspora. (In a phone call to the Africana Research Center, the administrator told The Daily Beast that she was unaware of the universitys altered diversity plan.)

The initial proposal for the Center for Racial Justice was announced after the anti-racism protests rattled the country following George Floyds death in the summer of 2020.

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In the wake of senseless tragedies this past year, we saw with clarity the ongoing challenges of racism, bias, and community safety that persist in our nation, then Penn State president Eric J. Barron said in a February 2021 statement. The sobering acknowledgment of work to be done across the country drove urgent calls for action. Though we have made great strides in creating a more diverse and welcoming University community, we know that additional efforts are necessary.

The Secret Sorority at Penn States Deadly Hazing Party

Plans for the center were released in November 2021. In a press release, the university claimed it would be dedicated to research and scholarship around racism and racial bias.

By March 2022, Penn State began a search for a founding director to lead the program, and said that the center would be partnered with the schools Social Science Research Institute to enable researchers to draw from the expertise in Penn States interdisciplinary institutes and to engage in collaboration across multiple departments and disciplines.

However, that all went to dust Wednesday. Now, the university plans to appoint an adviser to lead its not-new-but-allegedly-improved diversity initiative in November.

While Penn State is not pursuing efforts to develop [the Center for Racial Justice], we remain deeply committed to continuing to build on the foundation of scholarly research and programming around racism and racial bias at Penn State, Penn State strategic communications senior director Lisa Powers told The Daily Beast on Thursday.

Powers added that it was not an easy decision for the administration, but ultimately they realized that enhancing support for current [diversity] effortsincluding programs, initiatives, and researchwill be more impactful in moving the [diversity] needle at Penn State than investing in a new venture.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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WASHINGTON  The unclassified version of the U.S. Missile Defense Review, released by the Pentagon on Oct. 27, contains no major surprises when it comes to strategy, but missile defense experts say it lacks a clear execution plan.

The new review takes up 17 pages in the 80-page unclassified version of the U.S. National Defense Strategy, also released Oct. 27. The classified version is lengthier and more comprehensive, defense officials said in a briefing at the Pentagon.

The National Defense Strategy, for the first time ever, includes the Nuclear Posture Review and the Missile Defense Review. In years past, the major guidance documents were unveiled separately.

The Trump administration released the last Missile Defense Review in 2019  a 108-page document that maintained a large amount of continuity with the MDR of 2010, but placed the missile defense enterprise in the context of great power competition against Russia and China for the first time.

The Missile Defense Review largely represents a continuation of current policy on missile defense and does little to clarify the administrations strategy on how missile defense should be adjusted to meet growing threats, said Patty-Jane Geller, a senior policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation think tank.

It is disappointing to see another missed opportunity to bring more coherence to our missile defense policy, the missile defense and nuclear deterrence expert told Defense News.

For example, the MDR commits to the priority of homeland missile defense and staying ahead of the North Korean threat. It also rightly stresses the importance of improving our ability to address advanced threats like hypersonic weapons, she said. Yet, it gives little information about an actionable plan to meet these growing challenges.

The review reaffirms that homeland missile defense is Americas top missile defense priority. The U.S. will continue to modernize and expand the Ground-based Midcourse Defense, or GMD, system, which was built to protect the U.S. homeland from intercontinental ballistic missiles from North Korea and Iran.

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The system consists of 44 interceptors buried in the ground, primarily at Fort Greely, Alaska, with a handful at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, a network of space-based and terrestrial-based sensors, and an integrated command-and-control system.

The review shows a commitment to continuing to develop the Next Generation Interceptor, or NGI, expected to be fielded around 2028, to augment and potentially replace current interceptors. The current plan is to acquire 20 of those interceptors, according to a Pentagon official at the briefing. The timeline and fielding plan is not laid out in the MDR.

Geller noted that the MDR commits to improving homeland missile defense, but a recent Statement of Administration Policy on the Senates version of the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill objects to a provision that would require a funding plan to buy additional NGIs that would help outpace the North Korean threat.

The brevity of the review leaves several issues unmentioned, Tom Karako, a missile defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Defense News. One of those issues is the absence of timelines and phases.

It is one thing to say the United States must defend Guam, that we must have hypersonic defense and that space sensors are critical. But there are no express milestones or dates to assess whether they will be available within the decade, let alone at the speed of relevance, he said.

Moreover, Geller noted while the MDR commits to hedging against advanced technologies under development by China and Russia, like hypersonic weapons, a Statement of Administration Policy also objects to additional funding for the Glide Phase Interceptor that the Missile Defense Agency is developing to destroy hypersonic missiles in flight.

The MDR also fails to clarify U.S. policy on defending against Russian and Chinese missiles, Geller said.

It reiterates the current position to rely solely on nuclear deterrence  rather than missile defense  to defend the homeland from Russian and Chinese ballistic missiles, but then commits to defending Guam as part of the homeland against China, and defending the homeland from Russian and Chinese cruise missiles, she added.

The review stresses the need to prioritize the missile defense architecture on Guam, which is already underway. Guams defense, which will include various active and passive missile defense capabilities, will contribute to the overall integrity of integrated deterrence and bolster the U.S. operational strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, the review stated.

Other missing pieces, according to Karako, include the usual assurance against arms control limitations, the need for increasing production quantities, and the need for maintaining flexible acquisition authorities or who exactly will manage the new missile defeat enterprise.

Missile defeat encompasses the range of activities to counter the development, acquisition, proliferation, potential and actual use of adversary offensive missiles of all types, and to limit damage from such use, according to the review.

Using the term missile defeat is one area where the MDR branches out from past iterations, Karako noted.

The use of missile defeat represents a subtle but important shift, which applies broadly to the missile defense enterprise, he said. A broad defense and defeat-dominant posture towards North Korea remains intact, but attack operations and other novel measures left of launch will help size the requirements for active missile defense interceptors within the comprehensive missile defeat enterprise.

The 2022 MDR also notably recognizes how various air and missile threats would be used in conjunction for complex and integrated attacks, he added. It is critical and long overdue to acknowledge that adversaries will attempt to suppress U.S. and allied air and missile defense capabilities.

The 2018 National Defense Strategy, released during the Trump administration, endorsed dispersed basing and operations, but the 2019 MDR did not apply that logic to [air and missile defense], Karako said.

The 2022 review does so explicitly, he added.

Future air and missile defense capabilities must also be more mobile, flexible, survivable, and affordable, and emphasize disaggregation, dispersal, and maneuver to mitigate the threat from adversary missiles, the review stated.

The review also heavily emphasizes the need to bolster regional defense and deterrence through close cooperation with allies and partners on Integrated Air and Missile Defense, or IAMD.

IAMD represents an effort to move beyond platform-specific missile defense toward a broader approach melding all missile defeat capabilities  defensive, passive, offensive, kinetic, non-kinetic  into a comprehensive joint and combined construct, the document stated.

As such, the United States will continue to pursue joint, allied and partner IAMD capabilities needed to maintain a credible level of regional defensive capability for joint maneuver forces and critical infrastructure against all missile threats from any adversary in order to protect U.S. forces abroad, maintain freedom of maneuver and strengthen security commitments to our allies and partners, the review read.
Despite the international focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, China remains the "pacing challenge"  or the nation that threatens to surpass the U.S.  according to strategic documents the Pentagon released Thursday.

"The [People's Republic of China] is the only competitor out there with both the intent to reshape the international order and increasingly the power to do so," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.

The Pentagon released the unclassified versions of the National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review, and Missile Defense Review. The classified versions of these documents were submitted in March shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, but senior defense officials said Thursday the Pentagon did not need to change the strategy since there were already indications last fall that Russia intended to invade.

The National Defense Strategy identifies Russia as an "acute threat."

"Unlike China, Russia can't systemically challenge the U.S. over the long term, but Russian aggression does pose an immediate and sharp threat to our interests and values," Austin said.

Since the last National Defense Strategy was released in 2018, the security environment "has unfortunately only continued to deteriorate," a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.

Over the last few months, Russia's war in Ukraine has continued and Russian President Vladimir Putin has not ruled out the possibility of using nuclear weapons. China has rapidly expanded its nuclear arsenal in recent years. The Pentagon's recent China Military Power Report released last fall noted that China has accelerated its production of nuclear warheads, outpacing the Pentagon's estimates.

The senior defense official who briefed reporters on the Nuclear Posture Review, said, "In the coming years, for the first time, we will have to deter two major nuclear armed competitors, both Russia and China."

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To prevent an arms race, the National Defense Strategy emphasizes diplomacy as an approach to convince China to come to the negotiating table on arms control. But so far, China has been unwilling to engage, the official said.

China and Russia are identified as the "pacing challenge" and "acute threat" in the document, but it also takes note of North Korea and Iran. Austin said other serious threats include North Korea's expanding nuclear and missile capabilities, as well as Iran's movement on its nuclear program and export of drones to Russia.

The 2022 Missile Defense Review predicts the usage rate of drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), will only increase because they're relatively cheap and accessible. Their appearance in the review is new  drones were not specifically identified as emerging threats in the Missile Defense Review released in 2019.

Russia, the review notes, has resorted to help from Iran in part because it has depleted its own conventional weapons.

The senior defense official said the Pentagon is working to understand how Russia's forces have been degraded since its invasion of Ukraine and noted that one effect of Russia's depletion of its conventional weapons is "unfortunately" an "even greater reliance on their nuclear forces."

The official reiterated what President Biden and senior leaders have said before  that any use of nuclear weapons on any scale would be met with severe consequences. Defense officials this week have said there are no indications Russia has made a decision to use nuclear weapons or a dirty bomb in Ukraine.

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Whats neat about Halloween is its ability to offer something for everyone: candy for the sweet-toothed, guts and gore to appease horror enthusiasts, and costumes that can send up peals of laughter or fright, depending on your personal Halloween ethos.

And Chicago, as always, loves an excuse to celebrate and have some fun. This year, we at the Chicago Tribune have found ourselves bewitched by holiday spirit, and weve indulged ahead of one of the first Halloweens in recent years where people can gather safely, trading their COVID-19 masks for ones of monsters and ghouls.

Weve rounded up our recommendations for Chicago-themed Halloween costumes, parties and events across Chicagoland, and spooky recipes from our vintage archives. Heres everything you need to know for a great Halloweekend.

And dont forget to check the weather. Heres the warmest, coldest, snowiest and wettest Halloweens since 1871.

Dress up in a Chicago-themed costume

Scott Duncan poses for a portrait dressed as the building formerly known as the John Hancock Center during the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats 50th Anniversary Congress Dinner at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Oct. 30, 2019, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tri / Chicago Tribune)

If the perfect Halloween costume idea is evading you, never fear: Chicago is here to inspire. Weve got 22 costumes you can put together yourself on the cheap.

>>> Read the full story

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Head out to a bar or restaurant

Ina Mae's Tavern transformed into a voodoo lounge for Halloween, serving themed cocktails like a hurricane in an infusion bag and Zombies Blood punch. (Ina Mae's Tavern)

Chicagos bars and restaurants have plenty of tricks and treats in store. From pumpkin carving to costume contests to burlesque shows, these spots will let you celebrate all weekend long.

>>> Read the full story

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Visit a haunted house

Blue and orange lighting illuminate The Old Joliet Haunted Prison, Oct. 14, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

That chill in the air? Haunted houses are opening now across the Chicago region for the 2022 scare season.

>>> Read the full story

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Conjure up some spooky treats

Batter beatniks, a vintage Halloween recipe from the Chicago Tribune in 1959, Oct. 11, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)

The Tribunes Kori Rumore dug up some retro recipes for Halloween from Mary Meades archives for her weekly Vintage newsletter.

>>> Read the full story

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Catch a scary movie

This image released by Disney shows, from left, Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in "Hocus Pocus 2." (Photo Credit: Matt Kennedy/AP)

Tribune film critic Michael Phillips reviews Hocus Pocus 2, now on Disney+.

>>> Read the full story

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Read up on Illinois fantastic beasts

These are just some of Illinois' fantastic beasts. (Phil Geib)

For as long as it has been a state, Illinois has been abundant in cryptozoological species  that is, mysterious, elusive monsters that have more basis in folklore and imagination than reality.

>>> Read the full story

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Celebrate in the suburbs

Julie Groth of Libertyville walks with daughters Mia, 2, and Emma, 4, and the childrens grandmother Fran Hamming of Gurnee, Oct. 29, 2021. (Rob Dicker / Chicago Tribune)

Celebrating Halloween in the suburbs? Here are trick-or-treating hours and fall events around Chicagoland.

>>> Read the full story

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Celebrate Day of the Dead

(Rick Tuma/Chicago Tribune)

Heres how Day of the Dead is celebrated in Chicago (explained in English and Spanish).

>>> Read the full story

What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here.
Phoebe Bridgers has spoken out against the disgusting online treatment Amber Heard received from Johnny Depp fans.

During the former couples highly publicised trial, in which Depp had sued Heard for $50m (40.1m) for allegedly implying he abused her in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed, Heard was subjected to one of the worst cases of cyberbullying.

According to an earlier study that looked at anti-Heard Twitter campaigns, it found that 24 per cent of accounts using negative hashtags  #AmberHeardIsAnAbuser and #AmberHeardIsALiar  had been created in the last seven months, where they state the average is usually 8.6 per cent.

In her recent Teen Vogue cover story, 28-year-old Bridgers addressed the public reaction to the high-profile trial, saying she found it entirely upsetting.

I think that theres been this falsehood  and I think queer people are included in this  of having to be the perfect victim, or the perfect survivor, or the perfect representation for your marginalised community, explained the Motion Sickness singer, who, like Heard identifies as bisexual.

If Amber Heard exhibited any neurotic behaviour, it was held against her. Then Johnny Depp, out of his mouth, admitted some of the most violent, crazy s*** in court, and its somehow like, people arent surprised?

Bridgers went on to describe the online backlash against Heard as a fandom war.

Phoebe Bridgers, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (Getty Images)

That whole situation was so upsetting to me, she said. Laughing at someone crying in court? It was disgusting.

Following the six-week trial, the Virginia jury largely sided with Depp, finding that Heard had defamed him on all three counts. He was awarded $10m (8m) in compensatory damages and $5m (4m) in punitive damages.

Heard was awarded $2m (1.6m) in compensatory damages, but no punitive damages.
Pittsburgh police are speaking out for the first time about their investigation into shocking and disturbing allegations that a 15-year-student at Taylor Allderdice High School was raped by several students after school and off campus.

At a weekly news briefing, police offered few new details but confirmed much of what Target 11 had first reported earlier this week.

It allegedly happened in a restroom at a nearby restaurant and in an abandoned building near the intersections of Murray and Forward avenues.

I can acknowledge that we are investigating the allegations, and its a current and active and open investigation, so theres nothing more I can give you at this time, just to say that we are aware of the incident and we are actively investigating at this time, said Pittsburgh Police Commander Richard Ford, who heads the Major Crimes division.

Police have declined to release further details.

Target 11 has learned that the alleged assault happened on Friday, Oct. 14, and that detectives from the Pittsburgh Police Bureau Special Victims Unit canvassed the area near Forward and Murray and theyve also visited the high school searching for witnesses and surveillance video to aid in the investigation.

Its the same area where some residents and business owners complained of large groups of students gathering and some then fighting after school while waiting for buses.

And just last month, a police officer was injured while using his taser to break up one of those fights.

As for the alleged rape, police say there have been no arrests, yet.

There has been no charges. The investigation is still ongoing at this time, said Commander Ford.

Law enforcement sources told Target 11 that police have identified several of the teenagers allegedly involved in the assault.

Sources said the three teenagers are all 16 years old.

No charges have been filed as police continue their investigation.

Story continues

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You might not have agreed with the great logging protests of 40-odd years ago, but at least they made sense.

Drive spikes into trees to disable chainsaws; chain yourself to a spruce; create human chains in front of skidders. They all directly had to do with logging, and an effort to prevent it.

But throwing food onto master works of art and gluing yourself to a wall? What are you trying to protest, Bob Ross?

No, its climate change of course, isnt that obvious? Protesters around the world are throwing everything from tomato soup to mashed potatoes on works by the likes of Van Gogh and Monet, and then, in a final flourish, Super-Gluing their hands to the wall.

Tim Rowland

The paintings are behind glass, so they arent damaged  which is thoughtful, but also reduces the impact of the protest I would think. It would be like if Gavrilo Princip had shot at a painting of Archduke Ferdinand. Not as effective maybe, but you like to think you can get your point across without touching off World War I.

I suppose theyre being successful in that media outlets are covering their hijinks, and publicity is the point. According to The New York Times, The activists, a man and a woman, each glued a hand to the wall by the painting. Then, the woman shouted in German that the world was in a climate catastrophe, and all you are afraid of is tomato soup or mashed potatoes in a painting.

My favorite part? Then, the woman shouted in German.

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Pretty amazing, considering she was from Germany and the art museum was in Germany too. What did we expect her to be speaking, Portuguese? I guess a German has to get up pretty early in the morning to fool The New York Times.

Anyway, after the incident, the whole world breathlessly tuned in to bear witness to what must be the most crucial question in the history of our existence: How was the museum staff able to get Super Glue off the protesters hands?

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I know thats what I wanted to hear, but maddeningly, the press accounts dont say. Do art museums have some ultra-secret glue dissolver? Do they have Heloise stashed away in a broom closet somewhere with her magical homespun remedies?

This woman better hope the world is coming to an end so she doesnt have to explain to the grandkids why Mee-Maw is walking around with a chunk of the German Museum of Art epoxied to her palm.

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I didnt even know those glues were still around, but they were amazingly adherent to human flesh. In fact, sometimes it seemed that was the only material it worked on. You could try to glue a porcelain handle back onto a teacup and it wouldnt hold the handle to the cup, but it would hold it to your hand, along with the tube of glue itself, the cap and fragments of the cardboard packaging.

It did work on plastic though, and you knew this because you could only use it once: After you poked a hole in the tube it would glue the cap in place forevermore.

The television ads, which featured a worker-man being held up by his hardhat, which had been glued to a steel girder, swore that it worked on everything, though. I remember this, because as a kid I would lie awake nights wondering what kept the glue from sticking to the inside of the tube.

(This was one of those If God can do anything, can he make a rock so heavy that he cant lift it? questions that would bother 10-year-old boys and probably no one else.)

So I dont know if the mashed potatoes will change anyones mind. Probably not. But if the planet is doomed, at least they will amuse us in the process.

Tim Rowland is a Herald-Mail columnist.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Mashed potatoes, Super Glue, classic art: Climate-change protesting
Springfield Police have arrested a 12-year-old student in connection to a false report of an active shooter, according to the Springfield City Manager.

This is serious and children need to think about these things before they do them, Springfield Police Chief Lee Graf said. People could have been hurt.

>>False active shooter report locks down Catholic Central School; investigation underway

Just before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Springfield police received reports of an active shooter at Catholic Central High School and within two minutes more than a dozen officers were on the scene.

Ohio State Highway Patrol, Springfield police and Clark County Sheriffs Office all arrived to assist as Springfield fire was on standby, police said.

Once crews made their way through the building, the indicators for an active shooter just werent there, Graf said.

>>UPDATE: 4 injured after truck crashes into Dayton apartment

Police continued with protocol and checked the entire building, Graf said.

Once it was discovered to be a hoax, police began looking into where the call came from and found that it came from a landline inside of the building, Graf said.

Eventually, the female student admitted to police that she was the one to make the call, Graf said.

Quite frankly, the evidence trail the detectives followed strongly indicated that already, Graf stated.

>>Greene County Sheriffs Office awarded thousands in federal traffic safety for 2023

On Thursday, Oct. 27, she was arrested on a charge of inducing panic and placed in the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center, the city manager said.

We have to understand the import of this type of crime, Graf said, This type of a hoax. Parents flocked to the school obviously upset, disturbed, demanding to see their children.

With officers tied up over a prank call, it leaves no room for people with real emergencies to get the help they need.

These are not funny, Graf said. These have serious consequences.

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DUBAI (Reuters) - Authorities in the Iranian city of Zahedan have sacked the police chief and the head of a police station near where dozens of people were killed four weeks ago during protests which have swept the country, state news agency IRNA said on Thursday.

The deaths in Zahedan were widely criticised, including by a top Sunni cleric who said senior officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were responsible "before God". Amnesty International said security forces killed at least 66 people in the violent crackdown on Sept. 30.

It was the deadliest incident in the unrest which erupted after the death in custody six weeks ago of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd detained by the Islamic Republic's morality police for flouting restrictions on women's dress.

Zahedan, close to Iran's southeastern border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, is home to a Baluch minority estimated to number up to 2 million people which has faced discrimination and repression for decades, according to human rights groups.

The Sistan-Baluchistan region around Zahedan is one of the country's poorest and for years has been a hotbed of militancy, where Iranian security forces have been attacked by Baluch militants.

The provincial security council said in a statement carried by state media that armed dissidents had provoked last month's clashes, leading to the deaths of innocent people, but admitted "shortcomings" by police which it said led to the dismissals.

The statement said the families of the victims would be compensated and a legal investigation had been opened that may lead to further measures against those who provoked the violence, rioters and any officials suspected of wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Photograph: Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images

Canadas federal police force is investigating reports that clandestine Chinese police stations are operating in Toronto amid reports of a global network used to target overseas dissidents.

The Royal Canada Mounted Police said it was investigating reports of criminal activity in relation to the so-called police stations but did not specify the location of the sites.

The police also warned that foreign states may seek to intimidate or harm communities or individuals within Canada.

The revelations come days after the Dutch government said it was investigating two suspected stations.

The stations were first identified by Safeguard Defenders, a Spanish civil rights group which alleged the Fuzhou and Qingtian police agencies had between them opened 54 overseas service centres in 25 cities across 21 countries, including Canada.

Related: China using illegal police bases in Netherlands to target dissidents, say reports

Safeguard Defenders identified a residential home, commercial building and convenience store in the greater Toronto area as the locations of the suspected operations.

Chinas embassy has denied the buildings are staffed by police, instead suggesting they are services stations meant to offer consular and bureaucratic assistance.

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 embassy said in a statement. 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 also said the staff were volunteers and not police officers, adding: They are not involved in any criminal investigation or relevant activity.

But recently unsealed court documents in New York corroborate accusations that China has engaged in a foreign interference campaign, harassing and surveilling Chinese nationals abroad. In one case, a Chinese citizen living in Canada was pressured to return to China to face charges of embezzling nearly C$380,000 (US$280,000) in public funds.

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In the court document, the US alleges the pressure campaign is related to Chinas Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Operation Fox Hunt, which has been used to target both corruption and dissent.

Related: Chinese spy duo charged in Huawei case as US condemns egregious interference

Canadian lawmakers have previously warned of the issue. At a House of Commons special committee on Canada-China relations in early October, the Conservative member of parliament Michael Chong asked Canadas foreign affairs ministry about the existence of the police stations.

Weldon Epp, director general of North Asia and Oceania at Global Affairs Canada said there was space for legitimate police liaison cooperation between countries.

But the allegations reported in the press would fall well outside of that, and we would have deep concerns if they proved to be true.

The allegations are likely to once again strain relations between Ottawa and Beijing, which have remained tense following a string of disputes between the two nations, including the arrests of the Huawei executive Meng Wenzhou, and the Canadian businessmen Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor.
Oct. 26VALDOSTA  Police want the public's help in finding a suspect in an October shooting.

Warrants have been issued for Lawrence Lee Williams, 28, of Valdosta on charges of felony aggravated assault, felony possession of a firearm during a felony and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a Valdosta Police Department statement.

Williams' location is not known; police said he is armed and dangerous and anyone who knows where he is should call 911.

At 12:51 a.m., Oct. 4, police headed to the 700 block of East Brookwood Drive after a 38-year-old man arrived at South Georgia Medical Center to be treated for gunshot wounds, according to a previous police statement.

An investigation showed the man was near the roadway when a known subject shot him, police said.

Police said the case looks like an isolated incident.

Terry Richards is the senior reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times.
Somehow, the marriage of two singular film talents has produced the least special work either has ever done.

Streaming on Netflix Friday, the stop-motion animated feature Wendell & Wild comes from Jordan Peele, of Get Out, Us and Nope, and Henry Selick, whose Coraline is one of the most intriguing and fully realized animated movies of our century. Peele and Selick wrote the script of Wendell & Wild and Selick directed. (He also directed the movie everybody assumes Tim Burton directed, The Nightmare Before Christmas.)

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This ones considerably grimmer. Also occasionally trenchant. And persistently overplotted, in ways that knock heads with its simple, tragic starting point.

At age 8, Kat (voiced by Lyric Ross) loses both parents in a terrifying crash off a bridge in their hometown of Rust Bank. Blaming herself for their deaths, she endures some very rough years. The film picks up when Kat, now 13, transfers from a harsh reform school upstate to a Catholic institution located in whats left of Rust Bank, a town holding nothing but bad memories for Kat.

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Kat, voiced by Lyric Ross, in a scene from "Wendell & Wild." (Netflix/AP)

All thats up top. Down below, in Hell or thereabouts, a dark lord known as Buffalo Belzer(Ving Rhames) mistreats his unreliable demon sons Wendell (Keegan-Michael Key) and Wild (Peele). Kat is their unsuspecting Hell Maiden  a sponsor, essentially  with the vaguely defined power to bring them above ground. There, at long last, they can fulfill their dreams of building the greatest amusement park ever.

There is so much more. Sinister conspiracy angle? A greedy redevelopment and private prison company, Klax Korp, wants to destroy Rust Bank for a massive private incarceration facility. Snot jokes? Wendell and Wild actually live inside Belzers massive hairy nostrils. Kat meantime navigates a maze of trouble at her new school, run by a corrupt and slippery priest (James Hong, ever a delight). Hes killed off soon enough but returns from the dead. Many do in Selicks film.

Theres a serious core to it, and some typically provocative and clever metaphors at work. Kat must learn to give herself a break from a young lifetime of pure, heartbreaking self-hatred. Her demons happen to be literal demons. Yet the forces stacked up against Kats potential growth and happiness are all too human and familiar.

Wendell, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, left and Wild, voiced by Jordan Peele in a scene from "Wendell & Wild." (Netflix via AP/AP)

At one point in Wendell & Wild, which isnt primarily focused on Wendell and Wild, Kats privileged poodle of a classmate, Siobhan, expounds on what shes recently learned about the incarceration facility her evildoing parents have in mind for Rust Bank. (The increasingly knotty plot concerns, among other things, bringing deceased, pro-prison citizens back to life so they can vote for the Klax Korp project.)

The newly enlightened Siobhan says: You make a pile of money of money for every prisoner you take. So you pack them in like sardines, provide crap food, crap medical, dangerous conditions and zero rehabilitation. Yes, thats the size of it, her parents coo. Now theres a righteous riff you wouldnt get in an Ice Age movie.

The films drawback, and its sizable, is that Kat remains dramatically monotonal and stuck in neutral while the narrative somersaults all over the place. The straight-up comedy feels uninspired; Key and Peele are fine voice talents but the materials bland, and if they improvised much in the recording booth, Id be surprised. The film delivers chaos and adversity by the barrel, but its crazier notions  W. and W. get high on hair cream, for one, and the hair cream can bring the dead back to life  rarely excite, or transport.

Wendell & Wild may not succeed, but I took heart from this: At least it doesnt succeed in unconventional ways. Thats a sign of serious talents struggling with two of the most dreaded and unavoidable words in commercial cinema: story problems.

Wendell & Wild  2 stars (out of four)

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MPAA rating: PG-13 (for some thematic material, violence, substance use and brief strong language)

Running time: 1:46

How to watch: Premieres Oct. 28 on Netflix.

Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic.

mjphillips@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @phillipstribune

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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.
Power cuts in Kyiv to last longer following fresh attacks on grid by Russia

Due to the Russian attack, a number of critical facilities were put out of operation. As a result, there is a power shortage of 30% of consumption in Kyiv and the region.

Read also: Ukrenergo uses backup power mechanisms to restore power supply

The schedules of stabilization outages, which were drawn up the day before, are no longer relevant. Stricter and longer power cuts will be introduced in the coming days.

"DTEK power engineers, together with specialists of NPC Ukrenergo, other emergency services and public authorities, are doing everything possible to stabilize the situation as soon as possible," the statement reads.

Read also: Ukraine restores 15 objects damaged by Russian mass missile attack, says Zelenskyy

DTEK urged to consume electricity moderately  to turn on energy-intensive appliances one by one, to minimize electricity consumption in the morning from 06.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and in the evening from 5.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Business customers are asked to limit the use of outdoor lighting on the facades of offices, restaurants, and shopping centers.

Since Oct. 10, Russia has targeted critical and energy infrastructure across Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Oct. 18 that during this period, the aggressor state destroyed more than 30% of power plants in Ukraine. He called the Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy and critical infrastructure a new type of terrorist attack.

Read also: Missile strike causes partial blackout at major fertilizer factory in Rivne

To stabilize the power system across different regions of Ukraine, rolling blackouts are introduced daily.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Remember just four short months ago, when all the political pundits could talk about was how energized women would be to cast ballots to uphold their belief in the fundamental right of reproductive agency or to show support for those candidates who shared their views on abortion rights?

There now appears to be a seismic shift.

With less than two weeks before Election Day and early voting already underway in many states, poll after poll after poll suggests that the economy remains the top issue for American voters, including women, and the realities of their pocketbooks are drawing them to the anti-abortion GOP crowd.

Republicans are hitting the economic issue hard, blaming President Joe Biden and his party for rising food prices, erratic gas costs and painful utility bills. If we're being intellectually honest, we know that neither Biden nor any other Democrat (or Republican) can control the staggering inflation rates hitting America  and the rest of the world.

But humans often vote based on emotions. And it's easy to blame the incumbent president and party in power, as previous midterm election results have shown us.

Milk and bread are a bigger priority

Democrats, in a dog fight to remain in control of both congressional chambers, continue to fixate on the protection of abortion rights in hopes of bolstering voter engagement and support.

Women and the midterms: Complacency got us here, but authenticity can get us back to where we want to be

The U.S. Supreme Court's late June landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization sparked protests and outrage, especially because most Americans support legal abortions in all or most cases.

Many believed that the ruling to overturn Roe would motivate and mobilize voters, particularly women. A significant win served as a promising early indicator when women voters in red Kansas turned out in droves for an August primary to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution.

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Abortion-rights supporters cheer as the proposed Kansas constitutional amendment fails on Aug. 2, 2022.

Abortion referendums are on the ballot in some states, but not in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania or Wisconsin, where key races could flip the Senate back to Republican control.

Michigan voters, for example, will decide whether to approve Proposal 3, which would amend the state constitution to protect reproductive freedom, including access to abortions. Kentucky voters will face a similar measure at the polls.

The abortion debate hasn't gone away, but it certainly seems to have taken a backseat to the cost of milk, bread and eggs.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chair of the Senate Budget Committee, wrote in a recent Guardian op-ed that to win this election, Democrats must fight back on economic issues such as low wages, child care, housing, home health care and college affordability.

Caregiving crisis: Why must we pick between paychecks and caring for loved ones? We need paid family leave.

"In my view, while the abortion issue must remain on the front burner, it would be political malpractice for Democrats to ignore the state of the economy and allow Republican lies and distortions to go unanswered," Sanders wrote.

Vote for every aspect of humanity

I'm here to ask the uncomfortable questions: What are white women going to do on Nov. 8? Are they going to vote with their wallets  often the source of self-preservation and power? Or will their support for abortion protections translate to votes for Democrats in individual races?

There's no denying the power of the white woman vote, for better or worse. In the 2018 midterm elections, women  including those who live in the suburbs, are educated and high income  helped flip the House and ushered more women lawmakers into Congress than ever before.

Yet I'm not certain abortion is enough to rally the base for the Democratic Party when Republicans insist on a steady drumbeat of fiscal doom and gloom. Please know I'm not minimizing the plight of millions of Americans who are facing financial hardship  I write about them.

Biden has lofty plan to 'end hunger.' But he must address Americans' urgent needs.

Of course the economy is important. So are reproductive rights. As is a more equitable tax code, environmental and clean energy efforts, low-cost prescription prices, an inclusive health care system, humane immigration policies, manufacturing stability, paid family and medical leave, and affordable housing.

Only voters can decide which candidates better align with their priorities.

But let's not forget: High inflation is temporary. As American voters, it is our charge to play the long game. We are electing members of Congress whose job it is to enact legislation that affects nearly every aspect of life  four months from now and four years from now.

National columnist/deputy opinion editor Suzette Hackney is a member of USA TODAYS Editorial Board. Contact her at shackney@usatoday.com or on Twitter: @suzyscribe

More from Suzette Hackney:

National monuments in Washington, D.C., are missing a piece of American history: women

You don't need to be a white supremacist to be racist. LA City Council conversation proves it.

Republicans who say 'Chicago' when asked about gun violence ignore local tragedies

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will voters choose abortion rights or inflation in midterms?
The producers of LGBTQ-plus film #LookAtMe will no longer appeal the Singaporean authorities decision to prevent the film from being screened locally.

On Oct. 17, several government bodies, including Singapores Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), released a joint statement announcing that director Ken Kweks #LookAtMe will not be screened in theaters across the Southeast Asian nation. They explained that the film was banned for its potential to cause enmity and social division in Singapores multi-racial and multi-religious society.

Following the statements release, Kwen and the films producers released their own statement, saying, The film seeks to entertain and encourage conversations on important social issues that are relevant to Singapore. It features top filmmaking and acting talent from Singapore and beyond. They also shared that they intended on appealing the government bodies decision.

However, local media outlets recently reported that they have changed their minds. On Thursday, the #LookAtMe team issued a statement to Mothership explaining that "after a more comprehensive assessment of the ministries statement and the IMDAs appeals process, they will no longer go through with their initial plans.

More from NextShark: Simu Liu takes on new villain role opposite Jennifer Lopez in upcoming Netflix film Atlas

"The chances of a successful appeal [for a film with LGBTQ or religious content] are exceedingly slim, they added.

They also shared that the IMDA Films Appeal Committee would charge them 500 Singaporean dollars (approximately $355) to consider their appeal, saying, "We do not wish to pay any additional costs or compound the loss in local box office revenue already incurred due to the ban.

Despite the local screening ban, the producers wrote that they are proud of the films achievements on the international stage. #LookAtMe premiered at the New York International Film Festival in July and won the Special Jury award for Best Performance. Although it will not be played in Singapore theaters, it will still be screened at the Singapore International Film Festival in November.

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More from NextShark: Right person, wrong time: Vince Xu, Kasey Ma show 'what Asian love is' on 'The One That Got Away'

The recent ban of the LGBTQ-plus films comes months after Singapore Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a June interview that Singaporean citizens in consensual same-sex relationships would no longer be prosecuted under a controversial colonial-era law.

Back in August, the city-states government announced plans to repeal Section 377A of its penal code, which criminalizes acts of gross indecency between men.

Featured Image via Eko Pictures

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Drag queen Kim Chi talks Korean pride and her 'full circle' moment with her queer POC makeup line
Action News Jax has learned that the owner of a recently condemned property in Jacksonville is in jail in Clay County.

Brian Lozito, 53, was arrested for violation of probation. He was originally arrested in 2019 for child abuse and was sentenced to three years of probation in 2021.

According to Lozitos original arrest report in 2019, a witness in a Walmart saw Lozito slap a child who was crying, which caused the childs nose to bleed.

We told you Wednesday that neighbors at the Blanchard Apartments in Love Grove, which is Lozitos property, have just days to get out after the property was recently condemned for sewage issues.

The City of Jacksonville gave Action News Jax this statement about the Blanchard Apartments being condemned, which said in part, The issues facing the property owner are private matters.

The City of Jacksonville has been and continues to try to work with both the property owner and the manger of this private complex. Multiple attempts to provide solutions have been presented but a resolution to the problem as not been found at this time. The issues facing the property owner are private matters, however, we cannot allow these citizens to live in these conditions. At this time, the City of Jacksonville is intervening for the safety of the residents because this is a public health and safety issue. We are assisting in the relocation of residents and will provide ongoing assistance as needed. Our Social Services teams, along with our strategic partners, are working to find them suitable living conditions in other locations. Dr. Charles Moreland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Jacksonville

Action News Jaxs Meghan Moriarty is digging into Lozito and the propertys past and will have the latest on the investigation on CBS47 and FOX30 Action News Jax at 5.

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A crowd of protesters disrupted a Los Angeles city council meeting on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of two members who were recently caught making racist remarks.

The approximately two dozen demonstrators told the council they would refuse to leave until councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin De Leon stepped down. They were eventually escorted out by police. Councilwoman Nury Martinez resigned as president of the panel two weeks ago  and eventually stepped down from the council altogether  over her role in the inflammatory conversation, which was secretly recorded and posted online by an unknown person. The police issued a dispersal order to get the demonstrators to leave, the Los Angeles Times noted.

Likely in response to pressure from protesters, the city council voted unanimously Wednesday to censure the two remaining guilty members for their involvement in the conversation. In order to censure a member of the council, the individual must have demonstrated gross failure to meet the high standards of personal and professional conduct. Cedillo and De Leon still hold their positions.

The censure vote demonstrates that these comments are unacceptable to us and that we disassociate ourselves from them as a body, councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson told the publication.

Councilman Bob Blumenfield said the members showed a neglect for the people they are supposed to serve. This censure isnt just about the offensive words that they used, and it isnt just about their attempt to take power from a protected class, he told the LA Times. It is also about their abdication of their duty as council members to represent all of their constituents.

In the audio recording from a year ago, Cedillo, Martinez, De Leon, as well as Ron Herrera, the president of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, made racially charged insults about other city officials, their family members, and the municipalities political demographics.

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Martinez called a white colleagues two-year-old black son a changuito, Spanish for little monkey, and said he needs a beatdown. De Leon derided the childs adoptive father, Mike Bonin, as the councils fourth Black member and claimed he showed off his black son like a luxury purse.

As someone who believes deeply in the empowerment of communities of color, I recognize my comments undercut that goal, Martinez said in her apology. She and assured that going forward, reconciliation will be my priority.

De Leon claimed to regret appearing to condone and even contribute to certain insensitive comments made about a colleague and his family in private. Ive reached out to that colleague personally. On that day, I fell short of the expectations we set for our leaders  and I will hold myself to a higher standard.

More from National Review
(Bloomberg) -- Gasoline shortages rippling across the East Coast are driving up pump prices from New York to Maine, potentially frustrating the Biden administrations effort to rein in energy costs ahead of the election.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Pump prices in the Northeast jumped overnight, bucking the downward trend seen across the rest of the country. The culprit: Some fuel terminals in the region are running out of fuel as imports slow amid a global energy crisis.

High pump prices have become a political pain point for Democrats, with the election just two weeks away. While the Biden administration has touted its success in bringing down gasoline costs, prices remain significantly higher than a year ago, with some of the highest prices in swing states that could determine which party controls Congress.

Though the US is massive gasoline producer, much of the fuel made on the Gulf Coast refining hub is exported to Latin America, with infrastructure constraints leaving the East Coast reliant on imports from overseas. But those imports have slowed since Russias invasion of Ukraine disrupted energy supplies across Europe and rerouted flows elsewhere.

Gasoline and blending component shipments into New York are 25% lower than October of last year, according to Vortexa data compiled by Bloomberg. Supplies in the New York Harbor region are at the lowest in a decade for this time of year.

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2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Liz Truss might have been out of it when she spoke about using nuclear weapons, Putin said (James Manning/PA) (PA Wire)

Vladimir Putin accused Liz Truss of being a bit out of it over comments she made about nuclear weapons.

The Russian president, who gave a speech on Thursday, hit out at the former prime minister as he sought to defend his country from the criticism of Western leaders since the invasion of Ukraine.

It comes amid concerns that with Russia struggling to make ground in Ukraine, Putin could turn to nuclear weapons.

Weve never said anything proactively about possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia. We have only hinted in response to those statements that the Western leaders have made, he said, according to a live translation on Sky News.

Referring to the former prime minister, he said: Liz Truss, the ex-prime minister of the United Kingdom, she said it directly.

In her conversation with a representative of the media, she said that the UK is a nuclear power and the prime minister has, in their mandate, the possible use of nuclear weapons.

Im not quoting her and she said that shes prepared to do that.

And no-one responded in any way.

Well, she just made a folly, she was a bit out of it.

But can you say these things publicly? Well, even if she said it, someone should have corrected that.

Washington, for example, could have said that they have nothing to do with that.

It was not immediately clear what comments Putin was referring to, but during the Tory leadership contest over the summer Ms Truss had been asked about the potential use of nuclear weapons.

During a hustings in August, she was asked how she would feel about having to make decisions about nuclear warfare, she said: I think it is an important duty of the prime minister, I am ready to do that.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hit out at Putin after the Russian president delivered his latest speech.

Putins message today to the Russian people is unclear, untrue and unedifying, he tweeted.

What is crystal clear, is our message to the world:

Aggressors must not be able to invade their neighbours with impunity.

We will resolutely support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy.
An FBI special agent, known for her skills in profiling serial killers, returns to her small Florida town. Shes resented by the local police chief who dislikes bigfooting feds and assigns the agent a dumb rookie partner.

The gruesome killings of teenage girls continue. The uniformed kid and the fancy FBI agent spar and bond; maybe the local cops arent so dumb after all. And, in short order, we learn the agent has a troubled past in this very town.

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Those tropes are, of course, very familiar to anyone who spent the pandemic watching police procedurals. As a fan of so-called Scandinavian noir, I recall seeing most of this setup in a couple of different detective shows, even if we were talking Finland rather than Florida. And, at times, the action in Jennifer Rumbergers The Locusts recalls that in the HBO show Mare of Easttown.

Still, heres what those streaming antecedents could not offer: the blistering acting of Cyd Blakewell and Brittany Burch, live and up close. Those two Chicago women (neither of whom Ive seen work in a while) are the main reason to go and see the latest production from the Gift Theatre, which has lost its longtime space in Jefferson Park and currently is renting digs at Theater Wit in Lakeview. John Gawlik is the director.

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These are deep, emotionally shaking, Chicago-style dives that recall the very best of Gifts acting work over the years, knockout turns that raise the stakes of what you are seeing and arrest you at every moment.

Renee Lockett and Mariah Sydnei Gordon in Gift Theatres world premiere of "The Locusts." (Sarah Elizabeth Larson / HANDOUT)

Youre better not knowing much more about Rumbergers plot as more murders take place; suffice to say that Blakewell plays the FBI agent and Burch plays the pregnant, locally resident sister upon whose couch the agent sleeps as she works. And Bruchs character has a teenage daughter (Mariah Sydnei Gordon) of her own; the girl is a writer of what she sees (a la Martin McDonagh) and she spends a lot of time with her grandmother, played by Renee Lockett, whose role grows as the story unfolds.

There is some fine work, too, from Jennifer Glasse as the police chief on whose watch all of this trauma is unfolding.

But the scenes shared by Blakewell and Burch are where the show really sizzles: Burch utterly inhabits this role, by far the most complex of Rumbergers creation and, in Act 2, Blakewells monologues are, well, shatteringly performed. Truly.

The physical production doesnt really work. The set from Chas Mathieu is more of thematic collage than a sufficiently tense and kinetic space for actors in a thriller and, in Act 2, Rumbergers tying of the main plot into the stories of a grandmother and a granddaughter needs a lot more work if it is to convince, especially since the older woman waxes and wanes so much in her level of cohesion and comprehension that her trajectory feels more driven by plot than humanity.

But you wont be bored at this show, I guarantee. Rumberger, a local writer, crafted two spectacular Florida women, and they were realized from head to toe to heart. I suspect Blakewell and Burch had been waiting a long time for this one. Together.

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@chicagotribune.com

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Review: The Locusts (3 stars)

When: Through Nov. 19

Where: Gift Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.

Running time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Tickets: $38-$45 at 773-975-8150 and thegifttheatre.org
ALONA MAZURENKO  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 19:13

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has stated that a nuclear attack on Ukraine would make no political sense.

Source: Putin, in his live-streamed speech at the plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Moscow

Quote: "We do not need a nuclear attack on Ukraine. It makes no sense, either politically or militarily."

Details: At the same time, the Russian dictator said that "as long as nuclear weapons exist, there is a risk that they will be used."

Putin added that they "had never talked about using nuclear weapons" in Russia. He claimed he had always reacted to the words of Western politicians.

Previously: The Russian dictator has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons in his speeches when talking about the war with Ukraine. In particular, he said that "the Compass Rose" could turn, i.e. towards Russia's enemies.

He has also switched Russias nuclear forces to a special mode.

Ukraines Western partners have responded to Putins threats.

Background:

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu in a telephone conversation on 23 October that Ukraine was allegedly preparing provocations involving a "dirty bomb".

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia does not intend to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine despite previous threats he has made that it may turn to them in its war.

He said at a conference of international foreign policy experts that using nuclear weapons against Ukraine would have no political or military purpose. He also said the West is looking to achieve international domination through the conflict.

Putin also repeated his previous claims that Russians and Ukrainians are a single people who should be united and tried to delegitimize Ukraine as an independent country.

Putin has gradually stepped up threats of Russia potentially using tactical nuclear weapons on the battlefield against Ukraine to defend Russian territory.

He has said that he considers Russian territory to include the four regions of Ukraine where Russian soldiers oversaw annexation referendums last month. The referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia passed with more than 90 percent in favor, but the international community has widely denounced the elections as illegal and illegitimate.

Putin said in his remarks that NATOs refusal to rule out Ukraine joining the military alliance and Ukraines refusal to support a peace agreement with separatists forced the Kremlin to act.

Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukraine in the Donbas region, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk, since 2014.

Russia also does not have complete control over the regions as Ukraine has retaken thousands of square kilometers of territory as part of a counteroffensive it has conducted over the past two months.

Russian officials have recently accused Ukraine of intending to launch a so-called dirty bomb, which would spread radioactive material in an explosion, but Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected the claim.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
When Cate Blanchett stepped out of her first screening for  Tar, she wanted to immediately go back and watch it again.

Sure, she might be a little biased considering she stars in the film ( and learned how to speak German, conduct an orchestra and play piano for the role ), but its not an uncommon sentiment either. Writer-director Todd Fields dense, literate drama about the fall of an artistic genius in a #MeToo scandal is one that begs discussion and another viewing. As Field has said, he sees a new film every time he watches it.

This weekend, Tar, which is sure to be a top contender this awards season, is expanding in theaters nationwide. Field and Blanchett spoke to The Associated Press about the inscrutable Lydia Tar, their inspirations and NOT showing her hands playing the piano.

Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity.

-

AP: The film introduces Lydia at a New Yorker Festival-type event, with Adam Gopnik reading her introduction to a big auditorium. Was that just a way to give us her bio or is this commenting on the ideas conference industry and its complicity?

FIELD: The important thing was how do we meet her? You know, if you meet her at her very height, in a very public way, theres an opportunity to see it in the same way that were in this interview right now, like were trying to have an honest conversation, but were performing for you.

BLANCHETT: Hey! This is ME. This is who I am.

FIELD: Its an aspect of her. Then we see her sitting with her business partner, this investment banker and would be conductor (Mark Strong), and you can tell she doesnt want to be there. Then you see her roll up your sleeves and shes teaching, which is the thing that she truly, truly loves doing. But its not until 40 minutes into the film that we see her brushing her teeth. Then its, Ah, shes like me. We learn a lot of back story about her, but its really about how and when we meet the person. There are all kinds of narrative rules about when were supposed to meet the person. Syd Field would tell you we have to know by page ten. But thats not how this thing works. It was important to meet the character as theyre perceived in these other ways before we were allowed to have access to her.

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AP: At one of the screenings in Venice, the audience was cheering for Lydia when shes dressing down her Julliard student for dismissing Bach as irrelevant to him, which I dont think theyd do on a second watch. Does that response surprise you?

FIELD: I dont think it surprises me. But what youre saying, that I dont think that they would do that on the second watch, thats kind of the idea. That scene can be seen through many lenses. The lens that we started with was simply the age-old question, if you could speak to younger self, what would you say? I think that this character, when she was 24 years old and in a similar position as Max is at Juilliard when she was at Harvard, she was trying to break the boundaries that were set up in terms of the German Austro canon. But shes not 24 years old anymore. Shes turning 50.

AP: Though she pushed boundaries, is she also a woman who maybe only achieved this kind of success by playing within the rules of the patriarchy too?

BLANCHETT: Thats part of it. But she believes in the power of her being the exception. Once you surmount a mountain, you think, God, its beautiful up here. And the beauty makes you forget how difficult the journey was. Shes a consummate musician. And shes a believer, a great believer in the grand narratives, in the grand tradition. Shes earned the right to play those big works. Its the same thing that they teach at college. Its like, sure, you can abstract, but first you have to learn how to paint the form. Youve always got a buck against your teachers. But you forget.

AP: This film does a good job at making you feel like an insider in the world of classical music too.

FIELD: Theres not a lot of footage of conductors doing extensive rehearsals and its so much more interesting watching them rehearse than watching a performance. Our goal was can we take the viewer and make them feel like theyve been in the front of the house, in the back of the house, and that they that theyre going through some kind of process with this character?

BLANCHETT: I learned a lot from watching the documentaries (on the likes of Carlos Kleiber, Herbert von Karajan). There are all of these backstage moments I found really fascinating. Abbado, after his first concert when he took over the role of principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, he came off and someone went to talk to him. He was covered in sweat and he moved away and he walked way up the corridor and just stood really still and put one hand against the wall. It was such a lonely, lonely image. You felt the burden that he was carrying, the responsibility for creating the sound and carrying that orchestra to the to that audience.

FIELD: We stole that image for the end.

AP: You cast some professional musicians here, but you also made the radical choice to have your actors, like Cate and Nina Hoss, learn how to play as well.

FIELD: The finest actors I have known and the finest musicians I have known are very similar because they understand very practical principles about touch and tempo and dynamics and sound. It was important that everyone who makes music on screen makes the music. Theres a kind of long-standing sort of joke, well I call it a joke, but maybe Cate feels differently about this, where she get rather bothered that I dont show her hands at the Julliard scene playing the Bach.

BLANCHETT: (laughs)

FIELD: If it was Leonard Bernstein or somebody like that, you wouldnt feel obliged to do it. If you go back and look at those Young Peoples Concerts that he did in the 50s at Carnegie Hall, theyre not showing his hands. My point was that the only time we ever feel obliged to show actors hands on pianos is when theyre faking it.

BLANCHETT: Or if its for Academy consideration.

-

Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr.
(Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc. countersued UK-based Arm Ltd., saying there is no legitimate basis for claims that the US chipmaker violated licensing agreements and trademarks tied to a 2021 acquisition.

Most Read from Bloomberg

San Diego-based Qualcomm wants a federal judge in Delaware to conclude it didnt trample on Arms licensing contracts as part of Qualcomms $1.4 billion buyout of chip startup Nuvia Inc., according to a court filing Wednesday.

The dispute focuses on Arms licenses with Nuvia for technology used in chip designs. Arm, owned by SoftBank Group Corp., sued Qualcomm for breach of contract and trademark infringement in September, accusing the firm of using the proprietary innovations without permission. In the past, Qualcomm had been one of Arms biggest customers.

Qualcomms lawyers allege Arms goal is to strong-arm Qualcomm into renegotiating the financial terms of the parties longstanding license agreements, using this baseless lawsuit as leverage.

The dispute has drawn wide attention in the tech industry. Qualcomm is the biggest maker of the processors and modems used in smartphones, and Arm is one of the worlds most-influential chip companies.

Arms claim against Qualcomm is aimed at protecting the Arm ecosystem and partners who rely on our intellectual property and innovative designs, Phil Hughes, an Arm spokesman, said Thursday in an emailed statement. We believe our argument is clear, and we are confident the court will agree.

Qualcomm acquired Nuvia last year to beef up its technology and allow it to field more powerful chips. Its part of a broader strategy by Chief Executive Officer Cristiano Amon for Qualcomm to decrease reliance on the smartphone industry and grab a share of the laptop-chip market and the lucrative server-processor business.

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Arms suit is designed to hamper Qualcomms plans, the US companys attorneys argued.

With this lawsuit, Arm makes clear to the marketplace it will act recklessly and opportunistically, threatening the development of new and innovative products as a negotiating tactic, not because it has valid license and trademark claims, according to the filing.

Arm is wrongfully demanding Qualcomm destroy all technology with ties to the UK company and misrepresenting its right to that technology to customers, the media and analysts, the US companys lawyers contend.

The notion ARM has the right to control technology that is not ARMs -- and worse yet, to ask defendants to destroy their innovation and inventions unless substantial monetary tribute is paid to ARM -- offends customary norms of technology ownership, as well as NUVIAs and Qualcomms rights under their agreements with ARM, Qualcoms lawyers said in the filing.

The case is Arm Ltd v. Qualcomm Inc., No. 22-1146, US District Court for the District of Delaware (Wilmington)

--With assistance from Amy Thomson and Ian King.

(Updates with Arms comment in sixth paragraph)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Generally, when a single insider buys stock, it is usually not a big deal. However, when several insiders are buying, like in the case of Green Technology Metals Limited (ASX:GT1), it sends a favourable message to the company's shareholders.

While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether.

See our latest analysis for Green Technology Metals

Green Technology Metals Insider Transactions Over The Last Year

The Non-Executive Director Cameron Henry made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for AU$104k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.01 each. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of AU$0.86. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price.

While Green Technology Metals insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. Their average price was about AU$0.013. We don't deny that it is nice to see insiders buying stock in the company. But we must note that the investments were made at well below today's share price. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date!

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Insider Ownership Of Green Technology Metals

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Green Technology Metals insiders own about AU$64m worth of shares. That equates to 29% of the company. We've certainly seen higher levels of insider ownership elsewhere, but these holdings are enough to suggest alignment between insiders and the other shareholders.

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So What Does This Data Suggest About Green Technology Metals Insiders?

It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Green Technology Metals shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Insiders do have a stake in Green Technology Metals and their transactions don't cause us concern. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Green Technology Metals (1 doesn't sit too well with us) you should be aware of.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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For many species, human actions are the biggest factor in their evolution. Andriy Onufriyenko/Moment via Getty Images

Humans do a lot of different things to the environment, and there arent many natural processes  aside from an asteroid impact or the like  that can rival the scale of change brought on by human activity. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to three experts who study different ways that people are affecting how plants and animals evolve  and how humanity has become the single biggest driver of evolutionary changes on Earth.

The war in Ukraine has raised the specter of nuclear disaster  either through the intentional use of weapons or the accidental meltdown of a nuclear power plant  once again. Ukraine, unfortunately, is no stranger to the risks of splitting atoms. The 1986 meltdown of the Chernobyl power plant was the biggest nuclear accident in history, and its legacy is seen in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. People essentially abandoned the area for decades, leaving nature to reclaim the land around Chernobyl.

German Orizaola is a biologist at the University of Oviedo in Spain who studies frogs in the Chernobyl exclusion zone. One of the species Orizaola was looking for is called the eastern tree frog and is usually bright green. I was alone in the ponds, listening to those males calling, and I didnt find any. I wasnt able to detect one until I realized that that green frog that I was looking for wasnt green. It was black. Absolutely black, he says.

Other than turning from green to black, the frogs were completely healthy. But the decades of exposure to radiation left over from the accident had led to a dramatic and rapid evolutionary change in the frogs  a change entirely driven by human actions. As Orizaolo explained, As soon as humans are in the environment, the amount of pressure we put on the environment  radiation, pesticides, noise or changes in temperature  are so extreme and so fast that they also induce extremely fast evolutionary responses.

Andrew Whitehead, an environmental toxicologist at the University of California, Davis in the U.S. is intimately familiar with another striking example of how humans can drive rapid evolution in animals. In particular, he looks at a little fish called the killifish. There are populations living in these radically human-altered estuaries, and these are environments that should be lethal to them, he explains. Certain estuaries in the U.S. are full of chemical pollution, yet the fish are thriving. As Whitehead says, Killifish from those sites are resistant to up to 8,000 times the normally lethal concentration of these chemicals.

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Whitehead explained that the killifish, due to equal parts luck and a large bank of genetic diversity thanks to huge population numbers, were able to quickly adapt to the polluted estuaries. Given the choice of evolve or die, the fish evolved. But, as Whitehead noted, A lot of people respond to the killifish story as this sort of uplifting story where evolution wins out against all odds. But I think that this is more appropriately interpreted as a cautionary story. While some species can adapt to the changed brought on by modern society, most cant.

Marc Johnson, a biologist at the University of Toronto in Canada, is one of the worlds leading researchers studying the relationship between human actions  urbanization in particular  and the evolution of plants, animals and fungi. Life on Earth has never experienced environments like cities in its 4 billion year history, says Johnson. It really seems that today, the major driver of evolution is human. And we do not understand this nearly well enough.

No one can change how evolution works, but one thing people can control is how we build our cities, deal with our waste or produce our power. Researchers like Johnson hope that figuring out how evolution and human actions interact will help inform decisions that can give plants and animals a better chance at adapting to a changing world.

Listen to the full episode to find out more.

This episode was produced by Daniel Merino and Mend Mariwany, with sound design by Eloise Stevens. The executive producer was Gemma Ware. Our theme music is by Neeta Sarl. The sound of tree frogs in this episode is via serkan gul.

You can find us on Twitter @TC_Audio, on Instagram at theconversationdotcom or via email. You can also sign up to The Conversations free daily email here. A transcript of this episode will be available soon.

Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed, or find out how else to listen here.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Daniel Merino, The Conversation and Gemma Ware, The Conversation. The Conversation has a variety of fascinating free newsletters.

Read more:



Marc Johnson receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada, the National Science Foundation and the Canada Research Chair. He previously had a New Phytologist workshop grant. He is currently the director of the Centre for Urban Environments and director of a board for The Riverwood Conservancy.

German Orizaola receives funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the "Ramon y Cajal" Programme (RyC-2016-20656), the British Ecological Society (SR20-1169) and the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (SUBV/29-2021). Andrew Whitehead receives funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks removed the replica office of former Rep. Elton Gallegly. Now, the Reagan Foundation has cut ties with the university over a legal dispute involving Gallegly and the school.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Institute and Foundation has cut ties with a fellowship program it sponsored at California Lutheran University over a lawsuit between the school and former Rep. Elton Gallegly.

Dubbed the Reagan-Gallegly Fellowship Program, the fellowship funded scholarships for students enrolled in the Thousand Oaks university's master of public policy and administration program. The fellowship has supported nearly a dozen students over the past decade, according to a page on CLU's website.

The foundation announced it was severing ties on Tuesday due to the university's response to a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by the former congressman, who represented Ventura County from 1987 to 2013.

The lawsuit, which was filed in November 2021, alleges the university failed to establish the Gallegly Center for Public Service and Civic Engagement as it was contracted to do. The lawsuit also alleges that over $1 million in funding raised by Gallegly for the project was not fully accounted for by the school.

Tom Hoener, a spokesman for CLU, said in a statement the fellowship will continue despite the Reagan Foundation's move to cut ties.

Previous coverage: Judge tentatively denies most of CLU's motion to dismiss former Rep. Gallegly's lawsuit

Hoener said the university couldn't comment on active litigation, and officials were "disappointed" the three-year agreement supporting the fellowship will expire in March.

Yet, he wrote, "we are proud of the fellowship program begun in 2013, which has been entirely funded by the university. The Gallegly Fellowship program will remain ongoing as will its positive impact on the participating students."

Gallegly said in a statement the separation was the direct result of fallout from the lawsuit and reiterated several of the claims alleged in the suit.

"It is not surprising that the presidential foundation withdrew from its pledge, given the universitys numerous violations of the 2013 agreement to establish the Gallegly Center" at CLU, he wrote.

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One element in the dispute involves the namesake center that was to include a working replica of Gallegly's congressional office in Washington, D.C. In January, the university dismantled the replica office, which had been on display in the Pearson Library for 3 years.

Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ronald Reagan Foundation cuts ties with CLU over Gallegly lawsuit
Lisa Rinna sat on a panel with her fellow housewives at BravoCon. Cindy Ord/Bravo via Getty Images

Lisa Rinna posted a dig at Kathy Hilton that mentioned Paris Hilton's abuse as a teenager.

She received backlash from "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" viewers for doing so.

Kathy previously called Rinna "the biggest bully in Hollywood" on "RHOBH."

Lisa Rinna faced backlash for reposting a meme about Paris Hilton and Kathy Hilton on her Instagram story.

According to Buzzfeed, Rinna shared a post originally written by the user @woke_stan that criticized Kathy for calling Rinna "the biggest bully in Hollywood" during the third part of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" season 12 reunion, which aired Wednesday.

The post began, "Kathy to Lisa: you're the biggest bully in Hollywood."

It continued, "Me to Kathy: you're the mother that had her daughter kidnapped in the middle of the night which led to her being abused."

The post also claimed Kathy "never apologized" to her daughter Paris.

Kathy Hilton and Kyle Richards were at the center of the drama on season 12 of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Santiago Felipe/Getty Images/Tommy Garcia/Bravo

Paris has spoken out against the troubled teen industry and says she experienced abuse at three different facilities she'd been sent to. In 2021, she testified to legislators in the Utah state senate that she was "verbally, mentally, and physically abused on a daily basis" at the Provo Canyon School when she was 16.

"For the past 20 years, I've had a recurring nightmare where I'm kidnapped in the middle of the night by two strangers, strip-searched, and locked in a facility," she testified, per Buzzfeed. "I wish I could tell you this haunting nightmare was just a dream, but it is not."

Following Paris' testimony, in March 2021, a bill (SB 127) calling for reform of residential care troubled-teen institutions was passed in Utah.

"After experiencing abuse at Provo Canyon School, it has been incredibly empowering to have advocated for and help pass SB 127 with Senator Mike McKell, a law that increases oversight of the led Teen Industry in Utah and places significant limits on the use of restraint, drugs, and seclusion rooms among other methods," Paris said in a statement to People at the time.

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Rinna and Kathy, meanwhile, have been embroiled in a public feud since the cast of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" took an ill-fated trip to Aspen this season. Many fans interpreted Rinna's repost of @woke_stan's meme as her weaponizing Paris' trauma against Kathy, and some called it "a new low."

Andy Cohen. Monica Schipper/Bravo via Getty Images

Rinna admitted she can be reckless on social media during part two of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" season 12 reunion, which aired on October 19.

"Lisa, I have spoken to you about this privately many times," Cohen told Rinna as she sat on the couch with her castmates. "Your social media is disastrous."

Rinna frequently posted on Instagram to share her opinions on how storylines were portrayed to viewers throughout the season. She critiqued her fellow housewives and producers of the series and posted screenshots of private text messages.

"You have no impulse control," Cohen said to Rinna."You make so much trouble for yourself. You post something and then you wind up having to delete it," he added.

Representatives for Rinna, Kathy Hilton, and Paris Hilton didn't immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

"The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" airs Wednesdays on Bravo and on Hayu in the UK. The third and final part of the season 12 reunion aired Wednesday.

Read the original article on Insider
Bay Street economists are placing their bets on whether or not the Canadian economy is headed for a recession. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Higher borrowing rates, a relentless surge in the cost of living, a downturn in the housing market and a softening jobs market have Canada wondering whether the economy is headed for a recession.

Here's where some Bay Street and other economists stand on the fate of Canada's economy:

Calling for a recession

BMO Economics

BMO Capital Markets expects a "moderate and short-lived" recession in Canada through the first half of 2023 as a handful of factors weigh on the economy. A slowdown in U.S. growth, higher interest rates, the downturn in financial markets and a further correction in home prices lay the groundwork for a contraction, BMO says in a client note.

The tight labour market is likely also in for an adjustment, with BMO expecting the unemployment rate to hit 6.5 per cent, from the current 5.4 per cent. Rate cuts are unlikely until early 2024, the bank said.

- As of Oct. 5, 2022

RBC Economics

RBC recently moved up its recession forecast and now expects a "moderate" contraction in the first half of 2023 as the high cost of living and rising borrowing rates take a toll on consumer spending and the housing market. Households could see their purchasing power reduced by $3,000 (or about 3% of annualized household disposable income over the first half of this year) in 2023 as sticky inflation offsets any meaningful gains in wages, the bank estimates.

"We expect the Bank of Canada to pause its rate-hiking cycle in late-2022 followed by the Fed in early 2023. But that's contingent on inflation pressures easing. More stubborn inflation trends over the coming months could yet prompt additional hikes, and a potentially larger decline in household consumption and a deeper recession," RBC said.

- As of Oct. 12, 2022

Citi

Canada is indeed headed for a recession, but it will come later than most people think, economist Veronica Clark said. We expect a more widespread slowdown in activity in Canada into next year with a contraction in GDP in the second half of next year, she said in a note to clients, with higher rates and a slowing U.S. economy being the main drags on growth. Most other firms that are calling for a recession see it happening in the first half of 2023.

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- As of Oct. 28, 2022

Desjardins

Canada is in for a recession in "early 2023," Desjardins confirmed in an email to Yahoo Finance Canada. Separately, the firm says in a client note that the Bank of Canada is aware of the clear trade-offs in rapidly hiking its key lending rate. "Policymakers are willing to risk a mild near-term recession rather than allow high inflation to become entrenched, as that would eventually necessitate a more severe downturn."

- As of Sept. 23, 2022

Scotiabank Economics

Economists at Bank of Nova Scotia see the economy entering a technical recession, or two straight quarters of negative growth, in the first half of 2023. "Though we now expect what might be called a technical recession in Canada, we believe the economy will essentially stall in the first half of 2023. The decline in economic activity is likely to be minor and short-lived owing to the underlying resilience of the economy," the bank said in a client note. GDP growth is expected to slow to 0.6 per cent for next year overall, from 3.2 per cent this year.

Lower commodity prices, more uncertainty, stock market declines, higher borrowing rates and a weak U.S. economy will all weigh on Canada.

- As of Oct. 17, 2022

Capital Economics

Capital Economics is also on the list of firms calling for a recession in the first half of next year. The firm says sticky inflation is weighing on consumer spending and inflation expectations are becoming more embedded as prices remain resilient despite higher interest rates. The housing market downturn also won't bode well for the economy. The firm hiked its forecast for the Bank of Canada's benchmark rate to now hit 4.75 per cent early next year.

- As of Oct. 21, 2022

Not using the "R" word

TD Economics

Despite the odds being stacked against the domestic economy, TD Economics still sees growth in GDP ahead, albeit at a slower pace. The bank is forecasting a 0.6 per cent and 0.3 per cent expansion for the first and second quarters next year, respectively. Higher rates and inflation will weigh on households, but TD says consumer spending has increased since COVID-related restrictions were lifted, and that elevated commodity prices will help boost the economy.

- as of Sept. 20, 2022

CIBC Capital Markets

The Canadian economy will kick off the new year with a slight contraction, according to a note from CIBC Capital Markets. The economy will shrink 0.2 per cent in the first quarter before rebounding to a tepid 0.6 per cent growth in the second quarter of next year, the bank predicts. The effects won't be felt evenly across the country though. Ontario and British Columbia. will bear the brunt of the impact because of their reliance on the real estate sector and high levels of household debt.

Quebec will also struggle with growth because of its tight labour market, CIBC says. Meanwhile, Alberta is expected to benefit from higher commodity prices and Atlantic Canada will get a boost from an influx of international and interprovincial migration.

- as of Oct. 20, 2022

National Bank Financial Markets

National Bank Financial Markets forecasts a small 0.2 per cent GDP contraction in the first quarter, followed by 0.9 per cent growth in the following quarter. In a client note, the bank says Canada was doing "so far so good" in avoiding a hard landing for the economy and that key indicators like inflation were moving in the right direction. Overall for 2023 though, National lowered its GDP forecast to a meagre 0.7 per cent.

- as of Oct. 2022

Bank of Canada

The central bank lowered its growth forecasts amid a steep decline in housing activity, a weakening labour market and pullback in consumer spending. The Bank did not commit to a recession outright, but says GDP growth through the end of this year and into 2023 will likely slow to between zero and 0.5 per cent, where "a couple of quarters with growth slightly below zero is just as likely as a couple of quarters with small positive growth."

- as of Oct. 26, 2022

International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund expects Canadian economic growth to slow to 1.5 per cent next year, but warns the risks are skewed to the downside. Persistent inflation and a bigger-than-expected drag from the U.S. economy could mean a "substantially worse" outlook for Canada. The IMF adds that it sees the unemployment rate rising to six per cent and home prices erasing their pandemic gains. "A mild recession could easily emerge, and the historical distribution of risks suggests a roughly 10 per cent chance that the economy would contract for 2023 as a whole," the IMF said.

- as of Oct. 12, 2022

Michelle Zadikian is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow her on Twitter @m_zadikian.

Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android.
The candidates for Washingtons 9th Congressional District faced off in a debate Tuesday, with Democratic incumbent Rep. Adam Smith looking to defeat Republican challenger Doug Michael Basler for the fifth time in a row.

Basler ran against Smith in the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections, losing by wide margins each time.

Smith was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and assumed office in January 1997. He previously was a member of the Washington state Senate from 1991 to 1996 and served as Seattles city prosecutor from 1993 to 1995.

Basler is a Spokane native whose career experience includes working as a volunteer youth pastor, corporate trainer, musician and marketer.

In Tuesdays debate, Smith said that he does not support reduced funding for police, but said that concerns about excessive force are valid. Smith mentioned his involvement in the De-Escalate Washington campaign in support of Initiative 940, which requires de-escalation and mental health training for police officers. I-940 was passed in 2018.

Reforming (policing) doesnt mean eliminating it or even cutting it, it means changing the way we do it, Smith said.

Basler mentioned increased crime in Seattle as one of the reasons he was running, and blamed the citys safety issues on efforts to defund police departments.

I used to go down to Westlake, Basler said. You cant go down there anymore. You see plywood everywhere, broken windows, crime, you step over needles.

The candidates also disagreed on subjects like elections and voting rights. Basler questioned the integrity of the voting system in King County and beyond, while Smith said that elections are checked and double-checked, and questioned other state legislatures efforts to make it harder to vote.
Johnson & Johnson CEO James Burke talks about Tylenol on "The Phil Donahue Show" in Chicago on Nov. 15, 1982. The company recalled all Tylenol capsules in the wake of seven deaths but soon sought to rebuild its bestselling brand. (Ernie Cox Jr. / Chicago Tribune)

Shortly after sunrise on Sept. 30, 1982, Dr. Edmund Donoghue walked into the Cook County medical examiners office and received confirmation of what he had strongly suspected a few hours earlier:

Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules had been laced with cyanide. And they were killing people in the Chicago area.

The news was already starting to get out, thanks to a dogged City News reporter, but there had been no public announcement. Someone needed to warn the public, Donoghues colleagues told him. Someone needed to hold a press briefing.

They looked at Donoghue, the 37-year-old deputy chief medical examiner who was in charge that day only because their boss was out of town. He didnt disagree. He knew they couldnt sit on this information, not with lives still at risk.

These Tylenol capsules were connected with one of the 1982 poisonings. Cook County doctors found that the capsule at right contained cyanide, which has a grainier texture than the medicine shown at left. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune)

Before holding the briefing, he reached out to executives at McNeil Consumer Products, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that manufactures Tylenol. The company had learned about the poisonings only a short time earlier when a reporter called J&J for comment. Company leaders were still trying to wrap their heads around the situation.

They said they understood Donoghue had an important job to do. They just wanted to know: Did he have to say it was Tylenol, specifically? Wasnt it a little premature?

Donoghue asked them to come up with a better alternative. The executives said they couldnt.

What I liked about it was when they said, We cant,  Donoghue said. That was practically giving me permission to do it.

At 9 a.m., Donoghue and two colleagues stepped in front of television cameras and announced the Tylenol deaths.

Dr. Edmund Donoghue, right, then the deputy chief medical examiner in Cook County, discusses the Tylenol poisonings on Sept. 30, 1982. At left are Michael Schaffer, the toxicologist who tested the capsules, and Dr. Barry Lifschultz. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune)

The announcement sent Tylenol  the countrys top-selling pain reliever  into a tailspin from which many predicted it could not recover.

The fact that it did has become the subject of numerous books and college lectures, held up as a shining example of corporate ethics and crisis management. The safety seals the company introduced after the killings are found on all manner of over-the-counter medications and food products today, making tamper-evident packaging one of the horrific crimes most enduring legacies.

A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson declined to answer Tribune questions about events related to the poisonings. Instead, she issued a statement lauding the companys response.

Our highest responsibility has always been the health and safety of our consumers, the statement read. While this tragic incident remains unsolved, this event resulted in important industry improvements to patient safety measures including the creation of tamper-resistant packaging.

But as is so often the case, theres more to the story.

You take care of this

As Donoghue made his announcement, Johnson & Johnson executives huddled in CEO James Burkes fifth-floor office in New Brunswick, New Jersey. J&J had acquired McNeil Laboratories in 1959 and soon began selling Tylenol over the counter through the newly formed McNeil Consumer Products. Its aspirin-free acetaminophen product now dominated the market for nonprescription pain relievers.

David Collins, the recently appointed chairman of McNeil Consumer Products, was among those in the meeting. As he remembers it, the executives had no idea what to do.

Crisis management hadnt entered the corporate vernacular yet, but this was a crisis and they needed to manage it.

Burke turned and pointed to Collins.

You take care of this, Burke said, according to Collins. This is your responsibility.

Chicago police Officer Sam Barsevich takes inventory of Tylenol bottles that residents turned in at his station. (Michael Budrys / Chicago Tribune)

An Oak Park native, Collins immediately took the corporate helicopter to the McNeil headquarters in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, where a significant number of the companys Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules were produced. The executives established a war room at the plant, giving themselves a dedicated space to discuss potential strategies and options for internal investigations.

Collins told the Tribune he immediately recognized that the crisis couldnt be managed from corporate boardrooms on the East Coast. He needed to be closer to the epicenter, which at that time was the Cook County morgue near the intersection of Polk and Wood.

It was pretty clear to me that I had to go to Chicago, that this thing was so important we couldnt rely on secondhand reports, Collins said. But obviously we needed to begin right away and establish some kind of communication with the key people on the West Side of Chicago.

Collins called his college roommate Paul Noland, a Chicago-area attorney with connections to law enforcement and an understanding of how the city worked. Noland had just opened a law office in Wheaton with Francis Mike Heroux, whose friendship with Noland and Collins stretched back to their days at Fenwick, a Catholic high school in Oak Park.

He asked Noland and Heroux to find out whatever they could  and quickly.

Heroux hustled over to the morgue, arriving about 30 minutes after the news conference.

Nancy Chen of the Cook County medical examiner's office holds up test tubes containing the analyzed contents of Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules. The darker specimen at right was found to contain cyanide. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune)

Donoghue took him into the lab, where the toxicologist who worked through the night analyzing capsules from two tainted bottles explained what he found. He had run tests on three capsules from each bottle, and two of those capsules  one from each bottle  had tested positive for cyanide. Heroux stayed about a half-hour and left.

You know, my dear old mother always said, Trust everybody, but cut the cards. All they wanted to do is see the cards we were holding, Donoghue said. And once they realized, they left very quickly. There was no point for them to be there.

Heroux, who died in 2008, didnt stop looking for answers, though. Two more cyanide-related deaths would soon be confirmed in DuPage County, and Heroux represented the hospital where one of those two victims died. With the health care privacy act known as HIPAA still 14 years away, he was able to use his contacts there to gather information.

We had more facts than anybody, Noland recently told the Tribune.

Indeed, Elmhurst Detective Jim OBrien told the FBI on Oct. 2, 1982, that most of his knowledge about the death of Mary Sue McFarland  a divorced mother of two small boys  came from the coroner and an unnamed Johnson & Johnson attorney.

Mary McFarland, shown in her April 1974 wedding photo, died from taking Tylenol capsules tainted with cyanide in 1982. (Family photo)

Law enforcement records show that a J&J attorney came to the Elmhurst Police Department on the morning of Oct. 1 and wanted to share the results of his own investigation. According to the police report, the attorney said he had determined that McFarland had an Anacin bottle in her purse with the tainted Tylenol inside.

In reality, it was a Dristan bottle that held the poisoned capsules, but otherwise the lawyers information was spot-on. And it bothered the detective.

OBrien expresses his own concern about the attorney conducting (an) investigation in this matter inasmuch as it appeared to him that the attorney may be destroying fingerprints or other valuable evidence during the course of his investigation, the report stated.

Its a rare piece of criticism of Johnson & Johnson among the thousands of police records obtained by the Tribune. Others involved in the original Tylenol investigation praised the company for its response. OBrien died in 2002.

In the very beginning, Collins said, the authorities didnt know how to deal with Johnson & Johnson, whose employees and plants still needed to be investigated. He says the corporation leaned on Noland and Herouxs connections to local law enforcement to help form a relationship with the task force.

Collins said the company voluntarily provided lists of disgruntled current and former employees, as well as unhappy customers. It was a start of an unusual partnership between the police and a company amid an investigation that had not yet determined whether the murders had happened while the bottles were under J&Js control.

We were polite, but one of the points we made was, guys, look, you know squat about this business, Collins said. You have no idea where to look. You have no idea the questions to ask. Were the only ones who do. And if you dont allow us to work with you on this, youre cutting off your nose to spite your face. And that really made sense to them.

Ty Fahner, who was Illinois' attorney general and headed the multiagency task force investigating the Tylenol poisonings, recently described Johnson & Johnson as a wonderful, willing partner with law enforcement. (Phil Greer / Chicago Tribune)

Ty Fahner, then the Illinois attorney general and head of the multiagency task force investigating the poisonings, described J&J as a wonderful, willing partner with law enforcement. At the request of state authorities, the company offered a $100,000 reward on Oct. 1 for information leading to the conviction of whoever was responsible for the poisonings.

They couldnt have been better, Fahner said of company executives.

Pull all your product

By the afternoon of Oct. 1, there were six confirmed cyanide deaths: McFarland, Mary Lynn Reiner, 12-year-old Mary Kellerman and Adam, Stanley and Theresa Janus.

Johnson & Johnson quickly recalled more than 93,000 bottles from the batch of Tylenol connected to the Janus and Kellerman deaths. The company later expanded it to another 171,000 bottles with the same lot number as the one McFarland purchased.

The company also shut down the production of all Tylenol capsules while executives debated its packaging and marketing strategy internally. Though the FDA was pushing for a nationwide recall on Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules, the federal agency also wanted to assure the public that it could trust over-the-counter pain medication.

A photograph of a television screen shows the specific lot number for a batch of Extra-Strength Tylenol that was the first to be recalled. (Don Casper / Chicago Tribune)

A spokesperson for the FDA, Bill Grigg, went on Nightline on Oct. 1 and shot down the possibility that the tampering took place at the McNeil Consumer Products plants. In a recent interview with the Tribune, Grigg said he knew that more investigative work had to be done, but he also understood that Americans were panicking.

I think we got about 5,000 calls just in the next couple of days, he said. And many people didnt have anything in their medicine cabinets but Tylenol. And even if they did have something else, they were suspicious. We did try to promote the idea that tablets could be safe, but people were already frightened.

Fahner and other Illinois public health officials went much further than either the federal government or the manufacturer, telling people to throw away their Tylenol or turn it in to their local police department.

People were terrified, Fahner said. And as soon as we got the word out that Tylenol had been laced (with cyanide), people said, What do we do? I said, Well, if youve got any in your medicine cabinet, or if you have any anywhere, either put it in a plastic bag and keep it or throw it away. Do not use it. "

Jose Rosa, right, was one of hundreds of Chicago city employees and volunteers to distribute warnings about cyanide-laced Tylenol in fall 1982. Here, he offers a Spanish-language flyer to Luisa Acevada. (Fred Jewell/AP)

Fahner said Johnson & Johnsons chairman, James E. Burke, called him during the early days of the investigation and asked how he could help. Fahner recalled having just one request:

Pull all your product from the shelf, he told Burke.

It took a few days, but Burke eventually agreed to recall all Tylenol capsules.

The final Tylenol death was confirmed on the evening of Oct. 1, when 35-year-old flight attendant Paula Prince was found dead in her Old Town condominium. Chicago police Detectives Jimmy Gildea and Charlie Ford discovered a bottle of Tylenol on her bathroom vanity and a Sept. 29 receipt from a nearby Walgreens on the kitchen counter.

Princes poisoning would bring the death toll to seven.

On the way to the medical examiners office, the detectives got a radio call. Dispatch wanted them to know that police Superintendent Richard Brzeczek and Mayor Jane Byrne would be meeting them at the morgue  a kind of attention they had never experienced in their careers.

Byrne and Brzeczek had been at a retirement party for a top-ranking police officer at Navy Pier. They arrived at the morgue wearing formal attire and grim expressions. Cook County Medical Examiner Robert Stein, who was also wearing a tuxedo from an earlier engagement, showed them some Tylenol capsules that appeared hastily put together.

Autopsy results would confirm the next day that Prince had been fatally poisoned with cyanide. By then, the public already knew that  because Byrne held a rare midnight news conference to announce the death.

Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne, at right, holds a midnight news conference about a Chicago woman dying from tainted Tylenol. Chicago police Superintendent Richard Brzeczek is at left. Byrne is wearing a formal dress she'd donned for an evening event. (Quentin C. Dodt / Chicago Tribune)

Wearing a frilly evening gown, Byrne sat in front of the microphones and began talking. Brzeczek, dressed in a jacket and tie, stood next to her.

It was getting to be somewhat of a media circus (that week) because everyone was running around doing press conferences. And she said, Were going to have a press conference too,  Brzeczek said. As it turned out, all the TV stations interrupted their network broadcasting and the press conference went live all over the country.

Byrne made nationwide news again the next morning when she took the most aggressive step since the killings began:

She banned the sale and distribution of Tylenol in Chicago.

Noland, the attorney, was at a party in Glen Ellyn on the night of Oct. 1 when he received word that Byrne was looking to speak with him. When they connected, Byrne said she wanted to see him the next morning in her office.

Noland showed up at City Hall, where Byrne told him of her plan to ban Tylenol. Noland called his longtime friend Collins, who was in an emergency board meeting with other Johnson & Johnson executives.

They quickly formed a position: The company could support pulling Extra-Strength capsules from the store shelves, but they opposed a full ban. Under Byrnes proposed order hospitals couldnt use Tylenol 3, the countrys most prescribed analgesic.

A pharmacist checks lot codes on boxes of Extra-Strength Tylenol. The initial recalls were limited to certain batches of the product. (John Dziekan / Chicago Tribune)

Collins said he wanted to explain to the mayor that withdrawing all Tylenol-branded products would present health problems for a lot of people and cause difficulties for medical centers.

The men didnt think it would help, but they knew the mayor casually. Byrnes late husband, Bill, had been best friends with Collins older brother.

Bill Byrne, the Collins brothers and Noland all went to the University of Notre Dame together. In Chicago politics, there were few more powerful fraternities in 1982 than the Fighting Irish alumni. When they spoke, Collins said, Mayor Byrne greeted him warmly, even inquiring about the health of Collins mother.

Then she turned him down flat.

She was pleasant but unyielding, said Noland, who went on to become a DuPage County judge. Let me put it that way.

Saving the brand

From the start, law enforcement and FDA investigators publicly doubted the capsules had been contaminated at the production plant.

They doubled down on that position after Reiner and McFarlands deaths because their bottles both came from a McNeil facility in Round Rock, Texas. The Kellerman and Janus bottles were manufactured in Pennsylvania.

Not until Oct. 5, 1982, nearly a week after the victims swallowed their fatal doses, did a task force representative visit one of the plants.

Michael Schaffer, chief toxicologist of the Cook County medical examiners office, toured the McNeil facility in Pennsylvania to see if the potassium cyanide kept on the premises could have crept somehow into the production line. The company used the chemical to test the lead content of an ingredient used to make the medication.

After spending a morning there, he ruled out the possibility that bottles were contaminated during manufacturing, telling reporters that no human hands touch the Tylenol or its ingredients in the automated mixing and packaging process.

However, he also found that the potassium cyanide was kept in three unlocked quality control laboratories. More than 1,000 people had unfettered access to those labs, according to the company.

FDA testing found the cyanide kept on the McNeil property didnt have the same trace element pattern  a sort of chemical fingerprint  as the poison placed in the capsules. Either way, a McNeil spokesperson said the firm would keep the cyanide locked up going forward.

The early exoneration from both the FDA and the Tylenol task force proved invaluable to Johnson & Johnson, whose executives knew they couldnt rebuild their bestselling brand if the public thought the poisonings occurred while the capsules were under their control.

It couldnt just be us. It had to be the FDA, Collins told the Tribune. The FDA had to come along and say, No, this is not a product problem. "

On the same day as Schaffers visit, Johnson & Johnson recalled all Tylenol capsules. In addition to pulling the medicine off shelves, it sent 450,000 notices to health professionals, hospitals and customers saying they were taking it all back, lock, stock and barrel, records show.

Pharmacist Dennis Jordan, right, checks lot codes on bottles of Extra-Strength Tylenol at the Westmont Pharmacy as he removes them from the shelves on Sept. 30, 1982. (John Dziekan / Chicago Tribune)

The company also offered to replace the worrisome capsules with the safer tablet form for free. It marked the first mass recall in U.S. history, involving more than 31 million bottles and costing the company $100 million.

We were trying our darndest to get them removed from the American market, George Frazza, Johnson & Johnsons general counsel, testified in 1983. And, as it turned out, we did a pretty good job.

The recall announcement, however, was unpopular on Wall Street, where J&Js stock continued to drop and marketing experts predicted the quick demise of Tylenol. The medications share of the market dropped from 37% in September 1982 to about 7% in the following months.

Bottles of Tylenol that werent tossed out were sent to Johnson & Johnson, the FDA and various other government laboratories for testing. J&J performed its testing at a corporate distribution center in suburban Lemont, where more than 10 million capsules were checked for cyanide, according to federal records.

On Oct. 21, a Johnson & Johnson employee detected cyanide in a bottle that had been returned to a Dominicks on Chicagos North Side. Eleven of the 50 capsules inside were poisoned, according to a police report.

Days later, on Oct. 25, cyanide was detected in another 50-count bottle that had made its way back to McNeil Consumer Products as part of the recall, investigative records show. The wife of a DuPage County judge had bought the Extra-Strength Tylenol on Sept. 29 at Franks Finer Foods in Wheaton and later turned it in to her local police department.

Chicago City Health Department employees test Tylenol capsules for cyanide at a city laboratory. (Charlie Knoblock/AP)

James Zagel, who was head of the Illinois state police at the time of the murders, testified in 1983 that he had worked closely with Johnson & Johnson in the investigations earliest days. He said he approved of the decision to let the company test the capsules even as authorities were looking to see if a disgruntled J&J employee was behind the poisonings.

They set this program up in consultation with members of the task force, so we would keep as good a record as we could of where the capsules came from, he told a jury during the 1983 trial of James Lewis, who tried to extort money from J&J after the poisonings.

Testing eventually identified eight poisoned bottles  five connected to fatal poisonings and three that surfaced after the murders.

At this point, McNeil employees worried that Tylenol wouldnt survive as a brand. Production was halted indefinitely, investigators had swarmed the campus and tainted capsules were still being found.

Prominent advertising executive Jerry Della Femina predicted consumers would not see the Tylenol name, in any form, on store shelves within a year. A name so closely associated with death, he said, was unsellable.

There may be an advertising person who thinks he can solve this, and if they find him I want to hire him, because then I want him to turn our water cooler into a wine cooler, Della Femina told The New York Times on Oct. 8, 1982.

McNeil executives printed and posted the quote all over their offices. Collins said they used it for inspiration as they developed strategies to restore public confidence. The company did consider renaming Tylenol, Collins said, but a name change was rejected largely because of the stubborn Irish pride of many of the companys decision makers who didnt want to admit defeat.

Less than two months after the murders, Johnson & Johnson introduced triple-sealed, tamper-resistant packaging. (Kevin Boyd / Chicago Tribune)

Instead, the companys key initiative involved developing tamper-evident packaging to help consumers feel safe enough to take Tylenol again. The Cook County Board of Commissioners already had passed an ordinance requiring safety seals on all medicines, food products and some cosmetics, and the FDA had begun working on federal legislation, though it wouldnt be passed until 1989.

Collins told the Tribune that the company had been considering these safety measures for years but the poisonings served as the impetus for finally adopting them.

In consultation with the FDA, Collins said, a McNeil task force worked in the companys research lab to develop packaging that could not be sabotaged.

Less than two months after the murders, Johnson & Johnson introduced triple-sealed packaging that included a box with glued flaps, tight plastic wrap around the bottle cap and a foil seal covering the mouth of the bottle. Labeling on the box and bottle warned consumers not to use the medicine if safety seals were broken.

Johnson & Johnson held a nationwide news conference via satellite on Nov. 11, 1982, to announce Tylenols new tamper-resistant packaging. Journalists watched in Chicago at the Palmer House hotel. (James Mayo / Chicago Tribune)

It was a serious effort because we figured we know more about this package than anybody and if we cant get into it, the chances are that somebody else cant get into it either, Collins said. We came up with what we thought was effective, tamper-evident packaging and reintroduced the product to the market as capsules.

In announcing the new packaging in November 1982, CEO Burke said Johnson & Johnson considered it a moral imperative as well as good business to restore Tylenol to the same prominence it held in the market prior to the poisonings.

All of us can demonstrate a united determination not to allow our lives to be ruled by acts of terrorism, not to allow America to be poisoned the way these seven people were poisoned, Burke told reporters.

Johnson & Johnson CEO James Burke holds the tamper-resistant packaging developed for Tylenol in late 1982 in an attempt to save the brand. (AP)

To boost consumer interest, J&J launched a marketing blitz promoting the safer bottles and calling attention to the financial hit the company took from the countrys first mass recall. Burke and other executives gave interviews in which they spoke about corporate responsibility and the Johnson & Johnson credo, a mission statement that puts the people the company serves over profit.

McNeil also offered a free bottle of safety-sealed Tylenol to anyone who called the company and requested one. It installed scores of new phone lines, then recruited staff and their families to answer the phones. In a three-hour interview with the Tribune, Collins became emotional as he recalled the many husbands, wives, uncles, aunts, cousins and children of employees who came in to help.

And we had a lot of people call us and say, We dont want a bottle. We just want to thank you. So that turned out to be quite a success, Collins said. And I think it was a major step forward in reestablishing the confidence of the public.

Within a year of the murders, Tylenol regained its spot as the countrys top pain reliever. Its market share was 30% by the fall of 1983, a more than 300% increase over its post-poisonings nadir.

Tylenols advertising firm sent a barrel of wine to Della Femina, who admitted he was wrong.

One of the greatest tragedies of my career happened to be one of the greatest triumphs, Collins said. To this day, I believe that.

But 1982 wasnt the end of fatal Tylenol tamperings.

And a few years later, J&J would be forced to make an even bigger decision than simply redesigning its boxes and bottles.

Another Tylenol death

Less than four years after tamper-evident packaging helped Tylenol regain control of the pain reliever market, another capsule poisoning occurred.

Diane Elsroth, a 23-year-old stenographer, took an Extra-Strength Tylenol capsule while visiting the Yonkers, New York, home of her boyfriends parents in February 1986. She was found dead in bed the next day. Investigators later determined the capsule  which came from a newly opened, safety-sealed bottle  had been tainted with cyanide.

Diane Elsroth of Peekskill, New York, shown in a 1980 high school yearbook photo, died at age 23 in February 1986 after taking a cyanide-laced Extra-Strength Tylenol capsule. (AP)

Another poisoned bottle was found in a nearby town, and stores began removing the product from shelves.

Johnson & Johnson had another public relations crisis on its hands.

Law enforcement inspected the McNeil plant in Pennsylvania and, unlike Illinois investigators in 1982, did not entirely rule out the possibility that the tainting occurred during the medicines production or distribution. However, they agreed it was unlikely.

Until someone is charged with the crime, we cant say definitively how it happened, retired Yonkers police Detective Lt. Jack Roach, who oversaw the investigation, told the Tribune this year. But it would have been hard, virtually impossible, to put (poisoned capsules) into the lots they were shipped in.

Congress had passed a law in 1983 making product tampering a federal crime, so the FBI had jurisdiction over the case. The New York agents worked closely with their Illinois counterparts to determine whether the latest incidents could have been carried out by the same person responsible for the 1982 killings.

They reached no definitive conclusion.

The FBI and Yonkers police later concluded the poisoned capsules had been placed in bottles after they reached the store shelves. The feds, at one point, stated that their analysis indicated the killer had removed the bottom of the bottle and inserted the capsules that way.

Roach told the Tribune that his squad found it easy to remove safety seals and put them back on using a soldering iron. He said his detectives became so deft at tearing and repairing the seals, nobody could tell the difference.

Johnson & Johnson did not change its tamper-evident packaging after Elsroths death, but it did stop selling pull-apart capsules.

In hindsight, which is 20-20, I wish we had never gone back to marketing these capsules, Burke told a New York television station.

The statement offered little solace to Elsroths mother.

Its just three years too late, Felicia Elsroth told UPI in response.

The lawsuits

While Wall Street and Madison Avenue celebrated Tylenols comeback, the families of the seven Chicago-area victims from the 1982 poisonings pushed to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for their loved ones deaths.

In a lawsuit filed in Cook County, the families argued that Johnson & Johnson and McNeil were culpable for the deaths because they knew the capsules were susceptible to tampering. McNeil sold Tylenol to hospitals in tamper-evident packaging in 1982 but did not offer any such safeguards with its over-the-counter products.

The Kellerman and McFarland families were both represented by Corboy & Demetrio, a prominent firm with a national reputation for successfully taking on big corporations. As part of discovery in the case, J&J turned over records showing that it had received nearly 300 consumer complaints involving tampering, mix-ups or contamination before the killings, reports said.

The law firm Corboy & Demetrio sued Johnson & Johnson in 1983 over the Tylenol poisonings. A box of documents was photographed this year at the firm's offices. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

It should have alerted McNeil and Johnson & Johnson that any form of tampering was possible, attorney Michael Demetrio told the Tribune this year. The ability to have safety seals was already there, but guess what? It costs more to do these things, and thats a big factor in how these corporations operate.

Collins told the Tribune that executives could not have imagined such a horrific act before it happened.

We had to ask ourselves, Why didnt we foresee this? Was this foreseeable? And we never really came up with an answer that persuaded us that we should have foreseen a conclusion, Collins said. I mean, this was so outrageous what was done. And look at the technique that was used. We just could not figure out how we could have foreseen this.

On the eve of trial in 1991, Johnson & Johnson settled with the families of all seven victims. As part of the deal, the amount would remain secret and the corporation admitted no wrongdoing.

Seven people died in 1982 from cyanide poisoning after ingesting tainted Tylenol. From clockwise top left are Adam Janus, Mary McFarland, Mary Lynn Reiner, Terri and Stanley Janus, Paula Prince and Mary Kellerman. (Chicago Tribune archive)

Noland told the Tribune that he was disappointed in Johnson & Johnsons decision to settle.

Demetrio declined to discuss the amount, citing the settlements confidentiality clause. At the time the deal was announced, attorneys told reporters that the victims children would have their college tuition paid.

The 2012 book The Tylenol Mafia: Marketing, Murder and Johnson & Johnson states the families received between $200,000 and $990,000 each. Michelle Rosen, one of Reiners daughters, collaborated with author Scott Bartz on the book, which criticized authorities for quickly ruling out the possibility that the tampering occurred in the distribution and repackaging channels.

When investigators looked at the distribution and storage routes, they found no indication that the different batches had passed through the same spots at the same time. That, they concluded, made it highly improbable that the bottles would all end up on the shelves of different Chicago-area stores during the same 30-hour window.

Chicago resident Paula Prince bought a tainted bottle of Tylenol at the Walgreens at Wells Street and North Avenue. (Don Casper / Chicago Tribune)

Rosen has long pushed back against the investigators theory that a madman was responsible for placing the bottles on shelves.

After 40 years, investigators still have been unable to produce a definitive conclusion as to how this crime happened and who did it, she said in a statement to the Tribune. By continuing the dead-end track that the investigation has been on, this case will remain unsolved.

Rosen also has long questioned why Johnson & Johnson was allowed to test the returned capsules, giving the company a quasi-investigative role alongside law enforcement. Records and interviews state the company burned the capsules following testing.

Collins told the Tribune the company destroyed the capsules with law enforcements permission at a facility in North Carolina. The entire process, from testing to burning, was monitored by members of the task force, he said.

They were destroyed because, even in those days, the risk of theft and black market was very real, Collins said. So the last thing in the world we wanted to have happened was a story to come out that, you know, 10,000 bottles were stolen.

Demetrio, a former Cook County prosecutor, challenged the wisdom of letting the corporation play an active role in a police investigation involving its products. However, he said his firm spent nine years looking into the poisonings and shared law enforcements view that the poisonings occurred at the store level.

In a war room equipped with a giant map that denoted where each victim bought a tainted bottle, the attorneys practiced how quickly they could pull apart the capsules, pour out the medicine and put them back together. It took most of them about 30 seconds, Demetrio said.

A still from a drugstore camera shows Paula Prince, center in suit, as she buys a bottle of tainted Tylenol in 1982 at the Walgreens near her home in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune archive)

But the families quickly grew tired of theories, he said. They wanted answers about who was responsible for the death.

Neither Demetrio nor law enforcement had any.

And every time a so-called lead was announced, or a potential suspect was announced, I would get a phone call and they would ask me what I thought, Demetrio said. I would constantly caution them not to get too high or too low. I made it clear to them that there was a law enforcement army out there trying to solve these murders.

The lawsuit, Demetrio said, helped the families understand why Tylenol was susceptible to tampering. But civil cases can only do so much.

They wanted to know who poisoned the pills, and the police could never definitively say, he said. And unfortunately, for the families, they still dont have any concrete answers.

Though Tylenol regained the publics trust, several relatives and friends of the victims told the Tribune they still avoid taking it. A few said they habitually check to see if the seals on bottles are intact; others make sure  when grabbing any item off a shelf  to pick the one farthest back in case those in front have been tainted.

Joseph Janus, whose two younger brothers and new sister-in-law were among the victims, said he doesnt even like to go into pharmacies and see Tylenol displayed on shelves.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 Helena and Jan Tarasewicz, center left, the parents of Theresa "Terri" Janus, grieve at the funeral Mass for Terri, her husband Stanley and her brother-in-law Adam Janus at St. Hyacinth Catholic Church. (Carl Hugare / Chicago Tribune)

He and his daughter, Monica, said the safety packaging on medicines, food and other grocery items that resulted from their family tragedy is a double-edged sword. Tamper-evident packaging has become such a part of the American consumer experience that they cant open a sealed jar of peanut butter or a gallon of milk without thinking about the killings.

Its a near-daily reminder that although the deaths led to a great public benefit, they came at a deep personal cost.

You look at it and youre like, Thats because of them, " Monica Janus said of her slain uncles and aunt. Unfortunately, it happened to our family, but it saved many lives.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, who is running for reelection in a mid-Michigan district in the Nov. 8 election, picked up the endorsement of a notable, if controversial, Republican on Thursday  U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming.

"I'm proud to endorse (her)," Cheney said in a statement first released to the Free Press. "I have come to know Elissa as a good and honorable public servant who works hard for the people she represents, wants what's best for the country, and is in this for the right reasons."

Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, gives her opening statement during the first hearing of the committee to investigate the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol on June 9, 2022. After a year-long investigation, the committee will hold eight public hearings to reveal their findings.

"While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress," she continued.

Cheney, who is best known in Washington these days as former President Donald Trump's most prominent critic, is also coming to Michigan to stump for Slotkin in the Lansing area at an event at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, marking what is believed to be the first time she has worked to elect a Democrat.

Other details about the event were not released Thursday.

The battle for Michigan's newly drawn 7th Congressional district is one of several key contests nationwide that will decide whether Democrats keep their majority or whether Republicans wrest back control of the House.

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Cheney serves with Slotkin on the House Armed Services Committee and is preparing to exit Congress in January after a loss to another Republican, Harriet Hageman, this summer. But she's not ruling out a possible run for president in 2024, in which she could serve as a foil to Trump, should he decide to run. Trump was active in urging Republicans to reject Cheney after she turned against him.

Cheney  who was once the third-ranking Republican in the U.S. House  broke with her party to impeach Trump for instigating his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and went on to serve prominently on the Democrat-led committee investigating that attack. In that role, she has called out other Republicans for refusing to cooperate with the committee and not doing more to hold Trump accountable for his actions.

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More:Elissa Slotkin may have edge on Tom Barrett  but race for US House far from over

More: Can Republicans flip the House? Here are the midterm races to watch in the closing weeks

Slotkin, a former intelligence officer and acting assistant secretary in the Defense Department, is running for reelection in Michigan's 7th District against state Sen. Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte, in what is likely to be a tight race. In her former roles, Slotkin worked not only for President Barack Obama but his predecessor, President George W. Bush, a Republican, and his vice president, Cheney's dad, Dick Cheney.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin speaks at a campaign rally she held on Oct. 16, 2022, in East Lansing.

Slotkin thanked Cheney for her support.

"At a moment when the very heart of our democracy is being challenged, Rep. Cheneys voice has been critical, she said. Im grateful for her support in this race and Im proud of the work weve done together to strengthen our national security and Americas role in the world."

"(Throughout) our history, two things have helped us weather times like these: engaged citizens and principled leaders, from both sides of the aisle," Slotkin continued. "Rep. Cheney has shown tremendous leadership over the last two years, and while we certainly dont agree on every issue, I look forward to welcoming her to Michigans 7th district next week to discuss the points where all Americans can leave politics aside and put our country above all else.

Contact Todd Spangler:tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@tsspangler.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republican Liz Cheney endorses Democrat Elissa Slotkin
In Phyllis Nagy's Call Jane, Joy (Elizabeth Banks) is a 1960s housewife married to a defense attorney (Chris Messina) with a teenage daughter (Grace Edwards) and a baby on the way. A heart condition, though, threatens her life in childbirth. The only treatment, her doctor tells her, is to not be pregnant.

When they, acting on the doctor's advice, appeal to the hospital's board for permission to conduct a therapeutic termination, this critical moment in Joy's life passes curtly. The all-male board members discuss it briefly while not acknowledging Joy, across the table. No regard for her mother? she asks. Their votes sound the answer. No." No." No."

Call Jane," which opens in theaters Friday, is set more than 50 years ago but it could hardly be more up-to-the-minute. Following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade earlier this year, abortion  which Pennsylvania Senate Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz recently described as between a woman, her doctor and local political leaders  is again a hotly debated issue in upcoming elections.

Nagy, the screenwriter of Todd Haynes' radiant '50s-set 2015 drama Carol, again illustrates how the past can illuminate the present. Call Jane," made before the end of Roe v. Wade but when its future was increasingly precarious, dramatizes the Jane Collective, a Chicago network of women activists who in the years before legalized abortion, clandestinely helped other women obtain safe abortions.

Call Jane is just one of the films about abortion rights that by happenstance have debuted this year. Audrey Diwans piercing Happening, about a young woman in 1963 France, remains one of 2022's standouts. Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes' HBO documentary The Janes grippingly recalled the Jane Collective, with colorful reflections from the women who helped run it.

Call Jane, the glossiest of the bunch, lacks the vivid detail of The Janes or the riveting visual intimacy of Diwans movie. But all three films bear an of-the-moment urgency and a deep sense of empathy for the adversities faced by women whose choice has been taken from them. Call Jane distinguishes itself as a stirring portrait of the birth of an unlikely abortion-rights activist.

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Banks, always good but especially strong here, plays a woman who looks more 50s than 60s. But she is slowly awakening to the changing times. In the opening scene, she walks through an elegant hotel lobby with sumptuous music playing  a moment that would fit right in in Carol  only to be struck at the raucous sound of women protesting outside. You can feel a shifting current, she tells her husband.

Their family life is traditional, loving and  aside from a Velvet Underground record  conservative. Centering the story on a straight-and-narrow character like Joy is, itself, a reminder of the wide spectrum of people who might one day reluctantly seek an abortion. Joy's options, initially, are terrible. There's always insanity, the doctor tells her. One woman suggests: Just fall down a staircase.

It's a paper ad at a bus stop that brings Joy to Jane. After a hesitant phone call, she's brought to their offices by blindfold. But Call Jane doesn't play up the covert aspect of the group's activities. Nagy instead stays focused on Joy's awakening to a wider world of female fellowship that's more frank about sex and its repercussions. Virginia (Sigourney Weaver) is the group's leader and a natural hippie foil to Joy. She calls Joy Jackie O." Soon after Joy's own procedure, Virginia lures Joy into volunteering with the collective. At first, Joy isn't entirely convinced. One young woman who comes to Jane is having unprotected sex with a married man, Joy is appalled to learn. But Virginia lays down the law: We help women. We don't ask any questions.

Call Jane loosens up notably inside the collective, a varied group of women that includes a Black Power activist (Wunmi Mosaku) and a nun who fields phone calls (Aida Turturro). There may have been more possibilities here for the film, which spends a lot of time with the group's less valorous doctor (Cory Michael Smith), who performs the procedures. But that, too, becomes part of Joy's storyline, as she gets more and more deeply involved with Jane. For Joy, it's more than a cause. For the first time, she realizing her own power.

There are probably many more stories that could be told about the Jane collective, which facilitated an estimated 12,000 abortions in the years before Roe v. Wade. But few know how to tease out threads of repression in a society like Nagy. The conventional approach of Call Jane is a statement, itself. This could be anyone's story.

"Call Jane, a Roadside Attractions release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for some language and brief drug use. Running time: 121 minutes. Three stars out of four.

___

Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)  Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson was admittedly unprepared for his first collegiate start.

He found out a day or two before the Gators played top-ranked Georgia last year that he would be replacing Emory Jones in the latest edition of The Worlds Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Richardson was excited for the opportunity. But when he stepped inside TIAA Bank Field hours before the opening kickoff, he started feeling some difference emotions.

Im not going to lie, I had a lot of jitters, Richardson recalled this week. I was in my head a lot. I was a little nervous. First career start against the No. 1 defense, so of course I was thinking a lot.

Hes spent the past 12 months reliving it.

Richardson and the Gators were mostly overmatched and definitely overwhelmed in a two-minute span in the second quarter that was the difference in Georgias 34-7 victory. Richardson was knocked around and then knocked out of the game with a concussion.

His mistakes were costly. He fumbled to set up one touchdown late in the second quarter and threw an interception two snaps later that led to another score. He followed those with a pick-6 on the ensuing drive that put Florida in a 24-0 hole against the eventual national champs.

Richardson has waited a year for another shot at the Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 Southeastern Conference).

I feel like Ive made huge leaps of improvement, Richardson said. Theres still a ways to go. I was actually talking about it the other day, time does fly.  It taught me a lot about football itself and how to manage the game and how to take control of the game.

Georgia has taken control of the series, having won four of the last five and three of those in lopsided fashion. The Bulldogs are 22 1/2-point favorites in this one, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Its the third time in at least the last three decades that Florida (4-3, 1-3) has been a 20-point-plus underdog in a game.

The Gators were blown out both times previously, against Alabama in the 2016 SEC title game and at home against Florida State in 2013.

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We always have a fighters punch, Florida defensive tackle Tyreak Sapp said. Theres always a fighters punch in these games.

Maybe so, but Georgia usually delivers the knockout blows these days. Nonetheless, Richardson might be the difference-maker Florida needs to offset a defense thats been mostly a punching bag since coming up with a goal-line stand against Utah in the season opener.

Richardson put on a show against the Utes. He was arguably better in losses to Tennessee and LSU. He threw for 452 yards and two scores against the Volunteers and dazzled the home crowd with a 51-yard TD pass and an 81-yard TD run against the Tigers.

From the start of the season, Game 1, you watch every game in sequence and you say, Man, this guy is growing and getting better, Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. The toughest thing dealing with Anthony Richardson is how you affect him because you got to be careful. Some of the runs hes had have been better than backs have across the country.

NO CARRYOVER

Smart said there are no lessons to be learned from facing Richardson last season because Florida's offense is so different under first-year coach Billy Napier. He credited Napier's use of play-action passes and run-pass options that cater to Richardson's skills.

Georgia defensive tackle Zion Logue said Richardson is a big, physical quarterback regardless of the scheme.

He is a physical runner, Logue said. At 6-3, 235, he loves to stiff-arm. He loves to make guys look silly on film. We have to rally to him and put a hat on.

DEFENSIVE RELOAD

Georgia ranks second in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 9.1 points a game despite having eight players from the unit selected in the 2022 NFL draft. Of the eight defensive picks, five were taken in the first round.

RUNNING BACK COMMITTEE

Georgia has four running backs with at least 199 yards rushing. The balanced attack is led by Daijun Edwards (334 yards, 5 TDs), with help from Kendall Milton (284 yards, 4 TDs), Kenny McIntosh (242, 4 TDs) and freshman Branson Robinson (199 yards, 1 TD).

COACHING TREE

Napier and Smart go way back, both of them growing up as sons of high school football coaches in Georgia. Napier credits Smart with helping him land an analyst job at Alabama in 2011.

Wouldn't be standing here today without him, Napier said.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the APs college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25
By Nailia Bagirova and Olesya Astakhova

BAKU (Reuters) -Igor Sechin, chief executive of Russian oil giant Rosneft and one of Vladimir Putin's closest allies, on Thursday heaped praise on China's leaders and said Taiwan would return to its "native harbour" on time.

Sechin said that decisions taken by the 20th Communist Party Congress, which cemented Xi Jinping position as the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, would provide for a new level of development for the country.

The deepening "no limits" partnership between the rising superpower of China and the natural resources titan of Russia is one of the most intriguing geopolitical developments of recent years - and one the West is watching with anxiety.

"The position of (China's) leadership is highly respected, which calmly and openly, without false premises, sets out its positions, even on the most difficult issues, such as the problem of Taiwan, which in this regard can be assessed as somewhat exaggerated," Sechin told an international economic forum in Baku, previously held in Italy's Verona.

He said U.S. attempts to create its own complex microchip industry showed that "Taiwan's return to its native harbour" was "on schedule".

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry condemned the comments, saying only the island's people could decide their future.

"Neither our government, people nor the international community can accept absurd remarks that are in China's cortege or demean Taiwan's sovereign status," it said in a statement.

China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has ramped up military and political pressure against the island over the past two years. Taipei strongly rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Russia has repeatedly warned the United States against meddling in China's affairs while President Vladimir Putin has explicitly backed Xi over the fate of the island where the defeated Republic of China government fled in 1949 after losing the Chinese civil war to Mao's communists.

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BP'S DIVIDEND

Sechin said Rosneft had transferred $700 million in second-half 2021 dividends into special accounts for BP, which remained Rosneft's "shadow" shareholder despite a decision to leave the company following the start of what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine.

BP said its position on Russia has remained unchanged.

"In February we announced our decision to exit Rosneft and our other Russian businesses - we continue to pursue that," it said in emailed comments.

Sechin also said that Saudi Arabia's position on the global oil market was "reasonable" and based on analysis of oil supply and demand.

The United States, he said, had tried to persuade Saudi Arabia to postpone oil output cuts as part of OPEC+.

"Today, the energy policy of the (Joe) Biden administration is solving exclusively pre-election tasks with a planning horizon of two weeks, given that the elections to the U.S. Congress are on November 8," Sechin said.

"This includes attempts to persuade Saudi Arabia to at least postpone the announcement of this decision until the elections."

The OPEC+ group of global leading oil producers, which includes Saudi Arabia and Russia, agreed this month to cut its combined output by 2 million barrels per day despite opposition from the United States, which wants lower fuel prices.

Saudi Arabia rejected criticism of an OPEC+ decision to cut its oil production target despite U.S. objections and said that Washington's request to delay the cut by a month would have had negative economic consequences.

(Reporting by Nailia Bagirova and Olesya Astakhova; Additional reporting by Ron Bousso and Ben Blanchard in London; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Nick Macfie and Mike Harrison)
An amusing candid photo of King Charles (then Prince of Wales) and Camilla, the Queen Consort (then Duchess of Cornwall) during their royal tour of Australia in 2015. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke has photographed the royal family for over 30 years.

Rooke captured a funny moment between King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort in 2015.

A candid photo he took of Princess Diana and her butler took on deeper significance after her death.

Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke, who has photographed the royal family for over 30 years, knows that the best photos of royal family members are often unplanned.

"My best and most favored images of the family are the ones that capture them acting naturally and showing their authentic selves," Rooke told Insider via email. "I think this is what people want to see, and I am extremely fortunate to be able to document these moments."

In one of Rooke's favorite royal photos, he caught a playful moment between Prince Harry and a baby during a walkabout in Christchurch, New Zealand, in May 2015.

Prince Harry on a walkabout in Christchurch, New Zealand, in May 2015. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

"It's hard to narrow down my favorite moments as I have so many fond memories," Rooke said. "For example, we were doing a walkabout in New Zealand when a baby was shouting, and I was able to capture the moment on camera where Prince Harry decided to shout back at the baby. It was a great shot, funny, but also extremely endearing. Overall, it was just a very relatable moment."

Another "incredibly candid moment" Rooke loves is a photo he took of King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, while they toured a winery in Australia's Barossa Valley in November 2015.

An amusing candid photo of King Charles (then Prince of Wales) and Camilla, the Queen Consort (then Duchess of Cornwall) during their royal tour of Australia in 2015. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

"A moment which saw her playfully threatening him with a knife ended up as a fantastic photograph resembling the famous shot from 'The Shining,'" he said.

Rooke has also found that a candid photo he took of Princess Diana and her butler, Paul Burrell, became more meaningful after her death.

Princess Diana with her butler Paul Burrell at Sarajevo Airport in 1997, a few weeks before she died. Tim Rooke/Shutterstock

"Photographs sometimes have a strange afterlife," he said. "I once took a one of Princess Diana and her butler, Paul Burrell, at Sarajevo Airport a few weeks before she died. It was always best to get shots of Princess Diana alone (if you could). However, this turned out to be one of the only pictures of the two of them together. So, despite some initial annoyance that her butler was in the picture, this shot turned out to be quite unique! I've also heard it's Paul's favorite and most cherished photo of the two of them."

Read the original article on Insider
Since March 4, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, Zaporizhzhya NPP, has been seized by Russian occupants

According to Korikov, unauthorized construction work is being carried out near the nuclear waste storage area.

Read also: IAEA chief agrees to urgently send experts to Ukraine amid Russian allegations, says FM Kuleba

We turned to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), their mission is currently working at the ZNPP, said Korikov.

Read also: Russia moves to buy more Iranian suicide drones, kidnaps Deputy Director of ZNPP

We are having a discussion with colleagues from the IAEA (to get more information about the construction).

When commenting on Russian claims about Kyiv developing a dirty bomb, Korikov said that Ukraine informs the IAEA about its nuclear material and intentions regarding it, as well as about the technology used in radiation-hazardous installations. He stressed that Ukraine is open to IAEA visits, including unannounced ones.

Read also: Kremlins lies about Ukraines plans to use dirty bomb aim to force acceptance of occupation

The IAEA has already made a statement and refuted these (Russian) allegations, Korikov added.

...Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi published a statement that two Ukrainian facilities (mentioned by Russia) are subject to annual IAEA inspections and are under IAEA safeguards. The last inspection was a month ago; no activity was found that was not previously reported, thus disproving the claim.

He also reminded that Ukraine invited IAEA inspectors to further examine all its nuclear facilities. The monitoring mission is expected to arrive in the near future.

Read also: External power to Zaporizhzhya NPP restored, but situation precarious, says IAEA director

The Zaporizhzhia NPP is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, and has been occupied by Russian forces since March 4. Several ZNPP facilities have been damaged by Russian shelling, and the station's employees are captives of the occupying troops.

Russian troops have set up firing positions at the territory of the ZNPP and are shelling Ukrainian cities from there. Energoatom reported that the Russian military placed at least 14 units of heavy military vehicles, loaded with ammunition, weapons and explosives in one of the turbine halls at ZNPP.

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Read also: President Zelenskyy discusses the need to demilitarize ZNPP

IAEA has since established a permanent monitoring presence at the facility.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are among those meeting in Australia this week to decide the future of Antarctica's pristine waters.

Conservationists say new marine protected areas and rules to prevent overfishing are desperately needed, but that Russia could use its veto-like powers to once again block progress.

Achieving the required consensus for action among this diverse group of 27, which also includes China, the United States and the European Union, has always been an immense challenge.

And when two of the members are at war  and relations between China and many Western nations have deteriorated  consensus looms as an even bigger obstacle. Just this month, Russian bombing in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, partially destroyed Ukraine's Antarctic research center.

Yet despite the enormous political hurdles, some remain hopeful that scientific arguments will win through. The U.S. is paying more attention to the region under President Joe Biden, and this year has sent a relatively high-level delegation led by Monica Medina, an assistant secretary in the State Department.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Medina said Antarctica was a really fragile, crumbling part of the planet that needs all our help to withstand the challenges we face with climate change.

The meeting in Hobart in the Australian island state of Tasmania is the first in-person gathering of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resource in three years, after the COVID-19 pandemic kept meetings online.

It comes as New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern makes a rare visit by a world leader to Antarctica, to see firsthand the scientific research taking place and to mark the 65th anniversary of New Zealand's Scott Base.

The two-week meeting in Hobart began Monday with a mass walkout when the Russian delegates started speaking. Kostiantyn Demianenko, who is leading the Ukrainian delegation, said they were grateful for the international support and that Russia had no right to be at the table.

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A state that kills the civilian population, destroys the air and ground civilian infrastructure of another country and defiantly violates the basic provisions of international law should definitely be limited in its right to participate in the activities of international organizations such as CCAMLR, he wrote in an email.

Still, he acknowledged, Russia remained a member of the group.

He said that back home, Ukraine was trying to rebuild its National Antarctic Research Center in Kyiv, although ongoing drone attacks made that difficult.

"Cracks in the walls, broken windows, destroyed equipment led to the impossibility to use these facilities for work," he wrote.

Russia's delegation did not respond to a request for comment.

Medina said the U.S. backed the walkout because it condemns the war in Ukraine, but it remains hopeful for progress in Hobart.

Right now, Russia is blocking consensus on adoption of three MPA (marine protected area) proposals, but China is as well, Medina said. So we are here trying to work through the issues with both countries. Not one-on-one necessarily, although we will be trying with the People's Republic of China to work through the issues informally.

She said Russia had been using what amounts to its veto power to block progress not only in Hobart but at a number of international forums.

It can block consensus. That is a huge impediment to our ability to move forward on some things here, but other things do go ahead in a sort of ordinary course of business," Medina said.

Some hope the group could make progress on other agenda items, including new rules on krill fishing and reaching agreement on fishing for valuable Antarctic toothfish, marketed as Chilean sea bass.

Andrea Kavanagh, who directs the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy Projects Antarctic and Southern Ocean protection work, said the problem with krill fishing around Antarctica has been that it's almost all concentrated in one small area.

She said the depletion of the small, shrimp-like creatures affects predators including seabirds, penguins, seals and whales. She said the fishery doesn't necessarily need to be reduced, just spread out.

Kavanagh said Norway is the biggest fisher of krill, which is used for human health supplements and feed for aquariums and salmon farms.

It's not a food security issue, Kavanagh said. Krill is used for luxury products.

Russia last year used its veto-like powers to reject the toothfish catch limits proposed by the commission's scientists. That led to Britain taking its own action by issuing licenses without CCAMLR approval, putting it offside with many other members.

Medina said Britain had been trying to sell some of the toothfish in America but the U.S. had refused to buy it. But she said it was not up to the U.S. to tell Britain to stop its fishing.

She said Britain's fishing was within the bounds of what had been permitted in the past, and should not in any way be controversial other than the fact that Russia has blocked it.

One bright spot of the meeting so far has been that discussions with China appeared to have been more positive than in previous years, said Kavanagh. It was also helpful to have high-level support from the U.S. and resume face-to-face discussions, she said.

She pointed out the group had managed before to get Russia on board, back in 2016 when it created a marine protected area twice the size of Texas in the Ross Sea.

Countries should not interpret consensus as a veto power, Kavanagh added, but rather should offer counterproposals so everyone works toward a compromise.

But in recent years, she said, nobody's offering counterproposals that are legitimate. It's all just No.'"
Occupants installed a screen with Russian propaganda on the house

The message stated the enemy is actively preparing Kherson for urban warfare, and is moving its sham institutions to the east bank of Dnipro. At the same time, the collaborationists relocated their families to Russia-occupied Crimea  under the pretext of evacuation due to shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Read also: Budanov suggests Ukraine will regain control over Kherson in 2022

Thus, the west bank of the city was left without collaborators and gauleiters; only occupation troops and local residents remain on the west bank," the statement reads.

The National Resistance Center called on Kherson residents to leave the city and go to Ukraine-controlled territory  to avoid effectively becoming a human shield for the Russian army.

Read also: What awaits Kherson and how Putin is changing tactics

Earlier, head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov said that by the end of 2022, the Armed Forces of Ukraine would liberate Kherson City.

Read also: Kremlin-backed administration of Kherson urged civilians to evacuate immediately

At the same time, the chief spy added that so far, Russian invasion forces are not preparing to leave the city, preparing to fight for Kherson, instead.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Russian Federation is trying to replenish its huge losses in Ukraine by recruiting prisoners

Allegedly, representatives of private military campaigns are conscripting prisoners in correctional facilities in the city of Ulyanovsk.

Read also: Wagner mercenaries forcibly recruiting Russian prisoners for war, reports Russia media SOTA

Most of the convicts who agree to fight in Ukraine are serving prison sentences for murder, rape, and drug trafficking.

The Russian State Duma adopted on Oct. 26 amendments to the legislation allowing the mobilization of convicted citizens with outstanding convictions for serious crimes.

Read also: Russias Wagner mercenary company recruiting prisoners with HIV and hepatitis C, Ukrainian intelligence says

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced "partial mobilization" in the country on Sept. 21.

According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu, 300,000 reservists are expected to be sent to the front.

Read also: First reports of deaths of newly mobilized Russian soldiers in Ukraine  Guardian

However, the Russian media have speculated that the secret seventh paragraph of the Kremlins mobilization order details the mobilization of up to a million men.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
HARRISBURG, Pa.  Pennsylvania Democrat John Fettermans 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 Bidens presidency.

Appearing on stage five months after his stroke, Fetterman, Pennsylvanias 53-year-old lieutenant governor, struggled to complete sentences, and he jumbled words throughout the hourlong televised event.

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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 Fettermans appearance at Tuesday nights 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.

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Republican Mehmet Oz, right, is seen live on a monitor in the media tent, next to a poster of Democrat John Fetterman, left, as the two U.S. Senate candidates hold their first and only debate, at the WHTM-TV/ABC 27 Studio in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. (Tom Gralish/AP)

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.

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 Im going to fight for everyone in Pennsylvania who ever got knocked down and who ever had to get back up.

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.

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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.

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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 isnt 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.

Fettermans campaign and other Democrats sought to focus Wednesday on Ozs 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.

Fettermans new ad focuses on Ozs reference to local political leaders, repeating the phrase three times in a 30-second spot.

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Oz would let politicians like Doug Mastriano ban abortions without exceptions, the narrator says, referring to the states 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 Fettermans 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.

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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.

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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 hed still vote for Fetterman.

Fettermans 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, its unclear how many Pennsylvania voters were paying close attention.

Bonnie Chang, a telecommunications retiree from Doylestown who describes herself as a liberal Fetterman supporter, didnt tune in.

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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; Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pennsylvania; and Seung Min Kim in Washington, D.C., contributed.
TBILISI, Georgia  Towering over Georgias capital city is a 65-foot aluminum statue that stands as a symbol for the inhabitants below. In one hand, the Mother of Georgia holds a cup of wine to greet the countrys guests, illustrating the ever-present hospitality its citizens are known for.

In the other, a sword, demonstrating Georgias readiness to defend itself against those who come as enemies. At no time has this figure been more indicative of the countrys relations with its northern neighbor than during the current immigration situation Georgia faces.

Russians are now seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Georgia after many Western countries closed their borders to those fleeing Russia. In just one week last month, Georgias Interior Ministry registered 68,887 Russians having entered the country. Aerial images taken at the Georgia-Russia border in September appeared chaotic, with military-age men and their families lining up for days, some without food or water. Flight prices skyrocketed, and rent for apartments in Tbilisi nearly doubled, forcing some students to drop out of school, as they were unable to afford the new high cost of living.

A satellite image of a traffic jam along a highway near the Russia-Georgia border. (2022 Maxar Technologies/Digital Gliobe/Getty Images)

This mass migration followed Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement of partial mobilization on Sept. 21. I reiterate, we are talking about partial mobilization, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience, Putin said in a televised address. Up to 300,000 reserves were called upon by the Kremlin leader to help consolidate Russias four occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

Reports still vary on the exact number of people who left Russia in the weeks after Putins declaration. One Kremlin source told Forbes earlier this month that 700,000 had fled since the order was made. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, quickly refuted the claim. I dont think those numbers should be taken seriously, he told reporters. I dont have exact figures, but of course, they are far from whats being claimed there.

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Selena Valyavkina, a Russian psychologist now living in Tbilisi, was one of the earlier group of people who arrived in February. When the war happened it was just impossible to stay any longer, she told Yahoo News. I think the main reason behind why I left is that Ive noticed that many people really [didnt] care about what was happening. After news of the war broke, Valyavkina packed all her belongings in St. Petersburg and left for Georgia.

Selena Valyavkina left St. Petersburg for Georgia after the war broke out. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

Inside Russia, I got some messages that I am like a rat running from a sinking ship and that I betrayed Mother Russia, Valyavkina said. My mother actually thinks that I betrayed my country and her.

Over the past number of years, Valyavkina became the target of house searches for her anti-Putin stance and her attendance at antigovernment demonstrations. Another time, she said, she arrived to vote in a local election and saw that her vote had already been cast. She contacted the police, but nothing was resolved. You live with the understanding that anytime, they can show up at your door, do whatever, and there will be no one to complain [to], she said.

News of Russians seeking refuge in Georgia sparked protests at the border as well as in cities around the country. In Tbilisi, activist Nika Parulava told Yahoo News that the mass arrival of citizens of Russia to Georgia was a national security issue.

Its a threat to every citizen of Georgia, he said.

Ulianin Mykhailo, a refugee from Kharkiv, Ukraine, said he feels unsafe now that Russian migrants have been flooding into the city after the drafts announcement, adding that Georgians should be worried, as they do not know who is being allowed to enter the country. All this time during these eight months they lived in Russia, and every single one was fine, Mykhailo said. They silently support this war, they support their government.

Ulianin Mykhailo speaks with Yahoo News reporter Niamh Cavanagh. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

And this sentiment can be felt across Tbilisi. Ukrainian flags hang from balconies and windows, and antiwar graffiti can be spotted from street to street. Earlier this month, Parulava and other activists replaced street signs in the capital with signs written in Russian telling migrants to return home. It comes as a warning to new city dwellers that this former Soviet satellite is no longer under Russian rule.

But despite demands that the Georgian government do more to protect its citizens, the government has remained relatively uninvolved. Since the war was launched in February, Georgias politicians have been treading carefully with their aggressor neighbor.

The Kremlins special operation in Ukraine is a painful reminder of Georgias own recent history. It was only 14 years ago that the country bore the full brunt of Russias oppression.

In 2008, Russia launched a defensive operation against Georgia over two breakaway territories in the north. After just 12 days, Russia annexed one-fifth of Georgian territory, which included the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Hundreds of people were killed, and today more than 300,000 Georgians remain displaced after being forced from their homes during that conflict.

A Georgian soldier mourns the loss of fellow troops killed in a Russian airstrike in August 2008. (Cliff Volpe/Getty Images)

Zhana Odiashvili was just 14 when Russia began to bomb her town of Gori, about 8 miles from the border of South Ossetia. [I have] very tragic and painful memories from 2008, she told Yahoo News. I was displaced from the town because it was under aerial attack. We had to flee to Tbilisi because it was a safer place at the time.

Now 29, Odiashvili operates a walking tour in Gori, during which she raises awareness about the Russian aggression the town experienced. In parts of the town, made famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, walls are sprayed with bullet holes from the conflict. Being so close to the disputed region of South Ossetia, Odiashvili and Gori residents are constantly reminded of what Russia is capable of. Even worse, there have been reports of Russia physically moving its border posts farther into Georgia, which the countrys security agency has called illegal.

But now Russians are flooding into Georgia  the country they terrorized a little more than a decade ago  to seek sanctuary. Fearing conscription, men have abandoned their lives in search of a new life.

Alexey, 19 years old, was one of these men. On Sept. 20, Alexey read about rumors online that Putin was planning to announce a mobilization. A history student, he was forced to desert his education in order to escape the war. With the help of some of his teachers, Alexey managed to fly to Tbilisi, where he plans on staying permanently.

Alexey, who fled Russia, said he plans to stay in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

I had originally planned to leave Russia in March, but there was still the issue of finances, he told Yahoo News. I was afraid of leaving my family and  my job. Additionally, there were rumors of people being arrested at the border. These turned out to be more than just rumors. Last week, it was reported that over 1 million Russians had been banned by Russia's Federal Security Service from leaving the country.

Alexey, whose mother is Ukrainian and had family who lived there until March, said he had been scared for his life when mobilization was announced. The mobilization put an end to any hope that there could be anything good in Russia.

So can the Russians who are leaving Georgia be refugees? According to Odiashvili, no. Right now its the Ukrainian side which is right, so these Russians are not refugees to me. They should be sent back to Russia in the hope they will take down Putin, she said. If not, they can go anywhere else, but not to Georgia.
OLENA ROSHCHINA  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 19:52

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine declares that the Russian military does not have enough warm clothes and therefore steals them from civilians; many Russian soldiers die due to lack of training, and the state of "repaired" military equipment actually increases desertion in the Russian army.

Source: evening summary by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 27 October

Quote: "The issue of material and technical support of units of the Russian occupying forces that are directly involved in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine remains problematic.

Thus, according to the available information, the lack of warm clothes led to an increase in the number of cases of theft and looting by servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson Oblast."

Details: The Ukrainian General Staff also has information that the mobilised Russians, who arrived in the area to carry out combat missions, did not undergo appropriate training and do not have practical skills in the use of basic types of weapons.

"This leads to significant enemy losses in manpower," states the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

There is also information about the poor condition of the enemy's de-mothballed military equipment.

Quote: The poor condition of the military equipment that was removed from storage and delivered to replenish current losses was the result of frequent cases of desertion and surrender of the occupiers to the defence forces of Ukraine.

According to preliminary information, much of the weaponry and military equipment that the occupiers sent to the Donetsk and Novopavlivka fronts is of limited capacity or completely unfit for combat use. That specifically concerns T-62 tanks that were de-mothballed."

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A new piece of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation was passed by the lower house of Russia's legislature on Thursday, according to a statement from the State Duma. The bill would ban so-called "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" for both adults and minors, the State Duma said.

"The initiatives propose punishment for the promotion and justification of non-traditional sexual relations in the media, the Internet, literature and cinema," the statement from the State Duma read, describing the imposition of intimidating fines against individuals, organizations, and businesses that the State deems as violating the new legislation.

Non-Russian citizens would face expulsion from the country should they be found in violation of the law.

A participant holds a banner with the inscription 'Stop propaganda of violence' during a Gay Pride demonstration in Russia in 2017. / Credit: Igor Russak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The bill was authored by Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and unanimously adopted by leaders of all factions, as well as more than 300 deputies. "We have traditions, a conscience, an understanding that we need to think about children, families, the country, and preserve what our parents have passed on to us," said Volodin, citing data that shows increased numbers of people who identify as LGBTQ+ in Europe and the U.S.

"We must do everything to protect our children and those who want to live a normal life. Everything else is sin, sodomy, darkness, and our country is fighting this," he added.

The bill, which has broad support, according to the BBC, still needs to pass the Federation Council  the upper chamber of Russia's legislature  before being signed into law by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The new bill builds upon 2013 Russian legislation that banned the so-called "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" to children specifically. The new bill now includes adults as well. Shortly before the State Duma approved the 2013 legislation in a 436-0 vote, people protesting the bill's passing were attacked by those with anti-LGBTQ+ viewpoints before being detained by police.

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Though Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, amendments to the Russian Constitution in 2020 banned LGBTQ+ unions in the country  an action that was declared a human rights violation by the European Court of Human Rights. Putin has even previously said that Russia must "cleanse" itself of homosexuality.

Amnesty International was quick to criticize the bill, saying that the organization was concerned the legislation could lead to the shutdown of NGOs, LGBTQ+ sites, and social media. Marie Struthers, the organization's director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said in a statement, "In Russia's new era of repression, state-sanctioned homophobia is about to be ramped up to a whole new level."

"The new draft 'gay propaganda' law not only brazenly deprives LGBTI people of their right to freedom of expression and endorses their discrimination, but will likely also lead to an increase in violent attacks and other hate crimes against them," Struthers added.

Struthers predicted that the bill will not only further isolate LGBTQ+ Russians from community and culture, but contribute to a deeply harmful existing precedent in the country.

"From banning films and books with openly LGBTI characters to ostracizing LGBTI people, the passing of this new law will be yet another disaster for human rights."

Russia has also been criticized in recent years for its treatment of LGBTQ+ people in Chechnya, whose mayor denounced homosexuality in 2017, stating "We don't have those kinds of people here." Chechen members of the LGBTQ+ community have accused police in the Russian republic of kidnapping and torture.

British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell stages an anti-Putin protest against the mistreatment of LGBT people in Russia in front of a monument to Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov on Manezhnaya Square in Moscow on June 14, 2018. / Credit: MAXIM ZMEYEV/AFP via Getty Images

Earlier this month, a Russian court fined social media giant TikTok for failing to delete LGBTQ+ material that it alleged violated its existing laws for minors, issuing a $50,000 penalty to the platform, according to The Associated Press.

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"CBS Evening News" headlines for Thursday, October 27, 2022

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Russian television and radio host Vladimir Solovyov pose for a photo during an awards ceremony in Moscow's Kremlin on Dec. 25, 2013. RIA Novosti Kremlin/AP

Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov suggested using nuclear weapons on Starlink satellites.

A guest on Solovyov's show quickly warned him that such an act could trigger global war.

Starlink provides Ukraine with internet, allowing its troops to stay online and coordinate attacks.

A Russian state TV commentator wondered aloud on Monday if the Kremlin should launch a nuclear strike on Elon Musk's network of Starlink satellites over Ukraine.

TV host Vladimir Solovyov made the suggestion on his Russia-1 show, "Evening with Vladimir Solovyov," according to a clip tweeted by Ukrainian official Anton Gerashchenko.

"To space, and goodbye Elon Musk's group," said Solovyov. Solovyov is known for fiercely promoting pro-Kremlin propaganda.

Show guest Andrey Anatolievich Sidorov, a politics professor at Moscow State University, quickly objected. He warned Solovyov that his suggestion to bomb a foreign target  even one in space  would trigger an all-out global war. The two had a terse exchange, during which Solovyov challenged Sidorov and asked if what he wanted in Ukraine was peace.

Sidorov retorted that a "large nuclear war" might ensue that would kill everyone.

"Then they will just die, and we'll go to heaven," Sidorov told Solovyov.

Elon Musk's Starlink has sent thousands of internet kits to Ukraine over the course of the war. Starlink uses SpaceX's broadband service and supplies Ukraine with internet by connecting terminals on the ground to satellites.

The internet service has bolstered Ukraine's war effort by giving its troops a reliable means of communication. Reports suggest that Ukrainian troops have used Starlink to coordinate counterattacks or call in artillery strikes, and used the kits to contact their loved ones while on the frontlines.

On October 14, Musk said SpaceX was losing an estimated $20 million per month to keep Starlink running in Ukraine, calling the cost "unreasonable."

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"To hell with it," he tweeted two days later, saying Starlink would continue its services in Ukraine despite the cost.

The Pentagon and the EU have separately discussed paying for Starlink in Ukraine, Politico reported in October.

Musk said on October 17 that SpaceX withdrew its request for the Pentagon to fund Starlink. He said on Monday that Starlink services won't be switched off even if the US government doesn't give them funds for it.

Musk and representatives at SpaceX did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP)  Russian TV personality Ksenia Sobchak  the glamorous daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putins one-time boss  has arrived in Lithuania on an Israeli passport after fleeing Russian investigators who raided her home this week, officials said Thursday.

Citizens of (Israel) do not need a visa and are allowed to stay in the country for 90 days, Darius Jauniskis, head of Lithuanias State Security Department, told a local radio station. Jauniskis said Lithuania has no evidence of any threat that Sobchak could pose to national security.

If we had anything, certain appropriate measures would be taken, he told the Ziniu Radijas station

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters that Ms. Sobchak currently is not included in any sanctions list of the EU, U.K. or the U.S. This does not mean that it cannot occur.

Landbergis said Sobschak might already have left Lithuania as she had entered Europes passport-free travel zone -- a 26-country area made up of most of the EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Israeli citizens with a valid passport can travel freely within Europes visa-free zone, known as the Schengen area.

Ms. Sobchak might have left Lithuanias territory already because she is not restricted in her movement to Poland, to other European countries, or to the north, he said, according to the Baltic News Service, the regions main news agency.

A video from a surveillance camera shows Sobchak entering Lithuania on foot and talking to border officials.

Lithuania and other Baltic states along with Poland stopped admitting Russian citizens who hold a valid Schengen visa back in September, a move to support Ukraine. Hundreds were turned away, but many still entered after presenting passports of other countries at the border.

Sobchak, 40, has often been critical of Putin, but many Russian opposition figures have accused her of serving the Kremlins agenda. In 2018, she became a liberal challenger in Russias presidential election, finishing a distant fourth with about 1.7% of the vote in what her critics described as a Kremlin effort to add a democratic veneer to Putins sweeping re-election.

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Russian media claimed she had bought tickets to Dubai and Turkey to mislead the authorities but eventually left for Belarus, from where she traveled to Lithuania. The reports claimed that investigators suspected Sobchak of being involved in an extortion scheme along with her media director and alleged that a warrant was issued for her arrest.

The Russian news agency Tass also cited information from the probe indicating that Sergei Chemezov, a longtime Putin associate who heads the state Rostec corporation, a conglomerate controlling Russian aviation industries and other high-tech assets, was the victim of alleged extortion.

The claims couldnt be independently confirmed.

Sobchak, the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, a liberal mayor of St. Petersburg for whom Putin served as a deputy in the 1990s, has extensive contacts among Russias rich and powerful, and the search of her home topped domestic news.

She has 9.4 million followers on Instagram, and her glamour, sharp wit and defiant ways have made her both loved and loathed. Sobchak first gained fame as a fashionable socialite and reality TV star and was once dubbed the Russian Paris Hilton, but later sought to shed her spoiled and arrogant image. She got involved in politics when joining the massive protests in Moscow against Putin in 2011-12, and later reinvented herself as a serious TV journalist and opposition activist.

Sobchak has denied serving the Kremlins agenda by running as a challenger to Putin in 2018. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny denounced her for discrediting the opposition by joining the race, saying that she was a parody of a liberal candidate and her involvement in the campaign helped the Kremlin cast the opposition in a negative light.

___

Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
OLENA ROSHCHINA  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 19:25

Russian troops continue offensive operations on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka fronts, and continue to strengthen their positions on the left bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast.

Source: Evening summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 18:00 on 27 October

Quote from the General Staff: "The enemy is attempting to maintain control over previously occupied territories and is focusing its efforts on holding back Ukrainian troops on several fronts, while also continuing to make attempts to advance on the Avdiivka and Bakhmut fronts.

The enemy is firing on the positions of our troops along the line of contact, carrying out fortification equipment of positions on several fronts, in particular on the left bank of the Dnipro River, and actively conducting aerial reconnaissance."

Details: Violating international humanitarian law and the laws and customs of war, the Russian Federation continues to strike at critical infrastructure and civilian homes. During the day, the Russian army carried out three air strikes and three attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems.

The situation on the Volyn and Polissia fronts remains unchanged. The Republic of Belarus is continuing to aid and support Russias military aggression against Ukraine by allowing Russian forces to use its territory, airspace and infrastructure. There is still a threat of missile and air strikes, including the use of attack UAVs. There is an ongoing threat of missile and air strikes from the territory of Belarus, including with the use of attack UAVs.

On other fronts, the Russians continued to fire on military and civilian targets:

On the Slobozhanshchyna front: Russian forces deployed various types of artillery on the territory of the Russian Federation to fire on areas in and around Chuhunivka, Strilecha, Dvorichna, Kamianka, Krasne and Starytsia;

On the Kupiansk front: Russian forces deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Berestove, Kyslivka and Fyholivka;

On the Lyman front: the Russians deployed tank guns and artillery of various calibres to fire on areas in the vicinity of Makiivka, Terny, Torske, Yampolivka, Spirne, Nevske and Zarichne;

On the Bakhmut front: Russian forces deployed tank guns, mortars and tubed and rocket artillery to fire on areas in and around Andriivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Kramatorsk, Soledar and Yakovlivka;

On the Avdiivka front: Russian forces fired from mortars and tubed and rocket artillery on areas in the vicinity of Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Marinka, Novomykhailivka and Pervomaiske;

On the Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts: Russian forces fired artillery on areas in and around Bilohiria, Vremivka, Zaliznychne, Novopil, Novosilka, Olhivske and Orikhiv;

On the Pivdennyi Buh front: 15 cities, towns and villages situated along the line of contact came under Russian fire.

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Two ammunition storage points and a pontoon crossing with Russian military equipment have been destroyed in Kherson Oblast in recent days.

Over the past day, the Ukrainian Air Force carried out more than 14 strikes on clusters of manpower, weapons and military equipment used by the Russian occupiers.

During the day, Ukrainian air defence forces struck down a Russian helicopter and attack jet  according to preliminary information: a Ka-52 and a Su-25 attack jet.

Ukrainian Rocket Forces and Artillery units hit two clusters of manpower, weapons and military equipment used by the Russian occupiers.

This is the 246th day of Ukraines opposition to Russias full-scale invasion.

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TETIANA LOZOVENKO  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 14:10

The Russian-appointed "administration" of Zaporizhzhia Oblast has announced the introduction of wartime censorship in the occupied territory based on a legally null and void "martial law" decree issued by Vladimir Putin.

Source: Vladimir Rogov, senior member of the occupation "administration" of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, on Telegram

Details: Rogov announced that "preventive spot checks of citizens mobile phones" will be conducted starting from 27 October. The occupiers are looking for evidence that residents of Zaporizhzhia Oblast subscribe to Ukrainian news sources.

"If a person follows propagandist sources, for the first offence they will receive a warning. If they are still subscribed to these sources upon further checks, they will be fined. In cases of serious violations of the law on foreign agents activity, the perpetrators will be subject to criminal prosecution," Rogov added. He did not specify which media outlets have been banned.



Background:

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to introduce martial law in the annexed parts of the Ukrainian oblasts of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin imposed martial law in the newly occupied territories of Ukraine in order to suppress the resistance of the local population.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia introducing so-called martial law in the occupied territories of Ukraine is a manifestation of "Chekists panic" - the closer Russias defeat is, the greater the panic will be [Chekist was the name given to members of the Soviet secret police in the early days of the USSR - ed.].

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Vladimir Putin. Illustrated | Getty Images

Russia, running low on munitions, has started buying "kamikaze" drones and, according to the U.S. and Britain, various forms of missiles from Iran. Tehran is even sending military advisers to help Russia's military utilize the drones against Ukraine's cities and power and water infrastructure, the U.S. claims. Iran officially denies that it is arming Russia, but Russian, Iranian, Ukrainian, and Western officials say the sales are very real  and the drones being used in Ukraine match Iranian Shahed-136sUAVs.

Russia may get what it needs from Iran, which has created its own sanctions-resistant weapons industry amid years of international embargoes, to prolong its Ukraine war as Ukrainian forces claw back seized land. But Russia's invasion, and the introduction of Iranian arms into the conflict, has resultingly scrambled the tangled web of relationships in the Middle East.

Already "Russia's dominium over its old Soviet empire shows signs of unraveling," especially in Central Asia, as Moscow gets mired down in Ukraine, The New York Times reports. Here's a look at some of the fallout from the Ukraine war in various Middle Eastern countries.

Syria: Proof of Russia's eroding regional influence

Russia has maintained a military presence in Syria since the 1970s, but Russian President Vladimir Putin poured his troops and military equipment into the country to prop up Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government in 2015, turning the tide in Syria's civil war. Russia "still keeps a sizable presence" in Syria, but it "recently redeployed critical military hardware and troops from Syria," the Times reports, "underscoring how its faltering invasion of Ukraine has eroded Moscow's influence elsewhere and removing one of several obstacles to Israeli support for Ukraine."

Western diplomats and a senior Israeli defense official say Russia has pulled at least 1,200 soldiers, several Russian commanders, and an S-300 air defense system out of Syria for transfer to Ukraine, the Times reports, "while Russia's military leadership in Moscow has become less involved in day-to-day management of operations in Syria." The removal of the S-300 allows Israel, which considers Iran and Syria enemies, greater freedom to conduct airstrikes on Iran-backed, pro-Bashar militias inside Syria.

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Israel: Protecting a strategic relationship with Moscow

"The ripple effects of the presumptive Iranian drone attacks have also hit Israel, a top U.S. ally with strong links to Russia," the Los Angeles Times reports. Russia and Israel communicate to avoid conflict between their militaries in Syria, and Israel wants to avoid Russia cutting off the emigration of Russian Jews to Israel, as it has effectively threatened to do.

To protect its strategic relationship with Moscow, Israel has stayed mostly on the sidelines of Russia's Ukraine war, giving Ukraine some humanitarian aid but refusing its pleas for sophisticated air defense systems and other military equipment. Israel has also "refrained from enforcing strict economic sanctions on Russia and the many Russian-Jewish oligarchs who have second homes in Israel," The Associated Press adds. "But with news of Moscow's deepening ties with Tehran, Israel's sworn foe, pressure is growing on Israel to back Ukraine in the grinding war."

Russia's purchase of Iranian missiles and suicide drones touches a special nerve in Israel. "We're looking at it closely and thinking about how these can be used by the Iranians toward Israeli population centers," Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht tells AP. Some lawmakers in Tel Aviv are now advocating for arming Ukraine, but Israel's government has so far declined to take that step.

"An enemy of both Iran and Syria, Israel regularly strikes targets in Syria to prevent Tehran from cementing a foothold close to Israel's northeastern border," and the Russian S-300 guarding Syria "was a major reason Israel has rebuffed Ukrainian requests for military hardware since the Russian invasion began in February," the Times reports. That calculus appears to be changing.

Saudi Arabia: Teaming up with Putin?

Saudi Arabia and its Persian Gulf neighbors also consider Iran a primal threat, and Iranian missiles and drones have hit Saudi and UAE targets from Iranian-backed militias in Yemen. But Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the effective ruler of the kingdom, seems to be sidling closer to Russia, at least from the perspective of the Biden administration, which is furious that the Saudis teamed up with Russia to cut oil production and raise fuel prices ahead of winter cold and Western elections.

"Saudi Arabia and Iran don't agree on much, but both are siding with Russia in its war on Ukraine," Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) tweeted, pointing to Saudi Arabia's "short-sighted" OPEC+ production cut. "Saudi Arabia is helping Russia fund the development and purchase of Iranian weaponized drones that will eventually be turned on Saudi Arabia and require American military aid to defend against. Russia/Saudi Arabia/Iran v. America/Saudi Arabia. Insane."

The eight-decade-long Saudi-U.S. relationship is also strained, partly because President Biden and bin Salman clearly do not like each other, The Wall Street Journal reports. But the traditional oil-for-military aid formula has also changed since the 1940s. "The Saudis once sold the U.S. over 2 million barrels of oil every day, but that's fallen to less than 500,000 barrels a day," the Journal notes. "The U.S. grew to become the world's biggest oil producer, and China is now the biggest buyer of Saudi oil, followed by India."

The Saudis protest that they are providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine and merely following their own economic interests by raising oil prices. "These decisions are protecting Saudi Arabia's own commercial interests and make tremendous sense from Saudi Arabia's own economic perspective," Sadad Ibrahim Al Husseini, a former Saudi Aramco executive, tells The New York Times. Bruce Riedel, a former CIA Middle East analyst, agrees. "The Russians and Saudis have a similar interest in driving up the price of oil, and the Ukraine war has only reinforced that," he said.

Turkey: In the middle of a 'balancing act'

Turkey is "another Middle East power facing a balancing act" with Iran's sales of attack drones to Russia, the Los Angeles Times reports. Ukraine has purchased Turkish missile-capable Bayraktar TB2 drones and is using them to "hunt Russian troops" to great effect. "At the same time, Russia is a vital economic trading partner: It provides almost half of Turkey's natural gas and almost three-quarters of its wheat," and "some 4.7 million Russian travelers visit Turkey every year," the Times notes.

"Turkey is the one traditional American ally in the region that has helped Ukraine, both through selling highly effective drones and by working with the U.N. to mediate an agreement allowing Ukrainian grain to reach Middle Eastern and African customers," the Atlantic Council's Mark Katz writes at the New Atlanticist. "But Ankara is also not abiding by Western economic sanctions" and "has been able to take advantage of each side in the war."

"The Biden administration would much prefer that its traditional allies in the Middle East were more supportive of Ukraine and critical toward Russia rather than stay neutral or balance between the two sides," Katz concludes. "But this is better than those allies coming out in support of Russia the way that Iran has  and this may be the best that Washington can expect."

Iran: Sending a warning to its foes

"Drone sales have also prompted geopolitical recalculations" for Iran, which until September "had a relatively amicable relationship with Ukraine," the Los Angels Times reports. After Ukraine started shooting down Shahed-136s aimed at its cities and infrastructure, "officials in Kyiv downgraded relations with Tehran, stripping the Iranian ambassador of his accreditation and reducing diplomatic personnel at the embassy," and a full severing of diplomatic ties is on the table.

And it's not clear what kind of math Iran is using to burn that bridge, and the possibility of eliminating sanctions with a renewed nuclear deal, the Times reports. "Before the drone sales, trade between the two countries was $4 billion, hardly worth the financial hit from more sanctions." Recent polling also indicates a majority of Iranians view Russia's invasion of Ukraine as illegitimate and don't see the point of being so close to Russia, Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, tells AI-Monitor.

Iran is likely signaling "to both the West and Russia that it's a power to be reckoned with," said Ellie Geranmayeh, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. By letting Russia battle-test its advanced weaponry in Ukraine, Tehran is showing Israel, the Saudis, and other foes that if they move forward with their burgeoning security partnership "aimed at countering and weakening Iran, we've got some news for you. We are capable of causing great damage."

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The city of Sacramento wants to hear from residents when it comes to making improvements to certain neighborhoods. Theres $1 million available from Measure U funds for residents to propose ideas and vote on project concepts through the participatory budget program. This is a wonderful opportunity to come out and represent your voice in the community and take the time to vote on projects that were specifically fleshed out by community members to give you equity in those areas that have lacked equity for some time, said Telitha Floyd, temporary community engagement manager.
It was an inside job.

A hacker who hammered the New York Post with at least a half-dozen racist, misogynist and extremist headlines under the papers red banner on Thursday actually worked at the tabloid.

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The New York Posts investigation indicates the unauthorized conduct was committed by an employee, and we are taking appropriate action, the paper said in a statement. We immediately removed the vile and reprehensible content from our website and social media accounts.

The hacker was fired, according to the Post.

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The bogus articles claimed GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin was going to commit a horrid sex act on Democratic Gov. Hochul, and that Republican governor of Texas Greg Abbott was authorizing the slaughter of undocumented immigrants. They were quickly taken down from the tabloids website.

The hacker also infiltrated the Posts Twitter feed, linking to fake Post articles about Zeldin making racist statements targeting Mayor Adams and an unhinged opinion piece calling for the assassination of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another Democrat.

Hey @NYPost, were you hacked today?



Violence against women and female politicians is a global issue. It is dangerous and reckless to promote femicide.



I am calling for an investigation into this series of social media posts targeting @KathyHochul @AOC from your account. Now!  Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) October 27, 2022

The fake headlines and tweets shocked readers of the right-leaning Post and brought immediate denunciations from Adams and Gov. Hochul.

These vile, racist and sexist comments have no place in public discourse, even by those unlawfully hacking a Twitter account, said mayoral spokesman Fabien Levy.

Hochul campaign spokesman Jerrel Harvey demanded an immediate explanation into how this reprehensible content was made public.

The New York Post has long fostered an ugly, toxic conversation on their front pages and social accounts, but these posts are more disgusting and vile than usual, Harvey said. While the Post has made its preferences very clear in the New York governors race, there is no room for this violent, sexist rhetoric in our politics. We demand answers.

(Shutterstock)

Local elected officials called for a probe into what occurred.

Violence against women and female politicians is a global issue, tweeted Rep. Adriano Espaillat, a Manhattan Democrat. It is dangerous and reckless to promote femicide. I am calling for an investigation into this series of social media posts targeting @KathyHochul @AOC from your account. Now!
A San Joaquin County Superior Court judge was publicly censured by California's Commission on Judicial Performance in October 2022 for his involvement in a car crash while under the influence.

A San Joaquin County judge was censured by a California judicial misconduct commission for causing a car crash while intoxicated and misleading police officers and bystanders about the incident, the commission announced Thursday.

"Judge (Michael J.) Mulvihills conduct reflects poorly on his integrity, (and) negatively impacts the publics perception of him, and of the judiciary in general," the Commission on Judicial Performance said in a statement.

Mulvihill, who has served as a San Joaquin County judge since 2015, agreed to public censure to end a preliminary investigation into his DUI crash and subsequent comments to police on New Year's Day, 2022, the commission's decision stated.

Commissioners stopped short of removing Mulvihill from the bench, saying, "The misconduct here does not rise to the level of wrongdoing in which the Supreme Court has imposed the ultimate sanction." Mulvihill's attorney, Paul S. Meyer, declined to comment on Thursday.

Judge Michael Mulvihill, right, after being sworn in in 2015. Mulvihill faced public censure by a judicial misconduct commission in October following a DUI crash and what the commission described as misleading statements to police officers.

At about 6 p.m. Jan. 1 while driving, Mulvihill's car crashed into barriers on both sides of the road on Pacific Avenue near the Calaveras River in Stockton, according to the commission's description of the incident. No one was injured, a Stockton police spokesman said.

Previous coverage: SJ County judge arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after Stockton crash

Before police arrived, Mulvihill tried to drive away, lying to bystanders attempting to keep him at the scene by saying the incident would be "extra bad" for him because he was a truck driver, according to the commission.

Mulvihill then walked away from the crash and was chased by a bystander, who convinced him to stay, the commission stated.

When a Stockton police officer arrived, Mulvihill told the officer he had been texting and driving, but did not disclose that he had been drinking, the commission stated.

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When asked directly if he had been drinking, Mulvihill told the officer, "I had two beers." He later told an officer at the police station that he had had three pints of beer, according to the description of the incident.

After administering a sobriety test, police arrested Mulvihill for allegedly driving under the influence and texting while driving. A blood test taken about three hours after the crash showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.25 percent, more than three times the legal limit, the commission stated. The judge reported his arrest to the misconduct commission on January 4.

In June, Mulvihill pleaded no contest to DUI charges. He was sentenced three years of informal probation, a DUI class and 10 days in jail, the commission stated.

Since his arrest, Mulvihill has attended Alcoholics Anonymous daily and enrolled in a continuous alcohol monitoring program, the commission stated. In letters to the commission, Mulvihill's colleagues spoke about his "strong work ethic and fair administration of justice."

"The commission recognizes that all of the acts of misconduct ... arose out of one drunken lapse of judgment to get behind the wheel of a car," the decision stated. "However, that lapse is no more excusable here than when anyone else makes a similar mistake while under the influence."

The commission has the authority censure judges confidentially, publicly or remove them from the bench, Emma Bradford, the body's legal advisor, said.

"Judge Mulvihill has taken significant steps to ensure that this behavior will never occur again," Presiding Judge Michael Coughlan of the San Joaquin County Superior Court said in a statement. "Through his actions following the incident, he has demonstrated a sincere commitment in that regard."

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Misconduct board censures San Joaquin judge for DUI car crash
Entrance to the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set in Santa Fe, N.M., in October 2021. (Andres Leighton / Associated Press)

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office has completed its investigation into last year's deadly accidental shooting by Alec Baldwin of the cinematographer of the low-budget western "Rust," turning the case over to the local district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies.

"The district attorney and her team of investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review of the information and evidence to make a thoughtful, timely decision about whether to bring charges," Heather Brewer, Carmack-Altwies' spokesperson, said in a statement. "As with all cases that the district attorney handles, her focus will be on upholding the integrity of the process, enforcing the laws of the state of New Mexico, and pursuing justice."

The sheriff's office report did not specify whether investigators had determined that there was sufficient evidence to support criminal charges, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity.

Sheriff's detectives completed their review more than a year after the death of Halyna Hutchins. The film's writer-director, Joel Souza, was also wounded in the Oct. 21, 2021, incident at New Mexico's Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe.

Now it will be up to Carmack-Altwies and her staff to weigh whether any crimes were committed that day, and if so, who should be held responsible.

Carmack-Altwies  who has said that up to four people, including Baldwin, could be charged  has been preparing the case for months. She has hired a special prosecutor to help oversee the case and recently received $317,000 in funding for additional staff.

Law enforcement officials have said they were scrutinizing the actions of those who handled the guns on set that day, including Baldwin; armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who loaded Baldwin's replica vintage Colt .45 revolver; and first assistant director Dave Halls, who allegedly handed the pistol to Baldwin, telling him it was a "cold" weapon  meaning it was not loaded.

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The investigation was delayed as detectives waited months for the FBI to complete a ballistics analysis. In addition, gaining access to Baldwin's cellphone data to search for possible evidence turned into a protracted, months-long process that required the involvement of New York prosecutors.

Baldwin has maintained that he did not pull the trigger. He has acknowledged cocking the hammer, and that he relied on crew members to do their jobs. However, the FBI report submitted to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in August said that in order for the revolver to fire, the trigger had to be pulled.

Baldwin's attorney has raised doubt about the FBI's findings, saying the gun was in poor condition and broke during the agency's testing.

Questions remain about how live ammunition got mixed into a cardboard box containing "dummy" rounds.

At least seven live bullets were found by sheriff's detectives on the set of "Rust," including at least one in Baldwin's bandoleer, according to evidence submitted in the case.

Hutchins' husband, Matthew, announced in early October that he had agreed to a proposed settlement with Baldwin and other executive producers to resolve the family's wrongful-death lawsuit, calling his wife's death a "terrible accident."

Hutchins has a 10-year-old son, Andros.

Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Under the deal, which must be approved by a judge, "Rust" would resume production in January with Matthew Hutchins serving as an executive producer.

The original cast, including Baldwin, Jensen Ackles and Swen Temmel, is expected to participate, although the group does not plan to return to Bonanza Creek Ranch. Souza, who co-wrote the script with Baldwin, will direct.

Legal experts have said the settlement could complicate any criminal prosecution, although Carmack-Altwies has disputed that it would affect her decision to bring charges.

New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator classified Hutchins' death as accidental.

"Rust" crew members have told The Times that cost-cutting and a rushed production schedule that led to safety lapses contributed to the tragedy.

In spring, the New Mexico Environment Departments Occupational Health and Safety Bureau found that the producers were also at fault, saying the production company "demonstrated plain indifference" to gun safety.

This [was] a complete failure of the employer to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe," New Mexico Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney said in a statement.

The producers, Rust Movie Productions LLC, have disputed the depiction and blamed Gutierrez Reed for the tragedy. The armorer has said she was stretched too thin by trying to juggle two important jobs on the low-budget production.

The death of the rising-star cinematographer sent shock waves through Hollywood, which is still wrestling over potential safety reforms.

The "Rust" shooting occurred during an after-lunch rehearsal in Bonanza Creek Ranch's old wooden church. Baldwin had been practicing a cross-draw maneuver, pulling the gun from his holster and then pointing it at the camera.

Cameras weren't rolling when the shooting occurred. Baldwin, in an ABC interview, described pointing the gun at the camera.

Hutchins and Souza were planning a camera close-up of the barrel and chamber of the prop gun when it discharged. The bullet struck Hutchins in the chest and lodged in Souza's shoulder.

Carmack-Altwies is a former public defender and former deputy district attorney who is serving her first term as top prosecutor for Santa Fe and two other counties.

The prosecutor, a Democrat, is viewed as politically progressive. During her 2020 campaign, amid nationwide protests over the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Carmack-Altwies promised to "hold all people accountable, whether they are a police officer or a citizen."

New Mexico legal observers said her decision to name Andrea Reeb as a special prosecutor was politically smart.

Reeb is a former district attorney in eastern New Mexico. She retired in March after 25 years as a prosecutor.

A conservative Republican, Reeb is running for a seat in the state Legislature, touting her tough-on-crime approach, as well as her opposition to abortion and strong support for gun rights.

The case could have political overtones, as filming is a big employer in New Mexico and Baldwin is a polarizing figure. The actor famously mocked former President Trump on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Trump has insinuated that he thinks the shooting might have been more nefarious.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Priests of Russian church have been helping Russias invasion of Ukraine

Read also: Motor Sich officials suspected of working for Russia, president detained, says SBU

He was answering a question about the possible influence of the Russian special services on the church.

Read also: Ukraines SBU captures two Russian agents hunting for numbers of Javelin launchers

"If we take the period since the beginning of the war, we have opened 23 criminal proceedings against such characters, there are already 33 suspects  from classical agents for gathering deep information to ordinary adjusters of fire in cassocks," Malyuk said.

In particular, he recalled the detention of a Moscow Patriarchate priest in Vinnytsia Oblast, who "constantly communicated with the FSB," and was a classmate of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Vladimir Gundyaev (Patriarch Kirill).

Read also: Ukraines SBU interrogates PMC Wagner members, digs more proof of war crimes

"Yes, there are threats, SBU chief said.

But I would be wrong if I said that this is a threat that the SBU cannot influence and document in a timely manner. Therefore, were performing thorough work in this domain.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A school bus driver has been suspended after a viral video shows her fighting a 12-year-old girl, a Michigan school district told local media.

The altercation reportedly happened aboard the bus on Tuesday, Oct. 25, near Carver STEM Academy in Detroit.

The girl was waving at her brother, who was outside the bus, when the driver told her to sit her a** down, family members told WJBK. When the student called out the drivers swearing, the driver began striking the girl, the TV station reported.

An attorney representing the family said the girl was beaten, bitten and choked by the driver, according to media reports.

It was such a vicious attack, the attorney, Lillian Diallo, told WJBK. How does a grown woman bite a child? Not just the beating part, you bit her in the face.

McClatchy News has reached out to the school district and is awaiting a response.

At least one person on the bus was filming the fight. Video shows what appears to be the adult driver and student fighting in the aisle before landing on one of the seats. Other students attempted to separate the two.

Diallo said students that were on the bus were traumatized by the incident, which occurred as others were attempting to board, WDIV reported.

Cameras on the bus were not functioning at the time of the fight, according to WDIV.

The bus driver was removed from Detroit Public Schools Community District and faces termination through Trinity Transportation, a school district spokesperson told WWJ. Police are also investigating.

Bus fight leads to student using Taser-like device on another kid, Louisiana cops say
Photo: Thiradech (Shutterstock)

Freddy Krueger has a new problem to worry about. Researchers say they might have found an improved way to fend off frightful nightmares: a dose of sound played during sleep. The method could boost the effectiveness of an existing therapeutic treatment for people with chronic nightmares.



Just about everyone has had a nightmare, with about three-quarters of people thought to have experienced at least one by early childhood. But some people grapple with especially frequent nightmares that negatively impact their sleep or daily lives. Around 4% of the general adult population might suffer from frequent nightmares at any given time, and nightmares are even more common for people with certain mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Read more

There are some medications used to help treat PTSD-related nightmares, but the primary treatment for nightmare disorders is a cognitive-behavioral technique called image rehearsal therapy (IRT). IRT asks patients to think back on their nightmares and to then imagine a new, happier ending to them. Its hoped that these mental exercises will bleed over into the dream world, leading to an easier nights sleep.

While IRT can be effective in helping people manage their nightmares, as many as 30% of patients dont respond to it, and even those who do benefit might continue to have nightmares. Researchers at the University of Geneva in Switzerland wanted to test out whether they could improve these odds of success by adapting an existing technique known as targeted memory reactivation (TMR).

Other research has shown that people can perceive sounds and even odors during sleep. Targeted memory reactivation is said to work by training people to associate a newly formed memory or newly learned skill with a specific sound cue, which is then played during sleep. And studies have found that trained people do seem to remember or better perform their new skill afterward than untrained people. This research has largely involved the use of targeted memory reactivation during non-REM sleep, though, so the researchers wanted to see if it would still work during REM sleep, the brief periods of our rest where the majority of dreams and nightmares occur.

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They recruited 36 people with nightmare disorders to take part in their study. Every patient went through IRT, but half were randomized to associate their new dream ending with a sound cue (a piano chord). Over the next two weeks at home, all of the patients recorded their dreams in a diary and had their brain activity monitored with a headband they wore at night. But those who were given the added sound therapy also had their headbands play the sound cue every 10 seconds during REM sleep. The patients were then followed up right after the two-week period and three months later.

Overall, both groups reported fewer nightmares on average than they did before, but those in the sound group experienced even fewer nightmares. Three months later, for instance, people in the control group reported an average of 1.5 nightmares a week, while those in the sound group reported less than 0.5 nightmares a week. People given the sound cue also reported having more dreams where they simply felt joy.

The present study establishes that associating TMR to IRT reduces nightmare frequency and fosters positive emotion in dreams, the researchers wrote in their paper, published Thursday in Current Biology.

The study has a relatively small sample size, so the results shouldnt be seen as definitive proof that sound cues can help people chase away bad dreams. But if these findings are validated by additional, larger studies, then the applications of targeted memory reactivation during sleep might extend well beyond nightmare therapy, the authors argue.

We propose that TMR in REM sleep could be used as a new sleep therapy in other psychiatric disorders, they wrote, including PTSD in general, mood disorders, and insomnia.

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is not taking a position on two motions, submitted by non-profit organization Investor Choice Advocates Network and crypto wallet provider SpendTheBits, which seek to weigh in on the lawsuit between the SEC and Ripple Labs Inc.

See related article: SEC asks court to deny Ripple motion for summary judgment in XRP lawsuit

Fast facts

The SEC wrote in a document filed on Wednesday that if either of the two motions is granted, the SEC requests to be able to respond as part of its reply brief in support of its motion for summary judgment.

Earlier this month, the Investor Choice Advocates Network and SpendTheBits filed motions to submit an amicus curiae brief  typically submitted by an individual or organization that is not a party to a case but intended to influence the courts decision.

In December 2020, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple and its executives, alleging the sale of XRP constituted an offering of unregistered securities worth over US$1.38 billion.

The SEC last week filed a legal rebuttal to Ripples motion for summary judgment.

Also last week, Ripples general counsel Stuart Alderoty said the SEC has handed over internal documents to Ripple containing comments by former SEC Corporation Finance Division director William Hinman on cryptocurrencies, which has been a major point of contention in the lawsuit.

See related article: What is XRP and what is Ripple?
VALENTYNA ROMANENKO  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 10:15

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has irrefutable evidence that Colonel Oleh Kulinich, the former head of the Crimean Central Office of the SSU, was working for the Russian Federation. He reported information about the situation in Ukraine and within the SSU, some of which was classified, to Moscow.

Source: Vasyl Maliuk, acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine

Details: Maliuk said Ukraines Security Service places great emphasis on loyalty within its ranks, especially in wartime.

"If we do not find these rats on board, then all our further operations against the enemy are doomed to fail," he said.

Speaking about the operation to expose and detain Kulinich, the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine noted that he detained the mole personally. Maliuk has not yet disclosed the details, noting that an investigation is underway.

Quote: "An unprecedented and intricate operation was designed and carried out, and [SSU] agents infiltrated the ranks of the FSB.

We have obtained all the files documenting his [Kulinichs] reporting of information, including classified information, about the situation in our country and in the [Security] Service to Moscow, and how they attempted to influence various processes."

Background:

On 16 July, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Kulinich had been detained by security forces.

The following day, the State Bureau of Investigation revealed details of the joint special operation that led to the traitor being exposed and detained.

The investigation found that Kulinich had collaborated with representatives of the Russian Federations secret services. Among other things, he passed on intelligence against Ukraine to them, including state secrets.

Kulinichs involvement with a criminal organisation that was engaged in intelligence and subversive activities against Ukraine is also documented. The group's actions damaged Ukraines sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability, defence capability, and state, economic and information security.

Kulinich has been notified of suspicion under three articles of the Criminal Code: Art. 255.1 (establishment and leadership of a criminal community or criminal organisation, and participation therein); Art. 111.1 (high treason); and Art. 27.5 and Art. 114.1 (complicity in the transfer of information constituting a state secret, or gathering such information with intent to transfer it, to a foreign state or foreign organisation or representatives thereof).

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For reference: Oleh Mykolayovych Kulinich was appointed head of the Main Department of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in October 2020.

President Zelenskyy dismissed him from this position in March 2022.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
(Getty Images)

I prefer to stay out of politics." Those were Elon Musks words when the tech exec was forced to respond to a claim by Texas governor Greg Abbott that he supported the states anti-abortion laws.

If so, Mr Musk has a funny way of showing it. Over his decade-plus of public fame as the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, the South-African-born tycoon has attacked everyone and everything, from Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders through individual regulatory officials to Covid rules, trade unions, and "pronouns".

In May, he capped off months of criticism of US president Joe Biden by revealing that in the past he had overwhelmingly voted for Democrats, but would now switch his support to Republicans in at least one future election.

In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party. But they have become the party of division and hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican, he said.

It came after he hammered Mr Bidens flagship infrastructure and social spending bills last year for granting unnecessary subsidies to the electric car industry and increasing the "insane" federal budget deficit, and later called the president a damp sock puppet in human form.

A month later he went further, revealing he had voted for a Republican candidate and suggesting he would support the GOP Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, should he run for the White House.

I voted for Mayra Flores  first time I ever voted Republican. Massive red wave in 2022, Mr Musk tweeted.

I assume Republican for president [too]? one Twitter user asked.

[To be determined], Mr Musk replied.

What are you leaning towards? he was asked in a follow-up question.

DeSantis, Musk said.

Responding later, Mr DeSantis joked about the South African-born billionaires comments: Im focused on 2022, but with Elon Musk, what I would say is I welcome support from African Americans. What can I say?

Whatever his vote, the 50-year-olds exact politics have previously been hard to pin down. He has donated often to both Democrats and Republicans while variously declaring himself a moderate, a socialist, and socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

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This April, he launched an extraordinary offer to buy the entirety of Twitter for $54.20 a share (about $44 billion), arguing that the social networks management is too left wing and that the online public square must be recaptured for free speech.

In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party.



But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.



Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold    Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022

On Tuesday 4 October, Mr Musk told Twitter he intends to follow through with his initial offer to purchase the company for $44bn. The deal is expected to close by Friday, 28 October.

So what does Elon Musk really believe? And, given that he is the worlds second-richest person with an estimated net worth of $219bn (167bn), what does that mean for the rest of us?

Who has Elon Musk donated money to?

Mr Musk's descriptions of his own politics have occasionally been confusing. The most consistent theme has been that he is "socially liberal and fiscally conservative", or even "socially very liberal". He has claimed to be registered as an independent and said: To be clear, I am not conservative."

In April he posted a stick figure cartoon on Twitter that depicted political moderates, including himself, standing still on the political spectrum while the left accelerates away into extremism, dragging the centre ground away and making moderates appear right wing by comparison.

In 2018, though, he described himself as a utopian anarchist of the kind best described by Iain Banks, referring to the late Scottish sci-fi author who wrote longingly (if sceptically) of a space-faring anarcho-socialist civilisation called the Culture, which has no money, no poverty, no wage labour, no police, no prisons, no standing army, and nearly infinite abundance of basic goods.

At another point he claimed to be a socialist, but not the kind that shifts resources from most productive to least productive. He later said we should not take it too seriously.

Instead, lets put Mr Musks money where his mouth is and look at his political donations. According to data gathered by the non-profit lobbying watchdog Open Secrets, Elon Musk has given a total of $1.2m to politicians, parties, political action committees (PACs), and referendum campaigns since 2002.

That money went almost equally to Democrats, with $542,000, and Republicans, with $574,500, with another $85,000 going to two broadly left-wing referendum campaigns in California. The balance has fluctuated over the years: in 2006, 2013 and 2017 he donated overwhelmingly to Republicans, while in 2015 he gave exclusively to Democrats.

He has also given a total of $30,000 to a PAC set up by SpaceX, which donated 54 per cent of its total to Democrats and 46 per cent to Republicans. Many of the individual politicians he gave to were state legislators in California, where Tesla was formerly based, and Texas, where SpaceX has long maintained rocket testing and launch facilities.

Meanwhile, SpaceX itself has spent about $9.7m on lobbyists and Tesla has spent $5.5m. The former company relies on government contracts for much of its revenue, while the latter is subject to plenty of regulation. "SpaceX's campaign to win political support has been systematic and sophisticated," wrote the Sunlight Foundation in 2013.

The way Mr Musk explains it, these donations do not really signal much about his own personal beliefs. Instead he describes them as simply the cost of doing business in America.

"In order to have your voice be heard in Washington, you have to make some little contribution," he told the Huffington Post in 2013. "But... I haven't found Washington to be as corrupt as a lot of people think it is, meaning it's not as coin-operated as some people may assume, and I'm very actually grateful for that, because if it were we would have zero chance."

Socially very liberal? Musk has sent mixed signals

What about Mr Musks social views? He clearly has a strong libertarian streak, favouring "direct democracy" over representative democracy and proposing that future Martian colonies should allow any law to be overturned by a vote of 40 per cent of the citizens.

He has also advocated releasing people imprisoned in the US for cannabis offences before the drug was legalised, and indeed partaken in it himself during an interview with podcast host Joe Rogan.

Direct democracy by the people. Laws must be short, as there is trickery in length. Automatic expiration of rules to prevent death by bureaucracy. Any rule can be removed by 40% of people to overcome inertia. Freedom.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 16, 2018

Selling weed literally went from major felony to essential business (open during pandemic) in much of America & yet many are still in prison. Doesnt make sense, isnt right.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 6, 2020

Mr Musk has donated to more individual Democratic politicians than to Republicans, and often praised specific Democrats in a way he has rarely done with their opponents. Way back in 2005, he gave $10,000 to Californias Proposition 82, a proposal to increase taxes on the rich to pay for universal pre-school for four-year-olds, although it did not pass.

When Donald Trump was a candidate for the Republican nomination, Mr Musk said of him: "I feel a bit stronger that he is probably not the right guy. He doesnt seem to have the sort of character that reflects well on the United States."

On the other hand, Mr Musks statements about social issues have rarely been as vociferous or clear as his economic views. Indeed, he has often sent contrary signals and occasionally seemed to flirt with social conservatism.

Last spring, for instance, he told followers to "take the red pill", a phrase used by white supremacists and anti-feminists to describe the process of being radicalised into their worldview.

At the time, he was engaged in a crusade against Californias Covid lockdown policies, which he described as "fascist". He had declared early in the pandemic that "the coronavirus panic is dumb" and that there virus would be gone from America by the end of April.

That July he tweeted the statement "pronouns suck", which was interpreted by many as a dig at transgender people (since pronouns themselves are a fundamental and inescapable part of the English language).

His then-girlfriend Claire Boucher, aka the electronic musician Grimes, certainly read it that way, responding: "I love you but please turn off ur phone or give me a call. I cannot support hate. Please stop this. I know this isnt your heart."

Pronouns suck  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 25, 2020

In December 2020 he tweeted a meme likening cisgender people who state their pronouns on their Twitter profiles, which is a common way of expressing solidarity with trans people, to oppressive Redcoats in colonial America. He later clarified: "I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an aesthetic nightmare."

And in September, Texas governor Greg Abbott, to whom Mr Musk donated $10,000 in 2014, claimed in a CNBC interview: "Elon had to get out of California because in part of the social policies in California, and Elon consistently tells me that he likes the social policies in the state of Texas."

Mr Musk rebuffed him, but ambiguously and mildly, with nothing like the fire and brimstone he has mustered against trade unions or tax proposals. "In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness," he said. "That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics."

In general, I believe government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would prefer to stay out of politics.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 2, 2021

Pro-capitalist and anti-union

Far more consistent has been Mr Musk's belief in free-market capitalism. Declarations of socialism notwithstanding, he is an ardent economic liberal who is deeply skeptical of government interventions in business.

That was the basis of his attack on Mr Biden's Build Back Better Act on Monday, saying the bill's tax rebate of up to $12,500 for people who buy electric cars is an "unnecessary" handout for an industry that is already taking off.

He backed that up with a revealing philosophical argument about the difference between corporations and nation states, framing them as different methods for allocating capital  that is, money and other resources needed to produce goods and services  to useful ends.

"It does not make sense to take the job of capital allocation away from people who have demonstrated great skill in capital allocation," he said, meaning business leaders, "and give it to an entity that has demonstrated very poor skill in capital allocation, which is the government.

"Government is simply the biggest corporation, with a monopoly on violence  and where you have no recourse. So how much money do you want to give that entity?"

You can see this thinking all through Mr Musk's history. He has strongly opposed trade unions, especially in his own companies, as a barrier to efficient operations, and skirmished repeatedly with Bernie Sanders over his proposals for an income tax on billionaires.

He claimed in October that Mr Biden "seems to be controlled by unions" and in 2018 tweeted that Tesla employees who attempted to unionise would lose their stock options, which regulators have claimed was illegal.

When he does endorse government intervention, he tends to favour measures that minimise government bureaucracy and avoid officials picking winners. Rather than subsidies for green industry, he wants a carbon tax, and says he lobbied the Biden administration to create one.

His argument is that the price of fossil fuels doesn't properly reflect their cost to the environment, meaning companies are basing their decisions on false information. Taxing carbon would correct that balance, allowing the free market to figure out in its own way how best to cut their emissions. That said, none of this stopped him from accepting billions of dollars in government subsidies for both Tesla and SpaceX.

Similarly, Mr Musk has long argued for a universal basic income to support human workers whose jobs, he believes, will soon be replaced with artificial intelligence (AI). In some ways that's a pretty left-wing idea, since it would involve spending enormous amounts of taxpayer money.

Yet it has also been favoured by some conservatives such as Richard Nixon and free market economists such as Milton Friedman, who felt it would prevent government bureaucrats deciding who deserves benefits and avoid punishing recipients for finding work.

Green power has often been Musk's red line

Another point of real consistency has been global warming and clean energy. Back in 2006, Mr Musk gave one of his biggest ever single donations  $75,000  to Proposition 87, a California referendum campaign to impose a special tax on fossil fuel extractors.

Since then, emissions have often been his red line. In the early years of Donald Trump's presidency he joined a White House advisory council, saying that "the more voices of reason that the President hears, the better". But when Mr Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, Mr Musk quit, saying: "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world."

And when Mr Musk was persuaded to get into Bitcoin recently  a natural fit given his libertarian outlook and his penchant for technological solutions for political problems, to say nothing of his fondness for controversy  it was the currency's prodigious carbon emissions that led him to rethink.

"Tesla has suspended vehicle purchases using Bitcoin," he said in May. "We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for Bitcoin mining and transactions, especially coal, which has the worst emissions of any fuel.

"Cryptocurrency is a good idea on many levels and we believe it has a promising future, but this cannot come at a great cost to the environment."

Where Mr Musk has supported Mr Biden, that too was connected to carbon. Just after the inauguration, he told Fortune: "I'm super fired up that the new administration is focused on climate... I feel very optimistic about the future of sustainable energy with the new administration."

A technocrat with astral ambitions

Through all these issues, there is one strain of Mr Musk's politics that does not easily map onto traditional left-right devices: technocracy.

Back in the 1930s and 40s, Mr Musks grandfather Joshua Haldeman was the Canadian leader of the original technocratic movement, which believed in replacing both politicians and bankers with whoever had the most expertise.

Elon Musk, capitalist extraordinaire, does not exactly take over his grandfather. Like the movements founder William Henry Smyth, though, his statements suggest a strong underlying belief that scientists and engineers can solve political problems that are intractable to others.

As the historian Jill Lepore has argued, Mr Musk inspires numerous followers with an exotic brand of techno-capitalism that she calls "Muskism". She says that many of its ideas are drawn from science fiction, sometimes very old science fiction, meaning that alongside rockets and cars it is also selling "visions of the future".

He thinks we may live in a simulation; he regularly references Scottish sci-fi author Iain M Banks; and he is especially preoccupied with the dangers of AI, which he calls "the most serious threat to the survival of the human race". He is worried not only about mass automation of white collar jobs but also the rise of a theoretical hyper-intelligent AI that is too powerful for humans to restrain.

"With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon," he said in 2014. "In all those stories where theres the guy with the pentagram and the holy water, its like  yeah, hes sure he can control the demon. Doesnt work out."

Both that and global warming feed into Mr Musk's conviction that colonising other planets  becoming "a multi-planet species"  is crucial to humanity's long-term survival. However seriously you take that, it is clearly an important goal that shapes the rest of his politics.

I am accumulating resources to help make life multiplanetary & extend the light of consciousness to the stars  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 21, 2021

Two things are notable here. One is that these issues are not very well known outside the tech industry, and to prioritise them suggests that you believe everyone else is missing a trick.

The other is that Musk is not attempting to meet that future through government action or massive collective institutions like formal movements or trade unions. Instead, he wants to solve it himself, through hierarchical top-down for-profit companies run by him where he decides how to allocate capital.

In other words, he is his own kind of technocrat: a talented engineer and huge nerd who thinks engineers and nerds can design better systems of government and economics than currently exist.

For evidence, look at his troubled Hyperloop project, which is trying to build a new form of public transport while eschewing any input from traditional transit experts, who say that he has essentially invented very inefficient buses. (It is also among the beneficiaries of Mr Bidens infrastructure bill.)

WhenTIME magazine named Mr Musk its 2021 Person of the Year, it described him this way: The man from the future where technology makes all things possible is a throwback to our glorious industrial past. But many of the people who actually lived in that past reviled its industrialists as robber barons, and their misdeeds inspired regulations and social policies that are still in place today.

That is why Prof Lepore describes Muskism as containing "a lot of feudalism", saying: "Its like there are these lords and the rest of us are the peasantry and our fates are in their hands because they know best... the presumption that Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, the two wealthiest people in the world, get to decide the extraterrestrial fate of humankind is a bizarrely regressive notion."

Mr Musk has his own bullish answer to such claims. "To anyone Ive offended, I just want to say, I reinvented electric cars and Im sending people to Mars in a rocket ship," he said on Saturday Night Live in May. "Did you think I was also going to be a chill, normal dude?"
View of the border wall in Tijuana, Mexico on April 25, 2022 Credit - Nicolo Filippo Rosso

The year is 2040. Countries have blown past global targets to limit temperature rise, and the world is paying the price. The migrant flow north from Central America and the Caribbean has become a flood, but government cooperation on national security has waned. In the worst-hit nations, some leaders are considering the last-resort method of trying to lower temperatures on the ground by spraying sulfur aerosols into the stratosphere, a bit of geoengineering that no one heretofore has dared risk.

This is not the grim vision of science-fiction writers but rather drawn from the assessment laid out in a U.S. National Intelligence Estimate last year. Government analysts warn of 15 climate-related threats to U.S. interests that originate abroad but have a medium or high likelihood of threatening the country by 2040; seven of those threats stem directly from countries in the Global South lacking the resources, capacity, and support to manage the realities of climate change. When instability happens in a country, it doesnt usually remain contained within that single country, says Maria Langan-Riekhof, director of the Strategic Futures Group at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The U.S. intelligence community is in the business of gathering information and analyzing how it may shape the future, not offering policy recommendations. But it doesnt require a huge stretch of the imagination to understand the interplay between these scenarios and government decisionmaking. Wealthy countries can embrace an agenda that helps the most vulnerable parts of the world address catastrophic flooding, deadly famines, and unchecked migration, and in doing so help prevent destabilizing ripple effects. Or wealthy countries can dismiss the concerns of their developing counterparts and hunker down to await the inevitable shock waves.

Read More: Photos of Pakistans Catastrophic Flooding

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If youre not going to address climate change equitably, then you will have conflict, says Sherry Rehman, Pakistans climate minister. Multilateral systems will start breaking down.

Artwork by Olafur Eliasson for TIME

For years, decades even, providing assistance to the Global South has been framed as a climate justice agenda. The justice framing was straightforward: wealthy countries have spent more than a century emitting carbon dioxide unchecked, and they owe it to the rest of the world to pay for the damage they have caused. Words like justice, equity, and responsibility sat at the center of the plea. This logic is understandable, and the moral case is compelling, often poignant, even.

But after some 30 years of the climate-justice argument delivering mixed results, a new framing is slowly gaining traction: an appeal to self-interest. European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans, who oversees climate policy in the E.U., says that the moral argument can lack persuasive power for some audienceseven if theres some truth in that argument.

You have had 200 years of fossil fuels, thats whats created the problem  I could take that argument to my constituents, but I dont think it would convince them, he says. What does convince them is that if we dont increase our efforts in this area, there will be even more disruption; there will be more migration; there will be less opportunity for investment and economic development.

The challenge now is to make that understanding sink innot just among the politicians and policy-makers who consult with experts, but among the citizens who put them in power. The annual U.N. climate conferenceknown this year as COP27, and to be held this November in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egyptoffers an opportunity to embrace the reality that when it comes to climate, helping poorer countries helps everybody.

At the moment, theres a lot of discussion about the moral objective that anyone can forget once the meeting is closed, says Laurence Tubiana, the president of the European Climate Foundation and a key framer of the Paris Agreement. This could really be a problem of macroeconomic and global stability; the discussion should move in that direction.

For the past three decades, the moral case for aggressive climate action has been front and center in international climate talksand with good reason. A century of industrial development and high-carbon living in the Global North has directly caused problems of cataclysmic proportions in the Global South. In any typical conception of fairness, the parties most responsible for causing the problem should be responsible for cleaning it up.

Developed countries, most prominently the U.S. and European nations, are responsible for 79% of historic emissions despite being home to just a fraction of the global population. And yet the effects of climate change areat least for nowbeing felt disproportionately in places that did little to cause the problem. Flooding now regularly puts 25% of Bangladesh underwater. Countries on the African continent have emitted less than 3% of global emissions but are experiencing the brunt of the impacts in the form of drought, flooding, and coastal degradation. Drought-driven famine in East Africa is killing a person every 36 seconds. The continent already loses up to 15% of its annual GDP per capita because of climate effects; that figure could double in the coming decades.

Many prominent climate advocates have highlighted this sheer and in some ways outrageous injustice, from leaders of small island nations to Greta Thunberg to Pope Francis. And international climate agreements have reflected climate justice over and over again, emphasizing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, a wonky way of saying that wealthy countries owe it to the rest of the world to move aggressively.

But they havent followed through. The policies countries have enacted to cut emissions would limit global warming to around 2.7C, according to Climate Action Tracker. Thats far greater than the well below 2C that countries agreed to in the Paris Agreement. At the current expected level, we will likely see the inundation of small island states and tens of millions of climate migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Developed countries have also failed to live up to their commitment to help their poorer counterparts adapt. The year 2020 passed without countries in the Global North meeting their longtime promise to provide $100 billion in climate finance annually beginning that year, half of which was supposed to finance adaptation. About $80 billion flowed from north to south in 2020, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Some assessments suggest that countries in the Global North will make up for that deficit in the coming years, but that number is now outdated. Trillions will be needed because of the effects weve now baked in with decades of inaction.

These failures have put finance for whats known as loss and damageessentially funds to address the unavoidable harm from climate changeat the center of international discussions. The climate costs to physical infrastructure, industry, and economic output will be enormous, potentially adding up to $1 trillion annually by 2040, according to a 2019 study. The risk of having to pay up is precisely what has historically kept the U.S. and European countries from a full-throated embrace of policies to address loss and damage.

But there are risks in sidestepping the issue too. Its impossible to know exactly how the effects of climate change will unfold and how these damages will ripple across the globe, but the vast body of research, government analysis, and academic literature on future scenarios suggests some common expectations. Chief among them is migration. Already, drought has uprooted communities in Central America, driving migrants to cities and, eventually, to the U.S. Meanwhile, drought in Syria has contributed to the struggles driving over a million migrants from the war-torn country to Europe. These movements of people have, respectively, stoked political upheaval in the U.S. and helped topple governments in Europe. And its just a taste of the expected hundreds of millions of migrants expected in the coming decades.

Theres also the economic damage that may begin in the Global South but is likely to spill over. A 2018 study from Cambridge University, for example, found that extreme weather events may begin in one country but create economic waves elsewhere, affecting everything from household income to bond yields thousands of miles away. Global supply chains will struggle to rearrange themselves in a constantly evolving constellation of climate risksharming consumers and businesses in the north.

Flood victims relocate in Pakistans Sehwan Sindh province in September 2022. Jan Ali LaghariAnadolu Agency/Getty

All of these challenges, and many more, create a threat to the geopolitical order that the U.S. has seeded, fostered, and administered for most of the past century. The U.S. and Europe will have less credibility as countries grapple with the damage caused by a century of unchecked emissions. Countries crippled by internal conflict may see governance break down, allowing extremist factions to rise in the vacuum and creating space for terrorist cells. As the climate situation gets more extreme, some may experiment with untested technologies to try to shape weather patterns in their favor. A few billion dollars, for example, can buy a country the technology to spray sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere to reduce temperatures in a target region. That may be cheap in the scheme of a countrys budget, but these technologies, known broadly as geoengineering, have unknown implications for the global climate.

It may be too late to avoid some of these consequences, but theres still an opportunity to reduce their impact. Funding adaptation measuresthink of education for rural farmers or upgraded municipal infrastructurewill help reduce the impact of a disaster and the chance that its effects will ripple across the globe. When disaster does hit, paying to help communities rebuild will help limit spillover and keep the global economy humming. The most important thing may simply be engaging earnestly to build confidence that the Global North can still be trusted and that all countries can work togetheron climate and other issues.

If the coming U.N. climate conference can foster a renewed sense of mutual faith, it will have succeeded, by many accounts. One of the main objectives that we are aiming for is to regain the trust between the parties, says Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister who is also leading COP27, to provide the confidence that we are all in this together and that no one is going to be left behind.

For anyone with a sense of humanity, it can be downright depressing that it takes hearing about the threats to their own self-interest to make leaders in wealthy countries pay up to save lives in the Global South. And some may recoil at the focus on secondary effects in the Global North rather than the immediate effects on the ground. And yet theres a simple logic to it: it works.

Dallas Conyers, international liaison at the U.S. branch of the activist group Climate Action Network, says that officials in the Global North need to be spoken to in terms that they care about. Because of the history of our government, theres very specific language that we have to use, she says. We need to start talking to them about money.

None of this is going to be easy. Last year, I spoke with John Kerry, the former U.S. Secretary of State and current climate envoy, on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City. Climate watchers were waiting in anticipation to see whether President Joe Biden would commit the U.S. government to upping its financial commitment to aid developing countries climate efforts.

Kerry described such a commitment as the ticket of admission for the U.S. to remain credible, and said he was optimistic it would come through. But he also said it was politically challenging for the Administration as it sought to pass infrastructure legislation and manage other concerns in Washington. Its just that it comes at a tricky time, he told me. The bandwidth can only take so much.

The next day, Biden committed the U.S. to contributing more than $11 billion annually to climate initiatives for developing countries; climate advocates from the Global South dismissed it as the bare minimum. A few months later at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, delegates from the Global South demanded recognition of loss and damage and took negotiations into overtime until the U.S., the E.U., and other reluctant parties agreed to a dialogue on the topica small step forward with only a few details agreed at the outset.

Read More: Pakistans Climate Minister Warns the Global North Is Next

But since then, a surprising momentum has emerged. With the support of partner countries in the G-7, Germany proposed an insurance scheme to help protect the most vulnerable countries from the costs of climate disasters. Kerry has publicly committed the U.S. to advancing policy on loss and damage at COP27 and said the U.S. will double down on climate funding initiatives in the Global South. We have to find a way for more capital to flow into developing countries, he told me on Oct. 26. And leaders from both developing and developed nations have supported a wholesale reform of the Bretton Woods institutionsthe World Bank and International Monetary Fundwith climate change in mind. The World Bank could commit to taking the first loss on big climate projects, for example, and in doing so make such projects more attractive for private-sector investors. The IMF could allocate hundreds of billions in finance to give developing countries the space to pursue climate projects. These moves could, in turn, catalyze trillions in investment from the private sector.

There is more of a willingness on the part of all the parties to come together and try and move this discussion forward, says Alok Sharma, a former minister in the British government who led last years COP26 conference in Glasgow. It is a very difficult discussion; thats why its taken so long.

By all accounts, the weight of recent climate-related disasters has helped move the needle. From Nigeria to Germany to India, the world has been inundated with a tide of extreme weather events in recent months signaling that the era of loss and damage has indeed arrived.

The conversation about the on-the-ground devastation in the most vulnerable parts of the world needs to continue. But the reality is that we also need to be talking about the ripples. Pakistan offers a prime example of the selfish case for the Global North. Its a nuclear-armed state that collaborates with the U.S. to address terrorism in South Asia. It exports billions in textile and food products around the world, including to the U.S., its largest trading partner, and Europe.

Sending aid to Pakistan will help it cope with its precarious climate. Glaciers in its mountaintops are melting, contributing to flooding. Meanwhile, the country is home to some of the hottest spots in the world, where heat waves already kill residents on a regular basis. Pakistan now estimates recent flooding will cost it $40 billion; as of late October, it had received $129 million in aid.

But helping tackle Pakistans issues will help everyone else too. The entire bargain in climate negotiations now is premised on climate justice, says Rehman. And that bargain between the North and the South has to be working now.

With reporting by Simmone Shah/New York
Sen. Bob Menendez, a powerful New Jersey Democrat who escaped conviction on 2015 corruption charges, is under investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, according to multiple news reports.

Prosecutors have reportedly reached out to people close to Menendez, according to Semafor, which cited two sources close to the probe.

Menendez has been notified of the investigation but is not aware of its scope, said Michael Soliman, an adviser to the senator. Menendez, who chairs the influential Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and has served in the Senate since 2006, is up for reelection in 2024.

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 shared with several news outlets. Neither Menendez nor Southern District of New York prosecutors commented to Semafor.

Antranig Andy Aslanian Jr., a New Jersey-based lawyer, told The New York Times he was subpoenaed in the investigation and was questioned by three prosecutors over two months ago.

Aslanian said the interview included questions about the senators relationship with people Aslanian also knew. The lawyer told the Times he knew of at least two other people subpoenaed in this investigation.

The broad outlines of the probe appear similar to an earlier corruption case against Menendez, but involve different people, Semafor reported.

In 2015, Menendez was indicted on 14 charges, including public corruption, alleging he accepted donations, gifts and expensive holidays from a Florida ophthalmologist in exchange for using his power to push the doctors interests. The senator denied wrongdoing.

Dr. Salomon Melgen also was indicted. The case resulted in a mistrial in 2017 after the jury could not reach a verdict. A federal judge acquitted the two of several charges in 2018, and the Justice Department decided to drop the case.

Separately, Melgen was convicted on medical fraud charges in 2017 and sentenced to 17 years in prison. Former President Donald Trump commuted his sentence in 2021.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The battle for the Senate majority is going down to the wire as a series of races across the country tighten in the days before the election, a process that is alternatively giving hope while also panicking partisans in both parties.

Democrats have their eyes on Wisconsin, where a new poll from CNN found Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) clinging to just a 1-point lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes.

Johnson had been seen as building a more significant lead, and the closeness of the race gave Democrats new hope about their ability to take back a seat from Republicans as they are defending their turf in other states.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic nerves are rattling after an uneven debate performance Tuesday night by Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, whose race against Republican Mehmet Oz has tightened.

If Democrats lose both races, it will greatly injure their prospects of retaining a Senate majority that is now evenly divided between the two parties as they could not afford to lose a single race where they now hold a Senate seat.

Republicans and Democrats alike are also paying close attention to a handful of races that have not been under a bright national spotlight.

In Iowa, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R) has been seen as a heavy favorite to win an eighth term. But Democrats are starting to believe Mike Franken could have a chance at an upset.

Iowa Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Michael Franken greets supporters with his wife Jordan, right, after a rally in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The most recent Des Moines Register poll put Grassley, 89, only 3 percentage points ahead of Franken, a retired Navy vice admiral.

In a nod to the urgency to boost Grassley, former President Trump announced that he will headline a rally to support him and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Nov. 3 in Sioux City.

Voters are deeply skeptical of Grassley and Franken has run an unorthodox campaign that has a lot of Iowans feeling that hed be a quality replacement. Its about that simple, one Democratic strategist involved in Senate races told The Hill, who also noted that Franken is also outspending Grassley on the airwaves this week, a move that reflects the state of play in the state.

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Republicans had long seen New Hampshire as a pickup opportunity for their party, but GOP candidate Don Bolducs chances seemed dim as Republican money was pulled out of the state.

Now polls show Bolduc closing in on Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and the Senate GOP has jumped back into the state to give their candidate another boost.

Don Bolduc and Sen. Maggie Hassan.

Twists in the days before a midterm are hardly unusual, but this years ups and downs have been truly memorable.

While Republican candidates have an economic climate that is bolstering their chances, several backed by former President Trump have had to walk a tightrope to win over independent and moderate voters in states the ex-president lost in the 2020 election.

That and a favorable map has given Democrats a chance of retaining the Senate even as most prognosticators expect them to lose their House majority.

Moods about a single state can be up for a party, than down, then up again.

In Ohio, Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) has always been seen as facing an uphill climb in a state that had trended Republican in recent elections. Yet polls over the summer showed him running what many saw as a surprisingly competitive race.

Recent polls have shown Republican J.D. Vance and Ryan in a statistical dead heat.

Tim Ryan

Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio and Republican candidate JD Vance.

In Wisconsin, the CNN poll released earlier this week showed Johnson, who had built a several-point lead over the past few months, with a single percentage point advantage over Barnes.

Do I think its going to be close? Yes. Do I think some people may be taking it for granted? Possibly, one Wisconsin GOP operative told The Hill. Democrats are outspending Republicans on the airwaves in the final weeks, which is not ideal.

Wisconsin elections are always close and this could get a lot closer than many people nationally might expect, the operative continued, adding that Johnson is not up by 6 percentage points  the margin reported by Marquette Law Schools latest poll.

In New Hampshire, the GOP has put out mixed signals as the Senate Leadership Fund, which is run by allies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), canceled $5.6 million in ad reservations late last week and redirected those dollars to Pennsylvania to boost Oz. Now the Senate GOP campaign arm is back in New Hampshire spending about $1 million to help out Bolduc, who has been a lackluster fundraiser.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

The move came after a pair of public polls showed the race within the margin of error and within striking distance for Republicans.

Its a crapshoot. I dont dispute the polls.  Whoever turns out is going to win. Its 50-50. It is tight as a tick, said Dave Carney, a New Hampshire-based GOP strategist. Carney added a lack of third-party candidate on the ballot is one advantage Bolduc has.

In Arizona, another Republican is showing signs of life after a lackluster two-month stretch.

Polling had put Blake Masters well behind Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) but a poll released Wednesday by the progressive group Data for Progress showed the two essentially tied.

Masterss resurgence could be due in part to Republican nominee Kari Lake, who has opened up a 3-point lead over Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs (D) in the states gubernatorial race, with Lakes coattails helping to bring Masters along.

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), left, and his Republican challenger Blake Masters arrive for a debate

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), left, and his Republican challenger Blake Masters, right.

According to the latest RealClearPolitics average, Kelly leads by 1.5 percentage points over the Peter Thiel protege.

Weve all thought these races were going to be close from the beginning, said one Democratic strategist, noting that most of the races are in straight up swing states.

By their nature, they are very close, the strategist said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
"Grey's Anatomy" co-creator Shonda Rhimes said that she got pushback from "a room full of old men" who doubted the success of her hit medical drama after first reading the pilot in the early 2000s.

Rhimes, who is also the small-screen mastermind behind "Scandal," "How to Get Away With Murder" and "Bridgerton," recalled the exchange on Tuesday's episode of podcast "9 to 5ish with theSkimm," which she appeared on with her creative partner and fellow rookie showrunner, Betsy Beers.

Shonda Rhimes, left, and Betsy Beers attend the "Scandal" 100th Episode Celebration at Fig & Olive in West Hollywood in 2017. (Richard Shotwell / Invision / Associated Press)

"I remember getting called into a room full of old men, and they brought us in to tell me that the show was a problem because nobody was gonna watch a show about a woman who would sleep with a man the night before her first day of work," Rhimes said about 13 minutes into the episode. "And they were dead serious."

"Grey's Anatomy," currently in its 19th season, ultimately debuted on ABC in 2005. The first episode memorably begins with Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) waking up in her living room, essentially strangers from a one-night stand. Moments later, she rushes off to her first day of her surgical internship at the hospital where Derek, a.k.a. Dr. Derek Shepherd, is revealed to be one of her superiors.

Rhimes said she remembered thinking, "These guys don't know anything about what's happening in the world right now, but they're the people making the decisions." But the "painfully shy" screenwriter struggled with responding to the execs.

Rhimes and Beers said the "old men" asked them who would watch and relate to a show where the lead would get drunk and have sex with a stranger the night before her first day of a new job.

"I couldn't help it, and I said, 'That's me, I did that. That's absolutely me,'" Beers said. "What I didn't say is that I was probably drunk when I came into work the next day."

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The room went silent, and the men "could not get out of that room fast enough," Rhimes said, adding that the execs were "horrified" and didn't know what to make of "these kinds of women."

"And they couldn't call me a slut to my face. ... They didn't know what to say," Beers said, adding that the moment cemented her and Rhimes as "ride-or-die" partners.

The Shondaland founder told podcast hosts Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg that she later understood why the men were apprehensive about the pilot.

"It feels really obvious now, I think," Rhimes said. "But at the time, you have to remember there had never been a show in which there was a lead character who owned her sexuality on network television. There had not been shows in which you saw three or four people of color in a room talking unless it was on a sitcom, without anybody else in the room. You didn't see a lot of the things that we were doing.

"And I didn't really think about them as being revolutionary," Rhimes added. "I thought, like, 'We're just making a show that I want to watch.'"

Added Beers: "A lot of the idea came from that fact that there was nothing that seemed like us on TV at that point. There wasn't even really that many shows with a female in a center part. ... That in itself was surprising."

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SHANGHAI (Reuters) -Smartphone shipments in China fell 11% year-on-year in the third quarter as the country's slowing economy took a toll on consumer demand, research firm Canalys reported on Thursday.

Brands shipped a total of 70 million smartphones to sellers in the period, down from 78.9 million in same period last year.

While Apple Inc was the only brand to buck the trend, with shipments jumping 36% to 11.3 million, analysts say that the surge was due to demand for the iPhone 14 Pro model, and demand for the basic iPhone 14 model has been weak.

The dip continues an ongoing trend for the sector, which in recent years has faced challenges ranging from the global chip shortage, the economic impact of China's zero-COVID policy, and lengthening upgrade cycles from consumers.

"Vendors have been suffering from rapidly declining demand and high inventory over past quarters which has severely damaged confidence in the overall supply chain," Canalys analyst Toby Zhu wrote in the report.

Vivo, owned by the Shenzhen-based conglomerate BBK, was the top-ranked brand in the quarter, shipping 14.1 million devices and taking a market share of 20%. The top three brands - vivo, OPPO, and Honor - saw shipments fall 23%, 27%, and 16% respectively.

Apple currently ranks as the fourth top-selling brand in China, with a market share of 13%.

The company "is not currently isolated from weak mainland China consumer demand," wrote Canalys analyst Amber Liu, adding that the company has been launching aggressive promotions on previous-generation devices in order to fend off competition from rivals.

Xiaomi Corp, which ranked as the fifth top-selling brand, saw shipments fall 17%.

(Reporting by Josh Horwitz; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Kenneth Maxwell)
The Smithsonian Board of Regents on Thursday released its recommendations for the optimal sites to place the proposed National Museum of the American Latino and the Smithsonian American Womens History Museum.

Both sites are on the National Mall, a location that the museums promoters have lobbied for, despite some political opposition.

As of today, we are one step closer to achieving the dream of a long-awaited Latino Museum and Womens Museum, said Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.).

I am absolutely thrilled to see the Smithsonian Board of Regents has supported selecting the Tidal Basin and South Monument sites for both museums. The prominence of either of these locations will mean that millions visiting our nations capital will be able to experience  whether through exhibits, educational programming or cultural celebrations  how our stories are fundamental to the complete history of America.

Still, the Board of Regents recommendation is not a final site selection.

Legislative action is necessary before the Smithsonians Board of Regents can make its final designations, the Board wrote in a press release.

Thats because the legislation approving both museums banned construction in whats called The Reserve, essentially a no-build-zone surrounding the National Mall.

Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) pushed for that ban, but the museums promoters see potential for a bipartisan group to approve the site selection in budget negotiations over the lame-duck session.

Congress has an opportunity to follow the same model that they pursued in 2020 with the omnibus; they got both museums over the finish line, said Estuardo Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Friends of the Museum of the American Latino.

The boards recommendation, while not binding, gives the museums promoters the green light to push Congress to exempt the projects from the construction ban in the Reserve.

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Now, our community can focus in a united fashion to support the approval of this site by an act of Congress, which must happen this year, said the Latino Museums board chair, Henry Munoz.

Our board thanks the Smithsonian Institution and looks forward to the day when we open doors to this important new American institution alongside the great museums on the land that is the National Mall, where American stories are told. Today, alongside our sister museum which honors and celebrates the rich history and impact of American women, we are one step closer to our dream, Munoz added.

If Congress doesnt approve the sites during the lame-duck session, the can would be kicked down the road to the next Congress, which would force both museums promoters to start their lobbying process from square one.

Still, the Board of Regents recommendation is another step forward in a multiyear process thats seen its fair share of ups and downs.

In September, President Biden gave the museums a significant boost when he called for them to be built first in Washington, D.C., and weeks later, on the National Mall.

Bidens call mirrored a similar appeal years earlier by former President George W. Bush, whose support was a key step to placing the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) on the Mall.

The NMAAHC faced similar legal challenges for its construction, and that project was inaugurated more than 90 years after it was first proposed.

The two sites recommended for the Latino and Womens museums are across the Mall from the NMAAHC, a smaller site known as the South Monument site near the Washington Monument on Independence Ave., and a larger site on a rugby field, known as the Tidal Basin site, across the street from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

I am committed to supporting legislation to enable the Smithsonian to move full steam ahead toward construction on the South Monument and Tidal Basin sites. The new museums will be vital additions to the Smithsonian that will allow us to tell a more complete story that recognizes the remarkable contributions of women and Latinos who have helped shape our nation, said Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), a key promoter of the womens museum.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
(Bloomberg) -- South Africa and Indonesia will receive a combined $1 billion from the Climate Investment Funds to replace some of their coal-fired power plants with renewable energy facilities, part of global efforts to cut planet-warming emissions.

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The allocation of $500 million each to the coal-dependent countries will come in the form of concessional, or low cost, finance, the World Bank-affiliated fund said in a statement Thursday. The money will come from the CIFs Accelerating Coal Transition investment program.

In South Africa, the money will be used to close coal-fired electricity stations and replace them with renewable energy plants and battery storage systems, it said.

In Indonesia, CIF will work with state power provider PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara and private companies to accelerate the closure of 2,000 megawatts of coal-fired generation in five to 10 years and explore how that capacity can be replaced.

South Africa is the worlds 13th-biggest producer of greenhouse gases, with 45% of its annual 452 million tons of emissions coming from electricity generation. Indonesia is the 10th-biggest emitter.

Almost all of South Africas energy is produced from coal by troubled state power company Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. and the country suffers from regular blackouts.

Over the next eight years, South Africa needs $60 billion in investments to effect the transition away from coal, Barbara Creecy, South Africas environment minister, said.

In South Africa alone, the closures funded by the deal will prevent the emission of 71 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, the same as taking 14 million gasoline-fueled cars off the road for a year, the CIF said.

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The money allocated there is part of a $2.6 billion package being mobilized from public and private sources by the government to help pay for the clean energy transition, it added.

South Africa is also negotiating $8.5 billion in climate finance as part of an agreement with the US, UK, Germany, France and the European Union known as the Just Energy Transition Partnership.

(An earlier version of this story corrected the spelling of Indonesia in the second deck head.)

(Updates with source of funds in second paragraph)

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By Soo-hyang Choi

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will take part in Japan's naval fleet review next month, South Korea said on Thursday, despite objections to Japan's use of its "Rising Sun" flag, as South Korea seeks to mend ties with its neighbour.

The decision to take part in the fleet review, scheduled for Nov. 6, follows opposition from some South Korean lawmakers due to the use on Japanese warships of the ensign, a centuries-old design that was used by Japan's military during World War Two.

Many people in South Korea see the red-and-white flag as a symbol of Japan's past military aggression and its colonisation.

In 2018, Japan decided not to take part in South Korea's fleet review after South Korea effectively asked Japan not to fly the "Rising Sun" flag on its warships.

South Korea's defence ministry said in a statement the decision to take part this year was made with the security situation in mind, given the unprecedented pace of North Korea's weapons tests this year.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, has said he wants to improve ties with Japan.

Relations between the U.S. allies have been strained by various disputes including one over compensation for Koreans conscripted by Japan as forced labourers during World War Two.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Russia is warning it could target commercial satellites assisting U.S. military operations as its invasion of Ukraine drags on -- a threat that could prompt the Space Force and U.S. Space Command to see action if Moscow follows through.

Commercial satellites have been used to take aerial images that show deployments, damage and destruction of Russia's faltering, unprovoked campaign against its neighbor. Additionally, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Starlink satellites have provided internet access to the people of Ukraine, and he lauded the technology as a "major battlefield advantage" in a tweet earlier this month.

"Ironically, GPS doesn't work on battlefields, as the signal is easy to jam, but Starlink does," Musk tweeted Oct. 15.

Read Next: Tricare Pharmacy Reductions Hurting You? This GOP Lawmaker Wants to Hear About It

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's non-proliferation and arms control department, said Wednesday in remarks to the United Nations that some commercial satellites pose an "extremely dangerous trend that goes beyond the harmless use of outer space technologies and has become apparent during the latest developments in Ukraine."

"Apparently, these states do not realize that such actions in fact constitute indirect participation in military conflicts," Vorontsov added. "Quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation."

Russia's warning marks some of the strongest language to date, and puts the newly created Space Force as well as the existing U.S. Space Command on notice to defend and protect those commercial assets in orbit.

But its unclear how the government would respond to an attack on a commercial satellite, as the White House, Pentagon and diplomats continue to iron out a plan of action.

The Department of the Air Force, which the Space Force is part of, deferred comment on Russia's warnings to the U.S. Space Command. But the command then deferred comment to the Pentagon. A spokesperson for the Defense Department's space policy did not immediately return a comment to Military.com.

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On Thursday, the Pentagon released the 2022 National Defense Strategy. In it, officials recognize that Russia is already "deploying counter-space capabilities that can target our Global Positioning System and other space-based capabilities that support military power and daily civilian life."

But the new National Defense Strategy does not address the looming question of how the military would respond to an attack on a commercial satellite system connected to the U.S. or an ally.

"Starlink is used by the Ukrainians for offensive combat operations as well, including artillery ... it has built up just a civilian use and also an offensive military role as well," Seth Jones,

the director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told Military.com on Thursday.

"It's an interesting question, how the U.S. would respond in that case, to an attack against a U.S. or a multinational space company, particularly one that was involved in supporting an ally or a partner of the U.S.," he continued.

Russia has taken drastic measures to flex its muscle in space in recent years.

Last November, the Russian Federation destroyed one of its own Soviet-era satellites with a missile, sending thousands of scraps of shrapnel hurtling through space, a cloud of debris that threatened other orbiting satellites, including those belonging to the U.S.

Gen. David Thompson, the Space Force's first vice chief of space operations, told The Washington Post that Russia also sent a small satellite so close to a U.S. national security satellite in 2019 that it wasn't clear whether it was attacking or not.

The Russian satellite backed off and conducted a weapons test by releasing a small target it then shot with a projectile.

"It maneuvered close, it maneuvered dangerously, it maneuvered threateningly so that they were coming close enough that there was a concern of collision," Thompson told the paper. "So clearly, the Russians were sending us a message."

Physical attacks on satellites are not widely broadcast by the military. Rather, many interferences are often never seen, and take the form of cyberattacks, radio jamming or making military equipment harder to function, according to the 2020 Defense Space Strategy.

U.S. government officials quickly rebuked the missile launch as "reckless and dangerous," and the military took it as a sign that Russia has no qualms about opening fire in space.

Norms of fighting and what defines a notable act of aggression in space are still being defined by the diplomatic community.

The White House's National Security Strategy, released Oct. 12, was not as focused on describing America's role in space as a battlefield, unlike President Donald Trump's administration.

"America will maintain our position as the world's leader in space and work alongside the international community to ensure the domain's sustainability, safety, stability and security," the 2022 strategy says. "We will enhance the resilience of U.S. space systems that we rely on for critical national and homeland security functions. These efforts aim to protect U.S. interests in space, avoid destabilizing arms races, and responsibly steward the space environment."

By comparison, the 2017 National Security Strategy said "any harmful interference with or an attack upon critical components of our space architecture that directly affects this vital U.S. interest will be met with a deliberate response at a time, place, manner and domain of our choosing."

Emily Harding, a senior fellow with the CSIS think tank, told Military.com that employees with those commercial satellite companies are unsure of what backing they would get from the military if Russia took aim at their equipment.

The fact that America's response to Russia's warnings are not covered in the new National Defense Strategy is also cause for concern, she added.

"I do know that, from the commercial side, a lot of those companies and corporations are debating internally, 'What have we gotten ourselves into?'" Harding said. "I do not think this [National Defense Strategy] tackles that question, and I think it's going to become a very pressing question in the next few years."

The Defense Department has gotten a request from Musk to take over funding for SpaceX's satellite network that is aiding Ukraine, The Associated Press reported. The billionaire tweeted that the system is already being targeted.

"We've also had to defend against cyberattacks & jamming, which are getting harder," Musk tweeted Oct. 14.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: The First Shots in a Ukraine Conflict May Be in Space
Long-exposure shot of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on September 18, 2022.

On Wednesday, Boeing said its taking a $190 million hit on its CST-100 Starliner, raising its total loss on the program to $883 million. The announcement comes at an awkward time, as Boeing slips behind SpaceX on NASAs roster of private partners.

SpaceX was NASAs second-largest private partner in fiscal year 2022, moving it up one notch compared to last year, according to Aviation Week reporter Irene Klotz. Moving down is Boeing, in what is a further sign of the changing landscape that is the space industry.

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. @spacex has edged out @BoeingSpace to become NASA's top vendor after @Caltech, which operates @NASAJPL. @NASA obligated more than $2B to SpaceX in fiscal '22, which ended Sept. 30, compared to $1.7B for Boeing, $1.3B for @LMSpace. Caltech's contract $2.7B. Times are a'changing pic.twitter.com/FEBx8XC0gb  Irene Klotz (@Free_Space) October 25, 2022

That California Institute of Technology (Caltech) remains in the number one spot is not a surprise. The private university manages the space agencys Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), receiving large influxes of cash to develop various spacecraft and space-related technologies. Caltech is currently working under a five-year $15 billion contract that runs to September 2023, with an option to extend the contract by another five years for the same price.

As Klotzs numbers show, SpaceX received $2.68 billion from NASA this fiscal year, while Boeing received $2.04 billion. In 2021, the Elon Musk-led company received $1.63 billion, with Boeing getting $1.68 billion. Lockheed Martin held onto its fourth-place position, receiving $1.37 billion in 2022, compared to the $1.34 billion it received last year.

Such is the nature of private competition. SpaceX is very useful for NASA, and its only getting more so with each passing year. The shift in standings comes 14 years after SpaceX won its first major contract with NASA, and it hasnt looked back since, with the private company now providing NASA with a widening range of services. Boeing, on the other hand, while still an immensely important partner for the space agency, hasnt lived up to expectations.

Case in point is the beleaguered CST-100 Starliner program. As Marcia Smith reported yesterday in Space Policy Online, Boeing is taking another hit for the unfinished NASA Commercial Crew project, this time to the tune of a third-quarter loss of $195 million. Add that to a $410 million hit in 2019, a $185 million charge in 2021, and a second-quarter hit in 2022 worth $93 million, and we quickly see that Starliner has cost the company $883 million to date in charges against earnings, according to SpaceNews.

These charges relate to Boeings development difficulties with Starliner, including the botched first uncrewed orbital flight test and a delayed second uncrewed mission caused by valve issues. Boeing, along with SpaceX, won two commercial crew contracts in 2014 to develop spacecraft capable of delivering astronauts to the International Space Station. NASA awarded Boeing with a $4.2 billion contract, while SpaceX got $2.6 billion. Accounting for the $883 million in charges against earnings to date, Boeing is still ahead of SpaceX at $3.31 billion in NASA funding for the CST-100 Starliner project.

Boeings Starliner capsule approaching the ISS on May 20, 2022.

Yet, Starliner hasnt delivered a single human to space, while SpaceXs Crew Dragon has been regularly transporting astronauts to the ISS since 2020. The most recent mission, Crew-5, was SpaceXs fifth operational mission for NASA under the commercial crew contract. A reasonably successful uncrewed test of Starliner in May provided some encouraging news, but a crewed orbital test wont happen until early next year at the soonest. Its still premature to pin a date on what willeventuallybe the first of six crewed Starliner missions to the ISS.

NASA is not waiting around, however. Earlier this year, NASA purchased an additional eight Crew Dragon missions from SpaceX (three in February and five in June) while refraining from any additional bookings aboard Starliner. So from now to 2030at which time the ISS is expected to retireNASA has all its crewed missions accounted for. As it stands, Starliner is booked for just six flights, which means Boeing, which retains ownership over its spacecraft design, will have to procure other vendors to keep Starliner in rotation and maintain a viable and ongoing revenue stream.

SpaceX, in addition to these commercial crew missions, is busy with NASA in other profitable ways. The company routinely sends cargo, supplies, and equipment to the ISS, which its been doing for the past 10 years. As Teslarati points out, SpaceX performs three commercial resupply missions each year on average, earning about $700 million in annual revenue. In addition, Musks company uses its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets to launch various scientific payloads for NASA.

SpaceX is currently working under a $2.9 billion contract to develop a human landing system for NASAs upcoming Artemis 3 mission, which seeks to land a woman and man on the Moon no earlier than 2025. The plan is to convert a Starship rocket into a system capable of landing astronauts onto the lunar surface and returning them to an Orion capsule waiting in lunar orbit.

As for Boeing, the question now is not whether the company will return to second place on NASAs vendors list, but whether it will continue to slip down further in the years to come.



More: NASA Wants More Spacecraft for Its Upcoming Artemis Moon Missions.

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Daniel Boone Elementary School in 2021. The Chicago Board of Education voted to rename it Mosaic School of Fine Arts. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune)

Daniel Boone Elementary is the latest Chicago school to change its name to remove a reference to a historically egregious figure.

The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously to authorize the schools renaming. Out of a list of names selected by the West Ridge schools principal and Local School Council, with community feedback, the elementary school will start the next school year under a new name: Mosaic School of Fine Arts.

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The name change process began in January, after the CPS equity office determined that Daniel Boone  a Revolutionary War-era frontiersman who was long considered a folk hero but was also a slave owner who played a role in the colonization of Indigenous people  was a historically egregious figure. CPS formal name change process is still undergoing revisions but aims to reflect a schools mission and vision, the district said.

The process for Boone involved the creation of a renaming advisory team, which hosted four community forums to propose names. The three names ranked and recommended by the school were Mosaic, Haven and Sarah Boone.

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At Wednesdays vote, CPS recommended renaming the school the communitys first choice, which the board unanimously approved.

Chicago Public Schools is a welcoming district that works to create an inclusive and respectful school environment for every student. We continue to undertake the work to ensure that our school names are inclusive and represent CPS values, a spokesperson for CPS said in a statement.

Another CPS school whose former namesake was racist scientist Louis Agassiz recently changed its name to Harriet Tubman School.

In the Boone case, the CPS equity office wrote that a new name for the school was warranted because of the school namesakes relationship with native/Indigenous colonization and dehumanization, as well as being a slave owner of African American people.

The new name, Mosaic, aims to better reflect their school communitys value on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the CPS spokesperson said.

mellis@chicagotribune.com
Oct. 27Just one game among Mississippi's SEC teams as Mississippi State has an open date.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, is playing after a loss for the first time.

Ole Miss at Texas A&M

Texas A&M is struggling, but Lane Kiffin has a point.

You can talk about the Aggies underachieving with a $9 million a year coach in Jimbo Fisher. Lots of Aggies fans are talking about that.

You can talk about the injuries, suspensions and general inconsistency.

But they have recruited well lately, as Kiffin notes. They have signed a lot of players that were wanted by a lot of other schools.

There is talent on the roster and you never know what's going to make talented players click at the same time.

Recent struggles should not make Ole Miss fans assume a win in College Station.

The talent makes the Aggies a team to be respected, not feared.

A&M has lost three straight, all on the road. Those fans angry with Fisher will still fill up Kyle Field with more than 105,000 people.

Lesser Ole Miss teams have won at Kyle Field including the 2016 Rebels when Shea Patterson made his first start at quarterback, and Ole Miss knocked off No. 8 Texas A&M 29-28.

How will Ole Miss respond after losing 45-20 at LSU last week? It's not like the Rebels played well. They played well for stretches of time, particularly at the start on offense, but did little on either side of the ball for the last two quarters.

If Ole Miss loses the Rebels increase the chances of their own three-game skid with Alabama next up on the schedule.

It would set up the possibility of an ugly finish after a 7-0 start.

The 7-0 start was officially seven-straight wins if not always a pretty picture. The schedule is shifting gears now.

It was reported during the week that the Aggies will be missing two starting offensive linemen because of injuries and three members of their No. 1-ranked 2022 signing class because of indefinite suspensions.

Both of the linemen  the center and left tackle  are being replaced by players who were starters at those positions earlier this season.

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The Aggies lose depth but not starters with the suspensions. Two of the freshmen likely would have have played.

Kiffin is coaching to keep Ole Miss in contention in the SEC West.

Fisher could be coaching for his job that massive buyout notwithstanding.

If the Aggies are into this one mentally it gets harder for the Rebels. Whether they are remains to be seen.

Emotions aside an Ole Miss defense that hasn't kept pace with the Rebels' strengthening schedule is matched against a Texas A&M offense that is somewhat weaker with the injuries and suspensions and hasn't been very explosive the entire season.

Texas A&M is last in the SEC and No. 109 in America at 21.9 points a game. They're No. 105 in rushing, No. 102 in passing efficiency.

This is the best chance left on the schedule for a wobbly Ole Miss defense to find its legs.

It wasn't only about defense last week. The offense shut down too.

That's Kiffin's side of the ball, and the guess here is the offense looks better for four quarters even though the Aggies' numbers are slightly better on the defensive side.

Prediction: Ole Miss 32, Texas A&M 25

The Beat Guys: Theo DeRosa, Ole Miss; Michael Katz, Ole Miss.

Elsewhere in College Football

Last Week: Michael 6-3, Theo 5-4, PA 4-5

Overall: Theo 54-16, Michael 52-18, PA 50-20

Notre Dame at Syracuse

Alford: Syracuse

DeRosa: Notre Dame

Katz: Syracuse

Ohio State at Penn State

Alford: Ohio State

DeRosa: Ohio State

Katz: Ohio State

Oklahoma State at Kansas State

Alford: Oklahoma State

DeRosa: Oklahoma State

Katz: Oklahoma State

Cincinnati at UCF

Alford: UCF

DeRosa: Cincinnati

Katz: Cincinnati

Kentucky at Tennessee

Alford: Tennessee

DeRosa: Tennessee

Katz: Tennessee

Arkansas at Auburn

Alford: Arkansas

DeRosa: Arkansas

Katz: Arkansas

Missouri at South Carolina

Alford: South Carolina

DeRosa: South Carolina

Katz: South Carolina

Baylor at Texas Tech

Alford: Texas Tech

DeRosa: Baylor

Katz: Texas Tech

Recipe of the Week

Creamy Chicken Soup

This is a family favorite recipe that, like Columbus and America, I found by accident.

The key is the sweetened condensed milk. Initially I used evaporated milk. The soup was good, but when the sweetened condensed milk went in by mistake one time it was an upgrade.

The most important thing here is that it's mother-in-law-approved, and the sister-in-laws make it in their homes.

The contents: 8 cups chicken broth, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, Half cup milk, 1 carrot, 1 cup sweet peas, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning, 2 cups butterfly pasta, 2 cups diced cooked chicken, 1/4 cup flour, 3 tablespoons butter.

The process: In a six-quart pot combine broth, sweetened condensed milk, thinly sliced carrot, peas, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook for 20 minutes over medium heat. Add chicken and butterfly pasta. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is done. In a cup stir together half cup of milk and flour until smooth and add to soup. Continue stirring, and bring to a boil for three minutes. Add butter and stir until melted.

PARRISH ALFORD is the college sports editor and columnist for the Daily Journal. Contact him at parrish.alford@journalinc.com.
Police brief.

The Department of Safety Standards & Training voted Thursday to revoke the police certifications for nine officers, including two who have worked at the Marion County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police.

The Department of Safety Standards & Training is the state agency responsible for certifying and licensing officers, emergency dispatchers, private investigators and other groups that deal with the law. The department also investigates cases involving officer discipline, including economic sanctions.

Several DPSST committees made recommendations to the department's board regarding the discipline of 11 officers. The board voted to have nine of the officers' certifications revoked.

In November 2019, Marion County Sheriff's Office deputy Jerry Wollenschlaeger medically retired with a settlement agreement during a criminal investigation after he was charged with theft for stealing a $12 credit from a video poker machine, according to court documents. Wollenschlaeger reached a civil compromise with the woman whose money he used and paid her $1,000. The board voted to revoke his certification for life.

Raymond Dube, a former officer with Oregon State Police, was terminated in October 2019 after allegations he was untruthful during a criminal investigation into whether he was intoxicated while driving his vehicle. After an investigation, DPSST issued a notice of intent to revoke his police certification because Dube does not "meet the requirements of good moral fitness," according to the investigation report. The board voted to revoke his certification for 10 years.

Tyrone Jenkins, a former deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, was being investigated by DPSST for a criminal citation involving a domestic disturbance. The Linn County district attorney decided not to prosecute. The board voted to take no action against him.

Dejania Oliver is the breaking news reporter for the Statesman Journal. Contact her at DAOliver@salem.gannett.com or follow on Twitter @DejaniaO

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: 9 officers in Oregon have police certifications revoked
Gov. Ron DeSantis administration has paid more than $8 million to a construction contractor since authorities found it had hired several undocumented workers  including two men who have been charged in connection with the death of a Pinellas County deputy.

The state contractor, Archer Western-De Moya Joint Venture, has a standing contract with the Florida Department of Transportation to do work on the Gateway Expressway in the Tampa Bay area. Records show the payments, which are part of a multi-year half-billion dollar contract, have not stopped since the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office announced the findings.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a press conference in September that the contractor had hired a bunch of undocumented immigrants and that it would be up to the state and the federal government to address the issue with the company.

The investigation into the death of Deputy Michael Hartwick remains ongoing, with the Department of Transportation and its contractor both saying they are cooperating with law enforcement.

A highway construction mishap resulted in the death of 51-year-old Pinellas County Sheriffs Deputy Michael Hartwick, who has been with the department 19 years, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said.

The company is cooperating fully with law enforcement without reprimand, Peter Glimco, a spokesman with Archer Western-De Moya Joint Venture, said in a response to questions on Thursday.

In a statement to the Herald/Times, the state agency defended the contractor.

The Florida Department of Transportation and its contractors follow strict hiring procedures including all federal and state laws. This is true here, the statement read.

The state agency also said the vendor complied with an immigration law DeSantis championed in 2020 that sought to crack down on undocumented labor in the state. That law requires all public employers and their contractors to register with and use the federal E-Verify system, run by the Department of Homeland Security, to confirm that all new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States.

Compliant hiring procedures were followed including a federal E-Verify clearance check and the individual in question passed this federal clearance. The Department continues to support law enforcement efforts and investigations related to this case, the state agency told the Herald/Times.

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Glimco said state and federal hiring guidelines were followed and that both individuals arrested were processed and authorized for employment through the federal E-Verify system.

The company continues to follow federal and state employment guidelines and in no way attempted to circumvent the law to hire unauthorized individuals, he said. We are continuing to investigate the events that led to the company being defrauded in the hiring of these individuals.

The Department of Homeland Security, the agency that run the E-Verify system, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Employers who use the governments E-Verify electronic system are able to check documents provided by new hires against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security records. A mismatch with the records would suggest a person is not authorized to work in the country.

The system has improved in accuracy over the years by allowing employers to match a photo in the E-Verify system with a document presented by a new employee.

Errors can still occur due to imperfect data on the federal database. Some groups have challenged requirements to use E-Verify due to the database containing errors, which they argued could even cost legal workers their jobs. According to a 2013 survey, though, 92% of E-Verify users thought the tool was effective and accurate.

DeSantis brings light to the case

DeSantis has drawn attention to the criminal case to amplify his hard-line stance on immigration, a top tier issue for him as he seeks re-election on Nov. 8 and flirts with a potential run for the White House in 2024.

We just had a sheriffs deputy from Pinellas County killed by a twice-deported illegal alien who came across the border illegally six months ago. I didnt hear any of the outrage about that, DeSantis said during the first and only gubernatorial debate when his Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist, criticized the governors migrant relocation plan.

DeSantis did not mention the state continues to do business with the contractor that employed the suspect.

The De Moya Group, which is listed as a partner in the contract, contributed $32,500 to DeSantis political action committee, Friend of Ron DeSantis, during the 2022 election cycle, according to campaign finance records.

It is not the first time that the governors office and the Department of Transportation have come under scrutiny because undocumented workers were hired to do work on behalf of the state.

The Miami Herald reported last week that a Venezuelan migrant unable to legally work in the United States was paid to coordinate DeSantis migrant flight program, putting the Republican governors high-profile political gambit in conflict with his long-standing push to crack down on undocumented labor.

READ MORE: DeSantis cracked down on migrant labor. Then one helped coordinate his migrant flights.

A front end loader remains at the scene where a forensic science investigator with the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office investigates the scene on the westbound lanes of I-275 near Gandy Boulevard on Friday, Sep 23, 2022, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Michael Hartwick, a Florida sheriffs deputy working an overnight shift to provide safety at a construction zone was struck and killed by a worker operating a front end loader, officials said.

It was all bogus

At a press conference last month, Gualtieri said Juan Ariel Molina-Salles, 32, was among those hired by the state contractor.

This guy entered the country illegally on Oct. 25 of 2021 in Eagle Pass, Texas. He was turned around by the border patrol and sent back to Mexico. There is no record of him ever legally coming back into the United States, and he is here illegally, he said. He has been here in the Tampa Bay area since March of this year.

Molina-Salles was driving a large front loader with fork lifts, the type used to move concrete barriers, when he hit Hartwick and killed him instantly, Gualtieri said.

The 32-year-old kept driving and before running away from the scene, gave his construction helmet and vest to a coworker, also an undocumented worker who hid Molina-Salles things in a wooded area.

Molina-Salles hid from law enforcement and sparked a nine-hour manhunt. He was eventually found with the help of bloodhounds who sniffed his discarded items and used that scent to find him hiding behind some brush, Gualtieri said. He was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident involving death. His co-worker was also taken into custody, charged with being an accessory after the fact.

Gualtieri questioned the hiring practices of the contractors after the investigation found several undocumented workers on the job. In particular, he questioned why the contractor would allow someone with a fake ID and no drivers license to operate machinery.

It was all bogus. And they accept that and they allow this guy to get behind the wheel? Really? Gualtieri said in September.

Glimco, the spokesman for Archer Westernde Moya Joint Venture, said the construction equipment Molina-Salles was operating does not require a drivers license under Florida law.

He shouldnt have died this way

The sheriff was also upset at how the investigation was slowed because so may undocumented workers were hesitant to give law enforcement their real names.

They are all out there lying and giving us fake names, fake IDs. A lot of fake IDs out of North Carolina and it really frustrated this investigation, Gualtieri said.

Hardwick, a deputy with 19 years of experience, arrived at the scene on the night of Sept. 23 to ensure construction workers along Interstate 275 were safe from traffic.

He parked his cruiser along the highway with his emergency equipment on and was standing on the shoulder of the road when he was hit by the front loader being driven by Molina-Salles.

He shouldnt have died this way, Gualtieri said.
Several students and a driver were exposed to an unknown substance on a school bus late Wednesday afternoon at Indian Land High School, the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

Police officers, fire and paramedics were called to the school at 5:12 p.m. to a bus near the bus office behind the stadium. The bus had more than 40 students on it.

ALSO READ: AC installer arrested, charged with poisoning family with mercury after complaints

A 14-year-old girl lost consciousness, the sheriff said. Other students and an emergency management service worker also showed signs that they were exposed to the substance.

Paramedics did not take anyone to the hospital. However, a family member took the bus driver to a medical facility to be evaluated.

Sherard Brown said his nephew was one of the students on the bus when a fellow student passed out.

The unknown is scary. We didnt really know what was happening, he said.

>>Watch Channel 9s LIVE STREAM wherever you are, at this link

The Lancaster County School District said the bus driver will be out of work for the next several days as a precaution and that everyone who was exposed is recovering. Parents were notified about the incident and picked up their children.

All parents were advised to monitor their students and immediately seek medical attention if additional symptoms arise, the sheriff said.

Mother Tai Montgomery said she was frustrated when the district posted about the incident nearly six hours after it happened. Instead, she believes an alert should have got out to all parents.

What if it happens on another bus? Is it just limited to that one bus? Theres a lot of questions that we dont know answers to, she said.

Bryan Vaughn, with Lancaster County schools, said that cant always be the case, especially with dozens of children and a bus driver in need of care.

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

Story continues

A K-9 unit arrived at the scene, and investigators are inspecting the bus and the items on it. The substance will also be sent to a lab to be tested.

The school district called the exposure an isolated incident, saying it responded right away along with deputies and paramedics.

Firefighters will decontaminate the school bus after it is processed by investigators.

I want to assure parents that we are treating this matter seriously and will conduct a thorough investigation to determine what caused this exposure, said Sheriff Barry Faile. We hope it was not the result of criminal activity, but we will go wherever the investigation leads us.

If you have information, notify Crime Stoppers.

Return to this story for updates.

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UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman committed multiple breaches of ministerial rules, the Conservative Partys former chairman said, appearing to question Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks decision to re-appoint her just days after she was sacked by his predecessor.

Braverman was removed from post last week by then Prime Minister Liz Truss over what the minister herself called a technical infringement of regulations, by sending private government documents to a Conservative backbencher from a personal email account. But Jake Berry -- who was party chairman at the time -- suggested there were further questions about her conduct.

From my own knowledge, there were multiple breaches of the ministerial code, Berry told TalkTV late on Wednesday. The offending email was sent from a private email address to another Member of Parliament. She then sought to copy in that individuals wife and accidentally sent it to a staffer in Parliament. To me, that seems a really serious breach, especially when it was documents relating to cyber security, as I believe.

A spokesman for Braverman did not immediately return a request for comment.

https://t.co/hEW4tG9yJA pic.twitter.com/CYHIkB0KMc

 Bloomberg UK (@BloombergUK) October 26, 2022

The remarks by Berry -- who himself was sacked by Sunak -- pile further pressure on the premier over the controversial appointment. The row is the first major political challenge for the Sunak administration, as it seeks to avoid being forced into losing a senior minister in its first week.

Cabinet Secretary

On Wednesday, opposition Labour Party Leader used the matter as his first line of attack in the first session of Prime Ministers Questions between the two men in the House of Commons.

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Bravermans return to cabinet came after the pair struck a deal that saw her endorse him in the Tory leadership contest, according to people familiar with the discussions.

While Berry said its for the new prime minister and he must be free to appoint whoever he wants, he also suggested that the countrys top civil servant, Simon Case, is unlikely to have welcomed Bravermans reappointment.

The Cabinet Secretary had his say at the time, I doubt hes changed his mind in the last six days, Berry said.

On Thursday, Labours shadow foreign secretary, David Lammy, urged Sunak in a Times Radio interview to publish what advice hed received from Case over the appointment.

Redemption

Berry also suggested that Braverman had not come clean about her error herself, and instead was confronted with evidence by officials. As I understand it, the evidence was put to her and she accepted the evidence, rather than the other way round, Berry said.

Defending Braverman on Sky News on Thursday morning, Nadhim Zahawi, the new Tory chairman, argued: People are allowed a second chance and the Prime Minister did the right thing to give Suella that second chance. He added: I believe in redemption.

Asked on Times Radio whether Sunak was misled about whether Braverman had owned up to the breach or been caught out, Zahawi said: The prime minister would have looked at what happened under the previous prime minister and considered that very carefully and would have made that decision.

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Andrew Rannells and Katie Brayben in new show Tammy Faye ( Marc Brenner)

You are about to be saved. Well, kind of. This new musical about the technicolour eyeshadowed televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker may not deliver you to Jesus, but it is a whole lot of fun. Youll have to pray to God for a ticket, because Elton John wrote the music, Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears wrote the lyrics and super-playwright James Graham did the book; the show is all but sold out. But the truth is, you probably wont remember the songs  its the ebullience of Rupert Goolds gloriously OTT production that will stay with you.

Naturally, the show is camp. And when I say camp, at one point it features a tapdancing Jesus in gold pants. It seems mischievously designed to upset Christians, which is exactly what the Bakkers apparently first did when they set out to communicate religious devotion in a new way. Tammy Faye, played by Katie Brayben in a series of flammable looking wigs, is presented here not just as a gay icon but a feminist hero. When she and husband Jim (Andrew Rannells) land their own show, its Jim who leads the way  because men, obv  except hes a wooden, nervous presence on screen. One day, Tammy has to present alone  cue gasps, is this allowed?  but her homespun warmth is a ratings hit. First comes fame, then comes capitalist corruption, then comes trouble with the FBI  a story already familiar thanks to the recent The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Despite its larger-than-life subject matter, the show is surprisingly conventional. Grahams book has witty lines and some compelling themes: the tensions that emerge between couples, the ways in which the moral high ground can be weaponised, and how religion can be a fig leaf for corruption. But its very plotty, making it sometimes hard to follow which sinister man in a suit is which. I couldnt say any of the songs are massively memorable, although by far the funniest is Hes Inside Me (about God being inside men and inside women). A bold reference to Crocodile Rock wins a laugh, but also serves to remind us that Sir Elton has delivered far bigger bangers. And the show is pretty cutesy: Tammy, even if slightly knowingly, is unequivocally painted as a shimmering beacon of tolerance and virtue. Love, she tells us, is mentioned in the bible 489 times, hate only 89.

But the cast deliver it all with the delirious vim that the subject matter deserves. As Tammy Faye, Brayben looks like a nailed-on Olivier winner, giving a hugely likable performance of gentle charm and belting 11 oclock numbers like its easy. As Jim, Rannells fixes on a Ken doll-like smile to shows us a man who alway feels nervy, anxiously twisting his wedding ring. And Zubin Varla, who gave one of the best performances Ive ever seen in Fun Home at the Young Vic, is a standout as their bitter rival Jerry Falwell, with a Javert-esque number of his own.

Ultimately, its hard to resist such a winning, hard-working cast. In one of the shows best lines, Jim tells Tammy why she was so good on TV. You opened your heart and people wanted to come in! It was like the opposite of church. Thats basically Tammy Faye.

Almeida Theatre, until 3 December
If you live in Tampa Bay, an alleged insurrectionist likely lives somewhere nearby.

Across the Tampa Bay region, they are veterans, an aspiring pro wrestler, a media entrepreneur. Middle class strivers, spouses, grandparents. Fans of their president, Donald Trump. Twenty-nine Americans.

They broke the law when they stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, federal prosecutors say. Some entered by force. At least seven allegedly joined extremist paramilitary groups. The majority did not.

All 29 are Floridians charged with Jan. 6-related offenses. Ten have pleaded guilty. Four have been sentenced; one to probation and three to prison. The Sunshine State, which Trump carried in his bid for reelection, has at least 90 residents charged  more than any other state.

The Tampa Bay Times reviewed hundreds of pages of public records to better understand who these residents were as citizens and neighbors throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties. None of those arrested lived in Pasco at the time of the insurrection.

The records document whether they owned homes or businesses, voted regularly or had criminal backgrounds. Alongside court files, news stories, public statements and interviews they gave to conservative media platforms, the records provide a collective portrait of a group that is overwhelmingly white, male and registered Republican.

Read the story here
Telegram announced today that will it hold an auction for usernames  for both individual accounts and channels  through a marketplace built on top of the TON blockchain.

In August, Telegram founder Pavel Durov first mentioned the idea by noting the possibility of adding "a little bit of Web 3.0 to Telegram in the coming weeks." At that time, he said he was impressed by the success of the TON Foundation's auction of domain names.

"Im really impressed by the success of the auction TON recently conducted for their domain/wallet names. Wallet.ton was sold for 215,250 Toncoin (~$260000) while casino.ton was sold for ~$244000.

If TON has been able to achieve these results, imagine how successful Telegram with its 700 million users could be if we put reserved @ usernames, group and channel links for auction," he said. Now the company is putting this plan into action.

Telegram and TON Foundation are using a separate website (Fragment.com) as a hub for these auctions. Users will be able to log into the site using Telegram, the tonkeeper app, or their TON-based wallets. The website will also help users link their Telegram accounts to the handles that they have bought.

At launch, the chat app is auctioning four- and five-character handles that will be available for everyone. Telegram users can also put up their own existing handles for auction. Each handle put up for auction will end in a week with an extra hour for final bidding. The company is setting a minimum auction value for four-character handles at 10,000 toncoins  which converts to roughly $18,400 at the time of writing.

"For the first time, social media users will be able to transparently prove that they own their handles thanks to their tokenisation on the TON blockchain," Andrew Rogozov, founding member of the TON Foundation said in a statement.

Telegram had big ambitions in the web3 world but it had to ditch those ambitions. In 2018, the company hatched up plans for Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain project and an initial coin offering (ICO). The project got backing from big-name investors including Benchmark and Lightspeed Capital, which put up $1.7 billion. However, after a legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Telegram was forced to forsake the project.

After Telegram stopped working on TON, various independent groups continued the development with Toncoin getting backing from Durov and winning the rights to ton.org website in 2021. But the Telegram founder has tried to distance himself from direct involvement with the project.

Telegram has been trying various methods to earn money to keep the company sustainable. Last year it introduced ad spots on public channels. Earlier this year, the company introduced a paid plan that allows large file transfers, exclusive stickers and reactions, and the ability to convert voice messages into text. The new announcement of username auction on the blockchain is another step to get some more moolah in the bank.
In Harold Washingtons first City Council meeting nearly 40 years ago, he suffered a bruising defeat that set the stage for months of struggle to come.

Despite a mandate at the polls, badly gerrymandered ward boundaries left Washington with only 21 supportive votes in the City Council. Washingtons nemesis, Ald. Edward Fast Eddie Vrdolyak, led a cabal of white ward bosses. They won 29 votes.

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Washington could do the math, and it wasnt good for him. He gaveled his first council meeting to order, then quickly adjourned it, storming away in an apparent effort to buy time.

Vrdolyak jumped to the rostrum, grabbed the gavel and began conducting the councils business. His first official act: placing cronies from the Vrdolyak 29 in control of every committee of the new City Council.

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In Washingtons time, the newly elected mayor faced a race-based struggle with the future of the city hanging in the balance.

Today, Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the council keep sizing each other up. Their power struggle is not nearly as dramatic as the days of the Council Wars, but the stakes are still significant: The future balance of power between Chicagos mayors and the citys aldermen may be at stake.

Ald. Maria Hadden, 49th, from left, Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, and Ald. Sophia King, 4th, talk on March 23, 2022, during a City Council meeting at City Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Ald. Matt Martin, 47th, kicked off the proceedings last month, nominating himself to succeed retiring Ald. Michele Smith, 43rd, as chair of the councils Ethics Committee. Historically, mayors have appointed council committee chairs  Vrdolyaks revolt against Washington notwithstanding.

Martin said its time for a change. The City Council is a legislative body and should start acting like one, he said, not the rubber stamp for mayors it typically has been.

[ Geoffrey Cubbage: Its past time for the City Council to name its own committee leadership, not the mayor ]

Martins self-nomination remains in limbo, with no definitive resolution in sight. Lightfoot isnt a fan: She said the old system of mayors appointing committee chairs should remain intact.

A second break from tradition came Tuesday, courtesy of Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd. He introduced a proposal to prevent mayors from introducing emergency measures intended to fast-track their agendas through the council without public notice or debate.

Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, chairs a special City Council meeting about crime on May 25, 2022, at City Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Reillys plan would require 48 hours of notice, along with an objective, plain-language description of the emergency proposal and the reason for the stated urgency. The councils Rules Committee on Tuesday rejected Reillys plan, in a 24-17 vote.

Still, Reillys idea may yet resurface. Aldermen I talked to said their no vote was targeted at some of the more technical aspects of Reillys proposal, not the key provision limiting the administrations ability to circumvent the councils normal process.

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The third step in this waltz came at the full City Council meeting Wednesday, when Lightfoot nominated Ald. James Cappleman, 46th, who will not stand for reelection in February, to head the Education Committee. This seemed an open rebuke to the current acting chair, Ald. Sophia King, 4th, who has announced plans to challenge Lightfoots bid for reelection.

If Lightfoots nomination of Cappleman was intended as a shot across the bow for mayoral challengers, it turned out more like a shot to the foot. The council rejected the move  with 29 voting against it. The no votes included two aldermen recently appointed by Lightfoot to fill vacant seats from the growing legion of council members who have filed for early retirement.

Ald. James Cappleman, 46th, speaks alongside Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sept. 6, 2022, at City Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

Lightfoot in her public statements seems to interpret each of these challenges as preludes to the municipal election campaign that will kick off soon after next months midterm votes are counted. And electoral politics is part of it, no doubt.

But if this were merely about electoral politics, then Martin, Reilly and their backers are picking awfully unlikely issues.

Committee chairs have sway in the City Council, but people in the precincts dont vote based on the workings inside City Hall. Crime, schools and budgets tend to be on their minds. The rules of procedure in the council are important, too. But good luck turning them into a slogan for next years municipal election.

This is why, at the end of the day, theres hope that the aldermen are working for something more important than political advantage. When Martin, Reilly and their allies talk about making the council a truly deliberative body  one that acts independently of the mayor, one that operates with full public oversight  its possible they mean what they say.

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Thats why my organization, the Better Government Association, has supported Martins move and Reillys measure. More transparency and accountability in government are objectives on which both the mayor and the council should be able to agree.

Lightfoot and the council should resist the urge to launch a low-wattage version of the Council Wars. In the struggle to redefine the relationship between Chicagos mayor and its City Council, the separation of powers and a more open, accountable government are the way to go.

David Greising is president and CEO of the Better Government Association.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
A Texas doctor connected to a massive Medicare fraud uncovered by a CBS News investigation has pleaded guilty to federal charges.

According to court documents, Daniel Canchola, 49, fraudulently billed Medicare for over $54 million worth of services, including for genetic tests that CBS News found preyed on seniors' cancer fears.

"The Criminal Division is committed to protecting patients and prosecuting the providers that exploit them," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Canchola's plea demonstrates that medical professionals who prioritize profit over patient care will be held accountable."

CBS News chief investigative correspondent Jim Axelrod revealed in 2019 how telemarketing recruiters would entice seniors to hand over their insurance information and a saliva sample for a "free" genetic cancer risk test. Those recruiters then partnered with laboratories and doctors, including Canchola, to bill Medicare for expensive and unnecessary genetic tests.

Many seniors told CBS News they never received any test results, but their Medicare accounts were billed thousands of dollars anyway.

In 2019, Axelrod questioned Canchola in a Dallas parking lot about bills he had submitted for a pair of retirees he had never met or treated, and whose accounts were hit with $19,000 worth of charges. Two weeks later, Canchola was among dozens arrested for allegedly participating in the genetic testing scheme.

On Tuesday, Canchola pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge and admitted to "prescribingcancer genetic testing without ever seeing, speaking to, or otherwise treating patients." Court documents show he also collected more than $450,000 in illegal kickbacks in exchange for signing the test orders. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

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Dog Recovering After Being Shot 50 Times With Pellet Gun

ABC13 Houston/YouTube

A Texas dog shot at least 50 times with a pellet gun lost a back leg to the violent incident but is expected to make a full recovery thanks to the rescuers who came to her assistance.

716 Paws Rescue and Paw Patrol Rescue worked together to save Violet the dog, who is from Cleveland, Texas, according to ABC 13. The canine is now resting at the Family Animal Hospital of Friendswood following surgery to address her leg injuries.

"They shot her 50 plus times in both her back legs at close range," Paw Patrol Rescue wrote on Facebook on Monday about the circumstances Violet endured. "So close that it riddled her poor small body with pellets and shattered both her back legs requiring two different surgeries to fix her."

RELATED: N.Y.C. Carriage Horse Who Collapsed Near Central Park This Summer Is Euthanized

Dog Recovering After Being Shot 50 Times With Pellet Gun

ABC13 Houston/YouTube

The shooter, who has not been identified, used a "high-powered 20 gauge pellet gun" to attack Violet, the rescue added on Facebook. Despite all this, Violet is in good spirits, one of the dog's veterinarians, Dr. Arezue Shokrollahi, told ABC 13.

Violet, discovered alone on the street after being shot, was shy around her rescuers at first, "ducking away when people would put their hand near her face or head," according to the vet. But now, as Violet recovers from her attack and surgery, the dog's loving personality is shining through, and she is seeking out affection.

"People behave worse with a stubbed toe than she does with these sorts of things," Shokrollahi said. "I think she's just very grateful to get attention, love, and to trust somebody."

Violet underwent surgery to amputate one of her back legs but needs another surgery to address the pellets stuck in her other back leg.

Unfortunately, Violet isn't the only horribly abused pet Paw Patrol Rescue has assisted in recent weeks. The shelter's rescuers are also helping Harley, who was found with dozens of high-powered pellet gun wounds as well. The rescue shared on Facebook that the dog was shot over 50 times down his back as someone stood over him. Harley has had two surgeries to fix a perineal hernia that resulted from the abuse and has since had an extended stay at the vet for additional issues. Both animals' medical bills have surpassed $8,000.

Story continues

RELATED: 305 Dogs Rescued, 20 Arrested in Largest Dogfighting Raid in South Carolina History

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"And is it the same person or are there just many people out there who want to hurt animals? I sure hope not," Paw Patrol Rescue shared. "Please let the right people know if you know anyone who is doing this to animals. You can report them anonymously. And if you see something, say something! The dogs don't have a voice. We are their voice!"

Violet is expected to fully recover by mid-December, after which she will begin to look for her permanent home. Paw Patrol Rescue is accepting donations to help cover Harley and Violet's extensive medical bills. To learn more about the rescue's work, and for updates on both dogs, visit Paw Patrol Rescue's Facebook page.
Texas GOP Rep. Mayra Flores on Wednesday revealed she was denied admission to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), originally founded as a bipartisan grouping of Latino members of Congress.

In a tweet, Flores said the CHCs denial shows the true bias towards the first Mexican-born Congresswoman in U.S. history.

Sebastian Roa, a spokesman for the CHC, responded that the CHCs bylaws have been changed to only allow Democrats.

In 2003, led by Rep. [Mario] Diaz Balart, GOP Members split from the CHC to form the Congressional Hispanic Conference. Per our bylaws, the CHC is now for Democratic Members. Rep. Flores Extreme MAGA values and their attacks on Latinos and our nations democracy on January 6 do not align with CHC values.

The CHCs bylaws changed after another Republican, former Florida Rep. Carlos Curbelo, applied for membership to the group in 2017 and was rejected.

Unlike the relatively summary dismissal of Floress application, Curbelos process dragged on and was ultimately denied after CHC members voted it down.

At the time, Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) told The Hill that bipartisan membership in a caucus like the CHC could present obstacles.

The reality is, just from what Ive heard, well, they might accept Carlos but then theyre going to have to throw him out when theyre dealing with partisan issues, Diaz-Balart told The Hill in 2017. I dont have a problem with that, but the reality is that, in essence, thats why theres been two and why theyre partisan.

Diaz-Balart and a group of Cuban American Republicans split from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in 2003 to form the Congressional Hispanic Conference, amid disagreements over caucus leadership views on policy toward Cuba.

While the caucus has a larger membership than the conference, GOP Hispanic representation has grown over the past few election cycles, and with it the conferences political presence.

In December, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) was named vice chair of the conference, joining Diaz-Balart to lead the group.

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In May, Hispanic Conference leaders announced the launch of the Hispanic Leadership Trust, a PAC designed to protect conference incumbents and to elect more Republican Hispanics to Congress.

According to the Congressional Hispanic Conference website, the group currently has nine members.

Flores, who took office in June, is not listed as a member, and a representative for Flores did not immediately respond to a question regarding her membership in the conference.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A prominent Thai businesswoman has purchased the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, her company announced Wednesday.

Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip is the founder and CEO of the Thailand-based media company JKN Global Groups, which acquired the rights to the pageant from IMG Worldwide, a sports and event company headquartered in New York City.

Shes also a social media influencer with nearly 19 million followers, a reality television personality who has appeared on Thai versions of Project Runway and Shark Tank and a transgender rights advocate who started a foundation that fights for the Thai trans community.

With Wednesdays announcement, she became the first woman to own the 71-year-old pageants, which are among the longest-running televised competitions in the world. Theyre seen by more than half a billion people annually and broadcast in 165 countries around the globe.

We are incredibly honored to be acquiring the Miss Universe Organization and working with its visionary leadership team, Jakrajutatip said in a statement.

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.

According to JKN, the acquisition will build on the pageants legacy, including expanded investment in licensing and merchandising opportunities.

In a message shared on Facebook Wednesday afternoon, Jakrajutatip said she felt so overwhelmed by the millions of Miss Universe fans, some of whom inundated her timeline with memes, emojis and congratulatory words.

Thank you so much everyone once again for your kind messages to me and JKN Team. Were so grateful to have all of you as part of our UNIVERSE family. Youre truly beautiful, brilliant and the Best!!! she wrote. LOVE YOU GUYS!!!
The Tesla Cyberquad for Kids, built by Radio Flyer. Radio Flyer

The Tesla Cybertruck for Kids is being recalled.

The US government said it doesn't meet safety standards for youth ATVs.

Radio Flyer, the company that built the mini electric ATVs, is offering full refunds of the $1,900 purchase price.

Radio Flyer is recalling the Tesla Cyberquad for Kids, a small ATV it built for Tesla.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) determined that the kiddie Cyberquad doesn't comply with federal standards for youth ATVs, including rules governing suspension, tire pressure, age recommendations, and other safety measures.

The toy was designed to look like the Cyberquad, an electric ATV (for adults) that Tesla revealed alongside its Cybertruck pickup truck in 2019, but was built by Radio Flyer (of little-red-wagon fame). Neither the Cybertruck nor the Cyberquad are available to buy yet. According to Radio Flyer, Tesla played a part in the Cyberquad for Kids' overall appearance.

Radio Flyer said it takes "the safety of children very seriously" and is voluntarily recalling the toys.

The $1,900 Cyberquad for Kids popped up on Tesla's online store in time for the 2021 holiday season and quickly sold out. It advertised a 10-mph top speed and a 15-mile range.

The CPSC urges owners to stop using their Cyberquads immediately and apply for a refund from Radio Flyer. It isn't aware of any serious Cyberquad-related injuries, but said that one 36-year-old woman fell off while riding with a child and got a bruised shoulder. Around 5,000 vehicles are included in the voluntary recall, the agency said.

Radio Flyer also sells a Tesla Model S and Model Y for kids.

Read the original article on Business Insider
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Thousands of people Thursday mourned the death of an outspoken Pakistani journalist in the capital as the nation's spy chief and military spokesman demanded an independent investigation into the mysterious killing in Kenya.

Arshad Sharif, 50, was killed Sunday night when the car he was in sped up and drove through a checkpoint outside Nairobi. His body was flown home Wednesday and his funeral took place Thursday in Islamabad. The killing has drawn widespread condemnation in Pakistan.

Pakistan has not launched its own investigation into the killing of the journalist. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan has said, however, that the government will soon send a two-member team of civilian investigators to Kenya to determine the circumstances surrounding the journalists death.

Police in Kenya's capital have issued contradictory statements deepening the mystery behind Sharifs death. Initially, they expressed regret over the incident, saying it was a case of mistaken identity. They said Sharif was killed during a search for a similar car involved in a child abduction case.

Later, police said someone opened fire from Sharif's car, wounding a police officer and officers shot back.

Sharif's family, his friends and Pakistani government officials are demanding a fair investigation. Sharif, 50, left Pakistan in August to avoid arrest following a citizens complaint against him alleging he maligned the countrys national institutions. Most of his friends until his death only knew that he was in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.

Sharifs employer  the private ARY Television in Pakistan  had fired him in August, saying he had violated the TV stations 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 Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif  no relation to the journalist  who ousted his predecessor Imran Khan in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April. The slain journalist was Khans vocal supporter, and Khan has been claiming that he was ousted as part of a U.S.-designed plot, a charge both Washington and the Pakistani government deny.

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As more than 15,000 mourners gathered for Sharif's funeral at the country's largest Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Lt. Gen. Nadeem Ahmed Anjum, the country's spy chief, and military spokesman Lt. Gen. Babar Iftikhar, demanded an investigation. It was the first time in the country's history that its spy chief took part in a news conference.

Anjum told reporters in the garrison city of Rawalpindi that there was no threat to Sharif's life when he left the country in August. Sitting next to him, Iftikhar, the military spokesman, also said the military did not try to stop Sharif from leaving Pakistan from the northwestern city of Peshawar.

Arshad did not want to leave but he was told that his life is in danger," Iftikhar said. Among the questions were why Sharif was in Kenya, where he was traveling with another Pakistani resident, Khurram Ahmed, when their car failed to stop despite being flagged down at the checkpoint.

Anjum, the spy chief, said at the news conference his agency was deliberately distancing itself from any domestic investigation as he wanted an independent probe to accurately conclude why Sharif left Pakistan in September when there was no threat to his life, and why he did not come back after his Dubai visa expired in September.

There should be an impartial and transparent investigation" into this whole matter, Anjum said.

The developments came a day before former prime minister Khan was to begin his much-awaited march on Islamabad to pressure the government to hold snap elections. The government has rejected that demand previously, saying the next parliamentary vote will be held in 2023.

Iftikhar, the military spokesman, said it was Khan's democratic right to hold a rally, but no one would be allowed to destabilize the country.
The Georgia Department of Agricultures Animal Health Division is confirming the Asian Longhorned tick is now in more North Georgia counties.

The tick is native to eastern Asia, according to the GDA. The tick will feed on many hosts, including humans. Female ticks can lay eggs and reproduce without mating, according to the CDC.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The first time Asian Longhorned ticks were confirmed in Georgia was in September of 2021. New information from the GDA shows the ticks are now in Pickens, Hall, White and Habersham Counties.

Theyve been in the U.S. since at least 2018.

While the tick can feed on humans, it appears less attracted to human skin compared to other ticks such as the blacklegged, lone star, and American dog tick, according to the CDC.

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The CDC says the tick has made both people and animals seriously ill in other countries. The CDC cited an experimental study that found this tick is not likely to spread Lyme disease in the U.S.. Another lab study found the tick can carry and spread the bacteria that causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever, however the germs that cause the illness have not yet been found in these ticks in nature, according to the CDC.

If you believe you have found an Asian Longhorned tick, the CDC says you should remove it as quickly as possible, save it in rubbing alcohol in a jar or ziplock bag then contact your health department and department of agriculture for tick identification.

The Georgia Department of Agriculture recommends the following for farmers, foresters and people who visit areas where ticks where ticks are often found:

Wear long pants, with shoes and socks - no flip flops or sandals in these areas.

Check yourself carefully after strolling through likely tick habitats and remove any ticks immediately. If possible, have someone else check the back of your neck and other hard-to-see places.

Check cattle, horses, sheep, goats and other free ranging animals routinely for any kind of ticks and remove immediately.

Work with your veterinarian and extension agent to discuss an appropriate tick strategy for your flock or herd.

Environmental control may include mowing, fencing, and appropriate environmental acaricide application.

While there are no approved insecticides for the ALHT in the U.S., many of the common permethrin preparations used in the country today are effective. Livestock producers must observe tissue withdrawal times for all insect prevention or treatment preparations used in or on food animals.

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On Oct. 4, Elon Musk reversed himself and offered to honor his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion  a deal he had spent the previous several months trying to wriggle out of. He made the latest offer just two weeks before a Twitter lawsuit aimed at forcing Musk to go through with the deal was scheduled to go to trial in Delaware Chancery Court. After receiving Musks offer, Twitter said it intends to close the transaction.

The two parties now have to close the deal Friday. If they don't, the Delaware Chancery Court judge overseeing the case plans to reschedule the trial in November.

If the case has your head spinning, here's a quick guide to the major events in the saga featuring the billionaire Tesla CEO and the social platform.

January 31: Musk starts buying shares of Twitter in near-daily installments, amassing a 5% stake in the company by mid-March.

March 26: Musk, who has tens of millions of Twitter followers and is active on the site, says he is giving serious thought to building an alternative to Twitter, questioning the platform's commitment to free speech and whether Twitter is undermining democracy. He also privately reaches out to Twitter board members including his friend and Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.

March 27: After privately informing Twitter of his growing stake in the company, Musk starts conversations with its CEO and board members about potentially joining the board. Musk also mentions taking Twitter private or starting a competitor, according to later regulatory filings.

April 4: A regulatory filing reveals that Musk has rapidly become the largest shareholder of Twitter after acquiring a 9% stake, or 73.5 million shares, worth about $3 billion.

April 5: Musk is offered a seat on Twitters board on the condition he amass no more than 14.9% of the companys stock. CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet that it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board.

April 9: After exchanging pleasantries and bonding by text message over their love of engineering, a short-lived relationship between Agrawal and Musk sours after Musk publicly tweets Is Twitter dying? and gets a message from Agrawal calling the criticism unhelpful. Musk tersely responds: "This is a waste of time. Will make an offer to take Twitter private.

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April 11: Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announces Musk will not be joining the board after all.

April 14: Twitter reveals in a securities filing that Musk has offered to buy the company outright for about $44 billion.

April 15: Twitters board unanimously adopts a poison pill defense in response to Musks proposed offer, attempting to thwart a hostile takeover.

April 21: Musk lines up $46.5 billion in financing to buy Twitter. Twitter board is under pressure to negotiate.

April 25: Musk reaches a deal to buy Twitter for $44 billion and take the company private. The outspoken billionaire has said he wanted to own and privatize Twitter because he thinks its not living up to its potential as a platform for free speech.

April 29: Musk sells roughly $8.5 billion worth of shares in Tesla to help fund the purchase of Twitter, according to regulatory filings.

May 5: Musk strengthens his offer to buy Twitter with commitments of more than $7 billion from a diverse group of investors including Silicon Valley heavy hitters like Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison.

May 10: In a hint at how he would change Twitter, Musk says hed reverse Twitters ban of former President Donald Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, calling the ban a morally bad decision and foolish in the extreme.

May 13: Musk declares his plan to buy Twitter temporarily on hold. Musk says he needs to pinpoint the number of spam and fake accounts on the social media platform. Shares of Twitter tumble, while those of Tesla rebound sharply.

June 6: Musk threatens to end his $44 billion agreement to buy Twitter, accusing the company of refusing to give him information he requested about its spam bot accounts.

July 8: Musk says he will abandon his offer to buy Twitter after the company failed to provide enough information about the number of fake accounts.

July 12: Twitter sues Musk to force him to complete the deal. Musk soon countersues.

July 19: A Delaware judge says the Musk-Twitter legal dispute will go to trial in October.

August 23: A former head of security at Twitter alleges the company misled regulators about its poor cybersecurity defenses and its negligence in attempting to root out fake accounts that spread misinformation. Musk eventually cites the whistleblower as a new reason to scuttle his Twitter deal.

October 5: Musk offers to go through with his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion. Twitter says it intends to close the transaction after receiving Musks offer.

October 6: Delaware judge delays Oct. 17 trial until November and gives both sides until Oct. 28 to reach agreement to close the deal.

October 20: The Washington Post reports that Musk told prospective Twitter investors that he plans to lay off 75% of the company's 7,500 employees.

Wednesday, October 26: Musk posts a video of himself entering Twitter headquarters carrying a kitchen sink, indicating that the deal is set to go through.

Thursday, October 27: In a message to advertisers, Musk says Twitter won't become a free-for-all hellscape.

Thursday, October 27: Musk ousts CEO Parag Agrawal along with other top executives and takes control of Twitter, according two people familiar with the deal.

Thursday, October 27: Musk tweets the bird is freed
Oct. 26NEW LONDON  Attorney General William Tong went to the city fire department's North Station Wednesday morning to announce that an additional $13.5 million will be going to Connecticut cities and towns from last year's $26 billion national opioid settlement.

Tong thanked the firefighters present at the station, who he said are on the "frontlines of the opioid and addiction crisis," and taking a risk to be there for people in need.

He reminded everybody "this is not about the money. It is people suffering and struggling everyday in a lifetime battle with addiction."

This is the second payment municipalities have received this year. The first payment of $11.1 million was received in July. The settlement money will support opioid treatment and prevention in the state.

The state is set to receive approximately $300 million over the next 18 years through the settlement with opioid distributors Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. Connecticut and other states and territories reached the agreement in 2021.

Of the state's funding, Tong said 15% will be direct payments to cities and towns, about 70% will go directly to the state to distribute and the last 15% will be managed by the state to cover costs such as those related to administering programs.

Tong said an advisory committee of state and local government leaders, health care professionals and advocates will decide where to allocate the settlement funds given to the state.

According to data from the Chief Medical Examiner, there were 1,531 confirmed overdose deaths in Connecticut in 2021, with an increase of 11.4% compared to the previous year. Of those overdose deaths, 93% involved an opioid and 85% involved fentanyl or a fentanyl-related substance.

Also in attendance at the news conference were city Mayor Michael Passero, the city's Human Resource Director Jeanne Milstein, Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Rheaume, State Rep. Anthony Nolan, D-New London and members of the city's Overdose Action Team.

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At the start of the news conference, Milstein said when she was first hired in 2016, the mayor informed her that her first priority was addressing the opioid crisis in the city.

Milstein said the action team was created more than six years ago and consists of numerous non profit providers, police and fire departments, hospitals, state agencies, community members and people who have experienced addiction.

Created in 2018, New London CARES  or Coordinated Access, Resources, Engagement and Support is a part of the action team. CARES, developed by Ledge Light Health District and Alliance for Living in collaboration with the Yale School of Medicine, aims to provide resources and support for people living with a substance use disorder.

Trish Rios, a community health worker and peer navigator, has been with CARES since its inception. Rios said she has experience with addiction and has been in remission for years. Her drugs of use were heroine and cocaine.

Now helping others with addiction, Rios said the team of three navigators work to educate, provide Narcan trainings and transportation to treatments and more. She said they support people in their journeys no matter what that looks like "the good, bad and ugly."

The City of New London received $16,000 from the initial $11 million in funding and is now set to receive $17,000 in the second round.

Passero said the initial payment was spent on naloxone supplies, better known for its brand name Narcan, used to treat narcotic overdoses in an emergency situation. He said the city will put the second round of funding and future ones in a special account to cover future costs. He added some of the settlement money is likely to help fund New London CARES.

"A dedicated fund is essential to ensure a sustainable revenue source to fund opioid related initiatives for years to come," Passero said.

Since the start of this year, Rheaume said EMTs have responded to a total of 179 overdoses with 82 classified as opioid related in New London; and there have been 59 total doses of naloxone administered. He said there may be some incidents where an EMT cannot determine if opioids are a factor.

Rheaume said the number of people receiving naloxone prior to firefighters arriving has risen drastically from previous years. He said this shows CARES is effectively getting naloxone into the community.

In a news release Monday, Senate Republican Leader Pro Tempore Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, who represents New London, said he is deeply grateful to so many across the state for their work fighting the opioid epidemic, including the amazing efforts by New London's Overdose Action Team who work every day to save lives.

"This year Republicans and Democrats came together to pass legislation to safeguard settlement money to ensure it goes to fighting the opioid epidemic," he said. "Last year, we worked together to pass a bipartisan bill to use the New London peer navigator model in other communities across the state. People's lives are in the balance, and Connecticut must continue to push forward with collaborative and comprehensive approaches to end this crisis."

j.vazquez@theday.com
NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Oct. 27, 2022



NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue (pictured) comments on a European judicial decision that legalized blasphemy against Catholics:

Christmas carols were being sung when a woman walked into Mass, ascended to the altar, naked from the waist up, with pro-abortion slogans all over her body. She then proceeded to "abort" Jesus, holding up pieces of calf liver to symbolize an aborted baby. She completed her blasphemous act by urinating on the altar in front of parishioners.

This 2013 stunt occurred in France. Now the European Court of Human Rights has taken her side, saying she was unjustly found guilty by a French court for an unlawful "sexual display." The high court said she was merely engaged in freedom of expression, and should never have been prosecuted. Indeed, it ordered the French courts to pay her more than $9,500 in damages, costs, and expenses.

No one has more fully understood this kind of moral depravity better than Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. He spoke eloquently about the "dictatorship of relativism" taking place in the West, a reference to the absence of objective moral truths. What better example than this high court ruling?

He also warned of the dangerous aspects of multiculturalism. It is not, as some have contended, a way of appreciating cultural diversity. No, from the get-go it has been used as a club to destroy our Judeo-Christian heritage.

The European Court of Human Rights proved its hatred for our heritage when it called this vicious act a "performance."

If this same woman walked into their court, half naked, ascended to the bench, with obscene slogans on her body condemning the judges by name, and then proceeded to defecate on pictures of their mother, would these open-minded wizards call this freedom of expression?

Here's more proof of their animus against Catholicism. Four years ago it upheld the conviction of a lecturer in Austria who called Mohammad a pedophile for having a sexual relationship with a 9-year-old girl named Aisha.

This court has no legitimacy. It should be disbanded.

Contact Robert Spano, president of the European Court of Human Rights: Robert.Spano@echr.coe.int
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson greets a supporter as he holds an event announcing his candidacy for Chicago mayor at Seward Park on Oct. 27, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

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Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson will run for Chicago mayor, adding another progressive challenger to the field of 2023 candidates and raising the prospect of a rematch between the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.

Johnsons announcement early Thursday is not a surprise. At a recent forum in Logan Square for progressive contenders, Johnson repeatedly said when Im mayor in response to questions and he has long been considered a possible candidate for the post. Johnson, a longtime CTU leader, first won public office in 2018, when in the Democratic primary he defeated Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, who earned the ire of organized labor by voting against the countys soda tax.

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In a release formally announcing Johnsons candidacy, he highlighted his background as a teacher and held a news conference later Thursday near Jenner School, where he started his career in education before Jenner merged with Ogden International School.

As a teacher, I experienced the painful impact of disinvestment on my students and their families, and this personal experience  seeing children endure inequity  is what fuels my commitment to building a stronger, safer and more equitable Chicago, Johnson said.

[Whos in, whos out and whos thinking about running for Chicago mayor]

His entry into the race potentially complicates the political calculus for U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, who is also considering a run for mayor. Garcia was the teachers unions chosen candidate in 2015 and helped push Mayor Rahm Emanuel into the citys first runoff. Although Garcia has much higher name recognition among Chicago voters, he would have to find backing elsewhere if he enters the race.

In an interview with the Tribune Thursday, Johnson said Garcia 40 years ago, laid some groundwork for the moment that were experiencing right now, but Johnson added that progressives in this city have aligned themselves with the progressive candidate, and they have decided that he best reflects their desires.

Talks are ongoing with the local Service Employees International Union chapter, one of the citys other most powerful progressive unions, Johnson says. Both SEIU and CTU lined up behind Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkles mayoral bid in 2019.

These workers are my colleagues, I served alongside them in school buildings, Im one of them. These are family conversations, Johnson said.

In Johnsons time on the county board, hes pushed a measure making it illegal to refuse to show or rent property to people with certain criminal records. He also drafted a symbolic resolution that supported diverting money from policing in the wake of nationwide protests demanding police budgets be defunded.

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Lightfoots campaign aimed to portray Johnson as a one-note candidate.

Theres no shortage of ambitious politicians trying to advance their own career right now, and well put up Mayor Lightfoots progressive achievements versus Brandon Johnsons thin resume any day of the week, the Lightfoot camp said in a statement following Johnsons announcement. In the case of Johnson, his campaign stands on one platform and one only: to defund the police department entirely. Its easy to talk about what you would do  its another thing to be in the arena, doing the work every day to keep our city moving forward.

Johnson said such comments are typical from the mayor. She has a very narrow view of the world, doesnt understand that my work predates the fact that Ive just been a Cook County commissioner. He cited his time as a teacher and an organizer with CTU, where he worked on the successful campaign to bring an elected school board to Chicago, to boost funding to CPS and the 2012 strike. Lightfoots response shows you how disconnected she is with working people ... (and) the fact that shes intimidated by the work. And its why her workdays going to end in a few months.

Johnson has long been a critic of the citys political establishment. At the recent forum, for instance, the candidates were asked about how to make Chicago a place where Black residents can thrive.

Can we just be honest? They dont want Black people here, Johnson said, before listing policies he says drove that population out, such as demolishing public housing and closing schools. And every administration has been willing to do that, whether its calling for shoot to kill or raising bridges. Its a wicked and unjust system.

Johnson enters a crowded field that includes Lightfoot, Ald. Sophia King, activist JaMal Green, Ald. Roderick Sawyer, former CPS chief Paul Vallas, state Rep. Kambium Kam Buckner, Ald. Raymond Lopez and businessowner Willie Wilson.

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Stacy Davis Gates, center, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, stands among the supporters of Brandon Johnson as he announces his candidacy for the mayor at Seward Park on Oct. 27, 2022. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Earlier this fall, Johnson, a former social studies teacher, picked up the endorsement of the CTU, which contributed $59,900 to Johnsons political fund. The American Federation of Teachers has said it would provide him with $1 million for his race and the Illinois Federation of Teachers has contributed $150,000.

Asked how he would balance the interests of the CTU with the citys, he told the Tribune that while he would bring all sectors together, there is no conflict of interest involving the union. How is it that if youre part of a labor movement that you miss the fact that were also taxpayers and that were parents?

Johnsons entry into the race presents a significant challenge for Lightfoot, who has long wrangled with CTU and other progressive heavyweights during her first term. She presided over an 11-day strike teachers strike in 2019 and multiple rounds of standoffs with the union during the COVID-19 pandemic over her plan to return to in-person schooling.

Lightfoot has also placed herself at odds with progressives over criminal justice, refusing to cater to the defund the police movement following the 2020 murder of George Floyd and often criticizing Cook County courts for what she said was a lack of consequences for violent offenders.

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While many progressives will oppose her candidacy, Lightfoot will also try to argue that shes been a progressive mayor.

Though she abandoned some high-profile promises supported by progressives, such as the elected school board plan that passed in Springfield, she has quietly built a strong relationship with some labor leaders who appreciate her record on worker issues.

In her first few months as mayor in 2019, Lightfoot pushed through the fair workweek ordinance that requires large Chicago employers to give workers at least two weeks notice of their schedules and compensate them for last-minute changes. Later that year, Lightfoot passed her first budget, which set the stage for a $15 minimum wage long sought by local unions.

She reached a compromise with aldermen to create an elected civilian police oversight agency  albeit with far weaker powers than she campaigned on  and closed loopholes in Chicagos Welcoming City ordinance to prohibit police from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to deport immigrants living in the country without legal permission who have criminal backgrounds.

This story has been corrected to say the American Federation of Teachers has pledged $1 million Johnsons campaign.
The Biden administration took its first tangential steps to punish Iranian officials blamed for orchestrating crackdowns on protesters in the country in an order from the US Treasury extending sanctions to two Revolutionary Guard officials.

Protests have continued across Iran in one of the most defiant shows of resistance against the government in decades following the death of a young woman in police custody; the woman, Mahsa Amini, was detained for not properly wearing a traditional head covering.

A Treasury bulletin announced the news Wednesday morning, declaring the sanctions a show of the United States commitment to support the Iranian peoples call for accountability and justice, as well as their right to freely exchange information, including online.

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 Under Secretary Brian Nelson.

The United States is imposing new sanctions on Iranian officials overseeing organizations involved in violent crackdowns and killings, including of children, as part of our commitment to hold all levels of the Iranian government accountable for its repression.

Among those sanctioned were two Guard officials, intelligence chief Mohammad Kazemi and deputy commander for operations Abbas Nilforushan. Several regional officials, including the governor of the Sistan and Baluchistan province, were also hit with sanctions.

Its a relatively minor move by the administration but signals that the White House and broader administration may be done with any effort to allay the feelings of Tehranian officials in order to seek a return to the status quo which was constructed by the Obama administration with the signing of a multi-state nuclear accord in 2015.

The Biden administration announced plans to seek a resumption of that agreement after taking office in 2021, infuriating both conservatives as well as some more hawkish members of Joe Bidens own party while delighting progressives who saw the agreement as the best shot at avoiding armed conflict with Iran to avert the possibility of it obtaining nuclear weapons. Conservative Democrats on Capitol Hill made no effort to conceal their opposition to the Obama-negotiated JCPOA, including the former top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel.

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The deal appears to be doomed, at least for the time being. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters flatly at a recent press conference earlier in October that the administration didnt predict any movement on negotiations any time soon, giving the impression that talks had stalled completely.

Adding to the difficulty of the Biden administrations efforts was the so-called maximum pressure campaign of sanctions that the Trump administration pursued for several years. Those damaging economic measures are strongly supported by hawks on Capitol Hill as well as opponents of the Iranian government such as the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).

The NCRIs deputy Washington office director called the Biden administrations move welcome and long overdue on Wednesday and called for the imposition of additional punitive political, diplomatic, and commercial sanctions against the Iranian regime.
Wearing my trusty Gore-Tex rain jacket on the way to Everest base camp. Aleenah Ansari

I recently went on a two-week trek to Everest base camp with my dad and aunt.

I fit everything into a backpack and duffel bag, and planned carefully for cold and rainy weather.

Here's everything I brought with me, from lightweight long-sleeves to a filtering water bottle.

In September, I went on a two-week trek to Everest base camp in Nepal, which sits at an altitude of 17,598 feet.

Mount Everest in Nepal is the highest mountain in the world. Shutterstock/Vixit

I've spent most of my summers hiking in the Pacific Northwest near my home in Seattle, and hiked almost 100 miles along the West Highland Way in Scotland three years ago, but I'd never gone on a trek with such a major elevation gain as Everest. Luckily, I was joined on the trip by my dad and aunt, who'd both trekked to the base camp of K2, the world's second highest mountain only to Everest, in 2018.

The trek up to Everest base camp from the starting point in the city of Kathmandu takes nine days. This includes two rest and acclimatization days where you hike to around 3,000 feet to train your body to adjust to the elevation gain, and seven days of trekking for five to eight hours a day. Each night, we stayed indoors in tea houses along the trail, which are modest accommodations offering cots, a hot meal, showers, and electricity to charge your devices.

Although we'd planned to trek down afterwards, which typically takes three days, we only did one way of trekking to a lower base camp and then took a helicopter to return to Kathmandu because of an impending storm in the Himalayas.

Since my aunt and dad had more trekking experience than me and had learned a few do's and don'ts in the process, I followed their tips on what to pack.

When packing for a trek to Everest base camp, it's important to consider the weather, rising altitude, and weight limits on the luggage you can bring.

We were each allowed a 10-pound day back and a 22-pound duffle bag. Aleenah Ansari

We did our trek with Himalayan Wonders, which provided a trek guide as well as porters who carried our duffel bags between the tea houses where we stayed overnight along the way.

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On our trek, we were allowed to bring a 10-pound daypack, which we carried with us on day-to-day trekking, and a 22-pound duffel bag. We knew the weather in the Himalayas could be unpredictable, and that it was important to prepare for rain with lightweight layers and waterproof gear.

For long days of trekking, durable waterproof hiking boots were a must.

These Oboz hiking boots kept my feet warm and ankles protected. Aleenah Ansari

As someone who hikes every summer in the Pacific Northwest, I've tried a lot of hiking boots. For this trip, I knew I needed to invest in a well-fitted, waterproof hiking boot with ankle support to minimize the risk of falling while navigating rocky terrain and hills in the Himalayas.

I chose the Sawtooth X Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots from Oboz, which cost $165. They were sturdy and kept my feet protected, and I was pleased to notice that they dried quickly even after wading through puddles and mud. Although hiking boots can be pricey, I think these are worth the investment as a regular hiker  footwear issues were the last thing I wanted to deal with on a two-week trek.

I made sure to try on my new boots at an REI store with thick socks before deciding on the size, and followed the clerk's recommendation to go a half-size up from my typical shoe size to allow for more wiggle room.

Retractable hiking poles helped me find and keep my footing on the trails.

Hiking poles offered support and helped me avoid falling in slippery areas. Aleenah Ansari

Despite being an avid hiker, I'm still prone to clumsiness on trails. On this trek, I benefited from having retractable hiking poles, which my aunt and dad recommended from their experience hiking K2.

Having hiking poles helped me find my footing during rocky and steep portions of the hike, especially when paths were narrow. Plus, they were easy to collapse and attach to my backpack when I wasn't using them. If you don't have room in your suitcase to bring your own poles, I recommend buying some at the shops in Kathmandu and donating them to future trekkers after the trip.

Merino wool tops were my staple base layer for each day of trekking.

I brought several long-sleeve tops to layer under my rain jacket. Aleenah Ansari

The best way to stay warm is to layer, so I brought several long-sleeve, merino wool tops that kept me warm and comfortable during long days of hiking. I'd bought a few of these shirts when I trekked through the Scottish Highlands three years ago, as they were highly recommended by other seasoned hikers because merino wool is a breathable material that still keeps you warm.

I rotated between a few of these shirts and wore them two to three times each, since we only had access to laundry early on in the trek. Because the shirts are so lightweight, I was also able to dedicate more space in my duffel to additional jackets and layers.

I relied on Alcala deodorizing wipes and baby wipes to stay fresh.

These deodorizing wipes were useful since hot showers weren't always available. Aleenah Ansari trek

On this trek, we stayed at indoor tea houses every night, where we were reunited with our duffel bags, ate a hot meal, and had time to refresh before the next day. While many of the tea houses offered hot showers, we knew they'd be pricey and less common as we got higher in altitude because it's expensive to transport materials up the Himalayas, so we didn't count on being able to shower in the latter days of the trek.

I used these deodorizing body wipes each night after hiking, which helped me feel refreshed before bed. I'm planning to keep these in my daypack for future hikes, and also I think they're great to pack for camping or multi-day backpacking.

I also brought a 60-pack of baby wipes in my day pack, which I used to clean my hands or use the restroom, since toilet paper was rarely available along the trek or in the communal restrooms in the tea houses. I also used a multi-purpose soap wash, the Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash, for soap, shampoo, and laundry detergent. It's very concentrated, so I was able to share the 1-ounce bottle with my family and still had plenty left over.

Sock liners and Darn Tough socks got me through long days of trekking.

These Darn Tough were comfortable and added a pop of color to my hiking outfits. Aleenah Ansari

To ensure that I could get the most use out of my heavier Darn Tough hiking socks, I also bought these liner socks that I changed daily. This combo helped protect my feet in the cold and snow, and I liked that the Darn Tough socks added a little pop of color to my otherwise monochrome outfits.

In addition to having good socks, I also used medical tape to help avoid blisters, and kept blister bandages in a variety of sizes on hand just in case. Thankfully, the medical tape prevented blisters so I didn't have to use any bandages.

I took a fleece zip-up that I could put on and take off depending on the temperature.

I wore this fleece jacket as a secondary layer between my rain jacket and merino wool long-sleeves. Aleenah Ansari

While trekking, my body temperature could go from warm to shivering depending on the altitude and terrain, so I always kept this fleece zip-up jacket on me. By layering the jacket over a merino base layer and with a waterproof jacket on top, I was ready for any weather.

The jacket has convenient zippered pockets where I kept my phone, headphones, and hand sanitizer within reach while trekking. I also wore this zip-up in the tea houses since they usually weren't heated.

A portable battery was essential for keeping my phone charged.

I brought a battery pack to charge my devices. Aleenah Ansari

Most tea houses will charge your phone or battery pack for a fee, which goes up as you reach higher elevations, so I relied on a portable battery pack to charge my phone, Apple Watch, and Bluetooth headphones. It lasted me a few days on each charge, and I had to spend less money individually charging each of my devices.

I appreciated the handsfree nature of my Bluetooth headphones to listen to my favorite podcasts with ease, but I wish I'd brought wired headphones as a backup pair that I wouldn't have had to worry about charging.

I brought a lightweight pair of gloves to keep my hands warm as the temperature dropped.

These gloves kept my hands warm and helped me have a better grip on the hiking poles. Aleenah Ansari

While hiking I wore a lightweight pair of merino gloves made of a soft, brushed fabric with silicone grips. They kept my hands warm, and the grips also helped me keep a better grasp on my hiking poles. They're also touchscreen friendly and were easy to fit in my pocket when I wasn't using them.

Although these were more expensive than the gloves I usually buy from Target, they held up great during the trek and I think they'll last for quite a while  I plan to use them this winter in Seattle.

Having waterproof gear gave me peace of mind when it rained.

I used a waterproof backpack cover over my day pack when it rained. Aleenah Ansari

As a Seattleite I'm no stranger to rain, but I'd never bought a proper rain jacket until I started hiking regularly. This Gore-Tex jacket from Outdoor Research was perfect for Everest because it was lightweight and waterproof, and also dried relatively quickly and protected me from the wind chill. I'll definitely get more use out of this jacket at home, and I liked the bright color because it was easy for my family and guide to spot me if I was hiking ahead of them.

To be fully prepared for rain or snow, I used a waterproof backpack cover to cover my day pack so it wouldn't get soaked. I also packed a rain poncho in my backpack for days with heavier downpour, but the rain was never too bad so I was able to get by with my Gore-Tex jacket and backpack cover alone. I usually wore rain paints on days when rain was forecasted, which also kept me warm while hiking at higher elevations.

I stayed hydrated with a filtering water bottle and Liquid IV.

I used this water bottle with a purifying filter throughout the trek. Aleenah Ansari

I drank between half a gallon and a full gallon of water each day of the trek to maintain energy and prevent altitude sickness. I stayed hydrated with this water bottle that doubles as a water purifier, and removes most waterborne pathogens, pesticides, and chemicals from tap water.

This bottle proved to be greatly cost effective and helped me limit waste from using plastic water bottles, since I was able to fill it with tap water at the tea houses and restaurants where we ate lunch. I did end up buying bottled water when we got to the last few tea houses and at Base Camp, because our guide said that the tap water may not be safe to drink.

I also brought this liquid IV powder in the tangerine and guava flavors, which I added to my water to ensure I was getting enough electrolytes and help prevent cramps after hours of hiking.

I downloaded a few ebooks on my phone to read during downtime.

I filled downtime in the evenings by reading ebooks on my phone. Aleenah Ansari

I love reading, and I knew I wanted to bring some new books with me on the trek. Because of the weight limit on duffel bags, I decided to leave behind physical books and stick to e-books that I could read on my phone.

I checked out a few e-books from my library through the Libby app, which kept me busy after dinner and during downtime. I finished one of them, "A Place for Us" by Fatima Farheen Mirza, in just two days, which put me ahead of schedule on my reading goals for the year.

Ultimately, I'm glad I had all the essentials I needed to layer up, stay dry, and enjoy downtime on the trek.

A group photo of me, my aunt and dad, and our guide and porter for the Everest base camp trek. Aleenah Ansari

Although I was initially worried about the uncertainty of trekking the Himalayas, having the right supplies for rainy and windy weather gave me peace of mind for whatever we'd encounter. I'm glad that I got to experience this adventure of a lifetime with my family, and I plan to reuse a lot of these items on future treks.

Read the original article on Insider
Dir: Ruben Ostlund. Starring: Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Dolly de Leon, Zlatko BuriA, Henrik Dorsin, Vicki Berlin, Woody Harrelson. 15, 147 minutes.

This years Palme dOr winner, Triangle of Sadness, is a class satire atop a river of vomit and faeces. A handful of the ultra-rich  among them a tech bro, a grenade manufacturer, and a (literal) manure peddler  have sailed off on a luxury cruise aboard a $250m yacht. They expect a captains dinner, but the captain himself (Woody Harrelsons Thomas Smith, effortlessly chaotic) has remained too drunk to make an appearance until the one day choppy seas are predicted. What happens next is a raging hurricane of bodily functions. A few spittles choked out quietly in the corners of the dining room build up to more thunderous chunks. The torrent calms, only for the guests to realise that the yachts plumbing is now unsalvageably backed up.

Im happy to admit that I found all of the above  from the first upchuck to the last  completely hilarious. Writer-director Ruben Ostlunds modus operandi is, in short, to state familiar truths in the silliest, basest, and most confrontational of ways. Hes king of our own discomfort, pushing schadenfreude to such extremes that we start to feel a bit monstrous for laughing. Force Majeure (2014) featured a man ready to abandon his own family when his fight-or-flight response kicked in; The Square (2017) saw a room of wealthy art patrons willingly terrorised by a man pretending to be a chimpanzee.

But, that one already notorious sequence aside, Triangle of Sadness feels a little like gnashing at air. The targeted ideals of Ostlunds previous films, such as Force Majeures male fragility and The Squares art-world pretension, felt specific and well-honed. In fact, they share much in common with Triangle of Sadnesss initial, strongest chapter. A couple  models Carl (Harris Dickinson) and Yaya (Charlbi Dean, who died suddenly in August)  head out to dinner. When the bill arrives, Yaya barely flinches. Shed promised to pay yesterday and, clearly, this is some sort of ongoing charade of hers. Carl has reached his limit. They argue, ferociously. Dickinson and Deans taut but subtle performances craft wonderfully hypocritical characters. The pair are interlopers to massive wealth, neither being enormously rich themselves, and seem bewildered by the responsibility it entails. Carl, repeatedly, asks Yaya what he  as a self-proclaimed good guy  should do. She shrugs. It doesnt seem like she cares.

Ostlund views these two, and the rest of the yachts guests, as theoretically obsessed with surrendering their power. Carl and Yaya engage in sexual foreplay where she pretends to be the lady of the house, he the lucky pool boy. Vera (Sunnyi Melles), wife of the manure-wealthy Russian oligarch (Zlatko BuriAs Dimitry), commands the crew to reverse roles with her. Dimitry and Captain Smith, a Marxist, debate their respective ideologies by launching quotations at each other. They find it funny. For them, theres no real stake.

Triangle of Sadness, then, grants these people their idle wishes. In a surprise final act, the social hierarchy is upturned and the yachts Filipina toilet manager Abigail (Dolly de Leon, a highlight) finds herself at its apex. But the new norm simply becomes as exploitative as the old, which renders everything that happened before a touch pointless. Is this all Ostlund really has to say? That were all as bad as each other, wherever we are in the pecking order, and that knowing what oppression feels like counts for nought? If so, it doesnt feel like hes risen that much above Captain Smith, trading shallow barbs with the same elite hes happy to coddle.

Triangle of Sadness is in cinemas from 28 October
NEW YORK (AP)  A trusted friend of Donald Trump whos facing federal foreign influence charges testified Thursday that dozens of people asked him for help in getting pardons from the former president.

Tom Barrack also told a jury at a trial in New York City that he never sought a pardon for himself, even after he learned he was under investigation for allegedly acting as a secret foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates.

Asked why, Barrack responded, I never did anything wrong.

Barrack, 75, didnt name anyone he supported for a pardon. But he was a close associate of Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was convicted in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation and later pardoned by Trump.

Barrack is a California private equity mogul and onetime chair of Trumps inaugural committee. He has denied charges that he used his access to Trump to provide confidential information about the Republican administration to the UAE to advance the Emirates foreign policy and business interests.

Much of the governments case has focused on emails and other back-channel communications between Barrack and his high-level leaders in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Prosecutors say those communications show how Barrack and his contacts conspired over how to win over Trump at a time when UAE officials were rewarding the financier by pouring tens of millions of dollars into his business ventures.

Under questioning by one of his lawyers that began Monday, Barrack sought to make a case that all his interactions with UAE leaders and Trump were part of legitimate effort to promote understanding and tolerance in the Middle East, including getting to Trump to tone down his anti-Muslim rhetoric. He said he also consulted with Manafort and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, someone he described as brilliant.

On cross-examination on Thursday, Barrack acknowledged that he played up his relationship with Trump to get a meeting with UAE national security advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and other leaders in the region. But he repeated denials that there was anything underhanded about his behavior.

Before being indicted, Barrack drew attention by raising $107 million for Trumps inaugural celebration following the 2016 election. The event was scrutinized both for its lavish spending and for attracting foreign officials and businesspeople looking to lobby the new administration.

Barrack's cross-examination as the last defense witness is set to continue on Monday. Closing arguments are expected later next week.
Former President Donald Trump is set to help a fellow Republican in Florida campaigning for reelection in next months election.

That Republican, however, may not be Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump declined to send him an invite to a rally set for two days before Election Day in Miami.

Trump on Wednesday announced a rally Nov. 6 to support Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who he frequently insulted in the Republican campaign for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

A Trump adviser told Politico that DeSantis  who is also running for reelection in the November midterm  is not attending the rally. The adviser added that theres no bad blood between the two, both leading potential 2024 presidential candidates.

Sources told CNN, however, that Trump has complained about DeSantis and indicated he was ungrateful to Trump, who believes he is responsible for DeSantis success in 2018.

A person familiar with DeSantis circle told the news outlet that rally snub was an elbow to Rons throat.

The lack of an invite comes days after Trump used his social media platform to criticize DeSantis for a big mistake of endorsing anti-Trump Republican Joe ODea for U.S. Senate in Colorado.

DeSantis did not ask for the former presidents endorsement this year, and refused to commit to serving a full term as governor during a debate on Monday.

HuffPost has reached out to DeSantis and Trump representatives for further comment.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
Donald Trump has announced four rallies for the home stretch of the midterm elections, taking him to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and Iowa. He will campaign alongside various Republican candidates but is snubbing several others  including those fighting competitive races in Arizona, Georgia and Nevada.

However, his Florida rally will apparently not feature Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered his most viable opponent in a hypothetical Republican 2024 presidential primary. Mr DeSantis himself is up for re-election but is expected to have no trouble winning his race against former governor Charlie Crist.

The former president also shared a post on Truth Social in which Megyn Kelly says she thinks the Republican base wouldnt leave Mr Trump to support anyone else unless he picked them personally.

Meanwhile, Mr Trumps attorneys have received the January 6 committees subpoena compelling the former president to appear for deposition by 14 November and turn over relevant documents.

The news comes after Mark Meadows, who served as Mr Trumps chief of staff at the end of his presidency, failed in his latest attempt to avoid testifying to Georgia investigators looking into the former presidents efforts to pressure state officials into overturning the 2020 election.

Key points

Trump shares Megyn Kelly rant blasting DeSantiss 2024 chances

18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump gleefully shared comments made by former Fox News anchor and Trump nemesis Megyn Kelly dismissing the chances of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in 2024.

The former president shared the comments which were included in Dave Rubins podcast after Ms Kelly initially made them on The Rubin Report on 16 October.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump shares Megyn Kelly rant blasting DeSantiss 2024 prospects

Story continues

Justice Kagan blocks Jan 6 subpoena for Arizona GOP officials phone records

17:56 , Oliver O'Connell

US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has temporarily blocked a subpoena from the House committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol seeking phone records for an Arizona Republican Party official who joined a scheme to falsely declare Donald Trump the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Justice Kagan issued an administrative stay on 26 October, giving the full court a chance to weigh in on the decision.

Alex Woodward reports.

Justice Kagan blocks Jan 6 subpoena for Arizona GOP officials phone records

Trump-flavoured violence rears its head in advance of midterm elections

17:15 , Andrew Naughtie

More than 40 per cent of voters are now worried about threats of violence or intimidation at the ballot box this year, according to polling from Reuters. The same survey found that 67 per cent of voters are worried about post-election violence  and an elections task force at the US Department of Justice also found that Arizona, Michigan and Pennsylvania are all particular hotbeds for threats against election workers.

There is no direct connection between Donald Trump and the sometimes armed vigilante groups that are cropping up to defend the integrity of the midterm elections, but as Alex Woodward writes, the rhetoric and tactics of these groups carry a distinct echo of January 6  and of the lies Mr Trump has told about the 2020 election since before it was even held.

Read more:

Armed vigilantes and conspiracy theorists threaten to disrupt midterm elections

ICYMI: Mark Meadows ordered to testify in Georgia

16:51 , Andrew Naughtie

A judge in South Carolina ruled that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must testify before a grand jury in an investigation about Republican attempts to interfere in Georgias 2020 election, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .

Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller denied Mr Meadowss attempt to stop a petition to stop him from testifying in an investigation advised by Fulton Countys district attorney. Mr Miller said that going to Atlanta would not present an undue hardship.

Well, you have eloquently enumerated your arguments, which I think perhaps an appellate court can review, but based on whats before me today Im going to find that the witness is material and necessary to the investigation, Mr Miller told Mr Meadowss attorney James Bannister.

Eric Garcia has the story:

Judge rules that Mark Meadows must testify in Georgia election meddling probe

Analysis: Why Trump isnt campaigning in important states

16:15 , Andrew Naughtie

In todays Inside Washington dispatch, Eric Garcia takes a look at Donald Trumps latest midterm campaign rally itinerary, which includes stops in relatively safe Iowa and Florida but ignores Georgia, Nevada and Arizona.

As ever, it seems the logic underpinning the plans revolves around Mr Trump alone:

While rumors floated that Trump would head to Georgia to campaign with Herschel Walker after his debate with Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock, those plans never came to fruition  for good reason. With the exception of Walker, many of the Georgia Republicans that Trump endorsed fell flat, including both David Perdues challenge to Governor Brian Kemp and Jody Hices challenge to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Instead of helping out in vital races, Trump is focusing on states where he can brag about being undefeated in primary endorsements.

Read the full analysis below.

Trump is holding rallies in some strange places during the midterms. Heres why

Fanone speaks at Jan 6 rioters sentencing

15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Sentencing is underway in the case of Albuquerque Head (his real name), who has been found guilty of multiple offences at the January 6 riot. Among them is participating in the assault on police officer Michael Fanone, who has since spoken out many times about the brutality he and his fellow officers faced on the day  and who has been addressing the court today:

Officer Michael Fanone is speaking now at Al Head's sentencing



Fanone: "What Mr. Head did was restrain me, choke me and drag me out into the vicious crowd"  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 27, 2022

Fanone is recounting how Head said "I got one" ... while "dragging me out in the vicious crowd"  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 27, 2022

Fanone: "There's many people who see my public appearances and the prominence I've gained.. as somehow a celebrated level of success. It is not. I would trade all of this attention to return to policing. But I can't do that"  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 27, 2022

Fanone: "Your honor, I would ask you to show Mr. Head the same mercy he showed me on January 6"



Fanone asks judge to sentence Head to the maximum  Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 27, 2022

Tucker Carlson firing up election lies in advance of 8 November

15:15 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trumps relentless lying about the theft of the 2020 election began well before that election was even held, and has not stopped in the two years since. And just as last time, the same sort of groundwork is being laid for any Democratic victories in important 2022 races to be violently disputed from the right:

Tucker is priming his viewers to reject Democratic victories in November as fraudulent pic.twitter.com/Jh8dnx3HXZ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 27, 2022

Can Trump run again in 2024?

14:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Losing to Joe Biden in November 2020 may have dented Donald Trumps pride, but it now seems almost certain that he will run again for the White House in 2024.

Mr Trump has not stopped fundraising since moving from Washington DC to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, amassing a war chest of well over $100m with which he can help boost Republicans who backed his Big Lie to defeat those in the GOP who did not.

And Mr Trump has been back out on the road this year ahead of the midterm elections. Hes been holding MAGA rallies in state after state with candidates hes endorsed, insisting to crowds that he did not legitimately lose to Mr Biden and repeatedly hinting that he plans on avenging his defeat by running again.

So what, if anything, could stop him?

Heres an analysis from Graeme Massie and Gustaf Kilander:

Can Trump run again in the 2024 election?

Trump finally receives Jan 6 subpoena  report

14:16 , Andrew Naughtie

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have formally accepted service of a subpoena commanding the ex-president to provide documents and give evidence before the House January 6 select committee next month.

According to Politico, the select committees subpoena for the ex-president was received on Wednesday by Matthew Sarelson, an attorney for Mr Trump with the Dhillon Law Group.

The report that Mr Trumps team has accepted the panels compulsory process comes just days after it was issued by the select committees chairman, Representative Bennie Thompson of Mississippi.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Trump attorneys receive Jan 6 committee subpoena, report says

Trump claims people voted 28 times in 2020

13:45 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump gave an interview yesterday to Dinesh DSouza, the longtime right-wing conspiracy merchant whose documentary 2000 Mules propagates numerous debunked claims about the supposed theft of the 2020 election. And in the course of their discussion, Mr Trump came out with an alarming figure: apparently, some people who took part in the last election voted up to 28 times in a day.

In a new interview, Trump says he heard that some people went back and voted up to 28 times on the same day in 2020. pic.twitter.com/5Z5ZxjEm5C  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) October 26, 2022

Palin: Trump has nothing to hide from Jan 6 panel

13:15 , Andrew Naughtie

At a four-way debate in Alaskas ranked-choice congressional election campaign, former governor and early Trump presidential endorser Sarah Palin was asked what she thought of the January 6 committees subpoena for Donald Trumps testimony. Her response? Subpoena away!

In her view, Mr Trump committed no crime and has nothing to hide. Whether he will actually comply with the subpoena and testify on 14 November, however, is not yet clear.

Palin: Knowing President Trump as I do.. hes probably saying bring it on. Subpoena away because he has nothing to hide. pic.twitter.com/z0OXID1slM  Acyn (@Acyn) October 27, 2022

Trump teasing 2024 run with Iowa rally

12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa ahead of the 8 November midterms, to headline a rally for Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley.

The event, set for 3 November in Sioux City, the hub of Iowas conservative northwest, comes as Trump has continued to tease interest in a White House comeback campaign as he has campaigned around the country for Republican candidates.

Returning to Iowa, where the 2024 Republican presidential caucuses are scheduled to launch the GOP nominating sequence, would likely further stoke speculation of Trumps future.

Trump to rally in Iowa ahead of Nov. 8 as he teases 2024

Trump attorneys in possession of Jan 6 committee subpoena, report says

12:15 , Andrew Naughtie

service of a subpoena commanding the ex-president to provide documents and give evidence before the House January 6 select committee next month.

According to Politico, the select committees subpoena for the ex-president was received on Wednesday by Matthew Sarelson, an attorney for Mr Trump with the Dhillon Law Group.

Andrew Feinberg has the story.

Trump attorneys receive Jan 6 committee subpoena, report says

Meadows must testify in Georgia election meddling probe, judge rules

11:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A judge in South Carolina ruled that former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must testify before a grand jury in an investigation about Republican attempts to interfere in Georgias 2020 election, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported .

Circuit Court Judge Edward Miller denied Mr Meadowss attempt to stop a petition to stop him from testifying in an investigation advised by Fulton Countys district attorney. Mr Miller said that going to Atlanta would not present an undue hardship.

Eric Garcia reports.

Judge rules that Mark Meadows must testify in Georgia election meddling probe

Woodward: Trump refers to himself 100 times for every time he shows concern for American people

10:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward, the author of three books about Donald Trump and a new audiobook of recordings of their conversations, says the former presidents narcissism was evident throughout those interviews.

Speaking on CNN on Tuesday, Mr Woodward elaborated on what he observed during his lengthy interactions with Mr Trump over his presidency.

Trump refers to himself 100 times for every mention of American people, Woodward says

Trump could not spell Middle East says former donor and ally

09:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A California billionaire and known ally of Donald Trump maintained his innocence on charges of illegal lobbying on behalf of United Arab Emirates officials while criticising the former presidents awareness on foreign affairs.

Tom Barrack, 75, stood trial at a Brooklyn federal courtroom on Monday and Tuesday, where he and his legal team are fighting off charges that he used his position as chairman of Trumps inaugural fund to influence US foreign policy in the early days of the administration.

Johanna Chisholm has the story.

Trump ally says ex-president inept on foreign affairs, couldnt spell Middle East

Trump Jr calls stroke victim John Fetterman brain dead in nasty attack

08:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump Jr suggested that Pennsylvania Democrat candidate John Fetterman was brain dead after the lieutenant governor, who suffered a stroke in May, clashed with his Republican opponent in a highly anticipated debate on Tuesday.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar has the story.

Trump Jr calls stroke victim John Fetterman brain dead in nasty attack

Trump says Bob Woodward had no right to release recordings of them

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday lunchtime to complain about veteran journalist Bob Woodwards recent release of his recorded conversations with the former president.

Mr Trump wrote: As he fully understands, writer Bob Woodward never got my permission to release tapes of my various interviews with him. Those tapes were allowed only for purposes of making sure that he got my quotes & statements correct for the WRITTEN WORD, in other words, for his, nevertheless, highly inaccurate book.

Trump says Bob Woodward had no right to release recordings of their conversations

Trump pressed Arizona GOP Senate candidate to keep pushing big lie

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Abe Asher has the story.

Trump pressed Arizona GOP Senate candidate to push big lie, documentary reveals

Liz Cheney predicts Trump 2024 nomination would shatter GOP into two parties

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Liz Cheney has a dire outlook for the GOP if Donald Trump were to run for president and win the partys nomination in 2024.

The conservative Wyoming congresswoman says the divides in her party are too deep to endure another run by the ex-president. Speaking on Meet the Press this past Sunday, she warned that they would be stressed to their breaking points should he do so.

John Bowden reports.

Liz Cheney predicts Trump would shatter GOP into two parties if he is 2024 nominee

Biden has done the impossible on Ukraine says ex-Trump ambassador

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The man whose testimony confirmed Donald Trumps sham investigations for military aid quid-pro-quo tells Andrew Feinberg that Mr Trumps successor has done the impossible by rallying Nato and the EU in support of Kyiv.

Ex-Trump Ambassador Gordon Sondland says Biden has done the impossible on Ukraine

Hunter Bidens Burisma role was corruption, straight off the bat, says Jon Stewart

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Political commentator Jon Stewart did not mince words when sharing his views on the propriety of Hunter Biden  the son of Joe Biden  holding a position on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy sector holding company.

Stewart made clear he thought the situation was a clear case of corruption during a recent episode of his podcast, The Problem with Jon Stewart, Mediaite reports.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Jon Stewart says Hunter Bidens Burisma role was corruption, straight off the bat

Would Trump be able to run again in the 2024 election?

Thursday 27 October 2022 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump made history in becoming the first president in US history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives.

But while losing to Joe Biden in November 2020 may have dented the one-term presidents pride and fuelled 18 months of lies about rigged ballot boxes, it now seems almost certain that Mr Trump will run again for the White House in 2024.

Heres how he can:

Can Trump run again in the 2024 election?

What Trump quotes made it into Bartletts Quotations?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Trumps quotes originate everywhere from a speech in Nevada (I love the poorly educated!) to one of his debates with Hillary Clinton (Such a nasty woman). One selection originates not directly from him, but from a conversation with then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions as documented in the Mueller Report: Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my presidency. Im fked.

From Trump to RBG, the new entries in Bartlett's Quotations

Will Elon Musk let Trump back on Twitter?

Wednesday 26 October 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As Elon Musk looks poised to take control of Twitter, what does that mean for its most famous exile?

Would Elon Musk allow Donald Trump back on Twitter?

Trump teases 2024 run with Iowa rally ahead of midterms

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to return to Iowa ahead of the 8 November midterms, to headline a rally for Republican Gov Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley.

The event, set for 3 November in Sioux City, the hub of Iowas conservative northwest, comes as Trump has continued to tease interest in a White House comeback campaign as he has campaigned around the country for Republican candidates.

Returning to Iowa, where the 2024 Republican presidential caucuses are scheduled to launch the GOP nominating sequence, would likely further stoke speculation of Trumps future.

Trump to rally in Iowa ahead of Nov. 8 as he teases 2024

Trump attorneys receive Jan 6 committee subpoena, report says

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for former president Donald Trump have formally accepted service of a subpoena commanding the ex-president to provide documents and give evidence before the House January 6 select committee next month.

According to Politico, the select committees subpoena for the twice-impeached ex-president was received on Wednesday by Matthew Sarelson, an attorney for Mr Trump with the Dhillon Law Group.

Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.

Trump attorneys receive Jan 6 committee subpoena, report says

Why Trump will be most worried by DeSantiss display of Maga-filled meanness

Wednesday 26 October 2022 21:00 , Oliver O'Connell

As the 44-year-old Ron DeSantis looks set to secure re-election in Florida and use it to very possibly as a platform to make a presidential run in 2024; he has an approval rating of 53 per cent, more than Donald Trump ever had when he was president.

Andrew Buncombe looks at what that might mean for Trump.

The person most worried by DeSantiss display will be Trump | Analysis

Trump team receives Jan 6 subpoena, report says

Wednesday 26 October 2022 20:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Per Politico:

Attorneys for Donald Trump have accepted service of a subpoena issued by the Jan. 6 select committee demanding documents and testimony from the former president by next month.

A person familiar with the matter confirmed that attorneys for the former president agreed to formally receive the committees summons. A Trump spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The January 6 committee wants the former president to appear for deposition by 14 November and to provide relevant documents by 4 November.

DC court sets date for E Jean Carroll case oral arguments

Wednesday 26 October 2022 19:36 , Oliver O'Connell

A Washington, DC appeals court has set the date for oral arguments in E Jean Carrolls defamation case against Donald Trump.

They will take place on 10 January 2023.

A D.C. appeals court has set oral arguments for January 10, 2023 in E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit against Trump.  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 26, 2022

Mr Trump has already sat for a deposition in the case earlier this month.

Ms Carroll filed the suit in November 2019, five months after she came forward with her allegation that Mr Trump raped her in a dressing room at Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s.

The suit alleges Mr Trump defamed Ms Carroll when he responded to her allegation by accusing her of lying in a bid to bolster sales of her forthcoming book.

What we know about E Jean Carrolls rape allegations against Donald Trump

What you need to know about the Trump Organization tax fraud trial

Wednesday 26 October 2022 19:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The Trump Organization, former President Donald Trumps eponymous real estate business, is going to trial on charges of criminal tax fraud.

The company faces allegations that it enacted a scheme to help executives avoid paying income tax in a case that has entangled the companys longtime Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg.

Heres what you need to know:

Everything to know about the Trump Organization case

ICYMI: Hope Hicks to testify before Jan 6 committee

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:32 , Oliver O'Connell

One of Donald Trumps onetime closest White House advisers will testify before the Jan 6 committee on Tuesday in a sign that his once tight circle of advisers has now splintered following the attack on the Capitol.

Hope Hicks will meet with the committees lawmakers today, NBC News reported, citing a source familiar with the proceedings. Her testimony represents one of the highest-ranking defections in the Trump sphere.

John Bowden reports.

Top Trump aide Hope Hicks to testify before Jan 6 committee

Because we want to win: Paul Ryan explains why GOP wont nominate Trump in 2024

Wednesday 26 October 2022 18:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Former House speaker Paul Ryan has said that anybody but former president Donald Trump could win the White House for the Republicans in 2024.

In an interview on Fox Business Networks Varney & Co. programme on Tuesday, Mr Ryan said: We wont nominate Trump because we want to win.

Sravasti Dasgupta reports on Mr Ryans reasoning behind his statement.

Paul Ryan says GOP wont nominate Trump in 2024 because we want to win

Rubio: Jan 6 committee 'a joke

Wednesday 26 October 2022 17:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Senator Marco Rubio has called the House select committee investigating the attack on the US Capitol a joke and a kangaroo court.

He would instead like to see an investigation into the riots of 2020.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) calls the January 6th Committee a joke and a "kangaroo court":



Every time I get asked about the January 6th Committee  I say, Listen, Ill pay attention to that when they have a committee on the riots of 2020. pic.twitter.com/Cu5GI0X7fW  The Recount (@therecount) October 26, 2022

Meadows must testify in Georgia election probe, judge says

Wednesday 26 October 2022 17:21 , Oliver O'Connell

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.

Eric Garcia has the story for The Independent.

Judge rules that Mark Meadows must testify in Georgia election meddling probe

Woodward details degree of Trumps self-obsession

Wednesday 26 October 2022 16:55 , Andrew Naughtie

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward, the author of three books about Donald Trump and a new audiobook of recordings of their conversations, says the former presidents narcissism was evident throughout those interviews.

Speaking on CNN on Tuesday, Mr Woodward elaborated on what he observed during his lengthy interactions with Mr Trump over his presidency.

My assistant, Claire McMullen, has listened to these tapes many, many times, Mr Woodward said. And she found one time Trump referred to the American people, 100 times he referred to himself, what he knows.

Oliver OConnell has more.

Trump refers to himself 100 times for every mention of American people, Woodward says

Meadows must testify to GA grand jury, judge rules

Wednesday 26 October 2022 16:25 , Andrew Naughtie

Mark Meadows, Donald Trumps final White House chief of staff, has lost an attempt to avoid testifying to the grand judy convened in Fulton County, Georgia, to investigate the Trump circles efforts to overturn the election in the state.

BREAKING- A South Carolina judge rules that former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows must appear for testimony in the Atlanta-area grand jury election meddling investigation. His attorney tells CNN that they plan to appeal the decision.  Nick Valencia (@CNNValencia) October 26, 2022

Trump donor says ex-president could not spell Middle East"

Wednesday 26 October 2022 15:50 , Andrew Naughtie

In a Brooklyn courtroom yesterday, a California billionaire and known ally of Donald Trump maintained his innocence on charges of illegal lobbying on behalf of United Arab Emirates officials while criticising the former presidents awareness on foreign affairs.

Tom Barrack, 75, also described how his business was affected by the near-constant drama being issued from the Trump White House.

Some of his clients in his private equity firm, Colony Capital, were upset I was friends with the president, he testified on Monday, noting that Mr Trump was viewed as someone who could not spell Middle East.  It was a nightmare.

Read more from Johanna Chisholm.

Trump ally says ex-president inept on foreign affairs, couldnt spell Middle East

Kinzinger: US closer to civil war than people realise

Wednesday 26 October 2022 15:20 , Andrew Naughtie

The Daily Show last night carried a segment examining just how close the US is to an outbreak of wide-scale political violence and even civil war, with two Republican voters in Oath Keepers t-shirts weighing in on the subject.

But alongside hardcore members of the Maga movement, the programme also talked to January 6 committee member Adam Kinzinger, who agreed that the US is closer to a civil conflict than many might want to accept.

Watch the segment below:

How close are we to another civil war?



Congressman @AdamKinzinger: I think were closer than wed like to think...I do think it could get violent easily. pic.twitter.com/qpbdttHl1u  Republicans against Trumpism (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 25, 2022

Trump lays into McConnell again

Wednesday 26 October 2022 14:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trumps loathing of Mitch McConnell is no secret whatsoever, and nor is his disdain for the handful of Republican senators who voted to impeach him after the January 6 attack. Top of the list in this years election cycle is Lisa Murkowski, often described as a moderate member of her partys caucus, who is running for re-election under Alaskas new ranked-choice system.

Mr McConnell is invested, both figuratively and literally, in getting her re-elected rather than having a Democrat or Trump-backed alternative in his chamber. And the former president is predictably unimpressed:

Hope Hicks meets with Jan 6 panel

Wednesday 26 October 2022 14:20 , Andrew Naughtie

The January 6 select committee has reportedly taken testimony from Hope Hicks, formerly one of Donald Trumps closest aides.

Ms Hicks served a number of roles under Mr Trump after joining his campaing in the early days of the 2016 cycle. She served as White House communications director for a time before ending her service to Mr Trump less than a week after Jan 6 while at the time serving as a senior counselor.

She was one of the few high-ranking Trump loyalists, outside of members of his own family, to make it through virtually the entire term of Donald Trumps presidency. Her breaking point finally came in the wave of resignations that followed the attack on the Capitol, which included many high-ranking officials such as Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

Heres John Bowden with some background.

Top Trump aide Hope Hicks to testify before Jan 6 committee

Report: Trump eyeing Swift Boat strategist for 2024 job

Wednesday 26 October 2022 13:50 , Andrew Naughtie

As the never-ending speculation about another Trump presidential run continues, The Washington Post reports that the ex-president is considering appointing veteran Republican operative Chris LaCivita to a senior role in a future campaign.

Mr LaCivita is most notorious for spearheading the effort to smear 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry for supposedly lying about his military record in Vietnam, which was the core of his political brand at the time.

Trump eyes Chris LaCivita, longtime Virginia operative known for Swift Vets attack on John Kerry, for senior 2024 campaign role, @michaelscherer @jdawsey1:https://t.co/aDL22YTBaM  Jacqueline Alemany (@JaxAlemany) October 25, 2022

It is still not known for certain if Mr Trump will run for another term, though he has alluded to doing so countless times. Previous reports have said that members of the GOP leadership have convinced him that declaring before the midterm elections would risk turning the vote into a referendum on him, possibly to their detriment.

Watch: Trump pressed AZ candidate to push big lie

Wednesday 26 October 2022 13:20 , Andrew Naughtie

In a somewhat eerie clip from a Tucker Carlson documentary, Arizona Senate candidate Blake Masters  who is a controversial for numerous reasons, including his long history of racist online posts  is seen talking on the phone with Donald Trump, who chastises him for not doing enough to push the lie that the 2020 election was stolen.

In the clip, Mr Trump specifically tells Mr Masters to be more like Kari Lake, running for governor in the same state, who has become notorious for bringing up the fictional theft of the election in answer to almost every question she is asked.

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

The polling in the Arizona race shows the Trump-backed Mr Masters roughly four points behind Democratic incumbent Mark Kelly, who is a top Republican target.

Abe Asher has more.

Trump pressed Arizona GOP Senate candidate to push big lie, documentary reveals

Ryan: Trump wont be 2024 nominee

Wednesday 26 October 2022 12:50 , Andrew Naughtie

Former House speaker Paul Ryan, who was the GOPs vice presidential nominee in 2012, has said that he doesnt expect his party to nominate Donald Trump in the 2024 election  for the simple reason that doing so would lose them the presidency.

We wont nominate Trump because we want to win, he told Fox News. The new swing voter in America is the suburban voter. And its really clear that the suburban voter doesnt like Trump. We are so much more likely to lose with Trump because of the fact that he is not popular with the suburban voter.

Why would we want to risk giving a nomination to somebody that we know-we havent... my party hasnt lost this much this fast than we have with Trump.

Sravasti Dasgupta has the story.

Ex-Speaker Paul Ryan tells Fox that GOP wont nominate Trump because we want to win

Trump vents fury at Bob Woodward

Wednesday 26 October 2022 12:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Tuesday lunchtime to complain about veteran journalist Bob Woodwards recent release of his recorded conversations with the former president.

Mr Trump wrote: As he fully understands, writer Bob Woodward never got my permission to release tapes of my various interviews with him. Those tapes were allowed only for purposes of making sure that he got my quotes & statements correct for the WRITTEN WORD, in other words, for his, nevertheless, highly inaccurate book.

He continued: The tapes are much better than the book, at least if they were not bludgeoned to death by him to make me look as bad as possible, but he & his publisher had NO right to use my VOICE or them!

Mr Woodward, who made his career during coverage of the Watergate scandal, recently called Mr Trump an unparallelled danger in an op-ed for The Washington Post.

Read more from Oliver OConnell.

Trump says Bob Woodward had no right to release recordings of their conversations

Trumps valet focus of Mar-a-Lago documents probe, reports say

Wednesday 26 October 2022 11:50 , Andrew Naughtie

The Department of Justice investigation into whether former president Donald Trump violated laws prohibiting unauthorised retention of national defence information and obstruction of justice has reportedly zeroed in on a US Navy veteran.

The veteran is Walt Nauta, who served as Mr Trumps White House valet and remained in the ex-presidents employ after the end of his term.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Trump document probe zeroes in on ex-presidents valet

Cheney: GOP could split in 2024

Wednesday 26 October 2022 11:20 , Andrew Naughtie

Liz Cheney has a dire outlook for the GOP if Donald Trump were to run for president and win the partys nomination in 2024.

The conservative Wyoming congresswoman says the divides in her party are too deep to endure another run by the ex-president. Speaking on Meet the Press this past Sunday, she warned that they would be stressed to their breaking points should he do so.

The party has either to come back from where we are right now, which is a very dangerous and toxic place, or the party will splinter and there will be a new conservative party that rises, she told host Chuck Todd.

Were Mr Trump to successfully win the nomination, the party would shatter, she added.

John Bowden reports.

Liz Cheney predicts Trump would shatter GOP into two parties if he is 2024 nominee
By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump's namesake company urged a New York judge to reject a demand by the state's attorney general to appoint a monitor to oversee its financial practices, after she accused it of "staggering" fraud.

The Trump Organization's filing on Wednesday night came in connection with Attorney General Letitia James' civil lawsuit accusing the former U.S. president and three of his adult children of lying to banks and insurers by fraudulently overvaluing his real estate assets and net worth.

On Oct. 13, James asked a judge to appoint a watchdog to review financial information that Trump's company gave to accountants, lenders and insurers, as well as any sales of significant assets.

But in Wednesday's filing, the Trump Organization accused James of manufacturing a "bill of grievances" to justify giving a monitor "staggeringly overbroad" power to oversee a "highly successful private enterprise," without proof that fraud actually occurred.

"What the (attorney general) really seeks is a vague order justifying her assertion of control via a 'monitor' of the business affairs of her political adversary," wrote Alina Habba, a lawyer for the company and Trump. "Such efforts at nationalization are constitutionally prohibited."

James is a Democrat, while Trump is a Republican.

The defendants also said James lacked standing to sue because the case involved "only the contractual rights of sophisticated private parties."

A spokeswoman for James declined to comment on Thursday.

The attorney general has said a monitor would help serve "the substantial public interest in curbing fraudulent and lawful conduct."

In announcing the lawsuit on Sept. 21, James said her probe uncovered 23 "grossly and fraudulently inflated" assets, including Trump Tower in Manhattan and Mar-a-Lago in Florida, and more than 200 misleading asset valuations.

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James said the fraud lasted at least a decade, and was intended to help save money on loans, insurance and taxes. She seeks to recoup at least $250 million of alleged improper gains.

While the case does not involve criminal charges, James said Trump repeatedly violated several state criminal laws and may have violated federal criminal law. She asked U.S. prosecutors and the Internal Revenue Service to investigate.

The case is New York v Trump et al, New York State Supreme Court, New York County, No. 452564/2022.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Two fishermen whose alleged cheating at an Ohio fishing tournament went viral pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of attempted grand theft and other crimes.

Jacob Runyan, 42, and Chase Cominsky, 35, said nothing during a brief arraignment at Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas. Their bond was set at $2,500 each.

Runyan and Cominsky were indicted this month on charges of cheating, possession of criminal tools and unlawful ownership of wild animals after a video appeared to show their catch stuffed with lead weights at a tournament.

Jacob Runyan, left, and Chase Cominsky, sit in court as they are arraigned, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, in Cleveland. The two pleaded not guilty to cheating and other charges in a lucrative fishing tournament on Lake Erie in the end of September where they were accused of stuffing five walleye with lead weights and fish filets. (Mark Gillispie / AP)

The pair had sought a $28,760 payout at the Sept. 30-to-Oct. 1 Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament in Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office has said.

The video showed the tournament director slicing open their catch, prompting someone in the crowd gathered around the men to shout: We got weights in fish!

The prosecutors office has accused the pair of stuffing their fish with 10 weights of 8 to 12 ounces.

Lawyers for Runyan and Cominsky did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
This rendering shows the design for the planned Pacifica Riverview apartments on the west bank of the Fox River in downtown Aurora. (City of Aurora / HANDOUT)

Aurora City Council members Tuesday night approved plans for a seven-story apartment building on the west bank of the Fox River downtown.

Council members unanimously approved a conditional use and preliminary plans for the 190-unit Pacifica Riverview complex between the river and North River Street, next to Wilder Park.

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The complex would be next to the pedestrian bridge, and across the river from the DAC Developments 246-unit apartment complex on the east bank.

City officials have touted the development as the beginning of a new neighborhood on the north edge of downtown, connecting new development along the river and RiverEdge Park.

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Mayor Richard Irvin said at this weeks City Council meeting both developments are creating something considered unimaginable for our city for years  riverfront living.

This is the continuation of what weve been doing for the past five years, Irvin said. We are reimagining our city.

The development is being done by the Windfall Group, the same developers building the Pacifica Square shopping center on the far East Side, which could soon be the largest Asian-themed shopping mall in the country.

Owner of the Windfall Group, Daniel Ni, was on hand for the council approval this week.

After the vote, he joined Irvin at a table in front of the City Council dais as the mayor signed the conditional use.

Daniel Ni, left, owner of Windfall Group, watches Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin during the official signing of the conditional use and preliminary plans for his 190-unit apartment complex development planned on the west bank of the Fox River in downtown Aurora. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News)

The 2.34-acre development would have studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments, as well as 10 row houses directly along the riverfront. The two-story row houses would feature terraces on their rooftops, and the development would also have a communal rooftop terrace for the entire complex on its third floor.

The development also would have about 2,000 square feet of retail on its first floor, a party room and a workout center.

The development is considered a transit-oriented development by the citys development officials because of its proximity to the Aurora Transportation Center, as well as to the bike trails for walkability.

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For that reason, officials are allowing the developers to provide parking at the rate of 1.5 spaces for each unit, rather than two.

slord@tribpub.com
Testimony continued Wednesday in the case of two Fresno men suspected of a deadly southwest Fresno shooting, as prosecutors revealed surveillance footage allegedly connecting them with the crime.

Christopher Williams, 22, and Kevin Coleman, 23, of Fresno are suspected of gunning down Kylin Baca-Fulmer as he sat in his Porsche SUV on July 31 last year

They denied having anything to do with his death, and are charged with murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle and assault with a semiautomatic firearm.

Wednesday was the second day of the preliminary hearing in the case, where prosecutors presented evidence to a judge to determine whether the defendants will proceed to trial.

Baca-Fulmer, a father of two children, was shot to death at South Bardell and East Calwa avenues. Police found evidence of 13 gun shots from a .40 handgun.

Deputy District Attorney Ismail Aliyev entered several clips of video surveillance footage into evidence showing a white Nissan Kicks at the scene of the shooting. The same car is shown on video at a Valero gas station while the victim was there.

Homicide Detective Loren Kasten testified Wednesday the car used in the shooting belongs to Colemans mother. When Kasten showed the mother a video clip of the Nissan speeding away from the shooting scene, the mother said it was similar to her vehicle.

A camera at a fast food restaurant also captured images of the white Nissan shortly after the shooting. The detective showed Colemans mother a still photo of the Nissan and asked whether she recognized anyone in the car.

Thats Kevin, she said, according to Kastens testimony,

Williams and Coleman denied knowing anything about Baca-Fulmer, Kasten testified. The detective told them in separate interviews they became the prime suspects after a tip was given to Valley Crime Stoppers.

Kasten testified that during an interview on Aug. 21, 2021, Williams told him he was in Oakland at the time of the shooting and that he didnt know Baca-Fulmer.

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Williamss phone records and video surveillance showed otherwise, Kasten testified. Later during questioning Williams admitted to knowing Baca-Fulmer. He referred to him as a top dog in the Dog Pound gang, according to Kastens testimony.

When asked if he was involved with the Klette Mob street gang or had anything to do with Baca-Fulmers death, Williams told the detective he did not.

Coleman was interviewed by Kasten in the Maricopa County Jail in Arizona where he allegedly fled after the shooting. Coleman told the detective he was there visiting relatives and didnt know anything about the shooting.

He told the detective he had been drinking heavily the day before the shooting and was too hung over to leave his home the next day. Kasten showed Coleman video surveillance footage of him at a Fresno cemetery the day of the shooting, contradicting that he had never left home.

The detective testified that Coleman then changed his story and said he believed Baca-Fulmer was an alleged member of the Dog Pound gang. He also denied having any connection to the Klette Mob gang.

The preliminary hearing continues on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Dept. 52.
Two workers at a Brooklyn West Indian restaurant were shot Thursday  one of them fatally  by a gunman who followed the victims inside, cops said.

Eyon Johnson, 46, and his 45-year-old coworker were walking into Miguels West Indian Restaurant on the corner of Strauss St. and Lott Ave. in Brownsville just before 9 a.m. when a man dressed in all-black followed them inside and opened fire, according to police.

The two men worked for the restaurant and were renovating the eatery when they were shot, cops said. A vehicle outside was left riddled with bullets.

Medics rushed both men to Kings County Hospital, where Johnson died. The younger victim was clinging to life in critical condition.

Johnson lived in Crown Heights with a wife and two children, his superintendant told the Daily News.

He was a cool guy, said the 58-year-old man. A good tenant. Just in and out. He say, Hi, how are you doing? Thats it.

Multiple shell casings were found at the scene, according to police sources.

The gunman ran off and has not been caught.
By Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States and allies slammed Russia on Thursday for wasting the time of the U.N. Security Council and spreading conspiracies by again raising its accusation that the United States has "military biological programs" in Ukraine.

"How much more of this nonsense do we have to endure?" Britain's U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward asked the council.

Russia has previously raised at least twice at the Security Council the issue of biological weapons programs in Ukraine. The United States and Ukraine have said they do not have biological weapons programs.

Russia is now pushing for a formal inquiry. It has drafted a Security Council resolution to set up a commission, made up of all 15 council members, to investigate its claims. Such a move is possible - but has never been invoked - under the Biological Weapons Convention, which took effect in 1975.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield described Russia's accusations as "pure fabrications brought forth without a shred of evidence."

U.N. disarmament officials have long said they are not aware of any biological weapons programs in Ukraine. Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24 and President Vladimir Putin showed no regrets on Thursday about the eight-month-long war.

"Do you really think that we're that naive?" Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council as he argued for a commission to investigate the biological weapons claims.

"Do you really think that we think that the Pentagon is going to inform the high representative of the Office of Disarmament Affairs within the U.N. about their secret biological programs in Ukraine?" he said.

It was not immediately clear when Russia would put the draft resolution to a vote. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, France or Britain to pass. Western diplomats said Russia's move would likely fail.

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Thomas-Greenfield said there are no Ukrainian biological weapons laboratories supported by Washington. She noted that Ukraine - like many countries - has a public health laboratory infrastructure to protect itself from infectious diseases.

She told the council: "This meeting is a colossal waste of time ... an attempt to distract from the atrocities Russian forces are carrying out in Ukraine and a desperate tactic to justify an unjustifiable war."

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The U.S. Trade Representative has declined to file a complaint with Mexico over alleged worker rights abuses at a Saint-Gobain glass plant, saying on Thursday that the factory's situation improved after workers elected an independent union.

The biggest U.S. labor federation last month asked the U.S. government to open a complaint, the latest in a series of petitions under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) trade pact alleging rights violations in Mexico.

A central plank of USMCA, a deal crafted at the behest of the United States, was that it would improve the lot of workers in Mexico and help stem the loss of U.S. manufacturing jobs to its lower-cost neighbor.

Major U.S. unions the AFL-CIO and United Steelworkers accused the Mexican arm of France's Saint-Gobain in the central state of Morelos of unfairly supporting its long-time union over a new, independent rival.

The office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) called the allegations "troubling," but said that during its initial review, workers managed to elect the new union, the Independent Union of Free and Democratic Workers of Saint-Gobain Mexico.

Union leader Joaquin Guzman said he would have preferred the United States to follow through with the case. The union will soon begin negotiating a new collective contract, seeking higher pay.

"We'd like to think the company was acting in good faith because they knew about the possible labor complaint," Guzman said. "I hope this denial of the complaint doesn't change the company's thinking."

Saint-Gobain declined to comment.

U.S. and Mexican officials will monitor the situation, USTR said, noting that Saint-Gobain had issued a statement recognizing the new union.

"The situation at the facility improved for workers," it said in a statement. "Further immediate action on the petition is not needed at this time."

AFL-CIO International Director Cathy Feingold said the federation would check that Saint-Gobain bargains in good faith on a new contract, and urged the United States to track the matter.

Since last year, U.S. officials have raised five other complaints under USMCA.

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)
Lloyd Austin

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington on Sept. 1, 2021. Credit - Susan WalshAP

The Biden Administration unveiled a new defense strategy Thursday that puts the U.S. military on a Cold War-footing with China and Russia, detailing a plan to confront two nuclear peer adversaries for the first time in history with a multi-year build-up of modernized weaponry, enhanced foreign alliances and a top-to bottom overhaul of the American nuclear arsenal.

The 80-page document serves as the Administrations roadmap for global security for the decades to come, and makes clear the U.S. faces two powerful but very different competitors. It characterizes China as a long-term pacing challenge with its growing power projection in the Pacific region, while deeming Russia to be an immediate acute threat amid its ongoing war with Ukraine and continual threats to launch a nuclear strike.

We chose the word acute, carefully, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at the Pentagon. Unlike China, Russia cant systemically challenge the United States over the long-term, but Russian aggression does pose an immediate and sharp threat to our interests and values. In recent weeks, Russian missile strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine and unfounded claims of a pending dirty bomb detonation have sparked fears the world is inching ever closer to the brink of nuclear war. The Administration has deep concerns about the conflict escalating, Austin said, but remains committed to continuing to support Ukraine with weapons and the means to defend itself.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly discussed the possible use of nuclear weapons in the eight-month-old war and this week observed nuclear drills, called Grom or Thunder exercises, involving Russian submarines, bombers and ballistic missile launches inside Russia. Austin shot-down speculation that the war games were subterfuge for a real nuclear attack, saying U.S. intelligence had not observed any indication that such preparations were taking place. He added that senior Russian officials had privately said there are no plans to use a nuclear device in Ukraine, but the U.S. remained cautious.

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It would be the first time that a nuclear weapon has been used in over 70 years, so that certainly has a potential of changing things in the international community, Austin said. Were going to continue to communicate that any type of use of a weapon of that sort, or even the talk of the use of a weapon of that sort, is dangerous and irresponsible.

Read More: Fears Over Military Miscalculation Grow In Ukraine

China, meanwhile, is depicted in the strategy document as the most consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades. The U.S. says Beijing is actively seeking to weaken U.S. alliances with Asian partners, building up its military and nuclear forces and threatening invasion of the U.S.-allied island of Taiwan. China is the only competitor out there with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly the power to do so, Austin said.

The Administration has determined that Beijing is planning a threefold increase in nuclear warheads to 1,000 by 2030, while simultaneously constructing hundreds of new silos capable of launching long-range ballistic missiles, potentially targeting the U.S. and its far-flung nuclear forces. While the U.S. has more than 10 to 1 advantage over China in the number of nuclear warheads and the weapons to deliver them, the Pentagon sees a need to prepare for the decades ahead. The Chinese nuclear build-up is an unprecedented challenge for the military, which since the end of World War II has only had to focus on deterring one near-peer adversaryformerly the Soviet Union, now Russiafrom launching a nuclear attack.

I do not want to suggest that this is a solved or closed problem and that we now have the answers, a senior defense official, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly on the matter, told reporters. This is new territory for us How do you successfully fight one adversary, while having enough reserve to hold the other bay? And just the second part of that cannot be a solution where if China has 1,000 (nuclear warheads) and Russia has 1,000, that we need 2,000, because that is an arms race that nobody should want to be in.

Read More: Inside the $100 Billion Mission to Modernize Americas Aging Nuclear Missiles

The strategy laid out by Austin largely breaks from President Joe Bidens campaign pledge to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. strategy. There are a few nods in the direction of disarmament, including directives to stop developing a nuclear-armed sea launched cruise missiles, retire the largest gravity bomb, the B83, in the U.S. arsenal, and eliminate the declared policy to hold onto nuclear weapons as a hedge against an uncertain future. But there is no drastic change that non-proliferation experts were hoping for.

It largely continues the nuclear deterrence strategy and posture, including capability added in the Trump Administration. It is unclear how it reduces the role of nuclear weapons as the President directed, says Leonor Tomero, who served as Bidens Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for nuclear and missile defense before leaving in October 2021. There is an urgent need to reduce the risk of nuclear war, especially at a time when nuclear tensions are higher than they have been for years.

The risks of miscalculation and of unintended rapid escalation could lead to nuclear weapons use, Tomero says. These new threats require clear solutions and practical steps to adapt and strengthen deterrence to reduce these risks, she says.

Right now, the U.S. and Russia are limited on the number of strategic warheads and delivery systems until February 2026 under a bilateral treaty known as New START. China, however, is not part of that agreement and has shown no signs of wanting to rein in their nuclear weapons programs, which raises questions about whether continued nuclear arms reductions by other countries will be possible.

There are repeated references to adjusting U.S. posture in the future, which tees-up a future Administration to increase the size of the arsenal or resume nuclear testing, says Jeffrey Lewis, an analyst with the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of Strategic Studies.

The advancement of non-nuclear weapons systems, such as hypersonic missiles, as well as space-based and cyber capabilities are also concerning to the administration. The strategy calls for building enduring advantages, involving investments in the Defense Departments workforce, improvements in weapons-buying processes and preparing for climate change. Other challenges discussed in the document emanate from Iran and North Korea, and violent extremist organizations, which is military jargon for terrorist groups.

The Biden teams focus on Moscow and Beijing is consistent with the U.S. national security complexs desire to pivot from the morass of violence and counter-terrorism operations in the Middle East and engage in Great Power competition. Each Administration is mandated by Congress to issue a new national defense strategy every four years, and two versions are drawn up: one secret, one public. The document released Oct. 27 marked the first time the strategy also included the so-called Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review, which shape funding allocations for the coming years. By weaving these documents together, Austin said, we help ensure that the entire department is moving forward together and matching our resources to our goals.
The U.K. government has denied a fresh parliamentary delay to the Online Safety Bill will delay the legislation's passage.

The legislation is a core plank of the government's 2019 manifesto promise to make the U.K. the safest place in the world to go online, introducing a regime ministers want to will drive a new era of accountability over the content that online platforms make available.

PoliticsHome spotted the change to the House of Commons schedule last night, reporting that the bill had been dropped from the Commons business for the second time in four months -- despite a recent pledge by secretary of state for digital, Michelle Donelan, that it would return in the autumn.

The earlier 'pause' in the bill's progress followed the ousting of ex-(ex)prime minister Boris Johnson as Conservative Party leader over the summer which was followed by a lengthy leadership contest. Prime minister Liz Truss, who prevailed in the contest to replace Johnson as PM (but is now also an ex-PM), quickly put the brakes on the draft legislation over concerns about its impact on freedom of speech -- the area that's attracted the most controversy for the government.

Then, last month, Donelan confirmed provisions in the bill dealing with legal but harmful speech would be changed.

A source in the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) told TechCrunch that the latest delay to the bill's parliamentary timetable is to allow time for MPs to read these new amendments -- which they also confirmed are yet to be laid.

But they suggested the delay will not affect the passage of the bill, saying it will progress within the next few weeks.

They added that the legislation remains a top priority for the government.

A DCMS spokesperson also provided this statement in response to questions about the fresh delay and incoming amendments:

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Protecting children and stamping out illegal activity online is a top priority for the government and we will bring the Online Safety Bill back to Parliament as soon as possible.

The government is now being led by another new prime minister -- Rishi Sunak -- who took over from Truss after she resigned earlier this month, following the market's disastrous reception to her economic reforms.

The change of PM may not mean major differences in policy approach in the arena of online regulation as Sunak has expressed similar concerns about the Online Safety Bill's impact on free speech -- also seemingly centered on clauses pertaining to restrictions on the 'legal but harmful' speech of adults.

In August, The Telegraph reported a spokesman for Sunak (who was then just a leadership candidate) saying: Rishi has spoken passionately as a dad about his desire to protect children online from content no parent would want their children to see  from violence, self harm and suicide to pornography.

"As Prime Minister he would urgently legislate to protect children. His concern with the bill as drafted is that it censors free speech amongst adults which he does not support. Rishi believes the Government has a duty to protect children and crack down on illegal behaviour, but should not infringe on legal and free speech.

However, it remains to be seen how exactly the bill will be amended under Sunak's watch.

Delays as amendments are considered and introduced could still threaten the bill's passage if it ends up running out of parliamentary time to go through all the required stages of scrutiny.

Parliamentary sessions typically run from spring to spring. While there are only around two years left before Sunak will have to call a general election. So the clock is ticking.

The Online Safety Bill has already been years in the making, swelling in scope and ambition via a grab-bag of add-ons and late stage additions -- from bringing scam ads into the regulation to measures aimed at tackling anonymous trolling, to name two of many.

Critics like the digital rights group the ORG argue the bill is hopelessly cluttered, fuzzily drafted and legally incoherent -- warning it will usher in a chilling regime of speech policing by private companies and the tone-deaf automated algorithms they will be forced to deploy to shrink their legal risk.

There are also concerns about how the legislation might affect end-to-end encryption if secure messaging platforms are also forced to monitor content -- with the potential for it to lead to the adoption of controversial technologies like client-side scanning.

While the administrative burden and costs of compliance will undoubtedly saddle scores of digital businesses with lots of headaches.

Despite having no shortage of critics, the bill has plenty of supporters too, though -- including the opposition Labour party, which offered to work with the government to get the bill passed.

Children's safety campaigners and charities have also been loudly urging lawmakers to get on and pass legislation to protect kids online.

The recent inquest into the suicide of British schoolgirl, Molly Russell -- who was found to have binge-consumed (and been algorithmically fed) content about depression and self harm on social media platforms including Instagram and Pinterest before she killed herself -- has added further impetus to safety campaigners' cause.

The coroner concluded that that negative effects of online content were a factor in Russell's death. His report also urged the government to regulate the sector.
STORY: Downing Street shared a photo of Sunak, a Hindu and Britain's first government leader of Indian origin, lighting a traditional oil lamp at the event.

Diyas are oil lamps traditionally lit during Diwali.

The prime minister's residence regularly hosts a reception to mark the annual Hindu festival of lights.

"Brilliant to drop into tonights Diwali reception in No10," Sunak wrote on Twitter, "I will do everything I can in this job to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope."

Sunak came to office on Tuesday (October 25) facing a daunting list of problems, including an economic crisis and a divided Conservative party shredded by months of scandals and rows.
Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, talking at a joint briefing following German President Frank-Walter Steinmeiers visit to Kyiv, set the deadline. The EU recommendations include improving the process for the selection of Constitutional Court judges, continuing to implement reform of the justice system, fighting corruption and money laundering, demonstrating tangible results of the law on deoligarchization, bringing audiovisual legislation to European standards, and adopting and implementing a law on national minorities.

Steinmeier seems to have been heavily affected by his trip, saying that the situation in Ukraine is much more terrible than we imagine in Germany.

Zelenskyy, in his evening address, noted that a Ukrainian victory over Russia would also dampen Russian activity in the Middle East, weakening Iran and Syria.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht sent a letter to her Swiss counterpart Viola Amherd, with a request to allow shipments of 35mm ammunition for German-made Gepard anti-aircraft guns. According to German newspaper Spiegel, 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.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin observed the exercises personally, the aim of which was to practice Russias response to a nuclear strike by the enemy, according to Russian media. The launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome and a Sineva ballistic missile from the Barents Sea were carried out at the Kura test site in Kamchatka, the Kremlin website says.

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The resolution for the decision 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.

Thats according to Ukrainian military intelligence spokesperson Andriy Yusov, who made the declaration during an interview on Ukrainian TV. As of (Oct. 26), 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. According to Ukrainian intelligence, 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.

A 30% unemployment rate is expected to be the state of things by the end of the year, prompting the government to create a mechanism by which the temporarily unemployed can be involved in socially useful work that is needed in the regions, said Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. The government expects to involve all able-bodied persons registered as unemployed and internally displaced and in good health. They will be paid according to the statutory minimum wage - which is typically higher than unemployment benefits, and be protected by the Labour Code.

The director, currently unnamed, is said to have taken kickbacks worth $66,000 and owns undeclared property abroad. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, this is a part of a wider investigation into the Optimumspetzstal firm, which is suspected of operating several corruption schemes, defrauding the state of estimated UAH 46 million ($1.25 million).

IMF director Kristalina Georgieva warned of this scenario at a Ukraine reconstruction conference in Berlin. 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. The Ukrainian authorities have earned this support.

The IMF is putting its money where its mouth is  Georgieva said that the IMF is prepared to use its drawdown account for emergency funding.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
EUROPEAN PRAVDA  THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022, 21:09

The state-owned trader Energy Company of Ukraine has carried out the first test of the importation of electricity from Europe on Thursday.

Souce: reported by European Pravda with a reference to the companys announcement



The electricity delivered in the test was from Slovakia. The capacity was 1 megawatt [1 million watts].

The Energy Company of Ukraines right to import was obtained through an open auction for access to interstate power grids, which was held on Tuesday by the operator of the national transmission system of NEC [National Energy Company] Ukrenergo.

"The technical possibility of importing electricity from Europe to Ukraine is another tool for stabilising the operation of our energy system. We must be ready for its implementation," explained General Director of joint-stock company Energy Company of Ukraine, Vitalii Butenko.



Background: In March, Ukraine submitted an application to join the European energy system ENTSO-E and in early June received the right to export its energy to Europe. The first commercial cross-border exchange of electricity began at the end of June with Romania and with Slovakia in July.

But on 10 October, due to Russian missile attacks on energy facilities, Ukraine announced that it would stop exporting electricity to Europe.

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Russians dumped bodies into a pit, covered with soil, rolled it flat with tanks

Read also: UN to visit mass grave site in Izyum as soon as possible

Residents of the village of Kopanky informed the police about the mass burial site, saying the Russian invaders had collected the bodies of the dead throughout the area.

Read also: Mass shooting at Russian military training ground leaves 11 Russian army soldiers dead, 15 wounded

The eyewitnesses said the bodies were brought on two trucks on April 13 and dumped into a pit up to three meters deep dug by an excavator. The ground over the mass grave was then flattened by tanks.

Preliminarily, we have data on at least 17 dead bodies, said Dmytro Soyma, deputy chief of the investigative department of the National Police in Kharkiv Oblast.

Read also: Ukraine restores 15 objects damaged by Russian mass missile attack, says Zelenskyy

According to the locals, our soldiers died in battle and were buried here All of the recovered bodies will be sent for forensic examination to establish the cause of death.

Investigators have initiated criminal proceedings under Part 3 of Art. 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine).

Read also: Another mass grave uncovered in Mariupol

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleg Synegubov, said on Oct. 20 that the Armed Forces of Ukraine had liberated 544 settlements in Kharkiv Oblast since early autumn. At the same time, 28 settlements remain under Russian occupation, he said.

Earlier Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, said that Kharkiv Oblast was almost completely liberated, but the threat of another enemy offensive remains in the region due to the proximity of the Russian border.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, smiles in September 2021 as the votes come in for Senate Bill 2048, a comprehensive energy proposal, on the floor of the Illinois Senate. (Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP/AP)

Court filings in a divorce case between state Sen. Michael Hastings of Frankfort and his now ex-wife, Kathleen, portray the veteran legislator as being unable to control his anger in front of his children, according to court records unsealed this week.

After Hastings and his wife began divorce proceedings, Hastings elbowed Kate in the face in front of the children, according to court statements her attorney filed in October 2021. Michael Hastings also called her a number of choice words in front of the children, according to the court papers.

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In the same court document, Kathleen Hastings said her husband cannot control his anger in front of the children.

In a response, Sen. Hastings called the claims self-serving statements on his ex-wifes part and denied the allegations.

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Throughout the divorce proceedings, Hastings used Our Family Wizard, a phone application for co-parenting, as a tool to harass, intimidate and threaten his ex-wife, according to a May 18 court record titled Motion to stop harassment and intimidation through Our Family Wizard.

The day before, on May 17, Sen. Hastings sent an allegedly unsolicited message that stated, in part, Think long and hard about the future of our children and our ability to co-parent as you head in tomorrows deposition. Im sure your attorneys have told you, there (is) no going back after tomorrow, Kathleen Hastings attorney wrote.

In a message May 15, according to the court record, Sen. Hastings sent a message saying Desperate people do desperate things  Id reconsider your position in these proceedings. He went on to say that the attorneys in the case wont be financially supporting you the next 16 years, the court statement claimed.

When his ex-wife asked about picking up their daughter May 12, Hastings said, in part, I sure hope you filed those tax returns correctly and didnt claim both of our children. Its going to be a long road. And your mom would be so disappointed. Keep it up, according to her court papers.

A spokesman for Sen. Hastings, Ray Hanania, said Thursday terms of the recently completed divorce settlement bar either the senator or his former wife from discussing the matter.

But Hanania said each of the accusations are inherently false.

The senator has been on the receiving end of every type of personal and political attack and misrepresentation throughout this divorce, Hanania said. To use a familys divorce and false accusations in a political manner, as it has been to influence an election, is reprehensible.

Michael Hastings first filed for divorce June 21, 2021, seven years after the couple married in Las Vegas, citing irreconcilable differences. He filed for the case to be sealed July 15, 2021, a motion granted the next day by Will County Judge Derek Ewanic.

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The files in the settled case were unsealed Monday, following an order last week by Will County Judge Elizabeth Dow stating the right of public access to court records and proceedings is well established.

Hastings, a Democrat, resigned from his leadership position in the Illinois Senate and has been urged by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to resign his seat. He is seeking reelection this fall in the 19th Senate District and is being challenged by Republican Patrick Sheehan.

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon issued a statement Thursday calling the newly rereleased allegations troubling.

Accusations of domestic violence are to be taken seriously, Harmon said. I took immediate action to remove him from Senate leadership given the circumstances. The situation remains under review.

Hastings has gone to court alleging that Frankfort Police Department employees or possibly Will County employees released what Hastings called a fabricated police report with false claims of domestic violence against him alleged by his wife.

During the court proceedings, Sen. Hastings filed subpoenas for a Frankfort Police Department officer and a Tinley Park official to address a June 2021 police report, according to a motion to quash filed by her attorneys.

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The June 2021 police report was filed because of Sen. Hastings statements of refusing to return the children to Kate and his verbal abuse towards her, according to the motion to quash. The officer was subpoenaed to talk about the report and the Tinley Park official was subpoenaed for allegedly receiving a copy of the police report, which his ex-wife denies, according to the motion to quash.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

A petition for discovery, filed in July, seeks records from Frankfort and Will County regarding who may have accessed the June 20, 2021, police report in which his then-wife alleged that Hastings was verbally abusive toward her and had, several months earlier, battered her at the Frankfort home they shared.

When a Frankfort officer came to their home in June of last year, Hastings wife told police her husband was emotionally and verbally abusive to her, and alleged that he had battered her nearly eight months prior, according to the discovery filing pending in Will County court.

The Chicago Tribune had earlier this year been denied a copy of a June 2021 police report or any recordings of 911 calls coming from the home the senator and his wife shared in the 20600 block of Holland Harbor Drive.

The parent company of the Tribune also publishes the Daily Southtown.

Frankfort police said an exemption in the states Freedom of Information Act allowed it to withhold reports of incidents for which there are no arrests and where disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, such as minor domestic or neighbor issues.

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Paul Castiglione, an attorney representing Hastings in the discovery matter, said Thursday Frankfort and Will County have filed motions to dismiss the petition, and that case will be back in court Nov. 14.

Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed to this article.
OLENA ROSHCHINA  WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022, 12:11



Oleksii Reznikov, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, doubts that Russian troops will dare to fight directly on the streets of Kherson.

Source: Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraines Defence Minister, in an interview with Fox News

Quote from Reznikov: "Frankly speaking, I do not believe that the Russians will conduct street battles (in Kherson  ed.). It is not useful for them.

You know that we control all the bridges across the Dnipro using American systems like the HIMARS, as well as other MLRS like the M270, and 155 mm artillery; all these are modern NATO standard systems like the M777 from the US.

For them [the Russians], staying in Kherson is a real risk, because they will not have the chance to flee, as they did on the Kharkiv front, for example, or in Izium and other cities."

Details: Reznikov states that Russians will flee Kherson because it is risky for them to stay apart on different banks of the Dnipro.

At the same time, the minister admitted that the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kherson Oblast has slowed down due to rain.

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Ukrainian drone

The drone, resistant to electronic warfare, is equipped with communication encryption systems and a camera with 30x optical zoom, as well as additional digital zoom.

The Shark can fly behind enemy lines at a distance of up to 60 kilometres and conduct surveillance with a distance of up to 5 kilometers from the UAV to the object.

Read also: Military expert on Iranian Shahed-136 drones in service with Russia

The drone is already ready for combat use and offensive operations.

The maximum flight speed of the device at an altitude of up to 2,000 meters is 150 km/h, while the battery life is more than two hours.

Meanwhile, adviser to the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Anton Gerashchenko confirmed on Oct. 24 that the Iranian Mohajer-6 reconnaissance drone used by Russia is equipped with an aircraft engine manufactured by the Austrian company Rotax.

Read also: From the archives: Ukrainians master drone operation  NV exclusive

Rotax confirmed this information and announced the beginning of its own investigation, as the representatives of the company have not authorized and has not given any authorization to its distributors to supply military UAV manufacturers in Iran or Russia.

Rotax aircraft engines are produced, designed and certified for civil use only by the applicable civil regulatory authority, the company said in a statement.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Occupants tried to break through to Bilohorivka, but all their attacks were repelled

Hayday said that Russian troops tried to assault Bilohorivka, but all their attacks were repulsed, while Ukrainian forces are gradually advancing towards Svatove and Kreminna.

Read also: Ukrainian armed forces may be forced to withdraw from Severodonetsk, says Hayday

Residents of liberated towns in Luhansk Oblast remain under repeated Russian artillery attacks, which seem to be targeting residential areas, according to the governor.

Among the 17 people remaining in Bilohorivka, there was an elderly man and a daughter who looked after him  it was they who were killed by a Russian shell the other day, said Hayday.

He added that de jure, the city of Popasna no longer exists in the so-called LPR, suggesting Russian militants are preparing to withdraw from Popasna.

Read also: Ukrainian military obliterates Wagner Group base in Popasna, Luhansk governor confirms

In an interview with NV Radio on Oct. 22, Hayday said that Svatove and surrounding areas represent the key to liberating northern Luhansk Oblast from Russian occupation.

Read also: Invaders mine access roads to Svatove and Kreminna, blow-up bridges in Luhansk Oblast

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Josh Cuthbert said he was attacked by three people. (PA)

Union J's Josh Cuthbert has revealed he was attacked by three men on bikes who threatened to kill him.

The star - whose band was on The X Factor - opened up about the frightening experience on Instagram, telling fans that he was "terrified".

Cuthbert said he was driving along a dual carriageway near his home when he was approached by people riding two Harley Davidson motorbikes.

Read more: Ed Sheeran apologised to Union J after pinching their No 1

He said: "One of them came right into my lane and turned his bike sideways towards me. I had to do an emergency stop to not hit into him.

"The other bike then came behind me and stopped his bike right behind my car, at this point my parking sensors were going nuts and I couldn't move the car at all, I was pinned in."

The star said it was terrifying. (Josh Cuthbert Instagram)

The 30-year-old went on: "Two of the guys then got off the bikes and one came to my driver window and one came to the front passenger window and were shouting 'Get the f*** out the car, get out the car now' over and over.

"I then shouted back saying I'm not getting out of the car. They then got even angrier / more aggressive and the guy on my right started to punch the window of my car numerous times (how the glass didn't break I have no idea) trying to get me out of the car."

Cuthbert said the men were in full bike gear, including helmets and visors, so he couldn't see their faces.

He said that made it "a lot scarier and more intimidating".

"The guy outside the passenger window was head butting the glass to try and break it but luckily had no luck either," he said.

Union J on stage. (PA)

"One of them said if I don't get out the car they were going to kill me (that was fun).

"It was honestly so terrifying, I was trapped and couldn't move. I couldn't even find my phone to call the police, because all my stuff flew everywhere after I did the emergency stop at the start of the attack."

Luckily, the star said other cars started to come along and the men got on their bikes and drove off.

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"Just as they left they smashed my wing mirror off in anger," he said.

The star reported the incident to the police. (Josh Cuthbert Instagram)

Cuthbert has reported the scary incident to the police but said his anxiety "has been through the roof since".

"I had a panic attack earlier when trying to leave the house," he said.

Read more: Union J announce special reunion show in London

"Physically I am fine but it's been pretty rough emotionally/mentally. I'm praying these people are caught."

Cuthbert was on The X Factor with Union J in 2012 and they finished fourth.

However, six years later he quit the group.

Watch: Nicole Scherzinger is 'super proud' of putting One Direction together
Two students from the University of New Haven and one from Sacred Heart University were killed in a crash in Massachusetts on Tuesday, according to the two universities.

The Berkshire Country District Attorneys Office said a Chevrolet Silverado and a Toyota Sienna collided on Route 7 near Pike Road in Sheffield, Massachusetts, around 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, killing Prem Kumar Goda, 27, Sai Narasimha Patamsetti, 22, and Pavani Gullapally, 22.

Four others were transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment. The driver of the Chevrolet, a 46-year-old Sheffield man, was transported to Fairview Hospital, according to the Berkshire Country District Attorneys Office.

The Toyota was carrying seven international college students, six who attended the University of New Haven and one who attended Sacred Heart University, according to the Berkshire Country District Attorneys Office.

Sai Narasimha Patamsetti and Pavani Gullapally came to the United States and to the University of New Haven with hopes and dreams, filled with unlimited potential, the university said in a letter to students on Wednesday night.

The school said its community is greatly diminished with the loss of the two students.

The grief we feel for the families, friends, classmates and professors of Sai and Pavani is deep and painful. We come together as a community to remember them and to gain strength and hope from each other and from the lives they led, the school said.

The school is offering grief counseling for students and said it will share details for an on-campus memorial service when they are finalized.

On behalf of our entire university community, we extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of Sai and Pavani during this incredibly difficult time, and we hope and pray for a full and speedy recovery for those injured in the accident, the school said.

Sacred Heart University confirmed Goda was attending the Welch College of Business and Technology studying computer science in pursuit of his masters degree.

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Goda came to the United States three months ago after finishing his engineering degree in India, according to a GoFundMe set up by his parents cousin. The crowdfunding campaign has raised over $42,000 since his death and has a goal of $100,000 to help the family pay off his outstanding student debt.

Our heartfelt sympathy and prayers go out to Prems family, friends and those of you who knew him. As is our custom, the SHU flag will be lowered in Prems memory through the end of the week, Catherine McCabe, dean of the Welch College of Business and Technology, said in a letter to the community on Wednesday.

Sacred Heart is offering support to students in need, McCabe said in her letter.

Police are investigating the collision. Anyone with information is asked to contact 413-499-1112.
The University of South Carolina has announced a new branding mark to go along with its iconic tree-and-gates academic logo.

University officials said Wednesday it is simplifying its branding marks while also introducing a new spirit mark for USC.

The brand update becomes effective on Jan. 4, 2023, but some changes will take place immediately. The school will maintain and replace signs in phases.

College football South Carolina football has 'tunnel vision' vs. Missouri after first ranking since 2018

The university said the updated brand standards will include these guidelines:

The iconic tree-and-gates will remain as the official academic logo. It becomes the official mark for academic branding.

The university will introduce a new block-letter USC spirit mark that embraces the universitys unrivaled spirit and includes 1801, the year of its founding. The spirit mark will provide versatility in promoting the university in non-academic settings.

The university will be referred to as the University of South Carolina, USC, South Carolina or Carolina in editorial and marketing materials.

Athletics logos, including the Block C logo, will not be changed.

Jeff Stensland, assistant vice president of Institutional Relations and Public Affairs, said it is no secret (the old brand UofUSC) was never fully adopted by the college's audience.

"It's great that the change announced today has been extremely well received across the board, especially by alumni who are really embracing the news," Stensland said.

This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: New spirit mark issued for University of South Carolina
The call about an explosion in a campus lab earlier this year was a hoax, and now a former university employee has been charged in federal court, authorities said.

Jason Duhaime, formerly of San Antonio, was working as a new technology manager and director of the Immersive Media Labs at Northeastern University in Boston when he called 911 on Sept. 13, according to court records.

He told the dispatcher that he and a graduate student had grabbed several packages from the mail and brought them into the lab, authorities said. The packages includes two Pelican cases.

The 45-year-old man reported that when he opened one of the plastic cases, stuff flew out and injured his hand, according to the federal indictment. He said very sharp objects flew from the case, which also had a violent note inside.

Several law enforcement agencies responded, and Northeastern University sent out alerts asking everyone to avoid the area after the explosion.

But an explosion never occurred, according to federal authorities.

Northeastern University did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News.

Duhaimes defense attorney was not listed in court records as of Oct. 27 and could not be reached for comment.

First responders said they found the plastic case Duhaime mentioned in his call on a table in the lab. It had no noticeable cracks, holes or signs that it might have been in an explosion. There were also no traces of explosive residues.

Authorities did find a threatening letter, which said in part, In the case you got today we could have planted explosives but not this time!!! Take notice!!! You have 2 months to take operations down or else!!!!! WE ARE WATCHING YOU.

In an interview with authorities that same day, Duhaime insisted there was an explosion. He also showed an agent several small, superficial marks on his forearms. He said the cuts were from the explosion, and added that things come flying out of the case.

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One of Duhaimes computers was seized, officials said, and a word-for-word electronic copy of the threatening note was found in a backup folder, according to an Oct. 27 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. Authorities said Duhaime had staged the hoax explosion.

When asked if he wanted to change his statement, Duhaime said no, adding that Im honest. This is what happened, according to court records.

The charges of intentionally conveying false and misleading information related to an explosive and making materially false statements to a federal law enforcement agent each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, authorities said.

He drove 7 hours to deliver pipe bomb in gift box to kill romantic rival, feds say

Mom threatens to blow up school and beat up principal over child pickup, Florida cops say

There is a bomb on the way. Fake threat puts childrens hospital on lockdown, feds say
The extinction of the dinosaurs could be attributed in part to a reduction in biological diversity, instead of being caused purely by major natural disasters, according to recent research.



The cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago has long been a subject of debate in the scientific community. An asteroid collision with Earth and large volcanic eruptions are the most common views.

Recently, a research team has offered a new explanation after studying dinosaur eggs and eggshell fossils excavated from red sandstone in the Shanyang Basin of Shangluo, Shaanxi province, over the past seven years. The basin is one of the few continental basins in China suitable for research on dinosaur extinction during the late Cretaceous Period (about 145 to 66 million years ago).

Scientists collected about 1,000 samples and found that most of the eggs' mothers were of two types  oviraptorids and hadrosaurids  which matched the dinosaur bone fossils excavated there.

The fossils date from about 68 million to 66 million years ago.

The hypothesis means that the biodiversity of the species was low 2 million years before the extinction, experts said. "Although now the Shanyang Basin doesn't cover a large area, it connected surrounding basins during the late Cretaceous period for dinosaurs to migrate freely," said Han Fei of China University of Geosciences (Wuhan).

He added that research on dinosaur eggs in South China's Guangdong province and Western North America also reported similar results, and contributed to the conclusion that the biodiversity of dinosaurs was on the wane.

The results were published in the academic journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in September.

"To solve the mystery of dinosaur extinction, it's key to study the record of their existence on the Earth in terms of space and time," said Han, who is also the lead author of the paper, adding that dinosaur extinction was a gradual process instead of a sudden accident, which relates to the theory of the "co-evolution of creatures and the environment".

The research said that in the late Cretaceous Period, with a changing natural ecology, dinosaur biodiversity saw a continuous reduction, which weakened their ability to adapt to the environment and made it impossible for them to survive a major disaster, such as an asteroid collision or volcanic eruption. All elements combined led to their extinction.

About what led to the reduction in their biodiversity, Han said, "It's still a question scientists are trying to figure out.

"The research also helps human beings better understand the Earth and the natural laws, as well as remind us to respect nature and adapt to the changes in the natural environment."

The research was co-produced by China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology and the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. More than 17 scientists and students participated in the study.

Wang Qiang, an associate researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, retrieved the dinosaur eggs from the Shanyang Basin in 2013 and 2014. With more members joining, they conducted numerous on-site investigations and laboratory tests.

He added that eggs, as a special type of fossil, not only reflect dinosaur reproduction but also provide information about the environment they lived in, so they are an ideal material to study the ancient geology and climate while dinosaurs existed.

The team will further explore changes in the ancient environment and how they related to the biodiversity of dinosaurs, he said.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin

Read also: EUs adopts 8th sanctions package, Reznikov doubts Russian nuke threats, and new NBU chief nominated

The newspaper referred to a U.S. diplomatic cable and two people familiar with the issue.

Read also: Putin is losing, while Ukrainian forces grow in strength, NATO says

According to the newspaper, the arrival of the upgraded B61-12 air-dropped gravity bomb, originally slated for next spring, is now planned for this December.

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 U.S. 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, he said.

Read also: Head of Pentagon holds talks with British counterpart on supporting Ukraine

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, after announcing mobilization in Russia on Sept. 21, once again threatened Western countries with the use of nuclear weapons, saying this is not a bluff.

Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence said that Kyiv considers the threat of Russia using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine to be very high.

Read also: Ukraines defense chief Reznikov skeptical about Moscows nuke threats

At the same time, according to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, Russia is not expected to launch a nuclear strike in the near future.

Meanwhile, the United States has said use of nuclear weapons by Russia against Ukraine will produce a decisive response from Washington and its allies. At the same time, U.S. President Joe Biden has said he doesnt think Putin will use nuclear weapons.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A 10-year-old survivor of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, was left terrified after allegedly being racially profiled during a traffic stop on her way home from a rally for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto ORourke.

Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in the shooting on 24 May at Robb Elementary School.

Caitlyne Gonzales, a student at Robb Elementary School at the time of the 24 May massacre that killed 21, was in the car with her family heading back from the recent rally when they were blocked by three Texas state trooper SUVs, according to reporter John Woodrow Cox of The Washington Post.

Caitlyne clenched her teeth and crossed her arms, Mr Cox wrote, adding that she was terrified.

It was three days before school started, and Id spent all summer with Caitlyne, Mr Cox tweeted on Tuesday. She knew the police took 77 minutes to confront the gunman at Robb and, like many people in Uvalde, Caitlyne deeply resented them for it. Her friends died, she believed, because they failed.

Mr Cox wrote that before the traffic stop, it had been the best day shed had in weeks. The family had stopped on the way home from Mr ORourkes rally to visit Caitlynes grandfather in Eagle Pass, Texas.

Three black SUVs, driven by Texas state troopers, blocked them into a parking lot. Caitlyne, sitting in the back seat between her mom and sister, clenched her teeth and crossed her arms.

Oh my God, her sister said.

Shush, Caitlyne instructed.

She was terrified. (2/) pic.twitter.com/O4sUo049Nh  John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) October 25, 2022

She took a selfie with him, got free shirts, ate fried chicken after, Mr Cox wrote on Twitter. Then, on the way home, police lights flashed behind her familys car.

When they were stopped by the police, Caitlyne was asleep.

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Mr Cox wrote that her father reacted by saying I knew it.

Immigrants who shared his skin color and crossed the border illegally often traveled from Eagle Pass to Uvalde, Mr Cox noted.

Then came Sept. 3, a sunny Saturday. Caitlyne could've gone to a parade with her friends or visited SeaWorld in San Antonio, but no, she wanted to meet @BetoORourke. She'd been following his Instagram page for weeks and saw he was speaking in Eagle Pass, an hour from Uvalde. (4/) pic.twitter.com/DPjBTm3P4H  John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) October 25, 2022

Oh, we got a whole carload, huh? Mr Cox quoted the trooper as saying as he approached the vehicle.

The trooper claimed that Caitlyns father Nef Gonzalez had been speeding. According to Mr Cox, he had been driving just 5mph above the limit.

I am so glad you came.  It means the world to me, ORourke told Caitlyne, before the family posed for a photo with him and got free campaign shirts from his staff. (6/) pic.twitter.com/Gosm12EQxc  John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) October 25, 2022

Your kids? Your children? the officer asked and pointed.

Well, yeah. Shes one of the victims, and shes afraid of, Mr Gonzalez began to say. Robb victim, so shes a little bit nervous.

The trooper smiled and waved, but Caitlyne didnt return the greeting. The officer said he didnt want her to be uncomfortable and allowed the family to move on with a warning.

Oh, we got a whole carload, huh? the trooper asked as soon as he walked up.

Yep, Nef replied.

The reason your vehicles being stopped is you were going a little fast in the 30, he said, though Nef hadnt been driving more than five miles an hour over the speed limit. (9/) pic.twitter.com/XYdlzB2qTZ  John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) October 25, 2022

Another officer asked if the family had only visited Eagle Pass for the day and if they were from Uvalde originally.

They have us posted at the schools, the trooper said.

I dont want to make her nervous, the trooper said, returning to his SUV.

Another trooper asked Gladys questions: Had they just gone for the day? Were they from Uvalde originally?

They have us posted at the schools, he said, and Caitlyne silently gnawed on her fingernails. pic.twitter.com/zLelcqFXQx  John Woodrow Cox (@JohnWoodrowCox) October 25, 2022

Caitlyne silently gnawed on her fingernails, Mr Cox wrote.

Three of them  for a speeding ticket, Mr Gonzalez noted after the incident. He was frustrated that the tag showing that he had served in the US Army hadnt convinced the officers to act differently.

The family saw one of the trooper SUVs later during their drive home. It said K-9 on the back.

Oh my god, Caitlyne said.

They were profiling, thats it, Mr Gonzalez said.

According to Mr Cox, both of the officers appeared to be white. When they got home, he said: Caitlyne slumped onto a couch, staring at her phone until she snapped at Camila for moving her Beto bumper sticker, her face contorted into a scowl. Her parents reminded her what a special time theyd had, but now, none of that mattered to her.

On 24 May, Caitlyne was across the hall from the gunman at Robb Elementary School.

She told KERA News that she lost one of her best friends in the shooting and that her class could get to safety when a SWAT team broke a window, allowing the children to climb outside.
(Reuters) -Uzbek workers at a waste processing plant in the western Russian city of Oryol, who were handed mobilisation notices and ordered to show up at the local conscription point, have asked their president for help, a local news outlet reported.

Moscow started the mobilisation campaign, its first since World War Two, last month as its military campaign in Ukraine stalled and Russian forces began to lose ground. Hundreds of thousands of men have since fled Russia to avoid being sent to the front lines.

According to the Istoki video report, Oryol authorities sent out a fresh batch of mobilisation notices this week, including 50 to workers of the EcoCity waste processing facility.

Half of the workers, however, are Uzbek nationals, it said, showing a group of men displaying their Uzbek passports and asking Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to intervene on their behalf.

The Uzbek embassy in Russia said on Thursday that the notices had been served to 26 Uzbeks by mistake and the issue has been resolved, as have other cases where Uzbeks - over a million of whom are estimated to work in Russia - were called up to Russian conscription points.

The mobilisation campaign drew criticism after notices were served to many people not eligible for military service, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to order officials to correct all mistakes.

Uzbekistan has warned its citizens against joining foreign armies, which qualifies as a felony under Uzbek law.

(Reporting by Olzhas AuyezovEditing by Tomasz Janowski)
By Mariela Nava, Marianna Parraga and Deisy Buitrago

CABIMAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela is allowing partners in state oil company PDVSA's joint ventures to leave - by selling their shares to others or returning them - so long as they forgo payment for past debts and unpaid dividends, four people close to the matter said.

Having to take a loss or relinquish unpaid debt has not stopped companies like France's TotalEnergies, Norway's Equinor, and Japan's Inpex from leaving. Their departure illustrates how U.S. sanctions on the energy sector have made operating in the country with the most crude reserves untenable, leading to idle oilfields.

Eight foreign companies among PDVSA's 44 joint ventures have transferred or given up stakes since 2018. Another seven smaller firms no longer have a presence in Venezuela and 15 projects are inactive, even though those partners technically remain, an internal PDVSA document seen by Reuters showed.

"None of those stakes are recoverable at book value," said an oil executive whose firm left Venezuela by selling to a another company last year. "Among those remaining in the partnerships, few hope to ever recoup pending dividends or commercial debts from PDVSA."

More than three years of harsh U.S. sanctions on PDVSA have restricted access to capital and cashflow and have limited the markets receiving Venezuelan oil, taking a toll on the mostly foreign minority stakeholders, their operations and workers.

Since TotalEnergies and Equinor in 2021 exited one of Venezuela's flagship oil upgrading projects, Petrocedeno, smaller firms have followed.

The French company reported a loss of $1.38 billion from transferring its 30% stake to a PDVSA unit. It received "a symbolic amount" for its assets, Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said at the time.

The transfer freed Total of past and future liabilities from its Venezuela projects. But dividends and debts owed by Petrocedeno to the partners also were wiped out, two people familiar with the matter said.

Story continues

Inpex last year sold stakes in two Venezuelan assets to private equity firm Sucre Energy Group, and returned a stake in a third project to PDVSA. Accounts receivable and owed dividends were transferred to Sucre as part of the transaction, but at a heavily discounted value, a person involved in the transaction said.

The departures highlight the risks of doing business with cash-strapped PDVSA and the few legal avenues available to companies that have not been paid.

Equinor declined to disclose details of the transaction, but confirmed in an email the company has no remaining activity in the country. Inpex, Total and PDVSA did not reply to requests for comment.

WHAT ABOUT THE WORKERS?

Some companies losing staff in Venezuela or dealing with labor claims, including Venezuelan oil firm Suelopetrol and GPB Global Resources, have discovered PDVSA appointed new joint venture managers or took over their operations.

GPB Global Resources, a stakeholder in the Petrozamora joint venture, in September lost operational control on the ground of its projects, even though it had not been informed on a takeover nor received any compensation from PDVSA, the company said.

"There is a very substantial debt owed by the Petrozamora joint venture to a subsidiary of GPB Global Resources," the company said in a statement, adding that it intends to pursue "all available avenues of recourse" against PDVSA, Venezuela or any third party that may acquire the shares or assets.

A worker from Petrozamora who asked not to be identified said staff has not been paid completely. "Days ago, an official passed by and said the company had not respected its contract with PDVSA."

Suelopetrol declined to comment on talks with PDVSA, but said the company remains committed to Venezuela, with assets and staff in place.

With companies and workers leaving almost en masse, the abandonment of oilfields is visible near Maracaibo Lake, among Venezuela's oldest producing region. Its oil output keeps falling, outages became routine and some workers are on the verge of starvation.

"A month ago, they tried to restart a small rig and it caused an explosion that sent crude to people's houses," said a neighbor of Maracaibo's Cabimas oilfield, his feet stained with oil.

From over 110,000 workers a decade ago, PDVSA's workforce has dropped to about 60,000 people, said Daniel Delgado, a union leader at the Tia Juana oilfield.

"We are risking our lives to get an oil barrel out by working in unsafe conditions, without proper equipment or medical assistance. It's a high price," Delgado said.

Between 2019 and 2021, PDVSA delivered oil cargoes to partners to reduce outstanding debt.

Eni and Repsol this summer received 3.6 million barrels in a temporary resumption of oil-for-debt, but nothing since then. Chevron has proposed to the U.S. government it be allowed to recoup its debts through an expanded license, yet pending.

"Almost none of the companies that have left the country have been given that benefit," said an oil industry representative, who declined to be identified.

The departures have hit oil service providers and contractors the hardest, said the Venezuelan Petroleum Chamber, whose members fell to 300 from 500 in the last four years.

Venezuela last year fell short of reaching its oil production goal. And so far this year output has stalled at about 725,000 barrels per day (bpd), well below its year-end target of 2 million bpd.

To further increase production would require PDVSA to honor past debts, said Enrique Novoa, the Chamber's president, adding: "Sanctions also must be eased, at least partially."

(Reporting by Marianna Parraga, Mariela Nava and Deisy Buitrago. Editing by Marguerita Choy)
Oct. 27As part of its ongoing membership drive, the Manchester Historical Society will host a lecture series by Robert Kanehl. The lectures will be held three consecutive Sunday afternoons beginning this week.

Kanehl is the author of "Historical Tales of Manchester, Connecticut." He also writes a biweekly column in the Journal Inquirer designed to teach Manchester history to the younger generations and residents unfamiliar with the town's past.

The first lecture, "The Manchester Green," is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. at the Manchester History Center, 175 Pine St.

The second lecture, "Famous People From Manchester," will take place Nov. 6, also from 1 to 3 p.m. at the History Center.

On Nov. 13, Kanehl will have an open conversation with audience members about the history of Manchester.

No entry fee is required, but new member forms will be available. New members will receive a free copy of "The Miracle Workers."

For more information, call 860-647-9983 or email: admin-assistant@manchesterhistory.org.

Story walk

Manchester Land Conservation Trust will host a story walk on Saturday, at 1 p.m.

Children, families, and adults are invited to the free walk at the Land Trust's story trail.

Meet and park at the trust's cider barn, 330 Bush Hill Road, Manchester, and walk along the dirt road to the pavilion.

A new book, "Seeds Move" by Robin Page, will be installed. Walkers will proceed along the half-mile trail, to read the picture book. The trail curls its way through a former apple orchard. The event will be held rain or shine, but extreme weather cancels.

For more information, visit: www.manchesterlandtrust.org

Native American talk

The Manchester Public Library will host Darlene Kascak from The Institute for American Indian Studies for a lecture titled "Connecticut's Indigenous Communities" on Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Whiton Branch Library, 100 North Main St.

Kascak, of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, will use traditional storytelling techniques to enable participants to imagine what life was like for the Eastern Woodlands peoples before contact with Europeans.

Learn about Native American lifestyles, environmental history, and innovations in tools through handling animal furs, replicated artifacts, organic instruments, and more.

No registration is required for this free program. For more information on this event, call 860-645-0821 or visit the library website at: manchesterct.gov/Library
Katie Hobbs (left) and Kari Lake are running for the Arizona Governor's Office.

My early ballot sat on the kitchen island, opened but still blank, for more than a week.

It was tougher than usual to fill it out.

Not because I didnt know the candidates or the issues. But precisely because I do.

This election is odd in that the candidates for state and federal offices are diametrically opposed. Youd think that having opposites on the ballot would make it easy to choose.

But that made it harder.

They speak in absolutes. I'm about nuance

Neither candidate in several of the most prominent races is close to where I stand on key issues. They often speak in absolutes. Im more about nuance.

And as much reason as there might be to vote against one person or the other, few have given reasons to vote for them. The choice came down to an exercise in determining which candidate would be the least-worst for the state.

I suspect other independent voters might be in a similar predicament, especially if you hate the idea of voting a straight partisan ticket.

In quest for victory: 'Lake and Blake' is a thing, but 'Katie and Kelly' is not

If thats you, dont worry: Im not going to tell you what to do.

Im simply pointing out the dilemma. Because it seems to be a recurring theme.

It was a similarly tough choice in 2020

Dont get me wrong: Ive made plenty of hold your nose and vote choices in years past. There are, after all, no perfect candidates.

But my discomfort with either mainstream choice has only intensified since 2016, particularly with races atop the ballot. In 2020, for example, I knew I wasnt going to vote for Trump, but I couldnt bring myself to vote for Biden.

I contemplated leaving that oval blank, but in the end, decided to do a protest vote for the Libertarian candidate (even though I disagreed with her on many issues).

Polling suggested that the 2020 race wasnt going to be as close as it was. Who knew that there would be enough protest voters like me to potentially change which presidential candidate won Arizona?

Story continues

Polls seem to be wrong these days more often than theyre right. But if state races in 2022, particularly the governors race, truly are as close as they suggest, a blank ballot or write-in vote also could carry unintended consequences.

In that case, I figured, I might as well choose sides.

I hate that, by the way. I hate that this election seems to be more about sides rather than issues and vision. Both governor candidates have plans for the economy, water and education, but none of them feels holistic. They are more a smattering of talking points than a plan.

So, fine. Maybe this election isnt about vision.

Governor's race isn't about vision. Style is no help

Style is no help, either. While Kari Lake and Katie Hobbs have very different styles  Lake is brash, Hobbs is bungling  neither is what Id prefer for our state.

After the primary, I figured the greatest argument for choosing Hobbs would be that she could be a fail-safe against the most hastily passed, poorly constructed bills that could come out of what is expected to be a far more ideologically driven Legislature.

Say what you will about House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Senate President Karen Fann, but they did keep the kookiest bills at bay. With both leaving, we could use a fail-safe.

Kari Lake wont play that role. She doesnt have the CEO instincts of Gov. Doug Ducey, who often butted heads with the Legislatures most conservative members but also knew how to throw his weight around at the Capitol to get what he wanted.

Plus, Lake is atop the ticket on which many new lawmakers are expected to ride in. It would not bode well for her if she suddenly balked her people.

But Im less convinced, especially after the debate debacle (and now the break-in debacle), that Hobbs will know how and when to use the power of her veto pen. If managing all the mess that blows up in a campaign is a rehearsal for how a candidate would manage all the mess that blows up in office, Hobbs hasnt exactly aced that exam.

An unpalatable choice does Arizona no good

Its too late for candidates to change course now, but however this election comes out, maybe it will at least shine a light on whats missing: Vision. Ideas. Competence. Leadership.

Someone to vote for.

Nobody wins and Arizona is no better off when the choice comes down to two candidates with a bazillion reasons to vote against them.

When a sacred right as citizens is distilled into less than palatable choices, we all are left with a bad taste in our mouths.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On Twitter: @joannaallhands.

If you love this content (or love to hate it  hey, I won't judge), why not subscribe to get more?

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona governor candidates offer few reasons to vote for them
The White House

Kirby was responding to a question from journalists on how the United States would react to Moscow potentially destroying or disabling U.S. commercial or government satellites.

A senior Russian Foreign Ministry official earlier said that Western commercial satellites could become legitimate targets for the Russian military, if they are used to supply Ukraine with battlefield intelligence.

Read also: Russia might shoot down commercial satellites used to help Ukraine, says Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Kirby, even publicly-available information suggests Russia is developing anti-satellite weapon systems.

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Oct. 27Pregame

Who needs to watch Tom Brady and Lamar Jackson go head-to-head when the Pac-12 is in action?

Washington State hosts Utah on Thursday night for a rare mid-week showdown at 7 p.m. on FS1.

The Cougars (4-3, 1-2 Pac-12) and No. 14 Utes (5-2, 3-1) are both coming off bye weeks, recovering from opposite sides of conference results.

WSU's last outing was a 24-10 loss to Oregon State, where the Cougars offense continued to struggle. Meanwhile, Utah was riding high off a thrilling 43-42 upset of USC.

The defending Pac-12 Champion Utes are looking to repeat for the first time in a full season since Stanford in 2012-13. Utah, along with USC and UCLA have one conference loss apiece, while Oregon is the lone unbeaten in Pac-12 play.

WSU hasn't played a Thursday night game since the 2017 Holiday Bowl  a 42-17 loss to Michigan State  and last played a regular season Thursday game to open the 2014 season against Rutgers, a 41-38 loss. The Cougars are 25-8-2 all-time on Thursdays.

Series history

The Utes hold a 10-9 all-time series advantage over the Cougars, winning each of the last three meetings. The Utes also hold a 5-4 series lead since joining the Pac-12.

Utah won last year 24-13 in Salt Lake City, scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half, after the Cougars held a 13-7 lead early in the third quarter. Utah quarterback Cameron Rising was ineffective completing 13 of 23 attempts for 137 yards.

Team stats

Scoring

WSU (4-2, 1-2)

Utah (5-2, 2-1)

Points Per Game

24.6

40.7

Points Allowed Per Game

20.7

22.3

Total Yards

369.3

472.7

Yards Passing

280.3

280.3

Yards Rushing

89

192.4

Yards Allowed

367.3

350.1

Pass Yards Allowed

243.6

208.2

Rush Yards Allowed

123.7

142.0

Individual leaders

PASSING

Att.-Comp.

Yards

TD

Int.

Cameron Ward (WSU)

175-277

1,962

16

8

Cameron Rising (Utah)

148-215

1,855

15

3

RUSHING

Carries

Yards

TD

Jaylen Jenkins (WSU)

43

299

1

Tavion Thomas (Utah)

93

414

5

RECEIVING

Receptions

Yards

TD

De'Zhaun Stribling (WSU)

28

359

4

Dalton Kincaid (Utah)

39

558

6

Game preview

Story continues

Two-minute drill: Keys to victory for Washington State against No. 14 Utah

PULLMAN  Washington State coach Jake Dickert made the rounds this week. He stopped by Pullman businesses, checked in with student-life groups and introduced himself to various WSU classes, professors and administrators.  Read more

The pick: Why Utah will beat Washington State

PULLMAN  Washington State and Utah will meet for a late kickoff on a Thursday night in uncomfortably cold temperatures on the Palouse. How weird could it get?  Read more

More on the Cougs

Commentary: Five Guys must keep Cougars from being sandwiched

There is an apocryphal story passed around by sportswriters at the Spokesman-Review. Well, there are many, but this one is actually true.  Read more

First look: Washington State, fresh off its bye week, stages early-week matchup with Pac-12 heavyweight Utah

What is it? No. 15 Utah (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) and Washington State (4-3, 1-3), both coming off a bye week, meet in Pullman for an early-week Pac-12 matchup featuring one of the conference's rising teams  the Utes beat No. 7 USC on Oct. 15  and a Cougar squad looking to end its midseason slide.  Read more

'We're playing a bunch of combinations': Washington State makes midseason adjustment to offensive line

PULLMAN  In hopes of shoring up an offensive line that's been shaky so far this year, Washington State is making a midseason personnel adjustment and reconstructing part of the position group.  Read more

With slot Renard Bell sidelined, Washington State shifts outside receiver De'Zhaun Stribling to inside position

PULLMAN  After standout slotback Renard Bell went down with an injury, Washington State took stock of its receiving corps.  Read more
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.
Alaska Public Media, in partnership with Alaskas News Source and KTOO, presents Debate for the State: U.S. House among U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola (D), Nick Begich (R), Sarah Palin (R) and Chris Bye (L).

The event starts at 10:50 p.m. ET.

Watch the video above.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Servicemen of Ukrainian Military Forces move US made FIM-92 Stinger missiles, a man-portable air-defence system (MANPADS) that fires an infrared homing surface-to-air missile designed to down enemy aircraft. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images

The volume of weapons sent to and in Ukraine has raised concern that some could end up on the black market.

But European authorities and arms control experts told Insider there's little evidence of that  yet.

"I don't think we've actually seen any real diversion, particularly outside the country," said expert Elias Yousif.

Not since the last world war have so many weapons been sent from the United States to battlefields in Europe, a fact that has enabled Ukraine to resist and even embarrass a formidable Russian adversary. But the influx of guns into a country with a long-term corruption problem has also raised concerns  good faith and bad  that the fog of war could provide cover for a booming trade in illicit arms.

The Kremlin, predictably, is stoking fear that the guns used against its invading force could end being sold to the highest bidder and ultimately end up in the hands of criminals or extremists.

"A considerable part of these weapons have already entered, or will soon enter, the black market," Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, told reporters this month.

Pro-Russian media has aired similar claims of a mass diversion of arms meant for the frontline, some citing a retracted CBS report that included a source claiming only 30% of weapons sent to Ukraine made it to the battlefield; one conspiracy-inclined website, purportedly citing anonymous Ukrainians, claimed the "the weapons are stolen" to such a degree that Ukraine, as of August, had already "lost the war" because of the black market diversion.

It takes an almost incomprehensible lack of shame for Russian propagandists to complain about arms in an active conflict zone  of the Kremlin's own creation  possibly ending up somewhere else. The invading power has itself sent a staggering number of weapons to Ukraine, delivering them for years to local proxies in the Donbas and more recently to conscripts who have promptly abandoned them, armored personnel carriers, howitzers, rocket launchers and all, as Russia's sure-thing victory has begun to look a lot more like a quagmire.

Story continues

The good news is that, according to authorities and arms control experts who spoke to Insider, fears that advanced Western arms to Ukraine would fuel the illicit arms trade have not been borne out, with weapons intended for the military in fact being used to push back Russian forces.

"There's been a lot of disinformation," Elias Yousif, a research analyst at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based think tank focused on international security issues, said in an interview. In July, Yousif co-wrote an article urging US and Ukrainian authorities to develop a plan for stockpiling weapons at the end of the conflict. As of now, he said, "I don't think we've actually seen any real diversion, particularly outside the country."

The biggest factor is that Ukraine is locked in an existential battle that has united a sometimes fractured country. Many of the combat arms meant for the frontlines are quite identifiable, and diverting them would be an act of treason for a Ukrainian.

"So long as there remains the intense, frontline demand for small arms," Yousif noted, "I think it's going to be a pretty strong draw for those weapons to remain on the battlefield." That said, "I would hope that there is some planning for the day after."

Even a tiny fraction of the weapons provided to Ukraine  a country with a decades-long problem of corruption  making it to the black market could be potentially devastating.

A Ukrainian soldier examines a shoulder-fired NLAW in Kyiv. The United Kingdom has sent Ukraine more than 4,200 such weapons since Russia invaded. Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

'A lot of concern'

Small arms  rifles and pistols  are one thing. But Ukraine has also been provided more advanced weapons systems that donors have been loath to give to others before.

Washington, for instance, has provided the country's armed forces more than 1,400 shoulder-fired Stinger anti-aircraft systems, or MANPADS, which are capable of taking down a commercial airliner. The fear that the weapon could end up in the hands of extremists led the CIA to intervene in Syria to prevent rebels fighting the Assad regime from ever getting them. The Biden administration has also delivered more than 10,000 grenade launchers and small arms to Ukraine, along with more than 60,000 rounds of ammunition.

Similarly, the UK has sent more than 5,000 point-and-shoot NLAW anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, weapons that can readily target and destroy most moving vehicles. Ukraine has also received a huge stash of weapons, often of Russian import, from neighbors like Poland.

The fact that such arms are being provided to Ukraine, and on such a scale, indicates that Washington and its allies are less concerned about arming a military with a central command than a decentralized network of rebels. For one, those allies are capable of deploying a limited number of personnel in Ukraine to monitor their donations; the Defense Department, in June, said it was considering sending teams to conduct such "end-use monitoring" (the Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment on the status of such a deployment).

On Thursday, the US State Department announced a plan to assist Ukraine and some of its neighbors in accounting for imported weapons, especially MANPADS and anti-tank missiles, and to help them detect any illicit trafficking.

Ukraine has also created a commission to monitor the influx of arms and reassure allies that they are indeed being used on the battlefield. Some weapons are also affixed with GPS trackers, the country's defense minister told the BBC.

That's not to say there aren't any concerns. After the former Yugoslavia broke apart and descended into war, it too became flush with guns  despite a Western arms embargo  that later spread across Europe. In 2015, a study by the Flemish Peace Institute, a research group that tracks the flow of weapons in Europe, found that the majority of guns on the black market came from the Balkans.

Nils Duquet, director of the institute, told Insider there is "a lot of concern" that Ukraine, "post-conflict," could likewise fuel the illicit arms trade. However, "At the moment," he said, "there is no evidence of increased arms trafficking from Ukraine to other countries."

European authorities say the same thing.

Katarzyna Volkmann, a spokesperson for Frontex, the European border control agency, told Insider it has detected an uptick in firearms crossing between nations. But she said it was "not clear whether those detections were due [to] increased smuggling activities or enhanced border checks."

For the duration of the war, Volkmann added, it could be expected that most "weapons in Ukraine will stay in the country." But "a ceasefire or an end to armed conflict could lead to an increase in arms smuggling out of the country."

Yuliya Matsyk, a spokesperson for the European Commission, likewise told Insider that,"To date, there is no information indicating that large-scale firearms trafficking out of Ukraine is ongoing." But Europe and its law enforcement agencies are on a heightened state of alert.

"Although Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine cannot be simply compared to former Yugoslavia," Matsyk said, "experience from previous military conflicts such as in the Western Balkans shows that when a high volume of small arms and light weapons is available in one region, it could likely lead in the mid- and long-term to trafficking of these weapons to other regions, specifically after the conflict ceases or its scale becomes limited." Indeed, "This could become a destabilizing factor, in particular for nearby regions and also a significant threat to the EU and Ukraine because organized crime groups and terrorists could have access to these trafficked weapons."

US soldiers fire a Stinger surface-to-air missile in a 2019 exercise. Sgt. Thomas Mort/US Army

In July, to combat this threat, the European Union announced it was creating a new "hub" in Moldova to combat gun trafficking, with security experts from the bloc coming to Chisinau to assist local law enforcement. Moldova is not a member of the EU but the country, which borders Ukraine, is seen as ground zero for the fight against illicit arms dealers.

At the time, EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said there were "some indications" that such trafficking was already taking place.

Indeed, it has  just on a minuscule scale. In September, the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the creation of a new unit dedicated to combating illicit arms trafficking. In an accompanying press release, the ministry said there had been an uptick in the trade over the previous six months, with police confiscating 12 times as many weapons compared to the same period in 2021.

The total number of guns captured points to an uptick in trafficking, not a flood: in all, 24 weapons were seized after Russia invaded Ukraine, Moldovan authorities said, compared to just two in the same period a year before.

While most talk of trafficking has focused on arms provided to Ukraine  Russia, understandably, would like to center this aspect of the conflict  it is not the only party to the war.

"There is nearly no transparency in Western media about how Russia's infusion of weapons into the country is being accounted for," Jeff Abramson, a senior fellow at the Arms Control Association in Washington, told Insider. "At this point, however, it does not appear that there is evidence of massive leakages of weapons out from the Ukraine conflict, nor of a black market."

When the war ends, that could well change. So far, though, only one side is taking visible steps to address it.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
UNITED NATIONS (AP)  The U.S. and its Western allies on the Security Council insisted Wednesday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has the right to investigate if Russia has used Iranian drones to attack civilians and power plants in Ukraine.

They dismissed Moscows argument that the U.N. chief would be violating the U.N. Charter.

Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, who called the council meeting, argued that only the Security Council can mandate an investigation. He cited Article 100 of the charter, which says the secretary-general shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the organization.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood called Russias contention simply dumbfounding and an attempt to deflect attention from its own egregious wrongdoing in Ukraine.

French Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere accused Russia of constantly violating the U.N. Charter and trampling on its principles by invading its neighbor and claiming to annex its territories.

Britains deputy ambassador, James Kariuki, called it another attempt by Russia to distract from its crimes in Ukraine, and Iran and Russias failure to abide by their international obligations.

The Western envoys said the Security Council's time is being wasted by Russia, which is engaged in a blitz of activity at the council.

Russia called closed-door consultations Tuesday about its unfounded allegations that Ukraine is preparing a dirty bomb. It called Wednesday's meeting to try to prevent the investigation of its purported use of Iranian drones. And it called a meeting Thursday on its claims that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare  a charge denied by the U.S. and Ukraine.

In a letter to the Security Council last Wednesday, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Iran of violating a council ban on the transfer of drones capable of flying 300 kilometers (about 185 miles).

Story continues

That provision was part of Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six key nations  the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany  aimed at curbing Tehrans nuclear activities and preventing the country from developing a nuclear weapon.

On Wednesday, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reiterated his countrys rejection of the totally unfounded allegations. He insisted that since Russias Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Iran has maintained a position of active neutrality and has never provided the parties with weapons.

Nebenzia told a council meeting Friday that the drones are Russian  not Iranian  and warned that an investigation would seriously affect relations between Russia and the United Nations.

This week he asked the U.N. legal office to state whether launching an investigation in response to a number of countries and not the entire Security Council would violate Article 100 of the U.N. Charter and provisions of Resolution 2231.

In a briefing for the council Wednesday, U.N. legal counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares did not directly answer Russias question, but he said it is only natural that the U.N.s 193 member nations wish to exercise as much influence as they can over the activities of the organization.

Most days, he said, Guterres and himself are contacted by ambassadors trying to advance positions of their governments.

All of this is to be expected; and I do not think that anyone here would wish to maintain that such activities are in any way inconsistent the Article 100 , Serpa Soares said.

As for Resolution 2231, he said, a 2016 council note on arrangements and procedures calls for the secretary-general to appoint a Security Affairs Division, which has prepared reports to the council every six months on its implementation.

He said the note anticipates that the report will include findings and recommendations, and in the 13 reports so far the secretary-general has been able to express his views on relevant developments  and draw attention to matters of concern.

Absent further guidance by the Security Council," Serpa Soares said, the secretary-general will continue to prepare these reports in the manner that they have been prepared to date.

Wood, the deputy U.N. ambassador, noted that Russia helped negotiate and supported Resolution 2231 and said there is ample precedent in previous reports submitted by the secretary-general to the Security Council for independent investigations by the Secretariat, which he heads.

He cited a 2017 report in which the U.N. chief reported on an investigation of allegations that Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles were used by Yemens Houthi rebels in attacks on Saudi Arabia. More recently, he said, Secretariat investigators traveled to the Saudi capital of Riyadh in October 2021 to examine debris from six ballistic missiles tied to Houthi attacks. And in 2021, the U.N. team also went to Israel to examine Iranian drones that had infiltrated its airspace, Wood said.

Russias Nebenzia insisted that all those probes were against the U.N. Charter.

We are grateful to our Western colleagues for the exhaustive list of violations by the U.N, Secretariat of Article 100 of the United Nations Charter, he said.

Asked what will happen if the secretary-general does investigate the downed drones in Ukraine, Nebenzia said Moscow isnt threatening to withdraw cooperation with the U.N. if that happened.

But, of course, we will be viewing our cooperation in the light of the reaction of the Secretariat to our legitimate concerns, he said.
A blanket presidential pardon can be a joyful thing for a defense attorney.

Take the pardon President Joe Biden issued earlier this month. Biden's pen cleared thousands of people who were convicted of simple marijuana possession in federal court.

William Dimitri, who has practiced for decades in Rhode Island's federal courts, acknowledges it could be fun to break that news to a client who doesn't know about the pardon.

But Dimitri doesn't know anyone who's eligible for the president's pardon.

That's because federal prosecutors in Rhode Island have pursued simple marijuana possession charges only rarely, experts say.

Question on ballotWill marijuana dispensaries be allowed in your RI town? November's election will decide.

Nora Tyer-Wytek, the clerk of court at U.S. District Court in Providence, recently worked with a colleague to search for pardonable marijuana possession cases.

They found just one person convicted of simple possession of marijuana since 2006.

In that case, the man was also charged with more serious offenses including possession of a gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Prosecutors dismissed the marijuana possession charge when the man was sentenced.

With retail pot sales only weeks away,RI's fifth medical dispensary opens in Central Falls

Biden, in a statement, said his pardon reflects his position that no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana, according to an Associated Press report.

Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana, he added. Its time that we right these wrongs.

There are thousands of people who have prior federal convictions for marijuana possession, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result, Biden said. My action will help relieve the collateral consequences arising from these convictions.

Dimitri said he talked to some of his own colleagues and no one could recall a case of simple marijuana possession in federal court in Rhode Island.

Story continues

What we know about RI guidelinesDispensaries will start selling recreational pot soon.

He does recall a case involving two defendants who were charged with marijuana possession on the U.S. Navy base in Newport.

In that situation, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the charges and the defendants agreed to serve community service.

Simple marijuana possession was handled in Rhode Island's state courts in the past.

"It just doesn't happen around here," said Dimitri.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: President's pardon for marijuana possession not significant in RI
Bill and Sarah Vacca of Albany, New York, were about to drop their 4-month-old daughter off at day care when they noticed that her breathing appeared labored earlier this month.

Her chest was doing a lot of up and down, Bill Vacca told TODAY. A quick video call with their pediatrician validated the couples concern: You definitely need to go to the emergency room right now, they were told. After rushing their baby to the hospital, they learned their little girl had respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.

Baby Georgia Vacca was in the hospital for four days due to RSV. (Courtesy Bill Vacca)

RSV infects the bodys respiratory system and causes cold-like symptoms in most people but can make it very difficult for babies and young children to breathe. The virus can cause inflammation of the throat, lethargy, radically diminished energy, and low oxygen levels that can become life-threatening. The congestion that accompanies RSV also affects a babys ability to eat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate around 58,000 U.S. children under 5 are hospitalized with RSV every year, resulting in around 500 U.S. deaths, though some estimates are much higher.

During their four harrowing days in the hospital before their baby was allowed to return home, the Vaccas witnesses many of the typical interventions doctors provide for babies battling RSV: fluids administered intravenously to help with hydration, deep suction to clear out nasal and throat passageways, and external oxygen to assist with breathing.

Several parents have told TODAY stories of their children being hospitalized with RSV. Shanisty Ireland's 2-month-old son Asa (two left photos) spent four nights in the hospital; Cory Robertson said his 7-week-old son (right) getting RSV was one of the scariest moments of his life. (Courtesy Shanisty Ireland, and Cory Robertson)

We were definitely terrified, Bill Vacca said. Especially when we saw that she needed to go on oxygen and had the tubes in her nose and all the hoses hooked up to her. The Vaccas recalled a moment when they were standing nearby their child, crying together: (We) couldnt believe that this was happening, they said.

Unfortunately, experiences like theirs arent rare this RSV season.

Were seeing an explosion of RSV cases unlike anything weve had, Dr. Phoebe Yager, the medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at Mass General for Children, told TODAY.

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Dr. Andrew Pavia, a pediatric infectious disease epidemiologist at Intermountain Primary Childrens Hospital in Salt Lake City, agreed. RSV has arrived much earlier than is usual, and the numbers of cases are increasing very rapidly, he told TODAY. In parts of the U.S., the numbers of hospitalized children are already similar to what we would typically see around mid to late December, and are still increasing.

Why RSV is so bad this year

RSV is nothing new  Its been around forever, Yager said  but this RSV season is unique for a few reasons. One is because immunity against the virus has waned with fewer infections during the winters of 2020 and 2021. Another explanation is a change in human behavior.

The past two years, people were still social distancing and masking, which made the first RSV season of the pandemic virtually nonexistent and last years significantly diminished, Yager said. But now that kids are back in school and many people have abandoned preventive health measures, RSV cases are blowing up again.

Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, offered a similar take: Many of these young children have been relatively protected from many infections by the measures put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as masking and physical distancing, so they have not developed immunity to viruses like RSV yet.

Matters have been made worse this year by several viruses slamming hospitals all at once. RSV cases are hitting at a time when we are already dealing with COVID-19, the flu, and the return of enterovirus D68, Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency physician at the University of Rochester Medical Center, told TODAY. Its the perfect storm of four very contagious germs that can make children very ill.

Whats more, Pavia said that many hospitals have lost a lot of staff since the pandemic began, including some of our most experienced intensive care nurses, and the coronaviruss continued presence means fewer intensive care unit beds are available to handle the RSV wave. Despite the misperception that COVID is over, COVID infections among hospital staff continues to exacerbate staffing shortages and also leads to a significant number of children being hospitalized, Pavia added.

RSV symptoms in adults versus babies

One of the reasons RSV is so dangerous for babies is its notorious for causing a lot of mucus and congestion, explained Murray. That congestion can be expelled by older kids or adults by blowing their nose but is not as easily cleared by babies.

Smaller bodies mean smaller pathways for breathing, Yager said. And when those smaller pathways become inflamed by the virus, it can become life-threatening.

RSV symptoms are often exacerbated when congested babies dont eat as well  or sometimes at all.

Nursing babies need to breathe through their nose. Trying to breastfeed or take a bottle when you are having trouble breathing through your nose is frustrating and often leads to the littlest patients having a tough time taking in enough liquids, Murray said.

As bad as RSV is for babies, it generally isnt concerning in healthy adults. In older children, young adults and even some younger children, RSV can look just like the common cold, Pavia explained. Beyond the larger size of their passageways and ability to expel congestion, adults also build up immunity to RSV over time.

We are all infected with RSV many times during our lifetime. With increasing exposure, we develop immunity, which makes it a much milder illness, added Pavia.

Even still, immunocompromised older children, or ones with chronic breathing issues such as asthma, are often still affected dramatically by any respiratory virus, including RSV. The elderly are also uniquely vulnerable. In older adults, RSV can cause pneumonia, worsening of heart failure and worsening of lung disease, Pavia said. An estimated 177,000 adults over 65 are hospitalized as a result of RSV every year, contributing to some 14,000 deaths.

When to take a baby with RSV to the hospital

Though concerning in many children, most children with RSV will do just fine at home, Pavia explained. Getting plenty of rest, nasal suctioning or flushing, and drinking a lot of liquids will help most kids beat RSV from the comfort of their own bed. But when certain symptoms persist or increase, it may be time to visit the doctor.

Its initially impossible for parents to distinguish which virus a child may have and whether its a common cold or something more serious, Yager told TODAY. But if your child is wheezing or seems to be struggling to breathe, a trip to the pediatrician is in order.

RELATED: How to tell if your kid has a cold, the flu, RSV or COVID-19

When you notice that the skin around your childs ribs sucks in with each breath or if they seem to have trouble speaking or dont want to speak because of their trouble breathing, its time to seek care emergently, Murray said. Little babies will often grunt with each breath when they are having trouble.

Another thing to look out for in babies is a diminished number of wet diapers, as that can be a sign of dehydration. Increased or persistent lethargy is also cause for concern. If a child is very lethargic or difficult to wake, they should be evaluated right away, Rajapakse said.

Worse of all, any tinge of blue around the lips means oxygen is severely compromised, which is life-threatening. 911 should be called immediately, Yager warned.

Tips for prevention

One advantage of fighting a virus thats been around as long as RSV is that doctors fully understand how its transmitted.

RSV is primarily transmitted through water droplets that leave a sick person when speaking, coughing or sneezing, which then land on surfaces, Yager explained. Those droplets stay on surfaces where the virus remains active for many hours, and are then transmitted to others when that surface is touched and the person then touches their mouth, nose or eyes, Yager continued. So, she advised: Proper hand hygiene is your best defense against RSV.

Pavia also recommended washing hands often and not touching ones face, along with avoiding close contact with people who are sick, keeping young children away from anyone with cold symptoms, and practicing preventive health measures. Masking, especially by the person with symptoms, can decrease transmission, he said.

It is also critical that children and adults who are ill with any illness stay home when they are sick, Murray advised.

Rajapakse agreed: I would strongly encourage anyone with any respiratory symptoms like a runny nose, cough, or sore throat to avoid visiting or coming in close contact with young children, especially those under 6 months old. RSV can feel just like a mild cold for an older child or adult but can cause a life-threatening illness for a newborn or young infant."

Keeping your newborn home as much as possible "with few visitors" is another solution, said Dr. Elizabeth Mack, the head of the pediatric critical care unit at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Yager stressed that older children and adults can also be helpful by preventing themselves from needing to go to the hospital, as many places are already seeing a shortage of ICU beds. She advised eligible children and adults to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu to prevent another winter surge from overwhelming local and national healthcare systems.

Flu season is about to begin on top of COVID and an already exploding RSV season, she warned. If we fill our beds and exhaust our resources for people that could have stayed out of the hospital altogether, things are only going to get worse this winter.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Oct. 26Woodland Park police need help identifying three shoplifting suspects who they say stole about $1,700 worth of merchandise on Tuesday.

One female and two male suspects entered Tractor Supply within a minute of each other around 2:40 p.m. Police say they stole dog food, generators, welders and hand tools before leaving.

One male suspect was on crutches and wearing a red shirt and zip-up hoodie with jeans. The other male suspect is described as having shoulder-length dreadlocks and was wearing a cap, white Nike sweatshirt and jeans.

The female suspect is described as having long blond hair, wearing a purple shirt, and carrying a large blue bag.

Those with information on these individuals should call 719-687-9262 or email at cledvina@city-woodlandpark.org.
WORCESTER  A city man convicted in federal court in June of conspiring to rob a glass-pipe dealer with Junior Melendez, the alleged leader of the Almighty Vice Lords street gang in Massachusetts was sentenced to over five years in prison Wednesday.

Grace Katana, 31, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to 64 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was convicted of conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery, commonly referred to as Hobbs Act Robbery.

Katana was indicted in July 2019 with three Worcester co-defendants: Melendez, Shaun Walker and Keith Johnson. According to an affidavit filed by Anthony J. Ventetuolo, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, they conspired to rob a glass-pipe dealer in Rockland.

Court documents allege that Katana provided Mr. Melendez information about the intended victim, and that Mr. Melendez then instructed two others to break into the home.

According to court documents, the home was the site of a business that contained as much as $40,000 in high-end glass smoking pipes.

Police listening to a court-ordered wiretap arrested the four men before the ahead of the planned robbery.

In a car registered to a family member of Katana, police found burglar tools and a loaded handgun, and arrested the occupants, Walker and Johnson.

Katana was arrested in a separate car with Melendez. Inside that vehicle, police found a ski mask and two boxes of glass pipes.

Melendez and Walker have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 29 and Nov. 15, 2022, respectively. Johnson plead not guilty and a trial is upcoming.

Melendez was also convicted of conspiring to sell large quantities of cocaine with two other city associates in March.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester man sentenced 5 years for Hobbs Act conspiracy conviction
Wright State University is receiving $3.6 million from the Reynolds and Reynolds Company and its foundation to launch an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans at Wright State University and create new scholarships for business students.

Details of the gift were announced during an event Thursday morning at the ReyRey Cafe in Wright State Universitys Rike Hall.

>> Wright State University staff member dies after incident at library

This is one of the largest gifts in the history of the university, according to Sue Edwards, president of Wright State University.

The service men and women that defended our right to life, liberty and happiness must not themselves be obstructed from achieving their own American Dream, said Chris Walsh, president of Reynolds. We are honored by the sacrifices they have made, and this is one way we thank them for their service  by helping ensure there is a path toward a fruitful future for them when their service ends.

>> $450,000 in scholarships pledged to University of Dayton, Reynolds and Reynolds said

The Reynolds and Reynolds Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV) will further expand the collaboration between Reynolds and Wright State while supporting the success of military veterans who are aspiring entrepreneurs, a spokesperson for the university said.

In addition to the $3 million commitment to the EBV, the Reynolds and Reynolds Company Foundation has pledged $600,000 over the next three years for scholarships for Wright State business students, according to the spokesperson.

Students selected for the Reynolds and Reynolds Business Scholarship will receive an annual scholarship of $5,000 that is renewable for each year of their undergraduate education at Wright State.

These two gifts promise to expand the impact of Reynolds and Reynolds on Wright States business students and on military veterans by inspiring entrepreneurial endeavors that form the basis for economic growth, said Thomas Traynor, dean of the Raj Soin College of Business. They also reaffirm and widen the commitment that Reynolds and Wright State have to the Greater Dayton region and its economy.

For more information on the program, you can click here.




By Tyler Clifford

NEW YORK (Reuters) -The New York Police Department has called for "elevated vigilance" ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, warning that extremists could target political events and polling sites, the agency said in an internal bulletin obtained by Reuters.

Poll workers, people at rallies and political candidates face heightened risk of attack in the run-up to the Nov. 8 elections, according to an alert issued by the NYPD's Intelligence Bureau on Wednesday.

The bulletin stressed it was drawing attention to the risk of attacks or threats even though there were no credible threats known by police at this time.

Rising crime rates have become a top election issue for voters in New York and across the country. Public safety took center stage this week at a debate between New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin, her Republican challenger.

In July, Zeldin was giving a campaign speech when a man climbed on stage and tried to stab him. Zeldin was not harmed in the incident and the attacker was arrested.

(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Deepa Babington)
The New York Post was hacked on Thursday morning, with violent and racist headlines posted on its website. Getty Images

The New York Post's website was hacked Thursday morning, the company confirmed.

Violent and racist headlines were posted to the tabloid's website and shared on Twitter.

One of the headlines called for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's assassination.

The New York Post's website was hacked by one of its own staff on Thursday, the tabloid confirmed after a series of violent and racist headlines were posted.

"The New York Post's investigation indicates that the unauthorized conduct was committed by an employee, and the employee has been terminated," a representative for the Post told Insider. "This morning, we immediately removed the vile and reprehensible content from our website and social media accounts."

One post shared on Twitter read: "We must assassinate AOC for America," referring to Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Another headline from the website claimed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott would start "slaughtering illegals" on the southern border.

Other posts on the company's website made violent and racist remarks directed at New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, linking the fake, vulgar headlines to GOP candidate for New York governor Lee Zeldin.

"The New York Post has been hacked. We are currently investigating the cause," a representative for the Post told Insider. The Post's tweet about being hacked received over 3,000 likes and 1,200 retweets in less than 30 minutes, while multiple hashtags about the outlet trended on Twitter.

The New York Post has been the target of hacks before

The Post was hacked in a similar manner at least twice before. In 2017 on April Fool's Day, the tabloid said its app was hacked after it sent out a wave of push notifications including "Heil President Donald Trump" and "Hear me now, for I speak as an angel in the words of God." The company quickly released an apology post about the incident.

The Post's official Twitter account was also reportedly hacked in 2015 to send out fake posts about economic and military topics.

Story continues

The Post's parent company, News Corp, was reportedly hacked in a wider effort earlier this year that targeted journalists' emails from multiple companies, including the Post. News Corp and its assets are owned by the media giant Rupert Murdoch.

The Post did not release the name of the employee it suspects created and uploaded the posts, butconfirmed to Insider on Thursday afternoon that the staffer had been fired.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.

Read the original article on Insider
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.
An image of a black phone on a flat surface with the red and white YouTube logo is shown.



YouTube is whipping out another tool to hackle health misinformation on the platform.

In its latest effort to limit health misinformation, YouTube is trying to make it easier for users to identify and differentiate reliable, factual videos made by certified healthcare professionals from those made by wellness gurus and their ilk. Starting today, the platform will let doctors and nurses apply for verified provider labels and showcase their videos on special healthcare carousels in search results.

The announcement was made on Thursday by YouTubes global head of health Dr. Garth Graham, who pointed out in a blog post that this is the first time the platform will extend its health product features to individual healthcare providers. Previously, the features were available to organizations like universities and government agencies. YouTube has historically struggled to rein in medical misinformation, most recently during the pandemic, and has been criticized for dragging its feet on implementing fixes for the problem.

Read more



An example of verified Health Sources on content shelves in YouTube search results.

At the moment, only individuals in the U.S. and Germany will be able to apply to be YouTube Health Sources, although YouTube stated that the company hopes to be able to open up the process to more countries and regions in the future.

This is a big step towards helping people more easily find and connect with content that comes from the extraordinary community of healthcare creators on YouTubethe smart, dedicated and creative folks who are transforming the ways that we share medical information, Graham said in a YouTube blog post.

A label is shown under a YouTube video that states: "From a licensed doctor."



An example of information panels for health source content, AKA labels.

The companys global head of health pointed to channels helmed by licensed individuals that provide helpful health content on the platform, such as Doctor Mike, a family doctor who debunks medical myths, and Doctor Ali, a psychologist who makes easily accessible videos on mental health.

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What will qualify someone to be a YouTube Health Source? According to the platforms support page, the application process is open to licensed doctors, nurses, registered nurses, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and licensed clinical social workers. All applicants must be licensed, YouTube notes, adding that third-party partner LegitScript will be in charge of coordinating license verification by working with licensing bodies like the Federation of State Medical Boards in the U.S.

Besides obtaining license verification, YouTube states that channels must follow its monetization policies, even if its not monetizing content. Applicants must also have more than 2,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months and primarily focus on covering health information. Finally, individuals interested in being a Health Source must have no active community guidelines strikes.

Getting accepted doesnt mean that youll be a YouTube Health Source forever, though. On its support page, the platform points out that channels are periodically reassessed and may lose access to YouTube health features if the company finds they no longer meet the criteria.

Interested individuals can apply here. YouTube states that it will review applicants channels and get back to them with an answer in within one or two months. Individuals who are accepted may start getting access to the features in early 2023.

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Lynchburg City Schools will receive nearly $10 million in federal money to buy 25 electric buses, the first in the divisions fleet, officials announced this week.

The $9,875,000 in funding, which comes from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will allow Lynchburg City Schools to purchase the new buses plus necessary charging infrastructure.

Reid Wodicka, Lynchburg City Schools deputy superintendent of operations and strategic planning, said in an interview Thursday, This is an exceptional opportunity for us to invest in our transportation infrastructure for the future.

Lynchburg City Schools is committed to student achievement in a number of different areas, so creating a better transportation environment for students as well as families throughout the community will be tremendously valuable for us.

Wodicka said the division, which will opt for 25 buses instead of just a few to start out with, decided to go aggressively into this transition to an electric fleet.

We think its the future. We think its important for our students and for our local environment, as well as [to] provide us the opportunities to have significant cost savings in our operations, Wodicka said.

The 25 buses will allow the division to replace about a quarter of our fleet, Wodicka said, while adding that early analysis suggests the division might save close to $250,000 per year on diesel fuel by transitioning these 25 vehicles in.

Wodicka said the buses would account for a roughly 25% decrease in local emissions almost immediately when the buses are in Lynchburg.

Hope Custer, the divisions director of transportation, said in a news release Thursday, Lynchburg City Schools Transportation is excited to advance our fleet with these new buses. Electric buses are cleaner, quieter, and create a better transportation experience for students and transportation staff. We look forward to fully implementing this program, moving our school division into the future.

The Environmental Protection Agency is partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Transportation to provide the divisions with robust technical assistance to ensure effective implementation, the release stated.

LCS students and families can expect to see the buses roll out over the next two years.

Elsewhere in the Lynchburg region, Nelson County Public Schools will receive $790,000 for the purchase of two electric buses, as well as the charging infrastructure.

U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine said in a joint news release that Lynchburgs allocation of federal money was part of more than $30 million going to a dozen Virginia school divisions to purchase clean-energy school buses.

Other Central Virginia school districts have begun rolling out electric buses in their fleets. Amherst County rolled out two new buses in September, and recently announced it will receive a third bus this winter. Campbell County rolled out two electric buses in April.

Those buses were made possible by grants from American Electric Power as part of a settlement agreement between AEP and the Environmental Protection Agency over Clean Air Act violations.

Bedford County Public Schools also was included in the announcement last year of AEP grant funding to aid with the purchase of an electric bus.

In their news release, Warner and Kaine expressed their excitement with the electric bus plan, which they claim will help make a real difference in combating climate change.

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, school districts in Virginia are set to receive millions in funding for zero-emission and low-emission school buses that will help provide students with safe and reliable transportation to and from school, Warner said in the release. As we continue to look for ways to reduce pollution and combat climate change, I am glad to see this federal funding directed towards replacing old school buses with 21st century, eco-friendly equipment.
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.
The Council Bluffs Community School District will offer an incentive again this year for eligible employees to provide early notification if they intend to leave the district before the next school year, the Board of Education decided Tuesday.

The district has offered a similar incentive for the past several years. The initial amount of $1,000 was raised to $1,250 last year.

Qualified employees may receive a payment of $1,250 if they apply for the incentive by Jan. 6, 2023 and the amount budgeted for the incentive program has not been exhausted, according to Board materials. In the meantime, its first come, first served. Payment will be made after the Board of Education has accepted the employees resignation.

The goal of the incentive is to encourage eligible employees who have already made a decision to not return for next school year  to provide early notification so that human resources can begin recruitment and hiring of replacement staff early in 2023, board materials stated. This incentive is in no way intended to encourage employees to leave the district.

Employees who are eligible for the 2022-23 Early Notification Incentive include teachers, nurses and administrators with at least three years of service in the district. Recipients must complete the school year and will be required to forfeit the money if they are terminated before the end of the year. Those on long-term disability are not eligible.

Employees will be notified of the incentive at least 15 days before the deadline.

The board authorized the administration to submit a request to the state School Budget Review Committee for authority to spend an additional $652,012.27 to cover excess costs from the 2021-22 English Language Learner program.

The state funds instruction for English Language Learners for five years, and some students continue to need help after five years. The SBRC generally approves spending authority for districts to raise revenue for that locally, but the state does not provide that additional funding.

I think you will find that all of the urban school districts need this, said Dean Wilson, chief financial officer for the school district. We already levy enough money  we dont have to increase the levy because of it.

Superintendent Vickie Murillo said the mechanism shows that the state understands that ELL students come into school systems with different levels of fluency.

As a district, its our responsibility to do everything we can for them before we let them out of the ELL program, she said. SBRC allows us to go back and ask for the spending authority to extend instruction.

In other business, the board:

Approved the purchase and installation of a new energy recovery ventilator for Rue Elementary School at a cost of $212,000 ($169,000 plus a contingency) from Rasmussen Mechanical, the only company that submitted a bid for the project. The ERV will replace an air conditioning compressor that failed, board materials stated. It needs to be ordered now because it is expected to take nine months to arrive.

Approved a three-year renewal of the districts license for Lexia Core5, a state-approved literacy program, at a cost of $257,976.50.

Approved the purchase of a license for Dreambox math learning tool for special education students at Kirn Middle School at a cost of $1,650.

Accepted a $1,200 gift from Knights of Columbus Council 11296 to be used for Special Education needs.

Accepted a $914 gift from Great Plains Inc., owner-operator of local McDonalds, to be used for school supplies. The money was raised through a Fries for School Supplies campaign, which funneled a percentage of a la carte french fry sales to schools.

Approved an annual agreement with the City of Council Bluffs for the placement of school resource officers at Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson High Schools, Kanesville Alternative School and Kirn and Wilson Middle Schools at a cost of $535,004.

Approved contract with Grafton School Inc. for Ukeru Crisis Prevention Training for train-the-trainer recertification of two employees at a one-day course in Kansas City, Kansas, at a cost of $790.

Approved contracts with various outside schools for special education services for certain students as determined through the Individual Education Plan process.
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.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday announced the appointment of Jacobus to the roles.

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.
Perhaps it is a standard campaign visit in the midterm elections to a state that has treated him well in the past.

Or perhaps former President Donald Trump is coming to Iowa next month to ensure Chuck Grassley staves off what appears to be the toughest re-election campaign of his four decades in the U.S. Senate.

Whatever the reason, Trump plans to hold a campaign rally at Sioux Citys Gateway Airport on Thursday, Nov. 3  just five days before Election Day, the Trump campaign announced Wednesday.

Trump plans to deliver remarks in support of his effort to advance his agenda and to energize voters to support Republican candidates Trump has endorsed, including Grassley and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Trump campaign said.

Trumps last visit to Iowa was just more than a year ago: he endorsed Grassley  to a mixed reaction from the crowd gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds  during a rally on Oct. 9, 2021.

This time, Trump will be speaking in the hometown of Mike Franken, the Democratic opponent who is running closer to Grassley than any of Grassleys previous six re-election opponents, according to polling and fundraising. A recent Mediacom/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll said Franken was within 3 percentage points of Grassley, who won his previous six re-election bids by an average of 35 points.

National elections forecasters are rating Iowas U.S. Senate campaign likely Republican, which is less confident than previous ratings earlier in the cycle but still the second-most confident in a Grassley victory.

Reynolds is running for re-election against Democrat Deidre DeJear and Libertarian Rick Stewart. Reynolds has held commanding leads in polling and fundraising in the gubernatorial campaign.

Trump won Iowa in both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

Also Wednesday, the Trump campaign announced rallies during the final days before the election in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

What Republicans are saying

Grassleys campaign spokeswoman said he will take the opportunity to speak directly to Iowans and highlight what we believes are failures by President Joe Biden. The spokeswoman offered criticisms of Biden on the economy, immigration policy and crime.

Sen. Grassley encourages Iowans to send a message to President Biden and his rubber stamp Mike Franken on Election Day by voting Republican to get our country back on track, Grassley campaign spokeswoman Michaela Sundermann said.

Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann welcomed Trump back to northwest Iowa, which Kaufmann called, the land of faith, farming and freedom.

Through her campaign spokesman, Reynolds said she welcomes Trump back to Iowa.

He loves this country, loves Iowa, loves our farmers, and will deliver a strong speech that highlights the destructive policies of the Biden administration and the radical Democrats in Washington, D.C., Reynolds said via her spokesman.

What Democrats are saying

Frankens campaign manager Julie Stauch said Trumps event will be interesting, given Grassley in 2021 voted to confirm Bidens 2020 victory over Trump despite Trumps calls for the Senate to not confirm the presidential election results.

Its just very interesting to watch whos coming in for Sen. Grassley at this point, Stauch said. I think the fact theyre in Sioux City reinforces the vulnerability (Grassley) faces up in northwest Iowa.

DeJear, through her campaign spokeswoman, also called Trumps visit interesting.

Its interesting but not surprising that Reynolds and the GOP would be welcoming Trump back despite more than half of Iowans disapproval, DeJear said, referring to a new Iowa Poll. At this point, shes made it more than clear that shes going to force her unpopular agenda on this state unless we interrupt her by electing a new governor.

Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn, in a statement, criticized Iowa Republicans for welcoming a former president who attempted to overturn the 2020 election results, a movement that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Chuck Grassley and Kim Reynolds are so desperate to hang onto political power that they will stand with a traitor who wanted to overthrow our government, threatened the life of his vice president and who continues to support attacks on our democracy, Wilburn said in the statement.
The Nebraska-born mountain lion was caught on a camera in western Illinois a little over a week ago.

But wildlife authorities there werent surprised. That same day, theyd received a call from a state biologist in Nebraska, letting them know the mountain lions radio collar had sent a signal from McDonough County, about 85 miles south of the Quad Cities.

And about 10 days before that, the biologist, Sam Wilson of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, had sent the Illinois Department of Natural Resources a first alert: The lion was headed their way  in eastern Iowa at the time but approaching the Mississippi River.

Wilson and others had collared the male in November 2021 in the Niobrara River Valley. They estimated it to be about a year old at the time, about the age when most young males disperse  setting off in search of mates, and their own territories.

And this one dispersed, more than 600 miles so far.

Its GPS-enabled collar sends Wilson periodic signals, and those showed the lion moving to the south and east. In late July, it passed through Lincoln, where it was caught on a homeowners backyard security camera near Northwest 56th and West Adams.

But it kept moving.

It can be between 3 and 20 miles a day, but it might kill a deer and feed on that for a day or two, Wilson said. But mostly its walking day after day after day after day after day.

It keeps walking because its not finding what its looking for  a mate. Female lions dont disperse like males, Wilson said. So in general, there are very few females to be found. And so they just keep moving.

The lion would have had better luck had it traveled west, toward Nebraskas other established mountain lion populations in the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills areas, or beyond to the Rocky Mountain states.

If hes looking for females, hed find them in the West. Its unlikely hell find females in the East.

It would have to find its way to Florida to meet a compatible mate, in the population of panthers  a mountain lion subspecies  that live in the swamps and forests of that states southwest tip.

Wilson and his staff are monitoring 19 mountain lions with working radio collars, and the visitor to Illinois, caught on a landowners camera Oct. 14, is the only one of those to have left the state. But its not the first Nebraska cat to make it more than one state away.

In February, a 3-year-old with a Nebraska ear tag was killed during Montanas hunting season.
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"The path of scientific research is filled with twists and turns and many hardships. Young science workers and scientists must rise to the challenge, and take up the baton of building China into a country strong in energy and resources," said Jin Yong, a professor of chemical engineering at Tsinghua University and an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, during a recent exclusive interview with China.org.cn.

This is also a message Jin wants to send to young talents, encouraging them to dedicate their energy to scientific research.

Jin has devoted his life to the construction of China's chemical engineering industry, and has also pioneered the development and practice of related disciplines in the field of circular economy in the country. At 87 years old, he remains on the frontline of education and science popularization for chemistry and chemical engineering.

In July, he became one of the speakers in the "Energy and Environment Youth Talent Training Program" jointly sponsored by the China Environmental Protection Foundation, the China Energy Society and the Beijing Society of Energy and Environment. The program aims to promote the development of ecological conservation and environmental protection as well as public welfare undertakings in this field in China, and to help the development of talent in the environmental and energy industries.

"The training program can be compared to a 'gas station' for young scientists and technology workers, providing them with a platform to communicate with each other and broaden their vision and minds," Jin said.

However, he stressed that science and technology talents must work hard and adopt a spirit of perseverance and commitment in their pursuits.

"From the beginning of my career until my retirement, I taught students in the school to do scientific research, so I understand that the success of a technology can entail many years of input by generations of people," he added.

This year's talent training program will last until December 2022 and is being conducted through online classes. The project follows global development trends in energy and the environment, covering seven key areas: advanced energy storage technology, efficient solar energy utilization technology, green mines, clean and efficient coal utilization technology, energy conservation and energy efficiency improvement technology, oil and gas exploration and development technology, hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology.

At present, the first batch of 81 students are undertaking the course stage of the program, in which academicians and industry experts communicate with the trainees though seminars and online classes. The organizers hope that the program can be a cradle for specialists on energy and the environment in the country, and that it can help provide new thinking in response to emerging challenges in the field and help realize sustainable development.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, China's ecological civilization construction has entered a critical period focused on reducing carbon emissions, promoting the synergistic effects of pollution reduction and emissions reduction, promoting the comprehensive green transformation of socio-economic development, and improving the ecological environment quality from quantitative to qualitative changes.

Jin pointed out that the European Union plans to reach carbon neutrality more than 70 years after having achieved carbon peak, while for the United States it is more than 40 years. In contrast with developed economies, China has set itself a target of 30 years to become carbon neutral from carbon peak. This is a huge challenge for the country, as while making the energy transition, China still needs to maintain economic growth and manufacturing progress. That requires the support of a large number of energy and environmental talents.

To that end, Jin proposed that education on energy transformation should be started at an early age, from kindergarten, elementary and secondary school through to university. The entire education system should also popularize energy and environmental knowledge with the aim of cultivating professionals in the field. Teaching systematic professional knowledge is not only necessary for those working in the field, but also for raising nationwide awareness on energy transformation.

"Both energy transformation and scientific and technological innovation need the support of science popularization," Jin said. "Good science popularization is conducive to innovative development."

Jin has devoted himself to spreading scientific knowledge on chemical engineering and chemistry as well as the concept of green chemical engineering, for which he has twice been awarded the Top Ten Science Communicators Award by the China Association for Science and Technology.

Since the beginning of 2015, Jin has also been participating in the "Science China Tour" sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as the "Academician Popular Science Tour" and "Welcome Youth to Chinese Academy of Engineering" organized by the CAE. As part of these projects, he has delivered more than 300 popular science lectures across the country, reaching over 100,000 people.
Moroccos phosphates and fertilizers producer OCP was given go-ahead to set up two subsidiaries to produce water from non-conventional sources as well as renewable energy in the region of Safi.

The official gazette published the governmental decree allowing the OCP to operate in these fields as Morocco faces the worst drought in four decades.

The decision marks the involvement of OCP in water and energy supply which will benefit its industrial activities and the local population.

Most Moroccan dams have hit critical levels below 30% and the country seeks new sustainable solutions including desalination.

Casablanca is expected to have its own desalination plant, to be the largest in Africa and free dam water for inner regions.
Burkina Fasos interim President Ibrahim Traore has assured US diplomats that he has no intention of inviting mercenaries from Russias Wagner group to fight militants in the country, US under secretary for political affairs Victoria Nuland said on Wednesday (26 October).

Western powers have expressed a concern that Burkina Faso might follow the lead of neighboring Mali, which in late 2021 hired mercenaries from Russias Wagner group to help its army fight Islamist insurgents. Security has deteriorated since Wagner forces entered Mali, rights abuses have been reported and UN peacekeepers have been squeezed out, said Nuland, who had just returned to the United States from a West Africa tour. We had a chance to sit with interim president Traore and his leadership team, including his defense minister. He was unequivocal in saying that only Burkinabe will defend their country. They have no intention of inviting Wagner, she said at a digital media briefing.

Jihadist groups  some with links to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State  have been waging an insurgency in the Sahel region, gaining ground despite the presence of foreign troops and UN peacekeepers. Frustrations over growing insecurity have spurred two military coups in Mali since August 2020 and two in Burkina Faso this year. Both countries are under pressure to restore civilian rule and have committed to holding elections in 2024. Nuland warned that insecurity would challenge the transition process but said at least the civilians responsible for the election appear to be keeping the preparations on track. Relations between Mali and the West have soured over the juntas reluctance to hold elections and its collaboration with the Russian mercenaries, which the UN has accused of summarily executing civilians and other human rights violations alongside Malian soldiers. Both Russia and Mali have repeatedly denied this.
The conflict-torn Burkina Faso has launched a drive to recruit 50,000 civilian defense volunteers to help the countrys army fight jihadists, the authorities announced.

The mission of these communal VDPs is to protect, alongside the defense and security forces, the people and property of their communes of origin, in the face of jihadist attacks, according to a statement by the commander of the Brigade of Vigilance and Patriotic Defense (BVDP), Colonel Boukare Zoungrana, Minister of Territorial Administration, Decentralization and Security released on Tuesday (25 October).

This local recruitment is in addition to the one a day earlier when the BVDP announced its intention to build a force of 15,000 VDPs that can be deployed throughout the national territory. The status of the VDP is defined by law since early 2020. It is defined as a person of Burkinabe nationality, auxiliary to the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), voluntarily serving the security interests of his village or sector of residence.

VDPs receive 14 days of civic and military training before being armed and provided with means of communication. They pay a heavy price in the jihadist attacks that regularly strike Burkina Faso, particularly in the north and east. To date, no data is available on their exact number, even though the initial objective was to recruit 13,000 people. These massive recruitments are in addition to a one-time recruitment campaign of 3,000 soldiers to bolster the ranks of the army in the fight against jihadists. These campaigns come after a coup in late September that was led by Captain Ibrahim Traore, whose stated aim is to strengthen the anti-jihadist fight.
At least 50 companies are expected to list on the Ethiopian Stock Exchange (ESX), set to launch in two years, which will provide a platform for the privatization of the countrys state-owned enterprises.

Three months ago, Ethiopia announced it was in the process of establishing a stock market signaling a window of opportunity for cross-listing. Opening up banking to foreign banks would transform the economy by boosting it to have a link with the international economy, Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia said in a Facebook post. Another move came last week when Prime Minister Ahmed Abiys government announced it was opening up the economy to foreign banks. The Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX) is a joint project between the countrys giant new sovereign wealth fund, Ethiopia Investment Holdings (EIH), Ministry of Finance and Nairobi-based Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA). Between 25% and 55% of the ownership of the ESX will be for corporations, capital market intermediaries and operators of international securities exchanges, while government will not own more than 25%.

According to FSDA, At least 50 companies, including banks and insurance companies, are expected to list at the launch of the exchange. The exchange is designed to provide a fundraising platform for small and medium-size enterprises, which are the backbone of the Ethiopian economy. The exchange will also offer a platform for the privatization of Ethiopias state-owned enterprises. Meanwhile, the establishment of EIH, one of Africas biggest sovereign wealth funds, could be the start of a massive turnaround in Ethiopias long-established economic heterodoxy. It was set up in late 2021 and will control assets worth some $38bn, or 34% of Ethiopias GDP, generating annual revenues of $6.2bn. It has some of Ethiopias largest and most productive state-owned enterprises in its portfolio, such as Ethiopian Airlines, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia or Ethio Telecom, and with its active participation in the establishment of the countrys first securities exchange, is likely to pave the way for the liberalization of the economy and increase the pace of privatization.
Africas leading tourism operators, counting 450 delegates from 43 countries, are attending a three-day Africa Tourism Leadership Forum in Gaborone, Botswana, to discuss how to revive the industry ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

With intra-African travel at the top of the agenda, Botswanas President Mokgweetsi Masisi told attendees they need to focus on ways to encourage travel to and within the continent. This vital forum will undoubtedly provide the travel and tourism industry in Africa  and indeed the rest of the world  with a platform for exchanging ideas aimed at promoting travel to and around Africa, Masisi said. Tourism is a dynamic and competitive industry that requires the ability to constantly adapt to customers changing needs and desires as customer satisfaction, safety and enjoyment are the focus of the tourism business.

While much of Africa looks to foreign tourism dollars, Botswanas Tourism Minister Philda Kereng said intra-African travel was a top focus of the forum to help rebuild the industry. But African tourism insiders say there are major hurdles to intra-African travel, including poor roads and limited flights in parts of Africa, which too often force travel to a regional hub, or even outside the continent, for connecting flights to neighboring countries. German market and consumer data company Statista says Covid-19 cost Africas tourism sector $87 billion when the pandemic hit in 2020. But there are signs of a strong revival, with the data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization indicating that in 2022 international arrivals across Africa were up 171%.
Egypt has increased the minimum wage in the public sector from 2,000 Egyptian pound ($101.3) to 3,000 in a move to help workers surf the increase in the cost of living, reports say.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly who announced the decision said the government will pay an exceptional bonus of EGP 300 for employees in the public sector and its affiliate companies, as well as pensions.

The hike is the second in less than five years. In April 2019, the minimum wage was increased by 67 per cent from 1,200 Egyptian pounds ($69.27) to 2,000.

It was also announced then that pensions would rise by 15 per cent meaning at least additional 150 pounds. Minimum pension is 900 pounds in Egypt.

The Arab country is facing economic crisis due to the brunt of the COVID-19 and Ukraine-Russia war. It has turned to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new loan program.
Cote dIvoires national carrier, Air Cote dIvoire has placed order for two Airbus A330neo as the airline embarks on long haul flights, outside the continent.

The delivery of these two aircraft is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2024 for the first and the 2nd quarter of 2025 for the second and will allow the company to launch its flights to Europe, the Middle East and the United States, the airline said in a statement Wednesday.

The State is resolutely committed to the success of this project alongside its airline. It intends to serve Paris and Beirut in 2024, London and Geneva in 2025 and New York and Washington in 2026 with a forecast of profitability four to five years after the launch of the long haul, the statement added.

The airline plans to conquer the European market as it argues that the continent is the preferred destination in the long-haul segment with 61% of trips departing from the African continent.

The company currently runs a fleet of 10 aircrafts made of four Bombardiers, three Airbus A319 and Airbus A320.
A draft law on the building of a barrier-free environment, the first of its kind in China, was tabled before lawmakers for the first deliberation on Thursday.

The draft law, which is being deliberated at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, specifies the beneficiaries as "members of society in need of barrier-free environments."

It aims to deliver more benefits to all members of society on the basis of protecting the rights of people with disabilities and the elderly to an accessible environment.

The draft stipulates higher requirements for the construction and renovation of accessible facilities, and calls on local governments to roll out and ensure the implementation of plans to renovate existing facilities that fail to meet the mandatory accessibility standards.

While providing public information or releasing information on emergencies, government departments must ensure accessibility for people with disabilities, according to the draft law.

In the proposed legislation, it is also stipulated that state organs, as well as public service places run by organizations tasked with managing public affairs in accordance with the law, must remove barriers for those with disabilities.
The Turkish parliament Wednesday renewed for another year the mandate of Turkish troops operating for peace keeping in Mali and Central African Republic (CAR) under the UN umbrella, Anadolu news agency reports.

The Turkish presidency had submitted the extension decision in a motion in the legislature.

In September 2014, a 12,000-troop strong U.N. peacekeeping force within the scope of the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was deployed to the troubled Central African country.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution in 2012 authorizing the deployment of the Africa-led International Support Mission to Mali, known as AFISMA.

The parliament in October last year had extended until 31 October 2022 the mandate of troops deployed under the two UN missions.
Algeria has announced painful reforms including subsidies cuts on which the social peace hinges to try to save its crumbling finances, but all the reforms have vanished as the oil and gas bonanza offer the regime space to gain time and delay reforms as the country heads straight to economic collapse.

Before the Russia-Ukraine war flared up, the public finances of the Algerian regime were on the verge of collapse prompting it to cut vital imports- including medicines, foodstuff and cars- and promised to reduce subsidies on basic goods, in crisis management measures that were meant to mitigate the impact of financial collapse. But Putin saved Algeria by his war on Ukraine which sent gas and oil prices skyrocketing giving Algiers some room to further delay reforms.

Oil-extracted revenues have long been the regimes preferred method for purchasing social peace and citizens political allegiance, Dalia Ghanem wrote in a recent OP-ED on Middle East Eye.

The regime uses hydrocarbon money to distort the political process, supporting pro-regime incumbents during elections and enabling them to improve economic opportunities for the regimes clients and allies, she said.

The other pillars on which the Algerian authoritarian regime rests are the army and repression as well as the co-option of political opponents and the fragmentation of the civil society in addition to maintaining corrupt circles to buy allegiance, Ghanem wrote in a recent book.

In 2011, amid the Arab Spring protests that engulfed Tunisia, Algerian youth took to the street against the backdrop of higher foodstuff prices. The protests were quelled by a mix of police repression and generous direct handouts. Back then, the state has amassed enormous wealth standing as the 13th country in the world in terms of foreign exchange reserves.

Likewise, Algeria is taking advantage of its newly found oil and gas rent to distribute direct stipends to 1.5 unemployed people.

But the expensive oil and gas bracket will close soon as the world heads to clean energy. Oil and gas exporters have this decade to make this profit and prepare for a diversified economy to survive the energy transition. Algeria seems more bogged down in short-term policies to buy social peace at the expense of preparing the economy to the challenges of the post-fossil fuel era.
The United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, for one year, while enshrining, once again, the preeminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative to resolve the regional dispute.

The renewal of the MINURSO mandate came in Resolution 2654, adopted Thursday by the UN Security Council.

The Security Council decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 31 October 2023, reads the resolution, authored by the United States. The resolution was adopted by 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.

In this new resolution, the executive body of the United Nations reaffirmed its support for the autonomy plan, proposed by Morocco in 2007, as a serious and credible basis on which the regional dispute over the Sahara can be resolved, as enshrined in several previous Security Council resolutions.

The members of the Council also reiterated their support to the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General aimed at relaunching the political process towards a realistic, pragmatic, lasting and compromise-based solution.

In the resolution, the Security Council emphasized again the decisive involvement of Algeria in the dispute.

Actually, Resolution 2654, strongly encourages all parties  including Algeria  to engage with the Personal Envoy through the duration of this process, in a spirit of realism and compromise to ensure a successful outcome.

The Security Council insisted in the majority of the resolution paragraphs that a solution to the dispute is only possible through the engagement of all parties to the dispute.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also shattered Algerias lingering hope to shirk its responsibility in the dispute in his recent report on the situation in the Sahara, where he argued that a solution will be only possible provided that all concerned [parties] engage in a good faith and there is continued support from the international community.

This new language carries a clear message to Algeria and the Polisario Front, which have been promoting narratives to challenge and defy the UN recommendations.

The report also recalled Moroccos commitment towards the UN-led political process, shown in its position favoring the relaunch of the roundtable talks that former UNSG envoy Horst Kohler initiated, convening all parties to the dispute, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario.
The chiefs of staff of the armies of member countries of the 5+5 Defense Initiative approved on Thursday in Rabat their joint action plan set for 2023 and pledged to enhance further cooperation in the fight against illicit trafficking, clandestine migration, terrorism and marine pollution.

During their 14th meeting convened under the chairmanship of Morocco, the Chiefs of staff of the armies of France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal and Spain also reviewed progress of their action plan 2022.

Army chiefs of the eight countries made recommendations and conclusions to be included in the joint declaration of the 18th meeting of the Defense ministers of the member countries, due in Rabat on December 16.

They recommended the promotion of the sustainability of the 5+5 Defense Initiative, the promotion of gender equality and the strengthening of multilateral cooperation in maritime security, air safety, academic research training and army role in major disasters management.

The Chiefs of Staff of the armies of the eight member countries welcomed the joint practical exercises and commended the Initiatives projects and structures, in particular the 5+5 Defense College, the Euro-Maghreb Center for Research and Strategic Studies, the 5+5 Defense Forum and the 5+5 Demining training Center.

In his opening address, Gen. El Farouk Belkhir, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces, hailed the efforts made by all member countries to make of this Initiative a privileged platform for sharing experiences in security and defense, promoting cooperation between the armies of the two shores of the Mediterranean Sea.

He also reaffirmed the Royal armed forces attachment to multilateral military cooperation to counter the challenges facing the region, says a statement released by the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.

For their part, the Chiefs of Staff of the armed forces of the participating countries stressed the importance of the Initiative in fostering the exchange of experiences, mutual understanding and trust.

Set up in 2004, the 5+5 Defense initiative is a forum for multilateral cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean. It gathers five countries from the southern shore of the Mediterranean (Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia) and five countries from the northern shore (France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain).

The Initiative seeks to promote mutual understanding and security cooperation against common challenges such as terrorism, migratory flows, drugs and arms trafficking
The University of Nebraska-Lincolns Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has rolled out a vision that would connect rural Nebraska with educational opportunities.

Andrew Belser, dean of the college, visited with educators and civic organizations in North Platte Wednesday about his program that would integrate the Extension and Education system with the arts.

Belser began his duties in July and is in the process of defining the program to fit the needs of students across the state.

In the earliest stages, the plan is to bring student ensembles, maybe a professional ensemble or two, out to meet people and do smaller pieces of curriculum that arent hard to set up, Belser said. These should be in visual arts, graphic design, emerging media, film, theater, music for sure. They should be all across the disciplines.

Having grown up in a farming community in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Belser pursued his interests in music and theater, eventually becoming a director in New York.

After 10 to 15 years as a professional director, Belser said, I got less happy.

He then started a theater program at a small college and developed connections to communities. That experience led to UNL hiring him to create a program that would bring the university out to the students.

Belser defined a timeline that would bring the program to success in a little over three years. During that first year, those early connections with smaller communities would progress to what he called stand-up curriculums.

What we want is for the programs to be sustained beyond us (the college) having to come out, although we will keep coming out, Belser said. You want to build the capacity of the teachers in the schools to have the instruments, to have the expertise to teach these things, to have the hardware and the equipment. So we want to help stand that up.

By the third year, Belser said, the program will be looking for long-term success by finding partners  civic, industry and education partners who will invest in furthering its goal.

And then, how do we make this a part of our ongoing curriculum at the university in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, Belser said. As long as its succeeding, well become known for it, then you will have students coming out, and it will be a recognized program that exports our work out across the state.

Brian Cox, Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone coordinator, said the program fits well within the purpose of Extension.

Within Extension, our job is really to connect the university and its resources back to our stakeholders across the state, Cox said. Certainly when we look at the university, most people associate Extension with agriculture and certainly 4-H, but we go much beyond that.

Cox said Extension works through Rural Prosperity Nebraska to help smaller communities improve and develop.

Were all about education and this is just a piece of education, but a very important piece that quite honestly we havent been involved with, Cox said. But we havent had the opportunity to really connect with someone at the campus level that can bring these programs out to the state.
Indonesian banks looking to retain and grow customers need to improve fraud management response

JAKARTA, Indonesia, October 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FICO (NYSE: FICO):

Highlights

1 in 6 Indonesian consumers will leave for a competitor if unsatisfied with their banks fraud management response

34 percent of Indonesians are most concerned about Account Takeover (ATO) fraud, followed by identity theft (29%)

13 percent of Indonesian consumers think banks could do more to protect them

FICOs latest global fraud survey has revealed that 1 in 6 Indonesian consumers will leave for a competitor if unsatisfied with their banks fraud management response. This comes at a point, post-pandemic, where 67 percent of consumers say they will continue to do all their banking online. Indonesia also reported a higher rate of fraud than most markets in the survey.

With Indonesia boasting roughly 135 million banking customers, this 1 in 6 Indonesian consumers still represents a churn of roughly 21 million people which delivers an opportunity for institutions that can best manage the problem.

More information: https://www.fico.com/en/latest-thinking/ebook/fico-consumer-fraud-survey-2021-indonesia

Indonesians Most Concerned with ATO Fraud But May Be Neglecting Other Emerging Threats

The survey of a dozen countries revealed that Indonesian customers were most concerned about ATO Fraud (34%), followed by identity theft (29%). However, only 23 percent of customers have experienced ATO fraud, so the percentage of customers concerned about ATO fraud significantly exceeds those that have experienced it.

At the same time, there are other emerging scams that Indonesians may not be paying enough attention to. While just 17 percent of Indonesian customers are most concerned with card fraud, more than 70 percent of internet credit card transactions attempted in Indonesia are fraudulent. In addition, although more than half (54%) of customers in Indonesia plan to use real-time payments more in the coming year, only 10 percent are most concerned with being tricked into sending a real-time payment to a fraudster - a type of crime known as Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud.

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"APP fraud is becoming a bigger problem in Indonesia as we see a boom in the use of real-time payments," said CK Leo, FICOs lead for fraud, security and financial crime in Asia Pacific. "Fraudsters are attracted to these systems as they clear funds instantly, allowing them to deceive victims and then launder the funds through a maze of accounts.

"Protecting their real-time payments requires analytics that look for changes in customer behavior such as using accounts or devices outside of their usual habits, as well as standard anomalies such as time-of-day or frequency of a transfer. FICO has found that the use of targeted profiling of customer behavior to spot scams has yielded some impressive results with 50 percent more scam transactions detected."

Balancing Strong Fraud Protection with Convenience

In Indonesia, 47 percent of survey respondents say they have reported actual or suspected fraud or scams to their banks, which is higher than the global average of 41 percent. Despite this, most customers in Indonesia (85 percent) say their banks do enough to keep their money safe. Just 13 percent think banks could do more, but this still equates to a potential of more than 17 million customers holding negative perceptions.

When it comes to convenience, 44 percent of customers in Indonesia are most irritated by transaction alerts for fraud that are late or never arrive. A further 29 percent of customers dislike banks changing the methods used to authenticate customers.

"The uptick in adoption of digital payment modes not only expands the fraud attack surface but makes for a more complex set of customer experience concerns," explains Leo. "This pits the need for superior fraud management against the desire for easier customer communication, authentication, and verification preferences."

Perception of Security is Everything

The survey also demonstrated there is a correlation between the perceived effectiveness of a security method and peoples preference for using it.

When it comes to payment verification, 37 percent of customers prefer text messages, despite security risks such as SIM swap scams. A further 22 percent would rather use email while just 18 percent prefer to use their banks app.

Another 15 percent are ready to move to a third-party messaging app. In fact, Indonesian consumers are more than twice as likely than the rest of the global survey group to prefer third-party messaging apps for payment verification. Most of this group, 70 percent, prefers online banking and 54 percent plan to use more real-time payments in the coming year, demonstrating their willingness to adopt new banking technologies.

With the diverse range of preferences across digital and traditional channels among customers in Indonesia, banks will need to cater to a variety of preferences while still encouraging customers to adopt the safest and most secure communication channels.

"People develop a sense of trust and comfort around a way of doing things, especially if it has protected them from scams so far," said Leo. "As a result, it takes a while for customers to develop confidence in new security methods even if they are better. Banks need to remain flexible but find ways to show new channels are trustworthy, effective and more convenient."

The survey was conducted in September 2021 by an independent research company adhering to research industry standards. 1,001 Indonesian adults were surveyed, along with 11,027 other consumers in Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, U.K. and U.S.

About FICO

FICO (NYSE: FICO) powers decisions that help people and businesses around the world prosper. Founded in 1956, the company is a pioneer in the use of predictive analytics and data science to improve operational decisions. FICO holds more than 205 US and foreign patents on technologies that increase profitability, customer satisfaction and growth for businesses in financial services, telecommunications, health care, retail and many other industries. Using FICO solutions, businesses in more than 120 countries do everything from protecting 2.6 billion payment cards from fraud, to helping people get credit, to ensuring that millions of airplanes and rental cars are in the right place at the right time.

Learn more at http://www.fico.com.

Join the conversation at https://twitter.com/fico & http://www.fico.com/en/blogs/

For FICO news and media resources, visit www.fico.com/news.

FICO is a registered trademark of Fair Isaac Corporation in the US and other countries.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005010/en/

Contacts

Neil Mirano

RICE for FICO

+65 3157 5680

neil.mirano@ricecomms.com

Saxon Shirley

FICO

+65 9171 0965

saxonshirley@fico.com
Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd (TSXV:GQ) (Great Quest or the Company) announces that Mr. Albert C. Yuen has been appointed to the management team as Head of Precious Metals Strategy, effective immediately. Additionally, Mr. Yuen will be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company, replacing Mr. Gordon Peeling, who has resigned after 11 years of service to the Board of Directors. Mr. Peeling is stepping down to make more time for family and other commitments, the Company thanks him for his immeasurable contributions.



Albert C. Yuen, CFA is a Managing Director and Founder of DesVoeux Guilford LLC, a family office, research consultant, and advisor. Albert also serves as a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of HRN, a multi-family office and advisory platform with investments across real estate, venture tech, life sciences, and alternative investment funds. He carries a registration with TigerBridge Capital a New York-based broker-dealer.

Previously, Albert was a Managing Partner with Kariba Capital, a boutique New York-based investment bank. Mr. Yuen also has served as a Portfolio Manager and Investment Committee Member at LR Global, a pioneering emerging and frontier market asset manager with offices in New York City, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. Mr. Yuen spent nearly a decade with Rockefeller & Co. (now Rockefeller Capital Management), managing a multi-billion-dollar global equity portfolio in New York City, where he held various capacities including Portfolio Manager and Senior Equity Analyst with the firms Investment Team leading holdings in Financial Services and Healthcare. Mr. Yuen has also held positions with Liberty Square Asset Management, a ground-breaking Boston-based hedge fund with a focus on international equities, and Salomon Smith Barney, among other Financial Services and Corporate roles during his career.

Mr. Yuen possesses a broad range of experience with companies and projects involved in the Mining and Resources, Energy, Technology, Agriculture, Healthcare/Biotech, Financial Services, and FinTech sectors. Albert has been a visible actor as an advisor and investor in several high-profile transactions and has also been quoted as an authority on capital markets and international development. He is also extremely passionate about emerging and developing markets, entrepreneurship, community engagement and impact investing.

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Mr. Yuen graduated cum laude with a degree in Finance and Accounting from Northeastern University in Boston, MA and is a recipient of the Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, MA. He is a holder of the CFA designation.

Jed Richardson, President and CEO of Great Quest Fertilizer commented, Special thank you to Mr. Gordon Peeling, whose counsel, hard work and relationships helped preserve the Company. His contribution will be missed. We are pleased to welcome Albert to the management team of Great Quest. His invaluable experience with the business community in Mali, in broader Africa, and emerging markets in general, along with a penchant for establishing positive relationships come as a great benefit to the Company as we prepare to develop the Sanoukou Gold Project and seek strategic options to move ahead on for Tilemsi. We look forward to his contributions.

In connection with the recent announcements, the Company has granted stock options in accordance with the Companys stock option plan. Mr. Yuen will receive 200,000 options. The options have an exercise price of $0.05 and will expire five years from the date of grant. The options will vest immediately. The grant of options remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Great Quest

Great Quest Fertilizer Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the development of African gold projects. The Companys flagship asset is the Sanoukou Gold Project, encompassing 24 km2 located in the Kayes region to the West of Mali and developing the Tilemsi Phosphate Project a 1,206 km parcel in northeastern Mali, containing high quality phosphate resources amenable to use as direct application fertilizer. Great Quest is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol GQ, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol GQM.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GREAT QUEST FERTILIZER LTD.

Jed Richardson

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the impact of changes to the Companys management team and board of directors, the Sanoukou Gold Project, the Tilemi phosphate project and the Companys future plans and objectives. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CONTACT: For more information: Please contact Jed Richardson by email at info@greatquest.com




ResMed Inc.

Year-over-year revenue grows 5%, operating profit up 5%, non-GAAP operating profit up 4%



Note: A webcast of ResMeds conference call will be available at 4:30 p.m. ET today at http://investor.resmed.com

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ResMed Inc. (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) today announced results for its quarter ended September 30, 2022.

First Quarter 2023 Highlights

All comparisons are to the prior year period

Revenue increased by 5% to $950.3 million; up 9% on a constant currency basis

Gross margin expanded by 90 bps to 56.9%; non-GAAP gross margin expanded by 40 bps to 57.6%

Income from operations increased 5%; non-GAAP operating profit up 4%

Diluted earnings per share of $1.43; non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.51

Our first quarter fiscal year 2023 results demonstrate strong sales growth in the Americas and solid overall performance for our businesses, said Mick Farrell, ResMeds CEO. Our global ResMed team continues to power through the dynamic supply chain environment to increase production volumes and deliver more products and software solutions into the hands of people who need them. During the quarter we saw strong customer uptake of our reengineered AirSense 10 Card-to-Cloud device. We also continued to increase our access to semiconductor communications chips, allowing us to produce more of our industry-leading, 100%-connectable platforms. Looking ahead, we remain focused on delivering lifesaving therapy solutions and driving accelerated adoption of digital health in sleep apnea, respiratory care, and out-of-hospital care. I am confident in our growth strategy and our ability to accelerate toward our goal of improving 250 million lives in 2025.

Financial Results and Operating Metrics

Unaudited; $ in millions, except for per share amounts

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 % Change Constant

Currency(A) Revenue $ 950.3 $ 904.0 5 % 9 % Gross margin 56.9 % 56.0 % 2 Non-GAAP gross margin (B) 57.6 % 57.2 % 1 Selling, general, and administrative expenses 193.9 176.7 10 16 Research and development expenses 63.2 60.0 5 9 Income from operations 275.7 261.9 5 Non-GAAP income from operations (B) 290.8 280.7 4 Net income 210.5 203.6 3 Non-GAAP net income (B) 222.1 222.0 Nil Diluted earnings per share $ 1.43 $ 1.39 3 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (B) $ 1.51 $ 1.51 Nil

(A) In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, we provide certain financial information on a constant currency basis, which is in addition to the actual financial information presented. In order to calculate our constant currency information, we translate the current period financial information using the foreign currency exchange rates that were in effect during the previous comparable period. However, constant currency measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

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(B) See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the table at the end of the press release.





Discussion of First Quarter Results

All comparisons are to the prior year period unless otherwise noted

Revenue grew by 9 percent on a constant currency basis, driven by increased demand for our sleep and respiratory care devices as well as reduced competitive supply. Revenue in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America, excluding Software-as-a-Service, grew by 18 percent, primarily due to the factors discussed above and recovery of core sleep patient flow that was previously impacted by COVID-19. Revenue in Europe, Asia, and other markets declined by 6 percent on a constant currency basis. Software-as-a-Service revenue increased by 9 percent, due to continued growth in our Home Medical Equipment vertical.

Gross margin increased by 90 basis points and non-GAAP gross margin increased by 40 basis points, mainly due to an increase in average selling prices, partially offset by unfavorable product mix and foreign currency movements.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased by 16 percent on a constant currency basis. SG&A expenses increased to 20.4 percent of revenue in the quarter, compared with 19.5 percent in the same period of the prior year. These changes in SG&A expenses were mainly due to increases in employee-related expenses and increases in travel expenses.

Income from operations increased by 5 percent and non-GAAP income from operations increased by 4 percent.

Net income for the quarter was $210.5 million and diluted earnings per share was $1.43. Non-GAAP net income was $222.1 million, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.51, both consistent with the same period of the prior year.

Operating cash flow for the quarter was $44.7 million, reflecting the impact of increases in working capital. During the quarter we paid $64.4 million in dividends.



Other Business and Operational Highlights

Announced the acquisition of mementor, a German pioneer and health tech startup that develops and distributes digital medical products in the field of sleep medicine and related areas. mementor offers the first permanently approved Digital Health Application (DiGA), somnio, eligible for reimbursement in the field of sleep medicine.

Celebrated the official opening of ResMeds new technology R&D facility in Ireland (Sandyford in Dublin) and announced a plan to double the Ireland-based software and technology team with 70 jobs over the next four years to support innovation, technology development, and product development.

Released updated global chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence numbers via a late-breaking abstract at the European Respiratory Society Congress. Based on ResMeds updated research, its estimated over 480 million people worldwide suffer from COPD, a 22-126% increase over todays most cited resources.



Dividend program

The ResMed board of directors today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.44 per share. The dividend will have a record date of November 10, 2022, payable on December 15, 2022. The dividend will be paid in U.S. currency to holders of ResMeds common stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Holders of CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) trading on the Australian Securities Exchange will receive an equivalent amount in Australian currency, based on the exchange rate on the record date, and reflecting the 10:1 ratio between CDIs and NYSE shares. The ex-dividend date will be November 9, 2022, for common stockholders and for CDI holders. ResMed has received a waiver from the ASXs settlement operating rules, which will allow ResMed to defer processing conversions between its common stock and CDI registers from November 9, 2022, through November 10, 2022, inclusive.

Webcast details

ResMed will discuss its first-quarter fiscal year 2023 results on its webcast at 1:30 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time today. The live webcast of the call can be accessed on ResMeds Investor Relations website at investor.resmed.com. Please go to this section of the website and click on the icon for the Q1 2023 Earnings Webcast to register and listen to the live webcast. A replay of the earnings webcast will be accessible on the website and available approximately two hours after the live webcast. In addition, a telephone replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the webcast by dialing +1 877-660-6853 (U.S.) or +1 201-612-7415 (outside U.S.) and entering the passcode 13733726. The telephone replay will be available until November 10, 2022.

About ResMed

At ResMed (NYSE: RMD, ASX: RMD) we pioneer innovative solutions that treat and keep people out of the hospital, empowering them to live healthier, higher-quality lives. Our digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices transform care for people with sleep apnea, COPD, and other chronic diseases. Our comprehensive out-of-hospital software platforms support the professionals and caregivers who help people stay healthy in the home or care setting of their choice. By enabling better care, we improve quality of life, reduce the impact of chronic disease, and lower costs for consumers and healthcare systems in more than 140 countries. To learn more, visit ResMed.com and follow @ResMed.

Safe harbor statement

Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as contemplated by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements  including statements regarding ResMeds projections of future revenue or earnings, expenses, new product development, new product launches, new markets for its products, the integration of acquisitions, litigation, and tax outlook  are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in ResMeds periodic reports on file with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. ResMed does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.







Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts)

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 Net revenue $ 950,294 $ 904,015 Cost of sales 403,110 386,667 Amortization of acquired intangibles (1) 6,374 11,059 Total cost of sales $ 409,484 $ 397,726 Gross profit $ 540,810 $ 506,289 Selling, general, and administrative 193,933 176,719 Research and development 63,188 59,950 Amortization of acquired intangibles (1) 7,950 7,707 Total operating expenses $ 265,071 $ 244,376 Income from operations 275,739 261,913 Other income (expenses), net: Interest income (expense), net $ (7,134 ) $ (5,360 ) Loss attributable to equity method investments (2,028 ) (1,386 ) Gain (loss) on equity investments (3,280 ) 5,612 Other, net (1,504 ) (1,991 ) Total other income (expenses), net (13,946 ) (3,125 ) Income before income taxes $ 261,793 $ 258,788 Income taxes 51,315 55,175 Net income $ 210,478 $ 203,613 Basic earnings per share $ 1.44 $ 1.40 Diluted earnings per share $ 1.43 $ 1.39 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (1) $ 1.51 $ 1.51 Basic shares outstanding 146,431 145,680 Diluted shares outstanding 147,134 146,860

(1) See the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the table at the end of the press release.







Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited; $ in thousands)

September 30,

2022 June 30,

2022 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 207,163 $ 273,710 Accounts receivable, net 620,483 575,950 Inventories 864,852 743,910 Prepayments and other current assets 341,199 337,908 Total current assets $ 2,033,697 $ 1,931,478 Non-current assets: Property, plant, and equipment, net $ 487,376 $ 498,181 Operating lease right-of-use assets 125,319 132,314 Goodwill and other intangibles, net 2,276,994 2,282,386 Deferred income taxes and other non-current assets 254,174 251,494 Total non-current assets $ 3,143,863 $ 3,164,375 Total assets $ 5,177,560 $ 5,095,853 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 181,485 $ 159,245 Accrued expenses 324,055 344,722 Operating lease liabilities, current 21,076 21,856 Deferred revenue 108,195 108,667 Income taxes payable 47,942 44,893 Short-term debt 9,906 9,916 Total current liabilities $ 692,659 $ 689,299 Non-current liabilities: Deferred revenue $ 97,620 $ 95,455 Deferred income taxes 11,830 9,714 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 114,214 120,453 Other long-term liabilities 5,838 5,974 Long-term debt 785,436 765,325 Long-term income taxes payable 37,076 48,882 Total non-current liabilities $ 1,052,014 $ 1,045,803 Total liabilities $ 1,744,673 $ 1,735,102 STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY: Common stock $ 586 $ 586 Additional paid-in capital 1,701,902 1,682,432 Retained earnings 3,759,783 3,613,736 Treasury stock (1,623,256 ) (1,623,256 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income (406,128 ) (312,747 ) Total stockholders equity $ 3,432,887 $ 3,360,751 Total liabilities and stockholders equity $ 5,177,560 $ 5,095,853





Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited; $ in thousands)

Three months ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 210,478 $ 203,613 Adjustment to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 36,273 39,102 Amortization of right-of-use assets 7,761 8,517 Stock-based compensation costs 16,919 17,303 Loss attributable to equity method investments 2,028 1,386 (Gain) loss on equity investment 3,280 (5,612 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable, net (56,238 ) 33,704 Inventories, net (147,096 ) (55,976 ) Prepaid expenses, net deferred income taxes and other current assets (36,784 ) (14,391 ) Accounts payable, accrued expenses, income taxes payable and other 8,041 (293,303 ) Net cash (used in) / provided by operating activities $ 44,662 $ (65,657 ) Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (29,056 ) (27,340 ) Patent registration and acquisition costs (3,317 ) (4,453 ) Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (19,100 )  Purchases of investments (4,291 ) (6,600 ) (Payments) / proceeds on maturity of foreign currency contracts (3,042 ) (3,481 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (58,806 ) $ (41,874 ) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net 2,610 4,354 Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (59 ) (195 ) Proceeds from borrowings, net of borrowing costs 50,000 150,000 Repayment of borrowings (30,000 )  Dividends paid (64,431 ) (61,189 ) Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities $ (41,880 ) $ 92,970 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash $ (10,523 ) $ (4,568 ) Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (66,547 ) (19,129 ) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 273,710 295,278 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 207,163 $ 276,149





Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts)

The measures non-GAAP gross profit and non-GAAP gross margin exclude amortization expense from acquired intangibles related to cost of sales and are reconciled below:

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 Revenue $ 950,294 $ 904,015 GAAP cost of sales $ 409,484 $ 397,726 Less: Amortization of acquired intangibles (A) (6,374 ) (11,059 ) Non-GAAP cost of sales $ 403,110 $ 386,667 GAAP gross profit $ 540,810 $ 506,289 GAAP gross margin 56.9 % 56.0 % Non-GAAP gross profit $ 547,184 $ 517,348 Non-GAAP gross margin 57.6 % 57.2 %





The measure non-GAAP income from operations is reconciled with GAAP income from operations below:

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 GAAP income from operations $ 275,739 $ 261,913 Amortization of acquired intangiblescost of sales (A) 6,374 11,059 Amortization of acquired intangiblesoperating expenses (A) 7,950 7,707 Acquisition-related expenses (A) 745  Non-GAAP income from operations $ 290,808 $ 280,679





Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(Unaudited; $ in thousands, except for per share amounts)

The measures non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are reconciled with GAAP net income and GAAP diluted earnings per share in the table below:

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 September 30,

2021 GAAP net income $ 210,478 $ 203,613 Amortization of acquired intangiblescost of sales, net of tax (A) 4,835 8,435 Amortization of acquired intangiblesoperating expenses, net of tax (A) 6,031 5,878 Acquisition-related expenses (A) 745  Reserve for disputed tax position (A)  4,111 Non-GAAP net income (A) $ 222,089 $ 222,037 GAAP diluted shares outstanding 147,134 146,860 GAAP diluted earnings per share $ 1.43 $ 1.39 Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (A) $ 1.51 $ 1.51

(A) ResMed adjusts for the impact of the amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition-related expenses and the reserve for disputed tax positions from their evaluation of ongoing operations, and believes that investors benefit from adjusting these items to facilitate a more meaningful evaluation of current operating performance.



ResMed believes that non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is an additional measure of performance that investors can use to compare operating results between reporting periods. ResMed uses non-GAAP information internally in planning, forecasting, and evaluating the results of operations in the current period and in comparing it to past periods. ResMed believes this information provides investors better insight when evaluating ResMeds performance from core operations and provides consistent financial reporting. The use of non-GAAP measures is intended to supplement, and not to replace, the presentation of net income and other GAAP measures. Like all non-GAAP measures, non-GAAP earnings are subject to inherent limitations because they do not include all the expenses that must be included under GAAP.







Revenue by Product and Region

(Unaudited; $ in millions, except for per share amounts)

Three Months Ended September 30,

2022 (A) September 30,

2021 (A) % Change Constant

Currency (B) U.S., Canada, and Latin America Devices $ 339.5 $ 275.9 23 % Masks and other 238.6 215.1 11 Total Sleep and Respiratory Care $ 578.1 $ 491.0 18 Software-as-a-Service 105.9 97.5 9 Total $ 684.0 $ 588.6 16 Combined Europe, Asia, and other markets Devices $ 178.0 $ 218.2 (18 )% (10 )% Masks and other 88.3 97.2 (9 ) 3 Total Sleep and Respiratory Care $ 266.3 $ 315.5 (16 ) (6 ) Global revenue Devices $ 517.6 $ 494.2 5 % 9 % Masks and other 326.9 312.3 5 8 Total Sleep and Respiratory Care $ 844.4 $ 806.5 5 9 Software-as-a-Service 105.9 97.5 9 9 Total $ 950.3 $ 904.0 5 9

(A) Totals and subtotals may not add due to rounding.

(B) In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, we provide certain financial information on a constant currency basis, which is in addition to the actual financial information presented. In order to calculate our constant currency information, we translate the current period financial information using the foreign currency exchange rates that were in effect during the previous comparable period. However, constant currency measures should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.





For investors For media Amy Wakeham Jayme Rubenstein +1 858-836-5000 +1 858-836-6798 investorrelations@resmed.com news@resmed.com








The solar energy revolution is about to take off. Solar has been on the rise for years, as photovoltaic energy technology became cost-competitive with fossil fuels and then, a few years ago, became the cheapest electricity in history according to the International Energy Agencys World Energy Outlook 2020. In fact, the cost of building new solar energy infrastructure has dropped by an incredible 90% since 2010. But until now, a sweeping clean energy transition has been held up by a number of political, economic, and ideological barriers. But the Russian war in Ukraine could change all of that on a dime. While solar is increasingly attractive, this does not necessarily mean that its cheaper than continuing operations at an already-existing fossil fuel plant. And then theres the problem of petro-politics. As Popular Science wrote in an article titled Solar power got cheap. So why arent we using it more?, the investments, policies, and very infrastructure of the energy industry as a whole are very much skewed in favor of fossil fuels. And then theres the issue of inertia, plain and simple. Sticking to business as usual will always be easier, and often cheaper, than revolutionizing the energy industry.

But now, the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine has upended the status quo and forced a major restructuring of the European energy industry. While the current energy crisis is bleak at best for European citizens and the countries economies as the continent heads into a long, cold, and cash-strapped winter, there will be one major beneficiary at the end of the ordeal: solar energy. Europe has already broken records for solar expansion as it works to replace the Russian fossil fuel imports that kept the lights on. 18 out of 27 countries in the European Union set new records for solar power generation between May and August of this year, and Statkraft projects that European solar capacity will see an average yearly increase of between 45GW and 52GW leading up to 2030  a massive increase over last years pre-invasion projections.

Related: Namibia Could Join OPEC If Recent Oil Discoveries Fulfill Potential

But, according to Statkraft, thats just the tip of the iceberg. The report goes on to predict that solar energy will account for nearly 80% of global power generation in 2050. Environmentalists rejoice. At the eleventh hour, it seems that the world may be able to decarbonize quickly enough to achieve the targets set by the Paris accord after all. Theres just one problem. In order to wean itself off of Russian energy and fossil fuels in general, we will have to turn from one despotic regime with a dismal human rights record and volatile diplomatic history to another: China.

China currently dominates clean energy supply chains, including solar. Beijing currently boasts enough manufacturing capacity to meet the vast majority of global demand until 2030. Western governments are scrambling to ramp up their own photovoltaic production capacities, but they are lagging far, far behind China in terms of scale, cost, and technological knowledge. A recent analysis from BloombergNEF calculates that it will cost Europe $149 billion and the US $113 billion to manufacture enough solar panels, batteries and electrolyzers to meet domestic demand by 2030.

However, the truth is that China has far outpaced the rest of the world in terms of technological advances and know-how. Some of this knowledge could be more quickly transferred outside of the country if Chinese companies faced less resistance setting up manufacturing sites in the US and EU, Bloomberg reported this week. As an authoritarian country, China has not fallen prey to the same kind of political and private-sector inertia that the US and Europe have experienced. While Big Oil has maintained a great degree of decision-making sway in the West, the East has raced full speed ahead toward green technology. Avoiding a Chinese chokehold on the global energy industry in a solar-powered future will require enormous up-front costs from the West. But the alternative  ongoing climate and energy crisis  makes the price tag worth it.



By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
There is a silver lining to Europes energy crisis. Out of necessity, the continent has ramped up its solar energy expansion into overdrive and is set to beat even the most optimistic pre-war projections. The World Economic Forum reports that a whopping 18 out of 27 countries in the European Union set new records for solar power generation between May and August of this year. Of course, the increase in solar isnt enough on its own to solve the continents crushing energy crisis, but its a hopeful  and so far financially fruitful  advancement for both the economy and the climate.

This years annual analysis from Norwegian renewable energy firm Statkraft projects that European solar capacity will see an average yearly increase of between 45GW and 52GW leading up to 2030. This post-invasion estimate is significantly higher than the 2021 estimate which projected a 33GW increase per year. The report goes on to predict an ongoing explosion of the solar industry, which it projects will account for nearly 80% of global power generation in 2050.

The dramatic uptick in solar energy production has already saved European countries $29 billion just over the summer months, according to data analysis from energy think tank Ember. Without this extra addition to the energy mix, this money would have otherwise been spent on ultra-expensive natural gas imports, says the report.

Natural gas and energy prices in general were already high as Europe and the rest of the world struggled to bounce back economically from the pandemic, and then Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine sent prices soaring to crisis levels as supply chain interruptions and sanctions against the Kremlin sent tidal waves through the global energy sector. Experts had warned for years that Europes increasing reliance on Russian natural gas to keep the lights on (Germany, for example, bought more than half of its total natural gas from Russia) put the continents energy security at risk, which proved to be all too true.

The boost in solar energy is good omen not just for Europes ability to make it through this winter, but also for an energy future which is no longer dependent on Russian fossil fuels, and therefore no longer subject to Putins influence nor vulnerable to his volatility. Europe is heading towards a very difficult winter, probably two years of a very difficult adjustment with a lot of economic pain. But then Europe is essentially going to become more independent with a more diversified mix, Agathe Demarais, global forecasting director at The Economist Intelligence Unit, was recently quoted by CNBC in an article that asserted the blocs dependence on Russia is nearly over.

There is some concern, however, that Europe is essentially pivoting from supporting one resource-rich despotic regime to another as the continent turns to China to meet its exploding demand for photovoltaic technology and particularly solar panels. The numbers are reflected in the performance of domestic PV companies, reports the Global Times. For example, Tongwei Group on Friday said that its revenue in the first three quarters reached 102.084 billion yuan ($14.09 billion), a year-on-year gain of 118.6 percent. While the European Union, freshly and poignantly aware of the dangers of relying too much on any one fairweather ally for critical nodes of energy production, is attempting to decouple from China's PV supply chain, Chinas solar panels are just too cheap to be ignored.

This is not to say that every country should be energy-independent. On the contrary, there are powerful arguments for creating and maintaining strong economic ties with other nations. The ultimate lesson to be learned from the current energy crisis is to diversify. Resilience is akin to diversity and redundancy, and energy security hinges on having lots of alternative energy sources and technologies to fall back on when  not if  there is a shock. While solar is a particularly cost-effective, efficient, and climate-friendly option, other renewable energies  and trade relationships with multiple clean-energy tech exporters  must be developed in tandem with solar in order to meet climate goals and shore up energy security.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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In a move reminiscent of the Hugo Chavez years when Venezuela nationalized its oil industry, stripping by default many foreign oil companies of their assets, oil companies are once again preparing to abandon operations in the nation that houses the largest oil reserves on the planet.

Venezuela has given the go ahead to all PDVSA partners to leave their JVs. They will be allowed to sell their shares or return them, with one caveat: they must forgive any past debts and unpaid dividends, four people close to the matter told Reuters.

The situation in Venezuela, however, is so bleak that even taking the loss of not being able to collect monies due has been seen by some as an acceptable term. Equinor, Inpex, and TotalEnergies have already left Venezuela under these termsthe latter losing $1.38 billion after transferring its previously held stake to a PDVSA unit.

In all, eight foreign oil companies that had JVs with PDVSA have either transferred their ownership or given up their shares over the last five years, according to Reuters. Seven smaller firms, Reuters said, dont have a presence in country anymore, and 15 of the JV projects with PDVSA are simply inactive.

One oil executive whose firm recently abandon its operations in Venezuela told Reuters that none of the stakes held are recoverable at book value. Among those remaining in the partnerships, few hope to ever recoup pending dividends or commercial debts from PDVSA.

In reality, after its oil industry was hit by U.S. sanctions, and suffering years of underinvestment and mismanagement, Venezuela is likely incapable of repaying creditors and foreign JV partners, although it has shipping some crude oil intended to pay for some of its debt. Crude oil production in Venezuela has been on a steady and tragic decline for well over a decade, with production sinking from 3.5 million bpd in 1998 to less than 1 million bpd today.

The news that Venezuela could allow foreign oil companies to exit by selling shares or simply returning them comes just two years after it was rumored that PDVSA was mulling some major industry reform that would increase private company activities in Venezuelas oil industrya step away from its usual fare of limiting the role of private companies.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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With storage nearing its limit, European countries may have to pay a premium for floating storage which would add to the cost of LNG carriers.

While the price drop will be welcomed by European leaders, demand is likely to climb across winter and the supply issues have not changed.

Gas prices in Europe are plummeting amid unseasonably warm weather across Europe and as storage fills up to capacity. This has no doubt prompted a sigh of relief in government circles, but celebrating a mild winter in October would be premature.

Reuters John Kemp noted in a recent column that complacency is the last thing European leaders want to be right now, even as gas prices drop and inventories rise to near-record levels.

Kemp recalled that in Germany, heating season started earlier than usual this year, amid a colder than usual September, suggesting the weather is not something to base your hopes and plans on.

Bloomberg, on the other hand, quoted an analyst and meteorologist from an Italian energy company as saying that The European gas glut is expected to last until at least December. It is unlikely Europe will see a prolonged cold spell in November.

That may or may not come true but average temperatures in Europe for November over the past 30 years or so show numbers that normally require heating, especially at the minimum end of the daily range.

Whether Europe gets a mild winter or a normal one - let alone a colder-than-usual winter - it will not be able to avoid heating season. And heating season is why the gas storage ramp-up at any cost has been priority number one for European governments.

Reuters Kemp reports that to date, the EU as a whole has filled its storage caverns to 93.6 percent of maximum capacity, which is the third-highest fill rate on record - and its set to keep increasing.

Yet once storage is full, its full, and you cannot add more to it. This is when Europes gas storage turns into a constraint. The constraint can be circumvented with floating storage, which is what is already happening. Reuters reported earlier this month that LNG tankers were idling off the coast of Spain and the UK, waiting to unload or waiting for prices to go higher.

However, floating storage is not the cheapest way to store LNG, especially when theres a shortage of LNG carriers. So, if European gas buyers decide to store additional LNG on the tankers that carry it to Europe, the total gas bill will balloon further from already record levels.

The drop in gas prices, then, is not really as consequential an event as European leaders would like everyone to believe. October in Europe, especially recently, has tended to be milder than it used to be a couple of decades ago.

This has not meant, however, that the warm weather has stayed around until March the next year. December is always cold and so is January, although last February was unseasonably warm in some parts of Europe. But then March was unseasonably cold. One really cannot base their energy consumption plans on the best-case weather scenario.

This would be particularly risky in light of warnings from the International Energy Agency that the winter of 2023 could well be even more difficult for Europe because this year, it had six months of normal Russian gas supply. It wont have that in 2023. And it would need to re-fill its storage once again after the heating season is over.

Analysts are also warning that this winter is more of a trailer than the whole movie about Europes gas troubles. With limited U.S. LNG production capacity and equally limited options for additional supply from other parts of the world such as Mozambique, Europe is facing an extended supply crunch that puts demand reduction front and center. Europe looks like it will need to learn to consume less energy for more than a couple of months.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Big oil firms are expected to earn less than in the blockbuster quarter that was Q2.

The collective profits of Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies for the last quarter would come in at $50.7 billion.

Despite weaker oil prices during the third quarter, the oil industry is still booking strong financial results. According to some, this is awkward because it is happening during a time of economic hardship. Besides being awkward, however, Big Oils profits will likely draw more political pressure from desperate governments.

Bloomberg reported this week that, based on data it had compiled, the collective profits of Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies for the last quarter would come in at $50.7 billion.

This is palpably lower than the record $62 billion the five supermajors reported for the second quarterdrawing the ire of politiciansbut it is still a large number and will, in all likelihood, draw more ire and calls for sharing the money.

Its definitely awkward, Abhi Rajendran, a research scholar at Columbia Universitys Center on Global Energy Policy, told Bloomberg. These companies wont want to be beating their chest over strong business results that are coming at the expense of consumers and a difficult economic environment.

This is an interesting take, given that in 2020, when Big Tech raked the cash in thanks to the lockdownsalso at the expense of consumers forced to stay at home, nobody really blamed Amazon or Apple, or Microsoft for it.

Yet the oil industry has a special place in the heart of almost every Western politician, with the energy transition still high on the official agenda even as the cost of renewables soars and Europe returns to coal to survive the winter.

Related: Why Russian LNG Exports To Europe Exploded This Summer



The oil industry made a great culprit for the energy crisis when it began unfolding, and record profits helped strengthen the factually flimsy argument. Now, this argument will probably be made again, and we might hear more talk about windfall profit taxes.

Its not just the five Big Oil majors, either. Based on the first reports coming in this profit season, the industry had another excellent three months. Halliburton, for instance, saw its profits double between July and September to $544 million. Valero booked earnings of $2.8 billion for the period, noting stronger demand for fuels than in 2019.

Indeed, the Biden administration, for one, has been quick to call on oil companies to to pass through lower energy costs to consumers right away. Claiming that input costs for refiners are falling while their margins are rising, the White House said in a recent fact sheet that the industry must immediately share its higher profits with consumers by lowering end prices for their products.

Meanwhile, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm talked to industry executives this week to try and get them to boost the production of fuels. This sounds incongruous with the allegations made in the fact sheet but reflects a reality where demand for fuels is on the rise while the capacity to produce fuels has declined.

Unfortunately, oil executives appear to have shattered the administrations hopes for the return of shuttered refining capacity. Understandably, there are also no plans to build new refining capacity in the context of federal energy policies seeking to reduce the economys reliance on fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, the attempts of governments on both sides of the Atlantic to force the oil industry to part with some of its excess profits may be about to backfire. Ever since the EU and the UK announced plans for windfall taxes on the oil sector, both the industry and analysts have been warning this would lead to lower investment appetite. Instead, companies will continue to prioritize the return of cash to shareholders, which would further undermine the security of future supply.

If youre planning your capital budget, you have to think twice now that you have a new risk, Christyan Malek, JP Morgans global head of energy strategy, told Bloomberg earlier this year. It encourages majors to return cash to shareholders as they use that free cashflow that could have been used in investment.

In the UK, the windfall tax was approved in July, and the countrys industry lobby group warned it would threaten investment plans. The head of the body, Deirdre Michie, noted that Exploring for oil and gas and then bringing it to shore is inherently a risky and expensive business, so our members need the UKs fiscal rules and other regulations to be stable and predictable before they consider investing the hundreds of millions of pounds needed for such projects.

It could well be argued that if it were any other industry, governments would celebrate its resilience and the taxes this resilient industry would be paying into the states coffers. Yet Big Oil, and the oil industry as a whole, has been picked as the villain of the age, and nothing they do seems right.

Oil companies are damned if they do itproduce more oil and invest in new exploration, which brings prices downand they are just as damned if they dont do it, shunning more exploration and focusing on the return of cash to shareholders, while demand exceeds the supply of oil. If they cant win, why even try?

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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The diesel crisis in Europe is heating up, with parts of Europe starting to run out of diesel, Repsol Chief Executive Officer Josu Jon Imaz said on Thursdays earnings call.

We are running out of middle distillates in some European countries, Imaz explained, adding that high diesel prices could be on the horizon.

Europea net importer of diesel, jet fuel, and heating oilhas struggled to maintain adequate inventories this year as high natural gas prices caused some users to switch to diesel, boosting demand, while some buyers have shunned Russian diesel--the source of half of Europes diesel importsas the block prepares itself for a ban on oil products at the end of this year.

For Europes heavy industry, which relies on diesel, the situation is dire.

Diesel shortages are also spreading across the United States, with at least one energy company so far triggering an emergency protocol asking clients for a 72-hour advanced notice to be able to make good on diesel deliveries.

U.S. diesel fuel stocks have been on a steady decline for months, reaching the lowest level since 2008 as of October. The United States currently has just 25 days of diesel supply in reserve. In the United States, a lack of refining capacity and years and years of underinvestment in new capacity, combined with refinery closures and maintenance, have contributed to the current low supply situation.

Goldman Sachs has warned that the diesel shortage in Europe and the United States could increase fuel prices this winter.

The supply situation in the United States has caused traders to divert diesel and jet fuel shipments that were destined to service the European market back to the East Coast of the United States, ship tracking services cited by Reuters showed earlier this month, in what could shape up to be a global battle for middle distillates.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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Throughout the Russo-Ukrainian war and a period of tense relations between Russia and Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan has followed a proactive track of transport diplomacy to strengthen its geopolitical and geo-economic position through Eurasian rail trade. The main aim of Tashkents diplomacy is to transform itself from a landlocked country into a land-linked country with wider Eurasia. The destabilization of the Northern Corridor and growing concerns about tensions between Astana and Moscow have created an excellent opportunity for Uzbekistan to emerge as an alternative transportation hub in Central Asia. During the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on September 15 and 16, Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented his proposal to revive Central Asias regional links with South Asia and strengthen overall regional connectivity, demonstrating that Tashkent seeks to strengthen its position through East-West as well as North-South rail trade (China Daily, September 23).

Several strategic and economic reasons underline why Tashkent hopes to play an increasingly essential role as a transport hub in Central Asia. To begin with, Uzbekistan wants to use the existing opportunity to open new trade routes, create an alternative corridor to traditional Russian-Kazakhstani routes and attract international companies from, among others, China and the European Union. Additionally, Mirziyoyev aims to securitize the country by way of becoming a regional transportation corridor for the great powers.

Economically, this approach will diversify export and import routes and reduce dependence on Russia80 percent of Uzbekistani exports and imports pass through Russiaas well as protect the country from most major external economic shocks. Furthermore, improved transit links and infrastructure have garnered the attention of the major regional powers, thus attracting much-needed investment to Uzbekistan (see EDM, April 18). As a result, Tashkent can enjoy transit fees and contribute to a positive spillover effect for the national economy, which will lead to new jobs and, hopefully, jumpstart the countrys economic growth.

As a result of Tashkents proactive transportation diplomacy, recent developments highlight Uzbekistans growing importance as a Eurasian transportation hub. To this end, the launching of the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistanAfghanistan multimodal route and the completion of the trial project for container transportation through the international multimodal route of ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistanTurkmenistanAzerbaijanGeorgiaTurkeyEurope are critical advancements (ADY Container, August 8; Tashkent Times, September 20). Moreover, the shipment of the first cargo train from Qingdao to Samarkand via the SCO Express Line spotlights Chinas growing cooperation with Uzbekistan (Kun.uz, September 29).

All three of these routes bypass Kazakhstan, thus elevating Uzbekistans role as a regional transit hub. In addition, the new routes reflect the growing interest of Chinese companies to use and invest in Uzbekistan for improved East-West rail trade.

Finally, discussion on launching the new UzbekistanTurkmenistanIranIndia transport corridor shows that Tashkent is interested not only in improving regional connectivity to reach the Chinese and European markets but also in developing its links with India to ensure its ability to reach South Asian markets (UzDaily.com, September 22).

Related: Colombia Is On The Brink Of An Energy Crisis

In addition to new routes, another important determinant has been the development of improved hard and soft infrastructure. In terms of hard infrastructure, at the SCO summit, a tripartite agreement was signed between China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan on cooperation in the construction of the UzbekistanKyrgyzstanChina railway. The new line will be the shortest route from China to Europe and the Middle East, with the potential to attract up to 15 percent of the throughput from the Kazakhstani-Russian route (CACI Analyst, November 24, 2020; Kun.uz, September 15). The new railway will position Uzbekistan at the center of one of the regions most consequential supply routes.

Similarly, Tashkent has decided to participate in the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway (AKIPress.com, March 29). This line will shorten the arrival of goods from Uzbekistan to Pakistan from 35 days to just four or five days (Gazeta.uz, April 16, 2021). Moreover, it will strengthen Uzbekistans position among the other Central Asian countries and Pakistan, as the railway will represent the shortest and most economical route to reach the Arabian Sea.

In terms of soft infrastructure, Uzbekistan is actively negotiating tariffs and simplifying customs laws with its neighbors and others in the region. In this context, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Turkeys discussion to further simplify cargo transportation among one another, as well as Uzbekistan and Chinas negotiations on issues of mutual recognition of authorized economic operators are key developments in Tashkent achieving its wider transit goals (UzDaily.com, October 2; Trend.az, August 18).

In sum, the destabilization of the Northern Corridor and growing tensions between Russia and Kazakhstan have created an opportunity for Uzbekistan to emerge as an alternative transportation hub in Central Asia. In the short term, Tashkents proactive transportation diplomacy promotes the countrys desire to attract higher cargo volumes and increase its potential for further development of regional connectivity in cooperation with the great powersprimarily China. In the long term, Uzbekistans establishment of improved soft and hard infrastructure with the help of other countries in the region may maximize its geo-economic position and provide for the emergence of a second transport hub in Central Asia, rivaling Kazakhstan.

By The Jamestown Foundation

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U.S. automaker Ford has completed its withdrawal from the Russian market with the sale of its 49 percent stake in the Russian-based Sollers Ford joint venture.

Ford said on October 26 that it had finalized the deal to sell its stake in Sollers Ford for a "nominal" undisclosed price.

Ford secured an option to buy back the shares within a five-year period "should the global situation" change in the coming years, the company said. The joint venture with Russian company Sollers was established in 2011.

Ford suspended its business operations in Russia in March citing deep concerns about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Ford took a $122 million write-down in connected with the suspension while stressing that it had already greatly reduced its presence in Russia.

A slew of foreign automakers have halted operations in Russia or exited entirely.

Earlier on October 26, German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would exit Russia by selling shares in its industrial and financial services subsidiaries to a local investor.

By RFE/RL

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Germany has agreed to sell a stake in the port of Hamburg to a Chinese company in what is bound to be seen as a highly controversial deal putting Germany in a position of dependency to Beijing.

Euronews reported that the German government had given COSCO the green light to acquire a stake of less than 25 in the port of Hamburg. This was a much lower interest than the initial plan, which saw the Chinese company acquiring 35 percent in the piece of critical infrastructure.

The economy ministry of Germany said this decision prevented the Chinese company from making a strategic investment in the port of Hamburg and "reduces the acquisition to a purely financial investment".

There has been strong opposition to the deal within Germanys parliament and the government itself. In the context of Germanys Russian energy dependency and how that backfired, there is a concern in political circles that allowing a Chinese company into something as important as the port of Hamburg would give it too much power in Germany.

COSCO is already the biggest client of the port of Hamburg, Euronews noted in its report.

"The reason for the partial prohibition is the existence of a threat to public order and safety," the economy ministry said. It added that COSCO will not be allowed to boost its stake above 25 percent without an investment review. The Chinese company was also banned from granting itself veto power over strategic decisions at the port of Hamburg.

The foreign ministry of Germany is also unhappy with the decision, Reuters reported. It issued a statement that said the acquisition "disproportionately expands China's strategic influence on German and European transport infrastructure as well as Germany's dependence on China".

"Cooperation should be mutually beneficial," a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, as quoted by Euronews. "We hope the relevant party will see practical cooperation between China and Germany in a rational manner and stop unwarrantedly hyping the issue."

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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A senior official from Russia's Foreign Ministry has warned that Western commercial satellites could become "legitimate" targets for Moscow if they were involved in the war in Ukraine.

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's department for non-proliferation and arms control, told the United Nations on October 26 that the use of Western satellites to aid the Ukrainian war effort was "an extremely dangerous trend."

"Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike," Vorontsov told the United Nations First Committee, adding that the West's use of such satellites to support Ukraine was "provocative."

"We are talking about the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial, by the United States and its allies in armed conflicts," Vorontsov was quoted as telling the committee, without naming any specific satellite firms.

Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk said earlier this month that his rocket company SpaceX would continue to fund its Starlink Internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for "good deeds."

Musk activated Starlink, a network of more than 2,000 satellites orbiting the Earth and thousands of terminals on the ground, in late February after Internet services were disrupted because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The UN First Committee is one of six main committees at the UN General Assembly and deals with disarmament and international security matters. The First Committee meets every year in October for a 45 week session.

Russia has a significant offensive space capability, and so do the United States and China.

Russia last year launched an anti-satellite missile to destroy one of its own decommissioned satellites.

By RFE/RL

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 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has congratulated Rishi Sunak on assuming Britain's premiership.

In his congratulatory message, Li said that China and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world, share broad common interests.

Guided by the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, he said, China is willing to work with Britain to advance the sound and steady development of China-Britain relations so as to bring benefits to the two peoples and promote world peace, stability and development.
The Lebanese caretaker government has awarded TotalEnergies temporary control of an offshore gas block after the exit of Russian Novatek last month.

Reuters reports that now the Lebanese government and TotalEnergies will begin negotiations with Qatar over taking a stake in the project.

According to documents produced by the Lebanese government and seen by Reuters, the 20 percent that Novatek held in the project was transferred to another company and TotalEnergies 40-percent holding in the gas block was also transferred to another company. Details about the ownership of the two companies, Daja 2016 and Daja 2015 were not disclosed.

Lebanon is eager to develop its potential gas reserves like its neighbor Israel, which has made several major discoveries in recent years. Yet a maritime border dispute between the two countries has delayed Lebanons exploration plans.

The dispute centered on yet another gas deposit, the Karish field, which lies between the two countries. The fields reserves are estimated at 1.41 trillion cubic feet. The final investment decision on developing the field was made in 2018.

According to Israel, Karish lies in its territorial waters. According to Lebanon, it falls within a triangle of contested waters because the two cannot agree on where exactly the border passes.

As Reuters put it in a report from earlier this year, "Israel claims the boundary runs further north than Lebanon accepts, while Lebanon claims it runs further south than Israel accepts, leaving a triangle of disputed waters."

Meanwhile, UK-based Energean began drilling at the Karish field earlier this month, while Israel and Lebanon negotiated a U.S.-brokered maritime border deal. The deal was agreed upon this month and should enter into effect this week.

Under the agreement, the Karish oil and gas field and an area known as the Qanaa prospect are expected to be in Israeli and Lebanese waters, respectively. Lebanon said TotalEnergies will begin exploration work on the Qanaa prospect immediately.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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An anonymous threat of a school shooting led to the arrest of a minor and an increased law enforcement presence Thursday on Elkhorn Public Schools campuses.

According to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, information was received Thursday regarding an anonymous person threatening a school shooting at Elkhorn Ridge Middle School.

The threat was posted on TikTok, and the minor who posted it was identified and arrested on suspicion of terroristic threats, the Sheriff's Office said in a press release. The minor was taken to the Douglas County juvenile detention center.

Anyone who receives information about a school safety threat should call 911 or report the information to Safe2HelpNE.org or through the Safe2Help app, the Sheriff's Office said. Information can be reported anonymously.

Elkhorn Ridge Middle School is near 178th and Marcy Streets.
The Omaha nonprofit group Refugee Women Risings unique driver education program for women has attracted the attention of  and financial support from  the American Automobile Association.

In the program, refugee and immigrant women learn how to drive safely for free and receive help earning their drivers licenses. Some receive scholarships from Refugee Women Rising to Southeast Community College to become state-certified driving instructors, and are hired as independent contractors by the nonprofit group to help other women learn how to drive.

AAAs Auto Club Group is giving Refugee Women Rising $40,000 to help fully fund the program. AAA also will donate its How to Drive curriculum and driver education expertise.

The grant will help the nonprofit provide culturally sensitive driver education, said Pam Font-Gabel, executive director of Refugee Women Rising.

Driving is an empowering act that allows newcomers to find work, to attend classes, take care of their family, and reduce social isolation, Font-Gabel said. Accessible transportation is a vital step to ensuring equity in our community. This program will build womens independence.

Refugee Women Rising and AAA announced the grant Wednesday at Joslyn Castle, where the four-year-old nonprofit has its headquarters. Rachel Wilson, director of driver education programs for AAA, said the association is excited and honored to work with the nonprofit. She said the effort will help promote traffic safety and help refugee women gain independence. The program also fits with AAAs efforts toward diversity, equity and inclusion, said Brian Ortner, a AAA public affairs specialist.

The Omaha Police Department also helps with the classes.

What makes the program unique is that it is tailored to immigrant and refugee women, and also includes instruction from fellow immigrant and refugee women.

When refugee families come to Omaha, they often have little support and have to rely on rides from sponsor families or faith groups, friends or relatives, said Maryam Amini, who came to Omaha 30 years ago from Afghanistan and is becoming a certified driving instructor for Refugee Women Rising.

Usually, when they teach the man how to drive, theyre like, OK, you have a car, you have a driver, so youre on your own, Amini said.

But when he comes home from work with the car, theres little time for taking care of family needs such as shopping, Amini said. A lot of families cant attend parent-teacher conferences for their kids, or school social nights. Women cant get themselves to English language classes.

So a woman is pretty much nobody, right, because she cant do anything, Amini said.

Here were helping the family, creating a second hand ... enabling the other hand so the two hands can work together and get your family somewhere.

Having women as instructors makes it easier to learn, Amini said.

A lot of women are more comfortable with a woman instructor than a man, Amini said.

A lot of a lot of families come from different backgrounds, different beliefs, how theyre comfortable, she said.

Font-Gabel said the organization started the driver education program because women said they needed it. Demand is indeed strong. The group initially aimed to serve five women a month. Currently nine are enrolled. And theres a waiting list.

We work with Karen women, Karenni women, women from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Thailand, Ukraine, Font-Gabel said. All of these women need support, and we are here to make it possible.

Racheal Ibironke is currently learning how to drive in the program. She and her husband came to Omaha in March from Nigeria. They have a 3-month-old daughter.

She said she quickly learned how hard it is to get around Omaha without being able to drive herself. The driver education is important because its everything, said Ibironke, 29.

And by everything I mean that it gives me accessibility and helps me to integrate better, she said. It basically just screams independence. ... The world just opens up with a lot of opportunities, thinking of different things that you want to do and achieve because you can go out.
Six seats on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors are up for election this fall.

Five of those seats represent geographical districts, while the sixth is an at-large seat. Races are nonpartisan.

The board consists of 11 members who serve four-year terms. It governs a community college that has three campuses and more than a dozen locations.

The college receives a portion of its funding through a property tax levied in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge and Washington Counties. The board is responsible for setting the tax rate.

District 1

Phillip Klein

Age: 73

Party: Republican

Occupation: Retired

Home: Elkhorn area

Elected offices held: Metropolitan Community College board, 2015-present; City of Elkhorn mayor, 1993-2007; Elkhorn City Council, 1989-92

Family: Single, no children

Website: None

Why do you want to continue serving on the Metro Community College board?

Every successful life should include some form of public service. This is my way, in an elected capacity, to serve the community and accomplish a successful life.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

Staying on the leading edge. Keep our offerings fresh and important in a cost effective manner.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

MCC excels at offering programs and training for our students so that they will have a successful life.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer?

Yes I feel that MCC does a good job handling all of its finances which includes grants, donations and state of Nebraska aid. Especially now with the accelerating income tax credit for property tax payers that dramatically drops the mill levy.

Why should voters pick you to continue serving on the MCC board?

My experience and political relationships I believe are the important reasons for re-election.

Mark Stoj

Age: 52

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Branch manager and company trainer, Creighton Federal Credit Union

Home: Omaha

Elected offices held: None

Family: Married, two children

Why do you want to serve on the Metro Community College board?

When I was 22, I was working overnight at a warehouse in harsh weather and under poor management. I was worried this would be my life until I took night classes at MCC. I graduated with my associate degree.

MCC changed my life. Today, I have been a credit union manager for 20 years serving Creighton University. I have a masters and a bachelors degree in business and decades of experience with college students and staff. I want to use my education, experience, and leadership skills to help others improve their lives and to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

The pandemic is currently the greatest challenge to MCC. It caused a decrease in enrollment in community colleges across the nation and at MCC. Many students have had setbacks in their education and its progress. MCC needs to develop adequate quality and quantity of staff as more and more students return to the in-person learning environment. It also needs to look at modernizing and updating on-line classes to keep up with demand and the changing times in technology and our culture. It will then better prepare students for hi-tech jobs as Google and other major companies require a well-trained workforce.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

MCC excels at being an affordable, low-cost alternative to four-year colleges. Students can complete their general education requirements for about one third the cost of a full-scale university and then transfer the credits to complete their four-year degree, saving thousands.

MCC, especially some board members, need to improve communication with stakeholders. Students now communicate through social media, but some board members have no presence or emails or phone numbers to get vital information out or in. I have almost 2,500 Facebook friends and can be reached through email, Twitter, Instagram, text, by phone or my website www.markstoj.com.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

MCC does a good job handling tuition. Recently, things even got better when MCC announced ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money would be used so high school students would get free tuition. My son is in the dual enrollment program at his high school and Metro so he will get an associate degree when he gets his high school diploma. This tuition gladly puts money back in my pocket.

I do not like past MCC increases in my property taxes. However, as ARPA money is allocated, I hope to see MCC benefit even more and decrease its income stream from property taxes.

Why should voters pick you to serve on the MCC board?

I offer a unique perspective. I am a graduate of MCC, and my son is currently in their dual enrollment program. My nephews received electrician and IT degrees there. Currently, MCC has over 20,000 students in non-credit classes, and I have taken many enlightening non-credit courses there. I have been there and done that. I have real-life experience as a student and parent.

I am also accessible to faculty, students, and staff as well as endorsed by the Metropolitan Community College Education Association. I have the education, experience, and leadership skills to do the job and do it well.

District 2

Erin Feichtinger

Age: 34

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Public policy and nonprofit advocacy

Home: Omaha

Elected offices held: Metropolitan Community College board, 2019-present

Family: Married, one child

Why do you want to continue serving on the Metro Community College board?

Its been the privilege of a lifetime to serve District 2 these last four years. We have accomplished a lot of tremendous things, and under some really difficult circumstances. Weve built out our campuses to meet the needs of our students and local employers, met the challenge of COVID-19 and recovery, increased capacity for our dual enrollment programs, expanded our student support and advising programs to make sure students succeed inside and outside the classroom and graduate on-time and under-budget. Id be honored to see these initiatives and so many others through to completion, and help MCC continue to grow.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

Without adequate state funding, MCC is going to continue having a challenge balancing the three funding sources we rely on  state aid, tuition, and property taxes. We never want to overburden students with unaffordable tuition and taxpayers with a hefty tax bill. MCC has so far done an excellent job of keeping tuition and our property taxes low, and has done so by building mutually beneficial relationships with the community and local Nebraska businesses.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

I love and respect MCC so much because we truly let our mission to provide relevant, student-centered education to a diverse community of learners guide all of our decision making. It would be easy to forget why were here  for the community  but MCC never has, and that focus means we will always strive to listen to and provide for our communitys needs. As our programs expand to meet the evolving needs of our workforce, we will need to ensure those programs are reaching the community members who would most benefit from the accessibility of MCC.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

Yes. MCC has three main funding sources  state aid, tuition, and property taxes. While state aid has decreased, MCC has kept tuition affordable and provided exceptional and innovative programs through strong relationships with community organizations and businesses. MCC is not only the best and most affordable community college in Nebraska, we are the only community college that has not raised or used its full property tax authority in 10 years. In the last legislative session, we supported LB783 which means that taxpayers will see a significant decrease in their MCC property taxes over the coming years.

Why should voters pick you to continue serving on the MCC board?

My background as an educator showed me the importance of a place like MCC. I want more students to feel like community college is a great choice for them and their future. My work in the community shows me every day how life-changing an MCC education can be for a person working toward success, and how critical it is that MCC continues listening to the community it serves. Ive been a vocal advocate for students, faculty, staff, and the community on the Board of Governors and am dedicated to keeping MCC affordable, accessible, and exceptional long into the future.

Tammy L. Wright

Wright did not respond to The World-Herald's inquiries.

District 3

Maureen K. Monahan

Age: 52

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Attorney, Monahan & Monahan

Home: Omaha

Elected offices held: Metropolitan Community College board, 2019-present

Family: Single

Why do you want to continue serving on the Metro Community College board?

As a lawyer who represents children in foster care, I know the importance of the educational opportunities MCC offers. MCC provides navigators to help every student find their pathway to success  whether that is a skilled job, completing the first two years of a four year degree or making up missed pieces of their K-12 education. Ensuring that the board can create more opportunities while maintaining current ones is why I want to continue to serve.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

The greatest challenge is keeping the trust of the community it currently enjoys. It requires a balance of the needs of the students, the taxpayers, the staff and local employers and government entities. Local employers and K-12 school districts partner with us to meet shared goals and costs. Maintaining that trust takes effort everyday to educate our students and fit the needs of our local employers and communities within our existing financial structure.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

MCC excels at working with local employers to provide the education for the trained workforce they need. It does this by keeping employers involved in MCC and asks for input for the types of materials, tools and training needed. Like many community colleges, it struggles with convincing students it is the place for them. MCC has a good marketing plan and works with many K-12 schools to make them familiar with MCCs educational value and opportunities.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

Yes. My Grandfather paid tuition, room and board at UNL with the wages of a summer job. The only place you could afford to do that now is at MCC. MCC dedicated additional funding to provide free tuition for all high school students. The property tax levy has not been raised. MCC does not have any separate bond issues. It ensures it has construction, maintenance and additional staff fees through reserves or donations before projects are started. There is now a property tax refund for MCC available to taxpayers to help alleviate the already low levy.

Why should voters pick you to continue serving on the MCC board?

I know that MCC is about families. It makes the difference between the minimum wage and living wage. It provides an education for jobs right here. Local employers have the workforce they need and that brings more jobs to the area. Local students do not have to leave to train and get a good job. That means children are here to help aging parents. Grandparents get to know their grandchildren. I understand that families are the key to maintaining our community. As a board member I will continue keep MCC serving the needs of our current and future families.

Tyler Fausset

Fausset did not respond to The World-Herald's inquiries.

District 4

Ron Hug

Age: 66

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Retired machinist

Elected offices held: Metropolitan Community College board, District 1 1999-2015, at large 2015-present

Home: Omaha

Family: Married, four children

Website: None

Why do you want to serve on the Metro Community College board?

My personal experience with metropolitan community college goes back to the fall of 1974 when metropolitan technical community college first opened their doors. I entered their GED preparatory classes, and I was the first individual to receive a GED from metropolitan technical community college in December of 1974.

I continued my education going to school part time while working full time and raising a family I ultimately received a bachelor's degree from Bellevue University in 1996, every credit hour I received I received as a part-time student. In every way I was a non-traditional student like a high percentage of current students at MCC. I understand the challenges and the obstacles students experience.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

The unknown, is the greatest challenge that will face MCC. Case in point is the recent COVID pandemic. We cannot predict the future, we can learn from the past and to utilize that experience to prepare us for the future obstacles. MCC is still analyzing their reaction to the pandemic, looking for the things they could have done better and for ways to be better prepared in the future unknown.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

Metro excels at providing an quality affordable accessible education. For over 20 years they have consistently been among the lowest tuition rates in the state while being one of the largest educational institutions in the state.

The challenge will be to maintain the affordability and balancing the accessibility has the four county area grows in population.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

Metropolitan Community College receives its funding through three primary sources, tuition, property tax, and state aid. The state aid comes through the State Legislature being one of a total of five community colleges in the state Metro vies each year for a portion of state funding which gets distributed through the Legislature. Historically there has been a battle between the rual community colleges and metropolitan community college.

If you look at the previous years in the distribution of funds MCC receives through the state funds you will see that they have done an outstanding job in gaining a greater share of the state funds.

Why should voters pick you to serve on the MCC board?

Metropolitan Community College is not the institution it was five, 10 or 20 years ago. And the institution you see today will look significantly different in 20 years. How education is delivered 20 years from now will look different than how it did 20 years ago. Has an educational institution MCC is a young institution. It will continue to grow expand and evolve. I have been front and center for the growth and development of MCC for over 20 years I have the knowledge and experience and the institutional memory to help lead the institution into the future

Kimara Snipes

Snipes did not respond to The World-Herald's inquiries.

District 5

Theresa Love-Hug

Age: 41

Party: Nonpartisan

Occupation: Personal banker escalation manager, FNBO

Home: Bellevue

Elected offices held: None

Family: Married, three kids

Website: None

Why do you want to serve on the Metro Community College board?

I want to serve on the board because this would be a new and exciting experience for me to engage with a diverse community of educational professionals. I attended MCC as a nontraditional student having to take evening classes, attending part time. MCC is a nontraditional school in the sense that it caters to those who cannot attend full time or during normal business/school hours. I want to assist with making MCC the desired school of choice.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

There are areas that are growing significantly in western Sarpy County and currently, there is no coverage for this growth. MCC is challenged with how they are going to meet accessibility command with growth in western Sarpy County, in a cost-effective way.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

MCC excels at servicing the community by being a one of a kind everything school for everyone, from people looking for an associates degree, to honing their current job skills, to getting a head start in education for their four year degree. One thing that MCC could do better at, is to provide better access to the college for western Sarpy County  those students have to travel a greater distance to Elkhorn, South Omaha, or Fort Omaha for education.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

From all evidence and appearance, MCC has done an outstanding job of balancing both property taxes and tuition. MCC consistently remains most affordable tuition year in and year out. There is a third component (other than property taxes and tuition) and that is state Aid. MCC also receives state aid through the Nebraska Legislature when the state Legislature approves the budget.

Why should voters pick you to serve on the MCC board?

This would be a new opportunity for me. Many people often tell me I think outside of the box. I believe I can bring fresh ideas and experiences to the table, and assist in making the board better than ever.

Connor Orr

Age: 31

Party: Republican

Occupation: Attorney, Orr, Horgan & Flentje PLLC

Home: Papillion

Public offices held: None

Family: Married, two children

Website: None

Why do you want to serve on the Metro Community College board?

I want to help by bringing new and creative ideas to the board so that we can continue to build the offerings MCC has brought to our community, but also intend to remain steadfast in my conviction that spending the public dollar must be done responsibly. In short, I intend to prove that conservative spending and growth of our educational resources do not need to be mutually exclusive concepts.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

Balancing the need for growth with the impact that the cost of the same has on the public.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

I believe MCC excels at offering good, traditional core classes and other courses which fit the traditional routes for post-secondary education and the trades. I believe MCC could develop a more robust offering for the communitys homeschooling needs. I would also like to see more work done to provide our local high schools with the tools to effectively communicate data on differing career paths to help combat the student loan crisis by fully informing those making the decision to go to college versus trade school, or other non-traditional routes.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

I think there is always room for improvement. I do not believe the on campus living proposals make economic sense based upon the information I have reviewed, and I believe there are avenues that MCC has not yet tapped into that could continue to keep tuition affordable for generations to come.

Why should voters pick you to serve on the MCC board?

I am a husband, a father and a former student that cares about our communitys educational resources. I also care about ensuring that we are financially responsible in making educational policy because we have all seen how decades of poor financial decisions in this regard have led to a student loan crisis. I would be humbled to have the opportunity to show that creativity does not need to be hindered by being financially responsible.

At large

Kristen DuPree

Age: 37

Party: Democrat

Occupation: Actuary, Lincoln Financial Group

Home: Omaha

Elected offices held: None

Family: Married, two children

Why do you want to serve on the Metro Community College board?

Ive seen how access to higher education has the power to change lives. It can end the cycle of generational poverty when the right barriers are removed so students have the support needed to reach their goals. Im running to make sure all students have the right tools to better their lives through education.

What is the greatest challenge currently facing MCC?

The funding method of the college. State funding has decreased over time, making the college far too reliant on property taxes as a funding source. The board has made up for the state aid short falls by making hard decisions to increase tuition and the property tax levy. This burdens both students and property taxpayers while threatening the ability of MCC to carry out its mission of providing quality student-centered education.

What is one thing you feel MCC excels at, and what is one thing you feel MCC needs to do a better job of?

There are a lot of incredible things happening at MCC, but one that stands out is the Path Forward initiative that focuses on individualized guidance and career planning, so more students achieve their academic and vocational goals.

As we continue to see a huge demand for skilled labor, I think there is an opportunity to expand work-based learning opportunities to accommodate prospective students in the trade programs who have been waitlisted.

Do you feel MCC currently does a good job of balancing the two primary sources of revenue that it has control over: property taxes and tuition? Please explain your answer.

Because MCC serves a non-traditional student body, the board has prioritized affordable tuition so all students can access an education. As we continue to experience the labor market shortage, it's important that students have access to the skills needed to grow our local economy. Due to these considerations, I think the balance between tuition and property taxes has been managed reasonably well.

Why should voters pick you to serve on the MCC board?

Im the only candidate who has experienced the challenges of todays working families and I understand what barriers should be removed to encourage diverse workforce participation. I have the vision to put the right strategies in place today to solve for the workforce demands of tomorrow. I have the motivation to serve on this board because Ive seen how access to higher education changes lives. Im proud to earn endorsements from local community leaders, labor unions, and current and former MCC board members; and I would be honored to earn your vote.

John M. McCarthy

McCarthy did not respond to The World-Herald's inquiries.
Terrorists and extremists are evolving, finding new and ingenious ways to attack our nation and its infrastructure.

Academics  including some here in Omaha  are evolving their own new ways to keep up and stop them.

That was one theme of Envision 22, the annual conference of the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology and Education Center this week in Omaha.

About 150 experts and students from 13 states plus Washington, D.C., and Great Britain are attending the two-day event, which will wrap up Friday at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. It is the first in-person conference for the counterterrorism center, which is primarily funded by the Department of Homeland Security and is now in its third year.

The world has become a more dangerous place, said UNO Chancellor Joanne Li, welcoming the visitors. You are here to help us stay ahead of the curve, ahead of danger.

The centers director, Gina Ligon, said UNO beat out high-profile universities on both coasts to land NCITE.

Were trying to establish ourselves out of the Beltway, she said. We have people here who arent necessarily the usual players, working together to solve these problems.

It wont be easy.

In earlier eras, terrorism typically involved organized groups with defined ideologies, said Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University.

In the 1970s, violent extremism was typically associated with the far left, while in the 1980s and 90s, the far right rose up. In the 2000s, the focus shifted to international jihadist groups, Hughes noted. Today the far right is back.

When groups are driving terrorism, police agencies can monitor and infiltrate them.

(Law enforcement) is inherently drawn to take these groups down, Hughes said.

But in the internet era, the groups are loosely organized and decentralized  even ephemeral, said Martha Crenshaw, director of the Mapping Militants Program at Stanford University.

You can belong to a group simply by following it online, she said.

Some operate in concert, but with no formal leadership.

These groups are very fluid. Its often difficult to discern the borders between them. We read about them, they have a name, and then they disappear.

Some terrorists are self-radicalized loners, borrowing bits and pieces from various extremist ideologies.

Others are drawn by the lure of something like celebrity. Hughes called it the Joker effect.

They dont subscribe to ideologies, he said. They just want to rack up a count.

And as ideologies mutate and proliferate, terrorists have new tools and new targets to choose from, said Austin Doctor, a UNO assistant professor of political science who leads NCITEs counterterrorism research initiatives.

These include cyberattacks on government facilities and hospitals. Agriculture is vulnerable because of its new reliance on satellite technology, Doctor said. So is the cutting-edge metaverse, which unites elements of the internet in a new immersive world of virtual reality.

The violent extremists of all stripes have a growing number of tools at their disposal, Doctor said. Terrorist attacks on critical infrastructure have taken a front-row seat.

Joshua Geltzer, President Joe Bidens deputy Homeland Security adviser, praised the NCITE researchers during a video appearance from the White House for developing new methods to counter violent extremists.

Our government is trying to adapt, and be nimble, he said. We in government depend on research to inform our efforts.
In the Instagram photo, the couple  social media personalities in the world of bow hunting, nutrition and fitness  are the picture of confidence.

Josh and Sarah Bowmar, both in their 30s, stand knee deep in a broad body of water, the horizon stretching behind them.

Shirtless and muscular, he rests his bow on his shoulder. Clad in a bikini top and cutoff jeans, she props her bow on the top of her thigh.

Among the more than 330,000 Instagram followers of Bowmar Bowhunting, some 10,000-plus clicked on like.

That scene from June is a far cry from last weeks Zoom appearance before a federal judge in Nebraska, at which the couple pleaded guilty to conspiracy to attempt to illegally obtain wildlife. The plea was related to the largest known case of poaching in Nebraska.

More than 30 people have been convicted and more than $625,000 in fines has been collected in the years-long case involving Hidden Hills Outfitters of Broken Bow, a big game guide and outfitting service.

Over the years, as those who owned Hidden Hills and others involved pleaded guilty, the Bowmars were insistent that they wouldnt  that they would fight their case in federal court.

That changed last week.

The Bowmars pleaded guilty Oct. 19 in the U.S. District Court of Nebraska to a misdemeanor conspiracy charge. In exchange, four other more serious charges, mostly involving allegations of illegally baited hunting sites, were dropped.

The conspiracy charge, as defined in court documents, includes the idea that a person in the exercise of due care ... should have known they were engaged in attempting to unlawfully take wildlife.

The Bowmars say the plea gets the facts right, so it made sense to agree to it.

We agree 100% that we should have known better, and for the record, we take responsibility for that, Josh Bowmar said Wednesday. At the end of the day, we were fighting to make sure (that it is clear) that we never poached or baited deer illegally.

Since the case began six years ago, the couple have moved forward with their lives, Sarah Bowmar said, having two children, building their businesses and creating a new life in Iowa.

We had to take into account the mental stress and anxiety and everything that goes into going to trial, Sarah Bowmar said. We were fine with taking responsibility for what (federal prosecutors) brought. What they dropped is what we were fighting.

Prosecutors declined to comment on the Bowmars case, which awaits a January sentencing.

Hidden Hills recruited at least 118 clients from states such as New York, Wisconsin, Virginia and Utah to hunt in Nebraska, charging them $2,500 to $7,000.

The Bowmars were likely Hidden Hills highest-profile clients. Sarah Bowmars Instagram account has more than 1 million followers, and their companys YouTube channel lists more than 287,000 followers.

According to court documents, the Bowmars came to Nebraska three to five times a year to hunt with Hidden Hills from September 2015 to November 2017.

During that period, court documents say, the couple formed Bowmar Bowhunting LLC with the intent of using video and images obtained in Nebraska for their businesses on Instagram, YouTube and their website. At the time, they resided in Ohio; they have since moved to the Des Moines area.

In addition to Bowmar Bowhunting, they also operate Bowmar Nutrition, which includes an extensive line of health food products and some pet foods. The couple say Bowmar Nutrition is one of the top five direct-to-consumer supplement companies in the U.S. Their products, not available in stores, are sold online.

As part of the plea agreement, they and their video production company will pay $119,000, combined, in fines and forfeitures. They also agreed not to hunt in Nebraska for the duration of their sentence, once it is set.

In the plea agreements, the federal government is returning a mounted mule deer head, two sets of mule deer antlers and a bow. The government is keeping three sets of deer antlers.

Hidden Hills and some of its clients used such illegal tactics as setting bait, hunting at night with lights (which can immobilize animals) or from the road or out of season. Some put silencers on their rifles to keep other hunters from hearing the gunshots. Others fudged hunting permits.

At least one other celebrity hunter was a client at Hidden Hills. Big game archery hunter and television personality Rod Owen brought his commercial video equipment to hunts in Nebraska from 2015 to 2017. He has since pleaded guilty.

Over the years that Hidden Hills was in operation, at least 97 game animals, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope and turkeys, were killed.

Hidden Hills Outfitters had access to 200,000 acres over eight Nebraska counties, according to court documents and one of the convicted participants.

Hidden Hills is not related to Hidden Valley Outfitters in nearby Arnold, Nebraska.
GA Supreme Court Confirms Voters Have Standing to Sue Election Officials Who Violate Law NEWS PROVIDED BY

VoterGA

Oct. 27, 2022



ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Georgia Supreme Court confirmed Tuesday what most informed Georgians have known all along. The court found that Georgia citizens, including voters, have standing to sue government officials who violate Georgia law.



The court overturned parts of lower court rulings in cases entitled Sons of Confederate Veterans et al, vs. Henry County Board of Commissioners and Sons of Confederate Veterans et al, v. Newton County Board of Commissioners. In those cases, the organization was joined by individuals who sued the county boards for voting to remove statues that are legally protected under O.C.G.A. 50-3-1. The lower courts falsely claimed that the plaintiffs had no standing to do so.



The ruling applies to individuals and organizations who have citizens, residents or taxpayers in a jurisdiction. It confirms arguments made by Petitioners in the Fulton County counterfeit ballot case known as Favorito et al, v. Wan et al. That case, originally entitled Favorito et al, v. Cooney et al was dismissed after 10 months of hearing for lack of standing. The dismissal came after Fulton hired criminal defense attorneys to prevent petitioners from inspecting ballots. The case has a pending writ of certiorari before the Supreme Court.



VoterGA co-founder Garland Favorito stated: "The voters of Georgia have been unjustly denied their Equal Protection and Due Process rights to ensure only legal votes were counted in the 2020 election. We will do everything within our power to ensure our case is overturned and all 2020 election ballots are preserved."



Key findings in the ruling include: "..., only plaintiffs with a cognizable injury can bring a suit in Georgia courts. Unlike federal law, however, that injury need not always be individualized; sometimes it can be a generalized grievance shared by community members, especially other residents, taxpayers, voters, or citizens." [Pg 2]



"Georgia has long recognized that members of a community, whether as citizens, residents, taxpayers, or voters, may be injured when their local government fails to follow the law. Government at all levels has a legal duty to follow the law; a local government owes that legal duty to its citizens, residents, taxpayers, or voters (i.e., community stakeholders), and the violation of that legal duty constitutes an injury that our case law has recognized as conferring standing to those community stakeholders, even if the plaintiff suffered no individualized injury." [Pg 3]



"Because the Georgia Constitution is the source of the judicial power of state courts, federal standing requirements do not control our analysis." [Pg 15]



"And it is unsurprising that we have extended this logic to 'voters,' because they, like citizens and taxpayers, are community stakeholders. Voters may be injured when elections are not administered according to the law or when elected officials fail to follow the voters' referendum for increased taxes to fund a particular project, so voters may have standing to vindicate public rights." [Pg 50] VoterGA is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization created by a coalition of citizens working to restore election integrity in Georgia. We advocate for independently verifiable, auditable, recount capable, transparent and tamper proof elections.



SOURCE VoterGA



CONTACT: Sheryl Sellaway, 404-273-5133, sheryl@righteouspragency.com



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University of Florida faculty Thursday approved a no-confidence vote on the process that selected U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse to serve as the universitys next president.

The vote by the UF Faculty Senate was aimed at the process, though multiple members acknowledged it would be perceived as a rebuke of Sasse, the Republican senator whose selection last month as the sole finalist to lead the university jolted Nebraskas political universe and spurred outrage among some in Florida.

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. The protests prompted current University of Florida President Kent Fuchs to announce that he was enforcing a 20-year-old regulation banning protests inside campus buildings.

Thursdays resolution focused criticism on the selection process that university officials followed, claiming it undermined the trust and confidence of the Faculty Senate. The resolution also appeared to question Sasses qualifications for the role.

The next President should come already equipped to lead an institution of this caliber rather than aiming to learn on the job, the resolution read.

Before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, Sasse led Midland University in Fremont, a school with roughly 1,600 students. UFs student population stands at nearly 60,000 students.

The author of the resolution said Thursday that a no-confidence vote may or may not influence the outcome of Sasses candidacy. However, the main intent was to set a precedent for future presidential selection processes.

The final resolution was passed overwhelmingly after multiple minor amendments were made, but several faculty members expressed concern over its messaging.

One faculty member said the resolution was a complaint without a clear solution, and another said it would lead to a disastrous relationship between Sasse and the faculty.

Sasse faces a vote by the universitys Board of Trustees and then must be confirmed by the states Board of Governors before he is officially named president.

Faculty Senate Chair Amanda Phalin serves on the Board of Trustees, and was repeatedly asked by Faculty Senate members if she would vote no on Sasses selection if the no-confidence resolution passed. Phalin refused to answer yes or no.

If officials ultimately approve Sasses appointment in Florida, it would fall to Nebraskas governor to appoint his successor to the U.S. Senate seat  a post Sasse was overwhelmingly reelected to in 2020. That appointee would serve until 2024, when a special election would be held to fill the last two years in the six-year term.
Voting is a right, and no unnecessary speedbumps should be placed in the path of Nebraskans who want to exercise that right.

Thats why Initiative 432, a proposed constitutional amendment to require voters to show valid photographic ID before casting a ballot, is a bad idea.

The amendment would apply to voters who go to the polls as well as those who mail in their ballots early, with no exceptions. The Legislature would set the specific rules if the initiative passes.

Some say Nebraskas voter ID rules would become among the most restrictive in the country.

This ballot measure is an excessive reaction to unfounded concerns about election security. If enacted, it would unfairly force some of our fellow citizens to jump through extra hoops in order to vote. And the added burdens could undermine the goal of encouraging all Nebraskans to exercise their voting rights.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, who supports the voter ID proposal, acknowledges that Nebraska has not had a problem with voter fraud generally  let alone any cases of people trying to impersonate others so they can vote. World-Herald reporter Martha Stoddard also found that no more than a handful of such cases have occurred in any election nationally.

Anyone who tries to impersonate a voter is breaking existing law and ought to be prosecuted. But our elections are not being stolen in this way.

We understand the surface appeal of requiring photo ID. Most of us already have drivers licenses or state-issued alternate ID cards. And were all familiar with showing photo ID to get on a plane or buy alcohol or open a bank account  although most of those are voluntary activities, not constitutional rights like voting.

But consider who might not already have that drivers license in their purse or wallet: Lower-income folks who cant afford a car. Young people who didnt want to be added yet to their familys auto insurance. Those who have moved to Nebraska from big cities with ample mass transit and limited parking, so they never needed a license. Senior citizens who may have given up driving.

They all still deserve an equal right to vote.

Supporters of Initiative 432 say those people can get the alternative photo ID. An estimated 25,000 eligible voters would need one. Since voting is a right, Nebraska would have to make those alternative IDs free. Supporters say it would cost $100,000 a year; opponents say it might be $750,000 annually, including an education program to help citizens learn of the new rules, plus $2.2 million in setup costs.

But thats just what state taxpayers would pay. The burden would fall on individual citizens to make extra efforts and likely incur some costs if they want to vote.

To get an ID card, theyd need to find the time and resources to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles office and wait in one or more lines. Many of us have experienced that drudgery.

But thats not all. Applicants would need to bring documents to the DMV, such as a copy of a birth certificate. If thats not handy, they might need to go to the courthouse or send away to another state to get one, at some expense. And all this would be trickier for someone who, after all, lacks a license to drive anywhere.

Which groups might find those tasks particularly challenging? Low-income people. Senior citizens. People with mobility issues. Those who would need to take time off from their jobs.

And what about mail-in ballots? Its not known what Nebraskas rules would be, but some states require a voter to submit a photocopy of their license or ID card with their ballot. Not everyone has easy access to a copier.

Besides, the photo ID concept is hardly foolproof. Dishonest people are known to use fake, stolen or borrowed IDs for other purposes.

Our nations history includes shameful attempts to disenfranchise certain types of citizens through poll taxes and voting tests. In Mississippi, for example, applicants once were required to write an essay on citizenship, with officials deciding who should pass. Often, that meant Black applicants were denied the right to vote.

This photo ID proposal doesnt share the same goal of deterring minority voters, we hope. But it certainly runs counter to the spirit of Nebraskas constitution, which says there shall be no hindrance or impediment to the right of a qualified voter to exercise the elective franchise.

Some eligible Nebraska voters are sure to be hindered or impeded by this added requirement. Voters should vote no on Initiative 432.
NORMAL  Connect Transit has received $2,781,416 in federal grant funding to expand its fleet of electric buses and charging infrastructure.

This grant is part of a $8.25 million initiative secured by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and distributed by the Illinois Department of Transportation for electric buses and charging infrastructure across the state, according to a news release from Connect Transit.

Connect Transit is one of three downstate transit systems to receive funding through the initiative. Champaign-Urbana received $3.78 million and Rock Island received $1.68 million.

"Senator Durbin continues to take the initiative to improve the quality of life through public transportation. On behalf of our riders and community, we truly appreciate his efforts and continued support of Connect Transit, said Ryan Whitehouse, Connect Transit board chair.

This funding will be used to continue Connect Transit's ongoing electrification of its fleet and expand upon its charging infrastructure, including facility enhancements.

Connect Transit will also expand its alternative energy sources to supplement vehicle charging needs, the news release said.

"Continued advancement of our electric vehicle program and usage of renewable energy as a fuel source will help us offset long term operational costs by reducing fuel and maintenance costs, said David Braun, Connect Transit general manager. We are proud to be recognized for our continued efforts to improve public transportation in our community."

Last month, Connect Transit announced that over half of its fleet of buses will be electric by the end of 2024. They currently have four electric buses running and eight more expected to be shipped by the end of this year.

This also comes after recent news that Connect Transit reduced its weekday service due to a lack of drivers, changing the frequency of service to match the same schedule as the rest of the day.
EUREKA  Two Eureka College professors hope a series of workshops they are holding will help K-12 music educators expand their students repertoire and introduce them to new types of music.

The goal is to work with K-12 teachers to develop skills and knowledge about topics they might not have time or resources to explore on their own, said Sarah Riskind, Eurekas director of choral activities and assistant professor of music.

Then they can reach their students directly, she said. () A lot of K-12 teachers are really busy just keeping things going during the school year.

The professors plan to focus on topics to help teachers expand the music they feel comfortable teaching. The four workshops will cover music from Latin America, Jewish music, improvisation and foreign language diction, said Adriana Martinez, assistant professor of music.

The goal is to help teachers diversify the kind of music they are teaching, including info on the history and culture behind the music. That mirrors efforts Martinez and Riskind have made in their own teaching.

Weve been thinking since 2020 in ways to diversify our curriculum, Martinez said.

The first workshop, scheduled for Saturday, will feature a morning session on the history of Latin America and its music, and then an afternoon session where attendees will get to dive more deeply into the music of a few countries in the region, Martinez said.

Martinez grew up in Mexico City before attending the University of Charleston in West Virginia, a small liberal arts college. There a mentor encouraged her to consider a career in singing and in music education. She now teaches music history, theory and voice at Eureka.

Ive been singing since I can remember, she said.

Riskind also attended a small liberal arts college, Williams College in Massachusetts. There she was part of a madrigal group, which gave her the opportunity to become a co-director as an upperclassman.

I quickly realized that was something I wanted to do, because I had so many opinions about the music and couldnt hold them back, she said.

She now conducts music groups at Eureka, along with teaching conduction, music education and improvisation.

Registration for Saturday's workshop has been extended until noon Friday and can be found at https://forms.gle/RZC29wm2sG39ZEY76. The workshop can be attended in person or via Zoom; those attending in person at Illinois Central College will receive a free lunch. For more information, contact Riskind at srisking@eureka.edu.

Attendees will receive packets of materials, such as different arrangements of pieces to cater to students of different ages, Riskind said.

The other workshops are planned for the spring, with details and registration information to be announced later. Updates can be found on the Eureka College Music Department Facebook page.

The program is being funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. The $4,150 will go toward providing materials, paying the accompanist, advertising, the professors honorarium and lunch, they said.

The grant aims to provide these resources for teachers throughout our region, Martinez said.
State officials say new education data released this week shows signs of growth out of the pandemic, but many McLean County administrators worry about putting too much emphasis on any single data point or assessment.

Released to the public on Thursday, the Illinois Report Card includes updated summative designations for the first time since 2019. These labels are based on weighted measures of academics such as student growth and proficiency on statewide tests and additional indicators of student success and school climate such as attendance and school climate surveys.

Illinois' summative designations describe schools as falling into one of four categories: exemplary, commendable, targeted and comprehensive. The latter two categories receive additional funding and state support intended to improve student outcomes.

Less than eight months ago, when our students took these assessments that you see on the school report card, we still had students in masks, many absent students and staff due to quarantines, and other less than ideal restrictions, said Lexington Superintendent Paul Deters. Truthfully, it just doesn't make sense that schools in Illinois were required to give these assessments when our kids and staff were going through such a turbulent time and had many other pressing needs.

Several of the local administrators who expressed frustration with the return to summative designations, including Deters, lead districts which had schools ranked in the top 10% of all schools in the state, given the exemplary designation.

The full report card can be found at illinoisreportcard.com.

System in transition

State staff warned against comparing both testing scores and the summative designations to past years. Designations were not updated for the 2020 and 2021 report cards, and testing in those years was either not offered or optional, leading to much lower participation rates. Some specific metrics were also adjusted this year.

This year really represents a system in transition, said State Superintendent Carmen Ayala, in a media call earlier this week.

The assessments and resulting designations are also just snapshots of where students are, said McLean County Unit 5 Superintendent Kristen Weikle. A student having an off day, or a better-than-normal day, can affect performance.

The summative designations are one point in time, Weikle said.

Heyworth Superintendent Lisa Taylor approaches the summative designations as a whole with caution. Heyworth Elementary was designated exemplary for the first time, something she and the district are celebrating, but the designations do not capture all that a school is.

I still struggle with labeling schools and comparing them to each other, she said.

Bloomington District 87 Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Diane Wolf is glad the state has added in indicators beyond assessments, such as school climate surveys and chronic absenteeism among students, but feels the designations are just a start to actually seeing the whole picture of a school.

The state assessments should be treated as high-level data, Wolf said.

The state assessments are designed to tell the state story, she said.

Local assessments

Beyond the state assessments, local educators use local assessments given multiple times a year, daily in-class assessments and the experiences of classroom educators and students to measure learning, Wolf said. The statewide data also makes clear the impact of the pandemic.

It gave us more than just stories, it gave us real-time data, Wolf said.

Regular assessments allow teachers to respond to struggles students are having in specific areas and provide supports for them in real time, Weikle said.

The district looks at continuous data, said Unit 5 Director of Teaching and Learning Darrin Cooper. When using the benchmark tests given throughout the year, the district looks particularly at growth.

Taylor is approaching last years standardized testing as one more measure to watch, though the months it takes to get the data back limits its usefulness she said. She thinks it would be more helpful to turn to a benchmark model.

Changing to more localized approaches to testing, such as by having the state accept a variety of benchmark tests, is something Olympia Superintendent Laura ODonnell would like to see as well.

That is something, my pie in the sky before I retire, Id like to see, she said.

Other measures

In a call with media earlier this week, Ayala said the statewide data suggests growth out of the pandemic. Student growth in performance on the statewide assessments outpaced pre-pandemic growth last year, Illinois State Board of Education officials said, despite proficiency still lagging.

The graduation rate, at 87.3%, was the highest in 12 years, except 2020 when many graduation requirements were waived due to the pandemic. The number of ninth grade students on track to graduate in four years was back to where it was pre-pandemic. The state defines that measure as students who took the equivalent of five full-year classes their freshman year and received at most one F as a semester grade.

Area districts said they too were seeing this trend. Heyworth and Lexington both had 100% graduation rates.

"This was huge for us this year; it didn't happen by coincidence," Taylor said.

Part of what has helped the district get there is early intervention for students who might be struggling, so teachers and administrators are watching indicators like the 9th grade on-track measure.

Unit 5 saw its highest rate of 9th grade students on track to graduate in five years, Cooper said.

On the negative side are rates of chronic absenteeism among students, with more than 28% of students missing more than 10% of the school year last year. Both excused and unexcused absences are included.

The pandemic had a big impact on attendance rates because rather than being out for a day or two, a student or staff member with COVID would be out for the entire period of their quarantine, ODonnell said.

Wolf said the measure is also being watched by District 87, which had a chronic absentee rate of 42.9%. No matter the reason for the absence, not being in school means missed instruction. The district works with families to address the situation, she said.

My biggest takeaway was that kids have to be in school, she said.

Federal compliance

Summative designations are required by federal law, though waivers were given for the past two years.

In Illinois, exemplary designations are given to the top 10% of schools, comprehensive the bottom 5%. Targeted schools have one or more groups of students at the comprehensive level but overall ranked above that mark. Schools which do not fall into these three groups receive the commendable.

Schools in the targeted and comprehensive levels are required to implement four-year improvement plans and receive additional support from the state in doing so.

Oakdale Elementary School in Unit 5 and Sheridan Elementary School in District 87 were both listed as comprehensive. Six schools were considered targeted:

Parkside Junior High School (Unit 5)

Cedar Ridge Elementary School (Unit 5)

Olympia Middle School

Olympia South Elementary School

Bloomington Junior High School

Bent Elementary School (District 87)

Five schools in the county were given the exemplary designation:

Tri-Valley High School

Heyworth Junior-Senior High School

Prairieland Elementary School (Unit 5)

Lexington Elementary School

Olympia West Elementary School

All of the other schools in the county were designated commendable.

Administrators of the schools and districts which received the exemplary designation were proud of the recognition, but also of the work all of their teachers have been doing, including at other schools.

We are extremely proud of the continued progress our students have made over the last couple of years despite the challenges, said Prairieland Principal Scott Peters. Our teachers have worked tirelessly, and will continue to work tirelessly to meet the needs of our students academically, socially, and emotionally."

Deters was glad to see Lexington Elementary acknowledged and ODonnell too was proud of the results for Olympia West.

I know that building is ecstatic, and they should be, she said.

At the same time, she does not want Olympias educators or students tying their self-worth to standardized test results.

A more complete picture is needed of the entire child and entire school, throughout the year, administrators said.

In my opinion, no summative designation will accurately represent the amount of great work that was and is continuing to be done in our schools to address the unintended consequences from the pandemic, Deters said.
CHICAGO  Daniel Boone Elementary is the latest Chicago school to change its name to remove a reference to a historically egregious figure.

The Chicago Board of Education voted unanimously to authorize the schools renaming. Out of a list of names selected by the West Ridge schools principal and Local School Council, with community feedback, the elementary school will start the next school year under a new name: Mosaic School of Fine Arts.

The name change process began in January, after the CPS equity office determined that Daniel Boone  a Revolutionary War-era frontiersman who was long considered a folk hero but was also a slave owner who played a role in the colonization of Indigenous people  was a historically egregious figure. CPS name formal name change process is still undergoing revisions but aims to reflect a schools mission and vision, the district said.

The process for Boone involved the creation of a renaming advisory team, which hosted four community forums to propose names. The three names ranked and recommended by the school were Mosaic, Haven and Sarah Boone.

At Wednesdays vote, CPS recommended renaming the school the communitys first choice, which the board unanimously approved.

Chicago Public Schools is a welcoming District that works to create an inclusive and respectful school environment for every student. We continue to undertake the work to ensure that our school names are inclusive and represent CPS values, a spokesperson for CPS said in a statement.

Another CPS school whose former namesake was racist scientist Louis Agassiz recently changed its name to Harriet Tubman School.
CHICAGO  A former Teamsters union boss who was once one of the most powerful labor leaders in Chicago was sentenced Wednesday to 19 months in federal prison for extorting $325,000 from the head of a film studio in the city.

The sentence comes more than three years after John Coli Sr. pleaded guilty to extortion, faced with secret recordings made by Cinespace Chicago Film Studios President Alex Pissios in which Coli could be heard threatening a union strike if Pissios didn't pay him.

In one tape, Coli tells Pissios that he would have union workers walking a picket line that would shut the studio down "within an hour" if he didn't continue making the secret payments.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss several counts against the 63-year-old Coli in exchange for his guilty plea to receiving prohibited payments as a union official and making a false income tax return.

In exchange, Coli agreed to cooperate with federal investigators and that cooperation helped build an extortion case that landed former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton in prison this year. Cullerton pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges for improperly taking more than $248,000 from the Teamsters.
SPRINGFIELD  A mountain lion that state conversation officials say is trekking across west-central Illinois has made its latest appearance near Springfield.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources started tracking the male mountain lion Oct. 17.

"This by itself is a rare and exciting occurrence. Even more exciting is that we know where he came from," the agency said in a Facebook post.

The mountain lion was first captured in November by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and fitted with a tracking collar.

"The animal traveled through McDonough County, and IDNR has received credible evidence that he spent some time in Cass County," according to the post.

Illinois officials are working with their counterparts in Nebraska to monitor the mountain lion's journey through Illinois.

There have been just eight confirmed sightings of mountain lions in Illinois during the past 20 years.

About the same time officials began monitoring the cougar, one was hit and killed on Interstate 88 in DeKalb County.

Mountain lions were eliminated from Illinois prior to the 1870s due to habitat loss and over-harvest, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"Mountain lions, grey wolves and black bears were added to the list of protective species in Illinois in 2015," wildlife chief Mike Wefer told WJBC.com. "They may not legally be hunted, killed or harassed unless there is an imminent threat to a person or property."

Anyone who might encounter a mountain lion that does not flee is advised to stand tall, wave arms, throw stones or other objects and yell.

The animals can cover great distances.
I am a voter in the 91st District and will be supporting Scott Preston for state representative. In the 91st District WGLT debate, a clear contrast was drawn between Scott and his opponent, Sharon Chung.

In 2020, voters of the 91st District rejected the Fair Tax proposal by almost 10 points. Despite that, at the recent debate, Chung stated that she would love to put that tax proposal back on the table. Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs noted last year that the Fair Tax proposal would open up the ability to tax retirement income.

A true representative is someone who makes decisions based on what the people in their district want. Chungs willingness to disregard the will of the people of the 91st District is disqualifying. I encourage all to join me and vote for Scott Preston to be our next state representative.

Jim Snyder, Bloomington
Inlaks, a foremost ICT infrastructure and systems integrator in Sub-Saharan Africa, and its partner Hyosung TNS have unveiled five ultramodern next-generation Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to revolutionize banking services in Africa. Inlaks unveiled the highly advanced ATMs at its Roadshow-themed Self-Service Innovation Summit, in Accra, Ghana.



The five latest ATMs designed by Hyosung are Monimax 5600ST, Monisafe 500, Monimax 8600T, Manivalue 100, and Monimax 8800.



With advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) components, one of the major features of these ATMs is the mobile contactless solution that enables customers to withdraw cash by simply tapping the ATM NFC reader with the bank-enabled NFC card or smartphone. Such innovation has become highly important in an era of continuous innovation where transactions without physical contact have become necessary.



Addressing participants at the programme, the Chief Executive Officer, Inlaks, Africa Operations, Kyari Bukar, highlighted the need to efficiently address banking customers complex and evolving challenges at a low cost.



Inlaks prioritizes customer needs by offering solutions that improve user experience. In the process, we reduce cost, maximise efficiency and productivity in service delivery. We will continue to invest in quality services and spearhead innovation for growth, and impact. Through this, we will improve financial inclusion through innovation.



The emerging contactless technology and the increasing need for digital banking services have propelled banking to an era of seamless cash withdrawals by customers from ATMs in a much faster, more secure, convenient, and fully contactless manner. Additionally, these ATMs accept and process cash in an online real-time manner which is three times faster and more efficient than a human teller. The event also featured ATM demonstrations by Inlaks Infrastructure Business Unit, Technical engineers who provided insights into the working process of the ATM machines.



During her presentation, Inlaks Country Manager, Yacoba Esther Amuah, enumerated how the company has partnered the banking sector over the years stating that Inlaks remains focused on core banking, data centre, e-banking solutions, and digital banking tools. She assured financial sector institutions of efficient nationwide service assistance.



Also speaking, Executive Director EBusiness & Infrastructure, Inlaks, Tope Dare, pointed out the lessons from COVID-19 by firms that have compelled innovation in various sectors.



The contactless ATMs introduced by Inlaks and Hyosung exemplify ingenuity. They are a response to challenges that warrant better solutions. We represent prominent brands in the financial services sector, and we are a market leader who have shown efficiency in various markets including Nigeria where we have a 47% market share of ATM support and distribution. We hope to replicate this success in Ghana and more sub-Saharan countries.



Providing extensive information about the new ATMs and their features, Sales Manager, Middle East & Africa, Hyosung TNS, Kevin Lee, said that Hyosung TNS is present in more than 35 countries and shipped around 760,000 units of ATMs worldwide. He stated that North America is its biggest market, with over 439,689 units of ATMs operational by various banks and financial institutions and successful implementation of Hyosung ATM solutions for client branch transformation, migrating teller transactions, and enhancing customer branch journey.



For over four decades, Hyosung had been a leading provider of financial and retail ATM solutions, including hardware, software, and ATM services. There were also presentations from other key personalities from the banking and financial services industry. UMB Manager for E-Banking Operations, Dr. Myles Christian Hagan, spoke about the Digital Wave in the Banking Sector, while the Chief Information Officer of Access Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Morka, addressed Current Industry Challenges with Cash Management. Chief Operating Officer of UBA, Mr. Felix Ugbebor, also tackled the Role of ATM Operations inbbrand Transformation.



About Inlaks



Inlaks is a leading systems integrator in Sub-Saharan Africa. With operations in Nigeria, Ghana, East Africa and other Sub-Saharan African regions, the company partners with leading OEMs in the technology industry to provide world-class information technology solutions that exceed the needs of its customers.



Over the years, Inlaks has built a reputation as the foremost ICT and Infrastructure Solutions Provider, helping customers effectively seize new market and service opportunities.



With an impressive customer base that includes several Central Banks in West and East Africa, as well as many other major customers in Nigeria, West Africa, and East African regions, Inlaks has become the dominant Information Technology Company in Africa.



Inlaks' customers cut across various segments including Banking, Telecommunication, Oil/Gas, Power, Utilities, and the Distribution sectors of the economy. For more information, please visit www.inlaks.com.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Featured Video
Bitcoin is a new payment network and a new version of digital currency which is the most famous in the world nowadays.



It is a decentralized digital currency (decentralization means that there is no single person or group i.e. bank who can control any transaction) that can be transferred on an end-to-end bitcoin network which means no third party is included as an intermediate.



Its payments/transactions are verified and authorized by network nodes through cryptography and after that, It is recorded in a publicly distributed ledger (a database that is synchronized and accessible across many other sites and characteristics by multiple participants) called a blockchain. Cryptocurrency which means a type of digital currency which is generated by the operationalization of mathematical puzzles or algorithms. If you want to invest in bitcoin, then you can visit here https://bitcoinprime.software.



When thinking about Bitcoin, the first question that arises in the minds of many people is regarding cryptocurrencies.



Cryptocurrency has also been in the news for a long time. But the question arises, how is cryptocurrency so expensive? The concept of money is very old. This system was brought after the barter system. In earlier times goods were exchanged with other types of goods. Then the concept of money came to light. In this procedure, expensive metals started being used.



Similarly, now digital payment is in trend so that you can transfer money in one swipe. Therefore Bitcoin is one of the forms in which people can invest in the form of digital payment for earning benefits in the future. But nowadays due to the rising value of Bitcoin, there is a question in everyones mind: what is the reason behind it?



Reasons for Demand and Supply



For example, if the asset is considered to be high in the market due to its limited production, then the asset's value may drop when its production is increased. The main reason for Bitcoin being expensive is that it lies in limited quantities. The value of an asset depends upon its supply and demand. If any asset is low in supply, yet its demand is more than supply, the price will almost always increase. The factors are inversely proportional to each other.



Reasons for the up and down of the Marginal Cost of Bitcoins:



Bitcoin transactions in the form of digital format are recognized in the form of Blockchain. When the distributed database is used in the form of cryptocurrency, it becomes very expensive because of its nature of peer-to-peer transactions. A cryptocurrency is a form in which electronic information is contained and stored in digital format and is mostly used for transactions, just like banks and any government used it to store their financial record. The most significant role of Blockchain plays in cryptocurrency systems. Without Blockchains, Bitcoin cannot be imagined in existence. Their main function is to work to maintain records of transactions that are not under control by any bank, person, or group of people or you can say any firm.



Now the question is how Bitcoins production, the role of blockchain is to maintain the transaction which is not under the surveillance of any bank, person, or any firm costs directly depending on the cryptocurrencys price. So as per the research researchers, whatever the cost of cryptocurrency in the markets is declared, it relates to its marginal cost of production of bitcoins.



Economically we can say that asset production is directly proportional to the total production cost. Which leads to the production making an additional unit. Given the above, a company can earn the maximum of its profits when its production reaches its target where the marginal revenue of the asset and the marginal costs of the same become equal to each other.



Mining of Bitcoin and its electricity usage



One more reason for Bitcoins rising value is its mining process through which sources use Digital systems/computer systems with special kinds of chips that work to solve mathematical puzzles. These sources or miners use digital formats or computers to solve mathematical puzzles thus Bitcoin algorithms are generated/created by them to produce more and more Bitcoins. But all this process needs more usage of electricity. The power used to run a Bitcoin mining system takes 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, which leads to a huge electricity bill. This process of generating bitcoin uses a huge amount of electricity as some entire countries do, therefore the cost of the bitcoin rises.



Accept by limited persons/firms/agencies



The number of businesses accepting the trend of using bitcoin for their financial transactions is rising, but still, this type of transaction is not accepted by every person or you can say it universally. When the number of users of Bitcoin will be increased, its cost will drop economically.



However, for now, most people are not aware of its worth and existence, apart from that, it is accepted by businesses and is growing each day. Building Bitcoin payment due to its high demand and expensive value, time-consuming technological abilities, the expense is replicating the cost of the Cryptocurrency. Although businesses are giving priority to crypto payments for making their payment mode faster.



Businesses must submit their personal and professional information in the Bitcoin application. This procedure abolishes Bitcoins privacy terms and it becomes one of the reasons why more businesses are not preferring Bitcoin for their digital mode of payment or transaction. It is also a reason which keeps the prices of Bitcoin high.



Legal Authority



Being one of the most expensive currencies, Bitcoin is used as black money in some illegal aspects such as hawala, supply of drugs, tax avoidance, and some terrorist activities because in these cases Bitcoin as digital currency is very easy to use without intimation to legal authorities. In this situation also, its demand is increasing very fast. Due to legal issues and security constraints, any controller in India does not prefer to give legal recognization to digital currency. Due to Legal issues, there are still many countries in the world that have not adopted this mode of digital payment such as cryptocurrency so far. Therefore the instant increase of Bitcoins price is also reasoned as of now as Bitcoin is not under any government or bank, its prices hikes without any substitution interference. Therefore the use of this virtual currency is not under any control. In this case, the central government is frequently organizing meetings and doing preparations to discuss it in Parliament too. At present, there are more than 90 virtual currencies that came into existence and circulated throughout the world.

















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Featured Video
A 28-year-old labourer, who intentionally and unlawfully caused harm to Madam Julia Amarteteley Laryea by stabbing her waist with a knife and leaving a severe injury has been convicted on his own plea by an Accra Circuit Court.



Master Christian Sowah, who was charged with causing harm, pleaded guilty and was convicted to serve an 18-month prison term with hard labour.



The Court presided over by Mrs Ellen Offei-Ayeh ordered the convict to compensate the complainant with cash the sum of GH1000.00.



Police Inspector Daniel Ofori Appiah, prosecuting, told the Court that the complainant, Madam Laryea is an Administrator at Pro-Life Pharmacy near the LEKMA hospital, Accra and resided at Teshie, while the convict was a labourer at Tema Port and Harbour and a resident of Teshie.



The prosecution said on September 03, at about 1800 hours during the Teshie Homowo Festival, while the complainant was on her way to the Teshie township to visit her family, an unknown person snatched her bag containing iPhone 13 valued at GH7,600.00, Huawei nova 7i at GH1,900.00, Samsung Galaxy A10s valued at GH1000.00.



Inspector Appiah said the person also took a purse containing an envelope with GH1,200.00, ID cards and some items from the complainant.



The prosecution said a struggle ensued between the complainant and the suspected thief.



Inspector Appiah said the convict, who was armed with a knife under the guise of arresting the thief stabbed the complainant in her waist, which caused the thief to escape with the complainants bag.



The prosecution said the complainant sustained severe injuries after the attack.



Inspector Appiah said one Jonas Okoe, who was a neighbour to the convict and on the scene, arrested him and handed him over to the police.



The prosecution said the knife, which the convict used was retrieved and the complainant was issued with the police medical form to seek medical attention.





Source: GNA









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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









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
Liberias first medical oxygen plant has been established to address critical cases needing life support in a country where healthcare delivery remains poor.



The plant has been set up by the World Health Organization (WHO), with funding from partners including the governments of Germany, Canada and the US.



It has a capacity to produce 100 cylinders of medical oxygen per day, according to the WHO.



An excited President George Weah joined dignitaries at an old peacekeeping force headquarters called Star Base in western Monrovia on Tuesday to launch the plant.



President Weah declared his administration was now putting in place a robust plan to tackle Liberias crippling health challenges.



Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah said local hospitals should now know Liberia had an oxygen plant they could order from.



Before the onset of Covid and during most of the initial period of the outbreak, Liberia had fewer than five medical oxygen tubes, in a country of over five million people.



The new plant is intended to serve an estimated population of about two million inhabitants in the capital, Monrovia, and surrounding regions, the WHO says. Twenty local biomedical technicians and operators have been trained by a team from South Africa to operate the facility.



Another plant will be installed in the western Liberian region of Bomi, toward the border with Sierra Leone.



Liberia lost the highest number of the more than 11,000 people who died in the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreaks due to factors including lack of oxygen.

Source: BBC









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The Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, has called on the National Media Commission (NMC) to help sanitise the media space.

He said the media were being filled with adult content and profanity under the guise of relationship and lifestyle programmes, with some of the content broadcast during prime time when children were yet to sleep.



Such a situation, he said, was against the culture of decency acceptable in the country and could negatively impact the growth and development of children.



So-called lifestyle and advice programmes operate as thinly disguised avenues for the display of profanity and vulgarity. There are times and places for content of that nature.



I would urge the NMC to, as a matter of urgency, ensure that content on our airwaves is properly regulated, in deference to our culture and our duty to our children, he said.



The Chief Justice made the call when he swore into office two new members of the NMC at his office yesterday.



Swearing-in ceremony



The two new members of the NMC sworn into office were the Editor, Graphic, Vincent Kobina Asmah, and a retired journalist, Gabriel Asante Bosompem.



The Editor, Graphic, known in his professional life as Kobby Asmah, and Mr Bosompem will represent the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on the NMC, the constitutional body mandated to register media organisations and promote standards in the media space.



At the swearing-in ceremony at the Judicial Service Headquarters in Accra yesterday, the two new members of the NMC swore the oaths of office and allegiance.



Present at the ceremony were a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonnie; the Judicial Secretary, Justice Cynthia Pamela Addo; the Director of the Ghana School of Law, Yaw Oppong; the Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, and the President of the GJA, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour.



Media freedom



The Chief Justice said the media were crucial to the countrys democratic dispensation, noting that it was in furtherance of democracy that the Constitution had insulated the media from direct control by the government.



He urged the NMC to continue to defend media freedom and the freedom of expression, in line with the dictates of the 1992 Constitution.



In doing this, he said, the NMC must ensure that the media reflected the framework of diversity, freedoms, mutual respect and shared responsibility which were frameworks for development.



Call to serve



Mr Asmah, who spoke on behalf of the two new members, said they regarded their appointment to the NMC as a call to serve the nation.



The NMC, he said, was a body that played an important role in the countrys development and, therefore, they would work hard to continue to position the commission as a strong institution that was efficient and media friendly and worked to support journalists to professionally perform their duties.



We pledge to work to strengthen the pillars of freedom, responsible media and the safety of journalists while endeavouring to deepen good governance, democracy and accountability, he said.



According to him, one critical area they would focus was the training and retraining of journalists to ensure that journalists continued to build their capacity and improve standards.



For his part, Mr Sarpong lauded the Chief Justice for promoting media freedom and supporting the work of the NMC, adding: Your commitment to the Constitution, the NMC and media freedom has been resolute.



Kobby Asmah



Mr Asmah is the Editor, Graphic, supervising all the brands of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (the Daily Graphic, The Mirror, Graphic Business, Graphic Sports, Graphic Showbiz, Junior Graphic, as well as Graphic Online and Graphic Apps) which are all market leaders in the media industry in Ghana.



Prior to becoming the Editor, Graphic, he was the Political Editor of the Daily Graphic and also acted as the Foreign Editor of the Daily Graphic.



He has over three decades of experience in journalism and two decades at the newsroom management level.



Mr Asmah won the 2008 GJA Best Journalist in Political and Parliamentary Reporting Award and the GJA Outstanding Editor in 2019.



Gabriel Asante Bosompem



Mr Bosompem is a retired journalist who worked for over 28 years in the broadcast media.



He is a former Production Manager of TV3.



He also held many managerial positions at TV3, such as Deputy News Editor and Ashanti Regional Manager.



Mr Bosompem was the Presidential Correspondent for TV3 in 2001 and Secretary to the GJA Awards Committee in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Source: graphiconline.com









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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, last Tuesday donated a quantity of medical equipment worth GH30,000 to four CHPS compounds in his constituency at a ceremony at Oda.

The beneficiary CHPS compounds are located at Jamaica, Mawuli, Nyankumasu, all suburbs of Oda and Essam.



The items included one digital sonicate, two adjustable hospital beds, two episiotomy lamps, a packet of surgical gloves, two digital thermometers and one resuscitation set.



Others were two trolleys, one drip stand, four gallipots, four kidney dishes, 10 gynaecological gloves, two dressing trays, one examination glove, 14 stethoscopes, three office tables and six office chairs.



Presentation



Making the presentation, Mr Acquah said during his working visit to some health facilities in the constituency, he realised that the four CHPS compounds lacked some medical equipment so he decided to purchase the items for them with his share of the health insurance fund.



He stressed that the gesture was to supplement the governments efforts to equip health facilities to enable them to provide quality healthcare delivery for the people.



He advised the health personnel of the beneficiary CHPS compounds to take proper care of the items and utilise them to cater for the health needs of the people who patronised the facilities.



Maintenance culture



The MP enjoined them to observe strict maintenance culture for the items to last longer.



The Deputy Director of Health Services in the Birim Central Municipality, Grace Danquah who received the equipment on behalf of the beneficiary CHPS compounds, thanked the MP for the gesture and promised that they would use the items to improve healthcare delivery at the facilities.



The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Birim Central, Ms Victoria Adu, who chaired the function, was grateful to Mr Acquah for his commitment to health promotion in the municipality.



The function coincided with another donation of nutritious food items and drugs valued at GH10,000 from the Municipal Directorate of Social Welfare Department for five malnourished babies in the municipality which was also funded by the MP, Mr Acquah.



The MP and the MCE, Victoria Adu, took turns to present the items to the mothers of the malnourished babies.



Mr Acquah also promised to take medical care of the five babies until they grew up and therefore urged their parents to seek regular medical examination and treatment for the babies at his personal Community Hospital at Oda.



The Municipal Director of the Social Welfare, Mr Ernest Otu Opare, on behalf of the beneficiary parents, thanked the MP for the gesture.



He explained that on seeing the poor health condition of the malnourished babies, he readily came to their aid by purchasing the items for them to grow up as normal human beings.

Source: graphiconline.com









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VPL Concrete Limited, a concrete batching firm on Wednesday, October 26 commissioned its newly established Plant in Accra.



VPL Concrete Ltd, is a wholly owned Ghanaian construction firm, registered under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), and headquartered in Accra.



The Company has invested in a modern, sophisticated, commercial and environmentally friendly concrete batching plant; a scientific additive laboratory and concrete transit, pumping tracks to batch, produce and supply laboratory-engineered ready mix concrete (RMC) of different strength grades for various construction projects.



Speaking to a team of Press men, the Board Chairman of the newly established construction firm, Nana Owiredu Wadie, the Nkosuohene of Kwahu  Nkwatia stated that Ghanas experience of growth in infrastructure has been driven by the investment in technology in the building and construction sector.



He added that the new firm is one of the many technological advancements that has been identified by the Board of the Company as having the capability to help standardise construction in the country.



Nana Owiredu Wadie further urged all stakeholders to work closely with the management and the Board to help achieve its objectives.



Managing Director of the VPL, Mr Komla Agbenyegah Ayivi recall that the VPL has been positioned to shape the future of generations and change the narrative of Ghanaian businesses not out  leaving their founders.



Mr Ayivi called on corporate bodies to recommend the VPL Concrete batching operations and share their insights and experiences in the building construction industry.



We invited you here first because we know you and we respect you, but to also, announced to you that we have an ultra-modern, efficient concrete batching plant thats opened for business. We want to shape the future of generations. We at VPL would like to change the narrative of Ghanaian businesses not out-leaving their founders but we cannot do this without your support and assistance and we are ready to take all the support and assistance we can get. How can you support us? One would ask. You can support us by ordering and using our ready-mix concrete (RMC) for your construction projects, you can as well recommend us to other contractors and developers. For our key partners Gyata Cement, Saint  Gobain, GOIL, Renalt Engineers, Cheshire Quarry and GHACEM and the various aggregate queries, we need your support as well. We need you to share your insights and experiences with us. We are open to learning from your experience in the market places. We would like to work with you in a way that would be mutually beneficial to our respective firms, the MD lamented.



Co-founder of the VPL Mr Eric Wadie, a building and construction contractor on his part added that he thought about the idea of adding value to construction. He stated that the VPL will be cost-effective, and be more tolerant to the environment and reduce pollution, and perhaps, thats what brought about the establishment of the VPL.



The plant is installed with two 100-ton silos with a combined storage capacity of 200 tons of cement at a time. This will enable the firm to run production for long periods at a full glare capacity.



The plant comes with twenty (20) cubic meter four-compartment bay aggregate storage bins with the capacity to store a combined total of eighty cubic meters of quarry materials at a time.



It has an overhead aggregate weigh hopper of (5000KG) connected to the aggregate transfer conveyor to the concrete mixer.



The batching plant has equipment and accessories controlled by highly sophisticated but user-friendly technology that ensures accuracy and efficiency in the operational process, leading to total quality control of fresh concrete production.

Source: myrepubliconline









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A Political scientist and public policy expert, Prof. Joseph Atsu Ayee, has identified a five-pronged strategy which he says can help the country out of its present socio-economic crisis.



The strategy includes adopting a non-partisan approach in the implementation of policies and dealing with national issues, electing transformational leaders capable of changing a team when the going gets tough and building a national consensus in crisis situations.



There must also be the avoidance of selective application of rules and regulations due to political considerations, while the need to build a free and just society underpinned by the promotion of public and national interests.



The expert, who is a professor of Political Science at the University of Ghana, Legon, put forward the strategy in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of the Founders Day and Education Week celebration of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church and Schools in Accra last Tuesday.



Transformational leaders



Prof. Ayee said in view of the current economic crisis facing the country, it had become necessary to have effective and transformational leaders.



He mentioned some of the qualities of a transformational leader as being prepared to change his team, engage in broader consultations, be a good communicator, sympathetic and visionary.



He said although the current economic challenges facing the country could partly be blamed on global economic shocks, this is the time the President needs to reshuffle his Cabinet and the Economic Management Team that has lost direction.



I think the President needs to reshuffle his Cabinet, with calls coming from his party people to do so. A leader must have the inclination to change his team and then re-group to deal with pressing issues, he added.



According to him, calls by both the Majority and the Minority in Parliament for the President to change the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and his team were good calls that are long overdue".



He said the minister did not even believe in going to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and, therefore, allowing him to be part of the negotiations was wrong.



Prof. Ayee, who is also the Chairman of the Education Board of the AME Zion Church, Ghana Region, called for a national economic forum, saying: We need to rise above partisanship and come together as a country to deal with the issues; it is this partisan approach to dealing with the crisis that has landed us where we are now.



Galamsey



On the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), he said the selective application of rules and regulations due to political considerations was to blame for the inability of the country to effectively deal with the menace.



Prof. Ayee said generally, the poor implementation of policies was an African problem and not peculiar to the country.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Speaking with seminarians in Rome on Monday, October 26, 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.'



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.



The account subsequently 'unliked' the photo, shortly before the Vatican said it was launching an inquiry as the Popes social media accounts are managed by a team.



'At least Im going to heaven,' she joked after the incident drew attention on social media.









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The world, especially richer carbon polluting nations, remains far behind and is sliding from a climate crisis to a climate disaster, a United Nations report has warned.



According to Thursdays Emissions Gap report from the United Nations Environment Programme, the world is weaning itself from fossil fuels too slowly.



The report comes as different parts of the world such as South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, India and most recently Nigeria have experienced flooding in catastrophic proportions.



Instead of limiting warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, the global goals set by 2015 Paris agreement, the way the world is acting now, warming will hit 2.8 degrees (5 degrees Fahrenheit) by the year 2100, the UN report said. Countries concrete pledges would bring that down to 2.6 degrees (4.7 degrees Fahrenheit). It's already warmed 1.1 degrees (2 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times.



That highly inadequate inaction means the window is closing, but not quite shut yet, on efforts to keep future warming to just a few more tenths of a degree from now.



Global and national climate commitments are falling pitifully short, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. We are headed for a global catastrophe.



In all likelihood we will pass by 1.5, UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen told The Associated Press in an interview. We can still do it, but that means 45% emissions reductions by 2030.



World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said the U.N. weather agency has calculated that theres a 50% chance that world will likely hit the 1.5 degree mark temporarily in the next five years and in the next decade wed be there on a more permanent basis.



Its really about understanding that every little digit (tenth of a degree of warming) that we shave off is a lesser catastrophic outlook, Andersen saidin a Thursday news conference.



Were sliding from climate crisis to climate disaster, Andersen said.



The emissions gap is the difference between the amount of carbon pollution being spewed between now and 2030 and the lower levels needed to keep warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees.



Guterres said the emissions gap is a by-product of a commitments gap. A promises gap. An action gap.



In 10 days, yearly international climate negotiations will begin in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, and in the run up to the United Nations conference, several reports highlight different aspects of the worlds battle to curb climate change. Wednesday, a different UN agency looked at countries official emission reduction targets. Thursdays Emissions Gap report looks at what countries are actually doing as well as what they promise to do in the future in various pledges.



The G20 nations, the richest countries, are responsible for 75% of the heat-trapping pollution, Andersen said, adding clearly the more those G20s lean in, the better we will be.



The report said G20 members are far behind in delivering on their promises to reduce emissions. Taking out the special cases of Turkey and Russia, current polices by G20 nations fall 2.6 billion metric tons a year short of the 2030 goal, the report said. Both Turkey and Russias targets for 2030 have higher pollution levels than current policies project and using their projections would make the G20 emissions gap artificially low, the report said.



Its critical that China, as well as the U.S. and other G20 countries, actually lead, Andersen said. She hailed the newly passed $375 billion American climate- as an example of action instead of just promises.



What were calling for is an accelerated pace because there are good things happening out there in a number of countries, but its just not fast enough and its not consistent enough, Andersen said.









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Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia joined the top brass of mobile telecommunication giants MTN to inaugurate the companys new global connect network operation and service operating centres in Accra.



Bawumia, MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita, MTN Global Connect CEO Frederic Schepens and MTN Ghana CEO Selorm Adadevoh, formally outdoored the centre to the public in a ceremony held Wednesday, October 26th 2022.



MTN GlobalConnect is a digital wholesale and infrastructure services company and an operating company in the MTN Group aimed at building the much-needed infrastructure stitching African countries together and connecting them to the rest of the world.



Speaking during the inauguration, the Vice President spoke about how over the last few years, Ghana has been undergoing a massive digital transformation that has positioned the country as a prime destination for insourcing and outsourcing by multinational technology companies.



Dr Bawumia also said the choice of Ghana by MTN for its global network and service operating centres is further testament to the strides the country has made in digitalisation, making Ghana emerge as a destination of choice for global technology giants.



Since taking power in 2007, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has pushed a steady digitalisation agenda, led by the efforts of Dr Bawumia.



The results have seen Ghana become a leading digital light on the continent, winning numerous awards and receiving plaudits from other African countries.



At the recent Mobile World Congress Africa 2022 held in Kigali, Rwanda, Ghana was adjudged as the only African country to achieve 100% financial inclusion, mainly due to the mobile interoperability platform.



The MTN Group also recognised Ghanas digital push with the establishment of its centres in the country to push its agenda of expanding digital connectivity in Africa.



MTN are on a mission to connect the unconnected, utilising its portfolio of fixed connectivity and wholesale mobility services. The end-to-end fixed connectivity services range from subsea cables, cable landing stations, data centres to inter-country and cross-country fibre networks.



All these, according to Dr Bawumia, represent a tangible sign of the countrys digital transformation, justifying the governments vision to benchmark Ghana against the best in the world.

Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com









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The Majority Caucus in Parliament has acceded to President Akufo-Addos appeal to allow Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, stay in office till after the IMF negotiation is done.



In a statement released by the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister of Finance will stay until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November, 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.



The Majority Caucus in Parliament 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.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The former NDC Chairman for the Central Region, Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has urged President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to allow the calls by Members of Parliament of his party, the New Patriotic Party, sway him from ruling the country.



Touching on the NPP MPs' request for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, Allotey Jacobs urged the President to remain focused on his administration.



More than eighty (80) members of the Majority Caucus have threatened to boycott Parliamentary sittings should the President refuse to sack Mr. Ofori-Atta and Mr. Adu Boahen.



Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the MPs stressed; "if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate."



Allotey Jacobs, speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, was of a strong view that the President will not buckle under the pressure.



"Nana is a fighter. Everybody knows but why is it that now that he is President, he is almost making more enemies than friends? He's not lost his fighting spirit but when you are a leader, you experience these things...I believe that the President should be focused," he told Kwami Sefa Kayi.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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A former Acting General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, a.k.a Kabila, has observed that Ghanaians are fond of grieving leaders in overplaying their faultlessness.



He made this observation during "Kokrokoo" panel discussion on Peace FM.



Kabila, in his submissions, said though the leaders of the nation often invite the people's anger unto themselves, they however must be seen as susceptible to error.



He argued that every leader is human, thus asked the Ghanaian citizenry to be patient with the current leadership of the State.



"No leader has ever been acknowledged for their contributions in their lifetime as Presidents. Yet we are full of praises for them in their expired terms," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi.



The former CPP Chief Scribe said these in relation to the calls by some NPP MPs and a section of the citizenry for the resignation or dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.



The Finance Minister has been blamed for the economic crises of the country.



But to Kabila, the building of the nation is the responsibility of all Ghanaians, hence the blame cannot be shifted on one person nor the President.



"Is there not a cause? Everything that, we, Ghanaians, are experiencing; is there not a cause? It's very easy to blame and accuse another person...We grieve our leaders", he stated.



He added; "Life is lived in both negative and positive experiences. No one side can stand alone to make a full life. We must appreciate that."





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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There are economic challenges but the New Patriotic Party, NPP, government is working to resolve those challenges.



This is the view of the NPP National Communications Officer, Eric Ahiagbah, who is also cautioning that only the NPP and no other party can resolve the challenges.



In a Twitter post on Wednesday, October 26, Ahiagbah submitted: "The economic challenges Ghanaians have had to endure these past months under the NPP will be resolved.



"But pls make no mistake, the NDC is not an option. The govt is working hard to fix it. Support NPP to deliver," he added.



The main opposition National Democratic Congress have been on the case of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government accusing them of incompetent economic management leading to current hardships.



Whiles the NPP is working towards retaining power beyond Akufo-Addo's second-term which ends in 2017, the NDC says it is on a mission to rescue Ghana from incompetent leadership and must thus win the 2024 general elections.

















Source: ghanaweb.com









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Former deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has criticized the approach used by the National Chairman of the NPP, Stephen Ntim, in handling the agitations of some NPP MPs asking for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen.



He said in an interview with Okay FM that the never-before-seen action of the MPs could create political instability if not handled well.



Obiri Boahen stated that he expected the NPP chairman to have held a crunch meeting with the party leadership and its steering committee and informed them about how dire the situation was rather than issuing a holding statement.



This is not the usual NPP and NDC politics on who did this or who did that. This is a very serious national issue that goes down to national stability of the country and western democracy. It is scary. Nothing like this has happened before in Ghana ever since Don Diego Di Azambuja landed in Ghana.



"Its nearing 100 out of 138 MPs if you just add 20. And the chairman of the party sayswhat are you coming to do? Stephen Ntim what are you coming to do? If you are a timorous soul, please get out of politics. If you dont have courage, exit politics. Stephen Ntim, as the chairman of the party.this thing is scary for the party.



The statement you issued, you have said you will hold crunch meeting with the National Executive Committee and steering committee this Friday to inform them about the development. You said in your statement that party leadership will controlwhat will you control? What is coming is scary, he said.



On Tuesday October 25, a group of NPP MPs held a press conference to demand that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen be sacked from their respective roles.



According to them, new faces in their stead will inject confidence in the economy which is on slope of decline.



Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency, who spoke on behalf of the over 80 MPs said they will boycott the 2023 budget reading and debate if President Akufo-Addo fails to dismiss his appointees.



NPP in a statement signed by Stephen Ntim said it was engaging with the government, the Parliamentary Group and other stakeholders while calling for calm.



Following this, the president has held meeting with MPs and party members where it is reported that he has appealed to them to allow Ken Ofori-Atta in particular complete the IMF negotiations.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Former deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has cautioned the governing party that it may be digging its own grave if it fails to recognize the threat posed by some MPs who want Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen; removed from office.



In an October 26, 2022 interview on Okay FM, he observed that it was unprecedented in the history of the country for MPs to revolt against their party and threaten not support government business in Parliament.



While calling for the intervention of former President John Agyekum Kufuor and some party elders, he said the conduct of the MPs was indicative of things to come that will not bode well for the party.



He further urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to heed the calls of the MPs.



"Mr. President, we have learnt history; we know history. We know the lessons of history. Mr. President, in the supreme interest of our tradition, multiparty democracy, please listen to the MPs. You are in a continent that you dont take chances when issues of political instability rears it head. You are in Africa where something small escalates, Obiri Boahen said.



Owing to the number of agitating MPs, Obiri Boahene indicated that both the majority and minority sides could impeach the president if somebody decides to trigger the process.



If you listen to what the majority and minority are saying and somebody decides to make a move for the impeachment of the president, it will succeed if care is not taken. So it is not a simple matter. It can be decided that lets initiate a move to get the president impeached. That possibility is there, he added.



On Tuesday October 25, a group of NPP MPs held a press conference to demand that Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen be sacked from their respective roles.

According to them, new faces in their stead will inject confidence in the economy which is in decline.



Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency, who spoke on behalf of the over 80 MPs said they will boycott the 2023 budget reading and debate if President Akufo-Addo fails to dismiss his appointees.



Following this, the president has held meetings with the MPs where it is reported that he has appealed to them to allow Ken Ofori-Atta in particular complete ongoing IMF negotiations.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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The General Secretary of PNC, Janet Asana Nabila, is advocating that Ken Ofori-Atta be maintained as Finance Minister contrary to the numerous calls for his removal.



The Secretary objected to finding a replacement for the minister with the notion that Ghana does not have time to experiment with a new person at this crucial moment.



To buttress her point, she quizzed that even companies dont want people without experience, have you asked yourself why?



Speaking on Angel FMs Anopa Bofo Morning Show, the PNC scribe declared that the finance minister should not be changed because he has in-depth knowledgewe need people with experience.



The person [Ofori-Atta] now knows a whole lot of things that if you bring a new person they wouldnt know experience is what drives a country forward



Janet Nabila opined that Ofori-Attas replacement would now have to learn the ropes and learning on the job is dangerous to the country at this point.



In her view, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of the Parliament seeking Ofori-Attas resignation are doing so for selfish reasons.



Those MPs are not seeking solutions, they are only trying to protect their seats



She contends that most of Ghanas problems emanate from parliament. They know what to do to help resolve the countrys problems but they are only interested in being united when they feel threatened as an institution according to Madam Nabila.



The General Secretarys comments come at a time some Parliamentarians (MP) in the Majority caucus are calling on President Akufo-Addo to relieve Ken Ofori-Atta of duty following his abysmal performance.



Speaking in a press conference on Tuesday, leader of the MPs, Andy Appiah-Kubi stated that the call is a reflection of the views of the NPP caucus in parliament and the presidency has been duly notified.



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 [or] by any other minister.



However, President Akufo-Addo has asked for extra time for the minister to conclude talks with the IMF before his resignation is discussed.





Source: ghanaweb.com









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The National Democratic Congress caucus in Parliament has dismissed claims by Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, that the bloc is in support of Johnson Asiedu Nketiahs chairmanship bid.



In an October 26, 2022 statement, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrissu said the caucus has not met to decide on any candidate in the case of the chairmanship contest.



He added that the caucus has also not taken a position on any candidate contesting the elections.



The Leadership of the Caucus categorically denies the assertions by Hon. Ibrahim Ahmed and wish to state as follows: That the Leadership of the Caucus never met on the matter and have not taken any decision on the matter; that the Caucus has not met and has not taken any decision on any of the candidates contesting any position within the Party; that the Leadership and the Caucus has no position on any of the candidates vying for the respective positions in the Party, part of the statement read.



What Ahmed Ibrahim said



The Banda legislator, Ahmed Ibrahim, in an interview with Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV Tuesday, October 25, 2022 touted the achievements of Asiedu Nketiah citing how the outgoing General Secretary formed campaign teams to secure victory for some of the Members of Parliament in spite of intimidation and threats by the military in 2020 while executives like Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo were sleeping.



For this reason, he said "most of the majority of the NDC MPs are for Asiedu Nketiah. The number from 106 to 137 is because of Asiedu Nketiahs sterling performance during the campaign.



Meanwhile, the NDC caucus says Ahmed Ibrahim has rendered an apology on the matter and has further cautioned it members to desist from such pronouncements.











Source: ghanaweb.com









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Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, former Member of Parliament for Ketu South, and General Secretary aspirant of National Democratic Congress (NDC), says when given the nod, he will improve the regional balance of the party.



The former Minister of Food and Agriculture and of Transport declared his intention to contest the position following the decision by the incumbent, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to exit the post to join the chairmanship race.



Mr Kwetey, in an exclusive interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said a vote for him would be a vote for a trusted hand to deepen NDCs regional roots.



My track record as the Propaganda Secretary, the unforgettable role I played when I was sent to the strongroom in 2008 and in the collation of results of the party in 2012 leading to our success in both elections is there for all to see, he said.



Mr Kwetey said in this critical time when the party needed to hinge its campaign on the economy, he was the right man for the job.



But theres more. The NDC has people in top positions of the party coming from Savanna, Northern, Central and other regions. We (Volta Region) are the pillars of the NDC and we need to be represented in the five top positions of the party.



Ellecting me, a native of Ketu South and Volta Region as the Chief Executive Officer of the party will tell our people that were not just for voting.



Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament for Ketu South, called for unity in the party and urged losers in the just-ended constituency executive elections not to despair because that was not the end of the road.



Lets be united for NDCs victory in 2024. We must be watchful to ensure that nothing untoward happens because in the end, it must be the interest of the party superseding that of individuals.





Source: GNA









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The Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned the two principal officers of the party, the incumbent National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, and the General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, to be circumspect in their campaigns and adhere to the ground rules set by the party.

These, they said, included the use of decorous language, refraining from media attacks, breach of confidentiality and misrepresentation of decisions taken in relation to past actions of leadership.



The partys Council of Elders said the move was to ensure party cohesion and unity ahead of the 2024 general election.



This was contained in a press release issued and signed by the chairman of the NDC Council of Elders, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, after a meeting in Accra yesterday[October 26, 2022].



The meeting



The meeting discussed, among other things, the issue of a national chairmanship contest between the incumbent and General Secretary which has engaged the attention of the rank and file, supporters and well-wishers of the party.



It, therefore, urged the two principal officers of the party, to reflect soberly on the situation and be mindful of the overall national interest.



In the interest of party cohesion, internal discipline and long-term stability, the Council urges all contestants for regional and national positions, especially the incumbent National Chairman and General Secretary to be circumspect in their campaigns by adhering to ground rules discussed and agreed upon, it said.



It is important and expected of the top hierarchy and all concerned that they respect the partys constitution and the rules and guidelines they themselves set in the conduct of internal elections. They should be the first to uphold party discipline.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Majority Caucus in Parliament has accepted President Akufo-Addo's request for Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to conclude with some government businesses before acceding to their request to sack him.



It may be recalled that over 90 NPP MPs demanded that the Finance Minister and the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen be sacked for their inability to deal with current economic woes.



But in a meeting on Tuesday, the President asked that Ofori Atta be allowed to conclude talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also present the 2023 Budget Statement of government in November.



In a statement signed by Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the NPP MPs have agreed that Ofori Atta will stay until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November, 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill after which time the demand will be acted upon.



Speaking to the issue on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', the Majority leader said apart from the statement, responses from the Whatsapp platform of the Majority caucus also indicate that they have accepted to wait.



"I believe everything will be okay" he assured.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman for New Juaben North constituency says the conduct of some Members of Parliament who recently demanded the dismissal of two Ministers of Finance is unacceptable.



Kwadwo Boateng Agyemang described the over eighty (80) NPP MPs as hypocrites who are only thinking about their selfish interests.



"Andy Appiah Kubi, Eugene (Boakye) Antwi from Subin, at the beginning of this government weren't they deputy Ministers? Was Ken Ofori-Atta not their Minister? At the time didn't they know he was not up to task . . .?" he rhetorically asked.



According to him all party members and NPP parliamentarians must be honest to the situation and defend the party with their blood.



He said the current situation is as a result of the Russian/Ukraine war and the COVID-19 pandemic.



"We will not sit down for you to act in your selfish interests . . . in this era and current dispensation you are the MPs President Akufo-Addo has really taken care of in terms of all form or things, and especially because of the slim majority, so you blackmail him here and there, do they think we don't know? But because of the party interest we have also kept quiet and as a party people we are also close to the government and we know what is going on . . . the government of the day, the President has really taken care of you and you can't deny that . . ." he told Kwesi Aboagye in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show, 'Ghana Montie'.



"The party does not belong to the MPs . . . nobody asked you people to come and contest as Members of Parliament, you must know your responsibility within the party and your loyalty within the party . . . if you are not loyal to the party I beg you go and stand independent . . . " he added.



A group of over 80 MPs at a press conference led by Andy Appiah Kubi, MP for Asante Akim North called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to replace Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.



The MPs claimed the two Ministers must be blamed for the economic crisis in the country.







Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). (Photo: Reuters)

By Michelle Jamrisko

Southeast Asia has done a decent job of allowing markets to absorb some shocks from an aggressive US monetary tightening while ensuring that currency weakness doesnt spiral out of control, according to Singapores central bank chief.

It goes back to striking the right balance between letting the exchange rate depreciate to absorb the shock; not to fight it, not to fight the market movements too much, Monetary Authority of Singapore Managing Director Ravi Menon said in an interview with Bloomberg Televisions Haslinda Amin.

At the same time, central banks must lean against the wind and deploy some of their foreign currency reserves as theyve done so the situation doesnt get out of hand. A whole lot of things can happen when the exchange rate moves too fast, too far including a disanchoring of confidence, he said.

Four of the biggest economies in Southeast Asia  Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia  are grappling with more than 8% depreciation in their currencies this year, prompting active intervention and key rate increases in part to curtail imported inflation. Countries have been managing the situation well and fundamentals are stronger now compared to five years ago, according to Menon, as he urged peers to remain vigilant.

If the dollar appreciates much more rapidly than this, then yes, we do have to be concerned, said Menon.

In the Philippines, officials have signaled theyll act to prevent the currency from breaching 60 pesos to the dollar, practically drawing a line in the sand. Elsewhere, including in Japan and in India, officials have been deploying billions of dollars to shield their currencies against the dollar strength with the backdrop of the Federal Reserves steep rate hikes.

Source: Bloomberg

Singapore this month tightened monetary policy for a fifth time since October 2021 to fight inflation, which it sees staying elevated through 2023. The latest print showed core prices, which is the MASs preferred gauge, accelerated again in September to the fastest pace in almost 14 years, as the costs of staples and recreation surge.

Story continues

Still, inflation rates across Asia are mild compared with the US, where price growth has triggered faster and harsher tightening than in other parts of the world, said the MAS chief. Slowing growth and recession risks especially for the US, UK and Europe loom next year as the world contends with the fallout from rate hikes, he said. Yet there is a silver lining.

Given where inflation is, a slowdown in the global economy is not altogether a bad thing, Menon said. Its a good way to relieve those inflationary pressures. Provided the slowdown is mild, short, and shallow.

Other Highlights

The dollar remains the dominant global currency by far where nothing comes close so to refer to this trend where theres greater use of local currencies on regional trade as de-dollarization is far too strong a word

I dont think we can take away the fact that 60-80% of central bank reserves are held in US dollars. The US dollar is on the other side of 90% of every foreign exchange trade in the world. It just goes to show how strong the position of the dollar is

Menon is preparing to play host to some 60,000 people at Singapores FinTech Festival Nov. 2-4, which will be the events first in-person gathering since 2019. The festival will feature panels with public and private banking and business leaders, including Grab co-founder Anthony Tan, Central Bank of Kenya Governor Patrick Njoroge, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and Melinda French Gates

 2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

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 over 18 months.

Meanwhile Lockheed Martin, the capsule's 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. "We're 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 KSC's 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 capsule's 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 SpaceX's in-development Starship that will rendezvous with Orion in orbit.

NASA's 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 NASA's Office of the Inspector General. That's a combination of costs across the SLS, Orion and Exploration Ground Systems.

Lockheed Martin has been landing Orion contracts in 3s, and 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 NASA's 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 company's 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 Martin's 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 Martin's facility in Waterton, Colorado flying in on NASA's 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 Orion's 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 NASA's 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.

"That's going to put us exactly where we need to be," said DeFazio. "Here at Kennedy Space Center with three spacecraft in flow at once."

2022 Orlando Sentinel.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Early establishment of the morphospace for skeletal form and beak shape during the diversification of Neornithes. Credit: Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05372-y

A team of researchers, one with the University of Cambridge, the other three with the University of Oxford, has used whole-body 3D imaging technology to learn more about the evolutionary history of birds. Their paper is published in the journal Nature.

When a large asteroid crashed into the Earth at Chicxulub in Mexico approximately 66 million years ago, a massive extinction, the Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction (K-T event), followed for both land and sea creatures. The K-T event, prior research has shown, led to the extinction of all of the dinosaurs except for some that could flybirds. In this new effort, the researchers have taken a new look at the ecological development of birds since the K-T event, using the new approach of whole-body 3D imaging.

As the researchers note, most studies looking at the evolution of birds have focused on a single body part, such as the legs or wings. In this new effort, they sought to learn more by expanding their view. They conducted whole-body 3D scanning on over 200 species to create virtual skeletons that could be used for phylogenetic comparative purposes.

By comparing the skeletons, the researchers were able to learn more about the factors that led to the differences between them. They found that the greatest single difference between the birds was based on whether they were land- or sea-based. Land birds, they noted, had evolved in ways that led to increases in leg versatility. Sea birds, on the other hand, saw far more changes to their wings.

The researchers also compared the virtual skeletons to the few ancient bird fossils that have been found; they also used evidence obtained in prior genome studies to better understand the evolutionary history of birds in general. They found that they were able to see more clearly where different types of birds diverged and the reasons for such events. They conclude that ecology played a major role in the development of the anatomical features seen in virtually all modern birds.

More information: Guillermo Navalon et al, Environmental signal in the evolutionary diversification of bird skeletons, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05372-y Journal information: Nature

 2022 Science X Network
A colony of Acropora humilis, one the the study species, in the Coral Sea Marine Park. Credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor

A team of scientists from James Cook University (JCU) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) have found that some coral species can adapt to increasing temperatures that cause bleaching, but only when marine heat wave events remain mild.

Magena Marzonie, an AIMS@JCU Ph.D. candidate, is the lead author of a new paper examining how corals react to temperature extremes in isolated reefs of the Coral Sea Marine Park. She found that corals from different reefs showed considerable variation in their bleaching level in response to high water temperatures.

"Our experiments show that tolerance to heat stress differs between species of corals and between reefs," she said. "These differences suggest corals may be adapted to their local environmental regimes and are responding to changes in temperatures that have occurred due to climate warming over the past 35 years."

The team of scientists collected specimens of three coral species at nine reefs in the Coral Sea Marine Park during a 30-day voyage in 2020. Using a purposefully designed portable aquarium system, they conducted experiments at each reef to measure the upper temperature limits at which corals can survive. The ship-borne aquarium system is a miniaturized version of AIMS' National Sea Simulator, a world-class research aquarium in Townsville and allows scientists to undertake coral stress tests in the field.

The sampled reefs spanned 860 km and a range of environmental conditions including differences in sea surface temperature and the frequency and intensity of past marine heatwaves to identify how these can influence heat tolerance in corals.

Dr. Hugo Harrison, a Senior Research Fellow at JCU's ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and AIMS, is the lead of this study of adaptation to climate warming of corals in the Coral Sea Marine Park in partnership with Parks Australia.

He said, "Corals in this region regularly experience marine heatwaves, where they are exposed to temperatures near, or above, their upper limits. We wanted to test if reefs exposed to more frequent heatwaves in the past have developed enhanced capacity to withstand these events in the future. And this is exactly what we found."

"Coral reefs with the most heat tolerant corals have experienced more heatwaves over the past 35 years. Conversely, reefs which have escaped these heatwaves tended to have less heat tolerant corals," said Dr. Harrison.

Ms. Marzonie said while mild marine heatwaves may assist evolutionary adaptation to heat stress, she warns that such gains are undermined by the severe marine heatwaves such as those that led to mass coral bleaching in recent years.

"We also found that very severe heatwaves between 2016 and 2020 reduced corals' capacity to withstand higher temperatures. Coral can adaptbut only if they survive," said Ms. Marzonie.

Dr. Line Bay, Principal Research Scientist at AIMS and co-author and collaborator on this study said that marine heatwaves are now more frequent and last longer, which is a major threat to coral reefs globally. "It's imperative that we understand how corals can adapt to these events to better predict reef futures so we can develop the knowledge to support resilience-based management in a changing climate," said Dr. Bay.

The paper was published in the journal Global Change Biology.

More information: Magena R. Marzonie et al, The effects of marine heatwaves on acute heat tolerance in corals, Global Change Biology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16473 Journal information: Global Change Biology

Provided by Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
To study the proliferation, differentiation, and health of cells that are grown on cultivated meat scaffolds, animal muscle cells are stained with nuclei and cytoskeleton stains to visualize attached muscle cells, a technique known as immunofluorescence. Credit: Irfan Tahir

Americans love their meat. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, Americans consume, on average, more than 270 pounds of meat each year. The Johns Hopkins Center for A Livable Future reports that, over the last century, Americans have doubled their meat consumption. On an international scale, Americans are among the top meat consumers in the world, indulging in more than three times the global average.

Beyond the increased risk of health complications increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and pneumoniameat consumption poses several ecological problems like threats to land use and water supplies. Livestock is the world's largest user of land resources, with 80% of total agricultural land dedicated to producing feed for animals. Along with land, it takes more than 15,400 liters (over 4,000 gallons) of water to produce one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of red meat.

To put it mildly, as Earth's population continues to growto 9 billion people by 2040, according to some estimateswe will need 50% more food and, by extension, more land and water to produce that food.

There are alternatives like eating less meat, or no meat or animal products entirely. Researchers in the Engineered Biomaterials Research Laboratory (EBRL) at UVM, however, are exploring another alternative: cultivated meat.

"We create and test materials that are translatable to look at regenerative medicine, food security, and engineering testing standards," Dr. Rachael Floreani, the EBRL's director, said. "The ability for me to take forks in the road that are trailblazed by students has been incredible. And with cultivated meat, it's about trying to create additional ways to provide nutritious food for the people of the world."

One of those solutions is a flexible wound sealant for lung punctures.

"We would work with doctors and surgeons, to see if there's an unmet need in the patients," Irfan Tahir, a Ph.D. candidate and New Harvest Fellow at the EBRL, said. "For example, a previous EBRL project was a wound sealant for lung punctures. If someone's lung gets punctured, we created a biomaterial, a sort of band aid, and as the lung expands and contracts, the biomaterial expands and contracts as well."

And while the EBRL has typically approached tissue engineering for the medical field, Tahir's research has been focused on cultivated meat, specifically cellular scaffolding, structures that help meat cells grow.

To cultivate meat, cells from an animal must be acquired, usually through a muscle biopsy while the animal is under anesthesia. Tahir takes the muscle biopsywhich includes other elements like connective tissue and extracellular matricesand isolates the cells, growing and multiplying the cells until their numbers are in the millions in just a few days. Once enough cells are grown, they're applied to a scaffold.

"Scaffolding recreates the microenvironment that the cells grow on inside an animal's body. Our lab has expertise in scaffolding," Tahir said. "We design hydrogels and other kinds of materials that are beneficial for the cells to grow."

Scaffolding has been built with collagen, which is typically harvested from animals, defeating the ultimate goal of cultivated meat: growing meat without killing an animal. Harvesting those materials isn't sustainable either. Instead, Tahir has focused on using alginate, a polymer found in brown seaweed. He and Floreani recently published an open-source paper exploring how scaffolds can be controlled mechanically.

"If we want to produce cultivated meat at scale, we need scalable materials," Tahir said. "For example, instead of extracting collagen for scaffolding from millions of animals, we need to turn to more sustainable sources such as seaweed, which can grow in both fresh and salt water."

Tahir explained that other researchers are using materials like grass, tofu, and even spinach leaves for scaffolding.

And while there are overall ethical benefits to cultivated meat, there are some roadblocks in developing and growing cells for consumption. Once cells have been isolated from a biopsy, they're fed a liquid media to encourage growth.

"The source for the liquid media is called FBS, fetal bovine serum, which comes from a calf. It's obtained in an unethical manner and it's extremely expensive, but it works so well because it's a soup of nutrients that allows the baby to grow," Tahir said. "This soup of nutrients has growth factors, insulin, everything that cells need to grow and thrive. There's a huge movement in the field to try and replace this. Even in our lab, we're working with alternatives so that we don't have to obtain it in a cruel way."

Tahir and the EBRL have partnered with organizations like Multus Media and Future Fields to obtain ethically-sourced, antibiotic-free growth factors for cultivated cells.

The field of cultivated meat is part of an evolving field called cellular agriculture and Floreani fully supports the movement.

"We will run out of space to grow food, whether it's animals or plants to feed people. The numbers are staggering," Floreani said. "When I thought about going from creating cartilage via tissue engineering to culturing meat, that could be a driver for this technology to address a national security issue."

And securing a safe and healthy food source is in the interest of national security. In September, President Biden issued an executive order advancing biotechnology innovation for a "sustainable, safe, and secure American bioeconomy."

"It is the policy of my Administration to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing towards innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security," the executive order read. "Although the power of these technologies is most vivid at the moment in the context of human health, biotechnology and biomanufacturing can also be used to achieve our climate and energy goals, improve food security and sustainability, secure our supply chains, and grow the economy across all of America."

Tahir, a vegan, beyond securing a safer source of meat for Americans and the world, ultimately wants to end the slaughtering of millions of animals.

"If this is successful, then perhaps we would have a world where we don't have to kill an animal to get meat," Tahir said. "We're super far away from that scenario but doing fundamental research toward that goal is important."

Related research is published in Foods.

More information: Irfan Tahir et al, Dual-Crosslinked Alginate-Based Hydrogels with Tunable Mechanical Properties for Cultured Meat, Foods (2022). DOI: 10.3390/foods11182829
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When you cut yourself, a mass migration begins inside your body: Skin cells flood by the thousands toward the site of the wound, where they will soon lay down fresh layers of protective tissue.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder have taken an important step toward unraveling the drivers behind this collective behavior. The team has developed an equation learning technique that might one day help scientists grasp how the body rebuilds skin, and could potentially inspire new therapies to accelerate wound healing.

"Learning the rules for how individual cells respond to the proximity and relative motion of other cells is critical to understanding why cells migrate into a wound," said David Bortz, professor of applied mathematics at CU Boulder and senior author of the new study.

The research is the latest in a decade-long collaboration between Bortz and Xuedong Liu, professor of biochemistry at CU Boulder. The group's method, called the Weak form Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (WSINDy), can apply to a wide range of phenomena in the natural world, said study lead author Dan Messenger.

"While this paper is about cells, the math is also applicable to a wide range of fields, including how flocks of birds avoid both predators and each other," said Messenger, a postdoctoral researcher in Bortz's lab.

He and his colleagues published their results Oct. 12 in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

The research hinges on a set of tools from the field of "data-driven modeling," an emerging area at the intersection of applied math, statistics and data science. Using this approach, the group designed computer simulations of hundreds of cells moving toward an artificial wound, then built a method to learn the equations to describe and examine the motion of each individual cell. The team's tools are potentially much faster and more accurate than traditional modeling approachesa boon for understanding complex natural phenomena like wound healing.

"To prevent infections, we want our wounds to close as soon as possible," Liu said. "We plan to use these learned models to test pharmaceuticals and drug regimens that might be able to stimulate wound healing."

Trial and error

Mathematical models come in a lot of shapes and sizes, but most use a complex series of equations to try to capture some phenomenon in the real world.

Bortz, for example, joined a team of scientists in 2020 who drew on models to try to predict the spread of COVID-19 in Colorado. But, he noted, it can take a lot of trial and error, and even supercomputers, to validate those equations.

"Developing an accurate and reliable model can be a very long and laborious process," Bortz said.

In this new study, he and his colleagues extended their recently-developed WSINDy method to directly use data to learn models of individuals.

"It's about putting the data first and letting the mathematics follow," Bortz said.

Cells to particles

In the current study, he and his colleagues, including biochemistry graduate student Graycen Wheeler, decided to turn that data-driven lens to the problem of cell migration.

Liu and his colleagues have observed how skin cells surge together as a group in the lab. Migrating skin cells, they found, tend to follow certain rules: Like a herd of stampeding buffalo, skin cells will align their direction to the cells in front of them but also try not to bump into the leaders from behind.

To see if WSINDy could shed light on this mass movement, Bortz and Messenger designed computer simulations showing hundreds of digital cells moving in tandem. The team deployed their WSINDy approach to build precise equations describing the motion of each and every one of those cells.

"With WSINDy, if you have 1,000 cells, you can learn 1,000 different models," Bortz said.

They then drew on even more math to begin clustering those models together. Bortz noted that WSINDy is especially well-suited to finding the patterns hiding in data. When the researchers, for example, mixed together two or more types of cells that moved in different ways, their suite of tools could accurately spot and sort the cells into groups.

"We not only learn models for each cell, but those models can be sorted, thus revealing the dominant categories of cell behaviors that play a role in wound healing," Messenger said.

Moving forward, the collaborators hope to use their approach to start digging into the behavior of real cells in the lab. Liu noted that the technique could be especially useful for studying cancer. Cancer cells, he said, undergo similar mass migrations when they spread from one organ to another.

"As biochemists, we usually don't have a quantitative way to describe this cell migration," Liu said. "But now, we do."

More information: Daniel A. Messenger et al, Learning anisotropic interaction rules from individual trajectories in a heterogeneous cellular population, Journal of The Royal Society Interface (2022). DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0412 Journal information: Journal of the Royal Society Interface
Single Frame of the Lunar Central Highlands Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/JHU-APL/Tod R. Lauer (NOIRLab)

NASA's Lucy spacecraft captured this image of the moon's surface on Oct 16, 2022, about 6.5 hours after it flew by the Earth for its first of three gravity assists. The image was taken while Lucy was between the Earth and the moon, approximately 160,000 miles (260,000 km) from the moon, so it shows shows a perspective familiar to Earth-based observers. The image is of a 800 mile (1200 km) wide patch near the center of the last quarter moon. Many familiar craters are visible, including the relatively fresh crater Arzachel just left of center. The prominent fault scarp called the Straight Wall is visible cutting across the lava plains to the lower left of center.

The image, which is made by combining ten separate 2 millisecond exposures of the same scene to maximize image quality, has been sharpened. Each pixel represents approximately 0.8 miles (1.3 km).

This image was taken with L'LORRI (Lucy LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager), Lucy's high resolution greyscale imager. L'LORRI was provided and operated by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

Terminator mosaic

Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/JHU-APL/Tod R. Lauer (NOIRLab)

NASA's Lucy spacecraft captured this mosaic of the moon's surface on Oct 16, 2022, between 7.5 and 8 hours after it flew by the Earth for its first of three gravity assists. At its closest approach, the flyby took the spacecraft within 224 miles (360 km) of the Earth, passing below the altitude of the international space station. Lucy was an average of approximately 140,000 miles (230,000 km) from the moon when these images were taken.

The mosaic was taken while Lucy was between the Earth and the moon, so it shows a perspective familiar to Earth-based observers, centered near the terminator of the last quarter moon. The view includes the rugged, heavily cratered, Southern Highlands near the bottom of the mosaic, and the ancient, lava-filled impact basin Mare Imbrium near the top. The bright, fresh crater Copernicus is conspicuous near the left edge of the mosaic.

This mosaic, which is made from 5 separate 1 millisecond exposures, has been sharpened. Note that the image covering the uppermost portion of the edge of the moon was taken at an earlier time, resulting in a small mismatch in the images there. Each pixel represents approximately 0.7 miles (1.2 km).

Single frame of Mare Imbrium

Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/JHU-APL/Tod R. Lauer (NOIRLab)

NASA's Lucy spacecraft captured this image of the moon's surface on Oct 16, 2022, about 8 hours after it flew by the Earth for its first of three gravity assists. The image was taken while Lucy was between the Earth and the moon, so it shows a perspective familiar to Earth-based observers. The image shows a roughly 600 mile (1000 km) wide swath of lunar terrain, dominated by the ancient, lava-filled impact basin Mare Imbrium. The Apennine Mountains, part of the Imbrium basin rim, which were the landing site for the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, dominate the lower-right portion of the image. Lucy was approximately 140,000 miles (230,000 km) from the moon when the image was taken.

The image, which is a single 1 millisecond exposure, has been sharpened. Each pixel represents approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km).

Provided by NASA
Projected Growth of the Latino Population by Number and Share, 2000-2060. Credit: A Mosaic, Not A Monolith: A Profile Of The U.S. Latino Population, 2000-2020 (2022).

As the nation's Latino population has grown from 35 million in 2000 to more than 62 million, so have Latinos' overall levels of education, home ownership and economic security. But these gains also mask marked differences within the increasingly diverse Latino population, say UCLA researchers.

The findings are part of a wide-ranging report published today by UCLA's Latino Policy and Politics Institute that examines demographic and socioeconomic changes among Latinos in the U.S. between 2000 and 2020 with a focus on how 19 Latino "origin" groupsfrom Mexicans and Puerto Ricans to Panamanians and Venezuelanshave experienced these shifts differently.

"Latinos are often treated as a monolith in discussions about policy, but our report finds great diversity in how different groups experience opportunities and gains," said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, the institute's research director. "Through a better understanding of the shifts and trends, we hope to improve the conversation about how to better serve the needs of this diverse community."

The changing face of the Latino population

Today, 1 of every 5 is residents of the U.S. is Latino, with Latinos accounting for more than half of U.S. population growth over the past two decades. But the face of that population is changing significantly. While those of Mexican descent still make up the majority, at nearly 60%, the percentage of Paraguayans, Hondurans and Guatemalans has quadrupled, and the Venezuelan community has increased more than sixfold.

The report also shows that Latinos have expanded beyond traditional geographic enclaves, moving into areas of the Midwest and South with historically sparse Latino populations. North and South Dakota, for example, experienced the fastest growth in Latino population over the last 20 years, while Kentucky, South Carolina and Alabama all saw increases well above 200%.

More Latinos are earning college degrees

Between 2000 and 2020, the proportion of Latinos with a bachelor's degree or higher doubled, from 10% to 20%, mirroring a national trend among racial and ethnic groups. However, stark differences in educational attainment exist with the Latino community, with 53% of Venezuelans having earned at least a bachelor's degree, compared with just 12% to 15% of those from Guatemalan, Salvadoran, Honduran and Mexican backgrounds.

Venezuelans, Salvadorans, Hondurans, Dominicans and Guatemalans were less likely than other groups to speak only English at home, while Puerto Ricans and Panamanians were the most likely. Overall, 1 in every 3 Latinos speaks only English at home today, up from 1 in 5 in 2000.

Work, poverty and home ownership

Latino participation in the labor force is now higher than any other group in the U.S., with 67% of working-age individuals currently in the labor force. Latinos also saw the biggest drop among all racial and ethnic groups of those living in povertya decline of 6 percentage points since 2000. But poverty rates vary significantly in the Latino community, with South Americans generally having lower rates and Mexicans, Central Americans and Puerto Ricans having higher rates.

Latinos are also more likely to own their homes today than in 2000, an increase from 49% to 56%. Although nearly all Latino groups experienced a growth in home ownership, severalCubans, Paraguayans and Venezuelansactually saw a decline in ownership.

Other key findings from the analysis:

Two-thirds of Latinos are U.S.-born, with the highest rates among Mexicans and Panamanians.

While the Latino population skews young (median age 30, up from 25 in 2000), immigrants from places such as Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay have a median age of 38 or oldercloser to the median age of the white population.

A larger share of the Latino population is female, particularly among those of Mexican, Guatemalan and Salvadoran descent.

"Factors such as slowed immigration from Latin American countries and socioeconomic improvements across the board have changed the face of U.S. Latinos," said the report's author, Jie Zong, a senior research analyst at the institute. "A new snapshot is important in updating perceptions about the community."

Findings from the report are based on an analysis of U.S. Census data from 2000 and 2020.
Color-coded topographic view shows the relative heights of features in Cerberus Fossae: reds and whites are relatively higher than blues and purples. The image is based on a digital terrain model of the region, from which the topography of the landscape can be derived. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Search?SearchText=mars+AND+cerberus&result_type=images. Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions

Since 2018, when the NASA InSight Mission deployed the SEIS seismometer on the surface of Mars, seismologists and geophysicists at ETH Zurich have been listening to the seismic pings of more than 1,300 marsquakes. Again and again, the researchers registered smaller and larger marsquakes.

A detailed analysis of the quakes' location and spectral character brought a surprise. With epicenters originating in the vicinity of the Cerberus Fossaea region consisting of a series of rifts or grabenthese quakes tell a new story. A story that suggests volcanism still plays an active role in shaping the Martian surface.

Mars shows signs of life and youth

An international team of researchers, led by ETH Zurich, analyzed a cluster of more than 20 recent marsquakes that originated in the Cerberus Fossae graben system. From the seismic data, scientists concluded that the low-frequency quakes indicate a potentially warm source that could be explained by present day molten lava, i.e., magma at that depth, and volcanic activity on Mars. Specifically, they found that the quakes are located mostly in the innermost part of Cerberus Fossae.

When they compared seismic data with observational images of the same area, they also discovered darker deposits of dust not only in the dominant direction of the wind, but in multiple directions surrounding the Cerebus Fossae Mantling Unit.

"The darker shade of the dust signifies geological evidence of more recent volcanic activityperhaps within the past 50,000 yearsrelatively young, in geological terms," explains Simon Staehler, the lead author of the paper, which has now been published in the journal Nature Astronomy. Staehler is a Senior Scientist working in the Seismology and Geodynamics group led by Professor Domenico Giardini at the Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich.

One of the fractures (graben) that make up the Cerberus Fossae system. The fractures cut through hills and craters, indicating their relative youth. Credit: SA/DLR/FU Berlin, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions)

Why study the terrestrial neighbor?

Exploring Earth's planetary neighbors is no easy task. Mars is the only planet, other than Earth, in which scientists have ground-based rovers, landers, and now even drones that transmit data. All other planetary exploration, so far, has relied on orbital imagery.

"InSight's SEIS is the most sensitive seismometer ever installed on another planet," says Domenico Giardini. "It affords geophysicists and seismologists an opportunity to work with current data showing what is happening on Mars todayboth at the surface and in its interior." The seismic data, along with orbital images, ensures a greater degree of confidence for scientific inferences.

One of our nearest terrestrial neighbors, Mars is important for understanding similar geological processes on Earth. The red planet is the only one we know of, so far, that has a core composition of iron, nickel, and sulfur that might have once supported a magnetic field. Topographical evidence also indicates that Mars once held vast expanses of water and possibly a denser atmosphere. Even today, scientists have learned that frozen water, although possibly mostly dry ice, still exists on its polar caps. "While there is much more to learn, the evidence of potential magma on Mars is intriguing," Anna Mittelholz, Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zurich and Harvard University.

Cerberus Fossae in context of its surrounds in the Elysium Planitia region of Mars near the equator. Credit: NASA MGS MOLA Science Team

Last remnants of geophysical life

Looking at images of the vast dry, dusty Martian landscape it is difficult to imagine that about 3.6 billion years ago Mars was very much alive, at least in a geophysical sense. It spewed volcanic debris for a long enough time to give rise to Tharsis Montes region, the largest volcanic system in our solar system and the Olympus Monsa volcano nearly three times the elevation of Mount Everest.

The quakes coming from the nearby Cerberus Fossaenamed for a creature from Greek mythology known as the "hell-hound of Hades" that guards the underworldsuggest that Mars is not quite dead yet. Here the weight of the volcanic region is sinking and forming parallel graben (or rifts) that pull the crust of Mars apart, much like the cracks that appear on the top of a cake while its baking. According to, Staehler "it is possible that what we are seeing are the last remnants of this once active volcanic region or that the magma is right now moving eastward to the next location of eruption."

This study involved scientists from ETH Zurich, Harvard University, Nantes Universite, CNRS Paris, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Berlin, and Caltech.

More information: Simon Stahler, Tectonics of Cerberus Fossae unveiled by marsquakes, Nature Astronomy (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01803-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01803-y Journal information: Nature Astronomy
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In the wake of the pandemic, more students are missing school than ever before. But there are steps parents and schools can take to get kids back into class.

In 2019, before the pandemic began, nearly 6% of the nation's students missed more than 15 days of school during the average year, for any reason or combination of reasons. Students who miss that amount of school are termed "chronically absent."

Since the beginning of the pandemic, when school buildings were closed for a period of time, the number of chronically absent students has nearly doubled because of a number of factors, such as students not returning to school once schools reopened, students staying home with COVID-19 or in quarantine or family anxiety about coming back to school during the pandemic. Also, more schools reported increases in students missing classes or school altogether since the majority of schools have transitioned to back to face-to-face instruction.

Of course, some of these absences stem from pandemic-related policies, such as students who are asked to stay home if they show COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. And the more than 1 million U.S. deaths from the pandemic have also required many students to care for other family members, which may require them to miss school.

As a researcher who studies chronic absence, I see five ways that schools and districts can seek improvements in student attendance.

1. Collect, analyze and explain attendance data

Most schools collect overall attendance data on how many students are present on a given day. But many of them really care only about unexcused absencesones for which parents or doctors haven't sent a note. That can be a problem, because kids miss learning opportunities when they're not in school, regardless of the reason they're out.

Some schoolsincluding those in San Francisco and Baltimorelook more closely at the reasons students miss class. They have found some problems schools can help solve, such as replacing unreliable transportation with carpools or providing information about local bus service.

Teachers and other school staff members who use data to further understand the reasons for their students' absences can help encourage students who have missed school to return to class. For instance, in Illinois, students are allowed to take up to five mental health days and, when they return to school, are able to make up missed assignments.

It may also be useful for schools to examine absence data for trends of weeks or months when many students are absent, or even when particular students tend to miss school. With that information, they can take steps to reduce absenteeism.

For example, one San Francisco elementary school enters every kid who shows up on a Monday or a Friday into a raffle for a prize, encouraging more people to attend on days that are frequently skipped. A program in Pittsburgh high schools gives a scholarship to college to students who get good grades and have better than 90% attendance.

2. Use technology

Many schools already use text messaging to communicate with students and their families. Some schools use it to alert parents if their kids are absent without permission and help get them back to school.

Four Georgia school districts reduced chronic absence by 8% by simply texting parents when their children were absent and warning them that kids who miss school are less likely to graduate.

That might not sound like a lot, but it is a starting point. And when it is coupled with other efforts, more kids may spend even more time learning.

3. Pair chronically absent students with mentors

If students have a close contact at schoola teacher, another staff member or even a fellow studentthat person can encourage them to stay in school. A mentoring program launched in New York City saw students who missed school frequently gain almost two weeks of instruction because of mentoring connections and creating relationships with adults.

If needed, a formal program can match chronically absent students with mentors who can help them connect with others at school, get help with missed work or even find staff who can provide mental and social services.

Evidence on mentorship programs has shown they help keep students in school through high school graduation. This includes regularly checking in on a student's family, providing academic supports and helping students to navigate social dynamics within schools. A mentoring program in Nashville, Tennessee, that began in the wake of the pandemic is seeking to do just that, in concert with other efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.

4. Connect students to mental and physical health services

Some of the leading reasons students miss school involve their mental or physical health. Dental cavities, asthma or other breathing conditions and stress from violence or hunger are all potential factors.

If students don't have health insurance or can't afford to go to the doctor, they may miss school because of illnesses or even untreated long-term conditions.

Research based in Pennsylvania has found that school nurses can play an important role in identifying and addressing health problems that cause students to miss school. They can help arrange for key services such as medical testing and exams, provide referrals to expert practitioners and regularly check on students when they are in school.

My own research, co-authored with social psychologist Chris Kearney, has found that school counselors can also be crucial to providing the support students need to stay in school. Often this help is not academic but rather involves connecting students with therapists to deal with trauma or food banks to reduce hunger, for example.

In California, local school districts that have launched student-retention efforts within the school and throughout the surrounding community have found attendance improves. These attendance review boards have shifted from being punitive to focusing on getting kids back in school by meeting the needs of students and families.

5. Create local partnerships

Research has shown that schools cannot address all attendance issues on their own. Pittsburgh, Detroit and Austin, Texas, are just a few of the cities whose schools have expanded attendance campaigns into the wider community. These cities have been able to bring together community-based organizations in order to rely on their expertise and support to improve attendance.

Such cities as Chicago and Long Beach, California, have sent district and school employees out to canvass their local neighborhoods about what might be affecting students' attendance. This not only helped them identify potential barriers, such as unreliable transportation, but also provided solutions to overcome them such as changing bus routes or providing alternative transportation options. And it reinforced the importance of school to community members.

As in-person learning returns across the country, schools will play an important role in addressing the pandemic's impact on student attendance. Deploying the right strategies can help to create learning environments in which students feel supported in attending school and want to stay.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The upper panel images show the endangered avian species and lower images are of iPSCs from the corresponding avian species. Credit: National Institute for Environmental Studies

Japan extends from north to south, resulting in a huge diversity of climate and environmental conditions. Various endemic species have evolved in Japan as a result of their ability to adapt to diverse environmental conditions. Thus, Japan is a hotspot of animal diversity with a number of endemic species that are already, or are becoming, endangered. With the numbers increasing steadily in recent years, mainly due to human activities such as forest destruction and global warming, action must be taken.

According to data from the Ministry of the Environment, Government of Japan, 1,446 species are categorized as endangered (red-list categories Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), and Vulnerable (VU)). Notably, 98 avian species are categorized as endangered, including 24 critically endangered, 31 endangered, and 43 vulnerable species. Conservation of endangered species is essential for maintaining biological diversity, especially for the future generations.

Application of new technologies, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), may help salvage the decreasing numbers of endangered animals and conservation of genetic resources. iPSCs express pluripotency markers through pluripotency-related genes, and differentiate into three germ layers in vivo and in vitro. We established novel iPSCs from three endangered avian species (Okinawa rail, Japanese ptarmigan, and Blakiston's fish owl), using seven reprogramming factors (M3O, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc, Nanog, Lin 28, and Klf2).

iPSCs from these three endangered avian species displayed different cellular characteristics even though the same reprogramming factors were used. Japanese ptarmigan-derived iPSCs have biological characteristics different from those observed in other avian-derived iPSCs. Japanese ptarmigan iPSCs contribute to chimera formation in chick embryos. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to establish iPSCs from primary fibroblasts of the three endangered avian species.

Our findings provide the first evidence of the potential value of iPSCs as a resource for conservation of endangered avian species. In addition to these three species, we also established Japanese golden eagle-derived iPSCs. All the four iPSCs derived from the endangered avian species can differentiate into various cells, such as neural-like cells and hepatocyte-like cells. These differentiated cells can be used to evaluate the risk of infectious diseases and pollution by these avian species. The convincing outcomes of our study indicate that the established iPSCs can contribute to conservation of these as well as other endangered avian species.

The research is published in the October 24, 2022 issue of Communications Biology.

More information: Masafumi Katayama et al, Induced pluripotent stem cells of endangered avian species, Communications Biology (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03964-y Journal information: Communications Biology

Provided by National Institute for Environmental Studies
Farmer group locations. Credit: Journal of Rural Studies (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.09.019

Transmigration programs are known to have relocated millions of people from the centers of domestic economies to the national geographical peripheries to support a more equitable resource distribution. The practice is salient to the nation-building process in many developing countries, most notably in Indonesia, dating back to the 1905 Dutch settlement programs pre-independence. The transmigration programs seek to solve the unequal national development in the country's peripheries while also unifying the nation's diverse ethnic groups.

However, Indonesian transmigration programs have been criticized for pushing for a national integration policy spearheaded by ethnic-majority interests. A group of international researchers, comprising researchers from the University of Turku, the University of Sydney and the University of Western Australia, conducted a study to revisit the communities hosting the transmigrants decades after resettlement. The research evaluates the knowledge networks structures in the agricultural communities where these migrants are embedded.

The research, recently published by the Journal of Rural Studies, found a salient change in population composition in the host communities. The descendants of transmigrants appear to dominate and become very influential actors in the host community's knowledge networks. They benefit from strong cultural links to the country's central regions and, having been born there, possess a strong embeddedness in the local communities.

"It takes a generation to integrate well into their adopted communities," says the primary author of the research article, Postdoctoral Researcher Ayu Pratiwi from the University of Turku.

An unintended colonization of its people by the government?

However, due to the significant macroeconomic shift towards boosting export commodities, the government is known to push for centralized agricultural production methods. The system, which is more familiar to ethnic-majority government officials, appears to benefit transmigrants of the same ethnic group. This (inadvertently) strengthened their position in the communities they were adopted into.

"The native communities are now positioned at the margins of their local knowledge system. The resettlement of transmigrants in peripheral regions reportedly threatened the political power of native communities. They were potentially excluded from positions of control over authority, resources, and land," says Dr. Kirsten Martinus, Associate Professor from the University of Western Australia.

The Indonesian government is currently under the spotlight because of its proposal to move the capital to the largest island in Borneo, a biodiversity hotspot and home to the second-largest tropical rainforest in the world. The mobilization of thousands of government workers may change the demographics of the host communities in the surrounding area of the newly built capital. Long after the transmigration programs end, the marginalization of the local communities may continue.

"The capital relocation strategy must consider and accommodate the local native population in light of the lessons learned from the transmigration program's experiences decades ago," concludes Dr. Petr Matous, Associate Professor from the University of Sydney.

More information: Ayu Pratiwi et al, Transmigration programs and migrant positions in rural community knowledge networks, Journal of Rural Studies (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2022.09.019
An illustration of the Martian interior. Credit: Dr Sheng Wang and Professor Hrvoje Tkalcic/ANU

Seismologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a new method to scan the deep interior of planets in our solar system to confirm whether they have a core at the heart of their existence.

The scanning method, which works in a similar way to an ultrasound scan using sound waves to generate images of a patient's body, requires only a single seismometer on a planet's surface in order to work. It can also be used to confirm the size of a planet's core. The research is published in Nature Astronomy.

Using the ANU model to scan the entirety of Mars' interior, the researchers confirmed the Red Planet has a large core at its centera theory first confirmed by a team of scientists in 2021.

Study co-author Professor Hrvoje Tkalcic, from ANU, said based on data collected using the ANU technique, the researchers determined that the Martian core, which is smaller than Earth's, is about 3,620 kilometers in diameter.

"Our research presents an innovative method using a single instrument to scan the interior of any planet in a way that's never been done before," he said.

Confirming the existence of a planetary core, which the researchers refer to as the "engine room" of all planets, can help scientists learn more about a planet's past and evolution. It can also help scientists determine at what point in a planet's history a magnetic field formed and ceased to exist.

The core plays an active role in sustaining a planet's magnetic field. In the case of Mars, it could help explain why, unlike Earth, the Red Planet no longer has a magnetic fieldsomething that is critical to sustaining all life forms.

"Modeling suggests that the Martian core is liquid and while it is made up of mostly iron and nickel, it could also contain traces of lighter elements such as hydrogen and sulfur. These elements can alter the ability of the core to transport heat," lead author Dr. Sheng Wang, who is also from ANU, said.

"A magnetic field is important because it shields us from cosmic radiation, which is why life on Earth is possible."

Using a single seismometer on Mars' surface, the ANU team measured specific types of seismic waves. The seismic waves, which were triggered by marsquakes, give off a spectrum of signals, or "echoes," that change over time as they reverberate throughout the Martian interior.

These seismic waves pierce through and bounce off the Martian core.

Professor Tkalcic said researchers are interested in the "late" and "weaker" signals that can survive hours after they are emitted from quakes, meteoroid impacts and other sources.

"Although these late signals appear to be noisy and not useful, the similarity between these weak signals recorded at various locations on Mars manifests itself as a new signal that reveals the presence of a large core in the Red Planet's heart," Professor Tkalcic said.

"We can determine how far these seismic waves travel to reach the Martian core but also the speed at which they travel through Mars' interior. This data helps us make estimations about the size of Mars' core."

The researchers say their method of using a single seismometer to confirm the presence of a planetary core is also a "cost-effective solution." "There is a single seismic station on Mars. There were four of them on the Moon in 1970s. The situation of having a limited number of instruments is unlikely to change in the coming decades or even this century due to high cost," Dr. Wang said.

"We need an approach right now to use only a single seismometer to study planetary interiors."

The researchers hope this new ANU-developed technique involving a single seismometer could be used to help scientists learn more about our other planetary neighbors, including the moon.

"The U.S. and China plan to send seismometers to the moon, and Australia also has ambitions to participate in future missions, so there's potential for further studies using new and more sophisticated instruments," Professor Tkalcic said.

Dr. Wang said, "Although there are many studies on planetary cores, the images we have of planetary interiors are still very blurry. But with new instruments and methods like ours we'll be able to get sharper images which will help us answer questions such as how big the cores are and whether they take a solid or liquid form.

"Our method could even be used to analyze the Jupiter moons and the outer solar system planets that are solid."

To carry out their research, ANU scientists used data collected from a seismometer attached to NASA's InSight lander, which has been collecting information about marsquakes, Martian weather and the planet's interior since touching down on Mars in 2018.

More information: Sheng Wang, Scanning for planetary cores with single-receiver intersource correlations, Nature Astronomy (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01796-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01796-8 Journal information: Nature Astronomy
Credit: Dominic McAfee, Author provided

Imagine you're in a food court and spoilt for choice. How will you choose where to eat? It might be the look of the food, the smell, or even the chatter of satisfied customers.

Marine animals do the same thing when choosing a good place to live. Even seemingly simple creatures such as marine larvae use sight, smell and sound as navigational cues. Once we understand these cues, we can use them to help nature recover faster than it would on its own.

In our new research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, we amplified the natural sounds of the sea through underwater speakers. We were testing if sound cues would draw baby oysters to swim to the locations where we are trying to regrow oyster reefs. It worked better than we'd hoped. Many thousands more larvae swam to our locations than control areas and settled on the bare rocks.

Why can't these reefs return naturally?

Oyster reef restoration is gaining momentum in Australia and globally as a way to restore healthy ecosystems. Reefs of shellfish filter and clean vast volumes of water as they feed, while their shell piles provide habitat for fish. Oysters are also food for many marine species.

These highly productive shellfish reefs once spanned thousands of kilometers of Australian waters, but more than 90% were dredged up for food and or to use their shells as lime for cement during the early colonial years.

Restoring shellfish reefs starts with a limestone base, as in this construction image of the Glenelg oyster reef project. Credit: Maritime Constructions, CC BY

When we try to restore these reefs, however, we hit a problem. Free-swimming baby oysters need to find the boulders we drop onto sandy seafloors at our restoration sites.

That's where our siren songs come in. Many marine animals use sound like we use sight on land. Think of whalesong, which lets whales communicate over long distances. Sound is more useful than sight or smell underwater because it can carry information a long waymuch further than you can seeand without getting pushed about by ocean currents.

If you've snorkeled on a coral or rocky reef, you'll know healthy reefs are surprisingly noisy. As you float over the reef, you hear a cacophony of sound: crackles and pops from fish as they feed and invertebrates like snapping shrimp.

If this soundscape is present, it tells oyster larvae it's a healthy habitat. And because sound travels so well, the soundscapes are broadcast a decent distance. That's why it's such a useful cue if you're a baby oyster looking for a rock to settle on and begin growing your shell.

To test if this works outside the laboratory, we recorded sounds from the healthy Port Noarlunga Reef in South Australia. Then we played these sounds underwater near two large reef restoration sites offshore from Adelaide and the Yorke Peninsula.

This attracted up to 17,000 more oysters per square meter to our restoration sites. Not only that, but over the next five months, close to four times more large oysters grew in our test areas, which accelerated habitat growth. By contrast, the areas where we played ambient sound from oyster-free areas produced only stunted habitat with few oysters settling.

You can see the oyster larvaes sound-sensing organ covered in tiny hairs. Credit: S. Pouvreau/Ifremer, Author provided

The way we hear is based on the pressure of soundwaves hitting our eardrums. Marine mammals like seals and dolphins hear this way too. But fish and marine invertebrates such as oysters are different.

Oyster larvae are brainless and earless, but they are certainly not clueless. Like fish, they hear by detecting and interpreting the movement of water particles stirred up by soundwaves as they pass. Soundwaves alternately squish and stretch water particles, sending vibrations in the direction the soundwave is moving. Oysters sense this motion with tiny sensory hairs, or with statocysts, sensory organs used for balance and orientation.

Despite being only the width of a human hair themselves, larval oysters use these organs to follow these vibrations back towards the healthy reef producing the sound. In adult oysters, the tiny statocyst is near impossible to find. But swimming oyster larvae project their statocysts out in front of them, presumably to improve navigation and interpret marine sounds.

The reefs are alive with the sound of music

Researchers and community groups around the world are launching restoration efforts to repair some of the damage we've done. In Queensland, for instance, fishing communities in Moreton Bay offshore from Brisbane plan to restore 100 hectares of oyster reef over the next decade.

While exciting, success isn't guaranteed. It can be hard to restore ecosystems which haven't existed for a century. And it can be expensive to get large stocks of larvae.

This techniqueand others like itcould help improve how many baby oysters or other keystone species actually make it to their new homes and start the great task of reef-building.

Researchers have discovered fish can be attracted to coral reef sites by playing healthy reef noises, and it has long been known that birds can be drawn to specific nesting sites by playing their social calls.

In science, there's no such thing as a silver bullet and there are potential downsides. It wouldn't help if we drew all larval oysters to our sites at the expense of othersor if we attracted predators in large numbers.

But if we do this carefully, these techniques could help re-establish the invisible acoustic highways of the seaand turn the deathly quiet of many coastal waters back into vibrant, noisy and healthy oyster reefs.

More information: Dominic McAfee et al, Soundscape enrichment enhances recruitment and habitat building on new oyster reef restorations, Journal of Applied Ecology (2022). DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14307

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Experts are warning that millions of people are at risk as a famine hits Somalia. Credit: Mehmet ali poyraz/Shutterstock

Since 1990 the world's famines have been classified as smallwith the glaring exceptions of Somalia in 199192 and 201012. Now the UN's World Food Program says that nearly seven million Somalis face not being able to find enough food in the last months of 2022.

Baidoa and Burhakaba districts in Somalia's Bay region face the highest level of famine, unless adequate food aid arrives. Southern Somalia's crisis threatens to replicate what happened in 199192 and 201012, when famine caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. There are lessons we can learn from what happened before.

1. International help is vital

Information about levels of poverty is limited. A report on the demographic toll of the 199192 famine said: "Somalia's total population is perhaps the least accurately known of any in the world." Since 2013 Somalia's economy has been either the third or fourth poorest in the world, according to the World Bank. International humanitarian aid will be essential in alleviating future crises. But for aid to be effective there must be peace. One hopeful sign is the security situation currently is better than a decade ago, and that the international community is committed to helping the government restore law and order. This has helped increase the flow of international humanitarian and development aid in recent years. The UN has already collected $1.4 billion for Somalia (about one-fifth of Somalia's current GDP) in a recent appeal but believes it needs another $1 billion to stave off famine.

2. War makes delivering aid difficult

Historical experience showing war can lead to famine also applies to modern day Somalia. Since 1990 civil war has constrained Somalia's economy, disrupted healthcare and educational services and impeded the distribution of humanitarian relief from abroad many times, including during the 199192 and 201012 famines. The war made it difficult to transfer aid to where it was needed most. And for the employees of NGOs and others, it was a highly dangerous task. The health NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) halted its Somali operations at the height of the 201012 famine, ending 22 years of continued activity in the country. This decision was taken after some of its aid workers were killed and others kidnapped . MSF returned to Somalia in 2017 after deciding they could operate safely and effectively again. Today an additional war-related factor can be expected to play a role: the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which compromises the food production and export of two leading cereal producers, potentially with global consequences from which Somalia might just be the first to suffer.

3. Long-term illnesses for survivors

Credit: Rainer Lesniewski/Shutterstock

Historically large-scale famines cost hundreds of thousands of deaths, with the worst costing several million, but what is often underestimated is the long-term illnesses for survivors. A widely cited 2013 inquiry put Somalia's death toll in 201012 at 260,000. Earlier estimates of 50,000100,000 are perhaps more plausible, because the higher figure is difficult to reconcile with the valuable narrative testimony collected in the wake of the famine. A key question to answer, is whether that famine was deadlier than its predecessor of 199192.

The number of people who survived the famine but were permanently scarred, physically and psychologically, was much higher than the number of deaths: today, about one-third of the Somali population suffers from a mental health condition. Treating damage to the mental health of adults and children caused by the traumatic experience of famine is an area which should attract greater attention than in the past, as according to the World Health Organization mental health services hardly exist in Somalia. International help could do much to redress this situation.

4. Migration and relatives abroad can help

Migration in search of help is an age-old consequence of famine. Typically, most migrants are expected to return home after the worst is over, and do so. During the Somali famine of 2012, over one million Somalis crossed the borders to Kenya and Ethiopia. A refugee complex at Dadaab in eastern Kenya became the world's biggest for a time. But, due to Somalia's problems with drought and insecurity, many of the refugees from a decade ago have still not returned home, to the frustration of the Kenyan authorities. In these circumstances, clearly, whether migration could provide a similar safety valve in the event of another Somali famine is moot. The experience highlights both the benefits and limitations of mass migration. Open borders are needed to provide a safety valve for those at risk from famine, but neighboring countries often incur a huge financial cost when providing a refuge for those fleeing famine. It is vital that the international community acknowledge and support their contribution.

Somalians living in Europe and the US often try to help their families at home. At the height of the famine of 201012 having even distant relatives abroad was a distinct advantage. Money sent back to Somalia allowed some households to remain in their villages. The remittances managed to get through when other means of relief could not. The mechanism used to transfer funds from families abroad must be secured and strengthened.

Across history the most frequent immediate cause of famine has been severe weather, caused by rapid climate change. Years of drought and other climate extremes have compromised Somalia's ability to grow foodand this is likely to remain a recurring problem.

These threats were hardly mentioned in 201012 or 199192. Perhaps the most frightening aspect of the looming Somalian famine is that it might just be the first in a string of back-to-back catastrophes. Global warming is expected to continue to cause meteorological instability for many decades to come. Worldwide we need to recognize that our ability to cope with the threat of famine is inadequate and, as recently highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, steadily worsening.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

"We are [] sandbagging the state," New South Wales Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke declared on Saturday. And so we endure the third La Nina season with this waiting-for-the-next-disaster attitude.

After heavy rain and repeated floods across Australia's eastern states over the past three years, it's worth considering what we have and haven't learned.

A good way to improve flood readiness is to understand how floods work, and then to examine adaptive solutions developed by communities facing similar situations in other countries. Every river behaves differently and responses should site-specific. However, the following approaches may be relevant to local conditions and are likely to improve flood protection.

Work with nature, not against it

Flooding is complex. Factors such as climate variability, soil saturation, loss of vegetation cover in key parts of catchments, the growth of urban areas and their hard surfaces, the failure of early-warning systems, the erosion of community self-reliance, and inadequate governance all influence the risks.

Complex unpredictable conditions call for an integrated suite of responses to manage the risk.

Engineered infrastructure, such as dams and levees, has encouraged us to live on floodplains with little regard for the impacts of climate variability. Dams and levees work within predicted parameters, but we can't expect that predictability anymore.

And planning regulations that restrict building on floodplains can be useful but are only part of the solution.

Many effective "nature-based" solutions run counter to traditional engineering works. For example, rather than engineer a river channel to make water move more quickly through an area, nature-based solutions modify or multiply river channels to accommodate variable water volumes. These approaches spread out and slow the flow of water and encourage it to soak into the ground before reaching the river.

Overseas, China makes "sponge cities" with urban wetlands and revegetated waterways. The Netherlands has removed dykes and widened river corridors as part of its Room for the River program.

These strategies often require land to be rezoned and buildings removed. That's a brave move in the face of urban growth pressures.

But these strategies also offer an opportunity to refocus cities, towns or even regions, by reintegrating nature and opening up new spaces for recreation, environmental regeneration and biodiversity. The independent 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry recognized just such an approach. Its report called for floodplains to be thought of as assets serving environmental, recreational and community uses while allowing space for flooding.

In agricultural regions, allowing farmland to flood temporarily can help relieve pressure on urban infrastructure downstream. On the US west coast, for example, wetlands have been incorporated into crop-rotation cycles. In times of flood these farmlands draw down excess water from the river while improving soil quality, fertility and ecosystem health. In the Tisza Valley in Hungary, farmland has been adapted as slow-release wet-season reservoirs.

Agricultural practices that improve soil quality, prevent erosion, slow runoff and encourage water to soak into the ground can also make a difference. These practices include strip croppingalternating rows of two or more cropsto redirect and dissipate floodwaters, gully planting, and fencing and planting riverbanks.

What can communities do?

Elsewhere, early-warning systems are drawing on citizen science to make communities less vulnerable.

In Jakarta, a low-lying city that regularly floods, Indonesian researchers capitalized on the intensity of flood-related social media posts. They developed an app to integrate and geolocate those posts across the catchment. The app gives residents access to alternative real-time data, allowing them to make their own decisions about timely preparation and evacuation.

The March 2022 floods in Lismore, NSW, show the need for such systems. The Bureau of Meteorology did not consider local rainfall measurements scientific enough to be counted as evidence and some of its data-sensing tools were faulty. This type of communication failure is quite common.

Houses in flood-prone areas can be modified to cope with floodwaters. Typical measures include raising them on stilts and retrofitting interiors using materials that don't absorb water. They can then be hosed down during clean-up.

Governments can provide support to minimize vulnerability. This might include funding neighborhood resources such as boats with motors, kayaks and floodproof containers to store valuables. Water and power can be provided to designated local evacuation areas on high ground.

And then there's relocation

If all else fails, there is always managed retreat. This involves relocating a town to high ground.

Recent research reviewing all known cases of managed retreat in the United States over the past 140 years suggests this approach has had mixed results. It's enormously expensive and exhausting. Typically, the shift benefits developers and government rather than the vulnerable communities.

If communities are to move, another study suggests the move needs to be planned well in advance. It should be done outside the time frame of a flood event when affected communities are already vulnerable.

Climate Crisis: New Zealand Plans Managed Retreat In The Face Of Floods And Rising Sea Levelshttps://t.co/IJI4VjMHah pic.twitter.com/yH7FFPVzVm  Planet Emergency (@PlanetEmergenc1) August 25, 2022

Draw on all available knowledge

In Australia, there have been increasing calls for Traditional Owners to take a leading role in exploring how our policies, planning and practices might better incorporate Indigenous practices of managing land, including catchment and river systems.

Our heavy reliance on sandbagging suggests we really don't understand the river landscapes we inhabit. Learning to live with floods, especially in the face of the uncertainties of climate change, requires us to learn from our own past as well as the successes and failures of others.

Any suite of solutions will have to be tailored to the unique conditions of a river, its landscape systems, land uses and settlement patterns. A single solution would be nice, but that is never going to be the reality.

UTS is planning an exhibition of flood strategies in Lismore, NSW, in late November.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Locations of two large meteorite impacts (yellow circles) identified in MRO images. The great circle paths for S1094b R1 (solid) and R2 (dashed) are shown in white, and the R1 path for S1000a is shown in yellow. Background topographic relief is from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (47). The distribution and sequence of major geological unit groups of Hesperian and Amazonian age (32) are overlaid. Global elevation (orange) and the crust-mantle boundary depth profiles (25) along the R1 and R2 paths (dashed blue) are shown at the top. Credit: Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7157

Researchers have observed seismic waves propagating along the surface of a planet other than Earth for the first time. The marsquakes that resulted from two large meteorites that hit Mars were recorded by NASA's InSight lander and analyzed at ETH Zurich in collaboration with the InSight Science Team, which includes researchers from the University of Maryland.

Published in the journal Science on October 27, 2022, the team's paper provides new insights into the structure of the Martian crust, bringing scientists closer to learning how the planet formed and evolved over time.

"This is the first time seismic surface waves have been observed on a planet other than Earth. Not even the Apollo missions to the moon managed it," said the study's lead author, Doyeon Kim. Kim is currently a visiting assistant professor in the UMD Department of Geology and senior assistant at the ETH Institute of Geophysics.

After almost three years of detecting only body waves (seismic waves traveling through the body of a planet) on Mars, the InSight team finally observed surface waves (seismic waves traveling along the surface of a planet) in late December 2021, when two meteorites collided with the red planet. Atypical quake readings led the researchers to suspect the impact sources were near the surface, so they compared the data with information from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Images taken by the orbiter confirmed that both meteorites had hypocenters (the point of origin for a quake) on the surface of Mars.

"Before this, all our knowledge of the Martian crust was based on what was right below the InSight lander," said UMD Associate Professor of Geology Vedran Lekic, a co-author of the paper. "But Mars is a big planetwe didn't know if the crust was different in other locations across the planet. With these surface waves, we were finally able to obtain a better understanding of the crust along a big stretch of Mars."

A planet's crust, or its outermost solid shell, provides important clues about how that planet formed and evolved over time. Most planetary crusts, including those of Earth and Mars, formed through early dynamic processes in the mantle and were later modified by other events such as volcanism, sedimentation, erosion and impact cratering. As a result, crusts can allow researchers to gain a better understanding of the land-shaping conditions of a planet from billions of years ago.

To learn more about the crust of Mars, the research team analyzed the velocity of surface waves coming from the two meteorite impacts. This allowed them to exploit the relationship between surface wave velocity, frequency and depth to estimate the average properties of the crust 3 to 18.6 miles below the surface of Mars.

On average, the Martian crust between InSight's seismometer and the two meteorite impact sites did not vary strongly with depth and had faster seismic velocity than what was previously observed directly below the lander. The faster velocities suggest either compositional differences or reduced porosity in areas traversed by the surface waves.

"The composition of the crust will determine some of the density, but so will factors like porosity; if you have a lot of holes in the crust, it can also decrease the density of the material," explained UMD Associate Professor of Geology Nicholas Schmerr, another co-author of the paper. "A volcano, with all its intrusions and magma coming up through the crust beneath it, would have also altered the crust density and composition in that region. As we look further north on Mars, there's probably some subsurface ice in the crust below the impact site, which is less porous and very different from what we see under the InSight lander."

The team's findings may also provide answers to a centuries-old mystery: the crustal dichotomy of Mars.

"Mars has a very unique feature, which is the very sharp contrast between its Northern and Southern hemispheres," Lekic noted. "The southern part is really old, has high topography and is very heavily cratered. Meanwhile, the northern region is volcanic, very low-lying and has comparatively few craters. The surface waves we detected helped us learn more about the northern lowlands, which we've only been able to speculate about before."

One popular theory behind this is that the crusts in the northern lowlands and southern highlands are composed of different materials. However, the researchers found that their initial results appear to disprove this idea, even suggesting the crust structures may be surprisingly similar at certain depths.

The team hopes that its research will continue to help researchers investigate similar mysteries and form better models of Mars as exploration continues.

More information: D. Kim, Surface waves and crustal structure on Mars, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7157 Journal information: Science
Big gaps persist in our understanding of how much energy birds use when they fly and the influence of the environment on this exertion. Credit: Robbi Drake from Pixabay

Scientists track birds with electronic tags and radar to solve flight mysteries. In answering ecological questions, the research findings may also improve infrastructure planning

Feathers mark birds as a group, but with feathers come remarkable aerial feats. Bar-tailed godwits can fly 12,000 kilometers non-stop, flapping for more than 200 hours. The avian altitude recordby a Griffon vultureis above 11 kilometers. Some hummingbirds drum out more than 70 wingbeats per second.

Nonetheless, big gaps persist in our understanding of how much energy birds use when they fly and the influence of the environment on this exertion. A prime example is seasonal migrations. Man-made changes to the environment can force birds to expend more energy in the air and even interfere with important migration routes.

Fly zones

"We still have this passage of millions of birds, and we don't know where they are and when," said Dr. Cecilia Nilsson, who was part of the MigrationRadar project. "We are starting to realize more that the air is an important part of birds' habitat."

From a bird-conservation perspective, this is an overlooked opportunity.

Migration usually happens on only a handful of nights around May and again around September, according to Dr. Nilsson, a biologist at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. Knowing when and where could deliver easy conservation gains.

Wind turbines, flight restrictions and lights-out projects, for example, could be adjusted during those limited number of migration nights. Or crucial forage areas could be protected for that time.

Dr. Nilsson began tracking birds using an ex-military radar at night-time in the Swedish city of Lund. She was immediately hooked.

Radar revelations

"You leave the hut, look up and the sky is completely clear, just dark," she recalled. "You go back, turn on the radar and you see an explosion of birds flying above."

Dr. Nilsson became passionate about radars for studying birds. She now taps into weather radar data to gauge the effect of weather conditions, insect movements and landscapes on bird migration.

Such radars scan layers of sky every few minutes for moisture but, in the process, detect the total mass of birds flying in the zone. Often most are songbirds and, because biologists know roughly what each individual bird weighs, they can estimate how many are flying overhead through simple division using the total mass.

"This works really well for nocturnal migration, which is lucky in itself because that is one of the hardest for us to track by other means," Dr. Nilsson said.

Combined with other data, it can help paint a clearer picture of their movements. Sightings by birdwatchers assist biologists in understanding which species are flying.

Most birds fly at altitudes between 200 meters and 1,000 meters but, like planes, depending on the conditions, they may opt to cruise higher to avoid tricky weather systems. They may fly at night in order to forage during the day. Food is essential fuel.

Wind powers

Birds need much more energy to fly than animals do for walking, running or swimming, requiring smart choices to conserve their strength in the air.

"It is more like swimming in a strong current," said Dr. Nilsson. "We know that they choose altitudinal layers with the most beneficial winds."

While a songbird flying into a headwind will make little progress, for example, it can go twice as far with a strong tailwind.

Dr. Nilsson hopes that her radar studies can deepen understanding of where European birds go and why. She believes that, in turn, can improve policy and planning, including for the increasingly important renewable energy harnessed by wind turbines.

Wind projects in Europe have faced national permitting delays as a result of objections by conservation groups concerned about birds getting killed by colliding with turbines.

"We don't know a lot about where they are and that is crucial nowadays when we're getting more questions all the time from developers, such as what altitude are the birds going to fly over my wind park," Dr. Nilsson said.

Sensor craze

Another source of information about birds' flight behavior is sensors. As part of the FLIGHT project, Professor Emily Shepard attached data loggers to birds that rely on flapping flight as well as soaring.

Among these were the Andean condorsvultures with a wingspan over 3 metersthat are supreme glider pilots. The birds are so expert at soaring that they flap for just 1% of the time during foraging flights, no matter what the weather, according to Prof. Shepard, an ecologist at the University of Swansea, U.K.

"They're basically dependent on finding rising air to travel around," she said.

Prof. Shepard attached sensors to record Andean condors' wingbeats, direction and altitude. As part of FLIGHT, she has also studied pigeons in the U.K. and Germany as examples of birds that fly with flapping and red-tailed tropicbirds in Mauritius that switch between flapping and soaring on rising thermals.

Tracking the movement of birds "has snowballed" because sensors have been miniaturized through consumer goods such as wearable watches and mobile phones, she said. Sensors can reveal when and how birds fly efficientlyand, interestingly, when they do not. Pigeons can be remarkably inefficient, Prof. Shepard has found.

She sees promise in this research for bird conservation because infrastructure development and climate change are affecting the flight paths and exertion of birds.

"The amount of energy birds consume in flight is thought to be a major determinant of how much energy they use each day," she said. "We're trying to understand the impact of the movement of air on all these animals and then decisions they make that influence where they fly."

Exactly how much energy a bird expends is something she is seeking to shed light on.

Unmasked

In the 1970s, experiments measured how much energy was consumed by fitting masks to birds and sampling the air they exhaled. CO 2 levels can tell scientists how much oxygen the birds are burning through.

"It was ingenious," Prof. Shepard said. "But birds don't usually fly with masks and tubes attached to them."

She is now trying new ways to take such measurements without masks.

Her team has shown it can measure individual breaths of birds as small as zebra finches while at rest. A trainer in SwanseaKim Toogoodhas trained pigeons to fly in a wind tunnel in Swansea and Prof Shepard plans to measure how much energy these birds are consuming while flying, and how this matches with tag data.

One of many questions: might man-made changes to the aerial environment affect the energy birds use for flight? Prof. Shepard hopes to find out.
Nerve cells in the African elephants facial motor nucleus (left). The facial nucleus is the brain structure, which controls the muscles of the face. Trunk tip of an African elephant with the two trunk fingers (right). Credit: Kaufmann et al, Science Advances

Elephants have an amazing arsenal of face, ear and trunk movements. The trunk consists of far more muscles than the entire human body and can perform both powerful and very delicate movements.

A team of scientists from the Humboldt University of Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have now examined the facial motor nucleus of African and Asian elephants, the brain structure that controls the facial muscles of these animals. This nucleus contains more facial motor neurons than in any other terrestrial mammal, the scientists show in a paper published in the journal Science Advances.

One of the most remarkable body parts in the animal kingdom is the elephant trunk. It is extremely muscular and strong, containing far more muscles than the entire human body, and yet it is very sensitive and capable of carefully performed, finely tuned motor actions. The way elephants use the tip of their trunk strongly resembles a human hand, and they actually have so-called fingers at the tip.

Lena Kaufmann and colleagues in Michael Brecht's laboratory at HU Berlin and Thomas Hildebrandt's Department of Reproduction Management at the Leibniz-IZW for the first time have now studied and described in detail the so-called elephant facial nucleusthe brain structure responsible for controlling the elephants' facial muscles, from the ears to the tip of the trunk.

"The elephant's facial motor nucleus is unique in several ways. For example, it contains more facial motor neurons than all other terrestrial mammals," says first author Lena Kaufmann (HU Berlin). The scientists counted about 54,000 neurons in the facial nucleus of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), whereas the African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) even has about 63,000. The team attributed the higher number of facial nucleus neurons in African savanna elephants to their larger ears and more elaborate trunk tip.

"African savanna elephants have two so-called fingers at the trunk tip with which they grip objects," says Thomas Hildebrandt (Leibniz-IZW). "This kind of pincer grip requires much dexterity with the trunk tip. Not surprisingly, we see in the brains of African elephants prominent neuron clusters for the control of the fingertips." Asian elephants have only one finger and tend to wrap their trunk around objects; hence their finger-tip is less prominently represented in their brain.

"The elephant facial nucleus is one of a kind," says Michael Brecht. "It's not just the huge number of neurons. We also observed size gradients of neurons along the trunk representation that we do not see in other mammals. The observed giant elephant neurons probably arise from the need to extend very long signaling structures into the trunk."

More information: Lena V. Kaufmann et al, Elephant facial motor control, Science Advances (2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq2789 Journal information: Science Advances

Provided by Leibniz-Institut fur Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Voters can easily find endless information about political issues and candidates from various sources, from the internet to media outlets.

The challenge, however, is determining the information's accuracy and the reason why the content is shared, said Arthur Lupia, the Gerald R. Ford Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan.

Lupia, who wrote the book "Uninformed: Why People Know So Little About Politics and What We Can Do About It," examines how people make decisions when they lack information and how they manage complex information flows.

In this Q&A, he talks about the political environment and how voters seek information before going to the polls.

Since 2015 when your book was published, is it easier or harder for people to become more informed about politics?

Today, there are more ways than ever to become informed about politics and policy. On the internet, you can read specific laws, learn about candidates, engage with them on social media, watch legislative hearings, school board meetings and so much more. It has never been easier than now to get this kind of information. At the same time, if a person never wants to read about politics, there are lots of other things they can do with their time, including playing thousands of video games or watching the billions of videos that are available online.

Credit: University of Michigan

What kinds of information do people look for?

Some people want to learn facts about policies to learn how to improve the quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities. Some people are interested in learning about, and connecting with, others who care about the same things that they do. Some people are more interested in learning how to defend certain points of view, with less interest in whether what they are saying is accurate. So, to answer your question, some people are very interested in getting the most accurate information that they can find, some seek information that supports their views, and many do a little of both.

You teach political communication. How can people understand each other during a polarized election year?

During an election year, news channels and social media platforms tend to focus on controversial topics where people disagree. These controversies draw viewers, which helps news and social media companies make money. But they are not always great for truly understanding other people. I teach students about the importance of listening, even when what they really want to do is talk. Listening is important because you can learn about other people's values and concerns. Learning about these things can create new ways to find common ground. When it comes to solving a community's real problems, finding common ground usually produces better results than talking without listening. Students learn how to do this and it changes their liveseven during election years.

Communication can also be found through polls, as voters gain insights about an issue or candidate. But why should voters trust them?

There are great polls and terrible polls. What I mean by that is great polls are done by people who are very careful to measure all points of view and to ask unbiased questions. The University of Michigan has an incredible survey research center that does great work. There are also professional organizations like Pew Research Center and Gallup Inc. who not only put high quality polling information out for everyone to see, but will also give you a lot of information about how they ran the pollso you can judge for yourself if you like it or not. Great polls can teach us a lot. They can show us how and why people have different preferences. If you want to know whether a poll is worth trusting, check if they are transparent about their methodology. If they are, then they are giving you reasons to trust them. If they're hiding that stuff, find someone else to trust.
New research from the University of Washington shows that one specific voting method proved more effective than others in identifying the best choice. Credit: Pixabay

When groups of people need to reach a decision, they will often take a straw poll to test opinions before the official vote. New research from the University of Washington shows that one specific voting method proved more effective than others in identifying the best choice.

In a study published Sept. 28 in Academy of Management Discoveries, researchers found that groups that used "multivoting" in unofficial votes were 50% more likely to identify the correct option than those that used plurality or ranked-choice voting.

Multivoting gives people several votes to allocate across all options. The reality show "American Idol" uses multivoting, giving fans 10 votes each. They can use all 10 for their favorite contestant or split their votes among two or more. For this study, students were given 10 votes to distribute among three choices.

Plurality voting, where voters must select one option, is most often used in political elections. Ranked-choice voting, which is growing in popularity in some local and state political elections, allows people to list their preferences from first to last. It's also used to determine Academy Award winners.

Michael Johnson, co-author and professor of management in the UW Foster School of Business, said multivoting most benefits groups that want to be sure they're making the best decision. The researchers don't believe it would work for political elections, mostly because of how taxing it would be to allocate votes across a variety of options.

"We see multivoting as primarily useful for decision-making groups in workplaces," Johnson said. "Wherever groups feel like it's going to be critical to get a decision right, use multivoting as an unofficial vote, look at the distribution and discuss after that. It works where people are motivated to vote consistent with what they really think rather than trying to strategically vote to counter another person."

The UW study was based on the "pursuit teams" developed by the Department of Homeland Security after 9/11. The purpose was to connect the findings of multiple intelligence agencies to track potential terrorist threats.

In this study, researchers asked 93 groups of undergraduate students to simulate the counterterrorism support teams and identify which of three suspects represented the greatest threat. The student groups were given information about three terrorists, but no group member had all the information about any one suspect. Students had to share intelligence to correctly identify the biggest threat.

The teams were split into thirds, producing an even number of groups using ranked-choice voting, plurality and multivoting. All groups took a preliminary, unofficial vote to see members' initial thoughts on the terrorist suspects. After the unofficial vote, they considered the results and discussed the suspects. If students combined the information well, they would be able to identify one terrorist who was clearly more of a threat. The teams then returned their final verdict.

Just 31% of plurality teams chose the most threatening suspect in the final vote, about the same as if it were left up to chance. In the unofficial vote, 6% of teams had a majority of members identify the correct suspect. That's less than the 11% that would have been expected by chance.

Ranked-choice voting didn't fare much better. In the final vote, 32% of teams identified the correct suspect. In the unofficial vote, 7% of groups had a majority of members rank the right suspect as the most threatening.

"We were surprised that the ranked-choice groups did not outperform the plurality groups," Johnson said. "There is a lot of evidence, particularly in politics these days, that ranked-choice voting leads to outcomes that are more consistent with the preferences of the electorate than plurality voting does. That's why we've seen so many political elections move toward ranked-choice voting.

"But ranked-choice voting is generally better at revealing the true preferences of people and not necessarily getting to the exact right answer. When people are making decisions at work, you're more concerned about getting it right than about making sure it reveals what everybody thinks."

The multivoting groups started stronger, with most members in 30% of the groups choosing the most threatening suspect. In the final vote, 45% of teams identified the most threatening suspect.

Researchers found no evidence that discussions in the multivoting groups varied in any meaningful way from the other two voting conditions. Instead, the benefit of multivoting occurred before any discussion as students processed the information more deeply and considered the intelligence more critically.

"The real discovery, and the thing we didn't expect, was that multivoting groups would be more accurate before they discussed," Johnson said. "We just assumed they would all be kinds of equal before the discussion and then they'd improve at the end. If people have the option to say, 'I kind of like Option A, but I also kind of like Option B,' that might make them think more before they discuss, which would help them make the proper decision."

Other co-authors were Eli Awtrey of the University of Cincinnati and Wei Jee Ong of the National University of Singapore.

More information: Michael D Johnson et al, Verdicts, Elections, and Counterterrorism: When Groups Take Unofficial Votes, Academy of Management Discoveries (2022). DOI: 10.5465/amd.2021.0099
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Recent news that thousands of charges have been filed in the Waikato and Auckland youth courts in the past nine months once again put a spotlight on youth crime and our responses to it.

This comes not long after a recent rise in ram raids and smash-and-grab burglaries by young offenders was called a "tsunami" of youth crime by the National Party police spokesperson.

And despite evidence suggesting the number of young people in court had dropped in the year to June 30, opposition calls for a crackdown may well mean it becomes an issue at next year's general election.

But just how the justice system should deal with children and teenagers remains a complex questionespecially when it comes to the minimum age of criminal responsibility.

In fact, New Zealand is among a number of countries criticized by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for retaining an unacceptably low age of criminal responsibility.

It's now more than 60 years since the Crimes Act set the age at ten years. Children younger than that, the law says, are incapable of forming criminal intent. Since that law was written, we have learned a lot more about the brain development of children and adolescents, and how their decision-making abilities differ from adults.

Given this also affects their ability to comprehend the court process itself, and therefore their right to a fair trial, is it time New Zealand revisited the minimum age and the reasons for raising it?

Thousands of charges laid against youth offenders over retail crimeshttps://t.co/bIxNTKRXn0 pic.twitter.com/XEXcFUu9oB  1News (@1NewsNZ) October 19, 2022

New Zealand out of step

Even politicians calling for a tougher approach to youth crime seem to agree that keeping children out of the criminal justice system should be a priority, particularly for young and first-time offenders.

Currently, children aged over ten but under 14 are subject to the adult criminal justice system. But they may avoid conviction if it can be shown they didn't know their actions were wrong or illegal.

At the same time, however, the Oranga Tamariki Act allows for children aged ten to 13 years to be charged with serious offenses such as murder or manslaughter.

This puts New Zealand alongside Australia and other Pacific nations where the minimum age of criminal responsibility is ten (with the exception of Papua New Guinea and Tonga where it is seven). And despite calls for change, England, Wales and Northern Ireland also still recognize a minimum age of ten.

But Scotland raised its age of criminal responsibility from eight to 12 in 2019. Elsewhere it is higher: 14 in Germany, 15 in Sweden, 16 in Portugal and 18 in Luxembourg.

THE DETAIL | How young is too young to be charged with a crime? Amnesty wants New Zealand's age of criminal responsibility raised from 10 to 14. https://t.co/oDFPOIIuwo  RNZ (@radionz) August 11, 2022

Hints of change

International law only goes so far when it comes to establishing common ground. While the UN's Convention on the Rights of the Child requires countries to establish a separate justice system for children with a minimum age of criminal responsibility, it doesn't specify an age.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child has sought to fill that gap. Responding to changing trends driven by developments in neuroscience and child development, in 2019 it encouraged states to raise their minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 (the commonest age internationally at that time).

For nearly 20 years, New Zealand has resisted the committee's call and kept the minimum age at ten. It has offered a range of justifications, including wanting to focus on more effective responses to children's offending.

However, in 2021 New Zealand indicated some movement, advising the committee that it was monitoring the progress of a working group set up to review the law in Australia.

Keeping children out of court

Ideas about a minimum age of criminal responsibility have been evolving since at least the 18th century, when it was decided that, in order to be convicted, children aged between seven and 14 had to understand what they'd done and that it was wrong.

This was reflected in New Zealand's Criminal Code Act of 1893 and Crimes Act of 1908, and has shifted only by degrees since then.

But while public safety is a legitimate aim of the justice system, including the child justice system, raising the minimum age doesn't mean children will escape any consequences for their actions.

With more countries now raising their ages of minimum criminal responsibility, New Zealand could comfortably raise its own threshold to 12, or even 14. Given that most youth offending is not serious, and is therefore dealt with outside the criminal justice system, the wider societal impact may not be significant.

But it would reduce the risk of ten-year-olds who have not committed a serious crime ending up in the criminal justice system. This is not to say they would not face any consequences for their actions. Rather, the consequences might be more effective in improving their chances later in life.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
WHITEHALL  On Friday, the state Court of Appeals determined Judge Robert J. Putorti Jr. is immediately suspended from office as the Whitehall town and village courts justice while they review the appeal of his removal from office.

In September, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct recommended his removal from office due to complaints filed against the judge.

Putortis suspension, with pay, is a direct result of two formal written complaints filed against him with the commission, one which alleges he pulled a gun on a defendant in the courtroom and the second which alleges he participated in fundraising activities discouraged by the judicial commission.

In June 2020, a formal written complaint was filed against the judge claiming in late 2015 or early 2016, he pulled a gun on defendant Brandon Wood and repeatedly shared with colleagues that Woods size and race played a role in his fear and reason for pulling his firearm out.

According to the documents, the judge has maintained a concealed carry gun permit since 2003 and often conducted court with his gun on his hip.

The second formal written complaint was filed in January 2021 stating, Putorti personally participated in the solicitation of funds or other fundraising activities for his own personal benefit and for the benefit of the Whitehall Elks Lodge, and lent the prestige of his judicial office to those same activities by sharing and promoting on his personal Facebook page.

In September, the Commission on Judicial Conduct recommended Putorti be suspended due to the complaints and evidence brought against the judge. He appealed the recommendation with the New York State Court of Appeals in October and wrote a letter to the court asking to remain on the bench during the appeal process.

Putortis letter explains his love for his position as a judge and claims he has served since 2015 without incident and was hopeful to continue serving on the bench while the appeal was considered.

On Oct. 21, the Court of Appeals determined Putorti will be suspended while they review his case.

Prior to the order of suspension, the court also receivd a letter from the judicial conduct commission.

It is the commissions view that public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary, the courts and the administration of justice would be undermined were a judge to continue exercising the powers of office while subject to removal, the commissions Oct. 18 letter states.

The letter also states this is consistent with the regular practices regarding a judge whom the commission has filed a removal determination against.

The Court of Appeals suspension order states that suspension with pay is effective immediately, pending review of the commissions determination.
U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, and Republican challenger Liz Lemery Joy will face off in a live televised debate at 8 p.m. Thursday on WMHT Educational Telecommunications of Troy.

The hour-long debate also will be livestreamed at debate.nynow.org and on Facebook Premiere.

Joy, a former blogger and speaker from Schenectady, is challenging Tonko in the 20th Congressional District, which includes all of Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany counties and a portion of Rensselaer County.

In another upcoming debate, state Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville, and Democrat Michelle Ostrelich, a Schenectady County legislator from Niskayuna, will face off in a live virtual debate at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.

The Saratoga County League of Women Voters is hosting the hour-long debate, which can be viewed by registering at; https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xs41-NjHQxilj4dvbpZfMg.

Candidates will respond to questions from the public, which can be submitted in advance through Oct. 31 at QuestionsLWVSC@gmail.com.

Tedisco and Ostrelich are running in the 44th Senate District, which includes all of Saratoga County and the city of Schenectady and town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County.

A debate has not yet been announced in the 21st Congressional District, where Democrat Matt Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official who lives in Glens Falls, is challenging U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville.

In other regional political news:

Joy backing

Republican congressional candidate Liz Lemery Joy received a boost in campaign funds, just days after conservative commentators suggested she may be a surprise winner in the 20th Congressional District, based on the tightening of public polling in the governors race.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Ala., a first-term House member, contributed $10,993 from his campaign fund to Joys campaign on Oct. 24, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The campaign is in the period when contributions of $1,000 or more must be reported within 48 hours of receipt. Joy reported on Monday a total of $16,793 in contributions of $1,000 or more.

Joy is challenging U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam.

Tonko had not reported any late campaign contributions of $1,000 or more, as of Tuesday morning.

In the 21st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, reported on Tuesday receiving $15,500 in contributions of $1,000 or more.

Stefanik is running against Democratic challenger Matt Castelli, a former CIA counterterrorism official who lives in Glens Falls.

Castelli had not reported any late campaign contributions of $1,000 or more, as of Tuesday morning.

Upstate United

Upstate United, a political action committee that focuses on economic development and taxation, identified two area legislative races as key races in the Nov. 8 election.

In the 113th Assembly District, Upstate United, the political arm of the advocacy group Unshackle Upstate, endorsed Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, who is running against Republican challenger David Catalfamo, an economic development official and writer from Wilton.

In the 43rd Senate District, Upstate United endorsed Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, who is running for an open seat against Democrat Andrea Smyth, a longtime health care and family issues policy advocate from Troy.

In non-key races, Upstate United endorsed Sen. James Tedisco, R-Glenville, who is running against Democrat Michelle Ostrelich, a Schenectady County legislator from Niskayuna, in the 43rd Senate District; Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, who is running against Democrat Jean Lapper, a certified public accountant and small business financial adviser from Queensbury in the 45th Senate District; and Assemblyman Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, who is running unopposed in the 114th Assembly District.

American Energy Alliance

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, on Saturday, announced she received a 100%, the highest score possible, on a report card from the American Energy Alliance, an organization that supports domestic energy production.

Republicans overwhelmingly scored higher than Democrats, based on legislative voting records.

New York Republican House members had scores ranging from 60% to 100%.

New York Democratic House members had scores ranging from 0 to 14%.

Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, had a 0.

In the U.S. Senate, Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N,Y., had a 0, and Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., 5%.

Stefanik endorsement

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, on Tuesday announced that the New York City Police Department Captains Endowment Association endorsed her re-election bid.

We look forward to working closely and productively with you on any, and all, issues that affect organized labor and/or law enforcement in your community, said Chris Monahan, president of the union, which represents 2,100 active and retired police officers.

Catalfamo endorsement

State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, on Monday endorsed local Republican state Assembly candidate David Catalfamo.

His work with Governor Patakis administration and expertises in economic development make him uniquely qualified to step right in and be a force in Albany, Barclay said in a news release.

Catalfamo, an economic development official and writer from Wilton, is challenging Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, in the 113th Assembly District.

Joy endorsement

Republican congressional candidate Liz Lemery Joy on Oct. 21 announced that The Jewish Press, a national weekly newspaper based in Brooklyn, endorsed her candidacy.

Joy, a former blogger and speaker from Schenectady, is running against U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, in the 20th Congressional District.
Warren County Health Services reported 35 new COVID cases, including 11 home tests, on Thursday and 24 new cases on Wednesday.

The county is still considered a high community risk level, for COVID, according to the CDC and residents are encouraged to wear masks in indoor public places.

Ten residents were hospitalized with the virus as of Thursday, according to the countys report. Glens Falls Hospital reported a total of 20 COVID patients, with three in the ICU.

According to the report, 125 new COVID cases have been identified in the county in the past five days.

On Thursday, the seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 7.5%.

A New York State COVID and flu shot clinic will be held at Glens Falls Middle School on Nov. 4. Appointment information is available at registration.empass.com/register.

Washington County

According to statewide data, 14 new COVID cases were identified in Washington County on Wednesday out of the 170 test results recorded.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 6.2%.

According to the countys last report, the county remains at a medium community COVID risk level, but the COVID transmission rate is high, according to CDC guidelines.

A Moderna bivalent booster shot clinic is scheduled for Wednesday at the Kingsbury Volunteer Fire Company, 3715 Burgoyne Ave., from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for ages 18 and up. Registration is required and people can sign up through Washington Countys website.

Statewide

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that COVID-19, seasonal flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) cases are all rising. She encouraged state residents to continue to stay up to date on COVID booster shots, including those now offered for children 5 and up, as well as flu shots to avoid sickness in the colder weather.

On Thursday, 5,106 new COVID cases statewide were detected out of the 82,117 test results reported.

Hospitalizations were down by 34 in the state on Thursday, with a total of 2,822 COVID patients in New York hospitals.
When organizations acknowledge Atlantic Countys African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, they also salute Ralph E. Hunter Sr., its founder and president.

The museum, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, will be honored twice within one weeks time by the Metropolitan Business & Citizens Association on Thursday and the Gloucester County NAACP on Sunday.

Even though the museum has a board of directors, volunteers and an executive director, Hunter is neither a figurehead, who does nothing, nor a behind-the-scenes worker bee, whom no one knows. Chances are people are familiar with Hunter if they know what the museum is.

I take great honor in being involved with history and African Americans, Hunter said.

During its 31st annual installation and awards gala, the MBCA will acknowledge the community service the African American Heritage Museum provides Atlantic City visitors, Hunter said.

I was really, really amazed, Hunter said about the associations honor. It lets people around the region know that we are here.

Twenty years ago, the museum received its first award from the Asbury United Methodist Church in Atlantic City for its research on Americas Favorite Playground, Hunter said. Over the past two decades, the African American Heritage Museum has received 93 awards, the most recent one three weeks ago from St. Augustines Episcopal Church in Atlantic City for community service.

The MBCA will honor the African American Heritage Museum as a superhero of Atlantic City on Thursday along with the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Chapter of the NAACP, the Atlantic City Police Foundation, the developers of the Orange Loop commercial district, Steel Pier and Chesters Special Events & Flowers.

Usually, only one business is honored annually by the group, and it doesnt recognize nonprofits, but it did so this year, said Gary Hill, the associations executive director and community relations officer.

I love Ralph. Ralph is amazing, Hill said. These developers, businesses and educational leaders (which Hill said the museum is) are our superheroes.

The board of directors of the association voted in April on who would be honored as an Atlantic City superhero. A majority of the 22 board members has to agree on whom to honor, Hill said.

A letter told Hunter that he would receive the honor, Hill said. Superhero award recipients will be saluted with certificates, he said. A one-minute video has been created for each of the honorees.

Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and Lt. Gov. Sheila Y. Oliver will attend Thursdays awards gala, Hill said.

The MBCA tries to have all its honorees based in Atlantic City, but it is difficult to decide who should be celebrated, Hill said. Some worthy organizations have still not been acknowledged after 31 years, Hill said.

Also honoring Hunter is the Gloucester County NAACP. Hunter will be presented with its 2022 Corporate Excellence Service Award on Sunday for being a community game-changer.

The African American Heritage Museums mobile exhibits have made appearances in Gloucester County schools and also at Rowan University, Hunter said.

This is the first time the NAACP from outside the county recognized us. We have been honored by the Atlantic City NAACP before. ... I was overwhelmed, Hunter said when informed about the Gloucester County NAACP salute.

After receiving these tributes, Hunter will be back at work preparing for the New Jersey Education Association convention Nov. 10 and 11 in Atlantic City, he said.

Atlantic City runs on labor ATLANTIC CITY  For many, Labor Day means the end of summer, a three-day weekend or the retu

Normally, the African American Heritage Museum shares a booth with another organization, but this year, it will occupy 2,000 square feet of the convention floor by itself, Hunter said.

From February through April, appointments have already been made to bring the museums mobile exhibits to five Ocean County schools, two Pleasantville schools and two Atlantic City schools, Hunter said.

Im getting busier, said Hunter, who turns 85 on Jan. 9. Im looking to travel to 50 different schools. I travel with it (the exhibits). Im up at 3:30 a.m. to set up an exhibit by 7 a.m.

Tickets are $120 per person and will be available at the door for the MBCAs 31st annual gala at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the ballroom at Golden Nugget Atlantic City. Visit mbcanj.com or call 609-348-1903.

Tickets are $85 per person and will be available at the door for the Gloucester County NAACP Black & White Gala and Community Game-Changer award dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Auletto Caterers, 1849 Cooper St., Deptford. For more information, visit gloucestercountynaacp.org.

The African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey has locations in Atlantic City and Buena Vista Township. For more information, visit aahmsnj.org.
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Wednesday to fleeing police in a high-speed chase and conspiring to sell cocaine in Atlantic City, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said.

Tyree Bey, 30, is expected to receive a six-year prison term when he is sentenced Nov. 30 by Judge Nancy Ridgway.

Bey fled a motor vehicle stop on the Atlantic City Expressway in Hammonton on Jan. 20, 2018. His speed during flight reached 124 mph, the Prosecutors Office said in a news release. He was charged with eluding in that incident.

In a separate incident, Bey was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine arising from an investigation by Atlantic City police at the Fox Manor Hotel on Aug. 16, 2017.

Police seized from Bey a digital scale, a razor covered with white residue, multiple zip-top plastic bags and $2,398 in cash that the Prosecutors Office said was stacked and stored in denominations consistent with drug distribution.

Bey must forfeit the money seized when he is sentenced. He was extradited from Pennsylvania to face the charges.
Police in Newark, New Jersey were responding to a report of officers shot Tuesday in a residential neighborhood about a mile west of the citys airport. Details on the number of officers injured or the extent of their injuries werent immediately available. Video taken from news helicopters showed police officers in tactical gear staging on streets in the neighborhood and searching at least one rooftop. Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement that he was monitoring an unfolding situation in Newark, but didnt immediately share details. I am in touch with local authorities and the state is providing resources as requested. We will continue to support local law enforcement and ensure that all residents are safe, he said.
Meteorologist

It's great to forecast for you in N.J., where I was born and raised. I earned my degree from Rutgers and have been at The Press since Fall 2017. I'm honored to be a 10 time N.J. Press Association award winner and a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist.
For the second week in a row, the lower part of Cape May County missed out on the higher rainfall totals seen in most of New Jersey. As a result, drought continues in the southern tip of the state, while improving elsewhere.

Cape May County from about Middle Township to Avalon on south continues to be in a moderate drought, according to Thursdays update from the United States Drought Monitor. Moderate is the least severe stage of drought.

In an improvement from last week, parts of South Jersey are no longer experiencing abnormally dry conditions, a transitory stage between drought and normal conditions, including the extreme northern portion of Upper Township and parts of Downe, Commercial and Maurice River townships.

Between Oct. 18 and 25, the time the Drought Monitor looked at for Thursdays update, between 0.55 and 0.85 inches of rain fell at Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) stations. CoCoRaHS is the nations largest network of volunteer weather observers.

Here are the four stages of drought classification However, moderate drought is actually the lowest-tiered version of drought in a four-step cl

Meanwhile Sea Isle City, right outside of the drought area, picked up 2.15 inches of rain.

Statewide, drought ended in portions of Middlesex, Monmouth and Essex counties. These areas generally saw over an inch of rain between Oct. 18 and 25. That reduced the number of people in drought statewide from 1.9 million to 1 million. New Jersey has about 8.9 million residents.

A moderate drought occurs once every 5 to 10 years on average in any given location, according to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist. The office plays a key role in determining who is and isnt in drought. However, a portion of southeastern New Jersey saw moderate drought in March and April. It then faded until drought reappeared in late August.

Year to date, Cape May County joins Passaic County as the only ones in New Jersey with rainfall totals more than 10% below average. That accounts for the fact that Cape May County is the driest place in the state, annually.

Rain showers are expected to fall Monday. This will given lower Cape May County another chance to be removed from drought status.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Karen Plaut, Purdue Universitys Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, has appointed Catherine Hill head of the Department of Entomology and Tesfaye Mengiste head of the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.

Dr. Hill and Dr. Mengiste bring extensive experience to these positions, Plaut said. They are both highly accomplished and internationally respected in their fields and also bring distinct leadership strengths to their departments. I look forward to working with them in their new roles.

Hill, professor and formerly interim department head of entomology, earned her bachelors degree in agricultural science and PhD in entomology from the University of Adelaide, Australia. Hill said she looks forward to working with the department and its many partners in training future leaders and conducting nation-leading research.

Purdue entomology enjoys a proud history of serving the land-grant mission, having delivered excellence in discovery, learning and extension for our state and nation for more than 100 years, Hill said. Looking ahead, the department is unified around a shared vision to address some of societys greatest challenges in the areas of global food security, the protection of agricultural production and human health and animal health, and the preservation of natural resources.

Mengiste, professor and formerly interim department head of botany and plant pathology, earned his bachelors degree in plant sciences from Haramaya University in Ethiopia, a masters degree in plant biotechnology from the University of London, and a PhD in plant molecular biology from the University of Basel in Switzerland. Mengiste said to be asked to lead one of the oldest, most vibrant departments in Purdues College of Agriculture, knowing its national and international impact, is a privilege.

My role as a department head of this vibrant academic community is to promote excellence in all our mission areas  research, engagement and training of the next generation of plant science professionals  by creating a climate where everyones success is recognized, Mengiste said. I am here to support our faculty, staff and students and catalyze success.

Sources: Catherine Hill, hillca@purdue.edu

Tesfaye Mengiste, tmengist@purdue.edu

Writer: Jillian Ellison, 765-494-0948, ellison1@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415;

Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu

Agriculture News Page
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.
WEST DES MOINES  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said his work on women's health care and legislation helping survivors of sexual assault shows a record of working for women, as he and his party face attacks over support for abortion restrictions.

Grassley, a Republican, was joined by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, in a West Des Moines rally. Blackburn and Grassley are both cosponsors of the Speak Out Act, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements when workers report sexual misconduct.

Women, like everybody else, must be respected, and Im fighting for justice for women who have been sexually assaulted and harassed, Grassley said.

He pointed to bills he sponsored relating to how reports of sexual assault are handled in the military and on college campuses. Grassley also said he wrote a bill, titled the Healthy Moms and Babies Act, that would improve postpartum care in women, especially in rural America.

The bill will help reduce infant and maternal mortality by increasing access to prenatal and postpartum care, no matter where they live, Grassley said.

Blackburn said Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped get the Speak Out Act get through the committee. The committee passed the bill in September.

This is something so important to women in the workplace, and I am absolutely so pleased that Sen. Grassley stepped up, took the lead, and helped us to get this bill across the finish line, she said.

The rally followed Grassleys campaigns announcement of a Women for Grassley Coalition, a group of women from Iowas 99 counties supporting his reelection. Grassley has attempted to draw a distinction between himself and his Democratic challenger Mike Franken, whom he accused of disrespecting women in public remarks.

Franken, a former Navy admiral, faces an allegation that he kissed his former campaign manager without consent, according to an April police report. He denies the allegation and pointed to the fact that the report was closed as unfounded.

Sen. Grassley has a problem with women thats based on his voting record, Frankens campaign manager, Julie Stauch, said in an interview. Our latest ad shows that his voting record on things that add to womens autonomy, he is opposed to.

Franken has kept his focus on Grassleys long career of opposing abortion rights. In a debate with Grassley, he said the senator has routinely voted against womens interests.

Grassley cosponsored a 2019 bill that would have outlawed abortion at 20 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. As a former chair of the Judiciary Committee, he had a major hand in building the conservative-majority Supreme Court that overturned the federal right to an abortion in June.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restrict abortion, Grassley has suggested abortion restrictions should be left to the states. He said in the October debate he would vote "no" on a bill that would outlaw abortion at 15 weeks nationally, but he didn't rule out federal regulation on abortion.

This is a guy who has made it his career to ban abortion, to support unequal pay, to do nothing for paid family leave, to many times vote against the Violence Against Women Act, Franken said in the debate. I don't have a problem with this issue. He has a problem with women.
A 28-year-old Davenport man has been sentenced to 60 months, or five years, in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During a sentencing hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court, Davenport, District Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger also ordered that Colique Depree Brown serve three years on federal supervised release after he completes his prison sentence.

The case began Sept. 19, 2021, when at 4 a.m. Brown was a passenger in a vehicle whose driver was fleeing both Iowa State Patrol and Bettendorf Police.

According to Browns initial arrest affidavit filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Wyatt Flickinger, during the chase the driver of the vehicle, a 2017 Hyundai Sonata, was turning northbound onto Devils Glen Road from State Street when the vehicle struck a curb, causing the tires to deflate.

The vehicle came to a stop at a dead end on Vogel Court, and all four occupants in the vehicle attempted to flee.

While trying to flee, Brown had a handgun, a loaded 9mm Glock 43, wrapped in a T-shirt. As Brown was running, Flickinger subdued him with a Taser and Brown lost control of the gun.

According to U.S. District Court electronic records, Brown, while in the Scott County Jail, made a phone call that was recorded in which he attempted to get someone to go back to the scene and retrieve the gun before police found it.

However, at about 6:30 a.m., a homeowner near the scene reported finding cocaine in their yard that one of the other occupants of the vehicle had dropped. When officers retrieved the cocaine they found the gun near where Brown has been subdued by the Taser.

The handgun had been reported stolen.

Surveillance video showed the T-shirt land on the ground and an object bounce out of it.

Federal authorities took over the case, and Brown was arrested and taken into federal custody on Jan. 20. The state charges against Brown were dismissed in deference to the federal charge.

Brown pleaded guilty to the gun charge on May 2.

According to U.S. District Court, specifically a sentencing memorandum provided by prosecutors to Ebinger, Browns criminal history began at age 14, and he received his first adult conviction at age 16. His first adult conviction was being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brown also has been associated with members of the Savage Life Boys street gang, or the 12th Street gang.

Also according to the sentencing memorandum, while in the Muscatine County Jail over the summer awaiting sentencing on the gun conviction, authorities said Brown and other Savage Live Boys engaged in an extortion scheme to make another inmate with a large supply of commissary money buy their commissary items until further notice.

According to the sentencing memorandum and a letter to the court from Brown's mother, Brown has nine children, eight girls and son.

Brown will receive credit for time served while in custody awaiting trial and sentencing.

There is no parole in the federal prison system.
Iowa American Water announced Wednesday that the company had completed its acquisition of the city of Blue Grass wastewater system for $2 million.

On July 12, the Iowa Utilities Board approved the acquisition.

It is Iowa American Waters first sewer system operation in the state and adds about 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, Randy Moore, president of Iowa American Water, said in a new release Wednesday announcing the acquisition.

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, Moore said. We look forward to continuing that commitment as the communitys new wastewater provider.

Blue Grass Mayor Brad Schutte said in the news release that 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.

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 in a timely manner," Schutte added.

Iowa American Water said it planned to invest approximately $4 million in the citys wastewater system to address issues as well as upgrade safety and security systems.

Also, ongoing capital investment plans have been developed to address compliance with permit requirements and improve operational efficiencies, the company said.

New sewer rates recently implemented by the city of Blue Grass will continue under Iowa American Waters ownership, the company said.

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.

The company said that since Iowa American Water acquired the Blue Grass water system in 2017, the company had invested more than $3 million to upgrade water service infrastructure including installation of a 3-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 said. 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 with additional information about the new wastewater service.

In July, as the Iowa Utilities Board was approving the acquisition, City Clerk Ann Schmidt said the city conducted a cost analysis and found in order to keep ownership of the system and make the upgrades, Blue Grass would have needed to raise rates 250%. Plus, she said, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources denied the city's application for an extension on making the needed upgrades.

"We were kind of desperate," Schmidt said.

The sale of the city's wastewater system didn't require voter approval, Schmidt said, but city staff and elected officials held three public meetings for community feedback.

"Being a small town, we had a lot of people come in and ask questions, and after answering those, people seemed to be very comfortable with the city's decision," Schmidt said. "The majority of the town understood the situation we were in and knew this was the best route to take financially."

The Iowa Utilities Board will monitor Iowa American Water to ensure it makes the improvements, according to the filings, and the company will be required to look for other federal and state funding options to help offset the costs of improvements.
Hundreds of people, farms and businesses will be able to gain access to high-speed internet in Corson and Dewey counties with federal funding.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe will receive $16,957,883 with funding from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday morning. The department will provide $759 million in funding to bring high-speed internet access to people living and working across 24 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and Palau.

Funds will come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the third round of funding of the ReConnect Program.

"I think we recognize, and certainly the president recognizes, the important role that communities play in our nation and the broad impact that they have on our economy," he said. "If you think about it, rural America provides our nation's food and energy resources, produces the fiber for foods and manufacturing, contributes more than 35% of our nation's military and operates about 80% of the nation's critical infrastructure lifelines."

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe's project will bring a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 488 people, 88 farms and seven businesses to high-speed internet in Corson and Dewey counties. Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Telephone will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity and Lifeline programs. According to the project description, it will "serve socially vulnerable communities in Corson and Dewey counties and on the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock reservations."

The grant is the only funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's program coming to South Dakota.

Vilsack said being able to have a fiber-to-the-premises network for projects like the Cheyenne River Sioux Telephone or the Pawnee Nation in Oklahoma will allow people to access information for business and in education.

"Oftentimes in rural communities, it's sometimes difficult to have a broad array of courses that young folks may have in other schools in urban centers," he said. "With high-speed internet, there's an opportunity to access some of those advanced placement courses, for example."

Vilsack said with farms, it allows for precision agriculture and being able to properly market their products.

"At the end of the day, it is essential to the capacity of folks to succeed in today's world to have access to this technology," he said. "I think the most important aspect of this is the president understands that it's got to be everywhere. Regardless of the size of the community, we still have to make sure that we grow as a nation, that everybody has an opportunity to take advantage of this technology."
As Election Day approaches, the Journal is interviewing candidates for office in the Rapid City region. The Journal selected races in which there are competitive candidates.

In instances where the Journal was unable to contact or interview a candidate, information was obtained via campaign websites or previously published stories. For candidates with limited information or who did not respond to requests for interviews, names will be listed and noted.

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.

In Custer County, four candidates are running for three at-large positions on the Board of County Commissioners.

Craig Hindle

Republican Craig Hindle currently serves as a Custer County commissioner. He said he never really had any interest in politics.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hindle spent a few years in Maryland before moving to Hill City when he was 10, around 1975. He moved to Custer in 1977, where he attended junior high and high school. He left to see the world after graduation, and found his way back in 1990.

Hindle and his wife Bobbi live in the Custer area, with his mother nearby, and their four children are out of state, making their way and finding their place.

A home builder by trade, Hindle said he started attending scattered commission meetings about five years ago, to see how it all worked. He decided to pull together a petition in 2018 to run for commissioner, with the hope that if elected, he could shake things up and be a positive voice for the taxpayers in Custer County.

Hindle was one of three elected that year by primary voters, with no opposition in the general election. So that was that, he said, and the beginning of an education.

Entering the inner sanctum of executive sessions, Hindle said he really had no idea what all the commissioners did, and I have been learning just about every day.

Hindles back for more, he said, because he feels he has the privilege of working with two different commissions, and felt they were both productive and they truly care about the people we represent.

His top issues as county commissioner include taxes, an alternate funding source for the school system to cut property taxes, and lithium mining.

These are just a few and we dont have enough paper to list all the issues, he said. I do feel like I am making a positive impact and as long as it stays that way, I will continue to ask voters for their support.

The day may come when hes had enough, Hindle said, but hes not there yet.

I feel I owe the voters and taxpayers even more because they invested in my education of this position, so I should continue to represent them as long as they so choose, he said.

Jim Lintz

Republican Jim Lintz, current chairman of the Custer County Commission, has been a commissioner for 12 years, and is back on the ballot again this November.

Lintz owns a ranch about five miles west of Hermosa, and has lived there basically all [his] life, he said. He was raised on a ranch right next door, and is currently on his grandfathers ranch, settled in 1901. Lintz bought it in 1979, and has been there ever since.

After graduating college, Lintz taught school for five years before he settled into ranching.

In addition to ranching, however, Lintz has spent six years in the state House of Representatives, and four in the state Senate. With an extensive career in politics, he enjoys the commission job, he said. A family affair, his dad was a Custer County commissioner for 22 years.

Theres a few things Id like to get done yet, he said.

One of those things is (changing) property tax.

Theres too much of a load anymore for a person on a fixed income, he said. Lintz testified in Pierre to see if he could get anything done, he said, and its gonna take a while. He referenced a bill passed while he was in the Senate that saved agricultural land for agriculture, he said.

If I wouldnt have done that, our assessments in this area for ranch land would be $20,000 an acre, he said.

He didnt realize, he said, that the same thing was going to happen to non-ag land.

Until we started getting these skyrocketing prices paid for certain non-ag land  theyre going off the sales, so anyone that pays that for the land affects your neighbors," he said. "Thats a major problem, and thats really what Im focusing on.

He hopes his career as a commissioner isnt over yet because he has knowledge to offer, he said, from past experiences in Pierre and as a commissioner.

I still feel I have a lot to offer with that knowledge base. And I enjoy working with the present commission very much.

Kevin M. Rosse

Independent Kevin M. Rosse, a lifelong resident of South Dakota, has lived in Custer, Brookings, Bruce, Pringle, Onida and currently resides in western Custer County, in the Custer Highlands, with his wife and three children.

Rosse has spent more than 10 years in Custer County collectively, and his family roots go back over 80 years. Rosse has been a carpenter and contractor most of his adult life, and now dabbles in small-scale farming on his acreage, as well as a part-time operation as a handyman with Highlands Handyman Service.

His wife, Anine, works for the National Park Service, and their children Evelyn (9) and Garrett (6) attend Elk Mountain School. Their youngest, Virgil (2), keeps himself busy giving [me] gray hair, he said.

Rosses interest in running was sparked by rising property taxes, caused by the current popularity of living in the Black Hills and South Dakota.

I believe there is more that can be done by the commission to help insulate the residents of Custer County from their exploding tax burden, other than laying blame on the State, he said. He also expressed a need for more spending oversight.

Rosse said while he believes the current commission has room for improvement, his final decision to run was more personal. He said he wanted to serve his community.

As with most people, I often offer my opinions and criticisms in idle conversation, but seldom participate to better them, Rosse said. By running, he hopes to "put his money where his mouth is."

Rosse said he chose to run as an Independent in order to give all Custer County voters an opportunity to cast a ballot. It is his belief that small government should be mostly blind to political affiliation and more attuned to the needs of the community.

Among the county issues most prevalent to Rosse are the aging infrastructure of the countys volunteer fire departments, lithium and uranium mining, and exploring alternative revenue streams without overtaxing.

I believe I can bring many admirable qualities that would give voters good reason to consider me on Election Day, he said. I go out of my way to consider all angles before making final decisions. I have no problem asserting my opinions, but still value and consider others opinions.

Rosse said hell bring frugality, make hard decisions and stand behind his choices.

I will always stand for the people and with the people, he said.

Mike Linde

Republican Mike Linde is an incumbent on the Custer County Board of Commissioners. He did not respond to requests for an interview.
If you want to know who will pick up the tab for Medicaid expansion when the Federal Government pulls the upfront Fed funding, look no further than the school free meal program article. South Dakota taxpayers will eventually pay through what will be a necessary state income tax.

The fact that students are not able to buy lunch just underlines the woeful lack of funding for SD schools. It also highlights that SD residents care more about not being taxed than they do about our children.

The ad on "More things to tax" that was taken totally out of context should also be telling when it says "he doesn't even try to hide it." You mean like the things hidden behind transparency?

Fearmongering isnt a South Dakota virtue. Honesty is.

IM27 should be passed in a landslide, with all the personal responsibility and nanny state talk Ive heard these past few years. If not, the hypocrisy will be astounding.

I have a real hard time feeling sorry for Deadwood casino people when their revenue is down now and then. To me it means fewer people lost money that perhaps went to a better use.
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.
Heather Hill says she has changed the ringtone on her phone for whenever her husband, Scott, calls.

It now plays the theme song from Jaws.

Scott Hill was snorkeling Tuesday afternoon on Kalapaki Beach on the island of Kauai when he felt something tug at the flipper on his foot as he swam through water that he said was a little cloudy.

The 51-year-old Helena resident didnt think much of it, returned to the beach and noticed a half-moon shaped chunk of his flipper was missing.

He is now believed to be the survivor of an encounter with what experts think was an 11-12 foot tiger shark. But testing is still underway.

Hill was oblivious to what happened until he showed his relatives who live in Hawaii what happened. They took the fin to the states division of aquatic resources, who told Hill that their expert believes it was a tiger shark but wants to do more DNA testing.

They were pretty excited, Hill said, (Shark attacks do) not happen very often, they are pretty rare.

It sounds like I got away with something, he said, adding it was probably lucky he did not see attack as he doesnt know if he would have panicked. He added that tiger sharks are usually blamed for such incidents. "They are like the dump truck of the ocean."

His wife, Heather, said she was in the water as well, but some distance from her husband.

I had my eye on him, she said, adding he is one of those guys that goes off a lot on his own.

Heather Hill said he came up to the shore and eventually asked her if she noticed the fin.

I wont tell you what I said, Heather said.

Heather Hill said her husband said right away that maybe he should go buy a lottery ticket.

She said another relative showed them the fin and said the sharks teeth were about 1 inch in diameter.

That is when I slowly started to think Crap, Heather said.

Aaron Swink, with the division of aquatic resources, said what happened to Hill is actually described as a "shark incident."

But he adds: "His fin was definitely bitten by a shark. Its a very clear bite."

"The fin saved his life, or saved his toes," he said.

The Hills returned to the water Wednesday and went swimming in an area where the water was clearer.

Scott Hill said he had a little nervousness, but otherwise did fine.

I didnt let it ruin my time here, he said.

Hill, the owner of Design+Craft Inc. in Helena, said Hawaii officials have said they will return his fin to him when they are done testing so that he can keep it as a souvenir.

I consider myself lucky, he said, adding that in the future he will try to pay more attention to his surroundings and not go off into murky water.

Heather Hill said shark encounters are pretty rare in Hawaii, adding there have been about 230 since 1900, and we are one of them.

She said the Hawaiians call October Sharktober.

I know a lot more about sharks than when I got here, Heather said.
Two of the worlds biggest cigarette-makers  Henrico County-based Altria and Japan Tobacco  are teaming up to offer smokers a way to consume tobacco without burning it.

Altria Group Inc.s PM USA unit and a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco International have formed a joint partnership to sell heated tobacco stick products in the U.S.

We believe this relationship can accelerate harm reduction for adult smokers across the globe, said William F. Billy Gifford, CEO of Altria.

We believe our joint venture and pipeline of heated tobacco products position us well to increase adoption of smoke-free products, Gifford added.

JT currently sells Ploom heated stick products in four countries.

Smoke from burning tobacco in a cigarette includes cancer-causing gas and particles, while heating tobacco is a way of inhaling nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco, without burning it or ingesting it as snuff or chew.

Under the joint venture agreement, JT would make the heating devices and PM USA the tobacco sticks at its plant in South Richmond, once the Food and Drug Administration authorizes sales in the U.S.

In addition to the joint venture, Altria and JT agreed to form a worldwide partnership to work together on smoke-free products.

Since JT launched its most recent version of its Ploom product, it has doubled its share of the Japanese heated tobacco market.

Altria, meanwhile, says it believes there is a market for smokers who are interested in smoke-free alternatives but who arent satisfied with vaping products  devices that heat a nicotine-containing liquid.

Heated tobacco sticks will be like a traditional cigarette, while also containing real tobacco  providing a familiar tactile and sensorial experience for cigarette smokers, Altria said.

The two companies plan is to distribute JTs Ploom products and Marlboro-style tobacco sticks through Altrias sales network servicing more than 200,000 stores.

PM USA will hold a 75% interest in the venture and will make an initial investment of $150 million to launch it.

At the same time, Altria said it is working on smoke-free devices that heat capsules of nicotine-containing fluids, and expects to partner with JT to test-market the products in late 2024 or 2025, using JTs sales network.

Earlier this year, Altria wrote down the value of a 35% holding in vaping device maker Juul, acquired in 2018 for $12.8 billion, which freed it to get into the vaping business on its own instead of through Juul. The FDA had ordered Juul to stop selling its products, but that order is temporarily on hold.
BigWifes Mac n Cheese is now open, serving from a colorful trailer thats mostly parked at 1017A Arthur Ashe Blvd. in Scott's Addition, with a brick-and-mortar central kitchen and takeout facility opening soon in the same location.

The new takeout-only restaurant is a more casual and whimsical venture from John and Jayme Taxin who also own Old Original Bookbinders Seafood & Steakhouse in Shockoe Bottom. Running a high-end steakhouse for over 20 years, John and Jayme became accustomed to fine-tuning menu items to match every customers exact preference. Well do whatever we can to make the customer happy before they leave, John said. If they want me to do cartwheels, Ill do it.

While running Bookbinders, John began to fantasize about a totally different restaurant concept. My dream has always been to have a restaurant that only serves one dish, he said. Years ago in New York City, he visited a restaurant that only served macaroni and cheese, and he loved the idea, but never had the time or extra budget to make it happen.

Enter 2020. Bookbinders had just had two good years and the Taxins were finally at a point where there was money left over between high-traffic holiday seasons. Then, COVID-19 hit and in March, they pivoted to a takeout and delivery model. With no large parties or banquets, John started looking for additional income sources and a business model that wasnt so dependent on in-person service. That mac and cheese concept reappeared.

The Taxins collaborated with their chef to start creating different flavors. They hired friend and artist Aaron Meshon to design a quirky brand with a playful visual style. I wanted to have characters for the different flavors of mac and cheeses, John said. He invested in flyers and packaging and then restaurants reopened and with its spacious patio, Bookbinders got busy. The mac and cheese project returned to the back burner.

In fall of 2020, as patio traffic started to slow, but there still werent banquets or large parties, the Taxins started testing again and BigWifes Mac n Cheese held its first takeout-only pop-up.

BigWifes is a reference to Jaymes nicknameJohn started calling her Big Wife while she was pregnant, and it stuck, becoming a term of endearment. She was the happiest pregnant person youve ever seen in your life, John said, with Jaime agreeing that as she gained weight each month she smiled, taking it as a sign of a healthy pregnancy. Now, well be in the grocery store and hes a few aisles over shouting Hey, Big Wife! Jayme said, with a laugh.

In January of 2021, the Taxins did a longer trial run, serving BigWifes mac and cheeses out of Bookbinders from Monday through Thursday evenings for takeout or delivery through GrubHub. After two days of good-but-not-great sales, John hit the streets, passing out flyers in Shockoe Bottom, Church Hill and Rocketts Landing.

On the third day, things went crazy, he said. We had to turn off online ordering We needed two people just to open bags to put the mac and cheese in. The entire Bookbinders bar was filled with to-go bags for BigWifes.

With that affirmation, the Taxins decided it was time for BigWifes to find its own home. They originally wanted to take over an existing restaurant, but when they heard that the former Growlers to Go space was up for lease, they couldnt pass up the location. They signed in fall of 2021 with hopes to open in late spring or early summer. Then construction and permitting delays set in. They are still waiting on some electrical parts.

The ultimate vision is for the Arthur Ashe Boulevard location to be half prep kitchen and half takeout restaurant with capacity to prep mac and cheese for seven or eight smaller BigWifes locations and trailers. Right now, the first trailer is open and frequently parked in the lot outside the BigWifes location for walk-up ordering, phone orders, online takeout and delivery via bigwifesmac.com or GrubHub, with more food app presences coming soon. Youll see noodle depictions of John and Jayme on the front with noodle children, pets and other fun visual touches on every side. The mac and cheese is prepped at Bookbinders for now and is finished to order in the trailer.

The concept of mac and cheese may sound simple, but the Taxins applied the same standards they apply to Bookbinders quality food. Every mac and cheese order starts with the same white cheddar, fontina base sauce with pasta thats thick enough to stand up to the cheese. Then, additional toppings are added for each flavor variety. We make the mac and cheese, then place the ingredients by hand, then bake it, John said. Ive been to Italian restaurants where you get stuck with all the cheese in one bite. Thats why we place every ingredient.

John was originally hoping the macs could be finished on a conveyor oven like you see at quick-serve pizza restaurants, but the end product was just too dry and it didnt get hot enough for a takeout-focused product to make the drive home. Now when you order, your mac is baked to bubbly-hot in a convection oven so its the perfect temperature when you get it home.

He also tried to use compostable paper containers, but they wouldnt give the crunchy casserole effect he was seeking around the edges, so the macs are prepared in an aluminum pan, then baked, and the pan is either placed in a bowl for eating immediately or in a custom-branded to-go box.

Right now, BigWifes offers nine different varieties of mac and cheese. Mac Lorraine with smoky applewood bacon, scallions and gruyere, and Buffalo Mac with hot chicken, Gorgonzola and Texas Pete are the most popular. Greek Wedding Mac features tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini, onions, artichoke and feta. Balboa Mac has real deal Bolognese and pockets of ricotta cheese and is a nod to the Taxins hometown of Philadelphia. Each 16-ounce serving serves one with leftovers and costs between $9 and $12.

There are vegan and gluten-free options, but right now, those need to be ordered in advance for catering. Once the main kitchen is open, theyll be readily available. You can add fried chicken tenders to any mac as well. The menu also includes three salads, a Big Ass Cookieas the name implies its a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookie roughly the size of your faceand a Big Ass Brownie thats dense, chocolatey and gooey in the middle.

Right now, the Big Wifes trailer is mostly open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. Visit bigwifesmac.com for more information and to place an order.
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY  In the pairs only joint appearance, Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, and Democratic challenger Josh Throneburg participated in a candidate forum Wednesday night at Hampden-Sydney College.

Mark Spain, an anchor for WSET, moderated the forum and alternated asking each candidate questions. Topics at the forum, 13 days before the election, focused on national security, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the incumbent and challengers priorities for Congressional spending.

When asked about the U.S.-Mexico border, Good was energetic. His 2020 campaign focused heavily on the subject, and he noted his five visits to the border during his first term in Congress.

Calling it one of the greatest threats to the country, he said America needs to continue work on the wall that was a hallmark of then-President Donald Trumps administration. He also said that border patrol agents need to be allowed to do their job.

While Throneburg said he would support more funding for border control as Congress controls the purse strings, he added that he would like to see expanded work visa programs for immigrants.

Not only does that help us with the large amount of people who are coming across the border illegally, but it builds up our economic opportunity here, and we can see small businesses begin to flourish and grow, Throneburg said.

Good, a former Campbell County supervisor, is seeking a second term representing the district, which extends from Albemarle County and Charlottesville south to the state line. In redistricting, the districts eastern edge inched closer to Richmond to include 13,400 voters in Hanover County as well as all of Louisa, Goochland and Powhatan counties. Throneburg is an ordained minister and a small business owner.

On congressional financial aid to Ukraine, Good said that the war is not Americas war to fight, while Throneburg said he is proud of America for standing up for democracy elsewhere.

When asked if America should maintain its Paris accord arrangements, the candidates diverged again. The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change consisting of many countries around the world.

Good said America needs to be energy independent and focus on domestically sourcing petroleum gasoline.

The answer appeared to astound Throneburg, who has called addressing climate change one of his top priorities, and he became animated in his response.

Its ridiculous why we would push against solar or against energy that comes from renewable sources. It makes no sense to me, Throneburg said. The sun will be here for billions of years. We have 40 years of oil left. Lets make the transition.

When the candidates gave their closing remarks, each pointed to their policy priorities. Good noted that he has remained consistent as a biblical and constitutional conservative.

He said he appreciates that people in the district voted for me and elected me two years ago.

Im asking for your vote again. Ive done what I set out to do when I ran for office, Good said.

He noted how he has focused on the border and education, and stood up for what he has called reckless spending by Congress.

Ive also fought boldly against the trampling on our most basic, most essential freedoms that we couldnt have imagined just three years ago, Good said as he noted his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and to educational policies that have been largely promoted by Democrats.

Throneburg noted disappointment that the topic of abortion did not come up.

I do think its important just to note that in a year where the Supreme Court overturned 49 years of precedent that there wasnt a question or a conversation about it tonight, he said before he launched into his closing remarks. I think when you host a forum that is moderated by a man, with two men up front as the candidates, this is the result. We can do better than that.

In Throneburgs closing remarks, he reflected on his policy stances and said he would focus on compassion and common sense.
A local man was released from state prison after serving 85% of his sentence for a 2013 armed robbery just two weeks before authorities said he shot and wounded two Chesterfield County police officers during a disturbance in the Broadwater town-house community on Tuesday.

Kelvin A. Hunter, 28, was released on probation on Oct. 11 from Wallens Ridge State Prison  a high-security supermax facility in Wise County  after serving 8.5 years of a 10-year active sentence for robbing a woman at gunpoint in Richmond in May 2013. He reported to Richmond Probation and Parole on Oct. 14, according to the Virginia Department of Corrections.

On Tuesday evening, 14 days after his release, police said Hunter shot and wounded two Chesterfield officers after they responded to a report of an emotionally disturbed person, later identified as Hunter, who was visiting relatives at a Timsberry Circle residence in Broadwater.

Officers had been on scene for about 20 minutes and were waiting on a return call from a crisis team with the Chesterfield Community Services Board when Hunter attacked the officer who was with him, police said. Hunter attempted to take the officers holstered firearm, and a struggle ensued before the officer was shot once in the chest, according to police. His bullet-resistant vest stopped the bullet from entering his body.

The second officer then ran downstairs and was shot by Hunter in the upper leg, police said. Police have not disclosed whose gun was used in wounding the two officers. Hunter was also shot during the incident.

The two officers and Hunter have been treated at area hospitals and released.

Hunters intent cannot be misinterpreted, Chesterfield Police Chief Jeffrey Katz said a day after his officers were shot. This suspect was convicted of a violent offense, in prison and released early  only to cause harm to my officers. Someone should answer for that.

Hunter was sentenced in Richmond Circuit Court in March 2014 to 23 years in prison, with 13 years suspended, on his guilty pleas to robbery and felony use of a firearm. Then 18, Hunter robbed a woman at a Stop N Go store in the city at gunpoint. He was required to make restitution to the woman in the amount of $400, according to Richmond Circuit Court records.

He entered the prison system on those convictions on May 14, 2014, the Department of Corrections said.

It appears Hunter was released from prison after earning good time credit that, under Virginia law, allows inmates with non-mandatory minimum sentences to earn a maximum of 4.5 days off their terms for every 30 days served  which equates to serving 85% of an active sentence.

In 2020, when Democrats were in full control of state government, the General Assembly modified the law and created a tiered system that allowed inmates with good behavior and participation in rehabilitation programs to earn expanded credits for up to 15 days per month to be taken off their sentences for nonviolent offenses. That would equate to serving 65% of an active sentence.

Mr. Hunter ... was not eligible for any sentence reduction as a result of the Enhanced Earned Sentence Credit legislation, said Department of Corrections spokesman Benjamin Jarvela on Thursday.

According to court records associated with his Richmond robbery prosecution, Hunter has an extensive criminal record as a juvenile. Between September 2009, when he was 15 years old, and October 2012, when he was 17, he was convicted of 10 offenses in Chesterfield Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court  including burglary, grand larceny, possession of marijuana and numerous probation violations.

At age 19, he was convicted in Richmond of shooting a firearm in public and filing a false police report.

Following Tuesdays incident, Hunter was charged with two counts of aggravated attempted murder of a police officer and two counts of using a firearm in a felony.

He was arraigned in Chesterfield General District Court on Wednesday, and an attorney with the Public Defenders Office was appointed to represent him. A preliminary hearing on his charges is scheduled for Dec. 5.
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.
A Richmond man is accused by police of stabbing a woman to death in the spring.

Carl Williams, 69, was arrested Thursday.

Richmond police responded to the 2100 block of Bainbridge Street at 8:09 a.m. on April 1 for a report of a stabbing. Michelle Manuel, 59, was found with stab wounds and taken to a hospital, where she died.

The case had been classified as a death investigation, but was changed to a homicide after detectives determined it was a domestic incident, police said.
Virginia Commonwealth University will pause distribution of its school-branded beer, the university announced Thursday, one day after the beer was released.

VCU cited concerns raised by a professor and the family of late student Adam Oakes, who said it wasnt appropriate for the school to trademark its own alcoholic beverage at this time.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery released Ram Bam, a golden pale ale, on Wednesday.

After hearing from members of our university community, including the family of Adam Oakes on Wednesday, we have paused this initiative, said Michael Porter, spokesperson for VCU. Although product is in market already, we will work with our partner to stop production, effective immediately.

Everett Carpenter, a VCU professor, raised concern earlier this week in a letter to VCU President Michael Rao. Carpenter said it was insensitive for VCU to brand its own beer, considering Oakes died of alcohol poisoning during a hazing incident last year. VCU recently paid the Oakes family nearly $1 million in a settlement.

Carpenter also noted that a university council committee had voted against a policy change allowing VCU to put its trademark on an alcoholic beverage. The council does not have authority to make final decisions and serves as a suggestion-making body.

Carpenter said Thursday afternoon that he was glad to hear VCU would pause production.

Courtney White, a cousin of Oakes, called it insensitive for VCU to release its own beer.

We appreciate being heard and actions being taken, she said Thursday. Our hope is in the future, everyone is more mindful of the impact their decisions can have on others.

She added that professors have a valuable perspective and should be considered by university leadership during decision-making.

Its unclear how long the pause will last. Porter said the length of time is indefinite. Hardywood did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Three universities in the state  Virginia Tech, James Madison University and the University of Virginia  have partnered with craft breweries in the state to release university-themed beers.

VCUs branded beer initiative was created with the best intentions: to fund student scholarships, Porter said. We value our community and have taken this action based on their concerns.
The state inspector general said Wednesday that hell investigate allegations regarding a state tourism contract for the political media firm that works with Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

The administrative investigation will include examining whether the Virginia Tourism Corporation used an appropriate procurement process for selecting Richmond-based Poolhouse to create the video, said Kate Hourin, a spokeswoman for Inspector General Michael Westfall.

The ad stars Youngkin and is now playing in Virginia airports and welcome centers.

The head of the Virginia Tourism agency bypassed standard guidelines for seeking bids on such a large project, which the law allows her to do. The state paid Poolhouse $268,600 to do the work this year in what was the companys first tourism contract with Virginia.

Last year, Poolhouse helped Youngkin secure the GOP nomination for governor and a general election victory, and continues assisting him as he travels the country to campaign for Republican candidates and considers a presidential run in 2024.

The tourism ad prompted outrage from Democrats, who questioned whether taxpayer dollars were used for political purposes and asked for an investigation by the inspector general.

Public records obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act showed that senior aides to Youngkin, when they learned of what happened, were concerned about the appearance of the state using Poolhouse to do the work, and the governor personally told the Virginia Tourism Corporation to seek more bids.

But on such a short deadline and with Poolhouses work already under way, two companies opted not to bid.

OSIG spokeswoman Hourin said the agency will investigate allegations that fall in its jurisdiction, and they wont answer every question Democratic legislative leaders had in a letter to the inspector general.

Asked by email whether the governors office would fully cooperate with the OSIG investigation, Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter did not respond. A new law prohibits the governor or his aides from interfering in an OSIG investigation or trying to pressure OSIG investigators.
A Republican businessman, wearing a vest and running for governor, pledged on Wednesday to empower parents if elected to the statehouse.

The candidate was Tim Michels of Wisconsin, whose pitch sounded much like the one that propelled his featured guest  Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin  to the governors mansion in Richmond.

Were going to empower parents, Michels told an audience in Waukesha, a city in suburban Milwaukee, before introducing Youngkin. Were going to put parents back in charge of the education for their sons and daughters.

Michels is a retired U.S. Army major who co-owns his familys construction business. He is trying to unseat Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat who has held the post since 2019.

Michels also echoed Youngkin in pledging to send surplus dollars back to Wisconsin residents.

Michels and Youngkin each tapped into concerns about crime with about two weeks till the election, pledging to back police officers.

Youngkin asserted that under Democratic leadership in Virginia I saw politicians tell people that fewer police is going to keep you safe.

He added: I saw politicians actually let prisoners out of prison who were not even eligible yet for parole, because they were criminal-friendly, they were not victim-protecting.

Youngkins appearance came the same day that a Wisconsin jury convicted a man of killing six people and injuring dozens more by driving his SUV through a Christmas parade last November in Waukesha.

On a lighter note, Youngkin said of Michels: I like him a lot because he likes to wear vests, before handing Michels one of Youngkins trademark red fleece vests.

Youngkin has campaigned with GOP candidates for governor in a host of states, including Nebraska, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, Kansas, Oregon, New Mexico and Arizona.

Youngkins widespread travels  in which he touts his 2021 Virginia win as the beginning of a Republican wave that will wash over the country  has further fed speculation that he is seriously considering a run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2024.

Michels, who is in a tight contest with Evers, noted that polling underrepresented Wisconsin Republicans in 2016 when Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. was re-elected and Donald Trump carried the state in the presidential election.

Im telling you right now, if we are even or even up a little bit, we are going to win this thing in a Wisconsin landslide, Michels said.
Despite the chillier spells that have kept this month cooler than normal in central Virginia, all signs point to a warmer stretch to start November.

Since the first of October, Richmond has been about 3 degrees cooler than normal. The cooler nights have done most of the work in keeping that number down, and have also helped make for some brilliant fall foliage this year, especially in the states western highlands.

Temperatures through this weekend will not be especially far from normal, but in the week that follows Halloween, there are strong signals that temperatures will be consistently 5-10 degrees above normal.

For Richmond, that suggests highs next week generally in the upper 60s to middle 70s with lows in the upper 40s to middle 50s.

In the shorter term, the jet stream flow across North America will largely run west to east across southern Canada, effectively locking up any truly cold air several hundred miles north of Virginia. Early next week, a large disturbance will break off from the jet stream, spilling cold air into the western half of the country, and bringing several rounds of rain to the parched Southwest with mountain snows from the Sierra Nevada to the Wasatch.

The impact for Virginia is what happens downstream from that disturbance. Air, like any fluid, will often travel in waves, and when one end pushes south, the other pushes north. This means that the cool and wet conditions west of the Plains translates to especially warm and dry weather for Virginia and most areas east of the Mississippi River, as warm air flows northward from the tropics.

So, the mountain snow showers that dusted the landscape in the ski areas of West Virginia a couple of weeks ago will not return for at least a couple of weeks. And importantly for agricultural purposes, this also means practically no chance of a hard freeze until after Election Day.

While a few weak systems will push across Virginia in the next couple of weeks, that surge northward in the jet stream also sends the main storm track west of the Appalachians, making a legitimate soaking rain difficult to come by for most of these next two weeks.

One of those smaller systems will push across the state on Halloween, very likely bringing a few rounds of rain or lighter showers, but precisely how much rain and when it falls for the trick-or-treaters is still an open question.

Recent data trends suggest the best chance of rain will be during the daylight hours, pushing eastward toward the Chesapeake around evening.

But high-precision forecasting for the timing and amount of rainfall more than three days in advance is challenging at best. While the trends in the data look good for those planning to be outside Monday evening, the specifics may not become obvious until early Monday afternoon.

But we can confidently say that heavy coats will not be needed for Halloween evening this year.
Stephanie Stevie Holcomb is a local real-estate agent and actor/director/publicist for Showtimers, the theater troupe in southwest Roanoke County.

Cleverly, she managed publicity for one of their shows by inviting local deejays, newscasters, politicians and columnists to play a bit role. Thats how I became Officer Pudney for a Showtimers production of the Neil Simon comedy Rumors in 2017.

Aside from those activities, Holcomb, 50, is a cat person. In their Vinton home, she and her husband, David, have two, an orange tabby named Woody and a black-and-white feline, Moonpie. Thanks in part to her love of cats, Holcomb recently added international author to her resume.

Her hardcover compilation, This is not my cat: Feline friends who picked their humans, already is on sale in the United Kingdom and Australia. Published by Victoria, Australia-based Smith Street Books, the volume hits the U.S. market Nov. 1, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The price is $14.95.

The book features cats from around the world, such as Dill Pickle Soup (aka Pickle) whove made repeat and unannounced visits to someone elses homes. The back cover calls the tome, A celebration of cats who have adopted a human.

Its one of their biggest sellers so far this year, thats what [Smith Street Books] told me, Holcomb said Tuesday.

How this all happened was quite atypical. Often, would-be authors beat on publishers doors, begging for attention and book contracts. Such masochism usually elicits rejection letters. Some of the writers end up self-publishing.

Holcomb did neither.

Kind of like a stray cat that adopts a house, State Street Books reached out to Holcomb, attracted by a Facebook group she launched in 2016, My house, not my cat.

The group, to which members have to be admitted, now has more than 47,000 followers around the world who hail from England, Canada, the U.S, Japan, Italy, Australia and other countries.

The group came about because I kept noticing these funny little stories all over the internet, of people finding a cat in their house when they didnt have a cat, Holcomb told me Tuesday. It started as a hobby and became a job.

The My house, not my cat group is still going strong on Facebook. Its private, but admits members after theyve applied and been screened.

I wanted the Facebook Page to be wholesome, Holcomb explained. (As of this writing, she hasnt yet approved my application.)

From almost the beginning, My house, not my cat would get five or six submissions per day recounting stories of mysterious feline furries who showed up at someone elses home. It seemed like an under-the-radar phenomenon.

Soon, the page had hundreds of stories, and photos, then thousands.

At one point, Holcomb began enforcing standards upon the submissions. For example, a cat on a porch or peeking in a window would qualify. A stray cat in a yard wouldnt necessarily cut the mustard. But it might, if it was especially adorable-looking.

Eventually, traffic on My house, not my cat grew to such an insane level Holcomb couldnt handle it. She enlisted cat fancier and group member Janet Walker, who lives in Tokyo, Japan, as a co-administrator.

Four more regulars serve as moderators for My house, not my cat. They are Julia Knight-Simpson, of London, England; Aly Ramos, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Morgan Sager of New Orleans, Louisiana, and Leah Workman of Los Angeles, California.

Avery Hayes, a project editor for State Street Books, pitched Holcomb with the idea of compiling a volume based on submissions to the Facebook group. State Street paid Holcomb an advance, which she declined to disclose, plus a healthy royalty.

Such an effort fits the old adage, easier said than done.

Holcomb had to cull thousands of submissions on My cat, not my house, and identify the best potential contributors, then email them and ask them to sign a publishers release allowing their words and images to be used by State Street Books. And, we edited the hell out of the submissions, she added.

Some the the cat-fanciers she reached out to replied no thanks, and others didnt reply at all. But 83 did, and their text and photos are the books bulwark.

The photos are indescribably cute. And some of the entries are brief  as few as 20 words.

One example is of a large, brown and gray cat pictured in a bathroom sink.

This is Randall, wrote a woman named Barbara. He lives down our road in a very nice house but prefers to hang out in our sink.

Another cat fancier named Charlotte dubbed her regular feline visitor Co-worker.

She belongs to a neighbor and visits me when I get lonely working from home, Charlotte wrote.

A guy named Steven posted a photo of an orange tabby he dubbed Handyman.

Repair people were in my apartment. I went into my bedroom after they left and found this cat on my bed, Steven wrote.

And then theres Frank, a tiny stray Manx tuxedo female.

So, one day I leave for work and pat her on the head as I walk to my car, Tiffany wrote. She was sitting on her normal spot on the front porch. When I come home in the afternoon I find her IN THE HOUSE.  So, she broke in. Now, shes an inside cat.

Holcomb said she knew the whole thing was real when State Street sent her proofs this past summer.

You wouldnt believe how stupidly happy I felt when they sent me a proof with as ISBN, which stands for International Standard Book Number.

In the U.S., This is not my cat will be on sale on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble stores beginning Tuesday. The other major distribution outlet is gift shops at Cracker Barrel restaurants, Holcomb said.

Whats next for her budding career as an author? Holcombs unsure.

Im very much a cats-need-to-be-indoors person, she said. And then I write a book about cats going door to door.

But its unlikely to be about dogs, she added.

I love other peoples dogs, Holcomb said. Dogs are great, but you might as well have a baby.
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 said.

Smith resigned at a previously planned meeting with chief administrative officer Lincoln Saunders on Tuesday. The chiefs cell phone played a message Wednesday saying it was not accepting calls. The Times-Dispatch has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for resignation letter and any severance package agreement that may have been made.

Smith has been under fire for much 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 re-build 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 towards 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 backed up the promises he would make, said Fontaine.

Fontaine said she hopes the city realizes its past errors.

We need accountability, not only in the Police Department, within our own communities and in our government, said Fontaine. 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 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 that as that proceeds obviously, Im going to be listening to the men and women of the Richmond Police Department.

Councilwoman Reva Trammell hopes the 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 that where 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 the Smith, who also had a death in his family during his tenure.

During a time of civil unrest, a pandemic, and having to lose a parent, he really did not stand a chance, she said. Richmond is a unique city with unique problems and Chief Smith did his best considering the circumstances. I wish him and his family all the best.
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 last 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.

I did everything I could to make this right, Campbell said at the time, according to Wetherell.

Campbell then said he wanted to know the names of the officers so he could apologize to their families, Wetherell added. 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 the 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 the 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.
Bravo to the youth in our valleys for getting involved in local government.

The Sunday and Monday editions of The Roanoke Times brought two different stories of Southwest Virginia teenagers taking an active role in political proceedings. The circumstances are quite varied, but both are worthy of praise.

At the Oct. 18 meeting of the Montgomery County School Board, students came to the public comment podium to protest Gov. Glenn Youngkins proposed policies for schools that strip rights away from transgender students.

Im asking you to reject the new model policies about transgender students, Cassidy Ackerman-Garvin, president of Blacksburg High Schools Pride Club and Mental Health Awareness Club, told the board. Montgomery County Public Schools has a vested interest in creating an equitable and safe environment for all students. One way to do so is to support trans students, she said.

Another club member, Crow Sindelar, enumerated several ugly consequences of the governors directive. Trans students would need legal documents to change their name and gender in the school system. This process would force children to out themselves as trans ... This will lead to the abuse of trans children with parents who reject their identities.

The students pointed out that Youngkins new policy harmfully targets those it purports to help, a demographic already disproportionately prone to suicide attempts and targeting for harassment.

This policy will do nothing to address these horrifying statistics and only worsen the mental states of trans children, Sindelar said.

Trans students are not too young to deserve autonomy, or too young to know themselves, Ackerman-Garvin said.

The clubs activism did not stop with speaking up at the meeting. I got over 175 high-schoolers, middle-schoolers, teachers and parents to sign letters that I sent to Gov. Youngkin, and many club members and allies are with me today in the audience, Ackerman-Garvin told the board. She told The Roanoke Times she saw about a dozen supporters at the meeting, mostly fellow students.

Its great that these young activists have taken so adroitly to the local political arena, arguably the most important venue to have ones voice heard. We think even Gov. Youngkin would feel obliged to admire that spirit.

Over to a another type of public political forum: Wed be remiss not to also shout the praises of the teens in the Roanoke Valley Chapter of Jack & Jill of America for grilling the eight Roanoke City Council candidates who came to a Sunday night debate forum at Roanokes Dumas Center.

Jack & Jill of America is an organization of mothers with children ages 2-19 that is dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders. The future leaders at the Dumas Center, in this fourth iteration of The Great Roanoke Debate, plied the candidates with great questions about how the city is handling homelessness, whats being done about the northwest Roanoke food desert, how the city promotes tourism while protecting natural resources, and more.

How wonderful that in these polarized times, todays youth give us great reason for hope.

Well end with the parting words from one of the Great Roanoke Debates young moderators, Ceasha Johnson, as she implored the audience to exercise their right to vote. Your voice is heard without a word. Please vote on Nov. 8, were depending on you.
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While we might be able to move mountains with faith, apparently, all it takes to move an asteroid traveling through space is a cube-shaped vehicle the size of a vending machine.
" " U.S. Navy pilots tracked and photographed what appeared to be a fast-moving object off the Florida coast in 2015. Department of Defense

You're in good company if you often look up into the dark night  into the glittering specks of space and sky  and think you see something extraordinary, fantastic or even unexplainable streak across the sky. People have been reporting unexplainable objects in the sky since the time of the ancient Greeks. We're used to hearing them called UFOs or unidentified flying objects.

NASA now even has an independent team of 16 scientists and astrophysicists who will be studying and attempting to understand more about these mysterious observations in the sky, or as they call them unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).

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For nine months starting Oct. 24, 2022, the team will pour over unclassified data collected by civilian star gazers, national intelligence and security departments. The purpose is to discover new ways to collect and understand UAP data in the future and to determine the best ways to use that information to ensure the safety of aircraft. They'll release their findings to the public in mid-2023.

This isn't the first time a U.S. government agency has studied UFOs. One of the most famous is Project Blue Book, which was in the 1950s and '60s. But it might be the first time they've focused on UAPs instead of UFOs.

We know. We were confused, too, at first. UAPs? Why not UFOs?
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Defending Religious Freedom for U.S. Marine Captain

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Oct. 27, 2022

ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2022 / Christian Newswire / -- Liberty Counsel filed the answer brief to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a United States Marine Corps Captain who was granted a preliminary injunction because he faced punishment after the military rejected his appeal from a denial for a religious accommodation from the shot mandate. The Department of Defense (DOD) has requested the appeals court reverse his preliminary injunction granted by federal Judge Steven Merryday.

The U.S. Marine Corps previously ordered the Captain to accept the COVID-19 vaccination no later than March 3, 2022 or face "punitive and/or administrative action." The Marine Corps then extended the time within which USMC Captain must undergo vaccination and on March 28, 2022, ordered USMC the Captain to undergo vaccination not later than April 1, 2022.

The preliminary injunction enjoins the Department of Defense (DOD) and the respective military branches "(1) from enforcing against USMC Captain any order or regulation requiring COVID-19 vaccination, (2) from separating USMC Captain from the Marine Corps, and (3) from any retaliatory action against USMC Captain as a result of, or arising from, USMC Captain's requesting a religious accommodation, appealing the denial of a request for religious accommodation, or pursuing this action or any other action for relief under Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) or the First Amendment."

This USMC Captain enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2014, graduating from recruit training in March 2015. After serving with a Law Enforcement Battalion and earning his undergraduate degree, USMC Captain was selected for Officer Candidate School, and commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2016. After graduating from The Basic School, he attended the Military Police Basic Officer Course, with his first duty assignment at a Marine Corps Law Enforcement Battalion as a Platoon Commander. He has attended courses in Norway and commanded a Military Police Integrated Company during a NATO Exercise and has been deployed in several locations, including Africa. USMC Captain desires to continue serving in the Marine Corps, consistent with his Islamic religious beliefs that require him to abstain from participation in that which is haramforbiddenincluding the destruction and commoditization of innocent human life as exemplified by the commercial use of human fetal cell lines derived from abortions.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "This U.S. Marine Corps Captain was unlawfully denied a religious exemption from the shot mandate and Judge Merryday protected his religious freedom. Liberty Counsel is honored to continue this legal fight for this courageous service member who is defending our nation."

Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.



SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org


SIOUX CITY  We live in a society that's become accustomed to ever-increasing convenience.

We have drive-through restaurants, banks and pharmacies and curbside pick-up. You can order just about anything on Amazon and have it dropped off at your front door. They're all services that make life a bit smoother if it means avoiding long lines and crowds.

When it comes to performing one of our most basic civic duties, it makes sense voters seek convenience when casting their ballots.

A steady stream of voters has filed into the Long Lines Family Rec Center in downtown Sioux City since Oct. 19 to vote in advance of the Nov. 8 election. Early in-person voting also is available at the county auditor's office in the courthouse. Other voters have chosen to mail in absentee ballots.

"Somebody said we used to only get to vote on election day, and I said it's modern times and we have to go with the flow," said Margie Fitch, who oversees the early voting precinct at Long Lines.

Voters appear to be going with the flow. More are casting early ballots every two years, spiking in 2020, when 26,534 Woodbury County voters either voted absentee or early in person. That was a presidential election, which typically draws a larger turnout, and the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many voters likely chose to vote early rather than risk contracting the virus at crowded polling sites on election day.

Since then, state election laws have changed, prohibiting county auditors from mailing absentee ballot requests to all registered voters and reducing the number of days for in-person early voting from 29 days before the election to 20 days.

That makes it unlikely Woodbury County will see more than half its 51,405 registered voters cast early ballots again this election, but early voting remains popular, said Woodbury County Auditor Pat Gill, whose office oversees elections.

"Since we started, about 300 a day, and that will increase the closer we get (to election day). That's about what we expected," he said.

It's realistic to expect this year's total to be closer to the 16,000 early votes cast in 2018, Gill said. He'd like it to be even higher to ease the crowds at polling sites on election day, though many voters plan to hit the polls then now that COVID-19 isn't such a big concern now.

"I've been talking to a lot of folks who are pleased they can go back to vote on election day," Gill said. "We're hoping as many people who can and want to vote early will do so in order to take the pressure off polling places."

Out and about Tuesday, Doug Deming, of Sioux City, said he passed by the Long Lines Center to see if he could get right in to vote. Without a wait, he became a first-time early voter.

"I'm just getting older and don't want the hassle of big lines," he said. "This seems to be simple."

Many who vote early are older, Fitch said. Weather on a November election day can be nasty, so why not take advantage of a warm, sunny day like Tuesday when it's easy to get out? The Long Lines site is easily accessible, and voters who have a hard time getting around can pull up to the curb just a short distance from the door.

Early voting isn't for everyone. Some believe it opens the door to election fraud. Others prefer the traditional practice of casting their ballots on election day.

For Kathy French, of Sioux City, early voting was a matter of necessity this year because she'll be out of town on election day. Even if she were going to be home, French said she likely would have continued her recent practice of voting early in order to avoid the crowds.

Voting is important, French said, and she'd stand in line at her precinct's polling site on election day if she had to. But why do so if there's an easier option?

"I think it's a huge honor and a right and a privilege (to vote)," she said. "Given this, it's really slick."

Slick, convenient. Not a bad way to exercise your right to vote.
SIOUX CITY  The getaway driver in a 2018 Le Mars, Iowa, bank robbery is back in federal custody nearly three months after leaving a halfway house in Sioux City.

Federal authorities served an arrest warrant on Karen Merrick Friday at the Hardin County Jail. She had been arrested Sept. 9 in Minneapolis.

At an initial appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City, a judge ordered Merrick to remain detained while facing a charge of escape from federal custody.

Merrick, 39, of Sioux City, was sentenced in January 2020 to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of accessory after the fact in the Dec. 12, 2018, robbery of Iowa State Bank in Le Mars. She waited in a U-Haul van for Phillip White and drove him from the scene after he obtained $16,190 in cash from a teller. Merrick led law enforcement officers on a 20-mile chase into rural Plymouth County before officers were able to flatten the van's tires and bring it to a stop. White was ultimately sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Merrick began serving a two-year term of supervised release in January 2021. Terms of her release were modified in July after she admitted to using controlled substances, and she was placed at Dismas Charities Residential Re-Entry Center.

On Aug. 2, Merrick signed out of the facility to go to work through a temporary employment agency at Palmer Candy Company. A staff member who called Palmer Candy to verify Merrick had arrived at work was told she had not. Merrick did not return to Dismas on Aug. 2 or after. Her whereabouts were unknown until her arrest in Minneapolis.
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  A Sioux City man was arrested peacefully Tuesday evening after he threatened to "come out shooting" from his apartment.

Sioux City Fire Rescue was called to an apartment at 1311 Jackson St. at 6:37 p.m. for a report of a structure fire. Upon their arrival, they found no fire, but located a man who was having a mental health crisis and waving a gun.

Police were summoned and began negotiating with the man, who was alone inside his apartment and brandished a gun, saying he would come out shooting. The Sioux City Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics team and hostage negotiators were called to the scene. The man, identified as Salvador Perez-Garcia, eventually put down the gun and surrendered without incident.

Perez-Garcia, 52, was booked into the Woodbury County Jail on charges of intimidation with a dangerous weapon, making a false report and first-degree harassment.
HARTINGTON, Neb.  A man charged with fatally shooting four Laurel, Nebraska, people and burning their homes is scheduled to make his first court appearance next week.

An initial arraignment is set for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Cedar County Court for Jason Jones, 42, of Laurel. 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. A judge previously set his bond at $5 million.

Jones is expected to appear via video from the Nebraska Department of Corrections Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln, where he continues to receive treatment for serious burns he received in the Aug. 4 incidents, in which he is accused of shooting Michele Ebeling, 57, in her home and Gene Twiford, 86, his wife, Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, in a second home three blocks away. He is accused of setting fire to both homes.

Jones likely will make video appearances at hearings for the time being, and there are no current plans to transport him to Cedar County, Sheriff Larry Koranda said. Jones was released from CHI St. Elizabeth hospital in Lincoln Wednesday and taken to the Reception and Treatment Center. Because of Jones' current medical needs, the Cedar County Jail would be unable to house him, Koranda said, and his condition would make it hard to transport him the roughly 160 miles between Lincoln and Hartington to appear in person at hearings.

"Besides the Department of Corrections, I don't know of any jail in Nebraska that can accommodate his medical needs," Koranda said.

Jones spent 82 days in the hospital, and during that time Cedar County contracted with a private security firm to keep watch over him 24 hours a day. Koranda said the security will cost Cedar County more than $125,000.

The county also will pay $90 per day, plus medical expenses, for Jones to be housed at the DOC facility. Depending on Jones' ability to pay medical bills and his health insurance status, the county also may have to pay for his hospital treatment.

"It's very possible Cedar County could be responsible for those medical bills," Koranda said.

Koranda said the shootings occurred before the county's current budget was finalized, enabling him and county board members to budget for anticipated expenses in the case.

Authorities responded to a reported explosion in the early morning hours of Aug. 4 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 airlifted to the Lincoln hospital for treatment of serious burns over a large portion of his body.

According to court documents, authorities found receipts Jones had for gas at Ebeling's home and a Ruger pistol traced to Jones at the Twiford residence.

Authorities searching Jones' home seized two knives, four guns, ammunition, two pairs of shoes, cellphones, Apple watches, a laptop computer and an iPad.
JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Lebanon signed a landmark deal on Thursday, setting the maritime boundary for the first time and giving the green light to lucrative gas explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

In the morning, Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed in his palace a letter approving the agreement. Later, Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid signed a similar letter in Jerusalem, following a special government meeting in which the ministers approved the deal.

No signing ceremony was held as the agreement is not a normalization deal between the two countries, which have been technically in a state of war since the statehood of Israel in 1948.

Instead, low-level Israeli and Lebanese delegations submitted signed letters of approval in the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the UN peacekeeping force based in Naqoura in southern Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office said in a statement.

In broadcast remarks in Jerusalem, Lapid said the agreement was a "tremendous achievement" under which Lebanon has recognized Israel for the first time.

"It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the state of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community," he said.

In the evening, Lapid and U.S. Senior Advisor for Energy Security Amos Hochstein, who mediated the talks, met at the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv. Lapid praised the deal as "historic," saying it will "strengthen Israel's security and Israel's economy and will bring stability to the region, which was the number one objective of the whole thing."

He said that gas production from the Karish natural gas field, which under the deal will stay under Israeli control, will enable his country to become "a major supplier of natural gas to Europe at a time when the world is in desperate need."

Hochstein said the signing of the deal marks "a historic day for two countries that never ended their state of war," adding that it would "ensure economic prosperity on both sides of the border."

He said the agreement, reached after months of U.S.-brokered talks, also signals "more cooperation, more integration of Israel into the region."

Lebanon's top negotiator and deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab told reporters that the deal marks "a new era." However, Aoun said later that the deal does not mean the "normalization of relations with Israel."

In response, Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that fought a full-fledged war and had several deadly conflicts with Israel, called the deal a "great victory for Lebanon."

In televised remarks, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah announced the end of "all exceptional and special measures and mobilization carried out" over the past months.

The deal, backed by Israel's military, National Security Council and Defense Ministry, is believed to have ended the immediate threat of conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah.

It covers an area of about 860 square kilometers claimed by both countries, where natural gas fields have been discovered.

Israel will keep its control over the Karish natural gas field. Gas production at the offshore field began on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the London-based Energean energy company.

Israel would receive 17 percent of the profits from the unexplored Qana natural gas field, which under the deal will be under Lebanese control. The field would be explored and exploited by the French energy corporation Total, raising hopes it would alleviate Lebanon's economic crisis. 
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.
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.
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.
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 a majority 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.
From breakfast to dinner rush, Chara Pech stood behind the counter at Burger King. After moving to Hastings, she worked 70-hour weeks as a supervisor at the fast food chain.

With four kids at home, she couldnt afford to work fewer shifts. Getting a higher-paying job seemed like it would require too many hours back in school.

I just felt like Im always in this predicament, Pech said. Just working and working and working.

Pechs predicament with poverty is familiar to many Americans  especially in rural counties. Since the 1960s, census data has shown higher rates of poverty in non-metro regions of the country.

Twenty Nebraska counties had a child poverty rate higher than the national average in 2020. All 20 counties have populations under 40,000, according to U.S. Census data collected by The University of Omahas Center for Public Affairs research.

Now, in some smaller Nebraska towns, community leaders are fighting back, determined to shrink poverty. Since 2016, three separate initiatives in three different spots  Hastings, Nebraska City and Red Cloud  have tried to tackle the issue in different ways.

Bridging Forward launched in June with a lofty goal: It wants to reduce poverty by 30% by 2030 in Hastings Adams County and three neighboring rural counties.

Its the organization that gave Pech assistance in January after she got sober and decided to go back to school.

It took them sitting me down and talking to them about it and showing me that I can do it, Pech said.

Today, Pech drives home from 8-hour shifts as a personal care assistant to help her kids with their homework. Then she stays up studying to earn her certified nursing assistants license.

As busy as it gets I get to remind myself that for the last eight years I was busy doing nothing, Pech said.

Bridging Forward has the goal of alleviating poverty, not just managing it, said Brady Rhodes of the Community Impact Network, a partner of Bridging Forward.

Program recipients work with staff to plan toward high-earning careers with openings in the area, Rhodes said.

We have these jobs that are open, that are possible for folks where they weren't possible for them in the past, Rhodes said. We have a real opportunity to lift folks out of poverty with a little bit of support.

Pech was connected to a temporary job in a Hastings memory care facility. Soon, a CNA job should pay well enough for her to go to college for a degree in social work.

I see my kids not being in poverty because I feel like in some ways I broke a chain, Pech said.

Pech is an early success of the program, but alleviating 30% of poverty in the area wont be easy.

Rural poverty can be very deep and hidden, Rhodes said. A lot of folks are maybe not used to asking for help and so finding the folks who need the help, who maybe have been in that situation for multiple generations, that's half the battle.

An emphasis on work ethic and stigma around aid in small towns can add a barrier for those experiencing poverty in rural communities, said Jennifer Sherman, a Washington State University sociology professor.

Another difficulty: The loss of high-paying jobs. People with the most resources are often encouraged to leave smaller towns, Sherman said.

When Ashley Armstrong moved to the Red Cloud area from Kansas City in 2011, she quickly identified one reason families with resources might move away from her new hometown  the lack of child care.

When she had her third child, the limited child care options were almost full, Armstrong said. To fix the issue, Armstrong and others began planning the Valley Child Development Center, which opened in 2018.

The center provides care to children from 6 weeks to 12 years, accepts families on child care subsidies and offers scholarships for qualifying families  making quality child care more possible for families of low income in the area, said Armstrong, vice president of the centers board of directors.

We know that there are more families out there, Armstrong said. That is always our goal, to continue to get families on subsidy and into our center.

Beyond access to child care, the center has helped with recruitment for local businesses. Two nurses with young children told Armstrong they chose to work in Red Cloud instead of another town because of child care access.

In 2016 a similarly child-focused, anti-poverty initiative began in Nebraska City.

Despite the towns association with orchards and historic mansions, poverty is prevalent in Nebraska City  child poverty is 24% higher than the state average, according to UNO and census data.

You will see this amazing historic home and you will see a home next door that is probably being discussed if it should be demolished, said Stacie Higgins, founder of EDGE Nebraska City.

Thanks to EDGE, every Nebraska City child has a personal library of at least 27 books by the time they start third grade. EDGE plans to reduce the towns poverty rate by 2036, by eroding decades-long poverty cycles, connecting students with the wider community and encouraging lifelong learning.

We cannot assume a book is going to take care of this, Higgins said. You have to commit to the full process of here's the book, here's the relationship, here's the next step.

According to The Childrens Reading Foundation, proficient reading skill by the end of the third grade is one of the strongest predictors of high school graduation. Nebraska Citys high school graduation rate is higher than the state average, but in 2020 only 20% of the population had obtained a bachelor's degree or higher. The state average: 33%.

One of the best ways to promote early literacy is 20 minutes of at-home, daily reading, experts say. That goal previously seemed unachievable for some Nebraska City families with only a few books in the home.

Amy Callens oldest son Connor was in one of the first kindergarten classes to get a book bestie. Since participating in EDGE, Callen has seen Connor and his siblings grow interested in reading.

They not only come home with a book but theyre excited about it as well, Callen said.

Connor is now a fourth grader and his book collection has been passed down to his younger siblings. He now participates in Citizens EDGE which connects students to the wider community.

As EDGE works to alleviate poverty, Higgins has already helped a generation of Nebraska City students, Callen said.

This work  in Nebraska City, Hastings and Red Cloud  is only beginning.

I will know we've been successful when I run into a 25-year-old on the street and they can answer some simple questions like: I graduated from high school, I can provide for my family , I'm actively engaged in my community and Im still interested in learning, Higgins said.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.
Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group.

My husband and I love our neighborhood, but the public schools are middling (elementary school) to downright bad (junior high and high school), and we know we wont want our daughter, currently a toddler, to complete her K-12 education here. As we see it, we have three options:

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1) Move now, to the much-more-expensive neighboring county, where the schools are better.

2) Stay put, and instead of buying the more-expensive house, plan to use the money to enroll daughter in private school.

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3) Enroll daughter in our middling local elementary school and see whether she tests into the public gifted-and-talented magnet school at the end of second grade. If she does, wed send her there for free. If she doesnt, then wed move or switch to private school at that point.

Im inclined to choose option 3, and kick the can down the road for five years. My husband votes for 1 or 2, with his argument being that moving daughter to a new school to start third grade will be much harder on her than just starting out at the school we intend to keep her in. Do you have any guidance or ways to think through this?

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How to Choose

Dear Choose,

I see this question oftenon listservs, in Facebook groupsand it always gets my hackles up. So, Im not going to give you an answerIm instead going to ask you a question. How do you know the schools are middling to downright bad if you dont have a kid in the schools?

Where are you getting this information from? Are people who have kids in the schools telling you? Or people who dont have kids in the schools? Hows the teacher retention? After more than 20 years in a variety of schools and districts, I can assure you happy teachers indicate good schools. Have you talked to any teachers or checked out teacher working conditions surveys? Are you looking at the rankings on greatschools.org? If so, I encourage you to do some Googling about that website. (Spoiler: It tells you which schools are white, not which schools are great.)

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Finally, have you toured the schools? Have you walked the halls? Have you looked at the work on the walls? Have you eavesdropped on a lesson? Have you spoken with the principal about their mission and vision for the school? I wonder, if you did, would you still call these schools middling to downright bad?

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If Im wrong and youve done your due diligence, flip a coin. Youre financially well-off enough to move to the much-more-expensive neighboring countyyour kid is going to be fine.

Ms. Scott (high school teacher, North Carolina)

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My 5-year-old is struggling in kindergarten. Shes been in daycare since she was 1, so shes used to being in care. The biggest struggle shes having is doing things she doesnt want to do or leaving an activity she likes. She is having huge blow ups, where she has meltdowns, is hard to console, and kicks things. She knows better when we talk to her about her big feelings but says she forgets when shes in the moment (which I totally see happening).

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These blow-ups dont happen nearly as much at home, but they do, especially when shes told she cant do something or when her brother has something she wants. Shes been to the school psychologist, and her teacher wants to talk with us about putting her in some type of counseling, which I fully support.

Because I grew up in a household with domestic violence, my husband and I are very calm people who are working on gentle parenting. Im very afraid I passed my anxiety on to her. I dont mention any of this around her, but Im at a loss. (I am in therapy.)

Did I do this to her? Are there books I can read to her to help? How can I support her if/when counseling happens? How can I help her through all these big emotions? What Im doing doesnt seem to be working.

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At a Loss

Dear AaL,

This is in no way your fault. This is a common issue amongst children her age. In most cases no amount of stellar parenting could mitigate these behaviors. What your daughter is experiencing is likely due to a combination of environmental and developmental factors. The good news is that you are taking the correct steps. Starting with counseling is hands down the best thing you can do. Seeking that type of support for your daughter at this age will not only provide potential solutions for your family to try in the short term, but will also set a solid foundation for her mental health that she will benefit from for the rest of her life.

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In the meantime, there are several books you could read that help young children better manage their feelings, but I would recommend using a tailored curriculum. Ive often recommended resources such as Second Step or Kelsos Choice to readers of this column. Both curricula teach students strategies that help manage those big feelings. Second Step also produces age specific content so your child can hone these strategies and build off them as she grows and as the problems that she faces inevitably become more complex. So, take a big deep breath, reassure yourself that everything will work out (because it will) and just take this journey one step at a time. I believe your daughter will thank you for being so intentional about supporting her mental health so early in life.

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Mr. Hersey (elementary school teacher, Washington)

Our 5-year-old son Liam is about a month into kindergarten. It seems to be going okay he has positive things to share and is enjoying art, music, writing projects, and playing. There are a few things giving me pause, though, and I cant tell if this is normal or not?

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A week ago, Liam casually mentioned that a classmate had touched Liams bottom in the group bathroom. Liam immediately told the teacher (who happened to be a substitute that day), who told the dean of students. The dean handled things really well with the kids. She followed up with us to loop us in, and her story matched Liams. He wasnt upset by it. Although it wasnt okay, I definitely got the vibe it was 5-year-olds trying to joke around in a not-okay way and not something more sinister. We moved on.

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Today, I got another message from the dean that a student had pulled his pants down during class, and Liam had seen the kids private area. Liam told the classroom teacher, who reported it to the dean, and a similar process took place where she chatted with the kids involved. Again, she said Liam wasnt upsethe just knew it wasnt okay and knew he should tell a grown-up.

I responded to ask if it was the same kid (well call him Sam) from the bathroom incident, but I havent heard back. If its not, Liam just seems to be on the unlucky receiving end of some bad kindergarten behavior. If it is Sam, Im wondering if we should follow up to see if the teacher thinks Liam is somehow being targeted by Sam? I get that teachers are spread thin and not able to micromanage every single moment of behavior, but.it feels like Liam is getting pulled out of class to deal with these incidents every few days now!

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His teacher does not seem very communicative overall. We havent heard a single word from Liams classroom teacher since the first week of school. No emails, no phone calls, and not even a group message to the usual parent-teacher-sharing app. How normal is this? These incidents aside, wed love to hear how she thinks Liam is doing, and what her impressions have been so far. Should I email her again? I dont want to be that parent, but.my kid has had some crappy stuff happen! Its exactly the kind of stuff that makes me think homeschooling parents are on to something. (For the record, my husband and I thrived in public schools and want the same for our kids. We dont want to be those affluent white parents who send their kids private for no good reason.)

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How can we make sure his classroom teacher is looking out for him, even as hes one of the easy kids who gets overlooked because hes doing well? And how normal is this butt-touching, penis-sharing behavior by kindergarteners anyway?

First-Time Kinder Parents

Dear FTKP,

It doesnt seem like the teacher is communicating in a way that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Different teachers have different approaches to parent contact, and it sounds like Liams teacher is pretty hands-off, which works for some people but doesnt seem like its working for you. There are two ways you can approach this, both of which are probably not going to get you labelled a difficult parent. The first is to reach out to the teacher directly. Tell her that youd like to get more communication, even just updates. As long as you arent rude or pushy about it, theres nothing wrong with asking for a teacher to reach out more often. The only times Ive heard teachers complain about that is when parents are demanding or when the communication they ask for is above-and-beyond (i.e. emailing 7 paragraph treatises and expecting immediate responsesat 10 p.m.).

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Depending on your experience at the school, and your comfort level with the teacher, you could reach out to someone else instead. Because of the nature of the incidents, I would try the guidance counselor or the dean. You can tell them how youre feeling and either they can work with the teacher to support your family better, or they can support you directly.

Regarding the exposure, the school has an obligation to protect the privacy of the child who did this. That being said, your concerns about bullying are totally valid, especially given the nature of the incidents. Regardless of whether it was the same kid, or a different kid, though (have you asked your son?), when you talk to the school, you should definitely confirm that the situation is being monitored. (I feel pretty confident that the situation is being monitored, and confirming that with the school would probably give you peace of mind.)

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As for how common this stuff is? Its hard to say. Kindergarteners are just above the age where I would normally expect fixation on the privates, but not so far above that Id expect every kid to have outgrown it. Besides, its been a weird few years. Child development norms are based on, well, normal circumstances. Kids are coming into kindergarten with less socialization, less practice leaving their homes and going places, and in many cases, more recent potty-training. Its possible kids are just going through that phase of their lives a little later than were used to. I wouldnt consider this behavior totally out of left field.

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Good luck. I hope that a talk with the school puts your mind (and your son) at ease.

Ms. Sarnell (early childhood special education teacher, Colorado)

More Advice From Slate

My fifth grade daughter brought up a concern about gym class, and Im debating how to handle it. Her teacher often segments the class by gender. Alternate by boy-girl or Boys line up on the green line, girls on blue. Stuff like that. One of my daughters classmates came out as non-binary this summer, and that is why my daughter is concerned. How should I help guide her through this?
In the run-up to the midterms, Congress remains in recess, its members afraid to take any votes that might hurt their reelection prospects. The federal judiciary does not have this problem: Its members are insulated for life from the consequences of their actions. No one understands this fact better than Republican-appointed judges, who have spent the last two weeks flexing their muscles as if to remind the country who really rules it. A series of decisions from the lowest to highest courts reinforced these judges steely grip on power in the United States. Several of these rulings imposed extreme policies that are far more sweeping than any actual elected lawmakers could ever hope to enact. This October, the courts have been out of control.

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Startwhere else?in Texas, home of Donald Trumps most radical appointees. Even among this crew of bomb-throwers, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk stands out. In 2021, Kacsmaryk seized control of American border policy, forcing migrants back into Mexican territory by judicial decree for nearly a year. The Supreme Court eventually shot down this power grab, returning authority over foreign affairs to the president. But Kacsmaryk evidently did not learn any lessons: The judge is now defying the Supreme Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton County protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination.

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The logic of Bostock is straightforward. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act bars employment discrimination because of sex. It is impossible to discriminate against a gay or transgender employee without taking their sex into account. Thus, anti-LGBTQ discrimination is a form of sex discrimination. There is no reason why this analysis should not apply to more than 100 other federal laws that outlaw sex discrimination. So the Biden administration has issued regulations and guidance explaining that these laws also forbid anti-LGBTQ discrimination, including the Affordable Care Act, which bars sex discrimination in health care.

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One by one, Kacsmaryk has run these regulations through the shredder. The judge has carved a nonsensical distinction between status and conduct, declaring that Bostock prohibits discrimination only on the basis of status. So, according to the judge, if an employer discriminates against a gay worker for getting marriedor a trans worker for transitioning, or a bisexual worker for going on a same-sex datethats legal. Whats left after that? Nothing, and thats the point: Every act of anti-LGBTQ bias can be reframed as discrimination based on action rather than identity.

The Supreme Court has expressly rejected any distinction between status and conduct in this context, explaining that restrictions on homosexual conduct are just discrimination against homosexual persons. But Kacsmaryk simply decided SCOTUS was wrong and he was right. On that basis, the judge struck down the governments efforts to enforce Bostock against employers on Oct. 1, essentially halting the Biden administrations efforts to enforce the Supreme Courts own mandate.

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That wasnt all: On Oct. 14, Kacsmaryk certified a class of every health care provider in the United States in a lawsuit against government regulations that bar health care providers from discriminating against LGBTQ patients. Most medical professionals dont actually want to discriminate, but Kacsmaryk just lumped them in with the handful of anti-LGBTQ doctors who brought the lawsuit. He has already declared that the Affordable Care Act doesnt outlaw discrimination. Any day now, he will issue an order freeing every health care provider to engage in the kind of bias that Bostock forbade.

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Kacsmaryk feels free to issue these outrageous rulings because all of his cases are appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Trumpiest appeals court in the country. He knows the Trump-stacked court will greenlight his precedent-busting crusade against the Biden administration. And, true to form, the 5th Circuit also recently took its own cleaver to the federal government. On Oct. 19, a three-judge panel found the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be unconstitutionally funded, nullifying its enforcement authority. In short, the court nuked an entire federal agency. It announced a new ruletotally foreign to Supreme Court precedent and the Constitutionthat Congress cannot permanently fund federal agencies. Instead, Congress has to reappropriate money over and over again, through a bill stamped APPROPRIATIONS.

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The lawmakers who matter most are sitting on federal courts around the country.

If thats true, its not just the CFPB thats unconstitutional, but also the Federal Reserve and most major social programs, including Social Security and Medicare. Huge chunks of the federal government get permanent funding through formulas set by Congress; the 5th Circuit has now put these trillions of dollars in jeopardy. The court apparently wants to impose Rick Scotts vision of ever-shrinking government through judicial fiat.

This sort of radicalism is nothing new from this court. In May, the 5th Circuit effectively declared the Securities and Exchange Commission unconstitutional. The three-judge panels ruling suggested that countless other federal agenciesthe EPA, the National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Trade Commission, you name italso operate illegally. In October, the full 5th Circuit had an opportunity to rehear the case en banc and rein in the panels zealous attack on the governments ability to function. But on Oct. 21, it refused by a 106 vote. In a sign of the times, it was George W. Bush nominee Catharina Haynes who dissented, explaining that the court should think more carefully before invalidating at least three acts of Congress and lighting the administrative state on fire. For many years, Haynes was considered a conservative judge. By the standards of todays 5th Circuit, though, shes a raging lefty.

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One obvious benefit of shifting lawmaking from Congress to the courts is that if a litigant fails the first time, they can just try again elsewhere. For instance, seven other federal courts upheld the CFPBs funding before the 5th Circuit decided that, actually, it knew better than all of them.

But litigants can also shop for judges within a state to ensure victory when they dont get everything they want the first time around. To wit: On Oct. 6, a George W. Bushappointed judge struck down New Yorks restrictions on concealed carry in airports, summer camps, domestic violence shelters, childcare programs, libraries, the subway, and much more. But he upheld the ban on concealed carry in places of worship (which excluded police and guards). Gun advocates didnt fret: Theyd already brought a separate case before a different federal judge in New Yorkthis one appointed by Trump. On Oct. 20, that judge struck down the ban on firearms in places of worship. It appears that litigants have a good shot at dismantling every piece of New Yorks gun laws by planting a case before each conservative judge in the state.

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These Second Amendment rulings flowed from Justice Clarence Thomas maximalist Bruen decision in 2022, which found all modern gun restrictions presumptively unconstitutional unless the government could identify a historical analogue from 1791. Thomas is on a hot streak: After winning nearly every major case last year, hes poised to take down affirmative action, the Voting Rights Act, the Clean Water Act, LGBTQ non-discrimination law, and much more later this term. One major question has lingered, though: As more and more cases stemming from the 2020 election and Jan. 6 insurrection trickled upward to the court, would the justice recuse himself? After all, his own wife, Ginni Thomas, was involved in Trumps attempted coup and testified before the Jan. 6 committee. Federal law requires a justice to recuse when their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Would Thomas step aside to protect the court from this conflict of interest?

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On Monday, we got our answer: Absolutely not. The justice issued an order halting a subpoena that compelled GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham to testify before a Georgia grand jury about his alleged election fraud. By itself, the stay was no big deal: Justices routinely issue such orders while the full court can consider the merits. What was disturbing, rather, was that Thomas participated in the first place. And unlike past justices accused of ethical conflicts, he did not bother to explain himself. The justice wielded his power without apology, taking decisive action in a case that could plausibly implicate his own wifes participation in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

All this arrogant defiance of judicial norms and ethics, from Kacsmaryk up to Thomas, goes on constantly in the federal courts these days. Its probably a coincidence that the latest flurry of decisions took place just before the upcoming elections. But the timing is a helpful reminder of which institutions actually make policy and wield power in America today. No matter who wins control of Congress in November, the lawmakers who matter most are sitting on federal courts around the country, wearing black robes to create the increasingly farcical pretext of impartiality.
This article is part of the Free Speech Project , a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

When Kanye West made antisemitic comments on Instagram and Twitter earlier this month, Meta and Twitter responded by locking his account, reasoning he violated their community guidelines.

Crucially, the decision to freeze his accounttemporarily halting his expression in those spaceswas made independently by the companies. No government actor was involved. The First Amendment generally precludes the U.S. government from limiting private speakers and companies ideas or controlling how social media firms govern their spaces.

But other governments may soon fill that void, and regulate how American tech giants referee speech on their platforms. Earlier this month, the European Union approved legislation aimed at regulating social media platforms: the Digital Services Act. The law will take effect in 2024, in time for the next U.S. presidential elections, and promises big shifts in how online speech is refereed not just in Europe, but also here at home. The law, among other requirements, places substantial content moderation expectations on large social media firmsmany based in the U.S.which include limiting false information, hate speech, and extremism.

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Its not clear how social media firms will adapt to the law, but the fines they will face for failing to comply will be massive. Firms can be fined up to six percent of their annual revenuethats $11 billion for Google and $7 billion for Meta. Essentially, the EU has created a significant new legal incentive for firms to regulate expression on their platforms.

The law, while written to protect EU residents, will almost certainly lead social media firms to change their moderation policies worldwide. Thus, with the DSA, the EU will effectively be doing what the First Amendment ostensibly prohibits our own government from doing: regulating the editorial judgments made by social media platforms on which Americans communicate with each other.

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This isnt the first time an EU law has changed Americans rights online. When was the last time you were asked about cookies when you visited a website or given the option to limit a tech firms access to your private data? Most of those changes stemmed from the EUs General Data Protection Act, which went into effect in 2018.

The law, designed to protect EU citizens, has done more to change American privacy protections in the internet age than anything Congress has done, because firms made global changes to their services to comply with European regulations. Just take, for example, the Arkansas State Parks website, which includes a banner at the bottom of its main page that reads, This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. GDPR. The privacy policy for Mount Rushmores website also notes GDPR compliance. Seeking to remain visible to a global audience on a global internet, these clearly American places have made sure their spaces are GDPR compliant, though U.S. lawmakers had nothing to do with the law. In countless ways, big and small, the EUs massive privacy law has transformed Americans online experiences, and the DSA may do the same.

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Large social media firms will increasingly contend the DSA, rather than independent, in-house policies, requires they remove certain content. That means an American politicians conspiracy-filled Facebook post will create legal liability for Meta. The company might then take it down to avoid huge fines in Europe. Similarly, a YouTube video posted by Christian nationalists or COVID misinformation shared on TikTok could be taken down because of DSA concerns.

If American lawmakers had rolled up their sleeves and done the difficult work of identifying a narrow path between protecting online spaces and safeguarding First Amendment rights, we wouldnt be left to speculate about the impact a law written by and for those on another continent will have on our own marketplace of ideas.

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Under the DSA, the spectrum of ideas that flow in online spaces, for better or worse, will narrow. The threats of massive fines create substantial incentives for firms to, out of caution, remove content and speakers that could lead to EU penalties. Experience shows these types of laws lead to over-corrections, encouraging taking down content and creating almost no incentives for fostering an expansive space for the exchange of ideas.

The scenario becomes more complex if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas and Florida laws that require social media firms to leave content and speakers on their spaces, even if doing so violates their community guidelines. Presumably under that scenario, some online platforms would have to choose between the regulations of those two U.S. states and the European Union, accelerating the global internets balkanization. Recent years have seen the development of a separate Chinese internet, and a separate Russian internet, and the danger of the EUs DSA, especially if it triggers an American backlash, is that it could drive a wedge between the free North American and European Union internets.

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Justices have not yet agreed to hear the content moderation cases emanating from Florida and Texas, but are expected to. Unlike the DSA, the two state laws cannot circumvent U.S. law, and according to nearly a century of precedent, the state laws are unconstitutional. After all, the First Amendment generally precludes the U.S. government from limiting private speakers and companies ideas or controlling how social media firms govern their spaces.

Back across the Atlantic, the tech firms can challenge the DSA in European courts, before or after it goes into effect, something EU officials have said they expect. However, the law, while it will require big firms to rebuild their moderation systems in a short period of time, could also help the companies by outsourcing any controversial content moderation decisions.

Firms such as Meta, Google, and Twitter have been widely criticized by those who feel they dont do enough to remove dangerous, false, and extremist content, and those who feel they go too far in doing so. Companies naturally resist regulation, but by imposing standards across all major platforms, the EU could be shielding these private companies from the fury of those who would oppose their moderation policies.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
HARARE, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A man was shot outside the Russian Embassy in Zimbabwe's capital city Harare Wednesday evening, police confirmed Thursday.

National Police Spokesperson Paul Nyathi said in a brief statement that investigations were currently underway and described the injured person as a suspect.

Confirming the shooting incident that occurred at 19:20 on Wednesday evening, Nyathi added "a 24-year-old suspect was injured and is currently admitted to a local hospital. More details will be released in due course."

He did not disclose who had shot the man. 
A congress centre with residential and administrative buildings or hotel to be built on the site.

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In Bratislava, the demolition work of Istropolis continues. In the new footage from the drone, it can be seen that it is gradually decreasing from a high-rise building. Work on the building of the former House of Trade Unions should last until the end of this year.

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The investor declares that the entire demolition will be gradual and very delicate, in order to reduce the negative impacts related to the work as much as possible.

A congress centre with residential and administrative buildings or a hotel will be constructed on the site.

The development company Immocap bought Istropolis in 2017 from the Unified Property Fund of Trade Unions. It started demolishing the building when it received permission from the Bratislava city district of Nove Mesto.
Anyone with permanent residence is eligible to vote. Polling stations closing earlier than usual.

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Slovakia is preparing for its first joint municipal and regional elections, taking place this Saturday, October 29.

Both Slovak citizens and foreigners with permanent residence above the legal age of 18 are eligible to vote. The polling stations open at 7:00 and close at 20:00, earlier than usual in the past.

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Because the regional and municipal elections are held on the same day, voters will receive four lists and two  one white, one blue - envelopes in the voting room. The blue envelopes are for regional elections, white for municipal elections.



The joint municipal and regional elections give a say to foreigners living in Slovakia, as well.

There are currently about 82,000 foreigners with permanent residence in Slovakia. Not much information on candidates is provided in English, though. However, the information should be provided on the websites of towns and villages, information boards or sent to mailboxes.

How many people to vote for

It is important to know how many candidates can one vote for. Cities, town districts and villages are not evenly divided into constituencies according to the number of inhabitants, and municipalities are divided into electoral boroughs. Due to the differences in numbers of city borough inhabitants, it is not possible to elect the same number of councilors in each borough.

Voters will receive two ballot papers: one with candidates for the regional governors post and the other with candidates for the regional parliament.

A voter picks one candidate for governor. The number of regional councillors that can be elected in a certain district will be stated on the ballot.

Voters will then place both ballots in one blue envelope, which they will receive from the committee, and cast it into the ballot box. The full list of candidates can be found on the official website of Interior Ministry.

Identifying yourself and voting sites

Voting is only possible at the place of voters permanent residence. Coming to the ballots, voters will be asked to show their IDs.

No prior registering is needed since the town or village where voters have their permanent residence is responsible for registering them on the permanent list of voters. If foreigners find that they are not on the list when they turn up to vote, the district electoral committee will write their name down after identifying them with their Foreigner Resident Card.

Usual turnout scenario and consequences

Municipal and regional elections usually have a low turnout since negative emotions towards politics play a great role. The elections also take place around the holidays dedicated to remembering and mourning families loved ones who have passed away. People usually travel to visit family graves, attend sermons and light candles, so they might not be present in their place of permanent residence at the time of elections.

However, it is still important to come to the polling stations. The vote affects local services, levels of healthcare, culture, education  the very image of towns and villages.

Self-governing regions (VUCs) have decision-making powers in education, social services, health care, master plans, and public transport, and oversee the maintenance of lower category roads, while coordinating inter-regional and cross-border cooperation and tourism. They make decisions pertaining to the operation of museums, galleries, libraries and pharmacies, just to name a few of the crucial sectors.
Measures to crackdown on dangerous driving proposed.

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An information campaign to stop drink-driving is to be launched after police said there had been a rise in the number of people caught drink-driving in Slovakia this year.

In the first nine months of 2022, 8,068 alcohol tests on drivers were positive - the highest number for the same period since 2015.

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Drink-drive killings shock society

At the beginning of October, a drunk driver ploughed his car into a bus stop in Bratislava city centre, killing five people. The incident shocked Slovakia and prompted a debate about the role of alcohol in society.

"The consequences of the accident at the Zochova bus stop in Bratislava are traumatic for all of society and it is unthinkable that it should happen again," Interior Minister Roman Mikulec (OLaNO) said at a press conference as the latest police data was revealed.

Meanwhile, Tomas Vrabel, Director of the Department of Traffic Police said that of the 9,073 traffic accidents registered in the first nine months of the year, 1,069 accidents - around 12 percent - were caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol. He added the proportion of accidents caused by drink drivers had not changed in the last five years.

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Measures proposed

The Interior Ministry's new information campaign called "Alcohol behind the wheel can kill", which will involve the distribution of leaflets, videos on social media, and short media clips screened at petrol stations, will run until the end of the year.

In a recent survey by the AKO agency almost 14 percent admitted that they have sometimes driven a car under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry has proposed the introduction of a range of measures to tackle dangerous driving, including a licence points system and the installation of stationary speed cameras in cities and towns and potential six-month driving bans for speeding.

The ministry said it was also in talks with the Justice Ministry about other sanctions for dangerous drivers, such as vehicle confiscation.
Something that perhaps caught Sooners fans off guard this season was just how improved several programs in the Big 12 were. TCU, Kansas State, Kansas, and Texas Tech have all surpassed preseason expectations.

I hate getting SEC SEC SEC chanted at me as much of the next guy, but after losing to these Big 12 teams, its a well-deserved chirp.

So, when Oklahoma and Texas do leave for the SEC, what will remain of the Big 12?

Theyll be fine. Theyll be more than fine.

New Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark will be aggressive in expansion efforts. The Big 12 already has their OU-Texas replacements in Houston, UCF, BYU and Cincinnati. With the Pac-12 still in flux, he could very well make a few calls to the teams out West if he hasnt already.

TCU might have made the hire of the year in Sonny Dykes. With the future hierarchy of the Big 12 in a state of flux, the Frogs could very well stake their claim to a position of power this season.

Kansas State is too well-run to forget about. Theyve been a thorn in OUs side for years.

Mike Gundy isnt going anywhere. Oklahoma State will still be putting up nine-win seasons each year.

Kansas and Iowa State are the wildcards. If they can retain their head coaches, theyre going to be fine. Im more and more curious as to what Lance Leipold can accomplish if he does stay in Lawrence.

If the two Kansas schools can hold onto their head coaches, the Big 12 has the makings of one of the deepest leagues in the country.

While the Big 12 wont be the Big Ten or the SEC, they will still be a great football conference. They will not die without the Sooners and Longhorns.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today. You can also follow Ben on Twitter @bendackiw.

Story originally appeared on Sooners Wire
Shahid Al-Hafed, October 26, 2022 (SPS) - The National Secretariat of the Polisario Front affirmed the insistence and determination of the Sahrawi people to continue their legitimate struggle by all means until independence.

In a statement issued after its extraordinary meeting chaired by the President of the Republic, the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, and after reviewing the developments of the Sahrawi issue, the National Secretariat reaffirmed the Polisario Front's readiness to interact positively with any effort made by the international community to complete the decolonization From Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa.

The statement added this lies only in enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, adding in this regard that the Sahrawi people, as they prepare to hold the sixteenth conference of the Polisario Front in these exceptional circumstances, are determined more than ever, to continue the struggle By all legitimate means until achieving freedom and independence and the establishment of their independent state on their entire national territory.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/canadian-parliament-votes-to-retain-uks-king-charles-iii-as-monarch-by-266-to-44-1102742829.html

Canadian Parliament Votes to Retain UK's King Charles III as Monarch by 266 to 44

Canadian Parliament Votes to Retain UK's King Charles III as Monarch by 266 to 44

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Canadian parliament on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly by 266 votes to 44 to retain the institution of Monarchy within the... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T21:52+0000

2022-10-26T21:52+0000

2022-10-26T21:53+0000

americas

canada

uk

british monarchy

king charles iii

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On Tuesday, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet called the institution of monarchy racist, slave-driven and archaic, but his rhetoric failed to convince most members of parliament. Bloc Quebecois has 32 seats in the 338 seat House of Commons, the main chamber of parliament.Blanchet had argued that rejecting his motion would mean that Canadians still are the 18th Century conquered subjects of the British Crown.Blanchet noted that those opposing his motion should know that the British Empire of the 18th century was one of the most racist institutions the world has ever known.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/canadian-parliament-to-vote-on-motion-to-sever-ties-with-archaic-uk-monarchy-1102652944.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/eu-to-issue-80-million-in-grants-to-north-macedonia-by-year-end---von-der-leyen-1102740597.html

EU to Issue $80 Million in Grants to North Macedonia by Year-End - Von der Leyen

EU to Issue $80 Million in Grants to North Macedonia by Year-End - Von der Leyen

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Union will provide North Macedonia with 80 million euros ($80.6 million) in grants as part of a support package for the Balkan... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T21:11+0000

2022-10-26T21:11+0000

2022-10-26T21:11+0000

world

europe

eu

north macedonia

energy crisis

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"We are putting forward now an energy package, a support package, for the whole Western Balkans. It begins with grants, 80 million [euros] grants here for North Macedonia as immediate budget support. It will help address the impact of the high energy prices on your citizens and on your businesses and we will finalize this by the end of the year so that you can get the funding already in January," von der Leyen said during a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski in Skopje.Von der Leyen also promised to provide more financial support in the future, noting the importance of developing domestic renewable energy sources in order to achieve self-sufficiency. She also invited North Macedonia, a non-EU member that submitted an application to joint the bloc in 2004, to join the European joint procurement plan for gas.Since 2021, energy prices in EU countries have been surging as part of a global trend. After the beginning of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 and the adoption of several packages of sanctions against Moscow by the EU, energy prices have accelerated their growth, placing energy security high on both the global and national agendas and pushing many European governments to resort to contingency measures. The EU has been looking for alternatives to Russian natural gas as it has pledged to end its dependence on fossil fuels.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/thousands-turn-out-in-nablus-for-funeral-of-five-palestinians-killed-in-idf-raid-on-militia-hq-1102744350.html

Thousands Turn Out in Nablus for Funeral of Five Palestinians Killed in IDF Raid on Militia HQ

Thousands Turn Out in Nablus for Funeral of Five Palestinians Killed in IDF Raid on Militia HQ

Much of the northern West Bank has been under lockdown for weeks as Israeli forces claim every car and person poses a potential threat to them amid increased... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T23:11+0000

2022-10-26T23:11+0000

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nablus

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Tens of thousands of mourners attended a massive funeral procession on Tuesday in the West Bank city of Nablus following a raid by Israeli special forces that killed five people.The sound of gunfire heard in the video is from mourners firing their guns into the air - a common scene at public events both somber and celebratory.In addition to the Nablus procession, millions of Palestinians across the West Bank held a general strike on Wednesday, with most stores and schools being closed in the territorys major settlements.IDF Raids Nablus GroupJust after midnight on Tuesday, more than 100 Israeli Defense Force (IDF) armored vehicles entered Nablus, a city in the north-central West Bank, to carry out a raid against what they described as a headquarters and explosives manufacturing site for the 'Lion's Den' terrorist group.Hundreds of people turned out to resist the IDF presence, throwing rocks and other projectiles at the soldiers, who then fired back. At least 21 other Palestinians were wounded in the fighting, with four being in critical condition, including a Palestinian Authority officer who also fought the Israelis, Haaretz reported.Three of the men killed - Hamdi Qayyem, Wadee al-Hawah, and Mishal Baghdadi - were members of an underground Palestinian resistance group called The Lions Den. Residents and journalists told Al Jazeera that the other two men  Hamdi Sharaf and Ali Antar - were unarmed barbers who were on their way home from work when they were shot by IDF soldiers.However, according to locals, it wasnt the soldiers in the armored vehicles who killed the three militia members, but missiles fired by an IDF drone overhead. Conflicting reports by Israeli media claimed the drones were not armed.Nonstop BlockadeThe raid came after two weeks of constant blockade of Nablus, a city of 160,000 people, and surrounding areas, as Israeli authorities said they were pursuing Baruchs killers. The soldier had been killed in a drive-by attack in the nearby town of Shavei Shomron while operating as security for a parade of Jewish settlers during the Sukkot holiday.The Tuesday raid was similar to another in Jenin in May, during which Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. The IDF admitted last month that IDF soldiers had likely shot Akleh, but declined to punish any of the troops in question.Documenting the great trouble the blockades have caused, Israeli human rights group BTselem said the move demonstrates Israels willingness to completely ignore more than 200,000 people whose lives it has chosen to control, which entails responsibility for them. Paying lip service by saying the harm was predicted is also an admission of the regimes brazen indifference to the residents need to make a living, access education, visit friends and go about their daily lives. Imposing the restrictions in full knowledge of the harm they would reflects Israeli decision- makers view that Palestinian subjects are lesser human beings. This is what apartheid looks like.The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, was created in 1994 as the first step toward the establishment of a future Palestinian state. However, the increased tempo of Jewish settlement in the territory, heavily sponsored by the Israeli government and sympathetic American groups, has created a complex web of Jewish and Arab populations through which it is necessary for the IDF to constantly patrol in an attempt to keep the peace. An estimated 645,000 Jewish settlers and 2.8 million Palestinians live in the West Bank.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/idf-israeli-troops-eliminate-terrorist-cell-in-city-of-nablus-west-bank-1102603948.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221026/turkey-makes-efforts-to-return-russian-agricultural-products-to-markets---source-1102741961.html

Turkey Makes Efforts to Return Russian Agricultural Products to Markets - Source

Turkey Makes Efforts to Return Russian Agricultural Products to Markets - Source

ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkey makes efforts to return Russian agricultural products to world markets during talks on the extension of the UN-initiated grain deal... 26.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-26T21:37+0000

2022-10-26T21:37+0000

2022-10-26T21:37+0000

world

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turkey

grain

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grain

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"Now the main task is to remove all obstacles to the entry of Russian agricultural products, in particular fertilizers, to the markets. Indeed, in addition to grain, there is a need for Russian fertilizers. It is also important that countries in need can receive these products freely," the source said.On July 22, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey signed an UN-brokered initiative to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Black Sea ports. The initiative consists of two package documents. The first one, a memorandum, stipulates the obligation of the UN to remove various restrictions on the export of Russian agricultural products and fertilizers to global markets. The second defines the algorithm for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products from the Black Sea ports controlled by Ukraine. Moscow has pointed out that the first memorandum of the grain initiative is not working yet.UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Mahmoud Abdulla said on October 15 that the grain deal was likely to be extended and, possibly, expanded. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in turn, said that if it became known that the grain supply corridors were used by Ukraine to carry out terrorist attacks, the grain deal might be revised.Russia has requested the UN Secretariat provide statistics on the final recipients of the grain exported from Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/joint-coordination-center-in-turkey-to-conduct-inspection-of-mine-like-object---statement-1102653689.html

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for an end to sanctions against Zimbabwe.

In a press statement released Wednesday evening, Mahamat said he once again renews the longstanding AU demand for the immediate and unconditional lifting of sanctions imposed against institutions and individuals of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

"The AU Commission Chairperson remains extremely concerned by the negative impact of the unilateral sanctions to Zimbabwe's sociology-economic development and the current global food and energy crises, including post COVID-19 recovery efforts," the statement further said.

Faki further reaffirmed the continued commitment of the AU to support Zimbabwe in mobilizing efforts for the lifting of unilateral sanctions against the southern African nation.

Western nations imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in the early 2000s in response to the southern African nation's land reforms program which aimed to redistribute rural land from the white minority to the majority black population. 
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/arsenal-player-pablo-mari-among-five-people-wounded-in-knife-attack-inside-italian-mall-1102782618.html

Arsenal Player Pablo Mari Among Five People Wounded in Knife Attack Inside Italian Mall

Arsenal Player Pablo Mari Among Five People Wounded in Knife Attack Inside Italian Mall

ROME (Sputnik) - Five people were seriously wounded by a man wielding a knife in a shopping center in the town of Assago near Milan on Thursday night, Italian... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T21:28+0000

2022-10-27T21:28+0000

2022-10-27T21:26+0000

world

stabbing attack

italy

arsenal

football player

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According to Tgcom24 broadcaster, carabinieri were able to apprehend the attacker, a 46-year-old Italian man. The reason for the attack is yet unclear, but the terror act version was ruled out, according to the broadcaster. Although a motive is uncertain at present, police have suggested the attacker's mental health played a role.Several ambulances and a special medical helicopter arrived on the scene and transported the victims to hospitals. Three of the injured are said to be in critical condition.Italian broadcaster Rainews24 later reported that on the way to the hospital, one of the wounded, who worked in the mall as a cashier, died. A release since issued by the Arsenal club has indicated that that Mari, who is on loan at Monza from Arsenal, did not sustain serious injuries. It was later detailed by the Monza chief executive Adriano Galliani that the player had a "fairly deep wound on his back" but that it did not puncture any vital organs. An investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/belgian-and-luxembourg-business-continue-to-work-on-russian-territory-expert-says-1102768631.html

Belgian and Luxembourg Business Continue to Work on Russian Territory, Expert Says

Belgian and Luxembourg Business Continue to Work on Russian Territory, Expert Says

In an interview with Sputnik on the sidelines of the XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, chief executive of the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Russia... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T16:09+0000

2022-10-27T16:09+0000

2022-10-27T16:09+0000

opinion & analysis

interviews

russia

europe

business

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Sputnik: What is your mission here at the Verona Forum? Why did you choose to participate?Oleg Prozorov: First of all, thank you for your question. We are a long-standing partner with Mr Fallico [Antonio Fallico, president of Banca Intesa Russia and Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation in Verona since 2008] and his association. We have organized already our common events in Brussels in 2019. And secondly, and most of all, is because our Chamber of Commerce, the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, was especially created many years ago to maintain and create a parallel connection between the countries in interest for our members, business cycles from Belgium and Luxembourg. And for us today, any initiative, especially private initiative as this one, it's very important. And of course, we support it. We support this forum and the initiative of Mr Fallico.Sputnik: Does European space have a potential for growth? Eurasian space even has a potential for growth when it comes to business and economy. Trade barriers and restrictions, are they a serious obstacle for businesses from Belgium and Luxembourg?Oleg Prozorov: But of course: any obstacles, as you mentioned, which do not let the business cooperate in freedom, it's not good at all. But at the same time, our goal is not political. Our goal is, first of all, economical and that's why we believe that the common Eurasian spaces between Lisbon and Vladivostok will be created one day, of course.Sputnik: Even if we don't talk about politics, but sanctions are in place, how much do they affect Belgian businesses in particular at the moment? Once these restrictions are lifted - and, hopefully, they will be one day - what are the most promising areas for potential cooperation between Russia and the Belgian business?Oleg Prozorov: But, you know, the Belgian business and Luxembourg business is very present in Russia. We have more than 80 factories and production lines in Russia belonging to our members. And they continue, of course, to work on the Russian territory. But in the same time, on the response to the first question related to the sanctions, of course, these sanctions, first of all, make obstacles for our exporters - for the companies who produce in Belgium, because there are problems with the supply chain, there is a problem with the transfer of finance. And to the second question, I think any area on economic sectors, it's promising today because we have to maintain all the relations which is on place today.Sputnik: Belgian farmers were the ones who suffered a lot from closure of the Russian markets. Will they be able to regain positions if sanctions are lifted or will their place in Russia already be taken by businesses from other countries?Oleg Prozorov: But of course - for the farmers suffering from 2015 already, and I don't think that now they will easily get back on the Russian market, because we know very well that a company that has already left the market will lose the trust of Russian customers and of Russian businessmen. That's why I hope that future will bring us a positive note also in the agricultural sector.Sputnik: Speaking of the future, are you still receiving any enquiries from Belgian businesses who would like to go eastwards to Russia, maybe to other countries as well? Who are these people? If so, what are they interested in?Oleg Prozorov: But as I said to your first questions, the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, it's a big network of more than 40 Belgian-Luxembourg chambers all around the world. And as I said, our goals are mostly to support Belgian-Luxembourg businesses and players. But of course, we still receive it as from our colleagues from abroad - from different countries as United States, Japan, etc - some request about the Russian markets. And secondly, we see today mostly the companies with need for more energy for the production. They are starting to look, of course, to move the production line in the world where the cost of energy is less than today in Europe. And of course, we're all waiting for the situation to become normal. And from this moment, of course, I believe the Belgian business and Luxembourg business will start to relocate their businesses to the Russian Federation, which has already been planned for years. Because since 2015 we noted 20 25 new production lines in Russia belonging to our members.

https://sputniknews.com/20220922/western-sanctions-against-russia-primarily-affect-europe-bosnias-serb-leader-dodik-1101069781.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/biden-team-reportedly-scaling-back-russia-oil-price-cap-amid-skeptic-investors--volatile-markets-1102747719.html

Biden Team Reportedly Scaling Back Russia Oil Price Cap Over Skeptical Investors, Volatile Markets

Biden Team Reportedly Scaling Back Russia Oil Price Cap Over Skeptical Investors, Volatile Markets

The G7 group of nations has been working on a proposal to cap the price of Russian oil, hoping to put the countrys earnings from fuel exports under pressure... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

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2022-11-15T14:20+0000

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President Joe Biden's administration is reportedly mulling scaling back its original Russian oil price cap plan, which was designed to choke off Moscows revenues from crude exports.Washington and the European Union (EU) may have to settle for a more loosely enforced cap, in a higher price range than originally proposed, and with fewer participants on board, according to US media reports.The Group of Seven (G7) nations - the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada - and Australia may end up being the only ones agreeing to abide by the measure fully, as investors display growing skepticism and financial market players warn of the risks the plan entails, sources were cited as saying. South Korea allegedly privately displayed willingness to go along with the price cap, with G7 officials hoping to win over countries such as New Zealand and Norway. It was acknowledged that Russias behemoth trading partners - India and China - would reject the price cap measure, the report said.Challenging 'Mechanics" As part of the sanctions policy targeting Moscow over its special military operation in Ukraine, Biden announced a ban on Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports in March. Furthermore, at their summit in June, G7 members issued a statement saying that a price cap on Russian oil could be implemented through options such as allowing the country's seaborne crude oil and petroleum products to be shipped internationally, only if they are bought at or below an agreed-upon price. However, despite months of wrangling, G7 nations have yet to determine the price cap range.The G7 plan, spearheaded by Washington, originally envisaged a price cap in the range of $40 to $60 per barrel. However, now the higher end of that range is being mooted as more palatable, according to the cited insiders. The US shift on the Russian price cap reportedly comes as the mechanics of pushing through the measure are seen as increasingly challenging. Although the price cap is expected to be announced in its final form before 5 December - when EU sanctions are due to go into effect - officials involved in developing the price cap are reportedly concerned the measure might backfire, something Russia has repeatedly warned of. There are fears that a price cap could generate ever greater fluctuations in the cost of crude.Against the backdrop of increasing prospects of a global economic recession, after spiking to more than $120 at the beginning of June, crude prices have come down to about $80 a barrel. Ahead of the 8 November mid-terms in the US, energy costs, particularly for oil and gasoline, have become an important factor in determining who will secure control of Congress, with the Democratic POTUS resorting to a spate of moves to tame spiraling prices. Besides a record release from US strategic oil reserves, Biden attempted to woo OPEC+ members to vote against a proposed production cut. His pleas fell on deaf ears and the oil-producing cartel opted for a cut of 2Mln barrels per day in early October to spur a recovery in crude prices. The Biden administration deplored the move as shortsighted.The World Bank has also warned that the G7-mulled cap on the price of Russian oil was an untested mechanism that could have a plethora of spillover effects.In response to the reported shift on the price cap range, a spokeswoman for the White Houses National Security Council, Adrienne Watson, said in a statement:She added that it was the most effective way of ensuring that oil continues to flow into the market at lower prices.Russia has slammed the G7's decision to introduce a price cap on Russian oil as absurd, warning that Moscow would not deliver oil products to countries that support the decision. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the restrictive measure would substantially destabilize oil markets. Peskov pointed out that the Wests anti-Russian measures had led to a very deep [energy] crisis in Europe, forcing Europeans to buy liquefied natural gas from the US, and resulting in a situation where American companies are getting richer, and European taxpayers are getting poorer. Peskov reiterated Russias stance that the countrys oil not delivered to Europe would be supplied to those countries that respect market conditions.

https://sputniknews.com/20220926/price-cap-on-russian-oil-to-disrupt-market-stability-venezuelan-foreign-minister-says-1101220706.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221019/india-vows-to-continue-russian-oil-purchases-despite-wests-intention-to-cap-oil-price-1102085856.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/blinken-discusses-pressing-regional-matters-with-uae-president---us-state-dept-1102745798.html

Blinken Discusses 'Pressing Regional Matters' With UAE President - US State Dept.

Blinken Discusses 'Pressing Regional Matters' With UAE President - US State Dept.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed with United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan "pressing... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T02:09+0000

2022-10-27T02:09+0000

2022-10-27T02:09+0000

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us

mohammed bin zayed al nahyan

uae

antony blinken

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"Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan," Price said in a press release on Wednesday. "The Secretary and Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the strong US-UAE partnership, discussed pressing regional matters, and spoke about ways to broaden and deepen their wide-ranging cooperation."Blinken thanked Al Nahyan for the UAEs role, with Oman, in hosting US citizen Baquer Namazi after his release from detention in Iran, the release said.In addition, Blinken discussed the United States support for Ukraine amid Russia's special military operation there, the release added.Blinken and Al Nahyan also discussed the immediate need for a cessation of hostilities in northern Ethiopia, according to the release.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/both-houses-of-parliament-express-confidence-in-italys-new-government-1102746026.html

Both Houses of Parliament Express Confidence in Italy's New Government

Both Houses of Parliament Express Confidence in Italy's New Government

ROME (Sputnik) - The new government of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni, gained confidence in the Senate of the Italian Parliament. 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T02:32+0000

2022-10-27T02:32+0000

2022-10-27T02:32+0000

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The voting procedure was broadcast by the Rainews24 news channel.A total of 115 members of the Italian parliament's upper house voted to back the new cabinet; 79 were against and five abstained.The Chamber of Deputies expressed its confidence in Meloni's government the day before.Speaking in the Senate before the vote, Meloni announced her intention to raise the threshold for using cash to 10,000 euros and adopt a tax reform with the introduction of a flat taxation scale. Speaking about the conflict in Ukraine, Meloni said that peace can be achieved through supporting the Kiev authorities.A coalition of center-right forces, which enlisted the support of about 44 percent of voters, won early parliamentary elections in Italy on September 25. The leading political force in the country, which received about 26 percent of the vote, for the first time became the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, led by Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/canada-resists-indias-attempts-to-seek-action-against-sikh-separatists-1102755058.html

Canada Resists India's Attempts To Seek Action Against Sikh Separatists

Canada Resists India's Attempts To Seek Action Against Sikh Separatists

Delhi approached both the Canadian government and Interpol, requesting that they take action against Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a group banned under Indian law... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T11:51+0000

2022-10-27T11:51+0000

2022-10-27T11:51+0000

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Unmoved by Delhis strong words, Canada's ambassador to India Cameron MacKay on Thursday extended support to people of all faiths, which, apparently, includes supporters of Khalistan as well. MacKays statement comes in the wake of Indias strong objection issued against the so-called Khalistan Referendum - a campaign in which Sikhs have been asked should India-governed Punjab be an independent country.The Canadian ambassador also emphasized that his nation supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.Delhi has been issuing diplomatic messages for months, but has seen little action on the part of Canada. In a fresh message to Ottawa, India asked Canada to prevent the so-called "Khalistan Referendums" scheduled for 6 November. The Sikh For Justice movement actively campaigns in the US and the UK for a referendum to determine Punjab's independence, hoping to establish a separate Khalistan."The perpetrators of these crimes have not been brought to justice so far in Canada, it warned.

https://sputniknews.com/20220915/india-urges-canada-to-launch-inquiry-after-toronto-hindu-temple-vandalized-in-hate-crime-1100792719.html

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canada, ontario, sikh, extremism, referendum, punjab, indian foreign ministry
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/china-ready-to-coexist-peacefully-with-us-despite-being-labelled-greatest-political-challenge-1102750223.html

China Ready to Coexist Peacefully' With US Despite Being Labelled 'Greatest Political Challenge'

China Ready to Coexist Peacefully' With US Despite Being Labelled 'Greatest Political Challenge'

As tensions mount between Beijing and Washington, the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the United States to stop spreading the outdated theory of a Chinese... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T08:37+0000

2022-10-27T08:37+0000

2022-10-27T12:24+0000

world

china

xi jinping

us

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Chinas leader Xi Jinping has said that his country is ready to engage with the United States in an effort to help foster global stability, according to state broadcaster CCTV.As Xi sent his congratulatory message to the committees annual Gala Dinner, he pointed out that China-US cooperation could be conducive to boosting stability globally and promoting world peace.He also thanked the committee for its work in "actively promoting" the development of relations between the two countries. Xi also voiced his appreciation to the committee members for actively promoting exchanges between China and the US and cooperation in various fields.US President Joe Biden also sent a congratulatory message to the event, according to the report. Earlier, during a meeting with his senior military advisers on 26 October, Biden said the US does not seek conflict with China, adding that the Chinese leader was aware of this, US media reported.The exchange of statements comes as the US national security strategy continues to declare that the [Peoples Republic of China] represents Americas most consequential political challenge. Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, in a speech at Georgetown University in October, said the 2020s would be a "decisive decade for America and the world", adding: "We will prioritize maintaining an enduring competitive edge over the [People's Republic of China]. China was declared to be the only competitor with both the intention to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to advance that objective".As a new set of tensions emerge between China and the US, the issue of Taiwan - a self-ruled island that Beijing considers an inalienable part of its territory - has repeatedly soured relations. Despite the US shifting its recognition of the legitimate Chinese government from Taipei to Beijing in 1978, it has continued to maintain contacts with Taipei and funnel weapons worth billions of dollars to the self-governing island.After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August in a move described by China as a provocative gesture of support for separatism, Beijing was prompted to launch large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island. Other high-level US delegations have since visited Taiwan, with Beijing reiterating that the One-China principle is a political foundation of China-US relations. Violations by Washington of its own obligations have jeopardized cooperation between the two countries, Chinese authorities warned. At the recent 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, who secured a third term in power, said that the "wheels of history are rolling on towards Chinas reunification [with Taiwan]".A spokesman for Beijings Taiwan Affairs Office echoed this statement, saying on 26 October at a press briefing that China was closer than ever to complete reunification of the motherland.Besides the Taiwan issue, the US notched up its stand-off with China in the sphere of technology. In an effort to counter Chinas growing technical clout last month, Washington clamped down on the Asian giants access to semiconductors and chip-making equipment, citing concerns they could be used for military purposes.Companies will no longer be allowed to supply advanced computing chips, chip-making equipment and other products to China unless they receive a special license, stated the package of restrictions released by the US Commerce Department. US President Joe Biden also signed an executive order to implement the $280Bln CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which includes more than $52Bln in subsidies for US semiconductor manufacturers.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin denounced the restrictions in a press briefing, saying they were doomed to failure and accused Washington of attempting to use its technological privileges to curb and suppress the advancement of emerging economies and developing countries.Amid the recent moves and Washington's rhetoric towards China, Beijing has urged the US to stop spreading the "outdated" theory of the Chinese threat."China is a partner and presents an opportunity for the development of all countries, not a challenge or a threat," Wang said on Wednesday at a briefing, adding that Washington would do better to try to build a new concept of openness, inclusiveness, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

https://sputniknews.com/20221026/china-urges-us-to-stop-spreading-myth-about-alleged-chinese-threat-foreign-ministry-1102698156.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221022/cpc-congress-agrees-to-boost-armed-forces-prevent-taiwan-independence-1102535292.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221004/us-efforts-to-curb-semiconductor-tech-exports-to-china-are-nonsense-pundit-says-1101509157.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/chinese-defense-ministry-says-any-attempt-to-prevent-taiwan-china-reunification-will-fail-1102763935.html

Chinese Defense Ministry Says Any Attempt to Prevent Taiwan-China Reunification Will Fail

Chinese Defense Ministry Says Any Attempt to Prevent Taiwan-China Reunification Will Fail

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Any attempt to prevent Taiwan's reunification with mainland China will fail, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Thursday... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T12:16+0000

2022-10-27T12:16+0000

2022-10-27T12:16+0000

world

china

taiwan

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In September, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the Taiwan Policy Act, which provides $4.5 billion in military aid to the island and bolsters its presence in the international organizations without breaking the One-China policy.The official added that further military contacts between Washington and Taipei as well as US arms supplies to the island would escalate the situation in the Taiwan Strait and could lead to a confrontation between the US and China.Earlier in the day, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning commented on US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's statement, who said on Wednesday that Chinese attempts to change status quo in its relations with Taiwan should be a worrying signal for the international community.The situation around Taiwan escalated after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island in early August, despite warnings against such step by President Joe Biden and Beijing. China condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military exercises in the vicinity of the island. Several countries, including France, Germany, the United States, Japan and others, have sent their delegations to the island since then.Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan  a territory with its own elected government  maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/us-sec-of-state-accuses-china-of-plans-to-pursue-unification-with-taiwan-on-much-faster-timeline-1101997596.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/india-committed-to-retrieving-part-of-kashmir-under-pakistan-control-defense-minister-says-1102759295.html

India Committed to Retrieving Part of Kashmir Under Pakistan Control, Defense Minister Says

India Committed to Retrieving Part of Kashmir Under Pakistan Control, Defense Minister Says

In 1994, when part of Kashmir was in the midst of an anti-India insurgency, the countrys parliament passed a resolution demanding that Pakistan vacate the... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T13:59+0000

2022-10-27T13:59+0000

2022-10-27T14:39+0000

rajnath singh

conflict between india, pakistan escalates over exchange of airstrikes in kashmir

kashmir

jammu

india

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Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday reaffirmed Indias commitment to the 1994 resolution on retrieving the part of Kashmir that is currently under Pakistan's control.Speaking at an official event organized in Jammu and Kashmirs summer capital of Srinagar on the occasion of "Shaurya Diwas" ("Victory Day"), the minister said that the region, including both Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, is reaching a new level of development today.Singh was among the top government functionaries attending the official celebrations that the Indian authorities introduced in 2020, following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs semi-autonomy. That year, Delhi decided to celebrate October 26 as "Accession Day" and October 27 as "Victory Day."On October 27, 1947, the Indian Army entered Srinagar to repel a Pakistani raid aimed at taking control of the entirety of Kashmir. This was India's first military action as an independent nation, which came at the request of Maharaja Hari Singh, the then Hindu Dogra ruler of the region who had signed the instrument of accession to join the Union of India the day before.Since then, India and Pakistan have fought several wars over Kashmir, finally drawing a ceasefire line (Line of Control) dividing Kashmir between their respective administrations.Speaking in Kashmir on Thursday, India's defense minister also slammed Islamabad over the alleged mistreatment of locals in the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir.The minister concluded by suggesting that history is a witness that whoever oppresses people has to face consequences in the end.The territorial dispute remains a thorn in bilateral relationships between the two nations. Russia follows the principle of non-intervention into the domestic affairs of other states and respects their will to resolve the dispute without the third party involvement.

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/narrative-war-militants-in-kashmir-target-civilians-to-sow-panic--earn-more-news-coverage-1102009183.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/indian-lawmaker-gets-jail-term-for-hate-speech-against-modi-others-1102763653.html

Indian Lawmaker Gets Jail Term for Hate Speech Against Modi, Others

Indian Lawmaker Gets Jail Term for Hate Speech Against Modi, Others

Earlier, Azam Khan, 74, was incarcerated for two years in a separate land-grabbing case before being released on bail by the Supreme Court in May. In total... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T14:11+0000

2022-10-27T14:11+0000

2022-10-27T14:11+0000

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yogi adityanath

narendra modi

narendra modi

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Veteran Samajwadi Party (SP) politician Azam Khan, 74, was sentenced to three years in prison and assigned a fine of 25,000 ($303) on Thursday after a local court in India's state of Uttar Pradesh found him guilty in a 2019 hate speech case. The court, however, has granted him bail, giving a week to appeal against the verdict in a higher court.Ahead of the 2019 parliamentary elections, Khan was charged with hate speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh state chief Yogi Adityanath, and IAS (civil servant) officer Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, who was the district chief of Rampur at the time.Under India's stringent laws for people's representatives, a lawmaker can be disqualified from the legislative assembly if a court has sentenced him to at least two years in jail. For this reason, Khan stands to lose his membership in the state legislative assembly.Azam Khan is widely regarded as number two leader of Uttar Pradesh's main opposition -- the Samajwadi Party -- after party chief Akhilesh Yadav. The ex-parliamentarian also wields considerable influence among Muslims in several districts of the state.

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bharatiya janata party (bjp), yogi adityanath, narendra modi, narendra modi, prime minister, prime minister, opposition party, opposition, opposition, political opposition, politician, mp, hate speech, hate speech
WELLINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The electoral office of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was found to be smashed early Thursday morning in Auckland.

According to the emergency services including firefighters called to the scene, Ardern's office was targeted and attacked by a sword which was seen on the ground outside.

A man was spotted smashing the office's front doors using the sword and throwing stuff into the building, which led to smoke, said a neighbor.

The attack was still being investigated. So far, no injuries have been reported, according to the emergency services.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was in Antarctica at the moment for a four-day visit celebrating the 65th anniversary of New Zealand's Scott Base, the country's only Antarctic research station. 
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/invisible-enemy-pakistans-toxic-air-kills-thousands-each-year-1102727330.html

Invisible Enemy: Pakistan's Toxic Air Kills Thousands Each Year

Invisible Enemy: Pakistan's Toxic Air Kills Thousands Each Year

Pakistans second-largest city, Lahore, once known as the "city of gardens", is now notorious for being the most polluted city in the world. Although Pakistan... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T11:32+0000

2022-10-27T11:32+0000

2022-10-27T12:41+0000

world

pakistan

pollution

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lahore

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According to Swedish air-quality monitoring company IQAir, South Asia is the worlds most polluted region, where emissions from vehicle exhaust, factories, the burning of stalks after harvest and home cooking with solid fuels all combine to create air of a dangerously bad quality.A report by the Global Burden of Disease estimated that exposure to air pollution contributes to the death of millions throughout South Asia each year.Toxic Air of PakistanAccording to the Breathe Life 2030 website, there are 212,433 annual deaths from air pollution in Pakistan. Lahore, the second-largest city with more than 11 million residents, has pollution levels similar to those in New Delhi.However, this autumn Lahore overtook the Indian capital, occupying top spot for the most polluted city of the world.Karachi, Pakistan's largest city that is in Sindh province took second place in the global ranking. Third place was taken by Delhi.According to the standards set by the US Air Quality Index (AQI), a pollution index consisting of particulate matter (PM) of less than 50 is considered good, 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy, an AQI reading between 201 and 300 is considered very unhealthy and an AQI above 300 is rated extremely hazardous.Last week, Lahore recorded a rating of 181 and Karachi was at 172. As winter months draw closer, the pollution gets worse and there were times in November 2021 when Lahore's AQI hit a hazardous particulate matter (PM) rating of 487.As a result, a layer of thick smog, which includes large amounts of carbon and other hazardous chemicals, covers the city.The cities of Peshawar, Faisalabad and many other smaller cities and towns in Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces have repeatedly shown worsening air quality over the years.Leading Killer in Both Children & AdultsAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan has one of the highest rates of childhood mortality in the world, and respiratory diseases are the leading cause, pneumonia in particular.Another killer is ischemic heart disease which affects children between the ages of 0 and 5 years. It has been estimated by the WHO report that around 26, 000 children die because of it each year in Pakistan.Air pollution has been shown to worsen respiratory diseases by damaging the function of pulmonary alveolar macrophages and epithelial cells. Pollution also damages the circulatory and nervous systems.As a contributor to childhood pneumonia, Pakistan has a significant problem because of indoor air pollution from solid fuel use. In rural societies biomass fuels meet about 86 percent of the total domestic energy requirements, with more than 90 percent of the rural and 50 percent of the urban population depending on wood and other biomass fuels, the WHO says.Various interventions to reduce indoor air pollution, such as fuel-efficient and low-emission stoves and other cooking technology, are available and have been introduced on a small scale by government, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions. These new technologies can significantly reduce child mortality in rural settings because small children are usually with their mothers at home when cooking takes place. Hence, they are always breathing in the poisonous fumes at close proximity.In adults, coronary heart disease and strokes are the most common causes of premature death attributable to outdoor air pollution. Evidence is also emerging of other effects such as diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions.At the Core of the CrisisIn Lahore and the regions other main cities, dark clouds of exhaust rise from streets choked with new and old cars, taxis, trucks, buses and motorbikes. There are more than 5 million registered vehicles in Lahore city alone. All these are contributing to the pollution crisis.Furthermore, each winter, as the monsoon and harvesting grinds to an end, farmers across Pakistan and the bordering regions in northern India, set thousands of acres of farmland on fire. Thick smoke rises into the air and chokes towns and villages. The winds carry this smoke for miles around, causing the air quality to deteriorate.During crop-burning season, the province declares an emergency and government officials register complaints against farmers engaging in such practices. Authorities then impose fines on the polluting farmers, but such actions are not an effective or sustainable way to deal with the issue.A number of reports have suggested that in South Asia, policies regarding pollution have not been implemented correctly and there are gaps in recognizing the scale of the issue at the governance level.However, science doesn't lie and the numbers speak for themselves.Additionally, one of the biggest contributors to the air pollution crisis in Pakistan are thousands of factories and industries located in the cities. Just in Lahore there are hundreds of factories and small industries and many operate using old technology, such as coal burning and a mixture of low-grade diesel fumes.These factories do not have any "clean" waste disposal practices and thick black fumes are frequently seen rising into the air above the factories.Every day many of these factories break environmental rules and release dangerous pollutants into the air that civilians breathe.Furthermore, the waste these factories produce - piles of rubbish - are taken to a tip and set ablaze which causes further air pollution because of cost-cutting and improper waste management and disposal.At times, when authorities visit factories they try to issue a warning rather than shut down the factory completely because low-wage laborers are paid by the day. The owners of these factories also threaten to use their political connections to bully the authorities and keep their factories running.Consequently lenient warnings or moderate fines do not put an end to such wrongdoing.According to Pakistani environmental lawyers, such as Ahmed Rafay Alam, air pollution in Lahore and Karachi is nothing but a failure of the government to implement the right policies and make a real change.The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Sputnik.

https://sputniknews.com/20220614/indias-air-pollution-cutting-delhi-life-expectancy-by-nearly-ten-years-energy-policy-institute-1096298450.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221010/videos-survival-of-thousands-at-stake-in-pakistans-jacobabad-relief-worker-says-1101659817.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/israeli-government-approves-agreement-on-border-demarcation-with-lebanon-1102757106.html

Israeli Government Approves Agreement on Border Demarcation With Lebanon

Israeli Government Approves Agreement on Border Demarcation With Lebanon

TEL AVIV (Sputnik) - The Israeli government said on Thursday that it had approved the agreement on border demarcation with Lebanon. 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T09:59+0000

2022-10-27T09:59+0000

2022-10-27T09:59+0000

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"The Government of Israel, today, approved the agreement on a maritime boundary between Israel and Lebanon," the government said in a statement.Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid will soon sign the agreement, the government added. The signing procedure will take place in the presence of US and UN representatives in the Lebanese town of Naqoura located near the border between the two countries. There will be no official ceremony due to the absence of diplomatic relations between the states, and the delegations will stay in different rooms during the signing.There is a rare consensus in security agencies of the country regarding the necessity of the border demarcation agreement with Lebanon, according to Lapid.Earlier in the day, Lapid told a special cabinet meeting that the deal marked a great political and economic achievement for Israel.Lebanese President Michel Aoun, in turn, has already handed a letter to US mediator Amos Hochstein, confirming Beirut's consent to the final version of the agreement, Lebanese parliament spokesman Elias Bou Saab said earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry has passed information about new coordinates of its maritime borders to the United Nations.The negotiations on the demarcation of land and maritime borders between Lebanon and Israel had been taking place in the Lebanese town of Naqoura since 1996 on the basis of the memorandum of understanding under the UN auspices and the US mediation. In June 2022, Israel urged the Lebanese authorities to speed up the talks. It called the Karish gas field located in the Eastern Mediterranean its strategic asset and assured Lebanon of the absence of plans to produce gas in the disputed territory.On October 11, the two countries agreed on the US-mediated draft agreement on the demarcation of a maritime border, thus ending the decades-old dispute. The deal will open the way for offshore oil and gas exploration, and prevent a potential conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

https://sputniknews.com/20221023/us-mediator-lebanon-israel-may-sign-maritime-demarcation-deal-on-october-27-1102556989.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/liar-in-chief-delhi-government-under-fire-over-enormous-garbage-site-1102760613.html

'Liar in Chief': Delhi Government Under Fire Over Enormous Garbage Site

'Liar in Chief': Delhi Government Under Fire Over Enormous Garbage Site

Rubbish in the Indian capital is a deeply contentious issue and can get politicians slinging mud at each other. Meanwhile, Delhi's ruling Aam Aadmi Party has... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T13:18+0000

2022-10-27T13:18+0000

2022-10-27T13:28+0000

india

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Delhi's State Chief Arvind Kejriwal came under fire again, as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir accused him of political opportunism on Thursday for visiting the city's Ghazipur garbage dumping site."I've been to the Ghazipur mountain eight times since 2019, and the state chief did not [bother to] come, even though I asked him again and again," Gambhir exclaimed on Twitter, before labeling Kejriwal "a frog that emerges only during rains", and described him as a "liar in chief".The Ghazipur landfill falls under the responsibility of East Delhi, Gambhir's parliamentary constituency.The BJP and AAP workers had a major confrontation after AAP leader Kejriwal arrived in Ghazipur. As BJP members raised black flags and shouted slogans against Kejriwal, AAP's members shouted slogans against their political opponents."For once, I urge BJP voters to forget party affiliations. We will clean up Delhi. I want to tell the mothers in Delhi, vote for your son who took you to pilgrimages," Kejriwal said in response to the protests.Calling the landfill sites in Delhi "mountains of garbage", the AAP has pointed the finger at the BJP, accusing them of failing on this issue. Countering the AAP's accusations, the BJP argued that the Kejriwal-led government hasn't provided adequate funds to the municipality. According to an MCD report published in August this year, 27.6Mln tonnes of garbage at present occupies space at three dumping sites in Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla.

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/dont-blame-diwali-blame-kejriwal-bjp-slams-delhi-chief-minister-over-poor-air-quality-1102607010.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/party-of-peace-grows-as-more-europeans-seek-negotiated-solution-to-ukraine-conflict-expert-says-1102761382.html

Party of Peace Grows as More Europeans Seek Negotiated Solution to Ukraine Conflict, Expert Says

Party of Peace Grows as More Europeans Seek Negotiated Solution to Ukraine Conflict, Expert Says

In an interview with Sputnik on the sidelines of the XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, Fabrissi Vielmini, a research fellow at Vision and Global Trends ... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T12:40+0000

2022-10-27T12:40+0000

2022-10-27T12:40+0000

opinion & analysis

interviews

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Sputnik: A number of European politicians are lobbying for forceful solutions for the Ukraine crisis, which leads to greater confrontation. Is there a peace party in the EU? Those who would not like to aggravate the situation?Fabrissi Vielmini: Certainly, there is a peace party that, in a certain way, is growing. With the prolongation of the hostilities in Ukraine, the problems are more and more tangible in different European countries and these push for people towards more reasonability, towards proposing a platform for a negotiated solution of the conflict and calming down certain voices that were there some months ago pushing for the neat victory of one of the sides. In Italy especially, according to statistics it has the largest percentage of the population that is pushing for a negotiated solution, for the fastest, quickest conclusion of the war. So, yes.Sputnik: Yet the new government is saying that Italy should support Ukraine.Fabrissi Vielmini: That is still the political mainstream, of course. But at the same time, underneath, there is this growing consensus that we should find a negotiated solution.Sputnik: The West tried to prove the thesis that Moscow's isolation, political and economic, exists. The Verona Forum shows the interaction of European businesses and the Russian Federation. How plausible is the thesis about the complete cessation of European contacts with Russia?Fabrissi Vielmini: The thesis of complete?Sputnik: Is Europe really breaking apart with Russia or not?Fabrissi Vielmini: Unfortunately, we see the breaking of a number of ties that we had even before, even at the time of the Soviet Union. During the last year, unfortunately, again, these ties were severed. But I don't think it's possible to completely break our economic relations, unless, of course, we accept that there will be a deindustrialization and severe economic recession of the European economy. Which I think no one really wants in Europe. This is what is feeding the sentiments that we were discussing during the previous question. The fact that there are more and more people that are working actively and are pushing, lobbying for a negotiated solution of the conflict in order to not continue with these cuts in our economic relations.Sputnik: Your Institute has recently published a large article on the role of new regional players such as India. To what extent does the Indian strategy of expanding participation in blocs such as the BRICS justifies itself in the growth of its global influence? How important is it?Fabrissi Vielmini: I confess that I didn't read this article, unfortunately, and I wouldn't...Sputnik: But in general, when talking about new emerging players like India.Fabrissi Vielmini: What I noticed by myself during this year is the fact that India took a posture, more autonomous, more self-confident in international affairs. I noticed there were a number of pressures coming from the United States and pushing New Delhi to take a stance against Russia. And I have the impression that they resist quite effectively and that this was based on the conscience of the mass of the population, that this is a war  this war is not like it is depicted in the Western propaganda, that India is not interested in taking the Western position. And the neutral stance that finally they took is the most corresponding to their national interest. And I think there are consequences for the future in the sense that India considered the American position in the world more realistically and they understand that that it is not sustainable, that their propaganda is not corresponding to reality. They are considering this war as sort of the former colonial world against those resisting this former colonial stance, that there is very much white supremacy in the Western position now. It is not so black and white, of course, but at least in the Indian perception, I think that they see in the American stance and the American propaganda this white supremacy position. And this is the reason why they're not supporting this and they are taking this neutral stance. So, it's very interesting, the fact that India is assuming a new role. And this conflict is assisting in shaping the new role that India will have on the international scene. Probably this will remain as one of the most substantial outcomes of this crisis.Sputnik: My final question. We see that the Verona Forum is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Now we see the new Eurasian space in reality. Italian businesses are here. They are coming closer to Russia and to Asia. Aren't Italian businessmen afraid of the US sanctions when it comes to their meetings with Russians?Fabrissi Vielmini: This is a question for the Italian economic players, whether or not [they are afraid]. Actually, this forum shows how Azerbaijan together with Turkey, [who] now are quite a close pair of partners, are really taking the most advantage of the situation and they are rightly, wisely exploiting the opportunity that this war is presenting to them. And as the organizer of the forum, Mr. Fallico, just said before this interview, Azerbaijan is well-placed as a platform of dialog. It has all the right credentials towards Europe; [it is] part of the Council of Europe; they have a dialog with the European Union; they have a dialog with the Eurasian Economic Union; they are close partners with Turkey; they are now taking more and more trade flows, transit, and connection that before were going through the Russian Federation, but now they are taking the way from Central Asia, from Kazakhstan, the Caspian, Azerbaijan; and this Trans-Caspian corridor. Yes, I think if it will last, this condition of disruption of the direct connection between Europe and Russia, Azerbaijan is bound to be such a platform of dialog and probably there will be a format that allows Europeans to make easily, without fear of consequences a new platform like Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan probably will have a similar position in the future. And so yes, we are making a virtue of the necessity, and I think it arranges everyone. I don't see this fear that you mentioned. Sputnik: Thank you very much.

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/pentagon-publishes-new-national-defense-strategy-aimed-at-integrated-deterrence-of-china-russia-1102778571.html

Pentagon Publishes New National Defense Strategy Aimed at Integrated Deterrence of China, Russia

Pentagon Publishes New National Defense Strategy Aimed at Integrated Deterrence of China, Russia

The US Department of Defense has published its first National Defense Strategy (NDS) in almost five years, combining them with two other documents typically... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T19:57+0000

2022-10-27T19:57+0000

2022-10-27T19:55+0000

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In the previous NDS, published in January 2018, the Pentagon introduced a shift in Washingtons primary strategic focus based on the idea that inter-state strategic competition, not terrorism, is now the primary concern in US national security. The new document has refined that aim, identifying China as the US' primary threat, while highlighting Russia as an acute threat that is nonetheless incapable of challenging the US-led global order over the long term.Unlike China, Russia cant systemically challenge the United States over the long term, but Russian aggression does pose an immediate and sharp threat to our interests and values. And [Russian President Vladimir] Putins reckless war of choice against Ukraine, the worst threat to European security since the end of World War II, has made that very clear for the whole world, he added.Biden also released a separate National Security Strategy (NSS) earlier this month, which was delayed from a spring 2022 release by the launching of Russias special operation in Ukraine.China: Most Consequential Strategic CompetitorAccording to Austins introduction to the 2022 document, the People's Republic of China (PRC) remains our most consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades. I have reached this conclusion based on the PRCs increasingly coercive actions to reshape the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to fit its authoritarian preferences, alongside a keen awareness of the PRCs clearly stated intentions and the rapid modernization and expansion of its military.The NDS calls the Peoples Liberation Army a pacing challenge because of its modernization priorities with the aim of offsetting US advantages, and says that Beijing seeks to undermine US alliances and security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, and leverage its growing capabilities, including its economic influence and the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA) growing strength and military footprint, to coerce its neighbors and threaten their interests.Integrated DeterrenceNoting that in these times, business as usual at the Department is not acceptable, the document centralizes what it calls integrated deterrence, or the issuing of threats of an economic, political and military nature to any nation that might think of challenging US foreign policy goals.The Department will align policies, investments, and activities to sustain and strengthen deterrence - tailored to specific competitors and challenges and coordinated and synchronized inside and outside the Department.Later, the NDS outlines several examples of tailored deterrence methods against potential attacks by China, Russia, Iran, and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK).Nuclear Posture ReviewThe new NPR included with the NDS was also the first to be published since 2018. It prioritizes the modernization of the US massive nuclear arsenal while blaming Bidens failure to live up to his pledge to reduce nuclear weapons on Russia and China.The Nuclear Posture Review reaffirms that as long as nuclear weapons exist, the fundamental role of US nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attack on the United States, our allies and our partners, Austin told reporters.However, the issue of a declaratory policy has changed little since the 2018 report, which notably included the possibility of using nuclear weapons in response to significant non-nuclear strategic attacks, defined as including, but not limited to attacks on the US, allied, or partner civilian population or infrastructure, and attacks on US or allied nuclear forces, their command and control, or warning and attack assessment capabilities.We retain the goal of moving toward a sole purpose declaration and we will work with our Allies and partners to identify concrete steps that would allow us to do so, the document says.Dual Nuclear ThreatThe review notes that with Russias steady nuclear modernization and development of novel nuclear weapons delivery methods, such as hypersonic missiles and the Poseidon underwater drone, and Chinas aim to expand its nuclear arsenal from 200 to nearly 1,000 warheads in the coming years, Washington will soon find itself in an unusual situation.Part of that the Pentagon hopes will be addressed in 2026, when the New START Treaty extension expires. Instead of another extension, the NPR says the US wants to negotiate a new arms control framework to replace it that would likely include China as well as Russia.As part of the US own force modernization, the NPR says the Pentagon will retire the B83-1 gravity bomb, which is presently the most powerful thermonuclear warhead in the US arsenal, and cancel the controversial nuclear-armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) program.However, the Biden administration will retain the W76-2, the low-yield nuclear warhead introduced by the Trump administration, because it provides an important means to deter limited nuclear use. The 2018 NPR rationalized building the weapon to answer the specific fear that adversaries might perceive the US as unwilling to respond to a smaller conflict with a high-yield nuclear weapon.Missile Defense ReviewThe third document released on Thursday was the MDR, not issued since 2019.Since the release of the last MDR in 2019, missile-related threats have rapidly expanded in quantity, diversity, and sophistication, the document says. US national security interests are increasingly at risk from wide-ranging missile arsenals that include offensive ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic weapons, as well as lower-tier threats such as Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS).US nuclear weapons present a credible threat of a robust response and overwhelming cost imposition, while missile defenses contribute to deterrence by denial. If deterrence fails, missile defenses can potentially mitigate some effects of an attack. Missile defense contributes directly to tailored US deterrence strategies to dissuade attacks on the United States from states like North Korea and contributes to extended deterrence for US Allies and partners, and our respective forces abroad."The document calls for a new ground-based interceptor system and an Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) with like-minded nations across the planet.

https://sputniknews.com/20210115/trump-administration-unexpectedly-declassifies-nscs-2018-indo-pacific-strategy-framework-1081783213.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/pope-appeals-for-peace-russia-raises-dirty-bomb-allegations-at-unsc-1102743403.html

Pope Appeals for Peace; Russia Raises Dirty Bomb Allegations at UNSC

Pope Appeals for Peace; Russia Raises Dirty Bomb Allegations at UNSC

The IAEA will be inspecting two Ukrainian sites due to Russia's allegations that extremist elements are preparing a dangerous provocation using a low-yield... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T04:50+0000

2022-10-27T04:50+0000

2022-10-31T19:33+0000

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Pope Appeals for Peace; Russia Raises Dirty Bomb Allegations at UNSC The IAEA will be inspecting two Ukrainian sites due to Russia's allegations that extremist elements are preparing a dangerous provocation using a low-yield nuclear weapon known as a "dirty bomb."

Professor Nicolai Petro, Professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, specializing in Ukraine and Russia, joins us to discuss the Ukraine crisis. The Pope is appealing for a ceasefire in Ukraine to lower the chance of an apocalyptic nuclear war. Also, Nancy Pelosi is calling for victory over Russia and Russia continues to sound the alarm about Ukrainian militants using a dirty bomb.K. J. Noh, Peace Activist, writer, and teacher, joins us to discuss Asia. Russia is creating hope that Asia can withstand a US-led NATO multi-pronged attack. Also, China says that its timetable for reunification with Taiwan will not be rushed.Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the dirty bomb allegations against Ukrainian Nazis. The IAEA will be inspecting two Ukrainian sites due to Russia's allegations that extremist elements are preparing a dangerous provocation using a low yield nuclear weapon known as a "dirty bomb."Wyatt Reed, Sputnik News Analyst joins us to discuss UK politics. Rishi Sunak has said that he will continue the neocon policies of the Boris Johnson/Liz Truss administrations towards Ukraine. Also, Boris Johnson will continue to mobby for support of the Nazis in Ukraine.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher joins us to discuss Africa. Western imperialism has reached its limits in Africa as more and more nations turn eastward for economic and political support. Also, a massacre in Chad demonstrates the West's democracy contradictions.Dr. Jemima Pierre, Associate Professor of Black Studies and Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles, a member of the Black Alliance for Peace, and an editor of the "Black Agenda Review," segment of the Black Agenda Report, joins us to discuss Haiti. We examine the colonial comprador government that pretends to speak for the Haitian people as it bends to every whim of the US empire. Also, Haitians feel that the time for revolution has come.Ted Rall, political cartoonist, and syndicated columnist joins us to discuss US politics and the media. The media continues to push false narratives in favor of the US deep state. Also, the White House seems to be claiming that Twitter is a national security asset.James Counts Early, former Assistant Secretary of Education and Public Service at the Smithsonian Institution and board member at the Institute for Policy Studies, in Washington, DC, joins us to discuss the Global South. Former Brazilian president Lula De Silva has almost completed his comeback from prison to president. Also, 73% of Venezuelans distrust the right-wing opposition parties.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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dirty bomb, iaea, haiti, cuba, venezuela, , radio, chad, lula da silva
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/putin-condoles-to-irans-raisi-after-terrorist-attack-in-shiraz-kremlin-1102756831.html

Putin Condoles to Iran's Raisi After Terrorist Attack in Shiraz: Kremlin

Putin Condoles to Iran's Raisi After Terrorist Attack in Shiraz: Kremlin

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after the terrorist attack in Shiraz, and also... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T09:56+0000

2022-10-27T09:56+0000

2022-10-27T09:56+0000

world

iran

russia

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"Please accept my sincere condolences on the tragic consequences of the terrorist act committed in Shiraz," Putin said in a telegram. "I would like to confirm the readiness of the Russian side to further build up cooperation with Iranian partners in the anti-terrorist direction."The Russian leader noted that it was difficult to imagine a more cynical crime than the murder of civilians  including children and women  within the walls of a religious shrine.He added that terrorism violated not only the laws, but also the norms of human morality.Putin conveyed words of sympathy and support to the families of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all those wounded.Earlier, Iranian media reported that an armed group of people opened fire near the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in the Iranian city of Shiraz on Wednesday. As a result of the terrorist attack, at least 13 people were killed and another 45 injured.

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/20221027/senator-warren-is-confronted-by-protestors-against-nuclear-war-over-ukraine-1102744029.html

Senator Warren is Confronted by Protestors Against Nuclear War Over Ukraine

Senator Warren is Confronted by Protestors Against Nuclear War Over Ukraine

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the US facing a diesel shortage, and Darrell Brooks found guilty on... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T04:52+0000

2022-10-27T04:52+0000

2022-10-27T10:52+0000

the backstory

jfk

cia

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Senator Warren is Confronted by Protestors Against Nuclear War Over Ukraine. On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including the US facing a diesel shortage, and Darrell Brooks found guilty on all counts for the Christmas parade masacre.

Wyatt Reed - Digital Media Producer with Sputnik | Amazon Selling Suicide Kits, Uniting Against War in Ukraine, and One-Sided MediaTed Rall - Political Cartoonist, Syndicated Columnist | Fear of Nuclear War, Kathy Hocul Did Horrible in the 2022 Governor Debates, andIn the first hour, Lee spoke with Wyatt Reed about Senator Elizabeth Warren confronted by antiwar protestors, Democrats in Congress retracted letter to President Biden, and Thomas Massie. Wyatt commented on the Democrats retracting their letter for peace between Russia - Ukraine and Tucker Carlson, seen as the antiwar journalist. Wyatt discussed the assassination of President Kennedy and how the military-industrial complex finances wartime propaganda.In the second hour, Lee spoke with Ted Rall about JFK's anti-communist stance, the lack of advocates for peace, and New York Republicans possibly winning in 2022. Ted spoke about his opinions on cash bail reform and the terrible job done by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg. Ted talked about the expected impeachment of Joe Biden in 2023 and Vice President Harris's next move in 2023.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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jfk, cia, peace, , radio, amazon, ukraine, democrats
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/seventh-nuclear-test-how-us-and-its-asian-allies-are-driving-north-korea-into-a-corner-1102754623.html

Seventh Nuclear Test? How US and Its Asian Allies are Driving North Korea Into a Corner

Seventh Nuclear Test? How US and Its Asian Allies are Driving North Korea Into a Corner

The US, Japan, and South Korea vowed an "unparalleled" response to a potential seventh nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T10:55+0000

2022-10-27T10:55+0000

2022-10-27T10:55+0000

opinion & analysis

opinion

us

asia & pacific

north korea

democratic republic of north korea (dprk)

south korea

drills

nuclear test

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"This deterrence through threat of punishment by Washington and its allies is unlikely to succeed," said Dr. Zhang Baohui, director of the Center for Asian Pacific Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. "Pyongyang follows its own strategic logic when deciding whether to pursue new tests. A rise in tensions on the peninsula will only heighten North Koreas insecurity, motivating it to continue to pursue the nuclear option."The US and its Asian allies reportedly fear that Pyongyang could be planning a nuclear bomb test for the first time since 2017. However, they have yet to provide details backing their concerns. Meanwhile, the US and South Korea have stepped up joint military drills in the region over the past several months.Earlier, President Donald Trump's White House tried to facilitate dialogue between Seoul and Pyongyang. These efforts were halted by President Joe Biden, who announced in May 2021 that he would not give DPRK leader Kim Jong-un "recognition" as the "legitimate" head of the state unless the latter denuclearized the country. Washington's shift under Biden did not go unnoticed by the DPRK, and was followed by eight missile tests by Pyongyang in 2021.The number of missile tests carried out by North Korea rose steeply in 2022, as Yoon Suk-yeol won the presidency in South Korea in March and declared Communist Pyongyang the "main enemy" of Seoul. Furthermore, the new South Korean president has openly flirted with the idea of a preemptive strike against his country's northern neighbor.In August 2022, Washington and Seoul kicked off their largest military exercises since 2018, with Yoon vowing to further boost "deterrence" against the DPRK. Earlier this month, Seoul also launched the 12-day Hoguk exercise with the participation of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the US military. The Hoguk drills will last until October 28.Almost simultaneously, South Korea joined a US-led multinational exercise on cyber operations called Cyber Flag for the first time. According to the South Korean Defense Ministry, 18 personnel from the South Korean military are participating in the exercise, held from October 24 to 28 and which involves 25 countries.Beijing has repeatedly warned Washington and Seoul against provoking Pyongyang and igniting instability on the Korean Peninsula. "All parties concerned should focus on the overall situation of peace and stability on the peninsula and prevent the situation from escalating," Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the international body on October 5. Geng highlighted that the recent bolstering of the US military alliance in the Asia-Pacific region has only increased the risk of military confrontation. Diplomatic Logjam Between North and SouthHowever, if Pyongyang decides to conduct a seventh nuclear test, there is little if anything that the US and its Asian allies can do to prevent it, according to Zhang.The US and its Asian allies are likely to take a series of measures in response to the DPRK's potential nuclear test, according to Michael Madden, nonresident fellow at the Stimson Center, leading contributing analyst to 38 North, and director and founder of NK Leadership Watch."The 'unparalleled response' line comes from remarks made by the Republic of Korea [South Korea] 1st Vice Foreign Minister following interactions with officials from the US and Japan," said Madden. "The primary response will be an increase in military exercises in and around the Korean Peninsula."For its part, the US might also move certain military assets into the area as a warning to the DPRK, according to the analyst.For its part, the North could launch or attempt to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) and additionally carry out intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) drills, according to Madden."The North could very well declare itself on a wartime footing which they had done in 2013. If there are additional military exercises from the US, ROK and/or Japan, it is highly probable the DPRK will respond with their own drills and exercises. Of course, all of this activity would be an escalation," the US analyst projected.According to Madden, the unfolding situation "is a bit of a diplomatic logjam" between the South and North, as Pyongyang has already announced that it will not negotiate its nuclear weapons program or inventory, while the US, South Korea, and Japan urge it to denuclearize.However, the analyst did not rule out that South and North Korea could have a meeting or interaction to reduce tensions if military engagement between the two escalates at the border. Another de-escalation scenario could involve another country, like China or Russia, brokering something between the two sides."In the current context of the re-rise of tension, a diplomatic option no longer exists," argued Zhang. "The only viable alternative, as some have suggested in the US, is to accept North Koreas nuclear status. That would remove a source of conflict between the US and North Korea simply by recognizing and accepting the status quo. However, Washington should not be expected to pursue this option."

https://sputniknews.com/20220823/us--south-koreas-militaristic-approach-towards-dprk-pushing-region-to-brink-of-war-scholars-warn-1099909595.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221019/pyongyang-fires-artillery-shots-toward-maritime-border-in-yellow-sea-seoul-1102070961.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221026/north-korea-nuclear-test-would-be-met-with-unprecedented-response-warn-us-japan-and-south-korea-1102661607.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/ship-chartered-by-nord-stream-ag-arrived-at-site-of-nord-stream-incident-in-swedish-waters-1102770190.html

Ship Chartered by Nord Stream AG Arrived at Site of Nord Stream Incident in Swedish Waters

Ship Chartered by Nord Stream AG Arrived at Site of Nord Stream Incident in Swedish Waters

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - A specially equipped vessel chartered by Nord Stream AG, the operator of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, has arrived at the alleged site of... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T13:58+0000

2022-10-27T13:58+0000

2022-10-27T13:58+0000

nord stream sabotage

nord stream

vessel

pipeline

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"A specially equipped vessel chartered by Nord Stream AG arrived at the alleged location of the pipeline damage in the exclusive economic zone of Sweden. After carrying out the calibration works, the specialists will be ready within 24 hours to start the survey of the damaged area that would take 3-5 days according to current estimates," the statement says.The company said it still awaited the decision of the Danish authorities on necessary permits for damage assessment.On September 26, a rapid gas pressure drop and fuel leakage were detected along both the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines. Initial investigations by Swedish and Danish authorities pointed toward likely sabotage, leading the Russian Prosecutor Generals Office to investigate the incident as an act of international terrorism.

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/danish-police-say-damage-at-nord-stream-gas-pipelines-caused-by-powerful-explosions-1102003063.html

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CANBERRA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Top Australian medical bodies have warned that a planned change to the hospital funding model will have a "devastating" impact.

The federal government has confirmed the 50-50 coronavirus-related health funding deal with state and territory governments will expire at the end of 2022.

State and territory health ministers had called for the split funding arrangement to be extended through to 2025 and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for it to be made permanent.

The federal budget for 2022-23, which was handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, confirmed the end of the scheme and the return of the annual growth cap on hospital funding.

The cap limits the overall growth in federal funding for public hospitals at 6.5 percent annually.

Steve Robson, president of the AMA, said that even with the additional federal funding the hospital system was already at "breaking point."

"The virus is unlikely to respect a 31 December budget deadline, and if these measures end it will only put more pressure on our already logjammed hospitals," he was quoted by the Guardian Australia as saying.

His comments echoed the sentiment of Brad Hazzard, health minister of Australia's largest state of New South Wales, who said the end of the agreement "spells disaster for the frontline staff and patients."

It comes as experts warn Australia could face a spike in new coronavirus cases within weeks.

Adrian Esterman, head of biostatistics at the University of South Australia, said the budget assumed "COVID is over."

"It's nowhere near all over," he said.

"We have declining immunity and new subvariants hitting Australia," he said. "(It's) already happening in New Zealand." 
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/swedish-military-conducting-new-investigation-at-nord-stream-bombing-site-1102748015.html

Swedish Military Conducting New Investigation at Nord Stream Bombing Site

Swedish Military Conducting New Investigation at Nord Stream Bombing Site

In late September, powerful explosions rocked the Nord Stream network, which used to be the main route for Russian gas into Europe, with massive leaks and... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T05:57+0000

2022-10-27T05:57+0000

2022-10-27T05:57+0000

nord stream sabotage

nord stream

news

sweden

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Two minesweepers from the Swedish Armed Forces have arrived at the site of the Nord Stream subsea network to carry out new examinations of the damaged pipes.The Swedish crime scene investigation was completed some time ago, but the military has now decided that it needs to supplement the material which has already been collected.The Navy said that the ships at the scene of the explosion are the HMS Vinga and the HMS Sturko.The investigation is expected to be completed later this week.In late September, powerful explosions rocked the pipelines of the Nord Stream network, which plays an important role in transporting Russian gas to Europe, with massive leaks of fuel and unprecedented damage reported by the operator. Moscow branded the attack international terrorism, and the European Union and national leaders said that the gas link was sabotaged. The Swedish and Danish authorities also voiced suspicions of sabotage, citing recorded explosions in the area, but both forbade Russia to investigate the attack.Denmark, Germany and Sweden have all launched separate investigations into the leaks  Denmark and Sweden because the explosions occurred in their economic zones, and Germany because that is where the pipelines terminate. However, they have remained tight-lipped over their findings and conclusions.According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Russia is working through diplomatic channels to gain access to the investigations on Nord Stream, but has so far come up against a wall of resistance. The spokesman also stressed that the Kremlin has no new data on the subject, since Russia is currently deprived of the opportunity to take part in the investigations.Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the investigation of terrorist attacks can only be considered reliable and objective if Moscow participates in it.Footage shot off the coast of the Danish island of Bornholm by Swedish media earlier this month showed a massive half-meter-wide gash in one of the pipes. Traces of a powerful explosion are also visible on the seabed floor.Since explosions on the Nord Stream pipeline network, several European nations have tightened security around key infrastructure. Swedish security authorities have urged energy infrastructure operators to up their preparedness and vigilance. And in neighboring Norway, the authorities boosted security at oil and gas installations, deploying the Home Guard.Recently, it was reported that three German frigates will stay in Norway after NATO drills to protect the Nordic country's oil and gas installations. Ever since the EU slapped Russian energy with sanctions because of Moscow's special operation in Ukraine, Norway has replaced Russia as the EU's biggest energy supplier, harvesting record revenues and drawing accusations of profiteering and preying on fellow European nations in their hour of need.

https://sputniknews.com/20221015/what-is-the-nord-stream-2-gas-pipeline-1101851451.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221018/watch-mangled-wreckage-of-nord-stream-pipeline-in-first-underwater-video-at-explosion-site-1102001814.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/terrorists-inciting-anti-russian-sentiment-in-central-asia-russian-foreign-ministry-says-1102751583.html

Terrorists Inciting Anti-Russian Sentiment in Central Asia, Russian Foreign Ministry Says

Terrorists Inciting Anti-Russian Sentiment in Central Asia, Russian Foreign Ministry Says

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Terrorists, especially those affiliated with the Daesh*, are increasing their propaganda activities and whipping up anti-Russian sentiment... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T07:49+0000

2022-10-27T07:49+0000

2022-10-27T07:49+0000

russia

russia

terrorism

central asia

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"For a year and a half, Daesh has significantly increased its propaganda and recruitment campaign built on pseudo-religious calls for the creation of a 'global caliphate,' focusing on Afghan national minorities and people from neighboring countries. Terrorists are inciting anti-Russian sentiments in the region, including in the context of the special military operation in Ukraine," Syromolotov said.Daesh's Afghan branch, Wilayat Khorasan, is now the most numerous and combat-ready terrorist group with developed international ties, the Russian diplomat added. To date, it consists of more than 6,000 militants.On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the high concentration of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, especially along its borders with other Central Asian states, posed a potential risk to post-Soviet countries, with many militants trying to infiltrate Russia and its neighbors.Attempts to commit terrorist attacks in Russia have increased significantly in 2022 against the backdrop of the country's special military operation in Ukraine and related global instability. Monday marked the latest attempted terrorist attack prevented by Russia's Federal Security Service this year. Daesh supporters were detained in the city of Pyatigorsk located in Stavropol Territory for preparing an explosion in a local police department.*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputniknews.com/20221014/russian-deputy-pm-masterminds-of-nord-stream-terror-attacks-plunged-europe-into-energy-poverty-1101854823.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/they-shall-not-pass-gop-mobilizes-to-prevent-election-fraud-in-states-amid-midterms-1102777406.html

'They Shall Not Pass': GOP 'Mobilizes' to Prevent Election Fraud in States Amid Midterms

'They Shall Not Pass': GOP 'Mobilizes' to Prevent Election Fraud in States Amid Midterms

Red states are taking measures to prevent potential election irregularities in the course of the early voting and November midterms. The 2020 presidential... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T18:46+0000

2022-10-27T18:46+0000

2022-10-27T18:49+0000

americas

us

2022 us midterms

republicans

democrats

us election 2020

joe biden

donald trump

election fraud

election irregularities

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Recently, inspectors from the Texas secretary of state's office and the attorney generals election integrity team were sent to Harris County, Houston, to assist the county throughout the election period, including tabulation.Election Day is November 8, but early voting started in Houston on October 24 and will run through November 4. The secretary of state's election security team, which includes lawyers, investigators, and support staff, has been sent to "immediately respond to any legal issues identified by the Secretary of State, inspectors, poll watchers, or voters." Earlier, in September 2021, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott signed into law the state's new strict election bill.Harris County was singled out due to reported voting irregularities during the 2020 election and the 2022 March primaries. Chad Ennis, director of the forensic audit division in the secretary of states office, announced in his October 18 letter to the county's election authorities that the election audit of Harris County "revealed serious breaches of proper elections records management in the handling of Mobile Ballot Boxes (MBBs) during the November 2020 General Election."In addition to that, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's public service announcement warned against election fraud and informed Texans about their voting rights. The announcement in particular warns that "it is a crime for anyone assisting you while voting to suggest, by word, sign, or gesture, how you should vote." It also points out that "it is a crime for a vote harvester to collect your mail ballot from you," adding that if one is physically incapable of depositing his/her own ballot in the mail, one should turn to those whom he/she trusts.Florida Against Ballot HarvestingMeanwhile, in Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis' new election crimes unit called upon the police to open a criminal investigation into an alleged long-running, widespread ballot harvesting operation in the Orlando African-American communities. The purported plot was exposed by former Orange County commissioner candidate Cynthia Harris, a Democrat, who filed a sworn affidavit with the secretary of state's office in August. Harris described a scheme under which ballot brokers were sent by left-leaning entities into black communities to convince voters to hand them their ballots. These brokers were allegedly paid $10 for each ballot they collected.Gov. DeSantis' newly formed Office of Election Crimes and Security carried out a preliminary investigation and, given that it does not have authority to make arrests, "forwarded the complaint to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for possible violation of section 104.0616, Florida Statutes."Previously, the conservative watchdog group True the Vote alleged that ballot trafficking is widespread in a number of battleground states, including Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin. The ballot harvesting practice  largely outlawed in GOP-controlled states  is triggering concerns of potential election fraud.Michigan Poll Challengers Green-lightedAt the same time, US conservative media outlets are reporting about a series of Republican victories pertaining to election law cases in Michigan, Nevada, and New York. Thus, in late September, the Michigan GOP won a lawsuit against Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson over restrictive measures against poll challengers. Earlier, Benson imposed deadlines for appointing poll watchers and limited the scope of poll workers with whom they may communicate. "This legal win will help deliver the transparency at the ballot box that Michiganders deserve with midterm elections," stated RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.Nevada County Doesn't Trust Voting Machines Any MoreIn Nevada, Nye County fought for the right to hand-count all paper ballots for the midterm elections in addition to the machine tally. The county's suspicions with regard to the machine count originate from the 2020 presidential elections, during which some Republicans blamed voting machines for alleged irregularities. On October 21, the Nevada Supreme Court allowed the hand count to move forward with a proviso that the ongoing tally should be kept secret until the final results are tabulated.New York's Saratoga County: COVID Rules for Mail Voting 'Unconstitutional'In New York, the Saratoga County Supreme Court ruled that the Democratic-controlled New York state legislature's decision to allow voting by mail based on fears of the COVID-19 pandemic is "unconstitutional." Saratoga County Supreme Court Justice Dianne Freestone, a Republican, highlighted on October 21 that the New York state legislature "appears poised to continue the expanded absentee voting provisions of New York State Election Law  in an Orwellian perpetual state of health emergency and cloaked in the veneer of voter enfranchisement'."The ongoing efforts made by Republicans across the nation stem from the longstanding controversy between the two major US parties over the fairness of the 2020 presidential election, which was won by Democrat Joe Biden with a slim majority in key battleground states. In the wake of the messy 2020 election  which saw a flood of absentee ballots, delays in counting and uncooperativeness of election officials  Republican lawmakers, watchdogs, and activists kicked off a series of audits in their respective states. For their part, Republican legislatures sought to toughen ID laws in order to ensure voting integrity ahead of the 2022 midterms and the 2024 presidential elections.The Democratic Party has repeatedly slammed the GOP initiative as "racist" and aimed at "suppressing" the voter turnout. Furthermore, the Biden administration and Congressional Democrats introduced voting rights bills seeking to enhance voting by mail, automatic and same-day registration, and loosen ID requirements. However, all these efforts have stalled in the upper chamber.

https://sputniknews.com/20210908/how-texas-election-integrity-law-may-tackle-potential-fraud--why-it-unnerves-democrats-1088893522.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220213/wisconsin-50000-phantom-votes-cast-in-state-in-2020-twice-bidens-victory-margin--report-1092993988.html

https://sputniknews.com/20220418/voter-verifiable-paper-backed-gop-states-eye-upgrade-to-outdated-voting-machines--1094863633.html

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Ekaterina Blinova

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/tokyos-new-economic-package-could-exceed-1986bln---reports-1102746497.html

Tokyo's New Economic Package Could Exceed $198.6Bln - Reports

Tokyo's New Economic Package Could Exceed $198.6Bln - Reports

TOKYO (Sputnik) - Japan's new economic package could exceed 29 trillion yen ($198.6 billion) against a background of soaring prices of utilities, food, and... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T02:50+0000

2022-10-27T02:50+0000

2022-10-27T02:50+0000

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On Wednesday, Japanese news agency Kyodo cited a source as saying that the Japanese government is expected to release details of the 25 trillion yen package on Friday.However, NHK cited sources as saying that the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan believes that this amount would not be enough given the sharp decline in the yen, Japan's national currency, and rising energy prices. Therefore, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki on Wednesday night, during which they outlined an economic package exceeding 29 trillion yen.The package is expected to include reimbursements to households and commercial organizations for their electricity and gas bills, as well as subsidies to wholesale fuel suppliers. Moreover, the package is expected to include financial support for pregnant women stipulating the payment of 100,000 yen to reimburse for the cost of raising a child under the age of two.The prices in Japan have been rising for 13 months in a row. The increase is mainly caused by rising prices for energy resources, which Japan is forced to import in great amounts, and the low exchange rate of the yen against the US dollar.

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Tashkent Denies Ukrainian Reports of Involvement in Assembling Iranian Drones

The Uzbek Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied the statements made by Ukrainian journalist Dmitry Gordon (listed as a foreign agent in Russia) about alleged production of Iranian drones in the country at Russia's behest and urged Kiev to take measures against dissemination of fake media reports.

Earlier in the day, Gordon said on air of his YouTube show that Iranian drones were being allegedly assembled for the Russian army in Iran, Iraq and Uzbekistan. Uzbek lawmaker Alisher Qodirov urged the Uzbek foreign and defense ministries to make the Ukrainian journalist apologize for the slander.

"We affirm that Uzbekistan does not cooperate with Iran in the military-technical area and does not assemble Iranian military equipment on its territory," the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Moreover, Tashkent has received no official inquiries from Ukraine or other countries on the alleged assembly of Iranian drones in Uzbekistan, the statement read.

"In this regard, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry asks the official authorities of Ukraine to take appropriate measures to prevent the dissemination by the Ukrainian media of such unfounded accusations against Uzbekistan or other unreliable information that could damage bilateral relations," the statement said.

The Uzbek State Committee for the Defense Industry also said that Tashkent had never produced weapons or military equipment in cooperation with Iran and "is not producing them now."

Washington has been insistent that Iran was supplying its combat drones to Russia, which used them to strike Ukrainian infrastructure. No concrete evidence has been presented yet, with both Moscow and Tehran denying the allegations as false.

Nevertheless, on October 21, France, the United Kingdom and Germany asked the United Nations to investigate the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 endorsing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program. The resolution, among other things, prohibits Tehran from selling certain types of goods, including drones, without prior approval from the UN.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow and Tehran had given "exhaustive explanations" to the UN Security Council on the alleged use of Iranian drones in Ukraine. Russia and Iran also maintain that the possible UN investigation into the case is "illegal" as the UN has no mandate for it.
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/us-could-deploy-upgraded-nuclear-bomb-in-eu-in-december-reports-say-1102752501.html

US Could Deploy Upgraded Nuclear Bomb in EU in December, Reports Say

US Could Deploy Upgraded Nuclear Bomb in EU in December, Reports Say

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States has accelerated the deployment of a modernized B61-12 nuclear bomb at NATO bases in Europe, aiming for end of 2022 rather... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T08:12+0000

2022-10-27T08:12+0000

2022-10-27T08:12+0000

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According to the newspaper, the delivery of the upgraded version of the bomb was originally planned for the spring of 2023. However, according to a diplomatic cable, US officials told NATO allies during a closed meeting in Brussels in October that the deployment is now planned for December this year.The decision was made in light of the Ukraine crisis and perceived threats emanating from Russia, although the Pentagon has refrained from explicitly drawing any links, the newspaper said.Experts told Politico that the US decision is more likely aimed toward Europe than Russia. One expert described it as "a way to assure the allies when they are feeling particularly threatened by Russia."In December 2021, it was reported that the US military-industrial complex had handed over to the Department of Defense the first production sample of the upgraded B61-12 atomic bomb. The B61 aerial bomb has been in service since 1968 with several modifications. The new bomb can be dropped from the B2 and B-21 strategic bombers, as well as F-15, F-16, F-35, and Tornado fighter jets.

https://sputniknews.com/20220926/us-cooperates-with-iaea-on-aukus-compliance-with-nuclear-safety-standards-biden-says-1101232082.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/us-media-ignored-shiraz-terrorist-attack-as-opposed-to-their-anti-iran-policy-analyst-says-1102761835.html

US Media Ignored Shiraz Terrorist Attack as Opposed to Their Anti-Iran Policy, Analyst Says

US Media Ignored Shiraz Terrorist Attack as Opposed to Their Anti-Iran Policy, Analyst Says

More than a dozen people were killed and scores sustained injuries in the terrorist attack near the Shia Muslim Shahcheragh mausoleum in the Iranian city of... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T13:57+0000

2022-10-27T13:57+0000

2022-10-27T13:57+0000

opinion & analysis

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The terrorist act at the Shahcheragh mausoleum and mosque complex in Shiraz, Iran, on 26 October that claimed up to 15 lives - according to various Iranian media reports - went conspicuously unnoticed by a number of western media, Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas has emphasized.Many media outlets covering events in Iran did not feel it necessary to mention what happened," he told Sputnik.Abshenas is referring to the fact that the attack was sidestepped whereas footage of ongoing protests taking place in the country continued to be shown. After the 15 September death of Mahsa Amini, 22 - a woman who fell into a coma and died after being detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf improperly - a wave of protests swept the country. The unrest was fueled by western media and Iranian opposition forces alleging that Amini died from injuries sustained from police beatings, despite CCTV footage appearing to disprove the claims.Despite generally accepted laws prohibiting the media from distributing footage of terrorist brutality, US outlets still cover executions and other atrocities of various groups, the veteran Sputnik expert highlighted, adding:The United States and other western countries are generally eager to cover only those facts that correspond with their policies, the Iranian political analyst stated.Abshenas recalled that even though the US continues to label the Islamic Republic the "worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism", there are a vast majority of terrorist groups associated with the United States.Russia's President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi after the terrorist attack in Shiraz, the Kremlin said on Thursday.Raisi in turn sent his condolences to the families of the victims, and all Iranians in the wake of Wednesday's attack, characterizing it as "another crime added to the list of atrocities committed by the enemies of the Islamic Revolution" and calling for national unity.The president of the Islamic Republic emphasized that the "evil" act at the country's major pilgrimage site would not go unpunished, and that "the security and law enforcement agencies, having identified all aspects of this crime, will give a crushing and instructive response to the paymasters and commanders behind this terrorist attack."The country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who urged unity after the shrine attack, warned that those behind it will surely be punished, state television said. House Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the social forces which generated unrest across much of Iran over the past month of "laying the groundwork for the enemy's plots", culminating in Wednesday's terror attack. Terrorists had taken advantage of the atmosphere of social unrest in the country to act, said Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi.Ali Bahadori Jahromi, the Iranian governments spokesman, said the terrorists had "killed innocent children, women and men at the Shahcheragh mosque, supported by dictatorial media that promote violence and terror. And in his message of condolence on Wednesday evening, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, leader of Iraqs National Wisdom Movement, strongly condemned the criminal act, saying:Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, accused false defenders of human rights, who had sought to foment precisely these scenes of violence and bloodshed of the people of Iran". For them, the end justifies the means, he added, according to media.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent his deep condolences to the families of the victims and the Iranian people, according to his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.Iran state television said the attack was carried out by an armed perpetrator during evening prayers at the Shahcheragh shrine, and left at least 19 people wounded. The assailant was believed to be a man in his thirties who had been detained by the security forces.Sputnik Persian reported that Daesh (ISIS)* has claimed responsibility for the carnage.Earlier, footage that emerged on social media showed security cam video of an attacker entering the mosque complex.Ebrahim Azizi, the deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, who was at the site of the attack, told Sputnik Iran: * A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputniknews.com/20221016/washington-admits-to-aggressive-meddling-in-iran-as-tehran-recalls-1953-coup-1101906653.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221026/armed-group-opens-fire-near-mausoleum-in-iran-over-dozen-people-killed---reports-1102730889.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221026/revolutionary-guard-officer-killed-during-mass-protests-in-east-iran---reports-1102739343.html

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Svetlana Ekimenko

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/us-needs-a-president-who-understands-we-live-in-a-multifaceted-multipolar-world-sociologist--1102769912.html

US Needs a President Who Understands We Live in a Multifaceted, Multipolar World: Sociologist

US Needs a President Who Understands We Live in a Multifaceted, Multipolar World: Sociologist

In an interview with Sputnik on the sidelines of the XV Verona Eurasian Economic Forum, Francesco Sidoti, an Italian sociologist and criminologist, professor... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T15:00+0000

2022-10-27T15:00+0000

2022-10-27T15:00+0000

opinion & analysis

interviews

italy

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Sputnik: What are your impressions from the XV Verona Forum and what is your mission here today?Francesco Sidoti: A very good impression. And the place is very good and the meaning is clear. A point where you can search peace, discussion, soul, ideas, cooperation to bring people together from many parts of the world in a place, which has a great historical heritage in that direction... Confrontation, peace, exchange, growth. Economic in the soul, in the feelings.Sputnik: The entrepreneurs, businessmen, oil experts and other experts are meeting with Russian and with Asian colleagues here. Does it mean that Italy is not breaking ties with Russia and with other players here in Eurasia?Francesco Sidoti: No. Italy is the first country, I suppose, the first Western country in Azerbaijan with a long history of cooperation. Italians have openness in their chromosome, in their genes. Amerigo Vespucci, Christopher Columbus, Ricci, Marco Polo. They were true Italians. I am Sicilian. Archimedes, Pythagoras, geometry, mathematics, logics. This is our true good heritage. We have also other things, but these are the good things. And with those good things we are here.Sputnik: It seems that Russia and the EU are parting ways or breaking apart in many areas, possibly in the area of criminology and investigations as well, which is your area of expertise. What kind of impact would it have on fighting global crime, organized crime? Would it be hard to rebuild trust between law enforcement agencies from Russia and from Italy, from Europe, after the sanctions are lifted?Francesco Sidoti: Now the situation is horrible. It is a very bad situation. I have never seen in my life [so much] hate. Day after day, every day, I could say every hour in the media. But I hope that this will be for a short time, and only the surface of the waves of history. It could be easily to rebuild peace, cooperation, understanding. If you wanted to do that, it is not very difficult, I believe in that. I believe in the necessity. You have no choice. We must cooperate. I take seriously the Western tradition: Bertrand Russell, Einstein. 70 years ago, this big! Not me or scholar, but this - Bertrand Russell, Einstein - they said we must cooperate. And I am a follower of this great Western tradition: cooperation and understanding. Not aggression, not hate, not labelling nations and people.Sputnik: Maybe an unexpected question. It's about what's happening in the United States right now with Donald Trump and with January 6 Committee. Are you following the hearings? We see that top figures such as former US President Trump, they are being part of the inquiry. What are your impressions from the trial and what will be the outcome in your opinion of these hearings?Francesco Sidoti: The kind of president [that] I would [like to] see in the United States - he is not Mr. Trump. For many reasons, I would prefer a person [who is] absolutely clear, transparent, a good person, not involved within business and so on. But I understand at the same time that Mr. Trump ten years ago was clean. That was a typical success history. So why now he is demonized? Why is he an evil person? This is a problem. In order to understand the nature of the American society, of the American ruling class and so on. The next elections, being now in November, are very important. Because if in the House [of Representatives] the majority changes, it could change many things. So, we must pray and hope that in the US [there will come] good people, people interested in peace, people interested in good feelings. I'm not an American citizen. I can't say to the Americans what to do.Sputnik: But for you as European will it play a role who is being elected there? Would Italy be affected?Francesco Sidoti: Absolutely. Italy is a piece of the system. And Italy will be affected. Absolutely. Yes.Sputnik: Which American party will be better for the Italians?Francesco Sidoti: People [are] interested in peace. A good person [that understands] that it's not time to lose an enormous amount of money in destruction, hate, war, and so on. We have important problems: COVID, the pandemic. The lesson of the pandemic was that we must cooperate. We are in the same world but now the reality is the contrary. We are interested in people with clear idea. Clear, good idea, transparent, normal. As the larger part of the people who will see this interview, the people who are here, normal people in the street - they love the peace. They love the cooperation. War sometime is a necessity. But you must avoid dangerous, destructive, useless fraternal war.

https://sputniknews.com/20220527/west-waging-total-war-against-russian-world-using-russophobia-and-cancel-culture-lavrov-says-1095822248.html

https://sputniknews.com/20221025/construction-of-multipolar-world-cannot-be-stopped-iranian-president-says-1102604773.html

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interviews, italy, us, russia
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/watch-spanish-pm-sanchez-repeatedly-confuse-african-countries-while-in-kenya-1102758677.html

Watch Spanish PM Sanchez Repeatedly Confuse African Countries While in Kenya

Watch Spanish PM Sanchez Repeatedly Confuse African Countries While in Kenya

Pedro Sanchez made his first official visit as Spanish PM to the continent of Africa this Wednesday. The agenda included the discussion of bilateral trade... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T12:59+0000

2022-10-27T12:59+0000

2022-11-23T11:36+0000

africa

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kenya

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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez incorrectly referred to Kenyan President William Ruto, as the president of Senegal during remarks made on Wednesday. As if it were not enough, he went even further and promised to work with Senegal to solve "common challenges".Sanchez' address was briefly interrupted by Ruto to tell him where the PM was at that moment, as he laughed off the blunder. Before resuming his address, Sanchez apologized to Ruto and said that he looked forward to working with the Kenyan leader and the country's ministers.In return, Ruto thanked the Spanish prime minister for an invitation to visit Spain, stressing that Kenya "will work together so Spain can find its way into Africa" as a figurative "gateway to the continent".Apart from the confusion, Sanchez announced that his government will collaborate with Kenya in a number of ways to improve bilateral ties. However, the local media reported that he gave a significant portion of his speech in Spanish without a translation.Many social media users noted Sanchez' gaffe and even suggested why Senegal was on the prime minister's mind during his visit to Kenya."Two things are possible here, Senegal is Spanish for Kenya or that guy once upon a time smashed a Senegalese and he is just in deja vu mode every time he is on the continent!" wrote one user, and another wondered: "Wonder if it is the Presidential Standard or what made him to think we are in Senegal!"After visiting Nairobi, the Spanish Prime Minister traveled to South Africa for a formal visit.

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Kirill Kurevlev

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https://sputniknews.com/20221027/woman-arrested-after-electoral-office-of-new-zealands-pm-is-attacked-1102748195.html

Woman Arrested After Electoral Office of New Zealand's PM is Attacked

Woman Arrested After Electoral Office of New Zealand's PM is Attacked

On early Thursday morning, the electoral office in Auckland of Jacinda Ardern - the Prime Minister of New Zealand - was found to be damaged. 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T06:03+0000

2022-10-27T06:03+0000

2022-10-27T06:03+0000

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A woman who is suspected to have been involved in an attack on Jacinda Arderns electoral office electorate office has been arrested.According to a police spokesman, the suspect is 57-years old.Earlier, eyewitnesses reported that a person was seen smashing a hole in the door of the PM's office and throwing something inside. A large knife was found near the office, according to the police.At the time of the incident, Ardern was in Antarctica celebrating the 65th anniversary of New Zealand's research station Scott Base.The incident is being investigated; no injuries have been reported.

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MANILA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The military said rebels ambushed troops in northern Philippines on Thursday morning, killing two soldiers and wounding another.

Army spokesperson Captain Rigor Pamittan said another soldier was missing after the attack.

Pamittan said the soldiers were helping earthquake victims in Malibcong town in northern Abra province on the main Luzon island when the New People's Army (NPA) rebels attacked.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Abra province late Tuesday night, damaging scores of houses and buildings, including century-old churches in the region. The tremor also injured almost 40 people.

NPA rebels have been fighting the government since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military.

Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. 
https://sputniknews.com/20221027/woman-swallowed-whole-by-a-python-in-indonesia-on-a-rubber-plantation-1102746741.html

Woman Swallowed Whole by a Python in Indonesia on a Rubber Plantation

Woman Swallowed Whole by a Python in Indonesia on a Rubber Plantation

Jahrah worked as a rubber tree tapper on an Indonesian plantation. The process involves collecting latex from rubber trees by slicing and peeling bark. Her... 27.10.2022, Sputnik International

2022-10-27T03:36+0000

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2022-10-27T03:38+0000

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On Sunday, a woman who worked at a rubber plantation in Indonesia went missing. While searching for Jahrah, 54, her husband found her sandals, headscarf, and jacket as well as her tools, according to Betara Jambi Police Chief S. Herafa. He then contacted locals to help search for her. The search crew found a 22-foot python with a bulge in its stomach.After dissecting the python, they found Jahrahs body inside the snakes stomach. Her body was reportedly intact.During the search the team found a giant python, measuring 7 meters [22 feet] in length, which we suspected had preyed on the victim, the local police later said in a statement. The team captured the snake. The victims body was not destroyed when we found her inside the snake, meaning that she had only been recently swallowed whole.Reticulated pythons, which are non-venomous, kill their prey through constriction, and are able to climb trees by wrapping their bodies around the trunks and using muscular upward force.While rare, similar incidents have previously been reported in Indonesia. The most recent documented cases of the giant snakes swallowing people whole occurred in 2017 and 2018.Most cases are cases of farmers working in rubber and cacao plantations in Sumatra and Sulawesi, most cases occurs at night, Djoko Iskanda, a snake expert and a professor at Bandung Institute of Technology, explained.Deforestation has been cited as the cause of some fatal snake attacks. With their habitats and sources of food under threat, and contact between humans and the pythons increasing, fatal encounters between the giant snakes and people have increased. According to data from Global Forest Watch, Indonesia has lost 18% of its total tree cover as a result of deforestation.

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There was a palpable sense of anticipation last Friday (Oct. 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and this was even before the first night of 2022 Breeders Crown eliminations. Bulldog Hanover was in to qualify, and the attention of the harness racing world was once again focused directly on the world's fastest Standardbred.

He was the last horse out of the paddock in the final qualifier of the session. And just like when he was on the track the time before in Lexington, Ky. at The Red Mile, he was the centre of attention.

There were even a few extra eyes, like the 360-degree camera COSA TV equipped to the racebike of driver Dexter Dunn.

On Friday morning, people got what they came to see: a devastating performance from Bulldog Hanover, pacing in 1:51.2 under the tightest of grips from his regular pilot.

"He was awesome; I've never seen him look better," trainer and co-owner Jack Darling told Trot Insider. "He was flying at the wire and Dex couldn't get him pulled up...he went another full mile plus a half before he finally got him pulled up. He is an amazing horse.

"I was hoping to get a race for him. I was really hoping there would be [Breeders Crown] eliminations [last weekend]," admitted Darling. "I just wanted to get a race for him...I would have raced him in the open, too, but I guess it didn't fill. So I just decided to qualify. I can train him as fast as you want to go, but he just likes the action, he likes to get behind the gate and race horses."

This qualifying mile was Bulldog Hanover's first appearance since his loss to Allywag Hanover on Oct. 9, a race that snapped an 11-race win streak that appeared to extend at will.

It's not fun to discuss the loss in Lexington, but it's not as though the horse wasn't amazing in defeat. Bulldog Hanover was cheered to the wire, and he was cheered after the wire by those in attendance as well. It just wasn't what most people had expected, or possibly hoped -- that would have been history, the kind of history those at the track witnessed when Niatross time-trialled there in 1980, for example.

This year, this time and for this horse, it wasn't meant to be.

For context, however, Bulldog Hanover paced in 1:46.1 in that loss to Allywag Hanover at The Red Mile on Oct. 9. That's his fourth mile THIS YEAR in 1:46.1 or faster. Prior to 2022 there were four horses in the entire history of harness racing with miles in 1:46.1 or faster -- and all of them: Cambest, Always B Miki, Lather Up and Shamballa (second to Always B Miki) -- did it exactly one time and one time only.

"It was a heartbreaker when he got beat," admitted Darling, "but I was actually a little nervous going into it because it was kind of my worst case scenario that we'd have to cut it, go all those big fractions and Allywag would sit in the two hole. Allywag's a great horse; that's no disgrace getting beat by him. But that was kind of unfortunate.

"Dexter and I had talked before the race. And I said 'you know, the trainer in me is worried about winning the race, but all those people are here to see him try for a new record.' So I said 'we have to go for it' and Dexter said he agreed," continued the conditioner. "When we left there was just nobody to leave, and we needed somebody to leave and do just a little bit of the work for him. When he was on top he put the pedal to the metal, paced to three quarters as fast as a horse can pace and then Allywag beat him home."

"He raced tremendous, I mean, any other horse living pacing fractions like that would have just caved in the stretch. Bulldog kept pacing to the wire, so I was still proud of his effort."

Darling also stated that while the red clay surface at The Red Mile was in fine form, it was in his mind "a little bit sticky" and not the lightning-fast surface conducive to world record speed.

"People have asked me if I didn't think he was as good as he's been that day. And I really don't know. He had a busy week. People were around his stall constantly...I still believe that if he would have sat into the two hole and somebody else would have cut fractions like that to three quarters, I think we'd be talking about a new world record."

Make no mistake: Darling was absolutely thrilled to allow fans and media every opportunity to get up close and personal with the top-ranked Standardbred on the planet.

"Fans just adore that horse. Everybody just wants to see him, they want to get their picture taken and want to touch him...the people that came to him, the looks on their faces and the smiles. I mean, I've never seen anything like it in the horse business. It was a special week, no matter what.

"I'm a racing fanatic, and a horse like him is great for the business and I just like to do all I can to promote him."

Fans will have one more chance to see 26-time winner Bulldog Hanover race on Canadian soil this Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park  his final start north of the border before concluding his stakes season stateside. Darling didn't plan much in the way of training activity heading into the US$600,000 tilt, just what he referred to as a "nice, easy week" for the double millionaire that he co-owns with Milton, Ont.'s Brad Grant.

"He gets out in his paddock every morning for an hour, hour and a half. He loves that. And I'll blow him out [with a training trip] mid-week."

The last piece of the puzzle for Bulldog Hanover and his connections was revealed on Tuesday night at the Breeders Crown Dinner and Post Position Draw. Darling doesn't agree with the concept of a horse leaving from the trailing post in a race like the Breeders Crown. Luckily for him, that's not his concern on Saturday night landing in post six.

"Ten horses are enough, now we've got 11...it's going to be a wild race and it's going to be exciting.

"I was happy with the post; just being on the gate was big and he's got a good spot. Dexter can kind of see what's going on and work it out from there."

Bulldog Hanover is the 4-5 morning line favourite for the Breeders Crown Open Pace. Allywag Hanover is the 7-2 second choice, leaving from post three.

But this isnt a grudge match [with Allywag Hanover] at all," Darling told the Canadian Press. "Brett [Allywag Hanovers trainer Brett Pelling] is a great trainer, Allywag is a great horse and theres a lot of great horses in there. I treat Allywag Hanover definitely as the horse to beat.

All four Breeders Crown finals for two-year-olds will be contested Friday at Mohawk. Racing begins at 7 p.m. (EDT) with the Crown fields going behind the gate in races six through nine. The finals for horses three and up are Saturday, also starting at 7 p.m.

To view the complete entries for this weekend's Breeders Crown finals, click one of the following links:
Girl Scout and Scottsbluff High School student Abby Harveson has spent the last three years studying one of Halloweens most iconic creatures: bats.

Harvesons bat research was the focal point as she worked toward her Girl Scout Gold Award.

Its the highest award you can achieve in Girl Scouts, said Harveson. It requires at least 80 hours of work or service. You pick a problem or something in the community, and it has to be long-lasting.

Although Harveson always knew that she wanted to earn her Gold Award, she had no idea what sort of project she would come up with. That changed one day on a visit to the Riverside Discovery Center.

I was talking to Alex Mason at the zoo  she used to work in Florida with these big bats at this place called Lubee Bat Conservatory, said Harveson.

Mason had an idea to pass out bat monitoring devices to members of the public in order to collect data on bats in the local area.

I never really knew that much about bats, admitted Harveson. I was kind of interested in them because I like weird animals, but that got me into the project because she didnt have time to do it herself.

The project got Harveson involved in all kinds of different activities. She learned how to use tools in order to build a bat house, worked with the Girl Scouts committee to formulate a plan to carry out her research project, and even wrote and presented grants to fund the purchase of bat monitoring devices.

And of course, she had to go out at night and look for the bats herself.

Its honestly one of my favorite hobbies now, said Harveson. Its kind of like bird watching, but at night.

Harveson has refined her ability to locate bats over the course of the project, and a lot of her success comes from knowing where to look.

The best places to find them are by a water source or by trees, she said. Somewhere where theres a lot of bugs, because then they have something to eat.

The monitors Harveson used helped her identify the different varieties of bats she encountered by registering their echolocation patterns, which she said are different for each species.

Harveson said there are 13 species of bats in our area, including big brown bats, silver-haired bats, hoary bats, and the endangered tricolored bat.

There are a lot more in our area than youd think there would be  you just have to pay attention, she said.

Harveson passed out nine bat monitors to members of the community over the summer, and the data that those individuals collected was added to her own. As autumn sets in, most bat species will begin hibernation or migration, so the prime time for research is drawing to a close.

The next step for Harveson is leaving the monitors she purchased at various Girl Scout camps so that the girls who stay there can experience the process and continue her research.

Im going to make a camp program about bats to raise awareness, said Harveson. Thats how it will be long-lasting.

Harveson said that although she does not have any specific plans, she hopes that the data she and her fellow Girl Scouts collect can be utilized by biologists to study local bat populations.

Working on the project has given Harveson a greater appreciation for bats and the ways they benefit the ecosystem. She said that they even make positive contributions to local agriculture by eating bugs that would be harmful to our crops.

According to Harveson, we even have bats to thank for many foods that we take for granted.

In other parts of the world theyre pollinators just like bees, said Harveson. We wouldnt have bananas, avocados, or agave without them because they pollinate those plants.

Harveson also said that despite their bad reputation and prominent place in Halloween decor, we have nothing to fear from bats.

I think theyre cute, she said. And I like to know that theyre there.

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Even with an hour to go before the Save-A-Rack bra auction at Backaracks Steakhouse and Grill, the restaurant was jam-packed with people there to eat, be merry and honor the memory of loved ones.

This is the tenth year Backaracks has hosted the auction. It serves as the primary event of an evening of fundraising for Festival of Hope, a Scottsbluff-based charity, which raises money to cover non-medical expenses for cancer patients and their families.

In previous years, the Save-A-Rack event has raised $415,220 for Festival of Hope, starting from a humble $15,355 to last years record of $76,297. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, organizers aimed to beat their record and break the $500,000 mark.

Its a community event. Whether its one beer, whether its buying a bra, whether its showing up and supporting Backaracks and Festival of Hope  it all helps, Backaracks co-owner Tammy Cooley said.

Kendra Feather, a Festival of Hope board member, said 17 tables had been sold to sponsors this year. Aside from around 50 bras, supporters could also bid on items like coolers, prize baskets or an autographed Denver Broncos helmet.

T-shirts and ribbons were also on sale, and a portion of the cost for many menu items went straight to the charity, as well. With so many people in attendance, organizers said $85,000 wasnt out of the question.

It was pretty exciting what weve done with this event. We didnt think itd turn from $15,000 into what we got last year, Feather said.  We hope we have one of the biggest nights weve ever had.

Another fundraising initiative was a memorial gun raffle in honor of Tom Watson, a part owner of Backaracks who passed away from cancer in 2020. Many of the bras had similar memorial statuses  Cooley designed one in honor of her late father, a food truck owner, and decorated it with food truck-themed items.

I dont think we leave this place without some tears being shed by grown men. Even a grown cowboy who does this auction with me, he tears up pretty good, too, Feather added.

Feather said anyone battling cancer can reach out to Festival of Hope for support. The charity pays for nonmedical expenses including rent, mortgages, car payments and utility payments.

Since the fundraising amount includes auction money and food and merchandise sales, Cooley said the total amount raised will likely be finalized next week.
TIRANA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will provide 80 million euros (79.7 million U.S. dollars) in grants to Albania to tackle energy crisis, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said here on Thursday.

According to Von der Leyen, the energy support package will be part of the support package of 500 million euros that the EU will provide the Western Balkan countries to help overcome the energy crisis and also as investments in energy connections, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The EU Commission chief, during a joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, underlined that the immediate batch of the package will support Albanian families and small businesses in this difficult time and also help the country to address the impact of high energy prices.

Earlier on Thursday, together with Rama, Von der Leyen visited the working sites for the construction of a railway line that will connect the capital city Tirana with the port city of Durres and the International Airport of Tirana, a project that is financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and that is expected to finish by 2024.

Albania is the second stop for Von der Leyen on her Western Balkans tour following her visit to North Macedonia on Wednesday. She is also scheduled to travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. (1 euro = 0.99 U.S. dollars) 
The way police talk to students at school could change under a policy the Longview school board is currently considering.

The policy if passed would require any law enforcement officer, child protective services worker, immigration agent or county health department official to first contact the school principal and specify whether the student they need to interview is a suspect, witness or victim of a crime.

How they are treated is very distinct to the group, said Assistant Superintendent Tony VanderMaas during Monday nights school board meeting. There are different laws at play depending on if youre talking about a person being a victim, or a potential person of interest, or the health department, et cetera.

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Students who are thought to have witnessed or been a victim of a crime could be interviewed without parental or guardian consent, according to the policy. If a suspect is younger than 12 years old, the questioning would have to immediately stop until parental consent is granted.

The principal would also be expected to make a reasonable effort to let the parents know about the interview as long as law enforcement believes this will not hinder the investigation, the policy states.

In the event of a child abuse or neglect investigation, students who are thought to be witnesses or victims can be interviewed by child protective services or law enforcement if the students consent is granted in front of the principal or other authorized administrators.

It would also be expected to inform the parents of the interview. The child protective service interviewer would be expected to make reasonable efforts to have a third non-participating adult in the room.

Board member Jennifer Leach said she wanted clarity on whether the policy would include specific mentions of guardian ad litem, a term referring to a temporary court-ordered guardian who often serves as a representative for a minor who needs protection during a legal matter.

For students suspected of a crime, those 12 and older can be interviewed by police without parental consent as long as they are informed of their legal rights. The school administrators would be expected to notify the parents of the interview.

A 2022 Washington state law now requires law enforcement to provide a minor with access to an attorney before questioning, searches or arrests.

The only time officers are not required to follow the law is if they believe the minor is a victim of trafficking or if they believe the student is in immediate danger, according to House Bill 1140 that went into effect in January.

Immigration agents seeking time with a student would need to send a request to the superintendent for review, the policy states, as well as provide a warrant stating the purpose of the interview.

The reason for this, Superintendent Dan Zorn said, is to make sure students regardless of status feel safe at school and that the immigration officers have a pressing and legitimate reason for the interview.

The purpose of it is to ensure that schools are not the place to enforce immigration law, Zorn said.

While the school district has certain policies in place around interviews, this would mark the first comprehensive guide, Zorn said.

It is very rare, he said, for law enforcement to interview Longview students, but they wanted to make a policy for the times it does happen so the district is in compliance with state laws.
Seventeen people in Washington and California have been charged in a federal indictment with trafficking in methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin brought into the U.S. from Mexico, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington said Wednesday.

Eleven of the suspects, including seven from Washington, were arrested Tuesday during a series of searches while six were arrested in September, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Tuesdays arrests involved searches of 14 locations in Washington and California, which turned up more than 2 two kilos of fentanyl, 4.5 kilos of heroin, 10 pounds of methamphetamine and 67 firearms, according to the release.

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 Seattle-based U.S. Attorney Nick Brown.

Those arrested were involved in what federal officials called three interconnected drug-trafficking groups, which have trafficked over 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine and hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills, the office said in a statement. Before Tuesdays searches authorities had already seized 43 firearms, ammunition and more than $1 million in cash, the statement said.

The September arrests came after authorities served a search warrant following a wiretap investigation into a group allegedly led by Agustin Gutierrez Valencia, 32, of Kent, according to an indictment. Despite those arrests, the U.S. Attorneys Office says the drug operation continued.

Even when an RV loaded with drugs was pulled off the highway and seized by law enforcement, they werent deterred, Brown said in the statement. The wiretap revealed various organizations continued to recruit drivers and vehicles to transport their drugs throughout our District.

The 11 people arrested Tuesday include Glauco Guardado Rodriguez, 25, of Seattle; Miguel Thomas, 33, of Tukwila; Tad Fulton, 48, of Seattle; Ryan Holmquist, 34, of Issaquah; Timothy Hursh, 38, of SeaTac; Ryan Terry, 44, of Duvall; and Abel Cruz, 32, of Des Moines.

Six other people indicted in September include four Washingtonians, including Gutierrez Valencia, who is accused of being a leader of a regional drug-trafficking organization, which is believed to have gotten narcotics from the Los Angeles area and redistributed them in the Seattle area.

Mexican drug-trafficking organizations grew in the late 1980s into their current size and scope after U.S. government agencies broke up Caribbean networks then used by Colombian cartels, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Drug-trafficking groups in Mexico dominate the import and distribution of several drugs, including fentanyl, into the U.S. and officials have made little progress in reducing the demand.
It has been one month since the historic NASA DART asteroid crash. What new secrets have the scientists revealed in this time? Check details.

On September 26, NASA made history! For the first time ever, humans were able to shake and actually move a celestial body. The NASA Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission sent a spacecraft to an asteroid called Dimorphos and struck it headfirst. The mission was conducted to find a reliable way to defend the Earth from any incoming asteroids. But a secondary objective was also to take a close look at the smallest asteroid any spacecraft has visited. So, what have the scientists found out after churning out the data for a month? Read on to find out.

Carolyn Ernst, a planetary scientist responsible for DART's sole instrument told Space.com, It's been a thrill to see the data come in. Everybody's been eagerly poring over them and busy working on them. There's a lot of instant observations you can make, but there's a lot of careful things you have to put together before you go too far down any road. It is still early days and while it is easy to reach half baked conclusions based on the data, what these scientists are trying is to find the most conclusive evidence for any hypothesis they have regarding the asteroid and the spacecraft crash.

NASA reveals information from the DART mission

There was certain information scientists knew even before they began the mission. For instance, Dimorphos is part of a two asteroid system and is the smaller one of the two. As a result it orbits the larger Didymos. While Dimorphos is about 160-meter wide, Didymos spread 780-meters across.

There was information which NASA gathered about the asteroid during the flight of the spacecraft as well. In the last ten minutes before the crash, the cameras on the spacecraft were able to show what Dimorphos really looked like. Its rocky and uneven surface was filled with boulders and dust. It could also be seen that instead of being a solid rocky mass, it was filled with rubble.

Because it looks so rubbly and because of what we know of those other asteroids, I think a lot of people imagine that it is sort of a rubble pile or kind of a loosely held-together collection of rocks, said Ernst.

However, anything beyond the surface of the asteroid could not be analyzed and hence scientists do not know what the innards of the asteroid looks like.

Another crucial part of the puzzle is the Light Italian Cubesat for Imaging of Asteroids (LICIACube) satellite. It was a companion cubesat to the DART impactor which was equipped with cameras to take images after the spacecraft crashed. The LICIACube recently showed us the streams of rubble floating away from Dimorphos, giving it a comet-like appearance.

More information will pour in soon, with the LICIACube is collecting more data. Scientists were also able to collect data on Didymos as well as the long-term consequences of the crash. In 2024, European Space Agency (ESA) will launch its mission Hera which will travel to the asteroid and collect data on the long term impact from the crash.
NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft has captured two "sungrazer" comets getting swallowed by the sun. Over 4000 Kreutz fragments fell into the Sun.

NASA has recently shared footage of two comets falling steeply into the Sun on Saturday. The coronagraph has been captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, which was launched by NASA and the European Space Agency in 1995. The footage shows the two "Kreutz sungrazer" comets heading towards the sun after which they were gobbled up by the giant star. However, a closer look at the coronagraph revealed that the comet was followed by a smaller companion. Karl Battams of the US Naval Research Lab shared the same via a tweet. He wrote, Yesterday's bright comet turned out to have a smaller, leading companion. This isn't particularly uncommon -- I'd estimate that at least 30% of the really bright sungrazers we see in SOHO/LASCO end up having a small leading or trailing companion.

Weather. com has shared that the comets are believed to have been vaporised by the scorching temperatures of the sun which reach up to 5,778 K, or 9,941F.

Kreutz is a group of comets with a very similar orbit falling into the sun. They all are believed to have come from a progenitor comet that broke up, forming thousands of smaller fragment comets.

"What makes Kreutz comets unusual is that they all have the same (or very close) orbit, so we think they are fragments of a parent comet that previously disrupted," Tabare Gallardo, an astronomer at the Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay, told Newsweek.

Since, this comet is believed to be the progenitor of the Kreutz sungrazers, scientists estimate that this comet may have had a diameter of over 75 miles.

After its launch in 1995, SOHO has watched more than 4000 Kreutz fragments falling into the Sun.

Other bright comets that have been associated with Kreutz sungrazers include the Great Comet of 1843, the Great Comet of 1882 and X/1106 C1.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

The way you charge the iPhone could soon change.

Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, said the company will comply with an European Union law requiring mobile devices all support USB-C charging.

The comments made during The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event appear to confirm future iPhones will drop the company's proprietary Lightning connector for USB-C.

"Obviously we'll have to comply," Joswiak said when asked about the EU law. "We have no choice as we do around around the world to comply to local laws."

Apple introduced the Lightning connector in 2012 with the launch of the iPhone 5, replacing the classic 30-pin dock connector available on early models of the smartphone.

Why is Apple moving to USB-C?

Earlier this month, the European Parliament approved a law requiring a uniform charging cord for all smartphones and mobile devices such as laptops or wireless headphones.

The rules would require all mobile phones, tablets and cameras sold in EU countries to feature a USB-C charging port by 2024, while laptops would have until 2026.

Why is the EU requiring this?

The EU said the new law will save consumers from having to spend money on various charging cords to keep their mobile devices powered. Officials also said the requirements will help curb electronic waste from obsolete chargers and prevent consumers from being locked into a specific manufacturer because of a proprietary charging standard.

What about the U.S.?

In June, lawmakers pushed the U.S. Commerce Department to adopt a universal standard for charging mobile devices similar to the EU law.

Lawmakers cite money spent by consumers on various chargers for different products and electronic waste as reasons for pushing to require a universal standard.

What does Apple think?

Apple has been one the main holdouts in the shift to USB-C, specifically for the iPhone. The company has previously said it's concerned the rules would limit innovation and hurt consumers.

What could this mean for future iPhones?

Those Lightning cables could soon become obsolete in the U.S., much like the 30-pin connector before it. Apple has not said when it would introduce USB-C to iPhones, but it's likely the company's future smartphones will support the technology. Apple is already testing iPhones with support for USB-C, Bloomberg reported in May.

Apple already has several devices that support USB-C charging, including newer models of the iPad and some models of the MacBook.

(c)2022 USA Today

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

New details have emerged on the severity of the Medibank hack, which has now affected all users. Optus, Medibank, Woolworths, and, last Friday, electricity provider Energy Australia are all now among the household names that have fallen victim to a data breach.

If it seems like barely a week goes by without news of another incident like this, you would be right. Cybercrime is on the riseseven major Australian businesses were affected by data breaches in the past month alone.

But why now? And who is responsible for this latest wave of cyber attacks?

In large part, the increasing number of data breaches is being driven by the growth of a global illicit industry that trades in your data. In particular, hackers known as "initial access brokers" specialize in illegally gaining access to victim networks and then selling this access to other cyber criminals.

The cyber crime ecosystem

Hackers and initial access brokers are just one part of a complex and diversifying cyber crime ecosystem. This ecosystem contains various cyber criminal groups who increasingly specialize in one particular aspect of online crime and then work together to carry out the attacks.

For example, one of the fastest-growing and most damaging forms of cyber crimeransomware attacksinvolves malicious software that paralyzes a victim's device or system until a decryption key is provided following payment of a ransom.

Ransomware attacks are big business. In 2021 alone, they earned cyber criminals more than US$600 million. The huge amounts of money to be made in ransomware, and the rich abundance of targets from all around the world are fostering the development of a vast ransomware industry.

Ransomware attacks are complex, involving up to nine different stages. These include gaining access to a victim's network, stealing data, encrypting a victim's network, and issuing a ransom demand.

Specialist criminals

Increasingly, these attacks are carried out not by lone cyber criminal groups, but rather by networks of different cyber crime groups, each of which specializes in a different stage of the attack.

Initial access brokers will often carry out the first stage of a ransomware attack. Described by Google's Threat Analysis Group as "the opportunistic locksmiths of the security world", it's their job to gain access to a victim's network.

Once they have compromised a victim's network, they typically sell this access to other groups who will then steal data and deploy the ransomware that paralyzes the victim's computer systems.

There is a massive and growing underground market for this type of crime. Dozens of online marketplaces on both the dark web and surface web offer services from initial access brokers.

Their access to companies can be purchased for as little as US$10, although more privileged, administrator-level access to larger companies often commands prices of several thousands of dollars or more.

Responding to the growing cyber threat

Over the past month, we have seen several instances of cyber criminals forgoing actual ransomware. Instead, they sought to directly extort companies by threatening to publicly release any data they have stolen.

While not as devastating as a ransomware attack, data breaches can cause serious financial and reputational damage to an organization (just ask Optus chief executive Kelly Bayer Rosmarin), not to mention major problems for any customers or clients who now have their private information released online.

In the final six months of 2021, more than 460 data breaches were reported to government authorities. Even more worryingly, this number is almost certainly an underestimate.

While companies with a turnover of more than AU$3 million are required by law to report data breaches involving personal information, most small businesses are not subject to mandatory reporting laws. Therefore, they have little incentive to report a data breach that could scare off customers and damage their brand.

Taking action against cyber crime

So what can we do about it? In the first instance, companies need to rethink their approach to data. Data should be treated not simply as an asset that can be freely held and traded in, but also as a liability that needs to be carefully protected.

Some experts are calling for Australia to follow the European Union's approach and to introduce stricter corporate regulations that better protect consumer data.

This week the federal government also introduced plans to fine companies that do not maintain sufficient cyber security and suffer repeated data breaches.

Reforms like this could help, particularly in preventing relatively unsophisticated data breaches, like the one that recently affected Optus.

On the other hand, punitive fines towards victims could further strengthen the hand of entrepreneurial cyber criminalsthey could try to leverage these fines to further extort their victims.

There is no silver bullet to solving the threats posed by cyber criminals. At a minimum, both government and industry must continue to work together to improve our cyber defenses and resilience. Through research, we must also work to better understand the global cyber crime ecosystem as it continues to evolve.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Boeing is in talks with other customers about taking 737 MAX planes originally built for Chinese companies.

Boeing said Wednesday it is seeking other potential customers for its 737 MAX because China is still not taking delivery of the jetliners it has ordered.

Chief Financial Officer Brian West said the company was in "active discussions" with other customers about 138 planes in inventory ordered by Chinese companies.

There is "more to come and we'll keep you updated," West told analysts.

Executives described the outreach as part of an effort to "de-risk" Boeing's finances given the murky outlook for the company's China business.

China's zero-tolerance COVID-19 policies "have reduced demand for airplanes in general," Chief Executive Dave Calhoun said during a conference call with analysts.

"We still would like to deliver airplanes to China. We continue to support our customers," Calhoun said.

"But we also are clear-eyed about the geopolitical risks that are out there and we are not going to impart new risks on our investors," said Calhoun, adding, "I have not gotten a single signal ... they're going to take deliveries in the near term."

The MAX was grounded globally following the second of two deadly crashes in March 2019 until the Federal Aviation Administration became the first major regulator to clear the plane in November 2020 to resume service following upgrades, extensive testing and new training protocols.

China was the last major Boeing market to deem the jet airworthy in December 2021. But the plane still needs to clear a few final hurdles with Chinese regulators and has not resumed service in that country.

 2022 AFP
Germany, along with EU partners, has been taking a closer look at Chinese investment in sensitive areas.

The German government is reviewing a possible sale of a local chip factory to a Chinese-owned firm, sources said Thursday, despite the reported concerns of intelligence agencies.

Government officials speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that they were assessing the potential impact of a takeover of Dortmund-based Elmos by Sweden's Silex, a unit of Chinese company Sai MicroElectronics.

"There is an ongoing investment review procedure," one official said. "The checks have begun, are continuing and are not finished."

The overture by the Chinese firm comes ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to China next week as the first European Union leader to make the trip since November 2019.

And it coincides with growing fears within his coalition government and among intelligence officials about the risks of critical infrastructure and intellectual property falling into foreign hands.

Business daily Handelsblatt had reported earlier that Berlin intends to green-light the deal, possibly as early as next week.

In contrast with other recent controversial acquisitions, the chancellery and the economy ministry are in agreement on Elmos and inclined to approve the takeover as the company's technology is not state of the art, according to the report.

However the domestic security watchdog, the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, warned against the sale, saying that Chinese control of key production capacity was enough to allow Beijing to apply pressure on Germany, Handelsblatt reported.

The Office could not immediately be reached for comment.

Security concerns

Elmos, which primarily builds components for the automobile industry, said late last year it intended to sell the production facility at its headquarters.

Silex is seeking to buy the site and its supplies for 85 million euros (dollars), which would allow Elmos to shed its own production activities and sell its chips to manufacturing contractors.

Germany's coalition government on Wednesday allowed a Chinese firm to buy a reduced stake in a Hamburg port terminal, after Scholz resisted calls to ban the disputed sale outright over security concerns.

Under a tenuous compromise agreed by Scholz's cabinet, Chinese shipping giant Cosco has the go-ahead to buy a stake "below 25 percent" in the Tollerort container terminal owned by HHLA.

Germany, along with EU partners, has in recent years taken a closer look at Chinese investment in sensitive technologies and other areas, and reserves the right to veto acquisitions.

The issue has gained urgency in light of the breakdown in ties with Russia over the Ukraine war due to the once heavy dependence of Europe's top economy on Moscow's energy supplies.

 2022 AFP
The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics on Feb. 2, 2022, in Zhangjiakou, China. Seagate Technology said Thursday, Oct. 27, that the U.S. Department of Commerce has warned it may charge the computer hard-drive maker with violating restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File

Seagate Technology said Thursday the U.S. Department of Commerce has warned it may charge the computer hard-drive maker with violating restrictions on exports of high-tech products to China.

The company said in an SEC filing that it rejected the allegations. It says its hard disc-drives are not subject to U.S. Export Administration regulations, but troubles over the issue could affect its business.

"Seagate believes it has complied with all relevant export control laws and regulations," it said.

Seagate said the allegation is over sales between August 2020 and September 2021 to "a customer and its affiliates." It did not name the customer, however, Seagate is a major supplier of hard drives to telecoms equipment giant Huawei Technologies, a major target of U.S. export controls.

The other major supplier, Western Digital, stopped sales to Huawei in 2019, not long after it had signed a strategic partnership with the Chinese company, the biggest maker of network gear for phone and internet carriers.

Huawei did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In reporting lower profit and revenues for its fiscal first quarter, Seagate said it was reducing its headcount by 3,000 people as part of a restructuring. It cited global uncertainties and slower demand.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

An algorithm based on the altruistic behavior of honeybees could help those designing wind farms know exactly where to plant each turbine in the array to maximize efficiency and energy output from the wind farm. A team from India discuss the details in the International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology.

Defining the optimal positions on a wind farm for each turbine to maximize energy output is a complex constrained optimization problem. Such problems are common in engineering and many other areas of human endeavor. Solving such problems usually requires a huge amount of mathematical prowess and computer resources, but thankfully in recent years, researchers have looked to natural systems to help them find solutions much more efficiently and much quicker.

Nature has had millions of years to evolve optimal systems for solving the complex problems facing living things. Researchers have, in a few cases, such as flocking and foraging behavior, studied these systems and modeled them algorithmically. Those algorithms can then be harnessed to solve non-natural problems.

Nirmala Sharma, Harish Sharma, and Ajay Sharma of Rajasthan Technical Univerisity and Jagdish Chand Bansal of the South Asian University in New Delhi, India, explain that the swarming behavior of honeybees often involves those individuals that are less of a fit for the current behavior sacrificing their position for those who are a better fit.

The self-sacrificing algorithm that models this behavior translates to the positioning of each turbine in the windfarm so that a position is tested and sacrificed in favor of a position that is better based on wind patterns and the effects of neighboring turbines on the individual being tested for a new position. The algorithm thus accrues a layout for the turbines in the wind farm where each position is optimal for given geographical characteristics to give the greatest possible power output.

The algorithm can also give the engineers the maximum number of turbines needed for a given site. The optimal number will maximize energy production. Too few and the site would not be extracting all of the available wind power, while too many would be a waste of resources and might reduce the total output from the turbines as their rotation interferes with wind flow to and through the neighboring turbines. The team has demonstrated proof of principle with idealized wind farms with a 500-, 750-, and 1,000-meter radius. The next step will be to consider real geographical landscapes and to optimize for non-uniform wind patterns.

More information: Jagdish Chand Bansal et al, A new effective solution for wind farm layout optimisation problem using self-sacrificing artificial bee colony algorithm, International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology (2022). Jagdish Chand Bansal et al, A new effective solution for wind farm layout optimisation problem using self-sacrificing artificial bee colony algorithm,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2022.10048603
A Korean automotive parts company plans to open a $205 million factory that will supply 200,000 battery modules annually for electric vehicles produced in Alabama and Georgia, officials said Thursday.

The 450,000-square-foot (41,800-square-meter) factory planned by Hyundai Mobis will be located near Alabama's capital at the site where Hyundai has been assembling vehicles for more than a decade. Production of battery assemblies is expected to start in 2024, the company said.

Hyundai announced plans earlier this year to produce the all-electric Genesis GV70 luxury SUV and a hybrid electric version of the Santa Fe SUV at the assembly plant. Besides making battery modules for the Alabama factory, the facility will supply a Kia plant in west Georgia, according to an announcement from Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office.

A Hyundai Mobis executive said the new battery factory is crucial to the company's plan to expand production around the world.

"As the EV market continues to grow, having a strong production capacity will be key in allowing Hyundai Mobis to see continued growth in the market," said a statement by H.S. Oh, vice president of Hyundai Mobis' electric powertrain business.

Construction will begin as early as December, and the plant will eventually create 200 jobs.

Based in Seoul, South Korea, Hyundai Mobis is a longtime supply partner for Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia and Genesis affiliates.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Drones are extremely useful for conducting wind speed measurements over regions where it is difficult to set up or maintain weather stations, such as the Arctic region. However, conventional measurement devices, called ultrasonic anemometers, are too bulky for small drones, raising drone costs. Now, researchers from Japan find a way around this problem, using lightweight thermal anemometers, which can be mounted on small drones for accurate wind speed profiling. Credit: Jun Inoue from National Institute of Polar Research, Japan

Drones and similar small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAVs) have seen a massive surge in popularity over the past few years due to their innovative applications, such as crop monitoring, search and rescue operations, and coast profiling. The potential of sUAVs in atmospheric science and meteorology has not gone unnoticed either as drones offer an efficient way to place various kinds of sensors up above in the lower atmosphere.

As evidenced by pioneering studies led by the National Institute of Polar Research, Japan, small drones bearing meteorology sensors can be useful for weather forecasting in places where weather stations are scarce or costly to set up and maintain, such as the polar regions. With the use of drones, invaluable data could be gathered for making numerical weather predictions and improving climate models.

However, several practical challenges remain to be addressed on this front. One clear example is measurement of wind speeds for wind profiling. While a few companies are commercializing drones for conducting wind speed measurements, these drones tend to be large and expensive. This is because the ultrasonic anemometers that they carry are heavy and bulky. On the other hand, although wind speed could in theory be calculated from the drone's internal flight log data, there is no way to access these data in most commercial drones. Thus, with no alternative methods to measure wind speed, application of sUAVs remain limited.

Smoke Visualization Experiment. Credit: Research Organization of Information and Systems

To tackle this issue, Associate Professor Jun Inoue of the National Institute of Polar Research and Assistant Professor Kazutoshi Sato of the Kitami Institute of Technology, both in Japan, have recently conducted a study in which they tested and validated a new wind speed measurement device compatible with sUAVs: thermal anemometers.

As explained in their paper published in MDPI's Drones published on October 3, 2022, thermal anemometers, also called "hot-wire anemometers," are small electronic devices that can indirectly measure wind speed based on how fast a heated wire cools down over time due to air flow. These sensors are ideal for sUAVs as they are extremely lightweight (~ 1 g) and inexpensive (<200 USD).

The researchers tested their approach in the lab as well as in the field. In the laboratory experiments, they flew a small quadcopter drone equipped with a thermal anemometer in front of large fans. Using smoke machines, high-speed cameras, lasers, and image analysis software, they analyzed how the air flow was disturbed by the drone as it ascended. Using these data, they created a bias correction algorithm, which enabled the drone to make more accurate wind speed measurements.

For the field experiments, the team flew their drone over the ice-covered Okhotsk Sea while aboard the Japanese Patrol Vessel Soya to make wind speed measurements. Upon comparing the data gathered by their drone with that from an ultrasonic anemometer on the ship, the team found them to be in agreement, suggesting that the drone's measurements were highly reliable. "The root-mean-square error was 1.13 m/s, suggesting that the proposed correction method was accurate and well within the requirement for numerical weather predictions," remarks Dr. Inoue.

The research team flew their drone over the ice-covered Okhotsk Sea while aboard the Japanese Patrol Vessel Soya to make wind speed measurements. Credit: Yudai Oshino (Hokkaido University)

Overall, this alternative approach to wind profiling is definitely promising on various fronts. Additionally, the researchers also proposed two more techniques that could be pursued in future works: calculating both wind direction and speed using two thermal anemometers and transferring the gathered data in real time.

Wind speed measurements are not just relevant for climate science and weather forecasting. The drones themselves can benefit from knowing the wind conditions they are flying in as it enables them to stabilize their flight better. "The flight style of drones has changed from flying within the operator's visual line of sight to flying beyond the visual line of sight. This is because they are now routinely used for long-range delivery and surveys of disasters and forest fires," says Dr. Sato.

"Once we can monitor the wind conditions in all kinds of drones in real time, operators will be able to focus more on their task without having to worry about the drone's stability and safety," he concludes.

More information: Jun Inoue et al, Wind Speed Measurement by an Inexpensive and Lightweight Thermal Anemometer on a Small UAV, Drones (2022). Jun Inoue et al, Wind Speed Measurement by an Inexpensive and Lightweight Thermal Anemometer on a Small UAV,(2022). DOI: 10.3390/drones6100289

Provided by Research Organization of Information and Systems
Comparison of installation costs of residential solar, commercial rooftop solar, and utility-scale solar. Credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

On September 21, the New York Times published an essay by Gabriel Popkin titled "Are There Better Places to Put Large Solar Farms Than These Forests?" Popkin describes a recently approved 4,500-acre solar project in Virginia that will remove approximately 3,500 acres of forest and asks whether such projects could be sited instead on rooftops, parking lots, and other degraded land. This blog post provides some additional information and context to Popkin's essay.

First, only a very small percentage of solar projects in the United States are currently being sited on forested lands. While Popkin correctly notes that approximately 50% of solar energy facilities, as measured by land area, are sited in deserts, the assertion that "more than four-fifths of the rest go on farmland, forestland or grasslands" requires additional context.

Specifically, it is important to understand that solar is not being sited in equal quantities on these three types of land, as farmland hosts far more solar projects (33%) than either grassland (6%) or forests (4%). For comparison, nearly 3% of solar power is currently sited in urban areas.

Second, while Popkin correctly notes that forests, like solar farms, offer climate-change benefits, the essay does not provide any information on the relative emissions benefits of forested land versus solar farms. To be clear, forests offer immense benefits that have nothing to do with carbon sequestration, including by serving as critical habitat for native flora and fauna, filtering drinking water, preventing erosion, and providing scenic and recreational benefits to millions of people. However, on the narrow but important issue of carbon dioxide emissions, an acre of solar panels appears to offset more emissions each year than an acre planted with trees can sequester.

In Virginia, where the primary source of electricity is natural gas, the emissions intensity of electricity is 679 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour (MWh), not including other greenhouse gases. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, utility-scale solar power produces between 394 and 447 MWh per acre per year. Thus, an acre of solar panels producing zero-emissions electricity saves between 267,526 to 303,513 pounds, or 121 to 138 metric tons, of carbon dioxide per year.

By comparison, according to the EPA, the average acre of forest in the United States sequesters 0.84 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Thus, an acre of solar panels in Virginia reduces approximately 144 to 166 times more carbon dioxide per year than an acre of forest.

What about the carbon that is released when an acre of forest is removed? According to the EPA, the average acre of forest contains 81 metric tons of carbon, although the exact figure depends heavily on the species of trees in the forest. Approximately half of that amount is sequestered in the soil. Even if all 81 metric tons of carbon, comprising 297 metric tons of carbon dioxide, were released upon conversion to a solar farm, those emissions would be offset within 23 years of operation.

Third, Popkin suggests that siting solar projects on farmland may interfere with an "obvious an important use: growing food." However, solar projects can coexist with and complement agriculture, including by improving pollinator habitat and allowing animals to graze between rows of panels. The Great Plains Institute has found, for example, that "utility-scale solar can be compatible with other forms of non-cultivated agriculture like pasture and grasslands." In addition, recent research has shown that growing crops, such as tomatoes, in between rows of solar panels in hot, dry climates may increase yields by creating shade, which conserves water, increases humidity, and lowers temperatures.

Likewise, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has determined that "the placement of structures for commercial solar energy generation  is consistent with farming operations," provided that certain measures are taken to maintain the integrity of agricultural land at the site, including by planting pollinator habitat and conservation cover. In addition, the income that farmers can earn by leasing out parts of their land for renewable energy projects allows them to keep the rest of their land in production while insulating them against low harvest years.

Moreover, any discussion of a purported conflict between agriculture and energy production must also acknowledge that more than one-third of all corn grown in the United States is used not for foodor even to feed livestockbut for energy. In total, more than 30 million acres of farmland, covering an area roughly the size of Louisiana, are currently used to grow corn for ethanol. All of that land could be redeployed to solar energy production without affecting food production.

Comparison of operations and maintenance costs of residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar. Credit: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Importantly, converting the land currently used for growing corn ethanol to solar energy would greatly increase the amount of energy produced on that land. Indeed, an analysis from PV Magazine recently found that converting the land currently used for corn ethanol to solar power could meet all of the nation's electricity needs.

Likewise, a U.K.-based analysis from Carbon Brief found that "a hectare of solar panels delivers between 48 and 112 times more driving distance, when used to charge an electric vehicle, than that land could deliver if used to grow biofuels for cars."

Based on my own calculations (below), an acre of solar panels produces roughly 40 times more energy than an acre devoted to growing corn for ethanoland this is without taking into account the fact that electric vehicles use energy more efficiently than gas-powered cars:

As noted above, solar power produces between 394 and 447 megawatt hours (MWh) per acre per year.

According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, one acre of corn produces approximately 462 gallons of ethanol.

With a heat content of 76,300 BTU per gallon of ethanol, 462 gallons of ethanol contains 35,250,600 BTU.

Applying a standard conversion factor of 3,412,000 BTU per MWh, one acre of corn produces a quantity of ethanol equivalent to 10.3 MWh.

Thus, an acre of solar panels produces roughly 38 to 43 times more energy per acre than corn ethanol, even assuming a relatively high output per acre of corn.

Fourth, as Popkin correctly acknowledges, rooftops and parking lots are "generally more expensive to develop than forest or farmland." However, Popkin does not explain how much more expensive it is to build solar on rooftops or parking lots. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average cost per watt of installing rooftop solar projects is approximately 1.75-3 times as expensive as utility-scale solar. The average cost per watt of a utility-scale solar system is $0.89, compared to $1.56 for a commercial rooftop project and $2.65 for a residential rooftop project.

Constructing solar canopies over parking lots also appears to be more expensive than utility-scale solar. The industry publication PV Magazine has used $3 per watt as a back-of-the-envelope figure, while Energy Sage has estimated, based on data from its solar energy marketplace, that the average installation cost is $3.31 per watt.

To provide one real-world example, the 12.3-megawatt solar canopy under construction at JFK International Airport will cost $56 million, or $4.55 per watt. While the construction costs of solar canopies may be offset in some cases by charging a premium for the shaded parking spots underneath, it will be more challenging to recoup such costs in places where parking is free. And these are just the installation costs; it is also more expensive to maintain small, widely dispersed units than one large system.

Ultimately, achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by the early 2050s to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius will require siting an unprecedented number of renewable energy facilities in a very short time. At this time, siting solar projects on forested land remains relatively rare; in the rare instances when solar is sited on forested land, those projects appear to offset more emissions on a per-acre basis than trees can sequester; the 30 million acres of farmland that are currently being used to produce corn ethanol could produce much more energy as solar farms without affecting food production; and utility-scale solar projects remain significantly cheaper to install and maintain than rooftop and parking lot solar projects.

Provided by State of the Planet
The College Station school board has a Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election [VATRE] proposition on the November ballot, which would go toward teacher, staff and administrative compensation in the district.

The result of it  if the voters were to approve it  would be that our employees would get significant raises out of this deal, said Chuck Glenewinkel, director of communications for the College Station school district. We compare ourselves to comparable districts. Some are comparable because they are close to us, and some of those are comparable because they are similar in size to us. So when we compare our teacher salary to those comparable districts, our teachers are paid on average 8% less than those in comparable districts. If this VATRE were to be approved, we would get that up to the 97-98% range to get us more in the ballpark of being comparable with those districts.

In August, the board unanimously approved a deficit budget of $1.5 million, a tax rate of $1.1781 per $100 valuation and ordered a VATRE that would allow the district to utilize the approved tax rate. If voters do not approve the VATRE on Nov. 8, the tax rate will revert back to the compressed rate of $1.1481 per $100 valuation.

Both the approved and compressed tax rates are lower than the 2021-22 tax rate by 3.7 cents and 6.7 cents, respectively.

In the school finance system, as property values or appraised values go up, that compresses the tax rate down on the maintenance and operations side, Superintendent Mike Martindale said. School districts are allowed 2.5% growth before it starts compressing the tax rate down. We all know appraised values went up way more than 2.5% this past year, so right now we are projected to compress that tax rate down 6.7 cents, and that is on the maintenance and operations side. This has nothing to do with the debt service or the I&S [interest and sinking].

In essence what the VATRE asks is instead of compressing or lowering the tax rate 6.7 cents, which is being triggered by the values and school funding mechanism by the state is to reduce it 3.7 cents, that allows three of those pennies to stay in the tax rate  they are already there, we are not adding  we are just not reducing that additional approved.

Martindale said they would use the revenue and generate it on those three pennies, and put it all toward employee compensation for teachers and staff raises.

That three cents would generate $3.3 million in local dollars, which triggers the state to have to contribute $1.7 million, he said. So those three pennies would bring in about $5 million for the district, which would go toward increased compensation.

In the current budget, there is already a 2% raise for all district employees, Martindale said. If the TRE is approved, everyone with the exception of administrators, would receive an additional 4% raise on top of 2% for a total of 6% pay increase, he said.

Administrators would receive an additional 2%, and they already have 2%, so they would get a total of a 4% raise, he said. Administrators would get 4%, everyone else like teachers, personal assistance, auxiliary staff, would have a total of 6% raise [increase] if the TRE is approved.

The approved tax rate is made up of a maintenance and operations [M&O] rate of $0.9151 and an interest and sinking  or debt service  tax rate of $0.2630, which is unchanged from the 2021-22 fiscal year. In August, Amy Drozd, the chief financial officer for the district, said the M&O rate, though higher than the compressed rate, is still 3.7 cents lower than the 2021-22 tax rate.

If voters do not approve the tax ratification election, the tax rate will be comprised of an M&O rate of $0.8851 and an I&S rate of the same $0.2630.

Glenewinkel said they have been asked if the rate is going down 6.7 cents, why they wouldnt ask for more? He said the reason is because there are a total of eight pennies available to school districts across the state that is above the base line of M&O tax rate.

We have utilized five of those pennies already, and those can be done through board approval, he said. The other three that you get, the other golden pennies, have to be approved by voters and those are the three we are going for. If we were to go for more than three, that would put us above those eight, and then ... any additional revenue past those three pennies would be subject to recapture and we wouldnt get the state funding to go with it.

So these three pennies are maximizing the amount of revenue we can get from the state. We can go for more and go for more in the future, but it just wouldnt make sense for us fiscally to do so.

Glenewinkel said, if approved, every $100,000 of valuation equates to $30 on someones tax bill. For example, if a house is valued at $500,000, that is $150 on their tax bill. Martindale said for a new teacher with zero years of experience, the current salary is $47,000 per year; if the TRE is approved, a new teachers salary would start at $49,600 per year.

Proposition A reads as follows on the ballot: Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $1.1781 per $100 valuation in College Station Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 6.07 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $6,519,285.

Early voting ends Nov. 4. The general election is Nov. 8.

For more information, visit brazosvotes.org.
The Sexual Assault Resource Center will hold online winter advocate training beginning Nov. 14 in hopes of increasing the organizations number of volunteers due to demand.

SARC officials say they are facing volunteer shortages with an increase of sexual assaults in the area. The number of calls to SARCs 24/7 crisis hotline and survivor accompaniments have increased due to the rise of sexual assaults, SARC officials say. Their hotline receives over 1,200 calls per year, and that number is rising.

We have about 70 volunteers and we really need to be closer to 100 volunteers to cover all of the shifts that we have because this is all 24/7 work, 365 [days], said Lindsey LeBlanc, SARCs executive director. This is nights, weekends, holidays. We need a lot of volunteers to help answer that call.

SARC is a private nonprofit organization that works to fight sexual violence in the Brazos Valley. SARC offers crisis and counseling services for sexual assault victims as well as a 24/7 crisis hotline for people in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties.

Advocates assist answering SARCs hotline and accompaniments to hospitals, law enforcement agencies and court proceedings to provide crisis intervention services and support sexual assault survivors.

Were really calling on the community for this winter training that weve added in special this year to pull more volunteers together, LeBlanc said. We need more volunteers to help us support the survivors and ensure that they have sustainability and that they have someone there to support them through our hotline and accompaniments.

The winter advocate training is a 40-hour program and will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 14-17, Nov. 28-Dec. 1 and Dec. 12-15. The entire training is virtual and additional self-study hours will be required. This training is certified by the Office of the Attorney General and is required to be completed by all sexual assault advocates who respond to SARCs hotline and accompaniment program.

Prospective advocates must be at least 18 years old, pass an interview and background check and then complete the training. Advocates are required to commit at least nine volunteer hours per month. Shifts vary between days, nights and weekends.

LeBlanc said the training course is designed to prepare volunteers for any situation. Topics, such as sexual violence 101 and crisis intervention, are covered. Volunteers are taught how to respond to the entire spectrum of sexual assault callers and survivors. Advocates are also taught how court proceedings and protective orders in the criminal justice system work.

You name it, our training covers it and we really want to set our volunteers up for success so that when they walk through the doors at a hospital to meet a survivor or when they pick up the phone to talk to one, they are comfortable and theyre ready to go with that information, LeBlanc said.

Anyone with a kind heart for serving is a great fit to be a volunteer with SARC, LeBlanc said.

You dont have to be a survivor. You dont have to even know a survivor or have some sort of special experience to come in, LeBlanc said. And thats really the point of our training and our team backing up our volunteers. This is a vital role for our organization. It really is the backbone, I say, because we could not do this work without the volunteers that we have.

For more information on advocate training, call 979-731-1000 or email cadams@sarcbv.org. For more information on SARC or to make a donation to the organization, visit sarcbv.org.
FORT WORTH  The COVID-19 vaccination records of at least 9.6 million Texans will be destroyed five years after the statewide public health disaster ends, unless state officials manage to contact all vaccine recipients and ask whether they want the records preserved.

The groups of people that are going to be really, really affected are those marginalized communities that already have a difficult time accessing vaccines, said Rekha Lakshmanan, the chief strategy officer for The Immunization Partnership.

The unusual situation is a result of state law. In most states, when a patient receives a vaccine, that information is shared with the states vaccine registry unless a patient opts out. But in Texas the situation is flipped: Vaccine information is automatically not stored in the states vaccine registry, unless the person receiving the vaccine signs paperwork to consent to sharing that information.

In a public health emergency, such as COVID-19, that requirement is waived: All vaccines and treatments given during an emergency must be reported to the Texas government, regardless of whether the patient has signed a consent agreement.

But five years after the disaster is declared over, all of that information must be destroyed, unless the patients agree to preserve it, according to Texas statute.

Once destroyed, the only remaining vaccine records for those people will be the ones theyve kept on their paper vaccine cards, or, in some cases, records at doctors offices. But for others, the information about which vaccine and booster, and when and where they received them, will be lost forever.

That data is non-recoverable, said Kevin Allen, the director of the states immunization information system, during a meeting in May of public health officials. They can consent up to that five-year retention period, but that is what is in jeopardy.

There is no immediate risk to anyones vaccine records. The timer for vaccine destruction starts when the COVID-19 disaster is officially declared over, which will likely be in January at the earliest.

But this is the first time that a public disaster has coincided with a mass vaccination event in Texas, leaving public health advocates hoping that lawmakers will find a way to preserve these records in the upcoming legislative session, and before the five-year timer runs out.

The looming threat of record destruction is an unusual one in the nation, because almost every other state or municipality that operates a vaccine registry has whats called an opt-out system. In an opt-out vaccine registry, all patients are informed of their right to withhold their vaccine data from the registry. But unless patients object, the data is automatically shared with the registry.

But Texas, New Hampshire and Montana have an opt-in system, meaning that any patient who wants their data stored at the state level must sign additional paperwork to do so.

For doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other vaccine providers, such a system means more bureaucracy for them, they say.

Its more cumbersome, and it results in a lower rate of information entry into the registry, which necessarily affects its functionality and its usefulness, said Dr. Jason Terk, a Keller pediatrician and the chair of the Texas Public Health Coalition.

A similar provision exists for children when they turn 18. If the new adults want the state to keep the records of their childhood vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella and more, they must tell the state they want that data preserved within eight years of their 18th birthday. If they dont, its destroyed.

Altogether, Texas existing vaccine law makes it harder for providers to know if a patient is fully up-to-date on all their vaccines, and more difficult for patients to remember whether they got a vaccine years or sometimes decades ago.

Some consumers are going to want or need those records at some point, said Mary Beth Kurilo, an expert on vaccine systems with the American Immunization Registry Association.

Kurilo pointed to the situation in New York state, where recent positive polio cases had many adults scrambling to figure out whether they were vaccinated as a child. For adults whose data is stored with the registry, the answer is found pretty easily. But for others, theyll have to locate childhood records or call their pediatricians office to see what vaccines they received as an infant.

Everyones now looking for their polio records and asking Did I get immunized as a child? Kurilo said.

Besides the impact on patients and health care workers, Texas strict vaccine laws also leaves communities with limited knowledge about vaccine uptake for other vaccines that protect against preventable diseases, public health experts said.

Because of the state emergency, researchers, public health officials and individuals can go on the state health departments website and look up their countys COVID-19 vaccination rate. All data that is made publicly available is anonymous, and no individuals data can be accessed from the registry by anyone other than a licensed vaccine provider.

But state vaccine law does allow the states health department to publish anonymized vaccine data that shows which parts of the state and which demographic groups are up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination. And which areas have lower uptake, and thus are at greater risk for preventable disease and death.

Its important to see whos getting it, Huang said. Where are places that we need to do particular outreach, if theres not good coverage, to address disparities?

All of those questions are almost impossible to answer for any vaccine besides the COVID-19 vaccine. Want to know your countys vaccination rate for seasonal influenza? Or against the human papillomavirus? Neither question can be answered by public health providers because of state law.

Next door in Louisiana, any citizen can go on the state health departments website and see how the vaccination rate for the HPV vaccine varies by parish.

State Rep. Stephanie Klick, a Republican who represents Fort Worth, has previously supported legislation that would update the states vaccine registry. But not all providers are optimistic about the likelihood of changing the system during the 2023 legislative session.

Political leadership historically has been much more concerned about privacy than public health, Terk said.

For the COVID-19 vaccine records at risk of destruction, Texas health officials have more than five years to work on a plan to try and preserve the information.
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Kevin Avila Jo of Grand Island was arrested Saturday night after he allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat and threw her to the ground.

The alleged crime occurred at 904 E. Phoenix Ave. at 11:40 p.m. The woman told police that while she was on the ground, Avila Jo choked her and punched her in the face.

Officers say they observed fresh red marks on her neck and a mark under her left eye.

In Hall County Court Monday, Avila Jo was charged with assault by strangulation or suffocation and third-degree assault.

Avila Jo, 22, was released on bond. He paid 10% of the $5,000 amount set by Hall County Judge Arthur Wetzel.

His preliminary hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 5.
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.
American War bomb safely disposed of in Nghe An

Authorities in the central province of Nghe An yesterday safely disarmed a 100-kilo bomb dating back to the American War.















The bomb was found on October 24 lying some two metres underground while work on a road project in Nghia Dan District was being done.



Chairman of Nghia Mai Commune People's Committee, Doan Van Huan, announced on Wednesday that the bomb was found on October 24 lying some two metres underground while work on a road project in Nghia Dan District was being done.

After being informed of the bomb, the district military command coordinated with a sapper unit from the provincial military command to isolate the area.













The bomb weighed over 100 kilos and had a diameter of 50 cm and a length of 1.3m. It was defused and moved to a safe area for a controlled detonation on October 26.



According to the Standing Office of the Vietnam National Steering Committee on the Settlement of Post-war Unexploded Ordnance and Toxic Chemicals, the country spent VND12.60 trillion (USD510 million) on bomb and mine detection and clearance during the 2010-2020 period.
YORK  Keith Devito, 55, of Apache Junction, Arizona, has been sentenced to probation in a case where he fled from law enforcement on Interstate 80 while in the possession of illegal firearms, including a loaded handgun in his belt.

Devito was sentenced this week in York County District Court, after an earlier plea agreement was reached with the prosecution.

The case began when a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Department was informed about a careless driver on Interstate 80. The driver was said to be well in excess of the posted speed limit and it was crossing onto the shoulder consistently.

The deputy saw the speeding vehicle and attempted to catch up to it. In court documents, the deputy says the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed while rapidly changing lanes and driving on the shoulder.

When the driver  Devito  failed to slow or stop after the deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop, a pursuit began.

The deputy said the vehicle was traveling in excess of 100 mph, passing other motorists on the shoulder. Tire deflation devices were deployed on three separate occasions by law enforcement officers which led to three of the four vehicle tires being deflated. Even with three of the four tires destroyed, the vehicle continued to drive on the rims. Ultimately the vehicle came to a stop in Lancaster County.

When the vehicle was stopped, Devito (according to court documents) failed to obey numerous commands to exit the vehicle at which time troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol deployed chemical munitions into the vehicle. The driver would still not exit so he was extracted by several officers. During that extraction, a firearm in a holster having from his belt was seen.

That firearm, which was a 9 mm handgun, had a fully-loaded magazine inserted and a bullet in the chamber. The gun was secured.

It was also found he had a fixed blade knife in a sheath on his belt as well. The blade on the knife measured approximately 3  inches long.

Officers said Devito smelled like alcohol and had bloodshot/watery eyes, and there were several alcohol containers in the passenger area.

Deputies said while he was being transported to jail, he made comments about how he should have pulled his gun so law enforcement would have shot him.

A review of Devitos criminal history showed three pending DUI cases in Arizona  one from July and two from September  as well as pending charges of aggravated assault/deadly weapon, aggravated assault on a minor, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on an officer. He also has a criminal history in the state of Pennsylvania for forgery-related charges.

In York County, he was initially charged with possession of a firearm while committing a felony, a Class 2 felony; possession of a deadly weapon while committing a felony, a Class 3 felony; and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony; and several misdemeanors  willful reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer and driving under the influence. As part of an agreement, he pleaded no contest to possession of a firearm while committing a felony, operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, driving under the influence and carrying a concealed weapon.

This week, he was sentenced to three years of traditional probation and was fined $500. He was also sentenced to 90 days in jail, but he was also given credit for 90 days already served. His drivers license was revoked for one year.
CAIRO  City officials and public housing residents in Cairo expressed dismay and anger at federal housing officials announcement on Wednesday night that theyre shuttering yet another apartment complex and forcing the relocation of an additional 50 families.

The reason they gave: An engineers recent architectural assessment of the eight-story high rise building found that it is at risk of collapsing if theres an earthquake. The Connell F. Smith, Sr., apartment complex, as its known, was constructed in 1967 in downtown Cairo, with balconies that offer sweeping views of the Ohio River. But the fact that it sits near the New Madrid Seismic Zone and was constructed using wood piles  rather than the steel ones found in more modern buildings  presents a health and safety risk to residents, the U.S. The Department of Housing and Urban Development said in a media statement.

Numerous residents told HUD they didnt want to move. Dont do this. Its wrong, man, one resident told them. You dont know what were going through because youre not from here, said another, noting he has lived in Cairo since the 1950s and doesnt intend to live elsewhere. Stop moving our people out of town. Build something new here.

Five years ago, HUD committed to keeping the Smith building open, especially for seniors and people with disabilities. It was a promise made during a tumultuous time for the town.

In 2016, HUD booted the local management of the Alexander County Housing Authority, citing years of mismanagement, poor housing conditions and numerous civil rights violations against its mostly Black tenants. A year later, the agency announced a plan to demolish two large family public housing complexes that had fallen into extreme disrepair. That announcement resulted in the relocation of several hundred people from Cairo, most of them young families.

And HUD has invested money into the Smith building since then. Its spent several million dollars, in fact, on big-ticket items like elevator and sewer system upgrades, further raising questions about why this issue had never been raised before.

Word had already spread among residents and town leaders about HUDs plans by time the meeting started. They showed up frustrated and with an arsenal of questions. They were skeptical about the seismic risk HUD outlined, and why HUD had not tried to first build new housing so that people had a place to move to within Cairo.

Jim Cunningham, one of the HUD officials who led the meeting, told them that new development is not off the table, but he did not offer any details about where those plans stand. He said that HUD stewed about the decision before announcing it. This was not an easy decision, he said. If you think it was, youre sorely mistaken.

The residents were provided packets outlining their options: Theyll receive help moving into other public housing complexes, or they can apply for a voucher to subsidize their rent in the private market. But most will likely have to leave Cairo to find alternative housing as there are only six vacant units at the remaining public housing sites in the town.

Cairo Mayor Thomas Simpson said that HUD officials broke the news to him only hours before they told the residents, which he thought was disrespectful. He said he asked them for the engineers assessment that the decision was based upon, and was told hed need to make a public records request to obtain it (HUD told a reporter the same, declining to make it immediately available).

Simpson said he has already reached out to a different architectural engineer that has agreed to review the housing authoritys assessment once he obtains it, and possibly offer a second opinion. Simpson said he doesnt plan to take HUD at its word. Hes gearing up to fight for a fairer plan that allows people the option to stay in their hometown.

When HUD called him, Simpson said the first thing that popped into his mind was, Here we go again.
Paul Hart, Kyle Griffey and Austin Krelo worked side by side for hours and hours on the rough mountainous terrain, creating trails where there were none, enhancing recreational opportunities and promoting economic growth in the region surrounding the historic gold mining towns of the Lost Sierra. The two Southern Illinois University Carbondale students and one graduate had one goal in mind  to make more of the beautiful Tahoe National Forest accessible for people to enjoy via motorized or non-motorized vehicles as well as by hiking or on horseback.

The nearest town, Nevada City, California, lies nearly 100 miles away by road or 60 miles as the crow flies. The Tahoe National Forest encompasses some 800,000 acres of green space, and Hart serves as its trails manager, overseeing the maintenance of some 550 miles of trails and construction of new trails.

Its a dream career for Hart, who earned his bachelors degree in outdoor recreation leadership from SIU in 2007 and credits the university with helping pave his pathway to success. And hes happy to mentor other Salukis as they prepare to launch their careers; after all, Salukis helping Salukis is an SIU tradition, he said.

Incredible experience

Griffey and Krelo said working throughout the summer with Hart was an extraordinary learning experience and that their educational experience at SIU laid an excellent foundation in them for the big tasks they would undertake with Hart.

Griffey, of Tampa, Florida, learned to use a wide array of equipment while working on the trails.

If people could only see the look on my face right now, Griffey, of Tampa, Florida, said, beaming. I have loved the experience. Ive learned how to ride a motorcycle, use a chainsaw properly, move rocks with a jackhammer, create a section of trail from start to finish using different tools and work with volunteer partners and other groups and organizers. Its been amazing. Weve worked on a number of projects at different stages in the making of the trail and got to see how it all formed and how it all came together and how all the hard work paid off. And Ive gotten to use a lot of different types of equipment.

He was drawn to SIU because of its strong outdoor recreation and management program and for aviation, because aviation and flight, along with building and flying model planes, are hobbies. When he began doing basic trail building activities, he discovered that he really enjoyed it. He jumped at the chance to work with Hart when he heard about the opportunity from Tina Colson, senior lecturer in recreation professions.

Krelo, a forest resources management major from Vienna, Illinois, said he also had definitely gotten a lot of new experiences and got to get my hands dirty working alongside Hart. That included learning to operate an excavator, a clay compactor and pumps to move water from the river to the trails.

Krelo learned proper chainsaw techniques as he and Griffey earned their dirt bike and chainsaw certifications under Harts tutelage.

But Griffey and Krelo, who have both earned their dirt bike and chainsaw certifications while laboring in California, said what they gained goes far beyond knowledge of how to operate machinery, ride cycles and consolidate community partnerships. They said theyve been inspired by Harts success and by the opportunities hes acquainted them with.

SIU paved the way to success

Its been really neat having Paul as a boss, Krelo said. Were both from Southern Illinois and seeing him in his element and knowing we came from the same area and that hes succeeding and is making such a difference out here after all of the hard work hes put in since graduating from SIU is something else. Hes pretty much shredding it now! And really worked hard with us, pushing us, teaching us, and we appreciate how much hes helped us and what weve learned.

Hart has been winning awards  professionally and on his motorcycle  since his days at SIU.

Beginning his career in the Florida Everglades, he has also worked at the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the Coconino National Forest, the Ocala National Forest and Rend Lake.

Hart, who also holds a masters degree in natural resources management from Slippery Rock University, won the SIU Recreation Professions Rising Star award in 2017.

Hes built hundreds of miles of new trails and managed 1,000 miles of existing trails. They are a serious business to him for many reasons. One is that he still races motorcycles, now in the desert dirt bike racing series and is currently ranked third in the country in the professional series.

Making trails count

Hart believes trails should be shared by all users  including cyclists, ATV drivers and motorcycle riders as well as hikers, runners and people on horseback.

Theres so much beauty out there; we want everyone to be able to enjoy it, Hart said. They work with the land, envisioning trails through the steep, rocky terrain and the thick woods in sustainable, forest-friendly and visionary pathways.

Griffey and Krelo, along with Hart, worked hard throughout the summer to create new trails to allow more users to access the Tahoe National Forest and they say SIU laid the groundwork for their efforts.

But hes quick to add that building the trails to provide access is difficult, time-consuming work, and he and the others, including his fellow Salukis, are up to the challenge. He leverages grants to obtain additional funding, including stipends for Krelo and for Griffey, who was there completing a required 600-hour internship for his outdoor recreation and management degree. Indeed, Hart secures some $600,000 in grants annually.

Griffey is still interested in a career in land management but said working with Hart has definitely opened my eyes to what opportunities are available.

Krelo, who will graduate in December, said his goal is to find a job where he can work with his hands, ideally with the forest service, and after his time with Hart, he can definitely see himself in a role that involves trails and fire service. He clearly remembers coming into the Tahoe area and thinking, Its so beautiful here.

This isnt the first time a Saluki has traveled to the Tahoe National Forest for the Paul Hart internship experience. Nathan Alcorn, a 2017 alumnus and outdoor recreation major from Galesburg, Illinois, served his internship there as well. Alcorn still lives in California, working for the Fire Safe Council, and he and Hart remain friends.

I always have an open invitation for SIU interns to come out and work with me, Hart said. SIU had a big impact on me and my life, and I am happy to help other Salukis any way I can.

Hart gives back in other ways as well. Any time he gets back to Southern Illinois, he takes the opportunity to come to campus to talk to outdoor recreation and management classes, Colson said.

It is so beneficial to have someone as successful and knowledgeable as Paul, who gives freely of his time to assist our students, said Colson.
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.
A state legislator who looks forward to entering her 32nd year in the General Assembly is being challenged by a candidate who seeks to be a new voice in the areas of taxes and education.

Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg is the Democratic incumbent running for re-election to the District 95 seat in the Nov. 8 general election.

She is being challenged for the second time by Santee resident and retired U.S. Navy veteran Jeffrey Cila.

Gilda Cobb-Hunter

Cobb-Hunter said she hopes to complete some unfinished work in the General Assembly if she is re-elected.

I am still enjoying it and believe that Im making a difference. So as long as the voters allow me to serve, I intend to serve. There are a couple of things. One, Orangeburg has been chosen as the site for the next veterans nursing home, Cobb-Hunter said.

She continued, We are in the beginning of what is a multi-year process from selection to actual construction and operation of that veterans nursing home. I want to make sure that it happens and that things stay on track. I believe I can do that best as a member of the General Assembly.

A new, $87.3 million nursing home for veterans is planned for Orangeburg County. The proposed 104-bed facility is to be located on U.S. 301 off of exit 154 on Interstate 26. It is being funded by the federal and state governments as part of the VA State Home Construction Grant Program.

Cobb-Hunter said her unfinished business includes continued development of the partnership between the Regional Medical Center and the Medical University of South Carolina.

I want to make sure that that partnership evolves as it has been envisioned. I need to be in the General Assembly to make sure that happens the way it has been envisioned, she said.

Cobb-Hunter said her experience includes helping provide funding for area universities and colleges as part of her membership on the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee.

When you look this past year at the funding, South Carolina State University received the highest amount of state funding that they have ever received. That was done in the budget by Ways and Means, she said.

When you look at Denmark Tech and how much progress Denmark Tech is making, the level of funding they received, that also occurred under my watch as a member of the Higher Ed Subcommittee, Cobb-Hunter said.

The legislator said while the funding is not enough, it is a start.

I dont make any claims that it is equitable compared to other schools, but what I do make a claim on is that it is the most that S.C. State has received. I will point out that thats a trend of increased funding that started under the previous administration of (former) President (James) Clark, she said. With Denmark Tech, the new leadership there has instilled a level of confidence that I think should be rewarded.

Cobb-Hunter said she is also pleased with the level of funding that Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College has received, noting that OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin and his team have done a good job meeting the needs of area businesses and manufacturers.

It is critical that they have the kind of facilities needed to continue that work. The $8 million in the budget goes a long way in ensuring they will be able to meet those demands, she said.

Cobb-Hunter said her advocacy for state employees has also produced gains.

While it is not been what I have liked, the fact that state employees got a 3 percent raise, plus a $1,500 bonus, its something that I believe happened as a result of my advocacy for increased state employee pay, she said.

Cobb-Hunter said she has also advocated for improvements, including in the area of broadband access.

When I look at broadband and the broadband dollars that the state has put in, as well as federal dollars, I insisted on language that gave priority to funding broadband access in rural and underserved areas, she said, noting that the state Office of Regulatory Services has cited her insistence that priority and funding must be given to areas that are not currently being served.

That pandemic showed us that access to broadband is not just a privilege, but it should be a right in todays economy, Cobb-Hunter said, noting that she is most proud of the accomplishments which came during her first term in office more than 30 years ago.

The passage of the Housing Trust Fund legislation which I worked on before I became a legislator was passed during my first session, and it was special for me to be able to vote on something that is making a big difference in addressing issues of low-income housing stock.

The Lake Marion Regional Water Agency is also special for much of the same reason. While it has not reached the regional vision initially discussed, the potential of engaging six counties in the agency is still within reach, she said,

Her campaign theme is May the work Ive done speak for me.

Cobb-Hunter said what makes her a good candidate is that she is not caught up on the title and the tags and intends to be a public servant.

I see it as a blessing and an opportunity to serve. I just want to make a difference for people. Its not about me, its about the people who I hope to represent. So I think that degree of humility in this day and age speaks volumes about character and integrity, she said.

The legislator said her experience and the relationships shes made in the General Assembly are also noteworthy.

The reality is that success in the South Carolina House is based on relationships. I have been successful during my tenure in the House to have earned the respect of my colleagues and to be able to work both sides of the aisle, Cobb-Hunter said.

She continued, I thank the voters in this district for allowing me to serve for as long as they have allowed me to serve. It is a new district with new voters, and I welcome the opportunity to serve them as well if they give me that chance on Nov. 8. I humbly ask for their vote and their support. Most of all, for those who know the power of prayer, I ask for their prayers.

District 95 includes Dorchester County and parts of the City of Orangeburg.

Dorchester County is a part of the district and most of the Dorchester County part of the district are areas that I served when I was first elected in January of 92.  I have an open-door policy. I believe in being honest and truthful and saying what I think. I believe very strongly in agreeing to disagree agreeably. Ive found that to be what voters appreciate, Cobb-Hunter said.

That kind of service is what I hope to be able to continue to provide and offer to the voters and the residents of House District 95, she said.

A native of Gifford, Florida, Cobb-Hunter is a graduate of Florida A&M University and Florida State University. She has been married to Dr. Terry K. Hunter for 47 years and has resided in Orangeburg County for more than 40 years.

Jeffrey Cila

Cila is a Santee resident who said the residents of District 95 need a new voice for change.

Cila, whose campaign slogan is Without changes, nothing changes, said he is the man for the job.

I ran two years ago against Gilda Cobb-Hunter. The reasons are pretty much still the same, he said.

Im concerned about the academic achievement in the district. Even though its even been redrawn, its still the bulk of the same District 66. Im concerned that were hovering at or below 50 percent of students being able to read and do math at grade level even after weve built some new schools and abandoned some old ones, Cila said. Id just like to get a little more involved in why thats not working out better.

Cila said he is also concerned about taxes.

The taxation rates in the rural counties, Orangeburg County especially, just seem a little bit heavy, especially when the state now in the last five years has had a surplus of funds in excess of $2 billion twice now. ... It shows me that the tax rates are getting a little out of whack, he said, noting that the economy is also not doing well.

I would really like to see a discussion about doing away with the personal property tax and fading that out because its really arduous on people when they have to buy things and then continually have to pay a tax on it for as long as they have it, Cila said.

He said hed like to have a better rapport with constituents in the district.

The current incumbent has been there a long time. Im not going to fault her for what has and hasnt happened, but 30 years is a long time. After a while you get a little stale, you get a little used to being easily re-elected.

Shes been largely unchallenged for half of the time that shes run. So I figured I wanted to try it again. Ive got name recognition and did fairly well comparably to other Republican candidates two years ago. So I think a new voice is needed in this area, Cila said.

He said hed like to see bridges improved in the area.

Theres still a lot of bridges in rural areas that are broken. In the town of Elloree we have two bridges that have been out for months, and we dont know when theyre going to be repaired. Id like to see us re-elevate Santee State Park. Its a wonderful park, but Ive lived next to it for 30 years and only watched it deteriorate, Cila said.

He continued, Theyve lost a restaurant, the roads havent been repaved in years now. Theyre too narrow for two campers to drive in and out of there side by side. Its in a state of disrepair. It just hadnt been getting any attention. So roads, recreation, reducing taxes and starting on this discussion to do away with personal property taxes are why hes running.

Cila said his personable nature makes him a good candidate.

I can talk with anyone who wants to have a serious discussion, and Im a good listener. Thats mostly important when you have a conversation. You have to listen to exactly whats being said to find out what the real issue is. ... Theres a solution in there that we can work together to get to, he said.

Cila encouraged voters to consider voting a split-party ticket.

In this district a lot of people vote straight-party tickets. They just go in and either vote Democratic or Republican.  Im putting on all my campaign signs for folks to vote a split ticket. Take their time, look at the ballot and pick the best candidate and not just the easy one, or the easy way to vote, he said.

Cila and his wife, Debra, also a U.S. Navy veteran, are the parents of three grown children and three grandchildren.

He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors at Orangeburg Christian Academy. He is also the chairman of the administrative board at Jerusalem United Methodist Church in Elloree and just recently accepted a pastoral appointment for a three-church charge in the Walterboro District of the S.C. Annual Conference of the UMC.
(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  Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah insisted Thursday that the official signing of the maritime border agreement doesn't imply a normalization of relations between Lebanon and Israel.



However, he announced that his party will end its "exceptional" military mobilization and praised a "great victory" for Lebanon during a televised speech.

Earlier Thursday, Lebanon signed the maritime border agreement with Israel. The deal was finalized two weeks ago after monthslong indirect negotiations mediated by the American envoy Amos Hochstein, who also signed the document.

The deal "is not an international agreement and does not mean Lebanon recognized Israel [as a state] or normalized with Israel," Nasrallah said in his speech. He reminded the audience that the negotiations were indirect and that Israel was not given "any security reassurances."



Nevertheless, "all exceptional measures and mobilizations taken by the resistance will end. Mission accomplished," Nasrallah added.

On June 5, Israel deployed a floating production, storage and offloading vessel to the disputed Karish offshore gas field. Hezbollah later retaliated by sending three unarmed drones toward the offshore field, which were shot down by Israeli forces.

At the time, Nasrallah said Hezbollah was militarily and financially capable of preventing [Israel] from extracting [gas] from the disputed Karish field and all [Israels] measures will not be capable of protecting its floating platform.

In Thursday's speech, Nasrallah's tone had changed significantly.

"We consider that, from the beginning to the end, [the deal] is a great victory for Lebanon the state, its people and the resistance," he said. "Lebanon has taken an important step ... [It is] correct to say that we have become an oil and gas state."



This last statement was in reference to a statement made by Lebanese President Michel Aoun who, on Oct. 13, just days after the deal was finalized, announced that "Lebanon has become an oil state. What was a dream yesterday is today a reality."

Earlier in the day Thursday, Israeli Minister Yair Lapid claimed the deal signifies Lebanon's de-facto "recognition" of Israel.

"This is a political achievement. It is not every day that an enemy state recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community," Lapid said.

Nasrallah said he will talk extensively on the maritime border matter in an upcoming speech on Saturday.




Wyomings had a much better fiscal year than expected.

After a shaky couple of years, the state braced for more of the same in 2022. But unexpectedly high energy prices  particularly oil and natural gas  helped state revenue outperform predictions made at the start of this year, the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) announced Wednesday.

Gov. Mark Gordon cautioned in a written statement that this welcome news is not cause for excessive celebration or reason to relax our fiscal conservatism. We must remember that there has been a lot of volatility in our mineral revenues over the past few years, and that remains a concern for our future.

International pressures still on the horizon at the start of 2022 turned it into an exceptional year for the Wyoming economy.

Uncertainty and fuel shortages in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine pushed up the price of oil and then natural gas, commodities already in short supply because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And soaring  and sustained  demand for coal has also kept its price higher than any time in the last decade.

As the global economy picks up steam or decelerates, energy use will go with it, said Patrick Fleming, chief investment officer for the Wyoming State Treasurers Office and a member of CREG.

Geopolitical risk is still elevating oil prices, Fleming said. But fears of recession are introducing downward pressure, too.

The CREG report found that during the last fiscal year, the General Fund and Budget Reserve Account, the primary accounts used to pay for state programs and services, collected $329.4 million more than expected: an additional $109.4 million from federal mineral royalties, $103.5 million from severance taxes, $49.4 million from sales and use taxes and $45.8 million from investment income.

Oil contributed 43.7% of Wyomings severance taxes during the 2022 fiscal year, followed by 34.5% from natural gas, 19.2% from coal and 2.6% from other minerals (including trona), according to CREG.

The report identified oil as Wyomings leading revenue contributor and warned that while the trona industry is forecast to remain relatively stable, production of both natural gas and coal  each buoyed temporarily by their recent surge in price  will likely start to decline again within the next several years as prices come back down.

It also warned that Wyomings state revenue streams are volatile, and over the last couple of years the trend has become even more pronounced and is unlikely to abate.

Since 2020, the report added, Wyoming has experienced two opposite amplitudes of the proverbial revenue pendulum. External factors, including, but not limited to, geopolitical events, changes in energy markets and demand preferences, weather, available infrastructure and infrastructure outages, world financial markets, pandemics, monetary policy, federal regulations, and federal fiscal policies, continue to dramatically influence fluctuations in revenue.

The reason the state is so susceptible to such shifts, Fleming said, is that Wyoming has three key revenue streams  investments, mineral production and sales and use tax  and the first two arent stable.

Unfortunately, its cyclical with the economy, Fleming said. As the economy slows, we get less income.

The good news is we built up a significant amount of reserves, he added. The states rainy day fund has grown significantly, which will help cushion the blow for when you have a weaker economy and lower receipts.
Roger Wendell Hill, Past CEO of Holly Sugar, died on October 15, 2022, after a courageous battle with Parkinsons Disease.

Mr. Hill was born in Torrington, Wyoming and was raised on a sugarbeet producing farm near Lingle, Wyoming by parents, Harold and Vivian (Haas) Hill. Roger received an A.A. from Ft. Lewis and a B.S. in Animal Husbandry from the University of Wyoming. He was a graduate of both the Beet End and Sugar End courses of the McGinnis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology and the Stanford Executive Program.

Mr. Hill began his career as an Assistant County Agent in Cheyenne, Wyoming. In 1963, he joined Holly Sugar Corporation as an Agriculturist. He was stationed in Worland and Riverton, Wyoming and Grand Junction, Colorado. Mr. Hill was then appointed Agricultural Manger and spent the next seven years in that position in Worland, Wyoming, Brawley and Santa Ana, California. In 1977, he became Manager of the Cane Division in Santa Ana, California. Two years later, he was appointed General Agricultural Manager in Colorado Springs, Colorado and served in that capacity for three years. In 1983, he was named Vice President-Agriculture, then Senior Vice President-Agriculture, then Executive Vice President. In 1988 Mr. Hill was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer for the last 13 years of his career. Mr. Hill also served at the same time as President of Spreckels Sugar Company, and Chairman of the Board of Michigan Sugar Company. He was the Advisory Director for Imperial Sugar Company.

Mr. Hill served as a longtime Trustee to the United States Beet Sugar Association in Washington D.C. and The Sugar Association. He also served as President of the American Society of Beet Sugar Technologists (ASSBT); Director, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, Penrose-St. Francis Foundation; Board Member, Penrose St. Francis Healthcare Assn.; Instructor, McGinnis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology and on the Business Advisory Committees for Colorado College and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was Chairman of the Board of the Colorado Springs Humane Society and the Board President of the Pikes Peak Hospice.

A few of Mr. Hills many industry achievements included: Implementation of programs to improve the quality of sugar beets for growers through seed development with Holly Hybrids, improvement of grower-processor relationships into a partnership. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Union Sugar, Spreckels Sugar and the merger of Imperial Sugar Company and Holly Sugar Corporation. Mr. Hill worked closely with the American, California, Texas, Washakie County, and Mon-Dak Sugar Beet Growers Associations. He lobbied and presented to Congress the 1990 Farm Bills successful passage and published Holly Sugar-The First 90 Years for the Newcomen Society. He was an honorary member of the American Society of Beet Sugar Technologists for his service to the beet sugar industry of North America and awarded the Silver Sugar Beet for his outstanding contributions to the welfare of sugar beet growers.

Roger loved anything to do with Wyoming or sugar beets! Watching his Wyoming Cowboys on Saturdays with his family was a must. He enjoyed flyfishing, hunting, hiking, and camping. He also loved traveling with Jan on their many adventures from river boats in Europe to Alaska and his beloved Yellowstone. Trips to Vail, Crested Butte and Cabo San Lucas with dear friends and family always brought him great joy. Jan and Roger had a blessed life and enjoyed their many friends and family. Their home was always a gathering place.

Mr. Hill was married to Barbara (Clark) Hill of Shoshoni, Wyoming on July 15, 1962, until her death in 2004. They had two children, Scott Hill of Colorado Springs, and Rob Hill (Jackie Hill) of Casper, Wyoming. Grandsons include: Dillon Hill, Tyler Hill, and Jackson Hill.

Mr. Hill married Jan Atha October 22, 2011, in Colorado Springs. Added to the family were sons and daughter: Jason Atha, Brandon Atha (Mariah) and Jenny Suchey (Kevin). Roger was preceded in death by Barbara Hill, Scott Hill, four siblings and his parents.

He is survived by wife Jan Hill, brother Curtis Hill (Cindy), brother-in-law John Arville, son Rob Hill (Jackie), Jason Atha, Brandon Atha (Mariah), and Jenny Suchey (Kevin), and numerous grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses and caregivers at Springs Ranch along with the nurses at Compasses Hospice.

Roger was a gift and inspiration to all who came to knew him. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy of kindness and grace will remain within us.

A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Michaels Episcopal Church, 7400 Tudor Road, Colorado Springs, CO, on November 5th at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Wyoming Future Farmers Association (FFA) Foundation, P.O Box 7311 Sheridan, WY 82801. Checks payable to: Wyoming FFA Foundation (Note: Hill Memorial).
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Casper mans lengthy prison sentence for shooting someone he suspected had sexually abused an underage relative.

Olinza Headd did not file the necessary court documents for an appeal within the time required. And his court-appointed attorney was allowed to withdraw from the matter after informing the court there were no issues that could in good faith be appealed in the case.

Headd shot and killed Eugene Hogan III on Jan. 13, 2021, inside a Casper apartment. He believed Hogan had molested one of his relatives, court documents and family members say. A few days later, he confessed at the conclusion of a church service to the killing.

In April of this year, he pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge, avoiding a conviction for second-degree murder, which carries the possibility of a life sentence.

A judge sentenced him to the maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

That sentence sparked a protest in Casper, with demonstrators saying he was punished too harshly given that he believed Hogan had molested a relative. Hogan was never charged with a crime.

According to a brief filed by the attorney who withdrew from the appeal, Headd believed his trial lawyer did not sufficiently inform him about whether or not the relatives testimony would be needed at a potential trial. That information, Headd contended, should have been made clear to him prior to his decision to plead guilty, the document states.

However, the attorney was not swayed and asked to be let off the case. Headd indicated at his change of plea hearing that he understood what his guilty plea entailed and was satisfied with his trial counsel, the appeals attorney noted.

The record does not support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, lawyer Michael Bennett wrote.

Headd, 54, is being held at Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution in Torrington.
A woman sitting in the back of the room at the state superintendents conference on Tuesday raised her hand and announced to the crowd that she had quit teaching a year ago.

Its because of this, the woman said, gesturing to the audience.

With just a couple months left on his term, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder gathered a crowd of like-minded people on Tuesday to host a conference on the sexualization of children in schools.

We are living in unprecedented times, like nothing weve ever faced in our nations history, Schroeder said. The issue we seek to address here today is both unsettling and disturbing. Or at least it should be.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Star-Tribune after the conference that theres a severe lack of trust for teachers. Tears filled her eyes.

Nobody would argue that we need to sexualize children, she said. All this is doing is demonizing teachers.

Other educators responding to Schroeders conference shared similar sentiments about the event.

Michael Stedillie, a retired teacher and school board candidate in Natrona County, said that he wishes critics would come to school and actually see whats going on.

I find it interesting that some of the critics to whom I have spoken with, by their own admission, have not set foot in a classroom for years, he said.

Stedillie was a teacher for 41 years before retiring and becoming a substitute teacher in Natrona County. He said hes spent the past few weeks subbing for an eighth grade language arts class, teaching reading comprehension and critical thinking.

It kind of annoys me when people say that we have to get back to the basics, he said. Weve never left the basics.

Getting back to the basics is a common rallying cry around education these days for parents concerned that their kids are being indoctrinated and taught political and gender ideology at school.

Schroeder has also repeatedly raised concern that Wyoming schools are becoming a place where educators are imposing their personal ideologies on students.

In response to Schroeders conference, Natrona County Education Association President and former teacher Dirk Andrews said in a Facebook post that its against Professional Teaching Standards Board code of conduct for teachers to push their personal ideologies on students.

I would encourage anyone who feels schools are pushing our personal ideologies on students to reach out to our educators and to visit our schools, he wrote.

I believe the statements made by the current state superintendent were made to divide us, when in all (honesty) we want to work together.

Stedillie also said he sees a different picture than what was portrayed during the conference.

You can walk up and down the hallways, and youre going to see math being taught, youre going to see reading being taught, he said.

The teachers that he knows are doing their absolute level best to give kids the education they deserve.

I think it would be really nice if society in general were to recognize that and give them a pat on the back once in a while.

John Trohkimoinen, a retired teacher who taught history at Natrona County High School, said he hadnt personally felt that narratives impacted his work as a teacher.

But hes talked to other teachers, particularly those who are mid-career, who feel like theyre at crossroads, questioning what to do with their career, if its time to get out, if they should stick with it.

I think with a lot of things that are going on, people are starting to wrestle with that a little bit, he said.

A handful of educators from across Wyoming doesnt necessarily represent where all Wyoming educators stand in regards to Schroeders continued battle against the sexualization of children in schools.

But theres data that sheds light on what a larger group of Wyoming teachers feels about their profession in general right now.

Trohkimoinen pointed to the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Education Association study released in June, which showed that 65% of surveyed teachers would quit their jobs now if they could. (Trohkimoinen himself answered the survey questions.)

I think its important for school boards and superintendents and people who are involved in teacher retention to be looking at (the survey results) and scratching their head saying, OK, what can we do to make things better? he said.

More than three-quarters of respondents to another recent survey of school districts by the Wyoming School Board Association said they consider a lack of respect and trust shown toward educators as a top factor hurting hiring and retention.

Trohkimoinen said it seems that recognition of the good work thats done everyday in schools has taken the backseat.

In his more than three-decade career as a teacher, he had never experienced the level and kind of attention thats surrounding schools and educators in Wyoming right now. There have always been issues out there, but they have mostly been singular, he said.

But this time, things have gotten lumped together: fears about child sexualization, Moms for Liberty wanting to ban books, people talking about critical race theory and how evil that is.

This is the first time Ive seen it lumped together like that, he said. It seems like its just a general attack on public education, and Ive never seen a thing with this intensity.

And its not always easy for people on different sides of these various concerns to have conversations and come to some sort of agreement.

Christy Gerrits, a retired seventh grade science teacher and LGBTQ ally, said it has been challenging for her to talk with people with differing views concerning the controversial topics highlighted during Schroeders conference.

One woman, she said, called her amoral when Gerrits tried to talk with her. She feels disappointment. She feels anger. Shes saddened. At this point, Gerrits said that electing the right people to the school board, to the commission, to the Legislature is the only viable way she sees of moving forward.

Its just horrendous what theyre doing to the LGBT community, she said.

I feel like this is an issue being brought to Wyoming by outside groups, the radical-right agenda.

But other educators who spoke with the Star-Tribune were more optimistic.

There is always room for people to sit down and have a productive conversation, Stedillie said.

The question, Trohkimoinen said, is when to have those conversations. He thinks right now, with the general elections coming up, isnt the best time.

This is just my take on it, but sometime after the election, once things have cooled off a bit, I think somehow, maybe gently, people need to start the conversation about what we need to do, he said.

I think theres always time to be able to visit. The question is how do you start the dialogue? And if I had that answer, Id go to the bank right now.
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.
PHOENIX  An attorney for the founder of Clean Elections USA asked a federal judge Wednesday to dismiss a bid to restrain her ability or those of its members to monitor drop boxes in Arizona.

Veronica Lucero said the request by Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans and Voto Latino is overly broad, seeking to bar activities that are constitutionally protected. She told U.S. District Court Judge Michael Liburdi that any such efforts must be considered under a strict scrutiny standard.

That requires those seeking to limit the actions of others must show not just a compelling need for such an order, but also that it is narrowly tailored to be the least restrictive way to deal with the problem.

And the limits the group seeks on Clean Elections USA, Lucero said, go beyond that, seeking to prevent lawful activities like monitoring drop boxes from at least 75 feet away and photographing those who use the boxes.

But Lucero also told the judge theres a more basic reason he should throw out the case. She said there is no evidence that Clean Elections USA or its founder, Melody Jennings, are actually involved in any of the cases of voter intimidation that are occurring in Arizona.

Plaintiffs have gathered together some internet postings, Lucero said, acknowledging that Jennings has urged followers to monitor drop boxes.

They have pointed to some complaints of voter intimidation, she continued. But theres no connection between that and the defendants actions, Ms. Jennings and her organization which is unaffiliated, doesnt have legal status.

Lucero even got Saundra Cole, president of the Arizona Association of Retired Americans, to admit on the stand that she has no proof that anyone who has been approaching voters in Maricopa County is associated with Clean Elections USA. Ditto Ameer Patel, vice president of Voto Latino.

And Mesa resident Jenea Phillips, who filed a complaint with the Secretary of States Office about being photographed while dropping off her ballot outside the Maricopa County Juvenile Court Center, also said she could not say who was responsible.

Lucero did not dispute that Jennings has said, both in social media postings and interviews, that people should monitor drop boxes to look for mules  people illegally putting multiple ballots into the boxes. But she said that Jennings has done nothing wrong.

She has not advocated for any kind of voter intimidation, Lucero told the judge. And she said nothing that Lucero or members of Clean Elections USA have done violate either the 1965 Voter Protection Act or the 1871 Ku Klux Klan act, both of which make voter intimidation illegal.

Fox, however, presented a string of videos and social media posts where Jennings speaks specifically of activities in Arizona. And that includes an Oct. 19 photo posted by Jennings of three people she describes as our beautiful box watchers in Maricopa County.

He also showed the judge videos from ABC-15 where box watchers told reporter Nicole Grigg that they were with Clean Elections USA.

That leaves it up to Liburdi, who said he is hoping to have a ruling by Friday, to decide whether there is sufficient evidence linking Jennings and her group with activities outside the drop boxes. But even if he does, the judge questioned whether he can issue an order that could affect the constitutional rights of those monitoring drop boxes.

The First Amendment protects speech, protects the right to lawfully assemble, protects some degree of conduct, Liburdi said.

And he pointed to a ruling last month by U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi prohibiting the state from enforcing a law that would have made it a crime for individuals to take videos within eight feet of police activity.

Why, for example, would it be unconstitutional to prohibit somebody from filming a law enforcement officer, would it be constitutional for me to enjoin individuals dropping ballots off? Liburdi asked.

Fox said the situations are different.

We can reasonably understand that police officers have a thicker skin given the job they signed up for, he told the judge. Thats a different situation than voters who are people just exercising their civic duty to vote.

And Fox said theres something else.

He noted that even Jennings acknowledged in interviews that this is about more than simply taking pictures of those who are using the drop boxes. Instead, she is quoted as saying that at least part of the purpose of having people near drop boxes  and being very visible  is to deter mules from putting multiple ballots into the boxes.

Only thing is, Arizona law does allow individuals to deliver more than their own ballots. Exceptions to what has been called the ballot harvesting law includes handling the ballots of a spouse, members of the same household and even caregivers.

And Fox said that rises to the level of intimidating people and keeping them from using the drop boxes.

Conversely, Liburdi questioned Lucero about the things that have happened in Arizona. That includes Jennings having publicly posted pictures of the license plates of those who have shown up to deposit their ballots at drop boxes.

Lucero, however, said thats not necessarily breaking any law.

Theyre not trying to prevent anyone from voting, she said, at least not legally. Instead, Lucero said, the aim is to go after the mules.

Defendants openly wish to deter this illegal behavior, not lawful voters, she said. And Lucero cited statements by Jennings telling box watchers to follow the law.

Wednesdays hearing came as Fox agreed to scale back what he is seeking in a court order  assuming Liburdi agrees with his arguments.

He dropped his request that the judge bar members of Clean Elections USA from gathering within sight of drop boxes. That followed comments from the judge at a Tuesday hearing that he wouldnt approve anything that would violate the constitutional rights of people to gather on public streets.

But the new proposal may be similar.

Now, Fox wants Liburdi to prohibit organization members from gathering in groups of more than two within 250 feet of drop boxes.

He still wants an order barring anyone from Clean Elections USA from following, taking photos of or otherwise recording individuals returning ballots to a drop box. But gone is a bid to extend that prohibition to taking pictures of the vehicles used by voters.

But now theres something new. Fox now wants Liburdi to preclude people from posting online any images or personal information about people who use drop boxes.
What more appropriate a place to haunt than a place full of old stuff? Here in Tucson we have the "Haunted Antique Mall" at the 22nd Street Antique Mall, at 5302 E. 22nd St. Here are the facts:

1. The mall has a main store and a two-story adjacent annex: It was built as a furniture store. The office was in the second floor annex. In one booth upstairs was an antique typewriter last used long ago. Several customers and employees reported hearing a typewriter typing away over a period of months, but when investigated, nobody was there. Many customers told employees there were "ghosts" upstairs  that area is no longer being used.

2. The second floor booths mostly contained furniture  chairs, desks, tables, beds, etc. Several times, the employees straightened up the furniture before going home at 5 p.m., only to find it rearranged, the chairs pulled out into the aisles, and all askew, the next morning.

3. A radio tuned to a local station for background music was left on upstairs while the store was open. Often it would increase suddenly in volume when nobody was upstairs.

4. The following is a description from an employee who still works at the mall: "The holiday season was upon us and we were very busy. One of the employees was approaching the doorway into the annex and we both were suddenly 'frozen' in our positions. The people who were shopping all sped up like in a time warp. It might have been only a matter of seconds but it seemed like hours. Then everything slowed down to a normal pace. My fellow employee was still standing in the same position on the stairs with a dazed look on her face. I said to her, 'Did you see that?' She replied, 'What just happened?' We were both shaken up."

5. One employee was bending over a jewelry showcase when she felt something brush past her back. Looking up, she saw a "transparent" figure of a young male with a mischievous look on his face who quickly vanished.

6. Several employees and customers were at the back of the mall when they heard a loud sound of crashing glass from one of the front booths. They rushed to the booth, but nothing was amiss. The booth was rented to a dealer who had died the month before. His goods were still in the booth. He was known to the employees as a prankster.

Perhaps these are all imagination, but we have documented all of these events from more than one source. Is the mall haunted? Well. . .

By Paul and Myra Rees (owners of 22nd Street Antique Mall)
Tucsons Ignite Sign Art Museum can now add award-winning to its title, thanks to a recent nod from the Arizona Preservation Foundation and State Historic Preservation Office.

The museum, which is dedicated to restoring and displaying Tucsons signage of the past, was one of 10 projects across the state given a Governors Heritage Preservation Honor Award, a distinction bestowed upon organizations that work toward preserving the states history.

It is nice to get recognition for what we are doing here, said Jude Cook, owner of Cook & Company Sign Makers, who opened Ignite with his wife, Monica Hay Cook, in 2018.

Jim McPherson, president of the board of the Arizona Preservation Foundation, said recognizing efforts to save vintage and neon signage is relatively new for them, calling it in an email, a sign of growing popularity among preservation advocates and communities where there are active efforts to save and restore such features.

Over the past decade, only three sign projects have been awarded the honor: Ignite, the Tucson Neon Sign Rehabilitation Project in 2012, and the Neon Sign Park in Casa Grande in 2020.

Other Southern Arizona projects and individuals that received the award this year, include the Pima County Historic Courthouse Rehabilitation; Tucson resident R. Brooks Jeffery; Marana residents Gordon and Linda Hanson; and the Camp Naco Story Map in Bisbee, which tells the story of the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry of Buffalo Soldiers stationed there. The Camp Naco map took the foundations highest honor, the James W. Garrison Grand Award.

Cook said the award will help when they apply for grants for the museum.

As for the certificate they received, I think I am going to frame it in neon, he added.

Ignite Sign Art Museum, 331 S. Olsen Ave., is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays. Admission is $12 with discounts available.

The museum will be holding an Ignite at Night event on Nov. 10 as part of Tucson Modernism Week. The evening will run from 5-8 p.m. and tickets are $15.
PHOENIX  The head of the Arizona Republican Party got at least a temporary reprieve in her bid to stop her phone records from being turned over to Congress.

In a brief order Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan agreed to stay an order by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the Jan. 6 committee is immediately entitled to information about who Kelli Ward called and texted around the time of the 2020 election and through the riot at the Capitol. Those records, subpoenaed by the panel, also include who called and texted her.

But the order by Kagan is not the last word.

She has given attorneys for Congress through the end of the day Friday to tell her and her colleagues why they are immediately entitled to the records. And at that point either Kagan by herself or the full court will decide the fate of the records.

Wednesday's order is an interim victory for Ward who up until this point has been unable to convince lower court judges that the subpoena violates not only her right to privacy but that it illegally undermines her ability as chair of the state GOP to do her job and communicate with party members. Her attorney, Alexander Kolodin, said just the threat that their phone calls and texts with Ward will become public will chill their desire to contact her.

Central to the issue are arguments by Douglas Letter that the committee needs the information as part of its charge to determine the causes of the Jan. 6 riot.

Letter has told judges that Ward played a key role in undermining public confidence in the election, a factor he said that led to the disturbance.

He noted that texts showed that Ward, days after the election when it was clear Joe Biden had won Arizona, texted Clint Hickman, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, seeking to arrange a call with President Trump. And he said that Ward "promoted false allegations of election interference by Dominion Voting Systems."

Then there was Ward's role in convening a set of electors  herself and her husband included  and sending their votes for Trump to Congress as "representing the legal voters of Arizona.''

"This fake elector scheme was a key part of President Trump's effort to overturn the election," Letter told the appellate judges, saying she even continued to maintain even after the Jan. 6 riot that the votes for Trump.

Ward said disclosure should wait until she exhausts her legal appeals.

But Letter said that time is crucial, as the committee  and its ability to study the issue and prepare a report  self-destructs after Jan. 3 when a new Congress is sworn in.

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Georgia "Jo" Sailors, our much beloved mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, peacefully passed away in Mesa, AZ on October 15, 2022, at age 80 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Georgia was born in the tiny rural town of LeFlore, Oklahoma until moving to Arizona at age 12. Being from Oklahoma, Georgia was proud of her Indian heritage as a member of the Kusa Nunahi Tribal Band of Cherokee Indians. She never forgot her humble beginnings. That is why she made sure our entire family ALWAYS had plenty of shoes, as she rarely had any as a child. Georgia held many jobs over the years beginning with Southern Arizona Bank (which she had MANY fond memories), Comptroller for the Arizona Department of Revenue, and retiring from the Arizona Lottery (she never would tell us what the winning numbers would be!). Georgia enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies over the years, but nothing brought her greater pleasure than her family and volunteering tirelessly to her family's various activities. Georgia is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Cleo Gaines; beloved husband, Donald Sailors and brother, Stanley Gaines (Jocelyn). She is survived by daughters, Nowana Wood (Dan) and Melissa Sailors (James Abdo); grandsons, Andrew Wood (Nicole) and Nathan Wood (Amy); great-grandchildren, Austin, Ashley and Owen and of course many wonderful friends. Please join us for a Celebration of Life service to be held at noon on Saturday, November 12, 2022, Camelback Christian Church, 6235 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale, AZ. 85251. Arrangements by BRING'S BROADWAY CHAPEL.
When state Senate candidate Justine Wadsack and her husband Garret were sued by their former attorney over unpaid bills, they lashed back in a countersuit.

John Munger refused to file multiple incremental Notice of Claims between 2017-2019 that would have allowed us to pursue (4) separate lawsuits that would have resulted in monetary awards of multi-million dollars, they argued.

Going further, they accused Munger of failing to disclose a conflict of interest in the Wadsacks earlier suit against the Arizona Department of Economic Security, which Mungers firm handled.

Mr. Munger ran for the seat of Governor in 2009, leading to a political relationship with the current Governor, Doug Ducey, who is at the top of the organizational chart at the man in charge of DES, DDD and DCS State agencies, also known as the defendants in the Wadsacks case.

It was typical of Wadsacks frequent appearances in civil litigation  she and her husband fight back hard acting as their own attorneys, sometimes using far-fetched legal arguments, before settling or otherwise ending the case. (Ducey, for what its worth, was running for Arizona treasurer in 2010 while Munger was running unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination for governor.)

Wadsack, a Republican, has been a party  either a plaintiff or defendant  in 10 different legal actions over the last nine years, Pima County court records show.

Thats much more than any other candidate in the district where shes running, Legislative District 17. Three of Wadsacks cases were related to the 2022 campaign  two signature challenges and a challenge to her residency, leaving seven that were not about election processes.

Her opponent, Democrat Mike Nickerson, has no significant legal trail in Arizona records, and neither do the four Republicans and Democrats running for state House in the same district.

The suit against Mungers law firm ended in a settlement  with the Wadsacks promising to pay $35,000 to the firm in $250 monthly increments.

On lawsuits: Quantity is not relevant

I texted with Justine Wadsack about the number of lawsuits shes been involved in. She responded by making reference to the software, called Agave, used in Pima County Superior Court to search court records.

To look at Agave is not a fair understanding of my life, she said. Quantity is not relevant. Substance is never acknowledged.

The suits Wadsack has been a party to run the gamut:

In 2013, a financing company sued her over $11,847 in alleged debt, but a Pima County Superior Court judge threw out the case over lack of evidence.

In 2015, Wadsack, who is a Realtor, sued Town West Realty, alleging that she fell down stairs that were in disrepair and broke her laptop. She asked for $1,500. The parties quickly came to an agreement and the case was dismissed.

In 2017, Donald Northrup, a founder of The Independent Distillery sued the Wadsacks and others over conflicts in the operation and ownership of the downtown business. The Wadsacks were investors in the business and countersued in the case, which was ultimately settled.

In 2018, the Wadsacks sued the Arizona Department of Economic Security over restrictions the Division of Developmental Disabilities had put on the familys use of equipment for Garret Wadsacks daughter (Justines stepdaughter) who is severely disabled. Mungers firm handled this case, which the parties settled.

In 2019, Munger Chadwick sued the Wadsacks over what they said was $89,000 in unpaid legal bills, and the Wadsacks countersued, ultimately settling for the $35,000 in payments.

In January 2021, real estate broker Aaron Parkey named the Wadsacks along with Kelly Walker, Viva Coffee and others, accusing them of being involved in taking down the Facebook pages of people who criticized Walker over his stance against mask requirements. The Wadsacks denied responsibility and countersued, calling the Parkey suit frivolous.

In November, 2021, Justine Wadsack got an injunction against harassment against Chris King, a Vail school board member and Republican Party activist. King contested it in December in Pima County Superior Court and it was overturned.

This year, Wadsack sued twice to challenge the signatures of opponents in her primary race, a common tactic in campaigns, and she was sued by a loser of the primary, outgoing Sen. Vince Leach, over her residency in the district. She prevailed in that case.

Raucous school board meeting

The incident that prompted Wadsacks injunction request occurred at a meeting of the Pima County Republican Club on Nov. 9, 2021. It was a raucous meeting that even included blows thrown.

In her petition for the injunction against King, the Vail school board member, Wadsack traced hostilities with him back to April 27, 2021, when she was among a group of people who forced their way into a school board meeting in a protest over mask mandates.

During the school board meeting, the parents were locked out, Wadsack said in the petition. The school board resigned and the parents were elected to the quorum. The board hid in a closet.

This was not really the case  the protesters claimed to elect a replacement board that night, but what really happened was the board postponed that meeting and resumed another day.

Wadsack alleged that in the petition that, after an exchange of words, King started SCREAMING at me, LUNGED at me, and had I not moved my head and chest back, would have touched me.

The room was full of witnesses. Wadsack called one of them, Anastasia Tsatsakis  now a candidate for Vail school board  and testified herself. Kings attorney didnt call any witnesses and argued for the judge to dismiss the injunction outright based on the evidence provided.

The judge, Superior Court Judge Deborah Pratte, agreed and dismissed it.

People cant fight crazy

As Wadsack noted, people cant necessarily control whether they are sued. It happens sometimes even when its not deserved.

In the counterclaim against Parkey, she called his lawsuit vexatious and frivolous and alleged he has unfairly tied her to acts by Walker, who, coincidentally, was convicted of four misdemeanors Thursday in Tucson City Court.

By calling the parties Conspiracy Defendants it is no different than referring to someone with racists name-calling, the Wadsacks wrote in their counterclaim, citing the language in Parkeys lawsuit. Parkeys intention is to Cancel Culture J.Wadsack and G.Wadsack.

But Wadsack has also used the courts aggressively on her behalf.

She told me via text message, The AZ Bar needs to go away. The people cant fight crazy, and citizens rights are abused every day. Lawyers are unattainable, and the courts are corrupted.

This isnt the first time she has used the phrase fight crazy to describe her approach to lawsuits. Commenting on her own Facebook post Jan. 30, Wadsack said she wasnt planning on hiring a lawyer to fight the lawsuit by Parkey.

I am not interested in a $10-$15,000 retainer so I can fight crazy.

She texted me Thursday: Im trying to prove points by creating case law that will hopefully be used to write new laws.

If she beats Nickerson, shell have a chance to write those laws.
PHOENIX  Planned Parenthood of Arizona is reopening all of its sites where it offers abortion in the state.

But for how long will depend on the courts.

Brittany Fonteno, organization president, said Thursday that patients seeking to terminate a pregnancy now will be able to go to sites in Tempe, Glendale and Flagstaff. The Tucson office was reopened for abortion services two months ago.

What changed, Fonteno said, is the legal landscape.

Abortions in Arizona came to a halt after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 1973, leaving it up to each state to decide its own restrictions. That resulted in state Attorney General Mark Brnovich arguing that a law that dates back to 1864 outlawing virtually all abortions  never repealed after the 1973 ruling, is once again in effect.

He got a Pima County superior court judge to agree with him.

But the state Court of Appeals stayed that order while it considers arguments that a law approved earlier this year banning abortions only after 15 weeks of pregnancy still permits doctors to perform the procedure.

And just this week Brnovich agreed not to prosecute doctors for violating the territorial-era law until at least 45 days after a final ruling in that case, giving a chance for other foes of the old law a chance to make their own arguments. That pushes any chance for enforcement into at least early next year.

It definitely provided additional reassurance to providers, Fonteno said. Weve been living in a real environment of fear of criminalization.

She stressed, though, this isnt the last word.

Abortion is temporarily legal in Arizona, Fonteno said.

It means that we are continuing to fight every day, she continued. We have seen the trauma and the impact that its had on peoples lives when abortion care and their rights to health care is ripped from their hands from one day to the next.

Fonteno said that Planned Parenthood did feel comfortable enough with the legal climate back in August to again perform abortions at its Tucson facility. Some of it, she said, was logistical.

Resuming abortion services, unfortunately, isnt as easy as turning on a light switch, Fonteno said.

Theres a lot operationally that goes into it, she said. Tucson is just the health center that we were able to get up and running, that we were able to fully staff and be able to open our doors to the community for abortion care again.

But Fonteno acknowledged that the decision was made to reopen only Tucson for abortions because the staff at other locations, noting the ongoing legal battles, did not feel sufficiently comfortable, especially with Brnovich continuing to insist that the law outlawing abortion except to save the life of the mother is valid.

Of course, that had a very chilling effect on providers here and across the state, she said while standing in front of the organizations Tempe facility.

We did have providers in Tucson that felt comfortable, Fonteno said. And at that point we wanted to make sure that we were supporting all of our staff and their ability to make their own decisions about whether or not they participated in providing abortion care.

Fonteno stressed that the current legal climate is just temporary. She said the last word on which abortion law is in effect  the territorial-era ban or the 15-week limit approved earlier this year by state lawmakers  ultimately will have to be decided by the state Supreme Court.

There is another option, though not immediate.

Fonteno said the ultimate answer may be getting Arizona voters to enact a constitutional amendment guaranteeing women in the state the right to terminate a pregnancy.

There actually was such a petition drive started earlier this year. But it failed to get enough signatures, at least in part because Planned Parenthood did not support the move.

We looked at what is possible in this year, Fonteno said.

We know that ballot initiatives take a lot of time, a lot of resources, she said. And Fonteno said Planned Parenthood believes it wasnt really possible in six weeks to gather the nearly 400,000 signatures to put the issue to voters this year.

As it turned out, Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom said that, on their own, they were able to gather only about 176,000 signatures by the July 5th deadline. That left organization treasurer Shasta McManus frustrated.

Women in Arizona, they dont have two years to wait, she said at the time.

Fonteno said Planned Parenthood might be willing to support putting something on a future ballot.

We are exploring with partner organizations and allies the possibility of doing a ballot initiative in 2024, she said.

More immediately, Fonteno said Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of the organization, is focused on convincing voters to defeat some measures the Republican-controlled legislature put on the November ballot which she said will make it harder for voters to enact their own laws.

One of those is Proposition 128. It would allow lawmakers to revamp and even repeal voter-approved laws if a court determines any part of an initiative was found illegal.
Weeks after a professor was shot and killed on campus, the University of Arizona has hired outside consultants to examine its safety protocols.

In a campuswide memo sent Tuesday evening, UA President Robert Robbins said the school  which has more than 39,000 students enrolled at the Tucson campus  has retained crisis management consultant firm, PAX Group, LLC, to do this work.

The UA declined Wednesday to immediately answer the Arizona Daily Stars question about the total cost of this contract. The Star has submitted a public records request for that information.

Phil Andrew, a former special agent for the FBI, co-founded and leads the PAX Group. According to its website, the firm specializes in offering organizations consulting, training and development in community and workplace violence prevention, among other areas of service.

I have asked the firm to be thorough, inclusive, and frank in their review, and I have pledged our institutions full cooperation, Robbins said. I expect that our students, faculty, and staff will be engaged in the process in a variety of ways.

In addition to examining the campus safety policies the UA has in place now, the firm will also offer recommendations for improvement. The firms report is expected in about two months.

In the meantime, Robbins said we will continue to refine current programs and to implement additional safety and security measures that we determine will immediately enhance our campus environment.

The UAs decision to contract with the PAX Group, which Robbins first announced to the Faculty Senate Executive Committee Tuesday, comes after multiple faculty members have accused the administration of not doing enough to protect them from known threats like Murad Dervish. The ex-student harassed numerous professors for months before authorities said he killed hydrology professor Thomas Meixner on Oct. 5. He is charged with first-degree murder and several other felonies.

Last week, the UA Police Department revealed it made two attempts to charge Dervish with misdemeanor threats and intimidation prior to Meixners slaying. The Pima County Attorneys Office declined, citing insufficient evidence at the time.
Its not too early to start thinking about your holiday meal plans, especially if youre wanting to leave the cooking to the professionals.

The Boston Deli, 6231 E. 61st St., will be taking orders for Thanksgiving meals and dishes through Nov. 17. The restaurant offers a range of entrees, sides and desserts that can accommodate almost any gathering.

Among the items available are 12-13 lbs. turkeys that can be smoked on Hasty-Bake grills or oven roasted; 3 lbs. beef tenderloins in three different preparations with accompanying sauces; hams and baby back ribs; and applewood-smoked salmon.

Desserts range from a bourbon pumpkin pie with Baileys whipped cream to assorted cookies.

For a complete menu: the bostondeli.com.

If dessert is all you need to complete your holiday meal, Common Tart is accepting orders for Thanksgiving beginning Nov. 2.

The shop, at 1717 E. 17th St., will be offering several of its regular menu pies, such as key lime, coconut cream and peanut butter mousse, along with seasonal favorites such as classic pumpkin and pecan custard. Price is $36 for whole pies.

As Common Tart is literally a mother-daughter operation, the number of pies that will be available are limited, and payment needs to be made in advance to secure your order. Orders will be accepted in person, by phone or by email.

For complete menu and ordering information: facebook.com/commontart.

White Lion rum tasting

The White Lion Pub, 6927 S. Canton Ave., will host an evening featuring samplings of various brands of rum, paired with a four-course dinner, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Cost is $69 per person, and one must be at least 21 years old to attend. Reservations are required; call 918-491-6533.

Freddys to benefit Folds of Honor

Freddys Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is offering customers to chance to give back to those who gave all for this country, by providing guests with two options to contribute to Folds of Honor, the Owasso-based organization that helps provide educational support and college scholarships to children of fallen or disabled U.S. military personnel.

Guests who dine in may round up their purchase totals to the nearest dollar, with the added funds going to Folds of Honor. Those who order via the chains app or online can select a specific dollar amount donation at the time of purchase.

We feel thrilled to be partnering with Freddys, a brand that truly values supporting veterans and their families nationwide, said Ben Leslie, chief impact officer with Folds of Honor. The funds raised throughout this month will go toward providing the children of military members with scholarships and other educational support.

Our namesake Freddy Simon was a World War II veteran, and initiatives that assist veterans and military families are near and dear to us at Freddys, said Chris Dull, President & CEO of the company.

Freddys Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has five area locations: 8112 S. Olympia Ave. in Tulsa; 10305 S. Memorial Drive, Bixby; 1151 S. Hillside Drive, Broken Arrow; 19341 Haynes Road, Catoosa; and 9053 N. 121st East Ave., Owasso.

Look out! Its... the McRib!

Just in time for Halloween, McDonalds is resurrecting one of its more... shall we say, divisive menu items: the McRib. And the company is hinting that this may be this sandwichs last hurrah.

The sandwich  a piece of pork compressed into a shape that mimics a slab of ribs, topped with barbecue sauce, pickles and raw onions  will be available beginning Monday, Oct. 31, and will be sold at most Tulsa-area McDonalds locations through Nov. 20.

On its website, McDonalds states that this promotion is, in fact, the McRib Farewell Tour, and that fans of the product should enjoy our famous pork sandwich as if its your last!

By our calculations, this will be the fourth McRib Farewell Tour, as similarly final-sounding promotions were held in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
A man in his 20s died in an east Tulsa pond early Thursday after reportedly being arrested and running from police.

Two Tulsa police officers found the man naked about 4:30 a.m. inside the clubhouse at Shoreline Apartment Homes. A shattered glass door had triggered an alarm, Tulsa Police Department officials said.

They arrested the man without incident, and he likely would have been jailed on a burglary complaint had he not dashed out the door when one officer left the clubhouse to run his name through their in-car computer, TPD Capt. Shane Tuell said.

The Shoreline apartments surround two ponds near 21st Street and 101st East Avenue, and the complexs clubhouse has a small deck with railing that backs up to the smaller of the two ponds.

Tuell said the remaining officer was talking with the man when he nodded in a direction to indicate the location of his clothes. When the officer looked, the man, who had been sitting handcuffed, stood up and dashed outside, kicking open a door and throwing himself over the railing into the pond.

The officers jumped in and tried to find him after removing some heavy gear, but he had already sunk and they found the pond was much deeper than expected, Tuell said. The dive team recovered the mans body from about 8 feet of water in the morning light.

Our hope was that, because it was so dark, that he went under and swam and got away, because wed much rather have that than this, Tuell said late Thursday morning, eyeing the scene where the body had been pulled from the water.

Police later found a pile of sopping wet clothes inside the clubhouse, so the mans comment might not have been a ruse, Tuell said, and he mightve been in the water or a nearby pool before they arrived. Nighttime temperatures recently dipped below 40, and with the wind blowing, perhaps the man was cold and trying to get inside, Tuell hypothesized.

Who knows? the supervisor asked.

The officers also found the mans car parked about a mile north of the scene after someone had reported it as a suspicious vehicle. Tuell said officers found drugs in the car, along with a kind of tribute or shrine dedicated to a deceased woman.

Although police know the mans identity, Tuell said they will not release it to the public until his family has been notified of his death. The medical examiner will determine the mans cause of death.

Tuell, who heads TPDs Mingo Valley Division, said the department is treating the incident as a critical one, which means the officers who attempted to save the man will be given time off as needed to properly process the event but will also be fully interviewed.

This is not the first time authorities have had to search the ponds at Shoreline Apartments in recent years.

A man accused of shooting and wounding another in the complexs parking lot in 2019 swam across one of the ponds and hid in a drainage pipe before his arrest, and in 2020, a dive team searched the larger pond fearing the worst after two toddlers wandered from their apartment unattended. It was later determined the children were swept away and died in Mingo Creek, which runs along the west side of the complex.
An Okmulgee County woman charged in the 2018 fatal shootings of two of her children and the wounding of another has indicated she intends to plead guilty to murder and assault charges.

Amy Leann Hall, 42, will plead guilty to two counts of murder in Indian Country and one count of assault with intent to commit murder in Indian Country as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, according to a court filing made Tuesday on her behalf.

A judge on Wednesday scheduled a hearing on Nov. 28 in Muskogee federal court regarding the plea.

An attorney for Hall indicated in court filings that the plea deal, which calls for her to serve life in prison, had a deadline of this past Monday.

The government has informed counsel that if Ms. Hall does not accept this agreement by (Monday), the government will dismiss her case so that Oklahoma can reinstate prosecution and seek the death penalty, according to a court filing made on Halls behalf.

A federal grand jury in Muskogee federal court indicted Hall in connection with the Nov. 1, 2018, fatal shootings of Kayson Toliver, 18, and Kloee Hall, 16, at their home near Nuyaka. Hall was also charged with shooting a third child of hers, a 14-year-old girl, who was injured but managed to disarm Hall.

Hall was initially charged in state court. Her state charges were dismissed in October 2020 after she raised a jurisdictional challenge following the July 2020 landmark U.S. Supreme Court McGirt ruling, which determined the Muscogee Nation reservation had never been disestablished by Congress.

The ruling, coupled with others from state appellate court, meant Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute crimes involving American Indians when the offense was committed within one of six tribal reservations located in eastern Oklahoma.

State charges against Hall were dismissed after it was shown that the victims were all members of an American Indian tribe and the crime occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation.

At the time, it was believed that federal court was the only option available to prosecutors since Hall was not an American Indian, while her child victims had tribal ties.

That sentiment changed June 30 when the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion that said the state of Oklahoma shared criminal jurisdiction with federal authorities when a person with tribal ties is victimized by a non-American Indian within one of six reservations in eastern Oklahoma.

The ruling permitted state officials to reinstate some prison sentences dismissed following the McGirt ruling.

The deal comes after Hall indicated dissatisfaction with her legal representation.

In an Oct. 1-dated letter to the judge hearing her case, Hall asked that she be appointed new legal counsel after complaining of infrequent visits from her attorneys to discuss her case.

Hall has been held in custody since her arrest in 2018.

However, Hall, through her attorneys, indicated in a Friday court filing that she was withdrawing her request for new legal counsel for now.

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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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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.
The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health recently demanded a report from Unilever Vietnam International Co. Ltd. after Unilever United States recalled a number of its dry shampoo brands in the U.S. due to the potential presence of benzene, which is classified as a human carcinogen.

Unilever Vietnam International Co. Ltd. submitted the report to Vietnamese authorities, which showed that the company introduced TRESemme Fresh & Clean Dry Shampoo, TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo, and Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo, all produced in the U.S., in Vietnam in 2019 and 2020.

The firm has ceased the import and distribution of Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo since 2020 and has not distributed TRESemme Fresh & Clean Dry Shampoo and TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo since September 2021.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam is coordinating with drug regulatory agencies of relevant countries to verify Unilever Vietnams report.

On October 18, Unilever United States issued a voluntary recall of dry shampoo aerosol products produced prior to October 2021 from Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemme due to potentially elevated levels of benzene, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life threatening.

The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States.

Retailers have been asked to remove the recalled products from shelves.

Based on an independent health hazard evaluation, Unilever U.S. stated that daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.

The firm said it is recalling these products out of caution and has received no reports of adverse events to date relating to the recall.

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LONDON -- If countries fulfill their current climate commitments, global greenhouse gas emissions will rise by 10.6% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, according to a United Nations report released on Wednesday.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says a 43% reduction in emissions by 2030 is needed to limit warming to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.

With world leaders expected to gather in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for the COP27 climate summit from Nov. 6, experts said more action was urgently needed.

"At the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow last year, all countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their climate plans," said Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN Climate Change in a statement. "The fact that only 24 new or updated climate plans were submitted since COP26 is disappointing."

These include Bolivia, Vanuatu and Uganda, as well as the large emitter nations of India and Indonesia. The latter, which sees most emissions come from deforestation and peatland clearance, now says it will cut emissions levels by at least 31.89% by 2030.

Globally, inadequate pledges put the world on a path to warm by 2.5C by 2100.

Still, a 10.6% increase in emissions represents slight progress. Last year's UN assessment found countries were on track to up emissions by 13.7% by 2030.
Check out the news you should not miss today in Vietnam:

Society

-- The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health has demanded a report from Unilever Vietnam International Co. Ltd. after Unilever United States recalled a number of its dry shampoo brands in the U.S. due to potentially elevated levels of benzene, which is classified as a human carcinogen.

-- Over 17.08 million Vietnamese people, or 37.01 percent of the workforce, had joined social insurance by the end of September 2022, up 537,000 people compared to the end of 2021, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Business

-- Vietnams fertilizer exports had reached nearly 1.4 million metric tons by the end of the third quarter of 2022, equivalent to US$886 million, up 45 percent in volume and 166 percent in value over the same period in 2021, according to the General Department of Customs.

-- In the first ten months of this year, Kien Giang Province has earned $677.63 million from exports, accounting for 86.88 percent of the yearly plan and up 15.12 percent over the same period last year, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Education

-- The Department of Education and Training of central Thua Thien-Hue Province is looking into a viral video in which a man restrains a teacher and pushed her out of a classroom in front of dozens of students at Hai Ba Trung High School in Hue City.

Lifestyle

-- The first night street in Hanoi has recently been inaugurated at the Ocean Park urban area in Gia Lam District, featuring nearly 200 mobile stalls selling local delicacies, accessories, souvenirs, foods, drinks, and more from 4:00 pm to 2:00 am every day.

Sports

-- Vietnam Television (VTV) on Wednesday night officially announced that it has won the broadcasting rights and become the exclusive broadcaster of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Vietnam.

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Four people were hospitalized after a drunk driver crashed into three motorbikes stopped at a red light in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, the provincial Traffic Safety Board said on Wednesday.

CCTV footage showed that one of the three motorbikes was thrown several meters from the intersection of Ly Thai To and Hung Vuong Streets in Gia Lais Pleiku City when the accident occurred at 9:25 pm on Tuesday.

That motorbike driver, 30-year-old Luong Ngoc A., suffered a traumatic brain injury and is being treated in the intensive care unit of Gia Lai General Hospital.

The other three victims included 33-year-old Dao Thi M., who was sent home after receiving first aid, as well as 35-year-old Luu Thi Bich L. and 10-year-old Hoang Huy V., both of whom are still receiving treatment at Pleiku City Hospital.

CCTV footage shows a car with a drunk driver behind the wheel slamming into four people on three motorbikes at a red light in Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province, Vietnam, October 25, 2022.

All four vehicles were damaged during the incident.

The drunk driver, identified as 46-year-old Nguyen Van Tuy, had a blood alcohol concentration of 1,053 milligrams per liter of breath and lacked special awareness at the time of the accident, according to officers.

Vietnam has a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving. Any blood alcohol concentration above zero is punishable by a fine.

Blood alcohol levels of 0.4 milligrams per liter of breath or higher per 100 milliliters of blood carry the most severe penalties for drunk driving.

The case still under investigation.

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The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment is coordinating with the Environment Bureau of Osaka City of Japan to cut carbon emissions.

The partnership between the two cities comes amidst increased environmental pollution in the Vietnamese metropolis.

Ho Chi Minh City hopes the partnership will provide a learning experience that will allow it to leverage both domestic and international resources in order to improve ongoing environmental issues in the city.

Motor vehicles a primary concern

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the citys high volume of carbon emissions results from three main sourcestraffic, industrial activities, and construction activities.

Of them, traffic activities cause the greatest impact on the air quality in Ho Chi Minh City.

The fine dust concentration in the downtown area and Go Vap District, and at the An Suong, Huynh Tan Phat-Nguyen Van Linh, and Hang Xanh intersections is consistently measured at levels higher than what the city considers acceptable.

The air pollution is also alarming in areas with industrial production activities, including the neighborhood surrounding the Thu Duc steel plant and the Ha Tien cement factory in Thu Duc City.

To reduce the volume of carbon emissions, Tran Van Bay, deputy director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said that the department is adopting the municipal Peoples Committees directive on cooperation with Osaka City as part of a memorandum of understanding on low-carbon city development program for the 2021-25 period.

Vu Thuy Linh, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, shared that in the near future, the city, with support from Osaka City, will employ solutions to reduce carbon emissions, including continuously monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, creating a plan to realize the Paris Agreement on climate change, and studying and adopting greenhouse gas emissions management solutions.

Many projects meant to help Ho Chi Minh City reach its environmental goals are currently underway, including an initiative to employ vehicle speed measurement systems; boosting the construction of green hospitals; saving energy at hotels, trade centers, and factories by using LED lighting systems; and installing solar power systems at trade centers and high-capacity amorphous transformers in power distribution networks.

Fostering further cooperation

A representative of the Osaka Environment Bureau said that through 2022, Vietnam has sponsored 40 projects aimed at boosting low-carbon city development.

Projects discharging a low carbon emissions volume have been launched in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, helping reduce carbon dioxide by over 223,000 metric tons in its nine years of cooperation with Osaka.

Under the framework of the low-carbon city development program, Osaka and cities in Vietnam will prioritize cooperation in energy, transport, industry, and waste treatment.

Within the energy sector, the two cities expect to see a shift to clean and renewable energy and the assurance of energy security.

In the transport sector, enhancing the control of emissions from vehicles, developing electric vehicles, and prioritizing public transport systems are needed.

In industry, cities need to control the greenhouse gas emissions from industrial manufacturing factories in their precincts, apply clean and advanced technology in industrial production to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure energy security, and upgrade power infrastructure facilities.

For urban waste treatment, it is a must to invest in modern technology to head toward waste-to-energy projects, minimize solid waste at source, and limit the waste burial to save land.

According to a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in the action plan in response to climate change in 2021-30 with a vision to 2050, the city has set a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2030.

With international support and collaboration, the rate is expected to increase to 30 percent.

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Two men recently found a four-kilogram Javan pangolin on the street of District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, and have handed it over to authorities.

The Javan pangolin  a rare species of anteater  was handed over to the municipal forest protection department on Wednesday for specialized care before it is returned to nature.

Rangers identified the pangolin, which weighed about four kilograms, as a Java pangolin, which is listed as a rare and endangered forest animal.

Nguyen Van Ha, 32, and his colleague Bui Quang Khai discovered the animal in a mesh bag next to a trash can during a morning walk on C3 Street in District 12 on Tuesday.

A ranger receives a four-kilogram Javan pangolin from two men in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City, October 26, 2022. Photo: Ngoc Khai / Tuoi Tre

Ha initially thought the animal was a fish and left the bag where it was, but later decided to return to the bag with Khai and bring it to their company office.

He then realized that the animal was a pangolin and contacted authorities to hand it over.

I handed over the pangolin in the hope that it would be released back into the wild, Ha said.

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On just a 300-meter section of the Tien River in Vinh Xuong Commune, Tan Chau Town, An Giang Province, nearly one hundred barges and excavators owned by companies from across Vietnam spend their days hauling and moving sand.

This busy sand trade is a lifeline for many households in Vinh Xuong Commune who have begun renting accommodation and selling refreshments to the employees working for these sand dredging operations.

Busy sand trade in quiet town

To date, dozens of households [in Vinh Xuong] have leased their homes for VND7-12 million [US$281-482] per month. Lessees, who are mainly from Ho Chi Minh City and northern provinces, lease these houses while they are in the area to buy sand from Cambodia.

There are also three companies that have leased homes in the area to use as their representative offices, an official of Vinh Xuong Commune said.

Tr., one of the new lessees in the area, shared that he and his friends recently launched a company which buys sand from Cambodia.

He currently rents a local house for VND9 million ($362) per month which doubles as his business office.

According to T., an official from Vinh Xuong Commune, local residents are also getting into the sand business.

At least five local residents have started brokering imported sand. They primarily help buyers get good deals on sand and then take a commission, T., explained.

P., the owner of a company that has been in the business for 20 years, explained that Cambodian sand is mainly yellow and considered a very high quality river sand.

There are many kinds of yellow sand and their prices are different. In particular, 1.4-millimeter sand is priced at VND170,000 ($6.8) per cubic meter and sand measuring 2.2-2.5 millimeters in diameter costs VND270,000-280,000 ($10.9-11.3) per cubic meter.

As far as I know, Cambodian companies are not able to exploit sand on their own. The majority of Cambodian sand is exploited by Vietnamese enterprises in collaboration with Cambodian people," P. shared.

These firms later sell sand to domestic companies."

Encouraging sand imports

A representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of An Giang Province said that in the past, Cambodian sand had been imported into An Giang and then re-exported to third countries.

Cambodia later asked Vietnam to suspend the exportation of its sand to third countries.

Sand imports from Cambodia are not banned in Vietnam," the official said.

At present, Vietnam is facing a scarcity of sand, so we must import. An Giang is almost out of yellow sand, so right now we are mainly using black sand."

Phan Van Tam, deputy head of the customs office at Vinh Xuong International Border Gate under the An Giang Department of Customs, shared that large volumes of sand have been imported from Cambodia since June.

During the second half of this year, 11 enterprises have imported more than 2.5 million cubic meters of sand through Vinh Xuong International Border Gate.

The two largest of these companies are Thinh Phat and Dong Duong.

Sand imported through Vinh Xuong International Border Gate is typically declared at $6 per cubic meter and importers are subject to a 10-percent value added tax.

According to Tam, Cambodia banned sand exports following landslides in 2010.

In 2022, it lifted the ban, leading to Vietnamese flocking to Cambodia to exploit sand and resell it to domestic firms.

In the past, Cambodias sand was shipped to Vietnam for re-export. Now, it is only allowed to be used in Vietnam," Tam said.

Enterprises must first get a license from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to re-export the sand."

According to a customs official at Vinh Xuong International Border Gate, many enterprises from across Vietnam have reached out to Vinh Xuong to learn about current sand prices.

Barge rentals cost about VND300 million [$12,065] per month, not to mention basic living expenses and fuel costs, the official said.

Cambodia limits sand exploitation in Mekong River

Ung Dipola, director-general of the General Department of Mineral Resources under the Cambodian Ministry of Mines and Energy, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that sand exploitation is one of Cambodias strengths, allowing it to provide sand for Vietnam to conduct traffic infrastructure and construction projects.

However, Cambodia manages sand resources tightly to prevent a negative impact on the environment and the lives of local residents while ensuring budget revenues.

We license the exploitation of sand in the Mekong River and have yet to issue licenses for sand mining in the Bassac River, Ung Dipola said.

The two rivers are, respectively, called the Tien and Hau in Vietnam.

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A Vietjet flight on Tuesday brought 350 visitors from Kazakhstan to Cam Ranh International Airport, paving the way for the return of the international tourists from Central Asia to Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam.

Bui Quoc Dai, executive vice-president of Anex Vietnam Travel and Trading Company, said the company collaborated with Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet Air to bring international guests from the Kazakhstan market on a package tour to Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa for tourism and relaxation.

Vietjet will fly two Airbus A330 flights per week between Cam Ranh and Kazakhstans Almaty, with each leg taking about nine hours, from October 25 this year to April 30, according to a plan.

Tourists arrive at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam after a direct flight from Kazakhstan on October 25, 2022. Photo: Le Na / Tuoi Tre

With Cam Ranh airport located only around 40km from Nha Trang, the route helps connect the Vietnamese tourist city of Nha Trang with Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest economic center.

Aside from tourism, the route will help boost business and education travel between the two cities.

Khanh Hoa has never been a top destination for Kazakhstani travelers due to the lack of direct flights.

Launching a direct route from Kazakhstan brings tourists from Kazakhstan and some Eastern European countries back to Khanh Hoa, diversifying the provinces international tourist market, said Cung Quynh Anh, deputy director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism.

Our department has asked local businesses to upgrade their quality and services, as well as promote new tourism products to attract tourists.

This is my first time in Vietnam, Diana, a tourist from Kazakhstan told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Its hot here but I am delighted with the warm welcome from the local people.

I hope to experience great services and local cuisine during my holiday in Khanh Hoa.

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On Monday Four Corners reporter Angus Grigg investigates how a war between China and Taiwan would play out.

If war breaks out, it will be total war . . Dont think by providing air bases in the northern part of Australia it will be saving Australia Chinese insider

Tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan are the highest since the 1970s. With President Xi Jinping publicly warning he will take Taiwan by force if necessary, military strategists are now war gaming just what such an act of aggression would mean for the Pacific and Australia.

In a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, there is a chance that Australia could become a target. Particularly if Australia were to join the fight directly or were to provide additional over flight and access rights to U.S. forces. US military strategist

On Monday Four Corners reporter Angus Grigg investigates how a war between China and Taiwan would play out. He talks to the experts who are mapping the war games and the impact they would have.

It is likely to go on for weeks, if not months, if not longer. And as that happens, youre going to have continued fighting and loss of life, not only for the United States and its allies and partners and China, but also on the ground in Taiwan with some of the civilians who are going to suffer the most from this conflict. US military strategist

Some strategists are predicting an assault on Taiwan by China could happen as early as 2025. In any future conflict Australia would play a key role.

We are willing to be the tip of the spear, to provide a base, not just for U.S. Marines, but most importantly, for their long-range power projection of heavy bombers. Its very hard to think of a more open commitment that we could make, a more open signal to the Chinese that we are going along with American planning for a war with China. Defence and security analyst

As President Xi secures an unprecedented third term in office there are warnings that its now a question of when not if a conflict over Taiwan will occur.

Do I think the current environment is the most dangerous Ive seen in my lifetime? That is a big question. Ive had a long lifetime. . . . . In terms of this part of the world, this is the most dangerous situation Ive experienced. Former defence intelligence official

Monday 31st October at 8.30pm on ABC.
Flamin hell, you cant make this stuff up.

Northern Territory police have warned businesses to be on the lookout for fake cash, stolen from a film production venue in Alice Springs.

Fake bank notes bearing portraits of Steve Irwin and Home and Aways Ray Meagher were stolen from a property on Wilkinson Street in Alice Springs overnight on Monday.

The bank notes were being used for film and TV production.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Robert Kent has said,At this stage investigators are unsure of how much fake money was stolen but it may include $10, $20, $50 and $100 dollar bills.

Police would suggest maybe taking a quick glance at any bills received for the next few weeks to make sure youre getting the real thing.

The cash also says Straylia in place of the word Australia, pictures of the Australian Masked Owl and Native wattle on real bank notes have also been replaced by a mining haul truck and the Shrine of Remembrance has been replaced with a picture of John Farnham.

Nudge from Hey Dad is said to be ropeable he missed out.

Source: Nine News
Indigo Diabetes N.V.

PRESS RELEASE

Indigo Diabetes Incorporates Fully Owned Subsidiary in the US and Appoints Peter J. Devlin as President, Indigo Medical US Inc.

Indigo establishes a US presence to drive business development and extend talent acquisition

Peter brings over 30 years experience leading the development & commercialisation of medical devices, including devices for the diabetes market



BELGIUM  Ghent, 27 October 2022  Indigo Diabetes N.V. (Indigo or the Company), a pioneering developer of Continuous Metabolite Monitoring (CMM) devices utilising proprietary nanophotonics technology, today announces its expansion into the US via the incorporation of a fully owned subsidiary, Indigo Medical US Inc. (Indigo Medical), and the appointment of Peter J. Devlin as President of the newly formed subsidiary, effective from 14 October 2022.

The Company is establishing its presence in the US, a market that it has identified as having significant potential for its CMM devices.

Peter, who will be based in Boston, will be managing and overseeing Indigo Medicals activities. His focus will be on accelerating product development for the Companys CMM devices, driving business development, and facilitating talent acquisition in the US. He will report directly to Danae Delbeke, Chief Executive Officer of Indigo.

Indigo is developing a fully implantable CMM system for people living with diabetes to access accurate information on their glucose, ketones and lactate levels . The CMM sensor is inserted subcutaneously, preventing the need for people with diabetes to wear an external device on their body. It is designed to give people living with diabetes and their caregivers instant access to the augmented metabolic information they need to better manage their diabetes and improve therapeutic decision-making.

Peter J. Devlin, President, Indigo Medical US, commented: I have worked for many years in both in-vitro diagnostics and diabetes care and am delighted to be joining the Indigo team and leading Indigo Medical Inc. It is an exciting time for the Company to be establishing a presence in the US, particularly as the focus increases on the commercial development of our subcutaneously implanted continuous metabolite monitoring sensor.

Story continues

Dr Danae Delbeke, Chief Executive Officer, Inventor and Co-founder of Indigo Diabetes, added: Peter has worked successfully with us as a strategic advisor for the last year, and I am very pleased that he has chosen to join us full-time to lead our newly created US subsidiary. This represents a significant market for us, and with his wealth of experience, he will play a vital role in helping us bring our first device to the US and European markets.

Peter brings over 30 years experience leading the development & commercialisation of medical devices. He has worked as a strategic advisor to Indigo for the past year advising on product development, market access, and the diabetes market. Before joining Indigo, he worked for a number of years as an independent director and strategic advisor to early-stage medical tech companies. Prior to that he worked as the Chief Commercial Officer of Insulet Corporation, the US medical devices company, where he led Sales, Marketing, Business Development, Clinical Research and Customer Care operations. Whilst there, he helped develop and commercialise the OmniPod wearable insulin delivery system for people living with diabetes, leading the company to over $350 million in annual revenues.

Prior to joining Insulet, Peter spent eleven years at Abbott Laboratories, in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Divisional Vice President of Global Strategic Marketing, Diabetes Care. In this role, he was responsible for the development of ADCs commercial strategies, global brand & product management, market research, and business analytics and forecasting. His career also includes his serving as Marketing Manager of i-STAT Corporation, a point-of-care blood analysis systems company, which was acquired by Abbott and at C.R. Bard Inc., where he held various product management and engineering roles.

Mr. Devlin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts.

- Ends -

Contacts

Indigo Diabetes N.V.

Dr Danae Delbeke, CEO

Email: info@indigomed.com

Consilium Strategic Communications

Ashley Tapp, Alexandra Harrison

Tel: +44 (0)20 3709 5700

Email: indigodiabetes@consilium-comms.com

About Indigo Diabetes N.V.

Indigo Diabetes N.V. (Indigo) is a pioneering developer of medical devices that utilise proprietary nanophotonics technology. Indigo was founded by Danae Delbeke and her team in 2016. Today Indigo is developing the worlds first subcutaneously inserted sensor for people living with diabetes to address their need for continuous accurate glucose, ketone and lactate monitoring with nothing worn on the body. Indigo utilizes ground-breaking photonics technology to transform diabetes management. Indigo is based in Ghent, Belgium. Find out more at www.indigomed.com .

About Indigo Diabetess CMM sensor

Indigo Diabetess CMM sensor is the worlds first, subcutaneously inserted evanescent field sensor to measure multiple metabolites in vivo simultaneously and continuously. The inert, miniature integrated silicon photonics chip measures the absorption of light in interstitial fluid to quantify the concentration of a broad range of metabolites simultaneously without the use of enzymes or fluorophores. Once inserted under the skin the CMM sensor is invisible to the naked eye and will connect securely and wirelessly to mobile devices to show and capture the concentration profiles of the metabolites for the user. A rechargeable sensor battery powers the measurements. It is expected that the sensor will have a lifetime up to 2 years. Preclinical studies have successfully demonstrated proof of concept with promising accuracy.




(Bloomberg) -- They trudged through knee-high mud, slept under torrential rain and stepped over skeletons of those who didnt make it. Like tens of thousands of Venezuelans suddenly stranded across Mexico and Central America, Yulexny Gonzalez and Rolando Suarez find themselves unexpectedly in Costa Rica, sick and penniless, selling sweets on a street corner, sleeping on the floor.

We cant return and we cant advance, Suarez said. Were stuck.

For months, Venezuelans fleeing the economic disarray and authoritarian rule of President Nicolas Maduro were streaming into Colombia and up the roadless swamp-filled Darien Gap, walking north with the understanding that the US was offering them asylum. That ended suddenly on Oct. 12 when the Biden administration expanded a Trump policy of sending back such refugees into Mexico.

The policy shift occurred two days after Suarez and Gonzalez reached Costa Rica, making them part of a growing wave of stranded Venezuelans. Panama announced this week it would close its borders to Venezuelans without visas traveling from north to south, and Nicaraguan officials are demanding a $150 per person fee as a right of safe passage for Venezuelans seeking to enter from Costa Rica, the migrants say.

Guatemala says it has expelled 10,000 Venezuelans to Honduras this year. On Tuesday, the Venezuelan government began half-price repatriation flights from Mexico for its citizens.

Across the region, Venezuelans are suddenly filling temporary transit camps, sleeping on the street and begging. Their stories are harrowing.

Emmanuel Huerta, 27, crossed the Darien Gap and made it to Texas on October 8, where he was arrested and deported to Mexico on October 13. Hed planned to work at a friends barber shop in Miami and save up enough cash to help his mother buy a house in Venezuela. Now he just wants to scrape together a few hundred dollars and buy a ticket back to Venezuela. He was granted 20 days to stay in Mexico.

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I dont want to know anything about Mexico, he said. I just wanted to work in the US. I know that I wont be able to enter the US anymore in my life.

Not everyone wants to go home.

I dont want to go back to Venezuela, Gonzalez said. We left because theres nothing there. They say the Lord prays for Venezuela, but thats a lie. None of our prayers have been answered.

Costa Ricas Immigration Director Marlen Luna Alfaro said earlier this month that 3,700 migrants are arriving daily at its southern border with Panama, 80% of whom are Venezuelan. That compares to about 200 per day previously. President Rodrigo Chaves warned the number could reach 10,000. He called for humane treatment of them in Costa Rica and said the government isnt considering repatriation flights right now.

Closing our border is impossible because we dont have an army, Chaves said on October 12. Returning them is like playing ping pong. You send them back there and they just come back here.

Venezuelas embassy in Costa Rica is run by allies of opposition leader Juan Guido and has partnered with a local Catholic charity to help stranded migrants.

The Venezuelan exodus has been going on for nearly a decade as the country has fallen into disarray and under severe US sanctions. Attempts by the Trump administration to urge Maduro out and Guaido into power failed. Seven million Venezuelans -- nearly a quarter of the population -- have streamed into neighboring countries.

The Biden administration began welcoming those who made it, but political pressure over record immigrant numbers along the southern border caused a sudden shift in policy.

This has created pressures on countries to the south and on would-be immigrants like Gonzalez and Suarez who are now unwelcome. They must come up with a new plan.

Sitting on a street corner in San Jose wearing Venezuelan flags around their necks and holding a bag of candy, the two offered a lollipop to a passerby. Gonzalez, 28, visited Costa Ricas immigration headquarters but was told the earliest opening for an appointment is February.

Im not going back through that jungle, Gonzalez said of the Darien Gap and perhaps his homeland.

The American dream is over for us.

--With assistance from Alex Vasquez.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2022 Bloomberg L.P.
Co-directors Eirene Houston and Hugo Rivalta of the annual Havana Glasgow Film Festival, which starts on November 8 (Image: Newsquest)

ON the face of it, Havana, with its colourful facades, vintage cars, revolutionary iconography and tropical climate, might seem a world away from Glasgow.

But for one Havana native, the strength of the ties that bond residents of Cuba and Scotlands biggest cities came as a pleasant surprise.

Cuban screenwriter and actor Hugo Rivalta is the co-director of The Havana Glasgow Film Festival, which celebrates its eighth edition next month with screenings across the city.

Having possessed a prior knowledge of Scotland that was limited to the works of Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson and of course whisky and Braveheart, he feels the festival and the many trips to Glasgow as a result has helped him to understand the Glaswegian soul and how closely aligned it is to the Cuban alma.

He told The Herald: I was impacted by the fact that people from Havana and Glasgow actually have so many things in common.

Havana may be all sun and warm temperatures and Glasgow the opposite, but there is something very significant to be found within the character of both Scots and Glaswegians which connects immediately to the character of Cubans.

HeraldScotland: El Combate is featured in the Havana Glasgow Film Festival

El Combate is featured in the Havana Glasgow Film Festival (Image: Havana Glasgow Film Festival)

We both like fighting our corners, we dont like biting our tongues, we like to express ourselves, we like to have fun and we are not bothered to be the centre of attention, we enjoy that, and we are also very friendly, which is what unites us most.

My relationship with the many Glaswegians I have gotten to know is special, they invite me into to their homes and I have received some of them in Havana. It is wonderful.

This years festival, which will focus on the work of Black Cuban filmmakers, in particular Black female directors, is of special significance in taking place amid the 20th anniversary celebrations of Glasgow and Havana being twinned.

For Mr Rivalta, the chance to be able continue strengthening the cultural ties that exist between the two cities two decades after they were first twinned

is one he relishes.

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He added: The festival fills me with pride because it was one that myself and co-director Eirene Houston created after many years working together on different projects.

We realised that something important was needed that would link Havana and Glasgow and we came up with the idea for the festival. As we approach the eighth edition of the festival, this year will no doubt be extra special due to the 20th anniversary of the twinning of Havana and Glasgow. So we want this years festival to be memorable.

Amid continued tensions and waves of protests that have shaken his native Cuba, Mr Rivalta hopes that the festival will help demonstrate to audiences in Glasgow that, despite the issues facing the island, culture is and continues to thrive.

He said: The important thing with the festival is to show the reality of

life in Cuban, to show the real Cuba in Glasgow.

It is very important with an event of this nature that both Cuban culture and all the rich artistic and cultural work taking place in Cuba stands out.

We are also keen to emphasise that, despite the difficult conditions in our country and the 60-year long US blockade by the US government, culture is still alive in Cuba through its cinema, literature and dance.

Having started life in Glasgow as a festival attended mostly by friends

and people who had met us admits Mr Rivalta, a determination to bring more Cuban film-makers and actors to the city to showcase their work, while expanding the festival to also focus on music and other art forms, has paid off dividends, with the festival not only growing its public but being taken on the road outside Scotlands biggest city.

He added: For me the festival is no longer attended just by people who already knew a lot about Cuba and Cuban culture, nowadays it is attended by people who know little about Cuba who have been able to learn more about the island through the festival and have attend years after year.

We have taken the festival on the road to Cromarty, Oban and Dunoon and and it has been very well received in these places. Hopefully, if we find more funding in the future we can prepare more trips around Scotland, transporting more Cuban culture as we go.
The EDF logo at the company's headquarters in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) - France will next year require state-owned utility EDF, which is soon to be fully nationalised, to sell less of its nuclear power at prices set by the regulator to smaller rivals than it did in 2022, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.

The reduction could increase the energy price businesses face.

EDF will be required to sell 100 terrawatt-hours (TWH) to rivals at what is known as the Arenh price, determined by the regulator, compared with 120 TWH this year.

EDF this year suffered multi-billion euro losses after the government said in January the nuclear producer would have to increase by 20 TWH the volumes it is required to sell cheaply to curb enery costs.

The bulk of the volumes sold under the Arenh scheme this year was priced at 42 euros ($42.17)/ per megawatt hour (MWH), which EDF says is below its production costs.

The additional under-market sales to rivals this year, combined with maintenance and repair-related outages in its nuclear reactor fleet, triggered a string of profit warnings, the latest on Thursday.

"I have said that the decision to raise the volume in 2022 was exceptional," Le Maire told a news conference, "we will therefore go back to 100 TWH in 2023."

As companies grapple with soaring energy bills, the government on Thursday also announced it would step up support for small and medium-sized companies when power prices exceed 325 euros per megawatt-hour.

"We will cover half of the sum exceeding a reference price of 325 euros," Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told a news conference.

The government said it would spend around 12 billion euros in total to help smaller companies and local public-sector entities including towns and administrative departments to cope with energy inflation.

Some 7 billion euros of the 10 billion reserved for businesses will be financed by a levy on windfall energy profits made by utilities, which the European Union members agreed to put in place last month, Le Maire said.

($1 = 0.9959 euros)

(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel and Dominique Vidalon, editing by Richard Lough and Barbara Lewis)
Russian investigators have raided the Moscow home of Ksenia Sobchak  the daughter of Vladimir Putin's former boss and mentor.

Ms Sobchak, 40, made her name as a socialite and reality television star and was known as the 'Russian Paris Hilton' before becoming a TV journalist and opposition activist.

She is the daughter of the late Anatoly Sobchak, the first democratically elected mayor of St Petersburg, where Mr Putin served as a deputy in the 1990s.

Ms Sobchak has become a vocal critic of the Russian president - running in the 2018 elections as an opposition candidate - but only securing fourth place and 1.7% of the vote.

Jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny claims she ran in a bid to make the contest look more democratic - and described her as a "parody liberal candidate".

According to the Russian news agencies Tass and RIA-Novosti, police raided Ms Sobchak's luxury home in the Moscow suburbs in connection with their investigation into alleged wrongdoing by her media director.

Kirill Sukhanov has been arrested on extortion charges, which he denies.

Ms Sobchak has rejected the accusations against Mr Sukhanov as "ravings and nonsense" and said his arrest was part of authorities' efforts to stifle independent media.

9.4 million Instagram followers

Her whereabouts are still unknown.

Russian state media claims she bought plane tickets to Dubai and Turkey to mislead authorities but actually left Russia via Belarus in order to get to Lithuania.

She has 9.4 million followers on Instagram and first became involved in politics during the 2011-12 Moscow protests against Mr Putin.

Ms Sobchak then reinvented herself as a serious broadcaster and opposition activist.

Her father died of an apparent heart attack in February 2000 - when Mr Putin was acting Russian president.
The Northern Ireland Secretary is holding talks with Stormont leaders as a deadline for calling another election in the region approaches.

Chris Heaton-Harris has repeatedly warned that he will call a Stormont poll if Fridays deadline passes without a devolved executive being formed.

Mr Heaton Harris, who was reappointed in his role by new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday, repeated that warning on Wednesday, indicating that the change at No 10 does not appear to have altered the Governments position on the issue.

A six-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.

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.

Sinn Fein Vice-President Michelle ONeill and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson will hold talks with Chris Heaton-Harris on Wednesday (Liam McBurney/PA)

The partys boycott is part of a campaign of opposition to Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol and the DUP 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.

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.

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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 current instability at Westminster and the ongoing 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, the last being in August.

While Northern Ireland currently 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.

The President & Vice-President of @NIChamber have released a joint statement today, saying: "This week is a pivotal moment for the Northern Ireland economy.We are at a tipping point that at the very least requires a functioning Executive."https://t.co/EU2Lv7bBdZ  NIChamberofCommerce #heretohelp (@NIChamber) October 26, 2022

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: 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.
Some of Nepals sacred sites have started to ban TikTok as people have been flocking to locations to film themselves, upsetting some worshipers.

"I came to visit, but especially for TikTok," said a woman at one site in Kathmandu, the countrys capital.

Some sites have put up 'No TikTok' signs. Others have installed CCTV cameras and hired security guards to patrol the locations.

"Its the ban of TikTok. Its prohibited. We can use photos sometimes but not the TikTok, said Binod Shrestha, a member of the Boudhanath Temple development committee.

"Crowds of people also use TikTok. They disturb the people walking and worshipping.

TikTokers have also been accused of starting traffic jams in the tourism-dependent country and forcing some farmers in eastern Nepal to harvest their fields early after people trampled over their crops.

They destroy everything. They trample my rice shoots, says Jayaram Thapa, a farmer.

What could I tell them? I tell them to stop, not to damage my fields, but they dance. They tell me that they are not doing anything wrong."

The popularity of TikTok has soared in Nepal over the past two years. One survey suggests that the percentage of people with internet access using the app rose from just three per cent to 55 per cent. The rise has been partially attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TotalEnergies, Shell post bumper profits, LNG business diverges FILE PHOTO: A view shows a tower flaring gas at an LNG processing plant operated by Shell and others in Bonny Island

By Ron Bousso and Shadia Nasralla

LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's two largest energy companies Shell and TotalEnergies reported profits of more than $9 billion in the third quarter, though Shell's liquefied natural gas (LNG) division struggled to capture the benefits of high fuel prices.

The strong earnings were likely to intensify calls in Britain and the European Union for further windfall taxes on energy companies to help households cope with gas and power bills.

LNG prices have soared this year as Moscow progressively cut piped natural gas supplies to Europe, which heavily depended on Russian imports.

Western sanctions on Russia, which is among the world's leading oil and gas producers, in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February, helped to drive European gas prices to an all-time high in August.

They have fallen heavily in recent weeks as Europe has filled gas storage and temperatures have been unusually mild, but prices are still higher than a year ago.

The world's biggest LNG trader Shell missed some of the benefit of the price rise after a fall in production following strikes at Australia's Prelude site. It also said its trading was hit by "substantial differences between paper and physical realisations in a volatile and dislocated market".

Its headline profit in its integrated gas unit was down almost 40% on the previous quarter.

Overall profit of $9.5 billion was slightly below last quarter's record. Shell still decided to increase its dividend by 15% as it prepares for Wael Sawan to take the helm from Ben van Beurden next year.

TotalEnergies LNG, renewables and power division reported a record income of $3.6 billion in the quarter, up $1.1 billion from the second quarter and more than twice last year's, driven by a 50% rise in LNG prices and a "strong" performance of its LNG trading division.

This came even as its LNG sales volumes fell 10% on the quarter due to outages at the large U.S. Freeport plant and elsewhere. Overall, TotalEnergies made a record quarterly profit of nearly $10 billion.

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TotalEnergies more than halved its debt-to-capital, or gearing, ratio to 4%, underlining its comparatively strong balance sheet. Gearing at Shell, which is on track for a record year of profits, increased slightly to 20.3%.

Despite their hefty profits, shares of Shell and its European peers TotalEnergies and BP have so far this year significantly under-performed their larger U.S. rivals Exxon Mobil and Chevron whose business models are weighted much more towards fossil fuels than renewables.

While Shell and BP's shares have gained around 40%, Exxon is up 75% and Chevron over 50%.

Shares in Norway's Equinor have also gained 54%, spurred by the gas price surge.

Spain's Repsol on Thursday reported a doubling of its profit to 1.48 billion euros ($1.49 billion).

(Shell's quarterly profits recede from recent records https://graphics.reuters.com/SHELL-RESULTS/lbpgnwlwnvq/chart.png)

($1 = 0.9938 euros)

(Additional reporting by Benjamin Mallet; editing by Barbara Lewis)
The University of North Georgia (UNG) will honor almost 800 graduates in two commencement ceremonies Dec. 17 at the Convocation Center on UNG's Dahlonega Campus.

Jack L. Rives will address graduates of the College of Arts and Letters, University College, College of Science & Mathematics, and Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Dr. Belle Wheelan will serve as keynote speaker for graduates of the Mike Cottrell College of Business, College of Health Sciences and Professions, and College of Education at the 2 p.m. ceremony.

Rives is the executive director of the American Bar Association (ABA), which is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. He oversees an ABA staff of more than 1,000 and a consolidated budget of more than $200 million.

Rives is a University of Georgia alumnus, having received both his Bachelor of Arts in political science degree and law degree there. Following graduation from law school, he began a 33-year career in the United States Air Force as a military attorney, or judge advocate (JAG). He served as The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force, the senior U.S. Air Force attorney, and was the first military attorney to attain the three-star rank of lieutenant general. Rives led some 4,600 legal professionals worldwide, including 2,600 active-duty, reserve-component and civilian lawyers. Among his many military awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Defense Superior Service Medal.

Wheelan is the first African-American and the first woman to serve as president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, a position she has held since 2005. Her career spans more than 40 years and includes the roles of faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president, and Virginia Secretary of Education. In several of those roles, she was the first African-American and/or woman to serve in those capacities.

Wheelan received her bachelor's degree from Trinity University in Texas with a double major in psychology and sociology; her master's from Louisiana State University in developmental educational psychology; and her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in educational administration with a special concentration in community college leadership.

She has received numerous awards and recognition, including six honorary degrees.

Graduate and ticket information

To accommodate the process, graduates are encouraged to arrive one hour before their ceremony dressed in their gown and cap with its tassel.

To attend, all guests 2 years old and older must have a ticket. Each graduate is issued up to six tickets, which can be printed or shown electronically.

Students who do not use their allotted tickets can donate them by emailing University Events at universityevents@ung.edu. After the ticket-claiming period ends at 11:55 p.m. Nov. 9, any unclaimed or unused tickets will be electronically distributed to graduates who requested additional tickets. More ticket information is available on the commencement website.

For those unable to attend the in-person event, the ceremonies will be streamed live on UNG's Facebook page and the commencement website. UNG encourages everyone to celebrate their graduates with the hashtag #UNG22grad on social media.

Individual commissioning ceremonies for 27 members of the Corps of Cadets entering the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve will be held Dec. 16 at the Pennington Military Leadership Center. The events will recognize their service and leadership and formally mark their entrance into the military as second lieutenants. These graduates will also be commissioned collectively during the commencement ceremony.
Painter Vincent Monluc is half Vietnamese and half French. He managed the first private animation studio in HCM City for eight years. He has recently returned to Viet Nam and experienced the sentiment of the Vietnamese during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Nhan Dan Cuoi Tuan (People's Weekend) reporter Phong Van interviewed him about his decision.

Could you introduce yourself? Your name seems not to be related to your Vietnamese motherland?

Yes, that is what I regret. I grew up in Sai Gon-Tan inh. I remember that I liked painting, watching movies and sightseeing, and wandering alone when I was small.

My mother took me on a cruise leaving Sai Gon for Marseille to reunite with my father when I was 11. After meeting my father, I did not live with him, but my parents agreed to send me to a seminary. After that, I only visited home a few times a year.

I liked candy but didn't have money, so I devised a way to sell my drawings to classmates who liked them. Priest Charles Alessandri knew this and gave me painting tools, but he asked me to stop selling paintings.

He also introduced me to my friend's family so I could go to his family at the weekend. I was educated in the French tradition of critical principles, love and respect.

I graduated in fine arts from the University of Bordeaux Montaigne. During my academic years, I studied art history from ancient to modern times and visited many fine art museums in Paris, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and Britain.

An artist needs to enjoy the works of masters in different periods.

Could you tell me about your first return to Viet Nam in 1994, thirty years after leaving?

It is a long story. But, first, I set up a career in France. After graduating from the Department of Animation at the National School of Decorative Arts in Paris, my first animated short film was awarded the Grand Prize at the French National Animated Film Festival in 1983.

Some producers wanted to send me to South Korea and China to work for them, but I always refused. Finally, in 1994, another French producer invited me to set up a 2D animation studio in HCM City.

They aimed to produce the film as soon as possible at the lowest possible production cost. However, to develop an idea in such a difficult field as animation, a skillful artist still needs at least two years of apprenticeship, mastering the processes and techniques involved in animation production.

Training costs are huge, but investors don't want to open their wallets. I accepted the offer because I am Vietnamese. I was motivated to help create an animation industry in Viet Nam. It was a chance to provide jobs for many people.

I left the studio in 2002. It has become one of the developed studios in HCM City with 140 staff. Each month, it produces two animations with a standard length of 26 minutes. It has become an investment model for some other foreign investors.

So far, despite changing jobs, I still keep in good contact with friends from that time and our studio. During those eight years, I have not only trained many employees for our studio, but I also had the opportunity to explore my motherland to feel and admire its beauty with the hope that one day I would spend all my time drawing it.

You have two solo exhibitions in HCM City. How were they received?

My artist friends said that I draw Vietnamese landscapes and daily life with love. The exhibition goers said they rarely see other artists draw like me, such as a worker doing in the street or a street vendor at noon. Most of them agree that my paintings are vivid and create much movement.

Why do you draw with watercolour?

I am a person who pursues the attraction of light in fine arts and daily life, so I choose to be an outdoor artist. Viet Nam is an endless inspiration for me. I will try to visit different areas in the country to get closer to Vietnamese culture and put Vietnamese soul into my works.

What do you think about the Vietnamese soul?

I believe that each Vietnamese artist has their own feeling about the Vietnamese soul. Viet Nam has a rich past and a diversified present. Each area is a typical character to lure people to come to stay, feel and think about it.

Besides living in HCM City, I have taken advantage to travel to Sa Pa, Ha Noi, Hue, Hoi An, Central Highlands provinces and Con ao Island in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. I want to "draw" the Vietnamese soul, meaning I draw what I feel about Viet Nam.

I don't hesitate to draw subjects that many Vietnamese artists may find "not beautiful" lyrically or romantically.

I seek the real rather than the pure beauty, but that does not stop me from painting a beautiful landscape or a beautiful light of my homeland.

Emotionally, I see myself as more of a Vietnamese than a French because of maternal love.  VNS
QUANG NINH  Officials participating in the 17th General Assembly of the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF 17) have agreed to step up the opening of direct air routes linking Viet Nams northern province of Quang Ninh, famed for Ha Long Bay, with some foreign member localities of this forum.

The agreements were reached during bilateral meetings between Quang Ninh and foreign officials within the EATOF 17 framework, which is taking place in Ha Long City of the Vietnamese province from October 25 to 27.

Talking to local officials, Governor of the Republic of Koreas Gangwon province Kim Jin-tae expressed his hope for stronger cooperation on the basis of the two sides potential and similarities.

He suggested opening an air route connecting Van on International Airport of Quang Ninh with Yangyang International Airport of Gangwon, and enhancing ties in developing tourism products, promoting tourism, and training human resources for the sector.

Welcoming the recommendations, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Peoples Committee Nguyen Tuong Van said his province will provide the best possible conditions for the two sides to study and open the Van on - Yangyang air route, create tourism products based on the provinces advantages, and further attract Quang Ninh and Gangwon visitors to each others destinations.

At another meeting, Van and Governor of Mongolias Tuv province Munkhbaatar Demberel agreed to bolster partnerships in tourism promotion, product development, and opening of an air route between Quang Ninh and Tuv.

The Mongolian province also hoped to exchange experience in agricultural development with the Vietnamese side.

At other bilateral sessions, Quang Ninh and other foreign member localities of the EATOF also concurred in boosting relations in several areas, including opening direct air routes linking the province with Luang Prabang (Laos), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Sarawak (Malaysia), and Cebu (the Philippines); increasing cultural exchanges and the connection of heritage sites in the region; designing tours of their places of interest; and attracting visitors to each others destinations.  VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam was committed to supporting Laos in the fight against drugs, said deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc.

On the basis of the traditional and special friendship between the governments of Viet Nam and Laos, Viet Nam hopes bilateral co-operation between the two ministries of Public Security would be promoted in an effective way, Ngoc said on Wednesday in a meeting with Lao deputy Minister of Public Security, Lieutenant General Khamking Phuilamanyvong.

The bilateral ministerial meeting was a venue for the two sides to review and re-evaluate the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in drug prevention and control.

Viet Nam and Laos are neighbouring countries facing great pressure of drug trafficking from the "Golden Triangle" area, which is considered one of the major drug production and trading centres in the world, said Ngoc.

The task of promoting international co-operation in drug prevention and control in general, especially co-operation between neighbouring countries, is crucial.

Last year, the two ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on drug prevention and control in order to deal with crime, especially those involving drugs, especially on the Viet Nam-Laos border.

These are concrete and important steps to promote drug prevention and combat towards a new, more practical and effective level.

After a year of implementing the MoU, the two police forces have actively developed plans, drastically carried out the assigned tasks and achieved very important initial results.

During the fight against drug crime, the Vietnamese police discovered and handled 5,338 cases, arrested 7,397 offenders, seizing 292kg of heroin, 2.7kg of opium and 1.62 million synthetic drug tablets and other related evidence.

The Drug Crime Investigation Police Department and the local police co-ordinated with the units in Laos to establish joint projects, successfully arresting 16 wanted drug suspects hiding in Laos.

Viet Nam highly appreciated the close coordination and active and effective support of the Lao authorities and functional forces in drug combat.

This bilateral ministerial-level conference was also an opportunity for the ministries of Public Security to review and re-evaluate the situation and results of implementing the information dissemination and suppression of drug crimes between the two ministries, as well as clearly identify existing difficulties, said the Vietnamese deputy minister.

The two sides also discussed and proposed directions to make the co-operation more practical and effective, he said.

After the meeting, drug prevention and combat co-operation between the two countries would be raised, contributing to controlling and eventually repelling drugs in each country and the region, he said.

Speaking at the meeting, Laos deputy minister, Lieutenant General Khamking Phuilamanyvong, stressed that the Lao Ministry of Public Security applied the national programme on solving the drug problem to coordinate with the Vietnamese police.

The ministry has strengthened information dissemination and education for border officers, soldiers and people to have a sense of respect for the laws and customs of each country, and to implement the treaty on border management to protect security and safety in border areas, the Lieutenant General said.

The two ministries have coordinated and created favourable conditions for each other in arresting criminals who fled to the other country.

In addition, both police forces have also monitored the drug transport route from the "Golden Triangle" through the northern provinces, he said.

The Lao deputy minister highly appreciated the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in assisting in the construction of police headquarters in bordering villages, which was invaluable and meaningful help, contributing to preventing and combatting cross-border crime between Laos and Viet Nam.

Laos ministry thanked the Vietnamese ministry for providing 1,000 sets of detox pills, four sets of drug assessment machines, 30 boxes of urine test kits and some other equipment.

It is forecast that drug crimes on the Viet Nam-Laos border will worsen, requiring effective measures to tackle suspects and gangs.

The two ministries will further exchange information through hotlines, cross-border liason offices (BLOs) and enhance patrols.

The two sides will further coordinate in the collection of documents, information exchange to establish a joint special project.

Dissemination activities on drug prevention and control for people in border areas will be organised with an aim to build drug-free villages, communities and schools as well as proactively prevent, detect and thoroughly handle acts related to the cultivation of drug-containing plants and illegal production of drugs, especially synthetic drugs.

During the meeting, the two deputy ministers presented Certificates of Merit to 20 collectives and 60 individuals of the two ministries for their outstanding achievements in implementing the MoU. VNS
WASHINGTON  Senator Patrick Leahy, President Pro Tempore of the US Senate, has pledged to further contribute to the Viet Nam-US relationship even when he retires.

The senator and his spouse called at the Vietnamese Embassy on October 25. Talking to the embassy's staff, Leahy said he will continue working to maintain and promote cooperation between the US and Viet Nam in the settlement of war consequences, for the interests of each nation as well as for common interests and for a better world.

He suggested enhancing exchanges between young generations of the two countries, saying that it is the best way to help Vietnamese and Americans intensify their mutual understanding and contribute to strengthening the bilateral friendship.

Leahy and his spouse expressed their special feelings towards Viet Nam, saying they are always happy to visit the Southeast Asian nation, and love the friendly, open Vietnamese who are always keen to learn.

For his part, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government and people appreciate the contributions by the senator, his spouse and his senior foreign policy aid Tim Rieser to the process of reconciliation and promotion of the bilateral relations.

The ambassador recalled their initial support through the Leahy War Victims Fund launched in the 1990s and programmes and initiatives worth millions of US dollars targeting victims of bombs and mines and dioxin, the search of missing Vietnamese soldiers and educational cooperation.

The results in the settlement of war consequences have helped to bring people of the two countries closer, build up mutual trust and understanding, and open up cooperation opportunities in other spheres, the diplomat continued.

Viet Nam always welcomes the senator and his wife back to Viet Nam when possible, Dung said, calling on Leahy to continue his support and contributions to the bilateral relationship, while helping with the building of a network of friendship parliamentarians.  VNS
BAC KAN  More than 700 students in Cho on District in the northern province of Bac Kan have missed school because of a strong bout of fever which has seen one child die.

Five other children have tested positive for influenza B and more than 100 are being treated in hospital.

The fatal case is an eight-year-old child, who was taken to the districts Health Centre on Monday morning with a high fever of 40.5 degrees Celsius.

The child fell into a coma and despite resuscitation efforts, was pronounced dead on the same day.

Doctors of the centre quickly gave resuscitation but failed, the patient died at 10:30 am on the same day.

According to the provinces Centre for Disease Control, the symptoms of the patients are fever with temperatures from 38.5 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius, cough, sore throat, and fatigue.

The districts Education and Training Office say the patients are mainly from Bang Lung Primary School, the Ethnic Minority Boarding School and some other schools from the district.

Doctor Nong Van Quan, Director of the districts health centre, said as soon as they received information about the fever, the centre took samples and sent seven to the Ha Noi-based National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for tests.

The initial results showed five samples were positive for influenza B, and two samples were negative, he said.

Recommendations

Vi Duy Tuyen, Deputy Director of the provinces Health Department, said influenza B is a common infectious disease, however, there can still be serious complications if it is not detected, monitored and consulted early.

Parents and schools need to regularly monitor children if they show signs of fever and must be taken to a medical facility for treatment, he said.

When a child has a fever, parents should take them to see a doctor to assess the level of the illness. If the disease is mild and moderate, parents will be instructed to take care of the child at home.

If the child has a fever below 38.5 degrees Celsius, and no underlying conditions, then parents should only use common measures to reduce fever.

In case the child has a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius, parents should use some medicine such as paracetamol.

Parents are advised to enhance nutrition for children to increase resistance. If children have difficulty eating, they should be taken to their nearest health facility.

According to the World Health Organization, there are four types of seasonal influenza viruses, types A, B, C and D. Influenza A and B viruses circulate and cause seasonal epidemics of disease. Influenza B viruses are not classified into subtypes, but can be broken down into lineages. Currently, circulating influenza type B viruses belong to either B/Yamagata or B/Victoria lineage. The most effective way to prevent the disease is vaccination. VNS
Going onto the cloud is like a young person leaving home for the first time. It is full of freedom, excitement and anxiety. It is also full of risks, fear and uncertainties. The words came from Chan Cheow Hoe, chief digital technology officer at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore, at the AWS Public Sector Summit earlier this month.

Expanded cloud services are set to lead the way for digital transformation in ASEAN, Photo: Shutterstock

Hoe was at the summit to talk about the governments cloud exploration journey over the past decade.

He said there are a number of useful lessons to learn from. The first is to know the risks and explicitly accept them. Others include going cloud-native and navigating multiple complex cloud options. Building is easy, but maintaining is so much more difficult because the cloud is always moving. So the advice here is to be cloud-native, he added.

At present, about 60 per cent of the government workload is put into the commercial cloud in Singapore, Hoe added, and it targets 70 per cent by the third quarter of next year.

Singapore chose AWS (Amazon Web Services) as a partner in this cloud transformation journey due to its secure, reliable, and scalable cloud computing environment with the highest-quality network performance. And this decision has brought about fruitful results. In Singapore, AWS has trained over 200,000 individuals in Singapore with cloud skills since 2017. Following the launch of the AWS Asia-Pacific in 2010, AWS has invested over $6.5 billion in local infrastructure and jobs across Singapore. By the end of the year, Amazon and AWS will collectively create 1,000 jobs in the city-state.

Like Singapore, many countries in ASEAN have witnessed their public sector organisations deliver new services for citizens with the support of the cloud. Peter Moore, regional managing director for AWS Worldwide Public Sector, said, The recent pandemic has accelerated digital transformation across industries with 3G to 5G. The way in which we now work, learn, and interact has changed.

Public sector organisations in ASEAN are seeing the opportunities to drive digital transformation to deliver faster and more modernised citizen-based services, Moore added.

Elsewhere, Malaysia is accelerating cloud adoption with its Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU). With the cloud, Malaysian government agencies and departments now can access a streamlined procurement model to drive innovation and digitalise government services for citizens.

Over in Thailand, public organisations now can easily move to the cloud as the countrys current budget disbursement regulations there can be easily managed on-demand. Recent data from global tech research firm Gartner indicated that cloud spending in Thailand could grow 28.2 per cent to $1.1 billion by the end of the year.

Dr. Sak Segkhoonthod, digital transformation advisor at Thailands Electronic Transaction Development Agency, said that over the past 10 years, Thailand has played a major role in driving cloud adoption across ASEAN. Several in-country cloud standards have been put in place during past years by the Cloud Security Alliance, such as its Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge. It is a mandatory requirement for engineers engaged in cloud computing and/or security responsibility within participating cloud services providers and has helped accelerate cloud adoption among public organisations in Thailand, Segkhoonthod added.

Similarly, in Indonesia, the cloud has enabled the government to provide better services such as the Cash-for-Training programme, as well as online learning initiatives from the Ministry of Education. Moreover, Indonesias planned National Data Centre initiative, part of the legal framework for e-government services, is an ambitious project intended to be a shared infrastructure/managed service to ensure efficiency among central and local governments. It is slated for completion in 2024.

In anticipation of the inevitable cloud trends, AWS this month announced plans for 24 more Availability Zones and eight more AWS Regions in the future. The AWS Cloud currently spans 84 Availability Zones over 26 geographic regions.

It has been a busy year for AWS. In February, it signed an MoU with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society in Thailand to support the countrys digital transformation. The following month, it set up the aforementioned MAMPU in Malaysia and, in September, it announced the AWS Smart City Competency programme. The scheme curates and develops a community of advanced and rising AWS Partners with scalable smart city offerings.

In Indonesia, AWS partner Elitery has developed SiPANDU, an integrated report information system, and SiPANON, a machine learning-enabled CCTV solution to monitor and improve road traffic flow.

In Vietnam, AWS has worked with several educational institutions, including Vietnam National University and others on language training; and plans to continue to build out meaningful engagements in Vietnam to tap into growth in the country. This month, AWS also awarded its first contract with the Department of Polytechnic and Community College, a department within Malaysias Ministry of Higher Education. At the same time, the firm said that Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in Thailand has gone all-in on AWS to support the universitys vision of going digital.

Digital Transformation in logistics opens new perspective for Vietnamese businesses The seminar with the topic Digital Transformation in Logistics  Actual Situation of Logistics Operation and Successful Digital Transformation Story in Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City on October 18 brought about experiences for Vietnamese enterprises.
At the Vietnam Blockchain Summit on October 19, which saw the participation of 150 foreign delegates from more than 30 economies around the world, Truong Gia Binh, chairman of FPT Corporation, said blockchain has outstanding characteristics and qualities of anti-forgery, transparency, and decentralisation.

Blockchain a key player in digital era, Source: vietnamblockchainsummit.com

These are extremely favourable conditions for the creation of digital twins in the era of comprehensive digital transformation, Binh said. The world will save $450 billion annually from counterfeiting and reduce hundreds of thousands of deaths from counterfeit drugs when blockchain is applied in these areas.

Blockchain is making breakthroughs across many industries. Countries such as UAE, Estonia, Luxembourg, and Switzerland have applied blockchain to population management and storage of digital identities. Meanwhile, large tech companies such as IBM, Amazon, and McKinsey are applying blockchain in supply chain management.

Elsewhere, at the Ho Chi Minh City Innovation and Digital Transformation Week in Ho Chi Minh City last week, discussions were focused on applying new technologies, including blockchain, to speed up the process of digitalisation.

In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has offered up guidelines and policies to invest in and promote the strong development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. According to Tech in Asias analysis, Ho Chi Minh City jumped 21 spots in the most dynamic innovation startup ecosystems globally at 179th place in 2021. The city was also the first locality in the country to announce a programme on digital transformation along with a project to build a smart city by 2030.

Since its application in cryptocurrency was introduced over a decade ago, blockchain technology has increasingly gained more attention and widely applied in many different industries, especially in the field of banking and finance. Blockchain allows banks to perform various transactions simultaneously on the same network of many banks instead of doing it on multiple systems. This not only ensures information transparency among stakeholders, but also results in processing times for letters of credit dropping from five days to less than 12 hours, contributing to cost savings for the entire process. Many large banks in Vietnam are also successfully applying blockchain technology in the credit system.

Currently, blockchain is also being studied and applied in public administration fields such as authentication, identifiers, diplomas, and certificates. Over the years, the Vietnamese government has tried to create opportunities for the development of new technologies to serve the national digital transformation. In 2020, the prime minister enacted Decision No.2117/QD-TTg on a list of technologies prioritised for research, development, and application for the countrys proactive participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including blockchain technology.

And Decision No.942/QD-TTg dated June 2021 on approving strategy for development of e-government towards digital government for 2021 - 2025 outlined how the State Bank of Vietnam was assigned to research the pilot use of virtual money based on blockchain technology until 2023. The government also has supportive policies for innovative startups, especially in AI, blockchain, and VR/AR.

According to vice chairman of the Vietnam Blockchain Association Phan Duc Trung, the biggest challenge of the digital transformation process is data digitalisation, and blockchain can solve that challenge.

Blockchain is being evaluated by experts as the standard for digital transactions. Instead of being centrally stored, a blockchain is a multi-tier database stored in a network where each user has a non-replicable copy of the database, Trung shared.

Nguyen Van Khoa, chairman of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, said that Vietnam has a great opportunity to promote the internet economy, especially digital transformation platforms. It is necessary to continue to invest, research, and apply new technologies in digital transformation such as AI, machine learning, metaverse, and blockchain, Khoa said.

Despite many advantages of transparency and clarity, blockchain technology has long been considered a controversial technology when it comes to cryptocurrency projects that have not been recognised by law.

Huy Nguyen, co-founder and CEO of blockchain platform Karrdiachain, acknowledged that many people still have a negative view of blockchain technology, but it should not only be judged on the negative side. It is true that there are risks and it is necessary to overcome legal issues and to popularise technology, but at the same time, we must see it as an opportunity for development, he said.

Vietnam Blockchain Summit 2022 set to open The Vietnam Blockchain Association will open a series of discussions about the potential of blockchain technology from leading experts in the field, shedding light on legal policy issues, opportunities, and potential risks surrounding blockchain applications at the Vietnam Blockchain Summit 2022.

Standardising Vietnam's blockchain market data The Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA) signed a strategic cooperation agreement to promote extensive research with Chainalysis, a New York-based blockchain analytics company, at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Blockchain Summit, held for the first time on October 19.
On October 26, the Vietnam Blockchain Association cooperated with the Vietnam Banks Association to co-organise a workshop on Blockchain technology in the financial sector: Opportunities and Challenges.

Representatives of the Vietnam Banks Association and Vietnam Blockchain Association signing the agreement

The two associations have also signed a cooperation agreement to support each other in research and advice on blockchain applications in the financial industry, contributing to propagating correct information about blockchain and proposing recommendations to government agencies.

They will consult together to complete the legal policy framework for the technology sector in Vietnam, expand relationships with organisations and blockchain technology communities around the world, and share experiences and assets to research and develop human resources for the digital economy.

Representatives of leading banks in Vietnam such as HSBC, Vietcombank, and TPBank shared their experiences and blockchain application roadmap in banking operations, especially in LC transactions and interbank money transfers, which significantly saves processing time.

Nguyen Quoc Hung, general secretary of the Vietnam Banks Association said, Vietnam boats huge potential for blockchain development despite facing many challenges such as a lack of blockchain experts, practical applications, and a legal framework. However, the key benefits of blockchain are undeniable.

According to experts from the association, blockchain will help banks quickly transfer money internationally. Currently, when transferring money from one country to another, transactions can take days and involve many third parties. Some banks are considering reducing this kind of transaction due to the many procedures in the processing stage. Blockchain enables faster, simpler, and more efficient peer-to-peer transactions for both businesses and international consumers.

The blockchain network is maintained by thousands of computers, which enhances security and reduces fraud. In the context of rampant cybercrime or widespread ransomware attacks, this approach can protect confidential or sensitive information and avoid hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages for victims.

The global blockchain market size for banking and financial services is expected to grow from $1.17 billion in 2021 to $1.89 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate of 61.9 per cent, according to ReportLinker statistics.

Blockchain also helps to significantly reduce the cost of banking services and improve product quality. Some tasks can be automated using blockchain, such as making payments and issuing loans.

In addition, this new technology helps to reduce human error and speed up the peer-to-peer lending process, reducing the time it takes to open a bank account from a few days to a few minutes.

Phan Duc Trung, permanent vice president of the Vietnam Blockchain Association said, I hope that through todays workshop, we can see the positive and negative aspects of technology to bring blockchain to life and solve business problems.

North America was the largest region in the blockchain finance-banking market in 2021 but Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. Major companies are applying blockchain to financial and banking activities, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, IBM, Intel, JPMorgan, ConsenSys, R3, Oracle, and more.
Nguyen Ngoc Huong, managing director of Quang Thanh Food Co., Ltd. have launched a startup producing Orama instant centella powder as they were cherishing the idea of creating centella powder to replace freshly pressed centella drinks, which function as a nutritional drink.

Agriculture proves a bright segment for startups

Huong recalled that her team faced myriad difficulties in the first days as no suitable processing technology for making such items was in place in the market.

In making Centella powder, the drying and grinding processes are the most time-consuming, and it is also challenging to preserve the freshness, Huong said.

Besides the difficulties in the initial period, agricultural sector startups also find extreme hardships with upscaling.

Nguyen Thi Cac Thuy, founder of family-owned Tay Cat Co., Ltd., which creates fruit scrolls under Tu Bong brand, recalled that since launching a startup in 2013, she thought of retreats many times due to numerous hardships.

The biggest difficulties at that time relate to sale and quality control, which require both knowledge and experience, said Thuy.

Besides the difficulties in the initial period, agricultural sector startups also find extreme hardships with upscaling.

Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of the Vietnam Anger Investor Network (iAngel) noted that domestic agricultural startups might be good with their products but to reach the global markets, they need to be supported by experienced people.

Upscaling needs diverse factors, and it is extremely hard to do it alone. Finding a companion is important. Upscaling requires competency and mutual trust, Van opined.

According to Nguyen Lam Vien, chairman and CEO of Vinamit JSC, a major dried fruit producer, people are now showing greater care to natural products for health protection. "Meanwhile, Vietnam still offers ample space for development in the agriculture and food sectors," Vien said.

Vien proposed startups in the agricultural sector to invest in science and technology, learn about biotechnology, and even molecular technology to become well-prepared for future development. "They also need to acquire patents for their products, avoiding imitations in later periods," he added.

If the forecast of the Vietnam Open Innovation Ecosystem Report 2022 comes true, Vietnam could be among the rising startup stars in Southeast Asia.

The report was released under the auspices of the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialisation Development and the National Startup Support Centre of Vietnam, implemented by BambuUP, a Hanoi-based one-stop digital platform set to facilitate meaningful connections among startups, corporates, and investors.

The report is expected to be officially released at the end of November at the Vietnam National Innovative Entrepreneurship Day 2022 (Techfest Vietnam 2022).

Start-ups embrace logistics sector The logistics sector has been the bottleneck for Vietnams economic development, but offers plentiful opportunities for local startup companies with the application of technologies.
At the event titled "Promoting Regional Links: Accelerating Economic Development", organised by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance and the VnBusiness Magazine on October 26, speakers discussed the limits and opportunities of agricultural production in building the material regions and links between households, cooperatives, and enterprises.

Nguyen Van Thinh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, said that the role of the parties involved in cooperation and association in the value chain of agricultural products is still limited.

Approximately 1,600 safe agricultural product supply chains were organised with the participation of more than 300 companies and 150 cooperatives.

Thinh showed that many cooperatives have yet to complete their role of bridging farmers and businesses.

Farmers and businesses are not linked well enough to each other, and products must go through many intermediate parties. This leaves farmers with meagre benefits, Thinh said.

Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong, purchasing director of the BigC/GO supermarket system operated by Central Retail said that it wants to foster the links with cooperatives to ensure stable supply sources. "However, in reality, this is difficult because of the insubstantial supply sources," Phuong said.

Meanwhile, the cooperative network is being expanded. The current cooperatives attracted 3.28 million households, accounting for about 38 per cent of the total number of households across the country.

Approximately 1,600 safe agricultural product supply chains were organised with the participation of more than 300 companies and 150 cooperatives.

The above situations raised the importance of building regional links. Besides this, as the socioeconomic situation in the country and the world is still volatile, the issue of regional links becomes even more urgent, Thinh said.

To promote agricultural product consumption, the Agrotrade Vietnam under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, proposed to build key five material regions with a total area of 166,800 hectares.

The first region is the northern mountainous fruit tree region with an area of 14,000ha covering the northern provinces of Son La and Hoa Binh.

The second one is the region of timber material planted with sustainable certification, which covers an area of 22,900ha in the central provinces of Quang Tri and Thua-Thien Hue.

It is necessary to build the Central Highlands coffee region with an area of 19,700ha at Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong provinces.

The fourth region will focus on planting rice, which covers an area of 50,000ha in the Mekong Delta provinces of An Giang and Kien Giang. The fifth one is named the Dong Thap Muoi fruit tree area covering 60,200ha at Dong Thap, Long An, and Tien Giang provinces.

Export drive catering to turnover targets Vietnam is making efforts to pave the path for exporting agricultural products in order to reach $50 billion in turnover for the whole year.

US market opening up for agri-goods With the demand growing, the United States is maintaining its position as the largest export market of Vietnamese agricultural products, which are increasingly advancing in quality.

Agriculture continues to spearhead backbone of economy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam's agricultural sector has seen the strongest development ever, transforming from producing enough food to meet the needs of the people to exporting at a high percentage.

New strategy promotes agricultural products on e-commerce platforms The recently-approved National Postal Development Strategy to 2025 with a vision to 2030 targets 100 percent of agricultural households using e-commerce platforms to move their products.

Agricultural circular model gains traction With Vietnam accelerating the development of a circular economy, many businesses are attempting to apply this model in agriculture  but barriers to approval still stand in the way for some.
About 20km east of the Dong Nai River, Le Vinh Tam, deputy head of the agricultural department at La Nga Forestry Co., Ltd., took a break after three hours of patrolling. His and his teams job is to manage and protect 7,000 hectares of forest  a vast area for this team that is covered with FSC-certified acacia. Our forests would be better protected if drones were used to control them from above, said Tam.

His wish reflects the concern that La Ngas plantations may be compromised as pellet prices increase.

Europes winter at risk with wood pellet price hikes, Illustration. (Photo: VNA)

Last month, in a document sent to the Ministry of Finance, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry did not agree to adjust the export tax rate for wood pellets as mentioned in the draft decree on preferential import and export rates.

The chamber is concerned that the application of an export tax rate of 5 or 10 per cent for wood pellets would cause adverse impacts on domestic production.

Meanwhile, wood pellets are one of the gas alternatives that European countries are hoarding for this winter because the amount of gas supplied by Russia to this market has decreased significantly. According to a report published in early October by the International Energy Agency (IEA), gas exports from Russia to the EU have decreased by nearly half compared to the same period in 2021.

The current price of wood pellets has nearly doubled to around $200 a tonne in Vietnam  a very high increase compared to the beginning of the year, said Ngo Sy Hoai, vice chairman of the Association of Vietnam Timber and Forest Products.

Despite this, wood pellets became more attractive thanks to good prices. In the first half of 2022, the export of wood pellets reached nearly 2.4 million tonnes and a value of $354 million, while these figures for the whole 2021 were only 3.5 million tonnes and $413 million, Hoai explained.

Nevertheless, the sudden price rise for export wood pellets has created some concerns, even leading to conflicts of interest between product groups. Exporting wood enterprises are now worried that farmers will harvest wood soon, which could lead to a shortage of raw materials, Hoai said.

Vietnam is currently not a large supplier of wood pellets to the EU, but the high demand and price of wood pellets in the international market creates opportunities for the Vietnamese wood industry to expand production and export. Thus, Vietnams pellet export turnover in 2022 could reach $700 million.

Hoai also mentioned that the lack of experience is visible at in many wood pellet manufacturers. The European Commission may lower the standards for wood pellets temporarily to make up for the shortage of gas this winter. But next time, the commission will definitely come to Vietnam to directly inspect enterprises producing and exporting wood pellets to the EU market. For this, the working environment is one of the mandatory conditions that Vietnamese enterprises must improve if they want to bring wood pellets into the EU, he warned.

For many businesses, the main concern now is to increase export volume to receive greater value added in the coming months. This is driven by the possibility that Europe will reduce wood pellet imports after stocking up on enough gas for this winter. The IEA stated that nearly 90 per cent of Europes gas storage is full.

Smart Wood Vietnam JSC plans to export pellets to Europe, instead of Japan and South Korea  two markets that accounted for over 90 per cent of the countrys export volume in 2021. However, Nguyen Ba Duy, deputy director of Smart Wood, remains concerned about meeting the quality standards. Most Vietnamese enterprises have not met the standards for exporting wood pellets to this market, he summarised his worries. Input materials play an important role in the growth of the wood pellet industry. Only businesses that can ensure the source of raw materials can benefit when the selling price is better.

Vietnam has over 300 wood pellet production facilities, but to take advantage of raw materials, about 70-80 per cent are concentrated in the southern and south-central provinces, where most export wood processing centres are.

The shortage of production materials slowly becomes more common as more businesses are investing in wood pellets for export. Currently, several firms in the south-central province of Quang Nam have expanded their purchase network. However, the development of raw material sources remains difficult due to financial issues and the forest and land policy, Duy said.

While the demand for imported wood pellets in the world is more than usual, Duy also remarked that input materials for their production were mainly branches and by-products, such as sawdust, shavings, and wood chips. However, he forecast that the main import markets, including the EU, could apply regulations that require input materials for wood pellets to have FSC certificates. This could be possibly in winter 2023 already, he said.

20 billion USD goal set for wood export in 2025 Vietnams exports of wood and wooden products are expected to rake in 20 billion USD in 2025 and 20.4 billion USD in 2030, per a project freshly approved by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh.

Vietnam to grant FLEGT licence to wood exports in 2025 Vietnam is set to grant a licence under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement/FAO-EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Programme to wood exports in 2025, after it completes preparing necessary conditions, reported a government official familiar with the sector.
How important is Vietnams role in South Koreas trade and investment policy?

Min Moonki, commercial attache of the South Korean Embassy to Vietnam

Since Vietnam and South Korea signed a free trade agreement in 2015, the trade scale of both countries has grown strongly, reaching $87 billion last year and up 80 per cent from five years ago. The two countries have set a target of bringing bilateral trade to $100 billion next year.

At the same time, South Korean businesses are also constantly promoting foreign investment, especially in Vietnam, where South Korea is the largest investor.

Next month, the second factory of Hyundai Motor is expected to be inaugurated, and in December, there is expected to be the inauguration ceremony of Samsungs research and development centre in Hanoi. The amount of investment in the high-tech sector in Vietnam has also increased sharply in recent times.

How much of a priority is Vietnam in terms of long-term investment and what will be the main focus going forward?

Along with the economic competition between the United States and China, many South Korean enterprises are planning to invest in new-generation factories in Vietnam. Not only South Korea but many other countries are expanding investment in Vietnam, which is gradually asserting its position as a global production centre.

Currently, South Korea is promoting investment in Vietnam in electronics, so the two countries urgently need to cooperate to build a stable supply chain, typically for key minerals. In addition, in the current digital transformation era, I think the wave of investment in AI will take place strongly.

Based on the trust built up over the past 30 years, the economic cooperation between the two countries has grown exponentially. This year, also the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, is the time to elevate the bilateral cooperation relationship to a new high. In the context of the global supply chain with many uncertainties due to the pandemic, we face many important problems, such as carbon neutrality and digital transformation.

These are problems that South Korea alone cannot solve. Therefore, I think we can create a successful global cooperation precedent in the above areas.

What issues does South Korea want Vietnam to improve to make investment cooperation more effective?

The pair have signed many economic cooperation agreements and thanks to that, the scale of bilateral trade has also grown rapidly. Looking ahead, Vietnam and South Korea also have many economic agreements expected to be signed.

In particular, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership has been signed but, currently, Vietnam has not applied preferential tax when importing so I hope this point can be improved. In addition, the two countries are also jointly promoting the implementation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. In this process, I hope the two countries can help each other in the international negotiation process to take advantage of common interests.

Quang Ninh province is emerging as a destination that many foreign-invested enterprises are interested in. How do you assess the interest of South Korean businesses in this northern province?

Quang Ninh is not yet one of the localities in Vietnam that attracts many of our businesses, but several South Korean groups have visited to learn about the business and investment environment. Currently, in Quang Ninh, there is a company called IWon that wants to invest in building cold storage to serve the needs of domestic production, but recently the business has had difficulties in obtaining an investment certificate.

Through the support of the embassy, the enterprise has discussed and reached an agreement with the province and is currently waiting for a licence.

Haiphong reaps sweet fruit from investment promotion event in South Korea Haiphong Peoples Committee granted the investment registration certificate for three projects with the total capital of over $150 million following an investment promotion conference organised in South Korea.

South Korean startups eye Vietnam takeover In preparing for digital transformation acceleration in Vietnam, South Korean startups are increasing expansions in the country to tap into growing demands.

South Koreans eagerly awaiting expansion of KIS in Ho Chi Minh City South Korean investors and expatriates are eagerly awaiting an expansion of the Korean International School (KIS) in the southern metropolis as the demand exceeds the current capacity of the school.
According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, with 685,000 of them dying from the disease. Breast cancer is also the most common cancer among women in almost all countries within Asia, with Vietnam alone reporting 21,500 new cases and 9,000 deaths in the same year.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a worldwide health campaign observed by many countries around the world to increase awareness of the disease, including its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

To mark the event, GE Healthcare and its partner, TD Medical, collaborated with the Vinmec Healthcare System on a community outreach programme to provide free breast scans at 26 on-site screening centres located in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Halong, Danang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. The trio is targeting to provide 8,000 free breast scans by the end of 2022.

The centres, which are located within the vicinity of Vinhomes managed properties and Vinschool operated schools, will also offer educational workshops on the importance of early diagnosis and regular self-examinations.

Vinmec is a leading hospital in Vietnam with a dedicated breast cancer specialist clinic, and GE Healthcare is pleased to partner them and TD Medical to promote awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection and diagnosis. As a global leader in healthcare technologies and solutions, we are fully dedicated to supporting the government and our industry partners in achieving their healthcare objectives by improving the quality of precision medicine in the country," said Son Pham, country general manager for Vietnam at GE Healthcare.

"This collaboration will also help us become a key player in the fight against breast cancer and enable better outcomes for both healthcare professionals and patients,

Le Thuy Anh, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System said, "Vinmec believes that providing information and early screening for breast cancer can help reduce the burden on patients and the community, increase treatment efficiency, and improve the quality of life. By working with GE Healthcare and their partners on this initiative for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and providing education workshops, we aim to improve the value and accessibility of quality healthcare for women and the community.

The programme is not the first for GE Healthcare in Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, the company partnered with Indonesian Brawijaya Saharjo Hospital to introduce a mobile breast screening bus featuring a portable ultrasound system.

The bus made stops at all Brawijaya hospitals in Jakarta to provide advanced breast cancer screening and education services to patients and the public. The initiative was supporting the Indonesian Ministry of Healths breast cancer management strategy, which focuses on health promotion, early detection, and case management.

GE Healthcare's vision for AI-backed radiology AI is transforming the healthcare industry in a variety of ways. The Vietnamese Congress of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine 2022 which took place from August 19 to 20 has shed light on how AI heralds a new era of medical imaging.

GE Healthcare aims to support healthcare development in Vietnam Studying holistic solutions such as hospital planning and capacity development and emerging technologies such as AI are considered keys for GE Healthcare to expand healthcare access in the world, including Vietnam.
The proposal was made in October after the ministry (MoNRE) received a range of interest to develop offshore wind power in Vietnam from both local and foreign investors, but there are no clear regulations on offshore surveys and assessment project capabilities as well as requirements for technical details.

There are still no specific regulations on procedures and time to deal with the approval of measurement, observation, investigation, survey and assessment of marine resources. Besides, opinions are divided as to whether organisations and individuals are permitted to conduct wind measurements, geological and topographical surveys at sea, the MoNRE admitted in the proposal.

Some rules over permission to conduct surveys at sea are still unclear, Photo: Shutterstock

To remove the current barriers to efficient permitting of site investigations and the award of offshore wind energy areas, the MoNRE proposes amending and supplementing a number of articles in Decree No.11/2021/ND-CP dated February 2021 assigning certain sea areas to individuals for use of marine resources. Current restrictions would be changed to allow foreign organisations and individuals to conduct offshore surveys.

The amendments, if approved, would establish specific restrictions on the documentation, methods, and timing for consent on offshore site investigations, which would be set at three months from the date of application. The ministry also suggests that survey activities for numerous or overlapping proposed projects in the same area be carried out collaboratively.

In terms of project capacities and government bodies responsibilities, the MoNRE proposes that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is in charge of developing and communicating regulations on approved marine areas for site investigations, the expected capacity for each sea area, and the maximum capacity for an offshore wind project. Criteria for selecting developers would be developed and promulgated by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, while the MoNRE would take on identifying and designating offshore areas with potential for wind power development and submitting them to competent authorities, according to the MoNREs proposal.

As of the end of August, there were 55 proposals to survey offshore wind power, of which most were from domestic investors. A total of more than 100GW of 19 projects are proposed by the investor to measure wind and conduct geological and topographic surveys at sea to set up offshore wind power projects. The minimum proposed capacity is 0.5GW and the maximum is 6GW, according to the ministry.

Policymakers must act now to prepare the road for the expansion of offshore wind in Vietnam. A proactive offshore wind plan would also provide Vietnam with a competitive advantage in the region, as the country will be recognised as a pioneer for this clean energy technology in Southeast Asia, said Stuart Livesey, CEO of the La Gan offshore wind project in the south-central province of Binh Thuan.

He suggested that the government sets a more welcoming investment environment and legal framework that selects and encourages experienced international developers to invest and shape the market.

For Vietnam to leap 20-30 years into offshore wind experience is unrealistic, so we propose transitional mechanisms established with a series of pilot projects, which would give Vietnam time to learn with the industry and adapt more rigorous regulations and competitive auctions for the future. However, this will take time, Livesey added. Pilot projects first, competitive auctions at a later stage, then Vietnam will really maximise its offshore wind potential.

Pham Nguyen Hung, deputy director of the Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority under the MoIT, admitted that it takes 7-8 years to implement an offshore wind power project.

For a new market like Vietnam, the market faces obstacles that necessitate the improvement of current infrastructure, institutional processes, and supply chains to develop and set up a competitive renewable energy market, Hung said.

A report on harnessing the countrys offshore wind potential released by Mayer Brown in September noted that the challenges to this fledgling industry in Vietnam were numerous, and it would be easy to become pessimistic about the prospects.

However, it is worth remembering that such challenges are not necessarily unique to Vietnam, with various countries and regions across the world grappling with similar issues. For example, streamlining and fast-tracking an overly lengthy and burdensome approval process is a target of many, as is managing the grid issues inherent in bringing multi-GW of offshore wind projects online, the report noted.

The latest draft that the MoIT released in May outlines Vietnams target for renewable energy to become the countrys primary source of energy, with an upper limit of 23GW of installed wind capacity by 2030. It involves 16GW from onshore or coastal wind projects and the remaining 7GW from offshore wind projects. By 2045, these wind targets will have risen to 55.95GW for onshore wind and 66.5GW for offshore wind.

Survey overlap potential irks wind power developers Due to several legal pitfalls, conflicts may occur among wind power investors, both onshore and off, as they take part in surveying activities for their potential projects.

Investors wait for wind power administration system Offshore wind offers a route to diversify the energy system in a cost-effective way, given the technologys unmatched track record in driving down costs in the context of the major energy crisis facing the world today.
Vietnam is blessed by nature with a variety of breathtaking scenery, including untamed mountains and forests, white sand beaches, and golden sunlight. With a 3,260-kilometer coastline and innumerable big and small islands, Vietnam has tremendous potential for tourism growth.

Through this trip throughout Vietnam, Muong Thanh Group hopes to highlight its strengths in the travel and tourist industry, adhering to its objective as a genuine Vietnamese brand at every stage of its growth.

The Vietnam Tour by Muong Thanh Group to mark its 30 years of establishment

In addition to the Vietnam Tour, the trip from north to south will include many meaningful activities including offering incense to commemorate heroes and martyrs, giving charitable gifts to families in difficult circumstances, and donating scholarships, bookcases, and school supplies to underprivileged students.

Muong Thanh aims to impart warmth and compassion on every visit, leaving a lovely imprint in the hearts of the individuals the group meets along the way.

The itinerary's leader said, "The group hopes to breathe new life into the national spirit of Muong Thanh's people in particular and those who are passionate about tourism in general, helping them to always have a sense of preserving and improving their role as hospitality labourers, contributing to publicising the impression of a wonderful and prosperous Vietnam to friends around the world, and contributing to the country's economic development."

Offering incense to commemorate heroes and martyrs

The trip by Muong Thanh across Vietnam is not only an adventure and a fascinating experience of the natural landscape and people of the nation but also an affirmation of the strength and direction of the group, promoting the image of Muong Thanh as a true Vietnamese brand.

At the same time, this is also a motivational activity, igniting the Vietnamese people's ambition to become wealthy in their own country with the notion that, with dreams and hard work, we will achieve our goals and the biggest expectations will be realised. This is also the basic value of a well-established brand, the Muong Thanh brand, in the hearts of Vietnamese citizens.

Muong Thanh Group hopes that this journey through Vietnam will contribute to spreading the message of love for the motherland as well as raise the public's understanding of sustainability and the significance of maintaining and preserving Vietnamese principles and scenery in every region of the country.

Muong Thanh hotels host SEA Games 31 athletes Muong Thanh Luxury Phu Tho, Muong Thanh Grand Bac Giang, and Muong Thanh Luxury Ha Nam were selected to accommodate athletes participating in SEA Games 31.

Muong Thanh Group's Dream Vacation drawing contest for children The Muong Thanh Group's Dream Vacation children's drawing contest, established as part of a series of activities commemorating the company's 30th anniversary, ceased accepting entries on July 25.

Travel with Muong Thanh Dream Vacation contest On August 18, the awards ceremony for the Travel with Muong Thanh Dream Vacation contest took place at Muong Thanh Grand Hotel Hanoi. It was devoted to children, with the goal of establishing a positive and healthy activity and helping to identify and cultivate children's talents.
Indian group Hero Future Energies (HFE) Pvt., Ltd., the renewable energy arm of Hero Group, is busy working with its Vietnam branch to develop plans for renewable energy projects after receiving $450 million from investment firm KKR.

The funding will position Hero for continued growth and support its efforts to expand renewable energy capacity and capabilities across solar, wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen.

In Asia-Pacific, KKR sees renewables as core to its infrastructure strategy and seeks to capture significant regional opportunities. Earlier this year, it launched Aster Renewable Energy, a platform to build and operate solar, wind, and energy storage projects in Taiwan and Vietnam. It will also expand to other regional markets.

Tran Dang Khoi, Vietnam country manager of HFE, told VIR, We will prioritise divesting this investment on traditional and emerging markets. The group will especially focus on the rooftop solar power market in Vietnam.

HFEs investment is to meet the industrial zone (IZ) developers increasing demand for building infrastructure facilities in collaboration with installing rooftop solar power to serve the decarbonisation target.

The installation of solar rooftop panels can severely cut CO2 output for companies, Photo: Le Toan

Ho Chi Minh City Industrial and Export Processing Zones Management Authority calculated that when reaching the target of 1,000MWp of rooftop solar power for more than 1,000 enterprises in 2020-2024, electricity consumption would be reduced by 10-15 per cent, equivalent to 23 million tonnes of CO2. Moreover, according to a study by the University of California, solar panels also help reduce heat absorption by 38 per cent.

Maintaining decarbonisation is an advantage for exporters because they can ensure urban energy security, deemed an important criterion for enterprises to achieve a green certificate through LEED, Lotus, EDGE or others, which can then bring a competitive advantage. Some industries, such as wood, furniture, food, and building materials, must have such a certificate before exporting to Japan, the United States, and Europe.

The EU announced plans to apply a carbon border tax on imported goods from 2026 with a tentative tax of $70 per tonne per year. Preparation for decarbonisation of tenants in IZs will be an advantage for exporters once the policy comes into effect, Khoi said.

Le Trung Kien, director of Haiphong Economic Zones Management Authority, said that the northern port city currently has 15 IZs, a hub for over 600 investors with a total investment capital of more than $34 billion. The demand for power usage is large, so having investment projects in power sectors, especially renewable energy, is important.

Haiphong wants to develop IZs meeting green and ecosystem criteria. Thus the city pays attention to using environmentally friendly energy sources, Kien said.

Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group, said that approximately 10 investors in Nam Dinh Vu IZ in Haiphong were willing to install rooftop solar panel systems and sign a contract to buy renewable energy. Trang Due and Nam Cau Kien are also installing rooftop solar panel systems for their facilities.

French company TotalEnergies is installing 280,000 square metres of rooftop solar panels for all of KCN Vietnams 250-hectare industrial properties nationwide. Once the panels are installed across existing properties, the annual output will be 51GW hours, reducing CO2 by over 23,000 tonnes.

Sumitomo Corporation, the Japanese operator of Thang Long Industrial Park (IP) in Hanoi and Thang Long IP III in the northern province of Vinh Phuc, also plans to achieve a total installed capacity of approximately 100MW at the groups three IPs in Vietnam to meet their park tenants demands for green energy.

Along with bilateral relationships between IZ developers and energy companies to install rooftop solar panel systems, there is a 3-party cooperation model in Vietnam, which combines an IZ management board, an energy company, and a bank/investment fund. This model is now common seen in many nations.

Accordingly, the management side does not have to invest capital but can buy electricity at a cheaper price with a stable, clean power source; it can also own a solar power system after the contract term and achieve the relevant green certificates.

In general, the room for this segment is large. The Vietnam IP Infrastructure Development Report published in the second quarter of 2022 shows that about 8 per cent of IZs have built solar electricity systems. Construction projects and renewable power factories are being built at a steady frequency every year, and more and more factories are installing rooftop solar panels.

Vietnam leads transition to clean energy in Southeast Asia Vietnam is leading the transition to clean energy in Southeast Asia and is a bright spot on an otherwise soot-black map, according to an article published recently on The Economist.

Energy-efficient buildings on the rise in Vietnam Developing energy-efficient buildings is an inevitable trend for Vietnam to achieve its environmental objectives.
During Singaporean President Halimah Yacobs state visit to Vietnam last week, she and counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnessed in Hanoi the inking of four MoUs, two of which were for energy cooperation and carbon credit collaboration.

These agreements will strengthen the multifaceted cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam, President Yacob said. Earlier this year we agreed to deepen cooperation in defence, trade, digital economy, and intellectual property. These new agreements will expand our work in growing areas such as renewable energy, carbon credits, cybersecurity, and vocational training, and will be the foundation of our refreshed bilateral agenda as we pursue a greener, cleaner, and more resilient future.

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob met with Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc last week in Hanoi, photo VNA

Both leaders agreed that bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, defence, security, education, and human resource development were substantive, wide-ranging, and mutually beneficial.

They affirmed the extensive and robust cooperation between the two countries, and agreed to step up cooperation in new and emerging areas such as digitalisation and cybersecurity, the green economy including renewable energy and carbon credits, sustainable infrastructure, as well as vocational training to equip our people for the economy of the future, read a statement from the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Authorised agencies from Vietnam and Singapore will soon work with each other to formulate specific mechanisms and incentives to facilitate businesses from both sides to engage in the new cooperation fields.

The MoU on energy cooperation embraces the development and financing of renewable energy and interconnectors for increased grid resilience and stability and cross-border electricity trading.

It also paves the way for cooperation in liquefied natural gas and electricity markets, research and development and implementation of low-carbon energy technologies and solutions such as hydrogen, ammonia, energy storage systems, smart grids and related infrastructure, as well as energy efficiency and carbon services.

The Vietnam-Singapore cooperation on carbon credits and markets is in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which allows countries to transfer carbon credits earned from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to help them meet their climate targets.

Singapore targets to hit net-zero emissions around mid-century, and Vietnam last November declared that it will make efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 with its own resources and international support.

Meanwhile, Vietnam and Singapore have established a working group on digital economy cooperation. During President Phucs state visit to Singapore in February, both nations inked an MoU on the topic, and a joint working group was tasked with implementing related collaborations between the two countries.

The working group will explore new areas of cooperation such as cross-border data flows, cybersecurity, AI governance, and electronic payments, including with regulatory sandboxes, Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam once told VIR. Our bilateral digital cooperation aims to establish common norms and interoperable systems. This will provide the foundation for Vietnamese and Singaporean companies to transact with each other easily and securely, and enable them to grow their digital businesses. Establishing common ground in these areas will also help to increase the adoption of emerging technologies in a safe and trusted manner, and promote greater innovation.

Singapore is now Vietnams second-largest foreign investor, with total registered capital of about $70.15 billion. This demonstrates the confidence that Singaporean investors have in Vietnams economic potential and the Vietnamese governments efforts to boost the ease of doing business here. Despite the disruptions of the pandemic and the current global economic downturn, Singaporean companies continue to seek new opportunities to diversify and expand their presence in Vietnam, Ambassador Ratnam said.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), as of September 20, total registered investment from Singapore into Vietnam was worth $70.15 billion  making Singapore the largest foreign investor in Vietnam and within ASEAN, followed by Thailand ($13 billion), Malaysia ($13 billion), Brunei ($961 million), and Indonesia ($621.3 million).

During January-September 20, Singapore became the largest investor in Vietnam with the total new investment of $4.75 billion, followed by Thailand ($254.5 million) and Malaysia ($175 million).

One agreement set up last week involved granting the licence to develop the 12th Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Sembcorp Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, received the licence. The 293.7-hectare park will be operated by VSIP Group. Sembcorp is the joint master developer of the VSIP projects together with long-standing partner Becamex IDC.

Singaporean President Yacob last week also toured the VSIP Bac Ninh Park I in the northern province of Bac Ninh. The 635-hectare integrated township and industrial park broke ground in 2007. It has attracted 125 companies with $2.5 billion in investment capital and created 40,000 employment opportunities.

Vietnam-Singapore trade turnover hit $8.3 billion last year, up 23 per cent on-year. The figure reached nearly $7 billion in the first nine months of this year, up 16 per cent. The pair will mark 50 years of diplomatic relations next year, as well as 10 years of a strategic partnership.

Singapore authorises use of Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine on under-five children Singapore has recently approved Pfizer's Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine for use on children aged six months to four years.

Singaporean President begins State visit to Vietnam Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and her spouse began a State visit to Vietnam on October 16 at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
A Waco company has filed multiple lawsuits against delivery giant Amazon claiming patent infringement in some of its Alexa-based services, and a federal judge in Waco that welcomes such suits in his courtroom has denied Amazons request to move the legal action to Northern California, according to court documents.

U.S. District Judge Alan Albright last week denied Amazons motions to transfer suits filed by VoIP-Pal from the Western District of Texas to the Northern District of California. VoIP-Pal is a Nevada corporation operating at 7215 Bosque Blvd. It owns a portfolio of patents relating to voice-over-internet protocol that it is currently looking to monetize, according to a description included in the lawsuits it filed against Amazon.

We are pleased to have two more favorable rulings, and we are very glad to be able to assert our patents in court, VoIP-Pal CEO Emil Malak said in a press release on the ruling. We are confident they will stand on their technical merits.

The cases will remain in the Western District of Texas Waco court, over which Albright has presided since September 2018. Albright served as a federal magistrate before joining the Bracewell law firm in Austin, where he specialized in patent litigation. Speculation that patent attorneys would flock to Waco to have their cases heard proved correct, with Albright seemingly cornering the market on such cases and drawing a rebuke from two U.S. Senators. In November 2021, in a letter to U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, criticized the extreme concentration of patent litigation in Albrights court and what they termed Albrights unseemly and inappropriate pursuit of these lawsuits.

In July, Judge Orlando Garcia, chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, ordered patent cases filed in Waco be divided between Albright and 11 other judges in the district, meaning they could end up in Austin, San Antonio, El Paso or elsewhere.

But VoIP-Pals claims against Amazon will remain in Waco, Albrights court for the second time rejecting Amazons request to relocate them to California.

Lewis Hudnell, an attorney in Mountain View, California, represents VoIP-Pal in its claims Amazon has infringed on three patents his client holds.

Hudnell, in his two lawsuits against Amazon, claims the company infringed on patents related to technologies developed by Digifonica, a wholly owned subsidiary that has spent $15 million since 2004 on research and development of communications software.

The suits claim Amazon knowingly used this patent-protected technology in its products, listing as examples the Amazon Calling and Messaging System and the Alexa Calling Devices. The Alexa Calling System allows desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and mobile devices to send messages, including text, images, video and audio, according to the suit.

The suits seek unspecified damages, a permanent injunction to halt future infringement, costs related to bringing the suits, and interest on damages.
The executive committee of the Baylor Law Alumni Association selected Michael P. Heiskell (J.D. 74) as the 2022 Baylor Lawyer of the Year.

Cynthia Clack (J.D. 78), president of the Baylor Law Alumni Association, presented Heiskell with the award during a recognition luncheon at the Fort Worth Club Sept. 15.

Michael exemplifies every quality of a Baylor lawyer, Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben said. He is a fierce yet compassionate advocate for his clients and has an unswerving dedication to improving the quality of our justice system while maintaining the highest ideals of the legal profession.

He is an outstanding lawyer and a truly authentic person. His career and life bear testimony to his richly deserving this honor.

Heiskell expressed his thanks.

I am honored, humbled and grateful to be the recipient of the 2022 Baylor Lawyer of the Year Award, he said. To be listed among the most influential and iconic Baylor lawyers  from Leon Jaworski, to Matt Dawson, to Bob Bullock, just to name a few  is a blessing that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Attending Baylor Law was a dream come true for me. I left it a lot wiser in ways I never imagined. I am proud to continue to associate myself with Baylor University and its great law school.

Heiskell, who focuses his practice on criminal defense and representing civil rights litigants, is one of the three founding partners of the Fort Worth-based firm Johnson, Vaughn & Heiskell. He now serves as the senior attorney.

Before founding the firm in 1984, he served as an assistant district attorney for Galveston County from 1975 to 1980 and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Texas from 1980 to 1984.

Heiskell was recently sworn in as president-elect of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is Past-President of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Galveston County Young Lawyers Association.

He received the Lawyer of the Year Award from the Tarrant County Black Bar Association in both 1995 and 2000. Texas Monthly Magazine has named him a Super Lawyer every year since 2003. He has also been recognized in Texas Lawyer as one of the Extraordinary Minorities in Texas Law.

Heiskell is a Double Bear, graduating from Baylor University in 1972 and was the first African American graduate of Baylor Law, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1974. He currently serves on the Baylor University Board of Regents.

Heiskell and his wife, Anita, are members of Morningside United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, and they have four children: Marin, James, Michael Jr. and Mason.
Hanoi train street still crowded despite ban

Owners of coffee shops along Hanois train street have continued to serve tourists, despite the ban from local authorities.















A cafe owner guides customers to her railside businesses.



A month since barriers were put up to prevent visitors to the area, cafe owners have managed to guide their customers to their railside businesses.









Speaking with Dantri/Dtinews on October 26, a police officer in Hang Bong Ward said that visitors were still taken to cafes along the street through small lanes.



"Weve arranged some barricades and checkpoints at two ends of the streets but cafe owners have found other ways to guide their customers," the police officer said.













Tourists are still seen walking along the railway or having coffee at the shops along the track. Many cafes are still very crowded with tourists.













Some foreign tourists came to ask a policeman why they were not allowed to go inside while others were visiting the area.



Chairman of Hang Bong Ward People's Committee, Nguyen Vu Linh, said that after hearing about visitors coming to the banned area, they have sent teams to install more checkpoints.





"We're facing more difficulties when cafe owners are trying to continue their practice," the official said. "We'll continue to tighten rules and ask travel companies not to take tourists to this area."













Train street, which attracts lots of visitors, was closed again in mid-September and all the cafes had their licenses revoked following rail safety concerns from the Vietnam Railway Authority.



However, owners of coffee shops along the train street in Hanoi later sent a group letter asking for local authorities to allow them to continue to operate. They expressed the hope that local authorities would not eliminate the popular tourist spot.



According to these businessmen, they are mostly retired railway staff and were given apartments in the buildings along the railway between 1965 and 1974.



"Right after moving here, we saw many foreign tourists coming to our house's veranda waiting to watch the passing trains," the letter said. "They talked about it and shared the photos on many travel forums, making this place famous. We decided to open coffee shops to serve the rising number of visitors."



The residents said they really hoped that local authorities would have suitable measures to make this place a safe tourist attraction and at the same time ensure regular business activities for local people.



Hanoi police have placed barriers on the street since September 14 following an announcement on the temporary closure of all coffee shops in the area.













There are more than 30 coffee shops along the two-kilometre street which starts from Le Duan, goes through Tran Phu and Cua Dong and ends at Phung Hung Street.
A Bellmead man who fatally shot his infant sons two grandparents in May 2020 was convicted Wednesday of capital murder in Wacos 54th State District Court and sentenced to life in prison.

A jury of six men and six women deliberated about an hour to find Johnny Alvin Wilson, 39, guilty of capital murder for killing Christopher Dewayne Wilson, 42, and Rachel Dionne Strickland, 40, during a cookout at about 7 p.m. May 22, 2020, outside his home in the 4700 block of Florida Street in Bellmead.

Christopher Wilson was Johnny Wilsons cousin, and Strickland was Christopher Wilsons ex-wife. Testimony revealed the slain couples oldest daughter, Ashley Wilson, 23, had been living with her second cousin, Johnny Wilson, and had a baby with him. Christopher Wilson did not approve of his daughters relationship with Johnny Wilson and let the couple know this many times over the years, defense attorneys said.

Ashley Wilson, as well as her sister, Haley Wilson, 18, and their 16-year-old brother witnessed their parents deaths and testified at the trial, the eldest for the defense, and the teenagers for the prosecution.

The state did not seek the death penalty, and after the jury returned its verdict, Judge Susan Kelly sentenced Johnny Wilson to life in prison without possibility of parole.

Family reacts

Three of Stricklands family members gave victim impact statements after Johnny Wilson was convicted.

You took my only daughter away from me, Barbara Permenter told Wilson. I am so blessed that youre going to prison for life. You are a coward. I hope everyone you meet in prison sees you as a coward.

Stricklands cousin, Chasnie Kirby, told Wilson he stole a precious gift from their family.

She was the best of us, Kirby said. No one ever had a cross word with her and now my aunt Barbie has to spend the rest of her life without Rachel because you stole her from us. Im a social worker, so I wouldnt normally say this, to anyone, but you, youre no good.

Haley Wilson, also a second cousin to Johnny Wilson, said she cannot sleep at night and has sought counseling because of what he did.

I had to watch my mother bleed out because of what you did, Haley Wilson said. All your past and this, that, and the other, you wanted Ashely to feel sorry for you but they (her parents) did nothing to you. Verbal? I dont know. But they did nothing to physically hurt you. My mother didnt grab her gun. And when she tried to save my dad while he was bleeding, you shot her. And you didnt shoot them each one time for self-defense, you shot them both several times.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing Johnny Wilson shot each of his victims several times. Autopsy doctors from the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences said the victims were shot from the front and from behind, and recovered at least one bullet from each victim.

Firearms experts testified that two guns fired bullets that killed the victims, and DNA experts testified that trace evidence left on the weapons showed Johnny Wilson had fired each of the guns.

Defense argument

The defense did not deny that Johnny Wilson shot his childs grandparents. They attempted to make a self-defense argument.

Under defense questioning, the 16-year-old son of the victims said Ashley Wilson, not Johnny Wilson, invited him and Haley to the house that day. It was also revealed that Strickland, not Johnny Wilson, invited Christopher Wilson over.

Defense attorney John Donahue said the cookout started off as a friendly gathering with Haley and her younger brother engaging in horseplay in a backyard pool, like a normal cookout.

Defense attorney Jon Evans told jurors the 16-year-old called his dad a mean drunk, saying that when he drinks heavily, he gets rough.

Strickland had bought a handgun and sought a concealed carry permit, and the defense claimed that this was to protect her from her ex-husband.

At one point during testimony, defense attorneys claimed Johnny Wilson blacked out during the shootings. But video of portions of their interviews with Johnny Wilson that the Texas Rangers showed on the second day of the trial also included him saying he shot the victims.

In the defense closing, Donahue said Christopher Wilson, 6 feet tall and 278 pounds, had threatened many times over the years to harm Johnny Wilson, a shorter, thin man who walked with a limp and had full use of only his left arm. Donahue argued on the evening of May 22, 2020, he again threatened Johnny Wilson that he and his brother would return later and harm him.

Prosecutor Staci Johnson, during her closing, told jurors the defense could only find one police report in which Johnny or Ashley Wilson had called for help over the alleged threats during the prior year.

Johnson said Johnny Wilson had shot each of his victims several times, more than required to stop whatever Christopher Wilson had planned, and returned to shoot them more times when he saw they were still breathing.

Before closing arguments, the judge told jurors that if they found one of the killings justified under self-defense, they could not convict Johnny Wilson of capital murder. In this case, the fact that two people were killed in the same incident is the factor that makes it capital murder. Kelly told jurors that if they find one of the killings justified, they still could convict Johnny Wilson of a single murder.

The defense asked the jury to find their client not guilty of killing Christopher Wilson and therefore not guilty of capital murder. They did not make a similar request to the jury for the killing of Strickland.
Self-described progressive-moderate Democrat Cedric Davis Sr. is vying with rural conservative Republican Angelia Orr to represent a Texas House District 13 completely reshaped in redistricting last year.

After the decennial national census last year, state legislatures and municipal councils nationwide redrew district boundaries for all types of legislative and representative districts. One of the results of that redistricting for the Heart of Texas region was the Texas Legislature creating a new District 13.

District 13 now includes urban voters in East Waco, along with eastern portions of McLennan County as well as rural voters in six counties previously in four separate districts: Bosque, Hill, Limestone, Falls, Freestone and Leon.

I grew up in Dallas and I have been in Marlin for the last four years as city manager, so I have seen both urban and rural areas, Davis said by phone.

Davis said he grew up poor, but now he has money, so he understands both.

Davis, now 55, started his career in the U.S. Army and fought in Operation Desert Storm. He has also worked as a school teacher, a police officer and a police chief. His job for the past four years has been city manager in Marlin.

He said Republicans courted him, but he chose to be a Democratic candidate.

I will represent all Texans, Davis said Tuesday. It matters not whether they put a D, an R, an I or some other letter after their name.

Davis used letters to refer to party designations, of which there are several in Texas, including Libertarian and Green as well as independents and the two major parties.

Im a people person, Davis said.

He said he and his neighbors used to talk to each other on street corners when he was growing up. He said the voters his district have more in common than they know.

Angelia Orr, 52, of Itasca, could not be reached to comment for this article, phone messages, emails and requests to party leadership in McLennan and Hill counties notwithstanding.

Angelia Orr has a proven track record and she will do great, said Brad Holland, chair of the McLennan County Republican Party and a Waco medical doctor.

Orr has a breadth of experience, said Chris DeCluitt, vice chair of the McLennan County Republican Party and a Waco businessman.

Angelia Orr has been an elected official in Hill County and more recently a district director for state Rep. Cody Harris, DeCluitt said. She will do a great job representing all of these voters in Austin.

In a February Q&A, the Tribune-Herald described her as a Hill County Republican activist, former school trustee, former district clerk and businesswoman.

Announcing her candidacy for the newly formed district, Orr said she would run for the Texas House of Representatives to serve as a strong voice for rural Texas.

Im committed to standing up and fighting for the rural conservative values we hold dear, Orr said.

In her February Q&A with the Tribune-Herald she said she thinks a lot of the urban legislators go to Austin and they have in mind their own voters.

Theres just more of them than there are for rural people and so they make rules for cities and counties and schools that maybe work good at their scale but may be harder to implement on a small scale, Orr said.

Holland said he is confident in Orrs ability to win in her district.

DeCluitt described District 13 as a good rural district.

Like District 56, where we have the rest of Wacos urban voters, ringed about with the rest of rural McLennan County, we have no concern about her (Orrs) appeal on the issues, DeCluitt said. We have more Republican voters in her district than Democrat voters.

McLennan County Democratic Party Chair Mark Hays said District 13 is a classic example of gerrymandering and also protects District 56 for Doc Anderson, the Republican incumbent facing Democratic challenger Erin Shank in the Nov. 8 election.

They (the Legislature) took all the urban and democratic voters in East Waco and scooped them out of McLennan County to save that district for Doc Anderson, Hays said.

According the prior district maps, many of those East Waco blocks and slightly more of eastern McLennan County were included in District 12 for 10 years prior, along with Falls, Limestone and Robertson counties, and most of Brazos County.

The Republican-led redistricting efforts in the Texas Legislature during 2021 led to at least three lawsuits, with challengers alleging the new map of legislative districts diluted Hispanic and Black voting strength, the Tribune-Herald reported a year ago.

Hays also assured Democratic Party voters that Davis does believe in womans right to choose.

Womens health care, abortion and choice are not, however Davis top issue. Davis said Tuesday that voter suppression remains his top issue.

Lets make it easier for people to vote, not harder, Davis said. Give the people of Texas a say. Let them vote on abortion and casino gaming. Dont have those issues decided by the Legislature in Austin.

Davis said one issue that cuts across both urban and rural voters is affordable housing.

Urban voters know that they need more affordable housing built, Davis said. In the rural communities we find a lot of dilapidated homes that need to be refurbished. And often there just isnt the money for it in the rural areas.

Davis said federal money is available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to refurbish rural homes. He said federal money is also available for urban affordable housing as well. He will have people throughout his district to explain to the cities and counties and to residents how to access this federal money, if they want to.

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:
Beto ORourke, Democratic candidate for Texas governor, broke state election law when he used amplification to campaign near a Waco early vote center, McLennan County Republicans said Wednesday in a complaint to local officials.

ORourke appeared at about 10 a.m. Wednesday to speak to supporters at the former Paul Quinn College site, 1020 Elm Ave., as part of a statewide barnstorming tour as early voting for the Nov. 8 election kicked off this week. ORourke is challenging incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

Local Democratic Party officials estimated about 150 people showed up for the 20-minute rally, about 250 feet from the door of the Waco Multi-Purpose Community Center, one of McLennan Countys five early voting centers.

Video on ORourkes website shows him speaking on a microphone to the crowd.

McLennan County GOP Chair Brad Holland said the local party filed complaints with the McLennan County Elections Office and County Judge Scott Felton, saying ORourke violated Section 61.004 of the Texas Election Code.

The code states that within 1,000 feet of a polling place, it is a Class C misdemeanor to operate a sound amplification device or a vehicle with a loudspeaker while the device or loudspeaker is being used for the purpose of: 1) making a political speech; or 2) electioneering for or against any candidate, measure, or political party.

We have excellent documentation of this law violation, as he used a microphone and amplifier that could be heard at the voting center, Holland said in a press release. It is shocking that a gubernatorial candidate would willfully and wantonly violate the Texas Election Code, and commit a Class C misdemeanor in full view of the public, with many attendees helping document the violation.

State election code also prohibits any form of electioneering within 100 feet of the doors to a polling place, but requires electioneering to be allowed on the premises of a polling place outside the 100-foot limit.

County Elections Administrator Jared Goldsmith had no comment on the issue but indicated that the matter is under the jurisdiction of the Texas Secretary of State. In an interview, Holland said the local GOP also plans to complain to the state office.

It is our hope he is prosecuted, Holland said. Under state law, a Class C misdemeanor, the same level offense as speeding, is punishable by a fine of up to $500.

Holland said voters at the multipurpose center reported the incident to the local GOP office and said ORourkes voice could be heard from the entry of the vote center.

ORourkes campaign could not be reached immediately for comment.

McLennan County Democratic Party Chair Mark Hays attended the event and said the amplification was too meager to carry to the vote center door.

It wasnt his sound equipment, Hays said. It was a very small system that a member of the audience brought up because Beto was losing his voice. The guy had this little thing in his car. It was loud enough that me, 10 feet away, could hear him a little better.

If I had my radio on in the car in the parking lot it would be about as loud as that. It was not anything that would remotely affect the polling place. It may have been a technical violation but it wasnt his idea.

Hays said the furor over the amplified speech is silly.

There are things you really need to worry about in this world, and that is not one of them, he said. If they want to do that, go ahead, but wed rather be talking about school shootings and the economy, all the things that are going on in the world that are hurting people, and they want to talk about a little-bitty sound system.

In an interview, Holland said the bigger issue is that ORourke was there at all.

You should not have a campaign event at an election center, Holland said.
NORMAN, Okla.  Four players powered double-figure kills for Baylor volleyball, which gathered a road win over Oklahoma.

The 13th-ranked Bears clicked along with a .312 hitting percentage in silencing the Sooners, 25-20, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, on Wednesday night.

Kara McGhees 15 kills led the way for Baylor (18-4 overall, 7-2 Big 12), and the senior also did the job on the other side, with four blocks and three digs. Allie Sczech contributed 13 kills, while Lauren Harrison and Elise McGhee added 12 kills apiece.

Thats some nice distribution for Baylor and setter Averi Carlson, who recorded her fourth straight double-double with 53 assists and 11 digs. Alexis DaCosta had 14 digs and Lauren Briseno delivered her usual solid passing with 13.

Oklahoma (11-10, 1-8) was topped by Megan Wilsons 16 kills.

Baylor is back at home on Sunday to face West Virginia, with a noon start at the Ferrell Center. The match will also be televised on ESPN2.
WATERLOO  Immigration officials deported a Waterloo teen before he could be tried for charges that he killed an elderly man in an alleged drunk driving crash.

Now officials are trying to return him to the United States.

Robert Kenneth Chambers, 67, who was legally blind and residing at Bridges Senior Living, was returning from the store with the help of his guide dog, Dayton, around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, 2020, when he was struck by a vehicle at West Fourth and South streets.

The driver didnt stop and Dayton went on to Bridges, alerting staff that something had happened to Chambers.

Paramedics found Chambers in the street unconscious and with a broken leg. He remained hospitalized and died Oct. 3, 2020, from injuries suffered in the crash, according to court records.

About half an hour after the collision, officers were called to an Allen Street home, about six blocks away. There they found then-17-year-old Juan Rubio Alejo, who admitted he had been drinking and said he hit a dog on Fourth Street, according to court records. A test determined his blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit to drive, records state.

His vehicle, a Cadillac ATS, was found parked behind a Linwood Avenue home with damage consistant with evidence found at the crash scene, court records state.

An arrest warrant was issued in October 2021 with a charge of homicide by vehicle/intoxication. Alejo apparently remained at large until the spring of 2022 when he was detained in Minnesota.

He posted $100,000 bond in the case while still in Minnesota, and sometime after that the government removed him to Mexico, according to court records. Authorities said he is in the process of returning to the United States.
DES MOINES  The state of Iowa recently paid out more than $238,000 in improper unemployment benefits to individuals who are deceased or incarcerated, a state audit said.

The audit, reported Tuesday by Iowa Auditor Rob Sands office, said Iowa Workforce Development paid nearly $125,000 to people who are dead, and another nearly $114,000 to prisoners who were not eligible for unemployment benefits.

The audit covered the state budget year that ended in June 2020, which included the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the audit, the erroneous payments were made because they were not caught by state fact-finders.

The state workforce department was inundated with unemployment requests during the first months of the pandemic as many businesses were completely or partially closed as part of public health precautions.

The states jobless rate peaked at 10.5% in April 2020, according to state workforce data.

The state audit found benefits totaling $124,698 were sent to six individuals who are deceased. And eight individuals who were incarcerated and thus ineligible for unemployment benefits received benefits totaling $113,813.

Between March and June 2020, IWD received an unprecedented and historic number of unemployment claims unlikely to ever be seen again in a similar three-month period as well as an unparalleled number of customer service phone calls and email requests for help, the workforce department said in response to the audit.

The department also noted that, at the same time, the federal government created new unemployment programs that states were required to develop, test and implement.

IWD said it followed federal guidelines by prioritizing benefits payments over all other activities, including fact-finding.

IWD conducted limited fact-finding interviews between March and May 2020. Once we had capacity to do so, we directed an unprecedented number of staff to engage in fact-finding in an effort to reduce the backlog and catch up as quickly as possible, the departments response in the report said.

The department will resume cross-checking claimants and prisoners Social Security numbers, and partner with the state Health and Human Services department and train investigators to spot claimants who use a deceased persons social security number, it said in the report.

The audit does not note whether the state has been able to recoup any of those payments.
DES MOINES  Three parents from around Iowa sat in a Des Moines federal courtroom Thursday with pictures of their sons, 17, 22, and 23. They occasionally paused to hold back tears as they told their sons stories, all of whom died from fentanyl overdoses in the last year.

The parents were among those testifying at a field hearing for the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held by U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley on the impacts of fentanyl in the U.S. and Iowa.

Fentanyl stole our son from having a future, Laurie Arwine of Cedar Rapids said. We need to make a stand now and do something to create more awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and stop pills that kill.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid between 50 and 100 times stronger than morphine, has been implicated in an increasing number of opioid-related overdoses in Iowa in the past year. According to the governors office, 83% of overdoses from opioids in 2021 involved fentanyl.

It is often cut into other drugs and sold in several forms, and Iowa lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have put a focus on counterfeit pills containing fentanyl being sold illicitly and pressed to look like prescription drugs such as Oxycontin and Xanax.

While Iowas rate of drug overdoses remains among the lowest in the U.S., the numbers are increasing, reflecting a national trend of increased overdoses related to fentanyl.

The parents present, Brooke Anderson of Shelby, Deric Kidd of Des Moines, and Arwine each told similar stories. Their sons went to bed one night, took an illicit pill, a parent or a sibling found them dead in their room and in the morning.

Kidd started an organization, Become Their Voice, to raise awareness around fentanyl and people who have died from drug overdoses. Kidd and other parents present give talks to educate students in middle and high school.

All these families across the nation are experiencing their own pain, he said. All we can do is turn our pain into purpose, which is why I created the Become Their Voice website.

The parents present at the hearing said parents should talk to their children about the dangers that could be present with pills purchased illegally, and watch out for underlying mental health issues or problems in school. Kidd said talks in schools are useful to spread their message.

Without the schools taking part in this, were not going to get the message out to the masses, Kidd said.

Grassley, a Republican, has previously highlighted Kidds story in Congress and pushed to permanently schedule fentanyl analogues  substances chemically similar to fentanyl  as Schedule I drugs. Fentanyl itself is a Schedule II controlled substance used in medical settings to treat severe pain.

These heartbreaking stories of lost children deserve our attention, he said at the hearing. We need to do what we can to prevent other families from experiencing this same loss. This hearing is a step towards meeting that obligation.

But in a letter this year, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, raised concern about a blanket scheduling of the substances. One in particular, he noted, has been found by the FDA not to activate the opioid receptors and could block them in a similar way to naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose.

Law enforcement officials also testified at the hearing, saying theyve seen an increasing fentanyl presence in Iowa and nationally over the last year. In Iowa, drug seizures containing fentanyl have skyrocketed, Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens said.

Iowas Division of Criminal Investigations analyzed 17,000 pills containing fentanyl in 2021. In the first nine months of 2022, the number has skyrocketed to over 90,000, Bayens said. Officials have also seized three times the powdered fentanyl so far this year as they did in all of 2021.

The fentanyl being seized by law enforcement is primarily smuggled from the southern border, often made in clandestine labs and pressed to look like prescription pills.

Bayens said permanently scheduling fentanyl analogues to the most stringent category would help prosecute criminal organizations that can tweak drug formulas to evade the law.

Being as nimble and proactive as we can and being responsive to these emerging analogues is absolutely imperative, he said.
Perhaps it is a standard campaign visit in the midterm elections to a state that has treated him well in the past.

Or perhaps former President Donald Trump is coming to Iowa next month to ensure Chuck Grassley staves off what appears to be the toughest re-election campaign of his four decades in the U.S. Senate.

Whatever the reason, Trump plans to hold a campaign rally at Sioux Citys Gateway Airport on Nov. 3  just five days before Election Day, the Trump campaign has announced.

Trump plans to deliver remarks as part of an effort to advance his agenda and to energize voters to support Republican candidates he has endorsed, including Grassley and Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Trump campaign said.

His last visit to Iowa was just more than a year ago: he endorsed Grassley  to a mixed reaction from the crowd gathered at the Iowa State Fairgrounds  during a rally on Oct. 9, 2021.

This time, Trump will be speaking in the hometown of Mike Franken, the Democratic opponent who is running closer to Grassley than any of Grassleys previous six re-election opponents, according to polling and fundraising. A recent Mediacom/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll said Franken was within 3 percentage points of Grassley, who won his previous six re-election bids by an average of 35 points.

National elections forecasters are rating Iowas U.S. Senate campaign likely Republican, which is less confident than previous ratings earlier in the cycle but still the second-most confident in a Grassley victory.

Reynolds is running for re-election against Democrat Deidre DeJear and Libertarian Rick Stewart. Reynolds has held commanding leads in polling and fundraising in the gubernatorial campaign.

Trump won Iowa in both his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns.

The Trump campaign has also announced rallies during the final days before the election in the battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Republican reaction

Grassleys campaign spokeswoman said he will take the opportunity to speak directly to Iowans and highlight what he believes are failures by President Joe Biden. The spokeswoman offered criticisms of Biden on the economy, immigration policy and crime.

Sen. Grassley encourages Iowans to send a message to President Biden and his rubber stamp Mike Franken on Election Day by voting Republican to get our country back on track, Grassley campaign spokeswoman Michaela Sundermann said.

Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann welcomed Trump back to northwest Iowa, which Kaufmann called, the land of faith, farming and freedom.

Through her campaign spokesman, Reynolds said she welcomes Trump back to Iowa.

He loves this country, loves Iowa, loves our farmers, and will deliver a strong speech that highlights the destructive policies of the Biden administration and the radical Democrats in Washington, D.C., Reynolds said via her spokesman.

Democrats response

Frankens campaign manager Julie Stauch said Trumps event will be interesting given that Grassley in 2021 voted to confirm Bidens 2020 victory over Trump despite the former presidents calls for the Senate to not confirm the election results.

Its just very interesting to watch whos coming in for Sen. Grassley at this point, Stauch said. I think the fact theyre in Sioux City reinforces the vulnerability (Grassley) faces up in northwest Iowa.

DeJear, through her campaign spokeswoman, also called Trumps visit interesting.

Its interesting but not surprising that Reynolds and the GOP would be welcoming Trump back despite more than half of Iowans disapproval, DeJear said, referring to a new Iowa Poll. At this point, shes made it more than clear that shes going to force her unpopular agenda on this state unless we interrupt her by electing a new governor.

Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn, in a statement, criticized Iowa Republicans for welcoming a former president who attempted to overturn the 2020 election results, a movement that led to the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Chuck Grassley and Kim Reynolds are so desperate to hang onto political power that they will stand with a traitor who wanted to overthrow our government, threatened the life of his vice president and who continues to support attacks on our democracy, Wilburn said in the statement.
WEST DES MOINES  U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said his work on womens health care and legislation helping survivors of sexual assault shows a record of working for women, as he and his party face attacks over support for abortion restrictions.

Grassley, a Republican, was joined by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee at a West Des Moines rally. Blackburn and Grassley are both cosponsors of the Speak Out Act, a bipartisan bill that would prohibit the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements when workers report sexual misconduct.

Women, like everybody else, must be respected, and Im fighting for justice for women who have been sexually assaulted and harassed, Grassley said.

He pointed to bills he sponsored relating to how reports of sexual assault are handled in the military and on college campuses. Grassley also said he wrote a bill, titled the Healthy Moms and Babies Act, that would improve postpartum care in women, especially in rural America.

The bill will help reduce infant and maternal mortality by increasing access to prenatal and postpartum care, no matter where they live, Grassley said.

Blackburn said Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped get the Speak Out Act through the committee. The committee passed the bill in September.

This is something so important to women in the workplace, and I am absolutely so pleased that Sen. Grassley stepped up, took the lead, and helped us to get this bill across the finish line, she said.

The rally followed Grassleys campaigns announcement of a Women for Grassley Coalition, a group of women from Iowas 99 counties supporting his reelection. Grassley has attempted to draw a distinction between himself and his Democratic challenger Mike Franken, whom he accused of disrespecting women in public remarks.

Franken, a former Navy admiral, faces an allegation that he kissed his former campaign manager without consent, according to an April police report. He denies the allegation and pointed to the fact that the report was closed as unfounded.

Sen. Grassley has a problem with women thats based on his voting record, Frankens campaign manager, Julie Stauch, said in an interview. Our latest ad shows that his voting record on things that add to womens autonomy, he is opposed to.

Franken has kept his focus on Grassleys long career of opposing abortion rights. In a debate with Grassley, he said the senator has routinely voted against womens interests.

Grassley cosponsored a 2019 bill that would have outlawed abortion at 20 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. As a former chair of the Judiciary Committee, he had a major hand in building the conservative-majority Supreme Court that overturned the federal right to an abortion in June.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restrict abortion, Grassley has suggested abortion restrictions should be left to the states. He said in the October debate he would vote no on a bill that would outlaw abortion at 15 weeks nationally, but he didnt rule out federal regulation on abortion.

This is a guy who has made it his career to ban abortion, to support unequal pay, to do nothing for paid family leave, to many times vote against the Violence Against Women Act, Franken said in the debate. I dont have a problem with this issue. He has a problem with women.
Assalamu alaikum!

Many people know that at the beginning of this week one of the Chechen units came under shelling. This happened in the Kherson region. All rescue operations at the site have been completed and there is a final list of dead and injured. 23 soldiers were killed and 58 wounded. Of these, four were seriously injured. Their lives are not in danger. First of all, I want to say to the families of the victims: Tezet these days is not only in your homes, it is all over the Chechen Republic. We all mourn with you deeply!

Yes, on that day, overnight losses on our part were great, but the Chechens are participating in jihad, fighting against the forces of Iblis. And if you are destined to fall in a holy war, then this is an honor and a great joy for every true Muslim. We all dream of dying in the way of Allah. May the Almighty accept their gazavat!

This does not mean that the Satanists have gone from revenge. We will overtake and destroy mercilessly. Moreover, on the same day, as an act of retribution, our fighters carried out a sortie, during which about 70 Bandera men were sent straight to hell.

For our part, we will always take care of the families of the dead BROTHERS. Of course, no earthly blessings will return the dead, but it is our duty to take care and help their families. We must somehow alleviate their pain, help in the future, resolve existing issues. We allocate 1 million rubles for the funeral of a soldier who died in the NVO zone, and the state pays another 12 million to the family. The wounded receive three million. In addition, for the families of the victims, we provide a pilgrimage to the holy Mecca. We are indebted to the mothers who gave the people such sons!

I call on all my countrymen to unite in the path of Allah. We must all be fully prepared for any development of the situation. You cant sit idly by. To fight for your religion, home, family, Fatherland is the duty of every man! Learn at least military affairs. I just wonder how you can sit quietly at home and watch the events.

After all, weapon skills are the duty of a Muslim. Even the Prophet Muhammad  urged us to learn the art of shooting. This is Sunnah. In Gudermes we have the most modern base with free military training courses. Nothing prevents those who wish to come there and master the skills of military craft. This will be beneficial for you, for the entire Ummah and for the Fatherland as a whole. In any case, with or without you, we will finish off this evil spirits, but are you not ashamed yourself?

Ladylove

WtR
November 8  elections to the US Congress

How can Democrats/Republicans today pay for their victory or explain their loss on Capitol Hill?

For the current Biden team, as well as for their Republican opponents, the currency is, in fact, one  the lives of the citizens of the mythical country of Ukraine, which they do not need.

They are a bargaining chip in the big American game. They are easily placed on the altar of future triumph in political battles across the ocean.

And here all means are good. The lives of Ukrainians pay for the endless supply of American weapons, and for the labor of instructors and mercenaries. They are ready to pay off in the event of the use of a dirty bomb.

Our people are also suffering. But the only difference is that our people will be avenged. All. And on the battlefield, and in other directions, far from the battlefield. And certainly not within the framework of failed lawsuits. In other ways.

But no one will remember the Ukrainians.

After all, the main thing for the American establishment is something else  who will control the House of Representatives and the Senate. Therefore, the war to the victorious end. Or rather, just to the end. End of Ukraine.

And the winner, as usual:

The winner takes it all

Medvedev

WtR
 Top News Today

 Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin oversees exercises of Russias strategic nuclear deterrence forces: Yars ICBM, Sineva ballistic missile launched by the nuclear ballistic submarine (SSBN) Tula (Northern Fleet), and two Tu-95MS strategic bombers.

 Russias Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu holds telephone talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh, and videoconference with his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe.

 In the Kupyansk direction, the enemy was driven back to the initial positions by Russias troops, artillery fire, army and ground-attack aviation, and heavy flamethrower systems. More than 160 militants, 5 tanks, 9 armoured fighting vehicles, and 10 pickup trucks have been neutralised.

 In the NikolayevKrivoy Rog direction, the enemy, with up to 2 battalion tactical groups, failed attempts for the attack in the directions of Ishchenka, Bruskinskoye, Pyatikhatki, and Koshara (Kherson region).

 13 shells of the U.S. HIMARS MLRS were shot down over the settlements of Burgunka, Olgovka, Nikolayevka, Novaya Kakhovka, Ponyatovka, Nikolskoye (Kherson region) and Novonikolskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic).

 Mobilised personnel continue their training course in the Central Military District.

 Russian Defence Ministry has published footage of Army Aviation fire support team, in combat action within the special military operation.



#MoD #TopNews #Russia #Ukraine

@mod_russia_en

WtR
It turns out that before naming the culprits, you need to get evidence. Western countries came to such an unexpected conclusion when it came to investigating the explosions on the Nord Streams. Now remember all these years of, Russia Did It! and never one shredded of evidence

So when it comes to lots of evidence starting to show up at who done it with Nord Stream. Denmark, Germany and Sweden will not disclose the results of the investigation until they receive indisputable evidence, said the commander of the Danish Navy

So all these years of finger pointing by the Collective West at China, Russia, North Korea, Iraq, Iran and so many many more. Now the Collective West has to have indisputable evidence?

Me thinks, that it should have always been this way!

WtR
Liger starring Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday in the lead roles, was directed by maverick filmmaker Puri Jagannadh. This PAN Indian film came amidst humongous expectations, but it disappointed fans and audiences big time and ended up as a failure.

In a surprising turn of situations, Puri Jagannadh has now filed a Police complaint against the films distributors, G. Shobhan Babu and Warangal Sreenu, stating his concern that both of them might instigate violence and harass his family in his absence.

Puri Jagannadh explained that Warangal Sreenu is supposed to pay the amounts to his co-distributors but is defaulting them. Puri wrote that Warangal Sreenu had falsely represented him as the one responsible for making the payments to the aggrieved parties.

Puri Jagannadh stated that this is a clear-cut case of blackmailing and harassment to extract money from him illegally. The director mentioned the possible dharna that could happen at his Hyderabad residence and requested police protection for him and his family. We need to see where this ends.

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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.


Quarterly Activities & Cashflow Report

Perth, Oct 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - During the quarter the key focus was on Musgrave Minerals Ltd's ( ASX:MGV ) ( 6MU:FRA ) ( MGVMF:OTCMKTS ) 100% owned tenure (Figure 2*) at Cue which has a Mineral Resource of: 12.3 Mt @ 2.3g/t Au for 927koz gold.



Exploration and resource drilling continued throughout the quarter with further positive results from the Amarillo and Waratah prospects.



First pass aircore drilling was undertaken over new target areas including the high titanium basalt unit that hosts the high-grade Break of Day and White Heat-Mosaic deposits. New basement targets were identified from this program.



At the Cue Project, the high-grade component of the Mineral Resource (Indicated and Inferred) along the Break of Day Trend stands at: 982kt @ 10.4g/t Au for 327koz gold.



With the discovery of the Big Sky deposit the Mineral Resources along the Western Trend is: 9.8Mt @ 1.7g/t Au for 541koz gold.



The high grade component of the resource base will be a significant component of future development.



CORPORATE



At the end of the September 2022 quarter, the Company held $7.3M in cash with the Company's capital structure comprising:



- 540,572,949 fully paid ordinary shares ( ASX:MGV ); and



- 13,800,000 unlisted options at various exercise prices and expiry dates



The Quarterly Cashflow Report (Appendix 5B) for the period ending 30 September 2022 provides an overview of the Company's financial activities. Cash exploration expenditure for the reporting period was $3.1M. Corporate and other expenditure amounted to $452k. The total amount paid to Directors of the entity and their associates in the period (item 6.1 of the Appendix 5B) was $146k and includes salary, Directors' fees, and superannuation.



Investments



The Company holds 12.5 million shares in Legend Mining Limited ("Legend") currently valued at approximately $0.5M based on a Legend share price of $0.04/share. Musgrave also holds 1,308,750 ordinary shares in Cyprium Metals Limited ("Cyprium") currently valued at approximately $0.1M based on a Cyprium share price of $0.06/share.



*To view the full Quarterly Report, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/2Q5ZN9YL





About Musgrave Minerals Ltd





Musgrave Minerals Ltd (ASX:MGV) is an active Australian gold and base metals explorer. The Cue Project in the Murchison region of Western Australia is an advanced gold and copper project. Musgrave has had significant exploration success at Cue with the ongoing focus on increasing the gold and copper resources through discovery and extensional drilling to underpin studies that will demonstrate a viable path to development in the near term. Musgrave also holds a large exploration tenement package in the Ni-Cu-Co prospective Musgrave Province in South Australia.


Further Advances on NAL Restart

Brisbane, Oct 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging lithium producer Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( DML:FRA ) ( SYAXF:OTCMKTS ) has further advanced the restart of production at its North American Lithium (NAL) operation in Quebec, with construction, procurement, recruitment and other activities progressing amid growing demand for lithium.



NAL's restart is on track for Q1 2023, with permitting applications and procurement both 96% complete as at the end of September. Construction activities also continue, with the installation of the HP300 and HP400 Cone Crushers almost complete and the Wet High Intensity Magnetic Separator (WHIMS) fully assembled, among other items. Commitments to end September totalled C$43.6 million, versus planned commitments of C$45.9 million.



NAL's management team has also been further strengthened with the recent appointment of Yves Desrosiers as Interim General Manager, NAL. Guy Belleau has been appointed President, Abitibi-Temiscamingue and Sylvain Collard as Chief Operating Officer for Sayona Quebec, reporting to Sayona Quebec CEO, Guy Laliberte.



Importantly, there have been no lost-time incidents to date, reflecting the Company's commitment to a Zero Tolerance policy regarding safety. Operational readiness, pre-operational and verification plans including training and process operational support have been fully mobilised to ensure an efficient and effective plant start-up.



Mining contractor, Quebec company L. Fournier & Fils commenced operations in October, with work to be carried out continuously (refer ASX release 27 September 2022). Sayona also recently contracted Quebec rail operator Solurail Logistique Inc to deliver NAL's spodumene (lithium) concentrate to port (refer ASX release 18 October 2022).



NAL recently hosted an investor visit by leading investors, hosted by Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch and Piedmont Lithium's President & CEO, Keith Phillips, highlighting the two companies' commitment to a successful operation at NAL.



Sayona Quebec has also continued its community engagement campaign, recently hosting information events at Amos, Barraute, Laforce, Mistissini, Moffet, Preissac, Saint-Mathieu-d'Harricana and Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, among other activities as the Company works to secure a social licence to operate.



Sayona's Managing Director, Brett Lynch commented: "It is pleasing to see the continued progress at NAL as we advance towards the restart of production in the first quarter of 2023.



"Lithium demand from North America and globally continues to increase and Quebec is well placed to deliver, with NAL set to become the first North American local producer next year and with further value-adding planned as we move into downstream processing."



*To view photgraphs, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/88EGPLM9





About Sayona Mining Limited





Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia.

Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au


Raises $3million to Progress Expansion Plans

Sydney, Oct 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australia Sunny Glass Group Limited ( NSX:AG1 ) is pleased to announce that it has received firm commitments to raise A$3 million by way of a share placement at A$0.30 per share (Placement).



Funds were raised from new and existing professional and sophisticated investors, with Townshend Capital Pty Ltd acting as Lead Manager. The Placement is due to be settled in the coming days, with the shares to be issued under the Company's existing capacity under Listing Rule 6.25.



The funds raised will support working capital requirements and allow the Company to progress expansion plans in its primary markets of New South Wales and Victoria.



The Lead Manager will be paid a capital raising fee of 5% (excluding GST) on all funds raised pursuant to the Placement.



Upon the successful completion of the Placement, the company is expected to have approximately 96 million shares on issue with expected additional funding of A$3 million.





About Australia Sunny Glass Group Ltd





Australia Sunny Glass Group Limited (NSX:AG1) seeks to establish itself as a supplier of premium treated glass products to the construction industry in Australia, including in the residential and commercial building markets.
HARRISBURG, Pa.  Pennsylvania Democrat John Fettermans 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 Bidens presidency.

Appearing on stage five months after his stroke, Fetterman, Pennsylvanias 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 Fettermans appearance at Tuesday nights 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.

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 Im 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 isnt 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.

Fettermans campaign and other Democrats sought to focus Wednesday on Ozs 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.

Fettermans new ad focuses on Ozs 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 states 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 Fettermans 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 hed still vote for Fetterman.

Fettermans 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, its unclear how many Pennsylvania voters were paying close attention.

Bonnie Chang, a telecommunications retiree from Doylestown who describes herself as a liberal Fetterman supporter, didnt 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.
Eugene Hutz went back to his hardcore roots when writing Solidaritine because it was necessary.

He even pulled in punk rock legend Walter Schreifels to produce the record.

As the vocalist for Gogol Bordello, Hutz says it was important to get everything lined up  and it happened quickly.

The entire process came together like an outburst, he says. I think it was that way because we were coming out of years of turmoil. Its the pandemic and then the invasion of Ukraine. With the circumstances like that, the songs came straight out of the gate. I wrote on electric guitar the whole time, which is different from how Ive done music on other albums.

Gogol Bordello is a punk rock band formed in 1999 and is known for being inspired by Romani music, and adding a theatrical stage show alongside the incorporation of accordion and saxophone. The band will perform at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31, at the Historic El Rey Theater in Downtown Albuquerque. The band is touring in support of Solidaritine.

Hutz says his creative process never shuts off.

And when the Russians invaded Ukraine, where he was born, he wanted to do something.

The band performed a concert on a military base and then for some refugee hubs.

It was really an important experience for us, he says. We were there to clarify for a lot of people what was happening; getting people like Patti Smith to show their support. For many people, its still unclear what is happening. But intelligent people will see through it all. We got a lot of support in fundraising for when we went there. At the same time, it feels like it wasnt enough. Thats why we went there and supported the Ukrainians in person. They appreciated us being there.

Back to the album, Hutz says with the songs written, the band holed up in the studio for five days.

We were done in four, he says. Mixing started after that and it was a blast working with Walter. He knows punk rock, so it felt like it did when we started more than 20 years ago.

Theres a track on the album called My Imaginary Son, which holds a special place for Hutz.

He says the song has been in his back pocket for a few years.

Its a song that I was inspired to write when I met Mike Ness (of Social Distortion), Hutz says. He was on tour with his son and they hang out a lot. I saw this bond and it stuck with me. So I wrote the song about my own imaginary son who is out on me with tour. I played that song for a friend. Then the band got a hold of it and took any chance away of the song remaining an acoustic track. Im proud of that one.
Louie Perez grew up seeing his mother create altars for Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead.

The act was to remember loved ones who have died.

Its a tradition he still creates to this day.

Unfortunately, over the years, weve had to add more people to the altar, he says. Theres always the main santo in the middle. My mom had this wood Santo Nino de Atocha. To this day I have it. Ive managed to keep it after all these years.

Dia de los Muertos has become a globally-recognized Mexican tradition celebrated in Latino neighborhoods throughout the United States and by people of Mexican heritage everywhere.

Traditionally observed on the first two days of November, Dia de los Muertos sees families and friends paying their respects to deceased loved ones with colorful and festive gatherings filled with food, flowers and warm remembrances rather than funeral mourning.

This is why Perez and Los Lobos teamed up with Ozomatli, Flor de Toloache and PBS for Dia de los Muertos, which will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1. It will rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, on channel 5.4. It is also available to stream on the PBS Video app.

The hour-long performance was taped before a live audience deep within the unique and beautiful underworld of The Caverns  a subterranean amphitheater in Middle Tennessee.

We jumped at the opportunity to be part of this show, Perez says. We have a history with PBS and weve played once before at The Caverns. Its a real interesting place.

Usually Los Lobos will do a mixed set of all of their music.

Perez says for this event there was some traditional rock and roll.

We were able to share the stage with our friends in Ozomatli, he says. It was also an introduction for us to Flor de Toloache. They remind me of the women mariachi bands back in the 70s. All of them are fabulous.

Looking back at his career with Los Lobos, Perez is grateful to still be playing music.

Though he says the band is slowing down beginning next year.

Were not going to do the extensive touring anymore as were getting older, he says. Were going to spend time with our families. Whats great about my job is that music continues to reach new audiences. Weve become part of peoples musical journey and this is special.

On TV

Dia de los Muertos, which will air at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, on New Mexico PBS, channel 5.1. It will rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30, on channel 5.4. It is also available to stream on the PBS Video app.
Dan Lewis needs to get out more. That is, he needs to get out on the streets, and the bus, more.

One of the reasons some of the most difficult problems of the city are not being addressed head-on is because many people live hermetically sealed lives: House to car to work to car to house. People on the streets are specters rather than human beings. Councilor Lewis proclaimed he was scared on the bus and everyone should be scared and if you have another option, do not ride the buses, because they are not safe. (Albuquerque Journal, Oct. 20).

Apart from being a disservice to the folks at ABQ RIDE who do their best to provide an essential service, and to the people for whom the bus is an essential service, it is also demonstrably false. It is terrible to see people nodding out on opioids or passed out drunk on the bus. Just as it is terrible to see people sleeping on the streets, but the people struggling with addiction, on the bus or the street, are primarily a danger to themselves and each other, not you.

If Lewis really wants to keep citizens safer, he should advise them not to get in a car if they have another option. While the report of a man with a long gun on the bus got a lot of press, guns are brandished with regularity on the streets of the city. Forbes ranked Albuquerque fifth in road rage in the United States. Multiple fatal shootings have happened due to road rage in Albuquerque, including children. Where are the shootouts on the bus? The New Mexico Crash Annual Report for 2020 shows car crashes resulted in 105 deaths and 6,060 injuries for that year. Buses that year: 0 deaths and 40 possible injuries.

Finally, the idea of terminating free fares in order to make buses safer is bogus and, considering that winter is coming, cruel. It will not keep people with rifles off the bus. It will not end the generational opioid epidemic that has plagued New Mexico and been exacerbated by fentanyl. It will only serve to marginalize the most vulnerable people in our communities, pushing them toward greater alienation and dysfunction. You cannot loathe these people away. They are our brothers and sisters.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

An already-tense debate during Tuesdays Bernalillo County Commission meeting extended past adjournment with one member calling another a bitch.

The panel had just finished arguing over when to meet to fill a vacancy in the New Mexico Senate created last week when Jacob Candelaria, a West Side Albuquerque independent, stepped down with two years left on his term. The commission is responsible for choosing his replacement.

Commissioners Adriann Barboa, the chair, and Debbie OMalley disagreed with Commissioner Charlene Pyskotys effort to set the meeting for Oct. 31, arguing it was too quick a turnaround. They contended they wanted to give community members more time to apply for the appointment.

Pyskoty, however, had support from the commissions other two members, Steven Michael Quezada and Walt Benson.

OMalley voiced frustration over their plan during the meeting, noting that the Senate district at issue is located primarily in her own commission district and that she wanted a say in when to make the appointment. She called Pyskotys effort to expedite a decision extremely disrespectful and rude.

But the discussion did not end there. Shortly after the meeting concluded, Benson said he heard OMalley call Pyskoty a bitch.

The meeting was over and Debbie stood up and said Youre a bitch, to Pyskoty, and then Pyskoty didnt respond. Then she said, Did you hear me? and I think Pyskoty said, Yes, maam, I did. Thats when Joe chimed in, Benson said, referring to Pyskotys assistant, Joe Noriega, who was sitting in the audience.

A Journal reporter subsequently witnessed a heated exchange between Noriega and OMalley.

Continue. Make a fool out of yourself, Noriega said. Look at you. Youre the commissioner and youre up there calling another commissioner a bitch.

Shut up, OMalley responded.

Pyskoty declined to speak to a Journal reporter by phone about the incident, saying she would only answer questions in writing. In an email, she said OMalley walked up behind me and verbally assaulted me with an abusive slur. She then asked me if I heard her, and repeated the word. I responded in a quiet, steady tone, I heard what you said, maam.'

She added that Noriega then told OMalley others heard the remark and she needed to stop and that OMalley then acted in a threatening and disorderly manner toward Noriega.

Pyskoty said she is seeking counsel on the matter.

This unprovoked, abusive, bullying behavior is inappropriate from anyone, especially an elected official. Commissioner OMalley needs to be held accountable for her unethical and retaliatory behavior in public, Pyskoty wrote.

Noriega, meanwhile, told the Journal via email he is filing an internal complaint through Human Resources about the situation, saying he heard OMalley twice call Pyskoty a bitch.

A statement he provided said in part Commissioner OMalley is a bully and I called out her verbal attacks on Commissioner Pyskoty because I had enough, this prompted Commissioner OMalley to launch additional verbal threats at myself and Commissioner Pyskoty. I am disappointed that she would display this unethical and retaliatory behavior in public.

Asked the nature of the threats, Noriega said OMalley told him What are you going to do about it? Come up here! Come do something about it!

OMalley on Wednesday refused to talk about what she said to Pyskoty in that moment.

Whatever the conversation was, it was face-to-face, she said. Its between me and her and so Im not willing to discuss it.

Asked if she felt she lost her cool, she said I was very upset; theres no question, and that she thinks other commissioners are working specifically to get current state Rep. Antonio Moe Maestas, a West Side Albuquerque Democrat, into Candelarias seat. Upon Candelarias resignation, Maestas immediately signaled his interest in the position.

OMalley noted that Maestas wife, high-profile lobbyist Vanessa Alarid, helped fund Pyskotys reelection bid.

According to campaign finance reports, Alarids consulting firm made the single largest contribution to Pyskotys unsuccessful bid during the 2022 Democratic primary. Alarid Consulting gave Pyskoty $5,000 worth of in-kind mailers.

Pyskoty during Tuesdays meeting said she has never done anything socially with the couple.

I have zero relationship with them, she said.

But Pyskoty on Wednesday would not answer Journal questions about that contribution, including whether she or her campaign ever communicated with Alarid or her firm about the contribution.

Both Pyskoty and OMalley are in their final months as commissioners, as Pyskoty lost in her primary and OMalley could not run again due to term limits. Their terms end Dec. 31.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  An environmental group is suing U.S. wildlife managers, saying they have failed to protect a rare grouse found in parts of the Midwest that include one of the countrys most prolific areas for oil and gas development.

A lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Center for Biological Diversity says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is nearly five months late in releasing a final rule outlining protections for the lesser prairie chicken.

Once listed as a threatened species, the prarie chickens habitat spans parts of New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas  including a portion of the oil-rich Permian Basin that straddles the New Mexico-Texas state line.

Environmentalists have been pushing to reinstate federal protections for years. They consider the species severely threatened, citing lost and fragmented habitat as the result of oil and gas development, livestock grazing, farming and the building of roads and power lines.

The Fish and Wildlife Service in 2021 proposed listing the southern population in New Mexico and the southern reaches of the Texas Panhandle as endangered and those birds in the northern part of the species range as threatened. The agency had a deadline of June 1.

The oil and gas industry has fought for decades against safeguards for the lesser prairie chicken, and the Fish and Wildlife Service is late issuing its final rule, said Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate with the environment group. The agency has slow-walked every step, and these imperiled birds keep losing more habitat.

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday cited its policy for not commenting on pending litigation.

The species was once thought to number in the millions. Now, surveys show, the five-year average population across the entire range hovers around 30,000 individual birds.

Landowners and the oil and gas industry say they have had success with voluntary conservation programs aimed at protecting habitat and boosting the birds numbers. The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which oversees the conservation effort, has yet to report the results of the 2022 survey done earlier this year.

With a listing under the Endangered Species Act, officials have said that landowners and oil companies already participating in the voluntary conservation programs wouldnt be affected because they already are taking steps to protect habitat. However, a listing would prevent any activities that result in the loss or degradation of existing habitat.

The species regulatory history dates to an initial petition for protection in 1995.

A little smaller and lighter in color than the greater prairie chicken, the lesser prairie chicken is known for spring courtship rituals that include flamboyant dances by the males and a cacophony of clucking.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Albuquerques internal audit team is recommending the city develop some new personnel policies after finding over half of the so-called unclassified, or appointed, jobs it reviewed lacked job descriptions and that some high-level workers have been getting raises without documented justification or changed job responsibilities.

Mayor Tim Kellers administration is fighting some of the proposed changes.

His administration disagrees that it should create job descriptions  and outline minimum requirements  when attempting to create new unclassified jobs outside senior management.

It has, however, agreed to some others, including that it investigate whether three unclassified employees have conflicts of interest. Each had stated on applications that they had relatives who work for the city but auditors did not find the associated form that could show whether the relationship runs afoul of city regulations barring employees from supervising a relative or influencing the unit in which they work.

The audit, publicly released this week, evaluated the unclassified workforce between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2022, with more detailed work for fiscal years 2021 and 2022. It found that the number of unclassified positions had nearly doubled in that span, going from 314 to 620.

During the same stretch, the total number of budgeted, full-time city positions had grown only 14%, the audit report said.

Unclassified employees serve at the will of the mayors administration, with a handful of exceptions. Hiring for such positions does not require following the same rules as hiring for most other classified city jobs, and current rules do not require that the positions have specific pay ranges. The citys chief administrative officer has authority to make any position unclassified, the report said.

Auditors reviewed a sample of 74 unclassified positions and found that 53% of them  which pay a collective $4.3 million a year  had no job descriptions. While job descriptions are not required, not having them makes it hard to know if the city hired a qualified candidate, the report said.

The City is unable to evaluate the performance of many employees in unclassified positions or set performance goals for which employees should strive to achieve because a job description detailing the positions essential duties and requirements was never created, auditors wrote.

The citys Office of Internal Audit operates independently of the mayor and the City Council but conducted the unclassified employee audit at the request of Council Services.

City Councilor Louie Sanchez said he initiated the request shortly after taking office in January. He said he believes Keller, as well as previous mayors, have abused their positions with regard to unclassified job creation. He said hes working on some policy proposals intended to make the system more transparent.

Ive talked to several of the other councilors and also our staff, and were going to reach out across the United States to see if we can find best practices to make sure were doing things right when we implement these processes, Sanchez said Wednesday.

As previous Journal reporting found, many of the current unclassified jobs are in the Albuquerque Police Department. APD, auditors wrote, had 209 unclassified workers in fiscal year 2022 compared to 84 in 2015. Kellers administration has tied many to the citys settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, which had found APD had a pattern and practice of excessive force.

This growth in our workforce is intentional and its necessary. Many of these positions have come as a result of the (agreement) and have helped us make real progress on the settlement after eight years and support the crime fighting work of sworn officers, mayoral spokeswoman Ava Montoya said in a written statement Wednesday.

The audit identified another 43 unclassified jobs in Albuquerque Community Safety, a new public safety department the city launched a year ago.

But the audit also shows the number of unclassified jobs in some other departments is now six to seven times higher than it was in 2015. That includes Family and Community Services, which has grown to 20 unclassified employees, and Municipal Development, which now has 13.

The report also said:

 A number of senior management and deputy directors in city government received large salary increases during the study period without changing job duties, with salaries for a combined 37 employees growing by a collective $1.06 million since 2015.

 83 employees moved into the unclassified ranks from classified positions over the last eight years, seeing their salaries rise between 22% and 368%; without job descriptions, that creates questions about whether the city created unclassified positions solely to give pay raises despite the work not being more complex than a similar classified job.

 In six out of 15 cases where the city advertised an unclassified job opening, the city interviewed just one person and hired that person. There were an average of 19 qualified applicants for each of those six jobs.

 In a sample of 74 unclassified employees, only 13% had evidence to demonstrate verification that the applicant met the positions minimum requirements.

 83% of the workers in an unclassified employee sample set had no record of a salary justification and 20% had received promotions and salary increases despite having no performance evaluation in their file.

The audit report makes several recommendations, including that the city move forward with its planned classification and compensation study, which the administration said should be completed by the end of 2023. The study will also evaluate whether the citys personnel rules and regulations and Merit System Ordinance should be modified, according to the report.

But the administration disagrees with the recommendation that it create job descriptions, including qualifications, when adding unclassified jobs outside senior management.

Councilor Sanchez called that a reasonable change that would show the public that the city made a good hire.

We need to know exactly if they have the qualifications to do the job, he said.

But a Keller spokeswoman disagreed.

The City needs to be able to hire for key positions and we take into consideration diverse experience when doing so. In a tight labor market, putting up more barriers to hiring and employment doesnt give us the flexibility we need, she said in an email.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Republican and Democratic national groups released attack ads this week in the competitive race to represent New Mexicos 2nd Congressional District.

The National Republican Congressional Committee released an ad Tuesday that went after Democratic challenger Gabe Vasquez for prior statements he made about police and the oil and gas industries, though the advertisement doesnt provide complete context to the quotes.

Meanwhile, the House Majority Political Action Committee on Tuesday released two ads that highlighted Republican Rep. Yvette Herrells stance on abortion and attempts to link her to Rep. Marjorie Taylor

Greene, R-Ga., and the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, based on largely party-line votes.

The ad attacking Vasquez says he supports shutting down the oil and gas industry.

Shut it all down. Lets just get rid of it immediately, he is quoted in the ad, using audio from a 2018 podcast. And I agree with that.

But on that podcast, Vasquez continued to say that while such move is needed for the planet he said the transition should be done responsibly. That means policymakers must take into consideration the families that would be hurt by the loss of jobs.

Thats something that gets lost on the larger environmental community. When you are legislating something from D.C.  saying were going to completely move away from this industry at all cost, he said in the podcast, but yet, you forget about that family in Lake Arthur who maybe doesnt want to be driving around with a tank full of fracking sand but thats the only option they have to feed their kids.

The ad also shows Vasquez at a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest and says he supports defunding the police. The ad then quotes Vasquez saying we need to get rid of them.

The quote came during a 2020 interview with Our Las Cruces, an online magazine. He was asked questions about the city of Las Cruces budget, and Vasquez talked about hiring teams of clinicians or psychologists to respond to certain types of calls related to people with mental illnesses. He said those teams would supplement police.

If we do have to take budget away from specific departments, whether it be police or otherwise, I dont think we have to because we have a budget that I think we can support that currently, but we also have to look at where the inefficiencies are, where the redundancies are, where we would rather not respond with force or police, he said. If we dont need those positions anymore, if we dont need those line items, then we need to get rid of them.

The two ads targeting Herrell describe her as extreme.

One ad focuses on her stance on abortion. For example, in 2021 Herrell co-sponsored a bill with other Republicans that would have granted 14th Amendment rights to unborn children from the moment of conception, and another bill she co-sponsored that year would have made it a crime for a physician to perform an abortion after determining the fetus had a heartbeat.

The ad also says she voted to protect Greene, the firebrand Georgia congresswoman.

CJ Warnke, a spokesman for the House Majority PAC, said that referred to Herrells vote to allow Greene to keep her committee assignments. Only 11 Republicans broke with their party to boot Greene.

The other ad shows Herrell giving an interview in front of a vehicle with a Confederate flag on it and says she is too extreme. The ad again reiterates Herrells support for Greene and accuses her of being against justice for the police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. That was a reference to Herrells vote against a bill that created the commission that is investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, Welke said.

That was also a nearly party-line vote. Herrells campaign couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday.

The two ads against Herrell, funded by a PAC supporting Democratic House candidates, were part of a flurry of ads the PAC released this week in 22 districts across 14 states.
MILAN  Italys failure to come to terms with its fascist past has become evident as it prepares to mark the 100th anniversary Friday of the March on Rome that brought totalitarian dictator Benito Mussolini to power, a milestone that coincides with the countrys first postwar government led by a party with a neo-fascist roots taking office.

The symbolism looks troubling: Giorgia Melonis far-right Brothers of Italy party retains the emblem of a flame used by the fascists; her partys co-founder, Ignazio La Russa, whose middle name is Benito and whose home office is awash in fascist memorabilia, was elected speaker of Parliaments upper house.

Meloni has tried to distance Brothers of Italy from its neo-fascist roots. She made her clearest statement yet this week during a speech to Italys lower house ahead of confidence votes confirming her government.

I have never felt sympathy or closeness to undemocratic regimes, fascism included, as I have always considered the racial laws of 1938 the lowest point in Italian history, a shame that will mark our people forever, Meloni told the lower house of parliament Wednesday, referring to Mussolinis laws that persecuted Italys Jewish community.

The question remains, however, whether the moderate voice the premier recently adopted will persevere and if so, how the nostalgic wing of her party that represents a core 4% of her support will tolerate it.

The National Association of Italian Partisans, or ANPI, which preserves the memory of the wartime resistance against fascism, has noted some signs of an emboldened far-right in regions governed by the Brothers of Italy.

The governor of the central Marche region cut off funding to maintain brass-plated Stumbling Stones engraved with the names and dates of Holocaust victims outside their prewar homes, ANPI national president Gianfranco Pagliarulo said.

Social media attacks against his organization have grown more virulent than ever, he said.

This is a disturbing signal, Pagliarulo said. It is evident that the victory of the nationalist right will lead to a resurgence of neo-fascist provocative attitudes.  We are not worried because we will fight with political weapons, and if necessary, with legal weapons.

On Friday, ANPI plans to hold a demonstration in Predappio, where Mussolini is buried, to mark the northern towns liberation from fascism on Oct. 28, 1944. The partisan liberators chose the date to eclipse the memory of the March on Rome  a bloodless coup forced by the arrival of thousands of fascist demonstrators in the Italian capital with the tacit consent of Italys king.

It also conveniently prevents fascist nostalgics from commemorating the March on Rome that day. Their event is scheduled for Sunday, the final day of Mussolinis historic Black Shirt march, and one of three commemorations held by neo-fascists in Predappio each year.

The others mark the day of Mussolinis birth, July 29, 1883, in a house not far from the cemetery with his crypt, and April 28, 1944, the day he was killed by partisans in Milan.

The March on Rome is the founding myth of fascist Italy, and for us it is a negative myth, as the origin of a disaster that led Italy into many wars, most catastrophically World War II, Pagliarulo said. We must combat the positive myth of the March on Rome and sustain this day as the start of the darkest period in modern Italian history.

Francesco Minutillo, a 42-year-old lawyer in a small city near Predappio, has attended the commemorations at Mussolinis grave three times annually for years. He described them as moments of prayer in front of Mussolinis crypt, and expects the turnout for the centennial to be robust.

It is not commemorate the March on Rome. It is to remember Benito Mussolini, who is buried there, Minutillo said.

A former Brothers of Italy city council representative in Forli, Munitillo quit the party in 2020 as Melonis message became more moderate. He and others like him are awaiting a new movement to form.

Right now, there is no alternative to the right of Brothers of Italy. Our community must wait for an authentically transparent political party with our catalog of values and our social structure, he said.

Asked if he was nostalgic for Mussolini or fascism, which he sees as a modernizing force for Italy in the 20th century, Munitillo relied, I cannot respond to this question with the laws in place now, referring to the crime of fascism apology.

Italy never went through a process similar to Germanys de-Nazification, and a neo-fascist party, the Italian Social Movement, was part of Italys first postwar government in 1946. The fascist legacy endures in architecture throughout the country, from school buildings in small towns to Milans stately train station and massive courthouse and Romes EUR district.

Popular notions persist that Italys two decades of fascism brought progress, exemplified by the eras timely train service, architectural boom and the draining of malaria-infested swamps.

It is still possible  though far from common  to spy a portrait of Mussolini hanging behind a bar or in a restaurant, in particular in Italys northern regions, or to come across fascist memorabilia or souvenirs in otherwise ordinary shops. Though the partisan association views such displays as an apology for fascism that should be punishable by law, they are rarely, if ever, prosecuted.

Alessandro Luparini, a historian in Ravenna, said while historians have properly reevaluated Italys fascist past, the awareness has not trickled down, allowing for misunderstandings of history to persist.

Italy is a country that heals very slowly, he said, adding that the devastating impact of the racial laws outweigh any consideration for infrastructure improvements.

Historians rightly teach us that fascism ended in Italy in 45. But not the fascists, said historian Francesco Filippi, who has written a book analyzing popular misconceptions about fascism. Millions of people who took part in that regime and continued to be part of the political life of the country, and even parties that directly referred to fascism, took part in the political life of the country from 1946, arriving to the present day very continuously.

Filippi said the moderate voters who boosted Meloni from 4% of the vote in 2018 to 26% in the countrys parliamentary election last month indicated a fundamental expansion in the partys base beyond those who recognized the Brothers of Italy as the historical heir of the (postwar) Italian Social Movement, and therefore a certain type of fascist idea.

Many of the new voters, he said, hope Meloni will construct a conservative right-wing government, a normal right-wing, that is anti-fascist, tied to democratic values.

The standard bearers of Italys wartime partisan movement said they are withholding judgment on Melonis government until it takes concrete actions.

We hope that it becomes a right-wing conservative government, like in France or Britain, said Miro Gori, the ANPI president in the Emilia Romagna province where Predappio is located. We will see what happens.

___

Paolo Santalucia contributed from Rome.
KYIV, Ukraine  Ukrainian forces attacked Russias hold on the southern city of Kherson on Thursday while fighting intensified in the countrys east. The battles came amid reports that Moscow-appointed authorities have abandoned the city, joining tens of thousands of residents who fled to other Russia-held areas.

Ukrainian forces were surrounding Kherson from the west and attacking Russias foothold on the west bank of the Dnieper River, which divides the region and the country.

As the battles unfolded, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow has no intention to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, despite issuing repeated warnings in the past that he was prepared to use all available means to defend Russia, including its nuclear arsenal.

We see no need for that, Putin said at a conference of international foreign policy experts outside Moscow. There is no point in that, neither political nor military.

The Russian leader, who insisted for weeks before the invasion that he did not intend to attack Ukraine, also sought to cast the conflict as part of efforts by the West to secure global domination. He accused the U.S. and its allies of trying to dictate their terms to other nations in a dangerous and bloody domination game.

Putin, whose troops invaded on Feb. 24, has described Western support for Ukraine as part of broad efforts by Washington and its allies to enforce what they call a rules-based world order that only foments chaos.

Meanwhile, Russia warned that Moscow could target Western commercial satellites used for military purposes in support of Ukraine, and a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman accused the United States of pursuing thoughtless and mad escalation.

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova argued that Washington should take an approach more like it did during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when the Cold War superpowers stepped back from the brink of nuclear confrontation.

The more the U.S. is drawn into supporting the Kyiv regime on the battlefield, the more they risk provoking a direct military confrontation between the biggest nuclear powers fraught with catastrophic consequences, Zakharova said.

Ukraine has pushed ahead with an offensive to reclaim the Kherson region and its capital of the same name, which Russian forces captured during the first days of a war now in its ninth month.

More than 70,000 residents from the Kherson city area have evacuated in recent days, the regions Kremlin-installed governor, Vladimir Saldo, said Thursday.

Members of the Russia-backed regional administration also fled, the deputy governor, Kirill Stremousov said. Monuments to Russian heroes were moved, along with the remains of Grigory Potemkin, the Russian general who founded Kherson in the 18th century. His remains were kept at the citys St. Catherines Church.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described reports of Russian troops possible withdrawal from the city as disinformation.

I dont see them fleeing from Kherson, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper. This is an information attack, so that we go there, transfer troops from other dangerous directions there.

Zelenskyy also dismissed as theater recent attempts by local Kremlin-backed officials to persuade the citys civilian residents to relocate deeper into Russian-held territory ahead of the Ukrainian advance.

Their most trained soldiers are in position. We see this and do not believe them, Zelenskyy said.

In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces continued to bombard the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, making slow gains toward the center.

The deputy head of Russias delegation at a U.N. arms control panel, Konstantin Vorontsov, described the use of U.S. and other Western commercial satellites for military purposes during the fighting as extremely dangerous.

The quasi-civilian infrastructure could be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike, Vorontsov warned.

As they have all month, Russian forces carried out attacks on Ukraines energy infrastructure that have caused increasing worry ahead of winter.

A Russian drone attack early Thursday hit an energy facility near the capital of Kyiv, causing a fire, said Kyiv regional Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba. He said the latest attacks inflicted very serious damage.

Kuleba announced new rolling blackouts and urged consumers to save power. He said authorities were still pondering how to restore service.

Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of Ukraines presidential office, said rolling blackouts would also be introduced in the neighboring Chernihiv, Cherkasy and Zhytomyr regions.

Zelenskyy has said that Russian attacks have already destroyed 30% of the countrys energy infrastructure.

In a likely response to Russias assaults on Ukrainian infrastructure, a drone attacked a power plant just outside Sevastopol, a port in the Russian-annexed region of Crimea. The plant sustained minor damage, according to city leader Mikhail Razvozhayev. He said electricity supplies were uninterrupted.

Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. It has faced drone attacks and explosions amid the fighting in Ukraine. In a major setback for the Kremlin, a powerful truck bomb blew up a section of a strategic bridge linking Crimea to Russias mainland on Oct. 8.

A senior Ukrainian military officer accused Russia of planning to stage explosions at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and blame them on Ukraine in a false-flag attack.

Gen. Oleksii Gromov, the chief of the main operational department of the Ukrainian militarys general staff, pointed to Moscows repeated unfounded allegations that Ukraine was plotting to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb as a possible signal that Moscow was planning explosions at the plant, Europes largest nuclear power station.

Russia took control of the Zaporizhzhia plant in the opening days of the invasion. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of attacking the plant, which had its reactors shut down following continuous shelling.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian authorities reported that another mass grave was discovered in territory recently reclaimed from Russia. It contained up to 17 bodies of soldiers and civilians.

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry said in a statement that police found the grave outside the city of Izium after being tipped off by local residents.

The statement cited locals as saying that Russian troops dumped bodies in a pit outside the nearby village of Kopanky in mid-April, then leveled the ground with tanks.

In other developments, Ukrainian authorities said they were launching a criminal case against Russias childrens rights commissioner, accusing her of enabling the abduction and forced adoption of thousands of vulnerable Ukrainian children.

Maria Lvova-Belova said this week that she herself has adopted a boy seized by the Russian army in the bombed-out city of Mariupol.

Last month, she was sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and other Western nations over allegations that she masterminded the removal of over 2,000 vulnerable children from the embattled Donetsk and Luhansk region in Ukraines east. According to Ukraine, she orchestrated a new policy to facilitate their forced placement with foster families in Russia.

Zelenskyy ended the day on an emotional note, pointing out in his nightly address to the nation that Ukraine on Friday marks the anniversary of its liberation from the Nazis in World War II. This year, he said, the holiday carries special significance.

Evil always ends the same way. The occupier becomes a capitulator, the invader  a fugitive. War criminals become defendants. Aggression becomes a court verdict. Destruction turns into reparations. Enemy equipment becomes museum exhibits, Zelenskyy said.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Oct. 18A local group is scheduled to have a consultation this week with the American Civil Liberties Union regarding the sanctuary city for the unborn ordinance that was introduced Thursday for consideration of adoption by the city of Clovis.

Eastern New Mexico Rising is a group that describes itself as a non-political, non-partisan group who care about progressive issues and social justice.

Clovis resident Laura Wight, in speaking for the group and citizens of Clovis, said group members were scheduled for a Tuesday evening Zoom meeting with New Mexico ACLU representatives regarding the measure moving through the ordinance adoption process.

The primary problem is (the proposed ordinance) violates the right of New Mexico citizens to have access to certain health care services, Wight said.

Wight said the measure also violates the rights of doctors and health care workers who want to practice medicine in the city of Clovis.

The ACLU is now looking at whats going on with the ordinance, which city commissioners are scheduled to vote on Nov. 3.

I am a member of the ACLU and I contacted them because this is the exact thing that the ACLU is for, Wight said.

Wight said when a citizen or group of citizens realize their rights are in jeopardy the ACLU is there to become involved and protect our rights as citizens.

Wight said theres a two-fold purpose to the Zoom meeting with the ACLU representatives.

Were going to talk with them about our plan of action, our next step, Wight said.

Wight said the ACLU has given the Clovis group training materials, tips on getting involved in local government along with instruction on how local citizens may advocate for their rights.

She said the ACLU advised the Clovis group to contact city commissioners and tell the commissioners of their concerns about the proposed ordinance.

Wight said many in Eastern New Mexico Rising have contacted Clovis city commissioners and expressed their concerns.

Many in our group have filled out the form requesting help from the ACLU, Wight said.

Wight said Clovis is not the first New Mexico city to have dealt with an anti-abortion ordinance. She said the ACLU was involved in a similar case in Alamagordo.

Wight said she has addressed some other concerns she has about business surrounding Thursdays city commission meeting.

The city has still not published the text of the ordinance online according to city code. I have filed a request for that, Wight said. I also requested the attendance record, the sign-in sheet for the meeting, to see how many people were from Clovis and how many actually werent because we suspect many attending were from out of town.

Wight said at the next session of the city commission her group will request commissioners only allow public comments from citizens of Clovis.

We believe out of town comments are clouding up the meetings communications, Wight said. Its also taking away time from people in Clovis who want to speak.

One of the people spearheading the drive for the sanctuary city for unborn ordinance to become law in Clovis is the pastor of the Grace Covenant Reformed Church on North Thornton Street, Ryan Denton.

Denton is not surprised by the ACLUs interest in whats happening in Clovis.

We anticipated push-back, we are poking The Golden Cow, Denton said. The ACLU is notorious for trying to bully people around.

Denton said he and those who want adoption of the ordinance are confident everything is going to go as planned as far as the ordinance goes.

Denton believes the ordinance is what the people of Clovis want.

Weve seen this by the turnouts and the support the city has given the mayor and commissioners, Denton said.

___

(c)2022 Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M.

Visit Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M. at www.easternnewmexiconews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Oct. 25Clovis city commission will soon vote on whether or not to adopt an ordinance that draws a line in the sand between the city and the state over abortion rights: The ordinance attempts to ban abortion clinics in Clovis.

Laura Wight, a Clovis resident, heads up a social media group of individuals who believe health care decisions should be between patient and doctor.

The group, Eastern New Mexico Rising, she said, is a non-partisan progressive group, a non-political group focused on social justice issues.

The group opposes the proposed ordinance, which is scheduled to go before Clovis city commissioners on Nov. 3.

Pastor Ryan Denton, who directs church congregations in Clovis and Lubbock, is one of the area people who have been driving adoption of the anti-abortion clinic ordinance.

Were trying to get this passed in communities across eastern New Mexico, Denton said. We saw Hobbs move the ordinance forward Thursday for a vote, I believe on Nov. 7.

Eastern New Mexico Rising had a Zoom meeting Oct. 18 with about 35 members involved with three people from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Albuquerque and Las Cruces regarding the anti-abortion ordinance in Clovis.

Essentially they reassured us that the issue is very much on their radar, Wight said.

She said the ACLU is working behind the scenes on strategy and has sent letters to the mayor and city commissioners on the matter.

The ACLU has been providing us with helpful training information, Wight said. For instance how to work with local governments, talking points on reproductive health care and civil liberties such as sunshine laws about access to public information. What our rights are and how to exercise them.

If the ordinance passes, what will Eastern New Mexico Risings strategy be?

We will re-group a little bit, Wight said. We will be taking a closer look as to what the legal options are in terms of rescinding the ordinance and in terms of the citizens of Clovis having the health care access they need.

She said the group will also be working on matters so physicians, any health care business may operate in the city of Clovis.

Wight said the mayor and commission have acknowledged the ordinance goes against New Mexico law so they expect legal action.

That is a reckless disregard to the taxpayers of Clovis, Wight said.

She said the group isnt just focused on reproductive health care. The group also focuses on LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, economic equity, anything that falls under social justice.

Wight finds it interesting that the majority of the folks who join Eastern New Mexico Rising express Im so glad I found you, I thought I was alone.

It shows to me there are a lot of people in Clovis who care about these issues, Wight said.

Pastor Denton said Lovington voted Monday night on moving an anti-abortion ordinance forward. He said officials in Grady, Texico and Portales are interested in adopting a similar ordinance also.

This is just kind of a start, Denton said. Really, we see it as a matter of life and death.

What are the plans if the ordinance isnt adopted in Clovis?

If they vote against this ordinance well need to see changes in the leadership of Clovis, Denton said.

However, we are hopeful that the commission will stand strong and represent the people.

Denton said the work he and others are doing is part of doing everything we can to defend the lives of women and children in our city, regardless whether or not this passes.

We think the ordinance is the best way to protect the women and children, Denton said.

___

(c)2022 Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M.

Visit Eastern New Mexico News, Clovis, N.M. at www.easternnewmexiconews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

A judge on Thursday sentenced Fabian Gonzales to 37 years in prison in the 2016 strangulation and dismemberment of 10-year-old Victoria Martens.

Gonzales did not speak at the sentencing hearing and showed little emotion as the judge pronounced his sentence. Under the sentencing handed down, he could be eligible for parole after serving half his sentence.

Jurors on Aug. 1 found Gonzales, 38, guilty of child abuse resulting in death, seven counts of tampering with evidence and conspiracy for his role in Victorias killing. Gonzales had faced up to 40 years in prison.

Second Judicial District Judge Cindy Leos said she agreed with prosecutors that Gonzales was directly responsible for Victorias death.

If it were not for Mr. Gonzales, there is no question in my mind that Victoria Martens would still be alive, Leos said before passing sentence.

Gonzales actions created a dangerous environment for Victoria that led directly to the girls death, she said.

He was the conduit for her death, and clearly the jury agreed with that, Leos said.

The sentencing closes a chapter on one of the most horrific child abuse cases in Albuquerque history.

Gruesome details of Victorias death and mutilation in her mothers Northwest Albuquerque apartment shocked the public and led to a yearslong investigation that police called the most complex in memory.

Gonzales met Victorias mother, Michelle Martens, on a dating app in July 2016, just weeks before the girls Aug. 23, 2016, death.

Soon, Gonzales began using drugs in Michelle Martens apartment and let his cousin, Jessica Kelley, move in after her release from prison, witnesses testified at trial.

Gonzales left Victoria alone with Kelley the day of the girls death, even though he was aware that Kelley was using methamphetamine and feeling increasingly paranoid, Leos said.

Gonzales was aware of Jessica Kellys propensity for violence, as well as her paranoia, on the date that Victoria was ultimately murdered, Leos said. I do not believe that his responsibility in Victorias death was remote.

Kelley, 37, pleaded no contest in 2019 to six felony charges, including reckless child abuse resulting in death and other charges in Victorias death. She was sentenced in April to 44 years in prison.

Michelle Martens, 41, pleaded guilty in 2018 to reckless child abuse resulting in death. She faces 12 to 15 years in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Nov. 10.

Victorias grandfather, John Martens, asked Leos to sentence Gonzales to the maximum prison term.

John Martens addressed Gonzales directly via a remote link, saying that, because of Gonzales, we are no longer going to hear (Victoria) say, Papa, I love you. Nana, I love you. 

Cellphone records confirmed that Gonzales and Michelle Martens were not in the apartment at the time Victoria was killed. But, Gonzales created the danger that led to her death, Chief Deputy District Attorney James Grayson told jurors at the trial.

Prosecutors also alleged that Gonzales and Kelly worked together to dismember the girl, place parts of her body in a garbage bag, and wash bloody clothes and knives.

Gonzales will become eligible for parole after serving half of his sentence if he qualifies for good-time credit.

Prosecutors asked Leos to designate Gonzales a serious violent offender, which would have required him to serve at least 85% of his 18-year sentence for child abuse resulting in death.

But Leos found that Gonzales could not be sentenced as requested because he was not in the apartment at the time of the killing.
CATCHES OF THE WEEK

Giovanni Yannoni, 3, of Albuquerque caught his first fish, a largemouth bass, at the Albuquerque Area Drains using a purple swim jig on the east side of the Rio Grande on Oct. 15.

Joshua Gallegos and Ray Padilla of Belen caught 10 and 20-pound catfish, respectively, at Caballo Lake using cut shad bait Oct. 15.

Hunter Pritchett Armijo and his grandfather, Val Armijo, of Albuquerque caught their limit of rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake using peach PowerBait on Oct. 19.

Dmitri Hewitt, 6, of Las Cruces caught an 18.75-inch, 2.65-pound smallmouth bass at Elephant Butte Lake using a green spinning lure Oct. 21.

Samantha Rivera, 15, of Espanola caught her limit of rainbow trout, including two that measured 21 and 22 inches long, at Hopewell Lake using worms Oct. 15.

Arlo Gonzales Sr. of Albuquerque caught a 22-inch, 4.5-pound brown trout on the San Juan River using a worm Oct. 14.

Caleb Roybal, 17, of La Mesilla caught a 20-inch rainbow trout at Trout Lakes using a copper Dardevle spoon Oct. 21.

If you have a catch of the week story, send it to funfishingnm@gmail.com.

NOTES FROM GAME & FISH

Northeast fishing report

Cabresto Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Charette Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Cimarron River near Cimarron on Monday morning was 9 cubic feet per second (cfs). Fishing for trout was good using salmon eggs and nightcrawler worms.

Clayton Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Conchas Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

At Costilla Creek, the department is implementing the final phase of a project to expand Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 120 miles of the Costilla watershed in northern New Mexico. The final phase involves the removal of fish within a designated area (Rio Costilla from Costilla Dam downstream to the Valle Vidal Boundary, including all tributaries and Comanche Creek from the road culvert crossing on Forest Road 1950 downstream to its confluence with Rio Costilla and all tributaries). Tentative stocking of Rio Grande cutthroat trout is set for spring 2023.

Cowles Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Coyote Creek had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for rainbow trout at Eagle Nest Lake was good using salmon, peach PowerBait and Kastmaster lures.

Fishing for trout at Eagle Rock Lake was fair to good using chartreuse PowerBait.

National Forest closures have been in place restricting fishing access on the Gallinas River. Visit the Santa Fe National Forest webpage or call the Santa Fe National Forest office at 505-438-5300 for the latest closure information.

Fishing for trout at Hopewell Lake was good using worms, black Woolly Bugger flies and green Pistol Pete spinner flies with a water-filled bobber.

Lake Alice had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Lake Maloya was good using Trout Magnet lures, garlic PowerBait and worms.

Fishing for trout on the Los Pinos River was fair using Panther Martin spinners and nymph flies.

Maxwell Lake 13 had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Monastery Lake was fair to good using small spinners and PowerBait marshmallows.

Morphy Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Pecos River near Pecos on Monday morning was 111 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using nightcrawler worms.

Streamflow on the Red River below the Red River Hatchery on Monday morning was 80 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using salmon eggs and beadhead nymph flies.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below the Taos Junction Bridge on Monday morning was 332 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using Rapala trout-pattern lures and gold Panther Martin spinners.

Streamflow on the Rio Hondo near Valdez on Monday morning was 33 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Mora near Terrero on Monday morning was 41 cfs.

Streamflow on the Rio Pueblo near Penasco on Monday morning was 36 cfs.

Fishing for trout at the Santa Cruz Reservoir was good using Woolly Bugger flies and PowerBait.

Fishing for trout at Shuree Ponds was fair to good using caddis dry flies and beadhead nymph flies.

Springer Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Storrie Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Stubblefield Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for walleye at Ute Lake was fair using Berkley Flicker Shad lures trolling over deep brush. Fishing for white bass was slow using jigging spoons in 28-35 feet of water. Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was fair using small swimbaits, crankbaits and various soft plastics fished on drop-shot rigs on rocky points. Fishing for crappie was slow. Fishing for catfish was fair using punch bait and nightcrawler worms. The main lake water surface temperature was in the upper 60s and the water was clear.

Northwest fishing report

Abiquiu Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Animas River below Aztec on Monday morning was 258 cfs.

Fishing for bass in clear-water ditches at the Albuquerque Area Drains was fair to good using purple swim jigs.

Fishing for tiger muskie at Bluewater Lake was good using jointed Rapala lures and swimbaits.

Brazos River had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Canjilon Lakes was good using red wiggler worms, Pistol Pete spinner flies and orange PowerBait.

Fishing for catfish at Cochiti Lake was fair using chicken liver and cut bait.

El Vado Lake can be accessed at Hargroves Day Use Area off State Road 322 and the Main Park area off State Road 112. The Rio Chama can be accessed at the North El Vado Day Use Area on State Road 95, 10 miles west of U.S. Highway 84. Lake levels are steady but expected to drop as crews work on the El Vado Dam. The Dam Day Use Area is closed due to the ongoing construction. State Road 112 over the dam will experience periodic closures. For more information, visit El Vado Lake State Parks webpage or call 575-588-7247.

Fishing for trout at Fenton Lake was good using garlic, peach PowerBait.

The city is in the final stages of repairs at Grants Riverwalk Pond and stocking will resume soon.

Heron Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

At the Jemez Waters, streamflow near Jemez Springs on Monday morning was 49 cfs. Fishing for trout was fair to good using mop flies and worms.

Laguna del Campo had no reports from anglers this week.

Lagunitas Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Farmington had no reports from anglers this week.

Stocking efforts have been suspended at McGaffey Lake due to extremely low water levels and unstable ground conditions. Lake conditions will be monitored and stocking will resume once conditions improve.

Fishing for smallmouth bass at Navajo Lake was fair using green, pumpkin Ned Rigs. Fishing for kokanee salmon using size 6/0 weighted snagging hooks was good near the dam.

Streamflow on the Rio Chama below El Vado Lake and below Abiquiu Lake on Monday morning was 103 cfs and 96 cfs, respectively. Fishing for trout below El Vado Lake was good using nightcrawler worms and small Rapala trout-pattern lures. Fishing for trout below Abiquiu Lake was fair using nymph flies and worms. Please remember, from the river-crossing bridge on U.S. Highway 84 at Abiquiu upstream 7 miles to the base of Abiquiu Dam is special trout waters with a bag limit of two trout only.

Rio Grande had no reports from anglers this week.

Riverside Park Pond (Aztec Pond #1) had no reports from anglers this week.

San Gregorio Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the San Juan River near Archuleta on Monday morning was 583 cfs. Fishing for trout in the quality waters was good using cream midge-pattern flies and red annelid flies. Fishing for trout in the bait waters was fair to good using worms.

Fishing for trout at Seven Springs Brood Pond was good using orange PowerBait, salmon peach PowerBait and Trout Magnet lures tipped with salmon eggs.

Tiger Park Reservoir had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for bluegill at Tingley Beach was good using small pieces of worm on a red salmon egg hook.

Fishing for trout at Trout Lakes was good using copper Dardevle spoons.

Southwest fishing report

Fishing for bass at Alumni Pond was fair to good using small perch-pattern lures and worms. Fishing for catfish was slow to fair using nightcrawler worms.

Fishing for all species was slow at Bear Canyon Lake.

Bill Evans Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Caballo Lake was good using cut carp bait and cut shad bait.

Fishing for catfish at Elephant Butte Lake was fair using nightcrawler worms, shad and cut bait. Fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass was fair to good using green spinners and Senko worms. Fishing for white bass was fair to good using live minnows.

Escondida Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Gila River near Gila on Monday morning was 698 cfs.

Fishing for trout at Glenwood Pond was fair using brown dry flies.

Fishing for trout at Lake Roberts was fair to good using chartreuse PowerBait and flies. Fishing for catfish was fair to good using chicken pieces and nightcrawler worms.

Percha Dam had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Quemado Lake was fair using silver spinners.

Rancho Grande Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Rio Grande below Elephant Butte Dam on Monday morning was 0 cfs.

Snow Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Trees Lake was fair to good using worms and a bobber.

Fishing for all species was slow at Young Pond.

Southeast fishing report

Alto Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Bataan Lake was slow using shrimp and nightcrawler worms.

Berrendo Creek had no reports from anglers this week. Please visit the Open Gate webpage for more information on this property.

Streamflow on the Black River at Malaga on Monday morning was 17 cfs.

Blue Hole Park Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Bonito Lake is closed until further notice by the City of Alamogordo due to fire damage.

Bosque Redondo Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Bottomless Lakes had no reports from anglers this week.

Brantley Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Carlsbad Municipal Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Chaparral Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Corona Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for largemouth bass at Eunice Lake was fair using wacky-rigged, watermelon/red-flake plastic worms.

Fishing for catfish at Green Meadow Lake was slow to fair using hot dogs.

Greene Acres Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for trout at Grindstone Reservoir was good using worms and orange-glitter, garlic PowerBait 2.5 feet off the bottom of the lake. Fishing for catfish was fair using nightcrawler worms and shrimp.

Jal Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Lake Van had no reports from anglers this week.

Oasis Park Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Pecos River below Sumner Lake on Monday morning was 41 cfs. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass was fair to good using 3-inch, paddle-tail swimbaits.

Perch Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Rio Bonito had no reports from anglers this week.

Streamflow on the Rio Ruidoso at Hollywood on Monday morning was 29 cfs.

Rock Lake Hatchery Kids Pond had no reports from anglers this week.

Fishing for catfish at Santa Rosa Lake was fair to good using bluegill cut bait.

Sumner Lake had no reports from anglers this week.

Timberon Ponds had no reports from anglers this week.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

Last year proved to be a strong one for tourism in New Mexico, with millions of visitors making their way across the Land of Enchantment and spending billions of dollars in the process.

According to a New Mexico Tourism Department report released this week  which analyzed tax collections, lodging performance data and other information, and was assembled by Tourism Economics  nearly 40 million people traveled to the state last year.

That mass influx of traveling, which includes international visitors and those who came from a distance greater than 50 miles and deviated from their normal routine, also led to $7.2 billion in spending with businesses across the state, according to the report.

The department said in its report, which it releases annually, that the overall economic impact  including both induced and indirect impacts  stood at $10 billion. Indirect impacts include purchases by tourism-focused businesses, and induced impacts include wages of employees impacted by traveler spending in the tourism sector.

Overall, about $7 billion of spending in New Mexico came directly from domestic travelers  a new record, according to the department. International travelers accounted for nearly $200 million in spending in the state last year.

The number of visitors  39.2 million  in New Mexico last year was also a record, the department said.

It should be a point of celebration for all of New Mexico that we were able to exceed even the most favorable trajectories for tourism recovery within calendar year 2021, Tourism Department Cabinet Secretary Jen Schroer said in a statement.

By the numbers

The number of visitors last year was roughly 1 million higher than the previous high of 38.2 million in 2019, according to the report.

In fact, over the past five years, New Mexico had seen an increase in travel annually. For instance, 2017 had seen about 36.1 million travelers with 2018 realizing about 37.5 million travelers, according to the report.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and limited travel across the state, New Mexico still saw about 35 million visitors. But as restrictions began to lift, and as more people began to travel into New Mexico, that number shot up and translated to an increase in millions for 2021  an 11.4% increase year over year.

Spending, for the most part, also increased incrementally  with the exception of 2020, when spending stood at $5.8 billion  since 2017.

Other than last year, 2019 proved to be the best year in visitor spending  with about $7.4 billion flowing into New Mexicos economy through purchases by travelers. Since 2017, the state realized an increase of roughly $600 million.

Food and beverage sales were by far the largest of sales by industry, with roughly $1.7 billion in direct sales, according to the report. Lodging accounted for nearly $1.6 billion in direct sales in 2021.

Local and state tax revenue through tourism stood at more than $700 million last year.

And, according to the report, more than 80,000 jobs were supported by tourism  a majority of which were jobs directly created by tourism in the state, others which were indirectly supported or induced.

Locally, tourism has picked up in Albuquerque as lodgers tax revenue for fiscal year 2022  which spanned from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022  stood at $16.3 million, surpassing the previous record set in fiscal year 2019 by nearly $2 million, according to data provided by Visit Albuquerque. Moreover, the hotel occupancy rate in Albuquerque for fiscal year 2022 averaged nearly 66%, up from 59% in the previous fiscal year when travel was still limited by the pandemic.

This rebound was the result of deliberate decisions and collaborative efforts by Visit Albuquerque, the local hospitality community, leadership of the City of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Tourism Department, Visit Albuquerque CEO and President Tania Armenta said.

Schroer sat on a panel Monday hosted by commercial real estate organization NAIOP New Mexico, in which she mentioned a push to advertise in new markets. She told business leaders one of those markets is San Francisco. The Tourism Department, in fact, asked for a $20 million special appropriation as part of a budget request they presented to the Legislative Finance Committee last week.

In order to remain competitive and to sustain this growth trajectory, we must continue investing in our national marketing efforts and support the needs of our tourism infrastructure to meet growing demand, Schroer said.
AUSTIN, Texas  Texas state police chief said Thursday that his department did not fail Uvalde during the hesitant law enforcement response to the Robb Elementary School shooting, as a Republican congressman joined angry parents of some of the 19 children killed in the May attack in calling for him to resign.

Col. Steve McCraw, the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, acknowledged mistakes by officers while several Uvalde families confronted him in Austin over multiple outrages: why police waited more than 70 minutes before entering the fourth-grade classroom and killing the gunman, false and shifting accounts given by authorities, and records that remain withheld more than five months later.

But McCraw defended his agency, and during a meeting of the states Public Safety Commission, made the case that failures uncovered to date did not warrant his removal while saying he was not shirking from accountability. Uvalde families bristled and asked how DPS could not have failed, given that troopers were among the first on the scene.

I can tell you this right now, DPS as an institution, right now, did not fail the community, McCraw said. Plain and simple.

Significantly, Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales said for the first time after the meeting that McCraw should also lose his job, becoming the first major figure in the GOP to call for a change at the top of Texas state police force. Gonzales, a former Navy officer, represents the sprawling South Texas district that includes Uvalde.

DPS Director McCraw should RESIGN immediately, Gonzales tweeted. His office has not responded to a message seeking further comment Thursday.

McCraw said a criminal investigation into the police response to the shooting led by Texas Rangers would be wrapped up by the end of the year and turned over to prosecutors. He offered no indication as to whether the findings would result in charges against any of the nearly 400 officers who went to the school where two teachers were also killed. Two officers have been fired in response to their actions at the scene and others have been placed on leave.

The meeting Thursday at Texas state police headquarters was the first public update on Uvalde in weeks, although little new information was revealed. McCraw and Uvalde families addressed the states four-member public safety commission, which oversees Texas state police.

Each of the board members were appointed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, a longtime supporter of McCraw. The board did not ask McCraw any questions about Uvalde before moving on to other business.

Families of children killed in the attack have spent months accusing the Department of Public Safety of slow-walking the investigation, withholding information and trying to minimize its responsibility. There were 91 state troopers on the scene, including some that body camera later revealed were among the first officers to arrive.

Last week, the department fired one of seven troopers subject to an internal investigation into their actions during one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history.

Jesse Rizzo, whose 9-year-old niece Jacklyn Cazares was among the victims, said misleading and false comments from authorities about the police response has compounded the small towns grief and eroded trust in law enforcement.

The aftermath that came after that was absolutely unacceptable, hurtful, painful, Rizzo said. Every single time seemed like lie after lie, disinformation.

McCraw on Thursday apologized for the department originally saying that the gunman had been able to gain access to the school because a teacher had propped open an exterior door with a rock. The teacher had gone back and shut the door, but it did not lock.

McCraw insisted his department did not fail the community, drawing condemnation from the assembled Uvalde families.

If youre a man of your word then you would retire, Brett Cross, the uncle of 10-year-old victim Uziyah Garcia, told McCraw. But unfortunately it doesnt seem like youre going to do that because you keep talking in circles.

Another of the state troopers under internal investigation was Crimson Elizondo, who resigned and later was hired by Uvalde schools to work as a campus police officer. She was fired less than 24 hours after outraged parents in Uvalde found out about her hiring.

___

Associated Press writer Jake Bleiberg contributed from Dallas.

___

More on the school shooting in Uvalde: https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting
November is the beginning of Native American Heritage Month.

Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari is sponsoring an event with Thomas H. Begay from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at Tucumcari High Schools Rattler Gymnasium, 1101 S. 7th St., in Tucumcari.

Begay is one of three living Navajo Code Talkers.

He is slated to tell stories of his service as a Marine in World War II and an Army soldier during the Korean War.

Begay was born in a hogan in a remote area near Two Wells in 1927.

After attending boarding school in Fort Defiance, he persuaded a Marine Corps recruiter to allow him to enlist when he was about 16 years old.

Begay made it through the Code Talker training course, and was assigned to the Signal Company for the 5th Marine Division.

At 18, Begay found himself on the front lines in Iwo Jima.

Hey was discharged from the Marines in 1946, but joined the Army a year later, where he worked as a communications specialist again, but also qualified as a paratrooper. With the Army, he again experienced intense combat with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea, including at the Chosin Reservoir in late 1950. His experiences in Korea persuaded him to finally leave the military in 1953.

The college invites the community to the event, as more than 900 students from across the state will be in attendance.

Mesalands College is excited to work with our community and state to host this once-in-a-lifetime event, November is Native American Heritage Month, and we are honored to celebrate the unique cultural perspective of a New Mexico Navajo, Mesalands officials said in a statement.

There will also be a drawing for authentic Navajo jewelry with proceeds benefiting Begay, so he can continue his volunteer work traveling and sharing his story with the world.

If you are interested purchasing $1 tickets for the drawing, please contact Maria Haase at 575-461-6615 or Judy Ross at 505-507-3825.

Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez will also be giving a short address following Begays presentation.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  About 12% of registered voters in New Mexico have already cast their ballots in the Nov. 8 election  either at early-voting locations or by absentee.

More than 165,000 ballots have been cast so far, according to figures released Thursday by the Secretary of States Office.

But, this years turnout is no longer running dramatically ahead of 2018, the last midterm election, when 56% of registered voters cast ballots.

The initial surge in voting this month may have been the result of voters choosing to cast their ballots earlier in the cycle, not a sign of increased participation overall.

But theres still plenty of time for another surge.

Through Thursday, however, the number of ballots cast this year is roughly in line with the 163,000 who had cast ballots at this point in the 2018 cycle.

About 55% of those who have cast ballots so far are Democrats.

Republicans had cast 33% of the votes and independents about 11%, through Thursday morning. The remaining ballots are from Libertarian or minor party voters.

Visit NMVote.org for sample ballots, early voting sites and other information.

Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark urged voters to keep in mind that it may take seven days for an absentee ballot to arrive by mail. They must be returned to the county by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters, Clark said, are welcome to return their absentee ballots at drop boxes operated by the county any time and have peace of mind knowing their ballot is secure and will certainly be counted on Election Day.
Copyright  2022 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  President Joe Biden will visit New Mexico in the final days of this years bruising midterm campaign as Democrats push to flip a GOP-held congressional seat and boost the reelection bid of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The White House said Thursday that Biden will travel to New Mexico on Nov. 3 for events with Lujan Grisham and other officials. But federal officials did not provide details on the presidents planned activities or location.

The visit comes as Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, faces a tough reelection fight against Republican Mark Ronchetti, whose campaign described Bidens scheduled appearance as a sign of the governors desperation.

The newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District, meanwhile, is a potential tipping point for control of the U.S. House.

Republican Rep. Yvette Herrell is competing with Democrat Gabe Vasquez for the seat covering much of southern New Mexico and part of Albuquerque. Democrats hold New Mexicos two other districts in the U.S. House.

The president would not be coming to New Mexico unless the administration felt some of New Mexicos state and/or national congressional races were highly competitive, Brian Sanderoff, an Albuquerque-based pollster, said Thursday.

University of New Mexico political science professor Timothy Krebs said Bidens appearance is almost certainly targeted at generating enthusiasm among Democratic voters close to Election Day.

Democrats often cast their ballots early, while Republicans are more likely to head to the polls on Election Day itself.

I think its designed, at this stage, to generate turnout among Democrats, said Krebs, chairman of UNMs political science department.

The visit, he said, may also be a response to polling that suggests voters are turning their attention to crime, the economy and education, rather than abortion and Donald Trumps effort to overturn the 2020 election, issues that favored Democrats.

I think its a reflection of that changing dynamic in the remaining weeks of the campaign, Krebs said.

Campaign clash

Lujan Grisham this week campaigned with Vice President Kamala Harris  where they highlighted the governors support for abortion rights  and she released a video recorded by former President Barack Obama, endorsing her reelection campaign.

The Democratic governors campaign spokeswoman Delaney Corcoran said Lujan Grisham is excited about hosting Biden and discussing the importance of keeping New Mexico moving forward on growing the economy, investing in schools, and protecting health care and abortion access.

Ronchetti has campaigned with heavyweights from his own party in recent weeks, including former Vice President Mike Pence, and the Republican governors of Arizona, Florida and Virginia.

Ronchetti spokesman Ryan Sabel said the Republican candidate welcomes Bidens visit, which will remind voters that his reckless policies are costing the average New Mexican $5,000 more every year.

Bidens approval rating among voters has dropped since he took office in January 2021 and was at 40% this month, according to a Gallup survey. That approval rating is similar to that of his predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, during the same time period of his presidency in 2018.

As for Ronchetti, Sabel said the GOP gubernatorial nominee will be criss-crossing the state in the closing days of this campaign to visit with New Mexicans directly and ask for their votes, while the governor is desperately relying on her D.C. allies to save her failing campaign.

Ronchetti, a former television meteorologist, has aggressively questioned Lujan Grishams record on crime, schools and economic growth in the final weeks of the campaign, and he outraised her during a recent fundraising period.

In recent weeks, the Ronchetti campaign has also spotlighted the $150,000 settlement her campaign reached with a 2018 campaign spokesman who had accused her of sexual mistreatment.

Lujan Grishams campaign has said she settled to avoid the expense and distraction of litigation at the apex of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor has also defended her record with help from Obama and Harris, while also criticizing Ronchetts lack of political and business experience.

Video endorsement

Obama appeared in a campaign video released Thursday focusing on the economy, school spending and health care.

Sitting in a chair and addressing the camera directly, Obama said Lujan Grisham has taken action to protect abortion rights, cap the price of insulin and establish a new health care affordability fund.

This November, we have a choice  build on this progress or take New Mexico backwards, he said in the one-minute video.

Meanwhile, Bidens trip to New Mexico will mark his second visit to the state this year. The president visited Santa Fe in June for an in-person briefing as the state battled devastating wildfires.

Dan Boyd of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this report.
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.
Dharma Media Consultants, a boutique branding and communication company, today announced that it has been selected as the public relations agency of DriveX, Asia's first multi-brand affordable mobility platform. Founded by Indias first Formula 1 racing driver, Narain Karthikeyan and Christopher Sargunam, DriveX is engaged in leasing two-wheeler motorcycles and scooters and selling, trading, and distributing pre-owned two-wheeler motorcycles and scooters.

On the appointment of the new PR team, Christopher Sargunam, Co-founder, DriveX said, DriveX has the vision to cater to all the micro-mobility requirements of users. We will be solving many pain-points and aim to be tech pioneers in the auto space. We look forward to joining hands with Dharma Media Consultants as Communication Partner to shape and convey the DriveX narrative.

Dharma Media Consultants works primarily in the PE-VC, startup, and corporate ecosystem and helps brands reach their true potential through well-positioned and effective communications strategies. The agency aids brands with complete media solutions  from content creation and social media management to internal/external communications, consistent brand messaging, and measurable results.

Commenting about the engagement, Shutapa Paul, Founder, Dharma Media Consultants said, We are excited to partner DriveX that is focussed on digitizing and tech-enabling the largely unorganized pre-owned two-wheeler market in India. We look forward to creating and executing innovative and disruptive communications campaigns for DriveX that will increase brand awareness and reach the right audiences.

Dharma Media Consultants will oversee an integrated communications mandate covering brand and corporate communications for DriveX. In addition to handling media relations, Dharma Media Consultants will also be responsible for communications strategy, launching of campaigns, and industry leadership positioning.

Founded in 2016, Dharma Media Consultants has established a reputation for its work with some of the leading brands in India. The dynamic DMC team works passionately to disrupt and innovate the market and create solutions where there seem to be none. Dharma Media Consultants was recently awarded the Fastest Growing PR Agency at Stakes 2022 organized by Agency Reporter. Calling themselves 'storytellers and reputation-builders', the company, through its network of experts and sector professionals spread across India and overseas, work tirelessly towards achieving the end goal for their client partners.
FMCG major, Emami Limited has signed Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as the new Brand Ambassador for its power brand BoroPlus Ayurvedic Antiseptic Cream.

The Company is upbeat about Indias No.1 Antiseptic Cream Brand joining hands with Bollywood Ka All-Rounder that is expected to spark a new chemistry to propel the brand forward.

Speaking on this major development, Ms. Priti A. Sureka, Director, Emami Limited said, Akshay Kumars multi-dimensional personality extends his filmy superstar persona to that of a dutiful son, a committed husband, a loving father and a responsible citizen. From Macho Man to Pad Man, to the emotional jerks, to his extra-ordinary comic timing, to the action hero, he embodies a multi-faceted persona. BoroPlus finds the multi-faceted values represented by Akshay Kumar a perfect fit for the multi-purpose functions of the brand. BoroPluss healing, antiseptic and moisturising properties make it a perfect antiseptic cream, lip cream, foot cream, 24 hrs moisturiser, night cream, winter cream. Both Akshay & BoroPlus are also brands that take care of the happiness of the family - Parivaar Ki Khushiyaan.

Commenting on this new journey, Akshay Kumar, the new brand ambassador of BoroPlus Ayurvedic Antiseptic Cream said, Brands build legacy on a foundation of trust. Emami and its iconic brand BoroPlus Ayurvedic Antiseptic Cream have built upon a strong heritage of consumer trust over nearly four decades by virtue of its product quality and efficacy. I feel very happy to be associated with a trusted brand like BoroPlus and become a part of the Emami family, which is a very popular household name in the world of personal care.

The BoroPlus range comprises a wide array of expertly crafted skincare products, suitable for the whole family, including Antiseptic Cream, Body Lotions, Aloe Vera Gels, Soaps, Petroleum Jelly and Prickly Heat Powders.
After presenting back-to-back intriguing fiction shows and an amazing line-up of non-fiction properties, Zee Telugu is all set to come up with yet another gripping family drama - Ammayigaru. Premiering on 31st October, the show will air every Monday to Saturday at 9:30pm on Zee Telugu and will take viewers on an emotional journey of a father and daughter.

Over the years, viewers have seen several family dramas on TV, and they have won the hearts of many people, however, Zee Telugu is coming with a new narrative that talks about the unusual relationship and tale of a father and daughter and the extent to which she will go for receiving his love and respect. The concept of Ammayigaru is well thought of and is an attempt to provide viewers with an intriguing and engaging tale mixed with several emotional and affectionate moments, which is the flavour of this festive season. Interestingly, the story of this father and daughter will be launched by the big-screen and most loved Father-daughter duo, Mahesh Babu & Sitara. In the launch promo of Ammayigaru Mahesh Babu said, "Prema leni aishwaryam, aishwaryam kadu, hit the right chord with the audience, post which viewers have been waiting with bated breath for the show to telecast on TV.

Ammayigaru will primarily revolve around Roopa and Prathap Surya Dev, with Raju being a pivotal character. While Roopa is the rich daughter of education minister Prathap Surya Dev, viewers will see her as a unwatched girl who lacks parental care and affection. An incident in the past makes Prathap project his hatred for his wife onto his daughter, but Roopa wants to gain his love and respect. On the other hand, Raju is Prathaps right-hand man, who always makes it a point that he looks after Roopas best interest. An interesting relationship develops between them, but a shocking twist will take everyone on a rollercoaster ride of dramatic events. But will Roopa be able to gain her fathers love? Thats something that will keep the audience engaged.

Talking about the shows launch, Nisha Ravikrishnan, Actor, reveals, This is my second show with Zee Telugu, and I am very excited about Ammayigaru. Interestingly, my first show Muthyamantha Muddu was launched by Krithi Shetty and now my upcoming show is launched by the most popular father-daughter duo, Mahesh Babu & Sitara. As a team, we are very excited about the launch because the storyline of Ammayigaru is unique and focuses entirely on the relationship between and father and daughter. Hoping that it is received well by the audience.

Witness the intriguing story of daughter Roopa and her father Prathap as Ammayigaru premieres on 31st October and airs every Monday-Saturday at 9:30pm, only on Zee Telugu
Looks like Klaus Schwab's World Economic Forum officially usurped the United Kingdom's independence with the ascension of investment banker Rishi Sunak, a committed globalist and devotee of the WEF's dark arts, to the position of prime minister. Oh, how the Davos Devils must be laughing today!

When the British people voted to leave the European Union back in the summer of 2016, there was great rejoicing among freedom fighters both inside and outside the U.K. who find global schemes of government not only antithetical to citizens' inherent right to national self-determination, but also the surest path toward statist tyranny. "Conservative" Prime Minister David Cameron (I use pants-on-fire quotation marks, since the climate-change-crusading, tax-and-spend, surveillance-state-supporting Big Government disciples of the Conservative Party in the U.K. are only slightly less Marxist-socialist or outright Stalinist than their Labor adversaries) had taken a gamble with a U.K.-wide referendum on Brexit, convinced the measure would fail. To his and the global Establishment Class's manifest chagrin, the people voted for independence from the European Union's de facto empire.

Cameron subsequently resigned for his failure to buttress the Davos governing model, and in came Theresa May, whose selection as prime minister by her colleagues seemed a shortsighted miscalculation that once Hillary Clinton won the presidential election a few months later, a May-Clinton-Merkel triumvirate of double-X chromosomes enthroned over Germany, the U.K., and the USA would usher in the Age of Woman, or some such identity politics rubbish  before globally approved "political correctness" turned 180 degrees and decided that men could be women, too.

May's chief attributes as P.M. were stiff awkwardness and a rather lukewarm, teasing commitment to fulfilling the will of U.K. voters and securing Brexit in substantive terms, rather than in name only. Remarkably, while President Donald Trump and his U.K. ambassador, Robert Wood Johnson, worked feverishly to complete beneficial trade deals with the supposedly E.U.-unshackled nation that would have smoothed the U.K.'s transition to market independence and fortified its economic standing, May's government continually rebuffed the Trump administration's overtures. Eventually, with Brexit-voters having lost patience with the awkward Downing Street dancer, she was cashiered so that the once unthinkable Boris Johnson could git 'er done.

However, even with his unkempt hair and reputation as a conservative stalwart or even, dare I say, a bit of a political populist on par with America's Donald Trump, Johnson proved himself just as ideologically squishy, vertebrally vanquished, and housebroken for his globalist masters as all the "conservatives" who had preceded him. He managed only to weakly withdraw the U.K. from the clutches of the E.U.'s technocratic dictatorship, and did so while leaving enough of the bureaucratic empire's economic and institutional tentacles still draped over the Palace of Westminster to ensure Britain's continued vassalage to continental Europe.

Boris should have been a slam-dunk for Brexit-supporters and a symbiotic win-win for U.S.-U.K. relations, when a Trump-Johnson partnership (or perhaps even an expanded trans-hemispheric coalition with Brazil's Bolsonaro and Japan's Shinzo Abe) could have made a robust stand for the pre-eminence of national sovereignty over the fetid corruption and ulcerous self-dealing oozing from the pustulous scheming of the big-money Davos international "elites." Instead, no sooner had Ol' Bloke Boris taken the job of earnestly representing the common citizenry than he started sounding more like an obedient cog in Klaus Schwab's Borg-mind than an independent-thinking "Make U.K. Great Again" ally of President Trump. Gone was the tough talk and public disdain for the Establishment status quo, and in its place Boris unleashed his climate-change-warrior, illegal-alien-trafficking, build-back-better inner self.

In hindsight, his jumble of hair waving with the political winds seems only to have been an intentional distraction meant to hypnotize Brexit voters into believing he possessed the fortitude to resist even the most basic of polite society's norms. Instead, the ah shucks coiffure turned out to be more hocus-pocus used to fool the loyal rabble, while Bo-Jo did the Davos Devils' bidding. Johnson could have cut taxes and regulations, freed the U.K. from the E.U.'s cartel policies, and rejected the World Economic Forum's COVID-19-induced "Great Reset" tyranny. Alas, he chose the wealthy and powerful over the poor and powerless, and his country will continue to suffer for it. While globalist stenographers posing as historians will claim that Boris's premiership came to an end due to personal scandal, it is more accurate to say that his once exciting political brand had proven fake, shallow, and unmistakably stale.

So in came Prime Minister Liz Truss, and out she went just as unceremoniously. Despite the U.K.'s most recent aspirant to fill the spacious heels of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher declaring to Parliament that she's a "fighter and not a quitter," the Davos Empire and its central bank feudal lords laughed heartily and swept her aside like a gnat. The Alumin(i)um Lady's feeble attempts to cut middle-class taxes, control illegal immigration, and urgently unleash desperately needed coal and natural gas mining to save her country's economy from looming disaster and her people from imminent winter freezing proved the stuff of paper tigers, demolished easily at Davos Man's urging. Technically, she served under two monarchs and across two seasons, but her premiership will be remembered only for its fleeting existence.

With the last of the pretend "conservatives" dispatched with ease, Globalist Uber-Lord Sunak can now take the parliamentary throne as Klaus Schwab's loyal henchman. Six years after Brexit, and the people are getting their final, bitter lesson in how the global "elite" really see "democracy." "Democracy," you poor plebes, is when the people do exactly what their authoritarian leaders tell them to do or suffer the infernal consequences. The citizens of the United Kingdom may have, in their collective wisdom, voted to uncouple from the evil European empire, but that doesn't mean Darth Schwab and his stormtroopers won't annihilate the English Alderaan all the same. "Democracy" is worth saving only when it aligns perfectly with the interests of Europe's unelected, bureaucratic dictatorship. Thus endeth the lesson!

Not at all coincidentally, that's exactly what happened in the United States after President Trump's election. Four years of a corrupt and unholy cabal of Deep State saboteurs, law enforcement criminals, Intelligence Community double-agents, propagandistic press, and crusty political double-dealers working together to execute a continuing coup d'etat against the sitting American president, and nobody anywhere has been held accountable. In the United States today, it is a greater crime to question the legitimacy of an election than to engage in election fraud. It is a greater crime for President Trump to resist Deep State harassment than for the FBI to frame and threaten him. Whether in America or the U.K., Deep State villainy is all the same.

For those keeping score at home, that's two democratic elections thwarted by the globalist powers that be. At some point, Westerners might have to wake up to the uncomfortable reality that their leaders not only do not have their best interests at heart, but also do not care in the slightest what the people's interests actually are. Power and control are their game. Wealth and finding ways to maintain that wealth at the people's expense are their drug of choice. People...well, they are nothing more than pawns to be sacrificed at will. After all, there are entirely too many of those for the World Economic Forum's global oligarchy to tolerate on Planet Earth much longer. They will submit, remain quiet, or go.

A hearty hat tip to the great Peter Verbeeck!

Image: Boris Johnson via Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
Lets get right to the point: Where are all the splashy full-page ad campaigns from purported Christian leaders condemning the moral degeneracy of this Biden administration?

Or does being a prophetic witness to the political class only gain renewed interest in elite evangelical sectors when the person occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has an R next to his name?

For context, lets rewind back to 2017.

Shortly after Donald Trump assumed office, he issued an executive order that suspended travel into the United States from seven countries and paused most refugee resettlements for 120 days. The order was largely temporary, and its goal was to give officials time to improve the security process of vetting those coming from nations that were hotbeds of Islamic terrorism.

This executive order was smeared in the press as a Muslim ban, even though most Muslim territories were excluded from the list and even though President Obama signed something similar during his presidency, but without the comparable media meltdowns.

What a difference that R makes!

That difference is not just for D.C. journalists either. Its for many evangelicals as well, who are all too eager to punch right and coddle left in their ongoing effort to curry favor with the left-wing gatekeepers of Americas cultural institutions.

To wit, after the President announced his directive, the humanitarian organization World Relief organized high-profile evangelicals to scold both Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the pages of the Washington Post for allegedly betraying Christian principles.

The open letter advertisement began this way:

As Christian pastors and leaders, we are deeply concerned by the recently announced moratorium on refugee resettlement. Our care for the oppressed and suffering is rooted in the call of Jesus to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), Jesus makes it clear that our neighbor includes the stranger and anyone fleeing persecution and violence, regardless of their faith or country.

This ad wasnt exactly well thought out, because a few lines later the authors conceded that we live in a dangerous world and affirm the crucial role of government in protecting us from harm and in setting the terms on refugee admissions, which, of course, was the entire purpose of the moratorium. Still, they concluded that compassion and security can coexist, and petitioned the White House to scrap the executive order.

The open letter was headlined by, among others, influential theologian Tim Keller, bestselling author Max Lucado, disgraced Willow Creek pastor Bill Hybels, Leith Anderson of the National Association of Evangelicals, and Ed Stetzer, who is a dean at Wheaton College and director of the schools Billy Graham center.

Stetzer, for his part, bragged to the Washington Post that this is a surprising list of prominent evangelicals who care enough about this issue to use their leadership platform to speak out, even when many evangelicals have deep fears and concerns about refugees entering this country.

Whatever.

If these folks want to put their names to a cause that they believe in, okay. I have no objection to that. Like me, theyre American citizens and can exercise their free speech as they see fit. Plus, the Church shouldnt be an appendage to any political party and, as such, we must stand up for godly values, especially within the corridors of political power. Ambitious media campaigns directed at politicians should always be on the table.

What I do object to is the relative silence from these same folks today, who were ready to call down the wrath of God on Donald Trump for briefly restricting travel to the United States until better security mechanisms were in place, but who havent found that same energetic conviction to push back at the Biden administration as this current White House champions the castration of kids.

Seriously, where are all the open letters in the Washington Post, New York Times, and other legacy media outlets decrying the lefts transgenderism craze, where children are having perfectly healthy body parts whacked off because theyve been told that they were misgendered at birth?

Where is Ed Stetzers surprising list of prominent evangelicals using their leadership platforms to speak out against this stomach-churning evil?

Christians of good faith can disagree on how many refugees should be admitted each year and can likewise differ on how to handle immigration in general. On these topics, believers can exercise their freedom of conscience because there are overlapping biblical factors at play, such as kindness to the stranger (Leviticus 19:33-34) but also the civil governments explicit authority to keep the peace and maintain a civilized society for its people (Romans 13:1-6), which the signatories themselves acknowledged.

At the same time, there is absolutely zero freedom of conscience afforded to believers as it pertains to transgender ideology. In fact, other than abortion, its hard to think of a public policy more inimical to Gods created order than cutting off the destiny, literally, of our next generation, leaving them unable to fulfill the cultural mandate to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, as it states in Genesis 1:28.

And yet, here we are.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published a document called Gender-Affirming Care and Young People, wherein they explicitly sanction puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for minors, which include, in their words, top surgery -- to create male-typical chest shape or enhance breasts -- and bottom surgery -- surgery on genitals or reproductive organs.

HHS calls these gruesome procedures crucial to overall health and well-being of adolescents whose gender identity and or expression is different from their sex assigned at birth, and considers attempts to restrict or challenge their transgender activism a civil rights violation. The HHS Office for Civil Rights has even promised to investigate any medical facility that receives taxpayer funding and refuses to go along with their demonic agenda.

Ill ask the question again: Where are all the hard-hitting PR crusades from professed evangelical thought leaders denouncing the Biden White House for spearheading such a moral atrocity?

Have they been kidnapped?

Nah. Theyre still around. Their courage, however, only makes a comeback when they support cheesy left-wing propaganda like compassion and security can coexist, while remaining impotent on verbalizing a forceful response to a matter that has far deeper worldview significance than how many runaways from Yemen we accept each year.

The truth is that this overzealous accommodation to liberal constituencies and causes is by design.

Its easy to earn sympathetic coverage as a Christian within the secular press if the person is using his influence to reinforce a progressive narrative, which is why gospel screeds that toe the cultures line on racism, big government, climate change, open borders, genderism, and more are rewarded with gobs of glowing ink, as was the case with the refugee open letter mentioned above.

There is zero political risk involved when attacking conservative ideas and voices, which are already marginalized by the mainstream media. Congrats, fellas, youve joined a very full chorus!

So what are the next steps?

Well, to paraphrase Wheatons Ed Stetzer, let us pray that God grant these prominent evangelicals the spiritual stones to use their leadership platforms to speak out against the evil of our day.

Jason Mattera is a New York Times bestselling author and Emmy-nominated journalist. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Image: Library of Congress
As a pediatrician (and cardiologist) for nearly fifty years, I cannot remain silent while President Biden  an unlicensed, untrained, wannabe physician  practices bad medicine on our nation's children. Following the CDC's unwarranted revision of the vaccination schedule for children, Biden urged all Americans to get their children vaccinated and boosted against COVID. These mRNA injections  the "jab"  are neither safe nor effective, and they are certainly unnecessary in healthy babies, children, and young adults.



Photo credit: Heather Hazzan, CC BY 2.0 license.

To most physicians, the CDC's recommended routine vaccination schedule has been the gold standard. After all, CDC has access to reams of medical data and employs tens of thousands of analysts to review outcomes data. Clinical physicians do not have the time to review all this information themselves. We must rely on the CDC to provide a vaccination schedule for children (and adults) that is proven by hard evidence to be safe and effective against deadly infectious diseases. The CDC is, purportedly, an apolitical agency driven solely by medical considerations, with no political agenda. Or so we thought!

Most clinicians believed this, at least until COVID. The evidence slowly came out that the CDC withheld, manipulated, distorted, and outright lied about medical data. They gaslighted the public in order to support the official Washington narrative. The CDC changed definitions in order to justify mandates to mask, lock down, and take the jab. They banned, canceled, and censored any reports that question the medical necessity of their quasi-martial law in the name of public health.

As just exposed by Joseph Mercola, neither Pfizer nor Moderna did the testing necessary to confirm that the jab would prevent the spread of COVID. The CDC and FDA knew this. Even as they told Americans it was their civic duty to protect others from contagion by getting the jab, Biden and the CDC knew that the mRNA vaccine was a fraud: it did not stop viral spread!

A purely medical advisory agency has been corrupted into a political tool of the Biden administration.

Recently, a 15-person CDC panel called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously, without public comment or dissenting medical opinions, to add mRNA jabs to the recommended routine vaccination schedule for children, beginning when they are six months old.

Apparently, the ACIP members never read or chose to ignore reports by Drs. Paul Alexander, Kristie Clarke, Charles Kim, Jennifer Margulis, Joseph Mercola, Jack Phillips, Zachary Stieber, U.S. Politics and News, Deane Waldman, and Allen Zhong, to name but a few. These and other reports prove that the jab has frequent, serious, even life-threatening adverse effects; masks don't work; lockdowns cause more harm than good; and natural immunity (which the CDC said doesn't exist!) is more protective than mRNA injections.

Trust in the CDC, crumbling before now, was shattered by the latest move: to impose mRNA vaccination  the "jab"  on children. That was a final straw, sweeping away any remaining faith clinical doctors or average Americans have in the CDC.

Children are in no danger from COVID. The vast majority  99.97 percent  have inherent defenses, natural immunity, against COVID. No COVID vaccine, or any other, standard vaccine, comes close to this level of protection. Given the dangers associated with mRNA vaccines, and absence of medical risk from COVID infection in children (and healthy adults), there is no medical justification for the CDC to add COVID to the routine vaccination schedule. Furthermore, there is another compelling reason not to do so: lack of outcomes data.

For the standard vaccinations, viz., against polio; diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT); and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), there were literally decades of outcomes research before vaccines were given to the general population. For COVID, based on Fauci's and CDC advice, the FDA approved mRNA vaccination with no long-term data! The short-term data that showed safety concerns were hidden by the CDC and censored by academia. Recently, the FDA approved a booster with no clinical trials at all.

In an attempt to avoid accountability for unpopular mandates based on the revised vaccination schedule, a CDC spokesperson lamely declared the ACIP decision "does not alter official policy." No one was fooled.

The hidden but very real peril related to the new CDC schedule is that school districts might require a vaccine card before allowing in-person education. Noting the danger to Florida's school-age and younger population, Governor DeSantis immediately responded, saying, "As long as I'm kicking and screaming, there will be no COVID shot mandates for your kids."

Based on purely medical criteria, children do not need and should not be given mRNA vaccination against COVID. When the CDC advises and the president mandates administration of the jab, they go against sound medical practice and put our children at unnecessary medical risk.

Deane Waldman, M.D., MBA is professor emeritus of pediatrics, pathology, and decision science; former director of the Center for Healthcare Policy at Texas Public Policy Foundation; and author of the multi-award-winning book Curing the Cancer in U.S. Healthcare: StatesCare and Market-Based Medicine.
Black Lives Matter is clearly anti-Semitic according to the standards of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), both of which define denial of Israel's right to exist as anti-Semitic. Whether it is an actual hate group depends on how one defines a hate group.

The IHRA cites, as anti-Semitic, "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor." The ADL says in part, "Anti-Zionism is antisemitic, in intent or effect, as it invokes anti-Jewish tropes ... or renders Jews less worthy of nationhood and self-determination than other peoples." Patrisse Cullors said, while representing BLM in her capacity as co-founder, to "step up boldly and courageously to end the imperialist project that's called Israel." Temple University professor Marc Lamont Hill added, "They don't want to just nation-build, but they want to world-make, and so Black Lives Matter, very explicitly is talking about the dismantling of the Zionist project, dismantling of the settler-colonialist project, and very explicitly embracing BDS on those grounds." These are but two examples of not just denial of the right of Israel to exist, but also statements that Israel is a racist endeavor.

BLM has also expressed support for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) movement, of which ADL says, "ADL believes that many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, which effectively reject or ignore the Jewish people's right of self-determination, or that, if implemented, would result in the eradication of the world's only Jewish state, are antisemitic." Support for BDS also puts the American Studies Association, the Middle East Studies Association, PSC-CUNY, and the Seattle Education Association squarely into this category.

ADL adds, "Anti-Israel bias is inaccurate, inordinate or hyperbolic criticism of Israel. It can take various forms, including false and vilifying accusations directed against Israel, often with the aim of delegitimizing the State of Israel." Here are BLM demonstrators  and it's the whole group, not just a handful  chanting, "Israel, we know you, you murder children, too." This is technically not a blood libel because it doesn't say that the Jews then make the children's blood into matzos, but it comes pretty close.

Accusations that Israel commits genocide, or otherwise equates Israel to Nazism, also are anti-Semitic. CAMERA reports, "In August 2016, the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), a coalition of members from the Black Lives Matter network as well as other organizations representing black communities in the U.S., put out a lengthy political platform[.] ... One section, headlined 'Invest-Divest,' accused the US, through its alignment with Israel, of complicity in what the authors called the 'genocide that is taking place against the Palestinian people' and Israeli 'apartheid.'"

IHRA adds that anti-Semitism includes "calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion." Black Lives Matter's support for convicted terrorist bomber Rasmea Odeh, who murdered two Jews with a bomb and tried to murder emergency responders with another, comes across as justification of the killing or harming of Jews. Jewish Voice for Peace, Students for Justice in Palestine, and Bears for Palestine also expressed support for this PFLP terrorist, who is no better than Timothy McVeigh, the Tsarnaev brothers, or the Unabomber. If somebody expressed support for church shooter Dylann Roof, or (allegedly until proven guilty) supermarket shooter Payton Gendron, we could argue reasonably that that individual believes it's OK to kill people for praying or shopping while Black. It is equally reasonable to infer that anybody who supports Rasmea Odeh, and this includes Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) as well as BLM, believes it's OK to kill people for shopping while Jewish. That is my inference, anyway; others are free to agree or disagree.

All of this demonstrates that Black Lives Matter is anti-Semitic, noting that this behavior comes from the top as opposed to a handful of rogue individuals whose hate speech could be dismissed as not representative of the organization. The next question is as to whether this makes BLM a hate group.

What is a hate group?

One would be hard pressed to find an organization whose primary purpose is to hate other people. The idea of a group whose mission is to gather every month or every week to make derogatory remarks about Black people, Caucasians as a whole, Jews in particular, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, LGBT people, and so on is clearly ridiculous. Hate is almost universally a means to an end, such as keeping the leaders in power by giving the rank and file a real or imaginary enemy to blame for its troubles. The Two Minutes Hate in George Orwell's 1984 was directed at an enemy of the people, who may have even been a fabrication of the Ministry of Truth, and its obvious purpose was to distract people from the fact that (as an example) their chocolate ration had been "increased" from 25 to 20 grams. The Nazi Party's chief purpose was to consolidate and expand its own power. Its promotion of hatred of Jews, Romany, LGBT people, and Slavs was simply a means to that end. Jean-Paul Sartre said of this, "If the Jew did not exist, the anti-Semite would invent him."

ADL defines a hate group as "an organization whose goals and activities are primarily or substantially based on a shared antipathy" and adds that the mere presence of some bigots in the rank and file does not meet this bar. Patrisse Cullors, Mark Lamont Hill, and so on are not, however, the rank and file. Black Lives Matter's use of anti-Semitism to achieve its real goals, therefore, appears to make it a hate group, at least as I interpret this.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which is certainly no friend to conservative political views, defines a hate group as "an organization or collection of individuals that  based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities  has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people." The official statements of BLM and its leaders, and also activities such as chanting, "Israel, we know you, you murder children, too," seem to fall squarely into this definition.

If this is not bad enough, a BLM mural also honored not only convicted cop-killer Assata Shakur, but also the New Black Panther Party. The Washington Post reports that the New Black Panther Party "has been identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a 'virulently racist and antisemitic organization' whose leaders encourage violence against White people, Jewish people and law enforcers." The Anti-Defamation League elaborates: "The New Black Panther Party for Self Defense (not related to the original Black Panther Party) is the most extreme organized racist and anti-Semitic African-American group in the United States."

Whether BLM is actually a hate group is up to the opinion of each person, to be evaluated solely in accordance with (1) generally accepted definitions of hate groups and (2) BLM's proven as opposed to not merely alleged anti-Semitic behavior and also promotion of hatred of law enforcement professionals. It's meanwhile past time for New York City to paint over "Black Lives Matter" on its streets, and for Cornell's Law School, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Apple, and other organizations to pull their support from this organization. We don't need to line up with something like BLM to be against civil rights violations, discrimination, and false arrests.

Civis Americanus is the pen name of a contributor who remembers the lessons of history and wants to ensure that our country never needs to learn those lessons again the hard way. The author is remaining anonymous due to the likely prospect of being subjected to "cancel culture" for exposing the Big Lie behind Black Lives Matter.

Image: Annettet via Wikimedia Commons.
Californias Proposition 31, a referendum on a bad law already passed by the state legislature, would set a new high for paternalism designed to invigorate the war on drugs. The puritanical November ballot measure to ratify the ban on flavored tobacco is classist and racially biased, and could empower police to have more violent confrontations with teenagers and adults.

A little background first. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance in 2017 banning flavored tobacco, a predecessor of Prop 31. Big tobacco fought back but eventually lost. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company then backed a referendum to repeal the ban, but it failed.

Following the passage of the San Francisco ordinance, the California State Legislature passed a statewide ban in 2020. Prop 31 is a referendum on that ban. A no-vote equals thumbs-down on prohibition.

Proponents of Prop 31 include Gov. Gavin Newsom and a consortium of groups warning that sellers of flavored tobacco are coming for our kids. This point is unconvincing. As the Daily Breeze editorial board summarized, This premise is nonsensical for the obvious reason that its already illegal for minors to purchase tobacco products.

If the ban is such a good idea, why doesnt the state extend its nanny logic to other flavorful products, like alcohol? In fact, the ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored smokeless tobacco is heavily skewed against particular groups.

Menthol cigarettes, for example, are disproportionately consumed by African Americans. A 2018 survey from the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco found that among black cigarette smokers, 85 percent prefer menthol cigarettes, compared to 30 percent for whites. According to the Centers for Disease Control, smokeless tobacco is predominantly used by Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native adults and is stereotypically associated with impoverished whites. None of those groups is well-represented in the California legislature.

With marijuana legalization, Californians seemed to recognize the harms caused by drug prohibition: mass incarceration, gang warfare, and frivolous public spending. Prop. 31 would expand the war on drugs to flavored tobacco, but as noted, the war would be biased against blacks and other minorities.

The message behind Prop 31 is eerily similar to that of the progressive crusades of the early 20th century. At the very least, Prop 31 implies that minorities are dumb or dont know whats good for them.

As noted by Professor Jody David Armour of the University of Southern California School of Law, You cannot agree that the Black community does not need more unjust interactions with police, yet also support bans and prohibitions that result in more police interactions, investigative stops, stop-question-frisk cases.

In the case of menthols, a targeted tobacco ban that favors the preferences of white consumers inevitably means that whites and blacks will be policed differently, and it would create an underground market for flavored tobacco products. Along with it would come the harms associated with police attempts to stop what used to be above-board market exchanges. How quickly Californians have forgotten the tragic case of Eric Garner, who was killed in New York after being put in a police chokehold for allegedly selling black-market cigarettes.

Big Tobacco, which proponents of Prop 31 say they are targeting, is politically unpopular, no question. And tobacco use of course risks harmful health consequences. But Prop 31 addresses this issue the wrong way. Ad campaigns are effective in changing peoples preferences voluntarily. We dont need Big Police locking people up or worse because consumers prefer mint-flavored tobacco. Vote no on Proposition 31.

Jonathan Hofer is a policy research associate in the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation at the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif.

Image: Officer
Ever wondered who on Earth was behind the lunatic shows of force behind the recent arrests of dozens of pro-life activists, on draconian charges with great shows of police force?

Wonder no longer. The Daily Signal has managed to find who was behind it: a "civil rights" lawyer ensconced at the Department of Justice named Kristen Clarke.

Kristen Clarke, assistant attorney general for civil rights at the Department of Justice, is a vocal abortion proponent who has repeatedly expressed her support for preserving Roe v. Wade. She also oversees investigations into violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act  which she has used to charge 26 pro-life individuals this year. "It appears she's violating her oath of office and she's violating her duty, which is to fairly administer the law regardless of political views," John Daukas, former acting assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Trump administration, told The Daily Signal. "She appears only to be prosecuting groups that she doesn't like, doesn't agree with."

The corollary injustice here is that not a single bomber of clinics, nor assailant of churches, which are pro-life, has been targeted for any sort of justice. It's all OK with her; she uses her public office to prosecute only people whose views she abhors. So much for "public service." She's a pawn of leftist service, a Robespierre of far-left revolutionary zeal who has grotesquely politicized justice for her own causes, sent out her FBI agents like flying monkeys, and come down in the harshest of terms against dissidents, on trumped-up, minor, and very old charges that state enforcers have thrown out.

Such as this guy:

Mark Houck, the founder and co-president of The King's Men, a men's ministry, faces federal assault charges stemming from an altercation with a Planned Parenthood escort outside a Philadelphia abortion clinic nearly a year ago. Houck, who regularly prays the rosary outside the clinic, maintains he was defending his 12-year-old son from the escort's verbal harassment, a family spokesman, Brian Middleton, told CNA on Sunday. The man fell when Houck pushed him away, Middleton said.

It has since come to light that the "escort" has a history of arrests for drug and disorderly conduct.

I wrote about that travesty of justice here. There's also this one, this one, this one, and this one, plus more than a dozen others, according to the Daily Signal report.

Meanwhile, satanic and other kinds of vandalistic attacks on churches go on their merry way, with nobody arrested, let alone punished. The FBI, which is so proud of its guns-drawn SWAT team approach to pro-life activist Mark Houck on civil rights charges regarding a years-old event the state prosecutors thought was so flimsy that they wouldn't touch it, somehow says it can't say anything about whether any of these bona fide violators of the First Amendment right to free practice of faith and religion are ever going to get charged.

Clarke's job is civil rights, and she doesn't care about that civil right. She's "out for blood" and has "weaponized" the Department of Justice in the name of the abortion agenda, as one former Trump official described what is happening recently. She calls crisis pregnancy centers, which have since been firebombed, "predatory" and other epithets.

Significantly (in light of the scores of recent attacks on pro-life centers following the Roe v. Wade leak), Clarke called pro-life pregnancy care centers "predatory" and "fake clinics," claiming they are part of a "coordinated strategy to tear down Roe" (as The Washington Free Beacon's Chuck Ross reported).

And of course, nobody is getting prosecuted for those dangerous and costly crimes on her watch.

Somebody's overdue for a firing for incompetence at the Department of Justice. Clarke has no idea what justice is and is unable to distinguish it from her own political views. She also has no sense of being a representative of a country; she's a representative of leftwingery and its agenda. Obviously, she's overdue for impeachment and needs to be removed from office. Anyone with judgment that bad is unfit for any sort of national office. When Republicans retake Congress early next year, getting rid of this rabid ignoramus should be item one on the agenda.

Image: Screen shot from PBS video via YouTube.
The American left's obsession with wokeness is a disease that has begun to spread to most of the rest of the world. What started out with sensitivity and diversity training in the military has expanded back to Obama-era policy on transgenderism in the armed forces with President Biden's Inauguration Day executive order on the subject.

But there are many theaters of battle in the world of defense and security, and perhaps the most critical arena today is the undermanned cybersphere.

This pronounced shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel is a problem that the entire world is facing, and many countries are instituting new initiatives to attempt to close the workforce shortage gap as quickly as possible.

In Africa, for instance, it is said that 9 in every 10 African businesses are operating without critically needed cybersecurity protocols in place.

In the United States, the Biden administration announced a multi-agency program that create will hundreds of security-based registered apprenticeship programs earlier this summer. The U.S. government hopes that the initiative will begin to help to address the critical lack of I.T. staffing in both the public and private sectors. The program will not come cheap, however, as its $500-million price tag is being covered by the United States Commerce Department program known as the Good Jobs Challenge.

But the American left, which is seemingly more focused on the phony "wokeness" movement, has decided that its concentration within this program should center on recruitment of specifically "young people, women, and minorities," in hopes that they become the "leaders of the next generation of cybersecurity professionals," curiously omitting one of the largest demographic groups in the United States: white men.

United States commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, who did not beat around the bush on the program's intention to value diversity over merit, even went as far as to say of the program, "We're not going to find 700,000 people if we're only looking for white men."

It is a disturbing sign of the times that someone who ranks as high as Raimondo would so casually make such a statement. And it displays the reality detachment afflicting the American left. Long gone is the concept of meritocracy, replaced with an obsession with artificially created diversity. This plays into the hands of cybercriminals as new threats ranging from browser hijackers to mac malware multiply to the tune of billions of dollars in profits yearly.

Seemingly on cue, Canadian liberals have decided to follow America's lead on creating their own new cyber-initiative that reeks of overt anti-male discrimination, as Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, which is Toronto Metropolitan University's National Centre for "training, innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity," has recently announced a new program called CyberStart Canada.

The program, which is funded by Canadian taxpayers via Public Safety Canada's Cyber Security Cooperation Program, will initially provide services and education to 700 girls and non-binary students from Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia in 202223 in what is being described as a "gamified environment," and then throughout Canada the following year.

According to the eligibility requirements listed on the program's website, "[p]riority in 2022 will be given to students in Ontario, Alberta or British Columbia who self-identify as girls or non-binary. Students must be over the age of 13 to participate."

"In addition to sparking interest in cybersecurity as a career, CyberStart Canada will focus on educating young women and girls on topics such as cyber respect and kindness, safe communication and digital citizenship," according to Marco Mendicino, minister of public safety. "CyberStart Canada will also be a key resource for teachers and educators, allowing them to bring cybersecurity into and outside of their classrooms, without needing any prior knowledge of cybersecurity or computer science."

The question here should be, "why is the Canadian government funding a cyber program that is intentionally discriminatory against male students?" There are already several youth-themed cyber-programs in Canada that cater to male, female, and non-binary students. Programs like HackStudent and CyberTitan already provide a wealth of education, challenges, and opportunities for young Canadians across all demographical classifications. Why is a new publicly funded program that is long on key innovation intentionally and overtly excluding young Canadian boys from its ranks?

Sounds disturbingly similar to the sentiments expressed by U.S. commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, doesn't it?

Public Safety Canada, which claims a mandate to keep all Canadians, not just females and those who identify as non-binary, safe from risks that include crime and terrorism, including cyber-related instances of such, has a responsibility to see that all Canadians have access to the latest education and training programs related to the critical fields of the present and future.

Especially as critical Canadian infrastructure and organizations in both the public and private sectors are constantly being threatened by increasingly brazen ransomware gangs as well as state-sponsored advanced persistent threat groups (APTs).

With the constant threats being posed by cyber-powers like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea expected only to continue to quickly grow over the next several years, the prevalent attitude surrounding governments and academia globally should be one of "all hands of deck" regarding the training of the next generation of security professionals. Because to put it bluntly, the digital realm of 1s and 0s cares little about the world of X and Y gender determination.

Julio Rivera is a business and political strategist, the editorial director for Reactionary Times, and a political commentator and columnist. His writing, which is focused on cybersecurity and politics, has been published by numerous websites, and he is regularly seen on national and international news programming.

Image via Peakpx.
For decades, the standard survival kit carried by Russian cosmonauts aboard the Soyuz spacecraft included a specially built gun and a few dozen rounds to defend against wild animals should the cosmonauts land in the Siberian wilderness. They were the only space-faring nation to arm their space travelers, and it did raise a few eyebrows. But the Soviets had their reasons.

Re-entry and landing is a difficult process because of the sheer amount of forces the re-entry vehicle is subjected to as it slams against the earths atmosphere. With a re-entry velocity of nearly 25,000 km per hour, even the slightest misfiring of the engines could change the trajectory that could result in the cosmonauts landing hundreds of miles off course. Much of Russia is desolate wilderness, from which rescue could take a few days. As the cosmonauts waited, they had to fend not only the cold but also fight off hostile bears and wolves.

A cosmonaut fighting a bear. Image generated by DALL-E/OpenAI

In 1965, cosmonauts Pavel Belyayev and Alexei Leonov, while returning from a very successful Voskhod 2 mission, had their spacecraft veer of course and landed in the forests of Siberia, some 240 miles from the intended landing zone. Leonov and Belyayev were well aware that they would have to spend the night alone in the taiga, where bears and wolves roamed. For protection, the cosmonauts were provided with a 9mm semi automatic, but Leonov knew very well that the firearm would prove inadequate against a 500-pound bear.

Although Leonov did not encounter any bears, this experience drove him to advocate for the issue of a purpose-designed cosmonaut survival pistol for future missions. This resulted in the TP-82, also known as the TOZ-82.

The TP-82 was a triple-barrel shotgun that used two different calibers. The upper two barrels were smooth bore and used special 12.570 mm ammunition, also called 40 gauge. The lower barrel was rifled and used 5.4539mm ammunition, which happened to be the same ones used by the AK-74 assault rifle. The shotgun had a detachable stock which also doubled as a machete and came with a canvas sheath. Aside from buckshot, the TP-82 could also fire flares to signal for help.

The TP-82 became a part of the standard survival kit and were carried regularly on Soviet and Russian space missions from 1986 to 2006. The gun was also provided to some Soviet Air Force units, presumably for aircrews operating over particularly inhospitable regions. Even NASA astronauts trained with the TP-82 during a drill in the Black Sea, where they fired off rounds from a boat.

It was amazing how many wine, beer and vodka bottles the crew of the ship could come up with for us to shoot at, said astronaut Jim Voss. It was very accurate, he continued. We threw the bottles as far as possible, probably 20 or 30 meters, then shot them. It was trivial to hit the bottles with the shotgun shells, and relatively easy to hit them with the rifle bullets on the first shot.

Another astronaut, Dave Wolf, who spent four months aboard Russia's Mir space station in 1997-98, described the weapon as a wonderful gun. Wolf added: I found it to be well-balanced, highly accurate and convenient to use.

In 2007, it was announced that remaining ammunition for the TP-82 had become unusable and the weapon was withdrawn. In its place, a standard semi-automatic pistol was provided. However, before each mission the Russian space agencys official takes a vote to decide whether the crew should carry a gun.

The issue of weapons in space is a controversial one. American space journalist and historian James Oberg argues that the presence of the gun, especially in light of recent space team psychological problems, might be an invitation to a future disaster.

Oberg proposes that to minimize risk the gun be stashed in a compartment that is accessible only from outside the Soyuz, after the landing, to prevent anyone from using the firearm while in flight. Obers suggestion was ignored.

References:

# James Oberg, How I Stopped Cosmonauts From Carrying Guns, IEEE Spectrum

# Travis Pike, Tp-82 Cosmonaut Survival Pistol: Russias Space Gun, Sandboxx
Vietnamese Pho among worlds 100 most popular dishes: TasteAtlas

Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup sold in almost all street corners in Vietnam, finds itself at the 34th place in a list of 100 most popular dishes in the world as complied by international food magazine TasteAtlas.













Ineinternational food magazine TasteAtlas described pho as one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)



The magazine described Pho as one of the most beloved Vietnamese dishes in the western hemisphere due to its complex, unique flavors, and elegant simplicity.



The soup is traditionally served with chicken or beef broth where the bones simmer lazily for at least three hours until the broth is perfect, it said, adding that the addition of herbs and spices accentuates the flavors, and the chewy rice noodles, juicy beef slices, and crunchy sprouts elevate the dish to another level.



Pho is also among three Vietnamese dishes  along with Banh mi and iced coffee named in the CNNs list of 50 of the best street foods in Asia which it calls just a small sampling of the regions wonderful food traditions.
Google boosted trade-in deals for the Pixel 7 series a while back, and has now decided to extend those offers. The Pixel 7 trade-in deals on the Google Store have been extended through November.

Googles excellent Pixel 7 trade-ins have been extended through November

You have until November 28 to take advantage of this, which is plenty of time. Lets take the Pixel 6 for example. If you trade in a Pixel 6 in good condition (base model), you can get $490 in credit towards the Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro. Previously, the kickback was only $440.

If you have a Galaxy S22 Ultra on you, and youd like to get rid of it fast, and also get a Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro, youre in luck. The 128GB Galaxy S22 Ultra can get you an $850 return through a trade-in. This is actually a major increase, as it was previously only $650.

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A 128GB iPhone 13 Pro Max can get you $905 in trade-in value, the iPhone 12 $600, and so on. All in all, you can get the Pixel 7 for free with some of these trade-ins, even the Pixel 7 Pro with the right trade-in.

The Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro are excellent smartphones

Google did an amazing job this year, as we were able to find out while we were reviewing the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. These two phones are notable improvements over their predecessors, while bugs dont seem to be around either. That was a major pain point with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Both phones feel more premium now, while the camera performance has also been improved. A brand new processor is included, and some exclusive features too.

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The Pixel 7 is smaller this time around, by just a little bit, but its noticeable. Thats probably the best choice for most people. It has a flat display, and all the most important features of the Pro model. It starts at $599, while the Pixel 7 Pro starts at $899 in the US.
(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 27 - Italian police on Thursday arrested an alleged white supremacist from the southern region of Puglia on terrorism charges, prosecutors said.

The young man allegedly said he was ready to make an "extreme sacrifice to defend the white race"and carry out acts of violence.

He was allegedly a member of the American supremacist organization 'The Base'.

The investigation that led to the arrest started in 2021 via monitoring of far-right, supremacist groups linked to the "Sieg Heil" channel, which was allegedly used by the young man to spread anti-Semitic, misogynist and neo-Nazi material. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 27 - Italian police on Thursday arrested an alleged white supremacist from the southern region of Puglia on terrorism charges, prosecutors said.

The young man allegedly said he was ready to make an "extreme sacrifice to defend the white race"and carry out acts of violence.

The investigation that led to the 23-year-old's arrest started in 2021 via monitoring of far-right, supremacist groups linked to the "Sieg Heil" Telegram channel, which was allegedly used by the young man to spread anti-Semitic, misogynist and neo-Nazi material.

He was allegedly a member of the American supremacist organization 'The Base'.

He alleged acted as a 'lone wolf' in Italy, presenting himself as the group's sole member here.

He had weapons at his home and allegedly said he was ready to "move on to action".

He also spread the supremacist group's propaganda, translating it into Italian, and had alleged created his own group of extremists in Italy made up of three or four people.

The suspect also shared a video on Telegram in which he alleged threatened Life Senator and Holocaust survivor Liliana Segre with death.

Police allegedly found the names of white supremacist terrorists on the suspect's weapons, such as Luca Traini, Anders Behring Breivik and Brenton Harrison Tarrant.

Investigators said there were "alarming" similarities between the material they seized and that used by Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old accused of the May 14 Buffalo shooting in which 10 people were killed and three injured. (ANSA).


ROME - Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday phoned Life Is Beautiful star Roberto Benigni and wished him a very happy 70th birthday, the presidential Quirinale Palace said.



Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano also said Happy Birthday to the actor, director and screenwriter, as well as Dante popularizer.



"Very many happy returns to Roberto Benigni," said the new culture minister, an ex-Rai state broadcaster news editor.



"A great Italian actor, 70 years of authentic talent marked by a never superficial comedy, as shown by his greatest success, Life Is Beautiful, with its three Oscars".



Sangiuliano went on: "I'd like to remember him today, on his birthday, for his readings of the Divine Comedy, and in particular that of the XXX Canto of the Paradiso at the Quirinale before President Mattarella on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of Dante's death: with his Tuscan verve, Roberto continues to give life to the oral tradition which immediately marked one of the most powerful poems of humanity".
BEIRUT - President Michel Aoun on Thursday morning signed in the Lebanese capital some of the documents necessary to formalise a long-awaited agreement with Israel, a country that is officially enemies with.



The agreement is on maritime borders between the two countries and the resulting sharing of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.



The announcement of the signing was made in a joint press conference between Lebanese parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab and US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein, who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday evening.



Bou Saab noted that the second part of the documents that will be exchanged as part of the US-mediated deal with Israel will be signed by Lebanese delegates on the UN base of Cape Naqura along the Blue Line of demarcation between the two countries.



US envoy Hochstein will preside over the ceremony.



The Israeli and Lebanese delegations will be in two separate rooms on the UN base and will not meet to avoid the agreement being seen as a political and diplomatic normalisation between the two countries, which have been officially at war since their founding over 70 years ago.



With the agreement on maritime borders and the exploitation of gas reserve in Lebanon, "the enemy state" has recognised Israel, Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid claimed in opening a government meeting during which the agreement with Lebanon was to be signed.



"This is a political success. It is not every day that an enemy state recognises Israel with a written agreement before the international community, " he added.



The Lebanese president's office later stressed that the agreement was of a "purely technical" nature, without any "political dimension".




TEL AVIV - Suffering continual attacks from the Israeli army, the Palestinian armed group Lions' Den operating mainly around the West Bank city of Nablus is weakening.



On Wednesday night, six of its members including the high-ranking figure Mahmoud al-Banna handed themselves over to the security services of the Palestinian Authority.



They wrote on Facebook that, following talks with their comrades in arms, they had reached an agreement with the Palestinian security services to surrender to them to protect themselves from the "criminal Israeli army".



According to the Israeli television station Channel 12, another 15 Lions' Den members are in talks with the Palestinian Authority to lay down their arms.



The broadcaster added that the Palestinian Authority had imprisoned those who surrendered in detention facilities in Jericho.



Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid posted on Twitter photos of five members of the Palestinian armed group.



Three, he said, had been "eliminated" in recent days while one (Banna) had "surrendered" and another "is in our sights".



"We are determined to fight these terrorists," he added, "wherever they are, even in refugee camps or in the casbah of Nablus."




BELGRADE - A few days before a deadline in Kosovo for the replacement of Serbian car license plates with Kosvo ones, calls have increased among the international community and especially within the US and the EU for Kosovo to postpone the Oct. 31 deadline to avoid fresh tension and possible violent incidents in Serb-majority northern Kosovo.



Calls of this type were received in Kosovo as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen arrived in the country on Thursday morning as part of a tour of the Western Balkans that began on Wednesday.



US Special Envoy for the Balkans Gabriel Escobar contacted the government in Pristina on the matter, as did his German counterpart Manuel Sarrazin, a spokesman for the European Commission.



The EU and the US called for a 10-month postponement for the deadline. However, Kosovo's prime minister Albin Kurti said that no further postponements would be enacted after one over the summer.



In Belgrade, on Thursday morning Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic was due to meet with representatives of the Serb community in Kosovo, who are concerned about possible seizure of vehicles starting Nov. 1 that have not been re-registered. He was then set to hold a National Security Council meeting.



A clear rise in tension has alarmed the international community, while KFOR and EULEX have stepped up checks and patrols in the northern part of Kosovo, where protests by Serbs and clashes occurred in late July.




Lebanese president inks accord with Israel on Med gas Lapid claims 'Israel recognised', Lebanon says deal is technical

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, OCT 27 - President Michel Aoun on Thursday morning signed in the Lebanese capital some of the documents necessary to formalise a long-awaited agreement with Israel, a country that is officially enemies with.



The agreement is on maritime borders between the two countries and the resulting sharing of energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean.



The announcement of the signing was made in a joint press conference between Lebanese parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab and US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein, who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday evening.



Bou Saab noted that the second part of the documents that will be exchanged as part of the US-mediated deal with Israel will be signed by Lebanese delegates on the UN base of Cape Naqura along the Blue Line of demarcation between the two countries.



US envoy Hochstein will preside over the ceremony.



The Israeli and Lebanese delegations will be in two separate rooms on the UN base and will not meet to avoid the agreement being seen as a political and diplomatic normalisation between the two countries, which have been officially at war since their founding over 70 years ago.



With the agreement on maritime borders and the exploitation of gas reserve in Lebanon, "the enemy state" has recognised Israel, Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid claimed in opening a government meeting during which the agreement with Lebanon was to be signed.



"This is a political success. It is not every day that an enemy state recognises Israel with a written agreement before the international community, " he added.



The Lebanese president's office later stressed that the agreement was of a "purely technical" nature, without any "political dimension".(ANSAmed).




The number of people in hospital in England with Covid-19 has started to fall, suggesting the latest wave of admissions may have peaked.

Health experts said the figures were a testament to the success of the autumn booster vaccination campaign, but warned infection levels may rise again during the winter.

A total of 9,131 patients testing positive for coronavirus were in hospital as of 8am on October 26, according to NHS England.

This is down 12% from 10,387 a week earlier.

Patient numbers had been rising since mid-September, driven by a fresh wave of infections.

(PA Graphics)

But this trend looks to have come to a halt in mid-October, since when the figures have started to drop.

The total number of Covid-19 patients has now for fallen nine days in a row.

Covid-19 hospital data is published every Thursday, so it may take another week or two before there is evidence of a steady downwards trend.

Patient numbers topped 14,000 in mid-July of this year at the peak of the wave of infections caused by the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the virus.

This was well below the levels seen during the early waves of the pandemic.

Covid-19 admission rates are also starting to fall, with a rate of 10.1 admissions per 100,000 people in the week to October 23, down from 11.6.

This is the second weekly drop in a row.

Around two-thirds of patients in hospital who test positive for Covid-19 are being treated primarily for something else.

But they need to be isolated from patients who do not have the virus, putting extra demands on staff already struggling to clear a record backlog of treatment.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the fall in hospital numbers is a testament to the continued success of the autumn booster programme, but warned against complacency as cases could rise quickly again throughout the winter.

She added: Please come forward for your booster as soon as it is offered to you. Vaccines remain our best protection against disease but its also important that we all remain cautious as we head into winter.

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, it is important to avoid contact with elderly people or those who have underlying health conditions.

This will not only help to keep you and your loved ones safe, but will go a long way to relieving the pressure on the NHS through the winter.

(PA Graphics)

More than two-thirds (67.6%) of people aged 80 and over in England are now likely to have received an autumn booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine, along with a similar proportion (68.6%) of 75 to 79-year-olds.

The booster is intended to increase protection against serious illness during new waves of the virus.

The UKHSA data, which covers vaccinations up to October 23, also shows that 64.6% of 70 to 74-year-olds are estimated to have had the booster, as well as 56.3% of people aged 65 to 69.

All people aged 50 and over in England are now able to book an appointment for the booster, providing they had their last jab at least three months ago.

Doses are also available to frontline health and care workers, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

Estimates published last week by the Office for National Statistics showed that infections were still rising in England earlier this month, though the rate of increase was slowing.

The number of people in private households testing positive for coronavirus in the week to October 10 was 1.7 million, or around one in 30  up from 1.5 million, or one in 35, in the previous week.

Infections in England peaked at 3.1 million during the summer BA.4/BA.5 wave.
The chief executive of Shell has said he regrets not acting earlier on two issues linked to the environment as he prepares to step down after nearly a decade in charge.

Ben van Beurden said that he should have acted in 2015 on data coming out of the Groningen gas field in the Netherlands.

Theres a few regrets  Not in the sense that I made the wrong decisions, but more often that I made them perhaps  with the benefit of hindsight  a little bit too late, Mr van Beurden told reporters on Thursday after his business made the second-highest quarterly profits on record.

I wish that some of the things that we had as emerging insights in 2015 I had acted on earlier rather than waiting until 2017 to act on them, he said.

Shell and its partner Exxon reduced their production from the Dutch oil field in the 2010s, but it took a long time for them to recognise the danger caused by the earthquakes that it caused.

Van Beurden also spoke of points of pride, including lowering Shells own emissions by around one-third during his time in charge.

He also said that one-third of the top 100 staff at Shell are now women, compared with 17% when he joined.

That might be another point of pride, the fact that we have been, and are still the leading company when it comes to carbon management in the industry, he said.

Puppeteers move Aurora, the double-decker bus-sized polar bear, in front of Shell HQ in London as Greenpeace activists celebrate the oil majors decision to stop Arctic oil drilling (Anthony Devlin/PA)

But Mr van Beurden said that he had not acted soon enough on Shells controversial drilling in the Arctic.

After spending around seven billion dollars (6 billion) drilling off the coast of Alaska the company pulled out in 2015, citing high costs and poor results from drilling.

Mr van Beurden said: Another thing I think is a regret is the Arctic. In the end, we went out of it, but with the benefit of hindsight I look back on it and think: Couldnt I have done that earlier and faster?

So a mix of pride and regret  but I suppose thats always the case after nine years.

Shell said that the regrets were linked to financial issues in the Artic and safety issues in the Netherlands.
Estonia has called on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to commit to raising British defence spending.

Mr Sunak has not matched a pledge by his predecessor Liz Truss to boost defence spending from 2% to 3% of GDP by 2030, having previously described such targets as arbitary.

When asked in a BBC interview if Nato countries should aim to spend 3% of GDP on defence, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said: Absolutely.

He also said Russias invasion of Ukraine was a game-changer.

Autocrats are investing in weapons, he added.

They believe in (the) power of arms.

To defend our values  the rules-based order  we need also to invest in the weapons, he said.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who survived Mr Sunaks reshuffle in the same role, would be on resignation watch if the Government backtracks on the defence spending commitment.

Mr Reinsalu also asked the UK not to cut troop numbers in Estonia, saying we love UK soldiers and we want more.

It came after the Government was criticised by opposition parties earlier this month for appearing to be shamelessly walking away from Estonia, amid reports almost 700 British troops deployed to the country were being withdrawn without any planned replacements.

Are we successors of Chamberlain or Churchill? Mr Reinsalu asked the BBC, referring to the late prime ministers.

"Would you like to see Vladimir Putin go to jail?" Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu didn't hold back with his answer in an interview with DW. pic.twitter.com/C3Bm8miXmM  DW Politics (@dw_politics) October 19, 2022

In an earlier interview with Deutsche Welle, Mr Reinsalu said the West had not done enough for Ukraine.

In a comprehensive manner, the Western community has not done enough and this is paid by the blood of Ukrainians, he told the German broadcaster.

Mr Sunak on Tuesday evening held his first call with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, pledging the UKs steadfast support for his country, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added: The Prime Minister said the United Kingdoms 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.
A prison officer has pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office by having an intimate relationship with a prisoner and smuggling designer clothes and womens underwear to him.

Rachel Martin entered guilty pleas at Bournemouth Crown Court to eight charges of misconduct and a single charge of encouraging the possession of a mobile phone in prison.

The 25-year-old, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, admitted having an emotional or intimate relationship with Raymond Abraham, a prisoner at HMP Guys Marsh.

She also admitted a charge of providing a parcel to Abraham containing high-value designer clothes and food-wear as well as female underwear.

Martin also pleaded to misconduct offences relating to mobile phones illegally in the possession of Abraham, as well as two other prisoners, James Phillips and Hassan Sufi.

Bournemouth Crown Court (Chris Ison/PA)

One offence involved her sending a message to another person stating: Dont forget Rays 30 top up.

She also sent Abraham a message advising him to flush the mobile phone if his cell was searched.

The defendant also admitted a charge of receiving monetary payment from Abraham.

Martin denied a 10th charge of supplying Abraham with a mobile phone which the prosecution indicated would be allowed to lie on her file.

Judge Jonathan Fuller KC adjourned the case for sentencing on December 15 and released Martin on unconditional bail until then.

He told the defendant: A significant custodial sentence can be expected, that will be up to the judge on the day.

Claire Mawer, defending, said she would be arranging a psychologists report on Martin prior to the sentencing hearing.
Two men who were fatally shot in an unspeakable act of extreme violence in east London on Tuesday have been named by the Metropolitan Police.

Saydi Abu Sheikh, 23, and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed, 32, were killed and a third man, 30, was critically injured in the shooting in Ilford.

Mr Sheikh and Mr Mohamed, both from Ilford, died from gunshot wounds while the 30-year-old remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition.

Officers were called to Henley Road at about 12.15am on Tuesday morning following reports of shots fired in a house.

Armed police, local officers and paramedics found the three men with gunshot injuries and, despite trying to save them, Mr Sheikh and Mr Mohamed died at the scene.

The victims families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Saydi Abu Sheikh who died from gunshot wounds (Metropolitan Police/PA)

Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command are investigating and are currently following a number of lines of inquiry.

No arrests have been made.

A car linked to the shooting was recovered nearby in Ronnie Lane.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, leading the investigation, said: This was an unspeakable act of extreme violence that has devastated two families and sent shock waves throughout the community.

My team is working around the clock to identify those responsible and I would like to express my thanks to the people who have already provided information  they can be sure that we will act on everything they have provided.

We still want to hear from anyone who was inside or near the house in Henley Road when the attack took place.

The suspects responsible for this horrific act are violent criminals and it is important that they are not protected by a wall of silence  help us take them off your streets by telling us who they are.

It doesnt matter if you speak to us directly or anonymously via Crimestoppers  but please do get in touch.

While information is vital at this point, please be aware that speculation, particularly on social media, is unhelpful.

Anyone with information that can help the investigation is asked to call 101 or Tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 99/25Oct.
Suella Braverman deserves a second chance as Home Secretary, a senior minister has argued as Conservative MPs question Rishi Sunaks decision to reappoint her.

Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi said the Prime Minister was right to give her a shot at redemption six days after she was forced out by Liz Truss over a security breach.

Mr Sunaks attempt to unite the Tories is under strain, with Mr Zahawis predecessor, Sir Jake Berry, alleging multiple breaches of the ministerial code.

An allegation of Ms Braverman having been investigated by Government officials after the leaking of a story involving the security services also emerged.

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who used to sit on Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee, said a breakdown in trust between MI5 and Ms Braverman must be sorted ASAP.

And Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, backed opposition calls for an inquiry.

Mr Sunak brought Ms Braverman back into the Cabinet despite her resignation after she was caught sending a Tory backbencher a sensitive document from a personal email account.

Mr Zahawi defended her reappointment, arguing that she admitted the mistake and resigned immediately, a characterisation disputed by officials.

She fell on her sword, she didnt try to ride it out and try to hang on to her job, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

This Prime Minister looked at the details of this case and he believes in second chances and hes giving Suella Braverman a second chance. I believe in redemption, as Im sure many of your listeners would do as well.

What security clearance does Home Secretary now have? What investigation has taken place into whether there have been other security breaches? Did Cabinet Secretary warn against her reappointment? Govt cant run away from these questions. Security too important for this chaos pic.twitter.com/31SAYqd3ks  Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) October 26, 2022

Allies of the minister dubbed Leaky Sue insisted a suggestion that MI5 will give her lessons on what information she can and cannot share to prevent another breach was nonsense.

Meanwhile, the Mail reported that she had been investigated by a unit within the Cabinet Office over a leak about the Governments plan to seek an injunction against the BBC.

The newspaper said no conclusive evidence of the identity of the leaker behind a story about plans to bar the identification of a spy accused of terrorising his ex-partner was found.

But it said MI5 played a role in the inquiry after the leak at the time Ms Braverman was attorney general sparked concern in the Security Service.

MI5 need to have confidence in the Home Secretary  whoever that might be. Its a vital relationship of trust, key to the UKs security & democratic oversight of MI5. Any breakdown in that relationship is bad for the Security Service and the government. It needs to be sorted asap  Mark Pritchard MP (@MPritchardUK) October 27, 2022

Mr Pritchard tweeted: MI5 need to have confidence in the Home Secretary  whoever that might be.

Its a vital relationship of trust, key to the UKs security and democratic oversight of MI5. Any breakdown in that relationship is bad for the Security Service and the government. It needs to be sorted ASAP.

Ms Nokes, the Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North, said there are big questions hanging over this whole issue.

And to be frank I would like to see them cleared up so that the home secretary can get on with her job, she told the BBC.

If that means a full inquiry then I think thats the right thing to do.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, who has demanded an official inquiry into Ms Braverman, said: These are extremely serious allegations.

There needs to be an urgent investigation into the Home Secretarys security breaches, including these new allegations while she was attorney general.

The Prime Minister needs to say whether he knew about these allegations when he re-appointed her. Ignoring warnings about security risks when appointing a Home Secretary is highly irresponsible and dangerous.

Mr Sunak is tearing up the remnants of Ms Trusss shortest-ever premiership, reimposing the fracking ban in England and scrapping her growth plan on his first full day in office.

He demoted her allies, Anne-Marie Trevelyan and Chris Philp, from positions around the Cabinet table to more junior ministerial roles.

Mr Sunak is also no longer committing the Government to the triple lock on state pensions ahead of the autumn Budget, which he has delayed from Halloween to November 17.

Failing to increase payments in line with inflation at more than 10% in April would deliver real-terms cuts to millions of pensioners.

Mr Zahawi insisted the Prime Minister has always protected the most vulnerable.

He told Times Radio: I am stating the obvious here, but uniquely pensioners cannot add to their income by taking on more work and, therefore, we have to be clear in how we make sure we help the most vulnerable in our society, including those pensioners, but I wont pre-empt the autumn statement.

Mr Sunak has also not committed to increasing welfare payments in line with inflation, or to Ms Trusss pledge of increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.

The Government is also facing renewed demands to extend the windfall tax on fossil fuel giants after Shell doubled its profits between July and September to 8.2 billion as it benefited from high prices.

Mr Zahawi said the Prime Minister and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt would consider the move, telling LBC the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will look at every decision ahead of their autumn budget.
The Princess Royal has spoken of her shock at the tragic loss of life following a fatal fire at a boarding school in Uganda she was due to visit.

The blaze broke out at the Salama School for the Blind, in a rural community just outside Ugandas capital, Kampala, killing 11 children.

Anne, who is visiting Uganda with her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, was due to tour the school on Friday in her role as patron of Sense International.

The charity supports people with deaf-blindness and has been working with Salama school to ensure students are equipped with specialist equipment.

A forensics officer walks past a burned dormitory at the scene of a fire at the Salama School for the Blind (Hajarah Nalwadda/PA)

The princess said: I was shocked to hear the news of the tragic loss of life. The work of Sense International across many countries is hugely appreciated, working with such a vulnerable group of children.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and staff.

During Thursday Anne carried out engagements in support of Save the Children UK, an organisation she supports as patron, and later this week will visit Sense Internationals head office in Kampala where she will meet the charitys representatives and families supported by the organisation.

The Princess Royal will also have an opportunity to pay her respects to those affected by the fire.

A local police official said earlier this week the incident happened overnight on Monday at the school in the district of Mukono. At the time no cause for the fire was given.

Richard Kramer, Sense and Sense International chief executive, said: Everyone at Sense and Sense International is shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of 11 children as a result of a fire at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono District, Uganda, on Monday 24th October.

Our thoughts, at this time, are with the families, and everyone that has been affected.

Sense International Uganda and Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa have been working with the school to ensure students are equipped with specialist equipment to aid their school work.
Investment bank Credit Suisse has announced it is to slim down its global workforce by 9,000 as it ploughs ahead with huge cost-cutting measures.

The Switzerland-based banking giant said it wants to reduce its cost base by 2.5 billion Swiss francs (2.2 billion), or 15% of its total costs, by 2025.

To save money, plans to axe 2,700 full-time equivalent roles, or 5% of its global workforce, are already under way.

Today, we announced our new strategy and transformation plan. Find out more here: https://t.co/40CU4bUl6Q #CSresults  Credit Suisse (@CreditSuisse) October 27, 2022

In total, the firm said it expects to lose around 9,000 employees by the end of 2025 as a result of redundancies and natural attrition  meaning it will not replace certain roles when people choose to leave.

This will leave it with a total workforce of about 43,000.

Credit Suisse has more than 150 offices around the world, including a major branch in London, and employs 5,500 staff in the UK.

The company did not confirm which locations will be affected by the job cuts.

The reduction forms part of the groups plan to reallocate almost 80% of its capital towards core, higher-return businesses, including its wealth and asset management arms and its Swiss Bank.

This means it will be reducing costs and restructuring its investment bank business to create a more simplified and stable bank, it said.

The cost-cutting programme will go deeper and further than previously indicated in order to improve long-term efficiencies.

Credit Suisses chairman, Axel P Lehmann, said the bank is leaving no stone unturned in assessing its future direction.

He said: Today we are announcing the result of that process  a radical strategy and a clear execution plan to create a stronger, more resilient and more efficient bank with a firm foundation, focused on our clients and their needs.

I am convinced that this is the blueprint for success, helping rebuild trust and pride in the new Credit Suisse while realising value and creating sustainable returns for our shareholders.

It came as the bank also confirmed leadership changes as it prepares to spin off its investment arm, CS First Boston.

Michael Klein will step down from the board of directors to as an adviser to the groups chief executive, Ulrich Korner, to help launch the spin-off.

Meanwhile, chief executive of its investment bank, Christian Meissner, has decided to leave the bank, effective immediately, it said on Thursday.
Zac Efron is working on a beefy new role.

The 35-year-old Greatest Beer Run Ever actor was photographed on the Louisiana set of his upcoming film The Iron Claw on Monday. Efron sported a noteworthy new hairdo as he stood shirtless with a towel around his waist while checking his phone.

Zac Efron on the set of 'The Iron Claw'

MEGA

In A24's Iron Claw, Efron plays pro wrestler Kevin Von Erich. The film is based on a true story and tracks the "rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day," according to the studio.

Written and directed by Martha Marcy May Marlene filmmaker Sean Durkin, the film also stars Lily James, Maura Tierney, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson.

Efron recently told Men's Health about bulking up for the part, explaining that he had a different approach this time than the training he did for the 2017 movie Baywatch. He said he "fell into a pretty bad depression, for a long time" after recovering from the rigorous training for that project.

RELATED: Zac Efron Gets Candid About His Agoraphobia: 'I Just Don't Go Out'

WWE 2009 Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Von Erich attends the 25th Anniversary of WrestleMania's WWE Hall of Fame at the Toyota Center on April 4, 2009 in Houston, Texas.

Bob Levey/WireImage Kevin Von Erich in 2009

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"That Baywatch look, I don't know if that's really attainable," he said. "There's just too little water in the skin. Like, it's fake; it looks CGI'd. And that required Lasix, powerful diuretics, to achieve. So I don't need to do that. I much prefer to have an extra, you know, 2 to 3 percent body fat."

Zac Efron attends

Tommaso Boddi/WireImage

Added Efron, "At one point, that was a dream of mine  what it would be like to not have to be in shape all the time? What if I just say, 'F it' and let myself go? So I tried it, and I was successful. And for all the reasons I thought it would be incredible, I was just miserable. My body would not feel healthy; I just didn't feel alive. I felt bogged down and slow."

RELATED VIDEO: How Zac Efron Bonded With An 81-Year-Old Hero For His New War Movie: 'I Was Honored to Play Him'

The actor's new approach features "a new awareness of injury" in his post-Baywatch life and a period of time during which he tore an ACL, dislocated a shoulder, broke his wrist, threw out his back and shattered his jaw  all of which but the latter injury were sustained during training, according to Men's Health.

"I enjoy pushing myself and really laying it all out, to the point where I kind of have to do it," he said. "Otherwise I don't feel like myself."
The Governments controversial scheme to send migrants on a one-way trip to Rwanda is brutal and impractical, a former Tory home secretary has warned.

Amber Rudd, who held the role from 2016 to 2018 when she resigned over the Windrush scandal, said the initiative should never have been introduced, adding that it was extraordinary for the current Home Secretary Suella Braverman to say she dreamed of seeing it through.

The ex-Tory MP, who briefly sat as an independent after her split with the party, suggested ministers should address the small boats crisis by improving Britains relations with France, as it is a shared problem.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said it was her dream and obsession to have a plane take off to Rwanda, after the flagship scheme was stalled amid legal challenges (Kirsty OConnor/PA)

The Government has proposed this idea of sending people to Rwanda. I dont believe in it. For (a) start, I think it is a brutal policy, which we should not have introduced anyway, she told GB News.

But it is also, putting that aside, impractical. I just dont believe it will ever happen. So I think theres a real problem with the growing numbers of people putting their lives in danger. In a way its a shared problem with the French.

I hope that this new Government is going to address it by having a better relationship with the French. I mean, lets face it, it can only improve.

At the Conservative Party conference in October, Ms Braverman said it was her dream and obsession to have a plane take off for the east African nation, after the flagship scheme was stalled amid legal challenges.

Ms Rudd described these remarks as extraordinary, adding that she should wish for a safer policy  but acknowledged it would be difficult politically for the Tories to step back from an initiative they have said is the answer.

Shes entitled to dream about having borders where you dont have lots of people arriving across a dangerous passage like the channel, but not perhaps to put it quite in those terms that she has, she said.

Ms Rudd also said she was surprised to see Ms Braverman resurrected in her role at the Home Office after she was forced out of Liz Trusss cabinet over a breach of the ministerial code.

But she said it is right to give her a chance and see how it goes, stressing it is an incredibly difficult job.

I think there are very few politicians who wake up in the morning and think, you know what I really want to do, I want to be Home Secretary, its not a job that people usually really want to do because it is incredibly hard, she said.

When I say hard, its not just difficult to get right, like weve been discussing on immigration, youre also dealing with some of the worst of humanity, the things you have to try and see and help people with.

So lets give her a chance and see how it goes.

Ms Rudd served as work and pensions secretary following her tenure in the Home Office but quit the cabinet and Conservative Party in September 2019 in protest at Boris Johnsons handling of Brexit.
The public and health workers in Northern Ireland have been let down by politics, the outgoing Stormont health minister has said.

Robin Swann will leave his post at midnight after a last-ditch effort to resurrect powersharing government failed.

Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to call a fresh Assembly election on Friday.

Mr Swann expressed his frustration that he will leave his post with no confirmed budget and a projected 450 million overspend.

 Health Minister Robin Swann marked his final day in office by sending a personal tribute to health service staff. Read more  https://t.co/7rNd8TY8Rc pic.twitter.com/c6OB7ntjcv  Department of Health (@healthdpt) October 27, 2022

I warned a month ago that the current stalemate amounted to the sabotage of our current health service, he told reporters at the Department of Health in Belfast.

Im angry that politics has got in the way of making the progress that our patients require because its hard to find the words to how disgusted, how frustrated and how angry I am today, having spent some time this morning with health workers in the Causeway Hospital, having spent time as minister with health workers across health and social care.

Be in no doubt, more patients are going to come to harm as a result of the political position that we will find ourselves in from midnight tonight.

I believe that an election wont help anyone, it will simply get in the way of the work that needs doing.

He said the health service was in a fragile position and has now been left with no political leadership, no budget and no decision-making ability.

I am truly fearful for what lies ahead, he said.

I believe, and its not easy to say this, I believe that the public has been let down by the politics here in Northern Ireland.

I believe our health workers have been let down by the politics here in Northern Ireland, and I deeply regret that the lack of funding and the lack of an executive has prevented me and has prevented the department in getting a pay offer for our health and care staff over the line.

It is likely that that full pay settlement will need further funding from Westminster as well, and without that I fear that industrial action across our health service is inevitable.

I would also say to the current government, when you give tax cuts to the very rich and increase banker bonuses, I think you lose the right to lecture anyone about health workers on pay.

Mr Swann said health workers and patients deserve better.

My hope is that we get a joined up and grown-up politics, delivered from the next executive and assembly, he said.

We have to unite to put things right.

One of the benefits that Ive had being in this office was that party politics were truly removed from health during the pandemic, and I believe that thats the way the health service should be supported, and should be sustained.
A last-ditch effort to restore devolved government at Stormont hours ahead of a deadline to call fresh Assembly elections has failed.

MLAs met during a recalled sitting of the Assembly on Thursday, but a bid to elect a new speaker did not proceed as the DUP refused to support the nominations.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said that he will call an Assembly election if the devolved executive is not restored by midnight on Thursday.

Stormont ministers, who have been operating in shadow form since the Assembly collapsed earlier this year, will also cease to hold office at midnight.

With time running out ahead of the deadline, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also urged the DUP to get back to Stormont.

His official spokesman said: Theres still time for the DUP and executives to get back to Stormont and we urge them to do so because the people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully functioning and locally elected executive which can respond to the issues facing the communities there.

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.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris has said he will call an election at midnight if the Stormont institutions are not restored (Victoria Jones/PA)

The partys boycott is part of a campaign of opposition to Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol, and the DUP 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.

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.

During the recalled Stormont sitting, the SDLP nominated Patsy McGlone, and the UUP nominated Mike Nesbitt for the position of speaker  which must be filled before an executive can be formed.

However, the nominations failed to secure the necessary cross-community support from MLAs and the plenary session was then suspended as business cannot be carried out without a speaker.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party did not nominate ministers because not enough progress has been made on addressing issues of concern around the protocol.

He said: We were given a clear mandate in the Assembly elections, and we would not nominate ministers to an executive until decisive action is taken on the protocol to remove the barriers to trade within our own country and to restore our place within the United Kingdom internal market.

He also warned that unionists will not accept a joint authority arrangement between the British and Irish governments instead of direct rule from London in the absence of the Stormont Assembly.

Unionists will not accept joint authority. Joint authority would be an abandonment of the Good Friday Agreement and if thats what the Irish government want to do, then let them be honest and say, he said.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill said people watching Assembly procedures would be bewildered (Liam McBurney/PA)

Speaking in the chamber, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the DUP have left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government.

Ms ONeill claimed those watching todays proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly will be bewildered.

Most of us here want to do the job we were elected to do, she said.

Today our caretaker ministers rally to take decisions, within tight limits, before their civil servants are left in an impossible position come midnight where they are expected to run our essential public services yet have no budget and no powers.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, centre, speaking to the media at Parliament Buildings Stormont, Belfast (Rebecca Black/PA)

Alliance leader Naomi Long said the people of Northern Ireland are suffering without devolved government, describing public services as on their knees or teetering on the brink.

The people of Northern Ireland and their needs and their interests come first, and what is in their interests is a functioning Assembly, a functioning executive, sustainable institutions and power sharing, she said.

The SDLPs Matthew OToole told MLAs he was ashamed of this place.

While this Assembly sat mothballed and silent, peoples homes have got colder, their trust in politics has fallen even further and their lives have got harder, he said.

My party is not responsible for that mess but Im ashamed by it, Im ashamed by this place.

Doug Beattie MLA, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, said proceedings in the Assembly had been farcical (Liam McBurney/PA)

Speaking after the vote, Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described proceedings in the Assembly as farcical.

He said the attempt to elect a speaker was never going to pass.

All we saw today was angry accusations, Mr Beattie said to the media outside the chamber.

We need to get the executive up and running again  to get the executive up and running again we must sort out the protocol, and we need to do it now.
Abdulla thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

After struggling to find work in his home country of Bangladesh, he said a recruiter offered him a chance to work in a restaurant thousands of miles away in Kuwait City for the equivalent of $660 a month.

There was a catch: He would have to pay a hefty fee  about $10,250  but he figured it was worth it. He says his mother got loans to cover the fee and he flew to Kuwait in January 2016. He was 21.

Abdulla said he arrived to broken promises.

He would not be working in a restaurant. Instead, he says, the company that hired him, Tamimi Global Co., sent him to wash dishes at Camp Buehring, a U.S. Army base in Kuwait. He said his salary was about $260, less than half of what was promised, and he worked 12 hours a day with no days off for almost three years.

Abdulla, whose real name is being withheld because he fears retaliation, signed a contract and handed over his passport.

He was among about 400 workers, he said, who did the same.

What can we do? he said. I missed my mom. I cried every day.

Abdulla is one of thousands of people allegedly trafficked into labor by private contractors on U.S. military bases  where workers have been paid less than promised, charged recruiting fees that leave them deep in debt, and pressured to sign improper contracts and work long hours, according to government reports. In some cases, they even faced physical abuse.

NBC News, in collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Washington Post, and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism, interviewed more than 40 current and former employees of contractors at military bases. NBC News combed through thousands of pages of congressional testimony, reports from the Justice and the Defense departments, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and other documents to reveal which companies were accused of trafficking workers or determined to have trafficked them.

Click here to read The Washington Post's story about forced labor on U.S. bases

What NBC News found was a lack of transparency, both in what the Pentagon is willing to tell the public about alleged taxpayer-funded abuse of workers, and what its officials share with one another and other agencies about companies with troubled records.

From fiscal 2017 to fiscal 2021, the military itself took action in 176 incidents of labor violations by military contractors and subcontractors, according to State Department records reviewed for this article, and substantiated violations involving more than 900 workers in fiscal 2020 alone, according to the Justice Department.

Though such information is supposed to be public, the Pentagon would not disclose the names of the contractors with violations, despite multiple inquiries, including Freedom of Information Act requests.

Federal regulations say that the company names and information about violations must be entered in a contracting database. The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported last year that military contracting officers were not entering information about violations into the database.

The GAO also said that investigators for the Army and the Pentagon's inspector general were not reporting the results of all their own trafficking investigations, and that the Pentagon does little to flag companies that have trafficked workers. For at least six years, military officials havent flagged a single firm in the database.

That means the governments lack of transparency is internal, as well as external. Because Defense officials do not share trafficking information with one another or with other agencies, contracting officers throughout the government may not know theyre giving new contracts to companies with past problems.

And those companies keep getting work. According to an NBC News analysis, at least 10 companies with substantiated trafficking violations since 2007 have received billions in new government contracts.

Our taxpayer dollars are being used potentially to support forced labor and human trafficking and thats just unacceptable, said Latesha Love, a director at the GAOs International Affairs and Trade team, which has repeatedly probed labor trafficking on U.S. military bases. The way that [workers] are treated is similar to what some might call modern-day slavery.

Tamimi, Abdullas employer, said it could not comment on generalizations of former staff or on ongoing procedural issues." The company said it is an excellent employer who cares deeply for their staff.

Abdulla is still in Kuwait but no longer works on a base or for Tamimi.

Mad scramble

Foreign workers are crucial for the more than 700 military bases with U.S. service members around the world. They often do tasks such as serving food, cleaning the barracks and guarding the bases. In many cases, they are not from the countries where the bases are located. Instead, they are flown in from other countries with fewer job opportunities, including Bangladesh, Nepal, India and the Philippines.

From April through June alone, U.S. Central Command, which has service members on close to 100 bases in the Middle East, including Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reported that its contractors hired almost 20,300 workers, nearly 9,000 of whom were from other countries.

Workers who arent from the host country or the United States often get paid less, experts said.

The growth in foreign workers escalated during the past two decades, due in part to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

There was this mad scramble and need for labor that was unanticipated, so thats where you really get this subcontracting system thats the Wild West, said Adam Moore, an associate professor at UCLA, who wrote a book about Americas reliance on foreign labor for its military bases.

While the U.S. now has fewer combat troops in the Middle East, there are still thousands of troops and civilians deployed to bases throughout the region and in Africa. There are also an increasing number of U.S. troops serving in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

One company that continues to get work at Middle East bases despite past violations documented in an Army compliance agreement is Tamimi, Abdullas employer.

Since 2007, the company has been awarded $277 million in contracts. Tamimi, based in Saudi Arabia, currently has a contract with the Defense Department worth at least $10.1 million for delivering food to U.S. installations.

A former Tamimi director pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court in 2006 to wire fraud and money laundering and in 2009 to witness tampering. Tamimi paid a $13 million fine in September 2011 to resolve criminal and civil allegations of kickbacks and illegal gratuities.

Because of labor violations, the company signed an administrative compliance agreement in July 2017 even though the military said it had a a legally sufficient basis for banning Tamimi from future contracts.

A Thanksgiving display at Camp Buehring in Kuwait made by Tamimi dining workers. (Obtained by NBC News)

LaGrace Roberts-Harvey, 59, worked as a civilian contracting officer for the U.S. military in Kuwait from 2015 to 2018.

One day in 2016, she visited the barracks that housed Tamimi employees working at Camp Buehring, a base often used by U.S. troops headed to Iraq. She said the workers reported taking out exorbitant loans to pay recruiting fees.

They would actually be grown men crying because they had nothing to send back to their families, Roberts-Harvey added.

She said they complained about their hours  12 hours a day, seven days a week  and said their passports were taken from them.

She began inspecting their living conditions, and interviewed workers on numerous occasions.

The camp was overcrowded, she said. If Tamimi employees heard she was coming for an inspection, the company would hide beds on the roof to make it appear there were fewer occupants in the barracks, according to Roberts-Harvey.

A couple of them had pictures where they had, like, some marks from some physical abuse, you know, like where they were hit, she said. Some people had experienced having bedbugs. The shower stalls and stuff needed to be cleaned. They didnt have all the toilets and showers and stuff running.

Roberts-Harvey lost her job after the U.S. government accused her of improperly receiving gifts in return for contract-related favors. She denies the charges and believes she was fired in retaliation for reporting her concerns about Tamimi. A government personnel board upheld her dismissal. She is appealing the decision, claiming she was punished for being a whistleblower.

In a letter, Tamimi denied it had years of trafficking violations.

It declined to comment on statements made by former workers to NBC News. It characterized the militarys compliance agreement as based on events from years ago, and said the company is seeking to comply fully with military contracting rules.

The Tamimi Group takes great pride in its 32-year partnership both with American companies and the U.S. government, it said.

The company said it was proud of its work for the U.S. military, providing more than 600 million meals over two decades. It said it served meals to U.S. troops in the battle-ravaged Iraqi city of Fallujah when other contractors refused.

It attributed pay disputes to differing interpretations of Kuwaiti minimum wage rules, and said that while Tamimi previously held passports for safekeeping, the company no longer has such a policy. It said it has procedures against laborers paying recruiting fees, but did not address questions about fees paid in the past.

The company said it was ordered in 2016 to improve housing conditions, and that inspections in 2018 show it complied. It said the beds that Roberts-Harvey reported on the roof were put there to use desert heat to eradicate bedbugs.

Zero tolerance

The government has devoted time and resources to fight trafficking  including two presidential executive orders and multiple laws and regulations  and says it has a zero tolerance policy. The Pentagon set up an office to fight trafficking, and criminal investigators and contracting officers within the military establishment also probe allegations.

But according to a review by the Defense Department Office of Inspector General in 2019, oversight is scant.

During the past five years, the Defense Department has in at least one case referred a trafficking case for prosecution by the Justice Department and has debarred at least seven contractors or subcontractors, according to State Department reports. But for most of its 176 substantiated labor violation cases, the remedies were administrative actions that included greater oversight.

When it comes to trafficking, the GAO described a culture of confusion and apathy at the Defense Department. Some Army and Navy contracting officials did not even know their responsibilities for preventing trafficking, according to the agency.

If youre not looking for it, youre unlikely to find it, Love of the GAO said.

In fact, the administrative compliance agreement between Tamimi and the Army, originally obtained by the Project on Government Oversight, includes a provision that forbids monitoring reports on the company from being released publicly, including under FOIA.

The Pentagons lack of transparency about violations makes work difficult for lawyers and others who help foreign workers on military bases, especially in the Middle East, said William Gois, a regional coordinator for Migrant Forum in Asia, an umbrella organization of lawyers, churches and others who assist about 25,000 laborers yearly facing trafficking in the Middle East and Asia.

Because of the secretive nature of a lot of this, he said, it has been very difficult to pin down.

The inspector general reported a case study in 2019 of a defense contractor that provided meals in Kuwait. The report quotes an Army memo indicating the contractor was aware it enacted an exorbitant recruiting fee that created a state of enslaved bondage for its employees. The Army memo also stated that the living accommodations it provided did not have access to potable drinking water, were unsanitary, and infested with bedbugs. The inspector generals report, however, never names the contractor.

Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, said, The Department of Defense promotes the U.S. Governments zero tolerance policy on trafficking in persons. The Department continues to work diligently on combating human trafficking because these activities violate human rights and harm our national security mission.

In a statement, an Army spokesperson said, The prevention of human trafficking is a top priority for the Army. We take all allegations seriously and investigate each one to ensure compliance with applicable laws. The spokesperson said the Army cannot discuss current allegations, ongoing investigations or litigation but that past performance is reviewed prior to any awards, and specialized training to recognize labor trafficking is required for the Armys civilian employees, soldiers and contracting officers representatives (CORs).

The spokesperson said the CORs are on site at contract locations to identify suspicious activities and to immediately report credible allegations for further investigation.

U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, which is responsible for the Middle East and Afghanistan, has enhanced quality assurance plans to specifically address [potential labor violations] for increased oversight, and in Kuwait, the Armys 408th Contracting Support Brigade has appointed a specialist to ensure compliance with all applicable laws pertaining to human trafficking.

Working in fear

In the Middle East and Afghanistan, workers' allegations of violations have continued even as the U.S. military footprint has changed.

This year, 22 Ugandans hired by the Virginia-based private security contractor Triple Canopy as guards at Forward Operating Base Shorab, a U.S. base in Afghanistan, filed a federal lawsuit against the company, alleging labor trafficking violations.

They alleged that their passports were improperly confiscated for months, preventing them from leaving or seeking other work. They said they faced fear, intimidation and insecurity from Triple Canopy on the job, including threats that they would be dismissed.

Among other allegations, they said they were deemed independent contractors, not full-time employees, though they worked long days with little time off. That distinction meant they were not eligible for medical care despite regularly facing repeated attacks by Taliban fighters that left several of the guards injured.

A supervisor told the workers they should feel lucky they worked for Triple Canopy, they said.

The 22 workers claim they were wrongly fired in December 2020 after raising questions about money they say was inappropriately withheld from their $500 monthly pay.

Triple Canopy discounted the claims in court filings and has argued that the workers, because they are in Uganda, lack standing to sue in federal court. The lawsuit is ongoing. Triple Canopy did not respond to a request for comment.

It is not the first time Triple Canopy has been under scrutiny. The Congressional bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan found more than a decade ago that Triple Canopy didnt provide suitable warm clothing for Ugandan guards at a forward base in Iraq.

Uthuman Kimuli, a Ugandan who is not part of the litigation, was employed by Triple Canopy at Jalalabad Airfield in Afghanistan in 2019 and 2020, and told NBC News he worked 12-hour days but was only getting paid for eight hours for almost two months. The 35-year-old said workers were given only one set of gloves and one mask a day during the coronavirus pandemic, even though as security guards they were inspecting visitors to the compound.

A welcome sign a the entrance of Jalalabad Airfield. (U.S. Air Force)

We were working in fear, he said.

Triple Canopy has received more than 350 contracts from the federal government since 2007, worth more than $4 billion, and currently has contracts with the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security.

Sam McCahon, a former Army procurement fraud adviser and later an attorney for military contractors, now works as a lawyer representing alleged trafficking victims, including the Ugandan workers in the Triple Canopy lawsuit.

He said the military does too little to prevent trafficking, and relies heavily on low-paid workers to keep its overseas bases running.

You cant reconcile this business model with the governments zero tolerance policy, he said. Its institutionalized.

Vectrus Systems Corp., a Colorado Springs-based logistics contractor, has been awarded more than 800 contracts worth more than $17 billion since 2007. The company has, among other contracts, a deal worth up to $37.8 million to provide housekeeping to the U.S. military in Saudi Arabia.

Vectrus was sued in 2015 by several former employees who said they faced retaliation and were wrongfully fired for, among other things, reporting labor trafficking at Forward Operating Base Shank in Afghanistan.

A soldier on a deserted stretch of road on Forward Operating Base Shank, near Pul-e Alam, Afghanistan in 2014. (Scott Olson / Getty Images file)

A federal jury awarded the plaintiffs more than $1.5 million, and a federal judge rejected Vectrus bid for a new trial. After appeals were filed, the case was settled for an undisclosed sum. The company did not admit wrongdoing.

It was not the first time Vectrus faced such allegations. About six years ago, an anonymous complainant called a hotline at the inspector generals office.

The caller alleged that a Vectrus subcontractor hired workers under false pretenses and withheld their pay, according to a Justice Department report.

The case was referred to the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, though it is not clear how the case was resolved.

In a statement, Vectrus said, We value all people and always treat them with dignity and respect. The company said it follows labor laws, and requires its subcontractors to adhere to them as well.

Another major private security firm with extensive Pentagon contracts is Aegis, which has received more than 95 contracts since 2011 worth more than $830 million, many of them for providing security guards.

Lusambu Karim, a 50-year-old Ugandan, told NBC News about trafficking violations he said he encountered working for Aegis in Afghanistan from 2018 to 2020.

Lusambu Karim. (Courtesy Lusambu Karim)

He said he paid a recruiting fee, slept in a dilapidated building with no air conditioning despite extreme heat, and was forced to work without a contract, jeopardizing his ability to get medical care in a war zone.

It was very horrible, he said. The job in Afghanistan was a very, very, very bad situation.

GardaWorld, which owns Aegis, said Karim misunderstood his contract, and that he later quit his job during his shift.

The Pentagon knows about his case.

Karim was featured this summer in a video posted on a Defense Department website. It was part of a series titled Survivor Voices of Human Trafficking, compiled by the Combating Trafficking in Persons Program Management Office, one of the militarys key agencies trying to reduce abuses.

We are grateful to these survivors, the Pentagon agency wrote in the introduction, who took the time to share their stories.
Laura Hart, campaign director of Safeguard Defenders is interviewed by the Associated Press in Rome, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. China has reportedly established dozens of overseas police stations in nations around the world that activists fear could be used to track and harass dissidents as part of Beijings crackdown on corruption. Spanish-based non-government group Safeguard Defenders published a report last month called 110 Overseas. Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild that focused on the foreign stations. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP)  China has reportedly established dozens of overseas police stations in nations around the world that activists fear could be used to track and harass dissidents as part of Beijing's crackdown on corruption.

Information about the outposts underscored concerns about the ruling Chinese Communist Partys influence over its citizens abroad, sometimes in ways deemed illegal by other countries, as well as the undermining of democratic institutions and the the theft of economic and political secrets by bodies affiliated with the one-party state.

Spanish-based non-government group Safeguard Defenders published a report last month called 110 Overseas. Chinese Transnational Policing Gone Wild that focused on the foreign stations.

The Dutch government said this week it was looking into whether two such stations  one a virtual office in Amsterdam and the other at a physical address in Rotterdam  were established in the Netherlands.

We are investigating the activities of these so-called police centers. Once there is more clarity on the matter, we will decide on appropriate action," the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "We have not been informed about these centers via diplomatic channels.

The ministry added: If the developments outlined in the report by Safeguard Defenders threaten to strengthen the feelings of intimidation and threats among the Dutch Chinese community, that is a bad thing, and the government is of the opinion that action should be taken against this.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Thursday that "Chinese public security authorities strictly observe the international law and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries.

A day earlier, another ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, also denied Beijing was doing anything wrong, calling the outposts service stations for Chinese people overseas.

Due to the impact of COVID-19, many Chinese overseas cannot return to China in time to deal with matters like drivers license renewal. In order to help them, relevant Chinese local governments have opened online service platforms, mainly assisting Chinese nationals in need in handling physical examinations and changes of drivers licenses, Wang said.

Wang added that China also has cracked down on what he called transnational crimes but said the operation was conducted in line with international law.

The European Union's executive arm, asked whether it was aware of other EU countries complaining about China setting up police stations on their soil, said Thursday that it did not have specific information. The European Commission said it was up to member countries to investigate such allegations since it would be a matter of national sovereignty.

In Tanzania, both police and the Chinese Embassy have denied the presence of a Chinese-run police station in the countrys commercial hub and former capital, Dar es Salaam, after the BBC reported on it last week.

You are fabricating stories, the embassy tweeted, calling the report an example of disinformation aimed at dividing China-Africa relations. A police spokesman sent the AP a copy of Chinas denial in response to questions Thursday.

Over his decade in power, Chinese President Xi Jinping has pushed a relentless anti-corruption drive that has seen tens of millions of Communist Party cadres investigated and expanded overseas via a pair of campaigns known as Sky Net and Fox Hunt. Both are tasked with locating allegedly corrupt officials who have fled abroad and convincing them to return to China with their stolen state assets.

Since China began opening up in the 1980s, corruption has been a major problem among those enjoying access to state funds and resources with few safeguards in place, and cash was often squirreled away abroad, particularly in the U.S. and other countries without extradition treaties with China.

Yet, as with the domestic anti-graft campaign, Sky Net and Fox Hunt are frequently seen as targeting political opponents or those accused of crimes of an ideological nature not recognized in other countries. China is also accused of using coercive methods such as making threats against family members still in China and even forbidding family members who are foreign nationals from leaving China after making trips to the country.

The success of the campaigns is unclear. The U.S. has complained that China has provided name lists with little or no corroborating information on what they are accused of or where they are believed to being living. China has also been accused of sending agents to the U.S. to meet with wanted persons directly as a means of upping the level of intimidation.

The campaigns began soon after Xis ascendance to Communist Party chief in 2012, and an April article in the official China Daily newspaper said Fox Hunt and Sky Net had been renewed for 2022, claiming that last year they resulted in the return of 1,273 fugitives and the recovery of the equivalent of about $2.7 billion.

Hunting fugitives overseas is an extension of fighting corruption at home, and they are the two areas in the fight against corruption. The two are intertwined and influence each other, the paper quoted Zhuang Deshui, deputy head of the Clean Government Research Center at Beijings prestigious Peking University, as saying.
An attendee draws on a tablet as she copies the famous painting by Vermeer 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' using THQ's uDraw Game Tablet which works on PS3 and Xbox 360 at E3 in Los Angeles

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A climate activist glued his head to glass covering the world-famous "Girl with a Pearl Earring" painting at a museum in The Hague on Thursday, though the artwork was not damaged, staff there said.

A second activist glued their hand to the wall next to the 1665 work by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer, and an unidentified liquid was thrown, the Mauritshuis museum said.

An unverified video on social media showed two men near the painting, both wearing "Just Stop Oil" T-shirts.

"The police were notified and three people have been arrested. The condition of the painting was inspected by our restorer. Fortunately, the glass-covered masterwork was not damaged," the museum said.

The protest came less than two weeks after "Just Stop Oil" activists threw soup over Vincent van Goghs painting "Sunflowers" at London's National Gallery. That painting was also shielded by glass.

In videos from the Dutch museum posted online on Thursday, one of the men says: "How do you feel when you see something beautiful and priceless being apparently destroyed before your very eyes?"

"That is that same feeling when you see the planet being destroyed," he adds.

Dutch police said three arrests had been made at a museum, but provided no details.

The two men in the video were seen being escorted away by police in more footage.

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch, Toby Sterling and Charlotte van Campenhout, Editing by William Maclean and Andrew Heavens)
WASHINGTON  I promise that we will win this holy war, the Russian officer tells the recruits arrayed before him in a video recently shared by the popular, pro-Ukraine Saint Javelin social media account. Who is fighting against us? People who say that their God is Satan. Satanists are at war with us. People who insist we attend LGBT parades.

The officers exhortation had nothing to do with territorial claims, or the supposed Nazism of the ruling regime in Kyiv, both of which were the original pretexts for Vladimir Putins unprovoked invasion of Russias much smaller neighbor. Instead, the reference to holy war mirrored the increasingly sharp spiritual rhetoric emanating from political and military leaders in the Kremlin, who are desperate to retain public support for the faltering war effort.

A screengrab from a video posted on the Saint Javelin social media account. (via Twitter)

To a degree, that effort has always involved some reference to spiritual warfare, despite the fact that Russians and Ukrainians share deep roots in the Orthodox Church. Those ties have been downplayed as the Kremlin has rebranded the war as an intrusion of Western values on the so-called Ruskyi mir, or Russian world, of which it sees itself as the custodian  and sole legitimate ruler, to the exclusion of sovereign governments in Kyiv or Minsk, Belarus.

Theyre not fighting Christians in Ukraine, a scholar of Russian culture and religion at Wesleyan University, Victoria Smolkin, said, explaining how the justification for the invasion has shifted. Theyre fighting Satanists. Theyre fighting the West.

At a Kremlin ceremony to mark the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories, Putin described the move as a glorious spiritual choice, referring to the nationalist philosopher and religious scholar Ivan Ilyin  who was also an early admirer of Adolf Hitler.

In the same speech, Putin quoted from the Sermon on the Mount and inveighed against nontraditional families, in a seeming attempt to incite homophobia and provide a cultural justification for his war. The overthrow of faith and traditional values amounts to pure Satanism, the Russian president warned.

Increasingly, the Kremlin sees its goal in Ukraine not as denazification"  the original pretext for the invasion, predicated on a grotesque exaggeration of Ukrainian right-wing nationalism  but as desatanization, which has recently become a popular term in Russian media and politics.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a ceremony at the Kremlin on Sept. 30 for signing the treaties in which Russia annexed four regions of Ukraine. (Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

By the way, many European leaders are real Satanists, the right-wing pundit Sergey Mikheyev offered in a recent television appearance, giving a lurid vision of a fallen Western society  a society to whose cultural, social and political values many Russians aspire. Since the start of the war, hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled to the West and elsewhere, apparently uninterested in sharing the Kremlins vision of a sanctified Russia engaged in endless spiritual warfare. Putins recent mobilization order appears only to have accelerated the flight abroad.

Vladimir Putin and his enablers have made one thing very clear: This war is not only about Ukraine. They consider their war against Ukraine to be part of a larger crusade, a crusade against liberal democracy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier this month.

In that sense, Smolkin says, Putins understanding of modern Western culture is not all that different from Christian nationalists in the United States who see secular society as an existential threat. There are very significant connections between American culture warriors and Russian world propagandists, Smolkin told Yahoo News.

Russian cultural and religious conservatives espouse a bleak vision that, in their view, requires a militant response to supposedly hostile elements. As the Kremlin ideologue Alexander Dugin recently put it, Armageddon and the Apocalypse are unfolding before our eyes.

The costs have certainly been rising for Putin. What was supposed to be a quick invasion has turned into a grinding war that has seen the Ukrainian armed forces put up a ferocious defense of their homeland, with military support from Western allies. As many as 80,000 Russian soldiers have been either killed or injured in the eight-month war.

The Ukrainian National guard fires at Russian positions with a mortar near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday. (Andrii Marienko/AP)

Wars tend to get more holy as they go on, and leaders have to justify the high costs, says Ben Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C., think tank.

Ukraines allies in Western Europe and North America provide a useful foil for the Kremlin, which has never settled on a coherent  or convincing  narrative to explain why it needed to invade Ukraine.

They do not want to see us as a free society, but a mass of soulless slaves, Putin said during last months annexation speech, depicting Russia as a bulwark against Western materialism and spiritual impoverishment.

The sanctification of military operations has been commonplace for modern Russia, which emerged from a stridently atheistic Soviet Union to embrace the Orthodox Church, at least officially. Although the church has great political and cultural influence, Russians themselves tend to stay out of the pews.

Still, centuries of Orthodox spirituality retain a grip on Russian culture, particularly in times of distress. During the brutal second Chechen war, launched by Putin to suppress the independence efforts of the Muslim-majority province, a slain Russian soldier, Yevgeny Rodionov, who supposedly refused to convert to Islam while in captivity, became a sanctified figure, with icons of his image commonplace in patriotic Russian households.

In 2020, Russia opened the Cathedral of the Armed Forces near Moscow. The vast edifice mixes Orthodox images with Russian military history, celebrating Soviet victories over the Nazis, the Soviet suppression of protests in Eastern Europe, and Putins invasions of Georgia, in 2008, and Ukraine, in 2014, as well as Russias involvement in Syria, which raised allegations of war crimes against civilians.

Russian servicemen attend a service at the Cathedral of the Armed Forces outside Moscow on June 23, 2020. (Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images)

This is not really an Orthodox cathedral, its a cathedral of our new post-Soviet civil religion, one religious scholar lamented at the time.

In a cruel irony, many of the soldiers now fighting for Russia come from the nations poorer Islamic regions and share little of the Kremlin's spiritual or geopolitical aspirations. This tension has surfaced in the form of anti-draft protests in provinces like Chechnya and Dagestan  and in a mass shooting at a Russian military base at Belgorod, near the border with Ukraine.

According to news reports, Muslim soldiers there objected to participating in the Ukraine invasion, prompting Lt. Col. Andrey Lapin to tell troops that they were fighting a holy war. He then proceeded to insult Allah. Apparently in retaliation, Tajik soldiers killed Lapin and 10 others.

No one has done more to promulgate that civil religion than Patriarch Kirill, the primate of the Orthodox Church in Moscow. Rumored to have once been recruited by the KGB, Kirill is a close associate of Putin, himself a former Soviet intelligence officer.

The war has perhaps been the greatest political challenge of Kirills career, a sign of how difficult it is to reconcile spiritual faith with a war whose atrocities are impossible to avoid or disguise.

From the start of the war, Kirill has sanctioned the invasion, downplaying its human costs and moral concerns. He recently cited the work of the 11th century cleric St. Nestor the Chronicler to argue that divisions between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus were fictional  a version of the pan-Slavic argument that Putin has used to justify his brutal invasion, which has killed thousands of Ukrainian civilians and Russian soldiers.

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill conducts the Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow on April 23. (Sergei Vlasov, Russian Orthodox Church Press Service via AP)

In September, Kirill tried to comfort the thousands of young men who suddenly found themselves conscripted into the armed forces after Putin announced a "partial mobilization": Any soldier who died on the front, he announced, would receive absolution. He will have sacrificed himself for others. And therefore, we believe that this sacrifice washes away all the sins committed by such a man, Kirill said in a sermon.

That does seem to be very much a jihadist kind of approach, says one Russia expert from Oxford University, Samuel Ramani.

Pope Francis recently pleaded with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to bring an end to the conflict; Muslim and Jewish figures have made similar calls.

In an autocratic nation like Russia, however, even churches are enlisted in government enterprises.

Kirill thus finds himself in an untenable position, according to Smolkin, the Wesleyan scholar. After the 2014 invasion of Crimea, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church split from the Russian Orthodox Church, a process that took four years  and represented a major defeat for Kirill, by weakening his grip on Ukraine's church, the third-largest Orthodox community in the world, after those of Russia and Ethiopia.

Last winters invasion further deepened the schism, presenting problems for the Ukrainian churches that remained under the control of the Moscow patriarchate. Those churches declared in May that they wanted independence from Russia.

Conscious of the tricky position he occupies, Kirill has endorsed Putins invasion while calling for peace, as he did during a recent meeting with members of the World Council of Churches. Kirill has also trained his criticism on the West, decrying the closure of churches in one of his recent sermons as the sign of an enfeebled civilization.

Kirill and Putin after the Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow in April. (Oleg Varov, Russian Orthodox Church Press Service via AP)

For all that, Smolkin notes, its not really the church that embraces this rhetoric of an anti-Ukrainian crusade. While Kirills outright militarism is striking coming from a religious leader, it pales in comparison to the rhetoric routinely espoused by state media propagandists, who face few consequences for casting the war in Ukraine in whatever terms appear expedient to their paymasters in the Kremlin.

As the invasion started to falter in April, the editor of Russia Today, Margarita Simonyan, speculated that Russia would soon launch a nuclear strike, leading to World War III and worldwide devastation.

In response, Vladimir Solovyov, another prominent Kremlin propagandist, countered with a spiritual silver lining: But we will go to heaven.
From college classrooms to media studios and the halls of Congress, politicians, professors and pundits are once again warning about misinformation, raising concerns that manipulated and misleading content  particularly in Spanish-language media  could have an impact in the midterm elections.

Often, these concerns are pointed at conservative-leaning media, which dominate radio and social media platforms in Miami and have at times on different programs promoted problematic narratives, such as Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen.

But peoples definition of disinformation varies greatly, often correlating with their political affiliation. And in the era of fake news and media skepticism, Miami Republican voters  whose views of media veracity are sometimes left unexpressed in a conversation dominated by left-leaning sources  are weighing in on disinformation, its sources and its impact ahead of the election.

On Monday, the first day of in-person voting in Florida, Carmen Diaz, a 55-year-old Westchester resident, made her way to the early voting center at her local library to avoid long lines. Diaz, who says shes a lifelong Republican, was inspired to cast her vote for Gov. Ron DeSantis and other politicians who she says support God and family values.

Diaz said she doesnt consume Spanish-language media  or most TV channels. To stay informed, she prefers Fox News and Newsmax because theyre balanced, though FOXs programming heavily favors conservative viewpoints and Newsmax was among the outlets sued over false claims on its airwaves that the 2020 election was stolen.

I find that TV channels are compromised, Diaz said in Spanish. Theyre not publishing real news. Theyre only being influenced by politics. Most are Democratic, so they inform people for the convenience of their party.

On Monday, Xiomara Rodriguez, 63, attended a Marco Rubio campaign rally outside John F. Kennedy Library in Hialeah. She said shes supporting Republican candidates in the upcoming November elections.

But the Hialeah resident said she wasnt always a Republican. She said she was a Democrat up until the last election. She said part of the reason she changed her political affiliation was due to media coverage of politics.

Rodriguez gets her news from Instagram and WhatsApp groups and prefers Spanish-language sources that arent partisan, she said, citing Mega TV.

[In media], Republicans are always the bad ones, and Democrats are always the ones that should be in government, she said in Spanish. This is a free country, and [they] need to... not constantly tell you, in the news, that you need to vote for a Democrat or a Republican. That is a personal opinion. No one needs to tell you the same thing from the moment you wake up until you go to sleep.

Esmeralda Billete, 68, considers herself an independent voter. But she turned out to support Rubio at his Hialeah rally and said she will be supporting the senators reelection bid.

Billete, who said she has lived in Hialeah for 52 years, gathers her news from local TV channels, including the Spanish-language Univision 23 and English-language WSVN Channel 7. She also reads whatever pops up on her Facebook.

She said she views disinformation in media as a general issue not exclusive to either Democrats or Republicans.

It creates a lot of confusion for the public, the voter, she said in Spanish.
Voters on the east side of Nampa will decide whether to send back their House representative for Legislative District 13.

Republican Rep. Brent Crane, who seeks a ninth term, will face one challenger, Constitution Party candidate Petre Danaila, during the Nov. 8 general election race to retain his House position A seat.

The other two races, Senate and House position B, are uncontested. Brian Lenney ousted incumbent Jeff Agenbroad for his Senate seat in the May GOP primary. Kenny Wroten won the Republican nomination in the primary and will serve in the House position B seat. All Idaho state legislators serve two-year terms.

Crane currently chairs the House State Affairs Committee, an influential committee that has considered some of Idahos most controversial bills, including state abortion restrictions. He also serves on the Ethics and House Policy Committee, which recommended a state lawmaker accused of rape be expelled last year.

The Idaho Statesman sent surveys to each of the candidates, and their responses are copied below, unedited. Crane didnt respond to the survey.

A map of Legislative District 13, which encompasses a portion of Canyon County.

In the survey, Danaila spoke about vaccine mandates, grocery tax and medical marijuana.

Learn more about other local elections at IdahoStatesman.com/voter-guide.

Use the horizontal scroll bar underneath each Q&A as needed to read the full Q&A. You also can click on the chart and drag horizontally.
Bryan Aparicio, a Broward firefighter, risked his life and braved intense flames to save his girlfriend after the pair were caught in a three-vehicle crash Tuesday that ended with a fuel tanker rupturing, spreading a large fire and sending six people to the hospital.

Sometimes heroes come out of the shadows and risk themselves, said Jason Smith, president of the Broward County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, International Association of Firefighters Local 4321.

After their Uber slammed into a concrete wall, Aparicio noticed his girlfriend was trapped inside of the car. Without a second thought, he utilized his professional training  and put his life in danger  to save her life.

It happened in a split second, Smith said. So what he instantaneously did, through all that fire, he just went ahead and sacrificed essentially everything that he had of his life to make sure that she could get out.

Suffering significant second-degree burns to his face, hands and arms, he was able to pull her out of the car.

This is the same type of heart and daily grind that he gives to the residents and visitors of Broward County, Smith said. He took that moment to shine and give light to another...which just shows the heart of who he is.

The harrowing crash Tuesday afternoon began on I-95 near the Atlantic Avenue interchange. A car veered into the left lane, for reasons not yet known, smashing into the fuel tanker  sending both toward the inside shoulder, which caused the truck to overturn. A third car, with Aparicio and his girlfriend inside, tried to avoid the crash but the Uber driver rammed into a concrete median wall.

It will take more than a week before officials can put out an official report on the crash, Florida Highway Patrol Lieutenant Indiana Miranda said.

READ MORE: Tanker truck ablaze on I-95 in Delray Beach leaves driver with severe burns, troopers say

Delray Fire spokesperson Dani Moschella said 75 firefighters from three different departments worked together to extinguish the blaze.

Aparicio has been a firefighter for three years at Station 10, covering the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport.

A GoFundMe, created for the two by Aparicios fellow firefighters at Station 10, has raised $20,943 out of its $50,000 goal.

Aparicio was taken to Delray Medical and his girlfriend was flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital, both in critical condition with severe burn injuries, the GoFundMe said.

Smith added that Aparicios family is working to get him transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Hes a real hero and we are honored to do whatever we can for him because it just shows his selflessness, Smith said.
TBILISI, Georgia  Towering over Georgias capital city is a 65-foot aluminum statue that stands as a symbol for the inhabitants below. In one hand, the Mother of Georgia holds a cup of wine to greet the countrys guests, illustrating the ever-present hospitality its citizens are known for.

In the other, a sword, demonstrating Georgias readiness to defend itself against those who come as enemies. At no time has this figure been more indicative of the countrys relations with its northern neighbor than during the current immigration situation Georgia faces.

Russians are now seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Georgia after many Western countries closed their borders to those fleeing Russia. In just one week last month, Georgias Interior Ministry registered 68,887 Russians having entered the country. Aerial images taken at the Georgia-Russia border in September appeared chaotic, with military-age men and their families lining up for days, some without food or water. Flight prices skyrocketed, and rent for apartments in Tbilisi nearly doubled, forcing some students to drop out of school, as they were unable to afford the new high cost of living.

A satellite image of a traffic jam along a highway near the Russia-Georgia border. (2022 Maxar Technologies/Digital Gliobe/Getty Images)

This mass migration followed Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement of partial mobilization on Sept. 21. I reiterate, we are talking about partial mobilization, that is, only citizens who are currently in the reserve will be subject to conscription, and above all, those who served in the armed forces have a certain military specialty and relevant experience, Putin said in a televised address. Up to 300,000 reserves were called upon by the Kremlin leader to help consolidate Russias four occupied territories in eastern Ukraine.

Reports still vary on the exact number of people who left Russia in the weeks after Putins declaration. One Kremlin source told Forbes earlier this month that 700,000 had fled since the order was made. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, quickly refuted the claim. I dont think those numbers should be taken seriously, he told reporters. I dont have exact figures, but of course, they are far from whats being claimed there.

Selena Valyavkina, a Russian psychologist now living in Tbilisi, was one of the earlier group of people who arrived in February. When the war happened it was just impossible to stay any longer, she told Yahoo News. I think the main reason behind why I left is that Ive noticed that many people really [didnt] care about what was happening. After news of the war broke, Valyavkina packed all her belongings in St. Petersburg and left for Georgia.

Selena Valyavkina left St. Petersburg for Georgia after the war broke out. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

Inside Russia, I got some messages that I am like a rat running from a sinking ship and that I betrayed Mother Russia, Valyavkina said. My mother actually thinks that I betrayed my country and her.

Over the past number of years, Valyavkina became the target of house searches for her anti-Putin stance and her attendance at antigovernment demonstrations. Another time, she said, she arrived to vote in a local election and saw that her vote had already been cast. She contacted the police, but nothing was resolved. You live with the understanding that anytime, they can show up at your door, do whatever, and there will be no one to complain [to], she said.

News of Russians seeking refuge in Georgia sparked protests at the border as well as in cities around the country. In Tbilisi, activist Nika Parulava told Yahoo News that the mass arrival of citizens of Russia to Georgia was a national security issue.

Its a threat to every citizen of Georgia, he said.

Ulianin Mykhailo, a refugee from Kharkiv, Ukraine, said he feels unsafe now that Russian migrants have been flooding into the city after the drafts announcement, adding that Georgians should be worried, as they do not know who is being allowed to enter the country. All this time during these eight months they lived in Russia, and every single one was fine, Mykhailo said. They silently support this war, they support their government.

Ulianin Mykhailo speaks with Yahoo News reporter Niamh Cavanagh. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

And this sentiment can be felt across Tbilisi. Ukrainian flags hang from balconies and windows, and antiwar graffiti can be spotted from street to street. Earlier this month, Parulava and other activists replaced street signs in the capital with signs written in Russian telling migrants to return home. It comes as a warning to new city dwellers that this former Soviet satellite is no longer under Russian rule.

But despite demands that the Georgian government do more to protect its citizens, the government has remained relatively uninvolved. Since the war was launched in February, Georgias politicians have been treading carefully with their aggressor neighbor.

The Kremlins special operation in Ukraine is a painful reminder of Georgias own recent history. It was only 14 years ago that the country bore the full brunt of Russias oppression.

In 2008, Russia launched a defensive operation against Georgia over two breakaway territories in the north. After just 12 days, Russia annexed one-fifth of Georgian territory, which included the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Hundreds of people were killed, and today more than 300,000 Georgians remain displaced after being forced from their homes during that conflict.

A Georgian soldier mourns the loss of fellow troops killed in a Russian airstrike in August 2008. (Cliff Volpe/Getty Images)

Zhana Odiashvili was just 14 when Russia began to bomb her town of Gori, about 8 miles from the border of South Ossetia. [I have] very tragic and painful memories from 2008, she told Yahoo News. I was displaced from the town because it was under aerial attack. We had to flee to Tbilisi because it was a safer place at the time.

Now 29, Odiashvili operates a walking tour in Gori, during which she raises awareness about the Russian aggression the town experienced. In parts of the town, made famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, walls are sprayed with bullet holes from the conflict. Being so close to the disputed region of South Ossetia, Odiashvili and Gori residents are constantly reminded of what Russia is capable of. Even worse, there have been reports of Russia physically moving its border posts farther into Georgia, which the countrys security agency has called illegal.

But now Russians are flooding into Georgia  the country they terrorized a little more than a decade ago  to seek sanctuary. Fearing conscription, men have abandoned their lives in search of a new life.

Alexey, 19 years old, was one of these men. On Sept. 20, Alexey read about rumors online that Putin was planning to announce a mobilization. A history student, he was forced to desert his education in order to escape the war. With the help of some of his teachers, Alexey managed to fly to Tbilisi, where he plans on staying permanently.

Alexey, who fled Russia, said he plans to stay in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Paul Phelan for Yahoo News)

I had originally planned to leave Russia in March, but there was still the issue of finances, he told Yahoo News. I was afraid of leaving my family and  my job. Additionally, there were rumors of people being arrested at the border. These turned out to be more than just rumors. Last week, it was reported that over 1 million Russians had been banned by Russia's Federal Security Service from leaving the country.

Alexey, whose mother is Ukrainian and had family who lived there until March, said he had been scared for his life when mobilization was announced. The mobilization put an end to any hope that there could be anything good in Russia.

So can the Russians who are leaving Georgia be refugees? According to Odiashvili, no. Right now its the Ukrainian side which is right, so these Russians are not refugees to me. They should be sent back to Russia in the hope they will take down Putin, she said. If not, they can go anywhere else, but not to Georgia.
Ana Sanaberia, who sells coctel de conchas and fruit, is one of several vendors who was forced to move from her original location on the sidewalk of the El Salvador Community Corridor. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Mother and daughter Berta and Rebecca Mendez have built a life like tens of thousands of others who survive in Los Angeles: selling stuff on the street. Theyve done so for the past 15 years in a dense section of central Los Angeles known as the El Salvador Community Corridor.

At the informal street market that sprung up here on Vermont Avenue, between 11th and 13th streets, the women offer Salvadoran staples like atado de panela (raw brown sugar), carne salada, queso duro viejo, loroco flower buds and, most of all, sweets: specialty Salvadoran candies made of coconut, sapote or squash.

The Mendez women have developed a loyal customer base and reliable working days and hours, and they maintain tight margins for supplies and sales. Yet as street vendors, they run their business in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

Fencing was installed in May on the sidewalk along parts of the El Salvador Community Corridor on Vermont Avenue. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

One Monday in early May, they showed up to work but were stopped by newly erected chain-link fencing and sandbags. The mother-and-daughter team, along with more than 50 vendors, lost a full day of work, and communication lines with regular customers were suddenly broken.

The city said it had warned a week earlier with fliers that crews were coming to do a clean-up and beautification project of the area. The market has been so popular that over time, neighbors began complaining of vandalism, threats, trash and an overflow of traffic.

Losses from the May 9 shutdown had a direct impact on the lives of the two women and their small business, with weeks' worth of fresh fruit spoiled due to lack of sales. Fresh jocotes alone cost the pair $500. It's very difficult, Berta Mendez said. "Estamos perdiendo. We are losing.

We are not asking them to give us a handout, Rebecca Mendez said. The only thing we ask is that they let us work. We know, I am very aware that we are a problem, but we need to survive.

Vendors who sell pupusas and other Salvadoran foods in the parking lot of Two Guys Plaza on Vermont Avenue pay an unofficial monthly fee to set up shop there. The owners of the parking lot declined to elaborate. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Seeking home

Years ago, when I asked the matriarchs in my family where they shopped for ingredients when they were newly arrived in Los Angeles and looking for a taste of home, they all pointed me in the direction of the market, which has been on Vermont Avenue for more than 20 years. It was everything I was looking for  the sounds, the flavors, the feelings. As an immigrant woman who desires more than a distant connection with my homeland, this market has allowed me to actively participate in my culture.

Vendor calls of Pase adelante, que va querer, corazon? " ("Come right in, what are you looking for, love?") greet me as I navigate the cramped pathways filled with Salvadoran staples like crispy fried yucca served with bright and tangy curtido, blood clam ceviche or green mango with alguashte (pumpkin seed powder).

But the stresses generated by the market to the immediate area have always been present.

An informal market for the last 20 years, its vendors havent always had proper methods of waste disposal provided for them. Some have been known to dump used oil down storm drains or on the street, making for sewage trouble and creating slippery sidewalks.

A resident of the Pilgrim Towers, a senior housing building nearby, said tenants have been submitting complaints for nearly a year, while other nearby residents began complaining at least three years ago.

Impacted street vendors from the closure on May 9 were left with no option but to find new or less familiar places on Venice Boulevard, parts of Pico Boulevard and other surrounding areas.

One of the many delicacies sold by vendors along the El Salvador Community Corridor is sopa de gallina india. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Complicated solutions

The case is a classic battle of negotiation over public space in urban Los Angeles. Despite the citys embrace of immigrant cuisines and the efforts from nonprofits, organizers, petitions and legislation to legalize street vending, this is a repeated pattern reminiscent of so many chapters in L.A.s history: The Lincoln Heights Avenue 26 night market , the Leimert Park Village Vendors and the South Central Farm closure all come to mind.

The solutions are as complicated as they are historical and political.

Los Angeles has the largest population of Salvadorans, second only to the homeland, a fact so beloved by the Salvadoran immigrant community that both the Salvadoran Community Corridor and L.A. at large are affectionately known as the 15th department, a tip of the hat to the 14 departments, equivalent to counties or similar jurisdictions, in El Salvador proper.

Signs with the number 15 dot the landscape in the Salvadoran district  symbolic for the notion that L.A. is the "15th" Salvadoran department (the country has 14). (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The exact details of how this famous and iconic market sprang to life are loose, but what the majority of the people involved can agree on is that it all started with a bank  and coconuts.

Before the impromptu market existed, and definitely before it was the burgeoning marketplace that it has become, 1133 Vermont Ave. in Koreatown, known as the Two Guys Plaza, was home to Banco Agricola, a Salvadoran-serving bank. In the 1980s, this bank was one of the few places in the city where the Salvadoran diaspora could send money back to El Salvador, which at the time was deep in the throes of a violent civil war between leftist guerrillas and the government. Tens of thousands of Salvadorans fled north, toward the United States and beyond.

Lines at the bank in L.A. were often long; as the story goes, where many saw a long line, a coconut vendor saw a business venture. Rain or shine, this coconut vendor became the first to informally do business in the plaza. As the Salvadoran community in Los Angeles grew, so did this new market.

Over the decades, it became a cultural touchstone.

Back then, the Latin markets, good as they were, mostly carried Mexican ingredients, and this meant those with more specific Central American needs were sent to look on Vermont. The neighborhood was officially designated as the El Salvador Corridor in 2013 , and according to the official corridor website, it has approximately 150 businesses between 11th Street and Adams on Vermont Avenue.

The formal designation did little to protect the street market. And there are deeper, less obvious dynamics at play. While around 50 vendors were burdened with the challenge of finding a new, safe, well-populated area to make sales, another 50 vendors located inside the Two Guys Plaza parking lot were able to stay and continue selling.

When the sidewalk closure happened, vendors had to disperse and separate into smaller groups. One group of three vendors moved across the street in front of the Bank of America, another group set up closer to Venice, and others did the same on both sides of Vermont.

For years, neighbors have complained about the traffic and waste generated by the informal market on the sidewalk and parking lot of Two Guys Plaza. A new City Councilmember promises to address both sides' concerns. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

This revealed that groups or subcategories exist among the vendors, who are often identified as los de la 12, los de la 11 and los del parkeo, or those on 12th those on 11th and those on the parking lot plaza. The challenges facing these groups of vendors are as different as their offerings.

"Life is difficult," said vendor Ana Sanaberia. "I ask God until how long I can endure this. I think for very little time." (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

One of the vendors who relocatedby the Bank of America is Ana Sanaberia. She sells fresh fruit like mangos, mamoncillos and nances, as well as roasted cashews, brightly colored meringues and toys for children. For more than a decade, she has set up on Vermont between 11th and 12th.





For Sanaberia, the sidewalk closure could not have happened at a worse time. Within the same month, she was robbed and lost $6,000. When she reported the incident to the police, her landlord evicted her from her home of 15 years for contacting the police, she said. Life is difficult, Sanaberia said ruefully. I ask God until how long I can endure this. I think for very little time.

They are all vendors, they are all ladies, older ladies, and we do not harm anyone. If there were rules, 'Look, don't sell this, clean it up,' people understand and change, and they don't see that.

Then there are the vendors within the parking lot of the Two Guys Plaza. These vendors enjoy a kind of seniority within the market, most of them with 15 years or more of time there. Those who were able to stay did sodue to a deal they brokered with the owner of the plaza. For $1,500 per month, the parking lot vendors can have a 10-by-10-foot spot, guaranteed. On average, vendors in the parking lot said theyend up paying around $2,500 to $3,000, per month since most need more than one spot.

The son of the owner of the parking lot, Antonio Canzona, when reached for comment, declined to confirm these figures or address the predicament of the outdoor market in general.

Some of the displaced vendors moved across the street, slightly south of their original location on Vermont Avenue. Many opted out of the alternative church parking lot nearby, due to worries about low foot traffic. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

In an effort to meet street vendors' immediate need to find a new location during the sidewalk closure, organizers from the Salvadoran American Leadership Educational Fund looked for a temporary solution. The staff managed to find a location one block west  a parking lot that belongs to the Korean Sae Han Church.This arrangement, of course, had its hang-ups, and it didn't last.

There was proximity to the corridor, trash receptacles, handwashing stations and trash pick-up, but vendors were out of sight from their audience: passersby and car traffic. Most challenging for the vendors was the inability to do business on Sundays, the markets most popular day, as the church needs the lot for services.



Armando Valle, a seller of mariscos de curiles  a blood clam dish prepared with citrus, chopped tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, hot sauce and sometimes salsa perrins, orWorcestershire sauce  liked the idea of having a spot at the new location. However, the inability to do business on Sunday was a deal-breaker.

That's when we sell the most, Saturday and Sunday," said Valle. I was on the sidewalk here in this area for 10 years, and many people know me. The idea is fine, but we need Sunday.

Armando Valle prepares a coctel de conchas at his stand. "I was on the sidewalk here in this area for 10 years, and many people know me," he said. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Out of order

Organizing among the vendors has caused rifts due to the variations between them. Some set up only on Saturdays, some only on weekends, some seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and some want more stall space on the street.

Representatives from the El Salvador Corridor office are mostly business-minded Salvadoran Americans with ties to nonprofit organizations. Many were schooled under early leaders in the 1980s, who first got together to bring resources to the Salvadoran community in L.A. They have worked to create the Salvadoran corridor designation with the city. Although the office has supported the market in the past, some vendors on the ground said theywere fed up with its lack of leadership.

There are people who are taking a political slice of it as they use us as a pretext [to get] press to make themselves known, but in reality, they have never helped us, said Douglas Ulluoa, a clothing vendor.

Raul Claros, the new executive director and president of the El Salvador Corridor, disagreed with the sentiment that there is a political tilt to his work with the corridor.

My vested interest here is to get as many people on the same page as possible, Claros said. Jumping in as the new president after leaving a role at the local office of the American Red Cross, he sees himself more as a facilitator and mediator in the struggle over the informal market. But his goals include other pursuits. We are not in charge of the street vendors, he said.

On a recent trip to El Salvador, he said he met with the U.S. Embassy and was invited to be a part of the Summit of the Americas . His help also is being requested now by other immigrant groups who want to see a corridor of their own in Los Angeles.

But Victor Galindo, another clothing vendor, has been voicing the lack of progress to protect the market over the years.

Victor Galindo, a vendor organizer, in his clothing stand at the temporary market in the neighboring church parking lot. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Well, basically, we are losing days of not working, between meetings, listening to a group, listening to an organization, listening to someone who has political goals, we are not going to get anywhere, Galindo said.The corridor is us, the sellers, not the organizations.

Claros, however, has claimed the news media is misinforming and miseducating the public.

Claros recounted what he pointed out at a meeting with vendors, saying that he wanted to educate you [vendors] on who you are and who you are not. You are not the El Salvador Corridor per se, you are vendors on the El Salvador Corridor.

Months after the latest closure, two groups have formed among the vendors. Those who desire to remain on the street are the majority. The second group talks about buying land so that theyre not on the street anymore, circumventing the instability that comes with it.

The majority group is called Mercadito Salvadoreno, led by Brenda Montoya. The second group is led by Galindo and is named El Nuevo Mercadito Salvadoreno.

The sidewalk is the solution, said Montoya, who has been at the market for more than 25 years.

What happens is that we dont agree with the leadership, said Rosa Gonzalez, who has been selling pupusas at the market for two years. We want someone like us, that the leadership is vendors, not people who have established businesses.

City interest

This informal market has always been large, but Claros believes that it grew even more due to the pandemic.

There was no regulation. More people started coming. Especially those that were not from the area, which also made more traffic. More clients. More people, he said. From a cultural point, Ill tell you its a beautiful thing. But this is Los Angeles, and there are rules and laws here that are different than in El Salvador. And what was happening on the sidewalk was not acceptable.

After the clean-up and beautification process was completed, the temporary sidewalk fence came down in late July. The street stalls  and familiar tensions  promptly returned.

For years, the market has collectively tried to find ways to convince the city to help  formalize the space, provide basic sanitation like trash cans, solve the traffic problems  but the cycle of empty promises and abrupt clean-up measures hasn't resolved much.

In an interview, incoming City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said she supports the street vendors and understands the issues are systemic.

It's really obvious that we're in this mess because the city has not provided the infrastructure or the support to both the business owner there but also to the vendors, Hernandez said.

I see us being able to provide that trash collection, provide the steam cleaning of the streets, on a regular basis. And so it's like, when you have other business corridors like the Salvadoran corridor existing, and it's not getting the same investment..

Hernandez echoed the same questions some of the vendors have expressed. Why are we not doing the same thing in these areas? I mean, I know a lot of why because, you know, these committees are mostly migrant, mostly Spanish-speaking people, monolingual speakers, and it really is about valuing one community over another, especially in this district, where the difference is so plain in sight.

A girl holds up crabs for sale at the Salvadoran food market in the Two Guys Plaza parking lot. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

Beautiful relajo

According to Claros, reports from the residents on neighboring streets continually decry lack of public safety, vandalism and alleged threats from some vendors toward the residents. I came in crisis response mode to get everybody to the table, and I was successful, Claros said. It wasnt so much the city against them, it was the residents that had issues.

One of those residents, Jovita Carrillo, has lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years and is a member of several community councils in the area. She said the problems surpass the pandemic and that she is tired of the tensions between residents and vendors.

The trouble really escalated about seven years ago, said Carrillo. She and her neighbors have dealt with not only trash and accidents due to hot oil on the street but also threats and costs incurred from having installed security video cameras.

When asked if she felt hopeful with newcomer Hernandez as the new face of District 1, unseating disgraced incumbent Gil Cedillo, Carrillo said, I am not even 1% with her, I am 2000% against her. How can she help us?

Jocelyn Duarte, executive director of the Salvadoran American Leadership Educational Fund, said she wants to find solutions.

At the end of the day it's about meeting everyones needs, and that's hard. This is really a negotiation of space," Duarte said. "We have a symbolic area right now, thats an honorary [title], what we call a Salvadoran corridor. We need to have a space that's created for our community, where folks can do what they have to do without being exploited. There has to be layered solutions.

Most of the vendors do not want to leave the corridor, and if they do, they want to go together, despite their differences. Some in the community have suggested a farmers market, which would involve a host of other parameters and regulations.However, none of them are farmers. Most are resellers of goods bought in bulk. Filing for a community event permit also would impede them from operating the way they do now. Community event permits limit the number of days vendors can do business to a 90-day cycle. Still, no clear or easy solution is apparent.

I don't want to be a problem for this country. I don't want to be a burden. I want to work, said Rebecca Mendez. I want to get ahead on my own, but many times the system won't let me.

Why do other folks go to other farmers markets and pay $6 for a pupusa, but youll pay a street vendor $2? Duarte said.

This is something cultural, it's something essential for the Salvadoran community of Los Angeles. People from all over the country visit us from Southern California, Northern California, Washington, Texas and New York. When youre here, practically it's as if you were in El Salvador  you revive your roots, said Montoya. Not so much in the product that you can't find elsewhere but also in style. It is something fundamental, for Salvadorans, in any part of the world who come to visit us. Like the Placita Olvera is essential for Mexicans, they want to remember something of their country. Like that, this is that place."

Indeed, part of the charm and personality of the market is its relajo  its chaos, an explicit sensory overload invitation to an open secret and unapologetically loud and proud space, one of Los Angeles most exciting food spaces.

This space is a place of healing, a place of community and culture. I think this is why this is such a controversial thing is because everybody is so invested in this space, said Jasmine Tobar, a customer and an organizer with SALEF. I remember coming in the 90s as a little girl to buy cards at that store to call my abuelita and everybody in El Salvador. Our community deserves larger than this, and I think thats the conversation.

Ricardo Lopez and Maricela Serrano, a couple who were affected by the May 9 closure, see the street opening back up as good, but they are frustrated that nothing has really changed. We will still be exposed to ticketing, but this is a risk that we as street vendors have to take.

Maricela Serrano, who has also set up shop at a new location, prepares riguas, a popular Salvadoran street food not often found in restaurants. (Samanta Helou Hernandez / For The Times)

They have been selling pupusas, riguas and tamales, but with the closure, they decided to take Capital Semilla's seven-week course that helps them with a business plan,, permits and the like. They now have their hearts set on a lonchera, a food truck. What we want is advocating for more education [on resources] for the vendors. We can go into other businesses, have the same food.

Until they get their truck, they remain in limbo, and caught in the middle.

Looking to the horizon, even the vendors who are renting space at the Two Guys Plaza cant buy their way out of their uncertainty. According to Claros, the city attorney has given the owner some notice about the use of the parking lot, and those vendors might soon be looking at a similar fate as the street vendors.

With emotion in her voice, Sanaberia gets down to the soul of the market. We are the Salvadoran diaspora, [people] come and go shopping like they would at a little market, she said. "And without them, we don't survive.

Karla Tatiana Vasquez is a writer and a culinary professional who is working on The SalviSoul Cookbook, forthcoming, with Ten Speed Press.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Dan Whitcomb

(Reuters) - A 19-year-old man who went on a deadly shooting rampage at a St. Louis high school this week may have used the same firearm that his mother had removed from the family home several months earlier, the city's police commissioner said on Wednesday.

The mother of Orlando Harris, who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers minutes after the attack began, had contacted police several months earlier after discovering that her son had acquired a gun, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mike Sack said during a news briefing.

Officers removed the gun from the home and gave it to a unnamed adult, he said.

"It could have possibly been this gun," Sack said, referring to the AR-15 style rifle used in Monday's shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Two people were killed and seven others wounded in the attack, the latest in an epidemic of shootings at U.S. schools in recent years.

Sack deflected questions about how Harris entered the school, which was locked at the time, saying only that he had used a "forced entry."

In a shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 people earlier this year, officials were castigated for failing to lock the entrance where the gunman entered the building.

After the St. Louis shooting, the suspect's mother told investigators that the family was aware of his mental health issues and had "done everything they possibly could" to get him help, Sack said.

Unlike some U.S. states, Missouri does not have a "red flag" law, which allows law enforcement to confiscate firearms from individuals deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.

"The mother at time wanted it out of the house. This other party had it. How he acquired it after that we don't know," Sack said, referring to Harris.

Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were attempting to trace the firearm through its serial number, Sacks said. That process can be more difficult when a gun is transferred between individuals instead of sold by a licensed dealer.

Investigators believe Harris targeted individuals at the school, Sack said, but declined to say if the gunman targeted the 61-year-old teacher or 16-year-old girl who were slain in the attack.

Several other students were wounded by gunfire and two girls suffered broken ankles when they jumped out of classroom windows to flee the gunman.

"The school was the target. There was a disconnect between him and what he felt was the school community," Sack said. "He felt isolated and alone."

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Prosecutors said Victor Hill, who was suspended as Clayton County sheriff after his indictment last year, had detainees strapped into restraint chairs for hours even though they posed no threat and complied with deputies instructions.



ATLANTA (AP)  A federal jury on Wednesday returned a guilty verdict on six of seven charges against a suspended Georgia sheriff accused of violating the constitutional rights of people in his custody by unnecessarily strapping them into restraint chairs.

Prosecutors said Victor Hill, who was suspended as Clayton County sheriff after his indictment last year, had detainees strapped into restraint chairs for hours even though they posed no threat and complied with deputies instructions. The use of the chairs was unnecessary, was improperly used as punishment and caused pain and bodily injury in violation of the civil rights of seven men, prosecutors argued.

Defense attorneys asserted that Hill used the restraint chair legally to maintain order at the jail and didnt overstep his lawful authority.

This photo provided by the South Carolina Dept. of Corrections shows the states death chamber in Columbia, S.C., including the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left. ( South Carolina Dept. of Corrections via AP)

Hill testified last week that he based his decisions to use the restraint chairs on indicators such as the way the men behaved before they arrived at the jail, including eluding police or assaulting women, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The jury began deliberating Friday afternoon, after about a week of testimony from more than three dozen witnesses, news outlets reported. Their verdict  guilty of violating the civil rights of six of the seven detainees  came Wednesday afternoon, news outlets reported.

The jury on Monday told the judge they were deadlocked on most of the charges and she read them what is known as an Allen charge, which urges jurors to continue deliberating to reach a unanimous verdict. She read them a second Allen charge on Wednesday, Findling said.

The jury foreperson told the judge Tuesday that she and other jurors had concerns about one juror, and on Wednesday sent the judge a note saying that one juror was failing to follow instructions, the Journal-Constitution reported. The judge questioned both the foreperson and the juror in question in open court.

Findling, who had moved multiple times for a mistrial, said the situation  where one juror was singled out and felt he had to defend himself during deliberations  was concerning.

Our review of case law from this circuit and around the country would indicate that given what we experienced, this conviction will struggle to survive legal review by an appellate court, Findling told The Associated Press.

Prosecutors said the chair is meant to be used to keep a violent or uncontrollable person from hurting himself or others. Instead, they said, Hill used it as punishment, keeping some of the men strapped in so long that they urinated on themselves.

Hill has attracted both vocal critics and fierce supporters since he first became sheriff in 2005, adopting a tough-on-crime attitude and favoring Batman imagery on social media and in campaign ads. He fired 27 deputies his first day on the job, though a judge later ordered them reinstated, and used a tank owned by the sheriffs office during drug raids.

He lost a bid for reelection in 2008 after his first term. But the voters of Clayton County, just south of Atlanta, returned him to office in 2012 even though he was under indictment at the time, accused of using his office for personal gain. A jury ultimately acquitted him on all 27 charges in that case.

In 2016, he pleaded no contest to a reckless conduct charge after he shot and injured a woman in a model home in Gwinnett County, north of Atlanta. He and the woman both said the 2015 shooting was accidental and happened while they were practicing police tactics.

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The post Suspended Georgia sheriff convicted of civil rights abuses appeared first on TheGrio.
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.


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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a congratulatory letter to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak on assuming office, Pashinyans Office said.

The letter reads:

Your Excellency,

I address to you my warmest greetings and best wishes on the occasion of assuming the positions of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the leader of the Conservative Party.

You are assuming the position of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in conditions of complex geopolitical processes and socio-economic and political problems facing your country, when political leaders are required to use maximum prudence to overcome the current challenges. I am confident that you will lead the United Kingdom on the path of development and prosperity.

This year the Republic of Armenia and the United Kingdom are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations which is a good occasion to reveal the unutilized potential and outline new directions of cooperation between our countries.

Armenia attaches great importance to the further development and deepening of the partnership with the United Kingdom based on common value system and practical interests.

Despite the serious security challenges Armenia continues unsteadily fulfilling the democratic reforms, and in this context we highly value the support of the UK government. I hope under your government the Armenian-British relations will get a new impetus and quality for the benefit of the prosperity of our countries and welfare of our friendly peoples.

Wishing new achievements and success to your responsible mission, please, Your Excellency, accept the assurances of my highest respect.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan held a meeting on October 26 with the OSCE needs assessment mission led by Colonel Robert Arkadiusz Tkaczyk of Poland, the current OSCE presiding country. The meetings purpose were summarizing discussions.

Hovhannisyan thanked the mission for visiting every province that was affected by the Azerbaijani aggression.

The members of the mission presented their work, their meetings on the ground with provincial leaders and Armenian Army corps commanders and the recorded damages from the attack.

Deputy FM Hovhannisyan attached importance to the involvement of the OSCE  as a Pan-European security organization  in preventing and resolving conflicts.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. On October 27, within the framework of the 34th meeting of the management staff of the European Migration Network (EMN), the head of the Migration Service of Armenia, Armen Ghazaryan, signed a document on joining the European Migration Network as an observer.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Migration Service of Armenia, aimed at supporting the development of policies related to the field of migration and asylum in the European Union, the organization cooperates with the EU member states and relevant bodies that are engaged in the field. According to the 2008 decision of the Council of the Network, the Organization has set a goal to meet the information needs of institutions in the field of migration and asylum and the authorities of member countries and to provide impartial, reliable, fresh and comparable information. It is also intended to be a source of reliable information for the general public.

Monique Pariat, Director General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, noted that the list of observer countries of the European Migration Network is expanding, which is gratifying, because in the light of the new migration situation, it becomes possible to adopt approaches aimed at effective migration management.

"The EMN mandate covers all aspects of migration management, including EU priorities, and successful cooperation in this area will increase the efficiency of managing migration flows in the future," she noted.

Head of Migration Service of Armenia Armen Ghazaryan noted that the EU-Armenia cooperation in the field of migration is active and multilayered, and close cooperation with the EU on migration issues is a priority for the Government of Armenia.

"Based on the mentioned experience and its positive impact, Armenia is trying to find additional ways to improve relations and cooperation with the EU. In this context, cooperation with the European Migration Network is important," he stressed, adding that joining the EMN provides an opportunity to receive up-to-date, reliable, objective and comparable information, which will be valuable for all interested parties in Armenia, making all EUs expert experience on migration and asylum available.

"Not only Armenia will benefit from our membership, but also the EU. additional data provided by a non-EU member state can contribute to a better understanding of the challenges of migration and asylum, especially regarding the region of the Eastern neighborhood of the EU," Armen Ghazaryan noted.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The "Civil Contract" faction of the National Assembly of Armenia nominated Hayk Grigoryan for the position of a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, ARMENPRESS was informed from the parliament of Armenia.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Russia considers the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan necessary. Moscow supports peaceful settlement, as well as border delimitation and complete settlement of the border problem, ARMENPRESS reports, citing "RIA Novosti", Russian President Vladimir Putin announced during Valdai conference.

"Our position is that the peace agreement is, of course, necessary. And we support peaceful settlement, as well as border delimitation and full settlement of the border problem. We are in favor. The question is which option to choose? this is the business of Armenia, the Armenian people and the leadership of Armenia," Putin said.

Putin noted that Russia will support any choice of Armenia. According to Putin, the "Washington" version envisages the recognition of Azerbaijan's sovereignty over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"If Armenia considers it right, then, please, we will support any choice of the Armenian people. If the Armenian people and the leadership of Armenia believe that Karabakh has its own characteristics that should be taken into account and somehow discussed in the future reconciliation agreement, that is also possible.

But, of course, its necessary to negotiate with Azerbaijan," said Putin, emphasizing that the agreements should be acceptable for the other side as well.

The President of the Russian Federation emphasized that whatever option is chosen, if it will lead to peace, Russia will only support it. "We are not going to impose anything, we cannot and we are not going to dictate anything to Armenia," said the Russian President.
Shoigu briefed Singh on evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible provocations through the use of dirty bomb

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.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Siti Elina was about to break into the government building armed with a gun. The counter-terrorism agency notes the growing recruitment of lone women. The attacker shared Islamist propaganda on social media.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Indonesias National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT[*]) is investigating a woman who tried to break into the presidential palace on Tuesday armed with a gun.

Acting like lone wolf, she tried, unsuccessfully, to shoot at security guards, local police said.

According to BNPT director, Brigadier General Ahmad Nurwakhi, Siti Elina, a supporter of the Hizbut Tahrir terrorist organisation banned in 2019, posted Islamic State propaganda on social media .

Investigators are trying to determine the possible involvement of other parties. The BNPT seized dozens of pistols and rifles at her home in North Jakarta. Her husband also appears to be a supporter of the Islamic State in Indonesia.

General Nurwakhid stressed lone women are increasingly involved in acts of terrorism. "This is a new trend, especially on the part of the Islamic State, he explained.

Women are recruited as "brides" and trained to perform "jihadi martyrdom". According to police, Siti Elina's case is similar to two other attempted attacks.

In 2016 Dian Yuli Novi was arrested on suspicion of planning an attack on the presidential palace along with other people. In 2021, security forces killed Zazkia Aini for attempting to attack police headquarters in Jakarta.

[*] Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Terorisme.
The shrine attack has claimed so far 15 lives and 19 wounded. Some groups say the Iranian regime is behind the attack to justify further repression. At least 10,000 people gathered at the Saghez cemetery to honour the slain young Kurdish woman. Local sources say security forces fired live rounds and tear gas against protesters. The country's prisons can no longer accommodate inmates.

Tehran (AsiaNews)  Yesterdays attack on a famous Shia shrine in Shiraz, southern Iran, has left so far 15 people dead and 19 wounded. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, while a man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian blamed "terrorists and foreigners meddlers who pretend to defend human rights, something that Iranian authorities have used to smear the protests that followed the killing of Mahsa Amini.

Protesters marked the 40th day since her death, with fresh new violence and arrests by the security forces.

According to dissident groups, including the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), the Islamic State was not responsible for the attack in Shiraz, which was carried out instead by the regime to justify further repression.

According to the local Governor Mohammad-Hadi Imanieh, a lone gunman "fired indiscriminately on worshippers in Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz during evening prayers, said. He was arrested soon after.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has promised a "severe response" against the Islamic State, which has struck in Iran in the past. In 2017 for example, the Iranian parliament and the tomb of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, were attacked.

The incident at the Shia shrine coincides a fresh crackdown on the protests sparked by the death in mid-September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman detained by Irans morality police allegedly for wearing the hijab incorrectly.

The headcovering women must wear has become the symbol of Irans oppressive clerical regime.

Following the traditional 40 days of mourning, students and women led protests in several cities. One of the focal points was the Aichi cemetery in Saghez, where Mahsa Amini is buried.

In one of the most impressive and moving moments since the foundation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, about 10,000 people  men and women, young and old  gathered at the cemetery.

Chanting slogans in favour of freedom and rights, they demanded justice for the slain young woman.

Irans theocratic regime has not, however, hesitated to use force to stop the protest movement. So far, more than 200 people have reportedly died (240 according to some sources) in just over a month, including 27 children, in clashes with the security forces.

In Saghez, security forces allegedly used live ammunition and tear gas against protesters.

Meanwhile, the authorities have blocked communications, including the Internet, to stop images and videos of the violence from being posted on social media and shared among activist groups.

Security forces have shot tear gas and opened fire on people in Zindan Square, Saghez City," tweeted Hengaw, a Norway-based NGO, which monitors human rights violations in Irans Kurdish region. However, the group did specify whether there were any dead or wounded.

Despite the dangers, Iranians are speaking out on the 40th day since Mahsa Aminis death, a symbolic number that marks the end of the mourning period. According to Islamic tradition, this is the time when the soul separates from the body and prepares for paradise.

In light of the situation, the authorities have set up checkpoints, boosted censorship, deployed more police, and closed schools and universities in the Kurdish region, citing health reasons.

Local sources say that Mahsa Amini's family was warned by phone not to organise vigils or ceremonies in her memory.

So far, the regime has failed to stem the revolt; in fact, for the first time, it has been forced to release protesters because the country's prisons have reached their limit. Some protesters are being released just after a few hours.

According to a report prepared for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the regime arrested 20,445 people in the first two weeks of protests, 42 per cent under the age of 20.

For the first time in recent memory, Irans Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i said that the government was willing to talk to protesters, but Iranians are sceptical and dont expect any overtures from the authorities.
by Steve Suwannarat

Various observers have highlighted the problem in Cambodia, ranked one of the most corrupt countries in the region. Prime Minister Hun Sen makes 20 August a day dedicated to the fight against this scourge. In Cambodia, hundreds of foreign nationals from Southeast Asian countries have been freed in recent months.

Phnom Penh (AsiaNews)  Cambodia is the point of origin, transit, and destination of human trafficking networks, which cannot operate without corruption and complicity in high places, this according to several observers.

The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International ranks the Southeast Asian country 157th out of 180, third to last in the Asia-Pacific region after Afghanistan and North Korea.

In view of the situation, action should be taken so Cambodia will not become the heaven of crime, money laundering and human trafficking, said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Sixth National Interfaith Forum against Human Trafficking held last month in Phnom Penh.

As a token of its commitment, during the forum, the government announced that next year, 20 August will be a day dedicated to the fight against the scourge with every level of government involved.

It is well known that human trafficking in Cambodia affects thousands of people from different countries attracted by job offers, but once in the country, they are exploited by various organised crime groups.

Since the start of this year, many Malaysian nationals have been rescued, as were 241 Indonesians who were sent home in August.

That same month, 41 Cambodian, Chinese and Thai nationals were arrested in connection with 368 human trafficking cases. So far this year, some 629 Taiwanese were caught up in human trafficking nets.

In July, a documentary on Al Jazeera gave victims the opportunity to tell their tales of deception, detention, torture, and even death threats.

Like the Qatar-based international Arabic-language broadcaster, other major international media have investigated the problem over the past few months, exposing online scams and gambling houses run by Cambodia-based gangs headed by both Cambodians and foreigners.

Gambling is legal in Cambodia and the number of casinos is increasing, which are essential for money laundering and the development of new forms of slavery.

Online scams often involve people enticed by offers of well-paid jobs in services and tourism, who end up deprived of their freedom once they are in the country. Most of them come from countries members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chaired this year by Cambodia.
Titled "Enlarge the space of your tent, the report reflects the ideas formulated by 112 bishops conferences sent to the Vatican, including from the Churches of Asia. Starting with this paper, discussions will get underway again at the local level to pick the priorities for the first phase of the Synodal Assembly in October 2023.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  The Synod of Bishops today at the Vatican released the Working Document for its Continental Stage, which marks the start in the journey Pope Francis opened a year ago.

Destined for dioceses around the world, the framework for a synodal Church focuses on communion, participation and mission and the goal, quoting Isaiah 54:2, is to Enlarge the space of your tent, spread out your tent cloths unsparingly, lengthen your ropes and make firm your pegs.

In recent weeks, a commission of experts has worked on the reports sent to Rome by the 112 bishops conferences (out of 114) that responded to Pope Franciss call, together with those from the dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as many other groups and individuals who posted their ideas directly online to the Secretariat of the Synod.

Thousands of suggestions were turned into in a 46-page document whose purpose is to nurture the intermediate stage ahead of further reflections in each continent with, as reference, the tent and the tabernacle that accompanied the people of Israel in the desert.

As the Working Document reads, The tents hold is ensured by the sturdiness of its pegs, that is, the fundamentals of faith that do not change but can be moved and planted in ever new ground, so that the tent can accompany the people as they walk through history.

Thus, the goal is to heed the voices of every local Church in the world. Although a few dozen pages cannot do justice to broad and complex ideas, the contributions of each Church are the basis of every point. Many of them came from Asia.

In one case, for example, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan underlines the experience of novelty and freshness that the Synod is offering to the communities, who spoke of how, after decades of church going, they had been asked to speak for first time.

The journey was not always easy for everyone. In the report from the Philippines, we can read that many of the underprivileged and those who were marginalised in society felt that they are also left out in the Church.

The documents overall perspective is that of a "missionary synodal Church", with five main guidelines: listening to everyone as a sign of openness to others, the urge to go forward in the mission, an ecclesial style based on everyones participation, improved training and education, and the centrality of the liturgy as a tangible place of communion nourished by the Word of God and the Sacraments.

Various concrete challenges fall within this framework; for example, the Korean bishops' conference is one of those that highlighted the role of women in the Church. Despite the great participation of women in various Church activities, they are often excluded from key decision-making processes. Therefore, the Church needs to improve its awareness and institutional aspects of their activities.

The issues of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue reflect various experiences and different contexts. The bishops of Laos and Cambodia looked at how The encounter between the Catholic Church in Cambodia and the Buddhist Monks and lay Cambodian Buddhists creates a new culture. All our activities affect each other and affect the whole world.

Conversely, for the Catholic Church in India, despite similar efforts, there is a feeling that the mission in this realm is minimal. The dialogue efforts drew only a handful of elites and remained mostly as cerebral exercises limited to the realm of ideas and concepts rather than becoming a movement of the masses and becoming also a dialogue of life.

In some contexts, bearing witness to the faith approaches a point of martyrdom. In some countries Christians, especially young people, must cope with systematic attempts at forced conversion to other religions.

According to the document, There are many reports that emphasize the insecurity and violence with which persecuted Christian minorities must contend. In such cases, walking together with people of other faiths, instead of retreating behind the wall of separation, requires the courage of prophecy.

Another much-discussed topic is how to ensure that the style of synodality becomes the ordinary practice in the Church's journey. Indeed, while the tensions between the need to welcome all charisms without emptying the ministry of leadership of bishops is clear in the document, it is also evident that synodality must be adequately supported through educational work.

Myanmar bishops note the urgent need for the education and formation programmes for clergy and lay people for developing a shared understanding of synodality that is so vital for journeying together in the local Churches.

Now these and many other ideas will go back to each Church whose task it will be to recognise points of convergence and divergence with respect to the report, indicating the priorities the Synod must discuss in upcoming stages. In each continent, an assembly will be held by next March, with, as Pope Francis insisted from the start, priests, religious and laity as key players along with bishops.

The final documents of all these meetings will form the basis for an Instrumentum laboris to be drafted during the first phase of the Synodal Assembly set for Rome in October 2023. And as Pope Francis announced a few days ago, the journey will continue after that for another year with a second session of the Synod scheduled for October 2024.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

The process, promoted mainly by Erdogan's Turkey, received a further boost after the start of Putin's aggression against Ukraine. Language seen as the ultimate integrator of political and ideological significance.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - These days the Organisation of Turkic Countries (OPT), which involves Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, has decided to submit the issue of creating a single alphabet for joint discussion. According to Tatar political scientist Ruslan Ajsin, this is 'a long-awaited event, which the Turkish-speakers of the Russian Federation, and perhaps the much-persecuted Uyghurs of China, may join sooner or later', as he puts it in an article in Idel.Realii.

In recent years, mainly at the initiative of Ankara, a decisive process of rapprochement of the Turkic countries has been initiated, which received an additional boost after the start of Putin's aggression against Ukraine. The stakeholders have signed or promoted many strategic agreements and joint economic and humanitarian projects. Even the creation of a common army to guarantee the security of the region of Ottoman memory, and succeed in countering the pressures of the threatening northern neighbour.

The Turanian world is trying to rediscover its own common identity, at a time of the laboured collapse of the imperialisms of East and West and their colonial policies. As historian Lev Gumilev put it, the Moscow regime 'had tried in the last century to scatter the Turkic super-ethnos into several separate chambers, those of the Eurasian Soviet republics, in order to assert the principle of divide and rule'. This fragmentation also entailed a removal of the cultural and spiritual heritage and the spirit of fraternity of the Turkic peoples.

The alphabet itself was the symbolic instrument of this colonial operation. Within a generation, Moscow had changed the linguistic spelling twice: first by replacing Arabic with Latin letters, and shortly afterwards by imposing the Cyrillic alphabet, for the purpose of unification and Russification. The intelligentsia of these countries tried to oppose the imperial paradigm, but inertia imposed by force from the central power silenced all opposing voices, often through internment in camps.

As Ajsin recalls, 'a great Tatar intellectual of the late 19th century, Ismail Gaspraly, argued that unity comes from language, ideas and labour. Language is the ultimate integrator of political and ideological meaning, and no global collaborative project can succeed without a common language. The Turkic world today exceeds 300 million people, and a Turkic language based on a single alphabet, the so-called Yangalif, would become one of the most widespread idioms in the world.

The language would thus not only become the vehicle for the integration of the Turkic world, but would be the protective shield against the aggression of the 'Russian world'. The invasion of the Ukraine, the historian warns, 'began precisely with the motivation of defending the Russian-speaking population of that country, and similar statements have already resounded with regard to Kazakhstan'. It is the Soviet legacy of opposing the languages and cultures of peoples deemed 'lesser' than the dominant Russian one.

'Alone one does not survive,' Ajsin concludes, 'in the world of global communication, language becomes a decisive tool in political and ideological warfare. It is not just a matter of regulating a means of communication, but of working out a common vision of the world: 'the ancient Greeks believed that their language, the Logos, was both speech and thought, the key that opens the door to the human soul, reason and perception of the surrounding reality'. Only a man who speaks his native language can consider himself an authentic subject, not a member of an anonymous mass.
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When Ford revealed the all-new, fifth-generation 2023 F-Series Super Duty, there were still some mysteries to clear  mostly having to do with the crucial workhorse figures. No worries, the air has been cleared now, and the Blue Oval company now claims a triple heavy-duty crown, all thanks to best-in-class towing, payload, and power capabilities.Ford basically says that its  all-new 2023 F-Series Super Duty is unrivaled among heavy-duty pickup trucks with the best towing available for every trailer type So, the maximum available towing rating is 40,000 lbs. (18,144 kg) for the F-450, the best-in-class maximum available payload has now reached 8,000 lbs. (3,629 kg), and a new high-output 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel good for some pretty amazing numbers.The latter flaunts no less than 500 horsepower and an incredible, mountain-moving 1,200 lb.-ft. (1,627 Nm) of twisting torque, while the regular 6.7L Power Stroke V8 diesel has 475 ponies on tap. Moving to the gasoline V8 engines, the 6.8-liter and 7.3-liter options have 405 and 430 horsepower, respectively. The Super Duty production is planned at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and Ohio Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, Ohio, with the order books currently open and deliveries scheduled for early next year.Pricing kicks off at an MSRP of $43,970 plus $1,795 for destination and delivery and Ford will offer many perks. Among them we could mention the Tremor package, class-exclusive embedded standard 5G Wi-Fi, Ford Power Up over-the-air updates and seamless connectivity to Ford Pro software. New features like the 360-Degree Trailer Camera Package and Onboard Scales are not missing, either.
SUV

The Japanese automaker has had a field year over in the United States. Stuff like the all-new Honda HR-V (a larger model than the international version, now globally known as the ZR-V), the sixth generation of the best-selling CR-V compact crossover, or the 316-hp sixth iteration of the feisty Civic Type R kept everyone on their toes. But wait, as there is more, much more.And in a larger format, as Honda is now preparing for the reveal of the fourth generation Pilot mid-size crossover SUV, as per the recent teaser. Plus, in a big sign that it is not ready (at least, not yet) to abandon the traditional passenger car segments, the Rising Sun carmaker just flaunted the first images of the eleventh-generation Honda Accord mid-size sedan.Of course, some people are too impatient to wait for the official OEM release. No worries, though, virtual automotive artists are seemingly always ready to put the CGI spotlight on the latest novelties. So, here are the good folks over at the AutoYa info channel on YouTube, who have again imagined the CGI looks of an impending 2023 Honda model and compiled all available info on it.Thus, swiftly after the 2023 Honda Pilot mid-size three-row SUV was keen to CGI-show us everything , here is also the Accord XI sedan getting fully exposed, albeit also only virtually  and complete with all the rumored specifications. Note that everything  as thoroughly documented as it may seem  is still on a rumor level, so it needs to be taken with a grain of salt.Also, this time around, the resident pixel master skipped the now-traditional CGI color reel and we only got to check out this unofficial depiction of the next-gen Accord in just a couple of hues: white and crimson.
A 21-year-old boy from the Raumati South School in New Zealand proved that if you have a wish, you should do something to make it happen. Little Aaron already knows more about airplanes and helicopters than many of us because aviation, both military and civilian, is his greatest passion.Knowing that RNZAF helicopters sometimes pay special visits to schools, he decided to write a letter asking for a similar visit to his own school. He even added a slide show to be more convincing, the New Zealand Herald reports.And it worked. Yesterday, the kids at the Raumati South School got to see the massive NH90 up-close, ask questions, and find out more about what it does. RNZAF Flight Lieutenant Rob Kenyon, an NH90 pilot at 3SQN RNZAF Base Ohakea organized the visit after receiving Aarons letter.The twin-engine medium-utility helicopter has entered service within RNZAF in 2015. It boasts a fiberglass composite structure, a full ice-protection system, and a fly-by-wire flight control system, allowing it to operate in a wide range of missions, from search-and-rescue to counter-terrorism.The Air Force currently has nine NH90 helicopters in its fleet, all purchased from NATO Helicopters Industries. They were meant to replace the Iroquois fleet and provide support for the military over the next two decades.Most likely, Aaron already knew all of that. But now he got the chance to learn more straight from a flight lieutenant and also get as close as possible to a real helicopter, which he might even fly one day.
4MATIC

When it comes to Fabolous , John David Jackson on his real name, everything he does couldnt be anything but... fabulous. He loves the finer things just as much as any other rapper and uses his social media accounts to show it off.He just visited the United Arab Emirates capital, Abu Dhabi, recently, and he has the pics to prove it. In fact, he renamed it FABu Dhabi, as per one of his descriptions, where he posed wearing a Kandura, a UAE traditional dress, while posing next to a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, which was his luxury ride while in the city.The sub-brand of Mercedes-Benz introduced the GLS 600 in late 2019. It has a 4.0-liter V8 engine under the hood, which, alongside a 48-volt mild-hybrid drive system, sends 550 horsepower (558 ps) and 538 lb-ft (730 Nm) of torque to all wheels, via a nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. Its also filled with luxury features and created for the utmost comfort.Speaking of comfort and luxury, besides the Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600, he also had a two-tone white and dark blue Rolls-Royce Cullinan pick him up after arriving in the United Arab Emirates, which is exactly his go-to ride. Back at home, he has a silver and yellow Rolls-Royce Cullinan, but he seemingly added a Mercedes-Benz V-Class with Maybach elements to his collection recently, alongside a 2023 Range Rover , all black.And, since he's all about the finer things, he was also seen with one of the most opulent vehicles out there recently, a Maybach Landaulet , which he used for a music video. While he doesn't own the Landaulet, he does have a Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 and a Mercedes-Maybach S-Class.
SUV

Ford eventually became the most popular automotive brand at the beginning of the 2000s, which prompted the Blue Oval to enter a joint venture with Sollers JSC. Formerly known as OAO Severstal-Auto, this company holds a controlling stake in minibus,, and pickup truck manufacturer UAZ.Founded a little over 11 years ago, Ford Sollers has been axed by the Ford Motor Company after it sold its 49-percent share in the joint venture. Ford shares will be transferred to the JV for a nominal value. Ford retains the option to repurchase the shares within a 5-year period, should the global situation change, the American automaker states in the attached release.FoMoCo suspended all operations in the Russian Federation back in March 2022, mere weeks after the largest country in the world invaded Ukraine over false accusations from the pipsqueak in the Kremlin. The operations in question concern the manufacturing of cars and utility vehicles, the supply of parts for new cars and servicing, engineering support, and IT services.Russias invasion of Ukraine continues to isolate  both politically and economically  the aggressor country from the west. It should be highlighted that Mercedes-Benz is also exiting the Russian market after suspending local production in March 2022. The Stuttgart-based automaker has recently announced that Avtodom, a chain of car dealerships, will buy its shares. Be that as it may, Mercedes-Benz will retain 15 percent of Kamaz.Turning our attention back to Ford, we should remember that FoMoCo was one of the first automakers to condemn the war. As part of the global community, Ford is deeply concerned about the invasion of Ukraine and the resultant threats to peace and stability. The situation has compelled us to reassess our operations in Russia, reads a statement from the Blue Oval.
The search giant updated many of its services, including Google Search and Google Maps , with information regarding the fight against the virus, and now that the world is returning to normal, the company can undo these releases.In other words, Google Maps is losing a COVID-related feature because nobody is using it anymore. Its not us saying it but Google, as the Mountain View-based search firm has confirmed that the COVID-19 layer in Google Maps is going dark because of declining usage.The company also explains that all the information that users need in the fight against the virus can be found on Google Search anyway.In case youre wondering when the whole thing happened, it looks like Google removed this layer in September this year. It happened quietly, as the company didnt release any announcement on this front. However, the feature is no longer available in mobile apps or on the web, so right now, Google Search is the only destination for virus-related info.Google Maps will continue to show key locations for the fight against the health crisis, including vaccination centers and testing sites. However, these dont require any special layer, as they are shown on the map just like any other point of interest.In the meantime, Google Maps is evolving on other fronts. The application is getting tons of other new-generation features, including the eco-friendly routing that drivers seem to love these days. Thanks to this innovation, Google Maps is capable of providing users with routes that help save fuel, all based on the analysis of several factors, including road incline and traffic patterns. The eco-friendly routing is already available in several large regions, with Google working on bringing it elsewhere too.
SUV

The idea is that these customers will be chauffeured from the gate to the aircraft in the 2023 Jaguar I-Pace HSE , and vice versa will happen once they return. The service will be expanded to several United hubs in the U.S. by the end of this year.According to the British marque and United, these vehicles will make an estimated 60 trips per day, with over 1,000 passengers being chauffeured from gate to aircraft and back. The service will soon be introduced in Denver, New York's Newark United Hub, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Houston.The ground transfer service is meant for customers who have tight connections at the air carrier's U.S. hub airports, and is designed to be a surprise benefit for select Premier MileagePlus members.In other words, you cannot schedule this, but it is something that is granted by the airline to select passengers upon landing at the airport, where they will be greeted by a specialized Premier Services agent.If you are in this situation, you should know that the United Airlines agent in question will accompany you to the vehicle on the tarmac, drive to the connecting flight, and then guide you to the stairway that leads to your connecting flight.The performancehas five seats, but the transfer in question usually takes a couple of minutes or so when done directly on the tarmac. The advantage is that you no longer have to stroll through the airport, find the right gate, and then stay in line. The latter part was not done anyway, as passengers who are Premier MileagePlus members are eligible for priority boarding.Those who have missed a connecting flight or have experienced the unpleasant run from one gate to another during a transfer will understand why this is such a welcome surprise when it is offered to a passenger.
In truth, dozens of different factors contribute in a not unsubstantial way to the proven science of climate change. But it's the job of none other than NASA to study the effects of a phenomenon contributing at least as much to climate change as cars, trucks, and airplanes. It's not one of NASA's more glamorous missions, but it's every bit as important as Artemis.Using a fleet of Low Earth Orbit satellites and even real estate on the International Space Station, the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) mission's most recent work relates to the studying plumes of gasses purported to be vital in the contribution to rapid climate change from pluming into massive atmospheric clouds which scientists have observed stretching for miles at a time.Since just July 2022, the EMIT initiative's discovered at least 50 phenomena known as "super-emitters." These vast plumes of many different lighter-than-air elements, but most often methane, emit a telltale signature when viewed from the infrared spectrum. Through this lens, we can see that clouds of gasses seven miles (11.2) blend in with the surrounding atmosphere without humans down below being any the wiser.According to NASA statistics, methane accounts for far less total emissions into the atmosphere than more common pollution like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and whatever else comes out of an emissions-deleted Cummins truck with the exhaust pipes dumping out the rear bed at 3 a.m. The real problem with methane in the context of provable climate change is not the quantity but rather the potency.You see, methane is as much as 80 times more disruptive to the day-to-day homeostasis of the Earth's atmosphere than carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Methane molecules can linger in the atmosphere for far longer than anything else emitted from the exhaust pipes of cars and trucks. To make matters worse, it appears these super emitters can be either man-made or natural in origin.Human industrial activity, no doubt, still plays a role, most notably in the form of petrochemical refinement and the energy sector, but also thanks to large landfills choked to the brim with methane-emitting trash. The full story of where all this methane comes from is at the heart of this mission.In a sense, the data detected by NASA 's EMIT program is humanity's best shot at finding its source and taming it. With so many super-emitters already discovered in a short timeframe, there's no telling how daunting of a task this might be. If we were betting people, we'd say it'd be a herculean effort."Some of the plumes EMIT detected are among the largest ever seen  unlike anything that has ever been observed from space," said Andrew Thorpe, a research technologist at JPL leading the EMIT methane effort. "What we've found in just a short time already exceeds our expectations." But what implications do super-emitter plumes like the ones found by the EMIT program have on the automotive industry?Well, on the face of it, not very much at the moment. But this could change in a heartbeat if it's found that deposits of methane in the atmosphere are doing even more harm to the global environment than even all the internal combustion engines and lithium mining put together. Granted, that's not going to stop the inevitable transition away from internal combustion over to battery EVs. That's as good as set in stone.If anything, expect restrictions on the levels of methane that ICE cars and trucks are allowed to emit to be reduced by an even larger degree. Ditto for the energy and manufacturing sectors. It's the least we can do when there are literally methane clouds rising from seemingly nowhere.
Back in 2019, when Oracle founder Larry Ellison and champion yachtsman Russell Coutts founded SailGP, they wanted to create a race series that would write history. Coutts is ready to take that to the next level by adding even more speed to the current fast-foiling catamarans.Since the teams in the competition are not privately owned, the SailGP boss has the entire control over the 50-foot (15 meters) catamarans configuration and capabilities. He recently told the Into the Depths podcast that the current rudders and foils will be replaced with new ones. This will help increase speed by 10 kph (6 mph), resulting in a potential speed of 111 kph (68.9 mph), which is pretty scary.Even at the current speed, the SailGP cats arent equipped for smooth navigation, shaking and making it very difficult for the yachtsmen to stay in control. This is why the new equipment will also be accompanied by safety features inspired by Formula One. In fact, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were recently invited onboard one of these boats, Stuff reports.Their feedback coincided with what the SailGP boss had in mind in terms of safety. That is, adding a Halo-like protection system for the driver and the crew because the existing cockpit is too open, which exposes the crew to greater risks. Also, the F50 foiling catamarans will get their sides reinforced with a patch of Kevlar.At the moment, SailGP has ended the European season and is gearing up for the first regatta in the Middle East set, starting on November 12 in Dubai. Coutts did not specify when these modifications will be implemented, but it probably wont be too long because theyre already working on it.
SUV

Of course, the Barbification of the Trident automobile comes at a Barbie-lifestyle price  for the U.S. market, that score is $330,000. However, $33,000 goes to charity as a donation to the Barbie Dream Gap Fund.The most eye-catching feature of the Barbie-themed Maserati is the color  the bright unmistakable glamorous pink that is famed worldwide. With only three such Grecale examples liveried in the Barbie staple shade and just one in the U.S., it's most likely that the car will draw undivided and unanimous attention wherever it pops up.The result of a partnership between three solid brands  Maserati, Mattel, and Neiman Marcus  the bespoke hybrid vehicles are imbued with the artistic touches of their creators. True to Barbie's "always-in-the-spotlight" aura, the paint shimmers with a rainbow-glaring top coating. Watch the video and see if you can spot it.The inside of the Barbiecore ride is adorned with intense accents that put the Mattel icon at the heart of this performance car. The toy company's description of the pink's interior is swift and decisive: "High-tech flourishes and rich materials throughout the cabin also get a boost of Barbie colors: The decadent blackrace-inspired leather seats feature custom pink accents and stitching, and "B" badging on the headrests."To break the pink-and-black arrangement, delicate strings of intense warning-sign yellow hue underline the Maserati Fuoriserie logo, grille, front splitter, side air vents, wheels logos, and rear diffusor. The Neiman Marcus and Barbie logos, discreetly written in a gleaming black tint, complement the car's exterior attire.As it happens, the U.S.-market Barbie Grecale is the only one to sport the Neiman Marcus branding out of the highly exclusive run. Offered for sale at the price of $330,000, the luxury fashion retailer Maserati will see 10% (non-tax-deductible) of the amount directed to the Girl Empowering fund established by Mattel under Barbie's image. In short, it's the "Barbie brand's ongoing global initiative that partners with charities to help provide equal opportunities and remove barriers for girls."Unveiled as one of the 2022 Neiman Marcus Fantasy Gifts at a company's event in Los Angeles, the car is  apart from its over-obvious pinkness (the photo gallery is worth countless words)  just like any other, more discrete Grecales. While Italians are very open-minded regarding fashion  and so the pink idea suited them perfectly  they are also very proud . And when it comes to automotive  especially supercars  they hold their core values at very high stakes.So, to put the House of the Trident power in Barbie's hands requires a unique tool  the Maserati Grecale Trofeo. To reach her ambitious goals, Barbie rides tall and proud - on 523 twin-turbocharged horsepowers (530 PS) of the fiery Nettuno V6. ( Nettuno is Italian for Neptune, the trident-yielding Roman god of the seas).The ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox tames the three-liter raw Italian might and delivers it to all four wheels for the best Barbie performance (Offroad, Comfort, GT, Sport, and Corsa  that's Race in Italian). With the 457 lb-ft (620 Nm) of torque under her right bright pink shoe, Barbie can hit 62 mph (100kph) in 3.8 seconds from a standstill. And, if she is really in a hurry, the special Grecale will max out at 177 mph (285 kph).At the end of this story, please note that there is slight inadvertence in the three brands' communication relay. The Italian carmaker announced that only two cars will be available to the general public (the already-launched Neiman Marcus edition and a second one, which will be announced in 2023). At the same time, both Mattel and the luxury fashion retailer mention a three-unit production run of the Barbie-themed Grecales.
The $500 million brand-new yacht allegedly owned by one of the top three richest men in Russia, Alexey Mordashov, is currently on a strange journey. Instead of staying put at Vladivostok, the Russian port where it docked soon after the first international sanctions against oligarchs were announced, the massive 464-footer (141.5 meters) cruised to Hong Kong. But, after the U.S. reportedly asked local officials to seize it, which they refused to do, Nord took off again.Maritime tracking data shows that the superyacht is headed toward Cape Town, where its due to arrive by November 9. Its not even there yet, but it had already sparked controversy. This time, between local and state officials. Bloomberg reports that Geordin Hill-Lewis, the mayor of Cape Town, wanted to not even allow Nord to dock there and asked the government to deny it entry.But Vincent Magwenya, President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesman, made it very clear that thats not going to happen. The official response was eerily similar to the one that Hong Kong gave previously, stating that third parties have no legal obligation to implement sanctions drafted by the U.S. and EU. Its not surprising since South Africa also abstained from the UN vote condemning the invasion of Ukraine back in March.Its obvious that these locations were chosen by Nords owners precisely for this reason, but its not obvious what the end game is. For now, the stunning Lurssen superyacht seems to have the green light to dock in South Africa without the risk of getting seized. But will it be able to avoid the fate of Amadea forever?
EV

FSD

NHTSA

According to Reuters, the DOJ is after themaker because of the companys claims that its vehicles can drive themselves. Elon Musk has said that more than once and promised that Teslas vehicles would become robotaxis in the following year since 2016.At the same time, the company included some legal disclaimers in its owners manuals stating that EVs demand constant supervision whenor Autopilot is active. Musk also said in the Q3 2022 earnings call that the company was not saying that thats quite ready to have no one behind the wheel. At the same event, he also said that FSDs next version would allow Tesla drivers to get to your work, your friends house, to the grocery store without you touching the wheel.The conflicting messages may be hard to take to court. Reuters talked to a former U.S. prosecutor about the case. Barbara McQuade said the legal teams currently taking care of the case in Washington and San Francisco would need to obtain evidence that Tesla misled customers about its ADAS on purpose.So far, it seems that the investigation has not decided on any strategy for the case. There are two other DOJ investigations against the car company, and the criminal probe is still in a very early stage. In other words, there has yet to be a decision on pressing charges. Reuters said that if the DOJ decides it has enough evidence to sue Tesla , the company and some of its leading executives may have to face justice. The company may have to pay hefty compensation sums and endure other sorts of penalties. The executives may go to jail.The new criminal probe is not surprising. Jennifer Homendy, the chair of the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) , said in September 2021 that FSD was misleading and irresponsible. Ralph Nader urgedto remove FSD from public roads. Even people really involved with the company said the beta software was a blatant cash grab scam in its current state. The backlash was expected, even if some may ask why it took so long to happen.
One of the countless such rides was filmed taking on some worthy opponents at the Petrolhead Spring Event in the Netherlands, and since its not exactly spring in the northern hemisphere, we are going to assume that the video was shot a few months ago.Still, it only made its way to YouTube earlier this week, so we decided to share it with you, because among those punchy challengers laid an Audi R8 V10 Spyder , presumably in the Performance specification. The German supercar is very quick, taking a little over 3 seconds to hit the 62 mph (100 kph) mark from a standstill, and maxing out at 205 mph (331 kph).The naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine is officially rated at 611 horsepower, and that alone, not to mention some of the clever aerodynamics, upgraded suspension, retuned steering, and other highlights, should be enough to discourage most rides from challenging it to a quarter-mile duel. However, it surely didnt scare off one bad-to-the-bone Mercedes-AMG E 63 S That special color, new wheels, and other enhancements are not the only modifications that the executive super sedan sports, because it was visited by the tuning fairy, with the video uploader mentioning Brabus name here. As for the total output churned out by the twin-turbo V8, it reportedly stands at 788 horsepower. Thats much more than what the R8 has on tap, and it might just be enough to help it cross the finish line first. But did it? Only one way to find out.
EU monitors in Armenia set off on their first patrol, the EUs European External Action Service (EEAS) announced on Twitter.

For the next two months, the EU Monitoring Capacity will monitor the situation on the Armenian side of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border to build confidence and to contribute to the [Armenian-Azerbaijani] border commissions, it said.

The leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan and France as well as the EUs top official, Charles Michel, reached an agreement on the mission at an October 6 meeting in Prague. It came three weeks after unusually large-scale border clashes between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops left at least 280 soldiers dead.

The Armenian government hopes that the 40 or so EU monitors deployed on the Armenian side of the border will help to prevent further hostilities there.

The civilian mission was officially launched on October 20 after an advance team of EU experts met senior Armenian officials in Yerevan and toured border areas that were directly affected by the September clashes.

The EU Monitoring Capacity in Armenia will report on military posture and ceasefire related developments in the border regions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, read an EEAS explanatory note released on October 20.

The EU monitors will also provide observations of events taking place along the bilateral border, including human rights related developments, it said. They will not have an investigative role.

Nor will the monitors draw conclusions of a political nature on the basis of their findings, added the statement.

Azerbaijani forces attacked and seized on September 13-14 some of the Armenian army positions at various sections of the long frontier. Although the hostilities were largely brought to a halt on September 14, the two sides still regularly accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said on October 17 that Azerbaijan is looking for an excuse to unleash new military aggression against Armenia.
Putin insisted that Moscow is not pressuring Yerevan to reject this variant of Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaties currently discussed by the conflicting parties.

As far as I understand, the so-called Washington variant envisages recognition of Azerbaijans sovereignty over Karabakh as a whole, he told an annual meeting of Russias Valdai Discussion Club. If Armenia thinks so, well, no problem. We will support any choice of the Armenian people.

If the Armenian people and leadership believe that Karabakh has its own specificities and these specificities must be taken into account, defined in a future peace treaty, this is also possible, he said.

Putin seemed to allude to an alternative peace accord reportedly proposed by Moscow. This document is said to refer to Karabakhs unresolved status and call for a future agreement on it.

In their peace talks mediated by the United States and the European Union, Armenia and Azerbaijan have been discussing a bilateral treaty that would commit them to recognizing each others territorial integrity. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has said that the treaty must make no references to Karabakh.

Armenian opposition leaders say that Yerevan would thereby recognize Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh. One of them claimed on Tuesday that Pashinian is planning to sign a corresponding agreement drafted by the U.S. Alen Simonian, the Armenian parliament speaker close to Pashinian, responded by insisting that no document is on the table at the moment.

The U.S. and the EU intensified their peace efforts following last months deadly fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Russia has been very critical of those efforts, saying that the West is using the Karabakh conflict in the standoff over Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry charged on Monday that the Western powers are trying to squeeze Russia out of the Transcaucasus, rather than broker a balanced solution to the Armenian-Azerbaijani dispute.

The U.S. State Department dismissed the claim. Some of Pashinians political allies likewise scoffed at the Russian criticism in a further sign of mounting tensions between Moscow and Yerevan.

Armenian leaders have rebuked Russia and the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for not providing military aid to Armenia during the September 13-14 border clashes. A newspaper controlled by Pashinians family claimed earlier this month that Moscow is trying to annex Armenia or make it part of the Russia-Belarus union by encouraging Azerbaijani military aggression against it.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
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God should be the center of every Christian relationship. Too often, couples overlook the importance of God in their relationship decision-making. Christian husbands place God at the center of their relationships and allow Him to be the main influence in their relationship. True love follows because God is at the center. It is important for women to be in relationships with men who are not only respectful, but who also glorify God. In these marriages, couples allow God to guide them. When it comes to love, the Bible is filled with incredible wisdom for husbands that can be applied on their marriage journey. A Christian husband is faithful to his wife. Even when times are difficult due to physical, emotional and physical challenges, a husbands will allow his happiness to come second to sacrificially love his wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25). A Christian husband is also attentive to his wife. He should always do his best to set aside a substantial amount of time to be with his wife and seek to understand her better. Doing this allows his relationship with his wife to grow closer to each other and build a strong a marriage that honors God. Here are seven important responsibilities of a Christian husband.

To Appreciate His Wife Shutterstock.com A Christian husband knows that you are a gift from God. He appreciates you and all the things you do. The man you inevitably end up with should make you feel loved, wanted and appreciated. This is a profoundly important piece of the puzzle. A good man will always remind you how much you mean to him. Men can be less communicative or affectionate than women are, but this does is not an excuse. If someone truly loves you, you will know it and feel it. If you dont, youll be wondering all the time if they do. You should never commit your time, energy and effort into someone who wouldnt give you the same in return. Many of us learn the hard way that being with someone who doesnt appreciate you can make you feel more alone than being single does.

To Respect His Wife Shutterstock.com Respect is one of the most important factors in any relationship, especially in the eyes of God. A Christian husband respects his wife. The Bible tells us, Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect (1 Peter 3:7). Respect is so important that Gods Word tells us if we neglect this command, our prayers will be hindered. Respect can mean many things. When Paul tells wives to submit to their husbands in Ephesians 5:24, he doesnt mean that wives must endure neglect, abuse or mistreatment of any kind by their husband. A Christian husband is called to show his wife honor both privately and publicly and acknowledges his wifes excellence and self-worth through acts of consideration. They help their wives whenever and wherever you can, especially when they notice shes in a position of need.

To Be Loyal to His Wife shutterstock.com Fidelity in marriage demands total commitment and prioritizing your spouse above all else. A Christian husband knows that it will take effort, work and sacrifice. But he also knows the reward is sweeter than the price he may feel he has to pay. Loyalty is vital to a happy, healthy, safe and lasting marriage. Loyalty is the foundation of true love. When a man shows loyalty in his marriage, his wife feels safe and secure in the marriage. A loyal husband listens carefully and is attentive. He doesnt let people or things pull his loyalty away from his wife. A Christian husband is also loyal. They speak highly of their wives, especially when their wives arent around. They stand up for their wives in all situations. He doesnt keep secrets from his wife. He is open and honest with his wife about both little and big things. He works to know his wife in a deeply intimate way.

To Be Gentle With His Wife Shutterstock.com A Christian husbands love is gentle. First Corinthians 13:4-5 reminds us that love is never harsh. Jesus is gentle with the Church and is the example of how a husband must be gentle with his wife. Scripture tells us, Do not be harsh with your wife (Colossians 3:19). A man should treat the woman he is with not only with respect, but also with tenderness. Harshness can be anything from an angry look and irritability to disrespectful and demeaning language. In short, being harsh is anything that reflects hostility. We all have bad days, but whatever youre going through internally should not be taken out on the woman youre with. A Christian husband is keen to this. He focuses on the fact that she is not only a precious gift to his life but also a precious child of God. Because of this, its hard to not show her respect.

To Lift Up His Wife Shutterstock.com Scriptures says, Call your wife blessed and praise her. (Proverbs 31: 28-29). A Christian husband acknowledges the woman hes with for all that she is. He doesnt take her for granted. He praises her for who she is in his life and his familys life. Hes not afraid to compliment her not only for the things she does or the way she looks, but also for the things she provides. When a woman doesnt feel appreciated, it opens the door for trouble within the relationship. Sometimes, all she wants to hear is thank you and know that you treasure her. A Christian husband does this. The woman hes with often appreciates the fact that he appreciates who she is in his life.

To Focus on His Wife Shutterstock.com In addition to being loyal, a Christian husband is focused on his wife, his family and God. The Bible tells us, Do not be captivated by other women (Proverbs 5:20). Our world is filled with many distractions and many forms of temptation. With shifting standards when it comes to marriage, many men struggle with this. But God wants more for you. God wants you to focus on the one person youre with and not be captivated by other women. A Christian husband doesnt put himself in positions where he will be tempted. He knows that when he begins to look at other women and develop attractions for them, it can take you down a path of sin and away from the relationship.

To Listen to His Wife Shutterstock.com A good Christian husband will listen to his wife. He is also cognizant of what her needs are. Its likely that just about every person would say theyre a good listener, but listening isnt an innate ability all people possess. Its a skill thats cultivated. Its a critical quality for couples because the foundation of successful communication is being able to truly listen to each other. A Christian man is a great listener because He puts his wifes needs first. He pays attention to what you say. He lets you vent, regardless of the subject. A man who truly loves you cares about what you have to say. A Christian husband also works through conflict. While conflict shows up in every marriage, biblical love perseveres. He will practice using patience, love, prayer and communication to solve problems that he and his wife face in marriage.

Are these responsibilities carried out by your husband? If so, that is an incredibly great sign. These tasks are often overlooked but are often key signs that he is the one for you. If your man expresses these things, he really values you in his life. If the man you are with puts in the effort to be this person for you, let them know how much you appreciate them. No matter how kind a person is, there is no emptier feeling than giving your heart to someone who you feel takes it for granted.

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Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
Hong Kong: FS tests positive for COVID-19

Financial Secretary Paul Chan has cancelled the remaining parts of his visit to Saudi Arabia since he tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test (RAT), the Government said today.

Previously, Mr Chan had obtained negative results in his daily RATs.

The Financial Secretary's Office said Mr Chan was originally scheduled to complete his visit and depart for Hong Kong today. But he will stay in Riyadh for a short while now, and seek to comply with relevant health requirements before returning to Hong Kong as soon as possible.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Covid-19 situation still unpredictable in Vietnam

An additional 484 new Covid-19 infections were confirmed on Thursday, and the Ministry of Health said that it's not yet time to declare pandemic over in the country.













Illustrative photo





According to the ministry's report, the national caseload has so far increased to 11,498,873.



On October 27, an additional 324 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 10.60 million.



On Thursday evening, three deaths from Covid-19 were recorded, raising the country's total fatalities to 43,165, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections.



By October 26, the country had injected over 261 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.





The Ministry of Health said the Covid-19 situation is still unpredictable due to the risk of more new dangerous virus variants, and countries must continue working to strengthen their surveillance systems.





Phan Trong Lan, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, told a recent meeting that globally, the Covid-19 situation is still complicated, and immunity gained has been reduced over time. He said that Vietnam would face challenges if the country was to announce the pandemic is over.


SRINAGAR: India's northward journey of development will be complete after reaching Gilgit and Baltistan, parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, while referring to the 1994 resolution passed in Parliament on getting back the territories under illegal occupation of the neighbouring country.

Singh, who was addressing the Shaurya Diwas function here that mark India's first military victory after Independence after beating back Pakistani raiders in J&K, said that Pakistan was committing atrocities against people in its occupied Kashmir and will have to bear its consequences.

Discrimination against the people of Jammu and Kashmir had ended under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as Article 370 was abrogated, Singh said. This brought a new dawn of hopes in the region.

Kashmir and Ladakh today are on an accelerated path of development. This region is touching new heights of development... We have only started our northward journey. Our journey will be complete when we fully implement the unanimous resolution passed by Parliament on February 22, 1994, and we reach our remaining areas like Gilgit and Baltistan, Singh said.

Modi, in a rare departure from precedence, in his Independence Day speech in 2016 had brought up the situation in Pakistan-occupied territories, and said the people of Balochistan and Gilgit had thanked him for raising their issues.

Singh said Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookherjee had started a Mahayajna for full integration of Jammu and Kashmir which was completed on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated.

Referring to the atrocities committed by Pakistan against the people in PoK, Singh said: I would like to ask Pakistan about the rights given to the people living in our areas where it has maintained illegal occupation... We keep on hearing about the inhuman acts committed against innocent Indians for which Pakistan is fully responsible. And here I am talking about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Accusing Pakistan of shedding crocodile tears in the name of human rights, Singh said, the pain of the people of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir also troubles us and not just them.

The 'tandav' of terrorism that J&K has seen in the name of Kashmiriyat cannot be described, he said while asserting that terrorism has no religion and the only aim of terrorists is to target India.

He claimed that in the last few years some so-called intellectuals have cried human rights violations when actions were taken against terrorists.

The Army hosted 'Shaurya Diwas' at the old airfield of Srinagar (Budgam airfield) to mark the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the 1 Sikh Regiment in 1947 to protect Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani forces.

It was the first military operation of Independent India, a move that changed the course of the 1947-48 War. The first of the Indian Army soldiers dispatched for the mission had landed at the airfield on October 27, 1947, to repulse Pakistani forces.

At the venue, huge cut-outs of Brig. Rajinder Singh, Brig. Mohd Usman, Maj. Somnath Sharma and Maqbool Sherwani were mounted. Usha Sharma, the octogenarian daughter of Brig. Rajinder Singh and family members of other martyrs attended the event.
Members of an Armed Police battalion (APBN) walk inside a refugee camp in Ukhia in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh, Oct. 26, 2022.

Two Rohingya were gunned down inside their camp in Coxs Bazar on Thursday, in the third such killing in the past two days by suspected supporters of the ARSA militant group, according to Rohingya community leaders.

As many as 40 Rohingya have been slain since the start of 2022 by armed groups in the sprawling camps near Bangladeshs southeastern border with Myanmar, police records show.

Armed men entered Camp 17 in Ukhia early Thursday and shot dead Md. Yasin, 30, and Ayatullah, 40, said Additional Deputy Inspector General Syed Harunur Rashid, the captain of the Armed Police Battalion in Coxs Bazar.

The brothers of both the slain men also confirmed the killings.

Yasin was killed because he had provided information to the police about men who had cut off his hand and a foot two months ago, said one of his brothers, Md. Hosson.

For this, they targeted and killed my brother Yasin, Hosson told BenarNews.

They tried to catch me, but I fled.

Hosson did not give details about the incident two months ago.

Ayatullah was sleeping when men in ski masks came into his room and shot him, said his brother, Salamatullah.

Md. Faruk Ahmed, an assistant superintendent at the Coxs Bazar police battalion, which oversees security at the camps, said Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) militants were behind most of these killings.

The ARSA terrorists are mainly responsible for the murders at the camps, he told BenarNews.

We have been trying to eliminate them.

According to the police, at least nine Rohingya, including a child and two camp leaders, were killed by ARSA in October.

ARSA, formerly known as Al-Yaaqin, is the Rohingya insurgent group that launched coordinated deadly attacks on Burmese government military and police outposts in Rakhine in August 2017. The raids provoked a brutal Burmese military crackdown that forced close to three-quarters of a million people to seek shelter in Bangladesh.

For years since the 2017 exodus into Coxs Bazar, Bangladeshi government officials denied that ARSA had a foothold or presence in the sprawling camps, which house about 1 million refugees.

The killings have terrified the Rohingya refugees.

We are not sure who would be the next target. We are in constant fear, Master Shafiullah, a leader of the Balukhali Camp 9, told BenarNews.

Others living in the area are also running scared.

Target killings are taking place inside the camps. We the local people have been terrified and helpless, Ayachhur Rahman, a civil society group promoting the repatriation of Rohingya refugees, told BenarNews.

Those involved in vigilance of camps at night and those providing the police with information about the terrorists are the victims of target killings, he said, urging the government to take tougher action against such elements.

Night-time guards were introduced at the camps in October following the September 2021 killing of Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah, who had drawn international attention to the refugees plight and visited the White House in Washington.

In a report issued in June, Bangladesh police alleged that ARSA leader Ataullah Abu Ahmmar Jununi had ordered Muhib Ullah assassinated because he was popular.

Rohingya repatriation

Meanwhile, the chairman of a parliamentary watchdog on foreign affairs alleged on Thursday that ARSA was working hand-in-glove with the Myanmar army.

[A]RSA has been working in favor of the Myanmar army, Faruk Khan told BenarNews, after a briefing by foreign ministry officials on the progress of Rohingya repatriation and the law and order situation at the camps.

They have been working against the repatriation of the Rohingya in Rakhine state. They are killing the pro-repatriation people, Khan said.

However, he did not elaborate on what he meant by the allegation and he did not provide evidence when BenarNews asked him about this.

The Rohingya people have been getting involved in criminal activities as they have been frustrated over their future. Their repatriation is the only sustainable solution, Khan further said.

The foreign ministry officials have told us that the Myanmar government now wants to take the Rohingya back. China has [also] been helping us in this regard.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn speaks during a special meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretariat in Jakarta, Oct. 27, 2022.

Southeast Asian foreign ministers decided Thursday to persist with a failed peace plan on Myanmar, a move that a top human rights group called a huge disappointment, days after the bloodiest single airstrike in the country since last years military coup.

The ministers emphasized the need to ensure the time-bound implementation of a five-point consensus agreed to with the Burmese junta in April 2021, ASEAN chair Cambodia said after a special meeting in Jakarta of top diplomats from the regional blocs member-states.

The ministers reaffirmed the importance and relevance of the consensus, and underscored the need to further strengthen its implementation through concrete, practical and time-bound actions, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said in a statement after the meeting.

The consensus calls for an immediate end to violence; a dialogue among all concerned parties; mediation of the dialogue process by an ASEAN special envoy; provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels; and a visit to Myanmar by the blocs special envoy to meet all concerned parties.

Retno Marsudi, Indonesias top diplomat, acknowledged that the foreign ministers from member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were disappointed with the lack of significant progress in implementing the five-point consensus, with some expressing their frustration.

Instead of progressing, the situation was even described as worsening, Retno said.

The approach of sweeping problems under the rug should no longer be an option.

But, as chair Cambodias statement said, the foreign ministers, agreed that ASEAN should not be discouraged, but even more determined to help Myanmar to bring about a peaceful solution the soonest possible.

Myanmars expulsion from ASEAN was never on the table, according to Sidharto Suryodipuro, director general of ASEAN cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Discussions on the situation in Myanmar have always been based on the assumption that Myanmar remains part of ASEAN, Sidharto told reporters.

The special meeting in Jakarta was held to prepare recommendations to be submitted to ASEAN leaders at the summit of the 10-nation bloc in Cambodia next month.

Discontent has been growing among some ASEAN members about the junta reneging on the consensus it had agreed to, and amid the relentless violence, especially the execution of four political prisoners in July.

The violence has only increased since.

At least 63 people were killed after Myanmar military jets Sunday dropped munitions on a crowd attending a concert celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO)s founding. It was believed to be the deadliest single airstrike since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup.

Saifuddin Abdullah, Malaysias outspoken top diplomat, in July had raised the prospect of junking the five-point consensus. Last month in New York, he had questioned its validity, because the junta had been blithely ignoring it.

But Saifuddin, who has consistently taken the lead on post-coup Myanmar issues at ASEAN, was absent from the special meeting in Jakarta, because his government is now a caretaker administration after the announcement of a general election next month in Malaysia.

Seven ASEAN foreign ministers attended the talks in Jakarta in person.

As in several previous meetings, Myanmar was not represented, Prak said.

Vietnams foreign minister was busy preparing for a visit by the head of the Vietnamese communist party to China next week, according to an ASEAN diplomatic source.

The Myanmar representative desk is seen empty during the Special ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the ASEAN secretariat building in Jakarta, Oct. 27, 2022. [Handout ASEAN via AFP]





Junta has shown its contempt for ASEAN

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, minced no words in expressing his dismay about the outcome of Thursdays meeting in Jakarta.

ASEAN has reached a make or break point on Myanmar, but the Special Foreign Ministers meeting statement reflected just more business as usual, and thats a huge disappointment. Its hard to see how the Five Point Consensus can be saved when the SAC military junta has failed to implement one word of what Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing promised in Jakarta last year, he said in a statement, referring to the Burmese military chief.

Instead of the kind of wishy-washy language contained in the [ASEAN] chairpersons statement today, ASEAN needs to get tough by establishing clear, time bound human rights benchmarks on Myanmar that include the release of political prisoners, a cessation of attacks on civilians, and steps towards dissolving the junta to allow for the establishment of civilian democratic rule, Robertson added.

Those benchmarks should be accompanied by clear penalties should Myanmar fail to meet them, he added.

ASEAN will have to do more than repeat calls for an end to violence and the need for dialogue and negotiation, said Hunter S. Marston, a researcher on Asia at the Australian National University.

Those conditions are unrealistic at this point, and the junta has shown its contempt for ASEAN and its diplomatic efforts, he told BenarNews.

ASEAN will never expel Myanmar, but it should include representatives from the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) to promote dialogue, he said.

For its part, the NUG said the benefit of ASEAN holding on to the five-point consensus was questionable.

ASEAN leaders know all too well what Myanmar people want and need. We have just heard Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, the United Nations envoy to Myanmar, say the other day that Myanmars people can never accept the military junta, Kyaw Zaw, spokesman for the NUGs president office told the Burmese Service of Radio Free Asia (RFA), a news service affiliated with BenarNews.

If ASEAN believes the same, I think they should have direct dialogue with the NUG, the real government that represents the wish of Myanmar people and the national ethnic groups to put an end to all these crises, Kyaw Zaw added.

Based on the outcome of Thursdays meeting and because ASEAN makes its decisions consensually, one Burmese analyst, Sai Kyi Zin Soe, did not foresee much progress being made at the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh next month.

ASEAN member countries seem to be split into two: the west leaning and the pro-China, and they are not sure of their stand between the two either. Some member countries favor the idea that the NUG should be invited as the west suggested whereas the others still hold the belief that the Myanmar military junta can be further reasoned with for the progress, Sai Kyi Zin Soe told RFA.

Because of these different views among ASEAN countries, the summit, in my opinion, might not be able to make a common decision that Myanmar people desire, or a common decision that leads to effective changes for Myanmar people.

Tria Dianti in Jakarta contributed to this report.
Kachin Independence Army (KIA) soldiers pray before taking their positions at a frontline camp in Loije township, outside Laiza, northern Kachin state, Myanmar, Sept. 19, 2012. KIA said on Oct. 26, 2022, that dozens of its personnel were among those killed along with 17 civilians, in what is believed to be the bloodiest single airstrike in Myanmar since last years military coup.

An ethnic rebel group said Wednesday that dozens of its personnel were among those killed along with 17 civilians, in what is believed to be the bloodiest single airstrike in Myanmar since last years military coup.

The revelation comes as top diplomats from Southeast Asia prepare for emergency talks on Myanmar after more than a year of diplomacy has failed to end the countrys political crisis and halt widespread violence.

Col. Naw Bu of the ethnic Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) told Radio Free Asia (RFA) Burmese, an online news affiliate of BenarNews, that on Tuesday evening, a KIO staffer succumbed to injuries he sustained in the Oct. 23 attack on Kachin states Hpakant township, bringing the death toll from the incident to 63. Of the dead, 46 were KIO officers, including the commander of the 9th Brigade of the Kachin Independence Army, the groups military wing.

According to the list sent to me yesterday, there were 62 bodies and 62 injured, he said of the tally prior to the additional death on Tuesday evening. The death toll may continue to rise.

Of the remaining 61 injured, 33 are KIO officers and 28 are civilians, Naw Bu said, adding that rescuers continue to search for people missing after the attack and are working to identify those on the list of casualties.

Sundays carnage was the result of military jets dropping munitions on a concert celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the KIOs founding.

Among the 63 dead were two KIA officers, members of the Kachin business community, religious leaders, prominent Kachin vocalist vocalist Aurali Lahpai, keyboard player Ko King, and a Myanmar-born Chinese national named Kyar Kyo, residents said.

Injured seek to circumvent military roadblocks

As rescue efforts continued on Wednesday, residents told RFA that the military had yet to remove roadblocks set up in the aftermath of the attack. They said no traffic was allowed to come in or out of the area from Hpakant, around 15 miles away, leaving them short of the medical supplies they need to care for the injured.

There are too many injured patients and too few nurses here, said one resident assisting the wounded, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Some have died because they didnt get the treatment they needed  The medication we already have are barely sufficient either.

Meanwhile, family members have been unable to claim the bodies of their loved ones because junta authorities are refusing to allow vehicles through checkpoints to carry them home, sources said.

A resident of Hpakant told RFA that some of those in need of medical treatment are taking huge risks to leave via footpaths in the jungle.

Some people walked very risky and dangerous paths through jungles and over several mountains to return home  I think three or four of them. They carried some seriously injured people with them, but they couldn't bring all of them, said one resident, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

There arent enough people to carry them out through the mountains. Some are still in the jungle getting what little medical help they can. They have no access to clinics or hospitals.

Win Ye Tun, the juntas spokesman for Kachin state, told RFA he had no way to organize assistance for the injured amid ongoing tensions between the military and the KIA.

When the situation is safer here in the Hpakant area, we are going to start helping, he said.

The junta has said it was justified in its airstrike on the KIO gathering as a response to attacks on military bases and boats by the KIA and anti-junta Peoples Defense Force (PDF) paramilitary groups, which it calls terrorist organizations. It maintains that the only casualties in the attack are members of the KIA and PDF.

The United Nations and foreign embassies have condemned the attack for causing mass civilian casualties in statements the junta foreign ministry dismissed on Tuesday as fabricated claims meant to interfere in Myanmars internal affairs.

Special envoy

The latest reports from the military attack in Kachin state came as the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar told the U.N. General Assemblys human rights committee in New York that the political crisis in the nation is taking a catastrophic toll on the people.

Speaking to the assembly on Tuesday evening, Noeleen Heyzer said that more than 13.2 million of the countrys 54.4 million people lack enough food to eat, while 1.3 million are displaced by fighting and raids by a military using disproportionate force, including arson and the killing of civilians.

The address marked Heyzers first at the U.N. in New York since visiting Myanmar in August and meeting with junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who she said she had urged to end aerial bombing and the burning of civilian infrastructure, as well as non-discriminatory distribution of aid.

Heyzer said that she has been working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, to restore stability in the country, despite the juntas failure to uphold its end of the blocs Five-Point Consensus, agreed to in April 2021.

The plan calls for an immediate end to violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation of the dialogue process by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels and a visit to Myanmar by the blocs special envoy to meet all concerned parties.

ASEAN foreign ministers are planning to hold an emergency meeting in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss the status of the agreement ahead of the blocs annual summit on Nov. 10 in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh. ASEAN has not extended an invitation to junta Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin to attend Thursdays meeting.

Kyaw Zaw, the spokesman for the office of the president of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, said that the meeting will likely discuss actions that can be taken against the junta to ensure that it implements the Five-Point Consensus, because there is no positive outcome, no progress.

He also urged ASEAN to extend negotiations to the National Unity Government and all opposition parties in Myanmar, instead of exclusively with the junta.

More than 450 civil society groups sent open letters to ASEAN leaders on Tuesday, calling for bolder and more effective action on Myanmars crisis than the Five-Point Consensus.
Malaysian authorities use a police truck to transport immigrants believed to be in the country illegally from a wholesale market in Selayang, Selangor state, May 11, 2020.

United Nations organizations and other groups should stop meddling in Malaysias internal affairs, the countrys home minister said Thursday when asked about these agencies criticizing the deportations of Myanmar nationals, including asylum seekers.



Kuala Lumpur would take action against any foreigner who violates Malaysian laws, no matter where they were from, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said.

So, the UNHCR, United Nations or anyone at all, if the people we detain entered the country legally but then violate our laws, we will then send them back. No need for outsiders to interfere, he told reporters in Kelantan state on Thursday.

Hamzah made the remarks about a week after news broke that Malaysia had deported 150 Myanmar nationals, including defectors from the Burmese military.

The Reuters news agency had reported that the expelled people included six former Myanmar naval officers, who were arrested in September and sent back to Myanmar on Oct. 6. It said at least four of the officers had sought U.N. refugee status in Malaysia and that one officer and his wife were detained upon arrival in Yangon.

They were among more than 2,000 Myanmar nationals deported since April, Human Rights Watch stated in a statement earlier this week.

In defending the governments action, Hamzah said the deportations were based on international law, adding that Malaysia would not deport any foreigner if their life would be put in jeopardy.

We will not deport people if they will disappear in their own country or if it would oppress them. We do it based on the international law. So, everyone, every Malaysian must understand this, he said.

Hamzah was the only Malaysian government official to respond to the U.N. statements.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who for months was seen in ASEAN circles as the most outspoken critic of the military regime in post-coup Myanmar and the biggest ally of the National Unity Government, has kept silent on the issue of the deportations.

Saifuddin was the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign minister to contact Myanmars shadow government, publicly meet with its foreign minister and push for the regional bloc to actively engage with it.

Saifuddin did not attend an emergency meeting of top ASEAN diplomats in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss how to end the Myanmar political crisis and contain widespread violence there.

183,000 refugees

As of September, more than 183,000 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Malaysia, according to UNHCR data. Of the total, 157,900 were from Myanmar  105,870 Rohingya followed by 23,190 Chins and 28,840 from other ethnic groups. The other refugees were from 50 countries where they were escaping prosecutions and wars.

Malaysia is not a signatory of the U.N. 1951 Refugee Convention, but the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country has become the favorite location for people from Myanmar seeking refuge, especially members of its stateless Rohingya Muslim minority.

On Tuesday, UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said her agency was concerned about Malaysias continued deportation of Myanmar asylum-seekers, placing lives at risk.

We have received multiple disturbing reports of these forced returns of Myanmar nationals from Malaysia since April this year, including those 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.

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, she told reporters at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR appeals to the Malaysian authorities to adhere to their international legal commitments and ensure full respect for the rights of people in need of international protection, she said.

Moratorium

On Wednesday, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called for a moratorium on the forced return of Myanmar nationals, adding that with the rising levels of violence and instability and the collapse of its economy and social protection systems, it was not the time to send anyone back to Myanmar.

This is especially the case for anyone with specific protection concerns, such as political activists or military defectors, who are at grave risk upon return, he said in the statement.

Under international law, the principle of non-refoulment says that people cant be sent back to a country where they are likely to be persecuted, tortured, mistreated or have their human rights violated in other ways.

It is essential that in light of the prevailing situation in Myanmar, now more than ever, that states do not return people to suffering and danger, and provide them with a secure legal status while their country remains in crisis, Turk said.

Meanwhile, Migrant Care country representative Alex Ong joined other human rights groups and the U.N. in calling for Malaysia to stop deportations of Myanmar nationals.

It is not about intervention of Malaysia home affairs, but a joint collaboration to save lives from returning to face the life-threatening oppression, Ong told BenarNews on Thursday. Group appeal is to prevent the mass massacres of innocent refugees. It is a purely humanitarian appeal.

Pushing refugees back to the unsafe situation is like sending them back to be slaughtered, Ong said.

Since its coup on Feb. 1, 2021, the Myanmar junta has been carrying out a widespread campaign of torture, arbitrary arrests and attacks that target civilians, the U.N. and rights groups have said.
Communist rebels killed two soldiers and injured another in an ambush as their army unit was preparing to assist people recover from a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in the northern Philippines, military officials said Thursday.

Troops with the 24th Infantry Battalion were gearing up to assist people in the town of Malibcong in Abra province when they were attacked by New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels, the officials said, adding that a fourth soldier went missing after the attack.

It is very unfortunate that while we are helping the residents devastated by the earthquake, two of our troops were killed and one is wounded because of the atrocities of the CTGs while the other one is still missing, said Lt. Col. Ricardo Garcia III, the battalions commander, referring to the NPA as a communist terrorist group.

We condemn in the strongest terms possible, the barbaric act of the CTG. We assure our people particularly the families of our soldiers that we will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to justice, he said.

Garcia declined to disclose the names of the dead soldiers because their relatives have not been notified.

Capt. Rigor Pamittan, local army spokesman, could not say if the missing soldier had been seized by the NPA, adding troops are pursuing the guerillas. The NPA is the military wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Rebel leaders did not issue a statement related to the attack.

The Communist Party of the Philippines has been waging a rebellion since 1969. Its strength is estimated at about 5,000 fighters nationwide scattered across remote areas, down from at least 20,000 at its peak in the 1980s.

Efforts by former President Rodrigo Duterte to broker a peace deal collapsed after guerrilla fronts attacked amid ongoing negotiations.

Rebels killed

The attack came a day after two NPA rebels died in a gun battle in the central town of Garchitorena. Troops recovered two M16 rifles and a carbine rifle, two handguns, ammunition, a rifle grenade and two anti-personnel mines from the encounter, according to a military statement.

It was not immediately clear whether the two incidents were related, but the rebels are known to carry out attacks when the military is involved in humanitarian efforts.

In December 2021, three civilians were killed when NPA rebels attacked a community in the southern Philippines in the middle of evacuation efforts ahead of a typhoon.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, emergency response teams worked to reach areas previously cut off by the quake, which struck at around 11 p.m. Tuesday.

More than 100,000 were affected by the quake, said disaster response agency spokesman Benardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV. The number of those injured had risen to 44 as rescuers reached more communities.

The total affected population has reached 132,208 persons, or close to 40,000 families, he said Thursday, adding about 500 were still housed in evacuation centers.

Some residents are camping outside or staying with neighbors because they are afraid to go back to their homes, he said without commenting on those numbers.

More than 2,000 houses were damaged along with 125 buildings valued at 53.7 million pesos (U.S. $922,000).

We continue to conduct an infrastructure audit, in coordination with the LGUs [local government units], because we need to determine if it is still safe to return to facilities, school buildings, houses and hospitals that were damaged by this earthquake, Alejandro said.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato city, southern Philippines, contributed to this report.
Local officials inspect the site of bomb blast in Chanae, a district of Narathiwat province in southern Thailand, Oct. 21, 2022.

Rebels in Thailands Deep South insist that a dead man found in a river on the Malaysia border is one of their senior insurgents, even as results of a DNA test on the corpse have not yet been released and while the Thai military has denied this.

Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the most potent of armed separatists groups in the southern border region, first came out with a strongly worded statement last week about the discovery of the blackened and bloated body in the Kolok River on Sept. 29. The corpse belonged to one of its fighters, who had been abducted and tortured, the rebels alleged.

BRN strongly condemns the extra-judicial killing of people suspected of affiliation with BRN. Such acts are direct violations of the Geneva Conventions, they said in a statement sent to BenarNews on Oct. 19.

The army commander for Thailands southern border region rebutted the allegations, saying the body does not belong to Zahri Bin Abdullah (also known as Yahree Dueloh), a 42-year-old BRN insurgent, as identified by the rebel group.

The fingerprint check of the corpse showed it had no relationship with the family [of Yahree Dueloh]. They [the dead man and Yahree] are different men, Lt. Gen. Santi Sakuntanak told BenarNews via a text message on Friday.

Meanwhile, a local activist said his organization had documented six cross-border abductions in the past decade, including the one in late September of the man who turned up dead in the Kolok River two days later.

According to sources close to the BRN, Yahree served as chief of the rebel groups youth wing in Narathiwat, one of the provinces in the Deep South, and had been living in northern Malaysia.

We may have to dig up the body and check it again [to see] whose body it was, Santi said. But officials affirmed it was not Yahrees body. Whatever, we have to wait for the police to confirm [the identity].

Local police officials did not immediately respond to questions from BenarNews as to whether the dead mans identity had been established since Santis comments last week.

According to Arfan Wattana, a secretary with the Patani, a local activist group, Yahrees body was found floating on the Thai side of the Kolok River on Sept. 29.

On Thursday, Yahrees wife said there was no doubt that the body belonged to her husband, but the family would not allow it to be disinterred for further examination. She said she had identified the body by recognizing a distinctive scar.

The other day, officials visited us and asked us to come to the police station, seeking permission to dig up the corpse. But I rejected it. The corpse was him. I can remember the scar on his leg, Nuraining Deromae told BenarNews in a phone interview.

I have no doubt the body was his, I am sure. But the prosecution must go on, she said.

Blood samples from the corpse were sent to Prince of Songkla University for DNA testing but the results were still unknown, both Arfan and Nuraining said.

Where is he now?

Meanwhile, the head of a panel representing BRN in Malaysia-brokered peace talks with Thailand stood by comments he made last week saying that the man whose body was found in the river was in fact the missing insurgent.

He said that his statement last week that Yahrees identity had been established by a DNA test was based on information received at the time.

Zahri Bin Abdullah (also known as Yahree Dueloh) is seen in an undated handout photo released by Thai officials.

Besides, BRN trusts information shared by the Yahree family more than other sources, Anas said, without elaborating.

The BRN official was blunt.

If the military says its not Yahree, where is he now? He is nowhere in Malaysia, neither in Thailand, he said.

The Patani has investigated five other cases of cross-border abductions during the past 10 years, other than the case of Yahree, according to Arfan.

There were five incidents where we had some clues showing that Thai and rogue Malaysian officials were involved. But for this case, weve no clues about the culprits yet, he told BenarNews in a phone interview.

Meanwhile, fighting has continued in the Deep South since BenarNews first reported last week about the discovery of the body in the river.

On Oct. 21, five Thai soldiers were injured in a roadside bombing that left behind a crater (pictured) in Chanae, a district of Narathiwat.

On Tuesday, two police officers were shot and wounded, while a suspected insurgent was killed during a shootout as Thai security forces surrounded the suspects home in Thepha, a district of Songkhla province, authorities said.

Since the separatist insurgency reignited in the Deep South in January 2004, at least 7,344 people have died and 13,641 have been injured in violence across the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking border region, according to data updated through March 2022 by Deep South Watch, a local think-tank.

Matahari Ismail contributed to this report from Narathiwat, Thailand.
Food Corporation of India also agreed to procure an additional four lakh tonnes of fortified boiled rice stocks from the state pertaining to recent rabi season 2021-22. (Photo: PTI)

HYDERABAD: In a relief to Telangana state government, the Centres Food Corporation of India has extended the deadline by one month until November 30 to hand over rice stocks of the previous kharif season 2021-22 after milling. It also agreed to procure an additional four lakh tonnes of fortified boiled rice stocks from the state pertaining to recent rabi season 2021-22.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, minister for civil supplies Gangula Kamalakar said that the relaxations given by the Centre on rice procurement will benefit the state exchequer to the tune of nearly Rs. 180 crore.

The deadline to hand over rice stocks of previous kharif season to the FCI meant for public distribution system (PDS) will end on October 31.

However, the state government is yet to hand over over five lakh tonnes due to delay in milling. The state government has been making repeated requests to the FCI to increase the deadline as it would suffer losses if rice stocks are not procured after the October 31 deadline.

The state government also made repeated requests to Centre to procure an additional four lakh tonnes of fortified parboiled rice pertaining to the recent rabi season. The Centre has earlier agreed to procure only eight lakh tonnes of fortified boiled rice from Telangana.

However, due to heavy paddy stocks of rabi season lying in rice mills, the state government requested Centre to consider taking additional boiled rice stocks. The Centre refused to accept boiled rice stocks from rabi season last year and agreed to take only raw rice after milling. Due to this, the state government is supplying raw rice even in rabi season compared to earlier when it used to supply boiled rice to the FCI.

Normally, boiled rice is produced from paddy stocks in rabi season in Telangana due to prevailing heat conditions in summer. As the Centre refused to accept boiled rice, the state government is producing raw rice even during the rabi season and incurring huge losses as it is resulting in production of broken rice during milling.

Following the state governments request, the Centre considered taking eight lakh tonnes of boiled rice but with fortification with vitamins and minerals for supply under the PDS earlier and an additional four lakh tonnes now.
Coimbatore: Emergency services personnel at the site after an LPG cylinder exploded inside a car, in Coimbatore, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. One person was charred to death in the incident. (Photo: PTI))

Chennai: The mysterious explosion that blew up a car, killing its lone occupant, at i on Sunday morning has become a raging political issue with the opposition BJP and AIADMK pointing fingers at the DMK for the deterioration of law and order and the allies of the ruling party accusing the sangh parivar of trying foment trouble in the State.

Besides BJP State President, K Annamalai, who demanded an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the blast, the partys MLA representing Coimbatore South constituency, Vanathi Srinivasan, said that the blast reminded everyone of the violence that rocked Coimbatore through a series of bomb explosions and riots in 1998.

With the then growing city become a target of terrorists, Coimbatore lost an opportunity to develop into an industrial hubs in the country like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune, the local MLA said in a statement and also wanted the NIA to investigate into the case.

Annamalai, who addressed the media in Chennai on Tuesday, alleged that Coimbatore had turned into a den of terrorists and that A Jemisha Mubeen, who was killed in the car blast, was among the five persons investigated by the NIA in June 2019.

Of the five, two were involved in the bomb blast in Sri Lanka, he said and accused the State government of trying to protect somebody by not revealing the entire truth about Sundays incident.

He said his party has written to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah drawing his attention to the issue and said that after waiting for two days, they would meet the Government R N Ravi and brief him about the case.

Accusing the police of not keeping a proper tab on suspects after the NIA raids on office-bearers of the Popular Front of India (PFI), he said the incident was a fallout of intelligence failure.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and the leader of his rival faction O Panneerselvam, too, came down heavily on the DMK government.

Palaniswami, who alleged that terror activities normally increase whenever the DMK came to power, wanted the State government to catch the real culprits behind the blast and bring them before the law.

Panneerselvam said that the Law and Order situation had deteriorated to the level of bomb making happening in the State and added that the blast reminded people of the 1998 situation in Coimbatore.

VCK general secretary Thol Thirumavalavan said the sangh parivar wanted to turn the State into a hotbed of violence and that its activities should be closely monitored. Action should be taken against anyone disrupting law and order, he said in a tweet.

State Minister for Electricity Senthil Balaji said communal riots could not be engineered by some people as they had conspired and jackals in sheeps clothing would not get the political gains that they had aspired for in a State known for its equality.

TNCC president K S Alagiri congratulated the police for its quick action in arresting the culprits who had planned to carry out a cruel operation. A major disaster had been averted since the designs of some youth had failed, he said.

Whoever was behind the plotting of the terror attack should be dealt with an iron hand and their plans nipped in the bud, Alagiri said, adding that the government should ensure that there was no place for such people in the State.
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Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224.
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If this years ballot is any indication, Massachusetts ongoing battle with regional inequity has only become more serious as western and central parts of the state struggle to overcome a declining population and a lack of representation in statewide offices.

On the brink of a potentially historic election for Massachusetts, the commonwealth is forced to confront its longstanding inability to equitably provide for the western-most parts of the state. After simmering below the surface for years, the states continued struggle can be found front and center on this years ballot, in which no candidates from western or central Massachusetts are up for one of the six statewide elected offices.

Quote "Political power tends to flow to where the people are. The people in Massachusetts are in the eastern part of the state now." Charles Stewart III, MIT professor

Legislators have to start showing up, said former Democratic state Sen. Benjamin Downing, a Pittsfield native who ran unsuccessfully in this election cycle for the Democratic nomination for governor. I think its really easy, and its probably true of anywhere. But its that much more true for Western Mass.

According to the election statistics data collected and published by the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 11 candidates are running for the six statewide offices on the ballot this November. Of those candidates, none live further west than Middlesex County. Interstate 495, which is often considered the gateway to central Massachusetts, runs through the northwestern-most part of Middlesex.

That would not have been true if either of state Sens. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, or Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, had won the September primary election for lieutenant governor.

Charles Stewart III, a Distinguished Professor of Political Science at MIT and founder of the schools Election Data and Science Lab, said this issue has been brewing ever since western Massachusetts failed to keep up with the rest of the states population growth during the early 2000s.

Theres a simple and logical way to think about this issue, he said. And that reason is that political power tends to flow to where the people are. The people in Massachusetts are in the eastern part of the state now. So, its going to put western Massachusetts at a particular disadvantage.

For years, Census data has shown the commonwealths center shifting east. Approximately half of the states population lived east of Natick, in Middlesex County at the time of the 2020 Census. However, after next months election, eastern Massachusetts-based representatives will control 100 percent of the statewide positions on Beacon Hill. This figure excludes the Governors Council, which is decided by each district.

The states funding decisions reveal the true impact of only having legislators from eastern Massachusetts. According to Downing, Beacon Hills tendency to distribute resources on a per capita basis could actually exacerbate disparities in rural communities.

People think its fair, and thats understandable logic, Downing said. But, if you say, Alright, were gonna have one Office of Health and Human Services for every 500,000 people, youre telling me that someone in Greater Boston has to ride a bus for 30 or 45 minutes to get there. Whereas, somebody in North Adams is looking at an hour-and-a-half ride if they have a car. And, if theyre relying on transit, theyre looking at a couple of hours to access the same service. So, I think its important for people to have that perspective.

Data insights

Data collected by the Massachusetts Office of the Comptroller shows that most of the governments cherry sheet and non-cherry sheet payments last fiscal year correlated with county populations. Named for the cherry-colored paper on which it was originally printed, the cherry sheet is the official notification from the Commissioner of Revenue of the coming fiscal years state aid and assessments to cities, towns, and regional school districts.

According to 2020 Census data, Middlesex is the largest county in Massachusetts with 1.6 million residents. It received more than $1.9 billion in government payments last fiscal year, the greatest amount of any Massachusetts county.

When compared to population data pulled from the 2020 Census, Middlesexs cherry sheet and non-cherry sheet payments break down to equal approximately $1,200 per resident. Some counties, such as Nantucket, received as much as $2,800 per resident. While others, including Barnstable, received approximately $900 per resident. But Nantucket received the least amount of total funding, correlating with its small population.

Quote Its a whole other thing to have grown up [in a region] that is, too often, at best, an afterthought." Ben Downing, former state senator

Located in Suffolk County, Boston has the largest population of any individual town or city in Massachusetts. The same data set from the Office of the Comptroller revealed that Boston, alone, received more than 10 percent of the states cherry sheet and non-cherry sheet payments last fiscal year.

If you think about cities like North Adams and Pittsfield  Holyoke and Greenfield  all of those communities have just about all of the same challenges that Boston has, Downing said. But they have much less by way of resources.

This lack of resources can have an impact on several facets of community development as well. Just last year, for example, the Office of the State Auditor released a study showing that western Massachusetts suffered from inadequate government support to maintain and develop public infrastructure.

As a result, the auditor promised to launch a rural rescue plan that will eventually increase government infrastructure spending on the underserved communities.

Stewart said he credits Bostons control of state resources to the overwhelming media and economic pull the city holds over the state. Echoing that statement, Downing said his solution for increasing regional equity in Massachusetts would involve moving the state capital to a more central location, like Springfield.

Its warped our political debate, he said. In Massachusetts, the most populous city is also the state capital is also the major media market. I think that leads to a real over-focus on the  understandable  needs, challenges and opportunities in Greater Boston. But it also makes it tougher for the unique needs, challenges and opportunities of, in particular, smaller cities and towns in Western and Central Mass. to be met.

Centralizing the capital is only one of the ways Downing said the state could potentially meet the needs of western and central Massachusetts-based residents. More than anything, he said, its critical that regional and state representatives show up to work closely with all of their constituents, making sure the voices of western and eastern Massachusetts are heard regardless of where the capital is located.

I think its one thing to academically understand the perspective, Downing said. Its a whole other thing to have grown up there and know what it feels like to feel like youre in a region in the state that is, too often, at best, an afterthought, which is especially frustrating given the incredible opportunities that these communities present.
Elected officials in Massachusetts are calling for continued federal funding to address the heating and energy crisis that experts predict will hit the state this winter.

Quote National Grid has projected that some of its customers could see their monthly electric bills jump more than 60 percent this winter.

U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and state Sen. Michael Brady spoke at a statewide home heating awareness campaign launch by MASSCAP, Self Help Inc., community action agencies and the Massachusetts Energy Directors Association.

They said Wednesday that despite $37 million coming to Massachusetts in emergency funding for extra heating help through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), it might not be enough.

National Grid has projected that some of its customers could see their monthly electric bills jump more than 60 percent this winter.

Still, none of the representatives present gave an update on a response from the U.S Division of Energy Assistance, where all nine U.S. House members and the states two U.S. senators sent a letter earlier this month calling for the federal government to expedite its release of LIHEAP grants.

In a pre-recorded video shown at the event, Markey said the need for an increase in funding for LIHEAP could not be more clear.

The program services 160,000 Massachusetts households to keep the heat on during the winter months, Markey said, but only 16 percent of eligible households get help. He also mentioned a bill he introduced earlier this year, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act, which would expand LIHEAP and invest $40 billion of federal dollars into the program every year.

Brady said state representatives have tried to put some funding as well on the state level, but he knows Massachusetts might need more.

The Massachusetts Houses version of a large economic development bill, which has bogged down in talks with the Senate, includes $10 million toward LIHEAP.

Quote The program services 160,000 Massachusetts households to keep the heat on during the winter months, but only 16 percent of eligible households get help.

The bill has been held up since July, when Gov. Charlie Baker made legislators aware of a mandatory tax relief law triggered by the states surplus revenue in fiscal year 2022.

People talk about the surplus the state has, and then they want tax breaks, but they dont realize some of that money is used for emergency situations, Brady said.

Lynch said he is keeping an eye on things as winter approaches.

Im mindful of the fact that we may need more, he said. It will take all of us to make sure the situation for people at risk remains top of mind for all of us.
HYDERABAD: TPCC chief A. Revanth Reddy alleged that the BJP candidate in the Munugode by-election, Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy was losing his cool after surveys showing that he was trailing in the third place.

Speaking to media persons in Munugode constituency, Reddy alleged that the BJP and its candidate were feeling the heat as despite their best efforts, the surveys reduced them to the third place. He also ridiculed BJPs catchphrase dharma yuddham (holy war).

If at all he is fighting holy war he should come in the open and swear in the name of the presiding deity of Yadagirigutta that he did not take any favours, including the `22,000 crore contract, from the BJP, he said.

Renewing his call that women must be given a chance to win, Reddy announced that the Congress will be holding a mahila garjana at Munugode mandal headquarters on November 1.

While referring to the constituencys dismal development when it was represented by Rajgopal and K Prabhakar Reddy, the Congress leader felt that the pending Dindi project would not be completed even after another eight years if any of them is voted.

He alleged that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao was trying to hand over lands belonging to tribals to those in the cine industry.

There is an attempt to force tribals into destitution by snatching away their lands. Both TRS and BJP are trying to divert peoples attention, he alleged.
Gov. Charlie Baker listens to a presentation Wednesday at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield. The governor on Thursday said he would vote no on a dental insurance spending ballot question and yes on a liquor licensing reform measure in the upcoming election.
The average household paying more for heat this winter, the White House urges Americans to wear facemasks, Covid causing a surge in alcoholism, a new survey ranks the unhappiest places in the country.

Plus, the true story of the pilgrims and the voyage of the Mayflower.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
At a time when several people in the country are looking towards the Aam Aadmi Party with hope, especially after its spectacular win in Punjab, making it the first and only regional party in India to have two state governments  on a par with the Indian National Congress  with reports about its showcasing great traction with the electorate in Gujarat and Himachal, the statement of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, while reacting to the serious issue of the economy, demanding publishing of the next set of currency notes with pictures of Hindu gods and goddesses on them, is seriously wanting.

It could have, at best, been a funny quip, a retort at the end of a more serious text of an economical critique of the policies of the Central government, and linked to the difficulties faced by people, ranging from rising prices to unemployment.

Instead, by reducing the platform to the sole purpose of creating a social media viral clip, as an end in itself, the supreme leader of AAP has slighted the hope vested in him with a mere triviality, a frivolous interpretation of his political and moral responsibility.

A lot happens on television and social media, such too-clever-by-half stuff is best left to the leaders at a rung lot lower, and the AAP should only study the range of statements made by the BJP and match the significance, tone and tenor of such things as commensurate with the stature of the leaders from whom these emanate.

By itself, an Opposition party is totally entitled to criticising the economic state of the nation and saying that the currency is in such a free fall that only divine intervention would help. But Mr Kejriwals self-amused reflection is neither a telling statement, nor a sensible response to the BJPs Hindutva. He scored a goal, but it was only a self-goal.
The African Social Star category where E! recognises some of the most iconic and influential people on the continent as part of the People's Choice Awards is back.

The nominees are from across Africa. Source: Supplied.

The ceremony, taking place on Tuesday, 6 December 2022, will be broadcast live from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

The nominees in the African Social Star 2022 category are:

Ama Qamata, actress from South Africa:

Thank you so much for this nomination. I am so honoured and humbled for the recognition. It means a lot to see Africa expand out into the world and to finally share a global platform where the rest of the world can witness the incredible raw talent we have here. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Angella Summer Namubiru, content creator, model, actress, and human rights advocate from Uganda:

Being recognised by The 2022 Peoples Choice Awards is unbelievably real, wow! I am speechless! Such real recognition makes you believe that dreams do come true and is an inspiration to all young girls from all kinds of backgrounds! I am humbled.

Dr. Shauwn Mkhize, businesswoman, philanthropist and television personality from South Africa:

Im extremely humbled to receive this nomination. Its a wonderful feeling to be globally recognised for being your true self. This one is for every Black woman who dares to dream big, who breaks barriers and who refuses to let society dictate her worth.

Juddy da Conceicao, actress and digital influencer from Angola:

I am really honoured to be nominated, I made it! I feel like a champion already. This nomination motivates me and gives me strength to keep rising and empowering African women.

Khanyi Mbau, actress, musician and television presenter from South Africa:

It is with great excitement and honour to have received this prestigious nomination, this is for the little Khanyi Mbau born in Soweto, the little girl who always dreamt big and believed all her dreams and desires were possible  to the world and beyond! This one is for every single person who has always stood by me and believed in my dreams.

Liquorose, actress, musician and entrepreneur from Nigeria:

This nomination is a great move for me in my career, it shows growth and I am greatly honoured. I am so grateful, and my hope is for this to be an inspiration to every young talent out there. Keep doing you! Thank you so much for this recognition.

Sphokuhle, digital creator from South Africa:

This nomination alone is the biggest achievement that I will forever cherish! Being recognised at my age is proof that being true to yourself and remaining grounded at all times wins, and I hope that young girls and women see this as motivation to keep going!

Swanky Jerry, celebrity fashion stylist from Nigeria:

Im humbled and I consider myself very fortunate to be nominated for the Peoples Choice Awards, I extend my heartfelt gratitude. My heart is extremely full of joy to be recognised for all of the work I have put into my career, craft and talent for over a decade. My dream has always been to inspire people and its happening. Thank you so much.
Wanamaker will join the APO Group management team and will be based in Cape Town and London

Kris Wanamaker

APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is delighted to announce the appointment of South African-British-American national Kris Wanamaker as chief revenue officer (CRO).

As CRO, Wanamaker will be responsible for all revenue-related functions at APO Group, including marketing, sales, customer support, further expansion of our service offering, and revenue management.

The hiring process for this new role began six months ago, and has been the most extensive ever undertaken by APO Group with the entire management team involved in ensuring the right candidate was found.

One of Wanamakers first missions will be to harness the power of APO Groups unique model, integrating the companys renowned press release distribution and public relations business units into a single turnkey solution that provides clients with unparalleled Pan-African communications support.

Wanamaker has over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing.

Throughout her career, she has reliably delivered results for agencies and corporates, as well as the start-up organisations she co-founded with fellow industry leaders. As a South African national who also holds UK and US passports, she has done this across several geographies, including Dubai, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and London.

Wanamaker has vast experience with some of the biggest global brands including Microsoft, BMW and Daimler Chrysler. She has also looked after various stakeholders at several levels, including Gulf royalty, property developers, and politicians.

Throughout her career, Wanamaker has demonstrated her versatility and entrepreneurial spirit. She has co-founded four successful companies including: a telecommunications business in Johannesburg; a copywriting agency in South Africa; a real estate firm, and an interior design/architecture firm in the UAE. This last company was awarded Best Interior Decorating and Design Business Dubai by UAE Business in 2017.

Wanamaker is a major champion of people development. She focuses on creating safe and collaborative environments for her teams while encouraging individuals to grow and excel.

Wanamaker will join the APO Group management team, and will be based in Cape Town and London.

Wanamakers appointment comes at a time of exceptional growth for APO Group. The company reported increased revenue of 88% in the first semester of 2022, versus the same period in 2021, and this success has allowed APO Group to continue to recruit the very best talent from the African and international communications communities.

In recent months, the company has made several high-caliber appointments to senior positions, including former Edelman content strategist Lindsay Farley, who was hired as vice president of editorial and content strategy, and new head of design Hussain Ali, who was previously design lead at Ogilvy.

This is a new role for both me and for APO Group, and Im extremely excited to get started, said Kris Wanamaker, chief revenue officer of APO Group. It is clear that this is a people-first company with a passion for its clients, and as CRO I have a fantastic opportunity to work with like-minded colleagues to help even more organisations thrive in Africa.

This has been the most intensive and prolonged recruitment process weve ever had, but we couldnt be happier with the result, said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, founder and chairman of APO Group. Kris has not only demonstrated excellence in revenue generation throughout her career, but she also has the entrepreneurial spirit and global experience to develop ideas and strategies that will take APO Group to the next level.




The Minister of Finance has noted that they will use "higher than anticipated revenues" - which were generated through taxes, levies and all other manner of government revenue generation - to rescue a number of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) that are failing, bleeding capital, or are just not doing what they need to be doing.

Source: Taina Sohlman via 123RF

Whilst we welcome the move to give Transnet badly-needed funding to repair, re-design or re-build vital pieces of infrastructure and equipment (ports, railways and related equipment for efficient operations), there is concern that the "usual suspects" have once again received "bailouts".

However  "the funding impasse" of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Plan (GFIP) (commonly referred to as 'e-tolls') has had an interesting twist. The Gauteng provincial government has agreed to contribute 30% to settling Sanrals debt and interest obligations, while national government will cover the remaining 70 %.

Does that mean its paid off now? There is no debt? Zip? Nothing? No need for the e-toll system then?

Ahh  but wait! Evidently, Gauteng will also cover the costs of maintaining the 201 kilometres and associated interchanges of the roads and any additional investment in road will be funded through either the existing electronic toll infrastructure or new toll plazas, or any other revenue source within their area of responsibility.

There we have it: e-tolls are not going. In fact, there may even be more gantries  or higher vehicle licence fees (in Gauteng only), or some other smart/ingenious way to charge for the costs of maintaining - the reference to any other revenue source within their area of responsibility being the key statement here.

However, the reality is that those who have not paid and refuse to pay will not suddenly pay now for maintenance. How will government ensure that they pay now? They still owe and government hasnt tried to collect the default. Why would it suddenly work now (with the possibility of new toll plazas)?

Scrap the system ! Its being "paid off" now anyway. Any new developments get paid cash through the fuel levy system. Stop using the fuel levy for other things saving other SOEs comes to mind.

Whilst we ponder this one  some good news! It seems like the Minister is beginning to listen to endless comments, lobbying and interaction from the road freight sector:

 The Economic Regulation of Transport Bill was passed. This should establish an independent transport regulator which will pave the way for greater competition and enable regulated access to the network  as long as private businesses are not punished for being efficient and competitive.

 We need to understand what the Regulator really means for private business.

Its all fine for ensuring decent pricing in monopoly systems (like public transport systems, Eskom, water supply, etc, landing or berthing facilities in our government-operated facilities, and ensuring that there are no huge/unrealistic increases in tariffs by any authority in the transport world). But it doesnt work for private business where competition, innovation and efficiencies are at play.

 No amount of argument or discussion must ever allow price-fixing/setting within the private (business) sphere.

Then there is better news:

 Third-party access to the freight rail network is being seriously considered - and perhaps there will actually be movement now.

 Private-sector partnerships for the Durban Pier 2 and Ngqura container terminals (which the Road Freight Association has been calling for  for at least the last 10 years), is also now on the cards.

 Allocations to the SAPS to increase capacity to deal with crime.

 Processes and structures in place to deal with white-collar crime and corruption.

 Funding for critical infrastructure

However, there are some glaring omissions:

 Government needs to ensure we can release ourselves from fossil fuel (in this case oil) dependency. Now is the time to support, fund, develop and grow alternative energy systems. Locally developed, manufactured and supported.

 Use of our great coal resources to implement short to medium-term energy solutions. There are very clean and green methods around the world that can be implemented. But our largest resource  sun/solar  needs to be developed and expanded as quickly as possible. This requires funding.

 Water security  along with food security  will (like the solar development) create the millions of job/employment opportunities that our country needs.

There was a greater expectation (perhaps in the form of a very loud bang) to the end of e-tolls. It didnt happen. Is there a lesson to be learned from this?

Infrastructure that is of common good to the whole country, the economy, the development of society and upliftment of South Africa, needs to be developed at a cost shared by all South Africans - at the cheapest, least expensive and least intrusive means possible.

There is much potential in this speech  yet there is much we as South Africans require from our leaders in terms of direction. In terms of development. In terms of growth.
Isidlamlilo - The Fire Eater will begin a week-long run at the Sneddon Theatre on the UKZN campus in the beginning of November.

Image by Val Adamson: Mpume Mthombeni

Isidlamlilo is an electrifying new one-woman tour-de-force brought to life by acclaimed actress Mpume Mthombeni (who plays Agatha on eTVs Durban Gen) and award-winning theatre-maker Neil Coppen with set-design by Greg King, lighting by Tina Le Roux and sound-design by Tristan Horton.

This acclaimed new South African play premiered on the main programme at the 2022 National Arts Festival to rave reviews and standing ovations. Critic Steve Kretzeman wrote: Woven together from true stories and testimonials gathered by the Empatheatre company, with a near flawless presentation and delivery, Isidlamlilo expands our horizons so often cramped by fears real and imagined, and imparts some of the courage the dispossessed have to daily gather to continue to live. This is fantastic theatre.

Over the course of 80 minutes, Mthombeni, through frank, comic and captivating storytelling, relays the death-defying life story of Zenzile Maseko. Maseko, a sixty-something Zulu grandmother, rents a cramped room in a Durban womens hostel and is haunted by her past working as an IFP assassin (fire-eater) in the build-up to the 1994 elections.

When the home affairs mistakenly declare her dead and are unable to reverse the error on their system, Zenzile finds herself cast into the middle of a Kafkaesque nightmare, driven to desperate measures to prove she is still alive and made, in the process, to reawaken parts of her identity and past that she has spent a majority of her adult life trying to suppress.

Maskeos story seamlessly propels us back and forth through time, traversing the shifting landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal while charting critical events in the province's post-1994 trajectory through to its present-day floods and insurrections. While the story offers a critical look at the eddying cycles of violence and revenge that play out across generations, it is most of all a story about redemption, regeneration and reinvention.

The script is written by Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Neil Coppen in collaboration with Mthombeni and is based on a range of testimonials shared with them during their Empatheatre research processes alongside the Urban Futures Centre (UFC). Together, the creative team has woven in elements of Zulu folklore, biblical mythology, and magical-realist framings to make for an unforgettable theatrical experience that speaks to both the countrys haunted past and present-day complexities.

Isidlamlilo has been made possible by funding from the NAC PESP fund, The National Arts Festival with additional support and thanks to the drama department and the UFC (Urban Futures Centre) at Durban University of Technology.

Isidlamlio takes place on 4, 5 and 8 November at 7pm, 6 November at 2.30pm, and 9 November at 11am. The performance is 80 minutes long, and there is an age restriction of 13+.

The ticket are R130. 10% group discounts for block bookings of ten or more. Student/scholar and pensioner discount price of R110 applicable at outlets on presentation of a valid card. Bookings can be made here.
Force Motors has confirmed it will be opening up shop in South Africa, with a comprehensive and diverse product portfolio. Here are the early details on what's to come.

Indian brand Force Motors has announced that its range of vehicles will be arriving in South Africa. The Pune-based brand has appointed Export Trading Group (ETG) to distribute the products locally.

So, whats on offer? Force Motors is bringing quite the product portfolio, which will appeal to different interests and commercial needs. For offroad enthusiasts, the Force Motors Gurkha 44 looks capable with its independently controlled diff locks and ground clearance as well as a 700mm wading depth.

Under the bonnet is a 2.6l diesel engine with 67kW and 250Nm. Power goes to all four wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox and theres a diff on each axle. At just over 4000mm, the Gurkha is smaller than a G-Class but larger than the Suzuki Jimny.

Yes, it does resemble a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, but this is no copy. Force Motors has worked with Mercedes-Benz for many years and supplied over 143,000 engines and 128,000 axles to Mercedes-Benz India since 1997 when Daimler started manufacturing vehicles on the sub-continent.

Other noteworthy vehicles earmarked for our market included the Traveller midi-bus and panel van, as well as the Kargo King bakkie range.

When is Force Motors opening in South Africa?

Right now, homologation of the new Force vehicles for the South African market has begun and you can expect the first units to hit the SA roads in the first quarter of 2023.

Stay tuned for specs and pricing for the entire Force range in the coming months.

This article was originally published on Cars.co.za...
Recently named the 2022 Loeries Young Creative of the Year, art director at Joe Public, Raphael Janan Kuppasamy, started his professional career at M&C Saatchi Abel in 2019.

Source:  Twitter Twitter Recently named the 2022 Loeries Young Creative of the Year, Raphael Janan Kuppasamy is an art director at Joe Public

Kuppasamy is a quietly spoken young man. It is clear he weighs his words before speaking.

I am a quiet person. I like to think before I voice my opinions. I avoid arguing as much as possible because it requires you to make decisions on the spot, he says.

Don't let his quiet manner fool you. This young man has worked on some of South Africas most iconic brands such as Nandos, Standard Bank, Lexus South Africa, Danone, and Bakers Biscuits.

During his time at M&C Saatchi Abel, he also launched TikTok to the South African market with copywriter, Bernice Puleng Mosala, winning the 2020 SA Cannes Young Lions competition as well as picking up a few industry awards along the way.

An local inspiration from abroad

Also a London International Awards (LIA) mentee, he explains that the programme pairs young creatives across the world with global creatives (ECDs and CCOs) for one year. You meet with the ECDs and CCOs once a month for an hours chat, and they give you advice on your career, your life, and basically anything that youd like guidance on.

He has been working with three creatives, since March, one of whom is Tim Jones, the ECD of Grey in New York.

Jones is originally from South Africa and he says there was an instant connection. He lived on the same street as me, which we only found out half an hour into our chat.

An inspiration to Kuppasamy, he says: Jones is proof that South Africans can be an ECD/CCO abroad, and somewhere as big as Grey in New York because we all want to work in New York at some point in our careers. It seems impossible, but he shows us that it is possible.

M&C Saatchi Abels chief creative officer, Neo Mashigo put Kuppasamy forward for the programme when he was working at M&C Saatchi Abel.

A different story

I started at the agency straight out of Vega. I had job offers from three big agencies, but when Adam Webber interviewed me, I felt an instant connection to him.

Kuppasamy worked under Webber for four years, winning some awards along the way, and then at the beginning of the year, in March he moved to Joe Public.

He says that being named Loeries Young Creative means so much to him.

This is because my story is very different. I could have ended up in any industry, I literally had no plan after matriculating.

He applied for quite a few scholarships, and while he was offered quite a few, the one he accepted was for a Higher Certificate in Creative Development from The Vega School of Brand Leadership. Although he did not realise it at the time, it was a decision that would set him up for a career in the creative industry.

That year he was the highest-achieving student. He was then offered a full scholarship from a subdivision of Ogilvy, called Rockstart, to do a three-year degree in Creative Brand Communications specialising in Art Direction.

Again he graduated being the most awarded student in the South African advertising industry at the time as well as winning some industry awards, including a D&AD New Blood Award.

Discovering an aptitude

He admits that if it were not for the scholarship, he might never have entered the creative industry.

It was the scholarship that took me in this direction. It was only in my first year at Vega that I discovered I had an aptitude for it, he says. I also feel that you dont really choose to work in advertising  it kinda chooses you, he adds.

Now he says he cannot imagine doing anything else.

He says what really speaks to him is creating work that makes a difference. I think thats why I won the Young Creative Award because a lot of the work that I entered was work that actually made a difference.

Make you own opportunities

So where does he sees himself or want to be in the future He laughs and says In New York as the ECD for Grey. Then he laughs more and says: I do eventually want to work overseas, and see what else the world and this industry has to offer.

He says winning the Loeries Young Creative Award has taught him a valuable lesson. I have learned that you make your own opportunities, especially as a young person. No matter how good of a designer you are or how loud (or quiet) you are, your work will always speak for itself.

The Loeries Young Creative Award recognises a talented young mind in the industry under 27 who is on a trajectory of sustained creative excellence.
Telkom has announced the launch of a 5G network service. "Additional spectrum has evolved Telkom's connectivity ecosystem and catapulted Telkom's journey into 5G connectivity. The Telkom 5G network was officially launched in partnership with Huawei on 27 October 2022," Telkom said in a statement.

Lunga Siyo | image supplied

Although 5G stands head and shoulders above 4G and LTE through faster and more reliable connection it provides, however it was critical for us to make sure that our existing 4G ecosystem remains strong whilst introducing 5G into the market, stated Lunga Siyo, CEO of Telkom Consumer and Business.

At launch, Telkom will primarily focus on providing 5G fixed wireless access solutions, as the demand for mobile 5G increases, we will supplement this with suitable mobile propositions. We are excited to offer our consumers even faster internet speeds.

5G is the next frontier of technological innovation and we are excited to bring this technology to the fingertips of all South Africans to realise the potential of a fully connected world, Siyo continued.

5G, with its ultra-high-speed and low latency, will support new services for South African consumers, like online AR/VR gaming and UHD streaming; it will also enable businesses with cloud and AI technologies. Huawei, as Telkom's, strategic partner, will not only help to build 5G networks but is also committed to supporting Telkom to achieve business success in the 5G era, says Fortune Wang, director of Huawei South Africa, carrier business.

Our purpose is to seamlessly connect our customers to a better life, and through our entry into 5G, we believe that our customers will be able to enjoy a better, connected world,  Siyo concluded.
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.

Source: master1305 via Freepik

Many protected areas didnt 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 Africas 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 Africas 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 wasnt 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. Theyre 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 Africas 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.

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.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Amazon is on its way to Mzansi. While many retailers may panic about losing customers to the world's biggest one-stop-shop, small businesses can remain hopeful as they have a few advantages over retail giants.

Matt Brownell, VP of commercial for Yoco | image supplied

Here are four advantages your small business has over Amazon:

1. You have an in-depth understanding of your customers

Bigger isnt always better  especially when it comes to understanding the unique attributes, preferences, and pain points of your customers. The invaluable well of information youve gathered about your customers (whether actively or as a by-product of interacting with them), means that youre far better equipped to provide them with the products and services  and crucially, customer service  that will convert them into shoppers and ultimately, into advocates for your brand.

Expand on your existing intel about your customers by:

More is more when it comes to learning about your customers (and target market). If you havent yet asked for feedback  nows the time. This is where the good stuff is  even if its in the form of a negative review  think of it as constructive criticism thatll only benefit your brand.

To get customers to spill their thoughts, its crucial that you give them an easy way to leave a review or comment about their experience. Whether this is via a Google Business Profile or a casual conversation as they pay for their purchase.

2. Youre well-equipped to curate a uniquely personalised customer experience

Smart algorithms may streamline the shopping experience  but they cant replace the human element that underpins an unforgettable (for all the right reasons) customer experience. Whether you operate online or offline  or a combination of the two  youre able to curate a uniquely customised shopping experience that big box stores cant compete with.

Whether its giving a repeat customer a just because discount, handwriting a thank-you note with each online purchase, or patiently helping someone choose the perfect book for their beloved, youre armed with a bunch of tools to facilitate a one-on-one experience thats personalised and memorable.

Up the ante of your customer service like this:

Ideally, you should dedicate as much time to improving and evolving your customer experience as you do on marketing your offering.

If a stellar shopping experience is going to be the differentiating factor between you and a faceless brand, you need to invest the time, people, and money needed to deliver a unique, positive experience to every single one of your customers  throughout the purchasing process.

This includes all interactions (online and offline) between you and your customers  so map out the buying process from beginning to end and identify ways in which you can improve or elevate it.

3. Youre helping to rebuild SAs economy

The only thing South Africans love more than cooking meat over an open flame? Our country. When facing off with international competition, the local is lekker angle can be an incredibly effective marketing tool  especially in a climate where the underdogs of Mzansi have had a run off it.

In short, tapping into our nations unwavering patriotism can be a powerful way to garner support for your brand. By reminding your customers that their patronage isnt only crucial for your business success, but that it plays a massive role in the recovery and growth of our economy, you can make a compelling case for supporting a local, small business over a global giant.

Appeal to your customers inner patriot by:

Making use of local suppliers where possible. If you cant switch to homegrown everything, publicise the aspects of your offering that are proudly South African. From your ingredients and packaging to your card machine or online payment portal (wink wink), there are multiple touchpoints that your business can make use of to support small SA businesses just like your own.

Then, publicise the fact that your smoothies use bananas from Limpopo, or that your garments are made by local seamstresses  in other words, tell your customers about the big (or small) ways your business is actively contributing to the South African economy.

4. Youre an advocate for conscious commerce

Its no secret that retail giants are riddled with problematic practices, (which I wont get into because were all about positive vibes).

In short, household name retailers are the epitome of predatory capitalism, resulting in a growing contingent of shoppers seeking out ethical businesses that dont put profit over people. Nows the time to shout your conscious business practices from the rooftops  it could be the deciding factor between a browser and a brand advocate.

Put your ethical business practices to work like this:

Wherever you can, advertise the ways in which your business makes a difference. This could be by opting for recycled paper packaging over plastic, employing members of a community in need, or donating your time, goods, or services to worthy causes. Or, it might be as simple as the fact that you give all surplus supplies or products to your staff and their families.

Therell always be competition from the big guy, but look a little closer and youll find opportunity hidden in adversity. Whats your strategy when it comes to competing with big brands? Let us know on our socials.
How women bring different eyes to business and why it has worked for leading South African digital agency TDMC

Cheryl Ingram, managing director and co-founder The Digital Media Collective (TDMC)

Recent top three finalist in the Santam Women of the Future Awards, Cheryl Ingram, is the managing director and co-founder of one of South Africas most successful e-commerce agencies, The Digital Media Collective (TDMC). TDMC is based in Durban and has been in business for 9.5 years, with clients throughout South Africa and internationally. They are one of only four accredited Shopify Expert Partners in Southern Africa and are also a Google Expert Partner and Meta Business Partner. TDMCs client list is impressive and their approach to business even more so  of their 50 staff members, more than half are women. Cheryl shares her business ethos and insights into TDMCs success.

Is the moniker female business owner still relevant in a 21st century business landscape?

Cheryl thinks it is, but not for cliched reasons. Of course, lack of payment parity and equality is an issue that continues to be problematic in many corporate scenarios, but what I think women bring to business are factors that arent always very tangible, but are no less valuable. I think our relationship building skills can be more honed than mens and I think we are skilled in growing robust companies with healthy company cultures that dont necessarily fit corporate moulds. I also believe we really can juggle more and can get more done  there, I said it!

Leading the charge in the e-commerce + digital landscape

Over the past four years, experts have gathered solid statistics that show an enormous uptake in online shopping in South Africa. BrandMapps latest data shows that over 60% of the 33,000 respondents had shopped from one of SAs largest online retailers in the last year  a 25% jump from two years ago. And, as BrandMapps director of storytelling, Brandon de Kock, points out, this trend is going to continue for the foreseeable future with it becoming increasingly important for anyone selling goods, services and products to make sure that they have the right e-commerce partners and platforms in place to create a competitive advantage.

It is this competitive advantage that TDMC gives its clients, providing extensive e-commerce experience as well as performance marketing expertise for businesses large and small, focusing on  but not limited to  South Africa. It operates within a sector of digital business that didnt exist in this country 15 years ago and in just under a decade TDMC has become one of the most significant e-commerce players in Southern Africa. Top clients in their portfolio are investing six figures+ monthly on Google and the same across social media. This level of investment is showing no sign of slowing with many clients pulling back on TV budgets and reinvesting that spend in top funnel video first strategies online instead.

A passion for fellow female entrepreneurs

Cheryl says she has worked with many incredible people, both men and women, but it just so happens that many of the online SMEs TDMC has onboarded as clients are startups led by women. It is so exciting to see so many women take their futures into their own hands with innovative concepts, products and service offerings, says Cheryl. This has been particularly evident since Covid-19, when so many people became more resourceful than ever before. Its an exciting time to be helping people reach better and more engaged audiences on a daily basis.

The South African online retail landscape is exhilarating and TDMC prides itself on its agility in applying itself to new challenges. The digital world moves incredibly quickly, and we are able to adapt our focus accordingly, whether its through our tried and tested paid media strategies, or by kicking off innovative influencer campaigns through our content marketing arm led by my fellow director Nicola Ashe. Collaborating with creators, many of whom have built their social side hustles into thriving small businesses, is a particularly interesting opportunity for clients and one that is proving time and time again to be hugely beneficial in ways that go beyond just conversions for our clients says Cheryl. Thats the thing with digital, it all happens so quickly and thats exactly why we love it so much  no day, campaign or challenge is the same and we are determined to create the best possible outcome for each scenario and ultimately for our clients.

Were not an agency agency

Cheryl describes TDMC as a non-agency agency: Yes, we have the expertise and track record to work with major companies and considerable paid social media budgets, but our structure is not very hierarchical. Our digital native experts immerse themselves in trends and stats every single day to help us ensure the products we recommend to our clients specific challenges are not just another copy/paste approach  and many of them are younger than 30. In fact, TDMCs youngest director and shareholder is in his mid-20s and has been with the company since he was a student intern.

We also make a point of paying fairly. I dont believe in paying an elusive unicorn a pittance to fulfil a multi-faceted role  the days of allocating content and Facebook ads to a junior are over, or at least they should be, says Cheryl. Is it because she is a woman that fairness is so paramount? Yes and no  I think its just better business practice and promotes a healthier company culture. Maybe thats because I know how hard I have fought to be respected. But to be honest, I try not to let that be my driving force as a leader, I just want to be a decent human.

Making strides side-by-side

Cheryl, who was once a school teacher (and whose father was a headmaster), is a natural mentor and much of the focus at TDMC is built on peer-to-peer skills sharing. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have entered the digital market in the 90s at MSN UK while living and working in London. I had some incredible mentors there who taught me how to get the most out of people through their own then-progressive leadership styles.

What Cheryl brought from these positive mentorship experiences  coupled with her own business and personable people savvy  is a desire to share-to-learn and keep adapting. She says this is why TDMC has an in-office expectation. Much of the learning happens on the job, by hearing and seeing exchanges between more experienced colleagues  you cant replicate that in a work-from-home office scenario. Conversely, Cheryl is the first to say how much she learns from her younger team members. I need millennials and Gen Z experts around me. They were born into this era, its already in their DNA.

Theres no denying the playing field is levelling and even talking about women in business can sometimes feel like a moot point. But when women excel in what has traditionally been a male dominated arena it is worth celebrating  and kudos to Cheryl Ingram for flying the flag for woman-owned businesses in South Africa.




-H.L. Mencken

At the risk to my esteemed personal reputation of being branded a conspiracy theorist (which doesnt mean much these days anyway), Im willing to go on the record with a prediction.

The US government will use weather modification to cause extreme weather and blame it on climate change.

Theres already a grand tradition of staging phony crises for the sole purpose of leveraging greater political power and social control.

Call it the false flag of climate change operations.

The puzzle pieces are all in place.

-

Without fail, every extreme weather event is now accompanied by a 2-week corporate media news cycle blaming climate change, demanding the government choke down the fossil fuel industry and throttle oil consumption. From recent history, for instance, Hurricane Ian:

The corporate media  functionally the public relations arms of the corporate state  stirs hysteria, and then later leverages the fear in the public it created to bestow more power unto the state, in much the same way it did in the name of Public Health during the COVID pandemic.

Via New York Times:

Ian embodies several of the major hurricane trends in recent years, as the world copes with the effects of climate change . Its a strong storm  and strong storms are becoming more common in the Atlantic Ocean .

Thats a total lie based on nothing. Total climate change propaganda.

Research published in 2021 in Nature Journal found that increases in Atlantic hurricane and major hurricane frequency are consistent with changes in observing practices and not likely a true climate trend .

Data links the alleged increases in major hurricanes to how they are observed, not climate change.

But the New York Times just makes the anti-science claim anyway, knowing that, in our ADD-addled world, 80% of readers dont make it beyond the headline. Their (shrinking) bovine audience in Brooklyn and Marthas Vineyard and Berkeley laps it up because Trump completely broke their critical thinking skills, and because lazy.

They dont analyze; they absorb, then regurgitate.



The corporate media never lets reality interfere with a good narrative. If more storms are not naturally occurring, why not make lemonade out of lemons and whip some up?

Just like they did with the now-vindicated COVID lab leak claim, theyve dismissed weather modification as a conspiracy theory.

Conspiracy theorists vary in their claims. But some of the most popular include the belief that governments control the weather on a massive scale*.

(*Note the weasel phrase on a massive scale. The BBC, in the same article admits that governments do, in fact, manipulate weather  but its localized: successful weather modification efforts have been localised  and certainly not on the grand scale some conspiracy theorists claim.)

Via World Meteorological Organization:

 Operational programmes to modify the weather  including to disperse fog, enhance rain and snowfall, and suppress hail  are taking place in more than 50 countries worldwide .

Operational means happening right now.

These statistics are presumably sourced from national governments, which, for national security reasons, have a strong incentive not to fully disclose their capabilities. So this is the bare minimum in terms of the number of countries actively manipulating the weather and the extent to which they are doing it.

To what lengths will the corporate state go chasing the climate change dragon?

Bill Gates, Scion of The Science, wants to literally block out the sun via solar geoengineering.

Via Newsweek

Of course, all carbon-based lifeforms on Earth depend on sunlight for survival. At the bottom of every food chain is vegetation of one sort or another, which requires sunlight to grow.

Its called photosynthesis, and most second-graders, even public school ones, can describe the essential process (or at least they used to, perhaps the groomers replaced that section of the science curriculum with clay dildo craft hour or whatever).

Eating seems important for humanity but apparently is irrelevant or even undesirable to Bill Gates, who once openly flaunted his depopulation agenda before taking subterfuge behind vaccines as a back-door method.



What Gates sun-barricading tomfoolery shows is how little he thinks of the public at large.

He suggests literally blocking out the sun, knowing the corporate media will follow if he funnels enough money to enough corporate media outlets, as he often does to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars through his nonprofit foundation.

And hes correct that some enormous subset of the public would walk right off the cliff into oblivion like lemmings.

There is probably no bottom to the barrel. Snuffing out the essential life-giving force for the whole world is a tough bar to clear. The question isnt why the government would manipulate the weather to achieve its goals. The question is: why wouldnt it?

Ben Bartee is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs. Follow his stuff via Armageddon Prose and/or Substack, Patreon, Gab, and Twitter.

Bitcoin public address: 14gU3aHBXkNq8bDqmibfnubV7kSJqfx5LX
Anational digital ID system for U.S. citizens is fast becoming a reality following a vote by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to advance the Improving Digital Identity Act.

Digital IDs act as online, data-laden representations of human beings. Many analysts, such as the authors of a 2019 McKinsey Global Institute report, argue they could be the key to unlocking access to financial services, various government benefits and educational opportunities, as well as a number of other critical services. Some of the same analysts, however, also warn that the "risks and potential for misuse of digital ID are real and deserve careful attention."

Although the concerns about digital IDs are real, it's important to separate the facts from the fearmongering fiction.

In simple language, a digital identity enables an individual to prove who they are in the virtual world. Proponents claim digital IDs offer greater privacy than traditional forms of identification and can help minimize some of the risks associated with physical documents such as driver's licenses, passports, etc. Others, though, are quick to sound the alarm, warning that the introduction of digital IDs will almost certainly lead to an erosion of civil liberties.

"Digital is often touted as the 'future,' and many people cast such a transition as inevitable," writes Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, who believes digital IDs could prove to be a privacy nightmare. "But digital is not always better  especially when systems are exclusively digital."

"Theres a reason that most jurisdictions have spurned electronic voting in favor of paper ballots, for example," Stanley writes. With voting software in some states vulnerable to outside interference, paper ballots increasingly appear to be much safer.

Similarly, digital IDs are vulnerable to attack. Horror stories involving people's identities being stolen are not uncommon. Remember, digital IDs are synonymous with data, and if there is one thing hacker's love, it's data  especially the data of U.S. citizens.

If digital identities are introduced in the U.S., which looks increasingly likely, they will be inextricably linked with financial services. Financial institutions, after all, are being encouraged to lead the way in the development of comprehensive digital identity solutions. Digital IDs, we're told, will become more critical as online and mobile banking becomes more popular.

Recent headlines make it easy to see why so many people, fearful of the enforcement of political/ideological conformity through financial control, are hesitant to embrace digital IDs.

The banking behemoth JP Morgan Chase recently cut ties with Kanye West, who now goes by the name Ye. While the bank's notification to him reportedly predates recent controversies involving the outspoken rapper and designer  he sported a White Lives Matter tee shirt and made remarks widely condemned as anti-Semitic  Ye appears to hold certain viewpoints that don't align with those held by the multinational's executives.

Around the same time as Ye found himself being kicked to the curb, JP Morgan decided to freeze the bank account of the National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF), a nonpartisan nonprofit founded by former Kansas Republican Sen. Sam Brownback. Brownback, who served as ambassador-at-Large for international religious freedom in the Trump administration, was offered no explanation for why the account was frozen.

Meanwhile, it recently emerged that PayPal, an online payment system used by tens of millions of Americans, planned to fine users $2,500 in damages if they were found guilty of spreading "misinformation." Although PayPal has since reassured users that the policy won't be introduced, this reassurance came only after considerable backlash, including mass account cancellations by users and a sharp drop in the company's stock price.

Earlier this year, GoFundMe, a for-profit crowdfunding platform headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., froze donations to Canadian truckers opposing Covid vaccine mandates. Shortly afterwards, Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, who reportedly favors digital ID, threatened to freeze the bank accounts of the truckers.

The high probability of digital IDs being closely associated with access (or lack thereof) to finances and the growing link between ideological leanings and financial exclusion are fueling much of the resistance to digital identification.

But the concerns don't end there. Brett Solomon, the executive director of Access Now, an NGO that defends and extends the digital rights of users at risk around the world, argues that these IDs are ripe for abuse and that the threats of implementing them far outweigh the benefits.

Citing his decade of experience tracking the perils and promise of technology for human rights, Solomon wrote in a 2018 Wired article that "digital ID, writ large, poses one of the gravest risks to human rights of any technology that we have encountered."

Coupled with "facial recognition technology and other identifiers," Solomon warned, digital IDs have "the capacity for geo-location of identifiers." In other words, tracking citizens' every digital movement.

Solomon's ominous warnings tie in with fears that someone, somewhere is always watching, and if Big Brother doesn't like what you're doing, punishment will surely be served  fears that have only been heightened by recent headlines.
Popstar Tina Arenas appointment to the Australia Council board in 2019 was peak Morrison government. Technically, it was then-arts minister Mitch Fifield who gave the sign-off, but Arena is Scott Morrisons favourite singer  he once said his love for her music was bordering on the unhealthy and called the songstress his favourite Melburnian (sorry Josh).

Much like the government that appointed her right before an election, and then re-appointed her for another three-year term before this years poll, Arena doesnt seem too interested in the nitty-gritty of doing her job. In the 2021-22 financial year, she attended just three out of six board meetings.

Tina Arena Credit:John Shakespeare

And while that seems like a pretty slack showing (none of her fellow board members missed more than one), its actually an improvement for the seven-time ARIA winner. In 2020-21, she attended just two out of six meetings, and just four of the nine in her first year on the board as reported in this column. While the meetings took place during the days of COVID, which could explain some of those absences, its still a lot of no-shows for a taxpayer-funded annual stipend of $35,365.

Arenas management didnt respond to requests for comment regarding what looks like chronic indifference to the job. A spokesperson for the AC told CBD Arena had operated within the terms of the Australia Council Act. Looks like everyones chill with it.
A lawyer representing a man accused of plotting to kill a Samoan prime minister has been blasted by a Queensland magistrate for suggesting the court was favouring the Commonwealth and the island country.

Talalelei Pauga, accused of conspiracy to murder former prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has been in custody since August 2020, when Samoa made an extradition request to the federal Attorney-Generals department.

Pauga is alleged to have plotted to kill former Samoan prime minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi (left). Credit:Mick Tsikas

Malielegaoi is now the countrys opposition leader and Samoa has been seeking to prosecute Pauga on home soil.

Paugas case has been through federal and Queensland courts. He has three matters open before the Federal Court and continues to fight extradition.
E-scooters will be placed overnight between homes and public transport car parks to encourage commuters to ride to bus and ferry stops each morning instead of driving their cars there and trying to park.

Backed by e-scooter providers Beam and Neuron, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland government has announced a 12-month trial to encourage commuters out of their cars for the last kilometre.

Beam Scooters Sarah Taylor and Councillor Ryan Murphy encourage commuters to use an e-scooter rather than drive to the bus stop or ferry stop. Credit:Tony Moore

Councillor Ryan Murphy said e-scooters and e-bikes would be placed close to public transport stops in Balmoral, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Greenslopes, Morningside, Coorparoo and Norman Park.

Brisbane residents have fallen in love with e-mobility, said Murphy, the citys civic cabinet transport chair.
The icky, sticky, summer feeling has returned to the Sunshine State, with above-average heat leaving Brisbanites uncomfortable and no reprieve in the next few days.

South-east Queensland is experiencing high humidity levels as the summer heat hits early. Credit:Tony Moore

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid said temperatures were above average across the state for this time of year, with humidity making things feel worse.

There is an icky, sticky summer feeling around. The urban heat island effect is uncomfortable and being felt by many Queenslanders near and far. This is not just Brisbane.

Brisbane city experienced 31.3 degrees on Monday before slightly dipping on Tuesday and Wednesday with 29.4 and 29.4 degree maximums.
Emergency services are warning Victorians to avoid flood-affected areas and watch for damaged roads as they prepare for holidaymakers to travel across the state over the Melbourne Cup long weekend.

At least 430 roads remain closed and more rain over the weekend may result in further closures. Many roads across the state suffered extensive damage during the recent flood crisis.

Echuca remains under an evacuation warning. Credit:Jason South

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said there was still a flood emergency in Victoria, with more than 50 warnings in place, ranging from advice messages to evacuation warnings.

Please, in the main, stay away from those flood-impacted areas, he said.
Lawyers for De Rosa are yet to quantify the full extent of her financial losses but say the psychiatric damage has had a profound effect on her education, domestic and industrial capacity and will do so for the rest of her life, according to the statement of claim. De Rosa, who is now 22, had originally planned to pursue a nursing career but requires extensive medical and psychiatric care. Katelin De Rosa is seen in CCTV footage from Eaglehawk CFA station. On Thursday, her family released a statement calling for sweeping reforms of the organisation that has been plagued by allegations of misogyny, bullying and discrimination for more than a decade. Katelin and her family hope that the steps she has taken to bring these issues to light will lead to significant reform within the CFA and systematic change in how it conducts itself with its claims to being a child-safe organisation, the statement said.

No one should have to go through what Katelin has endured and continues to suffer. The community and the law expects the CFA to have a culture of ensuring that volunteer children and young people feel safe, respected, valued and cared for within its operations. The family said the CFA was not part of the Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme, and called for it to comply with the Victorian Child Safe Standards under The Commission for Children and Young People. Loading A CFA spokeswoman said the organisation was unable to comment on any potential legal action but insisted it was committed to providing a positive, safe and inclusive environment for its 50,000 members. CFA commissioned the recent independent CFA Culture and Issues Management Review, which acknowledged there is significant work underway to ensure we have a positive culture, including the rollout of behavioural standards across CFA to reinforce our expectations that all people are treated with dignity and respect, she said.

The report also identified a number of additional actions CFA should take, and all recommendations have been accepted and implementation planning is underway. De Rosas alleged abuse first came to light in December 2017, when CCTV footage of her attack was leaked to the media, which sparked an internal investigation by the CFA. Another CCTV image from Eaglehawk CFA station. Four members were immediately stood down by then-CFA chief executive Frances Diver, who said she was sickened by the incident. While the CFA referred the matter to police and WorkSafe, no charges were ever laid. At the time, De Rosa and her mother were unwilling to take the matter further and claimed the CFA did not provide all CCTV footage of the incident.

After years of failed negotiations with the CFA, De Rosa and her mother decided to proceed with the civil case against the CFA, in which their lawyers could subpoena the relevant report by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Loading The report was suppressed in 2018 after a legal challenge by the powerful United Firefighters Union but uncovered everyday sexism and a hypermasculine culture in the states fire services. It warned that workers could be exposed to further harm under an industrial agreement approved by the Andrews government. The review was commissioned by then-emergency services minister Jane Garrett, who resigned from cabinet in 2016 after the government pushed through a contentious deal that gave the firefighters union even more power over the CFA. Garrett, who died from breast cancer in July, told The Age last year that she was devastated by the courts decision to suppress the report.

The VEOHRC report was not only about having womens voices heard, it was also about providing a road map for change. Its devastating for everyone involved that it was never allowed to see the light of day, Garrett said in March 2021. Loading More than six years after the report was commissioned, many alleged victims remain unheard and disenchanted, amid claims the CFA had bowed to pressure from the firefighters union and allowed the problems to fester. The Age published a series of stories last year when several female volunteers accused CFA management of failing to properly address serious accusations of bullying, discrimination and sexual assault within the organisation. They provided dozens of emails and internal CFA documents that supported their claims of a quasi-military management structure that refused to tolerate any dissent and routinely ignored misconduct.
Seventeen Australian relatives of former Islamic State fighters will arrive in Sydney as early as Saturday after the Albanese government launched a highly sensitive mission to repatriate the women and children from a squalid refugee camp in Syria.

The four women and 13 children will be the first group of Australians to be rescued from Syria since the collapse of the fundamentalist terror groups caliphate in 2019.

Foreign IS wives and children line up in the Al Hawl camp in Syria to be taken to shops in the camp in 2019. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The women and children were removed from the al-Roj refugee camp in northern Syria on Thursday and taken over the border to Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

They will be resettled in Sydney, with most expected to live in western Sydney.
Indigenous leader Noel Pearson says Indigenous Australians are a much unloved people and warned the forthcoming referendum on constitutional recognition could be lost and our cause may perish in the mud.

In a Boyer lecture for the ABC titled Recognition, Pearson lays out the anxieties, hopes and fears of the campaign for recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution, while also arguing that achieving recognition would be more difficult than legalising same-sex marriage.

Indigenous leader Noel Pearson. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

But the lawyer and academic predicted that if a yes vote won, racism will diminish in this country when we succeed with recognition. It will not have the same purchase on us.

Australia doesnt make sense without recognition. Until the First Peoples are afforded our rightful place, we are a nation missing its most vital heart, he said.
Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has privately slammed the federal governments promise of $5.8 million to set up a truth-telling Makarrata commission, hours after publicly praising it.

At midday on the day after the federal budget, Thorpe issued a media release welcoming the funding as a massive win for the Greens campaign for an Indigenous treaty process in her capacity as the partys spokeswoman on First Nations affairs.

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe publicly welcomed $5.8 million in funding in the budget for a Makarrata commission, only to slam it on her private Facebook page hours later. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Funding national truth and treaty processes is an investment in real power for First Nations people, she said in a media statement.

Labor announcing funding for Truth and Treaty is a massive win for our grassroots community campaign on Treaty. This budget proves what weve always said: that we can make progress on Truth, Treaty and Voice at the same time.
Business groups are in open warfare with the federal government over sweeping workplace law changes they argue will empower unions to trigger industry-wide strikes and rope employers into pay deals without their consent.

Just two months after the government brought business and unions together at a jobs summit and days after the federal budget forecast wages are expected to keep falling in real terms until 2024, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke introduced legislation designed to force up wages, particularly for women.

Tony Burke introduces the Secure Jobs, Better Pay bill on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The provision in the bill to introduce multi-employer bargaining is the sticking point for business groups and the Coalition, who argue the Labor government is giving unions too much industrial power to negotiate pay deals across several companies at once.

The IR bill is seen by the government as central to its plan to lift real wages, which lag soaring inflation, by overhauling the wage bargaining system, which Burke has described as broken.
Price controls on gas are firming as the last, best option for the federal government to lower power bills after the treasurer cautioned against cash handouts for consumers that would fuel inflation and ruled out a windfall tax on gas companies reaping billions in extra profits.

Australias east coast exporters of liquefied natural gas have been benefiting from the global energy crunch sparked by a ban on Russias fossil fuel exports due to its invasion of Ukraine, which has driven up the price they receive for their gas.

The soaring cost of gas is pushing power prices higher, making cost of living a burning issue for the federal government. Credit:John Woudstra

Retail electricity and gas prices have already risen steeply in the past year and Tuesdays budget forecast a further surge, heaping pressure on the federal government over its pre-election pledge to cut energy bills.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday gas supply is not the problem, contradicting the gas lobby, which argues boosting production is the best way to lower prices.
Queenslands first Holocaust museum will open early next year in Brisbanes CBD, the premier says.

During the 2020 state election campaign, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged $3.5 million for a museum and education centre to commemorate Jewish victims of Nazi crimes during World War II.

The main gates at Auschwitz, through which the women featured in Heather Dune Macadam's book were taken. Credit:Getty Images

She says the museum will open next year in a building in the CBDs Cathedral Precinct after the government struck a deal with Brisbanes Catholic Archdiocese for a site.

Its still hard to fathom that in total six million Jewish people died during the Holocaust  1.5 million of them children, Palaszczuk told parliament on Thursday.
London: Prince Harrys long-awaited memoir, titled Spare, will be released early next year, the publisher, Random House, has announced.

The cover of Spare, Prince Harrys memoir. Credit:Random House Group via AP

The Duke of Sussexs unflinchingly honest autobiography will hit the shelves from January 10, and will include his full account behind his decision to give up royal duties and move to the United States.

With King Charles III just weeks into his new role as head of state, his son is likely to bring up their strained relationship and potential criticisms of his brother, Prince William, and his stepmother, Queen Camilla.

Members of the royal family and their aides have not seen the manuscript and they have not been given the opportunity to respond to any claims through their lawyers.
Aviation regulator has allowed to wet lease wide-body Boeing planes from Turkish Airlines for up to six months and has rejected the domestic carrier's request for leasing the aircraft for up to two years, according to sources.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) turned down the request of the country's largest airline to wet lease the aircraft for a longer period, citing that the move could become diversion of traffic rights in collusion with a strong foreign carrier that will mainly feed the latter's hub abroad with more passengers from India, the sources said.

IndiGo, which currently has only narrow-body planes in its fleet, decided to lease wide-body aircraft to operate more flights on international routes to meet rising demand.

Currently, there are also supply issues from engine makers Pratt & Whitney and CFM as a result of which many Airbus A320 planes of and Go First are on the ground.

The sources said has permitted to wet lease wide-body aircraft from Turkish Airlines for three months and the period can be extended by another three months.

The domestic airline's request for wet leasing the aircraft for up to two years has been rejected by the watchdog.

There was no immediate comment from IndiGo.

Generally, wet leasing of planes is allowed for short periods to tackle supply constraints and ensure that airfares do not surge significantly.

Under wet lease arrangement, planes are leased among with operating crew and engineers.

On October 12, PTI reported that IndiGo will soon be leasing up to four four wide-body Boeing 777 planes to cover the shortfall in its international operations.

According to the sources, wet leasing of an aircraft essentially means an Indian airline is only issuing tickets for aircraft being operated by the carrier from which the planes have been taken.

Also, the entire operating crew and engineers would be from the foreign airline concerned. does not have adequate safety oversight on aircraft being operated under wet lease arrangement, the sources said.

At present, bilaterals between India and Turkey provide for only two flights daily to be operated by airlines from either side.

The government is also looking at mega aviation hubs in India and is also encouraging domestic airlines to have wide-body planes in their fleets.

(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 asked the to extend the wet lease period of three B777 wide body aircraft that have been leased from Turkish Airlines to operate more India-Istanbul flights, sources said on Thursday.

Aviation regulator DGCA has allowed India's largest carrier to wet lease the three B777 planes for a period of only six months (the limit mandated under its regulations), sources noted.

had first asked the (DGCA) to permit wet leasing of these three planes for up to two years. However, the regulator refused to give any exemption to the airline from its regulations, sources mentioned.

The DGCA believes that it does not have adequate safety oversight of planes that are operated under wet lease as the entire crew handling them is of the lessor airline and the lessee airline is essentially just issuing tickets, they noted.

As per the 2016 regulations, wet lease from abroad is only permitted in "emergency situations" by the DGCA, and that too for not more than six months.

"Emergency situations cover unexpected grounding of the aircraft of an existing AOP (air operating permit) holder, aircraft under scheduled maintenance or checks or any other unforeseen circumstances," the regulations noted.

Wet lease from abroad is not permitted for "capacity or route expansion" purposes of an existing airline, the regulations mentioned. did not respond to Business Standard's request for a statement on the matter.

IndiGo's fleet comprises around 280 planes and all of them are narrow body planes, with only economy class in them. The airline has decided to wet lease three wide body planes, which will have business class in them, from Turkish Airlines so as to operate more flights on India-Istanbul routes.

A wide body plane like B777 has a bigger fuel tank than narrow body aircraft like A320, which allows the former to traverse longer distances.

IndiGo had earlier this month announced that it will start operating flights on Mumbai-Istanbul route from January 1 onwards. The airline is already operating flights on Delhi-Istanbul routes using its narrow body planes.

On October 12, IndiGo had confirmed that it is wet leasing certain planes.

"International air travel is going through a strong period of recovery, and demand continues to rise in the upcoming festive and winter season. This is a positive sign for the industry and IndiGo remains very bullish on strong growth for international travel to and from India in the future," it had mentioned.

However, as the aviation industry globally continues to face significant supply chain disruptions, the airline has been exploring a multitude of solutions to enable us to continue its operations smoothly and to provide its customers with efficient and affordable travel, it had added.

"As an interim measure, we have decided to take on wet/ damp lease certain aircraft to cover the shortfall for our scheduled international operations. We have received an in-principle approval from the regulators for the same and the induction of these remains subject to further requisite regulatory approvals," it had mentioned.

Air India had last month announced that it is going to increase its fleet size from 113 to 143 planes by December 2023 by leasing five wide body planes and 25 narrow body planes.

IndiGo already has approximately 60 per cent share in the domestic market. Therefore, the airline is looking to international avenues to sustain its growth momentum.
PRI ECO GEN NAT .NEWDELHI DCM12 KRBL Limited Latest Study Recognizes India Gate as the World's No. 1 Basmati Rice Brand New Delhi, Delhi, India Business Wire India Latest study by leading global research agency shows how the grain is witnessing an increased demand, globally The made-in-India brand successfully exports Basmati Rice to over 90 countries, translating to 8+ cr. packs annually As a global leader brand in the category, India Gate plans to grow in India through converting a largely loose unbranded category to a branded one The aromatic Basmati Rice is a staple across households in India. According to a recent research study on the Global Basmati Rice Market, the iconic grain is witnessing huge demand owing to its high quality, premium appearance, and distinct taste. India Gate, the flagship brand of KRBL, has been recognized as the world's No. 1[1] Basmati Rice Brand in a market study conducted by a leading global research company. The quantitative study by Mordor Intelligence covers research of White and Brown Basmati Rice Category across continents like Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The research has been done using methodologies like Primary & Secondary Research, Data Triangulation and Insight Generation. Mordor Intelligence, a leading global research company founded in 2014 has been conducting studies providing insights to 4000+ enterprises across 100+ countries across multiple industries. Since its introduction in 1998, India Gate Basmati Rice, has been working continuously to deliver its purpose of enriching lives through Basmati Rice, a nutritional wonder of nature. Over the years, India Gate has developed a successful global consumer franchise, as evidenced by the fact that it is exported to over 90 countries and sells 8+ cr. packs annually. The grains of are aged to perfection, which makes them longer, fluffier, non-sticky, and full of beautiful aroma, setting them apart from the others. Commenting on this, Mr. Anil Kumar Mittal, Chairman and Managing Director, KRBL Limited, said, With a rich industry experience of more than a century, KRBL Limited has created its place as a world leader in the Basmati rice industry. From the very beginning, our unconditional commitment has been to offer the best quality to our consumers. Today, our flagship brand is appreciated worldwide for its premium quality. This latest study recognizing as the World's No.1 Basmati rice brand is testimony to our unwavering commitment to get the best quality basmati on the consumer plates across the world. In India there's a huge task ahead to convert a largely unbranded loose market into a branded one. Mr. Mittal adds, Brand India Gate has tasked itself to drive conversion from unbranded Basmati Rice to branded. There is a well thought out strategy basis robust consumer and category insights that has been put in place to drive this which includes sharp consumer communication, aggressive retail footprint expansion from the current 3 lacs to 5 lacs outlets, distributor expansion in lower population class markets and scaling up digitization to accelerate efforts in this direction. Products in the India Gate Basmati Rice portfolio are available across leading e-commerce platforms as well as offline modern and general stores. [1] As per Secondary Market Research Report, MAT June 2022 About KRBL KRBL is world's largest & only integrated manufacturer and exporter of Basmati rice. The Company is certified by FSSC 22000 issued by Eurofins, a globally recognized certification. The certification confirms that the organizations food safety management system is in conformance with the scheme requirements. It also showcases how the Company has been successful in maintaining compliance with international standards. Thus, ensuring top-notch product quality and safety attributes. KRBL has two state-of-the-art manufacturing units and four technologically advanced packing units strategically located across India. Through their extensive network of 500+ distributors and 3 lac+ retail outlets operating in more than 750 cities, KRBL enjoys product presence throughout all of India. KRBL Limited is also India's first, integrated rice company with an extensive supply chain presence and a rich, 130-year history. With processing capacities of 195 MT/per hour. KRBL Limited's portfolio also includes 14 brands in Rice and a variety of healthy food products like Quinoa, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, and Brown Rice. The Company offers its rice under a varied range of brands namely India Gate, Unity, Nur Jahan and many more. Its's flagship brand India Gate is appreciated worldwide for its premium quality. The Company engages in seed production, touch cultivation, paddy procurement, storage, processing, and packaging, basmati rice branding and marketing. The Company enjoys presence in the domestic as well as in 90+ international markets, which includes USA, Australia, EU, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, amongst others. For more information, log on to https://krblrice.com/. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and

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said it has received shareholders' approval to appoint Ahlem Friga Noy as a non-executive, nominee director in the company.

Shareholders of the company has approved the appointment of Ahlem Friga Noy as a director (non-executive, nominee director) in an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the company held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, a BSE filing showed.

According to the notice for the EGM, the board had recommended for the approval of the members for the appointment of Ahlem Friga Noy as a director of the company, from 27th July, 2022.

The approval of shareholders for the appointment of a person on the board of directors has to be taken either at the next general meeting or within a time period of three months from the date of appointment, whichever is earlier.

Accordingly, it explained that the approval of the shareholders is sought to comply with the listing regulations.

Ahlem had given her consent to act as a director of the company. She is a seasoned public affairs, geopolitical adviser and negotiation expert with 20 years' experience in the public as well as private sector.

From August 2019, she was appointed as Total's Country Chair in Kazakhstan and Managing Director - Total E&P Kazakhstan.

Earlier, from May 2012 to July 2016 she was the corporate affairs manager at Total E&P Uganda and from July 2016 to August 2019, she held the position of the Vice President Public Affairs Africa Division for Total Group, based in Uganda.

Before joining Total Group, she was advisor on sub-Sahara Africa to the French minister of foreign and european affairs and to the French minister for cooperation.

Ahlem speaks English, Italian, Arab and Swahili, and holds a master's degree in public law and bachelor's in international law.

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Logistics solution provider Shiprocket on Thursday said it has gone live on ONDC, enabling first ever inter-city logistics on the government-backed e-commerce network.

The first successful transaction was fulfilled on October 22.

"Our mission is to reach every independent retailer in the country and enable them with state of the art technology that can help them better manage their delivery and customer experience and be able to compete on even keel with the larger platforms that are out there," said Saahil Goel, Co-Founder, Shiprocket.

Shiprocket serves over 1,00,000 sellers in the country.

The company said it will enable sellers on ONDC to select a trusted delivery partner to pick up their products from 24,000 pincodes, with both cash-on-delivery as well prepaid shipping facilities available to the customers.

Small and medium logistics providers, operating in towns and cities, can now offer their services through Shiprocket on the ONDC network.

"ONDC's mission is to enable an inclusive e-commerce ecosystem for all of India where a business in a small village in a remote corner of India can have the confidence and the opportunity to sell their products to customers anywhere in the country," said T Koshy, CEO, ONDC.

ONDC and Shiprocket are also working to enable warehousing-as-a-service on ONDC.

This will allow small and medium businesses to provide same-day shipping services to their customers.

ONDC, a Ministry of Commerce initiative, will enable sellers to tap this massive market by offering an equitable and secure platform that integrates multiple sellers, buyers and logistics players.

--IANS

na/

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By Philip Blenkinsop

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer, reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday as sales accelerated, and also raised its 2022 outlook to the top-end of its previous forecast range.

AB InBev, the maker of Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, sold 3.7% more and other drinks during July-Sept, a growth rate faster than that seen in the first or second quarters, with strong expansion in Mexico and South Africa.

The Belgium-based brewer also succeeded in pushing through higher prices or persuading consumers to shift to higher-priced "premium" brands in all major markets except China, where a "zero-COVID" policy has curbed economic growth.

"We continue to see strong consumer demand for our portfolio and a resilient category as we navigate the dynamic operating environment," Chief Executive Michel Doukeris said in a statement.

The Belgium-based brewer's third-quarter core profit - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation - rose 6.5% on a like-for-like basis to $5.31 billion, above the 5.2% climb forecast by analysts in a company-compiled poll.

The company said it now expects its core profit to rise by between 6% and 8%. It had previously given a range of 4% to 8%, which it maintains as a medium-term outlook.

reiterated its stance that revenue would grow faster than profit. It is facing higher costs for commodities and beer deliveries, though much of it is already hedged. Revenue growth was 12.1% in the quarter, above a market consensus of 10.2%.

AB InBev's largest rivals painted a mixed picture of the beer market on Wednesday. Heineken warned of early signs that European drinkers were cutting back after sales rose by less than expected in the third quarter, while Carlsberg raised its 2022 forecast despite weakening consumer sentiment.

(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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has raised $120 million in convertible notes and debt from shareholders and bondholders, said Indias largest business-to-business e-commerce firm amid a funding winter for start-ups.

Financing for Udaan, which plans an in the next 12-18 months, has crossed $350 million in the last four quarters, making it one of the largest structured instrument fundraises in the country, according to an internal company letter.

Bengaluru-based Udaan's existing investors include Microsoft, Lightspeed Venture Partners, M&G Prudential, Kaiser Permanente, Nomura, TOR, Arena Investors, Samena Capital and Ishana Capital.

Despite the funding-related challenges being experienced by the larger start-up ecosystem, this fundraise reflects the confidence of investors in our business model, said Aditya Pande, chief financial officer of Udaan, in an internal note to employees and which has been reviewed by Business Standard.

This is their (investors) endorsement of the journey to unit economics, driven by great progress in the evolution of our business model and cost efficiency, that we initiated last year, Pande said.

was valued at $3.1 billion in its last funding round of $280 million in January 2021 from existing and new investors.

According to industry sources, valuation set by the latest funding round will be done later, either at the time of the or during the pre- rounds of funding. A convertible note is an instrument typically used by at pre-IPO stage, and the instrument converts into equity at the IPO. Large-scale tech that have successfully used convertible notes include Airbnb, Uber, Spotify, and Robinhood.

Last year in September, appointed co-founder Vaibhav Gupta as chief executive officer. This is part of the plan for the next phase of growth for the company. The other two co-founders, Amod Malviya and Sujeet Kumar, were appointed as board members.

Positive unit economics covers all the direct variable costs associated with servicing an order, according to the experts. Over the last year, Udaan said it has improved its unit economics by a total of over 1000bps (basis points) with equally strong improvements in both gross margins as well as operating cost.

The journey of right business design and unit economics has translated into a 60 per cent reduction in (cash) burn, said Pande, in the internal note.

The firm had said that the gross margin percentage has gone up almost three-fold year-on-year (y-o-y). It said the companys revenue is now at about Rs 10,000 crore for FY22, a 1.6X increase compared to FY21.

These steps have not only helped us achieve positive unit economics last quarter, but also improved efficiency in the system, with huge cost benefits, said Pande. This is key to building a sustainable business, and being public market-ready in 12-18 months.

Business-to-business e-commerce players, including Udaan, are expected to disrupt the $1 trillion consumer retail market in India, according to Bernstein, the US-based research powerhouse. The funding would help the startup to compete with e-commerce giants such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Reliances JioMart which are also betting big to tap B2B e-commerce, especially in Bharat (tier 2 and tier 3 cities and rural India).

Udaan now has a network of over 3 million registered users and about 30,000 sellers across over 11,00 cities in the country. The platform has over 3 million retailers, chemists, kirana shops, HoReCa and farmers doing over 5 million transactions per month.

At a time when India is currently experiencing a funding winter, start-ups are looking at different avenues such as venture debt to stay afloat, according to experts. The funding winter is expected to continue for the next 12-18 months and the country has witnessed a series of layoffs and start-up and unicorn valuations are under stress.

In 2021, the global venture debt funding hit an all-time high of $58 billion -- a five-fold jump in the past eight years, according to data platform, Pitchbook.

Experts said startups found debt financing as a way to avoid more dilutive equity investment due to falling public market valuations, frozen IPO market and investor pullback from later-stage and pre-IPO startups.

Global private equity firms are also pushing themselves into the venture debt market. Blackstone has reportedly earmarked at least $2 billion for technology debt deals.


Vietnam, Laos bolster cross-border drug control co-operation

Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Vietnamese and Laotian ministries of public security, both nations have actively devised plans aimed at fully performing the assigned tasks and have so far achieved initial important results.









Participants at the conference (Photo:VNA)





The Ministries of Public Security of Vietnam and Laos held a bilateral ministerial conference on October 26 to review the one-year implementation of the MoU on co-operation in drug prevention and control.



As part of his address at the conference, Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc said that with traditional friendship ties and special solidarity existing between the two countries, along with the spirit of uncompromising struggle against drug crimes, the Party, Government, and people of both sides signed the MoU. The main aim of this is to strengthen co-operation in drug prevention and control, with the document being signed on August 9, 2021, in Vientiane, Laos.



This is part of the wider joint efforts to promote drug prevention and control co-operation between the two sides in a more practical and effective manner.



Along with the achieved results, according to Deputy Minister Ngoc, co-operation in the fight against drugs still reveals some shortcomings and limitations.



The Vietnam-Laos border line features rugged terrain and limited socio-economic conditions, whilst the open-door policy and international integration of the two countries has been thoroughly exploited by criminals seeking to commit drug crimes.



Furthermore, the complicated nature of drugs and the activities of drug crimes in each country, especially on the border between the two countries, remains complicated due to the use of very sophisticated and dynamic methods and tricks. This includes planting trees containing narcotics in some areas bordering the two countries, whilst precursor management has many loopholes and limitations.



At the conference, Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Khamking Phuilamanyvong expressed great appreciation for Vietnamese aid to Laos to build a police headquarters near the border.



This represents an invaluable and significant step to contributing to the prevention and control of cross-border crimes between the two countries, thereby showing the attention of the Party and State leaders, as well as those of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security given to the people of the two countries living along the common border.



Deputy Minister Phuilamanyvong suggested the two sides work together to swiftly complete the construction of a police office in the border village to contribute to crime prevention and control along the border. This will ensure security and order protection along the border line in a bid build the area into a place of peace, friendship, and development.



Information released during the conference indicates that, after one year of carrying out the MoU, the police forces of the two nation have achieved initial results in the fight against drug crimes.



The two sides have co-ordinated efforts to grasp the two countries crime and drug situation, especially on the border line as they seek to identify key and complicated drug-related routes and areas.



The police of the two nations also co-ordinated to map out a number of key routes and locations that could be used by drugs traffickers from the "Golden Triangle" area to Laos and then across the border to Vietnam.



Police forces of both sides have completed the establishment of a "hotline" at four levels of police combined with information exchange through the Cross-Border Liaison Office (BLO).



As a result, Vietnamese police units and localities have discovered and successfully arrested 5,338 cases and 7,397 drug offenders, whilst seizing 292kg of heroin, 2.7kg of opium, 1,54 tonnes and 1.62 million synthetic drug tablets, along with other related evidence.



The police of the two countries also offer training and capacity building for full-time officers of the Laotian Ministry of Public Security to proficiently use equipment and drug assessments to serve effective fight against drugs crimes.



At present, the police of 10 provinces bordering Laos have invested in building 191 village police offices, of which 179 ones have now been handed over.



At the conference, the Deputy Ministers of Public Security of both Laos and Vietnam awarded Certificates of Merit to collectives and individuals who have made outstanding achievements in implementing the MoU, as well as those focused on the suppression of drug-related crimes on the border this year.
Home ministers of all states are confabulating for two days here to discuss a host of issues, including checking cybercrimes, ensuring women's security and coastal security, officials said on Thursday.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the conference named 'Chintan Shivir' on both Thursday and Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the state home ministers and top police officials on Friday through video conference.

In most states, the chief ministers are holding charge of the home department.

The objective of the 'Chintan Shivir' is to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in the prime minister's Independence Day speech, an official said.

Development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, modernisation of police forces, increase in usage of information technology in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security and other issues will be discussed at the event.

The role of 'Nari Shakti' is important to achieve the goal of 'Developed India by 2047' and special emphasis will be given to the safety of women and creating a safe environment for them, the official said.

The aim of the conference is also to facilitate national policy-making and better planning and coordination in these areas.

Various topics will be discussed in the six sessions in the 'Chintan Shivir', another official said.

On the first day, issues such as home guards, civil defence, fire protection and enemy property are being discussed. On Friday, matters such as cyber security, drug trafficking, women's safety and border management will be discussed.

'Chintan' is planned on issues of drug trafficking including the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Committee of Narco Coordination Center (NCORD, NIDAAN or the National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-offenders and Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.

Protection of borders and development of border areas will be discussed under the themes of land border management and coastal security.

Enhancing conviction rate by technology-based investigation using Inter-operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and IT modules - NAFIS, ITSSO, and NDSO and Cri-MAC - will also be deliberated upon.

Initiatives like Safe City Project, 112-Single Emergency Response System, anti-human trafficking units in districts, women's help desks in police stations and biometric identity cards for fishermen will also be discussed.

The purpose of the sessions is to encourage and ensure the participation of state governments on these issues.

Home ministers of all states and Lieutenant Governors and administrators of Union Territories have been invited to the 'Chintan Shivir'.

State home secretaries, director generals of police and director generals of central armed police forces and central police organisations will also participate in the programme.

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The southern part of has contributed 86 per cent of the total number of cases reported from the metropolis in the last one week, as per official data.

Data released by the Health Department showed that out of the 596 cases reported from the entire metropolitan area in the past seven days, south accounted for 512.

A Municipal Corporation (KMC) official said two boroughs covering the areas of Kasba, Jadavpur and Tollygunge in the south have logged the most number of infections this year.

Kolkata has seen over 3,500 dengue cases till the last week of October, and almost half of those were reported in the last two weeks, the official said.

"Bansdroni, Naktala, parts of Garia apart from Bhowanipore, Alipore and Chetla (all in south Kolkata) are witnessing a surge in the number of infections this year," another KMC official said.

Asked what could be the reason behind this, a health department official attributed it to the high prevalence of mosquito-breeding spots in the southern part.

"The southern region of the city is witnessing a construction boom, making those places potential mosquito-breeding grounds. In addition to this, south Kolkata has thousands of open drains and waterbodies," he said.

He also said some areas in the northern part of the metropolis, including Dumdum, Belghachia, Cossipore. Kankurgachi, Phoolbagan, Beliaghata and Narkeldanga have been earmarked as 'dengue hot spots'.

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An plane coming from Ahmedabad to Delhi suffered bird hit on Thursday but landed safely in the capital and the aircraft has been grounded for a detailed inspection.

The airline said the Boeing 737 Max aircraft landed safely and all the passengers were deboarded on arrival.

This is at least the second incident of bird hit involving an aircraft. On October 15, a Bangalore-bound plane from Mumbai returned to the city airport due to a burning smell in the cabin, which later turned out to be due to bird strike.

On Thursday, a senior official at aviation regulator DGCA said the aircraft VT-YAF operating flight QP 1333 had a bird strike during climb out passing 1,900 feet.

"Akasa Air flight QP 1333 flying from Ahmedabad to Delhi on October 27 suffered a bird hit. The aircraft landed safely and all passengers were deboarded," the airline said in a statement.

However, the airline did not share the number of passengers.

The aircraft has been positioned (grounded) for a detailed inspection and the subsequent flight has been impacted, the statement said.

According to the DGCA official, random damage was observed during the post landing inspection of the aircraft.

"Our customer service team is assisting passengers and arrangements are being made to accommodate their journeys," Akasa Air said in the statement.

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Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday visited the Ghazipur landfill site and launched a scathing attack on the for the 'garbage mountain' ahead of the MCD elections.

"If we don't clean in five years, don't vote for us", Kejriwal said on the site, and added further that the workers will leave the party one day. "A day will come when waalas will leave the BJP. A day will come when even Sambit Patra will say BJP is a gandi party. I'm a jaadugar (magician), I know how to win people's hearts," Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party workers protested against CM Kejriwal's visit at the site with black flags and slogans. However, soon workers also reached the spot and countered the BJP workers. The two sides came face to face and raised slogans against each other in Ghazipur.

Both accused each other for the mismanagement of garbage ahead of the MCD polls, which is likely to be held by the end of this year or in early 2023.

"BJP protested my arrival. They don't let anyone visit here, and deploy cops to protect this garbage mountain. Protest as much as you want, but remember Kejriwal is going to build schools, hospitals, and provide electricity to you. I want to urge the people, especially the supporters of BJP to forget their party and vote for me once for the cleanliness of . If I don't clean Delhi in the next five years, don't vote for me," Kejriwal said on the occasion.

"In the last 15 years, the BJP has littered the entire Delhi. Today I have come to see their Ghazipur garbage mountain.

"My appeal to all Delhiites is to vote for the cleanliness of Delhi in the municipal elections this time. Together we have to make Delhi clean and beautiful", Kejriwal tweeted after the visit.

--IANS

avr/dpb

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The on Thursday attacked the over the alleged exodus of from south Kashmir's Shopian district and demanded that the Modi government release a white paper on the plight of the minority community during its eight-year rule.

The opposition party also hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the targeted killings of in and said the government must apologise for it.

As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri Pandit families left their village, Choudharygund, in Shopian out of fear and reached Jammu, according to residents.

Members of the minority community, who have since been camping in Jammu, ruled out any plan to return to the Valley.

However, authorities in Shopian have attempted to put on a brave face by claiming no exodus of has taken place from the district.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress' media department head Pawan Khera said that when the first migration of Kashmiri Pandits took place in 1989, V P Singh's government was in office with the BJP's support.

"In 1986, when the first riot against Kashmiri Pandits took place, Rajiv Gandhi's government was in office at the Centre. Kashmiri Pandits walked from the stadium to Rajiv Gandhi's office, he heard them and Ghulam Mohammad Shah's government was brought down," Khera said.

The only talks of zero tolerance but what it actually means was shown by Rajiv Gandhi, he claimed.

Slamming the Centre, Khera said 70 ministers of the government are carrying out an outreach programme in Kashmir and asked if any of them visited a camp of Kashmiri Pandits.

"What is this outreach when you cannot reach out to the Kashmiri Pandits living in the camps there," he asked.

Citing an order, the leader also alleged that Kashmiri Pandit employees are being "threatened" to return to work against their wishes.

There have been 30 targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits from January to October this year, he claimed.

"We demand a white paper from the Modi government on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. In the last eight years, all that has been done and not been done by this government should come out in that white paper," Khera said.

"You (the government) will have to answer for the 80 killings. How is this normal, answer this," he added.

Asked about Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's article titled '75th Anniversary of Five Nehruvian Blunders on Kashmir', Khera said those leaders of the who are students of "WhatsApp nursery" need to revisit their history classes.

"If all that they are saying is true, how is it that during the Manmohan Singh era targeted killings stopped and 75 per cent of the people would participate in the democratic process of elections in the state? We would be happy to get the answer to that," he said.

The BJP leaders have no idea of contemporary history of the country, he said.

It is very easy to blame Jawaharlal Nehru for this, Indira Gandhi for something else, PV Narasimha Rao for something else and Manmohan Singh for the rest, Khera said.

"Give us answers. You have been in power for eight years. What has been your achievement in those years in You cannot hold elections. You cannot protect Kashmiri Pandits. Is that your achievement? You must apologise for what happened in 1989, you must apologise for what is happening now," he said, attacking the BJP-led Centre.

Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by terrorists outside his ancestral house in Shopian's Choudharygund village 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.

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Nationalist Congress Party Lok Sabha MP on Thursday demanded that the government declare a 'wet drought' in the state to give relief to farmers facing losses due to heavy rains.

"The excess in various parts of damaged the crops and turned farms into lakes. It is my request to chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to declare wet drought in the state," the Baramati MP tweeted.

Diwali was a "dark period" for farmers as produce could not harvested in time and rotted, she further said.

"The state should positively consider making direct financial assistance to farmers along with announcing wet drought, Sule added.

Heavy rains in several parts of western and central Maharashtra last week damaged Kharif crops, which were stored in the open after cutting or were ready for harvesting.

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are investing in (EVs) as they look to reduce .

On Thursday, Limited (DIAL) announced deployment of 57 as a part of its green transportation programme. has acquired four EVs for its engineering and maintenance teams, it said earlier this week.

The latest initiatives are part of the aviation sectors green push. Airports in Bengaluru, Mumbai Delhi are sourcing electricity requirements from hydro power, solar and wind energy. Civil aviation minister had in September said that over 90 per cent airports in the country achieve carbon neutral status by 2024.

Delhi airport said that deployment of EVs will help in reduction of around 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually .

DIAL will eventually replace all petrol and diesel vehicles with electric ones in a phased manner. has set March 2025 target for replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with electric variants.

DIAL has committed to become a net zero carbon emission airport by 2030. The deployment of for managing airport operations is a first of its kind initiative by any Indian airport. It is a step forward to achieving the self-set goal, CEO Videh Jaipuriar said.

DIAL has set up 12 charging stations and 22 charging points across the airport and is also working with OEMs to install airport specific equipment in the electric vehicles, it added.
The on Wednesday accepted a proposal submitted by Amicus Curiae Mohit Agarwal for the deployment of drones to monitor illegal prawn culture ponds or gherries encroaching wetlands in at least four coastal districts of the state.

"A division bench headed by Chief Justice S Muralidhar has accepted my proposal and has directed the state government to provide necessary infrastructure and funds to deploy drones for monitoring the illegal gherries, which are coming up even within 24 hours of their demolition by the authorities," Agarwal said.

The districts in which the drones will be deployed are Balasore, Kendrapara, Puri and Ganjam and the state government has been asked to submit an affidavit in this regard by the next date of hearing on December 5, Agarwal said.

The Amicus Curiae had made the proposal for the deployment of drones after it was revealed from different affidavits made by the district administrations that physical deployment of police force is unable to check the re-emergence of dismantled gherries.

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Union Home Minister said that there has been an increase in drug smuggling through the darknet and cryptocurrencies, which is also responsible for terrorism.

The Home Minister made the remarks at a high-level regional meeting on drug trafficking and national security in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

Shah said that on the one hand narcotics are eating the youth like termites and on the other hand the illegal money coming from the narcotics trade nurtures terrorism.

He said that to keep the youth safe and to combat the financing of terrorism, all the Central and state agencies have to fight this as a common battle and have to win.

Shah said that the major drug smuggling issues in western states include the increasing maritime smuggling of heroin from the west coast, illegal cultivation of narcotics such as opium, ganja, and poppy, use of couriers and parcels in drug smuggling, darknet and increase in drug smuggling through cryptocurrencies.

Shah said that during the recent investigation of cases, new trends have emerged in drug trafficking in western states and necessary action needs to be taken to tackle these new trends.

The Home Minister said that among the states of the western region of the country, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have a vast coastline, additionally Rajasthan and Gujarat share borders with Pakistan.

Shah said that there has been an increase in the smuggling of South Central Asian heroin through the sea route as well as the increasing cases of heroin smuggling through the Indo-Pak border is a matter of concern.

Sharing details drug smuggling cases, the Home Minister said that from 2006 to 2013, a total of 1,257 cases were registered, while from 2014 to 2022, 3,172 cases were registered, which is a total increase of 152 per cent.

Similarly, from 2006 to 2013, a total of 1.52 lakh kg of were seized, which increased to 3.33 lakh kg from 2014 to 2022, earlier its value was Rs 768 crores, which has now increased to Rs 20,000 crores.

Shah said that a drug addict is not a criminal, but a victim. He stressed on the need to destroy the entire network of by attacking both the source and destination of by adopting top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approaches.

The Home Minister also stressed on strict implementation of various provisions of the NDPS Act. He stressed the need to consider setting up fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials.

--IANS

spt/sha

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With Sitrang leaving a trail of destruction in Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that efforts are being made to ensure all support to the affected families.

The chief minister said he had reviewed the situation in the northeastern state in the aftermath of the at a meeting attended by deputy commissioners of all 12 districts.

The revenue and disaster management departments are working full swing and efforts are being made to provide all support to the affected families. All deputy commissioners are working to ensure as much relief as possible to those hit by the cyclone, he said on Wednesday.

Sitrang had hurtled through the state in the early hours of Tuesday damaging hundreds of houses and uprooting electric poles. The accompanying rain triggered flash floods that destroyed paddy and potato crops.

Stating that the power supply has been hit in the state by the cyclonic storm, he said the Energy Corporation Limited is working to restore them on a priority basis.

Most of the lines have been restored and the situation is "more or less" returning to normal, the chief minister said.

At least four districts had ordered that schools be closed on Tuesday as the Met department forecast heavy rainfall with strong winds in the eastern districts bordering Bangladesh.

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The (EU) will provide 500 million euros ($504 million) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said here.

The energy support package will help the whole Western Balkan region to invest in energy connections, and renewable energy, she said at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.

She said the first batch of 80 million euros out of the total 500 million euros will help North Macedonia to address the impact of high energy prices, reports Xinhua news agency.

Also on Wednesday, von der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of an agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and North Macedonia.

The agreement will allow Frontex to assist North Macedonia in its efforts to manage migratory flows, counter illegal immigration and tackle cross-border crime.

The European Commission chief will also visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro on her Western Balkan tour.

--IANS

ksk/

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The has directed the to hand over to Pvt Ltd a report of the Central Drug Laboratory, Kolkata, based on which the state had cancelled the company's cosmetic manufacturing licence for its Mulund facility for its baby powder.

A vacation bench of Justices N J Jamadar and Sharmila Deshmukh passed the decision on Wednesday while hearing a petition filed by the company challenging two orders of the state government - one dated September 15 cancelling the license and the second dated September 20 ordering to immediately stop manufacturing and sale of the company's baby powder product.

The orders were passed by the Joint Commissioner and Licensing Authority of the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The government based its orders on the report of the Central Drug Laboratory, which found the powder containing higher pH level than prescribed.

The company challenged the orders first before the Maharashtra Minister for Food and Drug Administration, who is the appellate authority.

The minister on October 19 upheld the cancellation order, following which the company approached the high court.

The company in its petition said the orders were passed by violating the principles of natural justice.

It added that with its manufacturing unit at suburban Mulund closed, the company was suffering huge financial loss.

On Wednesday, when the matter came up for hearing, the company's counsel Ravi Kadam told the court that it is yet to be provided with the CDL report, based on which the orders were passed.

The court then directed the state government to make available to the company the report. The court while posting the matter for further hearing on November 10 directed the government to file its affidavit.

Kadam had sought an interim order permitting the company to reopen the manufacturing unit. But it was opposed by additional government pleader Jyoti Chavan.

The bench said the company can seek the interim relief on the next date of hearing by when courts would have resumed after Diwali vacation.

The company in its plea said 14 random batches of February, March and September 2022 were tested by an independent public testing laboratory and all found to be well within the prescribed pH value.

The leading Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturer said it has been making the baby powder in its Mulund plant for the last 57 years and its license was renewed in January 2020.

The company also said due to the licence revocation, it suffered a daily loss of Rs 2.5 crore based on market value of goods sold.

It said it even volunteered to release the powder for sale only after samples from relevant batches are tested for pH in front of the Maharashtra FDA officer in the Mulund facility, if directed.

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By Emily Chow

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Even as liquefied (LNG) is seen as a key transitionary fuel for bunkering, soaring prices of the super-chilled fuel have led to higher demand for ships with dual-fuel tankers, said an industry executive.

The global shipping industry is seeking to reduce its reliance on oil as it tries to meet carbon emission reduction targets set out by the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization. These include cutting carbon emissions by 40% from 2008 levels by 2030, and overall greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050.

"We believe that LNG will be one of the major fuels for bunkering. (But) at prices of $35-$40 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), it is challenging for ship owners to continue to subscribe to LNG bunker. Many of them have actually dialed back LNG bunkering and gone to diesel, because diesel is cheaper," said Alan Heng, chief executive officer of Pavilion Energy.

Once LNG prices ease "back to a more normal price level", the uptake for LNG as bunker fuel will resume, said Heng, who was speaking at the Singapore International Energy Week conference.

He added that ammonia might be the next bunker fuel to become economically viable.

"What we have noticed in the last quarter, with the high LNG prices, is that there are a higher number of order books for ammonia dual fuel use. It's gaining traction ... People want to have an alternative," said Heng.

"With the energy transition, it's not about one winning fuel. It's about having a range of fuels that will give us the diversity we need."

LNG, methanol and biofuel are among the more popular alternative fuel options. But global gas prices rose to record highs this year as Russia cut supplies to Europe following its invasion of Ukraine, leading to a surge in Asian spot LNG prices as well.

Pavilion Energy, alongside Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL), is set to launch a Singapore-flagged LNG bunker vessel in the first quarter of 2023. It will be Singapore's largest LNG bunker vessel.

(Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)

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At 2.4 tCO2e (tonne carbon dioxide equivalent), India's per capita were far below the world average of 6.3 tCO2e in 2020, according to a new report released by the Environment Programme on Thursday.

The "Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window", released ahead of the UN conference (COP27) in Egypt next month, also said the international community is still falling far short of the Paris goals, with no credible pathway to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius in place.

To address climate change, countries adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015 to limit global temperature rise in this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

"World average per capita GHG emissions (including land use, land-use change, and forestry -- LULUCF) were 6.3 tCO2e in 2020. The US remains far above this level at 14 tCO2e, followed by 13 tCO2e in the Russian Federation, 9.7 tCO2e in China, about 7.5 tCO2e in Brazil and Indonesia, and 7.2 tCO2e in the European Union.

"India remains far below the world average at 2.4 tCO2e. On average, least developed countries emit 2.3 tCO2e per capita annually," the report said.

Per capita emissions range widely across G20 members: emissions of India are about half of the G20 average, whereas Saudi Arabia reaches more than twice the G20, it said.

India's contribution to historical cumulative CO2 emissions (excluding LULUCF) is three per cent, whereas the US and the EU have contributed 25 per cent and 17 per cent respectively to total fossil CO2 emissions from 1850 to 2019.

China contributed 13 per cent, the Russian Federation seven per cent, and Indonesia and Brazil one per cent each. Least developed countries contributed only 0.5 per cent to historical CO2 fossil fuel and industry emissions between 1850 and 2019.

The report said despite a decision by all countries at the 2021 climate summit in Glasgow (UK) to strengthen nationally determined contribution (NDCs) and some updates from nations, progress has been "woefully inadequate".

NDCs means national plans and pledges made by countries to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

NDCs submitted this year take only 0.5 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent, less than one per cent, off the projected global emissions in 2030.

Unconditional NDCs are estimated to give a 66 per cent chance of limiting to about 2.6 degrees Celsius over the century. For conditional NDCs, those that are dependent on external support, this figure is reduced to 2.4 degrees Celsius, it said.

Current policies alone would lead to a 2.8 degrees Celsius hike, highlighting the temperature implications of the gap between promises and action, it said.

In the best-case scenario, full implementation of unconditional NDCs and additional net-zero emissions commitments point to only a 1.8 degrees Celsius increase. However, this scenario is not currently credible based on the discrepancy between current emissions, short-term NDC targets and long-term net-zero targets.

"This report tells us in cold scientific terms what nature has been telling us, all year, through deadly floods, storms and raging fires: we have to stop filling our atmosphere with greenhouse gases, and stop doing it fast," said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

"We had our chance to make incremental changes, but that time is over. Only a root-and-branch transformation of our economies and societies can save us from accelerating climate disaster," Andersen said.

To meet the Paris Agreement goals, the world needs to reduce greenhouse gases by unprecedented levels over the next eight years.

Unconditional and conditional NDCs are estimated to reduce global emissions in 2030 by five and 10 per cent respectively, compared with emissions based on policies currently in place.

To get on a least-cost pathway to holding to 1.5 degree Celsius, emissions must fall by 45 per cent over those envisaged under current policies by 2030. For the two degrees Celsius target, a 30 per cent cut is needed, it said.

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India's from the fell to a 19-month low in September while Russian imports rebounded although refining outages hit overall crude imports, data from trade and shipping sources showed.

Iraq remained the top supplier while Russia overtook Saudi Arabia as the second biggest after a gap of a month, the data showed.

India's total in September fell to a 14-month low of 3.91 million barrels per day (bpd), down 5.6% from a year earlier, due to maintenance at refiners such as Reliance Industries and Indian Oil Corp, the data showed. [REF/OUT]

India's imports from the fell to about 2.2 million bpd, down 16.2% from August, the data showed, while imports from Russia increased 4.6% to about 896,000 bpd after dipping in the previous two months.

Russia's share of India's surged to an all-time high of 23% from 19% the previous month while that of the declined to 56.4% from 59%, the data showed.

The share of Caspian Sea oil, mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia and Azerbaijan, rose to 28% from 24.6%.

India's monthly oil imports from various regions





India has emerged as Russia's second biggest oil buyer after China, taking advantage of discounted prices as some Western entities shun purchases over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

"The discount on Russian oil has narrowed now but when you compare its landed cost with other grades such as those from the Middle East, Russian oil turned out to be cheaper," said a source at one of India's state refiners.

Imports for Saudi Arabia fell to a three-month low of about 758,000 bpd, down 12.3% from August, while imports from Iraq plunged to 948,400 bpd, their lowest level in a year, the data showed.

Imports from the United Arab Emirates declined to a 16-month low of about 262,000 bpd.

Higher intake of Caspian Sea oil has hit the share of other regions in India's imports in April-September, the first half of the fiscal year, and also cut OPEC's market share in the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer to its lowest ever.

In the first half of this fiscal year, Indian refiners also reduced purchases of African oil, mostly bought from the spot market. However, supply from the Middle East rose from a low base last year when the second wave of the coronavirus cut fuel demand.

India's oil imports from various regions

Opec's share of India's oil imports drop to record low

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; editing by Jason Neely)

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Indian and the US militaries will conduct the battalion-level "Yudh Abhyas" exercise between November 15 and December 2 at Auli in Uttarakhand, just 100 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Before this, between November 8 and 18, the member countries of the "Quad" will conduct the Malabar exercise off Yokosuka in Japan, a report in the Times of India (TOI) said. The 'Quad' includes the US, Japan, Australia and India.

Earlier in 2022, the had declared that it would "deter" any "coercion" in the Indo-Pacific with an eye on China's expansionist policies. "Yudh Abhyas" will include "high-altitude warfare drills", the report added.

Around 350 soldiers from each country are expected to take part in the military exercise.

"With around 350 soldiers from each side, will witness employment of integrated battle groups in mountains and extreme cold climate, along with heliborne elements and an integrated surveillance grid," an official was quoted as saying by the TOI.

The US and Indian forces had concluded the "Vajra Prahar" exercise at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh in August. It involved the special forces of the two countries. These forces undertake covert, specialised operations including counterterrorism.

In early October, the National Security Strategy (NSS) of the US said that China was its "only competitor with both intent and capability to reshape the international order". It added that US and India will work together to "support our shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific".

India will also conduct the "Austra-Hind" infantry combat exercise at the Mahajan range in Rajasthan between November 28 and December 11. Recently, the two countries concluded the "Pitch Black" air combat exercise at Darwin.

India and Singapore will also conduct the "Agni Warrior" exercise at Deolali in Maharashtra between November 13 and 30.
Authorities in South Kashmir's Shopian attempted to put on a brave face by claiming that no exodus of had taken place from the district but the members of the minority community, who have since been camping in Jammu, ruled out their plans to return to the valley.

While a verified Twitter handle of the Information and Public Relations department of Shopian claimed that the news about leaving of "Kashmiri non migrant Hindu population" as "baseless", Ashwani Kumar Bhat, whose brother Puran Krishan Bhat was gunned down by terrorists on October 16, told reporters in Jammu that he has migrated and will never return to the valley.

The authorities claimed on Twitter that "proper and robust security arrangements have been kept in place by the administration in the village. Even at other pockets of Kashmiri non migrant Hindu habitations and villages, similar security arrangements are in place".

Puran Krishan Bhat was killed by terrorists in Choudharygund area of Shopian at a place which had a minority police picket at 20 metres and an army camp nearby.

The deceased's brother said, "We have migrated from there. I will never return. I swear by my children, I will not return till the last breath of my life".

Pointing towards his children, he said neither he will return to Kashmir nor allow his children to go there. "I have one hundred kanals (five hectares) of land there but I will never go back. Will I go there to die?" he asked.

Bhat, who saw his brother dying in front of his eyes, said he will quit his government job but will not go back. "I do not need anything", he said.

Bhat took a dig at the administration over their statement of deployment of police guards to protect them and said "when killing of Sunil Kumar took place in Chatigam, we went to the SP of Shopian - who is a woman and Major Sahib (of the nearby army camp). We urged them to keep visiting our village - one time a day. Nobody helped us-- nobody came here. We have not seen police guards -they themselves live in fear".

The deceased's cousin said the administration is issuing statements about guards deployed in the village for security. "If they are issuing statements about guards, we should have seen them (visiting our village)".

"We even do not know whether they (guards) have come for our security. They never came out", he said.

The brother was seen airing his views on various television channels.

Like him, another Choudharygund resident, who did not wish to be named, said he has left the harvested apples in the compound of his house as life is precious.

"God saved me as they wanted to hit me too. They had come back to my school a few days ago, but I was not there", he said.

Another woman, who also shifted to Jammu, said they were living in fear.

The nephew of the deceased said while authorities were making claims that adequate security arrangements had been made for the minorities, the "situation was totally different on the ground".

"The police personnel posted on security duty always sat inside (their picket). Had they been outside, they would have been able to see the people. Ask anyone -- ask Kashmiri Muslims, ask Hindus living there -- if they had seen them (cops)?" he said.

As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri Pandit families have left their village in Shopian district 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.

"Ten families comprising 35 to 40 have migrated out of our village due to the fear psychosis," a resident of Choudharygund village who faced a death threat recently told PTI.

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has earned the distinction of being the only state-run varsity from India to feature in the QS Sustainability World Ranking 2023.

A total of 700 institutes feature in the list, of which 15 are from India.

A JU spokesperson said on Thursday that the ranking is based on sustainability performance focusing on environmental and social impacts of the higher education institutes and has considered metrics like sustainable education, sustainable research, equality, knowledge exchange and impact of education.

is at overall eighth position from India, the spokesperson said.

IIT Bombay is the top institute from India in the list and Jawaharlal Nehru University ranks first among the Indian universities, both central and state run.

QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world.

The sustainability rankings, published on Wednesday, is the first edition by QS and uses a methodology which comprises of indicators designed to measure an institution's ability to tackle environmental, social and governance challenges, the QS world university rankings site said.

Indicators are split into social impact measures which includes equality, knowledge exchange, educational impact, employability and opportunities.

JU Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das has expressed happiness over the inclusion of the university in the sustainability list.

"It is a matter of pride for us. JU had figured at the top among the leading universities in the country in several rankings in the past years. I dedicate this ranking to our faculty, researchers, students and staff. Despite being a state university and not getting much central help, our stakeholders are working in pursuit of excellence. We have to strive for more success," he added.

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Amid a protest by BJP workers, Chief Minister visited the site on Thursday and asserted that the upcoming will be fought on garbage issue.

He also accused the BJP of failing to clear the three garbage mountains in the last 15 years of its rule in Delhi's three erstwhile municipal corporations.

Kejriwal promised to clean the capital in five years if the Aam Aadmi Party wins the municipal elections that are expected to take place at the end of 2022 or early next year.

Kejriwal also attacked several BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sambit Patra and Ramesh Bidhuri, during his address at the landfill site.

As the drama ensued, the chief minister likened himself to a character from the Ramayana -- Shravan Kumar -- even protesting BJP workers called him a "liar".

Ahead of Kejriwal's visit, drama ensued at the site and roads leading to the area as scores of BJP supporters staged a protest, showed black flags and raised slogans against him. In turn, AAP workers also raised slogans against the BJP.

"Ghazipur garbage mound is the mountain of BJP's bad deeds and corruption in civic bodies. This is time for vengeance," the AAP chief told reporters here.

With civic polls heading nearer, the BJP, AAP, and Congress have already started preparation for the polls.

"These people (BJP) have planned to erect 16 new garbage mountains in Delhi.The MCD poll will be fought solely on the issue of garbage.

"BJP leaders abuse your (people's) son (Kejriwal), your Shravan Kumar who took you on pilgrimage. Will you tolerate this? Give them a reply in the upcoming MCD polls," he said, addressing the gathering.

Delhi generates around 11,000 metric tons of garbage, a significant part of which is dumped in the three landfill sites -- Ghazipur, Bhalswa and Okhla.

The Aam Aadmi Party has been cornering the BJP on a number of civic issues, including garbage menace in the city, corruption in MCD, delayed projects, mismanagement in the municipality, non-payment of salaries to MCD employees among others.

About BJP workers protesting his arrival at the landfill site, he alleged that the saffron party doesn't let anyone come here.

"They (BJP) don't want anyone to come here. We are not ashamed of our work, come and visit our schools and hospitals. They deployed police personnel to protect this garbage mountain.

"All evil forces have conspired against us (AAP). They delayed and segregated wards hoping that they will get seats. Let me tell them that this time even BJP supporters won't vote for them," Kejriwal claimed.

In 2019, the height of the was 65 metres which was only eight metres less than the height of Qutub Minar. In 2017, a portion of had fallen on an adjacent road in which two people were killed.

According to civic officials, the deadline to flatten the Ghazipur landfill is December 2024 while efforts are on to raze the Bhalswa dumping site by July next year. The Okhla landfill is likely to be flattened by December 2023.

They said as many as 46 trommel machines have been pressed into the service to process the legacy waste and flatten these landfills.

Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP "gobbled up Rs 2 lakh crore" during their 15-year rule in the erstwhile civic bodies.

"They claim that I did not give money to the MCD. In the last 15 years, they gobbled up Rs 2 lakh crore of which 1 lakh crore was given by the Delhi government," Kejriwal alleged.

Hitting out at Amit Shah, Kejriwal said, "Earlier this month, Shah abused me and alleged that the Delhi government did not give money to MCD. But I want to ask him how much they have given to the civic bodies ever since BJP formed the government at the Centre."



"All they do is abuse me. They are only concerned about money. We have to win hearts. I am a magician and I know how to win hearts. We will work through the happiness and sorrows of the people and will win their hearts. The Congress has been reduced to zero in Delhi and soon there a day will come when BJP will become zero too. In future all BJP supporters will come to join the AAP," he said.

In a lighter vein, the CM added, "Even Sambit Patra will say that BJP is a very dirty party and AAP is a very good party."



On October 20, the Union Home minister had pitched for civic polls in Delhi as he had appealed to the public to choose cautiously between "Vigyapan ki Rajniti" (politics of advertisement) and "Vikas ki Rajniti" (politics of development) in the forthcoming MCD elections.

Kejriwal appealed to BJP supporters and workers to rise above party lines and for once think about Delhi and vote for AAP.

"On my way here, BJP supporters protested and showed me black flags. I want to tell them to protest against me if you want but for once please vote for Delhi and give your vote to AAP and we will clean the city in five years," the AAP convenor said.

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Ahead of the 2-day UNSC counter-terrorism conference to be hosted by India, the US has described it as an important meeting to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries to combat the global menace.

India for the first time will be hosting the special meeting of the United Nations Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) which will discuss the overarching theme of Countering the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes'.

Senior American diplomat Chris Lu is set to visit India as the head of the US delegation which will attend the meeting in Mumbai and New Delhi from October 28-29.

Ahead of the key meeting, Lu, the US Representative for UN Management and Reform tweeted, "Looking forward to representing @USUN at this important #UN counter-terrorism convening, as well as strengthening the ties between the US and India."



"Ambassador Lu will address issues of counterterrorism, as well as the important relationship between the two countries," the media note by United States Mission to the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The inaugural session of the special UNSC meeting on counter-terrorism will be held in Mumbai followed by diplomatic discussions to be held in New Delhi.

The meeting will begin with a soft opening session and tribute to the victims of terrorism in Mumbai on 28th October, through a solemn ceremony at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Sanjay Verma, Secretary(West), Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi.

"Ambassador Lu will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack," the media note said.

Six Americans were among the 166 who were killed in India's deadliest 26/11 terror attacks carried out by a group of 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists from Pakistan in various places in Mumbai.

"Ambassador Lu will also meet with graduate students from the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership to hear their aspirations and discuss the essential role public service plays in a democracy," the note added.

India, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, is currently holding the chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee.

The UN Security Council established the Counter-Terrorism Committee in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks by adopting resolution 1373 of 2001 concerning countering terrorism.

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Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also in charge of the home department, will not attend the two-day meeting of home ministers of states convened by the Centre at Surajkund in Haryana, a senior official has said.

The state government will not send Home Secretary B P Gopalika or Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Malviya but will assign Additional Director General (home guard) Niraj Kumar Singh to attend the 'Chintan Shivir' from Thursday, he said.

Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, Ram Das Meena, will also attend the meeting, the official.

"This is festival time and there are several functions lined up. Bhai Phota (Bhai Dooj) will take place on Thursday and 'Chhat Puja' will take place soon. It will not be possible for the chief minister to leave the state. Our home secretary and DGP will not be participating in the Chintan Shivir for the same reason as that of the chief minister," the official told PTI.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah had sent an invitation to Banerjee last month to participate in the meeting, sources in the government said.

Shah is scheduled to meet home ministers of all states during the meeting and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address them on the concluding day on October 28.

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A manufacturing facility for production of C295 transport aircraft will come up in Vadodara in Gujarat, Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar said on Thursday.

The foundation laying ceremony for setting up of the facility will be held on October 30 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend it, officials said.

"For the first time, the C-295 aircraft will be manufactured outside of Europe," Kumar said.

In September last year, India sealed a nearly Rs 21,000 crore deal with Defence and Space to procure 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the ageing Avro-748 planes of the IAF under a project that entails manufacturing of military aircraft in India for the first time by a private company.

Under the agreement, will deliver the first 16 aircraft in 'fly-away' condition from its final assembly line in Seville, Spain within four years and the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by the Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) in India as part of an industrial partnership between the two companies.

The regulatory approval for the ambitious programme was accorded by the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DGAQA) last week.

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The on Thursday issued a notice to government over reports that girls are being auctioned on stamp paper in half a dozen districts of the state and the refusal thereof is resulting in the "rape of their mothers to settle financial disputes on the diktats of caste panchayats".

The Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report, it said in a statement.

The chief secretary of and the state's director general of police (DGP) have been asked to respond to the commission within four weeks.

Citing a media report, the said that whenever there is a dispute between the two parties particularly involving financial transactions and loans, girls aged between eight years and 18 years are auctioned to recover money.

A media report said that after being auctioned, these girls are sent to UP, MP, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries and subjected to physical abuse, torture and sexual assault in slavery. If true, the contents of the report amount to human rights violations, the said.

The commission has asked for a detailed report from the chief secretary of in the matter, along with a report on what action has been taken, measures already taken and if not, proposed to be taken to prevent such incidents.

The NHRC said the report must contain how the state government is ensuring the functions of the Gram Panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj law to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the state.

A notice has also been issued to the Rajasthan DGP to submit a detailed report mentioning the initiation of criminal prosecution against the perpetrators of such crimes, the NHRC said.

It said the report must also contain the status of cases, including the registration of FIRs, charge-sheet, arrest, if any, in such incidents and the mechanism initiated to apprehend the people involved in such systematic crimes of flesh trade in the state.

The DGP's report must also mention steps being taken or proposed to be taken against the public servant(s), who purported to have neglected perpetually prevention of such incidents, the NHRC said.

The NHRC also said that it has asked its special rapporteur, Umesh Sharma, to visit and inspect the affected areas within Rajasthan and submit a comprehensive report on the incidents noted and about the prevailing practice there, within three months.

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Prime Minister will pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the Bhil tribal community, during his visit to the Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan's Banswara district.

The Mangarh Dham is a memorial for around 1,500 tribals massacred by the British army in 1913. It is located in the district on the Gujarat- border, a region with a large tribal population.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit the Mangarh Dham in Rajasthan's Banswara district on November 1.

The Congress government in has been demanding that the Dham be declared a national monument, with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a recent meeting saying he has written twice to Prime Minister Modi about the status of the memorial. This would be a "true" tribute to Govind Guru, Gehlot had said.

Social reformer Govind Guru led the gathering of tribals and forest dwellers in 1913 in Mangarh against the British Raj.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said that today, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Rajasthan and Gujarat through video conferencing in the context of Mangarh Dham. The Central Government has been assured by the State Government that all possible cooperation will be given to make Mangarh Dham a national monument.

"I hope that Prime Minister will declare Mangarh Dham as a national monument during his visit to Mangarh Dham on 1st November," Ashok Gehlot tweeted in Hindi.

Prime Minister's event will be possibly attended by the Chief Ministers of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

As per reports, the Union State Culture Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is chairing a meeting pertaining to Narendra Modi's visit.

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The poaching drama that unfolded in on Wednesday night has triggered a slugfest between the ruling Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

After three persons, including two godmen, were detained from a farmhouse near while trying to lure four MLAs of TRS with offers of huge sums of cash, important positions and contracts, the TRS accused BJP of trying to destabilise the state government and called it an attack on self-respect of .

As word spread about a police raid on the farm house and those detained being close to the BJP leaders, TRS leaders, including ministers took to streets in different parts of the state to stage a protest against the saffron party. They staged a road blockade and raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Those detained at the farmhouse are Ramachandra Bharati alias S. Satish Sharma from Delhi and Simhayajulu from Tirupati, both godmen and Nanda Kumar, a businessman from said to be close to a Union minister.

The TRS leaders alleged that the BJP was trying to topple the government in just as it did in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and other states by luring the MLAs with cash, important positions and contracts.

The ruling party alleged that each MLA was offered a deal to the tune of Rs 100 crore. Some of the TRS leaders posted on Twitter photographs of the accused with top BJP leaders, including Union ministers Rajnath Singh, G. Kishan Reddy and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The saffron party hit back at TRS for what it calls insulting Hindu dharma by pointing fingers at godmen.

State BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the 'story, screenplay and direction' at Moinabad farmhouse is by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. "It has boomeranged. TRS are complainants, TRS are victims and TRS are criminals," he said.

He dared CM KCR to come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear that he has not 'scripted this story'.

He slammed KCR for dragging priests into the episode and alleged that he was attempting to taint the image of Hindu dharma.

He demanded that the CCTV footage of a hotel should be released where TRS MLAs were staying for the last 3-4 days. He also demanded that CCTV footage of Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister, should be released as the MLAs had been going there every day.

The BJP leader also wanted to know why the police did not record the statements of the MLAs. "Why weren't they taken to the police station but left to Pragati Bhavan. What were MLAs gunmen doing," he asked.

--IANS

ms/dpb

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The Housing Department has appealed to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for immediate release of Rs 2,361 crore to make progress in the construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (Urban) in the state.

The Government of India has already released Rs 4,032 crore under PMAY-U so far in the 2022-23 financial year but the AP government released only Rs 2,556 crore of the grant to the Housing Department, diverting another Rs 1,476 crore.

Besides, of its proportionate share of Rs 1,389 crore, the state released only Rs 504 crore so far but stopped the balance citing "resource crunch", a senior official said.

Payment of Rs 755 crore, including Rs 324 crore to the beneficiaries, has been pending, severely hampering the progress of the scheme.

Over the last few years, the Centre sanctioned 16,84,502 houses to AP under PMAY-U but only 13,92,855 have been taken up for construction so far, the official added.

AP, which tops the country drawing over 57 per cent of the total PMAY-U grant this year, is expecting to get a total of Rs 5,000 crore.

"The remaining Central share of Rs 1,476 crore and the state share of Rs 885 crore have to be released immediately to get the next instalment from the Centre in December, Housing Department officials told the Chief Minister at a high-level review meeting here on Wednesday.

Housing department officials said Rs 324 crore has to be paid to the PMAY-U beneficiaries and another Rs 311 crore for land acquisition and land levelling work. Also, Rs 120 crore has to be paid for drinking water supply works taken up under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Meanwhile, officials also told the Chief Minister that the progress of the housing programme has been vastly affected in the last few months due to various factors.

While non-availability of funds is the main reason, "relentless rains" (20 per cent excess) have also compounded the crisis.

Bad roads across the state have affected movement of vehicles carrying construction material to various places.

"Workability has been adversely affected because of this," the Housing department officials told Reddy.

Sand, a critical input, is in short supply. Stocks available in various depots have "exhausted" and refilling has not been possible as sand reaches remained non-operational because of floods.

The state government planned to organise a massive function on December 21 to mark the completion of about five lakh houses but it could now be held only after January next year.

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Scientific approach should be adopted to check and as a security measure, now along with face and biometric recognition, work should be done on voice recognition as well, Chief Minister said on Thursday.

Khattar was speaking at the first of the two-day 'Chintan Shivir' organised here with the objective to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Independence Day speech.

The shivir, a brainstorming session, focuses on internal security issues such as development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, modernisation of police forces, increase in usage of information technology in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security.

With increasing use of technology, criminals have started adopting new ways to carry out their activities, Khattar said at the 'shivir' being attended by state home ministers and senior police officials.

"To tighten the noose around 'cyber thugs' (cyber criminals), the government has worked to make the state police IT (information technology) cell efficient," the chief minister said.

Khattar also noted that in many instances, it has been seen that criminals prepare fake documents and get passports.

"But going a step ahead of these 'thugs', the state police has identified 250 such people and of them, 126 have been arrested while the remaining cases are under investigation," he said.

He also said that the Gujarat Forensic Science University should be expanded to cover other states, including Haryana, so that the task of arresting criminals becomes easier.

The chief minister also suggested that states should work on drafting a common memorandum of understanding for the prevention of and to nab criminals.

This memorandum will prove instrumental in sharing data and other important information about people involved in crimes. This will also make it easier to arrest and punish criminals, he said.

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Union Home Minister on Thursday said some have indulged in religious conversion, anti- activities and misuse of funds to stall the country's economic progress, and strong action has been taken against such entities.

He also said that even though law and order is a state subject, crimes have become borderless due to advancement of technology and success can be achieved against such trans-border crimes only when states and the Centre sit together and formulate a strategy to curb them.

Addressing a two-day 'Chintan Shivir' of home ministers of all states organised by the Union home ministry here, he said that the government has amended the Foreign Contributions (Regulations) Act (FCRA) which was being misused by some to conduct anti- activities, religious conversion, political opposition to development projects and creating obstacles in economic progress.

"In 2020, the government took strong action to stop foreign funding of such by amending the FCRA," he said.

Shah also said that the Investigation Agency (NIA) will set up at least one office in all states by 2024 to develop a strong anti-terror network.

The home minister said it is the collective responsibility of states to effectively tackle crimes being committed from across the country's border or states' borders, and also deal with regional crimes to make society free from fear.

"In our Constitution, law and order is a state subject...but we can be successful against trans-border or borderless crimes only when all states sit together to ponder over them, make a common strategy and (make) efforts to curb them," he said.

The nature of crime is changing in today's world and crime is becoming borderless, that's why the states have to formulate a common strategy to fight against it, he said.

Shah reiterated that it is the collective responsibility of states and the Centre to effectively tackle trans-border crimes.

The 'Chintan Shivir' is being organised with the objective to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech.

The 'shivir' can become a good platform to discuss strategies to counter cyber crimes, narcotics and cross-border terrorism, among others, and to exchange good practices in law and order, he said.

Shah also said that a large number of proposals to amend the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) have been received, and these are being analysed.

"In a very short time, we will come up with new drafts of the CrPC and the IPC before Parliament," he said.

The home minister said that importance should be given to three 'Cs' -- cooperation, coordination and collaboration -- to achieve the goals of cooperative federalism, "whole of government" and "team India" approach, resource optimisation and integration.

The Modi government has recorded success on all fronts of internal security be it Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast or narcotics smuggling, Shah said.

"Our internal security is considered strong," he said, noting that "35,000 police and CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) personnel have laid down their lives so far since independence to keep the unity and integrity of the country intact".

Shah said that all areas considered hot spots from the security point of view have been cleared due to synergy and cooperation between states and the Centre.

"The areas affected by left wing extremism (LWE), Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, which were once hot spots of violence and unrest, are now becoming hot spots of development," he said.

The home minister said there is a 74 per cent dip in terror attacks in the country and 90 per cent decrease in terror-related killings since 2014 which is a "big achievement".

"We have entered into long-term agreements with insurgent groups such as the NLFT, insurgent groups of of Assam's Bodo areas, Karbi Anglong district. About 9,000 insurgents in the Northeast have surrendered so far and it ensures long term peace in the Northeast," he said.

Shah said the country has made big strides in tackling LWE, recording a decrease of 77 per cent in naxal violence and 87 per cent in lives claimed by it after 2014.

"Once a upon a time, the red corridor between Pashupati Nath to Tirupati was notorious. States and the Centre have successfully fought this fight and achieved success... In 2014, there were 113 districts which were affected by the LWE but now it has come down to 46 districts. It is a big success," he said.

He said a new era started in Jammu and Kashmir after the abolition of Article 370.

"During the last 37 months after August 5, 2019, terror incidents have reduced by 34 per cent in Jammu and Kashmir as compared to numbers recorded in 37 months preceding the date. Sixty-four per cent less deaths have been reported and civilian deaths in terror incidents have gone down by 90 per cent during the period," the home minister said.

Jammu and Kashmir had received a total investment of Rs 19,000 crore till 2019 since Independence while in the last three years, an investment of Rs 57,000 crore has been made which shows that the Union Territory has moved ahead on the path of success, Shah said.

"We have made important changes in the NIA and the UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) to give more powers to the anti-terror agency...The agency has been given extra-territorial jurisdiction," he said.

"The agency has also got powers to seize properties of a terrorist. We have decided that every state will have a NIA unit to develop a strong anti-terror network," Shah said.

The home minister said cyber-??crime is a big challenge before the country and the world today and the home ministry is committed to fight against it.

The government led by Narendra Modi is determined to save the country and the youth from the menace of narcotics and its policy is showing results, with drugs worth more than Rs 20,000 crore being seized so far, Shah said.

Prime Minister Modi will address the 'Chintan Shivir' through video conferencing on October 28.

Development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, modernisation of police forces, increase in usage of information technology in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed at the event.

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has received aviation regulator DGCA's approval for wet leasing five Boeing 737 Max planes for up to six months and the airline has already deployed two of the on different routes, according to sources.

The approval for taking the planes on wet lease was given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this month.

The sources said the remaining three will be inducted into fleet in the coming weeks.

There was no immediate comment from .

The airline already has Boeing 737 Max planes in its fleet.

To cater to rising demand in the winter schedule which begins from October 30, SpiceJet and IndiGo have received approval for their proposals to take planes on wet lease.

Under wet lease arrangement, planes are leased along with operating crew and engineers.

Generally, wet leasing of planes is allowed for short periods to tackle supply constraints and ensure that airfares do not surge significantly.

IndiGo has received nod for wet leasing wide-body Boeing 777 planes, which are largely operated on long and ultra long-haul routes, for up to six months.

However, the regulator rejected the airline's proposal to keep them in the fleet for up to two years, saying the move could become diversion of traffic rights in collusion with a strong foreign carrier that will mainly feed the latter's hub abroad with more passengers from India, sources said earlier in the day.

Sources at IndiGo said the airline has written to the civil aviation ministry seeking extended tenure for that will be taken on wet lease.

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Former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy approached the on Thursday, stating that in spite of an earlier assurance, the Centre has not made any security arrangements at the accommodation he would be residing in after vacating the government-allotted bungalow.

Swamy, a "Z" category protectee whose term as a Rajya Sabha member ended in April, had earlier moved the court for re-allotment of the government bungalow, citing security threats to him.

On Thursday, his counsel mentioned the issue of providing adequate security at his private residence before a bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, which agreed to list it for hearing on October 31.

Representing Swamy, senior advocate Jayant Mehta told the court that when a single-judge bench of the court had granted six weeks' time to the former MP to vacate the bungalow, the Centre had given an assurance that adequate security arrangements would be made at his place of stay.

"None (security arrangements) have been done till date. October 26 was the last date when he had to move out. He is at a life risk. He has moved an application today for a direction in terms of their undertaking," Mehta said.

"Monday," said the bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad.

On September 14, Justice Yashwant Varma had directed Swamy to hand over the possession of his government bungalow to the estate officer within six weeks, noting that the allotment was made for a period of five years, which had come to an end.

Swamy's term as a member of the Upper House of Parliament came to an end on April 24.

The single judge, while disposing of Swamy's petition seeking re-allotment, also recorded that there was no material shown that mandated and required the allotment of government accommodation to a "Z" category protectee.

Representing the government, Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain had submitted that while Swamy continues to remain a "Z" category protectee, the policies and guidelines that govern such protectees do not obligate the Centre to also provide residential accommodation from the general pool.

He had said while the government shall continue to extend the Z-category protection to Swamy subject to due periodical review, it would not be possible for the bungalow in question to be re-alloted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader.

Jain had said in any case, the petitioner has his own residential premises where he can possibly shift and the protecting agencies shall take all further steps in that premises, as may be warranted, to ensure his safety and security.

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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.
has secretly helped 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 and undermine criticism levelled against the Pakistani rulers.

helped in setting up a cyber-army to shape public opinion, influence the views of Muslims in Southeast Asia, attack the US and 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, 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 when he referred to a country that was a five or six-hour direct flight from .

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.

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A senior US diplomat in will travel to India from October 27-29 to participate in a UN counter-terrorism meeting and address important issues between New Delhi and Washington.

India is set to 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'.

"Ambassador Chris Lu, U.S. Representative for UN Management and Reform, will travel to Mumbai and New Delhi, India from October 27-29 to address issues of counterterrorism, as well as the important relationship between the two countries," the US mission in said in a media note.

While in New Delhi, Ambassador Lu will serve as Head of the Delegation in a special meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee focused on threats posed by emerging technologies, it said.

"In Mumbai, Ambassador Lu will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attack. The Ambassador will also meet with graduate students from the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership to hear their aspirations and discuss the essential role public service plays in democracy," the press noted added.

The UN Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting will begin with a 'Soft Opening Session and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism' in Mumbai on October 28 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.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) 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.

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The U.S. and its Western allies on the Security Council insisted Wednesday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has the right to investigate if has used Iranian drones to attack civilians and power plants in .

They dismissed Moscow's argument that the U.N. chief would be violating the U.N. Charter.

Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, who called the council meeting, argued that only the Security Council can mandate an investigation.

He cited Article 100 of the charter, which says the secretary-general shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the organisation.

U.S. deputy ambassador Robert Wood called Russia's contention simply dumbfounding and an attempt to deflect attention from its own egregious wrongdoing in .

French Ambassador Nicolas De Riviere accused of constantly violating the U.N. Charter and trampling on its principles by invading its neighbour and claiming to annex its territories.

Britain's deputy ambassador, James Kariuki, called it another attempt by to distract from its crimes in Ukraine, and Iran and Russia's failure to abide by their international obligations.

The Western envoys said the Security Council's time is being wasted by Russia, which is engaged in a blitz of activity at the council.

Russia called closed-door consultations Tuesday about its unfounded allegations that is preparing a dirty bomb.

It called Wednesday's meeting to try to prevent the investigation of its purported use of Iranian drones.

And it called a meeting Thursday on its claims that secret American labs in Ukraine were engaged in biological warfare a charge denied by the U.S. and Ukraine.

In a letter to the Security Council last Wednesday, Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya accused Iran of violating a council ban on the transfer of drones capable of flying 300 kilometers.

That provision was part of Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six key nations the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear activities and preventing the country from developing a nuclear weapon.

On Wednesday, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani reiterated his country's rejection of the totally unfounded allegations.

He insisted that since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Iran has maintained a position of active neutrality and has never provided the parties with weapons.

Nebenzia told a council meeting Friday that the drones are Russian not Iranian and warned that an investigation would seriously affect relations between Russia and the United Nations.

This week he asked the U.N. legal office to state whether launching an investigation in response to a number of countries and not the entire Security Council would violate Article 100 of the U.N. Charter and provisions of Resolution 2231.

In a briefing for the council Wednesday, U.N. legal counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares did not directly answer Russia's question, but he said it is only natural that the U.N.'s 193 member nations wish to exercise as much influence as they can over the activities of the organisation.

Most days, he said, Guterres and himself are contacted by ambassadors trying to advance positions of their governments.

All of this is to be expected; and I do not think that anyone here would wish to maintain that such activities are in any way inconsistent the Article 100 , Serpa Soares said.

As for Resolution 2231, he said, a 2016 council note on arrangements and procedures calls for the secretary-general to appoint a Security Affairs Division, which has prepared reports to the council every six months on its implementation.

He said the note anticipates that the report will include findings and recommendations, and in the 13 reports so far the secretary-general has been able to express his views on relevant developments and draw attention to matters of concern.

Absent further guidance by the Security Council," Serpa Soares said, the secretary-general will continue to prepare these reports in the manner that they have been prepared to date.

Wood, the deputy U.N. ambassador, noted that Russia helped negotiate and supported Resolution 2231 and said there is ample precedent in previous reports submitted by the secretary-general to the Security Council for independent investigations by the Secretariat, which he heads.

He cited a 2017 report in which the U.N. chief reported on an investigation of allegations that Iranian-supplied ballistic missiles were used by Yemen's Houthi rebels in attacks on Saudi Arabia.

More recently, he said, Secretariat investigators travelled to the Saudi capital of Riyadh in October 2021 to examine debris from six ballistic missiles tied to Houthi attacks.

And in 2021, the U.N. team also went to Israel to examine Iranian drones that had infiltrated its airspace, Wood said.

Russia's Nebenzia insisted that all those probes were against the U.N. Charter.

We are grateful to our Western colleagues for the exhaustive list of violations by the U.N, Secretariat of Article 100 of the United Nations Charter, he said.

Asked what will happen if the secretary-general does investigate the downed drones in Ukraine, Nebenzia said Moscow isn't threatening to withdraw cooperation with the U.N. if that happened.

But, of course, we will be viewing our cooperation in the light of the reaction of the Secretariat to our legitimate concerns, he said.

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The scientific community is appreciative of the approval for the environmental release of genetically modified (GM) mustard, granted by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), and says it wont need any more clearance.

However, some sound cautious owing to the 2010 Bt brinjal episode, when final approval was stalled at the last moment.

However, sources said a repeat of the 2010 and 2017 events when GEAC approval for was vetted at the highest level might not happen this time around because the publication of the minutes of the GEAC meeting was a good enough indication that all approvals had been obtained.

The GEAC has sent a letter to scientist Deepak Pental, saying that based on his application it had granted approval for the environmental release of Dhara Mustard Hybrid (DMH)-11 for undertaking seed production and testing in accordance with the guidelines of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

This, several experts said, is a firm indication that the matter has been cleared at the highest echelons.

NITI Aayog Member Ramesh Chand said on Thursday the approval met the two criteria of significant yield advantage and that it was made by a local institution.

There are two main parameters by which we in NITI judge a GM event -- one is whether it is breakthrough in yield and next if it developed by an indigenous body. In both these the fits the bill and hence approval is welcome, Chand told Business Standard.

The ICAR, in a series of tweets last night, welcomed the move, saying that the approval had opened the door for deploying high-yielding mustard hybrids harnessed through a successful combination of genetic gains of popular mustard varieties in India.

The is an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Agriculture. It is also one with which further studies on have to be conducted.

The said DMH-11 had the potential to improve yields, stagnant at a tonne per hectare, to a global benchmark of around 3 tonnes per hectare.

(The deregulation) of barnase-barstar technology will spur a new era of hybridization, the said in the tweets. It said the approval and subsequent steps would lead to reduction in edible oil import. It said severe weed infestation caused nearly 30 per cent losses and the GM mustard hybrid would resolve these issues.

The National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, an institute that functions under the Department of Biotechnology, said this would boost the GM technology sector and benefit .

Scientists such R S Paroda, former director general of the ICAR; K VijayRaghavan; and the current director of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), A K Singh, termed it a landmark in the journey of in India.

Next week senior scientists of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), ICAR, and Trust for Advancement of Agricultural Sciences (TAAS) are holding a press conference to throw further light on the approval and its nuances.

The environment minister, sources said, could meet the media on the issue.

Heartening to see that GMO seeds will finally have the approval of the government. I had fought hard for it when at NITI Aayog, came close to approval but only to lose in the end. Hoping it will be different this time, former NITI Aayog vice-chairman and macro-economist Arvind Panagariya wrote in a Twitter post.
The (RBI) on Thursday said the (FATF) has called on its members to apply enhanced due diligence measures proportionate to the risk arising from . The move comes after was put on the High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action category  commonly known as blacklist countries.

Earlier in February 2020, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran was put on blacklist by the anti-terror financing and anti- watchdog.

When applying enhanced due diligence measures, countries have been advised to ensure that flows of funds for humanitarian assistance, legitimate NPO activity and remittances are not disrupted, said citing advisory on October 21.

As per the October 21, 2022 public statement, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and have now been added to this list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring  commonly known as grey list  while Nicaragua and Pakistan have been removed from this list based on review by the .

The (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the ministers of its member jurisdictions. The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
Uttar Pradesh, one of Indias leading and ethanol producers, crossed the Rs 12,000 crore mark in the ethanol economy.



Besides, the states ethanol capacity is pegged at 2 billion litres per annum, up nearly eight times from 240 million litres per annum five years ago.



The states ethanol capacity is expected to touch 2.25 billion litres per annum in the next couple of years, UP Additional Chief

Secretary ( and development) Sanjay Bhoosreddy told Business Standard.



He said private sector distilleries had invested almost Rs 7,500 crore to upgrade the states composite ethanol capacity over the past five years.



The Yogi Adityanath government is trying to integrate the crop with lucrative ethanol value chain in order to provide fair prices to the and protect the sector from the cyclical nature of the sugar market.



In the current 2022-23 sugarcane crushing season, five private mills will directly manufacture ethanol from sugarcane juice without producing sugar. Besides, 71 other mills will produce ethanol from b-heavy molasses, Bhoosreddy said.



Meanwhile, the states sugarcane area is estimated to surge by 3 per cent or 84,000 hectares to more than 2.85 million hectares, while the sugarcane production is estimated at 234.8 million tonnes (MT) in the current season.



A total of 120 sugar mills  93 private units, 24 cooperative units, and three UP State Sugar Corporation units  will participate in the current sugarcane season.



We are expecting sugar production to touch 11 MT after deducting around 1.5 MT of sugar equivalent to sugarcane diversion towards ethanol, Bhoosreddy added.



UP and Maharashtra together account for around 60 percent of the countrys annual sugarcane output. While has topped the sugar production chart for many years, Maharashtra has taken the lead in the past couple of years due to higher sugarcane diversion for in UP.



Besides, UP leads in ethanol-blended fuel ratio owing to ready availability and robust logistics supply chain.



More than 4.5 million rural households are associated with the UP sugarcane sector, which includes sugar, ethanol, molasses, power cogeneration, jaggery, khandsari (unrefined sugar), etc, in its byproduct portfolio. The consolidated annual sugarcane economy is worth nearly Rs 50,000 crore in UP.
More than three quarters of North Korea's missile tests conducted since 1984 were deemed to be successful, new data revealed on Thursday,.

The US-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies produced the data on the North's testing of missiles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg at a distance of at least 300 km, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Of the 204 missiles tested by the North since 1984, 156 were classified as successes, 32 as failures and the rest as "unknown", according to the institute's data posted on the Nuclear Threat Initiative's website.

The figure translates to a success rate of 76 per cent over the period.

The overall success rate stood in stark contrast with the 1984-1992 period, during which only five out of the total 10 missile launches were rated as successes.

The database also analysed 44 North Korean missile tests conducted this year.

As of October 14, the tests included 27 successes and four failures, which led to a success rate of 61 per cent.

Pyongyang has recently ratcheted up regional tensions with a range of missile tests, including those involving an intermediate-range ballistic missile and a long-range cruise missile earlier this month.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One in five Chinese youths cant find a job. Oliver Jiang has to fight off employers with a stick. When the first-time job-seeker posted his resume on a recruitment website earlier this year, his inbox exploded and his phone buzzed non-stop. The 28-year-old doctoral grad spent the following month turning away suitors -- including one that promised him 15 months of pay a year -- before landing his dream job at a $600 million investment firm.

Jiang is one of the chosen few in Chinas rapidly evolving finance sector: a PhD in electric vehicle technology. This kind of methodical researchers steeped in the classical sciences are replacing well-connected bankers as the most desirable hires at venture capital firms across the nation -- sometimes doubling their salaries when they switch over.

Everybodys on the lookout for deeptech talent. A background in science and technology is now often listed as a must in job postings, Jiang said. Who knew such strong demand would come from the venture capital sector?

Its a phenomenon that reflects a broader shift in the worlds No. 2 . This month, Xi Jinping vowed to depose the US as a technology leader and become self-sufficient -- formalizing a groundswell thats been underway since Beijing in 2021 made it clear the days of freewheeling expansion and deal-making that built internet giants like Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. were over.

The effort is taking on urgency as the Biden administration escalated efforts to contain its geopolitical rival, imposing a series of chip export restrictions in its most aggressive effort yet to contain Chinas rise. Hardline nationalist media including the Global Times argued that would only accelerate Beijings ambitions. Chinas top technology overseer convened a series of emergency meetings with leading semiconductor companies, seeking to assess the fallout and pledging support for the critical sector.





That last is what investment firms are counting on. As Chinese investors scramble to regain momentum by embracing hard-core tech startups, the countrys search for the next Tesla or SpaceX has fueled demand for bona fide engineers like Jiang.

Its a way for venture capitalists to differentiate their funds and compete for the best startups at a time when fund-raising has proven to be more challenging for all but for the very top tier, says Rebecca Fannin, founder of Silicon Dragon Ventures that researches tech trends in . The money is following the tech, deeper tech that is.





Spooked by the ferocity of last years internet crackdown, Chinas fast-reacting tech investment industry is taking no chances this time. Once rivaling Silicon Valley, Beijings heightened scrutiny and Xis Covid-zero policy in particular have crippled Chinas startup investment industry.

While theres little reliable data on the secretive industry, the vast majority of new hires since 2021 at venture capital firms have sported science and technological credentials, according to interviews with startup financiers and recruiters.

Theres no guarantee that stacking the deck with PhDs produces better yields. The war for talent is also inflating costs for venture firms struggling with a worsening drought in capital, the aftermath of the tech crackdown and a realization that the easy double-digit returns of years past are no more.





But whats forcing their hand is the undeniable fact that investors once enamored of the consumer and mobile internet are shifting their focus, heeding signs from Xis administration that is prioritizing semiconductors, clean energy and artificial intelligence to wean off a reliance on American suppliers.

The countrys total startup investment has shrunk roughly 44% this year through September from a year earlier, but the amount of venture money flowing into semiconductor startups has actually climbed by 40%, according to global data tracker Preqin.

Hillhouse Capital Group, the private equity giant that made its name as an early backer of Tencent Holdings Ltd. and JD.com Inc, recently raised its first carbon-neutral fund dedicated to climate technologies.

Then theres Sinovation Ventures. The Beijing-based venture firm founded by former Google executive Kai-Fu Lee plans to expand its investment crew by roughly 15% this year -- with new additions working on fundamental technology. That comes as nearly all the venture capitalists there now devote their attention to startups along those lines. By contrast, only half of its investors did that five years ago.

The hiring of deep-tech investors is vital for Chinese venture firms to succeed, some industry observers say. Thats a sea change from just a decade ago. Xiong Hao, a semiconductor researcher who returned from the US to join Chinas then-nascent venture investment sector in the early 2010s, planned to build a career on finding and funding startups on the cutting-edge of science and technology. Nobody cared.

Deep-tech startups in the country were few and far between, recalled Xiong, now a partner at Sinovation. Investors would also question your choice of investment -- Why not pick internet companies that could grow into a monopoly and give us a home run?

Xiong now co-leads a team of six people hoping to groom the Chinese version of graphics chip pioneer Nvidia Corp. and chip-equipment maker Applied Materials Inc. He plans to hire four more this year to keep pace with the industry boom.





In the quest for talent, venture capital firms are forced to get creative. Hiring managers say theyve begun browsing staff rosters at the Chinese Academy of Sciences -- the nations premier research organization -- while others are befriending engineers at tech giants like the Warren Buffett-backed automaker BYD Co. The fight can get nasty, too.

Venture firms are cannibalizing each other. The bigger players have begun targeting talent at smaller rivals such as Lenovo venture arm Legend Capital and even billionaire Jack Mas Yunfeng Capital, industry insiders and headhunters say. Legend Capital and Yunfeng Capital didnt respond to Bloombergs inquiries seeking comment.

On at least one occasion, a Beijing-based US dollar fund doubled the base salary of an investment associate in order to get that person on board  almost unthinkable a few years ago for anyone specializing in advanced manufacturing, says Duke Duan, a partner who specializes in tech talent at boutique recruitment advisory firm Bowers. Industry-wide, Duan estimates the base salary for investors active in hard-core technology climbed at least 50% this year when they joined a new firm, up from a more typical 20% to 30% previously.





All that belies a job market in crisis. Tencent, for one, reduced its workforce by thousands in the June quarter - its first staffing cuts since 2014, while Alibaba let go of nearly 10,000 employees during the same period.

The shift in fortunes not only has reshaped venture firms hiring strategy but also reshaped the path of on-the-job professionals. One case in point is Zhang Lijun, Xiongs colleague and a partner at Sinovation.

After Chinese policymakers last year banned for-profit tutoring -- an arena that once attracted billions of dollars from investors including Zhang -- she decided to align her future picks in part with the governments vision. The venture capitalist took courses in biology, even volunteering at the Agricultural University, to reinvent herself as the authority on next-generation farming.

Branching out into fundamental technology has become a common choice for venture capitalists, she said.





But converting scientists and engineers into venture capitalists isnt an easy matter. Not everyone has the aptitude for dealmaking, where human relations can matter as much as knowledge. The softer skills essential to investment, such as communications and networking, arent taught in classrooms or explored in labs.

Jiang, the engineer-turned-investment-analyst, made it clear that financing wouldnt be his long-term career choice. He joined his company -- a Shenzhen-based venture firm focusing on consumer-facing businesses -- because it assembled a team for the first time to invest in electric cars. That was vital to his next move.

This is just a stepping stone, Jiang said. Id like to start my own business one day, ideally in the manufacturing of smart cars.
never views India as a strategic rival or strategic competitor, Chinese Ambassador to Li Jiming has said.

Speaking at a press club in Dhaka, the envoy said India and can closely work together to resolve any economic, geopolitical, and other issues. "We never view India as a strategic rival or strategic competitor of China," he was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune.

This remark comes a few days after the Chinese envoy to India, Sun Weidong said that both India- should break out of the "geopolitics trap" and find a new path that is different from the past.

Sun, who assumed office in July 2019, in his farewell remarks on Tuesday, stressed the need to resolve differences between the two sides and uphold the principle of non-interference in other's internal affairs.

He 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.

"...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.

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, on many occasions, has conveyed to China said that bilateral relations cannot be normal unless the border situation is.

On Wednesday, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met the outgoing Chinese envoy to India 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.

(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.)
told advertisers he was buying the platform to help humanity and didnt want it to become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.



The message to advertisers posted on Thursday on came a day before Musks deadline for closing his $44-billion deal to buy the social-media company and take it private.



The reason I acquired is because it is important to the future of civilisation to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence, Musk wrote, in an unusually-long message for the billionaire Tesla CEO who typically projects his thoughts in one-line tweets.



He also paid a visit to Twitters headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday . Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! said the caption of a video that Musk tweeted in which he was walking into the Twitter office carrying a sink in his hands.



Hours earlier, he hinted at being the companys top boss after updating his profiles bio to Chief Twit.



Twitter confirmed Musk would visit the San Francisco office this week.



Banks have started to send $13 billion in cash backing Musks takeover of Twitter in a sign that the deal is on track to close by the end of the week, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Once final closing conditions are met, the funds will be made available for Musk to execute the transaction by the Friday deadline, the report added.



In the six months of a dramatic back-and-forth since Musk announced his $54.20 per share bid, Twitter initially resisted the deal by adopting a poison pill and later sued the worlds richest man after he announced plans to abandon the offer.

Earlier this month, Musk proposed to proceed with his original $44 billion bid, calling for an end to the lawsuit by Twitter.

The Tesla Inc CEO notified co-investors who committed to help fund the Twitter deal that he plans to close it by Friday, Reuters reported on Tuesday.



Equity investors including Sequoia Capital, Binance, Qatar Investment Authority and others have received the requisite paperwork for the financing commitment from Musk's lawyers, Reuters reported.



Twitter shares were up about 1.1% at $53.91 in extended trading, slightly below Musk's offer price.


The Pakistan Army Aviation will get the first Chinese Z-10ME thought to be a US Apache AH-46 Derivative, the worse, a copycat. This ME variant is an upgrade of the ME variant, not the Z-10MP.

Chinese Aircraft for Pakistan

By 2023, the Chinese Z-10 helicopters will begin to be delivered to Pakistan Army Aviation. The news was confirmed by a source in the Pakistani Ministry of Defense, reported Bulgaria Military.

Curiously, it isn't the Pakistani Air Force that will purchase the Chinese Z-10ME, but the Army. It has primarily a production effect, as support through the military is conducted much more quickly.

If the Chinese aircraft is a US Apache AH-46 derivative, then it's a win-win for less.

China got the tender by accident when the Pakistan Army wanted to buy 30 model T129 ATAK from Turkey, but the US administration sanctioned them for buying Russian S-400 air defense batteries. Due to sanctions by the US, engines were not supplied and were unavailable for the Turkish attack helicopters.

The Philippines Purchases the T129 ATAK

The United States authorized Turkey to ship the same helicopter model sold to Manila in late 2021, just two months before Pakistan rejected the purchase from Turkey. The Philippines has bought six helicopters, with the first two already arriving at Clark Air Base in March 2022, noted Defense News.

American initiatives are condemned as possessing a double standard by so many Pakistani analysts and journalists. The main complaints were that the political decision was much more oriented towards Pakistan than Turkey.

One of the reasons the Philippines came to its aid first was that the CAATSA sanction law was not in effect, which caught Ankara off guard. So, Turkey was free to complete the transaction with Manila, even the engine.

Read Also: Volodymyr Zelensky Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is the Ukraine President?

Ankara Sources Ukrainian-Made Engines to Bypass Sanctions

On June 2, 2021, Kyiv and Ankara reached a deal to provide 14 engines for the Turkish helicopters meant for the Turkish Army. But the speculation says Turkey can finish the deal while US influence in the sale is still prevented.

Even with the speculation that if the engine deal falls through, it will end with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Another reason why it failed is that China has a stake in Motor Sich, via state-owned entities.

Beijing could stop the deal by not allowing the supply of engines, and the Z-10 was offered to Pakistan. The most recent model, which dates back to the 1990s, is the ME variation. Beijing developed the helicopter entirely domestically.

How the Chinese Apache came to needs to be clarified. It could be engineers from Kamov that laid the basis for the design and the Eurocopter and Agusta firms as input. With the procurement of the Chinese Apache, Pakistan obtains a significant performance upgrade well over the original version.

Novel active and passive defenses, a radar alert transmitter, and incoming missile notifications are equipped. Its infrared fingerprint is substantially reduced. The pipe nozzle is elevated upwards with a WZ-9G 1200 kW engine. This improved variant is newer and substantially more robust than its predecessor. More extras are inlet filtering, more ammo holders, improved armor, and IR jammers. IFF/fire control radar.

Pakistan gets the Chinese Z-10ME, a US Apache AH-46 derivative in the near future, the earliest by 2023.

Related Article: US Army Unveils AbramsX Featuring Big Innovations for Optimized Land Battle

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External Affairs Minister will travel to Moscow to hold talks with his Russian counterpart on November 8, a Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

The proposed visit comes amid a fresh wave of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine following a huge blast in Crimea nearly two weeks ago.

"Russian Foreign Minister will have talks with External Affairs Minister of India on November 8 in Moscow," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"The ministers will discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the agenda," she added.

There is no comment yet from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the proposed visit of Jaishankar.

Since the Ukraine conflict began in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times.

In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy on October 4, Modi said there can be "no military solution" and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

At a bilateral meeting with Putin in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 16, Modi told the Russian president that "today's era is not of war".

India is yet to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

There has been intensification of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes targeting various UKrainian cities in response to a huge blast in Crimea around two weeks ago.

Moscow has blamed Kyiv for the blast.

(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 the United Kingdom (UK) have closed the majority of chapters 16 of 25 policy areas  so far, said UK's Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands as he sought a deal that is fair, reciprocal.

The next round of trade agreement talks between India and the UK is expected shortly, the minister told Parliament.

Both nations missed the October 24, or Diwali, deadline to finalise the agreement as several issues remained unresolved. Besides political uncertainty in the UK, the fear of recession and controversial comments by a minister regarding Indian immigrants overstaying in the UK had raised doubts whether the could be inked.

With Indian-origin taking over as UKs Prime Minister, the talks are expected to gather pace. While a revised deadline for completing the deal is yet to be announced, Business Standard last week reported that the talks are unlikely to be finalised before mid-2023.

An with India supports the governments growth strategy, by taking advantage of the UKs status as an independent trading nation championing free trade that benefits the whole of the UK, Hands said in Parliament on Wednesday.

We remain clear that we are working towards the best deal for both sides and will not sign until we have a deal that is fair, reciprocal, and ultimately, in the best interests of the British people and the UK economy.

The two nations are negotiating issues related to business visas and movement of skilled professionals from India to the UK, as part of the discussions. There is no discussion on the immigration visas, he said while replying to a query on home secretary Suella Bravermans controversial comments on Indian immigrants overstaying in the UK.

Hands said that tariff reduction on alcoholic drinks, such as whisky, was being negotiated. Scotch whisky exports from the UK to India are already subject to 150 per cent tariffs and had been one of the contentious issues in the deal.

The trade pact is expected to provide greater market access in goods and services by easing tariff and non-tariff barriers on both sides. We expect the deal to do a lot on tariffs. Many of our exporters face considerable tariffs on servicesprofessional, financial and legal. I cannot promise that we will get everything in the deal. On intellectual property, it will be easier for companies to work through innovation and so on. There are a huge number of areas of potential gain for India, including investment and life sciences, he said.

The UK is building a post-Brexit trade relationship with the world, and India is one of the largest markets it is negotiating a trade deal with. In May 2021, both countries set an ambitious target of more-than-doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be pleased to host new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in during a phone talk between the two leaders, after months of tension with the Nordic country over its NATO bid.

Erdogan told Kristersson on Wednesday that it is in the "common interest to prevent terrorist organisations from taking Sweden's NATO membership and its bilateral relations with hostage", Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the Turkish presidency.

Ankara was ready to enhance bilateral relations with the Swedish government in every field, the Turkish President said.

Erdogan also conveyed his congratulations to Kristersson for being elected as the Prime Minister of Sweden, according to the statement.

Finland and Sweden's NATO bid was initially blocked by Ankara, which accused them of supporting anti- groups as they rejected Ankara's extradition requests for suspects affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulen movement.

On June 28, Turkey, and Finland agreed on a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of the NATO Madrid summit.

In the MoU, Finland and pledged to support Turkey's fight against terrorism, and agreed to address Ankara's "pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly".

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

The Gulen Movement is led by and named after the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the 2016 failed coup in which at least 250 people were killed.

--IANS

int/sha

(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.)
Religious freedom is the fundamental American value and supporting it is a priority for US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at a Diwali reception hosted by him.

Blinken made these comments on Wednesday, while addressing an impressive gathering of Indian Americans, including community leaders and those serving in the Biden administration.

Religious freedom is an invaluable part of the United States diplomacy because it actually helps us build bonds with other nations and with people around the world, he said.

Religious freedom is a fundamental American value, and supporting it is a priority for President Biden, Blinken asserted.

One way that we show our support religious diversity is through helping preserve vital pieces of cultural heritage around the world. Through efforts like the US Ambassadors Fund for cultural preservation, we're helping restore damaged historic buildings or helping to recover lost or stolen cultural objects, like paintings and sculptures, he said.

In February, he said, the US government recovered a 500-year-old stolen statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity, and returned it to the Indian government, Blinken noted.

Another way that we demonstrate our support for religious freedom is through celebrations like this one, he noted.

Diwali or Deepavali is a festival that marks the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

This was the first time that the Secretary of State was hosting a Diwali reception at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department.

Diwali is a celebration of the most sacred values, love of family, kindness toward loved ones and strangers alike, forgiveness, grace, new beginnings. The holiday also reminds us of the importance of dharma, good conduct, both in individual interactions and through service to our communities, Blinken noted.

That final obligation of spreading light is maybe more important than it's ever been. So, even as we celebrate tonight, we remember those around the world who were not able to freely celebrate their cultural and religious holidays even in the face of challenges, he added.

Ajay Tejasvi from Art of Living Foundation chanted a prayer, before Blinken lit the traditional diya at the reception.

M R Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, said the Indian diaspora in the US has grown in size and influence, and it is gratifying to see how Diwali is now being celebrated on a national scale across the country.

From the Times Square to the new World Trade Centre to Washington, DC and beyond, he explained.

Rashad Hussain, United States Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, in his remarks said the US called for religious freedom for every individual.

Religious freedom guaranteed by our Constitution is core to our mission. We continue to work every day to advance this freedom around the world. This mission includes our advocacy for Hindu communities, in countries like Pakistan, and in Bangladesh, where earlier this year I had a chance to visit a temple in Ghazipur that was attacked during the Durga Puja. We are inspired by those who have shown incredible strength and assured hospitality even in the face of tragedy, he said.

President and First Lady Jill Biden had on Monday hosted the biggest-ever Diwali reception at the White House.

Last Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris had hosted a reception with the community leaders at her Naval Observatory residence.

(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 on Thursday sought to cast the conflict in Ukraine as part of efforts by the West to secure its global domination.

Speaking at a conference of policy experts, Putin accused the US and its allies of trying to dictate their terms to other nations in a dangerous and bloody domination game.

Putin, who sent his troops into Ukraine on February 24, has cast Western support for Ukraine as part of broad efforts by Washington and its allies to enforce what they call a rules-based world order that only foments chaos. The Russian leader warned that he who will sow the wind will reap the whirlwind.

Putin claimed that humankind now faces a choice: accumulate a load of problems that will inevitably crush us all or try to find solutions that may not be ideal but working and could make the world more stable and secure.

Putin said isn't the enemy of the West but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neo-liberal elites.

(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.)
Newly-appointed and his family will be returning to live in a smaller flat above No 10 Downing Street as they were "very happy there," his spokesperson has said.

No 10 Downing Street has been the residence of British prime ministers since 1735, says the government's website. It has three functions - the official residence of the Prime Minister, their office and where the prime minister entertains guests from world leaders to royalty.

Sunak, along with his wife Akshata Murty and two daughters, stayed in the flat when he was chancellor to former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Many Prime Ministers of recent years - especially those with children - have lived in the larger flat above No 11, officially designated for the chancellor.

Asked why Sunak has opted for No 10 instead, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Wednesday: "They were very happy there."



The residential areas inside Downing Street, are generally kept away from the public eye.

Speaking to the Times newspaper in August during the hectic summer leadership contest, Sunak said the family would "probably just move back into the flat where we used to live, to be honest" if elected.

"We have already decorated it and it's lovely," he said.

Several predecessors including Johnson elected to live in No 11 because the four-bedroom flat there is much larger than the one above No 10, the BBC reported.

Tony Blair and his wife Cherie and their family were the first to make the switch, swapping home with the then unmarried Gordon Brown. The Blairs turned the space into a family home, it said.

The prime minister receives an annual public grant of 30,000 pounds to spend on living quarters.

Asked whether Sunak and his family will redecorate, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: "Not that I'm aware of."



In April, before Sunak resigned as chancellor, his family moved out of Downing Street to their west London house to be closer to their children's school.

In his final few months as chancellor, Sunak split his time between the family home and his official residence.

In the interview with the Times, Sunak insisted that the move from Downing Street in April was because his eldest daughter was in her last term of primary school and was meant to be able to walk to school by herself every day.

It is much larger than it appears from the front, with a warren of rooms and staircases spreading from the hall with the chequered floor immediately behind the front door, the BBC report said.

Sunak on Tuesday took charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister. The 42-year-old investment banker-turned politician is the youngest in 210 years. He is also Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former US President has promised that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.

In a Diwali speech organised by Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump told a gathering of about 200 Indian-Americans that he shared a great relationship with Hindus, India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said he would nominate RHC founder Shalabh Kumar as his ambassador to India if he gets elected as the US president in 2024.

A video of Trump's speech at the Diwali reception last Friday was released by RHC on Tuesday, in which the former president says that he has not yet announced if he will run, but if he does, and goes on to win in 2024, he has certain commitments towards the Indian American community.

We had support from the Hindu population, the great Hindu people both times (2016 and 2020) and great support from India, people from India. I fully endorsed the idea of building a Hindu Holocaust memorial in (Washington) DC. I think it's time We are going to get that done, Trump said.

Trump said he probably would not have won in 2016 but for the support from the Hindu community in the battleground States.

He vowed that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.

In his remarks, Kumar said Trump has been a strong friend to the Hindu community and the RHC is proud of the achievements it has made throughout the years to empower and embolden the diaspora in America.

Diwali is a time for all of us to reflect upon the victory of light over darkness, and to look towards a new year of prosperity and peace, he said.

Under Trump, US-India relations had never been stronger, as both sides fostered a relationship rooted in facing common threats from Pakistan and China and with respect and admiration for each other, the RHC said in a statement. Indo-US relationship made great strides in 2017, with President Trump keeping his electoral promise of being the best friend of India inside the White House.

India was the only country for which the Trump administration came out with a 100-year plan; an honour not accorded to even America's top allies.

Not only did the Trump administration rechristened the Asia Pacific region as Indo-Pacific, much to the anxiety of China, giving a greater role and space for New Delhi in the entire region, but also for the first time the stated in clear terms that India is a key player in Afghanistan.

As Trump announced his South Asia Policy giving India a key role in bringing peace in the war-torn nation in August, for the first time a US president aligned himself with New Delhi's position that terrorism emanates from Pakistan.

(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 said on Thursday that the world faced the most dangerous decade since World War Two as Western elites scrambled to prevent the inevitable crumbling of the global dominance of the United States and its allies.



In a broadside against Washington and its allies, which he accused of inciting the conflict in Ukraine, Putin said the West was playing what he cast as a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" geopolitical game that was sowing chaos across the world.



Ultimately, Putin said, the West would have to talk to and other major powers about the future of the world.



The historical period of the Wests undivided dominance over world affairs is coming to an end, Putin 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.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Shares of SJVN hit an over four-year high of Rs 36.55 as they soared 11 per cent on the BSE in Thursdays intra-day trade on the back of heavy volumes after the company commissioned 75 MW solar power project in Uttar Pradesh (UP).

The stock of state-owned electric utilities company traded at its highest level since February 2018. It surpassed its previous high of Rs 33.95, which it touched on October 6, 2022. The stock was trading closer to its record high of Rs 40.15, hit on January 5, 2018.

At 03:22 PM, SJVN traded 10 per cent higher at Rs 36.25, as compared to 0.44 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The average trading volumes at the counter jumped an over eight-fold, with a combined around 31 million shares changing hands on the NSE and BSE.

The company has started commissioning of its 75MW Solar Power Project located at Tehsil Kalpi, District Jalaun near Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh through its wholly owned subsidiary SJVN Green Energy Limited, SJVN said in exchange filing. The entire 75 MW capacity is expected to be operational by the end of this month, on October 30, 2022.

SJVN said the project will generate 168.34 million units (MUs) in the first year, with a total energy output of 3919 MUs during a 25-year period. This will result in an annual revenue increase of about Rs 45.11 crore, improving both the top and bottom lines of the balance sheet. A 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been signed with Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), the company said.

SJVN further said that the company's renewable portfolio totals 4007.5 MW, with 179.5 MW operational, 1370 MW under construction, and 2458 MW in various phases of implementation. With the completion of this 75 MW Solar project, total operating capacity will rise from 2016.5 MW to 2091.5 MW.

The company's Shared Vision of 5000 MW by 2023, 25000 MW by 2030, and 50000 MW capacity by 2040 is in line with the Government of India's goal of achieving 50 per cent energy from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030.
Sales rise 7.45% to Rs 3907.35 crore

Net profit of Bharat Electronics declined 0.12% to Rs 623.74 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 624.46 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021. Sales rose 7.45% to Rs 3907.35 crore in the quarter ended September 2022 as against Rs 3636.60 crore during the previous quarter ended September 2021.3907.353636.6022.2223.76940.32925.90830.87826.50623.74624.46

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Tehran is furious over the protests caused by UK-based anti-Iranian media as civil unrest sweeps through the capital, triggered by the death of a young Iranian woman while in police custody; earlier authorities called out Washington as attempting regime change.

Iranian Government Called Out Foreign-Based Media

Officials expressed that news outlets outside the country, particularly the UK, should be branded as terrorist organizations, reported Anadolu.

Gharibabadi, a deputy judiciary chief for international affairs and head of the state's leading human rights body, stated Iran International and BBC Persian should be added to a list of terrorist organizations.

He added that the administration would be starting a legal suit to accuse these Persian-language news outlets of instigating and starting riots in Iran by goading the public to commit terrorism. Another is to initiate the destruction of public and private property as well, noted WN.

The deputy judiciary chief seeking these UK-based Persian media called terrorists; followed after Mahsa Amini had passed away in detention with the morality police; a month back due to wearing clothes not being allowed. It became the match to kick off nationwide protests as people protested, including the Iranian capital city.

Western Leaders Condemn Iran of Double Standards

The death was spun by the media outlets to make Tehran the recipient of anger, and the US president and western allies turned the screws to ratchet up the tension caused by the death of Amini. Immediately like a fast reaction, the US and its allies immediately placed sanctions on those involved.

Read Also: Gautam Adani Net worth 2022: Asia's Richest Billionaire Is Wealthier Than Mark Zuckerberg

Despite what Washington or its allies blame on Iranian officials who are supposed to conduct foul play about the unfortunate death. Though the family of Amini claims the police killed their daughter with no proof.

Just like before, these foreign powers found an excuse to use media to push a narrative against governments that is adversarial too. The urging of western leaders that an unproven injustice was done has resulted in 100 deaths.

The US and other parties use these news websites to undermine the Iranian government. Officials are very offended by these Persian news sites in the UK like Iran International, BBC Persian, and Manoto; also, the US-backed Voice of America Persian and Radio Farda are encouraging chaotic protests.

In a comprehensive report released Monday, Mizan News Agency, allied with Iran's judiciary, faulted such news networks for provoking adverse reactions via their programs and news stories on Amini's death and the mass demonstrations that preceded it.

This also references Iran International and BBC Persian, describing them as hawkish and violent media outlets that have recently supported terrorism in Iran.

Iran opposed what it alleged were Persian-language media outlets in London instigating riots and creating a hostile environment in Iran following Amini's killing in the initial invitation filed on September 25.

Tehran leaders are intent on canceling UK-based Persian media, which is pushing the US agenda of regime change, after refusing to give oil and siding with Moscow.

Related Article: US Attempts To Destabilize Tehran via Chaotic Actions To Compromise Government, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi Claims

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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is quoting at Rs 303.6, up 0.33% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 27.85% in last one year as compared to a 0.96% drop in NIFTY and a 9.97% drop in the Nifty Auto.

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 303.6, up 0.33% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.16% on the day, quoting at 17685.35. The Sensex is at 59598.85, up 0.09%. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd has slipped around 0.78% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Auto index of which Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 2.58% in last one month and is currently quoting at 25793.15, up 0.54% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 18.91 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 32.11 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 303.8, up 0.03% on the day. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd is down 27.85% in last one year as compared to a 0.96% drop in NIFTY and a 9.97% drop in the Nifty Auto index.

The PE of the stock is 65.93 based on TTM earnings ending June 22.

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Canara Bank is quoting at Rs 286.85, up 0.93% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 46.8% in last one year as compared to a 0.96% slide in NIFTY and a 23.46% slide in the Nifty Pharma.

Canara Bank is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 286.85, up 0.93% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.16% on the day, quoting at 17685.35. The Sensex is at 59598.85, up 0.09%. Canara Bank has gained around 36.6% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Pharma index of which Canara Bank is a constituent, has gained around 19.62% in last one month and is currently quoting at 3427, up 0.32% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 157.12 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 149.93 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 287.2, up 1.13% on the day. Canara Bank is up 46.8% in last one year as compared to a 0.96% slide in NIFTY and a 23.46% slide in the Nifty Pharma index.

The PE of the stock is 5.97 based on TTM earnings ending September 22.

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Hero MotoCorp: Hero MotoCorp is set to commence its operations in the Philippines. Terrafirma Motors Corporation (TMC), a part of the Columbian Group of Companies, one of the leading and most experienced automotive group is partnering with Hero MotoCorp in bringing its globally popular motorcycles to the country. As part of the partnership, TMC will be the exclusive assembler and distributor of Hero MotoCorp motorcycles in Philippines.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M): M&M informed that Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited (MEAL) has been incorporated in Mumbai on 25 October 2022 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the company to undertake the four wheel passenger electric vehicles business of the company.

Dabur India: Dabur India announced that it has signed definitive transaction agreements to acquire 51% shareholding of Badshah Masala Private Limited, which is engaged in the business of manufacturing, marketing and export of ground spices, blended spices and seasonings. Dabur is acquiring 51% stake in Badshah for Rs 587.52 crore, less proportionate debt as on the closing date, with the Badshah enterprise being valued at Rs 1,152 crore.

Dabur India reported consolidated net profit of Rs 490.86 crore for the second quarter ended September 30 from Rs 505.31 crore reported in Q2FY22. Total income rose to Rs 3109.77 crore during Q2FY23 against Rs 2930.02 crore recorded in Q2FY22.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: The USFDA has issued an import alert for Glenmark Pharma's manufacturing plant at Baddi.

Trident: The textile company said it has completed a solar power project of 8.87 MWp at Budhni in Madhya Pradesh. The power generated from this new solar power project shall be consumed captively in manufacturing facilities located at Budhni resulting in considerable savings for the company.

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Hindalco Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 411.4, up 3.26% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is down 12.24% in last one year as compared to a 0.99% slide in NIFTY and a 7.54% slide in the Nifty Media index.

Hindalco Industries Ltd rose for a third straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 411.4, up 3.26% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is up around 0.14% on the day, quoting at 17680.9. The Sensex is at 59580.99, up 0.06%. Hindalco Industries Ltd has gained around 14.04% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Media index of which Hindalco Industries Ltd is a constituent, has gained around 6.14% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5812.45, up 2.58% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 69.27 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 86.98 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark October futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 411.4, up 3.26% on the day. Hindalco Industries Ltd is down 12.24% in last one year as compared to a 0.99% slide in NIFTY and a 7.54% slide in the Nifty Media index.

The PE of the stock is 14.7 based on TTM earnings ending June 22.

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JSW Steel jumped 4.72% to Rs 674.80 after the company's subsidiary JSW Steel USA announced tying-up of long-term financing with two Italian banking institutions, Intesa Sanpaolo and Banco BPM, for plate mill modernisation project in Baytown, Texas.

Intesa Sanpaolo is Italy's leading banking group - serving families, businesses and the real economy - with a significant international presence. Intesa Sanpaolo's distinctive business model makes it a European leader in wealth management, protection & advisory, highly focused on digital and fintech.

The Banco BPM Group was founded on 1 January 2017 from the merger of Banco Popolare and Banca Popolare di Milano. The deep-rooted tradition of the original cooperative banks inspired Banco BPM to pursue a mission oriented to the creation of stable value over time for shareholders through sustainable profitability and development. Banco BPM serves 4 million customers through an extensive and complementary network and a widespread distribution model.

Out of the total financing that is required for JSW Steel USA's Baytown facility modernizing project, $70 million is covered under SACE guarantee and the balance $112 million is a term loan.

SACE is the Italian Export Credit Agency specialized in supporting businesses and the national economic fabric through a wide range of tools and solutions to support competitiveness in Italy and worldwide. With a portfolio of insured operations and guaranteed investments of 165 billion, SACE serves over 25 thousand companies, especially SMEs, supporting their growth in Italy and in around 200 foreign markets.

The financing was structured by SACE's Export Finance Division with the contribution of the SACE office in Mumbai, which has a long-standing relationship with JSW Steel. The SACE guarantee is provided with the intention of promoting Italian exports.

JSW Steel USA's Plate mill modernisation project includes supplies from Italian engineering companies, Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A, Danieli Automation S.p.A, and Danieli Taranis LLC, all being subcontractors of Danieli Corporation Inc. for a cutting line, rolling mill and ACC/DQ.

The project also includes supplies from Sideridraulic for a water treatment and cooling system and from Tenova for a grinding machine for the new rolling mill and related engineering services.

The total value of equipment and related engineering services being provided by these suppliers is over $100 million.

JSW Steel ls the flagship business of the diversified, JSW Group, is India's leading integrated steel company with a steel-making capacity of 28.5 MTPA in India and the USA (including capaclties under joint control).

The steel major reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 848 crore in Q2 FY23 as against a net profit of Rs 7,170 crore recorded in Q2 FY22. Revenue from operations jumped 28.9% to Rs 41,122 crore in Q2 FY23 from Rs 31,909 crore posted in the corresponding quarter previous year.

The scrip

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REC added 2.49% to Rs 96.80 after the company recorded 1.5% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 2732.12 crore on a 0.9% decline in total income to Rs 9,964 crore in Q2 FY23 over Q2 FY22.

Profit before tax in Q2 FY23 stood at Rs 3436.24 crore, up by 3% from Rs 3334.74 crore in Q2 FY22.

Total expenses declined by 2.7% to Rs 6,527.76 crore in the quarter ended 30 September 2022 as against the corresponding quarter last year.

Meanwhile, the company's board declared an interim dividend of Rs 5 per equity share for the financial year ending 31 March 23. Further, the record date for the same is 9 November 2022 and the dividend shall be paid/ dispatched on 24 November 2022.

REC, a Navratna company under the Ministry of Power, provides financial assistance to the power sector in all segments. It funds its business with market borrowings of various maturities, including bonds and term loans apart from foreign borrowings.

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With the announcement about Tata-Airbus C-295 transport aircraft project coming up in Gujarat, former minister on Thursday slammed the Eknath Shinde-led government and asked it why the project that was supposed to come up in went to the neighbouring state.

He accused the Shinde government of not being serious about the state's progress and criticised it for "failing to protect the state's interests".

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Maharashtra, however, countered him saying that the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government did not do anything to follow up on the proposed project.

A consortium of Airbus and the Tata group will manufacture C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Vadodara in Gujarat, the Defence ministry said on Thursday, announcing the Rs 22,000 crore project where a military plane will be produced in India for the first time by a private company. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday lay the foundation stone for the manufacturing facility of the European defence major and the Indian conglomerate, in what is billed as a major boost to the domestic aerospace sector.

In September this year, CM Shinde's loyalist Uday Samant, who is currently the Industries Minister, had said that the Tata-Airbus aircraft manufacturing project would come up near Nagpur in Vidarbha region of .

Speaking to reporters here in Shirur tehsil in Pune district, Thackeray asked, "Will the state government give answers to why these projects are going out? This is the fourth project which has gone away from Maharashtra since the traitor government has come to power in the state. They always boast that they have a double-engine government, but although one engine of the central government is working, the state government's engine has failed."



Thackeray was in Shirur to inspect the losses that farmers have suffered due to heavy rains.

He added that the previous MVA government led by his father Uddhav Thackeray had managed to bring investment to the state even during the pandemic, but this government has failed to do so.

"CM Shinde goes to Delhi on a regular basis. But he goes there for himself and not for Maharashtra. I never heard him saying that the Tata-Airbus project should come to Maharashtra. Projects including Vedanta Foxconn, Bulk Drug Park, Medical Device Park, and now Tata Airbus have gone to Gujarat," he alleged.

He said he was not sad because the project was going to some other state. "The question is why is it not coming to our state. Why this new government is not able to bring projects to the state? In the last few days, CMs from other states are coming to Maharashtra and interacting with the local industrialists here to seek investments, but our CM goes to Delhi, and he does so for himself," he said.

The Worli MLA said that big and small projects used to come to Maharashtra because of merit. "But today, despite having the merit, these projects are going to the other state," he said.

Due to the current state government, Maharashtra has lost one more project. The state government is not at all serious about Maharashtra's progress, Thackeray alleged.

He also asked the state government to immediately announce a wet drought in the state and provide help to farmers.

He visited farmers in Malthan village area in Shirur tehsil and inspected the crops that suffered due to the heavy rains.

"We have given a slogan - 'Give or leave', which means the state government should either provide help to farmers or step down," he said.

Countering his allegations, BJP legislator Praveen Darekar said, "The deal (for Tata-Airbus project) was inked a year back, and one should find out who was in power at that time. The previous government did not do anything on it, including no correspondence with the Union government to facilitate this project in the state. The opposition should not make such baseless allegations."



Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said, "PM Modi made an announcement of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', which was followed by the Airbus Defence and Space S.A. Spain entering into an agreement to supply 56 C-295 MW transport aircraft and it was approved by cabinet committee on security."



On September 24 last year, the defence ministry also signed a contract with the Airbus Defence and Space S.A. for acquisition of aircraft with associated equipment, he claimed.

"Despite so much development, the then MVA government did not send a single letter to the Centre. That government did not even follow up the issue with the Union government. The MVA leaders should avoid diverting the attention despite being aware of the facts," Upadhye said.

"I challenge them to release a letter they had addressed to Tata-Airbus in the past," he said.

Last month, a blame-game had erupted in Maharashtra following the announcement that a joint venture semiconductor project of the Indian conglomerate Vedanta and Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn, proposed to be set up near Pune city earlier, would come up in Gujarat.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress, all constituents of the MVA, have sought to corner the Shinde-BJP government over the Rs 1.54 lakh crore plant going to Gujarat.

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Union Home Minister on Thursday targeted previous Haryana chief ministers over regional bias and said in Manohar Lal Khattar, the state has after a long time got a chief minister who is undertaking its all-round development.

Shah, who laid the foundation stone of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor and inaugurated three other projects in the state during an event here worth a combined Rs 6,629 crore, launched a scathing attack on previous regimes.

He said the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led government was marked by corruption, while also hitting out at the Indian National Lok Dal regime led by Om Prakash Chautala, without taking his name.

leaders in the state often accuse Hooda of regional bias and concentrating development works in Rohtak during his tenure.

Addressing a Jan Utthan rally, Shah said the Khattar government had worked to change Haryana during its eight years, adding that



He said after a long time after Independence there is a chief minister for the entire state.

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Chhattisgarh Chief Minister on Thursday slammed his Delhi counterpart for demanding images of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh on and described his statement as a tactic to garner votes.

Talking to reporters here, the senior Congress leader accused Kejriwal of raising an emotive issues just for votes. Asked about the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader's controversial statement, Baghel said, At different times the Government of India decides whose photos will appear on and coins. But to gain votes Kejriwal has used this tactic." I was watching in the news yesterday, photos of great leaders Ambedkar ji and Bhagat Singh ji were kept where he (Kejriwal) was addressing a press conference (where he made the statement). Had they been alive, could Kejriwal have said these things in front of them? Was his statement motivated by their ideology?" he asked. Baghel further said wherever Kejriwal fights elections he just plays emotional card to garner votes



He (Kejriwal) had said he will clean the Yamuna river and he had also told journalists that they would be able to take a dip into it, but what happened?'' he said. He doesn't do what he says. He removed Gandhi ji's portraits from his offices and then he went to Sabarmati Ashram (in Ahmedabad) and was spinning charkha. He wants to cross the river by holding the feet of Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji. Whose photos will appear on notes, what colours will they be are all decided by the RBI and the Government of India, the Chhattisgarh CM added. Claiming that the Indian economy was not in a good shape, Kejriwal on Wednesday said at a press conference that the country needed a lot of effort to get the economy back on track along with the blessings of our gods and goddesses. The Delhi CM also suggested that should have the images of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi along with Mahatma Gandhi.

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Union Minister Raosaheb Danve on Thursday brushed aside speculation that some legislators belonging to the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde may form a group with the intention of merging with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The senior BJP leader said there was no need for such a move as the Shinde group and his party were in alliance and were running the state government smoothly and efficiently.

Queried on the issue further, Danve went on to claim MLAs of the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress were on the verge of defecting, though he did not elaborate.

"The opposition is spreading rumours about some MLAs of Shinde group wanting to defect. Actually, legislators from these opposition parties are seeking to defect," Danve claimed.

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A hostile subway assailant pushed an unwary passenger to the tracks at a Brooklyn Subway station. The unprovoked attack occurred last Monday when the attacker randomly shoved the victim toward the train tracks without apparent reason.

Random Stranger in an Unprovoked Queens Subway Attack

Police stated that the suspect, who had 20 arrests before this attack, was identified as Lamale McRae, 41, who had a rap sheet for attempted murder, assault, reckless endangerment, and even harassment, reported NY Daily News.

His attack on the victim was caught on camera last Friday. Police revealed they used facial recognition to identify McRae as he was nabbed on one occasion for shooting someone close to his residence in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

The suspect attacked David Martin, 32, who was waiting at the Manhattan-bound L train platform in the Myrtle-Wyckoff station around Friday at 2:30 pm, based on video obtained by the New York Police Department (NYPD), noted Yahoo.

A group of children saw McRae's unprovoked attack as he threw the victim onto the tracks. But several good Samaritans saw the cruel assault, leaped off the platform, and got Martin out before a rail car came.

Subway Assault Victim Suffers

Martin suffered a broken collarbone in the fall and could not work for six weeks afterward, his sister claimed.

The victim was interviewed by WABC-TV, saying he was knocked to the track forcefully by the subway assailant in the Brooklyn subway station. Bystanders were told he was fine, although he was severely injured and needed to be brought to a hospital. He added that his face swells, and he is now mentally unequipped to deal with the assault on his person.

Read Also: Joe Biden Uncomfortably Grabs Teen Girl's Shoulder During Administration's Visit in Southern California

Due to the shocking attack on the train, the victim expresses anxiety that he'll never feel secure on the train again. He explained, as someone from New York City, taking the train was always safe until he reached 32 years old.The experience has left him fearful and shaken that a train ride is perilous from now.

The family of the unfortunate victim is trying their best to help him deal with the aftermath of the attack, and relatives feel overwhelmed they are struggling to help the victim.

Martin's mother, Audrey, expressed relief that nothing worse happened to her son but revealed how the victim suffered from severe trauma afterward in disbelief at how McRae would randomly try to kill her son. She added that the victim is now an anxious wreck who is having a hard time.

Furthermore, her son cannot seem to move on from the incident, as he went back to smoking again and would panic each time getting a lawyer is mentioned. Martin keeps replaying the video too much, as he cannot imagine why he was singled out by everyone there that day.

NYPD Admits Rise in Subway Crimes

On October 16, there was a rise in crimes centered in NYC subways by about 41%, Felony assaults up by 17%, and a shocking 431 assaults in 2022, more than 370 in 2021. It gets sullen as 174 suspects of felony assault in NYC are mentally deranged, all 42.3% noted a source.

A subway assailant tried to kill a random passenger in a Brooklyn subway station by pushing the victim to the track but was saved.

Related Article: 15-Year-Old Boy Slain in Gang Shootout at Queens Subway; NYC Police Calls Seeks Suspects of Incident

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The BJP on Thursday said Prime Minister corrected "blunders" of related to Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India by nullifying and demanded an apology from the Congress.

Addressing a press conference on the 75th anniversary of the region's accession, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the first prime minister committed five blunders, including delaying action on the accession proposal of the region's king Hari Singh.

Jammu and Kashmir, and the country in general had to pay a price for it while this allowed Pakistan to capture a part of the region (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), he said.

Bhatia quoted from Nehru's statement to assert that the king had first mooted the idea in July 1947 but the then prime minister dithered and allegedly prioritised his and his friend's interests, a reference to Sheikh Abdullah, while neglecting the country's.

Hitting out at the Congress, he said, "If a timely action was taken, then there would be no part of the state under Pakistan's occupation. The Congress since then spread lies and suppressed truth about the issue."



Nehru then took an "internal issue" to the United Nations, making Pakistan a party, he added.

The BJP leader also denounced him for floating the idea of plebiscite, claiming there was no provision for it in the Independence Act under which hundreds of princely states merged with India.

Special provisions were also granted to Jammu and Kashmir -- now a union territory -- under and the country had to pay a heavy price for it, Bhatia said.

Claiming that then home minister Vallabhbhai Patel was against measures pushed by Nehru, he said if Jammu and Kashmir was merged with the country like other princely states, then there would probably be no "jihadi terrorism".

Modi has corrected those blunders, and his strong leadership is now showing the way to the world, he said.

Bhatia also quoted Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's comments in Lok Sabha in 2019 during a debate on the resolution about nullification to hit out at the opposition party.

Chowdhury had then noted that the Kashmir issue was in the United Nations as he questioned the government's stand that it was India's internal issue.

The Congress should apologise for its blunders, Bhatia said, while also targeting the party for the forced migration of Kashmiri Pandits from there following the outbreak of militancy.

The Congress hit back at the BJP over the alleged exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from south Kashmir's Shopian district and demanded that the Modi government release a white paper on the plight of the minority community during its eight-year rule.

The opposition party also hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir and said the government must apologise for it.

Asked about Union Minister Kiren Rijiju's article titled '75th Anniversary of Five Nehruvian Blunders on Kashmir', Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said those leaders of the BJP who are students of "WhatsApp nursery" need to revisit their history classes.

"If all that they are saying is true, how is it that during the Manmohan Singh era targeted killings stopped and 75 per cent of the people would participate in the democratic process of elections in the state? We would be happy to get the answer to that," he said.

BJP leaders have no idea of contemporary history of the country, Khera said.

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Hitting out at the Centre over the alleged exodus of from Kashmir, leader on Thursday said Prime Minister is enjoying power while members of the minority community continue to be refugees in their own country.

The BJP has ruined the good work done by the UPA, the former chief said.

As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri Pandit families left their village, Choudharygund, in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district out of fear and reached Jammu, according to residents.

Members of the minority community, who have since been camping in Jammu, ruled out any plan to return to the Valley.

However, authorities in Shopian have attempted to put up a brave face by claiming no exodus of has taken place from the south Kashmir district.

"There have been 30 targeted killings in Kashmir this year. The exodus of Pandits is increasing rapidly. The BJP has ruined the good work done by the UPA," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"The prime minister, who talked of big things before coming to power, is enjoying power and continue to be refugees in their own country," he said.

Earlier in the day, the demanded that the Modi government release a white paper on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits during its eight-year rule and apologise for their targeted killings.

The BJP hit back saying PM Modi corrected the "blunders" of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru related to Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India by nullifying Article 370 and in turn demanded an apology from the Congress.

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Defence Minister and Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande will attend an event in on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of Infantry Day, officials said on Wednesday.

Infantry Day is celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Indian Army at Budgam airfield on October 27, 1947, to protect from Pakistani forces. It was the first military operation of Independent India.

The Army landed at the airfield after the 'instrument of accession' was signed on October 26, 1947, between the then Maharaja of Hari Singh and the Union of India.

Some of the key scenes of the historic Budgam landings are scheduled to be reenacted, among other events planned to be held on Thursday to mark the landmark occasion.

"The defence minister and the Army chief will take part in the Infantry Day anniversary event in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow. And, a number of other top officers of the armed forces will also be present," a senior official said on Wednesday.

In New Delhi, Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan will lay a wreath at the War Memorial to commemorate the historic day, he said.

The reenactment of the historic event (Budgam landings) to be organised at Old Air Field, Srinagar, is to pay obeisance to the brave soldiers and people of Jammu and Kashmir who laid down their lives, and also to honour the next of kin of war heroes who participated in the 1947-48 war, another official said.

The Budgam landings were the first military operations of Independent India, and Thursday will mark the 75th anniversary of the key event.

Under command of Lieutenant Colonel Dewan Ranjit Rai, who later laid down his life at Baramulla, changed the course of the war, wherein people and soldiers of State Forces of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian Army fought alongside valiantly, to evict Pakistani forces, driving them out of most of Jammu and Kashmir till ceasefire on January 5, 1949, the Army had earlier 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.)
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Thursday refuted the allegations that the BJP was trying to lure legislators of the ruling in Telangana into its fold, and demanded an inquiry by CBI or a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, into the whole episode.

Speaking to Reporters on the claims that the BJP was resorting to clandestine method to entice its legislators thus trying to destabilize the state government, Reddy said the imminent defeat in Munugode bypoll is haunting Kalvakuntla family ( Chief Minister k Chandrasekhar Rao's family).

Calling it a 'big conspiracy' by party, he alleged that they resorted to this kind of new game as their defeat is imminent in Munugode bypoll.

If the TRS government has purity of mind, I request that the case be handed over to the CBI. I am asking whether the state government is ready for this? I am giving two options. Either you get it inquired by a Supreme Court sitting judge or hand over to the CBI as this case is an interstate issue.

He alleged that the script, direction and actors in the whole episode have been supplied by Pragathi Bhavan, the CM's official residence and camp office.

Reddy wondered why details such as quantum of cash found at the scene, its source and who gave it, have not been revealed so far.

The Union Minister ridiculed that the four MLAs were worth Rs 400 crore and sought to know what the BJP would gain if those legislators joined it.

The Cyberabad police detained three people and registered an FIR against them alleging that they tried to coax four TRS legislators into defecting the party.

As per the FIR copy, Rohith Reddy, one of the four TRS MLAs alleged that the accused offered him Rs 100 crore and in return the legislator has to leave TRS and contest as BJP candidate in the next Assembly elections.

They also offered him civil contract works from the central government besides higher positions and monitory benefits.

The accused also threatened that if the TRS law maker does not heed, then ED and CBI cases will be filed against him. They also warned that the TRS government in the state will be toppled.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The central government has asked Meta about the reasons behind the two-hour outage on Tuesday. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), according to a report in the Economic Times (ET), wants to know if the disruption was due to an internal glitch or a cyberattack.

"We have asked them if the outage was due to internal factors or some external cyberattack. They will respond with the relevant details in a few days," a senior ministry official was quoted as saying by ET.

The ministry has also asked the platform to coordinate with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) to find out if there were any "untoward" cyber incidents during the period of outage, the report added.

On Tuesday, users were not able to send or receive messages on for nearly two hours. It was among the longest outages the platform has ever faced. After the issue was fixed, Meta said that it had "fixed the issue".

However, no explanation of the reason for the outage has been provided by the company. It is the second such outage faced by in less than one year. In October 2021, WhatsApp, and Instagram, all three platforms owned by Meta were down for over seven hours. The company had said that it was due to "configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic".

On Tuesday, users faced issues not only with the platform's app, but also with WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Pay.

India has over 50 million users of WhatsApp.
Move over, passwords. Passkeys are a safer alternative. They provide better protection against phishing attacks, said Googles Vice-President Parisa Tabriz on Thursday.

The technology giant recently introduced the passkey feature for the Android operating system and the popular web browser Chrome. The new functionality was launched for members of Play Services Beta and Chrome Canary, while it will be available to general users later this year, the company had said on October 12.

A passkey is a digital credential, linked with the user account and a website or application (app). It allows users to authenticate without entering a username, password, or providing any additional authentication factor. The technology aims at replacing legacy authentication mechanisms such as passwords.

Users can create and use passkeys on Android devices, which are securely synced through the Manager.

Developers can build passkey support on their sites for end-users using Chrome via

Web Authentication API (also known as WebAuthn)  a web standard published by the Consortium  on Android and other supported platforms.

Passkeys work across different platforms and browsers, including Windows, macOS and iOS, and ChromeOS, with a uniform user experience.

Tabriz, who heads engineering, product, and design at Google Chrome, said passkeys could bring a safer alternative to passwords as they cannot be reused, do not leak in server breaches, and protect users from phishing attacks.

She added that nearly half the workers spend the greater part of their work day on browser-based software apps, making it crucial to protect browsers.

More than 5 billion devices are automatically protected by Google Safe Browsing worldwide. We are also providing APIs for helping other browsers protect their users.

Passkeys are built on industry standards and work across different operating systems (OS) and browser ecosystems, and can be used for both websites and apps.

Tabriz said the autofill password, along with existing device screen locks, such as the fingerprint to confirm login, may significantly bring down the number of phishing incidents.

Some of what we are building in Chrome is autofill the . We still have ways to grow, but we have improved the autofilled features. We have also recently launched virtual credit numbers, which replace the physical card number with a unique virtual card number for protecting online payments, said Tabriz.

She said cybersecurity threats, including phishing attacks, were rising in recent times, since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Google has also introduced a free defence programme called Project Shield, under which over 200 Ukrainian websites have been protected from denial-of-service attacks. Global ransomware damages are expected to exceed $30 billion by 2023. Asia is one of the worst-impacted regions with 26 per cent of global attacks directed towards Asia, said Tabriz.

Google has also introduced the Chrome vulnerability reward programme to find security bugs present in its system. More than 500 security-related bugs have been reported as of now, while 696 researchers have received rewards worth $8.7 million for finding out vulnerabilities.

We cannot completely eliminate bugs from our systems, but we continuously reduce them as we launch the newer version of Chrome, added Tabriz.
On the sidelines of the armed conflict, Russia and Ukraine are also locked in a war of propaganda. And Kiev has a slight edge here, due to extensive support from the West.

But Russia is not lowering the guard. Last week, it wrote a letter to the . Its diplomat too asked for a closed door meeting with the council on Tuesday. But why? Moscow suspects that Kiev will use dirty bomb in its own territory to defame it.

What is a dirty

A dirty contains conventional like dynamite and radioactive materials such as uranium, which makes them cheaper and easier to transport when compared with nuclear weapons. When exploded, the material inside the is scattered through the air. Although dangerous, it is not as destructive as a nuclear bomb.

Why is dirty bomb used?

The intention of the dirty bomb is to cause panic and fear among public rather than actual physical damage. Hence, it is also usually referred to as a "weapon of mass disruption" as opposed to a "weapon of mass destruction," which is the case for nuclear explosions.

Is the dirty bomb dangerous?

Dirty bomb is a psychological weapon. The scattered material after an explosion depends on many other factors such as wind at the time of blast. The radioactive spread, if inhaled near the blast, could be somewhat dangerous.

Previously, there is no record of successful dirty bomb explosion anywhere in the world. However, multiple attempts have failed.

Why is Russia talking about a dirty bomb?

Russia says Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb as a provocation tactic against Moscow and escalate the war. Russia has not offered any evidence to back the claims. The West, including NATO, European Union, have categorically denied such claims as false.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has again slammed Russia. His foreign minister has invited UN inspectors to visit Ukraine, saying they have nothing to hide. The UN's nuclear watchdog IAEA has assured its inspectors will revisit the sites.
Arcade game Snake, which first featured in Nokia 6110 phones in 1997 and went on to become a sensation, hooking an entire generation, is believed to be the first app. And in just over two decades, apps have become an integral part of our daily life, be it 10-minute groceries or finding a date.

And in India, nine out of ten smartphone users access these apps over the Google-owned Android operating system.

Now, the Competition Commission of Indias recent decisions could change the way they use and experience apps.

Let us start with the latest order. has slapped a penalty of about 936 crore rupees on Google. Why? For allegedly abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies. has also issued a cease-and-desist order and suggested eight corrective measures.

These include allowing Play Store apps to use third-party billing service providers. To date, Google has required app developers to exclusively use its Google Play Billing System, or GPBS, for all customer billings. Using GPBS was made mandatory for paid apps and in-app purchases. Not using GPBS meant that app developers would not be allowed to list their products on the Google Play Store. has said that this was an unfair condition on app developers.

Not being listed on the Google Play Store would be a death blow for any app in India. Googles Android mobile operating system dominates in India with a market share of about 95 per cent. Apple's iOS has close to a 4 per cent share.

Google was also found to be not using GPBS for its own applications such as YouTube. The CCI called this a discriminatory practice. Googles policy was also denying market access to competing mobile wallets and apps facilitating payment through UPI.



Coming back to Tuesdays order, what are the other corrective measures? Let us say a condition is unfair, unreasonable, discriminatory or disproportionate to the services provided to app developers. Then, it cannot be imposed by Google. This includes price-related conditions. To app developers, Google says it offers services like hosting and distribution, discovery and technical infrastructure, among others.

The search giant must also publish its payment policy in an "unambiguous manner". And, the policy should not discriminate against other apps that allow payments through UPI in favour of their Google counterpart.

Now, let's come to the impact.

Both Google and Apple charge developers between 15 and 30 per cent in commissions on the purchase of paid apps and in-app purchases. A number of Indian developers have objected, saying that high commissions could significantly dent their profit margins. This would then erode business viability and stifle innovation.

Indian app developers have hailed CCIs latest decision as a collective win for start-ups. This is despite the fact that Google had launched a pilot programme in March, allowing a few developers to offer an additional billing system. Google had also announced a cut in commissions to 15 per cent from 30 per cent for the first 1 million dollars in revenue that developers earned each year, following a similar move by Apple.

Start-up founders and CEOs have said that CCIs decision would protect Indian entrepreneurs from digital colonialism. They also say that a precedent has been set for how other tech companies will treat Indian developers and consumers.

South Korea is the only other country that has fined Google for its pricing strategy. The country amended its telecommunications Act last year to prohibit app store operators from forcing the use of only their proprietary billing systems.

While Indian app developers rejoice, one expert has said that CCIs remedies relating to Googles Play Store policies were excessive. He added that they would raise significant challenges and impact Google's incentive to innovate.

After CCIs second penalty, Google said that Indian developers had benefited from the technology and flexibility of Google Play and its Android OS. The tech giant also said that it was reviewing the decision to evaluate its next steps.

Last week, CCI imposed a penalty of about 1,338 crore rupees on Google. Why? For allegedly abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem. In that instance too, the CCI issued a cease and desist order and asked Google to modify its conduct within a defined timeline.

Under the Android OS licensing terms, manufacturers have to pre-install the entire Google Mobile Suite on their device. And, there is no option to uninstall the apps. Now, CCI's order will give device makers the freedom to opt for app ecosystems other than Android.

However, experts have pointed out that there is a dearth of popular substitutes. You don't need to look beyond the likes of YouTube and Google Maps to verify that fact. As such, many manufacturers will have little incentive to switch from popular to alternatives. Not to mention, device makers have saved millions in R&D costs by using Google's OS.
Whats new: Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay an official visit to China starting from Nov. 1 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Sharif will be among the first few foreign leaders to visit in the wake of the Communist Partys 20th National Congress, ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press conference on Wednesday.
During the pandemic, all 50.6 million public school kids got free lunch meals. After that program's expiration on September 30, many families across the US found themselves in financial trouble.

Georgetown University assistant professor Krista Ruffini, who focuses on government policies that affect the job market, educational attainment, and health outcomes, stated that it is tough to give a definite estimate on how many families will be affected.

Hunger Impacts Children's School Performance

But before the pandemic, Ruffini said, about 25% of students were attending a school that offered schoolwide free school meals through the Community Eligibility Provision or related programs, per NPR.

ParentsTogether Action recently surveyed 500 parents and found that 90% of respondents find it more difficult to make ends meet due to price increases and the expiration of 2021 monthly Child Tax Credit payments. The survey indicated that 41% of parents had to obtain a new job or work extra hours to cover their costs, and 48% claimed they couldn't afford adequate food.

According to the USDA, 6.1 million kids had inadequate amounts of food in food-insecure households in 2020. ParentsTogether, a nonprofit advocacy group, says that hunger impacts the behavior and performance of kids in school.

Ailen Arreaza, co-director of ParentsTogether, noted the implementation of universal free lunch eradicated the stigma associated with receiving a free or reduced-price lunch.

She underscored that teachers, nurses, and parents view it also as an equitable challenge for kids not to experience the shame or that humiliation of having "free and reduced lunch when everyone gets it," according to a report from Today. The most recent information from the Agriculture Department indicates that the average price of a school lunch was $2.57 for the 2016-2017 academic year.

NBC News reports that for a family of two, that's $5.14 a day or $925.20 for 180 school days. As Moody's Analytics has revealed, the price of basics has increased by $460 per month compared to a year earlier, this represents a considerable burden for a family of four earning $52,000 annually.

Read Also: US, Japan, and South Korea Warning: North Korea Nuclear Bomb Test Would Face 'Unparalleled' Response

Why Was The Free Lunch Program Stopped?

Making free school meals program permanent has been a long-term aim for the Biden administration. However, it still needs the support of the US Congress. Congress did not extend the policy, apparently due to opposition from Republicans concerned about the estimated $11 billion cost of the free lunch program.

Doubts about providing free meals to all schoolchildren may be growing as a result of the high expenses associated with the free school meals. According to WBUR, an NPR station in Boston, the USDA has spent $30 billion on the program of subsidized meals for everyone since 2020, which is $11 billion more than it would normally pay on its income-based school lunch program.

Universal free school lunch looks popular across the country, despite opposition to the cost. Data For Progress, a liberal polling organization, revealed that 74% of respondents in 2021 favored making free school meals mandatory across the country.

According to a June 2022 survey conducted by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank specializing in social and economic research, 76% of adults who live in households with children enrolled in public schools and 67% of adults who do not live in households with children enrolled in public schools are in favor of providing all students with free, nutritious meals at school.

Related Article: Respiratory Virus Threatening US Babies, Toddlers: What Is the Cause of RSV Surge and How Do You Avoid It?

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The suspect in the Waukesha Christmas Parade massacre, 40-year-old Darrell Brooks, was found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide after his actions resulted in the death of six people.

The defendant was accused of plowing a Ford Escape SUV through a Christmas parade in nearby Waukesha last year, causing several deaths and dozens of injuries. Brooks made several objections to his case over "subject matter jurisdiction" before the jury returned to deliver their verdict.

Waukesha Christmas Parade

Judge Jennifer Dorow, who is in charge of the case, invited the jurors back, and Brooks made a series of requests for documents, with Dorow saying they were noted and denied. The verdict came on Wednesday after a 23-day trial that saw Brooks, who represented himself in court, ejected from the courtroom multiple times for disruptive behavior.

The suspect attacked the credibility of witnesses on the stand, raised frivolous objections, and at one point went on a rant for 50 minutes asserting that the court had a conflict of interest. He argued that he had not been able to "face his accuser," as per Fox News.

The people who went to the Christmas parade and died on Nov. 21, 2021, were identified as eight-year-old Jackson Sparks, 52-year-old Tamara Durand, 52-year-old Jane Kulich, 71-year-old LeAnna Owen, 79-year-old Virginia Sorenson, and 81-year-old Wilhelm Hospel.

During the trial, someone from the gallery shouted, "Burn in hell you piece of s**t" before Dorow got to the jury's decision on the third murder charge. The judge then ordered the individual who shouted out of the room.

According to CNN, Brooks is now facing a mandatory life sentence in prison for the convictions of murder. The suspect was also convicted of 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, six counts of fatal hit and run, two counts of felony bail jumping, and one count of misdemeanor domestic battery.

Read Also: Cases of Arizona Voter Intimidation Prompts Increased Security of Ballot Drop Boxes

Darell Brooks Guilty of First-Degree Intentional Homicide

Less than two weeks prior to the incident last year, Brooks was released from jail on a $1,000 bail that prosecutors later acknowledged was "inappropriately low." In that case, the suspect allegedly ran over a woman who said that she was the mother of his child, court documents revealed.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said in closing arguments that Brooks intentionally drove his vehicle through the crowd in Waukesha at significant speeds and hit 68 individual parade-goers, turning a joyous occasion into a horrific tragedy.

Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said that the suspect reached speeds of approximately 30 miles per hour and argued that it was intentional. Brooks, in his own closing arguments, attempted to raise questions about the car and about his intent.

The suspect repeatedly said that there had been misconceptions and lies told about him during the trial. Brooks said that he had never before heard of someone intentionally trying to hurt someone while blaring their horn to let them know of their presence.

A relative of Sorenson, who was a member of the Dancing Grannies that were killed, put a small container of the victim's ashes on the bar separating the gallery from the rest of the courtroom as the judge read the verdict, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Related Article: New York Subway Crime: Police Arrest Assailant for Pushing Passenger Towards Tracks in Brooklyn

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The Kremlin recognized on Wednesday what has been said frequently on media outlets and social media for weeks, a significant portion of Russia's recent draftees lack the necessary combat gear.

The picture opportunity last week of President Vladimir Putin visiting a training facility full of well-dressed soldiers did not accurately depict the situation for many of the more than 220,000 citizens drafted into duty as a result of Putin's mobilization, which was announced on September 21.

Putin Watches Russian Nuclear Drill

Russian families have complained that they must purchase combat equipment for their recruited sons, brothers, etc., and that they are sent into a fight without preparation. There have also been reports of food and weapon shortages, as per USA Today.

The exercises, code-named Grom or Thunder, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, simulated a catastrophic nuclear strike by Russia in reprisal for an attack on its grounds.

Armed forces soldiers were seen in a video firing a Yars ballistic missile in front of computers on the Russian military-run Zvezda website. Another film showed a TU-95 bomber launching cruise missiles and a Sineva intercontinental ballistic missile being fired from a submarine in the Barents Sea.

The Kremlin said that all of the exercises' objectives were achieved and that every test-fired missile successfully reached its target. Moscow allegedly alerted the US about the drills in advance, according to the US.

The Russian exercises take place while NATO practices using US nuclear weapons stationed in Europe in its yearly Steadfast Noon war scenarios. President Vladimir Putin watched from a distance as Russia practiced its reaction to a nuclear strike, including drills using nuclear submarines, strategic bombers, and ballistic missiles.

As Moscow keeps madly waving its nuclear saber, there are rising concerns that the dictator may set off a nuclear explosion. The tyrant's army has suffered a string of terrible losses along the Ukrainian frontline, which has caused him growing frustration, according to The Sun.

Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin Takes Drastic Move To Increase Weapon Production

Russia Nuclear Strike

All duties assigned for the exercise were completed, according to a statement from the Kremlin, and all of the test-fired missiles. Such exercises involving the land, sea, and air components of the Russian nuclear triad have been carried out periodically to train and demonstrate the readiness of the country's nuclear forces.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration said Russia had informed it of its intention to carry out regular nuclear capability drills. According to the State Department, Russia informed Washington of the impending tests by the rules of the previous US-Russia arms control agreement.

Russia last conducted a nuclear exercise in February, just before it invaded Ukraine. Moscow provides alerts regarding a reported Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive device known as a "dirty bomb" to depict Russia as the source of the nuclear drill.

Putin reaffirmed his claim on the dirty bomb on Wednesday. He said that we are aware of the plans to use the "dirty bomb" for provocations. The charge, which Ukraine and its Western allies have angrily refuted, was the subject of a conversation between the Russian military minister, Shoigu, and his counterparts in China and India on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian administration has claimed that it believes Russia is preparing a false flag operation of its own. Authorities in Poland, Ukraine's western neighbor, declared that they were closely observing Russia's movements to get ready for any possible use of chemical or nuclear weapons.

In response to military failures in Ukraine, the Kremlin, according to deputy defense minister Marcin Ociepa, "may go for nuclear or chemical weapons. Tactical nuclear weapons, also known as little nukes, have never been utilized in battle.

They were created early on in the Cold War as a form of deterrent by both the US and the Soviet Union. As part of their flexible reaction plan, the NATO allies stationed them throughout Europe to demonstrate to the Soviet Union and its allies that any confrontation, including one involving conventional weapons, could have nuclear repercussions.

Russian stocks are thought to have up to 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons. In contrast, there are a little over 200 in the US, CBS News 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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Dirty bombs AFP/Getty Images

Une bombe sale est une arme qui combine des explosifs conventionnels, tel que la dynamite, et des materiaux radioactifs.

La semaine derniere, le ministere russe de la Defense a affirme que l'Ukraine prevoyait d'utiliser une "bombe sale" dans le but de rejeter la responsabilite de la contamination radioactive qui en resulterait sur Moscou.



Cette affirmation a ete rejetee par l'Ukraine, ainsi que par les Etats-Unis, le Royaume-Uni et la France dans une declaration commune publiee le 23 octobre 2022.



Une bombe sale, egalement connue sous le nom de dispositif de dispersion radiologique (DDR), est une arme qui combine des explosifs conventionnels comme la dynamite et des materiaux radioactifs comme l'uranium.



Le but d'un tel dispositif est de disperser des matieres radioactives dans la zone environnante ou il est amene a exploser, provoquant ainsi une contamination dans le rayon de l'explosion.



Le terme "bombe sale" est parfois confondu avec d'autres dispositifs explosifs, notamment les armes nucleaires. Cependant, les armes nucleaires impliquent la division d'atomes, ce qui entraine une enorme liberation d'energie.



Les bombes sales ont un rayon d'explosion beaucoup plus restreint et visent a disperser de la poussiere, de la fumee ou d'autres matieres radioactives plutot que de detruire principalement des infrastructures.



D'apres les recherches menees par des institutions nucleaires telles que la Commission de reglementation nucleaire des Etats-Unis (Nuclear Regulatory Commission), la detonation d'une bombe sale ne libererait pas suffisamment de radiations pour tuer des personnes ou provoquer des maladies graves.



Par rapport aux explosifs conventionnels, les bombes sales sont reputees moins dangereuses pour les personnes. Cependant, elles sont connues pour leur efficacite a repandre la peur et la panique.



Le risque environnemental cause par les bombes sales peut entrainer la necessite de proceder a des nettoyages a grande echelle qui peuvent etre financierement couteux.



Selon les chercheurs, l'ampleur de la contamination causee par l'explosion d'une bombe sale depend de nombreux facteurs, dont la taille des explosifs, la quantite et le type de materiaux radioactifs utilises et les conditions meteorologiques a l'endroit ou l'explosion a eu lieu.



L'utilisation d'une "bombe sale" n'a jamais ete recensee, bien que des efforts pour combattre ou utiliser de tels dispositifs aient ete signales dans le passe.



Israel a effectue une serie de tests dans le desert en conjonction avec un projet de quatre ans au reacteur nucleaire de Dimona afin de mesurer les dommages et autres implications de la detonation d'une bombe sale, a rapporte le journal Haaretz le 8 juin 2015.



En 1995, des rebelles tchetchenes ont pose- mais n'ont pas reussi a faire exploser- une bombe sale dans le parc Ismailovsky a Moscou.



Par ailleurs, les Etats-Unis ont arrete Jose Padilla, un agent presume d'Al-Qaida, pour avoir complote en vue de fabriquer et de faire exploser une bombe sale dans une ville americaine en 2002.

Burc Eruygur/AA

What are dirty bombs and how dangerous are they?

Dirty bomb is weapon that combines conventional explosives like dynamite, radioactive material

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Russian Defense Ministry last week claimed that Ukraine is planning to use a dirty bomb with an aim to blame the resulting radioactivity contamination on Moscow.

The claim was rejected by Ukraine, as well as the US, UK, and France in a joint statement released on Oct. 23, 2022.

A dirty bomb, also known as a radiological dispersal device, is a weapon that combines conventional explosives like dynamite and radioactive material such as uranium.

The aim of such a device is to scatter radioactive material into the surrounding area in which it explodes, thus causing contamination within the blast radius.

The term dirty bomb is sometimes mistaken for other explosive devices, especially nuclear weapons. However, nuclear weapons involve the splitting of atoms, resulting in a huge release of energy.

Dirty bombs have a much smaller blast radius and intend to scatter radioactive dust, smoke, or other material rather than primarily destroying infrastructure.

Based on research conducted by nuclear institutions like the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the detonation of a dirty bomb would not release enough radiation to kill people or cause severe illness.

Compared to conventional explosives, dirty bombs are said to be less harmful to people. However, they are noted to be efficient in spreading fear and panic.

The environmental hazard caused by dirty bombs can potentially result in the need for large-scale cleanups that can be financially costly.

The extent of the contamination caused by the blast of a dirty bomb depends on numerous factors, including the size of the explosives, the amount and type of radioactive material used and weather conditions where the blast took place, according to researchers.

The use of a dirty bomb has never been recorded, although efforts to combat or use such devices have been reported in the past.

Israel carried out a series of tests in the desert in conjunction with a four-year project at the Dimona nuclear reactor to measure the damage and other implications of the detonation of a dirty bomb, Haaretz newspaper reported on June 8, 2015.

In 1995, Chechen rebels planted but failed to detonate a dirty bomb in Moscows Ismailovsky Park.

Furthermore, the US arrested Jose Padilla, an alleged al-Qaeda operative, for plotting to build and detonate a dirty bomb in an American city in 2002.

Burc Eruygur/AA
John Kirby AA Images

Response will be appropriate to threat posed to our infrastructure, says John Kirby

WASHINGTON (AA) - There will be a response to any attack by Russia on US civilian satellites, a senior Biden administration official said Thursday.

"I would just say that any attack on US infrastructure will be met with a response and that will be met with a response appropriate to the threat that's posed to our infrastructure," National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said at a news conference.

Kirby stressed that the war by Russia against Ukraine is "provocative" and "dangerous in the region right now."

"We're going to continue to support Ukraine. We've been very open and honest about that. Nothing's going to change about our approach to that," he added.

Kirby's remarks came one day after a Russian diplomat said commercial satellites used by the US to help Ukraine in the war are "legitimate" targets for attacks.

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministrys Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, spoke at the first special session of the UN General Assembly on Disarmament.

Vorontsov said that helping through civilian satellites constitutes indirect participation in military conflicts and quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation.

Also, Maxar and Planet Labs earth observation satellites and Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet terminals have been critical to Ukraines battlefield successes against Russia, enabling the countrys military to rapidly communicate on the battlefield.

Servet Gunerigok/AA
Shenzhen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 kicks off

People's Daily Online) 17:41, October 26, 2022

Shenzhen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 kicks off on Oct. 25, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the organizer)

The Shenzhen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023 kicked off on Oct. 25, 2022 under the theme "We Can Be", highlighting the innovative and sustainable development of the fashion industry. The fashion week also includes online events for clients to place orders and Metaverse elements.

Shenzhen Fashion Week has become one of the three largest and most influential fashion weeks in China, as well as a platform for international fashion exchanges.

An important fashion hub in China, the city is now home to over 2,500 clothing brands, over 90 percent of which are self-owned. The total sales volume of the citys clothing industry reached nearly 270 billion yuan (about $36.99 billion) in 2021, accounting for one tenth of the country's total.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee are requesting evidence from the FBI regarding Hunter Biden's business partner's connections to the Chinese Communist Party and her successful espionage of the Biden family, which they claim compromises national security.

The Communist Party of China (CCP), which was her previous workplace, was revealed to be tied to Hunter Biden's business partner and close personal buddy, according to James Comer, R-Ky., in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray on Wednesday morning.

Hunter Biden's Business Partner

Republicans claim that JiaQi "Jackie" Bao, Hunter Biden's business partner, gave the president's son knowledge on how to buy natural gas in the United States and sell it to China. Additionally, they claim that records demonstrate that Bao collaborated closely with CCP agents and had access to the financial data of the Biden family.

Comer's letter stated that after entering the Biden family, Bao urged Hunter to encourage Joe Biden to run for president months before he announced and then offered the Biden family with campaign counsel about China, as per Fox News via MSN.

When Hunter Biden did business with the man he referred to as the spy head of China, emails found on his laptop show that he had a strong relationship with the Chinese-American secretary who worked for him.

When the joint venture failed, the mysterious young assistant urged the president's son to withdraw money from the company's accounts, supplied him opposition information for Joe's White House bid, and even ended up with Hunter's military dog tasered.

Bao worked for the PRC's National Development and Reform Commission, which authorizes projects that receive foreign finance, after earning a degree from Tsinghua University, a hotbed for recruiting for China's intelligence service, as the committee letter points out.

According to a Senate investigation, Hunter's interactions with the Chinese "raise criminal financial, counterintelligence, and extortion issues. The investigation also revealed connections between Hunter's Chinese backers and the nation's spy apparatus.

However, as the New York-based secretary has not reacted to several demands for comment, it is still unknown whether Bao was aware of Hunter's partner's suspected connections to the intelligence services at the time.

Read Also: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Faces Opposition in Parliament, Promises To Remove Many of Liz Truss' Policies

Hunter Biden Foreign Business Deals

To raise billions of dollars and kickstart several oil and gas projects in the Middle East and Europe, Hunter and Jim Biden, Joe Biden's brother, partnered with CEFC in 2017. The joint venture, however, came to an end the following year when Patrick Ho, the secretary general of CEFC, was detained and ultimately found guilty of bribery in a US federal trial.

Court records showed that Ho had been under surveillance by federal law enforcement in accordance with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act because he was thought to be associated with the Chinese intelligence services, Daily Mail reported.

Hunter Biden's prior membership on the board of a Ukrainian energy company was denounced by comedian and liberal legend Jon Stewart as corruption straight up off the bat. On a Wednesday episode of his 'The Problem with Jon Stewart' podcast, the 59-year-old left-leaning comedian made the direct comment about President Biden's kid.

Stewart and Gabriel Gatehouse, a British writer, were talking about how the mainstream media originally downplayed and derided Hunter's infamous abandoned laptop before the election after it was revealed by The Post in 2020. Stewart continued by describing some of the information found on the laptop as "circumstantial at best, including an email stating "10% to the big man.

He was making reference to emails from a contract Hunter Biden and his allies had sought with the Chinese energy firm CEFC China Energy Co, which included communications that specified a potential cut for Joe Biden, the vice president at the time, according to New York Post.

Related Article: Putin Takes Over in Russia's 'Massive Nuclear Strike' Practice: What Does This Mean?

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Airvault modernisation underway

ICR Newsroom By 27 October 2022

The first stone of the Ciments Calcia cement plant modernisation project at Airvault, France, was officially laid on 5 October 2022 in the presence of Jon Morrish, general manager of parent company HeidelbergMaterials western and Southern Europe, Bruno Pillon, president of HeidelbergCement France, Emmanuelle Dubee, prefect of Deux-Sevres and many local personalities.



The Airvault 2025 project represents an investment of EUR285m and will see the replacement of two semi-dry kiln lines by a new 4000tpd dry-process line with precalciner as well as the modernisation of the cement production workshop. When the project is completed, 80 per cent of the plant will have been completely renewed.



The project will enable the plant to reduce its carbon footprint by 27 per cent as its thermal consumption will no longer be based on fossil fuels alone. Instead, 88 per cent of its thermal fuel requirement will be met by alternative fuels, which are primarily locally-sourced non-recyclable waste. Compared with the previous fuel mix, this represents a fourfold increase in the use of waste.



The Airvault 2025 project is a project of exceptional scope, explains Bruno Pillon. Tomorrow, the Airvault cement plant will be a reference site. It will carry the group's commitments in terms of reducing the carbon footprint, developing the circular economy and local roots. The Airvault 2025 project is part of a EUR450m investment plan in France by the Heidelberg Materials group. Intended to transform four group cement plants in France located in Beaucaire in Gard, Bussac-Foret in Charente-Maritime, Couvrot in Marne and therefore in Airvault, in Deux-Sevres.

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Taiheiyo Cement to acquire Denka cement business

ICR Newsroom By 27 October 2022

Taiheiyo Cement Corp is reportedly acquiring the cement business of Denka Co Ltd in March 2023. Denka has decided to exit the cement sector due to rising production costs. The company operates one integrated cement plant with 2.69Mta of cement capacity in Omi, Niigata, Japan.

According to research company Nomura, Denka currently has a thee per cent share of the Japanese cement market, but demand there is falling. The company has already lowered its fiscal-year earnings guidance, forecasting a 29 per cent drop in net profit to JPY18.5bn (US$125.8m), compared to JPY29bn in the previous year, reports Market Watch. Nomura expects Denkas cement business to suffer an operating loss of JPY5bn in the fiscal year ending March 2023 due to the sharp rise in coal prices.



Meanwhile, Dalian Onoda Cement, a subsidiary of Taiheiyo Cement, has announced plans to suspend cement production at its Dalian plant in Liaoning, China. Taiheiyo will shut the plant when its land lease expires in December 2022.

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King Charles has offered Princess Anne and Prince Edward a new post instead of demoting Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from an important royal position.

The King plans to increase the number of "counsellors of state" who can fulfill constitutional obligations while the monarch is away or ill.

King Charles III's Soft Spot For Prince Harry, Prince Andrew

The four most senior royal adults Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice as well as Camilla, the Queen Consort, make up the current group of five senior royals in office, as per The Sun.

According to royal commentator Robert Hardman, King Charles III may prevent the Dukes of Sussex and York from carrying out their constitutional obligations, which could lead to constitutional reform. In a few weeks, proposals might make their way to the House of Commons after being considered.

With the proposed changes, the King would be able to delegate constitutional problems to other members of the royal family, such as his sister Princess Anne and younger brother Prince Edward, when he is away from home. Counsellors of state, which are made up of the four oldest individuals in the succession line and a monarch's consort, are authorized to conduct official business.

Royal watchers have recently noted that it would not be proper for Prince Harry and the Duke of York to continue in their roles as Counsellors of State given they had both resigned from their respective royal responsibilities for different reasons, Express reported.

Read Also: [VIDEO] King Charles III's Wax Figure Smeared with Cake by Angry Protesters at London Museum

Prince Harry, Prince Andrew's New Royal Role Was Questioned

However, this week in the House of Lords there were concerns raised on the requirement to revise the eligibility requirements. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Prince Andrew, Duke of York, were two of the five replacement candidates. Despite the fact that one had abandoned public life and the other had leave the nation, Labour peer Viscount Stansgate questioned how they could be.

Any modification will necessitate changing the Regency Act, which is overseen by the Cabinet Office, but there seems to be support for this constitutional revision. Instead of eliminating Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, it is anticipated that the answer will be to increase the number of royals who may speak for the monarch, creating a more flexible roster of available working royals.

The necessity for stand-ins to be in place in 2023, when both the King and Queen Consort and the Prince and Princess of Wales may be traveling abroad, may result in modifications later this year, depending on the legislative timetable, as per BBC.

Additionally, on October 25, 2022, two House of Lords lawmakers declared their intention to amend the 1937 Regency Act. Otherwise, Viscount Stansgate said, Are the Government satisfied to continue with a situation where the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the nation, may exercise the counsels of state and regency powers?

A new Counsellor of State will be somebody who genuinely fulfills royal duties, or at least some part of them, at now, according to Lord Addington. This requirement makes it easier for Princess Anne and Prince Edward to accept the position.

Additionally, the general population is in favor of them. In a poll conducted by Express in September 2022, readers chose Anne as their top candidate for Counselor (27%), just ahead of Prince William (26%), who is already a Counselor. Third place with 24% went to Edward. Prince Andrew received considerably less, and Prince Harry received just 1%.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was informed of these intentions and agreed to them. Given Prince Harry's separation with the royal family, Newsweek questioned if it would be appropriate for King Charles III to remove his younger son from the position.

Dr. Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert, claims that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew might simply decide not to act because only two people must act together, according to The List via MSN.

Related Article: Meghan Markle Reveals Moment During 'Deal or No Deal' Stint, Shares Duchess' Hopes for Daughter Lilibet

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Elizabeth Beth Edling Taylor was born on March 10, 1929 in Malanje, Angola, to pioneer Methodist missionaries. After graduating from Houghton College, she worked for Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, NY, where she was spiritually revitalized by the Reformed doctrines of grace. She also served as camp secretary for Peniel Bible Camp in upstate New York where she met and married Gordon Taylor in 1961. Beth joined Gordon in Northern India where they served as missionaries for 40 years with the Reformed Presbyterian Mission which became World Presbyterian Missions and then Mission to the World.

In India, Beth raised four children of her own and was Auntie to hundreds of children in The Childrens Home, Bhogpur. Her ministry included visiting the sick, shut-ins, widows, lonely, and single mothers; she led Bible Studies and Sunday School classes for women and for children; for a few years, she taught Latin at Woodstock School; she also served on the boards of several Christian institutions in India. Beth was a prolific correspondent and communicated with a considerable number of people all over the world. She had a love for and a keen interest in everyone the Lord brought before her. Her prayer ministry was powerful. Beth is known for her quiet, but generous spirit. Her meek and dedicated service touched many more lives than we can know.

In 2000, Beth and Gordon moved to Chattanooga, to be near family and to continue ministry in a different capacity. For many years, they returned to India annually where Beth taught VBS at The Childrens Home. On a weekly basis they were involved in Mountainview Presbyterian Church, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, and New City Fellowship. They had loyal support for the work in India from many churches across America and visited them regularly.

Beth entered the Lords rest on the Lords day, October 23, 2022. She followed her husbands homegoing by just over five years.

She is survived by her four children: David Livingstone, Martin Luther, Calvin Knox and Susanna Wesley and their spouses and 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren as well as Geeta Grace and many spiritual children.

Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Forest Hills Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, 316 N. Bragg Ave., Lookout Mountain.

Arrangements are by Wann Funeral & Cremation Center at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423 821-7551. To share memories, photos or condolences please visit www.wannfuneralhome.com.
Former Hamilton County Sheriff chief homicide investigator Larry Sneed, who helped solve the Signal Mountain murders case, has died at 72.

He began his law enforcement career in 1972, serving as an officer with the Soddy Daisy Police Department.

Twice while working with Soddy Daisy, he was shot in the line of duty. In one shooting he suffered minor injuries, but in the second shooting in which he was pursuing a bank robber, he was shot in the head.

After serving the Soddy Daisy Police Department for five years, Detective Sneed joined the Major Crimes Division of the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office. His major responsibilities with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department included investigating crimes, arresting suspects, testifying in legal proceedings, working Internal Affairs investigations, and handling all homicide investigations. He retired as Detective Lt. from the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department in 2000.

His investigative work has been featured on Unsolved Mysteries, City Confidential, and Crimestoppers and published in Detective Cases.

He worked many years to solve the case in which property owner Frank Casteel was finally convicted in the deaths of three men on four-wheelers who had been headed to the Blue Hole.

A graduate of Soddy Daisy High School, Detective Sneed attended Chattanooga State Technological Community College. He then graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 1973. Since then, he has been state certified in law enforcement and investigation training, including specialized training in Advanced Criminal Investigations, Police Middle Management training, and training in the areas of DNA, Major Crime Scene Investigations and Homicide Investigations.

He was a member of the Soddy Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite and the Alhambra Shrine.

He ran for sheriff of Hamilton County in 2002.

Services will be held at Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace on Saturday beginning with

visitation noon-2 p.m. and the funeral service at 2 p.m. in the chapel, officiated by Pastor

Dwight Kilbourne, Ooltewah UMC. Burial will be in Poe Cemetery in Soddy Daisy.
Police were called to Tru by Hilton at 7008 Shallowford Road on a report of a suspicious person. The caller said a man in a Mercedes Benz was driving through the parking lot, just going back and forth. Police arrived and spoke with the man who was walking around near the entrance of the hotel. He said he was waiting for his girlfriend to be released from jail and he didn't know if he should get a hotel room or not. The hotel staff said there were no available rooms. The man said he would go somewhere else to wait. As he was attempting to leave, two women pulled in, yelling at him. The officer asked them to stop yelling and explain what was going on. One woman said she gave the man permission to drive her vehicle earlier in the day, however, she needed her car back. The man said he was unaware that he was no longer allowed to drive her car. After vehicle registration was reviewed and ownership was verified, the woman gave the second woman permission to drive the car. She was a neutral party and she took possession of the vehicle and drove the man to Motel 6.

* * *

Police received a report of two individuals (no clothing or further description) loading the trunk of a white sedan with mulch at the Ace Hardware at 8164 E. Brainerd Road. The sedan then fled the scene westbound on E. Brainerd Road. Both the suspects and the reporting party left before police arrived. Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects vehicle. Police will reach out to Ace Hardware for additional suspect description and potential prosecution for theft.

* * *

A man at Gateway Avenue Apartments at 959 Gateway Ave. told police he and an old-time friend were in a verbal disagreement and he just wanted her to leave. Police spoke with the woman and she also stated they were in a verbal disagreement and agreed to leave. She took her property and left.

* * *

A woman on Citico Avenue told police she got in an argument with her boyfriend due to his alarm waking her up. She then said she found a glass pipe in the couch, and broke it. Police saw glass by the back door but did not see an actual pipe. Police observed that there may be a TPO for her boyfriend, with the woman being the protected party. Police found that the TPO was verified but not served, therefore making it invalid. The boyfriend said he was leaving and was on his way to work. He also said he was going to move out because of tensions between them.

* * *

A man on E. Martin Luther King Boulevard told police someone entered his unlocked 2016 Toyota Camry and stole a wallet, miscellaneous credit and debit cards, a military rucksack, miscellaneous clothing including BDU's, weatherproof gear, and a Gor-Tex jacket.

* * *

A man on Dewayne Road called police and said he received a text from what he thought was his bank (First Horizon) saying that his debit card account had been locked out and they needed his personal info to unlock it. They wanted his account number, PIN, Social Security number, name and date of birth. He gave them that info but he doesnt remember if he spoke to someone or did it by text or electronically somehow. He then checked his bank account and discovered that over $800 had been taken out. He called his bank (First Horizon) and he found the illegal transactions were done and someone possibly withdrew the money by an online transaction or electronically somehow. The account was showing the transactions to be originating in New York and New Jersey.

* * *

A woman on Ivy Street told police sometime overnight someone entered her vehicle and stole a Chromebook laptop, her daughter's school ID, her bank card and two book bag/backpacks.

* * *

A woman on Shallowford Road told police she observed damage to her car consistent with it being "keyed". She described the damage as a long scratch on the passenger side trunk. She doesnt know when this occurred and doesnt have any suspect information.

* * *

A woman on Union Avenue told police that sometime overnight someone entered her vehicle and stole a wallet containing miscellaneous identity cards, credit and debit cards, and $20 in cash.

* * *

A man on W. 38th Street told police he came out that morning to his car, and found damage on the driver side of the vehicle. Police observed the damage and are unsure what the damage could be from. The man wanted to make a report for his insurance.

* * *

A man on E. 11th Street recently traded a bicycle for another bicycle. He wanted police to document the bike in case it was to get stolen so there is a record of him possessing and owning the bicycle. The serial number with picture was documented.

* * *

Police spoke with two women at the police service center in reference to a matter where they had posted a video online. The video was from a local brewery where the first woman said they were bringing awareness to an incident. Since the video has been posted online, both women had received attention on social media. The public has made claims the two are working for militant groups for financial compensation, encouraging violence against trans, lesbian, and gay people. Both women said these things were not true and that they were simply investigative reporters. They said they had not made any statements or calls for violence against anyone or any groups. One woman was concerned that an individual on Facebook had come to a meeting that she hosted at her residence for a grassroot group and recorded the meeting. The woman from Facebook had made it known she would share the address for the upcoming meeting with anyone who reached out to her. She said the woman said she has an upcoming meeting and is concerned people would disrupt. The woman from Facebook is a member of a social justice group in Chattanooga and has made it known online she plans to dig into the social media accounts of the two women. One of the women said the woman from Facebook has found her government last name through social media which she refrains from using for safety on social media. She has seen and been sent online postings and comments on people talking about her and the other woman. The parties are calling for folks to report their social media accounts to try and have them removed or blocked. The parties have stated on one occasion if they saw one of the women in person they would become violent with her. One of the women showed police a copy of a city ordinance where they believed the establishment of the local brewery had violated section 5.54 Prohibited Acts on Premise. The two women wanted to make a report with the Chattanooga Police Department to document the actions online parties were making against them and attempting to defame their character. They have received phone calls from unknown numbers with no voicemail left from the numbers. No action was made known to the police of any in-person action taken against them. No police action was needed at this time.
The article by Dave Flessner (April 2, 2022) about future development of the 88 acres off of Access Road at the former DuPont plant near Hixson Pike is informative but is incomplete as it applies to the above designation as to the safety record of the nylon plant. It provided excellent jobs, good working conditions, and pension benefits for those who were fortunate enough to work there during its 60 years of operation (1947-2015). In the time frame that the plant was in existence, it was a pleasant contrast to the other industrial works that operated in the dirty and smog-filled environment that earned the city of Chattanooga the reputation of being the 9th most heavily industrialized community in America.Anyone who was fortunate enough to get a job at DuPont would work in an air-conditioned, clean plant, with a full-service cafeteria, good wages, on site medical physician and clinic, and a management staff that sincerely cared about its workers who would show their appreciation by making certain that any labor union was unable to organize a bargaining unit on the premises.DuPont was especially proud of its no loss time record which would enable the Chattanooga plant to earn the title of Worlds Safest Plant that also enabled each employee to obtain a safety award each year that ranged from a wide selection of items based on seniority. Very nice presents that included such items as ottomans, etc.were proudly distributed to the three eight-hour shift workers that kept the 5,000 workers producing nylon products 24 hours a day.The shifts allowed long weekends off during the rotation of shifts but did produce sleep issues for employees adjusting from the 8-4, 4-12 or 12-8 routine.In spite of acquiring the Worlds Safest Plant record and recognition throughout the textile industry, as well as the other DuPont companies, accidents did occur that might produce loss time gaps and break the highly acclaimed safety record.Instead of being sent home and being unable to work (and snap the safety record) every effort was made to find a light duty spot if they could hobble into work, thus preserving the no-loss time record.The company friendly on duty physician and staff provided equally friendly medical treatment with a warm and caring personality. He was also ably assisted by an equally congenial personnel staff that supported the medical staff to assure that employees with physical problems were treated.If an employee expressed some breathing discomfort, they were quickly diagnosed as allergy or related diseases such as non-work-related illnesses caused by the dirty environment that existed prior to the stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).Unfortunately, after several years it was determined that deadly asbestos fibers were being distributed throughout the plant through the permanent air conditioning system from the insulation shop.Large blocks of raw asbestos were cut up in the insulation shop with a bandsaw and went throughout the industrial complex. Asbestos was known as the magic mineral which could be used for both heating and cooling purposes.Some employees fortunately were not affected by years of breathing asbestos. However, many were and contacted lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and the deadliest disease of all, mesothelioma.Although DuPont workers were protected from tort liability by the Tennessee Workers Compensation laws, a wide assortment of distributors of asbestos products that were provided to the Chattanooga and other DuPont plants were ultimately held responsible and said actions are still being pursued in administrative matters.The late medical director never changed his support of the company position that there was no asbestos problem at the Access Road facility (he was not a pulmonologist) but the respected personal director, who is also deceased, would later make a candid admission that is beyond the scope of this article.Rumors of nylon residue and other substances being buried on the premises should not be overlooked by the EPA and OSHA.However, numerous former employees and relatives of other affected individuals would break the company Code of Silence and help establish from a medical standpoint that the title of Worlds Safest Plant was a misnomer and inaccurate.The Chattanooga DuPont plant was a good place to work but was also a deadly place when it came to asbestos exposure.Efforts were later properly made to remove any asbestos substances from the plant.The proposed disposition of the remaining 88 acres should and will be monitored by the EPA and OSHA under current state and federal safety regulations.The opportunity to use the property for a constructive development in the future is complicated but the untrue misrepresentations of the past should not be ignored out of respect for those alive and dead who reported to work under the title of the Worlds Safety Plant.* * *
During early voting and on Election Day, Tennessee voters can utilize the Secretary of States convenient and secure toll-free Official Election Hotline and Text to Report Voter Fraud system.





In Tennessee, our Division of Elections and your local county election commission are the sources voters can trust for accurate, up-to-date election information," said Secretary of State Tre Hargett.



Tennessee voters can get answers to early voting and Election Day questions or report voting issues by calling the Division of Elections toll-free Official Election Hotline at 1-877-850-4959. Tennesseans can find contact information for their local county election commission at tnsos.org/elections/election_ commissions.php



Tennesseans can also access accurate, voter-specific early voting and Election Day information, including their polling location, dates, hours, sample ballots and more, on the Secretary of States GoVoteTN.gov website and free GoVoteTN app

"Helping Tennesseans cast their ballot and protecting the integrity of our elections are our highest priorities," said Coordinator of Elections Mark Goins. "When you contact our office or your election commission, you can be confident that you are getting correct information or that your concerns are getting to the right place."



With the Secretary of States new Text to Report Voter Fraud system, Tennesseans have a safe and convenient way to alert the Division of Elections about possible voter fraud. Voters can also use the system to report voting issues or to let the Division of Elections know about their voting experience.

To use the Text to Report Voter Fraud system, text TN to 45995. Users will receive a secure link where they can submit their concerns directly to the Division of Elections. The Division of Elections then works with county election commissions, district attorneys and other parties to take appropriate action.


For the past 10 months I have written about real estate trends and local market reports. I have been encouraged and thanked by many who have shared how much they have enjoyed the content each week. This week I decided I would venture into the topic of our upcoming election. If you are a Tennessee voter like me, you may have just recently heard about a few unexpected topics that voters will be deciding on Nov. 8 and because nothing is more important than being an informed voter, I wanted to draw your attention to these topics.

State and Federal Elections will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8, with Early Voting currently underway until Thursday, Nov. 3. Tennessee voters can keep up to date with the most accurate polling locations and hours information on GoVoteTN.gov. Candidates are making their last push with events and mailers over the next week or so, but there is more on the ballot than candidates that you should be aware of.

There are four proposed Tennessee State Constitutional Amendments that voters will have the opportunity to vote up or down. Amending the State Constitution is a big deal and should not be taken lightly. The most important part of any Amendment is to understand its implications. If you dont understand it, please get informed. If you dont have time to get informed, then you should simply not vote for the Amendment  skip over it. If there is one thing we should approach carefully and cautiously it is making any changes to constitutional or historical doctrine. We should also ask ourselves what are we trying to correct and what are the unforeseen ramifications for the future. Herein are the four Tennessee Constitutional Amendments that I found via an online source, Ballotpedia. There are many others and I encourage you to seek as many as you need until you feel you fully understand the proposed changes.

1. Constitutional Amendment 1  For 75 years The Right to Work has been law in our State Constitution. This amendment would add a new section to article XI of the Tennessee Constitution to make it illegal for any person, corporation, association, or the State of Tennessee or its political subdivisions to deny or attempt to deny employment to any person because of the persons membership in, affiliation with, resignation from, or refusal to join or affiliate with any labor union or employee organization

Not to be confused with the Employment-at-Will Act which outlines that Employers may legally terminate an employee at any time for any reason, or for no reason without incurring legal liability. However, an employer may not discriminate against any employee on the basis of the employee's race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, or disability. Likewise, an employee is free to leave a job at any time for any or no reason with no adverse legal consequences. There are a few exceptions, but they mostly have to do with penalties related to service in jury duty, the military, or workmans compensation claims.



2. Constitutional Amendment 2 would provide for an acting governor when the elected governor is unable to fulfill the duties of the office. The speaker of the Senate, who also serves as the Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee, would serve as acting governor. The acting governor would perform the duties of the office until the governor provides a written, signed declaration saying they can perform the office's powers and duties again. The ballot measure would also allow a majority of the commissioners of administrative departments of the Executive Department to submit a written, signed declaration stating that the governor is unable to perform their powers and duties, thereby allowing for an acting governor until the governor provides a written, signed declaration saying they can perform the office's powers and duties.

Article III  Section 12 of the current State Constitution outlines the succession plan already in place if the Governor dies but does not currently provide a process for the governor to be temporarily relieved of his power and duties.

3. Constitutional Amendment 3 would remove language from the Tennessee Constitution that allows the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as criminal punishments. The ballot measure would replace the language with the statement, "Slavery and involuntary servitude are forever prohibited." The ballot measure would also state that the language does not prohibit an inmate from being forced to work when the inmate has been duly convicted of a crime.

Tennessees Constitution has expressly prohibited slavery since it was first adopted 1870, so the amending of historical language is more about its removal than a change of current practices.

4. Constitutional Amendment 4 would repeal Section 1 of Article IX of the Tennessee Constitution, which says that religious ministers are disqualified from being elected to the state General Assembly. In 1978, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that forbidding religious ministers from public office was unconstitutional. Due to the McDaniel v. Paty, the constitutional language is not enforced.

This change is an opportunity for an Amendment to clean up language that is unenforceable.

As I stated earlier, change is being proposed to us daily. What we must do is to become empowered and informed to ensure that any proposed change(s) does not open or cause future proposals to erode our values and liberty as citizens. I hope this snapshot into the four proposed Amendments to our Tennessee State Constitution benefits you as you prepare to cast your vote.

As realtors, we are bound by our Code of Ethics to serve the housing needs of those around us, and our local elections are crucial to ensure that our communities are strong and vibrant. All throughout the year, be assured that realtors will help not only in the homebuying process, but remain active participants in making where we live a better place. Thats Who We R.
Inspired by the imagery of Memories and Inspiration, Hair Peace is presented by Chattanooga Fashion Expo featuring Creative Director Demetrius Seay. Local African American models and dancers will present an original multi-arts runway show by choreographer Damien Kyle.



With looks created by a team of hair, makeup and nail professionals overseen by Celebrity Stylist Andrea Mona Bowman, the performance will showcase six original couture gowns designed by Romey Roe from New Orleans and jewelry by local designers Crown & Heights and Bronze Visionary.

VIP tickets can be purchased only through CFEs Eventbrite.

Memories & Inspiration: The Kerry and C. Betty Davis Collection of African American Art was organized and toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

In high school in Middle Tennessee, Mr. Seay won the ASCAP Quincy Jones Songwriters Scholarship which launched his showbiz career track.

"As a black student evolving through these opportunities I had to accept that I was letting white supremacy warp my viewpoint," said Mr. Seay. "It shifted all of my paradigms. Over time, I realized how many strong virtuous pillars of ours were torn down so that the only thing to look up to was the Eurocentric standard."

Through research and study of African Spirituality, Mr. Seay had a break-through about the pervasive white standard of beauty.

"My hair was the actual pathway to find my connection," said Mr. Seay. "It was when I had to go natural because I chemically burned my scalp, I was able to see how much freedom I actually gained. My views about the world and how I actually fit in it completely changed."

A limited number of CFE VIP Experience tickets that include tickets to the Hair Peace show are available now on Eventbrite. Learn more and see the full schedule of events at http://www.ChattanoogaFashionExpo.com/cfe-2022
Results of DNA testing confirm that the bear that was trapped and euthanized following last weekend's incident inside a Gatlinburg rental cabin was the bear responsible for the attack. Rabies testing was also conducted but was negative.

TWRA Black Bear Coordinator Dan Gibbs says that DNA on items collected from the scene match hair samples that were removed from the bear that was caught the following day outside the cabin on Red Bud Lane. Trapping efforts have been discontinued and the trap has been removed.

A Gatlinburg Police Department investigation of the scene also concluded that there was no damage to the French doors where the bear entered. The bear did not break through the doorway but was able to push the doors open that were not properly secured.

TWRA advises anyone living or vacationing in bear country to securely lock doors and windows to homes and vehicles and to not leave food visible or accessible to bears.
In an interview with detectives on June 3, Missing Harmony Montgomery's stepmother Kayla Montgomery allegedly informed them that the girl's father was to blame for her demise, according to New Hampshire court documents.

Adam Montgomery, Harmony's drug-addicted father and career criminal, was charged with murder, evidence tampering, and other offenses in connection with the young girl's death, which is thought to have happened on December 7, 2019, but went unreported for more than two years.

Missing Harmony Montgomery's Dad Killed Her

According to the New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, Adam Montgomery allegedly struck the young child in the head on that occasion with a closed fist, recklessly causing the death of Harmony Montgomery, a person under the age of 13, under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, as per Fox News.

At a Monday news conference, Formella revealed that Adam Montgomery, 32, had also been charged with altering physical evidence, abusing a corpse, and tampering with witnesses or informants.

Harmony Montgomery's mother, Crystal Sorey, reported the child missing in November 2021 and claimed to have last seen her on a FaceTime chat in the spring of 2019. Investigators came to the conclusion that Harmony Montgomery, 5, had been murdered in August after she was last seen in October of this year, according to the police.

Between December 7, 2019, and March 4, 2020, Adam either destroyed, hid, or covered up Harmony's body, according to Formella. This prevented law enforcement from completing a thorough investigation.

Court filings filed in the Hillsborough County Superior Court on Monday claim that during a June interview, 32-year-old Kayla Montgomery allegedly informed detectives with the Manchester Police Department that Harmony's father, Adam Montgomery, killed the kid in December 2019.

According to The Union Leader, Kayla Montgomery first told police lies about the firearms Adams is suspected of stealing in a different case and even told her father-in-law that she still loved her ex-husband despite the fact that the two had split up.

Read Also: SNAP Benefits 2023: Whose Family Could Get Maximum Food Stamps Worth $4,250 Next Year?

Missing New Hampshire Girl's Stepmom Admits She Lied

Kayla Montgomery changed her narrative and acknowledged lying to Manchester detectives after being accused of perjury in her grand jury testimony. She disclosed information to the police about Harmony Montgomery, who hasn't been seen since 2019.

The court papers were submitted on the same day that Adam Montgomery was accused of second-degree murder and other offenses. Kayla Montgomery, 32, was detained on Monday and accused with murder, fabricating physical evidence, interfering with witnesses, and abuse of a corpse, as previously reported by CrimeOnline.

The allegations relate to Harmony, 5, who was reported missing and is believed to have died, ABC 7 Chicago reported. A Lawrence, Massachusetts judge granted custody of Harmony Montgomery to Adam Montgomery in 2019.

Due to drug abuse of Harmony's biological mother, she had already lost custody, and Harmony moved out of foster care in Massachusetts to live with Montgomery in New Hampshire. That winter, Harmony vanished from Manchester, New Hampshire, according to detectives.

For two years, no one reported her missing. There was no agreement between the child welfare organizations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to assure Harmony's adequate care, according to a damning report from the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate published this spring.

Since that time, a memorandum of understanding for kids moving across states has been developed, according to the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. To strengthen oversight of DCF, state politicians tried to pass laws, but none of them became law.

The Office of the Child Advocate is still requesting a working group to investigate prioritizing the needs of kids like Harmony. Flanagan believes that all of this needs to be quickly rectified in order to prevent a catastrophe similar to Harmony's, according to CBS News.

Related Article: Waukesha Christmas Parade Murder Suspect, Darrell Brooks, Found Guilty of First-Degree Intentional Homicide

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Hamilton County Schools hosted a Partners in Education Awards Breakfast on Wednesday to honor community partners who have made a significant impact in the district within the last year.

The event was sponsored by UTC's Division of Diversity and Engagement and was held in their Tennessee Room. The event was attended by more than 240 community partners who have provided support for students, families, and teachers. More than 20 community partners were recognized as finalists for the eight total awards presented.

We are grateful to have this opportunity to honor our community partners, said Dr. Justin Robertson, HCS superintendent. We understand that our students well-being is a shared responsibility, and in Hamilton County we are blessed to have partners that share in the work to ensure all students thrive. Without the efforts of our community partners, our students would not be as connected, confident, or whole.

HCS focused their awards around action areas for their district and families. Awards were presented in the categories of Future Ready and Innovation, Out of School Time, Family Resource, Early Learning, Equity in Education, Teacher Champion, Faith-Based, and Partner of the Year.

Partner in Education Award Finalists

Future Ready & Innovation

Dr. Lyn Potter (Chattanooga State Community College)

Tennessee Department of Transportation

Tennessee Valley Robotics (Winner)



Out of School Time

The Bethlehem Center

Boys & Girls Club of Chattanooga (Winner)

YMCA YCAP



Family Resource

Alexis Eaton (Chattanooga Area Food Bank) (Winner)

LifeSpring Community Health

United Way- 211



Early Learning

Chattanooga Head Start

Jennifer Andrews (Chattanooga 2.0)

Signal Centers, Inc. (Winner)



Equity in Education

The Enterprise Center

La Paz Chattanooga (Winner)

Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math & Science



Teacher Champion

Chattanooga Area Schools Federal Credit Union

Chris Brown (UTC) (Winner)

HCS Foundation



Faith-Based

Bayside Baptist Church (Winner)

Child Evangelism Fellowship

Silverdale Baptist Church



Partner of the Year

Girls Inc. (Winner)

LaDarius Price

Urban League of Greater Chattanooga



To learn more about the Partner in Education award categories or the nominees,

click here.
As we approach National First Responders Day on Friday, Tennessee American Water has awarded, through its Firefighting Support Grant program, over $15,000 to 16 fire departments in Hamilton, Marion, and Sequatchie Counties in Tennessee, and Catoosa, Dade, and Walker Counties in Georgia. The grants provide supplemental funding to fire and emergency organizations supporting Tennessee American Waters service areas.

Tennessee American Waters Firefighting Support Grant Program covers a variety of fire department expenses associated with personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, training, and fire prevention education.

We know how important water is in protecting homes and businesses. We also understand resources for our local first responders can run short. We offer the firefighter grant program as a way to support first responders in a meaningful way. said Grant Evitts, Tennessee American Water president. The departments will utilize these funds to help keep our customers and communities safe in emergency situations.

Departments receiving funding in 2022 are:

Hamilton County

Chattanooga Fire Department portable flow meter for training of adequate pressure for firefighting

City of East Ridge Fire Department  personal protective gear, communications equipment, and firefighting tools

City of Red Bank Fire Department  4-way hydrant assist valve to efficiently deliver water to on the fire ground in the least amount of time

Elder Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue  replace firefighting hose

Lookout Mountain TN Police & Fire Department  supply hoses for adequate to deliver water from engine to a structure or wildland fire

Marion County

Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department  handheld thermal imaging cameras to identify hazards that in most cases cannot been identified by the normal scope of vision

Jasper Highlands Volunteer Fire Department nozzles to replace old, worn equipment with new, modern equipment

Sequatchie Volunteer Fire Department  new hose connections and grip kits for tools

Whitwell Volunteer Fire Department external microphones for better communication while operating on an emergency scene as well as gated eye to help distribute water more efficiently while on a fire scene

Mullins Cove Volunteer Fire Department  new radios and repeater to enhance communication between the firefighters, other departments and Marion County Dispatch due to the remote location served by the department

Sequatchie County

Southend Volunteer Fire Department  radios for all volunteer firefighters and CO2 detector to identify source of when responding to home CO2 detector alarm calls.

Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department  3 hose lines to deliver water from engine to a structure or wildland fire.

Catoosa County

Catoosa County Fire Department  smoke alarms for county citizens

Dade County

North Dade Volunteer Fire & Rescue  personal protective equipment (P.P.E.) or multi-gas detectors

Walker County

Rossville Fire Department Pagers to alert firefighters of calls

Walker County Fire Rescue  equipment to allow for quick deployment in areas where access and terrain may cause issues for apparatus access


ABCs Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 continues on, and Johnny DePhillipo and Victoria Fuller appear to still be going strong. The couple met each other early in Paradise, and fans hope to see them make it to the end. Unfortunately, recent rumors suggest Victoria cheated on Johnny after the show  and Johnnys brother and friend may have just solidified the accusations.

[Spoiler alert: Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 spoilers ahead regarding Johnny DePhillipo and Victoria Fuller.]

Bachelor in Paradise spoilers: Do Johnny DePhillipo and Victoria Fuller get engaged?

Victoria Fuller and Johnny DePhillipo in Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

RELATED: Bachelor in Paradise: Who Is Alex Bordyukov? He Connected With Victoria Fuller

Early Bachelor in Paradise spoilers gave fans hope for Johnny DePhillipo and Victoria Fuller. Johnny got quite far in Gabby Windey/Rachel Recchias season of The Bachelorette. While he developed a close relationship with Gabby, he had difficulty seeing himself getting engaged by the end. However, in Paradise, he seems all in with Victoria, who got her start on Peter Webers season of The Bachelor.

Johnny and Victoria reportedly get engaged at the end of Bachelor in Paradise Season 8. But it seems they dont last. According to Reality Steve, the couple broke up in early September 2022. Along with the breakup rumors came reports that Victoria was seen with Greg Grippo in Italy and she cheated on Johnny twice during their engagement.

At the time of the report, Reality Steve couldnt confirm or deny the cheating. But he did confirm that Johnny and Victoria ended their relationship.

Johnny DePhillipos brother and friend support the cheating accusations

Johnny DePhillipo on Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 | Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

Victoria Fuller hasnt publically commented on the Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 rumors. Johnny DePhillipo left hints on Twitter that may point to Victoria cheating. But it seems his brother and friend seen during The Bachelorette hometowns did not hold back.

A screenshot posted to Reddit shows comments made on Instagram regarding the situation. One comment reads, Johnny >>>>>>> trashy VFuller. Johnnys brother liked the comment.

Another comment reads, Shes a cheater! Johnnys friend as seen on his hometown date made the comment.

While Johnnys friend and brother are clearly on his side, there remains a lack of evidence to support the rumor that Victoria cheated. Fans on Reddit pointed out that Victoria may have moved on from Johnny quickly, but this doesnt necessarily mean she cheated.

The only evidence, if you can even call it that, is the fact that Johnnys friend commented on his post saying VF is a cheater, a fan wrote. We dont know if its true, but it definitely raises suspicions.

Reality Steve released new footage showing Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo in Italy

(VIDEO): Victoria Fuller and Greg Grippo near the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/b2MhSFl3i2  RealitySteve (@RealitySteve) October 25, 2022

When these Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 rumors surrounding Victoria Fuller, Johnny DePhillipo, and Greg Grippo were first released, it was difficult to confirm whether Victoria and Greg were actually traveling together. But Reality Steve posted undeniable evidence.

Yesterday, I posted a quick 6-second video sent to me of them near the Trevi Fountain in Rome yesterday morning, Reality Steve wrote. It was the first video of their faces, and if you pause it, you can clearly see its them.  We can sit here and debate why they did this, did they think they wouldnt get caught, etc til the end of time, and only they know the answer to that. What I do know is that drama seems to follow Victoria around whenever shes in the news.

With the Bachelor in Paradise Season 8 reunion taping soon, we imagine Victoria and Johnny will both hit the hot seat.

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.
ABC has a new hit drama television series on its hands  Alaska Daily. The show starring Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, a former prestigious journalist turned disgraced reporter, is only three episodes into its first season and has hooked audiences. But can fans expect to watch Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 4 tonight, Oct. 27?

Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald | ABC/Darko Sikman

Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 4 airs tonight, Oct. 27

Thankfully, viewers wont have to wait long to see where Eileens investigation takes her next because Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 4, The Weekend, premieres tonight, Oct. 27, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Weekend stars Hilary Swank as Eileen Fitzgerald, Jeff Perry as Stanley Cornik, Matt Malloy as Bob Young, Meredith Holzman as Claire Muncy, Grace Dove as Rosalind Roz Friendly, Pablo Castelblanco as Gabriel Martin, Ami Park as Jieun Park, and Craig Frank as Austin Greene.

What happened in episode 3?

Before diving into the upcoming episode tonight, we must discuss Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 3.

The third hour saw Eileen and Roz traveling to Sylvies hometown, Meade, to investigate her murder further. There, they discovered how corrupt the police department truly is. Eileen and Roz met with the police chief, who was the cop in charge of Sylvies case after her body was found. But he was a real piece of work, to say the least.

The reporters found out that Sylvies murder wasnt the only case the police department underinvestigated. Over 70 sexual assault cases involving women were dismissed, and Eileen and Roz used that information to threaten Chief Durkin. He admitted that he was prejudiced against indigenous women, and Eileen got his confession on tape.

Later, Eileen, Roz, and Stanley decided to go forward with a story about the police chiefs discriminatory beliefs. And Roz got Eileen to agree to be open and honest with her.

Back in Anchorage, Austin learned that The Daily Alaskans owner Aaron Pritchard endorsed a corrupt politician. And Stanley appeared to start an investigation into his boss.

You don't want to be the focus of this gaze. pic.twitter.com/191a24QZD0  Alaska Daily (@AlaskaDailyABC) October 25, 2022

RELATED: Alaska Daily: Alaskans React to the Authenticity of the ABC Show

Everything we know about the Alaska Daily episode tonight

The synopsis for Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 4 reads, Its the Alaska State Fair, and The Daily Alaskan team is covering every angle of this beloved annual event, including Gabriel, who is excited for his first assigned story. When his reporting leads him somewhere unexpected, he rises to the occasion with Eileens support. Meanwhile, Eileen and Roz have very different weekends before reuniting to make more progress on their investigation.

In the promo for the upcoming hour, Eileen receives a gift from the Concerned Citizen  a card that reads Go home and a bullet. Elsewhere, Gabriel gets his first assignment: a story revolving around a young woman and her mysterious father.

Alaska Daily Season 1 Episode 4, The Weekend, premieres tonight, Oct. 27, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
Once The Amazing Race returned to filming after the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic struck, producers and racers knew there was a risk that they could contract the virus. And despite taking all of the precautions possible to ensure their safety, one team was eliminated from The Amazing Race 34 in episode 6 because they tested positive for COVID-19. Read on for our recap of Step by Step.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from The Amazing Race 34 Episode 6, Step by Step.]

Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert | Photo: CBS

Which team leaves The Amazing Race 34 in episode 6 because of COVID-19?

At the beginning of The Amazing Race 34 Episode 6, host Phil Keoghan informed viewers that the racers would continue their journey in Amman, Jordan. But unfortunately for one pair, their time in the race had come to an end.

The final seven teams  Emily Bushnell and Molly Sinert, Marcus Craig and Michael Craig, Derek Xiao and Claire Rehfuss, Quinton Peron and Mattie Lynch, Luis Colon and Michelle Burgos, Aubrey Ares and David Hernandez, and Glenda and Lumumba Roberts  gathered at the Amman Citadel. Phil called Abby Garrett and Will Freeman and told them they tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, they were eliminated from The Amazing Race.

Abby said, We have loved every single minute of [The Amazing Race]. It has been everything I dreamed. Will added, Im going to be forever grateful that I had the chance to run this with Abby. We had so much fun together.

After a few tears were shed, Phil got off the phone with Abby and Will and disclosed what came next for the remaining teams. They would run leg five in Amman, but it would be a non-elimination leg. There is still a penalty for coming in last, though. The final team to arrive at the pit stop would start the next leg 45 minutes behind the first group.

With that in mind, the racers took off to find their first clue.

The racers dance, learn the Arabic alphabet, and build a cart

The first clue in The Amazing Race 34 Episode 6 told the contestants to run on foot to Maktabat Khazanet, a bookstore, to find their next clue. And who knew this would be the most challenging task of the day?

Teams ran from local to local, trying to get directions to this place like chickens with their heads cut off. But Michael, Marcus, Molly, and Emily  who thinks she strained her quad muscle during the Megaleg  were the first to arrive at Maktabat Khazanet. And their clues presented them with a Detour  Step by Step or Letter by Letter.

In Step by Step, racers had to perform a Jordanian wedding dance. And in Letter by Letter, pairs had to memorize all 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet and correctly recite them. Michael, Marcus, Molly, and Emily chose Letter by Letter.

Derek, Claire, Aubrey, and David were the next to arrive at the bookstore. While Derek and Claire chose to do Letter by Letter, Aubrey and David, professional dancers, picked Step by Step. A short time later, Glenda, Lumumba, Quinton, Mattie, Luis, and Michelle got to the bookstore. And they all chose Step by Step. Hilariously, Quinton, Mattie, Luis, and Michelle accidentally first ran to the pit stop instead of the dance challenge.

At Letter by Letter, Michael and Marcus discovered a shortcut. They split the task, and each memorized 14 letters. Their strategy paid off since they were the first to complete the Detour. The military brothers received the next clue for the Roadblock  Whos Feeling Broken-Carted?  where they had to build a cart and bring it to the pit stop. Unfortunately, they got lost on their way to the park where the Roadblock took place.

Using their knowledge of the Hebrew alphabet, Emily and Molly were the next ones to recite the Arabic alphabet correctly. However, it wasnt as easy for Derek and Claire. And this time, Derek was slowing them down since he didnt know how to roll his Rs. Eventually, he learned how to, and they finished the task.

At the dancing challenge, Aubrey and David, Luis and Michelle, and Quinton and Mattie quickly completed the Detour and received their next clues. Since Glenda and Lumumba arent professional dancers, they struggled. After their eighth attempt, they succeeded and raced to the Roadblock.

Even experienced dancers are having trouble with this one!? Which teams will stay on beat tomorrow at 10/9c on a brand new #AmazingRace?? pic.twitter.com/S43Tvb4Xtq  The Amazing Race (@AmazingRaceCBS) October 25, 2022

RELATED: The Amazing Race Season 34 Spoilers: Who Is in the Final 3?

1 team suffers a penalty for coming in last place in The Amazing Race 34 Episode 6

Because Michael and Marcus couldnt find the park, Luis and Michelle got to the Roadblock first in The Amazing Race 34 Episode 6. So they went from last to first place in one task. Michael, Marcus, Emily, Molly, Derek, and Claire werent too far behind them, though.

Luis, Michael, Molly, and Claire volunteered to do the Roadblock. On the sidelines, Michelle jokingly asked Derek, You got Claire building again? As fans recall, Claire struggled to build a motorcycle during the Megaleg. But Derek replied, This is redemption season!

David, Aubrey, Quinton, and Mattie were the next to arrive, and David and Quinton performed the Roadblock. Later, Glenda and Lumumba got to the challenge, so all seven teams were in the park. Glenda volunteered to do the Roadblock.

Luis, who told the cameras, Abby and Will, Im thinking about you guys, was the first to finish. But his cart fell apart on the way to the pit stop  The Nymphaeum. David, a helicopter mechanic, completed the task, and he and Aubrey gave Luis and Michelle a run for their money. In the end, Luis and Michelle fixed their cart and arrived at the pit stop in first place, winning Expedia reward points for a trip to Barcelona.

David and Aubrey came in second, and they will be a part of the first group to begin leg six with Luis and Michelle.

Quinton and Claire were the next contestants to complete their cart. Quinton and Mattie checked into the pit stop in third place, and Derek and Claire came in fourth. They will be in the second group in the sixth leg. Not too far behind them, Michael and Molly finished the Roadblock. Michael and Marcus arrived at the pit stop in fifth place, and Emily and Molly came in sixth. They will be in the third group for the next leg.

Sadly, Glenda and Lumumba were the last to arrive with their cart at the pit stop. Glenda felt like she had let Lumumba down, but he reassured her that he was proud of her. However, they will be the last team to begin leg six.

The preview for episode 7 shows the final seven teams traveling to France, where they propel themselves down a building, make juice, and compete in a very Survivor-esque challenge. However, it looks like one team might get into a car accident.

The Amazing Race Season 34 Episode 7 airs Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel.
The Handmaids Tale Showrunner Says Serena Is the Prison Guard Who Doesnt Want to Go to Prison

The Handmaids Tale Season 5 introduced an ironic twist of fate for Serena Joy. After years of running her household and wielding ultimate control over June, she finds herself in a very different position. Serena is essentially a handmaid to the Wheelers, who want to take her baby away. The irony is not lost on her or showrunner Bruce Miller.

[SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers ahead for The Handmaids Tale Season 5 Episode 8, Motherland.]

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy in The Handmaids Tale Season 5 | Sophie Giraud/Hulu

Serena is vulnerable without Fred in The Handmaids Tale Season 5

After Serena and Fred were apprehended in Canada, the series slowly sowed the seeds of Serenas inevitable fate. She was ecstatic to learn of her pregnancy after believing that she was infertile for so long. However, Freds death took away a big portion of Serenas sense of security.

The storyline developed as we developed the story of Serena being pregnant and as she pivots  because shes such a narcissist  from caring only about herself to caring about this baby, showrunner Bruce Miller told The Hollywood Reporter.

And you start to say, OK, what does that mean in terms of Serena? At the end of last season, what we took away was her sense of security. Fred, for all of his worthlessness, took a lot of the heat for her and tried to protect her and made her situation more stable.

Bruce Miller discusses Serenas ironic refusal to become a handmaid

To make matters worse, Serena refused to accept asylum in Canada, essentially putting her at the mercy of her new hosts, the Wheelers. After Serena shoots Ezra and attempts to escape, her only option is to go back to their home, where she can at least breastfeed her baby, Noah.

Before she makes this decision, Serena gets a visit from both Commander Lawrence and June at the detention center. She states her unwillingness to return to the Wheelers home, where she will essentially be a handmaid. The irony is not lost on Lawrence and June, nor is it lost on Serena herself.

The best thing about the story is that Serena is not blind to what is happening, and she still doesnt want it, Miller told The Hollywood Reporter. Ironic to the audience but not to her, she tells herself, I will not be a handmaid.'

And thats a combination of the way she sees herself and knowing what its like to be a handmaid because she was the handmaid overseer. She doesnt want to have to be at the mercy of someone like her, which is a really interesting character thing to explore. Shes the prison guard who doesnt want to go to prison.

Will Serena and Noah escape the Wheelers?

Its hard to say how things will turn out for Serena in the final episodes of The Handmaids Tale Season 5. Serena has very few rights after refusing Canadas offer of asylum. Though June saved Serena and her babys life, she understandably doesnt seem willing to help her any further.

At the detention center, June gives Serena a final piece of advice. Youre gonna go back in there, and you are gonna act like a handmaid. But the entire time, you will be plotting against them and planning your revenge.

Dont miss new episodes of The Handmaids Tale Season 5 Wednesdays on Hulu.

RELATED: The Handmaids Tale Season 5 Explores the Rise of Gilead in Canada
The market for rechargeable batteries is growing rapidly, but the necessary raw materials are limited. Sodium-ion batteries, for example, could offer an alternative. A joint research group from HZB and Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin has investigated new combinations of electrolyte solutions and electrode materials for this purpose.

"In contrast to lithium-ion batteries, which are based on the storage of lithium ions in the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, we are working on the one hand with sodium ions, as they also occur in cheap table salt. On the other hand, we store the sodium ions together with their solvate shell, i.e. solvent molecules from the electrolyte solution that separate the two electrodes. This makes it possible to realise completely new storage reactions," explains Prof. Philipp Adelhelm, who heads the research group "operando battery analysis", which was jointly founded by Humboldt University and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin in 2020.

The storage of ions when accompanied by their solvation shell in a crystal lattice is referred to as co-intercalation. Up to this point, this concept was limited to the negative electrode of the sodium-ion battery. Now the researchers around Adelhelm have succeeded in extending the concept to the positive electrode of the battery. Dr. Guillermo A. Ferrero, first author of the publication, explains: "With titanium disulphide and graphite, we have for the first time combined two materials that absorb and release the same solvent during charging and discharging of the battery. The scientists could observe changes in the material during charging and discharging via operando measurements performed in the X-Ray Core Lab at HZB on the LIMAX 160. This helped them to assign the co-intercalation mechanism inside the battery. They could then use this new knowledge to realise a battery with two electrodes that both rely on reversible co-intercalation of solvent molecules.

We are still in the early stages of understanding the implications of the co-intercalation batteries. But there are a few possible advantages we can envision, Dr. Katherine A. Mazzio, HZB, explains: The process of co-intercalation could improve upon efficiency by enabling better low temperature performance. It could also be utilised to improve upon alternative cell concepts such as using multi-valent ions instead of Li+ or Na+ storage that are particularly sensitive to the solvation shell.
June 1, 2019, election night spectators at the Cherokee Nation Election Commission office in Tahlequah crowd around results posted for the public.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of the implications of using a nuclear weapon in its war against Ukraine.

The top US diplomat said at a Bloomberg event that US officials "communicated directly and very clearly" to Putin about the consequences of Russia Nuclear weapons usage, CNN reported.

Blinken also called Russia's suggestion that Ukraine could use a "dirty bomb" the peak of recklessness and "another fabrication" from a nuclear state.

He claimed that the United States had spoken with Russia "about trying to exploit this fake accusation as a justification for any escalation.

Russia has made accusations that Ukraine was planning to employ a "dirty bomb," yet the launches have nonetheless occurred.The allegations have been generally rejected as false by Western countries, which have cited the existence of "dirty bombs," or explosive devices containing radioactive material.

Kyiv has issued a warning, saying the accusations suggest Moscow may be planning such an attack on its own.

Blinken reaffirmed that the United States follows the Kremlin's nuclear saber-rattling "extremely carefully," but that it hasn't "seen any reason to change our nuclear posture."

Russia Conducts First Nuclear Drill Since Start of Ukraine War

USA Warning comes in light of Russia Nuclear weapons drill presided over by Russian President Vladimir Putin, as tensions with the West rise due to his eight-month-long war in Russia Ukraine war.

The Kremlin announced that a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, located about 500 miles north of Moscow, and a Sineva ballistic missile was launched from the Barents Sea to the distant Kura test site in Kamchatka province in Russia's Far East, BBC reported.

Russia conducted its last nuclear drill just five days before the start of the Russia Ukraine war.

Russian TV broadcasters showed President Vladimir Putin witnessing the launch live. He doubled down on his allegations of a Ukrainian "dirty bomb" plan in statements he delivered through a video link to a gathering of the regional security services, which were also shown on camera.

Read Also:UN Reports International Climate Goals on Route To Fail, Risks Catastrophic Global Warming

Russia's drills took place as its operation in southern and eastern Ukraine stalled.

Following the requirements of the New Start weapons pact, the United States was given advance notice of the Russia Nuclear weapons drill, according to various media reports.

Military sources in Washington noted that the Russians complied with weapons control commitments by informing the US before the latest drill.

US Started Storing Upgraded Nukes in Europe

In other related news, a US diplomatic cable and two persons knowledgeable with the matter informed Politico that the United States has expedited the deployment of a more precise version of its staple nuclear weapon to NATO facilities in Europe.

US officials told NATO allies in a closed-door meeting in Brussels this month that the arrival of the improved B61-12 air-dropped gravity bomb, originally scheduled for next spring, is now planned for this December, per Politico.

The operation involves replacing older bombs with the newer version at various storage facilities in Europe for potential deployment by U.S. and partner bombers and fighter jets.

Pentagon officials have stated for years that the changes to the B61 program are vital to guarantee the arsenal is updated and safe, and those enhancements have been widely mentioned in financial statements and public pronouncements.

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder informed Politico via e-mail that the modernization of US B61 nuclear weapons has been underway for years and preparations to safely and responsibly switch out older bombs for the enhanced B61-12 variants are part of a long-planned and scheduled modernization process.

The official also clarified that the measure was not ramped up and has nothing to do with the Russia Ukraine war.

Related Article: Russia-Ukraine War: Vladimir Putin Takes Drastic Move To Increase Weapon Production

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
ABUJA, Nigeria, October 27, 2022 (Morning Star News)  Suspected Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed two Christians in north-central Nigeria on Friday (Oct. 21) after slaughtering 13 others in two prior attacks, sources said.

The assailants attacked Gidan Ityotyev village, Obi County, at about 11 p.m., killing Moses Saaku and Aondofa Saaku and wounding a Christian woman, all members of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST in Nigeria), said local community leader Ukpuu Abaa in a text message to Morning Star News.

A Christian woman by the name of Kwaghdoo Saaku was injured when the herdsmen cut off one of her breasts, Abaa said. The herdsmen during the invasion of our village shot randomly at our people who were sleeping in their houses.

In Keana Countys predominantly Christian village of Gidan Sule on the night of Oct. 8, the terrorists killed 10 Christians, displacing hundreds of others, said Peter Ahemba, president of the Tiv Development Association. Most of the slain Christians were women, children and the elderly who were unable to escape the onslaught, he said in a text message.

Ten corpses of Christians killed during the attack on Gidan Sule community were recovered on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 9, by survivors in the community, Ahemba said. The attackers, who we strongly believe are herdsmen and terrorists, shot sporadically on Christians who were sleeping in their houses.

Ahemba reportedly said the assailants were likely mobilized also to displace ethnic Tiv Christians ahead of general elections in Nigeria in February.

The slaughter followed a similar assault the previous week in Antsa village, in Kwara District of Keana County, where three Christians were killed, he said.

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.

If you would like to help persecuted Christians, visit http://morningstarnews.org/resources/aid-agencies/ for a list of organizations that can orient you on how to get involved.

If you or your organization would like to help enable Morning Star News to continue raising awareness of persecuted Christians worldwide with original-content reporting, please consider collaborating at https://morningstarnews.org/donate/?

Article originally published by Morning Star News. Used with permission.

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Last October, my three-year-old developed an attachment to our neighbors Halloween decor. On our frequent walks to visit the enormous inflatable cat, I fielded questions about other yard displays. When we passed a house featuring plastic tombstones with corpses climbing out of the ground, I wasnt sure how to answer the question Mom, what does that mean?

Another mother recently shared on Twitter that her neighbors have erected an eight-foot-tall zombie skeleton dangling a terrified child figurine upside down by his foot. She asked, How scary is too scary for Halloween yard decorations?

Its a question I share. But behind it is another important question for Christians to ask: Why are so many people so fascinated with evil and death?

Americans spend 10 billion dollars annually on Halloween. In a culture that usually ignores death and dismisses the supernatural, the holiday stands out as a pressure release. Once a year, we express our repressed need to talk about these things.

As evidenced by a recent New York Times article titled How to Live with a Ghost, our annual obsession with the undead, the paranormal, and the macabre reveals our increasing curiosity about dying and our belief in evil. By reducing these mysteries to yard decor and costumes, we seek to domesticate and control our fears. Even the most garish Halloween rituals can be understood as religiousan attempt to answer the questions that haunt us.

But domesticating darkness is a false solution for believers and unbelievers alike.

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils, wrote C. S. Lewis in his preface to The Screwtape Letters. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.

In the modern West, people tend toward both errors. On the one hand, they claim enlightenment from the superstitious religion of our ancestors. All that stuff about evil and hell was just fearmongering, the reasoning goes. Satan isnt real; hes just a figment of the medieval imagination.

On the other hand, however, there are few true materialists among us. Even after discarding the religious categories of the previous generation, the nones and the dones seek to fulfill an enduring religious hunger. They do so often through the very channel that historic Christianity has deemed off limits: occult activity.

[Catholic] priests are fielding more requests than ever for help with demonic possession, writes Mike Mariani in a cover story for The Atlantic titled American Exorcism.

He quotes Yale historian Carlos Eire: As peoples participation in orthodox Christianity declines, theres always been a surge in interest in the occult and the demonic, leading to a hunger for contact with the supernatural.

This craving for supernatural contact is on full display during Halloween. However, its often paired with an insistence that our fixation on the powers of darkness is just for fun. The result is a strange sort of play therapy: People act out the stories theyre most afraid of in hopes of proving to themselves that theyre sovereign over these narratives.

The problem, of course, is that evil will not be tamed. No amount of exposure therapy or spiritual experience will give us power over darkness and death.

According to the Christian tradition, thats both bad news and good news. The bad news is that our fearshowever subconscious, however seemingly fictionalare real. Death is coming for us all, and its not our friend. We have an enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

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The good news is that were not left to face these fears in our own strength. Historic Christianity respects the power of evil and death without cowering to it. We renounce Satan and his work and put our faith in the One who conquered the grave.

For Christians on Halloween, that means two things.

First, we ought not shame people for their curiosityeven their interestin evil. We can affirm the deeply human instinct to acknowledge spiritual realities, however trivially they are presented. Validating that instinct is not the same as blessing or participating in every cultural practice surrounding Halloween. (Im still not a huge fan of the yard zombies.)

But rather than dismiss it outright, Christians can look for ways that our faith gives language to human intuition about animate darkness.

In an essay titled Something Evil This Way Comes, Fleming Rutledge quotes from Columbia University professor Andrew Delbancos book The Death of Satan: Our culture is now in crisis because evil remains an inescapable experience for all of us [and yet we have lost our] symbolic language for describing it.

Rutledge responds by arguing that Christians do still have that symbolic language for evil, and its the best and most robust account of evil that there is.

Christianity answers the questions that Halloween asks.

Second, Christians can bear witness to the light that will never be overcome by darkness (John 1:5). Our collective intellectual and moral power is not sufficient to control evil or even to stop its handmaiden, death. Try as we might, we remain vulnerable.

We die, and our loved ones die and are lost to us. Christian hope doesnt soften any of this. We diminish the gospel when we rebrand evil as impotent or death as a graduation to heaven. Our hope lies instead in the One who has conquered these things in his own body and who will one day destroy them forever.

Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland during a very dark time in its history. The famous prayer attributed to him, St. Patricks Breastplate, boldly describes evil: devils, incantations, idolatry, witches spells, every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and soul.

But the focus of the prayer is not the description of darkness. Patricks resounding emphasis is on the breastplate that protects him:

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me

Christian hope names the darkness but clings to the light. Our faith is strengthened when we face the gravity of death and embrace our need to be rescued from evil.

In this way, we remain connected to those who have diednot through seances or ghost hunting but through a shared belonging to Christ. In him, even our grief is hopeful, as we anticipate resurrection.

As believers, we learn to pray in the dark. Historically, at least, the church has prayed in the dimness of Easter morning. When the rest of the world is asleep and the sun is just about to crest the horizon, we say together, The light of Christ! Thanks be to God.

Hannah King is a priest and writer in the Anglican Church in North America and the associate pastor at Village Church in Greenville, South Carolina.

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Gordon Fee once told his students on the first day of a New Testament class at Wheaton College that they wouldsomedaycome across a headline saying Gordon Fee Is Dead.

Do not believe it! he said, standing atop a desk. He is singing with his Lord and his king.

Then, instead of handing out the syllabus like a normal professor, he led the class in Charles Wesleys hymn, O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

Fee, a widely influential New Testament teacher who believed that reading the Bible, teaching the Bible, and interpreting the Bible should bring people into an encounter with a living God, described himself as a scholar on fire. He died on Tuesday at the age of 88although, as those who encountered him in the classroom or in his many books know, thats not how he would have described it.

Fee co-wrote How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary colleague Douglas Stuart in the early 1980s. The book is now in its fourth edition and has sold around 1 million copies, becoming for many the standard text on the best way to approach Scripture. Fee also wrote a widely used handbook on biblical interpretation, several well-regarded commentaries on New Testament epistles, and groundbreaking academic research on the place of the Holy Spirit in the life and work of the Apostle Paul.

If you had asked Paul to define what a Christian is, Fee once told CT, he would not have said, A Christian is a person who believes X and Y doctrines about Christ, but A Christian is a person who walks in the Spirit, who knows Christ.

In the same way, Fee argued that studying the form, history, and context of Scripture is worthwhile because it is not mere history. Done correctly, biblical interpretation is a touch of lightning.

We bring our exegesis to fruition when we ourselves sit with unspeakable wonder in the presence of God, he wrote. We must hear the words with our hearts, we must bask in Gods own glory, we must be moved to a sense of overwhelming awe at Gods riches in glory, we must think again on the incredible wonder that these riches are ours in Christ Jesus, and we must then worship the living God by singing praises to His glory.

As news of his death spread on social media, ministers and seminary professors from across the evangelical spectrum shared which of Fees books meant the most to them. Western Theological Seminary New Testament professor Wesley Hill said Gods Empowering Presence was one of the most influential texts he had read. Greg Salazar, a Presbyterian Church in American pastor, wrote that he is using Fees commentary on Philippians for a sermon series. Peter Englert, a minister at a nondenominational church in New York, praised Fees commentary on 1 Corinthians.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Denny Burk, who disagreed sharply with Fee on the issue of women in ministry, said Fee was one of the most influential New Testament scholars who has ever lived.

Fee was not a household name for most evangelical churchgoers, but that may only underscore the significance of his contribution.

None of my church members could tell you who Gordon Fee is, wrote Griffin Gulledge, pastor of Madison Baptist Church in Madison, Georgia. But every one of them has benefitted from his work. I bet thats true in tens of thousands of churches.

Handling Scripture with care

Fee was born to Donald and Gracy Jacobson Fee in Ashland, Oregon, on May 23, 1934.

His father Donald was a skilled carpenter and an expository preacher in the Assemblies of God. Fee grew up noting the difference between his fathers careful sermons, unpacking the meaning of the Bible, and some of the more wild and free-form approaches taken by other Assemblies of God ministers.

Many Pentecostals seemed to think that planning and study would inhibit the Holy Spirit, Fee later said. They would grab one phrase of Scripture and then speak off the top of their heads, trusting God could guide their words if they were flexible and spontaneous. Some would not even choose their sermon text ahead of time, flipping open the Bible and asking God to lead them in the moment.

The results did not always testify to the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fees father, on the other hand, believed God honored preparation and the Scripture, just like a fine piece of wood, should be treated with skill and care.

My father was the first scholar I had ever met, Fee wrote, even though in those early years I didnt recognize it. Still, his passion for truth and determination to dig down deep into the Scriptures  rubbed off on me.

Fee decided to follow his father into ministry. He went to Seattle Pacific College (now University), where he met and married Maudine Lofdhal, who was also the child of an Assemblies of God pastor. After graduating with a masters, Fee took a pastorate in the growing suburbs south of the Seattle-Tacoma airport and, to make ends meet, also started teaching English at Northwest College (now University), the Assemblies of God-affiliated school in Kirkland, Washington.

Fee discovered he loved teaching. He loved it so much, he said, that it made his teeth ache.

He struggled for several years with a conflict between a calling to ministryhe and Maudine discussed becoming missionaries to Japanand a calling to academia. The turning point came, Fee later recalled, when a colleague said, Gordon, just because you want to do it doesnt mean God is against it.

Fee realized that of course this too could be a calling of sorts. He decided to go to the University of Southern California to pursue a doctorate in New Testament studies, focusing on textual criticism. He wrote his dissertation on Papyrus 66, a nearly complete copy of the Gospel of John that is believed to be one of the oldest surviving New Testament manuscripts.

Even as he embarked on an academic career, though, he felt some tension between his identity as an academic and a Pentecostal. He got a teaching position at Wheaton College, and found he was the first Pentecostal that many of his colleagues had ever metand certainly the first who had a doctorate in biblical studies.

Influence on the NIV

His fellow Pentecostals in the Assemblies of God, meanwhile, did not always celebrate his success in academia. He once told an older man about his academic research only to receive a warning about the spiritual dangers of scholarship.

Better a fool on fire, the man said, than a scholar on ice.

As he prayed about it, though, Fee realized that was a false choice. He could be a scholar on fire.

He taught at Wheaton for five years and then took a position at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He was there for more than a decade before moving to Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he taught New Testament until he retired.

Fee wrote academic and popular commentaries on 1 and 2 Corinthians, 1 and 2 Timothy, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Philippians, and Revelation. He wrote in-depth studies on the Apostle Pauls Christology and pneumatology. He edited the influential New International Commentary series and also worked with the Committee on Bible Translation, the team of scholars responsible for the New International Version of the Bible, for more than 30 years. According to Wheaton biblical studies chair Douglas Moo, NIV readers encounter his translation suggestions on almost every page.

Fees most significant contribution, however, may have come out of teaching Sunday school. He found that many adult Christians, some of whom had spent their whole lives in church, didnt know how to read the Bible. They understood chapters and verses, and may have even memorized some passages, but often didnt understand significant differences between different parts of Scripture.

Whats the difference between a short story and a poem? Fee asked. You dont read a poem the way you read a short story, or a short story the way you read a poem. Why anyone would ever want to level that out as if it didnt make any difference. It makes all the difference in the world! God chose to do it this way. This isnt Gordons discovery. God did this.

He and Old Testament professor Douglas Stuart published How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth in 1981. Fee, slightly exaggerating, said his editor at Zondervan sent it to every Bible teacher in North America. I dont know how many hundreds of copies he sent, he said, but within a year the sales went off the charts. The fourth edition was published in 2014.

Gifts of the Spirit

Fees position as a leading Pentecostal Bible scholar at prominent evangelical institutions meant he was occasionally embroiled in theological controversies. In the 1970s and 80s, he was drawn into a Pentecostal argument over whether speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Some accused him of throwing out the founding doctrine of Pentecostalism.

I do not throw out initial evidence, he said. I throw out the language, because it is not biblical, and therefore irrelevant.

Fee also supported women in ministry, based on his reading of the New Testament. He supported the Christians for Biblical Equality and was a contributing editor to the collected volume, Discovering Biblical Equality: Complementarity without Hierarchy, writing commentary on 1 Corinthians 11:2-6 and Galatians 3:26-29.

Fee also wrote about the role of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament church: The New Testament evidence is that the Holy Spirit is gender inclusive, gifting both men and women, and thus potentially setting the whole body free for all the parts to minister and in various ways to give leadership to the others. Thus my issue in the end is not a feminist agendaan advocacy of women in ministry. Rather, it is a Spirit agenda.

That position brought him more criticism than anything else he wrote. Fee said he was blacklisted in some evangelical circles.

Ive put up with a lot of balderdash, he told Charisma magazine. I just cant get over that some people think gender comes before gifting.

Fee mostly tried to avoid controversies, though, focusing on his classes and teaching people to read the Bible so it changed them.

Gordons rigorous classes were even more singularly known for their encounters with his Lord, said Regent New Testament professor Rikk Watts. He taught thousands of students around the world that one could be a scholar on fire.

Fee died at home in New York. He was predeceased by his wife in 2014. He is survived by his children Mark, Cherith Nordling, Brian, and Craig. Memorials are being planned for New York and Vancouver.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the name of Christians for Biblical Equality.

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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.
Top Catholic bishop criticizes Biden's 'single-minded extremism' on abortion

The leader of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' pro-life committee has issued a formal statement criticizing President Joe Biden, a Roman Catholic, for his "single-minded" prioritization of ensuring the legality of abortion ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

Archbishop William Lori of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, who serves as chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement in response to Biden's vow that codifying a right to abortion into federal law will be his top priority if Democrats maintain control of both houses of Congress.

While the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed the Women's Health Protection Act this year, the bill has come up short in the evenly divided U.S. Senate.

"The President is gravely wrong to continue to seek every possible avenue to facilitate abortion instead of using his power to increase support and care to mothers in challenging situations," Lori wrote.

"This single-minded extremism must end, and we implore President Biden to recognize the humanity in preborn children and the genuine life-giving care needed by women in this country."

Noting that members of the USCCB "deal daily with the tragic impacts of abortion," Lori stressed that "abortion is a violent act which ends the life of preborn children and wounds untold numbers of women."

The archbishop expressed a desire to "continue in our work with our government and leaders to protect the right to life of every human being and to ensure that pregnant and parenting mothers are fully supported in the care of their children before and after birth."

The president's push to codify a right to abortion into federal law follows the U.S. Supreme Court's determination this June that the U.S. Constitution does not contain a right to abortion. The Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision reversed the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

At a Democratic National Committee fundraiser last week, Biden declared that "the court got Roe right nearly 50 years ago, and I believe Congress should codify Roe once and for all."

Noting that "we're short a handful of votes" as Congress is currently composed, Biden insisted that "it's so critical to elect more Democratic senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives" in the November elections.

"If we do that, here is the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill that I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade," he added. "And when Congress passes it, I'll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land."

Public opinion polling indicates that Biden and the Democrats face an uphill battle in their quest to maintain complete control of Congress. The RealClearPolitics average of polls asking voters which party they want to control Congress shows Republicans with a 2.1-point lead.

The FiveThirtyEight Deluxe Model, which forecasts election outcomes based on "polls, fundraising, past voting patterns" and the opinions of political experts, gives Republicans an 82% chance of retaking the House. At the same time, the model gives Democrats a 53% chance of keeping the U.S. Senate as of Thursday afternoon.

Lori's statement is not the first time Catholic bishops have expressed concern about the support for legal abortion among politicians who identify themselves as practicing Roman Catholics.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, who preceded Lori as the chairman of the USCCB's Committee on Pro-Life Activities, suggested that Biden should stop referring to himself as a "devout Catholic" because of his pro-abortion advocacy.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, who oversees the area where pro-abortion Catholic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., lives, has repeatedly maintained that "you cannot be a good Catholic" and support abortion.

Biden's support for abortion rights caused a Catholic priest to withhold communion from him while he was on the campaign trail in 2019. Supporters of withholding communion from Biden and other pro-abortion Catholic politicians point to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law when justifying their position.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church proclaims that abortion is "gravely contrary to the moral law." The Church's Code of Canon Law also states that those "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion."

In 2004, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would later become Pope Benedict XVI, wrote a letter to U.S. bishops elaborating on the need to withhold communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians.

"When a person's formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church's teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist," Ratzinger explained.

Whether to give communion to pro-abortion Catholic politicians became a point of contention last year when the USSCB considered passing a resolution urging priests to withhold communion from Catholic politicians who publicly support abortion. The USCCB ultimately stopped short of approving a resolution telling priests to withhold communion from pro-abortion politicians, instead electing draft a document titled "The Meaning of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church."

In response to concerns about the document, the USCCB asserted that "the document being drafted is not meant to be disciplinary in nature, nor is it targeted at any one individual or class of persons."

As summarized by the USCCB, the document will "include a section on the Church's teaching on the responsibility of every Catholic, including bishops, to live in accordance with the truth, goodness and beauty of the Eucharist we celebrate."
Islamic extremists kill 15, cut off woman's breast in attack on predominantly Christian village

ABUJA, Nigeria  Suspected Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed two Christians in north-central Nigeria on Friday after slaughtering 13 others in two prior attacks, sources said.

The assailants attacked Gidan Ityotyev village, Obi County, at about 11 p.m., killing Moses Saaku and Aondofa Saaku and wounding a Christian woman, all members of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST in Nigeria), said local community leader Ukpuu Abaa in a text message to Morning Star News.

A Christian woman by the name of Kwaghdoo Saaku was injured when the herdsmen cut off one of her breasts, Abaa said. The herdsmen during the invasion of our village shot randomly at our people who were sleeping in their houses.

In Keana Countys predominantly Christian village of Gidan Sule on the night of Oct. 8, the terrorists killed 10 Christians, displacing hundreds of others, said Peter Ahemba, president of the Tiv Development Association. Most of the slain Christians were women, children and the elderly who were unable to escape the onslaught, he said in a text message.

Ten corpses of Christians killed during the attack on Gidan Sule community were recovered on the morning of Sunday, Oct. 9, by survivors in the community, Ahemba said. The attackers, who we strongly believe are herdsmen and terrorists, shot sporadically on Christians who were sleeping in their houses.

Ahemba reportedly said the assailants were likely mobilized also to displace ethnic Tiv Christians ahead of general elections in Nigeria in February.

The slaughter followed a similar assault the previous week in Antsa village, in Kwara District of Keana County, where three Christians were killed, he said.

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.
Samuel Alito says Dobbs leak made Supreme Court justices 'targets for assassination'

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said the leaking of the draft decision that overturned Roe v. Wade made members of the high court targets for assassination.

In May, Politico published a leaked copy of a draft of the opinion for Dobbs v. Jackson that overturned the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide.

At an event hosted by the conservative think-tank The Heritage Foundation on Tuesday, Alito, who authored the leaked draft opinion, was asked how the leak impacted the Supreme Court.

It was a grave betrayal of trust, Alito said, and an unprecedented shock that certainly changed the atmosphere at the court for the remainder of last term.

The leak also made those of us who were thought to be in the majority in support of overruling Roe and [Planned Parenthood v. Casey] targets for assassination, because it gave people a rational reason to think they could prevent that from happening by killing one of us, said Alito.

Alito cited an incident from early June, before the official release of the Dobbs decision, in which a man was arrested near the home of Justice Brett Kavanaugh after making threats against him over his likely support for overturning Roe.

Alito then mentioned that, now that they are in a new term, everyone from the justices to their staff want things to get back to normal the way they were before all this last term.

Get back to normal to the greatest degree possible, and thats what we hope will happen, he said. I think everybody is working on that.

During my 16 years on the court, the justices have always gotten along very well on a personal level. I think the public, when they read our opinions, probably misses that.

Alito also touched on other topics, such as objecting to the claim that the Supreme Court has transformed into a nakedly partisan institution that is illegitimate.

Everybody in this country is free to disagree with our decisions, theres no question about that. Everybody is free to criticize our reasoning and to do it in strong terms, said Alito.

But to say that the court is exhibiting a lack of integrity is something quite different. That goes to character. It goes not to agreement or disagreement with the result or the reasoning, it goes to character.

Alito added that someone crosses an important line when they say the court is acting in a way that is illegitimate, believing that such claims should not be made lightly.

Thats not just ordinary criticism, thats something very different, he continued.

On the issue of adding justices to the court, often derisively called court-packing, Alito noted that the U.S. Constitution does not state a specific size for the Supreme Court and felt that Congress could expand the court.

Nevertheless, Alito asked the rhetorical question that if Congress did add seats to the court, what would that do to the public perception of our independence and our legitimacy?

Alito said that whatever number it should be, it should be an odd number to prevent ties, not be too big or too small, and preferred the current number of nine justices.

In addition to the threats made against Supreme Court justices, the news of the leaked draft also sparked several protests, and numerous acts of vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy resource centers.

May demonstrations have been held outside the homes of Supreme Court justices who are expected to rule in favor of the Mississippi law, with the members of the high court receiving increased security.

A temporary security fence was also constructed in May around the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., in preparation for any violence should the high court decide to overturn Roe.
Syriac monastery in Turkey reopens to believers after 100 years

A Syriac monastery in southern Turkey has reopened its doors to believers about 100 years after it was seized by the Turkish army and transformed into a military hospital before becoming a prison and warehouse.

Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan, head of the Syriac Catholic Church, consecrated the Monastery of St. Ephrem in Mardin city, which was once the heartland of Syriac Christianity, earlier this month and celebrated its first divine liturgy in 100 years, Vatican News reported.

Patriarch Younan anointed the altar, walls and doors with oil of chrism, and then led the ceremony attended by Syriac Catholic prelates from across the Middle East, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Turkey Archbishop Marek Solczynski.

Younan encouraged the congregation to stay focused on Jesus and trust Him, pointing to an inscription above the large cross behind the altar that says, "Look at Him and trust in Him."

The Turkish army seized the monastery during World War I. The building was briefly returned to the Church after the war ended. But a few years later, the monastery was turned into a military hospital. It eventually became a prison and was later converted into a warehouse.

Many Syriac Christians still speak Neo-Aramaic, a language that descended from the language spoken by Jesus. Christians have been living in southern Turkey since the first centuries of Christianity.

Estimates suggest that during World War I, Turkish and government forces killed hundreds of thousands. Today, Syriac Christians comprise a tiny fraction of Turkey's population.

Turkey has a long record of converting ancient religious buildings sacred to its indigenous religious minorities.

In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan converted Istanbul's landmark, Hagia Sophia, into a mosque. He also ordered another ancient Orthodox church, the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora  also known as the Kariye Museum  to be turned into a mosque.

Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, built in 537 A.D. as a Greek Orthodox church, was the seat of Eastern Christianity for 900 years before the city was seized in the 15th century by Sultan Mehmed II, who converted it into an Ottoman mosque. In 1934, modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, banned worship in Hagia Sophia and designated it as a museum.

Originally built in the early fourth century by Constantine the Great, the Holy Saviour church was converted into the Kariye Mosque about 50 years after the 1453 conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks. In 1945, the building was designated a museum by the Turkish government. The museum was opened for public display in 1958 after American art historians helped restore the original church's mosaics.
West Virginia to allow birth certificate gender marker changes without court order

West Virginia has agreed to amend its policies to allow trans-identified individuals to more easily change the gender marker on their birth certificates as part of a legal settlement with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU announced Wednesday that ongoing litigation in West Virginia has ended. The ACLU was one of several advocacy organizations representing trans-identified plaintiffs seeking to amend West Virginia state law preventing them from changing their gender marker to match their gender identity without a court order.

The ACLU was joined by ACLU's West Virginia chapter and the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic in the lawsuit.

As explained in the settlement agreement, West Virginia's Department of Health and Human Resources' Vital Registration Office required trans-identified individuals seeking gender marker changes to "submit a court order directing the gender marker change." Additionally, the state amended birth certificates "utilizing a strike-through method" that left "amended information on the face of the amended birth certificate and legible."

The policy remained in place until 2020 when the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that the state courts did not have the authority to amend the gender markers for trans-identified people. The ruling resulted in trans-identified individuals losing the ability to have their gender markers modified, which meant that they had to continue to carry a birth certificate containing the name that matches their biological sex.

The following year, the plaintiffs filed a lawsuit contending that their inability to obtain a modified birth certificate reflecting their chosen gender identity, as well as the "strike-through method" struck down by the state court, violated their rights under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment and the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

"In May 2022, VRO implemented new policies for applicants seeking amendments on West Virginia birth certificates, including transgender applicants, that in part removed the court order requirement for transgender applicants seeking gender marker amendments, and changed the amendment method, ceasing use of the strike-through amendment method as described and challenged in the Lawsuit," the settlement stated.

Under the terms of the settlement, the state agreed not to revert to its previous method for addressing requests to modify birth certificates.

Additionally, the state will send the plaintiffs amended birth certificates and award them $50,400 to compensate their attorneys' fees and the expenses they incurred when they unsuccessfully tried to have their birth certificates amended.

"This is an incredible policy change not only for our clients but all transgender people with West Virginia birth certificates who require amendments," said Taylor Brown, lead counsel and staff attorney with the ACLU LGBTQ & HIV Project. "West Virginia's new policies restore a greater deal of autonomy and self-determination for transgender people in West Virginia. In today's climate, it is more important than ever for the government to leave personal decisions of these [kids] where they belong, between an individual and a provider."

ACLU Staff Attorney Malita Picasso said the development is a "tremendous victory for the people of West Virginia, who will now able to update this crucial identity document without having to pursue an unnecessary, long and expensive process to obtain a court order." She expressed relief that "transgender West Virginians will not be forced to disclose their transgender status every time they present a birth certificate with a gender marker that does not match their gender identity."

According to the LGBT Movement Advancement Project, West Virginia is now one of 27 states that issue new birth certificates for trans-identified people without requiring them to undergo gender reassignment surgery or obtain a court order. West Virginia is not among the 16 states with a third "X" option on their birth certificates for people who do not identify as either gender.

Twelve states require proof of sex change surgery to change a birth certificate, while three states do not allow people to modify the gender marker on their birth certificate. The requirements for changing the gender marker on a birth certificate are unclear in the remaining eight states.

Despite the West Virginia settlement, ACLU of West Virginia Executive Director Joseph Cohen indicated that "our work is not yet finished."

"Nonbinary West Virginians are still unable to obtain a birth certificate that accurately reflects their gender," he said. "Since April of this year, U.S. citizens have been able to select an X gender marker on passport applications. We will continue to work with our partners to update West Virginia's policies so that all West Virginians can have the accurate identity documents they need."
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.
Iran's Supreme Leader swore to respond after the slaughter of Shi'ite pilgrims, an attack claimed by Islamic State that threatens to escalate the conflict amid anti-government protests nationwide.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement aired on state television in which he vowed that the attackers "will surely be punished" and urged Iranians to be united.

Khamenei added, according to Reuters, that all Iranians "have a duty " to confront the adversary and its treasonous or "ignorant agents" one day following the brutal incident at a religious site.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Shi'ite Muslim shrine in Iran on Wednesday, in which 15 people were killed, further inflaming tensions in a country still reeling from a string of demonstrations.

A gunman responsible for the attack on the Shirazian shrine of Shah Cheragh has been reportedly apprehended, according to Iranian authorities. Iranian state media reportedly accused "takfiri terrorists," a term for radical Sunni Muslim extremists like Islamic State.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for past assaults in Iran, such as the 2017 dual bombings of the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which left at least 88 people dead.

Deadly Attack Coincides With 40th Day of Widespread Protests

On Wednesday, Iranian security forces fought with increasingly strident protestors commemorating the 40th day of the death in detention of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman. Amini's death sparked widespread outrage throughout the country.

CNN reports that Amini was arrested by "morality police" and held in a "re-education center" on September 16 for allegedly violating the country's stringent clothing code.

Read Also: UN Reports International Climate Goals on Route To Fail, Risks Catastrophic Global Warming

According to state media, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi blamed Iran's demonstrations for sparking the Shiraz massacre, and President Ebrahim Raisi pledged Tehran would retaliate.

Before the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, Raisi remarked that "Iran's enemies, after failing to create a split in the nation's united ranks, take revenge through violence and terror" based on experience, as per Reuters.

An earlier report by Nour news, a news organization linked with the Iranian government, stated that the culprits were not Iranian nationals.

UN Condemns Shiraz Attack

Fars News Agency reported a woman and two children died in Shiraz.

One survivor told Al Jazeera that they were "preparing for prayers" when they heard the gunshots. "We tried to escape from the other side and then I realized I was bleeding," he said.

According to Fouad Izadi, an associate professor in the Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran, the incident was an attempt to attack worshippers, mosques, and shrines which is a "signature of ISIS."

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said attacks on religious places are "especially heinous."

The Shiraz shrine was a popular venue for devotees making their way around the world. Two of Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh Shia Imam, and his son Ali al-Rida, the eighth Imam, are buried in the mausoleum.

The most recent assault at the shrine occurred in April 2008 when a bomb hidden in a mosque killed 14, according to BBC.

Related Article: Tehran Slams UK-Based Anti-Iran Media as Terrorists Due to Civil Unrest Caused by Its Interference

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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."
China's communist regime is detaining Christians in mobile brainwashing camps: report

Christians in at least one province of China are being held in secretive, mobile brainwashing camps to pressure them to renounce their faith which appears to be part of a planned clampdown on illegal social organizations, including house churches, according to reports.

A Christian in the southwestern province of Sichuan, who was held captive for 10 months in some basement somewhere in a windowless camp run by the ruling Chinese Communist Party, shared his experience.

It was a mobile facility that could just set up in some basement somewhere, the Christian, indemnified with a pseudonym, Li Yuese, told Radio Free Asia.

He continued, It was staffed by people from several different government departments. It had its own (CCP) political and legal affairs committee working group, and they mainly target Christians who are members of house churches.

China has more than 60 million Christians, at least half of whom worship in unregistered or so-called illegal underground churches.

Such facilities appear to be part of the CCP's United Front Work Department and the state security police.

Those caught taking part in church-related activities and are released on bail by courts end up in such camps for what the CCP describes as transformation, Li said.

Lis church was raided by communist authorities in 2018. He was subsequently beaten, verbally abused and mentally tortured, which led him to start self-harming, including throwing himself against a wall.

They use really underhand methods, Li explained. They threaten, insult and intimidate you. These were United Front officials, men, women, sometimes unidentified, usually in plain clothes. The police turn a blind eye to this. You have to accept the statement they prepare for you. If you refuse, you will be seen as having a bad attitude and they will keep you in detention and keep on beating you.

He added, They were using brainwashing methods on those of us who were on bail from the detention center.

Lis experience was similar to that of inmates of camps in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, RFA noted.

Another Christian who was not named for security reasons was quoted as saying that such facilities are being used for brainwashing across China, for Protestants, the underground Catholic Church and the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement.

The U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern has noted that Chinas Ministry of Civil Affairs plans to launch a campaign to toughen its clampdown on illegal social organizations, including those that hold gatherings in the name of religion.

The Department of Civil Affairs in Sichuan published a list of Illegal Social Organizations on March 25, which included the names of Buddhist and Christian groups, including the heavily persecuted house church Early Rain Covenant Church.

Gina Goh, ICCs regional manager for Southeast Asia, previously said that at a time when religion in China has to submit itself to the control of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping, its no longer a surprise that a house church is seen as an enemy of the state and clamped down upon.

Chinas blindness to its violation of religious freedom needs to be continuously exposed so that Beijing knows it cannot get away with performing these evil acts, Goh said.

According to a November 2020 report from the Pew Research Center, restrictions on religion in China have risen to a record level. Researchers found that China continues to have the highest score on the Government Restrictions Index out of all 198 countries and territories in the study.
Family of female ISIS leader say she sexually tortured her own children Prosecutors seek maximum 20-year prison sentence

Family members of a 42-year-old American woman who pleaded guilty to operating an all-female military group for ISIS in Syria said in court filings she had sexually, psychologically and emotionally abused her own children. Prosecutors are seeking the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Allison Fluke-Ekren, a Kansas native, brainwashed young girls and trained them to kill, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Raj Parekh wrote in a sentencing memo, The Associated Pressreported.

She carved a path of terror, plunging her own children into unfathomable depths of cruelty by physically, psychologically, emotionally, and sexually abusing them, Parekh added.

In June, when Fluke-Ekren pleaded guilty, prosecutors said she was part of terrorism-related activities in Syria, Libya and Iraq between 2011 and 2019, and wanted to carry out an attack on U.S. soil, according to NPR.

Fluke-Ekren allegedly told a witness she considered any attack that did not kill a large number of individuals to be a waste of resources, according to an FBI affidavit, Fox News previously reported.

One of Fluke-Ekrens daughters claimed her mother would beat my body, leaving my muscles cramping in agony, said another report by Fox News, which quoted the daughter as saying, (She) would then go to her room and masturbate over the fact that she beat me. I could hear her from the other room.

In a statement to the court, her son said his mother molested him, too, and that she is a monster (who) enjoys torturing children for sexual pleasure.

I know her and I know she wants to lie her way out of this, to get a slap on the wrist and try to use a sob story to once again get power and access to victims.

Fluke-Ekren became the leader of an ISIS battalion that was called Khatiba Nusaybah, and trained women in using AK-47s and explosive devices, the U.S. Justice Department said earlier.

Over 100 women and young girls, including as young as 10 or 11 years old, received military training from Fluke-Ekren in Syria on behalf of ISIS, prosecutors said in a statement at the time.

Fluke-Ekrens late second husband was part of the terrorist group Ansar al-Sharia and claimed he helped steal U.S. documents and an electronic device following the attack on the U.S. Special Mission and CIA Annex in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012, NPR said, adding that the two then shared the information with the head of Ansar al-Sharia, which was responsible for the attack.
Hobby Lobby sues Oxford professor for $7M over stolen Bible fragments

Hobby Lobby Stores has filed a $7 million lawsuit in the United States against a former professor from the U.K.s Oxford University who was arrested last year after being accused of stealing ancient Bible fragments from the university and selling them to the U.S. arts and crafts retail chain.

In the lawsuit filed in New York, Hobby Lobby says Dirk Obbink, a 64-year-old professor of papyrology at Oxford, sold fragments of papyrus and ancient objects worth $7,095,100 in seven private sales between 2010 and 2013, The Sunday Times reported.

The Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., which was founded in 2017 by the Green family, evangelical Christians who own Hobby Lobby, temporarily displayed the fragments, which belonged to the Oxyrhynchus collection in the Sackler Library.

The Oxyrhynchus Papyri is a group of manuscripts that were discovered during the late 19th and early 20th centuries at a spot where ancient inhabitants of the city of Oxyrhynchus dumped their garbage of over 1,000 years. The collection includes more than 500,000 fragments of literary and documentary texts  written in Greek, ancient Egyptian, Coptic, Latin, Arabic, Hebrew and other languages  dating from the third century BC to the seventh century.

Some of the fragments were stolen by Obbink from the Egyptian Exploration Society, the custodian of the largest collection of ancient papyri in the world, Hobby Lobby claims in the lawsuit.

The EES, a British nonprofit excavation organization that works in Egypt and Sudan which owns the collection, issued a statement in October 2019 accusing Obbink of selling fragments of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri, after which the university suspended the professor.

The EES said 11 of the 13 missing fragments were sold without authorization to Hobby Lobby and they ended up in a collection belonging to the Museum of the Bible. The stolen fragments included extracts from Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Romans and I Corinthians, according to The Times.

Obbink was arrested last March and was later released under investigation.

Obbink had denied the accusations.

The allegations made against me that I have stolen, removed or sold items owned by the Egypt Exploration Society collection at the University of Oxford are entirely false, he told The Guardian earlier. I would never betray the trust of my colleagues and the values which I have sought to protect and uphold throughout my academic career in the way that has been alleged. I am aware that there are documents being used against me which I believe have been fabricated in a malicious attempt to harm my reputation and career.

Obbink is listed in court papers as owning a property beside Christ Church, the Times reported, adding that the colleges accounts for last year show that he owes $614,573 (434,000) under a joint-equity ownership agreement.

The MOTB returned the 13 fragments to the EES.

The Board of Trustees of the MOTB has accepted the EES claim to ownership of the thirteen pieces identified to date, and is arranging to return them to the EES. The EES is grateful to the MOTB for its co-operation, and has agreed that the research on these texts by scholars under the auspices of the MOTB will receive appropriate recognition when the texts are published in the Oxyrhynchus Papyri series, the EES said in its statement at the time.
Mark Driscoll says Mars Hill leaders plotted to accuse him of adultery before resignation

Years after resigning as leader of the now defunct Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington, because God told him a trap has been set for him, Mark Driscoll, who now serves as founding senior pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, claimed on Sunday that Mars Hill leaders had planned to accuse him of adultery.

Driscoll who resigned from Mars Hill in 2014, disclosed in a video from his teaching series on Nehemiah published on Saturday that during an 18-month break from public life after his resignation that he was told by multiple people that there was a nuclear option in place to accuse him of adultery in order to take over his pulpit.

During that time (18 months) I met with some of my critics and enemies one-on-one or small groups. People that had been friends, people who claimed to be Christians, some who were pastors some who still are pastors. I asked them, I said, God told me a trap was set. So I asked them. I said, Do you know what that might me? And these people that we had known said, Yeah, the nuclear option was we were going to accuse you of adultery, Driscoll said.

In a tearful video interview with former Hillsong Church founder Brian Houston in July 2015, Driscoll first revealed that God told him and his wife to resign from Mars Hill because a trap had been set for him.

Sutton Turner, who formerly served as chief elder at Mars Hill, told The Roys Report that Driscolls allegations against the leaders is totally false and is part of his ongoing campaign to throw dirt on the former investigating elders of Mars Hill.

Some did not want him to be restored to full-time ministry, Turner said. But all of them wanted him to repent and reconcile with people he sinned against (which he never did) and be restored as a Christian in the church.

Turner also told the outlet that even though Driscoll said it was God who told him there was a trap set for him, Driscoll had told him the night before he resigned that Larry Osborne, a former member of Mars Hills Board of Overseers, warned him about the trap.

Driscoll said during the teaching session at Trinity Church, however, that multiple people told me that to my face on separate occasions and days.

This was at Panera. Multiple meetings at Panera. I was like, You guys discussed accusing me of adultery? You know thats not true. Ive been faithful to my wife my whole life. I adore my wife, I love my wife. She loves me. Weve been faithful to each other, he said.

Weve been open our whole marriage about any struggles weve had because we know that every married couple has some hardship to go through. And we have never been dishonest. But we have never done that. Weve never done anything remotely like that. They said, Yeah, thats why we kept it as the nuclear option, Driscoll continued.

I said, To get me what? They said, To get you out of the pulpit, he recalled.

They said, 'Because we knew that if we accuse you of adultery, and enough of us signed the open letter, that ultimately, there would be such a media firestorm, that you would have to exit ministry. Exit preaching Gods word for probably a year while a full investigation was done,' he said. 'During that time, we could take over and lead and be in charge, and then we figured one of two things would happen: either you would come back but we would be in charge, or you would never come back and you would be done forever.'

In January, Turner published a narrative on his blog revealing how Driscolls Oct. 14, 2014, resignation from Mars Hill was a surprise to the megachurchs leadership.

Secretly, Mark Driscoll had coordinated with Mark Demoss and Religious New Service (Driscolls statement) to drive the narrative that would put Driscoll in a positive light so he could plant a church in Phoenix and sell books in the future. The night before Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill he discussed his decision and received advice from both Robert Morris and Larry Osbourne, Turner wrote.

Driscoll warned his church that they should not trust everything they read in the media. He recalled how throughout his career as a minister he had to deal with multiple attacks on his reputation through the media and how difficult it is to legally protect himself as a public figure.

He recalled how about 20 to 25 years ago a woman left his church because she read an untruthful report on the internet that he was beating his wife. He also said he had been canceled by whole countries because of misrepresentations in the media.

Ive been canceled by whole countries. Ill never forget, there was a week when I was dealing with, I met with a whole bunch of women, who were assault and abuse victims from boyfriends and husbands and fathers. And I was in a book of the Bible where it tells men to protect women and children, so I got very intense and I rebuked the men who abuse women, he said.

And I was getting ready to do a tour of another country this was many years ago and my tour got canceled. ... A national news outlet took me very intense rebuking men, and they flipped the whole story. They said he hates women and heres a clip of him yelling at them, Driscoll said. That news story went national and it got me canceled. Ive never been back to that country. 

He then promised his congregants that he would always tell them the truth.

If Im gonna be your pastor and I love you. I promise you this, Ill always tell you the truth. And I want you to love and honor and respect Christian leaders and pastors, he said. Don't assume the worst, assume the best and dont believe everything you hear. And dont contribute to the gossip.
Matt Chandler hints at return to pulpit soon after taking leave over inappropriate messages

Two months after taking a leave of absence from his role as teaching pastor at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, due to inappropriate messaging with a woman who is not his wife, Matt Chandler hinted that he will likely return to the pulpit "soon" and is "eager to return."

In his first public post on Instagram since Aug. 16, Chandler wrote that he has become "more aware than ever of that earnest and angsty prayer of David's in Psalm 27:4" which says: "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

"He has been my sustaining grace and the strength of this season. I am eager to return to @tvcfm soon and am grateful for a family of faith that have loved me and @laurenchandler so deeply in this season," he wrote.

For the past few months, Chandler said his mantra has been, "Jesus I don't want to do this without you." He also indicated that he has been spending time in nature and practicing Jiu Jitsu.

"It has rolled through my mind and heart on repeat," he said of the mantra. "Whether it has been going on a walk, heading out to our river cabin or even walking into Jiu Jitsu."

While they did not immediately respond to calls from The Christian Post Thursday, The Village Church elders confirmed in a recent statement to The Roys Report that they're "encouraged" by Chandler's posture since his leave of absence and are planning for his return to preaching.

"[T]he elders are working with Matt to discuss a plan for his return to preaching, and they are encouraged by his posture. As of today, we have no further comment on those details," a spokesperson detailed.

In an Aug. 28 announcement, Chandler said he accepted a decision by his elder board to immediately take a "leave of absence" due to his use of inappropriate language in Instagram messages to a woman who is not his wife. He assured his congregation that he planned on being their lead pastor "for the next 20 years."

According to the elders, Chandler revealed the inappropriate messaging between himself and the woman after being confronted about them several months ago by the woman's friend in the church's foyer.

The megachurch pastor said he wasn't aware at the time that he had "done anything wrong" but alerted Josh Patterson and elder Chairman Jasien Swords and "submitted to their leadership in addressing the situation." He also informed his wife.

"I didn't think I had done anything wrong in that," Chandler said as he faced his congregation. "My wife knew that. Her [the woman's] husband knew that. And yet there were a couple of things that she said that were disorienting to me."

The Village Church elders commissioned an independent law firm, identified by The New York Times as Castaneda and Heidelman, to conduct a review of Chandler's messaging history across social media platforms, cell phone and email.

They concluded that Chandler "violated our internal social media use policies, and more importantly that, while the overarching pattern of his life has been 'above reproach,' he failed to meet the 1 Timothy standard for elders of being 'above reproach' in this instance."

The Village Church did not publicly release the report from Castaneda and Heidelman. When asked for a copy of the report, the church told The Christian Post that it would offer "no further comment" and reiterated its Aug. 28 public statement.

According to the elders, the messages between Chandler and the woman were "not romantic or sexual in nature" and "did not rise to the level of disqualification." However, the elders asserted that "the frequency and familiarity of the messages crossed a line."

Chandler described the chats as "coarse and foolish joking that's unbefitting of someone in my position."

The elders and Chandler agreed that his Instagram conduct "was a sign of unhealth in his life and that the best course of action would be for him to take a leave of absence from teaching and preaching at The Village Church."

"The elders have decided, and I think they are right, that my inability to see what I was in probably ... [revealed] some unhealth in me," Chandler said. "And I don't know if that's tied to the pace I run or the difficulty of the last six, seven years, but I agree with them."

The church also denied The New York Times' request to view the report "because we want to honor the request of the woman Matt was messaging with not to be in the spotlight."

The church declined to say whether Chandler was still being paid during his leave of absence, noting that "Matt will spend time during his leave from the pulpit focusing on his development with the elders and guided by outside counselors. He will also continue to fulfill limited administrative leadership duties."
Xi's reelection will have 'catastrophic consequences,' religious freedom advocates warn

Religious freedom advocates are warning of catastrophic consequences after the Chinese Communist Party reelected Xi Jinping as the leader of the Peoples Republic of China.

Xi Jinping secured a third term as president of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party last week, less than five years after the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party abolished the two-term limit for presidents that had been in place for more than three decades. Xis reelection comes as China faces international scrutiny over its treatment of religious minorities and political dissidents as well as its role in causing the coronavirus pandemic that has caused millions of deaths worldwide.

While China has operated as a one-party state completely controlled by the Chinese Communist Party for decades, the nation had expressed openness to implementing market reforms in the latter part of the 20th century, which prompted its entry into the World Trade Organization.

The Chinese Communist Partys endorsement of Xis continued reign has caused concern among religious freedom advocates in the United States, who are convinced that it signifies a step back to the dark days of the Cultural Revolution led by Chairman Mao Zedong and a signal of increased persecution against religious and ethnic minorities.

Salih Hudayar is the Founder and President of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement, which describes itself as a nonviolent international political and human rights organization that seeks to restore the independence of East Turkistan to safeguard the freedoms and rights of East Turkistans people. East Turkistan refers to the area recognized by the international community and the Chinese government as the province of Xinjiang.

Hudayar also serves as the elected prime minister of the East Turkistan Government in Exile, which views Xinjiang as an occupied territory. The East Turkistan National Awakening Movement and the East Turkistan Government in Exile have held multiple protests in front of the U.S. State Departments headquarters in Washington, D.C., calling for the U.S. government to take stronger action to protect the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group that constitutes a sizable portion of East Turkistans population.

Uyghurs have found themselves subject to concentration camps critics maintain are designed to strip ethnic minorities of their culture, language and religion, and indoctrinate them into mainstream Chinese culture. As reports of abuse at the camps make international headlines, Uyghurs have also become the victims of forced labor that either directly or indirectly benefits American companies. Hudayar elaborated on his concerns with Xis continuation as the Chinese leader in an interview with The Christian Post.

For the Uyghurs and the people of East Turkistan, this is going to mean that the genocide and the suffering of our people are going to intensify, he said. Hudayar told CP that part of Xis desired legacy involves Chinese National Rejuvenation, which he maintained was going to have catastrophic consequences for non-Chinese people like Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongols, and others.

Hudayar said that while the Chinese government has has always been persecuting the Uyghurs since they [first] occupied East Turkistan back in late October 1949, the treatment they have received has worsened considerably under Xi: It wasnt until Xi Jinping came to power and came up with this achieving the Chinese dream and achieving Chinese National Rejuvenation that Uyghurs began to actually face the wholesale genocide.

Prior to that, it was about assimilating us, trying to assimilate us to become Chinese. But after 2014, it was either we become Chinese or we are sent into the camps. We are indoctrinated, were tortured, were sterilized, were raped and we either become Chinese or we die, he asserted.

Gordon Chang serves as a distinguished senior fellow at the Gatestone Institute, a non-partisan, nonprofit international policy council and think-tank focused on informing the public about military and diplomatic threats. Chang, who has developed an expertise on China, offered a similar analysis of Xis reelection in a statement to The Christian Post.

Xi Jinping is a genocidal monster. He is the most ambitious aggressor in history. The Communist Party has just given him almost unlimited power. He will not stop until he is stopped. Yes, we should worry. Xi Jinping believes that the Communist Party should have absolute control over society and that he should have absolute control over the Party. He will not stop until he achieves both goals, he warned.

According to Chang, Xi Jinping is not only implementing the fastest military buildup since World War II, he is also mobilizing Chinese civilians for battle. We do not know what he, in fact, intends to do, but he is marching China toward conflict. And a very dark future."

Bob Fu is the president and founder of China Aid, an international, Christian nonprofit human rights organization that inspires, informs and invites people to transformative action on behalf of persecuted people of all faiths in China. In a statement to The Christian Post, Fu declared that Xis precedent-breaking third term makes his nickname Chairman Mao Jr. a reality.

China officially enters the Maoist 2.0 dictatorial era from decades of authoritarianism, he added. Xis ruthless ruling style of Great Struggle with his ambitious global dominance replace the CCPs post-Mao agenda of economic reform and Openness since the 1980s. The international community will have to prepare for the continuing acceleration of the worsening record on human rights abuses and religious persecution under Xis new Cultural Revolution.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reacted to Xis reelection on Twitter by declaring that Xi Jinping seizing total power is no surprise  hes a total communist dictator. Pompeo identified China as the real threat that the military needs to focus on.

Xi Jinping seizing total power is no surprisehe's a brutal communist dictator.



This is the real threat. And this is what our military needs to focus on.  Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) October 24, 2022

Concerns about Chinas treatment of religious minorities also extend to Christians, who have seen their places of worship raided or demolished if they refuse to comply with the Chinese governments demands.

Over the weekend, the Vatican announced that it had renewed an agreement giving the Chinese government a say in appointing bishops of Roman Catholic dioceses in China. The agreement comes months after the arrest of Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen for participating in a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong.

This agreement between the Roman Catholic Church and the Chinese Communist Party sparked criticism from Sam Brownback, the former U.S. ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom. Noting that the Vatican and Beijing have reached an agreement on the appointment of bishops that critics view as acquiescence to Chinas growing control of religion, Brownback characterized the development as a great disappointment.

The Vatican and Beijing have renewed an agreement on the appointment of bishops that critics view as acquiescence to Chinas growing control of religion



This continues to be a great disappointment to me. #CCPChinahttps://t.co/aVSbnCmw1h  Sam Brownback (@SamuelBrownback) October 23, 2022

The #CCP is at war with all Faiths, seeking to eradicate all religion. This renewed agreement happens while Cardinal Zen is on trial on trumped up charges. Confront the CCP, dont accommodate them!

Xi will remain in power until at least October 2027, when the 21st National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party is next scheduled to meet.
Pro-life group demands gov't investigate covert network trafficking abortion pills into the US

A pro-life group is calling on Congress and drug enforcement agencies to take action amid reports that organizations in Mexico are funneling abortion pills into states that have banned their use.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, the activist division of the pro-life group Students for Life of America, has demanded in a letter to members of Congress that they address the issue following a "shocking new report" about a "drug cartel at the Mexican border" that is shipping abortion-inducing pills into the U.S.

The group wants Congress to instruct the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to investigate drug crimes involving abortion pills.

The SFLA president called on Congress to require the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a new impact study on chemical abortions, given the widespread and sometimes illegal use of the pills.

As The Washington Post reported last week, several covert networks are running a pipeline through Mexico to deliver abortion pills to women in states that have banned abortion after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June.

The abortion pill suppliers are funded anonymously, reportedly securing the drug for $1.50 a dose from international pharmacies or free via donations. An unnamed group in the U.S. then receives the pills through the mail and sends them to pregnant women seeking to abort their babies.

Las Libres, one of the many Mexican groups involved in the illegal scheme, told The Washington Post that its organization alone is on track to help terminate approximately 20,000 pregnancies this year in the United States.

That amounts to about 20 percent of all legal abortions that took place in 2019 in the 13 states where abortion is now almost entirely banned, The Washington Post reported.

Sandra Cardona Alanis, the leader and co-founder of Red Necesito Abortar, another Mexico-based group supplying abortion pills, said that once her group gets the pills to the U.S., they can distribute them across the whole country.

As deadly as the two-pill regiment that the FDA allows can be, the chemical abortion pills sold at the border can carry an even greater risk as some will sell only one pill, saving them money but raising the risks, Hawkins wrote in SFLAs letter to lawmakers.

One need only look at other drug cartel efforts to understand the tremendous risk to women who may not be taking the drugs they think they ordered and may not survive the experience, not to mention the impact on the preborn.

Hawkins stressed that the safety risks and the strain chemical abortions place on the U.S. healthcare system warrant a congressional response. She also cited the need for an investigation into possible environmental concerns due to the improper disposal of aborted human remains, linking to a column she wrote for The Washington Times in 2020.

As Carole Novielli reported for the pro-life group Live Action in May, women who undergo chemical abortions typically take the pills at home and dispose of their babies remains themselves. The pro-life researcher noted that this likely saves abortion facilities money they would have spent hiring a waste disposal company to remove the remains.

According to a 2015 study titled "Incidence of Emergency Room Department Visits and Complications After Abortion, chemical abortions have a higher complication rate than surgical ones.

The study analyzed data from 2009 and 2010 to assess the abortion complication rate for California women who had abortions through Medicaid and women who were treated at the emergency room instead of the clinic.

Researchers found that the complication rate was 5.2% for women who took the abortion pill compared to 1.3% for women who had a first-trimester surgical abortion. The major complication rate for the abortion pill was 0.31% in contrast to 0.16% for first-trimester surgical abortions.
Biden admin., US allies sanction Chinese leaders over Uyghur 'genocide'

A group of ethnic minorities is praising the Biden administration and United States allies for placing sanctions on top Chinese officials in response to human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken said amounts to "genocide."

The State Department announced the new sanctions Monday, four days after Blinken met with top Chinese government officials in Anchorage, Alaska.

"Today, the United States, in unity with our partners, is imposing sanctions against Wang Junzheng, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and Chen Mingguo, Director of the Xinjiang Public Safety Bureau," Blinken said in a statement. "We are doing so in response to serious human rights abuse against members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang."

Blinken said that the U.S. issued the sanctions in solidarity with its allies in United Kingdom, Canada and the European Union.

In January, during the final days of the Trump administration, the State Department declared persecution of Muslim minorities in western Xinjiang province, including mass internment, forced labor, and forced sterilization, as "genocide" and "crimes against humanity."

Wang is being designated for having acted or purported to act on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the XPCC, Blinkens announcement reads. Chen is being designated for being a foreign person who is a leader or an official of the XPSB, which is engaged in, or whose members have engaged in, serious human rights abuse related to Chen's tenure."

Blinken called on China to bring an end to the repression of Uyghurs and other minority groups by releasing all those arbitrarily held in internment camps and detention facilities.

Its been estimated that as many as 1 million to 3 million ethnic minorities have been detained in internment camps in western China.

Amid growing international condemnation, the PRC continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, Blinken assured, indicating the Biden administrations agreement with the genocide declaration issued by the Trump administration.

Members of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom praised the U.S. and western governments' decision to sanction China.

"Yesterday's announcement of coordinated sanctions by the United States and like-minded partners sends an unmistakably clear message to the Chinese Communist Party that the international community will not tolerate its repressive, genocidal policies in the Uyghur region," said USCRIF Commissioner and Uyghur-American Nury Turkel.

"The atrocities that the CCP has committed, and continues to commit, are an affront to humanity as well as to universal values and international law to which China has agreed. USCIRF calls on the Chinese government to end its horrific abuse against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims once and for all.

USCIRF Commissioner Gary Bauer, a longtime social conservative activist, remarked that imposing sanctions against CCP officials both expose their crimes and provide much-needed encouragement to the Uyghurs and other freedom-loving people who are suffering under the CCP's brutality."

In response to the sanctions, China issued sanctions of their own. CNN reports that China sanctioned 10 EU leaders and four entities for maliciously spreading lies and disinformation.

Uyghurs affiliated with the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement believe that the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is actually East Turkistan and that China has been illegally occupying the area for over 70 years.

Leaders of the Washington, D.C.-based East Turkistan Government in Exile reacted favorably to the news that the U.S. and other western governments had imposed sanctions on China while arguing that more can be done to address the nation's rampant human rights abuses.

"While we are thankful for these actions, sanctions alone are not enough," said East Turkistan President Gulam Osman Yaghma. "We urge Canada, the EU, UK, and the US to boycott the Beijing 2022 Olympics, grant priority refugee status for Uyghurs and others fleeing the genocide, and bring the plight of East Turkistan to the agenda of the UN Security Council."

Yaghma's requests echo demands made by Uyghur protesters as Blinken met with Chinese officials last week.

Uyghurs appearing at the protest in front of the State Department headquarters in Washington last week detailed some of the "despicable acts" China has committed against them.

"For decades, China has been forcibly aborting Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in [an] attempt to prevent the growth of our population and eradicate the future of our nation," explained Amannissa Mukhlis, the women and family director of the East Turkistan National Awakening Movement.

"In recent years, the Chinese government has forcibly sterilized hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other Turkic women across East Turkistan, resulting in a decline of our population as women can no longer give birth," she added. "The Chinese government is forcing tens of thousands of young Uyghur and other Turkic women who have not been sterilized to marry Chinese in a bid to assimilate and eradicate us."

Mukhlis also spoke about the "systemic state-sponsored sexual abuse and rape" that Uyghur women regularly experience at concentration camps, as well as the fact that Uyghur children are "sent to state-run orphanages and boarding schools to be assimilated and raised as loyal Chinese citizens. In those camps, she said, people are "brainwashed to denounce their own identity, to denounce their own existence as Uyghurs and embrace Chinese identity, culture and language."
Why the US needs to stop eroding its freedom

Over the past decade, the U.S. Department of State has spent millions of dollars expanding digital technology to promote free expression, democratic elections, and reduce the threat of online Islamic radicalization. I served as a subject matter expert on several of those programs, providing quality control and oversight on whether the programs were achieving their intended outcomes. It was a dangerous field, with trips often delayed by terror threats and other unforeseen travel hazards.

On one of the projects expanding the use of internet technology in Iran, based in Lebanon, my colleague was imprisoned and charged with espionage. Contractors, aid workers, and diplomats alike accepted the risks because we believed in the inherent value of free speech to defeat tyranny and promote democratic values.

Remember all the color revolutions that swept throughout the Middle East and North Africa? There were large-scale demonstrations on the streets, with demands for free elections or regime change and calls for removing authoritarian leaders. Many of those would not be possible without the technical support of the U.S. and other Western countries. They gave everyday citizens the ability and know-how to propagate information online that mobilized thousands of supporters. The dissemination of ideas about government corruption, abuse of political dissidents, and the innate human desire for freedom ultimately prevailed in many of those nations. Their triumphs were a victory for democratic ideals, regardless of ethnicity or religion.

However, the standing of the U.S. and its allies as the beacons of freedom is eroding. The obsession with combatting "disinformation" and the lack of respect for differing political opinions is having a dangerous ripple effect on other regimes seeking to consolidate power. Taking a cue from our rhetoric, countries like Tunisia, Turkey, and Russia, have sought to criminalize "disinformation" to silence journalists and their political opponents.

In Turkey, their new disinformation bill censors online information content and criminalizes journalism deemed false or misleading. It empowers the government to further subdue and control public debate in the lead-up to Turkey's general elections in 2023. It is considered one of the heaviest censorship mechanisms in the history of the Republic.

In Tunisia, the law imposes harsh criminal penalties for the intentional distribution of information that appears to "promote, publish, transmit or prepare false news, statements, rumors or documents that are artificial "

Less surprising is the recent Russia amendment to its 2019 disinformation law that imposes up to 15 years in prison for anyone publishing information about the Russian armed forces that is deemed "false."

Even the European Union, which advised against criminalizing disinformation as recently as 2017, has now proposed a new framework that imposes sanctions and freezes the assets of those who "spread information intended to manipulate or mislead."

In the West, the whole idea of banning bad ideas or even outlandish conspiracy theories has never been grounds for criminal prosecution. However, since the 2016 presidential campaign and the Russian spread of propaganda to influence our elections, this idea of criminalizing speech has gained momentum. The United States has long been the master of information wars in our struggles to defeat communism. We fought destructive ideas with better ones focused on freedom and the right to self-determination. U.S. national security also includes intelligence operations that prevent foreign government attempts to undermine our way of life. But that's a far cry from arresting fellow Americans because their ideas against vaccinations are too dangerous or their political views are controversial.

Public statements by White House officials and interviews in mainstream media hammer home this Administration's focus on stopping any speech it doesn't agree with. Reporters now describe our constitutional protection of speech as a "challenge" to overcome rather than the cherished freedom we promote worldwide.

Thankfully, the First Amendment remains a bulwark against overt attempts to criminalize unpopular speech here in the U.S. However, several whistleblowers claim the FBI "has been manipulating case-file management to falsely inflate the threat of domestic terrorism and using unconstitutional excessive force against political dissenters." This is an alarming accusation and severely undermines public confidence in how law enforcement is being used to silence political opposition.

Though on its face, one can find justification for preventing the widespread use of false information, the obvious question becomes who defines what is false. The FBI accusations illustrate how opinions can be weaponized and have serious consequences. Some experts suggest solutions such as reinvigorating civics education in schools and through public information campaigns to restore trust in our voting process, the judiciary, and law enforcement. Such programs would have the dual benefit of educating our populace and increasing transparency in our systems of government.

Ultimately, as Americans, we cannot stop leading by example. Our laws and policies should demonstrate that we trust the free marketplace of ideas. Otherwise, the U.S. government's paranoia and overreach to stop the free flow of information will be why other nations oppress, harass, and curtail the freedoms we fought so hard to promote.
2022 Sees Record Border Crossings, Biden Supports Trans Community, PCUSA Adds Nonbinary Category

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Fiscal year 2022 saw a record number of migrant crossings and deaths as illegal immigration remains a significant issue for voters heading into the midterm elections.



An LGBT activist documenting his gender transition on TikTok went to the White House to question President Joe Biden.



Saddleback Church identifies the wife of its new lead pastor as a "teaching pastor," even though the SBC restricts the office of pastor to men in its official statement of beliefs.



Some of Christian and gospel musics most gifted performers were honored at the 53rd annual GMA Dove Awards show where history was made this year.



The Presbyterian Church (USA) said it will be adding a nonbinary/genderqueer category to its annual reports on denominational statistics pertaining to membership and the number of congregations.
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.
State Dept.'s $20K grant to group hosting drag shows in Ecuador raises 'significant questions'

The U.S. State Department is defending its $20,600 grant to an Ecuadorian cultural center that, among other things, will fund a dozen drag shows in Ecuador. A Republican member of Congress has penned a letter demanding answers about the funding.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday asking for more details about the grant to the Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano (CEN) for a project that started on Sept. 30 and will run until Aug. 31, 2023.

As the grant's recipient, the cultural center will host three workshops and 12 drag performances. It will also produce a two-minute documentary to promote "diversity and inclusion."

"This award raises significant questions about the departments grantmaking decisions and the Biden administrations overall views of U.S. foreign policy objectives in the region," McCaul wrote. "It is difficult to imagine how the department determined that funding 'drag theater performances' would be a worthwhile use of taxpayer dollars or consistent in any way with the program objectives outlined above."

In a statement to The Christian Post, the State Department said that it supports a wide range of strategic programs in Ecuador that "incorporate concepts from diversity, inclusion, and representation to equity and accessibility."

The department also noted that U.S. public diplomacy programs supported 18 educational and entrepreneurship capacity-building grants, almost totaling $900,000 in the fiscal years 2021 and 2022. The programs were intended to reach traditionally marginalized communities in Ecuador, including LGBT people, women and at-risk youth.

The grant awarded to the CEN "uses the arts to raise awareness about diversity and inclusion," the department claims.

The program aims to promote "tolerance" and create opportunities for LGBT people to express themselves "freely and safely."

As part of the program, a local theatre company will collaborate with artists and facilitators in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca to create customized plays and produce a documentary.

"LGBTQI+ people across the globe deserve to live in societies free from targeted violence and discrimination," the department's statement to CP stresses.

"The program will advance key U.S. values of diversity and the inclusion of LGBTQI+ communities as well as promote the acceptance of communities that are disproportionately affected by violence."

Grace Melton, a senior associate in the Richard and Helen DeVos Center for Life, Religion, and Family at the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, believes the State Department is engaging in "ideological colonialism."

"This administration has made no secret of its intention to promote radical gender ideology and progressive social values at home and abroad," Melton wrote in a statement to CP.

"But many countries around the world  particularly among those on the receiving end of American foreign assistance  find those values offensive," she stated. "It's hard to see how funding drag performances furthers legitimate American foreign policy priorities or improves the lives of Ecuadorians."

According to Outright International, an organization that advocates for LGBT inclusivity worldwide, Ecuador legalized same-sex marriage in 2019 but continues to forbid same-sex adoption.

Equaldex, a site that tracks laws surrounding LGBT issues worldwide, reports that Ecuador has allowed people to change their name and gender on legal documents since 2016. The country does not legally recognize non-binary identities, people who do not identify as either gender.

In June 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the State Department would allow people to identify as the opposite gender on their passports, even if this does not align with their biological sex or gender identity on other official documents.

The Biden administration had previously announced last October that citizens who identify as nonbinary or intersex could use an "X" gender marker instead of "M" for male or "F" for female. The administration announced this past April that airport security would allow passengers to select their gender identity at security checks without supporting medical documentation.

"The gender selected does not need to match the gender on supporting documentation, such as birth certificate, passport, or state-issued ID," the Transportation Security Administration said in a statement.

"Changing a gender association in TSA PreCheck will have no effect on a member's expedited screening when arriving at the TSA checkpoint."
'I dont see myself as wealthy': Hobby Lobby founder David Green talks stewardship, trusting God (Part 1)

In faith or business, David Greene has always known Who's truly the boss.

The 80-year-old founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, the worlds largest privately owned arts and crafts retailer, is as unassuming as he is successful: in just a few short decades, hes seen his company grow from a $600 startup to an $8 billion behemoth, drawing not from get-rich-quick self-help books, but from the pages of Scripture.

His new book, Leadership Not by the Book: 12 Unconventional Principles to Drive Incredible Results, co-written with longtime collaborator Bill High, shares a dozen core ideas that drive Green and the divinely inspired mission of Hobby Lobby, which gives away over half of its annual profit to fund Gospel initiatives all over the world.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Greene said for all his success, he sees himself not as some high-powered CEO, but as a merchant who God has given  that gift to be a merchant.

Growing up as the son of a pastor in Altus, Oklahoma, Green said there was a point early in his life when he wondered why God hadnt called him into ministry like his five siblings, who are all either pastors or pastors wives.

But in time, the Lord just worked with me, that I know for a fact that I have been gifted to be anointed even in what God has gifted me to do, he said. I enjoy being a merchant and I know thats where God would have me be.

It might be tempting to see the success of Hobby Lobby as preordained, but Green isnt shy about sharing some early headwinds he and his wife, Barbara, faced in the chains early days.

He recalled the mid-1980s in Oklahoma  during an oil bust that Green described as a very, very difficult time  where he nearly lost the business.

I was not where God wanted me in terms of my pride, he said.

In Leadership by the Book, Green recalled how, during that time, he overextended Hobby Lobby when he bought inventory on credit assuming the money would keep rolling in.

When the economy finally tanked, Green said he had nowhere to go  but God.

I found myself literally, physically under my desk, day in and day out, just asking God for forgiveness and for direction to go into the future, he said. I know that God used that time just to bring us to a point where we know that anything we do thats successful is because of Him.

Ultimately, Hobby Lobbys fortunes turned around, but Green said God used that hardship to teach him an unforgettable lesson.

God brought us through that, and Im thankful for that and I always want to remember that we cant without the Lord, and so, I want to walk with him, he said.

It wouldnt be the last time, Green said, that God answered prayer.

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when, not unlike most other businesses throughout the world, Hobby Lobby closed its doors, Green said he wondered how the company could cover its roughly $40 million in monthly rent.

Where are we gonna get it, cause theres nothing coming in, Green recalled, adding he and Barbara would get on their knees and ask God to help us to survive.

And once again, God was faithful: Green said 2021 actually proved to be the biggest year ever for Hobby Lobby, with gains that Green said would typically take three years.

God brought us through that, and so we thank Him for that, he said. But we also believe prayer had a lot to do with that.

Decades later, Hobby Lobby has grown to nearly 1,000 stores with over 43,000 employees operating in 47 states.

And stewardship is still top of mind for Green, who, through various foundations he supports, has helped the distribution of over 1.5 billion copies of Gospel literature in over 100 countries across Africa and Asia.

We want to be as successful as we can to do as much as we can in terms of the giving that we are able to do, so thats very very important to us, he said. We really dont apologize for making a profit thats done with integrity. But at what point is there not enough profit? At what point is there not enough ministry?

Theres an awful lot that we can do that just doesn't matter a hundred years from now. So we think in those terms, and we want to make sure what we're doing is going to matter for eternity.

That includes projects like the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., a $500 million, 430,000-square-foot museum dedicated to the history and impact of the Scriptures that has also been the source of some controversy for the Green family.

Green acknowledged he and his son, Steve Green, the chairman of the board of Museum of the Bible, made some mistakes in acquiring ancient manuscripts and approximately 45,000 other antiquities.

We didnt know in advance we were going to have a project of that size, we were just buying antiquities, he said.

Despite such setbacks, Green has never been shy about prioritizing stewardship both at Hobby Lobby and in the Green family.

With an estimated net worth of about $13 billion, Green said it really is about having a biblical perspective on money.

Even sometimes Christian businessmen will say God owns it, but then if you follow what theyre doing with it, it doesnt look that way, because maybe theyve got a fourth home, a fifth home, and just on and on and on, buying more and more stuff, he said.

I think it means that when we decide that its not ours, were not wealthy. So I dont see myself as wealthy because I have nothing that belongs to me  I see it that this is what God has given us to steward.

For Green, one of the key moments for him came when he asked himself, What are we going to do with this wealth and how are we going to not mess our kids up?

In order to help guide him through that process, Green asked other Christians to come alongside and help his family with practical things like saving on taxes and passing his wealth down to his children.

With 17 great-grandchildren and two more on the way, Green didnt ever want them to have to sort through what it means to live with generational wealth.

To be honest with you, I was making my great-grandkids millionaires before they were born, so I really didn't want to affect my family with wealth. Because in wealth, its a curse.

Wealth is a curse if its yours, but if its Gods, it can be of great benefit.

Last week, Green announced in a Fox News piece that 100% of Hobby Lobbys voting stock has been moved to a trust, bucking advice from attorneys and accountants to pass down ownership to his children and grandchildren.

It didnt seem fair to me that I might change or even ruin the future of grandchildren who had not even been born yet, wrote Green.
Pro-life activists ordered to pay $2.4M to Planned Parenthood for undercover investigation

An appeals court panel has ruled that David Daleiden and other pro-life activists must pay a $2.4 million judgment to Planned Parenthood Federation of America for carrying out an undercover investigation and secretly filming abortion providers discussing the harvesting of babies' body parts.

At issue in the litigation was the pro-life activists use of fake IDs and their recording of conversations that were meant to be confidential, which a lower court concluded violated various laws, including conspiracy, breach of contracts, conspiracy, fraud, fraudulent and unlawful business practices, trespass, RICO, and various federal and state wiretapping laws.

In a unanimous decision released last Friday, a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit mostly upheld a lower court ruling against the pro-life activists, who also describe themselves as citizen journalists.

Circuit Judge Ronald M. Gould authored the panel opinion, rejecting the arguments of the pro-life activists that their actions were protected by the First Amendment and journalistic practices.

Invoking journalism and the First Amendment does not shield individuals from liability for violations of laws applicable to all members of society. None of the laws Appellants violated was aimed specifically at journalists or those holding a particular viewpoint, wrote Gould.

The two categories of compensatory damages permitted by the district court, infiltration damages and security damages, were awarded by the jury to reimburse Planned Parenthood for losses caused by Appellants violations of generally applicable laws.

Gould also argued that the panel decision does not impose a new burden on journalists or undercover investigations using lawful means.

From the beginning of their scheme, Appellants engaged in illegal conductincluding forging signatures, creating and procuring fake drivers licenses, and breaching contractsthat the jury found so objectionable as to award Planned Parenthood punitive damages, he continued.

In affirming Planned Parenthoods compensatory damages from Appellants First Amendment challenge, we simply reaffirm the established principle that the pursuit of journalism does not give a license to break laws of general applicability.

Gould did reverse the lower court decision finding the pro-life activists guilty of violating the Federal Wiretap Act, noting that it requires that the criminal or tortious purpose be independent of and separate from the purpose of the recording.

Planned Parenthood runs afoul of this requirement by reusing the same criminal purposefurthering the civil RICO scheme to destroy Planned Parenthoodas both the purpose of the civil RICO claim and the independent criminal or tortious purpose, said Gould.

Planned Parenthoods argument is circular: according to Planned Parenthood, the civil RICO conspiracy is furthered by the recordings, and the recordings themselves further the ongoing civil RICO conspiracy. Such reasoning is not permitted by [the Act].

By overturning the federal wiretap part of the verdict, around $100,000 of the over $2.4 million in compensatory damages will be removed.

Daleidens group, the Center for Medical Progress, posted a statement last week on their website denouncing the panel's opinion.

A Ninth Circuit panel decided with this ruling today that protecting Planned Parenthoods barbaric practices of partial-birth abortion and trafficking of aborted fetuses for government-sponsored experiments is more important than protecting the First Amendment rights of journalists and of the public, CMP stated.

In order to do this, the panel had to contradict its own precedents about undercover reporting on any other topic, disregard other Circuits en banc findings of wrongdoing by Planned Parenthood, and bless the increasing weaponization of the justice system against pro-life speech.

CMP went on to vow that its citizen journalists will appeal the panel decision, adding that the tide of history is turning against the panels obsolete pro-abortion exceptionalism.

In 2015, Daleiden and CMP garnered national headlines when they released a series of undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials violating various laws, namely discussing the sale of aborted baby body parts, including organs, tissue and limbs.

For its part, Planned Parenthood and pro-choice activists have denied the CMPs claims, arguing that the videos were selectively edited and unlawfully recorded. However, CMP released the full-length, unedited videos when this story broke in 2015, which were covered by The Christian Post and other news outlets.
Casting your anxiety on God really works

You have probably noticed how inclined we are as human beings to obsess over our problems. If you are open to the idea of God helping you address your anxiety, the following information could literally change your life.

Whether you realize it or not, no one understands your worries and anxiety better than your Creator. And so you might as well turn to the One who knows exactly what makes you tick. Thankfully, the Lord is more than able to work out the kinks that wreak havoc within our heart and mind.

The Apostle Peter penned this golden nugget of truth: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). It may sound simplistic, and even too good to be true, but I assure you that this God-ordained method of dealing with anxiety really works!

The Greek word for cast in 1 Peter 5:7 is used one other time in the New Testament. Luke describes how the disciples cast cloaks on a young male donkey in preparation for the Messiah's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Luke 19:35) Imagine casting your garments of worry and anxiety upon Jesus. Have you learned how to let go and let God? It is easier said than done, but the Lord is eager to assist His people because He wants our hearts to experience rest in Him.

A transfer takes place whenever a believer in Jesus casts his or her anxiety on the Lord. You give Him whatever is pressing upon your heart and mind, and the anxiety begins to be replaced with God's supernatural peace. It is not magic. It is actually far better than magic, as you gladly welcome Jesus into the equation.

You may be tempted to think: The Lord is not interested in hearing about the minor issues that cause me stress. My friend, that simply is not true. Jesus does indeed help His followers with anything we bring to Him  big or small. Sometimes what we perceive to be a little issue may actually be causing the most stress in our life.

Regardless of the size of the problem, God's peace and power are available to His children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But it is essential that we bring Him our concerns and actually cast them upon Him. Otherwise, we continue to carry burdens that Christ would have gladly carried for us.

Compare the casting of anxiety on God to a fisherman casting his line into the water dozens of times over the course of a day. Have you cast any of your worries on the Lord today? What about during the past week? If you truly desire relief from your anxiety, dont just sit in the boat. Start casting all your anxiety on Jesus, and continue casting until Gods peace fills your heart.

You see, it is one thing for us to realize that God can help us when we worry, but it is another thing to persistently cast our anxiety on Christ. And thankfully, Jesus never gets tired of us coming to Him over and over again.

You will never find a better friend than Jesus. No one understands you as well as the Lord, and no one loves you and cares about you as much as Jesus. But if you are not yet in the habit of talking to God about everything, it will take some practice for you to develop this healthy habit. You will get better at it through experience once you actually start giving your anxiety to Christ. And you know what? It really works!

Have you received Jesus as your Savior? This is the initial step in dealing with anxiety. You first must bring your sin to the foot of the cross. After all, it is your sin that has separated you from God. You need a relationship with the Lord before you can talk to Him daily as one of His children. That makes sense, right?

The way to enter a relationship with God is to repent of your sins and trust Christ to wash them away with the blood He shed for you on the cross. Before you can trust God with your anxiety, you will first need to trust Him as your Savior. Will you cast your sin upon the Lord today? Will you bring it to the cross where Jesus died to save you?

Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). It sounds so amazing, yet multitudes of people never take the Lord up on his gracious offer. Imagine that. Our Creator invites anyone to come to Him who is weary and burdened by sin and by the anxieties of life.

The late author and minister E.M. Bounds wrote,

Trust is not a belief that God can bless and that He will bless, but that He does bless, here and now. Trust always operates in the present tense. Hope looks to the future. Trust looks to the present. Hope expects. Trust possesses. Trust receives what prayer acquires. So, what prayer needs, at all times, is abiding and abundant trust.

Hudson Taylor has been described as the most widely used missionary in Chinas history. Taylor wrote,

I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest of positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient."

Pastor Max Lucado said, No one can pray and worry at the same time. The following prayer can help you begin to cast your sin and anxiety upon Christ: Dear Lord, Forgive my sins. Wash me, Jesus, with your precious blood, and replace the anxiety in my heart with peace. Amen."
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.
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."
Scottish venue must pay over $100K for canceling Franklin Graham evangelism event

A Scottish court has ruled that an event venue must pay over $111,000 (97,000) for canceling a 2020 evangelistic outreach featuring American evangelist Franklin Graham over his views on issues like homosexuality and Islam.

In a judgment issued by Sheriff John N. McCormick of Glasgow on Monday, Scottish Event Campus Limited was ruled to have violated the United Kingdom's Equality Act because it canceled an event hosted by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in January 2020.

"It is accepted that the event was a lawful evangelical outreach event. I therefore begin with a discrete issue which alone, in my opinion, constitutes a breach of the Equality Act 2010," McCormick judged.

"Briefly put, if it is correct that the event was evangelistic, based on religion or philosophical belief, then it follows that the decision to cancel was a breach of the Equality Act 2010 in that the event was cancelled as a commercial response to the views of objectors."

McCormick said that the venue "discriminated against the [BGEA] on the basis of a protected characteristic" and put the damages due to the cancellation at $111,503.19 (97,325.32).

"In short, pressure was put on the defender by its majority shareholder to cancel the booking as it may offend others. The effect of writing in such terms was not to protect one group from another but to prefer one opinion over another," he continued.

"I heard no evidence to suggest that Franklin Graham had intended to pursue a toxic or dangerous agenda at the event. On the contrary, it is not disputed that the event would have been an evangelical outreach event for up to twelve thousand people. That is not to say that his opinions are not offensive to some whether in Glasgow or elsewhere. However, the pursuer's right to engage a speaker at the evangelical event  in furtherance of a religious or philosophical belief  is protected by law."

On Tuesday, Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, said he is "grateful to God for this decision." He views the ruling as "a clear victory for freedom of speech and religion in the UK."

"This case was never about financial remedies  it was about the preservation of religious freedom in the UK  particularly the right for Christians to share the Gospel in the public square," stated Graham.

"I want to thank Sheriff John McCormick for upholding the law and affirming that Christians must be treated fairly and equally. This ruling will be a great encouragement for Christians and people of all faiths across the UK and many other parts of the world."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Event Campus told BBC that the organization is "naturally disappointed in the outcome of the case."

"We are currently reviewing the extensive documentation to determine whether any further action is required," the spokesperson added.

In 2020, before the pandemic lockdowns began, multiple venues in the U.K. canceled BGEA events that were part of the BGEA's "God Loves You" tour. BGEA maintains that those contracts were legally binding. The organization rescheduled the tour events, which took place earlier this year.

At issue was Graham's opposition to homosexuality and dislike of Islam, which some British activists and groups viewed as hateful in nature.

Last December, the Scottish charity The Robertson Trust, which canceled bookings made by a local church and the BGEA scheduled for 2019, offered an official apology for violating the Equality Act. The group paid 20,000 (about $26,500) towards legal expenses as part of a settlement.

Mark Batho, chair of the board of trustees at The Robertson Trust, said in a statement last year that his organization had "inadvertently breached the Equality Act 2010."

"The Trust's long standing funding policy (1) legitimately states that we do not fund or support the promotion of any particular religious or political beliefs," Batho stated.

"We recognise that in applying our funding policy to the hire of our facilities, which are available at substantially subsidised rates to charities and community groups, we inadvertently breached the Equality Act 2010."
The Ann and Gordon Getty collection exceeds $150 million across 10 sold out auctions

The sale of more than 1,500 fine and decorative art objects from the Getty collection realised over $150 million, all of which will benefit the couples charity, The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts

An extraordinary series of auctions from the celebrated collection of Ann and Gordon Getty concluded on 25 October, achieving a total in excess of $150 million. Across two weeks and ten auctions  four live, six online  more than 1,500 works of fine and decorative art, jewelry and textiles from the couples private collection were 100% sold. This success ranks The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection among the top three collections of both fine and decorative arts to sell at Christies, alongside The Collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge and The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller. We are all immensely proud to have overseen a week of sales that has confirmed Ann Gettys exquisite taste and singular eye for excellence, said Jonathan Rendell, Christie's Deputy Chairman. It is especially gratifying to see the strength in interest across the board from Chinese Works of Art, to English and Continental Furniture, to textiles, table decorations, and handbags. The Getty sales are proof that the market continues to value great connoisseurship and that quality is timeless. Kicking off the whirlwind series was the evening sale of Volume 1: Important Pictures and Decorative Arts on Thursday 20 October, which sold 100% of the lots at 128% above the low estimate. The live auction drew nearly 2 million viewers online and achieved a final total of $79,408,900. Volume 2: Old Master, 19th and 20th Century Paintings took place the next day, Friday 21 October. The sale totalled $33,871,230, 145% above the low estimate. Volume 3: English and European Furniture, Porcelain and Silver followed on Saturday 22 October and realised a final total of $13,408,320, 264% above the low estimate. The live sales concluded on Sunday 23 October with Volume 4: Chinese Works of Art, English and European Furniture and Decorative Arts. Featuring 176 lots, the sale totalled $12,831,336. The online auctions also saw great success. Offering nearly 900 lots across six separate sales, they realised a total of more than $10 million. This brought the sale of The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection to a grand total of over $150 million, the proceeds of which will benefit the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts, dedicated to support arts and science organisations. Volume 1: Important Pictures and Decorative Arts, Evening Sale The landmark series of sales was led by Volume 1, which achieved $79,408,900. The sale, which was 100% sold, broke four records and saw strong results across a range of collecting categories.

Open a larger version of this image Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), Young Lady in a Loge Gazing to the Right, 1878-79. Pastel, gouache, watercolor and charcoal with metallic paint on paper. 25 x 19 in (64.1 x 50.5 cm). Sold for $7,489,000 in The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection: Volume 1 on 19 October at Christies in New York

The top lot of the evening was Mary Cassatts Young Lady in a Loge Gazing to Right. Acquired by the Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan, for $7,489,000, the painting broke a 15-year-old record for the artist. Originally owned by Paul Gauguin, the work depicts a young lady in an opera box and displays Cassatts early interest in the theatre of everyday life. Rendered in pastel, gouache and metallic pigment, Cassatt captures the spirit of her subject as well as her beauty. Other artist records were set by Jacques-Emile Blanches Vaslav Nijinsky in Danse Siamoise, which achieved $2,700,000 against a low estimate of $1,000,000, and Jules Bastien-Lepages Portrait de Sarah Bernhardt, which sold for $2,280,000, more than four times the low estimate. Jean-Antoine Watteaus drawing Three Head Studies Of A Girl Wearing A Hat set a record for a work on paper by the artist, earning a final price of $3,420,000 against a low estimate of $1,500,000.

Exceptional works of decorative art also generated strong results. In a bidding frenzy that lasted more than six minutes, a pair of massive Chinese cloisonne and champleve enamel crane-form censers realised $1,620,000, more than 20 times the low estimate. A royal early George II mahogany china cabinet commissioned from William Vile for Queen Charlotte became the most expensive piece of furniture sold across the series, earning $2,700,000 against a low estimate of $600,000. One of the finest examples of 18th-century English craftsmanship, the cabinet is also one of the few works of English royal furniture still in private hands. Leading up to the live auction, Christies announced the private sale of Venice, the Grand Canal looking East with Santa Maria della Salute by Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto. The painting was acquired by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, enabled through a generous donation by Diane B. Wilsey. Volume 2: Old Master, 19th and 20th Century Paintings, Day Sale On 21 October, Volume 2 of The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection achieved $33,871,230, 145% above the low estimate. The auction showcased 105 paintings from the Gettys home in San Francisco, including Venetian view paintings, Impressionist and 19th-century landscapes, studies of the female form and still lifes.

Open a larger version of this image Henri Matisse (1869-1954), Paysage avec Cypres et Oliviers aux Environs de Nice, 1918. Oil on board laid down on panel. 10 x 13 in (27 x 34.9 cm). Sold for $2,220,000 in The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection: Volume 2 on 20 October at Christies in New York

Leading the sale was Henri Matisses Paysage avec cypres et oliviers aux environs de Nice, a landscape painting that fetched $2,220,000, nearly 15 times its low estimate. Previously owned by Gertrude Steins brother Michael and his wife Sarah, the painting exemplifies Matisses love of Nice, a city he returned to every winter until his death. Paul Gauguins still life Fleurs et livres and Alfred Sisleys Moret-sur-Loing au soleil couchant were also stand-outs, each realizing $1,620,000. Additional highlights included paintings by the British masters Sir Winston Spencer Churchill and John Atkinson Grimshaw. Grimshaws Midsummer Night or Iris achieved $680,400 against a low estimate of $150,000, while Interior, the Long Gallery at Sutton Place by Churchill quadrupled its low estimate, selling for $630,000. Volume 3: English and European Furniture, Porcelain and Silver, Day Sale The sales continued on 22 October with Volume 3, which featured furniture and decorative arts from the beautifully curated interiors of the couples San Francisco residence. The final auction results totalled $13,408,320, 264% against the low estimate.

Open a larger version of this image A Set of Twelve German Painted Panels, 1720. 134 in (340.5 cm) high, 29 in (75.5 cm) wide. Sold for $2,280,000 in The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection: Volume 3 on 21 October at Christies in New York

The sale was led by a set of twelve German painted panels, which sold for $2,280,000, more than 10 times the low estimate of $200,000. The panels were displayed on the walls of the Gettys dining room, a theatrical space dedicated to their love of Chinoiserie. They are believed to originate from Schloss Pillnitz, a lavish palace of Saxon ruler Augustus the Strong, a legendary enthusiast of Chinese and Japanese craftsmanship. The auction demonstrated a keen enthusiasm for the Gettys unique items of decorative art. Another top lot was a pair of George II giltwood pier mirrors, which sold for $693,000, more than triple the low estimate of $200,000. A double-sided three-seater sofa that once belonged to the dancer Rudolf Nureyev, a friend of Mrs. Gettys, sold for $144,900 against a low estimate of $5,000. There was also a strong appetite for porcelain dinner services, several of which achieved six-figure sums. The top lot of this category was a Belgian porcelain zoological part dinner service that fetched $378,000, over six times the low estimate of $60,000.

Chinese and Japanese export porcelain saw enthusiasm from buyers as well, with some items selling for more than 25 times their low estimate. A pair of Japanese porcelain models of rabbits sold for $226,800, blowing away its low estimate of $5,000, while a pair of Japanese export Arita porcelain models of puppies sold for $189,00 against a low estimate of $7,000. Volume 4: Chinese Works of Art, English and European Furniture and Decorative Arts, Day Sale The final live auction concluded on 23 October with 176 works from the more intimate spaces of the couples San Francisco residence, including the upstairs bedrooms and library. The sale totalled $12,831,336 and was 100% sold.

Open a larger version of this image A pair of mother-of-pearl inlaid doors, early 19th century. 73 in (185.4 cm) high, 88 in (223.5 cm) high with modern backing. Sold for $693,000 on 24 October 2022 at Christies Online
The European Union (EU) is adopting a new law mandating phone makers, including Apple, to adopt USB-C connectors starting 2024. This new law increased the pressure on the iPhone maker to make the switch from lightning to USB-C connectors.

Over the past years, consumers have been making demands for Apple to change the iPhone's charging port from lightning to USB-C. Likewise, there has been a regulatory push on the matter.

Finally, as the European Parliament voted in favor of the legislation on the change of port to USB-C earlier this month, Apple has no other choice but to do the switch, according to TechCrunch.

Apple Will Comply with EU's Law, Exec Says

On Tuesday, Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior Vice President of marketing confirmed that the company will do the switch in compliance with EU's ruling, as per The Verge.

"Obviously, we'll have to comply. We have no choice as we do around the world but to comply to local laws," Joswiak said at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference.

On Monday, ministers from states who are member of the EU issued their final approval to the common charger law.

The law mandates that starting 2024, electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets will need to support USB-C charging.

The law, which was 10 years in the making, was finally stamped approved by the European Council after other EU legislative bodies voted in favor of it, as per CNBC.

While in the past, Apple's iPhone only uses the lightning charger, the iPhone maker would now have to support the USB-C charging under the new EU law.

While Apple's senior Vice President of marketing did not issue a statement when the company would start introducing USB-C to its smartphone, it would have to start in 2024.

Read Also: India Follows EU in Mandating Universal Standard Charger, Might Force Apple to Adopt USB-C on iPhone

Other Countries Want to Follow EU's Step in Adopting a Common Connector Law

Previously, analysts already predicted that iPhones which are scheduled to be released in 2023 could possibly have a USB-C charging port. The analysts also predicted that the company could possibly introduce it globally.

According to the EU lawmakers, the common charger law will reduce wastage since consumers no longer need to get a new charger each time they buy a new device.

This is seen as environmental friendly as it will reduce production and the disposal of new chargers.

According to Joswiak, one of the concerns of EU was the fact that people had to have several adapters with different connectors. He said that to address this, Apple decided to have detachable cables in order for people to easily do the switch.

Because of this, over a billion people were able to keep on using their lightning cables instead of throwing them out, according to the Apple executive.

Currently, there are other countries pushing for a common charger for mobile phones. Brazil and India are also considering to adopt a common connector rule.

In the US, Democratic senators including Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Ed Markey sent an open letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in June. The senators are pushing for the country to follow the EU's steps.

Related Article: Apple Will Install USB-C Ports to Future iPhones and Other iOS Devices, Analyst Says
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.
A Covid outbreak hit a Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou, China, the location of the world's largest plant for Apple's iPhone, raising speculations the outbreak might stall production.

A company spokesperson, however, said on Tuesday, Oct. 25, the impact of the outbreak is "controllable."

The official of Hon Hai Technology Group, a Taiwanese multinational electronics company known internationally as Foxconn, said the production at Zhengzhou is stable.

'Small Number'

The spokesperson said only a "small number of employees" were affected, and the company is providing the necessary support in compliance with the local pandemic policies.

Foxconn, he said, assured its employees of livelihood as well as material and psychological support.

Despite the outbreak, Foxconn is confident that the production target for the quarter has not changed, CNBC reports.

Foxconn Denies Reports

Foxconn denied reports that some 20,000 people have contracted Covid at Zhengzhou Industrial Park.

The company released a statement at noon on Oct. 26 saying the information circulating online was false.

The company said only a small number of Foxconn employees were diagnosed with Covid.

The company has 300,000 employees across 90 production lines in its three factories in Zhengzhou. These three sites are the main manufacturing base for Foxconn.

While the production target has not changed, the outbreak is expected to hamper shipments of iPhone 14.

Covid Restrictions

The iPhone maker has imposed restrictions on the assembly plant amid the Covid outbreak, South China Morning Post reports.

The city has sealed off the Zhengzhou industrial site to keep the operations going.

This month, a new wave of Covid hit the regional capital of central China's Henan province. Some districts were placed on lockdowns in compliance with China's zero-Covid policy.

The outbreak at Foxconn's industrial site came in the middle of Zhengzhou's campaign to contain the larger outbreak.

Foxconn implemented measures early this month to prevent the spread of the virus. It subjected all its employees to Covid tests upon entering the company premises.

Read Also: iPhones, iPads Assembled in India May Soon Materialize With Foxconn Investment in the Country

Foxconn Not Doing Enough

The company has a tough balancing act in maintaining the level of production while it implements heightened Covid measures.

According to the South China Morning Post, many people inside the company are complaining that Foxconn is not doing enough for its employees.

Some social media users said many Covid cases were diagnosed in the company every day. But these people were receiving enough support, such as food and medication, they said.

An employee told the South China Morning Post, it has not done enough to separate the people infected with Covid on time

Shift From China

Apple depends largely on China for the supply of the iPhone. The Covid outbreak at the Zhengzhou plants might change the company's portfolio of its supply chain.

On Monday, Oct. 24, the Cupertino tech company announced it would start producing iPhone 14 in India.

Apple said it is enthusiastic about opening a manufacturing base for iPhone 14 in India. The company has been producing older lines of iPhones in India since 2017.

It will be the first time the Cupertino tech company will produce new iPhone lines in India.

Related Article: Apple Supplier Foxconn Weary of China, Pivots to Saudi Arabia
Security incidents have been at record high levels throughout 2022, with the top threats including data breaches and ransomware, driving financial fraud, and losses from ransom payments.

The numbers are ever rising for known malware attacks. A recent report by UK-based IT Governance identified 112 publicly disclosed security incidents in August 2022 across the United States, UK, Europe, South America, and elsewhere. These security breaches resulted in 97,456,345 compromised records. Known malware attacks during 2022 are costing companies millions of dollars. During the first half of 2022, there were a total of 236.1 million ransomware attacks worldwide according to Statista. Hackers are often leveraging clever phishing campaigns to gain access to employee credentials to initiate these attacks.

Social engineering

There are many different hacking ruses out there right now, but social engineering needs to be near the top of every CSOs list of growing threats. These hacks could include everything from fake messages from banks with spam links, suspicious FB Direct Messages from friends to bad actors phishing employees credentials to gain access to company systems.

Preying on and duping unsuspecting employees has become one of the easiest ways for hackers to access company systems. Find an unsuspecting employee, gain access to that employees credentials, and steal the keys to the kingdom. As the saying goes, its easier to get in by using the keys to the front door than hacking in through a back door.

Collectively, we need to embrace a more modern and secure way to verify an individuals identity and move past the old ways of multiple usernames, passwords, and answering security questions. Even MFA is no longer infallible.

Uber, Twillio, Mailchimp hacks

Any organization is at risk of a data breach or security intrusion. This is what happened to Uber this past summer. A hacker social engineered an Uber employees credentials and gained access to the internal Uber intranet, company Slack system, Google Workspace admin, Ubers AWS accounts, financial dashboards, and more.

Another prominent example occurred earlier in 2022 when security firm Group-IB uncovered that employees of Twilio, MailChimp, and Klavioyo were the unwitting victims of a massive phishing campaign. This attack compromised nearly 9,400 accounts in more than 130 organizations. Many of these employees were US-based and used Oktas prevalent Identity and Access Management service.

There have been other attacks earlier this year, too. I covered news of these in my CIO column back in June. For example, the Lapsus$ hack involved companies Cisco, NVIDIA, Samsung, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and possibly other notable organizations.

And CSOs, note that even the platforms designed to protect you and your employees are being hacked. In August, password management company LastPass announced that its systems had been breached.

CSOs and systems admins thought MFA (multi-factor authentication) or 2FA (2-factor authentication) were ideal solutions. But now even those processes are being hacked, and bad actors are gaining unauthorized access to user data and information.

Emerging legislation

With people falling victims to phishing/fraud attacks, legislators in both the U.K. and the U.S. are taking note. There is a proposal in the UK that would have banks and other financial institutions reimburse victims of online fraud.

The Payment Systems Regulator announced in September that it wants the payments industry to change how it manages APP (Authorised Push Payment) scams. The proposed measures require banks to reimburse stolen amounts of over 100 to fraud victims.

UK-based banks will be obligated to compensate a customer, even if it was a phishing attack made possible by the ignorance of the banking customer. The bank will still be obligated to help refund the lost monies.

In the United States, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is also pushing for similar legislation in the aftermath of her analysis of Zelle customers who reported stolen money.

Financial institutions must pay strict attention to fraud schemes to better protect their customers. By protecting their customers, banks will also protect their bottom line. Cybersecurity issues are not just a security or brand problem; they are also becoming a punitive financial problem.

How CSOs can fight back

CSOs must double down on preventing phishing attempts in and around internal systems. Its one of the most critical actions to tackle. Not only are your customers getting hacked and their information being exposed, but now even the companies that manage credentials and access control (Duo, OKTA, LastPass) have been compromised, further exacerbating the problem.

Locking up the front door is still the best way to prevail against these threats. Taking a multi-tiered approach to rethinking the identity of your employees, partners, and customers is a good place to start. If you arent already considering doing so, it is time to start looking at the next generation of identity management and access control products being introduced into the market.

These innovative systems can better establish the identity of not only the device logging in, but also the identity of the individual using the device. In addition, identity needs to be a continuous issue, not just at the beginning of the day, shift or online session. Newer AI-based systems can accomplish this without creating annoying pop-ups of continuous re-authentication, by combining a variety of behavioral and possibly biometric signals in real-time.

Zero Trust has become an overused phrase in the industry, but it is now time to start deploying solutions that allow you as the CSO to truly trust who is accessing your networks and data.
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Picture: Independent Food Aid Network

Close to nine out of 10 food banks, 89%, surveyed by FareShare are worried they cannot meet the extra demand for food parcels this winter.

In a survey of the community groups and food banks the charity supplies food to, almost 80% of respondents said they had experienced a higher demand for services. Around three in 10 said demand had more than doubled.

Some 82% cited the rising cost of food as a reason for the increase in demand, while 71% blamed rising fuel bills and 47% low pay.

FareShare reports that 96% of the charity respondents have been affected by the cost-of-living crisis since January, with 41% stating they were severely affected.

The organisation contacted the 9,402 food banks and community groups that receive food aid from the charity, and received 1,376 responses to its survey.

Charities warn it will get even worse

Nearly three-quarters (73%) of charities said they were seeing people accessing support for the first time. Charities said they expect even further increases in people using their services (71%).

The founder of weekly pop-up cafe Charlies Angels Kitchens, Charlie Moore, said: I have seen a lot more people coming along over the past six months, and a lot of them are getting food from us for the first time. I'm starting to see so many more young people coming in who just cant make ends meet. Theyre all working, whether its young parents getting food for their family, or a 20-year-old doing in-work training, struggling to afford basic necessities with their last 10 in their bank account. Theyre all really concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, and are relying more on more on the food we get from FareShare.

Some 64% of charities surveyed said they need more funding to keep up with the ever-increasing demand.

FareShare supporters to match fund new appeal

In response to their findings, FareShare has launched a cost-of-living appeal which two longstanding supporters, Mike and Helen Brown, will be match funding to the first 250,000.

FareShare is asking for donors to give 7.50 a month to give someone a dinner a day.

Lindsay Boswell, FareShares chief executive, said: The cost-of-living crisis is driving millions into food insecurity, at a time when food prices are rising, and demand for our surplus food has skyrocketed. What we are hearing from the charities we support is that this situation will only worsen and they are worried they may not be able to meet the extra demand. By donating to FareShares Cost of Living Crisis Appeal, you can help get more good-to-eat surplus food that may otherwise go to waste to people facing economic hardship across the UK.

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Several Tesla Semi units are in on-road tests. Barely a month, the Environmental Protection Agency gave the green light for the vehicle manufacturers to proceed with production and delivery. It could be a telltale sign Elon Musk will flip-flop this time.

Teslarati spotted Tesla Semi trucks on-road tests near its Gigafactory in Nevada as the manufacturer has only over a month before making its first deliveries to PepsiCo.

The vehicle manufacturer, Teslarati said, is conducting on-road tests to assess the Semi truck's roadworthiness.

Tell Tale Sign

Tesla was sending a message with the recent on-road tests that it will not renege on its promise to have the Semi trucks enter the stream of commerce. CEO Musk will not either.

Musk is known for his proclivity to flip-flop on his statements. But this time, the Tesla chief appears to be all business to make the first deliveries on Dec. 1 finally.

On-road testing is not uncommon for automakers ahead of any vehicle rollout. Tesla and other manufacturers have been conducting on-road testing in the past.

This one with Tesla was not a routine test but also a statement it will make good on its promise.

Read Also: Tesla Starts Electric Semi Truck Production; Pepsi to Receive First Deliveries

Musk's Flip-Flop

Seeing the Semi trucks and on-road tests are indications that Musk will not be in his element to flip-flop on the decision.

Over the years, the CEO has been known to make a decision and take it back later. Below are some of the instances when Musk flip-flopped.

1. In 2018, the US Securities and Exchange Commission had Musk investigated after the billionaire walked back from his statement he was to take Tesla private. Later, he announced he was not pushing through with the plan.

The SEC investigators wanted to determine if Musk lied to investors, assuring them he had funding.

Musk later admitted before company officials he impulsively decided to tweet his plan to take the company private. The goal, he said, was to hurt some stock traders who made money out of speculations that Tesla's stock would decline.

2. Musk also flip-flopped on bitcoin in 2021. Initially, the CEO announced the company would accept bitcoin as payment if crypto miners cut their energy consumption in half. The crypto leaped 9.58 percent after the announcement.

Musk's announcement sent the crypto inventors bullish. The price of Bitcoin skyrocketed to as high as $41,067.74 within 24 hours.

As usual, Musk did not make good on his promise. Tesla stopped accepting bitcoin as payment.

3. The CEO was at it again when he said he would buy Twitter. He backtracked later, prompting the investors to sue him. The Twitter investors said Musk's real intention was to hurt the stock price of the social media platform.

4. During Tesla Autonomy Day, Musk wowed his fans with great promises. The world's richest man announced that within a year, Tesla would produce a million self-driving cars. A year later, the electric car maker still did not have autonomous cars.

In 2018, he made a similar promise. He said Tesla would roll out Version 9 of the full self-driving (FSD). It never happened.

These were some of the instances when Musk flip-flopped and walked back from his statements. Every time he makes an announcement, questions fly, wondering if the billionaire is serious about fulfilling what he said.

Will Musk Redeem Himself?

The sightings of Tesla's Semi trucks on-road tests in Nevada could mean that Musk is going to vindicate himself.

Over a week after EPA issued Tesla the Certificate if needed to push through with the production and deliveries of the Semi trucks, Musk tweeted the first delivery would be on Dec. 1.

Finally, Musk appears to be on a high road to redeem himself, with Tesla fulfilling its delivery for PepsiCo over a month from now.

Related Article: Finally, EPA Approves Tesla Semi for Delivery to Customers
I and many others who have been bestowed an honour for our work in civil society have sat with an uncomfortable tension  the delight of recognition for our social purpose, our organisation and our missions which are often focused on marginalised or under-represented people or issues; the validation and value that brings to our work and the people we work with, vis a vis the honours being awarded in the name of Empire.

For some there are two options: either accept it and shut up, or refuse it (privately or publicly). But for some of us, including myself, neither of those worked. When I was honoured I wanted my organisations work on sexual and reproductive rights, including abortion, HIV and LGBT rights to be recognised by an honours system, yet it still sat uncomfortably.

The campaign was founded in 2020. I was in a virtual room with civil society chief executives talking about racial justice. There were others in the room who I knew had been bestowed with an honour and I kept wondering if they felt the same unease that I did having an honour awarded in the name of Empire, as we talked about dismantling systemic racism across civil society. They and many others did feel uneasy at this, and initially we wrote a letter to the Times.

We found there was massive support for a simple change from Empire to Excellence. Some want to go further, by either abolishing the honours system or the monarchy, but this campaign is clear, we just want to cut ties with our colonial past so that we have an honours system we can all be unequivocally proud of.

The best approach is to use the word 'excellence

Fellow campaign supporter , Sufina Ahmad, director of John Ellerman Foundation, says the use of the word Empire left her feeling uneasy, anxious and sad.



She says the purpose of the honours system is to recognise, embrace and celebrate achievement, for you as an individual, but more importantly for the causes and interests you care about. However, the word Empire at best distracts from this purpose, and at worst contradicts it completely. Empire conjures up a myriad of mixed feelings. Surely then the best approach is to use the word 'excellence'.



Arvinda Gohil, chief executive at Central YMCA, also questioned and nearly refused to accept her OBE, purely and simply because of the word Empire.

It neither describes our place in the world today, nor recognises the road travelled in creating a sense of belonging for all who now make up Britain.

We want people to step forward and support this campaign

We have a new King, a new prime minister and a growing understanding of structural racism and the enduring legacy of colonialism, and a civil society that must lead the way in driving social change on this issue.

We want to build momentum. We know there are thousands of people from all parts of civil society who have been honoured, but we dont know who they are. We want people to step forward and support this campaign  we need their names, we need their skills, time and money to build campaign moments.

Our colonial past is a shameful one. We have to face that with honesty and integrity. That is why the honours system  if it exists  must break any connection to the Empire. A simple switch from Empire to Excellence can and must happen so that people can accept the honour with pride.



While not life-changing in the way some campaigns may be, it is an important campaign which could create totemic change for racial justice which civil society must lead the charge on. I am proud to be part of this #ExcellenceNotEmpire campaign pushing for a simple change that would mean the honours system is truly honourable.



Other supporters of the campaign include Ndidi Okezie, chief executive of UK Youth, Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, and Fozia Irfan, director of children and young people at Children in Need.



If you have received an honour for your work in civil society, and wish to support this small but powerful change to our honours system, please let us know. We will only achieve this vital change towards racial justice and inclusion if more of us speak out. Please do so today by emailing [email protected] or sign up via the website.
Journalists love debating what constitutes ethical journalism. Should we show pictures of the shooter in a mass-casualty incident? Is it ever okay to pay a source? Should we use photographs taken without permission? What about publishing classified documents? When is it okay to identify the author behind an anonymous social account?

The debates are necessary. Journalism has the power to cause disruption and harm to those we cover, whether individuals, businesses, or governments. Its only right we hold ourselves to account.

But they can also be insufferable. Debates about rules tend to attract those for whom the narcissism of small differences is a way of life. This is, not least, because these debates are fundamentally unresolvable.

We dont have one fixed, underlying philosophy of journalism to which every newsroom subscribes. In reality, we probably dont have a single newsroom in which every editorial staffer feels the same way.

Here, drawing from a few thousand years of political thought, are five potential newsroom philosophies, into which you can categorize different outlets at your leisure.

The Aristotelian Newsroom

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On the surface of it, doing what Aristotle thinks we should do seems simple: we should act virtuously for its own sakeand want to do so, rather than regarding it as resisting temptation. The difficulty comes with agreeing what counts as virtuous. For Aristotle, society should come together and mutually agree on what counts as virtuous, and then citizens should try to model those values.

Thats difficult enough when your society is small. In a modern, diverse society it can seem impossible. Is truth a virtue or is profit? What happens when theyre in conflict? Telling the truth because it was good for profits, if profit were not intrinsically virtuous, would not qualify as ethical for Aristotleso if any newsroom wants to claim Aristotelian values, you can bet its going to be a not-for-profit.

The Deontological Newsroom

Deontologistsamong whom Immanuel Kant is most famousare most concerned with our duty or obligations to one another, or to society. For them, the consequences of an action dont matterwhat matters is whether it follows the rules we have agreed on as a society.

This can set a very high bar for actions: it might make sense that driving when drunk carries the same penalty whether or not you run someone over, but most of us blanch at a moral code that says if a murderer asks you where to find his would-be victim you should tell the truth.

A deontological newsroom would be difficult to run. It would hold that if it is ever wrong to breach someones privacy, its always wrong. If its ever wrong to keep a secret (such as a source), then its always wrong. An in-house corporate media operation staffed solely by true believers might manage to operate in this way, but any other newsroom would quickly run into trouble.

The Utilitarian Newsroom

This newsroom all but flips the philosophy of the previous one on its head: for utilitarians, consequences are pretty much all that matters. In a given situation, we should choose the option that delivers the greatest public good.

In practice, almost every working public-interest newsroom operates under this philosophyknowingly or not, and even willingly or not. We have built into both law and industry requirements for public-interest testsjournalists are allowed to breach peoples privacy provided the overall public good is served by doing so.

The court case usually ends up being decided on whether or not the newsroom got the balance right.

The Machiavellian Newsroom

The previous philosophy might sound a little too high-minded as an explanatory tool for the actions of some newsroomsand particularly for some proprietors. For those newsrooms, readers may be tempted to consider the political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavellis The Prince, drafted while in prison in a bid to secure his release from the titular ruler.

Machiavelli is credited as the inventor of realpolitik, of being willing to be devious (or at least practical) to secure advantage in existing political structures. If youre the owner of a newsroom, then you have a very particular kind of assetthe attention and the trust of your audiencewhich can, if used judiciously, be leveraged for other kinds of advantage.

This couldpurely hypotheticallybe used to pursue the political agenda of an owner, or else to confer status and access to those in power, or even to secure suitable regulatory decisions or appropriate modifications to competition law. The possibilities might be endless.

The Nihilistic Newsroom

Nihilism more or less states that nothing matters, so you may as well do what you want. To the jaded, most newsrooms are already here, except worse. One editor described the prevailing ethos of journalism in 2022 as: psychopathy (anything for a click) and zealotry (my tribe is right).

Hate-clicks count just the same as worthier ones, after all. Everyone else is making up stories, so why not join in? Why not indulge in a little light plagiarism, as a treat? And why not ruin someones life, if that person happens to belong to a different political tribe and youre in a bad mood?

There is certainly something tempting about it, at least now and then. But isnt that what social media is for?

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

James Ball is a journalist and author based in London, UK. His latest book is Post-Truth: How Bullshit Conquered The World.
NEW YORK (AP)  Even before Superstorm Sandys floodwaters surged over New York Citys Rockaway Peninsula, there was an air of decay in Edgemere, a far-flung seaside neighborhood long pockmarked with boarded-up homes and vacant lots with waist-high weeds.

When the water receded, even more of Edgemeres homes lay in ruin. But there was hope, too, that in the rebuilding effort the predominantly Black neighborhood would finally get the boost it needed to recover from decades of neglect. In the decade since Sandy swamped the coast, those hopes have been dashed.

There is little sign of the development promised along block after block of worn homes, some long unoccupied. Meanwhile, mostly white communities further west on the peninsula have flourished, with recovery funds bringing new housing, businesses, places to gather.

They tell me that were one peninsula  no, were not. Its a tale of two peninsulas, said Edgemere resident Sonia Moise, whose home filled with seawater during Sandy, her car carried off by the tide.

You go west, what do they have? They have a skatepark. They have a dog park. They have concession stands, Moise said. What do we have? We have homeless shelters. We have hotels that house homeless people.

When Sandy hit the northeastern U.S. coastline on Oct. 29, 2012, the storm did not discriminate as it caused about $65 billion in damage  much of it in New York and New Jersey. Luxurious vacation homes on the Jersey Shore were torn apart; small homes in working-class sections of Staten Island were submerged up to their eaves.

But the rebuilding effort has been anything but equal. The woes in Edgemere are a case study in disparities that play out across the U.S. after natural disasters: The billions of dollars in recovery money that pour in make their way last to, and have their weakest impact in, communities of color. In New Orleans, the remarkable post-Katrina recovery made for a whiter, more expensive city where poor Black neighborhoods still struggle. In Florida, there are already grumblings along rows of crumpled mobile homes that help has been swiftest in resort beach communities in the wake of Hurricane Ian.

Public spending after disasters has led to increased inequality, said Junia Howell, a sociologist at the University of Illinois in Chicago who researches race, housing and disasters.

Communities that are whiter and wealthier actually are not only recovering from disaster, but in many cases, theyre doing better, Howell said. What youre doing is giving resources to those who already have the most resources and further leaving everyone else behind.

In Edgemere, the contrast is perhaps sharpest just to the west, in Arverne by the Sea. Like most of the Rockaway Peninsula  an 11-mile long sliver of barrier beaches that is home to around 124,00 people  both communities were almost entirely underwater after Sandy hit. But Edgemere residents say theyve watched as Arverne and predominantly white communities got more help, and sooner.

Theres already a new grocery store and a Dunkin Donuts in a new commercial strip. Next door to Arverne, in Rockaway Beach, is a new skatepark, rebuilt after Sandy tore apart the old one. Construction of a community amphitheater is in progress.

Neighbors admit its not a perfect comparison. Some Averne investment was underway before Sandy. Six years prior, a $1 billion development drew more white families to the neighborhood  which is still majority Black, though that number is dropping  and sprouted 2,300 homes, some now being resold for as much as $1.7 million. The development was mostly unscathed by winds and flooding, prompting grumbling by Edgemere residents that their homes werent built to last.

Whats clear, community board leader Moise and others say, is that Edgemere has never gotten its fair share.

We have been fighting for years to get the same thing that the rest of our surrounding neighborhoods have gotten. We have been ignored, Moise said.

Unlike Arverne, Edgemere has no coffee shops or concession stands. Along Beach Channel Drive, the main thoroughfare, theres a bodega and a Chinese takeout restaurant. Next door, a smoke shop is moving in. Up the street is a massive public housing project.

Theres little sign here of the Rockaways history as a beach resort community. The peninsulas grand hotels didnt survive into the automobile age. The 1950s brought urban renewal; officials tore down thousands of bungalows that were home to Black and Puerto Rican families, replacing some of that lost housing stock with high-rise housing projects while leaving other razed blocks to nature.

Edgemere and other communities on the eastern end of the Rockaways became dumping grounds for the citys poorest residents, pushed out across a wide bay to the very end of the land, a 70-minute subway ride from Manhattan.

But just before Sandy, there was hope that things were getting better  even if neighboring communities were seeing faster progress.

Edgemere was growing. People were moving in. City officials promised to build some 800 new homes to fill vacant lots.

Sandy brought those small signs of hope to a halt. And residents say they saw a familiar story, with priority given to white neighborhoods around them.

The city says its working to bring change to Edgemere. Earlier this year, it finalized a development plan dubbed Resilient Edgemere. Every member of the community board urged the City Council and mayor to reject it. But the community didnt have the political clout to stop it.

The plan includes vows of affordable housing near the beach, and high-rise apartments with 1,200 residential units above retail space. Theres $14 million earmarked to buttress the shoreline with an elevated berm to protect Edgemere against 30 inches of sea level rise, and $2.3 million to upgrade sewage and drainage lines.

But residents worry the low-income units will add to the neighborhoods longtime burden of housing the poor. More than a quarter of Edgemere residents live in poverty, the highest among Rockaways communities, according to a recent state report that highlighted longstanding inequalities in the area.

Those who have money spend it elsewhere because the community has few amenities.

And while the plans shoreline work might be welcome news, many say its another case of being last in line. In other places along the peninsula, sand dunes were beefed up quickly to keep tides from intruding as they did during Sandy. Edgemeres beach restoration only began weeks ago.

Instead of the citys plan, community board members want more duplexes and townhomes to fit in with existing housing stock. They want a new school and grassy inland parks that could help absorb the next flood. They want amenities like the fully-stocked grocery stores found in neighboring, wealthier communities.

City officials insist theyve made progress _ they cite wetland restoration and the raising of 100-plus homes against flooding. Stretches of the wooden boardwalk have been replaced with a concrete promenade along the beach. Headquarters for a nature preserve is being built, but construction has limited community access to the boardwalk and beach.

Dexter Davis, a former NYC police officer whose Edgemere home was flooded with more than a yard of water during Sandy, says his community needs more than whats outlined so far.

The things that they pump into the other communities around us are more positive. They give them more leisure things, better quality, Davis said. Here, they do things _ but its not up to the same par.

Experts such as NYU sociologist Jacob Faber say its not just the storm or natural disaster that has affected Edgemere and other poorer communities _ its the lingering impact of years of neglect.

You have these geographically and socially and economically isolated communities that are in a position to just get hammered, over and over again, Farber said.

Associated Press writer Deepti Hajela contributed to this report.

About the photo: Workers construct a pipe for sand dredging, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Atlantic Shorefront Resiliency Project aims to construct a reinforced dune system designed to block storm surge. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
MANILA, Philippines (AP)  A strong earthquake rocked a large swath of the northern Philippines, injuring at least 36 people and forcing the closure of an international airport and the evacuation of patients in a hospital, officials said Wednesday.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Tuesday nights magnitude 6.4 quake, which was set off by movement of a local fault, was centered 9 kilometers (5 miles) northwest of Lagayan town in Abra province at a depth of 11 kilometers (7 miles).

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said no warning or advisory was issued.

The quake was felt across a wide area of the main northern Luzon region, including in some parts of metropolitan Manila, more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Abra.

At least 10 people received mostly minor injuries in Abra, mainly from falling debris, and 26 others were injured in Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The international airport in Ilocos Nortes capital city of Laoag was closed Wednesday due to damage from the quake and at least two domestic flights were canceled, officials said.

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 at the hospital were suspended. School classes in the province were halted while engineers assessed damage to buildings, officials said.

Marcos Jr. said authorities were inspecting roads and buildings. Most people are asking for tents because theyre afraid to go back to their houses because if these have been weakened and an aftershock hits, they may get hurt, he said at a news conference in Manila.

More than 400 aftershocks have been detected but only a few were felt by people, 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 lost electricity due to damaged power lines. A number of bridges and roads in outlying provinces were damaged.

In July, a magnitude 7 earthquake set off landslides and damaged buildings in Abra and other northern provinces, killing at least five people and injuring dozens.

In 1990, a magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines and wrought extensive damage, including in Manila.

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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Nord Stream AG, the operator of the leaking Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, has sent a chartered ship to waters off the coast of Sweden to survey the damage for the first time, the company said on Thursday.

Sweden and Denmark have concluded that four Nord Stream leaks identified last month were caused by explosions, but have not said who might be responsible. World leaders have called it an act of sabotage.

Nord Stream AG, which is majority-owned by Russias Gazprom, said a specially equipped vessel had arrived in the exclusive economic zone off Sweden, confirming earlier comments by the Swedish Navy.

After carrying out the calibration works, the specialists will be ready within 24 hours to start the survey of the damaged area that would take 3-5 days, according to current estimates, it said.

Swedish prosecutors and police earlier this month concluded a crime scene investigation, but the Nordic countrys navy on Wednesday said it would conduct its own survey.

Sweden has rejected calls from Russian authorities to be part of its investigation or to share any findings before it is completed.

Nord Stream AG said it was still awaiting a permit to assess damage to the pipeline section in the Danish economic zone.

Norway, now Europes biggest supplier of natural gas, has increased its pipeline inspections in the wake of the suspected blasts on the Nord Stream system last month, the head of the countrys gas supply infrastructure told Reuters.

Dwindling flows of gas from Russia, which once supplied 40% of Europes needs, have left the European Union struggling to unite over how to respond to surging prices that have deepened a cost-of-living crisis for families and businesses.
In less than a month, NASA will blast rocket ship Artemis I into space to bring Americans back to the Moon - the first after over 50 years since the Apollo missions and from there to Mars.

As part of the preparations, NASA scientists are into practicing rover operations for two weeks now on the rugged terrain near the Grand Canyon.

The training focuses on pressurized rover operations jointly conducted by Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) and the United States Geological Survey.

These rover operations on rugged terrain to find ways to improve the current technology are key elements to the Artemis mission, scientists said.

Simulating Moon Missions

Using the rover built over a decade ago, Desert RATS members are simulating Moon missions by living and working in the rover over the harsh Grand Canyon terrain.

NASA scientists and their counterparts at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency continue to gather data on the rover's design, driving modes, timeline constraints, and cabin design to serve as the basis for the future design of pressurized rovers.

The overall concept is to start testing on Earth, to the Moon, and to use the Moon as the platform for the Mars mission, Barbara Janoiko, Desert RATS mission manager, said.

This Earth-based training for Artemis, Janoiko said, will further the understanding of how to explore the lunar surface and, eventually, Mars.

Read Also: 10 Things More to Know About the Artemis I Moon MIssion

Why Moon Again?

For many, there is nothing left to prove for another lunar mission after the Apollo missions. But NASA will return to the Moon again as part of the trajectory to send a manned mission to Mars.

NASA said the Artemis mission would achieve at least four milestones, namely:

On the lunar surface, NASA will demonstrate new technologies, capabilities, and business approaches needed for future exploration, including Mars

To study the Moon in detail about the origin of Earth, the Moon itself, and the solar system

With other countries, including China, sending lunar missions, NASA sees the need to establish American leadership as well as a strategic presence on the Moon

To help broaden US commercial and international partnerships

New Rocket

The new rocket, the Space Launch System, will be launched from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. It will send astronauts, including the first woman and person of color, to the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft.

Astronauts aboard Orion will dock at the Gateway, the multi-purpose outpost orbiting around the Moon. From the Gateway, the astronauts will move to the human landing system bringing them to the lunar surface.

After the Moon expedition, the astronauts will return to the Gateway, and safely return to Earth.

Artemis Mission Timeline

For the next 10 years, in 2022, NASA will send a suite of science experiments to the Moon.

NASA plans to fly two missions around the Moon, testing the deep space exploration system.

The Artemis will consist of two missions. First is Artemis I, the unmanned mission to assess the viability of SLS and Orio. And the second mission, Artemis II to test the first SLS and Orion with its crew.

The Goal

The strategic goal is Mars with Artemis' mission to explore the Moon's surface and human explorers and robots.

Astronauts will explore the south pole of the Moon. While in the southern region, the explorers will find water and other resources vital for long-term exploration. They will also investigate the unexplored lunar region hoping to discover more about the Earth and the universe.

NASA expects the astronauts to learn how to live and work on another celestial body before launching them to Mars.

Related Article: Here's How You Can Watch the Artemis I MIssion Launch for Free
Interview: Chinese modernization a model adapted to its realities, vice president of French Senate

Xinhua) 08:14, October 27, 2022

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Despite the release of Windows 11 this early October, there have been updates for Windows 10, still. There are 19 improvements released in the KB5018482 Preview cumulative update for Windows 10 20H2, Windows 10 21H1, and Windows 10 21H2.

The C Preview update is optional, so users will have to install it manually by going to Settings, clicking Windows Update, and finally clicking Check for Updates. It is important to note, however, that it doesn't have security updates. It does allow admins to test fixes for the upcoming November 2022 Patch Tuesday, as mentioned by Bleeping Computer.

What the Windows 10 KB5018482 Include

Microsoft provided highlights of the 19 improvements and fixes on their official website, which are the following:

A fix has been added for the issue of an OS upgrade that stops responding and then fails.

The issue that affects the front of three Chinese characters has been addressed. The width size of the characters has been corrected when the user formats it in bold.

The graphics hardware will no longer stop working if the hardware does not have a native Direct3D 9 Driver, which affects the Microsoft Direct3D 9 games.

The update issues a fix for graphical problems in games that use Microsoft D3D9 on some platforms.

The titles of the pop-up windows have been corrected when Microsoft Edge is in IE Mode.

The issue that affects the lasso tool in a graphics editing program has been resolved.

The Jordan time zone will permanently shift to the UTC +3 time zone and stops the daylight saving time in Jordan at the end of October 2022.

Before Getting the Update

Microsoft has combined the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for the operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). This will allow the user's device to mitigate potential issues while installing the latest quality and feature updates. Without installing the latest SSU, the user's device might not be updated with the latest security fixes issues by Microsoft.

Microsoft included information about which prerequisites are needed before users can install the update.

For offline OS image servicing, users should install the special standalone May 10, 2022, SSU (KB5014032), if their image doesn't have the March 22, 2022 (KB5011543) or later LCU.

For Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) deployment, or when installing the Microsoft Update Catalog standalone package, users must install the special standalone August 10, 2021 SSU (KB5005260) if they don't have the May 11, 2021 (KB5003173) or later LCU.

Read Also: How to Fix Laptop Black Screen With Windows 10 OS

Installing the Update

Microsoft also included release channels that are available and the steps to be followed if they are not.

The update is available in Windows Update or Microsoft Update. Go to Settings, then Update and Security, then Windows update, and finally, click the Optional Updates Available to find the link for the download.

The Windows update is not available for Busines, but the changes are included in the next security update for this channel.

You may get the standalone package for the update in the Microsoft Update Catalog.

The update is not available in the WSUS, but users can import the update into the WSUS manually.

Related Article: Should You Switch to Windows 11? Pros and Cons of Windows OS Upgrade for Remote Workers
"Infanta Margarita Teresa in a White Dress" (1656) by Diego Velazquez / Courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien



Exhibition offers survey of art collection amassed by powerful European dynasty



By Park Han-sol



Opulent European arms and armor, works of decorative art, tapestries and celebrated Old Master paintings  all hailing from the former imperial and royal court of Vienna  have landed at the National Museum of Korea (NMK) for their first-ever Seoul outing.



Nearly 100 treasures on view were all amassed by and once belonged to the House of Habsburg, one of Europe's longest-lived dynasties that acquired political prominence for over six centuries as Holy Roman Emperors, monarchs and archdukes.



From Rudolf I's election as Holy Roman Emperor in 1273 until the dynasty's collapse in 1918 in the aftermath of World War I, the Habsburgs' territorial domain stretched from Austria to Spain, the Netherlands, France and parts of Italy, among others, earning at one point the nickname "the empire on which the sun never sets."



Perhaps one trait of the royal family that is best-known today besides their immense influence once wielded across the region is the so-called "Habsburg jaw," a protruding lower jaw that most likely resulted from generations of inbreeding in a bid to consolidate power.



But rather than focusing on the monarchy's entangled political history, the exhibit titled "Six Centuries of Beauty in the Habsburg Empire," held in partnership with the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, introduces the family specifically as avid collectors and patrons of the arts.





A suit of armor called "Eagle Garniture" (1547), made for Archduke Ferdinand II by Jorg Seusenhofer / Courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien

"Together, the collections reveal the pomp and splendor, the regalia and rituals, the prestige and spectacle associated with the Habsburg rulers," Sabine Haag, director general of the Austrian museum, said during the exhibition opening, Oct. 25.



The wide-ranging survey of the Habsburg collection opens with a set of elegant 15th- and 16th-century suits of armor belonging to Maximilian I (1459-1519), who paved the way for the dynasty to rise to power through policies of war and strategic marriage, and his great-grandson, Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-95).



In Renaissance Europe, armor was far more than a protective suit for the wearer on the battlefield, serving as an important indicator of social standing. Specialized metal clothing would be produced for ceremonial purposes and festivities, especially jousting tournaments, which offered a spectacle of chivalric sport.



Fashion trends also influenced the shape of metal suits  as seen in a suit of fluted iron armor, whose vertical ridges on the surface were created to imitate the pleated design in clothing that was popular at the time. It was later acquired by Archduke Ferdinand II, who was known for his passion for collecting a vast body of arms and armor, exotic curiosities and paintings. He even built the country's oldest "museum" inside his Ambras Castle in Tyrol of Western Austria dedicated to housing his treasures.





A late 16th-century ornamented coconut jug, left, and a cruciform sundial (1619) / Courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien



Another ardent patron of the arts in the House of Habsburg was Ferdinand's nephew, Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612). While branded as an incompetent ruler who launched the fruitless Long Turkish War with the Ottoman Empire for 13 years at the turn of the 17th century, he nevertheless left a significant cultural legacy with his connoisseurship that materialized in the form of "Kunstkammer," or cabinet of curiosities.



His unrivaled collection, sometimes referred to as the "theater of the world," ranged from signature Northern Mannerist paintings to rare craftworks, fossils, minerals, relics and scientific instruments. It was what eventually formed the foundation of the crafts gallery of the present-day Kunsthistorisches Museum.



Both Ferdinand's and Rudolf's impressive Kunstkammers have been brought to life at the exhibition, filled with: a delicate gold-filigree basket made from India, a shell-shaped nephrite bowl with a gilt-silver figurine of Neptune on top, an intricate cruciform sundial that could tell time in three different ways, and a goblet made of coconut  a fruit that was mistakenly thought to be growing in the depths of the ocean by European explorers at the time.



Today, there are only six surviving coconut ornaments around the world, two of which have been brought to Seoul for the show.





Peter Paul Rubens' "Philemon and Baucis Giving Hospitality to Jupiter and Mercury" (1620-25) / Courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien



But if one were to pick the stars of "Six Centuries of Beauty," they would have to be the paintings themselves etched with the names of Old Masters, including Diego Velazquez, Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck.



Velazquez's "Infanta Margarita Teresa in a White Dress" features the iconic five-year-old princess of the Spanish Habsburg family in a very similar attire to that which she is seen donning in the artist's canonical masterpiece, "Las Meninas."



Baroque virtuoso Rubens' "Philemon and Baucis Giving Hospitality to Jupiter and Mercury" is a climactic snapshot of a tale from Greek mythology, where the two deities disguised as travelers reveal their true identity in front of a hospitable elderly couple after being turned away at every other door.



In addition, there is a series of floral still-life paintings produced in remarkable delicacy and a style of trompe l'oeil by Flemish artist Jan Brueghel the Elder. Below the illusory bouquet containing flowers of all four seasons  an impossible combination during the 17th century  are withered and fallen petals, alluding to memento mori, or the inescapability of death.





"Marie Antoinette, Queen of France" (1778) by Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun / Courtesy of Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien



Also on display are the shrewdly observed portraits of Maria Theresia (1717-80), the first and only female sovereign of the Habsburg dominions within the centuries-old dynasty, as well as ill-fated Queen Marie Antoinette of France (1755-93) in a pale silk dress and French military leader Napoleon I (1769-1821) after he was crowned king of Italy in 1805.



After presenting how the Kunsthistorisches Museum came into being as a repository of Habsburg art trove in the late 19th century at the initiative of Emperor Francis Joseph I (1830-1916), the exhibition ends with a surprising appearance of late Joseon-era armor and helmet gifted by King Gojong (1852-1919) to the Austrian emperor to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1892.





Late Joseon-era armor and helmet (1890-94) gifted by King Gojong to Emperor Francis Joseph I to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1892 / Yonhap
Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the Department of State, is seen answering a question in a daily press briefing at the department in Washington in this image captured from the department's website, Oct. 26. Yonhap



A nuclear test by North Korea would constitute a "grave escalatory action" that will be met by serious consequences, a state department spokesperson said Wednesday.



Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson for the department, insisted the U.S. has a "number of tools" to hold North Korea accountable for any future provocations.



"A seventh nuclear test, should it happen, would constitute a grave escalatory action and seriously threaten regional stability, international stability, security in the region, and it would also undermine the global non-proliferation regime and efforts that are being undertaken," he said in a daily press briefing.



Pyongyang conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017. U.S. officials, including state department press secretary Ned Price, have said the North may conduct its seventh nuclear test "at any time."






Just The Facts

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Sharon Lewin, director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, speaks during a session at the 2022 World Bio Summit held in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare



COVID-19 pandemic will persist in 2023, but with less severe waves: Lewin



By Lee Hyo-jin



Korea is an outlier when it comes to the mask mandate and people's tendency to wear face masks, says Sharon Lewin, director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.



"I've been travelling to a lot of countries and Korea is an outlier on masks. I'd be very interested to know if it is making a big difference to your numbers (of infections)," the Australian infectious disease specialist said in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday, during the 2022 World Bio Summit held in Seoul.



Lewin is the inaugural director of the Melbourne-based Doherty Institute, which was the first facility to isolate and share the SARS-CoV-2 virus outside of China in January 2020, and has played a major role in the global response to the pandemic.



She further said that she was quite fascinated to see Koreans wear masks outdoors consistently  even though the outdoor mask rule was lifted in September  unlike Australians who were keen to ditch face masks. The mask mandate indoors is still in place in Korea.



"Masks have been very helpful in stopping the spread of the coronavirus, but their efficacy with Omicron is a little less clear in a highly vaccinated population, which Korea is," she said.



In recent weeks, Australia  with a population of 26.1 million and territory 76 times the size of South Korea  has been doing away with its pandemic restrictions. Virus carriers are now "recommended" to isolate for five days, and the mask mandate indoors was lifted except for in certain environments such as healthcare and hospital settings as well as elderly care, disability service and mental health residential facilities.



The Australian government's decision to lift the mask rule, which was overall positively received by the public, did not lead to an uptick of infections there, Lewin noted.





People wearing masks walk on the streets of Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, Sept. 26, the day when the mask mandate outdoors was fully lifted. Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han
U.S. District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore, who was assigned the case involving the town of Superior, indicated he wished to see the lawsuits proceed separately. He acknowledged there will now be a possibility of conflicting rulings between various judges about whether the various local ordinances violate the Second Amendment. But, Moore said, "if anyone thinks the district court is going to have the last say on this, theyre kidding themselves. Come on."
Business owners, lawmakers and activists clashed Thursday during a town hall that delved into three ballot measures seeking to expand the sale and delivery of alcohol.

The town hall  hosted by Colorado Politics, The Denver Gazette and The Colorado Springs Gazette  brought together advocates and opponents of Propositions 126, 125 and 124. Respectively, the measures aim to allow third-party companies to deliver alcohol from restaurants, bars and liquor stores; permit grocery and convenience stores that sell beer to also sell wine; and, gradually eliminate the limit on liquor stores operated by one person or business.

Speakers from the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association and Denvers Joy Wine & Spirits pleaded against the ballot measures, saying they would run small liquor stores out of business by, among other things, increasing competition  a claim proponents said is simply not true.

It really is about convenience at what cost, said Chris Fine, executive director of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association. The underlying theme is that all three of these measures have outside, billion-dollar companies coming in to destroy the small mom-and-pops.

This is really a sob story by liquor stores, responded Michelle Lyng with the Wine in Grocery Stores campaign, which backs Props 126 and 125. (They said) if full-strength beers went into grocery stores, 700 liquor stores would close. Colorados records show there are actually 10 more liquor stores today than there were then. ... Theyre making up numbers out of thin air to scare legislators, to scare voters into maintaining their monopoly.

At various points, the opposition campaign argued that putting beers in grocery stores only didn't close liquor stores because the COVID-19 pandemic boosted alcohol sales.

The campaigns in support of the three ballot measures  Wine in Grocery Stores and Coloradans for Consumer Choice and Retail Fairness  have collectively raised over $17 million for their causes. The money was donated almost entirely by national corporations, including Total Wine & More, DoorDash and Instacart, according to records from the Secretary of States Office.

In contrast, the opposition campaign, Keeping Colorado Local, has raised around $635,000, including contributions from around two dozen local liquor stores.

Keeping Colorado Local said it represents all of Colorado's 1,600 local liquor stores in fighting against the measures; however, during the town hall, CEO of Applejack Wine & Spirits, Jim Shpall, said he supports Prop 124 to eliminate the limit on liquor stores operated by one person or business.

We want to have the opportunity to expand to compete, Shpall said. Right now, the playing field is not level. Big box grocery stores, such as Walmart and Target, are allowed to have an unlimited number of stores that have wine, beer and spirits in their stores. ... Were not saying that were going to expand, but we want that to be our choice.

Current law limits a person or business to holding only three licenses for retail liquor stores at once  to be increased to four by 2027. These limits do not apply to grocery stores that sell beer and, if Prop 125 passes, wine. Prop 124 would immediately raise the liquor store limit to eight, then to 19 by 2032 and remove the limit entirely by 2037.

Opponents said Prop 124 would only increase competition for small liquor stores and benefit large chains, such as Total Wine & More  a liquor store with more than 200 locations in 27 states, including the maximum three in Colorado. The owners of Total Wine & More, brothers Robert and David Trone, are backing Prop 124 and have single-handedly funded the initiatives $5.7 million campaign.

I only want one store and I speak on behalf of the majority of the 1,600 independently owned liquor stores, said Carolyn Joy, owner of Joy Wine & Spirits, who opposes all three ballot measures. I dont have the capital to have additional stores. It takes millions of dollars to open up additional stores. This does not create a level playing field.

Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett, D-Denver, argued that liquor store owners should be more worried about grocery stores than Total Wine & More, while speaking in support of Prop 124.

There are more King Soopers and Safeways in Colorado than there are Total Wines in the entire country, he said.

Garnett also criticized the idea that Colorado shouldnt update its antiquated liquor laws simply to protect small liquor stores.

"Nowhere else in the marketplace do we build in protection to prevent healthy competition, Garnett said. We dont do it for newspapers, we dont do it for florists, we dont do it for coffee shops. Im not exactly sure why were doing it for liquor stores. ... Its contrary to the Colorado way.

Other proponents argued that the ballot measures would actually help small liquor stores  specifically Prop 126, which would let third-party delivery companies, such as UberEats and DoorDash, deliver alcoholic beverages from restaurants, bars and liquor stores.

Lyng with the Wine in Grocery Stores campaign said Prop 126 would allow small liquor stores to offer delivery services  something most cannot afford to do because current law requires liquor stores to provide their own store-owned vehicle and employees to make deliveries. Large liquor stores such as Total Wine & More already deliver alcohol in Colorado.

Colorado restaurants have also stood in strong support of Prop 126, as it would permanently secure the legality of to-go alcohol. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state passed a law temporarily allowing the sale of alcohol for takeout and delivery through 2025.

It allows small restaurants an additional revenue stream, said John Jaramillo, co-founder of the Hispanic Restaurant Association, in support of Prop 126. Theyve already been hit hard enough by the pandemic. This just allows them to compete with larger restaurants and ensure their long-term survivability.

Besides just competition, opponents to Prop 126 raised concerns that third-party delivery of alcohol would lead to underaged drinking. Under the proposition, customers would have to upload a photo of a valid ID to purchase alcohol, and deliverers would be required to scan the ID in person and verify that its the right person. However, Fine of the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association said he doesnt believe gig delivery drivers would adhere to these requirements.

Youve seen these folks. They are on a schedule. They are dumping things on a front porch, and they are gone, Fine said. They are not going through the safeguards that are required and needed.  There is a safety aspect. Its our own vehicle, its our own employee because its our license on the line.

Safety concerns were also brought up regarding Prop 125, which would allow grocery and convenience stores that sell beer to also sell wine. Fine said he doesnt think grocery stores have the staffing capacity needed to adequately check IDs for wine sales.

Joy of Joy Wine & Spirits argued that wine sales would also hurt grocery store operations overall.

Theres already very long lines at the store and theres already a limited selection of food where I shop because theres dense population and not a lot of square footage, Joy said. In terms of convenience, I do not think its convenient as a consumer to have to have a limited selection of wine with no help and then have to check myself out."

Thats our point, Lyng with Wine in Grocery Stores countered, saying people will still shop at liquor stores for those reasons. Theres room for everyone to compete here."

Coloradans will vote on the three propositions, as well as on eight other statewide ballot measures, during the general election on Nov. 8.
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.
FILE PHOTO: Images shows state seal outside the Colorado Department of Education building, where the State Board of Education typically meets. The State Board of Ed is growing from seven seats to nine in an election that could shift political control of the board.
Korean American residents of Los Angeles gather in front of burnt down stores in the wake of the LA riots on April 29, 1992. Korea Times file



Documentary "Chosen" tells stories of Korean Americans of different political stripes who yearn for representation in US politics



By Lee Yeon-woo



Joseph Juhn's 2022 documentary, "Chosen," tells the stories of five Korean Americans who ran for U.S. Congress in 2020. The documentary tries to untangle the motives behind their pursuit of American politics.



The five are Young Kim, Andy Kim, Michelle Park Steel, Marilyn Strickland and David Kim. Four of them, except David Kim, successfully entered U.S. politics.



"Chosen" zooms in on when and how Korean Americans came to take representation seriously.



Rep. Young Kim, a Republican representative of California's 39th district, pointed to the tragic L.A. riots in 1992 as a watershed event that triggered Korean Americans to think that they need representation to make their voice heard in U.S. politics. "Koreans were fighting because the police were not there. That's when our community really woke up and said we need representation," she said.



The L.A. riots, also known in Korea as "sa-i-gu," the numbers that represent the date, April 29, constitute traumatic memories for Southern California's Korean American community. Stores in Koreatown were burnt down or looted while rioters took to the streets to protest the death of Rodney King, a victim of police brutality who was beaten to death during his arrest.



The motives behind Korean Americans running for elected positions vary. Rep. Andy Kim said he came to seek a political career as it was his version of the American dream. "My story as a Korean American story can be fundamentally an American story," he said.



The 2020 elections were the first time that five politicians of Korean descent were running for Congress at the same time.





The five Korean American candidates featured in the documentary, "Chosen," are in a group interview with Juju Chang, co-anchor of ABC News' "Nightline." Screenshot from Diaspora Film's YouTube channel



"The documentary began with my very personal questions. I read a book written by John Bolton, 'The Room Where It Happened.' After reading stories about the Hanoi summit, I wondered one thing. What if Korean American politicians were there?" Juhn said Wednesday after a special screening held in Yeouido, Seoul.









The Hanoi summit refers to the failed 2019 summit held between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The two-day summit was abruptly cut short in the middle of the second day as the two leaders presented incompatible demands.



"I just found it offensive. I did reach out to the White House and I told them, 'Why are you doing this?'" Rep. Andy Kim said.



While cross-cutting their personal stories in the film, director Juhn describes how each candidate represents the scars of modern Korean history and their significance in the Korean American community today.



Michelle Park Steel, a Republican representative of California's 48th district, is a first generation who immigrated to the U.S. in 1975 and worked day and night to feed her family. Her parents fled to Busan from North Korea during Korean War.



Marilyn Strickland, a Democrat representative from Washington's 10th district, was born at Yongsan Army Base to a Korean mother and an African American father who served in the military. Her mother was called a "military bride" at the time before eventually accompanying her husband to the U.S.



"You talk about the American dream. My family story is about the American dream," she said.



The documentary mainly follows the trajectory of David Kim, a Democrat who was narrowly defeated in California's 34th district at the time. He is the only one among the five who failed to get elected to Congress in 2020, but who is running again in the 2022 elections. Even though the district covers Los Angeles' Koreatown, he struggled to get support from more conservative members of the Korean American community as a left-leaning progressive Democrat.





David Kim, foreground on left, campaigns in Los Angeles' Koreatown as a Democrat candidate to represent California's 34th district in 2020. Courtesy of Connect Pictures
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Korea will participate in an international fleet review hosted by Japan next month, a senior government official said Thursday, as Seoul has been weighing whether to attend the controversial event.







Japan issued an invitation to Korea in January for the International Fleet Review slated for Nov. 6 in Sagami Bay, off Tokyo.







Korea has shunned Japanese fleet reviews in recent years amid chilled ties and public sentiment against the display of the imperial-era Rising Sun Flag during the reviews.







The flag, formerly used by the Japanese Imperial Army, is viewed by many Koreans as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.







"The National Security Council made a tentative decision this morning during a regular meeting of its standing committee to have our Navy participate in the fleet review," the senior official told Yonhap News Agency.







The fleet review will commemorate the 70th founding anniversary of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force. (Yonhap)


UK is learning how to rule the world in the new millennium. It is finding new ways to enforce the neo-colonial rule



India's Muslims have never ever felt so alienated as during the past eight years. As far as Kashmir is concerned, the Hindutva votaries who want a Hindu chief minister in the state forget that a Hindu raja, Hari Singh, had ruled over majority Muslim subject in the state before it became part of India.

The question is not who should become the leader, as it is purely a democratic prerogative. The BJP has done this at many places. It placed non-Adivasi leaders as leaders in the Adivasi dominated Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Yogi Adityanath is the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh but native from Uttarakhand. Narendra Modi gets himself elected from Uttar Pradesh despite being a native of Gujarat.

India needs to learn a lot from western democracies. It should learn to respect individual freedom and the right of choice. Even when Hindutva bhakts celebrate Sunak, he remains loyal to the UK and will do everything to protect his countrys interest.



We need to introspect how powerful countries enjoy the power of migrants and diversity. Look at the diversity in the UK and the USA -- both the countries have become richer, thanks to the migrants. India enjoys huge diversity as no other country. Our ethnic and linguistic diversity should be our strength, but the Sangh Parivar and the BJP wish to make us believe that it is our biggest obstacle in the way of becoming 'vishwaguru'. They want to impose Brahminical 'uniformity' of style all over the country.

UK, on the other hand, is learning how to rule the world in the new millennium. It is finding new ways to enforce the neo-colonial rule. Sunak will prove to be a stronger right-winger for his country. Surely, he is not going to serve our interests. Great Britain under him will not become a Hindu Rashtra, as India will not become another Rashtra under someone else. It will remain a powerful Christian country and the institution of Monarchy will keep it alive, even if democracy under pressure will pave the way for migrants to acquire the highest position. Sunak represents the right wing Tory Party of England. He will continue with the party's agenda.

The UK did not allow Jeremy Corbyn to be the Prime Minister as he was too radical to lead a country which colonised a major part of the world. Jeremy Corbyn could have been much better for global peace and social justice than an obscenely rich Sunak, who will only strengthen the right wing agenda in his country and may work against the interests of the immigrants and racial minorities.

Sunak's ascendency has an international dimension for UK's internal politics. He will follow the colonial and white supremacist agenda more powerfully than others to survive in local politics. There is nothing for us to celebrate in it, and the best that we can do is to learn to accept differences and accept the fact that in a democracy any citizen irrespective of caste and religion has the right to occupy the highest position.

---

*Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat; twitter: @freetohumanity Clearly, Mother Teresa or Sonia Gandhi are far more Indian and to be proud of than Kamala Harris and Sunak. There are hundreds others who left their native lands and became Indian citizens and devoted their lives for the welfare of the poorest of the poor, and we all should be proud of their work and dedication, even if they may not be Hindus.We need to introspect how powerful countries enjoy the power of migrants and diversity. Look at the diversity in the UK and the USA -- both the countries have become richer, thanks to the migrants. India enjoys huge diversity as no other country. Our ethnic and linguistic diversity should be our strength, but the Sangh Parivar and the BJP wish to make us believe that it is our biggest obstacle in the way of becoming 'vishwaguru'. They want to impose Brahminical 'uniformity' of style all over the country.UK, on the other hand, is learning how to rule the world in the new millennium. It is finding new ways to enforce the neo-colonial rule. Sunak will prove to be a stronger right-winger for his country. Surely, he is not going to serve our interests. Great Britain under him will not become a Hindu Rashtra, as India will not become another Rashtra under someone else. It will remain a powerful Christian country and the institution of Monarchy will keep it alive, even if democracy under pressure will pave the way for migrants to acquire the highest position. Sunak represents the right wing Tory Party of England. He will continue with the party's agenda.The UK did not allow Jeremy Corbyn to be the Prime Minister as he was too radical to lead a country which colonised a major part of the world. Jeremy Corbyn could have been much better for global peace and social justice than an obscenely rich Sunak, who will only strengthen the right wing agenda in his country and may work against the interests of the immigrants and racial minorities.Sunak's ascendency has an international dimension for UK's internal politics. He will follow the colonial and white supremacist agenda more powerfully than others to survive in local politics. There is nothing for us to celebrate in it, and the best that we can do is to learn to accept differences and accept the fact that in a democracy any citizen irrespective of caste and religion has the right to occupy the highest position.---

With Rishi Sunak having become the Prime Minister of UK, India's 'bhaktmandali' is in a celebration mood. Even the 'liberals' are celebrating it. For the record, people of Indian origin have become leaders in various countries, including Mauritius, Suriname, Fiji, Trinidad etc., yet we never felt proud of them.Most of these Indians were basically related to the families of 'indentured labourers', or what was termed slave trade, but that was never celebrated, despite the fact that these leaders have been proud of their Indian origin, and rightly so, because colonisation uprooted them from their roots and identities. Their love for India needs to be understood in their attempt to trace their roots which the brutalities of colonisation inflicted upon them.Kamala Harris became vice president of gthe USA, though that position is not so powerful. Yet, Indians 'celebrated' her being installed as vice-president. Now it is Sunak, whose family had migrated from Gujranwala, now part of Pakistan, to Kenya in 1937. Sunak's father Yashveer was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1949. He migrated to England in 1966. He married Usha in 1977, whose parents had migrated from Tanzania. Sunak was born in 1980 in Southampton. He married the daughter of NR Narayana Murthy, founder-chairman, Infosys.One may feel proud of Sunaks and Kamala Harris Hindu origin, yet the fact is, they went to the western world to 'earn' money and luxuries of life. They were never really deprived of their identities; in fact. they enjoyed their Hinduness much more than they would have in India. They belong to the category of Hindus who enjoy everything in the west, and yet dont want to give the same rights for other minorities.It is these luxurious castes which want to control our politics and social narrative in India, too.I dont know what is there to rejoice. Sunak is UK born. Modern democracies are 'citizenship based', where all citizens of a nation have the right to participate in social-political life.Ironically, all those who rejoice in Sunak or Kamala Harris have campaigned against Sonia Gandhi. One of the most disgusting, distasteful and vicious social media campaigns was done against Sonia Gandhi by the Sangh Parivar and its organised trolls. She was called names, her nationality was questioned.Much before she could have been elected as the leader of UPA, Sonia Gandhi faced the worst form of slanderous campaign by the top leaders of BJP. including Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharati. Sushma Swaraj went so far as to say that if Sonia Gandhi became the Prime Minister of India she would shave her head and sleep on the floor like a widow. Not without reason, Sushma Swaraj was regarded as the face of the BJP. In fact, the RSS and the BJP want such women leaders who remain committed to regressive thoughts and justify the oppression of women.It is not the issue of Sonia Gandhi alone. Muslims in India have been living here for more than 500 years. A majority of Muslims are of Indian origin, and yet their loyalty is in question. India's Union Cabinet does not have a representation from 14% minority of the country, and the top leadership of the ruling party continues to degrade and vilify Muslims. The representation of Muslims in India's Parliament and state assemblies has been continuously shrinking, but that is of no concern for the party which reaped dividends because of divisions.In order to deny the representation to the minorities and the marginalised, fake slogans of nationalism and national identities have been floated. Today, a number of people are suggesting that India is politically more diverse. They give the example of Dr Mankohan Singh and APJ Abdul Kalam. A Hindutva supporter 'prime time' expert even wondered the other day when would Jammu and Kashmir have a Hindu chief minister.India was perhaps the best model of diversityl but that happened under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, undoubtedly the tallest among all as the builders of modern India. Indira Gandhi too promoted diversity. Dr Zakir Hussain and Fakharuddin Ali Ahmed became presidents of India. VP Singh made Mufti Sayeed the Union Home Minister.The BJP can claim that it made Abdul Kalam as President. It also can claim to have made Ramnath Kovind, a Dalit, as the President of India. But one has only see the difference between him and Dr KR Narayayan, the other Dalit President, who spoke his mind and stood in the defence of the Constitution. Abdul Kalam was a BJP choice for many reasons. His life was considered the example of an 'ideal Muslim' (as per the RSS thinking) who appreciated Brahminical system more than Islam.Ramnath Kovind never had time follow the path shown by Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar. BJP refuses to allow an assertive Ambedkarite or a Muslim as leader in independent India. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar have no respect for diversity of languages or ethnicities. Even today, the current regime continues to impose Hindi over non-Hindi speakers.
A Korean-born New Zealand woman wanted by the country's police as a murder suspect in the deaths of two children leaves a police station in Ulsan, southeastern Korea to be transferred to Seoul, Sept. 15. Yonhap



New Zealand has requested Korea to extradite a woman in connection with the bodies of her two children that were discovered inside suitcases in Auckland, the justice ministry said Thursday.



The woman, known to be a Korean-born New Zealand citizen in her 40s, was arrested in the southeastern city of Ulsan last month after a global Interpol warrant had been issued for her arrest.



The ministry said there are reasonable grounds to believe that the woman had committed the crime and ordered the prosecution to ask the Seoul High court to conduct an extradition review.



The court should make a decision within two months and the justice minister will make a final decision.



The remains of two children  aged 7 and 10  were discovered inside suitcases in a storage facility in Auckland on Aug. 11. New Zealand police at the time estimated the children's remains had been there for three or four years.



New Zealand police then launched a manhunt after presuming the woman as the mother of the two children and the murder suspect.



The woman born in Korea is said to have acquired New Zealand nationality after her immigration, and her husband is reported to have died of a disease there.



She reportedly fled to Korea after her alleged crimes in New Zealand and stayed in Seoul and other places before moving into an acquaintance's apartment in Ulsan early this year. (Yonhap)




Lee Eun-hae, left, 31, and her extramarital lover, Cho Hyun-soo, 30, stand accused of murder in the drowning death of her husband. Korea Times file



A court on Thursday handed out a life sentence and a 30-year prison term to a woman and her boyfriend accused in the high-profile drowning death of her husband in 2019 for a hefty life insurance payout.



The Incheon District Court delivered the sentences to Lee Eun-hae, 31, and her extramarital lover, Cho Hyun-soo, 30, with an order for both to wear an electric tracking device for 20 years after serving the terms.



The two were indicted for allegedly prodding the woman's then 39-year-old husband to jump into a deep valley river in Gapyeong, 60 kilometers east of Seoul, in late June of 2019, even though he was unable to swim, and letting him drown.



The two were also accused of attempting to kill the husband that year by poisoning him with puffer fish toxin in February and trying to drown him at a fishing place in May.



Prosecutors had earlier demanded life imprisonment for both on the conclusion that they premeditated the crimes for 800 million won ($563,976) of death benefit payable to Lee upon the husband's death.



The court rejected prosecutors' charges that they "gaslighted" the husband and predetermined the river diving directly resulted in the husband's death, ruling instead that the death constitutes murder by nonfeasance because they did not help the victim when he drowned.



"Seeking the 800-million-won death benefit, they had attempted to murder the victim twice and failed, but they remained undeterred and ultimately completed the murder," the court said.



"From the initial investigation stage, the accused only tried to cover up their crimes ... and have never had sincere remorse or repentance," the court noted. (Yonhap)


Vietnamese travelers arrive at Yangyang International Airport in Gangwon Province on Oct. 14, one day after Fly Gangwon, a low-cost Korean air carrier, launched its Yangyang-Hanoi route. Yonhap



By Lee Hae-rin



Around 100 Vietnamese nationals who entered Korea as tourists via Yangyang International Airport have fallen out of contact, raising suspicions at the immigration service that they could attempt to overstay their authorized period of stay to work illegally here. Under the current regional visa-free entry system, they are authorized to stay for 15 days.



According to the Vietnamese newspaper, VN Express, Le Thi Thu Hang, the spokesperson for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced Tuesday that around 100 Vietnamese tourists have gone "missing" in Korea.



Vietnamese nationals, as well as those from the Philippines and Indonesia, have been able to enter Gangwon Province visa-free for a maximum of 15 days as part of a group tour by a state-designated travel agency since June this year. Mongolian travelers were also included in the visa-free entry program earlier this month.



Yangyang Airport's visa-free entry system was set up in June in response to a proposal by the Gangwon Province government to the Ministry of Justice arguing that the program would stimulate the local economy ahead of the Gangwon World Forest Expo in 2023 and the Gangneung Youth Winter Olympics in 2024.



The Vietnamese travel agency responsible for group tours has suspended bringing tourists to Yangyang. A company spokesperson said that the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul is in touch with the Korean government to cooperate in searching for those missing and deploy protective measures to prevent them from staying illegally in Korea.



Korean low-cost carrier Fly Gangwon also decided to suspend flights to Vietnam to prevent unauthorized departures for the rest of the month, as announced through the airline's website. The airline made a total of 18 regular flights and six chartered flights in the two weeks since Oct. 14 when it launched the air routes connecting Yangyang to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.



The missing tourists are suspected of attempting to remain beyond their authorized period of stay in order to work in Korea. Over 100 Thai tourists, who entered Jeju Island last month under a similar regional 30-day visa waiver program, have been caught working illegally or attempting to enter other parts of the country.



Group tourists who enter Yangyang via the regional visa-free entry program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and enter through a designated travel agency, before being allowed to travel in Gangwon Province and the Seoul capital area under the guidance of the tour agency for a maximum of 15 days. The visa-free entry program is a trial program operating through May 31, 2023, which could be extended by year, depending on how its results are evaluated.




Candlestick patterns are important tools in technical trading. Understanding them allows traders to interpret possible market trends and form decisions from those inferences. There are various types of candlestick patterns which can signal bullish or bearish movements. This article will briefly touch upon what candlestick patterns are and introduce the top 10 formations all traders should know to trade the markets with ease.

Try out our interactive trading quiz on forex patterns !

What are candlestick patterns?

A candlestick is a single bar which represents the price movement of a particular asset for a specific time period. The information it displays includes the open, high, low and close for that time period.

Candlestick patterns take into account one or more candlesticks to assist technical traders in developing inferences about future movements and price patterns of the underlying asset. These are displayed graphically on a chart, which is utilized for market analysis. Our guide to reading candlestick charts is a great place to start to learn how to interpret candlesticks for trading.

Candlestick Patterns can be Bullish or Bearish

In order to recognize and apply the most commonly used candlestick patterns to a trading strategy, traders need to understand how the inclination of these patterns can affect the market direction (trend). The tables below summarize the two main categories of price movement that candlesticks can indicate. Many of these patterns are featured in our top 10 list below.

Bullish Candlestick Patterns:

Candlestick Pattern Direction Morning Star Bullish (Reversal) Bullish Engulfing Bullish (Reversal) Doji Bullish/Bearish (Indecision) Hammer Bullish (Reversal) Bullish Harami Bullish (Reversal) Piercing Pattern Bullish (Reversal) Inside Bars Bullish (Continuation) Long Wicks Bullish/Bearish (Reversal)

Bearish Candlestick Patterns:

Candlestick Pattern Direction Evening Star Bearish (Reversal) Bearish Engulfing Bearish (Reversal) Doji Bearish/Bullish (Indecision) Bearish Harami Bearish (Reversal) Dark Cloud Cover Bearish (Reversal) Inside Bars Bearish/Bullish (Continuation) Long Wicks Bearish/Bullish (Reversal) Shooting Star Bearish (Reversal)

Top 10 Candlestick Patterns Traders Should Know

1 - EVENING STAR AND MORNING STAR

The evening and morning star candlestick patterns occur at the end of upwards/downward trends respectively and tend to indicate reversal patterns.

The names come from the star shaped formation of the arrangement.

As you can see from the image below, the first candlestick is in the direction of the trend, followed by a bullish or bearish candle with a small body. The third candlestick is seen in the direction of the reversal, ideally closing passed the halfway point of the first candlestick.

Trading this candlestick pattern will require a confirmation candle in the direction of the respective reversal  for example, traders will look for a bearish candle after the evening star.

2 - BULLISH & BEARISH ENGULFING

A bullish or bearish engulfing candlestick pattern may indicate reversal patterns.

or engulfing candlestick pattern may indicate A bullish engulfing candlestick formation shows bulls outweigh bears. As the pattern below shows, the green body (bulls) covers completely the first candlestick (bears).

A bearish engulfing candlestick pattern is small green (or bullish) candle followed by a larger red (bearish) candle immersing the small green candle.

3  DOJI

The Doji candlestick chart pattern is associated with indecision in the market of the underlying asset. This could mean potential reversal of the current trend or consolidation.

chart pattern is associated with of the underlying asset. This could mean potential reversal of the current trend or consolidation. This pattern can occur at the top of an uptrend, bottom of a downtrend, or in the middle of a trend.

The candlestick itself has an extremely small body centered between a long upper and lower wick.

4  HAMMER

The Hammer candle is viewed as a bullish reversal usually occurring at the bottom of a downward trend.

is viewed as a bullish reversal usually occurring at the bottom of a This candle formation includes a small body whereby the open, high, low and close are roughly the same. There is a long lower wick beneath the body which should be more than twice the length of the candle body. The body may be bullish or bearish, however bullish is considered more favorable.

5  BULLISH & BEARISH HARAMI

A Bullish or Bearish Harami may indicate reversal patterns .

. The word Harami means pregnant in Japanese, and the name has been given to this candlestick pattern because it resembles a pregnant woman. The second candle in the pattern must be contained within the body of the first candle as seen in the images below. This holds true for both bullish and bearish Haramis.

A downtrend precedes a bullish Harami and an uptrend precedes that of a bearish Harami.

6  DARK CLOUD COVER

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern is seen as a bearish reversal pattern .

. This candlestick pattern must occur during an uptrend. As seen in the image below, the bullish candle is followed by a bearish candle.

This bearish candle must confirm certain criteria to validate the Dark Cloud Cover pattern:

1. The opening price must by higher than the previous days close.

2. The closing price must close below the midpoint of the previous bullish candle.

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern looks similar to that of the Bearish Engulfing pattern. The difference between the two relates to the second candlestick. Bearish Engulfing pattern has the second candlestick opening above the close of the first, whilst the Dark Cloud Cover opens above the high of the first candle and closes below the midpoint of the first candlestick body.

7  PIERCING PATTERN

The Piercing Pattern is viewed as a bullish candlestick reversal pattern, at the end of a downtrend or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support.

at the end of a downtrend or during a pullback within an uptrend, or at the support. There are two components of a Piercing Pattern formation:

1. Bearish candle

2. Bullish candle

A Piercing Pattern occurs when a bullish candle (second) closes above the middle of bearish candle (first) in a downward trending market.

The open price of the second candle should gap down at market open and ensue by closing above the mid-point of the previous candle as indicated below.

Both the Piercing and Dark Cloud Cover patterns have similar characteristics. The difference is that the piercing line is a bullish reversal pattern as mentioned above, whilst the Dark Cloud Cover pattern is a bearish reversal pattern.

8  INSIDE BARS

The Inside Bar pattern is utilized in trending markets whereby the high and low of the Inside bar is within the parameters of the previous candle or mother bar.

Inside Bars are traded within the direction of the trend  if the market is in a downtrend, the trader would look to continue with a short position with the presence of an Inside Bar. The same principal is applied in an uptrend.

 if the market is in a downtrend, the trader would look to continue with a short position with the presence of an Inside Bar. The same principal is applied in an uptrend. Trading in the direction of the trend is not always a given as key levels of support/resistance can indicate a reversal. Classically, the entry points for traders is positioned above or below the high or low of the mother bar depending on the direction of the trade.

An inside bar is also similar to a bullish or a bearish harami candlestick pattern. The main difference being that with an inside bar, the highs and lows are considered while the real body is ignored.

9  LONG WICKS

Long Wicks candlestick patterns often indicate a reversal in the trend .

. Long Wicks occur when prices are tested and then rejected. The wick indicates rejected prices.

Identifying the trend is important to interpret the significance of the Long Wick.

Identifying key levels and price action is often used in conjunction with Long Wick patterns.

10  SHOOTING STAR

A Shooting Star is a bearish candle with a long upper wick, little or no lower wick and a small real body near the day's low. It comes after an uptrend, and potentially indicates a trend reversal to the downside .

is a bearish candle with a long upper wick, little or no lower wick and a small real body near the day's low. It comes after an uptrend, and potentially indicates a . The distance between the high and opening price of the candle must be more than twice as large as the Shooting Star's body. The distance between the lowest price for the day and the closing price must be very small or nonexistent.

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Further tips to trade using candlestick patterns
A committee tasked with compensating the victims of the Jeju April 3 incident holds a meeting at the Jeju municipal government headquarters on the southern island of Jeju on Oct. 27. Yonhap



Seventy years after the government's bloody suppression of a civilian uprising on Jeju Island, hundreds of survivors and families of victims will be compensated by the state for the first time, officials said Thursday.



A state committee tasked with compensating and recovering the reputations of the victims of the massacre selected the first group of 300 victims for compensation under a special law enacted in December.



Those eligible for compensation, including victims who were killed or went missing and suffered disabilities due to the incident, will receive up to 90 million won ($63,269) each under the compensation plan.



"The special law on the Jeju April 3 incident has been legislated through a bipartisan agreement, and the president has also shown great interest in the issue," Kim Jong-min, the committee chair, said ahead of Thursday's meeting to review compensation applications.



"We hope this will help allay the sorrow the bereaved families of those who suffered disabilities, went missing or were jailed underwent for the past 70 years or so."



On April 3, 1948, Jeju islanders began protesting against U.S. military-led rule following Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. The then government distorted the uprising as a communist riot and massacred an estimated 30,000 civilians, about 10 percent of the island's population at the time, in armed crackdowns over the subsequent years.



Under the compensation plan drawn up by the interior ministry, some 2,100 victims are expected to be compensated this year, followed by 2,150 more in 2023-25, before the plan is completed in 2026. The compensation, which covers 10,101 victims, is estimated at 960 billion won. (Yonhap)


Change is at last taking place in the controversial arena of caring for Britain's transgender children.

The turn of events is so dramatic it is being hailed by family campaigners as a huge step towards ending what they call a 'massive medical and social experiment' on youngsters who believe they have been born in the wrong body.

Momentously, NHS England  which has a history of listening to the pro-transgender lobby  has just announced plans to stop treating patients with powerful puberty blockers unless they are part of a strictly controlled clinical trial.

The plans, if implemented, mean the use of these blockers  which 'pause' puberty and are feared to cause irreparable harm  will be radically reduced.

The draft guidelines on future treatments  published recently and currently out for six weeks' consultation  say that children who believe they are transgender could be going through a 'phase' which they may grow out of as they get older.

Change is at last taking place in the controversial arena of caring for Britain's transgender children

Doctors are advised in the guidelines not to encourage young patients to change their names and pronouns.

Meanwhile, the NHS says its medics will not take 'clinical responsibility' for children or their parents who buy puberty-blocking drugs illegally without prescriptions off the internet or through unregulated foreign clinics, and warns they could face knocks on the door from social workers, or even the police.

Make no mistake about the importance of NHS England's new stance. Thousands of children in this country have been given blockers and other sex-change drugs by our health service over the years in what could become the biggest medical scandal of this century.

The use of puberty blockers has been curtailed in Sweden, France and several U.S. states (even though President Joe Biden this week said, bafflingly, that children who wished to take them had a right to do so).

Now it appears Britain is finally beginning to see sense as well.

Of course, genuine cases of gender dysphoria exist and require clinical treatment. But I have investigated the effects of puberty blockers over many years and am convinced they do immense and irreversible harm in a worrying number of instances.

There are fears that the drugs could endanger fertility, damage the still-developing adolescent brain and can blight intimate pleasure in adulthood.

In many cases, those who take them opt later to undergo brutal surgery to irretrievably reassign their sex organs.

In Paris, a top medical academy blames social media for fuelling demand for blockers, particularly among pubescent girls who want to stop their breasts developing, their periods starting and their hips widening as they pursue their aspiration to live as boys.

In Stockholm, a leading paediatrician has said the blockers chemically 'castrate' children and can cause mental health problems.

A ground-breaking investigation by Sweden's state-run TV channel revealed that 13 of 440 transgender children treated with blockers at the country's Karolinska University Hospital Gender Identity Development Service had suffered catastrophic injuries.

Their ailments include liver damage, weight gains of up to two stone, mental health problems, skeletal damage and a failure to grow to their natural height.

One 17-year-old suffered from spinal fractures and a bone-weakening condition called osteopenia. It is a disease generally seen in people in their 60s and 70s and is almost impossible to reverse.

After the film aired, the Karolinska reported itself to the national health board which has said, unwaveringly, that using blockers on children 'carries risks that outweigh benefits'.

Here in the UK, the tide has turned more slowly. Earlier this year the NHS decommissioned London's flagship clinic for treating children with gender dysphoria.

The Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), will shut next spring after offering consultations to 20,000 young people since 2009, including 5,000 in the past two years alone.

Astonishingly, it emerged last week, more than 30 of these 5,000 children were only aged four or five. It is not known how many, if any, received drug treatment.

The Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), will shut next spring after offering consultations to 20,000 young people since 2009, including 5,000 in the past two years alone

But what we do know is that many patients were referred to endocrinologists for blockers.

One of them was Keira Bell, who at 16 thought she no longer wanted to be a girl and was prescribed puberty blockers after three one-hour GIDS consultations.

She then had her breasts removed in an NHS operation three years later.

Keira told her heartbreaking story to the Daily Mail in January 2020, explaining that she regretted her decision to become a man, had de-transitioned and feared for her fertility because blockers may have irreparably harmed her female reproductive organs.

The decision to shut the Tavistock followed a review of child and youth gender identity services by Dr Hilary Cass, a leading paediatrician, who concluded little was known about the long-term effects on children of blockers and cross-sex hormones which make someone either more masculine or more feminine.

In an accompanying letter to young people, she said: 'Whenever doctors prescribe, they want to be as certain as possible that the benefits will outweigh any adverse effects so that when you are older you don't say: 'Why did no one tell me that might happen?'

Tavistock pioneered the use of blockers on children in 2011 when their impact on future development was largely unknown.

They were prescribed prior to detailed research into their effects and had only previously been used to treat precocious puberty, when a child's body accelerates into adulthood too soon.

The clinic said it increased the use of blockers in response to high demand from girls wanting to be boys. In 2014, it lowered the minimum prescription age for the drugs from 16 to 11.

'The good thing is,' one of the GIDS staff told an apparently dysphoric female child in CBBC programme I Am Leo: 'If you stop the injections, it's like pressing a start button and the body just carries on developing as it would if you hadn't taken the injection.'

It sounds so simple, but this is now known to be dubious advice. The NHS consultation report says that it is still gathering evidence on the 'safety, potential benefits, and harms of blockers'.

Four years ago worried medics  both current and former Tavistock employees  were already sounding the alarm.

One was erstwhile nurse Susan Evans, who at the time warned the Mail: 'Children with gender identity problems expect hormone blockers to be handed out quickly. They think these drugs will solve all their concerns: such as how they look, lack of friends, physical changes and typical teenage angst.'

She added: 'I think the risks of blockers are long-term, including fertility loss. There are worries they interfere with the full development of adolescent brains.'

Four years ago worried medics  both current and former Tavistock employees  were already sounding the alarm

A little publicised report from the Tavistock soon afterwards admitted that some of the clinic's child patients had shown signs of the same stunted height and thin bone density conditions shown in Karolinska University Hospital. It got scant attention.

Yet, however belatedly, it is eminently sensible for the NHS now to deter the consumption of blockers as if they were lemon sherbets.

The plan will lead to protests from pro-transgender groups, not least because they consider blockers the Holy Grail for treating youngsters.

This week the website of Mermaids, a leading pro-trans organisation advising children, was still unequivocally preaching the virtues of blockers as an 'internationally recognised safe, healthcare option'.

Adding that they've been prescribed to trans people since 1988, the charity said blockers 'allow a young person to consider their options when exploring their gender identity, as well as alleviating the distress of gender dysphoria'.

A clinic called GenderGP, which offers British transgender children medical care over the internet from an outpost in Spain, also proclaimed: 'The medical support of trans youth is constantly under attack.

'GenderGP stands firmly with the world's more progressive organisations who completely understand that supporting youth with puberty blockers and hormones, where appropriate, is a necessary and life-saving intervention.'

It is fair to say that whatever the new-found intentions of the NHS, there will be a battle ahead.
The joyful festive advert will air during Coronation Street's ad break this Friday

TK Maxx has revealed its festive advert - featuring disco music and a jubilant customer who 'nails Christmas for less' thanks to the high street retailer.

The festive offering sees a woman walking through her town high fiving everyone because she bought all her Christmas presents at the discount store.

Shared exclusively with FEMAIL ahead of its release, the ad is set to the funky tunes of Cerrones 1977 hit 'Supernature' and suggests that you can still treat your loved ones to a nice Christmas, even when you're on a budget.

A TV version will air during Coronation Street's ad break on Friday, while the 80 second-long version will air online.

TK Maxx has revealed its festive advert - featuring disco music and a jubilant customer who 'nails Christmas for less' thanks to the high street retailer

The 30-second fit-for-TV version will air during Coronation Street's ad break on Friday, while the 80 second-long version will air online

In the advert, a father tells his teen, named Sam, that she shouldn't have spent so much money on her family's presents this year - but she reveals she 'just went to TK Maxx,' which earns her a high five from her father.

Later, as she walks through her town, which is all decked out for the holidays, its inhabitants all give Sam a high-five to congratulate her on her festive bargains.

Even a goat and a royal mailbox extend a paw and an arm to Sam as she walks past them.

While Sam goes from high five to high five, she is joined by a massive crowd of celebrating holidaymakers on the town's square.

At the end of the advert, a stylish woman asks Sam if she shopped her presents at TK Maxx. When Sam confirms that she has, the woman nods in praise and says 'you've nailed it.'

In the advert, a teen named Sam is told by her father that she didn't have to go all out for Christmas this year. Sam reveals she 'just went to TK Maxx,' which earns her a high five from her dad

Later, as she walks through her town, which is all decked out for the holidays, its inhabitants all give Sam a high five to congratulate her on her festive bargains

The ad speaks of TK Maxx's commitment to offering an affordable Christmas to its customers this year, as the country struggles on with the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Deborah Dolce, Group Director at TK Maxx said: 'With the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we know this is a tough year and, for many people, Christmas is such an important time to come together with loved ones.

'Sharing presents is an integral part of the festivities  we all love to treat our friends and family.

'So, we just wanted to let people know you can still do a brilliant job by shopping at TK Maxx,' she added.

Even a goat and a royal mailbox extend a paw and an arm to congratulate Sam as she walks past them

At the end of the advert, a stylish woman asks Sam if she shopped her presents at TK Maxx. Wen Sam confirms that she has, the woman nods in praise and says 'you've nailed it'

'And as our upbeat advert highlights, when you find the right gift, at the right price, the feeling is undeniably infectious,' she went on.

The advert was produced by advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy London, which has long been a partner of TK Maxx, and was directed by acclaimed director Max Siedentopf.

It is being rolled out as part as the retailer's biggest Christmas campaign to date.

Hannah Smit and Paddy Treacy, Creatives Directors at Wieden+Kennedy London, said: 'Christmas is back and this year value is more important than ever. The solution? TK Maxx of course! They've got everything you need to Nail Christmas for Less.

'Which is exactly what happens in our fun, fashionable and festive high-five-fuelled spot, dreamed up in collaboration with the wonderful Mr. Max Siedentopf.'
Yes, Ill admit it, I can be a bit of a snob when it comes to fashion. I would never pick up an outfit for myself at a supermarket and Primark is strictly for the kids PJs.

However, my attitude has begun to change. Disposable income is declining and there is no question this affects our wardrobes. But it doesnt mean we have to stop buying clothes altogether. Those High Street stores you once walked past need exploring. Here is my pick of the best . . .

Reserved, Polands answer to Zara, has the biggest supermodels in the business  Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne  fronting its campaigns. It is your first port of call for clothes that look like they cost ten times more than they do.

Reserved, Polands answer to Zara, has the biggest supermodels in the business  Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne  fronting its campaigns. It is your first port of call for clothes that look like they cost ten times more than they do

Remember Bonmarche? Its new Lorraine Loves collection is a collaboration with breakfast TV host Lorraine Kelly. You need to dig for treasure but it can be found. The jeans selection is impressive  and only 20 a pair.

Primark has been accused of green-washing in the past, but its sustainable cotton programme is probably better than many more expensive brands.

Meanwhile, George at Asda has signed up with award-winning stylist Tan France (of TVs Queer Eye) for exclusive edits that will keep you on trend with cash to spare. George has a great range of sizes.

Sainsburys Tu also has some gems including the show-stopping red puffer, top right. While if its oversized knits youre after, why not make it eye-catching orange and 22 from F&F at Tesco.

Of course, the usual rules apply, regardless of budget. No impulse buys and think hard about how often youll wear something. Look for timeless styles, and fabrics that will wash and wear well.

Trust me, cotton and wool will serve you better than polyester.
China's 39th Antarctic expedition begins

Xinhua) 08:20, October 27, 2022

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)




The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a guilty verdict for former Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin accused of political meddling surrounding elections in 2012.







Kim, who served as a defense minister between 2010 and 2014, had been sentenced to two years and four months in prison on charges of ordering the military cyber command to post online comments in favor of the then conservative government around the general and presidential elections in 2012.







The Supreme Court, however, struck down the verdict and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court.







Kim, who served in two successive conservative administrations under Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, was indicted in 2018 following the election of the previous liberal government of President Moon Jae-in.







He was accused of collaborating with other senior officials to instruct the cyber command to post some 9,000 online comments favorable to the then government and critical of the then opposition party. (Yonhap)


A teen has been blinded in one eye after a tube of hair dye 'exploded' in her face - burning off the surface of her eyeball.

Olivia Stegin, 13, from Rincon, Georgia, was dyeing her hair dark brown with a friend, using an at-home product where you pierce the metal tube to squeeze the dye out but the tube failed to puncture properly.

She attempted to squeeze the product out, but the pressure caused the tube to 'explode' in her face.

The explosion saw a jet of dye shoot into her left eye, leaving it covered in the chemical paste.

Olivia Stegin, from Rincon, Georgia, has been blinded in one eye after a tube of hair dye 'exploded' in her face - burning off the surface of her eyeball

Her mother Pamela Stegin-Sheppard, 40, heard Olivia's screams from downstairs before rushing her to hospital where doctors confirmed she had suffered a third-degree chemical burn to her eyeball.

Doctors say the teen will need a cornea transplant to restore her vision because the top layer of hers was 'burned off' and grew back scarred, causing vision loss.

The stay-at-home mother has now shared shocking photos of her daughter's injured eye to warn people to be extra careful with hair dye and other potentially harmful chemicals.

Pamela said: 'I was in the kitchen and I heard Olivia scream.

She was dyeing her hair dark brown with a friend, using an at-home product where you pierce the metal tube to squeeze the dye out but the tube failed to puncture properly (pictured before the accident)

The explosion saw a jet of dye shoot into her left eye, leaving it covered in the chemical paste and the teen ended up in hospital

She was rushing her to hospital where doctors confirmed she had suffered a third-degree chemical burn to her eyeball

Olivia's eye went a bright yellow green colour due to eye drops before it turned a foggy greyish colour

'Olivia and her friends usually run around the house and scream and play but I knew that was a different scream, that was a serious scream.

'The hair developer comes in a tube and has that top that you usually take off and turn upside down to puncture it, but it didn't puncture properly.

'She was squeezing on the tube and from all that pressure it exploded and half of the tube shot in her eye.

'I ran in there and panicked because her whole eye was covered, you could hardly see her eyelashes and you couldn't see her eyeball at all.

'I grabbed her and put her in the shower and tried to put her face under it to rinse it out but she was in so much pain that she fought us a bit and didn't want us to touch her.

Her mother Pamela Stegin-Sheppard, 40, heard Olivia's screams from downstairs on the day of the accident and rushed her to hospital (pictured before the accident)

'It was probably on her eye for a good 15 to 20 minutes penetrating her eye before we could actually get it rinsed out good.

'Immediately she could not see anything and she kept saying how bad it hurt. I was just so scared for her.'

After thoroughly rinsing Olivia's eye, doctors from Effingham Health Systems in Springfield, GA, sent the teen and her mother home and told them to return for a check-up a few days later.

Since then, for the last five months, she has had weekly appointments with numerous specialist doctors attempting to heal her eye and restore her vision.

After thoroughly rinsing Olivia's eye, doctors from Effingham Health Systems in Springfield, GA, sent the teen home

For the last five months, she has had weekly appointments with numerous specialist doctors attempting to heal her eye and restore her vision

Olivia was prescribed eyedrops to prevent infection and calm the inflammation and had an amniotic membrane (AM) transplant to her cornea to try and help it heal

Olivia was prescribed eyedrops to prevent infection and calm the inflammation and had an amniotic membrane (AM) transplant to her cornea to try and help it heal.

After her sight initially began to return in July, Olivia was devastated when she quickly went blind in that eye again as her cornea grew back scarred, permanently obscuring her vision.

Doctors have said the teen will need a cornea transplant to restore her vision, despite the high risk of the transplant being rejected due to her young age and robust immune system.

Having the surgery at such a young age will also mean that she will likely have to undergo numerous transplants as they are usually only effective for ten years.

Pamela said: 'At the ER they put a little contact lens looking thing with a tube coming from it on her eye to try to rinse it out as much as they could.

'In the beginning we were told her eye would get better within 72 hours but her eye was worse than they thought - the top layer of her cornea was burned off.

After her sight initially began to return in July, Olivia was devastated when she quickly went blind in that eye again as her cornea grew back scarred, permanently obscuring her vision

A once confident teen doesn't like taking pictures since the accident because she said that she 'looks ugly' (pictured before the accident)

Doctors have said the teen will need a cornea transplant to restore her vision, despite the high risk of the transplant being rejected due to her young age and robust immune system

'They found that amniotic membrane tissue, donated from mothers who have c-sections, promotes healing with the cornea so they put one of those on her eye.

'She wore that for a couple of weeks and we thought that a miracle had happened because her vision actually started improving.

'She went from not being able to see anything at all with 20/80 vision, to 20/30 which is ten degrees from perfect vision.

'But that's when we had a turn for the worse.

'Her cornea grew back but it grew back scarred and the blood vessels are growing over it so it's making it non-transparent, that's what's causing the vision loss.

'Unless a miracle happens she's going to have to have a cornea transplant to be able to regain her vision.'

Before the horrific accident the teen was a very confident and an out going girl who had no worries

Olivia's confidence has been dented as a result of losing her sight and the change in her appearance

The teen was pictured on her 13th birthday looking happy and confident before the horrible accident

As a result of the severe damage to her cornea, Olivia also developed a Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency, meaning her cornea is unable to repair and renew itself - leaving her vulnerable to persistent inflammation and scarring.

Not only does this cause chronic pain but it also means that vision loss is likely, therefore Olivia will have to undergo a Limbal Stem Cell transplant before she is able to get a cornea transplant.

Aside from the physical damage of her accident, Pamela says Olivia's confidence has been dented as a result of losing her sight and the change in her appearance.

The teen is now under the supervision of a paediatric specialist and hopes to undergo both transplants in the coming months to restore her vision and confidence.

Pamela said: 'If you're two to three inches from her face waving your hand she can see something moving but she can't see it's a hand.

'When she tries to look straight ahead her eye is kind of veering off to the side a bit because she doesn't have control of it.

'It makes her look cross-eyed and she suffers a lot of pain from it.

'She's been so strong but it has knocked her confidence and that's what kills me the most because she's a beautiful girl.

'She doesn't like taking pictures since the accident because she said that she looks ugly.

The mother and daughter are very close and Pamela is helping Olivia through this hard time while also fundraising to cover hospital bill costs

The teen is now under the supervision of a paediatric specialist and hopes to undergo both transplants in the coming months to restore her vision and confidence

'It has caused her to have bad anxiety about going into stores - she is embarrassed because people stare at her.'

The mother-of-one now hopes to warn anyone using hair dye to be extra careful, take heed of warning labels and thoroughly rinse their eye if it comes into contact with the product.

Olivia herself now takes extra precautions when dyeing her hair, by wearing protective eyewear and always having an adult present.

Pamela said: 'It's a lesson learned for her that you have to read the warnings on any kind of chemical.

'It said right there on the tube don't apply pressure to it if it doesn't puncture properly because that's what can happen.

The mother-of-one Pamela now hopes to warn anyone using hair dye to be extra careful, take heed of warning labels and thoroughly rinse their eye if it comes into contact with the product

Pamela (right) is now fundraising to help cover the extensive medical costs of Olivia's specialist weekly eye appointments and future procedures

'She's dyed it since with someone with her and we put an eye patch and safety goggles on just as a precaution.

'Whether it's at home or a hair salon, accidents can happen and if something like that does happen you've just got to bite the bullet, deal with the pain and get it rinsed out as soon as possible.

'How long it's on there is going to determine how much damage it does because it's going to penetrate more into the eye.'

The mother is now fundraising to help cover the extensive medical costs of Olivia's specialist weekly eye appointments and future procedures.

You can donate to Olivia's page here.
Princess Anne has expressed her shock at a fire which killed 11 schoolgirls at a school for the blind in Uganda, which she was due to visit on Friday.

In a statement, the Princess Royal, 72, said her 'thoughts and prayers' were with staff and families at Salama School in the Mukono District, which she had planned to visit in her role as patron of charity Sense International.

The fire, which broke out in the school dormitories at 1am local time on Tuesday morning, killed 11 pupils and left six more people in critical condition in hospital.

Princess Anne (pictured at the Nakivale refugee settlement on Wednesday) has expressed her shock at the fire at the Salama School for the Blind in the early hours of Tuesday morning which killed 11 pupils

Mourners outside the Salama school wept for the 11 girls who had perished in the fire as a police investigation began

The fire broke out in a dormitory (pictured) at around 1am on Tuesday morning, local time. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation

The Sun reports Her Royal Highness's statement read: 'I was shocked to hear the news of the tragic loss of life. The work of Sense International across many countries is hugely appreciated, working with such a vulnerable group of children.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and staff.'

The school's headmaster Francis Kirube, who is also blind, said the flames swept through the dormitory as the pupils slept.

Images from the scene of the blaze showed a charred but still largely intact building where the fire broke out, its window frames and door blackened and the corrugated roof damaged.

The Princess Royal is currently visiting the African nation with her husband Tim Laurence, 67, as part of her second overseas visit since the Queen passed away at the age of 96 on 8 September

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 on Tuesday

Forensic teams were seen in white protective gear at the school, while grieving parents were pictured weeping as they sat on the ground nearby.

Ugandan police are still investigating the cause of the fire and have said more details will be released when they are available.

As the community reels from the fire, it is unclear if the Princess Royal's visit to the school will go ahead as part of her tour of Uganda with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, 67, which has so far seen her visit organisations working to end poverty as part of her charity work.

On Wednesday, Anne opened a bank at the Nakivale refugee settlement, which offers specialised financial services for individuals and small businesses.

She was also pictured speaking to members of the 'Unleashed' youth entrepreneur group, which works to empower social enterprise leaders.

Later in the day, Her Royal Highness also visited the settlement's Wenzetu Women's Group, which supports the parents of children with disabilities.

The visit to Salama School was not the only engagement on Princess Anne and Sir Tim's itinerary for Friday, with a visit to an HGV driver training programme scheduled too.

The royal couple will watch female students complete the 'Safe Way, Right Way' HGV truck driver training programme as part of her work with Transaid.

The Princess Royal co-founded the organisation - which provides safe and sustainable transport - with Save the Children and The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) 25 years ago.

The Uganda tour is Princess Anne's second overseas visit since the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September.

The 'hardest-working royal' made a whistle stop, low-key tour of New York City earlier this month, which involved hardly any press or promotion.

On Tuesday evening the Princess Royal paid tribute to her late mother with a brooch she had inherited while at dinner with Yoweri K Museveni - the President of the Republic of Uganda - and his daughter Natasha at the state residence in Kampala.

She donned Empress Maria Feodorovna's Sapphire Brooch, which had been handed down to her by her mother.
Peru Two drug mule Michaella McCollum has celebrated the release of the docu-series about her crime on Netflix, a year after it aired on BBC1.

High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule was released globally on Netflix last weekend and is proving popular - reaching number nine in the most-watched programmes in Cyprus.

Michaella from Dungannon Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested in Peru alongside Melissa Reid.

The pair had travelled to the country from Ibiza, where they were employed by a drug-dealing gang to smuggle 1.5million worth of cocaine out of the country.

Taking to Instagram to celebrate her latest stint in the spotlight, she beamed as she posed in front of a Netflix logo cake in a sizzling cut out brown dress.

Michaella McCollum recently celebrated a huge Netflix deal which saw her docu-series High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule released worldwide on the streaming service

Sharing the snap with her nearly 60,000 followers she wrote: 'F***ing celebration cake! Netflix worldwide weekend.'

The docu-series High: Confessions of an Ibiza Drug Mule - which aired on the BBC last year - was released globally on Netflix over the weekend.

Michaella - who returned to Ireland back in August 2016 - was thrilled as the show reached the number six spot in South Africa, Canada, Slovenia, Switzerland and Czech Republic, seventh in Netherlands and eighth in Sweden, Austria and Romania.

People rushed to the comments on her latest post to congratulate the former trafficker on the series saying it delivered a 'super important message'.

Taking to Instagram she beamed as she posed in front of a Netflix logo cake in a sizzling cut out brown dress

'Peru Two' drugs mule, from Dungannon Co Tyrone, in Northern Ireland made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested in Peru

People rushed to the comments on her latest post to congratulate the former trafficker on the series saying it delivered a 'super important message'

One person said: 'I loved the series! It has a super important message, you can learn from your mistakes and change. you are a strong woman overcoming all those challenges and facing the consequences of your mistakes! Enjoy a beautiful life now.'

Another wrote: 'Pay no mind to the 'haters'. Those who have pulled themselves up from the lowest places are stronger than those who've never faltered, imho.'

While someone else said: 'We have all made more or less serious mistakes in life, the important thing is to admit the mistake is to start again with your head held high .. no one is perfect, especially those who judge because they are the first to be afraid of judgment .. good luck.'

A fourth person said: 'Fair play Michaela your a strong lady to not let your teenage mistake ruin your life.'

Michaela (left) made headlines in 2013 when she was arrested in Peru alongside Melissa Reid (right). The pair had travelled to the country from Ibiza, where they were employed by a drug-dealing gang to smuggle 1.5million worth of cocaine across the world

Michaella recalled sobbing on her concrete bunk at the Peruvian prison where she served three years and tells how inmates there were 'just so sexually active' in the documentary

Michaela and Melissa were caught arriving at Lima airport and sentenced to six years and eight months inside a grim jail in the Peruvian capital, after cutting a deal with the state prosecutor to confess which reduced the maximum 15 year sentence they'd be handed if found guilty at trial. However, they were released after serving three years.

Speaking in High: Confessions Of An Ibiza Drug Mule, McCollum told how the idea of spending 15 years in Ancon 2, one of South America's fearsome maximum-security women prisons, made her 'want to do something stupid'.

'The whole place was just so toxic, everything about it was toxic, the majority of the people were toxic,' she said. 'The first thing I noticed about Ancon was it was just so manic and crazy and noisy, it sounded like a zoo.

'It just felt like you were in this madhouse. There was this woman... she had caught her husband having an affair and she had killed their child, and then she fed it to her husband in a stew.

Michaella (left) and Melissa (right) were sentenced to six years and eight months inside a grim jail in the Peruvian capital, after cutting a deal with the state prosecutor to confess which reduced the maximum 15 year sentence they'd be handed if found guilty at trial

'I've never been so scared and I was obviously really intimidated because we were foreign... One of the things I noticed about Ancon quite quickly was they were just so active sexually.

'I'd never actually seen people be so open about their sexuality, I was shocked that they were doing that kind of thing quite openly. Nobody was really making that big of an issue so I didn't really want to make an issue of it either, but I felt uncomfortable that was happening so close to me.

'The way people would behave like that and the fact I couldn't understand a word anyone was saying just added to this whole confusing mad feel of the place where you never knew what was going to happen next.'

At age 19, craving sun and adventure, McCollum took her first foreign holiday to Ibiza, where she became embroiled in its hedonistic partying and drug scene.

McCollum describes the moment an armed officer put his hand on her shoulder at the airport before the drugs were discovered in the documentary (pictured being moved from the National Police anti-drug headquarters to a court to be formally charged for drug trafficking in Lima)

After she was moved to Ancon 2, McCollum became anxious about having a target on her back because she'd cooperated with the authorities to lessen her sentence

She met a 'Cockney guy called Davey', who groomed her over a series of weeks with romantic beach dates before persuading her to pick up a package for him in Barcelona while she was high on acid at a villa party, in exchange for 5,000.

'He made it sound like a walk in the park,' she recalled. 'I literally thought a small package of, I obviously thought it was drugs, I definitely didn't think it was going to be anything big.'

Soon after, she said, she and another young girl - Melissa - were in an apartment in Mallorca where a man who kept a drawer full of guns in the house was preparing them to go to Lima.

Apparently there'd been a change of plan on the destination front, and McCollum, who'd 'never really paid much attention in Geography', didn't want to admit she had no idea where in Spain Lima was. She claimed she only realised when she saw the computer screen on the seat in front of her on the plane.

'I seen the huge arrow pointing towards South America and I was like, 'Oh ****.' I felt panic, 'Oh my God, I'm going to the jungle',' she explained.

After spending a day backpacking, posing as tourists, the twosome met with the cartel who stuffed their bags full of uncut cocaine.

McCollum describes the moment an armed officer put his hand on her shoulder at the airport before the drugs were discovered.

'The guy started shouting, 'Coca, coca, coca' and all of a sudden the place erupted, everyone was shouting and screaming. I just thought this is not happening, it's not real life,' she said.

'We were handcuffed and they cuffed our feet too. It was freezing, it smelt like a toilet and it was so dark I could barely make the walls out. Lately there'd been a lot of contenders for worst day of my life but this was going to take some beating.'

At age 19, craving sun and adventure, McCollum took her first foreign holiday to Ibiza, where she became embroiled in its hedonistic partying and drug scene

She told how her bunk in her cell was a 'piece of concrete' and she was 'crying all the time'. The next morning she woke up and asked to call her family, which was 'the worst phone call ever'.

'My mum said, 'I thought you were dead',' she recalled, becoming emotional. 'And then I got really upset because I didn't know she was going through all of that. And I'm like, how am I going to tell her where I am.

'I said, 'I'm in Peru, I'm in jail,' and she was like, 'What, what?', and then the phone call ended, I didn't get to tell her the situation.'

McCollum's brother later told her that her mother had passed out. 'She was just so overwhelmed by the anxiety and the stress,' she explained. 'I think she was just completely heartbroken.'

She was released in 2016 and told how she and her mother 'hugged like freaks for 10 minutes' before the guards told her to leave. McCollum then helped arrange for Reid to expedite her parole hearing.

While awaiting trial at Virgen de Fatima prison, McCollum said she struggled to sleep because it was infested with cockroaches.

'I barely ate, I couldn't sleep, I would lie awake all night with the guilt and the cockroaches,' she said.

'At the beginning I was obviously really scared because I hadn't really seen cockroaches before. And there was lots, there was so many of them. They would hide during the day, and when I would get into bed you would hear them crawling up.

Now a mother of twins and studying for a degree, McCollum said her experience in prison was transformative

'I used to just cover myself with a sheet and hope they didn't crawl on me. I was really paranoid because I felt like my skin was crawling all the time. I went to see the prison doctor and he basically said I was crazy because I felt like there was things on me but there wasn't. Basically I was really losing it.'

After she was moved to Ancon 2, she became anxious about having a target on her back because she'd cooperated with the authorities to lessen her sentence.

A cartel lawyer justifies her concerns, telling the documentary: 'To kill a person is a business of two or three seconds. You can hire a [hitman] in a Peruvian jail.'

While behind bars, McCollum witnessed a harrowing attack where an inmate attacked another with a long needle.

'She just leaped across the table and started attacking this other girl, her blood and hair were everywhere,' she said.

'After the first few horrendous months there I did slowly start to drop my guard a bit... I kind of figured if they wanted me dead it would have happened by now.'

McCollum grabbed every opportunity she could to prove that she was trustworthy. She took over the running of the prisons beauty salon, and became a delegada - a representative - for her fellow inmates, the first English-speaking person ever to hold the role. She worked hard to learn Spanish and forged friendships with other drug mules.

McCollum, who helped arrange for Reid to expedite her parole hearing, said prison made her the person she is today which is a 'better person than she would have been otherwise'

'I learned the prison had their very own beauty salon, more like a few chairs and mirrors and a concrete room, but for me it was heaven,' she explained.

'I got a job and I would do different hair treatments, colouring and cutting, blow-dries, waxing, nails, massage. I had no real qualifications, I was winging it but I was good at it. I had a lot of clients.

'I really did try to improve things; I got water filters so we could all have clean water and a microwave, and we would have evenings where we have an hour of dancing.'

Her 'lucky break' finally came in 2015 when she met a man called Fernando who worked at the local courtroom and hired himself out to prisoners who were fed up with waiting for their parole paperwork on the side.

For a healthy fee he would grease the appropriate wheels to expedite his clients case, so McCollum paid the bribe and made an impassioned plea for freedom.

'I wanted them to understand how the mistakes Id made in the past had given me this chance to learn and grow,' she said.

She was released in 2016 and told how she and her mother 'hugged like freaks for 10 minutes' before the guards told her to leave. McCollum then helped arrange for Reid to expedite her parole hearing.

Now a mother of twins and studying for a degree, McCollum said her experience in prison was transformative.

'When you're young you don't know it all. I made a dreadful mistake and I regret it, but what prison taught me made me who I am today and that's a better person than I would have been otherwise,' she said. 'I am a mam now and I am going to get on with being the best one I can.'
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark has spoken publicly for the first time since his mother, Queen Margrethe II, announced that she would be stripping the prince and princess titles from Prince Joachim's four children.

Heir to the throne, Frederik, 54, has remained quiet since the announcement a month ago, but broke his silence today to say: 'It is sad to see how affected he has been by the decision.'

Speaking to Danish publication B.T. the father-of-four, denied his brother's claims that they're not speaking and insisted that they have been in 'constant' communication.

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie have, on the other hand, previously claimed that they have not spoken to the Crown Prince or his wife Princess Mary, 50 during the crisis and that the relationship with them is 'complicated.'

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (pictured left) has spoken broken his silence on his mother's decision to strip Prince Joachim's (pictured right) children of their royal titles

On Thursday, Crown Prince Frederik appeared for the first time at a public event since his mother announced her decision to remove the royal titles of Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10.

According to the Danish news outlet the father-of-four, repeated several times that he supported the Queen and has had 'lots of communication' with his younger brother, Prince Joachim.

He said: 'I am in continuous contact with my brother, I have always been funnily enough, so there is nothing new in whether I have been in contact with him. I am in continuous contact with him.'

Yet, he could not avoid addressing the 'discrepancy' in the royal family regarding the titles of Prince Joachim's children, which he labelled a 'family matter.'

Frederik said: 'It is sad to see how affected he has been by the decision.'

But he went on to back the Queen's wishes, despite understanding his brother's position.

The Crown Prince explained to the publication that he is invested in the Danish monarchy remaining 'lean over time,' and so backed his mother's decision.

Queen Margrethe II announced on 28th September that Prince Joachim's four children would loose their royal titles. L-R: Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Queen Margrethe, Princess Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Joachim and Prince Henrik

Prince Joachim (pictured) speaking after his mother's announcement said that his children were sad and that he was only given five days notice regarding the decision

Frederik explained that she made the decision alone because it is what she wants.

He said: 'She thought now was the time to make a decision that I also support and see as the right thing to do.'

The Crown Prince did reflect on the effect that this has had to his younger brother and insisted that they had been in contact, but insisted that this was family matter ad to be kept private.

Apart from the opening of Parliament the week after Queen Margrethe's announcement on 28th September, Prince Frederik has not had any events on the royal calendar in the past month.

Thursday's words came when he was visiting a 6th grade class at Vibenhus Skole in Copenhagen, which is participating in the Foundation for Entrepreneurship's inventor competition Project Edison.

However, Frederik has spent some of the past month sailing privately in France but according to the Danish publication, without stopping by Prince Joachim in Paris.

Queen Margrethe's decision has created a huge amount of conflict within the Danish family and has resonated in the world press.

Prince Joachim and his family deeply and publicly disagree with her decision to strip his children's titles.

Queen Margrethe initially explained that the decision had been taken for her children's own sake but later said that it was also about securing the future of the royal house

Both he, Princess Marie and Countess Alexandra told the press that their children were sad.

Joachim was quick to state that he was given five days notice of his mother's decision.

Earlier this month, speaking to B.T. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, the mother of Joachim's youngest children, spoke about how this decision had affected their children.

Marie told the news outlet that her daughter Athena is being bullied at school after the decision was publicly announced.

'They come and say (to Athena): Is it you who is no longer a princess?,' she said, adding that her children were put under the public spotlight and so she feels the need to defend them.

The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim's children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023

Joachim hit out at his mother Margrethe's decision, saying it 'punished' his children, as well as claiming he had only been told the news five days before it was made public - despite the Royal Household insisting the move 'has been a long time coming'.

Out of a title: The four grandchildren who will no longer be TRHs Nikolai of Denmark, 23: The Copenhagen Business School student and model regularly tops lists of the world's most eligible bachelors. He lives in Denmark but has jetted around the world to walk for designers in Paris and London. Nikolai has also appeared on the cover of Vogue Scandinavia. Felix of Denmark, 20: Following in his brother's footsteps, Prince Felix has also had success as a model and has starred in an advertising campaign for Georg Jensen. He had a short stint at the Royal Danish Military Academy but quit after two months because it 'wasn't for him'. Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, of Denmark: The youngest of Prince Joachim's four children, Henrik and Athena are the product of his second marriage to Princess Marie. They live with their parents in Paris. Advertisement

Queen Margrethe initially explained that the decision had been taken for the grandchildren's own sake.

But the Queen later described in a press release that it was also about securing the future of the royal house.

She wrote: 'Carrying a royal title entails a number of obligations and tasks, which in future will be the responsibility of fewer members of the royal family.'

However, she also stated that it had made a big impression on her that her family had become upset, but still stood by her decision.

Crown Princess Mary also defended the change when, two days after the announcement, she answered questions from the press in connection with a Youth Conference in ksnehallen.

Where she acknowledge the hurt that the Queen's grandchildren may have felt but insisted that this was the correct thing to do.

Here she said that 'change can be immeasurably difficult and can hurt', but added that it was not the same as the decision not being right.

On the same day, the Queen's sister Princess Benedikte also supported the decision, which she called wise.
As Prince Harry teases the release of his long-anticipated memoir, he has played on a long-held royal tradition of producing a 'spare' monarch.

The concept of 'the heir and the spare' has been observed by the royal family for centuries, as a tradition which ensures the royal bloodline is able to continue.

It can be dated all the way back to the 12th century, when the concept of the primogeniture (succession to the first son) was first established. Before this, all sons of the monarch were considered heirs.

The phrase itself appears to have been coined several centuries later in the 1890s, by American socialite Consuelo Vanderbilt.

Prince Harry (pictured in 1995 with Prince William, King Charles and Princess Diana) has entitled his memoir 'Spare', evoking the phrase and concept 'the heir and the spare' which dates back to the 12th century, and has caused tensions within the monarchy ever since

In the generation above Prince Harry and Prince William, Prince Andrew (centre) was the 'spare' to his older brother Charles. Pictured: The royal brothers with Princess Anne, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II in Balmoral, 1960

Prince Albert (right) eventually became King George VI when his brother, King Edward VIII abdicated (the brothers pictured in the early 1900s with their sister Princess Mary)

Most recently, the Danish Royal Family has been rocked by controversy after the 'spare', Prince Joachim, was told his four children would be stripped of their royal titles from next January - a change that did not affect the children of the heir, Crown Prince Frederik. Pictured: Queen Margrethe with Prince Henrik, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim in 1972

More contemporary royal figures including Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew have been considered 'spares' in recent memory, with the concept also applying to overseas royals like Prince Joachim of Denmark.

An unusual position to hold, the role serves as a 'reserve' monarch, who must be prepared to become heir to the throne at a moment's notice if necessary - at least until the current heir produces their own children.

Heather Cocks, author of The Heir Affair, told Vanity Fair last year: 'With an heir and spare dynamic, you get one child whos born for the top job, and the second who probably grows up feeling like the understudy.'

Of course, in some cases, the so-called 'spare' is actually called to rule, as was demonstrated when King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 and King George VI ascended the throne.

The portrait on the front cover for Prince Harry's memoir, entitled Spare, was released by publisher Penguin Random House today

However for the most part, the 'spare' is able to live a much freer life without too much scrutiny - but as Prince Harry has alluded to with the title of his memoir, holding this position can cause issues with the prince or princess's perception of their role within the royal family.

As relations have become strained between Harry and his older brother, Prince William, the Duke of Sussex, 38, has addressed their contrasting positions within The Firm.

During his sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, in which he and Meghan Markle told their side of the story surrounding their decision to step down as senior royals, Harry said: 'My brother cant leave that system, but I have.'

He later added: 'My father and my brother, they are trapped. They dont get to leave. And I have huge compassion for that.'

It is possible he was alluding to the freedom his position as the 'spare' allowed him and his family to make their own way in the world.

In the generation above Prince Harry and Prince William, their uncle Prince Andrew was the 'spare' to his oldest sibling, King Charles. Although Princess Anne was the second-born of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the rules of succession at the time meant that the next-born son would be next in line for the throne.

Speaking to Vanity Fair, royal author Nigel Cawthorne said of Prince Andrew: 'Hes always had this role that kind of meant nothing.'

He added the Duke of York, like all other 'spares', was a little bit stuck in what their role actually meant - and added it was unlikely they would be able to go into any other line of work.

Last month, it was reported that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson 'plotted' to prevent Charles becoming king in the 1990s.

Angela Levin's book Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort, released at the end of September, claimed the Duke of York tried to bypass the line of succession so that, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died, Prince William would ascend the throne and create a role for himself as Prince Regent.

'Andrew lobbied very hard with the hope that Charles would not become king when his mother died, and that William would wear the crown', she wrote.

A 'senior insider' allegedly told the royal author: '[Andrew's] behaviour was very, very negative and extremely unpleasant to Queen [Elizabeth], who disagreed. I was told it was one of the rare occasions he didn't get his way.'

And the role of the 'spare' hasn't only caused tensions in the British royal family, with monarchies overseas also being rocked by the treatment of the heir to the throne's younger sibling.

Just last month, shockwaves were sent through the heart of the Danish royal family after Queen Margrethe II announced the children of her second son Prince Joachim would lose their princely titles from next year.

Prince Joachim, who is the 'spare' to Crown Prince Frederik, told Danish media from his hometown of Paris that his four children Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik and Princess Athena had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision.

He also claimed that, contrary to what the Danish royal household had stated, he had only been given five days to break the news to his children before the public announcement was made.

As tensions rumbled on within the family, Prince Joachim admitted he had a 'complicated' relationship with his older brother.

Today, the Crown Prince and heir to the Danish throne commented on the revelations, a few weeks after the conflict appeared to quieten down.

He told TV 2 News he was 'sad' for his brother and how he had been affected by the decision.
The boldness of Prince Harry's 'provocative' decision to call his memoir 'Spare' sets out he is 'anything but' second to Prince William - and the royal wants his 'unpolished' cover to show he's 'been through a lot', a brand expert has claimed.

The Duke's controversial title was sensationally revealed today, as the publisher announced it will go on sale on January 10 for 28.

The eye-catching title is a nod to Harry's nickname as a 'spare' prince - in contrast to his brother Prince William - the 'heir'. The Spanish language version is even more pointed, having been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shade'.

It is understood that Harry was paid a $20million (18.4m) advance for the book as part of a three-title deal worth 36.8m. Today, publisher Penguin Random House said the duke had donated $1.5m (1.3m) to children's charity Sentebale and 300,000 to WellChild, a charity for disabled children which he serves as patron.

Culture and brand expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL: 'The choice of the title Spare is not only provocative but also lends into Harrys sense of humour too.

Prince Harry's decision to call his memoir 'Spare' is 'provocative' and sets out he is 'anything but' second to William - while his 'unpolished' cover shows he is 'on a mission to tell the truth', an expert claimed today

Culture and brand expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL the choice of a close-up headshot showed he is 'on a mission to tell his truth'

'Although it is a bold choice, its a brave one and it sets out immediately that this book will be anything but showing that Prince Harry is a spare.'

He added: 'The use of the singular title is one of empowerment and strength.

'A singular word for a book title is empowering and using spare is a way of reclaiming it and making it a powerful empowering tool for himself and for the reader.'

Meanwhile he suggested the cover photograph, taken by Ramona Rosales, showed the royal in a low-key light.

Spare, which is available to pre-order, will cost 28 hardcover, 13.99 as an eBook, 20 as an audio download and 25 as a CD. It will be released simultaneously in the US, UK and Canada, with 15 foreign language editions, including one in Spanish entitled Spare: En La Sombra (Spare: In The Shadow)

Nick explained: 'The cover image is not one of him looking dapper and polished but one of him looking, relaxed, stripped back and quietly confident.

'It doesnt rest on a stylised imaged but one that is him looking honestly into the camera ready to bear his vulnerabilities and story to the media.'

He said: 'The detailed close up image of Harry shows him as a strong handsome man with an ernest face looking point blank at the camera is on a mission to tell his truth.

'He is not suited and booted or too polished, with his tee and now familiar leather necklace on show.

'Its a strong commanding image of a man whos been through a lot and whos here to tell that story of grief and love in equal measure.'

The 416-page autobiography had initially been signed off ready for an expected autumn release, but its publication was delayed following the Queen's death.

While Harry was said to have requested a number of alterations to make it less critical of his relatives, it appears the tone of the book has darkened since it was first announced in July 2021. While then the memoir was described as an 'inspiring, courageous, and uplifting human story', today's promotion calls it a 'personal journey from trauma to healing'.

Royal author Richard Fitzwilliams suggested the Royal Family would be 'very concerned' by how the book was being promoted. 'It is a sensational title and implies that the writer was not valued or certainly that he did not feel at the centre of events,' he told MailOnline. 'When the blurb speaks of ''raw, unflinching honesty'' the Palace will be very concerned, especially since these are the early months of King Charles's reign.

The 416-page autobiography had initially been signed off ready for an expected autumn release, but its publication was delayed following the Queen 's death (pictured, Harry and Meghan in Windsor after the Queen's death)

'There will undoubtedly be interviews, serialisation and endless speculation about this memoir, which in my view should have waited many years. Even Edward VIII, by then the Duke of Windsor, waited until 1951 before A King's Story was published. The consequences of this will be far reaching and may be highly destructive.'

The Royal Family has not been given a chance to see the manuscript before publication, so will be unable to respond to any of its claims through their lawyers.

The publication date was announced in a press release today. Referring to Harry as a 'husband, father, humanitarian, military veteran, mental wellness advocate and environmentalist', it suggested he would begin in the immediate aftermath of his mother Princess Diana's death.

'Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow  and horror,' the release said.

'As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feelingand how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is his story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.'

Spare, which is available to pre-order, will cost 28 hardcover, 13.99 as an eBook, 20 as an audio download and 25 as a CD. It will be available in English in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and Canada, while the book will also be published in translation in 15 additional languages, including Spanish, Italian, German and Chinese. Today a spokesman for the King declined to comment.

Random House CEO Markus Dohle today said: 'Penguin Random House is honoured to be publishing Prince Harry's candid and emotionally powerful story for readers everywhere.

'He shares a remarkably moving personal journey from trauma to healing, one that speaks to the power of love and will inspire and encourage millions of people around the world.'

Mark Borkowski, an author and publicity expert, said there would have been plenty of time to significantly edit the book between the Queen's death in early September and the January 10 publication date.

'An advance is paid on a certain premise - the publishers would have seen the manuscript and got excited by it,' he told MailOnline. 'So there's always going to be a battle over the content. But could they have made substantial edits in time for January? Yes, in the modern world it's very easy to get things changed and printed.

'The key period for selling books is Christmas. So they'll be missing a lot of sales. January doesn't strike me as an optimum time for a release, so that is significant - it would suggest there's been a bit of a dispute over the content and Harry may have got his way.'
Father says the 1990s were a 'rough time' to have the Parker Bowles surname

The Queen Consort's nephew Luke Parker Bowles has claimed he received death threats at boarding school as his family desperately tried to avoid 'the chaos' of Camilla's relationship with King Charles.

Speaking to The New York Times, the film and television producer, 44, who grew up in the UK and now lives in New Jersey, said his distinctive surname made him a target for bullies as a teenager.

Reflecting on his education, Luke explained: 'When I was at boarding school, I remember getting bullied and even death threats because people put together that Diana had died because of Camilla, and therefore I had killed Diana by association.'

The father-of-three - who lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with wife Daniela, 47 - said both his parents and grandparents encouraged him to get involved at charity work at school to distance himself from 'the chaos' of his aunt's relationship.

Luke is the son of Simon Parker Bowles, 80, whose older brother Andrew, 82, was married to the Queen Consort, 75, from 1973 to 1995.

Following the Princess of Wales' tragic death in 1997, Luke said he wanted to find ways to 'deflect' the negative attention he was receiving at school.

Luke Parker Bowles, 44, said his surname made him a target for bullies as a teenager. The father-of-three grew up in the UK and now lives in Montclair, New Jersey

The Queen Consort's nephew said his family encouraged him to get involved in charity work at school to avoid the 'chaos' of Camilla and Charles' relationship. King Charles and the Queen Consort pictured visiting a London youth centre on October 18, 2022

Describing how it was 'not a happy time', Luke explained how he took part in a three-hour swimming challenge to raise money for charity and took pride in helping others in need.

Since then, Luke has supported New York-based non-profit organisation Royal Society of St George and is a Senior Ambassador for Comic Relief - having raised more than $60,000 for the charity.

Earlier this week, the father-of-three was quizzed by The Today Show host Kenna Bush Hager about the impact Charles and Camilla's relationship had on the wider family.

During the television interview, Luke stressed how it was 'much tougher' for Camilla's children Laura, 44, and Tom, 47.

Luke is the son of investor Simon Parker Bowles, 80. Pictured at the opening of the new Greens restaurant and Oyster Bar on September 1, 2009 in London

Camilla Shand and Andrew Parker Bowles were married from 1973 to 1995. Pictured on their wedding day on July 4, 1973

Luke said: 'It was a rough time. I have to be very clear, it's much tougher for my cousins. But somehow, kids, as they are, age 13, Diana had just tragically died, and Camilla and Charles were public.

'And in some strange, convoluted way, people associated Dianas death with Camilla. So being in the middle of that, and kids can be cruel, it was not a great time to be a Parker Bowles. But it hasnt scarred me.'

In her 2010 biography Harry and William, royal expert Katie Nicholl claimed that Prince William and Camilla's daughter Laura Lope would have 'terrible fights' over 'who was to blame for their broken homes'.

An insider said: 'William would blame Camilla for all the hurt she had caused his mother, which would send Laura into a rage.

King Charles married Camilla in a civil ceremony in Windsor on April 11, 2005. Before her death on 8 September 2022, The Queen said it was her 'sincere wish' that Camilla would be known as The Queen Consort

'Laura was not having any of it. She would take a hard line and fire back at William: "Your father has ruined my life!"'

What's more, the royal author says Camilla's children were 'teased mercilessly' about her relationship with the King.

She continued: 'When Charles telephoned Camilla at the family home in Wiltshire, Laura would pick up an extension and shout down the receivers, "why dont you stop calling mummy and leave our family alone.''

'She couldnt care less that it was the Prince of Wales, she blamed him for breaking her parents marriage and was not afraid to tell William so.'

Timeline of King Charles and Queen Consort's relationship 1970 - Charles and Camilla meet at a polo match in Windsor. The couple date for eight months before the Prince of Wales leaves for his Royal Navy Service 1973 - Camilla Shand marries Andrew Parker Bowles. Charles and Camilla remain friends and the Prince of Wales is named as her son Tom's godfather 1980 - Prince Charles starts dating Lady Diana Spencer 1981 - Prince Charles and Princess Diana marry at St Paul's Cathedral 1986 - Prince Charles and Camilla begin their affair, according to the King's authorised biography 1989 - Diana allegedly confronts Camilla at a party and tells her: 'I know what's going on between you and Charles.' Camilla allegedly replies: 'You've got everything you ever wanted. You've got all the men in the world fall in love with you and you've got two beautiful children, what more do you want?' 1993 - Transcript of suggestive conversation between Prince Charles and Camilla recorded in 1989 is leaked to the press 1994 - Charles admits during a BBC documentary that he was only unfaithful to Diana after his marriage had 'irretrievably broken down' 1995 - Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles divorce. Diana says in Panorama interview that there were 'three of us in this marriage so it was a bit crowded' 1996 - Charles and Diana's divorce is finalised 2003 - Charles and Camilla move into Clarence House 2005 - Charles and Camilla marry in a civil ceremony in Windsor 2022 - The Queen issues a statement saying it is her 'sincere wish' that Camilla be known as Queen Consort when Charles becomes King Advertisement

In April 2005, King Charles and the Queen Consort married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, which was followed by a Church of England Service of Prayer and Dedication at St George's Chapel.

In February this year, The Queen - who passed away aged 96 on 8 September - issued a statement saying it was her 'sincere wish' that Camilla be referred to as Queen Consort.

In her message to the nation  signed 'Your Servant, Elizabeth R'  the Queen said: 'When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.'
TikTok users flooded the dad's comments section with words of praise, thanking him for being such an 'amazing' parent

After reading the comments section, the dad decided share his own message to the haters on TikTok and said it was the other parents 'job' to not raise 'perverts'

Austin shared the photo of his daughters wearing mini dresses in what he thought to be a sweet moment, however, haters were quick to trash him

A dad-of-three slammed other parents for shaming his daughters' homecoming dresses as 'inappropriate' and 'provocative' - while branding him 'crazy' for allowing the girls to wear the designs.

Father and Florida news anchor, Matt Austin, took to TikTok this month to launch a furious attack on internet trolls who criticized a Facebook image he shared of himself posing with his daughters as they prepared to head off to a school dance.

In his original Facebook post, the proud dad waxed lyrical about his two teenage daughters, who were dressed to the nines in anticipation of homecoming, writing: 'My daughters look a little too good on homecoming night. Believe it or not, they're even more beautiful on the inside.'

However his sweet sentiment was quickly soured in the comments section, where dozens of 'Karens' began attacking his daughter's outfits, branding the short dresses 'inappropriate' and 'provocative', while blasting Matt for allowing them to wear the garments.

Matt Austin, a dad-of-three from Florida, slammed other parents for shaming his daughters' homecoming dresses

Internet trolls branded the news anchor's children's ensembles 'proactive' and 'inappropriate' before labeling the dad 'crazy'

After reading the comments section, the dad decided share his own message to the haters on TikTok and said it was the other parents 'job' to not raise 'perverts'

The News 6 Orlando news anchor has a large Facebook following and received over 900 comments - most of them slamming both the dad's parenting style and the daughters' formal wear, which saw the daughters wearing mini black and pink dresses with stilettos.

After reading the comments section, the dad decided share his own message to the haters on TikTok.

'So I put up what I thought what was a pretty innocuous post about my daughters looking beautiful for homecoming, but you would be shocked at some of the comments,' he said in his video before showing multiple comments of users slamming him and his daughters.

One hate comment read: 'I don't think I would be dressed like that around my father and he would be okay with that, it's crazy!'

Another user said: 'Those girls are too young to be dressing provocatively, they should have respect for themselves.'

Another commenter stated: 'I have two grown and married daughters. These outfits are not prom appropriate, those are what women wear to clubs when they are single looking for some action.'

'So sad that parents think it's ok to send the young ladies out with everything showing,' wrote another user.

Austin shared the photo of his daughters wearing mini dresses in what he thought to be a sweet moment, however, haters were quick to trash him

'Let's get something crystal clear now, it's not my daughters job to make sure your son is focused in school,' he said while clapping back at haters

Austin was so grateful for his TikTok followers who praised him he even shared another video thanking them for making him feel 'better'

After showing his over 74,000 followers the cruel comments directed towards his daughters' homecoming dresses, he went back to giving the haters a stern message.

'One thing that has always pissed me off as a father of girls is when people say things like, ''Oh these girls need to dress so they don't distract the boys'', or even worse, ''They're dressing a way in which they're asking for it''.

'Let's get something crystal clear now, it's not my daughters job to make sure your son is focused in school, also not her job to dress hideous enough to where your son doesn't assault her.

'It's your job to not raise a pervert with no self control.'

The dad admitted that if it were up to him, he would've chosen different outfits for his children, but made it clear he wanted to teach his children to be comfortable in who they are.

'Now let's be clear, those outfits are not the ones I would choose for my daughters to leave house, if it wee up to me it would be 24/7 snuggies, but if I start dictating what my daughters wear, I'm going to teach them three things.

'A. They'll start to hate me for arbitrary rules. B. They'll start to lie to me or C. Maybe even worse, that it's okay for a man to tell them what to wear because they look too good, and that ain't happening, Karen.

'But you know what would really disappoint me, if my girls grew up to be the kind of adult who goes on social media and demeans a teen's appearance on her father's Facebook page, now that's what I call trashy,' he said at end of his stern video.

And while Facebook users didn't have his back, TikTok users flooded the dad's comments section with words of praise, thanking him for being such an 'amazing' parent

And while Facebook users didn't have his back, TikTok users flooded the dad's comments section with words of praise, thanking him for being such an 'amazing' parent.

One user said: 'This! I wish everyone could have this mindset.'

Another user wrote: 'Thank you! You are an amazing dad raising amazing strong girls.. its rough out here for us females.'

'Your girls are beautiful and it's homecoming this is normal homecoming dress, I do not see the issue and I 100 per cent agree with you your a great dad,' added one user.

'Yes! I raised three daughters and feel exactly the same. They are not responsible for a mans thoughts,' wrote one user.

Another person commented: 'Boy mom here, its my job to teach my son that he needs to respect women.'

Austin was so grateful for his TikTok followers he even shared another video thanking them for making him feel 'better.'

He said: 'I just wanted to say thank you for doing something I never thought the internet could do, which is make me feel better.'
A woman who has earned more than $450,000 reselling secondhand items online has revealed how she turned her side hustle into a lucrative part-time business.

Ashley Peek, 27, from Dallas, Texas, started selling clothes from boutique brands like Free People and Lululemon on Poshmark when she was in college in 2016 and made $7,000 in two years.

As the full-time accountant became more serious about reselling, she expanded her offerings on eBay and other platforms to increase her profits. She has already made $158,000 in earnings this year.

'I have made over $315,000 in earnings after fees on Poshmark alone,' she told Good Morning America. 'eBay adds an additional $120,000 since starting in 2020. Other minor platforms such as Tradesy, Depop, and thredUP added in about $25,000 from the start, making my total sales a little over $450,000.'

Ashley Peek, 27, from Dallas, Texas, has made over $450,000 reselling secondhand clothes online part-time

Peek started selling clothes from boutique brands on Poshmark when she was in college in 2016 and made $7,000 in two years

Peek now focuses on reselling mid-tier luxury and designer items. Her biggest sale to date was an Hermes bag that she sold for $4,999  earning her a $2,000 profit.

'It was nerve-wracking to spend that much money on one item, but even early on I knew the value of these bags,' she explained.

Peek, who is known as @reclothcollection on social media, has more than 31,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares her top tips for reselling and the common mistakes to avoid.

She also gives a behind-the-scenes look at her growing business on her YouTube channel and in her 'Six Figure Reseller Guide,' which she sells for $399 on her website.

Peek stresses that people need to run their reselling business like it's a business if they want to see success.

In 2019, the full-time accountant became more serious about reselling and expanded her offerings on eBay and other platforms

Peek continued to grow her reselling business, and by 2021, she was raking in $8,000 a month

Peek told Good Morning America that she has already made $158,000 in earnings this year

She tracks her sales and expenses in Google sheets and uses the cross-listing service ListPerfectly to easily list items on more than one platform with a click of a button.

The reseller edits her photos using the Lightroom and PhotoRoom apps and saves money by using free USPS boxes when shipping on Poshmark.

Peek has credited her success to consistency and research, saying she wouldn't have been able to grow her business without them.

'Taking time to educate myself about what items sold faster and at higher prices allowed me to start making $3,500 monthly consistently at month six of my reselling business,' she told GMA. 'That jumped to $6,000 monthly six months later. The consistency over the years allowed me to see what was selling well.'

For those feeling inspired by Peek's success, FEMAIL has compiled a list of the best reselling advice she has shared on Instagram over the past year.

Three myths about starting a reselling business

Peek shares her top tips for reselling and the common mistakes to avoid on Instagram, where she is known as @reclothcollection

The savvy thrifter insisted that you don't need to know about fashion to start a profitable reselling business

Peek stresses that people need to run their reselling business like it's a business if they want to see success, which includes tracking sales and keeping an organized inventory

Peek debunked some common myths about reselling in one of her Instagram videos, insisting that you don't need to know about fashion to get started.

'Everything within reselling can be learned,' she wrote in the caption. 'You do not need to have a fashion or business background to become a savvy reseller. I didnt come from either background! But I have the curiosity and dedication to keep learning.'

She went on to note that 'having good local inventory is helpful'  but people can still have success without it.

Peek explained that online sourcing is a great way to get inventory, saying: 'You could live in the middle of nowhere and have a six-figure business.'

She also slammed the notion that reselling fees and expenses don't leave any room for profit, pointing out that they are a part of 'running any business.'

'With the right sourcing strategy, you can know ahead of time what you are making,' she said. 'It is possible to keep expenses low, and no matter what job you haveyou are paying taxes. It's just whether you have to handle it by yourself or not.'

Biggest mistakes to avoid

Peek explained in another video that one of the biggest reselling mistakes that people make is 'not evolving with current fashion trends'

Peek noted that platforms like Poshmark offer trend reports because listing in-demand items will lead to more sales for these companies

'Knowing what trending means knowing what is selling!' she explained

Peek explained in another video that one of the biggest reselling mistakes that people make is 'not evolving with current fashion trends.'

'Knowing what trending means knowing what is selling!' she wrote in the caption.

The savvy thrifter noted that platforms like Poshmark offer trend reports because listing in-demand items will lead to more sales for these companies.

'Dont just pass over this info,' she stressed. 'The styles and keywords that come from trend research will play a big part in how quickly an item will sell if you list it.'

Peek recommended keeping a notes tab of everything that is trending and continuing to add to it when new things pop up

Peek added in another clip that people who are looking for quick sales should also avoid reselling items that are priced close to retail and are saturated online

Peek recommended keeping a notes tab of everything that is trending and continuing to add to it when new things pop up.

'Sourcing with these trends is especially helpful if your business model revolves around vintage or mall brand items as a lot of shoppers are looking to part-take in trends on a cheaper budget,' she said.

'If you source more mid-tier/luxury items, shoppers may be looking to shop with trends by looking for specific styles.'

Peek added in another clip that people who are looking for quick sales should also avoid reselling items that are priced close to retail, basic pieces, items that are saturated online, and items with bad flaws.

How to increase your profits by selling LESS

Peek now focuses on reselling mid-tier luxury and designer items

Peek shared on Instagram that she has managed to sell less this year and still double her income from 2021 by increasing her profits per item

Peek acknowledged that this led to higher costs upfront, but she is saving time and making more money with half the effort

Peek shared on Instagram that she has managed to sell less this year and still double her income from 2021 by increasing her profits per item.

'I was actually working more time when I was making half as much because I spent so much time sourcing and gathering so many items that ended up taking a lot of time to process due to how much there was,' she explained.

'Ever since I made the switch to acquiring inventory for better profits, I started to see much better results.'

Peek acknowledged that this led to higher costs upfront, but she is saving time and making more money with half the effort.

The reseller added that hunting for items in secondhand bins instead of a thrift store is another way to decrease costs and increase profits.

'If you feel like a chicken with your head cut off at times [and are] not seeing the results you want, it may be the hard truth that you need to look into your business and see what changes make the most sense in order to increase your profits per time spent.'
Ingrid Seaburn treats the faces of Australia's rich and famous at her upscale Bondi salon

The celebrity facialist behind Pip Edwards and Bambi Northwood Blyth's radiantly youthful complexions has revealed the five budget products she swears by.

Ingrid Seaburn treats the faces of Australia's rich and famous at her upscale Bondi salon.

The former Los Angeles-based beauty guru, who boasts a star-studded client book, praised the likes of Sukin and Palmers brands for their skin-loving products at an affordable price point.

While she encourages clients to save up and spend on retinol and vitamin C, there are a number of products that will work effectively without the hefty price tag.

'The most important part of summer beauty at any age is sun protection: Always best to look for zinc or titanium oxide-based coverage and re-apply often,' Indrid told FEMAIL.

'I love Sukin Tinted Sunscreen. It has an SPF30 broad spectrum and most importantly all-natural physical Zinc based coverage that actually looks smooth and flawless.

'Comparable to more expensive brands that boast a natural formula at under $20 it is a great buy.'

Her second recommendation is an exfoliator to slough away a build-up of oil, bacteria, and dirt.

The former Los Angeles-based beauty guru, who boasts a star-studded client book, praised the likes of Sukin and Palmers brands for their skin-loving products at an affordable price point

An inexpensive enzyme-based exfoliant by Palmers called the Purifying Enzyme Mask is half the price of most department store brands and will absolutely do the trick.

'The enzyme mask uses papaya enzyme, a natural way to chemically dissolve dead skin cells without overspending,' Ingrid said.

To retain moisture in the skin as we draw closer to summer Ingrid recommends using a moisturiser with hemp seed oil for its anti-inflammatory properties.

'My favourite body product this summer is Freshwater Farm Hemp Seed Body Wash to add a little oil to the shower routine to seal in soft skin vibes. Great for saving time and money,' she said.

'My favourite body product this summer is Freshwater Farm Hemp Seed Body Wash (left) to add a little oil to the shower routine to seal in soft skin vibes. Great for saving time and money,' she said

'We forget to apply SPF and there is a lot of talk about exfoliating lips which is not useful. You don't have to spend to protect. I like Lip balm SPF 50 by Dermal Therapy . Not expensive and will save your lips from UVA/UVB damage,' she said

For serums that pack a punch - on a budget - Ingrid can't go past The Ordinary with niacinamide and zinc.

Those two active ingredients will improve your skin's natural immune defence to UV.

'Not expensive and easy to use. A great alternative for saving pennies,' she said.

Last but not least Ingrid urges not to forget your lips this summer.

'We forget to apply SPF and there is a lot of talk about exfoliating lips which is not useful. You don't have to spend to protect. I like Lip balm SPF 50 by Dermal Therapy. Not expensive and will save your lips from UVA/UVB damage,' she said.
Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province / Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



Gangwon Province will fulfill a payment guarantee for the developer of Legoland Korea Resort by mid-December, one month earlier than scheduled previously, amid a liquidity crunch, the provincial government said Thursday.



Chung Kwang-yeol, the vice governor of economic affairs of the province, said it will repay by Dec. 15 a debt of 205 billion won ($144 million), owed by the government-funded Gangwon Jungdo Development Corp. (GJC) after building the Legoland theme park in Chuncheon.



"The Gangwon government and the finance ministry have been closely discussing effective ways to ease the burden on the financial market, including creditors," Chung said during a press conference in Chuncheon.



"As a result, we've decided to repay the full amount of the debt guaranteed for GJC by Dec. 15," he said, adding that the decision was the outcome of close consultation between Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-tae and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho.



GJC, which is 44 percent owned by the local government, established a special-purpose company in 2020 to fund the construction of the Legoland resort, but declared bankruptcy on Oct. 6 after missing a payment of the asset-backed commercial paper issued by the special-purpose company. The local government had guaranteed the payment but said on Sept. 28 that it would file for GJC's bankruptcy instead of paying back the money.



The theme park was one of the key projects of Choi Moon-soon, a predecessor of the current governor. Choi belongs to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), while the incumbent governor is a member of the ruling People Power Party.



Amid growing financial market jitters, the Gangwon governor said last week that the local government will repay the debt by Jan. 29 next year, but this was not enough to ease market concerns over the trustworthiness of a commercial paper guaranteed by a local government.



Earlier in the day, the DPK urged the governor to step down and take responsibility for the Legoland crisis.



"Governor Kim Jin-tae should admit that his incompetence led to a national crisis and resign immediately," DPK floor leader Rep. Park Hong-keun said.



Meanwhile, Legoland Korea Resort has announced that it will suspend operations starting next year until March 23 for maintenance, but it said the closure had nothing to do with the current debt case.



Legoland Korea, the 10th Legoland in the world and the first global theme park in the country, opened in early May this year.






However some customers say the build was so difficult it left them 'sobbing'

Fans of the product have begun hosting 'gingerbread contests' with friends

The product contains enough materials to build six mini gingerbread houses

The $6 Scandinavian tradition is now available in IKEA stores across Australia

IKEA has relaunched their highly anticipated $5 mini gingerbread house kit after it proved to be a major success last Christmas.

The limited edition miniature 'Vintersaga' Gingerbread House builds six mini houses, allowing you to make your own gingerbread town.

The gingerbread kit comes in two sizes, the mini gingerbread house costs only $5, and the bigger size costs $6.

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The highly anticipated IKEA Vintersaga mini gingerbread house has been relaunched in Australia after it's major success last Christmas

The limited edition miniature 'Vintersaga' Gingerbread House builds six mini houses, allowing you to make your own gingerbread town

The mini kit can be used to make a gingerbread town, or string can be threaded through the houses and they can be used as festive window decorations.

IKEA also sells a gingerbread people kit for $5.50 to fill your house with a family.

The Swedish store also sells frozen Vintersaga gingerbread dough for $4, which is perfect for making decorations or furniture for your house.

How to make gingerbread house icing: To begin assembling the festive family favourite join the gingerbread pieces together with icing, according to package instructions Ingredients: 250g icing sugar

1 egg white

5ml lemon juice/ vinegar Method: Begin by combining 250g of icing sugar and 1 egg white into a bowl. Stir the two together and slowly start pouring 5ml of lemon juice or vinegar to the mixture. Combine the ingredients together till a smooth, thick white paste appears. Finally pour the icing into a piping bag and begin assembling the gingerbread house. Advertisement

Aussies are excited to welcome back the product, but some believe the construction is not worth the results.

'I am not in any way exaggerating when I say I did this last year and ended up sobbing on my kitchen floor covered in egg white,' one traumatised customer said.

Other customers disagreed.

'Get it every year, it's bomb,' one fan said.

'I need to buy this,' another wrote.

Friends and families have begun having 'gingerbread house' contests to see who can make and decorate the best creation

European fans of the product explained that making gingerbread houses is an annual tradition in their families.

'So you guys don't have tradition where you make these with your family *every* year? Just Finland? Alright,' one woman said.

The tradition might be making it's way to Australia too, as having a gingerbread decorating contest has become a popular Christmas activity.

'Doing this with a group as a Christmas activity would be perfect,' one woman commented.

'You're all coming over for a ginger bread house decorating contest,' another said, tagging her friends.
In a TikTok video Lauren, 22, said the medical ID 'might just save your life'

A Sydney nurse says everyone should update the medical information on phones

A Sydney nurse is urging Australians to update the medical information on their phone after an incident occurred at a shopping centre.

Lauren, 22, said the medical ID 'might just save your life' because it provides all the details required in an emergency - such as name, age, allergies, medication, blood type, emergency contacts and more.

Lauren said she was waiting for a Boost Juice on Tuesday when a woman at the shopping centre collapsed and hit her head.

'I immediately went over to see if they needed any help. Having a duty of care and being comfortable doing basic life support, I was like alright I need to put my big girl pants on and step in,' she said in a TikTok video.

'She was not in a good way at all.'

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Sydney nurse Lauren (pictured) is urging everyone to update the medical ID on their phones and says it 'might just save your life' in an emergency

The medical ID provides all the details required in an emergency - such as name, age, allergies, medication, blood type, emergency contacts and more

Lauren had others call an ambulance and had management get a defibrillator for CPR just in case.

'I was quite nervous that we may have needed to do CPR. She was very close to being unresponsive,' she said.

At the time she had no idea why the woman passed out and considered a number of possibilities.

Lauren realised the woman owned an iPhone so she held the lock button and volume button at the same time then swiped to view her medical ID.

'She didn't have it updated but she did have her name, her birthday, her height and her weight,' she said.

Lauren shared the information in a TikTok video after a woman collapsed at a shopping centre on Tuesday hitting her head, so she rushed over to help and checked her medical ID

'The fact I had her name meant I was able to communicate better with her, and she was able to communicate by squeezing my hand a little bit better knowing I was talking to her.'

Lauren later discovered the woman had a cardiac condition and was the reason why she collapsed, which would've been 'very helpful' to know prior.

She then urged everyone to update their medical ID.

How to set up your Medical ID on an iPhone: 1. Open the Health app on your iPhone and tap the 'Summary' tab 2. Tap your profile picture in the upper-right corner 3. Under your profile picture, tap Medical ID 4. Tap Edit in the upper-right corner 5. To make your Medical ID available from the Lock screen on your iPhone, turn on Show When Locked. In an emergency, this gives information to people who want to help To share your Medical ID with emergency responders, turn on Share During Emergency Call. When you make a call or send a text to emergency services on your iPhone or Apple Watch, your Medical ID will automatically be shared with emergency services 6. Enter health information like your date of birth, allergies, and blood type 7. Tap 'Done' Source: Apple Advertisement

'If you're not comfortable having your medical ID on your phone, what you can do is include an emergency contact which she also didn't have,' Lauren said.

Providing a contact will allow someone on the scene to call them and find out your medical history.

After 48 hours the video went viral and was viewed more than 405,000 times.

'Thank you for sharing this! I have a peanut allergy and always freak out about something happening if I'm alone and people not knowing about my allergy,' one woman commented.

'I've got mine updated. It also includes a note that I have a young child and to ensure her safety/whereabouts as she is usually with me,' another said.

A third added: 'I didn't even know this was a thing! Just went and done mine including everything I could!! Thank you.'
The tree has previously been described as 'glorious' and sells out every year

The tree comes in two varieties, pre-lit for $180 and standard for $80

The popular 'Snowy Aspen' Christmas tree is back on the shelves at Target

Target Australia has brought back the popular 'Snowy Aspen' Christmas tree for the fifth year running - but shoppers will have to be quick to get one.

The tree has earned a strong following among Christmas enthusiasts and home decorators alike, with hundreds posting their fully decorated Aspen's online.

The tree comes in two varieties: pre-lit and standard.

The ever-popular 'Snowy Aspen' Christmas tree is back at Target Australia - after selling out four years in a row

The pre-lit tree stands at 213cm tall and is $180, while the standard tree is now $80 and is 182cm tall.

The price hike of the pre-lit tree, which was available for just $149 in 2020, doesn't appear to be stopping customers from rushing into the store.

'I missed out last year they were gone so fast, even online. I won't miss out again,' one keen shopper said.

The standard tree, which debuted for $49 five years ago, has been described as 'glorious' by Christmas lovers online.

'Love this snowy tree, so pretty, fills the house with Christmas joy,' one woman wrote of the tree.

'This tree is beautiful, I'm in love and cannot believe how pretty it is. I was lucky enough to find one and I'm grateful I did,' another said,

While one added: 'It's the best Christmas tree ever.'

People have shared pictured of the tree year-after-year, adding to its popularity

The tree sells out every year - weeks before the holiday season begins

The white trees sell out weeks before Christmas every year and the 2022 launch is expected to fly off the shelves in the same way.

The trees are flame retardant and reusable.

Most people have left five-star reviews on the target website after buying the tree this year.

Some people complained it 'doesn't quite look like the picture' but said it is 'still a very nice tree'.

While others commended the 'generous sprinkle' of snow.

One person gave the tree 'one star' but didn't leave a review to explain why they disliked it.
Vapers are at the same risk of heart disease as cigarette users, according to federally-funded research.

In two studies, one on mice and one on people, e-cigarettes were found to cause similar damage to blood vessels as smoking tobacco.

If blood vessels are damaged or can't function properly, it makes it harder for oxygen-blood to travel to the heart and around the body.

There were also signs the combination of smoking and vaping may cause even more damage - in a worrying sign for those using e-cigarettes as a cessation.

Traditional tobacco is still believed to be worse for a person's health that e-cigarettes because of its ties to lung cancer and other breathing issues.

This study gives more evidence that vapes are not the risk-free alternative that companies tout them as.

The report comes on the heels of new federal data that said more than 2.55 million middle or high schoolers had used an e-cigarette device within the past 30 days.

Nearly 10 per cent of American adults vape, according to most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal regulators have described the situation as a 'vaping epidemic'.

Vapers are at the same risk of heart disease as cigarette users, according to federally-funded research (file image)

Cigarette smoking and e-cigarette vaping are both known to impair endothelial function, causing an inability of the large blood vessels to open enough to supply sufficient blood to the heart and other tissues (shown in the NIH diagram)

Long-term use of either combustible cigarettes or vapes caused damage to blood vessels, though each appeared to cause some adverse effects the other does not.

This suggests that dual use of the products compounds the damage.

The researchers received government funding from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the sprawling National Institutes of Health.

The findings from experts at the University of California, San Francisco were published in the American Heart Associations journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology (ATVB).

Cigarette smoking and e-cigarette vaping are both known to impair endothelial function.

This can cause an inability of the large blood vessels to open enough to supply sufficient blood to the heart and other tissues.

Endothelial cells line the blood vessels and maintain blood fluidity, regulate blood flow, and control vessel-wall permeability by generating nitric oxide.

Damage to these cells can lead to myriad cardiac and vascular problems such as hypertension and coronary artery disease.

More than 2.5 million US children use e-cigarettes - rising a half-million from last year and reversing downward trends in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) reports that 2.55 million Americans in middle or high school admit using the device in the past 30 days. It is a jump of 500,000, or of 24 per cent, from 2021. It is the first increase since the CDC started gathering annual data in 2019

The risks of smoking combustible cigarettes and vaping are well-known. Scientists from California now say that individual ingredients in either are not necessarily responsible for blood vessel problems. Rather, inhalation of foreign substances causes the problems.

The findings reflect two studies, one conducted in mice and the other in humans.

In the mice study, researchers tried to determine if there were specific components of tobacco smoke or e-cigarette vapor that were responsible for blood vessel damage.

They measured arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), or the ability of the blood vessels to widen, pre- and post-exposure to smoke from four kinds of traditional combustible cigarettes: conventional nicotine, reduced nicotine, conventional nicotine with added menthol and reduced nicotine with added menthol.

Blood vessel dilation was reduced after use of all four types of cigarettes.

They also exposed the rats to two of the main gases found in both smoke and e-cigarette aerosol, as well as clean carbon nanoparticles to evaluate their effects on blood vessel dilation.

Despite the difference in ingredients that make up e-cigarette aerosol and cigarette smoke, the researchers found that blood vessel damage does not appear to be caused by a specific component of cigarette smoke or ecigarette vapor.

Rather, it appears to be caused by airway irritation which triggers biological signals in the valgus nerve.

It is responsible for the involuntary internal organ functions, that somehow leads to blood vessel damage.

Dual e-cig and traditional cigarette use simultaneously worsens risk - E-cigarettes and traditional combustible cigarettes on their own can cause a host of inflammatory and heart problems - When used simultaneously, the health effects could be even worse - Long-term use of either caused damage to blood vessels, though each appeared to cause some adverse effects that the other does not, suggesting that dual use of the products compounds the damage. - Blood from the e-cig users caused more permeability in the blood vessel cells than the blood from both tobacco smokers and nonusers, raising the risk of cell damage and heart disease. - Blood from tobacco smokers had higher levels of certain circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risks - Lead author of the study said using both products together 'could increase their health risks compared to using them individually' Advertisement

Dr Matthew L. Springer, a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco said: 'We were surprised to find that there was not a single component that you could remove to stop the damaging effect of smoke or vapors on the blood vessels.'

'As long as theres an irritant in the airway, blood vessel function may be impaired,' he said.

In the study comprised of human subjects, researchers recruited 120 volunteers that included long-term e-cigarette users, long-term cigarette smokers, and nonusers.

The scientists collected blood samples from each and exposed those samples to lab-cultured blood vessel cells and measured the release of nitric oxide, which indicates whether the endothelial cells are functioning properly.

The blood from the e-cigarette users and smokers caused a significantly greater decrease in nitric oxide production by the endothelial cells than the blood of nonusers.

The also found that blood from the e-cig users caused more permeability in the blood vessel cells than the blood from both tobacco smokers and nonusers.

Too much permeability means leaky blood vessels which can cause a host of inflammatory responses leading to cell damage and heart disease.

They concluded that the blood from tobacco smokers had higher levels of certain circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risks, and the blood from e-cig users had elevated levels of other circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risks.

Dr Springer said: 'These findings suggest that using the two products together, as many people do, could increase their health risks compared to using them individually... We had not expected to see that.'

The team's results suggest that regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration cannot rely on prohibiting specific ingredients to avoid the adverse health effects.

'Smoking and vaping can have similar harmful cardiovascular effects but each condition causes some potentially harmful effects that the other does not,' Dr Springer said.

He added: 'These differences indicate that dual product use, meaning smoking combustible cigarettes and also using e-cigarette products, may actually be worse for vascular health than either smoking or vaping alone.'
The infamous serial-killer was diagnosed with BPD before his 1992 trial

Dr James Fallon says that the famed killer's actions were a symptom of BPD

Jeffrey Dahmer is not a psychopath, and instead just had BPD, an expert says

A neuroscientist is arguing notorious US serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer is not a psychopath because he showed 'emotional empathy with people'.

Professor James Fallon, 74, a physciatrist at the University of California, Irvine argues that Dahmer's behavior matches more that of someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

It is a condition where a person suffers an impacted ability to regulate their emotions and from poor impulse control.

Dr Fallon believes the killer, who has recently risen to fame once more as a result of a hit Netflix series, is suffering from the condition because of his unstable childhood.

Many believe that Mr Dahmer and others like him are psychopaths, misusing the term as a catch-all for any erratic or dangerous behavior.

Psychopaths are people who lack empathy, are manipulative and often have a total disregard for the consequences of their actions.

The killer - recently the topic of a Netflix drama - murdered 16 men and boys in the US between 1978 and 1991.

The infamous murderer was diagnosed with BPD before his 1992 murder trial.

Jeffrey Dahmer was an infamous serial killer who killed 16 people in Wisconsin and Ohio between 1978 and 1991. He was recently brought into prominence by a hit Netflix series dramatizing his crimes. Pictured: Dahmer at his 1992 trial in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer rose to prominence once more when Netflix released a series dramatizing his story earlier this year. Pictured: Dahmer, portrayed by actor Evan Peters, in the Netflix series

Fallon argues that because of Dahmer's substance addictions, unusual sexual behaviors and inability to control his anger, he likely has BPD.

Each of those are traits more associated with the condition than they are psychopathy.

Dr James Fallon (pictured), argues that Jefferey Dahmer was not a psychopath and was instead just showing symptoms of his BPD

'Jeffrey Dahmer was not a psychopath. His characteristics all point to BPD,' James said.

'It was never confirmed he was a psychopath but everyone assumed for simplicity's sake that a bad person is a psychopath.

'He showed emotional empathy with people and many psychopaths don't have that.'

Dr Fallon has studied the brain imaging of psychopaths - particularly those of murderers and serial killers - since 1989.

He also researched several other personality disorders, including BPD.

BPD is characterized by extreme emotional instability, impulsive behavior, intense and unstable relationships and disturbing patterns of thinking.

Dr Fallon believes this is what Mr Dahmer had rather than psychopathy - because he had too much fear of abandonment to fit the tropes of a psychopath.

The doctor said there are certain aspects of Dahmer's behavior that didn't fit into the tropes of psychopathy.

He highlighted how the serial killer showed emotional empathy and developed connections with people in a way a psychopath wouldn't - because his crimes appeared to be motivated by intense fear of abandonment.

He said: 'A common thing with people with BPD is that they have these crazy fears of being abandoned.

'Jeffrey Dahmer seemed to fear this all the time - when the men he met tried to leave him, he would kill them so they couldn't.'

Dr Fallon added that even Dahmer's most infamous behavior - eating his victims which earned him the nickname 'the Milwaukee Cannibal' - can be attributed to this.

He said this cannibalism likely stemmed from a desire to make someone be a part of you forever - so they can't leave you.

'A lot of people feel this with babies or puppies, like 'I love this baby so much that I want to eat it' - that's actually an impulsive take on an otherwise normal way of thinking about ingesting someone,' he said.

'Dahmer took it to extremes because he needed that feeling that the person would always be with him and he'd never be abandoned.'

Other key behaviors which James said indicates he had extreme BPD include his unusual sexuality - recklessly engaging in often unsafe sex.

He also highlighted self-destructive behaviors such as putting himself in risky situations which could have endangered him, as well as his notorious substance abuse - both more common of BPD than psychopathy.

Dr Fallon concluded: 'When you think of the famous serial killers, Dahmer included, everyone loves to think for simplicity's sake that they're all the same.

'It's never been fully confirmed Dahmer was a psychopath but it does keep coming up.

'But his characteristics don't agree and I don't believe he was.

'We'll never know for sure because we can't see his genetics or brain images, but I feel he was more like someone with BPD.'
'Wine o'clock' might seem like a treat at the end of the day.

But experts warn the culture, rife among older Britain's middle class, may be behind a surge in liver cancer cases and deaths.

Rates have jumped 40 per cent in the last decade, figures show.

Drinking too much alcohol and being overweight are two of the biggest risk factors for the disease, which often has difficult-to-spot or no symptoms.

Overall alcohol consumption has fallen in England in recent years.

But rates are highest in over-65s, who are most at-risk of liver cancer, with NHS data showing a fifth still drink most days.

The British Liver Trust today warned that a large number of liver cases are only being confirmed after the cancer has spread, making it harder to treat.

Thousands look forward to their daily tipple at 'wine o'clock'. But experts warn alcohol habits in England are behind a 'worrying' surge in liver cancer diagnoses and deaths  which have jumped 40 per cent in the last decade

Cancer Research UK data shows that 10 people per 100,000 are diagnosed with liver cancer annually  up 43 per cent compared to a decade ago when the rate was seven per 100,000

Liver cancer prevalence is forecast to hit 15 per 100,000 by 2035, which would mark a 50 per cent rise from current levels

Liver cancer deaths have jumped from six to nine per 100,000 in the last 10 years, up 50 per cent

The NHS recommends that adults drink no more than 14 units each week  that's 14 single shots of spirit or six pints of beer or a bottle and a half of wine

How much alcohol is too much? To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level, the NHS advises men and women not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week. A unit of alcohol is 8g or 10ml of pure alcohol, which is about: half a pint of lower to normal-strength lager/beer/cider (ABV 3.6%) a single small shot measure (25ml) of spirits (25ml, ABV 40%) A small glass (125ml, ABV 12%) of wine contains about 1.5 units of alcohol. But the NHS warns the risk to your health is increased by drinking any amount of alcohol on a regular basis. Short-term risks include injury, violent behaviour and alcohol poisoning. Long-term risks include heart and liver disease, strokes, as well as liver, bowel, moth and breast cancer. People who drink as much as 14 units a week are advised to spread it evenly over three or more days, rather than binge drinking. Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant are advised not to drink to reduce risks for the baby. Source: NHS Advertisement

Official figures show that 23 per cent of men and 14 per cent of women aged 65 and over drink alcohol at least five days a week.

For comparison, just two per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds drink this much.

They are also less likely to stick to NHS drinking limits of 14 units per week  which is around six pints of beer or one-and-a-half bottles of wine.

It suggests they are the biggest proponents of the wine o'clock culture, which sees people turn to wine, beer or a cocktail in the evening to unwind.

Dr Tony Rao, an expert on the subject at King's College London, told MailOnline that 'regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or three pints of beer per day increases the risk of liver cancer'.

He added: 'We also know that the overall risk of death from all alcohol-related causes is increased with drinking as little as a small glass of wine per day.

'The normalisation of a "wine o'clock" mindset, is a worrying trend in normalising harmful drinking patterns, particularly in the baby boomer generation.'

Dr Colin Angus, an alcohol researcher at Sheffield University, told MailOnline that Britons' drinking habits have shifted from the pub to at home in recent decades.

And heavy drinkers are now more likely to be a 'couple in their 60s drinking wine at home in front of the TV', rather than a 'stereotypical 20-year old passing out in a shop doorway after a big night out', he said.

Dr Angus said: 'In many ways this has led to alcohol harm becoming less visible, but yet rates of chronic diseases caused by alcohol  including but not limited to liver cancer  have been quietly rising steadily.

'It's hard to say if the concept "wine o'clock" is a cause or a symptom of this shift in drinking behaviour (or just a clever marketing ploy from alcohol producers).

'But increases in home drinking, particularly in older age groups, are a major public health concern.'

The British Liver Trust fears the rise in the trend has fuelled liver cancer.

It has previously warned the 'odd extra drink' at wine o'clock can 'seem harmless' but over years can develop into a 'serious liver condition'.

Vanessa Hebditch, director at the British Liver Trust, told MailOnline: 'While there is evidence that drinking levels have fallen in some groups, especially in younger people, this trend is not equal across all groups.

'People aged 55-64 are more likely to drink at higher risk levels.

'The generation who drank heavily in the 1990s and 2000s may be bringing those habits into middle age, with potentially serious consequences to their long-term health.

'During Covid, there was an unprecedented increase in alcohol-related liver disease deaths.'

Cancer Research UK data shows that 10 people per 100,000 are diagnosed with liver cancer annually  the equivalent of around 6,200 Britons each year.

This is up 43 per cent compared to a decade ago, when the rate was approximately seven per 100,000.

The figure is expected to soar to 15 per 100,000 by 2035, which would mark a 50 per cent rise from current levels.

Meanwhile, deaths have jumped from six to nine per 100,000 in the last 10 years, up 50 per cent.

Around 5,800 liver cancer deaths are logged annually.

Many liver cancers are only picked up when it has become more advanced  such as spreading to the lymph nodes or other organs  which makes it harder to treat, as it cannot be removed with surgery or a liver transplant.

One in 14 cases of liver cancer are caused by drinking alcohol, experts say.

However, being overweight or obese also increases the risk of developing liver cancer and may be feeding into the trend.

Britain has become fatter in the last decade, with 36 per cent of adults now overweight while a further 28 per cent are obese.

Professor Stephen Ryder, a medical advisor to the British Liver Trust and a consultant hepatologist at Nottingham University Hospital, told The Telegraph: 'The good news is that there are things you can do to reduce the risks.

'Maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding drinking alcohol excessively and protecting yourself against viral hepatitis are the best defences against both liver disease and liver cancer.'

Yellowing of the skin/eyes, swelling of the tummy, vomiting blood, and having black, 'tarry' stools are symptoms of liver cancer.

Sufferers may also feel generally unwell, tired, weak, nauseous and lose their appetite. Blood tests and scans are needed to diagnose liver cancer.

Medics may then perform surgery or a liver transplant to remove the cancer completely, or recommended chemotherapy, radiotherapy and drugs if surgery is not possible.

Nearly half of cases are diagnosed in emergency care, such as A&E departments.

Professor Ryder told the newspaper: 'If you're experiencing symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, a swollen stomach or yellowing of your skin or eyes, please don't ignore them  make an appointment with your doctor to get them checked out.'

In response to the surge in liver cancer prevalence, the British Liver Trust has created a new website and resources for sufferers to get help.

Pamela Healy, the charity's chief executive, said: 'Liver cancer patients have told us that they didn't realise that the British Liver Trust was also here for liver cancer patients  they were often confused and worried and did not know where to turn for help.

'We've created new resources and a website with targeted information to make it easier for people to get the help they need.

'The new programme of activity is in response to the very worrying increase in cases across the UK.

'We're also deeply concerned that survival rates for liver cancer remain so low  a situation which needs to urgently change.'
The number of people who missed GP appointments has hit a year-high, statistics revealed today as plans to fine culprits 10 were renewed.

Almost 1.4million GP appointments were missed in September this year, according to official NHS data.

It is the highest monthly toll since November last year (1.43m).

It comes after it emerged that Rishi Sunak is standing by his plan to fine those who miss GP appointments 10.

If the controversial measure was in place throughout 2022, the Government could have already raised more than 100m.

Almost 1.4million GP appointments were missed in September this year, according to official NHS data. It is the highest monthly toll since November last year (1.43m)

It comes after it emerged that Rishi Sunak is standing by his plan to fine those who miss GP appointments by 10. If the controversial measure was in place throughout 2022, the Government could have already raised more than 100m

The Prime Minister 'stands by the sentiment' of the promise he made during the Tory leadership contest in the summer, it was claimed.

He is 'definitely committed to ensuring that we get the best value for taxpayers, the best value for money out of the NHS', the Daily Telegraph reported a spokesperson as saying.

However, Mr Sunak needs to discuss it with newly-appointed Health Secretary Steve Barclay first before any commitment can be confirmed.

When he first raised the plan, Mr Sunak acknowledged it was controversial but said it was necessary to stop doctors' time being wasted.

He proposed it be put in place until the growing NHS backlog caused by the pandemic was 'reduced to manageable levels'.

Under the plan people would be fined from the second appointment they miss, with the patient 'given the benefit of the doubt' the first time they missed one.

It comes as the proportion of face-to-face GP appointments in September hit 68.1 per cent, the highest it has been since the start of the pandemic, the NHS Digital data revealed

NHS staff vote on strike action TODAY Hundreds of thousands of health workers will today vote on whether to strike over pay as a winter of discontent looms over Britain - with railways, postal services, food production and travel all set to be hit by industrial action. Around 350,000 members of Unison working for more than 250 health trusts and boards across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, are being balloted on Thursday. Porters, nurses, security guards, paramedics, cleaners, midwives, occupational therapists and other NHS staff are among those being asked if they want to stage walk outs. Around 50,000 Unison health employees in Scotland are already being balloted. Other unions, including the Royal College of Nursing and Royal College of Midwives, have also been balloting their members, raising the prospect of the first ever UK-wide walk out of NHS nurses. It comes as some 3,500 Border Force, immigration and visa officers are threatening to strike over the holiday period - potentially bringing hours long queues at airports and ports when millions will be travelling abroad to see families and friends. Meanwhile more than 115,000 postal workers went on strike on Tuesday, while a calendar of further rail chaos is planned for this month. And the PCS union, representing more than 150,000 civil servants, including additional Border Force and immigration officers, will hold a separate ballot on industrial action on November 7. Unison urged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to increase the rise of 1,400 awarded to health workers in England earlier in the summer. Advertisement

More than 15million appointments are not attended by patients at GP surgeries every year.

Half of these are with busy family doctors, which means that 1.2million hours of their time go to waste every year.

The annual cost of missed appointments is 216million, enough to pay the annual salaries of 2,325 full-time GPs, according to the now Prime Minister's campaign.

It comes as the proportion of face-to-face GP appointments in September hit 68.1 per cent, the highest it has been since the start of the pandemic, the NHS Digital data revealed.

More than 19million GP appointments were made for the month, a figure that had remained between 15-17million for the majority of this year, with GPs making more telephone appointments, according to the data.

In the summer the British Medical Association, the union representing doctors, condemned the plan to fine people 10 for missing an appointment.

After the release of today's figures, Dr Farah Jameel, chair of the BMA's GP committee, said they 'strongly encourage patients to do their best to attend their GP appointments', especially given the 'huge shortage of GPs trying to care for ever-increasing patient numbers'.

However, she said: 'There are many reasons why someone might not attend their appointment though, which is why a one-size-fits-all approach of charging them will not work - and could actually increase pressure on staff by creating another, unnecessary administrative burden and lead to increased anxiety on the part of many patients.

'Fining patients is also likely to discourage them from rebooking, thereby increasing already-worsening health inequalities and ultimately costing the NHS more.

'Charging for missed GP and hospital appointments would not only undermine the essential trust between doctor and patient, but also threaten the fundamental NHS principle of delivering care free at the point of need.'

Professor Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'It's always frustrating to hear about missed GP appointments, particularly at a time when we have nowhere near enough GPs to meet increasing need for our services, as these could have been used for other patients.

'But charging for appointments is not the answer.

'It would fundamentally change the principle that the NHS is free at the point of need and would likely impact on our most vulnerable patients most  and it would add another layer of bureaucracy to a GP service already drowning in red tape.'

NHS England's director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery said: 'Thanks to the relentless efforts of GP led teams, tens of millions of people are getting seen by local clinicians across the country, while the highest proportion of face-to-face appointments took place last month since before the pandemic.

'GP teams also delivered over 858,000 Covid-19 vaccinations last month as the autumn booster rollout started, and those eligible for an autumn booster or flu vaccination should continue to come forward to get protected ahead of winter.'
This is for plans to mark up the price of its Covid vaccine to $130 each

It comes after the company was derided yesterday as 'daylight robbery'

$1.2billion in question was sent to Delaware and the Netherlands, they say

Pfizer is being investigated in Italy over claims it funneled more than a billion dollars in profit out of the country to skirt taxes.

Italy's finance police believe the firm's local branch near Rome sent $1.2bn in excess income overseas, according to people familiar with the matter.

The investigation began in February and covers 2017, 2018 and 2019  before the Covid pandemic.

Pfizer is accused of transferring the cash to foreign affiliates associated with its bases in Delaware and the Netherlands.

Profits made during that time could be subject to Italy's 26 per cent corporation tax.

Checks are currently being carried out by the finance department with Pfizer yet to be informed of their findings, sources told Bloomberg.

In a statement, New York-based Pfizer said it 'complies' with all laws and obligations in Italy.

It comes after experts slammed Pfizer to DailyMail.com over plans to markup its Covid vaccines by 10,000 per cent in the US next year.

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.

Italy's finance police believe the American company's local arm outside Rome sent its profits overseas to avoid paying taxes, sources say. (Pictured: Pfizer's head office in Italy located just outside Rome)

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.

Italy's finance police have declined to comment, but the checks are understood to be an administrative audit rather than a criminal investigation.

Pfizer is yet to be informed of the findings.

The company said in a statement: 'The Italian tax authorities routinely investigate Pfizer taxes, and Pfizer cooperates with such audits and investigations.

'Pfizer complies with the tax laws and requirements of Italy.'

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

Yesterday, incoming Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni said in Parliament that under her tax authorities will have more focus on large multinational companies.

Over the three years under investigation, Pfizer generated $48billion in profits globally, company accounts from last year and 2018 show.

Its Italian arm employs about 2,000 people.

The company has a plant in the central Marche region, where it produces pills for cancer and nervous system disorders.

It also has a factory in Sicily that makes sterile injectable drugs such as antibiotics

Pfizer was also one of the major winners of the pandemic.

The company 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.

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.

The People's Vaccine Alliance (PVA)  a non-profit that campaigns for vaccine equity  described the price hike as a 'daylight robbery'.

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.

Pfizer claims it will have trouble meeting revenue projections this year without boosting the price of the jabs, according to a Reuters report.
The flu and a seasonal common cold virus can fuse together and create an entirely new pathogen, scientists have shown for the first time.

Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - which is wreaking havoc on US hospitals - were found to combine and create not one but two new hybrid viruses.

The experiments were done in human lung cells in a laboratory, but there is nothing to suggest the same process won't occur in a person infected with both illnesses.

An entirely new virus would be unrecognizable to the immune system, increasing the risk of someone falling severely unwell.

That could pose a threat, given that up to 30 percent of all respiratory diseases are the result of a dual infection, according to some estimates.

The researchers from the University of Glasgow demonstrated what happens when human cells are infected by these two pathogens at the same time.

Study author Dr Joanne Haney said: 'Respiratory viruses exist as part of a community of many viruses that all target the same region of the body, like an ecological niche.'

'We need to understand how these infections occur within the context of one another to gain a fuller picture of the biology of each individual virus,' she added.

The report was published in Nature Microbiology.

Both flu and RSV - which is mild for most but severe in babies - are currently surging across the US currently, pushing pediatric hospitals to the brink.

The unusually early and aggressive wave has been blamed on an immunity gap during the Covid pandemic, when lockdowns and masks shut out seasonal bugs.

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

RSV can cause severe infection in some people, including babies, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone with a weak immune system

Because of low RSV cases in 2020, babies and young children may be at risk for a more serious infection since their immune systems have not been primed for that pathogen

Masks are widely absent from city streets and public transportation and working in offices is the norm again.

The hybrid virus particles that researches found under microscopes contained elements from both influenza A and RSV, including genetic information, and were able to evade the immune system

Where did the flu go the past two years... and when is it coming back The flu's spread was massively curbed over the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic Viral interference from Covid combined with mitigation measures like masking and restrictions on indoor events led to little spread of the virus As a result, many did not build up natural immunity to the virus in the past two years and have neglected getting their yearly jab Experts fear that this year's flu season will be the worst in years after both New Zealand and Australia were slammed by the annual nuisance in the southern hemisphere Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, issued a warning about the rampant spread of the flu in the Southern Hemisphere last month Some southern states like Texas, Georgia and New Mexico are already experiencing surges of the virus in September - before flu season even officially starts in October Advertisement

Prof Pablo Murcia, who supervised the research, said: 'This kind of hybrid virus has never been described before.

'We are talking about viruses from two completely different families combining together with the genomes and the external proteins of both viruses. It is a new type of virus pathogen,' he said.

Two viruses fused together could enable them to access more lung cells. Influenza typically infects cells in the nose, throat and windpipe. RSV, meanwhile, usually infects windpipe and lung cells.

A hybrid virus could also increase the risk of triggering a potentially fatal case of viral pneumonia.

Now that early pandemic precautions have been halted, familiar viruses such as flu and RSV have arrived sooner than expected and are circulating again at high levels.

The percentage of outpatient visits for respiratory illness already exceeded the national baseline.

The triple threat is already driving up hospitalizations to breaking point.

The resurgence in RSV has caused a surge in pediatric hospital admissions with nearly 70 per cent of children's hospital beds now filled. Some hospitals in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Washington, DC have hit capacity.

Typically the RSV season runs from mid-September to mid-November. But this year it began in August.

In severe cases it can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

The flu was largely wiped out over the past two years of the pandemic when lockdowns, working from home and the far more transmissible Covid-19 limited its ability to spread.

But flu cases have tripled in the past month and there are signs Covid is rebounding in 13 states.

Covid cases in the US are now also starting to rise in some areas, with the national case tally plateauing at 78 cases per 100,000 people.

About 36,000 Americans are testing positive for Covid every day at present, similar to the previous week.
Research shows a surge in car crashes after the clocks fall back in autumn

An extra hour in bed could disrupt your body clock and lead to depression

An extra hour in bed may leave you feeling fresh.

But, if experts are to be believed, there might be darker consequences when clocks go back later this month.

Every spring at 1am on the last Sunday in March, an hour of sleep is robbed from us in the name of daylight saving  a tradition that began in WW1, all in a bid for longer evenings and to conserve coal.

When do the clocks go back to end British summer time?

This year, times revert back on Sunday, October 30 at 2am. The clocks will go back an hour, so you'll get to have 1am to 2am twice.

This means those celebrating Halloween, will get an extra hour on their nights out, although night workers will be less pleased.

Why do the clocks change?

It all goes back (no pun intended) to 1908, when a bill - which was subsequently rejected - attempted to move clocks forward in the summer to provide more daylight hours after work for the training of the Territorial Army. It was also hoped this move would reduce railway accidents.

That same year however, British colony Port Arthur in Canada, led the way by turning their clocks forward.

It would be eight years until Britain followed suit, with the Summer Time Act 1916 advancing clocks for one hour, to keep up with Germany doing the same. The logic was that this would save fuel for the war effort by reducing the need for lighting during longer and brighter evenings.

Since then there's been bi-annual debates about whether we need to maintain daylight saving - and the health impacts might make you see things differently.



Although only temporary and described as being like jet lag, some sleep scientists fear the effects are much more severe than that.

Experts believe the disruption may raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It has also been linked to a surge in car accidents.

That's not to mention the obvious bad mood caused by disrupted sleep, one of the most common collateral effects of tinkering with the time.

Here, MailOnline explores the science behind changing the clocks and your health.

Turning the clocks back can disrupt your body's 24-hour clock and impact your sleep. This could lead a risk of strokes, heart attacks, a chronic lack of sleep and depression as illustrated in the image above

What are circadian rhythms? Circadian rhythms are 24-hour cycles linked to your bodies internal clock. These rhythms are found in many different organisms including flowers to help them open and close. Nocturnal animals also use their circadian rhythm to keep them from leaving their shelter during the day. In people, circadian rhythms coordinate the digestive system, regulate hormones and it controls your sleep-wake cycles. How does it work? All the 24-hour cycles throughout the body are connected to a master clock in your brain and at different times of the day it signals to regulate activity in your body. During the day sunlight causes the brain to send awake signals to keep us alert and active. At night, the master clock in the brain sparks the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep, and then keeps transmitting signals that help us stay asleep through the night. When the body's circadian rhythm is disrupted, from jet lag or shift work, the internal clock can struggle to make the body fall asleep, stay asleep and have a lie in. Advertisement

Strokes

Professor Russell Foster, of the University of Oxford, is one of the world's leading experts on the circadian rhythm, or the body's internal clock.

It sets the rhythms of our lives, affecting everything from how clearly we think and when our digestive systems are ready for food, to when our muscles are at their strongest.

During the day, sunlight causes the brain to send awake signals that keep us alert and active.

At night, the system  likened to that of the intricate mechanism inside a grandfather clock  sparks the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep.

The rhythm itself is also central to our metabolism, body temperature and hormone levels.

The clocks going back plays havoc with these processes, resulting in disruption to our sleeping pattern.

According to Professor Foster, who has penned a best-selling book on the topic, a combination of sleep deprivation and a disruption of the circadian rhythm can, potentially, trigger a stroke.

The increased risk is all down to the collateral effect of high blood pressure, in theory.

High blood pressure can cause blood clots to form and block blood flow in the arteries leading to the brain.

This causes brain cells to start dying, which triggers the tell-tale signs of a stroke, such as slurred speech and weakness down one side of the body.

Professor Foster said: 'We have this clock, and it is fine tuning every aspect of our physiology and behaviour to the 24-hour light and dark cycle.

'We see increased blood pressure ranking up. For example, between 6am and 12 noon there is a 50 per cent greater chance of having a stroke anyway.

'If you are being forced to get out of bed even earlier you are putting more stress on the system, which means you are less adapted to cope.'

He added: 'For most of us it is fine because we have got a healthy and robust metabolism, but where you are at an increased risk the transition to daylight savings time can essentially put extra stresses on our biology and makes us more prone to illnesses.'

Strokes happen when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. For the brain to function properly it needs oxygen and nutrients provided by blood. If the brain does not get this because the blood supply is cut off or restricted due to a blood clot, brain cells begin to die. This can lead to a brain injury and in some cases death

Dozens of studies support Professor Foster's warnings.

In 2016, researchers investigating the link found an 8 per cent increase in stroke hospital admissions in the two-day window after the clocks went forward or back.

Results from the study, which looked at more than 15,000 people, also showed the risk was higher for over-65s.

Dr John O'Neil is an expert in circadian rhythms based in Cambridge, he researches the 24-hour cycle in everything from cells, yeast, and algae to humans (left). Professor Russell Foster, of the University of Oxford, is one of the world's leading experts on the circadian rhythm. He has also written a book called 'Life Time', which explores the impacts of changing the clocks (right)

Heart attacks

Dr John O'Neill is another leading expert in the complicated field of circadian rhythms.

Based at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, he studies the 24-hour cycle in everything from cells in a petri dish, to humans.

His decades' worth of academia have suggested the stress caused by changing the clocks may increase the risk of heart attacks.

But he insists that changing the clocks only impacts your health on a minor scale, in a similar fashion as jet lag.

He said: 'If circadian rhythms are disrupted chronically, for example in shift work, we know that is really bad for your health in the long term.

'It is very rare that anyone drops dead from it, but the risk associated with doing shift work is the equivalent to smoking cigarettes.'

He added: 'If you fly to the states, you have a few days of jet lag where you are more vulnerable to more adverse health events, but not that much more at risk.

'That is what we see when you shift the clocks by an hour, it is just like getting an hour's jet lag.

'It is really such a modest challenge to your circadian system that the vast majority of people deal with it absolutely fine.

'But because it is happening at the level of the population you can see a slight increase in the frequency of heart attacks.'

In the days following the change in clocks there could be 40 more heart attacks than usual, according to Dr O'Neil. He explained that even though the disruption in circadian rhythm causes a stress to the body, only people who are unhealthy or susceptible to heart conditions are at risk. Image shows a man clutching his chest in pain with heart attack symptoms

An American study focusing on whether daylight savings increases the risk of heart attacks found that was, indeed, the case.

There was a 24 per cent rise in the number of heart attacks observed after the clocks went forward, compared to other Mondays throughout the year.

But the figure decreased when the clocks went back an hour, according to the research published in 2013.

Although there is a risk of heart problems from changing the clocks back, Dr O'Neill says there is a higher risk in the transition to summertime.

He said: 'The main problem with British summer time is that it increases the difference between the solar clock, which is what your biological clock will tend to lock onto, and the physical clock that determines our daily routine.'

But only people who are unhealthy or susceptible to heart conditions are at risk, he says.

On a population level in the UK, Dr John O'Neill claimed only an extra 30 to 40 heart attacks occur more than usual in the days following the change to BST.

The same science behind the slight uptick in strokes explains why there is a slight increase in heart attacks after the clocks change  high blood pressure.

The condition causes the coronary arteries serving the heart to slowly become narrowed from plaque  a build-up of fat, cholesterol and other substances.

Blood clots are more likely to form when this plaque build-up and hardens. Plaque and blood clots can disrupt the flow of blood through the heart muscle, starving the muscle of oxygen and nutrients and causing a heart attack.

Depression

Just as it can impact your physical health, changing the clocks and disrupting your sleeping pattern can knock your mental health, too.

Professor Foster highlighted that people who are susceptible to depression are at a higher risk of being struck down when they are sleep deprived.

He said: 'There is evidence that depression is intimately linked with sleep deprivation.

'If you are disrupting your sleep and getting less sleep and you are vulnerable, you are more likely to slide into that depressed state.

'If you add a disrupter, such as sleep loss or circadian rhythm disruption, you are going to be more vulnerable to slide into a dangerous state, for example a severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar.'

He added: 'If you are getting less sleep, the tired brain has a tendency to remember negative experiences but forget the positive ones.

'Your world view with a lack of sleep will be distorted. Your whole view of the world may be a bit more negative.'

Changing the clocks both in spring and in the autumn can cause people who are already susceptible to slide into depression. A lack of sleep can have serious impacts on your mental health causing depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and it can exaggerate symptoms of confusion Alzheimer's. Image shows a woman depressed after struggling to sleep

How to adjust your routine when the clocks change There are ways to prepare yourself for clocks falling back an hour at the end of October. Gradually going to bed later can help you to shift your body clock. Eating an hour later than you usually would, will also help you adjust your bedtime schedule. Professor Foster said: 'You need to be aware of potential consequences, if you have a danger of high blood pressure and heart issues you need to take it carefully and make sure you are not leaping out of bed and making it worse.' He added: 'You may want to go into work a bit later. If you are going in half an hour later and you change that over the week to 15 minutes, then it is going to be easier on the system.' Dr O'Neil believes it is always important to keep good sleep hygiene and a regular routine. He said: 'The most important signals for your biological clock are the times when you see light verses darkness and the times when you eat verses fasting. 'I always have the same advice for the clocks changing as for any other time of year, that it is good to try and keep a constant routine, so you see light at around about the same time each morning, you have breakfast at about the same time and at night-time you fast and ensure you do not see any bright lights.' Advertisement

One 2018 study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found a disrupted body clock was linked with depression, bipolar disorder and other problems.

A separate study, released in the Journal of Sleep Research in 2020, also found that a lack of sleep can put us in a bad mood.

Researchers showed participants images of laughing or crying children after five nights of normal sleep and after five nights of restricted sleep.

They found those who had less sleep were more likely to have negative responses to the images.

Alzheimer's

The symptoms of Alzheimer's can become worse when the clocks spring forward and fall back, some experts believe.

Professor Foster explained the phenomenon in his book 'Life Time', which explores the impacts of changing the clocks.

He writes that clinical staff have noticed the 'sundowning' symptoms, which refers to a state of confusion, anxiety, aggression, pacing or wandering which occurs in the evening and early night, are worse when the clocks change.

The reasons why sundowning happens is not well understood.

But the Alzheimer's Society says it may be down to tiredness, hunger, pain, a lack of sunlight during the day and disturbance to a person's body clock from damage to the brain over time.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

When the clocks fall back an hour, we start to see darker evenings as we enter the colder winter months.

Fewer daylight hours in the northern hemisphere can lead to 'winter depression', or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

The symptoms are similar to depression and include a persistent low mood and difficulty concentrating.

It is thought one of the causes of SAD is disruption to your body's internal clock.

Your body uses sunlight to time various important functions, such as when you wake up, so lower light levels during the winter may disrupt this and lead to symptoms of SAD, according to the NHS.

Car accidents

The extra hour in bed after the clocks fall back has been linked to an increase in car crashes as drivers adapt to the darker evenings.

That is according to research by Zurich insurance.

It analysed thousands of claims between 2018 and 2020 and found that prior to the autumn clock change, a quarter of car accidents occurred between 4-7pm.

This increased to almost a third of all crashes in November after the clocks have changed, leading them to blame the change in clocks.

However, the RAC Foundation suggests that the cold, rainy and darker evenings are to blame for this marvel rather than drivers being fatigued.

Research has revealed a shocking increase in car crashes after the clocks are turned back an hour in the autumn. Insurance company Zurich analysed thousands of car insurance claims between 2018 and 2020 and found that after the autumn clock change car accident increase by a third. Image shows a man falling asleep at the wheel of his car


By Casey Lartigue Jr.





Over the last decade I have organized numerous conferences and forums featuring North Korean refugees. One of the best insights was from a North Korean refugee who said during Q&A that one main reason North Korea continues to survive is that people look at it as a normal country.



Most questions, observations and conclusions of people are based on their own experiences growing up in free countries.



In analyzing these questions, I am not saying they should not be asked. I would like to present context for non-experts who join events featuring North Korean refugee speakers.



An example of such a question is: "Are you still in contact with your family members in North Korea?" That is a perfectly fine question for people living in freedom, but have the questioners considered that things are different when a gangster state is involved?



From what I have heard from North Korean refugees, it is expensive for them to be in contact with family members. One North Korean refugee talked about how painful it was, after a lot of planning, to only be able to talk with relatives for a few minutes. They had to make sure they weren't detected by the regime because of the danger for those in North Korea

getting caught being in contact with family members would also provide the regime with evidence that they have escaped. Family members will sometimes report that an escapee drowned or disappeared from the family. This is not like checking your Facebook feed to see how your uncle is doing after he moved across the U.S. or Europe.



A second question that is commonly asked from the context of a person living in freedom: "How can people help North Koreans?" Of course, it is great that people are asking how people living in slavery can be helped, but I would like to encourage questioners to be more realistic about the responses they receive. In a decade of organizing forums with North Korean refugees, I have yet to see a questioner satisfied with responses about how to help. Even governments with well-financed security agencies struggle while trying to figure out how to deal with North Korea. Yet, people expect North Korean refugees talking about their own stories to explain what should be done about North Korea.



I heard this question so often that we made it the focus at two of our English speech contests featuring North Korean refugees and even put together a project around it so North Korean refugees could propose ways for North Koreans to be helped. Not only did North Korean refugees disagree among themselves, but I don't recall anyone who heard the suggestions act on what was proposed.



A third question I often hear from people living in freedom ignorant of North Korea's context is about the good memories that North Korean refugees have about the country or leaders.



I bristled the first couple of times I heard the question. "So, you think after getting shot at while escaping or seeing family members or neighbors publicly executed that they want to talk about the positives?" That was a stifling discussion and I wasn't learning how North Korean refugees might respond. I decided to see what North Korean refugees would say when they weren't being questioned by strangers at public forums.



During 2017, to avoid confirmation bias, I began asking North Korean refugees a more neutral question: "Who is your hero (or someone you admire)?" Of about 150 North Korean refugees who answered the question, only one person mentioned North Korea's founder.



The other refugees talked about family members or friends in North Korea, people who helped them escape, or people who had helped them in South Korea.



One lady told a beautiful story at one of our speech contests that she didn't settle down in South Korea successfully until a South Korean lady became her mentor, adviser and paid for some opportunities for her. As she said, "She held my hand, then after that I could do anything."



I have yet to hear any North Korean refugee talk about the regime holding his or her hand or helping him or her through tough times. Is this an example of self-selection? Most North Koreans who admire the regime may still be in North Korea or have trouble explaining why they are not in the country they say they love?



As a person living in freedom, I have suggested to such questioners that they may need to go to North Korea to hear what it is that North Koreans like about North Korea. Oops! Are people free to ask such questions in North Korea? And can North Koreans in North Korea give any answer other than about the leaders of the country? I guess that is more evidence North Korea is not a normal country.





Casey Lartigue Jr. (CJL@alumni.harvard.edu) is co-founder with Lee Eun-koo and chairman of Freedom Speakers International (FSI) and co-author with Han Song-mi of "Greenlight to Freedom."


WHAT BOOK

. . . are you reading now?

Two books  one is Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, the best-selling, easy, charming love story about a wild and lonely girl living in the marshes of the Deep South, and a heftier book called The Inevitable: Dispatches On The Right To Die by the terrific journalist Katie Engelhart.

Because I campaign for the legalisation of medically assisted dying, I picked up this book as a duty, not expecting a pleasure.

Chef, writer and broadcaster Prue Leith (pictured) would take the collected works of Anthony Trollope to a desert island

But it is so well written and thoroughly researched, with no strident polemic or hysteria, that it is, extraordinarily, a delight to read: interesting and moving, thought-provoking and important.

It is also gripping. It starts with the tale of three middle-class women friends who have, unusually, thought about the subject in advance, done their homework on the internet and learned where to buy, illegally, a lethal dose in Mexico.

Its nerve-racking but brings them peace of mind: no doctor will force them to live when theyve had enough.

There are thousands of people like those women, secretly storing a cache of poison against the day, and thousands more wishing they could. Engelhart also examines the experiences of people dying with medical help where assisted dying is legal and those trying to die without it.

She explores the secret network of people, clinics and medics helping patients that the medical system cannot.

And she explores, with empathy and accuracy, the experiences of those around the dying person.

. . . would you take to a desert island?

Its thanks to horses that I started to read, first with Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (a tear-jerker told from the horses point of view)

Id take the collected works of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, to my mind a better writer even than Dickens or Thackeray. Ive read all his books and there is not a dud among them.

If I can only take one, it would be The Warden, a moving story of a kind old man trying to do good in a hierarchical society dominated by the snobbishness of the church.

. . . first gave you the reading bug?

When I was a child I preferred horses to reading, much to the distress of my father. But its thanks to horses that I started to read, first with Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (a tear-jerker told from the horses point of view) and then My Friend Flicka by Mary OHara, an altogether happier book aimed at young riders in love with horses.

. . . left you cold?

Like many others, I couldnt finish Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses, nor James Joyces Ulysses. Though recently someone, keen to educate me, sent me a crib for the latter. It explained every nuance of Ulysses and made that whole Dublin day make sense. But I still enjoyed the crib more than the book.

Prue Leiths memoir, Ill Try Anything Once, is published by Quercus at 9.99.
SLEEP

NIGHT TERRORS

by Alice Vernon (Icon 16.99, 272pp)

Did you sleep well? is a question most of us casually ask our house guests when they appear for breakfast. And they usually politely reply, Yes, thanks  very comfortable mattress!

If you asked Alice Vernon this question, her answer would make chilling listening. Alice suffers from parasomnia  when nightmarish visions appear during her sleep, frightening the life out of her.

Seventy per cent of us, she tells us in her new book Night Terrors, will experience parasomnia at some time in our lives.

By writing about these experiences, and by showing us historical examples of them and in literature, from Lady Macbeth to Jane Eyre, Alice Vernon aims to tame these ghastly things, thus helping other sufferers to feel less alone, less mad, less terrified.

Seventy per cent of us, Alice Vernon tells us in her new book Night Terrors, will experience parasomnia at some time in our lives (File image)

Bed is the opposite of a safe haven for Alice, a creative writing lecturer. For those of us with parasomnias, she writes, the bed is a haunted crypt. A few times each month, she wakes with the acute sensation that an evil creature is pressing on her chest, digging its knobbly knees into her stomach and pulling her down the mattress by her ankles.

This sensation of being pinned to the bed by an evil force is known as sleep paralysis, and its quite common throughout history.

One of the male witnesses in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 described the hallucinatory sensation of being pinned down on a bed by local woman, Bridget Bishop, who was lying on his breast. Eight days after his testimony, poor Bridget Bishop was executed for witchcraft.

Sleep paralysis is just one form of nocturnal torment Alice suffers from.

Others are sleepwalking (she has been known to get out of bed at 3am and walk to the campus while fast asleep) and hypnopompic hallucinations, when figures from her dreams flash into her vision for a few seconds when she wakes up, so vividly that shes convinced theyre in the room. She dryly remarks that her romantic relationships dwindle quickly.

Her friend Olivia, a fellow sufferer, has an app on her phone that starts recording when she makes a sound in the night. Recently it recorded her letting out a blood-curdling scream before crashing into a bedside lamp. Alice has so far avoided downloading this app.

Alice writes her dreams down, and enjoys listening to others recount their weird or horrific dreams, and shes riveted by peoples nocturnal visions (File image)

When she was a 15-year-old at school, a new teacher arrived, whom Alice calls Meredith in this book. On her first day, Meredith stared at Alice across the playground. In the classroom, she made Alice sit as far as possible from the door, so that after school she could waylay her, and chat, making her miss her bus home. Meredith insinuated herself into Alices life, using friendliness and texting.

It was creepy enough in the daytime; but decades later, in the night-time, Meredith continues to haunt her dreams. Often, the alien being pressing her knees down onto Alices chest and tugging at her ankles is Meredith herself.

Alice writes her dreams down, and enjoys listening to others recount their weird or horrific dreams, and shes riveted by peoples nocturnal visions. All this seems to feed into her hallucinations, such as one horrific one: waking up to a womans disembodied head slowly turning into a teal-coloured tree trunk on the pillow next to me. The face became long and cracked, and her mouth opened into a hollow and silent scream.

But Alice is convinced its only through thinking about and sharing these horrors that theres any hope of lessening them. Indeed, this seems to be part of current medical thinking.

Soldiers suffering from nightmares sparked by PTSD are being encouraged by their doctors and therapists to engage with their nightmares during the daytime, in the hope that doing this will restore a sense of mastery to an aspect of their lives that they cant control.

Another word for this is nightmare-rescripting. And it seems to work. By writing this gruelling, honest book, Alice Vernon has done her small bit to try to puncture the power of nightmares.
ASK A HISTORIAN by Greg Jenner (W&N 10.99, 352 pp)

MUST READS

ASK A HISTORIAN

by Greg Jenner (W&N 10.99, 352 pp)

History is full of unanswered questions: when did we start celebrating birthdays? Who invented meringues? And when was the first joke book written?

Public historian Greg Jenner is the host of the hit BBC podcast Youre Dead To Me, and the author of Dead Famous and A Million Years In A Day.

In his latest book he answers historical queries submitted by the public. Ranging from whether Anne Boleyn had three nipples (no, though she was rumoured to have six fingers) to When was the first Monday? And the enigma that has troubled most of us at some point: How did knights in full armour go to the toilet?

Jenners answers, funny, erudite and full of fascinating historical nuggets, include suggestions for further reading. As he says: The wonderful thing about history is theres always more of it to enjoy.

DREAM TOWN by David Baldacci (Pan 8.99, 576 pp)

DREAM TOWN

by David Baldacci (Pan 8.99, 576 pp)

Its New Years Eve 1952, and private investigator Aloysius Archer is driving along the mean streets of Los Angeles.

He plans to meet starlet Liberty Callahan, before ringing in 1953 with a bunch of VIPs and some bubbly. As it turns out, his New Year has a less festive start.

Waking up to find her front door open and a bloody knife in the sink, Libertys friend, screen writer Ellie Lamb, is convinced that someone is planning to kill her. Archer agrees to investigate, heading to Ellies house in Malibu, only to be bludgeoned by an unknown assailant. Regaining consciousness, he finds himself lying next to a dead body  and that is just the start of his troubles.

David Baldaccis noirish whodunit is an atmospheric tale of gangsters, stars and a hero whose relentless pursuit of the truth almost costs him his life.

GIRL, FORGOTTEN by Karin Slaughter (Harper Collins 8.99, 400 pp)

GIRL, FORGOTTEN

by Karin Slaughter (Harper Collins 8.99, 400 pp)

On a spring night in 1982, Emily Vaughn is preparing for prom. It should be the highlight of high school, but her father angrily banishes her to her room.

After a drunken blackout at a party, Emily is pregnant, with no idea who the father is. Her mother, Esther, is only concerned about the damage to her reputation. By the end of prom night, Emily will be dead  her murderer as much a mystery as the father of her child.

Forty years on, newly appointed U.S. Marshal Andrea Oliver is assigned to protect 81-year-old Judge Esther Vaughn, who has been receiving death threats. But her interest in the secrets surrounding the Vaughn family will reveal hidden connections to her own troubled past.

Karin Slaughters compelling thriller is an unsettling tale of the cruelty that lurks just beneath the surface of everyday lives.
Like an increasing number of people in their thirties, I am still renting.

I made a choice to live and work in London, and as a junior journalist, my first few jobs were not particularly well remunerated  meaning I didn't start saving seriously until I was in my late twenties.

And my family are based in the Midlands - too far away from work to consider living with either of my parents, if indeed they would have had me back.

I will also admit that I had a defeatist attitude in my younger years. I calculated it would take me more than a decade to save enough for a house deposit and even then my salary might not be enough for a mortgage  so what was the point?

Cost concerns: Tenants are struggling with the cost of living crisis - but if landlords are driven out from the market, rents could go even higher

Today I am much closer to my goal of owning a home, thanks to a big savings boost during the pandemic and now having a partner with whom to split the cost  though the rapid house price rises of the past two years have undoubtedly set us back.

But the experience has left me with eleven years of renting under my belt, during which time I have totted up an impressive 10 properties.

I have had my share of gripes with landlords over the years  from sub-standard and frankly dangerous homes (I was once electrocuted by a toaster, and have also lived in house where the front door didn't lock from the inside) to 400-a-month rent hikes and unfair evictions I just didn't have the energy to fight.

I have also had some good landlords. Particularly the one who refunded my deposit without checking the flat first when a split with a live-in boyfriend resulted in a serious hit to my finances - and allowed me to stay beyond the end of the contract while I planned what to do next.

And tenants can be the bad guys too, of course. Our sister title Money Mail featured a case study this week of an accidental landlord who was taken for 31,000 by a tenant who moved in with fake references and then failed to pay rent for six months.

Because of delays getting a court order, it took her 456 days to evict him.

I understand why landlords don't get much sympathy from the public at large, though.

Stories of landlords struggling with rising mortgage rates  now at their highest since the 2008 financial crisis  and increasing taxes may be greeted with the world's tiniest violin, especially at a time when rents have rocketed 11 per cent in a year.

But while anyone who owns more than one home is undoubtedly in a fortunate position, not all landlords are swimming in cash. Many are 'accidental' landlords who rent out their house when they move in with a partner, for example.

Rising rates: The cost of a mortgage is going up for landlords, which could mean they up rents

We should pay attention when landlords like these say it is harder than ever to make money on a rental property. It matters because, if landlords are paying more in mortgages and taxes, they will charge tenants higher rents.

They may even decide to stop being landlords altogether and sell their homes  especially if, like our case studies, they have struggled to get rid of a tenant who hasn't paid rent or ruined their property.

And as much as we love to hate them, a landlord exodus would make life worse for renters.

The property market runs on competition. If there are fewer homes available to buy than people who want to buy them, bidding wars ensue and prices go up. It is why the price of a home has now become so out of kilter with wages.

But the same is also true of the rental market. With fewer landlords, rents would become even more expensive because the homes that were available would command a higher premium.

The long-term solution, in my view, is for the Government to incentivise building more homes  both for private ownership and council housing.

This would provide secure homes for those on lower incomes, and free up more of those owned by private landlords for renters like me who can afford to pay the market rates.

It might even bring rents down a little in the process, as demand would be less heated.

But that has been suggested by housing experts for years, and is unlikely to happen any time soon.

So how can we make the rental market fairer for both landlords and tenants? I have a few suggestions.

Sort out the eviction process

When a landlord wants to evict a tenant they have two options: a Section 8, which is used when the tenant has unpaid rent or has damaged the property, or a Section 21 notice  also known as a 'no-fault' eviction'  for when they simply want their property returned.

Liz Truss announced that the latter would be scrapped during her brief premiership  but now there are rumours that that plan will be shelved.

And delays following the pandemic mean that both Section 8 and Section 21 orders are taking much longer for landlords to obtain  sometimes more than a year. That is a long time when you are standing by and watching your property be ruined by a rogue tenant.

This backlog urgently needs to be cleared. With more confidence that they could evict problem tenants quickly if needed, it might persuade more landlords to stay in the market  and ultimately benefit the respectful tenants that make up the large majority.

Longer lease: Signing up for more than the traditional year can offer security for both landlords and tenants

Longer tenancies should be the norm

I signed a two-year lease on my current flat. It gives me a bit of security and protects me from a large rent rise at the end of the first year, and the landlord knows he doesn't have the hassle or expense of finding another tenant, or the flat being empty, for at least 24 months. Win-win.

A ban on 'asking rents'

Properties should be advertised at the price the tenant will actually pay.

Asking rents create a situation where tenants are forced to push their budget to the absolute limits of what they can afford. This isn't sustainable.

It also leaves them with no financial wiggle room if the landlord wants to put the rent up later on in their tenancy  and they may end up worse off if the tenant decides to leave.

Clear rules for rent rises

According to the law, landlords can increase rents after a fixed term has ended based on 'market rates'  ie how much other properties in the area are renting for.

In practical terms, this means a quick search on Rightmove or Zoopla could essentially decide what tenants pay in rent for the next year.

A more reasonable approach might be for landlords to agree in advance with the tenant that the rent goes up by a certain percentage every year.

No tenant likes rent rises, but this seems less arbitrary  and the increases would be easier for tenants to budget and prepare for in advance. And the landlord gets a guaranteed rent rise.

Landlord references

This one is slightly tongue-in-cheek, but I would love to see a system where tenants can provide references to fellow tenants about their landlords, in the same way that landlords do about tenants. Surely it is only fair?
Emma Jones CBE is the founder and chief executive of small business network and business support provider Enterprise Nation.

As we head into the most challenging macroeconomic environment for decades, the UKs small business community will need careful guidance.

Emma Jones CBE is calling

Navigating unimaginable scenarios has become second nature to the nations entrepreneurs for all the wrong reasons.

While you might think political ups and downs create that illusive quality resilience, what has actually happened is that too many founders have simply frozen their plans, like rabbits in the headlights.

If we are going to see growth, we must urgently focus on turning this around. Small businesses are crying out for a fresh approach and a new business action plan that will stand up to whatever the next few years are going to throw at them.

Its no surprise then, that a recent report has uncovered a pent up demand for mentoring in the UK right now.

Mentoring Matters launched today on National Mentoring Day, found that the nations appetite for mentoring is on the rise. Today, 82 per cent of businesses are interested in mentoring.

Two thirds (61%) of the 823 small business founders surveyed said that mentoring's reputation among their peers and business colleagues had increased, with younger founders seeing fewer barriers to being mentored than older entrepreneurs, suggesting there is also a growing role for mentoring to play in the future.

The benefits of mentoring are obvious to most people who have had a mentoring relationship. The survey found 66 per cent of businesses that had received mentoring felt it had helped them survive and three quarters (76%) said it had been key to business growth.

But the report also found too many leaders amongst the country's 5.5 million small and medium-sized businesses are yet to take part, despite a willing army of potential mentors waiting in the wings.

Put off by time pressures and a perception of an unachievable schedule of long meetings over dusty desks, entrepreneurs have been facing the increasing economic pressures alone for too long.

While taking time out of the business can be challenging, those that are working with a mentor tell us they are finding a way  they are making it work at a frequency and in a manner that suits both the mentor and mentee.

A friendly face on a Zoom after dropping the kids to school is a great way to start the day or a quick call with someone who has been there and done it on the commute ahead of a key meeting, really helps to clarify strategy and cement goals.

With a willing army of mentors waiting to be mobilised, we must break down the barriers to ensure more entrepreneurs can access this resource to navigate the tough times ahead.

The reality is that the experience and wisdom that mentors can bring has never had greater value to our economy as we dive into a new era of book balancing politics under Rishi Sunak.

With a willing army of mentors waiting to be mobilised, we must break down the barriers to ensure more entrepreneurs can access this resource to navigate the tough times ahead.

Mentoring has a very clear role to play in improving business performance and supporting growth. As a founder of a growing company myself, I've benefited from having a mentor over the past decade. When there are so many questions to address each day  about product, people, finances and growth  it's vital to have a sounding board; someone with experience who can hear you out as you navigate the entrepreneurial journey.

Younger entrepreneurs see fewer barriers to being mentored. The under 40s see it as much more achievable than their older colleagues. The report suggested only 38 per cent of businesses founded by the under 40s said cost is a barrier to seeking a mentor, compared to 58 per cent of the over 40s. Half (52 per cent) of the over 40s claimed a lack of time as a barrier, compared to just 40% of under 40s.

Removing these barriers is, at least partly, about addressing perceptions. The report found the financial cost of participation was more frequently cited than any other barrier (51 per cent) - yet most (70 per cent) of the mentoring that respondents received was actually free.

A lack of relevance was also a popular barrier (cited by 45 per cent) but platforms to match mentees to mentors with relevant knowledge of their sector and business issues do exist, for example the support offered to firms on the Help to Grow: Management course.

The report found ethnic minority respondents to the survey saw less barriers to being mentored than their white British counterparts. Only 39 per cent of saw cost as a barrier, and 36% said it was a lack of time that stopped them seeking a mentor. The same figures for white British respondents were 57 per cent and 54 per cent respectively.

Another 38 per cent of ethnic minority respondents said that a perception of mentoring not being relevant to their business is a barrier, compared to 48 per cent of white British respondents, suggesting firms founded by minorities are more open to this kind of support.

The good news is the growing demand is matched with a growing willingness to become a mentor. The report found 83 per cent of business leaders polled were up for it. Now we just need them to get involved and sign up.

They could easily do that via Enterprise Nation and get training from the Association of Business Mentors as part of the Governments Help to Grow: Management Course, a flagship programme launched by Rishi Sunak last year.
But weary residents of Iran think the move is a ploy to quell the protests

The Iranian regime is running out of prison space to house protesters after almost six weeks of riots, sources speaking with MailOnline have said.

Iranian police have been forced to release protesters back on to the street after running out of places to house them, with country-wide demonstrations leaving the Islamic republic thin on resources, according to Iranian residents.

Several demonstrators recently detained by Iranian police were immediately released, MailOnline understands.

According to a document prepared for Ali Khamenei, the regime's supreme leader and seen by Iranian opposition forces, the Iranian regime arrested 20,445 protesters in the first two weeks of protests.

The report said that 42 percent of those arrested are under the age 20, with many of its members making up the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK).

For the first time in recent memory, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, Head of the Judiciary, said the Iranian regime is willing to talk to protestors, but Iranians are skeptical

Multiple prisoners in Tehran also fell under attack, with the regime killing dozens of inmates after a fire broke out a Evin Prison, where political prisoners are held. Pictured: A view of the entrance of Evin prison in Tehran, Iran October 17, 2022

Residents of Iran said the regime is running out of prison space to house protestors. Pictured: An unveiled woman standing on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan

For the first time, the head of the judiciary in Iran has said the regime is willing to hold talks with protesters.

'Many of IR officials are calling for talks, this has never happened before,' said Moeen, an Iranian resident who recently fled the country for Pakistan, speaking to MailOnline on the condition that his real name would not be used.

At the meeting of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary on the 18th of October, according to Hamshahri Online, the Head of the Judiciary Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i said: 'I am at their service for anyone who has any doubts, questions, criticisms or objections. It is my authority to talk to them.'

He continued: 'The protest is not burning the flag and Koran, burning people's property, killing people and killing people.

'We accept criticism and protest, and if there is a need to make corrections about the mistake we have made, it will be done and we will fix our weakness.'

But Moeen said the move is a plot to quell protests which started over the killing on Masha Amini, who was killed in custody after being accused of breaching Iran's strict dress code for women.

Despite heightened security measures, columns of mourners had poured into Saqez in the western Kurdistan province to pay tribute to Amini at her grave at the end of the traditional mourning period

Only days later, Iranian security forces opened fire on protesters who massed in their thousands in Amini's hometown today to mark 40 days since her death.

Amini sparked the protests after Iran's morality police, the Basiji, arrested her in mid December, shortly before she died allegedly as a result of a police beating on September 16.

Anger flared at her funeral last month and quickly sparked the biggest wave of protests to rock the Islamic republic in almost three years.

Young women have led the charge in daily protests that have endured for more than a month, burning their hijab headscarves and confronting security forces.

Multiple prisons in Tehran have fallen under attack, with the regime killing at least eight people and injuring dozens after a fire broke out a Evin Prison, where political prisoners are held.

The Washington Post reported that at least one of the fires was started deliberately, at a time when prisoners were locked in their cells.
The grandmother of missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon's has admitted she and her suspect daughter Leilani Simon made a bad decision to enjoy a night out drinking in a beach resort town as police searched for the little boy's body.

But Billie Jo Howell blamed it on hometown protesters whove made her feel like a prisoner, the DailyMail.com can reveal.

Her concession came as the little boy's babysitter joined in the chorus of criticism over the night out.

'If my grandchild or my child was missing, I wouldn't sleep, I wouldn't eat,' McCarta said. 'I wouldn't do nothing. I'd be out looking for my child,' Diana McCarta told DailyMail.com in an interview.

Howell, 45, told Quintons biological father in an 11-minute phone call obtained by DailyMail.com that she and Leilani went to Tybee Island because of protests outside her house.

'It got so bad,' she told Henry 'Bubba' Moss.

Quinton's grandmother, 45-year-old Billie Jo Howell, was filmed screaming at McCarta that he is 'still alive' after the babysitter raised concerns online

'Quinton was so precious, smart, very loving,' McCarta gushed to DailyMail.com. 'When he'd run in my house, he'd fall every time and he'd get back up laughing. He was a very sweet boy'

Diana McCarta, 47, has been Quinton's babysitter for nine months and is speaking out to DailyMail.com to slam his mother and grandmother

Leilani and her mother, Billie Jo Howell, were at StingRay's, a beach bar in the vacation town of Tybee Island, drowning their sorrows while authorities were searching for Quinton

'My friends from out of town that come down here to support me, they stayed close to me for two days and then decided to get a room at the beach for two days.

As demonstrators gathered outside her house, honking horns and yelling 'baby killers' into the night, Billie Jo, 22-year-old Leilani and their friends checked into the $72-a-night Sandcastle motel on Tybee Island, a vacation getaway 50 minutes from their home in Savannah.

And we went down there, she said. And I told them I don't think it's a good idea that we go out in public with y'all. I think it's better we stay here at the (motel) room.

'And they're like, what, you can't go have dinner?' she continued.

They went across the street to StingRays, a bar on the evening of October 18. The mother-daughter-duo sat outside with the friends, downing Patron shots and pestering their server to drink with them.

That same day, FBI agents combed through a landfill searching for little Quinton's body near the family's home. Police have named the boy's mother as the primary suspect in the disappearance, and stated that Quinton is presumed dead.

Quinton's grandmother, Billie Jo, had legal custody of him at the time of his disappearance

'Now I rationalized in my head, 'yeah, why can't we go have dinner?' You know what I mean? Billie Jo continued on the phone call with Bubba.

And the next thing you know, we were partying and screaming and hollering.

'And that's not the case,' she insisted. 'Leilani didn't even drink. Now I drank both drinks that was ordered for Leilani. I drank (a friend's drink). And I drank mine.

'So I was messed up.

'And then, of course, I went and laid on the beach and just cried,' she said. 'But they didn't play that part, you know.'

Billie Jo said she was mortified when the media outed them. After eating breakfast the next morning at a nearby diner, she was videotaped pulling away from the hotel on a white Harley Davidson.

People hate me, she said in despair on Saturday's phone call with Bubba.

Quinton has been missing since October 5 and police believe he is dead. They have named Leilani as the prime suspect in his disappearance although they have not arrested her.

Quinton's babysitter joined the chorus slamming mother and daughter.

McCarta, 47, spoke out to DailyMail.com for the first time since she was seen in video being scolded by the boy's grandmother for speaking publicly about the family.

'For me, I'm a different person,' McCarta, 47, said in an exclusive interview at her Savannah, Georgia, home, just down the block from where the toddler vanished on October 5.

Quenton's mother, Leilani called police on October 5 claiming she'd woken up and couldn't find her son

Leilani Simon, 22, is the main suspect in the disappearance of her 18-month-old son, who vanished on October 5. She's pictured in mugshots from 2020 and 2021

'If you love your child and your grandkids, you're going to look nonstop until you have answers.'

Billie Jo had legal custody of Quinton at the time of his disappearance

McCarta had been the child's babysitter for the past nine months.

'Quinton was so precious, smart, very loving,' she gushed to DailyMail.com. 'When he'd run in my house, he'd fall every time and he'd get back up laughing. He was a very sweet boy.'

After the child vanished, McCarta revealed that she'd received a text message from Leilanis boyfriend, Danny Youngkin early that morning telling her she didn't need to look after him that day.

That was 30 minutes before Quinton was 'last seen' by Youngkin, and a few hours before Leilani reporting him missing.

The babysitter pointed out that child services had been involved with the family. She also spoke about creating a memorial for the boy.

McCarta also said she got into a blazing argument with Billie Jo on October 11 after the grandmother had barged through her backdoor to confront her.

'My baby's not dead!' Howell shouts on the video, which McCarta's daughter recorded.

'Hit me, hit me,' McCarta dared at one point, prompting the grandmother to reply, 'Do you think I would do that?'

A protestor is seen carrying a sign outside the Howell home where Leilani is allegedly holdup in Savannah, Georgia

The protests got so bad, Billie Jo says, that she and her daughter were forced out of their home

The Chatham County Police Department shared photos of the team sorting through tons of garbage as they search for little Quinton

During DailyMail.com's interview, the babysitter provided some additional details about what precipitated the blowup.

She said Billie Jo wanted to know whether McCarta blamed her for what had happened.

'Everybody was blaming her, faulting her for not being home,' McCarta said.

'Billie Jo asked me did I blame her, and I told her my honest opinion. I just said, ''If you would have been here, things probably would have ended up differently.'' And she got mad at me.

'I guess she wanted me to say, I'm sorry for you. But I'm not sorry for anybody but Quinton. He's the one I'm sorry for.

'She just barged into my house and that was it,' she said.

In the days since, McCarta has kept a lower profile.

'Since I went on the news speaking about Quinton, we've received a lot of threats,' said McCarta, who has three children of her own. 'Our pictures are now out there. People know where we're at. I've been told that it's not our business, not to talk.'
A transgender Thai businesswoman has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million, amid the competition being marred by a cheating scandal and claims of an executive being accused of sexual harassment.

Jakkaphong 'Anne' Jakrajutatip, CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group Pcl (JKN), is a celebrity in Thailand, starring in local versions of reality shows Project Runway and Shark Tank.

Her purchase of the organization marks the first time the beauty pageant will be owned by a woman, her company said on Wednesday.

Jakrajutatip's has been outspoken about her experience as a transgender woman and also set up the Life Inspired For Thailand Foundation to advocate for the rights to dignity and opportunities for transgender people.

The news was announced just days after Miss Universe suspended the organizers of Miss USA amid claims that its bosses crowned a winner unfairly this month, among other ongoing drama, including a cheating scandal and claims of sexual harassment.

Jakapong 'Anne' Jakrajutatip, a transgender Thai businesswoman, has bought the Miss Universe Organization for $20 million

Jakrajutatip is CEO and biggest shareholder of JKN Global Group Pcl (JKN), and is a celebrity in Thailand, starring in local versions of reality shows Project Runway and Shark Tank

The annual beauty contest run by the Miss Universe Organization, which was co-owned by Donald Trump between 1996 and 2002, is broadcast in 165 countries and has been running for 71 years.

In a statement, Chakrapong described the purchase of the organization as 'a strong, strategic addition to our portfolio.'

JKN, which is involved in content distribution, beverages, food supplements, beauty and consumer products, said the Miss Universe name will be used to promote its consumer products.

Miss Universe, with its content, licensing and merchandising opportunities, plans to expand in Asia, Jakapong, added.

JKN produces its own shows and distributes content in Thailand from abroad including documentaries and Bollywood dramas. Its shares jumped nearly 10 percent in early trade on Wednesday.

A profile of Chakrapong in the Bangkok Post newspaper earlier this year said in her youth, she studied at an all-male school where she was harassed for identifying as female.

After attaining financial success, she spent 40 million baht ($1 million) on sex reassignment surgery and other procedures, the newspaper reported.

While Thailand enjoys a positive international reputation when it comes to the rights and lifestyles of LGBTQ communities, the absence of a procedure for transgender people to change their legal gender, coupled with insufficient legal protections and social stigma, limits transgender people's access to services and exposes them to daily indignities, New York-based Human Rights Watch said in a report last year.

This year, the 2022 competition has been drowning in scandal following the controversial crowning on October 3, where contestants accused 'woke' Miss USA of giving 28-year-old winner R'Bonney Gabriel preferential treatment and preselecting her to win because she's Filipina - making her the first Filipina American to be crowned.

Gabriel has denied all the allegations against her, saying there was 'no unfair advantage' and she 'would never enter any pageant or any competition that I would know I would win.'

Miss Brand suspended after contestants accused Miss USA organizers of rigging competition for a 'woke winner' to be crowned (pictured: Crystle Stewart, president of Miss USA)

In addition to the ongoing scandal, Stewart's husband's sexual misconduct case - brought forth by the Class of 2021 - was exclusively revealed by DailyMail.com, where contestants accused him of sexually harassing 'young models' and sending a video of his penis to a former contestant in 2018 (pictured: Stewart and Max Sebrects in 2019)

R'Bonney Gabriel was crowned on October 3 (pictured) and Miss Missouri, Mikala McGhee, said she was preselected to win and giving favoritism throughout the competition and believes she may have won because she is a 'woke' contestant as the first Filipina to win

Miss Missouri, Mikala McGhee, 28, of St Louis, exclusively told DailyMail.com last week that Miss Brand Corp., which runs the annual pageant, has been stood down following allegations that Gabriel was the 'predetermined winner.'

Miss USA Director Crystle Stewart is the director of Miss Brand, but it is unclear if she was suspended by the company itself. An internal probe into Miss Universe is also being led by the law firm Holland & Knight.

In addition to the ongoing scandal, Stewart's husband is embroiled in a sexual misconduct case - brought by the Class of 2021 - which saw contestants accuse him of sexually harassing 'young models' and sending a video of his penis to a former contestant in 2018.

Class of 2022 contestants have told DailyMail.com they had no idea prior to the competition that Max Sebrechts stepped down from the board in January after contestants accused him of being a predator.

Much of the Miss USA, Miss Academy, and Miss Brand is run out of Houston and contestants are accusing the organizations of favoring Texan beauty queens.
Parents in a Georgia town are revolting against a local library over what they describe as its 'pornographic' selection of children's books.

The parents complained over four books at the Thomas County Public Library in Thomasville, Georgia, earlier this month, after coming across some of the books in horror.

One, titled All Boys Aren't Blue, is billed as a queer 'manifesto memoir' by the author George M. Johnson, and a sexuality guide called It's Perfectly Normal.

The library also promoted Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out as one of its latest additions earlier this year.

Two of the books the parents complained about: The sexuality guide 'It's Perfectly Normal' and the 'memoir manifesto', All Boys Aren't Blue, which has been banned by 29 school districts

The parents say the books should be moved from the children's section to the teenager's area, at the very least.

At a recent board meeting, mother Carla Defnall said of It's Perfectly Normal: 'I have marked all of the narratives and pictures, which I will be happy to show.

'It seems clear to me that this book is pornographic and it is against the law to furnish it to children and teens.'

Her comments were reported by The Thomasville Times Enterprise. Mary Beth Huber, another mother, had similar concerns.

'We picked up the same book in the little teeny childrens section, and they dont need a detailed description on how to have group sex.

'They dont need pictures of men and men in bed together, or men and women in bed together.

A library employee promoting another of the book's LGBTQ books: Beyond Magenta, Transgender Teens Speak Out

Two other books that parents protested over: The Hate U Give, a story about police brutality against black youths, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which is about a teenager with leukemia. The parents say the themes were inappropriate for young children

The children's section at the Thomas County Public Library in Georgia, where the books are stored

'These are our concerns for our little children. Put the book in the adult section,' she said.

George M. Johnson, the author of the 'memoir manifesto' All Boys Aren't Blue

Others that the parents complained about include Me and Earl The Dying Girl - a novel about a teenager with leukemia.

Another, titled The Hate U Give, explores police brutality against black youths and teenagers.

All Boys Aren't Blue has already been banned in 29 different school districts.

The author - who uses 'they/them' pronouns - told NPR in a recent interview: 'Any time you write a book where you write about your truth, there are going to be people who want to silence that truth'.

The Georgia library will meet with parents again in November to discuss moving the books in question.
Georgia Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams' voting rights nonprofit paid her close friend and campaign chair's law firm nearly $10 million in legal fees to handle a largely unsuccessful voter suppression case in the state.

Politico did a deep-dive Monday reporting that Abrams' campaign chair Allegra Lawrence-Hardy's law firm made $9.4 million in 2019 and 2020 from the Democrat's group Fair Fight Action, with dollar amounts not yet available for 2021 and 2022.

The report came on the heels of Fox News Channel finding that Fair Fight Action had paid thousands to the group's director Andre Fields' family and friends, who don't appear to have political experience - with the organization now saying its launched an investigation.

After losing the gubernatorial race to 2018 to now Gov. Brian Kemp, Abrams is challenging him again, and so the group that heightened her national profile and brought in millions of dollars over voter suppression claims is under greater scrutiny.

Georgia Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Stacey Abrams' voting rights nonprofit paid her close friend and campaign chair's law firm nearly $10 million in legal fees to handle a largely unsuccessful voter suppression case in the state

Politico did a deep-dive Monday reporting that Abrams' campaign chair Allegra Lawrence-Hardy's (right) law firm made $9.4 million in 2019 and 2020 from the Democrat's group Fair Fight Action, with dollar amounts not yet available for 2021 and 2022.

Abrams launched Fair Fight Action after her narrow loss to Kemp in 2018, which she refused to concede due to reports of long lines, voters being delisted from the voter rolls, and other problems in predominantly black communities.

'This year, more than 200 years into Georgia's democratic experiment, the state failed its voters,' Abrams said in 2018, ten days after the election. 'You see, despite a record-high population in Georgia, more than a million citizens found their names stripped from the rolls by the secretary of state, including a 92-year-old civil rights activist who had cast her ballot in the same neighborhood since 1968.'

'Tens of thousands hung in limbo, rejected due to human error and a system of suppression that had already proven its bias,' she continued.

Her comments - which Republicans have pointed to when questioned about former President Donald Trump's false claims of 2020 election fraud - helped Fair Fight Action bring in millions of dollars.

Politico reported that in 2019 and 2020, the group raised more than $61 million.

More than $25 million, the website said, went to legal fees.

And $9.4 million of those legal fees went to Lawrence & Bundy, where Lawrence-Hardy, who's been friends with Abrams since college and chaired both her gubernatorial bids, is a partner.

Lawrence-Hardy wouldn't tell Politico how much in total went from Fair Fight Action to Lawrence & Bundy, as public records don't account for the last two years.

The expenditures were far higher than what are typically spent taking a voting rights case to federal court - leading to questions of whether there was overcharging.

The main case litigated was Fair Fight Action v. Raffensperger, which started as a sweeping case about problematic voting practices in Georgia, but was winnowed down to just three claims - all of which a federal judge ruled against in September.

'Although Georgia's election system is not perfect,' wrote Federal District Court Judge Steve C. Jones, 'the challenged practices violate neither the constitution nor the [Voting Rights Act].'

Allies of Abrams said the it was fine her group entered a contract with the law firm of a close friend.

Xakota Espinoza, the communications director for Fair Fight Action, argued. that Lawrence-Hardy was hired for her expertise.

'Fair Fight Action along with five other organizations had the honor of being represented by Allegra Lawrence-Hardy in her role as lead counsel for the plaintiffs, as well as by a number of esteemed lawyers at Lawrence & Bundy and the seven other firms involved in this case,' Espinoza told Politico.

Norm Eisen, an Obama White House ethics adviser and consultant to the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee, dealing with former President Donald Trump's first impeachment, was asked by Fair Fight Action to respond to the Politico story.

He suggested that it wasn't a surprise a voting rights lawyer would also be a chair of a prominent political campaign.

'It happens all the time. It is the way our system is built, that the political leaders and the policy leaders are one in the same,' he told Politico. 'So this is not unique to Allegra.'

'You can say the same thing about Joe Biden or Nancy Pelosi or, or Chuck Schumer or Mitch McConnell or Kevin McCarthy,' he continued. 'We not only countenance it, we embrace it; that is the American political, legal and ethical system.'

The group Public Citizen, which had a campaign finance and ethics expert quoted in the story saying it was a 'conflict of interest,' later walked that statement back saying 'the contractual arrangement described in the story is normal and non-objectionable.'

Of course, Republicans were more likely to find the financial relationship between the nonprofit and the law firm untoward.

'This is nuts. Fair Fight and Stacey Abrams' orgs have had shady financial problems for YEARS. Anyone who has seen her oppo book knows that section is 200 pages long,' tweeted Matt Whitlock, a former spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Whitlock said that Public Citizen 'throwing their own employee under the bus for daring to criticize an Abrams org is WILD.'


By Rushan Ziatdinov





Soft skills, also known as common skills or core skills, are transferable skills that may be used in a variety of professions. Soft skills are often considered as a hypernym for skills falling under three key functional elements such as people skills, social skills, and personal career attributes. They differ from hard (technical) skills, which are directly relevant to the job for which people are applying. Hard skills are often more measurable, and easier to learn than soft skills. Technical skills are always changing, while people's soft skills can be preserved throughout their careers and lives.



In the past, employers valued hard skills more highly than soft skills. But during the past few years, that has substantially changed. Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn's director of product management, claims that, "Foundational soft skills have become even more important given the rise of remote and autonomous work, and are growing in importance across industries, levels and work environments. In fact, these soft skills were featured in 78 percent of jobs posted globally over the last three months," as was mentioned in the article "Why soft skills are more in demand than ever" by Forbes in 2022.



In 2022, The Balance, an American portal focused on articles related to simplifying personal finance topics and news, defined soft skills as non-technical skills that relate to how people work. According to this portal, soft skills are related to how people interact with their colleagues, how they solve various problems, and how people manage their work. Soft skills include adaptability, communication, compromise, conflict resolution, creative and critical thinking, dependability, leadership, listening, motivation, negotiation, positivity, problem-solving, teamwork, time management, work ethic, etc.



Touloumakos (2022) published an article in the Frontiers of Psychology journal that classifies soft skills into nine categories: a) Qualities such as adaptability, flexibility, responsibility, courtesy, integrity, professionalism, and effectiveness, as well as values such as trustworthiness and work ethic. b) Volitions, predispositions, and attitudes such as a positive attitude, readiness to learn, readiness to learn other skills, hard work, working under pressure, or uncertainty. c) Decision-making, problem-solving, analytical thinking, innovation, creativity, manipulating knowledge, and critical judgment.



d) Along with self-awareness, management and coping skills, leadership and managing skills. e) Interpersonal savvy/skills, social and teamwork skills, and the ability to have productive and successful interactions with others. f) Communication skills that include elements of negotiation, conflict resolution, persuasion skills; diversity and articulation work (managing simultaneous interactions with people, information, and technology). g) Emotional labor. h) Lookism, professional appearance, and aesthetics. i) Cognitive ability or processes, ability to plan and achieve goals, and others.



Soft skills, according to Oxbridge Academy (2017), are more important than ever for five key reasons: 1) Without soft skills to back up their task-related knowledge, hard skills are ineffective. 2) Soft skills are more valuable because they are harder to acquire. 3) Nowadays workplaces are collaborative, with a heavy emphasis on soft skills to get things done. 4) Customers want soft skills. 5) Soft skills, which cannot be copied or replaced by technology or artificial intelligence, are the future of work.



According to Investopedia (2022), while making recruiting decisions, businesses search for a combination of hard and soft skills in the candidates. Employers, for example, favor talented personnel who have a track record of completing tasks on time. Employees with strong communication skills and in-depth knowledge of the company's products and services are highly valued by employers. Even if their primary occupation is not sales or marketing, people with soft skills can make compelling presentations when speaking with potential customers.



Through online or offline classes, leadership development, specialized mentorship programs, and consultations with their professors, students can learn new soft skills or hone their current ones. By identifying their areas of weakness and establishing goals for progress, students can also develop their people skills.



For instance, if one needs to improve his/her listening skill, he/she can start by paying close attention to what their instructors or coworkers are saying and seeking clarification when necessary. Moreover, metaverses and virtual learning environments (Zepeto, Virbela, vAcademia, etc.) can be also used for teaching and acquiring soft skills (for example, communication and teamwork skills).



Developing soft skills in students is very important. Research carried out by Heckman & Kautz (2012) shows that success in life depends on many traits, not just those measured by grades, SAT tests, and IQ. The central message of this study is that soft skills predict and create success in life, and that programs which enhance soft skills play an essential role in a successful portfolio of public policies.



People who develop soft skills that are related to how you think, work, and relate to other people will be the most successful in the workplace of the future as it was mentioned in the Forbes article in 2022. No matter what sector or business an employee wants to switch to, soft skills can make job changes simpler.





Rushan Ziatdinov (www.ziatdinov-lab.com) is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at Keimyung University, Daegu.




Los Angeles City Council formally rebuked two members and its former president Wednesday for their involvement in a racism scandal that has led to days of protests, police and state investigations and shaken public faith in City Hall.

The 12-0 vote to censure former council President Nury Martinez and Councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon represented the strongest step the council can take to publicly reprimand them.

The councilmembers were involved in a secretly recorded 2021 meeting - which is now under investigation for potentially being recorded illegally - laced with crude, bigoted comments, in which the Latino Democrats schemed to protect their political clout in the redrawing of council districts at the expense of Blacks and renters.

The council cannot expel members - it can only suspend a member when criminal charges are pending.

While a censure is largely symbolic, it adds new weight to the pressure coming from across the political spectrum for Cedillo and de Leon to resign.

The 12-0 vote to censure former council President Nury Martinez (pictured) and Councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon represented the strongest step the council can take to publicly reprimand them

The uproar began with the release nearly two weeks ago of a previously unknown recording of a 2021 private meeting involving Martinez, Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo

Councilman Paul Koretz said he remained in shock from listening to the offensive remarks that he said had severely damaged trust in government. Like it or not, he lamented that the recording reflected on the entire council.

'It's going to take us years to rebuild this trust,' Koretz said before the vote.

Councilman Curren Price called the censure a 'crucial step in a long road to healing' and the harshest measure the council could take, lacking the ability to expel members.

Martinez resigned shortly after the release of the tape earlier this month, along with a powerful labor leader, Ron Herrera, who also attended the meeting.

However, Cedillo and de Leon have resisted widespread calls to step down, including from President Joe Biden, and have become political pariahs among their colleagues.

Councilman Paul Koretz said he remained in shock from listening to the offensive remarks that he said had severely damaged trust in government. Like it or not, he lamented that the recording reflected on the entire council. 'It's going to take us years to rebuild this trust,' Koretz said before the vote

Councilman Curren Price called the censure a 'crucial step in a long road to healing' and the harshest measure the council could take, lacking the ability to expel members

Police tape put up by protesters blocks the entrance of Los Angeles City Hall, Wednesday, October 19

Anyone involved in the meeting 'does not belong in elected office,' Koretz said.

Earlier, the council meeting was called into recess to allow police to clear chanting protesters, which has frequently accompanied council business since the scandal.

A small but noisy group crowded into the main aisle of an otherwise mostly empty chamber, banged water bottles on a lectern, whooped and shouted in what appeared to be an effort to shut down the meeting. They unrolled a large sign calling the council 'illegitimate.'

'Justice now!' they bellowed. 'Shut down!'

That led to a standoff in which about 20 protesters continued shouting as police officers watched over the group. Eventually, the room was cleared.

Council President Paul Krekorian warned the protesters they would not deter the council's business. 'We will continue to do the work of the people of Los Angeles,' he said.

Earlier, the council meeting was called into recess to allow police to clear chanting protesters, which has frequently accompanied council business since the scandal

A small but noisy group crowded into the main aisle of an otherwise mostly empty chamber, banged water bottles on a lectern, whooped and shouted in what appeared to be an effort to shut down the meeting

Council President Paul Krekorian (pictured) warned protesters they would not deter the council's business

It's not known who made the tape, or why. It was released on the website Reddit just weeks before the November midterm elections.

In the course of the hourlong meeting, they also made offensive remarks about immigrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Jews, Armenians and other groups.

Two investigations are underway stemming from the release of the tape.

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating whether the recording was made illegally - under California law, all parties must consent to the recording of a private conversation or phone call.

Separately, the state is investigating how the council districts were drawn and whether the process was rigged. Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, has said his investigation could lead to civil liability or criminal charges, depending on what is found.

'The department has initiated a criminal investigation into an allegation of eavesdropping,' Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday during a media availability

Mike Bonin (left) and his partner Sean Arian (far right) with their adoptive son (center)

LA City Council member Mike Bonin (pictured) and his adoptive son (left) were unknowingly subjected to derogatory remarks from Martinez and two other city council members in an October 2021 conversation

Bonta said Wednesday that his office notified the city of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, where the meeting took place, to preserve evidence, a routine step in an investigation.

Bonta would not speculate whether the union building was broadly wiretapped, or if the recording was an isolated event made by a single individual. He said he would largely defer to the police to investigate whether the recording was illegal.

The council appears headed into a long period of turmoil.

Cedillo and de Leon have not attended recent meetings.

Cedillo, whose term ends in December, has been out of public view. De Leon has two years left in his term and has appeared in a string of media interviews apologizing and saying he wants to continue his work on the council.

Police tape put up by protesters blocks the entrance of Los Angeles City Hall on October 19

In an interview Tuesday with talk-show host Tavis Smiley on KBLA radio, de Leon reiterated that he was not resigning. 'Im not the person the folks have been painting me to be,' said de Leon, who previously has apologized.

Krekorian, the president, and other council members have said Cedillo and de Leon must resign.

'There is no realistic possibility that you can effectively continue to serve,' Krekorian recently told de Leon in a letter. 'Every day you remain interferes with the councils ability to function, delays the citys healing process, hurts your constituents and reduces your chance of redeeming yourself.'
Two railroad unions have now rejected a labor deal with the major railroads, with the likelihood of a strike that could cause $2 billion a day in damage to the economy increasing.

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen said nearly 61 percent of the workers who voted opposed the five-year contract, even though it included 24 percent raises and $5,000 in bonuses.

They are the second rail union to reject a deal this month, after over half of track maintenance workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division who voted opposed the contract.

BMWED set a deadline of November 19 to get a deal done before a strike would take place, according to the union's Facebook page.

Union President Michael Baldwin - who endorsed Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who helped broker the deal - cited the 'lack of good-faith bargaining' by the railroads, and said the recommendations of a board of arbitrators that President Joe Biden appointed this summer denied workers the 'basic right of paid time off for illness.'

Two railroad unions have now rejected a labor deal with the major railroads, with the likelihood of a strike that could cause $2 billion a day in damage to the economy increasing

The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen said nearly 61 percent of the workers who voted opposed the five-year contract, even though it included 24 percent raises and $5,000 in bonuses

Union President Michael Baldwin - who endorsed Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who helped broker the deal - cited the 'lack of good-faith bargaining' by the railroads, and said the recommendations of a board of arbitrators that President Joe Biden appointed this summer denied workers the 'basic right of paid time off for illness.'

Walsh received the union's endorsement when he was nominated for labor secretary in 2021

The unions say the railroads, including a couple that reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter, can easily afford to offer paid sick time.

The negotiations included CSX, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, BNSF and Kansas City Southern railroads.

The railroads maintain that the unions have agreed during decades of negotiations to forego paid sick leave in favor of higher wages and more generous short-term disability benefits that kick in after four days of absences and continue up to a year.

They have rejected all demands for paid sick time although they did offer the unions that represent engineers and conductors three days of unpaid leave to tend to medical appointments as long as workers give 30 days notice.

The railroads have refused to offer workers much more than what the Presidential Emergency Board of arbitrators recommended.

They say that board rejected unions' requests for paid sick time in favor of recommending the largest wage increases in more than four decades.

Norfolk Southern locomotives work in the in the Conway Terminal on September 15

Workers have been fighting in the negotiations to improve their quality of life and are demanding railroads ease the strict attendance policies that keep some of them on call 24-7.

Six smaller unions have approved their deals with the railroads, but earlier this month the large Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division union that represents track maintenance workers also rejected its proposed contract because workers were concerned about the lack of paid sick time.

And the two biggest unions that represent conductors and engineers, who are most affected by the railroads' demanding schedules, won't announce their votes until mid-November.

All 12 rail unions that together represent 115,000 workers nationwide have to approve contracts with the railroads to prevent a strike.

But there is no immediate threat of a walkout because the unions that rejected their deals agreed to return to the bargaining table and continue talks at least through November 19.

US President Joe Biden announces that the rail companies and unions have reached a tentative agreement in September with Labor Secretary Marty Walsh

Headquarters of the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized Wednesday that despite the opposition to the tentative agreements, the economy is 'under no immediate threat.'

The administration is prepared to take the appropriate steps to ensure the rail system remains functioning, she said.

But she declined to say whether Biden would personally get involved in the negotiations between the rail companies and unions like he did last month ahead of the initial strike deadline.

If both sides can't agree on new contracts, Congress may step in to block a strike and impose terms on workers.

The agreement, announced on September 15 as a national rail strike loomed at midnight the following day, would have raised rail employees' salaries 24 percent from the period of 2020 to 2024.

Workers would have gotten an average lump sum payment of $11,000 for the backdated portion of the raise, according to a group representing rail companies.

Railroads in Chicago, Southern California, and Virginia were preparing for service stoppages ahead of the threatened September shutdown, while Amtrak, the nation's cross-country railway system, canceled all planned trips, including those from Washington DC to Sanford, Florida, and the Silver Star from New York City to Miami. DailyMail.com has reached out to Amtrak for comment.

Additionally, according to the National Retail Federation, any rail strike could have long-lasting negative effects on the import of goods for the holiday season, causing shortages and higher prices.

They are the second rail union to reject a deal this month, after over half of track maintenance workers represented by the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees Division who voted opposed the five-year contract

A July rally where railroad workers protested in favor of what they feel is a fair contract

A potential rail strike would also choke supplies of already scarce computer chips and other car parts, cutting off the delivery to auto assembly plants, which could force temporary shutdowns at some of America's auto plants.

It would also disrupt the flow of completed new cars and trucks to dealers throughout the country, 75 percent of which move by rail.

According to an American Association of Railroads study published in September, everything from delivery delays (a single car on the average freight train carries 2,500 UPS packages), to plant shutdowns, to food (the average rail car carries enough wheat for 260,000 loaves of bread) and climate with more people forced to take the highways could be affected.

Labor Secretary Marty Walsh sounded the alarm about how bad it could get if there were a strike when they announced the now-rejected settlement in September, telling Politico, 'It's like, Holy Christ: The magnitude of what would have happened. We'll never fully understand, thank God.'

A spokesperson for the Department of Labor and Secretary Walsh has yet to respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment on the rejection of the settlement.

'The cost will grow geometrically the longer the strike lasts,' said Patrick Anderson, of Anderson Economic Group. 'After a week, you'd see real damage in the US economy.'
Medibank faces costs of up to $30million after it was revealed it had no insurance to protect itself from a cyber attack that affected almost four million customers.

The private health insurer's market value plummeted by around $1.7billion on Wednesday as Russian hackers threatened to expose the health records and other sensitive data of millions of Australians.

The hackers claim to have stolen 200 gigabytes of data and have shown some proof, including medical records.

Federal Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil said, 'The latest advice from Medibank is deeply concerning ... the government recognises that this incident is very stressful for affected Australians.'

Federal Cyber Security Minister Clare O'Neil (pictured) said 'The latest advice from Medibank is deeply concerning'

Ms O'Neil said she had been in constant contact with the health insurer and that the government had provided the resources to tackle the breach.

'The toughest and smartest people in the government are working directly with Medibank to try to ensure that this horrendous criminal act does not turn into what could be irreparable harm to some Australian citizens,' she told Channel 7.

While the Federal Government is seeking to increase fines for companies who are hacked, Medibank admitted it didn't have insurance to protect itself in the event of a data breach.

The company's chief financial officer Mark Rogers said cyber insurance 'costs went up significantly over the last couple of years - how much coverage you can actually get in terms of the total amount of exposure plus the risk share.'

He said the ability to make a claim had also diminished.

'So, notwithstanding the fact we didn't have cyber insurance, I wouldn't expect ... that the majority of costs that we're currently calling out in the 25 to 35 million (range) would have even been covered.'

Cyber security strategist Jamie Norton said the full extent of the Medibank data breach is probably not yet known, either by the public or the company.

'What concerns me a little bit is just how long it's taken and the process and the visibility they have into what's happened,' he told ABC radio.

Hackers claim to have stolen 200 gigabytes of data and have shown some proof, including medical records. Pictured is a stock image of a hacker

Mr Norton, who has spent more than two decades managing cyber security, including for the Australian Taxation Office, said companies need to protect themselves financially.

'There is a significant burden if an organisation gets breached and they don't have cyber insurance,' he said.

He said 70 per cent of companies had experienced a ransomware attempt in the last five years.

'So we're talking very high numbers, and 80 per cent of those choose to pay the ransom. So it's a common event,' he said.

A cyber attack has affected almost four million Medibank customers as the private health insurer's market value plummeted by around $1.7billion on Wednesday

Mr Norton said the question of Medibank paying a ransom is a vexed one.

'(It) very much depends on the range of circumstances, notwithstanding that paying the ransom is absolutely no guarantee that the Medibank information on four million Australians is not going to leak out anyway.'

US expat Mitchell Maider told ABC he had been caught up in both the Medibank attack and Optus hacks, despite no longer being a customer of either.

He left Optus seven years ago and Medibank four years ago and doesn't understand why the companies still have his data.

'The irony is laughable. They're an insurance company, a health insurance company. They're handling people's sensitive data, including their health records.

'They should have every protection they can possibly (have) in place,' he said.

The Optus store on George Street Sydney is pictured on October 7, 2022 with an apology message to its customers after a cyber attack

Mr Maider said companies should be forced to delete data after a customer leaves them.

'There needs to be a law saying if you're not with a company any more, like within six months, that they delete your records.

'It's just creepy that they kept all of this data.'

The Federal Government has introduced legislation that would increase fines for companies that have serious or repeated privacy breaches.

Under the draft laws, companies can be fined $50million or more.

Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the increased fines are needed.

'As the Optus, Medibank and MyDeal cyber attacks have recently highlighted, data breaches have the potential to cause serious financial and emotional harm to Australians, and this is unacceptable,' he said.
An Italian model and actress who is among the four women accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse at his Los Angeles trial is being accused by the defense of changing her story about the disgraced Hollywood mogul's testicles.

The accuser known as Jane Doe 1 claimed she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein in 2013, and forced to perform oral sex as he had problems maintaining an erection.

In a fiery cross-examination on Wednesday, defense attorney Alan Jackson accused Jane Doe of lying and that at the time of the alleged incident, Weinstein's testicles had been surgically relocated to his inner thighs.

Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving eight women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013.

Harvey Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving eight women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013

In court on Wednesday, Weinstein's defense focused on discrepancies between what the accuser told police after the alleged rape and what she had testified before a grand jury, The Daily Beast reported.

Jackson claimed the surgery of Weinstein's testicles would make it difficult for her to allegedly comply with Weinstein's demand 'to play with his balls.'

He then pointed out that in the model's 2017 interview with authorities, she said she had Weinstein's testicles in her mouth.

The woman was the first of eight Weinstein accusers set to testify in a courtroom in Los Angeles where the 70-year-old movie mogul is on trial on multiple counts of rape and sexual assault.

Weinstein, who is already serving a 23-year sentence for a conviction in New York, has pleaded not guilty.

'I was trying to do what he wanted,' she said, noting that Weinstein had 'problems with testicles' but insisted she never changed her story about the assault.

'I described that he had a problem that it wasn't the testicles but it was a part of him,' she added.

Jackson then questioned her as to why she told police about Weinstein's testicles, but not the grand jury - and asked if she had 'changed her story' after she had learned that Weinstein 'did not have any testicles in his scrotum.'

He asked Jane Doe: '(Weinstein) specifically asked you to play with his balls?'

'It wasn't just [the only] request  I was trying to do what he wanted,' she replied.

Jackson pressed her on that she had told police that she put his testicles in her mouth, but not the grand jury.

'I cannot agree with that,' Jane Doe replied.

'You changed your testimony, didn't you?' Jackson fired back.

'Never!' Jane Doe responded.

'You completely omitted any reference to his testicles being in your mouth,' Jackson hurled back.

'In the grand jury they don't let you talk, only answer question,' she said.

Weinstein, 70, is facing 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving eight women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013

THE LOS ANGELES CHARGES AGAINST WEINSTEIN JANE DOE #1 - Unidentified Italian actress Forced oral copulation - February 18, 2013 Sexual penetration by foreign object - February 18, 2013 Forcible rape against the same woman on the same day - February 18, 2013 JANE DOE #2 Sexual battery - February 19, 2013 JANE DOE #3 Sexual battery by restraint - May 11, 2010. 'Weinstein unlawfully touched an intimate part of Jane Doe #3 while she was unlawfully restrained'. JANE DOE #4 - Jennifer Siebel Newsom Forcible oral copulation - September 2005 Forcible rape - September 2005 JANE DOE #5 Forcible oral copulation November - 2009 Forcible rape - November 2009 Forcible oral copulation - November 2010 Forcible rape - November 2010 Advertisement

In her testimony that began on Monday about the moment Weinstein allegedly barged into her hotel room, Jane Doe said she was physically afraid of the Hollywood exec.

The actress, who said she only weighed 150 pounds at the time, said she has been the victim of rape in the past and feared being beat if she didn't follow Weinstein's demands for sex.

When Weinstein allegedly had trouble getting an erection, Jane Doe said he pulled her to the bathroom, where he masturbated in front of a mirror while touching her and demanding she look at their reflection.

'I wanted to die,' she said. 'It was disgusting. It was humiliating, miserable. I didn't fight.

'I remember how he was looking in the mirror and he was telling me to look at him. I wish this never happened to me.'

She claimed Weinstein told her: 'C'mon little girl, tell me you like it. You like it.'

The actress said that she was left weeping in her hotel room as Weinstein told her not to talk about what happened to anyone.

'My understanding was that he's somebody powerful so it's better I not talk' because it could be bad for me,' she said.

The Jane Doe said she began drinking heavily after the incident and had only shared the specifics to one other person prior to the trial.

The actress noted that she saw Weinstein again while at the 2017 Italia Film Festival in Los Angeles with her daughter, Maria.

'He was looking at me. He was looking at Maria. I saw his eyes  I remembered his eyes,' she testified. 'It was like I lived the situation again and again.'

Although the meeting ended without incident, Jane Doe said she continued to feel guilt and shame over her alleged assault.

The two days of testimony comes after the court heard from Sibel Newsom and her allegations against Weinstein on Monday.

She claims that he assaulted her in 2005 when she was a powerless actor trying to make her way in Hollywood.

They reportedly met at the Toronto International Film Festival, and Weinstein invited her to discuss her career with him at the Peninsula Hotel.

Deputy DA Paul Thompson told the court that Weinstein spoke to her briefly before going into the bathroom and summoned her wearing only a bathrobe.

He went on to say that Weinstein asked her to touch him but she refused, before he then referred to a list of A-List actresses whose careers he supposedly made.

The court heard that his voice moved from pleading, to aggressive and demanding, as he forced her onto the bed leaving her shaking before he forcibly raped her.

She claims that she felt like she had 'no choice' but to keep in contact with Weinstein, conversing by email and meeting in public places.

Siebel Newsom met her husband Gavin Newsom a year after the assault but did not tell him about it, with Weinstein donating some money to Newsom.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, claims he sexually assaulted her during a business meeting  telling her relax, this is going to make her feel better'

Most of the women said that their assaults began with what were supposed to be business meetings with Weinstein at hotels.

However, the woman testifying Tuesday said she was stunned to find him knocking at her door late on a night in February 2013 after she had met him only briefly earlier in the evening at the Los Angeles Italia film festival.

Staying in the hotel under a pseudonym, she said she had no idea how Weinstein even knew her room number and that she let him through her door initially without thinking there was any harm in it. That shifted quickly when Weinstein became sexually aggressive, she said.

The woman, whose first language is Russian, said that her English was very poor at the time though it has improved considerably since, and she thought she might have miscommunicated.

'I was feeling guilty that I did something or said something that made him think something could happen between us,' she said.

She said Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on her hotel bed.

'I was kind of hysterical through tears,' she said. 'I kept saying `no, no no.''

She said she physically feared Weinstein, who outweighed her by 100 pounds or more.

She said she considered running, or hitting or biting him.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson asked why she didn't.

'I don't know,' she answered. 'I regret this a lot.'

She said by the time Weinstein took her into the bathroom to rape her, she stopped physically resisting, though still objected verbally.

'I would just freeze, like my body wouldn't listen,' she said.

She said she struggled to face her children after the incident, and felt the need to confess it to her Russian Orthodox priest. Prosecutors sought for the priest to testify, but he declined, citing religious privilege. The woman's daughter, now 21, is set to testify later.

In his opening statement, Weinstein attorney Mark Werksman said many of the counts his client is charged with were actually consensual sex that his accusers reframed after he became a lightning rod for the #MeToo movement in 2017.

Attorney Mark Werksman, representing Harvey Weinstein, leaves the Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday

Attorneys Alan Jackson, left, Mark Werksman, center, and Jacqueline Sparagna, representing Harvey Weinstein, arrive at the Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday

Like on Monday (above), Weinstein, 70, was wheeled into the courtroom. He faces 11 charges of rape and sexual assault involving eight women in the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles area between 2004 and 2013

But in the case of the woman testifying Tuesday, Weinstein's attorneys deny that the events in her hotel room happened at all. No records, surveillance video or other evidence places Weinstein at the woman's hotel, Mr. C Beverly Hills, on the night she says she was raped.

Jackson pressed her on this during cross-examination, asking how Weinstein could have learned her room number and been allowed to her door, and why she made no complaints to hotel staff over 'this terrible breach of protocol.'

She answered, 'Because of what happened to me. Because I didn't want anybody to know.'

Jackson then asked why she stayed in the same hotel for weeks afterward, and did not even change rooms.

'You stayed in the very room that you claim you were attacked and victimized by a sexual predator?' Jackson asked.

The woman conceded that she had.

She cried occasionally during her testimony, but remained mostly composed, looking down when she grew emotional to gather herself.

A day earlier she was sobbing so much in her account of the assault, court adjourned a few minutes early.

'I want to apologize for my breakdown yesterday,' she said when she returned to the stand Tuesday. 'Unfortunately I cannot control that.'

Weinstein arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in 2014. He is currently serving a 23-year sentence for sex crimes in New York, with a jury now hearing details about the owner he held over the women because of his high position

The identities of his other accusers are being kept secret in court documents, which refer to them as Jane Does

Weinstein is currently serving a 23-year sentence for sex crimes in New York, with a jury set to hear lurid details about the owner he held over the women because of his high position.

Addressing the jury, Thompson said that several other women described being dragged to the bathroom and bedroom before being assaulted by Weinstein.

They also claim they felt powerless because he was a big guy, with one saying: Hes big. Hes broad. Hes overweight. Hes domineering.

Thompson added: They feared that he could crush their careers if they reported what he had done to him.

Other accusers reportedly begged him to stop, with one even telling him please I have kids as he attacked her.

The jury was also told that Weinsteins films launched the careers of Quentin Tarantino, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow as well as wielding power with presidential contenders  such as Hillary Clinton.

One woman reported an assault by Weinstein to the NYPD in 2015, but the seven other women did not report the rapes until after the scandal exploded in 2017.

However all of the women told friends or family about the assaults before 2017, and most of the victims were able to describe unique things about his body.

Thompson said: What Im referring to is the result of a surgery that the defendant had in 1999. That surgery caused pretty noticeable scarring, and youll see the pictures.

Because of an infection, his testicles were actually taken from his scrotum and put into his inner thighs.

None of the Jane Does will describe his anatomy perfectly, but most of them will be able to describe these abnormalities that they observed during the assaults.
U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who avoided conviction on corruption charges five years ago, is the subject of a new federal investigation.

Menendez and Florida ophthalmologist Dr. Salomon Melgen were previously charged in 2015 with conspiracy in which, prosecutors argued, Menendez lobbied for Melgen's business interests in exchange for political donations and gifts.

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.

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez (pictured), a New Jersey Democrat who avoided conviction on corruption charges five years ago, is reportedly the subject of a new federal investigation

Investigators allege Menendez abused his office to help Dr. Salomon Melgen (pictured), who had given him lavish gifts - including trips on a private plane to a Dominican resort and a Paris vacation

Menendez is accused of abusing his office to help Melgen, 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.

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.

An initial investigation into Menendez ended in a mistrial in 2017. Prosecutors did not official drop the case until a year later

Menendezs attorneys argued that Melgens gifts were tokens of their longtime friendship, not bribes

FBI agents raided Melgen's West Palm Beach, Florida, office in 2013

The indictment also alleges Menendez pressured State Department officials to give visas to three young women described as Melgen's girlfriends.

The men both pleaded not guilty, and Menendez has vehemently denied the allegations.

Defense lawyers said the trips described as bribes were examples of friends vacationing together, that most of Melgen's contributions went to committees Menendez did not control and that he did not control the people he lobbied on Melgen's behalf.

'I'm looking forward to finally having the opportunity to seek exoneration,' Menendez said.

'I do believe we'll be exonerated. I did nothing wrong, and I did nothing illegal.'

During the initial trial, Sens. Cory Booker and Lindsay Graham testified on Menendez's behalf.

Among the gifts prosecutors say Melgen gave Menendez were flights on Melgen's private jet, vacations at Melgen's private villa in the Dominican Republic and a three-night stay at a luxury Paris hotel valued at nearly $5,000.

Melgen also directed more than $750,000 in campaign contributions to entities that supported Menendez, according to the indictment, which alleges they were inducements to get Menendez to use his influence on Melgen's behalf.

Prosecutors said that lobbying included a three-year effort to help Melgen avoid paying $8.9 million for overbilling Medicare, a meeting with an assistant secretary of state to help Melgen in a contract dispute over port screening equipment in the Dominican Republic, and helping one of Melgen's girlfriends and her sister get into the country after their visas were denied.

Following the dismissal of the case - in which prosecutors did not officially drop the case until 2018 - Melgen was convicted of Medicare fraud in 2017.

He was later pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2021.
Aussies have petitioned for Steve Irwin's face on money instead of King Charles

The cash has the faces of Steve Irwin, John Farnham, Alf from Home and Away

Australians are being warned to watch for fake cash as money featuring some of the country's most beloved cultural icons was spotted in circulation.

Fake $100 bills featuring iconic celebrities including John Farnham, Alf from Home and Away and the late 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin, were found circulating across the Northern Territory.

Business owners have been told to keep their eyes peeled for the fake bills, usually used for film and TV production, after they were stolen from a Wilkinson St address in Alice Springs on Monday.

Fake cash featuring iconic celebrities including John Farnham, Alf from Home and Away (left) and 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin (right) is circulating across the Northern Territory

Northern Territory police said the $100 fake bills have 'subtle differences' to authentic cash (pictured, fake cash featuring the late Steve Irwin and John Farnham)

The police warned Northern Territory residents not to be hoodwinked by the fake cash.

The $100 bills only feature a series of 'subtle differences' to authentic cash, Northern Territory Police said.

These include a grinning Irwin and actor Ray Meagher, who plays Alf in Home and Away, instead of Sir John Monash and Dame Nellie Melba.

The Shrine of Remembrance on the note is also replaced by John Farnham, and the word Australia, usually written in cursive across the centre, instead reads 'Straylia'.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Robert Kent said it was unclear how much of the cash was stolen, however fake $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes may be in circulation.

'Police would suggest maybe taking a quick glance at any bills received for the next few weeks to make sure you're getting the real thing,' he said.

The fake cash, used for film and TV production, after they were stolen from an address in Alice Springs (pictured, fake $100 bill featuring Alf from Home and Away)

It comes after a number of online petitions have called for the late Steve Irwin to feature on the $5 and $100 bill.

Vincent Wu and Kirby Miles listed the petition on the Australian Parliament House website explaining that the death of Queen Elizabeth II raised questions about the future of Australian currency.

'The death of Queen Elizabeth II and the proclamation of King Charles III raises an important question about the future of Australian currency,' the petition reads.

'There is no one more vital to the Australian culture and identity than Steve Irwin. Steve is beloved by all and has become synonymous with the Australian values we hold so dearly.

'He epitomised the spirit of mateship; he deeply loved the Australian Wildlife, working hard towards conservation and education but perhaps most importantly he's just a good bloke.'

The petition said the move should not be seen as a step away from the Crown but a way to honour a beloved Aussie hero.

'There is so much more that could be said about Steve but it comes down to this: we ought to honour a true Aussie hero,' the petition reads.

'We therefore ask the House to change the face of the $5 note to Steve Irwin'.

A petition to have Steve Irwin on the $5 banknote emerged online with organisers saying the late 'Crocodile Hunter' is synonymous with Australian culture and values (pictured, mock up $5 notes)

The petition did not prove popular, having ended on Thursday with only 2,228 signatures.

However, a petition to impose Steve Irwin's face on Australia's $100 bill had more success, gathering 31,023 supporters.

Kyle Ryan started the petition to the Royal Australian Mint writing that it was 'about time' the country recognised Australia's 'all time greatest bloke'.

'Let's make a change for something in the history of our country,' Ryan wrote.

'It's been ten years without the Aussie icon and although he's been recognised in many ways I'd imagine we could all support the idea of going one step further.

'With a list a mile long of all the good Steve had accomplished in our world let's show our appreciation to a great true blue Australian by putting Stephen 'Steve' Irwin on our country's currency.'

Another petition wanted to see Steve Irwin on Australia's $100 banknote as a way of 'recognising Australia's all time greatest bloke' (pictured, the petition's $100 note mockup)

The Australian public agreed with many supporting the change to the country's cash.

'Most Australians don't even know who half the people in our currency are or what they did. Let's update to people who have been important in recent history,' one person wrote.

'The Irwins are Australian royalty, its only fitting that he be commemorated on the $100 note,' another user wrote.

'We need current known people.. people who mean something to Australia and it's people.. and Steve is an Aussie icon through and through,' a third person chimed.

Irwin, known to millions around the world as 'the Crocodile Hunter', died on September 4, 2006, at the age of 44 after being pierced in the chest by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef.

It comes after the Royal Bank of Australia announced the country's currency would be updated to feature the face of King Charles III following the death of Queen Elizabeth the II

The changes will affect the five, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins, along with the $1 and $2 coins, plus the $5 banknote (pictured, mock up of Australian currency)

The Reserve Bank of Australia provided a major update in September on the future of Australia's $5 note, which features Queen Elizabeth II's face.

Australian coins and the $5 banknote are set to be updated to feature the face of King Charles III following the death of the Queen at age 96.

In 2023 an image of King Charles III will begin popping up on the back of newly-minted coins replacing the iconic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II (pictured, the late Queen Elizabeth II on a 50 cent coin)

A portrait of the late British monarch, when she was aged 58, has been on the Australian $5 note since 1995.

The Royal Australian Mint in Canberra will from 2023 update all of its coins for the first time since the introduction of decimal currency in February 1966.

The changes will affect the five, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins, along with the $1 and $2 coins, plus the $5 banknote produced by the Reserve Bank of Australia's polymer printing arm Note Printing Australia in Melbourne.

Next year, an image of King Charles III will begin popping up on the back of newly-minted coins - however, unlike his predecessor will be facing left.
A five-year-old boy found dead in a suitcase in woodlands near Salem, Indiana, six months ago has finally been identified by police.

Indiana State Police have said that the child is Cairo Jordan, from Atlanta, Georgia.

His mother Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, and another woman Dawn Elaine Coleman, 40, murdered the boy after posting on social media they believed he was a demon, police said during a conference on Wednesday.

The boy's father Vincent Jordan, 33, posted in a tribute to his son online, saying that Anderson had run away with their child in 2017 following a custody battle and that he had been looking for them ever since.

Coleman was arrested last week in San Francisco on October 19 but Cairo's mother Anderson remains on the run. Her last known location was Echo Park in Los Angeles, Indiana State Police said on Wednesday.

Anderson is about 5'5" and had short, dark brown hair in her last known photo. She is known to wear wigs and extensions, police said.

Cairo's father said in a social media post that he hadn't seen his son since early 2017 when Anderson ran away with him following a custody battle. He said he has been looking for them both ever since

Dejaune Ludie Anderson (left), 37, remains on the run and is about 5'5" and had short, dark brown hair in her last known photo. She is known to often wear wigs and extensions, police said. Dawn Elaine Coleman (right), 40, was arrested last week in San Francisco on October 19

Cairo was discovered in a Las Vegas-themed suitcase by a mushroom hunter on April 16, 80 feet from Holder Road, a dead-end street in an isolated area of southeast Washington County in southern Indiana.

Anderson and Coleman were identified as suspects after their fingerprints were matched to those on the trash bag Cairo was wrapped in, court documents reveal.

Police were also able to track cell phones belonging to the two women to the area the suitcase was found on April 14, two days prior to its discovery.

On the day of the discovery of the suitcase a 2019 Dodge Challenger registered to Anderson was captured by a camera travelling south on the I65 over a bridge from Indiana to Kentucky.

The five-year-old boy found stuffed inside this suitcase in woods in Indiana in April died from dehydration, police have revealed as they continue to hunt for his killer

Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, is wanted by Indiana State Police and was last seen in California

Five-year-old Cairo Jordan was found in the suitcase in March by a mushroom hunter

Police investigating Cairo's death came across a number of social media accounts linked to both Anderson and Coleman indicating that they thought they were 'living with a demonic child.'

Court documents outline a number of social media posts made by the two women. In February this year Anderson posted: 'I had to raise my frequency, heal myself and past lives, heal my ancestors, heal s**t in the universe, heal Gaia to exorcism a very powerful demonic force from within my son.'

In another, from April, Coleman posted: 'You better check to see if the children that you think are children actually have souls or if they're not malevolent beings with a soul.'

Photos and videos on Coleman's social media platforms also show her with the Las Vegas suitcase, according to court documents.

Dejaune Ludie Anderson, 37, from Georgia was Cairo's mother

A month before the discovery of Cairo, on March 12, that same Dodge Challenger, which was being driven by Anderson at the time, led police on a 30-mile chase in South Carolina. Coleman and the child were both in the car at the time.

The chase was triggered when she was detected driving at 92 mph on a 60 mph road, according to court documents. The chase lasted until her car ran out of gas.

After the chase neither Anderson nor Coleman opened the car doors to allow police into the car, so they were forced to break the rear driver's side window to enter the vehicle.

Anderson was then taken to Colleton County Jail while Coleman and the boy were taken to a nearby Hilton hotel. At the time of the arrest, Anderson told police that Coleman was her sister.

A Dodge Challenger, which was being driven by Anderson, led police on a 30-mile chase in South Carolina. Coleman and the baby were both in the car at the time

Just a few weeks later on March 31, Anderson was arrested again. She was caught concealing items in a bag in a mall and when confronted about the theft by a security guard, ended up punching them in the face.

She was then taken to the Jefferson County Jail in Kentucky.

For six months the people of Indiana had been longing for answers regarding the unidentified boy.

An autopsy report released in May revealed only that the boy, who has now been named as Cairo, died of an electrolyte deficiency, likely due to vomiting or diarrhea.

In June a funeral service was held for the child, who was then unidentified. On his gravestone read the words: 'In loving memory of a beloved little boy known but to god.'

'This child when he crossed into Washington County, in this terrible way, he became an adopted son of ours,' said a Washington County minister Rodney Sweeney.

A funeral service was held for Cairo in June in Indiana, and was funded largely by local donations

In a tribute to his son, Vincent Jordan posted: 'Today my heart was broken into a million pieces. I got a call from an officer telling me that my five year old son Cairo Jordan (who ironically turned six today) was murdered by his mother Dejuan Anderson in Indiana April 14th 2022.

'Its October 25 his birthday and they are just now notifying me about his death. Me and my family have spent the past three years looking for Dejuan and Cairo.

'She took him away at the beginning of our custody battle back in 2017, she threatened to call the police on me for coming to pick him up on a agreed weekend.

'She never showed up in court and it's killing me because that weekend is the last time I seen my baby boy.

'I swear yall dont know the pain, as a father I feel defeated this was the only thing I feared on this earth.'
Their case strengthens campaign for tougher sentencing for young offenders

Two teens responsible sentenced to 7.5 and 9 years, but reduced by 60 per cent

Karl Stefanovic struggled to contain his anger as he spoke to the grieving parents of a murdered boy whose killers are set to walk free by their 21st birthdays.

The Today Show host spoke to the devastated parents of Angus Beaumont, 15, who was stabbed to death with a 14cm knife in March 2020 in Brisbane, after his teen killers were given reduced sentences.

One 17-year-old boy 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.

But both will serve only 60 per cent of their sentences, meaning they will walk free in time to celebrate their 21st birthdays.

The sentences strengthen ongoing calls from families of the victims of crime in Queensland for tougher sentences for youth offenders.

Karl Stefanovic struggled to contain his anger as he spoke to the grieving parents of a murdered boy whose killers are set to walk free by their 21st birthdays

During the sentencing on Tuesday the Supreme Court heard the violent young offenders high-fived each other as Angus lay dying.

'I can't explain how that feels walking away from court knowing that... Angus is still gone but these kids get to go on with their lives,' Angus's mother Michelle Liddle told the Today show.

She said it is 'heartbreaking' that young offenders are 'given the green light' to return to committing crime.

A frustrated Stefanovic said the parents were right to be furious about the sentences.

'I can't feel your pain, but I can feel some of it, we can hear it. You don't get the privilege of watching your son grow up and these kids are gonna be out at 21 and live a life [while] your boy is not going to be able to.'

The two teenagers, now aged 16 and 17, who killed 15-year-old Angus Beaumont (above) in 2020 were found guilty of murder but had their sentences reduced by 60 per cent

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

Angus's parents said they 'don't accept' the sentence and insist they want to see the law changed.

Ms Liddle wants to see 'a better system' with 'better risk assessment' and for it to be more difficult for youth offenders to make bail.

Angus's furious dad, Ben Beaumont said the public would be shocked if they realised how protected violent teen offenders, such as those who killed his son, really are.

He said the public presumes violent offenders are 'locked up for public safety' but claimed that isn't the case.

Mr Beaumont claimed they are often released on bail and living anonymously, 'sneaking around doing more crime'.

He said people 'are not safe' and that current laws 'do not protect us'.

Stefanovic said the conditions for young offenders on release were 'rotten'.

Ally Langdon agreed, saying 'somehow something's gone terribly wrong' with the youth justice system.

Neither of the killers, who were both 14 at the time of Angus Beaumont's death, can be named.

The two boys were found guilty of murder by a jury in June. The reasons given for their reduced sentences was that both offenders have long criminal histories with one offending from the age of 11.

Two 14-year-old boys stabbed Angus 14cm deep in the chest outside a McDonalds in Redcliffe (above) in March 2020

The two then-14-year-olds high-fived each other after killing Angus (pictured, Angus's coffin), who had been trying to protect his friend

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.

The now 16-year-old boy had a 'repeated pattern of responding to conflict with aggression including the use of a knife', Justice David 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.

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.
Marjorie Taylor Greene tore into a Veterans Affairs medical clinic in her home state after refusing to treat a veteran and kicking him out of the facilities because he did not want to wear a mask due to PTSD.

Representative Greene posted to her Twitter a six-and-a-half-minute video taken by a veteran she identified as Robby Entrekin at a VA clinic in Atlanta, Georgia. The GOP lawmaker took the opportunity to, once again, slam mask mandates and bash the VA for refusing service to a veteran.

The lengthy clip starts by showing a worker at the center informing Entrekin that he cannot use his phone to record employees in the facility.

But it appears what sparked Entrekin to start recording was being told that he could not receive care if he did not put on a face mask.

'Veteran Robby Entrekin recently visited the West Cobb County VA Clinic (@AtlantaVAMC) and was denied service for being unable to wear a mask due to his medical condition,' Greene noted in her tweet. 'This veteran was not just poorly treated by VA employees, he was ASSAULTED for exercising his First Amendment right to record in a public space.'

VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes told DailyMail.com that the department is 'investigating this incident and will take appropriate action,' but reiterated masks are still required in VA medical centers.

'VA's top priority is ensuring the health and safety of the Veterans we serve, which is why we request that everyone wear a mask when entering our health care facilities,' VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes told DailyMail.com.

'Of course, we also work diligently to accommodate Veterans who cannot wear a mask for health reasons,' he added.

Marjorie Taylor Greene tore into a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center in Georgia when posting a video of a veteran who was refused care because he was not wearing a mask

The veteran, who MTG identified as Robby Entrekin was told he could not record in a VA clinic and also had to put on a mask before he would be permitted to get passed reception

Representative Greene, whose district is in Georgia, said that Entrekin was 'ASSAULTED for exercising his First Amendment right to record in a public space'  even though there is a regulation that prohibits recording in facilities without permission from staff

It does not appear that Entrekin caught the original part on camera where he was told that he would not be seen because he wasn't wearing a mask  but toward the end of the video, things escalated when he was informed he could not check-in for the appointment without a mask on his face.

He was told by a man behind the counter that if he refused to wear a mask, he could request a telephone or video appointment instead.

When Entrekin attempted to video tape his image, the VA worker came around from the counter and hit down the veteran's phone, which he was still using to record.

Greene said that Entrekin had a First Amendment right to record, but the VA has rules in place that bans recording within their facilities without permission from medical professionals or staff.

'The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations only allows recording for 'news, advertising, or commercial purposes' to be made with the written consent of the head of the facility. Even then, such recordings are confined to areas where medical treatment is not being provided,' the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) notes in a memo on the order.

Entrekin is heard saying behind the camera that he could not wear a mask.

'What you're telling me, ma'am, is that you're not going to see me because I have PTSD and I have panic attacks,' he said.

'So now I'm getting the VA police called on me because I have PTSD, I have panic attacks, I cannot wear a mask, I have problems breathing  and so, this is how smart our government is,' he repeated.

A man who Entrekin caught on camera was angry his image was captured and came up to the disabled veteran and took a swipe at his phone

'We've got a rent-a-cop here that's not a doctor but telling me I can't see anybody,' he said when showing an image of a security officer who also informed the veteran he could not record him.

'Have you ever served in the service,' the veteran is seen yelling at the security guard, who said he had 'no reason' to answer him.

'Well, then get out of my freaking face,' Entrekin said.

Greene insisted that 'Mr. Entrekin had every right to record, as confirmed by an officer at the Cobb County Police Department, especially when he was being horribly mistreated.'

Enrekin asked why he was required to wear a mask when all the COVID-related rules were lifted everywhere else he went  including at the medical facility where he received an echocardiogram that sparked his follow-up trip to the VA.

Those in the video explained that there are still mandates in place for VA medical centers to require mask-wearing by all those who come inside.

Greene reasoned that because Entrekin pays VA workers' salaries as a U.S. taxpayer, they should treat him better

She also demanded that all mandates finally be ended since the pandemic has been declared over

A person off-camera, who appears to be another patient walking with a cane, said that when he went to the ER he was not required to wear a mask, but said at medical offices it appears to be '50/50' when it comes to mask requirements.

'I know that the VA is a lot stricter than the rest of the country,' the man said to his fellow veteran in an apparent attempt to relate but also deescalate.

Toward the end of the video, the security guard finally let the man by to check-in for his appointment but told him to point his camera towards the ground.

He was told when getting to the counter that he needed to stop recording before the incident happened where his phone was knocked down by a worker at the VA.

Greene insisted that 'no government employee should EVER treat a veteran this way', insisting he is 'also a taxpayer' who pays the salaries of those who were refusing to see and treat him without a mask.

'Veterans should not be forced to wear masks or take COVID-19 vaccines as a condition of service. We must END the mandates!!!' she wrote.

'Our veterans put their lives on the line for our freedom, and so many still suffer the mental and physical consequences of their bravery in service to this county,' the Trump ally added. 'Veterans should receive nothing short of first-class service from the government they fought for and the flags they wore on their uniforms.'
Arizona's GOP chairwoman Kelli Ward (pictured) filed an emergency application with the Supreme Court to block a lower court's ruling for T-Mobile to hand over her phone records to the January 6 committee

The Supreme Court deal the January 6 committee a setback on Wednesday by temporarily blocking its bid to get phone records from a top Republican in Arizona.

The panel investigating the Capitol Riot had asked T-Mobile to hand over Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward's cell and texts from November 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021.

She is accused of being part of a group of 'fake electors' who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

But Justice Elena Kagan put a hold on the subpoena - after Ward claimed handing over the records would violate her First Amendment rights.

Ward, a former Arizona state senator, filed an emergency application Wednesday asking the liberal justice to temporarily block a lower court decision granting the subpoena to provide her records to the panel as they continue their investigation into the January 6 Capitol riot.

The panel's subpoena required that T-Mobile turn over call and text activity from November 2020 through January 2021.

The GOP leader in Arizona argues that if the subpoena is granted, it would violate her First Amendment rights should investigators be able to see who she spoke to in the days before and after the Capitol attack.

Arizona was one of the two states in which dozens of Republican lawmakers objected to the outcome of the 2020 presidential election pn January 6, 2021.

Ward and her husband were among the 11 Republicans to sit on a fraudulent election certification declaring Trump was the true victor in Arizona, and therefore should receive the Electoral College votes from the state.

The signing ceremony for the fake ascertainment was videotaped.

Ward and her husband are among several Republicans in states that held fraudulent certification ceremonies to receive federal subpoenas sent this summer.

Justice Kagan ordered that a response to Ward's emergency application be levied to Ward before 5:00 p.m. on Friday.

Liberal Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan granted a stay on the lower court's order in response to Ward's emergency application and ordered a response by Friday at 5:00 p.m.

Kelli (left) and her husband Michael Ward (right) were among 11 Republicans in Arizona to serve on a fraudulent election certification board declaring Donald Trump was the true victor in Arizona, and therefore should receive the Electoral College votes from the state

Over the weekend, an appeals court rejected Ward's claims that her First Amendment rights would be violated if the panel and its staff uncovered her calls and texts in attempts to challenge the 2020 election results.

Ward appeared for testimony before the panel but refused to answer questions, like many other Trump allies who were compelled to speak with the select committee.

On January 6, 2021, 147 Republicans in the House and Senate objected to the results of the 2020 presidential election, while the vast majority of Congress voted to codify the outcome as a victory for President Joe Biden.

Six Republicans in the Senate and 121 in the House backed objections to certify Arizona's electoral outcome while 128 in the House and seven in the Senate objected to Pennsylvania's outcome.

The Supreme Court has become increasingly involved in the January 6 probe as election day nears and the possibility that the committee is dissolved heightens.

The High Court rejected a petition earlier this month from former President Donald Trump that requested the Mar-a-Lago probe special master be able to review classified documents obtained by the FBI during the raid of his Florida residence.

Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas also temporarily blocked an Atlanta grand jury subpoena seeking testimony from GOP South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. He is being probed for potential criminal efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo gives an opening speech online at Hydrogen Iron & Steel Making Forum held in Fotografiska, Stockholm, on Oct. 12. Courtesy of POSCO





By Kim Jae-heun



POSCO held the second Hydrogen Iron & Steel making Forum (HyIS) in Fotografiska, Stockholm, on Oct. 12, the company said Thursday.



HyIS is a forum where experts from the steel industry, raw material suppliers, engineering firms, academia and associations gather to discuss carbon-neutral strategies and sustainable growth in the steel-making industry based on hydrogen iron.



The steelmaker hosted the world's first HyIS forum in Seoul last year, proposing cross-border cooperation and solidarity to speed up the realization of carbon neutrality.



This year's HyIS forum was jointly held by POSCO and Swedish steelmaker SSAB after the company chairman Choi Jeong-woo met with Swedish Ambassador to Korea Daniel Bolven to propose co-hosting the event in February.



POSCO expects that when the two companies with the most competitive technologies in hydrogen iron meet and cooperate, they will lead the eco-friendly trend not only in Europe but also in the international community.



In particular, POSCO hopes to seek cooperation with more companies by introducing its Hydrogen Reduction Steel Making (HyREX) technology directly to Europe to publicize its sustainability and economic feasibility.



HyREX is an eco-friendly steelmaking technology that produces steel without carbon emissions using spectroscopy and hydrogen based on Fine Iron ore Reduction (FINEX) flow reduction furnace technology, which POSCO succeeded in commercializing in 2007 after 10 years of research and development.



This year's HyIS forum saw the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Leadership Group for Industry Transition and Mission Possible Partnership as the sponsors to provide a venue for more diverse and in-depth exchanges of opinions.



"Everyone knows that the key to solving the steel industry's carbon emissions problem is hydrogen iron, but it will not be achieved by POSCO going at it alone because it is a very challenging goal in itself. If all the participants in this forum agree to cooperate, carbon neutrality will be achieved faster and mankind will move toward a better future faster," the chairman said during the forum.




Pupils should not be 'unfairly singled out' at school because they have afro hair, the equalities watchdog has said.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said policies which ban certain hairstyles without making exceptions on racial grounds 'are likely to be unlawful'.

This includes styles such as afros, braids, cornrows, plaits, locks and head coverings.

The watchdog has issued new guidance to help schools in England, Scotland and Wales ensure their policies on hair are not unlawfully discriminatory.

This applies to all forms of hair discrimination but focuses on race 'because of the disproportionate impact upon pupils from specific racial groups'.

Jackie Killeen, chief regulator at the EHRC, said: 'Discrimination based on hair can have serious and long-lasting consequences for victims and their families.

The EHRC said policies which ban certain hairstyles without making exceptions on racial grounds `are likely to be unlawful

The guidance cites real-life examples where schools were taken to court over their policies on hair

'As Britain's equality regulator, we want to put a stop to pupils being unfairly singled out for their appearance in schools.

'That's why, after working closely with experts and those directly affected, we are launching these practical resources to help school leaders understand the law in this area and prevent discrimination from happening.

'Every child deserves to be celebrated for who they are and to thrive in school without having to worry about changing their appearance to suit a potentially discriminatory policy.'

The guidance cites real-life examples where schools were taken to court over their policies on hair.

The policy of one school, which banned boys from wearing certain hairstyles, including cornrows, was found by a court to be indirectly discriminatory after it was challenged by a pupil.

The EHRC also cited the legal case it funded of Ruby Williams, a mixed-race pupil who was repeatedly sent home from school because of its policy that banned afro hair of excessive volume.

We want black children across the UK to know that they can be genuinely proud of their identity, not penalised for it L'myah Sherae, founder of APPG

The watchdog secured a legally binding agreement with the school to ensure it ended the discriminatory policy and considered factors such as race and religion when determining what a 'reasonable' hairstyle was.

L'myah Sherae, founder and chief coordinator of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for race equality in education, said: 'No child should be sent home from school for wearing their natural hair, which is why our APPG wrote to the EHRC in October 2021 to highlight the need for new, strengthened guidance.

'We want black children across the UK to know that they can be genuinely proud of their identity, not penalised for it.

'I am therefore pleased that this guidance is now being published, and I am proud to have been involved in the drafting process.'

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Schools take their public sector equality duty extremely seriously and want to make sure that all children and young people feel included and able to share their identity.

As Britain's equality regulator, we want to put a stop to pupils being unfairly singled out for their appearance in schools Jackie Killeen, chief regulator at the EHRC

'NAHT therefore welcome any additional guidance from the EHRC that helps them in achieving this.'

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: 'Discrimination has no place in our schools or society and it is unlawful to discriminate against pupils on the grounds of race.

'We provided guidance to schools last year to help them adhere to the Equality Act with regards to pupils' appearance, including that leaders should be sensitive to the needs of different cultures, races and religions and act reasonably in accommodating these needs.'
The majority of Rishi Sunaks Cabinet went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, analysis shows.

The new Prime Minister continues a recent trend by packing his top team with those who went to independent schools, including his three most senior colleagues: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Mr Sunak himself attended Winchester College near his home town of Southampton, where fees for day students currently cost nearly 34,000 per year.

In total, 19 of the 31 positions in Mr Sunaks Cabinet are occupied by people who went to an independent school (61 per cent), according to analysis by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.

Four studied at a grammar school (13 per cent), while seven (23 per cent) went to a state comprehensive  including new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The majority of Rishi Sunaks Cabinet went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, analysis shows

One member of the new Cabinet, International Trade Secretary and Women and Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, went to an international school.

The proportion of those attending fee-paying schools is slightly lower than those in Liz Trusss Cabinet (68 per cent) and Boris Johnsons first Cabinet (64 per cent). But it is much higher than Theresa Mays 2016 Cabinet (30 per cent).

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools.

In fact, 84 per cent of Sir Keir Starmers most senior colleagues went to a comprehensive, with just 10 per cent going to a grammar school.

Of those attending Mr Sunaks maiden Cabinet meeting this week, 45 per cent went to university at either Oxford or Cambridge.

This compares with less than one-third (32 per cent) of the current Labour Shadow Cabinet.

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: Rishi Sunak faces unprecedented challenges as he enters Number 10.

While his Cabinet is marginally more representative than Trusss, Tuesdays appointments highlight how unevenly spread opportunities to enter the most prestigious positions continue to be.

Making the most of Britains talent  regardless of background  must be a priority.

Meanwhile, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: We have nothing against private education  and represent independent school leaders  but it is important that our political leaders come from socially diverse backgrounds and understand the needs and life experiences of the public.

We are pleased, however, that the new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan not only went to a state school, but then went on to complete an apprenticeship, which gives her a good understanding of the importance of a skills agenda which will benefit many young people and the future of the country.
Britain junked an arsenal of air defence systems just before the invasion of Ukraine that could have helped thwart Russian attacks, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Ministry of Defence sources said that all of the Armys Rapier surface-to-air missile units were destroyed last year after nearly five decades in service.

Rapier batteries were notably deployed across London in 2012 to combat security threats during the Olympics. They were scrapped in October 2021. There are none working that could ever be sent to Ukraine now, an MoD source said.

Officials believed the ageing technology  an earlier model was used in the Falklands  was becoming hard to maintain.

Rapier batteries were notably deployed across London in 2012 to combat security threats during the Olympics

But a veteran of the Royal Artillery, who declined to be named, said: It was a very good piece of kit that would have been useful for the Ukrainians.

Britain had 14 Rapier missile systems in place before disposing of them, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank.

Rapier was due to be retired as the Armed Forces had signed a 323million deal in April 2017 to acquire the more advanced Sky Sabre technology.

The disposal of the Rapier missiles came as Moscow was massing its forces on Ukraines borders.

The decision will raise eyebrows in Kyiv, where officials have been begging for unused air defence systems as Putin continues to attack the country.

Kyiv-based security expert James Rushton said: It looks like a short-sighted decision to destroy these potentially valuable air defence systems.

An MoD spokesman said: Bolstering Ukraines air defences remains a priority for the UK military.
Nazlioglu himself was gunned down just months ago in eerily similar shooting

Now Salami, 41, asserts he had knowledge Nazlioglu was the true executioner

Nazlioglu had previously been charged but acquitted by a jury over Hawi's death

The truck driver who towed a getaway car used in the execution of bikie boss Mick Hawi in 2018 has admitted he knew the gunman behind the killing and withheld it from police.

Moustafa Salami, 41, pleaded guilty to concealing Hawi's murderer on Wednesday in NSW District Court after acknowledging he withheld information from police before and during the trial of Hawi's alleged killers in 2020.

Salami named a now-slain member of Sydney's underworld as Hawi's killer, two years after the man was acquitted of the killing, reported 9News.

Hawi, formerly the national Comancheros president, was killed while sitting in his Mercedes outside a Fitness First in Rockdale on February 15, 2018.

A masked assassin ran up beside the car and squeezed multiple bullets into the then-37-year-old's head from just centimetres away.

Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu was charged and tried for the murder but was acquitted by a jury in 2020 after a week-long deliberation.

One-time Lone Wolf bikie Yusuf Nazlioglu (left) was acquitted in September 2020 of murdering his former friend and Comanchero president Mick Hawi (right and circled) in February 2018. A truck driver has now admitted he knew Nazlioglu to have been responsible for the killing and withheld information from the police

Beirut-born Hawi (above) was killed while sitting in his car outside of a gym in Sydney's south in 2018

Moustafa Salami, 41, pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court on Thursday to concealing Hawi's murder on what would have been the first day of his trial

In June 2022, Nazlioglu, once a friend of Hawi's, was himself gunned down in Rhodes in Sydney's west in front of his wife, in an eerily similar shooting to Hawi's.

Salami confessed he had failed to tell detectives he had reason to believe Nazlioglu was responsible for the daylight execution.

Salami also took the getaway car used in the execution from Bexley to Rosebery with his work tow truck, which he admitted in a signed statement of agreed facts.

Police found a balaclava in the footwell of the silver Toyota Aurion covered in gunshot residue and Nazlioglu's DNA.

CCTV from a camera across the road from Fitness First Rockdale captured a gunman firing at Hawi as he sat in his Mercedes (above) before running to a waiting vehicle in 2018

'(Salami) had a belief that Nazlioglu had committed the murder of Hawi' and had information 'that might have been of material assistance in securing Nazlioglu's apprehension,' court documents obtained by Nine stated.

Fellow Lone Wolf member Ahmad 'Adam' Doudar, 38 was found guilty as an accessory to Hawi's murder and had also previously signed documents outing Nazlioglu as the killer.

Police tapped Salami's phone following the shooting and recorded him saying 'the dumb c*** was borrowing my car when he did what he did'.

In the recordings, the tow truck driver revealed he feared the police would want him to talk about the assassination.

Salami is expected to be sentenced on Friday.

Hawi (above) joined the Comancheros when he was 18 and became national president of the gang in 2003 when he was just 22, having deposed 'supreme commander' Jock Ross

A balaclava-clad gunman repeatedly shot Hawi in the head and body after the 37-year-old got into his black Mercedes-Benz SUV (above) outside Fitness First Rockdale on February 15, 2018

Hawi's death rocked the volatile criminal underworld in the harbour city.

The Beirut-born gangster, known for his imposing figure and charisma, earned himself a loyal following during his time as president of the Comancheros.

After the 2009 Sydney Airport brawl, Hawi served time for the death of a rival Hell's Angel in the bust-up  it only made him more respected among Comancheros' ranks.

Hawi had called Nazlioglu his close mate for years before his execution, the two forming a friendship after Hawi's release from prison in 2015.

A soured fishing trip, however, meant the pair grew apart, with Hawi's wife asserting in court Nazlioglu had embarrassed the bikie boss in front of his friends.

Still, the execution took bikies and cops by surprise  even Hawi, who'd survived previous attempts on his life, seemingly wasn't anticipating he'd be the target of a hit.

Nazlioglu was shot up to 10 times below the apartment he shared with his wife at Rhodes in Sydney's west near his black Mercedes. He is pictured with his wife

Nazlioglu's Mercedes is pictured with a bullet hole in the driver's window. The gangster died after being repeatedly shot in the head and torso

The feared stand-over man was without his usual security detail on that sunny, February afternoon and even had his bullet-proof windows rolled down while he sat in his car.

At the time, police stated they had reason to believe the killing was unrelated to bikie tensions.

Assistant Commissioner Mal Lanyon, head of the State Crime Command said the shooting was instead linked to the Sydney construction industry.

'We will allege that there was a financial motive to Mr Hawi's murder and his death was to prevent further money being paid to Mr Hawi rather than any outlaw motorcycle gang conflict,' Assistant Commission Lanyon told reporters in 2018.

Nazlioglu was killed just two years after he was formally acquitted of Hawi's murder.

Underworld sources claimed Nazlioglu was stirring trouble in the underworld before he was shot in the underground carpark of an apartment block.

Police have described Nazlioglu's shooting (above) as targeted but have not publicly speculated whether it was linked to any of the 13 other gangland hits across Sydney in the past two years

The man who shot Hawi and his getaway driver both left the scene in a Mercedes they soon torched (above) and escaped in a Toyota Aurion, which was found a month later at Rosebery

A gunman shot the then-40-year-old up to 10 times in the head and torso in the carpark, having waited for him to get out of his car first.

Nazlioglu's wife of four months watched her husband keel over covered in blood, and frantically rang the police.

He died in hospital the morning after the attack and the shooter fled the scene, leaving a burnt out car nearby.

Nazlioglu's death marked the end of a six-week run without a fatal shooting in Sydney as the city grappled with a bloody underworld war, with at least 14 men gunned down over the past two years.
Vladimir Putin's commanders are 'driving troops to their deaths' by ordering them to repeatedly attack heavily fortified towns in east Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky said last night.

Ukrainian troops are coming under repeated attacks near two key towns in the eastern Donbas region and are 'heroically' holding out under heavy artillery fire, he said, describing the tactics deployed by Putin's army leaders as 'crazy'.

It is the latest in Putin's illegal war in Ukraine which saw him annex four regions, including the two that make up the Donbas (Luhansk and Donetsk), only for Kyiv's forces to launch counter-offences which have seen major gains in recent weeks.

Giving his typical evening video address to his nation, Zelensky said there would soon be good news from the front, but gave no details.

It is thought Ukraine is in the process of another major offensive against Russian troops, as details of exact battle-lines and positions remain under wraps.

But the most severe fighting is taking place near Avdiivka, outside Donetsk, and Bakhmut, further to the northeast, he said.

President Zelensky described Russia's tactical approach as 'crazy', and added there will be good news for Ukrainians from the front line soon

Ukrainian forces, some equipped with artillery supplied by the United States and other allies, have methodically shelled Russian fuel and ammunition bases and railway lines

During the address, President Zelensky described Russia's approach: '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.

'All of our soldiers who are defending their positions in these areas in Donetsk region are heroes.'

His words come as Putin continues to make increasingly threatening statements and propaganda, most recently presiding over a nuclear test launch on Wednesday.

Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize the city of Bakhmut in an effort to stall the Ukrainian advance.

It is strategically important as it sits on a main road leading to the Ukrainian-held cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.

Ukrainian advisor Oleksiy Arestovych said on Tuesday that on one particular day, the Russians had attacked Bakhmut eight times before lunch and been pushed back every time.

Ukrainian servicemen walk past building damaged by Russian shelling in Druzhkivka, Donetsk

Pictured: A destroyed Russian military vehicle is seen lying in the middle of a muddy road

Ukrainian servicemen stand next to a school building destroyed by a Russian air strike in a village near a frontline in Mykolaiv region on Wednesday

Zelensky did not mention what was happening near the southern city of Kherson, a city thought to be targeted by the country's forces imminently.

It is currently held by pro-Moscow forces. Ukrainian troops say they expect a tough fight there.

'Generally, we are strengthening our positions all over the frontline, reducing the invaders' capabilities, destroying their logistics, and preparing good news for Ukraine,' Zelensky added.

Separately, Russian-installed authorities in Shakhtarsk, just to the east of Donetsk, said Ukrainian shelling had set ablaze fuel tanks at the town's railway station.

Ukrainian forces, some equipped with artillery supplied by the United States and other allies, have methodically shelled Russian fuel and ammunition bases and railway lines.

Zelensky also said that in the latest prisoner exchange between the two sides, 10 Ukrainians had been freed.

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

The Russian despot monitored the drills from the Kremlin as the country's strategic nuclear forces practised multiple launches of ballistic and cruise missiles

'We continue to do everything possible to free our people from Russian captivity.

'Today we can finally announce the release of ten more Ukrainians. Our team engaged in the exchange process [and] is working without a break.

'And I want to emphasize once again that any of our military units on the front line can accelerate the exchange process by taking hostages.

'The more Russian servicemen we have in our exchange fund, the faster we will get Ukrainians back home from Russia.'

Meanwhile 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.

Such drills involving land, sea and air components have taken place on an annual basis in Russia to train the country's nuclear forces and demonstrate their readiness

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 manoeuvres followed Putin's most recent 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.

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.'

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.
Rishi Sunak yesterday vowed to cut the number of migrants coming to Britain with a system that 'works best for the UK'.

Promising to stand by pledges made in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, Downing Street said the Prime Minister was 'committed to ensuring we have control over our borders'.

Mr Sunak will bring net migration down while ensuring that Britain has the necessary 'skills and talents', No 10 said.

New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (pictured centre at his first Cabinet meeting) yesterday vowed to cut the number of migrants coming to Britain with a system that 'works best for the UK'

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured leaving 10 Downing Street yesterday) gave an update 'on ongoing work to tackle illegal immigration' during yesterday's Cabinet meeting

The new PM's official spokesman told reporters: 'Meeting our manifesto commitments remains important  the PM has been clear on that  and that relates to net migration as well where we've said that it should come down.

'He's committed to ensuring we have control over our borders and the public rightly expects us to control immigration and have a system that works.'

The spokesman said he was 'not aware' of a specific target, but that Mr Sunak was committed to seeing migration fall.

He added: 'We will be guided by the principle that we need the skills and talents both to support our economy whilst also encouraging businesses to invest in people.'

The 2019 Tory manifesto pledged there would be fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers would come down.

It said: 'Only by establishing immigration controls and ending freedom of movement will we be able to attract the high-skilled workers we need.'

During the summer leadership race, Mr Sunak announced a ten-point immigration plan to 'take back control of our borders'.

He pledged to do 'whatever it takes to get our partnership with Rwanda off the ground', and said no adult who enters the UK illegally 'will have a route to remain'.

In the summer Tory leadership race, Rishi Sunak pledged to do 'whatever it takes to get our partnership with Rwanda off the ground'. Pictured: Police officers near a Boeing 767 at MoD Boscombe Down, near Salisbury, on June 14 which was set to take asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda before the flight was cancelled

Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce the number of migrant channel crossings. Pictured: Migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on October 9

Mr Sunak also wanted to tighten the definition of who qualifies for UK asylum, create an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted and increase cooperation with France to stop small boats.

No 10 was unable to confirm yesterday whether these commitments still stood now he has entered office. Home Secretary Suella Braverman gave an update 'on ongoing work to tackle illegal immigration' during yesterday's Cabinet meeting.

Mr Sunak said it was 'a complex and challenging issue but that the public rightly expected the Government to find a long-lasting solution'.
The trial of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann was sensationally aborted after a court sheriff officer cleaning the jury room found prohibited documents.

On what should have been the jury's seventh day of deliberations, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Thursday morning dismissed the 12 jurors in a shocking end to the four week trial.

In giving her reasons for the mistrial, Justice McCallum said one of the sheriff's officers had been tidying up as usual after Wednesday's proceedings when they accidentally bumped one of the juror's document folders onto the floor.

When the officer picked it up, they found what was later confirmed to be an academic research paper about sexual assault.

'During the course of the trial, I must have give the jury at least 17 warnings,' she said.

Brittany Higgins held hands with her boyfriend David Sharaz as she arrived at the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday - not knowing what was about to occur

'This is an unexpected and unfortunate outcome in this trial.'

Bruce Lehrmann had been standing trial, accused of the political staffer's rape following a drunken night out in March 2019. He had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Handing down her judgment, Justice McCallum said: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have.

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.

'Can I please convey to you my sincerest gratitude to the hard work you've done in this trial.

'With those remarks, you're discharged and you are free to leave.'

The case is now likely to be re-tried next year, with Justice McCallum flagging the trial will be relisted for February 20, 2023.

Prosecutor Skye Jerome tried to impose bail conditions on Lehrmann not to contact Ms Higgins, her parents, or David Sharaz.

He must also tell police where he is living, and notify them of any residential changes.

Ms Jerome requested he surrender his passport, which defence lawyer Steven Whybrow objected to.

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra, Thursday, October 27

Justice McCallum sided with the defence and granted Lehrmann bail, citing the likelihood the new trial would not commence for around four months.

Rather that confiscating his passport, Justice McCallum ordered he submit any impending international itineraries to police two weeks in advance.

Justice McCallum reminded the court of the importance of ensuring the accused is given a fair trial.

'As I've said in court many times, the accused is just that. He is a person who stands accused and may never be convicted of a criminal offence,' she said.

'The fairness of his trial will be impaired or at risk if people continue to report about this case with the frequency that has been reported in this trial.

Justice McCallum said a retrial would likely not take place for at least another four months

'After today, reporting of the matter should fall silent so the accused can have a fair trial and so Ms Higgins can have some respite from the intense glare of the media that has been pervasive throughout this trial.'

Justice McCallum praised the legal personnel for their work during their case, saying they all 'behaved in an exemplary way'.

'Thank you all for the manner in which you have conducted this trial,' she said.

In an emotional speech outside court, Ms Higgins claimed the court trial was unbalanced.
The face of Royal Ascot Martha Sitwell says 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 said the man approached her in the street and attempted to gain entry into her home, leaving her so traumatised that she now feels she has no choice but to move away.

Ive had a stalker since April, and hes out on police bail,' the 42-year-old said.

'He tried to break into my flat last weekend, but the police did nothing about it. They wouldnt even come and take forensics.

Hes a very mentally ill man who needs to be in hospital. I dont know him, but he came up to me on the street. It was pretty scary, especially as Ive heard he has a history of strangling women.

Martha Sitwell, 42, the face of Royal Ascot, says she has been stalked for months by an obsessive man who tried to force his way into her home

Lady Sitwell 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.

But after recent events, she says she has grown wary of meeting potential buyers and letting them know where she is based.

I wont be giving out my address to anyone. People can message me, and if I trust them Ill send them my location, she added. Hence the move, and hence the massive clear-out. Ill pay off my debts and move.

Ms Sitwell, 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.

Last September, Lady Sitwell voiced her fury at the sale of the contents of Weston, where Brideshead Revisited author Evelyn Waugh and Noel Coward regularly stayed.

Sir George Sitwell sold the Northamptonshire pile Weston Hall, which had been in the family for 300 years, for 3.25million last year

Lady Sitwell (right) pictured at Derby Day at Epsom Racecourse

My husband, who I spent 12 years with, who I gave up a promising modelling career for, who now lives in Knightsbridge, has now sold the house that, at the time of our divorce, could never be sold, said Lady Sitwell, who claimed she was left almost bankrupt after her divorce.

Despite his ex-wife's complaints, Sir George insisted he had 'no control whatsoever' over the sale of Weston Hall and its contents.

His brother, the food journalist and Masterchef judge William Sitwell, 52, explained that had joint ownership as beneficiaries of a non-discretionary trust. He said: My grandfather, father, brother and now me have all had a go at keeping the place going.

We kicked the can down the road until George Osborne dealt us a death-blow, introducing a six per cent charge on value, payable every ten years.

Lady Sitwell said: As someone who has never been to court in my life, it wasnt easy at all. I ended up with a pro-bono lawyer, so I had to read all the court documents myself. It turned into a battle of David and Goliath.

After her split from Sir George, Lady Sitwell was linked with Sotheby's boss Lord Dalmeny, until they parted ways in April this year.

If you see a man harassing a woman... give him a 'disapproving look': Home Office launches campaign to combat sexual harassment

By Jacob Thorburn for MailOnline

New Government guidance has suggested witnesses to sexual harassment should attempt to 'create a distraction' or use expressions or body language to deter would-be-abusers.

The Home Office's campaign, titled 'Enough', outlines five methods by which bystanders can help crack down on unwanted sexual behaviour against women in public places.

The campaign urges people to directly intervene in such instances by using statements such as: 'That language is not OK', or 'It is against the law to do that'.

Other suggestions include showing 'disapproval through body language or facial expressions', and creating 'a distraction to interrupt what is happening'.

The strategy sets out the mnemonic 'stop': 'Say something', 'Tell someone', 'Offer support' and 'Provide a diversion' that aims to help guide the responses of members of the public when witnessing harassment or violence against women and girls.

It marks the second iteration of the Government's 'Enough' campaign - which began after the backlash against violence against women following the rape and murder of marketing executive Sarah Everard in March last year.

The Home Office's campaign, titled 'Enough', outlines five methods by which bystanders can help crack down on sexual harassment against women in public places

The 'Enough' campaign has been publicly backed by police forces, women's safety groups and multiple charities.

Suggested actions include creating diversions against perpetrators of sexual harassment. Members of the public are advised that they could 'drop something nearby', or create a 'minor commotion'.

Other options include delaying intervention until it is safe to do so. The Home Office's guidance states: 'If you dont feel its safe or appropriate for you to step in, see if you can get someone else to intervene for you or with you. This could be someone in authority.'

The Home Office guidance also confirms that anyone witnessing somebody in immediate danger should dial 999.

The End Violence Against Women coalition said in response to the 'Enough' campaign being announced: 'It is really important that these campaigns focus on engaging men and boys and interrupt the harmful social norms that normalise and excuse male violence against women and girls (VAWG). Prevention must be at the core of the strategic response to ending VAWG.

Witnesses to sexual harassment should attempt to 'create a distraction' or use expressions or body language to deter would-be-abusers, new Government guidance has suggested

'This abuse is very prevalent, impacting millions of women across their lifetimes but it is not inevitable.

'To eradicate it requires bold action and commitment to change not only our responses to violence but how society sees men and women, and what kind of behaviour we regard as acceptable.'

Mims Davies, the Home Offices safeguarding minister, said: 'There is no place in our society for cowardly acts of violence against women and girls.

'Abuse comes in many forms, and by standing against all of them, and holding perpetrators accountable, we can create a society where women and girls are safe.'

TfL (Transport for London) launched a similar campaign earlier this year aiming to protect women and girls from 'common examples' of harassment, including upskirting, cat calling and exposure.

As part of the initiative, posters were installed across their network warning: 'Intrusive staring of a sexual nature is sexual harassment and is not tolerated.'

Police-recorded sexual offences soared to their highest level on record over a 12-month period (183,587) in the year to December 2021.

This was a 22% increase on 2020 (150,748) and up 13% from 2019 (163,067). Cases involving rapes, stalking and domestic abuse and also spiked.
Dozens of UK companies are offering 'misleading' private blood tests for a range of conditions and deficiencies, an investigation has found.

Many of the tests are not backed by evidence and are leaving an already overworked NHS to follow up 'abnormal results', according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Patients are promised such tests will help them take control of their health and spot problems early.

But the BMJ said misleading results may force women into decisions such as having further, potentially harmful examinations.

Examples of private testing include regular blood tests, which promise to predict how many healthy years of life a person has left and a fatigue finger prick test that measures iron, thyroid hormones, vitamin levels and inflammation.

Dozens of UK companies are offering 'misleading' private blood tests for a range of health conditions, an investigation has found (stock image)

Based on the findings, the BMJ has referred two companies to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misleading claims about the accuracy or detection rates associated with at-home tests.

The BMJ made a complaint about My Baby Company, which offers a variety of tests for non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for pregnant women from 299.

The ASA said there were specific rules concerning advertising for NIPTs that included the need to have clear explanations of any detection rate figures and not to use the word 'diagnostic', the BMJ reported.

My Baby Company had written online that all of their NIPTs had an accuracy rate of more than 99 per cent, without an explanation of what part of the test this applies to.

The ASA assessed the ad and found it was in breach of a previous ruling and referred the company to its compliance team.

The BMJ also made a complaint about The Health Check Shop, which sells instant prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests for 19.99.

Which firms were referred to the regulator? The BMJ made a complaint about My Baby Company, which offers a variety of tests for non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPT) for pregnant women from 299. The ASA said there were specific rules concerning advertising for NIPTs that included the need to have clear explanations of any detection rate figures and not to use the word 'diagnostic', the BMJ reported. My Baby Company had written online that all of their NIPTs had an accuracy rate of more than 99 per cent, without an explanation of what part of the test this applies to. The ASA assessed the ad and found it was in breach of a previous ruling and referred the company to its compliance team. The BMJ also made a complaint about The Health Check Shop, which sells instant prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests for 19.99. Under the national prostate cancer risk management programme, PSA testing is available on the NHS for asymptomatic men over the age of 50 after a discussion with a GP about the risks and benefits. Yet The Health Check Shop advertised PSA testing with no age recommendation and said the test had an accuracy of more than 96 per cent, contradicting official advice of the chance of both false positives and negatives, until it was contacted by the BMJ and changed its website. The ASA said it is currently assessing the complaint carefully to determine whether there are grounds for an investigation. Advertisement

Under the national prostate cancer risk management programme, PSA testing is available on the NHS for asymptomatic men over the age of 50 after a discussion with a GP about the risks and benefits.

Yet The Health Check Shop advertised PSA testing with no age recommendation and said the test had an accuracy of more than 96 per cent, contradicting official advice of the chance of both false positives and negatives, until it was contacted by the BMJ and changed its website.

The ASA said it is currently assessing the complaint carefully to determine whether there are grounds for an investigation.

Dr John Rees, director of JR Biomedical, the clinical diagnostics company behind the Health Check Shop, said: 'The overall accuracy mentioned on the website was a comparison of the self test kit with a laboratory reference method, and not the accuracy of diagnosing prostate cancer, which would be absurd.

'We constantly review and update information on our website when this becomes available from the manufacturer.'

The ASA said it has received just under 250 complaints about health screening ads in the last five years.

Many of the tests investigated by the BMJ are not recommended by the National Screening Committee 'because it is not clear that the benefits outweigh the harms' yet GPs are often asked by patients to review the results of private blood tests, creating more work for an already overstretched NHS.

The BMJ reported that private tests are also promoted by the NHS endorsed Patient Access app, despite them being something that the NHS discourages.

An NHS Digital spokesman said: 'The Patient Access app is provided by EMIS, which is responsible for all other content on the app.'

Shaun O'Hanlon at EMIS, the healthcare IT company behind the app, told the BMJ that all private provider testing services listed on Patient Access have been selected after a thorough review by the clinical team, which includes UK GPs.

Experts have called for better regulation and for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to be empowered to assess the apps that promote private screening as well as the screening companies themselves.

In the UK, regulation prevents prescription-only medications being advertised directly to consumers, but not medical tests.

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: 'We are very concerned about commercial, non-evidence-based health screening services - including opportunistic blood testing, as highlighted in this report - and the adverse impact they are having on our patients and primary care.

'When private companies offer screening services, such as blood testing, outside of the national screening programme, these may lead to results that are of little or no value to a patient's health - indeed, they may cause unnecessary concern.

'As this investigation has found, they are often offered with little or no discussion about the implications of the results, or appropriate aftercare, with NHS general practice often left to take this on.

'This clearly adds to GP workload when patients want to discuss results of tests they have had done privately, which would not have been deemed appropriate if done on the NHS.'

An NHS spokesman said: 'At a time when GP-led teams are delivering tens of millions of appointments every month, additional pressure should not be put on their workload from potentially misleading information.

'People should use trusted sources of information, such as the NHS website, and when feeling unwell, come forward to contact the NHS for expert advice as they usually would.'
Brittany Higgins' accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann will stand trial again in February next year after the jury on the case was sensationally dismissed.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum dismissed the 12 jurors shortly after 10am on Thursday after one brought an academic research paper about sexual assault into the jury room.

Lehrmann had been standing trial, accused of the political staffer's rape following a drunken night out in March 2019. He had pleaded not guilty.

The jurors had been explicitly and repeatedly instructed not to do any research except what is presented to them in the courtroom.

In the wake of her decision, Justice McCallum suggested the trial will be rerun early next year.

'I have a mind to relist this trial for February 20, 2023,' Justice McCallum said.

She said Lehrmann would have to submit any impending international itineraries to police two weeks in advance. He was granted bail.

Brittany Higgins' (pictured) accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann may stand trial again in February next year after the jury on the case was sensationally dismissed

'It is now about four months before the resumption of the new trial, if there is to be one,' Justice McCallum said.

'As I've said in court many times, the accused is just that. He is a person who stands accused and may never be convicted of a criminal offence.'

Prosecutor Skye Jerome tried to impose bail conditions on Lehrmann not to contact Ms Higgins, her parents, or Ms Higgins's boyfriend David Sharaz.

He must also tell police where he is living, and notify them of any residential changes.

Ms Jerome requested he surrender his passport, which defence lawyer Steven Whybrow objected to.

Justice McCallum said media reporting of the case after Thursday should 'fall silent' so Lehrmann can be given another fair trial.

Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) had been standing trial, accused of the political staffer's rape following a drunken night out in March 2019. He had pleaded not guilty

Ms Higgins burst into tears at hearing the trial would be abandoned as she appeared in court for the first time since giving evidence.

Justice McCallum said: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have.

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.

'Can I please convey to you my sincerest gratitude to the hard work you've done in this trial.

'With those remarks, you're discharged and you are free to leave.'

She later explained why the jury was discharged.

Ms Higgins (pictured with partner David Sharaz) burst into tears at hearing the trial would be abandoned as she appeared in court for the first time since giving evidence

'During routine tidying of the jury room after the conclusion of the proceedings yesterday, one of the sheriff's officers accidentally bumped one of the jurors documents folders onto the floor,' she told the court.

'The judge said the sheriff saw the title of an academic research paper. The topic of the paper might be sexual assault.

'The matter was promptly brought to my attention. My associates identified what appeared to be the document in question.

'In the circumstances, it is appropriate to regard that evidence with some scepticism.'

Justice McCallum said during the course of the trial she gave the jury 'at least' 17 warnings.

'This is an unexpected and unfortunate outcome in this trial,' she said.

Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.




Prosecutors questioned the chief of the nation's largest bakery chain SPC Group on Thursday over alleged unfair practices of awarding business contracts to affiliates.







The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office summoned CEO Hwang Jae-bok for allegedly violating a law that bans unfair business practices among the group's affiliates.







Prosecutors suspect several affiliates of SPC helped the group's only listed affiliate, SPC Samlip, earn 41.4 billion won ($29.3 million) between 2011 and 2018 by unfairly awarding contracts to it.







SPC allegedly supported SPC Samlip to make it easier for the chairman's children to take the wheel at the group, according to prosecutors.







In 2020, the country's antitrust regulator fined SPC group 67.4 billion won for the alleged violation. The regulator also referred three top executives of SPC, including Chairman Hur Young-in, to prosecutors for further investigation. (Yonhap)


Arman Tchoukadrian, a Pasadena chiropractor, said he and his family are considering moving house after the random attack on their home on Monday

A Pasadena man whose home was attacked by a pick-axe-wielding neighbor while his child and mother-in-law were inside said the family has been left so traumatized they may move out.

Beverly Baker, 65, was caught on camera wielding the weapon on Monday afternoon in a horrifying attack, which police believe was random, and the result of a mental health breakdown.

Baker 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.

Tchoukadrian's mother-in-law was in the home with his baby daughter, who was sleeping in a bassinet near one of the windows.

The chiropractor, said the baby would have been seriously injured if her grandmother hadn't saved her.

'I don't know if we have to leave but as of now, this is not our safe space,' he said.

'This is a constant reminder of what has happened.'

Baker was charged on Wednesday with felony vandalism and will be arraigned on Friday at the Superior Court in Pasadena, said Matthew Krasnowski, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Tchoukadrian is seeking a restraining order.

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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

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 $1 million home across the street from where the family lives, owned with one of her children.

It comes amid skyrocketing crime in LA, with the total number of violent crimes up 4.2 per cent.

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.

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

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

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.

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 mother-in-law took the baby girl and hid in a closet.

Relatives had to spend 10 minutes coaxing her out, trying to convince her it was safe.

Tchoukadarian told NBC 4 he is grateful his mother-in-law saved his daughter's life.

'She's our savior,' he said, in tears.

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 soldier with a voyeurism fetish has been fired from the Australian Defence Force after he posted an intimate image of a young woman to a dating site, seeking sexual partners for her.

Appearing before the Defence Force Magistrates Court on Wednesday Jason Veltman, 41, pleaded guilty to non-consensual distribution of an intimate image.

The court in Canberra heard that Veltman, who the magistrate described as 'selfish', met the woman who was around half his age when he was 38.

They met through military service and began having consensual sex.

Veltman, who was a signalman, told the victim about his voyeurism fetish and wanted her to have sex with other men and record it so he could watch.

Jason Veltman (pictured) pleaded guilty to non-consensual distribution of an intimate image.

The woman did not want to do that, but she sent Veltman two pictures of herself wearing lingerie in her army dormitory.

She thought Veltman would not share the photos.

But he used one of the images to create a personal ad on the Locanto website, seeking to find men to sleep with her for his voyeurism fetish.

It was written as if from the woman and included personal details.

The ad was seen by another Defence Force member, who told the victim.

She then confronted Veltman about it and he told her he made the ad because she 'wasn't going to do anything about it'.

The woman told Veltman she wanted him to take the ad down, the Courier Mail reported.

As well as pleading guilty to non-consensual distribution of an intimate image, Veltman pleaded not guilty to and was acquitted of assaulting another person on Defence Force land, relating to the same woman as the previous charge.

In a victim impact statement read aloud by prosecutors, the woman said she left the military because of the embarrassment and shame Veltman's actions caused her.

'I was scared, not only for my safety but for my dream job,' she said.

'Everyone knew what happened, and I had nobody.'

She had wanted to be in the army since she was a young girl.

The court heard it was not the first time Veltman had appeared before it.

Jason Veltman, 41, posted an intimate image of a young woman to a dating site, seeking sexual partners for her. Pictured is a stock image of a woman in a dark room

Prosecutors said he had been convicted of aggravated use of a carriage service to cause offence in August 2021.

In November 2020 in Darwin when he was a lance corporal, Veltman sent a photograph of his erect penis to 24-year-old woman, who was a private.

Veltman was sentenced to 28 days detention, which was suspended, and his military rank was reduced to a private.

Defence Force Magistrate Major General Simon Cowan said Veltman avoided being dismissed from the service over that offence because he was a first-time offender and pleaded guilty.

Veltman's lawyer, Major David Healey, said dismissal was the right outcome on Wednesday, and that he 'understands he is the author of his own undoing'.

Mr Healey told the court that Veltman had worked in the British Army's parachute regiment, was twice deployed to Afghanistan and was now hoping for a career in mining.

According to his LinkedIn page, Veltman now lives in Perth.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Veltman seeking comment.
Brittany Higgins was very distressed as she spoke with reporters outside court after Bruce Lehrmann's trial for the alleged rape of her was shockingly abandoned on Thursday.

'I never fully understood (the) criminal justice system but I do now,' she said, fighting back tears.

Earlier, Ms Higgins cried and her legal team looked dejected when the decision to discharge the jury was announced.

'I was required to tell the truth under oath for over a week on the witness stand and was cross-examined at length,' she said.

'He (Lehrmann) was afforded the choice of staying silent in court. Head down in a notebook.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) was very distressed as she spoke with reporters outside court after Bruce Lehrmann's trial for the alleged rape of her was shockingly abandoned on Thursday

'He never faced one question in court about his story and the criminal charges.

'I was required to surrender my telephones, my passwords, messages, photos and my data to him...

'My life has been publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see. His was not,' she said.

Bruce Lehrmann (second left) leaves court with his lawyers after his trial for the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins was sensationally abandoned on Thursday morning

Ms Higgins said 'Many of you in the media have been called out for labelling the last few weeks "the Higgins trial".

'But I don't blame you ... (alleged victims') friends and families are called to the witness stand and the accused has the legal right to say absolutely nothing.

The former Liberal party staffer said she wanted 'to thank the other women who came forward and shared their own experiences. I believe you.

'You were with me every day I walked into that courtroom and faced him.

'I want to thank the people of Australia who have rallied behind me,' said Ms Higgins.

Brittany Higgins (pictured) was visibly distressed as she spoke with reporters outside the court on Thursday

Earlier, Lehrmann had looked emotionless as his trial for the alleged rape of Ms Higgins was shockingly abandoned.

He made no comment to journalists as he left the court at around 11am, standing behind his lawyer Steven Whybrow.

The sensational move came after a juror brought an academic research paper about sexual assault into the jury room.

On what should have been the jury's seventh day of deliberations, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum dismissed the 12 jurors shortly after 10am on Thursday morning.

Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann is pictured leaving the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra

'Sometimes there is a mishap which  results in a miscarriage of a trial. Thats whats happened here,' she said.

Bruce Lehrmann had been standing trial, accused of the political staffer's rape following a drunken night out in March 2019.

He had pleaded not guilty.

Addressing the jury, Justice McCallum said: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have.

Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann is pictured arriving to court on Thursday. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.

'Can I please convey to you my sincerest gratitude to the hard work you've done in this trial.

'With those remarks, you're discharged and you are free to leave.'

The sensational development raises the prospect the case could be retried.

Justice McCallum later explained why the jury was discharged.

'During routine tidying of the jury room after the conclusion of the proceedings yesterday, one of the sheriff's officers accidentally bumped one of the jurors documents folders onto the floor.

Ms Higgins held hands with boyfriend David Sharaz as she arrived at the ACT Supreme Court

'The judge said the sheriff saw the title of an academic research paper. The topic of the paper might be sexual assault.

'The matter was promptly brought to my attention. My associates identified what appeared to be the document in question.

'In the circumstances, it is appropriate to regard that evidence with some scepticism.

'During the course of the trial, I must have give the jury at least 17 warnings.

'This is an unexpected and unfortunate outcome in this trial.'

Bruce Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Brittany Higgin is seen arriving at the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday morning just hours before the case against her alleged attacker was sensationally aborted

Chief Justice McCallum has set a date of February 20, 2023 for a new trial, with conditions for Lehrmann being set out before.

He is not allowed to contact Ms Higgins, her partner David Sharaz, parents Kelly Higgins or Matthew Higgins and must advise the Australian Federal Police of his residential address.

If he wants to travel overseas during this time he must provide his itinerary to the AFP two weeks before any planned leaving date.

The now discharged 12-person jury had been unable to decide whether Lehrmann is guilty or not guilty of one count of sexual intercourse without consent against Ms Higgins in the early hours of March 23, 2019.
Foreign workers have abandoned Australia in fear they will become stuck Down Under after the country became infamous for its Covid-19 border closures and lockdowns.

Australia was one of the first nations in the world to slam shut during the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

But as other countries learned to live with the virus and turned their focus to economic recovery, Australia remained closed, with international and interstate travel restrictions limiting foreign worker movement.

Australia's horror lockdown and border closures are now a distant memory but foreigners have not forgotten, with an 86 per cent drop in working tourists.

Global Work and Travel chief executive officer Jurgen Himmelmann said when borders were finally open to foreigners earlier this year, too much damage had already been done.



Australia's workforce is critically understaffed despite a low unemployment rate with industry experts saying foreign workers are unlikely to travel to Australia after seeing Aussies 'trapped' during Covid lockdowns (pictured, train workers in Sydney)

Grattan Institute data showed the number of working holidaymakers in Australia during May 2022 was 86 per cent less than in September 2019 (pictured, a graph showing the decrease in working holidaymakers)

Scott Morrison (pictured) shut Australia's international borders in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and didn't re-open them to foreigners again until earlier this year

Mr Himmelmann said lockdowns left overseas workers worried they could became trapped Down Under if another virus was to suddenly hit.

'Since the borders have opened, we are seeing the same volume of people wanting to leave Australia (as before Covid) but not the same number of people wanting to come to Australia,' he told News Corp.

'We were expecting there to be some pent-up demand  that people would want to rush to Australia once everything opened up but people saw Australians being jailed for (breaking Covid quarantine laws). They saw people trapped.'

The number of working holidaymakers in Australia in May 2022 was 86 per cent less than in September 2019 according to the Grattan Institute, a leading independent research organisation.

The amount of temporary overseas workers living in Australia has dramatically decreased since 2020 despite early beliefs migration would pick up again once borders opened (pictured, a graph showing the decrease of temporary workers in Australia)

Industries including agriculture and hospitality rely on working holidaymakers to fill the gaps in the local Australian workforce (pictured, a fruit picker in regional New South Wales)

The nation's current workforce does not have enough skilled workers to fill vacancies around the country and with an unemployment rate of just 3.5 per cent, Australia desperately needs migrant workers.

One in three workers currently employed in Australia were born overseas.

Mr Himmelmann said that while there was an accumulation of people overseas wanting to move once the pandemic eased, Australia took too long and missed out.

'Most parts of Europe never did a hard border closure so a lot of the people that had an eagerness to travel just went somewhere (other than Australia),' Mr Himmelmann.

To make matters worse, migrants who did wait through the lockdowns to move to Australia are now facing massive delays with getting visas.

Global Work and Travel CEO Jurgen Himmelmann said Australia missed out on a massive influx of foreign workers keen to travel once Covid ended by waiting too long to open its borders (pictured, Sydney Airport)

Construction is just one of the industries that majorly relies on overseas workers to supply high-volumes of special skilled workers (pictured, a lollipop lady in Sydney)

The median processing time for a skilled worker looking to permanently immigrate to Australia is five months.

A skilled worker wanting to temporarily move to Australia can expect their visa to take three months to process.

'Processing on-hand visa applications is a government priority. We are working to reduce the time it takes to finalise visa applications,' the Home Affairs Department website reads.

'We are prioritising the processing of visas lodged by people outside of Australia, including temporary skilled, student and visitor visas.

'This is to make sure more people can travel to Australia to fill the critical skill shortages across the country.'

Mr Himmelmann said harsh travel restrictions in Australia, including those set by state leaders, frightened foreign workers who saw Aussies 'trapped' (pictured, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews)

Hospitality employers previously hired large amounts of temporary foreign workers but are now struggling to find Aussies willing to fill in the jobs (pictured, barristers in Sydney)

The Grattan Institute found people who migrated to Australia after 2000 make up 12 per cent of our workforce with the majority of them working in high-earning industries like construction.

People with a temporary visa, including working holidaymakers and international students, make up seven per cent of the workforce and tend to work in lower-earning industry like agriculture and hospitality.

Small businesses, especially in regional communities, rely on working holidaymakers to do the jobs most Aussies aren't interested in.

A quick scan of Australian backpackers pages show hundreds of farmers and hotel owners looking for temporary workers to fill worker shortages.

Even with the promise of free accommodation and good pay, most offers receive very little interest.

Australia does not have the number of skilled workers needed to fill vacant jobs and with only 3.5 per cent of workers unemployed there is little opportunity to train enough people up
A police investigation into the 'willful damage' at the office is ongoing

A woman has been arrested after she allegedly used a large machete to smash holes into the front of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electoral office.

Police were called to Ms Ardern's office in the central Auckland suburb of Morningside on Thursday at about 8.20am following reports the door was smashed and an object was thrown inside.

A 57-year-old woman was arrested at a Coatesville home, a rural community 30km north west of Auckland, according to news outlet Stuff.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electoral office was smashed on Thursday

An eyewitness said they saw a person walking down the road towards the office, smashing the front doors with what appeared to be a samurai sword.

The person was then seen throwing something through a hole in the door, with smoke coming out of the building shortly after.

A large knife, believed to be a machete, was found by passers-by lying on the ground on New North Road and was later photographed and collected by police.

The New Zealand news outlet claimed it received an email at 9.03am from a person declaring responsibility for the attack.

'At 8.20 this morning I smashed a hole in her electoral office door and dropped the bomb in [sic],' the email read.

Police confirmed no one was injured in the attack and are conducting a full investigation into the 'willful damage' at the office.

'No injuries have been reported and the building was unoccupied at the time,' police said.

'A scene examination will be conducted and inquiries remain ongoing.'

Prime Minister Jacinda Arden was almost 5,000 kilometres away in Antarctica when the attack occurred.

Ms Ardern and her fiance Clarke Gayford reached Scott Base on Wednesday on their second attempt after a flight on Tuesday was turned back due to poor weather at McMurdo Sound.

The prime minister is due back in NZ late on Friday, after she visits the research station.
Rishi Sunak has called the first ministers of Scotland and Wales as he seeks to strengthen the Union and reset relations.

Afterwards, the PM 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.

Nicola Sturgeon said the call had been constructive, while her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford said he discussed the importance of working together as four nations to address the urgent challenges we face.

Nicola Sturgeon said the call had been constructive, while her Welsh counterpart Mark Drakeford said he discussed the importance of working together as four nations to address the urgent challenges we face

Liz Truss did not telephone either leader during her brief time as Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was yesterday in talks with Stormont leaders in Belfast as a new election deadline looms tomorrow.

He has warned that he will call a new poll if the date passes without a devolved executive being formed.
In each of the four general elections held over the past 12 years, plus the EU referendum, the public has voted decisively for controlled immigration.

So they would be forgiven for feeling dismayed that, every day, hundreds of illegal migrants are crossing the Channel in small boats with impunity. The scale of the crisis represents a monumental and abject failure by the Government.

The number arriving on our shores this year has topped 38,000  equivalent to the population of a small town. Lets be unambiguously clear, these migrants did not leave France fearing for their lives. They were lured here by the lavish welfare on offer in El Dorado Britain.

Thousands are from war-free Albania. Our broken system has processed only 4 per cent of last years asylum claims.

And accommodating them in hotels costs taxpayers 7million a day  money that could be spent on schools and hospitals.

So they would be forgiven for feeling dismayed that, every day, hundreds of illegal migrants are crossing the Channel in small boats with impunity. The scale of the crisis represents a monumental and abject failure by the Government

This is one of the first big tests for Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister. He must follow through on his pledge to get tough on the problem with his ten-point action plan.

If he can get the Rwanda deportation scheme up and running, it would be a powerful deterrent to migrants making the treacherous journey and put the people smugglers out of business.

Yes, Mr Sunak will face shrieks of outrage from the Left. But they have no solution beyond throwing open our borders.

By contrast, stopping the crossings will win him votes among the millions who time and again have demanded a crackdown on illegal immigration. And time and again have been let down by ministers.

Stop pension U-turns

If Mr Sunaks critics had anticipated a dull technocrat dashing off statistics during his first Commons question time as Prime Minister, they were sorely disappointed.

He had fire in his belly at the despatch box and a willingness to trade blows with Sir Keir Starmer. But although this pugnacious performance was good for party mood, Mr Sunak must now grapple with the real work of government. Wisely he pushed back the Autumn Statement from October 31 to November 17.

If Mr Sunaks critics had anticipated a dull technocrat dashing off statistics during his first Commons question time as Prime Minister, they were sorely disappointed

It avoids Halloween horror-style headlines and any market bounce may soften the need for tax hikes and spending cuts. But his refusal to commit to the pension triple lock  a fifth U-turn  is concerning.

The flip-flopping is causing pensioners uncertainty and anxiety. It must stop.

Absurd fracking ban

With an energy crisis caused by a shortage of gas taking a wrecking ball to household budgets, its absurd for Mr Sunak to ban fracking. He vowed to govern in the national interest, not kowtow to NIMBYs and the shrill eco-lobby for political expediency.

Refusing to explore shale gas extraction means the PM is turning his back on a potentially transformative supply of low-cost energy, job creation and huge investment.

Worse, he risks sacrificing our energy security, leaving us at the mercy of global market shocks and the belligerent whim of tyrants such as Vladimir Putin

Worse, he risks sacrificing our energy security, leaving us at the mercy of global market shocks and the belligerent whim of tyrants such as Vladimir Putin.

Its truly contemptible for politicians to oppose fracking, while shedding crocodile tears over soaring gas and electricity bills.
The Online Safety Bill has been delayed yet again days before it was due to return to Parliament, Labour said yesterday.

Culture spokesman Lucy Powell branded the move 'disgraceful'  and said the need for internet regulation had 'never been clearer' in the wake of the Molly Russell inquest.

Molly, 14, took her life after being bombarded with depression, self-harm and suicide content on social media in the months before her death.

The Online Safety Bill has been delayed yet again days before it was due to return to Parliament, Labour said yesterday. Culture spokesman Lucy Powell (pictured) branded the move 'disgraceful'

Molly Russell (left), 14, took her life after being bombarded with depression, self-harm and suicide content on social media in the months before her death

Government whips are understood to have said that the legislation will no longer return to Parliament next Tuesday as scheduled  the second time it has been delayed this year.

In July it was delayed following the resignation of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which is overseeing the Bill, said it would be 'coming back very shortly'  but that timetabling was down to the Whips' Office.

A Government source said the delay was to give MPs time to read new amendments that are yet to be laid, with the Bill still planned to progress 'within the next few weeks'.
Flight took off shortly before agents arrived at Moscow Airport to arrest her

Vladimir Putin's goddaughter reportedly fled the country yesterday morning - hours after police raided her mansion after she allegedly criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Ksenia Sobchak, 40, is understood to have boarded a flight to Lithuania via Belarus shortly before agents arrived at Moscows Vnukovo-3 airport to arrest her.

Putin has longstanding ties to her family and she is long rumoured to be his goddaughter. Her father, Anatoli Sobchak, was Putin's law professor and mentor who handed him his first foothold in politics as Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg.

Sobchak has known Putin since she was a child, and he attended her baptism.

But he is now poised to brand her a 'foreign agent' as part of a crackdown against dissent in Russia.

It is not yet clear what remarks she allegedly made that have angered Kremlin officials and led to the raid of her property.

It comes three after Sobchak was hit with a separate criminal investigation that could see her jailed for three years allegedly over 'spreading falsehoods about government agencies' on a media channel.

Ksenia Sobchak is understood to have boarded a flight to Lithuania via Belarus shortly before agents arrived at Moscows Vnukovo-3 airport to arrest her

Russian President Vladimir Putin is now poised to brand her a 'foreign agent' as part of a crackdown against dissent in Russia

Anatoly Sobchak pictured alongside Vladimir Putin in 1990s, to whom he had longstanding ties

The head of the shadowy Public Committee for the Detection of Foreign Intervention, Aleksandr Ionov, said a check was underway into whether Sobchak was funded from abroad. Her online media outlet Ostorozhno Novosti is also under investigation.

'If foreign funding is found, Sobchak will become a foreign agent', said Ionov.

But Sobchak has claimed the probe is to put pressure on her and her media outlets.

Despite Putin's ties with her family, she has strongly opposed his authoritarian policies in recent years.

She said: 'Our commercial director Kirill Sukhanov is detained, as they said, for "blackmail". This is simply delirium, it is laughable, nonsense.'

'Kirill is a businessman and our advertising person. Myself and our entire team see this as yet more oppression against the media in the country. They have got nothing to dig on us, which infuriates them.

They constantly detain our journalists. Now they have got Kirill, and are making a case against him. The lawyer is in touch with him. We are following the case.'

Other Sobchak staff are being interrogated, it was reported.

Such were Putin's ties to the family, he smuggled Mr Sobchak out of Russia to get medical treatment in the west when his patron was wanted for alleged corruption.

Putin, Lyudmila Narusova, and Ksenia Sobchak pictured together in St Petersburg in November 2003

Ksenia was earlier a popular reality TV host and posed for Playboy before going into politics

He was later photographed at Mr Sobchak's funeral alongside Ksenia and her mother Lyudmila Narusova, a Russian senator in 2000.

She has voted against war-linked legislation in the Russian parliament and accused his state TV of 'shameless lies' over the conflict.

Ksenia - one of Russias best known faces - came fourth in the 2018 presidential election in Russia, widely seen as heavily rigged in Putins favour.

Despite criticising Putin, she held a personal meeting with the Russian leader before announcing she would oppose him in the poll.

Ksenia was earlier a popular reality TV host and posed for Playboy.

She is understood to be subject of a probe regarding an article covering the 'public dissemination of deliberately false information about the execution of its authority by a government agency' - a new law enacted after the start of the war with Ukraine with a punishment of up to three years in jail.

Authorities say that Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, had written a statement alleging 'extortion' against Sobchak and others.

On the basis of this Kirill Sukhanov and former Russian Tatler editor Arian Romanovsky were detained.

They reportedly face investigation under laws which could lead to jail sentences of between seven and 15 years.
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Princess Anne will visit a school in Uganda where 11 children died this week in a tragic fire.

The royal was due to visit the school outside the capital, Kampala on Friday during her trip to the east African country.

The school, the Salama School for the Blind in the Mukono district, east of the capital Kampala, was badly damaged.

A further six people were badly injured in the blaze.

School principal Francis Kirubi told The Times: 'We submitted profiles of every person who was to attend the princess' visit.

'When you look at the hostel, fire started from the side without power connectivity, making it hard to say that it was sparked by any power fault. But anyway, leave this to the police to investigate and find out what exactly happened.'

'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 condition and admitted (to hospital),' the Ugandan Police Force said on Twitter.

The disaster occurred at about 1am on Monday at the Salama School for the Blind in the Mukono district, east of the capital Kampala.

Police said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the inferno and more details would be released later.

'Most of the dead are children at the school and our sympathies go to the parents,' Internal Affairs Minister General Kahinda Otafiire said, adding that the school has been cordoned off as a 'crime scene' and vowing there would be a full investigation.

'As government we shall go to the root cause of the fire and if there are any culprits they will be apprehended and the law will take its course,' he declared.

Kirube, who is also blind, said the flames swept through the dormitory as the pupils slept.

Images from the scene of the blaze showed a charred but still largely intact building where the fire broke out, its window frames and door blackened and the corrugated roof damaged.

Forensic teams were seen in white protective gear at the school, while grieving parents were pictured weeping as they sat on the ground nearby.

Princess Anne, pictured yesterday in Southwestern Uganda is due to visit the school where 11 children died on Friday

Police say at least eleven people died including students after a fire broke out in the middle of the night at a school for the blind in Uganda. Six others were taken to hospital in critical condition

A girl is comforted by her father at the scene of a fire at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono District

A woman reacts after learning about the death of her granddaughter at the scene of a fire at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono District, Uganda, 25 October 2022

Parents gather at the Herona hospital where injured students receive treatment following a fire in a dormitory building at the Salama School for the Blind at the Herona Hospital in Kisoga Town, near Kampala, Uganda October 25, 2022

Richard Muhimba, the distraught father of one of the dead children, told AFP: 'No words can explain the pain I am going through.

'I visited my child on Saturday, he was in good health and in less than three days he is gone... Please give me time to go through this pain,' said Muhimba, before hanging up.

A friend told AFP that the child was aged 15 and that Muhimba was a father of five.

Salama was built in April 1999 by the local government in Mukono and caters for children and young adults between the ages of six to 25.

Princess Anne, the sister of King Charles III, had been due to visit the school during her trip this week to Uganda, which marked its 60th anniversary of independence from Britain earlier this month.

Kinubi, the Salama School for the Blind administrator, acknowledged there was a lack of safety equipment on the premises.

'I have to admit that we do not have systems like fire extinguishers because we have always been appealing to government to provide us with some of these gadgets, but in vain,' he said.

Students injured when fire gutted down a dormitory building at the Salama School for the Blind, are received for treatment at the Herona Hospital in Kisoga Town, near Kampala

Parents react at the Salama School for the Blind following a fire in a dormitory building in Luga Village, Ntanzi Parish of Mukono District, near Kampala

Police forensic experts investigate the scene of a fire at Salama School for the Blind in Mukono District, Uganda, 25 October 2022

The East African nation has suffered a string of deadly school fires in recent years, a cause of concern for education officials in a country where classrooms and dormitories are often crowded, and there's usually no firefighting equipment in place.

In November 2018, 11 boys perished and another 20 suffered severe burns in a suspected arson attack at a boarding school in southern Uganda.

In April 2008, 18 schoolgirls burned to death along with one adult when a fire engulfed their dormitory at a junior school near the Ugandan capital.

And in March 2006, at least 13 children were killed and several hurt when fire razed an Islamic school in western Uganda. In July the same year, six children died in a similar fire in the east.

Officials have cited poor electrical connections as sparking blazes in some cases.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Kampala have said six school children in the Ugandan capital have tested positive for Ebola as the current outbreaks starts spreading.

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.

The children are members of a family exposed to the disease by a man who traveled from one Ebola-hit district, sought treatment in Kampala and died there, the statement said.

'He is responsible for infecting the family of seven, including the neighbors and many others,' the statement said, speaking of the traveling Ebola patient. 'We were able to get this cluster, plus one other, because of the ministry's vigilance in contact tracing and field case management.'

Authorities are 'following up' 170 contacts from schools the six children attend, it said.

Fears that Ebola could spread far from the outbreak's epicenter compelled authorities to impose an ongoing lockdown, including nighttime curfews, on two of the five districts reporting Ebola cases on October 16. The measures were put in place after a man infected with Ebola traveled to Kampala and died there, becoming the city's first confirmed Ebola case.

Tracing contacts is key to stemming the spread of contagious diseases like Ebola.

Uganda's minister for health, June Ruth Aceng, pictured, has ben warning people about the spread of Ebola across the country

The head of the Uganda Medical Association on Tuesday urged health authorities to impose a lockdown in Kampala, a stringent measure that the country's president has previously said he doesn't want to implement

The head of the Uganda Medical Association on Tuesday urged health authorities to impose a lockdown in Kampala, a stringent measure that the country's president has previously said he doesn't want to implement.

That official, Dr. Samuel Oledo, told reporters the situation was alarming because some 'people are not even reporting cases' of Ebola.

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.

Ugandan health officials in the district of Mubende, the epicenter, were not quick to confirm Ebola partly because the disease's symptoms can mimic those of the more prevalent malaria.

Ebola is spread by contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain and, at times, internal and external bleeding.

There is no proven vaccine for the Sudan strain of Ebola that's circulating in this East African country of 45 million people.

Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed more than 200 people. The 2014-16 Ebola outbreak in West Africa killed more than 11,000 people, the disease's largest death toll.

Ebola was discovered in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in South Sudan and Congo, where it occurred in a village near the Ebola River, after which the disease is named.
Legoland Korea Resort, located in Chuncheon, 85 kilometers northeast of Seoul / Yonhap



The Gangwon provincial government said Thursday it will fulfill its debt payment guarantee for the developer of Legoland Korea Resort by mid-December, over one month earlier than scheduled, to mitigate impact on the local financial market.



Chung Kwang-yeol, deputy governor of Gangwon Province, announced that his government will repay a debt of 205 billion won ($145 million) by Dec. 15 owed by the provincial government-funded Gangwon Jungdo Development (GJC) to build the Legoland theme park in Chuncheon, 85 km east of Seoul.



"The Gangwon government and the finance ministry have been closely discussing effective ways to alleviate the burden on the financial market, including creditors," Chung said in a news conference.



"As a result, we've decided to repay the full amount of the debt guaranteed (for GJC), 205 billion won, by Dec. 15," he said, adding the decision was the outcome of close consultation between Gangwon Gov. Kim Jin-tae and Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho.






Attending the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020, Prince Charles eulogised the 'remarkable' Swedish teenage activist Greta Thunberg in his speech before warmly shaking her hand.

He clearly failed to make much of an impression.

Greta, asked on the How To Fail podcast if she'd met the new King, replied: 'I think I have met him. I can't keep track of the British Royal Family. There are so many.'

As Charles might sigh: 'Dear oh dear.'

Could Charles achieve his ambition to attend next month's Cop27 environmental summit in Egypt? Thwarted by short- lived PM Liz Truss, he retains hope her successor Rishi Sunak might reverse the decision. Apparently Truss received a lot of brickbats, public and private, for vetoing the King. After 50 years as an active environmentalist  long before it was fashionable  Charles is reportedly keen to at least attend if not speak at Sharm El Sheikh. For the new monarch is it difficult to jettison decades of being an active, and meddling, prince?

Jacob Rees-Mogg, falling on his quill before Rishi could sack him, dated his resignation letter St Crispin's Day. He must have known that it commemorates shoemaker twins Crispin and Crispinian, who were martyred for being Christians. They're the patron saints of cobblers.

Sir Kenneth Branagh, pictured, is to receive the lifetime achievement award at the Richard Harris International Film Festival in Limerick.

What would the late Harris, who died 20 years ago this week, make of it?

He less than flatteringly described Ken's acting as 'technically brilliant but passionless'.

Does Harris's archive, just donated to Cork University, contain details of his feud with Angela's Ashes author Frank McCourt? The actor paid for the ashes of New York-based McCourt's mother Angela to be repatriated to her native Limerick. 'He went to a cheap shipper in Queens and he lost them,' Harris claimed. McCourt accused Harris of maligning him but finally admitted, shortly before his death in 2009: 'I did mislay my mother's urn in a Manhattan tavern but later retrieved the ashes.'

Journalist Charles Laurence, who has died, got his first scoop for the London Evening News when he was invited to join Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton for lunch at Scott's after they wed for the second time. As Burton concentrated on getting drunk, Taylor whispered to the young reporter: 'The trouble is, he can't get it up any more.'

Twitter hearts are a-flutter at the King's beefcake equerry Major Johnny Thompson greeting new PM Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace in his swirling kilt. Flaunting the convention that kilts are not worn outside Scotland, did Johnny recall the joke about the stranger to all things Caledonian asking: 'Is there anything worn under the kilt?' 'Naaw,' replies the tartan-wearer, 'it's all in perfect working order.'
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly considering setting up a charitable fund to raise money for war-torn Ukraine as he tries to boost his image on the global stage.

Following his departure from No10, Mr Johnson is rumoured to be planning a global career while still sitting in the House of Commons for his constituents in Uxbridge.

A source close to the former PM told the Telegraph last night that he will set up a 'marshal plan for Ukraine', raising 'loads of money' from private donors.

Although he does not hold an official role in government, the former PM was appointed to the head of a committee which supports the nation at the Conservative Party Conference last month.

The source added: 'Boris does not need an official role to campaign on Ukraine. He is going to plough his own furrow on this regardless.'

The former PM, who was ultimately brought down by Partygate and allegations he appointed former Chris Pincher as a whip despite being aware of allegations of sexual harassment, visited Ukraine on multiple occasions and appeared to have a good relationship with President Zelensky.

Visits to Ukraine were organised at short notice and in secret to avoid security risks while Johnson was in office.

Zelensky often praised the UK for its staunch support after Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine in February.

President Zelensky (right) and Boris Johnson (left) seemed to have a good relationship and comradery during the three meetings in Ukraine

Mr Johnson is said to be considering ways to help rebuild Ukraine after the conflict has ended

Mr Johnson most recently visited Ukraine on August 24, just weeks before handing leadership of the country over to Liz Truss

After one visit, Mr Johnson even had a street named after him, and he has since been appointed chair of the Conservative Friends of Ukraine organisation.

He is understood to be considering how to help the country rebuild after the conflict ends, as well as launch himself as a quasi-advocate for Ukraine during a visit to the US next month.

There are some fears within the UK that the upcoming US midterm elections could lead to an easing in political steps over the war from President Biden to avoid alienating supporters.

Mr Johnson is expected to make a speech in Washington about Ukraine's plight and is also expected to meet senators to make the case for continued US support in the war against Russia.

Upon beginning his new role as Prime Minister on Tuesday, Rishi Sunak praised Mr Johnson's work and said he hopes he will continue his pursuits on the global stage.

The PM was praised by Zelensky on Tuesday evening after the pair had an 'excellent' conversation about the situation.

The President wrote on Twitter: 'In an excellent conversation with Rishi Sunak we agreed to write a new chapter in Ukrainian-British relations but the story is the same - full support in the face of Russian aggression.

'I appreciate PM's first call to Ukraine. And always grateful for the support of the British people.'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walking with Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who made a surprise visit to Kyiv in support of Ukraine, as it marks 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union (Picture: August 24)

On August 24, less than two weeks before he ceased to be the PM, Mr Johnson visited Kyiv for the third time since the country was invaded.

He called on the international community to stay the course in Ukraine, as it continues to valiantly defend its sovereignty six months on from Putin's brutal and illegal invasion.

He announced a broader package of support, including high-tech drones, and said: 'For the past six months, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine, supporting this sovereign country to defend itself from this barbaric and illegal invader.

'Today's package of support will give the brave and resilient Ukrainian Armed Forces another boost in capability, allowing them to continue to push back Russian forces and fight for their freedom.

'What happens in Ukraine matters to us all, which is why I am here today to deliver the message that the United Kingdom is with you and will be with you for the days and months ahead, and you can and will win.'

Mr Johnson set up the Office of Boris Johnson to run his affairs earlier this month.

It is expected to be part-funded by an annual allowance of public money to support the work of former prime ministers, currently around 115,000 per year.

The private limited company will not undertake commercial work.
Library staff were stunned when a book was returned84 years and two weeks late.

Paddy Riordan discovered the tome amongst his grandfather's belongings and promptly brought it back.

And the joker even worked out the fine and brought that with him too - a mere 18.27.

Captain William Harrison borrowed the book - Red Deer by English nature writer Richard Jefferies - at some point in 1938 and should have returned the book by October 11 that year.

However it languished on shelves at his home and remained among his belongings when he died in 1957.

His daughter Anne died recently, yet still the book did not get returned.

Paddy Riordan, pictured, returned a copy of a book borrowed from a library in Coventry by his grandfather in 1938 - some 84 years late

The book was borrowed from the Earlsdon Branch of the City of Coventry public library and was due to be returned on October 11, 1938

Mr Riordan calculated the fine his grandfather was due to pay and donated 18.27 to the library - as well as returning the historic book

However his grandson Paddy recently discovered it - and felt compelled to take it back to Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library in Earlsdon, Coventry.

A staff member at the branch posted on Facebook: 'Here's something you don't see every day... a copy of Red Deer by Richard Jefferies has been returned to us - a mere 84 years and two weeks overdue!

'Paddy Riordan returned the book to us from his grandfather's collection and kindly donated the fine calculated at the then rate of 1d per week, totalling 18.27 in today's money.

'You can see the photograph of Paddy's grandfather Capt. William Harrison in the images below. How wonderful that the book has finally made its way home!'

In 1938 Britain was about to be plunged back into war.

Tea cost 12p per pound, streaky bacon was 6p a pound and bread 3p a pound.

It was also the year the Holidays with Pay Act created paid annual leave in wage-regulated industries.

Built in 1913 in the traditional Carnegie design, Earlsdon library is a much loved local landmark.

After it was threatened with closure it became a registered charity in September 2018.

As well as a library it is now a community hub and is used for events.

One person who saw the Facebook post said: 'That should go in a display case!'

Another said: 'Love this! Truly a community library.'

One simply said: 'Amazing!'

The Guinness world record for the most overdue library book is held by one returned to Sidney Sussex College.

The catchily-titled Scriptores Rerum Germanicarum Septentrionalium, Vicinorumque Populorum Diversi was borrowed in 1668 by Colonel Robert Walpole, father of PM Sir Robert Walpole, and returned 288 years later.
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.

Judge Thomas Wilson ordered all three to jail while they await sentencing on December 15.

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: Fox and an ally were convicted of conspiracy, two more men pleaded guilty but two others were acquitted.

Jurors in Jackson, Michigan, read and heard violent, antigovernmental screeds as well as support for the 'boogaloo,' a civil war that might be triggered by a shocking abduction.

Paul Bellar (left), 24, Joseph Morrison (center), 28 and Pete Musico (right), 44, were convicted after a scheme to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (pictured): The verdicts 'are further proof that violence and threats have no place in our politics'

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 and you begin to see - wow - there were things that happened that people knew about,' Assistant Attorney General Bill Rollstin told the jury.

'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.

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,' Whitmer said.

Paul Bellar is taken into custody after the verdict in his trial before Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson

Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wilson listens to the verdict against Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico

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 before the Whitmer plot came into focus by late summer 2020; Bellar had left the state.

They also didnt travel with Fox 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.

They couldnt argue entrapment. But defense lawyers 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.'

Pete Musico, top right, and Joseph Morrison, center, are seen in a video display as they react to a guilty verdict as it is read in the courtroom

Whitmer, who is seeking reelection on November 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.

In 2020, Whitmer blamed then-President Donald Trump for stoking mistrust and fomenting anger over coronavirus restrictions and refusing to condemn hate groups and extremists like those charged in Michigan. Protesters, including many displaying guns, filled the state Capitol that year and blocked traffic during a series of stormy demonstrations.

Whitmer extended the criticism to her election opponent, Tudor Dixon, telling The Associated Press hours after the Jackson trial that the Republican candidate is 'part of the problem.'

'She has made light of a plot to kidnap and assassinate me. Shes made light of other threats to me and my family,' Whitmer said Wednesday.

The governor was referring to Dixon's remarks in September when she told supporters that Whitmer was 'good at taking business hostage and holding it for ransom.'

Dixon's reaction to the verdicts was more muted: She said she's 'glad justice has been served.'
Supporters of former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn provided funds to pay off a huge legal bill that arose from a libel case, it has been revealed.

Their donations paid off eye-watering lawyers' 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.

Corbyns backers sent the cash to JBC Defence Ltd.

The company was established to pay Corbyn'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, explained one of its directors.

Earlier this month, Corbyn was spotted among the crowds at King's Cross Station supporting rail strikers from the RMT.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among the crowds as his Peace and Justice Project group joined the action at King's Cross on October 1 as part of the 'Enough is Enough' campaign

Jeremy Corbyn poses with children at a protest in central London as a girl holds up a sign reading: 'Tories out!'

Corbyn's Peace and Justice Project group joined the action as part of the 'Enough is Enough' campaign, which also saw a demonstration from eco-group Just Stop Oil.

The Islington North MP said: 'Record breaking weather is happening everywhere and everything is too expensive. That's the crisis. You can't separate out the cost of living and climate crises. The whole system, which creates billionaires and starves hundreds of millions, is the crisis. It can't be resolved, it must be overcome and transformed.'

Corbyn, 73, led the Labour Party for nearly five years and was elected by members with over 50 per cent of the vote in September 2015.

He defied expectations in Theresa May's snap General Election in 2017 by stripping the Conservatives of their majority but was badly beaten by Boris Johnson in the 2019 vote - which saw Labour lose 60 seats.

Corbyn stood down as leader of the opposition in May 2020 and was succeeded by Sir Keir Starmer after a selection by members.

Mary Creagh, a former Islington councillor, quit the frontbench when Mr Corbyn was elected as leader

The Islington North MP was suspended from the party in October 2020 after he queried the findings of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission's report into anti-Semitism in Labour during his tenure.

Corbyn described anti-Semitism as 'absolutely abhorrent' but said: 'The scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party, as well as by much of the media.'

Following his suspension over the remark, Corbyn has yet to be readmitted to the Party. Speculation has mounted that he could lose his seat at the next General Election if he chooses to stand as an independent.

Former Labour MP Mary Creagh, who was unseated from her Wakefield constituency in 2019 and is a former Islington councillor, has been tipped as a possible Labour contender for the seat.
Brittany Higgins slammed the justice system as she left the ACT Supreme court

A visibly shaking Brittany Higgins fought back tears outside the ACT Supreme Court as she delivered an emotionally charged speech after the jury in the Bruce Lehrmann trial was discharged.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Thursday morning dismissed the 12 jurors in the former political staffer's trial after a juror was found to have brought prohibited documents into the jury room.

Lehrmann, who has pleaded not guilty to allegedly raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House on a drunk night out in March 2019, will now likely face a retrial early next year.

On Thursday morning, Ms Higgins fought back tears as she gave an emotionally charged speech to reporters outside court where she described the justice system as 'asymmetrical'.

Brittany Higgins fought back tears as she gave an emotional speech outside the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday

Ms Higgins is seen leaving court with members of her legal team after the trial was aborted

'I chose to speak up...to speak up and share my experiences with others,' she said.

'I never fully understood the asymmetry of the criminal justice system, but now I do.'

Ms Higgins said she was required to undergo intense questioning and faced public scrutiny in court, while her alleged rapist was not required to give evidence.

While she was cross-examined at length, Ms Higgins said Lehrmann was 'afforded the choice' of remaining silent, and 'sat with his head down in a notebook'.

'He never faced one question about his story and the criminal charges,' she said.

'I was required to surrender my telephones, my pass words, messages, photos and my data to him.

She claimed: 'My life has been publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see. His was not.'

Ms Higgins said the hearing had been dubbed the 'Higgins trial' in the media over the past few weeks but she 'doesn't blame' publications.

She noted that friends and relatives of the alleged victim in criminal trials are called to the witness stand while the accused has the legal right 'to say absolutely nothing'.

Ms Higgins walks out of court clutching a brown document folder accompanied by her legal team

Ms Higgins said her life had been 'publicly scrutinised for the world to see' during the four-week trial

Ms Higgins presses her hand to her mouth as she delivers an emotional speech outside court

Lehrmann was earlier seen leaving court with his lawyer. He did not speak to the awaiting media scrum as he walked out.

The sensational end to the four-week trial came one what should have been the jury's seventh day of deliberations.

In giving her reasons for the mistrial, Justice McCallum said one of the sheriff's officers had been tidying up as usual after Wednesday's proceedings when they accidentally bumped one of the juror's document folders onto the floor.

When the officer picked it up, they found what was later confirmed to be an academic research paper about sexual assault.

'During the course of the trial, I must have give the jury at least 17 warnings,' she said. 'This is an unexpected and unfortunate outcome in this trial.'

Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Handing down her judgment, Justice McCallum said: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have.

Bruce Lehrmann leaves the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday with his legal team after his trial was aborted

Lehrmann's team guides him as they walk past media waiting outside court

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.

'Can I please convey to you my sincerest gratitude to the hard work you've done in this trial.

'With those remarks, you're discharged and you are free to leave.'

The case is now likely to be re-tried next year, with Justice McCallum flagging the trial will be relisted for February 20, 2023.

Prosecutor Skye Jerome tried to impose bail conditions on Lehrmann not to contact Ms Higgins, her parents, or David Sharaz.

He must also tell police where he is living, and notify them of any residential changes.

Ms Jerome requested he surrender his passport, which defence lawyer Steven Whybrow objected to.

Justice McCallum sided with the defence and granted Lehrmann bail, citing the likelihood the new trial would not commence for around four months.

Brittany Higgins held hands with her boyfriend David Sharaz as she arrived at the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday - not knowing what was about to occur

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra, Thursday, October 27

Rather that confiscating his passport, Justice McCallum ordered he submit any impending international itineraries to police two weeks in advance.

Justice McCallum reminded the court of the importance of ensuring the accused is given a fair trial.

'As I've said in court many times, the accused is just that. He is a person who stands accused and may never be convicted of a criminal offence,' she said.

'The fairness of his trial will be impaired or at risk if people continue to report about this case with the frequency that has been reported in this trial.

'After today, reporting of the matter should fall silent so the accused can have a fair trial and so Ms Higgins can have some respite from the intense glare of the media that has been pervasive throughout this trial.'

Justice McCallum praised the legal personnel for their work during their case, saying they all 'behaved in an exemplary way'.

'Thank you all for the manner in which you have conducted this trial,' she said.
The jury trial was tentatively rescheduled for February 20 next year in Canberra

The first, ominous sign that something wasn't right in the trial of Brittany Higgins' accused rapist dropped into reporters' inboxes at 8.23am on Thursday.

'Court will reconvene at 9.45am today,' the email sent on behalf of Chief Justice Lucy McCallum read.

At no point during the trial had the court resumed earlier than 10am. Something was up.

Had the trial been misreported? Had the Crown's case against Bruce Lehrmann - who Ms Higgins alleged raped her in Parliament House on March 23, 2019 - somehow been jeopardised?

Lehrmann had pleaded not guilty to sexual intercourse without consent, and vehemently denied having any sexual interaction with the former Liberal staffer during 12 explosive days of evidence.

Just two weeks earlier, Justice McCallum warned the media that anyone who defied non-publication orders and jeopardised the trial would find their name enshrined in the first paragraph of her closing remarks.

Needless to say, the mood was tense when she entered the court just after 9.45am on Thursday morning and did not call the eight women and four men of the jury into the room.

Pictured: Former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins making a statement after the trial was aborted

Pictured: Former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann leaving the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra on Thursday

'I have received information there has been potential misconduct with a member of the jury,' she told the court.

Before anyone had time to process what 'misconduct' might entail, Justice McCallum asked all reporters and members of the public to leave the room while she questioned the juror.

When the court was re-opened, she addressed the jury: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issued in the case and that material has enter the jury room which ought not to have.'

The mood was tense when Justice Lucy McCallum (pictured, during a previous case) entered the court just after 9.45am on Thursday

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take.

'I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.'

She thanked them sincerely for their hard work, and urged them not to consider their time as jurors as a 'waste of time'.

It was only on Tuesday, the fifth day of deliberations, that jurors sent the chief justice a note to say they couldn't unanimously agree on a verdict.

However, she gave them what's known as the 'Black Direction'. In other words, she told them to go back into the jury room and try again. They spent the whole of Wednesday deliberating.

The prospect of either a verdict or a hung jury was looming and many believed this week would be the last in the trial. No one could have predicted the trial would end like this - torpedoed by a rogue juror.

Pictured: Brittany Higgins leaving the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra after the trial was aborted on Thursday

During an interview aired to the court, Lehrmann (pictured) told police how he seriously contemplated suicide when he found out he was accused of rape

Inside the courtroom on Thursday, the atmosphere was strained. Words like dumbfounded, shocked and saddened spring to mind.

When the jury was discharged, some members of the public gallery had private moments of distress, before collecting themselves and re-focusing on Justice McCallum's remarks.

The courtroom action of the past 12 days - as Ms Higgins, Lehrmann and other witnesses took the stand - had been, at times, confronting and eye-opening.

There had been tears, blow ups, and deeply personal moments divulged.

During an interview aired to the court, Lehrmann told police how he seriously contemplated suicide when he found out he was accused of rape.

Multiple times he would claim he did not sexually assault Ms Higgins, and that the allegations against him had changed his life.

Lehrmann was told not to contact Ms Higgins, her boyfriend David Sharaz (pictured together), or her parents

Prosecutor Skye Jerome (pictured, left) reminded the court that Lehrmann was still charged with sexual assault when she requested a series of bail restrictions

With the trial aborted, all that evidence - all those tears and turmoil - will have to be heard again at another trial.

Once the jury left the room, Justice McCallum explained that three of the court's sheriff officers were tidying the jury room on Wednesday afternoon when one accidentally bumped one of the juror's documents folders onto the floor.

The officer picked it up and saw the title page of an academic research paper about the prevalence of false sexual assault reports.

The accidental find presented a large issue because jurors were instructed not to look at any evidence that was not given in court, in the presence of the chief justice.

'The juror gave an explanation suggesting the document had not been used or relied upon by any juror,' the chief justice said.

'Under the circumstances, it is appropriate to regard that evidence with some scepticism.'

Defence lawyer Steven Whybrow (pictured, right) made a statement on Lehrmann's behalf on Thursday

'I never fully understood the criminal justice system but I do now,' Ms Higgins (pictured, outside court) said in a statement

Justice McCallum said she gave the jury 'at least 17 warnings' during the course of the trial not to find their own evidence.

She continually instructed them to abstain from social media, stop reading the news, and shut down any conversations about the trial with anyone who was not on the jury.

While Lehrmann remained largely expressionless throughout Justice McCallum's remarks on Thursday morning, members of the prosecution and the defence appeared downtrodden.

Prosecutor Skye Jerome, perhaps unintentionally, reminded everyone that Lehrmann was still charged with sexual intercourse without consent when she requested a series of bail restrictions.

He was told not to contact Ms Higgins, her boyfriend David Sharaz, or her parents, and was allowed to keep his passport but must tell police if he intends to go overseas before February 20 next year, when the new trial date is scheduled for.

Ms Higgins, Lehrmann (pictured) and a range of other witnesses took the stand during the trial

Ms HIggins' credibility and truthfulness were continually questioned during Steven Whybrow's closing arguments in court last week (pictured, Mr Whybrow on Thursday)

At about 10.25am, Justice McCallum left the court and the trial that captured the nation's attention was over.

Ms Higgins was not in the courtroom at the time.

Lehrmann was the first to face the barrage of cameras, microphones and reporters waiting outside the court at 11am.

His expression was unchanged, and he did not speak.

Instead, defence lawyer Steven Whybrow made a statement on his behalf: 'We're disappointed by what happened but it would be inappropriate and irresponsible to say anything at this stage.'

Ms Higgins faced the same media circus 10 minutes later.

Unlike Lehrmann, she had tears in her eyes and her voice trembled as she delivered a pre-prepared speech - launching into a scathing speech on live TV.

'I never fully understood the criminal justice system but I do now. I was required to tell the truth under oath for over a week in the witness stand, I was cross-examined at length,' she said.

'My life has been publicly scrutinised, open for the world to see.'

Through tears, Ms Higgins (pictured on Thursday) repeatedly told the court that Mr Whybrow's statements were incorrect

The case was colloquially dubbed 'The Higgins Trial', but Ms Higgins (pictured on Thursday) was never on trial

Just hours after her impassioned speech was broadcast all over Australia, Lehrmann's defence lawyer announced police had been contacted on the basis that what she said could impact his right to a fair trial.

He would not speculate as to whether Ms Higgins could face charges for contempt of court.

The case was colloquially dubbed 'The Higgins Trial', but Ms Higgins was never on trial. Her function was to give evidence and help the public prosecutor in their bid to prove Lehrmann's guilt.

Her credibility and truthfulness were continually questioned during Mr Whybrow's closing arguments in court last week.

He made a veiled statement about 'con-artists', before he suggested Ms Higgins had told her 'fabricated' story so many times she believed it to be true.

Through her tears, Ms Higgins repeatedly told the court that Mr Whybrow's statements were incorrect.

Both Ms Higgins and Lehrmann face the prospect of going through it all over again in a retrial on February 20 next year.
Railway fines for fare dodgers are set to rise from 20 to 100 in the New Year as the Government promises a long-awaited crackdown.

It is estimate passengers who avoid paying fares cost the taxpayer around 240million each year.

The new minimum fine amounts will come into effect in January, after new legislation was successfully passed in Parliament yesterday, The Telegraph reports.

The increase is the first time fares have been raised since 2005 and will apply to all rail services in England.

It will place the penalties in step with those of Transport for London and Manchester's Metrolink, which hand out minimum charges of 80 and 100.

Strikes are planned by TSSA members working for Avanti West Coast on November 3 and 5 but action on November 3 is expected to be postponed

The rail industry's financial system was transformed with the end of franchising in May 2021. Fares were previously collected by train operators, out of which a fee was passed to the Government.

Now, fares are paid directly to the Treasury, while fixed payments are handed to train companies to run services.

Critics say this means fare evasions directly impact public finances, rather than those of privately-owned railway companies.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: 'We need penalty fares to act as a proper deterrent, and we are putting in place a modern system that will help create a more sustainable railway.'

The new law comes as the department attempts to come up with 2billion in savings, with working from home cited as a major dint in the industry's profits.

The RMT said it will continue its industrial campaign until it reaches a negotiated settlement on job security, pay and working conditions. Pictured: An empty platform at Paddington during RMT strikes on October 8

Passengers are understood to be travelling less frequently and less often during rush hour, despite a 97 per cent return to pre-pandemic levels.

Those travelling at off-peak hours often pay just half the price of those travelling at rush hour, leading to a further financial blow.

The industry has also been blighted by a season of discontent. The RMT union has postponed rail strikes on November 3 as it fell on the Royal British Legion's Poppy Day but has confirmed passengers will face disruption on November 9 instead in a long running dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) boss Mick Lynch urged new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to 'unshackle the rail industry' so a deal can be reached as it was confirmed its members in Network Rail will strike on November 5, 7 and 9.

RMT members at a number of train operating companies will take action on November 5.

In separate disputes, London Underground and Overground (Arriva Rail London) members will strike on November 10.

The RMT union said that having been made aware of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Day on November 3, its executive has decided to re-arrange strike action for the 9th.

The Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), who had action planned for November 3, has also told MailOnline they expect to follow suit.
Discrediting Rosendorff's testimony is an attempt by her team to get a new trial

Elizabeth Holmes, founder of disgraced blood-testing startup Theranos, has asked a court to examine the mental wellbeing of a whistle-blower that gave evidence against her.

Holmes, 38, and her legal team are trying to suggest that former Theranos lab director Dr. Adam Rosendorff, who made a visit to her home after she was found guilty of defrauding investors, is regretful over previous trial testimony.

She argued on Monday to a District Court in San Jose that an August visit from Rosendorff provided reason for Judge Edward Davila to doubt the witnesses' wellbeing and the legitimacy of the guilty verdict handed to her.

Her legal team is also introducing doubt regarding the mental wellbeing of Rosendorff by referring to an interview he gave to a South African Jewish publication in which he spoke about 'mental breakdowns' and 'medication'.

This exercise by her team is intended to get her a new trial. It comes just a week after a key prosecution witness told the court that Holmes is pregnant with her second child.

As it stands now she is due to be sentenced on November 18 and expected to receive years in prison for crimes which cost investors in her notorious health company $144million.

Elizabeth Holmes (left), founder of Theranos, and her partner Billy Evans (right) leave the Robert F. Peckham Federal Building and US Courthouse in San Jose, California

Dr. Adam Rosendorff, former Theranos lab director, says his 'mental state was solid' when he visited Holmes's home in August

She was found guilty in January on four out of 11 counts, and is currently free on $500,000 bond pending the mother-of-one's sentencing.

Despite these attempts by Holmes to undermine the original testimony of Rosendorff, he said during a special hearing last week that he stood by his statements made at her trial, reported the Mercury News.

He said his 'mental state was solid' on the day he visited her home in August.

Court documents previously said Rosendorff told Holmes 'he tried to answer the questions honestly at Ms. Holmes' trial, but the government tried to make everyone look bad.'

At the time of her trial he explained his decision to blow the whistle by saying he felt 'obligated from a moral and ethical perspective to alert the public' about the inaccuracy of Theranos test results.

In the recent interview that Holmes's legal team are trying to use to question Rosendorff's mental wellbeing, he said: 'I was only really able to come off medication when trials were scheduled in early 2020.'

In the interview with the South African Jewish publication he discussed how blowing the whistle resulted in 'breakdown, medication, hospitalization, and health problems'.

When these issues were put to Rosendorff by Holmes's lawyer Lance Wade, he declined to answer certain questions said that he found the 'line of questioning to be invasive.'

'I dont believe any health issues influenced the truth of my interactions with the government,' he added.

Judge Davila did uphold objections made to this line of examination by federal prosecutor John Bostic.

A court filing made on Monday by Holmes's attorneys suggested that they would file a motion to the court that would compel Rosendorff to address questions he previously refused to answer regarding his mental health.

Rosendorff joined Theranos in April 2013 as a lab director, and told jurors that he left in November 2014 over misgivings about the company's priorities, according to CNN Business.

During the trial, Rosendorff testified: 'I felt pressured to vouch for tests that I did not have confidence in. I came to believe that the company believed more about PR and fundraising than about patient care.'

Holmes was convicted of duping investors in her $9 billion startup Theranos, which made wild claims to have revolutionized medical testing while relying on existing technology from other vendors.

During the trial, Rosendorff testified he felt it was necessary to raise 'the alarm bells' and added he felt 'it was important for Elizabeth to be aware of these issues as the chief executive of the company.'

Holmes was handed a guilty verdict earlier this year and is due to be sentenced for defrauding investors in her blood-testing startup Theranos

At trial, Holmes's lawyers claimed she was the innocent pawn of her manipulative and abusive lover and business partner Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani, claims that he fervently denied.

In July, Balwani was found guilty on all 12 felony counts of defrauding both Theranos investors and the patients who relied on the company's wildly unreliable blood tests that could have jeopardized their health.

Holmes is a rare example of a tech exec being brought to book over a company flaming out, in a sector littered with the carcasses of money-losing businesses that once promised untold riches.

Her case shone a spotlight on the blurred line between the hustle that characterizes the industry and outright criminal dishonesty.

Holmes had vowed to revolutionize health diagnostics with self-service machines that could run an array of tests on just a few drops of blood, a vision that drew high-profile backers and made her a billionaire on paper by the age of 30.

She was hailed as the next tech visionary on magazine covers and collected mountains of investors' cash, but it all collapsed after Wall Street Journal reporting revealed the machines did not work as promised.

Jurors found her guilty of four counts of tricking investors.

But the jury also acquitted her on four charges and could not reach a verdict on three others.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain violated the Hatch Act on Twitter, but was let off with a warning to not be a repeat offender.

Klain violated the law restricting certain officials of engaging in some political activities by retweeting a message urging people to purchase 'Democrats Deliver' merchandise, according to a document obtained by The New York Post.

The complaint was made by pro-Trump group America First Legal Foundation.

In a letter dated Wednesday, Ana Galindo-Marrone, chief of the Hatch Act Unit at the Office of Special Counsel, explained the infraction and their decision to not discipline him.

'Although OSC has concluded that Mr. Klain violated the Hatch Act, as explained below, we have decided not to pursue disciplinary action and instead issued him a warning letter,' Galindo-Marrone wrote.

Last year, a government ethics watchdog group filed a complaint against then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, claiming she violated the Hatch Act when she talked up former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe from the White House podium.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain violated the Hatch Act by retweeting a message urging people to purchase 'Democrats Deliver' merchandise, but was let off with a warning

Ana Galindo-Marrone, chief of the Hatch Act Unit at the Office of Special Counsel, said they decided not to pursue disciplinary action and instead issued Klain a warning

Now, Klain is under fire for his Twitter usage, specifically a tweet he retweeted, according to the letter.

Galindo-Marrone wrote that Klain 'retweeted a May 22, 2022 message from Strike PAC (@StrikePAC) from his official Twitter account (@WHCOS).

The tweet read, 'Operation Fly Formula delivers 70,000 pounds of infant formula for American mothers and their infants. Thank you @POTUS.'

It continued, 'Get your Democrats Deliver merch today!' and included a link to Strike PAC's online store and an image of the group's 'Democrats Deliver' tshirt.'

According to the Strike PAC, it 'is a partisan political group' that 'supports campaign finance reform and will help elect Democrats who support these vital policies.'

It also has a 'nationalized strategy' aimed at promoting the Democratic Party by 'tell[ing] stories of how Democrats deliver on their promises to improve the lives of voters,' according to the OSC letter.

In the letter, Galindo-Marrone wrote that Klain violated the Hatch Act's 'official authority prohibition' and also its 'solicitation prohibition.'

'Strike PAC's message thanking President Biden served to further the group's nationalized strategy of promoting Democrats as the party that delivers on its promises to voters. By retweeting this message, Mr. Klain used his official Twitter account to promote a partisan political group's interests and, therefore, OSC has concluded that he violated the Hatch Act's use of official authority prohibition.'

'In addition, Strike PAC's tweet constituted a solicitation for political contributions because it encouraged others to buy the group's merchandise. A political contribution is defined as any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value, made for any political purpose (i.e., to promote or oppose a partisan political group),' Galindo-Marrone continued.

'The sale of Strike PAC's merchandise supports the group's objective of electing Democrats, and so the purchase price is a political contribution for purposes of the Hatch Act. Thus, Strike PAC's tweet solicited political contributions, and because Mr. Klain retweeted this message, he also violated the Hatch Act's solicitation prohibition.'

'Strike PAC's tweet solicited political contributions, and because Mr. Klain retweeted this message, he also violated the Hatch Act's solicitation prohibition,' the OSC said

The complaint against Klain was made by pro-Trump group America First Legal Foundation

OSC found that Klain violated the Hatch Act, but wrote in the letter that they will not pursue disciplinary action.

'We understand that he promptly removed the retweet upon being notified of this complaint. Accordingly, we have decided not to pursue disciplinary action and will close this matter.'

'Mr. Klain has been warned that if in the future he engages in activity prohibited by the Hatch Act while employed in a covered position, OSC would consider such activity to be a willful and knowing violation of the law that could result in disciplinary action,' she concluded.

Last year, the Office of Special Counsel found that members of the Trump administration - at least 13 - repeatedly violated the Hatch Act, including White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.




KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung / Korea Times file
A man who was found guilty of the murder of a Google executive while she was out jogging near her mother's Massachusetts home has been sentenced to life in prison.

Angelo Colon-Ortiz, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and unarmed robbery charges in connection with the 2016 murder of Vanessa Marcotte.

Worcester Counter District Attorney Joseph Early said Marcotte's family opted to accept Colon-Ortiz's plea to avoid listening to details of Vanessa's death.

'We know nothing can bring Vanessa back, but we know, through the meticulous work of the prosecutors and investigators involved, justice will be served, and the plea allows Vanessa's family to move on from this tragedy,' Early said in a statement.

Marcotte, 26, was found dead in the woods near her mother's home. Her body was burnt and had signs of being sexually assaulted. She was reported missing after she failed to return after going for a run on August 7, 2016.

Colon-Ortiz, who was initially arrested in 2017, had been held on a $10 million bond before his life sentence.

Angelo Colon-Ortiz (middle, wearing headphones for Spanish translation), 36, pleaded guilty to charges in the 2016 murder of Vanessa Marcotte. He was sentenced to life in prison

Marcotte (pictured), 26, was reported missing and later found dead by her mother's home in Princeton, Massachusetts

Colon-Ortiz was initially charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with attempt to rape

The Marcotte family listens to court proceedings as Colon-Ortiz was sentenced to life in prison

The victim, a graduate of Boston University, worked as a Google executive in New York City before visiting her family in Princeton, Massachusetts.

Police received more than 1,300 tips for her death and disappearance before they were notified of an SUV that was spotted by where her body was found.

A license plate number associated with that vehicle was then tied to Colon-Ortiz.

After connecting his vehicle to the location, investigators then discovered his DNA from evidence collected at the crime scene.

Colon-Ortiz was initially charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with attempt to rape.

Through the investigation into the killer, police discovered he was a Puerto Rico native and worked at FedEx.

The victim, a graduate of Boston University, previously worked as a Google executive in New York City before visiting her family in Princeton, Massachusetts

Her family then established the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, which trains women in self-defense and teaches about jogger safety, violence prevention and healthy relationships

Marcotte was found dead in the woods near her mother's home (pictured) in Princeton, Massachusetts

Early said that Colon-Ortiz was working near where Marcotte was killed on the day of her brutal death. He has no criminal history.

That February, Early said they had made a DNA breakthrough in the case, and revealed that they were seeking a Hispanic man of average height.

The suspect was also likely to have had scratches or cuts on his face, neck, hands and arms that day, police said.

They added that they believed him to be the same man seen driving a dark colored SUV in the area around the time that the young jogger was killed.

Police have not revealed how they acquired the DNA, saying only that they got it during the course of their investigation, and that it was on Marcotte's hands.

Marcotte was found in the woods and had been sexually assaulted, and her hands, feet and part of her head were burned.

Investigators search the wooded area where Marcotte's body was found last year. The Google executive was murdered while out for a jog

State police received over 1,300 tips in connection with the case after the DNA profile was built. They also linked a SUV spotted near the scene to the killing

Marcotte vanished on an afternoon run while on a visit to the home her mom Rosanna. Investigators are seen combing through the scene

The funeral procession for Vanessa Marcotte approaches Our Lady of the Lakes church, in Leominster, Massachusetts

In a statement following the arrest, Marcotte's family said: 'After eight long months, we're able to take the first step toward justice for Vanessa.

'She was a beautiful, intelligent, and generous young woman whose passion for giving back to the community will always be remembered.'

Her family then established the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, which trains women in self-defense and teaches about jogger safety, violence prevention and healthy relationships.

Through Colon-Ortiz's sentencing, the family thanked prosecutors in their effort to remember Vanessa.

'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 can't 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 GoFundMe set up by their older sister to support the girls has raised $30,000

Olivia sustained second degree burns while Jesse was put in an induced coma

Olivia, 23, and Jesse Jones, 21, were set alight when the can of fuel caught fire

Two sisters sustained serious burns after a jerry can put on a campfire exploded

Two sisters have suffered serious burns to their bodies after a can of fuel that was being poured on a campfire exploded, setting both girls on fire.

Olivia Jones, 23, and Jesse Jones, 21, were around three metres away from the fire at a sheep shearing shed in Telopea Downs, in western Victoria, on October 17 when the jerry can caught fire.

The flames instantly set them alight, engulfing the sisters in a ball of fire.

They were airlifted to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and treated for multiple burns.

Olivia sustained second-degree burns to her face, hands, shoulders and back.

Her younger sister Jesse, was put in an induced coma as her airways were so badly burnt and swollen.

She underwent surgery to fit skin grafts to her chest, shoulder, under her arm and both her hands.

Olivia Jones, 23, and Jesse Jones, 21, were approximately three metres away from a fire at a sheep shearing shed in Telopea Downs on October 17 when a jerry can caught fire setting them alight

The jerry can being used to stoke the fire exploded, with the flames engulfing the sisters (stock image)

Olivia was discharged from hospital last Thursday with Jesse remaining at a burns unit for the next two weeks.

The girls' older sister Maddison created a GoFundMe page for their ongoing medical costs, with the page already raising more than $30,000.

'Im starting this page to try take a bit of the pressure off both girls, as well as Livs daughters, Winslow and Molly, so they do not have to worry about anything else than themselves and their health right now,' the page read.

'Im asking if anyone is feeling generous to help them out- Doesnt matter how big or small. Anything will help at the moment. Especially seen as both will not be returning to work for quite some time.'

Jesse told the Herald Sun she felt lucky to be alive after hearing her hair crackling and revealing she could taste fuel in her mouth.

A GoFundMe page set up for their ongoing medical costs has raised more than $30,000 as Olivia sustained second-degree burns to her face, hands, shoulders and back and Jesse had skin grafts fitted to her chest, shoulder, under her arm and both her hands

She remembered crying in the shower as she felt her 'rubbery and wrinkly' skin.

Jesse also said when she looked down at the skin on her hands it looked as if it was melting off.

'I will never, ever, forget the feeling of my face and head in flames ... I couldn't breathe,' she said.

'I was yelling and screaming but I don't remember what I was saying, I just remember in that very moment thinking 'I'm going to die'.

Her hands were left in such a state they were bandaged and blistered to the point she was unable to use cutlery and her eyes had swollen shut.

The sisters were told to avoid the sun for the next two years because they are at risk of permanent skin damage if they get sunburnt.
Bruce Lehrmann's legal team have referred Brittany Higgins to police over whether her emotional speech outside court was in contempt in court.

Ms Higgins spoke to reporters outside the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday morning after the jury was discharged because a juror brought a prohibited document into their meeting room.

Despite being broadcast on live TV, much of Ms Higgins' speech could not be published in print for legal reasons.

In a statement, Mr Lehrmann's defence barrister Steve Whybrow confirmed he had referred the matter to the Federal Police and Chief Justice Lucy McCallum.

'When we left court this morning, I indicated to the gathered media that given this matter was ongoing and a date of 20 February 2023 had been fixed for any retrial, it would be both inappropriate and irresponsible to make any further comment at this stage,' he said.

Ms Higgins is seen leaving court with members of her legal team after the trial was aborted

Brittany Higgins fought back tears as she gave an emotional speech outside the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday. The same speech has now seen her referred to police

'I understand the complainant and other members of her support team were all seated in court this morning when the Chief Justice discharged the jury and made strong comments about people making statements or comments that could prejudice a fair trial.

'Notwithstanding Her Honour's admonition, the complainant proceeded to give what appears to have been a pre-prepared speech to the media outside the court.

'We have brought these comments to the attention of the Court and the Australian Federal Police, and it is not appropriate for Mr Lehrmann or his lawyers to make any comment as to whether the complainant's statements might amount to a contempt of court or offences against the ACT Criminal Code.

'I urge all media to show restraint in reporting this matter and in particular in republishing the statements made by the complainant.

Mr Whybrow said neither Mr Lehrmann nor his lawyers will be making any further comment on the matter at this stage.

Daily Mail Australia has sought comment from the Federal Police.

Mr Lehrmann's team guides him as they walk past media waiting outside court

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum on Thursday announced the trial had been abandoned after three-and-a-half weeks, after a cleaner found an academic research report on sexual assault in the jury room.

A date has been fixed for Lehrmann to face a retrial early next year. He has pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.

Fighting back tears, Ms Higgins gave an emotionally charged speech to reporters outside court where she criticised the justice system.

'I chose to speak up...to speak up and share my experiences with others,' she said, before recounting a version of events about her experience in the courtroom.

Bruce Lehrmann leaves the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday with his legal team after his trial was aborted

Mr Lehrmann was earlier seen leaving court with his lawyer. He did not speak to the awaiting media scrum as he walked out.

The sensational end to the four-week trial came one what should have been the jury's seventh day of deliberations.

In giving her reasons for the mistrial, Justice McCallum said one of the court's sheriff's officers had been tidying up as usual after Wednesday's proceedings when they accidentally bumped one of the juror's document folders onto the floor.

When the officer picked it up, they found what was later confirmed to be an academic research paper about sexual assault.

Mr Lehrmann's legal team have confirmed they are seeking advice as to whether Ms Higgins' speech was in contempt of the court

Handing down her judgment, Justice McCallum said: 'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have.

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.

'Can I please convey to you my sincerest gratitude to the hard work you've done in this trial.

'With those remarks, you're discharged and you are free to leave.'

Justice McCallum described the outcome as 'unexpected and unfortunate' and said she gave the just 'at least 17 warnings' about the requirements during the proceedings.

Brittany Higgins held hands with her boyfriend David Sharaz as she arrived at the ACT Supreme Court on Thursday - not knowing what was about to occur

The case is now likely to be re-tried next year, with Justice McCallum flagging the trial will be relisted for February 20, 2023.

Prosecutor Skye Jerome tried to impose bail conditions on Mr Lehrmann not to contact Ms Higgins, her parents, or David Sharaz.

He must also tell police where he is living, and notify them of any residential changes.

Ms Jerome requested he surrender his passport, which defence lawyer Steven Whybrow objected to.

Bruce Lehrmann arrives at the ACT Supreme Court in Canberra, Thursday, October 27

Justice McCallum sided with the defence and granted Mr Lehrmann bail, citing the likelihood the new trial would not commence for around four months.

Rather that confiscating his passport, Justice McCallum ordered he submit any impending international itineraries to police two weeks in advance.

Justice McCallum reminded the court of the importance of ensuring the accused is given a fair trial.

'As I've said in court many times, the accused is just that. He is a person who stands accused and may never be convicted of a criminal offence,' she said.

'The fairness of his trial will be impaired or at risk if people continue to report about this case with the frequency that has been reported in this trial.

'After today, reporting of the matter should fall silent so the accused can have a fair trial and so Ms Higgins can have some respite from the intense glare of the media that has been pervasive throughout this trial.'

Justice McCallum praised the legal personnel for their work during their case, saying they all 'behaved in an exemplary way'.

'Thank you all for the manner in which you have conducted this trial,' she said.
Thousands of Aussies in flood affected areas have noticed animals frantically fleeing the water in a sign a major fish kill could be on the way.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority warned on Monday that widespread blackwater events, fish kills and blue-green algae outbreaks could be on the way due to high levels of floodwater entering the system.

A 'blackwater' event is when there is a sudden depletion in dissolved oxygen in the water, usually after flooding washing organic material into rivers.

Murray cod, native to the Murray River, has exploded in popularity in recent years with fine dining restaurants across Australia buying up the fish at rates never seen before to put it on their menu.

Photos from the Murray River showed hundreds of crayfish escaping the water and clinging to the banks.

Animals fleeing the water is one of the first signs a major event is on the way.

Massive Murray crayfish (above) have been seen leaving the water in flooded areas of the Murray-Darling Basin

OzFish Unlimited engagement and culture director Renee Ferenc said blackwater events around Victorian rivers were sucking up oxygen levels and a dire impact on animals was not far off.

She explained that while blackwater events can be a good thing in small doses, the latest event has put too much pressure on the system.

'Youve got all of this organic material in the waterway that starts to decompose,' she said.

'As the bacterial activity increases it uses up the oxygen in the water and you end up with deoxygenation of the floodwater.

'Hypoxic blackwater events can happen quickly, and are usually short-lived, but they can have a very harmful impact on the waterway during that time.'

The crayfish have been spotted along the shores of affected rivers, hiding on trees and logs and sitting in low-lying water

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has issued widespread warnings for blackwater events, fish kills and blue-green algae outbreaks (pictured, the MDBA's warning map)

Ms Ferenc said volunteer rescue teams were racing to rescue already at-risk populations of Murray crayfish that have been spotted hiding on river banks.

The crayfish would be moved to holding tanks provided by the NSW Government and reintroduced back to the basin once the event had passed.

Colonies of Murray River Shrimp (above) have also been spotted fleeing the low-oxygen water in blackwater affected areas

The massive floods in Victoria and New South Wales have seen too much organic waste enter the Murray-Darling Basin and depleted oxygen levels (pictured, flooding in Echuca)

'Murray crayfish are one of the native species that are vulnerable to hypoxic blackwater events,' she said.

'Essentially, there isnt enough dissolved oxygen in the water for them to survive so they exit onto the riverbank or climb onto trees and logs to escape.

'Theyll stay there until the blackwater event passes and return to the river if they survive but sadly the majority of them dont make it.

'They are slow growing and can take up to nine years to reach breeding maturity, so the loss of any juveniles is going to reduce the future breeding potential.'

She added volunteers will leave fish in the water for now as they are still able to swim to parts of the basin that aren't affected by hypoxic blackwater.

Ms Ferenc urged people who see crayfish out of the water to leave them be and report the sighting to authorities.

The crayfish have been seen fleeing the water because they are unable to breathe in the low-oxygen blackwater event

Volunteer teams are rescuing the deserted crayfish and putting them in holding tanks until they can be reintroduced to the Murray

'Dont pick them up or interact with them, as theyre already distressed,' she said.

'I know its upsetting to see them out of the water but OzFish has Fish Emergency Recovery Teams currently working to rescue as many crays as possible.'

OzFish Unlimited was unable to confirm reports of fish kills in the mid Murray but warned it was likely they would be on the way.

If you have seen a fish kill in the Murray, please report to either the NSW Department of Primary Industries at 1800 043 536 or Environment Protection Authority Victoria at 1300 372 842.
Brittany Higgins has tearfully thanked the people who 'rallied behind' her during her alleged rapist's aborted trial in an emotional speech.

The former political staffer lavished praise on one person in particular - her lawyer, Leon Zwier - on Thursday, after the jury in the trial of her accused rapist, Bruce Lehrmann, was discharged over juror misconduct.

'I want to thank the other women who came forward and shared their own experiences. I believe you,' she said through tears.

'You walked with me everyday in the courtroom and faced them.

'I want to thank the people of Australia who have rallied behind me, those who chose to attend the March for Justice and I want to thank the workers and Canberra's healthcare system without whom I literally wouldn't be here today.

'Again, thank you to the DPP, my family, my friends, my mum, Heidi Yates, the ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner, Leon Zwier - who I have stolen from his family for a really long time - Ann Webster and my partner, David.

'Thank you to the court and its officers who treated me with such care and respect.'

Brittany Higgins has tearfully thanked the people who 'rallied behind' her during the aborted trial against her alleged rapist in an emotional speech outside court (pictured)

The ACT Supreme Court jury was sensationally discharged shortly after 10am on Thursday morning after one of 12 jurors brought an academic research paper about sexual assaults into their meeting room.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum summoned the jurors to question one of them about the research paper that had been found in their room by a court sheriff's officer.

The court was told the juror's document related to the 'unhelpfulness of trying to quantify' the prevalence of false sexual assault complaints.

Justice McCallum said it was an 'unfortunate' outcome, and signalled the trial of former Liberal party staffer Bruce Lehrmann will be re-run in February 2023.

'It has come to my attention that one of you has undertaken research in relation to issues in the case and that material has entered the jury room which ought not to have,' she told the court.

'I have heard an explanation and it may be that no harm has been done but that is not a risk I can take. I have discharged that juror and I have to discharge you all.'

Ms Higgins fronted reporters flanked by her supporters on Thursday after the trial against her accused attacker, former Liberal Party staffer Bruce Lehrmann was abandoned

She appeared in Canberra for the first time since giving evidence and fronted reporters outside the ACT Supreme Court flanked by her lawyers.

Ms Higgins fought back tears as she delivered a statement, her hands shaking, as she said for several weeks her life had been 'publicly scrutinised'.

'I chose to speak up... and share my experiences with others,' she said.

'I never fully understood (the) criminal justice system but I do now.

'I was required to tell the truth under oath for over a week in the witness stand, I was cross-examined at length.

Ms Higgins fought back tears as she delivered the statement, her hands shaking, saying for several weeks her life had been 'publicly scrutinised'

Bruce Lehrmann was swarmed by reporters as he left court on Thursday morning and appeared expressionless after hearing news the case would be abandoned

'He (Lehrmann) was afforded the choice of staying silent in court, head down in a notebook.

'He never faced one question in court about his story and the criminal charges.

Meanwhile, Lehrmann's legal team are seeking 'urgent' advice from police over whether Ms Higgin's emotional speech outside court was contempt in court.

Ms Higgins held hands with boyfriend David Sharaz as she arrived at court just hours before the case of her alleged rapist was dismissed after a juror brought 'research material' into court

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum has flagged the case will be relisted on February 20, 2023

In a statement, Lehrmann's defence barrister Steve Whybrow confirmed he had referred the matter to police.

'When we left court this morning, I indicated to the gathered media that given this matter was ongoing and a date of 20 February 2023 had been fixed for any retrial, it would be both inappropriate and irresponsible to make any further comment at this stage,' the statement said.

'I understand the complainant and other members of her support team were all seated in court this morning when the Chief Justice discharged the jury and made strong comments about people making statements or comments that could prejudice a fair trial.

'Notwithstanding Her Honour's admonition, the complainant proceeded to give what appears to have been a pre-prepared speech to the media outside the Court.

'We have brought these comments to the attention of the Court and the Australian Federal Police, and it is not appropriate for Mr Lehrmann or his lawyers to make any comment as to whether the complainant's statements might amount to a contempt of court or offences against the ACT Criminal Code.'
An indigenous marriage celebrant wants a 'racist' statue of Australia's first prime minister removed from a regional town's waterfront because it is 'offensive'.

Arlene Mehan is behind a push to have Sir Edmund Barton's statue uninstalled from Port Macquarie's waterfront Town Green Park.

Although Ms Mehan has pushed to have it taken down for several years, not everyone agrees and the statue's exit isn't assured.

Arlene Mehan is behind a push to have Sir Edmund Barton's statue uninstalled from Port Macquarie's waterfront Town Green Park

The statue was only erected in 2001 as the focus of a local project about Australia's first prime minister, Edmund Barton

It was only put up in 2001 as the focus of a local project about Barton.

His statue is the latest monument to a significant historical figure to be earmarked for removal in recent years because of past 'racist' actions.

Barton, prime minister from 1901 to 1903, is widely accepted to have been a key architect of the White Australia policy.

Barton, prime minister from 1901 to 1903, is widely accepted to have been a key architect of the White Australia policy

He also said publicly that he believed white people were superior and there was no such thing as 'racial equality'.

'[Other] races are, in comparison with white races  I think no-one wants convincing of this fact  unequal and inferior,' Barton once famously said.

Ms Mehan claims the presence of the monument in the park is confronting for local indigenous people.

'It is offensive to glorify this man who represents racist ideologies on this sacred site.

'Edmund Barton was explicitly racist,' she said.

Town Green was a burial ground for the local Birpai Indigenous people before colonisation.

Other options aside from removal have been proposed to the local Port Macquarie-Hastings council, including placing an educational signage explaining more about Barton's views.

If the statue is removed it could be placed outside the Port Macquarie Local Court as Barton became a High Court judge after his term as prime minister.

The statue of William Crowther, who removed the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne in 1869 and sent it to London nine years before he became Tasmania's premier, is set to be torn down

Indigenous journalist Narelda Jacobs has weighed in on the debate about the removal of 'racist' historical statues

Ms Mehan gathered 4,383 signatures in a petition to have Barton's statue removed in 2020 and presented it to the Port Macquarie-Hastings council.

She also campaigned against a statue of the fifth governor of NSW, Lachlan Macquarie, whom the town is named after.

Macquarie is believed to have issued orders that led to the massacre of 14 Aboriginal people at Appin in 1816.

In August the statue of former Tasmanian premier William Crowther was set to be torn down.

Crowther removed the skull of Aboriginal man William Lanne in 1869 and sent it to London nine years before he became premier.

The removal of the sculpture from Franklin Square, in Hobart's CBD, will cost around $20,000 but there are also plans to move it somewhere else.

Crowther is also is believed to have exhumed the remains of other Aboriginal Tasmanians including a seven-year-old girl named Mathinna.

In August Indigenous journalist Narelda Jacobs weighed in on the debate about the removal of 'racist' historical statues on The Project.

'Who is that person and who is more worthy of being there?' she said about Crowther.

The Project co-host Steve Price argued everyday Aussies are happy to have historical figures honoured with statues and do not want to see history 'erased'.

There has also been interest from indigenous groups to remove status of Captain James Cook, the first European to map New Zealand and to encounter Australia's east coast.

Another that has come in focus is the statue of British businessman Robert Towns, whom Townsville is named after.

Towns is believed to have been involved in the exploitation of Pacific Island labourers in the 19th Century which some believe included kidnappings and forced labour.

A counter view has been that colonial statues should remain - no matter how the subject is viewed now - so they can lead to debates about history and reminders of atrocities.

Daily Mail Australia approached Port Macquarie-Hastings council for comment.
A private school has been rocked by allegations from a pupil that he was held down and sexually assaulted by other students at a school camp.

Mueller College in the Brisbane suburb of Rothwell is investigating a claim from the boy who said he was 'pinned down' by three boys and assaulted with a broomstick.

The boy, who cannot be named, said the attack happened at the accommodation he was staying in while on the camp.

The school's principal Paul Valese said police had been 'immediately' notified about the allegation.

A private school boy claims he was held down and sexually assaulted by other students at a school camp. Pictured is a stock image of a school boy

The pupil said he had been asleep when the boys 'stripped the bed sheets' and sexually abused him with a broomstick.

'They tried to put the broomstick where it should not go,' the boy told the Courier Mail.

His mother said he barricaded himself in the room and texted his parents to ask them if he could fight back.

Mr Valese said the school 'is a caring community and the safety of every child is our most important priority'.

'We were deeply concerned by allegations about an incident involving a number of students,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'We immediately conducted an internal investigation into the incident and the students involved were dealt with in accordance with our student behaviour expectations and College policies.'

Mr Valese added that 'All parents were immediately informed and supportive of decisions made.

'Where appropriate, reports have also been made to the Queensland Police Service.'

Mueller College's (pictured) principal Paul Valese said police had been 'immediately' notified about the allegation

He said the school, which has around 1,700 pupils, will support any investigation the police decide to carry out.

'The College continues to provide pastoral care to all the students involved,' he said.

The family of the boy who made the allegation has made a formal statement to the Queensland police.

The boy said he now faced the door when in bed, but was otherwise not suffering psychological difficulties.

But his mother is concerned for what may happen in the future.

'Maybe there has been an impact he can't see yet, some underlying stuff,' she said.
The bill was passed with support from both major parties in parliament

Most employees will be eligible from February next year to 10 days paid leave

Millions of Aussie workers will soon be entitled to paid domestic violence leave

Millions of Australian workers will soon be eligible for 10 days of paid domestic violence leave each year.

Most employees will get access to the entitlements from February, but small businesses will have an extra six months to adjust.

The changes cleared federal parliament on Thursday with support from all sides of both chambers.

'To all those who have experienced and are experiencing family and domestic violence, you have asked us to take action and we are,' Employment Minister Tony Burke told parliament.

'This bill will not by itself solve the problem of family and domestic violence, but it does mean no employee in Australia will ever again be forced to make a choice between earning a wage and protecting themselves and their families.'

Union boss Michele O'Neil said the new laws were a historic win.

Australian workers will be eligible to claim paid domestic violence leave from as early as February next year

'It cannot be understated just how important winning paid family and domestic violence leave in the national employment standard is,' she said.

'With one in four women having experienced some form of violence since the age of 15 by an intimate partner, Australia has a critical problem with women's safety and gender equality.'

Ms O'Neil said unions would fight to extend the leave period but '10 days is a very important start'.

The new laws come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (above with Treasurer Jim Chalmers) revealed his government's first budget, with aims to progress gender equality in the workplace

Casual workers will be eligible for the leave, while perpetrators will not be covered.

A review will be conducted next year to ensure the entitlement has been rolled out properly.

Frontline domestic violence worker Sam Parker said the entitlements would save lives.

'Women shouldn't have to choose between work and safety. Ten days paid leave offers people the opportunity to have financial security when they need it most,' she said.

'We know that having access to this leave assists in removing some of the barriers that women face when trying to leave an abusive relationship and we truly believe this will save lives.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his government's first budget included several measures to progress gender equality and boost women's participation.

It included $1.7 billion over six years towards women's safety and an expansion to paid parental leave to encourage parents to share caring duties more equally.

'Women's economic participation is something that doesn't just benefit individual women. It doesn't just benefit families. It benefits the entire nation,' Mr Albanese said.
The campaign for Arizona gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Katie Hobbs has directed blame toward her Republican opponent following a break-in of its offices on Monday.

Hobbs, the Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, indirectly pointed blame toward Republican candidate Kari Lake, whom Hobbs said has 'been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit.'

Lake did not clarify whether she would accept upcoming election results if it is determined she lost to Hobbs, adding: 'I'm going to win the election, and I will accept that result.'

An unidentified man was captured on video walking up to the office's front doors. He is seen with a backpack while wearing a green T-shirt and gray shorts.

Following the break-in, the Arizona Democratic Party directly blamed Lake and the Republican Party.

'Make no mistake  this is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violence  and it is despicable,' they tweeted.

An unidentified man was captured on video breaking into the campaign office of Katie Hobbs on Monday. He reportedly stole 'several items'

Possible items stolen from Hobbs' (pictured) office include the names of campaign volunteers and possible strategy for the campaign's final two weeks

The man is seen walking up to the front doors of the office

An address for the office is not public, suggesting the man had prior knowledge of what he would be doing and what he would be taking

Phoenix police responded to a 'commercial burglary' at the office north of downtown Phoenix around 2pm on Tuesday.

Sgt. Brian Bower told KOLD 13 that the break-in occurred 'sometime during the night' on Monday. He did not report what was stolen.

Possible items taken from the office include lists naming campaign volunteers and potential strategies for the final two weeks of Hobbs' campaign.

An address for the office is not made public because volunteers for the campaign have received threats, suggesting the man who broke in knew what they were doing and had knowledge of what they would be taking.

Hobbs and her staff have 'faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign,' according to a statement by Hobbs' campaign manager.

Pictured: A statement released by Hobbs' campaign manager in the wake of this week's break-in

Hobbs' campaign indirectly blamed her Republican gubernatorial opponent Kari Lake, as Hobbs says she and her supports have 'been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit'

During an interview with CNN's Dana Bash, Lake pushed on the outcome of the upcoming election: 'I'm going to win the election.'

'And I will accept that result, because the people of Arizona will never support and vote for a coward like Katie Hobbs who won't show up on a debate stage,' she said.

Lake, in her defense, also slammed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams for refusing to admit she lost against Republican Governor Brian Kemp in the 2018 elections.

'In 2018, Stacey Abrams never conceded  she still hasn't,' Lake said. 'I don't hear CNN calling her an election denier.'

'We have the right, it's protected with our First Amendment, to question our government and question elections.'

Lake, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has embraced his claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and rigged by Democrats to keep him from winning reelection and instead propel Joe Biden to the White House.

Hobbs, who is facing off with Lake for Arizona governor in the November 8 midterm elections, has refused to participate in a PBS debate with her Republican challenger.

The Democrat says that the debate would be a 'spectacle' and told CNN in her own interview on Sunday morning that her television interviews are an OK alternative for a head-to-head debate with Lake.

The candidate said she's able to talk through the issues with television hosts like Bash better than she would be able to do in a room where she felt she would be 'interrupted' and 'shouted over'.

'She only wants a scenario where she can control the dialogue,' Hobbs said of Lake. 'She's the one afraid of talking to voters.'

Hobbs and her staff have 'faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign'

A claim by Hobbs' staff that they have received numerous death threats and threats of violence are complemented by an early arrest of a man who threatened to kill Hobbs with a bomb.

The FBI arrested James W. Clark, 38, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, in July after Clark said he wanted to explode a bomb in Hobbs' 'personal space' if she did not resign.

Clark's threat was sent through the Secretary of State's election department in February 2021, the Associated Press reported.

Murphy Hebert, a spokesperson for Hobbs, said it was the lone bomb threat among thousands of other threats her office has received.

'Hanging is something we hear a lot, that you should be hanged,' Herbert said. 'That seems to be a favorite.'

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted and five years on two separate charges, according to the US Department of Justice.

'It's unconscionable and undermines our democracy,' Hobbs said. 'This harassment won't be tolerated and can't be normalized.'
Already battered regions will receive even more rainfall going into next week

The system threatens flash flooding, hail, severe winds and even snow in parts

Residents of Australia's east coast have been warned to prepare for yet another blast of wild weather  with hail warnings issued for parts of NSW and Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning on Thursday afternoon for the NSW Hunter and Mid North Coast regions: 'Damaging winds and large hail are likely, and a burst of heavy rain is also possible,' the Bureau said.

'Supercell' thunderstorms are also forecast for large parts of south-east Queensland on Thursday evening as the state endures a sudden extreme heat snap.

'Severe storms bringing risk of damaging winds and heavy rainfall, with the additional risk of large hail with storms, warned the Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland office on Thursday afternoon.

A newly forming low pressure system, currently sitting over the top of Western Australia, is expected to make its way across to Australia's south-east over coming days.

The thunderstorms will begin to build over the Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia on Friday and Saturday.

Meteorologists expect the low pressure system to be in full force by the time it reaches the east coast.

New South Wales State Emergency Service has warned a low pressure system could produce huge hailstones and heavy wind for Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter and Mid North Coast Regions by the weekend

Hailstorms are forecast for many parts of Australia's east coast as a low pressure system moves east - while south-east Queensland is on alert for 'supercell' storms on Thursday afternoon after extreme heat descended on the state

The NSW State Emergency Service has warned of huge hailstones and heavy wind for Sydney, Newcastle and the Hunter and Mid North Coast Regions in the coming days.

'The NSW SES is preparing for an increase in calls for assistance from the public, while major flooding continues to occur across the state,' a spokeswoman said.

NSW SES Chief Superintendent Ken Murphy told residents to batten down the hatches for the weekend.

'Our volunteers are trained and ready to assist the community, but we are urging the community to be prepared. Secure any loose items, particularly on apartment balconies, and try to move vehicles undercover.

'The NSW community have shown continued resilience throughout the weather we have experienced this year and are urged to take the usual precautions, like checking LiveTraffic, and local council websites for road closures.'

The low is, however, expected to bring late-season snow to the Alps in Victoria and New South Wales above 1,500 metres between Monday and Thursday next week.

The Bureau of Meteorology's Queensland office said the risk of thunderstorms would be highest in the afternoon and evening.

'Isolated supercells possible south of St Lawrence ... may pose localised risk of giant hail & destructive winds,' it stated.

Early precipitation forecasts predict parts of sodden Victoria could receive between 80 and 150mm of rain over the next seven days. Pictured, a tractor driving through flood water in Echuca, Victoria

Muggy days are set to continue in the far north of the state and inland areas are likely to see the mercury reach beyond 40 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

There doesn't look to be much respite for the already-inundated communities in northern Victoria. Early precipitation forecasts predict parts of the state could receive between 80 and 150mm of rain over the next seven days.

Further flooding is expected at Echuca and Moama where the Murray River level peaked at 94.98 metres on Wednesday night.

Data from the Bureau shows many parts of the river are continuing to rise.
Samsung Electronics building in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul / Yonhap



Prosecutors have indicted four current and former employees of electronics giant Samsung Group on charges of stealing highly valued semiconductor technologies from the Korean conglomerate and leaking them to overseas firms, officials said Thursday.



The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has indicted two Samsung Engineering researchers and two other former Samsung engineers with physical detention on charges of violating the unfair competition prevention act and the industrial technology protection act, the officials said.



One of the former employees, who worked in the semiconductor field, was accused of receiving an operation manual and a blueprint for an ultrapure water system and other key technology data from two Samsung Engineering workers and leaking them in August 2018 while he was trying to find a new job at a Chinese semiconductor consulting firm.



After getting a job at a Chinese firm, the engineer allegedly used the stolen materials to place an order for an ultrapure water system.



Ultrapure water is water purified of any ions, organic matter or microbe to be used for cleansing in the semiconductor manufacturing process.



Samsung Electronics has invested over 30 billion won ($21.2 million) each year since 2006 to develop the ultrapure water system.



Prosecutors said the other former employee faces charges of leaking a computer file carrying a key foundry semiconductor technology of Samsung Electronics to semiconductor rival Intel while he worked for the Korean firm.



He was in the process of moving his job to Intel at that time, and accessed the firm's semiconductor technology data online and stole the file by taking photos, according to prosecutors. (Yonhap)


Anthony Albanese has made a female MP leave parliament in tears after he mocked Peter Dutton for a geography gaffe during her question.

Michelle Landry, the Nationals MP for Capricornia in central Queensland, accused the prime minister of bullying her during the fiery exchange in Question Time.

Standing alongside deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley and nine other female Coalition MPs at a press conference minutes later, she demanded Mr Albanese apologise.

'I really do not appreciate being spoken to and screamed at by the prime minister, as I was today,' she said.

'I feel that I've been humiliated by him and the Labor Party.'

Anthony Albanese has made a female MP leave parliament in tears after he loudly mocked Peter Dutton for a geography gaffe during her question

Ms Landry called the PM, and other Labor MPs who cheered him on as he shouted, hypocrites for bullying her while calling for parliamentary workplace culture to be reformed and made safer for women.

She said Mr Albanese called her after Question Time but claimed he only apologised for upsetting her, not for his behaviour.

The drama began when Ms Landry rose in Question Time on Thursday to accuse the prime minister of breaking a promise.

She said the Budget delated $800 million of Commonwealth funding to construct the Rockhampton Ring Road by at least two years.

Mr Albanese's answer made reference to funding the Bruce Highway through the Yeppen Floodplain, south of Rockhampton.

Mr Dutton - also from Queensland - interjected about the town of Yeppoon, more than 50km away on the coast.

The PM seized upon this geographic error to mock the opposition leader for not knowing his home state well enough.

Liberal National member for Capricornia Michelle Landry (pictured) left parliament in tears on Thursday

'Yeppoon is a different place! And you might want to ask the Member for Capricornia, because Yeppoon is on the coast, north of Rockhampton and Rockhampton is to the south,' he excitedly exclaimed.

'Yeppen Floodplain is to the south, it's the southern entry of the Bruce Highway into Rockhampton!'

Mr Albanese got a rousing cheer from the Labor Party benches and twice shook his fist towards Mr Dutton shouting 'Queenslander!'

'Says it all!' he added, dismissively.

The PM then explained the history of the road project and with a consistently raised voice blasted the opposition for not getting it down while in government.

'We will get this project done, like we got the Yeppen Floodplain done, like we, by the way, got roads to Yeppoon done as well,' he said.

The increasingly rowdy Labor benches responded to the PM's boisterous display by cheering, clapping, and banging their tables.

Mr Anthony yells "Queenslander" during Question Time after mocking Peter Dutton

Mr Albanese at the same time made a dismissive swishing motion with his hands towards the Coalition benches as they rose in uproar.

The episode seemed like a good bit of parliamentary theatrics at Mr Dutton's expense until the end of Question Time when deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley raised a point of order.

'The Member for Capricornia has left the chamber in tears and in a state of high distress,' she said.

She asked Speaker Milton Dick to review the video and consider the appropriateness of his 'tone' during his very shouty answer. Mr Dick said he would do so and get back to her.

Mr Albanese appeared to be primarily addressing Mr Dutton during the period of his answer when his voice was raised, but Ms Landry insisted it was aimed at her.

Ms Landry was also seen on live TV smiling and laughing as Mr Albanese's mocking of the opposition leader carried on.

Ms Landry, Ms Ley, and several other female Coalition MPs held a press conference after Question Time ended, accusing Mr Albanese of 'bullying' her.

'We've been talking today about kindness in the Parliament, looking after each other and all the nice kind words,' Ms Landry said.

'But after he screamed and pointed and yelled at me, all his MPs - females included in that - were screaming, laughing and yelling as well.

Ms Landry, Ms Ley, and several other female Coalition MPs held a press conference after Question Time ended, accusing Mr Albanese of 'bullying' her

'This is not the first time that I've endured this stuff from the Labor Party, from the PM's office who spread smear campaigns about me in Rockhampton.

'I think this should be a place where we can all work together, I try to treat people with respect and how I wanted to be treated.

'I want to thank my female colleagues for being here with me today because we've all had enough.

They're a mob of hypocrites if they can say that everything is so wonderful on the left. Well, it's not.

'They treat us appallingly, our female MPs and senators are treated like absolute garbage all the time by the left and we have had enough.

Michelle Landry said it was not the first time she;d been the victim of a Labor smear campaign

'This is about women across Australia. I have two daughters and if I don't stand up against this bullying in the parliament, they just won't have respect for me.'

Ms Ley then quoted a statement by Mr Albanese from months earlier, declaring parliament needed to do better to stamp out bullying.

'More needs to be done to change the culture of Parliament House, culture sit above policy and procedure and must change,' she quoted.

'There's a cultural problem with sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace in the House.'

Ms Ley said the Budget talked a lot about respect in the workplace, as had many members of the Labor Party since it won government.

'Well, if Mr Albanese doesn't go back into parliament this afternoon, stand and publicly apologise... then all of these statements are not worth the paper they are printed on and he may as well throw them in the garbage bin,' she said.

'This was an incredibly distressing experience for Michelle, and there were others in the chamber who heard it, who felt it, and who really, really didn't like it.'

Sussan Ley quoted a statement by Mr Albanese from months earlier, declaring parliament needed to do better to stamp out bullying

Mr Dick later told the House of Representatives he had reviewed the footage and didn't believe Mr Albanese disrespected Ms Landry.

'I can confirm the prime minister was answering the question from the Member for Capricornia. During the answer, the prime minister was also directly responding to interjections from the leader of the opposition,' he said.

'In reviewing the footage, I did not see the prime minister show any disrespect to the Member for Capricornia.

'As the footage was not on the Member for Capricornia for the entire response, I did not see her leave the chamber.

'Of the footage of the Member for Capricornia that I was able to review, she appeared engaged in the response from the prime minister.'

Mr Albanese's office was asked if the PM intended to publicly apologise to Ms Landry or make any other comment on the matter.
Serco is placing at least 30,000 asylum seekers in 6,000 homes across Britain

Serco will consider all types of homes in North West Midlands and East England

Homeowners are being asked to take in migrants as asylum centres reach capacity and the collective hotel bill hits 2.4billion a year, it was reported last night.

Private contractor Serco is offering potential landlords rent and maintenance costs for up to five years as well as covering tenants' council tax and bills.

Serco has said it will consider all types of property in the North West Midlands and East of England - including empty properties, second homes, care homes and student accommodation, according to The Sun.

It comes as the latest figures show the Home Office managed to process just four per cent of asylum claims from people who crossed the Channel last year, while a record 38,000-plus have arrived by small boat to the UK in 2022 so far.

Serco was awarded a 10-year contract - worth a record 1.9bn - by the Home Office in 2019 and is housing at least 30,000 asylum seekers in 6,000 homes.

But the plan has enraged some ministers, with MP for Dover Natalie Elphicke fearing it will only work to worsen the housing shortage.

She told the Sun: 'The small boats crisis is making it much harder for Brits already struggling to keep a roof over their head or get a home of their own.

'This underlines why it is so important to tackle the crisis to reduce pressure on housing and other vital local services.'

MailOnline has contacted Serco for comment.

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

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The number of people arriving in the UK who require accommodation has reached record levels and has put our asylum system under extreme pressure.

'As a result of this incredible strain, there are currently more than 33,000 asylum-seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer more than 5million a day. This is unacceptable and we are working hard with local authorities to find safe, permanent accommodation.'

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 on Wednesday.

'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

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 2m-plus 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.'

It also emerged yesterday 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.

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.
An explicit new union advertisement has savagely branded Victorian premier Daniel Andrews a 'p***k' ahead of November's state election.

But the ad is actually part of a campaign - by construction workers' union, the CFMEU - to urge voters to vote FOR Labor next month.

The coarse posters have been been plastered around building sites throughout Melbourne.

It calls the premier a 'p***k' before highlighting the positive work his government has done investing in new infrastructure projects which have kept construction workers in business.

A new election advertisement has called Victorian premier Daniel Andrews (pictured) a 'pr**k' in a complimentary way

The ad is part of a campaign from Victoria's construction union, the CFMEU, to urge voters to support Labor in next month's state election

'Dan might be a p***k, but he's a p***k who's delivering for construction workers,' the ad begins.

It shows how the state government has committed $10billion to build hospitals, more than $30billion in infrastructure projects and the state's $70billion suburban rail loop.

The state opposition government has plans to shut the suburban rail loop down if elected.

The text at the bottom of the ad reads: 'Labor will keep you in work for another 30 years.'

Another advertisement as part of the campaign condemned the Liberal party by telling voters to 'stop' the Liberals from 'bringing back a construction watchdog'.

The construction watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission, was established by the Coalition to address lawlessness in the industry.

The advertisement highlights some of the positive work the state government has done by investing in new infrastructure projects (stock image)

Another advertisement condemned the Liberals by telling voters to 'stop' the opposition from 'bringing back a construction watchdog'

Construction sources claim union representatives have warned against a vote for the Liberals 'because they don't build anything' (stock image)

Construction workers represented by the CFMEU have been a target of the ABCC, with the union handing over more than $16million in penalties since the commission's inception.

The federal government is planning to shut the commission down, with Workplace Relations Minister, Tony Burke, reaffirming months prior that Labor will fulfil its election promise of closing it.

Construction sources claim union representatives have also been warning against a vote for the Liberals 'because they don't build anything',' reports the Herald Sun.

The CFMEU's support for Victorian Labor comes despite many workers blasting the state government's lockdown and vaccine mandates during the Covid pandemic.

It comes despite many construction workers taking part in last year's protest against lockdowns and vaccine mandates

A third advertisement references the stance of some workers who were against the lockdowns and mandates

A third advertisement as part of the campaign references the stance of some construction workers against lockdowns and the vaccine mandates.

'A lot of us didn't agree with Dan during the pandemic,' it read.

'Fair enough but he kept us working and providing for our families.'
A woman has had a suspected overdose at a controversial tent city Homeless hub at a popular beach, just weeks after authorities ripped down makeshift shelters at the site.

Emergency services were called to Dee Why Lagoon in Sydney's affluent northern beaches on Thursday morning to treat the older woman at or near the site.

The incident comes after police tackled a bearded, machete-wielding man at the beachside location earlier this month, prompting Northern Beaches Council to clear the tents and discarded debris.

But just days later, it is understood new tents have already been erected in the area.

Emergency services were called to Dee Why Lagoon in Sydney's affluent northern beaches on Thursday morning to treat the older woman at or near the site (pictured, paramedics at the site)

The makeshift homeless camps, (pictured) which grew throughout the Covid pandemic, were located up in Dee Why Beach's sand dunes

Paramedics confirmed to the Manly Observer the 'possible overdose/poisoning at Dee Why Parade, Dee Why' had occurred at 6.40am, with the woman taken to Northern Beaches Hospital.

NSW Ambulance did not confirm her condition.

The area has attracted homeless people for the last two years, infuriating disgruntled locals who say it's turned the area into a crime zone.

Residents claim they have been robbed and threatened while walking along the beach by those living in the makeshift shelters.

Photos of the camp show the ground covered with litter with locals worried the rough sleepers could affect the nearby lagoon's delicate ecosystem

Others have accused them of watching beachgoers with binoculars before running down to the dunes and stealing unattended items while the owners are in the water.

Others claim the tent city residents dress up as tradies to wander through car parks and check for unlocked vehicle doors.

Dee Why locals say they are now afraid of the beach dwellers and are concerned they are damaging the nearby lagoon's delicate ecosystem.

Tensions escalated on October 3 when footage emerged of a fire lit in the sand dunes and a man with a wild unkempt beard being chased by police officers near the makeshift camp.

A fire lit at the sit of the tent city, (pictured) next to Dee Why lagoon, early this month forced council to remove the makeshift campsite

A man with a large beard was chased by police officers near the makeshift camp (pictured, the aftermath)

The tent city was then ripped down by Northern Beaches Council workers the next day 'due to public safety concerns', a council spokeswoman said.

The camp residents were told they could collect their possessions after the removal of items.

'We have been working with relevant homeless support agencies in a continual effort to provide assistance to those living in the dunes at Dee Why for a number of years now,' Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said earlier this month.

'Homelessness is a complex issue and we have sought to approach those involved with understanding and compassion.

'A violent incident and fire in the dunes at Dee Why this weekend has left council, with the assistance of NSW Police, with little other option but to disband the camp and remove the growing accumulation of rubbish and other materials which are posing an ongoing fire and safety risk.

'Council is continuing to facilitate assistance to those impacted through welfare and housing agencies and communicate support options available to them.'

The camp's residents have allegedly refused the council's help to relocate.

Daily Mail Australia understands the group previously lived at another location around the Dee Why Lagoon but moved closer to the beach after a fire.

It's believed the group grew in size during the Covid pandemic with three campsites now in the area.

Residents of the former makeshift campsite for rough sleepers were told they could collect their possessions (above) after the site on Dee Why Beach was cleared
Elon Musk warned advertisers on Thursday that Twitter cannot become a 'hellscape' under his ownership as he confirmed that his $44billion takeover of the company has moved forward.

The Tesla CEO sent a tweet to advertisers Thursday morning, saying that while he wants the social media giant to become a 'digital town square' it 'obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.'

The tweet comes just one day after the billionaire changed his Twitter profile to identify himself as the 'Chief Twit' and posted a video of himself walking into the company's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink.

'Our platform must be warm and welcoming to all,' he wrote to advertisers Thursday, 'where you can choose your desired experience according to your preferences, just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature.'

He added that he 'very much believes that advertising... can delight, entertain and inform you,' saying that when done properly, advertising 'can show you a service or product or medical treatment that you never knew existed, but is right for you.

'For this to be true, it is essential to show Twitter users advertising that is as relevant as possible to their needs,' the 51-year-old billionaire concluded in his letter, adding: 'Low relevancy ads are spam, but highly relevant ads are actually content!'

Musk later agreed with a rapper on the platform, Zuby, who suggested that Twitter should 'find a way to compensate' monetize or partner 'with its top creators, like every other social media app.'

'Absolutely,' the SpaceX founder wrote in response.

Elon Musk confirmed on Thursday that he has bought Twitter ahead of a court-imposed deadline to seal his $44billion takeover of the company

The Tesla CEO sent a tweet to advertisers Thursday morning, saying that while he wants the social media giant to become a 'digital town square' it 'obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences'

Musk also revealed his 'motivation' for buying the company in the open letter to advertisers, writing: 'There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it is wrong.'

He said he acquired the company 'because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.'

But, the 51-year-old billionaire wrote, 'much of traditional media has fueled and catered' to either the far right or the far left 'as they believe that is what brings in the money, but in doing so, the opportunity for dialogue is lost.

'That is why I bought Twitter,' Musk wrote. 'I didn't do it because it would be easy. I didn't do it to make more money. I did it to try to help humanity, whom I love.

'And I do so with humility, recognizing that failure in pursuing this goal, despite our best efforts, is a very real possibility.'

Banks finished putting together the final credit agreement for the takeover on Wednesday and are in the process of signing the documentation, marking one of the last steps in providing $13 billion towards the deal.

Shares of the company are now trading at $53.97, up more than 1 percent from just the day before and up more than 28 percent over the past month.

Shares of Twitter Inc are expected, however, to be suspended on Friday as Musk's $44billion takeover is finalized.

Musk posted a video of himself marching into Twitter's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink on Wednesday

He also changed his Twitter profile to identify himself as the 'Chief Twit' ahead of the court-imposed deadline to finalize his $44billion takeover

Shares of the company are now trading at $53.97, up more than 1 percent from just the day before

Meanwhile, Twitter staff remained on edge Thursday, one day after Elon Musk marched into the social media giant's San Francisco headquarters.

He was later pictured speaking with some employees, reportedly denying rumors that he is culling three quarters of the staff.

But that did little to assuage the more than 7,500 people employed by the social media giant.

As one Twitter employee explained in an anonymous essay for Business Insider, those who remain at the company are worried about the Tesla CEO's volatility.

'I don't think my colleagues and I have a good model for how volatile he is  and I can see that rocking the boat, especially if he makes more comments that make people say, "What the hell?"' the anonymous Twitter employee wrote.

'There are also people here who are just unfazed by his volatility,' they continued. 'They're not going to react in any way.'

The employee noted that their fellow workers' views of their new boss will all be contingent on how many people he lays off.

'People are asking, if heads are going to roll, whose good graces do you need to be in to stay?' the employee wrote, adding: 'Most people think layoffs are going to be pretty immediate.

'I don't think our site-reliability engineers need to be worried, though,' they mused. 'On the other hand, machine-learning engineers, or the people responsible for building experimental services are more worried.'

The Twitter employee then went on to say they would be most worried 'if Musk decides to wipe out teams indiscriminately, because then it's just a roll of the dice.'

In the meantime, several Twitter employees took to their social media platform to share how they are sticking together.

Stephanie Guevara, a senior iOS engineer for the platform, though, was more blunt  asking Musk directly: 'Was it fun to look at the faces of the people you said you'd be laying off?'

And Parker Lyons expressed his nervousness about the new boss' visit with a meme of a man on top of two tires lifting a sofa, captioned: 'When Elon walks by your desk to see what you're working on.'

Musk met with Twitter employees when he visited the San Francisco headquarters Wednesday

Following the visit, Stephanie Guevara, a senior iOS engineer for the platform, asked Musk directly: 'Was it fun to look at the faces of the people you said you'd be laying off?'

Parker Lyons expressed his nervousness about the new boss' visit with a meme of a man on top of two tires lifting a sofa, captioned: 'When Elon walks by your desk to see what you're working on'

Others just shared how they are sticking together during the takeover

Twitter management had already planned to cut staff after spending a whopping $1.5 billion last year on personnel, and had wanted to reduce that amount by some $800 million,

It also spent hundreds of millions of dollars in contracting firms that pay people to review reports of hate speech, child pornography and other rule-breaking content, corporate documents obtained by the Washington Post last week revealed.

Management also planned to make major cuts to its infrastructure, getting rid of data centers that keep the site functioning for more than 200 million users a day.

But Musk expanded on the idea of layoffs, telling employees in June he didn't see a reason why low-performing workers should remain on the payroll.

He has also made clear he plans to loosen content moderation standards  which he claims are infringing on free speech  and restore former President Donald Trump's account as soon as he takes ownership of the company.

Since then, though, the Tesla CEO has vowed to take a far lighter touch on suspending users who break Twitter's rules on hate speech, having declared himself a strong believer in free speech.

The billionaire has found himself in hot water previously for some of his views, including comments on transgender issues.

In 2020, he tweeted that 'pronouns suck' - then hastily deleted the post and said: 'I absolutely support trans, but all these pronouns are an aesthetic nightmare.'

He has also voiced support for Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who tabled the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Musk's transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, also cut ties with him earlier this year and said she 'no longer [lives] with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form'.
Lithuania confirmed that Sobchak had entered the country with Israeli passport

New footage appears to show the moment Vladimir Putin's rumoured goddaughter fled to the West on foot to avoid arrest - hours after police raided her mansion.

TV star and opposition politician Ksenia Sobchak, 40, who has been critical of Putin, is apparently seen crossing the Belarusian border into Lithuania, a member of NATO, at the Vidzy frontier point 106 miles north of Minsk, according to reports.

CCTV appears to show Sobcak, accompanied by an unknown man, covering her face and wearing a cap as she crosses the border, reports RIA Novosti news agency.

The extraordinary video was apparently leaked from Belarusian border cameras - and Lithuania today confirmed that Sobchak had entered the Baltic state using an Israeli passport.

Sobchak, who has known Putin since she was a child, fled Russia for Belarus before entering Lithuania hours after Russian investigators raided her luxury home in a prestigious Moscow suburb.

Police said that the search on her home was part of a probe into alleged wrongdoing by her media director, Kirill Sukhanov, who was arrested on charges of extortion.

Sobchak on Tuesday rejected the accusations against Sukhanov as 'ravings and nonsense' and described his arrest as part of the authorities' efforts to stifle independent media.

The CCTV from the Belarusian border reportedly shows a man carrying Sobchak's bag and at one point, he appears to look back to see if they are being followed.

New footage appears to show the moment Vladimir Putin's rumoured goddaughter fled to the West on foot to avoid arrest - hours after police raided her mansion

The CCTV footage from the Belarusian border appears to show a man carrying Sobchak's bag and at one point, he appears to look back to see if they are being followed. At one point the man appears to warn Sobhak to lower her head to avoid being seen by the cameras.

Sobchak (pictured) fled Russia for Belarus before entering Lithuania hours after Russian investigators raided her luxury home in a prestigious Moscow suburb

Sobchak, who has known Putin since she was a child, fled Russia for Belarus before entering Lithuania hours after Russian investigators raided her luxury home in a prestigious Moscow suburb

Sobchak's father is former St Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak, pictured here with wife Liudmila, and Vladimir Putin (circled), who he was close friends with

At one point the man appears to warn Sobhak to lower her head to avoid being seen by the cameras.

The footage apparently shows Sobhak going through Belarus passport control at 13.32 local time on Wednesday and telling a border control officer that she is heading to Lithuania.

Sobchak is then seen being accompanied by two uniformed men as she carries her own bag to the actual frontier.

The video was leaked, likely with official sanction, to a Telegram channel called Three Sisters with less than 2,000 subscribers.

It has links to the security apparatus of Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko.

The footage apparently shows Sobhak going through Belarus passport control at 13.32 local time on Wednesday and telling a border control officer that she is heading to Lithuania

A socialite-turned-politician, Sobchak was once called the Paris Hilton of Moscow

Lithuania's Director of the State Security Department (VSD) Darius Jauniskis confirmed that Sobcak had entered Lithuania.

He told radio station Zhinyu Radijas that she had Israeli citizenship and could enter without a visa and remain for 90 days without a visa.

'So far we do not have intelligence information that she may pose a threat to the Lithuanian state,' he said.

'If there was such information, of course, certain measures would be taken.'

Earlier in the war Sobchak had travelled to Israel and back to Russia but at the time denied reports that she had been issued with an Israeli passport.

Lithuania normally now blocks entry to Russian citizens due to Putin's war.

In the CCTV footage, which appears to show Sobchak crossing the Belarusian border into Lithuania, the Belarus authorities made no visible attempts to stop her leaving.

This is despite Sobchak, according to Russian sources, wanted as a suspect in connection with a criminal probe in Moscow involving her business associate, an investigation she believes to be politically-motivated but which could have landed her in jail for up to 15 years.

Separately, Russian political scientist Sergei Markov claimed that a 'high-ranking official' had tipped off Sobchak that she faced arrest.

This led to her fleeing Russia, he said.

The timing of the Russian state media announcement that she had left Belarus for Lithuania was only 36 minutes after she had apparently been cleared for exit by the Belarus border guard.

This may indicate that Putin had given her tacit permission to flee to the West rather than see his 'goddaughter' held in detention like his other political foes.

Putin, Lyudmila Narusova, and Ksenia Sobchak pictured together in St Petersburg in November 2003

Sobchak reportedly bought tickets to both Turkey and Dubai to 'confuse' state investigators seeking her arrest.

Then she travelled to Belarus by car and left for the West in a 'smart operational escape plan in order to avoid arrest' using her Israeli passport.

A socialite-turned-politician, Sobchak was once called the Paris Hilton of Moscow.

She was a popular reality TV presenter and once posed for Playboy.

She hosted the Russian version of Big Brother and went on to stand as a liberal candidate against Putin in the 2018 presidential election - rigged in Putin's favour - when she came fourth.

One of Russia's best known faces, she now runs independent media outlets which have angered Putin's officials.

Putin has known her since her childhood and he attended her baptism in the Orthodox Church, leading to rumours he is her godfather.

Her father, Anatoly Sobchak, was Putin's law professor and mentor who later gave the KGB spy his first foothold in politics as his deputy when he served as mayor of St Petersburg.

Later Putin even smuggled Ksenia's father out of Russia for medical treatment in the West at a time when his patron was accused by foes of corruption.

Putin was later pictured at the former mayor's funeral in 2000, alongside Ksenia, and her mother Lyudmila Narusova, now a Russian senator who opposes the war in Ukraine.

Ksenia was earlier a popular reality TV host and posed for Playboy before going into politics

Narusova has voted against war-linked legislation in the Russian parliament and accused his state TV of 'shameless lies' over the conflict.

Despite criticising Putin, Ksenia held a private meeting with the Russian leader before announcing she would oppose him in the poll.

This led to claims that she was conspiring with him to give a cloak of respectability to a rigged election.

The close family links have not saved Ksenia Sobchak from harassment by Putin's police.

She fled dramatically from Russia via Belarus hours after police staged searches at her luxury country home near Moscow.

This was linked to a murky criminal investigation which saw the arrest on Tuesday of her commercial director Kirill Sukhanov, and a former Russian Tatler editor, Arian Romanovsky, on blackmail allegations.

Sobchak was named as a suspect in the same case, namely 'extortion to obtain property on a particularly large scale'.

Footage showed the men - who face sentences of up to 15 years - in court.

Had she not fled, Sobchak would also have been brought to court on the same accusation.

Police were reported as seeking to detain Sobchak at a VIP Moscow airport when it was announced she had reached the West by land.

The alleged victim of the 'blackmail' was Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, a close KGB colleague of Putin's in the Cold War who has remained close ever since.

Sobchak had dismissed Sukhanov's detention as 'simply delirium', adding: 'It is laughable, nonsense.'

The moves were 'more oppression' against her and the Russian media.

She said her outlets were 'the last free media office in Russia', which Putin's regime had decided to 'shut'.

'They have got nothing to dig on us, which infuriates them,' she said of Putin's authorities.

When details of the criminal case emerged, pro-Putin propagandist Sergei Mardan said it was a warning for her to flee.

'The land is burning under Sobchak and the best way out would be to change her country of residence, and at the same time citizenship,' he posted.

'Perhaps the detention of Kirill Sukhanov and the searches at Sobchak's place are a subtle hint 'from above' about the undesirability of her further stay on the territory of Russia.'

Political scientist Sergei Markov said: 'If you are ready to arrest for a trifle, for simple extortion, for money, even the daughter of President Putin's beloved teacher and mentor, who everyone forgave for many years, then there are no untouchables now.'

The exit of Sobchak, who was both loved and loathed, led to trolling on social media, accusing her of abandoning her motherland.

She had earlier denied claims she had secret Israeli citizenship, and insisted she would not quit Russia.

In the footage she appeared to use a Russian passport as she left Belarus.

She has previously said: 'I am Russian, I am a citizen of Russia.

'I do not emigrate anywhere, I have no other citizenships.'

There is no passport control between 'union state' Russia and Belarus, which means the Vidzy crossing acted as her exit point from Russia.

Belarus has been used as a transit point by some escapees from Putin's mobilisation in recent weeks.
Germany's plan to legalise the possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use as well as its sale and production could be scuppered by challenges from its European neighbours.

Under a proposal agreed yesterday by the nation's cabinet, possession of up to 1oz of the substance would become legal, health minister Karl Lauterbach said.

Adults would be allowed to buy cannabis from dispensaries, people would be permitted to grow up to three plants at home, and farmers would be able to cultivate it for sale.

However, the legislation must receive approval from EU courts to ensure it complies with European law before it can be implemented.

In many EU states, there are staunch regulations prohibiting the movement of illegal drugs, but EU citizens are able to travel freely throughout the Schengen free travel zone.

This means Germany would be forced to prove that its decriminalisation of both possessing and selling cannabis would not infringe on its neighbours' narcotics policies.

No other country in Europe shares its borders with more territories than Germany, but of its nine neighbours - Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Switzerland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland - recreational cannabis use is currently only legal in the Netherlands, under certain constraints.

It is therefore highly likely that Germany's proposal will be shot down by the European Court of Justice, which has previously decreed that EU member states should prevent the sale of cannabis.

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

German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach speaks during a news conference in berlin, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022

In the unlikely event that Brussels gives the thumbs up to Germany's plans, then the legislation will be subject to German parliamentary debate before it can be implemented.

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 legalisation of cannabis in Europe' while also building 'the most-regulated market'.

The hope is that Germany - the EU's most powerful economy - 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.

But Germany has not yet agreed on the finer points of the proposal which has been criticised by officials in the Free Democratic Party and the Greens, who claimed the plans were 'unnecessarily restrictive' and would drive people towards the black market to meet demand.

This file photo taken on August 10, 2019 in Berlin shows a German national flag bearing a marijuana leaf during the 23rd Hanfparade, a traditional German-wide pro-Cannabis march, to ask for its legalisation

Germany's legislation must receive approval from EU courts to ensure it complies with European law before it can be implemented, but many EU states have staunch regulations prohibiting the movement of illegal drugs (European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pictured)

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'.
Tehran is facing mass demonstrations calling for fall of the Ayatollah

Russia is training Iran how to crack down on protests using years of experience brutally crushing all opposition to Putin, the White House has warned.

John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said Wednesday it is 'a fact' that Tehran is getting expertise from Moscow in how to suppress demonstrations.

He issued the warning the same day that huge crowds took to the streets across Iran demanding the end of the regime following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini - beaten to death in police custody for refusing to wear a hijab.

It is just the latest sign of a growing alliance between pariah states Russian and Iran, after Tehran began selling Moscow suicide drones to use against Ukraine.

Russia is training Iran to crush protests that are currently taking place across the country against the Ayatollah's rule, the White House has warned

Iran has faced weeks of growing demonstrations against the Islamist regime led by women who have been removing their compulsory hijabs (pictured)

Kirby, speaking at the White House, said: 'We know that [Russia] may be considering some sort of support... we'll watch where this goes.

We see signs that [Russia] may be considering the ability to help train Iranians on cracking down on protesters.'

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, added: ' We are concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices.

'Iran & Russia are growing closer the more isolated they become.

'Our message to Iran is very very clear. Stop killing your people & stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians.'

Protests in Iran have now being going on for 40 days after Mahsa - a young Iranian-Kurd - died in police custody after being arrested for failing to wear a hijab.

Iran claims she died of multiple organ failure linked to 'underlying diseases', but her family say she was beaten to death by the regime's brutal morality police.

Her death drew people on to the streets where calls for justice have mingled with demands for an end to the country's Islamist regime.

At least 13 people died Wednesday in a gun attack at the Aichi cemetery outside the city of Saqez, Iran's semi-official IRNA news agency said, blaming Sunni terrorists.

But there were also reports circulating of clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Witnesses and opposition groups say the demonstrations are the largest and most volatile that the Iranian regime has faced in its four-decade rule.

Moscow has years of experience in crushing dissent including protests against the Ukraine war (pictured), which it is now passing to Tehran

Russia is thought to be lending its expertise in return for Iranian-made suicide drones which it has been using to attack Ukraine (file image)

A broad alliance of opposition groups - including ethnic minorities, pro-democracy activists, and ordinary people who see no future for the country - are demanding an end to the repressive rule of the Ayatollah and his mullahs.

While there is little consensus about what exactly should come next for Iran, general demands include greater personal freedoms and better economic prospects.

Though the marches have remained largely peaceful, regime security have been accused of unleashing bloody reprisals that have left hundreds dead with thousands more detained.

Impartial data is impossible to obtain thanks in large part to an internet blackout across Iran, but the People's Mujahedeen - one of the opposition groups - claims to have verified more than 250 deaths.

But they believe the true toll may be double that figure.

Meanwhile Russia has turned to Iran for support in its war on Ukraine after Putin's army was fought to a standstill on the battlefield.

Moscow is now trying to hold on to the territory it has already gained and appears to be focusing on terrorising Ukraine's citizens into accepting a peace deal.

Airstrikes over the past several weeks have focused on hitting Ukraine's major cities and power network, causing rolling blackouts and depriving people of heating just as winter sets in.

But, with large parts of its missile stockpile used up, Russia has been forced to buy Shahed-136 suicide drones from Iran to use in the strikes.

The slow-moving drones are packed with explosives and use a two-stroke motor to fly to their targets before the engine cuts out, causing them to plunge from the sky.

Ukraine claims to have shot down the majority of drones launched at them so far, but some have made it through air defences - destroying around a third of the country's power plants and killing dozens of civilians.
Photographs indicate Rodney Wayne Williams drove along a highway with a dead, pregnant teenager in the passenger seat, a court has heard.

Williams, 65, has pleaded not guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to murdering Tiffany Taylor, 16, after she was last seen leaving a motel south of Brisbane in July 2015.

The Crown alleges Williams and Tiffany arranged to meet after connecting on a dating website.

Williams picked up Tiffany outside the Loganlea motel after telling her he had $400 for 30 minutes of sex before driving to a remote industrial area where he likely killed her, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said.

He then drove to his 'old stomping ground' at Fernvale, 100km northwest of Logan, to dispose of the body, she told the jury on Thursday.

Photographs indicate Rodney Wayne Williams drove along a highway with dead, pregnant teenager Tiffany Taylor, 16, (pictured) in the passenger seat, a court has heard

Rodney Wayne Williams (pictured) has pleaded not guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to murdering Tiffany Taylor after she was last seen leaving a motel south of Brisbane in July 2015

Footage on motorway cameras and phone tracking details on cell towers indicate that Tiffany was in the car with Williams, the court heard.

Tiffany's blood and DNA were also found in Williams' vehicle.

Ms Marco said images from toll booths indicated Williams with a passenger in his Hyundai sedan, highlighting one at Heathwood entering the Ipswich motorway.

She said while it was not the most clear image it indicated a person slumped on a reclined passenger seat - a person the prosecutor claimed may be a dead Tiffany.

'As audacious as it might sound that a person would put a deceased person in the front seat of the car, remember that his journey was along a motorway ... and at high speed and if she was slumped in the seat passing motorists may think ... she was asleep,' Ms Marco told the jury.

Williams picked up Tiffany Taylor outside the Loganlea motel after telling her he had $400 for 30 minutes of sex before driving to a remote industrial area where he likely killed her, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco said

Tiffany had been demanding and persistent about payment with other men and would have been irate when she found out Williams did not have the cash after they parked at the industrial area, she said.

The court has heard Williams' vehicle was parked for 22 minutes.

'That (no cash) was likely to have resulted in an altercation between them,' Ms Marco said.

'There was more than ample time for Mr Williams to intentionally kill the young, small and petitely framed Ms Taylor at that location.'

Williams is accused of creating a false trail of communication with Tiffany on the dating website afterwards, with his last message reading: 'Sorry I didn't turn up, decided I wasn't going to pay for it'.

He was intercepted by officers at a Brisbane train station with a bag of clothes and sentimental items in August 2015, a day before he was supposed to be interviewed by police, Ms Marco said.

Williams then told police a 'litany of lies'.

Rodney Wayne Williams then drove to his 'old stomping ground' at Fernvale, 100km northwest of Logan, to dispose of the body, she told the jury on Thursday

In the interview Williams tells police he dropped Tiffany off at Redbank and went home, later conceding that they parked at the industrial area but were only 'talking'.

Williams said he dropped off Tiffany at a truck stop off the Warrego Highway.

He also claimed Tiffany had a bleeding nose when asked about her blood found in his car.

Williams' barrister Kim Bryson told the jury that her client had lied to police but had not killed the pregnant teen.

Ms Bryson earlier told the court that Tiffany had an 'abusive and dysfunctional relationship' with a violent and controlling boyfriend that started when the girl was 12.

The trial before Justice Peter Applegarth continues.
SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in leaves a room after a news conference at the group's headquarters in southern, Oct. 21. Yonhap



The family of a young worker who died while working at an affiliate factory of food and beverage giant SPC Group filed a complaint against the group's chairman on charges of violating the workplace safety law, their lawyer said Thursday.



The 23-year-old employee was killed on Oct. 15 after her upper body was caught in a sauce mixer at the factory affiliated with the group in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul.



The employee's family have filed a complaint against SPC Group Chairman Heo Young-in with the Ministry of Labor, for violating the so-called severe disaster law, lawyer Oh Bin-nara said in a press release.



Under the new law that took effect in January, business owners or CEOs of companies with 50 or more employees are subject to at least one year in prison or up to 1 billion won ($710,000) in fines in the event of deadly on-duty disasters caused by lax workplace safety measures.






China is operating dozens of secret police stations in plain view by disguising them as British restaurants, estate agents and other ordinary businesses, a civil liberties watchdog has claimed.

A report from human rights organisation Safeguard Defenders warned China was operating more than 50 undeclared police hubs as part of a global network to force dissidents to return to Beijing.

The group's researchers outlined the existence of possible sites in London and Glasgow after their addresses were made public by Chinese security bureaus in Fuzhou and Qingtian.

The addresses were linked to Chinese restaurants in Scotland, and an estate agent and fast food delivery firm in London. All of the businesses involved denied links to the Chinese state, or did not comment when contacted by the Times.

MPs have called for a Home Office investigation into the allegations - which prompt wider concerns about China's increasingly authoritarian iron fist being used to crackdown on protestors living abroad.

A spokesman for the China Research Group of MPs said: 'A Chinese government official reportedly admitted the role of these stations in "pressuring criminals" to return to China.

'These "criminals" could be Hongkongers, Uighurs, dissidents or indeed anyone who has dared to criticise the Chinese Communist Party.'

Beijing rejected claims these were secretive police stations and insisted the outposts were used to deter 'transnational fraud' and provide diplomatic services for Chinese citizens living abroad.

More than 200,000 fraud suspects were 'persuaded to return' to Beijing between April 2021 and July 2022, Chinese officials have confirmed.

A report from human rights organisation Safeguard Defenders warned China was operating more than 50 undeclared police hubs as part of a global network to force dissidents to return to Beijing

Xi Jinping's historic third term raises the prospect of greater tension between China and the West as the Communist leader tightens his grip on power

Safeguard's report highlighted 54 such illegal 'police stations' that have quietly flooded the world over five continents in a flagrant breach of international laws on extradition and cross-border arrests.

The NGO described the situation as 'Chinese transnational policing gone wild'.

Named after the Chinese emergency number, the '110 Overseas' centres sell themselves as one-stop-shops for Chinese people abroad, offering legal advice, document processing and 'hotlines' to police back in China.

Their true purpose, however, is a means for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to take the law into its own hands  no matter the jurisdiction  and to, in its own words 'resolutely crack down on various illegal and criminal activities involving overseas Chinese'.

The two Glasgow addresses linked to two Chinese restaurants that have operated in the city for many years.

The two London addresses listed by Chinese police as overseas service stations include a takeaway delivery app and an estate agents.

MailOnline has contacted the four businesses for comment.

A Chinese foreign affairs spokesman said the addresses were 'service stations for Chinese citizens abroad'.

Safeguard Defenders claimed these stations were a likely 'front' for Chinese officials to use while managing administrative applications and pressuring dissenters to return.

A spokesman added: 'These stations are not registered, hence they are unknown to their host government.

'They are operating on foreign soil, using local Chinese residents to carry out duties for the Chinese police. This is a major breach in any sense of the word.'

It is understood that similar 'overseas service centres' are being investigated in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Europe has the highest concentration of undeclared police centres in the world, campaigners claimed.

Another operation in Sydney was reportedly established by the communist party's Department of Public security in 2018. Similar investigations have unveiled premises linked to the CCP in New York.

Canada has similarly warned of the issue, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Brenda Lucki confirming that the overseas centres there are 'a growing problem'.

The Safeguard Defender's report highlighted 54 such illegal 'police stations' that have quietly flooded the world over five continents in a flagrant breach of international laws on extradition and cross-border arrests. The NGO said situation was Chinese transnational policing gone wild

Most shockingly, in 2020, a Madrid branch was able to apprehend Liu, a Chinese resident in Spain, who was wanted by prosecutors in China for 'environmental pollution'.

Using its network of people on the ground in the Spanish capital, Liu was taken to the 110 'station' where he was put on a video call with police from his home province.

They were seated with a member of Liu's family  placed there as a thinly-veiled threat  and Liu was 'persuaded' to return to the mainland where he was then prosecuted.

Last month, the Chinese embassy in Ireland denied the existence of a secret 'police station' when newspaper reporters visited the address of a supposed 110 centre, at a grocery shop in Dublin.

The suggestion that an authoritarian state has been operating covertly on foreign soil is likely to place further strain on an already tense relationship between Beijing and Downing Street.

It comes days after pro-democracy protestor Bob Chan was pulled to the ground outside the gate of the Chinese consulate in Manchester following a demonstration against the country's president Xi Jinping

In the past month alone, concerns have been raised about Britain's former RAF 'Top Guns' gaining lucrative contracts advising China how they could takedown Western warplanes.

The British government released a threat alert last week warning of former British fighter pilots who are signing up to help train the Chinese equivalent of the RAF.

Similarly, a think tank claimed to have identified more than 60 individuals from top Chinese defence firms or universities linked to the Peoples Liberation Army who have carried out research on British university campuses in the past 18 months.

MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned in July that the 'most game-changing challenge' to our security came from the 'increasingly authoritarian Chinese Communist Party'.

And earlier this year it was claimed a Chinese spy outed by MI5 targeted the highest levels of Government, including former prime ministers.

Spy chiefs issued an unprecedented security alert to MPs over solicitor Christine Lee, 58, warning that her political interference activities on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party have been secretly monitored by the security services for years.

The twice married mother-of-two from the West Midlands has openly given around 670,000 to the Labour Party since 2005, including donating more than 600,000 to Brent North MP Barry Gardiner  who employed her son.

The news also comes after recent video footage showed a pro-democracy protester from Hong Kong being dragged inside the gates of the Consulate General of the Peoples Republic of China in Rusholme and beaten.

Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said the video was deeply worrying and called on Home Secretary Suella Braverman to look into this urgently.

The Government must demand a full apology from the Chinese ambassador... and demand those responsible are sent home to China.
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Huge Russian nuclear drills watched over by Vladimir Putin were a rehearsal for wiping Britain and America off the map, a state media stooge declared last night.

Colonel Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia's National Defence magazine, said yesterday's missile, submarine and bomber drills were to demonstrate his country's ability to carry out an overwhelming retaliatory strike if it were ever to come under attack using nukes.

Mr Korotchenko made it clear who the drills were aimed at, telling state TV: 'Who could launch a first nuclear strike on Russia? The US and the UK. I don't know if [French President] Macron is someone who would join this adventure... It is very important that we have shown who our main enemies are and what awaits them.'

If the strike were carried out for real, Mr Korotchenko boasted, Britain would be submerged beneath the Atlantic Ocean and instead of the United States there would be a new naval strait named after Joseph Stalin.

'There is no compromise,' he added. 'The signal has been sent [to the US and UK]. This [should make them] sober up and clear their minds. This is not nuclear blackmail. This is what we would really do [if] we get hit.'

And adding to tensions, Russia today warned that it could attack the West's commercial satellites in 'retaliation' to the US and its allies using them to aid Ukraine's war effort.

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian foreign ministry's department for non-proliferation and arms control, told the United Nations that use the use of Western satellites to help Ukraine was 'an extremely dangerous trend'.

'Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike,' Vorontsov told the United Nations First Committee, adding that the West's use of such satellites to support Ukraine was 'provocative'.

Russia rehearsed its response to a nuclear attack yesterday 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

A Russian nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea launched a Sineva ICBM at the Kura firing range on the far-eastern Kamchatka Peninsula

Russia's Tu-95MS strategic bomber is seen landing during exercises held by the country's strategic nuclear forces at an unknown location

Vladimir Putin watches over the drills  a yearly preparedness exercise dubbed 'Grom' or 'Thunder'  from Russia's nuclear command centre joined by his security chiefs in a virtual meeting

Colonel Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia's National Defence magazine, told state TV last night that the drill was to rehearse the destruction of the UK and US

'We are talking about the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial, by the United States and its allies in armed conflicts,' Vorontsov was quoted as saying at the United Nations.

Vorontsov did not mention any specific satellite companies though Elon Musk said earlier this month that his rocket company SpaceX would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for 'good deeds.'

Vladimir Putin watched over yesterday's drills  a yearly preparedness exercise dubbed 'Grom' or 'Thunder'  from Russia's nuclear command centre. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said they were designed to rehearse a 'massive strike'.

The drills involved the test-firing of a Yars land-based intercontinental ballistic missile from the northern Plesetsk spaceport 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 test.

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 afterwards.

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.

Test launch of the Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles at Plesetsk in western Russia yesterday

The Russian despot monitors the drills from the Kremlin yesterday 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

As part of the exercise, TU-95 strategic bombers also launched cruise missiles at practice 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 tests 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.

It 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 yesterday 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.'

Mr 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.'

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.

Putin has told intelligence officials from ex-Soviet countries that the potential for conflict in the world remained high

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 US counterparts on Sunday in which he made the same claim. Britain, France, and the United States rejected it 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.

Sejm member 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 on 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 in east Ukraine, liberated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces

A view of the damaged gas station after the Russian missile attacks in Dnipro, Ukraine, yesterday

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 UN 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 UN 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 yesterday, 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 Ukrainian official reported 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 of the wounded were hospitalised.

Mykolaiv, a southern port city near the war's frontline, 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 yesterday 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.
Ennis filmed himself hurling 'appalling' abuse at a black person on his television

He has been barred from ever holding any policing job in the UK moving forward

A Merseyside Police officer who quit in disgrace after recording himself hurling 'appalling' racist abuse at his TV screen and sending it to a colleague has been found guilty of misconduct.

Former constable James Ennis stepped down before a formal misconduct hearing could take place to investigate the matter, which took place on November 15, 2021.

Ennis made the 'inappropriate' comments during a television news segment which featured a black person and forwarded the voice note to a colleague on WhatsApp, who raised the alarm with their superiors.

The force's Professional Standards Department launched disciplinary hearings before an independent chair despite Ennis' resignation. It was determined that he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct if he had remained in his job.

As a result, Ennis has been placed on the official College of Policing barred list, which prevents him from holding any policing job in the UK moving forward.

A Merseyside Police officer has quit in disgrace after recording himself hurling 'appalling' racist abuse at his TV screen and sending it to a colleague

The hearing found his language was 'offensive and incompatible with the role' of a police officer.

A spokeswoman for the force said: 'The officer had been watching the news and was heard to be shouting racist language at a black person featured in the news item.'

Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley added: 'We acknowledge the outcome of the hearing and the judgement of the Panel.

'The racist language used by this officer was appalling and this outcome yet again shows that we will take a zero- tolerance approach to racism within our force.'

Mr Critchley said all allegations of misconduct are thoroughly investigated to assure high standards of 'integrity and respect' are maintained.

'I would like to reassure the wider community that we will not allow individuals to damage the good name built up by the vast majority of our officers and staff who do an outstanding job and serve our communities with compassion, integrity and professionalism at all times,' he said.

'The force is continuing to deliver the key priorities of the National Race Action Plan.

'Our approach to calling out and tackling head on racism sends a clear message to our colleagues and the communities of the high standards which we expect and are essential in building trust and confidence in our communities.'

The force's Professional Standards Department launched disciplinary hearings before an independent chair despite Ennis' resignation. It was determined that he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct if he had remained in the force

The decision to permanently ban the Merseyside constable comes in the wake of an explosive review published earlier this month into the systemic misconduct of officers within the Metropolitan Police Force.

Hundreds of Scotland Yard officers are still in the ranks despite being accused of crimes including racism, sexual assault, domestic abuse, corruption and fraud, the report found.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was reduced to tears after reading the report and has vowed to do what he can to stamp out racism and misconduct within his team.

The report found officers are virtually unsackable, with only 5 per cent of all misconduct cases ending in dismissal and that racism in the ranks results in black officers and staff being 81 per cent more likely to be accused of misconduct than their white colleagues.

Sir Mark apologised as he said the painful report shames us. He said it was hard not to shed a tear at how some female and black officers had been treated, admitting the report had left him angry and upset.

Currently, only about 30 to 50 officers are dismissed a year from the force. Figures show that just 5 per cent of almost 9,000 Met officers and staff accused of misconduct since 2013 have been sacked.

Appalling memes shared on a WhatsApp group containing serving and retired Met policemen also emerged earlier this month.

The memes included discriminatory jokes about black Londoners, the shooting of a BLM activist, the murder of George Floyd, the plight of domestic violence victims and Shamima Begum joining Scotland Yard as Commissioner in a burka-uniform.
A father in China became seriously ill after he ate a live crab in an act of revenge after the creature pinched his daughter.

The father, identified only as Lu, 39, became angry after his daughter was pinched by a small crab while they were by a stream.

Lu, from the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang in China, decided to get his own back and picked up the offending crab before swallowing it whole while it was still alive, local media reported.

But two months later, Lu was admitted to hospital with serious abdominal and back pain and he was diagnosed with the rare digestive disease eosinophilic gastroenteritis.

Medics at the hospital ran further tests and found Lu had pathological changes in his chest, abdomen, liver and digestive system. But doctors were left baffled as to what has caused the illness.

'We repeatedly asked him if he had ever eaten game, or anything unusual, anything that could cause allergies. He said no not at all,' doctor Cao Qian, the director of the digestive system department at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou told Zhejiang Television.

Dr Cao Qian (pictured) said Lu was admitted to hospital with severe back pain after he decided to eat a raw crab as revenge for the creature pinching his daughter while they were next to a stream

It was only when Lu's wife remembered how Lu had eaten a live crab two months earlier that doctors discovered the cause of the illness.

Lu admitted to doctors that he had eaten 'something special'.

'I asked him, "Why did you eat a live crab?",' Dr Cao Quin said.

'He said, "I wanted to take revenge for my daughter. When we were by a stream my daughter was pinched by a small crab, so I got angry and put it in my mouth for revenge",' Dr Cao Quin added.

A subsequent blood test showed that Lu had been infected by at least three parasites after he ate the live crab. He has since recovered but still needs follow-up check-ups.

Lu became seriously ill after he ate a live crab in an act of revenge after the creature pinched his daughter (file image of a crab)

Crabs are usually eaten after being cooked in China, but in some areas in eastern China some people do eat raw crabs.

The traditional 'drunken crabs' dish from the eastern provinces of China usually involves marinating the raw crab meat with alcohol and seasoning it for hours so that it becomes 'drunk' before being served.

'Theoretically it's better to eat something marinated than completely raw because it has been treated with alcohol which can help kill parasites and bacteria,' Dr Cao Quin said.

'But it can't kill all parasites, so it's not 100 per cent safe either.'

In 2020, a woman in Hangzhou was infected with at least six parasites and suffered from fluid on her lungs and respiratory arrest for six months after she ate 30 raw crabs.
Shell has today announced profits of nearly 8.2bn ($9.5bn) between July and September, more than double what it made during the same period the year before.

The oil giant continued to benefit from high gas prices, driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But profits were down compared with what Shell had earned between April and June when it made 9.9bn ($11.5bn), as the price of oil slowly began to fall.

The war in Ukraine has seen energy prices skyrocket across Europe, contributing to a cost-of-living crisis in the UK, with millions of Britons facing a difficult winter.

Shell announced today profits of nearly 8.2bn ($9.5bn) between July and September, more than double what it made during the same period the year before

Shell chief executive Ben van Beurden said the company was 'delivering robust results at a time of ongoing volatility in the global energy market'

Announcing the results, chief executive Ben van Beurden said: 'We are delivering robust results at a time of ongoing volatility in the global energy market.

Shell is now nine months into what promises to be the company's most profitable year ever, barring an unlikely major collapse in oil and gas prices over the next two months.

The business was already benefiting from a global economy that had reopened after the pandemic and was desperate for energy to fuel its growth.

Then Vladimir Putin waged an unprovoked war in Ukraine in February, pushing European gas prices to all-time highs and the price of oil soared internationally.

Rishi Sunak has faced calls today to expand the windfall tax on fossil fuel giants following the announcement.

Climate activists and opposition MPs are urging the Prime Minister to go further on his windfall tax as oil and gas giants see profits soar over Russia's war in Ukraine.

Downing Street said 'nothing is off the table' ahead of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's autumn budget on November 17.

Shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband said Shell's profits are 'further proof that we need a proper windfall tax to make the energy companies pay their fair share'.

'Rishi Sunak's existing plans are a pale imitation of Labour's windfall tax and would see billions of pounds of taxpayer money go back into the pockets of oil and gas giants through ludicrous tax breaks,' he said.

'It tells you everything you need to know about whose side this Conservative Government is on that they refuse to back Labour's proper windfall tax whilst working people, families, and pensioners suffer.'

Shell yet to pay any extra windfall tax, bosses confirm Shell has avoided paying extra windfall tax despite making record profits so far this year because it is investing heavily in the North Sea. The oil giant said that it does not expect to pay any extra tax this year despite the Government's decision in May to put a windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas producers. Finance boss Sinead Gorman said Shell had done enough over recent months to avoid the levy - which encouraged tax relief in exchange for investment. 'Heavy capex (capital expenditure) has meant that we haven't had extra tax coming through in this quarter yet,' she said. 'I do expect to see that extra tax to happen quite early in the first quarter of 2023, but we'll see what plays out with prices as well.' She added: 'We simply are investing more heavily than we have, and therefore we don't have profits which we can be taxed against.' Shell reported nearly 8.2bn ($9.5bn) profit in the third quarter, more than double what it made during the same period the year before. Windfall tax was introduced in May to rein in the astronomical profits of the oil and gas companies. Some say it has not gone far enough. Shell boss Ben van Beurden said it was up to Government to decide whether the tax had succeeded. 'In principle a tax system that incentivises people, rather than just taxes people, is a good design, whether it meets all the requirements of what a Government needs is for the Government to decide,' he said. On Thursday, Nadhim Zahawi did not rule out an additional windfall tax, but added it was important that companies still invest in the UK. The Tory Party chairman said he would not 'preempt any decisions' ahead of the Autumn Statement next month. Advertisement

The energy crisis led then-chancellor Rishi Sunak in May to introduce a windfall tax on oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea.

He announced the 25% surcharge on extraordinary profits to help pay for a package of support for households struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

His plans are due to lapse at the end of 2025 or sooner if oil and gas prices return to 'historically more normal levels', as Vladimir Putin's invasion pushes up prices.

But that has not stopped Shell from handing billions of dollars to its shareholders this year.

On Thursday it announced plans to return a further 3.5bn ($4bn) to shareholders by buying back shares over the next three months, and said it will also increase the dividend by 15 per cent.

It takes the total payout to Shell shareholders to 22.4bn ($26bn) so far this year.

Mr van Beurden said: 'We continue to strengthen Shell's portfolio through disciplined investment and transform the company for a low-carbon future.

'At the same time we are working closely with governments and customers to address their short- and long-term energy needs.'

Greenpeace yesterday called for a 'proper tax' on the energy giant's profits, which it said could help insulate thousands of homes.

'While Shell continues to bank billions, how many more households need to be forced into fuel poverty before the Government wakes up?

'The only way to address the interlocking cost of living, energy security and climate crises is a street-by-street rollout of home insulation combined with a massive lift in ambition for renewable energy,' the campaign group's UK senior climate adviser, Charlie Kronick, said.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'The Conservative Government's refusal to properly tax these eye-watering profits is an insult to families struggling to pay their energy bills.

'Even the CEO of Shell has admitted that oil and gas companies should be taxed more to help protect vulnerable households.'

Asked on LBC radio on Frida about an extended windfall tax, Tory party chairman Nadhim Zahawi said that 'absolutely the Chancellor and the Prime Minister will look at every decision'.

But he warned against creating 'a tax system that disincentivises investment'.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I am not going to get into tax measures ahead of a fiscal event.

'It is accurate to say, as we made clear, no options are off the table given the economic circumstances. But clearly that is for the autumn statement.'

Mr Sunak does not believe the current levy has been hindering investment, the spokesman said.

Banks have also been enjoying bumper profits as they benefit from rising interest rates.

Downing Street did not rule out a windfall tax on them either, with the spokesman saying: 'I haven't asked the Prime Minister directly but broadly speaking hypothetical tax measures are for a fiscal event.'
Police have revealed a teenager missing in the outback for almost two weeks was last seen driving a stolen car before she mysteriously vanished.

An extensive land and aerial search spanning hundreds of kilometres has been ramped up for Tea Wright-Finger, 19, who was last seen by a friend who dropped her off near a blue Toyota Prado 4WD in Richmond in far north-west Queensland.

But on Thursday, Queensland Police revealed that the Prado had been reported stolen two days earlier before she disappeared on October 16.

'The Prado, which has been linked to Tea and which Tea was last seen in the vicinity of, is a stolen vehicle,' Inspector Damien Crosby told reporters.

'The Prado was stolen as a result of a fraud-related offence.

Tea Wright-Finger (pictured), 19, was last seen by a friend who dropped her off near a blue Toyota Prado 4WD in Richmond in far north-west Queensland on October 16

Queensland Police revealed on Thursday that blue Toyota Prado 4WD (pictured) was stolen two days before Tea Wright was reported missing

'We're not discounting any avenues of inquiry. Obviously the fact that the vehicle was stolen is part of an investigation.

'But I would reiterate to Tea or any acquaintance of Tea that our priority remains to locate her safe and well and make sure she's OK.'

Police said the Toyota Prado she was last seen in was stolen in the town of Proserpine on October 14 and is still listed as a current active stolen vehicle.

Investigators haven't been able to confirm the direction of travel of the vehicle from Richmond when it was last seen.

Insp Crosby said officers have a time-line of the 19-year-old's movements up until her disappearance, but are seeking more information as part of their investigations.

A land and air search is ongoing in the remote, hot and humid outback region, with SES, search-and-rescue crews, helicopters and aircraft deployed.

The search has spanned more than 700km by air, including Cloncurry, Four Ways and Julia Creek.

Investigators haven't been able to confirm the direction of travel of the Prado from Richmond when it was last seen

Police have vowed to continue searching for the missing Queensland teen (pictured)

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.

Anyone with information is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers.
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King Charles will be 'nervous' about Prince Harry's tell-all memoir, royal experts said today  amid speculation the January 10 publication date suggests the royal has succeeded in his bid to water down its content.

The memoir had initially been signed off ready for an expected autumn release as part of a multi-million pound, three-title deal with Penguin Random House. But its publication was delayed following the Queen's death, and Harry is said to have requested a number of alterations to make it less critical of the Royal Family.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams warned the book's release would be 'unhelpful' to King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort.

'It was never a good idea for Harry, fifth in line to the throne, a Counsellor of State and only 38, to write a memoir which by its nature would be highly controversial,' he told MailOnline. 'There have been reports that the memoir has been toned down given the sensitivities involved. When it is published, Harry may well do interviews. It is likely to be extensively serialised.

'All of this will almost certainly be unhelpful to King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, in the early months of his reign. It may well widen the rift between the royal family's and the Sussexes in the pivotal period leading to King Charles's coronation.

Mark Borkowski, an author and publicity expert, said there was plenty of time to significantly edit the book between the Queen's death in early September and the January 10 publication date.

Royal commentators the release of Prince Harry's book would be 'unhelpful' to King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort

'An advance is paid on a certain premise  the publishers would have seen the manuscript and got excited by it,' he told MailOnline. 'So there's always going to be a battle over the content. But could they have made substantial edits in time for January? Yes, in the modern world it's very easy to get things changed and printed.

'The key period for selling books is Christmas. So they'll be missing a lot of sales. January doesn't strike me as an optimum time for a release, so that is significant  it would suggest there's been a bit of a dispute over the content and Harry may have got his way.'

However, biographer Tom Bower suggested commercial imperatives would ensure the final manuscript still contains plenty of criticism of the Royal Family.

'Profits demanded that the book be published as soon as possible after the Queen's death. And the publishers were helped by the reality that neither Harry nor Meghan are prepared to terminate their campaign against the Royal Family,' he told MailOnline.

'To those who have speculated that Harry wanted to dilute his ghost-written text to remove the most offensive descriptions of Charles, William and Kate, one can only surmise that his book can only be a global commercial success if a healthy dollop of poison remains.

'The damage to the Royal family will be great. Charles's retaliation could include not giving their children their prince and princess titles, and even withdrawing their own titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

'Certainly, Harry was warned that the Sussexes' revenge would be answered in kind, so there is certain to be a nervous Christmas among the Royal family in Sandringham as they anticipate the worst. For the new King, still planning his coronation, this could not have come at a worse time.'

It is understood that the Sussexes were paid an advance of $20 million (18.4 million) for the book as part of a three-title deal worth 36.8 million. Today, Penguin Random House said the duke had donated $1.5m (1.3m) to children's charity Sentebale and 300,000 to WellChild, a charity for disabled children for which he serves as patron.

Bower suggested the Sussexes' Netflix series, the release date of which has been delayed until next year, would be helpful publicity for Harry's book. 'Viewers and readers can expect scathing comments about their treatment by Harrys family. Wallowing in self-pity, the Sussexes will portray themselves as victims of uncaring charlatans,' he said.

In an earlier statement announcing the deal, Penguin described the book as 'an intimate and heartfelt memoir', promising that 'Prince Harry will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait'.

They added that it would cover Harry's 'lifetime in the public eye from childhood to the present day, including his dedication to service, the military duty that twice took him to the front lines of Afghanistan, and the joy he has found in being a husband and father'.

The contents of Harry's book are likely to be kept top secret and palace aides have revealed that no members of the Royal Family have been offered the chance to see any of it before it becomes public. When the publishing deal was announced in July 2021, only the Queen was given advance warning.

Last month, The Mail on Sunday reported that Harry had launched a last-minute bid to tone down the autobiography amid fears his final draft 'might not go down too well' in the wake of the monarch's death.

His request was seen as a sign that he was ready to take a more conciliatory approach to the rest of the Royal Family, with any attacks or veiled swipes being seen as inappropriate just weeks into his father's reign.

'Harry has thrown a spanner in the works,' a source said. 'He is keen for refinements in the light of the Queen's death, her funeral and his father Charles taking the throne.

'There may be things in the book which might not look so good if they come out so soon after these events. He wants sections changed now. It's not a total rewrite by any means. He desperately wants to make changes. But it might be too late.'

William and Kate pictured during a visit to Sandringham to look at tributes and flowers laid for the late Queen last month

Announcing the global publishing deal this year, Penguin Random House described the memoir as 'intimate and heartfelt'

Penguin Random House had already reportedly demanded a rewrite after the first draft was deemed 'too touchy-feely' and placed too much focus on mental health issues.

Harry faces a battle between further damaging an already strained relationship with his family and potentially hurting book sales by holding back on any claims.

He and Meghan sensationally quit life as working royals and moved to California nearly three years ago, before launching the Archewell Foundation and signing lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix.

Literary agent Matt Latimer told the New York Times: 'Is his goal to enhance his celebrity with a certain sector of the public, or is it to repair the rift with his family?'

'Those are competing goals to some extent, and it's hard to do both.'

The King, then the Prince of Wales, was only told of the memoir minutes before the press release announcing the release of the book last year.

In that statement, Harry said: 'I can help show that no matter where we come from, we have more in common than we think. I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to share what I've learned over the course of my life so far and excited for people to read a first-hand account of my life that's accurate and wholly truthful.'

One palace insider said: 'The first announcement was something of a shock. We have now spent a long time waiting to see what is in it and, frankly, we just want to get it out of the way so everyone can move on.'

However aides are braced for the worst, particularly after Harry's outspoken criticisms of his family and the monarchy.

Prince Harry makes his early morning pre-flight checks at the British controlled flight-line at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province in January 2013. The contents of his book are likely to be kept top secret

During the Sussexes' notorious interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, they accused the Royal Family of racism and Harry claimed Charles had 'literally cut me off financially'.

Harry is said to have been further upset at some of the events surrounding the Queen's death.

He was dismayed after being told that Meghan, 41, was not invited to join him in flying up to Balmoral to be by his dying grandmother's bedside. Later, he reportedly failed to accept an invitation to join his father for supper at Birkhall, his private home nearby.

The Royal Family's lawyers are expected to be on standby to read the book when it comes out.

Meanwhile, the controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary series featuring the couple for Netflix has also been postponed until next year, following the widespread backlash over The Crown.

Harry and Meghan had been working on the series as part of their rumoured $100 million (88million) deal with the streaming giant.

But with The Crown accused of fabricating a 'hurtful' smear against King Charles by depicting him secretly plotting to oust the Queen, Netflix has now pushed it back.

The documentary had been expected in December, following the fifth season of The Crown. A source told Hollywood news website Deadline: 'They're rattled at Netflix, and they blinked first and decided to postpone the documentary.'

Amid their strained relationship with the Royal Family, though, Harry and Meghan spent an extended period of time in the UK following the Queen's death last month. They were in the UK for non-Royal charity events when Her Majesty died on the day before they were due to fly back home to Montecito, California.

And in the aftermath of his grandmother's death, Harry struck a fragile truce with his brother William  appearing together for a walkabout among well-wishers in Windsor following the funeral.
Rishi Sunak is planning major education and skills reforms after taking over as Prime Minister.

A new 'baccalaureate' would see students continue with compulsory English and maths until 18, but sit fewer exams at 16.

Alongside it would be a major expansion of vocational training, including new colleges with links to industry.

Mr Sunak signalled his intentions last night when he appointed his ally Robert Halfon and Nick Gibb as education ministers, who both previously worked for the department, under Secretary of State Gillian Keegan.

A No10 source told the Times that Mr Sunak believed education reform was a 'silver bullet' with the power to transform lives, adding: 'This is an absolute priority for the Prime Minister.'

But Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said: 'After 12 years of failing our children, this Conservative Government has no new ideas about how to raise standards of education across our country.

A new 'baccalaureate' that Rishi Sunak is pushing for would see students continue with compulsory English and maths until 18, but sit fewer exams at 16

Mr Sunak signalled his intentions on education last night when he appointed Robert Halfon, left, and Nick Gibb, right, as education ministers under Secretary of State Gillian Keegan

Minister Zahawi says 'vulnerable' elderly 'will always be protected' amid pension cut fears A senior minister today suggested the elderly will be spared a real-terms pension cut as a rare improvement in the UK's financial situation raised hopes swingeing spending cuts and tax rises may not be as tough as previously feared. Nadhim Zahawi hinted that Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt could retain the 'triple lock', which was a Tory manifesto pledge, after the PM declined to rule out scrapping it yesterday. The lock ties increases in the state payout to the rate of inflation, but with the Consumer Price Index at 10.1 per cent last month it could add billions to state spending next year. However Mr Zahawi, the new Tory chairman, told Times Radio that while he could not pre-empt the Autumn Statement on November 17, Mr Sunak, when he was chancellor, 'always protected the most vulnerable'. He went on: 'I am stating the obvious here, but uniquely pensioners cannot add to their income by taking on more work and therefore we have to be clear in how we make sure we help the most vulnerable in our society including those pensioners.' It comes amid some potential good news on the economy. The PM and Chancellor are said to be considering using falling gas prices and a 'dullness dividend' reaped from financial markets after the change in government to rein in their drastic plans. A new report today by the Resolution Foundation suggests a 40billion black hole in the nation's finances could have shrunk by up to 15billion by the time they present their delayed Autumn Statement on November 17. This means cuts to public spending could be eased, and tax rises reduced or scrapped altogether. The forecast has led to growing confidence in Downing Street that only minor changes will be required to public finances, the Daily Telegraph reported. Gas prices have fallen in recent days thanks to unseasonably warm autumn weather, while the yield on gilts  government bonds  has fallen back following the removal of Liz Truss as PM, meaning borrowing costs for the Government have dropped. However, it is not all good news. Ministers have yet to rule out changes to benefit payment rates that would mean recipients face a real-terms cut. The PM has so far refused to confirm that Universal Credit will also increase in line with prices. Reports today suggest that income tax thresholds could also be frozen. With inflation at 10.1 per cent this means thousands could be dragged into higher brackets, generating up to 4billion for the Treasury, according to The Times. Advertisement

'The Conservatives have failed our schools and left our children's education far worse off.

'Rishi Sunak should adopt Labour's plans to end tax breaks for private schools and invest in our brilliant state schools, and abolish non-dom tax status to give breakfast clubs to every primary school child in England.'

Harlow MP Mr Halfon, former skills minister, is a long-standing chairman of the education committee who served as a minister under David Cameron and has long championed reform to help disadvantaged children.

He is a long-term Sunak backer, who described the Truss regime as 'libertarian Jihadists'.

Mr Gibb returns as school standards minister for a third time under his fourth PM, having served in the post from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2014 to 2021.

Mr Halfon said: 'I'm looking forward to working with colleagues to deliver the Prime Minister's exciting education and skills agenda to ensure every student can climb the educational ladder of opportunity.'

It builds on the platform Mr Sunak set out while campaigning in the previous Tory leadership election, in the summer.

In a three-point plan to transform education, the Tory leadership hopeful vowed to phase out university degrees that do not improve students' 'earning potential', create a Russell Group of world-class technical colleges and introduce the Baccalaureate that would prevent 16-year-olds from dropping maths and English.

It came a week after his rival Liz Truss pitched herself as the 'education prime minister' with a plan to replace failing academies with new free schools. She won the election but was turfed out in just six weeks.

In an interview with the Sunday Times during the campaign, the former chancellor criticised the 'overly narrow specialisation' of the current curriculum, which he said does not prepare young people for the 'economy of tomorrow'.

'We are almost unique in the western world, for an advanced economy and all high-performing education systems, in allowing people to drop maths and stop studying their native language at 16,' he told the newspaper.

'In Germany, France, Asia, youngsters are studying maths all the way to 18 and in the way a modern economy works, I think it's going to hold us back if our youngsters don't have those skills.'

His campaign also pledged to strengthen networks of technical institutions and their links with industry, as well as giving them powers to award degrees.

University degrees would also be assessed through their drop-out rates, numbers in graduate jobs and salary thresholds, with exceptions for nursing and other courses with high social value.

However at a hustings in Leeds Mr Sunak also gave his backing to a new wave of grammar schools.

Analysis shows that the majority of his new Cabinet went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at Oxbridge universities.

The new Prime Minister continues a recent trend by packing his top team with those who went to independent schools, including his three most senior colleagues: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

Mr Sunak himself attended Winchester College near his home town of Southampton, where fees for day students currently cost nearly 34,000 per year.

In total, 19 of the 31 positions in Mr Sunak's Cabinet are occupied by people who went to an independent school (61 per cent), according to analysis by social mobility charity the Sutton Trust.

Four studied at a grammar school (13 per cent), while seven (23 per cent) went to a state comprehensive  including new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.

The majority of Rishi Sunak's Cabinet, pictured, went to fee-paying schools, while nearly half studied at the prestigious Oxbridge universities, analysis shows

One member of the new Cabinet, International Trade Secretary and Women and equalities minister Kemi Badenoch, went to an international school.

The proportion of those having attended fee-paying schools is slightly lower than those in Liz Truss's cabinet (68 per cent) and Boris Johnson's first cabinet (64 per cent). But it is much higher than Theresa May's 2016 cabinet (30 per cent).

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools.

In fact, 84 per cent of Sir Keir Starmer's most senior colleagues went to a comprehensive, with just 10 per cent going to a grammar school.

Of those attending Mr Sunak's maiden Cabinet meeting this week, 45 per cent went to university at either Oxford or Cambridge.

This compares with less than one-third (32 per cent) of the current Labour shadow cabinet.

By comparison, the current Labour shadow cabinet is packed with those who went to state schools

Sir Peter Lampl, founder and chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: 'Rishi Sunak faces unprecedented challenges as he enters Number 10.

'While his Cabinet is marginally more representative than Truss's, Tuesday's appointments highlight how unevenly spread opportunities to enter the most prestigious positions continue to be.

'Making the most of Britain's talent  regardless of background  must be a priority.'

Meanwhile, Geoff Barton, general-secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'We have nothing against private education  and represent independent school leaders  but it is important that our political leaders come from socially diverse backgrounds and understand the needs and life experiences of the public.

'We are pleased, however, that the new Education Secretary Gillian Keegan not only went to a state school, but then went on to complete an apprenticeship, which gives her a good understanding of the importance of a skills agenda which will benefit many young people and the future of the country.'
Shocking CCTV footage has revealed the moments after a gambling addict burglar snuck into a couple's house looking for 30,000 in cash and murdered a 86-year-old woman.

This week, Vasile Culea, 34, was convicted of murdering Freda Walker at Derby Crown Court.

He was also convicted of wounding with intent the victim's 88-year-old husband; former district councillor Kenneth Walker, at their Derbyshire home on January 14.

The couple were found 'bound, hog-tied, gagged and left to their fate' in an attack 'devoid of mercy', the court heard.

Shocking CCTV footage has revealed the moments after a gambling addict burglar snuck into a couple's house looking for 30,000 in cash and murdered a 86-year-old woman

But now, unearthed footage has revealed moments after the gruesome crime, where Culea can be seen walking away down the street - knowing he had left his victims to die.

The CCTV of Culea also shows him having changed into a high-vis jacket as he walks through the village.

He is then seen getting into a car.

Culea said in court that he abandoned the couple after panicking when he heard a car pull up outside.

Concerned neighbours found their bodies the following morning lying in pools of blood. Mrs Walker, who suffered 25 separate injuries, was dead and Mr Walker was in a critical condition. He died three months before the trial from natural causes.

The couple, who had lived in the same home for all of their 60 years of marriage, were at the heart of their local community

Culea, 34, has been convicted of murdering Freda Walker at Derby Crown Court

Romanian national Culea 'hog-tied' Mr and Mrs Walker, binding their hands and feet, while searching the couple's Langwith Junction home in Derbyshire for 30,000 in cash, which he had heard they had.

The cash did exist but was only discovered afterwards by police search teams, with the jury hearing evidence Mr Walker had forgotten where he had stored the money in the home.

Culea demanded to know where the money was and Mr Walker, who had hidden the cash in random places around their home and could not recall where he had put it, had to watch as Culea tortured his wife.

Mrs Walker, who also had a bag put over her head and died of a brain injury, was found dead in the kitchen by emergency services the following day after neighbours raised concerns.

Culea was arrested at a property in Church Warsop, Nottinghamshire, five days after the incident

The court heard Mr Walker died some months later, although his death was not connected to the attack.

Culea had already admitted manslaughter of Mrs Walker and the grievous bodily harm of her husband, but prosecutors said he was guilty of fabricating 'a nonsense' to cover up for an attack on the couple that went 'far beyond any justification; savage in its nature - and sustained'.

Culea, who fled with 300 from a handbag after getting 'scared' by sounds of a car outside, repeatedly lied about how the couple suffered the injuries.

Police and forensic officers at the murder scene in Langwith Junction, Derbyshire

Jurors heard the victims suffered 'frankly horrific' injuries and that Mrs Walker had a reasonable prospect of survival had she not been 'abandoned without any assistance' and 'with coverings to her face obstructing her airway', according to Michael Auty KC, prosecuting.

The jury of 11 men and one woman unanimously convicted the 34-year-old after just two hours and 15 minutes, having heard his claim that he injured Mrs Walker after 'slipping' on a spilt drink and stepping on her chest, after she 'fell over' during his attack.
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Heartwarming images have emerged of the moment an elephant calf and his mother were rescued by conservationists after they became trapped in mud.

The unfortunate animals had been stuck for two days after they ventured into soft, boggy terrain, with their weight pressing down into the earth and causing them to sink below the surface.

It is believed the pair got stuck while on a quest for water - a task which becomes increasingly fraught with danger during a drought because it forces the animals onto treacherous terrain.

The mother elephant is thought to have lost her footing on the sodden ground, and while trying to haul herself back to her feet only managed to force herself further into the earth.

Her calf, trying to rush to her aid, also slipped and became stuck as his feet plunged below the surface.

After hours of trying to free themselves to no avail, the animals were exhausted and were unable to go on, resigning themselves to their fate.

Fortunately, members of The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust - an organisation in Kenya which operates one of the nation's largest orphan elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation programmes - descended on the scene and dove into the mud.

Knee-deep in the marsh, workers shovelled dirt away with their hands and loosened the earth just enough so the elephants could be dragged to freedom by a set of huge straps and ropes, attached to the back of a tractor.

After much hard work on the part of the conservationists, the elephants were pulled free and were seen triumphantly trotting off back to freedom.

An elephant and her calf became trapped when they sank into soft, muddy ground near a dam in Kenya

Conservationists from The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust came across the pair after they had been trapped for two days

Conservationists and volunteers rallied together to free the majestic animals, using large straps and ropes to pull them free

Volunteers got knee deep into the mud and started digging with their hands to loosen up the earth caked around the elephants' legs

Once they had managed to free the beast from the mud, they attached a large strap to her body and pulled her free with a tractor

A conservationist looks on as the baby elephant, just freed from its predicament, runs to help and comfort its mother who remains trapped

The baby elephant can be seen trying to nudge its mother free in this heart-wrenching image

After much toil on behalf of the conservationists and volunteers, the pair were freed from the soft ground and pulled to stronger terrain
Chinese FM meets ASEAN diplomatic envoys

Xinhua) 08:23, October 27, 2022

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with diplomatic envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with diplomatic envoys of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries on Wednesday in Beijing.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, highlighted the epoch-making significance and great achievements of the 20th National Congress of the CPC.

"With General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping continuing to steer the course and the correct guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will surely achieve the development strategy and goals set by the 20th National Congress of the CPC," he said.

The Chinese path to modernization will bring significant opportunities and benefits to all countries in the world, and China is willing to march toward modernization together with ASEAN countries, Wang said.

The ASEAN countries' diplomatic envoys in China warmly congratulated the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and expressed expectation to seize the new opportunities presented by the Chinese path to modernization to promote mutual benefit and win-win results in the Asia-Pacific region.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
By Kim Jae-heun





Starbucks Korea CEO Son Jung-hyun

Starbucks Korea has appointed Shinsegae I&C CEO Son Jung-hyun to lead Korea's largest coffee chain, replacing outgoing CEO Song Ho-seop who was criticized for his inadequate handling of a series of company mishaps, Shinsegae Group said Thursday.



Son is facing a range of daunting tasks left by his scandal-hit predecessor, as he needs to improve the coffee chain's tarnished brand image and strengthen its competitiveness amid intensifying competition and soaring ingredient costs. Song was initially contracted to lead Starbucks Korea until 2025, but he was sacked three years early due to a series of blunders over the past year.



The new CEO's top priority is to regain customers' trust, which suffered after its giveaway gift bags were found to contain formaldehyde, a class 1 carcinogen. His predecessor was criticized for not taking immediate action and for letting the problem grow out of hand, with some customers boycotting Starbucks products.





Former Starbucks Korea CEO Song Ho-seop
Neighbours heard 'screams and shouting' on the night that a Manchester Metropolitan University student was stabbed to death by a stranger while on his way home from a party in the city.

Yesterday morning, a 19-year-old man was stabbed in a 'random attack' in an area close to student halls in Fallowfield.

People living nearby recalled hearing a commotion in the early hours of the morning, before helicopters could be heard overhead.

Officers attended the scene on Wilmslow Road at around 2am on Wednesday, where they gave a young man found with stab wounds CPR. He was taken to hospital, where he later died.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) yesterday confirmed that the victim was a student, with a university spokesperson confirming that he studied at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).

Neighbours heard 'screams and shouting' on the night that a Manchester Metropolitan University student was stabbed to death by a stranger while on his way home from a party

Yesterday morning, a 19-year-old man was stabbed in a 'random attack' in an area close to student halls in Fallowfield. Pictured, police at the scene

People living nearby recalled hearing a commotion in the early hours of the morning, before helicopters could be heard overhead

Detectives have launched a murder investigation, as they work to 'to find the person responsible', Greater Manchester Police confirmed.

It is understood that the young man was attacked by someone he did not know while on his way home from a house party.

Police cordoned off Wilmslow Road between the junction with Mabfield Road and Wilbraham Road at around 2am, which remained in place until Wednesday evening.

Cordons were also in place on Furness Road and Cawdor Road for much of the day, where neighbours recalled hearing 'screams and shouting' in the early hours of Wednesday morning followed by police helicopters.

'I didn't know what had happened, but it sounded horrible,' one resident said told Manchester Evening News, with another adding that they don't feel safe living there.

Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield in south Manchester was cordoned off by police on Wednesday morning after a stabbing led to a Manchester Metropolitan University student's death

A huge cordon (pictured) was put in place on the busy Wilmslow Road as forensic officers combed the scene for evidence

Officers said that the vicitm's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

A MMU spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that Greater Manchester Police has informed us that one of our students died in an incident in Fallowfield in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

'Our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time. We will be contacting them to offer our help and support.

'This will be a terrible shock to our whole community and we will be arranging for professionally trained counselling staff to support any students and staff who are affected by the incident. We cannot offer further comment at this time.'

Detectives have launched a murder investigation, Greater Manchester Police confirmed. Pictured: Police a the scene on Wednesday

Traffic services confirmed Wilmslow Road (pictured with police tents at the scene) reopened at around 4.45pm on Wednesday afternoon

In a statement, the University of Manchester confirmed it will also be increasing safety patrols in the area, and offered counselling and support to any affected students.

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division said: 'I know that people in Manchester will be shocked and concerned by this incident.

'I share this concern and assure you that there is a dedicated team of specialist officers in the area who are investigating at pace to find the person responsible.

'Local officers will be patrolling the areas and I urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to those officers who are on hand to help and support you.'

Detective Superintendent Neil Jones of Greater Manchester Police South Manchester Division said officers are 'working round the clock' to investigate the stabbing

It is understood that the young man was attacked by someone he did not know while on his way home from a house party. Pictured, the scene on Wednesday

Police officers were alerted to the 'seriously injured' student, 19, at around 2am on Wednesday morning and attempted CPR before he sadly died near the University of Manchester's Owens Park halls

Yesterday the Detective Superintendent said: '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.'

He 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.'

Information related to the investigation can be shared with the force via its Major Incident Public Portal.

Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Lisa Wilkinson kept tight-lipped and silent on Thursday's The Project during a discussion about the mistrial of Brittany Higgins' alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann.

Wilkinson has been a vocal supporter of Ms Higgins - but caused the trial to be delayed for months until October by her comments earlier this year.

The TV host discussed the trial during her Logies acceptance speech in June, sparking a legal row over claims she threatened Mr Lehrmann's chances of getting a fair trial.

She was given a break off air in the wake of the row and TV bosses at Ten laid down a strict set of rules to follow on-screen during this month's trial to avoid any more legal blunders.

As Waleed Aly discussed Thursday's shock mistrial judgement, cameras steered clear of a shot of Wilkinson's reaction or giving her a chance to speak.

And at the end of Thursday night's segment, the show cut straight away without even a wide shot of the panel for fear of causing any more legal issues.

Waleed Aly (pictured) spoke to a journalist about the Bruce Lehrmann mistrial that shocked the nation on Thursday, while Ms Wilkinson kept quiet

Ms Wilkinson took to the stage (pictured) accepting the award for the outstanding news coverage or public affairs category

When the trial was delayed by her earlier remarks, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said: 'What concerns me most about this recent round is that the distinction between an allegation and a finding of guilt has been completely obliterated '

After that, the co-host was barred from reading the headlines for the period the trial features in the news, and would not appear on the show on the days she was to give evidence, The Australian's Media Diary column reported.

Her co-hosts were not to discuss the trial on the show, other than reading out the news headlines.

Ms Wilkinson was originally listed as one of 58 witnesses in the trial but was never called in the end.

The ACT Supreme Court jury in Lehrmann's trial was sensationally discharged on Thursday morning after one of 12 jurors brought an academic research paper about sexual assaults into their meeting room.

Ms Wilkinson (pictured, right) will continue to appear on the program when she can on Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings

Lisa Wilkinson was given a set of rules to follow by The Project earlier this month as the trial progressed (pictured, Ms Higgins leaving court after the mistrial on Thursday)

Justice McCallum discharged the jury shortly after 10am, saying it was an 'unfortunate' outcome, and signalled the trial will be re-run in February 2023.

Ms Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, claims her ex-colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in their boss's office inside Parliament House in March 2019.

Mr Lehrmann denied the allegations.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Channel 10 for comment.

Mr Lehrmann was standing trial in the ACT Supreme Court, after pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent.

The co-host won't be reading the headlines for the period the trial features in the news, and won't appear on the show on the days she gives evidence

The trial has heard how Ms Higgins was approached by Ms Wilkinson's husband, Peter FitzSimons, who suggested she write about her life in a $325,000 book deal.

Ms Higgins told the court she met Ms Wilkinson and her husband Mr FitzSimons at an event in early 2021, at which time he told her: 'You need to write a book'.

'[Mr FitzSimons said he] would act as my agent, and I said ''sure'' and within a day he came back with offers,' she told the court.
Downing Street was dragged into a deepening row over Rishi Sunak's decision to reappoint of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary today as senior Tories questioned the decision.

Jake Berry, the former Conservative Party chairman, was among those to speak out about the rightwinger's return just six days after being forced to resign over a ministerial security breach.

The Home Secretary confessed to a 'technical infringement' of ministerial rules in her resignation letter last week. But Sir Jake used a television appearance to allege there had been 'multiple breaches of the ministerial code'.

It came as it was revealed that Ms Braverman, who ran to be Tory leader against Mr Sunak in the summer, was previously probed by Government officials as part of a leak inquiry involving Britain's security services. No evidence was found that she was the source of the leak.

The Times today suggested she has been nicknamed 'Leaky Sue' by insiders after sharing sensitive material with an ally.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman was today forced to insist MI5 is confident in her abilities.

'The Home Secretary continues to have strong relationships with all the operational bodies that report into the Home Office and are focused very much on keeping the country safe,' he said.

But former minister Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said there are 'big questions hanging over this whole issue'.

'To be frank I would like to see them cleared up so that the Home Secretary can get on with her job,' she told the BBC.

'If that means a full inquiry then I think that's the right thing to do.'

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who used to sit on Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, said a 'breakdown' in trust between MI5 and Ms Braverman must be 'sorted ASAP'.

And Labour former Cabinet minister Lord Blunkett warned security and intelligence services at home and abroad may be reluctant to share sensitive information while she remains in the post.

Suella Braverman's reappointment as Home Secretary came just six days after she had been forced to quit the role after admitting to sending an official document from her personal email

Sir Jake Berry, the former Tory chairman, alleged there had been 'multiple breaches of the ministerial code'

Honeymoon over for Rishi Sunak as furious Tories demand ministers end Channel migrant 'farce' Ministers were told to end the 'farce' around Channel migrant crossings today amid fury at the cost of putting up asylum seekers for months while claims are processed. Taxpayers are paying nearly 7million a day to house tens of thousands of people after the Home Office managed to complete just 4 per cent of asylum claims last year. 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 yesterday. In the wake of the revelation, Labour tried to bring Home Secretary Suella Braverman to the Commons to answer questions about conditions at one immigration site, Manston in Kent. But she sent Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick - who has been in the job two days - to face MPs' wrath instead. Conservative former minister Sir Christopher Chope asked: 'What is the target date for ending this farce?' And Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, said: 'Most of my constituents, or many of them, go to France on holiday because it's safe and a nice place to go and they are perplexed with these people coming in because they're creating profits for criminal gangs and I think we do need to crackdown on this particular area.' He asked if Mr Jenrick would visit his French counterpart soon, with the minister replying: 'I will be going to France to meet my opposite number and to meet other elected officials both in Pas-de-Calais and in French government and I do think there is an opportunity afforded to us by the arrival of the new Prime Minister to improve relationships and see what further action we might be able to do together.' Advertisement

Mr Berry queried Mrs Braverman's claim that she had 'rapidly reported' her 'mistake' to Whitehall officials.

'As I understand it, the evidence was put to her and she accepted the evidence, rather than the other way round,' he told TalkTV last night.

Mr Sunak is facing calls to return to Parliament to correct the record after he yesterday told MPs that Mrs Braverman had 'raised the matter' herself.

The Home Secretary this morning declined to appear in the House of Commons to answer an Urgent Question about the migrant processing centre at Manston, Kent.

Nadhim Zahawi, who replace Sir Jake as Tory chairman this week, this morning insisted Mrs Braverman deserves a 'second chance' as Home Secretary.

He claimed Mr Sunak was right to give her a shot at 'redemption' after less than a week out of the Cabinet.

Labour have accused the PM and Mrs Braverman of a 'grubby deal' which, the party claims, saw her support Mr Sunak's Tory leadership campaign in return for getting her old job back.

Speaking at Westminster, Lord Blunkett, who himself served as home secretary under former prime minister Tony Blair, said: 'Isn't it true there could be two really unfortunate outcomes to the reappointment of the current Home Secretary?

'One is that the security and intelligence services will be reluctant to provide the briefings and the openness needed.

'And the second is that other international security agencies will be reluctant to share with us if they are fearful that their information will be passed out of Government itself.'

Replying for the Government, Lady Neville-Rolfe said: 'Ministers receive the security briefing, as he knows, that they need to do their job in an appropriate manner.'

Defending Ms Braverman's reappointment, the minister told peers: 'She brings experience and talents to the job. She apologised, she acknowledged her mistake. That was dealt with by the previous Prime Minister and you have to allow us to look forward.'

She added: 'Ms Braverman wrote a letter to the (then) prime minister. She set out why she was resigning. She resigned in good order and quickly. She deserves another chance.'

The PM yesterday dodged a question by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over whether officials had raised concerns about his decision to reinstall Mrs Braverman.

No10 also declined to deny suggestions that Mr Sunak had been advised against rehiring her - although Downing Street rejected claims that Cabinet Secretary Simon Case was 'livid' over Mrs Braverman's swift return.

Speaking to TalkTV's Piers Morgan Uncensored last night, Sir Jake suggested Mrs Braverman had committed more than one infringement of ministerial rules.

'From my own knowledge, there were multiple breaches of the ministerial code,' he said.

It has been reported Mrs Braverman emailed Cabinet papers to her private Gmail account and then on to senior Tory backbencher Sir John Hayes and, mistakenly, an assistant to another Conservative MP, who raised the alarm.

Sir Jake claimed this represented a 'really serious breach'. He added: 'It was sent from a private email address to another MP.

'She then sought to copy in that individual's wife and accidentally sent it to a staffer in Parliament.

'To me that seems a really serious breach, especially when it was documents relating to cybersecurity, as I believe.

'That seems a really serious breach. The Cabinet Secretary had his say at the time.

'I doubt he's changed his mind in the last six days, but that's a matter for the new PM.'

According to the Daily Mail, Mrs Braverman 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.

The newspaper reported that the investigation, which also involved MI5, ultimately found no 'conclusive evidence' of who the leaker was.

Tory MP Mark Pritchard, a former member of Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, called for 'any breakdown' in the relationship between Mrs Braverman and MI5 to be 'sorted ASAP'.

He tweeted: 'MI5 need to have confidence in the Home Secretary - whoever that might be.

'It's a vital relationship of trust, key to the UK's security & democratic oversight of MI5.

'Any breakdown in that relationship is bad for the Security Service and the government. It needs to be sorted ASAP.'

Mr Zahawi earlier defended Mr Sunak over his decision to reinstate Mrs Braverman.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'She fell on her sword, she didn't try to ride it out and try to hang on to her job.

'This PM looked at the details of this case and he believes in second chances and he's giving Suella Braverman a second chance.

'I believe in redemption, as I'm sure many of your listeners would do as well.'

Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper yesterday wrote to the Cabinet Secretary to demand a full investigation into Mrs Braverman's actions.

She wrote: 'If a full investigation has not yet taken place into the extent of this and other possible security breaches, I am urging you and the Home Office to now urgently undertake such an investigation.

'The public has a right to know that there are proper secure information procedures in place to cover the person who has been given charge of our national security.

'It must include the extent of the Home Secretary's use of private email accounts to circulate Government papers and the extent to which official documents have been sent outside Government.'

Ms Cooper also called for a probe into 'other concerns that have been raised about possible serious information and security breaches' by the Home Secretary.
But Britons accused Noah of 'taking that one call and turning it into a movement'

It came after LBC Radio caller said Mr Sunak 'was not as British as Boris Johnson'

Noah, 38, claimed 'people are saying Indian people want to take over' the UK

Trevor Noah has been accused of inventing a large-scale 'racist backlash' against Rishi Sunak, who became Britain's first ever Prime Minister of colour this week.

The US TV host, 38, sparked fury among his British fans on Twitter after uploading a clip from The Daily Show, entitled: 'Unpacking the Backlash to Rishi Sunak.'

In the three-minute video, which now has nearly a million views on Twitter, Noah claimed there were 'people saying that Indians are going to take over Great Britain' as a response to Mr Sunak's rise to the top job.

Mr Sunak is also the UK's first ever Hindu Prime Minister. His grandparents migrated to the UK in the 1960s and they are all from India, bar his maternal grandmother, who was born in Africa, making him of British-Asian heritage.

Noah, a South African native, said 'seeing the backlash' over Mr Sunak's promotion 'was one of the more telling things about how people view the role that they or their people have played in history'.

In a 'Between the Scenes' segment  his interactions with the audience during the advert breaks  he then launched into a missive about post-colonial power structures and the suppression of black people and women in powerful positions.

It comes after it was revealed last month that Noah will be leaving The Daily Show after viewing figures plummeted by up to 75% following his takeover from American host Jon Stewart in 2013.

Analysts partly blamed this on the shift to online streaming but also on the programme's perceived 'political bias' and penchant for peddling 'woke' ideology.

In his monologue on Mr Sunak, Noah said: 'You hear a lot of people saying: "Oh they're taking over, Indians are going to take over Great Britain and what's next?" and I've always found myself going: "So what?... What are you afraid of?"

'You see people in the UK, you see people like Tucker Carlson [an American Fox News host] all the time saying: ''You know what they're trying to do... they won't stop until black people and women are in positions of power''... So what?'

He added: 'Why are you so afraid? I think it's because the quiet part a lot of people don't realise they are saying is: ''We don't want these people who were previously oppressed to get into power because then they may do to us what we did to them.'''

His analysis was blasted by British political commentators, who accused Noah of 'projecting' America's race problem onto Britain.

Piers Morgan fumed on Twitter: 'There's been no such backlash against Sunak, you race-baiting twerps. Why does US media keep falsely portraying Britain as a racist country?'

GB News Political commentator Tom Harwood added: 'What backlash? Where? You're making things up.'

Meanwhile, Talk TV's Mike Graham was more blunt, writing: 'You do wonder if Americans are the thickest people on the planet.'

Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak #BetweenTheScenes pic.twitter.com/MJNPgv5APK  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 26, 2022

Trevor Noah, 38, sparked fury among his British fans on Twitter after uploading a segment from his programme The Daily Show, entitled: 'Unpacking the Backlash to Rishi Sunak'

British political commentators, including Piers Morgan, were less than impressed by Trevor Noah's comments

Viewers of the show were also unimpressed, as one tweeted: 'There's been virtually no backlash to the appointment of an Indian man as PM in Britain (other than the fact the process was an undemocratic joke). But his race hasn't been brought up in the negative by anyone.

'American TV and American audiences do an awful lot of projecting.'

Another fan wrote: 'I love @Trevornoah but this is not true by any stretch of the imagination.

'Across the broad spectrum of British society people are genuinely proud that a person of South Asian descent is PM.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Noah for comment.

In the video, Noah added that people needn't fear of anyone 'taking over' and repeating colonial horrors, adding: 'Go to all these colonies around the world, go to all the places where the British ruled, go to South Africa or wherever it is... unless people are being delusional, people aren't turning on anybody.

'It's not like Barack Obama became president and said: ''Alright, where are the white people? Time to show them what's up!'' Didn't happen.

'People are complaining saying: ''I can't believe Rishi Sunak is... you've got this Indian man who is..." yo, King Charles is still the king of Jamaica... think about that for a second.

'What do you think is going to happen? You're just giving yourself away... it's amazing when people say the quiet part out loud.'

He added: 'People need to ask themselves that question... why are you afraid of power shifting to another gender or another race?'

Other Twitter users branded Noah 'out of touch' with the reality of UK politics, while another wrote: 'Could it be that @Trevornoah is projecting the US onto somewhere which isn't the US again?...

'While some small pockets made racist comments this isn't true of the UK by any stretch of the imagination. Can I recommend speaking to some Brits.'

In a three-minute clip, which has more than 950,000 views on Twitter, Noah claimed there were 'people saying that Indians are going to take over Great Britain' as a response to Mr Sunak's rise to the top job of prime minister

Noah's segment was likely to be inspired by a telephone call from an LBC Radio listener last week, who suggested Mr Sunak 'doesn't love England' and 'isn't even British in most people's opinion.' But after a Noah fan shared a clip of the call under the comedian's video, Twitter users insisted it did not represent the view of any large number of people

Noah's segment was inspired by a telephone call from an LBC Radio listener last week, who suggested Mr Sunak 'doesn't love England' and 'isn't even British in most people's opinion.'

The caller claimed to be a Conservative Party member when he called into host Sangita Myska's show.

Speaking on Sunday, before Mr Sunak won the race to become PM, the caller said: 'Rishi's not gonna win it. Rishi's not even British, in most people's opinion. He's got American allegiance, his family's American. They're Indian businesspeople. He'll go live in America no doubt. He doesn't love England like Boris does.'

When Ms Myska insisted Mr Sunak was born in Southampton, making him British, he added: 'Lots of people are, half of al-Qaeda are British citizens. I'm just saying having a British passport doesn't mean you're a true English patriot who loves England.'

But after a Noah fan shared a clip of the call in response to the comedian's video, Twitter users insisted it did not represent the view of any large number of people.

One wrote: 'You do realise a few isolated cases doesn't make a widespread backlash don't you? If you search hard enough you will find someone that espouses any view you can think of.'

Another said: 'In a population of 68 million it's easy to find these examples. The reality is the overwhelming majority of Brits don't think like this.'

Don't call Rishi Sunak the UK's first Asian PM in front of @ronnychieng pic.twitter.com/IgnzVk8r62  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 25, 2022

It comes after a previous segment in Noah's show by comedian Ronny Chieng also faced criticism from British Indian/Asian viewers this week.

In a 45-second skit discussing Mr Sunak, Chieng declared that 'Indians are not Asians', adding: 'If this guy is Asian, how come when he became prime minister I felt absolutely nothing?'

He added: 'I love how Indians try to have it both ways, like being Indian AND Asian, pick a lane, okay?'

Sunder Katwala, director of UK immigration charity British Future, wrote in response online: 'This is just rude and silly. Of course, he identifies as British Asian and British Indian, and that is how he is seen by British Indians, British Asians and other British people. If America uses terms differently, that's fine for America.'
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James Stunt has told his 266million dirty money trial that he and his wife F1 heiress ex-wife Petra Ecclestone used mobile phones to communicate in their Los Angeles mansion because it was 'so massive' - as the court was shown a photo of the grinning socialite posing with King Charles III.

Stunt's prized photo with the monarch - never before published - was shown to the jury at his money-laundering and forgery trial today.

The socialite, 40, allegedly received 46million as part of a gang that laundered millions of pounds of criminal cash over a three-year period. Prosecutors have claimed that he may have been involved in the alleged scheme because the breakdown of his marriage to Miss Ecclestone meant the 'river of money' from her family was 'running dry'.

Leeds Cloth Hall Court has already heard of Stunt's various associations with King Charles in the past. He told the court that the then Prince of Wales had written a eulogy for Lee Stunt's funeral in 2016 which was read out at the service.

Stunt's many charitable donations included 65,000 to the Prince's Trust and 50,000 to Dumfries House, and he told the jury that he once leant office space to his friend Sir Michael Peat, Prince Charles' former principal private secretary.

Asked about the photograph of him with the future king by his barrister Richard Fisher QC, Stunt - who was giving evidence for a second day in his defence today - said he could not be sure exactly when it was taken, but confirmed it was between 2014 and 2016, the period covered by the criminal indictment.

'That's now King Charles III, was the Prince of Wales. It was taken either at Clarence House or St James' Palace, I can't be sure which, but not Buckingham Palace. I visited Buckingham Palace, but that wasn't this occasion', he said, adding: 'There is more than one photo of me and His Majesty'.

At Stunt's 266million money laundering trial:

Stunt said his house in Los Angeles was 'so massive' that he and his ex-wife Petra often used to use their mobile phones to communicate;

'We would call each other even if we were on the same floor it was so big,' he said;

Asked directly by Mr Fisher whether he had ever laundered money, Stunt insisted: 'I have never laundered money, I have never even washed a fiver under a bar of soap';

Stunt recalled an exclusive charity ball called the Ormeley Dinner in 2015, which his firm Stunt & Co, sponsored for 150,000, and he donated four gold bars to be auctioned at the event;

Shown a photograph of the gleaming gold bars in their presentation case, he said 'These were the pride of my life, bar my children, obviously';

The court heard that Petra Ecclestone used to joke that she was the 'richest PA in the world' because he used to dictate his emails to her on account of his hyslexia;

Stunt was accused of asking his PA Francesca Sota to forge his signature to pay around 320,000 for an Andy Warhol painting from a London gallery while he was 'jacked up on morphine' in hospital in Los Angeles in 2015;

He dismissed the forgery charge and said businessmen including his father and Bernie Ecclestone have stamps with their signatures on, adding: 'Bernie Ecclestone does it, my father does it, if that's a crime you should lock up half the court';

Stunt also said that he knew former prime minister David Cameron 'intimately'.

The court was shown a picture of James Stunt with the-then Prince of Wales, Charles, which the defendant said was taken either at Clarence House or St James' Palace'

Socialite James Stunt and Helena Robinson arriving at Leeds Cloth Hall Court

Stunt pictured with his then fiancee Petra Ecclestone in 2011

Petra Ecclestone's 'massive' mansion in Los Angeles

Stunt arriving at Leeds Cloth Hall Court for his 266million dirty money trial

Stunt 'asked his PA to forge his signature to buy a 320k Andy Warhol painting while he was jacked up on morphine in LA hospital' Stunt was asked by his barrister Richard Fisher KC about a forgery charge he faces concerning a financial instrument from his private bankers, Arbuthnot Latham, on which his PA allegedly forged his signature to pay around 320,000 for a Warhol painting. Stunt said he was in hospital in LA in February 2015 following a tennis injury to his back when he had to be stretchered off the court and was 'jacked up on morphine'. He said: 'It was the first time I have ever tried morphine. I was floating on a cloud, you vomit and things, but it's a wonderful feeling.' Stunt said he had tried to buy a painting by the US artist with one of his 'multiple bank accounts' but 'made a human error and didn't realise there weren't enough funds in the account'. Jurors have previously heard that on February 9, 2015, Stunt told the Arbuthnot Latham private bank that he was going to write a cheque to be drawn on his account for 320,000. Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke KC said a document was sent for Stunt to sign before they would allow him to draw the additional funds from the account. The court heard an email from Stunt to Sota said: 'Sorry to call so late was in hospital I made payment my bank is saying I need to sign something meaning they have not made them please forge my signature first thing in the morning get Lee or witness it yourself please this must be signed and emailed to the relevant parties. Thank you x.' Later, it was said, Stunt wrote: 'Call me as soon as you can I need that bank thing signed witnessed and sent to them or the payment won't be sent that screws me badly!' An email from Sota was later sent to the bank saying: 'Please find attached the signed document by Mr Stunt and myself as a witness.' Stunt told jurors he was 'a man of integrity' and 'didn't prejudice a bank'. He said: 'It's my own money, I think this (forgery) is a laughable charge.' The defendant said he 'didn't mean to put (Sota) in any precarious position' and 'didn't know this was even an offence'. Advertisement

The court also heard that Stunt allegedly asked his PA Francesca Sota to forge his signature to pay around 320,000 for an Andy Warhol painting from a London gallery while he was 'jacked up on morphine' in hospital in Los Angeles in 2015.

The prosecution has said Stunt sent an email to Sota asking her to 'forge' his signature, reading: 'Sorry to call so late was in hospital I made payment my bank is saying I need to sign something meaning they have not made them please forge my signature first thing in the morning get [his brother] Lee or witness it yourself please this must be signed and emailed to the relevant parties. Thank you x.'

Later, Stunt said 'Call me as soon as you can I need that bank thing signed witnessed and sent to them or the payment won't be sent that screws me badly!'.

Stunt said he lost his temper with the LA medical staff who wanted him to stay in hospital for a second night. Dismissing the forgery charge, he said businessmen including his father and Bernie Ecclestone have stamps with their signatures on, adding: 'Bernie Ecclestone does it, my father does it, if that's a crime you should lock up half the court.'

He said: 'It was the first time I have ever tried morphine. I was floating on a cloud, you vomit and things, but it's a wonderful feeling.'

Stunt said he had tried to buy a painting by the US artist with one of his 'multiple bank accounts' but 'made a human error and didn't realise there weren't enough funds in the account'.

Jurors have previously heard that on February 9, 2015, Stunt told the Arbuthnot Latham private bank that he was going to write a cheque to be drawn on his account for 320,000.

Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke KC said a document was sent for Stunt to sign before they would allow him to draw the additional funds from the account.

The court heard an email from Stunt to Sota said: 'Sorry to call so late was in hospital I made payment my bank is saying I need to sign something meaning they have not made them please forge my signature first thing in the morning get Lee or witness it yourself please this must be signed and emailed to the relevant parties. Thank you x.'

Later, it was said, Stunt wrote: 'Call me as soon as you can I need that bank thing signed witnessed and sent to them or the payment won't be sent that screws me badly!'

An email from Sota was later sent to the bank saying: 'Please find attached the signed document by Mr Stunt and myself as a witness.'

Stunt told jurors he was 'a man of integrity' and 'didn't prejudice a bank'.

He said: 'It's my own money, I think this (forgery) is a laughable charge.'

The defendant said he 'didn't mean to put (Sota) in any precarious position' and 'didn't know this was even an offence'.

'I didn't mean forgery. Forge can mean a friendship, I could forge a friendship with you Your Honour,' Stunt said. 'I meant, please make my signature in my name.

'I thought it was part of her duties (as a personal assistant).'

During the hearing, Stunt said his severe dyslexia mean that he did not use emails himself because his spelling and grammar were 'embarrassing'.

'I always dictated emails to my wife,' Stunt told the court, 'She used to joke to me 'I'm the richest PA in the world, James' and she once made me write my own email and the spelling and grammar were embarrassing.

'She had a smartphone and I didn't. Everyone knew [about his dyslexia], Petra Ecclestone, [her sister] Tamara Ecclestone, there were no secrets in the House of Ecclestone, there was nothing to hide.'

Stunt is one of eight defendants on trial over an alleged network which the court heard saw millions of pounds deposited in the bank account of Bradford gold dealer Fowler Oldfield over two years. Prosecutors claim the 'criminal cash' was brought into business addresses owned or managed by Stunt and his co-defendants between January 2014 and September 2016.

Stunt with Bernie Ecclestone, Petra Ecclestone, Tamara Ecclestone and Omar Khyami

Stunt pictured with his then-wife Petra Ecclestone at the Monaco Grand Prix in May 2012

Stunt tells trial he regarded ex-father-in-law Bernie Ecclestone as a 'mentor' Asked about his former father-in-law, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, Stunt said he regarded him as a 'mentor'. 'I respected Bernie Ecclestone and looked up to him as a mentor, I really did,' he told the court. 'He is a great businessman and I will never put him down.' Referring to Mr Ecclestone's purchase of Queen's Park Rangers FC in 2007 for just 1, though the club was saddled with debts of 5m, he said he was the only man every to make a profit on a football club. Mr Ecclestone sold the club four years later to Tony Fernandes, the owner of the Caterham F1 team for a reported 50million. Stunt said he had never claimed to be a billionaire himself, adding: 'I have never once walked into a room and said ''Hi, James Stunt, billionaire''.' Advertisement

The court has heard that Stunt took 'a very hands-on approach' as his company became involved in the 'sophisticated' 266million money-laundering operation, prosecutors.

Leeds Cloth Hall Court previously heard that hundreds of thousands of pounds at a time was brought in carrier bags and holdalls to Fowler Oldfield in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke KC has said the defendants hid the origin of the money by washing it through a company bank account and using the proceeds to buy gold.

On Wednesday jurors were shown messages between Stunt's employees and co-defendants Alex Tulloch and Francesca Sota, and staff at Fowler Oldfield. The court heard one message from Tulloch in November 2015 said: 'James not happy though... James wants to know what his profit is for this week. Concerned about profitability etc.'

The court was told another message from Tulloch in April 2016, when Stunt was living out of the country, said: 'Ensure that I get updated at least daily on  in London and Bradford. Gold sold: Lock ins (Scotia), Cookson's, Dubai. Refining: Any material coming out of the refinery.'

Mr Clarke said this showed Stunt was 'taking a very hands-on approach even though he was a very long way away at the time'.

He said that Stunt was the owner and director of Stunt & Co but 'delegated much of the responsibility to others'.

The prosecutor told the court: 'He was not involved in the day-to-day management of the buying and selling of gold and was not included in most of the correspondence via electronic means.

'However, emails between others demonstrate that he was very much aware of and authorised what was going on.'

Jurors were told the alleged money laundering then 'went national' as one of Fowler Oldfield's directors, Greg Frankel, became a vice president of Stunt & Co, and Stunt's premises in London also started receiving cash.

Five defendants from Fowler Oldfield - Greg Frankel, Daniel Rawson, Paul Miller, Heidi Buckler and Haroon 'Harry' Rashid - all say the prosecution cannot prove that any of the cash was criminal property.

Stunt and the defendants from his company - Tulloch and Sota - say they 'don't know whether it was', the court has heard.

But prosecutors say it is 'blindingly obvious this was criminal cash' and each of the defendants 'must at the very least have suspected that the source of the money was criminal in origin'.

Lee Stunt (pictured seated, right) was another alleged member what prosecutors have described as a sophisticated 266m money laundering operation. He passed away in 2016

Jurors were told West Yorkshire Police launched Operation Larkshot to investigate large amounts of cash being credited to the bank account of Fowler Oldfield and collected from three sites - Fowler Oldfield's own premises, the offices of James Stunt in central London and a new company called Pure Nines in Hatton Garden.

Mr Clarke said substantial amounts of cash were being paid into a bank account of Fowler Oldfield Limited from 2014.

He told jurors they aroused the suspicions of bank staff because 'they were of such an amount, on a daily basis, as may come from a Premier League football stadium on a match day or similar size venue or event'.

The wider investigation discovered that from January 1 2014 until September 16 2016, more than 266million in cash and unknown deposits were paid into the Fowler Oldfield bank account, the court heard.

Buckler, 45, Frankel, 44, Miller, 45, Rashid, 51, Rawson, 45, Sota, 34, Stunt, 40 and Tulloch, 41, all deny money laundering.

Stunt and Sota also deny forgery.

Stunt married Ms Ecclestone, daughter of F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone, in Italy in 2011. They had three children together but divorced in 2017.

The trial continues.
There have been a series of attacks in the New York subway in recent weeks

Police have released photos of a crazed attacker who shoved an unsuspecting 22-year-old woman down a flight of stairs at a Queens subway station, in the latest unprovoked assault in the New York underground.

The victim was standing on the platform at the 82nd Street station waiting for a northbound No. 7 train when a man approached her from behind and began punching her in the face, police said Wednesday.

He continued assaulting her before pushing her down the stairs, throwing her bag after her when she was laying at the bottom of the stairs.

The man then turned about-heel and left the injured women on the lower platform of the subway.

As of October 16 the NYPD, has recorded 22 subway attacks this year. Since that date three more New Yorkers have been attacked  one of them fatally  pushing the total well above the 21 which occurred all of last year.

DCPI released photos of a man who punched a woman in the face multiple times before pushing her down the staircase leading to the mezzanine, photographer on October 23

Emergency services soon arrived and took her to Elmhurst Hospital, where they diagnosed her with a a compression fracture to her back and treated injuries to her left knee, back and right hand.

Police are asking for the public's help identifying the attacker, releasing an image of the suspect on Wednesday.

The incident took place on October 23 but was only disclosed by police in the past few days.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

The attack came on the same day that a New York City commuter was stabbed in the neck while trying to break up a fight between two women on the subway.

Dozens of people have been attacked in the subway this year.

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

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

Tommy Bailey, 43, was onboard the L train to Atlantic Ave Station in Brooklyn when he got into an argument with homeless passenger Alvin Charles, who was harassing a cop on September 30. The homeless man pulled out a knife and slashed Bailey in the throat

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.

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.

Smith is facing six charges: two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of assault, attempted assault and harassment, according to a criminal complaint.

Arrested after another incident, Lamale McRae, 41, was arraigned Monday night on charges of attempted murder after allegedly pushing a 52-year-old female victim on the tracks on October 21.

Deshaun Smith, 21, (left) is facing six charges: two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of assault, attempted assault and harassment. Lamale McRae, 41, (right) was arraigned Monday night on charges of attempted murder after allegedly pushing a 52-year-old female victim on the tracks

Migel Ramirez, 35, (left) allegedly ran behind a man and pushed him in to the path of the oncoming train before fleeing the station as other, shocked onlookers rushed to the victim's aid. Theodore Ellis, 30, (pictured right) was arrested on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment, the police department said

In January, police led Simon Martial (left) out of a precinct after he shoved Michelle Go onto the tracks in Times Square. Also in October, homeless man Alvin Charles (right) was arrested and charged with the murder of Tommy Bailey, 43

In the same month, homeless man Alvin Charles was arrested and charged with the murder of Tommy Bailey, 43 for pushing him on the tracks earlier in the year.

On October 15, inside of the East 149 Street and Southern Boulevard station, another 26-year-old male victim was standing on the northbound platform of the 6 train when an unknown individual, unprovoked, pushed the victim off the platform

Migel Ramirez, 35, allegedly ran behind a man and pushed him in to the path of the oncoming train before fleeing the station as other, shocked onlookers rushed to the victim's aid.

October was a particularly prolific month for subway shovers, with at least five incidents occurring so far.

Police said they believed the attacks 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.

On June 5, a suspect pushed a 52-year-old female victim on the tracks.

Theodore Ellis, 30, was later arrested on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment, the police department said.

In January, police charged Simon Martial after he allegedly shoved Michelle Go onto the tracks in Times Square.

Overall crime in New York City has increased by 30.5 percent compared with last year

Last Thursday, New York City Police began their day by looking for a samurai sword-wielding assailant wearing a ninja suit who attacked another passenger at a subway station

After the series of attacks, Baptiste, an electrician and grandfather from the Bronx, issued a tearful plea begging Mayor Eric Adams to take action and make the network safe again while recounting his recent attack.

Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor 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 MTA has asked 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.
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh has issued a formal apology to 'all those who suffered profound physical and mental abuse from the City's past involvement in colonialism and slavery'.

The civic apology comes after the Labour-run city council accepted all ten recommendations made by a report, chaired by Sir Geoff Palmer, into the city's historic links with slavery and colonialism in response to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.

The first recommendation made by the review group was that the council publicly acknowledges the city's past role in sustaining slavery and colonialism and issues an apology to those places and people who suffered.

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge opened a meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council this morning by saying: 'The decision provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on the city's role in the rise of colonialism and the part played by some of our forefathers in slavery and the economic benefits of it.

'It is impossible to look out from this building across the city and not see how the landscape of the city was shaped by the wealth generated from colonialism and slavery.

Lord Provost Robert Aldridge (pictured offering King Charles the keys in a symbolic ceremony last month) has apologised on behalf of Edinburgh for the city's past role in sustaining slavery and colonialism

The apology comes after the city council accepted all ten recommendations made by a report into the city's historic links with slavery and colonialism in response to the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Pictured: graffiti on a statue of Robert Viscount Melville in Edinburgh following the protests

'The effects of colonialism and slavery are deeply embedded in the fabric of our city, in the buildings, in the institutions and even in the way that Edinburgh is laid out.

'We cannot deny the benefits that the city has accrued over the years from the exploitation of others and in particular the continent and peoples of Africa.

'Coming to terms with our past and recognising the detriment our ancestors have wrought through colonialism and slavery is very difficult for us all.

'But try we must to reconcile our past with the generations of today in order that we can move forward, united in our common goals of equality, fraternity and liberty.

'Through the establishment of the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review, led by Professor Geoff Palmer, Edinburgh is aiming to fill the gap in knowledge and understanding about the city's past.

'I wish to thank Geoff and his team most sincerely for producing a world leading piece of work on the subject which will help shape policy and engagement in our city for the foreseeable future.

'It is appropriate to start this process with a formal apology.

'So as Civic Leader of the city and Convener of the Council, I apologise to all those who suffered profound physical and mental abuse from the City's past involvement in colonialism and slavery.'

Following the apology, the next action will be the creation of an independent Legacy Commission, supported by the council.

Sir Geoff, of Heriot-Watt University, who became Scotland's first black professor in 1989, said in August that he hopes that all sides of history will be taught in schools.

The first recommendation made by the Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review group, led by Sir Geoff Palmer (pictured), was that the council publicly issues an apology to those places and people who suffered by slavery and colonialism

The Lord Provost said Edinburgh cannot deny the 'benefits that the city has accrued over the years from the exploitation of others'. Pictured: The controversial Melville Monument erected in 1821 in memory of Conservative politician Dundas who delayed the abolition of the slave trade

He said: 'Everybody has got to be included or it doesn't make sense and that's what we're hoping for the curriculum development, is that it is our history.

'That is how I think it should be taught and that's how it will change attitudes because you cannot explain racism in any other way.

'By talking about the impact of the delegation of black people and then justifying the enslavement, people will understand that.'

The independent Edinburgh Slavery and Colonialism Legacy Review was commissioned following the Black Lives Mater protests in 2020.

The report noted a number of prominent locations and buildings in Edinburgh with links to the slave trade, adding that 74 slave-owning New Town residents received compensation for the loss of their 'property' upon abolition in 1833.

One location highlighted in the report was the First Minister's official residence in Charlotte Square, of which three historic owners 'directly benefited from Atlantic slavery'.

India Street and Jamaica Street in Edinburgh's New Town were also noted as a 'celebration of the empire', as well as St Andrew Square's Melville Monument, dedicated to the Scottish politician Henry Dundas, who used his influence to delay the abolition of slave trade a further 15 years.
Judge said circumstances were 'tragic', but that TikTok could not be held liable

Nylah Anderson died after copying 'blackout challenge' that she saw on TikTok

A wrongful death lawsuit that claimed TikTok was responsible for the death of a 10-year-old who took part in a so-called 'blackout challenge' after seeing it on the app has been thrown out by a federal judge.

Taiwanna Anderson found her daughter Nylah unconscious after she copied the 'blackout challenge' at their home in Pennsylvania in December 2021. The 'blackout challenge' videos encourage users to choke themselves until they pass out.

After finding Nylah unconscious, Anderson attempted CPR on her daughter before emergency responders rushed her to a local hospital. Nylah died five days later as a result of her severe injuries.

With the challenge having appeared on Nylah's 'For You' page, Taiwanna Anderson tried to sue TikTok and the parent company ByteDance in May.

Federal Judge Paul Diamond granted TikTok's motion to dismiss the case on Tuesday and ruled that the app is protected under Section 230 of the Communicatons Decency Act. The act protects internet platforms from being held liable for the content produced by third parties on their platform.

Nylah Anderson died copying the dangerous 'blackout challenge' that she saw on TikTok in December 2021.

Diamond said the circumstances were 'tragic' but agreed with TikTok and ByteDance that they could not be held liable.

The federal judge also wrote in a memorandum: 'Defendants did not create the Challenge; rather, they made it readily available on their site.

'Defendants' algorithm was a way to bring the Challenge to the attention of those likely to be most interested in it. In thus promoting the work of others, Defendants published that work  exactly the activity Section 230 shields from liability.'

Jeffrey Goodman, a lawyer for the girl's mother, Taiwanna 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.'

The mother of Nylah, Taiwanna Anderson, appeared in a press conference with her lawyers Bob Mongeluzzi (left) and Jeffery Anderson (right).

Section 230 protects internet platforms like TikTok from being held liable for the content produced on their platforms by third parties.

Mr Goodman added: 'The federal Communications Decency Act (CDA) was never intended to allow social media companies to send dangerous content to children.'

The lawsuit was among several that have been filed in relation to the 'blackout challenge'. The families of two young girls aged eight and nine sued TikTok in July after the children died after copying the 'blackout challenge'.

A 12-year-old boy died in April 2021 after attempting the challenge.

TikTok and other social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, owned by Meta Platforms Inc, and YouTube, with its parent company Alphabet Inc, are facing a growing number of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable for causing young people to become addicted to their products, and in some cases causing harm.

Such failed attempts to hold social media platforms liable have also been seen as an example by many as to the need to bring in additional legislation alongside Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
The names and faces of brave Russians defying Vladimir Putin's crackdown to oppose the Ukraine war from within have been revealed in a new documentary.

Activists risking their lives to protest include Sasha, who is facing up to 10 years in jail for placing fake price tags containing anti-war slogans on supermarket shelves.

Another, Natalia, has been using a SIM card she bought while studying in the UK to broadcast anti-war messages on TikTok, while journalists and mothers Olga and Elena have been trying to document the true death toll.

Their exploits were captured by a documentary-maker who gave his name only as Vasiliy, who is also Russian, who said he wanted to show that not all of his countrymen support Putin's war.

Alexandra, an activist, was caught putting up stickers in supermarkets with anti-war slogans and now faces 10 years in jail for spreading 'false information'

Elena (left) and Olga (right) have been trying to document the true toll of Putin's war, and were arrested and interrogated by police

'I think people are generally supportive of what is going on, and they see this as a great struggle between Russia and the collective West', he said.

'The Russian government wants people to believe that everyone is supporting the war. But it's not true, it doesn't work like that.

'I wanted to give a voice to the people opposing the war that Putin started, who are opposing the repressions that are going on within the country.'

Sasha - full name Alexandra - was arrested early during Putin's war for copying an online trend of placing fake price tags in supermarkets featuring anti-war slogans.

One of them included a message telling Russians about the March bombing of a theatre in Mariupol where civilians were hiding, killing an estimated 400 people.

Sonia, her partner, explained: 'The official line is that this did not happen so it is considered a fake statement against the Russian army and therefore a criminal offence (punishable by up to 15 years in jail).

'I remember well the day Sasha was arrested. She was informed against by a pensioner. Using CCTV they monitored her and tracked her to a friend's house.'

Despite repeated attempts to get her released on bail, Sasha has remained behind bars since. In September, she was charged and now faces a lengthy jail sentence.

Another activist, Natalia, lived in the UK for 10 years until 2021 when she decided to return to Russia to be near her family - just months before the war broke out.

Though Russia has cracked down on news from outside the country and spoon-feeds its population propaganda via state TV channels, Natalia has kept in touch with the outside world using a British SIM card she brought with her.

Natalia, who lived in the UK for 10 years but is now back in Russia, uses a British SIM card to post anti-war videos to TikTok (left and right)

This is the anti-war sticker - disguised as a supermarket price label - that Alexandra was arrested for posting after a pensioner tipped off police

Natalia also uses it to post TikTok videos documenting how the war is being presented to Russians while trying to cut through lies being peddled by the state.

Though her posts can get more than half a million views each, she has so-far managed to avoid being caught by police - though she did have a 'Z' war symbol scrawled on the wall outside her house.

Despite the implicit threat, she vowed: 'I would rather put myself in danger than just being quiet about it.'

Olga and Elena are both journalists and mothers from the Baikal region of Siberia, who founded a magazine called 'People of Baikal' two years before the war.

As Putin launched his invasion, they both knew that a crackdown on independent media would inevitably follow - which would mean their magazine being either censored or shut down.

But they both decided on the first day of the war to continue publishing uncensored 'whatever the cost' and began covering protest movements.

Soon, coffins began arriving back home and it became quickly apparent that Russia was not being truthful about the number of troops it was losing - so the pair switched focus to document those being killed in their region.

They now publish an online database which contains more than 400 names of soldiers from Baikal who have died fighting.

The pair also track down the relatives of those who have died to find out why they went to war and how they were treated.

In the film, they speak to relatives of one young soldier - Yura - who was killed in Mariupol back in March.

His family claim he ran off to join the militia of the Donetsk People's Republic in March 2021 because a criminal conviction prevented him joining the regular army.

Vasiliy, a documentary-maker, said he wanted to show people that not everybody inside Russia is in favour of Putin's war - though he admits that most people are

They say he was supposed to return in March this year, but all troops were prevented from going as the war got underway in late February.

Yura, his commander and one other comrade were killed by falling masonry as they tried to storm the city - where they stayed buried for 'a long time' until their comrades finally dug them out.

The squad had to pay for a car to transport Yura's body home, where his family had to pick up the costs for his funeral. As a member of a militia, he does not qualify for state payments issued to families of regular soldiers who die.

But their work has come at a price. The pair were taken in for questioning by police and subjected to intense interrogation.

While they were not arrested, they have moved to get their families out of Russia to protect them and their own future in the country is uncertain.

Meanwhile documentary-maker Vasiliy has also been forced to flee in order to avoid Putin's order to press 300,000 reservists into the military.

Natalia, meanwhile, says her own future in Russia is in doubt following the death of her father from cancer.

Her mother has been completely swallowed by Russian propaganda supporting the war, meaning she has few reasons to stay - and fears for her safety.

Inside Russia: Putins War at Home is on ITV at 10.45pm tonight
A furious former defence chief is today demanding to know 'what the bloody hell is going on' after it was revealed ex-RAF pilots were making a financial killing passing on their skills to Chinese fighter aces.

Admiral Lord Alan West has demanded an official inquiry into worrying reports Beijing had recruited as many as 30 former British fighter pilots to pass on their expertise on ways to defeat western warplanes.

Chinese military officials have been accused of luring the retired fast-jet experts with hefty annual salaries of around 240,000 to pass on secret tactics, which prompted a 'threat alert' from the British Government.

The news has left MPs worried, with the heads of two of Parliament's most influential committees today demanding Defence Secretary Ben Wallace reveals just how much the Ministry of Defence (MoD) knew about the scandal.

Former security minister Lord West has now ramped up the pressure on Whitehall by calling for an official probe into the situation.

The 74-year-old Cold War commander and former head of the Royal Navy told MailOnline: 'China is a threat to our nation and British fighter pilots should just not be going out there to train the Chinese.

Former RAF top gun Keith Hartley has been at the centre of Beijings recruitment drive of British pilots

'We have trained these pilots at immense cost  it probably costs British taxpayers 4.5 million for each pilot - and I'm not at all happy that they are passing on all this training on to the Chinese.

'We really do need to look at this and see what the bloody hell is going on. We need to close this loophole. We need to get to the bottom of what is going on and we need to put a stop to it.'

Lord West's comments come just hours after the heads of the Defence Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee wrote a joint letter to Mr Wallace.

In the 292-word document, the heads of the committees, Tobias Ellwood and Alicia Kearns, demanded to know whether the retired RAF pilots had breached the Official Secrets Act by carrying out the training.

And they urged the MoD to lay out what action military chiefs are doing to 'address the threat posed by having former serving personnel training adversary nations'.

'We are concerned by these reports and wish to gain a greater understanding of the scale of the matter and the nature of the former personnel involved,' Mr Ellwood and Ms Kearns wrote.

Test Pilot Keith Hartley conducted the 'cockpit habitability trial' in his open top Tornado XZ630 in 1988

Defence sources have warned that RAF pilots will be prosecuted if they are found to have shared state secrets during flying lessons in China.

The comments come just days after it was revealed that among the Brits in China training Beijing's fighter pilots was former RAF ace, Keith Hartley.

Mr Hartley, formerly know by the military call-sign 'Hooligan', has been at the centre of Beijings recruitment drive in his role as Chief Operating Officer at a firm called the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA).

He has operated there and in China where, according to a TFASA company profile he was responsible for teaching, contracts and developing business.

Based at Oudtshoorn, TFASA was named and shamed by an intelligence briefing by UK spooks for recruiting British, Australian, Canadian and New Zealand pilots to work for China.

They are being lured by Beijing with promises of eye-watering salaries, school fees, luxury apartments and unlimited airline tickets to and from the repressive country.

As TFASAs Chief Operating Officer, Mr Hartley is understood to have played a highly significant role in the recruitment of Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots.

TFASA has headhunted former officers who played key roles in some of the UKs most sensitive defence projects, including development of the 2.8 billion F-35B Lightning stealth jet and Britains 6.4 billion aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

Earlier this month, UK officials indicated the Chinese had been unsuccessful in their attempts to lure anyone with expertise in Britains state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning jet.

But research by the Daily Mail has revealed this is not entirely the case, with Royal Navy pilot Stephen Crockatt - who was 'UK Team Lead' on the F-35B Integrated Test Force between 2017-2019, had spent time working with the Chinese.

Admiral Lord Alan West was a former First Sea Lord and security minister. He has demanded urgent answers after it was revealed up to 30 ex-RAF top guns had been hired to train Chinese fighter pilots

On his LinkedIn profile he provides more details of the role, saying he led the ITF developmental team to deliver the evidence required to support the UK F-35 operating capability and ensure support to U.S./UK interoperability goals. He also boasts that he became TFASAs Deputy Chief Test Pilot Instructor.

Mr Crockatt worked in Beijing, in exchange for a large cheque. Yes, I did go to China with TFASA, a lot of people did, he admitted. But I cannot fly an F-35. I work in flight test training.

'I told the Chinese how to set up a flight test school, making sure people are there on time and the safety is in place. The MoD are fully aware. I did nothing tactical for TFASA  but they got involved with other things with the Chinese.

Other pilots, speaking on condition of anonymity, have suggested the training of PLA pilots by British officers has been going on far longer, perhaps for as long as 20 years.

One said: It would make your eyes water, its been happening for that long, clandestinely. At first I thought it was a two-way thing, with us getting as much information from the Chinese as we were passing to them. But I dont think so any more. It is just about money and there is nothing in place to stop it.

Despite mounting concerns in Whitehall, the Government has been powerless to end the training scheme because no laws had been broken.

However, British security agencies have not been sitting idly by and have instead launched counter-intelligence operation, it has been reported.

In an astounding double-bluff, spooks are said to have approached a small group of the Western pilots, asking them to 'wear two hats' and hoover up sensitive intelligence on China's military tech, tactics and capabilities.

RAF pilots who help China are enticed with large salaries and offers to fly their fifth-generation fighter jet the J-20, pictured

It's understood the pilots, who were not trained intelligence officers and from a mix of nationalities, agreed to the covert operation.

The undercover operatives were given their own handlers and tasked with taking a mental note of China's fleet of next-generation fighter jets.

One source told the Daily Express that the UK had 'played China at its own game' - and won. 'This was a rather unprecedented situation,' he told the paper, confirming all the assets had now left China and the operation had ended.

The biggest fear is that British pilots could unwittingly be sharing secrets that could potentially put lives at risk.

It's been a concern that has been on the in-tray of Britain's intelligence services for three years.

TFASA was formed in 2003 with the South African governments political backing to pursue friendship and cooperation with China.

This year China has enlisted as many as 24 RAF and Royal Navy officers, again on promises of enormous wages and lengthy contracts. Pictured are Chinese fighter pilots

Details of TFASAs management structure suggest Mr Hartley has been responsible for the academys Military Operational Flight Training for both fixed wing and rotary aircraft.

Meanwhile, a company profile from 2019 said: Keith has carried out complete weapons system programmes from initial design to flight testing and introduction to service. Keith has been a senior member of TFASA staff since 2005 and has been engaged in long and short-course teaching of test pilots in a variety of civil and military programmes.

TFASA has also met Chinas requirement for Royal Navy Wildcat and Merlin helicopter pilots, specifically those with experience of aircraft carrier operations.

These officers were approached as China prepared to launch its latest aircraft carrier, the 984ft-long Fujian.

China already has the worlds biggest navy, of at least 360 vessels, but is playing catch up with the United States on carriers. The US Navy has 11 and China has three.

In a statement TFASA said it 'strongly believes that its actions, and those of its employees, do not contravene any UK laws'.

TFASA said the training it provides is also available from other civilian contractors including organisations based in the United States, Canada, and European jurisdictions.

The company added: 'Neither the UK MoD nor any other UK Government agency has raised any objections to TFASA, or its employees with whom the agencies have been in direct contact, regarding the Companys fulfilment of any training contracts.

'TFASA is in the process of contacting the UK MoD, to ensure that there are no misunderstandings between the organisations.

'TFASA stands by its employees and will continue supporting them, all their work is and has been carried out in full accordance.'




By Lee Kyung-min







Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon is on a trip to three countries in Latin America, a region of key voting power with 29 member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos.







The global car giant said Chang is promoting bids for Busan to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan in his six-day trip to the Bahamas, Chile and Uruguay.







Chang's visit follows a six-day trip to Europe by Song Ho-sung, CEO of Kia, Hyundai's affiliate, for similar promotional efforts. Song left on Oct. 23 for Serbia, Albania and Greece.







The competitiveness of the port city will be highlighted, the firm said, as illustrated by policy efforts to transition into a smart, eco-friendly city with climate change concerns factored in.







The CEO will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between Korea and Latin American countries to foster the development of eco-friendly vehicles there, including the manufacture of electric vehicles (EVs) and establishing charging stations.







Exchange programs mediated by education institutions will be expanded to educate and train the region's promising young students in Korea to turn them into EV experts.







"Latin America will share Korea's vision for sustainable change, a new wave of positive developments underpinned by K-culture and digital innovation technologies," the firm said.







Hyundai was the first among the country's large conglomerates to form a task force in August to support the Expo campaign.










The 21-year-old and his friend Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin died instantly in horror car crash in February

He threatened to leak a sex tape they had made to her husband and family when she ended the relationship

Mr Hussain, 21, had been in three-year relationship with Ansreen Bukhari, 45, but she called it off, jury told

Influencer Mahek Bukhari told her mother she would have Saqib Hussain 'jumped by guys', the court heard

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A TikTok star plotted to have a man who threatened to expose an affair with her mother 'jumped by guys' just a month before he was murdered, a court heard today.

Social media influencer Mahek Bukhari, 23, told her mother Ansreen in a message that her young lover, 21-year-old Saqib Hussain, 'won't know what day it is', Leicester Crown Court heard.

Mr Hussain had been having a three-year fling with 45-year-old Ansreen, the jury was told, but he threatened to leak a sex tape they had made to her husband and family when she tried to end their relationship.

The jury was also told that Mahek lured Mr Hussain into a trap on the night he died by promising to pay back money owed to him.

Mr Hussain and his friend, Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, also 21, died instantly after their Skoda Fabia burst into flames when it was rammed off the road in Leicester on February 11 this year.

The prosecutor, Collingwood Thompson KC, said the Skoda was being pursued by two cars, an Audi TT and a Seat Leon, which were travelling at speeds of up to 100mph in the moments before the fatal crash.

A harrowing 999 call was played to the jury today in which Mr Hussain is heard pleading: 'They're right behind. They're hitting into the back of the car very fast. Please I'm begging you, I'm going to die.'

He screamed before a loud crash was heard.

Social media influencer Mahek Bukhari, 23, (pictured left with mother in TikTok video) told her mother Ansreen in a message that her young lover, 21-year-old Saqib Hussain, 'won't know what day it is', Leicester Crown Court heard

Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin (left) and Saqib Hussain (right), both 21, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, died instantly in a horror crash in February. Mr Hussain, who worked at a bakery, had been in a three-year relationship with Ansreen Bukhari, 45, who has pleaded not guilty to his murder, along with seven other co-defendants

Before her arrest, Mahek Bukhari had boasted of more than 126,000 followers on TikTok and a further 43,000 on Instagram.

She had regularly shared snippets of her life, including her outfits, make-up and handbags, and has also appeared in videos alongside her mother.

But she is now charged with two counts of murder, and of manslaughter as a possible alternative, alongside her mother and friend Natasha Akhtar, 22.

The women appeared in the dock at Leicester Crown Court this morning alongside co-accused Rekan Karwan, 28, from Leicester, and Raees Jamal, 22, from Loughborough, who are both alleged to have recruited others, including Natasha Akhtar, 22, from Birmingham, who owned one of the cars involved in the alleged pursuit.

Also in the dock are Sanaf Gulammustafa, 22, Ameer Jamal, 27, and Mohammed Patel, 20, all from Leicester.

Footage from police attending the crash scene, at about 1.35am on February 11, showed the Skoda Fabia in flames, resting against a tree in the central reservation of the A46 dual carriageway, by the Six Hills junction near Leicester.

The car had split into two on the point of impact and was soon ablaze.

Officers saw 'a body hanging out the remains of the nearside passenger seat', but the heat of the flames prevented rescuers from helping Mr Hussain.

Mr Hussain had been having a three-year fling with 45-year-old Ansreen (pictured), the jury was told, but he threatened to leak a sex tape they had made to her husband and family when she tried to end their relationship

The jury was also told that Mahek (pictured) lured Mr Hussain into a trap on the night he died by promising to pay back money owed to him

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, Mr Ijazuddin's body was also recovered, with the two men only identifiable by 'dental records', the jury heard.

The pair had been friends since school, with Mr Ijazuddin agreeing to drive his friend to Leicester that night - described by prosecutors in court as a 'fatal mistake that cost him his life'.

Collingwood Thompson KC, prosecuting, told jurors the 999 call was key to the Crown's case that the crash 'was not simply a tragic road traffic accident but a deliberate murder'.

Of the subsequent police investigation, triggered by Mr Hussain's call and death, the Crown's barrister said: 'It revealed a story of love, murder, anger, attempts at extortion and - ultimately - murder.'

The six-minute 999-call began with Hussain telling the operator that he was being tailed by another car.

He said: 'They're trying to block me in. I can't get to a police station. There are guys following me with balaclavas on. I'm on the A46, they're trying to ram me off the road.'

He told the operator he was driving past Ratcliffe College and was being chased by two vehicles.

Growing more desperate as the cars ran into the back of his car, he told the operator that he could not read their registration plates before adding: 'They're trying to kill me. Please sir I just need help.'

TikTok star lured mother's young lover into a trap on the night he died, court told TikTok star Mahek Bukhari, 23, lured her mothers younger lover into trap on the night he died by promising to pay back money owed to him, the jury was told. Four hours before Saqib Hussain, 21, was killed in a horror crash alongside his friend, Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, he had messaged Mahek pleading for a chance to speak to her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, 45. When she refused, he threatened to send explicit pictures to Mahek's father, who was unaware of the affair. Saqib's message read: 'I'm going to message your dad. Show him all the proof - the pictures, the messages with her saying "I love you". 'Going to send all the dirty videos and say to him I want my money.' Data uncovered by police showed that at about 8pm on February 10, he was about to set off for Stoke-on-Trent where Ansreen lived with her husband. He was traced leaving his home in Banbury, Oxfordshire and heading north. Mr Thompson KC said: 'The threat is that Saqib would turn up at the family home in Stoke on Trent and that was something they could not risk.' Mahek intervened - the court was told - and offered to meet with him and her mother in Loughborough before changing the location to Leicester. At about 9.15pm, as Mr Hussain was trying to find out the exact location of the meeting, Mahek messaged him: 'Sorted money.' However, Mr Thompson said: The Crown's case is there never was money to hand over to him. This was simply a lure to get him into a trap.' Mr Ijazuddin, meanwhile, had agreed to drive Mr Hussain, who he had known since school, to Leicester. Mr Thompson KC said it was 'a fatal mistake that cost him his life.' Advertisement

He gave his name and told the operator he lived in Banbury, Oxfordshire but had come to Leicester with Mr Ijazuddin for some food and to meet a friend.

Just before the crash is heard Mr Hussain says: 'They're right behind. They're hitting into the back of the car very fast. Please I'm begging you I'm going to die.'

Relatives of the victims wept in court as the 999 call was played.

Mr Thompson KC said: 'This was no accident, he knew what was happening to him.'

The jury was also told that the three cars were travelling at speeds of up to 100mph, as the prosecutor outlined the final moments before the fatal crash in court this afternoon.

An Audi TT was travelling at 100mph while chasing the Skoda just before it crashed through barriers on the A46, the car's data later showed.

Mr Thompson KC told the jury: 'That gives you an idea of how desperate that Skoda Fabia was trying to escape.

'If you ram someone off the road at speeds in excess of 80mph, the occupants would be unlikely to survive the impact.'

A fixed speed camera on the A46 took a still when the cars whizzed past at about 97mph.

The Skoda Fabia was seen in the left lane of the dual-carriageway and the headlights of a Seat Leon were visible through the side window of the Skoda.

The Audi was also captured close to the Skoda as Mr Thompson KC remarked: 'All three vehicles are virtually touching each other.'

Mr Hussain's sister, Sama Hussain, told police that her brother had become involved in a relationship with an older woman in her 40s some time around 2019.

She said the woman's name was 'Anzy' and that she was married and had children including a daughter called 'Maya'.

Mr Thompson KC said 'Anzy' was Ansreen and 'Maya' was Mahek, who he said was aware of her mother's relationship and 'whilst happy to tolerate it she was not approving'.

At first Mr Hussain treated his relationship with Ansreen as a 'bit of fun' and they would break up and get back together again.

But he soon told friends that he had fallen in love with her.

Data later uncovered by detectives showed that he had contacted her 1,702 times between August 10, 2021 and February 9, 2022.

In turn, when information from her phone was retrieved, she had contacted him 214 times. Some of those were for only a matter of seconds and missed calls.

Over the course of their relationship, Mr Hussain's family estimated he spent between 2,000 and 3,000 taking her out, meeting at hotels and dining in restaurants.

Mr Thompson said Mr Hussain had also recorded 'sexually explicit' material; both videos and photos, of the couple, later found on his Instagram account.

'It is the existence of sexually explicit material that is at the centre of this case,' he told jurors.

By January 2022 Ansreen wished to end the affair and told Mr Hussain this.

Mr Thomson KC said 'he could not accept the decision she had made'.

He said: 'Various messages between them show he became increasingly obsessive, professing love and begging her to continue, but other messages show anger and frustration that she wouldn't return his calls.

'On the 10th of February, endless calls were made by Saqib to Ansreen's phone that were never answered. That anger and frustration that she wouldn't answer his calls led him take further action.

'It led to an attempt to blackmail Ansreen in order to persuade her to contact him. He threatened to send sexually explicit material to her husband and to her son unless she agreed to speak to him.'

Before her arrest, Mahek Bukhari (pictured) had boasted of more than 126,000 followers on TikTok and a further 43,000 on Instagram

Mr Thompson KC told the court that Mahek messaged her mother on January 4, 2022 and said: 'I'll soon get him jumped by guys and he wont know what day it is.'

The prosecutor added: 'There is clear inference, the Crown say, that by this date Ansreen must have told her daughter about the threats Saqib was making about theirs affair.

'That's her saying "I'll take care of that, get him jumped by guys". We'll come to hear he was being jumped mostly by guys and killed.'

Mr Hussain later messaged Mahek about her mother and said: 'Let her know I'm on my way, get her to call me.'

But she replied: 'No, take the message. This year you'll be gone Saqib. I've got every threat you've given my mum to expose her. Narcissistic bastard. Carry on speaking to her now you will see movement soon.'

Mr Thompson KC told the jury: 'The Crown says this shows Mahek Bukhari had taken it on herself stop Saqib contacting her mother and if necessary was prepared to use force, to get someone to "jump him" to stop Saqib. It gives you a flavour of how they were dealing with the threat posed by Saqib in dealing with affair.'

He added: 'A way had to be found to silence Saqib - either by causing him a really serious injury to warn him or to silence him forever by killing him.

'The revelation of the affair could have ruined Asreen Bukhari's marriage and damaged her reputation in her community.

'It could also have affected Mahek's relationship with her father because she knew about the affair.

'Mahek was a social influencer and had a large number of followers on TikTok and the revelations of the affair might have been damaging to her standing with her followers.'

Four hours before Mr Hussain was killed, he had messaged Mahek pleading for a chance to speak to Ansreen.

When she refused, he threatened to send explicit pictures to Mahek's father, who was unaware of the affair.

Saqib's message read: 'I'm going to message your dad. Show him all the proof - the pictures, the messages with her saying "I love you".

'Going to send all the dirty videos and say to him I want my money.'

Data uncovered by police showed that at about 8pm on February 10, he was about to set off for Stoke-on-Trent where Ansreen lived with her husband.

He was traced leaving his home in Banbury and heading north.

Mr Thompson KC said: 'The threat is that Saqib would turn up at the family home in Stoke-on-Trent and that was something they could not risk.'

Mahek intervened - the court was told - and offered to meet with him and her mother in Loughborough before changing the location to Leicester.

The jury was told that police were called to the wreckage of a silver Skoda Fabia at the side of the A46 in the early hours of February 11 in Six Fields, Leicestershire (pictured)

At about 9.15pm, as Mr Hussain was trying to find out the exact location of the meeting, Mahek messaged him: 'Sorted money.'

Mr Thompson said: 'The Crown's case is there never was money to hand over to him. This was simply a lure to get him into a trap.'

Two other friends said they were unable to give him a lift, to which the prosecutor added: 'Tragically, that left only Hashim, who agreed to drive Saqib from Banbury to the meeting place.'

The social media star left her home in Staffordshire at 11.30pm. She is seen on CCTV getting into her Audi TT with mother Ansreen in the passenger seat.

Twenty minutes later phone signals placed Mahek as being near Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, while Saqib had reached the Coventry area.

Just before the fatal crash, which happened at about 1.20am, Mahek and her mother drove into the Tesco Hamilton car park in Leicester with co-defendants Rekan Karwan and Mohammed Patel.

They parked next to a blue Seat Leon, which contained the other four defendants - Ammeer Jamal and his cousin Raees Jamal, Sanaf Gulammustafa and Natasha Akhtar, who was the registered owner of the Seat.

The meeting was captured on a CCTV camera at the car wash outside Tesco.

Mr Hussain and Mr Ijazuddin are seen entering the car park in a Skoda Fabia on CCTV.

Footage showed the car head towards Mahek and the others but the vehicle then slows, stops and then drives off.

Mahek Bukhari, 23, her mother Ansreen Bukhari, 45, and their friend Natasha Akhtar, 22, appeared in the dock at Leicester Crown Court (pictured) today along with Raees Jamal, 22, Rekan Karwan, 28, Mohammed Patel, 20, Sanaf Gulammustafa, 22 and Ameer Jamal, 27. (Stock image)

Mr Thompson KC said 'common sense' had told the men there was 'more behind the meeting' than the handing over of money.

He said: 'Why, having arrived to meet, the Skoda just momentarily paused and drove off.

'The Crown's inference is that both men or one of them realised something was wrong.'

Both the Seat Leon and Audi TT follow the Skoda from the Tesco to the A46.

The three vehicles were caught on several CCTV cameras along the route.

The Seat Leon, allegedly containing four of the defendants, is seen following close behind the Skoda as the Audi TT, containing the other four, is seen jumping a red light as it follows a distance behind.

Security cameras at the Leicester Bentley dealership shows the Seat has overtaken the Skoda and is sitting close in front with the Audi close behind.

The court heard this was around the time Mr Hussain made the 999 call in which he tells the operator that the two vehicles were 'trying to block [him] in.'

Just before the call to police, a call was made to Mr Hussain from Ansreens phone but his phone ran out of battery.

Mr Thomson KC explained to the court that Mahek's Audi TT was actually a loan car because her own car had been damaged.

But the Audi contained a 'sophisticated tracking computer' which provided the murder investigation with a lot of data about where the car was and how fast it was going at all points during the pursuit.

The trial continues.
Kari Lake has blasted her Democratic opponent for suggesting she was behind a break-in at her Phoenix campaign headquarters  and compared the accusation to the Jussie Smollett scandal.

Lake, who completely flipped the polls this week by pulling ahead of Hobbs by more than 10 percent with just days until the midterm elections, told CNN that the Democrat's team faked the break-in to 'deflect' from her failing campaign.

'This sounds like a Jussie Smollett part two,' Lake said in reference to the actor who was infamously convicted of filing a false police report alleging a hate crime was committed against him.

She also claimed in a tweet that Hobbs is 'accusing my team of coordinating a Watergate style break-in of her office,' while slamming her for refusing to talk about crime.

'This comes AFTER arrest was made and NO political motivation confirmed,' Lake posted.

Hobbs' campaign said Wednesday that the candidate's Phoenix office was broken into and investigators are looking into the alleged burglary. The Democrat's team immediately blamed Lake's rhetoric for stoking the break-in.

Kari Lake (pictured October 7, 2022) is accusing her Democratic opponent Katie Hobbs of a 'Jussie Smollett part two' by claiming she is lying about a break-in at her office to 'deflect' from her failing campaign

Hobbs' team claims her campaign office in Phoenix was broken into and burglarized, though they did not said what was taken. While no suspect has been identified, surveillance images of a man in a green shirt and grey shorts is seen walking around the office

Hobbs' campaign says its office was broken into Tuesday and blames the burglary on Lake's rhetoric

It is not clear what was taken, but police responded at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday and Sgt. Brian Bower said items were taken from the property 'sometime during the night.'

No suspects have been identified yet, but Hobbs' campaign confirmed one person was caught on security camera walking up to the office door. Images were released of surveillance still that shows what appears to be a young man donning a green shirt, gray shorts, white shoes and black backpack walking through the office.

Phoenix Police confirmed that an arrest was made in connection to the break-in, but no further information like a motive was shared.

Democrats were quick, however, to point the finger at Lake.

'Unfortunately, Katie and so many other elected officials are victims of threats and intimidation tactics like this,' the Arizona Democratic Party tweeted. 'Make no mistake  this is a direct result of Kari Lake and fringe Republicans spreading lies and hate and inciting violence  and it is despicable.'

Actor Jussie Smollett staged a hoax hate crime against himself in 2019. He was sentenced to 150 days in county jail and two-and-a-half years probation

No suspects have been identified yet, but Hobbs' campaign confirmed one person was caught on security camera walking up to the office door. Images were released of surveillance still that shows what appears to be a young man donning a green shirt, gray shorts, white shoes and black backpack walking through the office.

Lake's campaign did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

'Earlier this week, a break-in occurred at our campaign headquarters,' Hobbs' campaign alleged in a statement Wednesday evening.

'Secretary Hobbs and her staff have faced hundreds of death threats and threats of violence over the course of this campaign,' the statement continued. 'Let's be clear: for nearly two years Kari Lake and her allies have been spreading dangerous misinformation and inciting threats against anyone they see fit.'

'The threats against Arizonans attempting to exercise their constitutional rights and their attacks on elected officials are the direct result of a concerted campaign of lies and intimidation,' the campaign alleged. 'It won't work.'

Lake pushed back to CNN by claiming Hobbs' blaming her for any violence or threats is 'absolutely absurd.'

The Trump-backed GOP gubernatorial candidate is poised to take the governor's mansion and keep outgoing Governor Doug Ducey's seat red despite challenges from Hobbs, who is currently Arizona's Secretary of State.

Democrats were quick to blame the alleged break-in and burglary on Lake 'spreading lies and hate and inciting violence'

A new Fox 10 InsiderAdvantage poll published Wednesday shows Lake leading with 54 percent of the vote compared to Hobbs' 43 percent. Only 2 percent of voters in the poll are still undecided with 13 days until midterm Election Day.

Hobbs was leading against Lake by a good 5-7 percent for the majority of the race, until the tides turned earlier this month. While Lake only held a less than 1 percent lead for the first part of October, when Hobbs doubled-down on her refusal to debate her opponent, the split widened significantly.

Now, Lake is accusing Hobbs of Jussie Smollett No. 2 after blaming her for the break-in at her Phoenix.

Smollett told police in January 2019 that he was physically attacked outside his apartment building by people using racial and homophobic slurs for which he sough medical attention for at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was released 'in good condition' the same day.

Just one month after staging a hate crime against himself, a grand jury charged Smollett with filing a false police report.

The ongoing legal action related to the hoax hate crime finally came to a head on March 10, 2022 when he was sentenced to 150 days in county jail and 2.5 years probation.
Ministers were told to end the 'farce' around Channel migrant crossings today amid fury at the cost of putting up asylum seekers for months while claims are processed.

Taxpayers are paying nearly 7million a day to house tens of thousands of people after the Home Office managed to complete just 4 per cent of asylum claims last year.

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 yesterday.

In the wake of the revelation, Labour tried to bring Home Secretary Suella Braverman to the Commons to answer questions about conditions at one immigration site, Manston in Kent.

But she sent Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick - who has been in the job two days - to face MPs' wrath instead. Conservative former minister Sir Christopher Chope asked: 'What is the target date for ending this farce?'

And Sir Robert Syms, Conservative MP for Poole, said: 'Most of my constituents, or many of them, go to France on holiday because it's safe and a nice place to go and they are perplexed with these people coming in because they're creating profits for criminal gangs and I think we do need to crackdown on this particular area.'

He asked if Mr Jenrick would visit his French counterpart soon, with the minister replying: 'I will be going to France to meet my opposite number and to meet other elected officials both in Pas-de-Calais and in French government and I do think there is an opportunity afforded to us by the arrival of the new Prime Minister to improve relationships and see what further action we might be able to do together.'

In the wake of the revelation, Labour tried to bring Home Secretary Suella Braverman to the Commons to answer questions about conditions at one immigration site, Manston in Kent. But she sent Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick - who has been in the job two days - to face MPs' wrath instead.

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

New row over Suella Braverman as Home Secretary accused of 'multiple breaches' of ministerial rules New questions are being asked about Suella Braverman's swift reinstatement as Home Secretary as a senior Tory claimed she had committed 'multiple breaches' of ministerial rules. New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak prompted a row this week when he re-appointed Mrs Braverman to the top job at the Home Office. It came just six days after she had been forced to quit the role after admitting to sending an official document from her personal email. The Home Secretary confessed to a 'technical infringement' of ministerial rules in her resignation letter. But Sir Jake Berry, the former Tory chairman, alleged there had been 'multiple breaches of the ministerial code'. He also queried Mrs Braverman's claim that she had 'rapidly reported' her 'mistake' to Whitehall officials. 'As I understand it, the evidence was put to her and she accepted the evidence, rather than the other way round,' Sir Jake told TalkTV. Mr Sunak is facing calls to return to Parliament to correct the record after he yesterday told MPs that Mrs Braverman had 'raised the matter' herself. The Home Secretary this morning declined to appear in the House of Commons to answer an Urgent Question about the migrant processing centre at Manston, Kent. The fresh questions about Mrs Braverman come at the same time as it emerged she was previously probed by Government officials as part of a leak inquiry. The leak related to a sensitive story involving Britain's security services. Nadhim Zahawi, who replace Sir Jake as Tory chairman this week, this morning insisted Mrs Braverman deserves a 'second chance' as Home Secretary. He claimed Mr Sunak was right to give her a shot at 'redemption' after less than a week out of the Cabinet. Advertisement

Britain could offer Albanians a 'bespoke route' to have their immigration cases heard quicker in a bid to 'grip' the number of arrivals, the Government has said.

Mr Jenrick said the proposals under consideration could make it easier to return unsuccessful applicants to Albania, with talks expected with Tirana and the French to ease the 'serious' situation.

MPs previously heard that some 12,000 Albanians have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, of whom 10,000 are single, adult men. This is compared with 50 in 2020.

Mr Jenrick said he will be 'giving a lot of thought in the coming days' on what can be done in conjunction with the Albanian authorities.

He told the Commons: 'Around a quarter of those individuals who crossed the short strait this year alone have come from Albania. On some boats 80% of the individuals are coming from Albania.

'Albania is quite clearly a safe country and those individuals have crossed through multiple other safe countries before arriving in the United Kingdom.

'Some reports suggest that as much a 1% or even 2% of the adult male population of Albania either have attempted to leave the country in this manner or are contemplating doing so.

'So this is a serious situation that we need to grip.

Lucy Moreton, spokeswoman for the Union for Borders, Immigration & Customs (ISU), said today that the UK has become a 'draw' for migrants who do not qualify for international protection.

Asked whether the asylum system is broken, Ms Moreton told BBC's Radio 4's Today programme: 'It does take an inordinate amount of time for an initial decision and that's damaging both for those who do qualify for international protection and for the UK acting as a draw for people who don't qualify.'

Ms Moreton said, if it takes an average of 480 days for a first decision on a migrants case, this could build to an average to five to eight years before your claim is determined due to appeals.

She said this means there is a 'huge pull to be here'.

'There's just no resourcing in the system, no resilience to be able to deal with claims in anything like a decent timeframe,' she said.

Of the 4 per cent of cases completed, 85 per cent were granted refugee status or another protection status, MPs were told yesterday.

They 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.'

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.

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

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.

Mrs Braverman was reinstalled as Home Secretary on Tuesday just six days after being forced out for breaking the Ministerial Code.

Earlier this month, she 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.
British Transport Police (BTP) has repeatedly refused to disclose whether a suspected flasher dressed in a wig and skirt exposed male or female genitals to two teenage girls on a train.

The force today issued CCTV images of purple-wigged dress-wearing person stating they may be able to help their investigation into the incident which took place at Theale station, Berkshire.

The grainy pictures show the person wearing a purple wig, black sunglasses, a blue jumper, a skirt and backpack.

MailOnline subsequently requested further information several times throughout today to confirm further details regarding the incident - including whether the suspect was is a man or woman and whether they exposed male or female genitals.

But BTP's press office rebuffed the queries, instead insisting that it did not need further descriptions after issuing the appeal.

Did you see the suspected flasher? Email tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

Its stance on the issue has been slammed by social media users as 'woke' policing, with one tweeting that that it must know their gender - as the victims would have told them which gender the person was after 'they were cruelly exposed to their genitals'.

Radio presenter and psychologist Dr Pam Spurr said: 'Don't you think you're more likely to catch this vile predator if you correctly identify him as a man?'

Observer columnist Sonia Sodha tweeted: 'The police dont know who this male accused of exposing his penis to two teenagers is, so they have no idea of his preferred pronouns.

'Yet they err on side of caution to avoid offending him over clear language to assist in identifying a male sex offender. See the problem?'

Officers investigating an incident in which a person exposed their genitals to two teenagers at Theale station, Berkshire, are releasing CCTV images in connection

Officers believe the person in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation

Another said: 'This is exactly the sort of person who wants to enter female toilets and who wants to get you locked up if you dare object.'

A third added: 'We are through the looking glass when a police force, tasked with tracing a suspect, feels unable to state that this person a man.'

Just before 3pm on September 2, two teenage girls, aged 15 and 16, were sat on-board a train at the station when someone on the platform approached the trains window.

As the train started the depart the station the person exposed their genitals to the two teenagers before making lewd hand gestures in their direction.

They then walked into a shelter at the station and masturbated.

Officers have said the person in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation.

One user tweeted that BTP 'are too worried about offending a pervert to provide an accurate description of him.'

While Deb pointed out people would be able to discount around half of the population by knowing the gender of the person in the picture.

Twitter users were angry at British Transport Police for failing to name the gender of the person in the CCTV image

Online many people shared their opinion that the person pictured was a man and called on the police to issue a clarification.

British Transport Police said: 'We published this CCTV appeal as part of an investigation into a sexual offence on the railway against two teenagers. The individual shown in the CCTV image may have information which could assist the investigation and bring a sexual offender to justice.

'At this stage of the investigation, our priority is to speak to the individual. It is not necessary for us to add any further descriptors - we just want to identify the individual in the picture and would encourage anyone with information to assist with this.

'We are committed to tackling violence against women and girls across the rail and underground network.'

MailOnline has further asked British Transport Police what form of genitals the suspect is alleged to have exposed to the teenage girls.

If you recognise them, or have any information, contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 2200089694.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Person? I think you mean man!Did you see the suspected flasher? Email tips@dailymail.com
At least 100 migrants were rescued from small boats trying to cross the English Channel in rough seas this morning.

People were brought into the safety of the harbour at Dover, Kent with more expected to be brought in throughout the day.

Around 40 came ashore from the Border Force vessel Volunteer.

It is understood the RNLI lifeboats from Dover, Ramsgate and Dungeness have also been involved in the operation today along with the Border Force vessels Typhoon and Ranger as well as the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Explorer.

At least 100 migrants were rescued from small boats trying to cross the English Channel in rough seas this morning

Groups could be seen coming ashore in blankets after their ordeal at sea

Strong winds in the English Channel have caused rough seas - preventing crossings since Sunday.

Despite this, a number of dinghies still attempted to make the risky crossing today.

Groups could be seen coming ashore in blankets after their ordeal at sea.

528 people were detained on Sunday after making the treacherous voyage according to official Ministry of Defence figures taking the total number past 37,400 so far this year.

Sunday's arrivals takes the number to 37,493 in 921 boats so far this year according to government figures

Strong winds in the English Channel have caused rough seas - preventing crossings since Sunday. Despite this, a number of dinghies still attempted to make the risky crossing today

Sunak's migrant crisis headache: New report reveals 38,000 crossed the Channel this year and bill to house arrivals in hotels comes to 7m-a-day The official in charge of tackling illegal crossings admitted the asylum system was 'overwhelmed' by the numbers trying to reach the UK. The Government is now spending almost 7m a day housing asylum seekers and other migrants in hotels  and the cost could continue to rise. String of extraordinary revelations at the Commons Home Affairs committee yesterday as MPs also heard: - This year has seen a record 38,000 people make it to Britain - Some 12,000 Albanian nationals have arrived in Britain in small boats already since the start of 2022  up from just 50 in 2020; - Despite being paid 54m by Britain last year to stem the tide, the proportion of migrants being stopped by French officials has actually fallen; - The Home Office has only processed 4% of asylum claims by migrants who crossed the Channel last year; Advertisement

This comes as Rishi Sunak the other day vowed to cut the number of migrants coming to Britain with a system that 'works best for the UK'.

Promising to stand by pledges made in the 2019 Conservative manifesto, Downing Street said the Prime Minister was 'committed to ensuring we have control over our borders'.

Mr Sunak will bring net migration down while ensuring that Britain has the necessary 'skills and talents', No 10 said.

The new PM's official spokesman told reporters: 'Meeting our manifesto commitments remains important  the PM has been clear on that  and that relates to net migration as well where we've said that it should come down.

'He's committed to ensuring we have control over our borders and the public rightly expects us to control immigration and have a system that works.'

The spokesman said he was 'not aware' of a specific target, but that Mr Sunak was committed to seeing migration fall.

Sunday's arrivals takes the number to 37,493 in 921 boats so far this year according to government figures.

28,526 made the crossing in the whole of 2021 and 8,410 in 2020.

In October there have been 4,492 people rescued in 97 boats so far.

MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, has described the situation as 'truly shocking'.

She said: 'Alongside the brazen criminality of the people smugglers, it beggars belief that there is a free public bus from the migrant camps to the beach departure points.

'It's little wonder we are seeing record breaking arrivals coming through the illegal small boats crossings route.'

People were brought into the safety of the harbour at Dover, Kent with more expected to be brought in throughout the day

In October there have been 4,492 people rescued in 97 boats so far
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have accused President Joe Biden of improperly tapping into the nation's strategic petroleum reserve to soften the blow of Saudi Arabia-led OPEC+'s decision to dramatically cut its oil production.

The president announced the release of 15 million oil barrels earlier this month, just weeks before the November midterm elections where his party stands to lose the majority in one or both houses of Congress.

In a letter sent to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Wednesday, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) are demanding the Biden administration answer for the 180 million barrels released from the strategic reserve since the springtime, according to the letter obtained by DailyMail.com

Biden has used the strategy to ease high gas prices, which reached a $5 per gallon average nationwide peak in June, despite warnings from lawmakers across the aisle that the reserves are only meant to be used in the event of an emergency.

'We are concerned that the president may soon impose an oil and gas export ban that will result in even higher gas prices, supply chain issues, global market upheaval, and reduced energy security for the US and our allies,' the letter stated.

It was sent after a New York Times report revealed that US officials had made a backroom deal with the Saudis to boost oil production through the year, only to be left stunned and frustrated when the Kingdom turned its back on the secret arrangement.

President Joe Biden has been criticized by Republicans for releasing more than 100 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserves to ease high gas prices

While a blow to the US, the move is also seen as a boost for Russia and its illegal invasion of Ukraine.

The deal was reportedly struck before Biden's controversial trip to Saudi Arabia, which happened despite his criticizing the Middle Eastern state for its abysmal human rights record.

The White House maintains the trip was not about oil, but Biden's critics hammered him for the appearance of pleading with the Saudis for help lowering energy costs at home rather than tapping into the US's own fossil fuel resources.

Prices at the pump are falling as of Thursday, giving Democrats a sigh of relief with the election less than two weeks away.

But politicians don't control gas prices, nor is it clear yet if voters will be forgiving after months of rising costs at break-neck pace.

On Thursday the average cost of a gallon of gas was $3.76, less than a penny lower than Wednesday's price and slightly higher than it was at this time last month.

Comer and Mace asked for Granholm to turn over any relevant communications to discussions about the strategic petroleum reserves within the department and within the White House.

A letter was sent to Biden Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm by House Oversight Committee Republicans Nancy Mace (left) and James Comer (right)

While having little actionable power in the minority, the initiation of Oversight Republicans' probe is another indication of the broad scrutiny that GOP lawmakers are aiming to give to the Biden administration next year if they make big gains in the midterms.

Both Comer and Mace are in safe Republican districts, so it's highly likely they will continue their effort next year.

The pair have raised multiple alarm bells over the White House's alleged sale of oil from the US's emergency stocks to a Chinese-backed company called Unipec America.

Regulations mandate that the Energy Department sell the oil releases to the highest bidder regardless of whether they are foreign or domestic.

They reiterated those concerns when Biden announced the additional release of 15 million barrels earlier this month.

'In order to ensure the American people that the Biden Administration is properly managing the sale of critical assets from the SPR and not supporting Russia by providing oil to China, we request a briefing and documents related to this matter,' the statement read.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will appear with embattled Senate candidate John Fetterman in Philadelphia on Friday after his disastrous debate performance, trying to shore up a win for Democrats in the critical state.

It's a rare joint appearance by the president and vice president and comes as the White House has put outsize attention on Pennsylvania, where Democrats hope to flip a Republican-held seat in order to help them keep control of the Senate.

Democrats are on the defensive as they fight to keep control of Congress in the Nov. 8th midterm election, shoring up states and House districts that Biden won in the 2020 contest. The party is also keeping a nervous eye on Senate races, particularly in swing states.

Pennsylvania in one of those areas. Biden, Harris and Fetterman will speak at a dinner Friday night in Philadelphia for the state Democratic Party.

The last time Biden and Harris were on stage together outside the White House was at an event for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation on Oct. 1. Before that, they hadn't made a joint appearance since a January event in Atlanta.

Friday's fundraiser will mark Biden's 15th visit to the state since he became president.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will appear with embattled Senate candidate John Fetterman in Philadelphia on Friday after his disastrous debate performance, a rare joint appearance for the president and vice president - above Biden and Harris at the White House in April

John Fetterman is struggling to recover from Tuesday night's debate performance where he had several awkward pauses and struggled to find words

Additionally, Biden and former President Obama will campaign in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas on Nov. 5 for Fetterman and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, Axios reported.

Fetterman is struggling to recover from Tuesday night's debate performance where he had several awkward pauses and struggled to find words in his back-and-forth with Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. Many Democrats are questioning why he appeared on stage when he is still recovering from a stroke he had in May.

The White House defended the Democratic Senate candidate, saying Biden found him 'impressive' and 'capable.'

'In personal conversations that the President has had with the lieutenant governor, the President has found him to be impressive  an incredibly bright and talented person whos just as capable as always to carry out his office,' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Wednesday's press briefing.

She could not say if Biden watched Tuesday night's debate. Biden campaigned with Fetterman in Pennsylvania last week.

With less than two weeks until the midterm election, polling shows Republicans have momentum to win the House but the control of the Senate is seen as a toss-up.

Even if Republicans win just one chamber of Congress, they can stymie Biden's legislative agenda for the next two years and subject him to a flurry of congressional investigations. GOP lamakers are already vowing to probe his son Hunter's business dealings.

Democrats, meanwhile, are shifting their focus to blue areas that should be in their column.

The party is putting $6.3 million worth of advertising into a trio of congressional districts in New York and New Jersey, where President Biden won by at least eight points, The Washington Post reported.

Jill Biden was in Rhode Island on Wednesday to campaign for a House candidate running in a district that the president won by nearly 14 points.

President Joe Biden campaigned with John Fetterman and Fetterman's wife Gisele in Pennsylvania last week

Jill Biden was in Rhode Island on Wednesday to campaign for a House candidate running in a district that the president won by nearly 14 points

Biden, meanwhile, heads to Syracuse, New York, on Thursday. The area is in a district being vacated by moderate Republican Rep. John Katko. It's a critical pickup opportunity for Democrats. Biden won the district by more than 7 points in 2020.

The president also will be joined by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is facing a tough re-election contest against Republican Lee Zeldin.

Next week, Biden is scheduled to headline a political rally Tuesday in Florida for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.

Publicly the White House is expressing confidence with less than two weeks to go until an election that will set the tone for Biden's next two years in office.

'I will say, as the president has said, that we are quite confident that we'll continue to have a Democratic House and a Democratic Senate as we move forward,' Jen O'Malley Dillon, White House deputy chief of staff, told MSNBC on Tuesday night.
A female prison officer faces a 'significant prison sentence' after having admitted to having an 'intimate' relationship with a prisoner and smuggling designer and women's clothing to him.

Rachel Martin, 25, became intimate with convicted robber Raymond Abraham while he served a sentence at HMP Guys Marsh, where she worked.

Martin exchanged 'thousands' of voice, video and text messages with the inmate, knowing that prisoners were not allowed mobile phones.

She even sent him one message advising him to flush a mobile phone down the toilet if his cell was searched, a court heard.

Martin, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, also gave the convict a parcel containing 'high-value designer clothes and footwear' as well as female underwear during their five-month relationship.

She appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Thursday where she pleaded guilty to nine misconduct charges.

She denied a 10th count of supplying Abraham with a mobile phone, which the prosecution said would be allowed to lie on her file.

Her case was adjourned and she be sentenced on December 15, but was told by a judge that she should expect a 'significant' prison sentence. Martin has been released on unconditional bail until then.

Rachel Martin, 25, pleaded guilty to eight charges of misconduct and a single charge of encouraging the possession of a mobile phone in prison. She is pictured outside Poole Magistrates Court in Dorset last month

Martin, from Salisbury, Wiltshire, admitted having an 'emotional or intimate' relationship with Raymond Abraham, a prisoner at HMP Guys Marsh (pictured). She also admitted a charge of providing a parcel to Abraham containing 'high-value designer clothes and food-wear' as well as 'female underwear'

'Unconditional bail will be granted as before but you should not take that as a positive sign, you can expect a significant custodial sentence,' Judge Jonathan Fuller told Martin.

He added that her sentence would be 'up to the judge on the day.'

Afterwards Anthony Johns, the senior crown prosecutor for Wessex CPS, said: 'The evidence in this case proved that there had been thousands of messages, videos and voice messages exchanged between Martin and the prisoner on an almost daily basis.

'After a thorough investigation by the police, we could show that not only were they in a relationship, but that Martin was receiving large payments into her bank account and that she clearly knew that there were unauthorised mobile devices in the prison.

'As a prison officer and person acting in public office, she was in an important position of trust.

'Martin would have known that her actions represented a clear breach of that trust, created a serious conflict of interest, and entirely compromised her position.'

He added: 'People who act otherwise than in accordance with their duties in public office will be brought to justice.'

Claire Mawer, defending, said she would be arranging a psychological report, carried out by the probation service, on Martin prior to the sentencing hearing.

Martin had faced 10 separate charges of wilfully neglecting her duty as a prison officer for several months.

She pleaded guilty on Thursday to misconduct offences relating to mobile phones illegally his possession, as well as the possession of two other prisoners, James Phillips and Hassan Sufi.

One offence involved her sending a message to another person stating: 'Don't forget Ray's 30 top up'.

Another involved sending Abraham a message advising him to 'flush' the mobile phone if his cell was searched.

The defendant also admitted a charge of receiving monetary payment from Abraham.

Martin denied a 10th charge of supplying Abraham with a mobile phone which the prosecution indicated would be allowed to lie on her file.

Martin (pictured outside Poole Magistrates Court last month) faces sentencing on December 15 and has been released on unconditional bail until then

During her trial, the court heard how Martin entered into the relationship with Abraham between November 1, 2020 and March 8, 2021.

On January 19, 2021, she sent a parcel addressed to him that contained high value designer clothes and footwear.

She supplied him with female underwear that was confiscated from his cell on February 6, 2021.

On January 14, 2021, she encouraged another woman to purchase a top up card for the phone through a text, telling her 'don't forget Rays 30 Lyca top up'.

She also provided Abraham with instructions on how to transfer images from a mobile phone to an SD card and received money on behalf of Abraham.

During the months Abraham had a phone she was engaging with him over texts and did not report the fact that he had a phone.

Additionally, she sent text messages to inmates Sufi and Phillips.
A Las Vegas woman who weeks ago accused cops of arresting her for being too 'good looking' has now been accused of murdering her mother.

Police began looking for Hend Bustami, 28, after the body of her 62-year-old mother was discovered in a Las Vegas home early Wednesday morning. She had 'deep lacerations' over her body.

Bustami was detained hours later at about 5am in Barstow, California. The motive remains unclear.

She made headlines in August after she was arrested at the Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas after trying to skip out on a tab at a Chili's restaurant.

Bustami was reportedly belligerently drunk, and police said as she was being detained she claimed 'she was being harassed because cops [had] never seen anyone as pretty as her.'

Police said Hend Bustami, 28, murdered her 62-year-old mother sometime on Wednesday morning. She was arrested last month for misconduct at the Harry Reid International Airport in August. Her mugshot from that arrest is above

Bustami made headlines in August after she was arrested at the Harry Reid Airport in Las Vegas after trying to skip out on a tab at a Chili's restaurant, and then claimed police were arresting her for being too 'good looking'

The Las Vegas home where Bustami's mother was found stabbed to death early Wednesday morning

Bustami's mother was discovered inside a house on June Flower Drive just after 2:30am Wednesday morning, suffering from 'multiple deep lacerations.'

Las Vegas Metro Police Lieutenant Dave Valenta said police received a 9-11 call from a woman claiming her mother was dead.

'At approximately 2:30 in the morning, a 911 dispatcher received a phone call from a frantic female stating that her mother was dead,' Valenta said. 'Then the line was disconnected.'

Police were called to their home at least 12 times this year alone - seven for 'family disturbance', and one for a suicide attempt, 8NewsNow reported.

A neighbor, Andres Moreno, told the network that the family's home was the 'loudest' on the block.

'Usually 10pm or later, they would just be screaming in the backyard or they'd be fighting,' he said.

'It was usually the older daughter and the mother that would get into it. Of course, shortly after screaming, police presence would be involved and things would get all, you know, settled down. Then a week later, it'd happen again.'

He added that Bustami was often seen acting 'strangely' around the neighborhood - asking strangers for rides, going into neighbors' open garages and scattering her belongings outside.

'She would come outside and literally spin in her driveway, singing songs or talking to herself in her driveway, or shed just walk up and down the street muttering to herself,' Moreno told 8NewsNow.

'I believe she had mental health issues and she did desperately need help and maybe chose not to get it. Or, you know, who am I to say, but there was obviously something going on with her.'

Hend Bustami, 28, was arrested in August for skipping out on her tab at a Chili's inside the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas

Bustami will be extradited from California to Las Vegas and could be charged with open murder

Police said Bustami will be extradited from California to Las Vegas and could be charged with open murder, meaning the degree of her charge has yet to be determined.

Bustami was arrested at Harry Reid Intenational Airport and booked with misconduct on August 31.

LVMPD said they received a report that Bustami walked out on a tab at the Chili's restaurant inside the airport, and officers later found the woman 'belligerent' after stalling operations near a security checkpoint.

As the officers took her into custody, they said Bustami threatened to spit on them as she called them 'perverts' and claimed they were 'trying to rape her because they never seen anyone as good-looking.'

She was due to appear in court today for charges related to the incident.

Bustami is a graduate of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas who earned a degree in Hospitality Administration and Management, according to her LinkedIn account.

She also DJs under the name Afrodyte.
Explosive court documents have revealed that Harmony Montgomery's stepmom, Kayla, told cops in June that the girl's father, Adam, had murdered the then five-year-old and encouraged her to help cover up the crime.

Harmony vanished sometime in late November or early December of 2019, and is believed to have been killed around the same time.

Cops were only made aware of her disappearance last fall.

An investigation led by the FBI subsequently ensued - and led cops to arrest Adam Montgomery in January 2022, in connection with a second-degree assault charge involving his daughter prior to her disappearance.

On Monday, he was charged with the murder of his daughter - nearly three years after her disappearance. He's said to have punched the disabled youngster in the head. Harmony was blind in one eye.

Also on Monday, the prosecution filed a document in another case against the alleged child killer charging the felon with dealing stolen firearms which brought to light damning statements by his estranged wife.

'During her June 3 interview, Kayla reported to police that Harmony had been murdered in December 2019 by the defendant,' the Hillsborough Superior Court Northern District documents read.

'Kayla also said that the defendant had encouraged her on multiple occasions to lie to police about Harmony's whereabouts, basically giving Kayla a 'cover story' and telling her that as long as she stuck to the cover story everything would be OK.'

Explosive court documents have revealed that Harmony Montgomery's stepmom, Kayla (pictured), told cops in June that the girl's father, Adam, had murdered her

On Monday, Adam Montgomery (pictured) was charged with the murder of his daughter - nearly three years after her disappearance

That same day the prosecution filed a document in another case against the alleged child killer charging the felon with dealing stolen firearms which brought to light the damning statements about his daughter Harmony's (pictured) alleged murder

Adam Montgomery's defense asked the judge earlier this week to preclude the estranged wife's statements, accusing prosecutors of improperly delaying their disclosure by months in violation of discovery rules.

Kayla Montgomery is also facing charges in connection with the girl's disappearance, including allegedly lying to a grand jury and collecting welfare payments on the missing girl's behalf for months after her death.

During a Monday afternoon briefing in New Hampshire state court Attorney General John Formella accused Montgomery, 31, of 'causing the death of' his daughter during the 2019 encounter, 'by repeatedly striking Harmony in the head with a closed fist' at his home in Manchester, New Hampshire.

As a result, the jurist said, he is now charged with second-degree murder.

Other counts against Adam Montgomery include falsifying physical evidence, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with a witness, the proceedings further revealed.

The bombshell disclosure was several months in the making and serves as the first indication from investigators that Harmony, as many suspected, was murdered.

It also comes four months after DailyMail.com revealed members of the FBI stormed Montgomery's home, hauling out evidence, including a fridge, from the apartment.

Harmony had lived with her father, and his convict wife Kayla Montgomery, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance.

'I do want to again express my deepest sympathies to Harmony's family, friends, and loved ones,' Attorney General Formella said at the news conference Monday after making the revelations.

'We understand that today's news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case.'

Authorities investigating the highly-publicized case made waves in August when they declared they were investigating the New Hampshire girl's disappearance as a homicide, after learning of it just months before, despite her disappearing more than two years earlier.

At the time, without elaborating, authorities said they believed Harmony was murdered in Manchester in early December 2019.

Those assertions seemed to be linked to the aforementioned search of the rental apartment Adam, Kayla and their children called home just days before Harmony's proposed disappearance.

Adam's estranged wife Kayla (pictured) said in June that he had murdered his daughter and asked her to cover up the December 2019 crime

Adam Montgomery's defense accused prosecutors of improperly delaying the disclosure of these statements by months in violation of discovery rules

Cops had then been seen removing evidence, including a full-sized refrigerator, from the Manchester home, as well as a plethora of other items that were covered up in various packaging.

Authorities did not disclose what sparked the search - the second in a matter of months of the property.

Officials at the time, however, did concede that the Union Street home had become 'the focus of the investigation.'

Harmony, who was blind in one eye, was in her father's care at the time of her disappearance after her mother, Crystal Sorey, lost custody in July 2018 due to substance abuse issues.

Investigators revealed earlier this year that Harmony had been homeless and living out of a car with her family in the days before her disappearance, after being evicted from the Union Street apartment on November 27 - a date that falls within the span of the girl's disappearance.

During that time, Harmony's family was either living out of a silver 2010 Chrysler Sebring or a dark blue 2006 Audi S4.

Adam, meanwhile - who had come under suspicion of case workers of abusing Harmony in the months before her disappearance.

He was arrested on multiple counts related to his daughter's disappearance, including felony second-degree assault, one misdemeanor charge of interference with custody, and two misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child - but was not charged with her disappearance.

It has since been revealed he was also considered a suspect in the February 2008 killing of Darlin Guzman, a 28 year-old computer repairman who was fatally shot in the parking lot of a convenience store in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Authorities investigating the highly-publicized case made waves in August when they declared they were investigating the New Hampshire girl's disappearance as a homicide and began investigating the families home

Cops had then been seen removing evidence, including a full-sized refrigerator, from the Manchester home, as well as a plethora of other items that were covered up in various packaging

Adam Montgomery has a criminal record that goes back to at least 2007.

Relatives have accused Adam Montgomery of abusing Harmony, causing case workers to visit the Manchester apartment multiple times in 2019, 2020, and 2021 - several coming after the girl was last seen.

Those visits saw the dad tell city officials the child had went to live with his mom.

Relatives, including Montgomery's uncle, Kevin Montgomery, recounted incidents including spanking, forcing the then five-year-old to scrub the toilet with her toothbrush, and leaving her standing in the corner for hours, investigators say.

Kevin Montgomery told police his nephew once admitted to him that he 'bashed her around this house' during one instance in 2019, after the father reportedly found her trying to get her younger brother to stop crying while she was bathing him.

'Adam told Kevin that he responded by striking [Harmony] in the face and causing the black eye,' according to the affidavit.

Kevin Montgomery told police he reported the 2019 assault to the Department of Children of Children Youth and Their Families (DCYF).

A caseworker visited Montgomery's home in July 2019 and found the claim Harmony had a black eye unfounded.

However, the family were 'identified as high risk of repeat child welfare system involvement' and were given referrals for housing supports, the review stated.

During a second visit that August, the worker noticed a red mark in Harmony's eye and faded bruising under her eyelid.

The worker was told by Harmony and her father that the mark was caused by 'horseplay with another sibling when a toy light saber struck Harmony Montgomery near her eye.'

Two other visits that year showed 'the children appeared happy and healthy,' the review said. The last visit was on October 1, 2019.

The division didn't have contact with Adam Montgomery again until January 2020. When asked about Harmony, he said the child was living with Sorey in Massachusetts.

A child protective services worker left a voicemail for Sorey, but the call wasn't returned and there is no evidence of any additional attempts to contact her, the review said.

Harmony disappeared between November 28 and December 10, 2019, while she was living with her dad at the residence, a second-floor apartment

Harmony had lived with her father, and his convict wife Kayla Montgomery, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance

Crystal Sorey (right) - Harmony's biological mother - lost custody of the young girl in 2018 because of her drug addiction

Harmony was born in June 2014 while her father was incarcerated as he awaiting trial for allegedly shooting a man in the head during a drug deal.

Sorey attempted to care for her newborn daughter while battling her substance use disorder, but despite her efforts, DCYF received three reports of neglect the month Harmony was born.

Investigators attempted to provide service to Sorey, however, the neglect continued, with two additional reports filed in August 2014.

Officials determined the infant's well-being was at risk and she was removed from Sorey's care.

Harmony was placed in a foster home for the first time and officials worked to develop an action plan for Sorey.

Almost three years after Harmony was placed in Adam's care, on December 31, 2021, the city of Manchester, New Hampshire police announced seven-year-old Harmony's disappearance and their search for her

In September of that year, DCYF devised an action plan with Adam Montgomery, while he was incarcerated, indicating he would engage with offered programs to help with parenting, substance use disorder, and anger management.

Officials made numerous attempts to contact Adam about the plan but he did not respond the report states.

When DCYF finally connected with Adam in December 2014 he issued support for Harmony to return to Sorey's care. He also asked for a visit with Harmony.

The convict met his daughter for the first time in January 2015, when she was six months old, during a supervised visit with her DCYF care team. Immediately following the visit, Harmony was placed in Sorey's care but remained under the custody of DCYF.

Approximately four months later, Harmony, then 10 months old, was returned to foster care after Sorey failed to maintain the requirements of her action plan.

Harmony remained in foster care until March 2017 when she was placed back in Sorey's care, but still under the custody of DCYF. The girl's mother had met with DCYF workers on numerous occasions to monitor her progress and readiness to act as Harmony's guardian.

In January 2018, Harmony, now three-and-a-half, was removed from Sorey's care for the third time due to her relapsing. She was placed back into foster care.

In August 2018, Adam resumed supervised visits with Harmony, then four, after having not visited with her for the prior eleven months.

He was granted guardianship of his daughter in February 2019, where she seemingly resided until her disappearance.

State officials have since discerned that the girl, who would now be 8, was repeatedly failed by the Massachusetts child welfare system since infancy, being placed in the care of violent criminal Adam Montgomery despite opposition from her caseworkers.

Officials also failed to prioritize Harmony's medical and special needs when making decisions about her guardian, which the state said in a scathing report penned by Massachusetts Department of Children and Families should have been 'central to the decision-making'.

'Harmony's needs, well-being and safety were not prioritized,' Massachusetts child advocate Maria Mossaides said during a press conference in May.

'This beautiful young child experienced many tragedies in her short life, and that by not putting her needs first, our system ultimately failed her.'
Lee Jae-yong, who became chairman of Samsung Electronics after being approved by the board on Thursday, heads to the Seoul Central District Court to stand trial for conspiracy allegations in an illegal merger and accounting fraud. Yonhap



New chief vows to make Samsung trusted, loved by the people



By Baek Byung-yeul



Lee Jae-yong, grandson of Samsung Group founder Lee Byung-chul and the group's de facto leader, was promoted to chairman of the group's crown jewel affiliate Samsung Electronics Thursday. His promotion was approved at a board meeting earlier in the day.



The 54-year-old is the third chairman of the world's top memory chipmaker, succeeding his founder-grandfather and his father Lee Kun-hee.



"The Board of Directors of Samsung Electronics today approved the appointment of Lee Jae-yong as executive chairman of the company. The board approved the appointment, which was recommended by Independent Director and Board Chairman Kim Han-jo," Samsung Electronics said in a statement.



The board added it approved the appointment as the company faces an "uncertain global business environment" and there has been a "pressing need for stronger accountability and business stability."



Lee joined Samsung Electronics in 1991 and was appointed vice chairman in 2012.



On the same day, the Samsung heir appeared at the Seoul Central District Court to stand trial over the suspected illegal merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015 and alleged accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics.



When asked about how it feels to be the chairman, Lee said, "I will create a company that is trusted and loved by the people."



"I feel a weight on my shoulders. I ask for all of your support," Lee added.



He also shared his thoughts with employees by posting an article on the company's bulletin board Thursday. His thoughts had already been revealed to the top management of Samsung Group during a memorial service for the second anniversary of the death of his father on Oct. 25.



"The reason why we didn't fall behind in the competition is because of executives and employees from across the world who worked hard," he wrote.



He also stressed that "the reality in front of us is severe and the market situation is harsh. Although we are in a difficult situation, this is the moment that we need to prepare for the future and develop our technologies."



The chairman emphasized that "the most important value since the start of the business is talented professionals and technology. We need to bring in and train talented professionals who can change the world regardless of gender or nationality."



Though he officially became the new leader of the nation's top conglomerate, the new chairman is also facing numerous challenges, such as legal battles and the governance structure of the group.



The chairman is still in a legal tussle as he has attended trials over allegations that he conspired with other executives to lower the value of Samsung C&T and inflate that of Cheil Industries before their merger in 2015. Lee is also involved in a legal battle over alleged accounting fraud at the group's drug-making unit, Samsung Biologics.



Lee has been criticized due to these cases as many view they were intentionally executed via illegal avenues to ensure Lee's succession in the group.



Although Lee remains one of the major shareholders of Samsung Group affiliates, it remains to be seen how he will handle the management of each subsidiary as the group's leader. Samsung currently retains the group's web-like holding structure, but Lee vowed in 2020 that he would not pass on management control of the vast conglomerate to his children.




Northern Ireland was heading for its second election in a year today as the Democratic Unionist Party refused to rejoin the power-sharing government with Sinn Fein.

Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed that the unionist party would continue its Stormont boycott in a protest over the Brexit deal between the UK and EU.

The DUP wants action is taken to remove the Northern Ireland protocol's economic barriers on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

But talks between London and Brussels have been bogged down for months and previous attempts to get the executive running in May and in August also failed.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris gave local politicians until tomorrow to restart the government.

But speaking this morning Sir Jeffrey s confirmed his party will not support the reformation of the Stormont Assembly.

He led his MLAs to the Great Hall in Stormont where he said they would take their seats in the chamber for today's recall but not nominate ministers.

'We do not believe that sufficient progress has been made to addressing the issues of concern to the people that we represent,' he said.

Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson confirmed that the unionist party would continue its Stormont boycott in a protest over the Brexit deal between the UK and EU.

Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill - who would become First Minister of any new assembly under current numbers, told MLAs that Sir Jeffrey had 'left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government'.

'We were given a clear mandate in the Assembly elections, and we would not nominate ministers to an executive until decisive action is taken on the protocol to remove the barriers to trade within our own country and to restore our place within the United Kingdom internal market.

'That remains our position and so today we will not be supporting the nomination of ministers to the executive.'

During the Stormont recall, MLAs are set to 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 sitting will see an attempt to elect a new speaker - a prerequisite before an executive can be appointed - but that bid is set to fail as the DUP will use its veto to block it.

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.

A six-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.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has repeatedly warned that he will call a Stormont poll if Friday's deadline passes without a devolved executive being formed.

Mr Heaton-Harris met Northern Ireland political party leaders on Wednesday and reiterated the importance of restoring the executive.

Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill - who would become First Minister of any new assembly under current numbers, told MLAs that Sir Jeffrey had 'left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government'.

Ms O'Neill also accused the DUP of being in a 'perpetual stand-off with the public, the majority of whom they do not speak for, or indeed represent'.

'Jeffrey Donaldson and the DUP have left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government, whose own survival is all that counts,' she said.

Ms O'Neill claimed those watching today's proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly will be 'bewildered'.

'Most of us here want to do the job we were elected to do,' she said.

'Today our caretaker ministers rally to take decisions, within tight limits, before their civil servants are left in an impossible position come midnight where they are expected to run our essential public services yet have no budget and no powers.'
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Chinese businessmen linked to the China's Communist Party and intelligence services plowed almost $11million into a joint venture with Hunter Biden, a DailyMail.com analysis of newly released bank records shows.

The flood of cash from Chinese oil giant CEFC was squirreled away, largely by Hunter and his family, in just a year.

The bank records, numbering over 200 pages, were released on Tuesday by Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson, who have been investigating Hunter for almost four years.

The records were sent by the senators to a Delaware prosecutor investigating Hunter's potentially criminal business dealings with foreign nations.

Grassley and Johnson accompanied the ream of records with an excoriating letter slamming the federal prosecutor, David Weiss, for 'failure to respond to our legitimate congressional oversight requests'.

The lawmakers say the documents uncovered in their long investigation lay out 'the Biden family's connections to the Chinese regime and persons connected to its military and intelligence elements.'

DailyMail.com's analysis of hundreds of bank statements included in the Hunter Biden investigation details how the president's son, his Uncle Jim Biden, and his Chinese business partners extracted cash from an $11million payout to a bank account for Hudson West III, LLC - a company jointly owned by Hunter's firm Owasco PC and a CEFC subsidiary. Records show Hunter and Jim's companies received a total of $4,968,220.01 from Hudson West. Hunter, Jim, and his wife Sara also got access to Bank of Omaha credit cards funded by CEFC to the tune of $101,098.61. CEFC manager Gongwen Dong was paid a total $123,319.68 over the 14-month period in the bank statements, and another CEFC executive firm (ColdHarbour Capital) got $318,286.37. There were also eight payments totaling $29,795.84 to JiaQi Bao, a glamorous young staffer for the joint venture who was close to Hunter

The bank records and documents track the money flow from Hunter Biden's Chinese business partners to members of the Biden family between September 2017 and November 2018

They say the evidence amounts to 'potential criminal financial activity with respect to Hunter and James Biden,'  President Joe Biden's brother who goes by 'Jim', who took part in the Chinese joint venture.

The senators are concerned Weiss is dragging his feet and not conducting a thorough investigation of the president's son, or that the probe has been hamstrung by the Department of Justice.

Their data dump comes less than two weeks before the congressional midterm elections.

If Republicans win back control of the House, they are poised to launch their investigation into the Bidens, backed by subpoena powers that control would afford them.

An analysis of the hundreds of pages of bank statements by DailyMail.com shows Hunter's Chinese business partners transferred a total $10,736,413.50 to a Cathay Bank account for Hudson West III LLC, a company jointly owned by Hunter's firm Owasco PC and a CEFC subsidiary, between September 2017 and November 2018.

As CEFC poured millions into the joint venture, Hunter and Jim extracted the cash, paying themselves $100,000 and $65,000 monthly salaries respectively.

The operating agreement for the Delaware-incorporated company released by the senators says Hunter would receive a $500,000 'one-time retainer fee' too.

Hunter, his uncle and Jim's wife Sara got access to credit cards funded by CEFC to the tune of $101,098.61, which they used for a spending spree of Apple products, hotels and restaurants.

And CEFC executive Patrick Ho paid Hunter $1million from the company's funds as a retainer after he hired the First Son as his lawyer, following his arrest by US law enforcement in November 2017 on bribery and money laundering charges.

The report by the senators said Hunter and Jim's companies received a total of $4,968,220.01 from Hudson West.

GOP Senators Ron Johnson and Chuck Grassley, who have been investigating the First Son for almost four years, released hundreds of pages of bank records obtained in their investigation on Tuesday

Grassley and Johnson accompanied the ream of records with an excoriating letter to federal prosecutor, David Weiss

The senators included a graphic illustrating the flow of money from the Hudson West III, LLC account to Hunter's family members, his Chinese business partners, and his own companies

The millions of dollars were ostensibly for the Bidens' work helping to land energy deals for CEFC around the world.

But mounting evidence  in text messages, emails and photos  of Joe's knowledge and even involvement in his family's Chinese business, suggests the cash could in fact have been part of an attempt to gain influence with the future president.

In their fiery letter to Weiss, the senators highlighted how CEFC was not just a private company; it had many close links to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The firm received financing from the state-owned China Development Bank and hired a number of former officials from state-owned energy companies, the lawmakers said.

Grassley and Johnson quoted a Reuters article from January 2017 which noted that CEFC's subsidiaries were flooded with Communist Party committees, 'more than at many private Chinese companies'.

The firm's chairman, Ye Jianming, had ties to the CCP and the People's Liberation Army, the senators wrote.

They highlighted an analysis by Martin Hala, an academic based in Prague who tracked the company's networking efforts in the Czech Republic, who told the New York Times in December 2018 that, 'It's been clear for some time that this is not just a Chinese commercial company, that they had some intelligence ties.'

'CEFC was the perfect vehicle to bring financial benefits to the communist regime under the guise of a private sector company,' Grassley and Johnson wrote in their letter.

The report highlights a clause in the agreement that established Hunter and Jim Biden would be compensated $100,000 and $65,000 monthly, respectively, with Hunter receiving a $500,000 'one-time retainer fee' for the deal

A document included in the trove of investigative materials shows Hudson West's $5M capital contribution and $0 from Owasco PC, Hunter's firm

CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming (left) had been arrested in China and his lieutenant Patrick Ho (right) had been convicted in the US of bribery. Ho had previously hired Hunter as his lawyer when he was facing bribery charges in 2017

Hunter himself seemed to be well aware of CEFC's close links to the Chinese government.

In an audio recording on his abandoned laptop, he referred to Ho as the 'f***ing spy chief of China'.

Court records reveal the FBI obtained a warrant to monitor Ho's communications under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, usually used to keep tabs on foreign spies.

However Ho has not been convicted of any espionage offenses  just bribery.

Hunter also texted his business partners that he believed Chinese President Xi Jinping had personally given his approval for CEFC to form a joint venture with the Bidens.

Senators Grassley and Johnson sent the records to Delaware prosecutor David Weiss (pictured) investigating Hunter's potentially criminal business dealings with foreign nations

The First Son texted his American partners in his CEFC venture in May 2017 that CEFC executive director Zang Jianjun was 'coming to be MY partner to be partners with the Bidens' and that Zang 'implied that the #1 has made that clear and available to him'.

A party to the conversation told DailyMail.com that '#1' was Hunter's code for Xi.

Some of the money poured into the joint venture went to paying its Chinese staff.

CEFC manager Gongwen Dong was paid a total $123,319.68 over the 14-month period in the bank statements, and another CEFC executive Mervyn Yan's firm got $318,286.37.

The senators also highlighted payments totaling $29,795.84 to JiaQi Bao, a glamorous young staffer for the joint venture who was close to Hunter  and also had close ties to the Chinese government.

DailyMail.com has previously revealed flirty emails Bao sent Hunter offering opposition research to help Joe's campaign, hinting at political sea changes in China, encouraging Hunter to embezzle cash from the joint venture, and offering to drop off his military dog tags he had left at her apartment.

This week Republican ranking member of the House oversight committee James Comer wrote to the FBI demanding information on Bao.

Comer's letter said Bao 'liaised with CCP-affiliated agents on the Bidens' behalf' and that her relationship with Hunter went 'beyond professional obligations - a common tactic employed by Chinese agents.'

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.
A 98-year-old D-Day veteran has helped launch the Royal British Legion's (RBL) annual poppy appeal in central London today which features a giant red poppy wall which uncovers the stories of military personnel helped by the charity.

Bernard Morgan, the youngest RAF sergeant to land in Normandy on June 6, 1944, attended the grand unveiling with six others whose stories are featured on a huge red wall covered in paper flower tributes in Hay's Galleria, central London.

Members of the public were invited to pick a poppy from the installation to uncover the story of someone who has received help from the charity.

Every year, the charity's poppy appeal, run by volunteers during the period of remembrance, raises millions of pounds.

The money raised goes towards the charity's work supporting the Armed Forces community, including serving and ex-serving personnel and their families.

The red poppy - a common sight on the Western Front - became a symbol of remembrance for those killed in the First World War and is now also worn as a tribute to those still serving.

Left to right: Army veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan veteran Anthony Cooper, and 98-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan at today's Royal British Legion event in London

D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 98, had his story shared featured on the giant poppy wall during the launch of the RBL's 2022 Poppy Appeal in London today

Mr Morgan, from Crewe, was a codebreaker during the Second World War and became the youngest RAF sergeant to land on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6 1944.

His story is one of many to adorn the wall, which is dedicated to both military personnel and their families.

Another contributor, Clive Jones, 47, spoke of how the RBL helped him with the challenge of adjusting to civilian life after conflict, as he attended the launch.

Mr Jones, a former Welsh Guardsman who was blinded in an unprovoked assault 21 years ago, struggled with depression before joining the RBL's multi-activity 'Battle Back' centre.

The veteran, who is a member of the Great Britain blind archery team, said: 'It's a wonderful thing that's happening and I'm very proud to be here.

'When people wear their poppy it's a mark of respect and pride. I think it's very important that you wear the poppy and donate where you can because the Royal British Legion can help support serving soldiers, sailors, airmen and their families and veterans alike in their rehabilitation.

Left to right: Army veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan veteran Anthony Cooper and D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan at today's Poppy Appeal launch in central London

Clive Jones, 47, a former Welsh Guardsman who was blinded in an unprovoked assault, spoke of how the RBL helped him adjust to civilian life after conflict, as he attended the launch

'Adjusting to civilian lifestyle really wasn't easy and the Royal British Legion has been there for me and my family since the start.

'Now I'm 21 years into being blind and life is getting easier, but I know if the Royal British Legion can help me then they are there for me.'

Veteran Clive Jones, 47, who has been blind for 21 years, said the RBL had helped him with the challenge of adjusting to civilian life after conflict.

'It's a wonderful thing that's happening and I'm very proud to be here,' he said.

'When people wear their poppy it's a mark of respect and pride. I think it's very important that you wear the poppy and donate where you can because the Royal British Legion can help support serving soldiers, sailors, airmen and their families and veterans alike in their rehabilitation.

'Adjusting to civilian lifestyle really wasn't easy and the Royal British Legion has been there for me and my family since the start.

'Now I'm 21 years into being blind and life is getting easier, but I know if the Royal British Legion can help me then they are there for me.'

D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, 98, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, is given a poppy by Daisy and Maya Renard today

11-year-old Imogen said the RBL had introduced her to other children whose parents were in the Army through a charity-funded choir, helping them to 'go through it together'.

She said: 'We can all relate to each other and it's easier for us to understand because when we say, 'my dad is going to have to go away for six months' someone else would be like 'it's going to be okay because we can go through it together because my dad has to go away as well so we can both be here for each other'.'

Her mother Rachel, 40, said: 'It makes me sad to think about Imogen going through this. It's difficult but to be honest it's something that's just become a part of our lives.

'Sometimes we can phone, quite often we have to wait for him to phone us so whenever he does we drop everything that we're doing,' she said.

Left to right: Afghanistan veteran Sally Renard with her daughters Daisy and Maya, Army veteran Clive Jones, Afghanistan veteran Anthony Cooper, D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, military child Imogen Nicol and military widow Chantelle Wynn at the launch of the RBL's 2022 Poppy Appeal in central London today

'The children are incredibly resilient and I think they sacrificed quite a lot having parents in the armed forces but we wouldn't have it any other way.'

Andy Taylor-White, fundraising lead at the RBL, said supporting the charity was a way of showing respect to 'veterans before who have given the ultimate sacrifice' as well as serving members.

'This year especially we're asking people to wear the poppy to show they care for the armed forces community, both the veterans that have gone before but also actually the armed forces community today who need our help,' he said.

'That's very relevant right now. We're supporting people with cost of living grants but also veterans who are in need of welfare and support.

'As a veteran myself from the Royal Navy, respecting the fact that we have generations of veterans before who have given the ultimate sacrifice but also, we have people serving today who are willing to stand up and protect our way of life.'
President Biden called a prominent New York rabbi and offered him unfettered access to the White House in exchange for throwing his support behind Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, chair of the Democrat's campaign arm who is locked in a tight race.

Tasked with leading Democrats in their fight to keep the House, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) chair and New York Rep. Maloney must now focus on his own race against Republican assemblyman Mike Lawler on Nov. 8. It has turned into a 'toss-up' race, despite Biden carrying the district by 10 points.

'You will have an open door to my administration,' Biden promised Rabbi David Twersky in a 15-minute phone call, according to Rockland Daily. Jewish Forward reporter Jacob Kornbluh confirmed the call.

Twersky is the chief rabbi for the Hasidic sect in New Square, N.Y. in the 17th Congressional District.

The phone call came before First Lady Jill Biden heads to Mount Kisko, N.Y. on Sunday for a political finance event with Maloney.

Biden called a prominent New York rabbi and offered him unfettered access to the White House in exchange for throwing his support behind Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

'You will have an open door to my administration,' Biden promised Rabbi David Twersky in a 15-minute phone call

New York-based political strategist Hank Sheinkopf said Twersky is revered by Hasidic Jews in New Square and they will heed his advice and vote for Maloney if he tells them to do so.

Sheinkopf also said the call signals trouble for Maloney.

'You don't have the President of the United States call someone for support unless you're in trouble in a political campaign,' he told the New York Post. 'If you're up by 10 points, you don't ask the president for help.'

'For all his fake bravado, Sean Patrick Maloney sure is behaving like a very scared man,' National Republican Congressional Campaign (NRCC) spokesperson Samantha Bullock told DailyMail.com. 'Maloney's fellow vulnerable Democrats are probably less than thrilled their DCCC chair is using whatever political capital he has left to try and save himself.'

Maloney's campaign could not be reached for comment on the matter.

Earlier this month Biden stumped for Democrats in Poughkeepsie, where he was joined by Maloney and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul is facing an increasingly competitive challenge from GOP Rep. Lee Zeldin.

On Sunday Hochul met with ultra-religious Jewish leaders in Rockland County as she fights for the orthodox Jewish vote against Zeldin, who is Jewish.

Jewish groups hailed Maloney's win over progressive challenger Alessandra Biaggi in August's primary, as Biaggi had expressed support for the boycott, divest and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Tasked with leading Democrats in their fight to keep the House, DCCC chair and New York Rep. Maloney m ust now focus on his own race against Republican assemblyman Mike Lawler on Nov. 8. It has turned into a 'toss-up' race

Meanwhile, Republicans are pouring in funds to defeat the Democrat Party leader. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC aligned with House Republican Leadership, has dumped $6 million into the race, including $4 million announced just last week.

They're shifting the focus back to crime, with ads highlighting Maloney's 2018 comments calling ending cash bail reform a 'top priority.'

The race for the newly drawn district comes after a messy redistricting process that split the DCCC chair's district in two. Instead of running in the current version of his district, he ran in the more Democratic-leaning new district where his house is located, pushing out progressive Rep. Mondaire Jones. Jones subsequently ran in a New York City district's primary and lost. Maloney's handling of the process drew sharp intra-party criticism.

Complaints also arose across the nation about Maloney over the DCCC's choice to elevate far-right candidates in Republican primaries who they believed they would have an easier time beating in general elections.

New GOP funding for Lawler led the DCCC to put up a $600,000 buy in TV ads, with some other vulnerable Democrats voicing frustration that the party has had to dip into its coffers to save its chairs rather than focusing on helping others who are under water.

Maloney also prompted questions when he paid his and his husband's personal trainer over $7,000 from campaign and taxpayer funds, as DailyMail.com first reported. A Maloney spokesperson said the trainer, Erick Ramos, was paid as a part-time driver for the congressman.

Maloney's staffing choices have raised eyebrows as to whether he used campaign funds for personal use before. In July the New York Post reported on Harold Leath, Maloney's former 'body man' or as Maloney's office calls it, 'executive assistant.'

'I was pretty much with the congressman everywhere he went within the district  if he went to a meeting, if he went out running. I would drive him everywhere he needed to go,' he told The Post.

'When I first started, my main responsibility was to make sure the congressman and his family never needed anything,' Leath recalled. 'I was to be there.'

'Everything I got paid for was either for his campaign, in the beginning, or doing something for him.'
A Florida firefighter suffered horrific burns as he rescued his girlfriend from their Uber after it careered into a crashed tanker while they were heading for a dream vacation.

Bryan Aparicio, 27, screamed I cannot let her die as he heroically pulled Su Hninyi, 26, from the burning wreckage, risking his life in the process.

Aparacio, a Broward Sheriffs Office Fire Rescue firefighter, and his girlfriend were traveling on Tuesday afternoon to take a cruise vacation.

The couple were riding an Uber on the Interstate 95 in Delray Beach when a tanker ahead of them crashed while trying to avoid another car which swerved into its path.

The Uber then smashed into a barrier as the driver attempted to avoid the burning tanker - causing the car to explode into flames.

Bryan Aparicio, 27, and his girlfriend, Su Hninyi, 26, were involved in the smash on Tuesday

Aparicio screamed I cannot let her die as he heroically pulled his girlfriend from the wreckage

Aparicio miraculously escaped the back seat by using his shoulder and head to smash a window and climb out.

But he realized his girlfriend was still trapped inside, so sprinted back to the fireball to pull Hninyi out - saving her life.

He suffered significant burns to his face, arms and legs. Hninyi suffered second and third-degree burns.

Both are currently critically injured in hospital.

Jason Smith, president of the Broward County Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Association, said: It was an instant that happened so fast, he recognized that they were trapped and saw that his girlfriend couldnt get out as well, and he did everything he could.

The couple's Uber crashed as it swerved to avoid a tanker which flipped and burst into flames

Aparicio is a firefighter in Florida and friends said his training kicked in as the crash unfolded

Aparicio escaped the car by smashing a window with his head, then returned for his girlfriend

75 firefighters rushed to the crash as the overturned tanker caused blazes across the highway

His actions show that he was going to risk his life, no question, to make sure hers didnt come to an end.

His heartbeat is his girlfriend that was next to him, and when he came to awareness, clearly he went into action, which is what he trains for, which is what he responds to all the residents and visitors of Broward County with every day.

'I keep on thinking about it like this: he was willing to lose his life and stay right there, to make sure she got out, so it was almost like a Romeo and Juliet. He wasnt leaving without her.'

A total of 75 firefighters in 35 trucks responded to the crash, with the tankers spill causing multiple fires which even spread through a storm drain under the highway.

Five people in total were injured, with three left in critical condition.

Friends said Aparicio's bravery 'clearly emboldens what we are as firefighters and paramedics'

Five people were hurt, including three who are critically injured, in the crash on Interstate 95

Authorities have currently said the car which initially cut across the tanker is believed to be responsible for the pile-up.

Aparicio was recovering at Delray Medical Center last night and could be transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospitals burn unit, where his girlfriend is in intensive care.

Witness Brian Bernstein said the crash site looked like a warzone, adding: It looked like a plane had crashed or something that had come from the sky and just crashed onto the highway.

Eric Solera, a firefighter and friend of Aparicio, said: He looked out, and the next thing he saw as a wall of fire around the vehicle.

At this point, you have fire all around the car, you have black smoke all around him and visibility is zero... He lost contact with his girlfriend and he said, these are his words, I cannot let her die.

Hes a very humble person, Solera told the Sun Sentinel.

The fire sent thick plumes of smoke across the highway, with five people injured in the disaster

Authorities believe the car which cut across the tanker was to blame for causing the pile-up

Tire marks were seen across the highway after cars swerved to avoid the overturned tanker

He doesnt seek for recognition or anything, and what he did was out of sheer love to his girlfriend and being an exceptional human being and a true hero.

Smith added: I think all of the attributes of his family raising him and the career path that hes chosen, he clearly emboldens what we are as firefighters and paramedics.

He showed what our commitment is to others, so very selfless, and were proud of him.

A GoFundMe page started by Aparicios colleagues has already raised nearly $35,000 to help with the couples medical bills and recovery.

Solera, who launched the page with Brendan Quilter, said: For those of you who know Bryan, know that he is a kind and exceptional human being.

His swift actions and acts of heroism saved his girlfriend's life. We believe that its our turn to step up and show him that the community he serves is by his side and ready to help during these unforeseen circumstances.
A 15-year-old muslim girl was killed in a horror accident and choked to death after her headscarf became caught in a go-kart, an inquest heard.

Ruwaida Adan was strangled by her hijab minutes into a go-karting race with her friends in East London.

Ruwaida should have been told to remove the headscarf, jurors were told, but checks at Capital Karts in Barking, East London, missed it.

The schoolgirl did not wear a hijab all the time, her parents said, and the race course had a policy to remove all loose clothing.

The end of her scarf was said to be hanging out of her helmet and suit and two parts in her cart designed to stop loose items becoming entangled were also damaged, a probe found.

Ruwaida Adan, 15, was strangled by her hijab minutes into a go-karting race with her friends in East London

Emergency services were called to the scene - which occurred on August 6 2021 - to take the teenager to hospital, but Ruwaida died four days later.

She suffered a hypoxic brain injury and asphyxiation.

The jury at Walthamstow Coroners' Court said: 'No safety check ensured that Ruwaida removed her headscarf before getting into her go car.

'No daily mechanics check was carried out on August 6, 2021. In Ruwaida's cart the plastic drive belt guard to the rear axle was absent and the rear seat shield was damaged.

'Both should cover exposed moving parts. Ruwaida's scarf became entangled in the moving parts resulting in her asphyxiation and her death on August 10, 2021.'

Ruwaida should have been told to remove the headscarf, jurors were told, but checks at Capital Karts in Barking, East London, missed it

Following the inquest, Ruwaida's family said: 'Ruwaida was sweet and compassionate to everyone she met.

'She was so kind, thoughtful, caring, loving, strong and wise beyond her years.

'She was always speaking up for those who couldn't speak up for themselves. She was always laughing and smiling  she had the most contagious laugh.

'Losing Ruwaida has been the hardest thing we have ever been through and losing her so unexpectedly makes it even worse.

'Not only has a big part of our family gone, but her death has caused us all so much pain that we are all changed forever.

'We miss Ruwaida every second of every day.'
Kamala Harris is getting roasted online for her comments reflecting on the nostalgia of riding a 'yellow school bus' at an event unveiling a program aimed at reducing emissions by replacing diesel buses with electrical vehicles.

Speaking at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on Wednesday, the vice president asked 'who doesn't love a yellow school bus?' in front of a backdrop of four electric school buses.

Critics immediately tore into Harris for her remarks, which sounded more like a teacher speaking with young children than a vice president delivering remarks on a presidential initiative.

Radio host Clay Travis said the spectacle proved the administration cannot 'let her talk in public.'

'Democrats have been hiding Kamala, but she just had a press conference and talked about yellow school buses and my goodness they really can't let her talk in public about anything,' he tweeted.

'What in the Yellow School Bus is wrong with Kamala Harris,' comedian Terrence K. Williams tweeted. 'LORD JESUS HELP US ALL. She is an embarrassment! Raise your hand if you agree.'

Critics tore into Vice President Kamala Harris for gushing over her love and nostalgia for 'yellow school buses'. Pictured: Harris laughs with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan during a tour of electric school buses at Meridian High School in Falls Church, Virginia on May 20, 2022

Harris fawned over buses in remarks in Seattle unveiling a $1billion initiative to roll out a fleet of zero-emissions electric buses. 'Who doesn't love a yellow school bus, right? Can you raise your hand if you love a yellow school bus? Many of us went to school on the yellow school bus, right? It's part of our experience growing up. It's part of a nostalgia, a memory,' the VP said

Harris gushed about her love of school buses at the top of her remarks Wednesday, saying: 'Who doesn't love a yellow school bus, right? Can you raise your hand if you love a yellow school bus?' as she raised her hand in the air and looked around the room with a wide grin.

'Many of us went to school on the yellow school bus, right?' the vice president continued. 'It's part of our experience growing up. It's part of a nostalgia, a memory of the excitement and joy of going to school to be with your favorite teacher, to be with your best friends and to learn. The school bus takes us there.'

'Find yourself someone who loves you as much as Kamala Harris loves Venn diagrams and yellow school buses,' conservative activist Matthew Foldi tweeted.

Florida Republican politician Lavern Spicer, who failed in her primary bid for the House earlier this year, tweeted: 'Guess what Kamala? I don't love a yellow school bus. I DO love the diesel fuel they run on THAT YOUR PARTY IS CAUSING US TO RUN OUT OF though.'

Gas prices have been extremely high  rising to record levels since Biden took office and Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February.

Republicans have ripped apart the Biden administration and Democrats for hiding environmental issues in funding and spending bills, especially ones that they claim prioritize green initiatives at the expense of taxpayers.

Nearly $1 billion, in part funded through the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill, will go towards school districts replacing diesel-powered buses with electric ones.

Radio host Clay Travis said the administration 'really can't let her talk in public about anything' when noting Harris' embarrassing remarks and behavior

Experts warn there are concerns about electric school buses and whether rural and low-income areas have the infrastructure for charging stations. Harris steps off an electric school bus in Virginia during a May event in Virginia

Despite social media ripping Harris apart for the embarrassing remarks, she doubled-down in a tweet from her official VP Twitter on Wednesday night.

'Who doesn't love a yellow school bus? 25 million children a day go to school on a bus. But 95% use diesel fuel, which is harmful to public health & our planet. Today, I announced school districts across all 50 states will receive $1 billion from @EPA's Clean School Bus Program,' the tweet reads.

'Someone needs to look into how much the 'yellow school bus' lobby is paying Kamala Harris,' political columnist Benny Johnson jested.

Biden's team identified on Wednesday the 400 school districts across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.  as well as tribes and territories  that will receive over the next year part of the $1 billion to purchase zero-emissions school buses and charging stations.

The costly program will provide the districts with 2,400 buses, 95 percent will run on electricity. The other 5 percent will operate on compressed natural gas or propane.

Comedian Terrence Williams said the vice president is 'an embarrassment'

Funds are part of a five-year, $5 billion Clean School Bus Program, which was created by the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by Biden last year.

But the program is already expected to have a series of obstacles to overcome, including charging station infrastructure and the logistical concerns of rolling out electric school bus fleets that have a limited range on charges.

Leading school bus manufacturer Blue Bird's electric school buses have a maximum range of 120 miles before requiring a recharge, which can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours.

Particularly there are concerns that rural areas will not be able to accommodate the infrastructure for charging stations when a large majority of the fleets are being rolled out for students in low-income, rural and Tribal areas.
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Eco activists have targeted the world famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting in the Netherlands in the latest brazen gallery attack.

Three Just Stop Oil vandals were arrested at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, and the Johannes Vermeer artwork is said to be undamaged after the protest which sparked groans and heckles from the unimpressed onlookers.

Gallery visitors tried to drown out the 'stupid' demonstrators, telling them to 'shut up' during a speech about protecting the environment.

Footage circulating online shows how one protester appeared to glue his bald head to the glass covering the painting. His accomplice then poured a tin of chopped tomatoes over his head and they removed their jackets to reveal their Just Stop Oil t-shirts.

He said: 'How do you feel? How do you feel when you see something beautiful and priceless being apparently destroyed before your eyes?

Eco activists have targeted the world famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting by Johannes Vermeer in the Netherlands in the latest brazen gallery attack

Footage circulating online shows how one protester appeared to glue his bald head to the glass covering the painting

The Hague police said on Twitter that they had arrested three people in a museum for 'public violence against goods'

A video posted on Twitter showed one man pouring a can of red substance over another protester who appeared to attempt to glue his head to the glass-protected painting

'Do you feel outraged? Good. Where is that feeling when you see the planet being destroyed before our very eyes.

'This painting is protected by glass, it's just fine.

'Vulnerable people in the Global South, they are not protected, the future of our children is not protected.

'People in fuel poverty who need to choose between heating or eating are not protected.'

The pair were then seen being escorted away in handcuffs by police, along with a third member of the group.

'Around 2 pm (1200 GMT) two people glued themselves to the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer,' the Mauritshuis said in a statement to AFP.

'One person glued his head to the painting, which was behind glass, and the other person glued his hand to the green wall next to the painting. A third person threw an unknown substance at the painting.'

The museum added: 'We have immediately inspected the painting, which was done by our restorers. Fortunately the painting... was not damaged.'

The painting would return on display 'as soon as possible'.

Gallery visitors tried to drown out the 'stupid' demonstrators, telling them to 'shut up' during a speech about protecting the environment

The pair were then seen being escorted away in handcuffs by police, along with a third member of the group

The two men in the video were seen being escorted away by police in more footage

A police van is seen parked outside the Mauritshuis museum today as three were arrested for the stunt

Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, painted in around 1665, is one of the most famous paintings in the world

'Art is defenceless and to try and damage it for whichever cause, we strongly condemn it,' the Mauritshuis added.

Dutch police said in a statement they had arrested three Belgian men in their 40s for damage to public property and were conducting a forensic investigation. They were being questioned.

A statement from Just Stop Oil said its activists were responsible and had thrown soup.

'The message is clear: if humanity does not immediately stop using fossil fuels, it will become extinct,' it said. 'They would never defile a work of art not covered with protective glass.'

Dozens of people were gathered inside the museum waiting for news, while security guards told them not to get too close to the other paintings, an AFP reporter said.

The entrance to the room where the 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' normally hangs was blocked off by a large reproduction oil painting and a guard said it would likely be closed for the rest of the day.

Two police vans were parked outside the museum while investigations continued.

'The condition of the painting has been investigated by our conservators. Fortunately, the glazed masterpiece was not damaged,' the museum said.

Dozens of people were gathered inside the Mauritshuis waiting for news after Thursday's incident, while security guards told them not to get too close to the other paintings, an AFP reporter said.

The entrance to the room where the Girl with a Pearl Earring normally hangs was blocked off by a large reproduction oil painting and a guard said it would likely be closed for the rest of the day.

Art lovers have long been fascinated by Dutch master Vermeer's painting of the young woman with an enigmatic look, wearing a blue and yellow turban, a heavy pearl hanging from her ear.

It has provided further inspiration notably for Tracy Chevalier's 1999 novel 'The Girl with the Pearl Earring' which gave rise to an Oscar-nominated film starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth.

It comes after a string of similar attacks in galleries across the world, with British protesters throwing a tin of soup over Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers earlier this month.

British protesters threw a tin of soup over Van Gogh's iconic Sunflowers earlier this month

The pair were arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass, the Metropolitan Police said.

Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle, and Phoebe Plummer, 21, from Lambeth, south-west, both pleaded not guilty to criminal damage to the frame of Van Gogh's painting in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in mid October.

Their set their trial for December 13 at City of London Magistrates' Court.

Other protesters have followed suit in Europe this month.

Two activists in Germany's Potsdam's Barberini museum covered Claude Monet's Les Meules painting in mashed potatoes before gluing themselves to the floor.

Two activists in Germany threw mash potatoes over Claude Monet's 'Les Meules' painting in Potsdam's Barberini museum

The activists glued themselves to the floor of the museum in protest

Activists from the 'Letzte Generation' (Last Generation) climate activist group entered the museum in high vis jackets before approaching the painting, which sold at auction for $110million in 2019.

Earlier this summer, activists in Germany were arrested after gluing their hands to a Raphael masterpiece.

Jakob Beyer, 28, and Maike Grunst, 21, stuck their hands to the golden frame of Renaissance icon Raphael's painting The Sistine Madonna in Dresden.

The activists, who belong to the 'Letzte Generation' (Last Generation) movement, entered the Old Masters Picture Gallery, stepped over a barrier in front of the painting and clasped on to the frame before unfurling a banner.

Environmental activists in Germany have been arrested after gluing their hands to one of the most famous paintings in the world

Jakob Beyer, 28, and Maike Grunst, 21, stuck their hands to the golden frame of Renaissance master Raphael's painting The Sistine Madonna

Other gallery guests had to be kicked out while security surrounded the pair and police were called who eventually removed their hands and took them into custody, according to Bild.

Just Stop Oil vandals also carried out a protest at the National Gallery by covering John Constable's The Hay Wain with their own version featuring double yellow lines, pollution and a washing machine.

Two students covered the world-famous painting in London with a mock 'undated' version including aircraft, before gluing their hands to the frame in a protest against UK oil and gas projects on July 4.

It took more than an hour for the pair to be arrested.

The group said their reimagined version of the 1821 priceless work, which depicts a rural scene on the River Stour in Suffolk, shows a 'nightmare scene that demonstrates how oil will destroy our countryside'.

Protesters from Just Stop Oil cover John Constable's The Hay Wain at the National Gallery in London

One hero gallery worker even silenced a pair of ranting eco-zealots as she warned them to 'get off our paintings and get out' at Manchester Art Gallery.

Two men from the campaign group Just Stop Oil wearing orange t-shirts with the words 'Just Stop Oil' written in black on their fronts both placed a hand on either side of the frame surrounding Thomson's Aeolian Harp, a piece from 1809 by the English Romantic painter JMW Turner.

Spray painted on the floor underneath the JMW Turner painting in Manchester today read the words, 'no new oil'.

In a video recording of the protest uploaded to Twitter, a female member of staff can be heard instructing colleagues over a walkie-talkie to call 999.

A female member of staff at Manchester Art Gallery cuts the protester short, however, saying: 'I'm not interested. No. No. No. You've defaced our property...I don't want to hear a word of what you've got to say.

'So please, give us some respect by just keeping quiet...Let this be a silent protest.'

A hero gallery worker silenced ranting eco-zealots after they glued themselves to a painting hung in Manchester Art Gallery

A day later, activists from Just Stop Oil glued themselves to the frame of a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

Extinction Rebellion co-founder Simon Bramwell was among those involved, along with fellow XR activist Caspar Hughes.

Just Stop Oil also named three of the protesters as Jessica Agar, 21, an art student from Hereford; Tristan Strange, 40, a community organiser from Swindon; and Lucy Porter, 47, a former teacher from Leeds.

Security quickly responded and cleared visitors away before trying to prise the activists off the artwork. Police arrived nearly an hour later and arrested them on suspicion of criminal damage.

Enough is enough: the security guard first pulled the man's hand off the painting (left), before proceeding to remove the young woman from the priceless Renaissance artwork (right). Police then detained the protesters, who had tickets

Protesters from Just Stop Oil glue their hands to the frame of a copy of The Last Supper at the Royal Academy in London today

Just Stop Oil activists then carried out similar protests at galleries in Glasgow, Manchester and London.

The same month, three environmental activists attached themselves to the glass cover of Botticelli's iconic Primavera painting in the Gallery in Florence.

But the Italian security were praised for ripping the protesters' hands from the priceless painting.

Just Stop Oil's Calendar of CHAOS: From throwing soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers to scaling the QE2 Bridge... eco-mob reach day 27 in their month of mayhem in the UK

October 1 - Four bridges gridlocked

Members of the group occupied four bridges in the capital, causing gridlock on busy roads, before converging on Parliament.

Just Stop Oil boasted it had 'brought central London to a standstill' by blocking four key bridges to Westminster  Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth and Vauxhall.

'This is not a one day event. This is not a symbolic day out, this is an act of resistance against this genocidal government', it said in a statement.

The mob who blocked bridges were eventually moved on by police.

At King's Cross, former Labour leader Mr Corbyn addressed activists who then set fire to fake energy bills in metal bins in protest at rising gas and electricity prices.

Protesters sit down on Waterloo Bridge, blocking the bridge during a protest in London on October 1

October 2 - Waterloo Bridge blockade

Protesters, including pensioners, again occupied London bridges and lied down in the middle of the road as they brought the capital to a standstill for a second day.

The Met arrested 31 protesters after they paralysed the City on the second day of the planned month-long campaign of mayhem.

Around 250 people took part in three separate marches departed from Euston, Paddington and Waterloo at around midday.

Oxford Street, Ludgate Hill and Southampton Row were 'disrupted', before the groups met at Covent Garden and went on to 'block' Waterloo Bridge by sitting in the road.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters occupying Waterloo Bridge in London on October 2

October 3 - Rallying cry

Following a weekend in which thousands took to the capital, the following Monday saw a much quieter day with no major demonstrations.

Just Stop Oil did, though, release a statement in which it declared Westminster 'a site of nonviolent civil resistance until the government commits to end new oil and gas'.

A statement added: 'Our supporters will be returning  today  tomorrow- and the next day  and the next day after that  and every day until our demand is met  no new oil and gas in the UK.

'We will not stand by while everything we know and love is wilfully destroyed. We do this because it is the right thing to do and so we have a duty, a responsibility to continue.'

Supporters of Just Stop Oil (JSO) disrupt traffic as they march along Whitehall on October 3

October 4 - Parliament Square blockade

Disruption returned on the Tuesday as protesters blocked roads into central London's Parliament Square.

Some 54 eco-activists were arrested, including many who had 'glued themselves to the ground' during the demonstration.

The group had earlier chanted 'no new oil' outside Downing Street before marching in the road and blocking all all access to the busy Westminster hub.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters occupying roads around Westminster in central London

October 5 - Lambeth Bridge shut off

The following day, a further 28 protesters were arrested when they blocked and glued themselves to more roads in Westminster before being hauled away by officers.

The activists blocked the road to Lambeth Bridge and another close to Parliament during the demonstration, which resulted in arrests for the willful obstruction of the highway during the protest, the Metropolitan Police said.

Minutes before the protest took place, then-Prime Minister Liz Truss' speech was interrupted by Greenpeace activists at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, calling out her support for fracking.

Activists march through central London as Just Stop Oil continue their 'Occupation of Westminster' protest

October 6 - Trafalgar Square chaos

On day six of the campaign, the protesters blocked roads in Trafalgar Square, causing yet more mayhem in the heart of the capital.

Some 32 demonstrators sat down with banners and glued themselves to the Tarmac, before they were all removed and arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway.

Just Stop Oil also said: 'A group of seven queer people have formed one of the roadblocks. They are dressed in drag to demonstrate their unapologetic queerness.'

Police officers remove an activist during a 'Just Stop Oil' protest blocking roads around Trafalgar Square in London

October 7 - Vauxhall Bridge disruption

Just Stop Oil's first week of consecutive action came to a close by blocking off roads leading to Vauxhall Bridge.

Some 25 demonstrators in several groups blocked routes to the north and south of the bridge, sitting down with banners and glueing themselves to the roads.

The group confirmed the action 'brings to an end the first week of continuous disruption' - but warned that 'coming weeks will see the disruption in the capital increase'.

Scotland Yard confirmed that 23 people were arrested on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway and the road was opened 'after a short while'.

Met Police officers carry away a 'Just Stop Oil' activist during their road-block protest in London on October 7

October 8 - A501 blockade

Three more major roads in central London were blocked at the start of Just Stop Oil's second week of continuous action.

Around 40 supporters established roadblocks on three roads adjacent to the A501, resulting in severe disruption on Marylebone Road and shutting off the Edgware Road, Gloucester Place and Station Approach.

An angry motorist ripped banners from the hands of activists and told them to 'leave the road', earning him a round of applause form a passer-by.

The eco-zealots, wearing luminous vests, sat across Marylebone Road, while long queues of cars, buses and taxis angrily beeped their horns.

Meanwhile, some members joined fellow environmental protest group Animal Rebellion in pouring milk on Regent Street and St James's Street as part of a separate demonstration.

Just Stop Oil activists try to hold a banner in front of the traffic in Westminster, central London on October 8

October 9 - Piccadilly Circus madness

Furious were again pictured dragging members from the roads as the activists stopped traffic again on their ninth consecutive day of action, which ultimately resulted in 45 arrests at Piccadilly Circus.

One was filmed clambering on top of a police van which had arrived to deal with the protesters and gluing himself down to it by the hand.

But motorists out and about were frustrated by the protests and took matters into their own hands - attempting to forcibly remove the protesters from the roads themselves.

There was also footage online of a white van driving towards the protesters at speed, before slamming the brakes on and stopping just a couple of centimetres in front of them.

This driver and others were shown violently pushing and shoving protesters, as well as dragging them towards the pavement. In one online video a driver could be heard saying: 'I have to go to hospital... stop interfering with us!'

The Met Police then took aim at the group, who they say had caused 'unreasonable disruption' to people's lives with their actions.

Protesters, some with their necks padlocked together, block the road as they take part in a demonstration by Just Stop Oil climate activists at Piccadilly Circus

October 10 - Sit-down at Buckingham Palace

On the tenth day of action, police arrested 25 eco-zealots who glued themselves to each other and roads close to Buckingham Palace, sparking anger from motorists who told the activists to 'get a job'.

Officers first attended at around 8.45am and the final activists were only taken away in police vans by lunchtime.

A Just Stop Oil activist at the scene who did not block the road said to the final protesters as they were lifted into the vans: 'You've done really well. Solidarity.'

It came as footage from the protest emerged showing one liaison officer telling the group, 'let me know if I can do anything for you' as the mob staged the sit-down protest.

However, one van driver blasted his horn and shouted 'get a job', while a taxi driver shouted at them: 'F****** load of w******. Go and get a real f****** job.'

Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London

October 11 - Knightsbridge roadblock

The eleventh consecutive day of protest saw an irate van driver force his vehicle through a wall of protesters as fed-up motorists ripped banners and dragged activists off the road by hand in extraordinary scenes.

Amid the chaos, a fire engine on an emergency call struggled to get through the demonstrations, while an ambulance had to reverse and find another route as the group Just Stop Oil descended on exclusive Knightsbridge.

The angry van driver was filmed slowly driving into the activists to make it through, forcing them to move away from his vehicle.

Other motorists blared their horns and motorcyclists tried to weave past the protesters at the junction of Knightsbridge and Brompton Road, while one driver claimed they were stopping a baby from getting to hospital.

Meanwhile, a stuck Westminster City Council binman shouted: 'You've got nothing better to do, get a job, you mugs, come on it's enough, we're just the f***ing workers, you clowns, f***ing idiots, you just sit there like a bunch of lemons.'

Responding to the demonstration, which saw 27 people arrested, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'These sorts of protests which disrupt people's daily lives or indeed can stop our emergency services from potentially saving lives are unacceptable.

'That's why we've already toughened powers for the police, we've given them new powers to act and we are also taking further powers through the House at the moment to ensure they can go even further in preventing these individuals from disrupting people's lives.'

Climate campaigners from 'Just Stop Oil' attempt to block roads near Harrods in Knightsbridge

October 12 - Parliament Square blockade

Another 27 people were arrested on the Wednesday after the eco-warriors blocked the roads around Parliament Square.

The Met said they were all arrested for public order offences - including one who had to be carried down on a stretcher after he climbed on top of a police van.

It came as commissioner Sir Mark Rowley told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee that officers have to wait until protests are deemed to meet a legal threshold of causing major disruption before they can be shut down.

His officers are in touch with Transport for London, local councils and the emergency services several times per day to check the level of disruption caused.

Susan Hall, the Conservative chairwoman of the committee, also claimed that police officers were allegedly handing cups of tea to protesters, The Times reported.

Sir Mark said he was not aware of that and added: 'I hope we're not doing that, I agree with you it's not our responsibility.'

Just Stop Oil protestors block the road bear the rear exit of Downing street at Horseguards Avenue

October 13 - Roundabout roadblock

Frustrations boiled over again the following day as the activists caused a furious bust-up between drivers after blocking a key roundabout in south London.

One man pushed a protester, before a second witness shouted: 'Don't touch him, oi, leave him alone. What do you think you're f***ing doing? Let the police deal with it.' The man replied: 'Where's the f***ing police then?'

But the other man said: You can't f***ing attack them like that, you can't touch them, you can't f***ing physically attack them. Stupid c***.' Passers-by also ripped banners from the group, before further people gave them back.

The demonstrators established a series of roadblocks from 9am on routes around St George's Circus in Southwark, which is located between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle Underground stations.

An ambulance on an emergency call also appeared to be blocked by the protest today, with a video showing it sitting stationary with its flashing blue lights on. The junction is about 1,000 yards from St Thomas' Hospital.

One frustrated woman was heard asking the group: 'I have a disabled child who needs to go to school, why are you doing this to people?'

They then carried out a second protest by sitting outside Downing Street - with police liaison officers seen speaking to the group who were again holding banners and signs.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters occupying roads around Southwark in London

October 14 - Van Gogh soup attack

The group then stepped up their efforts at the end of the second week of action, as two activists were arrested for throwing soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery.

The duo - named by the pressure group as Anna Holland, 20, and 21-year-old Phoebe Plummer - threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the iconic 76 million painting before gluing themselves to a wall inside the Gallery.

Police say the work of art was 'unharmed' but some minor damage was caused to the frame. The National Gallery added in the evening that Sunflowers was back on display and undamaged.

Hours later, other rebellious eco-zealots from the campaign group launched a humiliating attack against the police, spraying orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London - prompting officers to make 24 arrests.

During the same protest, an angry motorist threw a can of coke at the activists as they blockaded the road.

Activists of 'Just Stop Oil' glue their hands to the wall after throwing soup at Van Gogh's painting 'Sunflowers' at the National Gallery in London

October 15 - Shoreditch sit-down

At the start of the third week of action, furious road users resorted to dragging the protesters out of the road and begged them to move as they blocked busy Shoreditch High Street in East London - stopping a fire truck from getting through.

At least 26 people were arrested at the junction after Met Police arrived to unglue and remove the dozens of protestors blocking up the streets on the 15th consecutive day of disruption by the eco-zealots.

In one clip of the disruption, caused by 29 protesters who glued themselves to the road just after 12pm, a van driver claims he desperately needs to get his sick wife to hospital.

Tensions between the driver and activists reached boiling point when he drove towards members of the group sitting in the middle of the road.

Several protesters jump up as the van approaches while a woman is heard screaming 'No! Don't do it!'

Meanwhile another drivers was seen snatching a banner off the protesters before yelling: 'You all use fuel in some way or another... this is ridiculous get out the way!'

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters blocking Shoreditch High Street in London

October 16 - Park Lane paint stunt

Just Stop Oil's next stunt saw them spraying paint over an Aston Martin showroom as they blocked off London's affluent Park Lane.

But a furious cab driver hauled the protesters out the way as a fellow motorist bellowed at them: 'People have got f****** work to go to' while another added 'people are trying to go to hospital'.

The protesters descended on the famous London highway just after 11am with 14 of them blocking it with barriers after gluing themselves to the tarmac.

Moments later a supporter sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism.

Among them were a pregnant mother and a musician who all vowed to continue with their deeply divisive campaign.

It came just hours after Home Secretary Suella Braverman slammed the activists as 'thugs' and told the Metropolitan Police and told them to 'do a better job'.

Police with Just Stop Oil protesters who have blocked Park Lane in central London and sprayed paint over a Aston Martin car showroom

October 17 - QE2 Bridge scaled

In perhaps their most disruptive protest yet, Just Stop Oil was responsible for the QE2 Bridge at Dartford on the M25 being closed all day from 5am after two activists ascended 275ft masts and dangled over the structure.

Morgan Trowland, 39, and Marcus Carambola, 33, scaled the bridge linking Essex to Kent in the early hours, forcing the police to stop traffic from entering the bridge and causing huge delays for more than 17 hours.

Police said the operation was 'complex' due to the height at which the protestors were situated, adding it would take time to get them down.

But furious drivers blasted the police's response, saying they were 'playing into the hands' of eco activists by shutting the bridge.

Meanwhile, other protesters threw soup over the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and halted traffic outside the building in busy central London.

A dozen protesters gathered on Victoria Street in Westminster just after 11.30am, sitting down in the road holding banners and glueing themselves to the tarmac and each other.

A number of other protesters then threw soup on to the front of the building. Just Stop Oil said that they targeted the BEIS because it is the Government department responsible for allowing new fossil fuel extraction.

In perhaps their most disruptive protest yet, Just Stop Oil was responsible for the QE2 Bridge at Dartford on the M25 being closed all day from 5am after two activists ascended 275ft masts and dangled over the structure

October 18 - Baron's Court blockade

The following day, the two protesters who were suspended from the QE2 bridge were removed and arrested by police to the joy of drivers - after a 'super cherry picker' arrived to pluck them from the girders.

The crossing finally reopened after 36 hours following the protesters agreeing to co-operate with officers and come down as the 'specialised raised platform' arrived on the bridge.

Police said they 'worked hard' to bring the situation to a safe conclusion and considered a number of options before bringing in an elevated platform which allowed specialist officers to work from height.

The same day, a fuming motorist yelled at police officers for doing nothing as Just Stop Oil 'idiots waste my time' as they blocked the A4 into London during rush hour.

The driver was filmed out his car shouting at a police officer as a group of more than 20 eco-zealots who staged a sit-down demonstration outside Baron's Court station this morning, blocked one of the main roads into the capital.

Another Londoner also angrily confronted Just Stop Oil protesters in the middle of the road and demanded the 'lazy b*****ds get a job'.

Activists of Just Stop Oil climate campaign group hold a banner at Barons Court in west London as they block the A4

October 19 - Action on the A4

Another roadblock was in place the next morning, resulting in 25 arrests after traffic was stopped on one of London's busiest roads.

Vehicles were gridlocked on the A4 Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum as the group continued its month-long protest.

Video showed multiple officers stood in front of protesters who are sat on the road, with one PC politely asking an activist: 'Why won't you move?'

The group were later dragged off the road and taken into custody by police officers and the road reopened less than two hours after the demonstration began.

Meanwhile, campaigners appealed for help so they have somewhere to stay at night while they rest after protesting, setting up a fundraiser asking for 3,000 of support.

Protesters from Just Stop Oil block the Cromwell Road near the Natural History Museum in west London

October 20 - Harrods splattered in orange

The spray paint was back as the protest reached its 20th consecutive day, with activists splattering the world-famous Harrods store in orange before blocking all traffic outside the Knightsbridge store.

Some 20 supporters of the group glued themselves to Brompton Road, directly outside Harrods, with some using locks to attach themselves together.

A video shared on its Twitter page showed protesters spraying their distinctive orange paint on the windows of the luxury shop, as members of the public could be heard asking: 'What are you doing?'

Footage then appeared to show Harrods security staff taking those spraying paint inside the store, as two people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

But furious members of the public attempted to drag the protesters, all of whom wore orange jackets and held a banner aloft, off the road as traffic was brought to a standstill.

One man, dressed in a black suit, who is seen hauling and throwing banners away from the road, shouted: 'People have places to be instead of f*****g wasting time.'

Another man said: 'How are you saving the planet? These cars are now kicking up more fumes.'

Activists sprayed an orange substance on the windows of Harrods department store in Knightsbridge

October 21 - Holborn hold-up

The third week of non-stop protests came to a close with another roadblock, this time near Holborn tube station.

A frustrated black cab driver told the activists to 'get a job' during the disruption, before police intervened and made 16 arrests.

During the demonstration, some sat in the road with banners while others glued themselves onto the tarmac. Meanwhile, an angry motorist ripped a banner out of the hands of a protester.

One of those detained was Rev. Sue Parfitt, an 80-year-old retired Anglican priest. She has previously been arrested over a number of climate protests, and earlier this year quashed a conviction for her part in a protest which saw 20 people block entrances to Britain's largest military site in December 2020.

As the pensioner was being led, arm-in-arm with a police officer to a waiting van, she said: 'I am doing this because we are on the brink of the greatest catastrophe that human beings have ever known, and the Government and the public have to wake up to this.

'The Government's in extreme dereliction of its duty in not explaining the facts of climate change to the public.'

Just Stop Oil supporters blocks a key road junction in Holborn on their 21st day of action across the month of October

October 22 - Islington blockade

The start of the fourth week of action saw more protesters glueing themselves to roads, this time in Islington.

Roughly 20 activists walked into the road in north London and stopped traffic at Upper Street and Islington Green at 12pm. Some supporters glued themselves onto the tarmac and others used lock-ons.

Police arrested 17 protesters for wilful obstruction of the highway and cleared both carriageways of Upper Street by 1.55pm.

Just Stop Oil protesters block traffic in Islington this morning on their 22nd day of action across the month of October

October 23 - Abbey Road sit-down

Four protesters were arrested the following day after blocking the iconic Abbey Road crossing in north west London.

Members of the eco-mob walked onto the pedestrian crossing - made famous by The Beatles album of the same name - at 1pm on Sunday as they continued to cause chaos on the roads of the capital.

They were later pictured being handcuffed and carried away by Metropolitan Police officers little over an hour after the force arrived to the scene.

At least one vehicle was seen driving on the pavement to get round the protesters, before the Met sent four police vans and dozens of police officers to the scene and the road was closed while they worked to remove the activists.

The force confirmed it had reopened the road just over an hour later and arrested four people on suspicion of wilful obstruction of the highway.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters demonstrating on the famous Abbey Road crossing in London

October 24 - King's waxwork cake attack

On Monday, police arrested a group of protesters after they threw chocolate cake in the face of a waxwork of King Charles III at Madame Tussauds.

Footage shows two of the eco zealots walking up to the waxwork at the famous London attraction at around 10.50am before taking off their tops to reveal Just Stop Oil t-shirts. One of them shouts, 'This is a time for action' before they both smear it with cake.

As onlookers shouted 'stop', the female protester began a finger-wagging lecture about climate change while her male counterpart stands awkwardly with his arms crossed.

Just Stop Oil identified the pair as Eilidh McFadden, a 20-year-old from Glasgow and Tom Johnson, 29, a painter decorator from Sunderland. They had bought tickets to Madame Tussauds and wore black tops to cover their t-shirts.

The Met confirmed they had been arrested for criminal damage alongside two others. Nearby waxworks of Camilla, William and Kate emerged unscathed.

Two Just Stop Oil activists threw chocolate cake on a waxwork model of King Charles III at Madam Tussauds in London

October 25 - Tufton Street paint attack

Day 25 of the action saw activists spray an organ substance over the front door of a building associated with climate change sceptics and Brexit-backing think-tanks on Tuesday,

Footage showed 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 this morning.

The spray paint came as part of a wider protest which saw a total of six protesters block 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 nearby 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'.

Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of protesters demonstrating on Tufton Street by throwing orange paint on a building in London

October 26 - Car showroom paint attack

Just Stop Oil caused lunchtime chaos again today by blocking a busy junction outside The Ritz in central London and gluing themselves to the tarmac.

The protest prompted expletive-ridden clashes with angry motorists who dragged activists out of the road and accused them of 'holding up ambulances'.

At around midday on Wednesday, 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'.

Hours earlier, two climate activists were arrested for criminal damage this morning after they sprayed orange paint on luxury car showrooms in Berkeley Square, central London.
New American nuclear bombs due to arrive in Europe next year will actually arrive this year amid fears Putin could use one of his own atomic weapons over Ukraine.

B61-12 air-dropped gravity bombs, an updated version of America's main nuclear bomb, will be delivered to European allies this December instead of spring 2023, according to a diplomatic cable seen by Politico.

The new bomb, which is supposed to be more accurate than its predecessor, will be distributed to storage sites across the continent with older versions removed.

The move comes amid nuclear sabre-rattling by Putin who has repeatedly threatened to use Russia's atomic arsenal against the West over the war in Ukraine.

American-made B-61-12 nuclear bombs (pictured being dropped in a training exercise) due to arrive in Europe next spring will actually arrive this December, it has been revealed

The new delivery was discussed at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Europe a fortnight ago which was reported back to the Pentagon and State Department in a cable, which then leaked to journalists.

As well as discussing bombs, the cable reveals NATO allies are concerned about the possibility that Putin will go nuclear and want to present a united front against him.

It says: '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 that 15 allies were concerned that NATO 'must not give in to Putins nuclear blackmail'.

Politico said the contents of the cable had been confirmed by two sources, but Brigadier General Patrick Ryder - spokesman for the Pentagon - denied the timeline had been sped up.

Modernising B-61 bombs had been underway for a long time, the general said, and 'it is in no way linked to current events in Ukraine and was not sped up in any way.'

The news was discussed at a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels a fortnight ago and then leaked in a diplomatic cable

Putin yesterday carried out Russia's annual nuclear testing drills - dubbed 'Grom' or 'Thunder' - which involved the launch of long-range missiles (pictured)

Just three NATO allies - the US, UK and France - possess nukes, but the warheads and weapons used to deploy them are scattered throughout the alliance.

The alliance mostly maintains strategic nuclear weapons - doomsday devices meant to wipe out entire cities or countries - as a deterrent to being attacked.

However, NATO does also have a smaller stockpile of so-called 'tactical' nuclear weapons that are designed to be used in battle for tactical gain.

Russia, meanwhile, claims to have the world's largest nuclear stockpile of 6,500 warheads that includes a mixture of strategic and tactical.

Just yesterday, Putin oversaw a huge nuclear drill - 'Grom' or 'Thunder' - involving the test-launch of weapons including the Yars intercontinental ballistic missile designed to carry some of its largest warheads.

Also taking part in the drills were Russia's nuclear submarine fleet, which carry sorter-range missiles, and nuclear bombers.

Russian state propagandists said the drills were a rehearsal for destroying the UK and US, though stressed that would only happen if Russia were attacked first.

Putin has threatened the West several times with Russia's nuclear arsenal over the war in Ukraine, vowing that he is 'not bluffing' about using the weapons

NATO is also holding nuclear drills - dubbed Steadfast Noon - which involve fighter jets, bombers and refueling planes flying above the UK, Belgium and North Sea.

The exercise began last week and is due to last until Sunday with 14 of NATO's 30 member-states taking part.

Around 60 aircraft including fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear warheads joined the drill, with surveillance and refuelling planes conducting training flights.

U.S. long-range B-52 bombers also took part after flying in from Minot Air Base in North Dakota.

NATO decided to press ahead with the drill despite the war in Ukraine, will alliance head Jens Stoltenberg saying it would send 'a very wrong signal' to Putin if they backed down.

The Russian despot has now threatened the West several times with his own nuclear arsenal over the Ukraine war, which his troops are slowly losing.

In his most-recent atomic rant, he falsely accused NATO of plotting to attack Russia and said anyone threatening him with nukes could become a target themselves.

'I'm not bluffing,' he added.
Transgender comedian and Labour candidate Eddie Izzard has accused MPs of 'bullying' over their 'transphobic' comments as she urges people to 'join the 21st century' having declared her intention to be 'based in girl mode from now on'.

The cross-dressing comedian first announced she would be using 'she' and 'her' pronouns at the Sky Arts' Portrait Artist of the Year in December, 2020. She said: 'I'm gender fluid. 'I just want to be based in girl mode from now on.'

Izzard, who has always been very open about her gender-fluidity, has been publicly out as transgender since 1985 - something she has previously said 'was a very tough thing to do' in the 'toxic' 90s. She said that 'being transgender was never cool'.

However, she has previously said that she does not mind what people refer to her as. Speaking in August, she said: 'I prefer she/her, dont mind he/him, and Im going to be relaxed about it. Its not the time for fighting each other on this.

The 60-year-old launched her bid this month to become Sheffield Central's MP after the constituency's incumbent, Paul Blomfield, announced he would be standing down at the next general election.

The controversial topic of gender identity has seen the Labour party tying itself in knots, with members rowing over women's rights, female safe spaces and, in Izzard's case, the question of self-ID - whether or not a person should be allowed to declare themselves to be a different gender.

In fact, on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether the comedian would be allowed onto an all-women shortlist as part of her bid to become a Labour MP.

Transgender comedian and Labour candidate Eddie Izzard has accused MPs of 'bullying' over their 'transphobic' comments

Conservative MP Lee Anderson (pictured) said he 'would not follow him into the toilets' if Eddie Izzard came to Parliament

'We do have all-women shortlists although there's some issue over all-women shortlists that's got nothing to do with this conversation,' he told LBC Radio.

'Which is, once you've got I think it's your 50 per cent equality then there's an argument about all-women shortlists anyway.

'As a Labour Party, because we have used all-women shortlists to get now more than 50 per cent of women, there's a legal opinion that says we can't use them anymore.

'This is a worry more generally because I think it might mean we need to make sure that we keep promoting women coming through as candidates.'

Izzard has hit back at comments made by two MPs earlier this week. Conservative MP Lee Anderson said he 'would not follow him into the toilets' if she came to Parliament, while Labour MP Rosie Duffield said: 'I'm not calling Eddie Izzard a woman.'

Ms Duffield has already threatened to quit the party if Izzard is included on an all-women shortlist.

Izzard also hit out at Labour MP Rosie Duffield (pictured) who said: 'I'm not calling Eddie Izzard a woman.'

In response, Izzard said: 'Some people aren't up to speed, some people haven't joined the 21st century and, well, they've got to get on the bus now because I've been out for so long now that I don't know why they didn't bring this up before.

'It's different now that I'm going for a parliamentary seat, but I don't think bullying is a great thing to be happening and so I'm just going to carry on.'

Addressing Ms Duffield's comments directly, she said: 'Transphobic attitudes come from all different quarters, unfortunately.'

She added that the Labour MP's comments did not make her feel unwelcome to run as a candidate for the party, but said: 'Again, join the 21st century - trans people exist. I exist.'

Izzard, who has many connections to Sheffield, having studied accounting, launched her creative career and carried out local activism there, said the city needs 'to be bolder, brighter, stronger... on the map'.

She revealed that she has been getting 'a great reaction in the street' during her campaign but a small minority of people have made transphobic comments.

Currently, James Wallis is the only openly trans MP - after he came out in March, just over two years since he was elected for Bridgend in December 2019.

Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether comedian Eddie Izzard would be allowed onto an all-women shortlist as part of her bid to become a Labour MP

Izzard first shared her hopes of becoming a Labour MP in August when she said she wanted to throw her 'hat in the ring' and stand for Sheffield in the next general election.

She hopes that being elected will have a 'positive impact' for diversity in Parliament and for Sheffield Central itself as she brings her global renown, activism and energy to the constituency.

'The fact that I'm trans is kind of by the by,' she said, adding that she 'absolutely' thinks people should be focusing on her policies and vision for Sheffield Central.

On Labour's election prospects, Izzard said new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could pose more of a threat and that the party needs to get behind leader Sir Keir Starmer.

'I think it's going to be tougher for us rather than having Liz Truss in there, but it doesn't matter,' she said.

Paul Blomfield, the incumbent MP in Sheffield Central, announced in February that he was standing down at the next general election after 12 years in Parliament

'We're at a certain place in the polls and we've got to carry on fighting, and I'm very passionate about getting Keir Starmer in.'

Izzard said she has supported 'every Labour leader going', before stressing the importance of uniting behind a leader to get into government.

'You have to support the leader - that is how it works in politics - and we're a broad church,' she said.

'We need to be near left and further left - we might agree or disagree on some things but we're heading in the same direction.'

Izzard's history with the city dates back to when she was a student - she first arrived in Sheffield in the 1980s when she began studying accountancy and financial management with mathematics at the University of Sheffield.

Although she later quit the course in pursuit of a career in comedy, she was given an honorary doctorate by the university in 2006.

Izzard has no formal experience in Parliament, yet she has previously discussed the idea, saying last year that she believes 'it is very tricky to be a politician'.
In this handout photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Oct. 26, a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile is test-fired as part of Russia's nuclear drills from a launch site in Plesetsk, northwestern Russia. AP-Yonhap



NATO and Russia's 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 Moscow's concern about ''possible Ukrainian provocations involving a 'dirty bomb,'" according to the Russian Defense Ministry.



NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called Russia's 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 Ukraine's 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.''



Slovenia's government said Russia has been engaging in a disinformation campaign about the "dirty bombs,'' using a 2010 photo from the European Union country's Agency for Radioactive Waste titled "Ukraine's 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 isn't one of those listed below the photo in the Russian Foreign Ministry release. Slovenia's government said on Twitter that its radioactive waste is stored safely and is not used for dirty bombs.





In this handout photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Oct. 26, the Tula nuclear submarine of the Russian navy is on a mission to conduct a practice launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile as part of the drills of the country's nuclear forces. AP-Yonhap



While continuing to issue unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine is planning provocations, Putin also is still sending signals that he's 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 Russia's recognition of Ukraine's 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 Ukraine's 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 individual's 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.





A house damaged by the Russian shelling is seen in Bakhmut, the site of the heaviest battle against the Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct. 26. AP-Yonhap
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A diving expert narrowly avoided being chomped by a tiger shark just as she was preparing to enter the ocean off the coast of Haleiwa, Hawaii.

Cameras captured the dramatic moment marine researcher Ocean Ramsey was about to dive into murky, shark infested waters on Wednesday in the island of Oahu after spotting a shark bumping into plastic pollution.

Just as she's ready to drop in to help, the diver takes one last look into the choppy waters, with her face coming inches away from Queen Nikki, one of the area's most prominent tiger shark, the second-most dangerous sharks in the world.

Ramsey quickly pulls herself back on the boat as the apex predator pops out of the water, attempting to take a bite of the researcher's flippers.

Rather than be startled, Ramsey laughs off the incident, quickly identifying the shark by name and continuing her dive to locate two other large, female sharks in the water.

'I saw a shark bumping some floating plastic so I rushed in and this was my greeting,' Ramsey joked about the encounter on Instagram.

Cameras captured the moment Ocean Ramsey, a marine researcher, narrowly avoided a bite from one of her favorite tiger sharks, Queen Nikki (pictured), on Wednesday

Before diving in to help a shark, Ramsey took a quick look into the water, where Nikki had been lurking

Ramsey laughs off the incident and waits for the tiger shark to swim away before diving back in

Ramsey, CEO of the OneOcean Diving conservatory and education group, said Nikki, who she was worked with for years, likely didn't mean to try and bite her.

'I couldnt see very far and I dont think they could either, so I think [Nikki] was reacting more from my initial noise entering and shadow,' Ramsey explained on social media.

'I always love seeing their white belly coming up from the depths and in this case its what gave her position away so she was actually easier to spot coming up vertical compared to the others already near the surface.'

Ramsey said that it is rare to see sharks do this 'spy hop,' where the apex predators poke their heads out of the water to check the surface during murky conditions.

Ramsey dove back into the water a few minutes later and was seen touching the large female tiger sharks

Ramsey said Queen Nikki was her favorite shark swimming in Hawaii. She is pictured petting the tiger shark in 2020

The researcher (above) said Nikki was likely confused by the murky waters and investigating her boat

I LOVE this old Tiger Shark Queen Nikki (Alii Nikole) Large sharks will sometimes bite props and metal ladders or poles that conduct electricity into the water, usually its an investigatory checkout due to the attraction from the electro-receptive organ called the Ampuallae of Lorenzini, an initial check (bump or bite) or two and they usually stop. In this video I gently lift her nose so she doesnt run into the boat, but as you can see she still bites the ladder to test it out. This is why we require people to keep their GoPros and small electronics on poles, away from their hands, in case a smaller species wants to hone in on the electrical output. Larger species are actually easier to deter with a gentle redirection but of course ***Disclaimer***Please dont attempt to replicate, and if you are in the water and a large shark approaches you, please push down on top of the head, dont apply any pressure below the nose or snout as you can see the natural reaction is to lift away from the pressure and I needed to do this to keep her from running into the ladder, we trimmed the engines up and after a couple checks went back in to have a beautiful dive where Alii Nikole (Queen Nikki) was actually quite shy once she saw us looking around at her. Learn more @oneoceandiving @oneoceanresearch Filmed by Mr. @Juansharks who designed this Rashguard Shark smile from one of his photos. Available @oneoceandesigns #sharksmile #learnaboutsharks #sharksandmetal #sharksandelectronics #sharksandcameras #sharkgopro #sharkdeter #sharkredirect #sharkdeterrent #oneoceandesigns #sharkrashguard #shark #discoversharks #nature #aloha #sharkidnikki Posted by Ocean Ramsey Water Inspired on Friday, October 2, 2020

She noted that sharks are additionally attracted to cameras because of their electro-receptors, so Nikki, also known as Ali'i Nikole, was likely drawn to their boat filled with recording equipment.

The close encounter with Nikki comes during the North Pacific's 'Shark-tober' season, where more of the predators are seen along the Pacific shores amid pupping and mating season.

The event typically coincides with more rain and swell activity, causing waters to grow murkier.

Ramsey said that as tiger sharks don't have the best vision to begin with, the conditions causes them to swim closer to the surface, increasing the likelihood of a run in with the predators.

According to the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, there have been four shark attacks recorded this year, with two taking happening in September. The number of incidents are down by half compared to last year.
The bizarre QAnon credo grew in popularity by 5 percent this past year, with nearly a fifth of Americans now following the belief that a devil-worshiping pedophile elite secretly runs US institutions, a poll shows.

A Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) survey on Thursday showed a big uptick in support for QAnon ideology, while the share of people wholesale rejecting the ideas fell by 10 percent.

The survey of 2,523 adults indicates that some 49 million American adults now believe that the government, media and financial worlds are run by Satanists who manage a vast child sex-trafficking ring.

Republicans are QAnon's biggest fans, with 27 percent of them subscribing to the theory. Still, 19 percent of independents and 8 percent of Democrats also follow the credo, which emerged in fringe online chat rooms in 2017.

The baseless conspiracy theory has more believers and fewer rejecters, says the Public Religion Research Institute

A man wearing a QAnon t-shirt walks through the crowd in line for a rally in Georgia. The conspiracy theory now has roughly 49 million followers, a survey says

The survey comes as the QAnon voting bloc chooses which candidates to back in the November 8 midterm elections, and as politicians across the US either openly support or drop hints about their backing for the unorthodox ideas.

'Remarkably, PRRI data shows that the proportion of respondents qualifying as QAnon believers has increased by 5 percentage points and the number of QAnon rejecters dropping by 10 percentage points,' the research group said in a statement.

Experts on social trends, including Carl Miller, a researcher at the Demos think tank, warn of the growing influence of conspiracy theories and reduced trust in governments, journalism and scientific research.

'Spamming facts, literacy, debunking, fact-checking, basically interventions at the rational level are not going to work,' Miller, author of The Death of the Gods, posted on social media.

'We have to wake up to the fact that basically cults are beginning to dominate our political landscape.'

Researchers assessed the level of support for QAnon theories by asking respondents three questions targeting 'core tenets of the conspiracy theory'  including whether they believed in the global elite of Satanic pedophiles.

They also asked whether respondents believed in a 'storm coming soon that will sweep away the elites in power and restore the rightful leaders' and whether the US was 'so far off track' that 'patriots may have to resort to violence'.

Growing support for the unorthodox beliefs may play into the midterm elections, which will determine whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress for the remainder of President Joe Biden's term in office.

In swing state Pennsylvania, the Democratic candidate for governor, Josh Shapiro, has sought to tie his Republican opponent Doug Mastriano to the QAnon conspiracy theory in campaign adverts.

Gubernatorial hopeful for Pennsylvania Doug Mastriano speaks during a Gun Owners of America Freedom Rally in Westminster, Pennsylvania, this month. The Republican has been accused of following the QAnon credo

The adverts claim Mastriano is an 'important part' of the movement who's 'tweeted QAnon craziness 52 times'.

Oregon's Republican Senate hopeful Jo Rae Perkins, believes in the baseless conspiracy theory, and after winning her primary election in May thanked 'Q' and former president Donald Trump.

Trump, who is not on the ballot next month but supports many candidates and has been openly teasing a White House run for 2024, has recently tightened his embrace of the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Using his Truth Social platform, Trump shared an image of himself wearing a Q lapel pin overlaid with the words 'The Storm is Coming,' referencing his eventual victory over opponents who would be tried  or even executed  on live television.

A growing list of criminal episodes has been linked to people who had expressed support for the conspiracy theory, which US intelligence officials have warned could trigger more violence.

Notably, QAnon supporters were among those who violently stormed the Capitol during the failed January 6, 2021, insurrection, which attempted to overturn Joe Biden's win in the 2020 election.
Voters in Wyoming, Vermont and North Dakota will play an outsize role in the midterm elections at the expense of those in states like California, says a study that offers a precise accounting of Americas well-documented election discrepancies.

Researchers calculated the number of elected officials in the federal government and divided that by the number of adults in each state over recent election cycles to determine who were the most and least influential voters in the country.

They weighed representation in the Senate, the House of Representatives and in gubernatorial races.

The results offer a slightly different take in the long-standing debate about whether sparsely-populated states like Wyoming get a better deal than cramped California, and come just days before the upcoming midterm elections.

States with tossup races on November 8 had their scores doubled, as those voters would have a greater say in whether Republicans or Democrats control Congress for the rest of President Joe Bidens term.

Wyoming winning: All votes are not equal

Residents of states that voted Republican in the 2020 presidential election have a bigger voice in Washington than those that went Democratic

Much of the disparity between voters clout stems from the fact that states send two senators each to Washington regardless of size, meaning the Wyomings 600,000 residents have the same voice in the Senate as Californias 40-million population.

The research, released on Thursday by WalletHub, a personal finance website, found that residents of states that voted Republican in the 2020 presidential election have a bigger voice in Washington than do those that went Democratic.

Monika McDermott, a political scientist at New Yorks Fordham University who was involved in the research, said in a statement that the fairness of the system was in the eye of the beholder.

If you are from a state with a lower density population, say Wyoming, you probably think it is only fair that you get a say, whereas people in places like New York and California rail against the system, said McDermott.

Voters wait in line to drop off ballots in San Francisco, California, ahead of the November 2020 election. Residents of the West Coast state are among the least influential in the US

'Given our deeply and increasingly polarized politics and the partisan division that is currently inherent in the rural-urban divide, people on the losing side of this design are reexamining the idea.'

Poll US elections badly need an overhaul. Agree Disagree US elections badly need an overhaul. Agree 59 votes

Disagree 69 votes Now share your opinion





The states that ranked as having the most influential voters  Wyoming, Vermont, North Dakota, Alaska, South Dakota, and Montana  all shared the similar attributes of having relatively small populations and large territories.

Those at the bottom of the ranking  Arizona, Ohio, California, Wisconsin, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois  often had larger populations and wielded less influence at the federal level.

Still, Don Critchlow, a scholar at Arizona State University who was also involved in the study, argued against changing Senate membership rules  adding that the mechanism for reforms was not likely to garner the required support.

We do not want both bodies of Congress, the House, and Senate, to be dominated by more populated states to their own political advantage, said Critchlow.

Such a result would disenfranchise millions of voters who live in less populated states.
An SNP minister has dramatically resigned from Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish Government today over a controversial law that will make it easier for people as young as 16 to change gender without medical evidence - just hours before MPSs were due to vote on the legislation.

Community safety minister Ash Regan said her 'conscience' would not allow her to vote with the Scottish Government and back the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage one today.

The MSP was on a ministerial visit to a school in Edinburgh launching a firework safety campaign before her bombshell resignation.

In a letter to the First Minister, Ms Regan said: 'I have considered the issue of gender recognition reform very carefully over some time. I have concluded that my conscience will not allow me to vote with the Government at the stage one of the Bill this afternoon.

'Consequently, I am writing to resign my position in the Scottish Government as minister for community safety.'

In a terse response, Ms Sturgeon said 'at no stage have you approached me... to raise your concerns' about the Bill.

The controversial legislation will look to clear its first parliamentary hurdle today.

The Bill will remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria when seeking a gender recognition certificate, while also reducing the length of time an applicant must live in their acquired gender from two years to three months, with an additional three-month reflection period.

Some women's groups have raised concerns the change in the law could put women and girls' rights at risk.

Nicola Sturgeon on the way to First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament today

Community safety minister Ash Regan said her 'conscience' would not allow her to vote with the Scottish Government and back the Gender Recognition Reform Bill at stage one today

What is the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Bill? What is the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill? The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will remove the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria when seeking a gender recognition certificate, while also reducing the length of time an applicant must live in their acquired gender from two years to three months, with an additional three-month reflection period. It also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16. Why is it controversial? A majority of MSPs on the committee supported removing the need for any medical evidence or diagnosis 'believing that trans people know their own minds'. However some on the committee were 'concerned that the removal of the requirement for gender dysphoria and the requirement for medical evidence may extend the GRC process to a large and more diverse group of people'. They feared this 'could potentially mean the process is open to abuse from bad faith actors, particularly predatory men'. Concerns have also been raised about the impact the reforms could have on single-sex spaces for women and girls - such as female-only toilets or changing rooms. Advertisement

Responding to Ms Regan's resignation, the First Minister said: 'As you are aware, a key requirement of the ministerial code is collective responsibility - a principle essential to effective governance, and which applies across all matters of government policy irrespective of the issue.

'I note that at no stage have you approached me - or indeed the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice - to raise your concerns about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill or the vote this evening.

'However, in circumstances in which a minister is unable to support the Government, it is the case that the only options available are resignation ahead of the vote or dismissal thereafter.'

The Bill is likely to pass despite the resignation, with reports of SNP members being whipped to vote in favour, while Scottish Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens are also expected to back the legislation.

The Scottish Conservatives have been given a free vote, with most expected to oppose the change.

In a statement ahead of the vote, Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: 'Legal gender recognition has been available for 18 years but many find the current system for obtaining a gender recognition certificate to be intrusive, medicalised and bureaucratic.

'The Bill aims to simplify and improve the process for a trans person to gain legal recognition, giving them better access to their existing rights.'

Ms Robison added: 'Our support for trans rights does not conflict with our continued strong commitment to uphold the rights and protections that women and girls currently have under the 2010 Equality Act. This Bill makes no changes to that Act.'

But Scottish Tory MSP Rachael Hamilton - a member of the committee which scrutinised the Bill and one of the two MSPs to oppose it on the panel - said she was 'deeply concerned' about the Bill.

It comes after a majority of MSPs on the equalities, human rights and civil justice committee recommended the general principles of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill should be approved.

Committee convener Joe FitzPatrick said: 'We believe these important reforms will improve the lives and experiences of trans people.'

Papers lodged alongside the Bill by the Scottish Government estimate the changes could result in the number of people applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC) increasing from 30 a year to 250-300.

Five MSPs on the committee backed the legislation but the two Conservatives - Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton - opposed it.

The Bill sets out plans to speed up the time it takes to obtain a GRC, and also lowers the age for obtaining one from 18 to 16.

A medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria would no longer be required, removing the requirement for doctors' reports.

The period of time someone must have lived in their 'acquired gender' before applying would be reduced from two years to three months under the legislation - although a three-month 'reflection period' would be introduced to the process.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media during her visit to Buchanan Street Residential Children's Home in Coatbridge on Monday

A previous consultation by the Scottish Government found 60% of respondents backed moving to a system of self-declaration.

A majority of MSPs on the committee supported removing the need for any medical evidence or diagnosis 'believing that trans people know their own minds'.

However some on the committee were 'concerned that the removal of the requirement for gender dysphoria and the requirement for medical evidence may extend the GRC process to a large and more diverse group of people'.

They feared this 'could potentially mean the process is open to abuse from bad faith actors, particularly predatory men'.

Concerns have also been raised about the impact the reforms could have on single-sex spaces for women and girls - such as female-only toilets or changing rooms.

The report said most MSPs on the committee agree that while such views are 'sincerely held', they are satisfied the Bill would not change any of the existing protections women have under the Equality Act 2010.

This 'includes the ability to exclude trans people from single-sex services where proportionate and appropriate'.
An Irish woman has died after she was taken seriously ill in Japan following a serious allergic reaction to a coffee.

Aika Doheny, of Kilkenny in southeast Ireland, passed away in St. James hospital in Dublin on October 20.

The daughter of an Irish father and Japanese mother was in Tokyo visiting relatives when she consumed what is thought to be a soya-based coffee and had an immediate adverse reaction.

Aika was in her 20s and was studying for a masters in biomedical science at the University of Galway while working as a research assistant

Aika Doheny, of Greensbridge Street, Kilkenny, passed away in St. James hospital in Dublin on October 20 after visiting relatives in Japan where she was taken seriously ill following an allergic reaction

She injected herself with an Epipen to counteract the anaphylaxis but it had limited effect and she was rushed to hospital in the Japanese capital and placed in intensive care.

Doctors managed to stabilise her and the decision was made to repatriate Aika on a medical plane.

But her condition worsened upon her arrival in Ireland and doctors were unable to resuscitate her.

Aika was in her 20s and was studying for a masters in biomedical science at the University of Galway while working as a research assistant.

A eulogy for Aika posted online read: 'Aika Caoimhe, beloved daughter of Mayumi and the late Paul and cherished sister of Paul Makoto and Cian Takuya, [is] sadly missed by her heartbroken mother and brothers, grandmother Sachiko Wakao (Tokyo), aunts, uncles, cousins in Ireland, Japan and the USA, extended family, neighbours and her many friends.'

A requiem mass for Aika is expected to place on Saturday in her hometown of Kilkenny.

Aika injected an Epipen to counteract the anaphylaxis but it had limited effect and she was rushed to hospital in the Japanese capital and placed in intensive care

Anaphylaxis, also known as anaphylactic shock, can kill within minutes.

It is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to a trigger, such as an allergy.

The reaction can often be triggered by certain foodstuffs, including peanuts and shellfish.

However, some medicines, bee stings, and even latex used in condoms can also cause the life-threatening reaction.

According to the NHS, it occurs when the immune system overreacts to a trigger.

Symptoms include: feeling lightheaded or faint; breathing difficulties  such as fast, shallow breathing; wheezing; a fast heartbeat; clammy skin; confusion and anxiety and collapsing or losing consciousness.
Staffordshire county council has agreed to remove the name of terrorist Usman Khan, who killed two people in the London Bridge attacks, from a council report over concerns it could 'inflame' the far right.

In 2019, Cambridge University graduates Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were attacked and killed by convicted terrorist Khan, 28, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent.

On Monday councillors debated whether Khan's name should be included in a report which outlined how future deaths could be prevented following the inquests of Khan's two victims.

At the Conservative-run council's Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee, councillor Gillian Pardesi argued that including Khan's name and ethnic background could provoke an increase in hate crime.

While another councillor warned against 'watering down' information that was in the public domain.

The Staffordshire council report includes the following text: 'On 29 November 2019, five people were stabbed, two fatally, in Central London.

'The attacker, Usman Khan, a 28-year-old British national from Stoke-on-Trent, of Pakistani descent, had been released from prison in 2018 on licence after serving a sentence for terrorist offences and was wearing an electronic tag. He was living at an address in Stafford at the time of the attack.'

Staffordshire County Council will remove terrorist Usman Khan's name from London Bridge attack report

Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, were killed by Usman Khan in a terrorist attack on London Bridge in 2019

Councillor Gillian Pardesi argued that including Khan's name and ethnic background could provoke an increase in hate crime

Cllr Pardesi said: 'My concern is that mentioning the name of this person, who happens to be of Pakistani descent, further demonises the Muslim community and it embeds in people out there a stereotypical profile of what an extremist is.

'We are in dire financial straits as a country and the far-right in particular will look for scapegoats to exploit that situation.

'Unfortunately that has meant, and will continue to mean, a further rise in hate crime and attacks on our Muslim members in particular.

'It also detracts from the fact that we have, in the world as a whole, a far more far-right and neo-Nazi threat than we have now of Islamist jihads.'

Cllr Pardesi continued to say that neo-Nazi's are 'not hiding away' and are 'working and living amongst us'.

Khan killed two and injured three others before he was shot dead by police on London Bridge

Councillor Bob Spencer said Khan's name and heritage is public knowledge and expressed concern over 'watering down facts'

The issue arose as the committee was asked to review the report and note the matters of concern raised by the Chief Coroner.

The chairman of the committee disagreed with cllr Pardesi and said the authority should be wary of 'watering down' information that was in the public domain.

Councillor Bob Spencer said: 'I think the expression of how that translates into the far-right threat is not 100 per cent clear.

'I think we ought to be careful about how we report some of the things and some of the words that we use. However, having said that, if we are simply mirroring or echoing the phrases and words already used by the coroner, that gives it the requisite validity around us using those as well.

'I think this is public knowledge and within the public domain - we're not telling people something that they don't know. I don't see the value personally in changing the language of Home Office reports. I do worry about us constantly watering down facts.'

Cabinet member Councillor Victoria Wilson, who presented the report to Monday's meeting, said: 'I have to admit I did not want those words to be put in the report. If the person in question was from Spain or Ireland, I don't feel it is relevant.

'For that reason I am happy to remove those words from the report. I don't see how it relates to anything else, I think we can remove those words from the report if that's what the committee wants.'
He said his unit is positioned on a second line to shoot anyone who runs away

Soldier says in 'intercepted phone call' he has been ordered to kill any deserters

Russia is reportedly setting up a second line of troops behind the front line to shoot down any Russian soldiers fleeing combat, according to what Ukraine's intelligence services claim is an intercepted phone call.

The five-minute audio clip, released by Ukraine's intelligence agency, appears to capture the internal rifts between Vladimir Putin's men during their invasion of Ukraine, with some apparently being forced to shoot dead any deserters.

In the audio, described by Ukraine as an intercepted phone call between a Russian soldier and his wife, the man describes how his commander has ordered him to 'wipe out' any Russian troops who flee from the front line.

The Russian soldier said that new recruits, many of whom are prisoners, are on the front line and his unit has been positioned on a second line to shoot anyone who tries to run away.

In the apparently intercepted phone call, the Russian soldier tells his wife: 'They moved us back to the second line, there's shooting somewhere ahead of us, but we're back for now in the trenches.

'They brought the inmates here from prison but they led them somewhere on the front. And we're sitting here as a retreat-blocking detachment.'

He added: 'If someone runs back, we snuff them out.'

Russia is reportedly setting up a second line of troops behind the front line to shoot down any Russian soldiers fleeing combat, according to what Ukraine's intelligence services claim is an intercepted phone call. Pictured: Russian recruits during military training at a firing range in the Kranodar region in southern region in Russia on October 21

Russian President Vladimir Putin inspects a training ground in the Ryazan region for recruits who were summoned into military service under a mobilisation order on October 20

His wife responds: 'What a nightmare.'

The Russian soldier continued: 'That's how we have it set up. We sit on the second line, guarding the first. Behind us, there's another line.

'If you go that way, you also won't make it. So it's impossible to run away. We shoot our own.

'If someone goes that way, you need to wipe them out.'

It is not clear where the Russian soldier is based, but he described harsh living conditions where he struggled to find food or stay warm.

There are complaints among Russian soldiers of equipment shortages, poor living conditions and scant training for new recruits.

Since Putin announced the mobilization of 300,000 Russians on September 21, independent media, human rights activists and those called up have painted a bleak picture of a haphazard and chaotic effort to round up as many men as possible and push them quickly to the front lines, regardless of skill, training and equipment.

Conscription protests have been harshly put down, and tens of thousands of men fled Russia to neighbouring countries to avoid being pressed into service.

A Ukrainian soldier examines a destroyed Russian tank in Tsupivka village in the north of Kharkiv Region, north eastern Ukraine

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.

Military analyst Pavel Luzin said Russia isn't 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 can't 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.
The wife of a drug lord who laundered part of the cash her husband made smuggling cannabis might have to pay back 27,000, a court heard.

Mandy Ashman, 56, laundered a total of 128,000 through her bank account as her husband headed a drug network based in Rainham, Essex, the Old Bailey heard.

Joseph Ashman, 54, imported 4.5 tonnes of cannabis into Britain, worth 23million.

He was jailed for eight years and eight months in January 2015 after admitting conspiracy to supply drugs and money laundering.

The drug lord was jailed for a further four years in 2016 for employing his wife and sister, Mary Dunn, to launder his cash.

Mandy Ashman (pictured left), 56, laundered a total of 128,000 through her bank account as her husband Joseph (right) headed a drug network based in Rainham, Essex

He has now been released from prison, the court was told.

In 2016 Mrs Ashman received a two-year prison term, suspended for two years after the judge said she was 'no shrinking violet'.

Prosecutor Henry Skudra told the court today that the Crown are applying to get Mrs Ashman to pay up 27, 057.13 of 'tainted gift'.

'The application for compliance order is against Mrs Ashman,' Mr Skudra said.

'It is simply: Pay up the tainted gift.'

The application will be heard at the Old Bailey on December 8.

A huge haul of cannabis confiscated by the National Crime Agency who followed Mr Ashman and his associates

At the time sentencing Mrs Ashman, Judge Richard Hone QC told her: 'You are portrayed as the victim of a domineering husband but having seen you over a four-week trial I formed the view you are no shrinking violet whose husband told you nothing about his criminal activities.'

Judge Hone sadly died recently and the case was taken over by Simon Mayo QC.

Joseph Ashman was a linked to notorious drug trafficker Kevin Hanley who was jailed for more than 17 years in 2014.

The National Crime Agency followed Ashman and his associates, confiscating cardboard boxes full of cannabis.

The cardboard boxes were full of cannabis, which had been carefully packed so they did not give off an overpowering aroma when being brought into the country

The boxes were carefully packed so as not to give off the smell of cannabis.

Ashman met his associates at various locations to orchestrate the distribution of the drugs.

He and his gang shipped the drugs around the UK using their contacts on the freight industry.

One by one his gang was arrested following a two year investigation by the National Crime Agency, forcing him to import smaller and smaller quantities of cannabis.
A businessman accused of inventing a fake award to claim his 'Scottish-grown' tea was the 'best in the world' has denied conning luxury hotels out of nearly 600,000.

Thomas Robinson, often known as Tam O'Braan or Thomas O'Brien, bragged about existing deals with Kensington Palace before duping the likes of the Balmoral and Dorchester hotels over a five year period, a court heard today.

He is said to have used a series of aliases and created a fictitious background to persuade companies, including Fortnum and Mason, to buy his products.

Robinson allegedly told new customers that he had invented a way of growing Camellia Sinensis tea plants in a Scottish climate, making up a back story which involved him learning about agriculture while he served in the armed forces.

He also invented academic qualifications and industry body awards he had never been given and told potential customers he was already selling it to the Royal household, Perth Sheriff Court heard.

However, prosecutors say he then only supplied them with tea products bought from wholesalers.

The 52-year-old appeared in the dock this morning and denied two charges on indictment of fraud amounting to 584,738.

Thomas Robinson, often known as Tam O'Braan or Thomas O'Brien, bragged about existing deals with Kensington Palace, the court heard

The Dorchester hotel on London's Park Lane is one of the customers he is alleged to have scammed

The Balmoral Hotel is another of the customers Robinson is alleged to have scammed

The charges include a claim he duped the Balmoral Hotel, the Dorchester Hotel, Ringtons Ltd acting on behalf of Fortnum and Mason, and Mariage Freres out of 278,634.

The other charge claims he conned several named individuals and the Jersey Royal Company Ltd into buying 306,104 worth of tea plants from him.

Robinson, who was trading as The Wee Tea Plantation, is said to have told customers he had exclusively 'Scottish' tea for sale in phone calls, emails and meetings between January 1, 2014 and February 28, 2019.

He told the upmarket buyers he'd cultivated the tea on his own plantation in Perthshire, when he knew the finished product was 'not authentically Scottish', the court heard.

Prosecutors say he bragged about selling tea to 'other customers including Kensington Palace', and claimed the scheme was 'all in order to support the pretence that you had developed new techniques for growing tea efficiently in the climate of Scotland.'

But Robinson is then said to have supplied the customers with tea products which he had simply purchased from wholesalers and which was not Scottish as promised.

It is alleged that he persuaded customers that they could grow tea 'efficiently and profitably' from the Scottish plants and fraudulently obtained over 300,000 by selling them on that basis.

Robinson denies both charges and the court was told that there were a large number of productions in the case because of the scale of the investigation.

Solicitor Paul Ralph, defending, said a number of issues could be agreed ahead of the trial and Sheriff John McRitchie fixed a trial date next year.

Camellia Sinensis is mainly cultivated in tropical and subtropical climates, in areas with at least 127 cm of rainfall per year.

Many high quality teas are grown at high elevations, up to 1,500 m, as the plants grow more slowly and reputedly acquire more flavour.
A Washington city lost its bid to ban bikini baristas' risque uniforms after a judge ruled the dress code was unconstitutional five years after the lawsuit was filed.

US District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez ruled Everett's ordinance forcing bikini baristas to cover up was unconstitutional on October 19.

The lawsuit was originally filed in 2017 and required 'quick-serve' retailers to cover their breasts, backs, torsos, buttocks, upper legs and pubic areas while on the job.

Martinez questioned how the dress code would equally apply to men and said bikini baristas - which have been a staple in the community for years - were 'clearly' the target audience of the city's ordinance.

'The court finds that "a gender-based discriminatory purpose has, at least in some measure, shaped" the ordinance,' the court documents read. It also said the ordinance largely 'prohibits clothing typically worn by women rather than men.'

'There is evidence in the record that the bikini barista profession, clearly a target of the ordinance, is entirely or almost entirely female. It is difficult to imagine how this ordinance would be equally applied to men and women in practice.'

The City of Everett lost its bid to enforce a dress code on bikini baristas after a US District judge ruled it unconstitutional on October 19. Judge Ricardo S. Martinez said the dress code and lewd conduct ordinances 'clearly' targeted bikini baristas and didn't see how it equally applied to men (pictured: a Hillbilly Espresso barista)

Martinez also questions how 'law enforcement will be asked to measure the exposure of skin' and said it would bring 'humiliating' searches onto them (pictured: Hillbilly Espresso barista)

In addition, Martinez questioned how 'law enforcement will be asked to measure exposure of skin' and that it would 'encourage a humiliating, intrusive, and demoralizing search on women, disempowering them, and stripping them of their freedom.'

A Hillbilly Espresso worker, who goes by the name Emma Dilemma, said the new ruling 'protects our safety from law enforcement touching our body.'

'Who's approving my outfit? Is it my female boss or some random dude cop that I dont know? I don't want them having to stick a ruler next to my body,' she told Herald Net, an Everett news source.

However, the city argued the censorship of female breast was a way of 'preventing the secondary adverse effects of public nudity and protecting the order, morality, health, safety, and well-being of the community.'

It also argued that ruling women's breasts as 'lewd conduct' and not men's was 'substantially related to the City's objectives in protecting unwilling audiences from exposure to nudity.'

Everett also pointed out that other Washington cities had 'similar lewd conduct prohibitions' that banned the exposure of female breasts.

In order to be ruled lewd conduct, the city argued in 2017 that a woman would have to be exposing 'more than one-half of the part of the female breast located below the top of the areola.' In addition, the city banned 'the genitals, anus, bottom one-half of the anal cleft or any portion of the areola or nipple of the female breast' was being exposed, as well.

However, Martinez threw out the free speech complaint made by the bikini baristas, saying that their lack of clothing did not fall under the First Amendment.

The baristas argued that their attire was a form of female empowerment and positivity.

Hillbilly Hotties' employee Matteson Hernandez told the Herald Net: 'Some countries make you wear lots of clothing because of their religious beliefs, but America is different, because you can wear what you want to wear.

'I wear what Im comfortable with and others can wear what they are comfortable with. Wearing a bikini sends this message to others.'

Hillbilly Hotties (pictured) originally filed the lawsuit in 2017

Another employee, Liberty Ziska, said: 'We are here saying we watched our moms and grandmas going through hell and we dont have to. Millions of women fought for our rights and right to vote and its my right to wear what I want. Its my right as a person.'

Hillbilly Hotties filed the lawsuit against the city in 2017 and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction, which stopped Everett's dress code.

However, in 2019, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the city and allowed the dress code.

In 2020, the baristas filed to appear before the Supreme Court. The Court denied the case and it went back to the lower courts.

The city now has 14 days to meet with the barista to discuss next steps as part of their summary judgement.




President Joe Biden, meeting his top military advisers, said on Wednesday that the United States does not seek conflict with China and that Chinese President Xi Jinping knows this.







Biden said the United States would continue to lead ona number of issues, from Russia's aggression in Ukraine to climate change to the Indo-Pacific region.







"We do not seek conflict with them," he said of the Chinese. (Reuters)










It is the latest in series of bitter speeches Putin has given since invading Ukraine on February 24 this year

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Vladimir Putin has declared the 'age of western domination is over' and called for a 'new world order' in a major foreign policy speech in Moscow, in which he also downplayed the 'need' for Russia to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine after months of Armageddon scare-mongering from Kremlin mouthpieces.

The Russian leader, laying out his warped view of global politics, accused westerners of 'fanning the flames' of war in both Ukraine and Taiwan (where fears are growing of a Chinese invasion), of sparking a global energy crisis and of causing a food crisis - all allegations that have been levelled at him.

Putin warned the world has entered its most dangerous period since the Second World War and a 'new world order' must emerge in which Russia gets a bigger say. 'The West is no longer able to dictate its will to the humankind but still tries to do it, and the majority of nations no longer want to tolerate it,' he said.

'Dominion of the world is what West has decided to stake in this game. It is a dangerous, deadly and dirty game.'

Putin said that Moscow has no intention to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, despite issuing repeated warnings in the past that he was prepared to use all available means to defend Russia, including its vast nuclear arsenal.

'We see no need for that,' Putin said at the conference of international foreign policy experts. 'There is no point in that, neither political nor military.' The Russian leader insisted for weeks before the invasion that he did not intend to attack Ukraine, before ordering his troops across the border on February 24.

Vladimir Putin has given another ranting anti-Western speech in Moscow, accusing westerners of fanning the flames of war in Ukraine and of causing an energy crisis

While at points Putin sounded as if he was offering an olive branch - saying Russia 'is not an enemy of the West' and 'only wants the right to develop' - he made it clear that any talks on his 'new order' would have to be on Moscow's terms

While at points Putin sounded as if he was offering an olive branch - saying Russia 'is not an enemy of the West' and 'only wants the right to develop' - he made it clear that any talks on his 'new order' would have to be on Moscow's terms.

The West, he said, had repeatedly rejected Moscow's plans for peace laid out before the war in Ukraine - such as the withdrawal of all NATO troops from ex-Soviet states, against the wishes of their governments - and had instead chosen conflict.

He claimed that he had told the West: 'Let's be friends, have dialogue and strengthen trust and peace.'

'We were completely sincere,' he added. 'What did we get in response? A 'no' on every possible area of cooperation.'

In fact, the US and NATO had both sent letters to Russia laying out possible grounds for cooperation before Putin invaded Ukraine, which Moscow rejected.

Russia isn't the enemy of the West but will continue to oppose the diktat of Western neo-liberal elites, he said, accusing them of trying to subdue Moscow.

'Their goal is to make Russia more vulnerable and turn it into an instrument for fulfilling their geopolitical tasks, they have failed to achieve it and they will never succeed,' Putin said.

The Russian president reaffirmed his long-held claim that Russians and Ukrainians are part of a single people and again denigrated Ukraine as an 'artificial state,' which received historic Russian lands from Communist rulers during the Soviet times.

Putin laid out his warped version of global events at the Valdai International Discussion Club, saying it is time for a 'new world order'

The Russian president reaffirmed his long-held claim that Russians and Ukrainians are part of a single people and again denigrated Ukraine as an 'artificial state,' which received historic Russian lands from Communist rulers during the Soviet times

A Russian righter jet swoops low over the wreck of a burning fuel train in occupied Ukraine, after it was destroyed in shelling overnight

Firefighters work to extinguish burning fuel tanks of a Russian train sat near the occupied city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen shoot from the seized Russian T-80 tank on a road near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk area

Ukrainian servicemen shoot from the seized Russian T-80 tank on a road near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk

Putin calls Liz Truss 'CRAZY' and says she engaged in 'nuclear blackmail' with Russia By David Averre and Chris Pleasance for MailOnline Vladimir Putin today referred to former British Prime Minister Liz Truss as 'crazy' amid sweeping accusations that Western powers are engaged in 'nuclear blackmail of Russia'. In a ranting speech in Moscow, the Russian president said Truss must have been 'a bit out of it' and he claimed to have 'never said anything proactively about possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia'. 'We have only hinted in response to statements made by western leaders,' he insisted, pointing out that Russian military doctrine dictates nuclear weapons should only be deployed in 'self-defence'. Truss previously labelled Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons against the West as 'sabre-rattling' when she spoke at the UN General Assembly in September. Alongside his criticism of Truss, Putin asserted Kyiv has the technology to create and potentially detonate a 'dirty bomb' in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 19th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Russia October 27, 2022, where he delivered a rambling speech decrying the West's world dominance He also refuted claims that Russian forces were attacking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - located in territory controlled by Russia in southern Ukraine. The Russian leader, laying out his warped view of global politics, went on to accused westerners of 'fanning the flames' of war in Ukraine and Taiwan, of sparking a global energy crisis and of causing a food crisis - in effect regurgitating the same allegations levelled at him by much of the international community. Putin warned the world has entered its most dangerous period since the Second World War and a 'new world order' must emerge in which Russia gets a bigger say, declaring that the 'age of western domination is over'. 'Dominion of the world is what West has decided to stake in this game. It is a dangerous, deadly and dirty game,' he added. In a ranting speech today in Moscow, the Russian president said former British PM Liz Truss (pictured) must have been 'a bit out of it' and he claimed to have 'never said anything proactively about possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia' Advertisement

The Russian president also stated that his country is 'ready for talks' on Ukraine.

Speaking about the conflict, Putin said he thinks 'all the time' about the casualties Russia has suffered in the conflict, but insisted he was left with no choice but to attack and that Russia would have paid a higher price if it had not acted.

He denied underestimating Ukraine's ability to fight back and insisted that his 'special military operation' has proceeded as planned.

The Russian leader said: 'About our country, you know, of course, we have costs, most notably regards losses in the special military operation. I think about it all the time. There are also economic losses, but there are enormous gains. And ultimately, and I want to emphasize, ultimately, all that is happening now will undoubtedly benefit Russia and its future. Why? Because it's connected to strengthening our sovereignty.'

Putin also acknowledged the challenges posed by Western sanctions, but argued that Russia has proven resilient to foreign pressure and become more united.

The speech is just the latest in a string of ranting addresses that Putin has given since launching his war, laying out his historical grievances, distorted view of current events, and his vision for the future.

He has repeatedly talked of creating a 'multipolar world order' in which Western capitals, including Washington, would have to kowtow to Moscow and Beijing.

Accusing the West of trying to 'cancel' Russia and its history, he has presented the conflict in Ukraine as an existential struggle for what he presents as 'Russian values'.

Kyiv argues the Russian invasion is a genocidal mission to both rewrite history - including the fall of the Soviet Union, which Putin called a 'catastrophe' - and to ensure Ukraine cannot draw closer to the West.

In his speech, Putin accused NATO of 'starting to seize the territories of Ukraine long ago' and insisted he was forced to invade to protect people.

He also said on Thursday that hard-line Ukrainian nationalists were willing to 'fight until the last Ukrainian' in the conflict with Russia.

Putin said Ukraine had suffered heavy losses in the eight-month conflict and criticised Ukrainian 'hardline patriots' and 'banderites,' a tag Russian officials and commentators often use to describe Ukrainian fighters who they say are neo-Nazis and fascists, for being willing to sacrifice their fellow fighters.

Amid fears that Putin's war could go nuclear, he today denied having any intentions of using the weapons in Ukraine.

But he described the conflict there as part of alleged efforts by the West to secure its global domination, which he insisted are doomed to fail.

Speaking at a conference of international foreign policy experts, Putin said it's pointless for Russia to strike Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

'We see no need for that,' Putin said. 'There is no point in that, neither political, nor military.'

Putin said an earlier warning of his readiness to use 'all means available to protect Russia' didn't amount to nuclear saber-rattling but was merely a response to Western statements about their possible use of nuclear weapons.

He particularly mentioned Liz Truss saying in August that she would be ready to use nuclear weapons if she became Britain's prime minister, a remark which he said worried the Kremlin.

'What were we supposed to think?' Putin said. 'We saw that as a coordinated position, an attempt to blackmail us.'

Without offering evidence, the Russian leader repeated Moscow's unproven allegation that Ukraine was plotting a false flag attack involving a radioactive dirty bomb it would try to pin on Russia.

Ukraine has strongly rejected the claim, and its Western allies have dismissed it as 'transparently false.' Ukraine argued Russia might be making the unfounded allegation to serve as a cover for its own possible plot to detonate a dirty bomb.

Putin said he personally ordered Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to call his foreign counterparts to tell them about the purported plot. He maintained that Russia knows the Ukrainian facilities working on the project.

Putin claimed, still without citing any proof, that Kyiv's plan was to rig a missile with radioactive waste and to characterize its explosion as a Russian nuclear strike in an effort to isolate Russia in the global arena.

He mocked the allegations by Ukraine and the West that Russia was firing on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine as 'ravings.' Russian troops have occupied the plant, Europe's largest, since the early days of the conflict and Moscow has accused Ukraine of continuously shelling it.

Putin claimed, still without citing any proof, that Kyiv's plan was to rig a missile with radioactive waste and to characterize its explosion as a Russian nuclear strike in an effort to isolate Russia in the global arena

Ukrainian service members prepare to shoot from a towed howitzer FH-70 at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine

Andriy Zhizhema wraps his amputated leg in an ace bandage in his hospital room at a military hospital in the Kyiv region, Ukraine. He was injured in Bakhmut, after joining the army as a volunteer in March

Firefighters work to extinguish fire following recent shelling at a railway junction in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Shakhtarsk (Shakhtyorsk) near Donetsk

A view of a collapsed building after a fire broke out at a factory following an airstrike by Russian forces that hit Ukraine's Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast

A Ukrainian service member, holds a display munition during a mine-clearing demonstration with the Armtrac 400 demining machine in the background, amid Russia's invasion, in the Kharkiv region

Also in his speech, speaking about Saudi Arabia, he said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be respected and that Russia was set on boosting relations with them.

It comes amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US after the OPEC+, chaired by Saudi Arabia, voted to reduce oil output by around 2 million barrels per day on October 5.

The United States' has criticised Prince Mohammed and the OPEC+ oil alliance for agreeing to cut oil production, a move seen as a boost to Russia's attempts to protect its economy in the face of Western sanctions.

Putin also used today's address to state that the price of oil is 'not that important', after the US were forced to scale back a plan to impose a cap.

Also in his speech, speaking about Saudi Arabia, he said that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should be respected and that Russia was set on boosting relations with them

It comes amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the US after the OPEC+, chaired by Saudi Arabia, voted to reduce oil output by around 2 million barrels per day on October 5

The United States' has criticised Prince Mohammed and the OPEC+ oil alliance for agreeing to cut oil production, a move seen as a boost to Russia's attempts to protect its economy in the face of Western sanctions

Putin also today said that Russia's relations with China were at an 'unprecedented level' as he called China's President Xi Jinping a 'close friend.'

Moscow and Beijing signed a no-limits partnership just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, and Russia has sought to forge closer political and economic ties with China in the face of Western sanctions.

China's foreign minister Wang Yi today reiterated Bejing's backing of Russia, despite western criticism over the war.

Wang said in a call with his counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to state broadcaster CCTV: 'China will also firmly support the Russian side, under the leadership of President (Vladimir) Putin, to unite and lead the Russian people to overcome difficulties and eliminate disturbances,'

'China is willing to deepen contacts with the Russian side at all levels,' Wang said.

Putin also today said that Russia's relations with China were at an 'unprecedented level' as he called China's President Xi Jinping a 'close friend.

Moscow and Beijing signed a no-limits partnership just days before Russia launched its 'special military operation' in Ukraine in February, and Russia has sought to forge closer political and economic ties with China in the face of Western sanctions

Putin today also said in his speech that the United States was wrong to destroy its relations with China over Taiwan.

He said Russia recognises Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China and said visits by U.S. officials, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - who Putin referred to as 'grandma' - to Taiwan were a provocation.

The Russian leader also said that the United States will have to replenish its oil reserves as they release them now.

He also rubbished the allegation that Russia blew up Nord Stream in the Baltic Sea, referring to it as 'crazy'.

Danish police have said powerful explosions caused ruptures to the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 undersea pipelines, potentially putting them permanently out of use. Putin previously said the West blew up the pipelines, while European leaders have accused Russia of sabotage.

The Russian leader claimed that one of the two pipelines is working but that Europe 'does not want to use it.'

He said Russia recognises Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China and said visits by U.S. officials, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - who Putin referred to as 'grandma' - to Taiwan were a provocation

Ukrainian service members prepare to shoot from a towed howitzer FH-70 at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia Region

A Ukrainian soldier prepares a mortar in the front line near Bakhmut, the site of the heaviest battle against the Russian troops in the Donetsk region

The Russian president used his long speech to also declare that the country will let its partners in Asia to develop energy producing assets.

Speaking of South Korea's decision to supply weapons to Ukraine, he said that it would 'destroy our relations.'

He also launched into a rant against 'cancel culture', accusing the West of trying to erase diversity and stamp out whatever it cannot tolerate.

'Those who formulate [global] rules believe others don't have right to unique path,' he told listeners.

'It is no coincidence that West wants their view accepted as universal, and they insist through their politics of everyone must be accepting these values.'

And speaking of South Korea's decision to supply weapons to Ukraine, Putin said that it would 'destroy our relations'

Ukrainian sappers walk during the presentation of the Armtrac demining machine on the outskirts of Kharkiv

In his address, Putin also took aim at France for publishing contents of a phone call he had with President Emmanuel Macron days before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February

Putin, pictured in June, said the release showed that his conversations with the French leader were being listened in on

He also criticised European leaders in his speech, claiming that the crisis in the area has been caused by them.

Putin added that Russia is not an enemy of Europeans and 'never had any malicious intentions towards Europe.'

In his address, he also took aim at France for publishing contents of a phone call he had with President Emmanuel Macron days before Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February.

Putin said the release showed that his conversations with the French leader were being listened in on.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hit out at Vladimir Putin after the Russian president gave a speech on Thursday.

'Putin's message today to the Russian people is unclear, untrue and unedifying,' he tweeted.

'What is crystal clear, is our message to the world:

'Aggressors must not be able to invade their neighbours with impunity.

'We will resolutely support Ukraine in its fight for freedom and democracy.'

Meanwhile, the White House said after Putin's speech that his address 'was not that new' and does not indicate a change in strategic goals.

But Foreign Secretary James Cleverly hit out at Vladimir Putin after the Russian president gave a speech on Thursday. 'Putin's message today to the Russian people is unclear, untrue and unedifying,' he tweeted

Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar in the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine

A Ukrainian soldier carries a shell with a written message to the Russian army, in the front line position near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region

Ukrainian soldiers target their mortar in the front line position near Bakhmut, the site of the heaviest battle against the Russian troops in the Donetsk region

Firefighters work to extinguish fire following recent shelling at a railway junction in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the town of Shakhtarsk (Shakhtyorsk) near Donetsk

Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a towed howitzer FH-70 at a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Zaporizhzhia Region

Since the beginning of the war, Putin has passed sweeping censorship laws and jailed anyone who criticses him.

Russia is now into its ninth month of the Ukraine war and has so-far failed to achieve any of Putin's war aims, which included the overthrow of the government and the 'liberation' of the Donbas region.

Having fought Russia to a standstill across almost the entire country, Ukraine is now recapturing territory from Putin's troops.

Thousands of square miles of land in the north and south have been returned to Ukrainian control in recent weeks, with the city of Kherson now within reach.

Kyiv has vowed that it will not stop fighting until all of its land - including areas annexed by Putin in 2014 - has been liberated.

In order to stop the rot, Putin has been forced to mobilise 300,000 reservists into the army and call on allies such as Iran to supply additional weapons.

He has also annexed the Ukrainian territory Russia currently occupies to the mainland, and threatened to use nukes to protect it.

However, that has failed to stop the Ukrainian advanced and has done nothing to weaken Western resolve to supply arms and money to Kyiv.
But Britons accused Noah of 'taking that one call and turning it into a movement'

It came after LBC Radio caller said Mr Sunak 'was not as British as Boris Johnson'

Noah, 38, claimed 'people are saying Indian people want to take over' the UK

Rishi Sunak 'does not think Britain is a racist country', Downing Street has said following Trevor Noah's controversial claim there had been a racist backlash to him becoming Prime Minister.

In a video posted on Twitter from his US satirical news programme The Daily Show, presenter and comedian Noah alleged there were people saying 'now the Indians are going to take over Great Britain'.

It led to accusations form UK that he was inventing a racist backlash against Sunak's appointment.

Addressing Noah's comments, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'I've not asked the Prime Minister about that. But you heard the words in the House [of Commons] on Wednesday with regard to the Prime Minister and you've also seen words from other world leaders and reaction to his appointment as Prime Minister.'

When asked whether Mr Sunak believes Britain is a racist country, the spokeswoman added: 'No, he doesn't.'

Former chancellor and health secretary Mr Javid also responded to Noah's claims reshared the clip and wrote: 'Simply wrong. A narrative catered to his audience, at a cost of being completely detached from reality.

'Britain is the most successful multiracial democracy on earth and proud of this historic achievement.'

Mr Sunak is also the UK's first ever Hindu Prime Minister. His grandparents migrated to the UK in the 1960s and they are all from India, bar his maternal grandmother, who was born in Africa, making him of British-Asian heritage.

Noah, a South African native, said 'seeing the backlash' over Mr Sunak's promotion 'was one of the more telling things about how people view the role that they or their people have played in history'.

Unpacking the backlash against new UK PM Rishi Sunak #BetweenTheScenes pic.twitter.com/MJNPgv5APK  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 26, 2022

Trevor Noah, 38, sparked fury among his British fans on Twitter after uploading a segment from his programme The Daily Show, entitled: 'Unpacking the Backlash to Rishi Sunak'

Addressing the accusations, former chancellor and health secretary Mr Javid reshared the clip and wrote: 'Simply wrong. A narrative catered to his audience, at a cost of being completely detached from reality

British political commentators, including Piers Morgan, were less than impressed by Trevor Noah's comments

When asked if Rishi Sunak thought Britain was a racist country, a Downing Street spokeswoman said 'no, he doesn't'

In a 'Between the Scenes' segment  his interactions with the audience during the advert breaks  he then launched into a missive about post-colonial power structures and the suppression of black people and women in powerful positions.

It comes after it was revealed last month that Noah will be leaving The Daily Show after viewing figures plummeted by up to 75% following his takeover from American host Jon Stewart in 2013.

Analysts partly blamed this on the shift to online streaming but also on the programme's perceived 'political bias' and penchant for peddling 'woke' ideology.

In his monologue on Mr Sunak, Noah said: 'You hear a lot of people saying: 'Oh they're taking over, Indians are going to take over Great Britain and what's next?' and I've always found myself going: 'So what?... What are you afraid of?'

'You see people in the UK, you see people like Tucker Carlson [an American Fox News host] all the time saying: ''You know what they're trying to do... they won't stop until black people and women are in positions of power''... So what?'

He added: 'Why are you so afraid? I think it's because the quiet part a lot of people don't realise they are saying is: ''We don't want these people who were previously oppressed to get into power because then they may do to us what we did to them.'''

His analysis was blasted by British political commentators, who accused Noah of 'projecting' America's race problem onto Britain.

Piers Morgan fumed on Twitter: 'There's been no such backlash against Sunak, you race-baiting twerps. Why does US media keep falsely portraying Britain as a racist country?'

GB News Political commentator Tom Harwood added: 'What backlash? Where? You're making things up.'

Meanwhile, Talk TV's Mike Graham was more blunt, writing: 'You do wonder if Americans are the thickest people on the planet.'

Viewers of the show were also unimpressed, as one tweeted: 'There's been virtually no backlash to the appointment of an Indian man as PM in Britain (other than the fact the process was an undemocratic joke). But his race hasn't been brought up in the negative by anyone.

'American TV and American audiences do an awful lot of projecting.'

Another fan wrote: 'I love @Trevornoah but this is not true by any stretch of the imagination.

'Across the broad spectrum of British society people are genuinely proud that a person of South Asian descent is PM.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Noah for comment.

In the video, Noah added that people needn't fear of anyone 'taking over' and repeating colonial horrors, adding: 'Go to all these colonies around the world, go to all the places where the British ruled, go to South Africa or wherever it is... unless people are being delusional, people aren't turning on anybody.

In a three-minute clip, which has more than 950,000 views on Twitter, Noah claimed there were 'people saying that Indians are going to take over Great Britain' as a response to Mr Sunak's rise to the top job of prime minister

'It's not like Barack Obama became president and said: ''Alright, where are the white people? Time to show them what's up!'' Didn't happen.

'People are complaining saying: ''I can't believe Rishi Sunak is... you've got this Indian man who is...' yo, King Charles is still the king of Jamaica... think about that for a second.

'What do you think is going to happen? You're just giving yourself away... it's amazing when people say the quiet part out loud.'

He added: 'People need to ask themselves that question... why are you afraid of power shifting to another gender or another race?'

Other Twitter users branded Noah 'out of touch' with the reality of UK politics, while another wrote: 'Could it be that @Trevornoah is projecting the US onto somewhere which isn't the US again?...

'While some small pockets made racist comments this isn't true of the UK by any stretch of the imagination. Can I recommend speaking to some Brits.'

Noah's segment was likely to be inspired by a telephone call from an LBC Radio listener last week, who suggested Mr Sunak 'doesn't love England' and 'isn't even British in most people's opinion.' But after a Noah fan shared a clip of the call under the comedian's video, Twitter users insisted it did not represent the view of any large number of people

Noah's segment was inspired by a telephone call from an LBC Radio listener last week, who suggested Mr Sunak 'doesn't love England' and 'isn't even British in most people's opinion.'

The caller claimed to be a Conservative Party member when he called into host Sangita Myska's show.

Speaking on Sunday, before Mr Sunak won the race to become PM, the caller said: 'Rishi's not gonna win it. Rishi's not even British, in most people's opinion. He's got American allegiance, his family's American. They're Indian businesspeople. He'll go live in America no doubt. He doesn't love England like Boris does.'

When Ms Myska insisted Mr Sunak was born in Southampton, making him British, he added: 'Lots of people are, half of al-Qaeda are British citizens. I'm just saying having a British passport doesn't mean you're a true English patriot who loves England.'

But after a Noah fan shared a clip of the call in response to the comedian's video, Twitter users insisted it did not represent the view of any large number of people.

One wrote: 'You do realise a few isolated cases doesn't make a widespread backlash don't you? If you search hard enough you will find someone that espouses any view you can think of.'

Another said: 'In a population of 68 million it's easy to find these examples. The reality is the overwhelming majority of Brits don't think like this.'

Don't call Rishi Sunak the UK's first Asian PM in front of @ronnychieng pic.twitter.com/IgnzVk8r62  The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) October 25, 2022

It comes after a previous segment in Noah's show by comedian Ronny Chieng also faced criticism from British Indian/Asian viewers this week.

In a 45-second skit discussing Mr Sunak, Chieng declared that 'Indians are not Asians', adding: 'If this guy is Asian, how come when he became prime minister I felt absolutely nothing?'

He added: 'I love how Indians try to have it both ways, like being Indian AND Asian, pick a lane, okay?'

Sunder Katwala, director of UK immigration charity British Future, wrote in response online: 'This is just rude and silly. Of course, he identifies as British Asian and British Indian, and that is how he is seen by British Indians, British Asians and other British people. If America uses terms differently, that's fine for America.'
A former Las Vegas lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to murdering a veteran journalist who exposed his alleged affair with a co-worker.

Robert Telles, 45, denied killing reporter Jeff German in September, and said 'Not guilty, your honor,' during a court hearing Wednesday.

German, a Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter, was shot dead in September after exposing misdeeds by Telles, a Democrat ex-Clark County Public Administrator, including an affair with a married co-worker.

Telles cast a miserable figure as he entered the plea wearing prison-issue clothes and handcuffs.

Prosecutors also said they wont pursue the death sentence over the murder because it lacks a qualifying aggravating factor for a capital case.

But he still faces life without parole if convicted.

Telles, in court-issue clothing and cuffs, has denied the knife murder of reporter Jeff German

German revealed an alleged affair between Telles (pictured with wife Mae) and a co-worker

Prosecutors say Telles was driven to kill German (pictured) over a series of damages exposes

He allegedly committed the unlawful, senseless and heinous murder on September 2 after lying in wait outside Germans home then stabbing him seven times.

German, a reporter with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, revealed earlier this year that Telles was suspected of having an inappropriate relationship with married staffer Roberta Lee-Kennett, 45.

The newspaper published undercover footage of Telles and Lee-Kennett in the backseat of her car in a parking garage, which was recorded by a county employee to prove their relationship.

German also revealed an alleged culture of emotional stress, bullying and favoritism under Telless watch.

Prosecutors say the revelations ruined Telless political career and likely his marriage, which pushed him to commit the murder.

Telles appeared in court with his new lawyer, Ryan Helmick, who he appointed after ditching his taxpayer-funded legal team.

Former Clark County official Telles broke down in tears when denied bail at an earlier hearing

Telles's wife, Mae Ismael (pictured), has attended several court appearances since his arrest

Detectives released this photo of the suspect near German's home before he was murdered

Telles was initially appointed deputy public defenders after claiming he couldnt afford a lawyer.

But the Review-Journal later reported he and his wife were making $20,500 per month before his arrest, owned five rental houses and a Las Vegas home worth more than $320,000.

Some of Telless former staffers also attended the hearing, including Rita Page Reid, his ex assistant.

She said the hearing was a little disturbing and emotional, adding: The ultimate price that Jeff German paid was in support of all of us.

Telles is indicted on a charge of murder with a weapon of a victim 60 years or older.

At an earlier court appearance, he burst into tears as he was denied bail.

Telles was seen washing a similar SUV to one spotted near German's house prior to the murder

Lee-Kennett (pictured with her husband) allegedly had an affair with Telles, who was her boss

A judge previously described the police report about the murder as chilling and said DNA from Telles found under Germans fingernails indicated the reporter fought for his life.

During the investigation, police released CCTV images of a suspect wearing an orange workshirt and large sun hat walking towards Germans home.

The suspect was believed to be driving an SUV. Telles was later seen washing the same model on the driveway of his home.

When police searched Telles' home, they found bloodied shoes and a cut up straw hat, similar to the one seen on the suspect in the surveillance footage.

Telles was arrested on September 7 after DNA evidence found under German's fingernails allegedly matched his.

Police found a cut up straw hat in Telles's home when it was searched following his arrest

A pair of bloodied Nike sneakers were also found at the former Clark County official's house

When Telles was arrested, he reportedly had self-inflicted cuts on his arms.

An arrest report obtained by DailyMail.com shows that he barricaded himself inside his home, made suicidal statements and slashed his arms with a knife when SWAT teams arrived to arrest him.

He was also suspected of taking drugs in the moments before he was cuffed, forcing officers to take him to the hospital before he was booked into the county jail.

DailyMail.com previously revealed Telles had been railing against German for months  including in an angry series of messages on social media in which he accused him of rifling through his trash and writing 'lying smear pieces' about him.

The married man was previously faced a domestic violence case against him.

In March 2020, he was arrested after his wife Mae Ismael called the police and told them Telles was 'going crazy.'

German's revelations included footage of Telles in the backseat of a car with Lee-Kennett

Lee-Kennett is seen leaving her car with Telles in footage published by German earlier this year

Telles admitted to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he 'struggled with alcohol' at the time and that moment was a 'wake-up call.'

The case was eventually dismissed and he received a suspended 90-day sentence for resisting arrest - where he allegedly told officers: 'You guys just want to take me down because I am a public official.'

German was known for his stories about government malfeasance and political scandals and coverage of the 2017 mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival, during which 60 people were killed and 400 were wounded.

He held a master's degree from Marquette University and was the author of the 2001 true-crime book 'Murder in Sin City: The Death of a Las Vegas Casino Boss,' the story of the death of Ted Binion, heir to the Horseshoe Club fortune.

Cathy Scott, a former colleague, recalled that she and German broke the story of the killing of Las Vegas mafia associate Herbert 'Fat Herbie' Blitzstein in 1997.

German specialized in stories about organized crime. He hosted a season of the Review-Journal's true crime podcast, 'Mobbed Up: The Fight for Vegas.'

The podcast was described as a sketched of the secret power mafia crime families weld over more than a third of the Strip's casinos, and the enormous job federal and state agents have in pushing them out.

He also broke stories about government corruption and campaign finance violations in Nevada.
She cut off her victim's head, stuffed her body in the suitcase and dumped it

She told him it was filled with books and then remained silent the rest of the trip

A taxi driver has told how he unwittingly helped killer Jemma Mitchell transport the body of her headless victim moments after she had killed her.

Moideenkutty Vadakkhatil even offered to help with the suitcase carrying the body of Mee Kuen Chong into his cab when he saw the killer struggling to lift it.

Mitchell was today found guilty of the murder of the 67-year-old after a trial at the Old Bailey.

The jury deliberated for seven hours before reaching the verdict. Mitchell smiled at her barrister Richard Jory KC, but looked stunned upon hearing the unanimous guilty verdict.

The Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks said he will pass sentence tomorrow.

An expert in dissection, Mitchell cut off her victim's head and stuffed the body into a blue suitcase before later dumping it in Devon.

Last June Vadakkhatil picked up Mitchell outside a library on the Harrow Road in Sudbury, close to Chong's home in Wembley.

He said Mitchell had her hand bandaged and was struggling with the case and another bag she was carrying.

Former osteopath Jemma Mitchell (left) hit Mee Kuen Chong (right) over the head with a weapon at her London home and left her decapitated and badly decomposed body in woods in Salcombe, Devon two weeks later

Screen grab taken from CCTV issued by Metropolitan Police of Jemma Mitchell dragging a blue suitcase outside Ms Chong's Wembley home. Mitchell told her taxi driver the suitcase was filled with books

'The large suitcase looked heavy and I saw that she had a bandaged hand so I asked her if I could give her some help,' he said.

'She was a little reluctant but that's what we do, we help customers with their luggage, and so I grabbed hold of the case.

'But it was so heavy that I struggled to get into the boot on my own and using her good hand the lady had to help me.

'I asked her what was on it and why it was so heavy and she said 'just books'.'

Vadakkhatil said Mitchell avoided eye contact and began reading a book that shielded her face during the journey.

The suitcase that was used to carry Ms Chong's headless body to Devon. When her taxi driver found out what was in the bag, he was 'horrified'

'I tried to chat to her but it was obvious that she didn't want to talk and so I left her in peace and drove the 25-minutes back to Brondesbury Park.

'The fare was 12.50 but she gave me 10 and said that was all she had.

'I called the office and they told me not to worry about the missing 2.50 and to get on to the next job.

'The lady said she was meeting someone but as soon as she got out of the car, she went quickly to the boot and pulled the heavy suitcase out on to the ground.

'She handled it really rough, not like most people who tend to be quite careful with their bags.

'The wheels on the case seemed to have buckled slightly from the weight. That was the last I saw of her.'

Ms Chong went missing on June 11 last year and her body was found hundreds of miles away 16 days later

The taxi driver said there was no blood seeping from the case and only discovered its grisly contents when police later visited him at home.

After her arrest on suspicion of murder Mitchell told police she had injured her hand on the taxi's sliding door.

Mitchell was captured on CCTV going to Chaplin Road at 8am with the empty blue suitcase.

She was filmed again struggling with the now full suitcase five hours later at 1.13pm as she left the house to take a cab home. Mitchell also had a smaller red and blue case belonging to the victim, full of her personal documents.

Later that day, Mitchell was treated in hospital for a broken finger, which she explained she had injured in a car door. However, the cab driver told police she had the injury when he picked her up.

'I told the officers it wasn't true as she'd already had the bandage on her hand when she called for a taxi,' he said.

'When the detective told me they believed the case had a body inside I was horrified, I felt sick.

'I've not been able to sleep properly since then. To have helped this woman transport a body of a woman she murdered haunts me.

Ms Chong was said to be a vulnerable person and prone to erratic behaviour

The suitcase used to carry Ms Chong's headless body to Devon. 'There was no blood seeping out the case and no smell. I would never have known what was in it. 'I checked the boot afterwards and there was no stain,' the taxi driver said

'There was no blood seeping out the case and no smell. I would never have known what was in it. I checked the boot afterwards and there was no stain.

'The woman wasn't acting strangely, she didn't appear worried or scared. She was quite calm.'

Revealed: Mitchell has conviction for a breach of a non-molestation order relating to her sister and brother-in-law It can now be reported that Mitchell has a conviction for a breach of a non-molestation order relating to family members. In 2016, she received a conditional discharge at North West London Magistrates' Court for breaching the order in respect of her sister and brother-in-law. Since moving back to the UK, Mitchell was unemployed as she focused on her ill-fated home renovation project which had been beset with problems. She was never registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), so could not legally practise as an osteopath in Britain. Advertisement

Vadakkhati said the experience has left him wary about transporting heavy cases.

He said: 'I double-check what's in really heavy bags and cases before I put them into the back of the cab.'

Ms Chong's headless body was found by holidaymakers beside a woodland footpath near Salcombe the next day. The victim, who was 5ft 2in and slim, appeared to have been redressed in clothes meant for a larger woman, jurors heard.

Following a police search of the area, Ms Chong's skull was recovered a few metres away from the body. A search of Mitchell's home uncovered Ms Chong's fake will and personal papers. The blue suitcase had been stored on the roof of a neighbour's shed.

Although no forensic evidence was recovered from the suitcase, Ms Chong's DNA was identified on a bloodstained tea towel in a pocket.

Mitchell's defence asserted that there was no evidence to confirm Ms Chong's body was in the suitcase and pointed to the lack of evidence indicating a violent assault at her home.

But Deanna Heer KC, prosecuting, suggested Mitchell breaking a finger while at Ms Chong's house was evidence of a struggle, as well as the fact she lied about it afterwards.

Jurors heard that Ms Chong had suffered from schizophrenia and was referred for help after writing letters to the then-Prince of Wales and prime minister Boris Johnson.

In the months leading up to her murder, she had berated Mitchell for being a messy 'hoarder'.

Mitchell had been a brilliant medical student and studied Human Sciences at Kings College London and won a first-class degree in 2004. Part of the course was module called the 'Structural Basis of Human Function' where she learned how to dissect bodies.

Mitchell also completed a special study course in 'Experimental Anatomy' and was so adept she won the Hamilton Prize for anatomical excellence.

She worked as an osteopath in Australia for seven years but her medical career did not work out and she returned to live with her mother at their 2million home in Brondesbury Park, which had been in the family for generations.

Mitchell lived on the first floor and her mother lived on the ground floor. She began to become more religious and started hoarding items. Some of the rooms at the house were so full of junk, she struggled to get through the doors and the kitchen was filthy with rotting food on the cooker and freezers packed full of food which had passed their sell-by date years ago.

When police contacted Mitchell as they searched for the victim, she left a voicemail saying: 'I tried to return your call yesterday I was getting in touch to let you know that Mee said she was planning to stay with friends near her sister's family on the coast. She said she felt neglected on 7 June 2021 and wanted to leave.'

On July 6 police arrived at Brondesbury Park to arrest Mitchell. After she was cautioned Mitchell said: 'I know that she has gone away.' She then turned to her mother and said: 'It's not true.'

But police had found a handbag next to the victim's body containing a length of orange rope of which an identical type was found among the rubbish at Mitchell's home. Police also found a 2021 wall calendar with an entry written by Mitchell for June 26, the day she drove to Salcombe, in two different inks. It read: '8am collect body back C letter will copy 2 hr walk.'

In a box in the bedroom was a copy of Mitchell's will, written in 2017 and a will in the name of the victim, dated October 27, 2020, which made Mitchell the main beneficiary.

It left 95 per cent of the deceased's estate to the defendant 'to be applied for the benefit of 'Brondesbury Park's projects' and 5 per cent to the defendant's mother, Hillary Collard.

The will had been faked by Mitchell who had forged the signatures including that of a witness who had not seen Mitchell since 2013.

Detectives searched her computer and found the Word document of the will which she had created on July 1, 2021, three weeks after she murdered Ms Chong.

Officers also found a torn-out newspaper article in Mitchell's bedroom entitled 'The Do's and Don'ts of Claiming an Estate' dated June 28, 2021.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer told the court: 'A large sum was needed to complete the repairs on the defendant's house.

'In Mee Kuen Chong, the prosecution say the defendant found someone from whom she thought she could get that money  by persuading Mee Kuen Chong to give it to her, or if not when she was alive, then by forging her will after she had killed her.'
The train was part of Silver Dollar City, a theme park in the Ozark mountains

While the cause of the crash is still unclear, passengers were forced to smash the windows to escape the train

A steam train at a popular Missouri theme park derailed on Wednesday night, prompting seven passengers to be hospitalized

A steam train at a Missouri theme park derailed and tipped over on Wednesday evening after hitting a 'bump,' causing seven people to be hospitalized.

The Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri tipped over during its 20-minute ride, which is billed as a 'leisurely ride through the beautiful Ozark countryside,' and features a staged train robbery.

Some passengers had to smash the train windows to get out of the carriages, according to those on board.

The train was almost full when it careened off the tracks and smashed onto its right side, according to Stone Countys Office of Emergency Management Director Tom Martin.

Seven injured passengers were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the incident.

A steam train at the popular Silver Dollar City theme park in Missouri derailed on Wednesday night, prompting seven passengers to be hospitalized

One passenger reportedly suffered severe lower back injuries and a woman's glasses smashed into her face, though no one had life-threatening injuries

One passenger suffered severe lower back injuries and a woman's glasses smashed into her face, though no one had life-threatening injuries.

Silver Dollar City released a statement late Wednesday confirming the crash, saying 'sections of the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track,' but did not offer an explanation for the derailment.

'Onsite paramedics provided emergency care until first responders arrived. Six guests and one employee have been transported by ambulance to nearby medical facilities,' they added.

Silver Dollar City could not be reached for comment on the cause of the incident, but Missouris Division of Fire Safety said they will be investigating the incident.

A tweet from the division said they began their investigation on Wednesday night and would continue on Thursday.

The train ride is known for being a staple at the theme park and has been in operation since 1962.

Passenger Gary Eldridge, who took a video of the crash, was on the train with his family when it derailed, he told CNN.

'We had just passed the part of the ride where they gave the moonshine skit,' Eldridge said.

'We went around the next corner and the car in front of me acted like it hit a bump and started shaking real bad. It derailed and took the cars in front of it with it,' he recalled.

Passengers were forced to smash the windows of the train to get out of the carriages, and the cause of the crash is still unknown

The theme park is located in the famous Ozark mountain range, a midwestern staple for vacationers

Luckily for Eldridge, he was in one of the cars that didn't topple over, and he and his family were unharmed.

Another passenger said there was a little boy on the train who was excited to ride, but after the crash, he said he did not like trains anymore, according to a local report.

'At this time, we are wholeheartedly focused on providing support for guests and team members in partnership with Stone County first responders,' the park statement said.

The theme park is located in the famous Ozark mountain range, a midwestern staple for vacationers. The Lake of the Ozarks is a sprawling lake that thousands of people head to in the summer.

In 2018, a duck boat - a World War 2-era amphibious vehicle, sank on Table Rock Lake in Branson, killing 17 people.

All of the victims were on board the Ride the Ducks amphibious vessel when a powerful storm rolled over the lake, lashing the water with 60mph winds.

As it was overpowered with waves, passengers on other boats nearby watched helplessly. They filmed harrowing footage of the scene which cut out just before the boat capsized.

Those who died range in age from one to 70. Among them was the boat's driver.
Former President Donald Trump's super PAC labeled Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman 'clueless' and weak' in a new stinging TV ad, after his debate performance raised more questions about his stroke recovery.

Fox News Channel reported Wednesday that the group MAGA, Inc. is spending $870,000 to run the ad on Pennsylvania airwaves, in an effort to boost Republican, Dr. Mehmet Oz.

The ad links Fetterman to President Joe Biden, and uses footage of Biden tripping up the stairs of Air Force One and Fetterman saying, 'The Eagles are so much better than the Eagles!'

'The worst border crisis in American history. The worst crime wave in decades. The threat of nuclear annihilation. Our economy collapsing,' the narrator says. 'Joe Biden and John Fetterman aren't up to these challenges.'

'Biden is stumbling around, and Fetterman just isn't right,' it continues, showing the Air Force One and Eagles clips. 'Biden and Fetterman: liberal, clueless, weak,' it concludes.

Former President Donald Trump's super PAC labeled Pennsylvania Democratic Senate hopeful John Fetterman 'clueless' and weak' in a new stinging TV ad, after his debate performance raised more questions about his stroke recovery

The ad links Fetterman to President Joe Biden, and uses footage of Biden tripping up the stairs of Air Force One

In the spot Fetterman, who is recovering from a stroke, says: 'The Eagles are so much better than the Eagles!'

'The worst border crisis in American history. The worst crime wave in decades. The threat of nuclear annihilation. Our economy collapsing,' the narrator says. 'Joe Biden and John Fetterman aren't up to these challenges'

The latest poll, which was conducted by Franklin & Marshall College prior to Tuesday night's face-off in Harrisburg, showed Fetterman with a five point lead, but that was within the survey's margin of error.

Fetterman's saving grace may be that the debate happened as votes were already being cast.

As of Wednesday, around 635,000 Pennsylvanians had already voted.

While Fetterman and his campaign tried preparing viewers that his performance could include awkward pauses and missed words, the after-effects of his stroke were on full display in his hour-long appearance against Oz, a polished TV doctor.

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.

At another point, when Fetterman was asked to specifically about charges Oz made about some 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.'

Wednesday night in Pittsburgh at a rally alongside Dave Matthews Band, Fetterman told supporters: 'To be honest, doing that debate wasn't exactly easy.'

'I knew it wasn't going to be easy having a stroke after five months,' he continued. 'In fact, I don't think that's ever been done in American political history.'

Fetterman's campaign raised more than $2 million from the effort.
National security experts are increasingly concerned that domestic extremists will target US energy infrastructure in a bid to sway the midterm elections, according to a new report.

As painfully high gas prices threaten Democrats' chances of maintaining a majority in Congress, extremist chatter about escalating the situation through targeted attacks has been on the rise, according to a Newsweek report citing two recent intelligence assessments.

In internet forums and chat rooms, fringe elements have been sharing information and advice about carrying out attacks on critical infrastructure such as oil pipelines, electrical substations, and cell towers, the assessments say.

Though most of the chatter appears to be coming from far-right extremists and neo-Nazis, other elements including eco-terrorists and Islamic State supporters have joined in, the reports say.

A map of US liquid pipelines is seen above. National security experts say domestic extremist chatter about attacks on critical infrastructure is rising ahead of the midterms

In March, a shooting attack on an electrical substation in Oklahoma (above) temporarily disrupted power for more than 1,000 customers

The warnings were shared in a corporate intelligence security memo as well as an intel assessment from the California State Threat Assessment Center, according to Newsweek.

The corporate memo detailed at least 15 instances over the past year of extremists calling for attacks on key energy infrastructure.

The government assessment also pointed out recent instances of actual attacks on critical infrastructure, which have gone largely unreported.

In March, a shooting attack on an electrical substation in Oklahoma temporarily disrupted power for more than 1,000 customers of the Red River Valley Rural Electric Association, according to KXII-TV.

Then in July, a shooter targeted Pacific Gas & Electric equipment in Wasco, California. That attack caused some power outages, and also resulted in hundreds of gallons of hazardous chemicals leaking onto nearby soil.

Also in July, an electrical transformer supporting the Keystone Pipeline in South Dakota came under attack, forcing a temporary reduction in pipeline flows.

Workers make repairs after an act of vandalism left thousands across southern Oklahoma without power in March

High gas prices remain a political liability for Democrats, a reality some extremists could attempt to exploit through attacks targeting the energy infrastructures, experts warn

Few details have been released about that incident, with officials saying only that the transformer was 'vandalized' in a 'deliberate act'. The FBI is investigating.

In February, three men pleaded guilty in a disturbing plot to attack energy substations with high-powered rifles, which they believed would cause mass panic and chaos leading to a 'race war'.

Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana; and 22-year-old Jackson Matthew Sawall of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty in a federal court to conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

The most infamous electrical grid attack in US history, which caused more than $15 million in equipment damage, remains unsolved nearly a decade later.

In 2013, at least two snipers opened fire on Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Metcalf transmission substation in Coyote, California, just outside San Jose.

The attackers damaged 17 transformers in a hail of bullets shortly after cutting nearby AT&T fiber-optic telecommunications cables, in an attack that appears to have been carefully planned.

A foreign hacker gang linked to Russia caused chaos in May of 2021, after taking the Colonial Pipeline offline for nearly a week

It took the Colonial Pipeline nearly a week to fully resume operations following the attack

More recently, a foreign hacker gang linked to Russia caused chaos in May of 2021, after taking the Colonial Pipeline offline for nearly a week.

The pipeline is the largest gasoline pipeline in the US, and the attack left swaths of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia struggling with fuel shortages, with more than 10,000 gas stations running completely dry.

The attack was perpetrated by the for-profit criminal ransomware gang DarkSide, which appeared to operate with the tacit approval of the Kremlin -- though the group claimed to be apolitical, and Moscow disavowed any involvement.

A similar attack today would likely exacerbate historically high gas prices, which have been politically damaging for President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats.

The intel assessment from the California State Threat Assessment Center warned that leading up to and following the midterms, extremists will continue to foment plots against energy infrastructure.

'We assess that Domestic Violent Extremists (DVE) will likely remain a threat to the electricity subsector through 2023 as DVEs share more detailed information stated as authoritative to convince adherents that they have the requisite knowledge of targets, vulnerabilities, tools, and techniques to succeed,' the assessment stated.
Octopus Energy is set to receive 1 billion of taxpayer's money to take on customers from its collapsed rival Bulb.

The Government could strike up a deal with Octopus as early next week to help 1.5 million customers transfer from the administrated energy supplier.

Bulb and Octopus were widely held as success stories of the deregulation of the last decade which broke up the dominance of the Big Six suppliers, including British Gas, EDF Energy and Scottish Power.

But when faced with rapidly rising gas prices last year, Bulb was put under huge pressure and eventually collapsed in November.

It was one of dozens of energy suppliers to go bust during the ongoing crisis.

Greg Jackson, Founder and CEO, Octopus Energy (pictured). Octopus Energy is set to receive 1 billion of taxpayer's money to take on 1.5 million customers from its collapsed rival Bulb

Most customers from the failed energy suppliers were simply transferred to another company, however, Bulb had three times as many customers as its largest collapsed rival.

Therefore, because of its large size, it was seen as too big to fail by the energy regulator Ofgem and the Government who stepped up to put it under special administration measures.

The energy regulator had feared that transferring 1.5 million in one chunk would put another supplier under strain, potentially putting them at risk.

The Special Administration Scheme meant Bulb continued to receive money from the Government to keep supplying gas and electricity to its customers during the administration period.

An advert from Bulb's website. When gas and electricity prices shot up last year Bulb was put under huge pressure and eventually collapsed in November.

In total the Government pledged to give 1.7 billion in November to help Bulb's customers keep warm over the winter months.

The Government refused to say whether a deal was closed on Thursday, saying the process was commercially sensitive, Bloomberg reported.

Octopus was understood to be the only bidder and it was reported in July that it was expected to inject between 100 million and 200 million as part of the deal.

The Government will receive a share of any profit from Bulb customers as part of the deal.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: 'The special administrator of Bulb is required by law to keep costs as low as possible.

'We continue to engage closely with them to ensure maximum value for money for taxpayers.'

The Office for Budget Responsibility, however, has estimated that Bulb's collapse could cost taxpayers around 2.2 billion over two years.

The money will later be recouped by increasing the energy bills of every household in the country.
Vladimir Putin today referred to former British Prime Minister Liz Truss as 'crazy' amid sweeping accusations that Western powers are engaged in 'nuclear blackmail of Russia'.

In a ranting speech in Moscow, the Russian president said Truss must have been 'a bit out of it' and he claimed to have 'never said anything proactively about possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia'.

'We have only hinted in response to statements made by western leaders,' he insisted, pointing out that Russian military doctrine dictates nuclear weapons should only be deployed in 'self-defence'.

Truss previously labelled Putin's threats to use nuclear weapons against the West as 'sabre-rattling' when she spoke at the UN General Assembly in September.

Alongside his criticism of Truss, Putin asserted Kyiv has the technology to create and potentially detonate a 'dirty bomb' in Ukraine.

He also refuted claims that Russian forces were attacking the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant - located in territory controlled by Russia in southern Ukraine.

The Russian leader, laying out his warped view of global politics, went on to accused westerners of 'fanning the flames' of war in Ukraine and Taiwan, of sparking a global energy crisis and of causing a food crisis - in effect regurgitating the same allegations levelled at him by much of the international community.

Putin warned the world has entered its most dangerous period since the Second World War and a 'new world order' must emerge in which Russia gets a bigger say, declaring that the 'age of western domination is over'.

'Dominion of the world is what West has decided to stake in this game. It is a dangerous, deadly and dirty game,' he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 19th Annual Meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Moscow, Russia October 27, 2022, where he delivered a rambling speech decrying the West's world dominance

In a ranting speech today in Moscow, the Russian president said former British PM Liz Truss (pictured) must have been 'a bit out of it' and he claimed to have 'never said anything proactively about possible use of nuclear weapons by Russia'

While at points Putin sounded as if he was offering an olive branch - saying Russia 'is not an enemy of the West' and 'only wants the right to develop' - he made it clear that any talks on his 'new order' would have to be on Moscow's terms.

The West, he added, had repeatedly rejected Moscow's plans for peace laid out before the war in Ukraine - such as the withdrawal of all NATO troops from ex-Soviet states, against the wishes of their governments - and accused it of war-mongering.

He claimed that he had told the West: 'Let's be friends, have dialogue and strengthen trust and peace.'

'We were completely sincere,' he added. 'What did we get in response? A 'no' on every possible area of cooperation.'

In fact, the US and NATO had both sent letters to Russia laying out possible grounds for cooperation before Putin invaded Ukraine, which Moscow rejected.

'Russia is not an enemy of the West,' he insisted, but will continue to oppose neo-liberal elites and their world-view.

Russia will never accept Western countries telling it what to do, and the longer the West take to realise this the higher the price will be, he added.

Putin laid out his warped version of global events at the Valdai International Discussion Club, saying it is time for a 'new world order'

A Russian righter jet swoops low over the wreck of a burning fuel train in occupied Ukraine, after it was destroyed in shelling overnight

Firefighters work to extinguish burning fuel tanks of a Russian train sat near the occupied city of Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine

The speech is just the latest in a string of ranting addresses that Putin has given since launching his war, laying out his historical grievances, distorted view of current events, and his vision for the future.

He has repeatedly talked of creating a 'multipolar world order' in which Western capitals, including Washington, would have to kowtow to Moscow and Beijing.

Accusing the West of trying to 'cancel' Russia and its history, he has presented the conflict in Ukraine as an existential struggle for what he presents as 'Russian values'.

Kyiv argues the Russian invasion is a genocidal mission to both rewrite history - including the fall of the Soviet Union, which Putin called a 'catastrophe' - and to ensure Ukraine cannot draw closer to the West.

In his speech, Putin accused NATO of 'starting to seize the territories of Ukraine long ago' and insisted he was forced to invade to protect people.

Russia is now into it ninth month of the Ukraine war and has so-far failed to achieve any of Putin's war aims, which included the overthrow of the government and the 'liberation' of the Donbas region.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a mortar in the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine

Vladimir Putin has given another ranting anti-Western speech in Moscow, accusing westerners of fanning the flames of war in Ukraine and of causing an energy crisis

Having fought Russia to a standstill across almost the entire country, Ukraine is now recapturing territory from Putin's troops.

Thousands of square miles of land in the north and south have been returned to Ukrainian control in recent weeks, with the city of Kherson now within reach.

Kyiv has vowed that it will not stop fighting until all of its land - including areas annexed by Putin in 2014 - has been liberated.

In order to stop the rot, Putin has been forced to mobilise 300,000 reservists into the army and call on allies such as Iran to supply additional weapons.

He has also annexed the Ukrainian territory Russia currently occupies to the mainland, and threatened to use nukes to protect it.

However, that has failed to stop the Ukrainian advanced and has done nothing to weaken Western resolve to supply arms and money to Kyiv.
Rep. Mayra Flores attacked the congressional Hispanic Caucus on Wednesday after she was rejected from its ranks.

She accused the legislative coalition of acting on biases directed at people of color who do not fit the 'narrative' of a left-wing supporter.

Flores, a Republican from Texas, is the first female Mexican-born American to serve in the House of Representatives.

'As the first Mexican-born American Congresswoman, I thought the Hispanic Caucus would be open in working together,' Flores wrote on Twitter.

'This denial once again proves a bias towards conservative Latinas that dont fit their narrative or ideology.'

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) was founded in 1976 and is the US Capitol's largest coalition of Latino and Hispanic lawmakers.

It has 38 members across the House of Representatives and the Senate - and none are Republicans.

A spokesperson for the CHC pointed out to DailyMail.com that the CHC has been exclusively for Democrats since 2003.

Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas became the first Mexican-born woman to serve in Congress when she won a special election in June

She was denied from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (pictured: members give a press conference on April 25,2022) due to its Democrats-only policy

He also fired back at Flores, calling her an 'extreme' MAGA Republican whose views don't match up with those of the progressive coalition.

'In 2003, led by Rep. Diaz Balart, GOP Members split from the CHC to form the Congressional Hispanic Conference,' CHC Communications Director and Spokesperson Sebastian Roe told DailyMail.com.

'Per our bylaws, the CHC is now for Democratic Members. Rep. Flores Extreme MAGA values and their attacks on Latinos and our nations democracy on January 6 do not align with CHC values.'

The Congressional Hispanic Conference, which has a total of nine members, split from the CHC after deep disagreements surfaced in the formerly bipartisan group's direction on US-Cuba policy in the late 1990s.

The smaller group currently has nine members, according to its website.

Asked if she was planning to join the Congressional Hispanic Conference, the congresswoman's office said she was 'considering' it.

Flores revealed that she had been denied on Twitter after Town Hall broke the story

'Rep. Flores has been clear that she believes working in a bipartisanship manner, in the representation of ALL constituents, is best,' her communications director Daniel Bucheli told DailyMail.com.

Flores won a special election to represent Texas' 34th Congressional district in June. Her race against Democratic attorney Dan Sanchez was won by less than 10 percent.

She's aligned herself with conservative views on abortion and border security, against the backdrop of multiple surveys that show Republicans shoring up more Latino and Hispanic support.

On the campaign trail and while in office, Flores has accused the left of leaving the Latino community abandoned and taken for granted.

Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, a CHC member, shared a similar sentiment during an appearance on Pod Save America this week while calling on her party to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

'I can at least say, with Latino voters, we've never tried as a party. The Democratic Party has not tried in terms of Latino electorates,' Ocasio-Cortez said on the episode that aired Tuesday.

'I mean, where's our Dream Act? Where is our immigration reform?'
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid speaks at a special cabinet meeting to approve U.S.-brokered deal setting a maritime border between Israel and Lebanon, at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Oct. 27. Reuters-Yonhap



Israel and Lebanon Thursday separately signed a U.S.-brokered maritime border deal which paves the way for lucrative offshore gas extraction by the neighbors that remain technically at war.



The agreement is set to go into effect after two exchanges of letters _ one between Lebanon and the United States, the other between Israel and the U.S., expected from 3:00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT).



Hailed in advance by U.S. President Joe Biden as a "historic breakthrough," it comes as Western powers clamor to open up new gas production and reduce vulnerability to supply cuts from Russia.



The deal, signed separately by Lebanon's President Michel Aoun in Beirut and Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Jerusalem, comes as Lebanon hopes to extract itself from what the World Bank calls one of the worst economic crises in modern world history.



It also comes as Lapid seeks to lock in a major achievement days ahead of a general election on Nov. 1.



The exchange of letters is due to take place in the southern Lebanese town of Naqura, in the presence of US mediator Amos Hochstein and the United Nations's special coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka.



Before signing it, Lapid had claimed on Thursday morning that Lebanon's intention to ink the deal amounted to a de-facto recognition of the Jewish state.





Delicate dance



"It is not every day that an enemy state recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community," he said, shortly before signing it in cabinet.



Aoun denied Lapid's assertion, countering that "demarcating the southern maritime border is technical work that has no political implications."



The deal comes as political parties in Israel _ including Lapid's centrist Yesh Atid - jockey for position in what will be the fifth general election in less than four years.



Veteran right-winger and longtime premier Benjamin Netanyahu has his sights set on a comeback and he dismissed the maritime deal as an "illegal ploy" early this month.



London-listed Energean on Wednesday said it began producing gas from Karish, an offshore field at the heart of the border agreement, a day after Israel gave the green light.



Lebanon meanwhile will have full rights to operate and explore the so-called Qana or Sidon reservoir, parts of which falls in Israel's territorial waters, with the Jewish state receiving some revenues.





No quick fix



With demand for gas rising worldwide because of the energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lebanon hopes that exploiting the offshore field will help ease its financial and economic crisis.



But analysts caution that it will take time for production to start in Lebanese waters, meaning no quick return for a country that is desperately short of foreign exchange reserves.



Exploration has so far only been tentative _ a 2012 seismic study of a limited offshore area by the British firm Spectrum estimated recoverable gas reserves in Lebanon at 25.4 trillion cubic feet, although authorities in Lebanon have announced higher estimates.



The maritime border deal could not be signed by Lebanon without the consent of Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite faction backed by Israel's arch nemesis Iran.



Hezbollah had threatened over the summer to attack Israel if the Jewish state began extracting gas from the Karish field before reaching an agreement.



Israel and Hezbollah fought a 34-day war in 2006 and the Shiite movement is the only faction to have kept its weapons after the end of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.



Hezbollah's leader Hasan Nasrallah is due to deliver a speech at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday. (AFP)


Brazilian authorities have released images of a woman who broke into a condominium and stole $190,000 worth of jewelry and luxury bags.

The woman wore sunglasses when she entered the Belo Horizonte building in the Luxembourg neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.

She told the doorman that she was going to visit someone on the eighth floor and was allowed to proceed without any issues.

However, the burglar took the service elevator and made her way to the seventh-floor apartment before she broke down the door.

Police in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte are searching for a woman who broke into a condominium Wednesday afternoon and took off with $190,000 worth of jewelry, luxury bags and other high priced objects

A woman in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, is wanted for breaking into a condominium (pictured) and needing only 50 minutes to swipe jewelry, luxury bags and high priced objects valued at $190,000

She then ransacked the place for about 50 minutes, gathering the pricey gems and several luxury bags and other valuable objects.

While the burglar wore black gloves to conceal her fingerprints during the heist, she made the clumsy mistake of removing her sunglasses and looking directly into a surveillance camera inside the apartment as she appeared to fix her hair bun.

A male individual met the woman in front of the condominium before they fled by foot down Raja Gabaglia Avenue.

Police said the woman told the doorman she was going to visit a tenant in the eighth floor. However, she rode up to the seventh floor in the service elevator and broke into the apartment

The owner of the home, who owns a car dealership, was away with his family on travel.

Minas Gerais Civil Police believe that the woman had done prior surveillance on the condominium and her target before pulling off the robbery.

No arrests had been reported as of Thursday afternoon.

Belo Horizonte, which is home to 2.7 million residents, is considered the third safest city in Brazil, according to travelsafe-abroad.com.
A man convicted of murdering an 11-month-old baby must serve 13 years in jail, a court has ruled.

Sharyar Ali, of Monaghan in the Irish Republic, killed his then-girlfriend's son, Hunter McGleenon, in Keady, Co Armagh, in November 2019.

The 34-year-old Pakistani national automatically received a life sentence at Newry Crown Court in April this year after pleading guilty to the murder.

Hunter suffered a fatal head injury while Ali was looking after him for the baby's mother, Nicole McGleenon, who was with her terminally-ill grandmother.

Hunter McGleenon, pictured, was badly assaulted in Keady, Co Armagh, in November 2019 by Sharyar Ali who was in a relationship with Hunter's mother Nicole

Newry Crown Court heard Ms McGlennon asked her then partner Sharyar Ali, pictured, to look after baby Hunter as she wanted to visit her terminally ill grandmother

After picking up baby Hunter, Ali drove across the border to Castleblaney, Co Monaghan where he spent two hours in a casino while the child waited in the cold car outside

A pathologist's report said the injury was not accidental.

Newry Crown Court heard on Thursday that Hunter, an only child, was an 'affectionate' and 'healthy' little boy who was not yet walking when he was left in the sole care of Ali at Ms McGleenon's home in Keady on November 25, 2019.

The prosecutor told the court that Ms McGleenon had asked her then-boyfriend to take care of Hunter so she could attend to her grandmother.

Ali took the baby to see Ms McGleenon at about 10pm that night to say goodnight, and there had been 'no cause for concern'.

It was the last time Hunter was seen alive by his mother.

The prosecutor said Ms McGleenon later returned to her own home with her sister in the early hours of November 26 but Ali did not answer the door.

He said they banged on the door and shouted through the letterbox for around 20 minutes in a bid to gain entry but they failed to do so and left.

The following morning Ali drove Hunter to the house where Ms McGleenon was staying and told her and other members of her family that the little boy was unable to breathe, at which point they rushed out to the car but he was dead, the prosecutor added.

PSNI detectives were able to gather evidence to show Ali's movements on the night of the baby's death

Describing the events of the morning of November 26, the judge, Mr Justice McFarland, said Ali had appeared 'calm' when he arrived at the house.

'You initially said that Hunter was asleep but soon volunteered that Hunter, in your words, had fallen off the sofa, had hit his head and was not breathing,' the judge told Ali.

'Understandably that caused panic in the McGleenon family. Family members ran out to the car and observed Hunter, who was in his car seat. He appeared to be unresponsive and appeared to be lifeless.

'Resuscitation was attempted by family members. Emergency services were quickly on the scene.'

The judge added that the emergency services crews were of the opinion that 'Hunter was dead' and his death was later confirmed.

He told the court the injuries Hunter suffered were caused by 'blunt trauma to the head' and that it was 'crystal clear' they were not due to the baby falling off the sofa, as Ali had originally claimed.

Mr Justice McFarland said medical evidence confirmed there were 19 areas of head and neck injury to Hunter that 'may not relate to 19 separate episodes of trauma, but it does reflect multiple injuries to this area nonetheless'.

The judge also said it was the opinion of the assistant state pathologist that those injuries had been caused by 'either direct trauma, or blows or kicks and/or by shaking of Hunter'.

'The medical opinion was also that, at the time, Hunter having received these injuries would have been in a state of reduced consciousness,' he added.

'What is crystal clear is that the injuries were not caused by Hunter falling off a settee or falling from a similar height or by a similar mechanism. Death was certified as being caused by blunt trauma to the head.'

In his ruling, the judge told the court he was imposing a term of 13 years for the murder of Hunter after taking account of victim impact statements as well as aggravating factors and mitigating factors.

Ali, pictured on CCTV, wsa jailed for a minimum of 13 years having admitted Hunter's murder

He said he had received victim impact statements detailing how Ms McGleenon and the rest of the family are 'devastated' by Hunter's death and that, over the years, their grief and suffering 'has not departed'.

He added that Ms Gleenon suffers from 'persistent complex bereavement disorder', which he described as 'perfectly understandable', but told the court he would not be divulging any further details of the victim impact statements in a bid to protect the family's privacy.

Mr Justice McFarland said he had also taken into account mitigating factors.

Ali had no criminal record, had a good work record in recent times, had no history of drug or alcohol abuse, and had a mild learning disability with traits of autism, the court heard.

The judge said he had taken into account that there was no previous aggravated behaviour.

He handed down a term of at least 16 years reduced by three years for Ali's guilty plea to the murder charge.

Following the sentencing, the Public Prosecution Service issued a statement.

Ciaran McQuillan, head of the PPS Serious Crime Unit, said: 'We recognise the pain and distress suffered by the family of baby Hunter McGleenon since he was murdered by Sharyar Ali on 26 November 2019. Our thoughts are with baby Hunter's family as they continue to try to cope with his devastating loss.

'While sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions does have the power to refer particular sentences to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they may be unduly lenient.

'An unduly lenient sentence is one that falls outside the range of sentences that a judge, taking into consideration all relevant factors and having regard to sentencing guidance, could reasonably consider appropriate.

'We are considering whether there are is a legal ground to refer the sentence in this case to the Court of Appeal for consideration.'
'Thankfully nobody was inside of it!' wrote Devitt

Online users were generally amused but not at all surprised to see a tent floating above Florida

Local meteorologist Matt Devitt posted images of the tent online and said seeing the tent was 'a new one' for him

A tent in Southwest Florida was lifted into the air likely by a surface whirlwind that sent the contraption sailing across Iona in Lee County

A tent floating upside down over Florida sparked an entertaining onslaught of user reactions online.

The tent, which was seen floating over Iona in Lee County, Florida, was mistaken for a UFO by some and thought to be emblematic of Florida's unique culture by others.

The tent was initially brought to the attention of the online masses by Southwest Florida's WINK News Chief Meteorologist Matt Devitt.

He wrote, 'Well, this is a new one. Large tent spotted randomly floating high in the sky above Iona here in Southwest Florida on Tuesday.

'Likely launched up by a surface whirlwind.'

The tent was spotted floating hundreds of feet in the air by a Southwest Florida resident. A meteorologist later concluded that a surface whirlwind likely swept the tent into the sky

A viewer of local channel WINK News sent in images of the flying tent, which provoked an outpouring of amusing responses from online users

Twitter user Denise Gutzmer wrote, 'A UFO! No, wait... it's a large tent.'

'Meanwhile, Florida continues to Florida,' wrote another user.

A surface whirlwinds occurs when air close to the ground heats and rises and cooler air fills in the gap. The resulting circulation results in an 'upward lift into the sky,' explained Devitt.

Online responses from Floridians were largely humorous in addition to noting that they are accustomed to encountering extremes of the natural world.

Indeed, Iona is a small, unincorporated community a few miles east of Fort Myers Beach, which was recently hit incredibly hard by the deadly Hurricane Ian.

Many commenters were quick to jump on references to the Wizard of Oz, which famously featured a flying house that was swept up by a tornado and landed Dorothy in Oz.

'Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore,' wrote one user.

One user, storm chaser Nick, fashioned a meme out of the situation. Comparing the flying tent to the Jetsons' famous flying saucer family car.

Others made reference to the tent becoming a literal AirBnB.

Some offered advice to others to avoid the same camping fate.

'This is why they give you stakes with your tent,' wrote Stephanie Curd.

A couple of users said the image called back to mind the now infamous Balloon Boy incident, which saw a set of parents falsely claim their six-year-old son, Falcon, was trapped inside a runaway helium balloon.

The phenomenon is the same reason inflatable bouncy houses are sometimes lifted into the air.

The tent got so high because of a likely whirlwind! Here's my explainer on @WINKNews at 11 PM. https://t.co/uttIDkg8yp pic.twitter.com/4cvtHwX6xf  Matt Devitt (@MattDevittWINK) October 27, 2022

It wasn't long before memes of the airborne Florida tent were being created and posted, adding to the discourse

'Thankfully nobody was inside of it!' he added, unlike a recent event in California, during which three children were injured when a bouncy house got caught up in a sudden gust of wind.

In that case, the wind was caused by a law enforcement helicopter during the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department's open house at police headquarters in the southern California city.

The three kids needed hospital attention following the unexpected flight - though just one of them was actually inside the bouncy house when it took off. That child did not require medical transport.

The bounce house shown here after it returned from its unexpected flight
A Dallas family of an 18-year-old boy who died after being treated with a tainted IV bag is furious after being handed a $12,000 bill from the hospital.

Jack A., whose family asked to withhold his last name, died in August after suffering from cardiac arrest during a routine sinus surgery at Baylor Scott and White's Surgicare in North Dallas.

He, along with 11 other patients, is suspected to dying from IV bags that was allegedly tainted by anesthesiologist Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz Jr, 59.

Ortiz, who has pleaded not guilty, was caught on video reportedly placing IV bags into a warmer that had been tainted with 'nerve-blocking drugs' between May and September 2022, according to US Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Texas.

The doctor has also been accused of killing his coworker Dr. Melanie Kasper, 55, after she reportedly took home one of the tainted IV bags to treat her dehydration and suffered cardiac arrest.

Jack A., whose family asked to withhold his last name, (pictured) died in August after suffering from cardiac arrest during a routine sinus surgery at Baylor Scott and White's Surgicare in North Dallas

He, along with 11 other patients, is suspected to dying from IV bags tainted with anesthesia drugs bupivacaine and lidocaine and stimulant epinephrine

Dr. Raynaldo Ortiz Jr, 59, (pictured) has been accused of tainting the bags. He has pleaded not guilty. The anesthesiologist is currently being held without bail and faces life in prison

After Jack's passing his family was told the facility 'waived 100 percent of your son's bill,' Jack's father, who was not identified, told Fox 4.

Although the family anticipated still receiving a bill, as most medical bills are automated, Jack's father had emailed the facility five days after Jack's surgery to 'confirm that neither I nor our insurer is going to receive a bill.'

'I will be extremely displeased if I do. I recognize that sometimes billing is on autopilot,' the father wrote in an email.

But to add 'salt to the wound,' they received a bill for $12,903, which has since been taken care of by the surgery center.

'To have this heartless financial transaction that was blind to what happened here, it was painful, and I think irresponsible, to handle business as usual kind of attitude,' the teen's grandfather Dr. Dan Wohlgelernter told Fox 4.

'Aside from hurt and pain by this, I wish that Baylor were as efficient at assuring quality control with their patients as they are getting their bills out.'

Jack was given a 50/50 survival rate after he suffered a cardiac emergency on August 24.

He was intubated and was transferred to a hospital and admitted to the ICU.

A chemical analysis was run on the IV bag and it found anesthesia drugs bupivacaine and lidocaine and stimulant epinephrine.

Dr. Kasper's autopsy revealed she had died from a lethal dose of bupivacaine, a drug that is 'rarely abused, but is often used during the administration of anesthesia,' according to the Northern District of Texas.

He has also been accused of killing his coworker Dr. Melanie Kasper, 55, (pictured) who suffered cardiac arrest after taking home an IV bag to treat her dehydration

Jack's grandfather Dr. Dan Wohlgelernter said it was 'salt on the wound' when his family received a $12,903 bill after his grandson's passing. The surgery center told them they would waive the fee prior to the bill arriving. It has since been covered fully by the medical center

The 10 other patients affected were able to be 'stabilized' through the use of 'emergency measures.'

Most of the other patients had gone through 'longer surgeries that used more than one IV bag, including one or more bags retrieved mid-surgery from a stainless steel bag warmer,' according to the Northern District of Texas.

None of the incidents occurred during Ortiz's surgeries. All the incidents occurred while Ortiz was inside the facility and none occurred while he was on vacation, the Northern District of Texas said.

It also said the emergencies began 'two days after Dr. Ortiz was notified of a disciplinary inquiry stemming from an incident during which he allegedly "deviated from the standard of care" during an anesthesia procedure when a patient experienced a medical emergency.'

Ortiz, who has pleaded not guilty, was caught on video reportedly placing IV bags into a warmer that had been tainted with 'nerve-blocking drugs' between May and September 2022

During one of the incidents (pictured), Ortiz was seen walking into an empty hallway and nervously looking around before placing an IV bag into the warmer

Shortly afterward, a woman suffered a cardiac emergency during her cosmetic surgery

During one of Ortiz's surgeries, he reported 'refused to use' an IV bag that a nurse had retrieved for him and has 'physically waved' it off. It is not clear if this happened in the same incident.

In another incident, Ortiz was reportedly seen on surveillance concealing an IV bag in a paper folder after he came out of surgery and putting the bag into the warmer and swapping it for another. A half-hour later, a 54-year-old woman suffered an emergency during her scheduled cosmetic surgery.

Another time, Ortiz was reportedly seen on video suspicious placing the IV bag in the warmer before scanning the hallway and 'quickly' walking away. An hour later, a 56-year-old suffered a cardiac emergency during her cosmetic surgery.

Ortiz reportedly had a history of disciplinary actions against him, which the doctor claimed was the center trying to 'crucify' him.

The incident occurred at the Baylor Scott and White center (pictured) center in Dallas

US Attorney Chad E. Meacham said the office will 'vigorously prosecute this case.'

'A single incident of seemingly intentional patient harm would be disconcerting; multiple incidents are truly disturbing,' he said.

'Patients expect that their doctors will use only safe and effective medical products during their surgeries,' FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead, said.

He has also been accused by an ex-girlfriend, who is a nurse, of drugging her, but a police report was never filed, according to WFAA.

He also reportedly owes the IRS millions and had $7,000 cash on him when he was arrested, according to the outlet.

Ortiz was arrested on September 14 and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, if convicted.

He is currently being held without bail.
An 'untouchable' drug dealer who boasted of flash cars and guns while on the run in Pakistan is back on the loose after serving just three of his 12-year sentence in Britain.

Adnan Raja Khan, 36, was nowhere to be seen during the lunchtime roll call at HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire today.

Derbyshire Constabulary is now urgently appealing for help to track down Khan - a crime lord who was sentenced to more than a decade behind bars for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

The force said: 'Mr Khan is described as 5ft 8ins tall, and of slim build, with black hair, beard, and brown eyes. He has links to Leicester.'

But this is not the first time Khan has managed to go on the run. In December 2016, Khan fled the UK after his former girlfriend, Amy Schreder, from Leicestershire, was caught with one-and-a-half kilos of high purity cocaine along with crack cocaine, cutting agents and 46,000 in cash.

When police tried to stop Khan later that day due to his links to the drugs seizure, he took them on a wild chase, driving at up to 100 mph in the Fosse Park and Narborough Road area of the city, causing a family car to spin off the road - although the passengers were not seriously injured.

Drug dealer Adnan Raja Khan (pictured), 36, has escaped from prison having served just three of his ten-year sentence in Britai

When Khan was initially arrested in 2016 he fled the country to Pakistan and taunted police, posing on flashy cars and brandishing guns

Despite this, and being found with cannabis, Khan was released on bail the next day where he fled to Pakistan and failed to attend court, in January 2017 - something the judge branded 'remarkable' at the time.

During his 15 months on the run, Khan brazenly posed in front of flash cars wearing expensive designer watches and brandishing a variety of guns.

The married father began posting taunting messages with photographs on Instagram - including: 'They say my whole team is under investigation but you know what I say, the wise man always gets away.'

He also stated, alongside a gun-toting photo: 'Who the **** says you can't live it up in a Third World Country when you're connected up to **** and you're also a gangster yourself.'

Following Khan's return to the UK in 2018, officers caught him in a flat in Syston, Leicestershire, with a high purity stash of 372g of heroin and 185g of cocaine

But following his return to the UK in 2018, officers caught him in a flat in Syston, Leicestershire, with a high purity stash of 372g of heroin and 185g of cocaine that he hidden under a water tank,

He was also found with with 3,000 in cash, and used packaging from about three kilos of Class A drugs, which exposed the magnitude of his dealing operation.

The absconded prisoner -has also been caught with a mobile phone in the past that he was using to make calls from his cell.

Derbyshire Constabulary have asked for anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts to contact them quoting reference 452 of 27 October.

HMP Sudbury is a Category D mens prison near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. Earlier this month, another prisoner Laurence Connors absconded from the same jail.

Connors, who is Irish, was convicted for burglary at Reading Crown Court in July 2020.
Rishi Sunak has provoked a row after Downing Street revealed the new Prime Minister won't be attending the Cop-27 climate summit in Egypt next month.

His absence from the international gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh will allow him to focus on 'other pressing domestic commitments', No10 said.

The Cop-27 summit is being held between November 6-18 with world leaders expected to attend in the first week.

Mr Sunak has unveiled plans for an Autumn budget on November 17 as he seeks to deal with a blackhole in the public finances following recent economic turmoil.

Labour accused the PM of a 'massive failure of leadership' and claimed he would now be 'missing in action' on climate issues.

Downing Street also confirmed that Mr Sunak had downgraded the status of climate minister Graham Stuart, who will no longer be attending Cabinet.

It comes after Alok Sharma, the Cop-26 President, also lost his right to attend Cabinet meetings as part of the new PM's reshuffle this week.

Rishi Sunak has provoked a row after Downing Street revealed the new Prime Minister won't be attending the Cop-27 climate summit in Egypt next month

Last year's Cop-26 summit in Glasgow was attended by a string of Cabinet ministers - including Mr Sunak himself as Chancellor

No10 confirmed climate minister Graham Stuart (right) will no longer be attending Cabinet. Cop-26 President Alok Sharma (left) has also lost his right to attend Cabinet meetings

Mr Sunak's predecessor as PM, Liz Truss, had been expected to travel to Cop-27 - although she was claimed to have objected to King Charles attending.

US President Joe Biden is also reportedly planning to attend.

The summit's Egyptian organisers have claimed about 90 heads of state had so far confirmed their attendance.

The Red Sea gathering will come 12 months after the UK hosted the Cop-26 summit in Glasgow, which was attended by a string of Cabinet ministers - including Mr Sunak himself as Chancellor.

Confirming Mr Sunak won't be attending this year's follow-up summit, a No10 spokeswoman said: 'The PM is not expected to attend Cop27 and this is due to other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the Autumn budget.

'The UK will be fully represented by other senior ministers as well as the Cop President Alok Sharma.'

Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance 'a massive failure of leadership'.

Downing Street insisted the PM remained 'absolutely committed' to supporting the climate conference and denied his decision to skip the summit signalled a downgrading of climate issues as a Government priority.

The No10 spokeswoman added: 'We remain committed to net zero and to leading international and domestic action to tackle climate change.

'The UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero.

'We will obviously continue to work closely with Egypt as the hosts of Cop-27 and to make sure that all countries are making progress on the historic commitments they made at the Glasgow climate pact.'

Despite the PM's focus on the upcoming Autumn budget on November 17, Mr Sunak has been telling world leaders in phone calls this week he is looking forward to seeing them in person at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for November 15 and 16.

Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance at Cop-27 'a massive failure of leadership'.

'We were the Cop-26 hosts and now the UK Prime Minister isn't even bothering to turn up to Cop-27,' he added.

'What Rishi Sunak obviously fails to understand is that tackling the climate crisis isn't just about our reputation and standing abroad, but the opportunities for lower bills, jobs, and energy security it can deliver at home.'

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'Rishi Sunak does not speak for the British people by refusing to take climate change seriously.

'He has failed to rule out a new ban on onshore wind, failed to help households make their homes warmer and is now failing to attend the Cop summit.

'It flies in the face of the UK's proud tradition of leading the world in our response to the climate change.'

Green MP Caroline Lucas posted on Twitter: 'Shame on him.'

Darren Jones, the Labour chair of the House of Commons' Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, also criticised Mr Sunak over his downgrading of Government climate roles.

He tweeted: 'In week one, Rishi Sunak has demoted both Cabinet-level roles leading on climate change.

'COP26 President and climate change minister now deemed to be a junior ministerial issue.

'Not a surprise from the former Chancellor who couldnt bring himself to say "benefits of net zero".'
Eric Adams is facing backlash for downplaying the Big Apple's latest subway attack that left a man dead - with the mayor asserting Wednesday the majority of riders commute 'without any encounters.'

The statement from the former police captain came just hours after a 20-year-old Good Samaritan was stabbed on the No. 6 train during rush hour trying to break up a fight between two women.

It also comes as crimes on the city's subways are now up 41 percent over last year, murders in particular rising to their highest rates in 25 years - with nine reported this year alone.

Assaults are also up a marked 17 percent, with 431 attacks recorded as of October 16 compared to 370 at the same time last year.

Since assuming office in January, Adams had vowed to clean up the crime-ridden subway system amid a rash of slashings, assaults, and slayings on platforms and stations across the city.

However, that effort has so far fallen flat - illustrated by the steady stream of incidents and troubling statistics that have forced Adams to confront the crisis, as well as his failures to quell it.

With that said, 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 have spent millions of taxpayer dollars to better police and monitor the system.

Confronted about the latest bloody incident Wednesday, Adams asserted the attack was an 'anomaly' - despite a flood of similar incidents that has seen several riders' lives snuffed out.

Eric Adams is facing backlash for downplaying the Big Apple's latest subway attack that left a man dead - with the mayor saying Wednesday the majority of riders commute without issue

It also comes as crimes on the city's subways are now up 41 percent over last year, murders in particular rising to their highest rates in 25 years - with nine reported this year alone

'Were going to deal with those crimes that take place, and were going to continue to work on those six felony crimes a day that were witnessing,' Adams told The New York Post of the attack, which transpired around 6 am at Brooklyn Bridge station.

He added: 'But I know that 3.5 million people use our system every day without any encounters.'

The assertion seemed to make light of the subway's current, embattled state - as well as the recent incident that nearly resulted in the conscientious onlooker's death.

'Thats the combination: those type of incidents are impacting people feeling unsafe,' Adams, who campaigned last year as being tough on crime, told the media.

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 the fight between the two unidentified women.

The nature of the altercation is still unclear, though it saw the also-unidentified male victim wound stabbed in the neck and in the arm by one of the women, cops said.

Both women were able to flee the station unimpeded. The stabber was believed to be in her mid-twenties, and wore green shorts and had short black hair.

Overall crime in the city is up 31.1 percent in comparison to last year - with felony assaults, robbery, and rape leading the ranks

The victim, meanwhile, managed to survive, and was taken to a local hospital. He is expected to be OK, police revealed in an update.

The man, described by police as a Good Samaritan with no relationship to his attacker, was not identified.

Adams, meanwhile, added Wednesday that he was planning on contacting the victim, whom he called an 'innocent person' who 'was for my understanding trying to stop the dispute.'

The women whose exchange incited the incident remain at large. Neither Adams or the NYPD have said whether or not any of the incident was captured on security footage at the heavily trafficked station.

Late last month, Adams announced a $5.5milllion project to install cameras in every one of the city's 6,400 subway cars seemingly to deter the recent rush of offenders, after installing cameras in all of the system's 472 stations the year prior.

The move seemed to be in direct response to several highly publicized transit crimes - including a mass shooting on a Brooklyn subway car last April, and the fatal shooting of a Goldman Sachs employee on a subway car in May.

But despite the increased surveillance, incidents on both platforms and on moving trains have persisted, with 21 subway killings reported since 2020.

That figure is more than the 20 slayings recorded across the entire previous decade, from 2008 to 2019, recent transit data shows.

Adams was put under pressure last week after disregarding rising NYC subway crime, and claiming that only six crimes on average happen per day on the transport network.

He would then pledge on Saturday, standing in Grand Central Terminal alongside MTA Police and Gov. Hochul, to bolster the subways with more police and extra security measures.

Mayor Adams shakes hands with a subway rider earlier this week. Many called his riding of the subway a cheap play to make things appear well and good on the beleaguered system

Adams previously claimed there is only a perception that crime is out of control in the city

The new initiative, Adams said, will add 1,200 more shifts, or 10,000 more hours per day, to enhance security in the system.

The plan came into addition to Adam's initial Subway Safety Plan, a $97billion undertaking that has since swelled to a $100billion project after being implemented by the then-new mayor in February.

The plan saw 1,000 additional officers deployed in the subway to stop the already prevailing violence, as well as teams of health workers into the city's intricate subterranean network to crack down on crime.

Adams asserted at the time, speaking at a press event aside Hochul: 'No more smoking. No more doing drugs. No more sleeping. No more doing barbecues on the subway system.

'Those days are over. Swipe your MetroCard. Ride the system. Get off at your destination.'

Mayor Eric Adams was spotted riding the subways in an effort to show the city that he thinks the subways are safe

Speaking on Saturday, Adams said the new measures would expand on the 'successes of our Subway Safety Plan' - without citing what successes he was referring to.

'We must address both the perception and reality of safety, and the expanded partnership we are announcing today with Governor Hochul will do just that, while building off the successes of our Subway Safety Plan,' Adams said.

Despite these measures, crime has persisted - and even worsened - with Adams' recent declarations that the city's transit system is returning to its pre-pandemic normal incensing those who see a different reality in New York's underground.

On Sunday, former NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly accused Adams of pushing a false narrative about the subway's current state after Adams' controversial claim that there is only a 'perception that crime in the city is 'out of control.'

'We were the safest big city in America just a few years ago,' Kelly said, according to the NY Post. 'This isn't brain surgery. You go back and look at the things we were doing then and you re-implement them. But apparently, the mayor doesn't want to do this.'

Kelly, the longest serving commissioner in the history of the New York City Police Department, went on to assert that subway crimes have since run rampant.

'Every day you read about a crime in the transit system, and it just reinforces the notion that it's too dangerous to travel on the subway. I think they need a fresh look at the transit system because we know the subways are the lifeblood of New York.'

Meanwhile Adams on Saturday claimed that the average of 'six crimes a day' on the subway 'not giving the impression that crime is out of control.'

Despite those assertions, slayings on the transportation network have skyrocketed to the highest annual levels in 25 years, with overall random violence on the city's streets up as well.

Overall crime in the city is up 31.1 percent in comparison to last year - with felony assaults, robbery, and rape leading the ranks.

Subway crimes are similarly on the rise, with a teenager stabbed and injured Sunday on a train at Saint Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street in Washington Heights after she got into an argument with two other girls.

Subway crimes have been on the rise, with a teenager stabbed and injured Sunday on a train at Saint Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street in Washington Heights (pictured) after she got into an argument with two other girls

Hours after the 14-year-old girl was stabbed in Washington Heights, another unprovoked attack occurred on a southbound platform in the Bronx.

A 63-year-old passenger was waiting for the No.4 train when he was hit in the head from behind - causing him to fall onto the train tracks, according to NBC New York.

The man refused medical care - and police later arrested a 21-year-old man.

Other random strikes, often perpetrated by mentally disturbed residents who have taken over the system when ridership dwindled during the pandemic, have seen straphangers shoved onto train tracks seemingly at random.

Last week, a total of two men were shoved, with 32-year-old David Martin left suffering from a broken collarbone and a swollen face after being targeted by a crazed man at the Wyckoff Avenue and Myrtle Avenue subway station at 2.40pm on Friday.

Martin said he has been left traumatized to the point of being suicidal after the unprovoked attack, which saw him become the 13th citizen to be pushed onto the tracks this year alone.

Video released by the New York Police Department on Saturday shows a man charging at a subway passenger in Brooklyn Friday afternoon, shoving him to the tracks. Similar unprovoked incidents have become commonplace over the past three years in the subway system

Video footage showed the unidentified attacker, who also escaped the station despite being caught on camera, shoved Martin before running away and escaping through the turnstiles.

Another man, meanwhile, was rescued by Good Samaritans on October 15 after he was shoved off platform at 149th Street in the Bronx.

Surveillance footage also captured the random attack, where a wide-eyed pusher stalked the 26-year-old for seconds before running behind him and pushing him off the platform.

The suspect then fled the station - and appeared to be shocked the man was helped by the bystanders.

Another man was rescued by Good Samaritans on October 15 after he was shoved off platform located at 149th Street in the Bronx

Officials, meanwhile are struggling to explain the uptick in crime.

Some have blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, when resources like homeless shelters and mental health outreach programs were put on pause.

Others say it's down to relaxed bail policies in liberal cities like New York and San Francisco.

Meanwhile, transit-related crimes seem to still be on the rise, with an incident recorded almost every day.

This incident comes as crime in the city is up more than 31 percent from last year, when rates soared during the pandemic

Late last month, Adams announced a $5.5milllion project to install cameras in every one of the city' s 6,400 subway cars seemingly to deter the recent rush of offenders, after installing cameras in all of the system's 472 stations the year prior. The increased surveillance has done little to address the crime epidemic - which, in fact, has since worsened

Murders and shootings, meanwhile, 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 year saw more subway assaults than any other year before - even in the 80s, when the then-crime ridden city was dubbed 'Fear City.'

But Adams has still struggled to address the issue - both on its streets and below them - almost a year since assuming office.

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.

The city has since yet to recover from that wave of crime, evidenced by the ever-increasing overall crime rate.

Adams, pictured partying at the Puerto Rican Day Parade, as been slammed for spending more time partying than cracking down on crime

Meanwhile, NYPD officers are reportedly leaving the department at a record rate amid the violent crime surge, sparking officials and fed-up citizens for the mayor to make good on his promises.

With that said, Adams has remained confident that he can address the crime - which was spurred by the pandemic and recent soft-on-crime policies implemented by woke DAs such as Alvin Bragg, who have sought to find alternatives to incarceration.

'We are going to turn around this city in crime - I know that,' he asserted earlier this month when confronted with the crime surge.

A recent poll, however, showed that Big Apple residents are sick of waiting for the mayor, whose approval ratings have fallen to a new low.

The Spectrum News NY1/Siena College poll survey found 70 percent of New Yorkers feel less safe than before the coronavirus pandemic. And 76 percent of residents interviewed said that also fear they could be a victim of violent crime.

For now, Adams is asking New Yorkers for more time.

'I know it's going to take a while before New Yorkers feel safe in this city,' he said earlier this month. 'I know that but trust me we are going to get there.'
Kevin McCarthy traded barbs with his Democratic challenger on Wednesday during their one and only election debate, as the pair clashed on crime and border security.

McCarthy is running for his ninth term in a district that includes the blue-collar town of Bakersfield and used the debate to paint Democratic candidate Marisa Wood as an out-of-touch liberal as they butted heads over who had the most authentic voice.

'We've watched the challenge of what we're having with the Democrats' one party rule from Nancy Pelosi from Gavin Newsom and Joe Biden.

'The real challenge here is I've never faced somebody this liberal before in this campaign, where she would go out and protest with Julie Solis and others,' he said referring to a local candidate arrested for breaking into his office last year.

'What we really need is somebody that has a voice that can represent the entire Central Valley.'

Wood, a junior high school teacher whose platform emphasizes that she is a political newcomer, took exception.

'I have a question,' she said as the moderators tried to move on. 'I'm sorry.

'But were you referring to me when you said you've never had a lib.... Was that a reference to me?'

Republican Kevin McCarthy and Democratic challenger Marisa Wood faced off on Wednesday for their one and only date ahead of next month's midterm elections

They both tried to paint the other as out of touch with ordinary voters in California's 20th district. McCarthy said he had 'never faced somebody this liberal' while Wood described her her opponent 'atop his political machine there in Washington or from Mar-a-Lago'

McCarthy replied: Yes. Ma'am.

'Okay. Again, you don't know anything about my politics,' she said. 'I was not with Julie Solis.'

McCarthy said he could show her a picture if she denied it.

McCarthy is running for his ninth House term, and is expected to be the next speaker if Republicans take control of the chamber - as forecasts suggest they will.

He is being challenged by Wood, who teaches English at a public school in Bakersfield.

The two clashed over immigration when Wood was asked for her thoughts on Republicans' plans to tackle the problem by completing the border wall, reinstating the 'remain in Mexico' policy and ending 'catch and release' loopholes.

Wood said she all for securing the border, within limits.

'I am not for building the wall,' she said.

'I don't believe that's the only way that we can secure the border. I believe we need to put the resources there to ensure that the border is secure and that criminals do not come in.'

She said there needed to be a balanced system that recognised the contributions of immigrant workers.

It was her turn to paint her opponent as out of touch with the realities of the region.

McCarthy faced repeated questions about the January 6 attack last year, and the way he appeared to criticise Trump only to pose for a picture with him days later at Mar-a-Lago

'This is what Kevin doesn't see atop his political machine there in Washington or from Mar-a-Lago. He doesn't see the immigrants that I see - my students, my families that are working again, two and three jobs,' she said.

'They're coming here to work. You cannot live in the Central Valley and not know and understand the importance of immigrant labor that's here.'

And she criticized his claims of being tough on crime when he had not pushed for accountability of Donald Trump over the January 6 attack on U.S. Capitol last year.

McCarthy famously told colleagues in the wake of the attack: 'What he did is unacceptable. Nobody can defend that and nobody should defend it.'

But within weeks he visited Mar-a-Lago where he was pictured with Trump. Since then he has tried to blame Democrats and officials for failing to prevent

Wood said: 'I find it so interesting that you are talking about trust and truth ... It's appalling to me your hypocrisy.'

McCarthy defended his actions, and said he happened to be in Florida when Trump invited him to Mar-a-Lago.

'He asked to take a photo. I don't understand.... I just was in the Oval Office a couple of weeks ago with President Biden. It is my responsibility to speak to all and work to make sure this voice, from this Central Valley is heard,' he said.
Eight months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and with China stepping up its nuclear, space and cyberforce capabilities, on Thursday the Pentagon defended its decision to scrap development of a new sea-launched cruise missile.

The decision to cancel the submarine-launched cruise missile comes even though senior military figures wanted it to continue.

And at the same time the Pentagon also confirmed it was retiring the B83-1 gravity bomb - 80 to 100 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in World War Two.

It comes against a backdrop of the war in Ukraine and concerns that Vladimir Putin could be about to use a tactical nuclear weapon or a dirty bomb.

Details were included in the Biden administration's nuclear posture review, which was published in its National Defense Strategy on Thursday.

And Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended the decision when he was quizzed by reporters at a briefing whether that sent a message of weakness to the likes of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

'Our inventory of nuclear weapons is significant,' he said. 'And so, we determined as we looked at our inventory that we did not need that capability.

'We have a lot of capability in our nuclear inventory, and I don't think this sends any message to Putin. He understands what our capability is.'

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday defended the Pentagon's decision to scrap development of a new sea-launched nuclear-armed cruise missile

In 2018, the Trump administration decided to develop a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, driven in part by the growing threat from Russia

Earlier this year Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley defended the sea-launched cruise missile program. He said Biden should have multiple weapons at his disposal

In 2018, the Trump administration decided to develop a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, driven in part by the growing threat from Russia.

It was intended as a low-yield (around 10 kilotons, tactical weapon that would reassure allies of American protection.

It was also seen as a way to counter Russian violation of other arms treaties - a US negotiating chip to bring Moscow back in line.

However, earlier this year it was dropped from the administration's 2023 budget funding request.

The decision was interpreted as a way for President Joe Biden to scale back the U.S. arsenal without sacrificing the strategic elements of the 'triad' of ground, air and sea-launched weapons.

But Biden's most senior officer, Gen. Mark Milley, said he would have favour keeping it because Biden 'deserves to have multiple options to deal with national security situations.'

Republicans also expressed support for the program, which could set up a battle with the Biden administration if they take control of Congress in next month's midterms.

The new strategy also signaled that Department of Defense is canceling the B83-1 gravity bomb, which was first developed in the 1970s and has been superseded by the new B61-12.

The new strategy also signaled cancellation of the B83-1 gravity bomb, which was developed in the 1970s and has been superseded by the new B61-12 (seen here in a training exercised)

The 80-page document is a declassified version of a classified report that has circulated for months on Capitol Hill.

Austin was also asked about Putin's claims that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb on its own soil or fears that he could use a battlefield nuclear weapon.

'We have not seen anything to indicate that Putin has made a decision to use a dirty bomb, nor have we seen any indications that the Ukrainians are planning such a thing,' he said.

Ukraine, he added, had said they had no plans to use such a weapon.

'It's important to make sure that we're talking to adversaries and allies alike and making sure that that we're tamping down dangerous talk,' he said.

And he said the nuclear maneuvers in Russia did not appear to be cover for launching a strike in Ukraine.

'It's something we continue to watch and we haven't seen anything to cause us to believe at this point that that is some kind of cover activity,' he said.

An official, who briefed journalists ahead of the report's release, said its strategy reflected that the U.S. now faced the twin threats of nuclear-armed Russia and China.

The last strategy, released under President Donald Trump in 2018, marked a shift from countering extremists to one that had to prepare for war with a major power.

China 'presents the most consequential and systemic challenge, while Russia poses acute threats - both to vital US national interests abroad and to the homeland,' the unclassified version of the National Defense Strategy said.
Prince Harry appears to want to bring down the Royal Family.

There, I said it.

Sadly, no other conclusion can be drawn from his ghoulish decision to press ahead with the publication of his expected monarchy and family-bashing autobiography just four months after the death of Queen Elizabeth the Great and four months before the historic coronation of his father King Charles.

The fragile truce between the new royal regime and the Montecito moaners barely lasted two months, with the book expected to be filled with poison as the Duke of Sussex seeks revenge on those he perceives to have wronged him over the years.

Senior royals and courtiers have lived in fear about this ticking time bomb since its announcement some 15 months ago, but they had hoped the way Harry and Meghan were welcomed back into the Windsor bosom in the days before the Queen's funeral would allow for a last-minute U-turn.

Not to mention the threat hanging over Harry and Meghan that their children might not be offered royal titles by King Charles if they continue to aim for ultimate damage.

But the all-American publicity hoopla surrounding today's announcement that the Me Me Me-moir will be called Spare  a knowing reference to his constitutional role as Prince William's back-up  has dashed any unlikely dreams of any meaningful rapprochement.

The now infamous two-hour Oprah Winfrey interview saw Harry and Meghan throw grenades at Charles, Kate and the monarchy itself, with claims of a 'royal racist' who commented on the skin colour of the couple's unborn baby

'The publisher Penguin Random House writes: 'Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow  and horror'

There is now very little doubt Harry intends to go for the jugular, somehow seeking revenge on the father who funded his extravagant lifestyle for decades just as he takes on the job for which he has waited his entire life.

The now infamous two-hour Oprah Winfrey interview saw Harry and Meghan throw grenades at Charles, Kate and the monarchy itself, with claims of a 'royal racist' who commented on the skin colour of the couple's unborn baby.

With such a vendetta in play, just imagine the damage that can be done in a 416-page autobiography, expected to become an international publishing sensation.

Both the Queen Consort Camilla and heir to the throne Prince William are expecting significant incoming, as their personal relations with Harry have frayed in recent years.

The Spanish language version of the book has been given the subtitle En La Sombra, or 'in the shadow', a pointed reference to how Harry feels he was treated by the Royal Family.

And the press release announcing the book's title makes clear his story will be framed around that day in 1997 he was forced to walk behind his mother's coffin in the full glare of the world, a decision that has seen him come to resent the institution into which he was born, even though it allowed him to live a life of unthinkable privilege.

The publisher Penguin Random House writes: 'Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow  and horror.

I can't be the only one who feels increasingly uncomfortable about the way Harry seems comfortable with the commoditisation of his grief over Diana

'As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling  and how their lives would play out from that point on.

'For Harry, this is his story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.'

As ever, Harry is being highly strategic by using the grief over the death of his mother Princess Diana in a bid to shield him from criticism for what the consequences of the book will really be.

But what about the grief his father is currently experiencing after the passing of his own mother?

How cruel do you have to be to pile further stress on the man at such a difficult time as he tries to embrace his new role as king while also planning his coronation?

I can't be the only one who feels increasingly uncomfortable about the way Harry seems comfortable with the commoditisation of his grief over Diana.

Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised given he is happy to make millions as an employee of Netflix, even though the streaming giant is currently recreating the car crash that killed Diana in Paris and her funeral procession that followed in London which left young Harry traumatised.

What's unconscionable to me is that Harry can't put to one side his petty grudges to support his father as he tries to protect the future of the monarchy at a time of great uncertainty for the institution itself as the UK is in the midst of the sort of political instability and social turmoil not seen for decades.

But I fear King Charles and his courtiers are right to be concerned about what his son's poisoned pen is about to unleash.Or to be more accurate, the pen of ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer who the New York Times reports 'is known for probing the tensions inherent in father-son relationships'.

There is a commercial imperative for Harry's merry-go-round of media nastiness, too.

As royal author Valentine Low revealed in his recent book Courtiers, the Duke is convinced his shelf-life as a prominent public figure will only last until his nephew Prince George turns 18.That gives Harry just nine more years to make the hundreds of millions he believes is required to live a life of unbridled decadence, without ever having to go cap in hand to his father or brother to ask for financial support.

With Meghan's Spotify podcast spewing out her claims of victimhood each week and the couple's Kardashian-style reality series coming in December because Netflix wants it to air as a companion piece to The Crown, the Sussexes have shown they are prepared to sell their lives for the Hollywood coin.

They are also conscious of the fact that to make the big bucks  Harry is believed to have received a 18.4million advance for this book alone  they have to offer juicy revelations.

If the tissue of lies Oprah interview is anything to go by, however, I personally would expect there to be demands for Spare to be reclassified as a work of fiction within days of its release.

By then, the damage will already have been done.

It's going to be a very miserable Christmas for the Royal Family, who remain in the dark as to the book's contents, as the torturous wait for publication day on January 10 continues.

How tragic that Harry will stop at nothing for his version of the truth to be published, to hell with the consequences for his father, brother, the memory of his grandmother or even the future of the monarchy itself.
A murdered grime star has been brought 'back to life' using deepfake AI technology in a new music video to warn against the dangers of knife crime.

Joshua Emmanuel Ribera, performing as Depzman, was stabbed to death outside a Selly Oak nightclub in Birmingham in September 2013. He was just 18-years-old.

His mother, Alison Cope, is a prominent anti-knife campaigner and head of the Joshua Ribera Foundation.

She worked with Jamal Edwards, before his death in February 2022, and various other artists and performers to recreate the rising grime star.

The video uses deepfake technology to tell Depzman's story through a new song called Life Cut Short, describing his childhood, his career and the night that he died.

A murdered grime star has been brought 'back to life' using deepfake AI technology in a new music video to warn against the dangers of knife crime

Joshua Emmanuel Ribera, performing as Depzman, was stabbed to death outside a Selly Oak nightclub in Birmingham in September 2013. He was just 18-years-old

His mother, Alison Cope, is a prominent anti-knife campaigner and head of the Joshua Ribera Foundation

'When they played it to me for the first time, I was devastated. I just sobbed and sobbed,' Alison told ITV Central.

'It just felt like he was real. It felt like he was there and I could reach in and bring him back but obviously I can't.

'I just cried and cried and cried and then I just thought "wow" this is amazing and this is going to achieve everything I hope it does.'

She told MailOnline: 'I knew that we had to do this campaign because it is such an important subject that is not getting any better in this country.

'It was hard, but I pushed through and thought "let's do this".'

Deepfakes are so named because they are made using deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence, to create fake videos of a target individual.

They are made by feeding a computer an algorithm, or set of instructions, as well as lots of images and audio of the target person.

She worked with Jamal Edwards, before his death in February 2022, and various other artists and performers to recreate the rising grime star

The video uses deepfake technology to tell Depzman's story through a new song called Life Cut Short, describing his childhood, his career and the night that he died

The computer program then learns how to mimic the person's facial expressions, mannerisms, voice and inflections.

The video, released on SBTV, has since gone viral receiving more than 185,000 views on YouTube.

It also has more than a million views on TikTok and has been shared by rappers Jaykae, JME and Skepta.

Commenting on about it going viral, Alison told MailOnline: 'I'm just really proud and overwhelmed by the response. It is everything I hoped for and more to be honest.

'I was hoping that it would have a stir, but I didn't actually expect to be getting all the messages and comments.

'Seeing youth clubs use it, organisations and parents talk about it. It's a crazy response.'

This week, it will be played on prison TVs in 65 prisons around the UK.
In a sign the political tides are changing with less than two weeks before midterm elections, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report has changed the Arizona Senate race from 'lean Democrat' to 'toss-up.'

Despite Democrats outspending Republicans in the Copper State, the race was switched Thursday back to a toss up because recent private polling shows Blake Masters (R) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D) are neck-and-neck.

Also Thursday Politico switched its own election forecast for the Arizona race from leans Democrat to toss-up.

The Senate race joins the governor's race in the toss-up category where Republican Kari Lake is polling slightly above Democrat Katie Hobbs by most measures. Both Lake and Masters have the backing of former President Trump.

A poll from left-leaning Data for Progress released Wednesday showed the candidates tied at 47 percent each.

The new toss-up rating is sure to spell optimism for Republicans who hope to take back the Senate. Though Democrats have been slightly favored to hold on to the upper chamber, Arizona is now one of five races labeled a toss-up, in addition to Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

'Lean Democrat' races are now Colorado, where incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennett is facing Republican Joe O'Day, and New Hampshire, where Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan is taking on Republican Don Bolduc.

In the 'lean Republican' Senate camp is North Carolina - the race between GOP Rep. Ted Budd faces Democrat Cheri Beasley - and Ohio, where J.D. Vance and Rep. Tim Ryan are battling for the seat.

Despite Democrats outspending Republicans in the Copper State, the race was switched Thursday back to a toss up because recent private polling shows Blake Masters (R) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D), above, are neck-and-neck

Blake Masters has the backing of Donald Trump, whose PAC poured $1 million into his race this week

Jessica Taylor, Cook's Senate and Governors editor, noted that Kelly is still the most likely Democrat in a toss-up Senate race to win his seat. 'If Arizona is falling, many states before it already have, most likely, including Nevada and maybe Georgia.'

Over the summer Republicans lost their fervor for the Arizona Senate race, with Senate Republicans' campaign arm slashing spending in August and a super PAC aligned with Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell yanking $9.6 million in the state in September.

McConnell and Trump had then begged wealthy venture capitalist Peter Thiel, whose firm Blake previously served as COO, to step in for funding.

On Tuesday a political action committee backed by Trump funneled $1 million into Arizona, according to AdImpact, which came after a $725,000 ad buy by MAGA Inc. last week.
Police have launched a manhunt to find a suspect after he was seen pushing another man onto a tube track.

British Transport Police have released an image of the man who is wanted in connection with two assaults that happened on the London Underground today.

The man was first seen assaulting another man at Baker Street Station around 11.50am.

He was then seen shortly after midday at Finchley Road station where he pushed another man onto the tracks.

British Transport Police have launched an urgent appeal to help find the man pictured. He was seen assaulting a man at Baker Street Tube Station, London and pushing another man onto the tracks at Finchley Road Station

The second incident occurred around midday at Finchley Road Tube Station, London, where a man was shoved onto the tracks

Neither of the victims were seriously injured from the attacks.

Detectives believe the suspect was not known to either victim.

Anyone with information about the attack or who knows the man pictured has been asked to contact the police urgently.

Anyone with information about the man should contact British Transport Police on 999

Detective Inspector Paul Watts, said: 'Following these concerning incidents, we want to trace this man at the earliest opportunity and we are appealing for the publics help to establish his whereabouts.

'If you see someone matching this image, please contact police urgently by calling 999. Please do not approach them.

'This investigation is moving at pace and we would like to reassure the public that well have a highly visible presence of officers on the network in London throughout this evening looking out for your safety.'
Do you know the rescued kayaker? Email: tips@dailymail.com

He reportedly had severe hypothermia when he was rescued this morning

The man, 28, survived by eating mussels, seaweed and crabs 'for days'

He was trying to travel from Dover to France but capsized and clung to a buoy

A British kayaker was rescued by Dutch fishermen in the English Channel today

A British man whose kayak capsized when crossing the English Channel to France was rescued this morning after fishermen found him clinging to a buoy for dear life.

The paddler, 28, miraculously survived for around 48 hours in the middle of the sea only by eating seaweed and mussels, reports said, after he departed from Dover and and ran into trouble in the dangerous shipping lane.

The crew of cutter ship 'De Madelaine', from Urk in the Netherlands, rescued the English kayaker from the Channel at around 11am this morning, Dutch media reported. He has since been taken to hospital.

He was found when Skipper Teunis de Boer - of shipping company T. de Boer en Zonen - was sailing between England and France this morning when he spotted something in the water.

The captain wanted to make sure they didn't get too close to the buoy when he 'saw something crazy moving' near it, he told local media.

A British man whose kayak had capsized when crossing the English Channel to France was rescued this morning after fishermen found him clinging to a buoy for dear life

He was rescued by a group of fishermen from the Netherlands in the Channel before being airlifted to a French hospital by the French Coast Guard

Dutch fisherman Teunis de Boer grabbed a pair of binoculars and saw the exhausted and distressed Briton wearing only a pair of swimming trunks 'waving at us like a madman'

The British kayaker (pictured), 28, was reportedly suffering from severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard the Dutch fishing boat today

After being taken aboard the exhausted British paddler (pictured) was offered some water and a Snickers chocolate bar

Mr De Boer grabbed a pair of binoculars, and to his surprise saw the exhausted and distressed Briton wearing only a pair of swimming trunks 'waving at us like a madman', according to De Telegraaf.

Despite the choppy weather, the crew quickly worked to rescue him by sailing towards him and throwing a life ring into the water. The man managed to use his last bit of strength to reach out so they could bring him to the boat.

He was reportedly suffering from severe hypothermia when he was brought onboard today, with a body temperature of just 26C, Het Urkerland reports, which could have been lethal.

Do you know the rescued kayaker? Email: tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

The Briton was also bruised, dehydrated and his eyes were 'very deep in his sockets'. 'It's a miracle he survived,' Skipper De Boer said.

The heroic crew then offered the exhausted man a Snickers chocolate bar who then told him he had set out to kayak from Dover to France, but his boat had capsized leaving him the only option of clinging to the floating buoy.

Authorities believe he spent around 48 hours in the water and on the buoy, French authorities told NOS.

The man has reportedly been taken to hospital in Boulogne-sur-Mer and is in the intensive care unit. He is said to be able to talk but is in a 'bad shape'.

It is not known exactly how long ago he capsized in the inflatable kayak.

He was incredibly lucky to be found as the crew had not initially planned to catch fish in the area but went sailing after this morning's catch turned out to be 'disappointing'.

The crew of De Madelaine then wrapped him in blankets and called the French Coast Guard

The French Coast Guard then airlifted him by helicopter to a hospital in France for treatment

The crew of De Madelaine then wrapped him in blankets and called the French Coast Guard.

While he was unable to express his gratitude in words due to lack of energy, he made heart signs with his hands to thank the crew.

The French Coast Guard then airlifted him by helicopter to a hospital in France for treatment.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said they have not been asked for consular assistance in this case but were ready to support the British kayaker if requested.

The English Channel is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with more than 400 merchant ships passing each day. Authorities warn strongly against crossing in a vessel unsuitable for the dangerous conditions.
The man was found inside, naked, with his wet clothing items strewn about

When police arrived, they found that the man had thrown a brick through the glass on the door to the clubhouse

The unidentified suspect had broken into the clubhouse of the Shoreline Apartments in Tulsa prior to his death

A handcuffed man died after jumping into a pond to escape police custody

A man who was handcuffed while in police custody drowned after running away from officers and jumping into a pond in Oklahoma.

The incident happened just after 4am on Thursday, according to the Tulsa Police Department.

Officials said that they were called to the Shoreline Apartment Homes on the city's east side.

Upon arrival at the clubhouse of the complex, officers discovered a glass door smashed in with a brick.

When they entered the clubhouse, they found the unidentified suspect inside, completely naked.

The Tulsa Police Department's Dive Team was called in after the man jumped into the pond around 4am Thursday and never resurfaced

Prior to him being placed under arrest, the man had thrown a brick through the glass of the Shoreline Apartments' clubhouse in order to gain entry

Officers immediately placed the man under arrest without incident, according to a post from the Tulsa Police Department.

While the officers searched for the man's clothing in the office of the clubhouse, police said he 'remained cooperative.'

After a short time, they found his clothing items, wet, strewn about the room.

As officers with the Oklahoma agency were investigating, the man 'made a break for it,' officials said.

He then kicked the back door of the clubhouse, jumped the patio's railing and went into the pond located right behind the building.

Officers began to chase him as began going further into the pond, getting into the water themselves.

The police department said that the group of responders attempted to save him 'in challenging conditions.'

'They made a valiant effort, but the suspect went under the water and did not resurface,' the post said.

The back patio of the clubhouse can be seen on the right side of the picture. The man reportedly jumped over the patio's railing and into the water while handcuffed

The Tulsa Police Dive Team was called to the scene after he went under.

According to officials, the team was searching in about 10 feet of water and the murky conditions provided 'little to no visibility.'

After several hours of searching, the man's body was recovered just after 9am.

DailyMail.com reached out to several officials with the Tulsa Police Department for comment on the investigation but did not receive comment by the time of publication.

'We are in the process of locating next of kin for the suspect. More information will be released as it becomes available,' police said.

The Tulsa Police Department's Facebook post blew up after being posted Thursday morning by the law enforcement agency as residents responded to the wild tale.

The Tulsa Police Department posted this to Facebook Thursday morning, explaining the situation of how the suspect got away and drowned after being placed under arrest

More than 1,500 people have reacted to the post, which included photos of the diving team investigating the pond and the smashed glass, and 800 have commented on it.

Reactions ranged from anger to sadness to skepticism over the details of the incident.

DailyMail.com also contacted the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner's Office to see if an autopsy has been scheduled. Officials did not respond to calls or emails for comments.
The family of a Chicago landlady found murdered in a freezer claim she repeatedly complained to police about the tenant who is accused of killing her.

Relatives of church organist Frances Walker, 69, said cops responded to calls about suspect Sandra Kolalou, 36, many times but nothing was done.

They attended her home a total of five times in October - but no action was taken and Kolalou went on to kill Walker, it is claimed.

She allegedly slaughtered the landlady and her dog on October 10 - the day after Walker posted an eviction notice on her door.

Frances Walker, 69, was allegedly murdered and dismember by her tenant, Sandra Kolalou

Walker's niece, Cory, said her aunt called police about Kolalou several times before the murder

Walker was in the process of evicting her over complaints of frightening behavior from neighbors at the white-framed home on North Washtenaw Avenue, where she rented out her spare rooms to female tenants.

Kolalou allegedly dismembered Walker's body with a butcher's knife and stored her remains in a freezer. She is also suspected of killing Walker's dog.

She was charged with first degree murder and concealment of a homicide.

Relatives of Walker told ABC7 about her repeated complaints to police about Kolalou.

Her niece, Cory Walker, said: I feel like their hands were tied or maybe there was something that could have been done differently

It's changed the trajectory of our lives. It's leaving such a hole.

The house where Kolalou allegedly murdered and dismembered Walker with a Butcher's knife

Walker's brother, Jerome, said the family was struggling to come to terms with her murder

She added: They have rights as a tenant, but then also if you fear for your safety or if theres issues then the landlord should have rights, not only as the landlord but as the cohabitor of the domain.

In a tribute to her aunt, a much-loved member of the local community, Corey said: She played the church organ at churches and funerals. She was so kind. She gave everyone a chance.

Her brother, Jerome Walker, added: The whole situation is hard for me. Its easy for me to talk about it, but its hard for me to deal with the situation.

Lawyer Gil Soffer told ABC7: The law is forever seeking a balance to try and protect tenants rights and at the same time landlord rights.

It didnt cross the line sufficiently so that the police could actually take her into custody and take her away, thats the bigger problem here, even more so than however long she would be permitted under the law to stay in that apartment.

Chicago police at the scene of the murder in which Walker was 'dismember by her tenant'

Kolalou, 36, was arrested last winter as a neighbor said she attacked her at Walker's property

Kolalou allegedly tried to kill a neighbor earlier this year and even a sang a chilling song while she was doing it, it was claimed following her arrest.

A woman who lived in Walkers boarding house said Kolalou cornered her in a stairwell, then knocked her to the ground and began trying to strangle her.

The woman claimed Kolalou tried to shove an inhaler down her throat and was singing 'I'm a doctor, I can kill you. I'm a doctor, I can help you,' throughout the altercation.

'She got on top of me, she put her hand over my nose, squeezed it shut,' the woman said. 'Put her other hand over my mouth, closed it shut. Tried to kill me.'

The woman suffers from asthma, and had just taken out her inhaler before she ran into Kolalou, who tried to push the device down her mouth.

Church organist Walker rented out the spare rooms of her home in Chicago to female tenants

Kolalou was being evicted because other tenants had complained that they were afraid of her

Kolalou was arrested Monday after neighbors called police to report they had heard screaming at the boarding house and that nobody had been able to get in contact for hours.

When officers arrived at the house they found Kolalou stepping into a tow truck she had hired. When officers asked to speak with her she declined saying she knew her rights.

Kolalou then directed the tow truck driver to take her to nearby beach, where she dumped a large plastic bag in a trash bin.

She then tried to pay the driver with a card belonging to Walker, and when the driver declined she became irate and tried to attack him with a pocket knife.

Kolalou was apprehended after the altercation and cop found bloody rags in the bin at the beach.

They then found Walker's body stuffed into a freezer.
A group of House Republicans who also served as military pilots are demanding that the Air Force's top watchdog look into possible charges over the reported 'leak' that led to details of a GOP House candidate's sexual assault being made public.

Jennifer-Ruth Green, an Air Force veteran, is running to unseat Rep. Frank Mrvan in Indiana's 1st Congressional District.

Earlier this month she condemned Politico for reporting on her experience being sexually assaulted while serving in Iraq, claiming they did so against her wishes in order to derail her campaign.

On Thursday, all five former military pilots currently in Congress' Mach 1 Caucus condemned the 'politically motivated leak' in a letter obtained by DailyMail.com.

The letter is addressed to the Air Force Inspector General, Lt. General Stephen L. Davis. In it, lawmakers suggested that the Department of Justice should look into who released the information and how.

The letter is being led by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) and signed by Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), and Rep. C. Scott Franklin (R-FL).

'The timing of the leak indicates that this illegal act was politically motivated with the intention of interfering in the upcoming November election,' the lawmakers wrote.

Jennifer-Ruth Green is an Air Force veteran running for Indiana's 1st Congressional District

Republicans have coalesced around her in the wake of a Politico report detailing her experience with sexual assault while serving in Iraq - which Green said got out against her wishes

'As former military pilots, we find the leaking of a veterans personal information by the Air Force for political purposes is especially egregious and should not be tolerated.'

They called it a 'gross and egregious violation' of Green's privacy.

Attached to their statements is a list of seven questions into how the information was obtained and the 'status' of the Air Force's investigation into it.

They're also pressing Davis on whether the leakers are being referred to the Justice Department, and whether charges will be filed against 'the organizations who knowingly disseminated these illegally obtained records.'

It comes a day after Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN) revealed that they had spoken with the watchdog.

Davis told them the Air Force takes 'full responsibility' over the leak, according to Banks.

'Lt. Gen. Davis informed us that the leaker has been identified and will be held accountable,' Banks and Bucshon's statement said.

Among the Republicans demanding a wider probe into the leak are Rep. Chris Stewart (left) and Rep. August Pfluger (right)

'The Air Force completed its preliminary investigation and is currently investigating whether the leaker had a political or financial motive, whether the leaker acted alone, and if the Air Force needs to strengthen policies related to its handling of confidential records.'

The pair accused the Air Force of having 'improperly affected a competitive House race.'

Mrvan, a freshman facing his first re-election effort, is among the most vulnerable House Democrats in an election cycle that has an overall bleak outlook for the left.

The vast majority of public opinion polls forecast a Republican victory in the House.

The GOP only needs 218 members to reach a majority. There are currently 212 voting members of the House GOP.

Green is running against Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat in his first term

If she wins, Green will be the only black woman elected to Congress as part of the GOP - and the second overall, after former Utah Rep. Mia Love.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated Indiana's 1st Congressional District as a toss-up, though it leans slightly Democrat.

She previously accused Mrvan of being behind making her assault details public.

Green released a statement on October 9 revealing that she'd requested a criminal probe be opened into how the records were released and accusing Mrvan of having 'illegally obtained' them.

'I am saddened to have to share publicly one of the most private events of my life, and Im even more saddened that Congressman Mrvan, who I applauded for authoring the Military Sexual Trauma bill, would engage in or tolerate this despicable behavior from his campaign and his allies,' part of her statement read.

'Its unacceptable for every vet, its unacceptable for every woman, and its unacceptable for anyone who has ever been a victim of sexual assault.'
A newlywed couple's special night took an unexpected turn when they were carjacked after their wedding celebration at a castle in Rio de Janeiro.

Jheinifer Borges and her husband Caio Raposo were returning to their Rio de Janeiro home when they were intercepted by four armed men in a car on a highway in the town of Mage on Sunday around 3am local time.

The bride and groom told Brazilian news portal G1 that the assailants forced them and four relatives, including a child, to lie on the side of the road.

Caio Raposo and his wife Jheinifer Borges pose for a photo on their wedding night before they were carjacked by four gunmen in a Rio de Janeiro highway Sunday

Jheinifer Borges poses for a selfie in front a local police station in Rio de Janeiro, where she and her husband spent three hours Sunday after they were carjacked following her wedding reception

Jheinifer Borges celebrates her wedding with her husband Caio Raposo in Rio de Janeiro

The carjackers then fled in Borges' Fiat pickup truck, which she had purchased in September as a birthday gift to herself.

'We didn't have a wedding night and we don't know if we're going to have a honeymoon,' said Borges.

'The enchantment is gone,' she continued. 'We didn't expect debt after a wedding we had planned for so long.'

The carjackers stole the Fiat pickup truck that Jheinifer Borges gifted herself for her birthday in September

Jheinifer Borges is escorted at her wedding ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. She is not sure if she will be celebrating her honeymoon

The carjackers took at least $4,000 in property, which includes cellphones, souvenirs and clothing that they rented for the wedding.

Also missing is the wedding guest book, which Borges is clamoring to get back.

The couple spent nearly three hours at a local police precinct filing a report.

Borges said she is not sure if they will be able to celebrate their honeymoon in the mountain resort town of Gramado.

'Everyone's life was saved. We have to thank for the good part,' she said. 'Despite what happened, everyone is here, and no one has gone to a wake.'
Protesters called for Schwarzman's arrest and chanted 'billionaires have to go' before splattering tomato soup over the facade of the building described as one of New York's most powerful residential addresses

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Eight climate protesters were arrested after hurling tomato soup at Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman's apartment building, where Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis grew up.

The eco-activists used tomato soup to deface the front of 740 Park Avenue - which also boasts John D. Rockefeller Jr. as a former resident - while chanting 'billionaires have got to go'.

Protesters from New York Communities for Change, Sunrise NYC, Extinction Rebellion and more gathered outside Schwarzman's home at around 11am, WCBS reported.

Cops were filmed cuffing two female members of the group blocking the entrance to the Upper East Side building.

The protest was one of seven planned for this week targeting climate change-fueling financiers.

They called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to tax the richest New Yorkers to fund climate policies under a Green New Deal.

'If we tax the rich maybe we won't have to eat them', a sign at the protesters' mock feast read.

Eco-warriors linked arms on the floor blocking the entrance to Schwarzman's Manhattan home

Protesters chanted 'arrest Stephen Schwarzman' and threw tomato soup on the facade of the Upper East Side apartment building

'Tax the rich and maybe we won't eat them': Protesters from various climate groups gathered for a mock feast outside the billionaire's building

One of the eight climate change activists handcuffed by cops outside 740 Park Avenue, the home of Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman who this week warned companies going green too fast could spark an energy crisis and global riots

Two days ago, private equity billionaire Schwarzman warned companies going green too fast would spark an energy crisis and global riots, CNN Business reported.

'Were going to end up with a real shortage of energy. And when you have a shortage, its going to cost more. And its probably going to cost a lot more,' he said.

Schwarzman, said to be worth $28.6 billion, is a major donor for Donald Trump and other Republicans who have worked to block climate change legislation, further angering some environmentalists.

In 2020 he gave $10 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super-PAC tied to Senator Mitch McConnell.

Today's protest comes after a string of disruptive demonstrations have plagued the UK and Europe in recent weeks.

Eco-warriors have laughed in the face of the law, during a month of chaos which has seen 585 arrests so far in the UK.

Just Stop Oil has claimed responsibility and the group is calling on the British government to halt all new fossil fuel licenses.

Leader Roger Hallam has urged more extreme tactics, arguing that 'nothing happens' unless you upset the public.

The coalition of groups who targeted Schwarzman today said: 'Major corporations and property owners continue to profit from the pollution that endangers the lives of New Yorkers.

'Buildings are the top source of New York climates pollution.

'Climate activists estimate that just a five percent tax on the top one percent of earners in New York would raise $10 billion per year to fund a Green New Deal  resources that could be used to slash pollution, transition all buildings from fossil fuels to green energy, create thousands of union jobs, and construct deeply affordable, energy-efficient housing for a massive number of New Yorkers.'

Other demonstrations in New York this week target BlackRock and JP Morgan Chase, two more major backers of fossil fuels.

740 Park Avenue (left) has been described as 'the most luxurious and powerful residential building in New York City'. Famous former residents include a young Jackie O (right) and John D. Rockefeller Jr.

The pre-war building at 740 Park Avenue has been described as a 'legendary address' and 'the most luxurious and powerful residential building in New York City' according to Business Insider.

The 31-apartment residence was built in 1929 by the grandfather of Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, who lived there as a child.

Applicants must be able to show a liquid net worth of a cool $100 million and the maintenance alone would set you back an average of $10,000 a month.

But some huge names have still been said to have been rejected by the co-op board, including Barbra Streisand and British-American billionaire Sir Leonard Blavatnik.

Schwarzman bought his spot in the building for around $30 million in 2000.

A young Jacqueline Bouvier grew up in the plush building after it was built by her grandfather, James T. Lee, and before she became the iconic Jackie Kennedy-Onassis after marrying doomed President John F. Kennedy and Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.

She died of cancer in 1994, having spent her final years in a Fifth Avenue apartment overlooking Central Park's reservoir, which was later named in her honor.

Jackie's mother, Janet Lee Bouvier, and her husband Jack attained the final open lease - a duplex - but it's said they did not pay for it.

Hedge fund manager David Ganek then paid $19 million for it in 2005.

In 1937, one of the first well-known residents was John D. Rockefeller Jr. who lived from 1874 to 1960 and was one of the largest real estate owners in the city thanks to his involvement in the Rockefeller Center.

Rockefeller moved into 15/16B and this duplex is still considered New York's crown jewel apartment.
A 'gay' Tennessee death row inmate has cut off his own penis with a razor blade and broken glass in his prison cell after he was refused a special food package by prison guards who stopped feeding the inmate for smearing feces in his cell.

Henry Eugene Hodges, 56, embarked on the shocking act of self-harm at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution earlier this month after being denied a special food package he'd ordered.

Hodges was eligible to receive it for six months behavior. He ordered the package after five months of an unblemished record and is said to have flown into a rage after he was denied it.

That sparked a dirty protest by Hodges in his cell, who slit his wrists and was taken to the prison infirmary. He later severed his manhood during a two hour self-harm session using broken window shards and razor blades he'd kept hidden.

Hodges' penis was later reattached by surgeons. It's unclear how successful that operation has been.

He was convicted of the strangulation and robbery of Nashville phone repairman Ronald Bassett in 1990. That saw him handed a death sentence in 1992.

Later, he was convicted of a separate murder in Fulton County, Georgia, for the killing of a North Carolina chemical engineer Michael Whisnant in an Atlanta hotel.

The known killer also received another life sentence in 1992 after pleading guilty to the stabbing of Inglewood nurse Barry McDonald in 1989.

Reports at the time of the murders claimed the crimes were connected to his repressed homosexuality and a deep desire to seek revenge after he was sexually abused as a child. Hodges, who is bipolar, denies he is gay, despite reports of multiple sexual relationships with men.

Henry Eugene Hodges (pictured), 56, hacked his penis off with broken glass and a razor blade, according to his attorney Kelley Henry

Hodges is said to have been a gay rent boy in Nashville during his 20s who dazzled locals with his hunky looks - but who subsequently developed a reputation for violent behavior, leading local gay bars to warn prospective lovers off him.

When visited by his attorney Kelley Henry at the infirmary of the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, Hodges was allegedly kept naked in 4-point and 6-poit restraints for a week, Yahoo news reported.

Henry plans to file a complaint in state court on Friday alleging violations of Hodge's constitutional rights.

'He needs competent mental health care,' she said.

'Surely the prison can find a place to put him where he is not a danger to himself or others and does not have to be tied down like an animal.'

He is on death row in relation to three murders from late 1980 to early 1990 believed to be linked to his repressed sexual orientation and a desire to seek revenge for his abuse as a child

She said Hodges had become upset earlier this month and began smearing feces in his cell after prison officials refused him his special food package.

The known killer was then refused food in order to stop him smearing feces  his response was to slit his wrists with a razor.

When taken to the infirmary Henry told Yahoo News that he asked to be put on suicide watch, when a 'high ranking correctional officer' told the person treating Hodges that he was being manipulated.

Hodges was then taken back to his cell where he used broken glass from a window he'd shattered and hidden razors to hack off his penis, within a 2-hour period.

Hodges was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where surgeons reattached his penis.

'He is enduring ongoing psychiatric harm as a result of these conditions,' Henry said.

Hodges is also on hunger strike, she added.

The court of criminal appeals of Tennessee at Nashville heard in 1995 that Hodges had been sexually abused by a stranger when he was twelve.

Court documents reveal that he never revealed the abuse 'because his father was homophobic and the appellant felt his mother would blame him for the occurrence.'

At the time of the 1990 murders Hodges had been 'engaging in homosexual male prostitution' the documents revealed.

Hodges who has been imprisoned since the 90s has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder mixed type with psychotic episodes

Reports at the time of the murders described Hodges as 'sexually confused'

The documents said 'the appellant wanted revenge for the sexual abuse that he encountered in his childhood and viewed homosexuals as a class rather than individuals.'

A report from the Atlanta Constitution in September 1990 described Hodges as 'sexually confused.'

'Once the drag queens and gays along seven blocks of Broadway swooned over the street hustler's rippling muscles, piercing eyes and quiet demeanor,' it read.

'Now they know he is an accused serial killer who has pleaded guilty to an Atlanta slaying.'

Anthony Odems, one of Nashville's premier drag queens, told the paper he was 'astonished' to hear the news.

'He had been sitting up in my house and on my furniture and could have killed me and my kids,' they said.

The report claims Hodges has denied to police that he is gay while a former lover told the paper said he would often repress his sexual orientation.

'He liked to get drunk and high, and when he started coming down, then something snapped and he felt like he shouldn't be doing this  that he was wrong,' he said.

'He had to be high to be gay.'

The former lover who asked not to be named said he was 'gay to a certain extent.'

Hodges has a diagnosis of bipolar disorder mixed type with psychotic episodes, Henry said.

He has taken medication in the past after a psychotic episode, but then stopped, she continued.
Elon Musk is said to have plans to take Twitter public within three to five years after going private on Friday when he closes on the $44billion takeover deal.

Looking to end one of the most heated merger fights in US history, Musk will be taking Twitter off the trading floor, but not for long, sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

The sources claimed the Tesla CEO will put the social media company back into the public sometime between 2025 and 2027.

Twitter shares were suspended for trading on Friday pending the takeover's outcome, which will be settled by a Delaware judge if Twitter and Musk cannot close the deal by themselves.

Shares were up 1.1 percent at $53.96 on Thursday following a meeting between Musk and Twitter's workforce as the world's richest man insisted that the company cannot become a 'hellscape' under his ownership.

Elon Musk confirmed on Thursday that he has bought Twitter ahead of a court-imposed deadline to seal his $44billion takeover of the company. Sources say he will take the company public again within three to five years

Twitter shares, which fluctuated wildly amid the legal fight between Musk and the company, settled at $53.97 on Thursday, with sell currently halted as the deal closes

Musk posted a video of himself marching into Twitter's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink on Wednesday, calling himself the 'Chief Twit'

As of Friday, banks providing $13 billion in debt financing are in the process of transferring the funds to close out the Twitter deal, with Musk paying the $54.20-per-share he agreed to payout in April.

Once the deal closes, Twitter will be private for the first-times since it's first IPO in November 2013.

Discussing his hopes for Twitter on Thursday, Musk sent a tweet to advertisers saying that while he wants the social media giant to become a 'digital town square' it 'obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.'

'Our platform must be warm and welcoming to all,' he added, 'where you can choose your desired experience according to your preferences, just as you can choose, for example, to see movies or play video games ranging from all ages to mature.'

He also said that he 'very much believes that advertising... can delight, entertain and inform you,' saying that when done properly, advertising 'can show you a service or product or medical treatment that you never knew existed, but is right for you.

'For this to be true, it is essential to show Twitter users advertising that is as relevant as possible to their needs,' the 51-year-old billionaire concluded in his letter, adding: 'Low relevancy ads are spam, but highly relevant ads are actually content!'

Musk later agreed with a rapper on the platform, Zuby, who suggested that Twitter should 'find a way to compensate' monetize or partner 'with its top creators, like every other social media app.'

'Absolutely,' the SpaceX founder wrote in response.

The tweets comes just one day after the billionaire changed his Twitter profile to identify himself as the 'Chief Twit' and posted a video of himself walking into the company's San Francisco headquarters carrying a porcelain sink.

The Tesla CEO sent a tweet to advertisers Thursday morning, saying that while he wants the social media giant to become a 'digital town square' it 'obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences'

Musk (right) has faced sever backlash from employees over his takeover of Twitter

Musk also revealed his 'motivation' for buying the company in the open letter to advertisers, writing: 'There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it is wrong.'

He said he acquired the company 'because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence.'

But, the 51-year-old billionaire wrote, 'much of traditional media has fueled and catered' to either the far right or the far left 'as they believe that is what brings in the money, but in doing so, the opportunity for dialogue is lost.

'That is why I bought Twitter,' Musk wrote. 'I didn't do it because it would be easy. I didn't do it to make more money. I did it to try to help humanity, whom I love.

'And I do so with humility, recognizing that failure in pursuing this goal, despite our best efforts, is a very real possibility.'

Following the visit, Stephanie Guevara, a senior iOS engineer for the platform, asked Musk directly: 'Was it fun to look at the faces of the people you said you'd be laying off?'

Parker Lyons expressed his nervousness about the new boss' visit with a meme of a man on top of two tires lifting a sofa, captioned: 'When Elon walks by your desk to see what you're working on'

Others just shared how they are sticking together during the takeover

Meanwhile, Twitter staff remained on edge Thursday, one day after Elon Musk marched into the social media giant's San Francisco headquarters.

He was later pictured speaking with some employees, reportedly denying rumors that he is culling three quarters of the staff.

But that did little to assuage the more than 7,500 people employed by the social media giant.

As one Twitter employee explained in an anonymous essay for Business Insider, those who remain at the company are worried about the Tesla CEO's volatility.

'I don't think my colleagues and I have a good model for how volatile he is  and I can see that rocking the boat, especially if he makes more comments that make people say, "What the hell?"' the anonymous Twitter employee wrote.

'There are also people here who are just unfazed by his volatility,' they continued. 'They're not going to react in any way.'

The employee noted that their fellow workers' views of their new boss will all be contingent on how many people he lays off.

'People are asking, if heads are going to roll, whose good graces do you need to be in to stay?' the employee wrote, adding: 'Most people think layoffs are going to be pretty immediate.

'I don't think our site-reliability engineers need to be worried, though,' they mused. 'On the other hand, machine-learning engineers, or the people responsible for building experimental services are more worried.'

The US Department of Justice is heading a criminal investigation into Tesla, which could lead to charges against the company or its executives, including CEO Elon Musk (pictured)

The investigation started after 16 Tesla vehicles crashed while drivers used its 'Autopilot' feature

Along with handling the close of the Twitter deal, Musk must now also contend with thee US Department of Justice leading a criminal investigation into Tesla after the company's self-driving feature led to more than a dozen crashes - some of which were fatal.

Musk stated in 2016 that the vehicle's 'Autopilot' system was 'probably better' than a human driver, despite recent tests indicating cars failed to detect mannequin children multiple times.

A probe into more than 830,000 of the company's vehicles and its complementary advertising leads investigators wondering whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators over unsupported claims regarding the feature.

Should the department find any evidence to support its claims, criminal charges against the company or individual executives could be filed.

Former US attorney Barbara McQuade, who has prosecuted automotive companies in the past, told Reuters that investigators would need to find internal communications within the company indicating misleading statements.

The investigation follows a 2021 fatal crash in which a Tesla Model S, operating on 'Autopilot,' led its driver into a parked vehicle killing a 22-year-old college student.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened its investigation after 16 crashes involving Tesla vehicles.

NHTSA officials will continue to review vehicles before regulators will have justification for requesting a recall.
GOP Rep. Liz Cheney endorsed her first Democrat on Thursday after falling out with a vast swath of her own party and being ousted by a Trump-backed challenger in her primary.

The Republican who currently represents Wyoming's at-large district endorsed Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin and will stump for the Democrat in Lansing, Mich. next week.

'While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress,' she continued.

Slotkin's race against Republican Tom Barrett is one of the most competitive House races in the country - President Biden just narrowly won the district in 2020.

'Rep. Cheney has shown tremendous leadership over the last two years, and while we certainly don't agree on every issue, I look forward to welcoming her to Michigan's 7th district next week to discuss the points where all Americans can leave politics aside and put our country above all else,' Slotkin said in her own statement.

GOP Rep. Liz Cheney endorsed her first Democrat on Thursday after falling out with a vast swath of her own party and being ousted by a Trump-backed challenger in her primary

The Republican who currently represents Wyoming's at-large district endorsed Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin and will stump for the Democrat in Lansing, Mich. next week

Barrett, meanwhile, claimed that Slotkin and Cheney were banding together as warhawks.

'My entire adult life has been committed to service in the Army, and sadly I've lost too many friends in America's endless wars. Now, establishment warhawks like Liz Cheney and Elissa Slotkin are standing together because I oppose their senseless thirst for more foreign entanglements,' Barrett said in a statement.

'Slotkin has already said she would commit US soldiers to combat with China so it's no surprise the Cheney family would join her. Slotkin can keep Cheney while I work to keep America out of war,' he added.

Cheney and Slotkin have worked together on and off the Hill - they served together on the House Armed Services Committee and Cheney worked in the State Department while Slotkin was at the Pentagon under President Bush's administration.

Barrett has raised doubts about the 2020 election results, which played into Cheney's decision, according to multiple reports.

Republican Tom Barrett claimed that Slotkin and Cheney were banding together as warhawks

Cheney was ousted from House GOP leadership last year for her persistent criticisms of former President Trump and his challenges to the election results. Since then she's became a fiery Trump critic and a leader on the Democrat-lead January 6 Committee.

Slotkin, who formerly worked as a CIA analyst and defense official under both Bush and Obama, has frequently underscored the importance of bipartisanship.

'Something that is very important to me as a person and as a candidate is that in between those tours in Iraq, I was working for whoever was my commander in chief,' she said at a townhall recently in Corunna, Mich., a conservative part of her district.

Earlier this month Cheney said she would vote for Democrat Katie Hobbs over Republican Kari Lake if she lived in Arizona. It remains to be seen whether she will formally support any other Democrats before November 8th's midterm elections.
A poster girl for police recruitment who rang in sick but then went to a race meeting has resigned.

PC Kira Wealls, 20, had just joined Essex Police when she appeared in a promotional video showing her transition from Tesco worker to proud beat officer.

However, in June she called bosses to say she was too unwell to do her night shift in Chelmsford. In fact, she went to Newmarket, Suffolk, and became involved in an altercation over a jug of Pimms.

Wealls approached police at the racecourse and told them what had happened  and that she was an officer with another force.

Essex Police were informed and Wealls quit after she was put on restricted duties and told she faced a misconduct hearing.

PC Kira Wealls, 20, had just joined Essex Police when she appeared in a promotional video showing her transition from Tesco worker to proud beat officer

The panel, led by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington at the forces headquarters in Chelmsford, ruled she had committed discreditable gross misconduct and would have been dismissed had she not quit.

Mr Harrington concluded she had abused [our] trust, adding: Essex Police will support staff who are ill but we will not tolerate behaviour that undermines the integrity of the force and brings the hard work of the many into disrepute.

Wealls hinted at the sudden change in circumstances in July when she posted a series of messages on her Facebook account including one that said: The temptation to go to the airport, buy a one-way ticket, leave the country and live on my own has never been so real.

Soon after joining the Essex force, she had appeared in the recruitment video stacking shelves in her Tesco outfit and holding a sign saying: Serving customers'

The video then cut to her in police uniform with a sign saying: To serving your community'

Her mother, Alison, said at the family home in Colchester yesterday that Wealls had moved to Turkey. She claimed her daughter had mental health problems brought on by the stress of her job but she did not want bosses to know.

She was not just throwing a sickie, said Mrs Wealls. She said her daughters then boyfriend invited her to the races to cheer her up but a row blew up after he allegedly took a sip from another groups jug of Pimms. Wealls was about to leave when she was hit by a woman from the other group.

She walked over to police officers and told them she had been assaulted. She told them she was a police officer, Mrs Wealls added.

Her daughter resigned on the advice of a Police Federation representative. Soon after joining the Essex force, she had appeared in the recruitment video stacking shelves in her Tesco outfit and holding a sign saying: Serving customers. The video then cut to her in police uniform with a sign saying: To serving your community.
A sexual predator has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting and robbing at least two women while wearing a clown mask in California.

Joel Hernandez, 22, is accused of assaulting the women in Victorville earlier this week.

The first victim - a 54-year-old woman - told police that he attacked her while she used an ATM while wearing a white clown mask and red shirt.

Joel Hernandez, 22, is accused of assaulting the women in Victorville earlier this week. The first victim - a 54-year-old woman - told police that he attacked her while she used an ATM while wearing a white clown mask and red shirt

He stole $500 from her before fleeing.

Police tracked him down and later tied him to a separate attack, on a 50-year-old woman, just minutes before the ATM assault.

In that instance, the woman said he groped and sexually assaulted her in a parking lot before fleeing.

She identified him as her attacker. It's unclear how exactly he assaulted her, or if he has a previous record.

Hernandez is now being held on a $200,000 bond.

Police fear there may be more victims yet, and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about either incident or Hernandez to contact the Victorville PD at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriffs Dispatch at (760) 956-5001.
He also bashed Shell Oil for record profits and tore into his predecessor'

They were down at $2.39 the week Biden took office

But he claimed prices were down substantially from when he took office

President Joe Biden touted U.S. manufacturing gains Thursday on a trip to Syracuse  where he claimed gas prices were down compared to when he took office, when in fact they are higher.

'We're down $1.25 Since the peak this summer, and they've been falling for the last three weeks as well as well, and adding up real savings for families today.,' Biden said.

'The most common price of gas in America is $3.39 down from over $5 When I took office,' he continued.

The average cost of a gallon of gas on the AAA site was $3.76 Thursday. When he took office, it was averaging $2.39  or about half what he said it was then  according to the Energy Information Institute.

'The most common price of gas in America is $3.39 down from over $5 When I took office,' President Biden said, doubling the actual price from when he became president

Prices spiked starting the spring of 2020 after pandemic drops before Biden took office, through Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February, and topped out in July  causing political headaches for Biden and Democrats.

He also accused Shell oil of misusing its record profits that were announced Thursday. The company said earlier its third-quarter profit was a near-record $9.45 billion. Biden accuses oil firms and refiners of not passing on savings to consumers.

Biden made the comments on a trip to Syracuse, New York, where he attended law school and met his first wife, Nelia Hunter. Many family members were in attendance. It came as Democrats are scrambling to keep control of Congress.

His party is facing headwinds even in blue states like New York, and Biden tore into Donald Trump on the economy, amid criticism that Democrats placed too much emphasis on abortion issues after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade.

'The previous president made a string of broken promises in places like Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio,' Biden said. 'On my watch, we've kept our commitments. On my watch, made in America isn't just a slogan, it's a reality.'

'My predecessor was the first president since Herbert Hoover, not a joke, to lose jobs, during the entirety of his administration,' he said. That reference included the 2.9 million jobs lost, with the pandemic wiping out earlier job gains.

Biden spoke about the economy while touting Micron Technology Inc.'s plans to invest up to $100 billion in computer chip manufacturing

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and CEO of Micron Technology Sanjay Mehrotra, listen to US President Joe Biden speak about manufacturing, at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, New York, on October 27, 2022. Hochul is in a tougher than expected race against Republican Lee Zelden

Biden was touting Micron Technology Inc.'s plans to invest up to $100 billion in computer chip manufacturing, and touted the Chips & Science Act. One of its principle authors, Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer, was in attendance, as was Sen. Kyrsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

Earlier, Biden visited Onondaga Community College and toured Micron Pavilion, joined by Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra, and President of Central & Northern New York Trades Council, Greg Lancette.

Glancing at a replica of the future Micron semiconductor facility,' Biden quipped: 'It's good it's coming home because we invented the suckers,' earning a laugh from Sen. Kyrsten Gillibrand laughed at..'
The Santa Fe prosecutor tasked with bringing charges in the fatal on-set shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has received the sheriff's report and is now preparing to make a decision on who should face prosecution.

Actor Alec Baldwin was holding the gun when it fired towards Hutchins last October 21. He insists he did not pull the trigger.

For a year, police have been investigating the incident at painstaking pace. Now, they have handed over their final report to DA Mary Carmack-Altwies.

In a statement this afternoon, her office said: 'The District Attorney and her team of investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review of the information and evidence to make a thoughtful, timely decision about whether to bring charges.

'As with all cases that the District Attorney handles, her focus will be on upholding the integrity of the process, enforcing the laws of the state of New Mexico, and pursuing justice.'

Actor Alec Baldwin was holding the gun when it fired towards Hutchins last October 21. He insists he did not pull the trigger. He is shown at home in Vermont with one of his six children

Halyna Hutchins , 42, died last October 21 after being shot on the set of Rust

She previously warned that Baldwin may be on the hook for charges, warning: 'No one is above the law'.

Baldwin, who is with his family in Vermont, has not commented.

He was eviscerated last week for posting a tribute to Hutchins on Instagram on the anniversary of her death.

Sharing a photograph of her behind the camera, Baldwin captioned the image: 'One year ago today.'

It has taken an entire year for the investigation into Hutchins' death to be completed.

During that time, several lawsuits have been filed in civil court including one filed by Hutchins' widower, against Baldwin and the rest of the production.

He sued them for wrongful death, but they settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

The church set where the fatal shooting took place on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe

Matthew will now be a producer on the film, once it resumes production.

Baldwin is not the only person in the frame.

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies

Among others who have been blamed for the shooting are armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who Baldwin claims didn't check the gun properly, and Assistant Director Dave Halls.

By the time Halyna was killed, many of the film's crew had walked off-set in protest over conditions and pay.

Baldwin was serving as a producer and starring actor in the movie.

On the anniversary of Hutchins' death last week, the DA issued a warning to all of those involved.

'On the anniversary of the tragedy on the Rust film set in Santa Fe County, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis remains committed to pursuing justice for the victims, and getting answers for the community.

'As soon as the District Attorney receives the full report from the Santa Fe County Sheriff, she and her team of professional attorneys and investigators will thoroughly review all the evidence and make a thoughtful decision about whether to bring charges against those involved.

'No one is above the law and every victim deserves justice,' she warned.
A retired restaurant owner is suing an Arizona city after she was arrested for feeding Homeless people without a permit in a public park.

Norma Thornton, 78, was feeding homeless residents at the Bullhead City Community Park on March 8 when she was arrested for violating an ordinance requiring permits to dole out home-cooked food at a city park.

She is now suing Bullhead City officials for enacting the ordinance and is asking a federal judge to overturn it  arguing that the permit requirements are 'extremely burdensome' and violate residents' Fourteenth Amendment rights.

Under the terms of the 2021 ordinance, residents are required to pay $1million in liability insurance, as well as a fee and a deposit to get a permit  which they must request five to 60 days in advance.

The permit is then only in effect for two hours, and people can only obtain one permit every 30 days.

Norma Thornton, 78, was feeding homeless residents at the Bullhead City Community Park on March 8 when she was arrested

Thornton was not arrested at the time, with the officer telling her in the body camera footage they would only take her in for fingerprinting

'On top of that, no two permittees may use the same location within 30 days of each other  meaning that, at maximum, the city might allow the charitable sharing of food in one park for two hours, once a month,' attorneys with the Institute of Justice argue.

In effect, attorney Diana Simpson said in a statement, 'the city has criminalized kindness.

'People have a fundamental right to feed those in need, and have been doing so for the entirety of human history,' she added.

But city officials have said in statements to Law and Crime that individuals are still permitted to feed anyone they would like on private property, or could provide non home-cooked food in the city parks.

Thornton has been feeding meals to the homeless, and those who otherwise cannot afford a meal, for four years.

She had moved to the city from Alaska in search of warmer weather, and soon noticed the high number of homeless people in the city, the lawsuit states.

It cites US Census Bureau data that shows that 17 percent of Bullhead City's more than 40,000 residents live below the poverty line.

Thornton knew what that was like, the lawsuit says, as she and her five children lived for six months in an old school bus while she looked for work after her first husband died.

'The thought of people being hungry  I mean I'm not making a big impact,' she said between tears in a video by the Institute of Justice, 'but at least some people have enough food to survive.'

She added that no one was camping or living in the park, with the lawsuit stating that many of the city's homeless residents take shelter in the desert away from prying eyes, and she always cleans up after herself.

But after she finished serving around 27 people at the Bullhead City Community Park on March 8, she was approached by a city police officer.

Body camera footage shows the responding officer talking to his supervisor on the phone about the situation, even admitting, 'I think this is a PR nightmare, but OK' before telling Thornton she was under arrest.

The officer did not handcuff the elderly woman, deeming her not to be a threat, as he led her into a police vehicle.

Thornton faced four months behind bars, a fine of up to $1,431 and a probation period of two year before a city prosecutor dismissed the case

She had been feeding homeless residents in the park home-cooked meals for four years, and is now trying to serve them in an alleyway that does not have seating or shade

Thornton was not arrested at the time, with the officer telling her in the body camera footage they would only take her in for fingerprinting.

He claimed she was 'lucky' this time, but 'if this happens again, I am being told point blank that you will be looking at jail for the night, at least.'

Still, Thornton insisted: ' 'I'm not out to hurt anybody.'

But she faced four months behind bars, a fine of up to $1,431 and a probation period of two years.

Authorities argued she was operating illegally, without a permit, because her food was being doled out for charitable reasons and was neither pre-packaged nor store-bought.

Eventually, however, a city prosecutor offered her a plea deal for community service with two years probation, but Thornton refused, and received pro-bono legal representation.

Soon enough, the city prosecutor dropped the case, saying Thornton was just unfamiliar with the law.

Thornton has since decided to continue to give out her home-cooked meals, which include a protein (usually meat) and fresh fruits and vegetables, at an alley nearby.

'I'm never going to stop feeding them,' Thornton said in the video posted by the law firm. 'Never.'

But compared to the park, she said, the alley lacks seating and only partial shade from the brutal Arizona shade.

City officials have said that individuals are still permitted to feed anyone they would like on private property, or could provide non home-cooked food in the city parks

In a statement, Mayor Tom Brady said: 'Individuals are free to serve food to any homeless person at their place of residence, church or private property,' while Police Chief Robert Trebes also issued a statement saying Thornton's efforts interfere with the police department's efforts to get the homeless residents into shelters

City officials, meanwhile, say the video is misleading.

They said they adopted the Food Sharing Ordinance 'after years of complaints from families who desired to utilize city parks.

'The ordinance does not stop individuals or groups from distributing food or drink to a homeless person, or any other person in a city park if the food or drink is 'sealed prepackaged foods' readily available from retail outlets and intended for consumption directly from the package,' they said in a statement.

'Individuals are free to serve food to any homeless person at their place of residence, church or private property,' Mayor Tom Brady added. 'Our ordinance applies to public parks only.'

And Police Chief Robert Trebes said: 'After the ordinance was enacted, there was approximately nine months where we educated or warned about the ordinance and no enforcement action was taken.

'The Bullhead City Police Department cares for the health and welfare of our citizens, and we have been working hard to help the homeless get the services they need to get them out of their situation,' he added.

'Officers have many contacts with the homeless, and during these contacts we educate them on local services and will even transport them to the local homeless shelter if they want, rather than by enabling them by just leaving them where they are and bringing them things that doesn't help them out long-term.

'When incidents like this occur, where citizens, even well-meaning, violate the law, it becomes counter productive to what we are trying to accomplish with this vulnerable population,' Trebes explained.

'We want them to get help to get out of their situation, not keep them in it.'

But, the lawsuit asserts, 'the city's real goal is to remove all homeless people from using public parks, which it seeks to accomplish by prohibiting charitable food sharing by well-meaning residents like Norma.'

It notes that the food pantries and shelters in the city have limited hours and 'many needy people in the area either do not own a car or cannot afford to pay the gas to drive to food pantries or shelters.'

The lawsuit then goes on to argue that the ordinance violates her 14th Amendment rights 'to engage in charitable acts and to share food with the needy.'

And, the lawyers argue, 'the disparate treatment between people sharing food for charitable purposes and people sharing food for non-charitable purposes also violates her right to equal protection.'

'People have a fundamental right to engage in charity, which is protected by the Constitution,' Simpson said.

'There is absolutely no valid reason for Bullhead City to crack down on Norma's act of compassion.'
'Our campaign remains focused on the same priorities since day one,' Garcia's campaign told DailyMail.com in a statement on Thursday

The Nancy Pelosi-aligned House Majority PAC pulled more than $2 million in funding from Garcia's area

A recent wave of GOP momentum less than two weeks before election day has his seat forecasted from a toss-up to likely Republican

California Republican Rep. Mike Garcia is shrugging off 'outside noise and progressive policy failures,' his campaign told DailyMail.com on Thursday after Democrats reversed-course on more than $2 million in midterm TV spending in his district.

Garcia, a former Navy pilot, is the only Republican to represent part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

He was thought to be among the most vulnerable members of the House GOP in this election cycle for months until recently, when the Republican Party seized momentum in federal and state races nationwide.

As more polls suggest a wider margin of victory for Republicans than previously thought, and the midterms less than two weeks away, Democrats appear to be consolidating funds to areas where their chances are higher.

Among the areas they are closing their coffers to is reportedly Los Angeles County.

The Nancy Pelosi-aligned House Majority PAC is cutting $2.2 million from that TV market, Politico reported last week.

When asked for the campaign's reaction on Thursday, Garcia spokesman Ben Williamson told DailyMail.com that the California conservative would remain 'focused' on his message ahead of the November 8 Election Day.

California Rep. Mike Garcia's re-election appears to have gained serious momentum in recent weeks as the GOP looks poised to sprint to the November 8 finish line with better-than-expected gains

'Our campaign remains focused on the same priorities since day one: security, abiding by the constitution, working hard, delivering for our constituents, and fighting to ensure this Nation remains the greatest the planet has seen,' he said.

'That will never change regardless of any outside noise or progressive policy failures.'

He's being challenged by Democrat Christy Smith, who narrowly lost to Garcia in 2020

While Garcia's district has historically anchored Republicans' presence in Los Angeles County, shifting political tides and a Democrat-friendly redistricting map put the area in solid toss-up territory for months of the campaign.

But now, even despite President Joe Biden winning the district by more than 10 points in 2020, Garcia appears poised to keep his seat after all.

Politico moved its forecast for the district from 'toss-up' to 'lean Republican' on Thursday.

It's part of a wider trend of districts in California, Oregon, New York and other parts of the country that have been hit particularly hard by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and higher crime rates that are becoming an uphill battle for Democrats in the 11th hour of the campaign cycle.

His opponent, Democrat Christy Smith, was a California state assemblywoman who narrowly lost to Garcia in 2020.

She's sought to tie him to Donald Trump through the congressman's vote to overturn the 2020 election results, and campaigned against his conservative views on abortion.

Nancy Pelosi-aligned House Majority PAC recently withdrew its cash from the race in a sign of Democrats' low expectations

In addition to running on his accomplishments in Congress and time in the military and as a military contractor, Garcia has largely followed a GOP playbook set out for candidates in politically moderate areas.

That includes hammering Democrats on the economy and rising crime rates, both issues that are consistently at the top of likely voters' minds, multiple polls suggest.

A recent ABC News poll shows Republicans leading in voter preferences on handling both issues.

Despite a surge in voter energy over the summer when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Democrats have for the most part seen a gloomy forecast for keeping their razor-thin control of Congress.

Garcia's race in California's 27th Congressional District stands to be one of the deciding factors.
Villagers have spent four years creating a beautiful poppy tribute to three soldiers who died in the First World War after discovering there was no memorial for them.

The cascade of more than 5,000 handmade poppies flowing from the tower, window and door of St Peter's Church honours Arthur Piper, 21, his brother William, 28, and George Westcott, 21, of Dowland, Devon.

The touching project also features a sculpture of a soldier lying in a large hand surrounded by 3,000 more poppies, and a bench in the grounds.

Villagers have spent four years creating a beautiful poppy tribute to three soldiers who died in the First World War after discovering there was no memorial for them

Sue and Graham Dunn at the St Peter's Church in Dowland, Devon, which has been decorated to honour the three local men who lost their lives in the First World War

Pictured: Arthur Piper. Four Piper brothers went to war, with Arthur and William dying in conflict while a third, Harry, died after the end of the war from influenza

Pictured: William Piper. None of the Piper family remain in the village of Dowland in Devon

The project's Susie Dunn said: 'As our soldiers were all farmers, born in the parish, we decided to make something ourselves in the parish as we felt this would be more meaningful.'

Four Piper brothers went to war, with Arthur and William dying in conflict while a third, Harry, died after the end of the war from influenza. None of the Piper family remain in the village, but George Westcott's relatives still farm in the parish.

Yesterday in London the Royal British Legion launched its annual poppy appeal. Among those present was D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan, 98.

Mr Morgan, from Crewe, became the youngest RAF sergeant to land on Gold Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944.
Sex between TV star Danny Masterson and his live-in girlfriend  and alleged rape victim  was never loving during their six years together, she told the jury at his rape trial Thursday.

Instead, 'it was rough and forceful, Jane Doe #3 said during her third day in the witness box.

He did not understand that a woman needs to be prepared  not just jump on and do it their way.

Asked during cross examination by defense attorney, Philip Cohen, if Masterson would keep on asking for sex, even when she said no, she told the court, He wouldnt ask. There was no asking  he would just do it.

Masterson, 46  who has been free on $3.3 million bail since his arrest in June 2020  has pleaded not guilty to raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003.

The Scientologist actor is facing a sentence of 45 years to life in prison if hes convicted at the end of his trial where Elvis Presleys daughter, ex-Scientologist Lisa Marie Presley, is on the witness list.

Danny Masterson arrived at court Thursday with a vente iced coffee from Starbucks

His wife actress Bijou Phillips was with the That 70s Show star giving him support, as she has done throughout the trial

His accusers  whom DailyMail.com is identifying only as Jane Does 1 through 3  are all former Scientologists and are also suing him and the Church of Scientology in civil court, claiming that theyve been harassed and intimidated since reporting him to police.

Masterson  who starred on TVs That 70s Show  showed up Thursday at the criminal court in downtown Los Angeles in a gray suit, blue shirt and gray striped tie.

The case resumed Thursday after a day off. Defense lawyer Cohen opened his cross examination by questioning Jane Doe 3 about the 1997 night she earlier testified to in which she returned from a modeling assignment in Paris and she and Masterson had a big fight about her not wanting to have sex with him.

When the attorney asked her what she had said to Masterson that night that made him mad, she said, I told him I had slept with somebody else  which was not true.

But when Cohen then asked who she told him she had slept with, Judge Charlaine Olmedo interrupted, saying, Thats irrelevant.

Later, during a a brief sidebar with the jury out of the courtroom, Cohen revealed that it was Mastersons brother whom Jane Doe 3 had claimed to have slept with.

The judge told him, I understand your argument that the brother makes it more egregiousbut its still not relevant.

Jane Doe #3 reacts to cross examination from Masterson's defense lawyer Philip Cohen in a court sketch

Judge Claudia Olmeda and defense attorney Philip Cohen clashed over whether the identity of the man that Jne Doe 3 may have slept with could be revealed to the jury

When the attorney asked her what she had said to Masterson that night that made him mad, she said, I told him I had slept with somebody else  which was not true.

But when Cohen then asked who she told him she had slept with, Judge Charlaine Olmedo interrupted, saying, Thats irrelevant.

Later, during a a brief sidebar with the jury out of the courtroom, Cohen revealed that it was Mastersons brother whom Jane Doe 3 had claimed to have slept with.

The judge told him, I understand your argument that the brother makes it more egregiousbut its still not relevant.

The case against Masterson involving Jane Doe 3 centers on two incidents. The first was in November 2001 when she says she woke to find him having sex with her and when she said no and tried to fight him off, he hit her in the face. This is the basis of the rape charge Masterson is facing.

The second  which he is not charged with  was in December 2001 when, she claims, Masterson raped her anally while she was unconscious.

Under cross examination, Jane Doe 3 admitted that the November 2001 incident was the only time during their five-plus years together that the actor struck her.

Cohen raised discrepancies between her testimony  in which she said Masterson hit her on her left cheek with the side of his closed fist  and a later interview with a detective in which she said he slapped her face.

All the alleged rapes are said to have taken place in Masterson's $6.2 million mansion in the Hollywood Hills

When asked, Would it be accurate to say that during your relationship, Masterson never threatened to hit you? she answered, There were times when it felt like he was going to. But I dont know.

In 2016, Jane Doe 3 finally went to the police in Austin, Texas  where she was living at the time  to report Masterson.

You were there to report a sexual assault from December 2001, correct? asked Cohen.

I believe I said I was there to report a rape, she replied.

You were referring to the December 2001 sodomy, right? said Cohen

He raped me  it was extremely damaging to me, she answered.

You made no mention (to Austin Police) of the November incident, correct? asked Cohen.

They did not ask me about other things, responded Jane Doe 3.

Cohen asked her if she reported sodomy or anal rape that occurred in December 2001 in a later interview she gave to Los Angeles Police Department Detective Esther Reyes.

Yes sir, she replied. But I never referred to it as sodomy. If someone has sex with you when you are unconscious, that is rape sir.

One of Danny Mastersons rape accusers Thursday blasted the Church of Scientology for the terror campaign she claims it has waged against her since reporting the Scientologist actor to police.

After three days on the witness stand in Mastersons trial, Jane Doe #3, was asked if the civil lawsuit that she and his two other alleged rape victims have brought against him and the church is related to the stalking and harassment she has been subject to since turning him in.

Its related to the terror campaign that this criminal organization has put upon my family, she answered.

After Jane Doe 3 said in the witness box that she had found out that Masterson had done this to other women, his attorney, Philip Cohen, called for a mistrial, claiming that jurors could think she meant additional women to the ones hes charged with in this trial.

Judge Olmedo disagreed and denied his request for a mistrial.

Earlier in cross examination, when Jane Doe 3 was asked by Cohen if told detectives or Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller - the prosecutor in this case - that shed slept with Masterson a few times after the alleged rape and their subsequent breakup, she answered, I dont know and I dont remember.

In re-direct after cross examination, Mueller asked her to clarify her testimony in which she said Masterson frequently forced himself upon her.

Lots of times I would wake up and find him having sex with me, she told the court.

That was normal. It was the only thing I knew. Thats just how he was.

Mueller also countered Cohens suggestion that Jane Doe 3 might not remember events from a night if she had been drinking alcohol.

She admitted that she could be hung over the next day.

But when Mueller asked her, If you were drinking, would it be a situation where you wouldnt remember what happened that night? she responded, No sir.
China sent a furious email to Sen. Josh Hawley denouncing his effort to sanction President Xi Jinping and other top Chinese Communist Party officials, it emerged on Thursday.

Hawley unveiled legislation last week that would impose global penalties for their role in the Uyghur genocide.

A senior official at the Chinese embassy in Washington responded with an 800-word email on Monday, accusing the Republican senator of 'ideological prejudice' and of spreading a 'smear.'

'I am reaching out to express China's strong indignation and serious concerns regarding Senator Hawleys new bill "Sanction Xi Jinping for Xinjiang Atrocities Act,"' wrote Li Xiang in the email obtained by Axios.

'Filled with ideology bias, this bill not only grossly interferes in China's internal aairs, but also points ngers at China's top leadership during the 20th [Communist Party of China] National Congress.

'Senator Hawley's action in disregard of global backlash is arrogant and despicable.'

He demanded the law be retracted, but Hawley scoffed at the rebuke.

The Chinese embassy expressed fury after Sen. Josh Hawley unveiled legislation to sanction President Xi Jinping over the repression of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang

The 800-word email was sent by Li Xiang at the Chinese embassy in Washington D.C.

Hawley responded to the letter on Twitter, saying he would not withdraw the bill

'Somebody's sensitive: After I proposed sanctioning Xi personally for the CCP genocide against the Uyghurs, Beijing lost its marbles, called the Uyghurs terrorists and demanded I retract the bill,' he wrote on Twitter.

'Not going to happen.'

The message illustrates how Beijing's foreign diplomatic corps has stepped up its defense of Xi since he tightened his grip on power at the congress.

He is set to rule for another 10 years at least.

With a steady stream of anti-China bills making their way through Congress, the embassy picked one that singles out Xi by name.

In unveiling his bill last week, Hawley accused Xi of hoping the world would turn a blink eye to the crimes of his regime.

'But we must not look away,' he said.

'We must hold Xi and his lieutenants accountable for their crimes against humanity and we can start by imposing real costs for their complicity in the atrocities in Xinjiang.'

Beijing has vehemently rejected claims of abuse against Uyghur Muslims at internment camps (pictured), insisting it is running vocational training centres in Xinjiang designed to counter extremism

The bill would target Xi and other officials, freezing their assets and barring them from traveling to the U.S.

Rights groups accuse the Chinese government of committing grave human-rights violations against the Xinjiang region's largely Muslim Uyghur population.

The State Department had called it a genocide since last year.

China contends that its measures Xinjiang are designed to prevent terrorism.

'The issues related to Xinjiang are not about ethnicity, human rights or religion, but about anti-terrorism, anti- separatism and de-radicalization,' said Li in the email.

'From the 1990s to 2016, Xinjiang experienced thousands of violent terrorist attacks.'

Those stopped once the government took actin, he said.

'The so-called 'genocide' is out-and-out lie,' he continued.

'In the past 70 years, the Uyghur population in Xinjiang has increased from 2.2 million to more than 12 million.'
The boss of a militant rail union responsible for months of travel chaos has stepped down amid allegations of sexual harassment and bullying.

Manuel Cortes retired as general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) this week after an inquiry into his alleged misconduct was extended.

He was one of the three figureheads responsible for a wave of strike action aimed at crippling the country, alongside Rail, Maritime and Transport boss Mick Lynch and Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan.

Manuel Cortes retired as general secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) this week after an inquiry into his alleged misconduct was extended

Born in Gibraltar, Cortes was a key supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership bid and had planned to retire this year before allegations of misconduct emerged

The 55-year-old is facing accusations of unwanted touching and demanding that women he worked with kiss him.

He has apologised for hurt caused by his behaviour but denied claims of harassment.

It comes as Baroness Helena Kennedy KC was appointed to investigate accusations of sexual harassment and bullying at the organisation.

Initially expected to deliver her findings before Christmas, Lady Kennedy has now requested that a leadership contest for Cortes' replacement should be delayed until her findings are finalised.

He agreed to step down as general secretary on Monday after 11 years to avoid breaching trade union laws.

The boss of a militant rail union responsible for months of travel chaos has stepped down amid allegations of sexual harassment and bullying

Frank Ward, previously assistant general secretary, has been temporarily appointed ahead of an election in early 2023.

He said: 'I wish him [Cortes] a long and healthy retirement.' Cortes was granted an extra year in charge during 2022 due to the fallout from Covid but union leadership must be put to the ballot every five years.

Born in Gibraltar, Cortes was a key supporter of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership bid and had planned to retire this year before allegations of misconduct emerged.

It comes as TSSA prepare to launch yet more strike action in November as a winter of disruption looms over Britain.
Lucianne Goldberg, the conservative literary agent who played a pivotal role in exposing the affair between Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton, died Wednesday at 87.

Her son, journalist Jonah Goldberg, confirmed the news Thursday and said his mother died 'peacefully at home, surrounded by people  and pets!  who loved her.'

It was Goldberg who advised Pentagon aide Linda Tripp to record her conversations with then-White House intern Lewinsky when the then-24-year-old spoke about her affair with President Clinton.

Those 20 hours of recordings became key evidence in the Kenneth Star investigation of Clinton over his affair with Lewinsky and whether he committed perjury by lying about the affair in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case.

Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on Dec. 19, 1998 for denying under oath that he had had sex with Lewinsky, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

Lucianne Goldberg, the conservative literary agent who played a pivotal role in exposing the affair between Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton, died Wednesday at 87

It was Goldberg who advised Pentagon aide Linda Tripp to record her conversations with then-White House intern Lewinsky when the then-24-year-old spoke about her affair with President Clinton

A longtime Clinton foe, Goldberg had met Tripp while working on a proposal for a book on the death of Vince Foster, a Clinton aide whose suicide sparked conservative conspiracy theories. It was Goldberg who told her friend the recordings would be legal -- they werent -- and then encouraged her to break Lewinskys trust and give them to Starr. Goldberg later said she was glad Clinton had been caught at something.

As a New York literary agent Goldberg was known for promoting books others did not want to touch. The New York Times described her as an agent with a taste for right-wing, tell-all attack books in an article published amid the fallout from the Lewinsky tapes.

Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives on Dec. 19, 1998 for denying under oath that he had had sex with Lewinsky, but he was acquitted by the Senate.

With Democratic ties in her early years, Goldberg worked as a press aide on Lyndon Johnson's campaign for president in 1960. She then worked for the Democratic National Committee and the John F. Kennedy inaugural committee.

In 1970 she founded anti-feminist group 'Pussycat League' and during the 1972 presidential campaign she was paid as a spy posing to be a reporter covering Democrat George McGovern's campaign.

Goldberg was born Lucianne Steinberger in Boston. Her first marriage, to William Cummings, ended in divorce. Her second husband, newspaper executive Sidney Goldberg, died in 2005.

Her survivors include Jonah Goldberg. Another son, Joshua Goldberg, died in 2011.
Four ISIS brides and their 13 children are on their way back to Australia from a refugee camp for IS families in Syria.

The 17 evacuees will stay in Iraq for a short time before touching down in Sydney - marking the first returns since Anthony Albanese's government reversed a ban on repatriating the family members of ISIS soldiers.

The women and children were removed from the al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces.

They had been held in the camp in the north eastern Syria region known as Rojava since March 2019, following Islamic States last stand in the village of Baghouz.

The identities of the women have not been released.

The women and children were removed from the al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces. They are now headed for Sydney

The women and children were removed from the al-Roj camp near the Iraqi border in an operation involving Australian officials and the Syrian Democratic Forces

The evacuations come after Cabinet's national security committee finalised plans to repatriate more than a dozen families who underwent 'risk assessments' following a secret ASIO mission to Syria.

Aussie intelligence agencies believe that leaving Australians in squalid camps may present more of a threat to national security than bringing them back, as their plight could be used to recruit more Australian Muslims to join terror organisations.

It is understood all of those brought home will be subject to intensive monitoring by security agencies and some will face terror charges as it was illegal for many at the time to travel to Syria and Iraq.

'The Australian government's overriding priority is the protection of Australians and Australia's national security advice,' a spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said on the subject earlier this month.

'Given the sensitive nature of the matters involved, it would not be appropriate to comment further.'

The government's plan has been intensely criticised since it was revealed.

They are the first returns since Anthony Albanese's government reversed a ban on repatriating the family members of ISIS soldiers

Karl Stefanovic said earlier this month that there was 'no way in the world' ISIS families should be allowed to return to Australia after leaving to join their husbands fighting for the terror group.

'I think if you make a decision to go overseas with someone and fight for Islamic State, you're making the decision as a family, there's no way in the world you should be allowed to come back here,' he said.

However, former ADF intelligence analyst Shane Healey earlier told The Project Australia was '100 per cent' obliged to bring the families home.

'I don't see how we can bring refugees out of Sudan, out of Afghanistan and out of other countries that are war-torn and leave Australian citizens sitting in such a terrible state.'

He stressed women and children rescued from the detention camp won't be whisked to Australia straight away and will need further assessment before they can return home, a process that could take months.
The Duchess of York has been forced to deny claims that she 'made repeated contact' with The Crown producers.

Sources at Left Bank Pictures say that Sarah Ferguson, 63, sought to partner with them on a TV adaptation of her romance novel, Her Heart For A Compass.

During discussions with boss Andy Harries, its said the topic of her depiction in The Crown came up.

Fergie offered to help out with information on her character in the show and the inner workings of the Royal Family.

A source said: She made repeated contact via emails and on the phone. She offered advice and background information and said that she had an inside view which would make her invaluable to the show as a consultant.

Fergie is understood to have pointed out her own experience in the film industry, having been a producer on the 2009 film The Young Victoria.

The Duchess of York has become embroiled in an extraordinary row over her dealings with the makers of The Crown

Sources at Left Bank Pictures say that Sarah Ferguson, 63, sought to partner with them on a TV adaptation of her romance novel, Her Heart For A Compass. Pictured: Emma Laird Craig as Fergie in The Crown Series 4

During discussions with boss Andy Harries, its said the topic of her depiction in The Crown came up

She referred to the discussions in an aside in a magazine interview this summer, revealing she had complained about her lack of screen time in the show.

She said she wrote to Harries to say: Hello! Where is Fergie?! She added: I said to him: Why cant I help my character?!

A few weeks later she told another magazine that she had indeed spoken with Harries about The Crown.

She said: I have watched The Crown and I thought it was filmed beautifully. The cinematography was excellently done. I loved the way they included my wedding.

I did write to Andy Harries, who produced The Crown, but it was more about the idea of getting Her Heart For A Compass turned into a film or a TV series than it was about my portrayal.

However, with controversy raging over the series and a growing feeling the Royal Family is starting to actively reject a show they once grudgingly tolerated, she now seems to feel the need to distance herself from The Crown.

Fergie offered to help out with information on her character in the show and the inner workings of the Royal Family

She referred to the discussions in an aside in a magazine interview this summer, revealing she had complained about her lack of screen time in the show. Pictured: Imelda Staunton plays Elizabeth II in the fifth series

Contacted about the story, a source close to the Duchess initially said she was thinking she might simply offer some insight into her character and there was certainly no discussion of any fee.

A few hours later, the source said that there was categorically no offer made by the Duchess to consult on The Crown; and claimed her on-the-record comments confirming discussions with Left Bank in interviews had been misinterpreted.

Later still, a spokesman for Ferguson said: The Duchess was in contact with Andy Harries, who produces The Crown, last year and they had a discussion about adapting her novel, Her Heart For A Compass, into a TV series.

They did not discuss The Crown, or any idea of her helping with the series in any way. Such a suggestion was made separately at one point by a mutual friend, but was not progressed by either side.

It comes after Princess Diana's friends slammed the 'insensitivity' of Netflix after crews from The Crown were spotted filming the moments leading up to her fatal car crash - just 100 yards from the Paris tunnel where she died 25 years ago.

Exclusive MailOnline photographs showed filming of a Mercedes in Paris near the site of the car crash that claimed her and Dodi Al Fayed's lives.

Netflix crews film just moments before Princess Diana's car crashed in Paris for The Crown

Onlookers said Netflix crews were seen filming between 2am and 3am on Wednesday around 100 yards from the Alma tunnel, where the crash happened in the early hours of August 31, 1997.

The pictures show a black Mercedes like the one the couple were travelling in on that tragic day being filmed in another nearby tunnel on the same road.

Netflix has insisted the 'exact moment' of the crash will not feature in the controversial drama, which has recently come under fire for sensationalism and inaccuracy.

A friend of Diana's said the show's makers could face accusations of 'insensitivity' over the filming in Paris.

Debbie Frank, who was Diana's astrologer, said it would be 'terrible' for Princes William and Harry to see a recreation of the moments leading up to their mother's death.

'It's obviously terrible for Diana's children to have to see that again. It's insensitive,' she said.

She added: 'I feel Diana's death and the crash was the biggest shock our generation. It had such a huge impact across the national psyche.

'I guess the makers of The Crown feel they are entitled to show a re-enactment of scenes leading up to her death and that it has dramatic impact. But relatives would think otherwise.'

Series five of the Netflix show will stream from November 9.
With Halloween just around the corner now, you may be planning to head out in search of spooky treats.

Knowing which neighbours have sweets at the ready can be tricky, but thankfully help is here this year.

Social networking site Nextdoor has launched a 'Treat Map' to let neighbours know where to find sweets this Halloween.

Users can mark their house with a pumpkin pin to let neighbours know they will be celebrating by handing out sweets.

They can also mark their home with a house icon to let others know that their home has been kitted out in spooky decor for people to admire.

Social networking site Nextdoor has launched a 'Treat Map' to let neighbours know where to find sweets this Halloween

Treat Map, which is available Nextdoor's app (pictured) and website, will help local communities 'get into the Halloween spirit' on Monday night

HOW TO USE TREAT MAP From left, sweet icon, house icon and allergy-free icon If youre already a Nextdoor member, simply sign into your account. If you are not yet a member, sign up and verify your address. Tap the 'Discover' tab to bring up the Treat Map. Once on the map, you will be given the choice to mark your home with a sweet icon, house icon or allergy-free icon. For those heading out on Halloween, use the Treat Map to make your way through the neighborhood to score the best 'sweets, treats and scares'. Advertisement

Nextdoor is a San Francisco-based social networking company that's focused on connecting neighbourhoods.

Treat Map, which is available on Nextdoor's app and website, will help local communities 'get into the Halloween spirit' on Monday night, the firm says.

'Whether you're dressing up or greeting trick-or-treaters, Halloween is a great time to get to know your local community,' said Roisin O'Neill, Head of Community UK at Nextdoor.

'To help people plan the best route and find out who will be celebrating the occasion locally, we've created the Nextdoor Treat Map so people can easily identify who is welcoming trick-or-treaters in advance of setting out.'

When new users set up an account on the Nextdoor app, they must hand over their full name, email address, home address and mobile number.

The app also asks to access a new user's location to confirm their neighbourhood and make sure Nextdoor users 'are real people with real addresses'.

Once the set-up process is done, people can add one of three Halloween-themed pins to mark out their house on the map, which is accessible on the app's 'Discover' tab.

A sweet icon indicates that a home has treats so trick-or-treaters know to stop by, while a house icon lets others known a home is decked out in Halloween decorations.

Lastly, an 'allergy-free icon'  which looks like a lightbulb  indicates a household is giving out alternative sweets and goodies that cater for allergies.

Unlike the other two icons which are orange, the allergy-free icon is a teal colour because teal is associated with food allergy awareness.

Nextdoor admitted that houses on the Treat Map that aren't marked with a pin could be people who don't use Nextdoor, but they could also be people who do use Nextdoor but don't want to be bothered by trick-or-treaters.

The firm therefore advises looking out for a pumpkin outside as a more 'traditional' sign that trick-or-treaters are welcome.

Treat Map, which is available Nextdoor's app and website, marks out local homes that are offering treats, as well as homes kitted out in spooky decor

In the US, Nextdoor has also released a version of Treat Map that marks out homes that are giving out goodies for pets. This pet-feature is not available for UK Treat Map users, however.

Nextdoor said: 'Once your home is marked as a pet-friendly destination, get ready to see precious pets in costumes on your doorstep.'

But official advice from the British Vet Association (BVA) says dogs and other pets should not be dressed up in costumes at Halloween.

The BVA has said that pets are 'not fashion accessories' and that they should not be dressed up because it can cause them harm and spark anxiety.
Mars may not be the cold, barren wasteland scientists have long believed - new research shows there could be magma flowing deep below the Martian surface that spewed form a volcano in the last 50,000 years.

A team of international scientists, led by ETH Zurich, analyzed a cluster of more than 20 recent marsquakes, some of which may have been triggered by a warm source that could only be explained by present day molten lava.

With this in mind, the group looked at satellite images of the region and found dark deposits of dust located more than 18 feet below the surface that signal a volcanic region.

The discovery, if confirmed, completely writes the history of Mars that suggested volcanic activity has not been present for at least the past four billion years.

Mars was once teeming with volcanic activity, but the last eruption was believed to happen some four billion years ago. A new study, however, could rewrite the Martian world's history

Simon Staehler, the lead author of the paper, said in a statement: 'The darker shade of the dust signifies geological evidence of more recent volcanic activityperhaps within the past 50,000 yearsrelatively young, in geological terms.'

The team was investigating quakes in the Cerberus Fossae, which is a series of semi-parallel fissures on Mars that were formed by faults pulling the crust apart, using NASA's Insight lander that arrived on the Red Planet November 2018.

The team made the discovery using NASA's Insight lander that arrived on the Red Planet November 2018. The technology has proven successful at detecting marsquakes

The team was investigating quakes in the Cerberus Fossae, which is a series of semi-parallel fissures on Mars that were formed by faults pulling the crust apart

It's mission is to uncover how a rocky body forms and evolves to become a planet by investigating the interior structure and composition of Mars.

And it will also determine the rate of Martian tectonic activity and meteorite impacts.

Previous research on the Cerberus Fossae has suggested that the region was volcanically active within the last 10 million years, but the new discovery could rewrite the timeline.

According to Staehler 'it is possible that what we are seeing are the last remnants of this once active volcanic region or that the magma is right now moving eastward to the next location of eruption.'

When analyzing the quakes, the team picked up on a deeper low-frequency marsquake that suggests a structurally weak, potentially warm source region consistent with recent magmatic activity at 18 to 31 feet below the surface.

And the study published in Nature notes that the researchers now believe 'Cerberus Fossae represents a unique tectonic setting shaped by current day magmatic processes and locally elevated heat flow.'

'While there is much more to learn, the evidence of potential magma on Mars is intriguing,' Anna Mittelholz, Postdoctoral Fellow at ETH Zurich and Harvard University.

Previous research on the Cerberus Fossae has suggested that the region was volcanically active within the last 10 million years, but the new discovery could rewrite the timeline

The groundbreaking discovery comes just a few months after the Australian National University proposed the quakes are triggered by a sea of magma in the Red Planet's mantle.

This research, announced in April, also analyzed data from Insight, which first arrived on Mars in November 2018, and immediately found the planet was rumbling.

So far it has detected hundreds of marsquakes, but Hrvoje Tkalcic of the Australian National University in Australia and his colleague, geophysicist Weijia Sun of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, wanted to look for quakes that might have gone unnoticed in the InSight data.

Using two unconventional techniques, only recently applied to geophysics, the duo detected 47 new seismic events coming from a region on Mars called the Cerberus Fossae.

Most of them resemble the waveforms of two Cerberus Fossae quakes that took place in May and July 2019, suggesting that the smaller quakes are related to the larger ones.

While looking to establish the cause of the quakes, the researchers discovered that there was no pattern in the timing of them, which ruled out the Martian moon Phobos being of influence.

'We found that these Marsquakes repeatedly occurred at all times of the Martian day, whereas Marsquakes detected and reported by NASA in the past appeared to have occurred only during the dead of night when the planet is quieter,' Tkalcic said

'Therefore, we can assume that the movement of molten rock in the Martian mantle is the trigger for these 47 newly detected Marsquakes beneath the Cerberus Fossae region.'
There are mixed feelings about the buy, with many users feeling the new boss will destroy Twitter -even though Musk promised it won't be a 'hellscape'

As Elon Musk confirmed Thursday he has closed the $44 billion deal to buy Twitter and now the question on everyone's minds is what will the social media platform look like under control of the new 'Chief Twit'?

Some users look forward to the free speech version of Twitter run by Musk, while others believe the site will be a dumpster fire and 'we are all doomed' under his leadership - even though the new boss announced Thursday that he promises not to turn it into a 'hellscape.'

In interviews and his own Twitter posts, Musk has shared insights on how he would overhaul Twitter when he became boss, including making it a haven for free speech, open sourcing algorithms for developers to make suggestions and defeating spam bots he believes are running rampant on the site.

The Tesla CEO has been very vocal about easing content moderation policies, noting in April that if a tweet includes contents that are 'a gray area' it should stay, but Musk is also aware that those with a lot of controversy should not necessarily be promoted.

Elon Musk walked into Twitter headquarters Wednesday and on Thursday he announced the $44 billion deal to buy is now closed. This will let him overhaul Twitter as he likes

Musk strolled into Twitter headquarters in San Jose, California Wednesday afternoon, but did so in his own unique way.

He posted a video on Twitter of himself while carrying a sink into the lobby, with text reading: 'Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in!' And today, he is officially the man in charge.

Shortly after announcing the $44 billion bid in April, the flood gates of his Twitter ideas were open and he let the world know his big plans for the platform.

Musk was said to favor a subscription-based model over advertiser funding, as it would make Twitter less beholden to advertiser pressure - but this was not one of the priorities outlined in the official announcement.

He even suggested users could pay with cryptocurrency, including joke currency Dogecoin which Musk has long had an affection for.

The deal has not been welcomed by everyone, as one Twitter user believes the site is now a dumpster fire

Musk shared an open letter about why he bought Twitter, but users believe we are doomed under the new leadership

Musk, however, shared an open letter Thursday that plays a different tune when it comes to advertising on the platform.

'Fundamentally,' Musk shared in the letter. 'Twitter aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world that strengthens your brand and grows your enterprise.'

It is not clear what sparked the turn around, but Reuters published a report Wednesday that revealed Twitter has lost several of its major advertisers and Musk may be playing nice hoping to win some of the back - or at the very least, keep the current contracts.

Dan Ives, Managing Director, Senior Equity Analyst at Wedbush Securities, told DailyMail.com: 'We can see a paid subscription service unveiled with the free speech dynamic with power users worried the floodgates can open.'

Musk also wrote in the letter that although he aims to provide a digital town square, 'Twitter obviously cannot be a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences.'

The 'free-for-all hellscape' has been what those opposed to the deal are concerned about.

TIME magazine posted an article stating that Musk's Twitter would reverse policies that are 'designed to make the platform safer for vulnerable userstypically women, LGBTQ individuals and people of colorsuch as its ban on misgendering transgender people.'

This idea builds on Musk's statement about tweets having a gray area.

'If in doubt, let the speech exist,' Musk said in an on-stage interview in April.

'If it's a gray area, I would say, let the tweet exist. But obviously in the case where there's perhaps a lot of controversy, you would not necessarily want to promote that tweet.'

Musk has been very vocal about implementing free speech on the platform. However, he also said Twitter cannot be a free-for-all

Should he unleash full-on free speech, he would have to allow Donald Trump and others who have been banned for controversial tweets back onto the site

A text message exchange between Musk and Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal in April, which were released earlier this month, reveals the billionaire will not let Twitter 'be turned into some right wing nuthouse. Aiming to be as broadly inclusive as possible.'

However, the Chief Twit is aware his idea of free speech could push the buttons of the political left and mostly please those on the right.

Should he unleash full-on free speech, he would have to allow Donald Trump and others who have been banned for controversial tweets back onto the site.

This also includes 'many, many others that were removed as a result of QAnon conspiracies, targeted harassment of journalists and activists, and of course all of the accounts that were removed after Jan. 6,' said Joan Donovan, who studies misinformation at Harvard University.

'That could potentially be hundreds of thousands of people.'

Musk has taken public stands against those on the left, noting that 'the far left hates everyone, themselves included!'

How he will pull off the idea of allowing free speech on Twitter has yet to be seen, but Musk seems to be all for penalizing those who do not abide by the rules.

During an interview with Financial Times, Musk said: 'We should not have permanent bans. Now that doesn't mean that somebody gets to say whatever they want to say.

'If they say something that is illegal or otherwise, you know, uh, just, you know, just destructive to the world then, then that there should be perhaps a timeout, a temporary suspension or, or that particular tweet should be made invisible or have very limited traction.'

Musk has publicly taken a stand against both political sides

Musk has publicly taken a stand against both political sides. He has said Twitter will not be turned into some right wing nuthouse, but he will also not cater to the far left

Musk also floated the idea of open sourcing the algorithm Twitter uses as open source to promote transparency and free speech.

It would allow people outside of the company to suggest changes and even create fixes to Twitter's code.

Speaking in a TED talk in April, the billionaire explained the promotion or demotion of a tweet is done by algorithms in the background, which he would upload to the software hosting platform GitHub that is available to anyone.

'People can look through it and say, 'Oh, I see a problem here, I don't agree with this,' Musk said.

'They can highlight issues and suggest changes, in the same way that you update Linux or Signal.'

But such 'code-level transparency' gives users little insight into how Twitter is working for them without the data the algorithms are processing, said Nick Diakopoulos, a Northwestern University computer scientist.

Also in April, he suggested that users who paid for Twitter Blue would be able to receive a check mark which shows their account is 'authenticated'.

Diakopoulos said there are good intentions in Musk's broader goal to help people find out why their tweets get promoted or demoted and whether human moderators or automated systems are making those choices.

Spam bots were a huge topic while Twitter and Musk went to battle after the billionaire pulled his offer on the site on July 8. Musk accused Twitter bosses of refusing to hand over details about the number of spam bots on its site, which he believed were more than human users

But that's no easy task.

Too much transparency about how individual tweets are ranked, for instance, can make it easier for 'disingenuous people' to game the system and manipulate an algorithm to get maximum exposure for their cause, Diakopoulos said.

Spam bots were a huge topic while Twitter and Musk went to battle after the billionaire pulled his offer on the site on July 8.

Musk accused Twitter bosses of refusing to hand over details about the number of spam bots on its site, which he believed were more than human users.

He has not provided a plan on how the Twitter spam bots will be defeated, but the Tesla CEO tweeted in April that he will 'die trying.'

Musk has also suggested Twitter could move towards a subscription-based model and a shift away from advertising which currently generates 90% of its overall revenue.

Twitter Blue, launched in June 2021, is Twitter's first subscription service and offers 'exclusive access to premium features' on a monthly subscription basis, including access to an Edit button - Musk had also floated the idea of adding one.

Twitter Blue allows for extra features for a monthly fee of $2.99.

'Price should probably be ~$2/month, but paid 12 months up front & account doesn't get checkmark for 60 days (watch for credit card chargebacks) & suspended with no refund if used for scam/spam,' Musk said in a tweet earlier this month.

On a company level, Musk has floated the idea of closing down the San Francisco headquarters in order to save money and that board members may also not receive a salary, shaving off another $3 million in expenses.

Plans also emerged last week that Musk had plans to layoff 75 percent of the Twitter staff, leaving a skeleton crew of just over 2,000 employees, which experts say would make it difficult for the social media company to tamp down on what it deems to be 'misinformation.'

But it seems he is backtracking, as news emerged last night that he will not lay off that many, but plans on culling three quarters instead.
It could become seven with Spurs and AC Milan also not certain to qualify

Manchester United and Arsenal failed to qualify for the competition this season

Five of the clubs that signed up for the ill-fated European Super League will not feature in the last-16 of the Champions League in the latest embarrassment for the struggling project.

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were dumped out of the group stage on Wednesday night, joining Juventus, who were also eliminated on the fifth match day following a defeat in Benfica.

That means that at least five of the original 12 clubs signed up for the ESL project will not feature in the advanced stages of the Champions League, with Arsenal and Manchester United having failed to qualify.

Barcelona were dumped out of the Champions League group stage on Wednesday night

It could even stretch to seven by the end of the group stage, with Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan also far from certain to go through.

The seven along with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Inter Milan were part of an original dirty dozen that controversially threatened to break away from their domestic league and UEFA during the summer of 2020 to set up a brand new competition.

However, huge fan protests among the Premier League clubs led to the English sides pulling out almost immediately, followed by Atletico Madrid, and both the Milan clubs.

Fellow Spanish side Atletico Madrid also joined them in a shock early exit from the tournament

Big hitters Juventus were also knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday night

Real Madrid, Barca and Juventus have yet to give up on the project.

Rio Ferdinand believes that part of the reason for the initial breakaway was for clubs to avoid the situation that has developed this season, where many big sides have unexpectedly fallen at the first hurdle in Europe.

'It definitely scares them,' Ferdinand said on BT Sport. 'It ways heavy on them and they lose out. They don't want jeopardy at all.

'They want that guarantee of certain financial muscle by staying in the competition all the time. No relegations or no going out and going into a different tournament or going out completely. Karma always plays a part at some point.'

At least five of the teams who signed up to the controversial European Super League will now not feature in the last-16 of the Champions League

Tottenham's progression to the last-16 is also far from certain in further embarrassment to the ill-fated project

The failure to reach the last-16 looks particularly likely to effect Spanish side Barcelona, who with fragile finances could barely afford not to reach the latter stages of the Champions League as part of their budget.

Former Liverpool and Spurs striker Peter Crouch added: 'It's a huge problem for Barcelona. They've leveraged money for TV rights to buy big players and they wouldn't have expected to out before the knock-out stages so this could be a huge blow for them financially.

Ferdinand added his thoughts on Barca, saying: 'In disarray the club, all over the place off the pitch, on the pitch not doing too well either.'
Which? says that smaller airports have generally proven to offer a 'less stressful experience' for travellers

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Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been rated the UK's best airport for the fourth year in a row thanks to its 'helpful' staff, 'faultless' service and management of queues through security and baggage reclaim.

The accolade comes ahead of the airport's closure  its last flight is due to depart in the next few weeks. In second place, meanwhile, it's a tie between Exeter and Liverpool John Lennon Airports, while Manchester Airport's Terminal 3 comes bottom of the pile.

The rankings have been produced by a new survey by Which? Travel that asked nearly 7,500 travellers to rate their experiences at 29 UK airports and terminals over the past two years  and found that generally, smaller operations outrank their big-name rivals.

Respondents ranked airports based on ten categories, including queue times at check-in and baggage reclaim, the standard of facilities, helpfulness of staff, and price of goods on offer.

First-place Doncaster Sheffield Airport earns a customer score of 85 per cent, with travellers awarding the airport's employees a full five stars. The airport's seating and toilet facilities were also praised, with one respondent enthusing their experience was 'how air travel should be'.

The airport does, however, drop to four stars for queues at check-in and bag drop, while it receives its lowest ratings for the shopping experience offered - rating three stars for the price of goods, and just two stars for the range of shops.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is the UK's best airport thanks to its 'helpful' staff, 'faultless' service and management of queues, according to a new survey by Which? Travel

Travellers that visited Exeter Airport, which ranks joint second, remarked on the 'small, friendly' feel of the airport

Which? Travel asked nearly 7,500 travellers to rate their experiences at UK airports over the past two years  and found that generally, smaller airports outranked their big-name rivals

Second-place Exeter and Liverpool John Lennon Airports have bagged a customer score of 83 per cent, with both airports earning Which? Recommended Provider status for the first time.

Which? Travel reveals that Exeter has scored a near-perfect set of five-star ratings, dropping to two stars only on the choice of shops available. Multiple respondents commented on the 'small, friendly' feel of the airport, with travellers praising the convenience they experienced, and notably, a lack of queues.

Which? Travel says that Liverpool John Lennon Airport has also rated highly for wait times, achieving an impressive five stars across check-in, bag-drop, security, passport control and baggage reclaim.

It says that respondents praised the airport as 'uncrowded' with 'minimal queues' while also singling out an intuitive layout that made the space 'easy to navigate'.

It drops one point to four stars on seating, staff, and toilets, however. And like Exeter, it has received its lowest star rating for the shopping experience on offer, achieving just three stars for both prices in shops and the range of outlets available.

Among London airports, City (77 per cent) comes out head and shoulders above the rest, achieving joint third place in the table overall (tied with Southampton), while also having the distinction of being the only London airport to make it into the national top five.

Respondents praised Liverpool John Lennon Airport - which is joint second - as 'uncrowded' with 'minimal queues'

Which? Travel notes that it achieves an impressive five stars across all queue types - check-in, bag-drop, security, passport control and baggage reclaim. What's more, it rates four stars for the quality of seating available and the helpfulness of staff.

Respondents who rated the airport highly praised their experience as 'slick', 'pleasant' and 'painless', and also commented on the convenience of its location, the watchdog reveals.

Wherever possible, we'd recommend opting for smaller airports, which have generally offered a smoother and less stressful experience for their passengers over the last two years Guy Hobbs, Editor of Which? Travel

At the UK's busiest airport, Heathrow, it is the 'spacious' and 'modern' Terminal 5 (ninth) that performs best, achieving a commendable four stars across all types of queues, and an overall customer satisfaction score of 60 per cent.

Its counterparts - Heathrow Terminals 2 (joint 14th, 52 per cent), 3 (15th, 51 per cent) and 4 (16th) - all languish in the bottom half of the table however, with Terminal 4 achieving a customer satisfaction score of just 48 per cent. It rates only one star for the variety of shops and two stars across all types of queues, as well as for the overall experience delivered by staff. One respondent shared that there was 'much room for improvement', while another remarked that the 'queues were ridiculous'.

Manchester Airport, meanwhile, occupies the three lowest spots in the rankings. Last-place Terminal 3 (19th), with a customer satisfaction score of just 38 per cent, scores a lowly one star for queues at security, seating, prices in shops and the range of shops on offer.

Last-place Manchester Terminal 3 scores a lowly one star for queues at security, seating, prices in shops and the range of shops on offer

AT A GLANCE: WHICH? REVEALS THE UK'S BEST AND WORST AIRPORTS 1. Doncaster Sheffield - 85 per cent 2= Exeter - 83 per cent 2= Liverpool John Lennon - 83 per cent 3= London City - 77 per cent 3= Southampton - 77 per cent 4. Bournemouth - 76 per cent 5. Newcastle - 75 per cent 6= Cardiff - 73 per cent 6= Inverness - 73 per cent 7= Belfast City (George Best) - 67 per cent 7= East Midlands - 67 per cent 8. Glasgow International - 63 per cent 9. London Heathrow T5 - 60 per cent 10. Edinburgh - 58 per cent 11= Birmingham - 56 per cent 11= Bristol - 56 per cent 11= London Gatwick North - 56 per cent 12. London Gatwick South - 55 per cent 13= Aberdeen - 54 per cent 13= London Stansted - 54 per cent 14= Leeds Bradford - 52 per cent 14= London Heathrow T2 - 52 per cent 14= London Luton - 52 per cent 15. London Heathrow T3 - 51 per cent 16= Belfast International - 48 per cent 16= London Heathrow T4 - 48 per cent 17. Manchester T2 - 47 per cent 18. Manchester T1 - 41 per cent 19. Manchester T3 - 38 per cent Source: Which? Travel Advertisement

It manages no higher than two stars in any of the remaining categories.

Travellers dissatisfied with their experience at the terminal described it as 'chaotic', 'heaving', and 'an end-to-end shambles', with many expressing their disappointment at long queue times, not just through security, but even for refreshments, Which? Travel reveals.

Manchester Terminals 1 (18th, 41 per cent) and 2 (17th, 47 per cent) fare marginally better, with customer satisfaction scores of 41 per cent and 47 per cent respectively. Which? Travel says that like Terminal 3, they score just one star for queue times at security, though Terminal 2 distinguished itself as the only Manchester terminal to score three stars in any category, which it achieves both for seating and toilet facilities.

Commenting on the findings, Guy Hobbs, Editor of Which? Travel says: 'This year we've witnessed unprecedented chaos at many of the UK's largest airports. Travellers reported extensive queues and unhelpful staff, with resources pushed to breaking point.

'Just a few years ago, travellers may have paid little attention to their choice of airport  but now it may just make or break your trip. Wherever possible, we'd recommend opting for smaller airports, which have generally offered a smoother and less stressful experience for their passengers over the past two years.'

A Manchester Airport spokesperson told Which? Travel: 'We apologise to any customer who feels their experience was not of the standard we want to deliver over the past two years.

'The pandemic was the biggest crisis faced by our industry in its history. At one stage passenger numbers at Manchester Airport dropped to just five per cent of normal levels and airports around the world had to cut costs just to survive. Earlier this year, the whole of the travel industry then faced unprecedented challenges as travel restrictions were removed and demand returned rapidly to the market, and Manchester Airport was no different.

'The hugely competitive employment market and delays in training and vetting meant there were times when we were unable to keep up with passenger demand, which resulted in longer waiting times than we would like. As the summer progressed, and hundreds of new colleagues were welcomed into the business, service levels improved consistently and we are now in a place where we can provide a good standard of service to passengers. For example, in September, 97 per cent of passengers passed through security in under 30 minutes, and this improvement was delivered without the need to impose flight cancellations on our airlines, which meant more than 14million people travelled through Manchester this summer.

'Airlines, baggage handling companies and others operating on our site faced similar challenges throughout the summer and we are aware this impacted some of the services they provide, such as check-in and baggage reclaim. Even though these are not services we deliver directly, we are closely managing the performance of our partners, making clear the standards we expect from them and providing support where necessary. We are looking forward to delivering a positive experience to all our passengers this winter, and into summer 2023.'

A Heathrow spokesperson, meanwhile, says the survey has 'inaccurate and misleading conclusions'. They continue: 'What is clear is that Heathrow has faced unprecedented growth this year, as passenger numbers rose faster and higher than any other European hub, with more than 18million passengers using the airport this summer. We have seen thousands of people joining or returning to work across the 400 companies that operate here. After the two years of international travel lockdown, this was always going to be a tough year and colleagues across the airport have put in a monumental effort to meet those challenges. Our focus continues to be on building back capacity so that we can deliver the consistent, high-quality service our passengers expect at Heathrow.'
British holidaymakers are being charged hundreds of pounds more than overseas customers by travel firms presenting higher prices on UK websites, according to a new study.

Research commissioned by cybersecurity company NordVPN found that from car hire and cruises to ferries and theme parks, consumers are frequently being presented with wildly different prices depending on where they log on.

Using the New Zealand website for Avis car hire resulted in a huge 49.4 per cent saving for a 14-night deal  the biggest discount identified in the study.

British holidaymakers are being charged hundreds of pounds more than overseas customers by travel firms presenting higher prices on UK websites, according to a new study

For the study, carried out between August 24 and September 6 this year, NordVPNs researchers used its Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to make it look to websites like they were not in the UK.

A VPN disguises a users IP address while improving privacy and security.

NordVPN said: You select a country and NordVPN ensures thats where websites think you are. VPN users are then able to see the differing content - and prices - shown to overseas consumers.

When the researchers used VPNs on the New Zealand website for Avis they found a saving of 1,226 on a two-week hire of a Toyota Camry at Auckland Airport in April 2023, with the price reduced from 2,484 (for UK users) to 1,258. That's a saving of 49.4 per cent, or looked at another way - UK users here are being charged 97 per cent more.

Meanwhile, Hertz quoted a price that was 44 per cent lower for a Toyota Agya in Cape Town via the South African website for June 2023 - charging 529, a saving of 416.

When researchers used VPNs on the New Zealand website for Avis they found a saving of 1,226 on a two-week hire of a Toyota Camry at Auckland Airport (above) in April 2023

A seven-night Mediterranean cruise with MSC Cruises in June next year was 28.4 per cent cheaper for an interior cabin through the Italian website than the UK site - 454 off at 1,144. A 10-night Caribbean cruise in July next year was 573 (17.2 per cent) cheaper at 2,765.

Visiting Booking.com from Spain netted a 15.7 per cent saving on a seven-night stay at the Carnival Palace Hotel in Venice in February - 293 off to 1,576.

Visiting Tuis German website earned a 339 (10.8 per cent) saving off a 14-night stay at Hotel Riu Palace, Tenerife, next June, priced at 2,807.

Going to Hotels.com from an Italian server served up a 10.5 per cent (128) lower price on a seven-night stay at San Firenze Suites & Spa, Florence, in March - bringing the price down to 1,089.

The French website for Disneyland Paris offered a seven-night stay in December at the Disneyland Hotel New York for 5,406 for a family of four - a saving of 17.6 per cent (1,156).

Companies use all kinds of complex algorithms to cater to the purchasing power of different countries. They will routinely show different prices on different website domains, and it can even differ depending on where youre visiting from. Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN

The website for Center Parcs in Germany (a separate company to the UK holiday parks) delivered a 9.1 per cent saving on a seven-night stay for eight people at Park Hochsauerland in October. It was down from 2,064 to 1,876 due to a sale event.

A Channel crossing for a family of four in October, travelling from Portsmouth to St Malo, was 10 per cent cheaper through the French website of Brittany Ferries at 430 (48 off).

Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, said: Never assume youre seeing the same price as everyone else. UK consumers have always known its wise to shop around, but the age of the internet means you now need to shop around with the same provider.

Companies use all kinds of complex algorithms to cater to the purchasing power of different countries. They will routinely show different prices on different website domains, and it can even differ depending on where youre visiting from.

Anything a website knows about you can be used against you. The factors most likely to influence the price you see are your location, your repeat visits to the website being tracked by cookies and whether your search coincides with a school holiday at home.

Weve demonstrated how you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds a trip by using a VPN to access the websites seen by customers overseas. You dont have to be a computer scientist to bag these savings. VPNs are so easy to use, anyone can do it.
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Kourtney Kardashian has branded herself a 'hot slob kabob' after she got so drunk at her Vegas wedding to Travis Barker that she blacked out and doesn't remember walking down the aisle.

The reality star, 43, who wed rocker Travis, 46, for the 'first' time in an unofficial ceremony after the Grammy Awards in February, revealed the less than glamorous details about her tequila-fueled nuptials during the latest episode of The Kardashians on Wednesday, admitting she threw up and took her clothes off after the ceremony.

This week's episode - entitled You Have No Idea How Iconic This Is! - offered the first images from the ceremony - presided by an Elvis impersonator who hilariously kept referring to the star by sister Khloe's name - with Kourtney called 'drunk as a skunk' by mom Kris Jenner.

Drunk on love (and tequila): Kourtney Kardashian has branded herself a 'hot slob kabob' after she got so drunk at her Vegas wedding to Travis Barker that she blacked out and doesn't remember walking down the aisle (pictured lying on the floor of the wedding chapel)

As it was teased at the end of last week's episode - One Night in Miami - no one in the family had any clue that Kourtney and Travis were getting hitched in the wee hours of the morning at a Vegas chapel.

The episode kicks off at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, where Kourtney and Travis are getting ready for a photo shoot, while Kourtney explains in confession, 'This is a really, really big week for us.'

'Every day is crazy. We just got back from the Grammy's. We have this photoshoot for Daring Vegan Chicken,' she says in confession, while Kourtney is seen trying on a short black wig with bangs that Travis loves.

Kourtney adds in confession that they are going on Jimmy Kimmel Live and press for the first season of The Kardashians all week, leading up to the premiere.

Wow: The reality star, 43, who wed rocker Travis, 46, for the 'first' time in an unofficial ceremony after the Grammy Awards in February, revealed the less than glamorous details about her tequila-fueled nuptials during the latest episode of The Kardashians on Wednesday, admitting she threw up and took her clothes off after the ceremony

First glimpse: This week's episode - entitled You Have No Idea How Iconic This Is! - offered the first images from the ceremony - presided by an Elvis impersonator who hilariously kept referring to the star by sister Khloe's name

Drunk as a skunk: Mom Kris was left unimpressed by the wedding revelation

Big week: The episode kicks off at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, where Kourtney and Travis are getting ready for a photo shoot, while Kourtney explains in confession, 'This is a really, really big week for us'

Press: Kourtney adds in confession that they are going on Jimmy Kimmel Live and press for the first season of The Kardashians all week, leading up to the premiere

One of Kourtney's good friends Simon Huck is there while they preparing, while Kourtney adds in confession, 'And we got married.'

The show cuts to several news bits about the Vegas 'secret ceremony' as Kourtney explains to Travis the wig is the same haircut she had in 6th grade as they show a throwback snap.

'So can we talk about Vegas? What happened?' Simon asks, as Travis teases, 'Oh, many things happened in Vegas.'

Hazy: The pair were seen staring into one another's eyes during the ceremony - as Kourtney struggled to remain upright

News: The show cuts to several news bits about the Vegas 'secret ceremony'

Throwback: Kourtney explains to Travis the wig is the same haircut she had in 6th grade as they show a throwback snap

What happened: 'So can we talk about Vegas? What happened?' Simon asks, as Travis teases, 'Oh, many things happened in Vegas'

Kourtney asks if they should show Simon their videos from the ceremony, as Travis responds, 'Yeah, you have to.'

Back in confession, a producer asks, 'Are you married and we missed it?' as Kourtney adds, 'Well, guess what? I guess what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. I don't even know where to begin.'

'Vegas with Travis is really fun. He's like, 'It's the Grammys and it's our first Grammys together! Let's make this the best night ever!' Kourtney explained in confession.

Video: Kourtney asks if they should show Simon their videos from the ceremony, as Travis responds, 'Yeah, you have to'

Guess what: Back in confession, a producer asks, 'Are you married and we missed it?' as Kourtney adds, 'Well, guess what? I guess what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas. I don't even know where to begin'

Back in the dressing room, she tells Simon they had, 'the best day and night at the Grammys then we went to eat, we were starving.'

Kourtney adds in confession they found, 'the best vegan sushi at this dive restaurant in a strip mall,' though a producer explains, 'it can not be sushi if it's vegan.'

'It is! It's made of like tofu and avocado,' Kourtney says though the producer insists, 'That's not sushi.'

Best: Back in the dressing room, she tells Simon they had, 'the best day and night at the Grammys then we went to eat, we were starving'

Really fun: 'Vegas with Travis is really fun. He's like, 'It's the Grammys and it's our first Grammys together! Let's make this the best night ever!' Kourtney explained in confession

Travis added in the dressing room that Kourtney started to get 'into it' and they started looking up Vegas chapels.

'We knew that Elvis had to marry us,' Kourtney says in confession, while back in the dressing room she says that was, 'the only one open at that hour. Nobody was around. It was security, his manager,' while Travis added his 'drum tech was the photographer.'

Simon asks if they walked down the aisle and asks if they have video, and Kourtney says, 'Yes but I blacked out. I actually don't remember though.'

Get into it: Travis added in the dressing room that Kourtney started to get 'into it' and they started looking up Vegas chapels

Elvis: 'We knew that Elvis had to marry us,' Kourtney says in confession, while back in the dressing room she says that was, 'the only one open at that hour. Nobody was around. It was security, his manager,' while Travis added his 'drum tech was the photographer.

Kourtney adds in confession, 'I didn't even remember Elvis sang to me, walking down the aisle, I just didn't remember. I didn't remember I had a bouquet.'

Kourtney shows them all a photo of her bouquet on the floor after she threw it in the air before handing the phone to Simon, who watches a video of Kourtney and Travis' ceremony with a gold-clad Elvis impersonator.

'I give my love to my one true love right now,' Travis says, as Kourtney repeats the vows he just said, as Kourtney adds, 'I'm like slurring, if you can't hear.'

Bouquet: Kourtney shows them all a photo of her bouquet on the floor after she threw it in the air before handing the phone to Simon, who watches a video of Kourtney and Travis' ceremony with a gold-clad Elvis impersonator

Slurring: 'I give my love to my one true love right now,' Travis says, as Kourtney repeats the vows he just said, as Kourtney adds, 'I'm like slurring, if you can't hear'

Travis shows another photo of Kourtney nearly falling to the ground, with Travis adding the Elvis impersonator said, 'Do you Travis take Khloe she like fell to the ground. They kept calling her Khloe,' as Simon zooms in on the Elvis impersonator.

'When Elvis was marrying us, he's like, 'I Khloe take thee Travis' and I just like lost my mind, fell straight on the floor and we like couldn't get up.'

Travis tells Simon and the others that, 'Kourt was on one, it was so good,' while Travis jokes that, 'Tequila Kourtney is a different person.'

Nearly falling: Travis shows another photo of Kourtney nearly falling to the ground, with Travis adding the Elvis impersonator said, 'Do you Travis take Khloe she like fell to the ground. They kept calling her Khloe,' as Simon zooms in on the Elvis impersonator

Lost: 'When Elvis was marrying us, he's like, 'I Khloe take thee Travis' and I just like lost my mind, fell straight on the floor and we like couldn't get up'

'I did throw up after, though, and took my top off and unbuttoned my pants and I had to like walk back through the hotel with like a million people taking my photo. I was a hot slob kabob,' Kourtney said in confession.

Travis tells Simon, 'If that's anything like our real wedding, I'll be so stoked, cause it was awesome. It was so fun.'

'That was the most fun,' Kourtney said, while adding in confession that their Vegas wedding wasn't legal since they couldn't get a marriage license.

Throw up: 'I did throw up after, though, and took my top off and unbuttoned my pants and I had to like walk back through the hotel with like a million people taking my photo. I was a hot slob kabob,' Kourtney said in confession

Awesome: Travis tells Simon, 'If that's anything like our real wedding, I'll be so stoked, cause it was awesome. It was so fun'

'We did try to get a license but they wouldn't give us the certificate. It was 2 AM and I'm sure we could've gotten a license the next day, but what could be a more fun night in Vegas. I am truly living my best life. Don't let anyone tell you any different,' Kourtney adds in confession.

Back in Kourtney and Travis' dressing room, they're both ready for the photo shoot, while Kourtney adds that Simon has been working with the brand Daring Chicken.

'Doing a campaign for this vegan chicken brand just makes sense for us and it's something that we're both really passionate about,' Kourtney says in confession.

Shoot: Back in Kourtney and Travis' dressing room, they're both ready for the photo shoot, while Kourtney adds that Simon has been working with the brand Daring Chicken

'I guess vegans do have more fun. God that's so cheesy,' Kourtney says in confession as we see the couple eating from a bucket of chicken in a limo.

Kourtney is wearing a maroon bustier with metal studs while Travis is wearing a unique black suit with metal pins up his back as they're seen trying the chicken and, of course, making out.

The episode cuts to Kris Jenner's house, where she's meeting with her hip replacement surgeon, Dr. Jason Snibbe, who says they're two weeks out from the surgery.

Surgeon: The episode cuts to Kris Jenner's house, where she's meeting with her hip replacement surgeon, Dr. Jason Snibbe, who says they're two weeks out from the surgery

Kris says she'll just be happy when she can, 'move around the way I like to move around,' adding this process is, 'very slow for me I don't have a lot of patience.'

The surgeon reminds her, 'it takes six weeks for the bone to be attached, while Kris adds in confession that she's getting her stitches out today.

'I'm just ready for this to be over and I just want to get back to my life,' she adds, as the doctor starts taking the stitches out as the cameras leave, though we can still hear her scream once.

Ready: 'I'm just ready for this to be over and I just want to get back to my life,' she adds, as the doctor starts taking the stitches out as the cameras leave, though we can still hear her scream once

'It's just such a mindf**k,' Kris says after the stitches are out, adding to the camera, 'I just feel sometimes you just feel defeated, but I feel really good today. It's just emotional, the whole thing is emotional. There are some days that are painful. I'm not gonna lie,' she says.

The doctor says that she can't just get up and go like she used to and Kris says she doesn't understand why she's crying, as Corey Gamble comes up to give her a kiss.

Kris adds in confession, 'I'm just so relieved I can get back to my life and do all the things that I loved to do.'

Relieved: Kris adds in confession, 'I'm just so relieved I can get back to my life and do all the things that I loved to do.

The doctor says she's healthy and physical and, 'you have great bone quality, right now, you're moving around pretty good.'

A beaming Kris turns to the camera and says, 'I have really good bone quality, just in case you wanted to know one of my you know talents.'

The episode cuts to Kim's office where Kris comes to visit, as Kim marvels that she's walking already while Kris tells her she got her stitches out.

Kim and Kris: The episode cuts to Kim's office where Kris comes to visit, as Kim marvels that she's walking already while Kris tells her she got her stitches out

Kim asks where she has her scar and Kris shows her and it's much bigger than Kim thought it would be.

'I'm so happy that my mom went through with this surgery so she can be here and help,' Kim says, as Kris asks Kim if she can believe Kourtney and Travis got married in Vegas.

'It's not real,' Kim insists, joking, 'We've all done it, once in our lives,' but Kris adds, 'Yours was real,' referring to Kim's first marriage to Damon Thomas in 2000 when she was just 19.

Not real: 'It's not real,' Kim insists, joking, 'We've all done it, once in our lives,' but Kris adds, 'Yours was real,' referring to Kim's first marriage to Damon Thomas in 2000 when she was just 19

'I know,' Kim says as they show an old headline that reveals Kim's family found out about her secret marriage from the internet.

Kris adds in confession, 'I'm not gonna lie. It would be so disappointing if Kourtney really got married in Vegas and I wasn't there. But, I guess I'll get over it. Been there, done that. Kim did it too. She didn't even tell me when she came home.'

A producer suggested Kim didn't tell Kris, 'because she was afraid,' as Kris says with a wicked grin, 'Yeah, I'd be afraid of me too, know what I mean?'

Real: 'I know,' Kim says as they show an old headline that reveals Kim's family found out about her secret marriage from the internet

Disappointing: Kris adds in confession, 'I'm not gonna lie. It would be so disappointing if Kourtney really got married in Vegas and I wasn't there. But, I guess I'll get over it. Been there, done that. Kim did it too. She didn't even tell me when she came home'

Back at Kim's office, Kris is scouring through her phone and asks Kim, 'Are we sure it's not real?' and Kim says she can look it up on the Clark County website.

'That's how we found out you were married,' Kris says, as Kim insists again, 'It's not real. I mean it's fun. I think they would have, had they gotten a permit, I mean, what does it really matter?'

'She was drunk as a skunk, laying on the floor, throwing up. Who wants to get married like that?' Kris asks.

Look up: Back at Kim's office, Kris is scouring through her phone and asks Kim, 'Are we sure it's not real?' and Kim says she can look it up on the Clark County website

Drunk: 'She was drunk as a skunk, laying on the floor, throwing up. Who wants to get married like that?' Kris asks

Kim jokes, 'Who doesn't?' when Kris changes the subject and asks what Kim is doing.

'I had this idea to get some of my favorite lingerie model - Alessandra Ambrosia, Candice (Swanepoel) - she's so pretty - Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, the majors,' she said, adding she wants them to do a campaign for her SKIMS line.

Kim adds she's gotten in touch with Klum, Swanepoel - adding that when the sisters all dressed up as Victoria's Secret Angels for Halloween in 2018, the company sent her one of Candice's outfits.

Who doesn't: Kim jokes, 'Who doesn't?' when Kris changes the subject and asks what Kim is doing

'The fact that you're the same size as a supermodel is wild,' Kris jokes, but Kim adds, 'wings can fit anyone.'

Kim added that she wants to call the campaign, 'The Icons,' which Kris likes.

Back in confession, a producer tells Kim that she is just, 'constantly working' and asks if she ever she just stops and takes time off.

Icons: Kim added that she wants to call the campaign, 'The Icons,' which Kris likes

Time off: Back in confession, a producer tells Kim that she is just, 'constantly working' and asks if she ever she just stops and takes time off

'Yeah I just don't get it. I don't get why being a workaholic is a bad thing. I get s**t done, that makes me happy. I can't just sit and do nothing. That doesn't make me happy,' Kim adds in confession.

Back in her office, Kim explains that she wants to get Tyra Banks for the campaign, 'so badly,' but adds, 'she's such an entrepreneur so she just has so many other things that she's doing.'

Kim adds that they have to shoot this soon because she has so much to do this week and she has everyone else locked down except Tyra as Kris says she loves how it's happening, 'fast and furious.'

Happy: 'Yeah I just don't get it. I don't get why being a workaholic is a bad thing. I get s**t done, that makes me happy. I can't just sit and do nothing. That doesn't make me happy,' Kim adds in confession

The episode cuts to the Jimmy Kimmel Live studio in Hollywood where Kris and Khloe Kardashian are seen arriving.

Kris is getting her hair done while adding she's excited for the red carpet tomorrow as we see Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian getting ready.

'My whole family is here at Jimmy Kimmel tonight and we are here to promote our new show on Hulu. I am already so nervous and anxious about the premiere,' Khloe says in confession.

Hair: Kris is getting her hair done while adding she's excited for the red carpet tomorrow as we see Kourtney Kardashian, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian getting ready

Whole family: 'My whole family is here at Jimmy Kimmel tonight and we are here to promote our new show on Hulu. I am already so nervous and anxious about the premiere,' Khloe says in confession

She adds that it's, 'really emotional and we have to relive things that are not fun to relive' adding, 'that gets a little frustrating.'

'That is just feeling me with a little bit of anxiety,' Khloe adds in confession.

Kendall says she's tired and says she was in Vegas, 'for like 10 hours' but adds it was fun, when Kimmel himself pays them a visit.

Anxiety: 'That is just feeling me with a little bit of anxiety,' Khloe adds in confession

Tired: Kendall says she's tired and says she was in Vegas, 'for like 10 hours' but adds it was fun, when Kimmel himself pays them a visit

Kimmel gives Kris a hug, adding he can't believe she's never been there on stage before that night.

Khloe - donning a strapless hot pink top and matching pants - is cupping her breasts and saying, 'This is what I want all the time,' continuing her ongoing conversation with Kris about getting breast implants, telling Kris she's getting a 'consultation soon.'

When Khloe visited Kris after her hip surgery, she told Kris that she was thinking about getting her boobs done and an excited Kris suggested they get them done together.

Surprisingly, when Khloe says she's having a consultation for 'chichis,' Kris says, 'No,' but Khloe insists, 'Mom, it's a consultation.'

On stage: Kimmel gives Kris a hug, adding he can't believe she's never been there on stage before that night

Pink: Khloe - donning a strapless hot pink top and matching pants - is cupping her breasts and saying, 'This is what I want all the time,' continuing her ongoing conversation with Kris about getting breast implants, telling Kris she's getting a 'consultation soon'

No: Surprisingly, when Khloe says she's having a consultation for 'chichis,' Kris says, 'No,' but Khloe insists, 'Mom, it's a consultation'

'No. You're perfect the way you are, Khloe,' Kris says, as Khloe says, 'Thank you mommy.'

'You go down this implant road, and it's not always' Kris says, though Khloe insists, 'I'm not doing a Pam Anderson situation. It's literally what I was before I lost I just want a little you know what, I'll call you later.'

They are going through their final touches - with Khloe now wearing a tan minidress - when a frantic Kim notices Mario didn't get any body makeup on her stomach, asking him to hurry because, 'it has to match.'

Thank you mommy: 'No. You're perfect the way you are, Khloe,' Kris says, as Khloe says, 'Thank you mommy'

Implant Road: 'You go down this implant road, and it's not always' Kris says, though Khloe insists, 'I'm not doing a Pam Anderson situation. It's literally what I was before I lost I just want a little you know what, I'll call you later'

New look: They are going through their final touches - with Khloe now wearing a tan minidress - when a frantic Kim notices Mario didn't get any body makeup on her stomach, asking him to hurry because, 'it has to match'

'It takes a village,' Kim says to the camera with a smile, before telling a camera person, 'You might want to get a video of my cute flowers.'

They show a lovely bouquet of pink roses before zooming in on the note from Kim's boyfriend Pete Davidson.

'Congrats on your new show and season! I'm so incredibly happy for you and proud of you!! Love Aladdin,' he says, referring to the Aladdin SNL sketch where Pete and Kim first kissed.

Flowers: They show a lovely bouquet of pink roses before zooming in on the note from Kim's boyfriend Pete Davidson

Note: 'Congrats on your new show and season! I'm so incredibly happy for you and proud of you!! Love Aladdin,' he says, referring to the Aladdin SNL sketch where Pete and Kim first kissed

They all start walking out to the stage as the 5'1' Kourtney walks next to her 5'10' half-sister Kendall Jenner, as Kourtney jokes, 'Kendall, let's not walk next to each other.'

They show footage of the Kardashian family all walking out on stage to meet Kimmel, as Kris adds in confession, 'I love to have experiences with my girls and it's good to be back in action and I'm so excited. My stitches are out, I feel better than ever.'

Kimmel brings up that he thinks Kourtney is, 'the Kardashian of the week,' bringing up her marriage to Travis Barker in Vegas.

Not walk: They all start walking out to the stage as the 5'1' Kourtney walks next to her 5'10' half-sister Kendall Jenner, as Kourtney jokes, 'Kendall, let's not walk next to each other'

Together: They show footage of the Kardashian family all walking out on stage to meet Kimmel, as Kris adds in confession, 'I love to have experiences with my girls and it's good to be back in action and I'm so excited. My stitches are out, I feel better than ever'

He also shows a photo from Kim and Pete's Aladdin sketch on Saturday Night Live, asking if that was the first time they kissed.

'Yes that is,' Kim said as the audience applauds, while Kim adds, 'Actually, for Valentine's Day, he got me the rug and the whole outfits from SNL and the little genie lamp.'

The episode cuts to Kim's Icons SKIMS photo shoot, as Kim arrives and gives Alessandra Ambrosio a hug, adding, 'Thank you so much for doing this.'

Photo: He also shows a photo from Kim and Pete's Aladdin sketch on Saturday Night Live, asking if that was the first time they kissed

Yes: 'Yes that is,' Kim said as the audience applauds, while Kim adds, 'Actually, for Valentine's Day, he got me the rug and the whole outfits from SNL and the little genie lamp'

'Today we are shooting our Icons shoot for SKIMS and everyone that I wanted made it, including Tyra,' Kim says in confession.

Kim gives Candice Swanepoel a hug adding she has to tell them a 'funny story.'

'We were in Miami, my first ever Victoria's Secret show. I don't know even how I got in. We went to some club afterwards and you guys were there in the VIP section,' Kim says before her daughter North arrives.

Today: 'Today we are shooting our Icons shoot for SKIMS and everyone that I wanted made it, including Tyra,' Kim says in confession

Alessandra says it must have been in 2008 because, 'I just had my daughter,' as Kim admits, 'I was like staring at you guys. So the fact that you guys are doing this is such a big deal for me. I love you guys so much and I'm so appreciative.'

Kim adds in confession, 'Seeing how far they've come and they're all moms and entrepreneurs and still so stunning they were legendary, they are legendary' while telling North, 'You have no idea how iconic this is.'

North still doesn't seem to get it, so Kim adds the year they wore the wings for Halloween, 'we were them. That's who we were! They were Candice's wings!'

How far: Kim adds in confession, 'Seeing how far they've come and they're all moms and entrepreneurs and still so stunning they were legendary, they are legendary'

Iconic: Kim tells North, 'You have no idea how iconic this is'

'And now I have the same girls modeling for my own brand, it's just the most full-circle pinch-me moment ever,' Kim says in confession, before going to chat with Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks.

'There's no one more beautiful than you guys and the fact that you guys are doing this is so crazy, so thank you,' Kim tells them.

Heidi - clad in a white robe like the other models - asks, 'Why are you not doing it with us? There's still time.'

Kim Tyra and Heidi: 'And now I have the same girls modeling for my own brand, it's just the most full-circle pinch-me moment ever,' Kim says in confession, before going to chat with Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks

Why not: Heidi - clad in a white robe like the other models - asks, 'Why are you not doing it with us? There's still time'

'Oh come on,' Kim says, adding she's wearing SKIMS right now but Kim insists that she can't, while Tyra jokes that the toilet was talking to her.

Kim adds, 'I know this is the most evil thing to do to you guys, but I have a surprise coming in a few minutes just a little snack.'

Heidi asks if it's cake and Kim says, 'My favorite is beignets,' as Heidi jokes, 'It was already too late for me in any case. When I knew this was happening I already was a few pizzas in and there was no return.'

Evil: Kim adds, 'I know this is the most evil thing to do to you guys, but I have a surprise coming in a few minutes just a little snack'

Tyra adds, 'But what I love about your brand SKIMS is it's for every single body, and so I'm celebrating this body. This is who I am today.'

Kim jokes she'll get them anything they want and Heidi jokes, 'We're just gonna take everything that's not nailed down.'

They all sit down as Heidi keeps trying to get Kim to join them, adding, 'I think you should put some SKIMS on, Kim, and just rock it with us.'

Tyra loves: Tyra adds, 'But what I love about your brand SKIMS is it's for every single body, and so I'm celebrating this body. This is who I am today'

Rock it: They all sit down as Heidi keeps trying to get Kim to join them, adding, 'I think you should put some SKIMS on, Kim, and just rock it with us'

Tyra adds, 'Get in there!' as a giddy Kim says, 'I don't know if I could. I'm so scared.'

Heidi says, 'There are like 100 people here, they're all your people,' as Kim adds in confession, 'Oh my God, I'm not your typical model but this is like insane.'

Kim asks, 'Just for one photo?' as Tyra and Heidi keep saying she should do it, and Kim finally agrees.

Agree: Kim asks, 'Just for one photo?' as Tyra and Heidi keep saying she should do it, and Kim finally agrees

'Never once did I think they were gonna say, 'Get in the campaign,' Kim adds in confession, before going to find SKIMS creative director Kim Schraub.

'Would it be so embarrassing Heidi was like you have to put on something,' as Kim says, 'Oh my God you have to do it!'

Kim says she wasn't prepared but Schraub says, 'You look amazing no matter what,' while Heidi jokes, 'See, I get her to take her clothes off.'

Do it: 'Would it be so embarrassing Heidi was like you have to put on something,' as Kim says, 'Oh my God you have to do it!'

Amazing: Kim says she wasn't prepared but Schraub says, 'You look amazing no matter what,' while Heidi jokes, 'See, I get her to take her clothes off'

Kim is going over outfits asking what she looks the best in, adding in confession, 'I really wasn't planning on it, but I'm not gonna turn it down, not next to these women.'

Heidi and Tyra joke that they, 'sandwich her' as Tyra jokes it's, 'a SKIMS-some.'

Kim admits in confession, 'Thank God I've like laser hair removed everything from my entire body so I don't have to worry about like 'Did I shave today' or anything like that. F**k it. I'm in the campaign.'

They show the models getting ready as an incredibly excited Kim says, 'I'm about to do a shoot with the Icons! Tyra, Heidi, Candice, Alessandra and Kim? What?'

SKIMS-some: Heidi and Tyra joke that they, 'sandwich her' as Tyra jokes it's, 'a SKIMS-some'

Icons: They show the models getting ready as an incredibly excited Kim says, 'I'm about to do a shoot with the Icons! Tyra, Heidi, Candice, Alessandra and Kim? What?'

Heidi comes up to the camera and says, 'OK I'm going to take full credit for her taking her clothes off for this shot,' before Kim opens her robe and shows a SKIMS bra.

Kim poses between Heidi and Tyra as the joke it's a, 'SKIM-some' before they're joined by the rest of the models with Kim in the center.

Simon Huck adds they should do a, 'Kim classic' with both her hands over her head as they keep snapping photos.

Bra: Kim opens her robe and shows a SKIMS bra

Credit: Heidi comes up to the camera and says, 'OK I'm going to take full credit for her taking her clothes off for this shot'

Center: Kim poses between Heidi and Tyra as the joke it's a, 'SKIM-some' before they're joined by the rest of the models with Kim in the center

Classic: Simon Huck adds they should do a, 'Kim classic' with both her hands over her head as they keep snapping photos

North wanders onto the set and asks why Kim is wearing high heels as she says, 'Because I'm shorter than the other girls.'

'Oh my God I feel like a supermodel!' Kim says with a scream, adding in confession it is, 'kind of surreal. I didn't even dream that I'd be a part of this moment so this is kinda crazy.'

Kim says, 'OK let's go get a beignet' as they head out to a food truck called Beigneet Box, as the models all try the sweet treats.

Shorter: North wanders onto the set and asks why Kim is wearing high heels as she says, 'Because I'm shorter than the other girls'

Surreal: 'Oh my God I feel like a supermodel!' Kim says with a scream, adding in confession it is, 'kind of surreal. I didn't even dream that I'd be a part of this moment so this is kinda crazy'

Treat: Kim says, 'OK let's go get a beignet' as they head out to a food truck called Beigneet Box, as the models all try the sweet treats

'I'm just so proud that these girls represent the balance that is so needed between motherhood and working. I'm so honored to have them,' Kim adds in confession.

Heidi says to the camera that she would like Kim to 'adopt' her and she would really like to move in.

'This is just perfect for me, I'm just gonna be moving in right here,' Heidi says with a smile.

Represent: 'I'm just so proud that these girls represent the balance that is so needed between motherhood and working. I'm so honored to have them,' Kim adds in confession

Adopt: Heidi says to the camera that she would like Kim to 'adopt' her and she would really like to move in

The episode cuts back to the day of The Kardashians premiere with the whole family seen getting ready for the big night.

Kim adds that it, 'feels like a huge movie premiere' and that it feels like they're now, 'part of the Disney fam.'

'This must be what a movie premiere feels like. I'm into it,' Kim says, while Kourtney says that 200 of their 'closest friends' will be there, as her son Reign rushes in and calls himself, 'big daddy.'

Movie premiere: Kim adds that it, 'feels like a huge movie premiere' and that it feels like they're now, 'part of the Disney fam'

Khloe and Kris are getting ready together as Kris mentions casually that she bought a bulletproof car.

When Khloe asks why, Kris says, 'Because I'm really tired of' and when she trails off, Khloe jokes, 'People shooting at you?'

Khloe adds in confession, 'I absolutely love living next door to my mom,' while back at their home, Kris asks how to spell a word that doesn't exist.

Bulletproof: Khloe and Kris are getting ready together as Kris mentions casually that she bought a bulletproof car

Glam together: 'We do everything together. We even glam together,' Khloe asks, while Kris asks Siri how to spell the non-existent word

'We do everything together. We even glam together,' Khloe asks, while Kris asks Siri how to spell the non-existent word.

'There's just sometimes where it's a lot,' Khloe adds in confession, while Kris keeps trying to get Siri to spell the word she made up.

'I love being with her. It's just never-ending I'm gonna be with her. And I love it,' Khloe adds in confession.

Word: Khloe adds in confession, 'I absolutely love living next door to my mom,' while back at their home, Kris asks how to spell a word that doesn't exist

A lot: 'There's just sometimes where it's a lot,' Khloe adds in confession, while Kris keeps trying to get Siri to spell the word she made up

Never-ending: 'I love being with her. It's just never-ending I'm gonna be with her. And I love it,' Khloe adds in confession

Kris adds in confession that Siri listens to her as well as her kids do, as they shift back to Kim's house, where a producer named Danielle asks who Kim's plus-one is, as Kim jokes, 'Look at Danielle, grilling me as always.'

'Pete is actually my plus-one and I'm excited,' as Danielle asks if it will be their first red carpet together, but she says they're not doing the red carpet together, though she will walk with her family.

'This is like my thing, so he's just gonna support,' Kim tells Danielle, adding in confession, 'When the cameras are up for him, it's for a skit or a role. It's not what he does.'

Plus-one: Kris adds in confession that Siri listens to her as well as her kids do, as they shift back to Kim's house, where a producer named Danielle asks who Kim's plus-one is, as Kim jokes, 'Look at Danielle, grilling me as always'

Pete: 'Pete is actually my plus-one and I'm excited,' as Danielle asks if it will be their first red carpet together, but she says they're not doing the red carpet together, though she will walk with her family

'I'm obviously gonna talk about what's going on in my life and he's a part of that, but I also respect that this is like my job and this isn't his job,' Kim adds.

'So you might get a glimpse here and there but it's just it is what it is,' Kim says in confession.

While Kim is continuing to get ready, a woman named Sydney arrives who says she's, 'grooming Pete.'

Kim's life: 'I'm obviously gonna talk about what's going on in my life and he's a part of that, but I also respect that this is like my job and this isn't his job,' Kim adds

Kim jokes, 'Who knew he was such a diva, a grooming team, a styling team, a tailor,' while she sends Pete a message: 'Your stylist team is all ready for you for a fitting.'

Kim's stylist says he thought Pete would, 'rock up' as Kim jokes, 'I know. I thought he'd go in a hoodie.'

Back at Kris and Khloe's place, Khloe says she's not going to the premiere with Kris, saying she's going with her daughter True.

Diva: Kim jokes, 'Who knew he was such a diva, a grooming team, a styling team, a tailor,' while she sends Pete a message: 'Your stylist team is all ready for you for a fitting'

Hoodie: Kim's stylist says he thought Pete would, 'rock up' as Kim jokes, 'I know. I thought he'd go in a hoodie'

True: Back at Kris and Khloe's place, Khloe says she's not going to the premiere with Kris, saying she's going with her daughter True

Khloe adds in confession, 'It's time to go. I can't really think about how many cameras and photographers and video cameras are going to be there. It just sounds like the most daunting thing. To re-live everything, it's so jarring and pretty traumatizing. It's really hard.'

The episode cuts to Kourtney who's in a car with her son Reign, who's confused why there are cameras there.

'It's our show baby,' Kourtney says as Reign says, 'Am I on it? I'm on camera!' They go pick Travis up in a black suit, who says they still haven't sent out their wedding invitations.

Traumatizing: Khloe adds in confession, 'It's time to go. I can't really think about how many cameras and photographers and video cameras are going to be there. It just sounds like the most daunting thing. To re-live everything, it's so jarring and pretty traumatizing. It's really hard'

Travis: The episode cuts to Kourtney who's in a car with her son Reign, who's confused why there are cameras there

'I know what you're doing you're gonna wait till the last minute so no one can make the wedding,' Travis says with a laugh.

'No I'm not,' Kourtney insists, saying she thinks the invitations are good and that they can go out, showing them to Travis on her phone.

'Yeah that's perfect,' Travis says, handing the phone back as they agree 'The Wedding of Travis and Kourtney' is perfect for the subject line.

Wait: 'I know what you're doing you're gonna wait till the last minute so no one can make the wedding,' Travis says with a laugh

Not: 'No I'm not,' Kourtney insists, saying she thinks the invitations are good and that they can go out, showing them to Travis on her phone

The episode cuts to Kylie Jenner, seen taking snaps in an elegant white gown before heading to the premiere.

'This is my first big red carpet since giving birth, so it's a little stressful. I feel like I'm out of my comfort zone a little. I have been in my pajamas for the past nine months,' Kylie says in confession.

'But I'm actually feeling really good tonight. I think it's going to be good,' Kylie says, while it cuts back to Kourtney and Travis, as Kourtney mentions Kendall is sick and isn't going.

Kylie in white: The episode cuts to Kylie Jenner, seen taking snaps in an elegant white gown before heading to the premiere

First: 'This is my first big red carpet since giving birth, so it's a little stressful. I feel like I'm out of my comfort zone a little. I have been in my pajamas for the past nine months,' Kylie says in confession

They cut to Goya Studios in Hollywood where the premiere red carpet screening is held, as the family is seen walking the red carpet and greeting screaming fans.

'It's our first premiere. I've never been to a premiere like this,' Kim adds in confession. 'We've never had this before, so the pressure is on.'

Kourtney adds, 'I don't think we've ever had a true premiere like this,' adding it's 'really beautiful' and they're all there together.

Family: They cut to Goya Studios in Hollywood where the premiere red carpet screening is held, as the family is seen walking the red carpet and greeting screaming fans

Pressure: 'It's our first premiere. I've never been to a premiere like this,' Kim adds in confession. 'We've never had this before, so the pressure is on'

'It doesn't feel overwhelming to me. It's more like this is fun. These are our people and we should do it for every episode,' Kourtney says in confession.

Kris starts talking to Kim but realizes that she just barged into Kim's interview.

Khloe says in confession that it's great everyone is being supportive, 'but every red carpet I'm obligated to go to, I feel like I'm just opening up the floodgates to tear you apart and analyze you. Why are we doing such a thing to ourselves? Already we get judged, critiqued, scrutinized and it's overwhelming, the voices, the comments, everything. It just doesn't stop.'

Khloe: Khloe says in confession that it's great everyone is being supportive, 'but every red carpet I'm obligated to go to, I feel like I'm just opening up the floodgates to tear you apart and analyze you. Why are we doing such a thing to ourselves? Already we get judged, critiqued, scrutinized and it's overwhelming, the voices, the comments, everything. It just doesn't stop'

'I did not realize how many people were invited to this premiere. I thought it was more like our close friends and family that were gonna be watching it,' Khloe adds in confession.

'It's like all of Disney is here. It's definitely not what we envisioned. I mean, Mickey Mouse is gonna be sitting next to me,' she continues.

A producer adds in confession that everyone is so positive at the premiere, and asks if that is helping her anxiety.

Anxiety: A producer adds in confession that everyone is so positive at the premiere, and asks if that is helping her anxiety

'No my anxiety is definitely still here. It's not gonna go anywhere. I just like OK there's nothing I can do. This is gonna go on no matter what so I've just gotta grin and get through,' Khloe says.

Kourtney is seen kissing Travis on the red carpet, as Kourtney adds in confession, 'To all the haters, about Travis and I making out, it's like such a beautiful thing to be able to live as if no one else is watching. You should try it sometime.'

They have all made their way into the theater, while Kris makes some opening remarks before the screening.

Anxiety: 'No my anxiety is definitely still here. It's not gonna go anywhere. I just like OK there's nothing I can do. This is gonna go on no matter what so I've just gotta grin and get through,' Khloe says

Anxiety: Kourtney is seen kissing Travis on the red carpet, as Kourtney adds in confession, 'To all the haters, about Travis and I making out, it's like such a beautiful thing to be able to live as if no one else is watching. You should try it sometime'

Kris: They have all made their way into the theater, while Kris makes some opening remarks before the screening.

'I never thought in a million years when we first started filming our reality show that I would be here right now, that it would all lead to this amazing, magical moment,' Kris says in confession.

They show the opening moments of the first episode, as Khloe adds in confession, 'It's definitely a crazy experience living the show and then watching the show in real time with viewers. Pretty much like you're in a movie theater and you hear everyone's responses in real time.'

Kim adds in confession, 'It was so fun to be able to show people the show for the first time and see it on a big scale like that and get people's real opinions.'

Real time: They show the opening moments of the first episode, as Khloe adds in confession, 'It's definitely a crazy experience living the show and then watching the show in real time with viewers. Pretty much like you're in a movie theater and you hear everyone's responses in real time

Kylie adds in confession, 'This is obviously a huge night for us. I didn't realize how big and special this moment was going to feel. Wow we are so lucky and blessed. It was really cool.'

Khloe adds, 'It is filled with anxiety but also it's really cool because you actually get to see, 'OK did someone actually think that's funny like I did?'

'That's really exciting and fun and when you have to relive something that's maybe sad or just emotions you probably just don't want to go back to, it's really hard. And it's hard to hear everyone's opinions,' Khloe adds.

Huge night: Kylie adds in confession, 'This is obviously a huge night for us. I didn't realize how big and special this moment was going to feel. Wow we are so lucky and blessed. It was really cool'

Funny: Khloe adds, 'It is filled with anxiety but also it's really cool because you actually get to see, 'OK did someone actually think that's funny like I did?'

They show a scene from the first episode where Khloe's ex Tristan Thompson is telling Khloe how he wants to build their family.

'When I was watching the show and Tristan was on and telling I don't even know what he said because I blacked it out but it was like, 'We're so great,' or whatever the f**k he was saying,' Khloe says.

They go back to that scene where Tristan says he hopes they can, 'expand our family one day, God willing,' and in the theater, Khloe yells out, 'LIAR!' as the crowd applauds.

Family: They show a scene from the first episode where Khloe's ex Tristan Thompson is telling Khloe how he wants to build their family

Liar: They go back to that scene where Tristan says he hopes they can, 'expand our family one day, God willing,' and in the theater, Khloe yells out, 'LIAR!' as the crowd applauds.

'I felt as if the whole theater was staring at me and I was like, 'This is just so awkward,' cause it's like, what a crock of s**t. Like what the f**k? And I believed you and I was listening to you and I was receiving everything you said, but you're a f***ing LIAR!' Khloe says in confession.

'And it just came out. I probably made it more awkward than I needed it to be,' Khloe admits in confession.

The episode cuts to the premiere after-party, where someone asks Kim if it was Khloe who screamed, 'Liar' and she says it was.

Liar: 'I felt as if the whole theater was staring at me and I was like, 'This is just so awkward,' cause it's like, what a crock of s**t. Like what the f**k? And I believed you and I was listening to you and I was receiving everything you said, but you're a f***ing LIAR!' Khloe says in confession

Kris says in confession she has 'goosebumps' and pride for her family, adding she was so glad she did the hip surgery because that is something she wouldn't want to miss.

Kourtney thanks Travis for being there with her and he asks if it was 'awkward' for her and she says, 'a little bit' because of the 'commentary.'

Kim talks with her cousin Cici Bussey, who says the show was, 'so good' and it will, 'change reality TV now,' as Kim jokes, 'Again?'

'Back in the day, we used to watch every episode together at my mom's house. Every single episode. We never had a premiere that we watched outside of the house. It's just like such a milestone and I'm so grateful,' Kim says in confession.

Thanks: Kourtney thanks Travis for being there with her and he asks if it was 'awkward' for her and she says, 'a little bit' because of the 'commentary'

So good: Kim talks with her cousin Cici Bussey, who says the show was, 'so good' and it will, 'change reality TV now,' as Kim jokes, 'Again?'

Khloe says in confession, 'When you go through things in life, those things can steal so much of your happy moments. But tonight really reminds me that I have to make myself do things cause then I would be missing out on something so special. Tonight was so fun. I don't want my personal dramas or traumas to take away from any fun that I could be having,' as the episode comes to an end.

The preview for next week's episode teases Kim's now-infamous Marilyn Monroe incident, as a replica of the dress arrives.

'If this does not fit me, I can't even try the original,' Kim says, while Kylie says that she decided, 'really last-minute' that she decided to go to the Met.

Steal: Khloe says in confession, 'When you go through things in life, those things can steal so much of your happy moments. But tonight really reminds me that I have to make myself do things cause then I would be missing out on something so special. Tonight was so fun. I don't want my personal dramas or traumas to take away from any fun that I could be having,' as the episode comes to an end

Meanwhile, Kourtney and Travis head to Milan for fittings for their wedding weekend, teasing that their wedding is less than 30 days away.

Another shot shows Khloe, Kim and Kourtney discussing the Blac Chyna lawsuit once again, while Khloe bemoans, 'We're leaving our fates in the hands of 12 random people. What if they hate us?' as the preview ends.

The post-credit scene shows Kim talking about her best way she handles life: 'I'm like Tom Cruise in Minority Report. It's like my life are these slides and any time it's not in front of me and I don't have to deal with it, I slide it out and go to the next picture.'

'I can totally focus just on one thing and not let the next thing or the last thing really affect what I'm doing right now. I know that's like really crazy and rare, but that's just how I get through life,' Kim explains.
Hugh Jackman has revealed he once auditioned for a role on the long-running Aussie soap Neighbours in the mid-1990s, only to later reject the offer.

The Hollywood star, 54, spoke to Variety about why he turned down what would have been his first-ever television role.

At the time, he had just signed with an agent after graduating from university and completing a one-year acting course, 'The Journey', at the Actors' Centre in Sydney.

Hugh Jackman (pictured with wife Deborra-Lee Furness in 1999) has revealed he once auditioned for a role on Aussie soap Neighbours in the mid-1990s, only to later reject the offer

After being offered the role, Jackman decided to continue his drama studies by doing a three-year course at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.

'I said, "I dont trust that once I get started [acting professionally], Im going to go back and study,"' he explained to Variety.

Jackman has previously spoken about his near-role in Neighbours, which launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and others.

Jackman has previously spoken about his near-role in Neighbours, which launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Margot Robbie, Russell Crowe and others. (Pictured: the cast of Neighbours in the 1990s)

At the time, Jackman had just signed with an agent after graduating from university and completing a one-year acting course, 'The Journey', at the Actors' Centre in Sydney

In 2019, the Wolverine star told Sky Arts' BAFTA: Life in Pictures he was 'shocked' when he got the offer in the '90s.

'I had a job offer for Neighbours. And I was shocked,' he recalled.

'I was doing part-time classes. I got this job offer, and I auditioned for this prestigious school, WAAPA  Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. And I got the offer for the drama school the same day I got the offer for Neighbours.'

Jackman chose to study because he felt it would bring him closer to his ambitions.

'I had a job offer for Neighbours. And I was shocked,' he recalled in a 2019 interview

After being offered the role, Jackman decided to continue his drama studies by doing a three-year course at the prestigious Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. (Pictured: Jackman performing in The Boy from Oz in Melbourne in August 2006)

'I ended up taking the drama school, mainly because in my heart of hearts, in my dreams, my goal would be one day to be at the National Theatre, to one day be at the Royal Shakespeare Company,' he continued.

'For me, watching the John Barton tapes, watching those great actors, I thought that's the best place in the world to act.'

Jackman's wife Deborra-Lee Furness had starred in Neighbours in 1985, playing the character Linda Fielding.

She went on to become a director for the soap opera.
A host of familiar faces turned out on in London on Wednesday to celebrate the reopening of Longchamp's Bond Street store.

The likes of model Suki Waterhouse, 30, clad in a tartan and floral dress, and Pixie Geldof, 32, stepped out at the event.

Model and royal Lady Amelia Windsor, 27, and Princess Diana's nieces Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer, 30, also showed their support on the night.

Turning heads: Suki Waterhouse stunned in a floral dress as she joined leather-clad Pixie Geldof at the Longchamp reopening party in London on Wednesday

Suki looked chic in an autumnal outfit, wearing a tartan and floral dress with a peach sweater underneath.

The model, who is dating Twilight star Robert Pattinson, wore natural-looking makeup and her blonde hair out and around her face.

She complimented her look with a peach lip and a red leather handbag.

The stunner was joined by her sister Maddi Waterhouse at the event.

Picture perfect: The model, who is dating Twilight star Robert Pattinson, wore natural-looking makeup and her blonde hair out and around her face

Going hell for leather! Pixie meanwhile, opted for a chic black leather skirt, which she teamed with black stockings, a black sweater and a pair of jewel-encrusted black pointed heels

Autumnal: Suki looked chic in an autumnal outfit, wearing a tartan and floral dress with a peach sweater underneath

Family affair: The stunner was joined by her sister Maddi Waterhouse (R) at the event

Pixie meanwhile, opted for a chic black leather skirt, which she teamed with black stockings, a black sweater and a pair of jewel-encrusted black pointed heels.

Pixie, who is the daughter of Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates, wore a chic winged eye and her hair in an elegant up-do.

She wore a small tan leather handbag over her shoulder.

Mod! Pixie, who is the daughter of Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates, wore a chic winged eye and her hair in an elegant up-do

Good spirits: She appeared in good spirits at the event, smiling and laughing and flashing the peace sign while posing for photographs

Stylish: She wore a small tan leather handbag over her shoulder

She appeared in high spirits at the event, smiling and laughing and flashing the peace sign while posing for photographs.

Lady Amelia Windsor, 27, cut a casual figure in a peach crop top, which help flash her washboard abs, and a pair of high-waisted black trousers.

She appeared relaxed as she stepped out, wearing her long locks out and around her face and layered gold chains.

Top of the crops: Lady Amelia Windsor, 27, cut a casual figure in a peach crop top, which help flash her washboard abs, and a pair of high-waisted black trousers

Twinning: Princess Diana's twin nieces Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer wore matching black outfits

Princess Diana's twin nieces Lady Amelia and Eliza Spencer wore matching black outfits.

The girls looked flawless with their blonde locks perfectly styled and dewy makeup.

Also in attendance on the evening was Emma Thynn, the Marchioness of Bath, 36.

Emma looked stylish in an edgy camouflage-print dress, which featured a daring thigh-split.

Familiar face: Also in attendance on the evening was Emma Thynn, the Marchioness of Bath, 36
Lara Worthington was keeping fit and helping the environment on Wednesday as she hopped on a Citi Bike and pedalled to lunch in New York City.

The makeup-free model, 35, zoomed across the busy streets on the share bicycle, wearing a black shirt over a matching tee and brown corduroy trousers.

She finished her chic streetwear look with Adidas sneakers, a black belt, gold chain necklace and dark sunglasses.

Lara Worthington was keeping fit and helping the environment on Wednesday as she hopped on a Citi Bike and pedalled to lunch in New York City

The Being Lara Bingle star let the wind blow through her hair as she cruised along.

She was seen checking her phone once she arrived at the restaurant before making her way inside.

It comes after her recent appearance at the Prada fragrance launch party in London, where she showcased her famous physique in an all-black ensemble.

She checked her phone once she arrived at the restaurant before making her way inside

The blonde bombshell displayed her flawlessly toned abs in a low-cut crop top and matching midi skirt upon her arrival at the event.

Lara shares three sons with her actor husband Sam Worthington.

The family spent most of 2021 in Australia, after living in the U.S. for several years.

The makeup-free model, 35, wore a black shirt over a matching tee and brown corduroy pants

However, they have since returned to America and appear to be living in New York City, where they previously resided.

Lara has become known for her bold fashion sense ever since she reinvented herself from swimsuit model to chic socialite.

She is known for wearing lots of black, and often adds a tomboy twist to her ensembles with oversized blazers, sneakers and T-shirts.

It comes after her recent appearance at the Prada fragrance launch party in London, where she showcased her famous physique in an all-black ensemble

She has previously revealed she has a relaxed attitude when it comes to fashion.

Speaking to Stellar magazine, Lara said: 'I wear whatever the hell I want and I don't care!'

She also told The Daily Telegraph her must-haves include a 'black dress in a statement silhouette' and 'a leather dress [that] stands the test of time'.
Scott Disick looked relaxed while leaving Polacheck's Jewelers in Calabasas with a bodyguard on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old reality television star donned a bulky black sweater with a white symbol on his chest and a multicolored design running up his right arm.

He added gray shorts to the ensemble which ended above his knees, and he walked in well-worn white sneakers.

Looking at jewelry: Scott Disick looked relaxed while leaving Polacheck's Jewelers in Calabasas with a bodyguard on Wednesday

His dark brown hair was combed off to the right, and his thick brown beard extended far off his strong jawline.

Disick added black sunglasses to protect his eyes from the harsh Southern California sun. He carried a water and a bodyguard joined him on his outing.

The father-of-three's appearance out came after he reportedly told friends he was 'done' with Kanye West because of the 45-year-old's anti-Semitic remarks.

Keeping warm: The 39-year-old reality television star donned a bulky black sweater with a white symbol on his chest and a multicolored design running up his right arm

Tired of him: The father-of-three's appearance out came after he reportedly told friend he was 'done' with Kanye West because of the 45-year-old's anti-Semitic remarks (West pictures Oct. 12, 2022)

No association: One insider also said Disick doesn't want 'his kids to associate with [West] either' (pictured 2020)

Sources close to the Flip It Like Disick star told HollywoodLife that he was 'very disappointed' with the Donda rapper.

'Scott and Kanye had gotten really close over the years,' one insider revealed. 'And although theyve since grown apart, Scott is very disappointed over Kanyes recent remarks about Jewish people.

'Even though Scott isnt super religious, he takes Judaism seriously and even made a special trip to Israel a few years ago where he was blessed by a rabbi.'

Despite how disappointed Scott is, the source revealed he hasn't reached out to West because he 'really doesnt see a point.'

'He doesnt think anything good would come out of it because Kanye has clearly made up his mind. Now that Kanye and Kim [Kardashian] are nearly divorced, and Kourtney [Kardashian] and Scott have broken up for good, theres really no reason for them to hang out.'

Done! The lovebirds have snapped up a beach house near Santa Barbara, California, where they got engaged in 2021, for $14.5 million on Friday, according to UsWeekly; seen in May

Another source confirmed the news and said Disick started to become frustrated with West after the rapper went on tirades about Kim's former beau Pete Davidson.

'He thought that Kanye showed his true colors then,' the insider elaborated. 'And now, after all of this, Scott is done with Kanye. He has nothing to say to him ever again and he does not want his kids to associate with him either. His actions are unjustifiable, and Scott does not understand why he would purposely hurt so many people. It makes no sense to Scott.'

Earlier this month, West made several comments on social media targeting Jewish people including saying he would go 'death con 3 on Jewish people.'

He added, 'You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone who opposes your agenda.' He's since been dropped by Adidas and Balenciaga for his statements, and Vogue reportedly will no longer work with the once beloved rapper.

While Disick has ben dealing with quite a bit in his own personal life, his ex Kourtney bought a Santa Barbara home for $14.5 million with her new husband Travis Barker. The ocean front home used to belong to talk show host Conan O'Brien.

New digs: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have purchased a home together after getting married earlier this year

The property is technically located in Carpinteria, which is very close to the tony Santa Barbara area where several celebrities live.

The gray and white home is situated so close to the beach it only takes a few steps down a short staircase to get to the shore.

There is also a large porch that has a view of the Pacific Ocean. It was made for entertaining as it fits a dining room table and also has a built in barbecue. Below is an outdoor shower.

Inside there it is big enough for their brood - she has three kids as does he - as it is more than 2,100 square feet.

There are two bedrooms with a guest house that has another two bedrooms.

They have some fancy neighbors too: Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis.

TV personality Conan has made a nice profit on the home. He purchased it in 2015 for $8 million and put some money into it, only to get $14.5 million out of the Barkers.

Kourtney and Travis do not live together yet, but rather go between their mansions in Calabasas, California.

Their homes are within walking distance.

'We want our kids to also feel really comfortable and they have both lived in their homes their whole lives for the most part, and they each have their rooms and we are a block away,' Kardashian explained on Dear Media's Not Skinny, Not Fat podcast.

Barker has son Landon, 19, daughter Alabama, 16, with ex Shanna Moakler.

And he parents former stepdaughter Atianna De La Hoya, 23  whose parents are Moakler and her ex Oscar De La Hoya.

Kourtney has three kids Disick: son Mason, 12, daughter Penelope, 10, and son Reign, 7.

Kourtney and Disick aren't on the best of terms at the moment with Kardashian complaining earlier this year about how her 'toxic' ex stole a 'fairy tale moment' from her in the first season of The Kardashians.

'While shooting our show, we are all executive producers, so we get to see cuts of the show and give notes on episodes and make sure that our stories are being told. I am in one of the best places that Ive ever been in my life, and its time for our show to catch up,' she said in a confession in an episode that aired in June.

'Its enabling this old narrative and buying into something that just doesnt really exist. It should be an empowering episode about me getting out of toxic relationships and really having this, like, fairy-tale love story that is my reality,' she added, referring to how Disick's storyline overshadowed her engagement.
Elizabeth Banks put on a rather leggy display in a figure-hugging ensemble as she made her way to the Trevor Noah show in New York City earlier Wednesday.

The Hunger Games alum, 48, opted for a burgundy-colored dress that effortlessly showcased her fit physique.

The talented star has been promoting her latest historical bio titled, Call Jane, which officially premieres in theaters later this month on October 28.

Stylish: Elizabeth Banks, 48, made a fashion statement in a burgundy dress as she headed to the Trevor Noah show in New York City earlier on Wednesday

The beauty flaunted her sense of style and donned a long-sleeved, burgundy knit dress to stay warm in the fall temperatures.

The fashionable ensemble contained a thigh-high cut out on the right side with a racy suspender detail, giving a glimpse of her long legs.

Elizabeth slipped into a pair of over-the-knee, heeled boots.

The Pitch Perfect star held a cheerful smile on her face when she was surrounded by a group of paparazzi as she left her hotel.

Busy day: The talented star held a big smile on her face as she made her way to an interview on the Trevor Noah show in the big apple

Her blonde locks were parted to the side and slicked back into a stylish up do, revealing a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings.

She kept her makeup classic and simple, adding black winged eyeliner and a nude-colored glossy lipstick.

During an interview on CBS Mornings, Elizabeth opened up about her new abortion drama titled, Call Jane.

When talking about the script, she expressed, 'For me, when I first read it, I just thought, 'Oh this will be such a great way to honor a little piece of history of these very revolutionary women in Chicago.'

The premise of the film, which is based on true events, follows a woman with a life-threatening pregnancy who, 'lives in a time in America where she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group of suburban women to find help,' according to IMDB.

The setting of Call Jane takes place in the late 1960s, before Roe Vs. Wade had occurred.

History: When talking her latest film titled, Call Jane, on CBS Mornings, Elizabeth expressed how she liked that the film honored 'a little piece of history'; seen earlier in October at Call Jane premiere in Los Angeles

Promoting: The talented actress has been working through a busy schedule of promoting her latest biopic set in the late 1960s; seen earlier on Tuesday in NYC

The upcoming film not only stars Elizabeth, but contains a talented cast including Sigourney Weaver and Wunmi Mosaku.

When talking to ET Canada during the red carpet premiere of Call Jane earlier this month, the actress further discussed the release of the movie.

'I absolutely think we have an opportunity to remind people what our country looked like before Roe v Wade for pregnant people seeking abortion health care,' she stated.

The film is set to officially premiere nationwide to fans and audiences later this month on October 28.
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Kourtney Kardashian and her husband Travis Barker couldn't keep their hands off each other as they enjoyed a steamy makeout session outside his recording studio in Calabasas, California on Tuesday afternoon.

After opening the 43-year-old reality star's car door, he leaned down to give his spouse, 46, a sweet kiss as she wrapped her arms lovingly around his neck while sitting in his black Mercedes G-Wagon.

Once she slid out of the luxury vehicle, the mom-of-three, who was sporting a black hoodie with green flames on the bottom, snapped some photos of the skeleton Barker had on his truck, and low-mid rise sweatpants with raw-edges from Cydnie Jordan.

Lovebirds: Kourtney Kardashian and her husband Travis Barker couldn't keep their hands off each other as they enjoyed a steamy makeout session outside his recording studio in Calabasas, California on Tuesday afternoon

As Kardashian took some photos, Barker stood behind his wife and held onto her waist before they headed inside for him to work on his music.

Their outing comes just one day before her mother revealed her sadness over finding out about Kardashian and Travis Barker at the One Love Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

In a new trailer for The Kardashians, the 66-year-old momager reflected on learning of her eldest's boozy trip down the aisle in the early morning hours of April 4, 2022.

Going strong: As Kardashian took some photos, Barker stood behind his wife and held onto her waist before they headed inside for him to work on his music

A little drama: Their outing comes just one day before her mother revealed her sadness over finding out about Kardashian and Travis Barker at the One Love Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas

'I'm not gonna lie it would be so disappointing if Kourtney really got married in Vegas, and I wasn't there. But, I guess I'll get over it,' Jenner told the cameras.

She then remarked she's 'been there, done that' with daughter Kim Kardashian, who eloped with music producer Damon Thomas in Las Vegas when she was just 19.

Speaking of Kim, Kris mused that the SKIMS founder 'didn't even tell' her about getting hitched when she got home.

Next up: In a new trailer for The Kardashians, the 66-year-old momager reflected on learning of her eldest's boozy trip down the aisle in the early morning hours of April 4, 2022

Yikes: When a producer asked if Kim get the wedding under wraps due to fear, Kris joked back : 'Ya, I'd be afraid of me too! You know what I mean?'

Taken aback: Footage then pans to Kris asking Kim if she was 'sure' the nuptials weren't 'real'

When a producer asked if Kim get the wedding under wraps due to fear, Kris joked back : 'Ya, I'd be afraid of me too! You know what I mean?'

Footage then pans to Kris asking Kim if she was 'sure' the nuptials weren't 'real.'

'You can look it up on the Clark County website,' she suggested as Kris recalled that's how she found out about Kim's first marriage.

While not shown in the preview, the pair eventually learned that the impromptu ceremony, which took place hours after the Grammy Awards, was not a legal union because they didn't have a marriage license.

'You can look it up on the Clark County website,' she suggested as Kris recalled that's how she found out about Kim's first marriage

Just for fun: While not shown in the preview, the pair eventually learned that the impromptu ceremony, which took place hours after the Grammy Awards, was not a legal union because they didn't have a marriage license

Over the moon: At the time, Kourtney shared a series of photos from the ceremony on Instagram, with the caption: 'Once upon a time in a land far, far away (Las Vegas) at 2am, after an epic night and a little tequila, a queen and her handsome king ventured out to the only open chapel with an Elvis and got married (with no license)'

Affordable: The owner of the family-run chapel has revealed the couple, worth a combined $115million, opted for the mid-range package, costing a bargain $199

At the time, Kourtney shared a series of photos from the ceremony on Instagram, with the caption: 'Once upon a time in a land far, far away (Las Vegas) at 2am, after an epic night and a little tequila, a queen and her handsome king ventured out to the only open chapel with an Elvis and got married (with no license). (sic)'

An Elvis impersonator, named Dean Diamond, officiated the wedding sporteing a shiny gold jacket and several matching chain necklaces with the King Of Rock 'N Roll's signature large shades.

The owner of the family-run chapel has revealed the couple, worth a combined $115million, opted for the mid-range package, costing a bargain $199.
A sketch starring Magda Szubanski as Gina Rinehart has resurfaced after the mining billionaire's company terminated its $15million deal with Netball Australia.

In the clip, filmed in 2015 for the short-lived Foxtel comedy series Open Slather, Magda strokes a piece of iron in her office while arrogantly addressing the camera.

'What's mine is mine and what's yours is also mine. What's in the mine is mine, and what's not in the mine is also mine,' she says, in character as 'Gina Minehart'.

A sketch starring Magda Szubanski as Gina Rinehart has resurfaced after the mining billionaire's company terminated its $15million deal with Netball Australia. (Pictured: Rinehart in Pilbara, Western Australia, on March 25, 2015)

It comes after Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting announced on Saturday it was withdrawing from a $15million sponsorship deal with Netball Australia 'effective immediately'.

In a statement, the business said it 'does not want to add to netball's disunity problems' after Indigenous Diamonds player Donnell Wallam said she was uncomfortable wearing the company's logo.

Ms Wallam said her discomfort was caused by racist comments about 'sterilising' and 'breeding out' Indigenous populations made in 1984 by Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock, who founded the mining company.

In the 2015 clip, from the short-lived Foxtel comedy series Open Slather, Magda, in character as 'Gina Minehart', strokes a piece of iron in her office while arrogantly addressing the camera

However, Netball Australia has faced harsh criticism for judging the history of the company in light of its significant contributions to Indigenous wellbeing since Mrs Rinehart took over in 1992.

Indigenous businessman Clinton Wolf, Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Price and former West Australian Liberal Party leader Zak Kirkup jumped to the mining magnate's defence this week.

Mr Wolf said Hancock Prospecting, through its Roy Hill Community Foundation, had made monumental donations to his charity Madalah, which provides scholarships for Indigenous education.

It comes after Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting announced on Saturday it was withdrawing from a $15million sponsorship deal with Netball Australia 'effective immediately'

In a piece for the National Indigenous Times, Mr Wolf said Rinehart had stepped in to help the 'chronically underfunded' project when state governments were lacking.

He added that Rinehart should be judged by her own actions, rather than those of her father.

Senator Price also told Sky News: 'It's absolutely ridiculous there's this notion it's okay nowadays to judge individuals on the basis of what their mother, father, uncle, aunty or somebody who they're related too did.'
Elsa Pataky will bring Hollywood star power to the Birdcage during the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year.

The 46-year-old Spanish actress - and wife of Chris Hemsworth - has been announced as special guest of LANDMARK by Lexus at Saturday's Derby Day.

Spanish actress Elsa Pataky (pictured on June 27), who is married to Chris Hemsworth, will bring Hollywood star power to the Birdcage during the Melbourne Cup Carnival this year

'I've loved horses since I was little and own a few ex-racehorses for both pleasure riding and show jumping,' Pataky told The Herald Sun.

'Seeing the world's best thoroughbreds in action on the track is always so exciting, and to experience it in Landmark by Lexus will be really special.

'The races are always such a fun day out, and I can't wait to share it with my friends.'

The 46-year-old Spanish actress has been announced as special guest of LANDMARK by Lexus at Saturday's Derby Day

It's not yet confirmed if Hemsworth will join his wife in the Lexus pavilion.

Crowds are expected to flock to Flemington as the Melbourne races return properly for the first time in three years post-Covid.

Other guests include Delta Goodrem, Nicole Trunfio, model sisters Ash and Jess Hart, and New York-based supermodel Duckie Thot, who is a guest of G.H. Mumm.

New Bachelors Thomas Malucelli, Jed McIntosh and Felix Von Hofe will make their first public outing as a trio at the Paramount pavilion.

It's not yet confirmed if Chris Hemsworth (right) will join his wife in the Lexus pavilion

Pataky has often spoken of her passion for horses.

In August last year, it was revealed she and Hemsworth had submitted plans to build a second 'Westfield-style' home near their existing Byron Bay mega-mansion.

The A-list couple also faced scrutiny for building a large stable complex on their existing property, knocking the top off a hill to create an enormous horse ring.

Pataky has often spoken of her passion for horses

'Apparently his mates call it "El Caballo Blanco" - named after a large equine Andalusian theme park that operated in western Sydney in the '70s, '80s and '90s,' a source told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Pataky discussed her love of horse riding in an interview with Women's Health in March last year, saying the activity kept her sane during Covid lockdowns.

'When we were in lockdown, I could still ride, so it was [all about] my family, my husband and my horses,' she said.

'It's such a passion, kind of like meditation for me. I think it's important for your mind to have something you enjoy - a hobby that's just for you and your time.'
China's international civil aviation transport continues to recover in Q3

Xinhua) 08:35, October 27, 2022

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Tom Hiddleston and fiancee Zawe Ashton have reportedly welcomed their first child together.

The couple's romance blossomed after they starred in the 2019 play Betrayal and has gone from strength to strength since - eventually leading to a proposal in March.

Now the pair are proud new parents and are said to be 'thrilled' by their new arrival.

'Tom and Zawe are loving being new parents and are filled with joy,' a source told to Us Weekly about the first-time parents.

The insider also noted they are 'having the struggles of new parents and aren't sleeping much but are thrilled.'

First-time parents: Tom Hiddleston and fiancee Zawe have reportedly welcomed their first child together after getting engaged in March (pictured at the BAFTAs in March)

DailyMail.com has reached out to the couple's representatives for comment.

In June, Tom confirmed he was set to wed the beauty but kept tight lipped about the romance, simply telling the LA Times: 'I'm very happy' and nothing more.

Tom and Zawe set tongues wagging about a possible engagement when they appeared at the BAFTAs earlier this year, after which she was pictured wearing a huge diamond sparkler on her ring finger in a photo shared by host AJ Odudu.

The couple were reportedly congratulated by industry friends at the ceremony - after Zawe hid her hand as she took to the red carpet in a pink cape dress.

Blooming: Zawe showcaseed her baby bump in a glittering gown at the the premiere of Mr. Malcolm's List in New York in June

The Fresh Meat star concealed her stunning diamond-encrusted ring from photographers on the red carpet, draping her stunning flowing pink gown over her hand.

Tom, meanwhile, looked handsome in a black blazer and trousers, as he posed hand-in-hand with Zawe.

Later in the ballroom of London's Grosvenor Hotel the couple caught up with TV personality AJ who snapped a picture, which showed the diamond ring.

Spotted: Tom and Zawe sparked engagement rumours at the BAFTAs in March after which she was pictured wearing a diamond on her ring finger in a photo shared by host AJ Odudu (pictured)

Zawe and Tom have worked hard over the years to kept their relationship out of the spotlight.

The couple confirmed their romance during a PDA-filled holiday at the beach in Ibiza in September last year before making their red carpet debut together at the Tony Awards in New York City.

Last year it was revealed the pair had moved in together after months of romance rumors, and they are now said to be living together in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sources close to the duo said The Night Manager star, and the actress are 'very well suited and enjoy the quieter side of life'.

The start: The couple's romance blossomed after they starred in the 2019 play Betrayal (pictured) and has gone from strength to strength since - leading to a proposal in March

An insider told The Sun: 'Tom and Zawe have stayed quiet about their relationship but she has spent the last few weeks with him in the US.

'They are very well suited and enjoy the quieter side of life away from the glitz and glamour of the showbiz world.'

Tom was also said to be wary of highlighting the romance due to the attention his past relationship with Taylor Swift drew.

A source said: 'Tom really has fallen for Zawe in a big way. But he is so paranoid about his private life since his relationship with Taylor that he has gone to great lengths to keep this under wraps.'

Tom told the New York Times after his romance with Taylor: 'Yes, I'm protective about my internal world now in probably a different way. That's because I didn't realize it needed protecting before.'

During Tom's short-lived fling with Taylor the pair didn't shy away from showing off their romance with lots of public outings.

The couple got together shortly after Taylor's split from Calvin Harris after first meeting at the Met Gala in May 2016, and during the first few weeks of their romance they travelled around the world together.

They even took the huge step of meeting one another's parents, with Taylor jetting to the UK to spend time with Tom's mother in Suffolk, while he went to her adopted home town of Nashville, before calling it quits in late 2016.

Along with his highly publicized relationship with Taylor in 2016, Tom also previously dated his Wallander co-star Susannah Fielding, with the pair splitting up in 2011.
Fans who have waited nearly 40 years for a sequel to the hit holiday classic film A Christmas Story can rejoice.

The first photos from the upcoming follow-up movie - A Christmas Story Christmas - have just been released, along with a new movie poster.

'Here is your first look at #AChristmasStoryChristmas!' it reads on the Warner Bros. Pictures Instagram page on Wednesday, October 26, which sent out three photos taken from scenes in the upcoming movie.

First look: Warner Bros Pictures released the first photos from the upcoming film A Christmas Story Christmas, starring Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, nearly 40 years after the original film A Christas Story (1983)

One of the new images shows Billingsley, as Ralphie wearing his thick rimmed glasses, trying to adjust the star at the top of the Family's Christmas tree, all while his wife Sandy looks on.

Billingsley, now 51, is also seen sitting in front of the fireplace with a massive book on his lap with his family, which includes actress Julie Hagerty (Mrs. Parker: Ralph's mother), Erinn Hayes (Sandy Parker: Ralph's wife), Julianna Layne (Julie Parker: Ralph's daughter) and River Drosche (Mark Parker: Ralph's son).

In the last image, Ralphie and his wife Sandy Parker are pictured with their two young children, who look to be in awe at some sort of Christas-themed event.

Family fun: Billingsley, now 51, can also also be seen sitting in front of the fireplace with a massive book on his lap with his family, which includes actress Julie Hagerty (Mrs. Parker: Ralph's mother), Erinn Hayes (Sandy Parker: Ralph's wife), Julianna Layne (Julie Parker: Ralph's daughter) and River Drosche (Mark Parker: Ralph's son)

Family outing: Ralphie and his wife Sandy Parker are pictured with their two young children, who look to be in awe at some sort of Christmas-themed event

The promotional push also includes the release of a brand new poster showing Billingsley all grown up as Ralphie carrying a brown suitcase and matching brown leather bag over his right shoulder.

'Ralphie comes home' it says below a photo of the Parkers' house.

'Oh fudge! Check out who's coming home for Christmas in the new poster for #AChristmasStoryChristmas - streaming exclusively on @HBOMax November 17,' it reads in the caption.

Along with Billingsley, the other actors reprising their roles from the original film, which is set 33 years after the beloved original, include Ian Petrella (Randy Parker: Ralph's brother), Zack Ward (Scut Farkus) and R. D. Robb (Schwartz).

Movie poster: Warner Bros Pictures also released a poster ahead of the release on HBO Max

The new poster and photos arrive less than two weeks after the first teaser for the HBO Max film dropped, which began with a quick glimpse of the family house both outside and inside the home.

There's also flashes of the famous leg lamp as Ralphie's dad Mr Parker (played by Darren McGavin) could be heard saying: 'Fragile. It must be Italian.'

That cuts to a photo of the young Ralphie in the snow before a voiceover from the original flick saying: 'oh fudge!'

It ends with a closeup on the now grown up Ralphie and his signature smile.

Eye not shot out! Peter Billingsley was shown reprising his iconic role in the A Christmas Story Christmas teaser released earlier in October

Promo push: The teaser began with classic lines from the 1983 original film and flashes of the home, including the famous leg lamp as Ralphie's dad Mr Parker (played by Darren McGavin) could be heard saying: 'Fragile. It must be Italian'

Oh fudge! Ralphie's signature smile could be seen at the very end of the short clip

Legendary: The teaser also ended with a throwback image of the iconic character Ralphie as a child from the original 1983 film

Highly-anticipated: A Christmas Story Story will begin streaming on HBO Max on November 17

Back in January it was announced that Billingsley would be coming back to his signature role to lead a sequel to the perennial holiday favorite.

The starturnedfilmmaker reprises his role in the new film that's expected to take place when Ralphie is an adult in the 1970s, The Hollywood Reporter revealed at the time.

In addition to starring in the long-awaited sequel to the 1983 classic, Billingsley also serves as producer for its production companies Legendary and Warner Bros. alongside longtime friend Vince Vaughn for Wild West Picture Show Productions.

A Christmas miracle! Back in January it was announced that Billingsley would be coming back to reprise his signature role in the sequel to the perennial holiday favorite

The Christmas Chronicles director Clay Kaytis helmed the much-anticipated sequel film, which will be released on Warner's HBO Max streaming service.

The original A Christmas Story was an episodic period piece set sometime in the late 1930s to early 1940s that follows nine-year-old Ralphie as he navigates school and family relationships in a fictional Indiana town while dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas.

In the '70s-set sequel, Ralphie will return home to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his own children the same kind of 'magical Christmas' he experienced as a child.

The original Christmas Story was a period piece set sometime in the late 1930s to early 1940s that follows Ralphie, nine, as he navigates school and family relationships in a fictional Indiana town while dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB rifle for Christmas; still from A Christmas Story

All grown up: In the '70s-set sequel, Ralphie will return home to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his own children the same kind of 'magical Christmas' he experienced as a child, while also moving on from the death of his father; seen in 2018 in Beverly Hills

The original film was lauded for its realistic production design, which impeccably matched the time period and the Midwestern setting, and the publication writes that the new film will try to adopt a similar style.

Adult Ralphie will reunite with some of his childhood friends featured in the original movie while also trying to move on from the death of his father, often referred to as The Old Man in the original and played by Darren McGavin.

Although the original was filmed in Cleveland, Ohio, with some additional scenes done in Ontario, Canada, the new production wasn't shot in the United States. Instead, Hungary will be filling in for what is supposed to be Hammond, Indiana.

There are expected to be plenty of references to the original film, which annually plays for 24 hours on TBS and TNT from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.

Rise in standing: A Christmas Story was initially only modestly successful and received mixed reviews upon its 1983 release, but it became a perennial favorite over the years thanks to repeated TV broadcasts

A Christmas Story, which also starred Melinda Dillon as Ralphie's mother, was initially only modestly successful and received mixed reviews upon its 1983 release.

But over the years the film grew in popularity, with the help of home video releases and television broadcasts, until it came to be regarded as one of the best and most popular Christmas films of all time.

Following his acclaimed performance in A Christmas Story, Billingsley continued to act more sporadically as he grew older, before focusing on behind the camera work as a director and producer.

He went on to direct the comedy film Couple Retreat, starring his friends Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, and he executive produced the animated comedy series F For Family with Vaughn.

In 2008, he played a small role as a scientist in Iron Man, which was directed by Favreau, and both actors were later featured in Spider-Man: Far From Home.

A Christmas Story Christmas starts streaming on HBO Max on November 17.
Hugh Jackman revealed in a new wide-ranging profile that he once gave actor Matt Damon a lap dance during a Broadway performance.

The 54-year-old Australian actor had just broken out with American audiences portraying Wolverine in 2000's X-Men, when he surprised many by landing the role of Aussie musician Peter Allen in the Broadway musical The Boy From Oz.

During his Broadway run - which won him his first of two Tony Awards - he would frequently improvise parts of the show, which lead to him giving Matt Damon a lap dance on stage one night, he revealed to Variety.

Lap dance: Hugh Jackman revealed in a new wide-ranging profile that he once gave actor Matt Damon a lap dance during a Broadway performance

On stage: During his Broadway run - which won him his first of two Tony Awards - he would frequently improvise parts of the show, which lead to him giving Matt Damon a lap dance on stage one night, he revealed to Variety

Jackman revealed, 'The most fun I ever had was playing Peter Allen,' the iconic gay musician who was one of the first prominent Aussies to die from AIDS in 1992, at just 48 years of age.

There were parts during the show's second act that would allow Jackman to improvise, where he would frequently pull up celebrity guests from the crowd.

'There was, I dont know, roughly 10 to 12 minutes of every show that was ad-libbed. Once I was 50 or 60 shows in, I felt completely free to do whatever the hell I wanted,' he said.

Most fun: Jackman revealed, 'The most fun I ever had was playing Peter Allen,' the iconic gay musician who was one of the first prominent Aussies to die from AIDS in 1992, at just 48 years of age

'I was an a**hole at times. I brought up Barbara Walters and Matt Damon, and made Matt Damon give Barbara Walters a lap dance, which turned into me giving Matt Damon a lap dance. And he didnt punch me,' Jackman joked.

Another improvised moment came at the 2004 Tony Awards, during his performance at Radio City Music Hall.

He pulled up Sarah Jessica Parker from the crowd and asked her to dance... while she was wearing a tight top that almost caused a wardrobe malfunction.

A**hole: 'I was an a**hole at times. I brought up Barbara Walters and Matt Damon, and made Matt Damon give Barbara Walters a lap dance, which turned into me giving Matt Damon a lap dance. And he didnt punch me,' Jackman joked

'I really felt for her that night. As soon as she got up onstage, I could tell those boobs were about to come out,' Jackman joked.

His success on Broadway lead to him hosting the Oscar's a few years later in 2009, which he states for the record he would do again... under one condition.

'My only rule is I dont want to be working while Im doing it,' Jackman proclaimed.

Oscar host: His success on Broadway lead to him hosting the Oscar's a few years later in 2009, which he states for the record he would do again... under one condition

The actor is getting Oscar buzz once again for his performance in The Son, which debuts theatrically in limited release on November 25.

'It was like a lightning bolt. I had to play this part. As a son, as a father, I found it to be devastating, truthful. It felt like a compulsion that I long for as an actor,' Jackman said.

The film had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in early September, where it earned a rousing 10-minute standing ovation.
He is one of the most recognisable stars in Hollywood.

But Hugh Jackman looked like any ordinary New Yorker on Tuesday as he went for a low-key stroll around the Big Apple.

The Wolverine actor, 54, dressed casually in a grey jumper and black jeans as he enjoyed a walk around his neighbourhood.

Hugh Jackman looked like any ordinary New Yorker on Tuesday as he went for a low-key stroll around the Big Apple

Hugh completed his look with black sneakers and a pair of sunglasses.

He held a water bottle and listened to music through his Airpods as he pounded the pavement.

The musical theatre veteran has been based in NYC for years with his wife Deborra-lee Furness and their children Oscar and Ava.

The Wolverine actor, 54, dressed casually in a grey jumper and black jeans as he enjoyed a walk around his neighbourhood

The outing comes after Hugh and Deborra-Lee recently returned from a romantic holiday in Venice, Italy.

The couple were in the city for the 79th Venice International Film Festival.

They married on April 11, 1996, just one year after meeting on the set of Australian drama Corelli.

Hugh once said he realised he was going to spend the rest of his life with Deborra-Lee after knowing her for just two weeks.

They are parents to two adopted children: Oscar Maximilian Jackman, 21, and Ava Eliot Jackman, 16.

Hugh completed his look with black sneakers and a pair of sunglasses

Hugh previously told People the secret to their happy marriage was 'making time for each other and 'always learning' from one another.

The X-Men star said they consciously 'reset' their marriage, which means they don't grow apart like many longtime couples do.

'We're always learning and humans change so you have to, you gotta reset all the time,' he said.

The musical theatre veteran has been based in NYC for years with his wife Deborra-lee Furness and their children Oscar and Ava

'I'm always reeling in how funny she is and how amazing she is and how smart she is. The longer it goes on the better it gets.'

The Greatest Showman actor told NBC's Today show last year that their marriage 'doesn't feel like work'.

He said: 'People often say, "Oh, my God, marriage is so much work." There are some things you've got to live by, but it doesn't feel like that.

'It's been one of the best things in my life.'
Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank will soon take a new role in her life: mother.

Earlier in the month, the Million Dollar Baby star revealed that she and her husband of four years, Philip Schneider, are expecting twins.

And now, it turns out, their twins are due on her beloved late father's birthday on April 16.

'It's beautiful': Hilary Swank, 48, revealed her twins are due on her late father's birthday

For more visit EXTRA

In a new interview with Extra's Jenn Lahmers, Swank confessed to have had 'some bouts of morning sickness, but has since come out on the other side and is 'feeling better' in the second trimester of her pregnancy.

'My friends tell me when you have double, it doubles the hormones, double the sickness, double the everything,' the 48-year-old explained to Lahmers.

Swank has been open about wanting to have children, but between having a thriving career and not meeting the right man until her 40s, it didn't happen for her in her younger years.

'It's something I thought about as a young girl. It was something on my mind, and so now it's just nice to be here and just be pregnant,' she added. 'I was having a a career and not having the right relationship until five years ago. All the elements need to come together and be right.'

During a new interview with Extra, the Oscar-winning actress confessed to have had 'some bouts of morning sickness, but has since come out on the other side and is 'feeling better' in the second trimester of her pregnancy

The stars eventually aligned: In an interview with Extra's Jenn Lahmers, Swank also shared about wanting to have children, but between having a thriving career and not meeting the right man until her 40s, it didn't happen for her in her younger years

Swank came out and went public with her pregnancy in an Instagram post on October 5: 'Coming soonDOUBLE feature!' she gushed in the caption.

Earlier this month, the Boys Don't Cry actress shared a touching tribute to her late father, Stephen Michael Swank, by posting a video of him on Instagram to mark the one-year anniversary of his passing at the age of 73.

'I can't believe its been a year since you've transitioned,' the devoted daddy's girl shared in the caption. 'You are missed beyond measure and forever in my heart.'

She also revealed the that her twins' due date of April 16 is the same as her dad's birthday.

'It's beautiful,' she said of the spring due date. 'Its all aligning, and my dad, he was one of my favorite people in the world, so it is kind of like this tribute of life with them being born on this birthday.

Baby on board: The actress went public with her pregnancy on social media in early October

Special tribute: 'Its all aligning,' Swank said of her twins being due on her father's birthday on April 16. 'And my dad, he was one of my favorite people in the world, so it is kind of like this tribute of life with them being born on this birthday'

The Nebraska native went on to confess that her father would be so happy to learn of his daughter's pending bundles of joy.

'He would be happy, elated for me. He just wanted me to have everything I wanted in my life, so I know it would be something that would bring him a lot of joy to see me in so much joy,' she explained.

Earlier in her pregnancy, Swank opted to keep the baby news a secret from the cast and crew of her new ABC show, Alaska Daily.

To be able to keep that pregnancy under wraps while filming she would have to resort to cutting her pants in the back when they got too tight.

Heartbreaking: Earlier this month, the actress shared a touching tribute to her late father, Stephen Michael Swank, by posting a video of him on Instagram around the time of the one-year anniversary of his death

'He would be happy, elated for me': The Nebraska native went on to confess that her late father would be so happy to learn of his daughter's pending bundles of joy

In Alaska Daily, the actress plays disgraced New York journalist Eileen Fitzgerald who moves to Alaska for a clean start as well as for redemption both personally and professionally.

While working at a daily metro newspaper in Anchorage, Eileen works with another colleague at the newspaper, Roz Friendly, to complete and release reports on a crisis known as the Missing and murdered Indigenous persons Crisis in the state of Alaska.

The new drama series, which also stars Jeff Perry, Grace Dove, Meredith Holzman, Matt Malloy, Pablo Castelblanco, Ami Park and Craig Frank, premiered on ABC October 6.

New role: Swank stars as Eileen Fitzgerald, a disgraced New York journalist who moves to Alaska for a clean start as well as for redemption both personally and professionally
The cast and crew of The Block are in mourning after the death of one of their beloved tradies, Jon-Jeremy Bradey of A Plus Enterprises.

The pool expert, who died on October 14 at the age of 42, worked on the hit Channel Nine renovation show for several seasons.

Bradey, known as 'Jon Jon' to his mates, was given a touching tribute by The Block on Sunday night.

Channel Nine renovation show The Block has announced the death of 'pool king' Jon-Jeremy Bradey at the age of 42. (Pictured: The Block host Scott Cam)

A picture of Bradey in a tuxedo was shown at the end of the episode, alongside the caption: 'In memory of Jon Jeremy Bradey, 1980-2022.'

Fans of The Block will remember Bradey as the 'pool king' who worked on Kirsty and Jesse's property during the 2021 season of the ratings blockbuster.

He also concreted Josh and Luke's pool in the same season.

Bradey (pictured), who died on October 14 at the age of 42, worked on The Block for several seasons as a pool expert. This photo of him was shown at the end of Sunday's episode

The father of three was a legend in the building industry and a 'devoted husband' and friend, reports the Herald Sun.

His reputation for precision earned him the nickname 'Mr One Per Cent'.

Bradey's wife Candice Howman said she was overwhelmed by the love and support from friends of her late husband.

The Block foreman Keith Schleiger (left) is pictured with Jon-Jeremy Bradey (right)

'From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you dearly,' she said.

A funeral for the much-loved tradie was held at Narre Warren North on Monday.

Bradey is survived by his wife and three children, Anileese, Amelia and Kobe.
Julia Fox left little to the imagination while modeling on the streets of New York City Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Uncut Gems actress wore a low-cut brown denim top which showed off her toned tummy.

She added matching brown, bikini-style bottoms accentuating her tanned, toned thighs.

Baring some skin: Julia Fox left little to the imagination while modeling on the streets of New York City on Wednesday

A longer piece of fabric ran down the back of her bottoms, covering her pert derriere.

Tall, knee-length white leather boots snaked up her slender legs, and her white handbag matched her high heel boots.

Her dark brown hair was slicked back and tucked behind her ears. It showed off her razor thin eyebrows, and her lips were painted light pink.

Denim: The 32-year-old Uncut Gems actress wore a low-cut brown denim top which showed off her toned tummy

Tiny bottoms: She added matching brown, bikini-style bottoms accentuating her toned, tanned thighs

Long locks: Her dark brown hair was slicked back and tucked behind her ears

Fox's appearance out came a day after she shared a somber clip to TikTok regarding her romance with Kanye West.

'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.

Romance: 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 (pictured Jan. 2022)

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.
He delves into his history of drug addiction in his upcoming memoir

The Friends star took another jab at Reeves while mention Chris Farley's death

Reeves has described Phoenix as one of his best friends

Matthew Perry has backtracked on his shockingly negative feelings about Keanu Reeves as he has apologized for what he wrote in upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing.

In the book Perry, who recently delved into his history with drug addiction, writes, 'Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?' in a passage obtained by Page Six.

After the revelation, the Friends actor released a statement clarifying his comments to People on Wednesday as he said: 'I'm actually a big fan of Keanu.

Mistake? Matthew Perry has backtracked on his shockingly negative feelings about Keanu Reeves as he has apologized for what he wrote in upcoming memoir Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing

'I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.'

In the excerpt Perry, 53, seemed to be barely able to hold back his disdain for the 58-year-old Matrix star  whom he doesn't appear to have ever collaborated with  while discussing their mutual friend River Phoenix, who died in 1993 of a drug overdose at only 23.

Although Reeves has called Phoenix one of his 'closet friends of that era,' according to the Irish Times, Perry also had a strong connection with the rising star after the future TV mainstay made his feature film debut opposite him in 1988's A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon.

In the book Perry, who recently delved into his history with drug addiction , writes, 'Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?' in a passage obtained by Page Six

In his memoir, Perry describes how their time filming the movie in Chicago helped establish a strong bond, while also tagging another presumed jab at Reeves.

'River was a beautiful man inside and out and too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down,' he writes.

Phoenix famously died of a combined drug overdose from heroin and cocaine outside the Viper Room in West Hollywood, and Perry writes that he 'heard the screaming from my apartment; went back to bed; woke up to the news.'

He added that he broke down in sobs after learning his friend had died.

Although Reeves has called Phoenix one of his 'closet friends of that era,' Perry also had a strong connection to him after he made his feature film debut opposite Phoenix in 1988's A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon; Phoenix and Reeves in My Own Private Idaho

Sour grapes: 'Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?' in a passage obtained by Page Six; still from the Friends reunion

Perry's jabs and Reeves weren't limited to their mutual connection to Phoenix, though.

He also blasted the John Wick star in another aside while discussing his late friend Chris Farley, who died in 1997 at age 33 of a drug overdose from combining a stimulant (cocaine) with a depressant (morphine), a similar concoction to the speedball that killed Phoenix.

Perry and Farley had starred together in the critically reviled Christopher Guestdirected comedy Almost Heroes, which was released in the year following Farley's death.

Perry again complained that Reeves was still alive while noting his sadness over his friend and costar Chris Farley's 1997 death from a drug overdose; seen in 1997 with Lisa Kudrow

'I punched a hole through Jennifer Anistons dressing room wall when I found out [about Farley's death],' he writes, adding, 'Keanu Reeves walks among us.'

Aside from his grievances about other actors, Perry delves into his extensive history with drug addiction in his memoir and in recent interviews, which may have made the deaths of Phoenix, Ledger and Farley particularly painful.

While speaking to People earlier this month, he revealed that his colon ruptured as a result of his opioid addiction when he was 49. Doctors gave him only a two percent chance of survival, and the medical emergency left him in a coma for two weeks, followed by months more in the hospital.

He required 14 surgeries to help repair all of the abdominal damage, and he admitted to having gone to rehab 15 times over the years in hopes of kicking his drug addiction.

Perry's memoir Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing will be released on November 1.
Jordan Banjo has revealed his new wife Naomi Courts is pregnant with their third child, two months after they tied the knot.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the Diversity dancer, 29, shared an adorable shot with Naomi outside their home as their children Cassius, four, and Mimi, three, cradled her baby bump.

He captioned the shot: 'TRICK OR TREAT! Were expecting 2 (more) tiny little feet! baby number 3 due April 2023.'

'Expecting two more tiny feet!': Diversity's Jordan Banjo revealed new wife Naomi Courts is pregnant with their third child in an adorable Instagram post on Wednesday

The dancer also shared a sweet selfie of the pair holding their sonogram picture as he penned: 'The Banjo Family is growing even more Baby number 3 on the way.'

The pair were immediately flooded with messages from their celebrity pals, with the likes of Oti Mabuse, Helen Flanagan and Danielle Armstrong passing on their congratulations.

The joyous news comes after the couple tied the knot this August, a year later than planned due to the pandemic.

Jordan announced his engagement to mother-of-two Naomi in January 2020 when he proposed during a trip to the Maldives after almost five years together.

Cute: The dancer also shared a sweet selfie of the pair holding their sonogram picture as he penned: 'The Banjo Family is growing even more Baby number 3 on the way'

Speaking to The Sun he said: 'Nay loves the idea of Mimi being a little flower girl and Cas being a page boy.

'It will be really nice to have them at the wedding because not everyone has children at the wedding, they normally come after. I'm super excited.

'Everyone in Diversity had kids after they got married, we did that the other way round.'

Sweet: The pair were immediately flooded with messages from their celebrity pals, with the likes of Oti Mabuse, Helen Flanagan and Danielle Armstrong passing on their congratulations

Last January Jordan revealed he popped the question to Naomi in the Maldives, six months after welcoming their second child, Mimi.

In a sweet Instagram post, the dancer and his partner - who also share Cassius - cuddled up to each other at the four-star SAii Lagoon resort as the brunette flashed her diamond engagement ring.

The couple appeared on cloud nine as they took snaps on the beach, where a fire display with the words: 'WILL U MARRY ME' was lit up.

In another photo, Naomi put her eye-watering band on full display, which was complete with a pear-shaped stone and a sculpted swirl design.

Street dancer Jordan captioned the images: 'Well she didn't say no', alongside ring and heart emojis.

The pair were finally one step closer to marriage after Jordan admitted his proposal plans failed twice.

Famous faces: Jordan rose to fame in 2009 when he won Britain's Got Talent with big brother Ashley as part of their dance troupe Diversity (Diversity pictured in 2019)

He told The Sun in April 2019: 'At this rate we're going to end up with 13 kids and not going to be married. I was ready to propose when I found out she was pregnant with Cass.

'So I thought, "OK, I'll wait until he's a little older and then I'll take Naomi away and surprise her with a proposal".

'Then when I started thinking about doing it again this year I found out she was pregnant again. Now she's convinced we're not going to get married.'

Jordan and Naomi met at famous Essex nightclub Sugar Hut in 2013, but embarked on a relationship two years later.

In January 2018, the couple revealed they were expecting their first child together, with the Essex-based beauty admitting she took 'nine pregnancy tests' out of shock.

She told OK! at the time: 'I wanted to be sure so I went out and bought eight more tests. I sat with them laid out in front of me on the bathroom floor, staring at them in disbelief.

'We always said we wanted kids together, we just didn't think it would happen this soon. We're over the moon, though!'

Exciting: Jordan announced his engagement to mother-of-two Naomi in January 2020 when he proposed during a trip to the Maldives after almost five years together

Eight months after welcoming Cass, the pair announced they were pregnant with their second baby, with their daughter arriving in the July.

The I'm A Celeb star previously dated Little Mix's Jesy Nelson from mid 2012 until March 2013.

Jordan rose to fame in 2009 when he won Britain's Got Talent with big brother Ashley as part of their dance troupe Diversity.

Since being in the spotlight, he has hosted the 2013 edition of Got to Dance, participated in I'm A Celeb in 2016 and presented BBC's The Greatest Dancer with Alesha Dixon.
She's certainly no stranger to commanding attention in leading roles on the big screen.

And Gal Gadot turned heads once again as she joined an A-list crowd at the Tiffany & Co Lock event at the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood on Wednesday night.

The Wonder Woman star, 37, looked incredible in a slinky scarlet backless gown as she mingled with the likes of Kim Kardashian, 42, Hailey Bieber, 25, and Zoe Kravitz, 33, inside the high-end jewellery brand's bash.

Ravishing in red: Gal Gadot joined an A-list crowd at the Tiffany & Co Lock Event at the iconic Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood on Wednesday night

The actress wore her brunette locks swept up into an elegant chignon and she accessorised her striking look with gold jewellery.

The Death On The Nile star with black strappy heels as she chatted to her fellow guests at the event.

Gal celebrated 14 years of marriage to real estate developer husband Jaron Varsano, 47, last month, and the couple have three daughters; Alma, 10, Maya, five, and Daniela, 16 months.

The former Miss Israel wrapped filming her upcoming role as the Evil Queen in Disney's live-action Snow White film in July, with the movie set for release in 2024.

Lady in red: The Wonder Woman star, 37, looked incredible in a slinky scarlet backless gown as she posed inside the high-end jewellery brand's bash

Elegant: The actress wore her brunette locks swept up into an elegant chignon and she accessorised her striking look with gold jewellery

On the film front, the screen star's upcoming projects also include a remake of the Alfred Hitchcock romance thriller To Catch A Thief.

Based on a mystery novel by David Dodge, the 1955 Hitchcock movie starred Cary Grant and Grace Kelly in the principal roles.

The new version of To Catch A Thief is not Gal's only current venture into territory previously covered by Old Hollywood.

The actress is also starring in and producing an upcoming movie about Cleopatra, which has garnered criticism on account of her being white.

Star-studded occasion: The Death On The Nile star mingled with the likes of Kim Kardashian, 42, (L) and Hailey Bieber, 25, (R) inside the event

A-listers unite: Hailey turned heads in a completely sheer black maxi-dress as she posed alongside Gal at her table

Though she was ethnically of Greek origin, Cleopatra has attracted 'whitewashing' claims over the white actresses who have played her.

Gal addressed the controversy in an interview with BBC Arabic, saying: 'First of all if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian.

'We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn't there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.

'People are people, and with me I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honour this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.'

Gal threw down the gauntlet for other filmmakers to come up with competing versions of the story: 'You know, anybody can make this movie and anybody can go ahead and do it. I'm very passionate that I'm going to do my own too.'
Launched in 2011, the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Africa and the Middle East recognizes the best tech start-up projects that make a positive impact on society or the environment in their region or align with sustainable development goals.

The competition reflects the Groups drive to further socioeconomic progress in its operating countries, support social and environmental innovation and encourage entrepreneurship.

A 12th edition that exceptionally recognized five winners

This year, nearly 1,400 applications were submitted from across the 17 countries involved in the competition.

The OSVP is split into two awards:

The International Womens Prize, which awards 20,000 to the winner whose business venture is led by women entrepreneurs or with the primary purpose of improving womens lives by developing solutions to specific obstacles or issues they face.

The International Grand Prix, which recognizes three projects that harness tech to make a positive social and environmental impact. The three winners receive the following:

1st prize: 25,000

2nd prize: 15,000

3rd prize: 10,000

For the second time in 12 years, the panel decided to award the Judges Choice prize  10,000 given to a project that is expected to make a particularly significant impact.

Winners of the international competition

At the Mobile World Congress Africa in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 25 to 27, 2022, Elizabeth Tchoungui, Executive Director CSR, Diversity and Philanthropy and Deputy Chair for the Orange Foundation, and Brelotte Ba, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Orange Middle East & Africa, held a ceremony during which the winners were announced.

The winner of the International Womens Prize is:

iRole ! (Jordan)  iRole! is a digital platform that connects women looking for remote work with organizations seeking to fill such vacancies.

The winners of the International Grand Prix are:

3rd prize: Kamioun (Tunisia)  Kamioun has developed an e-commerce platform to supply local convenience stores in Tunisia.

2nd prize: Biomass4GLC (Mali)  Biomass4GLC produces and distributes biogas suitable for cooking in Mali by renting out connected systems.

1st prize: LifeBlood ( (Sierra Leone)  LifeBlood is a digital health platform designed to solve the acute shortage of blood products available in the countrys healthcare system.

The winner of the Judges Choice prize is:

Abana (Democratic Republic of the Congo)  Abana is a marketplace through which clothes designers can sell their creations to shoppers.

A long track record of supporting entrepreneurship, responsible innovation and empowerment of women in Africa and the Middle East

Across the continent, which is enjoying vibrant population growth and considerable economic momentum, young African entrepreneurs find themselves more in need of support than ever. As a long-standing driver of progress in Africa, Orange seeks to support young people by giving them the possibility to raise their profile, through the Orange Social Venture Prize. Orange puts in place tangible action to promote and improve gender equality, an area that has long been identified by the Group as a priority, for example by creating the International Womens Prize and including it in the OSVP. Part of the competition for three years now, this prize acknowledges projects designed to improve womens lives.

Since the OSVP was launched in 2011, Orange has awarded 600,000 in prize money to over 30 winners and has financed mentoring and support for nearly 90 entrepreneurs from experts at Orange or its partners.

Social entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East is more deeply rooted than ever in the lives of people, especially women. This trend is confirmed by the number of female candidates collected under the OSVP 2022 which is in line with the continental average, which is nearly 30% according to World Bank.

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The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit

Rating:

A slight breach of etiquette, Your Majesty  it's customary on The Repair Shop, when discovering a treasured heirloom restored to its former glory, for the owner to burst into tears.

Charles didn't weep. He didn't even get dewy-eyed. But as he inspected the paint and glaze on a fragile goblet cast to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, he couldn't stop beaming.

'I'm thrilled,' he murmured, on The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit (BBC1), and he sounded like he meant it.

Oops: Presenter Jay Blades' ignorance of royal etiquette was diabolical. He knew just about enough to address his regal guest as Your Royal Highness

But if his grasp of telly tradition was slightly shaky, presenter Jay Blades' ignorance of royal etiquette was diabolical. He knew just about enough to address his regal guest as Your Royal Highness  because when they met at Dumfries House in Scotland last year, Charles was still Prince of Wales.

But after that, Jay chatted away with a studied lack of deference. He's often polite to the point of obsequiousness when he meets the public. With royalty, though, he seemed to make a point of being a cheeky Cockney chappie.

His first remark was, 'Hold on a minute, are you carrying tools? What you got there?'  pointing to the secateurs that the prince had brought. Slightly nonplussed, Charles explained that he'd been doing some pruning around the Ayrshire estate.

Candid: Jay chatted away with a studied lack of deference. With royalty, though, he seemed to make a point of being a cheeky Cockney chappie.

For the rest of the morning, Jay didn't once say 'Sir'  the expected form of address. Perhaps he thought he was being matey, but it simply sounded insolent.

His overfamiliarity was worse when he welcomed Charles to the workshop in Sussex, a few weeks later. Greeting him on the driveway, he handed over a mug of tea, with the letters HRH stencilled on the outside and the teabag apparently still in it.

'Just what I needed,' said the prince through gritted teeth, though he didn't need it enough to actually drink any, before looking for somewhere to get rid of it. 'Didn't take long to go cold,' he said, with an apologetic grimace.

But the worst faux pas was Jay's insistence on manhandling his visitor. He laid a chummy hand on his shoulder, he slapped his back, he steered him around like he was pushing a supermarket trolley. A masseur couldn't be more hands-on.

At the end, when Jay grabbed him by the elbow and squeezed, I was worried he might be about to go for a playful half-nelson with a headlock.

Charles kept his composure but it was noticeable that, whenever he had a chance, he turned away from Jay and spoke to the repairers instead.

Charming: Charles didn't weep but as he inspected the paint and glaze on a fragile goblet cast to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, he couldn't stop beaming

Clock expert Steve Fletcher made a point of adding a respectful 'Sir' to every sentence, as if he was trying to drop a hint to Jay. On a show with such an emphasis on the 'old ways', you might expect a little decorum from the host.

Dumfries House is home to an apprentice scheme for stonemasons, thatchers, blacksmiths and other dying crafts, and much was made of the need to nurture traditional skills.

'I still think,' Charles explained, 'the great tragedy is the lack of vocational education in schools. Actually, not everybody is designed to be academic.'

The restorers all agreed. Blacksmith Jeremy put it best, as he waxed lyrical about his passion for the forge: 'It's 4,000 years of knowledge and I love it.'

Two royal items were sent for restoration: an early 18th century bracket clock with woodworm, and the Wemyss-ware goblet, like an egg-cup for an ostrich.

The painted pottery was in a bad way, with no base and lumps chipped out of the pattern. The prince explained it fell off a windowsill when, 'someone opened a window. They never owned up, I don't know what happened.'

Jay teased him that he'd broken it himself, which drew a disapproving stare worthy of Paddington Bear. My own guess is that, if Charles were responsible, he'd admit it and make a self-deprecating joke about his clumsiness.

Restoration: Two royal items were sent for restoration: an early 18th century bracket clock with woodworm, and the Wemyss-ware goblet, like an egg-cup for an ostrich

Much more likely that he knows perfectly well what happened but would never dream of betraying the culprit.

Charles did comment, as he handed over the clock, that the Queen Mum had a habit of pottering round the palace, trying to synchronise the clocks so they all chimed together.

On the hour, she would command a hush so she could hear the bells being struck in every room.

'I just love the sound of a tick-tock,' he added, 'and the chime. It's rather reassuring in a funny way. They become a really special part of a house, the beating heart.'

Jay invited him to come and collect both clock and goblet when they were fixed up, at the Repair Shop barn.

At that, Charles's eyes twinkled. 'You've got a barn, I've got a barn,' he said. 'We could have a barn dance.'

Two can play at the cheeky chappie game.
Faye Brookes looked effortlessly chic as she attended Paige Thorne's Forever Unique launch party at Menagerie in Manchester on Wednesday night.

The former Coronation Street actress, 35, was glamorous in a deeply plunging black lace dress, teamed with silver sequin heels with bow detail as she strutted into the bash.

The Dancing On Ice runner-up clutched a Chanel leather flap bag, and accessorised with diamond Chanel logo earrings.

Dazzling on Ice: Faye Brookes looked effortlessly chic on Wednesday night as she attended Paige Thorne's Forever Unique launch party at Menagerie in Manchester

Faye wore her dark locks in glamorous curls, while amping up the glamour with a slick of deep berry lipstick and winged eyeliner.

Before attending the fashion launch, she took to Instagram sharing the caption: 'Out Out.'

Faye's dark attire is reminiscent of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago, whom Faye has been portraying in a nationwide theatrical tour this year.

Dressed to impress: The former Coronation Street actress, 35, was glamorous in a deeply plunging black lace dress, teamed with silver sequin heels with bow detail

Wednesday night's bash was in aid of Paige Thorne's brand new 40-piece party-wear collection with Forever Unique.

The Love Island star, 25, 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 side.'

Woman of the moment! Love Island star Paige Thorne launched her brand new 40-piece party-wear collection at the bash

Amongst the guests at the launch event were fellow Love Islanders including Siannise Fudge and Laura Anderson.

Paige's new premium collection is designed to enhance customers' looks as 'there's a piece for every shape and every woman.'

The Welsh beauty continued: '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!'
She's never been shy of flaunting her incredible figure.

And Hailey Bieber put on yet another racy display in a completely sheer black dress as she headed home following the star-studded Tiffany & Co. party at Sunset Towers in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

The model, 25, flashed her matching underwear in the see-through piece as she departed the swanky event.

Off she goes! Hailey Bieber, 25, put on yet another racy display in a completely sheer black dress as she headed home after the Tiffany & Co. party at Sunset Towers on Wednesday

Hailey flaunted her incredible figure by slipping into the sheer black dress with full length sleeves and a high neck.

The look certainly caught the attention of onlookers as she left the jewellery brand's swanky event, adding some height with matching stilettos.

Finishing her outfit with chunky gold bangles, Hailey's dress also flashed a glimpse of her matching black underwear as she jumped into a car to head home.

Revealing! The model flashed her matching underwear in the see-through piece as she departed the swanky event

Showing it off! Hailey flaunted her incredible figure by slipping into the sheer black dress with full length sleeves and a high neck

Inside the party, she was seen posing with fellow A-list guests including Kim Kardashian and Gal Gadot.

The exclusive dinner was held to celebrate the launch of the new Tiffany Lock collection, and also saw big names including Zoe Kravitz, Alexandra Daddario and Miranda Kerr in attendance.

It comes after Hailey discussed her desire to have 'control' over her businesses during an appearance at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live Conference.

Racy! The look certainly caught the attention of onlookers as she left the jewellery brand's swanky event, adding some height with matching stilettos

What an outfit! Hailey also posed inside the Tiffany party clad in her revealing black dress

Stunner: She cut a glamorous figure in the sexy black dress with her glossy brunette tresses in a poker straight style

Here she is! Inside the swanky event, Hailey was reunited with pal Kim Kardashian, after the reality star's estranged husband Kanye West slammed her in a scathing post

Are you having a nice time? The model was also seen chatting to other guests at the jewellery launch event, including Zoey Deutch

Discussing her YouTube series, Who's in My Bathroom?, and skincare brand Rhode, she explained that she wanted the show to reach her fans through the video sharing site as opposed to a streamer or broadcast network so she could have 'control.'

Appearing with the show's co-creator Michael D. Ratner, she said: 'I wanted to do it on YouTube because I wanted to be able to control the content.

'I think sometimes what happens is when there's too many people involved and you have a lot of voices telling you you should do this or we want you to do it this way, it starts to not feel like you own it, and I really wanted to own it.'

Insight: It comes after Hailey discussed her desire to have 'control' over her businesses during an appearance at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live Conference

Outspoken: Discussing her YouTube series, Who's in My Bathroom?, and skincare brand Rhode, she explained that she wanted the show to reach her fans through the video site

Hailey added that she retails her skincare line online only so that she can remain close to the business before expanding to physical stores.

She said: 'I think sometimes what happens is when there's too many people involved and you have a lot of voices telling you you should do this or we want you to do it this way, it starts to not feel like you own it, and I really wanted to own it.'

Earlier this year, Hailey legally won the right to name her skincare company Rhode.

The influencer was victorious after being sued for trademark infringement by a clothing company also called Rhode, TMZ reported.

The founders of the eight-year-old enterprise, which was created in New York, but is based in Los Angeles, argued that having two companies by the same name would be confusing for the public.

A RHODE spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'Our lawsuit continues. [The] court ruling is simply a decision by the judge not to prohibit Hailey Biebers skin care line from using our brand name while litigation proceeds, deferring the ruling until we have the opportunity to gather more evidence.

'It is exceedingly rare for a judge to issue the preliminary order we sought, and so we expected this outcome. We remain confident that we will win at trial. "Rhode" is our name and brand, we built it, and federal and state laws protect it. We ask Hailey to achieve her goals without using the brand name we have spent the last nine years building.'

Celebrities such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Tracee Ellis Ross, Khloe Kardashian, Busy Philipps, Jamie Chung, Whitney Port, Zoey Deutch and many others have worn their designs. The company recently launched a collection of home goods on their site, shoprhode.com.
She often turns heads with her glam ensembles on the catwalk.

And Kaia Gerber proved she could stun just as much off the runway on Wednesday as she cut an incredibly chic figure while leaving the Tiffany & Co event at Sunset Towers in West Hollywood.

The model, 21, donned a stylish black shirt dress which featured gold button detailing as she left the glam party which was attended by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber.

Wow: Kaia Gerber stunned on Wednesday as she cut an incredibly chic figure while leaving the Tiffany & Co event at Sunset Towers in West Hollywood

Kaia teamed her flowing midi dress with a pair of black patent T Bar heels, while she carried her essentials in a pale blue handbag with gold chain detailing.

The daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford wore her brunette locks in a slightly off-centre parting, while her features were highlighted with a light make-up palette.

Kaia appeared camera shy as she stepped out onto the street following the bash, with the star covering her face with her hand as she walked.

Glam: The model, 21, donned a stylish black shirt dress which featured gold button detailing as she left the glam party which was attended by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber

Kaia's evening out came as a rare day off for the perpetually busy star, who is making the jump from modeling to acting.

The performer is currently preparing for the release of the comedy series Mrs. American Pie, in which she will appear.

The series, which will be led by Kristen Wiig and feature an ensemble cast, will be centered on a woman attempting to rise in Palm Beach's high society.

The model is set to portray a manicurist named Mitzi, and her casting was announced this past June.

Flawless: The daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford wore her brunette locks in a slightly off-centre parting, while her features were highlighted with a light make-up palette

Looking good: Kaia teamed her flowing midi dress with a pair of black patent T Bar heels, while she carried her essentials in a pale blue handbag with gold chain detailing

A vision: Kaia looked incredible in her black dress, which she accessorised with drop pearl earrings and a rose gold watch

Gerber spoke about acting during an interview with Flaunt, where she expressed that she had to learn how to open up emotionally in order to elicit better performances.

'You have to let things affect you in this line of work, which is really hard. You know, I have been in another line of work, where you couldn't really let things affect you, or you couldn't be too sensitive,' she said.

The fashion industry personality also remarked that, although she was not used to comedic roles, she was open to trying her hand at the medium.

New role: The performer is currently preparing for the release of the comedy series Mrs. American Pie, in which she will appear (pictured in May)

'I don't think I'm funny, but somehow I'm doing comedy, and I'm just waitingmaybe people will figure out one day I'm not funny, but I'm riding it as long as I can,' she said.

Gerber made a point of expressing her admiration for the talent featured on the program.

'It's my first time working with an ensembleall people that I look up to so much, in the way that I grew up watching them...I learn so much from just watching people,' she said.

Mrs. American Pie's release date has not been revealed to the public as of yet.
Supermodel Duckie Thot has returned to Australia as a special guest of G.H. Mumm.

All eyes were on the 27-year-old as she unveiled the brand's marquee, Le Jardin de la Maison Mumm, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Thursday.

Duckie launched the 'Champagne season' dressed in a stunning frock by fashion designer Michael Lo Sordo in Mumm's iconic red hue.

Supermodel Duckie Thot unveiled the G.H. Mumm marquee at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Thursday

Her dazzling gold and red headpiece was by Viktoria Novak.

At the event, Thot was awarded the prestigious 'Tap Tap' moment, sending a shower of free-flowing Mumm high into the air by tapping the neck of a three litre jeroboam bottle with a sabre.

'Home is always a great place to come back to and get back to your roots,' Ms Thot told AAP inside G.H. Mumm's birdcage marquee.

'I mean, I'm born and raised in Australia, so Australia is my home as much as South Sudan is - full circle is definitely what I would call it.'

All eyes were on the 27-year-old as she unveiled the brand's marquee, Le Jardin de la Maison Mumm, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Thursday

Duckie launched the 'Champagne season' dressed in a stunning frock by fashion designer Michael Lo Sordo in Mumm's iconic red hue

Signed to Hollywood's exclusive CAA, Ms Thot has caught the attention of celebrities including Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, along with beauty brands like L'Oreal Paris.

In 2017, she scored her first international catwalk show with Kanye West.

The following year, she landed a coveted spot in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

'Home is always a great place to come back to and get back to your roots,' Ms Thot told AAP inside G.H. Mumm's birdcage marquee on Thursday

Crowds are meanwhile expected to flock to Flemington as the Melbourne races return properly for the first time in three years post-Covid.

Other guests include Delta Goodrem, Nicole Trunfio and model sisters Ash and Jess Hart.

New Bachelors Thomas Malucelli, Jed McIntosh and Felix Von Hofe will make their first public outing as a trio at the Paramount pavilion.
The short film left fans in tears as Disney has never featured

Disney has created its first plus-size protagonist for a powerful short film about body dysmorphia.

In the company's 85-year history of making movies, plus-size characters have only ever featured in the roles of villains or extras - and fans are full of praise for the change.

The film, entitled Reflect, follows the story of a young plus-size ballet dancer named Bianca, 'who battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channeling her inner strength, grace and power.'

One to watch: Disney has created its first plus-size protagonist for a powerful short film about body dysmorphia entitled Reflect

Directed by Hillary Bradfield, the film is is part of the second series of Short Circuit - a series of experimental short films.

The animation has left fans in tears, with one viewer penning that she wished the film had been made when she was a child.

She tweeted: '16 year old me needed this Disney short before I quit ballet because I didnt want to be the fat girl in class anymore. Im glad little ones will have this. 10/10 for Reflect!'

Powerful: The film follows the story of a young plus-size ballet dancer 'who battles her own reflection, overcoming doubt and fear by channeling her inner strength, grace and power'

New move: In the company's 85-year history of making movies, plus-size characters have only ever featured in the roles of villain's or extras, with fans praising the change

Other viewers shared: 'I saw this Disney short called Reflect and it emotionally tore me up. Its about a little plus size girl doing ballet and the mirrors start to swallow her up because of her body insecurity but she destroys them by dancing anyway.'

'THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Disney+ FINALLY made a short with a Plus Size lead! Its called Reflect and its part of the Short Circuit short series. Lets just say I was SOBBING.'

Reflect is available to watch on Disney+.

Sweet: The animation has left fans in tears, with one viewer penning that she wished the film had been made when she was a child

Disney fans have long called on the corporation to create plus-size princesses, with a post in 2015 that showed Disney characters given plus-size makeovers going viral.

Last year, Disney was accused of pushing 'unrealistic beauty standards' on children after including a character with exaggerated proportions in the short film Inner Workings.

The animated short, which was initially released in 2016, tells the story of an office worker named Paul who has to tame his desire to break out of his dull routine and have fun.

Unusual: Last year, Disney was accused of pushing 'unrealistic beauty standards' on children after including a character with exaggerated proportions in the short film Inner Workings

But it is Paul's love interest Kate that has sparked outrage online, thanks to her enormous derriere, stick thin arms and tiny waist that is barely bigger than her neck.

Dozens of social media users blasted the unrealistic depiction of Kate's body after screenshots of the cartoon were shared online by US-based Twitter user Glitch, who shared them with the caption: 'In no world did [Disney] need to do this.'

The post, which included an image of Kate, sparked fresh criticism online, with users accusing Disney of setting 'unrealistic' body standards for its young audiences.
His film director father Guy Ritchie is known for his gangster films including Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.

And Rocco Ritchie proved he could nail the gangster look as he channelled Al Pacino's Scarface while attending a Halloween party at Loulou's private members' club in London on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old son of pop icon Madonna looked sharp in a pinstriped navy suit and a white shirt with an oversized collar, with his outfit resembling the one worn by gangster Tony Montana in the Brian De Palma directed movie.

Style: Rocco Ritchie proved he could nail the gangster look as he channelled Al Pacino's Scarface while attending a Halloween party at Loulou's private members' club in London on Wednesday

Rocco looked amazing as he rocked the three-piece suit which he teamed with a snazzy pair of patterned shoes.

Nailing the vintage look, the artist wore his shirt unbuttoned showing a hint of his chest hair, while adding a silver chain and tortoiseshell sunglasses.

Rocco looked in his element as she posed up a storm with his pals, with his companions also donning Mafia-inspired ensembles.

The group were certainly in good spirts as they larked about in the back of their cab before driving off.

Dressed to impress: The 22-year-old son of pop icon Madonna looked sharp in a pinstriped navy suit and a white shirt with an oversized collar

Similar look: Rocco's outfit resembled the one worn by gangster Tony Montana (L) in the Brian De Palma directed movie

Looking good: Rocco looked amazing as he rocked the three-piece suit which he teamed with a snazzy pair of patterned shoes

Good times: Rocco looked in his element as she posed up a storm with his pals, with his companions also donning Mafia-inspired ensembles

It comes after Rocco put on a cosy display with a mystery woman as they enjoyed a night out at Oswald's in London earlier this month.

Rocco looked on cloud nine as he shared a playful kiss with the stunning brunette thought to be celebrity makeup artist Isamaya French.

The pair were seen chatting with a group of friends on the street, with one of them taking a photo of the girl planting a smooch on Rocco's cheek.

Style: Nailing the vintage look, the artist wore his shirt unbuttoned showing a hint of his chest hair, while adding a silver chain and tortoiseshell sunglasses

Snazzy: The son of Madonna certainly turned heads with his stylish outfit

Too cool for school: The celebrity offspring tried on his square-shaped sunglasses in the car

Hey there: The artist certainly looked to be enjoying his night out

Coordinating: The pals wore similar gangster looks for the Halloween bash

Rocco and the mystery lady were then seen strolling hand in hand through the city centre at the end of their night.

The appearance comes after Rocco credited his parents Madonna and Guy Ritchie for raising him in a 'creative household' that has now led to his art career.

He is currently carving out a career as a painter and has even co-founded his own gallery called Maison Rhed, the name taken from his alias Rhed which he used at the beginning of his career.

Having fun? Rocco couldn't decide whether he wanted his sunglasses on or off as he sat in the back of the taxi

These boots were made for walking: The artist certainly pulled out all the stops with his footwear

Trio: Rocco's film director father Guy Ritchie is known for his gangster films including Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Speaking to Vogue Hong Kong, Rocco told how, although neither of his parents are painters, they fostered a love of art in him from a young age.

He said: 'It certainly helped growing up in a house that was passionate about art and culture.

'Neither of my parents are painters, but both are artists in their own right and they taught me to appreciate and respect it.

'Their shared fascination eventually piqued my interest and since I can remember I've always been surrounded by it.'

In order for his work to be viewed on merit alone, Rocco released his earlier work under the name Rhed.

Relations: The appearance comes after Rocco credited his parents Madonna and Guy Ritchie for raising him in a 'creative household' that has now led to his art career (pictured with Madonna and his sister Lourdes in September)
Magda Szubanski has come under fire after a photo resurfaced online of her doing blackface in the early days of her career.

The comedian, 62, was called out on Twitter on Thursday after she weighed in on comments made by Gina Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock, following Hancock Prospecting, run by Rinehart, withdrawing its multimillion-dollar sponsorship for the Australian Diamonds netball team.

'Lang Hancock went way beyond plain racism he suggested STERILIZING a race of people. So it's not virtue signalling - it's survival! Imagine being asked to wear his name on your back just so you can get funding for your sport.'

Magda Szubanski (pictued) has been slammed online after a photo resurfaced of her doing 'blackface' in a comedy sketch

One Twitter user took umbrage with Magda's comment, sharing a photo of the star painted in blackface for comedic effect.

In the image, Magda is seen wearing a pink tunic and an afro wig adorned with hair clips.

Magda appeared on Fast Forward between 1989 and 1992 and Full Frontal in 1993.

Blackface is traditionally used to mock, objectify and ridicule African American people and caricature dark-skinned people in an unfavourable way.

Magda then re-shared the photo, writing: 'I've spent the 25 years since then listening and learning. And apologizing (sic).'

The comedian, 62, was called out on Twitter on Thursday after she weighed in on comments made by Gina Rinehart's late father Lang Hancock, following Hancock Prospecting, run by Rinehart, withdrawing its multimillion-dollar sponsorship for the Australian Diamonds netball team

One Twitter user took umbrage with Magda's comment, sharing a photo of the Kath & Kim star painted in blackface for comedic effect. In the image, Magda is seen wearing a pink tunic and an afro wig adorned with hair clips

Twitter users were quick to label Magda a 'hypocrite'

Twitter users were quick to label Magda a 'hypocrite'.

'Magda the hypocrite,' one person wrote.

'Magda you might need to sit this one out,' wrote another.

'But I think you are failing to recognise that Gina didn't make those comments, you personally wore blackface,' wrote a third, before one more added: 'Not a good look'

However, other fans defended her comments and forthcoming apology.

Other fans stood by the comedian saying: 'The world is a different place'

'Those people attacking you all the time must be pretty tired from being perfect,' one fan wrote.

'The world was a different place. People are far more aware now,' another added.

'The world has changed, we have all learnt more since then. Glass houses people, no one lives a perfect existence without anything cringeworthy in your past,' wrote another.

This isn't the first time Magda has addressed the controversial photo, telling Sydney CityTalks in 2019: 'I have been challenged by alt-right trolls who brought up pictures of me doing blackface 25 years ago. Although they're alt-right trolls, that doesn't mean they're wrong,' she told the panel

This isn't the first time Magda has been forced to apologise for her blackface past.

During Sydney's CityTalks in 2019, Magda said: 'Recently, I have been challenged by alt-right trolls who brought up pictures of me doing blackface 25 years ago.

'Although they're alt-right trolls, that doesn't mean they're wrong,' she told the panel.

'It doesn't mean I don't agree with their comments. I've had to go through a process, as someone who talks about diversity, and I'm also part of that problem. What do we do with people like me?'

She later told The HuffPost Australia in 2019: 'We didn't know, and that doesn't mean you're off the hook.'

'You can't just stop doing it because it's 'politically incorrect' to do it. You have to walk in the other person's shoes and imagine how they'd feel.'

'It's making that empathy leap. We're all on a learning journey.'

She later told The HuffPost Australia in 2019: 'We didn't know, and that doesn't mean you're off the hook.' 'You can't just stop doing it because it's 'politically incorrect' to do it. You have to walk in the other person's shoes and imagine how they'd feel'

It comes after the Diamonds national netball team expressed concerns over offensive comments made by Lang Hancock.

In a 1984 television interview, Mr Hancock made a shocking statement about Indigenous Australians.

'The ones that are no good to themselves and can't accept things, the half-castes -and this is where most of the trouble comes,' Mr Hancock said in the documentary film Couldn't Be Fairer.

'I would dope the water up so that they were sterile and would breed themselves out in future and that would solve the problem.'

Mr Hancock died in 1992 at the age of 82, and said Indigenous Australians who had been 'assimilated' should be left alone.

'Those that have been assimilated into, you know, earning good living or earning wages amongst the civilised areas,' he said.

'Those that have been accepted into society and they have accepted society and can handle society, I'd leave them well alone.'
Jasmine Stefanovic has shared a gorgeous mother and daughter moment with her toddler Harper on Thursday.

The 38-year-old wife of Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic was spending some quality time with her two-year-old when she took the picture.

Harper, her hair in pony-tails and dressed in a pink fairy dress with matching cardigan, can be seen hugging a teddy as she poses in front of a mirror while her mum takes the snap.

Pictured: Jasmine Stefanovic, wife of Channel Nine's Karl Stefanovic, captured a precious moment with her two-year-old daughter Harper on Thursday

Harper matched her cute outfit with a pair of sensible lace-up sand shoes.

Meanwhile, Jasmine dressed causally for her day out.

The model-turned-shoe designer looked effortlessly chic in black leggings, a loose checked shirt and a smart suit jacket.

Wearing her long blonde locks tied back, Jasmine was all smiles as she captured the precious moment with her daughter.

Jasmine (pictured with a sleepy Harper) revealed in her Instagram share on Thursday that the family plans to spend the weekend at Melbourne's luxury Crown hotel

For foot wear, Jasmine selected a pair of white lace-up running shoes and accessorised with a large designer hand bag.

The high profile Sydney based celebrity announced in her post that the family would be spending the weekend at Melbourne's Crown hotel.

Her friends and followers were quick to gush over the adorable picture.

Friends cooed over Jasmine's gorgeous share of Harper on her social media (pictured)

'She's absolutely beautiful and getting so big,' one friend posted, adding: 'You and your husband should be very proud...'

'What an exquisite little girl,' cooed another of Jasmine's friend.

Jasmine met husband Karl in late 2016, five months after the Today show co-host split from his first wife Cassandra Thorburn.

Jasmine met husband Karl in late 2016, five months after he split from his first wife Cassandra Thorburn Pictured: Jasmine, Karl and Harper

The Channel Nine star proposed to the former runway model in February 2018 with a $100,000 engagement ring.

The couple married in a lavish four-day wedding ceremony at the One&Only Palmilla resort in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December 2018.

They welcomed daughter Harper in May 2020
Lottie Moss enjoyed a drink and a smoke as she caught up with friends in London's Notting Hill on Wednesday, after hinting she has split from Cody Colacino.

The model, 24, cut a stylish figure in a pink satin dress and a black leather jacket as she had a drink and a cigarette while sitting outside at the Modern European restaurant.

She teamed her edgy ensemble with a pair of chunky black boots and accessorised her look with an array of silver necklaces and rings.

Stylish: Lottie Moss looked effortlessly chic as she headed out in London's Notting Hill for a drink with her pals on Wednesday, after hinting she has split from Cody Colacino

Lottie styled her golden tresses in two loose plaits, with strands of her locks falling loosely around her face.

She accentuated her natural good looks with a slick of eyeliner and a touch of pink lipstick as she socialised with her friends.

The OnlyFans star was seen having a drink and a cigarette as she sat at an outdoor table with two friends during the evening outing.

Socialising: The model, 24, cut a stylish figure in a pink satin dress and a black leather jacket as she had a drink and a cigarette while sitting outside at the Modern European restaurant

Looking good: Lottie styled her golden tresses in two loose plaits, with strands of her locks falling loosely around her face

It comes after Lottie hinted she has split from her American music producer boyfriend after she spoke about an ex who had 'mad mummy issues' and was 'love bombing' her.

Lottie, 24, was last known to be dating heavily tattooed music producer Cody Colacino - but she did not specifically confirm if this was who she was talking about.

Speaking on the Wednesdays We Drink Wine podcast, Lottie was giving advice to a listener who was going through some relationship issues.

Single? It comes after Lottie hinted she has split from her American music producer boyfriend after she spoke about an ex who had 'mad mummy issues' and was 'love bombing' her

She said: 'I think you need to just not panic, I honestly did that recently when I was dating a guy in LA. I started panicking. Everything he did that was not the same after like a month, I just got too attached too quickly.

'I started spending every day at his house. You know when it's just too much? Because I'd spend so much time with him, he was so love bombing me at first.

'Love bombing kind of, when they're like, "I really like you, I've never felt this way before about anybody."

'Promising the world. I was believing it, obviously eating it up, like my porridge. Because I love that s**t. Thinking, "Surely the guy with all the tattoos, he's a music producer, he's going to be a good one."

Is this whos she is talking about? It was reported in May that Lottie was dating heavily tattooed Los Angeles based artist and producer Cody Colacino

Over? Lottie was speaking on the Wednesdays We Drink Wine podcast

'He's 28. He had mad mummy issues. Then he started pulling away and I noticed immediately and I was clinging on for dear life. I was always around his house.

'I'm at his house and I'm like, "No, I've got no work today." I was listening to this Audible and it was saying when a guy pulls away from you you've just got to let him.

'Then you've got to show him what he's missing a bit, so you've just got to pull away too.

'I clung on for dear life, I'm like a spider monkey. I know I'm clingy, but I can't help it. I'm like, "I love you, you're never leaving me."

'It is embarrassing. I have no shame whatsoever. I think the end of the story is if they're pulling away, let them pull away.'

MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Lottie Moss for more information.

Lottie also said that she would consider dating a guy who was 40 years older if he had lots of money.

She did not name her ex on the podcast but said: 'He's 28. He had mad mummy issues. Then he started pulling away and I noticed immediately and I was clinging on for dear life. I was always around his house'

She said: 'I think some girls are into older men and that's fine. I think f**k what everyone thinks. It depends if he's got an ex wife and it's quite clear that you're the secretary, the rebound for him, the midlife crisis.

'He's got himself a Porsche, he's gotten like a hair transplant and is trying to relive his youth. That's very different to it being an honest relationship.

'So I think it depends who it is.'

Lottie said she has to remind her OnlyFans followers that they're not in a relationship with her.

She said: 'It's strictly a professional relationship, and they do have to be reminded of that sometimes. It's a full-time job.'

Not happy: Lottie also hit out at Instagram for shadow banning her, which is when a social media site makes a users posts or comments no longer visible to other users

Lottie also hit out at Instagram for shadow banning her, which is when a social media site makes a user's posts or comments no longer visible to other people.

She said: 'I know a lot of girls who do OnlyFans and do sex work and they have their Instagrams or their posts deleted all the time. Crazy.

'I'm shadow banned, so you can't search me. I used to post the link to my OnlyFans on Instagram, but I didn't realise you couldn't do that.

'I love Emily Ratajkowski, but she posted a picture of her boobs through her sheer top at a fashion show walking down the runway, boobs going everywhere and no one says anything.

'Instagram leave it up, everything. If I posted even the back of me with no top on they're like, "Goodbye b***h".'
Lori Harvey had a lot to show off on Wednesday evening.

The 25-year-old model and ex of Michael B Jordan was showing off her ample chest in a very low-cut white top as she stopped by the Tiffany & Co Lock party in Los Angeles.

The beauty was seen coming and going alone as she seems to not be dating much after her shock split from Jordan earlier this year.

Flashing her goods: Lori Harvey had a lot to show off on Wednesday evening. The model and ex of Michael B Jordan was showing off her ample chest in a very low-cut white top as she stopped by the Tiffany & Co Lock party in Los Angeles

Bare facts: Lori looked very close to a possible wardrobe malfunction in the little top as she posed away on the red carpet solo. It was so low cut it showed off part of her tummy and was semi sheer with the sleeves rolled up high on her bare arms

Lori - whose father is comedian Steve Harvey - looked very close to a possible wardrobe malfunction in the little top as she posed away on the red carpet solo.

It was so low cut it showed off part of her tummy and was semi sheer with the sleeves rolled up high on her bare arms.

She added high waisted black slacks and was layered in Tiffany & Co jewelry.

The cover girl added black socks and heels.

The star wore her hair back with some strands in front as she was heavily made up for the party.

Bling time: She added high waisted black slacks and was layered in Tiffany & Co jewelry

A side view: The cover girl added black socks and heels. The star wore her hair back with some strands in front as she was heavily made up for the party

Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber were also at the event which was held at Los Angeles' historic Sunset Tower Hotel.

Hailey was recently targeted by Kim's ex-husband Kanye West, after she voiced her support for Vogue editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who publicly blasted the rapper's White Lives Matter apparel.

Kim, 42, posed side by side with Hailey, 25, whom Kanye publicly mocked as 'nose job Hailey Baldloose.' (Hailey has always denied surgery and her husband Justin Bieber is said to have ended his friendship with the rapper over the comments.)

West is currently seeing his career implode and his billion dollar fortune plummet after a series of anti-Semitic outbursts including a vow to go 'death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.'

Solidarity: Kim Kardashian and Hailey Bieber united this Wednesday night as they posed together at Los Angeles' historic Sunset Tower Hotel for the Tiffany & Co Lock Event

Kim and Hailey have both posted to social media this week condemning 'hate speech' and anti-Semitism in the wake of Kanye's repeated broadsides.

While swanning about the Tiffany event on Wednesday, they also posed with Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, an Israeli military veteran who posted to Instagram about being 'proud' to be Jewish amid Kanye's scandal.

Kim was a sizzling sensation in black leather trousers that were cinched in to emphasize her enviably svelte figure after her dramatic weight loss of over 20lbs earlier this year.

Garnishing the look with an ornate tangle of dazzling necklaces, Kim draped herself in a floor-length coat that featured what may have been faux fur lining.

Trio: They also posed with Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot, an Israeli military veteran who posted to Instagram about being 'proud' to be Jewish amid Kanye's scandal

Meanwhile Hailey, who is married to Justin Bieber, bared her chiseled midriff and petite frame in a see-through black mesh dress that offered a generous glimpse of her black lingerie.

Letting her luxurious dark hair tumble freely over her shoulders, Hailey, whose uncle is the embattled movie star Alec Baldwin, shot her best smoldering stare at the cameras.

She could be spotted flashing a bit of leg by hiking up her dress as she emerged from her gleaming black car and strode onto the sidewalk on her way into the event.
Zoey Deutch stunned at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles on Wednesday night when she attended the launch party for Tiffany & Co.'s Lock Collection.

The Not Okay star looked sensational in a black cocktail dress with ruffle accents, black stilettos and elegant jewelry.

Deutch, 27, was putting on a brave face after being burglarized earlier this month.

Lock your doors: Zoey Deutch, 27, stunned at the Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles on Wednesday night when she attended the exclusive launch party for Tiffany & Co.'s Lock Collection

Unbroken after break-in: The actress looked sensational in a black cocktail dress with ruffle accents, black stilettos and elegant jewelry

Thieves reportedly broke into the actress's home in Los Angeles and stole over $300K in jewelry and cash.

According to TMZ, Zoey  who was thankfully not at home when the robbery occurred  arrived to discover her door smashed in and her house ransacked.

The Everybody Wants Some star had not revealed on social media that she was absent from her home and was only gone for a few hours.

No arrests have been made, but TMZ reports that police are studying a video taken in Zoey's neighborhood in order to come up with leads and possibly identify the burglars.

Selfie and secure: The Politician star showed up at the Sunset Tower Hotel with flawless makeup and lustrous hair, showcasing her incredible figure in the low-cut look

The talent behind the style: The star posed with her stylist Elizabeth Stewart, 60, who is often responsible for Deutch's exquisite looks

Zoey hasn't allowed her recent misfortune to keep her down.

The Politician star showed up at the Sunset Tower Hotel with flawless makeup and lustrous hair, showcasing her incredible figure in the low-cut look.

Numerous stars turned out for the rooftop event. Deutsch socializing with her glamorous peers such as Adria Arjona, 30, Demi Singleton, 15, Alexandra Daddario, 36, Halsey, 28, and a scantily clad Hailey Bieber, 25.

The actress is still riding a wave of positive reviews for her performance in Hulu's satirical dramedy Not Okay and her nonstop career is kicking into high gear with her upcoming holiday romance film.

Safety in numbers: Deutsch socialized with her glamorous peers such as Adria Arjona (30, blue ensemble), Demi Singleton (15, middle), Alexandra Daddario (36, brown suit) and Halsey (28, in brown leather look on far right)

Sharing her ordeal: Zoey engaged in an animated discussion with a scantily clad Hailey Bieber, 25, as Kim Kardashian's former assistant Stephanie Shepherd, 33, watched from the sidelines

Something from Tiffany's  premiering December 9 on Prime Video  perfectly tied into the theme of Zoey's night out as her new romantic comedy features the luxury jewelry brand in its central storyline.

Based on the novel of the same name by Melissa Hill, Something from Tiffany's will see Deutch play a woman who receives an engagement ring meant for somebody else and the mistake leads her to discover true love.

'This movie is so beautiful and classic and it really makes me feel good,' Deutsch recently told People. 'You can count on it to make you smile and laugh and cry, and just feel good.'

After losing $300K in cash and jewelry, Zoey can feel good about her thriving career and promising love life. The up-and-coming actress went public with her comedian boyfriend Jimmy Tatro, 30, last year and the couple are allegedly still going strong.
Leslie Jordan's family is working with officials in his hometown to work out the best way to honor him.

The late actor - who tragically died in a car accident in Los Angeles on Monday aged 67 - was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 29, 1955, and a representative for the city has revealed it will remember the legendary star as 'one of the cherished sons of Chattanooga.'

According to TMZ, it's down to the family to decide whether they want to have a road named after Leslie or some other form of tribute.

Honor time: Leslie Jordan's family is working with officials in his hometown to work out the best way to honor him. Seen in 2018

His family: The actor posted this image to Facebook of his family. Jordan's father, Allen Bernard Jordan, was a major in the United States Army Reserve and died, along with two others, in the crash of a civilian Beechcraft Debonair airplane at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in 1967

This week, the outlet revealed the screen star was reportedly en route to film 'Call Me Kat' when he died at the wheel of his car.

The comedy legend was said to be due to attend an appointment with a cardiologist after suffering from shortness of breath for three weeks up until his death.

A cause of death has not been established by the coroner as of yet, however, it was reported that investigators suspect it was a heart attack.

With mommy: The star is seen posing with his mother Peggy Ann Jordan

TN man: The late actor - who tragically died in a car accident in Los Angeles on Monday aged 67 - was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee on April 29, 1955, and a representative for the city has revealed it will remember the legendary star as 'one of the cherished sons of Chattanooga'

For him: According to TMZ, it's down to the family to decide whether they want to have a road named after Leslie or some other form of tribute

Production on sitcom 'Call Me Kat' - in which Leslie played the beloved role of Phil - has been put on hold following the star's passing.

His co-star Mayim Bialik was among the many to pay tribute to the late star.

She wrote: 'They broke the mold when they made Leslie Jordan. He was a dear mentor and a beloved friend. I will miss him so much - it's unimaginable that he's gone. Rest well, sweet buddy.'

Show on hold: Production on sitcom 'Call Me Kat' - in which Leslie played the beloved role of Phil - has been put on hold following the star's passing

A bad end: He crashed his car in Hollywood after suffering from a heart attack

David Shaul, his agent, confirmed his client and friend's passing in a statement that read: 'The world is definitely a much darker place today without the love and light of Leslie Jordan.

'Not only was he a mega talent and joy to work with, but he provided an emotional sanctuary to the nation at one of its most difficult times.

'What he lacked in height he made up for in generosity and greatness as a son, brother, artist, comedian, partner and human being.

'Knowing that he has left the world at the height of both his professional and personal life is the only solace one can have today.'
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Preparations are well underway in Australia for the much-anticipated new series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! as it returns Down Under for the first time since the Covid pandemic.

Among the sets being erected for the new series are the famous Walk The Plank challenge atop a 32-storey building on the Gold Coast, where celebrities will be have to walk to the edge of the terrifying platform before moving into the jungle camp.

Elsewhere, miles away in the heart of the jungle, crew members have also been spotted preparing various sets for the Bushtucker Trials, including a Wild West setting, a large swimming pool and a merry-go-round.

FIRST LOOK: Preparations are well underway in Australia for the much-anticipated new series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! as it returns Down Under for the first time since the Covid pandemic

As the countdown continues to the return of I'm A Celebrity on November 6, the Walk The Plank was being prepared at the top of the perilous high-rise, with the brand new addition of a third platform.

Previous years have seen celebrities compete for more luxury when they enter camp by walking towards the star at the end of the platform, leading many stars to face their crippling fear of heights.

Like previous years, the celebrities will be split into two teams where they will compete for the chance to spend their first night in a slightly better camp than the others.

Coming soon! The series is set to be the toughest yet, and hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have already arrived in Australia for filming

In the works: Elsewhere, miles away in the heart of the jungle, crew members have also been spotted preparing various sets for the Bushtucker Trials, including a Wild West setting, a large swimming pool and a merry-go-round

It's back! It appears that the legendary Walk The Plank challenge will be returning for the launch episode, as crew members were seen erecting the vast structure atop a high-rise on the Gold Coast

Vast! As the countdown continues to the return of I'm A Celebrity on November 6, the Walk The Plank was being prepared at the top of the 32-storey building with the brand new addition of a third platform

Don't look down! Spread over the structure were three different planks, which will set the stage for the first Bushtucker Trial of the series

Coming soon: Previous years have seen celebrities compete for more luxury when they enter camp by walking towards the star at the end of the platform, leading many stars to face their crippling fear of heights

Crew have also been spotted building a Wild West setting in the middle of the jungle for a trial, along with a large swimming pool.

Hosts Ant and Dec, who have already touched down in Australia ahead of filming, have also had an upgrade to their famous treehouse studio, with a brand new roof being placed on top.

In contrast to last year's castle setting, this year's I'm A Celebrity is expected to be the toughest yet, with the stars living among bugs and creepy crawlies in the outdoor camp, while completing gruelling Bushtucker Trials in a bid to win food.

So scary! Like previous years, the celebrities will be split into two teams where they will compete for the chance to spend their first night in a slightly better camp than the others

Dramatic: It is set to be competitive start to the new series, as celebrities compete for slightly better luxuries in the camp

That's high! The perilously-placed platforms will no doubt prove terrifying for some of the celebrities, who will have to face their biggest fears

I'm A Celebrity will return to screens on Sunday, November 6, at 9pm, with a 105 minute special, which will see the stars moving into their new home for the first time after spending a week in hotel quarantine.

Already much of this year's I'm A Celebrity lineup has been revealed with ITV newsreader Charlene White, England star Jill Scott joining DJ Chris Moyles, Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver, Hollyoaks' Owen Warner and Love Island's Olivia Attwood as the first celebrities to arrive in Brisband as part of this year's lineup.

On Thursday Charlene was seen touching down in Brisbane ahead of the new series, after it was reported earlier this month that she had joined the lineup.

Here she comes! Some of this year's I'm A Celebrity lineup has already touched down in Australia for the new series, with Loose Women's Charlene White (left) and England Lioness Jill Scott the latest to arrive in Oz on Thursday

Here he comes: Jill's arrival comes after Owen Warner was the fourth campmate confirmed to be heading into the jungle

Joining the cast! The previous day, Coronation Street star Sue became the third star to touch down in Australia ahead of the upcoming season of I'm A Celebrity

'It should be nice!' It followed quickly after DJ Chris Moyles (left) and Love Island star Olivia Attwood (right), the first two stars confirmed for the 2022 lineup

What a production! Deep in the Australian jungle, crew members are working tirelessly to prepare the set for filming, ahead of the launch next month

Vast! Crew have also been spotted building a Wild West setting in the middle of the jungle for a trial, along with a large swimming pool

Ready for the challenge? Exteriors of buildings have been set up in the jungle for one of the Trials, with viewers once again voting to choose a celebrity to face the trials

Where are the bugs? No doubt the challenge will be packed with hidden surprises and nasty additions which will push the celebrities to their limits

Jumping in! Close to the Wild West set was a large swimming pool, which will likely be the setting for another scary task, so the celebrities can win food for their camp

That's new! Hosts Ant and Dec, who have already touched down in Australia ahead of filming, have also had an upgrade to their famous treehouse studio, with a brand new roof being placed on top

Anticipated: Other stars reported to have signed up for the adventure include 1980s pop icon Boy George and comedian Seann Walsh

A source told The Sun: 'Charlene is a great signing for the show. She's got some strong opinions, but is really personable and will be good value around the Aussie campfire.

'They hope her journalistic background means she will eke out some illuminating conversations from her campmates, which shouldn't be hard given some of the people she'll be sleeping in a bunk next to.'

Charlene first joined the ITV news team in 2008, as a newscaster for the early-evening edition, and in 2014 she became the first black woman in history to present News At Ten.

Claims: DJ Chris was among the first celebrities reported to have signed up for the new series

Claims: A source previously told The Sun: 'Chris is a huge signing for I'm A Celebrity and they have been trying to sign him for years

In 2021, Charlene joined Loose Women as a lead anchor following Andrea McLean's exit, and she continues to host the ITV Lunchtime News and early-evening edition, as well as ITV London.

Charlene's arrival comes mere hours after retired England star Jill was spotted arriving in Australia after being part of the rumoured lineup.

Despite the lengthy flight, the former Lioness, who retired in August following the team's historic Euros victory, was in high spirits as she strolled through the airport to head to her hotel.

Jill's arrival comes after Owen Warner, best known for his role as Romeo Nightingale on Hollyoaks, was the fourth campmate confirmed to be heading into the jungle.

Lots of challenges ahead! The source added: 'Chris has signed up and is preparing himself mentally and physically to go Down Under. This a huge moment for him and he cannot wait to get stuck in'

Rumours: Earlier this week it was reported that former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh has signed up

Owen was in a relationship with his co-star Stephanie Davis between 2018 and 2019 and was later linked with Chloe Ferry and The Apprentice runner-up Camilla Ainsworth.

It comes after Coronation Street's Sue became the third star to touch down in Australia ahead of the upcoming season.

Olivia Attwood and Chris Moyles were spotted jetting to Australia ahead of filming the hit show on Tuesday, as the first stars 'confirmed' for this year's I'm A Celebrity.

Reports: According to The Sun, ITV bosses are hoping Seann will discuss his infamous 2018 snog with his Strictly pro partner Katya Jones, who was married to fellow dancer Neil Jones at the time

Rumours: According to reports, Seann and Olivia will be joining the likes of Babatunde Aleshe and Boy George in the jungle

It's back! Ant and Dec are set to welcome 12 new famous faces into the Australian camp in November

At last! In a statement, ITV announced: 'Autumn also brings I'm A Celebrity which makes a welcome return to ITV from the Australian jungle'

On the move! Previous years saw the show relocated to Gwrych Castle in Wales due to Covid travel restrictions

Other stars reported to have signed up for the adventure include 1980s pop icon Boy George and comedian Seann Walsh.

A source previously told The Sun: 'Chris is a huge signing for I'm A Celebrity and they have been trying to sign him for years.

'Previously he's turned them down for a number of reasons but this year feels like the right time. Chris has signed up and is preparing himself mentally and physically to go Down Under. This a huge moment for him and he cannot wait to get stuck in.

Champion: The 2021 series saw Danny Miller crowned as King of the Castle , while Giovanna Fletcher was the first person to win the Welsh version of the show the year before

'Fans of the show are in for a real treat and Chris has no doubt there will be some people who will be ringing to vote for him to do some of the gruelling trials.'

Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly said they wanted to see Chris as a campmate back in 2012, with Dec explaining: 'He would be really funny, he'd probably win.

'And he's lost so much weight, even the lack of food wouldn't bother him.' Ant added: 'The thing is eventually they all say yes. We just wear them down.'

Earlier this week it was reported that former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Seann Walsh has signed up.

Not long now! I'm A Celebrity will return to screens on Sunday, November 6, at 9pm, with a 105 minute special, which will see the stars moving into their new home for the first time after spending a week in hotel quarantine

It's nearly time! The new series will see a brand new group of stars heading into the jungle where they will face tough conditiions, and be completely separated from the outside world

According to The Sun, ITV bosses are hoping that the comedian will discuss his infamous 2018 snog with his Strictly pro partner Katya Jones, who was married to fellow dancer Neil Jones at the time.

The brief fling resulted in the end of Katya's marriage to Neil the following year and Seann splitting with his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Humphries.

According to reports, Seann and Olivia will be joining the likes of Babatunde Aleshe and Boy George in the jungle.

Ant and Dec are set to welcome 12 new famous faces into the Australian camp in November.

In a statement, ITV said: 'Autumn also brings I'm A Celebrity which makes a welcome return to ITV from the Australian jungle.'

The 2021 series saw Danny Miller crowned as King of the Castle, while Giovanna Fletcher was the first person to win the Welsh version of the show the year before.
Keri Russell and Ato Essandoh were pictured filming scenes for the upcoming Netflix political drama The Diplomat on Thursday.

The actress, 46, and the actor, 50, enjoyed a warm hug in-between takes as they got to work in Green Park in London.

Keri - who plays Kate Wyler, a career diplomat in the series - looked smart in a navy suit and silky blouse as she shot takes in the outdoor location.

New show: Keri Russell and Ato Essandoh were pictured filming scenes for the upcoming Netflix political drama The Diplomat on Thursday

She completed her businesswoman look heeled black boots, an over-the-shoulder satchel and had her brunette tresses styled into loose waves.

Meanwhile Ato looked dapper in a light grey suit, patterned tie and blue shirt as he joined Keri on set.

The pair looked like they were getting on great as they shared a warm embrace with Ato lifting Keri off her feet in the process.

Close: The actress, 46, and the actor, 50, enjoyed a warm hug in-between takes as they got to work in Green Park in London

Keri is playing the titular role in The Diplomat and serving as one of the executive producers.

In the new show, which got an order for eight episodes that span no less than 50 minutes, Russell plays Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who lands a high-profile job she's unsuited for, amid an international crisis.

As a result, conflict ensues, which has major implications on her marriage and her political future.

Professional: Keri - who plays Kate Wyler, a career diplomat in the series - looked smart in a navy suit and silky blouse as she shot takes in the outdoor location

The look: She completed her businesswoman look heeled black boots, an over-the-shoulder satchel and had her brunette tresses styled into loose waves

Here he is: Meanwhile Ato looked dapper in a light grey suit, patterned tie and blue shirt as he joined Keri on set

Last month, Variety reported that Rufus Sewell had been cast as Keri's husband Hal Wyler and Ali Ahn will play the role of Eidra Graham.

Simon Cellan Jones has also been tapped to direct and executive produce the first two episodes of the show.

The Diplomat was created by Deborah Cahn, who's best known for her work as a writer and executive producer for the last two seasons of the hit Showtime series, Homeland (2018-2020).

Role: Keri is playing the titular role in The Diplomat and serving as one of the executive producers

Hug: The pair looked like they were getting on great as they shared a warm embrace with Ato lifting Keri off her feet in the process

Cahn will serve double duty as both showrunner and executive producer under her overall deal with Netflix.

Janice Williams will also executive produce.

After kick-starting her career on The All New Mickey Mouse Club, Russell landed another lead in the teen soap, Malibu Shores (1996), and a number of guest-starring spots on TV before hitting it big in The WB drama series Felicity (1998-2002), which earned her a Golden Globe Award.

Plot: In the new show, which got an order for eight episodes that span no less than 50 minutes, Russell plays Kate Wyler, a career diplomat who lands a high-profile job she's unsuited for, amid an international crisis

Drama: As a result, conflict ensues, which has major implications on her marriage and her political future

Parts: Last month, Variety reported that Rufus Sewell had been cast as Keri's husband Hal Wyler and Ali Ahn will play the role of Eidra Graham

Big names: Simon Cellan Jones has also been tapped to direct and executive produce the first two episodes of the show

She would wait nearly eight years before committing to another main role on television in the comedy series Running Wilde (2010-2011), but it would be canceled after one season.

Her next leading lady role in series came on the FX spy-thriller series The Americans (2013-2018), which resulted in three consecutive Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress In A Drama Series.

Over her career, Russell has also appeared in several acclaimed films like We Were Soldiers (2002), Mission: Impossible III (2006), August Rush (2007), Waitress (2007), Bedtime Stories (2008), Extraordinary Measures (2010) and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014).

She next stars in Cocaine Bear for director Elizabeth Banks and Extrapolations for director, writer and producer Scott Burns.

Varied: She next stars in Cocaine Bear for director Elizabeth Banks and Extrapolations for director, writer and producer Scott Burns

Wow: Her next leading lady role in series came on the FX spy-thriller series The Americans (2013-2018), which resulted in three consecutive Emmy nominations
Naomi Campbell cut an elegant figure as she attended the EMERGE Business Talks panel at The National Museum of Qatar in Doha on Thursday.

The model, 52, took part in a panel discussion at the event where she took to the stage in a white strapless top with long sleeves.

The garment also featured large black buttons while Naomi paired it with matching trousers and a pair of black boots.

Event: Naomi Campbell cut an elegant figure as she attended the EMERGE Business Talks panel at The National Museum of Qatar in Doha on Thursday

Wearing her locks in a poker straight style, Naomi complimented her outfit with a red necklace.

Joining her for the discussion were Kehinde Wiley, Stella Jean aka Stella Novarino and Afua Hirsch.

The event comes after Naomi attended the star-studded Fashion Trust Arabia Prize event in Doho on Wednesday evening.

On Tuesday, she joined a VIP dinner in the capital Doha to mark the opening of the Baghdad: Eye's Delight exhibition at the Museum of Islamic Art.

Style: The model, 52, took part in a panel discussion at the event where she took to the stage in a white strapless top with long sleeves

Panel: Joining her for the discussion were (L-R) Kehinde Wiley, Stella Jean aka Stella Novarino and Afua Hirsch

The model has faced criticism from gay right's campaigners for agreeing to host a 'spectacular' fashion show in the country.

Gay men and women are persecuted in the Arab nation where homosexuality is considered abnormal and punishable by three years in jail.

Human rights organisation Amnesty International has said women and LGBTQ+ people 'continue to face discrimination in law and practice' in the country.

Naomi has often publicly voiced support for the LGBT community. In 2021, she joined a host of celebrities in signing a letter of support for the LGBT community in Ghana.

Outfit: The garment also featured large black buttons while Naomi paired it with matching trousers and a pair of black boots

Looking good: Wearing her locks in a poker straight style, Naomi complimented her outfit with a red necklace

She once said: 'If it wasn't for gay men, I would not exist... I owe my life to gay men. It's just what I have grown up with. It's my family.'

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who said he was this week detained by officials while protesting about gay rights in Qatar, said: 'Miss Campbell's involvement is inconsistent, given the country's appalling restrictions on women and the criminalisation of LGBT.'

Naomi's spokesman said: 'She is famously supportive of the LBGTQ+ community and she understands that being engaged in places like Qatar is an essential step towards positive change.

'To suggest that her Emerge initiative is in any way an affront to the LGBTQ+ community shows a lack of understanding of who [she] is as a person and as a global citizen.'
Ashley Judd fractured her leg in a 'freak accident' while mourning her mother Naomi Judd's death.

The actress revealed the femoral condyle fracture happened over the summer and it healed in two months, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 54-year-old star, who shattered her leg last year in a harrowing 55 hour ordeal deep in the Congo jungle, spoke about her femoral condyle fracture during an appearance at an Open Mind lecture with Dr. Jonathan Flint.

The latest: Ashley Judd fractured her leg in a 'freak accident' while mourning her mother Naomi Judd's death; seen on April 28, 2018

She spoke to Dr. Flint via zoom for an hour, revealing that her injury 'healed in two months, lickety-split.'

The femoral condyle is the ball shaped end of a person's leg at the femur, which is the thigh bone; there are two condyles on each leg.

'It was what it was. Clumsiness is associated with grief, and there were other people in our family, after mom died, who fell down stairs and had accidents, and that's just what mine happened to look like,' she explained.

'It really allowed me to grieve. It really allowed me to stop what I was working on at that moment and to grieve.'

Ouch: The actress revealed the femoral condyle fracture happened over the summer and it healed in two months, according to The Hollywood Reporter; seen September 20, 2022

Naomi Judd died on April 30 at age 76 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound while at her home in Tennessee.

On how she processed her death, Ashley said: 'The day that my beloved mother died by suicide, I had so many people to call. There were five women who were with me within moments of my sharing that tragic news with them, and they are my chosen sisters.'

'I was just reflecting on those first days after her passing and how there was always someone with me at my house,' she said.

She explained that her friends were her community, and they 'held me physically and they held my home and they held my soul.'

Happier times: Naomi Judd died on April 30 at age 76 from a self-inflicted gun shot wound while at her home in Tennessee; seen with mom Naomi and sister Wynonna on January 19, 2002 in Kentucky

In February 2021, Ashley revealed she had shattered her leg while on a trip to Congo, when a faulty head lamp made it hard for her to see during an excursion.

She said she then tripped over a tree that fell, causing her to break her leg, during an Instagram Live with Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times, via People.

During the live at the time, Ashley said that she was 'in an ICU trauma unit in beautiful South Africa, which has taken me in from the Congo: a country I deeply love which is not, unfortunately, equipped to deal with massive catastrophic injuries like I had.'

Shocking: Nicholas Kristof, of The New York Times, via People, shared a picture of Ashley on a stretcher

Thoughts: Ashley also shared a picture of a Bonobo on Instagram and described how the chimpanzees are 'endangered' with her and a team having a small research camp in the Congo

Adding: 'And the difference between a Congolese person and me is disaster insurance that allowed me 55 hours after my accident to get to an operating table in South Africa.'

The actress said many people from the Congo don't have access to even something as simple as a pain killer let alone if they shattered their leg in four places and have nerve damage, stressing her privilege.

Ashley also shared a picture of a Bonobo on Instagram and described how the chimpanzees are 'endangered' with her and a team having a small research camp in the Congo.

The actress described how she 'nearly lost her leg' during the excursion, adding: 'I am accustomed to being there. I am a woman of the wilderness, as you know.

'Accidents do happen. I struck something in the dark and fell.'

Traumatizing: Ashley said the accident occurred after a faulty head lamp made it hard for her to see during an excursion in the Congo; pictured March 4, 2018 at the 90th Academy Awards

The latest: The actress, 52, revealed the news during an Instagram Live with Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times, via People

Ashley said after the accident, the next 55 hours were 'harrowing' as she 'started with five hours of lying on the forest floor.'

She was with a colleague like that until she was able to be evacuated, the star explained.

'With his leg under my badly misshapen leg, biting my stick. Howling like a wild animal,' as she held up the stick on the Live, per the outlet.

At the end of the fifth hour, someone came to reset her bones while she was 'going into shock' and 'passing out' because of the pain, according to People.

Afterwards, she spent 'an hour and a half in hammock, being carried out of the rainforest by my Congolese brothers, who were doing it barefoot, up and over hills, through the river' in order to return to the camp.

The actress (pictured in 2014) said many people from the Congo don't have access to even something as simple as a pain killer let alone if they shattered their leg in four places

The next step in the journey had Ashley on a motorcycle for six hours with someone holding her leg up and someone driving.

Ashley also said she recognized her 'privilege' in being able to pay someone to take her.

Then, she spent the night in a hut in Jolu and then being flown into the capital of Kinshasa for a day before getting to South Africa to the ICU, per People.

Of her whole ordeal, she said: 'I'm in a lot of love. I'm in a lot of compassion and I'm in a lot of gratitude. I thank everyone for their thoughts and their prayers and their support,' according to People.

In July 2021, Ashley gave fans an update on her leg, five months after her accident, revealing that her leg and foot 'worked beautifully. as she continued to build up her stamina and strength.

She also said that her foot, which was paralyzed, began moving in four months, something which her doctors said wouldn't happen until a year post accident.

Ashley thanked her surgeons as she revealed the surgery to repair her leg took eight hours, as well as thanking her physical therapist during her road to recovery.
Rhode founder Hailey Baldwin Bieber posed topless and slipped one of her skincare products into the belt loop of her baggy blue carpenter jeans in an Instagram snap she posted Thursday.

The IMG Model - turning 26 next month - originally launched the brand baring her middle name on June 15 and, on Wednesday, she teased two new products which will be released next month.

Hailey - who boasts 64.6M social media followers - did so by sharing a TikTok of her entire skincare prep routine before make-up application.

'Back soon!' Rhode founder Hailey Baldwin Bieber posed topless and slipped one of her skincare products into the belt loop of her baggy blue carpenter jeans in an Instagram snap she posted Thursday

Bieber didn't even show the first product, which she described as a 'Rhode sample' - stressing that she 'never, ever, ever skips this step.'

The Arizona-born beauty's second step was 'four pumps' of the $29 Peptide Glazing Fluid immediately followed by the $29 Barrier Restore Cream.

'Of course the goal for me is always really hydrated, nourished, dewy, glowy, yummy, glazed skin,' Hailey noted.

'The way I really get that is layering the right products underneath my make-up and not doing too much because I don't want too many products sitting under my make-up.'

'Skin prep before getting my glam done!' The IMG Model - turning 26 next month - originally launched the brand baring her middle name on June 15 and, on Wednesday, she teased two new products which will be released next month

'I'm testing it': Hailey didn't even show the first product, which she described as a 'Rhode sample' - stressing that she 'never, ever, ever skips this step'

'I don't want too many products sitting under my make-up': Bieber's second step was 'four pumps' of the $29 Peptide Glazing Fluid (L) immediately followed by the $29 Barrier Restore Cream (R)

Bieber then applied a product that wasn't her own - $19.99 Weleda Skin Food - which make-up artists recommended to her for 'spots where I feel like I get more dry.'

'I love it, but I do know it's a little heavy for some people and can be a little bit too oily and too thick,' the Who's in my Bathroom vlogger admitted.

'I feel, like, I use the tiniest bit. I feel like it does the trick that I'm wanting of just adding a little bit more hydration and sheen in the areas where I want it.'

Hailey's final step was Rhode's new flavored Peptide Lip Treatment - dropping next month - which will be available in salted caramel and watermelon slice.

'It's a little heavy for some people': Hailey then applied a product that wasn't her own - $19.99 Weleda Skin Food - which make-up artists recommended to her for 'spots where I feel like I get more dry'

'I'm really excited for you guys to smell it and try it!' Bieber's final step was Rhode's new flavored Peptide Lip Treatment - dropping next month - which will be available in salted caramel and watermelon slice

Legal win: Back in July, a federal judge granted the wife of Justin Bieber the right to legally name her skincare company Rhode

'Our lawsuit continues': Phoebe Vickers and Purna Khatau founded their LA-based clothing company RHODE in 2014, and they had sued Hailey for trademark infringement for using the same name

'Can't forget the lips. Lip care is skincare...I'm really excited for you guys to smell it and try it!' Bieber gushed.

Back in July, a federal judge granted the wife of Justin Bieber the right to legally name her skincare company Rhode.

Phoebe Vickers and Purna Khatau founded their LA-based clothing company RHODE in 2014, and they had sued Hailey for trademark infringement for using the same name - according to TMZ.

Werrrk! On Wednesday night, Hailey slipped her slim 5ft7in frame into a lingerie-flashing sheer Saint Laurent dress to attend the Tiffany & Co. Lock event held at Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood

A RHODE spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'Our lawsuit continues. [The] court ruling is simply a decision by the judge not to prohibit Hailey Biebers skin care line from using our brand name while litigation proceeds, deferring the ruling until we have the opportunity to gather more evidence.

'It is exceedingly rare for a judge to issue the preliminary order we sought, and so we expected this outcome. We remain confident that we will win at trial. "Rhode" is our name and brand, we built it, and federal and state laws protect it. We ask Hailey to achieve her goals without using the brand name we have spent the last nine years building.'

On Wednesday night, Hailey slipped her slim 5ft7in frame into a lingerie-flashing sheer Saint Laurent dress to attend the Tiffany & Co. Lock event held at Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood.
Kimberly Wyatt looked incredible as she got into the magical spirit at the Disney100 event at Banking Hall in London on Thursday evening.

The Pussycat Doll, 39, was all smiles as she donned a silver plunging mini dress which boasted a ruffled skirt.

The beauty added inches to her frame in a pair of black thigh high boots and accessorised with a long silver chain necklace.

Looking good: Kimberly Wyatt looked incredible as she got into the magical spirit at the Disney100 event at Banking Hall in London on Thursday evening

Kimberly turned up the heat opting for a smoky eye shadow, bold eye liner and pink lipstick.

She styled her blonde shoulder length tresses in loose waves as she rocked a pair of Halloween themed Mickey Mouse ears on her head while posing for snaps.

Kimberly seemed in high spirits alongside her husband of 11 years, Max Rogers who cut a smart figure in an all black ensemble.

Stunning: The Pussycat Doll, 39, was all smiles as she donned a silver plunging mini dress which boasted a ruffled skirt with a pair of thigh high black boots

All smiles: She styled her blonde shoulder length tresses in loose waves as she rocked a pair of Halloween themed Mickey Mouse ears on her head while posing for snaps

Max opted for a dark blazer over a round neck T-shirt and jeans as he added a Disney hat while posing for snaps alongside his stylish wife.

The couple who have been married since 2014 share three children together, daughters Willow, seven, and Maple, four, as well as a son, Ford Senna, two.

Disney has begun its 100th anniversary celebrations by announcing a series of exclusive experiences, exhibitions, concerts and new products coming next year.

Loved-up: Kimberly seemed in high spirits alongside her husband of 11 years, Max Rogers who cut a smart figure in an all black ensemble

The star-studded Disney100 debut event in London was hosted by Emma Willis.

Guests celebrated the milestone by enjoying exclusive performances from Disneyland Paris and The Lion King cast.

October 16 next year marks 100 years since Walt and his brother Roy introduced the magic of Disney to the world and will celebrate characters and stories from this first years throughout 2023.
She welcomed her son Taylor Nate Adams into the world in July with her partner Ella Baig.

And Nicola Adams enjoyed a night off from parenting as she attended an event for the launch of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II in London on Thursday evening.

The British boxer, 39, showed off her sense of style in a casual green and black co-ord as she posed up a storm.

Star: Nicola Adams enjoyed a night off from parenting as she attended an event for the launch of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II in London on Thursday evening

She looked edgy and cool in the comfortable jumper and matching shorts while accessorising with silver hoop earrings.

Nicola completed her look with white and neon green Nike trainers and flashed a sign as she posed for cameras at the event.

The event, hosted by Professor Green and Chris Tunn, also attracted stars such as Jordan Pickford, Matt Tuck, Big Zuu, Fran Kirby, Chunkz and Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Event: The British boxer, 39, showed off her sense of style in a casual green and black co-ord as she posed up a storm

Nicola and Ella welcomed their son in July this year and have been documenting parenthood on their social media since.

Just last week, the pair revealed that they were forced to change doctors during their challenging IVF journey after learning the model had several 'underlying health conditions'.

Speaking on This Morning ahead of the broadcast of their documentary, the couple revealed it took three rounds of gruelling treatment before Ella finally fell pregnant with their son Taylor.

Game: The event, hosted by Professor Green and Chris Tunn, also attracted stars such as Jordan Pickford (pictured), Matt Tuck, Big Zuu, Fran Kirby, Chunkz and Adebayo Akinfenwa

Sporting star: Jordan cut a casual figure in a black tracksuit as he attended the gaming event on Thursday

Ella, 23, also revealed that during the process 'several things went wrong that shouldn't have,' adding that she and Nicola, 39, want to educate viewers about IVF so they can go into the process 'knowing all the facts'.

'The first two cycles were fully medicated and it turned out I didn't need any medication, so there were a lot of issues going into it with IVF, you just take the doctor's word for everything,' Ella said.

'It wasn't until we re-evaluated everything and went to a different doctor and I found out I had an underlying health condition.

Smart: Professor Green also attended the UK Launch of Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II in London

Dapper: He wore a black suit and green T-shirt as he posed for some pictures before heading inside

Relaxed: Adebayo Akinfenwa wore a black hoodie and comfortable tracksuit bottoms teamed with white trainers

Modern Warfare II: Celebrity guests included AJ Tracey, Munya Chawawa, Sigala, Joe Joyce, Adam Azim, Hassan Azim, and Jordan Brook

Abs: Sonim Firouzi flashed her midriff in a black crop top and tight leather trousers for the event

'There were quite a lot of things that went wrong that shouldn't have, and that's why I wanted to do the documentary, so people go into IVF knowing all the facts and safer.'

Nicola went on to explain another reason for doing the documentary was to highlight the lack of diverse sperm donors.

She explained, 'There's barely any black donors when you look on the websites, there's maybe two or three, maximum'.

Exciting: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II arrives on all platforms this Friday - bringing new gameplay innovations

Fun: Activision hosted a 'Secret Tournament' which saw a host of All Stars go head-to-head in underground gaming clash (Matt Tuck is pictured)
James Corden said he will 'always consider it an absolute privilege' to be a part of something Jez Butterworth has written - 'however it gets received'.

Mammals is a six-part comedy drama written by the two-time Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright Butterworth about the complexities of marriage.

Actor and comedian Corden, 44, said he read the script in 'what felt like four minutes' before deciding it was 'everything I've ever wanted to do'.

In a twist or irony the star plays a trained chef, with the show airing just weeks after he was banned from top New York restaurant Balthazar for his apparent poor treatment of waiting staff.

Corden is believed to have snapped at restaurant employees after an egg yolk omelette prepared for his wife Julia - who is allergic to egg white - was unsatisfactory. He has since issued a public apology.

I'll have what he isn't having: James Corden plays a trained chef in new Jez Butterworth drama Mammals, a six-part series about the complexities of marriage

Speaking about his character Jamie Buckingham, Corden said: 'He's complex. He's complicated. He's flawed. He's like all of us really. I really care deeply for him.

'It's funny, he's the second Jamie I've ever played and both Jamie's are probably the closest characters to myself I've ever played.'

Corden explained how he 'fell in love' with playwright Butterworth when they first met in 2019.

'I'm an extraordinarily big fan of Jez's work. I've been lucky enough to see almost all of his plays and they have had a profound effect on me,' he said.

Hopeful: Two-time Oscar nominated actress Sally Hawkins, who plays Corden's on-screen sister Lue in the series, said she hoped people are reminded of what a 'phenomenal actor' he is

'I don't really get starstruck by many people, but Jez might be the only person that I've ever gone up to and gone, 'Hello, I'm James. It's just an absolute honour to meet you' and we got chatting.

'I kind of fell in love with him, with his soul, spirit, his energy, and everything.

'I just love Jez as a man and as a writer and from the minute I read it I just knew who he (Jamie) was. I knew it all and I thought, I have to do this...I just have to make this work.

'I just love performing so much. I adore it...and so when an opportunity like this comes up, I just couldn't pass it up.

'However it gets received, there's nothing we can really do about that. I'll just always consider it an absolute privilege to be part of something that Jez has written.'

The Late Late Show host explained the difficulties of presenting a chat show while balancing a busy acting schedule.

'I did this film The Prom a few years ago and that was really hard. I got given 12 shows off, which equates to about 16 or 18 days or whatever, to shoot, and then after that I was doing a show Monday, Tuesday, two shows Wednesday and then Thursday, Friday, Saturday on The Prom, and I did that for about six weeks.

tribute: 'Knowing James for over 20 years we have already established a strong connection already. He is special kind of actor and mind,' she said (pictured: In Mammals)

'That was really hard, but I sort of feel a bit reticent complaining about it because I'm aware that it's ridiculous that you would host a late-night talk show and be in a film with Meryl Streep.

'And then be the lead in a Jez Butterworth dramedy on Amazon. I'm aware that it should be difficult.

'I didn't realize it would be quite as challenging as it had been because coronavirus didn't exist when I signed up, we were all so naive.

'Look, everything's a challenge, but you want the challenge of it.'

Two-time Oscar nominated actress Sally Hawkins, who plays Corden's on-screen sister Lue in the series, said she hoped people are reminded of what a 'phenomenal actor' he is.

She said: 'Knowing James for over 20 years we have already established a strong connection already. He is special kind of actor and mind.

Statement: It comes after James admitted that he was 'ungracious' to a Balthazar waiter when he made a snide remark he'd cook the egg yolk omelet himself - which got him banned from the establishment

'He can do all things seemingly effortless although I know full well it is incredibly difficult to have a foot in both worlds... ie in terms of his well known personae as a talk show host... yet he has a deep sensitivity and understanding.

'He must have to split his brain and yet of course he copes exceptionally well. I don't think he takes things too seriously or himself.

'He is incredibly smart, an incredibly sensitive type of being. And it's wonderful that some people will be seeing the creative actor genius side for the first time here with Mammals.'

She added that you 'need' people like James and Jez around who 'ground' you.

'They're solid, rooted to the earth, and that comes out in the writing. They are sort of similar actually, and really interesting, but I just love James very much. He's a great friend and incredibly loyal. He forgives my madness,' she added.

The series, directed by Stephanie Laing, also stars Merlin actor Colin Morgan as Corden's on-screen brother-in-law and Greek American actress Melia Kreiling, who plays Corden's wife.

Butterworth, who created the play Jerusalem, explained the creative process behind the Amazon Prime series.

'I did what I always do, which is I put it in a drawer and got it out a lot later, five years later. Because I like to know if something's going to be good in five years' time.

'It's a way of time proofing things - to not write the thing that seems like a great idea that week, put it into production and discover five years later you've wasted your time.

'I do that with plays and I like to do it with any idea that I generate,' he said.

Corden's new role comes after he made a public apology for berating staff at New York City restaurant Balthazar.

The comedian denied the restaurant's version of events, insisting he did not 'yell like crazy' and claiming for the first time that the reason he was so upset is that his wife was given food she has 'seriously allergic' to.

Corden, appearing on his Late Late Show, conceded that he'd been 'ungracious' to the waitstaff at Balthazar, but tried again to explain himself.

Balthazar owner Keith McNally announced on Instagram that Corden was banned from the restaurant as punishment for rude and childish behavior on two occasions. On the first occasion, Corden was upset that a hair had been found in his food and demanded free drinks to make up for it, according to McNally.

The second occasion involved his wife Julia ordering an egg-yolk omelet and receiving a plate with egg white on it. The final straw was when the remade omelet was sent out with a side of home fries instead of salad.

Apology: Corden, appearing on his Late Late Show, conceded that he'd been 'ungracious' to the waitstaff at Balthazar, but tried again to explain himself

'James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server,' McNally said, quoting the general manager's service report.

But on his show, Corden insisted he didn't scream or make any 'derogatory remarks'. His only offense was making the 'unnecessary' and 'snide' comment that he'd 'make the omelet himself' if the kitchen staff were unable to.

He also claimed the dish was prepared wrongly 'three times' - one more than had previously been claimed - and that his wife Julia has 'a serious food allergy'.

'My wife explained that she has a serious food allergy.

'The meals came, my wife was given the food that she was allergic to. She hadn't taken a bite of it or anything, no worries, we sent it back. All was good.

Family: Corden, looking at his parents Malcolm and Margaret who were in the audience, added: 'As my dad pointed out to me on Saturday  he said, 'Son, well, you did complain, so you might need to explain.' Look, when you make a mistake, you've gotta take responsibility'

'As her meal came wrong to the table the third time, in the heat of the moment I made a sarcastic rude comment about cooking it myself. It is a comment I deeply regret.

'I worked shifts at restaurants for years, I have such respect for anyone who does that job.

'The restaurant manager and the server were lovely, they brought out four glasses of champagne and we were like "that's not necessary, we don't need it, we had a great time".

'But here's the truth of it - 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.'

Restaurant: The popular French eatery Balthazar, in New York's SoHo district, is pictured on Monday

It was the first time he'd offered that piece of information, despite giving an interview to The New York Times last week where he said he'd done nothing wrong.

Corden said he'd been shown the light by his father. His old adage was always to 'never complain, never explain'.

'As my dad pointed out to me on Saturday  he said, "Son, well, you did complain, so you might need to explain.'

'Look, when you make a mistake, you've gotta take responsibility. So I thought I would, if it's okay, share with you what happened."

'In the heat of the moment, I made a sarcastic rude comment about cooking it myself.

'It is a comment I deeply regret. I understand the difficulties of being a server. I worked shifts at restaurants for years.

JAMES CORDEN VS BALTHAZAR - A TIMELINE OF A ROW THAT BEGAN OVER AN OMELET June: James Corden visits Balthazar and finds a hair in his food. He showed the hair to the general manager and, according to Keith McNally, demanded free drinks to make up for it. October 9th: Corden and his wife Julia have brunch at Balthazar. Julia ordered an egg-yolk omelet. When it arrived at the table with 'a little egg white' on the plate, Corden sent it back. The staff then sent out another omelet but with a side of home fries - not the salad Julia had ordered. Corden explodes that staff 'can't do their job!' and offers to make the omelet himself. October 17: Keith McNally bans Corden from his restaurant, calling him a 'tiny cretin of a man' in a scathing Instagram post October 17: Corden privately phones McNally to apologize. McNally revokes the ban October 20: Corden takes part in an interview with The New York Times where he says he did 'nothing wrong' and that people complain about food 'every day' October 21: McNally urges Corden to apologize sincerely, writing in another Instagram post: 'Although I didnt witness the incident, lots of my restaurants floor staff did. They had nothing to gain by lying. Corden did. 'I wish James Corden would live up to his Almighty initials and come clean.' October 24: James Corden apologizes on air at The Late Late Show Advertisement

'I have such respect, and I value anyone that does such a job. And the team at that restaurant are so great. That's why I love it there.'

He added that when the staff brought out champagne 'as an apology,' he thought the matter was resolved.

The saga began when McNally, 71, posted two separate examples of Corden's 'extremely nasty' behavior at Balthazar, the French brasserie, where he said he had yelled at the server.

Corden said that after seeing McNally's post he had 'immediately' contacted him to 'tell him how upset I was'.

'(I told him) how upset I was that anybody was hurt by anything that I had done and anything that I had said and we had a good talk. He appreciated the call. I was happy that we got to clear the air. And I felt like we dealt with it privately  but by this point, the story was out there and more people were upset.'

After showing a series of scathing tweets to his audience, he continued: 'I get it. I totally understand. I understand everybody getting upset and I accept everybody's opinion.

'I also hate, as I said to the owner that day, that I've ever upset anybody ever. It was never my intention. It just wasn't. I love that restaurant. I love the staff there.

'I hope I'm allowed in again one day so when I'm back in New York I can go there and apologize in person, which is something I will absolutely do.'

In his original post, McNally said: 'After eating his main course, Corden showed the hair to Balthazar manager G. who was very apologetic.

'Corden was extremely nasty to G, and said: 'Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.''

In a second incident, McNally claims that Corden was dining with his wife, Julia Carey, at the eatery on October 9 for brunch.

He says that Corden asked for a table outside, and wife Carey ordered an egg yolk omelet with a salad.

The couple complained to the server that there was 'a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk' and sent the dish back.

McNally added: 'The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad.

'That's when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: 'You can't do your job! You can't do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelet myself!'

'M.K (server) was very apologetic and brought G. (floor manager) over to the table.

'He returned the dish, and after that, everything was fine. He gave them promo Champagne glasses to smooth things out.

'G. said that Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server. M.K. was very shaken, but professional that she is, continued to finish her shift.'

Mammals launches worldwide on November 11 on Prime Video.
He's well known for his love of kooky fashion.

And Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, 37, was certainly no wallflower when he arrived for the first day of the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix on Thursday.

The Mercedes driver stood out from the crowd in a double denim ensemble while stepping out at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City.

Double denim: Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton , 37, was certainly no wallflower when he arrived for the first day of the Formula One Mexico Grand Prix on Thursday

His outfit consisted of a zip-up hooded jacket with patchwork denim patterns on it that he teamed with matching baggy trousers.

He completed the look with chunky black boots and had on a pair of stylish black shades.

The racing star wore his short dark hair styled into his usual braids and sported some facial hair.

Here he is: The Mercedes driver stood out from the crowd in a double denim ensemble while stepping out at the Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack in Mexico City

The look: His outfit consisted of a zip-up hooded jacket with patchwork denim patterns on it that he teamed with matching baggy trousers

It comes after earlier this week Lewis revealed that he is launching a film and TV production company called Dawn Apollo Films as he spoke about his retirement plans in an interview with Deadline.

There are already two Apple TV+ projects in the works for the company, and Hamilton shared he is concerned with 'meaningful conversations and impactful storytelling.'

One is a feature documentary on Hamilton's groundbreaking journey and thrilling career.

The other, a currently unnamed project, is helmed by Top Gun: Maverick director Joe Kosinski, and stars Brad Pitt, 58.

Cool: He completed the look with chunky black boots and had on a pair of stylish black shades

Cars: The racing star wore his short dark hair styled into his usual braids and sported some facial hair

Moves: It comes after earlier this week Lewis revealed that he is launching a film and TV production company called Dawn Apollo Films as he spoke about his retirement plans in an interview with Deadline

Career: There are already two Apple TV+ projects in the works for the company, and Hamilton shared he is concerned with 'meaningful conversations and impactful storytelling'

According to the publication it will 'follow a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie against the titans of his sport.'

Hamilton also shared a snap of the actor to his Instagram on Tuesday. Brad looked cool as ever in a denim shirt and shades.

The Hollywood heartthrob was also seen attending the Austin Grand Prix on October 23, where he appeared to be studying the sport in preparation for the role.

Fun: According to the publication it will 'follow a driver who comes out of retirement to compete alongside a rookie against the titans of his sport'

Fame: Hamilton also shared a snap of the actor to his Instagram on Tuesday. Brad looked cool as ever in a denim shirt and shades

Interests: Hamilton spoke about his inspiration for the company, saying he's always been intrigued by films

Words: 'I've always been into movies. I watch a lot. I find it a real escape. There are a lot of movies I find inspiring and I've always dreamed of one day doing something in this space,' he shared

Hamilton spoke about his inspiration for the company, saying he's always been intrigued by films.

'I've always been into movies. I watch a lot. I find it a real escape. There are a lot of movies I find inspiring and I've always dreamed of one day doing something in this space,' he shared.

He added, 'The goal is to make impactful stories and ultimately to inspire people through movies and storytelling. A big part of the new company will be about social impact, community and causes. That's very important to me.'

Change: He added, 'The goal is to make impactful stories and ultimately to inspire people through movies and storytelling'

Upcoming: There are already two Apple TV+ projects in the works for the company, and Hamilton shared he is concerned with 'meaningful conversations and impactful storytelling'

Popular: One is a feature documentary on Hamilton's groundbreaking journey and thrilling career
Chantel Jeffries appeared in a trio of promotional shots for Lounge Underwear that were shared to her Instagram account on Thursday.

The 30-year-old social media personality showed off a considerable amount of skin in a revealing set of intimates while posing for the photographs.

The DJ also penned a short message in her post's caption that read: 'Bar set way above par.'

Hot stuff! Chantel Jeffries appeared in a trio of promotional shots for Lounge Underwear that were shared to her Instagram account on Thursday

Jeffries left little to the imagination as she wore Lounge's Liana pink bra, which showed off a significant portion of her upper chest as well as her toned tummy.

The Instagram figure also rocked a matching bottom that showcased her curvy hips as she posed for the shots.

The DJ's bottoms featured several straps that clung tightly to her chiseled hips.

Her gorgeous dark blonde hair was tied into a pair of braids that fell onto her shoulders and contrasted perfectly with the lighter tones of her outfit.

Ooh la la! Jeffries left little to the imagination as she wore Lounge's Liana pink bra, which showed off a significant portion of her upper chest as well as her toned tummy

Scenic views: The Instagram figure also rocked a matching bottom that showcased her curvy hips as she posed for the shots

Jeffries has served as a spokesmodel for Lounge Underwear on several occasions in the past.

The social media personality's most recent post featuring the brand's products was shared to her account last month.

In the snap, the DJ showcased nearly all of her chiseled form while posing in a bed and in a bathroom.

She rocked a light blue bikini and a matching bottom that paired well with the tone of her hair.

Not the first time: Jeffries has served as a spokesmodel for Lounge Underwear on several occasions in the past

Va va voom: She rocked a light blue bikini and a matching bottom that paired well with the tone of her hair

Jeffries has collaborated with several other brands in the past, including the celebrity-favorite athleisure company Alo Yoga.

The DJ shared a duo of photos of herself wearing the company's offerings while spending time in New York City last month.

The model rocked an all-black outfit that included a jacket that showed off a slight portion of her midsection.

She also rocked a matching set of form-hugging pants and a pair of platform leather boots.
The replacements for Nova 100's Chrissie, Sam and Browny have been announced.

The top-rating Melbourne breakfast team is being replaced by Ben Harvey and Liam Stapleton, who found success in the same time slot on Nova 919 in Adelaide, and their long-time producer Belle Jackson.

The announcement was made on both stations on Friday morning.

The replacements for Nova 100's Chrissie, Sam and Browny have been announced. (Pictured from left: Sam Pang, Chrissie Swan and Jonathan 'Browny' Brown)

Harvey and Stapleton, who were previously the hosts of Triple J's national breakfast show, were first linked to the Nova 100 gig earlier this week.

Other duos were reportedly considered for the Melbourne breakfast role, including KIIS FM national drive hosts Will and Woody, and Mike E and Emma from RNB Fridays.

One radio insider told Daily Mail Australia it was 'inevitable' the Ben and Liam show would either go national or move to Sydney or Melbourne.

'They are number one in Adelaide and brought some of Triple J's biggest ratings for breakfast,' the source said.

The top-rating Melbourne breakfast team is being replaced by Ben Harvey (left) and Liam Stapleton (right), who found success in the same time slot on Nova 919 in Adelaide, and their long-time producer Belle Jackson

'We are all so grateful for the opportunity to wake up with the people of Melbourne every day - we love the city and can't wait to call it our home,' Harvey said in a statement.

'Melbourne has Australia's most competitive radio market and we are looking forward to proving ourselves against some of the biggest shows in the country.'

Stapleton added of Jackson's promotion from producer to anchor: 'We're so stoked to be dropping the "producer" part from Producer Belle's title.

'She has done the hard yards with us for the last five years and we can't wait to have her on air more. Belle moved from Melbourne to Sydney, to Adelaide and back to Melbourne for the show. We introduced her to our hometown and now shes going to return the favour.

'We can't wait for Melbourne to fall in love with her and put up with us!'

Ben, Liam & Belle (pictured) will continue to have a presence in Adelaide, hosting a local early breakfast show from 6am to 7am. Nova 919's new breakfast show will be revealed shortly

Jackson said: 'I can't wait to return to Melbourne after five long but incredible years away and, while coming back home is exciting, to be doing it on air alongside Ben and Liam is a dream come true.

'I have loved every minute of "looking after" the boys as their producer. I can't wait to step into this new role with them and teach them a thing or two about my hometown.'

Ben, Liam & Belle will continue to have a presence in Adelaide, hosting a local early breakfast show from 6am to 7am. Nova 919's new Adelaide breakfast show will be revealed shortly.

Harvey and Stapleton's partnership began in 2013, when they joined forces at Adelaide community radio station Fresh 92.7.

They moved to Triple J in 2016, where their breakfast show became one of the most popular in the station's history.

The announcement will be made on both stations before 9am on Friday, according to sources familiar with the reshuffle. (Pictured left: Chrissie Swan, and right: Jonathan Brown)

In October 2019, the duo left the ABC's youth broadcaster for Adelaide's Nova 919.

Listeners of Chrissie, Sam and Browny were shocked when hosts Chrissie Swan, Sam Pang and Jonathan 'Browny' Brown announced last Friday they were quitting their top-rating breakfast show after seven years on the air.

The news came less than a day after their Sydney-based colleague Kate Ritchie revealed she was also stepping down from Nova's national drive show.

Harvey and Stapleton, who were previously the hosts of Triple J's national breakfast show, were first linked to the Nova 100 gig earlier this week

According to an insider, the announcement also stunned Nova staff, with all employees at the station receiving an email at 8.30am from CEO Peter Charlton with a press release attached.

The final Chrissie, Sam and Browny show will air on December 2.

Nova pulled the plug on the show because Pang 'wanted out' and radio bosses felt dropping the trio altogether would be an easier option than finding a replacement.

While there's no word yet on Pang and Brown's future plans in the radio industry, Swan will be hosting her own national afternoon show on Nova from January 2023.

Nova pulled the plug on Chrissie, Sam and Browny because Pang (pictured) 'wanted out' and radio bosses felt dropping the trio altogether was an easier option than finding a replacement
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'I had sh** all over my face, all over my body, in the bed next door. When it breaks, it breaks. You have to get nurses,' he detailed

The Friends alum recalled waking up 'covered in' his own feces 50 to 60 times after narrowly surviving two weeks in a coma on life support

Matthew Perry reflected on the challenges of having to use a colostomy bag while recovering from his colon bursting due to opioid overdose, at age 49, in 2018.

After suffering from a gastrointestinal perforation, the actor recently revealed he had to use a colostomy bag for nine months and was given just a two per cent chance of survival after spending two weeks in a coma on life support.

In a new interview with GQ, the Friends alum provided a snippet from his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he recalls waking up 'covered in' his own feces 50 to 60 times.

Harrowing experience: Matthew Perry reflected on the challenges of having to use a colostomy bag while recovering from his colon bursting due to opioid overdose, at age 49, in 2018

During his five-month hospital stay following his colon rupturing, he told the outlet that he he would regularly wake up and find his colostomy bag had 'broken again.'

'I had sh** all over my face, all over my body, in the bed next door. When it breaks, it breaks. You have to get nurses,' he detailed.

To his horror when the time came to remove his colostomy bag, the operation didn't initially work and it was replaced with an ileostomy bag.

Vulnerable: In a new interview with GQ , the Friends alum provided a snippet from his upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he recalls waking up 'covered in' his own feces 50 to 60 times

'Ten times worse. You have to deal with an ileostomy bag 18, 19 times a day. A lot of suicides with an ileostomy bag. People can't take it,' he said.

Soon afterward, however, he underwent surgery and that 'fixed things,' according to the performer, who has since 'lived without' a colostomy bag for 'along time.'

'I'm very grateful,' Perry stated, despite adjusting to how his body looks with 'plenty of scars.'

In recovery: Soon afterward, however, he underwent surgery and that 'fixed things,' according to the performer, who has since 'lived without' a colostomy bag for 'along time' (pictured in 2017)

'I look at them with gratitude, because it helped me stay alive. But I have to live my life 24/7 with all of this scar tissue I'm constantly aware of. It feels like I'm doing a sit-up at full stretch all the time,' he explained.

Still, upon first taking his shirt off after his hospital stay, Perry admitted to bursting 'into tears' and being 'disturbed' as he feared thought his 'life was over.'

To feel better, about 30 minutes later, Perry confesses to calling his drug dealer.

'I look at them with gratitude, because it helped me stay alive. But I have to live my life 24/7 with all of this scar tissue I'm constantly aware of. It feels like I'm doing a sit-up at full stretch all the time,' he explained (pictured in September 2022)

This led to him to try and sober at another rehab center, this time in Switzerland, where he nearly died again after his heart stopped for a full five minutes.

'This huge, strong guy leaped on top of me,' Perry said, 'and did CPR, and broke eight of my ribs and saved my life.'

As he continues to put his recovery first, Perry has declined to reveal how long he has been sober, but says 'it's been a little while' since he's relapsed.

'Im less ruled by fear now. One of the things I learned is I can handle when bad things happen now. Im resilient, I am strong, and those things should come very clearly to the reader in the book as well. I am a strong man and I never gave myself credit for that, ever. But now Im slowly starting to,' he noted.

Household name: Perry rose to fame as Chandler Bing in Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004 (pictured in character)

During an interview with People this month, he said he was sharing his story now that he's 'pretty safely sober  and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction' and to 'help people.'

Talking about his starring role on Friends at aged 24, his alcohol addiction was starting to surface.

He said he could handle it but he was 'entrenched in a lot of trouble' by the time he was 34. He said there were years during that time in which he was sober and in fact, he was sober throughout the whole of season nine, the year he got nominated for Best Actor.

At one point during his Friends career, he admits he was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 pounds but yet he 'didn't know how to stop.'

He said the disease has got worse and worse and progressive and he's got older and noted his Friends cast mates 'were understanding, and they were patient.'

A constant battle, Matthew says: 'I'm pretty healthy now'. He is choosing not to say how long he has been sober for but is 'counting each day.'

On his own journey: As he continues to put his recovery first, Perry has declined to reveal how long he has been sober, but says 'it's been a little while' since he's relapsed; seen in 1897

He said his therapist has told him that he may have to have a colostomy bag for the rest of his life if he takes drugs again, which helps him to avoid relapsing.

The actor, who checked himself into rehab during his time on Friends once in 1997 and again in 2001.

Matthew famously told the New York Times in 2002, one year after getting sober: 'When [fame] happens, it's kind of like Disneyland for a while.

'For me it lasted about eight months, this feeling of "I've made it, I'm thrilled, there's no problem in the world".

He told the Hollywood Reporter in 2015: 'I've had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I learned a lot from my failures.

'But the best thing about me is that if an alcoholic comes up to me and says, "Will you help me stop drinking?" I will say, "Yes, I know how to do that."'

'And then you realise that it doesn't accomplish anything, it's certainly not filling any holes in your life. I didn't get sober because I felt like it. I got sober because I was worried I was going to die the next day.'

'It's no accident that Chandler is a guy who is trying to deter his own human emotional feelings with laughter. Thats what I did for years. I've tried to palm myself off as being a jokester, kind of like hanging out with me is kind of like a vacation. But that could only take me so far.'

He did his third stint in rehab in May 2011, when a representative for the star said it was to prevent a relapse.
A respected tradesman who appeared on The Block married the love of his life just six months before his tragic death two weeks ago.

Jon-Jeremy Bradey, who built swimming pools for several homes on the Channel Nine renovation series, died on October 14 at the age of 42.

It has now emerged he tied the knot with his wife Candice Howman in April.

Jon-Jeremy Bradey (pictured), a respected tradesman who appeared on several seasons of The Block, married the love of his life just six months before his tragic death two weeks ago

In photos and videos shared to Facebook from their special day, the newlyweds are seen smiling and dancing surrounded by their loved ones.

The ceremony was held at the five-star Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast.

'Our magical wedding, April 23, 2022,' Candice wrote on Facebook earlier this week.

'It's our six-month anniversary today. Miss and love you forever.'

In photos and videos shared to Facebook from their special day, Bradey and his wife Candice Howman are seen smiling and dancing surrounded by their loved ones

Bradey, a pool expert for A Plus Enterprises in Melbourne, was memorialised in the closing moments of Sunday night's episode of The Block.

A picture of Bradey in a tuxedo was shown at the end of the broadcast, alongside the caption: 'In memory of Jon Jeremy Bradey, 1980-2022.'

Fans of The Block will remember Bradey, known as 'Jon Jon' to his mates, for his work on Kirsty and Jesse's property during the 2021 season of the ratings blockbuster.

He also concreted Josh and Luke's pool in the same season.

The ceremony was held at the five-star Palazzo Versace hotel on the Gold Coast

The father of three was a legend in the building industry and a 'devoted husband' and friend, reports the Herald Sun.

His reputation for precision earned him the nickname 'Mr One Per Cent'.

Reece Daniltchenko from Franklin Pools said the industry was shocked by his death.

'Jon Jon was a devoted husband, father and friend. Anything could be achieved when you had him in charge, which I had the privilege of witnessing first-hand,' said Mr Daniltchenko, who described Bradey as an 'industry icon'.

Bradey, a pool expert for A Plus Enterprises in Melbourne, was memorialised in the closing moments of Sunday night's episode of The Block. (Pictured: The Block host Scott Cam)

'To have the opportunity to work with someone so reliable, trustworthy and a leader to his team, always gave me the confidence knowing that the end result will be delivered,' he added.

'A true legacy the great man has left behind, and the A Plus Enterprises team will no doubt uphold and has the full support and trust of everyone behind them.'

Bradey's widow said she was 'completely overwhelmed' by the love and support from friends of her late husband.

'From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you dearly,' she said.

The Block foreman Keith Schleiger (left) is pictured with Jon-Jeremy Bradey (right)

Bradey's funeral was held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Fox Road in Narre Warren North, Melbourne, on Monday.

He was buried at the Harkaway Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife Candice and three children, Anileese, Amelia and Kobe. No cause of death has been revealed.
Irina Shayk looked effortlessly chic in a plaid coat layered over a black midi dress, which featured a plunging zipper neckline, and a cutout across her lean midriff.

While walking around New York City by herself on Wednesday, the 36-year-old model oozed casual-cool while rocking black shades, leather booties and a matching purse.

Her glossy brunette locks cascaded past down her shoulders as she enjoyed some fresh air and the luscious red, orange, and yellow fall foliage around every corner.

Stylish: Irina Shayk looked effortlessly chic in a plaid coat layered over a black midi dress, which featured a plunging zipper neckline, and a cutout across her lean midriff

The Russian beauty was heading to her on-again, off-again partner Bradley Cooper's apartment, after they took their five-year-old daughter Lea to a Halloween party.

The duo, who dated between 2015 to 2019, have sparked romance rumors for months since she shared vacation photos in the Bahamas together over the summer.

It was reported in August that the Nightmare Alley actor, 47, and Vogue cover girl are mulling the prospect of having more children.

Doting mom: The Russian beauty was heading to her on-again, off-again partner Bradley Cooper's apartment, after they took their five-year-old daughter Lea to a Halloween party

Back with Bradley? The duo, who dated between 2015 to 2019, have sparked romance rumors for months since she shared vacation photos in the Bahamas together over the summer

Romance rumors: It was reported in August that the Nightmare Alley actor, 47, and Vogue cover girl are mulling the prospect of having more children

Although they split in 2019, they have remained famously amicable co-parents since then, with an insider telling Page Six: 'It was a real family getaway and they are considering getting back together.'

The source asserted that Irina 'would like her daughter to have a sibling,' and that Bradley is amenable to the idea.

She and Bradley were first linked in 2015 before going public as a couple in 2016, welcoming their little girl in 2017 and then going their separate ways in 2019.

High-profile romance: She and Bradley were first linked in 2015 before going public as a couple in 2016, welcoming their little girl in 2017 and then going their separate ways in 2019

Although Bradley was rumored to be dating Hillary Clinton's close confidante Huma Abedin, the outlet reports they were only ever casually involved

Although Bradley was rumored to be dating Hillary Clinton's close confidante Huma Abedin, the outlet reports they were only ever casually involved.

Meanwhile Irina's dating history includes Cristiano Ronaldo and last year she was briefly linked to Kanye West in the wake of his split from Kim Kardashian.

She rose to game walking for many major fashion brands and becoming the face of the lingerie brand Intimissi back in 2007.
She welcomed her second child just four months ago.

And Francesca Cumani showed off her incredible post-baby body in a very racy low-cut dress as she launched the Channel 10 marquee at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday, ahead of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The stunning racing presenter turned heads in a hot pink Rebecca Vallance Cupids Bow Midi Dress with puffball sleeves.

Stunning racing presenter Francesca Cumani showed off her incredible post-baby body in a very low-cut dress as she launched the Channel 10 marquee at Flemington Racecourse on Thursday ahead of the Melbourne Cup Carnival

She teamed the $629 midi frock with matching metallic strappy sandals and sported a purple pedicure.

The mother-of-one pushed her brown locks back off her face with a dainty gold headband and glowed with minimal makeup on her face.

Francesca was joined by Eddie Maguire in the Channel 10 marquee, who recently signed a new deal with the network.

The beauty welcomed her second child Teddy George in June earlier this year - her first child with boyfriend Max Johnson.

She is already mother to five-year-old son Harry from a previous marriage.

Francesca was joined by Eddie Maguire in the Channel 10 marquee, who recently signed a new deal with the network

The mother-of-one pushed her brown locks back off her face with a dainty gold headband and glowed with minimal makeup on her face

Francesca, a trackside commentator for ITV Racing in Britain and Australia's Channel 10, announced the news on Instagram.

She shared a photo of herself cradling her newborn in his nursery, and wrote: 'One week to the hour of you, Teddy George Johnson. Utterly delicious in every way.'

Francesca had announced she was expecting a child with Max, 38, a businessman and Ironman triathlete, back in December last year.

Francesca posed up alongside Natalie Hunter and Britt Taylor

The beauty welcomed her second child Teddy George in June earlier this year - her first child with boyfriend Max Johnson

At the time, Francesca, a trackside commentator for ITV Racing in Britain and Australia's Channel 10, shared a photo on Instagram of herself cradling her newborn in his nursery

'We're thrilled,' she told The Mail on Sunday at the time.

The thoroughbred expert was previously married to Australian polo player Rob Archibald, the father of her son Harry, from 2014 to 2018.

During their marriage, the couple attempted to juggle their lives on either side of the planet - a challenge that intensified after Francesca was hired by Britain's ITV.

The thoroughbred expert was previously married to Australian polo player Rob Archibald (left), the father of her son Harry, from 2014 to 2018. (Pictured in January 2018)

That meant her spending eight months in Britain during the racing season and four months in Australia, where she was a commentator for Channel Seven.

At the time of their split, a friend said that despite the break-up relations between Francesca and Rob were 'perfectly amicable'.

Following their separation, Francesca moved on with fellow ITV racing commentary team member Oli Bell.

However, the pair called it quits after two years of dating.

Her relationship with Max became public knowledge last year in September, and news of her pregnancy emerged just three months later.

Francesca, who is the daughter of Italian horse trainer and breeder Luca Cumani, signed a five-year deal worth $1 million with Channel 10 in 2019, after the network took over the Spring Carnival broadcast rights from Seven.
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin during a review meeting with top officials including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, DGP Sylendra Babu and other officials over the cylinder blast incident in Coimbatore, in Chennai, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. (Photo: PTI)

COIMBATORE: Senior officials of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday held discussions with the Tamil Nadu police here over the car explosion and resultant death of a person in front of a temple in the city.

Chief Minister M K Stalin reviewed the law and order situation in the wake of the incident, even as the Opposition AIADMK and BJP have trained their guns against the government over the issue.

The city police had arrested five associates of the deceased Jamesha Mubeen, after invoking the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and remanded them to judicial custody till November 8. Mubeen was killed after a gas cylinder in the car he was travelling in exploded.

NIA officials in the rank of DIG and SP arrived here and held discussions with senior state officials in connection with the blast, police said.

The city has been brought under a tight security cover, as the explosion occurred in front of Kottai Eswaran Temple in the heart of the city in the communally sensitive Ukkdam area, a day ahead of Deepavali.

The NIA officials are likely to visit the blast site and the house of the deceased, where 75 kg of low intensive explosives were seized, police said. The case is still being investigated by the City police only, they added. In Chennai, CM Stalin held a meeting to review the law and order situation with top officials of the state government at the Secretariat. The CM holds the Home portfolio. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, Home Secretary K Phanindra Reddy, Director General of Police C Sylendra Babu and others, the government said without elaborating.

Meanwhile, over 100 BJP workers and public organised a prayer meeting and lit lamps in front of the Kottai Eswaran Temple to "thank the presiding deity for protecting the city and people from a big disaster". Led by BJP Mahila Morcha president and Coimbatore South Legsilator, Vanathai Srinivasan, a group of women sat on the ground and lit lamps.
The incident came to light after four girls escaped from the orphanage, leading to a missing complaint made by the orphanage home authorities. (DC photo/file)

HYDERABAD: Two inmates of an orphanage in Neredmet under the Rachakonda commissionerate are said to have been raped.

One of the victims, a minor, was allegedly raped by Murali, one of the orphanages employees, while the other girl was allegedly raped in Sangareddy by another suspect named Ganesh. The two accused were taken into custody and sent to remand.

The incident came to light after four girls escaped from the orphanage, leading to a missing complaint made by the orphanage home authorities. Although these incidents occurred a few months ago, they came to light only on Tuesday. The two accused were taken into custody and placed on remand.

The orphanage is home to 30 girls, including two majors who stay at home and commute outside to school or work, according to Rachakonda police. These girls are from low-income families. The orphanage authorities reported four girls, including three minors, as missing in a complaint to the Neredmet police station on October 19.

Police traced two minors in Secunderabad, and based on information provided by the girls, they located the other two in Sangareddy. One of the girls (17) revealed how Murali has been sexually assaulting her for the past few months.

Another girl, who has just turned 18, also described how Ganesh abused her sexually in Sangareddy. As a result, a case was opened as a Zero FIR and Ganesh. was arrested. Both the girls were sent for medical examination and counselling. Other girls in the house were transferred to the Child Welfare department, who placed them in care facilities.
The video, which was shared on Twitter and went viral on social media, shows Shalini threatening to hit the girls with her chappals for the rangoli and diyas. Her two sons threatened the women with dire consequences and physical harm. (Image: DC)

HYDERABAD: The city police on Wednesday arrested Gona Shalini, her husband Gona Christopher and their sons Rajiv and Ajith, for allegedly threatening and abusing women, who lived in a neighbouring flat for lighting diyas and trying to decorate their house with rangoli on Diwali.

The video, which was shared on Twitter and went viral on social media, shows Shalini threatening to hit the girls with her chappals for the rangoli and diyas. Her two sons threatened the women with dire consequences and physical harm.

Protests rocked near the Chikkadpally police station, where several women protestors said that their religious sentiments were being hurt and their rights to celebrate Diwali were infringed upon. They demanded stringent action against the family.

The police said that a case was registered against the accused earlier, under sections 506 and 509 of the IPC. They were finally arrested on Wednesday. Based on the findings, further investigation will be taken up, they said. The police, however, said that there was no communal angle as it seemed a petty neighbourhood fight.

The protests continued till Wednesday afternoon and subsided only after police arrested the accused and assured a thorough investigation to get conviction of the accused.

Deccan Chronicle had on Tuesday reported about how the women were abused, harassed and threatened. Since Wednesday morning, several organisations staged protests near the Chikkadpally police station, demanding immediate arrest of the accused and also protection for the victimised women.

VHP activists, who also protested, while blaming delay in police action, said that they would fight against all those who trouble people for following festive rituals.

The incident, which took place on Monday night during Diwali, came to light after the victims took to Twitter to share their plight after they had lit diyas in front of their flat in Archana Apartments at RTC crossroads.

After the tweet went viral, people began demanding action against the intolerant family. Police reached out to the victims. Later, based on a complaint from them, a case was registered and investigations are underway.

After collecting evidence, including videos shot by the victim, the police, after arresting the accused, said so far, we have not found any evidence that there was any inter-faith provocation to the incident.
HYDERABAD: Many students of government schools are said to be struggling to cope with the introduction of English-medium education. These students, especially in higher classes, said they were not able to read, write or speak the language.

They said that the bilingual textbooks are not making a difference as they are unaware of the basics of English.

Some students of Class 8 that Deccan Chronicle spoke to said that they are unable to read Telugu in the first place, due to which the introduction of English and the bilingual textbooks was hardly making a difference.

Recently, an Intermediate student died by suicide over allegedly not being able to cope with the English language and others poking fun at him for that.

Most students said that being able to converse in Telugu and Hindi was sufficient.

A Class 5 student at a government school said that he did not like English as he could not understand it. Teachers teach the lessons quickly and I do not understand anything. During exams, I cheat and pass the English exam. Knowing Telugu and Hindi is enough, said Aditya, the student.

However, some students said that despite being interested in learning the language, there was a lack of support from other sections.

Pavitra, a Class 5 student of a government school, said, I do not understand what the teacher teaches. If she starts teaching a bit slower, maybe I can catch up. The teachers do not teach us the language regularly. It would be difficult to survive without knowing the language.

A volunteer at a government school said that teachers in government schools lacked empathy and that students lacked concentration. Teachers do not have the resources to teach, and they teach all subjects in Telugu. Teachers lack empathy. There are few students currently who can speak in English, the volunteer said.

Teachers and school heads cited an array of reasons for the lack of progress in teaching students English.

Most of the students do not understand English, so we teach in Telugu. They are paid least attention by their parents. Covid-19 had a major impact on the students education and we are trying to bridge that gap, which will take time, the headmaster of a government school said.

A teacher with a government school said, How can the government suddenly just conduct a few courses and expect all teachers to learn and teach the language? It is tough and will take time.
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the government to furnish records pertaining to the appointment of members of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) by November 14.

The court said it was surprised to know that a media reporter, a retired deputy tahsildar, a retired primary school teacher and a private ayurveda practitioner were appointed as members of the TSPSC. The court observed that the posts are to be filled with eminent persons with vast knowledge and analytical skills.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy was dealing with a PIL filed by retired professor A. Vinayak Reddy questioning the appointment of Ramavath Dhan Singh, Badi Linga Reddy, Sumithra Anand Tanoba, Dr Aravilli Chandra Sekhar Rao, R. Satyanarayana and Karam Ravinder Reddy as its members.

Sarasani Satyam Reddy, representing the petitioner, submitted that the government had appointed the members suiting its whims and fancies.

Advocate-General B.S. Prasad informed the court that the appointments were made by under Regulations 32a and 32b of TS Public Service Commission Regulations. The bench was not satisfied with the reply.

Chief Justice Bhuyan wondered why the counter filed by the government did not disclose the process of the selection. Astonished at the background of the members, the court directed the government to submit records pertaining to their appointments.
The magistrate is said to have denied grant of remand as police did not seize any cash from the scene of alleged offence which is considered to be an evidence while invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act.  Representational image/DC

Hyderabad: The case of alleged poaching of four TRS legislators took a curious turn on Thursday night with the ACB special court turning down the remand of the three accused due to lack of proper evidence. The accused  Ramachandra Bharathi, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy  walked free.

Though the accused were taken into custody on Wednesday, the Cyberabad police did not produce them before the magistrate during court hours and took them to his residence late at night. The magistrate is said to have denied grant of remand as police did not seize any cash from the scene of alleged offence which is considered to be an evidence while invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The court directed the police to follow the Supreme Court guidelines and issue notice under CrPC Section 41 before effecting the arrest. We released the three accused following the court directives, Rajendranagar assistant commissioner of police B. Gangadhar told Deccan Chronicle.

What is more curious is that the police informed the court that no cash was seized from the farmhouse. This was in sharp contrast to the claims of the TRS leaders and some vernacular TV channels that at least Rs 15 crore cash was seized from a vehicle in the farmhouse. The TRS leaders had claimed that the money was brought to pay as advance to the four legislators.

Apparently sensing the ground situation, TRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao had earlier issued a gag order on his partymen asking them to not speak on the case as investigation was in progress.

The court verified the remand report in which the police did not mention the recovery of cash from the accused. The court felt that the Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act was not applicable for accused in the case without any cash seizure.

Earlier, the police led by senior officials grilled the accused in connection with the alleged offer of Rs 100 crore to four TRS MLA, asking them to quit the party and contest on a BJP ticket. It was reported that the police officials had focused on the deal-making of the accused.
the commuters were still using vehicles with improper or no number plates to avoid traffic challans

Hyderabad: The Rachakonda Traffic Police has slapped a fine of `4.21 lakh on as many as 1,541 individuals in two days for driving without registration number plate and with broken or improper ones.

After realising that the commuters were still using vehicles with improper or no number plates to avoid traffic challans, the special drive was organised on Tuesday and Wednesday, said the Traffic DCP, D. Srinivas. Two vehicles were handed over to the RTA authorities. After a verification, the fines were imposed on violators. The vehicles will be released after registration number plates are fixed, the official said.
HYDERABAD: TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is all set to use the Munugode public meeting as a launch pad for his national party, the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samiti). Rao is expected to address a huge public meeting at Chandur in Munugode constituency on October 30 to campaign for the Munugode bypoll and arrangements are being made to moblise about one lakh people.

Party sources said Rao will give a call to the people of Munugode to elect the TRS candidate with a bumper majority and begin victory march of the BRS, the national version of the TRS, into national politics from Munugode.

After passing a resolution on October 5 renaming the TRS as the BRS, Rao is yet to give his speech in public and he wants to utilise the occasion on October 30 to take the BRS to the public.

Party sources said Rao strongly believes that the Election Commission of India (ECI) will accord approval for renaming TRS as BRS soon after the Munugode bypoll counting on November 6.

Party sources said Rao wants to stress upon the people of Munugode that they were the only one to get this opportunity among 119 Assembly constituencies in Telangana to bid adieu to the TRS and begin the journey of BRS. Rao also wants to explain to the people how the people of Hyderabad, Siddipet, Karimnagar and Warangal stood like a rock behind the TRS between 2001 and 2010, gave him strength to move ahead and achieve statehood for Telangana. Now, in a similar fashion, the people of Mungode have got a change to transform national politics for the better and make the BRS a strong alternative political force at the national level for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The Marxist party alleged that Khan was trying to implement the "BJP-RSS agenda" (PTI File photo)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress on Wednesday joined hands to criticise Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan for seeking "constitutionally appropriate" action against Finance Minister KN Balagopal over his recent speech, even as the latter expressed doubt whether the tussle between the Governor and the government was "fake".

The Marxist party alleged that Khan was trying to implement the "BJP-RSS agenda" and urged him to act in accordance with the Constitutional and legal norms while the Congress said his demand to withdraw the minister should be dismissed with "due contempt".

Khan has written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking action against Balagopal for making a speech "undermining unity", a demand turned down by the Chief Minister.

"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.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said as per the Constitutional provisions and Supreme Court verdicts in this regard, the "pleasure of the Governor" could not be personal and withdrawn as per individual choices.

There was no remark amounting to any personal insult in the recent speech by Balagopal as alleged by the Governor, he said extending complete support to the Finance Minister.

"The Chief Minister has already given a reply that the personal pleasure of the Governor is not required for a minister to be retained in the cabinet. The Chief Minister's decision is more important. The apex court, in its verdicts, has clearly defined what pleasure means," Govindan said.

The Left leader also criticised the Governor over his recent action of seeking resignation of the Vice Chancellors of the major universities of the state in the name of a Supreme Court verdict.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly VD Satheesan said in New Delhi that Khan's action would cause no administrative crisis in the state and the opposition would surely point out if the Governor exercises a power which he does not actually have.

Stepping up the attack, he said the Governor is not "the God who cannot be questioned" and it was the opposition who criticised him even before the ministers.

"Has any Governor ever demanded the withdrawal of a minister anywhere in the history of India? He can withdraw senate members of the universities if needed," he said.

Lashing out at the Left government also along with the Governor, Satheesan said the recent Supreme Court verdict regarding the appointment of Vice Chancellors was against both of them.

"The Supreme Court pointed out that all VC appointments, made jointly by the Governor and the Government in violation of the UGC norms, are illegal... So, a fake fight is now going on between the Governor and the Government to deceive the people in order to hide the verdict," the LoP added.

Kanam Rajendran, state secretary of CPI which is the second largest coalition partner in the ruling LDF, charged that the Governor was challenging not just democracy but even the Constitution itself.

"If there is a post office, anybody can send letters," he said mocking the Governor when asked about the letter he sent to the Chief Minister.

He also said the development was just "a storm in a teacup" and would not create any crisis in the state.

Finance Minister Balagopal refused to go into details of the controversy when the reporters sought his reaction.

He said the letter by the Governor and the reply by the Chief Minister were the communication between two heads of the state.

It was not appropriate for him to say anything into the merit of the subject as Vijayan had already given a reply, the minister added.

In his letter, the Governor did not explicitly seek 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.

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 Kerala University were "clearly aimed at tarnishing the image of the Governor and lowering the dignity of office of the Governor".

The Governor's letter 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".

Governor Khan 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.
Asserting that retrieving Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was on the agenda of the Modi government, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that India was committed to implementing the 1994 resolution passed in the Parliament.



The Parliament had unanimously adopted a resolution on February 22, 1994 declaring that Pakistan must vacate parts of Jammu and Kashmir under its illegal occupation.

India is committed to implement the resolution passed in the Parliament about retrieving Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan, including Gilgit and Baltistan, Rajnath asserted while addressing the Shaurya Diwas event - enactment of landing at Srinagar by Indian Air Force on this day in 1947.

October 27 is observed as Infantry Day (Shaurya Diwas) -- Budgam Landing Enactment on this day at Srinagar airport. The army on this day fought Pakistani invaders and pushed them back in 1947. The Budgam landings were the first military operations of Independent India, and Thursday marked the 75th anniversary of the key event.

The Defence Minister said India feels the pain of every citizen of PoK where torture and harassment are regular features. He also hit out at the so-called intellectuals, saying that they have always raised their voices against violation of human rights in action taken against terrorists by the Army or state security forces.

Where does the concern over human rights go when our forces are attacked by the same terrorists, or the general public is attacked and treated with ruthlessness? Singh asked.

He said the Pakistan government is sowing the seeds of hatred in PoK and time is not far when people will resort to mass rebellion there. People of PoK are being deprived of all basic rights and we are fully aware of it, the Defence Minister, who is on a three-day visit to the twin union territories of J&K and Ladakh, said.



He said in 1947, the Indian army gave a befitting reply to enemies who tried to play mischief by occupying Kashmir illegally. Infantry Day reminds us to renew our pledge to root out our enemies and protect the countrys sovereignty, Singh said and added that terrorism had no religion and the only aim of terrorists was to target India.

While claiming that Centres August 5, 2019 decision to revoke erstwhile states special status under Article 370 ended the discrimination against the people in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, Before August 5, 2019, Kashmiri society was divided into segments but now all sections of society are collectively marching towards success and prosperity.

Rajnath Singh has been the second top Union Minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir this month. Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on a three-day visit to the Union Territory from October 4.

Later in the day, the Defence Minister will reach Leh on a two-day visit to the UT of Ladakh.
SDLP East Derry MLA Cara Hunter has called for clarity from Infrastructure Minister John ODowd around delays to the A6 road project.

It was hoped the project would be completed this year, but it has been subjected to a number of delays.

Ms Hunter has requested a meeting with the Minister to discuss the status of the project.

Cara Hunter MLA

East Derry MLA Ms Hunter said: Everyone in this area knows how important the A6 road project is for the entire north west and until recently it appeared that the road would be finished on schedule this year, however recent delays blamed on the Covid-19 pandemic and 'market volatility' have caused concern around the progress being made.

My office has been inundated with queries from concerned constituents requesting further details around how the project is progressing and when it will be completed.

"The current diversions and 40mph speed limit on parts of the road are causing significant delays for both commuters and people living along this route, with Dungiven once again being subject to the congestion that was alleviated earlier this year.

I understand this project is a large undertaking, but the finish line is in sight and Im asking the Minister to provide clarity to people in this area.

"I think it would be useful to hold a public meeting or site visit so that people can hear for themselves whats going on and what steps need to be taken before the current issues are resolved.

"I am also requesting a meeting with the Minister alongside other SDLP representatives so that we can directly put to him the concerns that we have heard from our constituents.
Ballinascreen Historical Society will welcome Clive Scoular from Killyleagh, County Down, to their November event.

Clive is an enthusiastic and popular speaker with a passion for Irelands history and he has the ability to engage with an audience, large or small, on a wide range of subjects.

Since 1995 he has written 14 books and on his first visit to Draperstown his topic will be 'Education in Ireland'.

In 2007 the Society published a book on the schools of Ballinascreen and this was followed in 2020 by a book on Blackhill School.

It is hoped that this talk might inspire others to research the history of a local school and the Society would gladly accept any manuscript and consider it for publication.

This copiously illustrated talk, which will be peppered with humorous anecdotes, will be held in the Community Hub  beside Draperstown Library  on Tuesday, November 1 at 8pm.

It is an open event and everyone will be made most welcome. Theres an admission fee of 3 for non-members which includes light refreshments. Membership may be taken out, or renewed, on that evening.
Derry is to play host to family members of the 48 young people who lost their lives in the terrible fire in the Stardust nightclub in Artane in Dublin on Valentines night 1981.

As part of the visit, the Museum of Free Derry will screen the film The Stardust Story After the Headlines on Friday (October 28) at 3pm.

This will be followed by a question and answer session with a representative of the Stardust families and their legal team.

Speaking to Derry Now, Maeve McLaughlin, the director of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said there was an open invitation for anyone who wanted to come along.

Explaining the relationship between the Trust and the Stardust families, which goes back a number of years, Maeve said:

Knowing what happened all those years ago, I actually thought the issue had been resolved. However, through the work of the Derry Model, which dealt with justice and legacy, I started researching more about the tragedy.

We had the families up here on three different occasions and they have learned so much from the experience of Bloody Sunday. First of all it was very apparent there were 48 young people who died in the fire. So there was huge community and collective grief.

A young woman called Susan Morgan from Derry and two young men from Belfast died in the fire. If you could imagine, there were some of those families who lost two and three members of their family. That was then made even worse by the fact they tried to tarnish the community. If people remember the original media, photographs and images were about the doors being locked from the inside. There was nearly a suggestion people had done this themselves.

It was an example of a working class community, which had been given absolutely no support and was up against a system in Dublin that promised them inquest after inquest after inquest and they never got it.

So, their learning over the last couple of years coming here was first of all to examine who they were lobbying and how. The Bloody Sunday families went with them. They gathered 48,000 signatures and took it to the Attorney General in Dublin. The families from here went with them and the inquest was announced.

Maeve described the Stardust families as having been abandoned.

The only person that actually got any criminal charges against them was Christy Moore, believe it or not because he wrote the song They Never Came Home, said Maeve.

We started engaging with the Stardust families. They got the inquest announced and since then the inquest has not started. There have been legal battles and political battles over payment of juries, venue, all that. Here we are, a number of years on, and these families still dont have a start date.

It is very clear this is going to be the biggest inquest in the history of the State. It is going to have huge emotional trauma for those families. Some of those families were never able to identify their loved ones.

It also seems very similar in that when we look at cases of injustice here, the likes of the Ballymurphy families, for example, did all of the groundwork themselves. The Stardust families did that too. They went out and started knocking doors. They tracked down the person who made the original 999 call. They talked to the Fire Service.

They also disclosed that there were chemicals in the building upstairs. So, the notion that the fire started downstairs was disproved because a lot of the ceiling had come down on top of peoples arms and legs. The fire actually started upstairs, said Maeve.

According to Maeve, the Stardust families are going to go through awful trauma in the next few months.

She added: What we are trying to do is make the demand heard that there is a date set. Also, I think the system in Dublin has to prepare itself for the emotional trauma these families will go through.

For the Bloody Sunday families here there would have been counsellors on hand. There would have been counsellors on hand for the Ballymurphy families. That is new and alien for them. They need real practical support also.

Their grief is etched all over their faces. It is a similar story to experiences of Bloody Sunday in many ways because they were totally whitewashed, without getting any sense of justice. That grief can then impact on mental health, addiction, suicide, trauma, all that classic stuff, and to such a scale.

What we are hoping to do by bringing the Stardust families to Dublin is to get a direct update from them regarding the inquest. We have their legal team coming with them as well. We are hoping as well to get Seanadoir Lynn Boylan, who has been very much a voice and an advocate for them over the last, from the point of view of flushing out the political obstacles which might be still at play, said Maeve.

Over the weekend, the Stardust families will give the Bloody Sunday families and the wider community here an update.

According to Maeve, Derry will hear directly from the Stardust families about where their campaign is currently.

She said: I would suspect the Bloody Sunday families will travel to their inquest as well to support them as much as practically possible, certainly on the first day.

I would suspect the Ballymurphy families and even some of the McGurks Bar families might well want to do the same.

This is trauma, this is justice and legacy but there is also a sharing of practical information that can take place. I do remember John Kelly on their first visit saying to them, Who are you lobbying? And he said, There is a Presidential election on, go and talk to all of your candidates. And because these families are so immersed in their own grief, we know what happens. One or two people are carrying a huge campaign.

John gave them that advice and they did go out and they did lobby and they did get the signatures. We did walk with them and they did get the announcement of an inquest. They are not going away. They are a force to be reckoned with. They have met every obstacle full on, said Maeve.

Maeve was of the opinion the Stardust families had been denied the truth.

The truth that these were only young people going out for the night. It wasnt them that did anything wrong. Over the years they have talked to the Hillsborough families and Grenfell. They have shared information there.

I think that once these families get their truth and their justice on the public record, that one of the things that has to come out of that is the corporate responsibility to make sure these things dont happen.

If you look at it right up until Grenfell, it is working class communities not being afforded the same basic living standards as others and then being denied access to truth whenever trauma happens.

There is something there about how we make sure as communities and societies make sure these things dont ever happen again.
In April 2019, 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee was murdered on the streets of Derry.

Lyra was covering rioting in the Creggan area of the city when she was sadly shot dead.



Lyra was one of Northern Irelands most promising young journalists, and three years after her passing, a poignant film about the life of the trailblazing journalist is coming to theatres across Ireland.



The film also seeks answers to her senseless killing through Lyras own work and words. It is a complex picture of Northern Irelands political history, bringing into sharp focus the ways in which the 1998 Good Friday Agreement - with its promised end to violence for future generations - has struggled to be fully realised.



Three years in the making and made by Lyra's close friend and Bafta award-winning filmmaker, Alison Millar, the film is set to give the public an insight to the women behind the headlines.



Lyra was a true rising star. She was published internationally for Buzzfeed, Private Eye, The Atlantic and Mosaic Science.



At just sixteen years old, Lyra was named Sky News Young Journalist of the Year in 2006.



Forbes magazine had named her as one of their 30 under 30 in media in Europe in 2016.

Speaking to Derry News, Alison said she couldn't believe Lyra's talent at such a young age: "I knew Lyra from when she was 16," Alison said.

"We met on a project I was working on years ago. I thought she was on a school placement because she looked so young.



"I was busy asking her, "What school are you at? What A Levels are you doing?" and she said to me, "I've just won Sky's Young Journalist of the year. I said I was so sorry and we became friends and had lots of projects that we wanted to do together.



"Most of the films that I have worked on or made, Lyra would have been involved in some way. She was so talented."



Lyra, originally from Belfast, was determined to spark real change in her beloved hometown and beyond.

In an emotive letter she wrote to her 14 year old self, Lyra wrote: "It wont always be like this. Its going to get better."



A passionate gay rights advocate, Lyra continiously gave a voice to communities who had either been silenced or forgotten.



She tirelessly covered difficult issues specific to Northern Ireland, such as post-conflict suicide, equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community and unsolved crimes. This crucial work continued right up until her untimely death.



Lyra's death sent shockwaves throughout the world and united communities across the country.



A few weeks after her death, whilst Lyra's mum, sister, Nichola; and partner, Sara, continued their quest for justice, they approached Alison to make a film.



Alison was initially nervous to say yes. Alison had been at the family home whilst many visited and paid their respects as Lyra's mum did not leave her daughter's side. Alison found it extremely difficult, "All of that was hard," Alison explained.



"I was nervous to make a film about her; terrified I would get it wrong. Her family insisted it should be me and so here we are."



The film has since won awards after only a handful of previews. It was awarded The Cork Audience Award, The Tim Hetherington Award and Best Documentary at its Italian Premiere.



Alison continued: "We have had a great response. People were just in tears. It is sad because Lyra is no longer with us and it is wrong and it is awful. But the thing is as well, Lyra was really funny and uplifting and a real character.



"You can't help but laugh, she is so funny and brilliant. She was just so amazing."



Alison hopes that the film encourages young people to pursue journalism and hopes they are inspired by Lyra's work and not just the story around her death.



Alison found Lyra's old dictaphone and mobile so the film includes voice recordings and interviews from Lyra herself as she tells her own story.



"It is important young people head to the cinema and see this too," Alison said. "Lyra was 29. She really wanted to change things for the better and it would be great to have that sense that people are inspired by her and her work.



"Nobody wants to go backwards, everybody wants to go forwards. There can't be any more deaths, there have been too many in this country.



"We all love and miss her and wanted to do her story justice but we also wanted to capture the real Lyra.



"We wanted to capture her laugh; it made us laugh, it was sort of ridiculous," Alison joked.



"She always carried a small notebook and her dictaphone but in this enormous bag; you could have put a pile of spuds in it. It was an enormous satchel with very small things in it but she loved it. There are bits in the film that make us laugh because it is just so Lyra."



Alison says the film has already achieved a lot more than she could have ever hoped for and she is so thrilled that audiences all over Ireland will get to see the film.



Alison added: "It is amazing. There are screenings all over the country. Everyone has heard the horror but that is not what I want her to be remembered for.



"I am so excited that so many people will have the chance to meet Lyra."

LYRA is due to be screened in cinemas from November 4 at Derry's Omniplex on Strand Road and Brunswick Moviebowl.
Identical twin brothers who studied for the same Higher Education course, will be among almost 600 students who will officially graduate from North West Regional College this Friday (October 28).

21 year-old Shane and Brandon Furey both completed the HND in Performing Arts at the colleges Strand Road Campus. The brothers are currently on a gap year before deciding their next steps in the world of acting and performance.

The twins, who previously were students at St Josephs Boys School in Creggan, said they were inspired to pursue their dream of acting by former teacher Sean OKane who encouraged them to enrol at NWRC. Sean sadly passed away in January 2022 after battling illness.

Shane said: Sean OKane was the inspiration behind me coming to NWRC and Im now making the best of what I want to do because of him. I enjoyed my time at the college, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to work in this industry.

Brandon added that hed had a great experience at NWRC, learning alongside his twin. He said: Shane and I both took part in shows like Moulin Rouge and the college pantos. Being a twin in the same course can have ups and downs but it was a great experience as we share the same circle of friends. 

Almost 600 students will be acknowledged as Graduates from the Colleges Class of 2022 at the Higher Education and Access Graduation ceremony, which will be streamed live on YouTube, from the Millennium Forum on Friday October 28 at 12 p.m.

Honorary Awards will be presented to former NWRC student and BBC Journalist Sarah Brett, and Gavin Killeen, who will be recognised for his contribution to the economy and education. The event MC is BBC TV and Weather presenter Barra Best.

Fridays ceremony will also mark the opening of online applications for full and part time HE courses starting at the college from September 2023. For more information go to www.nwrc.ac.uk/higher- education

Principal and Chief Executive of NWRC, Leo Murphy said: The entire college community is looking forward to Fridays event when we will celebrate the achievements of our students.

"We are very proud of our Higher Education Curriculum at NWRC which we continue to expand, and we are delighted to be able to offer these university level courses at our three campuses giving people in the region the opportunity to study locally. My congratulations to all our students celebrating their graduation and our best wishes go with them for the future.

Graduates of Art & Design, Business, Computing, Construction, Engineering and Science, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, Early Years, Health & Social Care, Hospitality, Tourism, Sport, Media, Music, and Performing Arts will gather at the Millennium Forum with friends and family to mark the successful completion of courses undertaken at the Colleges Strand Road, Limavady and Strabane Campuses.

You can live stream the event from NWRCs youtube channel  search North West Regional College, from 12 p.m.
East Derry MLA Claire Sugden has told the NI Assembly that her constituents are coming to her in tears on a weekly basis due to the current cost of living.

Ms Sugden made the claim in an impassioned speech as the Assembly was recalled for a failed attempt to elect a Speaker and resume government.

The nomination of the SDLP's Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone and the UUP's Mike Nesbitt for the role failed to reach the required amount of cross-community support.

The failure resulted in the suspension of the plenary session, but before the vote, MLAs lined up to make their speeches to fellow members.

Claire Sugden dismissed the idea that the Assembly was 'not capable' of doing anything to help people struggling.

To those who say that this Assembly and this Executive is not capable of anything; yes we are, she said.

I can wholeheartedly say to you that every week in my office a constituent cries to me, because they can't get a house; they can't put food on their table and they can't heat their homes.

Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone was nominated for Speaker.

We are only going to see that get worse, and what can we do? It's more than money; we could insulate homes, give free school meals to every family in Northern Ireland to take that pressure off.

We could defer rates. There is so much that this Assembly could do, so please don't tell people on the doorsteps over the next number of weeks that we can do nothing.

Because if you are going to say that, then what's this place about? It's certainly not about the issues that you say.

During the early part of her speech, Ms Sugden indicated her opposition to the NI Protocol, but said she was saddened to see it become a 'green and orange issue'.

I will say that from the outset of the Protocol, I was quite prepared to see the opportunities that came with that, she said.

But within days  weeks - of the Protocol coming into effect, I can say wholeheartedly and genuinely that I was contacted by farms, businesses, by people who are going to be affected by it.

The issues most affected by the Protocol are coming from those businesses. If we pull the rug from beneath those we are pulling the rug from beneath our entire economy.

Mr Speaker, it does disappoint me that this has become a unionist-nationalist issue. I can assure you that my issues with the Protocol are not constitutional.

My issues are trade issues and the issues that are affecting my constituents. It saddens me that people are no longer coming forward because they see this as a green and orange issue.

We can't truly have a debate unless we outline the issues, and certainly I would appeal to all in this house to listen; stop talking, and listen. It needs to be fixed. It can be fixed and I truly believe it will be.

Claire Sugden MLA

Ms Sugden also appealed to the Minister for Infrastructure, Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, to adequately fund the community transport network.

This morning, I attended a community transport meeting. Community transport takes our elderly out of our homes where our public services have failed, she said.

I would appeal to the Minister of Infrastructure in his next few hours, if he could look at trying to fund that, because community transport is picking up the pieces of the community ambulance service  who can't bring people to hospital and they are waiting hours outside it.

Those are the issues that matter to people, and those are the issues that I hope the electorate will ask you about on the doorsteps, so please do what you can.

There is not much time left, but I would appeal to anyone to take responsibility for the power you hold, added the Independent MLA.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is determined to push ahead with calling an Assembly election if powersharing institutions are not restored by Friday, Stormont party leaders have been told.

Mr Heaton-Harris was holding discussions with Northern Irelands political leaders on Wednesday as a deadline for calling another election in the region approaches.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said he is ready to fight the new election while Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the priority should be the restoration of the executive.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said the election was the last thing people in Northern Ireland wanted, while Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said it would lead to further polarisation.

The Northern Ireland 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.

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 time frame to form an administration expires just after midnight on Friday.

If no ministerial executive is in place by then, the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call another election.

Sinn Fein vice president Ms 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 through the cost-of-living crisis, one thats going to fix and invest in our health service  thats where we need to be.

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.

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.

Speaking after his meetings with party leaders, Mr Heaton-Harris said: Since I have become Secretary of State, I have consistently been clear that if the executive is not formed by October 28, I will call an election.

Time is running out, and people in Northern Ireland deserve locally elected decision-makers and an executive who can respond to the issues facing people, families and communities across Northern Ireland during this challenging time.

We are clear that people deserve an accountable devolved government and that was my message to party leaders today.

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

Following her meeting with Mr Heaton-Harris, Alliance Party leader Mrs Long said: He is very clear at this stage in his view that an election must be called.

I dont think anyone in Northern Ireland would be angry or frustrated with him if he were to listen to their voices.

I think a lot of people see spending 6.2 million on an election at a time when we have our public finances in disarray, a cost-of-living and a cost-of-doing-business crisis, I think the last thing they want to see are politicians mugshots on lampposts.

Ulster Unionist leader Mr Beattie said: It is a bit of a mess, we have got a real problem.

Being thrust into an election at this time will just harden stances, it will stop negotiations on things like the protocol.

I just cannot understand why the Northern Ireland Office and the UK Government cant understand that Northern Ireland is in a nuanced position and they have to take nuanced decisions.

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 prerequisite before an executive can be appointed  but that bid is set to fail as the DUP will use its veto to block it.
Health workers from the Unison union in Northern Ireland are to be balloted on industrial action.

The union said the ballot has been prompted following a recommendation from a pay review body, which it said is insufficient to cover the needs of health workers.

Earlier this year, the independent review body recommended that health service staff in the UK should be awarded a pay increase of 1,400 for 2022/23.

But Northern Irelands Health Minister Robin Swann has previously warned that the pay increases cannot be implemented in the region without an agreed Stormont budget.

The union also said the Westminster Government has not made additional funds available to the health service in Northern Ireland.

Unison Northern Ireland regional secretary Patricia McKeown said: The Pay Review Body has made a recommendation that wont help our members pay their bills in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.

Thats why we have no alternative but to move to ballot our members for industrial action.

Not only is the recommendation of the Pay Review Body inadequate, but worse still Government at Westminster have made no money available to Ministers in Northern Ireland to fund a pay rise.

Unison is not prepared to have our members be abandoned when they have done so much over the last two and a half years in dealing with the pandemic.

In the face of a cost-of-living crisis, our members need a decent, fair pay rise.

The unions Northern Ireland head of Bargaining and Representation, Anne Speed, said: Porters, nurses, security guards, paramedics, cleaners, midwives, occupational therapists, social workers and other health and social care staff in Northern Ireland will be given the opportunity to vote for industrial action and action short of strike.

In August, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Northern Ireland announced that it was joining colleagues across the UK in balloting for strike action.

Nurses in the rest of the UK have never gone on strike before, but their counterparts in Northern Ireland took industrial action in 2019.

Mr Swann has previously stated that the level of funding required to meet pay demands of health workers would require the Westminster Government to make more available to administrations across the UK.

The health minister has said he does not currently have the money to implement the recommendations of the independent panel on health workers pay, never mind the additional uplift the unions are asking for.

Stormont is without an agreed budget for 2022/23 due the current powersharing impasse.
The Expanded TSMC Open Innovation Platform Drives New Ecosystem Collaboration to Enable Next-Generation HPC and Mobile Applications

HSINCHU, Taiwan-- October 26, 2022 --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.






EU50: Ireland and the Single Market takes place today

Press release

On 27 October 2022, the Government of Ireland will host a EU50: Ireland and the Single Market one-day conference. The EU50 Ireland and the Single Market conference is part of the Governments ongoing programme to mark 50 years of Irelands membership of the European Union, EU50.

The Taoiseach, Micheal Martin TD, will open the conference. Speakers will include Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Dara Calleary TD; Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union, Mairead McGuinness, French Minister for European Affairs, Laurence Boone. These speakers will also be joined by cross-section of stakeholders from Irish and European economic, academic and political spheres, including representatives of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, IBEC, ICTU, the National Competitiveness Council and industry.

The conference is an opportunity to reflect the multifaceted nature of the Single Market, its impact on the European Union and its impact on Ireland. It will explore current policy questions and priorities relating to the Single Market, including an overview of key policy priorities from an Irish as well as a European Commission perspective. It will hear also from both Irish businesses and multinational businesses in Ireland operating in the Single Market

Speaking ahead of the conference Taoiseach Micheal Martin, TD noted:

Over the last 50 years, both the Irish economy and society have been transformed through EU membership. The Single Market is one of the most tangible benefits of Irelands membership of the European Union, facilitating millions of euro of trade between Ireland and the EU every day and access to a marketplace of 450 million people

On the eve of 30 years since the establishment of the Single Market, todays conference, involving Irish and European voices, will consider how Ireland and the European Union can continue to innovate and grow into the next 50 years.

Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, TD said:

The Single Market can be seen as the catalyst that unleased Irish entrepreneurial creativity and talent, which has enabled us to develop into a competitive, innovative, open economy. As we look into the headwinds of interlocking crises and challenges, this conversation is a timely reminder that it is only through collaboration and openness that we can continue to thrive.

I am very pleased in particular to welcome my French colleague, Minister for European Affairs Laurence Boone, to Dublin to take part in todays discussion. France is one of Irelands most important trading partners in the Single Market.

Minister of State for Trade Promotion Dara Calleary, TD said:

Membership of the European Union has provided many opportunities and benefits for Ireland, and importantly, gives us access to the biggest free trade agreement in the world  which has been transformative for our economic development.

Access to the Single Market continues to transform the possibilities for Irish business. This conference will be an excellent opportunity to reflect on the benefits of access to the Single Market, to reflect on how Irish business can win in the Single Market and to debate what most urgently needs to be done to complete the Single Market both from an Irish and European Commission perspective.

ENDS

Press Office

27 October 2022

 Previous Item | Next Item 
San Francisco, Oct 27 (IANS) Meta has announced plans to launch another consumer-grade virtual reality headset next year.

At the company's earnings call late on Wednesday, Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that the new high-end VR headset delivers high-resolution mixed reality to blend virtual objects into the physical environment around the users.

"Our goal for the Quest Pro line over the next several years is to enable more and more people to get their work done in virtual and mixed reality even better than they could on PCs," said Zuckerberg.

"I think that our work is going to be of historic importance and create the foundation for an entirely new way that we will interact with each other and blend technology into our lives as well as the foundation for the long-term of our business," he added.

Zuckerberg believes that stronger prioritisation, discipline and efficiency will help to navigate the current environment and grow into an even better firm.

Recently, Zuckerberg in the presence of the company's chairman and CEO Satya Nadella, unveiled a VR headset Meta Quest Pro that was packed with features like full-colour mixed reality and was priced at $1,500.

"Meta Quest Pro was the first in a new line of advanced headsets built to expand the possibilities of virtual and mixed reality. Its pancake lenses folded light over several times, which reduces the size of the headset while showing sharper visuals," said Zuckerberg at Meta Connect' event late on Tuesday.

(Except for the headline and cover image, the rest of this IANS article is un-edited)

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in.
Subscriber content preview

DETROIT (AP)  Ford is pulling out of its investment in Argo AI, an autonomous vehicle company that it jointly owns mainly with Volkswagen.

The company said Wednesday in its third-quarter earnings materials that it is switching investment priorities from fully autonomous vehicles to advanced driver assist systems.





. . .
UWs first mass timber hall

By BOB VINCENT

Hoffman Construction

Vincent

Founders Hall, the first mass-timber building on the University of Washington campus, greatly enhances the capacity of the Michael G. Foster School of Business. Leveraging UWs progressive design-build delivery model, Hoffman and our design-build partner LMN delivered a learning facility that cultivates diverse student-facing programs to further the schools interactive culture of learning, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial initiative.

The success of Founders Hall was a direct result of a collaborative design-build process, our integrated teams joint response to challenging circumstances affecting the project, and perseverance through the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTEGRATED DESIGN-BUILD TEAM

Photo by Adam Hunter/LMN Architects [enlarge] After the mass timber trade partner went out of business, Hoffman was able to keep the project moving by leveraging its pool of 100-plus carpenters to take over installation of those components.





A successful design-build team begins with collaboration and finding partners with the right temperament, teamwork skills, and technical expertise. In collaboration with the Foster School of Business, Hoffman, LMN, and our design and trade partners took focused time during the early project definition phase to establish UWs expectations and measures of success for design-build team dynamics, and to clearly articulate the projects goals. These goals became touchpoints for design decisions and were revisited at the start of each design presentation and project management meeting.

Our early visioning exercises proved instrumental in achieving the project goals of significantly increasing building performance, and exceeded the clients sustainability goal of being one of the greenest buildings on the UW campus. The design provided a 22% reduction of energy use, a 58% reduction in embodied carbon, and zero fossil fuel use.

Working toward a more inclusive culture. To further the UWs efforts to become a more equitable organization, the design-build team continually strengthened stakeholder relationships based on shared goals and values around diversity, equity, access, and inclusion throughout the project. In consistently promoting a culture of respect, transparency, and accountability, we reached 28% Business Equity Enterprise participation and exceeded the universitys BEE goal by 8%.

Risk-reward partners. Hoffman and LMN signed the contract agreement at the outset to join as risk-reward partners, working together for mutual benefit and aligning the interests and goals of the university and all design-build partners. As the project gained momentum and team chemistry and dynamics took shape, the design-build team strategically engaged consultants and trade partners who embraced the risk-reward principle and strengthened the team by integrating their expertise in the development of Founders Hall.

Photo by Marissa Lordahl/Hoffman Construction [enlarge] Mass timber is on full display inside Founders Hall.





The design-build team included MKA, PAE, McKinstry, VECA Electric, Herzog Glass, Hoffman Structures Inc., Pellco Construction, Performance Contracting, and Steelkorr. Each partner shared the risk for the project and shared the collective goal of successfully delivering the completed project as it was envisioned for the client.

ADAPTING TO COVID

The emergence of COVID-19 presented the team, trade partners, and the UW with new challenges as many companies were forced to work in a remote environment for the first time. Collectively, our project team understood we had a responsibility to achieve the common goal of keeping the site safe. The design-build team had to effectively move the project forward in the virtual environment while maintaining a continuity of our established culture of respect, transparency, and accountability.

By taking specific actions to support a distributed workforce, the project maintained the trust, performance output, and engagement of the whole team. After establishing the revised reality as a group, leadership personnel upgraded communication tools and techniques to better inform virtual members. Weekly team meetings encouraged shared leadership among team members. With guidance from the university, alignment audits were performed to ensure all members were committed to the project values and goals. Each of these steps started with the realization that delivering the project and working as a team would be different with members dispersed.

Construction supply chain issues. The pandemic also caused product shortages, delayed deliveries, and halted production in 2020. Early in the project, prior to COVID-19, the design-build team had emphasized to our trade partners, subcontractors, and the client that procurement issues are a reality. Managing the pandemics disturbances required a re-emphasized, multi-pronged strategy, including identifying new supplier networks, reassessing existing distribution channels, and leveraging technology for accurate demand forecasting. We created a rigorous forecasting plan to give the entire project team visibility into the impacts of labor constraints, demand uncertainty, and supply shortages. To get materials on time, we made the decision to procure materials early and pay for storage, rather than risk potentially delaying the schedule. The project was delivered for start of fall quarter 2022 despite the challenges.

MASS TIMBER TRADE PARTNER BANKRUPTCY

Hoffmans self-perform capabilities allowed us to shield the university from significant loss and keep the project on track when our mass timber trade partner declared bankruptcy in the middle of the project. As the project was midway through mass timber installation, this was potentially a catastrophic hit to the project. Hoffman took immediate action, securing the already-fabricated columns and mass timber panels from the suppliers factory in eastern Washington in less than three weeks and beginning to source an alternate supplier for the remaining panels.

Leveraging relationships with every mass timber supplier in North America, Hoffman identified two suppliers that could produce the exact profile of the previously installed mass timber. Having installed wood up through the third floor of the building and setting the concrete elevation on the classroom side, the design and depth were solidified with no room for change or error.

While the new supplier fast-tracked production of the mass timber panels, collaboration with subcontractors redirected efforts to other vital areas of the project schedule to keep project momentum.

Hoffmans structural self-perform company, Hoffman Structures Inc. (HSI), was able to leverage its pool of 100-plus carpenters to take over the installation and keep the project moving forward. Hoffman also hired former employees of the supplier to ensure a smooth hand-off for installation. HSI was able to begin installing mass timber panels from the new supplier within just 11 weeks of learning of the suppliers bankruptcy.

By implementing UWs progressive design-build delivery model and working through the challenging circumstances of a trade partner bankruptcy, and navigating an unprecedented pandemic, the University of Washington, Hoffman, and LMN successfully envisioned and delivered an interactive learning environment focused on cultivating diverse student-facing programs specifically designed to support the schools entrepreneurial culture, strategic thinking, and active learning culture. Founders Hall will undoubtedly inspire future generations of business leaders for years to come.

In his 27 years at Hoffman, Bob Vincent has provided leadership on many of the firms most challenging and groundbreaking projects, including multiple projects at the University of Washington, the iconic Seattle Central Library, and the recent Century Project Space Needle renovation.





Other Stories:
Founders Hall  A model for the next century of campus building

The building incorporates a mass timber structure with CLT decking.



By ROBERT SMITH and KATE WESTBROOK

LMN Architects

Smith

Westbrook

The Foster School of Business at the University of Washington is one of the oldest and most prestigious business schools in the Pacific Northwest, with a history that dates back to 1917. Over the past two decades, the business school has partnered with LMN Architects to reimagine its campus, designing an interconnected set of spaces that both foster the growth of a social ecosystem within the school and support its unique pedagogical goals.

The newest addition to the Foster School of Business complex is Founders Hall, located in the historic heart of UW  Denny Yard. The building is the first UW campus building to fully utilize a mass timber structure, showcased in the central staircase that spans all five floors. The new Founders Hall, designed by LMN Architects, is a hub for entrepreneurship, innovation, and networking on campus and houses classrooms and student-serving program offices.

Photos copyright Tim Griffith [enlarge] Founders Hall underscores the beauty and economy of sustainable design and the highly social character of business in the new century.





Informed by post-occupancy studies of PACCAR and Dempsey halls (LMNs first two building designs for the campus development), the new Founders Hall prioritizes spaces that successfully translate into valuable learning, social, and networking connections for students, alumni, and the greater Foster School community. The building contains two tiered classrooms, designed to accommodate either 135-seat or 65-seat classes, that can support case study analysis and team-scale breakouts within the classroom.

In addition to two flexible tiered classrooms, the new building houses lounges and informal seating areas for students to study and socialize, along with dozens of team and conference-sized meeting rooms that model the types of settings and interactions the students will encounter in their professional life. Flexible program offices are located on each floor, opening directly to student-focused areas and encouraging interaction between business school faculty, staff and students. This ethos of connection is exemplified by the mass timber staircase that rises through the heart of the building, where students can stop for spontaneous interactions while looking back at the other pieces of the Foster School of Business complex through the five-story windows.

The use of mass timber has many advantages: it reduces the embodied carbon of the structure, obviates the need for added fire protection or applied finishes, and brings biophilic benefits such as stress reduction, improved cognitive performance, and enhanced moods. The building incorporates a mass timber structure with cross-laminated timber decking, reflecting the Foster Schools connection to the local wood products industry while reducing the buildings embodied carbon by almost 60%.

Reinforcing the Northwest character of the UW campus, the design team ensured that the adjacent grove of native Douglas fir and sequoia trees would not only be preserved but also integrated into the physical experience of the building. The peeled-away brick facade paired with carefully placed glazing reveals the timber inside the building while providing views of the historical Douglas firs, giving the higher floors of the building an immersive experience with the Northwest forest canopy of the campus.

[enlarge] Founders Hall is the first UW campus building to fully utilize a mass timber structure, showcased in the central staircase that spans all five floors.





Along with a focus on sustainability, the design of the building provides business students with the opportunity to connect with their peers, Foster School of Business alumni, and the greater business community. The classrooms, conference facilities, and recruiting spaces offer expanded opportunities to host events for community and corporate engagement. A rooftop terrace features impressive views of Denny Yard, the Quad, and Mount Rainier, providing a premiere backdrop for events.

The exposed timber in the interior of the building gives the space a warm and inviting ambiance, reinforcing the buildings purpose in forging new connections between students and beyond. Founders Hall quickly became one of the most in-demand spaces for work and study even before its official opening this month. Faculty and staff began using the buildings offices and meeting rooms as soon as the structure completed construction. While UWs expansive campus does not lack student study spaces, the warm timber interior, stunning campus views, and spacious social areas attract students from all over the university.

Founders Hall is designed for resiliency with efficient floorplans, flexible for reconfiguration, and use of durable materials. While engineered mass timber structures are gaining attention as an innovative, sustainable alternative to conventional concrete and steel structures, they harken back to the long history of heavy timber structures in the Pacific Northwest that give a sought-after character to many of Seattles most historic buildings. The naturally daylit and ventilated office areas can be easily reconfigured from open-office layouts to enclosed offices as needs change; multiple reception spaces on each floor also allow for changing department sizes over time. The two classrooms can host a range of classes from large lectures to smaller seminars, and can adapt to different pedagogical styles, including a range of active learning modes. The highly insulated envelope and all-electric mechanical systems are resilient for increasing temperatures and our global transition away from fossil fuels.

As the Foster School of Businesss needs evolve, Founders Hall will be able to accommodate those changes for generations to come.

Founders Hall is the latest addition to the Foster School of Business complex of buildings on campus, with the intention of being a center of business student activity and networking. The building underscores the beauty and economy of sustainable design and the highly social character of business in the new century.

Kate Westbrook creates publicly engaged and highly sustainable architecture, integrating emerging technology in design, fabrication, and analysis with attention to how environments influence the human experience. Robert Smith is passionate about higher-education projects, working closely with universities stakeholders to determine pre-design metrics for benchmarking, project visioning, programming, design, delivery, and three post-occupancy evaluation studies.





Other Stories:
Lee signs new Tacoma tenants

Named for the old Rhodes department store that once occupied the three buildings in downtown Tacoma, Tacoma Rhodes Center is gradually finding new tenants. Lee & Associates is brokering the space, and recently announced that Maxim Healthcare Services, Mindful Support Services, ES Technologies and CU Strategic Planning have signed for a combined 17,000 square feet. Harrison Laird and John Bauder led the leasing effort. The latter said in a statement, The landlord has done a great job of attracting tenants with high-end buildouts, flexible floor plans, and leasing incentives. An aggressive marketing program combined with the property's abundant parking, great accessibility, and recent improvements has led to outstanding recent leasing success. The complex sold to Portland investors two years ago. Lee has since signed eight tenants occupying 42,000 square feet. Besides the garage, two century-old office buildings offer some 180,000 square feet.




Kidder Mathews

Wallace

Monica Wallace joined the Bellevue office of Kidder Mathews last year. Now the firm has announced she's been promoted to executive vice president, and will oversee six offices in our state and Oregon. KM's Brian Hatcher said in a statement, Kidder Mathews is on a substantial growth path, and Monica has what it takes to help expand our brokerage division in the Pacific Northwest. Said the industry veteran Wallace, When you include the opportunity for brokers to become shareholders, it makes for compelling conversations with brokerage talent, and I look forward to helping grow our team.




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.
A joint authority arrangement for the governance of Northern Ireland is not being considered, the UK government has said.

The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) statement came on Thursday following speculation as the latest attempt to resurrect the Stormont Assembly failed.

Earlier this week, Irelands premier Micheal Martin said there cannot be direct rule from Westminster in the event of powersharing not being restored.

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.

On Thursday, Mr Martin said that Irelands consultative role on non-devolved matters will become bigger if the collapse of the institutions in Northern Ireland drags on.

He said: There is still time to get into the Assembly and restore the executive and we will keep ongoing contact with the British government.

At this stage we want the DUP to go back into the executive.

Sinn Fein president Mary-Lou McDonald has also said there can be no return to direct rule.

An NIO spokesperson said joint authority is not being considered.

The UK government is absolutely clear that the consent principle governs the constitutional position of Northern Ireland, they said.

We will not countenance any arrangements that are inconsistent with that principle.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said unionists will not accept joint authority.

I think the Irish government needs to hear this loud and clear, unionists will never accept joint authority, if joint authority is imposed upon us, the Good Friday Agreement is dishonoured completely and is not therefore a basis for us moving forward, he said.

If the Irish government thinks that by threatening me or my party with joint authority that that will help us get to a solution quickly, that it will move us forward on the basis of mutual respect and understanding then Im afraid the Irish government is deluded.

Unionists will not accept joint authority. Joint authority would be an abandonment of the Good Friday Agreement and if thats what the Irish government want to do, then let them be honest and say.
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.
The Irish premier said there is still time to avoid a fresh election in Northern Ireland.

Micheal Martin urged the DUP to go back into the Northern Ireland Executive as political parties in Northern Ireland met to make a final effort to restore the Assembly.

But the DUP confirmed it will not nominate ministers to the Stormont Executive, paving the way to a new round of elections.

Mr Martin said that Irelands consultative role on non-devolved matters will become bigger if the collapse of the institutions in Northern Ireland drags on.

There is still time to get into the Assembly and restore the executive and we will keep ongoing contact with the British Government, Mr Martin said on Thursday.

At this stage we want the DUP to go back into the executive.

Earlier, the Irish deputy premier said it is regrettable people in Northern Ireland could be facing another election, as the DUP continues its stance in refusing to re-enter government.

Leo Varadkar urged the DUP to get back into government as political parties in Northern Ireland make a final effort to restore the Assembly on Thursday.

MLAs returned to Stormont in a last attempt to restore the executive before fresh Assembly elections are called.

If no ministerial executive is in place on Friday, the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call another election.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has repeatedly warned that he will call a Stormont poll if Fridays deadline passes without a devolved executive being formed.

Mr Varadkar said that if an election goes ahead, it is impossible to predict its outcome.

As things look today, the results will be much the same as it was in the last election, with no clear majority for unionist combined or nationalist combined, Mr Varadkar said.

Probably Sinn Fein will be the largest party again. I think there will be a clear majority of MLAs who dont want the (Northern Ireland) Protocol scrapped, re-elected and that has to be taken into account.

But you can never predict for sure whats going to happen in any election. But I do regret that is happening. It is happening because one party has decided not to participate, and thats the DUP.

I think thats very much regrettable but if that happens, well deal with the situation as it develops.

He said that the parties in Northern Ireland, including the DUP, will get a mandate from the people in the region to sit in the Assembly.

People come out on election day and put a number or an X next to your name because they want you to be in government, they want you to make decisions, Mr Varadkar added.

I would like to hear the voice of the DUP in Northern Ireland government. But thats not possible at the moment and that goes to the other parties as well.

I think we would have been able to manage Brexit and what happened a lot better had the Northern Ireland Assembly and executive been up and running, it wasnt at the time, it isnt now.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said now is the time to look at ways of reforming the operations of the executive.

Ms Bacik said that the use of the veto has entrenched division in Northern Ireland politics.

The assembly has not had a functioning executive for four out of the last six years due to intransigence on the part of different parties, Ms Bacik told the Dail.

It must now be time to look at reform.

Since the changes resulted from the St Andrews Agreement, the largest party in either designated community can in effect use a veto against the formation of a powersharing executive.

The use of that veto has entrenched division, hollowed out the centre ground parties and resulted in more voters opting for unaligned alternatives, as we saw on the most recent Stormont election.

Yet the current structure takes no account of the rise of support for parties that do not designate as either unionist or nationalist.

So it appears to us its deeply damaging to efforts to normalise politics in the north, when either of the two largest parties can veto powersharing.

Ms Bacik said it was undemocratic to allow one party to take unilateral decision to veto powersharing and hold others to ransom.

Mr Varadkar said that the decision of the DUP to block the operation of the Northern Ireland Executive runs counter to democracy and risks undermining the fate of the people in the region.

The Tanaiste echoed comments by Taoiseach Micheal Martin who said there cannot be a return to direct rule from Westminster if powersharing is not restored.

He said that the Irish government will exhaust every possibility within the framework of the Good Friday Agreement if there is a sustained period of no executive.
China rejects Japan's so-called exclusive economic zone in waters east of Taiwan

Xinhua) 08:58, October 27, 2022

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.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
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Louth has been allocated 4.9 million in funding under the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme, announced today by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD.

A total of 180 million has been made available to support rural communities and enterprises nationwide under the programme, to support locally-led rural development and enterprise projects over the next five years.

The selection process will be conducted over two stages; the first stage is an Expression of Interest by eligible groups followed by a more detailed stage which will see them develop their LEADER strategies.

The Minister announced that interested parties will have until Friday 16th December 2022 to submit their Expression of Interest (Stage 1). All groups that are successful in Stage 1 will be provided with funding to assist with the costs associated with developing a Local Development Strategy in Stage 2 of the process.

The Minister also confirmed that the funding will be allocated to the Local Action Groups who are appointed to deliver the new programme. Interested parties can now apply by visiting the Departments website and downloading an application form here. Completed Expressions of Interest forms must be submitted by email only to leader2327@drcd.gov.ie no later than 5.30pm on Friday 16th December 2022.

Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said: The LEADER Programme has been integral to delivering locally-led projects that have brought major benefits to communities across Rural Ireland. LEADER operates on a ground-up approach and is all about empowering local communities to deliver projects that will revitalise our towns and villages.

"Today, Im pleased to set out the process for selecting groups to deliver the new LEADER programme. The process will be open, transparent and competitive and I am encouraging groups in the private and public sector to work together to achieve the best possible results.

Acknowledged the work of the Local Action Groups that have successfully delivered the current LEADER programme, the Minister stated: It is now important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver a LEADER programme that will build on the fantastic success of the programme over the last 30 years. By working together, we will ensure that LEADER continues to play a central role in supporting rural communities into the future.

News of the funding was welcomed by Louth based Senator Erin McGreehan. Encouraging groups from across Louth to apply, Senator McGreehan said, "I'm delighted to see this significant allocation of leader funding which will support local development and enterprise projects across the county over the next five years.

"Rural development and supporting rural enterprises is a core belief and value for myself and Fianna Fail. Funding streams like LEADER are imperative to supporting rural communities and enterprises across Louth and I would encourage all interested groups to apply. LEADER funding has been a very successful project for the county, and I look forward to working with local groups in their applications for this funding."
The Ireland Funds, the global philanthropic network, has opened applications for its Heart of the Community Fund 2022, which will provide funding in response to the needs of not-for-profit organisations across the island Ireland. The fund of at least 500,000 is open for applications from until 2 November. 10,000 in funding was awarded to Louth-based non-profit organisations by the fund in 2021

The initial Heart of the Community Fund which was launched in 2021, has provided support to Louth-based organisations including Abaile Autism Support CLG T/A Autism Support Louth & Meath and Drogheda ABACAS Special School for Children. Funding from The Ireland Funds has supported Abaile Autism Support in hosting the "Beat of your own Drum" programme, which provides an opportunity for youth club groups to engage in a safe, fun, interactive, sensory, joint, musical activity.

The Heart of the Community Fund 2022 will continue to respond to the sector by encouraging organisations to present their unique needs, be that operational or programmatic support. The Ireland Funds will also place a particular focus on supporting applications that focus on an organisation investing in its own sustainability. Awards will be offered in three tiers - 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000.

The Ireland Funds is strategically positioned within the non-profit sector and is able to swiftly identify and prioritise vital areas for the fund including food distribution; disability support; domestic and child abuse; elderly services; access to education; mental health and community support.

Siobhan Gallagher, Executive Director of The Ireland Funds, said: The Ireland Funds is proud to have supported Irelands non-profit sector, North and South, with funds of 414,000 through the Heart of the Community Fund to date. The generosity of The Ireland Funds donors highlights the network of people around the world that continue to support these extraordinary organisations across the island of Ireland, offering vital supports to those who need it most.

For more information on The Ireland Funds Heart of the Community Fund 2022, please visit - https://www.irelandfunds.org/ grants/
Local Enterprise Office Louth offers an expert team with supports, advice and training to people running a small business across the county.

Riona McCoy explains: Local Enterprise Offices are a one-stop shop for anyone in business.

"We provide training, mentoring, business advice and management development programmes.

"We want to hear from businesses. We want to know what you need and how we can support.

"Were here to walk every step of the journey with you, to signpost the supports available along the way.

In certain cases, the Local Enterprise Office can also provide grant aid for businesses with strong potential business to scale, create employment and export.

She continues: Sometimes business owners hesitate to get in touch because they feel they should be able to deal with things on their own. But thats actually the opposite.

"Whatever challenge you are going through in your business, chances are weve seen it before, and we have a way to help.

"We have connections in all types of sectors and all areas of expertise, and we can help you to progress much quicker than if you were to do it alone. Why try to work things out alone when you can learn from those whove been there before you?

One of our most popular supports is our weekly Business Advice Clinic.

"This offers business owners a one-to-one appointment with one of our Business Advisors.

"These free, online sessions are ideal for businesses at any stage, whether you have an idea you want to discuss or are looking for supports to grow your business.

"Our expert team can talk to you about your business and identify the supports that would be most beneficial to you.

Our website, localenterprise.ie/louth, is a great place to start.

"Youll find all of our training, mentoring and management development supports listed.

"Looking to improve your financial management skills? Weve got a support for that.

"Looking to make your business more sustainable? Weve got a support for that. Looking to improve your management skills and that of your team? Weve got a support for that.

"Looking to make your business more efficient and profitable? Well, weve also got a support for that too.



In conclusion, Riona explains The Local Enterprise Office is supported by Louth County Council and Enterprise Ireland. We are the state agency responsible for supporting small and medium enterprises to establish, grow and scale it is what were here for. No matter what youre going through chances are weve seen it before and we can help. So visit www.localenterprise.ie/louth or call 042 9335457 and talk to us today.
European Commission President visits Tirana-Durres railway rehabilitation works

EBRDs 36.9 million loan supplemented by 35.5 million EU grant

EBRD investment in Western Balkans rail to reach 1 billion by year end

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today visited construction works on Albanias Tirana-Durres railway, a project financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF). This project is part of the Mediterranean Corridor.

President von der Leyen was accompanied by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, EU Ambassador to Albania Christiane Hohmann and EBRD Head of Albania Ekaterina Solovova.

Later this week, a similar visit will take place to inaugurate work on the railway line in North Macedonia. The reconstructed rail links will eventually connect Albanias largest port of Durres in the Adriatic, via North Macedonia, with the Black Sea port of Varna in Bulgaria.

Including these two projects, the EBRD has committed 940 million to rail projects in the six Western Balkans countries to date and plans to invest nearly the same amount  another 840 million  in the medium term.

Ekaterina Solovova said: Improving connectivity in the country and within the region remains one of the EBRDs key priorities. In addition to the reconstruction of roads, we are keen to provide more support for railway investments in the region, because rail is a greener mode of transport. The EBRD is currently considering another major investment in the Albanian railway sector for the rehabilitation of the rail connection to the border with Montenegro, which will bring our total Western Balkans rail support to over 1 billion.

The first major overhaul of the Albanian railway is progressing, with construction work under way on the 34-kilometre Tirana-Durres section, after several decades of underinvestment.

The EBRD- and EU-supported investment will also include the construction of a new railway line connecting Tirana and Durres to Tirana International Airport. Work on both sections is being carried out by Italian company INC S.p.A.

The investment, worth a total of 92 million, is co-financed with a 36.9 million EBRD loan and a 35.5 million EU investment grant through the WBIF. The remainder of the funds have been secured by the government of Albania.

An additional 2.75 million in grants from bilateral donors have been secured through the WBIF.

The rehabilitation of the Tirana-Durres railway  part of which is dysfunctional  will allow for safer and faster rail travel; the current average speed is less than 60 km per hour. On the reconstructed line, the expected travel time will be 22 minutes, while getting from Tirana to the airport will take 12 minutes at a speed of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

To date, the EBRD has provided more than 307 million of financing and helped mobilise an additional 300 million of EU funding through the WBIF and the national Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) for the construction of road and railway projects in Albania
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.

Texas is often associated with fossil fuels, especially oil. But it turns out a greener kind of energy is saving the states customers a significant amount of money.

A new report from IdeaSmiths LLC found that wind and solar had generated as much as $106 billion in savings and benefits in Texas between 2010 and August 2022 and reduced costs by nearly $30 billion during that same time period.

With a coal or natural gas power plant, you have to both build a power plant and continuously buy fuel to burn in that power plant, and so theres higher ongoing costs, report author, University of Texas at Austin research scientist and IdeaSmiths executive Joshua Rhodes explained to The Dallas Morning News. Wind and solar generally produce very cheap electricity because they dont have fuel costs after youve built the plant theres no fuel costs associated with generating electricity.

The report looked at customers covered by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) service area and compared how the market would have looked if ERCOT hadnt installed any renewables between 2010 and 2022 with what happened because it did. It considered the difference through three metrics: energy savings, water costs and emissions.

Savings

Over the 12-year study period, renewables saved Texans $27.8 billion, or an average of nearly $200 million a month. Further, wholesale electricity prices were cut by an average of between $1.17 per megawatt-hour in 2012 and $20.60 per megawatt-hour in 2022.

Texans would have had to pay 27.8 billion more dollars over that period of time because eventually the customer always pays, Rhodes told The Dallas Morning News.

The savings were especially notable during the first eight months of 2022, a year that saw natural gas and coal prices reach a 10-year high and a hotter than usual summer increase demand, according to Utility Dive. Because renewables are in the mix, however, wholesale electricity costs were reduced by around $7.4 billion through August, or $925 million per month. Savings could reach $11 billion by the end of the year.

Water Use

One advantage of wind and solar energy is that they dont require water to work. This is important, as Texas has been in a drought since September of 2021, The Texas Tribune reported. As of August, approximately 27 percent of the state was under an exceptional drought, which is the most severe category used by the U.S. Drought Monitor, and about 62 percent was under an extreme drought, the second most serious category.

Because of renewables, the state was able to save 244 billion gallons of water between 2011 and August of 2022, the report found.

Emissions

Reducing emissions from coal and natural gas plants both decreases the states contribution to the climate crisis  which makes extreme weather events like heat waves and droughts more likely  and also has nearer term health benefits. Nitrogen dioxide spewed by fossil fuel plants can cause respiratory ailments while sulfur dioxide pollution leads to nose and throat problems, The Dallas Morning News explained.

One of the benefits of renewables is were not emitting as many pollutants into the air, so people are able to breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives, Rhodes told the paper.

Overall, the report found that savings from health and climate benefits were between $10.2 and $76.4 billion dollars.

Summing up all benefit streams, we estimate that, between 2010 and August 2022, renewables provided between $38.7B and $106B (about $48.2B using median values for water and emissions) in total benefits to Texas residents in the ERCOT service territory, Rhodes concluded in the report.

Renewables have been criticized in Texas because some argue that they are not as reliable since the wind and sun cannot be controlled, The Dallas Morning News reported. This was an issue the report did not address, though it makes clear that renewables can be a protection against the market volatility of fossil fuels.

Overall, Texas has the most wind installations of any state in the U.S. with a capacity of 30.46 gigawatts, Utility Dive reported. At 8.6 gigawatts, it is also the second state for solar power. The report suggests that its investment in renewables has paid off.

Texas needs to double down on these benefits, growing consumers savings by increasing solar and wind resources, Texas Consumer Association President Sandie Haverlah said in a statement reported by Utility Dive.




McDonald's on-farm visit aims to understand sustainability efforts in Australian beef production





McDonald's, one of the world's highest profile buyers of Australian beef, recently went on-farm in Central Queensland, Australia, to better understand the work being undertaken by producers to enhance the sustainability of their production systems.

McDonald's director of global supply chain for beef Andrew Brazier travelled to properties near Clarke Creek, Middlemount and Calliope as part of a special tour to engage with suppliers and industry.

The tour, which also included a group of more than 20 other local industry stakeholders, incorporated a visit to Australian Beef Sustainability Framework's Sustainability Steering Group member Melinee Leather's family property Barfield Station near Banana, south-west of Rockhampton.

Brazier said the experience was a valuable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how McDonald's can collaborate with industry to strive towards continual improvement.

"McDonald's has publicly facing goals to reduce impact and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including a climate commitment of being net zero across our supply chains by 2050 and maintaining forests, and we see cattle and beef being an important part of the solution," Brazier said. "We've not been in Australia for a little while, so it's been good to see the unique way we raise cattle here, using very different approaches suited to local production conditions, and to understand the progress being made.

"We are really encouraged by initiatives like the Australian Beef Sustainability Framework because it gives us a chance to see, transparently, what industry's focus areas are, what the metrics are around them and where there are opportunities to do better."

To reach its climate goal, McDonald's has adopted what Brazier called an "outcomes-based approach," including:

- Promoting management practices that optimise productivity like genetics and nutrition;

- Eliminating emissions due to beef-related deforestation;

- Supporting GHG emissions reduction through development and scaling of methane mitigating additives and other evolving technologies;

- Increasing carbon sequestration by promoting and scaling practices grounded in conservative grazing principles.

"Australia is a priority for us because it is such a critical sourcing region so, for example, it's important we can be here to verify beef is not coming from areas of deforestation," added Brazier. "We have these same requirements for our other supply chains like coffee, soy and fibre."

He said McDonald's invests directly to advance sustainable beef production, including more than $1 million to help fund a study by Meat & Livestock Australia and Queensland University of Technology to find out whether time-controlled grazing can increase the level of carbon stored in soil and therefore reduce GHG emissions.

"Sustainability for us is a journey of continual improvement where we're never going to get to the end destination, and nor should we, but we can always find ways to improve," Brazier said. "We're really invested in wanting to help farmers be resilient in all sorts of headwinds, because if we don't have a resilient and sustainable farming community, we don't have an original source of raw material for what we do, and that's not good for anybody."



- MLA




Dairy sector in Northern Ireland, UK, sees drop in carbon emissions

New figures published on October 26 showed a major decrease in carbon emissions stemming from Northern Ireland's dairy sector.

A carbon intensity indicators report by the Department of Agriculture found that total emissions intensity decreased from an average of 1,927 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilogramme of energy corrected milk in 1990 to 1,215 grams in 2020.

The report complements the emissions data provided by the historical greenhouse gas inventory and Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas projections. It will assist the local government in monitoring the efficiency of its carbon reduction policies.

The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) said the findings were "testament to the efforts of the Northern Ireland dairy sector in tackling climate change."

"It is a well-known fact that NI milk production has expanded since 1990, but the total number of dairy cows over this period has increased by only 13%," said UFU dairy chair Kenny Hawkes. "This means that the improvement in the carbon footprint has been driven by substantial increases in milk yield per cow."

He added that dairy producers were continuing to deliver on the climate change front, successfully working to reduce emissions on farm while producing food.

"This is positive news for the dairy industry which must be considered in the ongoing and intensifying debate on climate change," Hawkes said.

- Farming UK




Irish minister agrees to better environmental ambition to lower pollution risk from livestock

Ireland's Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has agreed to "improving" the level of environmental ambition to reduce the risk of harmful pollution, including from the livestock sector.

EU environment ministers recently held a policy debate on a proposal to revise the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), which would see more livestock farms being included within its scope. Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed to update the IED and include large cattle farms in addition to large pig and poultry enterprises which require a permit to operate.

Ryan told the council that the nature of the livestock regimes has to be taken into account, and that the characteristics of a farming system need to be considered.

"Yes, we have to measure and stop the water pollution, ammonia, nitrogen and other pollution including methane emissions, but there are different characteristics of that depending on the intensity not just the [livestock] numbers," he said.

While the debate showed broad recognition that these new elements contribute to reaching the European Green Deal goals on pollution, several member states expressed concerns about bringing small and medium-sized livestock farms under the scope of the IED.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevicius, however, said that livestock farms that would be affected are "not small", as the revised directive covers farms with, for example, over 500 pigs, 250 meat cows, or at least 21,400 broiler chickens.

Within the European Union, around 52,000 installations are regulated by the IED, of which about 39% are industrial farms, according to the EU Council.

Out of 1.5 million livestock farms operating in the EU, 184,000 farms would be affected under the proposal, according to the commissioner who added that farmers will have "a lot of time" to implement "best practices"  at the earliest in 2029.

The commissioner also said that this will allow time to adapt the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to support farms that will be affected by the wider scope of the directive.

To ease the administrative burden on livestock farms, a simplified regulatory approach is proposed that allows member states to opt for registration instead of permitting.

Discussing penalties and compensation rates for health damages due to pollution, Ryan emphasised the need for flexibility to allow member states to set the rate for penalties.

EU environment ministers were also told by Sinkevicius that proposed provisions on compensation remedies would implement the "polluter pays" principle, and that so far the directive did not provide for compensation.

Livestock rearing accounts for over half of EU methane emissions and two thirds of ammonia emissions, according to the commissioner.

Until now, the directive has covered less than 4% of pig and poultry farms with a limited contribution to curbing emissions, Sinkevicius said on behalf of the European Commission.

While he emphasised that all economic actors have to contribute now, Sinkevicius said livestock plays a key role in reducing ammonia emissions as 94% of these come from the agriculture sector.

Under the proposed changes, 13% of the European Union's largest pig, poultry and cattle farms would require permits, which the commission said are responsible for 60% of EU livestock emissions of ammonia and 43% of methane.

The official document from the European Commission outlining changes to the IED published earlier this year set a threshold of 150 livestock units (LUs) for a farm to require a permit.

The EU Council will now continue to examine the proposal at working level, and once a position has been agreed, it will start negotiations on the text with the European Parliament  which is also currently examining the proposal  and agree on a final text.

The final text will then be formally adopted by both institutions and enter into force and member states will have a certain time to bring into force the laws to implement the rules agreed.

However, the EU Council confirmed that it is difficult to estimate when the file will be ready for an agreement, and an implementation date has not been decided yet as this, it said, will take "many months".

- Agriland




Philippines' Department of Science and Technology funds mobile lab that provides animal health service

The Philippines' Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Business Innovation through S&T (BIST) Program have funded a mobile lab, known as the Mobile Laboratory Unit (MLU), that is equipped with state-of-the-art animal health diagnostic technologies.

It was designed and created by local veterinary research and diagnostics company BioAssets Corporation. The MLU will be donated to Central Mindanao University (CMU) in Maramag, Bukidnon on October 28 during a launch ceremony.

The mobile biocontainment laboratory, the first of its kind in the Philippines, will initially provide service for both hog and poultry breeders in Bukidnon. An estimate of five to 10 farms per day requiring diagnostic tests for livestock can be served by the MLU.

The test is equivalent to having 150  250 samples pooled and tested in one site. Its establishment will support rapid response to potential outbreaks and improve capacity building and disease surveillance that would enable farmers and veterinarians to craft mitigation strategies, preventive and control measures at the point of need.

The partnership between CMU and BioAssets Corporation and the creation of the MLU under the S4C- BIST Program are essential pieces in the establishment of national programme on disease surveillance. Such programme will help farmers by protecting their animals and the general public by establishing a preventive and control measures for potential zoonotic diseases.

In the province of Bukidnon, there are currently 16,007 backyard hog raisers and 71 commercial hog raisers across its 22 municipalities. In December 2021, a total of 251 poultry farms have been recorded to be in the province. With the significant number of hog and poultry raisers present in Bukidnon, it is necessary that the MLU be made available in the area to support disease diagnostics needs.

- BusinessMirror




New hatchery to boost chicken production in Limpopo, South Africa

The Northroost Hatchery in Makhado/Louis Trichardt, Limpopo province, South Africa, was officially opened on October 20, with this posited to be a boom for chicken production in Limpopo.

It is noted to be a modern, new facility, that can produce 208 000 quality day-old-chicks weekly.

Northroost is a joint venture between local Makhado entrepreneur Clive Tigere of KC Hatchery, Country Bird Holdings (CBH) and Bushvalley Chicken.

"This is a game changer for broiler farmers in Limpopo who have never before had access to such consistent volumes of high-quality day-old chicks, Tigere said. "The local economy will benefit, more jobs can be created and the informal market can grow."

"CBH supplies the fertilised Arbor Acre eggs; Clive oversees the hatching process and Bushvalley takes a significant percentage of the day-old chicks," said CBH's Brendon de Boer. "Clive qualified for an Industrial Development Corporation grant and we had started the application process over year ago, but government funding always take time and we didn't want to delay. So, between CBH and Bushvalley, we decided to find the bridge financing so that we could get going with construction."

Northroost's first batch of fertilised eggs were set on August 24 and hatched on September 14, setting in motion a cycle in which two batches a week are hatched, several days apart.

So far, Tigere has maintained a good hatch ratio of over 90%, and by the time of the official opening, the tally stood at over a million day-old-chicks that have been distributed into the Limpopo's broiler market.

The new hatchery was constructed with expansion in mind, and the infrastructure can be easily adapted in future to double its current capacity.

Quality hatchery equipment was imported, water reservoirs were built and generators installed to keep the systems running in the event of power outages.

For Tzaneen-based Bushvalley, the proximity to Northroost adds a factor of convenience and also enables them to provide daily administrative and other support to Tigere.

For Tigere and his local farmer clients, Northroost is said to represent a bright new future.

"Farmers from Limpopo can now raise high-quality chicks efficiently without the high transport costs that are generally incurred when bringing chicks in from hundreds of kilometers away," he said. "As their costs go down, they can become more competitive, grow their businesses and create more jobs, and we will see this positive response circling further and further.

"The informal poultry industry tends to fly under the radar, but it represents so much opportunity for growth and wealth creation in many areas of the country where there are few other job opportunities.

"I hope that our example can serve as a model that government could apply to make this happen for other entrepreneurs too, so that transformation can happen organically."

- Engineering News




Phasing out of net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia, Canada, may not happen for now

Salmon farmers in British Columbia, Canada, appear to no longer be facing the imminent end of net-pen farming in the entire region following several tours of the region by the country's Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO) Minister, Joyce Murray.

The tours were part of a long-term plan by the Canadian government and Murray to phase out salmon farming in the region. In late 2020, the Canadian government announced that some salmon farms in BC, specially located in the Discovery Islands, would be phased out in just 18 months, a decision that communities and salmon farmers in the region said they were "blindsided" by.

Since that original announcement, a Canadian court overturned the order to close all salmon farms in the Discovery Islands by June 30, 2022, and Canada's DFO announced the two-year renewal of licenses for marine finfish aquaculture in aquaculture facilities outside the Discovery Islands. The government has also kicked off a salmon net-pen transition process, as part of a mandate from Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's mandate to transition from open net pen salmon farming.

Now, it appears that phasing out all net-pen salmon farming by 2025 may be off the table. The Vancouver Sun reported that during tours of the region, Murray talked about progressively minimising interactions between farmed and wild fish, rather than removing all open-net pens by 2025.

Murray also said that the changes will not be sudden, in contrast to the previous announcements that salmon farming would be phased out quickly.

"I think there was some misunderstanding that there would be sort of a dramatic change in just a very, very short time," she said.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association said it was "heartening" to hear that Murray is willing to work with farmers during the transition framework.

"Salmon farming is continuously evolving, improving and innovating, which can come as a surprise to those outside of the farming community," BCSFA interim executive director Ruth Salmon said. "It was a pleasure to meet with the minister and her team to not only discuss these improvements but showcase them, as she visited several farm sites and a hatchery."

The BCSFA also said Murray's more flexible stance on salmon farming, compared to the previous hardline elimination of all salmon farming, is welcome.

- SeafoodSource




US university to mark construction of Feedlot Innovation Center in Nebraska, US



The University of NebraskaLincoln will officially mark the construction of the Feedlot Innovation Center at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center near Mead, Nebraska, the United States, during a groundbreaking ceremony on November 4.

In concurrence with the groundbreaking, Greater Omaha Packing Co., a supplier of premium beef, has announced a US$700,000 pledged gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the construction of the state-of-the-art facility. In recognition of its philanthropic support, the university will name the new center's animal handling and instructional classroom building for the company. The naming is pending approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

The center will provide new capacity to develop and evaluate emerging technology used in managing animals in feedlot settings. Featuring the latest innovations, a commercial-scale feedlot and an animal handling facility will be used in teaching, research and extension efforts by the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The project was approved by the Board of Regents on June 23. With an estimated cost of US$7.5 million, it is being funded through a combination of private giving, grants and IANR programme funds.

Henry Davis, chief executive officer of Greater Omaha Packing Co., said its support of the Feedlot Innovation Center symbolises the company's 100-plus-year commitment to the continuous improvement of the US cattle industry and the communities in which it operates. It also reflects the long-standing relationship between Greater Omaha Packing and the University of NebraskaLincoln.

"We all have a stake in the long-term success of the beef industry," Davis said. "In partnership with the University of Nebraska and other contributors, Greater Omaha Packing is confident that our support of the Feedlot Innovation Center will lead to groundbreaking research, technology and insights that will help advance the industry, strengthen and expand the entire supply chain and ultimately drive value back to family farms."

Mike Boehm, Harlan vice chancellor for IANR and University of Nebraska vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said the center will offer many opportunities for collaboration.

"The Feedlot Innovation Center presents an incredible opportunity to bring together industry partners, cattle producers and UNL researchers and students to advance sustainable beef production," Boehm said. "IANR has a long-standing and productive partnership with Greater Omaha Packing, and we are thrilled with their support of this project and that of others and look forward to continued collaboration."

Fundraising is ongoing for the project.

Pending approval by the NU Board of Regents, the center will be named the Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center in recognition of the Klostermans, who are longtime supporters of the university and its agriculture programmes.

The center will include a complex with cattle comfort and research buildings, a feed technology facility, innovative open lots and an animal handling facility that contains instructional classrooms. It will create real-world facilities to test new precision technology, solve environmental challenges facing the feeding industry and improve cattle performance and welfare while comparing different environments and housing systems.

The project will also allow for innovation in manure collection and management that will innovate both new and possible modifications for existing operations.

The center will allow students to gain hands-on experiences while being exposed to the newest research and technology and is a key component of the university's Beef Innovation hub, which aims to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement of beef production, economic vitality and natural resources stewardship through innovative research, education and extension.

- Nebraska Today
Free swimming initiative launched at Island swimming pools

The Northern Swimming Pool, Western Swimming Pool and Southern Swimming Pool have been awarded funding from Manx Lottery Trust, for them to offer free swimming to local residents this winter.

From 31st October 2022 until 31st March 2023, free swimming sessions will be available to all children and over 60s at the regional pools.

The grant of 2,337 to support the initiative came from the Trusts Community Warm Spaces Fund, which was recently launched to support local communities during the current cost of living crisis.

The free swimming initiative will also allow for an adult to swim for free with a child of Primary School age to ensure that cost is not limiting for those who may need to support any children under 8 who cannot swim unaccompanied, or children aged 8 to 11 who arent confident swimmers.

Juan McGuninness, Chairperson of the Northern Local Authorities Swimming Pool Board, said: Were thrilled to be launching this scheme thanks to the Manx Lottery Trust. We will be able to provide a warm space, a physical activity and use of hot showers at the regional pools at no cost to the public, which is so important in these uncertain times.

Sarah Kelly, Chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, added: Were pleased to support this initiative which will provide a lot of comfort to the community this winter. Not only will they be providing a warm space during the colder months, theyre also giving people of all ages the opportunity to improve their physical health.

The scheme is only available during term time and for the period 31 October  31 March. Normal admission charges apply to public swimming outside the timetable and during school holidays.
The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating whether Tesla has misled customers and investors by claiming that its Autopilot technology enables full-fledged self-driving capabilities. According to Reuters, the DOJ launched the probe last year following over a dozen crashes, including fatal ones, in which Autopilot was activated. Prosecutors in Washington and San Francisco are examining if Tesla had made unsupported full self-driving claims about the technology, and they could ultimately pursue criminal charges or seek sanctions. But they could also shut the probe down without doing anything if they determine that Tesla hasn't done anything wrong.

Back in August, reports came out that the California DMV had filed complaints against the automaker with the California Office of Administrative Hearings. The state's DMV had accused Tesla of using advertising language on its website for its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving products that aren't based on facts and made it seem like its vehicles are capable of fully driverless trips. One example is part of the Autopilot page on Tesla's website that says "All you will need to do is get in and tell your car where to go." In the same page, there's a video that starts with a note that reads "The person in the driver's seat is only there for legal reasons. He isn't doing anything. The car is driving itself."

But at the same time, Tesla explicitly states in its support page that "Autopilot, Enhanced Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability are intended for use with a fully attentive driver, who has their hands on the wheel." Those currently enabled features, the company added, "do not make the vehicle autonomous." Its sources told Reuters that Tesla's warnings that drivers should keep their hands on the wheel could complicate any case the DOJ may bring.

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Aside from the Justice Department, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is also looking into Tesla's Autopilot system. The agency initiated a probe in 2021 following the report of 11 crashes with parked first responder vehicles since 2018. Those crashes results in 17 injuries and one death. In June this year, the NHTSA upgraded the probe's status and expanded it to cover almost all Tesla vehicles sold since 2014.
The Federal Communications Commission is well aware of the potential damage from fake emergency alerts, and it's hoping to minimize the threat with policy changes. The agency has proposed rules that would require stricter security for the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts. Participants and telecoms would have to not only report EAS breaches within 72 hours, but provide yearly certifications that they both have "sufficient" safeguards and a risk management plan.

The proposed rules would also require phone carriers to send authentication data ensuring that only legitimate emergency alerts reach customer devices. The FCC is similarly looking for comments on the effectiveness of the current requirements for transmitting EAS notices, and suggestions for "alternative approaches" with improvements.

The proposal comes three years after University of Colorado researchers warned that it was easy to spoof FEMA's presidential alerts, with no way to verify the authenticity of the broadcasts. And while the 2018 Hawaii missile alert was the result of an error rather than a hack, it underscored the risks associated with false warnings. Even at small scales, a fake alert could reach tens of thousands of people, possibly leading to panic and reduced trust in real messages.

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It's not certain if the proposals are enough. The 72-hour window may help prevent some false alerts, but not all of them  that's plenty of time for a hacker to both breach an emergency system and send fake messages. It's likewise unclear if the FCC would update its security requirements to keep up with evolving threats. Even so, this shows that the Commission is at least aware of the dangers.
J.K. Rowling has been the subject of disapproval ever since she posted transphobic tweets.

Despite creating the popular "Harry Potter" series, Rowling lost most of her readers and fans after she degraded the members of the LGBTQ community with her tweets.

The franchise's cast members - including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson - called out the author. But actor Ralph Fiennes, who played the role of Lord Voldemort in four "Harry Potter" films, stood by Rowling and defended her.

In a new interview with The New York Times Magazine (via The Hollywood Reporter), Fiennes called out those people who threw "disgusting and appalling" verbal abuse toward Rowling. Although he clarified that he could understand the viewpoint of those who felt angry about what she said - and continuously says - about genders, he chose to defend her.

"[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," he said.



Fiennes' recent defense became an addition to the instances he already spoke up for the author. Amid the controversies Rowling is facing, the actor still praised her for creating the "Harry Potter" franchise, which gave young people a voice.

According to the actor, the books about empowerment have been helping children to become stronger and better as they learn more about themselves.

Rowling, despite receiving support from her colleagues and fans, lied low when she chose not to attend the HBO Max "Harry Potter" reunion, "Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts."

Instead of the issues, Rowling explained that she skipped it because she thought the event was about the films, and not the books.

What Did J.K. Rowling Say About LGBTQ Community?

In 2020, Rowling sparked fury when she "degraded" LGBTQ members and supporters for speaking about them.

READ ALSO: What Was Jules Bass' Cause of Death? Beloved Producer of Holiday Classic Flicks Dead at 87

For what it's worth, she asked her followers a rather sarcastic and rhetorical question about what people should call those who menstruate. She included a screenshot of the online op-ed article titled "Creating a More Equal Post-Covid-19 World for People Who Menstruate."

Aside from "Harry Potter" cast members and fans, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) also slammed her by retweeting a statement that says, "Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling."

READ MORE: Leslie Jordan Showed THIS Sign Before His Tragic Passing: Comedian's Death Expected?
More information concerning Leslie Jordan's death is being revealed.

It has now been revealed where he was travelling when he wrecked his BMW, after it was found that he was experiencing some pain in the weeks running up to his death.

TMZ reported that Leslie was going to do what he loved: perform and make people laugh in his final moments.

They reported that the actor-comedian died behind the wheel while driving to a shoot.

According to sources with knowledge of his demise, Leslie was supposed to film "Call Me Kat" on Monday morning. However, the show's staff got concerned when he did not come more than an hour after his call time.

Then, the production staff later panicked, trying to contact and look for Leslie, and it was later on that they all discovered he had been involved in a car accident.

Leslie Jordan was driving his BMW in Hollywood when detectives believe he had a medical emergency and smashed into a building side.

Insiders close to the actor revealed he complained of shortness of breath in the last three weeks and was so concerned about it that he scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist.

The appointment was scheduled for later this week.

Aside from that health condition, Leslie was allegedly in good health until she developed COVID in 2021.

While it's unknown if the checkup would have revealed any underlying health concerns for Leslie, detectives are leaning toward the assumption that he had a heart attack while driving to his destination.

READ ALSO: Kylie Jenner Desperate For Travis Scott To Do THIS Amid Cheating Rumors

Tributes Poured In For Leslie Jordan

Immediately upon his death, condolences flooded in for the 67-year-old veteran performer, including one from Dolly Parton, who stated that the phrase "they will be missed" "could not be more accurate."

"Leslie and I had a particular link, and I believe the rest of the world felt the same way about him."

Mayim Bialik, his "Call Me Kat" co-star, also paid homage to the actor, calling him as a "close mentor and valued friend."

She said, "I will miss him so much - it's unimaginable that he's gone. Rest well, sweet buddy."

The show's production has been paused in the aftermath of Leslie Jordan's death, and there is still no official cause of death.

READ MORE: Tom Brady Depends on Gisele Bundchen Way Too Much? Athlete 'Seems Lost' Amid Divorce Rumors
When Russian troops fled the Ukrainian town of Balakliia last month, they left behind thousands of documents that detail the inner workings of the Russian war machine.
First responders battled a massive structure fire that erupted at a commercial building in North Hollywood, California, on Wednesday.
During his visit to the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush in the Adriatic Sea, NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, says that the Russian President Vladimir Putin's nuclear rhetoric is "is dangerous and it is reckless and irresponsible."The Secretary General also addressed recent claims by Moscow that Ukraine is preparing to use a radiological dirty bomb on its own territory, emphasising that NATO Allies reject this transparently false allegation. He said that Russia must not use false pretexts for further escalation. He further condemned Irans military support to the Russian war effort, saying no country should be helping the aggressor in an illegal war, and welcomed the sanctions that Allies and the European Union are implementing on Tehran.
Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines will expand their partnership, with the two carriers to boost operations between Belgrade and Istanbul, Ankara and Belgrade, as well as launch scheduled services between Izmir and Belgrade. This coming winter season, Air Serbia will boost operations to Turkeys largest city, from the current ten weekly flights to seventeen weekly rotations, which will be complemented by Turkish Airlines triple daily service. The gradual increase in frequencies will commence on November 7. During the 2023 summer season, which begins on March 26 of next year, there will be a total of 42 weekly flights between the two cities by the two carriers, with Air Serbia maintaining 21 weekly operations and its Turkish counterpart the same number of weekly frequencies.





Focusing beyond Istanbul, Air Serbia will expand its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines regional brand AnadoluJet, with flights between Ankara and Belgrade set increase from two to three per week. In a statement, the Serbian carrier noted, Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines also plan to expand their partnership to include flights between Belgrade and Izmir, to further improve inter-connectivity between the two countries. During the winter season, apart from seventeen flights a week from Belgrade, Air Serbia will operate two flights a week both from Kraljevo-Morava and Nis to Turkeys largest city. Bookings on flights to Istanbul have been notably strong, which has increased prices. Passenger numbers between Belgrade and Istanbul grew by 43% during the first three quarters of the year, becoming one of Belgrades busiest routes.





Commenting on the Serbian carriers growing cooperation with Turkish Airlines, Air Serbia's CEO, Jiri Marek, told the Czech "Denik N" newspaper, When you can't beat someone, you better befriend them. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Turkish Airlines and we are studying whether we could also proceed with the set-up of a Joint Venture. Air Serbia and Turkish Airlines previously said the Joint Venture would enable the two companies to offer more competitive and more affordable flights between Turkey and Serbia, improve the quality of service currently offered, as well as expand the offer and benefits for all passengers.
The RSPCA has highlighted fears that animals will 'suffer' as 44 EU inherited welfare laws, such as a ban on battery hens, are 'threatened'.

This, along with a ban on livestock growth promoters, are amongst carried-over EU legislation that could be lost, the charity warned.

Around 80% of all major animal welfare laws were agreed when the UK was a member of the European Union.

The threat comes from the Retained EU law (Revocation & Reform) Bill - 'REUL' - which passed its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday (25 October).

The REUL Bill sets out a filtering process to ascertain if a retained EU law should be continued. A total of 2,417 laws need to be assessed by the end of 2023.

The concern is that many of them - including the 44 animal welfare laws - could automatically be lost as time runs out, as laws will be revoked by default at that stage unless Ministers move to save them.

RSPCA head of public affairs, David Bowles said the clock was starting to tick on animal welfare standards in the UK.

Hard-won laws that we take for granted now, such as the bans on battery hens, cosmetics testing on animals and growth promoters given to farm animals are now at risk and could be lost.

If inertia or a lack of commitment from the new administration results in the time running out before the filtering process of those 44 key pieces of animal welfare legislation can take place, those laws will automatically vanish into thin air."

Mr Bowles said that would be a 'tragedy', as it would be a 'huge backward step' for animal health and welfare.

We must not allow animal welfare standards to drop as a result of the UK governments determination to create a bonfire of EU laws," he added.

The RSPCA is calling on the new government to drop the Bill, or extend it to the 2026 deadline as the Bill allows.

The UK government should also clarify the filter process and confirm which animal welfare laws will be safe and which ones will be examined or deleted.

The filtering process to ascertain if a retained EU law should be maintained is unclear.

However, Defra, with responsibility for 570 laws - the largest number of EU retained laws and which contain the UKs high animal welfare and environmental standards - arguably has the hardest task.

Eighteen of the 44 pieces of legislation carried over which now require filtering relate to farm animals - the largest body of legislation - but others protect wild animals, animals in science and pets.
A move to reinstate the deadweight limit for boars has been postponed as some pig farmers continue to witness on-farm backlogs.

The deadweight upper limit of 105kg was removed under the British Meat Processors Associations (BMPA) Quality Pork Charter scheme during the pig backlog as weights soared.

It was due to be introduced last week, at a higher limit of 110kg.

But following talks between the National Pig Association (NPA), the BMPA and processors, the derogation has been extended for a few more months.

The decision is in response to concerns that some producers are still having issues with pig weights.

The average deadweight from the SPP sample remains above 90kg.

BMPA technical operations director David Lindars said: The processors were happy to extend the derogation for a few more months longer to help farmers, especially given that some are still having issues with backlogs.

"At the end of the day, we will always try and help people when they need it.

NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson welcomed the move, adding that it would give some producers breathing space and prevent unfair penalties being applied.
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Warrenton, VA (20186)

Today

Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 32F. Winds light and variable.
Bilateral trade between India and China trade in the first nine months this year was worth $103.63 billion, registering a 14.6 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. It crossed $100 billion for the second consecutive year. Indias trade deficit with China rose to over $75 billion during the period, according to Chinese customs statistics.

China's exports to India climbed to $89.66 billion during the perioda rise of 31 per cent, data released by Chinas General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed. Indias exports to China in the past nine months, however, stood at $13.97 billion, registering a decline of 36.4 per cent.

Last year, bilateral trade hit a record high of over $125 billion. China's exports to India in 2021 went up by 46.2 per cent to $97.52 billion, while the latters exports to the former grew by 34.2 per cent to $28.14 billion, a news agency reported.

Bilateral trade between India and China trade in the first nine months this year was worth $103.63 billion, registering a 14.6 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. It crossed $100 billion for the second consecutive year. India's trade deficit with China rose to over $75 billion during the period, according to Chinese customs statistics.

The trade deficit for India stood at USD 69.38 billion in 2021.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - SuperBuzz Inc. (TSXV: SPZ) ("SuperBuzz" or the "Company"), an artificial intelligence ("AI"), machine learning software-as-a-service-based MarTech solutions provider is pleased to announce the completion of a successful pilot integration with Keedoz.com ("Keedoz"). The integration with Keedoz proves the Company's ability to increase marketing return on investment without human intervention.

Pilot Design

During the pilot, Keedoz sent thousands of marketing campaigns across their network. "A portion of the marketing campaigns was created by a human and a portion by SuperBuzz's new AI-infused content creation product, DaiSY. After analyzing the data, it is clear that audiences could not differentiate between human-made campaigns and the one made by our machine-learning," says Liran Brenner, CEO of SuperBuzz.

Pilot Results

Compared to a human, SuperBuzz's platform increased marketing clickthrough rate by 3 times. Human campaigns have an average clickthrough rate of 5% while SuperBuzz campaigns generated an average clickthrough rate of 16%.

"We and our partners are extremely satisfied with the results. The test demonstrates Superbuzz's ability to help small and medium businesses scale their marketing campaigns without the need to hire costly marketing professionals", says Mr. Brenner.

With the successful pilot, SuperBuzz plans to roll out its platform to additional customers. Small and medium businesses, lacking the big marketing budgets of giant companies, will now be able to scale their marketing campaigns using AI and machine learning. "We believe every company deserves a chance to compete with the big corporations," says Mr. Brenner added.

About SuperBuzz's AI Platform

SuperBuzz's AI platform automatically produces marketing content and returns quality traffic to its customer websites. Machine learning analyzes website context and user behavior to create tailor-made marketing campaigns. Small and medium-sized businesses use SuperBuzz's AI platform to increase return on investment and eliminate the need for human intervention in marketing.

About SuperBuzz Inc.

SuperBuzz is one of the first AI companies to specialize in marketing technology. Marketers deserve a platform to streamline content creation and automate campaigns. SuperBuzz's AI technology generates eye-grabbing content in a few seconds. Using advanced natural language processing models, SuperBuzz creates engaging and intelligent content designed for scaling marketing campaigns. For more information about the Company, please visit www.superbuzz.io. SuperBuzz Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded company which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "SPZ".

Additional information in respect of the Company's business is available under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

For Additional Information, Contact:

Liran Brenner

Chief Executive Officer

Email: liran@superbuzz.io

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

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 business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing of, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the Company's future growth prospects; the development of the Company's business and future activities following the date hereof; expectations relating to market size and anticipated growth in the jurisdictions within which the Company may from time to time operate or contemplate future operations; expectations with respect to economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the industry generally; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's current and future operations; the market for the Company's current and proposed product offerings, as well as the Company's ability to capture market share; the distribution methods expected to be used by the Company to deliver its product offerings; the competitive landscape within which the Company operates and the Company's market share or reach; the performance of the Company's business and the operations and activities of the Company; the Company's ability to obtain, maintain, and renew or extend, applicable authorizations, including the timing and impact of the receipt thereof; the Company's artificial intelligence-focused marketing technology improving website performance without requiring external expertise or additional labor; SMBs and e-commerce websites, including Keedoz, can utilize the Company's platform to reduce their need for human intervention in marketing; the Company can help small businesses to cost-effectively grow their internet traffic and brand exposure with minimal effort; small business' costs for marketing expected to grow; the Company's platform enabling the generating of marketing content without the need for campaign managers; and the Company's technology automatically creating and fine-tuning marketing campaigns without coding.

Forward-looking information in this news release are based on certain assumptions and expected future events, namely: the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events; there will continue to be a demand, and market opportunity, for the Company's product offerings; current and future economic conditions will neither affect the business and operations of the Company nor the Company's ability to capitalize on anticipated business opportunities; current and future members of management will abide by the Company's business objectives and strategies from time to time established by the Company; the Company will retain and supplement its board of directors and management, or otherwise engage consultants and advisors having knowledge of the industries (or segments thereof) within which the Company may from time to time participate; the Company will have sufficient working capital and the ability to obtain the financing required in order to develop and continue its business and operations; the Company will continue to attract, develop, motivate and retain highly qualified and skilled consultants and/or employees, as the case may be; taxes and all other applicable matters in the jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business and any other jurisdiction in which the Company may conduct business in the future; the Company will be able to generate cash flow from operations, including, where applicable, distribution and sale of its products; the Company will be able to execute on its business strategy as anticipated; the Company will be able to meet the requirements necessary to obtain and/or maintain authorizations required to conduct the business; the Company's continuing ability to meet the requirements necessary to remain listed on the TSXV; general economic, financial, market, regulatory, and political conditions, including the impact of the COVID19 pandemic, will not negatively affect the Company or its business; the Company will be able to successfully compete in the industry; prices offered by competitors will not decline materially; the Company will be able to effectively manage anticipated and unanticipated costs; the Company will be able to conduct its operations in a safe, efficient and effective manner; general market conditions will be favourable with respect to the Company's future plans and goals; the Company's artificial intelligence-focused marketing technology having the ability to improve website performance without requiring external expertise or additional labor; SMBs and e-commerce websites' abilities to utilize the Company's platform to reduce their need for human intervention in marketing; the Company's ability to help small businesses to cost-effectively grow their internet traffic and brand exposure with minimal effort; small business' costs for marketing to grow; the Company's platform's ability to enable the generation of marketing content without the need for campaign managers; and the Company's technology and its ability to automatically creating and fine-tuning marketing campaigns without coding.

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 risks associated with the industry in general; the inability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals; the Company's inability to attract and retain qualified members of management to grow the Company's business and its operations; unanticipated changes in economic and market conditions (including changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic) or in applicable laws; the Company's inability to secure or maintain required authorizations necessary to conduct the business and operations and meet its targets; the Company's inability to effectively manage unanticipated costs and expenses, including costs and expenses; the risk's associated with the Company's in meeting its business objectives and milestones and the anticipated timing of, and costs in connection with, the execution or achievement of such objectives and milestones; the inability of the Company's to identify and secure future growth prospects; the Company's inability to develop its business and future activities following the date hereof; the Company's inability to meet or exceed expectations relating to market size and anticipated growth in the jurisdictions within which the Company may from time to time operate or contemplate future operations; the Company's inability to meet or exceed expectations with respect to economic, business, regulatory and/or competitive factors related to the Company or the industry generally; the Company's inability to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's current and future operations; the risks associated with the market for the Company's current and proposed product offerings, as well as the Company's inability to capture market share; the risks associated with the distribution methods expected to be used by the Company to deliver its product offerings; the risks associated with the competitive landscape within which the Company operates and the Company's market share or reach; the lack of performance of the Company's business and the operations and activities of the Company; the Company's inability to obtain, maintain, and renew or extend, applicable authorizations, including the timing and impact of the receipt thereof; the Company's artificial intelligence-focused marketing technology not having the ability to improve website performance without requiring external expertise or additional labor; SMBs and ecommerce websites' inabilities to utilize the Company's platform to reduce their need for human intervention in marketing; the Company's inability to help small businesses to cost-effectively grow their internet traffic and brand exposure with minimal effort; small business' costs for marketing do not grow; the Company's platform's inability to enable the generation of marketing content without the need for campaign managers; and the Company's technology and its inability to automatically creating and fine-tuning marketing campaigns without coding. 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/142084
Growth potential advances across all regions as exploration portfolio expands

At Brucejack, drilling continues to confirm the potential for resource growth at the Valley of the Kings (VOK) deposit and the surrounding area with further high grade intercepts returned from the 1080 HBx Zone and Golden Marmot, which are located outside the current Pretium published resource.

At 1080 HBx Zone, drilling has expanded the VOK deposit and confirmed the continuity of the higher grade mineralisation at depth and to the south, with 22 of 44 holes returning intervals in excess of 5 grams per tonne gold. Drilling continues to deliver narrow intervals of very high grade gold mineralisation within broader zones of stockwork and vein arrays. Mineralisation now extends over 75m of strike and remains open. Results include, VU-4546, 22m @ 178g/t Au from 2m, including 1.0m @ 3,876g/t Au from 2m. In addition, VU-4331 returned 70.1m @ 35g/t Au from 337.5m, including 1.0m @ 2,310g/t Au from 361.5m.

At Golden Marmot, located approximately 3.5 km north of the Valley of the Kings, assays were received for the first 19 holes drilled during the quarter. Holes were drilled to infill the main zone, with 7 of 19 holes returning intervals in excess of 5 grams per tonne gold with results including, SU-888, 46.5m @ 16g/t Au from 66m, including 1m @ 488g/t Au from 77.5m and including 1m @ 236g/t Au from 99.5m. In addition, SU-879 returned 91.5m @ 9.1g/t Au from 100.5m, including 1.5m @ 514g/t Au from 138m.

At Red Chris, ongoing drilling activities at East Ridge continue to confirm continuity and expand the footprint of higher grade mineralisation.

At East Ridge, drilling has expanded the vertical extent of the mineralisation within the Exploration Target area previously reported on 21 July 2022. RC820 returned 278m @ 0.74g/t Au & 0.44% Cu from 1,658m, including 66m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,870m and RC835 returned 284m @ 0.75g/t Au & 0.63% Cu from 1,295m, including 112m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,433m. Both holes have extended higher grade mineralisation by a further 100m at depth to more than 600m vertical and both holes remain open at depth.

At Havieron, growth drilling continues to identify and expand high grade extensions to the mineralisation in the Eastern Breccia, South East Crescent Zone and Northern Breccia with potential for further incremental resource growth.

In the Eastern Breccia extensions to the southeast of the current Mineral Resource are reported including HAD152W2, 120m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,724m including 20.3m @ 3.1g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,781.7m, HAD152W3, 64.5m @ 2.8g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,798m including 13.5m @ 9.8g/t Au & 0.89% Cu from 1,843.5m and HAD104W3, 62m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,566m including 26.7m @ 6.4g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,593m.

At the Northern Breccia a new zone of high grade sulphide mineralisation is being defined within the ~200m gap between the current Northern Breccia and Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource volumes. Results include HAD098W3, 15.4m @ 12 g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,379.6m and HAD098W5, 81.3m @ 3.2g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,357.2m including 53.3m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1,360.5m. Drilling is ongoing to define the extents of this higher grade zone of mineralisation which is open to the northwest.

At the South East Crescent, drilling continues to demonstrate incremental growth at depth outside of the current Mineral Resource. Results include HAD086W5, 39.9m @ 4.6g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,401.1m, including 20.6m @ 8.7g/t Au & 0.13% Cu from 1,403m, HAD086W6, 110m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,337m including 20.7m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,380.3m and HAD152W2, 20m @ 7.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,453m.

Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Newcrest (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, said, "Newcrest delivered another excellent quarter of exploration results with significant growth potential highlighted across our key targets at Brucejack, Red Chris and Havieron."

"At Brucejack we returned several high-grade intercepts during the quarter, supporting our views for significant resource growth potential. Golden Marmot remains open to the east, north, and south, with the target displaying many geological features of the nearby Valley of the Kings deposit."

"The results of our East Ridge discovery at Red Chris continue to expand the higher-grade footprint, and Havieron has continued to deliver encouraging results, demonstrating its potential for incremental growth outside of the current resource."

"We were also very pleased to expand our global exploration portfolio during the quarter with the addition of five new emerging projects in the highly prospective Great Basin Region in North America," said Mr Biswas.

Brucejack, British Columbia, Canada(1)

The Brucejack Property hosts the Valley of the Kings (VOK) high-grade gold deposit. The VOK is characterised by multiple occurrences of higher grade mineralisation over selected intervals hosted within broader zones of stockwork and vein arrays. Growth activities are focused on both resource expansion within the existing mine area, as well as brownfields exploration activities within 4km of the mine area. Both programs returned results of higher grade mineralisation during the period.

Resource expansion drilling during the quarter was focused on targets in the 1080 HBx Zone and Galena Hill. A total of 19,913m in 92 drill holes was completed using 3 underground drill rigs. Assay results were received for four drill fans in the 1080 HBx Zone. All other assays are pending.

Brownfields drilling during the quarter focused on targets in Gossan Hill South and Golden Marmot. A total of 23,731m in 55 drill holes was completed using 4 drill rigs on surface. During the quarter final assay results were received from the first 19 holes at Golden Marmot.

At 1080 HBx Zone, assays were received for 44 drill holes (four drill fans). All drill holes intersected gold mineralisation, with 22 of the 44 drill holes intersecting higher grade mineralisation, in excess of 5 grams per tonne. Drill holes at 1080 HBX are collared within the current Pretium published resource and are drilling in the resource for the initial 120 to 150 meters, depending on the orientation of the drill hole. The drill program was designed to follow up on the extensions of the high-grade gold mineralisation intersected in 1080 East drill program (previously reported).

Results have confirmed the continuity of higher grade gold mineralisation hosted in a zone oriented sub-parallel to Domain 20, which is currently being mined in the VOK. Drill fans were spaced at 15 meters horizontally in order to rapidly advance this new zone. Assays received to date cover an area of 75m x 300m x 250m. The 1080 HBX zone extends mineralisation an additional 150m south of the previous 1080 East drilling and gold mineralisation has now been intersected up to 225m south and 240m below the existing Mineral Resource estimate. Drilling is currently in progress to test the structure an additional 60 meters along strike to the west and an additional 15 meters along strike to the east.

Results for the reporting period include:

VU-4331 70.1m @ 35g/t Au from 337.5m including 1m @ 2,310g/t Au from 361.5m

VU-4340 25.63m @ 88g/t Au from 49.5m including 1m @ 2,100g/t Au from 50.5m

VU-4529 38.5m @ 36g/t Au from 118.5m including 1m @ 1,315g/t Au from 156m

VU-4546 22m @ 178g/t Au from 2m including 1m @ 3,876g/t Au from 2m



At Golden Marmot, assays were received for 19 drill holes. All drill holes intersected gold mineralisation, with 7 of the 19 drill holes intersecting higher grade gold mineralisation, in excess of 5 grams per tonne.

The focus for the 2022 drill program at Golden Marmot was to infill the main zone identified in 2021 and to step out from known mineralisation. Initial assays from the 2022 drill program have confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation over an area with dimensions of 100m wide, 200m long, and 300m high. The zone remains open to the east, north, south, and at depth. Mineralisation encountered at Golden Marmot displays many of the salient geological features that characterise hanging wall domains in the Valley of the Kings deposit immediately to the south. Future exploration drilling will focus on identifying controlling structures.

Results for the reporting period include:

SU-873 12m @ 9.9g/t Au from 154.5m and 1m @ 3,010g/t Au from 269.5m

SU-874 13.5m @ 25g/t Au from 148.5m including 1.5m @ 216g/t Au from 150m

SU-875 10.5m @ 32g/t Au from 183m including 1m @ 328g/t Au from 190m

SU-879 91.5m @ 9.1g/t Au from 100.5m including 1.5m @ 514g/t Au from 138m

SU-888 46.5m @ 16g/t Au from 66m including 1m @ 488g/t Au from 77.5m including 1m @ 236g/t Au from 99.5m and 12.5m @ 6.9g/t Au from 180m



Approximately 54,000m of resource expansion drilling and 35,000m of brownfield exploration drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity are planned during calendar year 2022 with three drill rigs operating underground and four drill rigs operating on surface.

Refer to Appendix 1 for additional information, and the Drill hole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 1. Plan view map of the Brucejack Property, spanning the 4km gossanous trend from Golden Marmot and Hanging Glacier in the northwest to Bridge Zone in the southeast.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_003full.jpg





Figure 2. Long section view (looking west) of the Brucejack Property. Refer to figure 1 for the location of the cross section. Viewing window is +/- 150 meters.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_004full.jpg

Red Chris, British Columbia, Canada(2)

Red Chris is a joint venture between Newcrest (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%) and is operated by Newcrest.

The Brownfield Exploration program is focused on the discovery of additional zones of higher-grade mineralisation within the Red Chris porphyry corridor, including targets outside of Newcrest's Mineral Resource estimate. During the period, there were up to seven diamond drill rigs in operation. A further 20,926m of drilling has been completed from 27 drill holes, with all drill holes intersecting mineralisation. This contributed to a total of 286,300m of drilling from 278 drill holes since Newcrest acquired its interest in the joint venture in August 2019.

At East Ridge, located adjacent to the East Zone, drilling is ongoing with 63 holes completed and 6 in progress. The follow up drilling is being completed on a nominal 100m x 100m grid to determine the footprint and characterise the mineralisation, and to demonstrate the continuity of the higher-grade mineralisation. Drilling to date has tested a corridor 900m long and to a vertical extent of 1,000m within which zones of higher grade mineralisation have been identified.

East Ridge is outside of Newcrest's Mineral Resource estimate. Diamond drilling continues to define the extent and continuity of this higher grade mineralisation. A further 25 diamond drill holes are planned, at a minimum, to test and close out the target mineralisation. This program is expected to be completed by the second quarter of calendar year 2023.

Results for the reporting period include:

RC808 222m @ 0.44g/t Au & 0.61% Cu from 818m including 46m @ 1.2g/t Au & 1.3% Cu from 936m including 28m @ 1.5g/t Au & 1.6% Cu from 936m

RC813 298m @ 0.26g/t Au & 0.31% Cu from 446m including 52m @ 0.51g/t Au & 0.75% Cu from 458m

RC819 334m @ 0.35g/t Au & 0.50% Cu from 1,276m including 56m @ 0.83g/t Au & 0.80% Cu from 1,552m including 22m @ 1.1g/t Au & 0.93% Cu from 1574m

RC820 312m @ 0.49g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,296m including 182m @ 0.64g/t Au & 0.64% Cu from 1,406m including 16m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 1,562m 278m @ 0.74g/t Au & 0.44% Cu from 1,658m including 66m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,870m including 22m @ 3.3g/t Au & 1.8% Cu from 1,882m

RC835 284m @ 0.75g/t Au & 0.63% Cu from 1,295m including 112m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,433m including 86m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 1,459m



Drilling continues to expand the vertical extent of the East Ridge mineralisation. The latest drilling results from holes RC819, RC820 and RC835 extend the higher grade mineralisation by a further 100m at depth to more than 600m vertical. All holes remain open at depth.

These results demonstrate further support of the upside range of the Exploration Target defined in the June 2022 Quarterly Exploration Report dated 21 July 2022. The Exploration Target potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.

Drilling within the Exploration Target area also continues to define the continuity of the higher grade mineralisation in hole RC808, located 100m above RC786 (previously reported).

The East Ridge mineralised corridor (>0.4g/t Au and >0.4% Cu) extends over 900m long, up to 1,000m high and 125m wide, with higher grade (>0.8g/t Au and >0.8% Cu) in several smaller pods over an area 500m high, 400m long and 100m wide.

Approximately 50,000m of growth-related drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity is planned for the first half of FY23 from eight drill rigs.

Refer to Appendix 2 for additional information, and the Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 3. Schematic plan view map of the Red Chris porphyry corridor spanning East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone showing significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report), 0.3g/t Au, 1g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_005full.jpg







Figure 4. Long section view (looking North West) of the Red Chris porphyry corridor showing drill hole locations, gold distribution and Exploration Target (previously released).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_006full.jpg

Havieron Project, Western Australia, Australia(3)

The Havieron Project is operated by Newcrest under a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Greatland Gold. Newcrest is the manager and holds a 70% interest in the Havieron Project (Greatland Gold holds a 30% interest). The JVA includes tolling principles reflecting the intention of the parties that, subject to a successful exploration program, Feasibility Study and a positive decision to mine, the resulting joint venture mineralised material will be processed at Telfer.

The Havieron Project is centred on a deep magnetic anomaly located 45km east of Telfer in the Paterson Province. The deposit is overlain by more than 420m of post mineral Permian cover. The Joint Venture commenced drilling during the June 2019 quarter and has completed 269,585m of drilling from 327 drill holes to date (excluding holes in progress, abandoned holes, or drill holes which have not been sampled).

Drilling activities in the quarter have produced a further 20,345m of drilling from 21 holes with up to 6 drill rigs operating during the quarter. New assay results are reported from 20 drill holes (7 were assays pending from previous quarter). Of the reported holes, 11 holes returned significant assay intercepts in excess of 50 gram metres gold (Au ppm x length m).

Growth drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity continues to show potential for resource additions outside of the existing Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource limits, including:

Extensions of the Eastern Breccia including definition of identified internal higher grade zones - assay results reported for 8 drill holes, 3 holes awaiting assays.

including definition of identified internal higher grade zones - assay results reported for 8 drill holes, 3 holes awaiting assays. Extensions to the Northern Breccia at depth between the current Northern Breccia Resource and Eastern Breccia Resource - assay results reported for 4 drill holes, 2 holes awaiting assays.

at depth between the current Northern Breccia Resource and Eastern Breccia Resource - assay results reported for 4 drill holes, 2 holes awaiting assays. Extension of the South East Crescent at depth below the current Mineral Resource - assay results reported for 5 drill holes.

at depth below the current Mineral Resource - assay results reported for 5 drill holes. Drilling is continuing to target geophysical targets outside of the main Havieron system - 3 drill holes results reported and 4 holes awaiting assays from step out drilling north and south of the Havieron system.

At the Eastern Breccia, assays for 8 holes targeting strike and depth extensions from previously reported drill holes have been received, with 3 holes awaiting assays. The Eastern Breccia is developed below the 4,100RL with a footprint of over 500m in strike, up to 200m in width, and over 250m in vertical extent. Within this zone multiple northwest trending internal higher-grade (>1 g/t Au) sulphide dominated domains are observed. The Eastern Breccia remains open at depth and to the northwest and southeast.

Results for the quarter further highlight geological continuity within the Eastern Breccia with results extending the high grade zones ~170m to the southeast of the current Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource. Drilling within the Eastern Breccia footprint is ongoing to confirm the continuity of internal higher grade sulphide zones.

Results include:

HAD104W3 62m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,566m. including 26.7m @ 6.4g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,593m.

HAD145AW5 168m @ 0.69g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,623m. including 11.3m @ 2.4g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 1,686m. 38m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 2,038m. including 23m @ 2.5g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 2,053m.

HAD152W2 120m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,724m. including 20.3m @ 3.1g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,781.7m.

HAD152W3 82m @ 2.7g/t Au & 0.21% Cu from 1,695m. 64.5m @ 2.8g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,798m. including 13.5m @ 9.8g/t Au & 0.89% Cu from 1,843.5m.



At the Northern Breccia a new zone of high grade sulphide mineralisation is being defined within the ~200m gap between the current Northern Breccia and Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource volumes. This new zone originally intercepted in HAD093^^, 76.7m @ 1.9 g/t Au & 0.07 % Cu from 1,306.13m including 18.2m @ 10 g/t Au & 0.17 % Cu from 1,347.8m and HAD101^^ 92.5 m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.06% Cu from 1,296m has now been defined over a NW trending strike length of 100m in HAD098W2, HAD098W3 and HAD098W5, and remains open to the northwest. Drilling is ongoing to define the extents of this higher grade zone of mineralisation with the potential to provide incremental resource growth.

Results include:

HAD098W2 27m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.19% Cu from 1,170m. including 12m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,178m. 39.3m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,335.7m. 20.7m @ 3.6 g/t Au & 0.43 % Cu from 1,387.3m.

HAD098W3 15.4m @ 12 g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,379.6m.

HAD098W5 106.2m @ 0.78g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,114.7m. 81.3m @ 3.2g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,357.2m. including 53.3m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1,360.5m.



South East Crescent growth drilling continued during the quarter targeting higher grade mineralisation at depth below the current Mineral Resource. Results were received from 5 drill holes indicating an extension of Crescent style mineralisation up to 100m to the northwest of the current Mineral Resource between 4,100mRL and 4,000mRL. Additionally, HAD153W2 extended Crescent style mineralisation ~100m to the west of the current South East Crescent Mineral Resource on the 3,900mRL.

Results include:

HAD086W5 39.9m @ 4.6g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,401.1m. including 20.6m @ 8.7g/t Au & 0.13% Cu from 1,403m. 41.9m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.11% Cu from 1,491.8m. including 16.1m @ 3.9g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,512m.

HAD086W6 110m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,337m. including 12.9m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,356.1m including 20.7m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,380.3m.

HAD152W2 20m @ 7.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,453m. including 16m @ 9.4g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,455m.

HAD153W2 21.5m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.22% Cu from 1,663.5m.



Testing for system depth extents, HAD156 successfully intersected mineralisation 450m below the current Mineral Resource extents on the 3,400mRL returning 30m @ 1.5g/t Au & 0.18% Cu from 2,079m. Further analysis is required to confirm if this intercept links up to the South East Crescent, or Eastern Breccia, or if it is a separate zone, but it demonstrates the Havieron mineralised system has the potential to extend over 1,450m from the base of the Permian cover sequence.

Drilling to test geophysical targets outside of the known Havieron mineralised system, including evaluating the Havieron dolerite at multiple intervals north and south of the Havieron mineralised envelope revealed no significant intercepts from three drill holes (HAD157, HAD158 and HAD160). Three additional holes are awaiting assays.

Ongoing drilling is planned for the Eastern Breccia, Northern Breccia and camp scale targets external to the Havieron mineralised footprint.

Refer to Appendix 3 for additional information and Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 5. 3D Plan view schematic showing the spatial association of the South East Crescent, Northern Breccia, North West Pod and Eastern Breccia in relation to the current exploration growth target areas and the Mineral Resource extents. Also highlighted are selected previously reported^^ and new intercepts >100 gram metres (Au ppm x length) that have been intersected outside of the Inferred Mineral Resource. Intercepts are projected to the 4600RL.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_007full.jpg





Figure 6. 3D oblique view of the Havieron system viewed from the south-east, showing the position of high-grade intercepts (previously^^ reported and new) and mineralised zones >100 gram metres (Au ppm x length) that have been intersected outside of the Mineral Resource extents. Further higher-grade mineralisation and assay results continue to support incremental expansion of the Northern Breccia and Southeast Crescent, as well as extensions to the Eastern Breccia (refer to Figure 5 for spacial relationship of drill holes and zones).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_008full.jpg





Figure 7. Plan view schematic of a horizontal slice at 3900mRL through the Crescent Sulphide Zone and Breccia-hosted Zones, showing the extents of the 0.5 and 1.0 g/t Au LeapfrogTM grade shells with highlighted newly reported intercepts for this period. This diagram highlights >50 gram metres intersections drilled during the period, refer to inset diagram for relationship to all Havieron drilling.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_009full.jpg

Wilki Project, Western Australia, Australia

The Wilki Project is an exploration farm-in and joint venture with Antipa Minerals Limited (Antipa). The project area covers a strategic landholding of ~2,200km2 surrounding the Telfer operation and is adjacent to the Havieron Project. Newcrest entered into this exploration farm-in and joint venture agreement with Antipa on 11 March 2020. Newcrest currently also has a 9.9% shareholding in Antipa.

As previously highlighted, Newcrest has elected to proceed to the next stage (Stage 1) of the farm-in agreement following completion of the initial exploration expenditure commitment (A$6 million). Newcrest has the potential to earn a 51% joint venture interest in the Wilki Project through expenditure of a further A$10 million by March 2025 during Stage 1. As of 1 July 2022, Newcrest is now the manager and operator of the Wilki Project.

Cultural clearance activities commenced over priority areas during the quarter allowing access for soil sampling and follow up drilling will be ready for execution on completion of access.

Juri Joint Venture, Western Australia, Australia

The Juri Joint Venture is a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Greatland Gold with respect to the Black Hills and Paterson Range East projects, located within the Paterson Province approximately 50km from the Telfer operation and in proximity to the Havieron Project. The joint venture covers an area of approximately 248km2. Newcrest currently has a 51% interest in the Juri Joint Venture. Under the terms of the agreement, Newcrest has the potential to earn an additional 24% joint venture interest through expenditure of a further A$17 million by October 2024.

Drilling was completed at the A9 target and the initial hole of a planned two hole program was completed at Tama. Assay results are currently pending. Further work will be focused on the A27 anomaly in Black Hills region.

Western USA

During the quarter Newcrest entered into agreements with two separate companies in the Great Basin Region in North America. The Great Basin is a prospective region for gold deposits of multiple types including epithermal deposits.

Newcrest entered into four separate definitive option and earn-in agreements with Headwater Gold Inc. (Headwater Gold) and purchased a 9.9% equity interest in the company. Newcrest has the option to acquire up to a 75% interest individually in each of Headwater Gold's Agate Point, Midas North and Spring Peak Projects in Nevada and the Mahogany Project in Oregon. At Spring Peak, preparation is underway for diamond and RC drilling in the December 2022 quarter to follow up on promising gold intercepts completed by Headwater Gold in late 2021. Target definition work is currently underway at Midas North.

Newcrest has also signed an option and earn-in agreement with Gunpoint Exploration Ltd. (Gunpoint) to acquire up to 75% of the Appaloosa property located in Nevada, USA (with an option to acquire the remaining 25% of Appaloosa post the earn-in period). Appaloosa is an underexplored mineralised structural zone situated within Gunpoint's Talapoosa gold-silver project. Newcrest is currently performing target definition work including mapping, geophysics and rock chip and channel sampling.

Central Andes, Northern Chile

During the September 2022 quarter, Newcrest provided notice to Mirasol Resources and Cornerstone Capital Resources to terminate the earn-in agreements at the Gorbea and Mioceno projects, respectively.

Northern Andes, Ecuador

Planning is in progress for the second phase of scout drilling at the Gamora Project, located in southeast Ecuador. This work is being conducted by Newcrest as the operator under an earn-in agreement with Lundin Gold Inc. (Lundin Gold) pursuant to which Newcrest can earn up to a 50% interest in eight exploration concessions. The concession area covers strategic landholdings to the north and south of Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte mining operation. The next phase of drilling at Gamora will focus on testing priority copper-gold porphyry targets starting in the December 2022 quarter.

Appendix 1

Brucejack (100% Newcrest): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling. HQ diameter diamond core was drilled on a 3m run. Whole core was sampled at 1.5m intervals except where visible gold was identified, in which case the sample length was shortened to 1.0 or 0.5m. Drilling techniques Core drilling was advanced with HQ diameter coring configuration.



Core from select inclined drill holes are oriented on 3m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 43,644m).



Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Brucejack Mine.



Digital data logging was captured, validated and stored in a GeoSpark database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to sampling the core. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.



Whole core HQ samples. Whole core samples were collected in plastic bags together with pre-numbered sample tags and grouped into shipping bins for dispatch to the laboratory by dedicated transport. Sample lengths were typically 1.5m, and weights typically varied from 11 to 15kg, with an average weight of approximately 12.5 Kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation.



All drill core samples were freighted by road to the laboratory via hired transport.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 accredited ALS Global preparation laboratories. Samples were dried at 600C, and crushed to 90% passing 2 mm, and split to obtain up to 1 kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM2) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 85% passing 75m.



Duplicate sample data are available from crush and pulp samples at a rate of approximately 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at ALS in North Vancouver. All samples were assayed for 33 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-OES determination (method ME-ICP61). Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with atomic absorption finish (method Au-AA26; with trigger to Au-Gra22 50g gravimetric overlimit method at 18 ppm).



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in the Geospark SQL database and verified as acceptable prior to formal use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality duplicates including replicates and preparation duplicates are captured in the Geospark SQL database and assessed.



Prepared pulp splits for mineralized samples were sent to MS Analytical Labs in Langley BC for secondary lab check work by comparable Au and ICP methods to ensure agreement with original results; check pulps were prepared for 20 samples, from 5 of the Golden Marmot holes, and overall a representative 5-7% of mineralized samples for VOK drilling was sent for secondary lab checks, including North Block Phase 4 and 1080 East level drilling. Comparisons are acceptable.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved. The database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.

The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core sampling. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled sample tags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure GeoSpark database with restricted access.



Sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the GeoSpark database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by review of visible gold identified in the drill core and review of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points All collar coordinates are provided in the North American Datum (NAD83 Zone 9N).



1080 HBx: Underground drill collar locations are marked up by the survey department with spray paint, and a back site and foresight are provided to enable alignment; Drills are then aligned by the drill contractor based on the markup and sights, and a TN-14 collar Gyro is used to confirm orientation prior to drilling.



Golden Marmot: Surface drill collar locations are marked with a stake, and a back site and fore site are provided to enable alignment. Collar locations are picked up using a Trimble 7-series differential GPS and a TN-14 collar Gyro is used to confirm orientation prior to drilling.



Topographic control is established from 2014 Lidar. Data spacing and distribution 1080 HBx: Drill hole spacing is 15m laterally. Assays have been received for six drill fans to date, which is insufficient for estimation of a Mineral Resource.



Golden Marmot: Drill hole spacing was at 30m horizontal spacing within an area of 0.75km2. The current drill hole spacing does not provide sufficient information for the estimation of a Mineral Resource.



No sample compositing is applied to samples. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drill holes at 1080 HBx are oriented towards 205 degrees in order to drill perpendicular to the broadly WNW-ESE oriented mineralization domains. Drilling at 1080 HBx intersected a mineralized structure oriented sub-parallel to Domain 20, hosted in the Eastern Promises Porphyry unit.



Drill holes at Golden Marmot are oriented towards either 145 degrees or 325 degrees in order to drill perpendicular to the mineralization domains which broadly strike towards 115 degrees. Sample security The security of samples is ensured by tracking samples from drill rig to database and by using trusted transportation services, and third party laboratories with security protocols.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Brucejack Core Facility. Geological and geotechnical logging, high resolution core photography and whole core sampling was undertaken at the Brucejack Core Facility.



Sample numbers are obtained from pre-made sample tag books, first ensuring no duplication of sample ID's in the database. Sample tags are inserted into labelled plastic bags together with the sample, and the bagged sample secured with a zip tie.



Samples were grouped in sequence into rice bags, then placed into dedicated sample shipment bins for transport offsite. Samples are transported by road to the preparation lab where transfer of custody occurs.

Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advice issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample shipments are recorded in a shipment tracking table and require offsite removal forms prior to leaving the Brucejack site. Shipping dates, Hole IDs, sample ranges, and special instructions are recorded with the dispatch of samples to the laboratory analytical services. Receiving laboratories have a workorder template of methods and duplicates by which to process the samples unless otherwise specified. Any discrepancies noted during sample login at the laboratory are communicated and addressed. Audits or reviews Due to the limited duration of the program, no external audits or reviews have been undertaken.



Internal verification and audit of Newcrest exploration procedures and databases are periodically undertaken.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Brucejack comprises 346 mineral tenures including four mining leases and is 100% owned by Newcrest Mining Limited.



All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Granduc, Esso, Newhawk, Lacana Mining Corp., and Silver Standard conducted exploration in the area between 1960 and 2010.



Pretium Resources acquired the Brucejack Property in 2010 and drilled the discovery hole at the Valley of the Kings in 2011. North Block and 1080 level were first drilled in 2020. Golden Marmot was previously drilled in 1988 and 2011. Geology The Brucejack Project is located in the Stikine terrane of north-western British Columbia, 50 km north of the town of Stewart. Early Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Lower Hazelton Group host mineralisation. A pervasive quartz-pyrite-sericite alteration event predates the main stage of epithermal mineralisation. Gold mineralisation at Brucejack consists of electrum hosted in vein stockworks, sheeted veins, and veinlets. Drill hole information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as length-weighted averages exceeding 0.6g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 7.5m of consecutive internal dilution. Also reported are intervals greater than 150g/t Au. Intervals below a cutoff of 1.0gt Au were not reported as significant results. No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the third release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since April 2022.



Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil. Further work Drilling is currently underway at 1080 HBx to complete the remaining 5 drill fans in the program. . Follow up drilling is also being planned for the Bridge Zone, Eastern Promises, and West VOK.

Drillhole data(1)

Brucejack, British Columbia, Canada

Reporting Criteria: Intervals are reported as length-weighted averages exceeding 0.6g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 7.5m of consecutive internal dilution. Also reported are intervals greater than 150g/t Au. Intervals below a cutoff of 1.0gt Au were not reported as significant results. Samples are from core drilling which is HQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being whole core sampled and sent for assay. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality.

Hole ID Hole

Type Easting

(m) Northing

(m) RL

(m) Total

Depth

(m) Azimuth Dip From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(ppm) Cut

off VU-4329 DD 426756 6257839 1087 444.4 205 -45 61.5 91.5 30 10 0.6















102 129 27 2.2 0.6















153 180 27 2.0 0.6















193.5 211.5 18 2.2 0.6















292.5 309.4 16.9 1.8 0.6















332 360 28 1.5 0.6 VU-4330 DD 426756 6257839 1088 372 205 -36.7 64.5 94.5 30 1.0 0.6















123 141 18 1.7 0.6















202.5 279 76.5 13 0.6













incl. 227.5 228.5 1 426 150













incl. 271.92 273 1.08 189 150















288 370.5 82.5 7.9 0.6













incl. 341 342 1 409 150 VU-4331 DD 426756 6257838 1088 407.6 205 -30.1 106.5 123 16.5 6.0 0.6















135 156 21 1.4 0.6















177 211.5 34.5 1.3 0.6















337.5 407.6 70.1 35 0.6













Incl. 361.5 362.5 1 2310 150 VU-4332 DD 426756 6257838 1088 365.8 205 -23.6 51 61.5 10.5 1.3 0.6















76.5 90 13.5 1.3 0.6















105 153 48 2.1 0.6















247.6 248.6 1 408 150















268.5 283.5 15 5.5 0.6 VU-4333 DD 426756 6257839 1088 282.2 205 -17.4 27 48 21 1.0 0.6















58.5 108 49.5 5.5 0.6















229.5 241.5 12 1.3 0.6 VU-4334 DD 426756 6257839 1089 267 205 -9.1 27 39 12 1.6 0.6















52.5 132 79.5 3.0 0.6 VU-4335 DD 426756 6257839 1089 234.1 205 0.2 46.5 94.5 48 1.7 0.6 VU-4336 DD 426756 6257839 1089 218.3 205 8.9 49.5 90 40.5 8.1 0.6













incl. 84 85.5 1.5 175 150















108 120 12 3.6 0.6 VU-4337 DD 426756 6257839 1090 200.8 205 17.9 24 105 81 2.2 0.6 VU-4338 DD 426756 6257839 1090 182.7 205 26.6 12 94.5 82.5 1.4 0.6 VU-4339 DD 426756 6257839 1091 125.5 205 33.6 11 24 13 150 0.6













incl. 12 13 1 1850 150 VU-4340 DD 426756 6257839 1091 110.8 205 40.5 49.5 75.13 25.63 88 0.6













Incl. 50.5 51.5 1 2100 150 VU-4405 DD 426810 6257848 1087 393.2 205 -37.3 179 286.5 107.5 3.6 0.6 VU-4406 DD 426810 6257848 1087 360.2 205 -30.2 22.5 37.5 15 1.6 0.6















98 109.5 11.5 16 0.6













Incl. 98 99 1 158 150















121.5 157.5 36 1.7 0.6















237 250.5 13.5 1.0 0.6















279 292.5 13.5 1.1 0.6















301.5 359 57.5 29 0.6













incl. 316.5 317.5 1 186 150













incl. 324 325 1 1414 150 VU-4407 DD 426810 6257848 1087 321.2 205 -23.8 26 27 1 152 150















58.5 84 25.5 1.6 0.6















108 142.5 34.5 7.4 0.6













incl. 140 141 1 235 150















206 207 1 480 150















291 304.5 13.5 2.4 0.6 VU-4408 DD 426810 6257848 1088 351.4 205 -17.2 9 30 21 1.6 0.6















43.5 63 19.5 1.2 0.6















220.5 234 13.5 1.2 0.6















316.5 351.4 34.9 3.1 0.6 VU-4409 DD 426810 6257848 1088 420.2 205 -9.2 7.5 31.5 24 21 0.6













incl. 16 17 1 408 150















55.7 56.7 1 1064 150















91.5 111 19.5 5.5 0.6















121.5 142.5 21 1.6 0.6















249 262.5 13.5 5.7 0.6















300 319.3 19.3 2.2 0.6















346.5 360 13.5 1.2 0.6 VU-4410 DD 426810 6257848 1088 336.3 205 -0.4 84 99 15 1.1 0.6















295.5 318 22.5 2.0 0.6 VU-4411 DD 426810 6257848 1088 300.4 205 8.1 31.5 78 46.5 3.4 0.6















216 226.5 10.5 1.6 0.6















261 283.5 22.5 1.2 0.6 VU-4412 DD 426810 6257848 1089 242.7 205 17.7 82.5 93 10.5 12 0.6















120 132 12 2.6 0.6 VU-4413 DD 426810 6257848 1089 221.8 205 25 4.5 21 16.5 13 0.6















39 70.5 31.5 2.5 0.6 VU-4414 DD 426810 6257848 1090 179.7 205 33.3 27 28 1 216 150















52.5 70.5 18 3.0 0.6 VU-4415 DD 426810 6257848 1090 137.7 205 39.9 5.5 6.5 1 1575 150















54 70.5 16.5 2.4 0.6 VU-4527 DD 426740 6257839 1088 447.1 205 -36.9 31.5 42 10.5 2.8 0.6















84 174 90 1.1 0.6















213 447.1 234.1 1.7 0.6 VU-4528 DD 426740 6257839 1088 429 205 -30.1 240 265.5 25.5 1.5 0.6















340.5 394.5 54 2.7 0.6 VU-4529 DD 426740 6257839 1088 441 205 -23.9 46.5 87 40.5 3.6 0.6















118.5 157 38.5 36 0.6













incl. 156 157 1 1315 150















370.5 406.5 36 2.2 0.6 VU-4530 DD 426740 6257839 1088 420 205 -17.5 48 145 97 1.9 0.6















230.5 231.5 1 1865 150















231.5 232.5 1 189 150 VU-4531 DD 426740 6257840 1089 410.6 205 -9.3 84 147 63 3.4 0.6















298.5 373.5 75 1.1 0.6 VU-4532 DD 426740 6257840 1089 413.7 205 0.5 16.5 121.5 105 2.0 0.6 VU-4533 DD 426740 6257840 1089 156.1 205 8.9 15 45 30 1.7 0.6















55.5 121.5 66 1.4 0.6 VU-4534 DD 426740 6257839 1090 212.9 205 17.8 63 112.5 49.5 6.5 0.6















147.36 158.06 10.7 58 0.6













Incl.. 147.36 148.36 1 611 150















198 212.9 14.9 1.5 0.6 VU-4535 DD 426740 6257839 1090 188.6 205 26.6 15 25.5 10.5 1.5 0.6















110 129 19.5 1.0 0.6 VU-4536 DD 426740 6257840 1091 161.7 205 33.3 103.5 123 19.5 1.1 0.6 VU-4537 DD 426740 6257839 1091 101.2 205 40.3 No significant results VU-4546 DD 426826 6257848 1087 243.2 205 -37 2 24 22 178 0.6













incl. 2 3 1 3876 150















62.2 63.2 1 187 150















118.5 138 19.5 2.0 0.6















165 222 57 1.1 0.6 VU-4547 DD 426826 6257848 1087 336.1 205 -29.6 78 106.5 28.5 1.9 0.6 VU-4548 DD 426826 6257848 1088 200.6 205 -22.9 175.5 186 10.5 2.0 0.6















199 200 1 157 150 VU-4549 DD 426826 6257848 1088 186.3 205 -14.5 92 111 19 1.5 0.6















156 184.5 28.5 1.9 0.6 VU-4550 DD 426826 6257848 1089 147.3 205 -7.9 0 1.5 1.5 451 150















84 99 15 15 0.6















130.5 145.5 15 6.6 0.6 VU-4551 DD 426826 6257848 1089 389.9 205 1.6 27 49.5 22.5 3.8 0.6















67.5 82.5 15 1.2 0.6 VU-4552 DD 426826 6257848 1090 300.4 205 11.9 No significant results VU-4553 DD 426826 6257848 1090 290.7 205 23 58.5 72 13.5 1.2 0.6















258 274.5 16.5 1.7 0.6 VU-4554 DD 426826 6257848 1091 101.7 205 34.1 60 70.5 10.5 5.0 0.6 VU-4555 DD 426826 6257848 1092 104.9 205 43.5 No significant results SU-872 DD 425479 6261832 1702 418.2 147 -49.8 No significant results SU-873 DD 425476 6261833 1702 433.5 149 -62.51 154.5 167 12.5 9.9 0.6















269.5 270.5 1 3010 150 SU-874 DD 425752 6261700 1770 191.7 325 -50.71 148.5 162 13.5 25 0.6













incl. 150 151.5 1.5 216 150 SU-875 DD 425752 6261700 1770 341.5 327 -73.89 183 193.5 10.5 32 0.6













incl. 190 191 1 328 150















202.5 216 13.5 1.5 0.6 SU-876 DD 425752 6261700 1770 369 352 -59.42 No significant results SU-877 DD 425752 6261700 1770 404 351 -75.76 195 207 12 1.8 0.6 SU-878 DD 425570 6261802 1716 361.3 146 -44.68 171 183 12 1.1 0.6 SU-879 DD 425570 6261802 1716 457.3 145 -52.05 100.5 192 91.5 9.1 0.6













incl. 138 139.5 1.5 514 150 SU-880 DD 425570 6261802 1716 376.3 146 -59.95 18 57 39 1.0 0.6















114.4 138 23.6 2.0 0.6















192 204 12 1.6 0.6















271 272 1 202 150















273.5 274.5 1 354 150 SU-881 DD 425570 6261864 1724 425.2 199 -45.3 97.5 109.5 12 1.2 0.6 SU-882 DD 425569 6261868 1723 379.9 200 -57.5 148.5 163.5 15 1.8 0.6















174.3 189 14.7 1.1 0.6 SU-883 DD 425757 6261639 1762 352.6 326 -75.7 92 93 1 275 150















313.5 331.5 18 4.0 0.6 SU-884 DD 425586 6261877 1721 364.8 146 -55.8 100.5 124.5 24 1.0 0.6















141 205.5 64.5 2.5 0.6 SU-885 DD 425828 6261612 1780 442.2 020 -50 Assays pending SU-886 DD 425528 6261807 1712 290.1 147 -44.4 40 93 53 2.0 0.6















126 166.33 40.33 2.6 0.6 SU-887 DD 425528 6261807 1710 438.1 148 -52.46 127 162.3 35.3 1.0 0.6 SU-888 DD 425528 6261807 1710 456.5 147 -59.96 66 112.5 46.5 16 0.6













incl. 77.5 78.5 1 488 150













incl. 99.5 100.5 1 236 150















180 192.5 12.5 6.9 0.6 SU-889 DD 425971 6261430 1764 394.5 22 -45.12 No significant results SU-890 DD 425628 6261869 1724 184.2 147 -44.99 84 163.5 79.5 1.1 0.6 SU-891 DD 425628 6261868 1723 280.5 146 -57.6 129 187.5 58.5 1.2 0.6















196.5 217.5 21 1.2 0.6















207.16 242.5 35.34 1.3 0.6 SU-892 DD 425628 6261869 1723 367.9 145 -70 Assays pending SU-893 DD 425542 6261893 1710 442.8 145 -45 Assays pending SU-894 DD 425542 6261892 1709 547.6 145 -55 Assays pending SU-895 DD 425448 6261452 1578 494 55 -45 Assays pending SU-896 DD 425447 6261451 1577 666 55 -60 Assays pending SU-897 DD 425754 6261643 1765 307.4 325 -65 Assays pending SU-898 DD 425611 6261796 1727 352.4 145 -45 Assays pending SU-899 DD 425611 6261796 1727 448.2 145 -52.5 Assays pending SU-900 DD 425611 6261796 1727 388.4 145 -60 Assays pending SU-901 DD 425972 6261430 1748 676.8 20 -75 Assays pending SU-902 DD 425569 6261695 1705 311.2 325 -55 Assays pending SU-903 DD 425570 6261694 1704 472.9 325 -65 Assays pending SU-904 DD 425828 6261614 1782 796.8 20 -65 Assays pending SU-905 DD 425356 6261511 1565 605.1 55 -45 Assays pending SU-906 DD 425289 6261556 1541 800.4 55 -60 Assays pending SU-907 DD 425697 6261727 1754 186.5 325 -50 Assays pending SU-908 DD 425698 6261726 1755 271.4 325 -80 Assays pending SU-909 DD 425447 6262038 1632 404.2 340 -50 Assays pending SU-910 DD 425453 6262036 1635 653.5 55 -50 Assays pending SU-911 DD 425450 6262038 1636 511.6 80 -50 Assays pending SU-912 DD 425321 6261829 1640 604.1 145 -50 Assays pending SU-913 DD 425223 6261823 1592 600.3 145 -50 Assays pending SU-914 DD 425419 6261916 1660 544.4 145 -50 Assays pending SU-915 DD 425419 6261917 1660 556.7 145 -60 Assays pending SU-916 DD 425462 6261903 1679 466.3 145 -45 Assays pending SU-917 DD 425462 6261905 1678 487.5 145 -52 Assays pending SU-918 DD 425462 6261905 1679 514.5 145 -60 Assays pending SU-919 DD 425502 6261902 1695 551 145 -57.5 Assays pending SU-920 DD 425062 6261988 1498 402.7 340 -50 Assays pending SU-921 DD 425487 6261961 1666 538.3 143 -51 Assays pending SU-922 DD 425486 6261961 1665 596.6 143 -58 Assays pending SU-923 DD 425718 6261800 1754 249 325 -50 Assays pending SU-924 DD 425514 6262026 1634 521 145 -60 Assays pending SU-925 DD 425532 6261958 1675 445.9 145 -45 Assays pending SU-926 DD 425533 6261957 1675 566.6 145 -60 Assays pending SU-927 DD 425853 6261724 1769 301.6 335 -50 Assays pending

# drilling in progress, **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept ^^previously reported intercept





Figure 8. Schematic plan view map of 1080 HBx showing the location of the four drill fans from this release, the previously released drill fans, and the additional planned drilling, relative to Domain 20 and Domain 13.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_010full.jpg





Figure 9. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_ELAT17_40 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 9, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_011full.jpg





Figure 10. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_ELAT17_39 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 10, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_012full.jpg





Figure 11. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_WLAT18_36 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 11, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_013full.jpg





Figure 12. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_WLAT18_35 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 12, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_014full.jpg





Figure 13. Schematic plan view map of the Golden Marmot drilling showing the location of the drill fans and previous drilling.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 13 please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_015full.jpg





Figure 14. Cross section for drill holes SU-872, SU-873, SU-902, SU-903, SU-914, SU-915 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 14, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_016full.jpg





Figure 15. Cross section for drill holes SU-886, SU-887, SU-888, SU-916, SU-917, SU-918 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 15, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_017full.jpg





Figure 16. Cross section for drill holes SU-878, SU-879, SU-880 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 16, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_018full.jpg





Figure 17. Cross section for drill hole SU-884 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-30m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 17, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_019full.jpg





Figure 18. Cross section for drill holes SU-883, SU-890, SU-891, SU-892, SU-897, SU-908, SU-924 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 18, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_020full.jpg





Figure 19. Cross section for drill holes SU-874, SU-875 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (060) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 19, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_021full.jpg





Figure 20. Cross section for drill holes SU-876, SU-877 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (090) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 20, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_022full.jpg





Figure 21. Cross section for drill holes SU-881, SU-882 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (090) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 21, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_023full.jpg

Appendix 2

Red Chris (70% Newcrest): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling. HQ and NQ diameter diamond core was drilled on a 3, 4.5m or 6m run. Core was cut using an automatic core-cutter and half core sampled at 2m intervals. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Core drilling was advanced with HQ3, HQ, NQ3 and NQ diameter coring configuration.



Core from inclined drill holes are oriented on 3, 4.5m or 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 20,925.8m in 27 holes - all holes intersected mineralisation, including orientation of key geological features).



Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Red Chris Mine.



Digital data logging was captured, validated and stored in an acQuire database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.



Core was cut and sampled at the Red Chris Mine core processing facility. Half core samples were collected in plastic bags together with pre-numbered sample tags and grouped in wood crates for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 5 to 10kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by road to the laboratory.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 accredited Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd Laboratory, Vancouver (Bureau Veritas). Samples were dried at 650C, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75 mm, and the split to obtain up to 1kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM2) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m.



Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation.



Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Bureau Veritas. All samples were assayed for 59 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method MA250). Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with ICP-ES finish (method FA350). Carbon and Sulphur were determined by Leco (method TC000) and mercury using aqua regia digestion followed by ICP-ES/MS determination (method AQ200).



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in the acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data.



Due to the limited extent of the drilling program to date, extended quality control programs are yet to be undertaken, whereby pulped samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.



The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled sample tags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access.



Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a RTK GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.025m.



Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner (Reflex TN14 GYROCOMPASS). Downhole survey was collected at 9 to 30m intervals of the drill hole using single shot survey (Reflex EZ-SHOT). At the end of hole, all holes have been surveyed using a continuous gyro survey to surface (Reflex EZ-GYRO).



Topographic control is established from PhotoSat topographic data and derived digital elevation model. The topography is generally low relief to flat, with an average elevation of 1500 m, with several deep creek gullies.



All collar coordinates are provided in the North American Datum (NAD83 Zone 9). Data spacing and distribution The drill hole spacing ranges from 100 - 200m in lateral extent within an area of 1.5km2 at the East Ridge, 1.5km2 at the East Zone, 1.5km2 at the Main Zone and 1.5km2 at the Gully Zone. An initial Mineral Resource for the East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone was released on 31 March 2021.



No sample compositing is applied to samples. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drilling of reported drill holes RC804W, RC805, RC805W2, RC807, RC808, RC809, RC811, RC813, RC814, RC815, RC816R, RC818, RC819, RC820, RC822, RC825, RC832, RC834, RC835, RC839 and RC844 are oriented perpendicular to the intrusive complex. The intrusive complex has an east-northeast orientation, with drilling established on a north-northwest orientation.



Drill holes exploring the extents of the East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone mineral system intersected moderately dipping volcanic and sedimentary units cut by sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Steeply dipping mineralised zones with an east-northeast orientation have been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Red Chris Mine core yard every shift. Geological and geotechnical logging, high resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Red Chris core processing facility.



Samples were freighted in sealed bags with security tags by road to the laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives.



Sample numbers are generated from pre-labelled sample tags. All samples are collected in pre-numbered plastic bags. Sample tags are inserted into prenumbered plastic bags together with the sample.



Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advice issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to the laboratory analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the laboratory analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Due to the limited duration of the program, no external audits or reviews have been undertaken.



Internal verification and audit of Newcrest exploration procedures and databases are periodically undertaken.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Red Chris (including the GJ Property) comprises 204 mineral claims including five mining leases and is a joint venture between subsidiaries of Newcrest Mining Limited (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%). Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited is the operator of Red Chris. In June 2022, Newcrest closed the acquisition of four early stage exploration properties from Hawkeye Gold & Diamond. The Todagin, McBride and Railway properties are expected to be added to the Red Chris Joint Venture.



Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited and the Tahltan Nation (as represented by the Tahltan Central Government, the Tahltan Band and Iskut First Nation) signed an amended and restated updated Impact, Benefit and Co-Management Agreement (IBCA) covering Red Chris on 15 August 2019.



All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Conwest Exploration Limited, Great Plains Development Co. of Canada, Silver Standard Mines Ltd, Texasgulf Canada Ltd. (formerly Ecstall Mining Limited), American Bullion Minerals Ltd and bcMetals Corporation conducted exploration in the areas between 1956 and 2006.



Imperial Metals Corporation acquired the project in 2007 and completed deeper drilling at the East and Main Zones between 2007 and 2012. Geology The Red Chris Project is located in the Stikine terrane of north-western British Columbia, 80 km south of the town of Dease Lake.



Late Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Stuhini Group host a series of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (204-198 Ma) diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes.



Gold and copper mineralisation at Red Chris consists of vein, disseminated and breccia sulphide typical of porphyry-style mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrite-chalcopyrite-bornite sulphide mineral assemblages as vein and breccia infill, and disseminations. The main mineralisation event is associated with biotite and potassium feldspar-magnetite wall rock alteration. Drill hole information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.1g/t Au greater than or equal to 20m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.5g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (C) length-weighted averages exceeding 1g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; (D) length-weighted averages exceeding 5g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (E) length-weighted averages exceeding 10g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution. No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the twentieth release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since January 2020.



Earlier reporting of exploration programs conducted by Newcrest and Imperial Metals Corporation have previously been reported. Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil. Further work Further drilling is planned to define the extents of the East Ridge, Main Zone and Gully Zone.

Drillhole data(1)

Red Chris Project, British Columbia, Canada

Reporting Criteria: Intercepts reported are downhole drill width (not true width) Au >0.1ppm (0.1g/t Au) and minimum 20m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Also highlighted are high grade intervals of Au >0.5ppm (0.5g/t Au), Au >1ppm (1g/t Au), Au > 5ppm (5g/t Au), Au >10ppm (10g/t Au) and minimum 10m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Gold and copper grades are reported to two significant figures. Samples are from core drilling which is HQ or NQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being cut. Half core HQ and NQ samples are prepared for assay and the remaining material is retained in the core farm for future reference. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality. Total depth (end of hole) is rounded to one decimal place for reporting purposes.

Hole ID Hole

Type Easting

(m) Northing

(m) RL

(m) Total

Depth

(m) Azimuth Dip From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(ppm) Cu

(pct) Cut

off RC804W DD 453877 6396985 1342 1684.2 147 -57 1458 1534 76 0.12 0.35 0.1















1554 1618 64 0.12 0.34 0.1 RC805 DD 453731 6396989 1364 1133.5 144 -58 1056 1082 26 0.13 0.04 0.1 RC805W2 DD 453731 6396989 1364 1330.1 144 -58 1276 1330.1 54.1 0.14 0.51 0.1 RC807 DD 453758 6396761 1375 1619.4 148 -58 918 1050 132 0.35 0.40 0.1













incl. 990 1032 42 0.61 0.54 0.5















1088 1430 342 0.27 0.42 0.1













incl. 1258 1298 40 1.0 0.88 0.5















1442 1528 86 0.12 0.20 0.1 RC808 DD 453753 6396582 1394 1442.0 148 -55 24 44 20 0.20 0.00 0.1















736 758 22 0.16 0.45 0.1















774 800 26 0.10 0.29 0.1















818 1040 222 0.44 0.61 0.1













incl. 888 922 34 0.52 0.81 0.5













incl. 936 982 46 1.2 1.3 0.5













incl. 936 964 28 1.5 1.6 1 RC809 DD 453826 6396816 1352 1812.2 146 -56 910 1050 140 0.22 0.42 0.1













incl. 1020 1038 18 0.52 0.93 0.5















1098 1346 248 0.17 0.34 0.1 RC811 DD 451453 6395327 1524 1043.3 147 -71 14 120 106 0.14 0.02 0.1















152 192 40 0.11 0.04 0.1















222 518 296 0.44 0.29 0.1













incl. 278 290 12 0.62 0.33 0.5













incl. 338 464 126 0.62 0.39 0.5















536 850 314 0.23 0.25 0.1















926 1014 88 0.14 0.19 0.1 RC813 DD 451622 6395868 1529 1198.4 151 -54 216 238 22 0.11 0.13 0.1















322 398 76 0.25 0.31 0.1















446 744 298 0.26 0.31 0.1













incl. 458 510 52 0.51 0.75 0.5















796 816 20 0.17 0.13 0.1















852 1198.4 346.4 0.31 0.33 0.1













incl. 910 944 34 0.58 0.37 0.5 RC814 DD 451528 6396040 1529 1289.4 149 -57 404 426 22 0.11 0.04 0.1















486 754 268 0.25 0.20 0.1













incl. 606 616 10 0.71 0.39 0.5















930 1020 90 0.21 0.13 0.1















1100 1282 182 0.22 0.25 0.1 RC815 DD 453889 6396750 1347 1634.0 149 -54 764 818 54 0.13 0.29 0.1















1230 1260 30 0.11 0.39 0.1 RC816R DD 453753 6396582 1394 1257.9 149 -48 842 910 68 0.15 0.33 0.1 RC818 DD 453208 6396916 1464 2019.8 146 -60 1454 1540 86 0.23 0.27 0.1















1648 1764 116 0.56 0.25 0.1













incl. 1648 1698 50 0.64 0.43 0.5















1790 1918 128 0.10 0.08 0.1 RC819 DD 453372 6397010 1462 2065.5 145 -55 1276 1610 334 0.35 0.50 0.1













incl. 1516 1540 24 0.52 0.74 0.5













incl. 1552 1608 56 0.83 0.80 0.5













incl. 1574 1596 22 1.1 0.93 1















1708 2010 302 0.24 0.35 0.1 RC820 DD 453285 6396970 1466 2069.0 145 -56 1296 1608 312 0.49 0.49 0.1













incl. 1406 1588 182 0.64 0.64 0.5













incl. 1562 1578 16 1.7 1.2 1















1658 1936 278 0.74 0.44 0.1













incl. 1658 1672 14 1.1 0.50 0.5













incl. 1684 1702 18 0.81 0.36 0.5













incl. 1796 1830 34 0.64 0.20 0.5













incl. 1870 1936 66 1.7 1.1 0.5













incl. 1882 1904 22 3.3 1.8 1













incl. 1916 1934 18 1.2 1.1 1















1950 1980 30 0.36 0.37 0.1













incl. 1952 1962 10 0.74 0.78 0.5 RC822 DD 451664 6395989 1542 1286.0 148 -58 432 506 74 0.12 0.23 0.1















518 590 72 0.16 0.25 0.1















610 674 64 0.27 0.32 0.1















692 820 128 0.11 0.13 0.1















916 964 48 0.33 0.14 0.1















982 1280 298 0.23 0.23 0.1













incl. 1020 1032 12 0.65 0.74 0.5 RC825 DD 453484 6396402 1417 932.2 145 -53 442 494 52 0.12 0.15 0.1















612 676 64 0.11 0.16 0.1















696 750 54 0.11 0.15 0.1 RC832 DD 451410 6396014 1520 974.5 147 -59 298 326 28 0.11 0.03 0.1















400 470 70 0.15 0.02 0.1















574 664 90 0.20 0.16 0.1















682 710 28 0.13 0.09 0.1















758 928 170 0.33 0.34 0.1













incl. 860 926 66 0.52 0.48 0.5 RC833 DD 451611 6396091 1529 1022.1 149 -58 Assays Pending RC834 DD 453146 6396417 1448 809.0 149 -48 464 490 26 0.12 0.13 0.1















534 702 168 0.17 0.11 0.1 RC835 DD 453083 6396913 1466 1808.6 146 -54 1295 1579 284 0.75 0.63 0.1













incl. 1323 1355 32 0.53 0.57 0.5













incl. 1399 1413 14 0.66 0.67 0.5













incl. 1433 1545 112 1.4 1.0 0.5













incl. 1459 1545 86 1.7 1.2 1 RC836 DD 453111 6396595 1442 2030.5 141 -65 Assays Pending RC837 DD 451474 6395925 1529 926.4 149 -60 Assays Pending RC838 DD 451473 6395924 1529 815.1 149 -50 Assays Pending RC839 DD 453807 6396678 1381 1409.1 148 -58 672 698 26 0.12 0.25 0.1















762 1194 432 0.22 0.4 0.1















1234 1276 42 0.11 0.29 0.1 RC840 DD 453667 6396944 1371 1979.2 147 -62 Assays Pending RC841 DD 453896 6397057 1098 1576.1 145 -48 Assays Pending RC842 DD 453733 6396993 1363 1754.0 148 -56 Assays Pending RC843 DD 453628 6396537 1403 1189.0 146 -53 Assays Pending RC844 DD 451701 6395891 1536 797.0 145 -58 234 262 28 0.11 0.24 0.1















276 350 74 0.12 0.27 0.1















398 422 24 0.20 0.31 0.1















500 730 230 0.21 0.20 0.1













incl. 564 574 10 0.82 0.54 0.5















742 770 28 0.20 0.10 0.1 RC845 DD 453628 6396536 1404 1085.5 145 -47 Assays Pending RC846 DD 453831 6397026 1352 1790.3 145 -57 Assays Pending RC847 DD 450864 6395158 1520 233.3 150 -63 Development Hole RC848# DD 453481 6397024 1443 1901.3 145 -57 Assays Pending RC849 DD 450966 6395181 1483 200.3 338 -60 Development Hole RC850 DD 451015 6394898 1488 200.0 146 -44 Development Hole RC851 DD 450908 6394856 1523 250.2 139 -68 Development Hole RC852 DD 450925 6394817 1524 229.6 125 -60 Development Hole RC853# DD 453109 6396596 1442 1386.0 154 -63 Assays Pending RC854# DD 453896 6397057 1096 1311.1 144 -53 Assays Pending RC855 DD 454037 6397102 1122 1214.7 148 -40 Assays Pending RC856 DD 451306 6395596 1435 1050.0 147 -59 Assays Pending RC857# DD 453253 6397066 1471 1286.0 146 -57 Assays Pending RC858# DD 451297 6395477 1457 782.2 152 -59 Assays Pending RC859# DD 453158 6397048 1471 584.0 149 -58 Assays Pending

# drilling in progress, **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept ^^previously reported intercept





Figure 22. Schematic plan view map of East Ridge showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 22, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_024full.jpg





Figure 23. Schematic plan view map of Main Zone showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 23, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_025full.jpg





Figure 24. Schematic cross section of RC811 (Section Line 12N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 24, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_026full.jpg





Figure 25. Schematic cross section of RC832 (Section Line 15N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 25, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_027full.jpg





Figure 26. Schematic cross section of RC813 and RC814 (Section Line 16N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 26, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_028full.jpg





Figure 27. Schematic cross section of RC822 and RC844 (Section Line 17N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 27, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_029full.jpg





Figure 28. Schematic cross section of RC834 (Section Line 32N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 28, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_030full.jpg





Figure 29. Schematic cross section of RC835 (Section Line 34N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 29, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_031full.jpg





Figure 30. Schematic cross section of RC818 and RC825 (Section Line 35N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 30, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_032full.jpg





Figure 31. Schematic cross section of RC820 (Section Line 36N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 31, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_033full.jpg





Figure 32. Schematic cross section of RC819 (Section Line 37N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 32, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_034full.jpg





Figure 33. Schematic cross section of RC808 and RC816R (Section Line 38N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 33, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_035full.jpg





Figure 34. Schematic cross section of RC807 and RC839 (Section Line 39N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 34, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_036full.jpg





Figure 35. Schematic cross section of RC805/W2, RC809 and RC815 (Section Line 40N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 35, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_037full.jpg





Figure 36. Schematic cross section of RC804/W (Section Line 41N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 36, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_038full.jpg

Appendix 3

Havieron Project (Greatland Gold Plc - Joint Venture Agreement): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling in Proterozoic basement lithologies. PQ-HQ and NQ diameter core was drilled on a 6m run. Core was cut using an automated core-cutter and half core sampled at 1m intervals with breaks for major geological changes. Sampling intervals range from 0.2 - 1.0m. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Permian Paterson Formation cover sequence was drilled using mud rotary drilling. Depths of cover typically observed to approximately 420m vertically below surface. Steel casing was emplaced to secure the pre-collar.



Core drilling was advanced from the base of the cover sequence with PQ3, HQ3 and NQ2 diameter coring configuration.



Core from inclined drill holes is oriented on 3m and 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery.



Cover sequence drilling by the mud-rotary drilling did not yield recoverable samples. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 15,824m for 21 drill holes, all intersecting mineralisation), including orientation of key geological features.

Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre. The bulk density of selected drill core intervals was determined at site on whole core samples.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Havieron site.



Digital data logging was captured on diamond drill core intervals only, and all data validated and stored in an acQuire database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core.



The logging is of sufficient quality to support Mineral Resource estimates. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.

Core was cut and sampled at the Havieron core processing facility. Half core samples of between 0.2 and 2.0 m were collected in pre-numbered calico bags and grouped in plastic bags for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 0.5 to 8kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by air and road to the laboratory.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO17025 accredited Intertek Laboratory, Perth (Intertek). Samples were dried at 105oC, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75mm, and the split to obtain up to 3kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM5) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m. Routine grind size analysis is conducted.



Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation.



Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Intertek. All samples were assayed for 48 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method 4A/MS907), which is considered to provide a total assay for copper. Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with AAS finish (method FA50N/AA), which is considered to provide a total assay for gold.



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data.



Extended quality control programs including pulp samples submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs have been completed.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.



The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled calico bags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access.



Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of diamond drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a differential GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.5m for all drill holes reported.



Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner. Downhole survey was collected at 6-12m intervals in the cover sequence, and every 6 to 30m in diamond drill core segments of the drill hole using single shot (Axis Mining Champ Gyro). The single shot surveys have been validated using continuous survey to surface (Axis Mining Champ) along with a selection of drill holes re-surveyed by an external survey contactor using a DeviGyro tool - confirming sufficient accuracy for downhole spatial recording.



A LIDAR survey was completed over the project area in Nov 2019 which was used to prepare a DEM / topographic model for the project with a spatial accuracy of +/- 0.1m vertical and +/- 0.3m horizontal. The topography is generally low relief to flat, elevation within the dune corridors in ranges between 250-265m Australian Height Datum (AHD) steepening to the southeast. All collar coordinates are provided in the Geocentric Datum of Australian (GDA20 Zone 51). All relative depth information is reported in AHD +5000m. Data spacing and distribution Within the South-East Crescent and Breccia zone drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 100m, to 50 by 50m within the resource extents. Outside the initial resource boundary drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 200m in lateral extent within the breccia zone over an area of ~2km2. The data spacing is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity.



Significant assay intercepts remain open. Further drilling is required to determine the extent of currently defined mineralisation. No sample compositing is applied to samples.



Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drill holes exploring the extents of the Havieron mineral system intersect moderately dipping carbonate and siliclastic sedimentary facies, mineralised breccia and sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Geological modelling has been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes.



Variable brecciation, alteration and sulphide mineralisation is observed with a footprint with dimensions of 650m x 350m trending in a north west orientation and over 1000m in vertical extent below cover.



The subvertical southeast high grade arcuate crescent sulphide zone has an average thickness of 20m and has been defined over a strike length of up to 550m, and extended to over 700m in vertical extent below cover.



Drilling direction is oriented to intersect the steeply dipping high-grade sulphide mineralisation zones at an intersection angle of greater than 40 degrees. The drilled length of reported intersections is typically greater than true width of mineralisation. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Havieron core yard every shift. On completion of geological and geotechnical logging, core processing was completed by Newcrest personnel at the Havieron facility.



High resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Havieron core processing facilities.

Samples were freighted in sealed bags by air and road to the Laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives. Sample numbers are generated directly from the database. All samples are collected in pre-numbered calico bags.



Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advise issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Internal reviews of core handling, sample preparation and assays laboratories were conducted on a regular basis by both project personnel and owner representatives.



In the Competent Person's opinion, the sample preparation, security and analytical procedures are consistent with current industry standards and are entirely appropriate and acceptable for the styles of mineralisation identified and will be appropriate for use in the reporting of exploration results and Mineral Resource estimates. There are no identified drilling, sampling or recovery factors that materially impact the adequacy and reliability of the results of the drilling programme in place at the Havieron Project.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status The Havieron Project is entirely contained within mining tenement M45/1287, which is jointly owned by Greatland Pty Ltd and Newcrest Operations Limited. Newcrest has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (effective 30 November 2020) and Farm-In Agreement (effective 12 March 2019) with Greatland Pty Ltd and Greatland Gold plc. Newcrest is the manager of the Havieron Project and holds a 70% interest (Greatland Gold holds a 30% interest).



Newcrest and Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (formerly WDLAC) are parties to an ILUA which relates to the use of native title land for Newcrest's current operations at Telfer and its activities within a 60km radius around Telfer and includes its exploration activities at Havieron. The parties have agreed that the ILUA will apply to any future development activities by the Joint Venture Participants (Newcrest and Greatland Gold) at Havieron.



The mining tenement M45/1287 wholly replaces the 12 sub-blocks of exploration tenement E45/4701 (former part of the exploration tenement on which the Havieron Project is based) and was granted on 10 September 2020. Exploration done by other parties Newcrest completed six core holes in the vicinity of the Havieron Project from 1991 to 2003. Greatland Gold completed drill targeting and drilling of nine Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes with core tails for a total of approximately 6,800m in 2018. Results of drilling programs conducted by Greatland Gold have previously been reported on the Greatland Gold website.



Drilling has defined an intrusion-related mineral system with evidence of breccia and massive sulphide-hosted higher-grade gold-copper mineralisation. Geology The Havieron Project is located within the north-western exposure of the Palaeo-Proterozoic to Neoproterozoic Paterson Orogen (formerly Paterson Province), 45 km east of Telfer. The Yeneena Supergroup hosts the Havieron prospect and consists of a 9km thick sequence of marine sedimentary rocks and is entirely overlain by approximately 420m of Phanerozoic sediments of the Paterson Formation and Quaternary aeolian sediments.



Gold and copper mineralisation at Havieron consist of breccia, vein and massive sulphide replacement gold and copper mineralisation typical of intrusion-related and skarn styles of mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by metasedimentary rocks (meta-sandstones, meta-siltstones and meta-carbonate) and intrusive rocks of an undetermined age. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and pyrite sulphide mineral assemblages as breccia and vein infill, and massive sulphide lenses. The main mineralisation event is associated with amphibole-carbonate-biotite-sericite-chlorite wall rock alteration. Drilling has partially defined the extents of mineralisation which are observed over 650m by 350m within an arcuate shaped mineralised zone, and to depths of up to 1400m below surface. Drill hole Information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 1.0g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with a maximum of 5m consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.2g/t Au for greater than or equal to 20m, with a maximum of 10m consecutive internal dilution, and (C) intervals of >30g/t which are greater or equal to 30 gram metres (Au_ppm x length). No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Drilling is not always perpendicular to the dip of mineralisation and true widths are less than downhole widths. Estimates of true widths will only be possible when all results are received, and final geological interpretations have been completed. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the twenty-fourth release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest.. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since July 2019.



Earlier reporting of exploration programs conducted by Newcrest and Greatland Gold have previously been rep
HONG KONG, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcadis, the leading global Design & Consultancy organization for natural and built assets, welcomes the proposal set out by "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address" last week. It places land and housing as cornerstones for Hong Kong, with a multi-pronged approach to enhance quantity, speed, efficiency and quality.

In response, Francis Au, Greater China Growth Director said: "Arcadis welcomes the numerous commitments outlined by the Government, which place high importance on land supply and housing investments. These major measures consider the "Light Public Housing (LPH)" and "Public Rental Housing (PRH) Advance Allocation Scheme", aiming to increase production by 50% in the next five years. We are also excited by the Northern Metropolis' four new land development studies. The Northern Metropolis and related transport infrastructure will create coherence and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. We are looking forward to working together with Government to charter a brighter Hong Kong."

Developing Northern Metropolis as the New Engine for Growth

The Northern Metropolis is the foothold for Hong Kong's strategic development, as well as the engine for Hong Kong to scale new heights. Upon completion, the Northern Metropolis will emerge as a "new international I&T city", integrating quality of life, new economies, and culture and leisure. Innovative urban design will help to promote work-life balance, green living and co-existence of development and conservation. Outlined as a key initiative in the Policy Address, several major development projects in the area have already commenced. Arcadis embraces the multi-pronged approach by HKSAR Government, which will halve delivery time.

Drive Development by Transport Infrastructure

New capacity creating and infrastructure-led planning approaches will help to meet the long-term transport needs of the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy. Arcadis supports the Government by taking forward three major road projects and three strategic railway projects recommended in the Strategic Studies on Railways and Major Roads beyond 2030. This includes Northern Metropolis Highway, Shatin Bypass, TKO-Yau Tong Tunnel, Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Rail Link, Central Rail Link and TKO Line Southern Extension.

Wider adoption of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC)

The Government requires all public housing projects scheduled for completion in the first five-year period to adopt the Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) approach, with the adoption of the MiC approach in suitable projects. In the second five-year period, no less than 50% of projects will adopt the MiC approach.

Francis Au added: "The first Hong Kong Housing Authority MiC project at Tung Chung Area 99 demonstrated the success of this innovative construction method. We are thrilled to hear that the HKSAR Government are promoting the wider use of MiC to improving productivity, safety and efficiency of the industry, as well as optimizing lifecycle costs."

ABOUT ARCADIS

Arcadis is a leading global Design & Consultancy organization for natural and built assets. Applying our deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services we work in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. We are 33,000 people, active in over 70 countries that generate 3.8 billion in gross revenues (based on 2021 full year pro forma figures). We support UN-Habitat with knowledge and expertise to improve the quality of life in rapidly growing cities around the world. www.arcadis.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/arcadis-welcomes-the-chief-executives-2022-policy-address-putting-land-and-housing-as-top-priority-for-hong-kong-301660487.html
Start-up pioneers organoid technology to make nature identical, cultured eel meat at cost parity

REHOVOT, Israel, Oct. 27, 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-301659941.html
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Personas Social Incorporated (TSXV: PRSN) (the "Company") announces that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") issued a bulletin on October 25, 2022 to downgrade the Company from a Tier 1 Issuer to a Tier 2 Issuer and that the Company's securities will remain suspended from trading due to the Cease Trade Order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission ("OSC") that was issued on May 6, 2022 (the "CTO").

The move to a Tier 2 Issuer is a result of the Company not meeting certain of the continued listing requirements for a Tier 1 Issuer in accordance with Exchange Policy 2.5.

The Company announced on May 9, 2022 that its audited annual financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and CEO and CFO certifications for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the "Annual Filings") were not filed prior to the prescribed deadline, and as a result the OSC issued the CTO. The Company on August 2, 2022 and August 5, 2022 filed its Annual Filings and then on August 24, 2022 filed its interim financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and CEO and CFO certifications for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 and on September 8, 2022 filed its interim financial statements, management's discussion and analysis and CEO and CFO certifications for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022 (collectively the "Required Filings"). The Company has completed its Required Filings and is currently up to date on its continuous disclosure.

On October 4, 2022, the Company made an application to the OSC for a full revocation of the CTO (the "Application"). The Application is currently under review and the Company is working with the OSC to obtain this order. There is no guarantee or assurance that the CTO will be partially and/or fully revoked.

The securities of the Company are currently suspended for trading on the Exchange and to resume trading a reinstatement application will have to be made by the Company to the Exchange. Reinstatement of trading on the Exchange can occur only when the CTO has been fully revoked and the Exchange has concluded its reinstatement review to ensure the Company has satisfactorily complied with Exchange requirements. The Company plans to continue to work with the OSC on the Application in order to obtain a fully revocation of the CTO, and if obtained, then the Company plans to apply to the Exchange for reinstatement of trading, notwithstanding, there is no guarantee or assurance that the full revocation of the CTO and/or reinstatement or trading will be completed.

About Personas

Personas Social Incorporated is a Canada-based company engaged in the business of offering live video conferencing technology, live streaming, social media products and services for use by consumers and businesses, with a focus on mobile (iOS and Android) products. It focuses on providing social commerce-enabled products which allow for a monetizable user experience to all users, consumers and businesses alike. The company accomplishes this by offering products which are complete with enterprise-grade e-commerce infrastructure including multi-currency, multi-lingual, turnkey mobile commerce suites for users.

For further information, please contact:

Personas Social Incorporated

Mark Itwaru

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 647-789-0074

Email: mark@personas.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. 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 expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. 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 Canadian securities law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) has reviewed or 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/142092
TOKYO, Oct 27, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) has been awarded a Bronze Badge from the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), this time for complying with the requirements for TIP's OpenRAN RU Technical Requirements Document 2.1.TIP is a global community of companies and organizations that work together to develop, test, and deploy open, disaggregated, and standards-based solutions that deliver the high-quality connectivity that the world needs - now and in the decades to come. This updated, comprehensive list of technical requirements for Open RAN is built on the valuable work from the operator signatories of the Open RAN MoU Group (European telecom operators Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica, TIM, and Vodafone) and others.NEC is an Open RAN market leader with its end-to-end Open 5G solutions, system integration capabilities, and deployments with its signature 5G radio offering. With this award, NEC demonstrates compliance with the TIP OpenRAN project group's recently approved R2.1 RU requirements for a further 12 5G radio units (RUs), which meet O-RAN standards. These TIP OpenRAN-compliant RU products are available for Single Band RRH and Dual and Triple Band RRH and can be deployed for use, particularly in dense urban environments which require high performance and high coverage.NEC is an active participant in several consortia looking to drive technology requirements and standards for Open RAN and is the first global 5G supplier to have live deployed 5G massive MIMO radio units that are OpenRAN compliant. TIP is comprised of hundreds of companies, including service providers, technology suppliers, systems integrators, and more, who collaborate to ensure the proliferation of open, disaggregated, and standards-based solutions to deliver global connectivity and fully realize the potential of a connected world.NEC was previously awarded its second TIP ribbon for complying with the requirements for TIP's OpenRAN RU Technical Requirements Document 2.0. for three of its 5G massive MIMO Open RAN Radio Units (i.e., MB5440, 5450, and 5460 units). The award of the third TIP ribbon showcases NEC's expanding offering of TIP OpenRAN-compliant products."NEC's contribution to the development of open standards for 5G is part of our commitment to the whole industry. The fact that many of the major wireless providers have chosen NEC over the last 18 months demonstrates that our contribution is clearly making a difference," said Alla Goldner, Director of Strategy Open Standards, NEC. "Our investment in Open RAN activities is an ongoing priority for us, as additionally illustrated by our Plugfest participation.""NEC is among the first Radio Unit manufacturers to have proven product compliance against TIP's OpenRAN RU Technical Requirements Document 2.1," said David Hutton, Chief Engineer, TIP. "The TIP community is driving the productization of Open RAN and we certainly welcome and encourage the level of engagement shown by NEC, and their contribution to shaping Open RAN innovation. We look forward to seeing more vendor solutions like these listed on TIP Exchange."About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
As recent research shows significant connections between cognitive empathy and a lower risk of cyberbullying, leading SEL curriculum developer Hope Rising highlights the importance of evidence-based SEL for safer, more inclusive schools

Norman, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - With its focus on promoting interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, SEL is becoming an essential driver of optimal psycho-social development in children - and new research shows how one essential emotional intelligence aspect could reduce bullying, announces Hope Rising.





Empathy-Focused SEL Curricula Crucial In Light Of New Research, Says Hope Rising

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The leading curriculum developer cites a new study published in the International Journal of Bullying Prevention, which shows that higher cognitive empathy is a predictor of lower levels of cyberbullying among late-elementary children. While the research is limited to fourth- and fifth-grade students, its findings suggest empathy could be a key preventative factor in bullying across age groups, further emphasizing the importance of SEL for creating safer schools across the US.

"Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions," says Hope Rising CEO Rocky Malloy. "The latest research shows why empathy is crucial for the healthy development of our children - and SEL can play a pivotal role in promoting cognitive empathy in students of all ages."

A key goal for all SEL curricula developed by Hope Rising, empathy helps children communicate more effectively, form new, meaningful relationships, and ultimately become better members of their communities, explains the company.

And with a general decline in empathy reported (down 48% between 1979 and 2009, and potentially further still since), the curricula developer states that encouraging this skill in children is now more important than ever.

About Hope Rising

Offering its award-winning "My Best Me" curricula for all educational levels, Hope Rising contributes to the development of essential psycho-social skills to help students improve their academic performance, reduce classroom disruptions and disciplinary actions, and create a more nurturing general learning environment. The company's educational resources are backed by continuous research across a variety of psycho-social development factors.

More information can be found at https://hoperisingsel.com/research/what-is-research-based-sel

Contact Info:

Name: Carl Mckenzie

Email: carlm@hoperisingsel.com

Organization: Hope Rising

Address: 3750 West Main Street Suite AA, Norman, Oklahoma 73072, United States

Phone: +1-405-676-4140

Website: https://hoperisingsel.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142097
- Korea's ginseng overseas exports increased 16.3% year-on-year to $267.2 million, a record high

- Korea's representative regional specialty, red ginseng, has been recognized as the world's best red ginseng for its excellent quality and efficacy

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT), Korea's agricultural and fishery exports reached $11.36 billion last year, exceeding $10 billion for the first time in history.





Korea's No.1 red ginseng brand is 'CheongKwanJang' created by KGC (Korea Ginseng Corporation), which has a tradition of 123 years, accounting for about 70% of the total red ginseng market in Korea. In order to produce the highest quality red ginseng, 'CheongKwanJang' conducts 430 safety tests for a total period of 8 years before products are shipped, including 2 years of soil management and 6 years of cultivation, to produce premium red ginseng that customers can consume with confidence.

The growth of traditional foods has been remarkable. Among them, export of ginseng products, such as red ginseng, was the highest ever at $267.2 million, up 16.3% from the previous year.





The popularity of various K-cultures, including the K-pop craze led by , the globally recognized movie and Korean dramas that are popular around the world through the OTT platform, has led to interest in Korean cuisine and food culture, and is believed to have played a part in the popularity of K-foods.

Historically, the first K-food loved by people around the world was 'Korean ginseng.' For thousands of years, Korean ginseng has been known as a special gift from the heavens to protect the health of Koreans.

In particular, due to its excellent quality and efficacy, Korean ginseng is exported to more than 40 countries around the world, including China, the United States and Japan, and it is loved by people all around the world.

Korean ginseng is called by various names depending on the processing method, but most of the Korean ginseng is manufactured in the form of red ginseng through streaming and drying. Red ginseng is known to have the best efficacy for each active ingredient among various forms of ginseng as unique saponins are synthesized during the manufacturing process.

Red ginseng is also one of the regular state-visit gifts that South Koran leaders give to foreign leaders.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924842/Red_Ginseng.jpg

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PRESS RELEASE 27 OCTOBER 2022 AT 8.00 a.m. EEST





Orion Research Foundation is awarding EUR 1 million in grants and two EUR 100,000 special grants today



The Board of Directors of the Orion Research Foundation will today award grantson the basis of applicationsamounting to a total of EUR 1 million for 2023. This year, the Board of the Research Foundation will also award two special grants of EUR 100,000 to mid-career researchers. The grants will be awarded to Associate Professor Tiina Sikanen from the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Helsinki, and to Professor of Cancer Biology Jukka Westermarck from the Institute of Biomedicine and

Research Director at the Turku Bioscience Centre at the University of Turku.



Each year, the Orion Research Foundation distributes its investment income and the donation it receives from Orion Corporation as grants to young researchers and researchers who have recently gained doctorates to enable them to continue their research. In recent years, the Foundation has awarded grants by application amounting to a total of approximately EUR 1 million annually to researchers in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and related natural sciences such as chemistry and physics. This year, two special awards, which could not be applied for, will also be awarded. The two special grants will be awarded to mid-career researchers both for their valuable research work and for speaking publicly in support of research funding, thus promoting the cause of all researchers.

In the past, the Research Foundation has granted three special awards on the basis of various award criteria to Hannes Lohi, research group leader, in 2012, and to Academy Professor Johanna Ivaska and Professor of Pharmacogenetics Mikko Niemi in 2017.



Seekinga drug that is harmless for humans and the environment

Tiina Sikanen is Associate Professor at the Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the University of Helsinki. She earned a PhD in pharmacy from the University of Helsinki in 2007 and a Master of Science in Technology degree in chemical engineering from Aalto University in 2010.

Associate Professor Sikanen's research group develops microchip-based methods for studying the metabolism of pharmaceutical ingredients, in other words, their transformation, in the body using the enzymes of various animal species and humans. Sikanen's aim is to develop methods that enable rapid and patient-specific metabolite analytics to support personalised treatments. Patient-specific metabolite analytics can reduce the side effects of medicines as well as drug residues that burden the environment.



"I want to form an overall idea of how research can provide a better understanding in the future of the environmental impacts and risks associated with pharmaceuticals ending up in the environment," Sikanen says. In her appearances and publications, she has improved the public understanding of the environmental risks posed by active pharmaceutical ingredients and the need to reduce these risks among decision-makers, pharmaceutical and healthcare professionals and consumers.



Sikanen has received a number of major awards for her research, including the Award for Scientific Courage from the Academy of Finland in 2019 and the L'Oreal For Women in Science award in 2020. She has published more than 60 scientific articles.

Identifying the signalling mechanisms of cancer cells



Jukka Westermarck is Professor of Cancer Biology at the Department of Medical Biochemistry in the Faculty of Medicine and Research Director at the Turku Bioscience Centre at the University of Turku. He earned the degree of licentiate of medicine in 1996 and a doctorate in medicine with distinction in 1998 from the University of Turku.



His research team has endeavoured to identify the signalling mechanisms in cancer cells that promote malignancy in cancer. The group's most significant achievement has been the identification of the CIP2A oncoprotein. This has provided new outlooks regarding the future opportunities of cancer treatment. CIP2A overproduction is one of the changes most commonly seen in cancer. "In about 70 per cent of all cancer samples, in almost all cancers, this mechanism is in operation.

Over the last 4 to 5 years, the biology associated with phosphatases has also received attention in drug development. We are now starting to get closer to being able to bring new treatment to patients," says Westermarck.



Westermarck has received many awards for his successful scientific work, the most significant of which are the Young Investigator Award from the Finnish Medical Society Duodecim in 2007 and the Anders Jahre Young Scientist Award in 2009. He has published 116 original papers and 14 review articles.

Invitation to the award ceremony today,27 October 2022 (The event will be held in Finnish)

Time: Thursday 27 October 2022 at 15.30 EEST

Place: Biomedicum, hall 3, Haartmaninkatu 8, Helsinki

Click here to join the meeting



Further information:

Anu Imppola

Manager, Orion Research Foundation

Tel. +358 50 966 3803

anu.imppola@orion.fi

Media contacts:

Terhi Ormio

VP, Communications, Orion Corporation

Tel. +358 50 966 4646

terhi.ormio@orion.fi



Published by:

Orion Research Foundation sr

Attachments


Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

Pratteln, Switzerland, and Rockville, MD, USA,October 27, 2022 - Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) and ReveraGen BioPharma, Inc announce that they have completed the rolling submission of a new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),seeking priority review for vamorolonefor the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Subject to approval, vamorolone is set to become available to patients in the U.S. in H2-2023.

At the core of the NDA submission are positive data from the pivotal Phase 2b VISION-DMD study which comprised (1) a 24-week period to demonstrate efficacy and safety of vamorolone (2 and 6 mg/kg/day) versus prednisone (0.75 mg/kg/day) and placebo, followed by (2) a 24-week period to evaluate the maintenance of efficacy and collect additional longer-term safety and tolerability data [1]. In addition, the filings include data from four open-label studies (including extension) in which vamorolone was administered at doses between 2 and 6 mg/kg/day for a total treatment period of up to 30 months [2] and an external comparator study.

"Completion of the vamorolone NDA submission is a major step towards our goal of bringing this investigational therapy to patients living with DMD, and represents a vital milestone for Santhera," said Dario Eklund, CEO of Santhera. "We look forward to working closely with U.S. regulators to advance vamorolone towards approval."

"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the study participants, their families and caregivers, as well as the investigators and study staff. Their unwavering commitment enabled us to achieve this milestone," said Eric Hoffman, PhD, President and CEO of ReveraGen BioPharma. "If approved, vamorolone will emerge as an addition to current standards of care in DMD with the potential to address unmet medical needs and treat a majority of Duchenne patients starting at an early age."

With the completion of the rolling NDA submission, Santhera and ReveraGen have also applied for priority review. Typically, within 60 days of the receipt of the dossier, the FDA will inform if a priority review will be granted. A priority review designation indicates FDA's goal is to take action on an application within six months (compared to ten months under standard review) which would set an anticipated approval date for as early as mid-2023.

In Europe, Santhera has submitted a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in September 2022, seeking approval for vamorolone in the European Union, as well as in Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

Vamorolone has been granted Orphan Drug status in the U.S. and in Europe for DMD, and has received Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease designations by the U.S. FDA and Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) status from the UK MHRA for DMD.

About Vamorolone

Vamorolone is an investigational drug candidate with a mode of action based on binding to the same receptor as corticosteroids but modifying its downstream activity and as such is considered a dissociative anti-inflammatory drug [2-5]. This mechanism has shown the potential to 'dissociate' efficacy from steroid safety concerns and therefore vamorolone could emerge as an alternative to existing corticosteroids, the current standard of care in children and adolescent subjects with DMD. In the pivotal VISION-DMD study, vamorolone met the primary endpoint Time to Stand (TTSTAND) velocity versus placebo (p=0.002) at 24 weeks of treatment and showed a good safety and tolerability profile [1]. The most commonly reported adverse events versus placebo from the VISION-DMD study were cushingoid features, vomiting and vitamin D deficiency. Adverse events were generally of mild to moderate severity. Vamorolone is an investigational medicine and is currently not approved for use by any health authority.

References:

[1] Guglieri M et al.

[2] Mah JK et al.

[3] Guglieri, et al (2022) JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.4315

[4] Heier CR at al (2019). Life Science Alliance DOI: 10.26508

[5] Liu X, et al (2020). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 117:24285-24293

About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare inherited X-chromosome-linked disease, which almost exclusively affects males. DMD is characterized by inflammation which is present at birth or shortly thereafter. Inflammation leads to fibrosis of muscle and is clinically manifested by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. Major milestones in the disease are the loss of ambulation, the loss of self-feeding, the start of assisted ventilation, and the development of cardiomyopathy. DMD reduces life expectancy to before the fourth decade due to respiratory and/or cardiac failure. Corticosteroids are the current standard of care for the treatment of DMD.

About Santhera

Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) is a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative medicines for rare neuromuscular and pulmonary diseases with high unmet medical need. The Company has an exclusive license for all indications worldwide to vamorolone, a dissociative steroid with novel mode of action, which was investigated in a pivotal study in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy as an alternative to standard corticosteroids. Santhera has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. FDA and a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for vamorolone for the treatment of DMD. The clinical stage pipeline also includes lonodelestat to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) and other neutrophilic pulmonary diseases. Santhera out-licensed rights to its first approved product, Raxone (idebenone), outside North America and France for the treatment of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) to Chiesi Group. For further information, please visit www.santhera.com .

Raxone is a trademark of Santhera Pharmaceuticals.

About ReveraGen BioPharma

ReveraGen was founded in 2008 to develop first-in-class dissociative steroidal drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other chronic inflammatory disorders. The development of ReveraGen's lead compound, vamorolone, has been supported through partnerships with foundations worldwide, including Muscular Dystrophy Association USA, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne, Save Our Sons, JoiningJack, Action Duchenne, CureDuchenne, Ryan's Quest, Alex's Wish, DuchenneUK, Pietro's Fight, Michael's Cause, Duchenne Research Fund, and Defeat Duchenne Canada. ReveraGen has also received generous support from the US Department of Defense CDMRP, National Institutes of Health



For further information please contact:

Santhera

Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG, Hohenrainstrasse 24, CH-4133 Pratteln

public-relations@santhera.comor

Eva Kalias, Head Investor Relations & Communications

Phone: +41 79 875 27 80

eva.kalias@santhera.com

ReveraGen BioPharma

Eric Hoffman, PhD, President and CEO

Phone: + 1 240-672-0295

eric.hoffman@reveragen.com



Disclaimer / Forward-looking statements

This communication does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities of Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG. This publication may contain certain forward-looking statements concerning the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

# # #

Attachment
Vow ASA ("Vow" or the "Company") reported revenues of NOK 594 million for the first nine months (YTD) of 2022, a doubling from the same period last year, and an EBITDA margin of 13.2 per cent. High activity in all business segments contributed to the growth, and the Group continues to develop its pipeline of new projects together with customers. Further growth is supported by a strong order backlog including options at 2.2 billion, and a solid financial position.

For the third quarter alone, revenues were NOK 194 million, compared with NOK 98 million in the third quarter last year. All segments contributed to the progress, with especially strong, profitable growth from the Landbased segment. Newly acquired C.H. Evensen represented NOK 14 million of the increase in the third quarter, being included in the Vow group from 1 April 2022. In addition, the cruise industry is gaining speed which resulted in improved activity levels for Aftersales and continued strong revenue growth within Projects Cruise.

EBITDA before non-recurring items in the quarter 2022 was NOK 25 million, compared with NOK 8 million in the same period last year, supported by positive and improved EBITDA result in all segments.





Solid order backlog

The order backlog currently stands at NOK 1 326 million, up from NOK 1 284 million one year earlier and NOK 1 291 million at the start of the year. In addition to the firm backlog, shipowners have placed options on the newbuild series being equipped with Scanship systems amounting to NOK 863 million in likely future revenues related to the Projects Cruise segment.

"It is great to see that the cruise fleet is back in operation. Vow and Scanship are well positioned to continue supporting shipyards and the shipowners in their green transition and on their mission for an ever-cleaner ocean. Extensive fleet renewal programmes being planned, newbuilds and retrofits, to meet customers and investors' expectations for green cruising," said Henrik Badin, CEO of Vow ASA.

"Global trends in the circular economy and energy markets, regulation, and economic realities, encourage industry and energy providers to decarbonise. This creates an unprecedented demand and interest for the technologies and solutions that we provide, producing renewable carbon and climate neutral gas at large scale," Badin added.

Today at 09:00 CEST, the company's CEO Henrik Badin will present the results live at Haakon VII's gate 2, 0161 Oslo. Participants are welcome to join in person or via livestream. The streaming link will also be available for replay after the event. The session will be held in English.

To register and join the webcast, please paste the following link into your browser, click 'Attend' and register your e-mail: https://channel.royalcast.com/landingpage/vowasa/20221027_1/

Please see the attached trading update report and presentation for further detailed information.





Attachments (see link at end of document)

Vow - Trading update Q3 2022

Vow - Presentation Trading update Q3 2022





For more information, please contact

Henrik Badin, CEO, Vow ASA

Tel: + 47 90 78 98 25

Email: henrik.badin@vowasa.com

Erik Magelssen, CFO, Vow ASA

Tel: +47 928 88 728

Email: erik.magelssen@vowasa.com





About Vow

Vow and its subsidiaries Scanship, C.H. Evensen and Etia are passionate about preventing pollution. The company's world leading solutions convert biomass and waste into valuable resources and generate clean energy for a wide range of industries.

Cruise ships on every ocean have Vow technology inside which processes waste and purifies wastewater. Fish farmers are adopting similar solutions, and public utilities and industries use our solutions for sludge processing, waste management and biogas production on land.

With advanced technologies and solutions, Vow turns waste into biogenetic fuels to help decarbonise industry and convert plastic waste into fuel, clean energy, and high-value pyro carbon. The solutions are scalable, standardised, patented, and thoroughly documented, and the company's capability to deliver is well proven. They are key to end waste and stop pollution.

Located in Oslo, the parent company Vow ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker VOW).

The information is such that Vow ASA is required to disclose in accordance with the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Attachments
Peter Oosterveer to retire after six years as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chair of the Executive Board, after the Annual General Meeting in May 2023

Alan Brookes, currently Global Chief Operating Officer (COO), nominated as new CEO

Amsterdam, 27 Oct. 2022 - Arcadis (EURONEXT: ARCAD), the leading global Design and Consultancy organization for natural and built assets, today announced Peter Oosterveer's decision to retire as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in May 2023, and nominating Alan Brookes (COO) as new CEO.

The Supervisory Board has unanimously decided to nominate Alan Brookes, currently COO at Arcadis, as the next CEO and Chair of the Executive Board and will propose his appointment to the shareholders of Arcadis, at the AGM in May 2023.

Peter joined Arcadis in 2017 as CEO and Chair of the Executive Board. He successfully led the company in achieving its 2020 strategic targets, strengthening its balance sheet, resolving legacy issues, embedding a people-first culture across the organization and driving improved financial performance. Under the 2023 business strategy "Maximizing Impact" he led the company to become an industry leader in providing clients with sustainable solutions, a digital frontrunner. Furthermore, Peter repositioned the company for accelerated growth and scaling, as was demonstrated by the organizational transition into Global Business Areas (GBAs) and the recently announced acquisitions of IBI Group, DPS Group and Giftge Consult. Today, Arcadis is in a strong position for future profitable growth and smooth integration of recent acquisitions.

Since Alan joined Arcadis in 2011 through the acquisition of EC Harris, he has established himself as an innovative leader and has been instrumental to the strategic direction and operational successes of the company. He brings significant international senior leadership experience, a strong commercial, and operational background, and extensive understanding of Arcadis. As COO he is leading the four Global Business Areas (Resilience, Mobility, Places and Intelligence), including the Global Excellence Centers. Prior to his current role Alan headed the EMEA operations, Arcadis' largest segment at that time. He has been pivotal to the outstanding performance of UK, and the growth and improved focus in Continental Europe.

Over the next six months, Peter and Alan will collaborate closely to ensure a seamless transition.

Michiel Lap, Chair of the Supervisory Board comments: "We owe Peter our gratitude for the way he has transformed Arcadis into a leading integrated global design and consultancy player. Under his leadership, Arcadis has significantly improved its financial and non-financial results. Peter has united the company around a clear strategy of making impact for clients on some of the most important and pressing challenges of our time such as the energy transition and making net zero a reality for our clients. We wish Peter well and thank him for his important contributions to the company.

Alan Brookes has significant experience in running international design and consultancy businesses and has been successful in transforming the company from a regional to a global operating structure. Alan's vision, drive, people and performance focus make him the right person to guide Arcadis through the next chapter of profitable growth and success. We have confidence in a smooth leadership transition, whilst ensuring the successful integration of our recent acquisitions."

Peter Oosterveer, CEO Arcadis, comments: "I congratulate Alan on his nomination and look forward to working with him on the transition. Alan and I have been working closely together for the last 5 years, and he has been instrumental in implementing many of the operational and strategic initiatives which have improved the impact Arcadis has with its clients, as well as in creating strong financial and non-financial results. It has been both an honor and a privilege to lead Arcadis and I owe all Arcadians as well as the Supervisory Board my sincere thanks for the tremendous support I have received throughout my tenure. I am proud of what we have accomplished and leave the company in a very strong position to create further profitable growth. I am very pleased that the Supervisory Board has reacted constructively to my request to retire mid-way through my second term as CEO, which will allow me to enjoy more time with my family and to pursue a broad range of outside interests."

Alan Brookes, COO Arcadis and CEO nominee, comments: "I am honored to be nominated to lead Arcadis at this pivotal moment. We have solid foundations to build on and with the recent acquisitions are well placed to further advance our strategy to deliver the solutions that will genuinely improve the quality of life for the clients and communities we serve. I would also like to thank Peter for his remarkable leadership at Arcadis and look forward to working closely with him during the transition period."

For further information please contact:

Arcadis Investor Relations

Christine Disch

Mobile: +31 (0)6 1537 6020

E-mail: christine.disch@arcadis.com

Arcadis Corporate Communications

Tanno Massar

Mobile: +31 (0)6 1158 9121

E-mail: tanno.massar@arcadis.com

About Arcadis

Arcadis is a leading global Design & Consultancy organization for natural and built assets. Applying our deep market sector insights and collective design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services we work in partnership with our clients to deliver exceptional and sustainable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of their natural and built assets. We are 33,000 people, active in over 70 countries that generate 3.8 billion in gross revenues.

Regulated information

This press release contains information that qualifies or may qualify as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

Attachment


NEW DELHI (dpa-AFX) - Investment firm KKR & Co. Inc. (KKR) Thursday announced the signing of definitive agreements to acquire Ness Digital Engineering, a full-lifecycle digital services transformation company, from The Rohatyn Group.



KKR makes its investment from its Asian Fund IV. Additional terms of the deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, were not disclosed.



Teaneck, New Jersey-based Ness is a provider of end-to-end digital transformation services that specializes in building digital software products and platforms. Ness has a presence in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.



Gaurav Trehan, Partner and CEO of KKR India, said, 'Digital transformation and adoption is a critical strategy for businesses of all sizes worldwide. Against this backdrop, KKR believes that Ness is well-positioned for growth, supported by its exceptional, experience-led product engineering heritage.'



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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Newcrest Mining Limited (Newcrest) (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) advises with deep sadness the tragic loss of life of a colleague and team member from its contracting partner, Procon, who was involved in an isolated incident at the Brucejack mine in British Columbia, Canada, on 22 October 2022.

Newcrest Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, said "This is devastating news that no-one ever wants to hear. The feeling of profound sadness when a life is lost is never forgotten. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and those close to our colleague during this very difficult and emotional time."

"The site incident management and mine rescue teams have been working around the clock with the relevant authorities to ensure safe access to the incident location which was a complex task. I am immensely proud of the courage, determination and care shown by every team member throughout this challenging process."

"The loss of a colleague is far reaching and long lasting. This incident is a stark reminder that there is nothing more important than people's safety, health and wellbeing," said Mr Biswas.

The mining and processing operations at Brucejack remain suspended for the time being and Newcrest continues to work with the relevant authorities and Procon to investigate the incident. Newcrest will share further information as appropriate, recognising the need to respect the investigation process and importantly, the family's privacy in their time of grief.

Authorised by the Newcrest Disclosure Committee

For further information please contact

Investor Enquires

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

Rebecca Lay

+61 3 9522 5298

+61 438 355 511

Rebecca.Lay@newcrest.com.au

North American Investor Enquiries

Vlada Cvijetinovic

+1 604 566 8781

+1 604 240 2998

Vlada.Cvijetinovic@newcrest.com.au

Media Enquiries

Celina Watt

+61 3 9522 4264

+61 436 677 220

celina.watt@newcrest.com.au

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142105


MADRID (dpa-AFX) - Repsol (REPYY.PK) reported adjusted net income of 4.56 billion euros in the first nine months of the year, of which close to 60% came from the international businesses. Net income from January to September was 3.22 billion euros. Cash generation was particularly relevant in the period, the company stated.



The company noted that it is ahead of schedule in meeting the objectives in 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Also, the company announced a proposal to increase cash remuneration to its shareholders by 11% in 2023.



The company said it will increase to 0.35 euros gross/share the cash retribution to be distributed to the shareholders next January, while the Board will propose to next year's General Shareholders' Meeting a complementary payment of 0.35 euros gross/share, so that the remuneration in 2023 will increase by 11%, to 0.70 gross/share. This will bring forward the remuneration target set by the Strategic Plan for 2024.



Repsol plans to redeem an additional 50 million shares in the current year, bringing forward by three years the repurchase of 200 million shares and the redemption target set in the 2021 - 2025 Strategic Plan.



For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.



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EQS Post-admission Duties announcement: Adtran Holdings, Inc. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Adtran Holdings, Inc.: Release according to Article 50 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 27.10.2022 / 08:55 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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.
Proposed Merger is Capricorn's most recent value destructive initiative following its aborted merger with Tullow Oil PLC

Deal significantly undervalues Capricorn and prioritizes C-Suite interests

Palliser provides independent fair market valuation report of Capricorn by ERCE

Recommends alternative Value Optimisation Plan if no superior transaction at fair value is available in the immediate term

In response to the recently proposed merger between Capricorn Energy PLC (LSE: CNE) ("Capricorn" or the "Company") and NewMed Energy LP ("NewMed") (the "Proposed Merger"), Palliser Capital ("Palliser"), one of the Company's largest investors with interests representing approximately 6.6%1 of the Company's outstanding share capital, has today released a presentation outlining its opposition to the Proposed Merger. This is accompanied by a recently prepared independent fair market valuation of Capricorn by ERCE2 and reinforced by Palliser's recommendations for a superior plan to release value (the "Value Optimisation Plan").

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005312/en/

In early August, Palliser called for the abandonment of Capricorn's previously proposed merger with Tullow following a months-long engagement with the Company's Board and senior management team, which was supported by other major shareholders. Palliser is disappointed that the Company has pivoted to another one-sided deal which similarly does not reflect the Company's intrinsic value. ERCE's report values Capricorn at US$1,131 million. This translates to 315 pence per share, representing a 29% upside to the Company's closing share price on 25th October 2022 and a 27% upside to the implied value of the NewMed transaction.

In addition to highlighting material valuation concerns, Palliser's presentation emphasizes its view that the Board's actions in agreeing to the Proposed Merger demonstrate significant corporate governance shortcomings and appear to be self-serving in nature.

Palliser urges Capricorn to recognize that it need not be a forced seller; if Capricorn cannot find a superior deal-one at fair value in a short and defined timeframe-then the Company should stop wasting further shareholder resources and instead follow the proposed Value Optimisation Plan. Palliser believes this would unlock Capricorn's intrinsic value of 315 pence per share in the near term and up to 400 pence per share over the medium term, resulting in a far better outcome for Capricorn shareholders than the Proposed Merger and the liquidation value yardstick.

Palliser's presentation and proposed Value Optimisation Plan can be accessed above.

The independent ERCE valuation can be accessed above.

About Palliser

Palliser Capital is a London-based, global multi-strategy investment firm that applies a value-oriented investment philosophy across a range of strategies and asset classes throughout a variety of global markets.

1 Form 8.3 Capricorn Energy PLC 15:15:06 30 Sep 2022 News article London Stock Exchange 2 ERCE is an industry leading oil gas consultancy specialising in reservoir evaluation, commercial analysis and economic assessment with decades of collective global experience providing independent services to energy sector participants; ERCE's report was prepared at Palliser's expense, on the basis of publicly available information and in accordance with the VALMIN Code

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005312/en/

Contacts:

Media:

Prosek Partners

Pro-Palliser@Prosek.com

+44 785 475 0943
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0)(OTCQX:CMRZF) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce that it has successfully scaled-up its process flowsheet with the production of approximately 1.2 kg of mixed rare earth carbonate ("mixed REC") concentrate. Further, the Company is preparing to ship an approximate 0.5 kg sample of this of mixed REC concentrate produced to both a major global processor of rare earth elements ("REEs") as well as a major producer / emerging global processor of REEs. The samples (combined 1.0 kg) meet typical market specifications and was produced as part of the Company's scale-up from gram quantities (see news releases dated March 23, May 12, and July 15, 2022) to larger kilogram quantities.

In addition, the Company has received requests of interest in the remaining 200 grams of the mixed REC, and will look to deliver this to these industry companies.

The Company is pleased to report the new sample of mixed REC has a neodymium (Nd) plus praseodymium (Pr) distribution - i.e. % of Nd+Pr oxide of the total rare earth oxide ("REO") - of 21.9%,which is significantly higher than that reported by several major global producers, and is in line with that of the previous samples produced (21.6% and 24.2% NdPr). Additionally, the mixed REC sample, with a formula of REE2(CO3)3(H2O)8 as determined by XRD, contains approximately 52% REO, <0.1 ppm Th, and <0.1 ppm U.

The two (2) half-kilogram samples are part of a total 1.2 kg mixed REC batch that was produced as part of a process scale-up run, which followed the gram quantity batches previously produced. Therefore, the Company has now successfully scaled up from gram quantities to kilogram quantities of mixed REC concentrate to market specifications, with NdPr distributions ranging from 21.6% to 24.2%. The strong NdPr distributions that characterize these Ashram samples rank among the highest in the world for non-cerium depleted mixed REC concentrates and exceeds that of several major global producers. These samples were produced with the Company's conventional flowsheet developed at Hazen Research, CO, in which several process operations have been demonstrated at a continuous pilot-scale level.

The Company is currently in the process of producing another ~1.5 kg of mixed REC concentrate to satisfy additional third-party requests. The additional kilogram quantity sample(s) is expected to be completed in the first quarter 2023 and will be delivered to the relevant parties immediately following.

The ~1.2 kg mixed REC concentrate sample as described herein (Figures 1 and 2) was produced from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit using a conventional recovery flowsheet, which results in high grade monazite concentrate exceeding 40% REO. The monazite concentrate was processed through a sulphuric acid pot digestion, to 'crack' the monazite, which was then followed by a water leach to liberate the individual REEs into solution at high recovery (98% for NdPr in the sulphuric acid + water leach stage - see news release dated September 9, 2021). The thorium was then selectively removed using solvent extraction and the REEs subsequently isolated - also using solvent extraction - and precipitated as a mixed REC concentrate, meeting typical market specifications.

In the rare earth industry, a mixed REC concentrate is typically viewed as the initial marketable product in the REE value chain. A mixed REC is readily saleable as it is the most common feedstock to REE solvent extraction facilities globally, which separate the individual REEs and allow for them to be individually refined into marketable products and disseminated throughout downstream value chains.

Figure 1: Two (2) 0.5 kg jars of marketable mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate - 21.9% NdPr

Figure 2: Marketable mixed rare earth carbonate concentrate - 21.9% NdPr

About the Ashram Deposit

The Ashram Deposit ranks as one of the largest REE (and fluorspar) deposits globally, consisting of a monazite dominated, single mineralized body outcropping at surface, and has a footprint approximately 700 m along strike, over 300 m across, and 600 m deep, remaining open in several directions. The deposit hosts a measured resource of 1.6 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.77% rare earth oxide (REO) and 3.8% F, an indicated resource of 27.7 Mt at 1.90% REO and 2.9% F, and an inferred resource of 219.8 Mt at 1.88% REO and 2.2% F, at a cut-off grade of 1.25% REO (Effective Date July 5th, 2012). Note, mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no certainty that all or any part of the Mineral Resources will be converted into Mineral Reserves.

NI 43-101 Disclosure

Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and 'Qualified Person' as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release.

About Commerce Resources Corp.

Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development of the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed rare earth carbonate and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue (carbonates) mineralogy, a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets.

For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP.

" Chris Grove "

Chris Grove

President and Director

Tel: 604.484.2700

Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com

Web: http://www.commerceresources.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, which includes any information about activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include that we expect to complete a prefeasibility study for the Ashram Project; that mixed REC is readily saleable; that partial separation will allow for a marketable neodymium and praseodymium oxide to be produced; that we may move downstream early in the mine-life through partial separation; that Ashram has the potential to become one of the largest fluorspar deposit and a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets; and that the Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth element producers globally. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these events, activities or developments from coming to fruition include: that we may not be able to fully finance any additional exploration on the Ashram Project; that even if we are able raise capital, costs for exploration activities may increase such that we may not have sufficient funds to pay for such exploration or processing activities; the timing and content of any future work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumptions based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that, with further test work, may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful or samples derived from the Ashram Project may not yield positive results, and even if such tests are successful or initial sample results are positive, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour and equipment to undertake future exploration work and testing activities; geopolitical risks which may result in market and economic instability; and despite the current expected viability of the Ashram Project, conditions changing such that even if metals or minerals are discovered on the Ashram Project, the project may not be commercially viable; The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722520/Commerce-Resources-Produces-12-Kg-of-52-REO-Mixed-REC-Concentrate-with-219-NdPr--for-Shipment-to-Major-Global-Processor-and-Major-Emerging-Global-Processor


Yvonne So, Director, HKTDC Corporate Communications & Marketing; Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director; Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau; Fred Sheu, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Hong Kong [L-R]

HONG KONG, Oct 27, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and Microsoft Hong Kong today announced a new partnership to jointly launch the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and foster next-generation talent in Hong Kong by leveraging best-in-class technology, practical learning and various support measures. The programme aims to achieve two key goals. First, it will help Hong Kong's SMEs take tangible steps to pursue their digital transformation and seize new market opportunities under the new normal. Second, it will provide a series of learning opportunities for tertiary students in Hong Kong, helping to enhance their business-related digital skills and knowledge.Dr Patrick Lau, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: "Our Transformation Sandbox (T-box) has helped more than 2,400 Hong Kong enterprises over the past two-plus years to realise different business transformation goals. Some of the most commonly seen goals relate to digitalization, which is undoubtedly a powerful tool for companies to reshape their business, enhance their competitiveness and drive innovation. The HKTDC is delighted to partner with leading global technology company Microsoft Hong Kong to jointly launch the 'Go Beyond Your Limits' Programme. By integrating teaching, consulting and practical knowledge sharing, we aim to help SMEs in T-box to make good use of digital tools, and to equip tertiary students joining the HKTDC Trade Ambassador Programme (TAP) to become the digital economy talents of tomorrow's Hong Kong."Cally Chan, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau, said: "Microsoft Hong Kong is committed to empowering local SMEs to accelerate digital transformation and uplift businesses across Hong Kong. Through a holistic approach that encompasses Microsoft's technologies such as Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 (ERP), one-to-one diagnosis and advising on funding applications for SMEs, we hope to empower them to do more with less and assist them to identify new market opportunities. For decades, we have focused on upskilling next-gen talent, digital empowerment and making the best technology available to enable SMEs to thrive and scale their business. We're excited to be a part of the HKTDC's 'Go Beyond Your Limits' Programme in conjunction with T-box and TAP and we look forward to creating synergies that can inspire more local businesses and support talent development across different sectors in Hong Kong."Dr Lau added: "The HKTDC's work is always in line with the policy direction of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Policies to facilitate the development of the local technology industry and enlarge the I&T talent pool in Hong Kong were highlighted in the Policy Address 2022 released by the Chief Executive last week. Accordingly, the HKTDC will put further emphasis on helping Hong Kong enterprises and young people to thrive in the digital economy. We already do this through our conferences and exhibitions, business support and promotional activities infused with various technology elements, and this new partnership with Microsoft Hong Kong is a timely way to further reinforce our commitment.""Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme aims to achieve two key goals:1. Promoting SME digitalisation to increase operational efficiencyRiding on the HKTDC Transformation Sandbox (T-box) programme, and with invaluable support from Microsoft, the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme will offer support to more than 2,400 participating enterprises with the Mobile Office Portfolio, free one-to-one enterprise diagnosis and professional training courses to enhance their competitiveness. The programme will provide targeted solutions and follow-up support according to each enterprise's specific stage of development and business needs. The programme will also help SMEs identify and apply for suitable funding schemes to expedite their business development goals. Highlights of the "Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme include:i. Mobile Office Portfolio plus special offers for T-box membersThe Mobile Office Portfolio offers Microsoft 365 and Cloud PC solutions with a high-speed 5G network that allows businesses to unlock seamless hybrid work capabilities. T-box members can enjoy two months' rebate with a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 for Business.ii. Free one-to-one enterprise diagnosis and workshopsMicrosoft will provide participating T-box members with free one-to-one enterprise management diagnosis that can help them formulate a suitable digital transformation strategy. There are also free workshops on Dynamics 365 ERP to help SMEs strengthen and streamline their operations flow and management.iii. Assistance with funding applicationsMicrosoft will assist SMEs to identify and apply for suitable funding schemes and financial assistance so that they can accelerate implementation and expedite their business transformation goals.During the pandemic, remote working, automated business and production procedures and e-commerce became the new normal across enterprises of all sizes. As businesses continue their transformation journey, companies across all sectors of the Hong Kong economy will continue to look for new market opportunities with innovation and technologies. And as market and consumer demands continue to shift, enterprises will need to make the best use of new technologies to ensure effective allocation of resources and business processes, maximise operational efficiency and realise cost savings. This will help them capitalise on this new wave of innovation and adopt technologies to meet customer needs and expand into new markets.2. Committed to nurturing young talentsThe HKTDC Trade Ambassador Programme (TAP) was launched to help the younger generation equip themselves for future entrepreneurship, career development, as well as broaden their business horizons. In collaboration with tertiary institutions in Hong Kong, the full-year programme will consist of opportunities to participate in the numerous activities and initiatives organised by the HKTDC so that they can gain a more in-depth understanding and perspective of trade and commerce both within Hong Kong and internationally.Another important role for Microsoft Hong Kong is to provide next-gen talent with cross-disciplinary learning and practical opportunities to develop a pool of IT specialists that can support the future development of Hong Kong. Microsoft will equip 1,200 TAP students with future-ready IT skills through expert talks, Microsoft Learn online courses, instructor-led tutorials and free examinations on Microsoft Fundamentals, a series of industry-recognised certifications for IT generalists to gain knowledge on digital transformation and to validate their skills relating to the cloud, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity standards and compliance. Students will also be entitled to free US$100 Azure Credits via the Azure for Students programme to enjoy free services on the Azure Portal and to have a hands-on trial of Azure cloud solutions, including but not limited to building their own apps, exploring AI, and working with big data sets."Go Beyond Your Limits" Programme website: https://home.hktdc.com/en/s/microsoftPhoto download: https://bit.ly/3SLhA9bAbout T-boxIn order to assist SMEs to explore opportunities and realised their business transformation, the HKTDC Transformation Sandbox ("T-box") support programme aims to help SMEs enhance their business competitiveness and achieve upgrading and transformation goals in the areas of branding, e-commerce, manufacturing and supply chain as well as access to new markets. Dedicated T-box staff work with enterprises to identify their goals and provide support over a three-month period, with group and individualised advisory services covering workshops, government-funding information, market knowledge and networking opportunities. The programme has been well received since its launch, with more than 2,400 Hong Kong companies participating and over 600 free consultations provided by professional organisations, chambers of commerce representatives, business partners and HKTDC overseas offices. Website: https://smesupport.hktdc.com/en/s/tboxAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn.Media enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Kate Chan, Tel: +852 2584 4239, Email: kate.hy.chan@hktdc.orgMicrosoft Hong Kong Communications Department:Bobo Wong, Tel: +852 5614 9998, Email: bobo.wong@microsoft.comSource: MicrosoftHKTDCCopyright 2022 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Partnership will support real estate lender with fast decision making and flexible credit offerings via a cloud-based platform

LONDON, Oct. 27, 2022as its foundational technology for its life cycle property finance solution, from refurbishment right through to development and investment.



Through its digital-first and cloud-based approach to commercial real estate lending, Ashman Bank aims to drive change in an industry where over four-fifthsof SMEs are frustrated by slow decision-making and inflexible credit offerings. By implementing nCino, Ashman Bank will offer products and services that provide the know-how and incentives to create the sustainable properties and practices of tomorrow and make it easier for SMEs to access the right financing for their needs, delivered with speed, automation, and personalisation.

"Partnering with nCino takes us one step closer to being able to transform the banking experience for property SMEs," Caroline Luxmore, Chief Commercial Officer at Ashman Bank added. "nCino gives us the best and most efficient platform for us to realise our ambitions as a digital-first bank, and we believe that together we can create a meaningful change in the UK real estate market."

"Ashman Bank is an ambitious new entrant that will provide real estate lending for conscientious businesses in the UK. It is bringing an innovative approach to commercial real estate, and nCino can help the Ashman team execute, grow and adapt as the bank expands," said Charlie McIver, Managing Director, EMEA at nCino. "We're proud to be playing a role in Ashman's launch."

Ashman plans to launch early in 2023. The senior leadership team boasts extensive experience in the financial services sector, with previous roles across Barclays, HSBC, RBS, Aldermore, Monzo, and Capital One. Its launch builds on the established record of UK new entrant banks, with innovative technology and customer experience at the forefront of all operations.

About Ashman Bank

Established by a team of passionate entrepreneurs and seasoned bankers, Ashman is an ambitious new entrant planning to provide real estate lending for conscientious businesses and simple savings for conscious consumers.

To learn more visit www.ashmanbank.co.uk

Ashman and Ashman Bank are trading names of Ashman Bank Limited a company registered in England and Wales (company number 10907522) and its registered office is: 2nd Floor Rutland House, 148 Edmund Street, Birmingham, England, B3 2FD. Ashman Bank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 848460).

About nCino

nCino.

MEDIA CONTACTS Jasmin Athwal, nCino Natalia Moose, nCino +44 7881 374552 +44 7825 211135 Ncinoemea@mww.com (mailto:Ncinoemea@mww.com) natalia.moose@ncino.com (mailto:natalia.moose@ncino.com)

__________________________________

1 Source: CASS 2018 business survey

2 https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/sme-finance-help-to-match-smes-rejected-for-finance-with-alternative-lenders
Vonage 11th Annual Global Customer Engagement Report reveals technology gap prevents meaningful connections and risks loyalty among customers

Vonage,a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, has unveiled new research that shows businesses have technology gaps that prevent them from making meaningful connections with customers. After two years of nonstop digital transformation among businesses, only 45% of consumers are "very satisfied" with the way they connect with companies, revealing opportunities to enhance digital transformation efforts with omnichannel communications channels, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven capabilities, and more.

Vonage's 11th Global Customer Engagement Report, based on a survey of nearly 5,000 consumers from 11 countries, explores preferences when it comes to using technology to connect with their favourite brands.

Consumer Expectations and Satisfaction

The report found that 60% of customers are "very satisfied" with friends and family communications, while 45% rate business/service provider communications as high.

While many consumers use messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (57%) and make calls via messaging apps (48%) with friends and family on a daily basis, the study uncovered that phone calls (37%) tend to be consumers' most-used method for communicating with businesses, followed by email (30%) and messaging apps (30%).

This disparity suggests that businesses are not providing consumers with the same, familiar experience they are used to in their personal lives when it comes to communications technology. In order to do that, businesses need to drive omnichannel customer engagement forward (voice calls, video, chat, messaging apps, and more) and embrace emerging technologies like AI, to eliminate common customer frustrations and technology gaps.

"The ubiquity of mobile phones delivers the kind of vehicle to businesses that allows them to speak to and engage with their customers directly right from the palms of their hands. Yet, this research reveals that many businesses are still not using the communications channels made available by today's technology to their full potential and are missing out on opportunities to make real connections with customers and drive customer engagement," said Joy Corso, Chief Marketing Officer for Vonage. "This is where AI tools can help and surface as underused technology."

AI tools like virtual assistants, for instance, can address common requests and eliminate long wait times for customers. Virtual assistants can also provide the initial triage to route customers to the right person which is helpful during peak or seasonal periods.

Another tool is conversational commerce, which uses AI to engage customers in-channel. Companies can use it to add information, automation, and self-service to conversations. For example, companies can provide front-end FAQs, authenticate users, and authorise payments.

"In this age of digital transformation, as more businesses work to improve and simplify the customer journey, AI-powered technologies such as virtual assistants, programmable voice, chatbots, and conversational commerce are letting customers take control of their preferred communication channels," said Dan Miller, Lead Analyst and Founder, Opus Research. "With this year's installment of the Global Customer Engagement Report, Vonage is shining a light on the importance of personalised, real-time engagement as the key to driving enduring brand loyalty."

Common Frustrations and the Way Forward

The data reveals several top customer frustrations in making meaningful and effective connections with brands, including:

long wait times to speak to a customer support agent (63%)

having to call customer support multiple times (63%)

repeating their issue (61%)

dealing with automated phone menus that are too long to navigate (57%)

While these frustrations are not new, they remain top of mind for consumers, and businesses need to remedy this before it negatively impacts customer and loyalty. Brands will need to act quickly, as nearly half of those surveyed noted they are likely to leave or switch businesses after just one or two frustrating experiences. Brands can quickly remedy some of these issues through the help of AI capabilities: automation and personalisation using virtual assistants, conversational commerce, voicebots, interactive voice response systems (IVRs) or automated business phone systems, and more.

Purchase Channel Preferences

Surprisingly, globally, the respondents indicated that physical in-store remains the most-preferred purchase channel (45%), followed by ecommerce (39%), phone calls (38%), and email (36%). While phone calls and email are widely preferred channels across all stages of the purchase process, website chat is preferred mainly for asking questions while shopping and getting answers to problems during a purchase. This isn't surprising as today's consumer needs and demands real-time, contextual, and seamless support at every step of their customer journey. This represents another area of opportunity for businesses to address to ensure exceptional customer experiences.

Key Consumer Engagement Insights by Region

While the 2022 Report shows slight variations in consumer satisfaction and preferences by region, ultimately there are the same gaps in personal engagement versus brand engagement experiences.

Latin America has the highest daily usage of many communications types when engaging with friends and family via messaging apps (83%), phone-call apps (77%), and social media comments (64%), compared to usage when engaging with businesses over messaging apps (50%), phone-call apps (49%), and social media comments (46%).

North America leads in daily personal SMS usage (67%) but shows a marked decrease when using the same mode of communication with businesses (33%).

The United Kingdom is behind other regions in daily mobile phone calls (46%) and email (37%) communications when communicating with friends and family, but these numbers decrease even more when connecting with businesses by mobile phone calls (24%) and email (20%).

While there is wide diversity within Asia Pacific in daily communications, overall data is consistent with other parts of the world. For example, personal usage of apps for both messaging (48%) and phone calls (47%) is significantly higher than connections via apps for messaging (31%) and phone calls (32%) with brands.

Added Corso, "The pandemic made the call for digital transformation louder than ever before. Whether it's messaging, chat, video, or AI-powered conversational commerce, consumers expect to connect with brands in the same way they connect in their personal lives through whatever channel they are in and where they are most comfortable. There is a tremendous opportunity for businesses here. Quite simply, businesses should be communicating more like family and friends. That is the experience that will drive customer engagement and keep customers coming back."

Read the full Vonage Global Customer Engagement Report 2022 for more insights and take an interactive quiz on the top customer experience frustrations.

About Vonage

Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements.

Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005469/en/

Contacts:

Vonage Media Contact:

Nicola Brookes

+44 (0)207 785 8888

nicola.brookes@vonage.com
TEL AVIV, Israel and WARSAW, Poland, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- iMDsoft, a global leader in clinical information systems and the developer of the MetaVision Suite for critical care announced today that it selected Viridian Polska Sp. z o.o as its Channel Partner, authorized to market and sell licenses for the MetaVision Suite, and provide implementation and support services to MetaVision customers in Poland.

As a leading medical device distributor, representing global brands in Poland for 20 years, Viridian Polska is ideally positioned to offer strong coverage of hospitals throughout Poland with a clinically driven, product-centric approach and a steadfast commitment to providing customers with the best solutions and highest level of service possible.

This channel partnership marks an important milestone in iMDsoft's mission to make its state-of-the-art MetaVision Suite available in new territories. With Viridian Polska, iMDsoft now has 10 channel partners operating globally

Through its channel partner program, iMDsoft teams up with leading healthcare technology companies around the world and empowers them to lead marketing and sales activities relating to the MetaVision Suite for critical care and anaesthesia, and provide related implementation and support services. With channel partners driving local market activities and leveraging their physical proximity to the customer, iMDsoft dedicates its full attention to the development and enhancement of the MetaVision Suite, as a fully-scalable market leading solution.

"We are excited to partner with Viridian Polska and have the opportunity to bring our solutions that are designed to improve the quality of care for the benefit of patients and clinicians, now also to Poland. We are confident that Viridian Polska has the right combination of customer reach, understanding of market dynamics and commitment to success, necessary to develop a substantial business," said Shahar Sery, Executive Vice President, iMDsoft

"We are proud and content that from now on we are partners with iMDsoft . We start this cooperation with a large dose of optimism, curiosity and commitment! Our knowledge of the local market, the trust of Polish customers and the quality of iMDsoft's products, are a combination that promises a successful long-term partnership," said Tomasz Woznicki, CEO, Viridian Polska

iMDsoft is a global leader in clinical information systems, with a specialty in critical care, anaesthesia, and acute care. Hundreds of hospitals and health networks in 24 countries use its MetaVision Suite, the company's flagship product, to improve care quality and enhance financial results. The global channel partner program offers an end-to-end approach for distribution partners to deliver iMDsoft's best in class software. iMDsoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation.

MetaVision has played a pivotal role in hospitals throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic with its flexible capabilities to manage Covid-19 related workflows. Learn more at www.imd-soft.com.

Viridian Polska Ltd. specializes in creating modern solutions in medical technology. The core of the business is designing and implementing patient monitoring systems. For almost 25 years, the solutions it proposes have been used in ORs, ICUs, surgery, cardiology and many other hospital wards. It works in the Integrated Quality Management System certified by TUV Nord, in accordance with ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015. Viridian Polska also provides technical services for medical equipment. Employees have all the necessary knowledge, experience and skills that are confirmed and certified by manufacturers. The goal of the Viridian Polska team is to create optimal and innovative solutions based on good relations with its customers and business partners. All this leads to a harmonious, coherent and trustworthy motto of the entire company: "Partnership for the Patients' Good".

For more information about the iMDsoft Channel Partner Program, please contact Channel.Partner@imd-soft.com

For more information on Viridian and MetaVision Poland please contact mv@viridian.com.pl

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College student from China's Zhejiang takes gold at WorldSkills Competition 2022

People's Daily Online) 09:44, October 27, 2022

Ma Hongda, a 22-year-old man from east China's Zhejiang Province, has been crowned champion in the Plastering and Drywall Systems of the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in France, which was held from Oct. 19 to 22 in the city of Bordeaux. The gold medal is also the first ever won by a Chinese person in this field.

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

"I'm very honored to be able to represent my country in the competition. As a gold medalist, I've won glory for the country," said Ma, who attributed his success to the joints efforts of all his team members.

The WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition is scheduled to run from mid-September to late November 2022 in 15 countries. China has sent 36 contestants to compete in 34 matches.

The Plastering and Drywall Systems tested contestants' skills in building, improving and decorating lightweight drywalls through the application of various technologies, including building metal framing and installing plasterboards, using heat and sound insulation materials, plastering, making and installing decorative mouldings, as well as artistic innovations.

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

Errors made in the vertical and horizontal dimensions should not be larger than 1 millimeter, Ma said, adding that contestants were allowed to use different methods to complete their designs, and would always encounter various difficulties in implementing their respective construction plans no matter which method they chose.

"Previously, I could never imagine that the role of a plasterer could be reflected through this international competition," said Ma, a student from Zhejiang Construction Technician College (ZCTC), which is located in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province.

Before taking part in the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Ma had trained at the ZCTC training base, which had been specially set up for the WorldSkills Competition.

Ma came third in a national competition held to select qualified candidates for the Chinese team for the 45th World Skills Competition held in Kazan, Russia. He was present at that competition but didn't take part.

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

The young man said the competition provided a valuable opportunity for Chinese contestants to exchange skills with their international counterparts. After that event, Ma worked even harder to hone his skills.

While preparing for the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition, Ma would always arrive at the training room at 8 a.m. and practice for at least 7 hours a day.

In summer, he always brought several training suits with him during training as he would become soaked in sweat after intensive practice. Because of his hard practice, Ma would wear out a pair of steel toe-capped boots in just two months, when their lifespan in normal circumstances is one year. In order to read technical materials in English more easily, Ma also worked hard to improve his English proficiency.

The ZCTC training base has 18 instructors, whose average age is 35 years. Students from the college have won two gold medals, a silver medal and an outstanding skills performance award at the 44th WorldSkills Competition, the 45th WorldSkills Competition and at the ongoing WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition.

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

(Photo/Qianjiang Evening News)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Du Mingming)
MILAN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading two-wheel electric vehicle brand, Yadea (01585:HK) has announced it will be exhibiting its newest models at EICMA 2022 from November 8 to 13 at Fiera Milano, Milan, Italy. As one of the world's most important exhibitions for two-wheel vehicles, EICMA 2022 will be an opportunity for Yadea to further showcase its outstanding product range on a global scale. The company also announced that it will be hosting a dual-product line release conference at 4:40 pm local time (3:40 pm GMT) on November 8th with the theme "Glow with Red".





With over 100 years of history, the International Motorcycle and Accessories Exhibition (EICMA) is renowned for being a source of inspiration for mobility and an incubator of trends and passions. As one of the world's leading brands in electric mobility, the Yadea exhibit will be a significant highlight of the event, with the company set to launch a series of all-new products aimed at consumers from Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia.

"Since our first visit to EICMA in 2009, Yadea has grown to be a leading global micromobility brand sold throughout 100 countries and regions. Reflecting on this gives us a chance to consider how far we've come and cements our vision to continue to grow and serve more customers globally," said Aska Zeng, General Manager of Yadea Europe Division. "Moving forward, we will continue to focus on product design and technological innovation, providing a consistent user experience to our customers and upgrading our products to better meet the needs of consumers."

At EICMA 2022, Yadea will display a diverse range of products, including electric scooters, e-bikes, electric kick scooters, and more. One highlight will be the newly upgraded Guanneng 3 range, which represents a new generation of long-range, intelligent electric vehicles and features breakthrough long-lasting battery technology. The battery is capable of more than 1,000 cycles with 30% greater capacity than conventional lead-acid batteries and low-temperature protection. Also included in the exhibition will be devices such as the sleek Y80 e-bike, which combines style with performance, featuring a 350W engine delivering 100Nm torque powered by a 36V 10.5Ah large-capacity battery that can reach up to 80km of range (assisted).

Yadea's booth will be located at Hall 11, M06, Fiera Milano, where EICMA attendees are welcome to visit and experience Yadea's product range and innovative technology. The brand's collaborative partner Studio F.A.Porsche will also attend the event with Yadea on November 8th.

Over the past two years, Yadea has consistently shown its vision to establish itself as an internationally renowned household name. Through brand launch in Spain under the theme YADEATakestheCity, setting up its German operations center, participating in Eurobike Exhibition, and partnering with local businesses in Europe, Yadea is committed to growing its brand image and reaching into new markets. Through a continued focus on innovation and R&D, Yadea is well positioned to consolidate its position as a global market leader in the production of electric-powered two-wheeled vehicles.

About Yadea

Yadea is a global leader in developing and manufacturing electric two-wheel vehicles including electric motorcycles, electric mopeds, electric bicycles and electric kick scooters. To date, Yadea has sold products to 60 million users in over 100 countries and regions, and has a network of 40,000+ retailers worldwide. With a mission to help people "Electrify Your Life", Yadea continues to invest in R&D, production and global expansion to build a shared and sustainable future for humankind.

For more information, visit our:

Official Website: https://www.yadea.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yadea.Official

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YADEA.GLOBAL/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YadeaGlobal

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930950/image1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/eicma-2022-yadea-to-unveil-new-models-and-showcase-product-lineup-with-its-latest-tech-301660957.html
Carl Agren appointed as the new CEO of Phoenix Technology

Agren joins with plans to expand the company's operations to new markets globally

Phoenix Technology signs an agreement, becoming the exclusive sales partner of WhatsMiner in the region

$300 million investment for acquiring, developing, maintaining, and operating sites around the globe

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Phoenix Technology, one of the leading cryptocurrency mining hardware retailers, is eyeing global expansion in 2023 - after achieving unprecedented success in 2021/2022.





The company behind the installation of the largest mining farm in the Middle East is spreading its roots beyond the region. The team is developing a large-scale site in the US that will be ready in Q2 of 2023 and will utilize advanced technologies, such as immersive cooling.

In August 2022, Phoenix Technology welcomed its new CEO, Carl Agren. He has over 20 years of technical management in the IT and now crypto industries. Agren has served previously as the company's Chief Operating Officer.

Munaf Ali, the Group CEO and Co-Founder commented "We are delighted with Carl's new appointment, having proven himself as COO, we look forward to Carl's contribution to execute our future plans and strategy. Having a background in Technology and Data-centres, we see Carl as the ideal person to drive forward our global expansion plans for new mining sites and crypto initiatives."

Building on this success, Phoenix Technology has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with MicroBT - a technology company based on blockchain and artificial intelligence, focusing on integrated circuit chips, products, and technical services - making it the exclusive sales partner of WhatsMiner in the region.

"I am very excited to embark on this new journey with Phoenix Technology. The company has so much potential, and there is no doubt that we will grow internationally," said Agren.

"Phoenix Technology is aiming to switch from a regional player in the mining space to a global one. In other words, developing, maintaining, and operating sites all around the world. We have been currently focusing on the North American markets, mainly the US and Canada. However, we are planning on setting foot in other regions to try to identify opportunities in untapped mining areas," he added.

Agren shared that Phoenix Technology is devoting $300 million to be invested in different sites that are development opportunities, under development, or currently operational.

"We are bullish about the overall market situation, and we are looking to invest our capital into diversified opportunities," he said.

Phoenix Technology has been doubling its efforts to expand its operations globally while maintaining its commitment to the environment. As a matter of fact, most of Phoenix Technology's mining facilities are on hydroelectric grids - the company is always keen on delivering sites that are green powered.

Moreover, Phoenix Technology is working closely with local municipalities and a crypto data center cooling business on new technologies - immersive and water-cooling technologies - that will improve energy usage by 20-30%.

As part of its expansion plan, Phoenix Technology is also working on several products that will change the mining game and help customers develop their capabilities. Phoenix Technology is also hoping to establish partnerships with other companies that are also pushing the boundaries of mining, such as gas flaring, to bring more technologically advanced solutions to the local market and globally.

ABOUT PHOENIX TECHNOLOGY

Established in 2015, Phoenix Technology (part of the wider collective of companies, the 'Phoenix Group'), is recognized as one of the leaders in the blockchain and cryptocurrency arena with global operations of more than 700MW across the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East.

Phoenix Technology is currently also developing one of the largest mining facilities in the United Arab Emirates and carries exclusive distribution rights for numerous technology hardware manufacturers across the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey.

Phoenix Technology, along with its subsidiaries (Phoenix Store, Phoenix Technology Consultants, Phoenix Data Center, Phoenix Science & Technology, Phoenix Trading, PTC Cloud Mining, Block One Technology, Block Zero Technology, and Absolute Power Solutions), equips its clients with the latest, state-of-the-art mining hardware, customized mining equipment, and hosting solutions for all mined assets.

For more information contact:

Phoenix Technology: nicole@phoenixtech.org

Unlock Communications: suzan@unlock-bc.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931234/Phoenix_Technology_Carl_Agren.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/phoenix-technology-eyes-global-expansion-and-announces-an-investment-of-300-million-301660978.html
Olivier Vialle to Spearhead D'Ornano Co.'s Expansive Growth Plans

D'Ornano Co., a global advisory firm for Private Market investors, pioneering Hybrid Growth Diligence, announced today the appointment of Olivier Vialle as Deputy CEO. Mr. Vialle will pursue structuring the group's operations alongside its founder, Raphaelle d'Ornano, as its business continues to experience high growth. Raphaelle d'Ornano will maintain her current role as CEO and accelerate the development of the NY hub.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005335/en/

Olivier Vialle (Photo: Business Wire)

"D'Ornano Co. is at a unique inflection point, where it is time to rapidly scale at a global level," said Raphaelle d'Ornano, Founder and Managing Partner of D'Ornano Co. "We recently launched our newest product, Hybrid Growth Diligence, a new form of hard due diligence that offers a multi-dimensional, multi-timescale assessment to determine the resilience of high-growth and disruptive businesses. We are thrilled to welcome Olivier to the senior leadership team in our Paris hub where his experience will be invaluable to the firm's expansive growth plans.

Prior to joining D'Ornano Co., Mr. Vialle served as Chief Operating Officer at Technis, a SaaS focused on real-time infrastructure performance management. Before that, he was a Partner at Strategy&, the global strategy consulting unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), after four years as a Consultant at BCG. Mr. Vialle is a graduate of HEC Paris.

"At the current pace of change, global investors are ill-equipped to accurately assess risk and resiliency in high-growth, tech-enabled businesses. I look forward to building on the culture of innovation at D'Ornano Co., a disrupter in the due diligence and strategic advisory industry, and helping Raphaelle maximize her impact with the firm and its clients," said Mr. Vialle.

About D'Ornano Co

D'Ornano Co. is a pioneering global advisory firm offering Hybrid Growth Diligence to investors and fast-growing tech companies seeking comprehensive financial, legal and strategic transaction support.

Using a holistic, proprietary methodology that combines sophisticated cross-discipline expertise with a deep understanding of over 50 verticals, D'Ornano Co. overcomes traditional barriers to offer a unique approach to hard due diligence.

By integrating these different analyses financial, legal and strategic in a unique, evolutive grid, the firm helps its clients, investors and high-growth companies identify hidden risk and capture new opportunities. D'Ornano Co. supports the largest investors and companies globally and has hubs in Europe and North America.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005335/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Jadis Armbruster

Jadis.armbruster@edelman.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC. (TSXV: BGS) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has agreed to a $2,000,000 non-brokered private placement of up to 20,000,000 units of its securities (the "Units") at a price of $0.10 per Unit, each Unit consisting of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant, with each such warrant entitling the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.20 per share for a period of two years. The Company may pay fees in cash and/or securities in connection with this financing.

The proceeds from the private placement will be used for exploration and operating expenses for its Colombian properties, property purchase payments, corporate administration and general working capital.

The private placement is subject to acceptance for filing by the TSX Venture Exchange.

BAROYECA GOLD & SILVER INC.

Per: "Richard Wilson"

Richard Wilson, CEO

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rick Wilson - (604) 351-3599

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142090
The "United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Type (Flip-Up Loupes, Through-The-Lens (TTL) Loupes, Clip-On Loupes, Headband Mounted), By Lens Type, By Distribution Channel, By Application, By End User, By Source, By Region, Competition Forecast Opportunities, 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

United Kingdom medical loupes market is anticipated to grow at a formidable CAGR throughout the forecast period, 2023-2027.

The market growth can be attributed to the rising instances of medical treatments in the country. Growing demand for high-definition visuals during treatment for making accurate diagnosis and observations is expected to drive the growth of the United Kingdom medical loupes market.

Besides, technological advances and a growing number of initiatives for researching and developing innovative medical products are anticipated to propel market growth. The increasing prevalence of dental surgeries and oral diagnosis has led to a greater need for medical loupes in restorative dentistry and endodontic practices, which is expected to positively influence the growth of the United Kingdom medical loupes market. Increasing focus on maintaining the health condition of the surgeons and assisting staff is boosting the demand for medical loupes.

Additionally, the rising adoption of minimally invasive surgeries among patients with the use of specialized equipment and advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence is augmenting the growth of the United Kingdom medical loupes market during the forecast period. Rising instances of musculoskeletal disorders among the geriatric population and the launch of a variety of medical loupes with settings that are quick and easy to adjust are supporting the growth of the United Kingdom medical loupes market.

The United Kingdom medical loupes market is segmented by type, lens type, distribution channel, application, end-user, source, competitional landscape, and regional distribution. Based on type, the market is further segmented into flip-up loupes, through the lens (TTL) loupes, clip on loupes, and headband mounted.

The flip-up loupes segment is expected to dominate the United Kingdom medical loupes market owing to the rising instances of cancer and their detection in the early stages. Besides, flip-up loupes have several advantages, such as improved vision in low lighting conditions and their expanding application in dental procedures.

Major players operating in the United Kingdom medical loupes market are Carl Zeiss Limited, Univet Limited, HEINE Optotechnik United Kingdom, Keeler Limited (Halma Plc), Dent-ALL Corp. (ErgonoptiX), Envista Holdings Corporation (Orascoptic), Design for Vision, among others.

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the United Kingdom medical loupes market from 2017 to 2021.

To estimate and forecast the market size of United Kingdom medical loupes market from 2022E to 2027F and growth rate until 2027F.

To classify and forecast the United Kingdom medical loupes market based on type, lens type, distribution channel, application, end user, source, region, and company.

To identify the dominant region or segment in the United Kingdom medical loupes market.

To identify drivers and challenges for United Kingdom medical loupes market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers acquisitions, etc., in the United Kingdom medical loupes market.

To identify and analyze the profiles of leading players operating in the United Kingdom medical loupes market.

To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in United Kingdom medical loupes market.

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in United Kingdom medical loupes market.

Carl Zeiss Limited

Univet Limited

HEINE Optotechnik United Kingdom

Keeler Limited (Halma Plc)

Dent-ALL Corp. (ErgonoptiX)

Envista Holdings Corporation (Orascoptic)

Design For Vision

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2017-2020

Base Year: 2021

Estimated Year: 2022E

Forecast Period: 2023F-2027F

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Type:

Flip-Up Loupes

Through The Lens (TTL) Loupes

Clip On Loupes

Headband Mounted

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Lens Type:

Galilean

Prismatic

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Distribution Channel:

Offline

Online

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Application:

Surgical

Dental

Others

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By End User:

Hospitals

Dental Clinics

Ambulatory Surgery Centers

Others

United Kingdom Medical Loupes Market, By Source:

Domestic

Import

United Kingdom Medical Loupes 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/tc499b

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005496/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
AIM and Media Release

27 October 2022

BASE RESOURCES LIMITED

2022 LTIP cycle performance rights

African mineral sands producer, Base Resources Limited (ASX & AIM: BSE) (Base Resources or the Company) advises that 16,299,318 performance rights have been granted to eligible employees under the Base Resources Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) for the 2022 cycle. The performance rights were granted for nil cash consideration and form the equity and long-term incentive component of the at-risk remuneration of relevant employees for the financial year ending 30 June 2023.

Vesting of the 2022 cycle performance rights is subject to satisfaction of performance criteria tied to the Company's total shareholder return performance, either in absolute or relative terms, and certain other gates to vesting over a three-year performance period that commenced on 1 October 2022 and concludes on 30 September 2025.

The employees granted 2022 cycle performance rights included senior management of the Company classified as persons discharging managerial responsibilities. Their updated securityholdings in the Company are set out below.

Name New 2022 cycle performance rights Vested 2019 cycle performance rights Total unvested performance rights1 Holding of shares

(direct and indirect) Kevin Balloch 962,757 956,065 2,780,045 3,633,731 Andre Greyling 962,757 935,060 2,810,895 3,193,966 Stephen Hay 958,770 1,004,950 2,868,360 2,022,811 Chadwick Poletti 918,904 878,044 2,629,161 1,967,332 Michael Rose 837,180 1,026,285 2,679,793 61,994

[Note (1): Includes 2022 cycle performance rights.]

The grant of 2022 cycle performance rights to Tim Carstens will be considered by shareholders at Base Resources' upcoming 2022 Annual General Meeting to be held on Friday, 25 November 2022. For further details about the terms of the 2022 cycle performance rights, refer to the Company's Notice of 2022 Annual General Meeting released to ASX on 26 October 2022.

Further, since the Company's LTIP update as at 12 October 2022, some vested 2019 cycle performance rights were exercised by participants, with the resultant entitlement to ordinary shares satisfied by the allocation of shares previously acquired on-market by the LTIP trustee.

As a result of the above events, the Company has the following securities on issue:

1,178,011,850 fully paid ordinary shares; and

69,909,540 performance rights issued under the LTIP, comprising: 16,542,312 vested performance rights, which remain subject to exercise; and 53,367,228 unvested performance rights subject to performance testing in accordance with their terms of issue.



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: +61 488 093 763 Tel: +44 207 920 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 8 9413 7400

Fax: +61 8 9322 8912

NOMINATED ADVISOR

RFC Ambrian Limited

Stephen Allen

Phone: +61 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


The "United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Type (X-Ray Imaging Solutions, Ultrasound Systems, MRI Systems, CT Scanners, Others), By Mobility, By Source, By Application, By End User, By Region, Competition Forecast Opportunities, 2017-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market is projected to grow at a formidable CAGR during the forecast period

The market growth can be attributed to the rising demand for early-stage diagnoses of chronic diseases and the rising geriatric population. Besides, growing technological advancements coupled with supportive government initiatives to improve healthcare infrastructure in the country are expected to drive the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

The high demand for state-of-the-art imaging modalities to provide training across hospitals and universities is anticipated to positively impact the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market. Additionally, rising awareness of advanced imaging technologies and widening scope of clinical applications are also fueling the market growth during the forecast period.

Moreover, increasing investments, funds, and grants by public-private organizations and the growing prevalence of age-related disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, arthritis, etc., are expected to boost the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market. Inflating need for point-of-care imaging systems for better diagnosis of disorders and adoption of growth strategies by key market players are also anticipated to drive the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

Furthermore, rising penetration of AI-enabled diagnostic services that enable quick diagnosis and predictive analysis are some factors supporting the market's growth. Escalating demand for cost-effective and early diagnoses of chronic and severe diseases accelerate the market growth in the forthcoming years.

The United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market is segmented into type, mobility, source, application, end-user, regional distribution, and Competitive Landscape. Based on type, the market is divided into x-ray imaging solutions, ultrasound systems, MRI systems, CT scanners, nuclear imaging solutions, mammography, and others.

X-ray imaging solutions held the largest share in the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market, and the segment is expected to dominate the market in the coming years. Factors such as increasing adoption of interventional x-ray systems for image-guided surgeries and advances in C-arms are contributing to the segment growth.

Objective of the Study:

To analyze the historical growth in the market size of the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market from 2017 to 2021.

To estimate and forecast the market size of United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market from 2022 to 2027 and growth rate until 2027.

To classify and forecast the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market based on type, mobility, source, application, end user, region, and company.

To identify the dominant region or segment in the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

To identify drivers and challenges for the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers acquisitions, etc., in the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

To identify and analyze the profiles of leading players operating in the United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

To identify key sustainable strategies adopted by market players in United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in United Kingdom diagnostic imaging market.

Philips Medical Systems UK Limited

GE Healthcare UK Limited

Siemens Healthcare Limited

Fujifilm Healthcare UK Limited

Canon Medical Systems Limited

Medtronic United Kingdom

Hologic (UK) Limited

Mindray UK Limited

Micrima Limited

Hitachi Medical Systems UK Limited

United Imaging Healthcare Company Limited

Nihon Kohden UK Limited

Hill-Rom UK Limited

MR Solutions Ltd.

Report Scope:

Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2017-2020

Base Year: 2021

Estimated Year: 2022E

Forecast Period: 2023F-2027F

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Type:

X-Ray Imaging Solutions

Ultrasound Systems

MRI Systems

CT Scanners

Nuclear Imaging Solutions

Mammography

Others

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Mobility:

Portable

Standalone

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Source:

Domestic

Import

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Application:

Cardiology

Oncology

Neurology

Orthopaedics

Gastroenterology

Gynaecology

Others

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By End User:

Hospitals Clinics

Diagnostic Centers

Ambulatory Care Centers

Others

United Kingdom Diagnostic Imaging Market, By Region:

London

Southeast

East Anglia

Scotland

Southwest

East Midlands

Yorkshire Humberside

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uxgn5i

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005501/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
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - INCA ONE GOLD CORP. (TSXV: INCA) (OTCQB: INCAF) (FSE: SU92) ("Inca One" or the "Company") a gold producer operating two mineral processing facilities in Peru, (the "Plants") reports consolidated sales (unaudited) for the three months of July, August and September 2022 ("Q3 2022" or "the Quarter") and comparative year-over-year ("YoY") operational results.

Sales for the Quarter reached US$9.6 million, a 1% decrease YoY compared to Q3 2021 sales of US$9.7 million. Accounting for this slight decrease was a lower price of gold sold in the Quarter, despite an increase in gold production in the period.

The Company also reports quarterly YoY increases in both milling activity of 3% to 17,929 tonnes and gold production of 4% to 6,030 ounces of gold. The Company milled an average of 207 tonnes per day ("TPD") in the Quarter. Throughput for the Quarter was 46% of plant capacity.

Consolidated Operations Q3 2022 Q3 2021 YoY change Milling (tonnes) 17,929 17,413 3% Gold Production (ounces) 6,264 6,030 4% Deliveries (tonnes) 17,411 17,969 -3% Sales (US $) 9.6 M 9.7 M -1%

Inca One sales in the first nine months of calendar 2022 reached US$39.2 million, increasing by 53% YoY, notably surpassing the Company's highest-ever annual sales revenues, with three months remaining this calendar year to grow sales further. Accounting for this increase was the higher volume of ore milled, resulting in record gold sales.

"With limited capital available for purchasing gold-bearing mineral this past quarter, the Company has continued to set new yearly production records," commented Inca One President and CEO, Edward Kelly. "The Company's main priority going forward is to continue to secure new sources of non-dilutive capital dedicated to ore purchases."

Trailing 12-month sales have remained steady at approximately US$50 million for a second consecutive quarter. The Company is increasingly focused on operational efficiencies and lowering costs at its two plants during this period.

About Inca One

Inca One Gold Corp is an established gold producer operating two fully permitted, gold mineral processing facilities in Peru. The Company possesses a combined 450 TPD permitted operating capacity at its two fully integrated plants, Chala One and Kori One and has produced more than 116,000 ounces of gold, generating over US$165 million in sales from its processing operations. Inca One is led by an experienced and capable management team that has established the Company as a trusted leader in servicing permitted, artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) in Peru. Peru is one of the world's largest producers of gold, and its ASM sector is estimated by government officials to be valued in the billions of dollars annually. To learn more, visit www.incaone.com.





Figure 1. Inca One's gold processing facilities in Peru (left: Chala One facility; right: Kori One facility)

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2645/142103_b783e92de4449a97_001full.jpg

On behalf of the Board,

Edward Kelly

President and CEO

Inca One Gold Corp.

For More Information Contact:

Konstantine Tsakumis

ktsakumis@incaone.com

604-568-4877

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

Statements regarding the Company which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent risks and uncertainties by their very nature. Actual results in each case could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements due to factors such as: (i) fluctuation of mineral prices; (ii) a change in market conditions; and (iii) the fact that future operating results may not be accurately predicted based on this limited information to date. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update any changes to such statements. Inca One believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included herein should not be unduly relied upon.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142103
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks edged higher on Thursday as investors digested a raft of earnings updates and awaited an ECB rate decision later in the day. The benchmark FTSE 100 rose 18 points, or 0.3 percent, to 7,074 after closing 0.6 percent higher on Wednesday. Consumer goods firm Unilever was modestly higher after raising its sales forecast Drug maker GSK edged down slightly after saying it would not be proceeding with regulatory submissions of its experimental treatment for moderate-to -severe rheumatoid arthritis. Miner Anglo American tumbled 3.3 percent after reporting flat third-quarter production. Energy-services company Hunting Plc added 1.5 percent after posting improved performance in the third quarter. Energy giant Shell rallied 3.5 percent after profits more than doubled between July and September. Lloyds Banking Group gave up 1.6 percent after profits at the bank dropped by 26 percent in the three months to September. 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.
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY IAMFIRE PLC TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014, AS AMENDED ("MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ("RIS"), THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

IamFire plc

AQSE: FIRE

("IamFire" or the "Company")

AUDITED FINAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2022

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

I am pleased to present the year end results for the Company for the year ended 30 April 2022. Significant changes took place in the year as previously outlined in the Company's interim results. John Taylor (as Chief Executive Officer) and Sandy Barblett (as the Non-executive Chairman) joined the Board at the end of September 2021 which coincided with the retirement as directors of Burns Singh Tennent-Bhohi and Marc T Bamber. In addition, the Company completed an equity fundraise of 369,000 which allowed the Company to enter a period of review and consolidation, prior to embarking on an aggressive execution of its investment strategy designed to return value to our shareholders.

In November 2021, the Company announced the appointment of Fiona Wilmot as a new Non-executive Director and the retirement of Jeremy Ross as a director. Fiona took over the responsibilities of the finance function within the Company and also those of Company Secretary. This has permitted IamFire to bring several previously outsourced functions in house, allowing the streamlining of processes and the stripping out of associated costs.

Investments

WeShop Holdings Limited

On 17 November 2021, the Company negotiated an option to subscribe up to 4.5m into Convertible Loan Notes ("new CLNs") with Boanerges Limited ("Boanerges"). Any CLNs subscribed for can be converted into shares in Boanerges at 75 pence per share. Boanerges has been renamed as WeShop Holdings Limited.

On 14 December 2021, the Company raised equity financing of 4,750,000 from a range of mostly new investors. The majority of this new capital has been used to subscribe for new CLNs in WeShop Holdings Limited following its acquisition of the name, business and assets of Community Social Investment Limited ("CSIL" - formerly WeShop Limited). A total of 4m has been subscribed into these CLNs in two tranches of 2m in December 2021 and February 2022. WeShop Holdings Limited has its shares traded on the JP Jenkins exchange platform.

The Company already holds CLNs (Previous CLNs) in CSIL. CSIL is now in effect a shell company holding 33,333,333 shares in WeShop Holdings Limited. Should the Previous CLNs convert then IamFire would have approximately a 25% shareholding and therefore would be entitled to receive around 8m WeShop Holdings Limited shares following any in specie distribution.

On 6 July 2022 IamFire announced that it had agreed to acquire the right to subscribe a further 3.75m into WeShop Holdings Ltd via CLNs at 1 each. This option to invest in the CLNs was purchased from CSIL (formerly WeShop Limited) for a cash consideration of 250,000.

WeShop Holdings Ltd (herein referred to as "WeShop") is a social commerce platform which seeks to address the perceived requirement for humans to connect more meaningfully with eCommerce. The market is expected to grow by 24% per annum to reach 1.1 trillion in 2025.

Major social media platforms, existing reward sites, and numerous start-ups have tried to unlock this opportunity of combining social media with eCommerce but as yet have not succeeded in any meaningful way. WeShop seeks to bring the key ingredients of a social commerce play together in a way that could unlock this enormous opportunity and in so doing can answer the needs of consumers, retailers, and brand owners. WeShop is a community owned platform that allows consumers to search for and buy products based on community reviews, and rewards transactions and reviews with shares in WeShop called "WeShares".

The platform is now live to a limited user base consisting of approximately 30,000 users. The metrics so far indicate very positive virality effects, large spends per customer and customer retention. WeShop has partnered with influencer platforms such as Sheerluxe (www.sheerluxe.com) and with individual influencers who share millions of followers in aggregate, to rapidly scale the user base and drive transactions through the platform. The underlying foundation of WeShop is to place the ownership of the majority in the hands of its user base over time, as they are rewarded for purchases and referral purchases in shares in WeShop. Once the user base has reached a critical mass WeShop intends to list on an international stock exchange. WeShop participates on the JP Jenkins matched buyer and seller platform for private companies where they have been trading at around 3.75 per share, although in limited quantities.

The Board has been monitoring the progress of the WeShop launch closely and will continue to do so as more influencers and influencer platforms are injected into the platform.

Bio2pure

Bio2pure is developing technology to clean up populated waterways and has provided a shareholder update up to May 2022. The tendering activities, primarily in India, continue to progress positively and successful Proof of Concept treatments have been carried out in Chennai, Pondicherry and Varanasi regions. It is hoped that these will lead to material contracts being signed.

IamFire currently owns 10% of the issued share capital of Bio2pure which it acquired through the issuance of 4,000,000 IamFire shares at 20p per share in August of 2020. Bio2pure reports difficult trading conditions in the UK and Europe due to increasing prices and the market has not recovered to pre-Covid levels. The Board is encouraged by recent company updates and the progress Bio2pure is making in India post COVID restrictions. The Board has considered the carrying value of its investment and has determined not to make any impairment. More details can be found in Note 11 on page 42.

Financial Review

The Company's financial results for the year ended 30 April 2022 show a loss of 424,822 (2021: loss of 321,993). Revenues of nil (2021: nil), administrative costs of 373,715 (2021: 323,025), finance income of 360,000 (2021: 244,616) and finance costs of 396,263 (2021: 273,584).

As at 30 April 2022, the Company had cash reserves of 429,386 (2021: 8,871).

Outlook

The Board is confident that significant progress will be made in the next 12 months in both of its primary investments, WeShop and Bio2Pure. IamFire looks forward to updating the market on these investments in the near term and the Directors would like to thank shareholders for their continued support.

Sandy Barblett

Chairman

27 October 2022

The Directors of the Company, who have issued this RIS announcement after due and careful enquiry, accept responsibility for its content.

REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS

Enquiries:

Company:

info@iamfireplc.com

Peterhouse Capital Limited (Corporate Advisor & Stockbroker):

Guy Miller: + 44 (0) 20 7469 0930 (Direct)

Corporate Broker

Lucy Williams: +44 (0) 20 7469 0930

Duncan Vasey: +44 (0) 20 7220 9797 (Direct)

STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2022

30 April 2022 30 April 2021   CONTINUING OPERATIONS (Loss)/gain on revaluation of investments at fair value through profit or loss (14,844) 30,000 Administrative expenses (373,715) (323,025) OPERATING LOSS (388,559) (293,025) Finance costs (396,263) (273,584) Finance income 360,000 244,616 LOSS BEFORE TAXATION (424,822) (321,993) Taxation - - LOSS FOR THE YEAR (424,822) (321,993) Other comprehensive income - - TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR (424,822) (321,993) Basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to owners





(0.004)



(0.011)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

AS AT 30 APRIL 2022

30 April 2022 30 April 2021   NON-CURRENT ASSETS Property, plant and equipment 1,375 - Investments at fair value through profit or loss 800,000 814,677 801,375 814,677 CURRENT ASSETS Trade and other receivables 99,473 12,890 Investments at fair value through profit or loss 119,833 60,000 Financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss 9,153,440 4,793,456 Cash and cash equivalents 429,386 8,871 9,802,132 4,875,217 TOTAL ASSETS 10,603,507 5,689,894 CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 32,799 97,524 NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Interest bearing loans and borrowings 5,070,098 4,673,835 TOTAL LIABILITIES 5,102,897 4,771,359 NET ASSETS 5,500,610 918,535 EQUITY Share capital 1,020,087 593,504 Share premium 7,933,038 3,708,120 Other reserves 463,014 107,618 Retained earnings (3,915,529) (3,490,707) TOTAL EQUITY 5,500,610 918,535

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2022

Share capital Share premium Other reserves Retained earnings Total equity      Balance at 1 May 2020 526,733 2,344,890 107,618 (3,168,714) (189,473) Loss for the period - - - (321,993) (321,993) Total comprehensive income - - - (321,993) (321,993) Issue of share capital 66,771 1,363,230 - - 1,430,001 Balance at 30 April 2021 593,504 3,708,120 107,618 (3,490,707) 918,535 Loss for the period - - - (424,822) (424,822) Total comprehensive income - - - (424,822) (424,822) Issue of share capital (net of issue costs) 426,583 4,404,417 - - 4,831,000 Grant of options/warrants - (179,499) 355,396 - 175,897 Balance at 30 April 2022 1,020,087 7,933,038 463,014 (3,915,529) 5,500,610

STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2022
FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) ("FREYR"), a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity, has announced a new service agreement with ITOCHU Corporation ("ITOCHU"), the Japan-based global trading and import/export company. As part of this agreement, ITOCHU will serve as a direct materials supplier for FREYR's procurement and supply chain operations.

"We are excited to partner with ITOCHU, and we intend to build on their expertise in shipping, planning, and production, as we establish, maintain, decarbonize, and localize our growing supply chain. ITOCHU possesses a broad global network of trusted materials suppliers, which we believe will lead to meaningful benefits for FREYR as we cooperatively source and price high-quality materials," said Dr. Tilo Hauke, EVP Supply Chain Management, FREYR.

"As the world moves towards decarbonization, we see FREYR as an integral part of enabling a clean and sustainable lithium battery industry. The supply chain will be an essential part of their journey towards greater speed and scale in the market, and we are eager to support them in sourcing the raw materials to meet their growing needs," said Yasuhiro Abe, Power Environmental Solution Division COO, ITOCHU.

FREYR and ITOCHU previously entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2020, which outlined a mutual intention to explore potential opportunities within lithium-ion battery production and related operations. As FREYR approaches initial production from the Customer Qualification Plant, the two companies are deepening collaboration to secure the raw materials required for FREYR's planned battery production at giga scale.

ITOCHU and FREYR are both investors in 24M Technologies, Inc., FREYR's U.S.-based technology licensing partner. The 24M production platform is designed to enable significant reductions in capital expenditures, factory footprint, energy consumption and raw materials.

About FREYR Battery

FREYR Battery aims to provide industrial scale clean battery solutions to reduce global emissions. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, FREYR's mission is to produce green battery cells to accelerate the decarbonization of energy and transportation systems globally. FREYR has commenced building the first of its planned factories in Mo i Rana, Norway and announced potential development of industrial scale battery cell production in Vaasa, Finland, and the United States. FREYR intends to install 50 GWh of battery cell capacity by 2025 and 100 GWh annual capacity by 2028 and 200 GWh of annual capacity by 2030. To learn more about FREYR, please visit www.freyrbattery.com.

About ITOCHU Corporation

The history of ITOCHU Corporation dates to 1858 when the Company's founder Chubei Itoh commenced linen trading operations. Since then, ITOCHU has evolved and grown over 150 years. With approximately 100 bases in 62 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas. For more information, go to: www.itochu.co.jp.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding ITOCHU's ability to serve as a direct materials supplier for FREYR's procurement and supply chain operations; FREYR's ability to derive meaningful benefits from ITOCHU's broad global network of trusted materials suppliers through cooperatively sourcing and pricing high-quality materials; FREYR's integral part in enabling a clean and sustainable lithium battery industry; the role of supply chain in achieving greater speed and scale in the lithium battery market; FREYR's ability to achieve initial production in its Customer Qualification Plant in Mo i Rana, Norway; and the 24M production platform's ability to enable significant reductions in capital expenditures, factory footprint, energy consumption and raw materials are forward-looking and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Most of these factors are outside FREYR's control and difficult to predict. Information about factors that could materially affect FREYR is set forth under the "Risk Factors" section in (i) FREYR's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 1, 2022, and (ii) FREYR's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2022, available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005063/en/

Contacts:

Investor contact:

Jeffrey Spittel

Vice President, Investor Relations

jeffrey.spittel@freyrbattery.com

Tel: (+1) 281-222-0161

Media contact:

Katrin Berntsen

Vice President, Communication and Public Affairs

katrin.berntsen@freyrbattery.com

Tel: (+47) 920 54 570
Portugal facility will serve as technology hub in Europe, focused on developing innovation with cloud, big data, and machine learning technology

Reltio, the leading cloud-native, SaaS Master Data Management (MDM) platform company, today formally announced the opening of its offices in Lisbon, Portugal with a ribbon-cutting celebration and office tour for local dignitaries. The new location will serve as the hub for technology innovation within the region. The Reltio team will be focused on helping companies accelerate the value of their data to maximize business impact. This has become increasingly important and critical, particularly in the current economic climate.

Data is the heart of business, and Reltio's modern MDM platform helps enterprises around the globe harness, connect, cleanse and unify in real time their multisource data into a single source of trusted information. Reltio proudly serves companies of all sizes, including 14 of the Fortune 100, and globally recognized customers such as Pfizer, L'Oreal, Xerox, CarMax, Takeda, and AstraZeneca -- all of which rely on the Reltio platform.

"The opening of our Lisbon location marks an important milestone in our strategic growth plans for serving the rapidly growing need for MDM among European enterprises. It also enables us to scale and support our customers and partners around the world," said Manish Sood, CEO, Founder and Chairman of Reltio.

The Portugal office is centrally located in the nation's capital at Av. Jose Malhoa 22 in Lisbon.

"When we decided to expand our global footprint and seek an office space in Europe, we determined that a location where technology and innovation is thriving was key. We chose Lisbon for Reltio's newest location as the city is passionate about building a vibrant hub of forward-thinking businesses and technology companies," added Sood.

This announcement comes at a time of rapid growth for Reltio. Reltio previously announced it secured $120 million in equity funding, at a $1.7 billion valuation. To date, Reltio has raised $237 million in total funding. In June, Reltio announced it had crossed the $100 million mark in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), a significant milestone driven by growing interest from enterprises across industries to adopt modern, cloud MDM solutions as part of their digital transformation strategies.

About Reltio

At Reltio, we believe data should fuel business success. Reltio's cloud-native master data management (MDM) SaaS platform unifies in real time core data from multiple sources into a single source of trusted information. Clean, connected, actionable data enables Reltio customers to grow revenue, increase efficiencies, and manage risk. Leading enterprise brands-from more than 140 countries spanning multiple industries-rely on our award-winning solution to turn data into their most valuable asset. For the third year, Reltio was named a Leader in Forrester Wave 2021 for Master Data Management. Visit Reltio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005343/en/

Contacts:

Reltio Media Contact:

Alan Ryan

Allison+Partners for Reltio

Reltio@allisonpr.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) ("Defiance" or the "Company") announces that the case initiated against the illegally and fraudulently transferred mineral concessions concerning its Tepal Project has been admitted for trial by a District Court in Michoacan, Mexico. An evidence hearing will be scheduled shortly.

It was further ordered to "stay" the mineral concessions until the trial concludes and a final judgment is rendered. This order protects Defiance from any attempt to dispose of the mineral concessions and preserves the matter of the trial.

The Mexican Mining Public Registry has been duly informed and notified of the above.

The aforementioned orders allow the early conclusion that District Court will eventually rule in favor of Defiance, restoring its rightful ownership of the Mining Concessions. Defiance has a substantial likelihood of success on the merits. Mexican Law, Mexican Precedents, and Mexican Courts are consistent in declaring null and void illegal transfers made fraudulently.

About Defiance Silver Corp.

Defiance Silver Corp. (TSXV: DEF) (OTCQX: DNCVF) (FSE: D4E) is an exploration company advancing the district-scale San Acacio Deposit, located in the historic Zacatecas Silver District and the Tepal Gold/Copper Project in Michoacan state, Mexico. Defiance is managed by a team of proven mine developers with a track record of exploring, advancing and developing several operating mines and advanced resource projects Defiance's corporate mandate is to expand the San Acacio and Tepal projects to become premier Mexican silver and gold deposits.

Mr. George Cavey, P.Geo, V.P Exploration for Defiance Silver is a Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has approved the technical information concerning the Company's material mineral properties contained in this press release.

On behalf of Defiance Silver Corp.

"Chris Wright"

Chairman of the Board

For more information, please contact: Investor Relations at +1 (604) 343-4677 or via email at info@defiancesilver.com .

www.defiancesilver.com

Suite 2900-550 Burrard Street

Vancouver, BC V6C 0A3

Canada

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Defiance Silver Corp. relies upon litigation protection for forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142029
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Taurus Gold Corp. (CSE: TAUR) ("Taurus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has engaged SGS Canada Inc. ("SGS") to complete the first modern Mineral Resource Estimate for the Company's Charlotte gold-silver property. The road-accessible Charlotte property is located in the Dawson Range mining district, 60 km west of Carmacks, Yukon Territory, Canada.

SGS has significant experience in estimation and modelling of mineral deposits in the Dawson Range region. The focus of their work will be on the Flex Zone, a network of stacked epithermal gold-silver quartz veins exposed on surface. Taurus completed a drill program in 2020 that built on positive results from drilling and exploration programs conducted in 2010 to 2012 and extended high-grade gold-silver mineralization on the Flex Zone to the west, south, to depth and down plunge.

"SGS's work will serve as a foundation for further expansion of resources on the Charlotte property as we continue exploration. In addition, we feel there is considerable potential for finding new discoveries on our large land package in an established mining district," says Trevor Harding, CEO. "We also note that mining infrastructure development in the Dawson Range area is advancing with ongoing construction of the Carmacks Bypass Road Project. Completion of this first section of the Casino Project road will allow for improved safety and access to mineral development and exploration activities."

SGS has completed their site visit to the Charlotte property and is currently working with Taurus geologists to validate the drill hole database, conduct analysis, and construct a model for open pit and underground resources.

About the Flex Zone

The Flex Zone is located on an all-season access road; exposed mineralization on surface was completely stripped during the 1990s and reveals a mineralized zone approximately 80 metres wide by 350 metres long. The Flex Zone is delineated over a northwest-trending strike length of 550 m and is defined by a network of stacked epithermal gold-silver quartz veins, which range from 5 cm to 1.1 m in apparent thickness, within precious metal enriched wallrock. The strongest mineralization occurs where northwest trending Flex Zone veins are offset by east to northeast tending faults. These highly mineralized areas tend to repeat at regular intervals and retain their grade tenor and widths at depth. Mineralization consists of varying amounts of pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, stibnite, boulangerite and sulphosalts, including pyrargyrite. Wallrock silicification at the Flex vein system extends precious metal grade widths up to 7 m.

About the Charlotte Property

The Charlotte property lies in the Dawson Range portion of the Tintina Gold Belt. The region is characterized by gold veins and breccia, as well as copper-gold porphyry mineralization. The property consists of 139 full or fractional quartz mineral claims and mineral leases that cover an area totalling 2,357.1 hectares (approximately 23 km2). All but two of the mineral claims are contiguous. The Charlotte property is host to several mineralized zones of interest including the Huestis, Webber, and Flex precious metal vein systems in the southern part of the property and under-explored porphyry copper mineralization in the northwest. Taurus Gold Corp. has an option to earn 100% interest in the Charlotte property. Other active mineral projects in the Dawson Range area include Rockhaven Resources' Klaza Project, Triumph Gold's Freegold project and Granite Creek Copper's Carmacks project.

The Charlotte property is underlain by Devonian and older metaplutonic, metasedimentary, and metavolcanic rocks. Middle Cretaceous granodiorite and quartz-feldspar porphyry of the Dawson Range phase of the Whitehorse Plutonic Suite, and Middle Cretaceous andesite of the Mt. Nansen Group volcanic suite variably intrude the host rocks.

The technical information in this news release has been approved by Ken MacDonald, P. Geo. who is an independent "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Trevor Harding

President and Chief Executive Officer

Taurus Gold Corp.

Phone: 587-608-5035

#239 9768-170th Street, Edmonton, AB T5T 5L4

Email: info@taurusgold.ca

Website: https://taurusgold.ca/

Forward-looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein are forward-looking, other than statements of historical fact. Generally, the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "is expected", or "will continue", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Taurus Gold to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements. Although Taurus Gold has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information or statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information or statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and Taurus Gold disclaims, except as required by applicable securities laws, any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.





Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8500/142057_Carmacks%20Bypass%20Project%20bridge.jpg





Figure 2



To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8500/142057_SGS%20Site%20Visit%20Oct%202022.jpg

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142057
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / iMetal Resources, Inc. (TSXV:IMR)(OTC PINK:ADTFF)(FRANKFURT:A7V) ("iMetal" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of the fall 2022 drill campaign at Gowganda West ("GW"). GW is an exploration-stage gold project about 100 km south-southeast of Timmins, Ontario, contiguous to Aris Gold Corp.'s Juby Project in the Shining Tree Camp of the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt; contiguous also with the Knight project that is part of the Strategic Partnership between Orefinders Resources Inc. and Agnico Eagle Mines Inc.

A total of seven drill holes were completed for a total meterage of 2611m. The objective of the 2022 program was to follow-up on the long gold intervals encountered in the lower sections of the westernmost drill holes from the 2019 maiden drill program: 0.37 g/t gold over 29.4 metres, 0.32 g/t gold over 30.25 metres, and 0.41 g/t gold over 19.5 metres. Identified gold targets along strike (northwest-southeast), along potential parallel trends (as seen at the adjacent Juby Project), and potential new trends were also tested as part of this drilling program. Core logging and sampling continues, and initial samples have begun to be shipped to ALS Geochemistry in Rouyn-Noranda for assaying. The first batches of assay results are expected before year end.

Saf Dhillon, Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are extremely pleased with the smooth execution of our Fall Drilling Program at Gowganda West. DIAFOR Inc. did an extremely professional and efficient job and that allowed us to complete more drilling meters than originally anticipated. We are excited to share the assay results as soon as possible. Gowganda West is an exceptional opportunity to drill near-surface, gold-bearing rocks in the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt, near a multi-million-ounce gold deposit, and we look forward to analyzing these results and then commencing drilling again in the near future."

QA/QC Protocols

iMetal adheres to a strict QA/QC program for core handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses. Drill core will be securely transported to the rented core facility in Larder Lake which has gate only access. Samples will be sawn in half, labelled, placed in sealed, securitized bags and shipped directly to ALS Laboratories in Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec for analysis. ALS Geochemistry Rouyn-Noranda is a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited facility that conforms with both CAN-P-1579 and CAN-P-4E ISO/IEC 17025.

QA/QC control procedures include the systematic insertion of duplicate, blank and certified reference materials (CRM) at regular intervals into the sampling stream. Geochemistry analyses will consist of gold by fire assay and atomic absorption spectrometry (Au-AA26) with overlimit values subsequently analyzed using the gravimetric finish (Au-GRA22) technique. Where elected select samples may be analyzed for multi-element using a four acid/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ME-MS61) analysis.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (British Columbia), a director of iMetal and a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101.

About iMetal Resources Inc.

iMetal is a Canadian based junior exploration company focused on the exploration and development of its portfolio of resource properties in Ontario and Quebec. One of its Flagship properties Gowganda West, is an exploration-stage gold project that borders the Juby Project and is located within the Shining Tree Camp area in the southern part of the Abitibi Greenstone Gold Belt about 100 km south-southeast of the Timmins Gold Camp. The 665-hectare Kerrs Gold Deposit comprises a series of gold-bearing pyritized quartz vein replacement breccias with a 2011 historic resource, 90 kilometres ENE of Timmins. The 220-hectare Ghost Mountain property, 42 kilometres NE of Kirkland Lake, lies 5 kilometres west of Agnico Eagle's Holt and Holloway Mine Complex.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

iMetal Resources Inc.

info@imetalresources.ca

Tel. (604-484-3031)

Suite 550, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2V6.

https://imetalresources.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.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration, variations in results of mineralization, relationships with local communities, market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws.

SOURCE: iMetal Resources, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722517/iMetal-Resources-Completes-Drilling-at-Gowganda-West-For-Fall-2022-Drill-Program
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - EnviroGold Global Limited (CSE: NVRO) (OTCQB: ESGLF) (FSE: YGK) ("EnviroGold Global" or the "Company"), a clean technology innovator transforming the world's overabundance of waste into responsibly produced precious metals and critical materials, is pleased to announce that the Company will be presenting at Red Cloud's 2022 Fall Mining Showcase.

We invite our shareholders and all interested parties to join us there.

The annual conference will be hosted in-person, at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel from November 9-10, 2022.

Juan Carlos Giron, Sr. Vice President will be presenting in the City Hall presentation room on Wednesday, November 9th at 4:20pm Eastern Standard time.

For more information and/or to register for the conference please visit: https://redcloudfs.com/fallminingshowcase2022/.

See the following link for the latest news on EnviroGold Global's Hellyer Tailings Reprocessing Project:

EnviroGold Global Files NI 43-101 Technical Report Announcing US$ 350M in net, After-Tax Cash Flows, 66% After-Tax IRR for its Hellyer Tailings Reprocessing Project

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information:

Further Information

Dr. Mark B. Thorpe

Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: +1 416 777 6720

Email: mark.thorpe@envirogoldglobal.com

Juan Carlos Giron Jr.

Sr. Vice President

Telephone: +1 416 777 6720

Email: juan.giron@envirogoldglobal.com

Website: www.EnviroGoldGlobal.com

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 news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142098
COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's retail sales declined for the first time in three months in September, amid a fall in sales of fresh food and other groceries, figures from Statistics Denmark showed on Thursday. Retail sales fell 0.4 percent month-on-month in September, after rising 0.3 percent growth in August. The latest decline was the first since June, when sales shrank 1.6 percent. Sales of food and other groceries decreased 3.0 percent monthly in September. Meanwhile, sales of clothing gained 3.7 percent and those of other consumables rose 1.1 percent. On a yearly basis, retail sales decreased 5.4 percent in September, following a 5.2 percent fall in the previous month. During the July to September period, retail sales declined 6.6 percent annually, following a 1.4 fall in the April to June period. 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.
TAIPEI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allion has been recently accredited by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) as one of the world's first Matter Authorized Test Laboratories (ATL). As of today, we provide Matter certification testing and consulting services, supporting IoT vendors in the certification process and reducing time-to-market. Our goal is to help manufacturers produce high-quality products that meet consumer demands.





Matter is an IP-based smart home protocol for interoperability between IoT devices beyond a single ecosystem. With its network based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread, Matter not only enhances product privacy and security, it also provides a consistent standard for product evaluation. If a product is Matter-certified, it is compatible with all other Matter-enabled devices, allowing consumers to have new IoT experiences across brands which increases brand recognition and trust.

However, smart home products should also have other AV certification and validation tests to win consumers' trust. Certifications such as Amazon Alexa Voice Service, OCF, UPnP+, DLNA, HDMI, HDCP, HDR10+, 8K, and IMAX can show consumers that the product has undergone strict testing.

Besides certification tests, Allion arranges for user experience testing, also significant to products that support Matter. Quality of Experience (QoE) can be measured in the test environment (set up to simulate a real user's usage environment, such as the smart home, smart office or smart building). For smart home scenarios, Allion provides one-stop consultancy services including Ecosystem Interoperability & Real-World Testing, Mobile App Consultancy Service, Wireless Infrastructure Consulting Service (WICS), Security Evaluation, and Compliance & Certification.

As an authorized test lab of over 30 certifications, Allion can not only assist with Matter certifications, but also provide Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, audio-video validations, and more. Allion provides brands a simple and convenient product certification process.

For further information on Matter or other related services, please refer to https://www.allion.com/certification/matter_eu

Service Locations

Global: service@allion.com

USA: us_service@allionusa-sgs.com

Japan: web-info@allion.co.jp

China: cn_service@allion.com.cn

About Allion Labs, Inc.

Founded in 1991, Allion has accumulated over 30 years of testing experience. Headquartered in Taiwan with branches in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and South Korea, we are able to provide services wherever you are. Allion offers professional services in research, design, quality, and production. Our services include standard certification and compliance testing, product ecosystem scenario testing, test fixture design, and IIoT solutions.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930100/Allion_Labs_Support_Matter_Validation_Building_Your_Smart_Home.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/allion-labs-becomes-one-of-first-matter-authorized-test-labs-to-provide-one-stop-validation-service-301661091.html
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated October 25, 2022, following discussions with its advisors relating to the sanctions imposed on the Nicaraguan General Directorate of Mines by the United States Treasury Department on October 24, 2022 (the "Sanctions") and an internal review of its current and future planned operations, the Company confirms that the Sanctions do not have a material impact on its Nicaraguan operations. The Libertad and Limon complexes are operating to plan, and the Company is on track to meet our 2022 consolidated annual production guidance of 220,000 - 235,000 ounces gold.

Calibre reiterates its commitment to its assets in Nicaragua, and particularly to its employees and host communities. Calibre operates these assets in a way that is protective of people, respectful of cultural heritage and that contributes to economic development, while acting as a steward of the natural environment. The Company will continue to strive to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth.

Calibre will continue to monitor its operations with the assistance of its advisors to ensure that the Company continues to comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including any sanctions that may result from Executive Order 13851, as well as international standards and best practices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"DarrenHall"

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 "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") 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. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre'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 Calibre's forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibre'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 management'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.
VACAVILLE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / Athena Gold Corporation (OTCQB:AHNR)(CSE:ATHA) ("Athena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of the Company's fall 2022 reverse circulation ("RC") drill program consisting of six (6) angle holes for an estimated 2,000 feet (610 meters) at its Excelsior Springs Project ("Excelsior Springs" or "Project"), located approximately 45 miles southwest of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The Bureau of Land Management approved the permit for further drilling earlier this month.

John Power, President and CEO of Athena, said, "The first three proposed holes are focused on further delineating the mineralized zone around the intercept in our discovery hole DB-23, this hole drilled in our spring 2022 RC drill program, contained 110 feet (34 meters) of 5.2 g/t Au and 8.9 g/t Ag, the best drill hole intercept in the history of the project." Power continued "Our next three proposed holes will be testing other high priority drill targets to follow up on historic drill intercepts that also had significant Grade x Thickness ("GT") products. This program should provide invaluable data as we further explore and develop the Project. Excelsior Springs is emerging as one of the best advanced gold exploration projects in Nevada."

RC Drill Program commenced on October 26, 2022 at Excelsior Springs Project, Nevada

DB-23 Area

Proposed Holes 1-3 will target east, west and up-dip from high grade gold intercept in hole DB-23 (see news release dated June 29, 2022), which started at 140 feet (43 meters) deep and contained 110 feet (34 meters) of 5.2 g/t Au and 8.9 g/t Ag, including 55 feet (17 meters) of 10.0 g/t Au and 17.3 g/t Ag, and 35 feet (11 meters) of 15.3 g/t Au and 26.5 g/t Ag.

DB-23 contained the highest-grade intercept of more than 20 feet thick at the Project and its Grade x Thickness ("GT") product of 566 is twice as large as the next highest GT on the Project. In addition, DB-23 is open up and down dip and untested for potential strike length extensions of at least 450 feet (137 meters) to the west and more than 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the east.

East Buster Area

Proposed Hole 4 will test up dip from a 110 feet (34 meters) intercept in EX-2 averaging

2.7 g/t Au from 230 (70 meters) to 340 feet (140 meters) and the second-best GT of 299.9 on the Project. Hole 4 will also be drilled approximately 100 feet (30 meters) below a surface sample reported at 30 feet (10 meters) of 3.1 g/t Au.

Proposed Hole 5 will test down dip from a 90 ft (27 meters) intercept in 88-06 averaging 2.5 g/t Au from 0 to 90 ft (27 meters), which is the third best GT at 223.92 on the Project. Hole 5 will also test downdip from the 110 ft (34 meters) intercept of 2.7 g/t Au in EX-2 discussed in Hole 4 above.

Proposed Hole 6 will test up dip from intercepts in EX-15 of 35 ft (11 meters) of 0.74 g/t Au from 15 to 35 ft, 100 ft (30 meters) of 0.87 from 65 (20 meters) to 165 (50 meters) and 40 ft (12 meters) of 0.94 from 185 (56 meters) to 225 ft (69 meters) as well an intercept from 0 to 125 feet (38 meters) averaging 0.93 g/t Au in hole 88-08. Total GT's are 138.72 in EX-15 and 116.63 in 88-08.

*The grades of EX-2, EX-15, 88-06 and 88-08 are considered to be historical in nature, should not be relied upon, and are provided only for historical context regarding exploration at the property. A Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to validate the information provided by these holes.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Procedures are being implemented to assure Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC) of drill hole assaying at an ISO Accredited assay laboratory in Reno. All 5-footdrill hole samples are being securely stored for shipment, with chain of custody documentation through delivery to the lab. Mineralized commercial reference standards and coarse blank standards are being inserted every 20th sample in sequence to assure acceptable levels of confidence of the drill hole assays. When laboratory reports of the assays are received, QAQC protocols are immediately augmented to ensure the precision and accuracy of the drill hole assays.

As the Project advances, additional QAQC measures will be implemented including selected duplicate check assaying on pulps and coarse rejects at a second accredited assay laboratory.

Qualified Person

Donald G. Strachan, Certified Professional Geologist (CPG #10376 AIPG), is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis of this press release and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Strachan is independent of the Company and was responsible for the site management and technical aspects of Athena's Spring 2022 drill program and the current Fall 2022 drill program.

About Athena Gold Corporation

Athena is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct additional exploration drilling and studies on the Project.

For further information about Athena Gold Corporation and our Excelsior Springs Gold project, please visit www.athenagoldcorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

John Power

Chief Executive Officer and President

Contact:

Phone: John Power, 707-291-6198

Email: info@athenagoldcorp.com

Cautionary Statement to U.S. Investors

This press release references NI 43-101, which differs from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators that establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects.

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") permits mining companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only those mineral deposits that a company can legally extract or produce. Pursuant to SEC Industry Guide 7 under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a "final" or "bankable" feasibility study is required to report reserves. Currently Athena has not delineated "reserves" on any of its properties. Athena cannot be certain that any deposits at its properties will ever be confirmed or converted into SEC Industry Guide 7 or any successor rule or regulation compliant "reserves". Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the historic Buster Mine gold zone will ever be confirmed or converted into reserves or that it can be economically or legally extracted.

The SEC has adopted amendments to its disclosure rules to modernize the mineral property disclosure requirements for issuers whose securities are registered with the SEC under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These amendments became effective February 25, 2019, with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and historical property disclosure requirements for mining registrants that were included in SEC Industry Guide 7 will be rescinded from and after such date.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration plans and the completion of a phase 2 drill program at the Project, future results from exploration, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. 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 typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this press release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, QAQC procedures at the Project were followed, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and other factors and risks that are discussed in the Company's periodic filings with the SEC and disclosed in the final long form prospectus of the Company dated August 31, 2021.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this press release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law.

SOURCE: Athena Gold Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722579/Athena-Gold-Commences-Drill-Program-to-Further-Delineate-Shallow-High-grade-Gold-Intercept-from-Discovery-Hole-DB-23
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSXV:CMB)(Frankfurt:ZM5P)(OTCQB:CMCXF) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an additional ground magnetometer survey will be completed on the northern half of its Rodney Pond Property, Central Newfoundland (see Map 1).

Preliminary exploration efforts at Rodney Pond have identified a large area of exploration interest with the nature of mineralization and alteration on the property suggestive of porphyritic style setting. The mineralization in Rodney Pond comprises of several parallel quartz veins emplaced in a compact gneiss that strike in a northwesterly direction and occurs within an alteration area with dimensions of 2.5 kilometers by 1.2 kilometers in size that remains open in all directions. Rodney Pond is located within the Gander Zone in Central Newfoundland, an area of which is subject to several major exploration programs including Newfound Gold's Queensway Gold Project.

Preliminary prospecting completed this summer identified three new copper showings in the northern part of the property that was not covered by the previous ground magnetometer survey (see Map 2). A 37.5-line kilometer ground magnetometer survey will be undertaken by McKeown Exploration Services, St. John's, Newfoundland.

Kevin Brewer, P.Geo President and CEO noted "Our aim is to evaluate whether the magnetic signature identifies any trends between the loci of the previously known copper showings and the recently identified copper showings in the northern portion of the property. In these challenging times we are working hard to find cost effective ways to advance our property portfolio."

The Company further intends to complete project permitting for the Rodney Pond Property to undertake further exploration which may include trenching, geochemical sampling and additional geophysics for the 2023 season and beyond.

Map 1

Map 2

Map 3

Qualified Person

Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data.

About CMC Metals Ltd.

CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (Yukon) and Amy and Silverknife claims (north-central British Columbia). Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals include Logjam (Yukon), Bridal Veil, Terra Nova and Rodney Pond (central Newfoundland).

On behalf of the Board:

"John Bossio"

John Bossio, Chairman

CMC METALS LTD.

For Further Information and Investor Inquiries:

Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng.

President, CEO and Director

Tel: (+52) 669 198 8503

kbrewer80@hotmail.com

Suite 1000-409 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6C 1T2

To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer directly.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

"This news release may contain certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation."

SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722578/CMC-Announces-Commencement-of-an-Additional-Ground-Magnetometer-Survey-Efforts-at-Its-Rodney-Pond-Property-Central-Newfoundland
Berlin, Germany--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) -Ninetailed, a Berlin-based startup specializing in creating engaging digital customer experiences through personalization and experimentation for the modern tech stack, has raised 5M in seed funding led by Mosaic Ventures and Cherry Ventures. The boost in fresh capital fuels the API-first company to further double down on creating interactive experiences and value for both clients and end customers by activating customer and content data for the web, commerce, and beyond.

Ninetailed Raises 5M to Build the Data-Driven Experience Layer of Composable Architecture

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The round is complemented by existing investor First Momentum Ventures and leading angel investors such as Carsten Thoma (co-founder of hybris (acquired by SAP)), Chris Schagen (former Contentful CMO), Jason Cottrell (CEO of Orium), and Mirko Novakovic (co-founder and CEO of Instana) among others. With this investment, Ninetailed plans to expand its team, add new technology and solution partners to its partnership network along with Contentful, Hygraph, Stackbit, Storyblok, Orium, and Apply Digital, and continue developing the experience layer of the composable architecture.

"Getting set up with personalization and experimentation should be simple. We are democratizing personalization and enabling teams to create and deliver personalization and experimentation themselves without long integration time into their composable stack and first-party data. Developers and creatives get the full power of blazing-fast personalization and experimentation through super flexible APIs, SDKs, and connections," said CEO Andy Kaiser.

Ninetailed was born from the team's prior experiences in enterprise CMS, API-first services, and digital experiences and the barriers to accessing and integrating headless personalization tools.

Ninetailed's initial offering is an experience layer of composable MACH - Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless - architecture that enables anyone to personalize, test, and optimize the digital customer experience. The MACH-first approach enables Ninetailed to integrate seamlessly with the modern tech stack to create instant experiences without compromising performance. It also allows business users to define data-driven experiences in a no-code environment within their headless CMS workflow without depending on developers.

"Although technology has reshaped many aspects of marketing, the explosion of customer experience solutions has not been accompanied by parallel progress on further empowering developers to create and manage modern composable architectures. With this funding, we'll be able to take our technology to the next level and make the experience layer of the MACH architecture the industry standard for customer experience and engagement," said Andy Kaiser.

"The commerce stack has evolved significantly over the past several years with the composable architecture and rendering at the edge. The Ninetailed team is fully seizing this opportunity and creating an experience that has not been possible before, delivering superior experience and value for both customers and consumers," says Thomas Lueke, Partner at Cherry Ventures. "It is impressive that the team has already been able to close significant customers in its first year, from startups to Fortune 500 companies in a range of industries, including B2B SaaS, FMCG, e-commerce, and FinTech, and we are excited to continue our support".

Bart Dessaint, Partner at Mosaic Ventures, says, "Hyper-personalized user journeys are a key driver of conversion and the new grail for any company engaging its customers online. From e-commerce to SaaS, building dynamic pages today requires manually pooling data from more than five core systems of record, from headless CMSs to CRMs, by way of commerce platforms and CDPs; a painful and expensive process. The future of customer experiences is here with Ninetailed's unifying API for a seamlessly integrated backend, the fastest integration time in the market, low latency via rendering at the edge, and an elegant GUI to run experiments."

Dessaint continues by expressing its excitement about investing in Ninetailed, "We are thrilled to be leading the team's seed round with our friends at Cherry and cannot wait to work alongside Andy, Alex, Michael, and the rest of the team to bring their vision to life; welcome to the Mosaic family!"

About Ninetailed

Ninetailed is an API-first personalization and experimentation solution that creates instant experiences to personalize, test, and optimize the customer journey without performance trade-offs for composable MACH architecture and modern technology stack.

Contact: content@ninetailed.io

Learn more on ninetailed.io

Or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter

About Mosaic Ventures

Founded in 2014, Mosaic Ventures is a leading early-stage European venture capital firm led by partners who have worked in leading Silicon Valley startups since the dawn of the Internet and have collectively amassed over 50 years in tech on both sides of the Atlantic. They invest $1-10m early in founders who are reimagining the world.

About Cherry Ventures

Cherry Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm led by a team of entrepreneurs with experience building fast-scaling companies such as Zalando and Spotify. The firm backs Europe's boldest founders, usually their first institutional investors, and supports them in everything from their go-to-market strategy to scaling their businesses.

Contact:

Esat Artug

esat@ninetailed.com

+49 30 16634517

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/141820
H1 2022 marked by the reaching of several key development milestones with anti- Staphylococcus aureus phages: Start of the PhagoDAIR Phase II clinical study in the treatment of osteoarticular infections of hip and knee prostheses Anti- Staphylococcus aureus phages made available for patients with no therapeutic solutions and unable to be enrolled in the PhagoDAIR study

Success of the 3.1 million capital increase carried out in September 2022

Regulatory News:

Pherecydes Pharma (FR0011651694 ALPHE) (Paris:ALPHE) a biotechnology company specializing in precision phage therapy to treat resistant and/or complicated bacterial infections, today announces its financial results for the first half of the year to June 30, 2022 and assesses its activities and development prospects.

Didier Hoch, Chairman and CEO of Pherecydes Pharma, said: "During the first half of this year, Pherecydes Pharma deployed its strategy focused on developing phage therapy in indications for which there is a substantial unmet medical need. The launch of our PhagoDAIR Phase II clinical study, targeting osteoarticular infections of prosthetic joints caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria, is a major step in this respect. We are working to expand this study across Europe and are expecting the first clinical results by the end of 2023. The latter will be decisive for initiating a Phase III study on the same indication in 2024. At the same time, we are making these same phages available for patients with no therapeutic solutions and unable to be enrolled in the PhagoDAIR study thanks to the AAC early access program. Lastly, notably thanks to the funds raised in late September, we can meet our immediate financing requirements. We intend to continue this momentum by opening, in the coming months, additional European clinical centers for our PhagoDAIR study, by preparing the initiation of two other Phase II studies in indications with a substantial unmet medical need and by finalizing the preclinical development of our anti-E. Coli phages

Half-year 2022 results

Simplified income statement1 (in euros) H1 2022 H1 2021 Operating income 2,612,166 1,328,136 Operating expenses 4,852,978 3,257,063 Operating profit/loss - 2,240,812 - 1,928,927 Financial result - 31,035 - 3,909 Exceptional income 482,259 224,674 Research Tax Credit 732,187 254,244 Net profit/loss - 1,057,401 - 1,453,918

In the first half of 2022, total operating income essentially consisting of capitalized production associated with the S. aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) programs was 2,608 thousand, compared with 1,328 thousand in the first half of 2021. This 97% increase reflects the progress made in these two strategic programs.

Operating expenses totaled 4,853 thousand in the first half of 2022, up 49% compared to 3,257 thousand recorded in the first half of 2021. This increase was essentially due to the R&D spending associated with the ramping up of the PhagoDAIR study and to personnel costs following the strengthening of the teams at the Romainville and Nantes sites.

The operating loss for the first half of 2022 was thus 2,241 thousand, versus a loss of 1,929 thousand a year earlier.

Exceptional income totaled 482 thousand in the first half of 2022, vs. 225 thousand in the same half of 2021, notably associated with the subsidies granted within the framework of the PhagEcoli program.

Once Research Tax Credit of 732 thousand is taken into account, the net loss for the first half of 2022 was 1,057 thousand, compared with a loss of 1,454 thousand in the first half of 2021.

Strengthened financial structure

At June 30, 2022, the Company had a cash position of 1,206 thousand, versus 5,357 thousand at December 31, 2021. Shareholders' equity was 6,505 thousand at June 30, 2022 vs. 9,228 thousand at December 31, 2021.

On September 22, 2022, Pherecydes Pharma successfully carried out a capital increase of 3.1 million, including 2.6 million from institutional and longstanding investors and 0.5 million from individual investors via the PrimaryBid platform. Given its current development plans, the Company estimates that that operation, combined with its current cash and cash equivalents, will allow the Company to finance the development of its activities through to the end of March 2023.The Company estimates that the additional financing requirements to meet its cash needs for the next twelve months, i.e. until the end of October 2023, are 5-6 million.

Thus, in order to meet its cash requirements to finance its activities over the coming twelve months, the Company will have to begin searching for additional financing solutions of various types, notably an equity financing line or standard or bond debt, with third parties or its shareholders, but also possible subsidies and/or repayable advances specifically relating to the Company's research programs. Moreover, the Company could scale back its operational plans, notably by delaying or limiting the extent of its development program.

H1 2022 highlights

Launch of the PhagoDAIR Phase II clinical study

On February 7, 2022, the Company announced that it had received a favorable opinion from the Ethics Committee (Comite de Protection des Personnes, Ile de France III) for the PhagoDAIR study, a Phase II clinical study in the treatment of osteoarticular infections of prostheses caused by Staphylococcus aureus, its protocol having already been approved by the ANSM (French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines) in December 2021. PhagoDAIR is the world's first phage therapy study conducted in this indication and should include 64 patients with a knee or hip joint infection due to S. aureus

The enrollment of the first patient was announced on June 15, 2022 and the first results are expected at the end of 2023. Patient enrollment is currently progressing in line with the plan. Depending on the preliminary results of the Phase II study, a Phase III study could be initiated in 2024.

New patents granted

The Company continued its active intellectual property policy during the first half of the year, and was granted two more patents:

a second patent granted in China for its anti- Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages, following the one granted in December 2021 for its anti -Staphylococcus aureus phages.

phages, following the one granted in December 2021 for its anti phages. a new patent granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) for its anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages.

The Company is developing a solid portfolio of 87 patents each covering specific phages, combination of Phages and their variants against the 3 target bacteria: P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. Coli

Change in the governance structure

The Shareholders' Meeting of May 19, 2022 approved the evolution of Pherecydes Pharma's governance towards a company with a Board of Directors. This Board, comprising 7 members, 2 of whom are independent, appointed Mr. Didier Hoch as Chairman and CEO and Mr. Thibaut du Fayet as Deputy CEO.

Main post-closing events

Phagogram registered as an in vitro diagnostic test in accordance with EC Directives

On September 12, 2022, Pherecydes Pharma announced the registration of its phagogram as an in vitro diagnostic test ("Phagogram 1.5") in accordance with Directive 98/79/EC. This registration is the first stage of a broader strategic program whose goal is to develop a new generation phagogram, "Phagogram 2.0", in collaboration with the CEA. This program aims to significantly shorten the lead time required for a diagnosis and thus offer phage therapy in all types of indications, whether acute or chronic.

Creation of an international Clinical Advisory Board

On September 15, 2022, the Company announced the setting up of a Clinical Advisory Board comprising prominent international scientific and clinical experts in infectious diseases. This group of prominent international scientists will contribute to the definition and implementation of the Company's clinical development strategy in phage therapy.

Strategy Outlook

Over the coming months, the Company intends to continue the development of its various assets:

1. Clinical development of anti-S. aureus phages:

ramping up of the PhagoDAIR Phase II study in France and Europe with the opening of new clinical centers, notably in Spain (4 sites activated), the Netherlands and Germany (Q1 2023), till the primary clinical endpoint evaluation;

the preparation and initiation of another Phase II study in a clinical indication with substantial medical needs;

the launch and management of studies (PHRC) for which the Company is not the sponsor (PhagoPied, Phagos).

2. Clinical Development of anti-P. aeruginosa phages

The Company is intending to initiate a Phase II clinical study in an indication associated with infections with substantial medical needs.

3. Preclinical and Clinical development of anti-E. Coli phages

Pherecydes Pharma will continue its research programs in order to be in a position to launch, in Q4 2023, a Phase I/II study with its anti-E. Coli phages in complex urinary infections.

About Pherecydes Pharma

Founded in 2006, Pherecydes Pharma is a biotechnology company that develops treatments against resistant bacterial infections, responsible for many serious infections. The Company has developed an innovative approach, precision phage therapy, based on the use of phages, natural bacteria-killing viruses. Pherecydes Pharma is developing a portfolio of phages targeting 3 of the most resistant and dangerous bacteria, which alone account for more than two thirds of hospital-acquired resistant infections: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Headquartered in Nantes, Pherecydes Pharma has a team of around twenty experts from the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology sector and academic research.

For more information, www.pherecydes-pharma.com

Disclaimer

This press release contains non-factual elements, including, but not limited to, certain statements regarding future results and other future events. These statements are based on the current vision and assumptions of the management of the Company. They incorporate known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could result in significant differences in results, profitability and expected events. In addition, Pherecydes Pharma, its shareholders and its affiliates, directors, officers, counsels and employees have not verified the accuracy of, and make no representations or warranties about, statistical information or forecast information contained within this news release and that originates or is derived from third party sources or industry publications; these statistical data and forecast information are only used in this press release for information purposes. Finally, this press release may be drafted in French and in English. In the event of differences between the two texts, the French version will prevail.

1 First-half accounts were approved by the Board on October 27, 2022. Limited review procedures relative to these accounts have been carried out.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005757/en/

Contacts:

Pherecydes Pharma

Thibaut du Fayet

Deputy CEO

investors@pherecydes-pharma.com

NewCap

Dusan Oresansky Nicolas Fossiez

Investor Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +33 1 44 71 94 92

NewCap

Arthur Rouille

Media Relations

pherecydes@newcap.eu

T.: +33 1 44 71 00 15
CASTLEGAR, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / Karbon-X Corp. (OTC PINK:KARX) is pleased to provide details for the upcoming launch of it's mobile app.

The app was designed to be user friendly and easily accessible for those new to carbon offsetting. With a few clicks, environmentally conscious individuals, couples, or families can create and customize their profile, choose a C02 reducing project that interests them, and offset their carbon footprint. The app also allows for gifting of carbon offsets and for small business to offset the footprints of their employees. Members can share Karbon-X badges across social media platforms, drawing attention to their climate action commitment.

The app's framework is designed to increase the flow of capital into carbon reduction initiatives, helping underfunded environmental projects to flourish and new projects to be developed.

Vog Calgary Developer Inc. has been working closely with Karbon-X to design and develop the app.

Vince O'Gorman, CEO, VOG Calgary Developer Inc. comments:

"The Karbon-X app is nearing completion of development in the next few months. The platform is being tested thoroughly to ensure that when it hits the market, the dedication to quality and delivering an amazing product for customers will be evident. Our entire team is thrilled to see all the planning and hard work that has gone into the platform finally come together. The next few months are going to be truly exciting"

Chad Clovis, CEO, Karbon-X Corp. comments:

"The Karbon-X APP will provide an exciting platform for members pursuing the global effort of reducing their environmental impact. Download the app, engage with the easy-to-use process and share to the world how you are fighting for change. I feel that with multiple projects being financially supported, along with the volume of carbon offsets being retired by the APP, Karbon-X will have a big impact in meeting the global goal of Net Zero 2050."

Karbon-X anticipates beta testing to begin by the end of 2022, with an official launch of the app in Q1-2023.

Visit karbon-x.com to learn more about the company and to be alerted to platform updates and the upcoming app launch.

About Karbon-X Corp.

Karbon-X Corp is a tech-based carbon marketing company specializing in the sale of carbon offsets to industrial users as well as businesses and everyday people through a mobile APP. The company invests in green projects that have the potential to generate carbon offsets which are then sold on through the mobile APP. Karbon-X provides an opportunity for their online social media community to support projects that are important to them and that positively impact the planet.

On behalf of Karbon-X Corp.

Chad Clovis, Chief Executive Officer & Director

cc@karbon-x.com

+1-778-256-5730

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada or the United States ("forward-looking information"). Forward-looking information may relate to the Company's future outlook and anticipated events, plans or results, and may include information regarding the Company's objectives, goals, strategies, future revenue or performance and capital expenditures, and other information that is not historical information. Forward-looking information can often be identified by the use of terminology such as "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "pending," "in process," "intend," "estimate," "project," "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "can," the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on the Company's opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances.

SOURCE: Karbon-X Project Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722657/Karbon-X-Corp-Introduces-App-Platform-Enabling-Subscribers-To-Conveniently-Offset-Their-Carbon-Footprint
Redde Northgate Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

27 October 2022

REDDE NORTHGATE PLC

("Redde Northgate" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

Redde Northgate plc (LSE:REDD) announces that on 27 October 2022 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 105,000 Weighted average purchase price paid : 333.3034 pence per share Highest purchase price paid : 335 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid : 330.5 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 13,536,303 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore the total number of voting rights in the Company is 232,555,120 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchases - Individual Transactions (all of 27 October 2022)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 1313 330.50 08:19:05 00061798276TRLO0 LSE 850 330.50 08:19:05 00061798275TRLO0 LSE 321 331.50 08:46:30 00061799620TRLO0 LSE 1175 334.00 08:57:32 00061800598TRLO0 LSE 1200 334.00 08:57:32 00061800597TRLO0 LSE 746 334.00 08:57:32 00061800602TRLO0 LSE 215 334.00 08:57:32 00061800601TRLO0 LSE 600 334.00 08:57:32 00061800600TRLO0 LSE 454 334.00 08:57:32 00061800599TRLO0 LSE 6 333.50 08:57:37 00061800606TRLO0 LSE 6 333.50 08:59:53 00061800759TRLO0 LSE 600 333.50 09:05:59 00061801121TRLO0 LSE 718 333.50 09:05:59 00061801122TRLO0 LSE 24 333.50 09:06:31 00061801154TRLO0 LSE 32 333.50 09:07:13 00061801194TRLO0 LSE 371 333.50 09:07:59 00061801247TRLO0 LSE 24 333.50 09:07:59 00061801246TRLO0 LSE 259 333.50 09:07:59 00061801248TRLO0 LSE 2216 333.50 09:42:48 00061803378TRLO0 LSE 2384 333.00 09:56:37 00061803929TRLO0 LSE 181 333.00 09:56:37 00061803932TRLO0 LSE 437 333.00 09:56:37 00061803931TRLO0 LSE 538 333.00 09:56:37 00061803930TRLO0 LSE 2021 333.00 11:04:57 00061807463TRLO0 LSE 35000 333.00 11:08:09 00061807564TRLO0 LSE 2025 333.00 11:34:00 00061808744TRLO0 LSE 10 331.00 11:45:15 00061809158TRLO0 LSE 8 331.00 11:45:35 00061809171TRLO0 LSE 2382 331.00 11:59:25 00061809654TRLO0 LSE 2411 331.50 13:15:18 00061811889TRLO0 LSE 212 331.50 13:17:15 00061812080TRLO0 LSE 569 331.50 13:17:15 00061812083TRLO0 LSE 715 331.50 13:17:15 00061812082TRLO0 LSE 600 331.50 13:17:15 00061812081TRLO0 LSE 639 331.50 13:19:14 00061812168TRLO0 LSE 751 331.50 13:19:15 00061812171TRLO0 LSE 122 331.50 13:19:15 00061812170TRLO0 LSE 630 331.50 13:19:24 00061812184TRLO0 LSE 2239 333.00 13:38:43 00061813039TRLO0 LSE 1826 333.00 13:50:58 00061813687TRLO0 LSE 179 333.00 13:50:58 00061813686TRLO0 LSE 1357 332.50 13:51:23 00061813725TRLO0 LSE 198 332.50 13:51:23 00061813724TRLO0 LSE 6 332.50 13:51:23 00061813723TRLO0 LSE 826 332.50 13:51:23 00061813722TRLO0 LSE 3 334.50 14:33:31 00061816302TRLO0 LSE 3045 335.00 14:35:24 00061816430TRLO0 LSE 4 335.00 14:35:24 00061816432TRLO0 LSE 276 335.00 14:35:24 00061816431TRLO0 LSE 2181 335.00 14:35:24 00061816433TRLO0 LSE 5 335.00 14:36:41 00061816509TRLO0 LSE 2785 334.50 14:39:45 00061816668TRLO0 LSE 509 334.50 14:39:45 00061816667TRLO0 LSE 495 334.50 14:39:45 00061816670TRLO0 LSE 571 334.50 14:39:45 00061816669TRLO0 LSE 33 334.00 14:41:01 00061816757TRLO0 LSE 1422 334.00 14:41:01 00061816759TRLO0 LSE 642 334.00 14:41:01 00061816758TRLO0 LSE 172 333.50 14:45:36 00061817103TRLO0 LSE 715 333.50 14:45:36 00061817102TRLO0 LSE 453 333.50 14:45:36 00061817104TRLO0 LSE 145 333.50 14:46:28 00061817191TRLO0 LSE 915 333.50 14:46:28 00061817190TRLO0 LSE 2323 333.00 15:16:47 00061819383TRLO0 LSE 2054 333.00 15:16:47 00061819382TRLO0 LSE 118 335.00 15:32:41 00061820357TRLO0 LSE 689 335.00 15:32:41 00061820356TRLO0 LSE 226 335.00 15:32:41 00061820358TRLO0 LSE 326 335.00 15:32:41 00061820359TRLO0 LSE 1217 335.00 15:33:31 00061820388TRLO0 LSE 174 335.00 15:36:31 00061820599TRLO0 LSE 1784 335.00 15:36:31 00061820598TRLO0 LSE 2008 335.00 15:40:31 00061820809TRLO0 LSE 1159 334.50 15:42:05 00061820879TRLO0 LSE 799 334.50 15:42:05 00061820880TRLO0 LSE 584 334.00 15:42:28 00061820912TRLO0 LSE 1 334.00 15:42:28 00061820913TRLO0 LSE 469 334.00 15:42:31 00061820914TRLO0 LSE 582 334.00 15:42:35 00061820917TRLO0 LSE 20 334.00 15:42:55 00061820934TRLO0 LSE 12 334.00 15:43:08 00061820992TRLO0 LSE 13 334.00 15:43:08 00061820993TRLO0 LSE 1 334.00 15:51:08 00061821417TRLO0 LSE 496 334.00 15:57:36 00061821779TRLO0 LSE 191 334.00 15:58:58 00061821881TRLO0 LSE 1200 334.00 15:58:58 00061821880TRLO0 LSE 883 334.00 15:58:58 00061821879TRLO0 LSE 842 334.50 16:12:41 00061822854TRLO0 LSE 8 334.50 16:12:41 00061822853TRLO0 LSE 591 334.50 16:12:41 00061822852TRLO0 LSE 824 334.50 16:12:41 00061822851TRLO0 LSE 1639 334.50 16:12:41 00061822850TRLO0 LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

Redde Northgate is the leading integrated mobility solutions platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle. The Company offers integrated mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across seven key areas: vehicle rental, vehicle data, accident management, vehicle repairs, fleet management, service and maintenance, vehicle ancillary services and vehicle sales.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, whether through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With its considerable scale and reach, Redde Northgate's mission is to offer a market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group aims to achieve this through the delivery of its strategic framework of Focus, Drive and Broaden.

Redde Northgate services its customers through a network and diversified fleet of over 120,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 600,000 managed vehicles, with more than 170 workshop, body shop and rental locations across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 6,000 automotive services professionals.

Further information please visit the Company's website:

www.reddenorthgate.com
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / October 27, 2022 / Poplar Creek Resources Inc. ("Poplar Creek" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has filed its National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report entitled "Independent Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Belvedere Gold Project, Zvishavane, Zimbabwe", effective October 14, 2022, on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com.

"We are pleased to file the NI 43-101 Technical Report ("Report") for the mineral resources estimate of its option to purchase the Belvedere Gold Project ("the Project")," the company stated. "The results show potential value of the mineral resources for development. The resource model indicates potential for resource expansion over the approximately 800 meter long mineralized belt so far evaluated. The resource model remains open on both strike and at depth, and exhibits a pinch and swell nature of mineralization. Our planning is for future drilling and trenching to expand the potential resource on the Project."

The Report was prepared by Edelrod Consulting of Harare, Zimbabwe under the supervision of the following Qualified Persons: Wonder Mutematsaka (Consulting Mining Engineer), Arimon Ngilazi (Consulting Resource Geologist) and Fanuel Chinyakata (Consulting Metallurgist). Edelrod is an independent consulting firm specializing in mineral engineering consultancy. The report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the National Instrument 43-101 Standard of Disclosure for Mineral Projects including Form 43-101 F1.

Project Highlights:

The Project highlights are summarized below:

Mineral Resources (Table 1.2) were estimated by Edelrod Consulting of Harare, Zimbabwe:

As indicated in the table above:

Total Indicated Mineral Resources are 375,377 tonnes.

Total Inferred Mineral Resources are 2,278,886 tonnes.

It is the Edelrod Consulting opinion that the Belvedere resource model described in the Report was suitable for use in the preliminary economic evaluation and assessment. The Report has indicated the likely potential viability of the Project for further advancement to the next level of detailed study and further drilling and trenching.

Qualified Person

Wonder Mutematsaka, Consulting Mining Engineer, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Poplar Creek Resources Inc.:

Poplar Creek Resources Inc. is an exploration and development company focusing on gold resources in Zimbabwe, Africa, through its subsidiary Zambezi Rainbow Minerals.

For further information please contact:

Richard Edgar President and CEO

Email: redgarex@gmail.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, 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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

SOURCE: Poplar Creek Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/722674/Poplar-Creek-Resources-Inc-Zambezi-Rainbow-Minerals-Files-NI-43-101-Technical-Report-on-the-UpdatedMineral-Resources-Estimates-for-the-Belvedere-Mining-Property-inZimbabwe
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 France's 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.

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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Sixty Six Capital Inc. (CSE: SIX) ("Sixty Six" or the "Company") have agreed with Northern Data Inc. ("Northern Data") on the final tax settlement regarding the Swedish VAT liabilities following the sale of the data centre in Boden, Sweden to Northern Data in March of 2021. The total amount is 1,921,669, of which 1,213,544 has been met by the release of funds held in escrow and the remainder to be paid by March 31, 2023. The Company has made an additional balance sheet adjustment to reflect the settlement and remaining liability.

About Sixty Six Capital

Sixty Six is an investment company specialising in crypto assets, which owns 338,273 shares in Northern Data, a high performance computing company which is one of the world's largest specialist HPC operators with facilities in Canada, the USA, Norway and Sweden. The shares are subject to a two-year holding period which expire on 9th March 2023. The directors remain opportunistic about further investments in Crypto, Fintech and AI assets.

For more information, please visit: https://sixtysixcapital.com/.

For more information, please contact:

David Rowe

Chief Executive Officer

15 Percy Street

London W1T 1DS

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 1268354

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

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/142167
Representatives of the Robe River Joint Venture partners, Rio Tinto, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, gathered in Perth last night to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the venture's first shipment of iron ore from the Pilbara to Japan.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006171/en/

WA Premier Mark McGowan, Rio Tinto Iron Ore CEO Simon Trott, Jiro Kobayashi, Executive Counselor Nippon Steel, Motoaki Uno, Senior Executive Managing Officer Mitsui. (Photo: Business Wire)

The event was attended by past and present executives of the Joint Venture partners as well as local dignitaries including the Premier of Western Australia, Hon. Mark McGowan MLA.

The celebration marked 50 years since the Fujisan Maru departed Cape Lambert on 5 October, 1972, and set sail to Japan loaded with 68,589 tonnes of iron ore. Since then, the Robe River Joint Venture has shipped more than 1.7 billion tonnes of iron ore.

In addition to the ongoing mining operations at West Angelas and the Robe Valley, the joint venture has other major mining infrastructure in the Pilbara, including an iron ore port facility at Cape Lambert, power assets and heavy haul rail lines connecting its operations. Its activities in the Pilbara have helped establish the Pilbara mining towns of Pannawonica and Wickham. The benefits created by the joint venture have flowed beyond the Pilbara and Western Australia, helping to contribute to national and global economic growth and development.

Mitsui Senior Executive Managing Officer Motoaki Uno, said "The Robe River Joint Venture represents a remarkable achievement in the development of the Pilbara's iron ore, and Mitsui is honoured to have been a partner from the very beginning.

"It is wonderful to see how Australia and Japan at that time joined hands together to create a whole supply chain. As Mitsui looks ahead to the next 50 years, we will continue to work as a proud partner to make a positive impact on the world in terms of local communities and the environment, as well as the growth of global industry."

Nippon Steel Executive Counselor Jiro Kobayashi, said "It is very impressive that Robe River Joint Venture has been supplying iron ore to Nippon Steel as well as other steel mills in Asia for 50 years since the Fujisan Maru set sail in October 1972.

"Iron ore from Robe River Joint Venture has made a significant contribution to our stable production of steel, which has led to the development of Nippon Steel as well as the Joint Venture. We would like to send our appreciation to the Western Australian government and traditional owners for their support of these developments."

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott, said "The Robe River Joint Venture is a remarkable partnership that has spanned half a century and is at the heart of an incredible connection between Australia and Japan, forged in a bold vision for shared prosperity.

"I also want to acknowledge all the Traditional Owners of the country on which the Robe River Joint Venture operates, the Robe River Kuruma, Nglaruma, Yinhawangka, Ngarlawangga and Yindjibarndi nations.

"Our partnership with Mitsui and Nippon Steel has been integral in our journey to being a world-class iron ore business in Western Australia and I am proud of the role the Robe River Joint Venture has also played in the development of modern Japan.

"I thank our Joint Venture partners for their trust, respect and understanding that has made this partnership so successful in delivering a secure, long-term, low-cost source of quality iron ore. In 50 years a lot has changed, but one thing that has remained consistent is the strength of this highly valued partnership."

Notes to editors

Robe River is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (53 per cent), Mitsui Iron Ore Development (33 per cent), and Nippon Steel (14 per cent).

Operations began in the Robe Valley, near Pannawonica, in 1972 followed by an expansion at West Angelas in 2002. Iron ore is railed to the port of Cape Lambert where lump and fines product is shipped to steel producers, primarily throughout Asia.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006171/en/

Contacts:

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, Australia

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Aleysha Anderson

M +61 434 868 118

Rio Tinto plc

6 St James's 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: Pilbara
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Mr. Chad Williams announces the acquisition of 7,600,000 Common Shares of Blue Thunder Mining Inc (TSXV: BLUE) ("Blue" or the "Company") at a price of $0.01 per Share.

Immediately prior to the acquisition, the Acquiror held 28,752,120 Common Shares representing approximately 16.54% of the outstanding issued and outstanding Common Shares on a nondiluted basis or 27.74% on a partially diluted basis (assuming the exercise of all of 22,247,644 Warrants and 4,710,509 stock options held by the Acquiror).

As a result of the acquisition of 7,600,000 Common Shares, the Acquiror owns, beneficial ownership of, or control and direction over 36,352,120 common shares, representing approximately 20.91% of the Issuer's issued and outstanding common shares on undiluted basis or 31.52% on an undiluted basis on a partially diluted basis (assuming only the exercise of the 22,247,644 Warrants and 4,710,509 stock options held by the Acquiror).

Mr. Williams acquired the securities described herein for investment purposes and subject to applicable securities laws provisions, may increase or decrease his beneficial ownership of securities of the Company from time to time depending on market conditions and/or other relevant factors.

A copy of the early warning report to be filed by Mr. Williams in connection with the Private Placement described above will be available on SEDAR under the Company's profile.

For further information, please contact:

Chad Williams

2704, 401 Bay Street,

Toronto M5H 2Y4 Ontario

Tel: 416 642-1807

info@bluethundermining.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142201
Asuene, a Tokyo, Japan-based climate tech company, raised US$20M in Series B funding.

The funding comes from from 14 venture capitals and financial institutions, including Pavilion Capital, Axiom Asia Private Capital, Salesforce Ventures, and Masayuki Mochida.

The company intends to use the funds to strengthen the recruitment of personnel, expand system functions to improve the usability of measuring carbon emissions throughout the supply chain, and enhance system specifications for the global market.

Led by CEO Kohei Nishiwada, Asuene provides Asuzero, a climate cloud platform for measuring, reporting and reducing carbon emissions for enterprises, and visualizes the emissions throughout the supply chain for Scope 1-3 (*1) in the global standardized frameworks, Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The company also provides comprehensive Sustainability Transformation (SX) consultation including initiative alignment assistance for TCFD, CDP, SBTi and PCAF. Asuzeros contracted orders continue to grow at a significant rate, with an average monthly growth of over +120% and now introduced in 450+ companies.

FinSMEs

27/10/2022
Camplify, an Australia and UK-based provider of a caravan hire and RV sharing community, raised $8.5M in funding and acquired PaulCamper, a Berlin, Germany-based campervan sharing platform.

The amount of the acquisition deal was $47.6M.

Launched in Australia in 2015, Australian-listed Camplify expanded to the UK three years ago. This acquisition will see the brand accelerate its expansion across Europe, as it works with the PaulCamper business to bringing a shared vision of creating van life for all across the continent. The deal doubles the size of Camplifys business  fleet size, bookings, gross profit, and customers, and provides a footprint for further organic expansion. It will also see Camplify acquire the PaulCamper Insurance Broking division. PaulCamper Insurance Broker GmbH allows PaulCamper to operate as an insurance broker to customers in its current European markets. Camplify intends to extend the current PCIB insurance products and reach to develop a suite of insurance products with a primary focus on existing markets with an intention to expand products and geographies. With the deal, the company will offer motorhome retails in Australia, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.

Led by Founder and CEO Drik Fehese, who becomes Head of European operations, PaulCamper is a brokerage platform for individual camping vehicles in Europe. Owners of motorhomes, caravans and camping buses can rent out their vehicles via the portal and thus enable outdoor fans who do not own a vehicle to get access to this kind of travel and personal freedom.

Led by Founder and CEO Justin Hales, Camplify operates campervan and motorhome sharing communities globally. Launched in Australia in 2015, the company expanded to the UK in 2019 and is now the UKs fastest-growing caravan hire and RV sharing community. It has enables explorers across the UK enjoy 25,000 nights under the stars and over 1,100 van-trepreneurs boost their income by up to 20,000 a year.

FinSMEs

27/10/2022
Mogling Bio, a Berlin/Ulm, Germany-based biotech company, received a seed funding from Kizoo Technology Capital.

The amount of the deal was not disclosed.

The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts.

Led by CEO Dr. Jurgen Reess, Mogling Bio develops pharmacological approaches to rejuvenate old stem cells of the hematopoietic (blood cell formation) system so that 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.

FinSMEs

26/10/2022
OpenWeb, a NYC-based premium community engagement platform, raised $170M in Series F funding.

The round, which was led by Georgian, brings its total valuation to $1.5 billion.

The company intends to use the funds for continued expansion as it grows from 100+ million active monthly users and pursues new publishers, more advertisers, innovative partnerships, and applications.

Led by Nadav Shoval, co-founder and CEO, OpenWeb partners with publishers and brands to build direct relationships with their audiences. The technology empowers its partners to build communities rooted in conversations and social experiences. OpenWebs B2B2C platform is designed to power end-to-end user experiences with user activation and management, first-party data aggregation and management, AI moderation, and social experiences. The companys proprietary technology is used by the worlds top publishers, including The New York Times, Hearst, Yahoo!, Penske Media Corporation, and News Corp.

The company, which works with more than 1,000 top-tier publishers, hosting more than 100 million active users each month, has over 265 employees in New York City, Tel Aviv, Kiev, San Diego, Canada, London, and Paris, and is backed by investors including Insight Partners, Entree Capital, The New York Times, Samsung Next, Dentsu, and ScaleUp.

FinSMEs

27/10/2022
All amounts expressed in US dollars

NORTH MARA, Tanzania, Oct. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With its North Mara and Bulyanhulu gold mines set to achieve a combined production in excess of 500,000 ounces1 for the second year running, Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:GOLD)(TSX:ABX) is looking to expand its East African footprint from this base.



Speaking to media at a briefing at a local school near to the North Mara Mine, president and chief executive Mark Bristow said the resurrection of these moribund mines and their transformation into an asset with the potential to be included in Barricks elite Tier One2 portfolio as a combined complex was a remarkable success story.

Our groundbreaking Twiga partnership with the Tanzanian government not only settled its long-running disputes with the mines previous operators but has established a model for mutually beneficial cooperation between miners and their host countries, particularly in Africa. By demonstrating that Tanzania is an investor-friendly destination it also augurs well for the future of the countrys mining industry, he said.

Both North Mara and Bulyanhulu have been ramping up production, with North Mara hitting a record 505,000 tonnes of ore and waste mined last quarter1. It continues to optimize the underground operation while the change to an owner-mining strategy has boosted the expansion of both the mine and open pit operations. At Bulyanhulu, the development of the main declines to access the Deep West zone of the orebody started last quarter. The production ramp-up at both mines is being supported by fleet upgrades.

We continue to target further growth through reconnaissance and the consolidation of key licences. Extension opportunities are being assessed along the Gokona strike and throughout the Bulyanhulu Inlier. Results from the deep drilling at Gokona are pointing to a significant potential for extending North Maras life, Bristow said.

In addition to the brownfields exploration designed to maintain the positive trend on resource expansion and conversion at the two mines, we are also looking further afield. A better understanding of the regions geological architecture will improve our ability to discover new world-class development opportunities in our areas of interest.

In line with Barricks localization policy, Tanzanians make up 96% of mines workforces, with 45% drawn from the communities surrounding the mines. Host country nationals account for 58% of the senior management. During the past quarter the mines spent $339 million with Tanzanian suppliers and service providers. Since it took over the mines in 2019, Barrick has contributed over $2.1 billion to the Tanzanian economy.

Barrick Enquiries

President and CEO

Mark Bristow

+1 647 205 7694

+44 788 071 1386

Country manager, Tanzania

Melkiory Ngido

+255 686 945 222

Email: melkiory.ngido@barrick.com

Investor and media relations

Kathy du Plessis

+44 20 7557 7738

Email: barrick@dpapr.com

Website: www.barrick.com

Endnote 1

On a 100% basis.

Endnote 2

A Tier One Gold Asset is an asset with a reserve potential to deliver a minimum 10-year life, annual production of at least 500,000 ounces of gold and total cash costs per ounce over the mine life that are in the lower half of the industry cost curve.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words target, set to achieve, looking to expand, potential, future, continue, improve, would, commit, advance, generate, expect, will, and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: expected production and cost levels for the North Mara and Bulyanhulu mines and their Tier One potential as a combined complex; Barricks partnership with the Government of Tanzania under the framework agreement; the ramp-up of production at North Mara and Bulyanhulu, optimization of production and fleet upgrades; potential mine life extensions, resource expansion and new development opportunities identified through drilling and other exploration activities; planned investments by Barrick in Tanzania including to develop healthcare, education and infrastructure; Barricks contributions to the local economy, including local hiring and procurement programs and spending as well as anticipated contributions to value-adding national projects.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of the targeted investments and projects will meet the Companys capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in Tanzania and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; our ability to convert resources into reserves; increased costs, delays, suspensions and technical challenges associated with the construction of capital projects; risks associated with working with partners in jointly controlled assets; damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. Barrick also cautions that its guidance may be impacted by the unprecedented business and social disruption caused by the spread of Covid-19. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The College and Innovation Network (CIN), a grant-funded initiative within WGU Labs, published its second annual CIN EdTech Student Survey, aiming to better understand the present and future student experience with education technology (EdTech).

The CIN EdTech Survey Series tracks the perils, progress and predictions of the new technology-enabled state of higher education. The results from this year's survey found that students are well adapted to the technology-enabled new normal of higher education, but perceived gaps in online learning effectiveness and quality remain.

We found that gaining insight into the opinions and feelings of our students, as it relates to the colleges technology and digital environment, proved valuable as it is information that we can use to improve the user experience and guide future projects, said Dr. Chad Knights, Northern Virginia Community College vice president of information & engineering technologies and college computing. It also serves as a perfect complement to usage statistics, which alone can only tell half the story.

CIN surveyed 1,402 students from six different colleges: Central Ohio Technical College, Cuyahoga Community College, Loyola University New Orleans, Northern Virginia Community College, PennWest University, California, and Piedmont Community College.

The results of the survey include the following key statistics:

88% of students surveyed report feeling confident in their ability to adapt to new EdTech being used in their courses, up five percentage points from 2021

Students overall learning experiences with EdTech have improved, with 23% more students this year citing that EdTech has enhanced their learning, and 23% more students reporting that they feel more prepared for the next steps in their academic journey.

Students perceive online learning options to be less effective and lower quality than in-person learning, with a corresponding perception that credentials earned via online modalities are of lower quality.

Two-thirds of surveyed students feel positively about institutions offering more fully online courses and fully online programs, but nearly one in five students feel negatively about the shift to fully online courses and programs.

Higher education is in the midst of a significant technological transformation. Without a pulse on students experiences, institutions risk missing the mark on how to retain students, said Dr. Omid Fotuhi, director of learning innovation at WGU Labs. Our EdTech Survey Series offers a full view of students, faculty, and administrators experiences that can critically inform institutional decision-making.

Based on the results of this survey, the CIN recommends that institutions must invest in tech support for students, proactively identify students struggling with using technology, and re-evaluate online learning implementation to continue to meet the needs and expectations of students.

Download the full 2022 CIN EdTech Student Survey at https://wgulabs.org/cin-edtech-student-survey-october-2022/

About the College Innovation Network

The College Innovation Network (CIN) at WGU Labs is a grant-funded, research-oriented initiative that connects institutions with the best solutions to ensure student belonging, engagement, and equity. CIN supports educational institutions by identifying areas of need, supporting the implementation of effective education technology for students, and evaluating impact through research. Our goal is to have a meaningful impact on higher education at large through the evaluation of impactful solutions that promote belonging, engagement, and equity.

About WGU Labs

WGU Labs is the nonprofit EdTech consulting, incubation, research, and design arm of Western Governors University, where our mission is to identify and support scalable solutions that address the biggest challenges in education today. For more information, please visit wgulabs.org.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) (Teck) announced today it has agreed to sell its 21.3% interest in the Fort Hills Energy Limited Partnership (Fort Hills) and certain associated downstream assets to Suncor Energy Inc. (Suncor) for gross proceeds of approximately $1 billion in cash, subject to customary closing adjustments reflecting a November 1, 2022 effective date. The transaction value is consistent with the current outlook for the Fort Hills business reflected in the most recent in-depth review of Fort Hills conducted by Suncor and the resulting long-range plan for the project.

This transaction advances our strategy of pursuing industry leading copper growth and rebalancing our portfolio of high-quality assets to low carbon metals, said Jonathan Price, CEO. We will review the use of proceeds in accordance with our capital allocation framework early in 2023.

Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions including receipt of relevant regulatory approvals, and is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2023.

As a result of the transaction, we expect to record an after-tax, non-cash impairment charge of approximately $950 million in the third quarter of 2022.

RBC Capital Markets and J.P. Morgan Securities Canada have acted as financial advisors to Teck in connection with this transaction.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively referred to as forward-looking statements). These statements relate to future events or our future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the timing of closing of the transaction and our expectation that the transaction will close, the expected impairment charge that we expect to record and our expectations regarding use of proceeds.

These statements are based on a number of assumptions, including, but not limited to, assumptions that the conditions to closing will be satisfied or waived in a timely manner. Factors that may cause actual results to vary include, but are not limited to, unforeseen complications in receiving regulatory approvals or to satisfy other conditions to closing.

Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, Teck undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements. Further information concerning risks, assumptions and uncertainties associated with these forward-looking statements and our business can be found in our most recent Annual Information Form filed under our profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on EDGAR (www.sec.gov) under cover of Form 40-F, as well as subsequent filings that can also be found under our profile.

About Teck

As one of Canadas leading mining companies, Teck is committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc, and steelmaking coal, as well as investments in energy assets. Copper, zinc and high-quality steelmaking coal are required for the transition to a low-carbon world. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Tecks shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK.

Teck Media Contact

Chris Stannell

Public Relations Manager

604.699.4368

chris.stannell@teck.com

Teck Investor Contact

Fraser Phillips

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis

604.699.4621

fraser.phillips@teck.com
English Dutch

The Hague, October 27, 2022 - Agreement marks pivotal step towards Aegons ambition to build leaders in chosen markets

Combination creates a leader in the Dutch pension, life, and non-life insurance markets

Clear and compelling strategic and financial rationale, with significant synergies and long-term benefits for customers, business partners, employees, and shareholders

Aegon to receive a 29.99% strategic shareholding0F 1 ) in a.s.r. with associated governance rights and EUR 2.5 billion in cash proceeds

in a.s.r. with associated governance rights and EUR 2.5 billion in cash proceeds Transaction enables Aegon to accelerate its strategy of releasing capital from mature businesses and to become a leader in markets where Aegon is well positioned for growth

Intention to use cash proceeds to return EUR 1.5 billion capital to shareholders and reduce leverage by up to EUR 700 million consistent with disciplined capital management approach

Progress on its transformation allows Aegon to increase its 2023 dividend per share target from around EUR 0.25 to around EUR 0.30

Aegon announces today it has reached an agreement with a.s.r. to combine its Dutch pension, life and non-life insurance, banking, and mortgage origination activities with a.s.r. The combination will create a leading Dutch insurance company. This step enables Aegon to accelerate its strategy and represents a major step in its ambition to become a leader in its chosen markets. Aegon will receive EUR 2.5 billion in gross cash proceeds, and a 29.99% strategic stake in a.s.r., with associated governance rights. Aegons Dutch asset management activities will remain part of Aegons global asset manager. Aegon will enter into a long-term asset management agreement with a.s.r. to manage parts of the combinations general account investments, the investments of the Premium Pension Institution (PPI) offering of Aegon Cappital, and a.s.r.s mortgage funds.

Todays announcement marks a major milestone in the history of our company and in our long-term ambition to create leaders in our chosen markets, said Lard Friese, CEO of Aegon. Both Aegon and a.s.r. are deeply rooted in Dutch society and share a long and rich history. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our employees, Aegon the Netherlands has been able to improve its performance in recent years. Were now building on that success by creating a Dutch insurance leader. Im convinced that the combination of our companies is in the best long-term interest of all stakeholders and Dutch society at large. Customers of both companies will benefit from a more diversified product offering and strong distribution.

This transaction provides a unique opportunity to accelerate both the return of capital to shareholders and our strategy of investing in markets where we are well positioned for growth. Our priority continues to be to further improve our operational performance and grow profitably. The increased focus and resources resulting from this transaction, will place us in a better position for the future growth of the company.

Jos Baeten, CEO of a.s.r. said: I am pleased to announce today that a.s.r. and Aegon the Netherlands, two renowned Dutch companies, deeply rooted in Dutch society, will create a leader in Dutch insurance. Together we will form a sustainable, leading insurer and strengthen our market position as the number two insurer in the market. Given the joined strength of both companies, the company will provide a good home for all Aegon the Netherlands employees, customers, and relations. As employees of a.s.r., we will work with the new colleagues on the future of this combination. The starting point will be, one company, one culture, by leveraging the best of both organizations. We look forward to welcoming all employees, customers, and relations of Aegon the Netherlands in the near future.

1 Value of 29.99% stake is EUR 2.4 billion based on the closing price of a.s.r.s shares on October 26, 2022 and 57 million shares to be received by Aegon upon closing of the transaction before any potential equity offering by a.s.r. as part of the funding of the transaction.

Compelling strategic rationale

Combining the two companies will result in a strong well-diversified Dutch insurance company that will be able to deliver a broad range of attractive products and services and generate attractive shareholder returns.

The combined group will:

have a leading position in the Dutch pension market. This will lead to more attractive value propositions to customers as the company is well placed to capture opportunities from the upcoming pension reform;

become the market leader in disability insurance and the number three player in property and casualty insurance, facilitating a more competitive product offering;

have enhanced scale in the origination and servicing of Dutch mortgages, creating the opportunity for more streamlined and improved operations;

have stronger distribution activities by combining Aegons and a.s.r.s expertise, resources, and platforms in this area; and

deliver significant synergies through the integration of the closed individual life portfolios of the two companies into one platform.



The combination will be well positioned to further extend its role in the Dutch insurance market in the field of sustainability and ESG and contribute to finding solutions to the main challenges society faces that have a clear relationship with the core activities of the new combination.

Combining the two companies is expected to lead to substantial cost synergies and diversification benefits. Aegon will benefit from a.s.r.s improved operating capital generation and capital synergies through its 29.99% stake in the company. Aegon will bring to a.s.r. significant risk management capabilities and accelerate the implementation of a Partial Internal Model for the calculation of the Solvency II required capital of the combination.

Leveraging Aegon Asset Managements capabilities

Aegon has agreed an exclusive long-term partnership with a.s.r. to manage the illiquid investments that are part of the general account of the combined businesses. In addition, it will continue to be the asset manager for the investments of Aegon Cappitals PPI proposition and will take over the management of a.s.r.s mortgage funds. Through these steps, Aegon Asset Management will further strengthen its position as a provider in the Dutch market of fiduciary services, retirement multi-assets & solutions, fixed income, including alternative fixed income investments and responsible investing.

Governance of combination

Aegon N.V. will be a 29.99% strategic, supportive shareholder in a.s.r., allowing Aegon to participate in the financial benefits that the combination will bring. Furthermore, Aegon will have the right to nominate two candidates for the a.s.r. Supervisory Board. Lard Friese, CEO of Aegon N.V will be nominated as a non-independent member, and Danielle Jansen Heijtmajer, Chair of the Supervisory Board of Aegon the Netherlands, will be nominated as an independent member of the Supervisory Board of a.s.r.. The non-independent member has an affirmative vote within a.s.r.s Supervisory Board on certain topics, in line with the size of Aegons shareholding.

Integration and organization of companies

The activities of a.s.r. and Aegon the Netherlands will be integrated after closing of the transaction to maximize the potential of the two businesses and fully benefit from their combined reach, scale, and resources. The integration is expected to impact employees in both companies. The integration will be largely completed within three years, and the intention is to minimize the number of redundancies through natural attrition and by helping people to the greatest extent possible to find jobs either inside or outside of the combination. The process will be executed in a fair, diligent, and open way, respecting the talents and strengths of people in both organizations. Employees of the combination will benefit from the sharing of best practices and greater long-term career opportunities within a larger, more diversified Dutch company.

The a.s.r. brand will be the leading brand of the combination. The Aegon brand will remain in use in the pension and mortgage markets for three years after closing of the transaction. There will be no change for the brands of Aegons other entities, including TKP, Knab, Robidus and Nedasco.

Accelerating transformation

The transaction represents a major step in the transformation of Aegon, building on the successful execution of the strategy outlined at the Capital Markets Day of December 2020 to create leaders in chosen markets. The transaction forms a leader in the Dutch insurance market and enables Aegon to increase its focus on creating advantaged businesses in chosen markets outside the Netherlands.

In the US, Aegon will build upon Transamericas leading positions in both individual life insurance solutions and the workplace pension business, investing capital to profitably grow its market share in selected product lines. Additionally, Transamerica will continue to take management actions designed to further improve the risk-return profile of the business. In the UK, Aegons ambition is to continue to profitably grow both the Retail and Workplace channels of its leading platform business by improving its customer propositions, service capabilities and digital experience for advisors, employers, and customers. The transaction allows Aegon Asset Management to strengthen its position in retirement-related investment solutions, alternative fixed income investments and responsible investing, and to build leadership in these areas. In its growth markets, Aegon will continue to look to invest capital in value-added growth opportunities. More details will be shared on the plans to profitably grow the strategic businesses in Aegons core markets, its growth markets, and its global asset manager at a Capital Markets Day in the second quarter of 2023.

Use of proceeds and financial implications

Aegon anticipates that it will return EUR 1.5 billion of the cash proceeds to shareholders, barring unforeseen circumstances, to offset the dilutive effect of the transaction on free cash flow per share. Furthermore, the company intends to reduce its gross financial leverage by up to EUR 700 million.

A priority for Aegon moving forward is to drive sustainable, profitable growth for Transamerica and to execute upon additional in-force management actions designed to improve the risk-return profile of the business. It is anticipated that this will require funding and therefore Aegon expects to maintain its Cash Capital at the Holding above the middle of the operating range of EUR 0.5 billion to EUR 1.5 billion in the near term. Surplus Cash Capital at the Holding above the operating range will be subject to continued disciplined capital management, whereby capital that is not used for value-added growth opportunities will be returned to shareholders over time.

Update on financial targets; increase in dividend per share

On completion of the transaction, Aegon will replace its full ownership of the cash flow and profits of its Dutch businesses with its 29.99% strategic stake in a.s.r.. In the near term, this is expected to translate into lower free cash flow, improving over time as synergies emerge from the combination. On completion of the capital return to shareholders and realization of the synergies, Aegon anticipates that its free cash flow on a per share basis will be higher than pre-transaction levels.

The progress that Aegon has made on its transformation allows the company to increase its pay-out ratio and rebase the targeted dividend per share over 2023 from the current level of around 25 eurocents to around 30 eurocents.

All other financial targets will be updated in due course.

The transaction is expected to reduce IFRS shareholders equity by EUR 3.3 billion based on the balance sheet position on June 30, 2022. This includes the impact from the settlement of a tax position at closing of the transaction, which is not anticipated to have a material impact on Aegons Cash Capital at the Holding.

Group supervision implications

Aegon will engage with its college of supervisors on the implications for group supervision upon closing of the intended transaction. Regardless of the outcome, Aegon intends to maintain its head office in the Netherlands. Its shares will remain listed on Euronext in Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange.

Indicative timelines

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory and antitrust approvals, shareholder approvals, and the completion of the works council consultation processes of both Aegon and a.s.r..

Aegon will convene an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders (EGM) and request approval for the proposed combination between Aegon the Netherlands and a.s.r.. The EGM is expected to be held on January 18, 2023. The Board of the Association Aegon has been informed of Aegons ambition to accelerate its strategy and the proposed combination with a.s.r.. The Board is supportive and will seek the approval from its members for its support.

Based on the required steps, and necessary approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023.

About Aegon

Aegon is an integrated, diversified, international financial services group. The company offers investment, protection, and retirement solutions, with a strategic focus on three core markets (the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands), three growth markets (Spain & Portugal, Brazil, and China), and one global asset manager. Aegon's purpose of Helping people live their best lives runs through all its activities. As a leading global investor and employer, the company seeks to have a positive impact by addressing critical environmental and societal issues, with a focus on climate change and inclusion & diversity. Aegon is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, and listed on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange. More information can be found at aegon.com.

About a.s.r.

a.s.r. Nederland N.V. ranks among the top 3 insurers in the Netherlands. a.s.r. offers products and services in the fields of insurance, pensions and mortgages for consumers, self-employed persons, and employers. In addition, a.s.r. is active as an asset manager for third parties. a.s.r. is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and included in the AMX Index. For further information please visit www.asrnl.com.

Additional information

Conference call analysts and investors

Today, at 10:00 a.m. CET, Aegons management will host a conference call for analysts and investors. The conference call and Q&A can be followed via a live audio webcast on aegon.com. A replay will be available as soon as possible after the conference call on aegon.com.

To join the conference call, you will need to register via the following registration link. Directly after registration you will receive an email with the call details and a personal pin to enter the conference call.



Call details

NL: + 31 20 795 2755

UK: + 44 20 8610 3526

US: + 1 646 307 1951

Passcode: you will receive a personal pin upon registration

Joint digital press conference

Today at 08:00 hrs. CET, Lard Friese, CEO of Aegon N.V., and Jos Baeten, CEO van a.s.r. will host a joint digital press conference. Please, follow this link to join the press conference.

Contacts Media relations Investor relations Carolien van der Giessen Jan Willem Weidema



+31 (0)6 11 95 33 67 +31(0) 70 344 8028 carolien.vandergiessen@aegon.com janwillem.weidema@aegon.com



Forward-looking statements

The statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following are words that identify such forward-looking statements: aim, believe, estimate, target, intend, may, expect, anticipate, predict, project, counting on, plan, continue, want, forecast, goal, should, would, could, is confident, will, and similar expressions as they relate to Aegon. These statements may contain information about financial prospects, economic conditions and trends and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, any statements that refer to sustainability, environmental and social targets, commitments, goals, efforts and expectations and other events or circumstances that are partially dependent on future events are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Aegon undertakes no obligation, and expressly disclaims any duty, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which merely reflect company expectations at the time of writing. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations conveyed in forward-looking statements due to changes caused by various risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:

Unexpected delays, difficulties, and expenses in executing against our environmental, climate, diversity and inclusion or other ESG targets, goals and commitments, and changes in laws or regulations affecting us, such as changes in data privacy, environmental, safety and health laws;

Changes in general economic and/or governmental conditions, particularly in the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom;

Civil unrest, (geo-) political tensions, military action or other instability in a country or geographic region;

Changes in the performance of financial markets, including emerging markets, such as with regard to: The frequency and severity of defaults by issuers in Aegons fixed income investment portfolios; The effects of corporate bankruptcies and/or accounting restatements on the financial markets and the resulting decline in the value of equity and debt securities Aegon holds; The effects of declining creditworthiness of certain public sector securities and the resulting decline in the value of government exposure that Aegon holds;

Changes in the performance of Aegons investment portfolio and decline in ratings of Aegons counterparties;

Lowering of one or more of Aegons debt ratings issued by recognized rating organizations and the adverse impact such action may have on Aegons ability to raise capital and on its liquidity and financial condition;

Lowering of one or more of insurer financial strength ratings of Aegons insurance subsidiaries and the adverse impact such action may have on the written premium, policy retention, profitability and liquidity of its insurance subsidiaries;

The effect of the European Unions Solvency II requirements and other regulations in other jurisdictions affecting the capital Aegon is required to maintain;

Changes affecting interest rate levels and continuing low or rapidly changing interest rate levels;

Changes affecting currency exchange rates, in particular the EUR/USD and EUR/GBP exchange rates;

Changes in the availability of, and costs associated with, liquidity sources such as bank and capital markets funding, as well as conditions in the credit markets in general such as changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness;

Increasing levels of competition in the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and emerging markets;

Catastrophic events, either manmade or by nature, including by way of example acts of God, acts of terrorism, acts of war and pandemics, could result in material losses and significantly interrupt Aegons business;

The frequency and severity of insured loss events;

Changes affecting longevity, mortality, morbidity, persistence and other factors that may impact the profitability of Aegons insurance products;

Aegons projected results are highly sensitive to complex mathematical models of financial markets, mortality, longevity, and other dynamic systems subject to shocks and unpredictable volatility. Should assumptions to these models later prove incorrect, or should errors in those models escape the controls in place to detect them, future performance will vary from projected results;

Reinsurers to whom Aegon has ceded significant underwriting risks may fail to meet their obligations;

Changes in customer behavior and public opinion in general related to, among other things, the type of products Aegon sells, including legal, regulatory or commercial necessity to meet changing customer expectations;

Customer responsiveness to both new products and distribution channels;

As Aegons operations support complex transactions and are highly dependent on the proper functioning of information technology, operational risks such as system disruptions or failures, security or data privacy breaches, cyberattacks, human error, failure to safeguard personally identifiable information, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including with respect to third parties with which we do business may disrupt Aegons business, damage its reputation and adversely affect its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows;

The impact of acquisitions and divestitures, restructurings, product withdrawals and other unusual items, including Aegons ability to integrate acquisitions and to obtain the anticipated results and synergies from acquisitions;

Aegons failure to achieve anticipated levels of earnings or operational efficiencies, as well as other management initiatives related to cost savings, Cash Capital at Holding, gross financial leverage and free cash flow;

Changes in the policies of central banks and/or governments;

Litigation or regulatory action that could require Aegon to pay significant damages or change the way Aegon does business;

Competitive, legal, regulatory, or tax changes that affect profitability, the distribution cost of or demand for Aegons products;

Consequences of an actual or potential break-up of the European monetary union in whole or in part, or the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union and potential consequences if other European Union countries leave the European Union;

Changes in laws and regulations, particularly those affecting Aegons operations ability to hire and retain key personnel, taxation of Aegon companies, the products Aegon sells, and the attractiveness of certain products to its consumers;

Regulatory changes relating to the pensions, investment, and insurance industries in the jurisdictions in which Aegon operates;

Standard setting initiatives of supranational standard setting bodies such as the Financial Stability Board and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors or changes to such standards that may have an impact on regional (such as EU), national or US federal or state level financial regulation or the application thereof to Aegon, including the designation of Aegon by the Financial Stability Board as a Global Systemically Important Insurer (G-SII); and

Changes in accounting regulations and policies or a change by Aegon in applying such regulations and policies, voluntarily or otherwise, which may affect Aegons reported results, shareholders equity or regulatory capital adequacy levels.





This document contains information that qualifies, or may qualify, as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Aegon are described in its filings with the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, Aegon expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Aegons expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.





Attachment
EL DORADO, Ark., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (Standard Lithium or the Company) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE American: SLI) (FRA: S5L), an innovative lithium project development company, today provided an update on its commercial development activities in El Dorado, Arkansas.



First-of-its-kind direct chloride-to-hydroxide Pilot Plant installed

The Hydroxide Pilot plant was designed and constructed by a third-party global water and process technology vendor earlier in 2022, and was successfully installed and commissioned in early October at the Project site. The technology is housed in a self-contained unit and takes the lithium chloride feed produced by the Companys existing Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Demonstration Plant; it then converts this feed directly into a lithium hydroxide solution using a novel ion-exchange process. The lithium hydroxide solution generated by the Hydroxide Pilot will be sent offsite to another location operated by the third-party vendor to complete evaporation and crystallization work to produce battery quality lithium hydroxide. This Hydroxide Pilot will be operated at the Project location for several months, and will be used by the Company to assess different technology options for lithium hydroxide production at the Companys South West Arkansas Lithium Project (see news release dated May 2nd, 2022).

Dr. Andy Robinson, President of Standard Lithium, commented, The successful installation and commissioning of this Hydroxide Pilot is another example of the Companys approach to using novel technological solutions to build a new generation of lithium plants in North America. The testing and operation of this Pilot gives our design team and project partners greater flexibility when we come to design the commercial plant at our South West Arkansas Project.

To the Companys knowledge, the Project location at Lanxess South Plant in Arkansas is the only location in North America where lithium is continuously being extracted from brine using a modern DLE process and being converted into both lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.

Recent Corporate Developments

In addition, Standard Lithium is also pleased to provide the following updates with respect to key milestones the Company has been working towards.

Drilling work commenced for resource expansion

Standard Lithium conducted an extensive geological, geochemical and geophysical review of large regions of the Smackover Formation with a focus on significantly expanding the Companys resource holdings. The Company and its contractors are currently re-drilling an existing production well deeper into the Smackover Formation, which is located west of the Companys South West Arkansas Project. The Company will be releasing further information concerning this significant resource expansion program as third-party validated results and data become available.

Our first 1A Project at Lanxess South Plant is intended to be the first of many Standard Lithium plants in the region, and as a result, we are working to actively expand our resources in a strategic manner to capture the highest quality brine assets available in the Smackover. Based on the successful operation of our DLE plant, and our knowledge of extracting lithium from the Smackover brines and producing battery-quality lithium products, our resource team and our Smackover Formation experts have spent almost 2 years identifying key areas in the Smackover Formation that we believe are the most prospective for large-scale, high quality lithium brine resources, Dr. Robinson said.

Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) work successfully underway for first commercial project

The FEED/DFS study awarded to OPD LLC, a Koch-owned business based in Katy, Texas, is now fully underway (see news release dated September 7th, 2022), and trade-off studies are being completed to refine the full-scale process flowsheet, simplify the design and improve procurement and constructability, all with the goal of keeping CAPEX and OPEX as low as possible. The FEED/DFS study is being completed for Standard Lithiums first commercial lithium plant (Phase 1A) which contemplates processing the brine that is currently being handled by Lanxess at its South Facility, where the Companys continuously operating pre-commercial DLE Demonstration Plant is located. The existing brine flow at this location is approximately 3,000 US gallons per minute (usgpm), and using the design criteria of 90% lithium recovery during the DLE process, results in expected annual production of between 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) of battery quality lithium carbonate.

The FEED/DFS study is on schedule, and the results of the FEED study will be summarized in a NI 43-101 DFS report in H1 2023.

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is an innovative technology and lithium development company. The Companys flagship project is located in southern Arkansas, where it is engaged in the testing and proving of the commercial viability of lithium extraction from over 150,000 acres of permitted brine operations. The Company operates its first-of-a-kind industrial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) demonstration plant at Lanxesss south plant facility in southern Arkansas. The demonstration plant utilizes the Companys proprietary LiSTR technology to selectively extract lithium from Lanxesss tail brine. The demonstration plant is being used for proof-of-concept and commercial feasibility studies. The scalable, environmentally friendly process eliminates the use of evaporation ponds, reduces processing time from months to hours and greatly increases the effective recovery of lithium. The Company is also pursuing the resource development of over 30,000 acres of separate brine leases located in southwest Arkansas, referred to as the South West Arkansas Lithium Project, and approximately 45,000 acres of mineral leases located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium is jointly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the trading symbol SLI; and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol S5L. Please visit the Companys website at https://www.standardlithium.com.

Twitter: @standardlithium

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standard-lithium/

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.

This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, target, plan, forecast, may, schedule and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to plans at the Lanxess South Facility and the South West Arkansas Project, operation of the Hydroxide Pilot plant, the award of the FEED and DFS contract, the potential expansion of holdings in the Smackover Formation, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Companys current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause 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. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Pune, India, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fortune Business Insights, the global industrial insulation market size is expected to gain momentum during the forecast period. This is attributable to the increasing demand for fire safety regulations to ensure the safety of workers across the globe. Fortune Business Insights, predicts considerable growth for the market in the forthcoming years.

Industrial insulation is a vital part to ensure the stable working of systems and the safety of the workers in a company. The insulation materials efficiently control the surface temperature that aids in the reduction of the burn injuries among the workers. They further aid in controlling the vibrations and noise to ensure a peaceful working environment. They are widely adopted in several industries such as power generation, chemicals & petrochemicals, and others to prevent wastage of energy and improve the overall economical factor.

Owing to the lockdown announced by government agencies to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, several industries have been at a standstill with zero operational activities. However, a collective effort from the government as well as the industries is anticipated to bring the economy back on track and aid in resuming industrial activities.

Get a Sample Copy of the Research Report:

https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/industrial-insulation-market-102350

List of the Companies Operating in the Market:

Johns Manville

Rolan

American Rockwool Manufacturing, LLC

Saint Gobain

Hollingsworth & Vose Company

Knauf Insulation

Rock Wool Manufacturing Company

Owens Corning

USG Corporation

Armacell

Kingspan Group

Cabot Corporation

Among others

Report Scope & Segmentation:

Report Attribute Details Base Year 2021 Historical Year 2018  2020 Forecast Year 2022  2029 Segments Covered By Type, By Form and Regional Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2029 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Latin America and Rest of World Countries Covered Unites States, Canada, Mexico, Unites Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Number of Companies Covered Saint Gobain, Hollingsworth & Vose Company, Knauf Insulation, Rock Wool Manufacturing Company, Owens Corning, USG Corporation, Armacell Industrial Insulation Market Market growth drivers, restraints, opportunities, Porter's five forces analysis, PEST analysis, value chain analysis, regulatory landscape, market attractiveness analysis by segments and region, company market share analysis, and COVID-19 impact analysis.

DRIVING FACTORS

Increasing Demand for Stringent Fire Safety Regulation to Bolster Growth

According to the International Labor Organization, around 60,000 workplace accidents take place globally every year owing to fire hazards that are deemed fatal. Injuries due to fire hazards, exposure to chemicals, and other factors lead to huge economic and personnel losses in several industries.

Therefore, it is vital for companies across several industries to ensure that the work environment complies with safety regulations to ensure employee and economic safety. The growing demand for stringent fire safety regulations to ensure optimum safety and health standards is expected to contribute to the growth of the global industrial insulation market during the forecast period.

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https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/industrial-insulation-market-102350

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Product Innovations by Major Companies to Consolidate Market Position

The global industrial insulation market report observes that the small, medium and large companies are striving to cement their position and maintain their stronghold. They are doing so by adopting strategies such as the introduction of innovative products, collaboration, merger and acquisition, and partnership during the forecast period.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

Presence of Large End-Use Industries in Asia-Pacific to Promote Growth

Among all regions, the market in Asia-Pacific is expected to witness substantial growth and hold the highest global industrial insulation market share during the forecast period. This is attributable to the large presence of end-use industries in countries such as China, and India. The implementation of stringent environmental regulations to promote energy-efficiency amongst industries in China will favor market growth in the region.

Europe is expected to gain momentum in the market in the forthcoming years. This is ascribable to factors such as increasing focus on reducing carbon emission and promoting clean energy sources between 2019 and 2026.

What does the Report Include?

The market report includes a detailed assessment of the various market drivers and restraints, opportunities, and challenges that the market will face during the projected horizon. Additionally, the report provides comprehensive research into the regional developments of the market, affecting the market growth during the forecast period.

The report includes information sourced from the advice of expert professionals from the industry by our research analyst using several research methodologies for the market. The competitive landscape offers further detailed insights into the strategies such as product launches, partnerships, merger and acquisition, and collaborations adopted by the companies to maintain market stronghold between 2019 and 2026.

What to Expect in Our Report?

(1) A complete section of the Global Industrial Insulation Market report is dedicated to market dynamics, which include influence factors, market drivers, challenges, opportunities, and trends.

(2) Another broad section of the research study is reserved for regional analysis of the Global Industrial Insulation Market where important regions and countries are assessed for their growth potential, consumption, and other vital factors indicating their growth.

(3) Players can use the competitive analysis provided in the report to build new strategies or fine-tune their existing ones to rise above market challenges and increase their share of the Industrial Insulation Market.

Industrial Development:

February 2020: Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF announced its development of an innovative bio-based insulating material facade for the PS boards. According to the institute, the product will ensure it strengthens its position by manufacturing and processing superior polystyrene insulation boards.

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Read Related Insights:

Insulation Market Size 2021 | Fire and Acoustic Resistant Property offered by Insulation-treated buildings to Aid in Expansion of Insulation Industry, says Fortune Business Insights

Hydrogen Peroxide Market Estimated to Hit USD 2.20 Billion by 2028 | Latest Industry Insights by Fortune Business Insights

About Us:

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Washington, DC, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Engaging Christian Cooperation to Strengthen Families:

UPFs Pacific Christian Leadership Conference Celebrates 1st Anniversary - QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES



On Oct. 26, 2022, some 120 religious leaders from the Asia Pacific region celebrated the first anniversary of the Pacific Christian Leadership Conference (PCLC), an ecumenical organization under the umbrella of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) that promotes Christian unity and interfaith cooperation.





Christian leaders from many nations joined in prayers for peace and discussed ways to assist Christianity in fulfilling its destiny as a beacon of freedom, faith, and family throughout the world. They focused on ways to develop good character in youth and strengthen the institution of marriage, which are the keys to building stable and loving families. The conferences theme was drawn from Ephesians 4:2-3: With all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love, make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.





Peace is when all Christian clergy come together in front of heaven, by the love of Jesus Christ, the heavenly love, said Rev. Masaichi Hori, chair of the PCLC Executive Committee, in his opening remarks at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City, Philippines.





We are foremost sons and daughters of God...we are one human family under God, UPF International Director General Dr. Yun Young-ho said in remarks delivered by Dr. Julius Malicdem, vice chair of the PCLC Executive Committee.



UPF, a global non-profit organization with consultative status at the United Nations, promotes interreligious cooperation as part of its peacebuilding efforts. The PCLC and its affiliate, the World Christian Leadership Conference (WCLC), was co-founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.



In Dr. Moons video remarks, she said that despite the suffering and chaos that has befallen humanity throughout history, God never gave up His dream of seeing His children live in the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.



Throughout history, religions have guided human beings, she said. Now, however, it is obvious they have reached their final destination. This means the hope of humanity is to actually fulfill the original ideal that God had at the beginning of creation. God, our Heavenly Parent, wanted our first human ancestors to become true parents  ancestors of goodness connected to God as a couple.



Dr. Moon and her late husband began the international Marriage Blessing movement in the 1960s to unite millions of couples from diverse backgrounds and usher in a new era of peace through cross-cultural families centered on God. Dr. Robert S. Kittel, co-chair of the PCLC Executive Committee, said that its core mission is to help churches revive the Christian spirit in all societies and become peacemakers. We know...unsolved familial wars fester and grow beyond the family, he said. They are the foundation and fuel that turn into social, racial, civil, national, and even world wars.



The PCLC sessions focused on how Christianity can instill high moral standards and a sense of altruism, empathy, and kindness in young people, and how churches can strengthen marriage and family as building blocks of a heavenly community.



Among the conference speakers were: Bishop Grepor Butch Belgica, Presidential Adviser for Moral Transformation and Religious Affairs Office of the President, Republic of the Philippines; Bishop Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, Chairman, World Christian Leadership Conference; Most Rev. Nolly C, Buco, Auxiliary Bishop from the Dioceses of Antipolo in the Philippines; Rev. Dr. Luonne Rouse, National Co-Chair, American Clergy Leadership Conference; Bishop Joharni Bendoy, Evangelical Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Rev. Jimmy Sormin, Executive Secretary, Communion of Churches in Indonesia; Min. Joshua Holmes, National Co-Director, Young Christian Leadership Conference/Assistant Pastor, Manhattan (USA) Family Church; Ptr. Raniera Pene. Minister and Youth Leader, The Ratana Church of New Zealand; Rev. Ronnie D. Sodusta, Regional Vice President, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)-Asia Pacific Region 2; Msgr. Joseph Lalo, Priest, Eastern Catholic Church: Neo Monastic of St. Thomas, Philippines; Hon. J. Uduch Sengebau Sr., Vice President, Republic of Palau; Mrs. Wendy Francis, National Director for Politics, Australian Christian Lobby; Msgr. Pedro Gerardo Santos, Parish Priest of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish, Makati City, Philippines; Abp. Antonio J. Ledesma, Archbishop-Emeritus of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Rev. Gregory Stone, Secretary-General, PCLC Executive Committee; Rev. Yutaka Yamada, Sub-Regional Director, FFWPU-Oceania; and Rev. Demian Dunkley, President, FFWPU-Asia Pacific Region 1.



The PCLC nations include Australia, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tonga, and Vanuatu.





ASIA PACIFIC Media contacts:

Pacific Christian Leadership Conference Southeast Asia Office (Quezon City, Philippines): Tel: 632-8924-1833

Email: pclcconferencesecretariat@gmail.com





Pacific Christian Leadership Conference Oceania Office (NSW, Australia): (61-2) 9211-9978

Email: oceaniahq@gmail.com

Attachment
Pune, India, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global paraffin wax emulsion market size was valued at USD 527.6 million in 2021. The market is projected to grow from USD 550.7 million in 2022 to USD 860.3 million by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period.

This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights, in its report, titled, Paraffin Wax Emulsion Market, 2022-2030.

COVID-19 Impacts:

Restrictions in Manufacturing and Supply Activities owing to COVID-19 Obstructed Growth

The COVID-19 pandemic affected numerous people across the globe and key economies inflicted restraints and stop-work rules. In the last year, the market observed a deterioration in company sales and marketing, momentary business lockdowns, and supply chain & production commotions. During the outbreak of COVID-19, the construction, production, hotel, and tourism sectors were adversely impacted.

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List of Key Players Mentioned in the Report:

PMC Crystal (U.S.)

Sasol (South Africa)

Altana AG (Germany)

Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.)

Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd (Japan)

Michelman, Inc. (U.S.)

TIANSHI WAX (China)

BASF SE (Germany)

Repsol (Spain)

Paints & Coatings Segment to Account for Biggest Share Owing to Huge Demand from Various Industries

On the basis of application, the market is segmented into leather, agriculture, construction, paper, paints & coatings, and others. The rising utilization of leather by the clothing and consumer goods companies thrusts the segment growth.

Geographically, the market is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 527.6 million Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 860.3 million Growth Rate CAGR of almost 5.7% 2022-2030 Base Year 2021 Historic Years 2017 - 2020 Forecast Years 2022- 2030 Segments Covered By End-Use, By Application Forecast Units Value (USD Billion), and Volume (Units) Quantitative Units Revenue in USD million/billion and CAGR from 2022 to 2030 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa, and Rest of World Countries Covered Unites States, Canada, Mexico, Unites Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, GCC Countries, and South Africa, among others Number of Companies Covered PMC Crystal (U.S.) Sasol (South Africa) Altana AG (Germany) Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.) Nippon Seiro Co., Ltd (Japan) Michelman, Inc. (U.S.) TIANSHI WAX (China) BASF SE (Germany) Repsol (Spain)

Segments:

Natural Segment to Hold Vital Share Due to Effortless Production

Based on type, the market is bifurcated into natural and synthetic. The natural type of the product is obtained by distillation of crude oil, which is then further fractionated, dewaxed, and crystallized to obtain paraffin wax.

Report Coverage:

The report presents a holistic study of the market along with current trends and future anticipations to establish proximate investment gains. An in-depth analysis of any upcoming opportunities, threats, competitions or driving factors is also mentioned in the report. Step by step, thorough regional analysis is offered. The COVID-19 impacts have been added to the report to help investors and business owners understand the threats better. The top players in the market are identified, and their strategies to bolster the market growth are shared in the report.

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Drivers and Restraints:

Growing Demand for Paraffin Wax from Paints & Coatings and Wood Working to Amplify Growth

Paraffin wax emulsion is substantially consumed in paints & coatings and woodworking applications. The growing demand for paints & coatings from various industries, comprising automotive, building, industrial manufacturing, and electrical & electronics is accountable for product implementation. Additionally, the growth is also credited to the capability of wax paraffin emulsion to guard substances or materials from rusting and wear & tear.

Regional Insights:

Asia Pacific to Lead Backed by Increasing Urbanization Activities

Asia Pacific held the largest paraffin wax emulsion market share and was valued at USD 188.8 million in 2021. The abrupt population growth and rising urbanization activities are backing for the advancement of numerous industries, such as leather manufacturing, agriculture, paints & coatings, and construction, which are bolstering the product utilization in Asia Pacific.

The manufacturing industries in Europe involving automobiles, chemicals, electrical engineering and electronics, machinery & equipment building, and food processing activities are flourishing, thereby enhancing infrastructures and augmenting product demand.

North America held a notable share of the paraffin wax emulsion market. Paper production and agriculture are the dominating sectors that carried out an indispensable part in the markets growth and enhancement.

Competitive Landscape:

Key Players Sign Significant Contracts to Make Remarkable Changes in the Market

The players operating in the market often employ numerous tactics that will aid the paraffin wax emulsion market growth and product demand. Among the pool of strategies, one such notable strategy to expand the business prospect is signing multimillion contracts with government bodies and securing a profitable revenue for their company.

Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC:

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Detailed Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Porters Five Forces Analysis New Entrants SWOT Analysis

Impact of COVID-19 on Global Paraffin Wax Emulsion Market

Industry Chain Analysis Upstream Raw Material Suppliers of Paraffin Wax Emulsion Analysis Paraffin Wax Emulsion Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis Market Distributors of Paraffin Wax Emulsion Major Downstream Buyers of Paraffin Wax Emulsion Analysis The Impact of Covid-19 From the Perspective of Industry Chain

Global Paraffin Wax Emulsion Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region, 2017-2022 Key Findings / Summary By Type Natural Synthetic By Application Leather Construction Agriculture Paper Paints & Coatings Others By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continued!

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Key Industry Development:

May 2021: Michelman declared a novel contract with Omya, a manufacturer of calcium carbonate and a universal supplier of specialty chemicals for its portfolio. The bond mentions that Omya will be the sole provider for Michelmans wax emulsion and surface modifiers product series to Canadas paints and coating markets.

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Dublin, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Meat, Poultry and Seafood Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report by Product (Meat, Poultry), by Type (Conventional, Organic), by Form (Fresh, Frozen), by Distribution Channel, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global meat, poultry & seafood market is expected to reach USD 1,601.2 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 2.5%, according to this report. The growing meat consumption in countries such as the U.S., the U.K., India, and China is anticipated to ultimately contribute towards enhancing the supply of meat, poultry & seafood products. The growing consumer awareness and preferences for high-quality attributes of meat are expected to steer the global meat industry.



Preference for high-quality meat has led to the growing demand for organic products in the meat, poultry and seafood segments. Companies operating in the market have been catering to such demands and launching organic meat products to gain the traction of consumers. For instance, in June 2021, Raise American launched a 100% American, 100% grass-fed, organic beef, and flexitarian product line. The brand's product line includes fresh steaks, grinds, meatballs, blended patties, seasoned and precooked entrees, and sausages.



Existing companies in this market are increasingly launching new products in different categories to cater to new demands. The frozen form category is lately predicted to be the fastest growing category during the forecast period. Manufacturers are launching a wide range of products in the frozen segment. For instance, in August 2021, Avanti Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd. announced the expansion of a few products of various sizes of frozen cooked, peeled, and shrimps sold in various unit sizes in India.



The supermarkets & hypermarkets distribution channel segment held the largest share in 2021 and is expected to maintain dominance during the forecast period. The rise in demand for meat, poultry & seafood by consumers has made retailers allocate greater shelf spaces for these products. Many supermarkets such as Tesco, Walmart, and Aldi have been increasing spaces for these products as the demand rises.



The meat, poultry & seafood market is consolidated in nature with the presence of a large number of international players and few regional players. Conagra Brands, Inc., Hormel Foods, LLC, Tyson Foods, Cremonini Group, Sanderson Farms, J.M. Sucker, Cargill, Inc., Beijing Aosiyun Meat Foodstuff, NH Foods Ltd., and Baiada Pty. Ltd. are among the prominent players in the global market.



Meat, Poultry And Seafood Market Report Highlights

Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness substantial growth during the forecast period, owing to a large population base and rising disposable income in the region. In addition, several large international players are setting up local processing and storage facilities in varied countries in this region such as India and China

The frozen form segment is projected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period from 2022 to 2030 owing to the growing number of product launches

The online distribution channel segment is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has increased the penetration of online retailers in the meat, poultry & seafood segment

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope



Chapter 2. Executive Summary



Chapter 3. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market Variables, Trends & Scope

3.1. Market Introduction

3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3. Impact of COVID-19 on the Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market

3.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.4.1. Sales/Retail Channel Analysis

3.4.2. Profit Margin Analysis

3.5. Market Dynamics

3.5.1. Market Driver Analysis

3.5.2. Market Restraint Analysis

3.5.3. Industry Challenges

3.5.4. Industry Opportunities

3.6. Business Environment Analysis

3.6.1. Industry Analysis - Porter's

3.6.1.1. Supplier Power

3.6.1.2. Buyer Power

3.6.1.3. Substitution Threat

3.6.1.4. Threat from New Entrant

3.6.1.5. Competitive Rivalry

3.7. Roadmap of Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market

3.8. Market Entry Strategies



Chapter 4. Consumer Behavior Analysis

4.1. Demographic Analysis

4.2. Consumer Trends and Preferences

4.3. Factors Affecting Buying Decision

4.4. Consumer Product Adoption

4.5. Observations & Recommendations



Chapter 5. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Product Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2021 & 2030

5.2. Meat

5.2.1. Market estimates and forecast for meat, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.3. Poultry

5.3.1. Market estimates and forecast for poultry, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

5.4. Seafood

5.4.1. Market estimates and forecast for seafood, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 6. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market: Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Type Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2021 & 2030

6.2. Conventional

6.2.1. Market estimates and forecast for conventional, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

6.3. Organic

6.3.1. Market estimates and forecast for organic, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 7. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market: Form Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Form Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2021 & 2030

7.2. Fresh

7.2.1. Market estimates and forecast for fresh meat, poultry & seafood 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

7.3. Frozen

7.3.1. Market estimates and forecast for frozen meat, poultry & seafood, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

7.4. Others

7.4.1. Market estimates and forecast for other meat, poultry & seafood 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 8. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1. Distribution Channel Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2021 & 2030

8.2. Supermarkets & Hypermarkets

8.2.1. Market estimates and forecast through supermarkets & hypermarkets, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

8.3. Specialty Stores

8.3.1. Market estimates and forecast through specialty stores, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

8.4. Online

8.4.1. Market estimates and forecast through online channel, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)

8.5. Other

8.5.1. Market estimates and forecast through other distribution channel, 2017 - 2030 (USD Billion)



Chapter 9. Meat, Poultry & Seafood Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 10. Competitive Analysis

10.1. Key global players, recent developments & their impact on the industry

10.2. Key Company/Competition Categorization (Key innovators, Market leaders, Emerging players)

10.3. Vendor Landscape

10.3.1. Key company market share analysis, 2021



Chapter 11. Company Profiles

11.1. Conagra Brands, Inc.

11.1.1. Company Overview

11.1.2. Financial Performance

11.1.3. Product Benchmarking

11.1.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.2. Hormel Foods, LLC

11.2.1. Company Overview

11.2.2. Financial Performance

11.2.3. Product Benchmarking

11.2.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.3. Tyson Foods

11.3.1. Company Overview

11.3.2. Financial Performance

11.3.3. Product Benchmarking

11.3.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.4. Cremonini Group

11.4.1. Company Overview

11.4.2. Financial Performance

11.4.3. Product Benchmarking

11.4.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.5. Sanderson Farms

11.5.1. Company Overview

11.5.2. Financial Performance

11.5.3. Product Benchmarking

11.5.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.6. J.M. Sucker

11.6.1. Company Overview

11.6.2. Financial Performance

11.6.3. Product Benchmarking

11.6.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.7. Cargill, Inc.

11.7.1. Company Overview

11.7.2. Financial Performance

11.7.3. Product Benchmarking

11.7.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.8. Beijing Aosiyun Meat Foodstuff

11.8.1. Company Overview

11.8.2. Financial Performance

11.8.3. Product Benchmarking

11.8.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.9. NH Foods Ltd.

11.9.1. Company Overview

11.9.2. Financial Performance

11.9.3. Product Benchmarking

11.9.4. Strategic Initiatives

11.10. Baiada Pty. Ltd.

11.10.1. Company Overview

11.10.2. Financial Performance

11.10.3. Product Benchmarking

11.10.4. Strategic Initiatives



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lzu5cp

Attachment
CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The top 20 per cent of income-earning families pay more than half (53.0 per cent) of total taxes including personal income, sales and property taxes, according to a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent non-partisan Canadian think tank.



Despite the common misperception that top earners dont pay their fair share of taxes, in reality these households pay a disproportionately large share of the total tax bill, said Jake Fuss, associate director of fiscal studies at the Fraser Institute and co-author of Measuring Progressivity in Canadas Tax System, 2022.

The key to understanding fairness is comparing the share of income earned by one group compared to their share of total taxes paid. By this objective measure, the top 20 per cent of income-earning families is the only group to pay a disproportionate share of the total tax burden compared to their share of income earned.

Specifically, the study finds that the top 20 per cent of income-earning families pay a larger share of total taxes (53.0 per cent) than their share of income (44.6 per cent).

While the top 20 percent earn a large share of total income at 44.6 per cent, they pay an even higher share of total taxes (53.0 per cent) said Fuss.

Conversely, the bottom 20 per cent of income-earning families pay 0.8 per cent of total taxes while earning 5.2 per cent of the total family income in Canada.

Indeed, the study found that all 80 per cent of income-earning families outside of the top 20 per cent paid less in total taxes than they earned in total income.

The assertion that the top 20 per cent of earners in Canada are not paying their fair share is simply not supported by the evidence, commented Fuss.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jake Fuss, Associate Director, Fiscal Studies

Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:

Drue MacPherson, Fraser Institute

(604) 688-0221 ext. 721

drue.macpherson@fraserinstitute.org

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New York, United States, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Aviation MRO Market Size was valued at $87.01 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach at a CAGR of 5.27% from 2021 to 2030, According to a latest research study published by Spherical Insights & Consulting.

Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/request-sample/1247

MRO stands for maintenance, repair, and overhaul. Aviation MRO refers to a specific repair, service, or inspection of an aircraft. This practice includes all maintenance procedures that are carried out to guarantee the safety and airworthiness of an air transport vehicle. Depending on the type of business, there are a wide range of aviation MROs. The following is a list of the six most common MRO aircraft maintenance business models and facility types. We go deeper into each of them in Part 2 of our two-part MRO series, Aviation MRO Business Model Categories.

Although large corporations can own them, repair shops are often small, family-owned enterprises with a small number of employees. These modest MRO facilities often concentrate on one or two specialized areas, such as landing gear or aircraft interiors. These repair shops still have a position in the market even though there is less possibility for expansion. Because the return on investment for equipment and employees is frequently insufficiently high, larger market participants aren't always motivated to diversify into more specialized MRO services. Many folks will go to independent repair businesses for specialized services.

Rapid urbanization, developing economies, particularly in emerging nations, as well as an increase in business and tourist travel are all predicted to support market expansion. It is projected that external factors including aircraft utilization, air traffic volumes, and fleet size will have a substantial impact on the industry. Additionally, more people flying for both business and pleasure will probably lead to more aircraft being produced, which will have a huge impact on the sector.

In the aviation industry, maintenance costs currently exceed fuel costs. Due to the sharp rise in maintenance costs, airlines must now rely on digital technologies to track physical assets like engines and cockpit controls in real-time, which will help them better plan maintenance routines.

Mobile solutions are gaining traction in airline control rooms in a similar way to cloud services and connected technologies. Air transport MRO players are increasingly concentrating on developing software as a service (SaaS) and other effective tightly connected mobile solutions in order to enable users to access aircraft management remotely.

More airlines opted to MRO as their operations halted in order to maintain an effective fleet. A wide range of government programmers have also been developed to support airports' adoption of MRO as a strategic endeavor. Governments are currently pursuing a number of comprehensive programmers, which could increase aircraft MRO activity throughout the predicted time, to ensure that there is enough space for MRO at various airports around the nation. The MRO industry is having issues due to a lack of competent labour, increased labour costs, a lack of experienced labour, and a decline in interest among recently graduated engineers in technical maintenance vocations.

COVID 19 Impact of Global Aviation MRO Market

Practically every country's economic growth has slowed down as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The airline industry has been significantly impacted by this economic downturn. Additionally, small airline companies will close in 2020 as a result of countries' slower economic growth. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all of the major countries in Europe, Asia, and North America have severely restricted economic activity as well as the movement of people and goods. All of these factors are restricting the supply and demand for Aeroplan maintenance services, which is preventing the revenue growth of the global aircraft MRO industry. Additionally, the market growth in the first half of 2021 will be negatively impacted by the second COVID-19 epidemic wave in countries including India, France, and the US.

Browse key industry insights spread across 130 pages with 112 market data tables and figures & charts from the report  Global Aviation MRO Market Size , Share, and Global Demand Statistics, By Organization (Airline/ Operator MRO, Independent MRO, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) MRO), By Aircraft Type (Narrow Body, Wide Body, Regional Jet, Others), By Service Type (Engine Overhaul, Airframe Maintenance, Line Maintenance, Modification, Others), Aircraft Generation (Old Generation, Mid Generation, New Generation), By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America)  Market Size & Forecasting To 2030, in detail along with the table of contents

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Global Aviation MRO Market, By Organization

A little over half of the market is in the authority of the OEMs, with the remaining half being split between independent and airline overhaul sectors. OEMs hold a distinct perspective and, based on data analysis, may alter the initial maintenance programme specified for each aircraft. OEMs have the ability to modify the overall situation in order to improve their asset and can utilize the data to assess performance. OEMs can obtain enough trustworthy data to cut out pointless work.

Global Aviation MRO Market, By Aircraft Type

With the fastest CAGR of 5.26% during the projection period, wide-body aircraft are anticipated to rise quickly. Because more long-distance routes with heavy traffic are connecting international locations, there is an increase in demand for wide-body aircraft maintenance and repair. The establishment of numerous new wide-body aircraft manufacturing infrastructures in numerous nations over the past few years has enhanced OEM engagement in wide-body aircraft MRO services. As the fleet of aircraft grows, OEMs will have more options to offer aircraft MRO services.

Global Aviation MRO Market, By Service Type

Over the anticipated time, the engine segment in aviation MRO is anticipated to rule the market. Additionally, in the approaching years, the Engine segment will get more active and competitive. For instance, AAR stated in April 2019 that it had extended its PW2000 engine support contract with MTU maintenance by an additional five years. MTU, a significant global provider of engine overhauls, received engine components from AAR.

Global Aviation MRO Market, By Air Generation

Major participants in the market are collaborating with OEMs to provide services for next-generation aircraft and for aircraft maintenance. This will build a foundation for MRO services for new-generation aircraft, which are anticipated to be used more frequently by the aviation fleet. For instance, in February 2021, GMR and Airbus in India worked on aircraft repair and aviation services. The MoU was inked in Bengaluru, during aero India 2021. Airbus and GMR Group collaborate to improve services for both commercial and military aircraft.

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Global Aviation MRO Market, By Region

With the aid of cutting-edge technologies, the North American aviation MRO market prevails in order to achieve sustainable objectives. The largest fleet of airplanes is in North America, which creates a sizable need for aircraft MROs. Due to the strict safety regulations and rules in this area, entry into the aviation MRO business has very high obstacles. However, MROs find this market appealing due to the widespread accessibility and simplicity of deployment of sophisticated technologies.

Some Recent Developments in Global Aviation MRO Market

February 2021: The Engine Services Division is a new department that SIA Engineering Company Ltd. invested in for advanced aircraft engine servicing, repairs, wing testing, and other responsibilities. Modern MRO organizations are utilizing AI, drones, and robotics to drastically reduce the time required for maintenance and repairs.

December 2021: Korean Air demonstrated the use of drone swarms to do a full-body aircraft assessment using just four drones. As a result, it is estimated that the aviation MRO market will experience growth over the forecasted period.

List of Key Market Players

Delta Airlines, Inc.

AAR Corp.

Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited

Airbus SE

Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited

KLM UK Engineering Limited

Lufthansa Technik

MTU Aero Engines AG

Raytheon Technologies Corporation (Previously United Technologies Corporation)

Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd

TAP Maintenance & Engineering (TAP Air Portugal)

Segmentation

By Organization

Airline/ Operator MRO

Independent MRO

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) MRO

By Aircraft Type

Narrow Body

Wide Body

Regional Jet

Others

By Air Generation

Old Generation

Mid Generation

New Generation

By Service Type

Engine Overhaul

Airframe Maintenance

Line Maintenance

Modification

Others

By Region:

North America

North America, by Country U.S. Canada Mexico

North America, by Organization

North America, by Aircraft Type

North America, by Air Generation

North America, Service Type

Europe

Europe, by Country Germany Russia U.K. France Italy Spain The Netherlands Rest of Europe

Europe, by Organization

Europe, by Aircraft Type

Europe, by Air Generation

Europe, by Service Type

Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific, by Country China India Japan South Korea Australia Indonesia Rest of Asia Pacific

Asia Pacific, by Organization

Asia Pacific, by Aircraft Type

Asia Pacific, by Air Generation

Asia Pacific, by Service Type

Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa, by Country UAE Saudi Arabia Qatar South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa

Middle East & Africa, by Organization

Middle East & Africa, by Aircraft Type

Middle East & Africa, by Air Generation

Middle East & Africa, by Service Type

South America

South America, by Country Brazil Argentina Colombia Rest of South America

South America, by Organization

South America, by Aircraft Type

South America, by Air Generation

South America, by Service Type

For more information on your target market, please contact us below:

Phone: +1 303 800 4326 (the U.S.)

Phone: +91 90289 24100 (APAC)

Email: inquiry@sphericalinsights.com , sales@sphericalinsights.com

Contact Us: https://www.sphericalinsights.com/contact-us
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dr. Andrea Small-Howard, President and Chief Science Officer of Gb Sciences (GBLX-OTC), a leading plant-inspired, biopharmaceutical research and drug development company, is demonstrating their AI-enabled drug discovery engines' ability to identify novel plant-inspired pharmaceuticals today at the 10th Annual Drug Discovery Strategic Summit in San Francisco, California. In her session entitled "The Use of an AI-enabled Drug Discovery Engine to Identify Plant-Inspired Pharmaceuticals," Dr. Small-Howard will introduce PhAROS, Gb Sciences' proprietary AI-enabled drug discovery platform. Dr. Small-Howard will also present case studies establishing how the company has utilized PhAROS to combine information from plant-based medical systems with modern in silico drug discovery tools that identify novel plant-inspired therapies for treating critical medical needs.

"Gb Sciences is combining knowledge from plant-based traditional medical systems with modern in silico drug discovery tools. We are leveraging our AI-enabled platform with its unique database of known traditional medical plant species to uncover novel minimum essential mixtures of ingredients with therapeutic benefits and reduced side effect profiles. Our AI-enabled drug discovery platform also reduces the time and money needed to get results," said Dr. Andrea Small-Howard. "With current drug discovery efforts failing to deliver on some critical medical needs, such as non-opioid treatments for chronic pain or novel options for patients suffering with anxiety and depression, we are establishing the value in exploring plants associated with traditional medicines to discover new drug molecules and simplified mixtures."

Dr. Andrea Small-Howard of Gb Sciences was recently featured on MarketScale's "IDC with Kevin Stevenson" podcast in an episode entitled "Bringing Medicines to Market Faster Through Analytics and Machine Learning" where she discussed the need for digital transformation in the biopharma industry and the fact that Gb Sciences is ahead of the majority of the industry through the development and use of their PhAROS platform for drug discovery.

To learn more about Gb Sciences, visit www.gbsciences.com.

About Gb Sciences and GbS Global Biopharma

Gb Sciences, Inc. is a plant-inspired, biopharmaceutical research and development company creating patented, disease-targeted formulations of cannabis- and other plant-inspired therapeutic mixtures for the prescription drug market through its Canadian subsidiary, GbS Global Biopharma, Inc. The 'plant-inspired' active ingredients in its therapeutic mixtures are synthetic homologues identical to the original plant compounds but produced under current Good Manufacturing Practices. Gb Sciences' intellectual property portfolio contains six issued U.S. and three issued foreign patents, as well as 17 U.S. and 51 foreign patent-pending applications. In its drug development pipeline, Gb Sciences has five preclinical phase product development programs. Gb Sciences' lead program for Parkinson's disease is being prepared for a first-in-human clinical trial. Gb Sciences' formulations for chronic pain, anxiety, and depression are currently in preclinical animal studies with researchers at the National Research Council of Canada. The company also received positive preclinical proof-of-concept data supporting its complex mixtures for the treatment of Cytokine Release Syndrome, and its lead candidates will be optimized based on late-stage preclinical studies at Michigan State University. Gb Sciences' productive research and development network includes distinguished universities, hospitals, and Contract Research Organizations. To learn more, visit www.gbsciences.com.

Contact Information:

Madeleine Moench

madeleine@newswire.com



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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Uranium Ltd. (Standard Uranium or the Company) (TSX-V: STND) (OTCQB: STTDF) (Frankfurt: FWB:9SU) is pleased to announce its exploration schedule for 2023, to continue advancing its uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin (the Basin), Saskatchewan, Canada towards discovery.



The Company holds five projects located across the highly prolific Basin, which hosts the worlds highest grade uranium deposits. The Company will be following up on prospective drilling results from 2022 on its flagship Davidson River Project (Davidson River) in the southwestern corner of the Basin and its 100% owned Sun Dog Project (Sun Dog) near Uranium City, Saskatchewan. In addition, the Company has planned inaugural drill programs over two of its three 100% owned projects in the eastern side of the Basin, which are drill ready following successful geophysical surveys that were completed throughout 2022.

Jon Bey, CEO and Chairman of the Company, stated: 2023 will be the Companys most comprehensive and exciting exploration season to date. We strongly believe the uranium market will be one of the few bright spots in the investment landscape and we are planning to apply a modern approach to historical data and deploy more advanced analysis techniques in the upcoming drill campaigns. We have our projects ready for drilling with our First Nations agreements in place, drill permits in hand, and our vendors contracted. We recently completed a capital raise of $4.2 million and we will prioritize our exploration work starting with our Sun Dog drill program this winter.

2023 Exploration Summary

2023 will be the most ambitious year of exploration activities for the Company to date. The Company is well underway on preparations for follow-up drill campaigns on Davidson River and Sun Dog, in addition to planning inaugural reconnaissance drilling on two eastern Basin projects (Figure 1).

In addition, the technical team at GoldSpot Discoveries Corp. (GoldSpot) has been engaged to complete new geophysical interpretations and data-driven target generation on all five of the Companys projects to supplement drill target prioritization for the 2023 programs. Standard Uranium is the first and currently the only uranium company utilizing GoldSpots cutting-edge machine learning technology to assist in drill targeting.

Sun Dog Project

Winter drilling will focus on Sun Dog, which is located along the northwestern rim of the Basin (Figure 2): The perched high-grade uranium mineralization present at surface on Sun Dog has never been properly tested at depth, and the Company aims to discover the high-grade roots of these mineralizing systems in the basement rocks underlying the Athabasca sandstones. The winter 2023 drill program features two drills and is planned to follow up on the drilling conducted in 2022, including intersections of dravite and illite/kaolinite clays, reactivated graphitic structures, hydrothermal brecciation, and anomalous uranium. GoldSpot will be contributing to 2023 targeting through layering of historical and current drill data, electromagnetic (EM) conductor data, uranium surface expressions, and high-resolution ground gravity and magnetics surveys acquired by the Company in 2022. The drilling is planned for February and March 2023 to take advantage of the winter ice road.





Davidson River Project

Drilling in the summer and fall of 2023 will comprise a follow-up campaign on Davidson River, located in the southwestern corner of the Basin (Figure 3). The summer 2022 program revealed the best intersections of prospective alteration and structure to date along the Bronco and Thunderbird trends, including wide graphitic structural zones on Bronco and oxidized alteration on Thunderbird, in addition to elevated radioactivity. New information gained from summer 2022 drilling along the Bronco and Thunderbird trends has identified exciting drill targets for the 2023 program at Davidson River. 2023 drilling will follow up on the most prospective basement structures and alteration zones intersected to date and begin testing new target areas along all four major conductors at Davidson River. Several kilometres of graphitic conductors remain to be tested at Davidson River, with Davidson River still containing massive blue-sky potential for high-grade discovery. GoldSpot will be contributing to drill targeting at Davidson River through anomaly detection and mapping of electro magnetic (EM) data, in addition to anomaly matching based on known world-class uranium deposits in the area including the Arrow and Triple-R deposits. The machine learning techniques will also be applied to the Companys internal drilling and geochemical databases.



Eastern Basin Projects  Atlantic, Canary, Ascent

Inaugural drill programs have been planned at the Companys 100% owned Atlantic Project (Atlantic), Canary Project (Canary), and Ascent Project (Ascent) on the east side of the Basin (Figure 4). Several drill targets have been identified on the central Atlantic claims based on historic exploration and uranium intersections. An inaugural spring 2023 drill program of approximately three to four drill holes is proposed on the central claims to ground truth historic uranium intersections and follow up along strike. Drill targets are being prioritized on the Canary and Ascent claims based on historic exploration and geophysical surveys completed in 2022. An inaugural spring 2023 drill program of approximately three to four drill holes is planned on Canary in tandem with Atlantic to ground truth historic uranium intersections and test new Induced Polarization-Resistivity targets along strike. GoldSpot will be incorporating historical data with newly acquired geophysical data on all three eastern projects to further refine initial drill targets.







Figure 1. Timeline of Standard Uraniums 2023 exploration plans

Permitting and First Nations and Metis Engagement

The Company continues to build strong relationships with First Nations and stakeholders in northern Saskatchewan communities through sustained engagement activities and meetings. Standard Uranium has received strong support of its exploration plans and activities on all its projects to date and will continue to ensure that any concerns are addressed, potential impacts mitigated, and that communities benefit from the Companys activities through support of local business, employment and training opportunities, and support of communal programs and initiatives.

The Company holds active exploration permits for three of four planned projects in 2023, with the duty to consult process nearing completion for the final drilling permit.

Standard has engaged all key vendors to execute the 2023 exploration plans across all projects despite competitive conditions in the industry.



Sean Hillacre, VP Exploration, commented: The technical team and I are very enthusiastic for the upcoming year of exploration in 2023, which is poised to be our most exciting to date. On all our projects, integration of prospective exploration results from our current work in concert with GoldSpots fresh interpretations provides us with exceptional targets to explore for high-grade uranium deposits during our 2023 drill programs.

Neil McCallum, Lead Technical Director, stated: 2023 is expected to be a very active year for Standard Uranium, with several opportunities to make a new discovery in the Basin. We have combined the innovative talents of consultants such as GoldSpot with the industry-leading drilling contractors to maximize our chances for success.





Figure 2. Plan map of Sun Dog highlighting historical drill holes, geophysical conductors, and high-priority target areas.





Figure 3. Plan map showing summer 2022 drill holes at Davidson River, and kilometres of untested conductor strike length.





Figure 4. Plan map highlighting Standard Uraniums eastern Athabasca Projects and exploration trends, with respect to current uranium showings, discoveries, and deposits.

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the technical information contained in this news release, has been reviewed, verified, and approved by Sean Hillacre, P.Geo., VP Exploration of the Company and a qualified person as defined in NI 43-101.

About Standard Uranium (TSX-V: STND)

We find the fuel to power a clean energy future

Standard Uranium is a uranium exploration company with a focus on the world-class Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification and exploration of Athabasca-style uranium targets with a view to discovery and future development.

Standard Uraniums Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, comprises seven mineral claims over 20,006 hectares. Davidson River is highly prospective for basement-hosted uranium deposits due to its location along trend from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. However, owing to the large project size with multiple targets, it remains broadly under-tested by drilling. Recent intersections of wide, structurally deformed and strongly altered shear zones support provide significant confidence in the exploration model and future success is expected.

Standard Uranium's Sun Dog project, in the northwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of six mineral claims over 17,309 hectares. The Sun Dog project is highly prospective for basement and unconformity hosted uranium deposits, yet remains largely untested by sufficient drilling despite its location proximal to uranium discoveries in the area.

For further information contact:

Jon Bey, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman

550 Denman Street, Suite 200

Vancouver, BC V6G 3H1

Tel: 1 (306) 850-6699

E-mail: info@standarduranium.ca

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations; timing of the Companys exploration programs; and estimates of market conditions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained herein. 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. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are highlighted in the Risk and Uncertainties in the Companys management discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2022, dated August 26, 2022.

Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies that may cause the Companys actual financial results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied herein. Some of the material factors or assumptions used to develop forward-looking statements include, without limitation: the future price of uranium; anticipated costs and the Companys ability to raise additional capital if and when necessary; volatility in the market price of the Companys securities; future sales of the Companys securities; the Companys ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the success of exploration, development and operations activities; the timing and results of drilling programs; the discovery of mineral resources on the Companys mineral properties; the costs of operating and exploration expenditures; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); uncertainties related to title to mineral properties; assessments by taxation authorities; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Any forward-looking statements and the assumptions made with respect thereto are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01a9aeb2-00c2-42fe-aec3-5a1d1b7fec63

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bd018a8a-d08c-493a-a515-2ffbe53feaa9

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/226a603a-632c-4713-9e58-24eb14ab8a96

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79619d21-3700-424d-8c97-1a85f8845960
Dublin, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Malaysia B2B Database: B2B Contacts and Company Data; 607,201 Companies and 3 Million Contacts" database has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This database monitors 607,201 companies in Malaysia, using an artificial-intelligence-powered data crawling system combined with reliable governmental sources. It upgrades the way researchers and salespeople currently operate by reducing the steps needed to reach to necessary information / prospects.



This database, Malaysia's largest B2B contacts and company data portal, covers more than 3 million key employee contacts across more than 1,000 industries. It works like a search engine for companies and B2B contacts in Malaysia, allowing the user to search real-time company data - background data, business descriptions, shareholder/manager names, financial data and employee data, along with e-mail addresses, Linkedin profiles, Facebook, company websites and much more.



It is made simple and easy for researchers, salespeople and marketers to search and access company data and direct contact information of key employees across the economically booming Malaysia.



Because the publisher monitors government sources - including tax departments - there are no inactive companies in the database.

For more information about this database visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tgjg3a
Dublin, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global nuclear power reactor decommissioning market is expected to grow from $4.90 billion in 2021 to $5.62 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.8%. The nuclear power reactor decommissioning market is expected to grow to $8.79 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 11.8%.



The main types of nuclear power reactor decommissioning are pressurized water reactors, pressurized heavy water reactors, boiling water reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, liquid metal fast breeder reactors, and others. Pressurized nuclear power reactor decommissioning refers to a type of nuclear reactor that generates energy while also propelling nuclear submarines and naval vessels. The various capacities include below 100 MW, 100-1000 MW, and above 1000 MW and are used in several applications such as commercial power reactors, prototype power reactors, and research reactors.



Europe was the largest region in the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market in 2021. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



The growing sensitivity towards environmental issues is expected to propel the growth of the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market going forward. Environmental sensitivity refers to the growing awareness of environmental issues. Nuclear power plants (NPPs) are used to produce carbon-free electricity due to their superior reliability, enormous clean-air compliance value, and large capacity for power generation.

Decommissioning is the process of removing nuclear fuel from a nuclear power plant and assisting in the termination of operating licenses. For instance, according to the Government of Canada, in October 2021, the Canadian government is working to develop resources and improve environmental quality, with the objective of reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Moreover, in May 2021, the United Kingdom announced 166.5 million ($206.61 million) in financing to support the development of green technology that would reduce carbon emissions. Therefore, growing sensitivity towards environmental issues is driving the growth of the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market.



The implementation of information and technology is the key trend gaining popularity in the nuclear power reactor decommissioning market. Major companies operating in the nuclear power reactor decommissioning sector are focused on using information and technology to reinforce their position. For instance, in February 2020, VTT Technical Research Centre, a Finland-based research and technology company, launched the dECOmm project, which helps to decommission nuclear power plants. This project is using information technology in decommissioning to make the process easier and faster. The dECOmm project is an eco-friendly project that emits less carbon while decommissioning nuclear power plants.





Scope

Markets Covered:



1) By Reactor Type: Pressurized Water Reactor; Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor; Boiling Water Reactor; High-temperature Gas-cooled Reactor; Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor; Other Reactor Types

2) By Capacity: Below 100 MW; 100-1000 MW; Above 1000 MW

3) By Application: Commercial Power Reactor; Prototype Power Reactor; Research Reactor



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Characteristics



3. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Trends And Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning



5. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Size And Growth



6. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Segmentation

7. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Regional And Country Analysis



8. Asia-Pacific Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market

9. China Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



10. India Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



11. Japan Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



12. Australia Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



13. Indonesia Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



14. South Korea Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



15. Western Europe Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



16. UK Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market

17. Germany Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



18. France Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



19. Eastern Europe Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



20. Russia Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



21. North America Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



22. USA Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



23. South America Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



24. Brazil Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



25. Middle East Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



26. Africa Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



27. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles



28. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market



29. Nuclear Power Reactor Decommissioning Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis



30. Appendix



Companies Mentioned

Babcock International Group PLC

GE Hitachi Nuclear Services

Fluor Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Company

AECOM

NorthStar Group Services Inc.

Studsvik AB

Bechtel Group Inc.

James Fisher and Sons PLC

Orano Group

WS Atkins PLC

Enercon Services Inc.

Areva S.A.

SNC - LAVALIN

TEPCO

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/fi8mdk
Dublin, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Europe Branded Generics Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - by Therapeutic Application, Distribution Channel, Drug Class, and Formulation Type" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The branded generics market in Europe is expected to grow from US$ 45.81 billion in 2022 to US$ 81.30 billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10.0% from 2022 to 2028.



Players in the pharmaceutical industry are adopting various strategies, including product differentiation, to reduce development costs and maximize profits. Product differentiation involves developing innovative products based on an existing product by enhancing its features, performance, and efficacy. Product differentiation paves the way for strengthening product pipeline and lifecycle management.

As generic drugs contain the same active pharmaceutical ingredients as the brand-name products, differentiation in color, shape, taste, inactive ingredients, preservatives, and packaging result in high demand for branded generics. Therefore, differentiation in the final product is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities for the competitive players in the market in the coming years.



Additionally, prominent players operating the market are offering low-cost branded generics to remain competitive in the market. For instance, in July 2020, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced a joint venture with Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. to commercialize complex generics products, specialty assets, and other pipeline generic medicines. Further, key players in the branded generics segment offer low-cost branded generics to remain competitive in the Europe market. This can be achieved by strategically sourcing raw materials from emerging economies and partnering with suppliers. All these factors would provide lucrative opportunities for the overall branded generics market growth during the forecast period.



By introducing new features and technologies, vendors in the Europe branded generics market can attract new customers and expand their footprints in emerging markets. This factor is likely to drive the market at a good CAGR during the forecast period.

Europe Branded Generics Market Segmentation

Europe branded generics market is segmented into therapeutic application, distribution channel, drug class, formulation type and country. The therapeutic application segment of the Europe branded generics market is segmented into oncology, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurology, gastrointestinal diseases, dermatology diseases, and analgesics and anti-inflammatory. In 2022, the others segment held the largest share of the market, by therapeutic application.

The Europe branded generics market, by distribution channel is hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and drug stores. The retail pharmacies segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market in 2022. The Europe branded generics market, by drug class is segmented into alkylating agents, antimetabolites, hormones, anti-hypertensive, lipid lowering drugs, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anti-epileptic, and others. The others segment is likely to hold the largest share of the market in 2022. The Europe branded generics market, based on formulation type is segmented into oral, parenteral, topical, and other. In 2022, the oral segment held the largest share of the market, by formulation type.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

Growing Popularity of Branded Generics

Rise in Government Initiatives for Promoting Branded Generics

Market Restraints

Switching Brands, Poorer Clinical Outcomes and Adverse Effects of Generic Medications

Market Opportunities

New Opportunities Owing to Product Differentiation

Future Trends

More Focus Upon Utility of Branded Generics by Healthcare Providers and Professionals

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Europe Branded Generics Market - Market Landscape



5. Europe Branded Generics Market - Key Market Dynamics



6. Branded Generics Market- Europe Analysis



7. Europe Branded Generics Market Revenue and Forecast To 2028- by Therapeutic Application



8. Europe Branded Generics Market Analysis and Forecast to 2028 by Distribution Channel



9. Europe Branded Generics Market Analysis and Forecast to 2028 by Drug Class



10. Europe Branded Generics Market Analysis and Forecast to 2028 - by Formulation Type



11. Europe Branded Generics Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2028 Country Analysis



12. Branded Generics Market-Industry Landscape



13. Company Profiles



14. Appendix

Companies Mentioned

Aspen Holdings

AstraZeneca

Bausch Health (Valeant Pharmaceuticals)

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Inc.

GlaxoSmithKline plc

Hetero

Lupin

MYLAN N.V.

Par Pharmaceuticals

Sandoz International Gmbh

Sanofi

TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES LTD.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/vivdaq

Attachment
Dublin, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Diabetic Retinopathy Market: Size, Share, Application Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Trends, Key Players, Competitive Strategies and Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Diabetic retinopathy is among the leading causes of legal blindness among the working-age adults worldwide. Anticipated increase in prevalence of diabetes prevalence indicates that diabetic retinopathy will continue to the prevalence of vision loss in the future. Diabetes and diabetes related complications carry heavy economic burden.

Estimates also suggest that diabetic retinopathy alone contributes 10% to 42% of direct medical costs, whereas the indirect costs could be much higher. Surgical treatments have been preferred for a long time for diabetic retinopathy treatment at severe stages. Several pharmacological treatments are introduced and many are in development for treating this complication. This report studies the global and regional markets for various diabetic retinopathy treatments currently available.



Devices Segmentation Investigation



Diabetic retinopathy has been treated through devices for a long time, and even after advent of advanced drugs, it considered as the most preferred treatment regime. Laser treatment is often preferred for treating the formation of new blood vessels in the advanced stages of diabetic retinopathy. Laser treatment is often preferred because the new blood vessels formed are often very weak and laser treatment successfully stabilizes the risk of vision loss, though not improve the damaged vision.

Quick turnaround time and immediate recovery and effect are the prime factors that lead to high preference for laser treatments. Alike laser treatment, vitrectomy does not cure diabetic retinopathy, but is opted as an effective management mode. Despite the proven efficacy of vitrectomy in diabetic retinopathy management, late diagnosis of condition holds back the growth of this market.



In cases of diabetic macular edema, which can occur at any stage of diabetic retinopathy injections of anti-VEGF agents are administered to patients directly into the eye to prevent formation of new blood vessels at the back of the eye. Chief medicines used are ranibizumab and aflibercept. These drugs not only efficiently manage diabetic macular edema, but also are also instrumental in vision improvement.

Other intravitreal treatments for diabetic macular edema are Fluocinolone intravitreal implant (Iluvien), Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Triamcinolone acetonide injections. Iluvien form Alimera Sciences, Inc. received FDA approval in 2014 for treating diabetic macular edema in patients who have been previously treated with corticosteroids and did not witness significant rise in intraocular pressure. The drug is also been under trial for treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration.



Gradual rise in prevalence of diabetes and escalating diagnosis of diabetes related complications, favorable reimbursement policies and early introduction of breakthrough treatment modalities are the chief drivers that have allowed North America a dominant position in the diabetic retinopathy market. Extensive penetration of patented drugs such as Lucentis, Eylea, Iluvien and Avastin in the U.S. market has contributed to the clear leadership of North America in this area.

Market Segmentation

Device Type

Focal Laser Treatment

Scatter Laser Treatment

Vitrectomy Devices

Drug Type

Aflibercept (Eylea)

Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Fluocinolone Acetonide (Iluvien)

Ranibizumab (Lucentis)

Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection

Key questions answered in this report

What are the key micro and macro environmental factors that are impacting the growth of Diabetic Retinopathy market?

What are the key investment pockets with respect to product segments and geographies currently and during the forecast period?

Estimated forecast and market projections up to 2030.

Which segment accounts for the fastest CAGR during the forecast period?

Which market segment holds a larger market share and why?

Are low and middle-income economies investing in the Diabetic Retinopathy market?

Which is the largest regional market for Diabetic Retinopathy market?

What are the market trends and dynamics in emerging markets such as Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa?

Which are the key trends driving Diabetic Retinopathy market growth?

Who are the key competitors and what are their key strategies to enhance their market presence in the Diabetic Retinopathy market worldwide?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface



2. Executive Summary



3. Diabetic Retinopathy Market: Business Outlook & Market Dynamics



4. Diabetic Retinopathy Market: by Device Type, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



5. Diabetic Retinopathy Market: by Drug Type, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



6. North America Diabetic Retinopathy Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



7. UK and European Union Diabetic Retinopathy Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



8. Asia Pacific Diabetic Retinopathy Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



9. Latin America Diabetic Retinopathy Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



10. Middle East and Africa Diabetic Retinopathy Market, 2020-2030, USD (Million)



11. Company Profiles



Companies Mentioned

Alimera Sciences Ltd

Pfizer

Genentech USA Ltd.

Sandoz Inc.

Bayer Pharma AG

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Sirnaomics

Iridex Corporation

Lumenis

Valon Lasers OY

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/obqqht
Westford, USA, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Location analytics market is a rapidly growing field that is seeing increasing demand. This demand is due to the growing understanding of the importance of location data in many industries. Location analytics can be used to improve business processes and outcomes by providing insights into where customers are located and what services they use. In addition, location analytics can help businesses identify potential new markets and locations for expansion.

As the demand for location analytics market grows, businesses will need to have access to accurate and reliable data collection methods. There are various available options, including GPS tracking systems, wireless mapping technologies, and web-based Reporting tools. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, so it is important to choose the right tool for the job. It is also important to remember that not all data needs to be collected at every point in time; sometimes only aggregated or periodic reports are needed.

Get sample copy of this report:

https://skyquestt.com/sample-request/location-analytics-market

The most effective location analytics tools capture data at a granular level, including latitude and longitude coordinates as well as precise street addresses. This information can be used to generate insightful reports in the location analytics market that reveal critical insights about customer behavior, such as average time spent in specific locations, types of visits made, or sales conversions rates. With accurate location data, companies can make informed decisions about marketing campaigns and product offerings, ensuring that their customers are receiving the most relevant content and services.

Location analytics has proven to be an incredibly valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. By using this information, companies can improve their operations, win over new customers, and boost their product line.

SkyQuests Analysis: Top 5 Areas of Growth

There is no doubt that location analytics market holds immense potential for providing actionable insights into customer behavior and creating engaged content experiences. However, the market is still in its infancy, and there are several challenges that need to be addressed before it can become a mainstream player.

SkyQuest has analyzed the location analytics market and identified five key areas of growth: The first area of growth is driven by the increasing adoption of geolocation technologies by mobile operators, retail brands, and other businesses. Geolocation data is now being used to better understand customer behavior across a variety of channels, including online and offline stores, restaurant chains, transport networks, and more.

The second area of growth is focused on developing new applications for location analytics. This includes using location data to improve marketing efforts (by understanding how customers interact with ads), predicting natural disasters, managing traffic congestion, and more.

The third area of growth in the location analytics market is related to expanding the reach of location analytics across geographies. This includes making use of big data techniques to provide insights that are not possible with traditional methods. For example, BCG has found that analyzing traffic data from multiple cities can provide insights about overall traffic trends in an area.

The fourth area of growth involves improving the accuracy of location Analytics. This includes overcoming challenges such as inaccurate GPS readings and incomplete or inaccurate user profiles.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://skyquestt.com/report/location-analytics-market

The fifth area of growth involves deepening relationships between businesses and their customers through contextualized interactions. This involves using location data.

Google, Microsoft, IBM, SAS, Oracle are Top 5 Players in Global Location Analytics Market

In this report, SkyQuest has identified the top players in the global location analytics industry. These companies are divided into two categories: those that provide geospatial data-enabled services and those that make use of geospatial technology to create insights from data.

The top players in the data-driven category include Google, Esri (acquired by Oracle), Microsoft (owner of Bing), and IBM (which acquired ArcGIS). These companies offer a range of geospatial software products that can be used to create maps, analyze data, build models, and make predictions.

The top players in the Geospatial Services category include HERE Technologies (market leader), Nominet (a subsidiary of ICL Data Management), and LocationIQ. These companies in the global location analytics market provide comprehensive geospatial solutions that allow businesses to manage their locations more efficiently and effectively. They also offer consulting services that can help businesses achieve their desired outcomes.

Google is one of the leading players in the location analytics market. The company has amassed a sizable market share and continues to grow at an impressive rate. In this article, we will take a look at Google's strengths and weaknesses in this field and how they could impact companies that rely on location data to improve their business operations.

First of all, let's take a look at Google's competitive landscape. As mentioned earlier, Google is one of the most popular search engines in the world. This gives the company access to a large pool of user data, which can be used for location analytics purposes. However, there are several other major players in this space, including Microsoft (MSFT) and Apple (AAPL). These companies have also made significant investments in mapping and data collection capabilities, which could pose a threat to Google's market share in the global location analytics market.

Another key strength of Google is its technology infrastructure. The company has developed several innovative toolsets for location analytics, such as its Maps app and Street View cars. This enables it to collect detailed information about cities and industries across the globe. Furthermore, Google has invested heavily in artificial intelligence (AI), which could help it better understand customer behavior and offer more personalized services.

However, there are some areas where Google falls short compared to its competitors in the location analytics market. For example, its mapping capabilities are not as well developed as those of Microsoft or Apple. This could limit the usefulness of location data collected by users using these platforms.

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/location-analytics-market

Top Players in the Global Location Analytics Market

IBM (US)

Google (US)

Oracle (US)

Microsoft (US)

Esri (US)

SAS (US)

Precisely (US)

SAP (Germany)

CISCO (US)

Hexagon (Sweden)

Zebra Technologies (US)

Alteryx (US)

HERE (US)

Purple (UK)

Galigeo (France)

Geomoby (Western Australia)

Quppa (Finland)

CleverMaps (Czech Republic)

IndoorAtlas (Finland)

Lepton Software (India)

CARTO(US)

TIBCO(US)

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Business Intelligence (BI) Market

Global Location Based Services Market

Global Metaverse Infrastructure Market

Global Cloud Managed Networking Market

Global Customer Data Platform Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Federal Home Loan Bank of San Franciscos (FHLBank San Francisco) Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Kwame Fields Sr., has been named among the Top CISOs by Cyber Defense Magazine. The award celebrates the most innovative CISOs who exceed in communicating with their boards and senior-level executives, detecting and stopping breaches and data loss, complying with regulations, and building powerful risk reduction programs for their organizations.



Kwame is tireless in his effort to stay ahead of cybersecurity threats and ensure the safety and security of all Bank systems, said Teresa Bryce Bazemore, FHLBank San Francisco president and CEO. We are thrilled to see Kwame recognized among the top CISOs in the world and could not be more pleased that he is a member of our leadership team.

Fields Sr., who joined FHLBank San Francisco in 2017, is an accomplished information technology trailblazer, with more than 25 years of industry experience. In addition to specializing in cybersecurity and technology risk management, he leads the Banks diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and is passionate about workforce belonging. Fields Sr. currently serves as a board member with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland and with the Gartner CISO Coalition.

Were pleased to name Kwame Fields as a winner among a small, elite group of information security professionals of our Top Global CISOs Awards for 2022, said Gary Miliefsky, publisher of Cyber Defense Magazine.

Cyber Defense Magazines full Top Global CISOs in the World Awards for 2022 is available online at cyberdefenseawards.com.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutionscommercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutionsfoster homeownership, expand access to quality housing, seed or sustain small businesses, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.

About Cyber Defense Magazine

Cyber Defense Magazine was founded in 2012 by Gary S. Miliefsky, globally recognized cyber security thought leader, inventor and entrepreneur, and continues to be the premier source of IT Security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and limited special editions exclusively for the RSA, BlackHat and Cyber Defense Conferences. Learn more about us at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com. Cyber Defense Magazine is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/027b0271-d99d-47be-aa6b-4ba4c4b9de5d
Chicago, United States, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mordor Intelligence, a leading market intelligence and advisory firm forecasts global renewable market dynamics in 2022-2025. As the world focuses more on energy, security and decreasing carbon emissions, the energy and power sector landscape is rapidly changing. Volatile oil and gas prices have been caused by Europe's changing dynamics with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While the oil and gas situation remain uncertain, Solar and wind energy solutions will continue to lead the renewable energy domains globally.



Lithium-ion battery prices are dropping globally, which is cutting down the demand for lead-acid batteries. But at what levels? In this age of energy security and focus on decreasing carbon emissions, we must ask what the future of battery energy storage technology will be.



However, the global wind power installations increased from 198 GW in 2010 to 837 GW in 2021, at a CAGR of 14%, supported by the declining costs of wind turbines due to improved materials, design, and favorable government policies for wind power in selected countries. Countries will continue to focus on this renewable energy segment.



In 2021, the total global hydropower installed capacity reached 1,360 gigawatts (GW). As of 2021, the African region has the highest remaining potential and in pipeline capacity of around 592 GW to be utilized. In 2021, China was one of the major countries in the world, which led to the growth in LNG demand. In 2020, there were about 94 billion cubic meters tons of natural gas LNG imported; in 2021, there were 109.5 billion cubic meters tons. China surpassed Japan to become the world's biggest LNG importer as a result of this spike in demand.



According to Mordor Intelligence Hydrogen Council, Europe is home to over 30% of proposed hydrogen investments, with a total investment of nearly USD 76 billion. About USD 32 billion is in the planning stages, and USD 6 billion involves committed investment. While the future of renewable energy unfolds, Solar, Wind and Hydro still would continue to dominate the primary renewable energy sources.
DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spacee , which provides the best computer vision and AI solutions that help businesses drive new insights, improve efficiency and boost revenue, today launched a new version of its Deming shelf-mounted robots that feature live video feed capabilities, allowing retail store managers to see shelves and get real-time inventory snapshots remotely.



There is a huge gap between what data retailers can collect in their e-commerce operations and what they can get from physical stores, said Skip Howard, founder and CEO of Spacee. Spacee helps fill that gap with critical in-store customer and supply chain data. Our latest Deming robots now take it to the next level with live and recorded video feeds.

Spacees unobtrusive Deming robots roam across shelves capturing inventory data. While it can take several days for staff to capture inventory manually, and a full day for a floor robot, Deming can provide an accurate inventory accounting of an entire facility in under a minute. Deming installation requires just one tool and about 30 minutes per aisle.

Deming has been proven to help retailers improve supply chain efficiency, ensure Planogram compliance, reduce stockouts and waste, and reduce costs. It also provides critical inventory data for retailers who pick e-commerce orders out of stores.

Supply chain challenges are making real-time inventory snapshots more crucial than ever, added Howard. Deming helps retailers get better visibility into whats on their shelves, and what needs to be replenished from warehouses to reduce stockouts and keep customers happy. Demings new live video feeds will make it even simpler for district managers to quickly assess what help might be needed at each location, from anywhere.

Deming is the only retail inventory measurement solution that provides accurate, near real-time data, and creates a video walkthrough that managers can view from anywhere. Retailers can use Deming just for video walkthroughs, or add extra capabilities such as inventory tracking.

To learn more about Spacees Deming, visit https://www.spacee.com/products/deming . To schedule a demo, email info@spacee.com .

About Spacee

Spacee provides the best computer vision and AI solutions that help businesses drive new insights, improve efficiency and boost revenue. Spacees interactive displays help engage and educate, and its unobtrusive shelf robots collect near real-time inventory data needed to help decrease stockouts and improve supply chain efficiency. The company works with leading brands around the world including Audi, Walmart, Panasonic, Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz. Learn more at spacee.com .

Media Contact:

Michelle Faulkner

Big Swing

617-510-6998

michelle@big-swing.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a2f21d91-3465-4387-8df2-6d4ffc7199df
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Smart Plug Market Research Report by Type, Product, Technology, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341447/?utm_source=GNW

91 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Smart Plug to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Porous Plug, Three-hole Plug, and Two-hole Plug.



Based on Product, the market was studied across Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.



Based on Technology, the market was studied across Early Adopters, Early Majority, and Innovator.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Commercial, Household, and Industrial.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Smart Plug market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Smart Plug Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Smart Plug Market, including Ankuoo Electronics Inc., Ashtead Group plc, Belkin International, Inc, BroadLink Technology Co.,Ltd ., ConnectSense, D-Link Corporation, EDIMAX Technology Co. Ltd., Etekcity Corporation, iHome Inc., Insteon, iSmart Alarm Inc., Lenovo Group Limited, Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Satechi, SDI Technologies, Inc., TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., and Xiaomi Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Smart Plug Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Smart Plug Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Smart Plug Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Smart Plug Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Smart Plug Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Smart Plug Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Smart Plug Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341447/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Smart Card IC Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341392/?utm_source=GNW

34 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Smart Card IC to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across 16-bit and 32-bit.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Financial, Government, Telecommunication, and Transportation.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Smart Card IC market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Smart Card IC Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Smart Card IC Market, including American Banknote Corporation, Bartronics India Ltd., Broadcom Inc., CEC Huada Electronic Design Co. Ltd., CPI Card Group Inc., EM Microelectronic Marin SA, Giesecke + Devrient GmBH, Imatric LLC, Infineon Technologies AG, Intel Corporation, Microchip Technology Inc., Micron Technology Inc., NXP Semiconductors N.V., ON Semiconductor Corp., Renesas Electronics Corp, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., STMicroelectronics NV, Texas Instruments Inc., Toshiba Corporation, and Zwipe AS.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Smart Card IC Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Smart Card IC Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Smart Card IC Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Smart Card IC Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Smart Card IC Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Smart Card IC Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Smart Card IC Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341392/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market Research Report by Function, Deployment, End User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341141/?utm_source=GNW

76% to reach USD 6,232.72 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Function, the market was studied across Accounting Software, Inventory Control Software, Restaurant Delivery or Takeout Software, Restaurant Management Software, and Restaurant POS Software.



Based on Deployment, the market was studied across On-Cloud and On-Premise.



Based on End User, the market was studied across FSR and QSR. The FSR is further studied across Casual Dine and Fine Dine.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market, including 7shifts, Inc, Above & BeyondBusiness Tools and Services for Entrepreneurs, Inc., Agilysys, Inc., Altametrics, Inc., BevSpot, Inc., CrunchTime! Information Systems, Inc., DYN365 Inc., Epicor Software Corporation, Fiserv, Inc., Food Market Hub, Fourth Enterprises, LLC, Jamix Oy, Jolt Software, Inc., Kitchen CUT Limited, Lightspeed Commerce Inc., MarginEdge Co., MarketMan, Inc., MenuMax, LLC, NCR Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Orderly Limited, Posist Technologies Private Limited, QSROnline.com, LLC, Revel Systems, Inc., RisingMax Inc., Sapaad Pte. Ltd., SynergySuite Inc., Toast, Inc., TouchBistro Inc., and TracRite Software Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Restaurant Inventory Management & Purchasing Software Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341141/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
DENVER, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reference website Listophile has conducted a study into the latest baby naming trends from the music industry. More than 3 million instances of baby names were analyzed to reveal the pop stars, musicians, and bands who are inspiring our babies' names.

In today's never-ending quest for new and creative baby names, the study suggests significant numbers of parents are turning to the world of music for inspiration.

Musical names sound iconic, and for music lovers, they are the perfect channel of self-expression. Music - and names - evoke emotions and feelings. They hold sentimental value - and both allow us to express our individuality. The study also suggests that parents are using music-inspired baby names to signify their child's uniqueness and non-conformism.

The team at Listophile analyzed the latest official data from the SSA to find the most popular baby names inspired by the music industry in the United States.

Included is a mix of names inspired by Gen Z icons like Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, and Abel Tesfaye as well as classic music legends such as Elvis, Bob Marley, and John Lennon.

The study starts by listing the top 10 music-inspired baby names, before digging into the top 40 baby names to reveal more unique musical names.

Top 10 Girl Names from the Music Industry:

1. Ariana - Ariana Grande

2. Taylor - Taylor Swift

3. Presley - Elvis Presley

4. Marley - Bob Marley

5. Lennon - John Lennon

6. Demi - Demi Lovato

7. Dylan - Bob Dylan

8. Miley - Miley Cyrus

9. Adele - Adele

10. Indigo - Indigo De Souza



Top 10 Boy Names from the Music Industry:

1. Abel - The Weeknd

2. Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix

3. Prince - Prince

4. Jonas - Jonas Brothers

5. Drake - Drake

6. Santana - Carlos Santana

7. Bruno - Bruno Mars

8. Lennon - John Lennon

9. Ozzy - Ozzy Osbourne

10. Jagger - Mick Jagger

More Information:

To read the full study, click here.

Contact Information:

Will Carmichael

support@listophile.com



Related Images











Image 1: Musical Baby Names





The most popular music-inspired baby names in the United States.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Rare Earth Elements Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341055/?utm_source=GNW

58 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Rare Earth Elements to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Cerium Oxide, Dysprosium Oxide, Europium Oxide, Gadolinium Oxide, Lanthanum Oxide, Neodymium Oxide, Praseodymium Oxide, Samarium Oxide, Terbium Oxide, and Yttrium Oxide.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Catalysts, Ceramics, Glass Additives, Glass Polishing, Metal Alloys, Permanent Magnets, and Phosphors.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Rare Earth Elements market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Rare Earth Elements Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Rare Earth Elements Market, including Alkane Resources Ltd., Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd., American Rare Earths Limited, Arafura Resources Ltd., Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., Canada Rare Earth Corporation, China Rare Earth Holdings Limited, Eutectix, LLC, Frontier Rare Earths Limited, Great Western Minerals Group Ltd., Greenland Minerals and Energy Limited, High-Tech Co., Ltd., Iluka Resource Ltd., Lynas Corporation Ltd., Medallion Resources Ltd., Minmetals Land Limited, Mitsubishi Corporation, Molycorp Inc., Quest Rare Minerals Ltd., Rare Element Resources Ltd., Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Ucore Rare Metals Inc., and Xiamen Tungsten Co. Ltd..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

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__________________________
HIGHLIGHTS

Standout gold results have been intersected on the southern Irvine Shear corridor including 20 m @ 0.67 g/t Au , as part of the current aircore drilling program at the high priority Becher Area in the Egina District.

, as part of the current aircore drilling program at the high priority in the Egina District. Over 650 shallow aircore holes for 16,500 m of the > 30,000 m program have been completed.

The aircore program will test multiple structural and intrusive targets along a series of significant mineralized corridors, some interpreted to extend to De Grey Mining Limiteds ( De Grey ) Hemi gold deposit within the Mallina gold project ( Hemi ).

) Hemi gold deposit within the Mallina gold project ( ). Several additional quartz veined, large-scale sericite-silica-sulphide alteration zones have been identified from drilling across the Irvine and Whillans Shear corridors, with assays pending.

Deeper reverse circulation ( RC ) drilling will commence in November 2022, designed to follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area.

) drilling will commence in November 2022, designed to follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area. Numerous targets have been enhanced or newly identified from a recent high resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric survey, coupled with detailed ground gravity surveys which have advanced structural interpretation and geological understanding.

Two heritage surveys were recently completed, enabling infill and extensional aircore drilling traverses and RC drilling to be completed for the remainder of 2022 and first half of 2023.

Initial results from the Becher Area, combined with previously reported results from Nunyerry North1, reconfirm potential for the Egina District to be a standalone gold production hub.

"Our first aircore drill results have yielded strong gold results at the Becher Area," commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Novo, "indicating that the Whillans and Irvine shear zones are indeed prospective for deposits similar to those at De Grey's adjacent Mallina project. Aircore drilling, a means of rapid, shallow drilling widely used across Australia as a first pass means of testing new areas for mineralization, is proving highly effective at Becher. Several large-scale anomalies are emerging, the largest of which is 650m across and situated along the southern Irvine shear zone. Alteration assemblages, lithologies, geochemical associations and size of these mineralized areas are similar to those observed in other nearby large gold discoveries. Although we have lots more drilling to complete and results to come in, the anomalies suggest that deeper drill testing is required."

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce0fc4ae-fc26-4a42-b7a2-ac9f18fc1724

Figure 1: Typical aircore drill line across the Irvine Shear looking southwest

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an exploration update on the Companys drilling program in the Becher Area of the Egina District, Western Australia.

Exploration programs testing high-priority structural and intrusive-related gold targets are in progress after two heritage surveys were recently completed at the Becher Area. The exploration programs comprise of systematic regional aircore drilling, with over 650 holes for 16,500 m of a > 30,000 m program completed to date and a deeper RC drilling program, which will follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area, scheduled to commence in November 2022. The Becher Area drilling program is expected to continue in 2023.

The Becher Area aircore drilling complements the previously announced surface soil anomaly at Nunyerry North, which is also located within the Egina District and approximately 80 km south of Becher.

Initial results generated from drilling at Becher Area and Nunyerry North reconfirm the potential of the Egina District to support a standalone production hub, with follow-up drilling to test multiple targets in 2023. Results referred to in this news release are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Egina District.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0f3cb9b-4e34-4988-92ce-cfaed37aa287

Figure 2: Becher target area showing the position of the De Grey Hemi gold discovery (JORC 2012) hosted to the east-northeast of the Becher Area along the interpreted fertile corridor; background aeromagnetic greyscale mosaic

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23faf7b7-18cd-4e24-bf50-c88af225965d

Figure 3: Novo Pilbara tenure showing project areas and priority prospects

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e40361f0-57fd-4c1d-b9a4-3709f16aac7e

Figure 4: Map of the Egina District tenements showing priority prospects, including the Becher Area in the north and Nunyerry North in the south

EGINA DISTRICT

Becher Area

The Becher Area (northern E47/3673, 100%-owned by Novo) contains multiple priority orogenic gold targets in the highly prospective and under-explored Mallina Basin. The area is located ~28 km to the WSW of De Greys Hemi gold deposit2. Novos interpretation of a series of significant shear corridors, including the ENE trending Irvine and Bonatti Shears (part of the regional Wohler Fault using GSWA 1:100,000 scale mapping nomenclature) and the EW trending Whillans and Heckmair Shears, is key to delineating these newly defined targets.

The current > 30,000 m aircore drilling program commenced in early September 2022, with over 650 holes for 16,500 m completed to date. 16 regional traverses at approx. 640 m line spacing and 25 m hole spacings have been completed along the Irvine Shear and Whillans Shear, with the opportunity to infill to 320 m spaced lines now possible given the recently completed second heritage survey on E47/3673. Drilling was designed as part of a large-scale systematic targeting program, supported by recent high resolution geophysical data sets, in conjunction with field mapping and sampling and research of all relevant historical data1.

Aircore drilling is best suited to areas with abundant cover or oxidation, easily drilling through unconsolidated or saprolitic material testing for gold and pathfinder element (arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, etc.) anomalism to identify broader zones of geochemical dispersion.

A minimum of 30,000 m of aircore drilling has been planned for 2022, however Novo expects this to be exceeded. The program will test four shear corridors and numerous sanukitoid targets, as well as antimony-arsenic-gold soil anomalies defined by previous explorers.

Results have been received from the first assay batch of 4 m composite samples analysed by PhotonAssay for the southernmost drill lines on the Irvine Shear Corridor (Figure 5). Four zones for infill aircore drilling have been identified from geological logging and current assay return. 1 m split samples and multielement assays are pending for anomalous drill holes.

Best intercepts include:

6 m @ 0.15 g/t Au from 24m (A0028)

12 m @ 0.16 g/t Au from 12m (A0029)

8 m @ 0.22 g/t Au from 4m (A0033)

20 m @ 0.67 g/t Au from 0m (A0034); examples of the chips from this zone are shown in Figure 5

examples of the chips from this zone are shown in Figure 5 12 m @ 0.24 g/t Au from 0m (A0035)

6 m @ 0.21 g/t Au from 24m (A0038)

Refer to Appendix 1 below for a complete list of assay results. True widths cannot be estimated at this time.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db85e195-a263-40b3-8e2d-f38b4b76e5da

Figure 5: Aircore chips and associated gold assays from composites on hole A0034 on the southern Irvine Shear Corridor

Aircore drilling also identified a large zone of alteration across an approx. 650 m strike length proximal to the intersection of the Whillans Shear and the northern Irvine Shear corridor. This zone of alteration is defined by silica-carbonate-sulphide altered rocks (likely ultramafic), with quartz veining in a sequence of deformed sediments. Examples of the drill chips from this zone are shown in Figure 7.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39326091-3a1f-44fc-87b9-3a2e31398548

Figure 6: drill chips from hole F0572 on the Whillans Shear showing quartz veining, intense sericitic alteration and up to 5% sulphides

Results referred to in this news release are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Egina District.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4c579432-1bab-4f05-9e7c-60c21794f8b8

Figure 7: Map showing progress of aircore drilling to date, red lines completed, black lines planned. Insert area shows summarised results received to date

Nunyerry North

The geology of the Nunyerry North target area includes quartz vein-related gold mineralization within a sequence of ultramafic komatiites and mafic rocks, juxtaposed by regional shears and offset faults. Novos exploration licence 47/2973 is 70%-owned, with the remaining 30% held by Mark Creasy and entities controlled by him.

A significant high-order gold soil anomaly at Nunyerry North now extends over 1.4 km of strike, with a second 1.2 km long soil anomaly at > 30 ppb gold defined south of the main target. Rock chip sampling returned peak high-grade results from quartz veins including 8.81 g/t Au, 7.39 g/t Au and 1.23 g/t Au1. Further detailed mapping has defined additional swarms of quartz veins and specimen gold has been detected in the main target area1.

Follow-up work planned includes heritage surveys and logistics for road access in preparation for drilling in 2023.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8bc0815-b100-4a92-9bef-a89f3c6308a7

Figure 8: Gold in soil anomaly at the Nunyerry North prospect

ANALYTIC METHODOLOGY

Four-metre composite samples of aircore chips were sent to Intertek in Perth, Western Australia with the entire sample smart crushed to -3mm (NVO02 prep code), with a 500 g split sample analysed for gold using Photon Assay (PHXR/AU01). An additional bottom hole sample from each drill hole (1 to 4 m composite representing rock from the bottom of the drill hole) was assayed using four acid digest and 50 g charge fire assay FA50/OE and for 48 multielement using four acid digest  MS finish (4A/MS)  results are pending.

QAQC procedures to date include insertion of a certified blank approximately every 25 samples (4 per hundred) and duplicate sampling (split of 4m composite) at the rate of 4 per hundred. Intertek inserts customized Chrysos certified standards at the rate of 2 per hundred.

There were no limitations to the verification process and all relevant data was verified by a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) by reviewing analytical procedures undertaken by Intertek.

QP STATEMENT

Mr. Iain Groves (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under NI 43-101, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Groves is Novos Exploration Manger  West Pilbara.

ABOUT NOVO

Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including the Beatons Creek gold project, along with two joint ventures in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.

 Michael Spreadborough 

Michael Spreadborough

Executive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO

Forward-looking information

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, planned exploration activities across the Becher Area and Nunyerry North in Western Australia. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos managements discussion and analysis for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.



APPENDIX 1:

Table 1: Becher Area - aircore drilling data - hole locations and results, including key intercepts.

HOLE ID COORDSYS EASTING NORTHING RL AZI GRID DIP TYPE DEPTH LEASE A0001 MGA94_50 620751.5 7683677.2 60.27 147 -60 AC 88 E47/3673 A0002 MGA94_50 620737.8 7683698.1 60.24 147 -60 AC 76 E47/3673 A0003 MGA94_50 620724.1 7683719 60.12 147 -60 AC 70 E47/3673 A0004 MGA94_50 620710.4 7683739.9 60.11 147 -60 AC 66 E47/3673 A0005 MGA94_50 620696.7 7683760.8 60.06 147 -60 AC 55 E47/3673 A0006 MGA94_50 620683 7683781.7 60.11 147 -60 AC 48 E47/3673 A0007 MGA94_50 620669.3 7683802.6 60.15 147 -60 AC 44 E47/3673 A0008 MGA94_50 620655.6 7683823.5 60.11 147 -60 AC 49 E47/3673 A0009 MGA94_50 620641.9 7683844.5 60.11 147 -60 AC 37 E47/3673 A0010 MGA94_50 620628.2 7683865.4 60.16 147 -60 AC 32 E47/3673 A0011 MGA94_50 620614.5 7683886.3 60.32 147 -60 AC 29 E47/3673 A0012 MGA94_50 620600.8 7683907.2 60.54 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 A0013 MGA94_50 620587.1 7683928.1 60.70 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0014 MGA94_50 620573.4 7683949 61.01 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0015 MGA94_50 620559.7 7683969.9 61.47 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0016 MGA94_50 621355.3 7683923.4 65.27 147 -60 AC 79 E47/3673 A0017 MGA94_50 621341.6 7683944.3 64.59 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0018 MGA94_50 621327.9 7683965.2 64.01 147 -60 AC 39 E47/3673 A0019 MGA94_50 621314.2 7683986.1 63.69 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0020 MGA94_50 621300.5 7684007 63.53 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0021 MGA94_50 621286.8 7684028 63.58 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0022 MGA94_50 621273.1 7684048.9 63.67 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0023 MGA94_50 621259.4 7684069.8 63.69 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0024 MGA94_50 621245.7 7684090.7 63.80 147 -60 AC 51 E47/3673 A0025 MGA94_50 621232 7684111.6 63.94 147 -60 AC 45 E47/3673 A0026 MGA94_50 621218.3 7684132.5 64.06 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0027 MGA94_50 621177.2 7684195.2 64.51 147 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 A0028 MGA94_50 621163.5 7684216.1 64.30 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0029 MGA94_50 621149.8 7684237.1 64.04 147 -60 AC 31 E47/3673 A0030 MGA94_50 621136.1 7684258 64.18 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0031 MGA94_50 621122.4 7684278.9 64.49 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0032 MGA94_50 621108.7 7684299.8 65.37 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0033 MGA94_50 621095 7684320.7 66.57 147 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 A0034 MGA94_50 621081.3 7684341.6 67.98 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0035 MGA94_50 621067.6 7684362.5 68.98 147 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 A0036 MGA94_50 620971.7 7684508.9 64.50 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0037 MGA94_50 620958 7684529.8 63.31 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0038 MGA94_50 620944.3 7684550.7 62.75 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0039 MGA94_50 620930.6 7684571.6 62.43 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0040 MGA94_50 620916.9 7684592.5 62.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0041 MGA94_50 620903.2 7684613.4 61.94 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0042 MGA94_50 620889.5 7684634.4 61.59 147 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 A0043 MGA94_50 620875.7 7684655.3 61.21 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0044 MGA94_50 620862 7684676.2 60.93 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0045 MGA94_50 620848.3 7684697.1 60.77 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0046 MGA94_50 620834.6 7684718 60.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0047 MGA94_50 620820.9 7684738.9 60.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0048 MGA94_50 620807.2 7684759.8 60.00 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0049 MGA94_50 620793.5 7684780.7 59.96 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0050 MGA94_50 620779.8 7684801.6 60.01 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0051 MGA94_50 620766.1 7684822.5 59.82 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0052 MGA94_50 621876.9 7684295.1 59.83 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 A0053 MGA94_50 621863.2 7684316 59.43 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0054 MGA94_50 621849.5 7684336.9 59.29 147 -60 AC 4 E47/3673 A0055 MGA94_50 621835.8 7684357.8 59.19 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0056 MGA94_50 621822.1 7684378.7 59.06 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0057 MGA94_50 621808.4 7684399.6 58.95 147 -60 AC 5 E47/3673 A0058 MGA94_50 621794.7 7684420.6 58.88 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 A0059 MGA94_50 621781 7684441.5 58.90 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 A0060 MGA94_50 621767.3 7684462.4 58.86 147 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 A0061 MGA94_50 621753.6 7684483.3 58.76 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0062 MGA94_50 621739.9 7684504.2 58.73 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0063 MGA94_50 621726.2 7684525.1 58.35 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0064 MGA94_50 621712.5 7684546 58.24 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0065 MGA94_50 621698.8 7684566.9 58.17 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0066 MGA94_50 621685.1 7684587.8 58.24 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0067 MGA94_50 621671.4 7684608.8 58.18 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0068 MGA94_50 621657.7 7684629.7 58.15 147 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 A0069 MGA94_50 621644 7684650.6 58.16 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0070 MGA94_50 621630.3 7684671.5 58.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0071 MGA94_50 621616.6 7684692.4 58.18 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0072 MGA94_50 621602.9 7684713.3 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0073 MGA94_50 621589.2 7684734.2 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0074 MGA94_50 621575.5 7684755.1 58.17 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0075 MGA94_50 621561.8 7684776 58.21 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0076 MGA94_50 621548.1 7684796.9 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0077 MGA94_50 621534.4 7684817.9 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0078 MGA94_50 621520.7 7684838.8 58.15 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0079 MGA94_50 621507 7684859.7 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0080 MGA94_50 621493.3 7684880.6 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0081 MGA94_50 621479.6 7684901.5 58.13 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0082 MGA94_50 621465.9 7684922.4 58.13 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0083 MGA94_50 621452.2 7684943.3 57.94 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0084 MGA94_50 621438.5 7684964.2 57.87 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0085 MGA94_50 621424.8 7684985.1 57.87 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0086 MGA94_50 621411.1 7685006 57.97 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0087 MGA94_50 621397.4 7685027 57.97 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0088 MGA94_50 621383.6 7685047.9 58.06 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0089 MGA94_50 621369.9 7685068.8 58.13 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0090 MGA94_50 621356.2 7685089.7 58.35 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0091 MGA94_50 621342.5 7685110.6 58.21 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0092 MGA94_50 621328.8 7685131.5 58.26 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 F0093 MGA94_50 621315.1 7685152.4 58.21 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0094 MGA94_50 621301.4 7685173.3 58.22 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0095 MGA94_50 622604.1 7684353.1 59.22 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0096 MGA94_50 622590.4 7684374 59.24 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0097 MGA94_50 622576.7 7684395 59.28 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0098 MGA94_50 622563 7684415.9 59.22 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0099 MGA94_50 622549.3 7684436.8 59.18 147 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0100 MGA94_50 622535.6 7684457.7 59.18 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0101 MGA94_50 622521.9 7684478.6 59.29 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0102 MGA94_50 622508.2 7684499.5 59.15 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0103 MGA94_50 622494.5 7684520.4 58.87 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0104 MGA94_50 622480.8 7684541.3 58.84 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0105 MGA94_50 622467.1 7684562.2 58.75 147 -60 AC 23 E47/3673 F0106 MGA94_50 622453.3 7684583.1 58.69 147 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0107 MGA94_50 622439.6 7684604.1 58.74 147 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0108 MGA94_50 622425.9 7684625 58.66 147 -60 AC 5 E47/3673 F0109 MGA94_50 622412.2 7684645.9 58.46 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0110 MGA94_50 622398.5 7684666.8 58.39 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0111 MGA94_50 622384.8 7684687.7 58.67 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0112 MGA94_50 622371.1 7684708.6 58.60 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0113 MGA94_50 622357.4 7684729.5 58.55 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0114 MGA94_50 622343.7 7684750.4 58.59 147 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0115 MGA94_50 622330 7684771.3 58.73 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0116 MGA94_50 622316.3 7684792.2 58.69 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0117 MGA94_50 622302.6 7684813.2 58.82 147 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0118 MGA94_50 622288.9 7684834.1 59.24 147 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0119 MGA94_50 622275.2 7684855 59.02 147 -60 AC 48 E47/3673 F0120 MGA94_50 622261.5 7684875.9 59.27 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0121 MGA94_50 622247.8 7684896.8 59.33 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0122 MGA94_50 622234.1 7684917.7 59.10 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0123 MGA94_50 622220.4 7684938.6 58.82 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0124 MGA94_50 622206.7 7684959.5 58.91 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0125 MGA94_50 622193 7684980.4 58.73 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0126 MGA94_50 622179.3 7685001.4 58.71 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0127 MGA94_50 622165.6 7685022.3 58.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0128 MGA94_50 622151.9 7685043.2 58.67 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0129 MGA94_50 622138.2 7685064.1 58.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0130 MGA94_50 622124.5 7685085 58.87 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0131 MGA94_50 622110.8 7685105.9 59.12 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0132 MGA94_50 622097.1 7685126.8 58.89 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0133 MGA94_50 622083.4 7685147.7 58.59 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0134 MGA94_50 622069.7 7685168.6 58.44 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0135 MGA94_50 622056 7685189.5 58.52 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0136 MGA94_50 622042.3 7685210.5 58.60 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0137 MGA94_50 622028.6 7685231.4 58.69 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0138 MGA94_50 622014.9 7685252.3 58.75 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0139 MGA94_50 622001.2 7685273.2 58.86 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0140 MGA94_50 621987.5 7685294.1 58.54 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0141 MGA94_50 621973.8 7685315 58.31 147 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0142 MGA94_50 621960.1 7685335.9 58.36 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0143 MGA94_50 621946.4 7685356.8 58.35 147 -60 AC 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AC 26 E47/3673 F0558 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686435.8 59.31 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0559 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686460.8 58.31 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0560 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686485.8 58.05 180 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0561 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686510.8 58.09 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0562 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686535.8 58.03 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0563 MGA94_50 620401.8 7686560.8 58.15 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0564 MGA94_50 619761.4 7685885.9 56.41 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0565 MGA94_50 619761.4 7685910.9 56.41 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0566 MGA94_50 619761.4 7685935.9 56.40 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0567 MGA94_50 619761.4 7685960.9 56.26 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0568 MGA94_50 619761.4 7685985.9 56.24 180 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0569 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686010.9 56.25 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0570 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686035.9 56.23 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0571 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686060.9 56.21 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0572 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686085.9 56.15 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0573 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686110.9 56.18 180 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0574 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686135.9 56.26 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0575 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686160.9 56.33 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0576 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686185.9 56.48 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0577 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686210.9 56.92 180 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0578 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686235.9 57.29 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0579 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686260.9 57.00 180 -60 AC 35 E47/3673 F0580 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686285.9 57.80 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0581 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686310.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0582 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686335.9 57.50 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0583 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686360.9 57.31 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0584 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686385.9 56.94 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0585 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686410.9 56.71 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0586 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686435.9 56.76 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0587 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686460.9 56.45 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0588 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686485.9 56.13 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0589 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686510.9 55.78 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0590 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686535.9 55.53 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0591 MGA94_50 619761.4 7686560.9 55.31 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0592 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686060.9 56.23 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0593 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686085.9 56.14 180 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0594 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686110.9 56.12 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0595 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686135.9 56.16 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0596 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686160.9 56.12 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0597 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686185.9 56.09 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0598 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686210.9 56.11 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0599 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686235.9 56.17 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0600 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686260.9 56.05 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0601 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686285.9 56.04 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0602 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686310.9 56.01 180 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0603 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686335.9 55.95 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0604 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686360.9 55.88 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0605 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686385.9 55.92 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0606 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686410.9 55.88 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0607 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686435.9 55.88 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0608 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686460.9 55.94 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0609 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686485.9 56.07 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0610 MGA94_50 618801.4 7686510.9 55.95 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0611 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686235.9 55.79 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0612 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686260.9 55.72 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0613 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686285.9 55.69 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0614 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686310.9 55.71 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0615 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686335.9 55.75 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0616 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686360.9 55.73 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0617 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686385.9 55.92 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0618 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686410.9 56.42 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0619 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686435.9 56.73 180 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0620 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686460.9 56.47 180 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0621 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686485.9 56.08 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0622 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686510.9 56.11 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0623 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686535.9 56.23 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0624 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686560.9 56.22 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0625 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686585.9 55.98 180 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0626 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686610.9 55.95 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0627 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686635.9 55.90 180 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 F0628 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684085.9 58.74 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0629 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684110.9 58.49 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0630 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684135.9 58.42 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0631 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684160.9 58.27 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0632 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684185.9 58.18 180 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0633 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684210.9 58.15 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0634 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684235.9 58.13 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0635 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684260.9 58.14 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0636 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684285.9 58.10 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0637 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684310.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0638 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684335.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0639 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684360.9 57.98 180 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0640 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684385.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0641 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684410.9 57.92 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0642 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684435.9 57.87 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0643 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684460.9 57.88 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0644 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684485.9 57.84 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0645 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684510.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0646 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684535.9 57.81 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0647 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684560.9 57.85 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0648 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684585.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0649 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684610.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0650 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684635.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0651 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684660.9 58.26 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0652 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684685.9 58.44 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0653 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684710.9 58.28 180 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0654 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684735.9 58.14 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0655 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684760.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0656 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684785.9 57.99 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0657 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684810.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0658 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684835.9 57.92 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0659 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684860.9 57.87 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0660 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684885.9 57.73 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0661 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684910.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0662 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684935.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0663 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685035.9 57.77 180 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0664 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685060.9 57.74 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0665 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685085.9 57.70 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0666 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685110.9 57.67 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0667 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683810.9 59.13 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0668 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683835.9 59.05 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0669 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683860.9 58.92 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0670 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683885.9 58.86 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0671 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683910.9 58.81 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0672 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683935.9 58.74 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0673 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683960.9 58.65 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0674 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683985.9 58.57 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0675 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684010.9 58.64 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0676 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684035.9 58.54 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0677 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684060.9 58.50 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0678 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684085.9 58.46 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0679 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684110.9 58.40 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0680 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684135.9 58.36 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0681 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684160.9 58.31 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0682 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684185.9 58.26 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0683 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684210.9 58.20 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0684 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684235.9 58.22 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0685 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684260.9 58.15 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0686 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684285.9 58.12 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0687 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684310.9 58.08 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0688 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684335.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0689 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684360.9 57.99 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0690 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684385.9 57.98 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0691 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684410.9 57.94 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0692 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684435.9 57.96 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0693 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684460.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0694 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684485.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0695 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684510.9 57.85 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673





Hole ID Depth From Depth To Au (g/t) Width (m) A0001 8 12 0.17 4 A0001 20 24 0.2 4 A0002 16 20 0.21 4 A0002 44 52 0.14 8 A0003 64 68 0.39 4 A0004 20 28 0.13 8 A0004 40 44 0.14 4 A0027 8 12 0.1 4 A0027 24 28 0.13 4 A0028 24 30 0.15 6 A0029 12 24 0.16 12 A0033 4 12 0.22 8 A0034 0 20 0.67 20 A0035 0 12 0.24 12 A0037 4 8 0.13 4 A0037 12 16 0.13 4 A0037 24 28 0.13 4 A0038 24 30 0.21 6 A0067 28 32 0.12 4 F0123 32 36 0.19 4 F0137 4 8 0.13 4 F0146 28 30 0.1 2

__________________________________

1 Refer to the Companys news release dated September 6, 2022.

2 Refer to De Greys public disclosure record.
Italy's new cabinet wins final confidence vote

Xinhua) 10:15, October 27, 2022

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the upper house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 26, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin.

The final tally in the Senate was 115 votes in favor of confirming Meloni's government, 79 against and five abstentions.

On Tuesday, the government easily won approval in the lower house of parliament, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions.

The two confidence votes are a step required by the Italian constitution for a new government to become fully operative.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the upper house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 26, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, told the parliament ahead of the confidence vote on Wednesday her policy goals, including curbing high energy costs, sparking stronger economic growth, continuing support for Ukraine and strengthening the office of prime minister.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party was the top vote-getter in Italy's Sept. 25 general election with over 26 percent of the ballots cast. She had run the campaign with her two coalition allies, the Forza Italia party and the League, both of which gained over 8 percent of the votes.

The new government formed by Meloni was officially sworn in on Saturday.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
English Finnish

Press release | 27 October 2022

Harvia Plc press release 27 October 2022 at 5:30 p.m. EET





Harvia will publish its Interim Report for the period of JanuarySeptember 2022 on Thursday, 3 November 2022 at around 09:00 a.m. Finnish time. The stock exchange release and the presentation material will be available after publishing at https://harviagroup.com/investor-relations/ .

Harvia will hold a webcast for analysts, investors and media on 3 November 2022 at 11:00 a.m. EET. The conference will be held in English. Harvias CEO Tapio Pajuharju and CFO Ari Vesterinen will host the event. The webcast can be followed at https://harvia.videosync.fi/results-q3-2022/

You can also participate in the conference by calling:

Finland: +358 9 2319 5436

Sweden: +46 8 5051 0086

UK: +44 33 0551 0211

US: +1 646 843 4609

PIN: 1524215#

A recording of the webcast will be available later at the companys website https://harviagroup.com/investor-relations/ .





HARVIA PLC





For further information, please contact:

CFO Ari Vesterinen, ari.vesterinen@harvia.com, tel. +358 40 505 0440





Harvia is one of the leading companies operating in the sauna and spa market globally, as measured by revenue. Harvias brands and product portfolio are well known in the market, and the companys comprehensive product portfolio strives to meet the needs of the international sauna and spa market of both private and professional customers.

Harvias revenue totaled EUR 179.1 million in 2021, of which 79% came from outside Finland. Harvia Group employs more than 800 professionals in Finland, China and Hong Kong, Romania, Austria, United States, Germany, Estonia and Russia. The company is headquartered in Muurame, Finland, adjacent to its largest sauna and sauna component manufacturing facility.
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Pink Himalayan Salt Market Research Report by Application, Distribution Channel, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340649/?utm_source=GNW

45 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Pink Himalayan Salt to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Application, the market was studied across Bath Salts, Food & Beverages, Gourmet Salts, and Salt Lamps.



Based on Distribution Channel, the market was studied across Convenience Store, Online Retailer, and Supermarket/Hypermarket.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Pink Himalayan Salt market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Pink Himalayan Salt Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market, including Boulder Natural Foods Inc., Evolution Salt Co., Himalayan Salt Company, K+S AG, Kutch Brine Chem Industries, McCormick & Company, Morton Salt Inc., Nature Vit, Naturo Healthplus, NutroActive Industries Pvt. Ltd., ORGANIC INDIA, Premier Foods plc, Saltan Ltd., SaltWorks, Inc., and San Francisco Salt Company.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Pink Himalayan Salt Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340649/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Pet Daycare & Lodging Market Research Report by Animal Type, Service Type, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340563/?utm_source=GNW

61 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Pet Daycare & Lodging to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Animal Type, the market was studied across Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Mammals, and Reptiles.



Based on Service Type, the market was studied across Animal Grooming, Animal Training, and In Home Pet Care.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Pet Daycare & Lodging market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Pet Daycare & Lodging Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market, including Adirondack Pet Lodge, Barkefellers, Barkley Pet Hotel and Day Camp, Best Friends Pet Care Inc., Camp Bow Wow Franchising Inc., Camp Run A Mutt Entrepreneurial Resources, Country Comfort Kennels, Country Paws Boarding Inc., Dogtopia Enterprises LLC, Paradise 4 Paws LLC, Pawsitively Heaven Pet Resort Inc., Pet Station Group, PetSmart Inc., Puss n Boots Boarding Cattery Pty Ltd., Room For Paws Pet Resort, Royvon, Social Pet, The Dog Stop, TK Petcare Solutions Pvt. Ltd., and Urban Tails Pet Resort.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Pet Daycare & Lodging Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340563/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Organic Bar Soap Market Research Report by Type, Process, Distribution Channel, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340337/?utm_source=GNW

59 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Organic Bar Soap to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Bath Soap, Laundry Soap, Shaving Soap, and Toilet Soap.



Based on Process, the market was studied across Cold Process, Hot Process, Melt & Pour, and Rebatching.



Based on Distribution Channel, the market was studied across Offline and Online.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Organic Bar Soap market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Organic Bar Soap Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Organic Bar Soap Market, including Bali Soap, Beach Organics, Dr. Bronnerss Magic Soaps, Forest Essentials, Khadi Natural, Laverana GmbH & Co. KG, Mountain Valley Springs India Pvt. Ltd., Neals Yard (Natural Remedies) Limited, Osmia, The Body Shop International Limited, and Trulys Natural Products.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Organic Bar Soap Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Organic Bar Soap Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06340337/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Land Based Smart Weapons Market Research Report by Product, Technology, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339500/?utm_source=GNW

53 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Land Based Smart Weapons to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Ammunitions and Missiles.



Based on Technology, the market was studied across Infrared Guidance, Laser Guidance, Radar Guidance, and Satellite Guidance.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Land Based Smart Weapons market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Land Based Smart Weapons Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market, including Aselsan A.?., BAE Systems PLC, Diehl Stiftung & Co. KG, General Dynamics Corporation, Hanwha Group, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Kongsberg Gruppen ASA, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Rheinmetall AG, Safran SA, Textron Inc., Thales Group, and The Boeing Company.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Land Based Smart Weapons Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339500/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIM Consulting, an Addison Group Company and an award-winning technology consulting firm, is being recognized by Consulting Magazine as being one of the "Fastest Growing Firms" in 2022.

Consulting Magazine, a popular and trusted source for the industry, composes its annual "Fastest Growing Firms" listing of fastest-growing consulting firms of all sizes in sectors worldwide, with revenues exclusively related to management consulting and IT consulting services. The firms are then ranked according to the percentage growth of their annual revenue over 36 months (from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2021).

Established in 2006, AIM quietly yet steadily became known for supporting a diverse portfolio of clients across the United States, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, in launching their most ambitious initiatives and for developing expertise with their strategic partnerships to resolve the most challenging projects.

Upon hearing of earning the Consulting Magazine award, AIM Consulting Vice President of Consulting Sales, Mike Rowse, had this to say of the acknowledgment:

"Our consultants are truly intelligent, caring, and thorough. Before we even begin a project, we take our consultation seriously; we dive deep into discovery to be sure that our projects and our partnerships are the right fit for the client and our consultants. It feels great to be recognized for our rapid growth; after all, AIM's growth is due to our team's determination to discover and deliver the right solutions. Listening and getting to know our client's pain points and then relieving them is rewarding enough, so industry acknowledgment just proves our methodology."

AIM is a standout on this year's "Fastest Growing Firms" listing, as it delivers technology-agnostic solutions, unlike more typical legacy firms that tend to be tied to providing exclusive specialty in one of the more mainstream market solutions. AIM, remaining technology agnostic, provides a business model designed around the outcome rather than being designed for a single system. Their experts specialize in the areas of Enterprise Application Development, Data and Analytics, Cloud and Operations, Delivery Leadership, and Digital Experience and Mobile.

AIM Consulting (AIM), founded in 2006, became an Addison Group company in 2017 and is an award-winning industry leader in technology consulting and solutions delivery. AIM's differentiation is our collaborative engagement model that provides cross-functional results. We work with clients, shoulder to shoulder, for one goal - their success. AIM has offices in Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Houston, and Chicago; AIM ranked among the "fastest-growing private companies" and "best companies to work," citing its long track record of success with partners and consultants. Our long-term relationships with the best technology consulting talent allow us to deliver on expectations, execute roadmaps and drive modern technology initiatives.

Addison Group Companies include Addison Group, AIM Consulting, ArcLight Consulting, Bridgepoint Consulting, DLC, Kranz Consulting, Mondo, and Harmony Healthcare.

Contact Information:

Mindy Konczal

Media & Public Relations Manager

media.relations@addisongroup.com



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Image 1: 2022 Fastest Growing Firms, Consulting Magazine





AIM Consulting named one of the 2022 Fastest Growing Firms









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Attachment
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Teledentistry Market Research Report by Type, Component, Delivery Mode, Application, End-use, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341892/?utm_source=GNW

14 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Teledentistry to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Asynchronous and Synchronous.



Based on Component, the market was studied across Hardware and Software & Services.



Based on Delivery Mode, the market was studied across Cloud-based and Web-based.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Orthodontics and Periodontics.



Based on End-use, the market was studied across Patients and Providers.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Teledentistry market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Teledentistry Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Teledentistry Market, including Advanced Monitored Caregiving Inc., Cerner Corporation, Chiron Health, Denteractive Solutions, Inc., Doctor On Demand, Inc., Flexaust Inc., General Electric Company, IMediplus Inc., Iron Bow Technologies, LLC, Koniniklijke Philips N.V., Medici Technologies, Medtronic plc, Medvivo Group Ltd, Medweb BV, Sesame, Inc, Siemens AG, Teladoc Health Inc., Virtudent, Inc., VSee Lab, Inc, and Zipnosis, Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Teledentistry Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Teledentistry Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Teledentistry Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Teledentistry Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Teledentistry Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Teledentistry Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Teledentistry Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06341892/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
English Icelandic

SKEL fjarfestingafelag hf.: ISK 196 million profit after tax in Q3 2022.

Attached is an announcement relating to the financial accounts and investor presentation of SKEL for the third quarter of 2022.



An open presentation of the Companys interim financial report will be held on 28 October at the Reykjavik EDITION Hotel on Austurbakki 2, 101 Reykjavik. The meeting will begin at 08:30 a.m., with refreshments served from 08:15 a.m. At the meeting, Asgeir Helgi Reykfjor Gylfason, CEO, and Magnus Ingi Einarsson, CFO, will present the results and highlights of the Companys operations.

For further information, please contact Asgeir Helgi Reykfjor Gylfason, fjarfestar@skel.is.



www.skel.is

https://www.linkedin.com/company/skel-hf/

Attachments
PALO ALTO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd., led by Executive Directors Lee Yung Chang and Kim Sang Tae, hosted a ceremony on Oct. 25 to celebrate the opening of a new overseas office in Silicon Valley in the United States. It is the first South Korean securities firm to establish a presence in this region.

With the opening of Shinhan Securities Silicon Valley Representative Office, the firm hopes to grow along with the local venture ecosystem and expand its global network by establishing a tight-knit relationship with venture capitals and startups in Silicon Valley.

Shinhan Securities anticipates that its presence in Silicon Valley would greatly support small- to medium-sized Korean businesses in search of contact points with overseas ventures. Focusing on Korean companies that have the technology but find it difficult to make inroads into foreign markets, Shinhan Securities plans to roll out a variety of services, including facilitating collaboration with promising Silicon Valley startups, facilitating investment opportunities, and providing information through research on technology trends in Silicon Valley.

Furthermore, the region will serve as an outpost to Shinhan Securities in an effort to build up a global venture ecosystem connecting Korean startups to foreign markets, bolstered by the firm's enterprise-wide strength and Shinhan Financial Group's global network.

"Uncertainty has been growing in the global financial market recently. But Silicon Valleya place where the world's best minds and technology come togetherwill not stop innovating and growing," stated Lee Yung Chang, President of Shinhan Securities, at the opening ceremony. "Our initial focus will be on thorough local market research and establishing a robust network, and this will serve as a foundation for harnessing the investing power and investment banking expertise of Shinhan Securities' headquarters to sow the seeds of investment for our future in Silicon Valley," he explained.

The ceremony was attended by the consul general of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco, Palo Alto city council member, and regional heads of KDB Silicon Valley, KIC San Francisco, LG Technology Ventures and SK Hynix Ventures already operating in the area as well as about 30 notable Korean Americans and local venture capitalists, who celebrated the establishment of Shinhan Securities' presence in Silicon Valley and agreed to explore opportunities for expanding the venture ecosystem by engaging Shinhan Securities.

Shinhan Securities currently operates local corporations in New York, Hongkong, Vietnam, and Indonesia and operates a Shanghai Office in China. It continues to expand its global business areas with the addition of the Silicon Valley Office.

Contact Information:

Heejoon Jung

heejoon.jung@shinhan.com



Related Images











Image 1









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Gin Market Research Report by Type, Product Type, Alcohol By Volume (ABV), Production Method, Distribution Channel, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338800/?utm_source=GNW





Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Gin to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Flavored Gin, Genever, Grape-based Gin, London Dry, Navy Strength, New Wave, Old Tom, and Plymouth.



Based on Product Type, the market was studied across Economy, Premium, Standard, and Super Premium.



Based on Alcohol By Volume (ABV), the market was studied across 36-40%, 40-45%, and 45-50%.



Based on Production Method, the market was studied across Column Distilled Gin, Compound Gin, and Pot Distilled Gin.



Based on Distribution Channel, the market was studied across Offline and Online. The Offline is further studied across Airlines, Bars, Hotels, Liquor Shops, Restaurants, and Supermarkets.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Gin market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Gin Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Gin Market, including Archie Rose Distilling Co., Aviation American Gin, Bacardi Limited Ma, Beefeater, Blackwoods, BOLS Damrak, Bombay Sapphire, Boodles British Gin, Brokers Gin, Catoctin Creek, Citadelle, Cork Dry Gin, Diageo plc, Gilbeys, Gilpins Westmorland Extra Dry Gin, Ginebra San Miguel, Gordons, Greenalls, Hendricks Gin, Isle of Wight Distillery, Konigs Westphalian Gin, Leopolds Gin, Nicholsons, Pernod Ricard SA, Pickerings Gin, Plymouth, Sacred Microdistillery, Schwarzwald Dry Gin, Seagrams, Sipsmith, St. George, Steinhager, Suntory Beverage & Food Limited, Taaka, Tanqueray, The Botanist, United Spirits Limited, and William Grant & Sons Ltd..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Gin Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Gin Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Gin Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Gin Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Gin Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Gin Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Gin Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338800/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Freight Management Systems Market Research Report by Component, Mode, End-User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338708/?utm_source=GNW

41 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Freight Management Systems to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Component, the market was studied across Services and Solution. The Services is further studied across Consulting, Support & Maintenance, and System Integration & Deployment. The Solution is further studied across Control & Monitoring, Execution & Operations, and Planning. The Control & Monitoring is further studied across Cargo Routing & Scheduling Solution, Cargo Security, and Freight Tracking & Monitoring Solution. The Execution & Operations is further studied across Brokerage Operational Management, Electronic Data Interchange, Freight Audit & Payment, Freight Visibility, Load Optimization, and Transportation Management System. The Planning is further studied across Claims Management, Dispatch Management, Freight Order Management, Revenue Management, and Supplier and Vendor Management.



Based on Mode, the market was studied across Air Freight, Ocean Freight, Rail Freight, and Road Freight.



Based on End-User, the market was studied across Carriers, Freight Brokers, Freight Forwarders, Shippers, and Third-party Logistics.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Freight Management Systems market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Freight Management Systems Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Freight Management Systems Market, including Accenture PLC, Blue Yonder Group, Inc., BluJay Solutions Ltd., C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., DreamOrbit Softech Pvt. Ltd., Freightview, Imagesoft, Kuebix, Linbis, Inc., Logisuite Corporation, Magaya Corporation, Manhattan Associates, Inc., McLeod Software, MercuryGate International, Inc., Oracle Corporation, Riege Software International GmbH, SAP SE, Schenker AB, United Parcel Service, Inc., and Werner Enterprises, Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Freight Management Systems Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Freight Management Systems Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338708/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
Dallas, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The stretch blow molding machine is a tool used in the production of several kinds of containers, including bottles and jars. Utilizing this device, molten plastic is stretched and molded into the proper container shape. The machines that make the containers for packaging, transportation, building & construction, electrical & electronic, and other industries are widely utilized. Among the key reasons propelling the expansion of the market is the increased demand for sturdy, lightweight containers from a variety of end-use industries.

The Global Stretch Blow Molding Machine Market is expected to reach US$ 2801 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 3.84% during the projected timeframe.

Furthermore, a major development opportunity for the market is anticipated due to the growing usage of stretch blow Molding machines by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). A further factor that is anticipated to aid in the market's expansion is the growing popularity of recycled PET (rPET).

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Global Stretch Blow Moulding Machine Market Scope:

Metrics Details Study Period 2018-2028 Market Size in 2028 USD 2769 million Segment Covered Type, Application, Regions by Type Covered Extrusion blow moulding, injection blow moulding, injection stretch blow moulding End-User Covered Paint stripper, resin, solvent, additives Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa and South America Key Players Profiled Krones AG, SMI S.p.A., NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD., Sacmi Imola S.C., KHS Group, Sidel, PARKER PLASTIC MACHINERY CO., LTD, KEENPRO INDUSTRY CORP., Kenplas Industry Ltd., CHUMPOWER MACHINERY CORPORATION., Aoki Technical Laboratory, Inc

The major market players are concentrating on a variety of methods, including mergers and acquisitions, expansions, and the development of new products, to obtain a competitive edge in the market and to preserve their position in the market. These major companies are also concentrating on a number of growth tactics, such as geographic expansion, to secure a sizable market share globally and satisfy the growing demand for strong and light containers coming from a variety of end-use sectors.

This is due to the rise in demand for stretch blow molded products from a variety of end-use industries, including packaging, transportation, building & construction, electrical & electronic, and others. The market is expanding in part because people are becoming more and more aware of the advantages of adopting stretch blow-molded items.

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Considering that extrusion can manufacture a lot of containers while using little energy, it is anticipated that this market segment would expand quickly over the coming years. Market segments have been established based on the basic materials they include, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Due to its outstanding strength, transparency, chemical resistance, and recyclable qualities, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) category is predicted to expand significantly over the course of the forecast period.

The demand for stretch blow molding containers from various food and beverage and healthcare industries is expected to increase, leading to significant growth in the packaging market over the forecast period. Due to an increase in demand for fuel tanks and other automotive components, the transportation industry is also predicted to grow significantly over the duration of the projection period.

Due to supportive governmental policies, expanding end-use industries, and the accessibility of raw materials in the region, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to hold the market's top spot and grow quickly throughout the course of the forecast period. In addition, the region's end-use industries are expected to increase their demand for sturdy, lightweight containers, which will cause North America to expand significantly throughout the projection period.



A renowned supplier of stretch blow Molding and filling & capping equipment for the beverage industry, CFT Group, was bought by Krones AG in September 2019. It is anticipated that the acquisition will aid Krones AG in improving its position on a global scale.

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Important points from the Table of Contents:

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Outlook

4. Stretch Blow Moulding Machine Market by Type, 2022-2029 (USD Million)

5. Stretch Blow Moulding Machine Market by Application, 2022-2029 (USD Million)

6. Stretch Blow Moulding Machine Market by Region, 2022-2029 (USD Million)

6.1. North America

6.1.1. US

6.1.2. Canada

6.2. Europe

6.2.1. UK

6.2.2. Germany

6.2.3. France

6.2.4. Rest of Europe

6.3. Asia Pacific

6.3.1. China

6.3.2. Japan

6.3.3. India

6.3.4. Rest of Asia Pacific

6.4. Latin America

6.4.1. Brazil

6.4.2. Mexico

6.4.3. Rest of Latin America

6.5. Middle East & Africa

7. Competitive Landscape

8. Company Profile

9. Appendix





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About Us:

Adroit Market Research is a global business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Environmental Test Chambers Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338396/?utm_source=GNW

93 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Environmental Test Chambers to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Corrosion Test Chamber, Customized Chambers, Temperature & Humidity Chambers, Thermal Shock Chambers, and Xenon Test Chamber.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Food, Healthcare, Medical & Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care & Cosmetic Products, and Telecommunications & Electronics.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Environmental Test Chambers market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Environmental Test Chambers Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market, including AMETEK, Inc., Angelantoni Test Technologies S.R.L, Binder GmbH, Climats SAS, CM Envirosystems Private Limited, Controlled Environments Limited, Doaho Test Company Co., Ltd., Eckel Noise Control Technologies, Envsin Instrument Equipment Co., Ltd., ESPEC Corporation, Feutron Klimasimulation GmbH, Konrad Technologies GmbH, Memmert GmbH + Co. KG, Presto Group, Q-LAB, Suga Test Instruments, and Weiss Technik UK Ltd..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Environmental Test Chambers Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338396/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Austin and San Antonio, TX-based Black Bexar Coffee (www.blackbexarcoffee.com) said Wednesday that it had debuted a new online specialty coffee service site. Austin, TX-based Black Bexar Coffee said that its site would sell its own Texas Honey Roast Coffee, roasted in the South Texas Hill Country between San Antonio and Austin. The company will also import other coffee from around the world to coffee-loving buyers, focusing on specialty coffee and their Texas Honey Roast Coffee, which includes a prize and a stick straw of honey inside every coffee bag with the purchase of the Texas Honey Roast specifically. This approach makes Black Bexar Coffee the first-of-its-kind coffee company in the U.S. and Europe.

"I'm very excited to have launched this new venture, BlackBexarCoffee.com, in my home state of Texas!" said owner David Cantu.

The site is an offshoot of iCantu Technologies, a local consulting IT, music, audio, and services firm. The blackbexarcoffee.com site went live online in October 2022. The CEO and founder, David Cantu, has over 20 years of experience as a veteran of the Internet Technology industry out of Seattle, WA. However, he is a born and raised Texan now living and focusing on his home state of Texas. For PR information, contact david@blackbexarcoffee.com.

Black Bexar Coffee's specialty roasted beans are roasted right in the South Texas Hill Country. Included in every bag is a prize of a fortune cookie with a fortune and a stick/straw of honey.

Contact Information:

David Cantu

Public Relations

david@blackbexarcoffee.com

512-843-1976



Related Images











Image 1: Black Bexar Coffee





Black Bexar Coffee specialty Roasted Beans Roasted right in the South Texas Hill Country, especially for you. Included in every Bag is a prize of a Fortune Cookie with a fortune and a Stick/Straw of Honey! TM-Trademarked process of Prizes in Coffee









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Digital Insurance Platform Market Research Report by Component, Organization Size, Deployment Type, End-user, Insurance Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338031/?utm_source=GNW

36 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Digital Insurance Platform to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Component, the market was studied across Services and Tools. The Services is further studied across Managed Services and Professional Services. The Professional Services is further studied across Consulting, Implementation, and Support & Maintenance.



Based on Organization Size, the market was studied across Large Enterprises and Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).



Based on Deployment Type, the market was studied across Cloud and On-premises.



Based on End-user, the market was studied across Aggregators, Insurance Companies, and Third-party Administrators & Brokers.



Based on Insurance Application, the market was studied across Automotive & Transportation, Business & Enterprise, Consumer Electronics & Industrial Machines, Home & Commercial Buildings, Life & Health, and Travel.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Digital Insurance Platform market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Digital Insurance Platform Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market, including Accenture plc, Acko General Insurance, Cogitate Technology Solutions, Coherent, Inc., Comarch SA, EIS Software Limited, Fineos, Infosys Limited, iPipeline, Inc., Mindtree Ltd, Policybazaar Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Prima Solutions SA, RGI Group, SAP SE, Shift Technology, StoneRiver, Inc., Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Vertafore, Inc., and Wipro Limited.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Digital Insurance Platform Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06338031/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Coding & Marking Equipment Market Research Report by Technology, End-user, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337533/?utm_source=GNW

71 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Coding & Marking Equipment to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Technology, the market was studied across CIJ printing & coding, DOD printing, Laser coding & marking, and TIJ printing.



Based on End-user, the market was studied across Food & beverage, Healthcare, and Industrial.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Coding & Marking Equipment market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Coding & Marking Equipment Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market, including Control Print Limited, Danaher Corporation, Diagraph Corporation, Domino Printing Sciences PLC, Durable Technologies, Hitachi, Ltd., HSA Systems ApS, InkJet, Inc., KGK Marking Technologies Group, Kishu Giken Kogyo Co. Ltd., Koenig & Bauer Coding GmbH, Leibinger Group, Linx Printing Technologies Ltd., Markem-Imaje Group, Matthews International Corporation, Numeric Inkjet Technologies, ProMach, Inc., REA Elektronik GmbH, Rynan Technologies Pte Ltd., and Videojet Technologies Private Limited.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Coding & Marking Equipment Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337533/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
English French

TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Richmond Hill online gaming player has been charged with two counts of Cheat at Play, contrary to section 209 of the Criminal Code of Canada.



All regulated gaming sites  including OLG.CA as well as private operator sites conducted and managed by iGaming Ontario (iGO)  are required by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to have monitoring systems in place to ensure integrity and fairness of their games. The measures are designed to identify suspected illegal activity, and to protect lawful players.

The charges result from alleged illegal player activity on two OLG.CA Blackjack games in May 2022. The suspected activity was observed in a live dealer online Blackjack game by Evolution Gaming and subsequently brought to the attention of the AGCO. Evolution Gaming is a live dealer games supplier to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) registered with the AGCO.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

In Ontario, all internet gaming operators are required to comply with the Gaming Control Act, its regulations and the Registrars Standards for Internet Gaming .

. The OPPs Investigation and Enforcement Bureau (IEB) is a division within the AGCO, comprised of uniform and civilian OPP members deployed across the province, and is one of the few jurisdictions globally with a dedicated and fully integrated police bureau embedded within the gaming regulator.

The IEB provides investigative expertise, intelligence support and effective information sharing to external law enforcement, the AGCO, as well as other regulatory agencies and industry stakeholders, to ensure integrity and public safety within the AGCO regulated sectors.



For additional information or interviews please contact:

AGCO Communications

media@agco.ca

416-326-3202

ABOUT THE AGCO

The AGCO is responsible for regulating the alcohol, gaming, horse racing and private cannabis retail sectors in Ontario in accordance with the principles of honesty and integrity, and in the public interest.

The AGCO is a regulatory agency with a governing board that reports to the Ministry of the Attorney General. The agency was established on February 23, 1998. It is a corporation under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario Act, 2019.
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Centrifugal Blowers Market Research Report by Pressure, Type, End-user, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337315/?utm_source=GNW

78 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Centrifugal Blowers to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Pressure, the market was studied across High, Low, and Medium.



Based on Type, the market was studied across Backward Curved Centrifugal Blowers, Crossflow/Tangential Blowers, Forward Curved Centrifugal Blowers, and Radial Bladed Blowers.



Based on End-user, the market was studied across Cement Plant, Chemical, Mining, Power Station, Pulp & Paper, and Steel Plant.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Centrifugal Blowers market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Centrifugal Blowers Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market, including Aerotech Equipments and Projects Pvt. Ltd., Aerzener Maschinenfabrik GmbH, Aspirnova Industry S.r.l., Atlantic Blowers LLC, Atlas Copco AB, Chuan-Fan Electric Co., Ltd., Clean Tek, Colfax Corporation, Everest Blowers Pvt. Ltd., EVG Engicon Airtech Pvt. Ltd., Hebei Kingston Technology Co. Ltd, Howden Group, Ingersoll Rand, Inc., Manvac Technik Limited, Shandong Huadong Blower Co., Ltd., Shandong Zhangqiu Blower Co., Ltd., The New York Blower Company, Turbo Blower Manufacturer, and Vishwakarma air systems.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Centrifugal Blowers Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337315/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Can Coatings Market Research Report by Type, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337131/?utm_source=GNW

01 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Can Coatings to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Type, the market was studied across Acrylic, Epoxy, and Polyester.



Based on Application, the market was studied across Aerosol Can, Beverage Can, Food Can, and General Line Can.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Can Coatings market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Can Coatings Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Can Coatings Market, including Akzo Nobel N.V., Altana AG, Axalta Coating Systems, Ball Corporation, International Packaging Coatings GmbH, IPC GmbH & Co. KG, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd., Kupsa SL, National Paints Factories Co. Ltd., PPG Industries, Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, TIGER Coatings GmbH & Co. KG, Toyochem Co., Ltd., Valspar Corporation, and VPL Coatings GmbH & Co KG.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Can Coatings Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Can Coatings Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Can Coatings Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Can Coatings Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Can Coatings Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Can Coatings Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Can Coatings Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337131/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________
New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "COVID-19 Vaccines Market Research Report by Product Type, Patient Type, End-User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337107/?utm_source=GNW

08 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the COVID-19 Vaccines to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product Type, the market was studied across Monovalent Vaccine and Multivalent Vaccine.



Based on Patient Type, the market was studied across Adult, Pediatric, and Senior Citizens.



Based on End-User, the market was studied across Academic & Research Centers, Clinics, Hospitals, and Vaccination Centers.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for COVID-19 Vaccines market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the COVID-19 Vaccines Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market, including AIVITA Biomedical Inc., AstraZeneca PLC, Baseimmune Ltd., Bharat Biotech International Limited, Biological E. Limited, Centivax Inc., Codagenix Inc., Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd., Emergex Vaccines, eTheRNA Immunotherapies, Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Limited, HDT Bio, Inc., Meissa Vaccines, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Moderna, Inc., Oravax Medical, Osivax SAS, Pfizer Inc., Providence Therapeutics, Serum Institute of India, Vaccitech PLC, and Zydus Cadila.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global COVID-19 Vaccines Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337107/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Bio-lubricants Market Research Report by Derivative Type, Chemical Type, Derivative Grades, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06336797/?utm_source=GNW

36 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Bio-lubricants to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Derivative Type, the market was studied across Carboxymethyl Cellulose Derivative and Methyl Cellulose Derivative.



Based on Chemical Type, the market was studied across Cellulose Esters, Cellulose Ethers, and Regenerated Cellulose.



Based on Derivative Grades, the market was studied across Food Grade, Industrial Grade, and Pharmaceutical Grade.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Bio-lubricants market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Bio-lubricants Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Bio-lubricants Market, including Albemarle Corporation, Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., BioBlend Renewable Resources, Castrol Limited, Chevron Corporation, Emery Oleochemicals, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Fuchs Petrolub SE, Green Earth Technologies Inc., Kluber Lubrication, Magna International Pte Ltd., MO8 Specialities Limited, Panolin AG, Polnox Corporation, Renewable Lubricants, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, RSC Bio Solutions, and TotalEnergies SE.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Bio-lubricants Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Bio-lubricants Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06336797/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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Kennesaw, Georgia, USA, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA), the premier professional organization in the industry, recognized the extraordinary achievements of BrandSafway with three Project Awards during the SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition in Boston in August 2022, as follows:

Mast Driven Hoists and Platforms Project of the Year Award: Central Park Tower, New York City

Provided tallest hoist on a common tower and worlds largest continuous rack and pinion hoist

Provided tallest hoist on a common tower and worlds largest continuous rack and pinion hoist Supported Scaffold Project of the Year Award: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO

Designed and installed debris shield and plywood barrier to withstand winds up to 90 miles per hour

Designed and installed debris shield and plywood barrier to withstand winds up to 90 miles per hour Innovation Award: Fort St. John, British Columbia

Engineered custom motorized carrier combined with a hydraulic self-leveling platform for water-intake conduits at hydro dam

We thank SAIA for recognizing the efforts of the BrandSafway teams whose work goes above and beyond the ordinary to provide our customers with the safest, most productive and innovative access solutions, said Karl Fessenden, BrandSafway president & CEO.



World Record Hoist Complex

Central Park Tower, located on billionaires row and overlooking Central Park, is the highest residential tower in the world and the second tallest building in New York City. Lendlease Corporation contracted with SafwayAtlantic by BrandSafway to design, supply, install and dismantle a six-car construction hoist complex. The common tower reached the 99th floor, a world-record height of 1,515 feet 6 inches and was erected and dismantled without incident. The common tower is made from shoring and scaffolding components decked at each entry level for access. SafwayAtlantic also equipped the hoist complex with a Hydro Mobile mast climber positioned above the hoist cars. This improved scheduling efficiency and eliminated interference between construction crews and tower erection crews.



Managing the sheer load of the common tower also presented an extreme engineering challenge. Because the hoist complex was too wide to fully fit on building setbacks at the fifth floor and eighth floor, it was partially cantilevered with massive steel dunnage made from I-beams.



Demolition Protection

Ahrens Contracting of St. Louis retained BrandSafway to erect Systems Scaffold along with a dust and debris containment system around the 227-foot-tall Queeny Tower, as it was demolished to make way for a new patient care facility at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the preeminent healthcare facility in St. Louis. To sufficiently contain the demolition dust and debris and prevent it from infiltrating the hospitals HVAC intake system, three sides of the containment system required a plywood barrier, totaling 95,567 square feet, as well as scrim.

As one floor was demolished, the scaffold debris shield would extend vertically (e.g., cantilever) to provide containment. After the demolition of a floor was completed, the cantilevered section would be dismantled. However, because the shield would exist unsupported for a period of time before being dismantled, the cantilevered section needed to withstand wind forces in excess of 90 mph.

To be certain that the solution could withstand wind forces, BrandSafway used a proprietary structural analysis and designing program. The company also used software and pull-testing tools to confirm that the building ties could withstand loads in excess of 3,000 psi. The anchors were tested on an actual portion of the 55-year-old building, which would need to support more than 160,000 lbs. of plywood alone.

Hybrid Mobile Access/Scaffold Solution

The BC Hydro Site C Clean Energy Project on the Peace River in Fort St. John, British Columbia, features six 183-megawatt hydro turbines. General Contractor Groupe LAR retained BrandSafway to design and deliver a hybrid access/scaffold solution on six penstocks, which are 32 feet in diameter, 300-feet-long fabricated steel conduits, and run from the reservoir above to the turbines below.

Aluma Systems, Hydro Mobile, Winsafe and Spider (all BrandSafway companies) collaborated to engineer a first-of-its-kind, one-of-a-kind solution: an electrically operated carrier integrated with a self-leveling hydraulically controlled platform, which supported multiple levels of Systems Scaffold.



The self-leveling design enabled workers to safely and efficiently paint, weld, inspect, repair and sandblast the penstocks, which- have a serpentine geometry and steep decline. In addition, the self-leveling mobile platform transported workers throughout all six months of the project without a safety incident, delivered the lowest total installed cost compared to erecting supported scaffold, and reduced overall time for the coating application.



These Project Awards affirm the excellence and innovation of our BrandSafway engineering, installation and project management teams, says Fessenden. We have a tradition of designing access solutions for even the most challenging jobs, as well as developing new ideas that improve safety and efficiency for our customers.

About BrandSafway

With a commitment to safety as its foremost value, BrandSafway provides the broadest range of solutions with the greatest depth of expertise to the industrial, commercial and infrastructure markets. Through a network of 360 strategic locations across 30 countries and more than 40,000 employees, BrandSafway delivers a full range of forming, shoring, scaffolding, work access and industrial service solutions. BrandSafway supports maintenance and refurbishment projects as well as new construction and expansion plans with unmatched service from expert local labor and management. Todays BrandSafway is At Work For You  leveraging innovation and economies of scale to increase safety and productivity, while remaining nimble and responsive. For more information about BrandSafway, visit www.brandsafway.com.

Attachments
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pzena Investment Management, Inc. (NYSE: PZN) (PZN) today announced that, at the special meeting of stockholders held today, its stockholders approved the previously announced take-private transaction with Pzena Investment Management, LLC.



Approximately 10.8 million unaffiliated Class A shares voted for the merger and approximately 1.1 million shares voted against. There were approximately 14.7 million unaffiliated Class A shares outstanding on the record date.

Under the terms of the transaction, holders of PZN Class A common stock will receive $9.60 per share in cash following the closing of the transaction.

The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2022, subject to the satisfaction of all remaining closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, PZN will become a private company, and its shares of Class A common stock will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements and information contained in this communication may be considered forward-looking statements, such as statements relating to managements views with respect to future events and financial performance. Words or phrases such as anticipate, believe, continue, ongoing, estimate, expect, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, project or similar words or phrases, or the negatives of those words or phrases, may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical experience or from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic conditions in the markets in which PZN operates; new federal or state governmental regulations; PZNs ability to effectively operate, integrate and leverage any past or future strategic initiatives; statements regarding the merger and related matters; the ability to meet expectations regarding the timing and completion of the merger; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the completion of the transaction; risks relating to the financing required to complete the transaction; the effect of the announcement of the transaction on the ability of PZN to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, vendors and others with whom it does business, or on its operating results and businesses generally; risks associated with the disruption of managements attention from ongoing business operations due to the transaction; significant transaction costs, fees, expenses and charges; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the transaction; and other factors detailed in PZNs Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and PZNs other filings with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov and on PZNs website at investors.pzena.com.

Contact

Jessica Doran, 212-355-1600 or doran@pzena.com




LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash (NYSE: WNC), the visionary leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, today announced a national partnership to help end food insecurity with Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization.



Through this partnership, Wabash will donate $150,000 this year in support of mobile food pantries, which are crucial to increasing the distribution of fresh and healthy food in vulnerable communities.

Wabash is committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and were excited to scale up our efforts to help end food insecurity in partnership with Feeding America, said President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Yeagy.

According to the USDA, nearly 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Wabash employees have selected fighting hunger as a cause they would like to personally support through donations, volunteer efforts and their work at Wabash.

Wabash donations will be directed to mobile food pantries that serve communities with high food insecurity rates, where Wabash facilities are located. In the first year of this partnership, funds will be allocated to five Feeding America member food banks. Wabash hopes to scale these efforts in the years to come, which may include supplying Wabash Acutherm refrigerated vans and truck bodies to keep food fresh while transporting and delivering it to communities in need.

Feeding America and member food banks across the country are working hard to meet the increasing demand for food assistance, said Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. No one should have to worry about where they will find their next meal. In our fight against hunger, were grateful to Wabash for their generous donation that will help our neighbors in need across the country.

This national partnership is an expansion of the work Wabash has done over the past 20 years on a local level with various Feeding America member food banks, such as Food Finders Food Bank Inc. in Lafayette, Indiana, where the company is headquartered. Wabash plans to continue to grow its partnership with Feeding America to serve all communities where Wabash facilities are located.

Wabash: Changing How the World Reaches You

As the innovation leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, Wabash (NYSE: WNC) is Changing How the World Reaches You. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the companys mission is to enable customers to succeed with breakthrough ideas and solutions that help them move everything from first to final mile. Wabash designs and manufactures a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade processing equipment. Learn more at www.onewabash.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media Contact:

Dana Stelsel

Director, Communications

(765) 771-5766

dana.stelsel@onewabash.com



Investor Relations:

Ryan Reed

Sr. Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

(765) 490-5664

ryan.reed@onewabash.com
CHULA VISTA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dan Smith, candidate for City of Chula Vista City Attorney, is requesting a public, televised debate with Rebecca Taylor, Acting Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party (SDCDP), over her organization's continued promotion of deceased candidate Simon Silva. Despite numerous attempts by Smith to warn the SDCDP over misinformation, it continues to promote Silva's candidacy without properly informing Chula Vista voters of his passing, as well as the costs to taxpayers should he win in November.



"The San Diego Democratic Party is in a win-at-all-cost mentality, which sadly, includes the promotion of my deceased opponent without explaining the ramifications should he win. We're seeing something similar in the Pennsylvania Senate race with John Fetterman. Ultimately, it's the voters and taxpayers who end up losing from these Machiavellian campaign tactics," said Smith.

On October 18th, Smith issued a letter to the SDCDP demanding that it "cease misinformation, as well as any and all advertising, promotions and endorsements for Mr. Simon Silva" and also warned of a costly, multi-million-dollar special election funded by taxpayers if Silva were to be elected. A formal response has yet to be received, prompting Smith to request a televised debate over the matter.

Additionally, Smith, a non-partisan Republican, fears his warning message is not properly reaching voters and that many of them would agree the millions of dollars required for a special election would be better spent on public safety, homelessness and filling potholes.

Smith also stated, "The Democratic party is not abiding by their own stated rules about transparency, ethics and conflicts of interest. They have no issues pushing a deceased attorney all so that a Republican can't win the race. Hopefully, Ms. Taylor will accept my invitation to a public debate so voters who have not yet cast their ballots can be properly informed."

For more information, visit Chula4Smith.com

Contact:
The US Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, is awarding nearly $1 billion to 389 school districts spanning 50 states, Washington, DC, and several Tribes and US territories. The funding will help school districts purchase more than 2,400 clean school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in and around schools and communities.

In May, EPA announced the availability of $500 million for its Clean School Bus Program. Given overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including low-income communities, Tribal nations, and territories, EPA nearly doubled the amount of funding that will be awarded to $965 million.

The rebate application period closed in August with an outstanding response from school districts seeking to purchase electric and low-emission school buses across the country.

These awards are the first $1 billion of a five-year, $5 billion program created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. EPA is also designing the next round of program funding to launch in the coming months, which will include a grant competition.

Through future rounds of funding, EPA will make available another $1 billion for clean school buses in Fiscal Year 2023. EPA encourages school districts not selected in the first round of rebatesand those that did not apply this funding cycleto participate in future rounds.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that the second installment of funding for the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust ZeroEmission Transit, School, and Shuttle Bus program is available.

Applications for transit and shuttle bus funding continue to be accepted and applications for school bus funding is reopening. This solicitation is open to eligible bus owners throughout California, and funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is administering $130 million statewide in two equal installments of $65 million each for replacing internal combustion engine buses with zeroemission buses.

During the projects 10-year period, approximately 425 vehicles will be replaced with an incentive amount of up to $400,000 per vehicle.
Green River Police Department reports for Oct. 17

At 9:31 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at Upland Way and Commerce Drive and issued the driver, Chandlerr Lester, of Green River, a citation for alleged expired temporary license permit/improper registration.

At 5:17 p.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing on East Flaming Gorge Way. The suspect had left the property prior to law enforcement arrival but was later located at The Embassy. Officers met with the individual, advised about the current trespass order and issued a citation for alleged trespassing to Chance Salcedo, of Green River. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident.

Oct. 18

At 6:59 a.m., officers responded to a report of a suspicious person on Hutton Street. Officers met with an individual who reported a subject standing near their driveway asking for money. Officers checked for any individuals who may have still been in the area, but no one was located. Officers were again called back for a suspicious person and eventually located an individual matching the description. Officers met with the individual, gathered information, and ascertained the individual had an active warrant out of Fremont County. The individual was placed under arrest per the active warrant and transported to the Sweetwater County Detention Center, then officers completed a report of the incident.

At 7:53 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at River View Drive and Knotty Pine Street for a brake light violation. Officers met with the driver and passenger, issued the driver, Adrian Ybanez, of Green River, a citation for alleged failure to provide proof of liability insurance, and placed the passenger, Harold Gladue, of Green River, under arrest per an active warrant out of Fremont County. Officers transported Gladue to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident.

At 8:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of vandalism at Green River High School and are investigating property damage in one of the bathrooms. Report to follow.

At 11:51 a.m., officers, EMS, and the Coroner responded to a report of an unattended death. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident, which is still under investigation. The GRPD did not release the address officers responded to.

At 3:15 p.m., officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at Green River High School. It was reported one vehicle began to back out of their parking space and a second vehicle began backing out of their parking space, and the vehicles rear bumpers collided. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident.

At 4:05 p.m., officers met with an individual over concerns about neighborhood kids playing in the street on Indian Hills Drive. Officers gathered information and completed a report of the incident.

Oct. 19

At 7:54 a.m., officers responded to a report of property damage on West Flaming Gorge Way. The reporting party advised they had seen a street sign that was bent and looked like it had been hit. Officers located the vehicle that had hit the sign and issued the driver, Ebenezer Owolabi, 39, of Spring, Texas, a citation for alleged inattentive driving with crash. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 8:47 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Wilson Street for no visible registration. Officers cited and arrested the driver, Jenifer Fletcher, 39, of Green River for alleged failure to maintain liability coverage, driving while license suspended, and no valid vehicle registration. Officers transported Fletcher to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident.

At 1:20 p.m., officers responded to a report of a larceny at the horse corrals. Officers met with the reporting party who advised they had a license plate stolen off of a trailer. Officers were unable to locate a suspect at the time of the report. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 2:14 p.m., officers responded to a report of an individual making threatening comments. The reporting party asked the individual to leave, but they later returned. Officers located the individual and issued them a trespass warning for the location. Officers completed a report of the incident. The GRPD did not release the address officers responded to.

At 4:42 p.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing at the Town Bar and Grill. Officers met with the reporting party who advised that an individual who had previously been trespassed had come into the bar. Officers located the individual who was identified as Chance Salcedo, 34, of Green River, a citation for alleged trespass - refuse to leave when asked. Officers completed a report of the incident.

Oct. 20

At 11:11 a.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing at Club 86. The reporting person advised there was an individual inside the bar who needed to be removed from the premises and trespassed. Officers located the individual and issued them a trespass warning. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 8:27 p.m., officers responded to a report of a disturbance on Schultz Street. While on scene officers made contact with an individual with an active warrant. Officers confirmed the warrant and placed Albert Dewailly, 63, of Green River, under arrest per the active warrant. Officers transported Dewailly to the Sweetwater County Detention Center and completed a report of the incident.

At 8:34 p.m., officers responded to a report of a crash on Evans Street. A vehicle was driving westbound when they veered off the road onto the sidewalk and struck a parked vehicle. Officers observed the damage to both vehicles and issued the driver of the first vehicle, Diane Janicki, 60, of Green River, a citation for alleged inattentive driving with crash. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 9:34 p.m., officers responded to a report of vandalism on Evans Street. Officers met with the reporting party who advised their house had been egged. Officers observed the egg on the residence and searched the area for a suspect. No suspects were located at the time of the report. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 10:01 p.m., officers responded to a report of a missing vehicle on N 1st E Street. Officers met with the reporting party and learned that it was possible another person living at the residence had taken the vehicle. Officers searched the area for the vehicle and later in the day the reporting party advised that they had found the vehicle and driven it home. Officers completed a report of the incident.

Oct. 21

At 12:29 a.m., officers responded to a report of trespassing at Club 86. The reporting person advised there was an individual inside the bar who needed to be removed from the premises and trespassed. Officers located the individual and issued them a trespass warning. Officers completed a report of the incident.

At 8:46 a.m., officers responded to a report of a traffic complaint on Wilson Street. Officers met with an individual who reported another individual that was driving without a valid drivers license, vehicle registration or vehicle insurance. Officers gathered information and completed a report.
Genesis Alkalis plans to expand its existing Granger soda ash production facility are continuing to make progress, with the most recent development being the award of $665,000 through the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services Pre-Obligation Grant Program. This grant provides funding to support training in maintenance and operations, safety, technology and engineering, according to a press release from the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.

The Granger expansion project involves Genesis Alkali investing $350 million to expand the Granger facility and increase soda ash product...
John Marion Hewitt, 60, passed away Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at his home in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He was a life-long resident of Rock Springs. Mr. Hewitt died of a sudden illness.

He was born on August 14, 1962 in Rock Springs, Wyoming; the son of Roy Marion Hewitt and Angela Sophie Haun Hewitt.

Mr. Hewitt attended schools in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was a 1981 graduate of Rock Springs High School.

He worked for Mountain Fuel Supply Company and other construction companies as a Foreman and Operator. Doing dirt work was his specialty. He could run every piece of equipment a contractor had. His favorite machine was the Track hoe and motor grader. He did a lot of blue topping-feathers and cutting slopes. He retired at an early age due to work related injuries.

Mr. Hewitt was a member of Restoration Ministries.

He enjoyed spending time with family; four wheeling; riding his off-road vehicle; riding motorcycles and fishing.

Survivors include his two brothers, Joseph R. Hewitt and wife Janice Reynolds of Farmington, New Mexico; Jerry Jerome Hewitt and wife Nancy of Greeley, Colorado; JoAnn Hewitt Sims of Prescott Valley, Arizona; Jeanette Dowling and husband Russ of Prescott Valley, Arizona; several cousins; nieces, nephews and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one son, John Patrick Hewitt.

Cremation will take place; a Celebration of Life will be conducted at a later date.

Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com.
Last year, I augmented my role as an elected member of Wyomings House of Representatives to become a witness before the House Judiciary Committee as it considered whether cannabis should become legal in our state.

I told my colleagues about my life-long struggle with ulcerative colitis, which forced me to leave the military as I underwent elaborate treatments, dropping in weight from 160 pounds to only 119. I spoke of how using cannabis helped me get through that physical trial. I acknowledged that cannabis, like any drug, can be abused  but asserted the key to assuring a drugs pro...
Washington Principal Anne Marie Covey, right, smiles at the school's students and staff while Senator John Barrasso, left, reads a certificate that explains how the American flag he presented to Covey was flown over the US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. in honor of Washington Elementary.

"We've had a pretty exciting month," Principal Anne Marie Covey told the students at Washington Elementary as they gathered in the gymnasium after school last week.

After being named a Blue Ribbon School at the end of September, the school has been full of excitement and celebrations, which continued as Covey announced to the students they had a special visitor: Senator John Barrasso.

"It is wonderful to be here. Congratulations!" Barrasso told the gathered students, staff, and community members. "Over 500 schools in the state, and only two were selected as the best schools in Wyoming."

Ea...
Huawei released a court notice about the infringement of its patent rights. The claim is against Amazon and e-ink display manufacturer Compal Electronics, as well as several of their subsidiaries.

The claim is most likely to be about patents regarding the Kindle, a product Amazon revealed will be pulled out of China by the end of H1 2023.

The actual infringing patents haven't been detailed as the official documents are yet to be published by the Peoples Court of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. The trial will begin with hearings on December 8.

Reportedly, Huawei sold over 110,000 units of its e-ink tablet MatePad Paper which comes with Harmony OS 2.0. In just the first two months after the late February launch, Huaweis unique tablet managed to surpass Kindle sales in China, the source claims.

Huawei is among the leaders in the world in granted patents. It has over 110,000 valid patents and is the leader at CNIPA and EUIPO - the IP regulators in China and the EU, respectively. It is also fifth in granted patents in the United States - a country where it is not allowed to do business.

Source (in Chinese)
Nothing may be taking its time bringing Android 13 to its Phone (1), but the company can't be accused of not issuing plenty of small updates to the device in the meantime. Today the latest one went out, and it's labeled Nothing OS 1.1.6.

This brings with it support for Google's AR Core, as well as 5G on Jio in India. For the camera, the update promises sharper videos with improved stability, and an always-on by default recording light indicator. The Launcher experience should feel more fluid, the battery status displayed is more accurate, and the NFC sound effect has been updated.

The maximum brightness when displaying HDR content has been increased, but it's not clear to what level. Back in August there was some controversy regarding the panel's maximum brightness, which was advertised as 1,200 nits but found never to reach that peak.

Nothing then clarified that the hardware is capable of that, but in the service of "a balanced user experience regarding heat and battery consumption" it was capped in software at 700 nits. It looks like this cap has either been removed entirely with the latest update, or at least upped somewhat.

Finally, there are a couple of Glyph-related improvements packed in: an updated, "more reactive" Flip to Glyph animation, as well as the Glyph charging light now being "synced to sound effect". Naturally, the usual unnamed "general bug fixes" are mentioned too.

The update may be going out in stages as these things usually are, which means that it might take a few days for it to trickle out to all the units in the wild. It's a 62MB download when you do get it.

Source
OnePlus already released a stable OxygenOS 13 update for the OnePlus 10 Pro and has several other models that are running beta versions in order to find and squash any bugs. Here is the official timeline for the beta releases, including ones that are already out.

The OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro are already running the beta, as is the OnePlus 10R. Those updates arrived in September. Since then OnePlus has released yet more betas for the following models: 9RT, 9R, OnePlus 8, 8 Pro and 8T.

Coming up next, a few more phones will get to join the beta trials before the end of this year: OnePlus 10T, Nord 2T and Nord CE 2 Lite.

This leaves the Nord CE 2, Nord 2, Nord CE and Nord N20 SE that will get their betas some time in the first six months of 2023.



Official OxygenOS 13 beta rollout timeline

As for when the stable OxygenOS 13 update might arrive for these devices, OnePlus says that it will take as long as it takes  it will continue iterating beta versions until the software is free of issues. It does warn that the timing for carrier-exclusive models also depends on the carriers themselves.

If you joined one of the beta programs, note that the rollout will be done on a batch-by-batch basis, so you might need to be patient. Here is an overview of whats new in OxygenOS 13.

PS. it goes without saying that OnePlus phones in China are on a separate update track as they are using ColorOS instead.

Source
When the USB-IF announced plans for adding a Power Delivery profile for 240W charging we thought it was something for the future. The standard way of doing things may indeed be something for the future, but today brings us almost at that point with the new Redmi Note 12 Explorer.

This phone is based on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (which also debuts today), but ups the charging speed from 120W to 210W. The battery capacity does go down  from 5,000mAh to 4,300mAh  as Xiaomi had to build a battery to very exacting requirements.



The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Explorer sets a new benchmark for fast charging - 210W

With that in mind, a complete 0-100% charge with the Explorer takes only 9 minutes. By the 5 minute mark the phone is already at 66%. For comparison, the regular Redmi Note 12 Pro+ needs 19 minutes for a full charge (keep in mind that it is filling a battery that is 16% larger).

By the way, this is proprietary Xiaomi tech rather than Power Delivery. The upcoming USB-PD standard prescribes 50V at 5A (with some safety margin) for 240W. Xiaomi instead keeps the voltage low  at 20V, which is pretty common these days  and splits the electricity into three channels of 20V at 3.5A each (so 70W, but each channel is designed to handle up to 100W to ensure stable, safe operation).

Also, the charger that pushes out those impressive 210W is surprisingly small thanks to the power of GaN technology  it measures 67.3 x 64.3 x 30mm. Unlike some other super fast chargers, this one promises to output its full 210W even in countries with 110V electrical grid. The supplied 1m (3.3ft) cable has an E-mark chip to make sure it is used safely only with supported chargers (the charger will refuse to do 210W without the E-mark). For other devices the charger can output a standard 65W using USB-PD.

Now that you have heard all about the amazing charger and battery, all there is left to talk about is the price of the Redmi Note 12 Explorer (it really is identical to the 12 Pro+ in all other respects).

The Explorer will be available from October 31 at a price of CNY 2,400 for an 8/256GB unit (pre-orders are opening today). Thats barely above the price of a Pro+ with the same memory, CNY 2,200. If youre curious, CNY 2,400 converts to $330/330, but were not sure if the Explorer will be available outside of China.

A quick summary of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+/12 Explorer specs. They pack a 200MP main camera (1/1.4 ISOCELL HPX sensor, f/1.7 lens with OIS), which is paired with an 8MP ultra wide camera (119) and a 2MP macro cam. The phones are powered by the Dimensity 1080 (a revamped 920) and have 6.67 120Hz OLED displays (10-bit panels, Dolby Vision support).

Source | Via
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Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma charged with two counts of sexual misconduct

Family medicine physician Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct after being accused of forcing a patient to touch his groin.

Misdemeanor charges were issued by the Office of the Attorney General about a week ago, nearly a year after the patient lodged a complaint against Akoma.

The doctor, when reached via phone Thursday afternoon, declined to comment on the allegations and said he wouldnt litigate them in the court of public opinion.

This is an attempt to target me. It is an attempt to besmirch my image. It is a coordinated attack. Like everything else, I have left it in the court of the almighty and the legal authorities, he said.

Charges from the attorney generals office were politically motivated, he said, a result of the ongoing election season and pressure from the media, which only chose to run negative news about him and neglected the work that his clinic performed for the community.

I wish the press would be more responsible and not just look for bad news. Weve done a lot of veteran work in this office in the last two years. We have brought a lot of money into this island. We have changed the life of veterans in this island the last two years. We are the only clinic that takes every Medicaid and (Medically Indigent Program) patients the island without discrimination, he said.

The doctor, who operates Hepzibah Family Medicine Clinic in Tamuning, has two outstanding sexual misconduct complaints against him under investigation with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. His license was restricted while the medical board reviewed his case and he is barred from seeing female patients without a chaperone present.

Akoma has denied the history of sexual assault and harassment allegations lodged against him, both on Guam and in the states. He was disciplined by the Iowa board of medicine in 2018 following an investigation of sexual misconduct. He has called previous allegations filed against him attempts by his ex-wife to ruin his reputation.

Allegations

Last October, a patient went to Akoma to discuss anxiety medication he had prescribed to her, court documents state. The two were unaccompanied in Akomas office, and he allegedly grabbed the womans hand and forced her to touch his penis over his clothing.

She told Akoma to stop several times and he ignored her, according to court documents.

The doctor was served his summons by court marshals Thursday, according to a news release from the attorney generals office. A judge reviewing the complaint found probable cause Akoma committed two counts of sexual misconduct.

Charges were filed within the one-year statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct.

Medical board

Over at the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, a final recommendation on what actions, if any, the board can take on Akomas license is expected from attorney Joseph McDonald at the boards upcoming meeting in November.

Phil Flores, board vice chair, on Thurdsay morning was unaware of the charges filed against Akoma and said he couldnt comment on the specifics of the case as he wasnt personally assigned to it. The board would more than likely address the matter at its upcoming meeting, he said.

When asked whether the prosecution would have any impact on Akomas case with the medical board, he said it was a matter of common sense.

The board in May denied licensure to former GovGuam psychiatrist Dr. Abner Pasatiempo, who was also accused of sexual misconduct. Board members unanimously voted to deny Pasatiempos licensure, in part because he was facing prosecution for official misconduct and harassment in relation to allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior with his patients.

Flores said Pasatiempos situation was very different, as he had allowed his license to practice on Guam to expire in 2019 and was reapplying.

Akoma as of Thursday retains his medical licensure, albeit with restrictions.

PDN file photo Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma is shown in this photo on his clinics website. Hes charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly forcing one of his patients to touch his groin.

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Like my first impressions of Kauai, my first meals on Kauai were just meh: a hard pork quesadilla courtesy of the hotel pool bar and a family dinner marked by disappointment all around.

The rest of my weeklong stay, however, was a culinary delight. Here are my foodie finds, by course ... with dessert first, natch.

Dessert

If youre in the mood for a treat, head over to Kilauea Bakery & Pizzeria. You know youre in the islands when you see pastries featuring tropical flavors, like chocolate coconut cream eclair, Lilikoi cream puff and guava coconut ulu (breadfruit) muffin. I had the guava dark chocolate macaroon, a heavenly pink confection that tasted like a thick coconut cake.

Want something to cool you down? You must try the ube horchata at Verde, which sometimes runs out of the frozen dessert drink that combines the Mexican rice milk and cinnamon beverage with the Filipino flavoring thats become a foodie darling.

Not quite dessert, but still on the sweet side was the dragon fruit cocktail I sipped at the Lava Lava Beach Club. I didnt even catch the rest of the ingredients that the waitress listed when describing the evening drink special  she had me a muddled dragon fruit.

Breakfast

On the second floor overlooking downtown Kapaa, Olympic Cafe has a wide-ranging menu that rivals your favorite Guam breakfast spot. My bangers and eggs were cooked to perfection and I didnt even miss the mash. The hubby loved that the coffee mugs are double the size of regular cuppa joes.

Got an early departure? Swing by Island Craves, down the street from Olympic Cafe, and pick up a latte and grab-and-go breakfast burrito. They open at 5:30 a.m. daily and are located just 15 minutes north of the airport.

Lunch or dinner

If youre a craft beer fan, there are two local breweries on the island: Kauai Beer Co. in Lihue and Kauai Island Brewing Co. in Eleele in the southern part of the island.

We ate at Kauai Beer Co., where we were told by a friend who lives on the island that we must try the brussel sprouts. It was a great call; the kung pao sauce and peanuts made for a zesty, flavorful appetizer.

I made it a meal by pairing it with the freshly fried chicharron  both portions were generous and enough for three people as appetizers.

Since Im not a drinker, I leave it to my husband to offer his recommendation, which is the beer from Kauai Island Brewing, specifically the Captains Cooks Ale.

If youre looking for a place with a full bar and great food, you cant go wrong at Verde (try the new mahimahi furikake tacos and ube horchata) or Lava Lava Beach Club (the pineapple fried rice is Instagram-worthy and tasty to boot).

But as soon as youve booked your ticket to Kauai, the next thing you want to do is make a dinner reservation at The Plantation House by Gaylords.

Located in the courtyard of the elegant Kilohana plantation home, the restaurant is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike, thanks to a well-executed menu with surprisingly reasonable prices.

If you cant get a dinner rezzy, try to get one for just lunch, or experience more of the plantation on the train ride and lunch tour package.

Ill leave you with a final pro tip for finding the best places to dine on Kauai: Dont go by the online reviews  ask a local.
Grammy and Tony winner Jhett Tolentino was a good sport about filming a food vlog with me while having dinner at Roys Restaurant in the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.

Apparently, the chocolate souffle had a reputation that preceded it, and Jhett knew that was the night to try it!

On Guam, its not every day that we meet people with Tolentinos experience on Broadway and in Hollywood. We talked about the first moments when he learned he won a Grammy. And his star-studded experiences dancing with Hugh Jackman, and working with the likes of Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Hudson, just to name a few.

In my last column, I mentioned that Tolentino was recently on Guam to meet with elected officials, business leaders and the media to generate buzz and financial support for a film scheduled to be shot on island: Re-Live, which is based on former Guam resident Rain Valdezs life.

The plot focuses on a transgender movie star, played by Valdez, who decides to face her past and return home to Guam for her high school reunions Do-Over Week.

This gives her a chance to live her childhood dream of becoming a cheerleader. Valdez attended Simon Sanchez High School in Yigo and the film will be reflective of her experiences  both tough and triumphant.

Tolentino encouraged me to reach out to Valdez and also Rachel Leyco, who co-wrote the script for Re-Live, so I will digress from Tolentino for now.

Leyco is a queer award-winning Filipina American filmmaker, writer, actress and activist. After falling in love with the script, American actress Rosario Dawson stepped in to be Re-Lives executive producer!

Eager to learn more about Valdez and Leyco, I connected with them via Zoom. The vibe was chill, and even though we just met, our conversation flowed easily.

In the coming months, were going to be hearing a lot more about these talented individuals. So, I figured it would be helpful to explore their backgrounds.

Rain Valdez

Valdezs unique writing and performance in the web series Razor Tongue earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series, and a Special Recognition GLAAD Award.

All seven episodes of Razor Tongue are now available for streaming and can be found at noweverartists.com/razortongue.

The series was crowdfunded, shot in four days and has an all-female directing team.

Valdez also got her start playing Coco in season 2 of TV Lands Lopez and doubling in Amazons Transparent as Miss Van Nuys on screen and a producer behind the scenes.

She recently starred in a Paul-Feig directed, half-hour comedy pilot for Freeform TV, guest stars in Sneaky Pete and Why Women Kill, and can be seen in Law And Order SVU this fall.

Rachel Leyco

Leyco, meanwhile, started off in theatre and began her TV/film career starring in commercials for brands (Reebok and Head & Shoulders), web series (Batman Beyond: The Series), and short films (Rise and Highbrow).

Her TV Network credits include NBCs Chicago Fire, BETs Games People Play as Susie Q, Netflixs Atypical, and Peacocks Bel-Air.

In a future column, Ill share highlights from my conversation with Valdez and Leyco, which will give you more insight into the films plot.

And, Ill also share how Valdezs experiences at Sanchez and how her love of writing and acting led to her creative pursuits.

Getting back to the film Re-Live, theres a lot of planning and coordination taking place right now, and some local residents have already been hired to be a part of the production crew. Most of the filming will be done on island.

Valdez said that Re-Live will share Guam in a unique light.

I think with this film its such a great opportunity to see Guam in ways that weve never really seen before. The excitement is in being able to show how beautiful this island is and the way I see it, and the way the other islanders see it, and love it.
Construction work continues on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz May 10, 2022, in Dededo. Resolution 464 would ask the Armed Services Committees in the Senate and House to pause construction and funding of the ranges, pending further environmental review.
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.
Family medicine physician Dr. Ugochukwu Akoma has been charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct after being accused of forcing a patient to touch his groin.

Misdemeanor charges were issued by the Office of the Attorney General about a week ago, nearly a year after the patient lodged a complaint against Akoma.

The doctor, when reached via phone Thursday afternoon, declined to comment on the allegations and said he wouldnt litigate them in the court of public opinion.

This is an attempt to target me. It is an attempt to besmirch my image. It is a coordinated attack. Like everything else, I have left it in the court of the almighty and the legal authorities, he said.

Charges from the attorney generals office were politically motivated, he said, a result of the ongoing election season and pressure from the media, which only chose to run negative news about him and neglected the work that his clinic performed for the community.

I wish the press would be more responsible and not just look for bad news. Weve done a lot of veteran work in this office in the last two years. We have brought a lot of money into this island. We have changed the life of veterans in this island the last two years. We are the only clinic that takes every Medicaid and (Medically Indigent Program) patients the island without discrimination, he said.

The doctor, who operates Hepzibah Family Medicine Clinic in Tamuning, has two outstanding sexual misconduct complaints against him under investigation with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. His license was restricted while the medical board reviewed his case and he is barred from seeing female patients without a chaperone present.

Akoma has denied the history of sexual assault and harassment allegations lodged against him, both on Guam and in the states. He was disciplined by the Iowa board of medicine in 2018 following an investigation of sexual misconduct. He has called previous allegations filed against him attempts by his ex-wife to ruin his reputation.

Allegations

Last October, a patient went to Akoma to discuss anxiety medication he had prescribed to her, court documents state. The two were unaccompanied in Akomas office, and he allegedly grabbed the womans hand and forced her to touch his penis over his clothing.

She told Akoma to stop several times and he ignored her, according to court documents.

The doctor was served his summons by court marshals Thursday, according to a news release from the attorney generals office. A judge reviewing the complaint found probable cause Akoma committed two counts of sexual misconduct.

Charges were filed within the one-year statute of limitations for criminal sexual conduct.

Medical board

Over at the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, a final recommendation on what actions, if any, the board can take on Akomas license is expected from attorney Joseph McDonald at the boards upcoming meeting in November.

Phil Flores, board vice chair, on Thurdsay morning was unaware of the charges filed against Akoma and said he couldnt comment on the specifics of the case as he wasnt personally assigned to it. The board would more than likely address the matter at its upcoming meeting, he said.

When asked whether the prosecution would have any impact on Akomas case with the medical board, he said it was a matter of common sense.

The board in May denied licensure to former GovGuam psychiatrist Dr. Abner Pasatiempo, who was also accused of sexual misconduct. Board members unanimously voted to deny Pasatiempos licensure, in part because he was facing prosecution for official misconduct and harassment in relation to allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior with his patients.

Flores said Pasatiempos situation was very different, as he had allowed his license to practice on Guam to expire in 2019 and was reapplying.

Akoma as of Thursday retains his medical licensure, albeit with restrictions.
The University of Guam is using a federal grant to build a new three-story Water and Environmental Research Institute building on campus, at Deans Circle.

The federal government approved the project to improve the universitys ability to monitor the health of the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer, which is the islands main source of freshwater.

The Guam Hybrid Land Use Commission on Thursday approved a zoning and height variance for the WERI facility, which will be built on residential-zoned property owned by the university.

The university last year received an $8.55 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the WERI building and for a separate project to build more instructional space for the universitys nursing program.

The new lab will increase the ability of the universitys Water and Environmental Research Institute to monitor the health of Guams aquifer which provides fresh water for commercial and residential use throughout the island, the federal grant award states.

The university, the Guam Waterworks Authority, the Navy and the U.S. Geological Survey last week signed agreements that will increase monitoring of the northern lens aquifer so it can be managed and protected from contamination. The university and the USGS will provide technical expertise for the monitoring project.

The new 14,500-square-foot WERI building will have labs for chemistry, geology, hydrology and inorganic materials as well as research stations, classrooms, offices and a bacteria testing room.

WERI currently has its labs and offices at the universitys marine lab, but the Deans Circle site is more appropriate because it is closer to the campus and other research institutions, the land use application states. Eight other programs or institutions have offices at Deans Circle.

Other applications approved

The Land Use Commission on Thursday also approved a zone change for 6.75 acres of property in Yigo, for the proposed 28-home Legacy residential subdivision.

The commission approved rezoning the property, which is along Chalan Lujuna, near Perez Acres, from agricultural to R-1.

According to the zoning application, property owners Conrad and Kathy Alegria, who live in Yigo, want to build 14 three-bedroom homes and 14 four-bedroom homes in the subdivision in phases over five to 10 years. The three-bedroom homes would be 2,500 square feet, and the four-bedroom homes would be 3,000 square feet. Price points of about $325,000 for the three-bedroom houses and about $375,000 for the four-bedroom houses are realistic, the zoning application states.

Yigo is very special for the Alegrias, and they wish to leave their legacy there with a residential neighborhood that is family-oriented, well-appointed and affordable, the application states.

The commission also approved a request to rezone vacant land in Tamuning, adjacent to the Oka Pacific Plaza, which will allow the commercial complex to expand, including construction of a new 12,000-square-foot retail and office building. The plaza currently is home to the Oka Pay-Less supermarket and other businesses.

Property owner Anthony M. Palomo asked the commission to rezone 1.9 acres of adjacent residential property to limited commercial, which does not allow bars, nightclubs, game rooms and other potentially noisy businesses to operate there, the application states.

The Land Use Commission also approved the tentative development plan and setback variance for a six-unit condominium project on a small lot in Tumon.

PSI Holdings, which owns the quarter-acre property behind the San Vitores Church and the former Bank of Guam, applied for a setback variance, stating, Due to the property being a relatively narrow strip of land it is almost impossible to build a structure with access road into the property with properly zoned setbacks.

The three-story Tumon Loft Residences project also required commission approval of its tentative development plan because the land is zoned for hotel use.

Developers said the lot has a prime location, but has been left undeveloped because of its unusual dimensions. Developers needed a setback variance because the left side of the building would be only five feet from the property line instead of the required 10 feet.
A man is facing animal abuse charges after he allegedly stabbed a puppy for licking his hand, according to a magistrates complaint filed Thursday in the Superior Court of Guam. He later claimed the incident was self-defense.

On Oct. 11, an employee from the San Agustins Funeral Home of Adrian Sanchez in Harmon heard the sound of a dog in pain.

His puppy was outside the funeral home, so he went out to check when he saw the puppy dying on the ground with Silves Chenen sitting next to it.

The funeral home employee asked Chenen, whom he knew as Chunguni Koki, what had happened to the puppy. Chenen replied, I did it. I stabbed it.

When asked why, Chenen told him it was because the dog came up to him and licked his hand, the complaint stated.

The police officer who responded to the scene saw the dead puppy near the gates of the funeral home with blood on its stomach and six puncture wounds.

When the officer asked the puppys owner to turn it over so pictures can be taken, they saw a large laceration on the puppys stomach area that was partially exposed.

The officer also noticed what appeared to be two other puncture wounds to the puppys left side.

The owner said that the puppy was only several months old, very friendly and always wanted to play with strangers.

On Wednesday, the same employee reported to police that Chenen was sitting outside of the funeral home.

The same officer who responded to the Oct. 11 incident responded again on Wednesday and recognized Chenen, who said that he stabbed the dog in self-defense, court documents state.

Chenen told the officer that the puppy attacked him and viciously bit his arm, pointing at his inner bicep.

The officer noted that he did not see any injury or dog bites, the complaint stated.

Charges

Chenen, 32, also known Chunguni, Chukuny Koky, Silves Chienen and Chijuni Koki, was charged with two counts of animal abuse, both as a third-degree felony.
Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and the curator for the Guam Museum.




Haiti - Social : Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas in favor of a Marshall plan





Mgr Pierre-Andre Dumas, the bishop of Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane recently declared that the situation in Haiti is "terrible, catastrophic". Speaking of the situation in which the Haitian people find themselves, in great despair, and forced to find food, sometimes by looting certain warehouses, he supports "There is a lot of anarchy, chaos, violence".



"We really need to be accompanied, by some assistance, not by an occupation but by international aid to at least get out of this situation of total blockage of the population which is almost taken hostage," advocates Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas, also according to him "the Haitian people are threatened with extinction."



The bishop says he is in favor of a "Marshall plan" which does not impose a model from outside but which would promote solutions coming from the Haitians themselves in the perspective of integral human development.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















By William Schwartz | Published on 2022/10/26

October 25th saw the end of "The Law Cafe" on KBS. The adapatation of a web novel starred Lee Seung-gi in the leading role as a former lawyer turned property owner who becomes entangled with Lee Se-young's character, who starts her own legal cafe in his building. Kwon Da-ham played the role of Jung Moon-sik, a police detective with a strong interest to detail, who was noted by fans to have excellent chemistry with Lee Seung-gi. Kwon Da-ham recently gave his closing thoughts on the project.

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"The Law Cafe" was a project of personal significance to Kwon Da-ham, as it was his first regular credited role in a television drama. His previous appearances in other dramas had been special appearances, though Kwon Da-ham did have the leading role in the independent film "Through My Midwinter" last year. This directly led to his getting cast in "The Law Cafe" this year as the casting director saw the movie.

Apparently Kwon Da-ham didn't think he'd be able to participate due to his short haircut which he had gotten for work in another project. However, Kwon Da-ham was told that he could just use a wig, which is present in all of his scenes. This was most memorably a problem in the drama's final episode in the wedding scene, which called for a scuffle, during which Kwon Da-ham had to subtly protect his wig to insure that it didn't fall off.

Kwon Da-ham is also likely to see more appearances in the near future. He signed a contract with Noon Company in September adjacent to the premiere of "The Law Cafe" on television. Kwon Da-ham claimed to already be working on another project, though he did not name it, and that his work there would be finished within the year. Kwon Da-ham closed by stating that he would work hard to appear in many other projects. "The Law Cafe" ended on October 25th with ratings of 5.3%.

Written by William Schwartz
South Africa: African Parliament fully functional as it works towards restoring its image

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), also known as the African Parliament, is working around the clock to restore its image under the new leadership following the scenes that hogged headlines last year.

This is after the PAP descended into chaos with some of the Members of Parliament (MPs) exchanging blows over the principle of regional rotation in the election of the Bureau, forcing the session of May 2021 to be aborted.

The discourse emitted from the southern and northern delegates demanded the rotation of leadership in other African five regions, saying the position should be rotated to end the dominance of regions.

First of all, what was seen on TV were unfortunate events and it's important to note that Parliament is back and fully functional, said PAP Acting Head of Media and Communications, Jeffrey Onganga.

There's a new Bureau that was elected in June 2022 and since then, a lot has been done to repair the image of the Pan-African Parliament and African leaders as a whole.

Now, all eyes are on the first Ordinary Session of the sixth Parliament, which is off to a good start.

The Session, which kicked off on 24 October 2022, is taking place at the headquarters at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng.

The sitting is guided by the African Union (AU) theme of 2022, Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development.

PAP President, Chief Fortune Charumbira, is also expected to outline the Bureaus vision to revive, renew, reposition, and reinvigorate the African Parliament.

Meanwhile, MPs will dissect the report on the status of peace and security in Africa and hold a debate on the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), as well as recommendations and resolutions on labour migration in Africa.

Speaking to SAnews, Onganga has shot down the notion that the PAP is an expensive talk shop.

We must not undermine the power that comes with Parliamentarians from all over the continent convening. A Parliamentarian from South Africa, meeting with a Parliamentarian from Equatorial Guinea - there is something that comes from it, he stressed.

There is no way the African Union executive can to go every country, every day, talking to every citizen.

For this reason, he believes that the PAP, whose Member States delegates attend the sittings twice a year, remains the best mechanism to reach the people.

PAP has been criticised for lacking real power. Only 14 of the AUs 54 Member States have ratified a 2014 agreement  known as the Malabo protocol  to give the Parliament legislative powers. At least 28 countries are needed for this to happen.

One of the priorities of this Parliament is for its members to ratify this protocol because that gives more power to this Parliament and it addresses more concerns. It gives people the opportunity to see this Parliament in a position that allows it to do the work that it is supposed to do, he explained.

In the meantime, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) said PAP exercises purely advisory and administrative powers compared to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, which is directly elected by the European people and enjoys significant powers.

However, Onganga said the PAP President is hopeful that African Parliament will get there.

In addition, he said, the Parliament was intended as a platform for people from all African States to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems faced by the continent.

The role of the Parliament isn't to go and build a bridge in Sierra Leone. But the role of Parliament is that if you promise to build a bridge and that bridge is built, he explains.

It is also to ensure that if the African Union decides to help women entrepreneurs in the country is that they follow through with that decision.

He said the AU does not have an issue with making decisions, of which many have been taken to improve the lives of citizens.

What we want to do is before we make more decisions, we go back and ensure that weve implemented at least half of the decisions that weve taken, he told SAnews.

Parliament wants to make this platform very visible so that the Chairperson and all the Commissioners are invited to come and explain that this Parliament takes more fact-finding missions. You cant hold an executive into account if you don't see what they're doing in certain countries.

Currently, PAP is investing its energies to ensure the people on the ground, according to Onganga, feel their presence.

So what are the key things that this Parliament wants to do is to be more present in some of these countries. Visibility is key.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson said the AUs key priority this year is food security.

In 2022, we still have people who don't have enough to eat and go to bed with an empty stomach.

He believes that the aspirations of AUs Agenda 2063, a framework for inclusive growth and sustainable development for Africa, cannot be achieved if some people do not have food.

Of course, safety and security, you need a continent that is peaceful to achieve any agenda that you want to implement.

In addition, he mentioned that an unconstitutional change of governance in some countries is something that preoccupies Parliamentarians.

The President believes that there is more than the Pan-African Parliament and that even though we still don't have legislative powers, the current consultancy and oversight and advisory function that we are given are enough for Parliament to address these issues.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Chinese diplomacy for benefit of the world

10:35, October 27, 2022 By Zhu Feng ( China Daily

SONG CHEN/CHINA DAILY

In the report he submitted to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on Oct 16, CPC Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping said the world has once again reached a crossroad, and its future course will be decided by all the people of the world. It means the global political and economic situation today is the most turbulent since the end of World War II.

First, severe global challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change continue to disrupt economic, political and social development. More people across the world have slipped into poverty since 2020 and at least 31 countries face domestic political, economic and/or livelihood crises. The secondary disasters caused by the pandemic and climate change are also spreading across the world.

Second, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has triggered another confrontation between major countries, perhaps the most serious since the end of the Cold War, giving rise to new global energy, price, food and financial crises, which could further aggravate.

Third, the United States has built barriers against China in sectors such as science and technology, market entry, and industry and supply chains, which goes against the principle of free competition. Worse, the US has been exploiting the Taiwan question to stir up trouble in the region, dealing a severe blow to peace and prosperity in Asia. Indeed, the world is standing at a crossroad again.

President Xi Jinping has urged the world to strengthen cooperation and promote unity by transcending conservative ideologies and pursuing the right path to global development, in order to build a community with a shared future for mankind. This is not only the purpose and principle of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, but also the outcome of Chinese wisdom which a rising China uses to address global challenges.

Xi also stressed that China will uphold multilateralism and help improve global governance while adopting a more proactive strategy of opening-up. The Belt and Road Initiative is an apt example of China's endeavors to promote common development, as it has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform.

Also, China is a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions and leads the world in goods trade. China is also a major destination for foreign investment and a leading country in outbound investment. This is the result of diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Xi's report to the 20th CPC National Congress also emphasized that China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, promotes the establishment of a new type of international relations, and helps safeguard the common interests of developing countries. These are part of China's contribution to world peace and development, and it has done so by adhering to the path of socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics and people-centered development philosophy.

These basic diplomacy principles, developed since the era of Deng Xiaoping, are aimed at continuously contributing to world peace, prosperity and cooperation. And they will continue to be the core elements of China's diplomacy in the new era. For example, independent, peaceful diplomacy means China will never seek hegemony, and has no interest in joining any camps in international relations, let alone forming alliances like other countries.

Promoting a new type of major-country diplomacy means China wants to avoid falling into the Thucydides trap, and instead change the zero-sum game that is often unavoidable in competitions between major powers and put major-power relations on a stable and constructive track. This is the goal of China's diplomacy in the new era.

Safeguarding the common interests of developing countries is a priority of China's diplomacy. In recent years, with the rise of new economies represented by China, the global structure of power and wealth is shifting from the West to the East, with the effects of such great changes reflected in many fields.

As the world's largest developing country, China needs to not only strengthen cooperation and solidarity with other developing countries but also represent their interests and continue creating more opportunities for them in order to promote equitable development. This will be a vivid demonstration of the people-centered philosophy of China's governance mechanism.

Xi's report also said China takes an active part in the reform of the global governance system, and upholds genuine multilateralism, which is part of diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. China has always opposed any country that uses its hegemony or economic and military power to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, or impose its demands on smaller countries. As a result, China supports the United Nations-centered global governance system.

Upholding the principles of multilateralism including openness, equality and fairness, China has called on all countries to collectively address international issues. The Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative China has proposed advocate comprehensive, balanced, cooperative and sustainable development and security concepts and programs, and have been warmly received by the international community, because it knows that forming exclusive groups and small ideological circles will only worsen the already complex international situation.

Although the content on diplomacy in the report is concise, it conveys the importance of China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics to the international community.

The author is dean of the School of International Studies, Nanjing University.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Editorial Mission: As the Department's primary publication, we aim to live up to the meaning of haaheo  to cherish with pride  by bolstering and sustaining pride in public education and touting the successes happening across our system.

On the heels of encouraging gains on our Strive HI results, the U.S. DOE has released national results showing our fourth-graders posted reading and math scores above the national average on the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP.



Known as "The Nations Report Card," NAEP is an assessment program of the National Center for Education Statistics that provides comparable results across states on select subjects. Its typically administered every two years to a representative sample of fourth- and eighth-graders nationwide, but was last given in 2019. Approximately 8,000 of our students enrolled at 140 schools took the assessments in the spring of 2022.



The NAEP results, together with our recent Smarter Balanced Assessment results, show for the most part, our students are performing at the same level or above their national peers, and that the nationwide pandemic impacts have been more severe in many other states. This highlights the resilience of our students and the dedication of our educators and staff across the Department.



Still, we know our math performance, especially among our middle schools, continues to lag below our state targets and national levels. I am fully committed to doubling down on our efforts to determine where more support and interventions are needed to improve learning and achievement for all students.



The Applied Superconductivity Conference (ASC22) is being held this week at the Hawaii Convention Center, which features leading national and international speakers on advanced computing, sensors and detection, superconductive electronic-based systems, and quantum engineering systems. As part of their commitment to education, ASC22 personnel visited some of our schools last week and held interactive exhibits for students earlier this week. They also demonstrated the power of applied superconductivity on Monday by levitating students and staff in the air. I enjoyed seeing the ASC22 partnership provide opportunities for our students to engage with leading STEM researchers and technology. #PublicSchoolProud As Cybersecurity month comes to a close, we asked two Enterprise Architecture Branch staff to share their stories on how they came to work for the Department's Office of Information Technology Services (OITS). Rylen Iwasaki and Casey Nitta are both Mililani High graduates who interned with OITS during their respective last semesters at UH West Oahu. Their internship experiences not only solidified cybersecurity as a career path but also gave them an opportunity to give back to their community. Family Focus Heres a scary statistic: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most common injuries to children on Halloween are pedestrian injuries, so be sure to stay on well-lit roads and sidewalks, stay in a group, and dont assume you have the right of way when cars approach.



The National Safety Council offers additional tips for the upcoming spooky season, including ensuring children can see through masks or face coverings and that all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant.



Parents and guardians are also urged to be especially vigilant by inspecting all candies and treats before children can eat them, knowing where all treats came from, and looking for signs of re-sealing on packaging. If you have any doubts, don't consume them. Important Dates and

Upcoming Events Oct. 27 - BOE Community Meeting (Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt)

Oct. 31 - Halloween

Nov. 1 - BOE Community Meeting (Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani) Community Query We asked on Twitter and Instagram ... Q: Whats the best Halloween movie? CDC COVID-19 Community Levels

CDCs COVID-19 Community Levels is a tool to help guide decision making on mitigation strategies based on community classification levels of low, medium or high. When the level is at medium or high, additional layered strategies such as masking are recommended. HIDOE Headlines A roundup of announcements, resources and shoutouts.  ClimbHI recently recognized schools, educators and businesses at its inaugural ClimbHI Bridge Awards Brunch. The online portal is a public-private partnership to provide educational and workforce development opportunities.  Kulanihakoi High School has selected its mascot  the manta ray  and school colors of silver and black. Its student body and extracurricular teams will be the Kulanihakoi Rays.  HIDOE has received three grants from the DoDEA partnership that will focus on enhancing college and career skills in the Campbell, Kapolei and Radford complexes and world language learning opportunities in the Kalaheo complex for military-dependent students at select schools over the next five years. HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Keith Hayashi Superintendent Heidi Armstrong Deputy Superintendent Curt Otaguro Deputy Superintendent Tammi Oyadomari-Chun Deputy Superintendent ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS Sean Bacon Interim Talent Management Brian Hallett Fiscal Services Annie Kalama Interim Student Support Services Randall Tanaka Facilities and Operations Christine Shaw Interim Information Technology Services Cara Tanimura Interim Strategy, Innovation and Performance Teri Ushijima Interim Curriculum and Instructional Design Hoohaaheo PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD Nanea Kalani Executive Editor Chanel Honda Managing Editor Sara Miyazono

Creative Director Derek Inoshita Contributing Writer Krislyn Yano Contributing Writer
The campaign was targeted at 850 taxi companies and entrepreneurs, as well as accounting firms providing services to operators in the taxi industry.

THE FINNISH Tax Administration on Wednesday reported that it detected 8.7 million euros in unaccounted revenue, 4.3 million euros in other discrepancies and almost three million euros in undeclared pay during an intense surveillance campaign that ended in September.

The most common form of tax evasion was not recording a cash payment in bookkeeping or, for example, not recording all the journeys made in a particular month. The taxi meter may also be deliberately used wrongly so that the sales recorded in bookkeeping are lower than they really were, said Jarmo Lahdenpera, a senior adviser at the Finnish Tax Administration.

Tax authorities carried out a total of 250 tax audits during the surveillance campaign, almost one-third of which resulted in a follow-up probe to determine whether a report of an offence should be filed.

The authorities also looked into the veracity of the income and value-added tax reports of taxi industry operators, as well as offered counselling and guidance to accounting firms providing services in the industry.

The intense surveillance targeted taxi companies that, based on our analysis, had a risk of wrongdoing. It is therefore not surprising that fraudulent and possibly criminal activity was detected, told Lahdenpera.

Most taxi business owners operate according to rules, however.

The authorities also detected cases in which taxi drivers received undeclared wages while collecting unemployment or social security benefits. The earnings of such drivers tend to consist of a low official wage, undeclared wage and fraudulently obtained benefits, according to Lahdenpera.

In the case of these kinds of suspected wrongdoings, the Tax Administration has a statutory right to notify the payer of the benefit [of the wrongdoing], and that is what it did.

Finland revamped regulations surrounding the taxi industry in 2018, paving the way for numerous new operators to enter the industry. The surveillance campaign found that operators utilising globally available ride-hailing apps are often not aware that they themselves should report income from taxi operations to the Tax Administration.

Many wrongfully believe the company operating the global platform reports all income of taxi entrepreneurs to tax authorities in the appropriate country. That is not the case, told Lahdenpera.

The Tax Administration forwarded two proposals for changes to improve the effectiveness of surveillance in the taxi industry.

The maximum punishment for unlicensed operation of a taxi should be raised by at least a day to six months and one day to enable the administration to notify the relevant authorities of such operations. The administration is only able to report offences that carry a maximum penalty of more than six months.

Changes are also needed to make data from all taxi meters available to all supervisory authorities.

If only taxi industry surveillance was ushered into the digital age, the Tax Administration could obtain reliable, comprehensive and sufficiently high-quality data from taxi meters to support tax monitoring. We could simultaneously target monitoring specifically at the cases that require it, he stated.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
People can discover records of enslavement across North Carolina through the People Not Property project and a virtual presentation 1-2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, offered as part of the Friends of the Archives annual meeting.

Where can researchers find stories of enslaved peoples in North Carolina? The Digital Library on American Slavery and People Not Property project compile digitized archival materials to amplify these stories for students and historians and to assist African American genealogists. Project leader Richard Cox of UNC-Greensboro will discuss this important work, including its origins, partners and goals of collecting and increasing access to these records from all North Carolina counties.

To register online visit here.
NEW YORK  The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity is launching a new impact-driven philanthropic strategy to advance human rights around the world.

The Foundation, led by Elisha and Marion Wiesel, will adopt a hybrid approach that will not only grant funds but also work with organizations directly as partners, offering access to innovative thinking partners and acting as an emblematic megaphone to champion their cause.

The Foundations recalibrated grant-making program will seek to fund organizations that embody Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesels legacy as an educator and activist. Grants to educators will support moral educational programs inspired by Jewish values. The Foundation is seeking to support programs and projects that foster dialogue, especially in engaging ways.

Activist grants, meanwhile, will focus on programs that restore the rights and dignity of the Uyghur population, in keeping with Elie Wiesels belief that sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitives become irrelevant. Whenever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must become the center of the universe.

The Foundation will be awarding one or more grants in each portfolio for its 2022 cycle, ranging in size from $50,000 to $200,000. Applicants must be financially sound 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, able to demonstrate realistic plans for carrying out the program or project for which they seek funding. Submissions will be reviewed internally through various stages and finalists will be considered by a group of notable names, passionate about the respective value track. Grant applications are being accepted online through the Foundations website and are due Dec. 31, 2022.

The values my father stood for  combatting indifference, educating youth, calling out injustice, and defending human rights  continue to be the moral bedrock of the Elie Wiesel Foundation, said Elisha Wiesel. We are so excited to announce our new grant-making program to provide nonprofits that embody those values with the resources to achieve lasting impactful change.

Elie Wiesel was my dear friend and trusted partner in the fight for human rights around the world. I think it is very appropriate that his Foundation put the fate of the Uyghur people as one of its main priorities and will be focused on delivering resources and moral support to those advocating for the Uyghurs, said human rights activist and EWF Advisory Board member Natan Sharanksy. The free world cannot stay silent about Chinas horrific persecution of its Uyghur minority. I know firsthand the power of outside support to those standing bravely against totalitarian regimes. That is why I am glad to serve as an Advisory Board member at the Elie Wiesel Foundation, dealing with this issue.

The advisory board on uyghur crisis to include:

 Natan Sharansky is a human rights activist and author who spent nine years in Soviet prisons as a refusenik during the 1970s and 1980s. From 1996-2005 Sharansky served as minister as well as deputy prime minister, in four successive Israeli governments. Sharansky served as chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel from 2009-2018. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1986 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.

 Mark Hetfield is the president and CEO of HIAS, the oldest resettlement organization in the world.

 Gulhumar Haitiwaji is the daughter of a Uyghur woman who survived a Chinese re-education camp.

The advisory board on moral education to include:

 Mayim Bialik is a neuroscientist, an actress, a podcast host, an author, and an outspoken activist for mental health and Jewish causes.

 Dr. Mehnaz Afridi is a professor of Religious studies and the director of the Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center at Manhattan College.

 Sarah Idan holds the title of 2017-2018 Miss Iraq and is the founding CEO of Humanity Forward, a multi-dimensional organization that promotes education and peace.

The Elie Wiesel Foundation was established after Elie was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Under the direction of Elie and his wife Marion, the Foundation developed, implemented and funded several critical humanitarian programs in Israel, including the Beit Tzipora Centers and the Darfurian Refugee Program.

This new direction will allow the Foundation to widen its scope through meaningful, action-driven partnerships.
(JNS) The Biden administration's ambassador to Israel Tom Nides has a tough act to follow. Predecessor David Friedman was the Trump administration's point person for major U.S. policy shifts in Israel's favor, including the move of the embassy to Jerusalem, recognition of Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights, and the signing of the historic Abraham Accords by Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

For Israel's center-right majority, the Trump administration provided a momentary high point in recent U.S.-Israel relations. The Biden administration's positions represent a turn back towards the policies of previous administrations, including the tenure of Barack Obama, in which President Joe Biden served as vice president. Those years were often highlighted by the oft-contentious relationship between Obama and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Unlike Obama, Biden has long-expressed deep sentiments towards the Jewish state, even if the policies he supports don't stray far from Obama's and other former presidents. Yet, with Netanyahu currently out of the premier's chair-albeit vying to return in the upcoming election-the U.S.-Israel relationship has by and large proceeded without serious diplomatic incidents during Nides' brief tenure to date. It is Nides' job to make sure that the critical strategic relationship between America, the world's most powerful nation, and Israel, its strongest ally and an emerging Middle East superpower, remains constructive.

In many ways, Nides represents the strength and bravado of much of the American Jewish community. A Reform Jew from Minnesota, he was a successful banker holding high-ranking positions at Fannie Mae and Credit Suisse First Boston, and ultimately serving as chief operating officer, and then managing director and vice chairman, at Morgan Stanley.

Nides has also been a Democrat Party power broker for decades, working on the presidential campaigns of Walter Mondale and Al Gore. He is close to former secretary of state and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and was reportedly being considered for senior roles including chief of staff had Clinton been elected.

As ambassador, Nides is cordial and enjoys conversing, often saying things career diplomats might be too cautious to say, in a neighborhood where media coverage of such statements is almost guaranteed. He is learning on the job while staying true to the character traits that have helped him land and succeed in his previous high-ranking positions.

Nides sat down with JNS at the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem for a wide-ranging interview.

Q: What is it like serving as the ambassador in Israel, where anything and everything that you say publicly is going to get put under a microscope and may offend one party or another?

A: People have treated me relatively well. Everyone knows I'll meet with anyone. I'm not ideological, you know what I mean? And I spend a lot of time with the haredi community because I enjoy the company. It's not how I grew up. I'm a Reform Jew from Duluth, Minnesota. I did services, the High Holiday services. We lit the candles on Friday night, and that was basically it. I grew up as a cultural Jew. Father was head of the UJA [United Jewish Appeal], head of the temple. My mom was the head of Hadassah and the sisterhood. That's how I grew up.

And so the way I grew up is you treat people with respect and dignity even if you disagree. For example, I've met with people like [former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S.] Ron Dermer. I find him enjoyable. Do I agree with him? No, not really. [Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel under President Trump] David Friedman, I've had multiple lunches with him. Do David and I have two separate, different political ideologies? Yes. Do I believe he cares about Israel being a democratic Jewish state? 100 percent. Do I think he acts in accordance with his values? Yes.

I'm not trying to pretend I'm something I am not. I don't speak Hebrew very well. [Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel under Obama] Dan Shapiro did. And I just think it is that people want people who are being authentic. I'm not a religious guy. I care deeply about keeping this place a democratic, Jewish state, and the defense of this country is what I care about.

I'll meet with anyone. I'm not ideological

And I work for Joe Biden, I work for the United States of America, I articulate the position of this administration. But the only way you can do that is you've got to talk to everybody and you got to have real conversation.

Jerusalem embassy

Q: We're sitting here in the embassy in Jerusalem. The embassy used to be in Tel Aviv. The previous administration moved the embassy, recognized Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights and repealed the [1978] Hansell Memo, which officially changed the administration's views regarding the legality of settlements in international law. At the same time, they shuttered the consulate to the Palestinian Authority on Agron Street [in Jerusalem], they expelled the PLO mission in Washington, D.C., they cut off funding for UNRWA and UNESCO and others. Is there the feeling that Israel got too much from the last administration and that the balance got shifted at the Palestinian Authority's expense in an unfair way?

A: I'm not going to question the previous administration. Elections have consequences. I'm not questioning anyone's commitment to the democratic, Jewish State of Israel. I've spent many an hour with David Friedman. I think he cares deeply and passionately about the importance of the security of the State of Israel. I've met with Jared Kushner, I've met with [Senator] Lindsey Graham three or four times when he's been here. I meet with Republicans, Democrats. Everyone has different views on how they believe this stays a strong democratic, Jewish state.

As it relates to this office, the capital of Israel is Jerusalem. That is the position of this administration and it was the position even when the offices were in Tel Aviv. Democrats, Republican administrations signed waivers [to delay moving the embassy to Jerusalem]. That was the policy of different administrations. We're not moving the embassy. The embassy is here. I'm sitting in this luxurious office. David Friedman sat in these chairs. He picked this furniture.

Some things we have not changed since the Trump administration as you know, including our position on the Golan.

Maritime negotiations

Q: The United States just brokered a maritime border agreement between Israel and Lebanon centering around the ownership of the Qana Natgas reservoir in the Mediterranean Sea. Originally, Lebanon had claimed their territorial waters extended to "Line 23." Later, Lebanon extended their claim down to "Line 29." Israel was claiming a line further to the north. For close to 10 years, Israel and Lebanon were negotiating a compromise, a split between the competing claims, without much progress. All of a sudden, a new caretaker interim prime minister, Yair Lapid, comes in just a few weeks before an election. Very quickly the entire scope of the deal changed and a snap deal was signed along the basis of the original Lebanese claim, "Line 23." How did that happen?

A: Well, let's step back. I don't think it's as dramatic as you just laid out, but we'll just say for the sake of this conversation you are right. People have been working on this for years, including former prime ministers, former presidents. Much of what has been talked about is what's in the elements of this deal. One, making sure that a five-kilometer security zone [extending from the coast] is now locked in, which is a security line that will be important to Israel.

No. 2, there's no question that the Israelis wanted to begin tapping into the Karish site [on the Israeli side of the newly agreed-upon border]. And ultimately that was very important for economics, for Israel and security, and [the principle issue] was the gas. They want the gas. And obviously the threat of potential military confrontation was real. Real on the Israeli side, and presumably real on the Lebanese side.

And No. 3, there was an area of dispute of the other additional gas reserves that are there and who's going to have ownership of those. None of us know what's under the ground there. So having an opportunity to make a historic agreement that locks in the five kilometers; which allows Israel tomorrow to begin extracting gas from the Karish site; and having an agreed economic decision around the other reserves, I believe it is a really good deal, not only for Israel's security and economics but also for the Lebanese. If they ever are able to actually extract whatever gas is in the [Qana] site, it will help the Lebanese and their energy issues as well.

So we believe that this is a good agreement and we would've done this agreement six months ago, eight months ago, a year ago, two years ago. And I think, quite frankly, in a moment of honesty, others would have done the same. So we're very excited about it. We think it's historic. We brokered it. Joe Biden worked on this when he was vice president of the United States. He's been focused on Mediterranean issues for almost 15 years.

And I believe history will prove that this was the beginning of something really helpful for Israel and for Israel's security, and maybe ultimately the Israeli-Lebanese relationship.

Q: In some ways was Israel negotiating with Hezbollah?

A: No. At the end of the day, they were negotiating with the Lebanese government. We are the one who negotiated between the Lebanese and the Israelis. We are the honest broker here. We are the ones who were trying to get this done. We were trying to obviously make sure Israel was comfortable with what we were doing, but we were also working with the Lebanese government to get them to agree to what we believe is not only a fair deal, but it long term will make Israel more secure, both economically and security-wise.

I'm not dreaming here. Hezbollah is terrible. We understand all the potential pitfalls. But we do believe that this is the right deal at the right moment, and we look forward to getting this executed.

The threat of... military confrontation [with Lebanon] was real

Q: The deal is not a bilateral deal. Lebanon refuses to recognize Israel or their border with Israel. And instead, Israel is signing into the deal with the United States, which is providing the guarantees that the terms will be executed. Israel has had bad experiences with international guarantees. Israel was at war with Lebanon, and then UNIFIL was supposed to provide guarantees that southern Lebanon would not become a militarized zone. Now there are 150,000 rockets and missiles pointed at the State of Israel. Watching the Russia-Ukraine war right now, Ukraine was supposed to have guarantees from NATO that if they would eliminate their nuclear weapons, NATO would protect them. How can Israel be certain that guarantees will come into force if needed?

A: I'd be lying to you if I said you can be certain. You're never certain. If the Lebanese decided to back off on this deal and start attacking Israel and Karish, it's mutual assured destruction, because they'll never be able to pump any gas [from the Qana site], Israel won't be able to pump gas, and God only knows what will happen. And the United States is in the middle of it.

You have a deal that provides security, provides the ability to get some of these gas reserves out of the ground. But I think it's a historic deal. Maybe you and I'll sit here and have a meeting five years from now-I won't be in this job, to be clear-and you will say, "Well, I told you." Or I'll say, "I told you so." This is how negotiations go. This is how they work. I wish I could tell you that there's a thousand million guarantees in everything we do, but I'd be lying to you.

The Abraham Accords

Q: On the Abraham Accords, members of the previous administration suggest that had they been in office several more years, that other states would've joined on and signed the Abraham Accords. Has the momentum stalled on the Abraham Accords?

A: No. I spend a lot of time on this. My job is to go deeper with the countries that have signed on, both those in the Abraham Accords, Morocco and the UAE and Bahrain, and obviously Egypt and Jordan, to go deeper with the countries, and to let Washington work on broadening it.

This is about making sure that these relationships are locked. That's why we did the Negev Summit [last March]. On four days' notice, all of these countries' foreign ministers showed up for a meeting in the Negev with [Secretary of State] Tony Blinken to talk about expansion [of the normalization agreements]. A week and a half ago, I had dinner with the foreign minister of the UAE, who was here with the Emirati ambassador at his home. We spent five hours together talking about the importance of the integration, both economically and security-wise. I give an enormous amount of credit to the previous administration for getting the Abraham Accords done. I've said that in every speech I've given. My job is to keep those relationships alive and growing the importance of the relationships that we have.

Q: Do you think there will be future agreements?

A: 100 percent.

The Israeli election

Q: There's a common mantra that U.S.-Israel relations were harmed during the administration here of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Here, Netanyahu's opponents often say that. Some Democrats have said it as well. U.S.-Israel cooperation expanded dramatically during Netanyahu's tenure including the signing of a $38 billion, 10-year MOU for defense spending. In your view, did Netanyahu help to strengthen or harm the U.S.-Israel relationship?

A: I've had many meetings with the former prime minister when he was prime minister, when I was in my previous job, and now. I have an enormous amount of respect for him. I'm not getting involved in that three weeks before an election. I'm not here to comment about the previous stints [in office] that Prime Minister Netanyahu had. Ultimately, Joe Biden will work with anyone who happens to be the democratically-elected prime minister of this country. Because as he has said, our relationship with Israel transcends who the prime minister is.

Q: Senator Bob Menendez and Representative Brad Sherman, both of whom are Democrats and have been longtime stalwart advocates of the State of Israel, have both warned Netanyahu against forming a government together with members of the right-wing Religious Zionist Party, including firebrand politician Itamar Ben-Gvir. Do you agree with those warnings?

A: Again, I'm not getting into who is in what potential coalition. We're three weeks before an election. Let the Israeli people decide who they want to support and the people that are part of the coalition. I have enormous confidence in the Israeli people, but I try not to engage myself in their election. Whoever the Israeli people decide that their leadership will be, we'll work with them.

Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria

Q: As ambassador, you have made it a point that you will not go visit Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. Why not, and do you think that that decision advances peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

A: It's a great question. I know you guys have reported on this and I think you probably beat the crap out of me a couple of times for making the comment. I've seen almost anyone who wants to see me. The heads of the settlements' organizations have come to see me. A couple of the mayors have come to see me. I talk to many, many people. I will talk to anyone.

I try not to do things by the sake of just symbolism to aggravate people. It'd be a big difference if I told you, "Oh, I'm never going to talk to anyone who lives in a settlement. I won't talk to the leadership of the settlement community." If people want to come to see me and talk to me about why it's important they live in the settlements, I'm more than happy to have those conversations in a very clear way. Anyone who's called me who has a view can come see me and talk to me.

Q: Why would it aggravate people if you went to a settlement?

A: I think because the people on the left and the position of the administration, whether you like it or don't like it, the argument around the settlements has been that this administration does not support settlement growth. That's just been the position of Joe Biden, it was the position of George Bush 43, George Bush 41, obviously Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. That is the position of Joe Biden. So, my physically going there would send mixed messages vis-a-vis our position.

Q: In your view, is the suburban Jewish housing in the settlements the real obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

A: It's so much more complicated than that. I have spent a lot of time saying I believe fundamentally that if we believe in a democratic, Jewish state, we must have a two-state solution. That's my view. Because the alternative is not a great alternative in my view, and in the view of the administration. So I work every single day to try to keep the vision of a two-state solution alive.

And I try to get the parties, both the Israelis and the Palestinians, not to do things that make a vision of the two-state solution less possible. For example, I have told the Palestinian Authority that their payments to terrorists and martyrs simply have to stop. Am I successful? Not always.

What I can say is, when there's discussion around large settlement blocs and growth in the West Bank, it has been the position of this administration to convince and to argue and to oppose large settlement increase in the West Bank.

Two-state vision

Q: What does the Biden administration's vision of a two-state solution look like?

A: We're not even anywhere near the conversation of a two-state solution and what a two-state solution would look like-which is the 1967 lines with land swaps. That's why you don't hear me laying out a plan for you, or you don't hear Joe Biden laying out a plan for you for a negotiated peace agreement. Joe Biden has said, as I have said: Our goal is to have both parties live in peace and prosperity, to work with the Palestinian people, make sure that people don't lose the vision or Israelis lose the vision or the hope for the two-state solution. We have not-as every other president has done for the last 25 years-laid out a vision. Maybe at some point that will happen. Who knows? I'll probably be long gone as ambassador if we ever get down to the discussion of what, in practicality, what that means.

I only wish that I'll be in a position where we're debating what the land looks like for a two-state solution, and who's there, who isn't. My job is just to try to keep the vision alive. I know that's not a Nobel Peace Prize vision, but that's why I wake up in the morning and try to do things that help people, including Israelis and Palestinians.

Q: Israel is a democracy that shares values and provides intelligence to the United States. Should it be the goal of the United States to do whatever it can to strengthen the State of Israel, even if that might come in some respects at the expense of the Palestinian Authority?

A: That's a really good question. You can do both. You have to do both. We have to make sure that the Israelis, every Israeli who lives here, believes in their heart of hearts that America's got Israel's back, which we do. It's this unbreakable bond. We do. That we give them $3.8 billion a year, that we have a 10-year commitment, that we're helping them build all their new defense systems, that we're in partnership across the board, not only economically, but defense, socially, morally, culturally, we are lockstep with Israel.

You can still at the same time support the Palestinian people. Because the average Palestinian that lives in the West Bank just wants to get up in the morning and have a job and live in peace and prosperity. They don't wake up and want to do harm to Israelis.

We are trying to do things that are in line with our policies, including assisting the Palestinian people. As you know, we give about half a billion dollars now to the Palestinian people to help them with education and healthcare. We gave $100 million to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network to help kids in the West Bank and Gaza. We've worked daily to try to make life a little bit better. These are our policy objectives.

Q: Is there an argument to be made that Israel as a sovereign entity could provide greater upward mobility to Palestinians than a sovereign Palestinian entity?

A: I guess my question to you is the reverse. Is a one-state solution the answer for Israel? And I don't think it is. As someone who cares deeply about keeping this a democratic, Jewish state, do I believe a one-state solution, which could include half the population being Arabs and half the population being Israelis, do I believe that represents a long-term solution for Israel? I personally do not believe that will be healthy for keeping this a democratic, Jewish state.

That's why we promote the idea of a two-state solution. But we can't want it more than the parties want it. We can't want it more than the Palestinians want it. We can't want it more than the Israelis want it.

This is probably the most important bilateral relationship our country has, certainly in the Middle East, and arguably in the world

Q: If Israel looks around the Middle East, there are not many if any neighbor states that operate like pure democracies. So why is it so important for the U.S. administration to hold Israel to such a standard?

A: Because that's what makes Israel great. We can't screw that up, in my personal view. It's a democracy. It's a democratic, Jewish state for Jews. That's why I walk around, and I see religious Jews and basically secular Jews hanging out together. And I see Arabs, 22 percent of this country are Arabs. And by and large, they get along just fine. That's what makes Israel great. We don't want to change that. This is a beautiful place.

It drives me nuts when I see what's going on in [U.S.] college campuses. People don't understand this place. They don't understand that 22 percent of the people who live in Israel are Arabs. And by and large, they live relatively peacefully. Now, we can have some discussions about east Jerusalem and conditions. We can debate all that and lots of other issues too.

Unbreakable ties

Q: Do people really truly understand how embedded the cooperation is between Israel and the United States, and has anything about the relationship surprised you as ambassador?

A: If people don't understand, they're living under a rock, because it is really close. It's an unbreakable bond. One of the big surprises for me here is how close the IDF is with the U.S. Defense Department and how close Israeli intelligence operations are with the CIA. Israel has a long-standing, positive relationship with the United States defense and intelligence organizations that goes back to the birth of this nation in 1948.

And it's not just the leadership. That's one of the things that has really surprised me. It's embedded in the psychiatry of all these organizations. People really care. This is probably the most important bilateral relationship our country has, certainly in the Middle East, and arguably in the world.

And it's not just one way. It's not just the United States handing Israel a bunch of goodies all the time. Israel provides intelligence and information for us in the Middle East beyond anyone else's cooperation. But nonetheless, it was a surprise to me how close it is throughout the organizations.

Q: What do you do to make sure Israelis understand how important the relationship is?

A: We try to make sure that the Israelis understand there is an unbreakable tie with security. It is having Joe Biden come here [this past July] and walk off the plane and say, "You don't have to be a Jew to be a Zionist." It's Joe Biden going to Yad Vashem and getting on one knee, and holding the hands of Holocaust survivors. I can't get anything done here unless people believe, which happens to be true, that there's an unbreakable bond between this president-who happens to be a Democrat-and the State of Israel.

Experience as ambassador

Q: What are some of the things you do that most Israelis don't know about?

A: I go to the Kotel probably a couple of times a week. I don't make a scene of it. I go there, I have a very sick friend, I put a note at the wall, and I leave.

Yesterday or two days ago I went up north to the funeral of [Military Police Sgt.] Noa Lazar, the 18-year-old girl who got killed [in a shooting attack in Jerusalem on Oct. 8]. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't make a scene of it. I just felt it was important to go at 11 o'clock at night and just show up. I've done every shivah call [to a house of mourning] and I don't make a scene of it. I don't. And I'll go to Bnei Brak and spend time with [haredi Jews of] Bnei Brak, and I'll go see a Druze family in Nazareth. I'll also meet with [members of the left-wing NGO] Peace Now.

So, I'm trying to walk the walk. Will I get burned? Sure. Someone will be upset with me. That is what it is. But it won't be because I've got some ideology here where I'm trying to prove something and it's my agenda. I don't need this job for my next job. I care deeply about this country and I want to do the right thing.

Q: And in terms of just your experience here, what's been the biggest surprise? What're the greatest learning experiences that you've had here?

A: I guess one of the things I knew intellectually is how much people care about this place. I knew it intellectually. I'm now watching it in practice. And there's a level of interest and concern and passion on all sides. There's not another country in the world that has this level of unbelievable love, passion, focus and demands that Israel has.

And as the American ambassador, we are the most important ally to the State of Israel. This is literally the greatest honor I've ever had. This is a huge, huge honor. And I wake up every day, every single day, just trying to make a little bit of a difference. I wake up and say, "Okay, what can I get done?"
Holocaust Center founder Tess Wise, who as a teen escaped from a Nazi labor camp and who dedicated her life to fighting antisemitism and the ultimate consequences of hate, passed at the age of 99 on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022.

Wise and her late husband Abe were partners in philanthropy, innovating and supporting numerous charities and institutions throughout Central Florida. But it was her dedication to using personal and world history to ensure the Holocaust was not forgotten and to create a more just and caring society that brought her recognition around the world.

Tess encouraged people, "to be active participants in society; to make the choice to make a difference. We must preserve the past if we are to protect the future for the generations that come after us," she said.

What began with her "Holocaust Project" in the early 1980s with small conferences and discussions about extremism and terrorism, stands today as the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. The institution has provided unparalleled educational experiences for more than 30,000 students annually, as well as programs and exhibits about the Holocaust for thousands of visitors each year.

Tess' daughter, Ellen Wise Lang, has served as the Center's Board president and spent years working with and on behalf of her mother's mission to fight against hate. "My mother came to the United States having escaped the horror of a concentration camp and the tragic murder of her parents and most of her family. She chose to come here for the same reasons as so many do: welcome, safety, opportunity, a new life. And an amazing life she did make. One filled with family, community, and purpose. We are all the beneficiaries."

Talli Dippold, chief executive officer of the Center reflects, "Today is a sad day. Tess' visionary and unwavering commitment to Holocaust education has and will inspire people to act to combat prejudice and antisemitism in all its forms. Her loss will be felt and mourned, but her legacy will live on in the work that we do."

Tess was born in 1923 in Szydlowiec, Poland. When she was a teenager, her family moved to Radom, Poland, which in September 1939, was seized by the Germans who immediately began persecuting the Jewish population. Forced into a ghetto, Tess, her parents and 14 other relatives lived in a two-room apartment before being deported to a nearby labor camp, where her parents worked in a munitions factory.

Tess, however, escaped, having been encouraged by her father and helped by a Polish gentile friend named Maria, who had been a neighbor before the war. She lived with Maria's relatives under false identity papers for about one and a half years, until the area was liberated by the Soviets in the Fall of 1944. After Radom was liberated in May 1945, Tess reunited with the only surviving members of her family - five in all. In 1947, she immigrated to the United States.

She exemplified strength, perseverance and wit, the same characteristics that contributed to her lifelong drive to protect and honor the history of the Jewish people and create authentic education resources to ensure history doesn't repeat itself.

Tess was among the founding members of many Jewish community organizations including the Jewish Academy of Orlando and the Roth Family Jewish Community Center. In 1981, she helped to establish what would become the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida as a series of conferences. The Center was the very first of its kind in the southeast, predating, even, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

Tess Wise

"Tess Wise was a force in the Orlando community and the world," Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said. "She endured unimaginable tragedy but channeled her energy and intelligence in the most optimistic of endeavors, believing that the world could be better and hate eradicated. Her memory and her impact will live on for generations."

Stephen Smith, founder of StoryFile and executive director emeritus of USC Shoah Foundation shared "Tess embodied the resilience of her generation. She suffered greatly but used every day of her life to help heal our world. She documented the past but was concerned for our future. She showed that in spite of everything, with resolve and foresight, there can be hope for humanity."

Wise is survived by two children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A truck emblazoned with an image of Adolf Hitler and the phrase "All in favor of banning Jews, raise your right hand," drove through Berkeley, Calif., October 2022, in response to a controversy involving several UC Berkeley Law student groups resolving to bar "Zionist" speakers.

(JTA) - Three weeks after a prominent pro-Israel activist accused the University of California, Berkeley of creating "Jew-free zones," two trucks rolled into town to address the controversy.

One of them displayed a massive picture of Adolf Hitler.

"All in favor of banning Jews, raise your right hand," read the billboard on the side of the truck.

The truck had been dispatched by a political advocacy group called Accuracy in Media, which has a history of finding ways to provoke liberals and progressives. The group's president Adam Guillette told J. The Jewish News of Northern California Weekl...
He was a NYC private investigator, who, by a twist of fate, became a fearless Nazi hunter. Undercover, he pursued them relentlessly across the USA, Canada and Europe. He helped track down nearly 200 Nazis, collaborators and war criminals, coming face to face with dozens of them, recording interviews and even obtaining confessions from them.

Steven Rambam is the founder and CEO of Pallorium, Inc., a licensed Investigative Agency and security services provider, with offices and affiliates worldwide. Since 1981, Pallorium's investigators have successfully closed more than 10,000 cases, rangi...
(JTA)  Australias new left-leaning government is reversing the decision made nearly four years ago under a conservative administration to move the countrys embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in December 2018 that Australia would recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. The move put him in line with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, who had made a similar announcement a year earlier, pleasing his base, and had already opened an embassy in Jerusalem. But it made Morrison an outlier among the vast majority of world leaders, who have long hel...
A request went out on social media - "Does anyone have a boat, raft, canoe that I can use?" asked Rabbi Yanky Majesky of Chabad of North Orlando. With just a few hours left for the Sukkot holiday, Rabbi Majesky had that much needed canoe to row to the home of a family stuck on the second floor of their home because of the flooding caused by Hurricane Ian on the St. John's River. He came to them to perform the mitzvah of waving the lulav and etrog on Sukkot.

Jon and Mary Lou Klein, their son Joe and cousin Harold were stuck in the apartment over their garage for the duration of the rising w...
(JNS) - Meet the Israeli elections candidates:

1. Benjamin Netanyahu - Likud

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister and now head of the opposition, will attempt to win his sixth term as premier. He is credited with transforming Israel's heavily regulated economy into a capitalist, high-tech powerhouse. The most recent polls suggest that this time he will have enough Knesset seats to form a government.

In the recent string of four rapid-fire elections, his right-wing bloc has fallen short of a 61-seat Knesset majority. He came closest in the first election in April 2019...
(JNS)  Rapper Kanye Wests anti-Semitic social media posts and interviews continued to be condemned on Wednesday.

In a statement, the co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations called his comments dangerous.

This kind of inflammatory rhetoric and perpetuation of stereotypes fuels violence amid a rise in anti-Semitism and racism throughout our country, wrote Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), who is African-American, and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who are both Jewish. Words have consequences, which is why the B...
(JNS)  The Lions Den terror group, recently formed in Nablus, comprises dozens of gunmen and is not very well organized. Nevertheless, the groups activities serve the purposes of established terror factions like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are amplifying its influence, according to a senior Israeli terrorism expert.

The group has also been punching above its weight in terms of influence on the Palestinian street due to its shrewd use of social media, according to Dr Michael Barak, a senior researcher specializing in terrorism and radical Islamic networks at the Insti...
This fall, Chabads in Metro Orlando will offer a six-week course produced by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Learning Institute that unpacks Judaisms understanding of G-d while providing fresh, profound answers to common questions about G-d.

How did G-d come to be? Is G-d a He, a She, or a They? Does G-d have feelings? If G-d has foreknowledge of all events, do we have free choice? Is there a place in Judaism for doubts about G-d? These are just some of the 25 questions addressed in My G-d: Defining the Divine.

Jewish culture and the Jewish peoples outlook on life are indelibly shaped by th...
ANTAKYA, Turkey (JTA) - Jews have lived in the city of Antakya, known in ancient times as Antioch, for over 23 centuries. And the city wants visitors to know that.

A symbol composed of a Star of David entwined with a Christian cross and Islamic crescent has practically become the city's logo, as it's plastered all over town, especially on restaurants peddling the southern Hatay province's patently spicy cuisine.

"I was born in Antakya and I will die in Antakya," said Selim Cemel, a Jewish clothing merchant with a shop in the city's famed Long Bazaar - a snaking maze of Ottoman Era caravanse...
(JNS)  Israel has rebuffed repeated Ukrainian requests to supply the war-torn country with its Iron Dome system and other military equipment. This week, Israels refusal came into the spotlight as Russia attacked Ukraines civilian centers using Iranian kamikaze drones.

Ukraine said on Tuesday that it will formally request Israel to supply air defense systems. It had made informal requests until now. Israel has provided Ukraine with humanitarian aid, including a fully staffed $6.5 million field hospital. But its desire to maintain a delicate relationship with Moscowincludi...
(JNS) - The United States is applying pressure on the Palestinian Authority to increase security coordination with Israel, as part of a larger effort to reduce violence in Judea and Samaria, commonly known as the West Bank, a former Israeli defense official tells JNS.

A senior P.A. delegation arrived in Washington in early October, headed by Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee. The delegation met with senior American officials including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and focused on finding new ways to ease economic conditions for Palestinian civilia...
WASHINGTON (JTA)  Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, has once again said he is baffled by the lack of appreciation he feels coming from American Jews.

No president has done more for Israel than I have, he said on Truth Social, the social media platform he owns. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.

He added, U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel  before it is too late!

Its not clear what prompt...
VINNYTSIA, Ukraine (JTA)  Under a haze of early morning cigarette smoke, two Jewish men from Ukrainian cities in areas occupied by Russia were discussing how much they miss their parents. Neither had seen them for months and in the brief exchanges that they have had with them, they could only say so much without fear of putting them in danger.

We cant talk about the war, says Moshe, who is from Kherson, a city in southern Ukraine that has been occupied by Russian troops since early in the war. I dont want to make things difficult for her. I think that people are listening...
Family of fallen IDF soldier donates corneas, saving sight of two people

(JNS)  The family of an Israeli soldier who was killed last week in a drive-by shooting in Samaria has donated his corneas to two people, saving their eyesight, Israeli media reported on Monday.

The recipients, both in their 80s, Were moved to tears when they heard about the identity of the donor, Walla reported.

Baruch was securing a civilian march near Shavei Shomron in northern Samaria when he was shot from a moving vehicle. He was evacuated to Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, where he succumbed to h...
(JNS)  The latest brouhaha surrounding former U.S. President Donald Trump pertains to comments he posted on Sunday aboutand directed toAmerican Jews.

No president has done more for Israel than I have, he wrote on his platform, Truth Social. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.

All true, other than the surprisingly part. The majority of Jews in the United States wouldnt support a Republican if their lives, or Israels, depended on it...
(Jewish Journal via JNS)  Something remarkable, perhaps even miraculous, is happening halfway around the world. For more than 43 years, post-revolutionary Iran has been forbidden to the millions who escaped from the country. But today, due to the unbelievable courage and sacrifice of thousands of Iranian protesters, the prospect of the regime actually crumbling has Iranians in the diaspora bursting with anxious anticipation, wondering if theyll be able to return to a free Iran.

Theres so much at stake. In the words of one Iranian American friend: Im afraid to let myself think...
(JNS)  Should Israel align with the West and aid Ukraine its fight against the ongoing Russian invasion? Should Israel remain neutral because it needs to coordinate with Russia in Syria in order to defend Israels northern border? Perhaps the most important question, however, is should Israel consider Ukraine and Russias treatment of the Jewish people and Israel in making its decision?

Ukraine, to say the least, has a problematic record in regard to the Jewish people and Israel. During World War II, one-fourth of the Jews murdered in the Holocaust were killed within the modern bound...
New York, US (PANA) - While plans submitted by most signatories of the Paris Agreement would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, they are still not ambitious enough to limit global temperature rise to 1
End of federal hospital funding for COVID-19 looming disaster: Australian medical association

Xinhua) 10:47, October 27, 2022

CANBERRA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Top Australian medical bodies have warned that a planned change to the hospital funding model will have a "devastating" impact.

The federal government has confirmed the 50-50 coronavirus-related health funding deal with state and territory governments will expire at the end of 2022.

State and territory health ministers had called for the split funding arrangement to be extended through to 2025 and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for it to be made permanent.

The federal budget for 2022-23, which was handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, confirmed the end of the scheme and the return of the annual growth cap on hospital funding.

The cap limits the overall growth in federal funding for public hospitals at 6.5 percent annually.

Steve Robson, president of the AMA, said that even with the additional federal funding the hospital system was already at "breaking point."

"The virus is unlikely to respect a 31 December budget deadline, and if these measures end it will only put more pressure on our already logjammed hospitals," he was quoted by the Guardian Australia as saying.

His comments echoed the sentiment of Brad Hazzard, health minister of Australia's largest state of New South Wales, who said the end of the agreement "spells disaster for the frontline staff and patients."

It comes as experts warn Australia could face a spike in new coronavirus cases within weeks.

Adrian Esterman, head of biostatistics at the University of South Australia, said the budget assumed "COVID is over."

"It's nowhere near all over," he said.

"We have declining immunity and new subvariants hitting Australia," he said. "(It's) already happening in New Zealand."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Tripoli, Libya (PANA ) - Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Al-Dbaiba, reaffirmed on Thursday that his desire to hold elections in Libya was not an illusion, adding that there was no obstacle to this goal
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 hotels 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 Hospitalitys 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.
Marriott Bonvoy  Marriott Internationals 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 worlds most extraordinary hotels. Marriott Bonvoy is collaborating with Samsung to create the first-ever exclusive branded destination within Samsungs 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 worlds 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 Bonvoys 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 Internationals award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoys 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.
With the presence of 30 community leaders, with their colorful traditional outfits that represent the cultural diversity of the different indigenous, Afro and mestizo peoples of Panama, the UNWTO and the ATP shared with the media the official details of the competition.

The Competition will promote innovative and disruptive tourism experiences that encourage the conservation and regeneration of the natural and cultural heritage of Panama and the empowerment of local communities. The categories of the contest will reflect the five Heritage Routes of Panama established in the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan 2020-2025: (1) Bridge of the World Route, (2) Crucible of Cultures Route, (3) Forests of Life Route, (4) Birds in Paradise, (5) Wonders of the Ocean.

Applications to participate will be open until 15 March 2023. The grand winner of the contest will receive: (a) a prize of US$25,000 in infrastructure for the community of the winning experience, (b) a spot to exhibit the experience at the Adventure Travel World Summit 2023 in Japan. The five finalist experiences will receive: (a) a course from the UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, (b) inclusion in the UNWTO Innovation Network, with global visibility through UNWTO social media channels, (c) seed capital of US$2,000 each for the communities, (d) a spot for each of the 5 finalists in Adventure Next Latin America 2023 to market their experiences.

UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili said: During the pandemic, technology and the growing sense of responsibility have created a need to develop new transformative products that are more inclusive and sustainable, and with this competition we are promoting an effort in this direction.

The Minister of Tourism of Panama, Ivan Eskildsen, highlighted: Our Sustainable Tourism Master Plan establishes that, in order to achieve true sustainability, local communities must be at the centre of the tourism phenomenon. We value the support of the UNWTO and its commitment to the transformation of our industry.

As of July 2022, Panama has exceeded the figure of 1 million visitors, more than triple the visitor arrivals in 2021. With this competition being launched together with the UNWTO, Panama seeks not only to get back to the pre-pandemic levels of visitors (it is estimated that the monthly volume will be recovered before the end of the year), but above all to transform the country through tourism, improving the quality of life of local communities, while conserving and regenerating its natural and cultural treasures.

RELATED LINKS:

About The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency fostering tourism as a vehicle for equal, inclusive and sustainable development. Working with its Member States, international organizations and the private sector, UNWTO promotes safe and seamless travel for all. UNWTO also works to make tourism the foundation of trust and international cooperation and a central pillar of recovery. As part of the wider UN system, UNWTO is at the forefront of global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including through its ability to create decent jobs, promote equality and preserve natural and cultural heritage.

Follow UNWTO on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.

UNWTO Communications Department

+34 91 567 8100

UNWTO
Key Takeaways

The partnerships will help develop and showcase curated cultural and creative Experiences on Airbnb in less touristed neighborhoods.

Mexican entrepreneurs will participate in UNESCO-led trainings to develop authentic cultural experiences that represent Mexico City's unique, cultural and creative traditions.

New remote working hub provides accommodation inspiration, entry requirement information, and visa policies for anyone looking to work remotely in Mexico City.

Airbnb announced partnerships with the Mexico City Government and UNESCO to promote the city as a global hub for remote workers and develop and showcase cultural and creative stays and experiences on Airbnb that enhance Mexico Citys reputation as the Capital of Creative Tourism.

Mexicos vibrant capital city is a popular destination for travelers and remote workers alike. The partnerships will support Mexico Citys ambition to become a global hub for remote workers and the Capital of Creative Tourism. Guests come to Airbnb to look for unique and special experiences Hosts provide and these partnerships will help ensure there is an abundance of uniquely Mexican experiences on offer.

Source: Airbnb

Airbnb is proud to partner with UNESCO and the Mexico City Government to cultivate the next generation of cultural entrepreneurs and creative experiences, said Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb Co-Founder during his first visit to Mexico City. With the rise of remote working around the world, destinations must consider how to ensure that the benefits of remote work are felt by the wider community. The best approach is one that not only attracts remote workers, but also integrates them into communities so that all residents can benefit from this rising trend.

Remote workers have a lot to contribute to Mexico City and that is why this alliance is so important. With Airbnb we will improve the options that the city offers. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that Mexico City adapts and innovates in the face of adverse scenarios, such as the pandemic. - Diana Alarcon, General Coordinator of Advisors and International Affairs of Mexico City.

Creativity is the source from which culture emanates. Therefore, it must be a source of universal growth that we support and strengthen. Mexico City is synonymous with creative tourism. It has more museums than any other global city, other than London. Its linguistic diversity encompasses at least 55 of the 68 indigenous languages, and it is the entity in Mexico that has the most UNESCO declarations, among which include the UNESCO city networks such as the Creative City of Design, City of Learning and Inclusive City, said the UNESCO Representative in Mexico, Frederic Vacheron.

The partnerships

Airbnbs partnership with UNESCO builds upon its Mexico by Land sustainable tourism initiative and will promote Mexicos cultural and natural heritage. Through a dedicated online site, Airbnb will showcase unique cultural and creative destinations and experiences.

As part of its partnership with Airbnb, the Mexico City Government invited its network of tourism entrepreneurs to participate in a series of UNESCO-led training sessions. The program will help entrepreneurs develop authentic cultural experiences that represent Mexico Citys unique, cultural and creative traditions across many diverse neighborhoods.

Source: Airbnb

To launch the campaign, Airbnb created a dedicated website for remote workers interested in living and working in Mexico City. The Mexico City: Capital of Creative tourism site showcases the first new experiences to be developed through the partnerships with the Mexico City Government and UNESCO:

Live & Work Anywhere on Airbnb

Since the start of the pandemic, remote work has surged around the world and the trend is also evident on Airbnbs platform, with many guests choosing to live and work in locations for extended periods of time.

Long-term stays (28+ days) continue to be Airbnbs fastest growing category by trip length compared to 2019. Long-term stays increased nearly 25 percent from a year ago and by almost 90 percent from Q2 2019. This trend is also present in Mexico City where long-term stays grew more than 30 percent in Q2 2022 vs. the same period in 20191.

Based on this trend, last May the platform announced their Live and Work Anywhere program that will focus on working with 20 destinations around the world to make it easier for travelers to live and work while complying with local regulation, focusing on re-distributing tourism and developing new economic opportunities.

Mexico has two destinations on the list: Mexico City and Baja California Sur, where Airbnb has partnered with the state on a program to bring travelers with a solid framework of ecotourism and sustainability.

Through Airbnbs partnerships with Mexico City and UNESCO, the platform wants to help re-distribute tourism in the City by empowering and promoting cultural and creative Experiences that will drive economic opportunities for more Mexicans.

1.

In Q2 2022, long-term stays of 28 days or more remained our fastest-growing category by trip length compared to 2019. Long-term stays increased nearly 25% from a year ago and by almost 90% from Q2 2019.

About UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO (UNESCO) is the UN Specialized Agency for education, science, culture and communication. With its six Cultural Conventions, UNESCO promotes the integration of culture as a factor of peace, inclusive economic development, social cohesion and sustainable management of biodiversity, in addition to the exercise of cultural rights and equality of gender, among other goals. Based on Goals 8 and 12 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNESCO promotes the development and implementation of policies aimed at promoting sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals across over 220 countries and regions. Travel on Airbnb keeps more of the financial benefits of tourism with the people and places that make it happen. Airbnb has generated billions of dollars in earnings for Hosts, most of whom are individuals listing the homes in which they live. Among Hosts who report their gender, more than half are women, and one in five employed Hosts are either teachers or healthcare workers. Travel on Airbnb also has generated more than $4 billion in tax revenue around the world. Airbnb has helped advance more than 1,000 regulatory frameworks for short-term rentals, including in 80% of our top 200 geographies. In late 2020, to support our continued expansion and diversification, we launched the City Portal to provide governments with a one-stop shop that supports data sharing and compliance with local registration rules. We continue to invest in innovations and tools to support our ongoing work with governments around the world to advance travel that best serves communities.

About Airbnb.org

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc."s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org"s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows Hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, Hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.

Airbnb Press

Airbnb Press Office

Airbnb
MUMBAI - Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), Indias largest hospitality brand, in line with Paathya, the companys ESG+ framework to drive its sustainability and social impact measures, has installed 224 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at 92 of its properties. These EV charging points, in collaboration with Tata Power, are present across various Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta, Ginger and ama Stays & Trails properties across the country.

Speaking about this initiative, Gaurav Pokhariyal, Executive Vice President  Human Resource, IHCL, stated, At IHCL, sustainability is at the core of all that we do. The installation of the EV charging points is in line with our focus on Environmental Stewardship, which is one of the key pillars of Paathya. Today, we are seeing a major paradigm shift across the globe as an increasing number of people are gravitating towards alternative or less energy-intensive options of transport. At IHCL, we will continue our endeavour to embrace green sources of energy while making sustainability measures easily accessible for our customers.

The move is aligned with IHCL's commitment to cater to the evolving needs of its environmentally conscious customers by reducing their carbon footprint in travel and assisting in the further adaptation of sustainable means of living. These chargers can be accessed by the guests staying at various IHCL properties, allowing them to experience the reliability and worry-free facility, while discovering breath-taking destinations across the country. With this initiative, driving vacations in electric vehicles will now be even more accessible for guests.

With a long term vision of driving responsible tourism, IHCL has announced its sustainability commitments for the year 2030 under Paathya. IHCL will continue to pioneer sustainable practices in its pursuit towards excellence and creating benchmark in the tourism industry.

For more information on IHCLs sustainable initiatives, please visit: IHCL Sustainability Report.

About The Indian Hotels Company Limited

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj  the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as the World's Strongest Hotel Brand and India's Strongest Brand as per Brand Finance Hotels 50 Report 2022 and India 100 Report 2022,

respectively; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.

Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel - The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 245 hotels including 65 under development globally across 4 continents, 11 countries and in over 100 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India's largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is primarily listed on the BSE and NSE.

Please visit: www.ihcltata.com; www.tajhotels.com; www.seleqtionshotels.com; www.vivantahotels.com; www.gingerhotels.com

Nairita Ghosh

IHCL
SAN FRANCISCO - Canary Technologies, which is modernizing the hotel tech stack with the first fully mobile web end-to-end Guest Management System and its award-winning Digital Authorization solution, announced today that it has raised an additional $30 million in Series B funding led by global software investor Insight Partners, with continued participation from F-Prime Capital, Y-Combinator, Thayer Ventures, Commerce Ventures, and others. This brings the company's total fundraising to date to $45 million.

Canary has continued to experience significant growth due to the accelerating demand for guest-facing technology solutions in the hospitality industry. This latest round of funding will be used to expand the team to keep up with high customer demand globally, and enhance the platform's solutions.

Canary Technologies is trusted by thousands of hotels in more than 75 countries and has partnered with notable global brands, including Four Seasons, Best Western, Rosewood Hotels, and Radisson hotels.

"Canary's mission is to help hotel operators modernize their tech stacks to deliver the best guest experience possible and remain competitive in the evolving lodging landscape," said Harman Singh Narula, Co-founder of Canary Technologies. "Guests want to engage with digital solutions, like Contactless Check-In and Digital Tipping, and hoteliers are increasingly adopting Canary's platform to meet this demand and streamline operations. Insight Partners has a wealth of experience with vertical software companies and we're excited to work together to continue to accelerate our growth across the globe," said Narula.

The Canary Technologies platform offers an array of products that cater to the specific needs of the hoteliers, including Contactless Check-in, Contactless Checkout, Guest Messaging, Digital Upsells, Digital Tipping, Digital Authorizations and Digital Contracts. The company has seen exponential adoption of its platform which has helped hoteliers increase revenue, improve the guest experience and reduce chargebacks and fraud around the globe.

"We have been really impressed with the durable business that the Canary team has built and their ability to accelerate growth, even during uncertain market conditions," said Thomas Krane, Managing Director at Insight Partners. "This is a testament to the best-in-class solutions Canary provides to hoteliers as they look to meet the digital experiences that the modern guests demand. We're very excited to partner with Harman, SJ, and the entire Canary Technologies team to support their growth as they help drive technology in hospitality forward."

"Over the past few years, we've seen hoteliers everywhere proactively seek out the guest-facing technology solutions Canary provides," said SJ Sawhney, Co-founder of Canary Technologies. "A lot is happening in the guest-facing tech space and hoteliers are prioritizing this. We have a robust roadmap and are excited to use additional resources to further accelerate our development of even more advanced tools and in-depth services for our hotel partners around the world. Our growth is a testament to the Canary team which continues to innovate with our amazing hotel partners."

"Guests expect magical customer experiences and hotels deserve modern technology solutions that can meet those demands. Canary has proven it can innovate and deliver, time and time again, on where the hotel market is going. They are well on their way to being the modern guest facing platform in the hotel industry and have an enormous opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of hotels worldwide. We're excited to continue supporting the team in the next phase of growth," said Gaurav Tuli, Partner at F-Prime Capital

Co-founded by long-time friends and industry veterans, Narula and Sawhney bring years of experience in hospitality and technology to Canary Technologies. Narula was previously a member of the Global Strategy team at Starwood Hotels and Resorts and a management consultant at Bain & Company, where he advised senior executives in hospitality and technology. He is a graduate of the renowned Cornell School of Hotel Administration and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to co-founding Canary, Sawhney led product and technology at Stayful, a booking platform for independent and boutique hotels founded by the former president of Hotels.com. Sawhney is a serial entrepreneur, having successfully founded multiple venture-backed technology companies over the prior decade. He is a graduate of Columbia University.

For more information, visit https://www.canarytechnologies.com.

About Insight Partners

Insight Partners is a global software investor partnering with high-growth technology, software, and Internet startup and ScaleUp companies that are driving transformative change in their industries. As of June 30, 2022, the firm has over $80B in regulatory assets under management. Insight Partners has invested in more than 700 companies worldwide and has seen over 55 portfolio companies achieve an IPO. Headquartered in New York City, Insight has offices in London, Tel Aviv, and Palo Alto. Insight's mission is to find, fund, and work successfully with visionary executives, providing them with right-sized, right-time practical, hands-on software expertise along their growth journey, from their first investment to IPO. For more information on Insight and all its investments, visit insightpartners.com or follow us on Twitter @insightpartners.

About Canary Technologies

Canary Technologies is modernizing the hotel tech stack with the first mobile web end-to-end Guest Management System and its award-winning Digital Authorizations solutions. Digitizing everything from post-booking through checkout, Canary is trusted by more than 20k hoteliers in more than 70 countries, including Four Seasons, Choice Hotels, Radisson Hotels and Ace Hotel Group. Canary's solutions help hotels eliminate paper processes, boost revenue with upsells, raise staff efficiency, ensure PCI compliance, improve the guest experience, and reduce chargebacks and payment fraud. Learn more at canarytechnologies.com.
Hotel operators and owners have long been focused on the privacy of the personal information they collect from guests  because of the global nature of the hospitality business, hotel brands have focused on complying with the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and beginning in 2018, the Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the first comprehensive law designed to protect the privacy of consumers personal information. Businesses that are subject to the GDPR and the CCPA are required, among other things, to respond to consumers who wish to view the personal information collected by the business, delete personal information, and opt-out of the sale of personal information; these obligations expanded in 2020 when California voters approved the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA).

Employee and Business Personal Information

While the CCPA is aimed at protecting consumers personal information, the terms of the law extend to the personal information of employees and business contacts. While the California legislature initially exempted employment information and business to business (B2B) personal information from many of the provisions of the CCPA until January 1, 2021, which was extended in the CPRA to January 1, 2023.

The Exemption and its Demise

While most observers believed that the California legislature would extend the exemptions of employee and B2B personal information, when the California Legislature adjourned on August 31, 2022, it did so without adopting an extension. As a result, it is a certainty that full consumer rights will apply to personal information obtained from employees or because of a B2B relationship.

Because hotel owners and operators are familiar with the requirements of the CCPA and the GDPR, the expiration of the exemption will be challenging. Owners and operators will need to adapt their policies to employee and B2B personal information. However, there are many hotel owners that have little or no contact with guests and have left compliance to hotel operators. These firms will be particularly impacted by the significant disclosure, policy and procedure issues that need to be addressed by the end of 2022.

This is especially the case for hotel owners that act as the employer of hotel personnel, but will extend to all hotel owners with employees, whether engaged at a hotel or not, since employers are obligated to collect vast amounts of personal information, including sensitive personal details (such as financial, health and intimate personal characteristics) to conduct businesses. These owners will need to address the information they collect, where it is held, who has access to it and how it is used. Moreover, hotel owners and operators will need to determine how consumer rights apply to employee and B2B personal information, and prepare to provide employees and B2B contacts with CCPA rights, including the right to know what personal information is collected, the right to delete personal information, the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, the right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information, and the protection against retaliation following the exercise of opt-out or other rights.

Business Challenges

Personal information obtained from employees presents particular significance. California businesses need to evaluate the differences and similarities between the rights afforded to employees under the CCPA (including how the exemptions from disclosure and deletion apply), and those provided under the California labor laws. California employers have, or should have, adopted many of the processes required under the CCPA. For example:

Right to Know  The CCPA gives consumers the right to request that a business disclose (i) the categories of personal information collected, (ii) the sources of such personal information, (iii) third parties to whom the business disclosed the personal information, and (iv) what personal information was sold/shared and to whom. California law has several laws affording employees the right to know certain types of information the employer has collected, including the employees personnel file, documents signed by the employee, and payroll records. In contrast, the CCPA is broader in scope and requires employers to disclose geolocation, biometric, internet activity, inferences drawn, and other information that employers might collect. Additionally, the timelines for compliance with a request are different under the CCPA from California labor laws.

Right to Delete  The right to request that a business delete personal information collected from the individual. Employers should assess federal, state and local retention requirements pertaining to employment records, including but not limited to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, California Government Code Section 12946, and California Labor Code Section 226 to determine potential exemptions to a deletion request under CCPA Section 1798.105(d)(8), which exempts a business from deleting information necessary to comply with a legal obligation. These exemptions may also apply to B2B personal information.

Right to Opt Out of Sale or Share  Under the CCPA, consumers have the right, at any time, to direct a business that sells or shares personal information not to sell or share such information. Employers should not only reassess their disclosure agreements with vendors but also ascertain whether their vendors are service providers, contractors or third parties under the CCPA, since the disclosure of an employees personal information to a vendor may be viewed as a sale under certain circumstances.

Right to Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information  Employers should assess whether they are processing an employees personal information, and whether that includes sensitive personal information. For example, if an employer is processing sensitive personal information (such as racial or ethnic origin) for diversity and inclusion purposes, it may be permitted under an exception. However, if an employer is processing sensitive personal information for purposes of inferring characteristics of its employees and using artificial intelligence to assist with hiring, including using automated decision systems, this right may be triggered.

B2B Implications

While the emphasis of this development has been the impact on employers, B2B personal information is now subject to the same regime as employee personal information. Hotel companies need to analyze their collection and use of B2B personal information, as well as provide the same rights as the rights to a consumer under the CCPA, including the right to know, right to delete, right to opt out of sale or share, and right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information.

Next Steps

Hotel companies subject to the CCPA should immediately take steps to comply with these new requirements, including:

Update CCPA processes and controls to address employee and B2B data.

Conduct a review and inventory HR processes to see where employee data may exist, what data the business maintains and whether such data is subject to the CCPA.

Update notices at collection and privacy policies for employees, applicants, and contractors.

Update existing processes to respond to employee requests under the labor code and engage stakeholders to design new policies and procedures for responding to privacy rights requests in 2023, including the treatment of potential exemptions under the CCPA.

Review and update contract terms with service providers, contractors and third parties to incorporate new required terms under CPRA and mitigate the risk.

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, working through its Cybersecurity and Privacy Group and its Global Hospitality Group, address privacy and security issues and assist with compliance, both with state, federal and international data protection laws. For more information, contact Robert Braun ([email protected]).

JMBMs Cybersecurity and Privacy Group counsels clients in a wide variety of industries, including accounting firms, law firms, business management firms and family offices, in matters ranging from development of cybersecurity strategies, creation of data security and privacy policies, responding to data breaches and regulatory inquiries and investigations, and crisis management. The Cybersecurity and Privacy Group uses a focused intake methodology that permits clients to get a reliable sense of their cybersecurity readiness and to determine optimal, client-specific approaches to cybersecurity.

Further information about cybersecurity issues

If this article was of interest, you may also wish to read other articles by Bob Braun on Data Technology, Privacy & Security, which include the following:

Robert Braun

JMBM

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Port-Louis, Mauritius (PANA) - Mauritius will set up, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a National Healthcare Waste Disposal Facility as part of the implementation of the Sustainable Low- and non-Chemical Development in SIDS (Small Islands Developing States) ISLANDS project


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About This Property Welcome to 74 Washington Ave! This home is a great addition to any investor portfolio. Equipped with spacious rooms, a large kitchen, a detached 1 car garage and a full basement for plenty of storage space. In need of someone with vision to revamp to modern standard. Located close to schools, retail shops, restaurants and the local downtown area. Interstate highway access is just minutes away, optimal for commuters! Don't wait, Schedule a showing today!



Land Details Community Details Acres Apx: 0.10

Parking Type: Garaged & Off-Street

Region: Berkshire - North

Elem School: Other

High School: Drury

Exterior Details Interior Details Color: BRN/YLW

Style: Other

Construction: Wood Frame

Exterior: Wood

Water: Public

Sewer: Other

Underground Oil Tank: Unk

Garage: Detached

Total Rooms: 6

Total Full Baths: 1

Total Half Baths: 2

Fuel: Oil

Hot Water: Oil

Electric: Circuit Breaker

Floor: Carpet

Lead Paint: Unk

Heat/Cool: Hot Water

Appliances Incl: None



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Pittsfield Council Tackles 21 Agenda Items in Under 90 Minutes

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  The City Council went through 21 agenda items in under 90 minutes on Tuesday night.

The panel accepted more than $350,000 in grants for first-responders, approved Eversource's request to relocate and install solely owned poles and wire on Valentine Road, and approved a Tax Increment Financing agreement with Interprint.



The 10-year tax increment financing agreement is expected to save the company $482,000 over the next decade on an estimated $1.9 million more in valuation.



It will provide 100 percent forgiveness of the incremental increase in property taxes resulting from the construction of a building expansion in the first and second years and decrease by 20 percent every two years. The current valuation of the property is $5,580,300.



The decor printing company announced last month that it will be investing $22 million into its Central Berkshire Boulevard facility for additional printing presses and is planning a 57,000-square-foot expansion.



The expansion will create 20 more jobs at the facility by 2025, bringing the company's staff to about 185.



Ward 3 Councilor Kevin Sherman commended the company for its expansion and the city for setting up the agreement.



A $233,940 grant for the fiscal 2023 State 911 Support and Incentive Grant that is designed to assist public safety answering points and regional emergency communication centers in providing Enhanced-911 service.

A $13,103.04 FY23 training grant.

A $21,234,89 FY23 Emergency Medical Dispatch Grant.

Without discussion, the panel OK'd Eversource's request to install 11 50-foot poles, install 1,870 feet of three-phase primary overhead spacer cable, and remove nine 35-foot poles on Valentine Road.



The purpose is to improve quality and reliability and rebuild the existing overhead poles to Lakeway Drive.



At the petitioner's request, the council also continued a special permit application for a proposed coffee shop with a drive-through at 1030 South St.



Jamasan Hotel Management intends to build a 2,700-square-foot Starbucks that maintains the existing curb cuts for entry and exit and has a drive-through with a waiting lane for 21 cars and a bypass lane after the order point.



The proposal was continued at the last council meeting because of concerns with the entry and exit points being too close to other curb cuts for abutting businesses.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Congressman Richie Neal holds a fake baby, part of a simulation experience for student nurses at Berkshire Community College. Neal was able to get $350,000 for the college to update its simulation lab. With him is Dean of Nursing Lori Moon. Students practice on a 'child' with difficulty breathing. PreviousNext

Congressman Neal Touts $350k Grant for BCC Nursing Equipment



Students practice on a SIM mother in childbirth at BCC.

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  U.S. Rep. Richard Neal traveled to Berkshire Community College on Wednesday to tout a $350,000 earmark he placed for upgrades to the college's nursing program simulation (SIM) equipment.

The congressman later traveled to Adams to announce a $1 million grant for the Greylock Glen.

Neal credited part of Berkshire Medical Center's high-quality care to its link with BCC, which provides hands-on experience to medical professionals in training.



"This announcement today, I think is consistent with what we've had a chance to witness," he said. "And that's been the success of Berkshire Community College."



Earlier in the year, Neal secured the $350,000 grant through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

It is one of 10 CDS projects submitted by the congressman that total more than $9 million throughout the First Congressional District of Massachusetts.



The labs simulate health-care settings to offer training and clinical experience. BCC's equipment has not received much in the way of upgrades since 2009.



"This grant will be used to upgrade the equipment and to give our students a hands-on approach to give safe care and a non-threatening environment, to make mistakes to be redirected where they make mistakes, and to really actively learn outside of the clinical setting," Dean of Nursing Lori Moon said.



"So really, simulation is that bridge between theory and clinical practice, in a very safe environment and a non-threatening environment."



The funds will go toward two new maternity mom and newborn models, two more 5-year-old models, wound-care kits with accompanying software, an electronic medical record program, an Omnicell medication dispenser, and crash carts.



The models will have upgraded technology from current ones to provide the students with a more realistic experience.



"The faculty and nursing students are so excited to add this equipment to be able to continue to grow our program to educate more and more nurses each year," Moon said.



"That's really our goal here, to meet the needs of our community. We know with the nursing shortage that's a real need and BCC is really trying very hard to meet that need for our community."



Elizabeth Kirby, director of education at Berkshire Health Systems, spoke on the importance of simulation.



She said it is a vital part of education for beginning students through versed physicians and is an interactive learning method that takes students out of a stressful environment and allows them to learn.




A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
The magazine provides a general overview of the options available to foreign firms to sell to the online India...
A family in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh has claimed that the roof of their house has been damaged after what they believe is a meteorite fell from the sky.

Sunil Gupta, a resident of Inayat Ganj in Pilibhit claimed that the meteorite fell on Monday night, resulting in damages to the iron net and a wall near it.

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Heavy, hot, rock-like object from sky

According to Gupta, there was a loud noise when the object fell on the roof and the damage was spotted during the examination the next morning.

To the shock of the family, they also found a large stone-like object lying on the roof, which they claim was still hot when they saw it.

According to local media reports, the unidentified object weighs around 14kgs.

While it is yet to be ascertained if the unidentified object is a meteorite, experts have pointed out that such incidents are not uncommon.

What are meteorites?

Meteorites are space rocks that fall to Earth's surface. They could be the debris from objects such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives their passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of the earth.

Wales Online

It can also vary in size from tiny fragments to massive pieces.



Largest ever meteorite

The largest of its kind found on Earth to date was discovered in Hoba, Namibia in 1920. The Hoba meteorite weighs roughly 54,000 kilograms and was so big, and heavy, it has never been moved from where it was found.

Wikimedia

The rare extraterrestrial object is also highly valued, both by scientists who study them and the rich who keep them as a collector's item.

Suspected meteorite death in India

In February 2016, there was a massive uproar in India after a man was killed in Tamil Nadu by an object falling from the sky.

Kamaraj, a bus driver was killed after an explosion caused by an object that fell from the sky into the campus of an engineering college in the city of Vellore.

The explosion left a crater on the ground, blew out the window panes of nearby buildings, and the windshields of parked buses, shattered a water tank, and sent debris flying. The victim was standing near the site of impact and was killed.

While initially it was reported that the explosion was caused by a falling meteorite, scientists from NASA said that the photographs posted online were more consistent with a land-based explosion than with something from space.

For more on news, sports, and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


After Diwali, now Chhath puja also known as Pratihar, Dala Chhath, Chhathi, and Surya Shashthi festival will be celebrated across the country, especially in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and even in Nepal. The auspicious festival dedicated to Chhathi Maiya and Lord Sun is celebrated for four days - beginning with Nahay Khay and ending with Usha Arghya.

During these four days, the women observe a fast for the happiness and peace of the house and also offer Arghya to the Sun. This year Chhath Puja will be celebrated from October 28 to October 31 across the country.

BCCL

Chhath is celebrated to express gratitude to nature and connect with it. People thank the Sun God for supporting and sustaining life on the planet and seek his blessings and protection. The festival of Chhath Puja is celebrated on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month. On this day, women observe a 36-hour waterless fast for the well-being of their sons and the happiness of the family.



Chath Puja 2022 Timing or Shubhu Muhurut

Chhath Puja will be celebrated on Sunday, October 30, 2022

Sunrise on Chhath Puja Day - 06:31 AM

Sunset on Chhath Puja Day - 05:38 PM

Shashthi Tithi Begins - 05:49 AM on Oct 30, 2022

Shashthi Tithi Ends - 03:27 AM on Oct 31, 2022

Chhahth Puja History and Significance

The festival is celebrated twice a year with full faith and reverence. The first Chhath festival is celebrated in the month of Chaitra and the second in the month of Kartik. The festival is dedicated to Sun God.

BCCL

This holy festival is also mentioned in mythological scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata. This festival has a different significance in the Hindu religion, which men and women fulfil very easily. There are many stories of Chhath Puja, take a look.



A childless king bless with a son after Yagya

According to religious beliefs, a childless king named Priyavrata and his wife Malini did everything to get children but to no avail. The king was disappointed and went to Maharishi Kashyap for help, then he advised the king to perform Putrayeshti Yagya. After which king's wife Malini got pregnant and gave birth to a boy but unfortunately he was born dead.

The news of the dead child of the king spread mourning in the kingdom. It is said that when the king was performing the last rites of his dead child, the Goddess appeared in front of him and said, "I am goddess Shashti Devi, the protector of all the children of the world.' Saying this the goddess touched the dead kid, and a miracle happened the kid became alive. It is said that since then the king announced the celebration of this festival in his kingdom.

Lord Ram and mother Sita Chhath Puja history

There are many stories about how the tradition of Chhath Puja started. According to religious beliefs, Lord Rama and Mother Sita worshipped the Sun God by fasting on the Shashthi of Kartik Shukla on the day of the establishment of Rama's kingdom at the behest of Mugdal Rishi after conquering Lanka. After which, on the day of Saptami, at sunrise, he got blessings from the Sun God by performing rituals.

Chhath Puja began in Mahabharata Era

According to another legend, the Chhath festival started in the Mahabharata period. It is said that this festival was first started by Karna by worshipping the Sun. Karna was a great devotee of Lord Sun and he used to stand in water for hours every day and offer him Arghya. It is believed that by the grace of the Sun, he became a great warrior.

Draupadi observed Chhath Puja fast

According to the legend, Draupadi observed Chhath fast when the Pandavas had lost the entire kingdom in gambling. By observing this fast, her wish was fulfilled and the Pandavas got everything back. It is believed that the relationship between the Sun God and Chhathi Mayya was a brother and sister. That is why the sun is worshiped on the occasion of Chhath.

BCCL

Nahay Khay - October 28 (Sunrise at 06:42 am; Sunset at 06:04 pm)



Lohanda and Kharna - October 29 (Sunrise at 06:43 am; Sunset at 06:04 pm)

Chhath Puja, Sandhya Arghya - October 30 (Sunrise at 06:43 am; Sunset at 06:03 pm)

Usha Arghya, Parana Day - October 31 (Sunrise at 06:44 am; Sunset at 06:02 pm)

Nahay Khay

The four-day-long Chhath Puja begins with the Nahay Khay tradition which falls on 28th October this year. On this day, devotees who observe fast wake early in the morning take a holy dip in a holy water body and then worshiped the lord Sun before consuming meals. On this day people clean their houses and utensils and start this festival by eating pure-vegetarian food.

Kharna

The second day of the festival known as Kharna falls on 29th October this year. On this day women observe fast without eating food and even a single drop of water from sunrise to sunset. After breaking their fast and making a food offering to the Sun God in the evening the women begin fasting for the third day

Sandhya Arghya

The third day is considered to be the most important of Chhath Puja. On this occasion, there is a tradition of offering Arghya to Lord Surya in the evening and Arghya soup is decorated with fruits, thekua, rice laddus, etc. in bamboo baskets. After this, people who observe fast along with their families offer Arghya to Suryadev, and the setting sun is worshipped and fasting continues throughout the night. Parana is done on the next day after sunrise. The first Arghya of Chhath Puja will be given on 30 October this year.

Usha Arghya

On the fourth and final day which was called Usha Arghya devotees worshipped Sun God and Arghya was given to the rising sun after fasting for about 36 hours. On this devotees stand in the holy and before sunrise to see the Sun God and start praying and giving him offering. The 36 hours long fast is broken after giving Arghya to the Sun.

Date Festivals and Holidays Name 2 October 2022 (Sunday) Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti 3 October 2022 (Monday) Maha Ashtami 4 October 2022 (Tuesday) Maha Navami

5 October 2022 (Wednesday) Dussehra 0r Vijaya Dashami 8 October 2022 (Saturday) Eid e Milad 23 October 2022 (Sunday) Naraka Chaturdashi 2022 or Choti Diwali 24 October 2022 (Monday) Lakshmi Puja 25 October 2022 (Tuesday) Govardhan Puja 26 October 2022 (Wednesday) Bhai Dooj 30 October 2022 (Sunday) Chhath Puja 31 October 2022 (Monday) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel jayanti

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The coming few months will be turbulent for Meta employees as the tech giant is preparing to sack employees. As workers prepare for sweeping layoffs, it has been revealed that Meta employees are being pushed to work twice as hard to safeguard their jobs at the troubled software giant.

One unnamed Meta employee told Insider, referring to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's message.

Unsplash

"Zuck's message was loud and clear: You have three months to prove your worth, put in 200% effort, or you can resign now if you don't like it."



The productivity push occurs as Meta's stock price continues to fall and the social media giant strives to reinvent itself as a metaverse business.

As Zuckerberg pressures employees to work harder, Meta has altered many of its teams and managers, as per Insider, which highlighted conversations with three current workers.



Reuters

According to a current employee's manager, even the highest performers are "not safe."

The employee allegedly said, "He said he is putting together a backup plan, and I should be too."



According to insiders at the company, a sizable number of employees could be affected by impending layoffs.

foxbusiness/getty

After the second quarter, MetaFacebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent companyreported having 83,500 workers globally.



"There is general consensus that we will have 20% fewer people next year," another Meta employee told Insider. "How that will happen, I'm not sure yet."

The report also states that a Meta representative referred to Zuckerberg's remarks during the company's second-quarter earnings call on July 27.

Reuters

During that call, Zuckerberg said Meta planned to "steadily reduce headcount growth over the next year" and warned, "many teams are going to shrink so we can shift energy to other areas."



"This is a period that demands more intensity, and I expect us to get more done with fewer resources," Zuckerberg said. "We're currently going through increasing the goals for many of our efforts."

A few weeks before the earnings call, Zuckerberg told employees he was worried the markets might be headed for "one of the worst downturns that we've seen in recent history."

He mentioned that Meta intended to impose more pressure on employees to eliminate underperformers.

"Realistically, there are probably a bunch of people at the company who shouldn't be here," Zuckerberg said at an internal meeting at the time, as per Reuters.

"Part of my hope is that by raising expectations, having more aggressive goals, and just kind of turning up the heat a little bit, some of you might decide that this place isn't for you and that self-selection is OK with me," Zuckerberg added.

Meta

After spending more than $15 billion on a largely ridiculed effort into metaverse technology, Meta has received criticism from investors.



Despite Zuckerberg's assertions that the metaverse will transform the business, the significant investment has not yet paid off.

Meta stated that losses tied to Reality Labs, the division building the metaverse, would increase next year despite the dropping share price and declining profits.

Reuters

"We do anticipate that Reality Labs losses in 2023 will grow significantly year-over-year," the company said.



Palmer Luckey, the creator of Meta's Oculus virtual reality headsets, is one famous critic of Zuckerberg's version of the metaverse.

The "Horizon Worlds" metaverse platform from Meta is "terrible" and "not currently not a solid product," as per Luckey, who was fired after selling Oculus to Facebook for $3 billion.

It's similar to a project car, Luckey remarked.

On Thursday, Meta shares fell more than 20% as the company revealed a 52% drop in third-quarter profit.



(For the latest trending stories, keep reading Indiatimes)


Cover Image Attribute: Polish Air Force's C-295 / Source: Gerard van der Schaaf, Wikimedia Commons





According to the announcement by the Indian government on Thursday, a consortium led by the Tata group and Airbus will manufacture 40 C-295 transport aircraft in the state of Gujarat. On October 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Vadodara to lay the foundation stone of the new facility as part of a $2.5 billion (Rs 21,935-crore) deal.





The laying of the foundation stone is to take forward the last year's agreement which India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed with Airbus to replace the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) legacy fleet of Avro HS-748 aircraft. The MoD has also signed an offset contract with M/s Airbus Defence and Space through which M/s Airbus will discharge its offset obligations by directly purchasing eligible products and services from Indian Offset Partners (IOPs).





According to the terms of the contract, Airbus will deliver the first 16 aircraft in a condition known as "fly-away" from its final assembly line in Seville, which is located in Spain. As part of an industrial partnership between Airbus and TASL, the subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled in India by Tata Advanced Systems (TASL). This partnership will take place in India.





This so-called "Avro replacement program" will mark the first time a private sector firm will build an entire aircraft in India, developing a whole industrial ecosystem: from manufacturing, assembly, testing, and qualification to delivery and maintenance throughout the aircraft's lifecycle. All the C-295s will be handed over to the IAF in transport configuration and equipped with an indigenous Electronic Warfare Suite.









Salient features of C-295
Next.js 13, the latest version of Vercels React framework for building web applications, adds a pre-release version of a faster bundler as well as a redesigned approach to server rendering, routing, layouts, and data fetching.

With Next.js 13, introduced October 25, the Turbopack bundler, written in Rust and still in an alpha stage of development, is positioned as a successor to Webpack. Offering improved speed and a better architecture, Turbopack is a build system for JavaScript and TypeScript that is designed for incremental builds. Turbopack is 700 times faster than Webpack when working with large applications, Vercel said.

Next.js 13 also features a beta of app /Directory, an enhancement of the frameworks filesystem-based routing system intended to make it easy to lay out complex interfaces and maintain state across navigations while avoiding expensive re-renders. Layouts can be defined through the file system. In addition, app /Directory provides a way to fetch data built on top of React Suspense for Data Fetching, and it introduces support for the React Server Component architecture.

React Server Components provide a way of defining components that can have data requirements attached to them and by default have no client impact. This improves performance, particularly for mobile applications, Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch said.

Next.js users can update to version 13 by running the following:

npm i next@latest react@latest react-dom@latest eslint-config-next@latest

Also in Next.js 13:

A new font system automatically optimizes fonts, including custom fonts, and removes external network requests, for improved performance and privacy. The font system also has built-in self-hosting of any font file and a zero layout shift that automatically uses the CSS size-adjust property.

An image component is introduced to display images without layout shift. The component optimizes file on demand for better performance and enables shipping of less client-side JavaScript.

A library, @vercel/og , has been created to work with Next.js to create social cards, which are open graph images.

, has been created to work with Next.js to create social cards, which are open graph images. The minimum React version has been bumped from 17.0.2 to 18.20, while the minimum Node.js version now is 14.0.0.

Although Next.js could be seen as a competitor to Googles Angular web framework, Next.js nonetheless has an advocate at Google: Kelsey Hightower, Google distinguished engineer and a technical advisor to Vercel, who participated in this weeks Next.js Conf 22 conference in San Francisco.

The biggest difference Ive seen between the two is, Next.js actually calls out that tiered computation problem, Hightower said. While a lot of front-end frameworks are designed for what can be done on the client side, Next.js provides a CDN (content delivery network) component; computation can be run on the CDN, one layer below the browser.

But Hightower was not ready to declare Next.js outright superior to Angular. Its like saying, is iOS better than Android? You can try to make that comparison.
Read more: 5-Star MGAs 2022

CFC Underwriting has also been previously recognized by IBC as a 5-Star Construction 2022 winner.

But while the company serves a wide range of industries, CFC Underwritings true specialty lies in cyber. The company has the largest cyber underwriting team and dedicated in-house cyber claims and incident response team in the London market. By 2021, the MGAs cyber business grew to cater to over 60,000 policyholders in over 60 countries.

CFC offers a market-leading cyber insurance product backed by a global response capability, which ensures our policyholders not only have comprehensive cover, but that they can recover quickly from cyber incidents, said CFC Underwriting head of cyber James Burns.

Lately, CFC Underwriting has seen an increased demand for active assailant insurance cover from organizations in Canada.

The US market currently makes up over 95% of CFCs account but were increasingly seeing Canadian submissions as insureds understand its not just gun-related violence that this product caters for, explained CFC terrorism and political violence underwriter Rob Tuttlebee.

Whether it is about cybersecurity, construction, or active assailants, CFC Underwriting is more than ready to provide the right insurance solution for the job.
Advocis is presenting the award for Life & Health Insurer of the Year at the 2022 Insurance Business Canada Awards (IBCAs). The award of excellence recognizes outstanding insurers providing top-tier life and health insurance products to consumers and businesses, while upholding exceptional customer service. Winners of this and other major category award will be crowned during an in-person ceremony on November 17 in Toronto.

Read more: Revealed  excellence awardees for Insurance Business Canada Awards 2022

The impressive pivot by life and health insurers during the pandemic included a greater adoption of telemedicine and other virtual health platforms, and artificial intelligence and machine learning to drive hyper-personalization for customers.

Life and health insurance companies have been innovative with their products, but they haven't been as deeply involved in the lives of their customers. But thats changing, said Pollock.

Life and health insurance organizations are beginning to take more direct interest in the day-to-day lives of their insureds. For instance, some are leveraging health monitoring technologies that provide important feedback on an insureds wellness.

These health devices are adding a new element to insurance thats also going to help improve Canadians quality of life, Pollock observed.

There are huge opportunities for life and health insurers to expand their digital capabilities as they try to reach more Canadians. Pollock said: We have an awful lot of people who are not accessing these products and services, and we need to do a better job of getting to those communities.

The Canadian Life & Health Insurance Association reports that slightly under half (44%) of Canadians dont have life insurance. Thats despite internet searches for life insurance jumping nearly 50% during the pandemic.

The cost-of-living crisis, increasing debt and house prices are steering many people away from life insurance, the survey added. Apart from the affordability of these policies, Canadians also found the process of purchasing life insurance and complying with medical exams burdensome.

And of 22 million Canadians that have a life insurance policy in place, about 30% of them feel their coverage isnt enough, according to data by LIMRA. The LIMRA study noted that 20% of Canadian households would face immediate adversity if a primary wage earner passed away.

The numbers are slightly better for health insurance, with nearly 27 million Canadians having access to such benefits, 90% of which offered on a group basis as workplace policies.

Many people don't understand these products and their benefits. They think of life insurance as costly, as something for the wealthy, said Pollock.

There's no doubt that the pandemic caused a lot of people to stop and reflect on whether they have adequate coverage to protect their families. COVID-19 was a challenge, but it also presented many opportunities for us. I think life and health insurance companies are collectively doing an outstanding job of bringing that important story to the Canadian public.

For Advocis, sponsoring the award for Life & Health Insurer of the Year at the Insurance Business Canada Awards is a way to inspire organizations to continue the noble work of financially protecting Canadians.

We believe that these products and services are critical to the health and wealth of Canadians, Pollock told Insurance Business. We want to see this industry thrive and to see people benefiting from their work.

Find out which insurer will be handed the Advocis Award for Life & Health Insurer of the Year at this years Insurance Business Canada Awards ceremony, to be held on November 17 at the Liberty Grand in Toronto.

To reserve a table, please visit ibawards.ca/register.
Immediate demands from the protesters included that Chubb enact a policy to end cover for fossil fuel expansion projects and to make sure that indigenous communities have given consent for any projects it insures that impact them.

One of the things that weve heard [] is that Chubb is insuring projects that are drilling oil in people's backyards, or they are building pipelines through their sacred territory, and so we wanted to bring what Chubb is enabling in the energy industry to his [Greenbergs] house, because he and his company are complicit in these harms against communities around the world, Elana Sulakshana, Rainforest Action Network senior campaigner, told Insurance Business while attending the protest.

We wanted to make sure that he saw this; he cannot ignore the climate crisis, and the impact of the projects that his clients are building and that he is insuring.

Insurance executives like Greenberg have massive power to stop fossil fuel industry expansion, Sulakshana said.

Todays action is part of the broader Insure Our Future campaign, Sulakshana said, which is targeting the largest oil and gas insurers in the US.

Chubb is not our only target, but it is the one for today and a key one, because it is such a large fossil fuel insurer and it has some of the weakest policies of the big US energy insurers, said Sulakshana.

According to a scorecard report that came out last week, Chub is ranked number 22 out of 30 global companies for fossil fuel and climate policy, near the bottom of the pack  and because it's such a large company, what it does has ripple effects through the rest of the industry.

Multiple groups have been linked to todays action, including Rainforest Action Network, Public Citizen, 350NYC, Rise and Resist NYC, Catskill Mountainkeepers, and No North Brooklyn Pipeline.

Chubb has been approached for comment.

Climate activists have become a common sight at insurance industry events and outside some insurers offices.

Extinction Rebellion activists attempted to block access to the Baden Baden reinsurance conference in Germany on Monday.

In May, Lloyds of London, which has faced a series of protests including a fake coal dump and protesters occupying its London headquarters, urged people not to attend its annual general meeting due to activism concerns.

Read more: Lloyd's urges members to attend AGM online amid risk of protests

Physical protest has not been the only tactic employed by activists, who have also used digital means in a bid to disrupt insurer operations, including a 2020 calendar jam initiative that saw people urged to send invitations regarding the Adani coalmine project to select CEOs online schedules.

Shareholders have also weighed in on insurances role in the climate challenge, with Chubb, The Hartford, and Travelers all having faced down votes at their most recent AGMs to end fossil fuels underwriting.

Read more: The investors taking on fossil fuel insurers

Chubb shareholders did back a non-binding resolution on reporting plans for the measurement, disclosure, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
What started as a tropical wave off the Caribbean cost of Nicaragua on October 22, 2012, quickly intensified into a Category 1 hurricane, which made landfall in Kingston, Jamaica, on October 22. The tempest then went on to strike Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, before blowing through the Bahamas.

At this point, weather modelers expected the storm to travel north-east out into the Atlantic, but an almost unprecedented pivot or left turn saw Sandy slam into New Jersey on October 29, impacting most of the Eastern Seaboard of the US with extreme winds and storm surge.

Thomas Varney (pictured), regional manager for Allianz Risk Consulting, North America, at AGCS, remembers that day vividly. The moment Superstorm Sandy took its infamous left turn, Varney was providing commentary on the storm for a Singaporean radio station. At that time, he could only imagine the devastation the storm might bring.

Read next: How will Hurricane Ian affect the supply chain?

Superstorm Sandy hit the New York Metro area during a high tide, which dramatically increased the height of the storm surge, Andrew Higgins, technical manager, Allianz Risk Consulting at AGCS, explained in the insurers report Superstorm Sandy 10 years on: Key lessons for storm resilience.

On top of that, it was a full moon, which raises high tides along the Eastern Seaboard by about 20%. Finally, the storm was massive in geographical area, as well as slow-moving, meaning it could deliver more sustained damage over a large area.

Superstorm Sandy had a monumental diameter of around 900 miles, or 1,450km, at its greatest extent. It incurred around $30 billion insured losses (approx. $35.1 billion in 2021 dollars), and over $60 billion in economic damages.

Credit: AGCS

Looking back and analyzing the different aspects of Superstorm Sandy was an interesting exercise, said Varney. It hit a huge metropolitan area that wasnt properly prepared for the situation. They were more prepared for a wind event, but Superstorm Sandy was more of a storm surge and flooding event.

Storm surge in New York City flooded the subway system and parts of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island. Prolonged power outages lasted for weeks in some areas, and the New York Stock Exchange had to close for two days. Economic losses in the city of New York alone were estimated to be at $19 billion.

Superstorm Sandy was an immensely challenging event for insurers to respond to, according to Varney. The sheer scale of the storm made it difficult for insurers to determine how to allocate and prioritize staffing and resources. He said it was also hard for loss adjusters to gain access to loss sites to evaluate damages because there was so much damage to infrastructure, power outages, and there were local authority restrictions.

It was hard to get to where the claims were, he reflected. These days, we can use technology like drones to access storm-impacted areas, and thats helping us to better assess situations as they relate to insured damages and claims.

Credit: AGCS

There are silver linings to catastrophic events in the lessons that can be learned from them. Ten years on from Superstorm Sandy, the US has made significant progress in catastrophe risk modeling to better understand events and their potential impacts. The National Weather Service has also developed its understanding and reporting of weather events, according to Varney, to the point that local media outlets are warning the public and providing essential safety information.

Boosting storm resilience

Catastrophic events also provide lessons for businesses about storm resilience, a theme explored in detail in AGCSs report: Superstorm Sandy 10 years on: Key lessons for storm resilience.

Varney emphasized the importance of planning  both in terms of emergency preparedness and business continuity. He said businesses should update and test their emergency preparedness plans, and ensure they can cater to extreme weather events like high winds and floods. According to AGCS, a good plan has the support of senior management, site-specific recommendations, and clear delineation of responsibilities.

Read more: Hurricane Ian losses could hit $74 billion  RMS

Likewise, businesses should test and update their business continuity plans on an annual basis. A well-developed contingency plan provides businesses with the tools to get back up and running as quickly as possible.

The most important thing is to understand your insurance policy, Varney told Insurance Business. What does your policy cover? Are there any coverage gaps? And if you have questions about that, please ask your broker or your carrier to make sure you understand the protection or the way the policy will react to a Superstorm Sandy-type extreme weather event.

Businesses should also consider making improvements to their building and site to help withstand the high winds and flooding that can accompany a windstorm. Installing emergency generators can help with loss of power, and raising critical equipment from ground-level [can help to mitigate flood damage].

AGCS also shared advice around protecting the building envelope from high winds, including measures such as using impact resistant doors and glass, or providing securement of the roof covering system to the roof deck. These things, Varney noted, dont happen overnight, but they can go a long way to mitigating the impact of extreme weather over time.

The interesting thing is that so much of the US is built on some type of waterway, whether its a lake, a river, or on the coast. And so, we do have a situation where [urban development and economic value] is building in these areas that may be impacted by storms, Varney commented. Improvements are being made to construction and building codes, and that puts us in a better place, but its also down to every business and individual to take steps to protect themselves and build resilience.
Insurance software provider Sapiens International Corporation has announced that Gary Sherne is rejoining the company as executive vice president and chief revenue officer for North America.

In his new role, Sherne will oversee all of Sapiens North American go-to-market activities, including sales, customer success, presales, marketing, partnership, and analyst relations. He will be responsible for increasing revenue growth and driving strategic partnerships and growth with existing North American customers.
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has agreed to strengthen its oversight of clergy accused of sexual misconduct to settle a lawsuit brought by New Yorks attorney general alleging the church mishandled abuse claims and protected predatory priests, authorities said Tuesday.

The settlement requires the diocese to have a formal program to monitor credibly accused priests and submit to an annual compliance audit by a former FBI official with expertise in clergy sexual abuse, Attorney General Letitia James said.

For far too long, the Buffalo diocese and its leaders failed their most basic duty to guide and protect our children, James said in a news release. 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.

Buffalo Bishop Michael Fisher said the agreement confirms safety and reporting protocols the diocese has adopted in recent years. A priest supervision program begun last year assigns a monitor with law enforcement experience to any accused member of the clergy to enforce restrictions on their conduct. Supervised clergy risk having their pension withheld if they live near children or a school or perform priestly duties.

The diocese also has named a child protection policy coordinator.

Todays agreement memorializes the dioceses utmost commitment to ensuring that all young people and other vulnerable persons are safe and never at risk of abuse of any kind by a member of the clergy, diocesan employee, volunteer, or member of a religious order serving in the Diocese of Buffalo, Fisher said in a letter to the public.

Under the agreement, former FBI official Kathleen McChesney will review the dioceses management of sexual abuse complaints and allegations for at least three years as an independent compliance auditor. McChesney has led the FBI offices in Chicago and Portland, Oregon, and was the first director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Office of Child Protection.

A civil lawsuit brought against the diocese and two former leaders in November 2020 accused the diocese of sheltering accused priests by letting them step away from ministry rather than follow mandated procedures that would subject them to possible removal from the priesthood by the Vatican.

The complaint took the novel approach of applying New Yorks charities statutes to address clergy sexual misconduct. It accused church officials of misusing charitable assets by supporting priests who were allowed to retire or go on leave.

Under the agreement, Bishop Emeritus Richard Malone and former Auxiliary Bishop Edward Grosz are banned for life from holding any secular fiduciary role with a charity registered in New York, James said.

Malone resigned in December 2019 amid mounting calls for his ouster from his staff, priests and the public over his handling of misconduct allegations. Grosz resigned in 2020 upon reaching the retirement age of 75.

Theyre both relieved that this ordeal is over, their attorney Dennis Vacco said by phone, adding that Malone and Grosz have steadfastly maintained that they did not engage in any wrongdoing.

From their perspective, the focus now returns to whats in the best interest of the Catholic faithful throughout the diocese, Vacco said.

New Yorks investigation of the Buffalo diocese began in September 2018, according to James, who said probes are ongoing into the conduct of the states seven other dioceses: the Archdiocese of New York and the dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Ogdensburg, Rochester, Rockville Centre and Syracuse.

The Diocese of Buffalo filed for bankruptcy protection in February 2020 amid a flood of lawsuits after New Yorks Child Victims Act suspended the statute of limitations to give victims of childhood abuse time to pursue even decades-old allegations. The diocese has been the subject of more than 900 claims, James office said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Two people whose personal information was compromised in a data breach at Rhode Islands public bus service that affected about 22,000 people sued the agency and a health insurer this week seeking monetary damages and answers.

The class-action suit filed in Providence Superior Court by cooperating attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island names the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority and United Healthcare as defendants.

The personal information of roughly 5,000 RIPTA employees and retirees and thousands of other current, former and retired state workers, including Social Security numbers and Medicare identification numbers, was hacked in August 2021 through unauthorized access to RIPTAs computer system.

When an individuals confidential personal and health care information is compromised, that individual will have to worry about the potential for identity theft which could lead to financial ruin by impacting their savings, livelihood, credit score, and access to health care, ACLU attorney Peter Wasylyk said. It can cause significant stress for the rest of that individuals lifetime.

The compromised information was provided by United, which previously administered the state employee health plan.

A United spokesperson said in a statement that the company is cooperating with the state attorney generals offices ongoing investigation into the breach.

Protecting member privacy is a top priority and we continue to work with multiple parties to understand the data breach that impacted the Public Transit Authoritys computer system, the statement said.

A spokesperson for RIPTA said in an email that the agency had no comment.

Alexandra Morelli, who works for the state but has never worked for RIPTA, said the data breach led to fraudulent withdrawals totaling thousands of dollars from her personal bank account and the unauthorized use of her credit cards, all while she was trying to plan her wedding.

She spent countless hours working with her bank, credit bureaus, and law enforcement trying to protect her personal information.

This entire experience was and has continued to be extremely frustrating and anxiety provoking, she said.

The suit alleges negligence by the state agency and the insurer, as well as violations of two state laws intended to protect personal information.

The suit also seeks a court order requiring the defendants to strengthen their cybersecurity safeguards and answers to what it says are unanswered questions, such as why RIPTA had the information of people who did not work at the agency and why it took fourth months to alert the victims about the breach.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Carriers Cyber Data Driven
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New York labor law requires a municipality to negotiate when terminating employees who are not at work for over a year because of an on-the-job injury, the New York Court of Appeals has ruled.

The states high court ruling reverses a lower court opinion that favored the city of Long Beach, which unsuccessfully argued that section 71 of the labor law exempts the process of terminating civil service employees who are out on long-term disability from the states mandatory bargaining procedure.

The high court found that the states presumption in favor of bargaining may be overcome only in special circumstances where there is plain and clear legislative intent to remove the issue from mandatory bargaining.

The court acknowledged that the legislature enacted section 71 to address prolonged employee absences and strike a balance between the states interest in an efficient civil service and the interest of the civil servant in continued employment in the event of a disability.

However, the court said its review of section 71, its language and legislative history revealed that there is no plain and clear evidence that the Legislature intended the procedures for terminating employees covered by the statute be foreclosed from mandatory bargaining. The court added that Long Beach presented no other statute or evidence of a legislative intent to limit collective bargaining.

The Taylor Law requires public employers to collectively bargain over public employees terms and conditions of employment. Section 71 entitles public employees disabled by an occupational injury to a one-year leave of absence, while also providing them with a means for later reinstatement if they are terminated for being absent longer than a year.

In this case, Jay Gusler, a professional firefighter for the city of Long Beach and a member of the Long Beach Professional Firefighters Association, sustained injuries in the line of duty in November 2014, which were later determined to be compensable under the workers compensation law. In November 2015, the fire commissioner sent Gusler a letter notifying him that the city was evaluating whether to terminate Guslers employment, claiming that section 71 would no longer prohibit the city from terminating him after his absence from work for more than a year due to his injury.

According to the fire chief, if Gusler disputed his potential termination, the city would hold a meeting at which he would have the opportunity to be heard, but if he failed to attend the meeting then the Fire Commissioner would determine that Gusler was not contesting his termination and would recommend his discharge.

The firefighters union demanded that the city negotiate the procedures for terminations covered by section 71s protections. After the city refused, the union filed an improper practice charge with the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). The PERB affirmed an administrative law judges decision that the city had an obligation to engage in collective bargaining prior to imposing procedures for terminating an employee covered by section 71, finding no evidence of a legislative intent to exempt employers from the states strong and sweeping policy to support employer-employee negotiations.

Deferring to PERBs interpretation of section 71, a state Supreme Court dismissed the citys petition seeking to annul PERBs decision. But an Appellate Division court reversed and, among other things, annulled PERBs determination. The appellate court held that it need not defer to PERBs interpretation of section 71 and that the city overcame the presumption in favor of mandatory bargaining.

The Court of Appeals has now reversed that appellate ruling.

Topics Workers' Compensation New York
One of South Africas richest suburbs may be the target of a terrorist attack this weekend, according to an alert posted on the website of the US Embassy.

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 Oct., the embassy said in a statement. There is no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack.

The embassy advised its staff to avoid crowds of people and other large public gatherings in the specified area over the coming weekend.

Many of the biggest companies in South Africa, including financial services group FirstRand Ltd., chemicals company Sasol Ltd., insurer Discovery Ltd., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., law firms and international auditing firms such as EY have their headquarters in Sandton. There is also a multi-faceted retail space in the suburb, which attracts crowds of tourists and locals on weekends.

Liberty Two Degrees Ltd., the operator of retail properties in Sandton  also known at the richest square mile in Africa  said its taken sufficient security measures in and around the Sandton City mall, Nelson Mandela Square, offices, hotels and the Sandton Convention Centre.

The South African government is continuously assessing threats and will inform the public of any imminent attack, President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, said in a statement.

We continue to monitor for any threats to our citizens, our nation and our sovereignty, he said. Threats are assessed continuously and are acted upon to ensure the safety of all.

With assistance from Paul Richardson.

Photograph: Skyscraper office buildings in the Sandton area stand on the skyline beyond residential housing in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, June 11, 2020. Photo credit: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Argenta Syndicate Management Ltd. (ASML), Fusion and BMS Group.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Argenta Appoints AXIS Res Haynes as Marine Excess of Loss U/W

Argenta Syndicate Management Ltd. (ASML), a subsidiary of Argenta Holdings Ltd., announces the appointment of Stephen Haynes as marine excess-of-loss underwriter, effective immediately. Based in London, he will report to Heath Callan, Argentas head of energy and marine insurance.

Haynes brings close to four decades worth of experience in the energy and marine insurance market and joins from AXIS Re (a division of AXIS Capital Ltd.), where he was head of global energy and marine reinsurance. He joined AXIS following the acquisition of Novae where he held the role of class underwriter, marine and energy reinsurance.

Prior to this, Haynes held senior underwriting positions at Platinum Re, St Paul Re and was class underwriter, marine and aviation reinsurance, at Catlin Underwriting Services. Haynes began his career in a number of broking positions principally involved in marine treaty and facultative placing and claims broking.

Argenta Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of Hannover Re, is the parent company of ASML and of Argenta Private Capital Ltd., which provides investor capacity to the Lloyds market of almost 3.3 billion for 2022. ASML is a Lloyds authorized managing agency, housing the Argenta Groups underwriting operations, Argenta Syndicate 2121 and SPA 6134.

***

Fusion Names Senior Hires in Singapore, Hong Kong

Fusion, the Sydney-based speciality managing general agent that provides insurance solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, announced the appointments of Hui Ling Wong as senior partner, and Yen Lin Ee as partner, in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) underwriting.

The newly appointed executives will be responsible for further strengthening Fusions underwriting capability of cross-border M&A transactions in the region, as well as growing and facilitating Fusions relationships with its clients, brokers, and partners. The appointments come at a time when Fusion continues to achieve strong growth and momentum in the Asia Pacific region, and as the company accelerates its global expansion in the specialty M&A insurance market.

Hui Ling Wong joins the Fusion team in Hong Kong as senior partner and is well regarded as an industry leader in the Asian M&A insurance market. Wong brings with her more than 15 years of legal and insurance experience. Most recently, she was head of Aons M&A transaction liability business for Asia. A lawyer by training, her career has involved advising international private equity and corporate investors on their M&A transactions, as well as the placement of M&A insurance solutions, at large firms including Allen & Gledhill, Maples and Calder, and Vanguard Investments.

Yen Lin Ee joins the Fusion team in Singapore as partner and brings with her a wealth of experience in facilitating M&A transactions in the Asia Pacific region. Ee joins the company from the M&A team at preeminent insurance broker Aon where she led a team advising on and placing warranty and indemnity (W&I) insurance for a diverse range of M&A transactions for global clients.

Established in 2018, Fusion is rapidly expanding globally with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Chicago, Boston, New York, Dallas and London. Fusion is part of the POP Holdings Group which invests in capital-light, niche, data and technology enabled, and well positioned businesses that are transforming M&A, Financial Lines and specialty insurance experiences.

***

BMS Group Names Tesei Director of European Energy Reinsurance

BMS Group, the London-based insurance broker, announce a further expansion of its specialty energy practice with the senior industry hire of Alex Tesei as director of European energy reinsurance.

Tesei has over 25 years industry experience most recently spending a decade building up and leading the reinsurance division of Ribe Salat in Spain, specializing in facultative reinsurance. Most recently he was appointed head of facultative insurance at K.M.Dastur Ltd., in London and earlier in his career spent four years as managing director of Brex Re, based in Spain. Across all three roles, Tesei specialized in setting up and developing companies and departments, driving revenue growth, identifying niche market opportunities and spearheading territorial expansion into international markets.

His appointment is with effect from October 2022, and he will be based in London reporting to James Chicken, BMS managing director of energy.

Topics Europe Reinsurance
Credit Suisse Group AG has made a 178 million Swiss francs ($180 million) provision for major litigation costs in the third quarter to help account for a long list of lawsuits and investigations that its trying to draw a line under following years of scandals and losses that eroded investor confidence.

The Zurich-based bank said in a statement Thursday that itll continue to take a proactive approach to reducing our litigation docket, including through the settlements of legacy cases such as the French cross-border matter and the New Jersey Attorney General RMBS case, for which we were fully provisioned.

The company has been taking steps to move on from its slate of major litigation around the world. It agreed to pay 238 million ($240 million) to settle a French criminal probe into allegations the bank helped clients stash undeclared funds. It also resolved a case related to its sale of residential mortgage-backed securities by paying $495 million and won a key class-action US lawsuit over allegations of price-fixing in the foreign-exchange market.

Credit Suisse to Pay $234M to Settle French Tax, Money Laundering Case

The provision comes after a litany of bad legal news for the Zurich-based lender. The U.S. Justice Department is now investigating whether it continued to help US clients hide assets from authorities, eight years after the bank paid a $2.6 billion tax-evasion settlement and pledged to tackle the issue.

In June, Switzerlands top court handed the bank a guilty verdict in an historic case over money laundering. And in March, the bank was hit with $607 million in damages by a Bermuda judge who ruled that a Credit Suisse life insurance unit had turned a blind eye to the unusual practices of a rogue banker managing money for Bidzina Ivanishvili, the client at the heart of a trial in Singapore against a trust unit of the bank. The bank is appealing both those verdicts.

Photograph: An automatic teller machine (ATM) sign outside a Credit Suisse Group AG bank branch in Basel, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Photo credit: Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits
A man has pleaded guilty in connection with a series of barn fires set last year in several northern Indiana counties.

An Elkhart County judge gave preliminary approval Monday to the plea agreement with Joseph Hershberger who was charged with eight counts of arson, the South Bend Tribune reported.

The fires were started in Elkhart, Kosciuosko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties between April and October in 2021. Eight of the fires were in Elkhart County, according to police.

Cellphone data placed Hershbergers phone at the scene of several of the fires, according to court records.

He was arrested in December.

As part of the deal, prosecutors dismissed a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and placed an upper limit of 50 years on any sentenced imposed against Hershberger.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 21.

Sherry Thomas, his girlfriend, also was charged late last year with eight counts of arson.

In addition, she and Hershberger also face charges connected to a fire at an Amish school in Marshall County. Some of the barns set ablaze belonged to members of Indianas Amish community.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Indiana
An undersheriff in rural Kansas faces a manslaughter trial Monday for fatally shooting an unarmed man with a homemade beanbag round out of his personal shotgun, a case that comes amid a national reckoning on police violence.

Jury selection will start in the trial of Virgil Brewer, who was with the Barber County Sheriffs Office at the time of the deadly encounter with Steven Myers in October 2017 outside a shed in Sun City, about 300 miles (555 km) from the Kansas City, Kansas.

A civil lawsuit brought by Myers family against Brewer and then Barber County Sheriff Lonnie Small was settled in 2020 after county officials agreed to pay $3.5 million.

Brewers criminal trial is expected to focus on whether his lack of knowledge and training with the less-lethal munitions amounted to reckless involuntary manslaughter.

Defense attorney David Harger did not respond to messages seeking comment on the case. Brewer has been on unpaid leave since his 2018 arrest. He has been free pending trial.

The fact of the matter is that it is not going to be a good outcome for anybody, no matter whether or not he gets convicted, Steven Myers widow, Kristina Myers, told The Associated Press Thursday. Yes, it will be over in that sense, but this one bad decision has ruined the lives of so many people,

On the evening of Oct. 6, 2017, Brewer was carrying his personal weapon when he, along with the sheriff and a sheriffs deputy, responded to a call about a man holding a rifle on a street after an altercation at a local bar.

About five minutes before the fatal shooting, Sheriff Lonnie Small said, A little luck and hell just pass out and die, a remark captured on the sheriffs body camera as they searched for Myers. They eventually found him hiding in a shed.

Both Brewer and the deputy later told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation that they could clearly see that Myers was not armed when they confronted him outside the shed, according to the probable cause affidavit obtained by AP.

Body camera footage reviewed by investigators shows Brewer repeatedly told Myers to get on the ground before shooting him, while Deputy Mark Suchy gave conflicting commands to put your hands up now. Seconds later, Brewer shot Myers with one round.

Brewer told the Kansas Bureau of Investigation during an interview that he was in fear for his and the deputys lives when Myers continued to walk toward them, adding that he did not expect the beanbag round to penetrate Myers chest.

The deputys body camera video showed Myers was not making any aggressive movement at the time Brewer shot him, according to Bureau Agent Brian Carroll in an affidavit in support of the criminal charge against the undersheriff.

Myers was never told he was under arrest, Myers was never warned that his failure to comply with commands would result in the use of the impending force, Carroll wrote.

Brewer then discharged his personal weapon at too close of a distance and shot Myers in the chest, a lethal force zone.

Carrolls affidavit contends that Brewers lack of knowledge and training regarding the proper use of less-lethal beanbag munitions recklessly caused Myers death. Proper training would have provided critical information about the proper distance to deploy the round and the proper target zone on a person.

Such training would have also informed Brewer about past problems with rectangular-shaped bean bags like the one he used, Carroll wrote. Those are known to penetrate subjects shot with them, and their use has been discontinued for years. The rounds used today are rounded, balloon-shaped bean bags, according to the affidavit.

Before coming to Kansas, Brewer worked in Texas where he was given the beanbag ammunition used the evening of Myers death. The affidavit revealed that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation interviewed Travis Martin, the deputy at the Freestone County Sheriffs Office in Texas who gave Brewer the ammunition.

Martin, who is expected to testify, told the agency that after speaking with the beanbag maker, that type of ammunition would no longer be carried and should not be fired on a person.

Martin told investigators that he thought he had talked with Brewer about not using the ammunition on a person, according to the affidavit.

Medical Examiner Timothy Gorrill is also expected to take the witness stand. His autopsy found the cause of death to be a penetrating shotgun bag wound to the trunk with the manner of death ruled a homicide.

Kristina Myers said she has been subpoenaed, adding she hopes to be allowed to watch the trial after her testimony.

It doesnt bring him back, but it does give us a sense of justice, she said. Everyone, no matter their occupation, should be held responsible for their actions. All actions have consequences.

Topics Kansas
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The legalized cannabis industry is rapidly evolving, with new, chemically concocted variants popping up almost monthly. On top of that, management of marijuana and hemp businesses is going through changes, with weed cowboys clashing with button-down capitalists  not to mention a growing number of mergers and acquisitions across the country.

All of that has created a world of risk  and opportunity  for insurance companies, according to cannabis legal experts who spoke Wednesday at Insurance Journals Insuring Cannabis Summit 2022 panel discussion.

Yes, hemp is legal to manufacture, but it doesnt necessarily mean that all these products out there  that you can walk into virtually every store and purchase  are actually, federally legal, said attorney Michael Sampson, who teaches a course on cannabis law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

The Insuring Cannabis Summit continues Oct. 27 with five sessions on cannabis industry risks and insurance

One of the trickiest areas facing the industry and insurers is that just in the last two years, labs around the country have developed and are continuing to develop new products that may appear to be legal. Some of these are made with concentrated compounds found in marijuana or hemp plants, while others are produced through chemical processes.

I advise my clients to steer clear of chemically created products that are not found naturally in the plant, said Rod Kight, a North Carolina lawyer who specializes in cannabis business law.

The risk, Kight said, is that if the compound is not found in Mother Nature, a judge could easily decide that it is a controlled substance, illegal under federal and state laws. That could bar coverage and defense under most insurance policies.

The 2008 federal farm bill legalized hemp for most practical purposes, allowing hemp products to be sold in stores, the lawyers explained. But recently, tinkering has produced substances that can technically be called red hemp, with a low concentration of the high-inducing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. But in large enough volumes the substance can give the user a potent buzz. Products by the name of Delta 8 and Delta 9 are among the varieties on store shelves now.

The jury is still out on the legality and insurability of some of these products and the liability of their distributors. These new products may expand the industry while theyre expanding minds, but also create concerns for underwriters, Kight said.

Heres a look at some of the other legal and insurance issues wafting through the weed industry:

The Wild Weed West

The booming marijuana industry is full of people who are highly risk-tolerant, but less apt to pay attention to paperwork. This can lead to conflict with the money guys and with other directors in the company, especially if a lawsuit or legal problem arises, said Katy Young, of San Francisco, a former president of the International Cannabis Bar Association.

In many cases, cannabis growing or distribution companies have not fully documented who their directors and officers are, or who the shareholders are, which makes it difficult to secure insurance coverage when its needed most.

A lot of the litigation comes from a lack of education on the part of the groups that partner together to make a cannabis business successful, Young said. Theres a ton of litigation now and I dont see it going away anytime soon because its just so complicated to manage a cannabis business. Theres just so much that can go wrong.

In other cases, business owners and managers are so focused on the perceived benefits of marijuana products that they dont realize that their liability insurance policies carry exclusions  for injuries that may result from vaping, for example.

A lot of company owners have a good sense of the issues and risks involved, but they dont have the knowledge or the time to get into the weeds of an exclusion, Sampson said with a straight face. Theres nothing worse than going to a company owner and saying, Did you know that youre not covered for this?'

Sampson suggested that marijuana companies should consider multiple D&O policies to close the gap on exclusions.

And perhaps more than anything, the weed world may be particularly vulnerable to cyber attacks. Legalized marijuana products are usually tracked by computer from seed to sale, and, for medical marijuana products in many states, records can include personal and medical information on clients.

You darn well better have cyber insurance, Sampson said.

Firms may also need business interruption, professional liability, and product recall coverage. Accuracy in labeling is another concern, the panel members said. Its important to make sure that products contain the amount of active ingredients as advertised, and that the products dont contain foreign substances that can be deemed harmful.

Changes, Opportunities, High Notes

The cannabis business is changing in a number of ways, the panelists said. Directors and officers are, in fact, becoming more sophisticated as the industry begins to mature. More are actually reading their insurance policies and exclusions. Smaller companies are being snapped up by larger firms with experienced legal counsel and insurance experts.

And insurance coverage, once hard to find, is becoming more available, said Ian Stewart, moderator of the panel and founder of the cannabis law practice at the Wilson Elser law firm. Also, if Congress legalizes weed products on a federal level, that will mean a flood of new and larger companies into the market, all them with insurance needs.

Mergers may also create a greater need for representations and warranties insurance coverage, Stewart said.

Topics Underwriting
The families of two people who died during last years Astroworld music festival have settled wrongful death lawsuits they had filed, according to attorneys.

Ten people were killed and hundreds of others injured during a massive crowd surge at the Nov. 5 concert in Houston, headlined by rapper Travis Scott.

The settlement terms for both lawsuits were confidential.

Attorney Tony Buzbee announced Wednesday that the family of 21-year-old Axel Acosta had settled its lawsuit against more than 20 defendants, which included Scott and Live Nation, the festivals promoter.

Axel Acosta was a beloved son, brother, and student. He was kind and loving. He is greatly missed. Please keep his family in your prayers, Buzbee said in a statement.

Acosta, who was a computer science major at Western Washington University, had traveled alone to Houston to attend the festival. Authorities initially had trouble identifying him and had released a photo of him seeking the publics help.

KTRK-TV first reported that the family of another victim, 16-year-old Brianna Rodriguez, had also settled their lawsuit.

Court records show that Rodriguezs family had settled their lawsuit against defendants Live Nation, Scott and others on July 22. Her family previously described Rodriguez as a high school junior in Houston who had loved to dance.

Brianna Rodriguez was deeply loved and is terribly missed by her parents, her entire and extended family, her friends, and by her peers at Heights High School. Briannas memory will forever live within those whose lives she touched and through the nonprofit organization, Dancing Through Bri, which has been created to provide scholarships to college-bound dancers and athletes, Robin Blanchette and Troy Williams, attorneys for Rodriguezs family, said in a statement Thursday.

Ted Anastasiou, a spokesperson for Travis Scott, said in a statement Thursday that no member of the rappers legal team has participated in any settlement discussions.

Attorneys for Live Nation, the worlds largest concert promoter, did not immediately return emails seeking comment Thursday.

Within the last few weeks, the families of at least three other victims who died at the festival have amended their lawsuits to include Michael Rapino, Live Nations CEO and president, as a defendant, according to court records.

Live Nations attorneys have asked that Rapino be dismissed from the case because the families attorneys have failed to show he was personally involved in any matters related to the festival, according to court records.

More than 500 lawsuits were filed after the deadly concert. The 10 people who died were among 50,000 who attended the festival.

Those who died ranged in age from 9 to 27 years old. Roughly 300 people were injured and treated at the scene, and 25 were taken to hospitals. Those killed died from compression asphyxia.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
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The legal and financial troubles for former North Carolina insurance executive Greg Lindberg have not gone away after he won a new trial on bribery charges.

This week, the U.S. Treasury filed a complaint in federal court, charging that Lindberg failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service his interest in and authority over several foreign bank accounts, from 2012 to 2015. He now owes more $45,300 in penalties, the complaint reads.

The filing notes that Lindberg, who was convicted in 2020 of attempting to bribe the North Carolina insurance commissioner in return for lenient regulation of his insurance companies, owns Academy Association Inc., an S corporation with foreign bank accounts. The company timely filed reports of foreign bank and financial accounts, or FBARs, with the IRS, but Lindberg did not, the government said.

Lindberg had signing authority on Academy bank accounts in Bermuda and Malta, but checked no on tax forms questions about that, the complaint alleges. In 2017, the IRS informed Lindberg that it was examining his tax return for 2015, and he then filed FBARs for several years.

But he still owed penalties for the late filings. The government in 2020 demanded payment but heard nothing from the executive, the complaint notes. The IRS is now asking for a judgment from the U.S. District Court in North Carolina, requiring Lindberg to pay up.

Lindberg had served 21 months in prison after his conviction on charges of attempting to bribe Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey with more than $500,000 in campaign contributions. Causey recorded some of the conversations with Lindberg and associates. But a judge in July ordered a new trial, saying the instructions to the jury, that preferential regulation of Lindbergs companies was to be considered an official act by Causeys office, were inappropriate.

Lindberg is now out of prison, awaiting a new trial in 2023. But the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in August charged that Lindberg and an associate had misappropriated some $75 million from his insurance companies. A Lindberg spokeswoman has said that the SEC is piling on, that the executive had provided full disclosure of his financial records, and that no one was harmed.
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.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California K-12 Education
Exports to Britain surged by 59% in the months leading to August, when compared with the same eight month period last year, due to high demand for chemical products.

These figures suggest the economy north and south continues to benefit from Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol deal, as all-Ireland trade continued to expand as well.

However, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson claims the Protocol has created barriers on the movement of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland and said the debris from the deal must be cleared away before power sharing in Stormont can resume.

The CSO figures show exports from the Republic across the Irish Sea into Britain rose to almost 1.5bn from 969m, and accounted for 8% of total goods exports from Ireland.

The products accounting for the largest share of exports to Britain were chemicals and other related products at 655m and food and live animals at 328m.

Meanwhile, exports from the Republic to the North were up from 329m to 406m.

Overall exports of goods from the Republic to the world rose to almost 20bn in August 2022, an increase of over 4bn on July 2021 figures.

August recorded the highest level of seasonally adjusted exports and imports for this year, and were higher than figures for each month last year.

"Comparing the first eight months of 2022 with the same period in 2021, exports of goods increased by 30%, and the value of imports increased by 39%," said statistician Ciaran Counihan.

Goods imports overall rose to 13.2bn in August 2022.

The EU accounted for 44% of total goods exports in August, of which 3.25m went to Germany, 2.3m went to Belgium and 1.2 went to the Netherlands.

The US was the main non-EU destination accounting 27% of total exports in August 2022.
Elon Musk has posted a video showing him strolling into Twitter headquarters ahead of a Friday deadline to close his 44 billion dollar (43.9 billion) deal to buy the company.

Mr Musk also changed his Twitter profile to refer to himself as Chief Twit and his location as Twitter headquarters, which are based in San Francisco.

The video showed him carrying a sink through a lobby area.

Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! he tweeted.

A court has given Mr Musk until Friday to close his April agreement to acquire the company after he earlier tried to back out of the deal.

Neither Mr Musk nor Twitter has said if the deal is closed yet.

Despite Mr Musks splashy entry to headquarters, it was not clear yet whether his purchase of Twitter had been finalised.

Twitter confirmed that Mr Musks video tweet was real but would not comment further.

Alex Spiro, Mr Musks lead lawyer, did not immediately return a request for comment.

The Washington Post reported last week that Mr 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 Mr 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 dollars (12.47 billion) of the money Mr Musk needed to buy Twitter and take it private.

Solid contracts with Mr Musk bound the banks to the financing, although changes in the economy and debt markets since April are likely to have made the terms less attractive.

Mr Musk even said his investment group would be buying Twitter for more than it is worth.

Less clear is what is happening with the billions of dollars pledged to Mr Musk by investors who would get ownership stakes in Twitter.

Mr 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.

Elon Musks flirtation with buying Twitter appeared to begin in late March (Lauren Hurley/PA)

The more equity investors kick in for the deal, the less Mr 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 dollars (14.96 billion) worth of Tesla stock, presumably to pay his share.

More sales could be coming.

Mr Musks flirtation with buying Twitter appeared to begin in late March.

That is 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 three billion dollars (2.99 billion).

At first, Twitter offered Mr Musk a seat on its board.

But six days later, chief executive Parag Agrawal tweeted that Mr Musk would not be joining the board after all.

His bid to buy the company quickly followed.

When Mr Musk agreed to buy Twitter, he inserted a 420 marijuana reference into his price of 54.20 dollars per share.

He sold roughly 15 billion dollars 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 such as Mr Ellison.

Inside Twitter, Mr Musks offer was met with confusion and falling morale, especially after Mr Musk publicly criticised one of Twitters top lawyers involved in content moderation decisions.

In July, Mr Musk abruptly reversed course, announcing that he was abandoning his bid to buy Twitter.

His stated reason was that Twitter had not been straightforward about its problem with fake accounts he dubbed spam bots.

Twitter sued Mr Musk in Delaware Chancery Court to force the deal through.

Two weeks before a five-day trial was scheduled to begin, Mr Musk changed his mind again, saying that he wanted to complete the deal after all.
The reputation of fixed milk price schemes has been hugely damaged.

Speaking during a panel discussion on milk price fixing and wise investments for economic sustainability at the National Dairy Show, farmer John OCallaghan said that currently, I dont think theres anybody who would walk into fixed price because the price of milk is so high at the moment

Its only when its at rock bottom do people think about it, he said.

People who are locked in for 70%, 80%, the majority of these people had huge borrowings, and all of a sudden they see how much [theyre] losing out on would have covered all of their repayments easily.

And thats a huge pill to swallow.

Peace of mind

Mr OCallaghan added that fixed milk price schemes had been very good for peace of mind, and that people locked in such high amounts because dairy markets are volatile.

He said that farmers biggest problem is the margin, with input costs being so high.

AIB agri advisor Michael Murphy addressed the concern out there that banks advised and recommended farmers fix a portion of their milk.

From our point of view, if a farmer comes to us and says Im thinking of fixing a portion of our milk, its something we look at in the context of that risk profile, Mr Murphy said.

The banks role here is to manage risk as best we can.

We can give an opinion, but we would never stipulate or make something conditional on a farmer, thats a business decision.

He added that farmers went into fixed price schemes with the best of intentions, they were there to manage the risk, nobody ever foresaw where we were ultimately going to go with milk prices.

If we can get some kind of a system [with] margin protection, I think that would probably make it more appealing, Mr Murphy said.

Would anybody fix in the morning? Weve heard horror stories, people losing out on money.

But again, 32c/L or 33c/L was a good price to get, the problem is inputs.

Robust sector

Meanwhile, Mr Murphy also told the event that despite huge investment over the last number of years on Irish farms, the rate of payback is outpacing that.

Despite all the investment thats going on, its very robust and in a healthy state from a leverage point of view, it comes back to farmers and their willingness to pay off debt as fast as they can, its a good trait, he said.

Overall, what were seeing is demand is good for investment despite all the increase in costs, and the outlook into next year is quite stable so were confident with where we are, its in a good space.

He said that AIB is hugely positive towards the Irish dairy sector.

Its a very robust sector, he said.

Are there challenges? Of course there are, we all know that  nitrates, sustainability, all these challenges are coming down the track.

We factor all this into a proposal, we are factoring in stresses and what-if scenarios.

He added that there is a perception out there about growth, expansion, more cows, and that thats the only way to grow your income.

We dont necessarily agree with that.

From our point of view, a key consideration we look at is farmers ability to manage grass.

A key advantage we have in this country is grass, so we look at farms and how theyre investing in grass.

We look at your health performance, herd management, grass management, all these factors feed in.

Expansion

Farmer John OCallaghan added that back along, everybody was thinking about expansion and getting bigger and so on.

I think the costs are all so high people are holding tough, especially with nitrates, theyre thinking am I going to be cutting back in numbers? and so on, Mr Murphy explained.

We chose to go down the road of robotic milking, and what we found is that we actually reduced the numbers of cows but have the same amount of milk, if not more.

He said they got more efficient in what they had on the farm rather than expanding in numbers, and while they had the repayments to make on this new equipment, the extra amount of milk we got is significantly contributing to covering the costs.

I think people are looking at outside factors as well, lifestyle, its getting harder and harder to get labour, so theyre looking at all these things as much as expansion and the cow themselves so they can be more efficient, Mr OCallaghan said.

Theyre also looking at where they can save on costs, whether itll be through solar energy or any of these things.

I think probably the energy area is where people may invest in going forward, being more efficient in what they have, and perhaps going down the road of robotic milking or something like that.

The idea of expansion, Im not sure if its going to happen anymore, according to Mr OCallaghan.
Dairy farmers are in a "panicked situation" ahead of 2023 as they call for nitrates cow banding to be suspended.

Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association president Pat McCormack has called on the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Minister for Agriculture to suspend the band rates that are to be introduced from 2023 under new nitrates rules.

Mr McCormack said that the system "is not sufficiently prepared to implement the new regime in 2023 and farmers have not been sufficiently informed of the impending changes".

With two months left in 2022, Mr McCormack said that dairy farmers "have not been given the required information to make decisions for 2023", decisions that will "have a major impact on their future in dairy farming".

"The changes under the nitrates will directly hit farmers' incomes and it is simply unacceptable the way farmers are being treated on this matter," Mr McCormack said.

'Panicked situation'

He said that the ICMSA has been receiving calls from dairy farmers in a "panicked situation where they are being informed for the first time by their advisors that they will have to reduce cow numbers in 2023, or get additional land".

"This is simply not good enough," Mr McCormack said.

"The suggestion that farmers may be placed in band three and will have to prove otherwise shows a complete lack of respect for family dairy farmers.

"If the ministers are serious about bringing farmers with them, they should immediately suspend cow banding for 2023, develop a proper and fair regime following proper consultation with farmer representatives, and allow farmers sufficient time to adjust their farming practices if required."
A man who was found dead in a house in Westmeath on Tuesday was violently assaulted, Gardai confirmed this afternoon.

The man, Stefan Nivelles Posschier, died as a result of his injuries and was discovered shortly after 6pm on Tuesday after a relative raised the alarm.

Gardai said they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding Mr Posschier's death.

A person of interest was identified yesterday and the man is assisting gardai with their inquiries.

No arrests have been made at this time.

A post-mortem was carried out yesterday by State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan at Midlands Regional Hospital Tullamore. The results are not being released at this time for operational purposes.

Investigating gardai are appealing to any person who met with or saw Mr Posschier in the days prior to the discovery of his body.

They are also keen to speak with anyone who may have interacted with him on social media during this time.

Local Fianna Fail councillor John Shaw said Mr Posschier was well-known across the Midlands for his tarot card reading and psychic work.

An incident room has been established at Mullingar Garda Station and gardai can be contacted on 044 9384000, on the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or through any Garda Station.

A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed and the family are being kept informed of the investigation.
A new company has won the 350,000 management contract for Corks historic English Market, ending the more than decade-long involvement of US food and property services giant Aramark in the famous indoor food venue.

Lisney, one of the largest Irish-owned full-service property companies, providing residential and commercial services to clients countrywide, set out its stall to traders at a meeting on Tuesday night just weeks after taking over the management role under the terms of a three-year contract with market-owners Cork City Council. The value of the contract is 117,182.50 annually.

Market trader Tim Mulcahy, of The Chicken Inn, welcomed Lisneys appointment.

A lot of their key executives shop in the market, he said.

They know the history, the tradition and the vibe of the market. They know what it stands for, and they recognise the uniqueness of the market.

And they have a lot of experience in property management, which is all a massive plus for the traders.

He said traders have always worked with the local authority and its management agents for the greater good of the market.

We all want to see it develop so that it remains the institution it has always been, he said.

I hope there is more trader involvement, that our voices and ideas are heard as we move forward.

There has been criticism in recent years of the markets association with Aramark, given the controversy over the US companys track record in relation to its provision of food in US prisons, and over its management of several Irish direct provision centres.

That criticism was brought to the floor of Cork City Council meetings on several occasions last year, with People Before Profit councillor Fiona Ryan leading calls for Aramarks involvement in the market to be terminated.

While there were never any issues with Aramark's day-to-day involvement in the market, Ms Ryan said its involvement was absolutely out of keeping with the image we want to promote of the English Market.

There was also a student-led campaign for an end to Aramarks involvement in catering services at Trinity College Dublin. The company ended its involvement there in late 2019.

It is understood Covid delayed the advertising of tenders for the market management role until earlier this year. It is not clear if Aramark, which won the tender in 2012 and 2017, tendered this time.

The council said it could not confirm who else took part in the tendering process for "reasons of confidentiality and commercial sensitivity".

In a statement, it said it has employed a managing agent in the English Market since the 1980s, whose role was to assist in the day-to-day operation of the market and provide on-site property management services.

The contract for the provision of management services for the English Market was tendered earlier this year," it said.

Following a competitive tendering process, Lisneys have been awarded the contract by the council for the provision of management services for the market for three years from October 1, 2022.

The value of the contract being awarded is 117,182.50 per annum.

The English market is an important and unique asset, with over 40 traders operating within the market.

Whilst the city council is the owner and custodian of the market, we work in partnership with traders to operate and develop the market."
The Stormont Assembly has failed to elect a new speaker just hours ahead of a deadline for fresh elections.

MLAs were recalled for a special sitting with the first order of business being electing a new speaker, SDLP MLA Matthew OToole nominated his party colleague Patsy McGlone, while UUP leader Doug Beattie nominated his party colleague Mike Nesbitt for the position.

The two nominations failed to secure the necessary cross-community support from MLAs.

The plenary session of the Assembly was then suspended as business cannot be carried out without a speaker.

British prime minister Rishi Sunak earlier urged the DUP to get back to Stormont.

His official spokesman said: Theres still time for the DUP and executives to get back to Stormont and we urge them to do so because the people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully functioning and locally elected executive which can respond to the issues facing the communities there.

That was the Northern Ireland Secretarys message to all party leaders when they met yesterday but clearly the Northern Ireland Secretary has a statutory duty.

However, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said his party will not nominate ministers because not enough progress has been made on addressing issues of concern around the Northern Ireland Protocol.

We were given a clear mandate in the Assembly elections, and we would not nominate ministers to an executive until decisive action is taken on the protocol to remove the barriers to trade within our own country and to restore our place within the United Kingdom internal market, he said.

That remains our position and so today we will not be supporting the nomination of ministers to the executive.

He also warned that unionists will not accept a joint authority arrangement between the British and Irish governments instead of direct rule from London in the absence of the Stormont Assembly.

Unionists will not accept joint authority. Joint authority would be an abandonment of the Good Friday Agreement and if thats what the Irish government want to do, then let them be honest and say, he said.

Speaking in the chamber, Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the DUP have left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government.

Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle ONeill said those watching the Assembly proceedings would be bewildered (Liam McBurney/PA)

Ms ONeill claimed those watching todays proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly will be bewildered.

Most of us here want to do the job we were elected to do, she said.

Today our caretaker ministers rally to take decisions, within tight limits, before their civil servants are left in an impossible position come midnight where they are expected to run our essential public services yet have no budget and no powers.

DUP MLA Paul Givan described todays recall of the assembly as a flawed and failed attempt of forming an executive.

He contended the unionist mandate has been disrespected, and said powersharing has to be about consent, not contempt.

The DUP supports devolution. We are ready to appoint ministers today. The barrier to devolution is not the DUP. It is the Northern Ireland Protocol, he told MLAs.

Alliance leader Naomi Long said the people of Northern Ireland are suffering without devolved government, describing public services as on their knees or teetering on the brink.

The people of Northern Ireland and their needs and their interests come first, and what is in their interests is a functioning Assembly, a functioning executive, sustainable institutions and power sharing, she said.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described anger in the Assembly chamber, but said it is nothing compared to the anger in the towns and villages across Northern Ireland.

He thanked his party colleague Robin Swann for his service as health minister.

SDLP MLA Matthew OToole told MLAs he was ashamed of this place.

While this Assembly sat mothballed and silent peoples homes have got colder, their trust in politics has fallen even further and their lives have got harder, he said.

My party is not responsible for that mess but Im ashamed by it, Im ashamed by this place.

He also said that another election would be a farce.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said fresh elections would be regretable'(Niall Carson/PA)

Earlier, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said it is regrettable that people in Northern Ireland could be facing another election.

I dont know for sure what decision will be made by the Secretary of State, Mr Varadkar said.

It is anticipated though that there will be fresh elections in Northern Ireland, its impossible to predict the outcome of an election.

As things look today, the results will be much the same as it was in the last election, with no clear majority for unionist combined or nationalist combined. Probably Sinn Fein will have the largest party again.

I think there will be a clear majority of MLAs, who dont want the protocol scrapped, re-elected and that has to be taken into account.

But you can never predict for sure whats going to happen in any election. But I do regret that is happening. It is happening because one party has decided not to participate, and thats the DUP.

I think thats very much regrettable. If that happens, well deal with the situation as it develops.

He added: I would like to hear the voice of the DUP in Northern Ireland government but thats not possible at the moment.

The special sitting comes just hours ahead of a deadline for calling another election.

A six-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.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has repeatedly warned that he will call a Stormont poll if Fridays deadline passes without a devolved executive being formed.

Mr Heaton-Harris met Northern Ireland political party leaders on Wednesday and reiterated the importance of restoring the executive.

He said: Since I have become Secretary of State, I have consistently been clear that if the executive is not formed by October 28, I will call an election.

Time is running out, and people in Northern Ireland deserve locally elected decision-makers and an executive who can respond to the issues facing people, families and communities across Northern Ireland during this challenging time.

We are clear that people deserve an accountable devolved government and that was my message to party leaders.

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.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris met Stormont party leaders on Wednesday (Victoria Jones/PA)

The partys boycott is part of a campaign of opposition to Brexits Northern Ireland Protocol and the DUP 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.

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.

During the Stormont recall, MLAs are set to 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.
Anyone affected by childhood cancer knows what a long and difficult journey it is, shrouded in anxiety and uncertainty. As they come to terms with their childs diagnosis, families must still manage the daily demands of life, including juggling jobs, paying bills and looking after siblings.

Those behind the charity Aoibheanns Pink Tie are more than aware of the challenges faced by families in this position and are there to help ease the burden. The charity was founded by Jimmy Norman and his friend Mick Rochford in 2010 after the tragic loss of Jimmys daughter Aoibheann to cancer when she was only eight years old; it was named in honour of her and the pink ties that were worn at her funeral.

Since it was established, Aoibheanns Pink Tie has provided invaluable support to children with cancer attending St Johns Oncology Ward in Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, and their families. The charity offers immediate, practical and accessible help, says Mick.

By nature, with childhood cancer, someone has to stay at home and look after the other kids if they are of school-going age. The other parent is permanently in the hospital with the sick child. You can be relatively well-off at the start, but if you have a three-year leukaemia journey, it is a huge financial burden. When you are in the hospital, you have so much to take in and you want to concentrate on your child. A gas bill comes in that you cant pay, or the mortgage or rent is due, and youve stopped work and you say, how am I going to afford this? and thats where we step in.

Mick Rochford (left) pictured with Aoibheann's dad, Jimmy Norman. The friends founded the charity shortly after Jimmy lost his daughter.

Aoibheanns Pink Tie receives welcome support from the Tesco Community Fund, which since its launch in 2014, has donated more than 6 million to over 21,000 community projects nationwide. The fund supports local initiatives in the communities of each of its 155 stores across Ireland  every 12 weeks, each Tesco store donates up to 2,000 between three local good causes in its community.

For Mick, the support from Tesco has been invaluable and he says their involvement with Aoibheanns Pink Tie is apt on many levels.

When we started this journey not long after Aoibheann died, if someone did a fundraiser like a cake sale and raised 50 we would go in to Tesco and buy a couple of bags of shopping for families. People might say, well I only raised 50' but when you havent got 50, because you are up and down to the hospital every day, it really counts. The Tesco tagline of Every Little Helps is true.

Rosemary Garth, Communications Director of Tesco Ireland, pictured at this years launch of Tesco Community Fund.

Beyond the immediate practical support, Aoibheanns Pink Tie helps children and their families in many other ways. One initiative has made a huge difference to the wellbeing of children receiving cancer treatment  the provision of dry-suits which enable children with a Hickman line, a catheter required for the administration of medication, to undertake water-based activities. It all stemmed from a memorable trip with Aoibheann.

I remember we were on holiday in Kerry, and all Aoibheann wanted to do was go into the pool and have a paddle with my son Jamie, who she loved. Because you cant get the Hickman Line wet, Aoibheanns mum Anne Marie and my wife were trying to figure out what to do, so they wrapped her in cling film. All she did was bathe her feet with Jamie, and it was like giving someone a million euro, the impact it had on her and her family. When she passed away, we found a company in the UK that make Hickman dry-suits. They are tailor-made and cost 350-400. But the impact it makes on a child being able to swim. weve had photographs coming in from all over the world from families saying Aoibheanns Pink Tie has allowed their child to go swimming. Its like gold when you get those pictures, it is phenomenal, says Mick.

The charity has evolved to help families in many other ways, including supplying Christmas hampers, as well as overnight bags for families who may need to head to hospital at short notice if their child develops a temperature. The charity has also purchased and refurbished a house in Drimnagh, which became Aoibheanns Lighthouse, a home from home for families whose children are receiving treatment in Crumlin. In addition, the charity offers counselling services to families.

"For Aoibheann, the little girl who wanted to be a schoolteacher, [the charity] is testament to her legacy that will live on."

Mick says as well as financial support, the Tesco Community Fund helps raise awareness of the work being done by Aoibheanns Pink Tie.

We get lots of help from various Tesco stores  but its getting the name of Aoibheanns Pink Tie out there as well. The more goodwill we achieve through exposure/ publicity through our corporate partners, the more people know about us and the more fundraisers we can get to help us help the families of children with cancer.

Mick acknowledges the work of all the volunteers and fundraisers who have made the work of Aoibheanns Pink Tie possible and says the work of the charity is a fitting tribute to a little girl who dreamed of helping other children.

Aoibheanns Pink Tie is all about people power. It is a community of people that want to look after families of children with cancer. And for Aoibheann, the little girl who wanted to be a schoolteacher, it is testament to her legacy that will live on way past me and Jimmy.

Another initiative that aims to have a lasting impact on the lives of young people is Youth Work Ireland Tipperary, which is also supported by the Tesco Community Fund, and works with young people aged from eight to 25 years old, their families and communities across Tipperary and East Limerick.

In the late 1960s, a group of volunteers in Tipperary town recognised that young people living in rural communities were at risk of being left behind. They werent getting the same opportunities as their urban sisters and brothers. This was due to a number of reasons, isolation from possibilities, lower access to education and training, economic factors or family situations. Each young person had their own challenges. This group of volunteers came together and set out to create a solution  youth work, a relatively new idea at the time.

Youth Work meant that young people were at the centre of their own lives, they were supported to make decisions for themselves and gradually programmes and services were put into place to continue to work with young people. From this small start, they have grown to Youth Work Ireland Tipperary, a dynamic and innovative youth work provider, working in County Tipperary and East Limerick.

They see the potential in young people and ensure that others do also.

 This year, the Tesco Community Fund has pledged to donate 1 million to local community groups all over Ireland. For more information on the Tesco Community Fund, and to nominate a local cause to receive a donation from the fund, see here.
Burma Death Toll from Myanmar Juntas Airstrike on Concert Rises to 75

A mass grave for those killed by Sundays airstrike on a concert in ANang Pa village, Hpakant Township, Kachin State.

The number of people killed by a junta airstrike on a music concert in ANang Pa village, Hpakant Township rose to 75 as of Thursday, with more in danger of succumbing to their injuries as regime troops block medical treatment, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) said.

Three junta jet-fighters bombed the concert held at the village on Sunday night to mark the 62nd anniversary of the KIAs political wing, the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The deadly airstrike on a civilian area has been widely condemned as a war crime.

KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu told The Irrawaddy that about a dozen of the injured are dying every day as junta troops continue to block roads after the incident.

The death toll will continue rising because many are in critical condition and cannot be taken to hospital, Colonel Naw Bu said.

He said that volunteers and villagers had managed to transport a few of the injured to hospitals or clinics via forest paths but about 64 people wounded in the attack were suffering without proper treatment.

The KIA did not say exactly how many of their officials were killed in the attack, but according to figures collected by The Irrawaddy, 28 of the 75 victims were from the KIA or its political wing, the Karen Independence Organization (KIO). Among them was the Commander of the KIAs Brigade 9, and members of the Kachin Region Peoples Defense Force (KPDF).

Of the remaining 47 victims, six were Kachin ethnic businessmen and eight were members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) who were sheltering in KIA-controlled areas to evade arrest.

A rescue team from Hpakants Lone Khin village said they had been unable to reach ANang Pa to transport the injured to hospital.

We tried to get to A Nang Pa in the early morning of Oct 24 but troops would not let us cross the bridge. They have been blocking the road and its very frustrating because there are still many injured people over there, a 47-year-old rescue volunteer said.

Kachin ethnic community leaders, Kachin Baptist Convention (KBC) and representatives of the Kachin Peace-Creation Group (PCG) were reportedly negotiating with junta forces for access up until Wednesday but with no success, Hpakant residents said.

Founded on Oct. 25, 1960, the KIO is a powerful Kachin political organization whose armed wing, the KIA, has been fighting the Myanmar government and military for greater state autonomy. Following the coup last year, the KIA has been launching military operations alongside anti-regime forces in Kachin State. The KIO refused to join the juntas peace talks this year, branding them illegitimate.

The junta said the airstrike on the concert was retaliation for attacks on its military bases by resistance forces. It also denied civilians including musicians were killed in the bombing and claimed A Nang Pa was a KIA 9th Brigade military camp.

In a statement, the KIO said rather than being a military camp, the area attacked was a rest area with a few shops.
Burma Ethnic Armies Close to Myanmar Junta Fail to Condemn Deadly Kachin Airstrikes

Arakan Liberation Party vice-chair Daw Saw Mra Raza Linn (left in top row), Restoration Council of Shan State leader General Yawd Serk (right in top row), vice-chairman of the New Mon State Party Nai Aung Min (left in bottom row) and Commander General Saw Steel from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) meeting regime leader Min Aung Hlaing this year for "peace talks".

Myanmars junta airstrike on a music concert inside Kachin Independence Army (KIA) territory in Hpakant Township on Sunday has drawn domestic and international condemnation but not from the armed groups that have held peace talks with the regime.

Ethnic armed organizations (EAOs), including the Karen National Union (KNU), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the three-member Three Brotherhood Alliance, condemned the Kachin State air raids that killed more than 60 people, including civilians.

But 10 other EAOs, including the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS), United Wa State Army (UWSA) and National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), which have held talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, remained tight-lipped.

Three junta jets dropped bombs on a concert to mark the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the KIO, the political wing of the KIA, in A-Nang Pa village on Sunday evening, killing KIO staff, ethnic Kachin artists and other civilians. Junta checkpoints denied many of the injured access to hospital treatment.

The junta denied targeting civilians and objected to statements from the United Nations and foreign embassies, including the US and Britain, condemning the air raid.

However, seven signatories to the 2015 Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), including the RCSS, New Mon State Party, Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army Peace Council, Arakan Liberation Party, Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, Pa-O National Liberation Organization and three NCA non-signatories, including the UWSA, NDAA and Shan State Progress Party, have remained silent.

Analyst U Than Soe Naing said the silence from some groups cooperating with the junta is expected.

As they are in talks with the junta, looking out for opportunities and regional interests, they wont say anything that would displease the junta, the observer said.

He added that for the majority of ethnic armed organizations, however, the Hpakant incident will draw together to counter the juntas offensives and lead them to escalate the fight against the regime.

The 10 EAOs attended supposed peace talks in Naypyitaw in a move that was seen as giving the regime legitimacy.

None of the groups is fighting the regime, unlike the KNU, KIA, KNPP, Chin National Front and Arakan Army (AA).

Leaders of the seven NCA signatories also accepted honorary Wunna Kyaw Htin titles for their contributions to the country from Min Aung Hlaing.

RCSS leader Yawd Serk has criticized the civilian National Union Government (NUG) and its armed Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs). He said the PDFs would turn into robbers if the NUG does not control them properly. He is now officially called Wunna Kyaw Htin Ywad Serk.

The groups have held two rounds of talks with Min Aung Hlaing, forging their ties with the regime.

In meetings with Min Aung Hlaing, the UWSA demanded statehood, the NDAA asked for autonomy and the SSPP asked for implementation of the 1947 Panglong Agreement and equality.

The agreement was signed in Panglong, southern Shan State, between General Aung San and the Shan, Kachin and Chin peoples on February 12, 1947. It accepted full autonomy in internal administration for the frontier areas and envisioned a federal union.

Min Aung Hlaing, who wants to win the presidency through a general election he plans to hold next year, has invited EAO leaders to run for election and pursue their demands in Naypyitaws parliament. He is also offering legislative independence for ethnic-minority groups parliaments.

The KNU, KNPP, AA, Taang National Liberation Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, NUG, Chin Joint Defense Committee, Chin Consultative Council and international organizations have issued statements condemning junta airstrikes.

The KIA said it would turn sorrow into strength and step up its revolution. The KNU, Myanmars oldest EAO, called for greater cooperation to defeat the dictatorship.

Around 23 officer cadets were killed when Myanmars military shelled the KIA headquarters near Laiza on November 19, 2014. The KIA officers academy was about 10km from the town.

UPDATE: Following the story published on Thursday, the UWSA and NDAA issued their delayed responses to the juntas deadly air attack, offering their condolences to the KIO and to those killed and injured in the bombardment.
Burma Kayah Civilians Killed in Myanmar Junta Shelling

Volunteers rescue children injured by junta shelling in Loikaw Township on Wednesday. / Shwe Loikaw Rescue Organization

Two civilians, including a five-year-old, were killed in Loikaw Township, Kayah State, on Wednesday when junta bases in Loikaw and Mobye and Pekon townships in neighboring Shan State bombarded two villages.

On Wednesday afternoon the boy was killed and four civilians, including two children, were injured when a playground in Pekin Kaw Khuu village, was hit by junta shells, according to the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and Shwe Loikaw rescue organization.

Maung Bae To, 13, was seriously injured in the abdomen. Maung Naing Htoo, 10, Maung Du, 20, and an adult villager were also injured.

On Wednesday evening, a 25-year-old Wari Kaw Khuu villager died in hospital with a head wound.

His 45 and 46-year-old parents were injured seriously when their village was bombarded on Wednesday morning, according to witnesses.

No clashes with resistance groups were reported.

The regime intentionally targeted civilians as they know people are living there. These are human rights violations and war crimes, a KNDF spokesman told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

He urged the international community to monitor attacks on civilian targets.

On Sunday, two parents were killed and their two children injured by the junta shelter while the displaced family was sheltering in Kone Thar village, Loikaw Township.

By Wednesday, 2,394 people have been killed by regime forces while 15,960, including government leaders, have been detained since the coup last year, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners which monitors regime crimes.

SEO:
Myanmars Crisis & the World Tight Security Ahead of APEC Meet in Thailand

A Thai police officer stands near Victory Monument in Bangkok. / AFP

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the National Security Council (NSC) to ensure safety measures are in place for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit being held in the capital next month.

Speaking after chairing an NSC meeting on Wednesday, Prayut stressed the cooperation of security officials, police, military and Bangkokians to ensure safety as the city plays host.

Prayut also stressed the importance of APEC 2022 as it will run under the concept of Open. Connect. Balance which will benefit the country.

Now, it is considered an important step for Thailand to be accepted by foreign countries which will further allow the nation to benefit from investments and tourism among others, said Prayut.

In this regard, I implore everyone to keep our country safe and prevent any incidents from affecting the event as it will hamper the progress of our country.

In a defense council meeting chaired by Prayut, attendees agreed to closely monitor political activists and violent groups that may use the event to negatively impact the countrys image.

The National Intelligence Agency will run a war room to ensure the flow of information with the help of the Special Branch Bureau, Army Military Intelligence Command and the armed forces security center.

To ensure security, deputy defence spokesman Jittanat Punnotok said that the police and the army have been instructed to tighten security at their weapon storages.

Security forces have also been ordered to carry out drills to ready themselves so they can promptly respond to an unexpected incident, Jittanat said.

Meanwhile, NSC secretary-general Supoj Malaniyom said a security and traffic subcommittee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, reported that there have so far been no situations of concern.

The meeting also agreed on preventive measures to handle unexpected incidents and uncertain circumstances including providing escorts for VIP persons during the APEC meeting, Supoj said.

In addition, the meeting acknowledged the escalated tensions in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Taiwan Strait and ongoing unrest in Myanmar. The countrys monitoring of these situations will be intensified so to allow a prompt response to any future developments that may affect the country.

Thailand will take a firm stand to encourage each party to solve matters through peaceful negotiation in accordance with international laws and the Charter of the United Nations, said Supoj.

Regarding the unrest in Myanmar, Thailand has stringently abided by standard operation procedures (SOPs) in providing humanitarian assistance based on legal and international obligations.

Since the coup in Myanmar, thousands of Myanmar activists have fled to neighboring countries including Thailand. Myanmar authorities have approached Thai authorities to repatriate some well-known figures.

In September, Miss Grand International Myanmar 2020 Han Lay was denied entry at Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport.

On March 27 last year, after the February coup, she appealed to the media in Thailand, where she had been competing in a beauty pageant, for international help to rescue Myanmar from the regime.

Since then she has been living in Thailand and speaking out against the regime. On September 18 she left for Vietnam for a visa renewal and was detained at the Thai airport on her return. It is believed that her passport was revoked. Many prominent Myanmar activists, politicians, media professionals and former government officials and businesspeople live in Thailand and are taking refuge along the border.
Myanmars Crisis & the World US Urges Forceful Myanmar Stance as Southeast Asia Ministers Meet

This handout photograph taken on April 24, 2021 and released by the Indonesian Presidential Palace shows Indonesian President Joko Widodo (C) adjusting his facemask while delivering his speech at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Myannmar crisis talks in Jakarta. / AFP

WASHINGTONThe United States urged strong action on Myanmar as Southeast Asian ministers prepared to meet Thursday on how to deal with the military-run country ahead of an upcoming summit.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are holding emergency talks Thursday in Jakarta on Myanmar in advance of the Nov. 10-13 ASEAN and East Asia summits in Cambodia.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, said the junta, which seized power in February 2021, was leading the complete destruction of all the progress made over the last decade as the nation transitioned to democracy.

The brutality of the regimewantonly killing, murdering civilians, bombing schools, executing activists, beheading teachers. I think what youll see from the United States of America at the East Asia Summit is a very forceful call to do more to apply pressure to the regime, Kritenbrink said.

I think we have some practical ideas in mind, he said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

We are not going to sit idly by while this violence continues; were not going to sit idly by while the junta prepares for what will be completely fake and sham elections that they talk about holding next year, he said.

There has been little progress on an ASEAN five-point plan from April last year, which called for an end to violence, increased humanitarian aid, as well as dialogue between the military and the anti-coup movement.

Kritenbrink said that the United States has great respect for ASEAN but said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during talks in August, voiced frustration on the lack of forward movement on Myanmar.

The United States was also working with ASEAN leaders to ensure that Ukraine meaningfully participates in the East Asia Summit, Kritenbrink said.

The summit should send a strong message that big countries cannot simply take what they want from smaller neighbors, he added.

Russia, a Pacific power, has traditionally participated in the East Asia Summit and not Ukraine. But the United States has been seeking to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin after he launched a full scale invasion of his neighbor in February.

For the summit of the Group of 20 major economies taking place in Bali after the East Asia Summit, the Indonesian hosts have sought a compromise by inviting Putin, a G20 leader, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Interview: China offers successful example for world development, says Guinea-Bissau's ex-PM

Xinhua) 13:16, October 27, 2022

DAKAR, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- China, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has embarked on a development path suited to its national conditions and achieved growth and prosperity, offering a successful example for the world development, Antonio Artur Sanha, former prime minister of Guinea-Bissau, has said.

Sanha first visited China in 2000, and has since made four trips to China with the longest lasting 45 days. His personal experience and long-term observation about the country have impressed upon him that the CPC is a people-centered party, Sanha told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"I see there is an extraordinary bond between the CPC and the people," he said, stressing that the CPC always puts the people at the center and is dedicated to the interests of the people.

Underlining the CPC's decisive role in eliminating absolute poverty in China, Sanha said, "the CPC has made outstanding contributions to human well-being, world peace and poverty reduction."

In the past decade, China has made great achievements that reflect its great innovation in the development of various fields, and now has an indisputably high level of international competitiveness, he said.

In his view, the CPC not only cares about the interests of the Chinese people, but also the common interests of all humanity. As the world is facing common challenges, the blueprint outlined at the 20th CPC National Congress will make new contributions to promoting world economic recovery and building an open economy, and bring fresh opportunities for world development, he said.

"China has huge potential, and its development model is inspiring the world," Sanha emphasized.

Sanha said he fully agrees with China's concept of building a human community with a shared future, and affirms China's important role in improving global governance, respecting human rights, fighting the pandemic, and maintaining world peace.

He expressed confidence that China will continue to improve global governance, foster a new type of international relations, uphold multilateralism, and promote common development.

Guinea-Bissau is one of the least developed countries in the world, and its agricultural cooperation with China has impressed Sanha.

Chinese agricultural experts stationed in Guinea-Bissau have provided technical training for tens of thousands of local people, helped them cultivate improved varieties of rice to increase harvest, thereby advancing the development of local agriculture, he said.

When it comes to bilateral cooperation in various domains, Sanha said that the two countries have always maintained cooperative, amicable and fraternal relations, and that China has long been assisting Guinea-Bissau in infrastructure construction, health, agriculture, and other aspects.

China has also provided considerable assistance to Guinea-Bissau in training personnel in such fields as human resources, medicine, agriculture, information and communication technology, he said, adding that the people of Guinea-Bissau are "grateful for this."

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
War Against the Junta Dozens of Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Two Days of Clashes With Resistance

--

Around 35 Myanmar junta forces were reportedly killed and a junta outpost was occupied over the last two days as Peoples Defense Force groups (PDFs) and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) continued to attack regime targets across the country.

Incidents were reported in Karen, Mon and Chin states and Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe regions.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks by EAOs and PDFs. Some casualties could not be independently verified.

Junta outpost occupied in Karen

Seventeen regime soldiers were captured along with over 40 firearms and some ammunition in Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State on Wednesday when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) raided the Kwelone junta outpost in the township, according to local media outlet the Karen Information Center.

A KNLA representative told the media the group launched the attack on the outpost of the militarys Light Infantry Battalion 561 on Tuesday evening.

The next morning, 17 regime forces surrendered to the KNLA. In the clash, two regime soldiers were killed.

After losing its outpost, the junta used aircraft to bomb the area.

Clashes continue in Karen

Clashes continued to erupt in Myawaddy Township, Karen State on Wednesday when the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) attacked soldiers from the militarys Light Infantry Battalion 207, which was attempting to raid the Luu Khoe Nyaung Chaung area in the township, said Cobra Column of the KNLA.

During a 30-minute firefight, two resistance fighters suffered minor injuries. Military casualties were unknown.

Near-daily clashes between combined KNLA and allied PDF groups and regime forces have been reported in the area for weeks.

Regime troops ambushed in Sagaing

More than 10 regime soldiers are believed to have been killed or injured in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday night when three PDF groups used a cluster of land mines to ambush a military detachment near a village, according to a PDF group that coordinated the ambush.

The military detachment stationed at the police outpost in Kyauk Yit Village has been arresting PDF forces and conducting arson attacks on nearby villages in the township nearly every day, the PDF group said.

10 junta forces killed by PDF land mines in Sagaing

Ten regime troops were reportedly killed in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when combined PDF groups used four land mines to ambush a military vehicle on the Monywa-Ayadaw highway, local resistance group Danger Force, which coordinated the attack, said on Wednesday.

After being ambushed, the military vehicle stopped near the blast area. Only three soldiers in the vehicle randomly responded with firearms. Citing military informants, the PDF group claimed that around 10 soldiers were killed and many others injured.

Three junta soldiers including captain killed in Sagaing

Three regime troops including an army captain were killed in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on Tuesday when combined PDF groups used land mines to ambush regime forces in a civilian vehicle on the Monywa-Ayadaw highway, according to local media.

The PDF groups told the media that regime forces used the civilian vehicle to transport meals to the juntas patrols on the highway.

The vehicle was attacked when it stopped in front of the area where mines were planted. Two other regime forces suffered injuries in the attack, the PDF groups claimed.

Regime forces abandoned the damaged vehicle.

Two soldiers killed by PDF mines in Mandalay

Two regime troops were reportedly killed in Madaya Township, Mandalay Region on Wednesday when combined resistance groups used five land mines to ambush a military detachment near a village, according to local media reports quoting PDF groups.

The military detachment retreated from the ambush area after troops of their advance unit were hit by the mine blasts. Later, regime forces used a vehicle to transport the bodies of killed or injured soldiers from the area, a resistance leader who was involved in the ambush told the media.

Two junta forces killed in clash in Magwe

Two regime troops were killed in Pauk Township, Magwe Region on Wednesday when two PDF groups trained by the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State clashed with the regime forces near a police outpost in the township, said PDF-Yanangyaung, which was involved in the attack.

The PDF groups said the attack was in response to the juntas air strikes on a Kachin outdoor concert in Hpakant Township, Kachin State killing over 80 people including residents, musicians and KIA officers on Sunday.

Six regime forces killed by PDF mines in Chin

The resistance group Mountain Eagle Defence Force (MEDF) claimed to have killed six regime soldiers in Falam Township, Chin State on Wednesday morning by using remote-controlled mines to ambush the regime forces in the township.

The regime forces were returning to their junta outpost near the town of Rikhawdar after picking up rations from the military base in the town.

Junta forces burned the bodies of their dead comrades along with civilian houses nearby and injured soldiers were taken to a junta outpost, the resistance group said.

Military convoy ambushed in Mon

Taung Nyo guerrilla forces claimed to have ambushed a military convoy of 19 vehicles traveling from Thanphyuzayat Township to Ye Township in Mon State on Tuesday morning.

Military casualties were unknown.
On September 28, KNLA and allied forces also seized the regimes Paya Taung outpost in Kyarinseikgyi Township. Eleven junta soldiers including a deputy battalion commander were killed and weapons were seized in the operation, according to the Karen National Union.

On Wednesday morning, KNLA troops and resistance fighters from the Black Panther group also attacked an Asian Highway junta checkpoint that had reportedly been extorting money from travelers. Four firearms were seized in the attack, said the colonel.

Seventeen junta soldiers surrendered and 43 weapons and some ammunition were seized from the outpost, the KNLA colonel said.

The offensive was carried out by KNLA battalions 17, 18 and 27, the Special Operations Force, and the Federal Wings Drone unit. Resistance forces managed to seize the outpost despite regime forces sending airborne reinforcements and carrying out several airstrikes.

Resistance forces attacked the Kwee Lone Taing outpost in Kyaikdone sub-township, a junta base for Light Infantry Battalion 339 under the 13th Military Operations Command.

Weapons and ammunition seized by Karen National Liberation Army-led forces from the juntas Kwee Lone Taing outpost.

Weapons and ammunition seized by Karen National Liberation Army-led forces from the juntas Kwee Lone Taing outpost.

Lieutenant Colonel Among Over 50 Regime Forces Killed by Myanmar Resistance in Two Days

One Killed as 14 Break Out of Myanmar Junta Police Station

At Least Eight Killed in Bombing, Shooting at Myanmars Insein Prison

Young but Determined, Myanmar Anti-Regime Fighter Motivates Others in Sacrificing His Life

Myanmar Military Officer, Three Local Officials Among 10 Regime Forces Killed in Two Days

Nearly 20 Myanmar Regime Troops Killed in Three Days of Resistance Attacks

Junta Watch: Russians Arrive in Myanmar to Buy Gems; EAOs Wooed; and More

Rohingya Look on Arakan Army as Saviours in Fight With Myanmars Junta

Junta Steps Up Atrocities Against Civilians While Losing Dozens of Personnel in Resistance Attacks

Nearly a Dozen Myanmar Junta Personnel Killed in Two Days of Resistance Attacks

Right to the End, Cambodia Fails Myanmars People as ASEAN Chair

Dozens of Myanmar Junta Forces Killed in Two Days of Clashes With Resistance

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Analysis Collaboration, Negotiation or Resistance: How Junta Rule Has Politically Fractured Myanmars Mon State

NMSP vice chair Nai Aung Min meets junta chief Min Aung Hlaing.

Last years military takeover of Myanmar sparked a range of different ideological responses among the ethnic people of Mon State, known locally as Yamanya. Some Mon opted to cooperate with the junta, while others have taken up arms to fight it. And some simply view the crisis as a power struggle among Myanmars majority Bamar ethnicity.

The Mon have broadly divided into three groups  political allies of the junta, those engaging with the junta under the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement, and those fighting the junta both politically and militarily.

Junta allies

Among those opting to cooperate with the regime are the Mon Unity Party (MUP), which allied with the junta soon after the February 2021 coup.

One month before the coup, the MUP was poised to hold talks with the National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the 2020 general election. But the meeting was cancelled after the two sides failed to reach agreement on the venue.

Soon after the military takeover, MUP executive committee member Dr. Banyar Aung Moe joined the State Administration Council (SAC), the juntas governing body.

Explaining the decision at the time, MUP spokesman Nai Layi Tama told The Irrawaddy: Previously we chose the path of confrontation in our fight for a federal Union, but many lost their lives and we failed to achieve our objective. Now, as we continue our journey to a federal democratic Union, we dont want to choose a path that results in bloodshed.

Nai Layi Tama has himself joined the juntas administrative body in Mon State. However, some 60 members resigned from the MUP in March last year over the partys decision to ally with the regime, according to Mon political circles.

Among them was Dr Aung Naing Oo, a prominent Mon politician who served as deputy speaker of Mon State Parliament.

Some Mon militia groups also began collaborating with the junta about a year after the coup.

The Mon Peace Defense Force (MPDF), which had split from the New Mon State Party in 2010 and surrendered to Myanmar military, announced on October 10 this year that it had transformed itself into local pro-regime militias.

In a statement, it said its local militias were cooperating with junta forces to suppress the threat of terrorism  a term used by the junta to describe armed resistance.

A Mon political analyst who asked for anonymity said Mon militias have long been affiliated with the Myanmar military and do not enjoy the support of Mon people.

The regime has revived these groups so they can say that there are also ethnic armed groups that support them [besides those that oppose the regime]. They have also created such groups in the past. This time it has done so to trigger armed conflict in the region, he said.

Groups in junta peace talks

The New Mon State Party (NMSP), a long-standing ethnic armed organization (EAO), has held two rounds of talks with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing so far.

Established in 1958, the NMSP signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) in February 2018. The group is headquartered in the east of Ye Township, and has around 1,500 members, according to observers.

The NMSP held its first meeting with junta boss in May this year in Naypyitaw, and the second on October 11. The NMSP delegation was led by its vice chair Nai Aung Min.

The NMSP reportedly presented Mon groups plan to draft a Yamanya Constitution, a resolution reached at the Mon National Conference in May, during its first meeting with Min Aung Hlaing. Regime media reports however made no mention of the draft.

Junta media said Min Aung Hlaing discussed establishing a federal Union based on a multi-party democracy that meets the wishes of the people. The junta chief said that ethnic people could press to have their demands met through a national parliament, and those wishing to stay armed could join the Myanmar military or its Border Guard Force (BGF).

The NMSP then suspended talks after 10 Mon State-based civil society organizations issued a joint statement calling on it to break off contact with the regime.

But after hearing that EAOs based in northern Myanmar were holding talks with the regime, the NMSP executive committee voted to resume negotiations.

The group said that during the second meeting it called for a dialogue involving all stakeholders, including EAOs and detained civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The regime said the meeting discussed legislative powers enshrined in the army-drafted 2008 Constitution for Union and sub-national parliaments, and post-2020 plans adopted by the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee.

The NMSP said it had agreed to hold another round of talks as positions expressed by the junta at the meeting were not clear.

The NMSPs statement following the meeting clearly showed it had not reached an agreement with the regime, said an ethnic affairs analyst based in central Myanmar.

What Min Aung Hlaing said is that ethnic people can either join the [junta] military or turn themselves into BGF if they want to hold arms. The NMSP obviously got nothing from the meeting. Thats why it said it had agreed to hold further talks. The regime is yet to reach a new agreement with either the NMSP or any other group, he said.

A Mon affairs analyst added that the NMSP held the talks over concern of military encroachment by the junta.

There are no junta troops around NMSP headquarters but there are lots in Ye Township. So NMSP leaders may be wary about possible military pressure, he said.

Groups opposing the regime

As well as political opposition to the junta, some groups have taken up arms against the regime in Mon State.

The umbrella for resistance is the Mon State Interim Coordination Committee (MSICC), a member of the National Unity Consultative Council  the highest-level political coalition opposing the junta.

The MSICC is cooperating with the national councils mission to draft federal democracy charters.

The MSICC consists of Mon political parties, elected lawmakers and civil social organizations working to establish a democratic federal Mon State. Its chair is Nai Thuwunna, who also serves as labor minister in the parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG).

Nai Kaung Ywut, a retired colonel from the NMSP, serves as deputy defense minister in the NUG, representing the MSICC.

The state also has a resistance group, the Mon State Defense Force (MDSF), operating under NUG command. The MDSF (North) is active in Thaton Township while MDSF (South) operates in Ye Township.

The MDSF is engaged in fighting with junta troops in and around Ye Township. There are also other local resistance groups fighting regime forces, including Ye Belu and the Mon State Revolutionary Organization.

Most Mon resistance groups are allied to Myanmars oldest EAO, the Karen National Union, which provides them with military training, according to ethnic affairs analysts.

On October 3, KNUs Brigade 1 based in Thaton District formed a resistance coalition with 24 local Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs). The resistance coalition consists of PDFs from Paung, Bilin, Thaton and Theinzayat towns in Mon State and will operate under the direct command of KNU Brigade 1.

Meanwhile, another Mon armed resistance group is currently establishing a base in Mudon and Thanphyuzayat, according to the ethnic affairs analyst from central Myanmar. Group members are reportedly undergoing military training under the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a military coalition consisting of the Arakan Army, the Taang National Liberation, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army.

No Unity Among Mon Political Organizations

The Yamanya Federal Force (YFF), an anti-regime group based in Mon State, is unhappy that the oldest Mon revolutionary group, the NMSP, is engaged in talks with the junta.

I think the NMSP is taking a wait-and-see attitude as it continues down the NCA path, a YFF spokesman said. My view is the NMSP should instead gather Mon revolutionary forces under its leadership. The revolutionary forces would accept an offer of NMSP leadership. The NMSP should adopt specific policies and prepare for this, he said.

It is time that Mon people fought for self-determination rather than holding talks with a regime that proposes to absorb them into the BGF, he added.

The ethnic affairs analyst from central Myanmar said Mon political forces are divided over armed resistance against the regime.

The MUP is cooperating with the regime, but in fact it consulted the NMPS before deciding to join the regime. And the views of Buddhist Mon monks, who are influential figures in Mon political circles, also played a part. They decided to make peace with the regime for the time being. This decision was made based on the fact that the NMSP is a relatively small armed group, and there is still a need to build unity among Mon political forces. And perhaps they also hope they can obtain their rights at the [negotiating] table while the SAC is faced with political crisis, said the analyst.

Its not just Mon political organizations who are lost in this fog; Mon people are also disoriented in the current political landscape, said a Mon ethnic affairs analyst.

They are confused over whether to cooperate with the regime and demand their rights through talks, stick to the NCA path, or join resistance groups and fight for their rights, he said.

Mon State is expected to experience more repercussions from escalating armed conflicts in Myanmar, he said.

Armed conflicts are taking place across the country. This will definitely affect Mon State and may have more serious impacts in the months to come. As a Mon ethnic person, my view is that dialogue with the SAC is not the solution for the current political crisis. It will not guarantee the rights that we Mon people aspire to. If an agreement is reached, it will never be implemented. [Negotiations] are just the regimes strategy for survival amid the political crisis. The talks will bring no results for Mon people, he said.
Friday is right around the corner; take time to enjoy the island and a delicious meal at any of our participating #tasteofkeybiscayne restaurants on this Islander News Thursday, October 27.

Costa Med Bistro

Everything tastes better with Truffle fries, including our unique Petit Filet Mignon. Try it today!.

Join us for lunch or dinner!

Costa Med, a TripAdvisor Traverlers Choice nominated restaurant, is located in the Square Shopping Center. 260 Crandon Blvd. Reservations recommended.

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.

Order online for take out here!

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 and Saturday.

Closed Tuesdays

328 Crandon Blvd Ste 112, Galleria Shopping Center

Delivery service with Postmates or UberEats

Gran Inka

Open for Outdoor Dining, Takeout or Delivery.

On this Thursday, 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

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 Thursday, join us for a delicious Tropical Bowl with salmon and avocado!

We open at 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily 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.

The Golden Hog

Eat Local. Help local. Shop Safely. Email us your grocery list at orders@thegoldenhogmarket.com

Do you Poke? Love tuna? Salmon? Our delicious Poke Bowl station is now open Wednesday through Thursdays. Located in our juice bar area and made fresh to order. ENJOY!

Todays menu:

Soups & Creams: Chicken Chupe / Garbanzo / Cream of Cauliflower

Main Course: Beef Tenderloin / Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo / Merluza Fillet / Cheese Ravioli

Side Dishes: Vegetable Rice / Steamed Asparagus / Mashed Potatoes

The Golden-Hog has a complete line of specialty groceries for delivery.

Call (305) 361-1300 to place a delivery 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.

Outdoor dining is our specialty and nobody serves fresher seafood on the island!

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.

Call (305) 361-0080 to place your order.

Sake Room

Open for Indoor & covered Outdoor Dining, Takeout & Delivery

Have you tried the Sake Room for lunch? Select from a varied and special menu with entries starting at $10.99

Today try our delicious Hamachi truffle tartare

New hours! Noon to 10 p.m.

Call (305) 456-0488 to place a takeout or delivery order directly

Following all CDC safety protocols

328 Crandon Blvd Ste 108, Galleria Shopping Center

Grub hub  UberEats also available. Please if you can call us first

Kazumi

Open for indoor & ample and comfortable Outdoor Dining, Takeout & Delivery

Enjoy one of our special rolls this Thursday, or perhaps our own take on Tuna Tartar

Our modern Japanese fusion restaurant offers creative treatments & creativity in our dishes for takeout and delivery by our own employees. Available for lunch and dinner.

Open Monday through Saturday Noon to 10 p.m. Closed Sunday

Only accepting credit card payments.

To place an order call (305) 361-2675 or order online here.

Brasas KB

Thursday 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 for lunch or dinner that include 2 sides and sauce of your choice: huancaina, aji amarillo, huacatay and olivas negras peruanas.

Open for Indoor & Outdoor Dining, Takeout & Free Delivery

Call (786) 615-2399 to place a takeout order. Open Noon to 8 p.m.

328 Crandon Blvd, Galleria Shopping Center

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 Monday try any of our authentic Cantonese dishes on this Thursday

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.

La Scala

Ready for dinner? So much pasta, so little Thursday

A La Scala Italian meal makes any night that much more special. Join us for dine-in, open for indoor dining, and weve added to our outdoor seating, reservations recommended.

Come in even if just to say hello to Chandra, and the la Scala team!

To place a takeout - offering curbside service - order call (786) 773-3633 or visit us online by clicking here.

Open 5 to 10 p.m.

Located at 180 Crandon Blvd in the Arcade Shopping Center.

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%
To enhance the county's natural environment and develop more options to rid Biscayne Bay of contamination and pollution, last month, the US Army Corps of Engineers agreed to extend the Miami-Dade Back Bay Coastal Storm Risk Management feasibility study.

Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levin Cava said Secretary of Army for Civil Works Michael Connor and other officials will develop a timeline for additional steps for the Back Bay study.

Corps of Engineers officials were near completing the original study, which was launched last year, but the county wanted a deeper analysis and more work with key stakeholders.

Cava calls it a monumental project. More input will be included from groups like the county's Biscayne Bay Watershed Management Advisory Board.

The board was created last year to advise Cava and county commissioners on a long-term management plan for Biscayne Bay. It addresses topics like: the impact of run-off on water quality; economic development; determining how bay conditions impact residents and property owners; and, protecting wildlife such as sea turtles, manatees, native fishes and tropical water birds.

The study will also develop a plan for risk reduction from storm surge in urban communities.

Connor is also recommending that the Back Bay study assess other water-related infrastructure projects and studies in the county and the Southeast Florida Region, which were not included in the original analysis.

This is a huge win for Miami-Dade County and for resilient local governments, said Cava. With this extension, Miami-Dade can now better solicit community feedback and work to include nature-based solutions into this milestone project.

The Coastal Storm Risk Management National Planning Center will lead the enhanced collaboration with Corps of Engineer's North and South Atlantic divisions  which essentially covers the entire East Coast of the US  to ensure solutions are integrated with other water resource planning efforts.

The South Florida Water Management District, a critical stakeholder, will also play an active role in the study.

The extended study focuses more on developing integrated solutions to clean up and manage local beaches and minimizing impacts to property owners and enhancing the resilience of the regional flood control system from the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms.

In addition, the study will continue to take a look at the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Connor suggested.

James Murley, chief resilience officer for Miami-Dade County, said all parties involved have a common goal.

We know we can develop a workable plan to protect urban areas of the County from storm surge, said Murley. And were working to ensure this same plan also provides economic continuity after a hurricane event and maintains and enhances our precious Biscayne Bay.

Cava said the county's Office of Resilience will also move to procure services from a consulting firm that will assist county staff and local stakeholders with new environmentally-friendly features to be included in the overall Back Bay plan.

The county has yet to disclose costs for the first study and the new extended study.
A British citizen has been charged in the US with allegedly operating a trading site on the dark web which was used to sell attack tools and stolen credentials.

A statement from the US Department of Justice said Daniel Kaye was charged with device fraud and money laundering. He allegedly operated a website known as The Real Deal.

While living overseas, this defendant allegedly operated an illegal website that made hacking tools and login credentials available for purchase, including those for US Government agencies, said US Attorney Ryan Buchanan.

This case is a timely reminder, during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, that federal law enforcement will make those accused of breaking US laws face their day in court, regardless of where they reside in the world.

Kaye, who grew up in Israel, is better known as the person who was behind a lengthy distributed denial of service attack on an ISP in Liberia in October 2016.

The following year, he was behind similar attacks on Deutsche Telekom and two British banks. Bloomberg published a detailed account of his activities in 2019.

He was jailed for 32 months in various prisons in the UK for these attacks and released in 2020.

The DoJ indictment alleges that Kaye listed for sale on The Real Deal login credentials for US Government computers belonging to the US Postal Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the US Navy.

It further alleges that Kaye, along with an individual or individuals known as thedarkoverlord, trafficked stolen social security numbers and that Kaye possessed 15 or more stolen login credentials for Twitter and LinkedIn.

It also alleges that Kaye laundered cryptocurrency he obtained from The Real Deal through Bitmixer.io, a website that offered Bitcoin mixing services and, through its mixing algorithm, sought to keep its users anonymous, private, and immune to Bitcoin blockchain tracing analysis.

Kaye, also known as Popopret, Bestbuy, TheRealDeal, Logger, David Cohen, Marc Chapon, UserL0ser, Spdrman, Dlinch Kravitz, Fora Ward, and Ibrahim Sahil was arraigned before US Magistrate Judge Linda Walker.
The Tasmania Police tested a new encrypted radio system earlier this month after it was granted an early access trial of the Tasmanian Government Radio Network at the T20 Cricket World Cup event in Hobart.

In December 2020, the Tasmanian Government signed a $567 million contract with Telstra in partnership with Motorola Solutions to build and deliver the Tasmanian Government Radio Network (TasGRN).

The TasGRN is a collaborative project between the Tasmanian Government, Motorola Solutions, and Telstra to transition Tasmanias emergency services, land managers and electricity operators on to one unified, digital, secure, and interoperable radio network.

Tasmania Police acting deputy commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the early access trial allowed police to test the TasGRN infrastructure and equipment in a full operational response.

The TasGRN will strengthen our ability to keep Tasmanians safe, because the world-class digitally encrypted radio communications network will significantly improve our voice communication and security, Bodnar said.

Bodnar said the TasGRN will simplify and strengthen the organisations ability to communicate with other emergency services and emergency management stakeholders.

Being able to conduct this early access trial in collaboration with Telstra and Motorola Solutions demonstrates how advanced the infrastructure and technology supporting the TasGRN project is, and the success shows how robust this network already is.

This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 26 October 2022.
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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.
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.
10/27/2022

by Buffy Lockette

Dr. Rebecca O. Turner, JSU provost and vice president emerita, was inducted into the Alabama Social Work Hall of Fame on Oct. 14 in recognition of her many contributions to the field of social work throughout her career.

Founded in 1997 by the Social Work Society of the University of Alabamas School of Social Work, the Hall of Fame honors the accomplishments of some of Alabamas most distinguished social work leaders.

Dr. Turner, who retired from JSU in June 2019, earned a bachelors in social work from the University of Montevallo and masters and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Alabama. She spent eight years as a social worker before accepting a position at JSU to teach classes and develop its undergraduate social work program.

Throughout her 38-year career at JSU, she served as a faculty member, department head, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Initially, as a faculty member, she helped create a top-rated, accredited Bachelor of Social Work. Later, as provost, she led the development of a Master of Social Work at the university.

We are so proud of Dr. Turner and all that she has accomplished as a social worker, educator and leader, said President Don C. Killingsworth, Jr. "Her many contributions at JSU continue to make an impact.

Photographed: Dr. Rebecca O. Turner, left, poses with the dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Alabama, Dr. Schnavia Hatcher, during an induction ceremony on Oct. 14.
Every party involved in the war in northern Ethiopia has committed crimes against humanity, Amnesty International said on Wednesday, calling for a probe into abuses in the nearly two-year conflict.

"Documented violations of human rights violations... (include) rapes, sexual violence, (...) lootings, torture and extrajudicial killings," Fisseha Tekle, an Amnesty specialist on Ethiopia and Eritrea, told a press conference in Nairobi.

"All the parties, Tigrayans, Amharas, Eritreans, have committed serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity," he said.

At present, "we are ruling out genocide, just because the level of evidence is not enough at the moment," he said.

The war began on November 4, 2020, when Abiy accused the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the region's ruling party, of attacking army camps.

He sent in troops, supported at that time by forces from Eritrea, Ethiopia's neighbour to the north. The conflict see-sawed, spreading from Tigray into the Amhara and Afar regions.

As many as half a million people have died, according to a US estimate last week, while the UN says more than two million people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands driven close to famine.

Fighting resumed between the warring sides in August, shattering a five-month truce that had allowed limited amounts of aid into the battered region.

The flareup spurred peace talks that began on Tuesday in the South African capital of Pretoria, led by the African Union. The talks are scheduled to wind up on Sunday.

Fisseha called for an international inquiry to ensure that violations did not go unpunished.

"Without justice, there can't be a sustainable peace," he said. "Justice has to be a central element of the peace talks."
In mid-March, Cherkasy resident Tetyana Drobot posted a series of text-messages on Odnoklassniki, a social network banned in Ukraine, that would change her life for a long time. On March 12, less than 3 weeks into Russias invasion of Ukraine, she shared a picture mocking one of the marches of Ukrainian armed forces in the center of Kyiv. A little earlier she had shared cheerful feelings about the occupation of southern Ukraine by Russian invaders. And there were many similar ones.

The woman's activity on the social network attracted the attention of investigators of Ukraines Security Service (SBU) in the Cherkasy region. A criminal case was initiated. And Drobot was subject to a search. At first, she was accused of violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine, based on her posts. But after the search, the severity of the crime changed. In Drobot's private correspondence with friends and a relative from Russia, photos of fortifications in the center of Cherkasy were found. "They should be bombarded so that they would not be here," she captioned the photos she sent via Viber to Russian subscribers.

After that, Drobot was suspected not only for "encroachment on territorial integrity", but also for "treason". She was immediately detained and placed mid-March in the pre-trial detention center, with an alternative bail of more than 1 million hryvnias (about 27,000 dollars). Drobot and her family did not have such money, and she remained in custody.

During March and April, SBU investigators and prosecutors of the Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office completed the investigation and transferred the Drobot case to the Dnipro District Court of Cherkasy. Here, considering the seriousness of the crime, a panel of three judges was formed, presided over by judge Valentin Konstantin. The first hearing took place in May. It took a total of 6 sessions to deliver a verdict on October 18.

"I'm not a threat"

Drobot immediately pleaded guilty and expressed remorse. At the hearings, she said that she had committed the crime by "giving in to her emotions" and asked to be released, changing the preventive detention to any other measure except prison. "I have no connection with the outside world," said Drobot. My computer, tablet, and phone were taken away. I have nothing. There are no means by which I could, according to the prosecutor, continue my illegal activities. I am begging you to release me under house arrest. I will definitely come to the court session, she said.

But while she claimed "unconsciousness" and the "emotional nature of the crime", her personal page in Odnoklassniki teemed with anti-Ukrainian slogans and Russian propaganda. One of the defendant's last posts praised the greatness of Russia and its cultural advantages over Western countries. And a more serious crime was the distribution of photographs of fortifications and requests to attack them. These actions fall under the definition of treason and are punishable under martial law by imprisonment for 15 years or even life.

With her guilty plea, parties gave up a full examination of the evidence and moved to trial.

In a speech on October 17, the prosecutor asked for 8 years of imprisonment, a less severe punishment than prescribed by law, due to several mitigating circumstances. The prosecutor took into account the defendant's sincere and effective remorse, as well as the woman's good character, retirement age and health. The court also read a description of the woman given by the representative of her condominium, reporting that Drobot took care of the flower beds, planted flowers before the house, and also took part in solving heating issues.

In addition to the mitigating circumstances we have already talked about  sincere remorse and cooperation with the investigation , I ask you to take into account that my client has no previous convictions, is described only in positive terms, and I also ask you to take into account her age and family. I consider it possible to impose a punishment on her, despite the fact that she sincerely repented and understood everything she had done. In my opinion, a sufficient punishment would be no more than 5 years of imprisonment, pleaded her lawyer.

The court weighs in

Drobot cried and in her last address to the court she assured of her remorse:  I regret what I did. I once again apologize to the entire Ukrainian people for the fact that I broke the law and for the fact that I angered people against myself with my actions. I apologize to my family. The only thing I long for today is to be with my family, take care of my grandson, she said in tears. Life is passing me by, I don't know how to turn back in time, please forgive me. I am not a threat to my country. How many years have I worked at school, in kindergarten, how many years have I taught children to love their homeland, to appreciate it... And then [I] jumped into old age in such a mess, simply on emotions, simply because it was connected to my childhood and to some memories. Without realizing it, I sent my sister these pictures to show her what happened to [a word that seemed to refer to a fortification], because my sister and her future husband met there. We used to go there for workshop. I apologize to everyone for my actions.

On the morning of October 18, the announcement of the verdict had to be postponed for a couple of hours. The air alarm in the city lasted for an unusually long time. From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., the Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense Forces repelled the attack of another batch of Iranian kamikaze drones attacking critical infrastructure of Ukraine.

At 10:10, the bailiff allowed the defendant to be brought into the courtroom. She humbly sat down in an isolated booth, waiting for the verdict, focusing her gaze sometimes on the prosecutor, then on the journalist. The defense attorney did not appear at the final hearing. Twenty minutes later, judges entered the courtroom. Judge Konstantin began to read the verdict. Drobot was sentenced to 5 years in prison for encroaching on the territorial integrity of the state and to 10 years for treason. The two sentences were commuted to a single sentence of 10 years in jail. Since the defendant pleaded guilty, on the severity of the punishment can be appealed.

This report is part of a series on war crimes, produced in partnership with Ukrainian journalists. A first version of this article was published on the "Sudovyi Reporter" website.
Southeast Asias foreign ministers met Thursday in Jakarta to discuss Myanmars political crisis ahead of Novembers ASEAN summit without a representative from the countrys military junta.

Myanmar has been in chaos since a coup in February last year when more than 2,300 people were killed in the militarys crackdown on dissidents, according to a local monitoring group.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has said it is deeply concerned by escalating human rights abuses there, but its efforts to resolve the crisis are yet to bear fruit.

A five-point ASEAN plan from April last year would be a focus of Thursdays emergency talks at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman said Marsudi would hold a press conference on the talks in the afternoon.

The 10-country bloc was to discuss the progress of the plan, which called for an end to the violence; increased help; and dialogue between the military and the anti-coup movement.

The Myanmar junta has not shown any desire or concrete steps to implement (the plan), an Indonesian foreign ministry official told AFP last week.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was not invited to next months ASEAN leadership summit in Cambodia  for the second time in a row  and Myanmars top diplomat Wunna Maung Lwin was barred from ministerial talks in February and August.

A Thai Foreign Ministry official confirmed that Myanmar did not send a representative to Thursdays meeting.

Political prisoners have been executed in Myanmar in recent months, and an airstrike on a concert held by rebels in Kachin state on Sunday reportedly killed around 50 people.

The junta said reports of the airstrike killing civilians were rumours.

The United States urged vigorous action at Thursdays meeting.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, said the junta was leading the complete destruction of every advance made over the past decade as the nation transitioned to democracy.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers said they were even more determined to resolve Myanmars political crisis during talks in Indonesia on Thursday ahead of Novembers ASEAN summit.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military coup last February, but despite concerns expressed, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) efforts have yet to bear fruit.

But ASEAN should not be discouraged, but even more determined to help Myanmar bring about a peaceful solution, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said after the emergency meeting at the blocs secretariat in Jakarta.

Myanmars junta refused to send a non-political figure to the meeting.

According to a local observer, more than 2,300 people were killed in the Myanmar militarys brutal crackdown on dissidents after the coup.

The United States called for strong action at Thursdays meeting.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top US diplomat for East Asia, said at an event in Washington that the junta was leading the complete destruction of all the gains of the last decade when Myanmar transitioned to democracy.

We will not stand by while this violence continues; we will not stand by as the junta prepares for the utterly bogus and bogus elections they are talking about next year.

Kritenbrink said Washington has great respect for ASEAN, but US officials have in the past expressed frustration at the lack of progress on the blocs own contingency plan, which called for an end to violence, more aid and dialogue.

I think all ASEAN countries need to hold the regime accountable, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in July.

So far we havent seen any positive movement in that direction.

ASEAN ministers on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to this five-point plan, first proposed in April 2022.

The situation on the ground remains critical and fragile, and this is not because of a lack of commitment and efforts on the part of ASEAN, but because of the complexity and difficulty of Myanmars decades-long conflicts, he said.

The time for action is now.
Russias invasion of Ukraine has widened a rift between African countries and supporters in the West who are urging the continent to show solidarity with Europe.

The issues were put on unpleasant display this week at the International Forum for Peace and Security in Dakar, where the conflict was a major theme.

French Minister of State Chrysoula Zacharopoulou said at the conference that Russias invasion was an existential threat to the stability and integrity of our continent.

Thats why we expect solidarity from Africa, she said.

She blames the Kremlin for rising energy and food costs that have rattled the global economy but hit African countries in particular.

Russia alone is responsible for this economic, energy and food crisis, she said.

Senegals President Macky Sall, who is also currently the head of the African Union, said Africa is not against Ukraine and that Africans are not insensitive to the situation there.

But like other participants at the conference, he also said that many Africans felt that their own problems, such as security, economy or health, were being ignored.

Africans say that even while Ukraine is at war, is under attack, Africa is under attack, Africa is under constant attack from terrorism, Sall said.

The year is 2022, we are no longer living in the colonial era  so countries, even if they are poor, have the same dignity. Their problems must be treated with respect.

 western paternalism 

Former Nigerian President Mahamadou Issoufou said it was disheartening to see so much support for the Ukrainian army as the Sahel he hails from scrambles to find funds to fight jihadists.

It is shocking for Africans to see the billions that have rained down on Ukraine while attention has been diverted from the situation in the Sahel, he said.

In contrast, he added, the G5 anti-jihadi force, which was originally supposed to bring together troops from Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger, Chad and Mali, has had a much harder time raising $400 million.

Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, who said his junta-ruled country left the G5 this year because it came under too much French pressure, also saw a discrepancy.

For Ukraine, where they asked Africa to take a stand, they raised more than eight billion ($) in just a few days, he said.

Its a policy of double standards. All human lives  black, white, red and yellow  are equal.

The conferences host, Senegal, which has close ties to Western countries, caused a stir on March 2 by joining many other African countries in abstaining in a vote at the UN General Assembly on a resolution calling for the Russia will not use force against Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall told TV5 Monde this week that the move reflects the need to seek a common African position at a time when her country had just assumed the presidency of the AU.

Almost half of African countries either abstained or did not vote in a UN resolution on Oct. 13 on whether to condemn Russias annexation of more Ukrainian territories.

Aude Darnal, a non-resident collaborator at the Stimson Center, a US international security think tank, said Africa has been looking for new partners in recent years.

African states have tried to diversify their partnerships with other smaller and emerging powers like India and Turkey  both at the forum  and big powers like China and Russia, all posing as equal partners, she said.

There has also been a growing weariness towards a sense of Western tutelage, she added.

African states tried to protect and advance their interests and partnerships with all sides.

 Self-centered? 

But Niagale Bagayoko, the president of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN), dismissed the argument that the world had left Africa as very difficult to accept.

Africa is at the heart of the international agenda, she said.

If we really look at the budget for peacekeeping operations and external interventions, Africa is the region next to the Middle East that has received the most interventions over the last 10 years, including sporadic interventions by the Americans.

She said she feared that recent reactions from African politicians create the impression that the only concern for Africans in a conflict that has ramifications for the whole world is the impact on their own security.

It reminds me of Europeans who believe that if youre worried about the conflict in the Sahel, for example, its only about protecting the (European) continent from migration.
Kim Go Eun talks about her love for fans, career, and recent projects including "Yumi's Cells" and "Little Women."

The 31-year-old actress is among South Korean celebrities chosen by Elle Korea to grace the publication's special issue.

Dubbed as "The Icons" the actress joins BLACKPINK's Jennie, G-Dragon, Gong Yoo, Lee Sung Kyung, and Park Seo Joon in collaboration with the luxury brand, Chanel.

In the interview, Kim Go Eun shared her thoughts about his 2022 K-dramas starting with "Yumi's Cells."

Kim Go Eun on Lessons She Learned in 'Yumi's Cells'

Based on the webtoon of the same name, "Yumi's Cells" is Kim Go Eun's comeback to the small screen after the successful season of "The King: Eternal Monarch."

The 14-episode series follows the story of Kim Yumi, an ordinary office girl whose emotions, feelings, and actions are being controlled by her cells.

The rom-com series revolves around Yumi's journey on finding her true love.

During her interview with Elle Korea, she was asked to pick a work or scene that she felt most romantic and chose "Yumi's Cells."

Kim Go Eun explained that this is the series that made her think that dating and relationships are "beautiful and heartbreaking" at the same time.

"It was a work that made me want to fall in love," she said, adding that "Yumi's Cells" shows the realistic side of romance.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Chanel Ambassadors Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, More Hailed as 'Icons' of the Industry

Moreover, the actress shared that she had a great time during the production because she was able to express the daily life of her character.

In "Yumi's Cells" Kim Go Eun stars with Ahn Bo Hyun and GOT7's Jinyoung who played her former ex-boyfriends.

Kim Go Eun on Her Perspective About Money After Starring in 'Little Women'

Besides "Yumi's Cells" one of her 2022 Kdrama is the novel-based series "Little Women" where she played the eldest sister Oh In Joo.

In the series, her character is someone who values and talks about money a lot. That is because she wants her family to get out of poverty and live paycheck to paycheck.

For Kim Go Eun, she gets honest and shares that she used to think about money during her younger years.

However, although it would be nice if a family would not worry too much about money, for Kim Go Eun money does not guarantee happiness.

Kim Go Eun's Fan Meeting 2022

The release of the magazine comes after Kim Go Eun's fan meeting.

After five years, the actress finally met her fans face to face and entertained them with song and dance numbers.

For Kim Go Eun, it is the opportunity to meet them in person.

Interestingly, the "Goblin" star has donated 70,000 USD to a children's hospital in celebration of her 10th debut anniversary.

It is made under the actress and her fans as her appreciation for their support.

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
by Austin Bay October 26, 2022

Former Chinese president Hu Jintao's peculiar exit from the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) congress meeting on Oct. 22 has ignited global discussion and intense speculation. And given current president Xi Jinping's war-waging aims, well it should.

By now tens of millions of people have seen at least part of Hu's departure video. My summary: former president Hu is seated at the front table in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, in a VIP dais seat next to his successor, Xi Jinping.

Action: Two senior staff members wearing surgical masks approach. A befuddled Hu rises, reaches for a paper, appears to speak with Xi, then pats former premier Li Zhanshu, (China's third most senior leader) on the shoulder.

Then Hu was led away.

Xinhua, China's state news agency and chief CCP global propaganda organ, claimed the 79-year-old Hu was "escorted" from his VIP seat after he began "feeling unwell." CNN --an iffy source-- said Hu appeared "reluctant to leave." Well, I agree with that.

The BBC posited: "The two most likely reasons for his (Hu's) departure are that it was either part of China's power politics on full display, with a leader representing a former time being symbolically removed, or that Hu Jintao has serious health problems."

Beyond the BBC's either-or, both could be true, illness and a power play. Instead of physical health problems, other commentators suggested Hu may have been psychologically shaken.

So why the shakes from a former CCP bigshot? In dictatorships symbolic removal often precedes physical obliteration. Did the thought freeze Hu's brain?

Prior to Hu's egress under duress Xi had removed Hu's political proteges and policy enthusiasts from the CCP's Central Committee. Denying Hu's supporters decision-making positions consolidated Xi's personal grip on power.

Hu led China from 2003 and 2013, his two five-year terms ratified by the once-every-five years (quinquennial) party congress. His presidency was regarded by many Chinese "as a time of opening to world." Chinese citizens had reasonable access to the internet. Hu's opening echoed Deng Xiaoping's "opening-up and reform policies" designed to create a market economy within China's authoritarian socialist state.

After Deng died, China's president was expected to hold office for two terms, reflecting the CCP's commitment to collective leadership, a dictatorship's way of saying the system considered the opinions of senior autocrats and tried to balance the interests of party factions.

Hu stepped down and ceded office to Xi.

Alas. Prior to this year's congress, Xi revised Party term limit rules. Removing Hu's admirers and revising the rules all but guarantees Xi's position as China's supreme leader for the rest of his life.

China is a face culture. "Face" is important in every culture. Think of American politicians backtracking a blatant lie to "save face" -- i.e., avoid humiliation.

Asian "face cultures," however, take the concept several steps further. The CCP's face culture has Mafia rules. The CCP suffers from systemic ineptitude and authoritarian narcissism, but don't let the world know. The CCP face police treated Wuhan's conscientious doctors as criminals and suppressed their warnings about COVID-19.

Charles Custer of thoughtco.com writes: "Chinese society is quite conscious of hierarchy and reputation among social groups. People who have good reputations can buoy the social standing of others by 'giving them face.'"

Before the world Xi staged a face assassination of Hu's reputation. No corpse to dispose. Within China Hu's de-faced existence demonstrates Xi's power.

Revving China's economy isn't Xi's game. War is Xi's aim, a war to seize Taiwan that leads to a big one with the U.S. As Xi calculates, given the Biden administration's haplessness, the war ends in a stalemate. With American weakness exposed, America's Asian allies kowtow to Beijing and Xi's China reigns preeminent in east Asia.

Kowtow is so apt. With Hu's face assassination, Xi is effectively China's emperor.
Park Seo Joon opens up about his current and upcoming works, bucket list, and supporting friend, Choi Woo Sik. The South Korean heartthrob graced Elle Korea's latest cover for its special edition, The Icons.

Park Seo Joon on Starring in 2 Variety Shows

While Park Seo Joon is gearing up for his K-drama and movie comeback, he is entertaining fans through his two variety shows this 2022. Viewers get to see the different side of the actor as he joined the cast of "In The Soop: Friendcation" and "Young Actors' Retreat."

During his interview with Elle Korea, the 33-year-old star shared that he both enjoyed starring in two variety shows.

After watching "In The Soop: Friendcation," he mentioned that it reminded him of his past vacation with friends.

As for "Young Actors' Retreat" he watched it from a viewer's perspective and said that he laughed all the time.

"In The Soop: Friendcation" debuted in July where Park Seo Joon is joined by his celebrity friends BTS' V, Peakboy, Park Hyung Sik, and Choi Woo Shik also known as the Wooga Squad.

Meanwhile, "Young Actors' Retreat" includes cast members of "Itaewon," "Love in the Moonlight" and "Soundtrack #1."

Why Park Seo Joon Chose 'Our Beloved Summer' as the K-drama That 'Moved' Him

As the interview continues, Park Seo Joon discusses his busy schedule, filming a new K-drama and movie.

However, the actor said that he recently watched the rom-com "Our Beloved Summer," starring Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi, who was also Park Seo Joon's co-star in "Itaewon Class."

He described "Our Beloved Summer" as one that was the most moving K-dramas he watched. As obtained by an outlet, the actor explained:

"The characters in the project feel like they could exist in real life and I think touching projects where I can empathize with the emotions are the most moving."

The SBS rom-com series premiered from December 2021 until January 2022 and gained a lot of positive responses from the viewers, especially Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi's onscreen chemistry.

How Park Seo Joon Thinks About Being Dubbed the 'Icon of Youth'

Apart from joining Elle Korea's The Icons together with Gong Yoo, G-Dragon, BLACKPINK's Jennie, Lee Sung Kyung, and Kim Go Eun, Park Seo Joon is also considered an "icon of youth."

For the actor, he said that he used to hear the term a lot when describing him. However, he gets honest and said that he feels embarrassed being called an "icon of youth.

Interestingly, Park Seo Joon wanted people to see him as an "icon of maturity." He explained:

"If youth is a period you eventually have to pass, I now want to become an icon of maturity."

Park Seo Joon's New Drama & Movie: 'Gyeongseong Creature' and 'Dream'

The 33-year-old star will have his comeback both in movies and small screen.

After "Itaewon Class" Park Seo Joon will headline an upcoming action thriller series "Gyeongseong Creature," also known as "K Project" with Han So Hee.

In addition, he will also team up with IU for the sports-themed movie "Dream."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Chanel Ambassadors Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, More Hailed as 'Icons' of the Industry

KDramastars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
ENA Channel dropped new character stills of Im Siwan, who is ready to make his drama comeback with "I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything."

'I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything' Synopsis

"I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything," also known as "Summer Strike," is a healing-romance series based on a famous webtoon of the same name. It tells the story of people who decide to leave their current lifestyles in the city and move to a small town to do nothing and go soul-searching.

Im Siwan Transforms Into Bashful & Reserved Librarian

In the drama stills provided by ENA Channel, Im Siwan transforms into Ahn Dae Bum's character. He is a bashful and reserved librarian that almost every bookworm is gushing on. The photos elaborate on how he spends his simple life in a small seaside village. As he works the whole day inside the quiet and safe haven place that book lovers love to stay in, Dae Bum gave a sneak peek of his everyday scenario inside.

Ahn Dae Bum works with a soft and passive expression. He possesses innocence and serenity, which is something about him that would undoubtedly fool anyone into thinking that he has already found peace in his life.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Im Siwan & Seolhyun Seek Healing in Countryside in Upcoming Romance Drama

However, despite his reserved aura, Ahn Dae Bum remains mysterious and seems like he has stories and secrets to tell, leaving K-drama fans curious about what exactly pulled him to live in a small and peaceful village far from the busy city.

What We Know So Far About 'I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything'

Joining him in the series is idol-actress Seolhyun, who takes the role of Lee Yeo Reum, a lady in her late twenties, who quit her job and chooses to live in peace in the small village of Angok.

Shin Eun Soo and Bang Jae Min will also star in the drama. Furthermore, "I Don't Feel Like Doing Anything" is scheduled for release sometime in November, through the streaming platforms ENA Channel, Genie TV, and Seezn.

This marks Im Siwan's acting return following his commendable performance in the disaster movie "Emergency Declaration," where he played the main antagonist. The idol-actor is expected to make his big screen comeback soon Im Siwan is already booked to star in the coming-of-age movie "1947 Boston" where he will share the frame with Ha Jung Woo, Bae Sung Woo, and Jo A Young.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Im Siwan, IU, More Korean Stars Take Home Trophies at The 2022 Buil Film Awards

What do you expect from Im Siwan and AOA Seolhyun's first project collab? Share your replies/comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramastars.

KDramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
An Air Canada flight makes its final approach as it lands at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Sept. 30, 2004. The holiday travel season could be affected by delays as the air transport sector's persisting labour shortages will cause unavoidable service disruptions says the president of the Canadian Air Traffic Control Association. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
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Between 2016 and 2021, the proportion of white people in the Cnetral Okanagan fell from 92.1 percent of the total population to 88.8 percent, new data from last year's census shows. A downtown Kelowna block party in 2016 is shown in this file photo.
David Eby answers questions from media during a press conference at the Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday Feb. 6, 2018. Premier-designate Eby has met with the province's lieutenant-governor as part of a step toward transitioning into his new role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
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You must be thinking, what on Earth can the U.S. health care system learn from a poor, developing country like Nepal? Isnt the U.S. known across the globe for its latest innovation and advanced procedures? Well, I was thinking the same thing. Until my seven-week trip this summer to rural Nepal. As a Nepali-American Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) studying medicine in the U.S., I learned more than I could imagine about health care. I spent time volunteering in a rural village clinic and a health camp. As one of the worlds poorest countries, I knew Nepal struggles with health care, but maybe they are doing some things right.

From my experience, I observed five things that U.S. health care can learn from Nepali health care.

1. Everyone is considered family. No matter where you go in Nepal, whether in a remote village or the capital city, Kathmandu, everyone addresses each other with affectionate terms like dai (big brother) and bahini (little sister), even when there is no blood relation. This happens even in the medical setting. When an 80-year-old patient presented with back pain, the doctor caringly addressed her as ama (mother) as he welcomed her into the office and listened to her complaints. The doctor saw this patient as his mother. I saw how this small phrase comforted her in her most vulnerable state. Even as I gathered the patients vital signs, the health care staff referred to me as bahini (younger sister). I felt that I was an important part of the health care team. Sometimes, in our fast-paced U.S. health care arena, we overlook the easiest way to connect with our patients. Many times, we may not even know our patients names. Now, Im not saying that we should start calling everyone grandma or big brother. But, perhaps we can learn from Nepals family-based culture and get to know our patients better.

2. Doctors come from the same culture as their patients. When a 54-year-old laborer came in with back pain, the doctor immediately knew why. The laborer had just spent the last week hunched over in the fields during the peak of rice planting season. When a 21-year-old came in with a 6-month-old attached to her hip wheezing, the doctor knew why. She prepared all of the meals for her family in their indoor fire cook stove with little air circulation, which triggered chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), common in rural villages. When a 37-year-old came in with epigastric pain, the doctor knew why. She had eaten spicy peppers with her dal-bhat for lunch. Doctors in Nepal deeply understand their patients lives because they live in a similar culture. In the U.S., we could benefit from learning more about our patients cultures. Perhaps we could provide more personalized care by paying more attention to our patients social history.

3. Daily physical activity is a part of life. Nepals jobs rely heavily on physical labor: planting and picking rice, carrying bulky loads, and farming. Everyone is physically fit. I mean everyone. I saw an 86-year-old man with a blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg. I saw a new mother who was back in the rice fields, working only one week after giving birth. I hardly met anyone who was even slightly overweight. I saw very few patients taking blood pressure medications or getting tests to rule out heart disease. Exercise was built into everyones daily routine. Sometimes, in the U.S., exercise is more of an option rather than a means for survival. As a result, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure rates are rising. Perhaps, encouraging exercise as much as taking medications should be stressed more for patients.

4. There is a high level of respect for doctors. Nepal is mainly an agrarian society; there is a high level of respect for the educated. I frequently saw patients thank the doctor over 20 times for something as simple as prescribing antifungals for a rash. I saw both women and men wearing their most distinguished clothing, Nepali topi (traditional hat) and golden pote (beaded jewelry), to their doctors appointments. They wanted to look their best for the doctor. I saw how Nepali patients sat on the edge of their seats, clinging to each word coming out of the doctors mouth. It seemed that people respected the expertise of medical professionals and followed their recommendations. Sometimes, in the U.S., we are faced with more skepticism from patients who may equate their Google searches with our medical expertise. Perhaps, patients could be reminded about our qualifications to take care of the sick.

5. Sicker patients tend to be heavily prioritized by the community. In Nepal, many families live in inter-generational households and are highly connected with their neighbors. There is a strong sense of community among all people. During a rural health camp, I noticed a commotion brewing at the end of a long line. A young man with a prominent limp and a gash to his forehead carried a frail older woman. She stood, or hunched, at 4 feet 9 inches and weighed 70 lbs. The man told us how he ran into this ama (mother) who was hobbling along and wheezing on his way to the clinic. Though he was sick as well, he carried her to the front of the line, knowing she needed more help. These types of selfless acts were the norm. Sometimes, in the U.S., patients regard their own medical problems as more urgent than others. Perhaps, we can encourage a sense of civic responsibility in our communities in the U.S.

Nowadays, everyone has an idea of how to improve health care with fancy technologies and complicated systems. But, from what I learned in Nepal, I think it is time for us to start returning to the basics. Simple, little things go a long way to improving big problems.

Simona Adhikari is a premedical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Eurasian eagle owl spotted in Beijing

(People's Daily App) 13:49, October 27, 2022

An Eurasian eagle owl, a national second-class protected bird, was recently spotted in Beijing. A resident recorded this video clip. Chinese netizens find it "cute" and "handsome."

Deng Wenhong, a professor focused on biodiversity sciences and ecological engineering at Beijing Normal University, told CCTV News that its appearance indicates the ecological environment in urban areas is getting better and the species' population is growing.

(Produced by Gao Yuan and Dong Feng)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
:            ,   ...
COLUMBIA - Police say advanced DNA technology was used to identify a suspect in a 1984 rape and attempted murder case in Columbia.

After years of investigation, James Frederick Wilson, 59, was named as potential suspect, Columbia police announced during a community briefing Thursday.

Wilson was arrested at his home in Mooresville, North Carolina, Wednesday. A Boone County prosecutor charged him with forcible rape with a weapon and first-degree assault with a deadly weapon. He lived in Columbia at the time of the assault.

Wilson is being held at the Iredell County Jail in North Carolina on a $1 million bond. He will be extradited to Columbia, but police did not have a timeline.

18:13 WATCH: Columbia police hold briefing on 1984 cold case Columbia police held a briefing Thursday afternoon on a 1984 cold case.

The March 24, 1984 case happened in the 4000 block of Wellington Drive, where the victim encountered the suspect, whom she did not know.

The victim told officers she was abducted at knifepoint by the suspect. The suspect then drove the victim to the dead-end of Wellington Drive where he parked his car and raped her, according to a news release.

The victim said after the sexual assault, the suspect attempted to murder her with a knife, damaging her trachea and vocal cords. Wilson attempted to discard the victim's body in a nearby creek, but the victim said she laid still until Wilson left and she was able to seek help.

Police took the victim to the hospital where medical staff said there was evidence of a sexual assault.

A team of Columbia police detectives visited the victim Thursday morning, Chief Geoff Jones said at the briefing. She is aware of the arrest and police say other details are being withheld for her privacy.

"She is a survivor. Thirty-eight years is a long time to carry this burden," Chief Jones said.

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Jones said the department isn't sure how "expansive Wilson's reign of terror was."

"People who commit these type of crimes often don't stop with one," Jones said. "For that reason, we have established a tip line."

Jones said he's not accusing Wilson of any other crimes, but wants to make sure the public knows the department is here to support them. The tip line can be reached at 573-874-7400, or by email at ColumbiaPoliceTipLine@CoMo.Gov.

The case was assigned to CPD detective Renee Wilbarger in 2020. She was able to use a wide range of DNA databases and help from partner agencies to identify Wilson as a suspect, Jones said.

DNA pulled from Wilson's razor came back as a positive match from the DNA found on the victim, according to a probable cause statement.

Police also matched a composite sketch from the victim's description with Wilson's photo in the 1981 Rock Bridge High School yearbook. The composite was published in a March 30, 1984 article in the Missourian detailing the attack.

In a separate Missourian article from around the same time, police described how the victim described her attacker with a pencil and paper because her throat was so damaged.

Columbia police also said Wilson's vehicle on record in a 1985 traffic stop matched the description of the suspect's vehicle.

There's a Crime Stoppers sign at the site of the attack that includes the number to the tip line for this specific case.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 35F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low around 35F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), today announced that the fund will establish five companies aimed at investing in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, and Sudan.

The announcement follows the launch of the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC), a wholly owned PIF subsidiary, in August 2022. The six companies aim to invest up to a total of SR 90billion ($24 billion) in opportunities across various key sectors in each market, a statement said.

The announcement comes on the second day of the 6th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), which is taking place in Riyadh, with the participation of leading investors, innovators, and world leaders.

The companies will invest in various key sectors, including but not limited to, infrastructure, real estate development, mining, healthcare, financial services, food and agriculture, manufacturing, telecoms, and technology, among other strategic sectors and industries in each country.

The establishment of the five new companies will contribute to an increase in regional investment opportunities for PIFs portfolio companies and Saudi Arabias private sector, bolstering attractive financial returns over the long term, and creating more avenues for strategic economic collaboration with the private sector in the target countries as well as enabling the Saudi private sector, it said.

These investments by PIF align with the funds strategy, which includes seeking new investment opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa to build lasting strategic economic partnerships and achieve sustainable returns, grow PIFs assets under management, and diversify Saudi Arabias sources of revenue, while underscoring the objectives of Vision 2030, said the statement.  TradeArabia News Service
(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.
BTS has reportedly submitted a total of four songs to be nominated at the upcoming 2023 Grammy Awards. Keep reading to know what those tracks are.

BTS Reportedly Submits 4 Songs to Be Nominated at 2023 Grammy Awards

On Oct. 26, multiple Korean media outlets reported that BTS has submitted their latest projects to earn nominations at the 2023 Grammy Awards.

The releases eligible to be nominated at the prestigious award ceremony are those that were released between Oct. 1, 2021 and Sept. 30 of this year. Entries are then reviewed to determine eligibility and category placement.

After nominees have been chosen, final voting ballots are sent to NARAS voting members, who will then pick five nominees for each award and ultimate winner through a series of ballots. The voters cast ballots only in their fields of expertise.

According to Yonhap News, an American music industry official told them on the 26th that at least four BTS songs, including collaboration songs, were submitted. The tracks in question are "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," "My Universe" with Coldplay, "Left and Right" and "Bad Decisions" with Benny Blanco and Snoop Dogg. All these four songs were submitted for nominations for the Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

READ MORE: BTS Permitted to Do THIS During Military Service

These tracks were also submitted for Best Pop Duo Group Performance, where BTS was nominated for two consecutive years. They were previously nominated for the said category with their representative songs "Dynamite" and "Butter."

Other than that, "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," "Bad Decision," and "Left and Right" were submitted for nominations for the Best Music Video category.

While "My Universe," "Bad Decisions" and "Left and Right" all feature BTS, it is assumed that these songs might have been submitted not by BTS but by the collaborating artists such as Benny Blanco, Snoop Dogg, Coldplay, and Charlie Puth.

In the case of Album of the year," it is interpreted that "Proof" could not be submitted due to it being an anthology album, as the Grammy requires that more than 75% of the of the playing time of the album be filled with newly recorded music. In "Proof," there are only three new tracks.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Big Hit Music Under Fire for Not Doing THIS After BTS Won at The Fact Music Awards 2022

The first round of voting for the 2023 Grammy Awards was held from the 13th to the 23rd of this month. The final list of nominees will then be announced on the 15th of next month. The final voting will take place from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4 of next year.

The 2023 Grammy Awards will be held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 5 next year.

BTS' Recent Group Activities

On June 10, BTS made their highly-anticipated comeback with their anthology album "Proof," which contains their previous hits, unreleased songs, demos, and four new tracks "Yet to Come," "Run BTS," and "For Youth."

"Proof" became the second best-selling K-pop album in the first week in Hanteo history as it sold more than 2.7 million copies.

On Oct. 15, BTS held their World Expo 2030 Busan Korea concert at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium. The event not only had an in-person audience but online viewers as well from 229 countries.

BTS is the ambassador of the World Expo 2030 Busan, and through the concert, the group introduced the culture of Busan and Korea to a global audience.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Maria Scott
IU revealed that her mom got mad at her due to the cushions meant for Uaena attending "The Golden Hour" concert. Continue reading to learn why.

IU's Mom Got Mad at Her Because of the Seat Cushions for "The Golden Hour" Concert

On Sept. 17 and 18, IU held her two-day solo concert in Seoul, South Korea, titled "The Golden Hour: Under the Orange Sun." It was her first solo concert in the city in three years since "Love Poem" in 2019.

The two-day show took place at Seoul Olympic Stadium, the biggest stadium in South Korea. With that, IU made history as the very first female K-pop artist to perform at the said venue.

More than 40,000 people attended each concert, totaling 88,000 attendees. The show on each day lasted for three hours and 30 minutes, with IU performing her famous songs including "Eight," "Celebrity," "Strawberry Moon," "Hold My Hand," "Good Day," and many more.

There were multiple spectacles throughout IU's "The Golden Hour" concert, such as fireworks, the beautiful hot air balloon, and a brilliant drone show.

Another notable thing to find at the concert is the seat cushion in every seat. The cushion has the details of the concert date, location, logo, etc. The audience was able to take home the cushions as souvenirs after the show ended.

It was revealed that IU's mother was the one who prepared the seat cushions at her own expense to show her deep gratitude for the fans who came to her daughter's concert.

IU said during her "The Golden Hour" concert:

"This cushion is a cushion that my mother placed an order for and prepared a month and a half ago. You don't have to leave it. Take it with you when you go home."

In a new video uploaded to IU's official YouTube channel, the female soloist shared a behind-the-scenes story, revealing that her mom got mad at her before the concert and the reason concerns the cushions. But it isn't because she didn't want to make them but because IU changed her decision about the color but it was too late.

While getting the seat cushions out of a plastic, IU shared:

"My mom made this. This time, unlike the squared cushion before, we made the edges round. I first asked for Uaena's color and mint. But then [I thought], 'Shouldn't it be orange and pink?' So I asked my mom again and she got mad at me. [She said], 'You should've told [me] in advance."

She added, "There's no changing, I think the colors are fine. But I thought again, 'But shouldn't we use pink and orange for the theme?'."

In response, her mom said, "The factory is already running with orders!" IU then told the staff, "It would've been great if the cushions were orange and pink."

Regardless of the seat cushion's color, Uaenas are thankful for the gift from IU's mom for them as it made them more comfortable throughout IU's "The Golden Hour" concert.

IU Nominated at the 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards

In other news, IU earned nominations in multiple categories at the 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). She was nominated for Artist of the Year, Best Female Artist, Best Vocal Performance Solo ("Drama"), Song of the Year ("Drama"), and Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10.

Additionally, Jay Park's "GANADARA," where IU is a featured artist, is nominated for Best Hip Hop & Urban Music and Song of the Year.

Voting will kick off on Nov. 4 at 11:59 p.m. KST on the official website designed for the 2022 MAMA.

The 2022 Mnet Asian Music Awards will be held at Osaka's Kyocera Dome in Japan on Nov. 29 and 30.

For more K-Pop news, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Maria Scott
Aside from being a talented member of LE SSERAFIM, Kazuha receives a lot of love and support because of her fine-looking beauty that resembles one of the K-pop industry's original visuals, Bae Suzy.

For Episode 352 of 'The Return of Superman', LE SSERAFIM members Kazuha, Eunchae, and Sakura guested to bond with Sayuri, a single mother, and her charming toddler, Zen.

Among the three members of the super rookie girl group, Zen seemed to pick Kazuha as her favorite as manifested by how Kazuha secures be the first one to receive food from Zen. A lovely moment even happened when Zen voluntarily fed Kazuha.

But what did the Japanese charmer do to capture the heart of the kid?

LE SSERAFIM Kazuha Did THIS to Charm Zen

It is implied that the welcoming beauty of Kazuha is a factor for being Zen's favorite, but aside from this, Kazuha might have secured the heart of the kid when she gracefully flexed her ballet skills and beautifully posed like a swan.

From a professional ballerina to a K-pop idol, that is how we know Kazuha. It is no doubt that the Japanese dancer's visuals are more amplified whenever she strikes her beautiful lines and elegant moves.

Through attending numerous ballet academies, Kazuha will really seal your eye's attention the moment she transforms into a prima ballerina.

Do you want to witness a glimpse of Kazuha's prima ballerina aura? Watch the video below:



Throughout the episode of 'Return of Superman,' Zen became more interested in the Japanese ballerina when he started joining her by copying some of Kazuha's moves. Seeing how interested the kid is in ballet, Kazuha showed him some of the basic elements, which led the toddler's amazement to increase.

Aside from Kazuha, Eunchae and Sakura are also immersed to make fun with Zen by teaching him some of the iconic gestures from their ANTIFRAGILE track. Being the bubbly kid, Zen exceeded the expectations of copying the gestures, which led the girls to rhythmically laugh.

At the end of the episode, Zen's mother, Sayuri, witnessed a side of his son who is interested in dancing. Thus, considering enrolling her son in a dance lesson to channel his interest into a passion.

Watch how Kazuha graced being a ballerina through this video:



LE SSERAFIM Kazuha Flexes Goddess-like Beauty for THIS Brand

Etude House, a South Korean cosmetic brand, dropped a guessing game on their social media accounts as they tease the fan for their newest brand muse.

Although only a half-turned face was featured in the photo, the netizens are a hundred percent sure that this is LE SSERAFIM Kazuha. Due to her goddess-like visuals, Kazuha's beauty is easily recognized, thus becoming one of the brand's favorite faces.

Upon the release of this teaser photo, netizens, especially the FEARNOT expressed their sincerest congratulatory greetings to Kazuha for securing the solo beauty endorsement of a reputable South Korean brand.

Here are some of the fans' comments on Kazuha's Etude endorsement:

"Only from the back do we know that she is Kazuha! This is her first job as a new muse during her debut. Please continue to support her to be even more successful! Thanks Fearnot!" "Kazuha being the new muse for ETUDE, one of the most popular makeup brand in Korea. And it's only been 5months since her debut. Who's doing it like her?"

Kazuha joins Fanatic's Doah, Sandara Park, Song Hye Kyo, and Park Shin Hye as ambassadors of the brand.

Congratulations, Kazuha for being Etude's newest muse and Zen's favorite!

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Sophia Carson
Did you know Sandara Park was once rejected by her high school crush? She reveals she was rejected for this reason.

Keep on reading to know more.

Sandara Park Reveals Her High School Crush Turned Her Down for This Reason

Recently o October 26, the 16th episode of the variety program Unnies With No Appetite was shared through the Youtube channel HeungManeul Studio. In this episode, former 2NE1 member Sandara Park and Park So Hyun, who are both known to be small eaters, enjoyed eating galbi at a restaurant.

After eating their fill of delicious galbi, the two walk to a place called "Rice High School." When they entered, they were met with a school set-up, with lockers found by the entrance of the place.

Upon seeing the lockers, Sandara Park immediately expressed her excitement, and recalled having a locker back when she was still a student. She also recalled some of the things that happen when you have a locker.

"When you open it, letters would fall out. Or that is what you wished for [to happen]," the former 2NE1 member said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Sandara Surprises Park So Hyun At Sudden Mention of Her Ex-Boyfriend's Name

She then recalled using lockers as a way to confess to her crush back when she was a student. She said, "I put [the letters] into the boys' lockers."

Hearing this, Park So Hyun then asked Sandara Park if they did not accept her love letters. To this, Sandara Park hilariously nods her head, and explains the reason why she was rejected by her own high school crush.

"Yes [they didn't accept]. [My crush] said he liked glamorous girls. Is that even possible for a high school kid?" Sandara Park shared the reason she was rejected.

Park So Hyun responded by saying, "It does make sense. I am sorry, Dara."

Sandara Park Reminisces Her Love Life During High School Days

Both Sandara Park and Park So Hyun then changed into high school uniforms, with the latter complimenting the former on how well the uniform looked good on her.

Sandara Park mentions how it would be good for couples to go to the place they were at for a date in a school uniform. Park So Hyun then asked her if she has ever gone on while wearing one.

To this, Sandara Park said she has back when she was still a student. However, she makes others burst into laughter when she added that her date was just "platonic love."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Dara Reveals Concern About Solo Album- Here's Why She Hasn't Released It Yet

Meanwhile, Sandara Park moved to the Philippines at a young age, where she studied and lived for a good chunk of her life until moving back to South Korea in 2007. Due to this, Sandara Park is well-versed in Tagalog.

Watch the full video here:

For more K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Robyn Joan
aespa's leader Karina is suspected of having gone under the knife for breast surgery. Curious? Keep on reading for all the details.

aespa Karina Suspected of Having Undergone Cosmetic Breast Surgery

On October 24, Sojang uploaded a video titled, "[AESPA KARINA] Wasn't it natural? Eventually, the surgical trail was revealed." In the YouTube video, Sojang accuses aespa's Karina of having undergone breast surgery.

Since her debut, Karina has attracted attention for her voluminous figure. However, people pointed out that it looks unnatural, using Jihyo as an example of a naturally glamorous figure. To handle the weight of her chest, Jihyo has a developed trapezius muscle and some fat on her arms.

Karina does not have developed trapezium muscles and has extremely slim arms. Despite that, her chest is still voluminous. However, past photos of the idol showed that she had some volume in her body since the beginning.

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: 5 Iconic K-pop Dance Practices With Halloween Mood

The discussions died down until LE SSERAFIM's Kim Chaewon was accused of undergoing cosmetic chest surgery. A scar was seen on her armpit, near her chest, which is a tell-tale sign that someone went under the knife.

Soon, a photo of Karina's scar surfaced on the internet. The scar was seen under her armpit, also near her armpit. It is believed to be a surgical scar from breast surgery. As it is a large scar, internet users believe the implant used must have been rather sizeable.

Some MYs (aespa's fanbase) argued that it was just fat. However, many do not believe this, as the idol's arm, stomach, and legs are all slim.

Check out Sojang's video here:



What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

aespa's Recent Activities

In September 2022, aespa was named as the global ambassador for the Swiss watch and jewelry brand Chopard. In August 2022, aespa became the global ambassador for the sportswear brand MLB.

ALSO READ: aespa NingNing Garners Attention For THESE Actions After Attitude Controversy

On July 5, 2022, aespa attended the "UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPFF) 2022." The girl group performed their hit songs and made a speech.

For more K-Pop news, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Alexa Lewis
Binance, a leading global blockchain services provider, announced today the launch of binance.bh, a new and fully regulated platform where users can access Binances full range of products and services - including direct deposits and withdrawals - in local currencies.

New customers are able to sign up to the newly regulated platform and get access a range of products and services, said a statement.

Having received its licence as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) Category-4 (Crypto Assets Exchange) on May 19, 2022, the binance.bh platform now allows Binance to provide a full range of crypto-asset exchange services to customers.

Commenting on the announcement, Khalid Humaidan, Chief Executive at the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: Bahrains strong commitment to crypto assets and fintech investments is longstanding. We are pleased to see Binance reaching different milestones in Bahrain, from receiving its first regional license to going live with bahrain.bh. The launch of binance.bh reaffirms Bahrains position as a leading hub for crypto services and Fintech innovations, not just in the region but around the world.

Richard Teng, Regional Head of Europe and MENA, Binance, commented: Witnessing the Kingdom of Bahrains forward-thinking perspectives towards the crypto asset industry has been an excellent experience. Bahrainis have become steadfast early adopters of crypto assets, and it is fantastic that Binance can play a part in addressing the local populations keen interest to be on the cutting edge of financial innovation.

Tameem Al Moosawi, General Manager Binance - Bahrain, added: Working closely regulatory bodies in the Kingdom of Bahrain is a vital part of our approach to market; not just from a compliance perspective, to safeguard users by providing consumer protection and market security. We see huge potential in Bahrain, and it is fantastic to be able to contribute and be a part of this regions journey towards flourishing as a global hub for all things blockchain.

Binance has viewed the Kingdom of Bahrain as a key business hub which will provide areas for growth and employment within the wider industry. Furthermore, Binances focus on robust compliance and security controls, as well as its commitment to working closely with regulators in the region to champion user protection and market integrity, have allowed the company to establish a strong foothold in the GCC and contribute to the regions status as a fast-emerging global crypto asset hub.  TradeArabia News Service
All residents of the GCC countries can now enter Oman for all commercial professions without a visa, reports quoting a circular from the Directorate General of Passports and Residence said.

According to the directive, GCC residents are not required to come from the country of residence. For example, a resident of any GCC country is not required to arrive directly from that GCC country to avail this facility. It is permitted at any time and from any destination they arrive from, said Times of Oman report quoting a circular from Oman Airports.

It is required that the residence visa be valid in the GCC for a period of no less than three months, it said.
Gazette Editor

Casey Gisclair joined The Lafourche Gazette in January 2020 and became our Editor in September 2021. Casey has covered our area as a reporter since 2010, and has a passion for telling the stories of our people in Lafourche Parish. Casey is also the host o
Dhaka, Oct 27 (UNI) Newly Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma presented his credentials to President of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Mohammad Abdul Hamid on 27 October 2022.

During his call on Honble President of Bangladesh following the presentation of credentials, High Commissioner Verma conveyed the warm greetings of the Government and the people of India to the President highlighting the great importance attached by India to its relations with Bangladesh.

High Commissioner Verma added that it would be his endeavour to work towards further expanding and strengthening the close and friendly relations that exist between India and Bangladesh, and that he looked forward to working closely with the Government of Bangladesh to realize the full potential of India-Bangladesh relations.

President Hamid congratulated the High Commissioner on assuming his new responsibilites and expressed the hope that the on-going robust development of bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh in various fields will be further strengthened in the coming times.

After presenting his credentials, High Commissioner Verma visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi, Dhaka to pay his respects to the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

UNI MAZ GNK
Singapore, October 27 (ANI): Monetary Authority of Singapore, the Singaporean central bank has published papers proposing regulatory measures to reduce the risk of consumer harm from trading in cryptocurrencies.

While putting out the regulatory measures in the public domain, the Singaporean central bank said though trading in cryptocurrencies is "highly risky" and not suitable for the general public such digital assets play a supporting role in the broader digital asset ecosystem which is why it believes it would not be "feasible" to ban them.

Also Read | Chandigarh Shocker: Youth Stabs Man Whose Uncle Had Prevented Him From Bursting Fireworks in Dhanas, Arrested.

Therefore, to reduce the risk to consumers from speculative trading in cryptocurrencies, it believes will require service providers of such digital assets to ensure proper "business conduct" and "adequate risk disclosure", an official statement from the central bank said on Wednesday.

The proposed measures cover three broad areas -

Also Read | Sandeep Dhaliwal Murder: Robert Solis, Killer of Sikh Sheriff's Deputy in Texas, Sentenced to Death.

* Consumer Access - digital payment tokens service providers will be required to provide relevant risk disclosures to enable retail consumers to make informed decisions regarding cryptocurrency trading. They must also disallow the use of credit facilities and leverage by retail consumers for cryptocurrency trading.

* Business Conduct - digital payment tokens service providers will be required to implement proper segregation of customers' assets, mitigate any potential conflicts of interest which arise from the multiple roles they perform, and establish processes for complaints handling. * Technology Risks - Similar to other financial institutions such as banks, digital payment tokens service providers will be required to maintain high availability and recoverability of their critical systems.

These proposed measures will be part of the Payment Services Act, it said.

It further cautioned people to still exercise utmost caution when trading in such digital assets and must take responsibility for such trading.

Regulations, it said, cannot protect consumers from losses arising from the inherently speculative and highly risky nature of digital trading.

Ho Hern Shin, Deputy Managing Director (Financial Supervision) at the central bank said these proposed measures mark the next milestone in enhancing Singapore's regulatory approach to foster an innovative and responsible digital asset ecosystem.

"Regulations go hand-in-hand with innovation in financial services. The enhanced regulatory regime for stablecoins aims to support the development of value-adding payment use cases for stablecoins in Singapore. As we continue to partner industry players to explore the potential benefits of tokenisation and distributed ledger technology, MAS will make appropriate adjustments to its regulatory regime to address the associated risks," Ho Hern Shin added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Latehar, Oct 27 (PTI) Three Naxalites were arrested in Jharkhand's Latehar district on Thursday, police said.

They were arrested from Dakadiri forest in Balumath police station area, about 110 km from capital Ranchi, a senior police officer said.

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They were identified as Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC) sub-zonal commander Viraj Ganjhu, who had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh, area commander Nathuni Singh and Vijay Bhuiyan, he said.

A loaded AK-47 rifle, a country-made revolver, 87 bullets, eight mobile phones and pamphlets of the banned organisation were recovered from them, Latehar's Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Anjan said.

Also Read | Potato, Tomato Production Declines 4-5 Percent in 2021-22; Onion Output Remains Higher Than Last Year: Government Data.

"We got a tip-off that TSPC extremists were hatching plans at Dakadiri forest to carry out some incident. Acting on this information, two separate police teams were set up, the place was raided and the extremists were arrested," he said.

Ganjhu was involved with various extremist organisations over the last 13-14 years, and was wanted in several cases, he said.

He earlier went to Nepal and got special training in technical operations. After returning, he was training the extremists here, the officer said.

Anjan said TSPC was mainly involved in extortion in the area.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Berhampur, Oct 27 (PTI) Thirty-three people were arrested in Odisha's Ganjam district on Thursday for allegedly killing a 50-year-old woman after his husband filed a police complaint that they were being "tortured", police said.

The incident happened in Madhurachua village in Kabisurya Nagar police station area, they said.

Also Read | Rajasthan: NHRC Issues Notice to Chief Secretary on Reported 'Auctioning of Girls on Stamp Paper', 'Rape of Their Mothers' on Caste Panchayat Diktats.

Angry villagers attacked the house of Yudhistir Nayak on Wednesday night after he filed a police complaint against one Butu Nayak for allegedly abusing and attacking him, police said.

While Yudhistir and his son could manage to flee the house during the attack, his wife Jhunu could not. When Yudhistir returned home along with police, they found the body of his wife.

Also Read | Lakshmi-Ganesha on Currency Notes: If BJP Thinks This Idea Is To Attract Votes, They Should Do It, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

The mob also attacked two other villagers, Mahiraju Nayak and Bishnu Nayak -- identified as the leaders of the village, for not preventing Yudhistir from filing the police complaint, police said.

Police later rescued them and admitted them to a hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable, police said.

Armed forces were deployed at the village and the situation is under control, said Rajani Kant Samal, the sub-divisional police officer of Purushottampur.

Thirty-three people, including 20 women, were arrested, he said.

The villagers had targeted Yudhistir's family over a month ago suspecting them of practicing witchcraft.

They blamed Yudhistir's family for the deaths of three persons in a short span of time.

Due to timely intervention, the issue was resolved, said Prabhat Sahoo, the inspector-in-charge of Kabisurya Nagar police station.

Police, however, said Wednesday night's attack was not related to the allegation of witchcraft practice.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) AAP and BJP workers on Thursday held protests against each other with each party accusing the other of mishandling of the garbage scene in Delhi as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the Ghazipur landfill site.

AAP and BJP workers indulged in sloganeering against each other amid tight security as the Delhi CM headed towards the landfill site.

Also Read | Mumbai: Two Indian Women Passengers From Dubai Arrested With Gold Worth Rs 1.40 Crore Hidden in Jeans.

Scores of BJP supporters demonstrating against the Aam Aadmi Party showed black flags and denounced Kejriwal accusing the government headed by him of not releasing money to the MCD and also scamming the city with its now-rolled back liquor scheme.

BJP workers wore black headbands and ribbons as they raised slogans against AAP national convener Kejriwal.

Also Read | Chinese Bikes in Mizoram: Police Crack Down Against Banned Bikes From China Being Smuggled Through Myanmar-Bangladesh Border.

In turn, AAP workers too decried the Bharatiya Janata Party over their alleged inability to clean Delhi during its 15-year-long tenure in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

They raised slogans like 'We have to remove garbage mountains and clean Delhi', 'This time, it will be Kejriwal in MCD also'.

Roads leading to the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border near Ghazipur witnessed traffic jams because of protests by both parties.

The protesters were separated by barricades and police personnel.

According to a senior police officer, no one was detained and there was adequate security deployed to ensure that the situation remained under control.

"They deployed police personnel to protect this garbage mountain. All evil forces have conspired against us (AAP). They delayed MCD polls and segregated wards hoping that they would get seats. Let me tell them that this time even BJP supporters won't vote for them," Kejriwal said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh derided BJP saying that it was a first-of-a-kind demonstration that was held in support of garbage.

"This is the first demonstration in India which is taking place in support of garbage. @ArvindKejriwal is saying the mountain of garbage has to be removed' @BJP4India is saying create a mountain of garbage'," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir shared a copy of a letter he had written to Kejriwal in 2020 over the Ghazipur landfill site.

At that time, Gambhir had invited him to join him for a visit to the site.

Gambhir said that Kejriwal's visit to the landfill site was opportunistic coming as it was ahead of the MCD elections, and called the party workers chunavi mendhak' (seasonal frogs that come out only during elections).

"I have been to Ghazipur mountain eight times since 2019 and the Chief Minister did not come even after being called again and again! Electoral frogs only come out after looking at the sky, not seeing pain #LiarInChiefKejriwal" Gambhir said in a tweet in Hindi.

In the lead up to the MCD polls, dates for which are yet to be announced, the three main political parties -- AAP, BJP, and Congress have begun preparations.

MCD polls are expected to be held at the end of 2022 or early next year. However, there has been no formal announcement regarding the dates.

In 2017, the BJP swept the civic body polls, bagging 181 wards in the erstwhile south, north and east Delhi municipal corporations.

The Centre unified the three municipal corporations this year into the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party's Information and Technology cell head Amit Malviya on Thursday said that he has decided to file criminal and civil proceedings against news website 'The Wire' and alleged that "they forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish" his reputation.

The matter pertains to Meta stories which were "retracted" by the news website. It retracted the stories after Meta and various other experts pointed out critical flaws in their reporting.

Also Read | Diwali Pollution: Number of Patients With Major Breathing Issues Increase by 15 Percent Post Festival; Poor AQI Recorded Across India.

Malviya, who is also BJP's co-incharge for West Bengal, said that he will sue the news website for damages.

"After consultation with my lawyers and seeking their advise, I have decided to file criminal and civil proceedings, against 'The Wire.' Not only will I be setting the criminal process in motion but I will also sue them in a civil court seeking damages as they forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish my reputation," Malviya said in a statement.

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Last week, The Wire formally retracted its Meta stories "after conducting an internal review of the technical source material used, with the help of external experts".

Meta is the parent firm of Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook.

The Wire said it is also conducting a comprehensive editorial review of the internal editorial processes "which resulted in the publication of these stories in order to identify and plug any and all shortcomings". (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) Equity benchmarks began the trade on a positive note on Thursday helped by buying in index majors Reliance Industries and banking counters amid mixed global market trends.

The 30-share BSE benchmark climbed 415.98 points to 59,959.94 in early trade. On similar lines, the broader NSE Nifty advanced 127.55 points to 17,783.90.

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In the Sensex pack, Titan, Tata Steel, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC, Dr Reddy's, Reliance Industries, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank and IndusInd Bank were the major winners in early trade.

Maruti, NTPC, HCL Technologies, Infosys and Bajaj Finance were among the laggards.

Also Read | Lucknow Shocker: Call Centre Employee Ends Life by Hanging in Hotel at Naka Hindola, Suicide Note Says 'Don't Give Body to Family'.

Elsewhere in Asia, markets in Seoul and Hong Kong traded higher, while Tokyo and Shanghai quoted lower.

Wall Street had ended on a mixed note on Wednesday.

Stock markets were closed on Wednesday for 'Diwali Balipratipada'.

The BSE benchmark had declined 287.70 points or 0.48 per cent to finish at 59,543.96 on Tuesday. The Nifty fell 74.40 points or 0.42 per cent to end at 17,656.35.

International oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.27 per cent higher at USD 95.95 per barrel.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded shares worth Rs 247.01 crore on Tuesday, as per exchange data.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mexico City, Oct 11 (UNI) The impact of Hurricane Julia, ravaging Central America since the weekend, has prompted the Guatemalan government to declare a state of emergency, President Alejandro Giammattei said on Tuesday.

Tropical cyclone Julia made landfall in Nicaragua on Sunday morning as a Category 1 hurricane. Then it weakened to a tropical storm and is now moving along the coast of Guatemala into the waters of Mexico. Hurricane Julia brought not only heavy rains but also life-threatening flash floods and deadly mudslides.

"Today, the Council of Ministers made the decision to declare a state of emergency. The corresponding order will be sent for approval to the Congress," Giammattei said on social media.

The hurricane brought Guatemala floods and landslides which inflicted damage on infrastructure such as bridges, highways and power lines. It killed five people and left another two missing in the central region of La Libertad.

Emergency services in Guatemala say that the hurricane has directly affected over 153,000 people, more than 1,300 were evacuated from their homes, of which over 1,000 are now housed in temporary shelters. Almost 500 residential buildings received medium and serious damage.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 27 (ANI): Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday approached the High Court seeking the transfer of a case pertaining to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs' poaching allegations against the party, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to carry out a fair probe into the matter.

In a writ petition filed by BJP State General Secretary Gujjula Premendar Reddy, he claimed that the "bias and unfair investigation" being carried out is with a "sole intention to frame the leaders" of his party.

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This comes a day after the TRS alleged that the BJP is attempting to poach the MLAs luring them with money and contracts. The Telangana Police arrested three persons who were found at the farmhouse in Ranga Reddy on Wednesday evening, after being informed by the TRS MLAs about the poaching bid, which the leaders alleged belonged to the BJP. The three accused were identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy.

The BJP has moved to the Telangana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the allegations.

Also Read | Kashmir Issue Should Be Resolved by India, Pakistan Through Dialogue, Consultations: Chain.

"The above writ petition is filed complaining of bias and unfair investigation being carried upon by the respondents in FIR.No.455/2022 on the file of Moinabad PS with a sole intention to frame the leaders of the petitioner political party and damage its reputation at the instance of the ruling party dispensation as being illegal, arbitrary and in gross violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to settled principles of free and fair investigation," the petition said.

The BJP linked the poaching allegations to the upcoming Munugude by-polls that are slated to be held on November 3, and said that the TRS has been "trying to disrupt the campaign" of the BJP while also making "several efforts to thwart the campaigning in the constituency".

Calling the complaint "politically motivated", the petition stated that it has been made with a motive to "defame and demoralise" the BJP in the by-election of the Munugode Assembly constituency.

The petition alleged that the complaint was lodged at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and other state ministers and senior leaders of the TRS Party.

"The true facts and motive behind the above lodging complaint can only be unearthed by the conducting an enquiry by CBI or Special Investigation Team (SIT) as constituted by this Hon'ble court and in failing to do so, the petitioner party would suffer irreparable loss and hardship and would also impact on the mandate of the people in the ensuing by-election at Munugode Assembly," the petition stated.

Earlier today, rejecting the charge that his party was trying to poach Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has scripted the raids at a farmhouse and demanded a probe by a sitting judge.

The BJP chief said that if KCR is not responsible for this then he should come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God.

"Story-Screenplay-Direction by CM KCR at Moinabad Farmhouse Boomeranged and is laughable. It's TRS' farmhouse, TRS complained, TRS are victims, TRS are criminals. KCR if u haven't scripted this, come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God - You fix time and date," said Sanjay.

Meanwhile, following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988,

The three accused have been identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy.

In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP.

"Ramachandra Bharati of Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the BJP, met the complainant and negotiated with him to not to contest as a candidate from the TRS party and to join in BJP by resigning from TRS party and to contest in the next elections from BJP for which they offered him an amount of Rs 100 crore and also offered to give central government civil contract works and other high central government positions for monetary benefits and lured him to join the BJP," the FIR reads.

According to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Coimbatore, October 27: Coimbatore Police on Thursday arrested a sixth person for his alleged involvement in the October 23 car blast in the city, in which a man was charred to death, and is suspected to have played a major role in sourcing raw materials used in making explosives.

The arrested person has been identified as Afsar Khan alias Upsar Khan, a relative of Jamesa Mubin who was killed when the car bomb exploded. Afsar Khan allegedly procured some of the raw materials used to make the explosives through e-commerce websites. Coimbatore Car Blast Case: One More Person Arrested by Tamil Nadu Police; Accused Was Planning Serial Blasts, Finds SIT.

"Afsar Khan a cousin of Jamesa Mubin who died in the Ukkadam car cylinder blast was arrested by police officials today. Afsar Khan was picked up two days before by the special investigation team," Coimbatore Police said. On Wednesday afternoon, police conducted searches at Khan's residence and seized his laptop, according to Afsar Khan's father-in-law.

Initially, five people were arrested in connection with the case and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was invoked against them. Today a sixth person Afsar Khan has been arrested and Police said they are looking into a few more suspects.

Meanwhile, a court has sent all the five people arrested earlier in the case to three-days of judicial custody for further investigation. They will be in police custody until Friday.

The Coimbatore Police has said that they suspect that some of the explosive materials which were seized from the house of the deceased were purchased online from popular e-commerce websites. Coimbatore Police Commissioner Balakrishnan said that the ingredients that were recovered from the spot are used for making low-explosive bombs. Coimbatore Car Blast Case: UAPA Invoked Against Accused, 5 Arrested in Tamil Nadu.

"We are trying to find who all are connected to their plot and execution of the conspiracy and how the explosive materials were purchased. Some of the investigation done so far indicates that Jamesa Mubin had bought many items through Amazon and other courier services. We are investigating all the angles. When we visited Mubin's residence, outside his house a few Amazon empty boxes were found," Balakrishnan said.

The probe indicates that he bought some of the items online. We are investigating all the angles, said Coimbatore Police Commissioner. He said that apart from the arrest that has been made, the police have been questioning people and trying to keep the investigation open to find out all possibilities.

The police official further said that the materials that were seized from the house of the deceased indicated that there was an intention to make more bombs.

Speaking about the day of the incident, the CP said, "The officers were on duty next to the scene of the crime. They saw a vehicle slowing down and when they tried to approach the area, they heard a loud blast in which a car went into flames. They immediately called up the fire service and barricaded the area. The FIR was registered on the complaint of the priest there."

He added that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended the NIA probe into the incident and the police will follow the procedure once they get all communication.

"Tamil Nadu CM has recommended NIA probe. Once we get all communication, we will follow the procedure. As of now, the accused have been taken into custody. We will be doing a custodial investigation and the investigation will proceed till such time," he said.

In the recommendation letter, Stalin 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.

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.

The deceased was identified as Jamesa Mubin, a resident of Ukkadam. 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 seized from Mubin's house in Ukkadam 75 kgs of potassium nitrate, charcoal, aluminum powder and sulphur, all materials that can be used to make explosives.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad, Oct 27 (PTI) The Congress manifesto for the 2023 Legislative Assembly elections in Telangana will have special focus on farming issues, which would be prepared after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, top party leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday. Gandhi, who resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Telangana after a four-day Diwali break, had an interaction with farmers and farmers' representatives from different parts of the state. The suicides of tenant farmers, lack of crop insurance and disaster relief and problems concerning the 'Dharani' land records portal were discussed, AICC General Secretary, incharge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said. "@RahulGandhi also promised that the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana will have a very sharp focus on farming issues and will be prepared after the widest possible consultations with all stakeholders," Ramesh tweeted. Observing that 30 per cent peasants in the state are tenant-farmers and they account for 80 per cent of suicides since 2014, Ramesh alleged that the TRS government has failed miserably to provide any relief to bereaved families. Gandhi met the widows who are still struggling to make ends meet as women farmers, he said. Since Kharif 2020, Telangana does not have any crop insurance scheme nor has it given any compensation for disasters through the 2005 NDMA (National Disaster Management) Act. This has deprived lakhs of farmers of compensation when there is crop loss, the frequency of which has increased due to climate change, the AICC General Secretary claimed. He further alleged that the "much advertised" 'Rythu Bandhu' investment support scheme of the TRS government meant for farmers does not benefit tenant farmers and cultivators in any way. Rahul Gandhi assured that tenant farmers and those who till the land must be registered and get full benefit of government schemes, including bank loans, direct income transfer and crop insurance. Noting that the farmers also complained of the 'Dharani' scheme in Telangana, Ramesh said it is criminal that a scheme to modernise land records is dispossessing tens of thousands of Dalits, Adivasis and other Backwards castes of their own lands. After a gap of four days, the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra resumed from Makthal in Narayanpet district of Telangana today.

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The yatra kicked off at 6.30 AM from Makthal with state Congress president A Revanth Reddy, MP Uttam Kumar Reddy, CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka and a number of party leaders joining Gandhi. This is the second day of the yatra in the state. The Bharat Jodo Yatra entered the state via Gudebellur on October 23 morning, after exiting Karnataka. After a brief march, it took a break from Sunday noon till October 26. Gandhi who left for the national capital on October 23, landed here last night and left for Gudebellur by road. The Yatra is expected to enter Maharashtra on November 7. It will take a one-day break on November 4. The Wayanad MP will meet intellectuals, leaders of various communities, including personalities from the sporting, business and entertainment sectors. He will also visit prayer halls, mosques and temples across Telangana, and will offer prayers, members of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee said. The Bharat Jodo Yatra commenced on September 7 from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Gandhi completed the marathon walk in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, before beginning the Telangana leg of the yatra.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) The CPI has written to the Election Commission alleging that the poll body has "over-stretched" its constitutional mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised election proforma while making promises.

The letter, written by party general secretary D Raja, states that the letter from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on this is an "encroachment" upon the powers of the Parliament and political parties.

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"It is with great concern that our party responds to the letter under reference from ECI. What concerns me is the apparent overstretch of ECI's mandate by asking political parties to subscribe to a standardised disclosure proforma while making promises," Raja said.

He said different political parties go to people seeking votes on different pretext, and that matters of policy and spendings are different as various political outfits have varied priorities.

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"As to the allegations that making promises to people is being fiscally responsible, it must be understood that political parties with different ideologies view fiscal resources very differently," he said.

The Left leader added that the EC should not restrict political parties in reaching the voters with the agenda they wish to pursue. Following up on poll promises and being critical of the incumbent is the job of opposition parties and it should be best left to them, he argued.

"Altering its stand from what was submitted to the Supreme Court, the ECI's letter has reached political parties at a time when there is a debate going on around freebies and the Prime Minister has called them 'revadis' and that they are being very dangerous for the country.

I would like to believe that the ECI's timing has nothing to do with the views expressed by the Prime Minister," Raja stated in the letter.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): The Delhi High Court recently dismissed the bail plea of a person who allegedly abducted and robbed a man of Rs 65 Lakh along with his co-accused impersonating as police personnel from Uttar Pradesh.

A case was registered at Lahori Gate police station in April 2022.

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Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail plea of Rahul Kumar Pal considering the seriousness of the offence and the nature of the charges. The bench said that this is not a fit case for a grant of bail, at this stage.

The High Court noted, " The applicant and his associates are visible in CCTV footage at the spot. Call Detail Record (CDR), prima facie, discloses his presence at the place of the incident."

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Moreover, the applicant did not join Test Identification Parade (TIP) on the ground that the complainant knows him.

The complainant has identified the applicant in the CCTV footage, and the bench further noted in the order of October 20 this year 2022.

The bench also noted that the applicant is involved in two cases of similar nature registered at Agra's Hari Parbat police station of Uttar Pradesh.

The brief facts are that the applicant along with his four associates impersonated himself as a police official of Uttar Pradesh Police and abducted the complainant in a white Scorpio and thereafter, robbed an amount of Rs. 65,00,000 along with other articles.

The complainant Rahul Ravinder Pandey had lodged a complaint on March 31, 2022, after which an e-FIR was registered at Lahori Gate Police Station on April 4 this year.

The petitioner was arrested on April 4 and a charge sheet was filed under sections 365, 395, 342 and 170 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The counsel for the petitioner submitted that since the petitioner was arrested, he is in Judicial Custody. It is submitted that the petitioner was arrested in this case only on the basis that the Scorpio car which was allegedly involved in this case was recovered from the applicant.

It was also submitted that the complainant had filed a complaint after five days of the alleged offence and the statements of the complainant on April 4 and 7, 2022 are contrary to each other and the whole story of the complainant is concocted.

On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State submitted that a charge sheet has been filed in the present case and an offence punishable under Section 365, 395, 342 and 170 IPC is made out against the accused. (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) Heroin and cannabis worth over Rs 15 crore were seized and nine people arrested from three districts of Assam, police said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a vehicle at Badarpurghat in Karimganj district and recovered 621 gm of heroin. The vehicle was coming from Mizoram and three persons travelling in it were arrested, they said.

Also Read | Rajasthan: NHRC Issues Notice to Chief Secretary on Reported 'Auctioning of Girls on Stamp Paper', 'Rape of Their Mothers' on Caste Panchayat Diktats.

The value of the seized drugs was estimated to be Rs 4 crore, they said.

In another operation, the Guwahati Police intercepted a truck in Jorabat near the Meghalaya border and seized 2,500 kg of cannabis.

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Two persons were arrested in the operation. The value of the seized drugs is over Rs 1 crore, police said.

In Karbi Anglong district, police seized two vehicles at Dilai Tiniali on Wednesday night after recovering 1.26 kg of heroin while it was being transported from Dimapur in Nagaland to Nagaon in Assam, they said.

The seized heroin was kept in 100 soap boxes and hidden in the airbags of the vehicles.

Four people were arrested in this operation, police said.

The seized heroin was worth over Rs 10 crore, they said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata/Port Blair, Oct 27 (PTI) Former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain arrived in Port Blair on Thursday, following a Calcutta High Court order to appear before a Special Investigation Team, which is probing alleged gangrape charges against him, by October 28.

Narain was escorted out of the airport amid heavy security cover, officials said.

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He did not respond to questions from mediapersons, who were waiting for his arrival at the airport.

A vacation bench comprising justices Bibek Chaudhuri and Prasenjit Biswas also granted interim protection against arrest to Narain till a date that will be fixed by the circuit bench of the Calcutta High Court in Port Blair on November 14, on its first date of sitting after the Durga Puja vacation.

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The court also noted that Narain, who was transferred to Delhi on July 21, has declared that he is ready and willing to cooperate with the investigation.

The SIT is probing an allegation by a woman that she was gangraped by Narain and others on April 14 and May 1, on the basis of an FIR filed at Aberdeen Police Station in Port Blair on October 1.

The bench allowed the SIT to interrogate and take all other steps such as medical examination of the petitioner in the course of interrogation.

A joint team of police officers from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi had raided the house of Narain on October 18, following which he filed an application before the Delhi High Court praying for transit anticipatory bail.

A single bench of the Delhi High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Narain till October 28.

He, thereafter, filed an application before the Calcutta High Court praying for an extension of time on the ground that the next circuit bench at Port Blair will start from November 14, so that he gets an opportunity to pray for anticipatory bail before it in the Andaman and Nicobar capital.

The SIT was constituted to probe allegations that the 21-year-old woman in Andaman and Nicobar Islands was lured to the chief secretary's home by promising a government job, and then raped by top officials there.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hardoi, October 27: A 60-year-old man and his son were shot dead and three other family members thrashed with lathis over a land dispute in Bhadaicha village here, police said on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Dwivedi said there was a dispute over land between the two families in the village under City Kotwali police station limits. UP Shocker: Dying Man Cries for Help As Bystanders Film Him in Lakhimpur Kheri.

On Wednesday, some people sitting outside the home of Babu Singh had an argument with a family member of Guddu Singh, the leader of the rival faction, he said. Following the argument, Guddu Singh arrived at the spot with his rifle and fired five rounds, killing Babu Singh (60) and his son Lucky (23), Dwivedi said.

Guddu Singh and his family members then beat up three other members of Babu Singh's family with lathis. They have been admitted to Hardoi Medical College, the SP added. UP Shocker: Eight-Year-Old Girl Raped, Killed by Neighbour After Luring Her With Toffees in Azamgarh.

The police have arrested Guddu Singh and seized his rifle, Dwivedi said, adding that teams had been formed to arrest the remaining accused.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kolkata, Oct 27 (PTI) West Bengal minister Udayan Guha courted controversy on Thursday by purportedly asking TMC workers to wrench off the moustache and beard of Union Minister Nisith Pramanik after ensuring a massive win for the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll.

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Guha, who is the state North Bengal Development minister, allegedly claimed that the general election will be preceded by a thumping victory by TMC in the panchayat polls due next year,

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A video of the alleged meeting, which took place at Shukarur Kuti gram panchayat area in Dinhata assembly segment of which Guha is the lawmaker, went viral on Thursday.

Guha was purportedly seen saying at a party workers' meeting on Wednesday that Pramanik has ignored his voters and should "get the treatment he deserves from the public" when he is trounced in the next Lok Sabha poll.

He reportedly said that the union minister had never set his foot in the area since winning the Coochbehar seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

"Nisith Pramanik will never care for you. He did not reciprocate the faith of the electors after his 2019 Lok sabha win from Coochbehar. Now help win the 2023 panchayat polls with overwhelming majority in the district. That will pave the way for Pramanik's ouster in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. Think about wrenching off his beard and moustache after it," Guha reportedly said.

PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of Guha's purported comments.

Reacting to the alleged statement by Guha, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told reporters "Finding the carpet slipping away from under their feet, TMC leaders like Udayan Guha are making all sorts of tasteless, crass and wild comments."

He said that the people of Bengal will give a befitting reply to TMC in the panchayat and Lok Sabha polls.

TMC spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumder said, "It was more of a rhetoric as Udayan Guha's intention was to stand by TMC activists and common people in the face of terror unleashed by Pamanik's men in Coochbehar district and to fightback the BJP ahead of the panchayat polls.

"However his (Guha's) way of expression could have been different," he added.

Guha had won the Dinhata assembly by-poll in November 2021 after losing the same seat to Pramanik earlier that year in the state assembly election. The by-poll had been necessitated as Pramanik vacated the seat on being appointed as union minister of state for home affairs, youth affairs and sports..

Pramanik had joined BJP from TMC before the Lok Sabha polls in 2019.

He did not comment on Guha's alleged utterances.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 27 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national vice president DK Aruna on Wednesday denied any involvement of the BJP in the luring of MLAs as alleged by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and said that that the whole drama was created by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao due to the fear of a loss in Munugode by-poll.

She further said that BJP has nothing to do with the people arrested in the raid.

Also Read | Coimbatore Car Blast Case: One More Person Arrested by Tamil Nadu Police; Accused Was Planning Serial Blasts, Finds SIT.

"The TRS is creating the story because of fear of defeat in the by-election to the Munugode. BJP has nothing to do with this. The people who are arrested are not of BJP and we have seen them before. We don't know why the people were in their farmhouse and who took them there. The Telangana CM KCR is behind this," she said.

The BJP leader further alleged that KCR and his family have looted crores of rupees from people of Telangana in the name the of Kaleshwaram Project, Palamuru Rangareddy Project, Mission Bhagiratha, Mission Kakatiya and others.

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"These people are trying hard to win the election but no matter how much they try they will not win the Munugode elections. That is why KCR is doing all this drama. BJP has nothing to do with this. They are just doing this to tarnish the image of the BJP," she said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Telangana Police conducted raids at a farmhouse in Ranga Reddy district of the state.

Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Stephen Raveendra said they received information "from TRS MLAs that they were being lured" and added that they noticed three persons.

Raveendra, however, did not give details as to which party allegedly "lured" the MLAs.

He said legal action will be initiated and they will conduct a further probe.

"We received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured, by money, contracts, and posts. We raided the farmhouse and noticed three persons. We will initiate legal action and carry investigation into the luring matter," he said.

Notably, this has happened when the bypoll of the Munugode constituency are slated to be held on November 3. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
UW Selected for Department of Energys Collegiate Wind Competition

The University of Wyoming is among 30 colleges and universities selected to participate in Phase 1 of the U.S. Department of Energys 2023 Collegiate Wind Competition.

The teams are participating in the competition during the first half of the 2022-23 school year. This is the first time UW has competed. The UW team has received notice that the $3,200 it requested for Phase 1 has been approved.

UWs application effort was led by Associate Professor Michael Stoellinger, in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Department of Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering, with strong support provided by the Department of Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering; the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management; the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources; the College of Business; and the Power Company of Wyoming LLC.

Similar to the 2022 Collegiate Wind Competition, the 2023 competition focuses on the theme of siting, outreach and development challenges associated with fixed-bottom offshore wind energy projects.

I was super excited when I learned that our application had been accepted, Stoellinger says. We will compete in all three contests: wind farm siting, wind turbine prototype and community outreach. Having students and faculty on the team from the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources makes the contests a very realistic experience for the students, since both disciplines are required for successful wind project development. I hope that UWs unique expertise in interdisciplinary engagement will give us a competitive advantage.

The Collegiate Wind Competition, which first launched in 2014, helps prepare the future wind energy workforce by inviting college students from a range of disciplines to represent their schools as they design, build and test a prototype wind turbine; develop a site plan and cost-of-energy analysis for a hypothetical wind farm; and conduct outreach with the wind energy industry, their communities and local media outlets.

During Phase 1, teams will develop a preliminary design and report for their prototype wind turbine and a preliminary site design for their hypothetical offshore wind farm. The funding secured in Phase 1 can be used by the teams to design their technologies, create their wind energy project development plans and conduct outreach activities.

By early 2023, the competition organizers will use a performance-based selection process to narrow the Phase 1 teams to up to 12 final selections. These teams will be invited to participate in Phase 2 of the competition during the second half of the school year and to present their work at the American Clean Power Associations CLEANPOWER Conference and Exhibition in May 2023.

Im super excited for the opportunity to compete in the Collegiate Wind Competition and get real-world experience working in the wind industry. The networking opportunities provided through the competition are excellent, whether through making it to Phase 2 or competing in their connection creation contest, says student leader Jonathan Katchmar, a senior from Cheyenne who is working toward creating a Collegiate Wind Competition student organization on campus. The quality and diversity of the team we have put together for the competitions are outstanding, and Im really excited to see how UW can progress in future years of the competition. The competition is outstanding in the way it makes you learn for yourself but gives you excellent resources in the way of funding and experts to answer questions.

Students participating in the competition are a mix of mechanical engineering, energy systems engineering, electrical engineering and computer engineering students, who will compete as part of their yearlong capstone design course. Other students may participate in the competition as part of other programs offering course credit for their students through special topics courses.

The senior design students taking part, listed by hometown, are:

Cheyenne -- Jonathan Katchmar.

Elizabeth, Colo. -- Alia White.

Gillette -- Davis Cathey.

Jackson -- Yihan Zhao.

Laramie -- Sam Dang.

Larkspur, Colo. -- Virginia Sullivan.

Rapid City, S.D. -- Noah Simonson.

Rock Springs -- Ivin Tardoni.

Sheridan -- Kirby Coe-Kirkham.

Thornton, Colo. -- Piper Morris.

The Collegiate Wind Competition is funded by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys Wind Energy Technologies Office and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

To learn more about the UW Department of Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering, visit www.uwyo.edu/mechanical/.
Raipur, October 27: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal really plays an emotional card wherever he has to contest elections. He is trying to collect votes from it, there is nothing other than this.

CM Baghel made this statement on Thursday while reacting to Kejriwal's remark to put images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes. Rajasthan: NHRC Issues Notice to Chief Secretary on Reported 'Auctioning of Girls on Stamp Paper', 'Rape of Their Mothers' on Caste Panchayat Diktats.

Notably, Kejriwal had 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'.

CM Baghel further said, "The Government of India decides whose images will be on the notes and on different coins but now for the sake of votes. Yesterday, I was watching the news. The great personalities whose pictures were put up and under whom they were talking to the press, on one side there was Ambedkar, on other side there was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Would Kejriwal be able to say this by being in front of them if both of them were alive? Is this what he means by their thoughts? Was this the ideology of those great men what he is talking about?" Lakshmi-Ganesha on Currency Notes: If BJP Thinks This Idea Is To Attract Votes, They Should Do It, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

"Earlier it was said that the Yamuna will be cleaned, told all the journalists that it will become worth taking a dip, what happens? They do not do what they say. First he removed the picture of Gandhiji from his office and now started spinning the wheel in Sabarmati. Now holding the feet of Lakshmi ji and Ganesh ji, he wants to cross the Vaitarni (a river described in the Puranas). Like the colour of the Rs 2,000 note has changed, the colour of the 500 note has changed, we are all using the note having colour of churan, so as the Government of India decides, the time that RBI decides remains," Baghel added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Patna, Oct 27 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said he might not campaign for the by-elections to a couple of assembly segments in the state where his current ally RJD is locked in a straight contest with former alliance partner BJP.

Kumar, who is nursing injuries he sustained recently when his motorboat crashed into the pillar of a bridge on Ganga, said this in reply to questions from journalists who asked him about his schedule for Mokama and Gopalganj where by-polls are scheduled on November 3.

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"All my party colleagues are campaigning. I need to take precautions till I recover fully," said the JD(U) leader, who had disclosed his injury on Wednesday.

The mishap had taken place on October 15 and the administration had said that all the occupants of the motorboat were safe.

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Speculations are rife that the RJD which seeks to retain Mokama and wrest Gopalganj from the BJP, is keen on Kumar lending his weight to its campaign for the two seats.

Meanwhile, the BJP claimed that Kumar was feeling "uncomfortable" in the 'Mahagathbandhan' and had, hence, "cleverly" come up with an excuse.

"He can visit temples, attend government functions, but injury comes in the way of only an election campaign? Nitish Kumar has shrewdly avoided the huge embarrassment that would have awaited him, particularly at Mokama," remarked state BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand.

Notably, the by-poll in Mokama was necessitated by the disqualification of RJD MLA Anant Kumar Singh whose wife Neelam Devi has been fielded by the party.

The BJP spokesperson recounted Singh's old association with Kumar which ended in the 2015 assembly polls. The gangster-turned-politician had won Mokama on a JD(U) ticket thrice, before retaining it as an Independent and again, in 2020, as an RJD candidate.

Anand also chuckled at a roadshow in favour of Neelam Devi by Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan, the JD(U) president, recalling Anant Singh's belligerent campaign against the latter in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when his wife had contested against the then NDA candidate on a Congress ticket.

The JD(U) ceased to be an NDA ally in August, accusing the BJP of trying to split the party. It is now part of a seven-party 'Mahagathbandhan' comprising RJD, Congress, three Left parties and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM).

The by-elections mark the first test of strength between the expanded 'Mahagathbandhan' and an emaciated NDA in the state.

According to the RJD, its heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, who is also the state's Deputy CM, will be in Gopalganj on Friday to address an election rally.

The by-election in Gopalganj, which falls in the eponymous district, was necessitated by the death of four-term BJP MLA Subhash Singh whose wife Kusum Devi is in the fray as the party candidate.

Gopalganj happens to be the native district of RJD president Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi, a fact underscored proudly by Tejashwi Yadav, who is their younger son.

The RJD has fielded Mohan Gupta, who belongs to the Vaishya community, in an obvious bid to upset the caste equations worked on by the BJP which is often the first choice of the traders' class.

Nonetheless, the pitch has been queered by the foray of Indira Yadav, wife of Rabri Devi's brother Sadhu Yadav who had won the seat for RJD in 2000 and was the runner-up in 2020 when he had contested on a ticket of the BSP.

Sadhu Yadav fell out with his sister long back and has been disqualified from contesting elections upon his conviction by a court earlier this year in a case of misbehavior with an IAS officer.

His wife is in the fray as the candidate of the BSP, not a force to reckon with in Bihar though her husband's ability to garner some votes on his own steam may affect the outcome in a tight contest.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Budgam, October 27: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that Pakistan, which sheds crocodile tears in the name of human rights, is committing atrocities against people in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and the country would have to bear its consequences.

Addressing the 76th Infantry Day programme here, the Defence Minister said, "On this occasion, I bow my head to all the brave hearts of India who have given their all to preserve the unity and integrity of this country. Indian Army Celebrates Independent India's First Military Operation in Jammu and Kashmir on 76th Infantry Day, Shares Video.

"This Shaurya Diwas inspires us to take a resolution that no matter what the situation may be in the future, no matter how many divisive forces come before us, we should take our nation to new heights by answering them in their own language," said the Defence Minister. He said that everyone knows how much Pakistan, which sheds crocodile tears in the name of human rights, cares for the people of PoK.

"I would like to ask Pakistan how many rights has it given to the people of our areas that it has taken unauthorized possession of. Everyone knows how much Pakistan, which sheds crocodile tears in the name of human rights, cares for the people of these areas. Pakistan is fully responsible for inhuman incidents. Pakistan, which is sowing the seeds of atrocities in PoK today, will have to face thorns in the coming time," said Singh.

He said that the journey will be completed when the refugees of 1947 will get justice and their ancestors' lands will be returned to them with respect.

"I am convinced of the strength of the people here and our armies. The day is not far when all these mandates will be successfully fulfilled," he said. The Defence Minister also slammed the "so-called intellectuals" for bringing the "human rights of terrorists" in the region.

"In order to ensure the safety of the public in this area, whenever any action has been taken on terrorists and their allies by the army or state security forces, some so-called intellectuals of the country have found a violation of human rights of terrorists in that action," he said.

"I am also surprised that when our forces are attacked, security forces are attacked, or the general public is attacked by the same terrorists and they are treated ruthlessly, then where does the concern for human rights go?" asks Rajnath. Emphasising that terrorism has no religion, Rajnath said countless lives were lost and countless houses were destroyed in the name of Kashmiriyat.

"The 'tandav' of terrorism which this state witnessed in the name of Kashmiriyat cannot be described. Countless lives were lost, and countless houses were destroyed. There is no account of how much blood was shed in the name of religion. Many people have tried to link terrorism with religion. But are the victims of terrorism confined to any one religion? Does a terrorist act after seeing whether there is a Hindu or a Muslim in front? Terrorists only know how to execute their plans by targeting India," said the Defence Minister.

He said that India is committed to implement the resolution passed in the Parliament about retrieving the part of Kashmir under illegal occupation of Pakistan including Gilgit and Baltistan. "Now we have just started walking towards north. Our journey will be completed only when we implement the resolution passed unanimously in the Indian Parliament on February 22, 1994, and accordingly, we will reach our remaining parts, such as Gilgit and Baltistan," he said. Infantry Day 2022 Celebration Video: Indian Army Celebrates Independent India's First Military Operation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Defence Minister said today the region of Kashmir and Ladakh is on the path of progress at a much faster rate than the normal territories.

"This state is touching new heights of development one after the other. But I would like to say here that we have just started the development of this area," he added.

He further said that after the abrogation of Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir is marching towards success, peace and prosperity. On the 76th Infantry Day, Singh attended the 'Shaurya Diwas' programme organized by the Indian Army in Budgam. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was also present at the programme. Singh also visited an exhibition by the Indian Army on the occasion.

Infantry Day is commemorated on October 27 every year to acknowledge the contributions of the Infantry, the largest fighting arm of the Indian Army.

This day has a unique significance for the nation, as it was on this day in 1947 that infantrymen from the Indian Army became the first troops to land at Srinagar airport, an act which turned back the invaders from the outskirts of Srinagar and saved the state of Jammu and Kashmir from a Pakistan-backed tribal invasion.

As part of the Infantry Day celebrations of 2022, a 'Wreath Laying' ceremony was organised at the National War Memorial today to honour the heroes of the Infantry, who made the supreme sacrifice in service of the Nation.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen BS Raju along with Colonels of the Regiments, laid wreaths on this solemn occasion.

Three decorated veterans namely Lt Col Ram Singh Saharan Kirti Chakra (Retd), Sub Maj and Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav, Param Vir Chakra (Retd) and Sep Sardar Singh, Vir Chakra (Retd) also laid wreaths on behalf of veterans of the Infantry.

According to the Ministry of Defence, bike rallies from four cardinal directions which had commenced their journey from Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Wellington in Tamil Nadu and Shillong in Meghalaya to commemorate the 76th year of Srinagar landings as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, were also flagged-in by the Chief of Defence Staff at the National War Memorial.

The bike riders had covered a cumulative distance of over 8,000 kilometres over 10 days while interacting with Veer Naris, veterans, NCC cadets and students en route to pay tributes to the valour and sacrifices of the Infantry soldiers.

In his message to all Infantrymen, the Director General of Infantry exhorted them to rededicate themselves to the core values of bravery, sacrifice, selfless devotion to duty and professionalism, and to remain indomitable in their resolve to defend the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, October 27: Hitting out at the Centre over the alleged exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from Kashmir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is enjoying power while members of the minority community continue to be refugees in their own country. The BJP has ruined the good work done by the UPA, the former Congress chief said.

As terrorists carried out a number of targeted killings recently, 10 Kashmiri Pandit families left their village, Choudharygund, in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district out of fear and reached Jammu, according to residents.

Members of the minority community, who have since been camping in Jammu, ruled out any plan to return to the Valley. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Says 'Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra Big Gift for Party and Me As Voters Were Upset With Us'.

However, authorities in Shopian have attempted to put up a brave face by claiming no exodus of Kashmiri Pandits has taken place from the south Kashmir district.

"There have been 30 targeted killings in Kashmir this year. The exodus of Pandits is increasing rapidly. The BJP has ruined the good work done by the UPA," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. "The prime minister, who talked of big things before coming to power, is enjoying power and Kashmiri Pandits continue to be refugees in their own country," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress demanded that the Modi government release a white paper on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits during its eight-year rule and apologise for their targeted killings.

The BJP hit back saying PM Modi corrected the "blunders" of former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru related to Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India by nullifying Article 370 and in turn demanded an apology from the Congress.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, October 27: The President of India Droupadi Murmu on Thursday presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President's Bodyguard at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In her brief remarks on the occasion, the President congratulated the Commandant, Officers, JCOs and other ranks of the President's Bodyguard (PBG) for the remarkable display of the parade, maintenance of well-groomed horses and the impressive ceremonial attire. Rajasthan: NHRC Issues Notice to Chief Secretary on Reported 'Auctioning of Girls on Stamp Paper', 'Rape of Their Mothers' on Caste Panchayat Diktats.

"This event is even more special as the President's Bodyguard is celebrating 250 years of its Raising which is coinciding with 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' being celebrated across the country," President Murmu said.

The President appreciated PBG for their excellent military traditions, professionalism and discipline in all their tasks.

Watch Dorupadi Murmu presents Silver Trumpet & Trumpet Banner to President Bodyguard:

LIVE: President Droupadi Murmu presents Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President's Bodyguard https://t.co/gv8nWO6tqX  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 27, 2022

President Murmu expressed confidence that PBG will strive with dedication, discipline and valour, to maintain the highest traditions of Rashtrapati Bhavan and be an ideal role model for other Regiments of the Indian Army.

The President's Bodyguard is the oldest regiment in the Indian Army, having been raised as the Governor-General's Bodyguard (later the Viceroy's Bodyguard) in 1773. Lakshmi-Ganesha on Currency Notes: If BJP Thinks This Idea Is To Attract Votes, They Should Do It, Says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

As the President of India's own Guard, it has the unique distinction of being the only military unit of the Indian Army that is privileged to carry the President's Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner. This distinction was conferred on the President's Bodyguard in 1923 by the then Viceroy, Lord Reading, on the occasion of the Bodyguard completing 150 years of service. Each succeeding Viceroy, thereafter, presented the Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the Bodyguard.

On January 27, 1950, the regiment was renamed the President's Bodyguard. Every President has continued the practice of honouring the regiment. Rather than a coat of arms, as was the practice in the colonial era, the monogram of the President appears on the Banner. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, presented his Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President's Bodyguard on May 14, 1957.

The President's Bodyguard, as it is known today, was raised in Banaras (Varanasi) by the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. It had an initial strength of 50 cavalry troopers, later augmented by another 50 horsemen. Today, the President's Bodyguard is a select body of hand-picked men with special physical attributes. They are chosen after a rigorous and physically gruelling process.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi [India], October 27 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday will visit Srinagar to participate in the "Shaurya Diwas" programme organised by the Indian Army.

Later in the day, the Defence Minister will visit Leh on a two-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh.

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"Today, 27th October, I shall be in Srinagar to attend the 'Shaurya Diwas' programme organised by the Indian Army. Later in the day, I shall be reaching Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh," said Singh in a tweet.

On the 76th Infantry Day, the Defence Minister also extended greetings and warm wishes to the courageous infantry personnel and their families.

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"On the 76th Infantry Day, greetings and warm wishes to our courageous infantry personnel and their families. Indian infantry has been associated with utmost courage and professionalism. The nation salutes their bravery, sacrifice and service," he said.

The Indian Army celebrates October 27 every year as the 'Infantry Day', as it was on this day that the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and displayed resoluteness and extraordinary courage to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders in 1947.

That is why every year on October 27, the Indian Army celebrates it as 'Infantry Day'.

This year both the Indian Army and the Air Force are going to celebrate this special day as "Shaurya Diwas" because Thursday is also the golden jubilee celebration of the Indian Air Force's Kashmir Air Base.

Infantry Day is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the Indian Army repelled the first attack on Indian soil on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley.

The victory was accomplished by the personnel of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment.

Rajnath Singh will be the second top Union minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir this month.

Earlier, Union Home minister Amit Shah was on a three-day visit to the Union Territory from October 4.

During his visit, the Home Minister launched and laid the foundation stones of projects worth Rs 2000 crore in Kashmir and Rs 1900 crore in the Jammu region.

Shah sent a clear message that J-K is a priority for the Centre and leaders of three political parties, who ruled J-K for 70 years, can no longer dictate terms to New Delhi, nor can they hoodwink the gullible people of J-K as the times have changed.

He termed the turning of Kashmir from a "terrorist spot" into a "tourist spot" as one of the major achievements of the PM Modi-led regime and assured the people that J&K will keep on flourishing under PM Modi's leadership.

The Union Home Minister had come to Jammu and Kashmir to tell the people that the government is aware of their needs and stands by them in all their endeavours.

His assertion that laptops have replaced stones and strike culture has ended in Kashmir was a snub to all such leaders, who used to claim that Kashmir would burn once Article 370--a temporary provision in the Constitution--is scrapped. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hamirpur (HP), Oct 27 (PTI) Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday urged the people of Himachal Pradesh to vote the BJP again to power for development to continue in the hilly state.

The wheel of development in the state should continue. So it is very important to bring back the BJP government, he said.

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Thakur was addressing public meetings at Chamboh, Jauh Badhani and Mundkhar villages of the Bhoranj assembly constituency.

The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said the double-engine governments of the BJP at the Centre and the state had provided a tension-free environment to the people across the country and Himachal Pradesh.

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Thakur counted various "achievements" of BJP governments at the Centre and in the state on the occasion.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar, Oct 27 (PTI) An Army jawan was killed and a local terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba arrested during an anti-terror operation in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir which began on October 26, police said on Thursday.

A search operation is underway to nab another terrorist who is a Pakistani national, they said.

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"Acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in Wanseeran Taripora forest area in Sheeri area of Baramulla, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces," a police spokesperson said.

During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired at the joint search party, which retaliated and an encounter ensued, he said.

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During the initial exchange of fire, one Army jawan received gunshot injuries and was immediately evacuated to the hospital. He succumbed during treatment, he added.

"One local terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT, Nisar Ahmad Bhat, was arrested alive," the spokesperson said, adding that the security forces are carrying out searches to nab another terrorist, a Pakistani national named Usman.

"Arms and ammunition including one modified AKS-74U, one magazine, 28 rounds among other incriminating materials have been recovered from the arrested terrorist," the spokesperson said.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) SpiceJet has received aviation regulator DGCA's approval for wet leasing five Boeing 737 Max planes for up to six months and the airline has already deployed two of the aircraft on different routes, according to sources.

The approval for taking the planes on wet lease was given by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier this month.

Also Read | Diwali Pollution: Number of Patients With Major Breathing Issues Increase by 15 Percent Post Festival; Poor AQI Recorded Across India.

The sources said the remaining three aircraft will be inducted into SpiceJet fleet in the coming weeks.

There was no immediate comment from SpiceJet.

Also Read | Chintan Shivir: Scientific Approach Should Be Adopted to Check Crime, Says Haryana CM Manohar Lal.

The airline already has Boeing 737 Max planes in its fleet.

To cater to rising demand in the winter schedule which begins from October 30, SpiceJet and IndiGo have received approval for their proposals to take planes on wet lease.

Under wet lease arrangement, planes are leased along with operating crew and engineers.

Generally, wet leasing of planes is allowed for short periods to tackle supply constraints and ensure that airfares do not surge significantly.

IndiGo has received DGCA nod for wet leasing wide-body Boeing 777 planes, which are largely operated on long and ultra long-haul routes, for up to six months.

However, the regulator rejected the airline's proposal to keep them in the fleet for up to two years, saying the move could become diversion of traffic rights in collusion with a strong foreign carrier that will mainly feed the latter's hub abroad with more passengers from India, sources said earlier in the day.

Sources at IndiGo said the airline has written to the civil aviation ministry seeking extended tenure for aircraft that will be taken on wet lease.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad, October 27: Ahead of the Munugode bypolls, Cyberabad Police late Wednesday raided a farmhouse in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, and detained three people for allegedly attempting to poach MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with the promise of huge amounts of money.

Following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988, Telangana 'Poaching' Attempt: Cyberabad Police Question Three Persons Detained for Luring Four TRS MLAs.

The three accused have been identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy. In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP.

"Ramachandra Bharati of Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the BJP, met the complainant and negotiated with him to not to contest as a candidate from the TRS party and to join in BJP by resigning from TRS party and to contest in the next elections from BJP for which they offered him an amount of Rs 100 crore and also offered to give central government civil contract works and other high central government positions for monetary benefits and lured him to join the BJP," the FIR reads. Telangana: Video of Woman Kicking Diyas, Abusing Neighbours on Diwali Goes Viral; No Christian-Hindu Angle, Clarify Police.

Acoording to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforecement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP.

On October 26, 2022, they again contacted him and informed that they will arrive in the afternoon hours to his farmhouse located at Aziz Nagar, Moinabad for negotiation and also informed him to mobilize some other TRS MLAs for offering them bribe of Rs 50 crore each to join BJP, the FIR read.

The FIR further reads that the accused persons induced him and other MLAs to receive large amounts of money and to discharge their public duties improperly and dishonestly so that the Telangana Government led by TRS party is destabilized.

"They informed that three persons namely Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma of Delhi, one Nanda Kumar and one Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupathi would come to my farmhouse to finalize the deal of joining in BJP by resigning from the TRS party. Therefore, he requested to take necessary legal action against the above persons and the persons behind this conspiracy for offering him a bribe to resign from TRS and also to join in BJP by indulging in unethical and undemocratic ways by offering huge amounts as a bribe," the FIR added.

The raids were conducted on Wednesday after Police received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured and added that they noticed the presence of the three persons, who were subsequently detained.

"We received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured, by money, contracts, and posts. We raided the farmhouse and noticed three persons. We will initiate legal action and carry investigation into the luring matter," Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Stephen Raveendra said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, denied the allegations of attempts to poach TRS legislators and said that the entire drama was created by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao due to the fear of a loss in Munugode by-poll. BJP national vice-president D K Aruna said that BJP has nothing to do with the people arrested in the raid.

"The TRS is creating the story because of fear of defeat in the by-election to the Munugode. BJP has nothing to do with this. The people who are arrested are not of BJP and we have seen them before. We don't know why the people were in their farmhouse and who took them there. The Telangana CM KCR is behind this," she said.

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New Delhi, October 27: Two people died and two others were injured after a brawl over a minor issue of verbal abuse between two families in the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, said police.

One side attacked the family of the other side with sticks and fired fiercely with a "licensed" rifle. Kamal Kishore Mishra Tries To Kill Wife With His Car: Mumbai Police Hunt For Filmmaker Seen Running Over Angry Wife in Viral Video.

The two - a father and son - died on the spot in the firing. At the same time, the mother and brother of the deceased youth were also injured and are admitted to hospital. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Brawl Over 'Rasgulla' at Wedding Function in Agra Leaves One Dead, Three Injured.

"A man named Babu Singh was attacked by the family of a man named Guddu Singh in Hardoi where Babu Singh and his son died while two others were injured. They had a brawl on a minor issue of verbal abuse," said Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi. Efforts are underway to nab the accused, the SP said.

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New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) Billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd has got a 10-year extension of the licence for its prolific Rajasthan oil block till May 14, 2030, the firm said in a stock exchange filing on Thursday.

The initial licence to explore and produce oil and gas from the Barmer block expired on May 14, 2020. The government had agreed to a 10-year extension but it wanted a higher share of oil and gas from the block as well as settlement of Rs 5,651 crore dispute over cost recovery for the same.

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Vedanta did not agree to either of the demands and challenged them in court. Against this backdrop, the company was given monthly or bi-monthly extensions, and the latest one is due to expire on October 31, 2022.

Now, the government has agreed to sign the extension of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) pending the settlement of the dispute.

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"The Government of India accorded its approval for extension of the PSC under the Pre-NELP Extension Policy for RJ Block by a period of 10 years with effect from May 15, 2020, vide its letter dated October 26, 2018, subject to fulfilment of certain conditions.

"PSC extension for 10 years from May 15, 2020, to May 14, 2030, has been executed by the parties to the PSC on October 27, 2022," the company said in the filing.

The company's challenge to the government's demand for a higher profit share for the extension is pending before the Supreme Court of India, it said.

Vedanta believes it is eligible for an automatic extension of PSC for the Rajasthan (RJ) block on the same terms with effect from May 15, 2020.

The government had in October 2018 agreed to extend by 10 years the contract for Barmer fields in Rajasthan after the expiry of the initial 25-year contract period on May 14, 2020.

This extension was subject to the Vedanta group firm agreeing to raise the share of the government's profit from oil and gas produced from the block by 10 per cent.

While Cairn protested against the additional payout and took the government to court, the extension was subsequently held up due to the government claiming additional profit petroleum after reallocating common costs between different fields in the block and disallowance of cost on a pipeline.

It sought Rs 2,870 crore for fiscal 2016-17, which was revised to Rs 3,613 crore for the period till March 2018. On April 28, 2022, an additional amount of Rs 2,038 crore was included.

Vedanta has disputed this demand and initiated arbitration proceedings.

The company also had a dispute with its partner state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) over investments made in the block, which held up the computation of the government's share of profit petroleum for fiscal years ending March 31, 2019, and March 31, 2020.

ONGC holds a 30 per cent interest in the block while Cairn Oil & Gas, a unit of Vedanta Ltd, is the operator with a 70 per cent stake.

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Washington, October 27: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the importance of religious freedom as a fundamental American value and informed that a 500-year-old stolen statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity, was returned to the Indian government earlier this year.

"Just this past February, our colleagues at the Mission in Australia, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agents, recovered a 500-year-old stolen statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity, and returned it to the Indian Government," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kyiv, Unveils Military Aid of USD 2 Billion for Europe.

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Union Minister G Kishan Reddy had earlier acknowledged the same and tweeted, "500-year-old Lord Hanuman bronze idol stolen from Tamil Nadu temple, to be repatriated back to The stolen idol retrieved by US Homeland Security was handed over to @HCICanberra by US CDA Under the leadership of PM Sh@narendramodi the repatriation of our heritage continues."

He also stressed that the USA shows support for religious diversity through helping to preserve vital pieces of cultural heritage around the world. His remarks came as he hosted the in-person Diwali reception following a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This event, which follows the White House's biggest Diwali event on Monday, received guests from the diplomatic and religious communities, from the private sector and from all across civil society. US Issues Record 82,000 Student Visas to Indians, Highest Ever Globally in 2022.

"Simply to you: it's an honour - an honour to host you at the State Department for this first in-person Diwali since before the pandemic," Blinken said in his remarks at the Diwali reception.

"Over the past few days, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists have decorated their homes with rungolee; they've shared sweets; they've given thanks through pooja; they've lit sparklers. All around the world, from the streets of New Delhi, to the parks of Kuala Lumpur, to right down the street at the White House, people have gathered to share in the simple joy of being around friends and family," he added.

Speaking to the diplomatic, and civil society members present at the reception, Blinken said they are playing an invaluable role in helping to connect the US with local populations abroad, and "by pushing us to do more to support religious freedom around the world."

"We are honoured to host you. This is the first Diwali reception of this scale in the White House ever to be held. We have more Asian Americans than ever before in history and we want to thank you for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture," US President Joe Biden said during a reception to celebrate Diwali at the White House.

Wishing a happy Diwali to more than one billion Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists celebrating Diwali, Biden thanked the Asian American community in the US for making the Diwali celebration a joyous part of American culture.

"As we host the official White House Diwali reception, we are honoured to light the diya surrounded by members of the most diverse Administration in American history--led by Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black American and South Asian American to become Vice President," he added.

Biden thanked for the optimism, courage, and empathy demonstrated by the incredible South Asian community all across America.

Diwali is an auspicious festival that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. Spectacular lights, firecrackers, irresistible traditional sweets and exchanging gifts mark the festival.

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New Delhi, Oct 27 (PTI) India is likely to see the world's biggest rise in energy demand this decade, with demand climbing 3 per cent annually due to urbanisation and industrialisation, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its World Energy Outlook released on Thursday.

While the push for renewable energy will see it meeting as much as 60 per cent of the growth in demand for power, coal will continue to meet a third of overall energy demand by 2030 and another quarter will be met by oil.

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"India becomes the world's most populous country by 2025 and, combined with the twin forces of urbanisation and industrialisation, this underpins rapid growth in energy demand, which rises by more than 3 per cent per year in the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS) from 2021 to 2030," IEA said. "It sees the largest increase in energy demand of any country."

Even though India continues to make great strides with renewables deployment and efficiency policies, the sheer scale of its development means that the combined import bill for fossil fuels doubles over the next two decades, with oil by far the largest component.

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"This points to continued risks to energy security," IEA said.

IEA said the world is in the midst of the first global energy crisis, triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"Pressures in markets predated Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but Russia's actions have turned a rapid economic recovery from the pandemic -- which strained all manner of global supply chains, including energy -- into full-blown energy turmoil," it said.

Russia has been by far the world's largest exporter of fossil fuels, but its curtailments of natural gas supply to Europe and European sanctions on imports of oil and coal from Russia are severing one of the main arteries of global energy trade. All fuels are affected, but gas markets are the epicentre as Russia seeks leverage by exposing consumers to higher energy bills and supply shortages.

In India, coal meets a third of growth with demand rising above 770 million tonnes of coal equivalent (Mtce) by 2030, and continuing thereafter before peaking in the early 2030s.

Oil demand meets a further quarter of the energy demand growth and rises to nearly 7 million barrels per day by 2030 from 4.7 million bpd in 2021.

Coal generation is projected to continue to expand in absolute terms, peaking around 2030, though its share of electricity generation falls from just below 75 per cent to 55 per cent over this period.

Renewables meet more than 60 per cent of the growth in demand for power, and account for 35 per cent of the electricity mix by 2030 -- solar PV alone accounts for more than 15 per cent.

"However, coal still meets a third of overall energy demand growth by 2030, and oil, mainly for transport, another quarter," IEA said.

In the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), more rapid progress in deploying low-emission alternatives in power, industry and transport sectors in particular puts India on a trajectory in line with its goal of net zero emissions by 2070.

IEA projected India's oil demand to rise from 4.7 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2021 to 6.7 million bpd by 2030 and 7.4 million bpd by 2040 in STEPS. Under APS, the demand is projected to rise to 5.9 million bpd in 2030 before falling to 5.4 million bpd in 2040 and further to 3.9 million bpd in 2050.

However, oil imports double between 2021 and 2050 because of limited local resources.

Natural gas demand reaches 115 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2030 from 66 bcm in 2021. "Most of the growth comes from manufacturing and other industry, helped by the expansion of city gas distribution networks," it said.

Gas satisfies less than 5 per cent of the increase in total power generation, but this is enough to raise demand by 10 bcm.

"The government recently announced a doubling of its licence area for oil and gas exploration; however, this is unlikely to contribute significant volumes in this decade," IEA said, adding that gas imports double to reach nearly 70 bcm by 2030 before growth moderating to reach 90 bcm by 2050.

Coal demand rises by 25 per cent to 2030. "Strong economic growth -- the economy expands 90 per cent between 2021 and 2030 -- brings with it more demand for coal-fired power generation and in the use of coal to produce iron and steel and cement."

Coal-fired power capacity increases from 240 GW in 2021 to 275 GW in 2030.

India became the world's second-largest coal producer in 2021 (in energy terms), overtaking Australia and Indonesia, and it plans to increase domestic production by more than 100 Mtce from current levels to 2025.

Coal supply increases from about 450 Mtce in 2021 to 550 Mtce in 2030 in the STEPS and just over 500 Mtce in the APS, IEA said.

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Washington, Oct 27 (PTI) The family will "never be normal again," said the grieving parents of 20-year-old Indian-origin student who was stabbed to death by his Korean roommate in their dormitory at the prestigious Purdue University in the US.

Varun Manish Chheda, a senior majoring in data science, was stabbed multiple times in the head and neck by his roommate "Jimmy" Min Sha, a 22-year-old cybersecurity major from Seoul, before he called authorities. Sha has been charged with murder in the killing of Varun, in what police called an unprovoked attack.

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Opening up for the first time since the gruesome killing of their son, the parents of Varun said that he was effusive, close with his family and wise beyond his years.

Although Varun was a busy college student, he always stayed in touch with his mom, dad and little sister. He'd call his mom between classes, share his Wordle score with her, and check in over text each morning and night, his mother, Seema Dedhiya, told ABC News in an interview last week.

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On Varun's final night alive, Dedhiya said she texted her son her usual evening message: "Eat well, sleep well. ... Finish your homework."

"He said, 'Yes, Mom, I've done it all,'" she recalled.

She said Varun's final text to her at 11:45 p.m. read, "Goodnight, Mama." Early on the morning of October 5, two police officers visited the family in Indianapolis and conveyed the tragic news. Varun suffered multiple stab wounds in an "unprovoked" attack, according to Purdue University Chief of Police Lesley Weite.

His parents said they had no sense of problems with Varun's roommate and their son rarely mentioned him. They described Varun as a peacemaker, which they said made his violent death all the more shocking.

Varun was a minimalist and environmentalist. He never asked his parents for money and insisted he didn't need a nicer car or nicer computer, they said. He was passionate about Taekwondo, strategy games and especially science, said his father, Manish Chheda.

Varun was recently studying medical genomics and "was even thinking maybe of following in my footsteps and becoming a physician," he said.

"How it would've turned out, we can only guess at this point," he said. "I think he would've been involved in ... helping people face-to-face or in a research realm." "I miss him terribly," Dedhiya said.

The father said he doesn't know when he'll "be psychologically ready" to return to his work as a doctor. "I need to be more focused than I am right now. We're gonna get help, we're gonna get counseling."

The family will "never be normal again," he said, but hopes they'll find a "new normal."

"You can't lose someone like this and ever get over it. But we have to try," he said. Sha has not entered a plea. As he headed to his first court appearance on October 7, Sha told reporters "I am very sorry" when asked if he had a message to the victim's family. Sha also said, "I was blackmailed," but did not elaborate.

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Moscow [Russia], October 27 (ANI): During his maiden visit to Russia since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will hold talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, said Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova.

The ministers will hold talks on November 8 in Moscow where they will discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the international agenda.

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Jaishankar's visit to Moscow comes at a crucial time when the war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated in recent times.

This visit is also coming at a time when the Indian embassy in Kyiv has issued a fresh advisory asking all Indian citizens in Ukraine to leave the country immediately in view of escalating hostilities in the Ukraine war.

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During UNGA, the External Affairs Minister met his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and exchanged views on Ukraine. ''A wide-ranging conversation with FM Sergey Lavrov at #UNGA 77. Discussed our bilateral cooperation. Exchanged views on Ukraine, G-20 and UN reforms,'' Jaishankar tweeted.

The meeting was held just hours before Lavrov's address to the high-level UN General Assembly's general debate where he called for UNSC reform and backed India in an expanded Security Council.

As the Ukraine conflict has dominated the world's top diplomatic stage, India at UNGA strongly called for the need to end the war through diplomacy and openly addressed its stand on the Kyiv-Moscow conflict. Speaking at the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA), Jaishankar said, "We are often asked whose side we are on. And our answer, each time, is straight and honest. India is on the side of peace and will remain firmly there," strongly asserted.

"We are on the side that respects the UN Charter and its founding principles," he said, reiterating India's stand on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. While pressing the need for diplomacy, Jaishankar said that they are on the side that calls for dialogue.

Almost every leader during the week reiterated the impact of the conflict, "We are on the side of those struggling to make ends meet, even as they stare at escalating costs of food, fuel and fertilizers," Jaishankar said in his address.

"It is therefore in our collective interest to work constructively, both within the United Nations and outside, in finding an early resolution to this conflict," he concluded.

During the UNSC meeting on Ukraine, Jaishankar recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's emphasis to Russian President Vladimir Putin that "this cannot be an era of war".

"Let me emphasize that even in conflict situations, there can be no justification for violation of human rights or of international law. Where any such acts occur, it is imperative that they are investigated in an objective and independent manner. This was the position we took with regard to the killings in Bucha, and this is the position we take even today. The Council will also recall that we had then supported calls for an independent investigation into the Bucha incident." Jaishankar said, making it one of the toughest statements on Russia in the last seven months, since the invasion of Ukraine.

Jaishankar also met in person with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the UN headquarters here and apprised him of India's principled position that emphasizes cessation of all hostilities and returns to dialogue and diplomacy.

Jaishankar in US defended India's defence procurement saying that it is in its national interest.

"We get our military equipment is not a new issue or changed due to geo-political changes" and that New Delhi has not faced problems in terms of spare parts supply in the past from Russia, he had said during a press conference with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.

Earlier, he also defended India's oil purchases from Russia.(ANI)

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Beijing, Oct 27 (PTI) China on Thursday said India and Pakistan should resolve the Kashmir issue through dialogue and consultations and avoid taking "unilateral actions" that could further complicate the situation.

Replying to a question on the Kashmir issue raised by a Pakistani journalist, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning during a media briefing here said that China's position on the issue of Kashmir has been "consistent and clear cut".

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"The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, needs to be resolved peacefully and appropriately in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and relevant bilateral agreement," she said.

"Parties concerned need to avoid unilateral moves that may complicate the situation," Mao said.

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"Efforts should be made to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation so as to maintain regional peace and stability," she said.

India has previously rejected third party intervention on the Kashmir issue, saying that matters related to the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir are entirely its internal affairs.

"Other countries including China have no locus standi to comment. They should note that India refrains from the public judgment of their internal issues," the Ministry of External Affairs had said in March this year.

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained over the Kashmir issue and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Bilateral ties nosedived after India abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating the state into two Union Territories on August 5, 2019.

Following India's decision, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with New Delhi and expelled the Indian envoy. Trade ties between Pakistan and India have largely been frozen since then.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and shall forever remain an integral part of the country. India has said it desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility, and violence.

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Light festival to kick off in Paris, France

Xinhua) 15:17, October 27, 2022

A visitor takes a photo of illuminated sculptures during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Visitors view illuminated sculptures during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A visitor takes a photo of an illuminated sculpture during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Visitors view illuminated sculptures during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A visitor views illuminated sculptures during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

A visitor takes a photo of illuminated sculptures during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Illuminated sculptures are pictured during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Illuminated sculptures are pictured during a media tour of a light festival at Thoiry zoo near Paris, France, Oct. 26, 2022. The festival will kick off here on Sunday, displaying around 2,000 illuminated sculptures. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Washington [US], October 27 (ANI): The US on Wednesday called out to Iran to stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians as the war between Kyiv and Moscow escalated in the past few weeks and added that deepening ties between Russia and Iran are moving beyond weapons.

"We're concerned Moscow may be advising Iran to manage protests (Mahsa Amini protests) as Russia has extensive experience in suppressing open demonstrations. Our message to Iran is clear: Stop killing people, stop sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a press briefing.

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As protests in Iran continue and are only becoming violent with every passing day, the White House secretary said the administration is highly concerned that Russia may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage women-led and anti-government protests, The Hill reported.

"The administration is concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage protests," Karine Jean-Pierre said while referring to Iran's deadly crackdowns on women-led demonstrations.

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Furthermore, the US also refuted claims of denials by Russia that Iran is supplying weaponized drones in its aggression on Ukraine, reported The Hill.

"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," she added.

After the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini under police custody, there have been widespread rallies and strikes throughout the Kurdish region of Iran. Public expressions of anger at Amini's death and Iran's decades-old mandatory public headscarf policy for women quickly evolved into Iranian protesters calling for more freedoms and the death of Iran's Islamist rulers.

Meanwhile, on October 17 earlier, the United States strongly condemned early morning drone strikes on Kyiv as it rebuked Russia for "reprehensible" attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

"More desperate and reprehensible Russian attacks this morning against civilians and civilian infrastructure. We admire the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people. We will stand with you for as long as it takes," the US embassy in Ukraine tweeted.

Ukraine's capital city Kyiv was rocked by multiple explosions in the attack by "Kamikaze" drones and several residential buildings were damaged during the attack.

Kyiv claimed Moscow used Iranian-supplied drones in the strikes against major Ukrainian cities in recent weeks and pleaded with Western countries to step up their assistance in the face of the new challenge. (ANI)

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London, Oct 27 (PTI) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday came under fresh pressure on the re-appointment of Indian-origin Suella Braverman as home secretary after two Conservative MPs questioned his decision, days after she quit over data breaches.

Braverman, 42, resigned from the Cabinet of former prime minister Liz Truss last week, having breached the ministerial code by sending secure information from her private email. She was reappointed by Sunak, the newly-appointed Prime Minister, on Tuesday, leading to growing calls for her resignation.

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Conservative MP Caroline Nokes said there were "big questions" hanging over the issue and called for a full inquiry. And former Tory Party chairman Jake Berry said Braverman's breaches had been multiple and serious.

However, the new Chairman of the Conservative Party Nadhim Zahawi defended Sunak's move, telling the BBC he believed in "redemption".

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"The prime minister looked at this case and he decided to give her a second chance," he said.

Speaking in the House of Lords, Cabinet Office minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe said the prime minister Sunak "was clear this is a government with integrity, professionalism and accountability", adding: "I believe it was right to bring her back."

In her resignation letter on October 19, Braverman admitted committing a "technical infringement" of the rules by sending an official document to someone not authorised to receive it.

"I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign," she wrote.

However, just six days later Sunak, the first Indian-origin British Prime Minister re-appointed Braverman as home secretary. It came two days after Braverman had thrown her support behind him in the contest to replace Truss, in what was widely seen as a significant endorsement by an influential figure on the right of the Conservative Party.

On Wednesday, Labour leader Keir Starmer accused Sunak of giving Braverman a job in exchange for her support in the race for the leadership.

"He's so weak, he's done a grubby deal trading national security because he was scared to lose another leadership election," he told MPs at Prime Minister's Questions. Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats have also called for inquiries into Braverman's reappointment.

Taking his first Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak strongly justified his decision telling MPs: "The home secretary made an error of judgment but she recognised that, she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake."

But Nokes - Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North - agreed there should be an inquiry into Braverman's reappointment.

Speaking to BBC Radio Solent, she said: "I think what is apparent is that there are big questions hanging over this whole issue.

"And to be frank I would like to see them cleared up so that the home secretary can get on with her job."

Berry - who served as party chairman under Truss but was fired by Sunak - has also questioned Braverman's return to the cabinet.

He told Talk TV that Braverman had sent a document "from a private email address to another MP, she then sought to copy in that individual's wife but accidentally sent it to a staffer in Parliament.

"To me, that seems to be a really serious breach - the cabinet secretary had his say at the time. I doubt he has changed his mind in the last six days."

A No 10 spokesperson has denied reports that cabinet secretary Simon Case - the head of the civil service - was "livid" about the appointment.

The BBC has been told that the home secretary has requested further briefings on email security.

Raising the matter in the House of Lords, former Labour Home Secretary David, now Lord, Blunkett told peers the security and intelligence services could be reluctant to brief the home secretary and that other international security agencies would be reluctant to share information with the UK "if they're fearful that information will be passed out from government itself".

Another row surrounding Braverman is also brewing with the Labour Party calling for a probe into reports that, as attorney general, she was investigated over the leaking of information related to the security services, according to British media reports.

Braverman, the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Fareham in south-east England, served as the Attorney General in the Boris Johnson-led government.

She was among the first contenders to throw her hat in the ring to replace Johnson as Tory leader and Prime Minister. She was named as the Home Secretary by Prime Minister Truss.

The mother of two children is the daughter of Hindu Tamil mother Uma and Goan-origin father Christie Fernandes. Her mother migrated to the UK from Mauritius while her father migrated from Kenya in the 1960s. PTI

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Washington, Oct 27 (AP) President Joe Biden's chief of staff violated the law by retweeting a political message on his government Twitter account, and a warning letter was sent to him, according to a memo from the Office of Special Counsel.

The memo dated on Wednesday said Ron Klain ran afoul of the Hatch Act, which prohibits government officials from using their official roles to influence elections, including supporting candidates, while acting in their official capacities.

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The message Klain retweeted on May 22 from STRIKE PAC, a Democratic group, was about delivering infant formula to Americans. But the message also included the encouragement, Get your Democrats Deliver merch today!

Klain removed the retweet as soon as he was notified of the complaint. No disciplinary action will be pursued and the office, an independent government watchdog that monitors violations of the Hatch Act, considers the matter closed. Klain was warned to be more careful in the future.

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The conservative legal group America First Legal, led by Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller, complained about the tweet and sought an investigation.

Miller and at least a dozen other former Trump administration officials repeatedly violated that same law, without consequence and with Trump's approval, as part of a willful disregard for the Hatch Act, the Office of Special Counsel found in 2021. The office investigated comments by Trump officials leading into the 2020 presidential election, including at the Republican National Convention, which was held at the White House in a major break from historical norms.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre often cites the Hatch Act in deflecting political questions during news briefings. Earlier this week she was asked whether Biden was doing everything he can possibly do to get Democrats across the finish line in the November 8 elections.

"I have to be careful of what I say, because we do respect the Hatch Act here in this administration, she said. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Oct 27 (PTI) Former US President Donald Trump has promised that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.

In a Diwali speech organised by Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump told a gathering of about 200 Indian-Americans that he shared a great relationship with Hindus, India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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He said he would nominate RHC founder Shalabh Kumar as his ambassador to India if he gets elected as the US president in 2024.

A video of Trump's speech at the Diwali reception last Friday was released by RHC on Tuesday, in which the former president says that he has not yet announced if he will run, but if he does, and goes on to win in 2024, he has certain commitments towards the Indian American community.

Also Read | Malaysia Chopper Crash: Six on Board Including Pilot Found Alive in Pahang; No Casualties Reported.

We had support from the Hindu population, the great Hindu people both times (2016 and 2020) and great support from India, people from India. I fully endorsed the idea of building a Hindu Holocaust memorial in (Washington) DC. I think it's time We are going to get that done, Trump said.

Trump said he probably would not have won in 2016 but for the support from the Hindu community in the battleground States.

He vowed that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.

In his remarks, Kumar said Trump has been a strong friend to the Hindu community and the RHC is proud of the achievements it has made throughout the years to empower and embolden the diaspora in America.

Diwali is a time for all of us to reflect upon the victory of light over darkness, and to look towards a new year of prosperity and peace, he said.

Under Trump, US-India relations had never been stronger, as both sides fostered a relationship rooted in facing common threats from Pakistan and China and with respect and admiration for each other, the RHC said in a statement. Indo-US relationship made great strides in 2017, with President Trump keeping his electoral promise of being the best friend of India inside the White House.

India was the only country for which the Trump administration came out with a 100-year plan; an honour not accorded to even America's top allies.

Not only did the Trump administration rechristened the Asia Pacific region as Indo-Pacific, much to the anxiety of China, giving a greater role and space for New Delhi in the entire region, but also for the first time the United States stated in clear terms that India is a key player in Afghanistan.

As Trump announced his South Asia Policy  giving India a key role in bringing peace in the war-torn nation  in August, for the first time a US president aligned himself with New Delhi's position that terrorism emanates from Pakistan.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, October 27: Puthiya Tamizhagam, a Tamil political party, has called upon the DMK government to constitute an anti-terrorism squad in Coimbatore given the sensitive nature of the town and the recent car blast incident.

Party founder leader and former MLA Krishnaswamy while addressing a press conference in Coimbatore on Thursday said that the DMK government should have joined hands with the Centre and conducted a joint investigation into the Coimbatore car blast which killed a person. Coimbatore Car Blast Case: One More Person Arrested by Tamil Nadu Police; Accused Was Planning Serial Blasts, Finds SIT.

Krishnasamy told mediapersons that the DMK was time and again speaking about the autonomy of the state but has handed over a crucial investigation on a car blast to the National Investigation Agency. The Puthiya Tamizhagam leader called upon the state government to constitute a permanent anti-terrorism squad based out of Coimbatore. Coimbatore Car Blast Case: Tamil Nadu Government Recommends NIA Probe.

The former MLA also called upon the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to visit the spot to alleviate fear among the masses after the killing of Jameesha Mubin in the car blast.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2022 04:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, Oct 27: A Kyrgyzstan national was held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by the Customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle in 7.5 kg gold worth Rs 3.5 crore, officials said on Thursday.

A senior Customs official said that the woman arrived at the IGI Airport from Kyrgyzstan on Thursday. Arvind Kejriwal Plays Emotional Card Wherever He Has To Contest Elections, Says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

"She attempted to smuggle in four gold bars by hiding them in ingeniously made pockets in the body shaper worn by her. She failed to produce relevant documents for the seized gold," the official said.

He added that the accused did not declare the said gold bars collectively weighing 7.5 kg at the Red Channel before the officers with deliberate intention to clear the impugned goods clandestinely. Massachusetts Accident: Three Students From India Killed As Two Vehicles Crash in US.

"Therefore, the said recovered goods were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act. We have booked a case of smuggling of gold in this respect," said the official.

The woman was produced before a local court, which remanded her to 14-day judicial custody.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2022 11:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, Oct 27: A 22 year-old man was stabbed to death in south Delhi's Badarpur area on Thursday, police said.

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According to police, information was received from Safdarjung hospital regarding Sachin, a resident of Bilaspur Camp, Molarband, who was admitted by his friend Aakash after a stab injury. Delhi: Kyrgyzstan Woman Trying To Smuggle Gold Worth Rs 3.5 Crore by Hiding Them in Pockets Inside Body Shaper Held at IGI Airport.

"Sachin succumbed to his injuries during the treatment. A police team reached the hospital where Akash told police that they visited the house of their childhood friend Mukul, also a resident of Molarband, to celebrate his birthday," a senior police official said.

"At around 8 p.m., Sachin left the house and within a half an hour, a child from the neighbourhood informed them that he was lying near the house. Thereafter, Sachin was taken to nearby Bajarang Hospital by Aakash and Mukul. Later on, the injured was shifted to Safdarjung hospital, where he succumbed to injuries," the official added. Chennai: Techie Dies After Getting Electrocuted by Touching Lamppost While Crossing Road Median in Pallikaranai.

A case under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intension) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Badarpur police station and investigation was taken up.

"During investigation, four accused, identified as Badal, Jatin, Mahipal and a 17-year-old were apprehended from their hideouts within hours," said police, adding that further investigation is in progress.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2022 12:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Bhai Dooj is celebrated on the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha of Kartik month of the Hindu calendar. According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls in October or November. This year, it will be observed on October 26. Bhai Dooj is a festival similar to Raksha Bandhan. It is also known as Bhai Tika and Bhai Ponta. On this day, brothers give gifts to their sisters. According to Hindu mythology, after slaying the demon Narakasura, Lord Krishna visited his sister Subhadra who gave him a warm welcome with sweets and flowers. She affectionately applied tika on Krishnas forehead and thus originated the festival of Bhai Tika or Bhai Dooj. As you celebrate this festival by observing the bond between brothers and sisters, we at LatestLY have curated greetings and wishes that you can download to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters and wish Happy Bhai Dooj 2022 with WhatsApp messages, images, HD wallpapers and SMS. Yama Dwitiya 2022 Date and Bhai Dooj Tithi: Know Aparahna Muhurat, Bhratri Dwitiya Customs and Significance.

Celebrating the festival in traditional style, girls and women perform aarti for their brothers and apply tika on their foreheads. The tika ceremony signifies the sisters sincerest prayers for the long and happy life of their brothers and the brothers later treat them with gifts or cash. Here are beautiful greetings and wishes that you can download to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters and wish Happy Bhai Dooj 2022 with WhatsApp messages, images, HD wallpapers and SMS.

Happy Bhai Dooj 2022 Greetings and Wishes

Bhai Dooj 2022 Greetings (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: Wishing a Very Happy Bhai Dooj to All the Brothers and Sisters. May God Bless Your Relationship With Happiness, Understanding and Lots of Love.

Happy Bhai Dooj 2022 Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: On the Occasion of Bhai Dooj, I Wish the Warmth and Love That We Both Share Gets Stronger and Deeper With Each Passing Day of Our Lives. Wishing a Very Happy Bhai Dooj.

Bhai Dooj 2022 Wishes (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: I Am Grateful To Have a Wonderful Sibling Like You. Wishing You Lots of Happiness, Success, and Good Health. Happy Bhai Dooj!

Bhai Dooj 2022 Messages for Brothers (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: I Wish You Infinite Happiness and Success in Life. Make Your Life Prosperous and Bright! Have a Memorable Bhai Dooj!

Happy Bhai Dooj 2022 Greetings (File Image)

WhatsApp Message Reads: May the Bond We Share Be Blessed by the Almighty Always. May We Keep Sharing Our Good and Bad Times, Our Secrets, Our Joys and Our Sorrows With Each Other. Happy Bhai Dooj.

Diwali 2022 Calendar: Dates For Dhanteras, Choti Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja & Bhai Dooj

According to the customs in Haryana and Maharashtra, those who dont have brothers worship the moon instead. Celebrating the festival traditionally, they apply beautiful mehndi on their hands. The sisters who stay away from their brothers send messages to their brothers to wish them on this auspicious day. Wishing everyone a very Happy Bhai Dooj 2022!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2022 06:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Kerala Blasters are looking forward to ending their losing streak this season when they host Mumbai City at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. Blasters have lost at home against ATK Mohun Bagan before suffering a late defeat in Bhubaneswar against Odisha FC last week.
Among the 94 people in the hospital, 44 are men, 30 women. 12 boys and eight girls. They all have the same symptoms -- vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache. Mudenuru residents have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of government response despite the large number of people falling sick.
The Azad Maidan police registered a case under Indian Penal Code 363 (kidnapping) and formed eight teams to find the baby, Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar told reporters. The police examined footage of a number of CCTVs.
Ambassador Chris Lu will be representing the US at the special meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in #India this week, according to Washington's UN mission. pic.twitter.com/hnyTNnCWF0 IANS (@ians_india) October 27, 2022

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Britain's first Prime Minister of Indian origin, Rishi Sunak attended a Diwali reception at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday night. Extending Diwali greetings to everyone, Sunak said he will do everything he can to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas." On Tuesday, Sunak took charge as the new UK Prime Minister after meeting King Charles III at Buckingham Palace.

Rishi Sunak Attends Diwali Celebration At 10 Downing Street:

Brilliant to drop into tonights Diwali reception in No10. I will do everything I can in this job to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope. Happy #Diwali everyone! pic.twitter.com/g4yhAGhToz  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 26, 2022

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
Tehran, October 27: At least 13 people were reportedly killed and 21 others injured in a "terrorist attack" at the Shahcheragh religious shrine in Iran's southern city of Shiraz. Somalia Terrorist Attack: Police Conducting Operation In Mogadishu's Hayat Hotel As Attackers Barge Into Premises (Watch Video).

One woman and two children were among the victims, semi-official Fars news agency said in a report, adding that investigations showed that the security forces of the shrine were also targeted in this attack on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. Video: Terrorists Attack Police Hotel in Turkey's Mersin, Detonate Bomb; Terror Strike Caught on CCTV Cameras.

Although the earlier reports said three terrorists were behind the attack, the police commander of Fars province said there is one attacker and the one has been arrested.

According to Fars, the perpetrator of this attack is an element of Takfiri groups.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 27, 2022 08:34 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Karachi, Oct 27: A young married woman was arrested from the New Karachi area on charges of blasphemy after she allegedly desecrated the Holy Quran, media reports said.

The incident took place on Wednesday when the residents of the area staged a protest and blocked the road outside the Bilal Colony police station, demanding the security personnel hand over the accused to them, The Express Tribune reported. Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaaf Party Rejects ISI Chiefs Allegations; Says He Never Made Unconstitutional Demands.

To control the security situation, the area police closed the doors of the police station, beefed up the security and immediately shifted the suspect to a safer place.

An FIR has been registered under Section 295-B on the complaint of the area people.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, inspector Ahmed Nawaz said that the suspect had been taken into custody and the investigation is underway.

"We have also recovered the Holy Quran that was allegedly burnt," he added.

In the videos available with The Express Tribune, the woman could be seen being beaten up by the crowd, with some women who allegedly caught the accused red-handed trying to hand her over to the police.

In another video, when asked why she desecrated the Holy Quran, she replied: "I am Yahoodi [Jew] and the Muslims don't like Jews."

In another video clip, the woman said that she is from Dadu, a district in Sindh province, 340 km from Karachi.

Contrary to her statement, the local police claimed that she was from Khamiso Goth, an area in the city. Delhi: Kyrgyzstan Woman Trying To Smuggle Gold Worth Rs 3.5 Crore by Hiding Them in Pockets Inside Body Shaper Held at IGI Airport.

The mob allegedly tried to kill her by setting her on fire in the middle of the road, The Express Tribune reported.

Law enforcers said that it is premature to say anything about the mental health of the accused.

"We have to investigate the matter further," Nawaz said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2022 12:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Elon Musk has changed his Twitter bio to "Chief Twit" and attended meetings with executives of the social media platform at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters on Wednesday.

The Washington Post reported that the new developments show that the $44 billion deal in acquiring Twitter is on track to close this week.

People close to Musk who spoke on condition of anonymity also confirmed that the officials and the Tesla CEO are finalizing the Twitter deal.

Musk praised Twitter's capacity for encouraging "citizen journalism" on Twitter. He added that local news organizations "should get way more prominence" on the social media platform.

A copy viewed by the media outlet showed that Twitter's chief marketing officer, Leslie Berland, sent an email to staff saying Musk would be in their San Francisco headquarters, encouraging employees to "say hi."

Musk also tweeted a video of him walking into the company's reception area carrying a sink.

Twitter employees have also posted videos of the Tesla CEO making his rounds in the office and greeting workers.

In one clip, Musk said that "this is a sweet office."

Meanwhile, Twitter spokeswoman Rebecca Hahn confirmed that Musk would address the company on Friday.

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Elon Musk 'Finalizing' Twitter Deal

Bloomberg earlier noted that Musk has told bankers he expected the deal to close by the deadline, which is on Friday.

Banks were expecting a borrowing notice from Musk for $13 billion in debt financing, intending for the funds to go into escrow.

Wall Street lenders had already been gearing up in recent weeks to fund the debt. The group of lenders is led by Morgan Stanley.

Musk's lawyers have written to investors backing into the equity portion of the deal to confirm it is on track to close by the deadline, according to people familiar with the matter.

Potential investors were told that Musk intends to cut 75% of the workforce, which is now about 7,500.

A person with knowledge of the matter noted that Musk wants to double revenue within three years.

Twitter Lawsuit

In August, the social media company filed a lawsuit against Musk over his abandonment of the deal.

Musk filed a countersuit noting that Twitter misled investors and it breached the agreement by failing to provide enough information regarding spam accounts.

The Tesla CEO added that another breach happened when Twitter failed to consult with him on business moves such as firing senior employees, as reported by The Guardian.

Musk was also "astonished" to learn about how meager Twitter's process is for identifying spam accounts.

Musk's lawsuit said that 100 accounts a day were sampled by human reviewers to come up with less than -5% figure.

Twitter argued that the company imposes a much more "layered process" for taking out spam accounts, including using automated systems.

Musk also claimed that Twitter failed to provide him all the data and information that he asked for in regards to "any reasonable business purpose related to the consummation of the transaction."

READ MORE: Elon Musk Warns World: Global Recession Could Last 'Until Spring '24'

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Elon Musk Enters Twitter HQs, Said to Address Staff on Friday - from Bloomberg Markets and Finance


Shane Cienfuegos was the first non-binary person in Chile to get a gender-neutral identity certificate.

They say that even though they have won against centuries of prejudice, they still feel a "great weight" of duty.

The 29-year-old stated ten days after receiving their new ID from civil registration in Santiago that "It is difficult to be the first," Manilastandard.net reported.

The card is marked with an X rather than an "F" for females or an "M" for males in the section to indicate gender.

Cienfuegos identifies as transgender and non-binary and prefers the gender-neutral Spanish pronoun "elle" (they).

They had long, flowing dark hair, a tidy goatee, lipstick, a flowery dress, and platform heels.

On October 14, Cienfuegos won a nine-year legal struggle to obtain an identification paper that accurately reflects how they see themselves.

It was the first ID card issued in Chile that did not specify the holder's gender.

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Non-binary People Suffer From Bullying

Cienfuegos claimed they were victims of violent assaults over the years and had been bullied since they were very young.

According to News 18, during the release of a book about their eventful life in Las Condes, Santiago, they said, "I've had to fight for my life on the street I don't know how many times,"

"I have survived. I have made myself tough to survive a cruel, dehumanizing system," they said between signing books.

They added that the leading cause of trans deaths is murder. They said that trans do not die from diseases; instead, they die because they are killed, and they commit suicide as they suffer from violence.

They have been fighting for the rights of non-binary people since high school, and they sell sex to pay for their social work degree.

Cienfuegos is currently a prominent member of the advocacy group Organizando Trans Diversidades (Organizing Trans Diversities).

Chile Is Shifting Away From Conservatism

Chile has been slowly moving away from the conservative government of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and the Catholic Church's influence.

The gender activist Movilh said that in the last year alone, more than 1,000 complaints of discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community were made in the country, with about 127 complaints coming from transgender people.

The Anti-Discrimination Act, passed by Congress in 2012, made same-sex civil unions legal after three years.

While a law was established in 2018 allowing for sex changes starting at the age of 14, and legislation approving homosexual marriage and adoption was passed in 2021.

A Santiago-based appeals court recognized Cienfuegos' non-binary gender identity in July of this year. However, the battle is far from done, Her Zindagi noted.

In Chile, the law recognises only two genders: male and female. Anyone who wanted an "X" on their card would have to go through the same legal steps.

According to Cienfuegos, the non-binary ID is one of several milestones that must be attained to advance fundamental rights. However, being a conservative means dealing with daily discrimination because you are sexually different.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Tras fallo judicial: Registro Civil emite cedula de identidad no binaria por primera vez - From 24horas.cl
Roberson Alphonse, a well-known journalist in Haiti, has survived an assassination attempt after he was shot inside his car on his way to work in Port-au-Prince, the country's capital.

According to Al Jazeera, Alphonse works at the daily newspaper Le Nouvelliste and radio station Magik9. He is currently in a hospital and has undergone two operations.

Frantz Duval, the chief editor for both media where Alphonse works, noted that the Haitian journalist is expected to recover from his injuries after his car was riddled with bullets on Tuesday.

In a statement, Haiti's Ministry of Culture and Communications said it learned about the news of the assassination attempt that happened in the Delmas neighborhood.

The ministry added that Alphonse's "rigor, his effort to be impartial," and his "sense of perfection make him a model for the profession."

Duval noted that Alphonse's car had more than 10 bullet holes. Duval also thanked the unidentified person who rescued Alphonse and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding before medical help arrived in the area.

READ NEXT: Haiti: Journalists Fatally Shot, Bodies Burned While Reporting on Violence

Violence Against Haiti's Journalists

Authorities found the body of another journalist on Tuesday. According to Washington Post, the journalist was identified as Garry Tess, who had been missing for several days.

The government's Office of Citizen Protection noted that Tess used to host a political talk show. The office said they were worried about the security of journalists in Haiti, urging their protection.

No one has been arrested yet in either case of Garry Tess or Roberson Alphonse. Media workers have been a target of fighting gangs who have managed to get a hold of the country after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July last year.

The president of Haiti's Senate, Joseph Lambert, demanded a judicial investigation of Alphonse's case. The attacks on Alphonse and Terry came more than a month after the death of two other journalists.

The two journalists were identified as Tayson Latigue and Frantzsen Charles, who were fatally shot, and their bodies were set on fire.

Latigue and Charles were reporting in a slum area controlled by Haitian gangs when they were killed. Two other journalists were also killed last January by gang members. The journalists were reporting in Laboule.

Haiti Gang Violence

Haiti is facing gang violence while dealing with a cholera outbreak amid a water shortage. The United Nations has released a report regarding gang violence and how criminal groups in Haiti would use rape as a tool of intimidation and control, CNN reported.

One Haitian security forces source told CNN in August that criminal gangs control or influence an estimated three quarters of the city.

Gangs conducting systematic sexual violence are reportedly going largely undocumented and unpunished, while its victims have been left to fend for themselves.

Arnaud Royer, director of the United Nations Integrated Office's human rights arm in Haiti, earlier said that "rape has become a weapon." In addition, warring gangs have reportedly isolated whole neighborhoods and trapped them between the "frontlines" of street warfare.

Many were unable to go to work or have access to food or water. The United Nations report further noted that men and children of all sexes were also targeted for sexual violence.

READ MORE: 4 of Haiti President Jovenel Moise's 'Presumed Assassins' Killed, 2 Arrested by Police

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Two Journalists Confirmed Murdered in Haiti - From TeleSUR English
New details about 19-year-old shooter Orlando Harris, who killed two people and wounded several others at a St. Louis high school in Missouri, have surfaced.

Tragedy befell the Central Visual and Performing Arts High School when the gunman shot at people. According to St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Interim Chief Mike Sack, Harris' family members previously contacted the police and reported that he had a firearm.

Sack said Wednesday that his family grew concerned about his mental health and even sought to find help for him. He noted that Harris' mother wanted his AR-15-style rifle out of their house.

"The officers, in their response, handed it over to somebody else, an adult who was lawfully able to possess it," Sack said.

Yet somehow, Harris was still able to gain access to the firearm and 600 rounds of ammunition. According to CNN, this resulted in the deaths of 15-year-old student Alexzandria Bell and 61-year-old teacher Jean Kuczka. Harris himself was killed by officers responding to his rampage.

READ NEXT: North Carolina Mass Shooting Suspect Arrested After Killing 5 People, Including a Police Officer

Missouri: St. Louis School Shooter's Family 'Made Every Effort' To Help Him

According to Mike Sack, Orlando Harris' family also committed him to a mental institution. In addition to taking away his firearm and providing him with mental health treatment, Sack noted that his family also took additional steps to help prevent any trouble.

"They would search his room on occasion because they were concerned," said Sack, adding that the family "were constantly in touch with the medical providers who were providing medical care for him."

Sack noted that Harris' family also adopted a system to track the items he received in the mail. He said they also monitored his interactions with others to ensure he engaged with people and he also felt loved. However, none of their actions worked.

"I've got to give credit to the family. They made every effort that they felt that they reasonably could," the police chief noted.

After he opened fire, investigators found a notebook and a handwritten note left in the gunman's car that revealed his motives.

"I don't have any friends. I don't have any family. I've never had a girlfriend. I've never had a social life. I've been an isolated loner my entire life. This was the perfect storm for a mass shooter," Harris wrote in the note, according to Sack.

According to CBS News, the shooter's family is heartbroken about what happened to him. Harris targeted his old school for his rampage and forced several students to escape via the windows.

He shot and killed two people and wounded seven other teenagers. Health teacher Jean Kuczka reportedly died while trying to save her students and has been hailed a "hero."

Father of Victim of St. Louis School Shooting in Disbelief About His Daughter's Death

Andre Bell, the father of 15-year-old Alexzandria Bell, talked to NBC affiliate KSDK and described the incident as a "nightmare."

"My daughter's mother called me and that's how I found out. I didn't initially think the call was real," Bell said. Andre lived in Los Angeles while his daughter was in St. Louis, Missouri. He said Alexzandria was his everything.

The grieving father described her as a "joyful, wonderful, and just a great person." He said her daughter also had an "outgoing personality, loved to dance, and was a member of her high school's junior varsity dance team."

READ MORE: Parkland School Shooting Verdict: Gunman Nikolas Cruz Escapes Death Penalty, Gets Life in Prison Without Parole

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Missouri Police Reveal New Information on St. Louis School Shooting Suspect - From ABC News
A famous steam-powered train in Missouri's Silver Dollar City amusement park derailed from its track, sending seven people to the hospital.

According to an Ozarks First photographer, the Stone County Sheriff's Office, Southern Stone County Fire Protection District, MSHP, and Mercy ambulances were all present at the scene at about 6:50 p.m. on Wednesday.

KRZK reported that Tom Martin, who runs the Office of Emergency Management for Stone County, confirmed the train accident to Ozarks First.

Martin said three to four people were taken to a nearby hospital by ambulance. However, the Silver Dollar City amusement park later announced that six guests and one employee were taken to the hospital, though Martin said none sustained life-threatening injuries.

READ NEXT: Missouri Teen Dies After Falling From Florida Amusement Park Ride That's Taller Than Statue of Liberty

Silver Dollar City Train Accident in Missouri

Tom Martin noted that the train was almost filled, and the state Fire Marshal had been contacted. Investigators were reportedly still trying to determine what led to the derailment.

A passenger told Ozarks First after the train tipped that her husband noticed that the wheels of the car they were in were silver instead of black, and they heard the train dragging.

The passenger and her husband were sitting in the second car from the back of the train. According to her, the car in front of them and the one they were in were completely on their sides, and occupants had to break the windows to climb out.

The passenger said a nearby individual had lower back problems, and he was brought to the hospital in an ambulance for safety. She also mentioned a woman who had been bleeding after having her glasses smashed on her face.

She also said a little boy had been so eager to ride the train but said he did not like trains anymore after the incident.

In a statement, the Silver Dollar City theme park confirmed that the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from its track, KY3 reported. The park said onsite paramedics provided emergency care until the responders arrived.

"At this time, we are wholeheartedly focused on providing support for guests and team members in partnership with Stone County first responders," the statement noted.

Silver Dollar City Train Accident in Missouri Was This Year's Second Incident at the Theme Park

In July, a Silver Dollar City employee died of head injuries while working at the theme park, according to federal officials.

Rhonda Burke, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Labor, said the worker was taken to the hospital with "head injuries allegedly sustained during maintenance and testing of a rollercoaster."

KOAM reported that the cause of death was found to be blunt force trauma. No one else was injured at the park at the time, but the employee's name was not released.

Meanwhile, the park ride reopened two weeks after the employee's death. A state fire marshal said in a report acquired by KY3 News that "no adverse conditions" were found on the ride. The fire marshall then approved it for operation.

READ MORE: Chile Issues Its First Gender-neutral ID Card

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Passenger Train Derails at Silver Dollar City; Here's What a Witness Told Us - From KOLR10 & Ozarks Fox
Prince Harry will release his controversial memoir early next year following reports that he tried to do some last-minute alterations following Queen Elizabeth's death.

The memoir has been a sensitive topic for the royal family. According to Daily Mail, the book's contents are likely to be kept "top secret," and palace aides confirmed that no royal family members had been offered to see the contents before it becomes public.

The outlet said only the Queen was given an advance warning when the planned memoir was announced last July. In an earlier statement announcing the publishing deal, Penguin Random House described the memoir as "an intimate and heartfelt memoir."

The publishing company further noted that the Duke of Sussex "will offer an honest and captivating personal portrait." The Sussexes were reportedly paid an advance of $20 million for the book as part of a three-title deal.

READ NEXT: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix Deal Could Be Plugged Out Anytime, Industry Source Says

Prince Harry Memoir and The Royal Family

The New York Times reported that the release of the Duke of Sussex's memoir on January 10, 2023, places Prince Harry in an "impossible situation," as damaging revelations could hurt the monarchy and his relationship with his family.

However, Harry holding back could "dampen sales" and could taint his self-made image as "the rebellious, truth-telling prince."

Literary agent Matt Latimer said it is hard to enhance Harry's celebrity status within a specific sector of the public while also trying to repair a rift with his family. Latimer noted that those two are "competing goals to some extent."

British tabloids and publishing insiders have expressed their own speculations regarding Harry's honesty in his memoir, particularly the causes of his break with his family.

Some political commentators have also asked questions about the value of the monarchy and said the new revelations from the Duke of Sussex could fuel the public's skepticism of the institution.

Journalist and author Valentine Low said the British royal family "is there by consent," adding that they need to earn and keep the respect of the public.

King Charles III on Prince Harry's Memoir

Earlier this month, it was reported that there were questions about whether the memoir could be stopped from being published. A friend of King Charles III earlier said the palace feels that no good can come from "airing grievances in public."

The same friend said the lawyers of the royal family's longtime law firm of choice, Harbottle and Lewis, were "expected to be on standby to read the book" once it is out, according to Cosmopolitan.

Last month, The Sun reported that Harry was trying to make last-minute changes to his memoir in light of the Queen's death. Sources noted that Harry fears some parts will be seen as "insensitive."

Another source said the publishers received the first draft and deemed it "disappointing" as it was too emotional and was focused more on mental health issues.

READ MORE: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Royal Titles Could Be 'In Danger' With New Monarch as King Charles - Royal Expert

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Prince Harry's Tell-All Memoir Release Date Revealed - From Access
Pope Francis has admitted that even nuns and priests watch internet porn. The revelation came while he was speaking with seminarians in Rome on Monday.

Daily Mail reported that Pope Francis said internet porn was a "vice" shared between church members. The 85-year-old pope noted that many people, even priests and nuns, have this "vice."

Pope Francis then blamed it on the devil, saying that "the devil gets in that way." He said he was not only talking about criminal pornography that involved the abuse of children but internet porn "that is a little normal."

The pope then cautioned priests and nuns to "be careful about this," saying it "weakens the priestly heart."

Pope Francis also encouraged fellow Catholics to delete pornographic materials from their phones so "they won't have the temptation in hand." Church teaching sees pornography or sexual imagery as an offense against chastity.

READ NEXT: Pope Francis Condemns Abortion Following Supreme Court's Decision to Overturn Roe v. Wade

Pope Francis on Internet Porn

Pope Francis noted that pornography "weakens the soul," and makes room for the devil to enter, USA Today reported.

The pope said social media and other parts of the digital world today are signs of progress that can help people reach out to one another. However, he noted that "it's not my world."

Pope Francis said that the convenience and usefulness of social media also come with dangers and distractions, citing music as an example that gets in the way of work.

According to BBC, the pope noted that the pure heart, "the one that receives Jesus every day, cannot receive this pornographic information."

The Vatican has repeatedly warned parishioners about the spread of pornography in the media, including in movies, books, magazines, and television.

The Vatican said in a May 1989 memo that people who watch pornography may likely exhibit the attitudes and behavior from porn in real life.

The Vatican added that even "soft core" internet porn can "desensitize people."

The Vatican on Internet Porn

The Vatican said in the May 1989 memo that the profit motive is one of the major causes that contribute to the escalation of porn and violence in the media.

It also cited freedom of expression as one of the main causes of the spread of pornography. It became an excuse for tolerating pornography "even at the cost of the moral welfare of the young."

The church noted that public responsibility for promoting the welfare of the young, fostering respect for women, and protecting the privacy and public decency indicates that "liberty cannot be equated with license."

The Vatican called on parents, educators, young people, authorities, religious groups, and other organizations to curb pornography's influence by telling companies, producers, and public officials how they feel about sexual content.

In 2020, the Instagram account of Pope Francis appeared to have liked a racy photo of a Brazilian bikini model wearing stockings and suspenders.

The model, Natalie Garibotto, said the pope's verified account was among the thousands that liked her October 5 image.

However, the account immediately "unliked" the photo before the Vatican said it was launching an inquiry.

Garibotto joked about the incident and said at least she was "going to heaven."

The agency managing the Brazilian model said Garibotto "received the pope's official blessing." A team manages the social media accounts of Pope Francis.

READ MORE: Pope Francis and Pres. Joe Biden Meeting: Why Did It Not Happen?

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Pope Francis Calls on Governments to Crack Down on Child Pornography - From ROME Reports in English
Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows might finally appear before the Georgia grand jury as a South Carolina judge ordered him to testify about Donald Trump's efforts to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

The clerk of court for Pickens County, South Carolina, told NBC News that South Carolina Circuit Judge Edward Miller ruled Wednesday morning that Meadows must comply with a petition that sought his testimony before the special grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia.

Meadows is not a resident of Georgia and resides in South Carolina. Thus, Georgia authorities had to ask a South Carolina judge to compel him to comply with the subpoena. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis sought his testimony.

Willis alleged that Meadows was communicating with Trump and his campaign and other individuals involved "in the multistate, coordinated efforts to influence the results of the November 2020 elections in Georgia and elsewhere" in the lead-up to the January 6 Capitol attack.

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney agreed to Willis' request and ordered the former White House official to appear last month.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Finally Subpoenaed by the January 6 Committee

Georgia Election Probe: Mark Meadows' Arguments Questioned by South Carolina Judge

During a hearing Wednesday morning, South Carolina Circuit Judge Edward Miller questioned Mark Meadows' arguments as to why he should not have to comply with a subpoena.

Miller, who sits on the Court of Common Pleas in Pickens County, questioned the relevancy of some of the evidence that the former chief of staff put forward in the hearing. He also admonished Meadows's attorneys when they tried to argue that the probe had partisan motivation.

"This is not a political hearing," Miller told Meadows's attorney, James Bannister. According to CNN, the judge noted that some of Meadows' legal team's arguments could be considered by other courts but "were not relevant to the decision before him."

Others in the Donald Trump circle, including former Trump's attorney Jenna Ellis, have also challenged the Fulton County probe's subpoenas. However, they have been unsuccessful.

Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone and former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani have already made their appearances and testified before the special grand jury in Georgia. Mark Meadow's lawyer James Bannister told CNN that his client plans to appeal the latest ruling.

Decision Comes After Mark Meadows Asked South Carolina Judge to Reject Subpoena

The inquiry in Georgia is separate from the House committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.

According to Politico, Mark Meadows is a crucial witness for the Georgia investigation, as it was an "expansive inquiry into Trump's wide-ranging effort to subvert the election, as well as issues specific to Georgia."

Meadows earlier urged South Carolina Circuit Judge Edward Miller to reject the effort to subpoena him for testimony in November.

It was previously reported that Meadows was also on the line when the former President pressured Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" enough votes to win the state.

Meadows also reportedly traveled to Georgia in December 2020 to monitor the state's election results audit. This trip also drew scrutiny from the January 6 committee that also subpoenaed Mark Meadows. So far, he has resisted the subpoena.

READ MORE: Oath Keepers Member Testifies Far-Right Extremist Group Had Massive Cache of Weapons for January 6 Capitol Attack

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Mark Meadows Ordered to Testify in Georgia Election Probe - From MSNBC
An 88-year-old Minnesota grandma was beaten and stabbed to death by his teen grandson at the family's home on Tuesday morning.

Crime Online reported that the 17-year-old boy also attacked several members of his family, injuring four more relatives. According to the Roseville Police Department, Minnesota grandma Patricia Frances Maslow was found dead at the scene from "sharp and blunt-force injuries."

Four other family members were injured in the attack, including the suspect's 55-year-old mom and 23-year-old sister. The teen's mom remains hospitalized, while his sister was already released after being treated for head trauma.

Police said the two other adult siblings suffered minor injuries. In an updated release on Wednesday, authorities said the Minnesota grandma died from injuries from a beating and stabbing from an unspecified weapon.

READ NEXT: Florida Grandma 'Brutally' Killed by Teen Grandson Who Stabbed Her 'Too Many' Times Inside Their Home

Teen Grandson Ran Off After He Stabbed to Death the Minnesota Grandma

According to the police statement, there were no police calls to the family's home at Roseville City in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and no documented police contacts with the teen suspect before the attack.

According to the Star Tribune, the motive for the attacks is still unclear. Police Chief Erika Scheider noted that a 911 caller inside the house said the boy was attacking other relatives and ran off.

After the teen ran away, the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center sent out a "shelter-in-place" alert to mobile phones.

Alert for Fleeing Minnesota Teen Received Far Beyond the Intended Geographic Boundaries

Schools and businesses in Ramsey County went into lockdown late Tuesday morning after receiving the vague emergency alert with no location details.

At 10:50 a.m., cell phones in St. Paul and surrounding suburbs received the alert that stated "homicide suspect at large," and described the suspect as a 17-year-old white male.

According to the Lino Lakes Police Department, the emergency alert also reached the mobile phones in their town, which is about a 20 minutes drive from Roseville, Bring Me The News reported.

In a statement, officials in Ramsey County said the message was meant for mobile devices in a small area in Roseville.

"For reasons not known at this time, the Wireless Emergency Alert system pushed the message to a significantly broader area, and mobile phones across Ramsey County and nearby communities received the alert," the county noted.

At 11:15 a.m., a second emergency alert message advised individuals to shelter in the area of Larpenteur Avenue and Highway 36 and Snelling Avenue and Victoria Street.

After 15 minutes, a third message said the shelter-in-place order had been lifted as the suspect had been taken into custody. Ramsey County then apologized for the confusion and disruption the alerts caused "throughout the metro region."

"Ramsey County will continue to investigate this issue in the days ahead to identify the cause of the issue and prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future," the county said.

The teen grandson, who killed her grandma, was arrested roughly 40 minutes after the first emergency alert went out. The Ramsey County Prosecutor's Office is still investigating the case to decide on charges.

READ MORE: Indiana Woman Jumps Out of a Moving Car, Man Charged With Kidnapping

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Teen's Attack on Family in Roseville Prompted Shelter-in-Place Warning, Police Say - From WCCO-CBS Minnesota
At the request of the former Acting Chief Executive of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), the WCO, with funding support from the Customs Cooperation Fund of Japan, conducted a diagnostic support mission in Suva, Fiji, from 10 to 20 October 2022.

The mission focused on FRCSs overall reform and modernization agenda, particularly its ability to effectively contribute to the implementation of the Articles of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This activity was conducted under the framework of the WCO Mercator Programme and included discussions with the relevant Departments within FRCS, along with stakeholders from both the public sector and the business community.

Through active engagement with FRCS senior officials, the WCO team was able to make a comprehensive assessment of the situation within the Customs administration with regard to TFA implementation, highlighting areas where good progress had already been achieved and also identifying areas where further capacity building and technical assistance support may be required.

In collaboration with the WCO, FRCS developed a Multi-Year (MY) Mercator Implementation Plan (IP) containing activities and performance indicators that will now form the basis for future actions to support effective implementation of the Articles of the TFA. The IP will also facilitate enhanced engagement with government partner agencies and private sector stakeholders involved in trade facilitation reforms.

FRCS and the WCO team also worked together and conducted a Mercator Maturity Model assessment that provides an important baseline against which future TFA implementation progress or maturity can be effectively measured and reported.

For more information, please, contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org.
Laois is getting 5.7 million in funding from the Government and the EU to support community and business projects over the next five years but the amount received is less than neighbouring Offaly.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced the details of the 180 million LEADER Programme for 2023-2027.

LEADER, is a rural development programme co-funded by the EU which aims to meet the needs of rural communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups.

The Department said that when taken in conjunction with the transitional funding for Laois in 2021 and 2022, Laois receives 7.8m for the 2021-2027 period. It said that between 2014-2020, Laois had core programme funding 7.1m allocated.

Explaining the 600,000 difference with Offaly, the Department explained that a number of factors were considered. These included providing a minimum of 3 million base allocation to each sub-regional area with the remaining funding distributed based on the population and deprivation level of the area.

Offaly has been allocated 6.3m for the 2023-2027 period. The Department says that when taken in conjunction with the transitional funding for Offaly in 2021 and 2022, this gives a total LEADER allocation of 8.6m for Offaly for the 2021-2027 period. For the corresponding seven year period of 2014-2020, Offaly had core programme funding allocation of 8m allocated at the outset of the programme.

The Department added that all of the 2023-207 money will be allocated up front to LEADER areas which is a change from the 2014-2020 programme where 30m was withheld to fund initiatives delivered at a national level such as the Food Initiative and Cooperation Measure.

Laois Partnership Company has welcomed the 5.7 million for rural Development Programme. It delivers programme in Laois and Chairman Peter ONeill said the new funding is a welcome boost to communities and individuals throughout the County.

"This is good news for the rural economy generally and for Laois in particular. We have been highly successful in running the Rural Development Programme and its predecessor, the LEADER programme in County Laois over the past 25 years. This funding brings the amount received in Laois to almost 30 million over the lifetime of the Programme.

"This announcement will ensure that the programmes success will continue and will support businesses, communities, jobs and the quality of life in Laois, he said in a statement.

Laois Offaly TD Sean Fleming, Minister of State in the Department of Finance, and his Government colleague Charlie Flanagan TD also welcomed the money.

"Laois Partnership have been doing excellent work in running the LEADER programme in County Laois in recent years and I look forward to them continuing in this role for the coming period 2023-2027.

"I look forward to Laois Partnership applying and being approved to continue in their existing role in administering this new round of funding.

"Rural development and supporting rural enterprises is a core belief and value for myself and Fianna Fail.

"Funding streams like LEADER are imperative to supporting rural communities and enterprises across Laois and has been a very successful project for Laois.

"I look forward to the successful implementation of the 5.7 million LEADER programme for Laois commencing as early as possible in the new year," he said.

Fine Gael's Dep Flanagan speaking said this investment will support thousands of locally led rural development and enterprise projects in Laois over the next five years.

"The LEADER Programme in Laois has been a great success over the last 30 years and has played a central in supporting our rural communities and enterprises, he said.

Minister Humphreys announced that interested parties will have until Friday 16th December 2022 to submit their Expression of Interest (Stage 1).

All groups that are successful in Stage 1 will be provided with funding to assist with the costs associated with developing a Local Development Strategy in Stage 2 of the process. A fund of 2 million has been ring-fenced for this purpose which will commence in early 2023.

MORE BELOW COUNTY BREAKDOWN.

Interested parties can now apply by visiting the Departments website and downloading an application form via the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/ 87e09-leader-programme-for- rural-development/

Completed Expressions of Interest forms must be submitted by email only to leader2327@drcd.gov.ie no later than 5.30pm on Friday 16th December 2022.

The Department of Rural and Community Development will host an information webinar for all interested parties on 10th November 2022.
The prices of bus travel must be cut according to a Laois TD who has given the Dail a list of locations in the county that should have shelters for commuters.

As local bus routes expand, Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley called for the 20% fare reduction to be extended to all routes bus shelters provision to be speeded up in his constituency.

"If we want people to use public transport, however, we first need to provide the proper infrastructure. I have raised the issue of bus shelters many times. Borris-in-Ossory and Castletown on the R445 need bus shelters. I raised this issue numerous times with the NTA and the Department.

"They are also needed at Ballylinan, Newtown and Crettyard on the N77. In weather like we had over the past week or so, people have been standing in spilling rain waiting for a bus, which does not entice people onto public transport. It is an issue that needs to be addressed. 

Funding was approved earlier this year for five bus shelters at Ballybrittas in County Laois, Kilminchy in Portlaoise and two more in Mountrath. Laois County Council is ready to proceed but the NTA needs to engage with the council to get those shelters in place.

"I spoke to the council again about this no later than this morning. Funding has been approved. The NTA needs to engage with the council. This is fundamental infrastructure. Local authorities do not have the authority to procure and install it," he said.

The NTA have told the council that new plans have to be drawn up for shelters near Mountrath to make them wheelchair friendly.

But Dep Stanley called on a Minister of State to take this back to the Department. He wants toe council to be given the power to push ahead the shelter provision.

"Under the local government legislation this was brought forward by the Minister at the time, Mr. Phil Hogan, that power was to be devolved down, not just to designate bus stops but actually to put bus shelters in place. It can be devolved down. It needs the Minister with responsibility for local government to act on it. It is too slow and cumbersome when a local authority has to go through the NTA to get a bus stop erected, which the Minister of State will appreciate. It is one of the things we can do," he said.

The TD also wants the cost of travel cut.

We want to extend the 20% public transport fare reduction, which I welcome, to all commercial bus operators. That is not the case that the moment. This is important on rural and regional routes such as those to and from Laois-Offaly. Many people have to use the private operators and people should not be denied the 20% reduction. That needs to be spread out across all providers.

"We are proposing that the Connecting Ireland scheme is provided with an additional 25 million to deliver the roll-out to rural areas. This will mean a reliable transport service for workers in counties Laois and Offaly. It is needed in the morning and evening to get people to and from work and to connect the smaller towns and villages with larger towns like Tullamore and Portlaoise, he said.

The TD raised the issues in Leinster House.
Met Eireann has issued its second highest weather alert for a rain and thunderstorm warning for Laois and 16 counties.

The Status Orange warning from the Irish meteorological service covers all counties in Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Tipperary and Waterford  and comes into effect at 11pm on Thursday night.

Met Eireann said that heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms is likely to cause flooding. The warning remains in place until 5.15pm on Friday. WEATHER DETAILS BELOW TWEET.

Status Orange  Rain and thunderstorm warning for Leinster, Cavan Monaghan Tipperary WaterfordMet Eireann Weather Warninghttps://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS Heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms likely to cause flooding Valid: 23:00 Thursday 27/10/2022 to 07:00 Friday 28/10/2022 pic.twitter.com/QAY0va36p0  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 27, 2022

Met Eireann's National Outlook says clear spells at first tomorrow night. Rain will develop in the southwest, extending along southern coasts, then slowly pushing northwards. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees in mostly moderate south to southeast winds.

National Forecast issued by Met Eireann on October 27 at 5:32 pm

Thursday evening / night: Mild and muggy this evening, most areas will be dry, however showery rain in the southwest will push into Munster and Leinster through the evening, turning heavy with a chance of thunderstorms . Moderate southerly winds will increase fresh and gusty.

Blustery tonight with rain becoming widespread and heavy, especially in the east with the chance of embedded thunderstorms, while some flooding is likely in the east. Rain will become confined to the north and east of the country later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in fresh and gusty south to southeast winds, veering southwesterly later. Increasing strong to gale force for a time along eastern and southeastern coasts.

Friday: Starting wet and blustery in the northeast as the heavy rain clears away. Drier brighter conditions will follow from the southwest, although showers will develop in the west through the morning, extending to all areas by afternoon and some will be heavy or thundery at times. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds, fresher in the southwest and west.

Saturday: Rain over the southern half of the country will be heavy at times on Saturday morning, bringing a risk of flooding. The rain will clear northwards in the early afternoon to scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in moderate southerly winds.

Most places will be dry on Saturday night, there is a chance of heavy showers on coasts of the south and east, possibly bringing thunderstorms to coastal districts at times. Lowest temperatures 9 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh southeast winds.

Sunday: Sunny spells and scattered heavy showers becoming widespread on Sunday afternoon. Highest temperatures of 13 to 15 degrees in moderate to fresh south to southwest winds, strong at times in the afternoon and around showers.

Bank Holiday Monday: Current indications suggest the weather remains unsettled for Bank Holiday Monday and early next week with further spells of rain or showers. It'll be windy at times and temperatures are expected to fall back a few degrees to the more seasonal average.
The only Laois secondary school to offer lessons through Irish, held its annual Open Day, and launched a new learning hub.

Dunamase College - Colaiste Dhun Masc in Portlaoise is a young LOEBT school, established in 2017 that has expanded rapidly and is awaiting a multi-million permanent school building.

On Tuesday October 18 they welcomed pupils, parents and guardians from the local primary schools, giving them a tour of the present school buildings on Railway Street.

Full story below photographs.

Staff and students were on hand throughout the evening to answer any questions and to show them around the school.

The Principal is Dympna Kelly.

We were delighted with the opportunity to welcome such a large number of parents/ guardians and 6 th class students to our school. With not having an Open Evening over the past couple of years we were looking forward to giving potential students and their parents the opportunity to see first-hand the state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities we have on offer here in Dunamase College.

The highlight for the staff was the overwhelming praise that our student representatives received on the evening. We were very proud of them of all.

We have a lovely school with a wide range of extra and co-curricular activities as well as a forward thinking, future focused curriculum. Student voice and students being engaged in their own learning is something we encourage here and thats why

we felt the Open Evening was a perfect opportunity to launch our Learning Hub. We look forward to welcoming the incoming first years to the school next year.

Ms McCormack is the facilitating teacher.

The Learning Hub is student led where students are Leaders of Learning within the school and they help each other become active in their own learning as well as developing leadership skills and student voice.

The focus is on the academic with our Learning Leaders being responsible for different areas of work. It is known that when students take responsibility for their own learning they learn better. This initiative also engages students in Peer Mentoring," she said.

Jessica Boldescu is one of the Learning Leaders.

The learning hub gives me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and helps me gain confidence with regard to my study habits, whilst sharing strategies for learning with the younger students.

The Learning Leaders plan to meet regularly to review their progress. Follow them on Instagram at #dclearninghub
The alleged victim of an assault, who was reportedly tied to a bed, beaten and stabbed does not want to proceed with a prosecution.

Before Naas District Court was John Coyne, 30, whose address was given as 23 Grove Heights, Robertstown, are each being prosecuted for assault at 13 Grove Heights on March 14 last.

He is one of three men who appeared before the court earlier this year.

The court heard at that time that it would be alleged the injured party got a phone call from inviting him to a house in Robertstown and that the parties are known to each other.

She claimed the injured party, a man from Kildare town, was beaten by the defendants.

She said he was stabbed, a brush handle was broken and a rum bottle was used in the incident.

The court was told that a phone charger and cable were also used.

It was stated that the incident occurred over a woman that the injured party is dating and who was previously dated by John Coyne.

It was further claimed that the injured party was knocked unconscious and tied to bed posts.

He was kicked and punched. This went on for a number of hours, said Gda Emma Devanny.

She said the incident came to a halt when another man came to the house. The injured man begged to be freed and this man took him to Kildare town and he was later treated in hospital.

She added the man arrived in Robertstown at 1.30pm and was returned to Kildare town at 5.45pm.

On October 19 defending solicitor Tim Kennelly said the alleged victim has withdrawn his complaint and he has made it evident he doesn't want to proceed.

He also said that the defendant is still awaiting news on how the case may proceed and this is completely unfair.

He added that the defendant is on quite onerous bail conditions which are causing inconvenience. He said the case should be struck out.

Sgt Brian Jacob noted that the injured party had been stabbed in the shoulder and said that seven months and a week is not enough time for the case to be prepared.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said any alleged offence is an offence against the people of Ireland and the injured party is only a witness.

His stance is neither here nor there, said Judge Zaidan, refusing the application and adjourning the case to January 25 next.

Read more Kildare news
A man allegedly who sent images of his private parts to two teenage girls, has appeared before a Naas District Court.

A previous court hearing was told that both videos and images were sent to the girls, who were aged 16.

The incident is alleged to have taken place in County Kildare between June 1, 2020 and June 28, 2020.

The defendant is being prosecuted for sending sexually explicit material.

Garda Jacinta OConnor gave evidence of serving a book of evidence on the defendant.

Sgt Brian Jacob said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the defendant being sent for trial to Naas Circuit Court.

He said it will be alleged that the was in front of a mirror and a message which bore the words wank videos later in shower. He added he was stroking his erect penis.

Judge Desmond Zaidan told the defendant that if an alibi forms any part of his defence he must inform the prosecuting authorities in advance of any trial.

It was further alleged that the defendant sent messages and missed calls via Facebook to two other females on dates in 2022.

He was remanded on continuing bail on these allegations to November 9.

Read more Kildare news
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Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Weather Warning with heavy rain on the way for large parts of Ireland.

Met Eireann has issued the warning for all counties in Leinster as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Tipperary and Waterford.

The warning comes into place at 11pm tonight and remains in place until 8am on Friday morning.

Met Eireann is warning that heavy rain during these hours in likely to cause flooding.

The Met Eireann weather forecast for tonight states that there will be widespread rain at first tonight, locally heavy with the chance of embedded thunderstorms and localised flooding. Rain will become confined to the north and east of the country later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in fresh and gusty southerly winds, veering southwesterly later and moderating.

According to the latest Met Eireann forecast, there will be a wet start in the north and east on Friday with heavy rain and the possibility of localised flooding. Drier and clearer weather in the south and west along with a few showers will extend to all areas during the morning. The remainder of the day will bring a mix of sunshine and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees in mostly moderate southwest winds, fresher in the southwest and west.
The Tanaiste has said that tourism in Ireland will be negatively impacted as the war in Ukraine  and the housing of tens of thousands of refugees in hotels  continues.

Around 20% of hotel rooms across the country are being used to accommodate Ukrainians who have left the war-torn country.

Leo Varadkar said it is likely that the tourism sector next spring and summer will not be as good as hoped.

I think that the war in Ukraine is going to have a negative impact on tourism, he added.

Its not just the fact that maybe 10% or 20% of hotel rooms will be used to accommodate Ukrainians, theres also the increase in air fares, for example, and reduced consumer sentiments.

You would think it likely that next spring and summer wont be as good for the tourism sector as maybe we had hoped it would be.

But I wouldnt discount the fact that one of the biggest difficulties the sector has is in finding staff.

Still, when I meet new people in business, whether its Dublin Chamber or Dungarvan Chamber, finding staff is as big an issue, if not a greater issue than the energy costs and it is good to see that so many Ukrainians have been issued with PPS numbers and in around 10,000 have entered the workforce, mainly in hospitality and retail.

The Government is struggling to find accommodation for Ukrainians arriving in Ireland after it reached its capacity last weekend, leading to some refugees sleeping at Dublin Airport.

Disused army barracks and modular homes are among the measures being considered by Government to help plug the accommodation crisis for refugees.

Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar said communities that welcome in many Ukrainians should be supported by government funding.

The Fine Gael leader said he wants to see extra money going into communities as facilities and provisions are under pressure due to an increase in the local population.

He said communities, including many in Donegal, Kerry, Clare and parts of Dublin, should gain from welcoming in so many refugees.

The community fund could be used to improve schools, public transport and sporting facilities.

Irish people have welcomed Ukrainians into their communities, which is absolutely correct. But there are parts of the country where there are a lot of Ukrainians, for obvious reasons, because theres a lot of accommodation there, Mr Varadkar added.

I think in recognition of the fact that so many Irish communities have welcomed so many Ukrainians into their communities, that there should be some community gain for that.

It might be improvements in schools, it might be improvements to public transport, it might be improvements to community services, and it does already exist.

I think as this crisis is going to continue, and as it becomes prolonged that we need to need to scale that up.

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath said there is provision in the budget for this type of spending.

He said the government wants to acknowledge that many communities have opened their doors and their hearts to so many Ukrainian families and individuals.

We made an overall provision of around two billion euro, much that of course will be needed directly for the accommodation provision, for social welfare supports, for health supports and so on, Mr McGrath added.

We are working closely with Minister (Heather) Humphreys in particular, in relation to what we can do to assist communities.

We want it to be practical, to be tangible, to make a difference to them, because we recognise that there is strain on service provision and the provision of facilities in many communities that have taken so many people and we are going to have to support them.

Tanaiste @LeoVaradkar & Minister @mmcgrathtd announced details of the 200m Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme Funding under the scheme will assist viable but vulnerable manufacturers & internationally traded services which will be available through @Entirl & @UdarasnaG pic.twitter.com/06WK16T5yE  Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (@DeptEnterprise) October 27, 2022

There is a willingness across government to do more to support those communities and Im confident that the resources are there within the overall.

He made the comments as the government details of a new 200 million euro scheme to help companies struggling with rising energy costs.

The Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme will assist viable but vulnerable firms of all sizes in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors.

It will help firms suffering liquidity problems, and also help those impacted by severe rises in energy costs.
Facebook parent company Meta on Wednesday, October 26, reported that its revenue declined for a second consecutive quarter, hurt by falling advertising sales as it faces competition from TikTok's wildly popular video app.

The quarter's weak results raised fresh questions about whether Meta's plans to spend $10 billion a year on the metaverse  a concept that doesn't quite exist yet and possibly never will  is prudent while its main source of revenue is faltering.

The quarterly results from Meta Platforms Inc. sent its stock tumbling 19% in after-hours trading to $105.20. If the sell-off holds through Thursday's regular trading day, it will be the lowest it's been since 2016. The stock closed Wednesday down 61% for the year.

Read more Subscribers only Accused of copying TikTok, Mark Zuckerberg stands by his strategy for Facebook and Instagram

Meta's disappointing results followed weak earnings reports from Google parent Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft this week. The Menlo Park, California, company earned $4.4 billion, or $1.64 per share, in the three-month period that ended Sept. 30. That's down 52% from, $9.19 billion, or $3.22 per share, in the same period a year earlier. Analysts were expecting a profit of $1.90 per share, on average, according to FactSet. Revenue fell 4% to $27.71 billion from $29.01 billion, slightly higher than the $27.4 billion that analysts had predicted.

Metaverse causing confusion

Some of the company's investors are concerned Meta is spending too much money and confusing people with its focus on the metaverse, a virtual, mixed and augmented reality concept that few people understand  while it also grapples with a weakening advertising business.

Read more Subscribers only Virtual reality: Europe struggles to arm itself in the battle for the metaverse

"Meta has drifted into the land of excess  too many people, too many ideas, too little urgency," wrote Brad Gerstner, the CEO of Meta shareholder Altimeter Capital, earlier this week in a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. "This lack of focus and fitness is obscured when growth is easy but deadly when growth slows and technology changes."

In addition to an accelerating revenue decline, Meta also forecast weaker-than-expected sales for the current quarter, further raising worries that the revenue slump is more of a trend than an aberration.

"While we face near-term challenges on revenue, the fundamentals are there for a return to stronger revenue growth," Zuckerberg said in a statement. "We're approaching 2023 with a focus on prioritization and efficiency that will help us navigate the current environment and emerge an even stronger company."

'Meta needs to turn its business around'

Meta said it expects staffing levels to stay roughly the same as in the current quarter  a departure from previous years' double-digit workforce growth. The company had about 87,000 employees as of September 30, an increase of 28% year-over-year.

"To return to stronger growth, Meta needs to turn its business around," said Insider Intelligence analyst Debra Aho Williamson. "As Facebook Inc., it was a revolutionary company that changed the way people communicate and the way marketers interact with consumers. Today it's no longer that innovative groundbreaker." He added that "Meta would benefit from less priority on the metaverse and more on fixing its core business."

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Read more Subscribers only The cracks in Facebook's empire

Despite the revenue decline, Meta grew its user base. Facebook's monthly active users were 2.96 billion as of Sept. 30, up 2% from a year earlier. And 3.71 billion people logged in to at least one of Meta's family of apps  Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger  up 4% year-over-year.

Le Monde with AP
A sign with the logo of French oil and gas company TotalEnergies is pictured at a petrol station in Vertou near Nantes, France, October 26, 2022. STEPHANE MAHE / REUTERS

TotalEnergies said on Thursday, October 26, surging global oil and gas prices helped it post a massive jump in profits in the third quarter. Net profits soared 43% from the same period last year to $6.6 billion, with record performances for its natural gas and liquefied natural gas units.

The company has now earned $17.3 billion over the first nine months of the year, more than the $16 billion in profits it posted last year.

Read more Strikes run out of steam at TotalEnergies sites in France

The enormous profits may add fuel to the raging debate in France over whether to impose a windfall tax on energy firms to help fund measures to protect consumers from price hikes. President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his opposition to such a measure in a prime-time television appearance on Wednesday evening.

TotalEnergies, which has been plagued by strikes in France that have led to petrol shortages at pumps and which the government has had to break, announced it would pay its workers a bonus.

"In this favorable environment, taking into account income and production taxes of $26 billion worldwide, the company is implementing a balanced value-sharing policy with an exceptional one-month-salary bonus in 2022 to all its employees worldwide," it said in a statement.

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TotalEnergies also confirmed its announcement from last month to return to shareholders 35 to 40 percent of cash flow, and maintained its interim quarterly dividend at a higher rate from last year.

Le Monde with AFP
On the evening of Tuesday, October 16, around 60 faithful were gathered to pray, their knees on the ground, in front of an image of the esplanade of the Mosques in Jerusalem, over which towered Jesus's name in illuminated blue letters. The evangelical temple of the Assembly of God, in the favela of Fallet, in the center of Rio de Janeiro, is located at the end of a dark alley. Drug dealers continued their business near its entrance, groups of them packing their products in bags. "They don't bother us. On the contrary, this proximity allows them to hear the word of God," said Pastor Moises Virtuoso, who presides over this small congregation.

His reaction might have suggested that this would be a progressive service, but after a few introductory songs, the preaching quickly shifted from biblical reading to politics. The pastor's smile disappeared and his voice took on dramatic overtones: "Those who want to close churches, who defend abortion, are not believers!" While the name of former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was never mentioned, everyone understood he was the unbeliever in question. The pastor continued his rant, raising his Bible to the sky: "Gender ideology, no! If they close the churches, my brothers, we will go and preach in the streets, but from today we must fight such a plan with all our strength." Translation: He was ordering his congregation to vote for the current head of state, Jair Bolsonaro, on Sunday, October 30, in the second round of the presidential elections.

A pastor prays at the Assembly of God evangelical temple in the Fallet favela of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 19, 2022. IAN CHEIBUB FOR "LE MONDE"

Women pray at the Assembly of God's evangelical temple in the Fallet favela, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, October 19, 2022. The Assembly of God is the largest evangelical denomination in Brazil and is present throughout the country. Its leader has openly declared his support for the re-election of Jair Bolsonaro as president. IAN CHEIBUB FOR "LE MONDE"

And yet, the faithful gathered have all the characteristics of former president Lula's voter base: a predominantly female, black and poor congregation suffering from the violence of police operations, which the far-right president has always defended. "We never see Lula in church," said one; "Bolsonaro is the one defending families," added another. Both will vote for the outgoing president.

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Read more Subscribers only Michelle Bolsonaro: How Brazil's first lady went from favela to presidential palace

Did they see the outgoing president's recent statement about his attraction to 14-year-old girls, which caused a scandal in Brazil? They denied its existence and said they did not see anything about it on their main source of news: the Assembly of God's WhatsApp group, where Pastor Moises sends many videos related to politics. Pastor Moises said he was familiar with the episode but brushed it aside: "It's a misunderstanding from the president, because the real enemy of Christians is Lula, and the word enemy is not too strong," he asserted, raising his voice slightly to make sure the men tidying the altar heard.

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Northern Ireland's First Minister designate Michelle O'Neill (R) with her Assembly team in the great hall at Stormont in Belfast PAUL FAITH / AFP

Northern Ireland's feuding political parties failed on Thursday, October 27 to agree to restart power sharing, paving the way for a second election this year amid an entrenched political stalemate over contentious post-Brexit trade rules.

Northern Irish MPs briefly reconvened for the first time in months for a special sitting of the devolved assembly at Stormont, but failed to elect a speaker  needed to form a new executive.

The pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party blocked the resumption of power-sharing due to concerns about the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol governing post-Brexit trade. The party wants the protocol overhauled or scrapped entirely.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson told reporters on Thursday that the party would not vote for a new speaker because insufficient action had been taken to address their demands since they collapsed the executive in February.

"We need to remove the rubble of the protocol that has undermined our economy, that has inhibited our ability to trade within our own country," he said ahead of the failed vote. Mr. Donaldson said the arrangements "changed our constitutional status without our consent" and were "harming businesses and driving up the cost of living for every single person in Northern Ireland".

However, Matthew O'Toole of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) said holding another election was a "farce" and that the continued boycott had left him "ashamed of this place". He added: "While this assembly sat mothballed and silent people's homes have got colder, their trust in politics has fallen even further and their lives have gotten harder."

New UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had implored the parties to "get back to Stormont," arguing that people in Northern Ireland "deserve a fully functioning and locally elected executive".

More TV Subscribers only 'Derry Girls': Final season of Northern Irish comedy that plays the Troubles for laughs as well as tears

Chris Heaton-Harris, the UK's Northern Ireland minister for the last seven weeks, held talks with the political parties on Wednesday in a fresh bid to get them to form a new executive. If no agreement is reached by Friday, London will be legally required to call early elections for the devolved assembly, with December 15 the expected date. "If the executive is not formed by 28 October, I will call an election," the minister had said in a statement. "Time is running out."

Northern Ireland has now been without a functioning government for nine months, with pro-Irish party Sinn Fein winning a historic first election in May, which is seen as further complicating the political situation. Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill  set to become first minister if the executive can be restarted  condemned the DUP's "perpetual stand-off with the public, the majority of whom they do not speak for or indeed represent".

The DUP insists the protocol, agreed by London and Brussels as part of Britain's 2019 Brexit deal, must be addressed first. It claims the pact, which effectively keeps Northern Ireland in the European Union's single market and customs union, weakens the country's place within the United Kingdom. Many unionists also argue it is threatening the delicate balance of peace between the pro-Irish nationalist community and those in favour of continued union with Britain.

Read more Subscribers only Attitudes to British monarchy illustrate Northern Ireland's great divide

The protocol was agreed to avoid the return of a hard land border with the Republic of Ireland, which remains an EU member. Eliminating that hard border was a key strand of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

Britain's Conservative government, which has had three prime ministers in two months, has urged Brussels to agree to wholesale revisions of the protocol. Westminster is also in the midst of passing contentious legislation to override it unilaterally. That has sparked fears of a trade war and worsening relations with Europe when the economic landscape is already gloomy.

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The impasse was discussed in a phone call on Wednesday between Mr. Sunak and Irish premier Micheal Martin. Mr. Sunak also spoke by phone to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said on Twitter that she hopes to find "joint solutions under the protocol that will provide stability and predictability".

Read more Subscribers only Sunak forms government, seeking stability amid divisions

Le Monde with AFP
THE VILLAGE of Castleconnell and the surrounding big catchment area is getting used to life without a post office for the second time this year.

It closed on Friday, October 21 until further notice.

Limerick Live broke the story with a spokesperson for An Post saying, In the meantime, customers will be transferred to the post office at Newport on a temporary basis. An Post are actively working to appoint a new contractor to provide post office services in Castleconnell.

It is understood a local business person has expressed an interest in taking over the contract and talks are ongoing with An Post. However, the post office on Main Street will remain shut while these discussions take place.

The spokesperson said An Post wishes to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused.

The post office in Castleconnell was already closed for a week in April of this year due to technical issues.

The disruption is of particular concern to the elderly who collect their pensions in Castleconnell Post Office, and those in receipt of various social welfare payments, who may not have access to transport to get to Newport.

Local politicians were quick to react with Senator Paul Gavan raising the matter in the Seanad.

People are being asked to travel to Newport, which is 6kms away, to collect their pension or social welfare payment. This is simply not possible for a whole host of people  pensioners, people with disabilities, people who do not have access to a car and besides there is no bus to connect Castleconnell to Newport. Many people will simply have no means of collecting their payments, he said.

As discussions on a new postmaster continue, Mr Gavan said: In the interim we cannot have no access for the people of Castleconnell to a local post office. I am calling on all parties here to take additional steps to ensure the current service remains until a new contract is established a new service put in place.

Deputy Kieran ODonnell and Cllr Michael Murphy also want to deliver for their constituents. Mr ODonnell said the closure will cause a great degree of worry, anxiety and serious inconvenience to people who collect their payments at Castleconnell Post Office as well as the other range of services it offers.

This follows the temporary closure of this Post office last April for a week, after which people of the Castleconnell area thought the future of their post office was secure. It is critical that An Post now ensure that Castleconnell Post Offices future is firmly made secure, said Mr ODonnell.

He also called for the post office to remain open in the interim period. Failing that, the TD asked that customers be facilitated to transfer to any post office of their choice until the new An Post contractor is in place.

Deputy Willie ODea said: I am fully aware of how important Castleconnell Post Office is for the local community and I am working with An Post to ensure that the post office is reopened as soon as possible and I am confident this will be the case.
A CROWD of over 250 attended a Limerick IFA meeting on farm trespass and rural crime during which two farmers told of an incident that morning.

Staff in the Woodlands House Hotel had to get extra chairs to accommodate a bigger crowd than expected on Tuesday evening. Mr Lavery, the Limerick IFA chairman, said the attendance of over 250 reflected how concerned farmers are over trespassers.

There were a number of speakers including James Staines, IFA solicitor; Barry Carey, crime prevention executive with IFA, David Lyons, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Sergeant Frank O'Sullivan, Newcastle West garda station.

There were also a number of contributions from the floor including from two men who said men entered their land without permission that very morning in the Clarina area.

"There were five of them. They had lurchers with them. They went through a field with in-calf heifers. The whole place is terrorised with them, said the farmer.

A second man stood up and said he too had had the same unwanted visitors on his farm in Clarina that Tuesday morning. He claimed they were from Tipperary Town.

"There is a hell of a lot of land between Tipperary Town and Clarina. They are only casing places to see what they could knock off. This needs to be stopped and stopped now. The gardai were called and in fairness to the guards they came on," said the farmer.

Limerick Live contacted gardai in relation to the incident. A spokesperson said gardai responded to a report of a group of males hunting on land without the landowners permission in the Clarina area at approximately 11.45am on Tuesday, October 25.

"The group was conveyed from the area and no arrests were made," said the garda spokesperson.

See next weeks Limerick Leader for full coverage of the meeting which lasted well over two and a half hours
THE COURTS Service of Ireland has confirmed plans are being drawn up facilitate more sittings of the Central Criminal Court in Limerick.

There has been strong criticism in political and legal circles in recent weeks and months over the limited use of Limerick Courthouse at Mulgrave Street to hear rape and murder trials meaning victims, gardai and witnesses have to travel to Dublin or Cork for trials.

Earlier this week, High Court judge Mr Justice Paul McDermott insisted members of the judiciary are willing to travel to Limerick to preside over trials but that they have been informed the state-of-art facilities are not available.

The courthouse at Mulgrave Street includes six separate courtrooms, four of which are capable of dealing with jury trials. Since Covid restrictions have been eased, there have been daily sittings of Limerick District Court while two circuit judges have been sitting on most days during the current legal term.

During a call-over of cases at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on Monday, Mr Justice McDermott refuted claims made by Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny in Dail Eireann that judges are not willing to travel outside of their area to hear cases.

He said there was "no question" of any judge of the High Court not being willing to travel to hear a case. "In the specific case of Limerick, that court is not available and if it were available, we would travel there."

The courts are very aware of the "extreme distress" that these cases can cause for victims of crime, he added.

In response to a query from Limerick Live, a spokesperson for the Courts Service said it's expected that Limerick courthouse will be available for Central Criminal Court trials from next Easter.

He said that following Covid, it was agreed that Cork Courthouse would hold one circuit court and one Central Criminal Court trial at a time, and that Limerick would hold two circuit court trials at a time.

"Those arrangements, allowed the Central Criminal Court to continue to sit outside Dublin and allowed Limerick Circuit Court trials to continue apace, and tackle a backlog which had built up there," he stated.

"Plans are being discussed to return Central Criminal Court sittings to Limerick after Easter next year. At that stage Cork can then use its courtrooms to hear Circuit trials," he added.

Fine Gael senator Maria Byrne, who has raised the matter directly with the Minster for Justice says having trials in Limerick will be of particular benefit to victims of sexual crimes.

She says she has been engaging with victims groups on the matter and remains hope the timeline to bring trials to Limerick can be expedited.

Speaking in the Seanad earlier this year she pointed out that many women who have been the victim of a sexual crime feel if they could go home at night and sleep in their own bed, they would feel more supported because their family and peers would be there with them and they would have a lot of support.

Barrister Cian Kelly says moving more Central Criminal Court trials to Limerick makes absolute sense.

"There are enough cases in the system, from Limerick Clare and Kerry, to keep the court sitting in Limerick on a permanent basis for the next couple of years and everybody is willing to work with the Courts Service to keep the court busy and from our perspective what's happening at present makes no sense," he told Limerick Live.
The Fire and Rescue Service has urged the public to be aware of additional risks during Halloween celebrations.

It has urged anyone using fireworks, sparklers or candles to follow its fire safety advice to keep themselves, their family and friends safe.

Last Halloween the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was called to 90 incidents, a drop from 100 calls in the same 24-hour period in 2020.

NIFRS group commander Suzanne Fleming urged the public not to put more pressure on resources.

Halloween is a busy time of year for us and we are urging everyone not to put more pressure on our resources by starting fires deliberately and to act responsibly over the Halloween period, she said.

If you plan to use fireworks, sparklers or candles, please follow our fire safety advice to keep yourself, your family and friends safe.

Please remember that fireworks are dangerous and can set fire to buildings and clothing. They can also cause serious injury, particularly to your hands and face. Only light fireworks outside in an open space and keep children well away from them.

Sparklers can cause serious injury without proper supervision. Never give them to children under the age of five and always wear gloves when using them, preferably leather gloves.

Fancy dress costumes can be highly flammable, and if you are making your own, dont use flammable materials such as black plastic bags. It is important to make sure children are properly supervised at all times and kept away from fireworks or open flames. If a costume catches fire, remember stop, drop and roll to quickly put the flames out.
New Delhi: Indo-Swedish companies must support start-ups from both sides, and undertake collaborative research and human resource exchange, said Union Minister for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh.

Addressing the 9th edition of the India- Sweden Innovation Day through virtual mode, Jitendra Singh said, collaborative research and joint startups ecosystem will help build a shared future by harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation for social good.

Referring to the joint projects having significant potential to improve public health, nursing or care in India and Sweden, Dr Jitendra Singh informed that in 2020, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, and Vinnova, Government of Sweden announced grant funding to implement projects aimed at producing new solutions which, aided by artificial intelligence (AI), have significant potential to improve public health," the Ministry of Science & Technology said in a statement.

The joint programme, co-funded by the Indian Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Swedens Innovation Agency  Vinnova, brings together the world class excellence of Sweden and India to address challenges in the area of Smart Cities and Clean Technologies and Digitalization / Internet of Things, the ministry said.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Sweden, India agreed to deepen the collaboration through the Joint Declaration on Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future.

Singh said the partnership aims to increase the impact of bilateral cooperation in innovation, science and technology and it sets the framework for future cooperation to jointly tackle societal challenges including innovation-driven challenges on cross-sectoral issues with multi-stakeholder/agency participation from both countries.

The minister underlined that the partnership covers several areas, including smart cities, transportation and eMobility, energy, clean technologies, new materials, space, circular and bio-based economy, and health and life sciences.

The India-Sweden Innovation Partnership bridges institutions, R&D intensive industries and creative entrepreneurs to address global challenges in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Singh shared his thoughts with the distinguished delegates and said India has been progressing well in recent years in terms of its overall performance and outcome in science and technology and it has attained the 3rd position globally in terms of the number of publications.

Indias growth rate of publications in SCI journals is nearly 14% against the global average of 4% and India has attained the 10th spot in the number of patents filed, the Minister added.

Singh said, the bilateral diplomatic relations have flourished on the back of our like-mindedness and commitment to fair trade and globalization and added that Innovation cooperation is the fastest growing element in the bilateral relationship between India and Sweden.
Amid the ongoing protest over the death of Mhasa Amini, a major Shiite holy site echoed with the gun firing that left 15 people dead in the southern city of Shiraz on Wednesday.

According to AP, which quoted a state-run media, gunmen open fired at the Shah Cheragh mosque and killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens in Iran. The official website of the judiciary has informed about the arrest of two gunmen along with attempts of tracking the third culprit.

The state-run IRNA news agency reported the death toll and state TV said 40 people were wounded, reported AP.

The attack, which is possibly done by Sunni extremists, comes at a time when Iran is embroiled in nationwide anti-government demonstrations over the custodial death of Mahsa Amini.

40 days since Mahsa Aminis death

Thousands of demonstrators hit on streets of the northwestern city to mark the 40 days since the death in custody of the 22-year-old-Mahsa Amini. Her tragic death sparked controversy across the nation over the cruelty of morale police on girls.

In Shiite Islam, deaths are commemorated again 40 days later, typically with an outpouring of grief. To mark the death of Mahsa Amini large number of people came on the street in her hometown Saqez, which is also the birthplace of the nationwide protest. The crowds snaked through the local cemetery and thronged her grave.

In a video which is identified by AP to be of Saqez, protesters were seen crying Death to the dictator!". During the protest, women ripped off their headscarves, or hijabs, and waved them above their heads.

Over 10,000 protesters joined the procession

According to the State-linked media, around ten thousand protesters joined the procession that headed toward Mahsa Aminis grave.

The overwhelming participation of the people in the protest led to the firing of tear gas by the security forces to disperse them, informed Hengaw, a Kurdish human rights group. There were also reports of firing pellets at crowds of Saqez. To control the crowd and avert any chaos among public, the internet was also cut off in the region, reported AP quoting ISNA news agency.

In the countrys capital, Tehran, major places including sections of the grand Bazar, were closed to commemorate the death of Mahsa Amini. 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!"

Protests also broke out in several places of Tehran including streets and the University of Tehran campus.

Protests that erupted against the countrys strict dress code for women after the death of Mahsa Amini have also galvanized university students, labor unions, prisoners and ethnic minorities like the Kurds along Iran's border with Iraq.

Over 200 people have been killed so far

Ever since the protest over the tragic death of Mahsa Amini erupted, security forces have used nearly all cruel options to shut it down. They have fired live ammunition, tear gas and have killed over 200 people, reported AP quoting the right groups.

There is no official data available about the number of people arrested during the protest. Iranian judicial officials have announced that they would perform a trial of over 600 people, out of them 315 are from Tehran only.

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.

Iran blames foreign interference for fuelling the protest

Iranian officials have blamed the protests on foreign interference without any proof. Many European officials, companies, institutions, and Farsi channels were awarded with sanctions by Iran for showing support to the protest. These institutions and people who are awarded sanctions wont be able to enter the country or get the visa for Iran.

The German public broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, was also blacklisted by Iran. The broadcaster has criticised the countrys action on it.

I expect politicians in Germany and Europe to increase the pressure on the regime," said DW Director General Peter Limbourg.

In another incident, the reins of the partially dilapidated Metropol Building, a 10-story tower, fell completely on Wednesday, reported AP quoting a state-run media. The building had collapsed earlier this year killing 41 people. In May, the collapse of the tower had become a lightning rod for protests in Abadan city. The disaster brought into light the shoddy construction practices, rampant corruption, and ignorance in Iran. The video of the collapse shows the remaining tower turning into rubble in seconds.

(With agency inputs)
With its futuristic HoloLens headset, Microsoft Corp. grabbed an early lead in the race to the metaverse. Seven years later, its big push into augmented reality, which blends virtual imagery with views of the real world, has bumped up against the limits of the technology and the patience of company management.
Susan Boyette has accepted the position of Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Lees-McRae College. She comes to the college from the University of Mississippi, colloquially known as Ole Miss, where she was the Executive Director for Central Development and the director for the $1.5 billion Now and Ever Campaign.

Prior to her position at Ole Miss, Boyette worked at Georgia State University as the Senior Director of Leadership and Givinga position which later evolved into an Assistant Vice President rolewhere her primary responsibility was to direct the multiple hundred million dollar Burning Bright Campaign.

The Vice President for Institutional Advancement is key to helping Lees-McRae become the institution we know it can be, President Lee King said. Based on Susans previous work with Ole Miss and Georgia State, I am confident she is the right person to help the college thrive during this era of growth.

Boyette said that when she came across the vice president job position, she felt it aligned strongly with her personal career ambitions and professional strengths. She said that she was excited by and confident in the colleges strategic planINEXPRO 2030and was eager to become part of the team that would make it happen.

Coming to Lees-McRae was one of the easiest decisions of my career. From the moment I read the role description, I knew that I had to pursue this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a truly unique institution that impacts so many lives, Boyette said. When I came to campus in July, I was blown away by the commitment Dr. King and his leadership team have to maintaining a standard of excellence across all areas of campus. I am honored to lead and build upon the foundational work the Institutional Advancement team has already done to secure private funding for Lees-McRae College.

Boyettes time at both Ole Miss and Georgia State has given her ample experience planning and strategizing for the future of a higher education institution. Over the course of her career, she has worked closely with donors, university presidents and vice presidents, Boards of Trustees, and more, all the while keeping the student experience at the heart of her work.

It really is about student success, the student experience, experiential learning. All these things have so much funding potential, and these are things that our alumni and the community are very interested in, Boyette said. Its important to always remember the reason that we're here is for the students. Whether we're talking about a building or a program, it's all about the students.

As the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Lees-McRae, Boyette will oversee the Advancement staff as they continue to secure financial support for college priorities. She hopes to build upon the efforts already underway and continue to establish the Office of Institutional Advancement as the go-to partner for financial support in relation to growth and development opportunities across campus.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Abundant sunshine. High 72F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Clear this evening. Becoming mostly cloudy with showers developing after midnight. Thunder possible. Low 54F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Longford Community Resources (LCRL) Chairperson Pat O'Rourke, acknowledged the achievements accomplished by the CEO and staff whilst enduring the challenges encountered during the Covid pandemic at the 27th LCRL annual general meeting.

Reflecting on 2021, Mr O'Rourke stated, The organisation has grown considerably over the past 12 months, now administering nine different programmes. Extra staff have been employed to work on these programmes.

2021 saw the continuance of the challenges imposed by the Covid pandemic. Regardless of the countless challenges, staff continued to plan and deliver programme activities and worked tirelessly to identify and reach out to those most in need. The strategic objectives of the organisation were met, making 2021 another successful year for Longford Community Resources.

The Chairperson continued, I would like to thank on behalf of the Board and myself, the CEO and staff for their work in 2021 and how they continued during Covid-19 restrictions to deliver outstanding services and support to individuals and communities.

The work carried out through the various programmes has made a significant impact on County Longford from community development to support for infrastructure, economic development, employment, training and enterprise support.

Mr O'Rourke thanked the Directors, past and present, for their support and continued dedication to the Board.

LCRL impacts positively

At the Monday, September 26 meeting, LCRL CEO Adrian Greene, also acknowledged the effort put in by hardworking community groups and special issue groups whom LCRL work closely with. The board members and the staff of LCRL were commended for their support and commitment.

Mr Greene remarked, Without the engagement of the community in County Longford, our work would not be as impactful. It is only through the Directors support and staffs commitment that the work undertaken by LCRL impacts positively on the groups and individuals in Longford. I would like to thank Pat, as Chairperson, for his leadership of the organisation.

I would also like to thank the other Directors for their support and commitment throughout the year and the staff for their continued dedication and commitment to the company.

He added, The staff have continued to work with and empower the most marginalised and vulnerable groups and individuals in society such as individuals from ethnic minorities, disadvantaged young people, Travellers, older people, lone parents and homeless people.

This would not be possible without the funding and support of many agencies and Departments including: Longford Co Co; Longford LCDC; Department of Rural and Community Development; Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board; Department of Social Protection; Health Service Executive; Slainte Care, UBU, Youth Work Ireland and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their help, support and funding provided in order to make this work possible.

147 LEADER projects

The members heard that the LEADER programme has 147 projects approved for grant assistance, with a total of 7,628,161.11 in grants awarded.

SICAP continues to support disadvantaged and marginalised individuals and families to move out of persistent poverty and exclusion.

In 2021, 338 people received individual support and staff worked with 18 groups. 43 individuals progressed into self-employment and 26 progressed into employment/placement. Staff continue to work in the most disadvantaged communities and estates in Longford.



Ukrainian Crisis

In 2022, the Ukrainian crisis posed a huge challenge to the team but the programme is well tailored to respond to emergencies as was also proved during the Covid pandemic.

A Ukrainian Outreach Worker has now been employed to assist the individuals who have recently moved to County Longford.

The Community Development Project is growing in capacity, building on the trust of the Roma and New Communities and supporting them to access services.

Several events have been held as well as outreach carried out to engage with these marginalised individuals.

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) continues to support community groups whilst giving social and financial support to as many low income farm families as possible.

In 2021, RSS had 63 positions filled on average throughout the year, with 44 community groups supported.

In 2021, Tus had 114 participants on their payroll, placed with 71 community groups. Tus will continue to support participants in their work placements thus supporting community groups countywide.

The Social Prescribing Project, a new project in 2022, is steadily building on the number of individuals it supports through referrals from other organisations and service providers.

The measured outcomes indicate that problems encountered by individuals would be considerably greater without the interventions of the service.

998 Volunteers

The Volunteer Centre whilst busy placing registered volunteers is also encouraging more volunteering from new communities.

Longford Volunteer Centre had 998 volunteers registered at the end of 2021, with a volunteer placement rate of 89%.

The processing of Garda Vetting applications for community organisations is ongoing.

County Longford Youth Service (CLYS) continues to provide young people with developmental opportunities to support them in reaching their full potential. This is done through work with its many groups and individuals and collaborations with other services and agencies.

In 2021, CLYS held bullying awareness programmes, peer mentoring programmes and facilitated Top Class (Alternative Education programme).



CLYS supported 1,200 young people

CLYS also worked with 20 groups of young people and carried out detached work in Longford Town, Granard, Edgeworthstown and Ballymahon.

During 2021 CLYS supported more than 1,200 young people in County Longford.

The PHCP worked with over 345 travellers in 2021, providing them with health care information, increasing their participation and representation, improving accommodation and upskilling of health workers within the team.

Pop-up clinics targeting the Traveller community were set up in Longford, in partnership with Public Health Midlands and the Traveller Health Unit, to deliver Covid-19 vaccines, testing and information.

72 individuals were supported in 2021 through the Friendly Phone Call Service for older people. This was a significant increase on the number supported in 2020.

The Friendly Phone Call Service reaches out to those individuals experiencing loneliness, anxiety and depression for a friendly chat.

LCRL Food Bank

The distribution of food parcels through the LCRL Food Bank continued throughout 2021, with an increasing demand for the service.

Weekly delivery of food parcels continues to low-income families and individuals.

If you wish to seek further information on any of the services provided by LCRL, please contact the office at 043-3345555 or email enquiries@lcrl.ie. Updates on programmes and activities run by LCRL can be found on the LCRL website, Facebook page and Twitter.
Longford is to receive an investment of 5.8m that will support thousands of locally-led rural development and enterprise projects over the next five years.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, today announced details of the 180 million LEADER Programme for 2023-2027 and she published the funding allocation for each county.

Longford has been allocated 5.8m with the allocation for neighbouring counties as follows; Cavan 6.4m, Leitrim 6.3m, Roscommon 6.8m and Westmeath 5.7m.

This allocation is in addition to the 70 million already provided for LEADER for 2021 and 2022, bringing the total allocation for the seven year LEADER programming period of 2021-2027 to 250 million.

The selection process will be conducted over two stages; the first stage is an Expression of Interest by eligible groups followed by a more detailed stage which will see them develop their LEADER strategies.

The first stage of the process was opened by Minister Humphreys today.



Making the announcement, Minister Humphreys said, The LEADER Programme has been integral to delivering locally-led projects that have brought major benefits to communities across Rural Ireland.

LEADER operates on a ground-up approach and is all about empowering local communities to deliver projects that will revitalise our towns and villages.

Today, Im pleased to set out the process for selecting groups to deliver the new LEADER programme.

The process will be open, transparent and competitive and I am encouraging groups in the private and public sector to work together to achieve the best possible results.

The Minister announced that interested parties will have until Friday, December 16, 2022 to submit their Expression of Interest (Stage 1).

All groups that are successful in Stage 1 will be provided with funding to assist with the costs associated with developing a Local Development Strategy in Stage 2 of the process.



A fund of 2 million has been ring-fenced for this purpose which will commence in early 2023.



Minister Humphreys acknowledged the tremendous work of the Local Action Groups that have successfully delivered the current LEADER programme, stating, It is now important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver a LEADER programme that will build on the fantastic success of the programme over the last 30 years.

By working together, we will ensure that LEADER continues to play a central role in supporting rural communities into the future.

As part of the new CAP Strategic Plan funding of 180 million has been committed to LEADER for 2023-2027. The Minister also confirmed that all of this funding will be allocated to the Local Action Groups who are appointed to deliver the new programme.

Interested parties can now apply by visiting the Departments website and downloading an application form via the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/ 87e09-leader-programme-for-rural-development/

Completed Expressions of Interest forms must be submitted by email only to leader2327@drcd.gov.ie no later than 5.30pm on Friday, December 16, 2022.

The Department of Rural and Community Development will host an information webinar for all interested parties on November 10, 2022.

Registration for this event is available here
New Community Hubs are being created in local Longford housing estates in Longford, as part of the new Department of Justice approved Community Safety Partnership Project.

This community-based initiative will be trialed for two years, allowing local communities to work with State and community services to draw up plans to promote social cohesion, integration and to prevent crime in these local areas.

Three locations were identified to trial the initiative  Longford, Waterford, and Dublins North Inner City  based on factors including population density, crime rates and deprivation.

In Longford, council donated houses in Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park will offer a space to engage with people in these communities through workshops, training courses, information events, coffee mornings, easily accessible multi-purpose rooms and parent and toddler groups.

Residents will have access to space, information and services as well as a stake in their community right on their doorstep.

Janine Bartley, Longfords Community Safety Coordinator, believes this is vital to overcoming issues in the area and strengthening these communities.

Ms Bartley said, Sometimes, for whatever reason, people from these communities find it difficult to trust and engage with social, community and policing services. Spaces directly within these estates that work on building up trust and building up relationships will help identify what the key issues in these areas are. And more importantly, what the residents want us to do to tackle them.

These community hubs and other new initiatives came from the Commission on Future Policing that began work in 2017. One of the key recommendations was that community safety is not just a responsibility of An Garda Siochana. Its everybodys responsibility and a more co-ordinated approach must be taken by statutory agencies, community agencies, voluntary agencies, and the community residents themselves. These hubs are the spaces where we hope this collaboration can begin.

BREAKING : Garda probe underway following cocaine and fireworks seizure in Longford town Gardai have launched an investigation after cocaine and fireworks were seized from a premises in Longford town last night.

The newly repurposed spaces were refurbished with furniture and equipment donated by another Longford community-based organisation, the employability and skills provider, Seetec.

We were thrilled to help this innovative project in any way we could, we even enlisted the Irish Defence Forces to round up all the gear, said Noeleen Nannery, Seetecs Regional Operations Manager.

Weve been supporting the people of Longford into employment and training for the past seven years. As an employee-owned organisation that delivers a socially driven service, we are deeply invested in the communities we serve in. This sort of initiative really resonates with our mission and values.

Ms Nannery continued, This space also offers significant future potential for further collaboration between the Community Safety Partnership and Seetec. Were exploring the potential of offering direct information sessions on skills, training and employment to the Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park communities. This sort of outreach is exactly what these hubs were created for.

Both Ardnacassa and MacEoin Park Community Hubs will be open to the public in the first week in November.

Ardnacassa will host a launch event on October 28 to introduce the space to statutory and community agencies.
Stephen Silver has described to a Central Criminal Court jury the moment he struggled to take Detective Garda Colm Horkan's gun before striking him with the butt of the weapon and shooting him 11 times as the garda fell to the ground.

The accused said it happened so fast he had no time to think, adrenaline was flowing and, he said, he was trying to protect himself.

Stephen Silver was giving evidence at his own trial, where he has said he was suffering from a mental disorder and was having "confused thoughts" on the day of the shooting that resulted in the detective's death. Under cross-examination he told prosecution counsel, Michael Delaney SC, that he had been admitted to psychiatric units 17 times since 2003.

He told his trial that he stopped taking his medication because he felt it slowed him down and he believed he could control his condition.

His last hospitalisation was in September 2019, nine months before the fatal shooting, but he stopped taking his medication within days of being discharged, he said. Mr Delaney said: "That was a choice you made when you were well, knowing the possible consequences."

Mr Silver replied: "I never thought it would end like this. I thought I had control of it, I really did. I would see it coming and I would avoid it."

Mr Delaney pointed out that this was after 17 admissions to psychiatric units. "I know yeah," Mr Silver replied.

"And that choice was made by you because you preferred how you felt," Mr Delaney said.

"I did yes, thats true," Mr Silver replied.

Mr Silver (46), a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, Co Mayo has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Det Garda Horkan knowing or being reckless as to whether he was a member of An Garda Siochana acting in accordance with his duty. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility, at Castlerea, Co. Roscommon on 17 June 2020.

Mr Silver finished his direct evidence today, telling his counsel Roisin Lacey SC he is ashamed of the way he behaved during his garda interviews following the shooting. He apologised to the Horkan family "for the hurt I caused", and added, "there's not a day goes by I don't think about it." He said that his behaviour during the interviews, which the jury have watched, was "not normal for me, not normal at all. Only when I'd be sick. That's the first time I'd ever seen anything like that, seen myself acting like that."

Talking about the moments before the shooting, he said he was walking with his friend James Coyne along Patrick St at the junction with Main St, Castlerea, when a dark-coloured car came up behind him. The car passenger side window was half down and, he said, "a man was staring at me so I put my head down to the window and he asked me who I was." He said he gave the man his name and asked who he was and heard him say that he was a garda, just as Gda Horkan was getting out of the car.

Gda Horkan was wearing a Tommy Hilfiger jacket which Mr Silver thought was "strange" and not something a garda would wear. He didn't believe he was a garda and added: "He came around the front of the car, round the bonnet, and he came at me very quickly, he was within a few inches and squared up to me as if to start a fight."

Mr Silver said he told Gda Horkan to keep two metres away, as per the covid prevention guidelines, and Mr Silver put his right hand up "to keep him at arm's length". Mr Silver said he then relaxed and put his arms down at his side. "I thought there was going to be no hassle and I wanted to see what this man wanted."

He said Gda Horkan, "just grabbed me" and they started grappling. Gda Horkan, he said, tried to get a grip of his left arm and Mr Coyne tried to pull Mr Silver back, causing the accused to fall to the ground. Mr Silver said the struggle continued and he tried to get back up by putting his hands on Gda Horkan's hips and that's when he felt the gun holster. He said: "That gave me a fright and I thought this was some kind of assassination attempt. Why did he have a gun? I put my hand back to see if the gun was there and his hand was on the gun. We started struggling to try and get the gun and the gun came out of the holster and both our hands were on it."

Mr Silver said his hand was on the handle of the gun and Gda Horkan's hand was around his hand. He added: "Next thing, I pulled the trigger and nothing happened so I pulled it again and it fired, a loud pop noise. I pulled my hand off it and Colm fired it twice." Mr Silver said: "Colm's hand started to lose power, falling away from the gun. I took the gun on my own then, Colm started to fall backwards. I hit him on the head with the butt of the gun on the side of his head."

He said it happened so fast he had no time to think, adrenaline was flowing and, he said, he was trying to protect himself. "I didn't know who he was, I thought it might be a drug dealer that James knew. I thought it might be something to do with James. I thought it was unreal that someone had tried to attack me with a gun."

He also believed that Gda Horkan's unmarked Hyundai with its Dublin registration plate might have followed him from Dublin that day. He said: "I had a lot of confused thoughts about the situation. I was just trying to get free of the situation. I felt I was in danger, but it happened so fast it was very very very frightening."

Under cross examination Mr Silver told Mr Delaney that as Gda Horkan fell to the ground he shot him eleven times. Each shot, he said, was from within three to four metres. Having watched CCTV that Mr Delaney said showed Mr Silver walking away before turning around and shooting again, Mr Silver said that the gun was empty at that stage.

"Why point an empty gun?" Mr Delaney asked. Mr Silver said: "I wasn't aware it was empty. I wasn't well." He said he doesn't know if he intended to shoot him again, but added that he checked the gun and it was empty.

He told Mr Delaney that on the day of the shooting he didn't want any hassle with gardai. He accepted that he had earlier created a disturbance by driving a motorcycle at speed with no helmet or light around a housing estate late at night and shouting, "I dare the armed squad to come down here." He said he was "stupid" but wasn't trying to provoke the gardai. When Mr Delaney said that he seemed to have wanted the gardai to come for a confrontation, Mr Silver replied: "These were fleeting thoughts. Ten seconds later I wouldn't want anything to do with the guards."

Mr Delaney asked if he was thinking of shooting a garda when he dared the armed squad to come down. The accused replied: "No, sure I have no interest in shooting guards." Counsel suggested that it was "clear you were spoiling for a row with gardai". Mr Silver responded: "No, It's just I was unwell. There is no other reason for it."

He denied that he had been "building a defence" from the start by pretending that he didn't know Gda Horkan was a garda and he denied that the reason Gda Horkan tried to arrest him was that he spat at him. He said he didn't know why the garda wanted to arrest him, adding that there was no reason to arrest him.

Mr Delaney suggested that when the accused told the jury that he believed the SAS had put a bomb under his van and that a woman he was seeing was an MI6 spy, he was making "additions to bolster'" his defence. Mr Silver said these were things he believed at the time.

Mr Silver accepted that he has been admitted to psychiatric units 17 times and in "pretty much all" of those cases he had not been taking his medication. Once hospitalised, he would respond quickly to medication, he said. He agreed that he had been told multiple times by doctors that he needed to keep taking his medication to avoid relapses but he preferred how he felt without the medication.

He said: "The medication does slow you down somewhat, but its something Ill have to accept this time."

Mr Silver has finished his evidence and the trial continues tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of seven men and five women.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: October 27 2022

Oscar Rios-Perez stabbed housemate, dumped body on curb in plastic garbage bags.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Uniondale man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for brutally stabbing his 27-year-old housemate with a knife and dumping his body in garbage bags in front of a neighbors house in January 2021.

Oscar Rios-Perez, a/k/a/ Alexis Flores, 33, pleaded guilty on September 9, 2022, before Judge Terence Murphy to Manslaughter in the First Degree (a B violent felony). The defendant was sentenced today to 25 years in prison and five years post release supervision.

Oscar Rios-Perez stabbed and killed his housemate, Jesus Martinez, and heartlessly bagged up his body and dropped it in front of a neighbors house, said DA Donnelly. The defendant tried to discard the evidence of his heinous crime and flee the state, but he couldnt outrun law enforcement. Todays sentence is a just outcome in this tragic story. Our thoughts continue to be with Jesus Martinezs family at this time.

DA Donnelly said on January 30, 2021, at approximately 12:30 a.m. at 17 Walton Avenue in Uniondale, the defendant stabbed 27-year-old Jesus Martinez, a co-tenant in the home that they shared, killing him. The defendant put the victims body into two garbage bags, carried the wrapped body to the front of the home, and left it on the curb in front of a neighbors house.

The defendant was arrested on February 22, 2021, at a bus terminal in Austin, Texas, by local authorities.
Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: October 27 2022

The driver of the SUV fled the scene southbound on William Floyd Parkway.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Seventh Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the publics help to identify and locate the driver of a vehicle that left the scene of a three-vehicle crash in October.

A man driving an SUV rear-ended a Toyota pickup truck while traveling southbound on William Floyd Parkway, near the intersection of Flower Hill Drive, at approximately 3:20 p.m. on October 3. The crash caused the pickup truck to spin into another lane and strike the passenger side door of a Nissan Rogue. One person was transported to an area hospital for evaluation.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene southbound on William Floyd Parkway. The vehicle is possibly a brown Mitsubishi Outlander with a newer model New York State license plate. The driver is believed to be a white male.
I didnt know I was going to get set on fire during deployment, Spc. Joseph Stammeyer of the Iowa National Guard said. But it was fun.

Fun, indeed.

Though rarely in the headlines, a force of more than 600 US troops has been deployed to Kosovo since 1999, when fighting ended in the region following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The US units are in place mostly as peacekeepers, so the training they get in preparation for the deployments is aimed less at direct action and more at policing, civil unrest and riot control.

Which means that on a fairly regular basis, groups of US and NATO soldiers take their turn getting toasted by local police or NATO allies in a fiery crowd-control drill known as fire phobia training.

In the way of most military jargon, the name seems a bit backwards, at least partially implying that the training instills a fear of fire rather than hardening soldiers against it, but either way, Stammeyer and the Iowa Guards 113th Cavalry Regiment was one in a line of many US units that faced live Molotov cocktail-style burning liquids throw by NATO trainers. While momentarily engulfed in flames, the soldiers have to first absorb the contact and then react.

Iowa Army National Guard Soldiers with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, run through a spray of gasoline and flames during fire phobia training at Camp Novo Selo, Kosovo, on April 13, 2021. (Tawny Schmit/U.S. Army National Guard)

Along with full uniforms and facemasks, troops wear various pads and strap-on body armor plates, and they form tight formations behind riot shields.

Still, for at least a second or so, theyre on fire.

It was hot, said Elijah Vos, a specialist in the 113th Cav. It wasnt as scary as I thought it was going to be. They show you what to do, how to stomp your feet, shake your shield, and plow right through it.

Though fire phobia training appears nuts, its relatively routine for troops headed to Kosovo, where they make up the NATO-led Kosovo Force, or KFOR. Soldiers of the Indiana Guards Task Force Nighthawk of the 2-151st Infantry Battalion got their turn to burn at the Armys Joint Multinational Readiness Center at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany in early October, along with some North Macedonian soldiers. The Kentucky National Guards 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, went through the training in February. Stammeyer, Vos, and the Iowa Guard unit got their fire phobia training on a deployment in 2021 in a training session captured by a Pentagon news crew.

Speaking to Army film crews, the Iowa troops appeared no worse for wear after the drills.

I was super excited, Spc. Andres Torres said. Not every day you get to have a Molotov cocktail thrown at you.

Read the original article on Coffee or Die Magazine. Follow Coffee or Die on Instagram.
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Thursday.

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SMALL-CAP - WINNERS

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Foxtons Group PLC, up 12% at 32.20 pence, 12-month range 27.05p-50.60p. Sees growth across its business in third quarter, as revenue grows a quarter to GBP43.8 million from GBP35.1 million. Sales unit sees 44% rise in revenue and Lettings up 18%. Following strong growth in first nine months of 2022, now expects annual result ahead of previous expectations. "We enter Q4 with a less certain sales market backdrop, but cost action taken in H1 and our resilient lettings and financial services businesses leave us positioned to weather further macroeconomic and political challenges," it adds.

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SMALL-CAP - LOSERS

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MetalNRG PLC, down 2.1% at 0.071 pence, 12-month range 0.070p-0.44p. Notes it has only received GBP250,000 of total GBP1.1 million payment due from BritEnergy Holdings LLP, Pierpoalo Rocco and BritNRG Ltd related to civil legal proceedings. In late September, English High Court ruled in favour of MetalNRG, ordering BritEnergy to repay GBP1.0 million from money paid to the LLP in 2021. Firm demanded repayment of investment made into BritEnergy after discovering former board member Rocco held substantial stake in the joint venture, which was not disclosed.

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By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:

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Corcel PLC - London-based mining and mineral resource development company - Completes fundraising and confirms that the placing funds have been received.

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Barclays PLC - London-based bank - Notes that Wise Road Alpha Investment Fund I LP and SMART Growth Fund LP plan to sell 31.7 million shares in the share capital of Alphawave IP Group PLC.

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Hawkwing PLC - cash shell - Notes that liquidators have been appointed to IFG SPP Ltd. It currently owes the company GBP13.7 million together with interest, costs and exit premiums. Explains that it is assessing its options and the steps it should be taking to protect its position following IFGS' liquidation.

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Insig AI PLC - London-based data science and machine learning - Says that a second tranche of GBP260,000 has been drawn down on the convertible loan facility agreement by Richard Bernstein. After this tranche, an amount of GBP390,000 remains available.

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Critical Metals PLC - Africa-focused natural resources investor - Says it is in the final stages of appointing a mine manager for its Molulu copper and cobalt project in Congo. Says groundwork at the project has begun shortly after readmission. Employs local workers to clear and clean the mine campground and enhance security. Expects camp equipment, which is currently in transit from South Africa, to be arriving soon after this. Starts preparations for the initial geological mapping surveys. "These are exciting times for Critical Metals as we prepare the ground and await the arrival of key camp equipment, expected in the coming weeks. It is highly encouraging to see the collaboration of our team, including our current DRC-based geologists, as we endeavor to identify further extensions of the copper ore body by further geological mapping, which we hope will be completed in a matter of weeks," CEO Russell Fryer comments.

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DX Group PLC - Slough, England-based parcel freight, secure courier and logistics provider - Confirms that it has received a notice from Gatemore Capital Management LLP seeking to requisition a general meeting of the company. Gatemore proposes to remove Ron Series as executive chair and a director and to appoint Mark Hammond to replace him.

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Nanoco Group PLC - Manchester-based nanomaterial developer and manufacturer - Files a lawsuit against Samsung in China for the willful infringement of its IP. Says this is its third lawsuit against Samsung and that it is based on a sister patent to one of the patents in the US litigation. The litigation process in China is expected to be faster than the US process, where multiple appeals can extend for a number of years. A final outcome in China can be expected between one and two years from filing suit. China is also another territory where an injunction is more commonly available than in the US. "We continue to pursue a patent litigation strategy that delivers fair value for Nanoco's global IP portfolio. We are grateful to be well supported in these endeavours by our Litigation Funding Partner and our legal advisers at Mintz," Chief Executive Brian Tenner comments.

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Mosman Oil and Gas Ltd - Sydney-based oil and gas company with projects in Australia and the US - Identifies other near term production opportunities, as result of the work programme to bring the new development well at Cinnabar onto production. Drills a development well at the Cinnabar project. Completes the drilling of the Arco Fee G-1and Arco Fee G-2 well to 10,000 feet depth and states it is ready for production. Says the flow rates will be announced when received.

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Bezant Resources PLC - copper-gold project developer - Enters into a conditional share purchase agreement to exchange its 27.5% stake in IDM Mankayan Pty Ltd for a 27.5% interest in IDM International Ltd. Enters a convertible loan note agreement with IDM International to invest AUD137,500, or GBP77,000, in IDM International. Adds that IDM International has entered into a convertible loan notes deal with entities associated with two of its directors to raise AUD362,500, or GBP203,000.

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Bidstack Group PLC - London-based in-game advertising platform - Intends to undertake a "comprehensive business review" as part of its "aggressive growth strategy" for 2023. "We are happy to share the new revenue streams the Group is exploring, including licensing our proprietary technology, empowering IP rights holders to control their brand activations in the virtual world and the expansion of our gaming 'SSP', which now houses all ad-formats within the gaming ecosystem. This is an exciting period where we are looking to accelerate our top line growth and look to cement our position as the dominant technology provider for game developers and platform owners for targeted, brand-based communications within gaming environments and applications," Founder & Chief Executive James Draper comments.

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Bluejay Mining PLC - mineral exploration and development in Greenland and Finland - Non-Executive Director Robert Edwards resigns and ceases to be a director with immediate effect.

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Harland & Wolff Group Holdings PLC - London-based offshore construction company - Says that it has activated the accordion facility provided by Riverstone Credit Partners LLC. Draws down an initial sum of USD15 million before costs. Plans to use the funds for the full settlement of the remaining Appledore deferred consideration and for working capital needs as required. Explains that a total sum of GBP4.5 million remains payable for the deferred consideration to Appledore's vendors. Issues 8.6 million warrants to Riverstone Credit Partners LLC at an exercise price of 5.65 pence per share, as part of the transaction. "I am delighted that we have formally completed the acquisition of all the assets of Appledore. With the M55 and HMS Atherstone in the yard, the completion of this transaction and bringing these assets formally under the Harland & Wolff umbrella is a significant milestone. It also provides additional confidence to our clients to progress and execute new contracts destined for Appledore," CEO John Wood comments.

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By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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Climate activists stage week-long protests in New York City

Xinhua) 16:07, October 27, 2022

NEW YORK, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Climate activists from multiple non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are implementing week-long protests against climate change and inequality ahead of the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.

Activists briefly shut down the escalators at BlackRock, the world's largest financier of fossil fuels, according to a post on the social media account of one of the NGOs, New York Communities for Change.

Participants urged BlackRock management to refrain from making new fossil-fuel investments and urged the New York state government to adequately fund climate action.

Protesters Tuesday temporarily blocked a section of New York City's Park Avenue and called for measures to tax the rich for a statewide Green New Deal.

Activists also interrupted an interview of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz with talk show The View at ABC News on Monday, protesting ABC News' coverage on climate change.

Some protesters were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to media reports and social media posts.

A mass march will be held on Saturday with the theme of "Occupy Park Avenue" so as to draw attention to the need for strong climate action, according to the website of activist group Extinction Rebellion NYC.

Hurricane Sandy hit New York City on Oct. 29, 2012 with 44 local residents killed and around 19 billion U.S. dollars of damage inflicted, according to the New York City government.

(Web editor: Cai Hairuo, Liang Jun)
Among the dozens of U.S. Navy officers charged in connection with the "Fat Leonard" bribery and fraud scandal, Edmond Aruffo is unique  for a variety of reasons.

Unlike many of the other Navy officials tied to the $35 million fraud scheme, Aruffo was never accused of taking bribes of cash or prostitutes. And Aruffo's charges stemmed not from his time while employed by the Navy, but rather when he went to work for the scheme's mastermind, Malaysian defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, at Glenn Defense Marine Asia.

Aruffo, who retired from the Navy in 2007 as a lieutenant commander, was also among the first Navy officers charged in the case, and was the fourth to plead guilty, in July 2014. But his sentencing was repeatedly delayed over the past eight years  during which time he earned a law degree and wrote a book aimed at helping other law students pass the California bar exam  as he assisted prosecutors with their case.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Barry "Ted" Moskowitz sentenced Aruffo to perform 850 hours of community service helping military veterans. He also sentenced him to three years of supervised release.

Moskowitz called the various prosecutions related to Francis "probably the most significant case prosecuted in" San Diego federal court and said Aruffo had provided the most significant government cooperation he'd seen in his 30 or so years as a federal judge and prosecutor.

Aruffo "went off the moral gird, but came in from the cold," Moskowitz said, adding it was unnecessary to send Aruffo to prison after he had the case hanging over his head for so long.

Aruffo's attorney, Gary Brucker, had asked that his client be sentenced to no additional prison time beyond the 83 days he spent in custody in 2014. Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie Chu had initially requested Aruffo be sentenced to 15 months in prison and later asked for six months when the judge made clear he'd be giving a lesser sentence because of Aruffo's cooperation.

Brucker said his client met with investigators roughly 40 times, including for several hours on the night in September 2013 when federal agents first knocked on his door.

Aruffo told the court he was "embarrassed and ashamed" by his actions, and that he owed his greatest apology to the Navy. He joined when he was 17 years old, he said, and he worked his way up over more than 21 years from a dishwasher on a submarine to a lieutenant commander by the time he retired.

The shape of Aruffo's case had many parallels to Francis' own criminal case. Both men pleaded guilty years ago, and both put off sentencing while helping prosecutors build their sprawling case against dozens of Navy officers. But those similar paths ended earlier this year.

While Aruffo testified for eight days during the only trial in the case, which ended with the convictions of four of the five Navy officers being tried, Francis never took the stand, despite prior expectations that he might be the prosecution's star witness.

Francis fled the country in September just weeks before he was to learn his own fate. Francis now sits in Venezuelan custody, having been captured there while allegedly trying to travel to Russia. He has sought asylum in Venezuela, and the U.S. has been given a two-month deadline to seek his extradition.

Aruffo met Francis, nicknamed for his immense size, while he was serving as the operations officer of the Blue Ridge, the command ship of the Navy's massive Seventh Fleet in the western Pacific.

According to court testimony and Aruffo's sentencing memorandum, it was his job to arrange social events for senior officers, including events hosted by Francis.

Such dinners and parties were often where Francis charmed officers, recruiting them to his scheme, according to court records in the broader investigation. Francis bribed them for their influence within the Navy and in turn they helped steer lucrative contracts to his company, which provided various services to visiting Navy ships in ports he controlled. Francis then grossly overcharged for many of those services.

"Although Mr. Aruffo did not receive cash bribes or prostitutes from Mr. Francis like other defendants, he did accept discounted or free meals and hotels," his attorney wrote in the sentencing document, noting that prosecutors did not charge Aruffo for receiving those benefits.

That was Aruffo's "first mistake," according to his attorney. His second mistake, the attorney wrote, occurred in 2009, when Aruffo accepted Francis' offer to become GDMA's county manager for Japan.

"He unwittingly joined an ongoing conspiracy to defraud the Navy," Brucker wrote. "Once he learned of the fraud, Mr. Aruffo decided to leave the company on his own accord and did so, just not soon enough. He should have quit immediately, and his failure to do so is his biggest regret."

The attorney wrote that Aruffo received a fixed salary and never personally benefited from the fraud.

Moskowitz said he planned to order Aruffo to pay restitution  prosecutors asked for more than $2 million  but the sides could not settle on an amount Wednesday and put off until a later date a hearing to determine what he should pay.

This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune.

2022 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A Republican congressman is asking Tricare beneficiaries to contact him with details about how they will be affected by the recent departure of thousands of pharmacies from the network in an effort to reverse the changes.

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., posted a form on his website for Tricare patients, as well as pharmacists and health care providers, to give him their feedback after he had what he described as a dismissive phone call with a Defense Health Agency official about the nearly 15,000 independent and community pharmacies that left the network earlier this month.

"It was the worst call I've ever had with a government agency," Carter told Military.com in a phone interview. "They said that they had not heard from anybody -- any recipients or any pharmacies -- about it. So we're taking it to the streets, if you will. We're getting our stories together."

Read Next: Delay to Incentive Pay Boost for Guard and Reserves Draws Rebuke from Lawmakers

As of Monday, 14,963 retail pharmacies that used to participate in Tricare's pharmacy network, which is administered by Express Scripts, are gone.

Some independent pharmacies knew they would be dropped from Tricare next year because they wouldn't accept the terms of Express Scripts' contract, which included lowered reimbursement rates. But many were blindsided by the Oct. 24 date, an advocacy group for independent pharmacies told Military.com last month.

The advocacy group, the National Community Pharmacists Association, also sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier this month saying Express Scripts "has created confusion among many Tricare beneficiaries and pharmacies alike" and calling on him to "rectify these problems."

A couple dozen Tricare beneficiaries also reached out to Military.com after it reported on the changes in September to express their shock and disappointment that their local pharmacies were leaving the network.

Last month, Carter and Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., organized a letter that was co-signed by 98 other lawmakers pressing the Defense Health Agency for answers on the changes and expressing concern the reductions will cause "patient access and safety" issues.

Carter has not received a formal written response to the letter, but the call was in response to the missive, his office said.

A Defense Health Agency spokesperson did not respond to Military.com's requests for comment Thursday on Carter's characterization of the call.

In an earlier statement, the agency insisted that the network "will continue to meet or exceed Tricare's standard for pharmacy access" despite thousands of stores leaving.

"Beneficiaries will continue to have many convenient, local in-network options for filling their medications, including those beneficiaries in rural locations," agency spokesperson Peter Graves said in a September statement.

The form on Carter's website has been up for a few days and already received more than 240 responses, his office said. He said he plans to take the responses back to the Defense Department to show that the issue matters to people.

Carter said it particularly affects his constituents because he represents a largely rural district.

"It's impacting everyone, everywhere, but particularly in the rural areas, it's having a tremendous impact," he said.

While Oct. 24 has come and gone, he said he's hopeful the reductions will be reversed.

"These patients -- the veterans, the retirees -- they depend on these people. They depend on their pharmacies, and now you're cutting them out," Carter said. "So it's going to put 400,000 members of Tricare, recipients of Tricare, in jeopardy here."

-- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel.

Related: Nearly 15,000 Pharmacies Leaving Tricare in October
The State Department is pushing back against the notion that a U.S. resolution at the United Nations proposing the deployment of a rapid reaction force to Haiti is in peril, with a senior administration official stating Wednesday that he expects the dimensions of a force to be settled by early November.

The United States is proposing that a multilateral force, led by another country, be deployed to Haiti with urgency to help Haiti's police break the stranglehold of gangs on its major ports and roadways, fueling the country's worst economic, political and humanitarian crisis in decades. The Haitian government and U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres requested military intervention earlier this month after a powerful gang alliance blocked the country's main terminal, leading to food, fuel and water shortages.

Sources told McClatchy and the Miami Herald this week that the U.S. resolution at the U.N. Security Council was imperiled, with no country stepping up to lead the mission and with several countries, including Russia and China, expressing skepticism over the invocation of Chapter 7 powers, which authorize the use of force under the U.N. charter and open the door to a possible return of a peacekeeping mission.

But as U.S. officials hold out hope for Security Council passage, they are also planning contingencies for a multilateral force that would enter Haiti without formal U.N. authorization. A fact-finding delegation from Canada, which has been holding conversations about the request, is expected to visit Port-au-Prince this week to discuss the crisis.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also is planning to visit Canada on Thursday and Friday with Assistant Secretary of State Brian A. Nichols, where he will meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly. Haiti is among the topics high on the agenda.

"We see a recognition that the international community needs to act to help the Haitian people to respond to the call of the Haitian Prime Minister and cabinet, and the (U.N.) Secretary General, to address the security situation, the cholera outbreak, food insecurity and all the other challenges that the Haitian people face right now," Nichols told reporters on Wednesday.

Nichols said the multinational force being envisioned would be composed mostly of police, with some military components.

A number of countries have the skills to do that, including Canada, he said. But Nichols acknowledged that "the country that will lead that effort has not been determined."

"I've talked to dozens of partner nations around the world about the situation in Haiti, and there is strong support for a multinational force," he said. "The desire to contribute in whatever ways that nations feel that they can be helpful I think is very widespread in our hemisphere and beyond."

While members of the Security Council have voiced their concerns about the escalation of gang violence in Haiti and the deepening of the humanitarian crisis, including a resurgence in cholera, they have also expressed concerns about deploying foreign forces to help. For Caribbean nations, for example, the hesitancy stems from the lack of details of the make-up of the force in the resolution penned by the U.S. and Mexico. For others, such as Russia and China, there are concerns that such a deployment could once more open the door to an expensive peacekeeping mission in Haiti that members would need to financially support.

A Canadian delegation is expected to visit Port-au-Prince this week and meet with Haitians about the crisis.

"Canada is an incredibly capable partner across a whole host of areas. Canada has incredible development skills, and has a very capable armed forces as well as a national police force," Nichols said. "Those are important skills in the international community, and more broadly, it is a respected nation and leader on the full range of issues."

Canada has been speaking to members of the Caribbean community about the request from Haiti's government -- supported by Guterres -- for a rapid reaction force to immediately be deployed to help the Haiti National Police. But while Joly and Trudeau have publicly pushed for sanctions against those fueling the violence, they have been mum about whether they would be willing to lead a force, despite their ongoing financial support and training of the Haiti National Police.

Nichols was optimistic that Blinken's trip and ongoing conversations on the world stage will help bring relief to Haiti.

"How that conversation moves forward, about who brings what to the table, is ongoing and active," Nichols said. "I'm very confident that this will move forward in a holistic way that will provide a complete solution to this challenge. As each nation looks at its role, it's also looking at what are others bringing to the table. These are active conversations."

"As the discussion of the resolution in the Security Council moves forward in the coming days, the leadership of the force will become clear, and I am confident that we will have something in early November -- both the resolution and leadership for the force," Nichols said.

_____

2022 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has received nearly 113,000 new disability compensation claims for benefits created by the landmark toxic exposure law signed in August, pushing the VA to aggressively search for new hires to handle the influx of veterans into the system.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said Tuesday that claims applications this month were 19% higher than October 2021, with the VA receiving 1,000 more claims a day than it usually does, requiring the department to take steps to recruit additional health and benefits personnel and offer incentives to retain current employees.

"With the promise of so many more veterans coming to VA for care under these provisions, we need aggressively to hire the people who will deliver the benefits," McDonough said during a press conference in Washington, D.C.

Read Next: VA to Review Burn Pit Registry in Wake of Report Calling for Complete Overhaul

The department began accepting claims for illnesses deemed as linked to military service by the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics, or PACT, Act in August after the legislation was signed by President Joe Biden.

The illnesses include 23 respiratory illnesses and cancer tied to exposure to burn pits and other air pollution from the Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 conflicts; radiation-related illnesses for veterans who participated in certain cleanup operations in the 1960s and 1970s; and hypertension and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS, for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Under VA policy, veterans with one of these illnesses must submit evidence they served in an area and are eligible for benefits, but they don't have to send medical evidence that their condition was service-related, effectively speeding up processing times.

While the VA is accepting PACT Act-related claims now, it will not begin processing them until January -- a provision in the law that gave the department time to hire additional personnel to review the claims.

According to McDonough, the VA is now processing roughly 7,500 claims a day and has reached as many as 7,900 in a single day, a figure he described as a "new normal.

The VA launched an effort earlier this year to hire 2,000 new claims processors, and it instituted an automated system to handle some claims to shorten the time it takes to provide a decision.

A pilot run of the VA Automated Benefits Delivery System, launched last year, reduced the amount of time by 98 days for hypertension claims. The VA plans to use the system to process claims for other common conditions in veterans such as asthma, sleep apnea and prostate cancer.

The number of backlogged claims, defined as those older than 125 days, at the VA is 144,021 -- more than twice the number at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but down from a recent high of more than 211,000. The 144,000 claims represent 22% of all the VA's current claims workload of 429,000, according to McDonough.

VA officials said they aim to continue chipping away at the backlog but expect the overall number of new claims to rise in the coming months, namely because of the PACT Act provisions.

"Backlog['s] coming down, thanks to [VA Office of Human Capital Services Executive Director Aaron Lee] and those great claims reviewers ... but overall inventory continuing to increase because, finally, those who have served throughout Southwest Asia since the first Gulf War are finally getting access to claims," McDonough said.

Veterans who file PACT Act-related claims before Aug. 9, 2023, will have their claims backdated to Aug. 10, 2022. Claims filed on or after Aug. 9, 2023, will be dated on the date of filing.

McDonough added that veterans who want more information on the PACT Act or to apply for disability benefits should go to the VA's website or call 1-800-MY-VA-411 (1-800-698-2411).

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Young and Dying: Veterans Are Getting Brain Cancer and Struggling to Get Benefits
Deblin Vibe

27.10.2022 LISTEN

Born Deborah Antwiwaa, Deblin Vibe as known in showbiz seem to be getting on with her dream as she has secured two nominations in this year's Eastern Music Awards.

She has been nominated in the Raggae Dancehall act of the year and Reggae Dancehall song of the year categories respectively.

Deblin Vibe is a young energetic and ambitious young lady and a music lover rising from Adjena in the Asuogyaman district of the Eastern part of Ghana.

As a songwriter and artist has been in the industry for sometime now as she believes in communicating her thoughts through music.

According to her, "I do music not to compete with anyone but to spread the love to the whole world".

However, her nominations in this year awards have inspired the musician who is poised to rise to the top in the near future with her dynamic talent.

She is therefore calling on her fans and all to support her come out as the winner in all two categories.
26.10.2022 LISTEN

I. BELOVED IN THE LORD may the grace of God which makes one rich without adding any sorrow be your portion. May the Lord uplift and enlighten your spirit to understand His purpose and plans for your life. And may you begin to appreciate the roles of Mr. and Mrs. JUDAS ISCARIOT in your life. For the Lord knows THE HEART OF BROTHER JUDAS ISCARIOT, the Lord knows the intent of SISTER JUDAS ISCARIOT but allowed them to be part of your friends for the fulfillment of His word in your life. THANK YOU MY FRIEND JUDAS ISCARIOT.

II. PRECIOUS FRIEND thank all the JUDAS ISCARIOTs of your life. Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot being one of the disciples. And he went his way and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Jesus Christ unto them. And they were glad and covenanted to give him money. And he promised and sought an opportunity to betray Jesus Christ unto them in the absence of the multitude. Thank you, Lord, for people who are scheming against me, for through their betrayals I received my salvation. GLORY BE TO GOD FOR MY SALVATION.

III. MY BELOVED SISTER, do you not know that the Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. O JUDAS ISCARIOT the LORD of Lords has turn your betrayal into a blessing for that CHILD OF GOD. Thank you for allowing Satan to enter into you but God turned it into a good benefit for me.

IV. MY DEAR BROTHER be careful whom YOU DEAL with for when Judas, which had betrayed Jesus, saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, WHAT IS THAT TO US? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, AND WENT AND HANGED HIMSELF, poor JUDAS ISCARIOT, this is DIVINE MANNA offered through the Authority and Power of Christ Jesus and serve to you by Gods Vessel Francis Ameyibor, Yes! WHAT IS THAT TO US?

V. 2022 MY EMPOWERED SEASON TO DETHRONE AND ENTHRONED - Season to cling to the old rugged cross and exchange it someday for a crown.

PRAYER: LORD enlightens our spirit to understand your ways and your thoughts concerning our lives. LORD on thee do we put my trust in, let us not be ashamed least our enemies triumph over us. At least my enemies will ask where is the SOLID ROCK in whom I trusted. LORD for thy name sake and the TESTIMONY of the SOLID ROCK do it once again, give me memorable testimonies through Christ Jesus name I pray Amen

REF: Luke 22:3-6

Matthew 26:24; & 27:3-6

WHATSAPP CONTACT: +233277438688

#GOD'S VESSEL GLOBAL FOUNDATION
Gender dynamics and female identity in Sudan are an intriguing topic as they are shaped by the social and economic realities of being one of the worlds poorest countries. Contrary to what some could think, however, social position of women is not characterised by oppression or discrimination.

To get a better understanding of what being a woman in rural Sudan means, in June I visited three villages in the north: Abri, Amara, and Serkamato.

Although I ascertained that gender roles in rural areas are highly patriarchal, with men responsible for providing economically for their families and women being homemakers, practically all women I interacted with were satisfied with the existing social order.

For most Sudanese living in the north, family is the most important aspect of life. Families are multigenerational and village communities are often made up of extended families. Everything seems to be revolving around preparing for and celebrating weddings and childbirths.

While polygamy is practiced only in certain parts of Sudan, in all the villages I visited men are free to marry multiple women. Some have up to four wives and multiple children with each of them.

As marriage typically involves payment from the grooms family to the brides, some enter into relationships in hopes of improving their economic situation. Nowadays love marriages are becoming increasingly popular, however.

Sudanese weddings, which last several days, are characterised by beautiful ceremonies in which entire villages are involved. In preparation for the wedding, women put henna on their hands and feet. Women also cook together, making food for what often adds up to more than one thousand guests. Actual celebrations take place in the evening and anyone from the village can join and participate in eating and dancing.

Sudanese weddings are joyful and are an opportunity for everyone living in the village to come together and build a sense of community. This is particularly important in Nubian towns such as Abri where numerous ethno-linguistic groups coexist. The Nuba people speak different languages and have their own music, traditions, and culture so events such as weddings play an important role in preserving their heritage.

With family being perceived as the center of life, people take pride in having many children. On average, families have five children but in older generations it is not uncommon for people to have ten or more siblings. Typically, there is a preference for boys.

When a girl is born we slaughter one goat to celebrate, when we have a boy, we slaughter two, I was told.

One of the reasons why people in rural Sudan have so many children is that once the kids get old enough, they help their parents make an income, take care of the house, or run a small business such as a stall at a local market.

Although in northern Sudan womens primary task is to bear children, they are also responsible for building houses. In Serkamato village, for example, most houses are mud huts built using a mixture of sand, water, and animal dump.

We put a new layer on the floor every year because it gets thinner over time, one of the ladies told me. Now we are doing it because we are preparing for a wedding, she added.

Limited employment opportunities are possibly the biggest challenge for families living in rural northern Sudan. Many rely almost entirely on farming for getting food as they do not have enough money to purchase products in shops.

Life is difficult but we are still grateful to Allah. As long as we have two dates to eat and some water its enough, said Fatma, aged seventy-five.

Despite obstacles, women I met in the three villages appeared full of optimism and grateful for positive things in their lives, no matter how small these things might be.

Today in Sudan, womens roles are changing, even in rural areas. People learn about the importance of gender equality and women are beginning to realise that they too, not only men, can pursue their ambitions and be in charge of shaping their future. Having said that, in the villages I got to visit, most women choose to focus on nurturing children and cultivating traditions.

After getting a glimpse into everyday life there, it became clear to me that their voices are not being silenced but that in these communities women find the most happiness in having a family. I found a lot of beauty in their approach to life and I experienced the topic of female identity from an angle that I did not think I would find in rural Sudan.

About the author:

Katarzyna Rybarczyk is a political correspondent for Immigration Advice Service. She covers humanitarian issues and writes articles raising awareness about the challenges that communities living in low-income countries face.
When epidemics break out and public health emergencies are declared, people shy away from seeking care for other conditions. This may seem counter-intuitive at first glance. But it makes sense. Ordinary life is disrupted, so visiting a clinic for a routine checkup becomes harder. People are afraid they'll contract the virus or disease that's driving the epidemic  especially in health facilities.

The results are predictably grim.

During the 2013-2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the number of people seeking primary healthcare for themselves and their children declined significantly. This resulted in an increase in deaths caused by malaria, HIV and tuberculosis (TB). The figures were similar to  or in some cases greater than  the total number of deaths caused by the Ebola virus disease.

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have followed the same worrying trajectory, at least in Kenya. We analysed how the pandemic influenced the use of multiple healthcare services in the East African nation. Our study specifically aimed to assess which healthcare services were resilient to disruptions in the system and which ones were more vulnerable.

We collected monthly aggregates of county-level data for 17 indicators from the Kenya health information system across four periods. These were pre-pandemic (January 2018 to February 2020), two pandemic periods (March to November 2020 and February to October 2021) and the healthcare workers' strike from December 2020 to January 2021. The indicators centred on four categories:

outpatient visits to primary healthcare facilities

reproductive and child health (including antenatal care and children's routine vaccinations)

sexual violence and communicable diseases (such as HIV tests conducted, and people tested for malaria and TB)

noncommunicable diseases (cervical cancer screening, and cases of hypertension and diabetes detected)

We combined these data with information from Google and Facebook about human movement in Kenya during the pandemic period, as well as health ministry data about confirmed daily COVID-19 cases. We made note of curfews and other movement restrictions to ensure this was accounted for.

We found that the pandemic and the associated healthcare workers' strike disrupted essential health services. Outpatient visits, screening and diagnostic services, and child immunisation were particularly negatively affected.

These findings are a valuable tool to help health authorities and other stakeholders prepare better for future pandemics and ensure that essential health services continue to operate as normally as possible even during abnormal times.

Worrying declines and some bright spots

Outpatient visits, screening and diagnostic services, as well as child vaccinations were hardest hit.

The onset of the pandemic was associated with significant declines in outpatient visits (29%), cervical cancer screening (50%) and number of HIV tests conducted (45%). The number of patients tested for malaria (32%), notified TB cases (27%), hypertension cases (10%) and vitamin A supplements (9%) also declined. And we saw drops in three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus toxoid and pertussis vaccine administered (1%). These may have been driven by the partial lockdowns, stay-home orders and restriction of movement, discouraging patients and parents from seeking non-emergency services.

At the beginning of the emergency when little was known about COVID-19, the health ministry issued directives around minimising crowding within hospitals, partly by reducing non-emergency clinic visits and surgeries. This may have reduced outpatient visits in addition to propagating the fear of contracting disease within hospitals.

For outbreaks such as Ebola, fear of contracting the virus in health settings has been shown to affect access to other health services negatively.

Access to antiretrovirals was not hit as hard as the other services. This could be due to a policy change by the national AIDS and sexually transmitted infections control programme allowing for multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral drugs. This reduced the need for frequent clinic visits.

We also noticed fewer reported cases of pneumonia and diarrhoea in children. It is not clear if this was related to improved hygiene associated with handwashing or the decreased contact between children when schools closed. It could also be reduced reporting as a result of a change in healthcare seeking behaviour brought on by the pandemic.

One worrying increase in visits to essential healthcare facilities stemmed from cases of sexual violence, which increased by 8%. Gender-based violence is associated with stress, uncertainty, social isolation and movement restrictions.

There were some promising data points. The rates of skilled deliveries for pregnancy, as well as those for antenatal care (care during pregnancy) were resilient. They remained steady both at the outset of and during the pandemic.

There are several possible reasons for this. Permits were issued to expectant mothers so they could visit healthcare centres during curfew hours. An ambulance system, Wheels of Life , was designated in Nairobi to transport pregnant women during curfew hours. Strong guidelines were also issued to facilities about the continuity of reproductive and maternal health services. And many pregnant women remained committed to giving birth in hospital because they had arranged antenatal care and delivery before the pandemic.

Towards the later stages of the pandemic, most health indicators started to recover. But the healthcare workers' strike resulted in nearly all indicators falling to numbers lower than those observed at the onset or during the pre-strike period, except for the number of notified tuberculosis cases, which increased slightly by 03%.

Recommendations

There is little use in trying to improve essential health services when a pandemic has already begun. Preparedness is key. Kenya must  with data sets like ours, among other tools  identify which services are vulnerable in times of crisis. These should then be improved so that human life is protected before, during and after a health emergency.

Health authorities should also be developing and disseminating guidelines to healthcare managers so they know how best to manage services both during and outside a crisis. Better coordination and communication between county and national departments is crucial, too.

And there are lessons to be learned from resilient indicators. We must examine what made maternal health indicators remain robust during the health crisis and how those interventions might be applied in different areas of the healthcare system.

Loice Achieng Ombajo receives funding from CDC, BMGF, WHO, UKAID through the Fleming Fund and funds for investigator initiated clinical trials from ViiV HealthCare and Gilead Sciences

Thumbi Mwangi receives funding from the BMGF, German DFG, USAID, NIH.

Helen Kiarie, Marleen Temmerman et Mutono Nyamai ne travaillent pas, ne conseillent pas, ne possedent pas de parts, ne recoivent pas de fonds d'une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n'ont declare aucune autre affiliation que leur poste universitaire.

By Mutono Nyamai, post-doctoral research fellow, University of Nairobi And

Loice Achieng Ombajo, Senior Lecturer in Internal Medicine, University of Nairobi And

Marleen Temmerman, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GYN), Aga Khan University And

Thumbi Mwangi, Associate professor, Washington State University
Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has defended the Speaker of Parliaments ruling that allows for the tabling of a report from the Privileges Committee on three absentee MPs for debate.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Mubarak said the issue was a matter of precedent.

The process of the House and the standing order of the House; every referral to a committee will have to come back to the plenary.

In Mr. Speaker's ruling, he copiously quoted the constitution, the standing orders, and all the provisions and practices, even citing other jurisdiction incidents, Mr. Mubarak said.

The three MPs are Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central; Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso West, and Adwoa Safo; MP for Dome Kwabenya.

They had been referred to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from Parliament beyond the permissible period without any reason.

The Majority in Parliament has been pushing to have Adwoa Safo vacate her seat because she has been out of the country for most parts of the year.

Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey appeared before the committee and attributed their absence to ill health, but Adwoa Safo failed to honour the summons and the option of a virtual appearance.

Mr. Mubarak argued that a move to remove a legislator should demand more rigour than a ruling from the Speaker of Parliament.

The framers of the constitution did not anticipate a situation where Parliament on its own would want to remove one of its own.

It is not an easy thing to remove a Member of Parliament let alone a Member of Parliament who thousands of people queued to elect.

Moving forward, he said the speed of the process would depend on the Majority, which controls Parliaments business.

They should just bring the report tomorrow. The prerogative of bringing the report obviously reverts to them.

The Majority was left upset with the Speaker of Parliaments ruling and said it would challenge it with a substantive motion.

The Majority Leader, on the floor of Parliament, further accused the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, of pandering to the Minority in Parliament, which has been opposed to making the Dome Kwabenya seat vacant.

-citinewsroom
The French artist and stained-glass designer, Pierre Soulages, has passed away at the age of 102. He will be remembered for his uncompromising use of the colour black, and for the stained-glass windows he designed for the abbey church in the central French town of Conques.

"I love the authority of black, its seriousness, its inescapability, its radical nature," Soulages said of his favourite colour. "Black offers amazing possibilities. It is an extraordinarily active colour."

Pierre Soulages is one of the few French painters to have been honoured with a retrospective by the Louvre, during his own lifetime.

Despite his worldwide renown, Soulages never lost touch with his native Averyon, in the mountainous south-west.

He never lost his humility, either. Told that the sale price of one of his paintings from 1960 had set a world record of 9.2 million euros, Soulages dismissed the news saying, "that just proves that there are people who can afford to buy paintings."

Since 2014, Soulages's home town of Rodez has boasted a museum devoted to his work.

World renown and recognition

Pierre Soulages was born on Christmas Eve 1919. His father was a carriage maker. His mother ran a shop selling fishing and hunting equipment.

Precociously talented, he was admitted to the Paris Beaux-Arts school just before the outbreak of the Second World War. He was not an enthusiastic follower of the official syllabus, preferring to return to Montpellier in the south.

There, he met and married Colette Llaurens in 1942, and the couple returned to Paris.

Soulages was encouraged by avant-garde luminaries such as Picabia and Fernand Leger, but said he could not find himself in the rage of colour unleashed by the abstraction then in vogue.

Working with the most basic of colours and equipment (Soulages preferred house-paintrers' brushes to the fine art instruments favoured by many of his contemporaries), he saw his work accepted by such global institutions as the Guggenheim in New York, and London's Tate.

As his work became almost exclusively black, reminiscent of the final murals created by his close friend, Mark Rothko, Soulages explained that he had moved into a new mental field. "The paint in the pot is black," he said, "but what matters is the light, the way it is reflected and difused."
The first formal peace talks between the warring sides in the brutal two-year conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region went into a second day in South Africa on Wednesday.

Led by the African Union (AU), the negotiations in Pretoria follow a surge in fierce fighting in recent weeks that has alarmed the international community and triggered fears for civilians caught in the crossfire.

The talks are being held at South Africa's foreign affairs ministry headquarters.

AU Horn of Africa envoy and Nigerian former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the talks' chief facilitator, was filmed and photographed by AFP journalists entering the venue on Wednesday morning.

Kenya's ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta who is part of the mediating team, was also seen going into the building so was South Africa's ex-vice president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

US special envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer, is also participating in the talks.

The Pretoria dialogue -- the first publicly announced talks between the rivals -- opened on Monday and is due to run until Sunday, according the South African presidency.

But there has been a media blackout with journalists kept outside the venue's perimeter fence.

The dialogue between negotiators from the Ethiopian government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the regional authorities in war-stricken Tigray came almost two months to the day since fighting resumed, shattering a five-month truce.

The international community has been calling for a ceasefire, humanitarian access to Tigray where many face hunger, and a withdrawal of Eritrean forces, whose return to the conflict has raised fears of renewed atrocities against civilians.

Amnesty International called Wednesday for a probe into abuses saying every party involved has committed crimes against humanity.

"Documented violations of human rights violations... (include) rapes, sexual violence, () lootings, torture and extrajudicial killings," said Fisseha Tekle, an Amnesty specialist on Ethiopia and Eritrea.

"All the parties, Tigrayans, Amharas, Eritreans, have committed serious human rights violations, including crimes against humanity," he told a Nairobi press conference.

At present, "we are ruling out genocide, just because the level of evidence is not enough at the moment," he added.

'No military solution'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had issued an overnight statement welcoming the negotiations.

"There is no military solution to this conflict, and these talks represent the most promising way to achieve lasting peace and prosperity for all Ethiopians," he said.

Map of Ethiopia locating Tigray. By Aude GENET (AFP)

AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat welcomed the launch of the process.

He said he was "encouraged by the early demonstration of commitment to peace by the parties" and reiterated the AU's continued support for a process "to silence the guns towards a united, stable, peaceful and resilient Ethiopia."

Diplomatic pressure has ratcheted to try to end a war which has left millions in need of humanitarian aid and, according to a US estimate, as many as half a million dead.

The talks come as federal forces and their allies in the Eritrean army appear to be gaining the upper hand, seizing a string of towns in Tigray including the strategic city of Shire.

It is impossible to verify battleground developments as Tigray -- a region of six million people -- is largely cut off by a communications blackout and access to northern Ethiopia is severely restricted.

An initial AU effort to bring the two sides to the negotiating table earlier this month failed, with diplomats suggesting logistical issues and a lack of preparedness were to blame.

A Western official has said secret contacts have taken place organised by the United States in the Seychelles and twice in Djibouti.

Abiy sent troops into Tigray in November 2020, promising a quick victory over the northern region's dissident leaders, the TPLF, after what he said were attacks by the group on federal army camps.

The move followed long-running tensions with the TPLF, which had dominated Ethiopia's ruling coalition before Abiy came to power in 2018.

Kindeya Gebrehiwot, a spokesman for the rebel authorities in Tigray, at the weekend listed their expectations from the talks.

"Pressing: immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered humanitarian access & withdrawal of Eritrean forces. There can't be a military solution!" he said.
The Functional Executive Committee (FEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has issued a press release on last weekends Constituency elections.

While FEC notes that the facts of the elections show the election processes were largely smooth in the majority of constituencies, it admits that it was not enthused and indeed, took a serious view of the poor manner in which a few constituencies conducted their elections.

After extensive deliberations, FEC resolved to uphold the Elections Directorate's annulment of elections in Constituencies such as Mpraeso, Afram Plains South, Atiwa West, and Atiwa East.

What this means is that elections purported to have been held in these constituencies are illegal, hence null and void. And the party does not recognize same, a release from the NDC signed by the partys Deputy Director of Elections Daniel Amartey reads.

Meanwhile, FEC by a unanimous resolution has dissolved the Regional Elections Committee of the Eastern Region with immediate effect.

The National Elections Directorate has been directed to put together a Special Taskforce that will collaborate with the Regional Executive Committee of the Eastern Region to oversee the conduct of elections in the remaining constituencies in the Eastern Region.

Find more in a copy of the press release below:

PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release:

26th October, 2022

REVIEW OF CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS AND MATTERS ARISING.

The Functional Executive Committee of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), at its meeting of Tuesday, 25th October, 2022, undertook a comprehensive review of the conduct of last weekend's constituency elections held across the country.

The facts show that the process was largely smooth in majority of constituencies. FEC commends all constituencies who have successfully conducted their elections in accordance with the laid down guidelines.

However, FEC was not enthused and indeed, took a serious a view of the poor manner in which a few constituencies conducted their elections.

The Functional Executive Committee noted that some constituencies experienced challenges, which include avoidable delays in printing and delivery of ballot papers, avoidable errors on printed ballots and wilful failure by some constituencies to adhere to directives of the National Elections Directorate.

Of particular concern to FEC was the flagrant disregard by some constituencies for the directive by the Elections Directorate to postpone their elections. FEC took strong exception to this development in light of its earlier admonishment to stakeholders in those constituencies to postpone elections pending the resolution of some issues, failing which all such elections will be annulled.

After extensive deliberations;

1. FEC resolved to uphold the Elections Directorates annulment of elections in the following Constituencies;

 Mpraeso

Atiwa West

Afram Plains South

 Atiwa East

What this means is that elections purported to have been held in these constituencies are illegal, hence null and void. And the party does not recognize same.

2. FEC by a unanimous resolution, dissolved the Regional Elections Committee of the Eastern Region with immediate effect. The National Elections Directorate has been directed to put together a Special Taskforce that will collaborate with the Regional Executive Committee of the Eastern Region to oversee the conduct of elections in the remaining constituencies in the Eastern Region.

3. FEC resolved to launch a full-scale inquiry into the challenges that were recorded in some constituencies relative to the printing and delivery of ballots as well as gross indiscipline leading to the flouting of directives of the National Elections Directorate. Appropriate sanctions will be meted out to all found culpable in due course.

Signed,

Daniel Amartey

Deputy Director of Elections
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.
Archie Hesse, CEO - GhIPSS

27.10.2022 LISTEN

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 African 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 integrating 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 noted that 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 closed.

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.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said that bridging the huge digital gap in Africa requires a 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 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 African 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 does 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 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 countries, we need to be deliberate and constant about public and private sector partnerships in addressing 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 successful implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative.
As part of deepening knowledge and practice of customer service, some leading customer service experts shared their rich and vast experience with the audience at the just-ended Customer Service Summit 2022.

The customer should always feel right, that is basic to good customer service delivery, a fact revealed, during the just-ended Maiden Customer Service Summit organized by Customer Service Africa at Alisa Hotel in Accra. Speaking on the theme; Celebrating Customer Service the Executive Way keynote speaker, Dr Damien Duchamp threw light on some facts surrounding customers and customer service, namely:

Customer retention is less expensive as compared to customer acquisition; it takes a lot more money to go out to prospect for new clients than to attend to and treat existing ones properly.

Existing customers contribute 65% to the company's bottom line, new customers bring in the rest of the 35%.

Employees are the initial customers of every organization, when they are properly managed, it translates to the external customer.

Chairman Stephen Essien, speaking on the topic: "Customer Service", a discussion for the boardroom alluded to the myth that customer service executives are not major contributors to the bottom line of an organization. "It is a myth, every organization can operate because of customers, how then is the one tasked to manage the "money bags" marginalized and not paid attention to?" he opined. He urged customer service executives to amplify their voice on solutions to customer complaints or problems till they are given a seat in the boardroom to affect those solutions.

"An organization's interaction with customers should transcend from just a service (meeting an expectation) to an experience (exceeding the expectation)," Dr Edward Ackah Nyamike Jnr, described this with a hotel visit analogy.

"Right from the website of an organization where the information is derived, a customer should have a delightful experience that will make him or her an indirect ambassador for your brand. we often make the mistake that the customer experience starts at the lobby or front desk, the experience should start immediately the customer decides to look you up on the search engine and interact with your outfit," he added.

The maiden customer service summit was a two-day session that opened with experienced customer service gurus within the Ghanaian space and ended with a Master Class which dived into detailing the step-by-step approach to wholesome quality customer service delivery.

The customer service summit is an annual event organized by Customer Service Africa.
27.10.2022 LISTEN

An accomplishment for a nation is always winning an election in a global setting. The goal becomes greater significance when membership is granted by secret ballot to a respected international rights body like the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Bangladesh just won a record 160 votes in the Asia-Pacific area, defeating other 7 aspirant candidates in the region, to become a member of the 47-member human rights organization for the 202325 term. Since 2006, Bangladesh has now successfully attained the rank five times. Bangladesh had previously triumphed in 2006, 2009, 2014, and 2018.

The triumph is more important than ever this time. The country is currently dealing with the difficulties of a smear campaign and propaganda regarding the alleged human rights breaches in Bangladesh. A politically motivated group is spreading false information about Bangladesh both domestically and internationally in an effort to undermine the nation's successes in protecting and supporting peace, human rights, development, and democracy. Even though the rumors are unfounded, some individuals have begun to speculate that Bangladesh may soon be subject to additional sanctions or an embargo because of its violations of human rights. Additionally, the combined catastrophe of the COVID-19 epidemic and the Ukraine war have significantly altered the global human rights framework. The overwhelming victory in the election of 2022 prompts the discussion of why Bangladesh won the election once more in 2022. One can comprehend the causes of the achievement if one focuses on the historical account, track record, and recent advancements and endeavors of Bangladesh.

The first and most important factor may be Bangladesh's unflinching dedication to peace and human rights ever since the nation was founded, which has been unwaveringly maintained during the course of the country's succeeding years of development. People and political forces persistently demanded human liberation, self-determination, fairness, and equity in all political activities and conflicts even during the Pakistan era. In the same way, in 1972, constitutional protections were put in place to ensure a firm commitment to social justice and human rights. Notably, Bangladesh has ratified international legal documents like the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) to demonstrate its respect for peace and human rights. Later, the nation expanded its unwavering dedication to peace and human rights. Therefore, Bangladesh's essential and long-standing dedication to concerns of international human rights has served as a catalyst for the win.

As a result of Bangabandhu's commitment to human rights and peace: The second motivating factor was Bangabandhu's steadfast commitment to human liberation and world peace. There is no doubting that Bangabandhu's ideas and worldview align with the stark perception of Bangladesh in the international community. The foundation of Bangladesh's foreign policy has been the country's deeply ingrained and altruistic global-centric vision of peace and humanity. His protracted battle and commitment to humanitarian ideals made him eligible for membership in the UNHRC.

Bangladesh's major involvement in peacekeeping missions: Bangladesh consistently pursues peace and respect for human rights in its fundamental internal and international policy objectives. The nation focuses on defending and advancing peace and human rights in regional and international fora. Bangladesh has consistently fought against injustice, upheld human rights, and spoken out in favor of these causes. Bangladesh has extended its support and endeavors in every UN system initiative relating to peace, development, and human rights, including passing resolutions, taking actions, and building collective force. For instance, the then-prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was instrumental in the adoption of Resolution 53/243 on the "Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace" by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999. Later, the UN unanimously ratified Bangladesh's resolution on a "culture of peace" in 2021. Therefore, the ongoing fight for peace and human rights may have contributed to the triumph this year.

Rohingya humanitarian issue: Bangladesh's unwavering humanitarian support for the Rohingya population is a significant aspect to be taken into consideration in this regard. The nation has been giving people food and shelter, distributing the load, and accepting security threat risks. Bangladesh has been hailed as a global champion of human rights. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has courageously defended human rights in a country with a large population. Sheikh Hasina's attribution of the title "mother of mankind" is the best illustration of how the international community has come to trust and respect Bangladesh. This perception and conviction may have led a big number of nations to support Bangladesh and applaud its achievements. The fact that Bangladesh is a member of the international forum has been a strong suit for it.

Bangladesh's diplomatic influence for justice and human rights in regional and international fora: Another thing to consider is Bangladesh's expanding diplomatic influence for the cause of justice and human rights in regional and international fora. In the past ten years, the nation has made a significant impact on bilateral and multilateral concerns like climate change, maintaining international peace, and human rights. Bangladesh is currently the third world's voice and leader when it comes to securing climate justice. The nation served as the Vulnerable 20 and Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Chair (V-20). Rabab Fatima, the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN, became the first female Chair in the organization's history as a result of her dedication and contributions. Additionally, Bangladesh assumed leadership of interregional and regional organizations including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the D8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (IORA). These elements might be crucial in achieving such accomplishment. Notably, Bangladesh has been portrayed in the international arena with fresh vigor and responsibility thanks to PM Sheikh Hasina's daring, visionary, and bold attitude on international crises and emergency situations. Therefore, playing a strong diplomatic role and taking a forceful stance on topics affecting global improvement on the international stage may help you win the election. As a result, the international community placed trust and confidence in Bangladesh when choosing its UNHRC representative.

Bangladesh's development issue: Bangladesh has advanced significantly in socioeconomic and developmental fields over the past ten years. Through socioeconomic programs and strategies, the nation has improved the lives of millions of its citizens. High economic growth, food security, and encouraging human development advancements have made the nation news in international media. This could be what led to the triumph. Bangladesh has experience and success in this area; thus, the international world may believe that Bangladesh can defend and advance human rights. Further evidence of the nation's capacity and competence to protect international human rights can be found in the advancement of women's empowerment, progress in establishing labor rights, accomplishments in the SDGs and MDGs, as well as in the global hunger, food security, and human development indexes. Bangladesh was able to win the election thanks to its own qualifications and capabilities.

Michelle Bachelet's Bangladesh visit: The words of the Chief of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who visited Bangladesh from August 1418, 2022, are another factor that could contribute to the success. Following her visit, a report was released that shows how confident the UN was in Bangladesh's commitment to human rights. The international scene has benefited from this report. Positive findings from a UN rights agency are unquestionably a success and have significant effects. The UN member nations may use the study as a guide when deciding to place Bangladesh in charge of the world's human rights issues for the next three years.

Last but not least, Bangladesh's extensive expertise in addressing human rights issues may also be a contributing element. To be mentioned, Bangladesh served in the UNHRC twice consecutively between 2018 and 2021, totaling four terms from 2009 to 2021. Additionally, the nation has a solid track record when it comes to protecting human rights. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen added, "Bangladesh's victory vindicated again that the international leaderships have faith in Sheikh Hasina's government and the track record of Bangladesh's respect for human rights. The Bangladeshi government is constantly in the forefront of advancing justice, human rights, and democracy. Who else will serve as the Council member where Bangladesh has the qualifications and track record to assume responsibility for the daring task? Bangladesh may receive votes from UN members who believe it can contribute due to its background in handling human rights issues. It comes as a result of the faith the international community has in Bangladesh's contribution to the United Nations' instruments for human rights.

In conclusion, Bangladesh's overwhelming victory in the UNHRC election in 2022 has demonstrated the nation's dedication to and support of human rights. It demonstrates Bangladesh's ongoing dedication to promoting human rights, world peace, and development. Bangladesh has the required qualifications and capacity to join the rights organization. The nation's powerful advocacy for human rights and peace, long-standing fight for justice and equality, steadfast diplomatic presence in the international community, and unwavering dedication to advancing and defending the rights of the global commons all played a role in the success of the rights global body.
Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) has won its seventh trophy in the National Science and Math Quiz (NSMQ).

Their win sets an enviable record yet to be matched by any other school.

The brilliant blues nudged off competition from defending champions Prempeh College and Adisadel College on Wednesday, 26 October 2022, to reclaim their throne as the best science and maths school in Ghana.

At the end of the quiz, PRESEC had 50 points, Prempeh College, 41; and Adisadel College, 32.

You did it! Quizmistress Elsie Effah Kaufmann cheered the champions.

Source: ClassFMonline.com
There has been a surge in reported cases of breast and prostate cancer in Obuasi and its surrounding areas. According to Dr. Kwadwo Anim, the Executive Director of AGA Health Foundation, the most widely cited reason for the increase in these cases is westernization.

Speaking at a Grand Durbar and mini clinic organised by AngloGold Ashanti to mark this year's breast and prostate cancer awareness month at Akrokerri in the Adansi North District of the Ashanti Region, Dr Anim said lifestyles like smoking, alcohol and some eating habits are leading factors accounting for the rise in these cases.

Breast cancer is a critical medical condition that has stared humanity in the face for several decades, particularly females. Even though there is no scientifically proven cure for cancer, the condition can be managed if detected early enough.

In 2020, breast cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide and accounted for 29.5% of cancer incidence and 22.1% of cancer deaths in Africa. In Ghana, breast cancer accounted for 31.8% of cancer incidence.

Prostate cancer on the other hand is a cancer that occurs in the prostate. Prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.

Prostate cancer is reported to be the second leading cause of male cancer deaths in Ghana and in Korle bu Teaching Hospital alone, 20 men were diagnosed with the disease every week.

Dr. Anim also mentioned that people quest to seek for herbal and spiritual assistance without going to the hospital to be properly screened, has also resulted in some fatalities.

" October every year has been set aside to create awareness about early detection of breast cancer in particular but it seems people are not heeding to the call. In breast cancer, the prerequisite is early detection. Once you report it at the early stage, you can be cured", Dr Kwadwo Anim ended.

The Stakeholders Engagement Superintendent of Anglogold Ashanti, Edmond Oduro Agyei on his part said Anglogold Ashanti has made commitments to improve the living conditions of its communities. In view of this, the company through its 10-year Socio-Economic Development Plan lined up a plethora of health intervention programs targeted at improving quality health care of the people.

"As we have always mentioned, we don't want to leave our communities the same way we met them so included in our 10-year SEDP which we launched in July was a comprehensive health related programs targeted at providing solutions to the health care needs of the people and this program is one of them," he stated.

Anglogold Ashanti as part of its health intervention program has also started capacity building workshops for health workers in Obuasi on infection prevention and other diseases.

Mr. Oduro Agyei said AGA has partnered AGA Health Foundation, GIZ and Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation to screen the people of Akrokerri on Breast and prostate cancer as well as other diseases.

The Chief Executive for the Adansi North District, Eric Kwaku Kusi on his part underscored the importance of stakeholders' involvement in the fight against breast and prostate cancer.

"You will agree with me that Government cannot fight these diseases alone hence I applaud AGA and its partners for coming together to collectively fight breast and prostate cancer," he noted.

Nana Serwaa Buruwaa II, Akrokerri hemaa advised men and women to take education on breast and prostate cancer seriously. She added her voice to the call for early detection and treatment.
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The Council of Elders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for calm and decorum between the two contestants in the partys chairmanship race.

A statement signed by the Councils chairman, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said it had met to discuss current happenings in the party including issues surrounding the highly contested chairmanship race between the current Chairman and General Secretary.

At its meeting on Wednesday 26th October 2022, the Council of Elders of the NDC discussed among others the issue of a national chairmanship contest between the party's current National Chairman and General Secretary, which has engaged the attention of the rank and file, supporters and well-wishers of our party.

The Council of Elders respects people's individual freedoms and aspirations to contest any position in the party in accordance with the Party's Constitution. The Council however cautioned that the conduct of the campaign should not shift attention from the economic hardships facing Ghanaians and the overall dismal state of affairs under the ruling NPP Government.

The statement further admonished for cohesion and urged the two candidates; Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo and Johnson Aseidu Nketiah, to call on their supporters to be decorous and circumspect with their campaigns.

The meeting therefore urged the two principal officers of the party, the national chairman and the General Secretary, to reflect soberly on the situation and be mindful of the overall national interest and the toils of our rank and file over the years to make the party strong, viable and ready to assume the reins of government in 2024.

In the interest of party cohesion, internal discipline and long-term stability, the Council urges all contestants to regional and national positions, especially the incumbent national chairman and General Secretary, to be circumspect in their campaigns by adhering to ground rules discussed and agreed upon. These include the use of decorous language, refrain from media attacks, breach of confidentiality and misrepresentations of decisions taken in relation to past actions of leadership.

The Council also called on members to observe all rules governing the NDC, irrespective of their position.

It is important and expected of the top hierarchy and all concerned that they respect the Party Constitution and the rules and guidelines they themselves set in the conduct of internal elections. They should be the first to uphold party discipline.

At the time when the party should be getting itself ready for election 2024, we need nothing other than internal cohesion and togetherness. The country and rank and file of the party expect nothing else.

-citinewsroom
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) is calling for investigations into the poor state of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam project construction.

According to the association, though funds were devoted to the project, the construction of the project has been abandoned.

Sod was cut for the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam project in 2020 and was to be funded with a Sydohydro facility of $993 million.

The project awarded to China Power International group was scheduled for completion four years after the sod cutting.

The project was aimed at addressing the perennial flooding associated with the spillage of the Bagre dam from neighboring Burkina-Faso and also providing 60MW and 50MW of hydro and solar electricity respectively.

But physical construction of the project at Kurugu in the North East Region is yet to commence after two years and ten months into the project execution period.

The contractor has not only abandoned the site due to lack of funds but has sold the chippings, sand and blocks at the site.

Some farmers at Kurugu have also been sharing their frustration at the stalled project and impressed on the government to urgently get the contractor back on site to complete the project.

Farming is what we do for a living here, but anytime we farm the spillage of the Bagre dam destroys our farm produce, but a dam project would have helped us in all-year-round farming.

So, when we heard of the construction of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam project we were happy, but later the contractor abandoned the site because of lack of funds, one farmer said.

Shockingly, the site for the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam has been turned into a beans farm, with no sign of physical construction commencing anytime soon.

The Executive Director of PFAG, Dr. Nyaaba called for the probe to unravel why the project has been abandoned.

He also urged the government to show commitment to the speedy execution of the project to boost food productivity and poverty reduction through the project.

What I am seeing here clearly shows that the government has abandoned the project, he said.

If a contractor is moving out of site and is selling everything, then it means they have abrogated the project, Dr. Nyaaba said.

-citinewsroom
The executive secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, has expressed displeasure with government over the increment in duties at the ports.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Awingobit said the changes will negatively impact the prices of consumer goods in the coming days.

Describing the development as disappointing, Mr. Awingobit said: we cannot be happy with the Government. A Government that came last week and said we are working to give the business community a flat rate at the harbor for the rest of the three months only to wake up today to these changes.

Yesterday, we have seen that Government have taken away the 30% December value. We have also realized that the rate at which it changes every Tuesday is maintained. We were surprised, we woke up to see that the Government have increased the rate from GHS10.70 to GHS12.537. What it means is that anybody who was having a duty yesterday to pay and could not pay, automatically will have to go back and update the current prevailing rate before you can pay, he added.

The association says this is a clear u-turn from the government's initial stance that it would stabilize the rates at the harbor.

Mr. Awingobit therefore warned Ghanaians to brace themselves up for a tough December where prices are expected to go up astronomically due to the bad faith displayed by the Government.

Consumers should be prepared that there is going to be nothing like Christmas this year because the rate at which we saw the oil price went up by GHS1000 this Sunday, it will surprise you that that rate will go up again because of the rate which we are clearing at the port.

-citinewsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held a "friendly" and "constructive" conversation over lunch Wednesday, Paris and Berlin said, after the relationship suffered some bruising in recent weeks over a number of issues including energy and defence.

The two leaders were "of one mind on the major directions" of policy, a German diplomatic source told French news agency AFP after the meeting, while a source in the French presidency called it "very constructive".

"Today was a very good and important conversation on European energy supply, rising prices and joint arms projects," Scholz tweeted.

"Germany and France stand close together and are tackling challenges jointly", he added.

Macron and Scholz were at pains to put on a show of friendliness as Scholz climbed out of his black Mercedes on arrival, with both smiling and shaking hands.

The pair spoke for around an hour longer than planned, including a one-on-one session without advisors.

The German source said they discussed issues including "European energy policy, national energy policies, economic development, defence, space and foreign policy".

Meanwhile the French presidency said the talks were "in a spirit of very close cooperation for the medium- and long-term".

But Macron and Scholz did not appear before journalists to announce any joint decisions or take questions.

Recent weeks had seen growing signs of discord between Berlin and Paris, under pressure from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its knock-on effects especially on energy markets.

Berlin's move to spend up to 200 billion euros subsidising soaring gas prices and its refusal to consider an EU-wide energy price cap nettled Paris and other European capitals, who fear the effect on their energy costs.

On defence, France is rattled by German plans for a shared missile shield with other NATO nations using American equipment, while longer-term projects to jointly develop new fighter jets and tanks appear stalled.

A big-spending "new era" of German defence policy announced by Scholz following the Russian attack has not translated into major contracts within Europe, especially for French firms as Macron hoped.

'Motor has to work'

Wednesday's meeting came instead of a postponed joint cabinet meeting between Paris and Berlin, which would have been Scholz's first as chancellor.

So far, the German leader - in office for less than a year - has not developed the same warmth with Macron as his predecessor Angela Merkel, who "texted every day", one French diplomatic source said ahead of the talks.

Strained ties between the EU's two largest and most populous economies - in the past often the brokers of compromise among the bloc's 27 members - have come at exactly the wrong time.

Russia's invasion and the resulting disruption to the energy system have coincided with rising tensions between China and the West, as well as fears that more isolationist forces could return to power in Washington.

Berlin and Paris also differ on how to make the EU more agile faced with the new challenges, and how quickly to admit new members.

Macron warned that "both of us, together with the EU as a whole, are confronted with one of the biggest, furthest-reaching crises ever experienced by Europe," with "a lot of work ahead," the German diplomatic source said.

"Agreement between France and Germany is not sufficient, because everyone else has to agree, but it is necessary," said Stephane Dion, Canadian ambassador to France and former envoy to Germany.

"They remain the motor of Europe. For Europe to work, that motor has to work," he added.

Working groups

France's Europe minister Laurence Boone told the Senate Wednesday that the two countries should aim to resolve their differences "by the 60th anniversary of the Elysee Treaty" on 22 January.

Signed by post-war leaders Charles De Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer, the pact forms the foundations of French-German cooperation.

For now the two sides have agreed to set up "working groups... that will have the two governments working closely together towards the next steps in the coming days," the Elysee said.

The groups cover topics including defence and security, energy and innovation, the German source said.

Macron and Scholz also agreed to talk "before and after" the German leader's upcoming visit to China and the French president's visit to the US, the German source said.

(with AFP)
Members of the Majority Caucus clamouring for the dismissal of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta have kowtowed after meeting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on the matter.

The Members of Parliament (MPs) belonging to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have softened their stance after the President's plea for them to have the Minister stay in office for Ghana to seal a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This follows demand by lawmakers who were calling for the immediate removal of Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen for underperforming leaving the countrys economy in a mess.

However, the President was said to have expressed fear that immediately terminating the appointment of Mr. Ofori-Atta will disrupt the IMF programme hence he has asked the MPs to exercise patience when he met with the aggrieved MPs at the Jubilee House.

No fewer than 95 MPs are pushing for the dismissal of Ken Ofori-Atta known some political circles as Pope because his immaculate white attires.

In a statement released by the Majority caucus Wednesday October 26, 2022, the caucus said it has agreed to accede to the President's appeal.

As a result, the issue has been put on hold until Ghanas conclusion of negotiations with the IMF and the presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government in November 2022 and the subsequent passage of the Appropriation Bill, after which time the demand shall be acted upon.

Several Ghanaians had mounted pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Mr. Ofori-Atta from office in light of the country's current economic predicament, which has compelled government to seek support from the IMF.

Besides the NPP MPs, several Ghanaians are also calling for Ken Ofori-Atta removal.

The MPs also believe that the removal of the two ministers will help the government address the plights of their constituents with regard to the ailing economy.

They are convinced that, sacking Ofori-Atta and Adu Boahen will help restore confidence in Ghana's economy.

Additionally, the Minority in Parliament has also filed a motion for a vote of censure against Ofori-Atta leaving the minister with no option than to vacate his position.

DGN online
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Wednesday concluded consultations with economic players ahead of a three-day Cabinet retreat to resolve the pressure on the economy and the rising cost of living.

The consultations, which started on Tuesday at the Jubilee House, Accra, were to enable the government to get the players up to speed with measures being adopted to mitigate current economic challenges and to get their buy-in to those arrangements.

Top issues that were discussed over the two-day period included updates on the government's economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the depreciation of the Cedi, and the collaborative effort needed to get the economy back on track.

Some eight stakeholders, including the Association of Ghana Industries, the Ghana Association of Banks, Transport Operators, Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, Market Women, the Ghana Employers Association, the Private Enterprise Federation, and the Trades Union Congress held candid discussions with the President and his economic management team.

President Akufo-Addo, in short remarks before the meetings which were held behind closed doors, told the players that the government was on the cusp of concluding negotiations with the IMF for a lifeline to enhance economic reforms and maintain a sustainable economic growth rate in the long term.

He said the IMF support would help Ghana deal with the balance of payment, stem the depreciation of the cedi and generally help stabilize the economy and place it back on a firm trajectory of growth.

The IMF negotiations are ongoing. We are close to concluding them, he said, hopeful that when the Fund agreed on Ghana's request, the arrangement would place the country's economy on an even keel.

Thus, the stakeholder engagements, the President indicated, would enable the government to appreciate their concerns with the programme and ascertain how those interests would be addressed before the negotiations ended.

President Akufo-Addo also harped on the need to rein in the activities of currency speculators, and black-market operators, to halt the depreciation of the Cedi, which has taken a severe hit in the last month, losing almost 50 per cent value against major trading currencies in the past week.

He also called for a collaborative effort on the part of stakeholders and the citizenry at large to deal with the difficulties besetting the Ghanaian economy.

At separate interactions, Finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta briefed the stakeholders on the state of the negotiations, and the important benchmarks and issues that were being addressed in the consultations with the IMF.

When the Ghana Employers Association took its turn on Wednesday, Mr Daniel Acheampong, the President of the group remarked that the present economic challenge was not wholly domestic.

We know that what is going on in the country is not occasioned by any individual or group. Global events like COVID-19, like the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, have their toes in every economy in the world.

And we, as employers, are mindful of that. We are feeling the pinch, but we know that by working together we should be able to find a way out of the menace, he said.

The President of the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, Mr. K.T. Dadzie, pointed out that the free fall of the Cedi was an orchestration by speculators, saying that forex rates improved the moment the announcement of the meeting between forex bureaus operators and the Bank of Ghana was made.

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 a windfall out of the situation that we are in, he said.

When the market women took their turn, they expressed frustration on the prohibitive cost of transporting produce from the farm gates to the markets due largely to consistent fuel price hikes.

They attributed that situation to escalating prices of locally produced food items.

However, like all the other stakeholders, they assured the President that they would lend the needed support to the government's response to save the economy.

President Akufo-Addo who would lead discussions at the Cabinet retreat is expected to address the nation on the outcome of the meeting, and the way forward for the country.

GNA
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has announced that it is suspending its call for the removal of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.

Members of the Majority on Tuesday morning called on the President to remove the Finance Minister in the midst of the prevailing economic challenges in the country.

Asante-Akyem North Member (MP) Andy Appiah-Kubi who addressed the media on behalf of the Majority MPs said, 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.

Later on Tuesday evening, President Akufo-Addo engaged the Majority MPs in a meeting and appealed for them to hold on for the Finance Minister to conclude talks with the IMF and present the 2023 Budget statement before a decision can be taken on his fate.

In a press release from the Majority Caucus in Parliament after considering the appeal of the President, the NPP MPs have accepted the President's appeal.

As a result, the Majority is backing down on its demand for Ken Ofori-Atta to be sacked until the conclusion of the round of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy in November, 2022 and the passage of the Appropriation Bill.

After deliberations among the Majority Caucus today Wednesday, 26th October, 2022, it was agreed to accede to the President's appeal, a statement by the Majority signed by its leader Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu reads.
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The Northern Development Authority (NDA) and the five Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) in Northern Ghana with support from development partners and the STAR Ghana Foundation are partnering for the 2022 Northern Ghana Development (NGD) summit under the theme: Agenda for Rapid Transformation and Job Creation in a secure and peaceful Northern Ghana.

A partnership between government, development partners, private sector and Civil Society Organisations.

The 2022 Northern Ghana Development Summit (NGDS) builds on the achievements and roadmaps of the 2021 NGDS held in Jirapa in November 2021.

Following the outcomes of the inaugural NDA multi-stakeholder consultation with Development Partners led by His Excellency the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and further engagements with the Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), line Ministries, Departments and Agencies Development Partners (DPs), International NonGovernmental Organizations (INGOs) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Traditional Authorities, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), and local communities across Northern Ghana to develop a Medium Term Development Strategy (MDTS) in line with the NDA Act 963, 2017.

The focus of the 2022 NGDS therefore, is to launch the MTDS. The concept note provides the objectives, themes, relevant speakers and a detailed schedule for the Summit and Investment Fair.

The NGDS is an annual convening platform that brings together state and non-state actors, including institutions and individuals to one big forum to assess, discuss and recommend actions to accelerate the progress of development in Northern Ghana.

Historical Background

The NGDS, formerly known as the Mole Series initiated in 2001 was reactivated in 2019 by STAR Ghana in close collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Councils and the Northern Development Authority (NDA).

The 2022 Northern Ghana Development Summit

The 2022 Summit prioritizes the launch of the NDA Five-Year Medium Term Development Strategy (MTDS) dubbed Agenda for Rapid Transformation and Job Creation in collaboration with Development Partners.

The Summit is planned to span two (2) days with the first day being the opening ceremony and launch of the MTDS by H.E Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, alongside presentations on key thematic areas from the MTDS.

The second day is an Investment Fair to highlight private sector development needs, opportunities and game changing investment projects captured in the MTDS. The two days programme offers opportunities for the exhibition of products and services by businesses and corporate bodies.

It is worth mentioning that the two days summit will form part of one-week sequential activity, christened the NDA Week to be led by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

Thematic Topics

Increasing household incomes in Northern Ghana through sustainable agricultural production systems.

Accelerate human development in Northern Ghana through access to quality Social Services

Promotion of private sector actions for delivering broad-based and inclusive economic growth in the Northern Ghana

Sustaining livelihoods in Northern Ghana through capacity development of local communities on land governance, biodiversity conservation and climate justice

Social cohesion, peace and security in Northern Ghana Features of the Investment Fair  Presentations on investment opportunities, business climate, procedures, incentives in the context of the MTDS  Business to business facilitations  B2b  Investment promotions in key projects captured in the MTDS  Exhibition  Signing of Cooperation Agreements.

Participants

However, the event seeks to bring together over 150 Stakeholders across the country. This includes Development Partners, the five Regional Coordinating Councils in Northern Ghana, their Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Coordinating Councils, Civil Society Organizations, Clergy, Private Sector, Media, Friends of the North, Youth and Women groups including Persons with Disabilities shall participate in this 2-day event.

Purpose:

The purpose of the summit is to launch and operationalize the MTDS, highlighting the key objectives, intervention areas and results matrix.

Expected Outcomes:

The Medium-Term Development Strategy (MTDS) launched. A framework for operationalizing the strategic objectives developed. Stakeholder commitments (Government, Development Partners, Private Sector, and CSOs) for the execution of the Strategy secured. An Investment Fair to highlight private sector development and investment opportunities organized.

Facilitating Partners

The Northern Development Authority in collaboration with the five Regional Coordinating Councils of northern Ghana, Heads of Cooperation and Missions, STAR Ghana Foundation, INGO Forum, GIPC, CSO and SIGA.
27.10.2022 LISTEN

Ghanaian businessman and economist, Kwame Pianim has said in the midst of the current economic hardships in the country, government needs to show compassion to the people.

He is of the view that the decision by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to deploy its officers to shops is not the way to go in the current difficult times.

Mr. Kwame Pianim while speaking to TV3 proposes to government to rather cut its expenditure.

He also wants the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to address the nation on key measures being take to mitigate the hardships in the country.

People are suffering, when people are suffering that is not when you irritate them.

Cut expenditure, not planting GRA officers in shops. Things are not going well and we are looking for the President to come up the way he did during Covid, we need a credible message from him that I am going to cut expenditure to stabilize the economy, Kwame Pianim shared.

This week, the President has been engaging key stakeholders to come up with solutions to help address the challenges facing the Ghanaian economy.

Per information gathered from sources, the President will on Sunday, October 30, address the nation on the state of the economy and measures being taken by his government.
A political science lecturer, Dr. Abdul-Jalilu Ateku, has urged the Minority in Parliament to engage the Majority MPs against Finance Minister to ensure their support in having him removed.

Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV, Dr. Ateku said he did not expect the President to heed the calls of 80 disgruntled Majority MPs for him to remove Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister.

They also want the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen, removed.

The Minority needs to engage with the other people from the other side since they all have the same objective of getting the Finance Minister out.

Leaving it for the President, the President will not remove the Finance Minister, Dr. Ateku said.

The Minority has filed a motion for a vote of censure on the Finance Minister and made calls for support from the Majority MPs.

But the Majority MPs have indicated that they will not back the Minority.

Previous calls for the removal of Ken Ofori-Atta have been rebuffed by President Akufo-Addo, who said he would continue to back Mr. Ofori-Atta .

Responding to the recent demands by the group of Majority MPs, the President appealed to them to hold on until Ghana concludes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund .

The President noted that terminating the appointment of Mr. Ofori-Atta will disrupt the programme.

citinewsroom
A private legal practitioner Charles Kwaku Amoh Darteh said it is time for Ghana to tap into its many tourist opportunities to generate enough revenue to support the economy.

He made mention of Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Botswana and many other African countries that have taken the lead to benefit from their various tourism sector.

Speaking to Ohene Amoako (The Flag bearer) on Homebase TV 'Delivering on Our Promises' political show, the legal practitioner emphasised that Egypt has raked in millions of dollars from its historic pyramids as many tourists visit the country to have a view of them yearly.

Lawyer Charles Kwaku Amoh Darteh revealed that Ghana is geographically located close to the middle of the world and that provides a good opportunity to lure tourists into the country.

He stressed that Ghana has so many tourist sites that are exceptionally different from that of most African countries and urged Government to maximise its benefits.

"We have many castles and fortes that explain Ghana's history and I think we can get enough revenue from such monuments if properly made known to the world. Talk of the Cape Coast, Elmina and Christianborg castles, the James forte and the rest," he stated.

On the issue of the 'Year of Return' celebrations, the legal practitioner recounted that the country raked in enough revenue from the many people who came back to Ghana to join the celebrations as they patronised the local market for goods and services.

He added "I also think it is time for our hospitality industry to improve upon their activities especially with regards to customer service and human relations. Our taxi drivers and market women needs to be educated on the need to appreciate customer service as a great tool to woo tourists."
Namibia said Thursday it had asked Germany to renegotiate the genocide agreement reached last year between the two governments, but gave no details of the changes being sought.

Germany last year acknowledged it had committed genocide in colonial-era Namibia and promised more than a billion euros (dollars) in financial support to descendants of the victims.

But government has been under pressure from opposition which said the deal was flawed.

The request to review the deal was made in July following discussions in the Namibian National Assembly, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba announced on Thursday.

"Technical committees of Namibia and Germany discussed the issue and proposed that amendments be made to the joint declaration in the form of an addendum which was submitted to the German government," Mbumba told a meeting of traditional leaders in the capital Windhoek.

"The government of Namibia is awaiting a response from the German side on what we have proposed," he said.

In May 2021, after more than five years of bitter negotiations, Germany announced that it recognised that it had committed "genocide" in this southern African territory, which it colonised between 1884 and 1915.

It offered 1.1 billion euros in development aid spread over 30 years to benefit descendants of the indigenous Herero and Nama ethnic groups.

Germany stressed that the aid would be paid on a "voluntary basis" and that the agreement was not comparable to "reparations".

Many Namibians rejected the agreement, saying that the descendants of the Herero and Nama had not been sufficiently involved in the negotiations.
One of the stories in this issue stands out. It is about the display of rare patriotism which we need in this country at this time of widespread irresponsibility.

Citizens somewhere in the Ashanti Region, upon receiving information about illegal mining activities on a river, proceeded to the location regardless of the danger they could face and arrested some of the actors.

They deserve recognition so that their rare patriotic act would motivate the rest of us about what it means when we say security management is a shared responsibility.

Alhaji Ali Salifu, Yaw Agyei and Paul Nkrumah charged the illegal miners on the Sunsu River at Nsuem No 2, an action which could only be inspired by love for country and managed to arrest two of the five persons engaged in the illegal activity.

As we compose this commentary, Abuabakari Suadic and Bawa Dawuda are guests of a court.

While such acts of patriotism are rare, we would encourage others to emulate the style so that decency would be restored on our rivers and forests.

There can be no success in our march to prosperity when others decide that they could not care a hoot about the fate of the nation.

It is our hope that very soon, other Ghanaians would stand up and be counted among those who are ready to partake in the security management of the country in their own way, no matter how small.

With this development, the path is clear for spirited and deliberate efforts at encouraging all Ghanaians especially, those living near gold-bearing rivers and forests to support the police and other security agents to fight illegal mining.

As we pointed out in a previous commentary, when the people are sufficiently educated about the drawbacks of illegal mining especially its negative effects on the environment, we would be close to stemming the illegality.

We need more of the Nsuaem No 2 citizens' vigilante action to restore normalcy on our rivers and forests.

We have learnt about how some persons allowed their cocoa farms to be used for illegal mining activities.

The suspects have been arrested and for us, this is also encouraging as more and more arrests are being made of illegal miners.

With the resilience of such miners not in short supply, the only way they can be subdued is for the good citizens to disregard the risks and the money to be made by rising against the illegality.

Loving the motherland should go beyond our lips. It should be translated into action and an eventual stemming of illegal mining on our rivers and farms.

Source: Daily Guide
The Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, on Wednesday, said President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos engagement with some economic groups in the country was all geared towards the need to stabilise Ghanas economic crisis.

Addressing the Presidential Press Corps at the Jubilee House after a two-day broad consultation between the President and the economic stakeholders, the Information Minister said the deliberations so far were smooth and fruitful.

President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday and Wednesday met with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Ghana Association of Bankers, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Transport Operators.

Others included the Forex Bureau Association of Ghana, the Market Women, the Ghana Employers Association, the Private Enterprise Federation and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

The meetings were essential to update the groups on the governments engagement with the IMF and seek their buy-ins and consider the countrys future economic policy.

According to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Presidents consultations with the groups were important considering the high cost of living and the implications of the governments talks with the IMF which was concluding very soon.

He said the cost of living, the stabilisation of the Cedi and the growth and expansion of the economy was big on the agenda, adding: These discussions have gone very smoothly.

The governments expectation, according to the Information Minister, was that the discussions would form part of what the President and cabinet would be considering over the weekend before making some decision and then on Sunday, he (President) will have the opportunity to address the nation and we take the steps from there.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the safety of journalists in Ghana must be held sacrosanct as he would not condone any attacks on any media practitioner irrespective of the offence caused.

Speaking with the leadership of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, President Akufo-Addo said the work of journalists was extremely important and vital in nation-building and that the government would do all to guarantee their safety and right to work.

The safety of journalists in Ghana has to be considered sacrosanct. Sacrosanct from members of the community, sacrosanct from agencies of the state and we must be a country where journalists have to feel safe to go about their work, President Akufo-Addo said.

Stating his stance on the media freedom and safety of Journalist, President Addo-Addo said he was unequivocally committed to protecting the safety of Journalists, adding: I dont condone attacks on any journalist, even those who abuse me, I do not condone any attacks on them.

A noisy press, even a mischievous press is far better than a sycophantic press, President indicated.

Expressing surprise at the lower score of press freedom in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo intimated that the vibrant and media plurality in the country should have had an impeccable rating.

When you look at the diversity of our press and its proliferation all over the country, I dont know if there are so many countries on the continent that has such widespread independent media outlets as Ghana, the President said.

The whole concept of responsible journalism, according to President Akufo-Addo, was extremely important for the welfare of the country.

He called on media practitioners not to accept as true what news makers and politicians told them, but endeavour to investigate those claims and better inform their listeners, viewers and readers.

I think that beyond everything, what most people are sensitive about is the capacity of the media to generate its information. That is the aspect of it that is responsible journalism, the President stated.

That, according to the President, was extremely important as too often, things said especially by politicians were taken at face value and Ghanaians were denied any informed scrutiny of those claims.

The president of the Ghana Journalists Association, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, assured that the Association would work hard to curb attacks on journalists in the country.

In that regard, he said the GJA would launch the Journalist Support Fund (JSF) in November to commemorate the International Day to End Impunity for Crime Against Journalists.

A resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly at its 68th session in 2013 to set aside November 2nd in memory of two French Journalists who were assassinated in Mali in 2013.

That initiative, named Journalist Support Fund by the GJA, seeks to raise a minimum of GHC2 million as a seed fund to fight and address the incessant attacks on Journalists and also support Journalists in that regard.

As the watchdog of the peoples rights, Mr Dwumfour said the association shared in the frustrations and difficulties of Ghanaians regarding the economic situation in the country.

He called on President Akufo-Addo to address the nation on the economic crisis and explain to Ghanaians measures taken by the government to resolve the situation.

You can count on our full support in the recovery process the GJA President assured the government.

Mr Dwumfour said there was a need to revive the Presidents Media Encounter series to enable him to speak to pertinent national issues, as well as enable media persons to have the opportunity to ask questions bordering the nation.

President Akufo-Addo welcomed the suggestion among others and pledged his administration's commitment to addressing the economic crisis accordingly.
BNP Paribas has been urged to cease its support for the expansion of fossil fuels by three NGOs who are threatening the banking giant with unprecedented legal action. The move came on the eve of the annual Climate Finance Day, hosted in Paris.

"This is the first step towards an unprecedented climate litigation case  the first in the world to target a commercial bank for its high-risk activities in the oil and gas sector," Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Notre Affaire a Tous said on Wednesday.

The three NGOs are planning to sue the financial institution for not respecting the "duty of vigilance" law on environmental risks.

Since 2017, the French "vigilance" law has required large companies to take effective measures to prevent violations of human rights and the environment throughout their chain of activity.

Companies given formal notice have three months to comply and dialogue with NGOs, before a possible summons before the Paris court.

The groups accuse BNP Paribas of supporting "the most aggressive companies responsible for developing new oil and gas fields and infrastructures" despite repeated calls to stop new fossil fuel investments from the scientific community, the United Nations and the International Energy Agency.

"In 2020, the carbon footprint of BNP Paribas was larger than that of the French territory," their statement reads.

The French banking group is the first European financier and fifth in the world for the development of fossil fuels, with "55 billion dollars in financing granted between 2016 and 2021" for new oil and gas projects.

The legal action comes just prior to the annual Climate Finance Day, hosted in Paris on Thursday. France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire is one of the 60 speakers invited to the international event.

The gathering of specialists linked to environment and economy was interrupted last year by Friends of the Earth who denounce a meeting of "greenwashing".

Contradiction with Paris agreement

In their formal notice, the NGOs want to see an exhaustive overview of the BNP's carbon footprint, including the emissions induced by its financing.

The NGOs said BNP Paribas must "reduce its CO2 emissions by 45 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels" and to "reduce its methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030 compared to 2020 levels ".

For the NGOs, BNP Paribas' support for the expansion and not the reduction of the use of hydrocarbons is in contradiction to the objectives of the Paris agreement of 2015, to try to limit global warming clearly under 2C and if possible below 1.5C compared to the pre-industrial era.

BNP responded to the action by saying that the level of the objectives set for their 3-year horizon plan (up to 2025) "are () compatible with the prospect of financing a carbon-neutral economy by 2050".

"The bank has set itself the objective of financing renewable energies to the tune of 30 billion euros by 2025", a multiplication by 4 compared to 2015, the group told AFP on Wednesday.

BNP says that, at the end of 2021, "the extraction and production of oil and gas as well as refining only represented 1.3 percent" of the credits granted by the bank.

No exclusion policy

In May 2022, BNP Paribas promised to reduce its loans linked to oil and gas production by 12 percent by 2025, compared to 2020.

The bank also said it would no longer finance companies for which 10 percent of the activity is related to oil sands or shale oil and gas.

But the NGOs point to the fact that the bank has no exclusion policy concerning new conventional hydrocarbon projects.

In 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) called for an immediate end to all new investment in fossil fuels.

But many developing countries are counting on hydrocarbons in the medium term to get out of their dependence on coal, which emits twice as many greenhouse gases.

This means turning to big international companies to achieve this, an ambition impossible to achieve without the capital provided by the world of finance.

But the climate activists insist that the world's dependency on fossil fuels has left people defenseless against the soaring energy prices.

"Each new fossil fuel project financed by BNP Paribas means more droughts, floods, forest fires, and also higher energy prices for people," says Alexandre Poidatz, advocacy officer at Oxfam France.

"We need to make sure that today's investments shape a better world tomorrow".
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that he will be delivering an address to the nation this weekend.

Over the last few months, there has been several calls from members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) including finance experts and Civil Society Organisations for the President to address the nation on the worsening economic crisis.

Finally, the President has now agreed to those calls.

In an official communique from the President via his social media page, he disclosed that he will address the nation on the Ghanaian economy on Sunday, October 30.

I will be addressing the nation on the economy on Sunday, 30th October, 2022 at 8pm. Watch it live on @NAkufoAddo, GTV and all major news networks across the country. #BouncingBackTogether, President Akufo-Addo posted on his Twitter page on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former President John Dramani Mahama will today, Thursday, October 27, also address the country on the poor state of the Ghanaian economy and the severe hardships facing Ghanaians.
Ernest Aglago, a former manager of the Dzodze Branch of the Winners Co-operative Credit Union in Akatsi of the Volta Region has been convicted of stealing contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The accused was convicted on October 13, 2022 and sentenced to serve a five-year prison term in hard labour after he was found guilty by the Sogakope Circuit Court.

Prior to the conviction, the Police Prosecutor on the case, Chief Inspector Paul Aidoo narrated before the Court presided over by His Lordship Issac Addo that the complainant, Samuel Tuagbor is the accountant of Winners Co-operative Credit Union, Akatsi whilst the accused, Ernest Aglago was the manager at the Dzodze branch of the Union.

He said between July 1, 2017 and September 1, 2018 Ernest, 31-year-old stole the sum of GHC32,962.52, being the property of the Winners Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Akatsi.

In the 2017/2018 financial year, the books and records of the accused were audited during the financial year and it was detected that he had embezzled cash; the sum of GHC32,962.52 which was petty cash allocated to him to run the Union's branch during the financial year.

It was detected that the accused manipulated the system by keying in fake transactions to balance the system account thereby able to cash the said money for his private use.

On July 11, and 27, 2017 he keyed into the system dubious transactions indicating the purchase of a number of computers to furnish the office.

Again on July 14 and 24, 2018, he opened accounts with two ghost names  Amenyo Hope and Amenyeseade Ahiable; with which he secured loans for himself worth GhC3,000 and GHC5,000 respectively from the petty cash.

Through similar documents, the accused succeeded in embezzling various sums of money from the petty cash book. Accused admitted the offence and stated that he keyed those fake transactions using his own password and promised to pay back the money.

After investigation, he was charged with the offence and put before the Sogakope Circuit Court in January, 2019. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and went through full trial until Thursday, 13th October, 2022 when the court delivered judgement.

At the trial, the prosecution called four witnesses including the investigator and tendered copious documentary evidence. The accused person testified himself and did not call a witness.

After the trial, the Court found him guilty of the offence of stealing and accordingly convicted and sentenced him to serve a prison term of 5 years in hard labour.

-Daily Guide
The Horn of Africa is facing its worst drought in 40 years. Scientists suspect that a multi-year La Nina cycle has been amplified by climate change to prolong dry and hot conditions.

After multiple failed harvests and amid high global food prices, the Horn is confronted with a severe food security crisis. Some 37 million people face acute hunger in the region, which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.

In Somalia alone, 40% of the population is facing food insecurity : about 6.7 million people. In neighbouring Ethiopia, the proportion is lower  20%  but the absolute numbers are higher at 20.4 million.

It was not too long ago that drought led to highly divergent impacts between Somalia and Ethiopia. In 2010-2011, a devastating drought led to more than 260,000 deaths beyond normal levels of expected mortality in Somalia. Yet almost no one died in Ethiopia after a severe drought in 2015 .

Why did so many people die in Somalia but so few in Ethiopia? I explore these and related questions in my recent book, States and Nature: The Effects of Climate Change on Security .

Using the cases of the two countries, among others, the book shows why Somalia had a famine in the early 2010s while Ethiopia did not, despite both being exposed to severe droughts.

The biggest differences were that, compared with Somalia, Ethiopia enjoyed a state with more capacity and more political inclusion, and made good use of foreign aid. These are factors that I identify in the book as contributing to how climate change is affecting the security of states. I include famine as a form of insecurity.

Read more: Famine should not exist in 2022, yet Somalia faces its worst yet. Wealthy countries, pay your dues

Better outcomes are expected in states with high capacity to deliver services, high political inclusion where all social groups are represented in government, and where international assistance is welcomed and shared broadly.

Two sets of conditions, two different outcomes

So how did Somalia and Ethiopia stack up on the three factors that contribute to a bad situation being made worse?

In the lead-up to Somalia's famine in 2011, the country faced persistent problems of a weak national government that was being challenged by Al-Shabaab, a violent Islamist militia that controlled significant territory in the south of the country. The Somali government had limited ability to deliver services in the areas it controlled, let alone areas under Al-Shabaab.

For its part, the Ethiopian government invested in social safety net programmes to feed people in the midst of the drought through cash transfers, employment programmes and food assistance.

The issue of sections of the society being excluded was also in greater evidence in Somalia than in Ethiopia. A number of marginalised groups, notably the Bantu Somalis and the Rahanweyn clan, were among the most affected by the drought. Better connected groups diverted aid that otherwise would have benefited these communities.

Finally, Somalia was in much worse shape when it came to aid. Al-Shabaab militants were blocking aid into the country, which led to a number of humanitarian groups withdrawing from Somalia. In addition, the US, through the Patriot Act, discouraged NGOs from providing aid for fear it would end up in Al-Shabaab's hands. Together, this meant that little humanitarian assistance came into Somalia precisely at the time when the country needed it most. Hundreds of thousands died.

Read more: What drives Al-Shabaab in Somalia: foreign forces out, Sharia law in and overthrow the government

Ethiopia was a favourite of the international community for foreign assistance. It received funds that supported its social safety net programmes, which helped it prepare for the drought and administer emergency aid supplies.

The current food security crisis in the Horn of Africa, however, reveals persistent vulnerability in both countries.

As Ethiopia's case shows, progress can be undone. Rising political exclusion is leading to huge food security risks, particularly in the Tigray region where aid is currently largely blocked amid the ongoing violent conflict .

Equally worrisome is Somalia's situation, where both local and external actors have struggled to build state capacity or inclusion in the face of a long-running violent insurgency.

What can work

My book provides some hopeful insights, as well as caution. It shows that for countries like Ethiopia and Bangladesh, international assistance can help address weak state capacity. Donors worked with local officials to address specific climate hazards, like drought and cyclones.

Such international assistance helped compensate for weak state capacity through discrete investments in early warning systems, targeted social services, such as food assistance or cash transfers, and hazard-specific protective infrastructure, such as cyclone shelters.

Those examples suggest that climate adaptation can save lives and contribute to economic prosperity.

However, as the unfolding dynamic in Ethiopia shows, progress can be reversed. Moreover, it's far more challenging for external actors to build inclusive political institutions if local actors are not so inclined.

With climate change intensifying extreme weather events around the world, it is incumbent upon policymakers to enhance the practice of environmental peacebuilding, both to resolve ongoing conflicts through better natural resource management and to prevent future emergencies.

Joshua Busby received funding from the Minerva Initiative from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Skoll Foundation, and the University of Texas.

By Joshua Busby, Professor, University of Texas at Austin
Africa is home to over 200 million people aged between 15 and 24, according to UN data. The continent has the largest population of young people in the world.

This should be a sign of great productive potential. Unfortunately, youth unemployment and under-employment have held productivity back, resulting in a very slow pace of development in Africa.

Shortly after the Arab Spring , when youth movements helped to topple the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen, the Africa Development Bank predicted that the lack of decent employment opportunities in Africa could undermine social cohesion and political stability.

In Nigeria, the 2020 EndSARS protest showed that youth unemployment had become an emergency needing urgent attention.

The highest unemployment rate recorded in Nigeria in 2020 was for young people between the ages of 15 and 24. In that age bracket, 40.8% (13.9 million) of young Nigerians were unemployed.

Even education isn't a guarantee of a decent job. Unemployment among people with a doctorate degree stood at 16.9% in 2020. Many PhD graduates still roam the streets and the online space in search of decent jobs that fit into the qualification.

Over a decade before the EndSARS protest, Nigeria's ministry of education, in partnership with the National Universities Commission , introduced an entrepreneurship skills development curriculum in Nigerian universities making it a compulsory course for University undergraduates.

Funds were provided for the establishment of entrepreneurship centres where students and lecturers could develop the capacity for an entrepreneurial mindset. These centres are also meant to serve as hubs that will provide mentorship and support for faculty and student entrepreneurs.

The goal is to support the emergence of a university ecosystem where students and lecturers create value that will attract financial returns. This will in turn give Nigerian graduates more options in their working lives  not just competing for white collar jobs.

Ten years later, the rate of graduate unemployment is still on the increase . This is beginning to expose the need to rethink the design, delivery and partnerships for implementing the Nigerian entrepreneurship education program.

My PhD research sought to contribute to this by exploring the student experience of entrepreneurship education in Lagos and Ogun states universities.

I found that participating students had a high level of entrepreneurship skills, but didn't really want to have to use them. They did not perceive entrepreneurship as a way to achieve their goals in life, and were still hoping for white collar jobs. The solution, I believe, is for the curriculum and the teaching support to be more realistic about business  partly by drawing on actual entrepreneurs as a resource.

Where to focus for impact

I gave questionnaires to 2,394 final year students and conducted interviews with six directors of entrepreneurship development centres in Lagos and Ogun States.

One thing I wanted to understand was what aspect of entrepreneurship programmes might produce the necessary impact fastest. Student engagement, student support, teaching quality and teaching resources were the aspects I looked at. Of these, teaching quality showed the strongest potential to make an impact quickly.

The implication is that entrepreneurship education lecturers and facilitators need to know what to teach, what not to teach, and how to teach.

In a nutshell, lecturers who are entrepreneurial themselves will be better teachers of entrepreneurship. Their personal stories will make a huge difference.

The findings also provide evidence that effective entrepreneurship education programmes require collaboration.

When it comes to supporting students, only one of the universities in my study had a structured programme to help students grow the businesses they started. Other universities provided walk-in opportunities for funders and investors to support student businesses.

Structures should be put in place for student grants, competitions, seed funding, mentoring, accelerators and other opportunities that support student businesses. It's up to university management to do this.

Support from external stakeholders would then be an extra resource rather than a pillar holding up the university's programme.

One of the directors of the Entrepreneurship and Skills Development Centres pointed out that entrepreneurship education was not cheap to provide but government was not providing adequate teaching and learning resources. Large classes of over 600 students also made it hard to teach effectively. Students should be able to work in smaller groups and teams.

Resources to use

Government funding seems to be dwindling, as evidenced by the recent lecturers' strike . So there might be a need to attract external stakeholders to sponsor competitions, clubs and student teams.

The learning experience of students should entail being directly in touch with the realities of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs. It should not only involve reading about, hearing about, talking about, or writing about entrepreneurship.

Facilitators of such courses should give students activities that connect them with the world of entrepreneurs.

Read more: Nigeria's universities can find funds and produce job creators: here's how

Not every aspect of the curriculum can be taught by academics. There should be linkages that provide opportunities for practising entrepreneurs to be mentors, facilitators and funders of student entrepreneurs.

Sometimes the street trader, roadside mechanic or roadside food vendor is the best person to teach students about starting a business.

Other useful models are people with many years of experience failing and succeeding as an entrepreneur.

Mapping the way forward

A sustained entrepreneurship skills development programme requires a collaborative approach in which universities, business people, successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs and students are active participants.

University managers need to provide structures that will open up the universities for collaborations with entrepreneurs and industries to provide support in terms of seed funding, infrastructure, human resources and technical expertise.

The universities should base decisions about interventions and partnerships on data about what has the most impact.

Commercialisation of university products and outputs should be encouraged. Entrepreneurial lecturers should be valued. The system should welcome a handshake between theory and practice.

Bukola Amao-Taiwo 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 Bukola Amao-Taiwo, Researcher, Academic Developer and Student Coach, University of Lagos
Mr. Carl Cruz, Unilever West Africa General Manager has stated that the corporate world has changed dramatically, as business operations pre-covid, during-covid, and post-covid eras have changed the dynamics of management.

Managers must therefore incorporate fast-moving information, communication, and technology into the world of business. Things are changing rapidly through technology which is becoming a major enabler in the business environment, Mr. Cruz stated during engagement with students in Tema.

Speaking to tertiary students in Tema on the theme: Journey to the boardroom, which is a Unilever initiative to groom youth into the business environment, the Unilever West Africa General Manager identified diversity as a critical operational mechanism for the sustenance of companies.

He, therefore, urged managers to take reasonable risks, challenge the status quo and carry staff along, stressing Operational diversity as a business mechanism places values on differences of cultural backgrounds, skills, and demographics of its stakeholders at management, employees, and supply chain levels for the sake of survival.

He noted that managers must at all times recognize that the success or otherwise of the organization hinges on staff largely, leaders must demonstrate when to descend with workers into the trenches to get things fixed and when to stand at the rooftop and issued instructions,.

He, therefore, charges leaders to appreciate the workers, as both new and old workers have a lot to offer toward the growth of the organization, we must blend the zeal of the new employee with the experiences of the old staff to keep the wheel of the company moving.

Mr. Cruz also urged the youth to identify pillars of life, which include characteristics of being humble as humility opens doors.

Other pillars, include setting ones purpose, acknowledging parents roles in the developmental process, developing and shaping the sense of responsibility, staying focused, ability to face difficult situations, and at the same time being patient yet persevering.

Mr. Cruz also urged the youth to acknowledge their strengths and weakness; should not allow their glorious past to get in the way of their future; face facts and be realistic; decisions that must not be taken out of emotions, and learn to iron out professional differences.

The Unilever West Africa General Manager also urged the youth in particular and workers, in general, to learn to adjust to people of different cultures, and environments; maintain friends throughout, while stressing that frustration also serves as part of ones transition from one stage to the other.

Mr. Michael Otchere Duah, Head of Human Resources Unilever Ghana explained 100 students across the country participated in the grooming section online while 30 were physically present at the center for the lectures.

He said Unilever has developed flagship projects to prepare the youth for the place of work stressing that with more than 400 brands around the world, there are plenty of amazing prospects at Unilever for career starters and experienced professionals.

Mr. Duah explained that the company works in collaboration with University administrators to select students to participate in their grooming process.

Mr. Paul Agbai, Unilever Human Resources Business Partner, Function West Africa identified some of the flagship initiatives of the company as Unilever Brand Ambassadors, Unilever Ideal Trophy, and Unilever Future Leaders Programme among others.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed doubt over the possibility of President Akufo-Addo sacking Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

This week, the calls for the Finance Minister to be removed from office have heightened.

On Tuesday, October 25, 95 members of the Majority Caucus at a press briefing threatened to boycott businesses of government in Parliament unless he removes Ken Ofori-Atta from the Finance Ministry.

in response, President at a meeting with the aggrieved NPP MPs urged them to allow the Finance Minister conclude negotiations with the IMF before their demand can be considered.

However, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the President cannot be trusted to take the bold decision to sack Ken Ofori-Atta.

Another important consideration is that many Ghanaians cannot trust President Akufo-Addo to dismiss his cousin seeing that he has consistently preferred to put familial benefits above the national interest, the North Tongu MP shared on his Facebook page on Thursday.

According to him, the President must put Ghana first instead of prioritising what he describes as a selfish survival deal for one family.

This is not the time for selfish survival deals for one family; it is the time to put Ghana first and expeditiously fix the collapsed economy for millions of struggling families, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa adds in his post on Facebook.
The case involving Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International and six others has been adjourned to November 30, by an Accra Circuit Court.

When the matter was called, the prosecution was absent, but the accused persons and their lawyers were present.

The trial judge, Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, therefore, adjourned the matter.

On March 3, this year, the office of the Attorney General called for the case docket to study and advice on it.

The State was billed to call its prosecution witness in the person of Patricia Aseidua, aka Nana Agradaa aka Evangelist Mama Pat, the complainant in the case.

Rev. Owusu Bempah and six other persons were variously facing charges of conspiracy to commit offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, offensive conduct to the breach of peace, conspiracy to commit threat of death and threat of death.

The other six accused persons are: Mensah Ofori, Bright Berchie, Kwabena Nyarko, aka Matata, Nana Acheampong, Nana Brown, and Kwame Amoh.

The accused persons have pleaded not guilty and admitted to bail in the sum of GHCS100,000.

The accused persons were said to have threatened to kill self-acclaimed fetish priestess-turned-evangelist, Patricia Asiedua, aka Nana Agradaa.

Accuse persons allegedly stormed the house of Nana Agradaa on September 8, 2021, with heavily built men amidst shouts, We will kill you.

Rev. Owusu Bempah is accused of instructing the men to bring Nana Agradaa out so they could teach her a lesson.

The Police, however, moved to the scene in time to avert any clashes.

GNA
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The High Court sitting in Accra today October 27 granted a request by the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Mr Adjenim Boateng Adjei for his passport to be released to him.

This is to enable him renew his British visa and to travel for business.

This was announced by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) that is prosecuting him.

Mr Boateng Adjei and his brother-in-law, Mr Francis Kwaku Arhin, are standing trial on corruption and corruption related offences.

They were granted GH5 million bail with two sureties to be justified.

As part of the bail conditions, Mr. Boateng Adjei charged with 17 counts made up of eight counts of using public office for-profit and 9 counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage, was ordered to deposit his passport with the Registrar of the court.

READ ALSO: Law-abiding Dr. Agyepong respects judiciary - JOSPONG

---3news.com
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) will continue to be the priority of the government's reform agenda in the country's educational system.

To this end, the government is creating an enabling environment by expanding science resource centers of some existing senior high schools to increase science enrolment and the quality of instruction.

In addition, the government is constructing 10 STEM Schools, including ones solely for girls, at various stages of development.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, stated this in an address read on his behalf at the closing of the 2022 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) competition at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

He said the government, in the short term, had introduced the pre-engineering programme for secondary school graduates with non-science backgrounds to help them pursue engineering at the tertiary level.

Dr Adutwum said the one-year training course which was being piloted at the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa, and the Pentecost University had been a game changer and was already directing attention of more students into STEM, a situation likely to solve most of the country's technological and economic needs.

The Minister commended Primetime Limited, producers of the NMSQ and other sponsors for promoting the learning of science and mathematics by organizing the annual event.

He described the event as one which had developed the minds of several thousands of students, good thinking and improved scientific minds about the things around us.

The 2022 NMSQ saw the Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School (PRESEC) winning, Prempeh College and Adisadel College placing second and third positions respectively.

Mr Opoku Ahweneeh Danquah, Chief executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), commended the late Professor Ewurama Addy, the first NMSQ host, for the role she played in nurturing students in natural science, especially, female scientists in STEM.

He said regardless of the outcome of participation in each year's competition, NSMQ ignited a passion to continue a search for knowledge.

Mr. Danquah said that was why the GNPC had aligned with the programme's producers to promote the study of science and mathematics, which were the bedrock of existence for every society.

GNPC, as the national oil company, recognizes the urgent need to maximize local content and local participation for the people of Ghana, through developing expertise in STEM within the value chain, for job creation, he observed.

Professor Oheneba Boakye Agyei, Otumfuo Hiahene, said the study of science was undoubtedly the basis of development and wealth creation, and commended the organizers and sponsors of the Quiz for such initiative.

GNA
27.10.2022 LISTEN

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the local chapter of Transparency International, has urged Ghanaians to take the fight against corruption seriously.

Madam Mary Awelana, Programmes Manager at GII, noted that the public fight would help address the negative effects of corruption on citizens, which is likely to drive them to radicalise and join violent extremist groups.

She made the call during a presentation at a meeting with chiefs, religious leaders and members of civil society organisations at Aflao as part of the organisation's new project, Prevention and Countering Extremism and Terrorism (PCVET): The Role of Civil Society and the Private Sector.

The 22-month project, being implemented by the GII in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), is funded by the European Union under the Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project through the contracting organisation, International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

The project aims at contributing to an effective, transparent and accountable border security management architecture in Ghana.

Madam Awelana called for collaborative efforts to combat corruption in all forms  petty, grand, political and others- because though there were other underlying conditions, corruption remained a crucial part of the narratives used to mobilise and recruit radical and violent extremist groups.

She said the project targeted Ghana's border communities deemed vulnerable to conflict spillovers from neighbouring countries, requiring that border residents be sensitised on the relationship between corruption, free movement of people and goods and violent extremism to empower them saying, the fight against corruption is in our hands.

Chief Supt Kwabena Ampong, a GIS official from the Aflao Sector Command, appreciated non-governmental actors for their support of the Service in areas such as the provision of logistics and strengthening the capacity of officers.

He called on partners and other bodies to help with education on PCVET to increase awareness among the populace.

He said the Agency was mandated to regulate and monitor the movement of people across the country's borders through various units, including Border Patrol and Counter-Terrorism (Operation Motherland) secured the borders, did some interceptions and kept undesirable migrants away.

He cited the unique nature of the Aflao borderline and appealed to residents to cooperate with personnel to secure the boundary, saying, security is a shared responsibility and community members should support us in achieving our goals.

Elder Ken Amedeka, a participant in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, described the meeting as enlightening and promised to sensitise others and get them to know about GII's corruption reporting platforms  Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) and Eye on Corruption to fight corruption-related practices to keep violent extremists at bay.

GNA
After several calls, President Akufo-Addo is set to address the nation on Sunday, October 30.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, former Deputy Information Minister under the Mahama administration says he is expecting to see the President announce his resignation.

He explained in a tweet today, October 27, that President Akufo-Addo has failed the people of Ghana and, as such, needs to vacate his position before his tenure elapses.

"President Akufo-Addo should simply announce his resignation when he addresses the nation on Sunday. He had failed!" he shared.

President Nana Akufo-Addo will on Sunday, October 30 address the nation on the economic challenges facing the country and its people.

The President made this known in a Facebook post on Thursday.

The address is scheduled for 8 pm, and will be telecast on GTV and on major television networks across the country, the post said.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, ASA Savings and Loans Limited has made a donation of cement bags to the Ghana Police Training School in Koforidua.

The donation of cement bags was led by the Branch Manager of the Koforidua Business Centre, Raphael Ghansah.

He presented the over 100 bags of cement to the Koforidua Police Training School in the company of Area Manager David Amevor.

According to Raphael Ghansah, the donation is ASA Savings and Loans way of giving back to society.

Having received the items, ASP Twum Frimpong who is Second in Command of the Police Training School expressed appreciation to ASA Savings and Loans for the show of love.

He said the cement bags will help the Training School to construct its own parade grounds where recruits can train.

We are very grateful to ASA Savings and Loans Limited for making such a gargantuan donation which will go a long way to help the school in constructing its own parade grounds where recruits are trained as well as other in-service training is carried out. So we are very grateful, ASP Twum Frimpong indicated.

He further appealed to ASA Savings and Loans Limited to always keep the Koforidua Police Training School in mind while appealing to other organisations to support the school.

As you have made this donation to us it will go a long way to facilitate and promote the construction of our own parade grounds. We are very grateful on behalf of the training school and on behalf of the Ghana Police Service, and on behalf of the IGP, and on my own behalf. Thank you very much and God richly bless you.

We expect more as Oliver Twist. We expect more from you and other organisations, ASP Twum Frimpong added.
The second edition of the Digital Banking, Innovation and Fintech Festival by Standard Chartered Bank PLC has been successfully concluded today, October 27.

The much-anticipated festival kicked off on Wednesday, October 26, bringing together industry players, seasoned experts, and practical Fintech innovators from Africa, Singapore, and other parts of Asia.

The two-day event is a platform to showcase, engage, strategize, and discuss best approaches and policies as the continent moves towards a future-proof and dynamic digitized financial ecosystem.

In his keynote address at the opening session, H.E. Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, noted that to position Africa as a fintech innovation hub requires collaboration from all ecosystem players  banks, fintechs, telecom companies, governments, regulators and consumers.

He also commended ecosystem players for their support and collaborative efforts toward Ghanas digitalization drive.

The world is noticing Africas efforts, and we will keep going. Our progress is determined by our vision, by our resolve to build a stronger, resilient, and a capable economy, by our readiness to learn and to make corrections, H.E. Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia added.

On his part, Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered PLC, emphasized that the Bank is directing investment to new platforms, partnerships and ventures that will shape the future of the business, a pivot that is already demonstrating clear evidence of success, the strong tech foundations we are building in CCIB, and CPBB business and investments in new platforms and ventures.

Highlighting the increasingly complex nature of technology requiring innovative approaches to solving problems, Mansa Nettey, Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Ghana PLC, said that the world over, digitalisation is not only re-defining how we do business, but keeps evolving at supersonic speed. Its important that we do not only keep up with the changing dynamic of client needs and innovation but build new business models underpinned by a structure that supports this digital era.

On the first day of the Fintech Festival, in a panel session on the topic, Powering Africas Digital Economy: Platforms | Players | Policy  which was also the main theme of this years Fintech Festival  panelists noted that digital technology has changed the way Africas financial service industry offers products and services to consumers.

Panelists on the session included Serigne Dioum, Chief Digital and Fintech Officer, MTN Group Ltd; Kwadwo Ntim, General Manager, Technology & Operations GhIPSS; Aparna J, Director of Partnerships, Proxtera, Singapore; Serigne Dioum, John Bosco Sebabi, Deputy CEO, Pan-African Payment, and Settlement System; and Jiten Arora, Member SC Ventures & Global Head, Solv.

Among many things, the Fintech Festival for the two days highlighted opportunities available to Africa in the fintech space and how financial business models are enabling inclusive access to financial services across diverse product types for consumers.

The event brought together stakeholders in the fintech community to connect, collaborate and engage on issues relating to digitization, policy, innovation, and technology within the financial sector, is organized in collaboration with SC Ventures (Innovation and Fintech Investment Unit of Standard Chartered).
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen has tendered in his resignation.

In his social media pages, the New Democratic Congress (NDC) MP alleges that the President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is refusing to accept the resignation letter.

According to him, Parliament needs to pile more pressure on the President, especially in the midst of the unending economic crisis.

Parliament may have to turn the heat on President Akufo-Addo.

Why is he refusing to accept the resignation of Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen?

The President continues to downplay the profound economic crisis created by his abysmal leadership, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has noted in a post on his Facebook page.

On Tuesday, October 25, Majority MPs while addressing the press in Parliament called on President Akufo-Addo to remove Charles Adu Boahen together with the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Following a meeting with the President, the MPs have agreed to hold on with their demands until the Finance Minister finishes negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Minoritys spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has indicated that Ghanas economic woes have reached their peak.

Speaking at an event organised at the UPSA for ex-President John Dramani Mahama to address the nation, the former Deputy Finance Minister stressed that Ghana is currently in a situation where its debt is highly unsustainable.

According to him, Ghana is currently bankrupt due to the mismanagement of President Akufo-Addo's government and citizens must brace themselves for harder times.

Ghana will need to take a very bitter pill to address this cancer of national embarrassment and undeserving albatross arising from economic mismanagement. If this administration had heeded the wise council from the NDC, some CSO, as well as well-meaning Ghanaians, Im aware that we wouldnt be where we are today.

Our unsustainable debt levels have led credit rating agencies to describe our dear country Ghana as a country where debt default is imminent with very little prospects for recovery, Dr. Ato Forson said in his address.

The Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Member of Parliament added, Let me say that it is true that the public debt is the main problem. Excessive borrowing leading to public debt overhang and loss of access to the international capital market is the elephant in the room.

Ghana is currently insolvent, bankrupt, and cannot repay its debt.

In his address, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that the current government has lost its way.

He said it will be impossible for Ghana to grow out of its current due and must now repay its debt through fiscal adjustments.

Ghanas debt burden is currently over GHS400 billion but it is projected that it could hit GHS522 by end of the year.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama

27.10.2022 LISTEN

Former President, John Dramani Mahama has said Ghanas economy has been crippled due to President Akufo-Addo's refusal to take responsibility for poor decisions taken by his government.

Delivering an address on the theme Building the Ghana we want on Thursday, October 27, the leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) stressed that Ghanas economy is in its current mess because the President has failed to call Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to order after messing up the country's economy.

In his view, the challenges facing the country have been caused by the reckless borrowing spree by the Finance Minister and the poor performance of the Economic Management Team led by Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

To be clear we are in this mess because an untouchable Finance Minister relying on his data bank workers and neglecting the advise of seasoned experts at the finance ministry has been left to run this economy into the ground.

We are in this mess because the so-called solid Economic Management Team over the last several years has been unable to call the president cousin to order when he embarked on a reckless borrowing spree when he embarked on indiscriminate closure of indigenous banks and financial institutions, and when he embarked upon on creative economic presentation of statistics to make our situation look rosier than the reality, John Dramani Mahama said in his address to the nation at the UPSA.

The former President added, We are in this mess because we have a president who fails to take responsibility and has instead left the nation on autopilot, in the hands of bungling ministers who he describes as excellent.

According to John Dramani Mahama, the President must without delay sack the Finance Minister and bring in a new person with fresh ideas to lead the Ministry.

In a jab, he rhetorically asked whether the ruling government no longer has the men for the job.

He proposed that President Akufo-Addo stay away from reckless spending of scarce resources and cut expenditures as part of immediate measures to save the collapsing Ghanaian economy which has been downgraded to its worse state in the last few months.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has shared that there is too much corruption in the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Addressing the nation from the auditorium of UPSA, Accra on Thursday, October 27, the leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) opined that it is clear corruption has defeated President Akufo-Addos government.

According to him, it is important that in the midst of the current poor state of the economy, the President stops shielding his appointees involved in corruption to ensure public funds are protected.

Corruption is defeating the government of Akufo-Addo. Indeed it is fair to say that there has been no real fight put up against corruption under the Akufo-Addo administration. The misapplication of public funds by government appointees calls for radical action and not shielding of these perpetrators as we have sadly witnessed in the last few years, ex-President John Dramani Mahama said in his address.

Among many proposals made to the government, the 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC recommended that all non-essential projects should be suspended.

He stressed that non-essential projects such as the 116 million euro new Accra International Conference Centre and the Construction of New Embassy buildings for new Missions abroad must be suspended for now.

Ex-President John Dramani Mahama also wants the construction of the National Cathedral to cease for now.

He insists that if the National Cathedral must be built, it must be built with private funds.

The public funding of the National Cathedral particularly at this time must stop. Being a Christian myself and deeply appreciative of the centrality of God in national affairs, I agree with most Ghanaians who believe that the project cannot constitute a top priority of government at this time, warranting further injection of scarce public funds. If it must be built, it must be built with private funds, John Dramani Mahama said.
Chinese display panel and home appliance manufacturers are upping the ante in next-generation semiconductor display technologies, which have huge application potential in commercial large-sized screens, vehicle-mounted devices as well as both virtual and augmented reality, industry experts said.

Television manufacturer Konka Group Co Ltd announced its semiconductor optoelectronic industrial park in Chongqing has officially begun operations, with several micro light-emitting diodes and mini LED assembly lines starting production.

Li Hongtao, chairman of Chongqing Konka Optoelectronics Technology Research Institute, said the company will promote scientific and technological innovation, strengthen cooperation with enterprises in upstream and downstream segments of industrial chains, and build a new-generation display industry ecosystem covering R&D, manufacturing and applications.

The Shenzhen, Guangdong province-based company has invested heavily in the semiconductor display sector  one of the country's strategic emerging industries  and increased R&D investment in micro LED and mini LED display technologies.

The operation of the new semiconductor optoelectronic industrial park is conducive to ensuring the security and stability of industrial and supply chain, achieving self-reliance in science and technology and gaining a competitive edge in the global new-generation semiconductor display industry, experts said.

In 2019, Konka announced plans to invest 1.5 billion yuan ($207.6 million) to establish a micro LED research institute with Chongqing Liangshan Industrial Investment Co Ltd for the R&D, production and sales of micro LEDs.

The company and the Chongqing Bishan District Investment Platform jointly established the Chongqing Kangxin Semiconductor Industry Equity Investment Fund in 2020 to invest in new semiconductor materials, equipment, chips, integrated circuit designs, packaging and testing.

Compared with liquid crystal display and organic light-emitting diode technology, micro LED display technology has a very fast response time, high brightness, wide viewing angles and a longer life span. Mini LEDs are considered LEDs in the millimeter range, while micro LEDs are in the micrometer range.

According to a report from LEDinside, a research institute of tech research firm TrendForce, the global market value for micro LEDs and mini LEDs is projected to reach $1.38 billion by the end of this year.

Sun Jian, a senior analyst from the TV department of market research company Sigmaintell Consulting, said, "Major panel and home appliance manufacturers have marched into the mini LED space to enhance competitiveness in the high-end TV segment and improve their profitability amid mounting pressure from oversupply in the panel field."

Sun said shipments of global mini LED TVs are expected to reach 3.7 million units this year, an increase of 135 percent year-on-year, and this figure will rise to 9 million units in 2025.

Micro LEDs have wide applications in commercial large-sized screens, but they still require more time to achieve mass production, Sun added.

Roger Chu, research director at LEDinside, said micro LEDs enjoy plenty of potential and could find lots of applications, including virtual reality devices, augmented reality projections, optical sensors and fingerprint recognition.

Since this year, the transaction volume of new-generation display products, including mini LEDs, lasers, OLED and 8K TVs, witnessed robust growth, said Jie Meijuan, general manager of the consumer electronics department at All View Cloud, a Beijing-based consultancy specializing in the home appliance sector.

TV manufacturers are attaching greater importance to the added value of products and leveraging innovative display technologies to launch premium products, Jie said, adding that technological innovation has become an important force bolstering the higher-end and smarter development of the TV industry.




28.10.2022 LISTEN

Werley Nortreus, a Haitian-born African musician, writer, author, entrepreneur, and politician reportedly express how he really feels about black women, outlet BDR! Live reports.

He is a writer who writes many popular quotes that many people cite because some are mostly viral on the internet, including romantic ones.

The young Haitian intellectual says that he loves black women a lot. He says that black women are his crush while he calls them true queens on planet earth. He says that he does not regret being born in the race of black people because black people are true kings and queens.

He says that black couples are the most beautiful couples in the world. He says that black people should love black people only because it is the most beautiful thing that he likes to see. He also describes black women as the most educated women that he ever met throughout his life.

I love black women very much. I like to see them very much. Black women are my crush. They are the most educated women I have met in my entire life. The love of black people is the most beautiful thing I love to see. My love for black women will never end, Werley Nortreus says about his love for black women.

He says that black men make many mistakes in their lives, and black women must forgive them. He also says that black women make many mistakes in their lives too, and black men must forgive them too. He says that black women are safer being with black men.

He says that black people should love and marry black people only because only black people can treat black people better with the proper love that they deserve. Respectfully!.
Former President, John Dramani Mahama has made a passionate appeal to Ghana's Armed Forces and all the Security Services to remain true and loyal to the countrys Constitution.

Amid the current economic challenges facing the country, some people have warned that the unthinkable could happen if things do not change very soon.

While there remain fears that the Military could take matters into their hands to topple the government, President Akufo-Addo recently urged the Armed Forces to remain loyal to the Constitution as his government works to turn things around.

Delivering an address to the nation at an event at UPSA on Thursday, October 27, former President John Dramani Mahama said he is in full support of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos appeal to the military.

According to him, although things are tough, they will change for the better very soon.

As I conclude let me state that I agree with the President and wish to add my voice to his call on our Armed Forces and security services to remain loyal to the State and the Constitution. The current economic circumstances though dire, do not give excuses for any acts that are unconstitutional.

Working together as one people and using the levers of the constitution, we can turn this situation around. God bless our homeland Ghana, ex-President John Dramani Mahama shared.

The 2020 Presidential candidate of the NDC during his address, stressed that he has no doubt that the future of Ghana will be bright.

Together, we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want. Regardless of how bad the situation is right now; I still have hope that we can turn things around. I wholeheartedly believe in the resilience of our people and the lengths we can go to secure a prosperous future for our families. I have had the privilege to work with some of the most brilliant Ghanaians and I have personally seen how dedicated they are to our country and its future, John Dramani Mahama added.
Visitors stand in front of a giant screen displaying Chinese President Xi Jinping next to a flag of the Communist Party of China, at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing, China, Oct. 8, 2022.
Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/.

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Amou Haji, Known as Worlds Dirtiest Man, Dead at 94 Not Long After First Bath in 60 Years People

Cats React to Baby Talk From Their Owners, but Not Strangers Smithsonian. Cats: Owners? Owners?!

Cats are as good as dogs at helping us beat stress Sky News. Cats: As good as? As good as?!

Value Has a Price, But First It Needs to Be Seen John Authers, Bloomberg

Credit Suisse launches $4bn Saudi-backed fundraising FT

Climate

#COVID19

China?

The real corporate cost of decoupling is becoming clear FT and The end of the system of the world Noah Smith, Bloomberg. More decoupling.

Myanmar

Syraqistan

How my family came face to face with settler violence on the road to Nablus 972

European Disunion

Dear Old Blighty

Employer Intimidation Complaints Quadruples in Brazil Ahead of 2022 Election  Poll: Lula Leads 52%  46% Payday Report

New Not-So-Cold War

The Supremes

The Historians Case Against the Independent State Legislature Theory (PDF) Boston College Law Review (TW). Moore v. Harper. Diversity by diktat: An obscure 1977 OMB memo forms the basis for todays affirmative-action programs SCOTUSblog. David E. Bernstein holds a university professorship chair at George Mason Universitys Antonin Scalia Law School. Nevertheless: In pursuing diversity, colleges universally rely on racial classifications derived from the Office of Management and Budgets 1977 Statistical Directive No. 15. These classifications were never intended to be proxies for educational diversity, but rather to create uniform classifications to make government data collection needed for civil rights enforcement and other matters more consistent and coherent. OMB cautioned that the classifications should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature, and warned that they should not be viewed as determinants of eligibility for participation in any Federal program, such as affirmative-action programs. Nevertheless, the classifications became the standard used in measuring diversity in higher education. Classification struggles.

Coordination and expertise foster legal textualism PNAS. The transition from deference to authority to autonomous reasoning is a major landmark in moral development. In this light, it is interesting how citizens and especially legal experts often heed the letter of the law in detriment of their moral standards during judicial decision making.

The Bezzle

Boeing

Boeing adds 737 MAX 7 to at-risk status with MAX 10 for cancellation over FAA certification Leeham News and Analysis

Imperial Collapse Watch

DOCUMENT: Prologue: The Global Fragility Act, April 2022 Black Agenda Report. If youve noticed an uptick in Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity language for imperial ventures lately (But theyre women fascists). the pivot in this statute could be a driver. Big NGO energy.

Class Warfare

Adult Brain Structure Is Not Fixed: Scientists Discover Depression Treatment Increases Brain Connectivity SciTech (Furzy Mouse).

A woman was arrested for feeding homeless people in Arizona. Now shes suing the city. USA Today (DCBlogger). DCBlogger: criminalizng kindness.

Antidote du jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
Yves here. While Adam McKay and Tom Neuburger have a strong case that the Chevron ad they lambaste amounts to extreme and offensive psychological greenwashing (associating the oil major with green fields, babies, pristine nature scenes), its not as if only slightly milder versions arent a staple of American commercials. My mother had an appetite for old people TV. That demographic is too down market to attract fossil fuel behemoth ads. However, the drug company pitches are close to saturation level. They always have good looking people, definitely not fashion model but character-actor-level attractive. And they are all happy. Some giddily happy, even as the narrator reads out side effects like convulsive muscle movements (which may be permanent), increased risk of stroke, and death.

By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies

Todays piece is more exercise than explanation.

Id like you to take a quick journey with me. Id like to see if whats true for me is also true for you. If it is, I think youll be as surprised as I was at how striking the realization is.

The exercise goes like this. Were going to play the video below twice  once without sound, and once with sound. Youll find the commercial has two separate meanings, depending on whether the sound is on or not, and depending on whether your soundless listen is your first.

Experiencing The Ad in Two Ways

I encountered the ad embedded in the following tweet from Adam McKay, and I took it to be, as he tells us below, a feel-good ad for Chevron.

First, watch with the sound on mute. As the images roll by your eyes, what goes through your mind? How would you describe what you see? (My answers are at the bottom of this piece.)

Has anyone seen this Chevron commercial? pic.twitter.com/o1nkIf0qOS  Adam McKay (@GhostPanther) September 29, 2022

In particular, ask these questions:

1. Assuming the ad is from Chevron (which you would do the first time through), what are they trying to say explicitly with these images?

2. Assuming the ad is from Chevron, what are they inadvertently telling you?

Now watch with the sound turned on. Since youve already seen the text at the end of the ad, you know the twist. But you also know the images. As you it watch again, ask:

Does the voice-over connect with the images displayed? Is the voice-over effective?

My Answers

Are you finished? My answers from listening in silent mode:

1. What is Chevron openly telling me when it broadcasts ads like these?

Answer: Look at these beautiful shots of your wonderful world. Were wonderful too, we caring Chevron people. Were helping preserve your world, so you can be happy.

2. What is Chevron inadvertently telling me through ads like these?

It couldnt have been more obvious, at least to me. I assumed on first listen that this was Chevron propaganda, and this is the message I got:

Linger and look at the world were taking away: Balloons in a happy sky. The bee-filled air. Wind on a young girls face as she swings in a yard. A dad who loves her, in a world that cares.

Say goodbye to it all. We are monsters. After a certain point, after our chief executives are dead, your children will never experience these things again. But thanks for the cash; our own kids will need it to keep your kids in line.

And then, after listening again with the sound turned up, the ad let me down. Its a very different experience than the soundless version  almost too on- the-nose  with a less powerful aftermath than the aboriginal rage I felt as I watched the first time.

I was struck, though, by this section of spoken word (emphasis added):

We at Chevron  have billions and billions of dollars to pay for this commercial time. This cheesy footage. And this bullshit music. All so youll be lulled into a catatonic state that makes you forget one singular fact. Chevron is actively murdering you. Every day.

They got that right. The modern ad and PR industry is an evil thing: self-righteous, self-deceptive, manipulative. Pathological and deadly. And the worst of it is, their ads almost always work.

Until they dont and theres a reckoning.
No Choice: The Destruction of Roe v. Wade and the Fight to Protect a Fundamental American Right By Becca Andrews Public Affairs 288 pages

Three years ago, Nashville journalist Becca Andrews set out to write a book about the slow burn of access to abortion narrowing. She suspected the rights laid out in Roe v. Wade would be rolled back in time, but Roe was overturned in June and Tennessee instituted a near total ban on abortion. Andrews book got fast-tracked, and she finished what should have been two months of work in two weeks. No Choice: The Destruction of Roe v. Wade and the Fight to Protect a Fundamental American Right was released earlier this month.

Andrews sat down with the Scene to discuss her book. No Choice weaves together oral history accounts and reporting to lay out chronologically the ways those in power have chipped away at access to abortion across the country, and the groups that have come to the aid of vulnerable pregnant people.

The book covers both the pre-Roe and the post-Roe eras. Comparing those two eras, is there anything thats easier for pregnant people looking to obtain an abortion?

Its hard to put it in those terms, because I think everything exists on such a spectrum that it changes depending on your race and your income level.

I think the big difference between pre-Roe and post-Roe is now we have access to medication abortion. Its a safe, effective way to self-manage abortion, so people arent driven to the ends of the coat hanger or Lysol or whatever it is. I do think that self-managing abortion should be a choice. I think it should be something that people come to because thats how they want their abortion experience to be, not because theyre forced to do that.

In the book you discuss how choice was proposed as the antonym to life, and how the word abortion itself carries stigma. How important is language in talking about abortion?

Im a huge language nerd  that probably came through in the book.

I think people always look for the snappy political slogan, and that makes a lot of sense. You want something that people can remember really easily and that sticks out in peoples minds. The problem with that  and with Twitter and with trying to encapsulate everything in a few words  is that you lose a lot of nuance. People have complicated feelings about this. And thats valid, and it doesnt always fit neatly into a quick hyphenated phrase.

The women who obtained an abortion before Roe v. Wade are now seniors. Did you see it as a historic value to document their stories in your book?

It was very striking talking to women who have access to abortion care before Roe, and then were living to see the ruling overturned in their lifetimes and were really struggling with what that means for our country, for their own families, for their grandchildren. I dont think you expect to gain a right and lose it in the same lifespan. Thats not a thing that usually happens. I felt like it was important to hear people wrestle with that. I also think its important to show historic context and to show people have been getting abortions forever, and when abortion isnt legal, it means that the barrier to care is a lot higher. As a result, people are actively harmed. Theres historical precedent for that. I felt those stories were important for that reason as well.

Another thing that stuck out in the book is that despite abortion laws changing, there have always been barriers to getting abortion care  especially for women of color, Native Americans, undocumented immigrants, those who have low income.

Ive been covering abortion for about eight years now, and thats a disparity that has always existed in the course of my reporting. I did come to the book wanting to expand on that disparity. I think its one thing to write about [the fact] that it exists, and that heres all this research backing up that it exists. Its quite another to be able to take the time to step back and show what that looks like in the lives of individual people. I really wanted to write this book, in part, to be able to do that. To show people its not just a one-off barrier. Heres how this manifests over the course of years, and sometimes over the course of a lifetime.

Being from rural West Tennessee, how do you see the states role when talking about abortion rights?

I think the South has always been at the forefront of abortion activism for a lot of reasons, mostly for the fact that abortion has been curbed here the most drastically over the past couple of decades. I take a lot of comfort in that activism thats being done here in the South. I think there are groups in Tennessee that are really doing the work that I think a lot of other groups want to be doing, or talk about doing.

Its also really frustrating. Its been strange dealing with this as a person with reproductive capabilities and being like, OK I live in Tennessee. If I get pregnant, well, what happens? What if theres something wrong? What if I dont want a kid? Its been very strange to be reporting on this, but also thinking about this from a personal, private level. This really has a direct impact on me and my community.
(Natural News) Back when I was covering President George W. Bush, the Associated Press  long held aloft as an unbiased news source  made an extraordinary decision.

(Article by Dr. Joseph Curl republished from DailyWire.com)

The worldwide wire service decided that no, there arent two sides to every story. There is one correct side and, the AP decided, the news agency would just present that. For instance, climate change is settled science, so anyone who offers their views  or, God forbid, real data  to refute that should be shunned.

Just last year, CBS News anchor Lester Holt laid out what news coverage is nowadays.

The idea that we should always give two sides equal weight and merit does not reflect the world we find ourselves in, he said as he was awarded the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism from Washington State University.

Holt acknowledged the fact that a departure from the objectivity once represented in journalism could reinforce negative sentiment some hold to journalists. That we have had to be more direct in our language in recent times only speaks to the volume and gravity of particular statements and claims, Holt said.

And the AP is making sure it controls the language it delivers to its mostly liberal readers.

Vanderbilt to review gender-affirming surgeries for minors, the AP headlined a story earlier this month. No, the wire service didnt use the term mutilation of children, instead it is gender affirming.

Officials at Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced Friday that they are pausing gender-affirming surgeries for minors in order to review their practices, the article said. In all, the piece used the term seven times.

Euphemisms are the worst in general but especially awful when they replace a term for a horrible procedure. Years ago, pro-abortion advocates took issue with the term partial-birth abortion. Technically known as intact dilation and extraction  because the baby is partially delivered before being murdered  the AP decided to call that late-term abortion.

The AP has played language policeman before to aid President Joe Biden. When Biden didnt want to call the current situation at the U.S.-Mexico border a crisis, the AP announced in 2021 that it wouldnt use the word, either.

Top AP officials told its reporters and editors to avoid using the word crisis, saying the border is not in crisis. For the record, Websters Dictionary defines crisis as an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending.

In an internal memo in March 2021 titled From the Standards Center: A note about the current increase in border entrances, AP Vice President and Editor-at-Large for Standards John Daniszewski said the border situation doesnt meet that standard, The Daily Wire reported.

The current events in the news  a sharp increase in the arrival of unaccompanied minors  is a problem for border officials, a political challenge for Biden and a dire situation for many migrants who make the journey, but it does not fit the classic dictionary definition of a crisis, the memo reads.

Therefore, it adds, we should avoid, or at least, be highly cautious, about referring to the present situation as a crisis on our own, although we may quote others using that language.

And of course the AP banned the term illegal alien, opting for the euphemistic undocumented migrant (that means theres a foreigner in the U.S. who didnt emigrate according to the law, which makes them an illegal alien).

Biden on Monday codified the language, saying it was wrong for states to ban gender-affirming care and declaring people should enter public restrooms based on their gender identity.

As the economy implodes, Biden sat down for an interview with a small podcast, taking a question from 25-year-old transgender actress Dylan Mulvaney if states should have the right to ban gender-affirming healthcare.

I dont think any state or anybody should have the right to do thatas a moral question and as a legal question. I just think its wrong, Biden said.

Read more at: DailyWire.com
(Natural News) gAs American medical officials are encouraging gender transitions for children, British doctors are placing heavy restrictions on transition drugs and procedures for all persons under 18 years old.

(Article by Breccan F. Thies republished from Breitbart.com)

The U.K.s National Health Service (NHS) is warning that children who believe they are transgender are merely going through a phase, and doctors should encourage them against using preferred pronouns or other names.

While British doctors are placing strict bans on puberty blocker prescriptions and even shutting down a transgender clinic for being not safe for children  and replacing therapists with medical doctors  the American medical establishment and federal government are pushing full steam ahead on supporting childhood gender transitions.

In the absence of valid research that can provide solid data on the risks vs. benefits of so-called social transitions, puberty blockers, hormones, or irreversible surgical procedures, the NHS has called for a halt to gender-affirming care, Do No Harm chairman Dr. Stanley Goldfarb told Breitbart News. Instead, the NHS now requires intense psychological counseling and psychiatric care to first ascertain the suitability of life-altering set of treatments for any child who expresses gender dysphoria.

Earlier this month, however, Americas left-wing medical establishment, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Medical Association (AMA), and the Childrens Hospital Association (CHA), sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to investigate and prosecute those who disagree with their purported panacea-style conclusion on how to treat children showing signs of gender dysphoria.

President Joe Biden has also weighed in on the subject, calling it immoral to ban sex-change operations for children.

Meanwhile in the U.K., doctors are restricting such procedures because there is scarce and inconclusive evidence to support clinical decision-making.

The NHS England report even warned against social transition  changing names, pronouns, and wearing clothes associated with the opposite sex  saying that such actions are not neutral and in fact have significant effects on psychological functioning.

Thirteen state attorneys general in the U.S. sent a letter to Garland as well, warning him not to follow the recommendations of the AAP, AMA, and CHA.

No doubt the medical associations object to the characterization of double mastectomies for minors as mutilation or cutting healthy breasts off teen girls, or of hormonal treatments as chemical castration, the attorneys general wrote.

As the attorneys general pointed out, the U.K. is not the only country finding significant issue with affirming childhood gender transitions.

Swedens National Board of Health and Welfare and Finlands Council for Choices in Healthcare recommend strict limitations on the use of hormone treatments for children. Finlands council also strongly recommends against any kind of surgical intervention.

Further, Frances National Academy of Medicine cautions against such medical interventions for minors and points to epidemic-like increases of gender dysphoria cases among children.

One might expect a bit more intellectual humility from U.S. medical organizations when they address the life-altering, irreversible procedures they are championing as the cure du jour for pediatric gender dysphoria, they continued before comparing the modern medical fanaticism about gender treatments to the eugenics movement and the use of lobotomies.

Goldfarb told Breitbart News that the NHSs determination is a wise and humane approach and contrasts with the radical approach of gender affirming care now supported by the current U.S. administration and a variety of U.S. medical societies.

Read more at: Breitbart.com
(Natural News) A coalition of major companies from the United States, including Walmart and General Motors, are quietly lobbying the government to make certain import data confidential.

This could make it much more difficult for journalists and human rights activists to link imported goods to abusive labor practices abroad, including forced labor in the Xinjiang province of China and child labor in Africa.

Martina Vandenberg, a human rights lawyer and president of the Washington-based Human Trafficking Legal Center, called the closed-door proposals outrageous.

Every year we continue to import and sell millions of dollars in goods tainted by forced labor. Corporate America should be ashamed that their answer to this abuse is to end transparency. Its time they get on the right side of history, she said.

The corporate executives who make up the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposed modernizing import and export procedures in a variety of ways, one of which would make data collection from vessel manifests confidential.

This would also frustrate current practices of journalists who use shipping manifests to determine where goods manufactured or harvested with abusive labor practices were sent, which is a key tactic in pressuring U.S. companies to stop allowing forced labor into their supply chains.

Adopting the proposal would shroud in secrecy customs data on ocean-going freight responsible for about half of the $2.7 trillion in goods that enter the U.S. every year. Rail, truck and air cargo are already shielded from public disclosure as per U.S. trade law.

Corporate public relations departments have assured American consumers that they wish to cleanse their supply chains of forced labor and child labor. They claim that making customs data confidential would protect American businesses from data theft.

However, the advisory committee also proposed rules that would require the CBP to give advance notice to importers who they suspect have purchased goods produced through abusive labor practices.

This seemingly reasonable request could potentially imperil whistleblowers, as abusive suppliers could be tipped off about complaints and investigations.

Labor activists say that tracking down and prosecuting abuse has been extremely difficult, with some seemingly clear-cut, high-profile lawsuits dismissed by judges because the evidence was not airtight enough. On the other hand, importers complain that the lawsuits can get very expensive and can take years to resolve.

The Department of Labor announced new initiatives to crack down on forced and child labor in September, including new reports identifying some of the most problematic regions around the world.

CBP: Proposals developed with input from public meetings

The CBP said it would not comment on ideas that have not been formally submitted by its advisory committee, but said the groups proposals are developed with input from public meetings.

One of its stated goals in creating what is dubbed a 21st Century Customs Framework is to boost visibility in global supply chains, support ethical sourcing practices and level the playing field for domestic U.S. manufacturers. (Related: Popular woke and socially conscious brands benefiting from Uyghur slave labor  report.)

But according to the International Labor Organization, the move to make manifests confidential seems to be directly contrary to the CBPs commitment, especially considering that reports by media have documented how large quantities of clothing, electronics and seafood make their way onto U.S. shelves every year as a result of illegal forced labor that engages 28 million people globally.

Much of the investigative work by media publications begins with studying shipping manifests  whether it is clothing made by Uyghurs at internment camps in the Xinjiang region of China, cocoa harvested by children in the Ivory Coast or seafood caught by fishermen from the Philippines toiling in slave-like conditions.

Curtailing access to this information will make it harder for the public to monitor a shipping industry that already functions largely in the shadows, said University of British Columbia professor Peter Klein, who runs the Hidden Costs of Global Supply Chains project, an international collaboration between researchers and journalists.

If anything, CBP should be prioritizing more transparency, opening up records of shipments by air, road and rail as well.

Visit Enslaved.news for more information about unfair labor practices employed to get products to the United States.

Watch the video below that talks about the U.S. legalizing child labor to deal with labor shortage.

This video is from the Suzie Etc- Search for Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Slave labor in Asia produces the shrimp found in Western supermarkets.

Five German companies sued for allegedly benefiting from Uighur slave labor.

Theres blood on your phone: Tech giants linked to slave labor in Chinese factories.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

Fortune.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A recent report from the Department of Labors Office of Inspector General (OIG) revealed that criminals ran away with billions of dollars from the unemployment benefits issued during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to people who lost their jobs following the lockdowns and other public health mandates.

The Epoch Times reported that the stolen funds were spent by fraudsters to buy drugs and weapons. (Related: Government lost as much as $100 billion in stimulus money fraud during COVID-19 pandemic.)

The OIG found that some states were not able to protect funds from improper payments, and that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) was granted to individuals who were not actually eligible.

Congress enacted the unemployment assistance program for Americans who lost their jobs as a result of the lockdowns and other destabilizing measures that state governments across the nation implemented and this was an instrumental feature of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act back in March 2020.

The OIG report published on September 30 indicated that in California, Georgia, Kentucky and Michigan, $30.4 billion of the $71.7 billion in PUA and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation were paid improperly, making up 42.4 percent of the payouts.

About $9.9 billion was likely received by scammers, which included criminal enterprises.

The report stated: They have invested fraudulent UI [Unemployment Insurance] proceeds to further other criminal activity, such as purchasing guns and drugs. Individuals who we find are central to this conduct have been indicted on charges including racketeering conspiracy.

In California, about $20 billion was stolen by criminals, according to the California Employment Development Department (EDD). By October 2021, EDD reported approximately $20 billion (11 percent of total benefits) were likely fraudulent, the vast majority of the federal PUA program, the state department said in a news release.

Over 190K investigations related to unemployment insurance fraud opened by OIG

Since earlier in the year, OIG has opened more than 190,000 investigations that have resulted in more than 1,000 individuals being charged with crimes related to unemployment insurance fraud. OIG head Larry Turner said in a statement last month that some benefits were potentially distributed to people who filed for unemployment in multiple states, were in prison or were dead.

The watchdog agency said more than 57 million people filed for unemployment benefits in the first five months of the pandemic.

The states struggled to process an unprecedented number of claims by workers as the federal government launched enhanced benefits and new programs to include gig workers, independent contractors and others who typically didnt qualify for standard benefits, Governing.com reported.

OIG further said the infusion of hundreds of billions in federal funds into the program gave individuals and organized criminal groups a high-value target to exploit.

That, combined with easily attainable stolen personally identifiable information and continuing UI program weaknesses, allowed criminals to defraud the system, it said.

The agency claimed that it focused on large-scale identity theft schemes involving multiple victims and organized criminal groups, including street gangs.

Last September, President Joe Biden signed an order that increases the statute of limitations for some fraud related to pandemic benefits to 10 years.

My message to those cheats out there is this: You cant hide. Were going to find you, Biden said. Were going to make you pay back what you stole and hold you accountable under the law.

However, many believe that a scamming operation this massive is not possible without help from people within the government.

Visit Corruption.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below that talks about how the CARES Act was passed into law.

This video is from the Ministry of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Wife of former Connecticut state representative admits to stealing COVID-19 funds.

California lost $11 billion to fraudulent unemployment claims, state officials say.

Over 7M Americans to lose unemployment benefits after Labor Day.

States ending pandemic unemployment benefits see increase in jobs as more people decide to work.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

TheEpochTimes.com

OIG.DOL.gov

EDD.ca.gov

Governing.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) On February 23 the Daily Mail ran an article showing that Moderna has patented the 19 base letter (nucleotide) sequence which codes for the Furin Cleavage site in Covid-19.

(Article republished from Expose-News.com)

They cited a Paper by Scientists in India, Switzerland, Italy and the US (cautiously entitled: MSH3 Homology and Potential Recombination Link to SARS-CoV-2 Furin Cleavage Site) in which they calculated that the chances of a 19 nucleotide sequence patented by Moderna randomly appearing in Covid-19 in circumstances where it does not appear anywhere else in nature are 1 in 3 trillion.

But they failed to make the obvious deduction there from. Had they made said obvious deduction I fear that might have been the last scientific deduction they ever got published!

They decided to investigate the RNA sequence for the Furin cleavage site in the Covid-19 Spike Protein to see if it occurred anywhere else in nature. .

Fortunately the NCBI/NIH have produced the wonderful BLAST database which catalogues every gene sequence in nature known to man and every synthetic patented gene sequence known to the patent office.

The researchers chose the Furin Cleavage sequence because it is the only continuous gene letter sequence (nucleotide sequence) in Covid-19 with more than 3 nucleotides, that differs from the respective letters in its closest natural relative the Bat Coronavirus RaTG13 (all other differences are 3 letters or less long). So it was by far the best candidate for determining whether or not Covid-19 was man made.

The reader might consider it more likely that a Furin Cleavage Site would appear in the Sun than in the Daily Mail. But this cleavage refers to the separation of spike from virus rather than pillow from pillow.

Furthermore the Furin Cleavage Site is key to the pathogenicity of Covid-19. So if there was to be some man made gain of function included in the virus, this is where one might expect to find it.

The Amino Acid sequence of the Furin Cleavage Site is PRRA (Proline Argenine Argenine Alanine). Each Amino Acid is coded for by a Codon, consisting of 3 nucleotides (genetic sequence letters). So all the differences in the genetic code between Covid-19 and RaTG13 are at most one Codon long, one amino acid long, other than the Furin Cleavage Sequence, which is

CCT CGG CGG GCA

The complimentary sequence (the opposing DNA strand of the double helix is (GGAGCCGCCCGT) because C binds with G and A binds with T

The reverse compliment (the same thing written backwards) is therefore TGCCCGCCGAGG

The researchers did a BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) alignment search (which means they search for the gene sequence, the reverse gene sequence, the complimentary gene sequence and the reverse complimentary gene sequence) through every gene sequence in nature known to man for CTCCTCGGCGGGCACGTAG which is the 19 nucleotide sequence containing the Furin Cleavage Sequence, which also appears in Covid-19, and which is found actually in the reverse compliment form CTACGTGCCCGCCGAGGAG patented by Moderna.

Their search results can be found here.

Table 1 shows that it does exist in the 5 US patents cited below

US9149506B2: Modified polynucleotides encoding septin-4  https://patents.google.com/patent/US9149506B2/en

Inventor: Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles

Current Assignee: ModernaTx Inc

2012-04-02 Priority to US201261618953P

2013-12-16 Application filed by Moderna Therapeutics Inc

2014-05-22 Publication of US20140141067A1

2015-10-06 Publication of US9149506B2

2015-10-06 Application granted

2020-01-10 First worldwide family litigation filed

US9216205B2: Modified polynucleotides encoding granulysin  https://patents.google.com/patent/US9216205B2/en

Inventor: Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles

Current Assignee: ModernaTx Inc

2012-04-02 Priority to US201261618873P

2013-12-16 Application filed by Moderna Therapeutics Inc

2014-04-24 Publication of US20140113960A1

2015-12-22 Publication of US9216205B2

2015-12-22 Application granted

US9255129B2: Modified polynucleotides encoding SIAH E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1  https://patents.google.com/patent/US9255129B2/en

Inventor: Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles

Current Assignee: ModernaTx Inc

2012-04-02 Priority to US201261618868P

2013-12-16 Application filed by Moderna Therapeutics Inc

2014-05-22 Publication of US20140141068A1

2016-02-09 Application granted

2016-02-09 Publication of US9255129B2

US9301993B2: Modified polynucleotides encoding apoptosis inducing factor 1  https://patents.google.com/patent/US9301993B2/en

Inventor: Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles

Current Assignee: ModernaTx Inc

2012-04-02 Priority to US201261618957P

2013-12-16 Application filed by Moderna Therapeutics Inc

2014-04-17 Publication of US20140107189A1

2016-04-05 Application granted

2016-04-05 Publication of US9301993B2

2020-01-10 First worldwide family litigation filed

US9587003B2: Modified polynucleotides for the production of oncology-related proteins and peptides  https://patents.google.com/patent/US9587003B2/en

Inventor: Stephane Bancel, Tirtha Chakraborty, Antonin de Fougerolles, Sayda M. Elbashir, Matthias John, Atanu Roy, Susan Whoriskey, Kristy M. Wood, Paul Hatala, Jason P. Schrum, Kenechi Ejebe, Jeff Lynn Ellsworth, Justin Guild

Current Assignee: ModernaTx Inc

2012-04-02 Priority to US201261618868P

2016-02-04 Application filed by ModernaTx Inc

2016-06-02 Publication of US20160152678A1

2017-03-07 Publication of US9587003B2

2017-03-07 Application granted

So Moderna first applied for a patent for the 19 nucleotide sequence in 2013 on December 16. Perhaps December25 would have been more appropriate since it was destined to become the Crown of Thorns of Mathew27, Mark15 and John19

Table2: Shows that the sequence occurs in Covid-19 from nucleotide 23601 to 23619.

Table3: Shows that this gene sequence does not exist in nature (but 14 nucleotide parts of it do).

I decided to check their work. Yes. I fact checked them (I will send an invoice to the globalists). This turned out to be a bit of an epic journey. The Google patent page for US9587003B2 does not contain the gene sequence. The pdf of the patent does not contain the gene sequence and is not searchable from pages 101-304. But it does have a link to a lengthy Sequence Listing section which link one cannot copy. So I manually transcribed it in my fair hand  http://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=docDetail&DocID=US09587003B2

From that page you can enter the Sequence ID quoted in the paper as 11652 and get to https://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=viewSequence&DocID=US09587003B2&seqID=11652 which has the following at Nucleotides 2751-2733 reading backwards

gccctgatca ccatcatggc ccagatcggc agctacgtgc ccgccgagga ggccaccatc 2760

CTACGTGCCCGCCGAGGAG patented by Moderna is the reverse compliment of CTCCTCGGCGGGCACGTAG, the 19 nucleotide sequence which appears in Covid-19 DNA from nucleotide 23601-23619 (which would therefore be covered by their patent).

Likewise you can search for the sequence in US9149506B2 by going to https://seqdata.uspto.gov/?pageRequest=viewSequence&DocID=US09149506B2&seqID=11652, whereupon you will find the same thing again

gccctgatca ccatcatggc ccagatcggc agctacgtgc ccgccgagga ggccaccatc 2760

I then searched the gene sequence of Wuhan Hu1 (alpha) at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/NC_045512 and found

23581 ttatcagact cagactaatt ctcctcggcg ggcacgtagt gtagctagtc aatccatcat from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/NC_045512

Which has the 19 nucleotide sequence CTCCTCGGCGGGCACGTAG from 23601-23619 as described in table 3.

I then ran my own non aligned blast search of all patented gene sequences for the reverse compliment directly (or perhaps for a back handed compliment) and got the same results as the researchers

And the same for the other 3 US patents.

So I can confirm, and the reader can confirm using the links above, that Moderna did apply for a Patent not only on the reverse compliment of the 12 nucleotide Furin Cleavage Site in Covid-19 but actually on the 19 nucleotide sequence containing it as described above.

Furthermore they did not merely apply for a patent on 2016 February 4 with US9587003B2: as reported in the Daily Mail. They actually applied on 2013 December 16 for 4 patents with US9149506B2, US9216205B2, US9255129B2, US9301993B2:as well.

So Moderna had developed the 19 nucleotide gene sequence containing the Furin Cleavage Site which gives Covid19 its infectivity to humans by patented gain of function research as early as 2013, 6 years before the Wuhan outbreak took place. Not 3 as reported in the Mail and virally elsewhere..

So now we look at the chances of this occurring naturally. The paper calculates the probability of this particular 19 nucleotide sequence occurring randomly in a 30,000 nucleotide virus as

(30,000-18) x (1/4)19 = 1.09 x 10-7

Which is correct because there are 30,000-18 places to start the sequence given that it needs a further 18 more letters to complete it. But there are actually 29,904 nucleotides in Wuhan HU1 (alpha). So a more accurate calculation would be

(29,904-18) x (1/4)19 = 1.087 x 10-7

Then they calculate the chances that the 19 nucleotide sequence occurs in the patented library of 24,712 sequences with a mean length of 3300 nucleotides. But that calculation is irrelevant because the sequence did not randomly appear in 5 Moderna Patent applications. The sequence was known to code for a Furin Cleavage Site, which is known to provide gain of function to Coronaviruses.

It was put there deliberately and patented due to its infecting power in humans, which we shall see, later in the article, results from the normal viral Arginine (R) codon AGA (used in 45% of viral Arginine codons) being replaced by the human Arginine codon CGG (used in 0% of viral Arginine codons) in the furin cleavage site.

All we are tying to work out here is what the chances are of a 19 nucleotide sequence patented by Moderna turning up in Covid-19 through natural causes, the natural mutations of Bat Coronavirus RaTG13 or some other virus.

The nucleotides form Codons which are triplets. So there are 64 possible triplets of the 4 DNA nucleotides ACGT (4x4x4 = 64). But all triplets do occur. 61 code for 20 amino acids redundantly and 3 are stop codons which tell the ribosome to stop making the protein.

But things are not this simple because the Furin cleavage site appears in the spike protein where it needs to be and the spike protein only has 12733 = 3819 nucleotides. The chances of the 19 nucleotide Furin Cleavage sequence appearing in the spike protein are

(3,819-18) x (1/4)19 = 1.389 x 10-8

Or 1 in 72 million. So those would be the chances that one particular variant, say the first Covid-19 variant, had the 19 nucleotide sequence in the right place (the spike). And it did. So certainly by the balance of probabilities, and certainly beyond a reasonable doubt (1 in 72 million being an unreasonable doubt) Moderna made Covid-19.

100% Biochemic Proof that Covid19 was Man Made

The Double CGG Codon used in the Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage site does not occur in any other Furin cleavage site in any other virus in nature. Furin cleavage sites do occur in other viruses but NOT at all in other betacoronaviruses like Covid-19 and NOT at all with the double CGG codon.

Arginine ( R), can be encoded by any of the 6 triplets: AGG, AGA, CGA, CGC, CGG, CGT. In Covid-19, the furin site (PRRA), has 12 nucleotides (3 x 4). In Covid-19, the RR doublet of the furin site is encoded by CGG-CGG.

Two Biochemists Prof Antonio R. Romeu and Assistant Prof Enric Olle analysed the RR doublet from a large sample of furin cleavage sites of several kinds of viruses. They found that there were no RR doublets encoded by the CGG-CGG codons in any virus in nature. They observed that the AGA triplet was the majority codon involved in these viral RR doublets.

In all genetic recombination (where a part of one genome merges with another genome), the donor code is passed to the acceptor. But there is simply NO KNOWN VIRUS with a Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage Site (having the CGG-CGG codon pair) that exists to donate a Moderna Specific furin cleavage site to Covid19. So the only way that sequence could get into Covid-19 is from Moderna. Moderna was the donor. Nature was not. QED. Case Closed..

But it gets worse.

The Spanish Profs decided to analyse the arginine codon usage in every single protein in Covid-19. The found the following

AGG (13%)

AGA (45%)

CGA (5%)

CGC (10%)

CGG (3%)

CGT (24%).

So the AGA codon triplet was the majority, and interestingly, CGG was the minority codon for Arginine in the virus.

But it gets worse still.

In the specific case of S protein, of the 42 Arginines (R) it has, 20 are encoded by AGA, and only 2 by CGG. These 2 of course, are the two in the Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage Site.

So the only Arginine in the spike protein that is encoded a la Moderna are in the Furin Cleavage site. The other 40 instances do not use CGG at all.

They then go on to comment that each individual species in nature has its own codon preferences. Obviously viruses like AGA, and do not like CGG at all, in nature.

But guess which species does use CGG for Arginine more than the other 5 competing codons  yes its jolly old homo sapiens. Our coding preferences for Arginine are

AGG (20%)

AGA (20%)

CGA (11%)

CGC (19%)

CGG (21%)

CGT (9%).

So the CGG codon in the furin cleavage site WILL have come about through Chimeric (human animal combination) gain of function research.

Could Somebody other than Moderna have made Covid-19 using the Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage Site?

New documents show that just 18 months before the first Covid-19 cases appeared, researchers had submitted plans to release skin-penetrating nanoparticles and aerosols containing novel chimeric spike proteins of bat coronaviruses into cave bats in Yunnan, China. They also planned to create chimeric viruses, genetically enhanced to infect humans more easily, and requested $14million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) to fund the work.

Papers, confirmed as genuine by a former member of the Trump administration, show they were hoping to introduce human-specific cleavage sites to bat coronaviruses which would make it easier for the virus to enter human cells.

When Covid-19 was first genetically sequenced, scientists were puzzled about how the virus had evolved such a human-specific adaptation at the cleavage site on the spike protein, which is the reason it is so infectious.  the Telegraph

I can see all of the great journalists at the Daily Mail and the Telegraph (not to mention scientists around the world) doing all of this research into Covid19 and reaching the inevitable logical conclusion that there was either an accidental or a deliberate lab leak and then having to word their conclusions in such a way as to label that strong probablity as a weak possibility.

But here above we have proved it as a fact (since the Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage Sequence CGG codon does not occur in any furin cleavage site in any natural virus and therefore it cannot have been the result of natural genetic recombination. So it has to be the result of man made genetic insertion.

In theory a further party involved with the NAIAD or the NIH could have used the furin cleavage site patented by Moderna and made Covid19 themselves. This would not have broken any patent of Moderna. The Furin cleavage site itself is not patentable having been known since at least 2004

US7223390B2: Insertion of furin protease cleavage sites in membrane proteins and uses thereof

2004-05-07 Application filed by Research Development Foundation

2004-11-11 Publication of US20040224391A1

2007-05-29 Application granted

Although Moderna could actually have patented the Moderna Specific (CGG for AGA) encoding of the furin cleavage site which was is not known in nature even today (if we accept that Covid-19 is man made).

But given that the lab leak (deliberate or accidental) came from Wuhan, and given the Chinese cover up and given the Fauci denials exposed by Senator Rand Paul, and given the NIH, NIAID cover ups and the US Intelligence services cover up, when their 3 month long report into the origin of Covid-19 ordered by presidential impersonator Biden yielded nothing, and given the relationships between the NIAID, the NIH, the WIV, the EcoHealth Alliance, the University of North Carolina and Moderna, I cannot see any room for anyone else.

Furthermore the entire unholy cabal of bad actors started developing the Moderna Vaccine before the pandemic struck  https://www.infowars.com/posts/must-watch-nih-claimed-joint-ownership-of-moderna-mrna-vaccine-began-development-weeks-ahead-of-pandemic/

But things are not as simple as that because nature has had certainly 100,000 years to make human viruses and it never once put a Moderna specific (CGG for AGA) furin cleavage site into anything, nor did it put the 19 nucleotide sequence in anything before.

Yet within 6 years of Moderna patenting it, we find it in Covid-19 in circumstances where Moderna is working with that virus. So just there the probability is not 100,000 to 6 or 16,666 to 1 that Moderna is responsible rather than nature. No it is 100% because nature has not done it. It never has and there is no evidence that it ever will.

It is man the mixes up human and viral Arginine codons not nature.

Pro Luc Montagnier spent the last years of his life proving that COVID-19 was man made and containing much of the HIV1 genetic code

Prof Luc Montagnier, before he died on 2022February8, did a total assassination of the concept that Covid-19 evolved naturally by showing that it had massive equivalence to HIV. The diagram below shows a 275 nucleotide region of Covid-19 which has 200 nucleotides from HIV/SIV (Simian ImmunoVirus) in it. And remember there are 61 codons specifying 20 amino acids. So one can say the same thing in on average 3 different ways with codons.

You can download a pdf of his study here and the supplementary materials here. It is very technical. But he did win the Nobel prize for discovering the HIV virus. So if anyone would know if Covid had been boosted with HIV, it would be him. He pointed out that Covid-19 was man made early in the pandemic and was himself assassinated by the press and the fact checkers as a result. Every single fact checker who attacked him was wrong.

There was no scientific basis to any of their fact checking. These outfits are not fact checkers at all of course. They are globalist disinformation agencies, sons of Goebbels, fact chuckers and science deniers. They are about as trustworthy as an American election. I can check a fact for myself thank you very much. I dont need a brainwashed woke madrassa student telling me their opinion about a subject that they never studied at University.

Since we have proven beyond a reasonable doubt (beyond a 1 in 72 million doubt statically and with 100% certainly biochemically from the Moderna Specific Furin Cleavage Site) that Moderna made Covid-19. And since Moderna and Fauci have not admitted to having made it and have in fact covered up evidence to that effect, it may be the case that they are hiding something else as well.

Because the only two theories now left are the accidental lab leak theory and the deliberate lab leak theory. I mean the vast majority of political leaks are not accidents. They are deliberate strategies to provide advantage to the leaker or his paymaster. It is well known in the IT industry that viruses appear when antivirus sales are needed. Why would things be any different with human viruses, now that they can be man made too? Especially when you consider the massive role of Bill Gates and his foundation and GAVI and GVAP in he global vaccination business.

The only reason that Moderna would make Covid-19 is to release it. Otherwise the entire exercise would be financially futile, commercially pointless

The reason adduced by Fauci for doing gain of function research is that man needs to be ahead of nature or bad actors in order to have a vaccine in good time if a disease mutates or is genetically modified by the Chinese or the Russians to be lethal.

But in order to believe that one has to believe that Moderna are interested in the saving peoples lives. I am sorry. All their actions show to me that they are interested in vaccinating people knowing how likely that is to cost them their lives.

They are interested in profit, the profit that comes from a pandemic. They are not saviours of mankind as they represent. They are our exploiters and our abusers.

They produced the virus in order to leak it, in order to pose as our saviours from their own leak. These are not the activities of a saviour figure. Luc Montagnier was trying to be our saviour from them and he was assassinated (professionally) by their groupies. Moderna were doing gain of function research in order to release the virus and force a vaccine for it in a manner which would maximise their profits. That is not a conspiracy theory. It is what happened precisely. Their share price went up by 20x.

They released it in order to sell their vaccines and to destroy the immune systems of their customers because our immune systems reduce their profits. That is Big Pharma business.

The reason that the writer is so confident that Moderna or their agents made and leaked Covid-19 and the reason I called it as such at the start of the pandemic to almost as much ridicule as Prof Montagnier received (God bless him) is that the scriptures say in Matthew27, Mark15 and John19 that.

29 And they (the soldiers of the governor of verse 27) platted a crown of thorns and put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

30 And they spat upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head. (Matthew 27 ASV)

May I therefore beg your indulgence whilst I interpret these words:

The US department of defence funded the gene splicing of the Coronavirus of Spike Proteins (Covid-19) through NIH and NIAID and DARPA which first infected Jesus, through his fiance, the New Covenant Saints, just after he became the secular King, Caesar to those saints, the antitypical Jews, those covenanted to be angelic sons of Jacob, the born agains angelically.

We calculated that the malediction which prevented Jesus becoming Caesar to the saints ended in 2019Tishri15 (October17/18). Glenn Beck did a documentary showing that 10 hospitals in Wuhan took cases with Covid19 symptoms in October 2019. Yes Folks. Covid-19 is a proof that Jesus is now secular King over the saints, the antitypical Jews, the Jews by angelic salvation covenant, at the least.

But then the soldiers spat upon him. For that is how Covid19 is transferred, through small aerosol droplets exhaled out of the mouth. The soldiers deliberately spat upon him. It was not a SALIVA LEAK! They smote Jesus on the head because the saints are the head of the church and they caught Covid19 not by random chance infection but by a deliberate smiting with a read, a biological weapon, a deliberate weaponised attack. For more on this see here.

So what Prof Montagnier saw with his virology expertise, I saw with my theological expertise. Showing that whilst fact checkers and science are mutually exclusive, science and theology actually agree, when properly understood (and that is one big caveat). Prof M taught us that the vaccines cause the variants. Indeed basic virology forbids mass vaccination during a pandemic for that very reason. He said the the curve of deaths follows the curve of vaccinations. Mind you, paradoxically, if the vaccines caused Omicron, then they saved us from themselves!

The Time has Come to hold People and Organisations to Account

The Covid19 makers, the genetic vaccine makers. their funders and their promoters, which include almost every government and public sector and health service in the world, are therefore guilty of Genocide and crimes against humanity. They have pushed genetic rape and sickness and death onto half of the population of the world in order to enrich the pockets of Pharmaceutical Companies. Governments and Public sectors around the world have abandoned their health service regulation to billionaires and heartless corporations

In the UK, all of the income tax we pay goes to the health service and all of its protocols are determined by its regulators and all of its regulators are controlled and funded by Big Pharma who seek to damage then manage our health for their profit.

So every penny we spend in income tax brings us one step closer to sickness, to death and to drug dependency.

So why did Prof Montagnier choose to spend the last years of his life proving that Covid-19 was man made and that the spike proteins, and therefore the vaccines, were an existential threat to the species? What did he have left to prove to himself or to anybody else at 87-89? He certainly did not do it to increase his reputation in the profession.

No, he was driven by the same passion that drove him to discover HIV. A passion to SAVE mankind from viruses and those who would engineer them to damage us. And why did he give up the ghost in February 2022? Because he knew that Omicron had the vaccines beat. His job was done by a greater virologist even than him. He could therefore rest in peace and go see some people who understood the magnitude of his contribution.

Covid-19 was not made in 2019. It was made from the 19 nucleotide Moderna specific chimeric (CGG for AGA) furin cleavage site which does not occur anywhere in nature.

And every Covid death and every Covid vaccine death is parked squarely on the doorstep of ModeRNA waiting for justice.

But we shall not execute that justice fast enough. And therefore the final plague upon mankind of Revelation 6:8, delivered by the 4th horseman of the apocalypse, which plague Bill Gates himself has prophesied, will arrive later this year (after War and after Famine, the 2nd and 3rd horsemen).

Read more at: Expose-News.com
(Natural News) A new report from the Department of Education shows that Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic-related shutdowns of schools and other educational institutions caused a historic learning loss for elementary school students.

The Education Department recently released its National Report Card, which showed the largest declines in test scores since the federal government began tracking these metrics in 1990. Of the different subjects tested, math scores were hardest hit by the school shutdowns. (Related: School pandemic shutdowns to blame for historic drop in mathematics and reading proficiency scores among American children.)

The tests in the report were administered to nationally representative samples of fourth- and eighth-grade students between January and March.

According to the test results, the math proficiency scores of eighth graders declined by seven percentage points compared to 2019 test scores. For fourth graders, math scores dropped by five points.

The math scores of the fourth graders were lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2005; the average score was one point higher compared to 2003, the Education Department wrote in the report. The average eighth-grade mathematics score declined for most states/jurisdictions as well as for most participating urban districts compared to 2019.

National average reading scores plummeted by three points nationally compared to 2019 for both fourth- and eighth-grade students. For fourth graders, this score is lower than all previous assessment years going back to 2005. For eighth graders, the reading scores were lower compared to all previous assessments going back to 1998.

Scores for both fourth- and eighth-graders were not significantly different in comparison to the reading test scores for 1992.

Not a single state was able to improve the math scores of their fourth and eighth graders, though a few states were able to prevent large score decreases.

Test score data show classrooms should never have been shuttered

Previous studies have already documented similar dips in reading and math after certain states and school districts shut down classrooms in favor of online remote learning. But the National Report Card is considered to be the first comprehensive and nationwide accounting of student performance since the onset of the school closures.

Those with more frequent access to a computer, a quiet workspace and extra assistance from teachers were more likely to be high performers among students who were stuck with online learning during the 2020 to 2021 school year, according to data gathered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Among eighth-graders, higher performers reported more participation in real-time video lessons with their teachers compared to their lower-performing peers.

The data further show that test scores dropped most sharply for Black and Hispanic children, and performance gaps between White and Black and Hispanic students have only widened since 2019.

Critics of pandemic-era school shutdowns have pointed to the data and the learning loss suffered by students as proof that schools should never have been closed.

Classroom closures failed our students and crushed their academic progress, said Republican Rep. Burgess Owens of Utah. I introduced the RECOVER Act to fight this learning loss crisis by empowering parents to help get their kids back on track.

In a written statement, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona described the test results as appalling, noting that it should spur the government to act. We must treat the task of catching our children up in reading and math with the urgency this moment demands, said Cardona.

Proponents of school shutdowns claim the learning loss is the price that had to be paid to keep people safe during the pandemic.

This was to be expected, said Sherrilyn Ifill, former president and director-counsel of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peoples Legal Defense and Education Fund and a senior fellow at the Ford Foundation. It was the price for keeping as many teachers, school workers, children, their families alive. Now lets roll up our sleeves [and] get to work on it. Children suffer learning loss in war zones, from sickness, displacement.

Learn the latest news about Americas education system at EducationSystem.news.

Watch this clip from Fox News as Life, Liberty and Levin host Mark Levin discusses what is actually wrong with the American education system.

This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Top performing US students to be subjected to radical indoctrination, College Board documents show.

Americans with higher education were MORE likely (and more brainwashed) than those without college degrees to take COVID-19 vaccines.

UC Berkeley pushing students to get the flu vaccine or wear a mask at all times.

MENTAL TORTURE: Nearly half of high school students in America felt persistently sad or hopeless during COVID-19 pandemic.

California school districts phase out D and F grades in bizarre effort to claim public school pandemic-era students arent FAILING.

Sources include:

HeadlineUSA.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) A new study recently found that gas stove can emit dangerous chemicals that can potentially cause cancer.

Researchers from the PSE Healthy Energy found that stoves in California were emitting 12 hazardous chemicals, including known carcinogen benzene. These chemicals were found in 99 percent of stoves tested for the study, making the problem near-universal.

Benzene has been linked to leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and other dangerous health conditions. Contamination of these chemicals in the air was up to seven times what health officials consider to be acceptable exposure levels. (Related: Your health can deteriorate quickly if you dont improve your indoor air quality.)

Experts advise people to discontinue gas stove use

Experts also warned against the use of these stoves for environmental impact and in-home pollution that they expose residents to. The researchers found that natural gas also contains a number of air toxins all in a category of their own as chemicals that are known to cause cancer and other serious health problems.

A separate study also noted that most people havent really considered their homes are where the pipeline ends. Despite warnings, over 40 million American households still use gas stoves.

Previous research already showed that having a gas stove at home can cause as much air pollution as a highway and can cause harm to children suffering from asthma.

For this particular study, the researchers gathered gas samples from 159 stoves across 16 California counties and used a model that calculated an average exposure to chemicals by using the size of the kitchen, ventilation and the number of chemicals being leaked.

Benzene, the most dangerous chemical of the bunch, was found in nearly every stove.

Hexane was found to be the one with the highest concentrations with an average of around 7.5 parts per million by volume in household air. The compound is known to cause permanent weakness and nerve damage in the feet, legs and hands of people who suffer from long-term exposure. Other symptoms include muscular weakness, eyesight issues, headaches, fatigue and others.

Cyclohexane, a chemical that can cause burns and irritation of the nose and throat, was the second most common chemical at five parts per million by volume (ppmv), which is significantly more than the two ppmv found in each stove unit.

This gas is considered to be a carcinogen and had been linked to leukemia and other blood-based cancers. It is also sometimes found in glues and paint products, while smokers are at risk of being exposed to it.

Anywhere natural gas is leaked, hazardous air pollutants are likely being released as well, Dr. Kelsey Bilsback, co-author of the study said.

Dr. Jonathan Levy, an environmental health professor at Boston University also said that gas stoves pose a real danger, warning that they were significant sources of nitrogen dioxide exposure and other chemicals.

He explained that nitrogen dioxide is a byproduct of fuel combustion, adding that it has been associated with more severe asthma and increased use of rescue inhalers for children. This gas can also affect asthmatic adults, and it contributes to both the development and exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Levy said.

Benzene can also be emitted by a stove that has been switched off. While the amount of benzene coming from the stove is limited and does not reach levels considered to be toxic by health officials, there are still worries over continued exposure to this.

Visit HealthScience.news for more information on how to make homes safer and healthier for your families.

Watch the video below to learn how to make your own smoke-free wood stove.

This video is from THE GREAT AWAKENING channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Climate lunatics are working to ban natural gas stoves, forcing consumers to rely on electric burners that are mostly powered by coal.

Europeans panic-buying firewood and stoves in desperate preparation for dark winter without electricity and gas.

Now the climate greenies are going after natural gas, want it eliminated from homes nationwide.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Fatherly.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Fort Myers residents Kynse Leigh Agles and Brianne Casey told journalist Annalisa Pesek that Hurricane Ian casualties may have been underreported.

I have a lot of friends and family that are fishermen and have been running humans and supplies back and forth from the islands. And there are many stories of how many bodies have actually been recovered. There have been bodies recovered from the river, said Agles. This is a very touchy subject, but I think that the truth will eventually come out.

Official records show that 55 deaths have been reported in Lee County, which includes Fort Myers, Sanibel and Pine Island.

Hurricane Ian, one of the most devastating and destructive hurricanes in the history of the state of Florida, made landfall in the southwest coast community of Fort Myers on September 29, decimating homes and businesses and claiming dozens of lives.

Casey and Agles were proud of the resilience shown by their community.

Our community is amazing, working with local government agencies to give us what we need. Even before the Salvation Army came in, before Red Cross was here, we had the Cajun Navy, who staged airboats, flats, boats and they were doing recovery efforts before the National Guard and the Coast Guard were here, Agles said.

The Cajun Navy Ground Force backfills donated resources, when crisis support systems become overwhelmed. During the crisis aftermath caused by natural disasters, we believe good citizens want to help their neighboring communities but just need an effortless way to engage, its website states.

Agles also commended local businesses that stepped up while Casey praised their neighbors who were quick to volunteer in clearing out their houses and driveways.

But both hurricane survivors were not impressed with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), citing their disastrous experiences in getting the federal disaster aid while they deal with displacement issues.

Today I got back on the FEMA website and theyve given me a housing allowance for two months. That doesnt even cover the timeframe that take my flood insurance to even decide what the payout is going to be because the insurance can take up to months and months [before] it gives you the money, Casey shared.

Agles can relate to that as she still has open insurance claims on homes from Hurricane Irma, which hit the state five years ago.

Federal government may have weaponized Hurricane Ian to support climate change narrative

Observers are saying that the federal government has been doing weather manipulation for a while now and it must have perfected weaponizing the storm. (Related: Federal government may have weaponized Hurricane Ian to magnify climate change narrative.)

Hurricane Ian was said to be the deadliest tempest in Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. President Joe Biden, meanwhile, said that Hurricane Ian ends discussion on climate change.

Educator and activist Peggy Hall has found documents from over 50 years ago, which showed that the government has been manipulating hurricanes and forest fires for its own benefit.

The documents indicated that the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Air Force, along with General Electric, worked together to manipulate hurricanes.

The bombshell information was unearthed by Hall in a paper published by General Electric titled History of Project Cirrus from 1947 to 1952, which was a study of how cloud particles and cloud modifications can affect hurricanes, a NewsPunch article stated.

According to Hall, the purpose of government hurricane and forest fire manipulation is to instill fear, uncertainty and inflict hardship on certain population centers. The files also sparked suspicions that the Biden administration is also using hurricanes and forest fires to build the case for climate change solutions, including carbon taxes and rolling climate lockdowns.

Visit Disaster.news for more stories about the devastation brought by Hurricane Ian to Florida and neighboring areas.

Watch the full segment of Peseks interview with hurricane survivors Agles and Casey below.

This video is from the New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Health Ranger Report: Mike Adams and geoengineering expert Dane Wigington discuss how Hurricane Ian may have been WEAPONIZED.

Hurricane Ian puts further stress on already strained supply chain that Biden regime has failed to address.

Hurricane Ian leaves over TWO MILLION Floridians without power.

Hurricane Ian DEVASTATES Florida; full recovery expected to take years.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

TheNewAmerican.com

GoCajunNavy.org

NewsPunch.com
(Natural News) There has never been more of a yes man in the White House than right now. The Biden Regimes manifesto to turn every American into an extreme liberal who only thinks about gender fluidity and free handouts all day is quite evident in every speech the fake president makes. The leader of the free world, who cant find his way off the stage after his Alzheimer-ridden propaganda talks, wants all American parents to surrender their offspring to the Democrat-led trans-tyranny, where the government pushes for all children to get genitalia-mutilating surgery and take cancer-inducing hormone pills (chemical castrations) in order to figure out which sex partners they want and who will want them.

Dementia-ridden POTUS wants every American child to have access to gender mutilation surgery that can easily leave a child unable to reproduce or even urinate properly, for life. Many teens and young adults suffer from horrible regret after sex change operations, that can never be reversed, and end up committing suicide.

Plus, Resident Biden claims it should be every Americans inherent right to have any kind of surgery or medication they want at any time, as he pushes as hard as possible for Americas youth to seek gender affirmation surgery where they have their penis cut off or their clitoris and breasts removed so some adult perverts can celebrate and fulfill their own warped fantasies.

Yet, during the pandemic, natural health enthusiasts wanted access to ivermectin, a medication proven to stave off death from Covid-19 at a whopping 90 percent success rate, and the US government, led by the corrupt FDA and CDC, banned its legality and use, despite their so-called stance on free medical choice.

These same Democrat politicians also call psychopathic infanticide medical choice, where living babies are murdered in the third trimester, on their day of birth, or even up to 30 days after birth, should the mother not desire them.

Biden claims no state should be able to block you from getting certain medicine, but everyone was blocked by the FDA from getting 90% effective ivermectin during the pandemic

The demonic Democrats in Washington DC are always all in when it comes to medical choice for Americans, except when it affects the pockets of their Big Pharma cohorts and partners in crime. Take for example ivermectin, a medicine used preventatively against Wuhan coronavirus, that was proven 90 percent effective in a recent study at reducing deaths and 40 percent effective at reducing cases. Why did the US government and regulatory agencies ban this while they push for gender mutilation surgery choice and infanticide choice?

Now even the Pope is pro-tranny-everything. Where does the buck stop? Theres nothing holy about gender mutilation surgery or watching trannies dance in thongs for the kids at the daycare centers. The Drag Queen Story Hour is nothing more than an in-person strip club brought to the daycare centers to try to warp childrens minds. Some of the people that promote, sponsor and run these obscene performances have been busted already with child pornography.

This whole gender-fluid movement is really about communism and depopulation agendas in this country, led by corrupt Democrats who literally want America to crash and burn. Dont be fooled by the corrupt politicians who claim they support human rights and medical choice while they murder babies, deform children, push pornography, pick and choose toxic medications they approve for mass profit, and crush the constitution.

Tune your health news dial to Gender.news for updates on the Biden Regime taking away the constitution while granting trans-everything rights the rest of us dont have.

Sources for this article include:

TheGatewayPundit.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) A physician from Canada recently warned that children who develop myocarditis  heart muscle inflammation  from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine will be dead in five years.

Dr. Chris Alan Shoemaker, who has more than 45 years experience in medicine, issued the chilling warning during an interview with Ben Armstrong of the New American. The licensed physician also pointed out that 95 percent of people in intensive care units (ICUs) are fully vaccinated because the injections damaged their immune systems. Clearly, the COVID-19 shots do more harm than good.

The vaccinated have been harmed, said Shoemaker. In the last eight months, 95 percent of the people in the ICU are fully vaccinated. Their immune systems are harmed. Stop harming your immune systems; you are only going to perpetuate this pandemic.

To back up his claim, Shoemaker cited a report from the U.K. Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS report said that in the first eight months of vaccination, children injected with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had a 5,200 percent higher chance of dying than unvaccinated ones.

Your 10- to 14-year-old is now, by proven statistics out of the United Kingdom, 100 times more likely to die in the following six months than a non-vaccinated child, he said, calling the findings a horrible number.

According to the doctor, the toxicity of the COVID-19 vaccine is 100 times worse than getting the virus. He elaborated that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein used in the shot goes straight into your bloodstream, into your bone marrow, brain, myocardium, ovaries and testicles  where it causes serious damage.

Shoemaker also denounced the COVID-19 vaccines during a public event in the city of London in Canadas Ontario province back in September.

Keep your needles out of the shoulders of our children, he remarked. The medical facts on this are beyond dispute. Children are given zero help by these vaccines  it kills two out of every 1,000 [children] within a year.

Do you want your child to be one of those two who will die?

Shoemaker urges Ottawa to HALT injecting kids with the poison shot

During his interview with Armstrong, Shoemaker cited South Africa as an example of a country with minimal COVID-19 cases even though its vaccination rate is only six percent. Highly-vaccinated countries such as Israel and New Zealand, meanwhile, are reporting high levels of infection.

He also mentioned his home country of Canada, where the COVID-19 shots killed 38 doctors in a span of 40 days. All the doctors who passed away were younger than 50.

Many of them died within 10 days of their fourth jab, Shoemaker pointed out. They were just following the rules. They were good people. (Related: String of deaths among young Canadian doctors prompts call to end COVID-19 vaccine mandate.)

During the September 2022 Ontario event, he touched on the dangers of the vaccine to pregnant women. The doctor also zeroed in on the health risks that come with every injection such as myocarditis, sudden adult death syndrome and more.

Theyre lethal to people, both in the short term and long term.

Shoemaker urged Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford to ban the COVID-19 vaccines in the country, following the example of Denmark.

I have to say to our premier Mr. Ford and to our prime minister Mr. Trudeau: Please make these vaccinations banned in Canada just like theyve been banned in Denmark, he said. You are killing children in Canada by foisting thee vaccinations onto them.

The doctor also urged his fellow Canadians to push back and resist Ottawas propaganda.

Stop believing in government. They are feeding you a line. They are perpetuating a myth. They are not making you safe.

Head over to VaccineDamage.news for more about the dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Watch Ben Armstrongs interview with Dr. Chris Alan Shoemaker below.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

After residents were forced to get vaccinated, New Zealand saw massive surge in new positive cases of covid.

MEDICAL HOLOCAUST against children: Vaccine-induced myocarditis in children has 50% fatality rate in five years.

Canadian doctor warns 50% of kids who got myocarditis from COVID-19 vaccines will be DEAD in 5 years.

Israel stands as greatest proof that COVID-19 vaccine experiment is a massive failure.

Covid vaccinations now PROHIBITED in people under 50 in Denmark.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

Expose-News.com

RAIRFoundation.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Pfizers Paxlovid antiviral medication, which is meant to treat Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infections, has been linked to cases of blood clots. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first authorized Paxlovid, a combination of the two antiviral medications nirmatrelvir and ritonavir in December 2021.

But these two drugs have significant risks of their own, with ritonavir alone potentially causing serious, life-threatening side effects such as inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), heart rhythm problems, severe skin rash, allergic reactions and liver problems. Ritonavir may also reduce the effectiveness of oral hormonal contraceptives. Furthermore, animal studies on the antiviral drug also suggested that it could elevate the risk of cancer at high doses.

Still, the orally-taken Paxlovid was permitted for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kg, with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test [and] who are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19.

But a study published October 2022 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed another risk. It warned that the use of Paxlovid with medications commonly used to manage cardiovascular conditions can potentially cause significant drug-drug interactions and may lead to severe adverse effects.

Moreover, the Daily Mail showed other potential risks when Paxlovid is taken with other drugs for cardiovascular conditions, citing papers from U.S. institutions.

Paxlovid can cause serious health problems when coupled with common heart disease medications. The COVID-19 drug can increase the risk of developing blood clots when taken with blood thinners. It can also cause an irregular heartbeat when combined with drugs for heart pain and, when taken alongside statins [to address blood cholesterol levels], can be toxic to the liver, the outlet reported.

Incidentally, Paxlovid is not the first COVID-19 product from the New York-based drug firm linked to blood clots. Its COVID-19 vaccine, developed in partnership with German company BioNTech, was also linked to these clots. (Related: Israeli study links Pfizer vaccine to deadly blood disease that causes blood clots.)

Biden stopped taking cardiovascular drugs when he began Paxlovid

Dr. Dan Barouch of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston explained: Ritonavir is a nonspecific drug that inhibits metabolism and increases the dose of the other drug [nirmatrelvir]. But the ritonavir in Paxlovid also can inhibit the metabolism of other drugs.

You have to be really careful when you prescribe Paxlovid for people who are on certain blood thinners, cardiac medications, statins and other drugs. So its not just a free pass.

One clear case of Barouchs example was President Joe Biden himself, who contracted COVID-19 in July and took a course of Paxlovid to address his infection.

The 79-year-old leader had been taking a statin and a drug to prevent stroke prior to contracting the pathogen. Given this, White House Chief Physician Dr. Kevin OConnor temporarily stopped Biden from taking the two drugs while the latter was taking Paxlovid.

Biden also fell victim to the most notable risk linked to Paxlovid  the so-called rebound infection.

An Aug. 2 memorandum by OConnor said Biden experienced a rebound infection on July 30  prompting a return to isolation. OConnor also noted that Bidens antigen test on the morning of Aug. 2 returned a positive result.

[Biden] continues to feel well, though he is experiencing a bit of a return of a loose cough, he wrote. Following the rebound infection, the White House chief physician did not recommend another round of Paxlovid treatment to the president.

DangerousMedicine.com has more stories about the risks linked to Pfizers antiviral drug Paxlovid.

Watch Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree discuss Paxlovids risks when taken with cardiovascular drugs on The HighWire.

This video is from the Scriptural Scrutiny channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

FDA admits Pfizer antiviral oral drug paxlovid causes life-threatening reactions when taken with common medicines.

Pfizers new Paxlovid antiviral drug being pushed in place of ivermectin is linked to severe adverse effects.

Pfizer CEO expects more people will need COVID pills in future, essentially admitting vaccines dont work.

Scientists warn that mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna are causing BLOOD CLOTS.

Biden still promoting Paxlovid despite the drug causing his rebound COVID-19 infection.

Sources include:



NaturalHealth365.com

JACC.org

DailyMail.co.uk

WhiteHouse.gov [PDF]

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer plans to sell its mRNA vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) at a 10,000 percent markup in 2023.

A report by Quartz elaborated on the vaccine makers plan to jack up prices of its experimental injection. Initially, the first 100 million doses of BNT162b2 were purchased for around $20 a dose. This price was made possible due to the Trump administrations Operation Warp Speed, which invested $1.95 billion to kick-start the development of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The remaining 500 million doses were purchased for around $30 each, and Pfizer has sold subsequent doses for that price. However, the New York-based drug company announced on Oct. 20 that it will increase the price of BNT162b2 between $110 and $130 per dose.

This equated to about four times the vaccines current selling price, and 100 times its estimated cost of production. Quoting the advocacy group Peoples Vaccine Alliance, Quartz pointed out that it costs Pfizer around $1.18 to produce a dose of its COVID-19 vaccine. (Related: How Pfizer profited from the pandemic.)

This essentially meant that Pfizer planned to sell its vaccine at a 10,000 percent markup over its manufacturing cost. The Big Pharma firm even justified its planned price hike in an email to the outlet.

There are key differences between an emergency and traditional model that increase the costs of making and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, the company said. Such costs, it added, include the vaccines distribution through multiple channels and payers. Moreover, Pfizer cited the production of single-vial doses  which can be up to three times more expensive than the regular process and incur higher transportation costs.

Igor Chudov commented on the development in an Oct. 24 piece on his Substack.

Most of each dose of Pfizers COVID vaccine is cheap stuff like water, polyethylene glycol and other chemicals. The actual active ingredient is the mRNA nanoparticles, and those are given at 30 micrograms (mcg) per dose, he wrote.

Chudov then divided the $130 price increase with the 30 mcg (0.000030) of mRNA particles in each dose, coming up with a total of $4.33 million.

So Pfizer is selling us their gene juice for over $4.33 million per gram. A pound (454 grams) of Pfizers mRNA nanoparticles would cost $2 billion, while the cost of making that  is under one percent of the price.

Pfizer increasing prices of an injection that doesnt even work at all

Chudov continued: We all know that Pfizer likes to move at the speed of science. Nowhere is the speed of science more pronounced than in raising prices for its products. The business plan here, of course, is to keep as many vaccine mandates as possible and have health insurers cover the cost of increasingly frequent vaccinations, child vaccinations, etc.

He cited the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about the new COVID-19 bivalent boosters. According to the national public health agency, people aged 12 years old and up need to be injected with the bivalent booster at least two months after completing their two-dose primary shots.

For those who were earlier injected with a monovalent booster, the CDC recommended a gap of at least two months before getting the bivalent booster.

However, Chudov remarked that CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky  who received the bivalent COVID-19 booster dose  tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Walensky is, of course, [vaccinated] to the max and is thankful for all the shots she received, he said.

In a statement, the CDC said Walensky is experiencing mild symptoms after testing positive on Oct. 21. The agency added that the CDC director is isolating at home and plans to participate in meetings virtually.

Head over to PharmaceuticalFraud.com for more stories about Pfizers price gouging.

Watch this World Is One News report about how Pfizer blackmails nations into purchasing its COVID-19 vaccines at predetermined prices.

This video is from the Vigilent Citizen channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Omicron hysteria made 8 top Pfizer, Moderna shareholders $10 billion.

Unconscionable: Pfizer, Moderna to rake in combined $93 billion in 2022 COVID vaccine sales.

Pandemic profiteering: Pfizer to earn a whooping $54 billion by years end, thanks to COVID-19.

PLAGUE PROFITS: Pfizer executive admits the company wants to profit off vaccines and will soon raise prices.

Pfizer plans to raise prices and profit annually from their experimental vaccines after pandemic is rebranded as an endemic seasonal illness.

Sources include:

NewsPunch.com

Qz.com

IgorChudov.Substack.com

CBSNews.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Rochelle Walensky went into isolation on Friday, October 21 due to a positive reading on her latest covid-19 PCR test. CDC senior staff are now tracking down Walenskys closest contacts and taking the appropriate action to monitor her status.

Walensky is currently working remotely and is reporting mild symptoms of illness. The term mild illness has been used in the corporate media to promote covid vaccines that failed to prevent illness and transmission in public figures who have been vaccinated and boosted several times. The term mild illness is subjective and has been used to describe a variety of respiratory illnesses that have lasted from a few days to several weeks long and reoccurring thereafter (as in the case of Joe Biden and Albert Bourla).

Vaccine pushers are trying to promote vaccine efficacy now by claiming the covid jab prevents severe illness and only causes mild symptoms. In many cases, this is far from the truth. Cases of severe illness, debilitation and death are recorded in healthy military service members who were mandated to take the vaccines.

CDCs lockdowns, restrictions, masking, and multiple vaccines all failed

The CDC director is now infected with the very sickness that she tried to avoid for two and half years. Daily mask wearing rituals, nasal probes, and mouth swabs were pointless. Contact tracing and intermittent quarantines were a failure. Physical distancing, persistent hand sanitizer use, and following lines on the floor did not save the CDC director and all the other high level government employees that have gotten sick multiple times anyway. All the CDCs lockdowns, which devastated small businesses and caused mass mental illness, were done in vain. All the child abuse that emanated from the advice of public health experts COULD NOT stop the inevitable infection, nor did any of this mental illness strengthen the innate immune system of the population.

Now, after taking FIVE covid vaccines and following all of the obnoxious, asinine protocols, the CDC director is infected with covid. What do these experts have to say for themselves? Will they continue to wear their mask and maintain six feet of social distancing? Will they push for a sixth dose of Pfizer and Modernas mRNA operating system in 2023?

CDC director received the bivalent booster just a month ago and pushed for kids to get the shots

Just a month earlier, Rochelle Walensky took a photo op at a CVS pharmacy in Brookline, Massachusetts. She was photographed taking Modernas latest bivalent booster, and she urged others to join in. She told the press that it was critical to get vaccinated ahead of the fall and winter. Im here getting my updated fall vaccine because I think its critically important to do, Walensky said.

All the data from this new bivalent vaccine have demonstrated that it will protect you against  more likely protect you  against the strains that we have circulating right now, those Omicron BA.5 strains, as well as keep you well protected, because weve seen that some of that protection can wane over time. So, we are really encouraging everybody to roll up their sleeves and get this updated bivalent vaccine, she said.

Rochelle Walensky even encouraged parents to line up their kids for the jab and all the boosters. We will wait to see what the FDA says about an updated booster vaccine for 5- to 11-year-olds, and well make some decisions soon thereafter, she said.

The CDC just voted unanimously to add the covid-19 vaccine and one of its boosters to the childhood vaccine schedule. This schedule is used by the states to mandate vaccines for public school attendance. The state laws also include statutory exemptions, allowing parents to opt out of any and all vaccines for their childs school attendance. However, vaccine manufacturers have been coercing the state legislators to remove these exemptions from the statutes in recent years, subverting the rights of parents and dictating the doctor-patient relationship.

Rochelle Walensky cannot effectively reorganize the CDC, as she has promised to do. Under her leadership, the CDC has taken part in mass fraud, human rights abuses, and crimes against humanity. Her next isolation period should include handcuffs and interrogations.

Sources include:

TheHill.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

Scribd.com

ABCNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NYTimes.com
(Natural News) Pfizer-Gate is well under way in America, and rather than recalling all the mRNA vaccines that are injuring and killing hundreds of millions of Americans, the FDA and CDC are pushing for every child to get the deadly jabs instead. No recalls. No apologies. There should be a total recall of ALL mRNA jabs, now that Dr. Robert Malone, the creator of the technology, has blown the whistle and called out that the dangers FAR outweigh any benefits, if any at all.

How ironic that the FDA and USDA act like they care about the health and welfare of Americans, when they recall some meat or peanut butter for contamination, but do nothing about the defective and deadly Covid-19 gene mutation injections.

In fact, just this last April (2022), the USDA recalled 120,000 pounds of ground beef over E. coli concerns, after the beef was shipped to stores all across the nation. Yes, Lakeside Refrigerated Services out of New Jersey recalled beef (EST. 46841) that is in hundreds of different products, including beef patties and ground beef packages, sold across America, in order to protect Americans from getting sick, hospitalized, and possibly dying (also so the company wont get sued for millions and bankrupted).

Also this year, in May, the FDA and CDC worked in tandem to recall J.M. Smuckers peanut butter that was linked to salmonella outbreaks across multiple US states. Infections were linked to specific Jif products produced by J.M. Smucker in Lexington, Kentucky. The FDA went so far as to conduct WGS analysis (whole genome sequencing) on a sample of the contaminated peanut butter to try to contain the outbreak of salmonella (lot #s 1274425  2140425).

In other words, the highly corrupt FDA and CDC recall peanut butter if theres ONE person sick from E. coli, or how onions or spinach get recalled, or BEEF, if just a few people get sick. Yet with vaccines, over a million Americans are DEAD, with millions injured, and no recall.

The time is now to recall all mRNA vaccines due to safety concerns regarding vascular clots, cancer, miscarriages, myocarditis, pericarditis, and millions of cases of SADS

Sudden adult death syndrome (SADS) is striking even the most healthy people in America, just days after being Covid-vaccinated with mRNA technology. Theres an elephant in the room, and the AMA, FDA and CDC have forbid any medical doctors, coroners, pediatricians, immunologists, obstetricians, and oncologists from saying a single word about it, ever.

Now that the CDC has added the deadly clot shots to the childhood vaccination schedule, we will surely witness an massive influx of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), not to be confused with shaken baby syndrome. Still, no talk of recalls for the deadly so-called Fauci Flu jabs, just more push to mandate the jabs for every child in the country.

Its not a virus pandemic but a vaccine pandemic. Its a vaccine holocaust, and not one single news reporter is talking about the need for the FDA and CDC to recall these contaminated and deadly jabs. Its as absurd as if the country was influenced to eat MORE E. salmonella-contaminated peanut butter and suck down more E.coli-infested ground beef, instead of recalling it all.

Should the contaminated peanut butter and infected meat be RECOMMENDED by the FDA and CDC for consumption for all American children? Will that help them build immunity to the viruses and bacteria? Certainly the Covid clot shots are doing more damage than good, so the claim of safe and effective has been completely debunked and obliterated. It must be that Pfizer and Moderna dont care how many humans are gravely injured or killed by their clot shots because they can never be sued, thanks to Congress. No wonder there are NO vaccine recalls. Take that into careful consideration.

Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on experimental vaccines that cause blood clots, myocarditis and severe, chronic inflammation.

Sources for this article include:

Pandemic.news

NaturalNews.com

FSIS.USDA.gov

FDA.gov
(Natural News) On Dec. 8, 2020, just days before Donald Trumps Operation Warp Speed scheme for mass covid vaccination would officially commence, right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro openly promoted the jabs on Twitter, calling his followers dopes if they refused to roll up their sleeves. Nearly two years later, Shapiro now admits that he was wrong.

At a time when more Americans than ever before are fully awake to the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine scam, Shapiro is conveniently shifting his personal narrative on them  though instead of taking personal responsibility for being wrong, Shapiro is blaming others for allegedly tricking him all this time.

It is a claim that many also try to apply to Trump, insisting that Tony Fauci and other advisors led Trump astray and that it is not his fault. This is supposedly the reason why Trump, to this very day, is still out there shilling the jabs nearly every time he makes a public appearance.

During a recent episode of his The Ben Shapiro Show, Shapiro ranted in his usual robotic, warp speed tone of voice that it is now perfectly clear that we were lied to, again blaming others for his own decision to push the experimental gene therapy shots on his followers while berating those who refused.

And we were lied to at a very high level and from very, very early on by both the vaccine companies, in terms of the ability of the vaccine to prevent transmission, and  by our politicians who apparently knew better, Shapiro rattled.

Is Ben Shapiros change of heart sincere, or are covid jabs so unpopular now that he decided to scurry off the sinking ship?

Shapiro says he became enraged after hearing recent testimony on October 10 from Pfizer executive Janine Small, who told the world that neither her employer nor its corporate partner BioNTech (based in Germany) produced any evidence to suggest that their jointly developed mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine is in any way capable of preventing covid transmission, let alone infection.

In essence, Small admitted that there was zero science backing the shots when they were first authorized  and there is still none to this very day. Not only do the shots not work at all, we now know, but they are profoundly harmful and fundamentally useless (unless depopulation was their ultimate purpose).

Shapiro also went political by taking aim at the Biden regime, which he claims knew all this at least a year ago but did nothing about it, choosing instead to continue deceitfully pushing the shots on reluctant Americans.

It turns out the Biden White House knew this and promoted the lie anyway, Shapiro said. This is truly amazing stuff.

Shapiro says Biden and his cronies knew at least as far back as summer 2021 that covid injections did a far worse job of blocking infection than originally expected, as potency waned, but that the political imperative remained to continue shilling them.

In July 2021, former White House covid response coordinator Deborah Birx also confirmed that the injections were not going to protect against infection and that we overplayed the vaccines.

While all of this was happening, Biden, Trump and the rest of the billionaire class continued to promote the shots every chance they got. Shapiro himself was also shilling them during this same time period, only to recently shift his position to align with the prevailing political winds.

Keep in mind that only a tiny fraction of people who got the first two shots  this includes both Republicans and Democrats  proceeded to get boosted with the third injection. An even smaller percentage agreed to take a fourth or further booster, demonstrating their growing unpopularity as time passes.

The latest news coverage about Fauci Flu shots can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

TheBlaze.com
(Natural News) An avowed Black Lives Matter supporter who slammed into mostly white attendees at a Waukesha, Wis., Christmas parade last year has learned his fate.

A jury announced on Wednesday that members voted to convict Darrell Brooks on six counts of vehicular homicide and other charges, including the death of an eight-year-old boy named Jackson Parks.

A Catholic priest and multiple parishioners and Waukesha Catholic school children, were among the 60 other people who were injured, according to LifeSite News, which added:

The Black Lives Matter supporter and repeat offender represented himself at trial and frequently displayed erratic behavior, including regular outbursts. He also repeatedly said he did not consent to being called Darrell Brooks, but instead tried to claim he was the state of Wisconsin. He accused the judge of not having a license to practice law and of violating her oath of law, often interspersing seemingly random legal terms as if they represented a valid motion in court.

Brooks was out on just a $1,000 bail prior to the murders, thanks to left-wing Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholms office. One of the charges against Brooks at the time was attempting to run a woman over with his car.

Earlier [in November 2021], he confronted a woman outside a motel. He knocked her phone out of her hand and drove off, as noted by NPR. He then returned, punch her in the face, and ran her over with his vehicle. The report notes that the woman had tire marks on her pants in addition to other injuries from the incident.

Never forget what this monster did pic.twitter.com/xEzhjsAPR1  Jack Posobiec ?? (@JackPosobiec) October 26, 2022

Local reports noted that Brooks now faces life in prison for each count of murder, meaning Wisconsin taxpayers including his victims who survived will now have to pay for his incarceration and care for decades.

Burn in hell you piece of s*** is yelled at #DarrellBrooks from the gallery. Person is removed. #WaukeshaParade pic.twitter.com/SXYzdzxw3V  Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) October 26, 2022

The convictions came after a final emotional argument by Brooks, who appeared to suggest that his vehicle was malfunctioning.

What if the vehicle couldnt stop because of malfunction? What if the driver of the vehicle was unable to stop the vehicle? Because of that fact, what if the driver may have panicked? Does that make the driver in a rage and intent on killing people? he said.

Ive never heard of someone trying to intentionally hurt someone while attempting to blow their horn while attempting to alert people of their presence, he added.

Meanwhile, as CNN reported:

Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper rebutted Brooks claims, saying he wants jurors to care about his family when other families in this tragedy will never be able to see their loved ones again.

There are 68 victims in this case, folks. Thats not an accident, Opper said.

Despite Brooks claims of him not intentionally striking people with an SUV, Opper repeatedly told the jury there is overwhelming evidence showing Brooks was fully aware of his actions when he drove his SUV through a crowd of hundreds of people.

He reached speeds of approximately 30 mph. 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? Opper asked.

You must not, not, not consider anything about Darrell Brooks other than his conduct in downtown Waukesha on the evening of November 21, 2021, Opper told the jury. Nothing hes done before that, nothing hes done since that. When you go back to that deliberation room, please obey Judge Dorow. Confine your comments to his conduct on November 21.

Sources include:

ConservativeBrief.com

CNN.com

LifeSiteNew.com
(Natural News) Once more, leftists have proven that they have cornered the market on political violence and that their claims of right-wing terrorism are complete and utter nonsense.

Reports earlier this week noted that a campaign canvasser for Sen. Marco Rubio was badly beaten while working a Florida neighborhood solely because he is a Republican.

The staffer was left with a broken jaw, internal bleeding, needing surgery and a message: Republicans arent allowed in their neighborhood, according to a report from the senator himself.

Rubio is running against Rep. Val Demings, a Democrat who is pretending to be a moderate because Florida has turned mostly red.

Rubio, in his statement, explained, Last night one of our canvassers wearing my T-shirt and a [Florida Gov. Ron] DeSantis hat was brutally attacked by 4 animals who told him Republicans werent allowed in their neighborhood.

He suffered internal bleeding, a broken jaw & will need facial reconstructive surgery, he added, posting photos of the bloodied canvasser.

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

There was some back and forth after Rubio posted his tweet about how police have not yet determined a) whether the attack was politically motivated; and b) just how many people were involved in the assault. But others who made excuses for the attackers never quite explained how, barring any serious threat from the canvasser, the attackers were justified in beating a man so badly he now requires surgery and was bleeding internally.

There were also reports claiming that the canvasser, identified by local media as Christopher Monzon, also protested Hollywood, Floridas move to change the names of streets honoring Confederate leaders. Cellphone video shows him holding a Confederate flag and poking it in the direction of counter-protesters before charging at them. Police on the scene took him down and arrested him.

One of the top tweets in response to Rubios post came from a self-described Democrat: I am so sorry this happened! Im a Democrat, but we should never voice our opposition with violence.

I am so sorry this happened! Im a Democrat, but we should never voice our opposition with violence.  Meg Standridge (@MegStandridge) October 24, 2022

Rubio went viral last week during an interview on CNN after host Dana Bash accused him, falsely, of failing to vote for disaster relief:

BASH: Senator, you wrote a letter Friday to the Senate appropriations committee asking for disaster relief dollars for desperately needed resources to rebuild Florida communities. After Hurricane Sandy hit northeastern states in 2012, you voted no on the $50 billion relief package. I know you supported a smaller version. Why should other senators vote for relief for your state when you didnt vote for a package to help theirs?

RUBIO: Oh, Ive always voted for hurricane and disaster relief. Ive even voted for it without pay-fors. In Sandy, they included a roof for a museum in Washington, D.C., for fisheries in Alaska. It had been loaded up with things that had nothing to do with disaster relief. I would never put out there that we should use a disaster relief package for Florida as a way to pay for other things people want around the country. I think thats the key. In Sandy, unfortunately, they loaded it up with a bunch of things that had nothing to do with Sandy. I voted for every disaster relief package, especially one thats clean. And Ill continue to do so. When it comes to Florida, well do that again and make sure the package is clean and doesnt have stuff for other people in there.

Sources include:

ConservativeBrief.com

Local10.com
(Natural News) Two Democratic governors joined a group of Republican leaders who refused to mandate Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for school children.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, both Democrats, joined GOP governors from Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia in pushing back against the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) decision to add COVID-19 vaccination to the 2023 childhood immunization schedule.

Under the new rule, school children must be injected with the COVID-19 shot  which has been linked to a plethora of adverse reactions  before they can enroll in public schools.

A report from the Daily Signal mentioned that an additional five states with GOP governors  Arkansas, Montana, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming  have reiterated that COVID-19 vaccines will not be mandated for students who wish to enroll in public education.

Journalist Margaret Menge also cited in a Substack post an email sent by the Indiana State Department of Health that said the Hoosier State will not make [the COVID-19 vaccine] a required vaccine for school children. Indiana is led by Gov. Eric Holcomb, a member of the GOP.

In all, a total of 17 states  15 GOP-led and two Democrat-led  expressed their refusal to comply with the CDCs new mandate.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is the only one who has openly embraced the rule. He announced that the Golden State will follow the public health agencys rule and require children to get injected with the COVID-19 vaccine as a prerequisite for attending public schools in the state. (Related: Not even ONE state legislature has passed a covid vaccine mandate  its all rogue governors and local officials doing the dirty work.)

Malone: New CDC rule will trigger boom in homeschooling, private school enrollment

Moreover, Menge cited 10 other GOP gubernatorial candidates who declared that they will not mandate the COVID-19 vaccines for school children if elected. They are Lee Zeldin (New York), Darren Bailey (Illinois), Heidi Ganahl (Colorado), Kari Lake (Arizona), Bob Stefanowski (Connecticut), Tudor Dixon (Michigan), Tim Michels (Wisconsin), Dan Cox (Maryland), Derek Schmidt (Kansas) and Doug Mastriano (Pennsylvania).

Dr. Robert Malone, inventor of the mRNA vaccine technology, put in his two cents on the CDCs decision in an Oct. 21 Substack article. He mentioned that the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices unanimously voted to add the COVID-19 injections to the childhood schedule. This schedule, Malone added, determines what vaccines a state will require children to attend public schools.

Mainstream media is pretending that states determine what vaccines are used, but the truth is that pediatricians use the CDC schedule, said the mRNA vaccine pioneer. State public health systems use the schedule to determine which vaccines to require [for] children to enter schools.

Malone warned: Therefore, we can expect an even bigger homeschooling and private schooling boom. Even before omicron, before all the risks of severe adverse events were known, 60 to 61 percent of parents disapproved of adding these COVID-19 shots to the childhood vaccine schedule.

Ultimately, Malone called for an overhaul of the whole Department of Health and Human Services enterprise. He also exhorted parents to stand up and take control back from the state.

HealthFreedom.news has more stories about governors across the country standing up against COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Watch vaccine safety advocate Steve Kirsch and cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough discuss the implications of adding the COVID-19 vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule on Steve Bannons War Room.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CDC to add covid vaccines to childhood immunization schedule despite near-zero risk of covid among children.

Dr. Stephanie Christner: Innocent people are walking into a poison prison called the vaccine schedule  Brighteon.TV.

CDC is about to add covid-19 vaccines to the childhood immunization schedule, creating total liability protection for Pfizer & Moderna.

High risk, NO reward: CDC officially includes COVID-19 vaccine in its recommended immunization schedule for kids despite proven DANGERS.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

CrossroadsReport.Substack.com

DailySignal.com

RWMaloneMD.Substack.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Lawyers with the Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN) are prepared to sue any state that requires Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for students to attend schools.

ICAN, founded by television host and producer Del Bigtree, is an organization dedicated to investigating the safety of medical procedures, pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines. The groups mission is to educate the public about their right to true, informed consent and to preserve health freedom in the United States. (Related: High risk, NO reward: CDC officially includes COVID-19 vaccine in its recommended immunization schedule for kids despite proven DANGERS.)

Aaron Siri, a representative of ICAN and the lead counsel of the organizations legal team, said Bigtree has pledged to finance up to 50 lawsuits if all 50 states attempt to require COVID-19 vaccines for students to attend schools.

ICAN has told us it will financially support a challenge against any state. So, if all 50 states require it to attend school, ICAN will support challenging the mandate in every single one of those states, said Siri in an interview with the Epoch Times.

ICANs process would require finding willing parents or other people or organizations who are willing to go to court to challenge any mandate that may arise. But ICAN will be providing the legal representation and a lot of funding for such suits, with the group saying that the people and money are already in place.

Pledge to fund anti-mandate lawsuits comes after CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for kids

ICANs pledge to provide as much financial and legal support as it can for anti-school vaccine mandate lawsuits comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted unanimously on Oct. 20 to recommend adding COVID-19 vaccines to its child and adolescent immunization schedules.

All members voted to add the Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax COVID-19 vaccines to the 2023 schedules, claiming that the vaccines can still prevent severe disease despite significant proof of their rapidly waning effectiveness.

Dr. Matthew Daley, one of the advisers who voted in favor of recommending the vaccine, viewed the committees decision as a declaration that COVID is here to stay.

When I think about the routine immunization schedule as a pediatrician, I think of it as an opportunity to prevent serious disease and death, claimed Daley. And if something is added to the schedule, its because I feel like the benefits continue to strongly outweigh the risks.

The CDC still has yet to accept the recommendation, but it is expected to do so given the agencys strong support for these dangerous products.

Many states already require most, if not all, of the vaccines on the CDCs recommended immunization schedules for attendance in schools and daycares. However, some incumbent governors and gubernatorial hopefuls have vowed to block mandating COVID-19 vaccines for children. These include the governors and gubernatorial candidates of Florida, Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia.

Some states, including California, are expected to mandate the vaccines. These mandates will be announced well before they take effect to give parents time to vaccinate their children. This also gives groups like ICAN time to prepare their lawsuits.

California authorities were already preparing to require up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations for schoolchildren, but have delayed the statewide mandate until at least July 2023. Some local governments within the state have mandated the shots. At least one of these mandates was blocked due to a legal challenge from ICAN.

In a written statement following ICANs legal victory against the San Diego Unified School District, Siri wrote that the legal basis for blocking the mandate  that school boards in California do not have the authority to require COVID-19 vaccines  could be applied to all school boards across California that are seeking to mandate the vaccine.

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccine mandates at Vaccines.news.

Watch this clip from The Highwire with Del Bigtree as he explains how a lawsuit funded by his organization ICAN successfully struck down a vaccine mandate for schools in San Diego, California.

This video is from the channel The HighWire with Del Bigtree on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Texas Attorney General continues fight against school districts unlawful COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

Tide turning? DCs COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students DELAYED until January 2023.

Scientists denounce flawed study pushing for the return of school mask mandates.

Del Bigtree: Walkouts in Shasta County SDs sent ripples that led to cancellation of COVID vaccine mandate for California students.

Los Angeles charter school being sued for SEGREGATING and DISCRIMINATING against unvaccinated students.

Sources include:

ZeroHedge.com

ICANDecide.org

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) For years we have suspected that Joe Biden was intricately wrapped up in his debased sons criminal activities, and now a new report has confirmed those suspicions.

A lengthy report issued by Marco Polo, a watchdog group founded by a former Trump administration official, stated that the current president of the United States is implicated in at least a half-dozen crimes, including tax evasion.

The report details accusations of 459 crimes allegedly committed by Hunter including prostitution offenses, distribution and possession of drugs, defrauding government agencies, illegal foreign lobbying and money laundering, the UKs Daily Mail reported.

The report was compiled by a group of researchers brought together by 26-year-old Garrett Ziegler, who said the goal of the report was to hand off a ready-to-go package of allegations Republicans could quickly use to pursue legal remedies against the Bidens and, in Joes case, impeachment, without having the excuse of needing to conduct an investigation.

In addition to tax evasion, the groups report alleged that Joe Biden is also guilty of violations of the Presidential Records Act and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and using nonpublic information from a government job for financial gain.

The Daily Mail added: Marco Polos report combs through the emails, texts and pictures from the First Sons abandoned MacBook Pro in painstaking detail and is designed, according to Ziegler, as a guide for both law enforcement and congressional investigators for what to subpoena to build a criminal case. It has been sent to all 535 members of the House and the Senate.

Ive been focusing on this for 13 months. It was really a thing of necessity. I recognized how rich the material was. It requires utter focus. It is so hard to write something comprehensive about it and do anything else on the side, Ziegler told the Daily Wire. Theres been some phenomenal writing so far on the sex and degeneracy. [But] the focus of the report is on crimes  I had a compulsion to log every crime, even the state-level statutes. The mission is simple: Hold Republicans feet to the fire. We dont want to hear that Republicans need another year to do an investigation. Ive done that here.

Our number one goal is to ensure that Republicans dont waste time. The investigation has been done. This report is a simple but extremely thorough roadmap for who needs to be subpoenaed for which timeframes and for what types of crimes, he told the U.S. Sun in a separate interview, noting that the report includes 140 alleged business-related crimes, 191 sex-related offenses and 128 drug-related crimes.

Right now people still dont know the entirety of whats on the laptop in terms of crimes, which is what my non-profit cares about. This report finally answers that question, so Republicans cant go back and say they still need to look at whats on the laptop. All were seeking is the equal application of the law, he added.

So far, this saga has been one of the greatest examples of double standards in American legal history. People have gone to prison for decades based on Joes own policies for doing exactly what Hunter did. Meanwhile, Hunter is living at a beachside estate in Malibu.

The opening summary of the report blames the politicized Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  including under then-President Donald Trump  for failing to do anything with the evidence found on Hunter Bidens scandalous laptop that the FBI took possession of in 2019 in order to protect a Democratic presidential candidate officials knew was going to become the next Oval Office occupant.

The DOJ, specifically the FBI, took possession of an Apple laptop previously used by Hunter Biden (Hunter) on 12/09/2019, following months of back-and-forth with a computer repair shop owner named John Paul Mac Isaac, the summary stated.

This Report would not have been necessary if law enforcement had done its job. Dereliction of duty is nothing new for the FBI, as its government-sponsored cover-up occurred with Anthony Weiners devices. Additionally, besides a few notable exceptions, news outlets and think tanks in America have been unwilling to investigate and expose the hundreds of crimes and conflicts of interest on the Biden Laptop whichas you will read  definitively implicate the sitting president, Joe Biden, it concluded.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com

DailyWire.com

The-Sun.com
(Natural News) The Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), a health freedom advocacy group run by television host Del Bigtree, has pledged to finance up to 50 lawsuits against states  one for all 50 of them, should it come to that  that try to force Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines on children as a requirement to attend school.

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flirts with the idea of adding Fauci Flu shots to the official childhood immunization schedule in the United States, ICANs Aaron Siri says his team is ready to take swift action in defense of children.

ICAN has told us it will financially support a challenge against any state, Siri is quoted as saying to The Epoch Times. So, if all 50 states require it to attend school, ICAN will support challenging the mandate in every single one of those states.

ICAN says it will seek out or await contact from parents in affected districts who would make viable plaintiffs in legal challenges against such mandates at the state level. (Related: Ever since Fauci Flu shots were rolled out through Operation Warp Speed, AIDS-related diseases have skyrocketed by 33,800 percent.)

Both the funding and the legal representation for such cases are already in place and awaiting use, Siri reassures. Now we wait to see how the CDC responds to its advisory committees unanimous recommendation that Wuhan Flu shots be added to the schedule.

Dont ever back down on opposing pharmaceutical mandates, including covid jab mandates

Some governors and gubernatorial hopefuls, including in the states of Florida, Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia, have pledged to block any such attempts at forcing covid injections on students.

In California, conversely, it is expected that the opposite will happen and covid jabs will become a requirement for all students throughout the state.

The Golden State already attempted to mandate them, in fact, but has since kicked the can until at least July 2023. The delay appears to be for the purpose of awaiting an official CDC decision concerning the drugs potential addition to the immunization schedule.

When asked about the basis behind ICANs prospective litigation, Siri declined to answer, stating that he does not discuss litigation strategy for potential matters. In other words, Siri and his team are keeping their game plan close to the chest.

In San Diego where another case has already been filed, plaintiffs argued that the mandate violates state law because it lacks religious exemptions. Californians have Sen. Richard Pan, a Democrat, to blame for the removal of Californias religious and personal belief exemption clauses.

San Diego Superior Court Judge John Meyer ruled in favor of the plaintiffs claim that only the state legislature can issue vaccine mandates.

In a long-awaited victory by those seeking to retain the right to informed consent and medical decision-making free from coercion, the Court found that it was compelled to invalidate the mandate as the school district had no authority to implement or enforce such a requirement, Siri wrote on his blog at the time.

The basis for this decision, that school boards in California do not have the authority to require a COVID-19 vaccine, would apply to all school boards across California that are seeking to mandate a COVID-19 vaccine.

Constitutionally speaking, there is really no instance, even with the legislature involved, when it is acceptable for anyone to force someone to take a chemical injection to which he or she is opposed  no matter the reason for objection. That right is further enshrined by the Nuremburg Code.

The latest news coverage about the fight against mandatory Fauci Flu vaccination across the U.S. can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) American soldiers who used Microsoft goggles in a field test have suffered mission-affecting physical impairments, including headaches, eyestrain and nausea. This was according to a summary of the exercise compiled by the testing office at Pentagon.

The googles used what is called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), which allows soldiers to see through smoke and around corners, use holographic imagery for training and have 3D terrain maps projected onto their field of vision at the click of a button.

More than 80 percent of those who experienced discomfort showed symptoms after less than three hours of using the customized HoloLens goggles, according to Operation Test and Evaluation Director Nickolas Guertin.

Guertin said the system has shown too many failures of essential functions. The problems found in the testing held in May and June were outlined in a 79-page report this month, which the Army marked as Controlled Unclassified Information to prevent public distribution.

Despite the devices flaws, however, Guertin does not think its a lost cause. Instead, he recommended that the Army prioritize improvements before widespread deployment to reduce the physical discomfort of users. He also said improvements are necessary for the goggles low-light sensors, display clarity, the field of vision and reliability of some essential functions.

There are also positive reviews on the product, with soldiers reporting that it enhanced navigation and coordination of unit movements.

Microsoft is expected to incorporate high-resolution night vision, as well as thermal and soldier-borne sensors to increase situational awareness and target engagement. If all options for this model are exercised, the Army is projected to spend as much as $21.9 billion over a decade on the goggles, spare parts and support services.

The test results will have to be assessed by lawmakers as they decide whether or not to approve $424.2 million that the Army proposed to spend on the program this fiscal year. The House and Senate appropriations panels also separately proposed deep cuts to the Armys request, pending the testing outcome.

Soldier acceptance of Microsoft goggles remains low

One major factor that may keep Congress from approving the product is its low level of acceptance among soldiers. These soldiers and their leaders have indicated that the new goggles dont contribute to their ability to complete their mission. (Related: Researchers commandeer military drones to prove how easy hi-tech hijacking can be.)

This part of the exercise represented the fifth Soldier Touch Point test of the system.

Microsoft so far wasnt given a copy of the test results, although the company stated that its close collaboration with the Army has enabled it to quickly build and modify the devices to develop a transformational platform that will deliver enhanced soldier safety and effectiveness.

The company said they are still moving forward with the production and delivery of the initial set of devices.

Doug Bush, the Armys assistant secretary for acquisition, said in a statement that the service conducted a thorough operational evaluation and is fully aware of the concerns of the testing office. The Army is now said to be adjusting the programs fielding and schedule to allow time to develop solutions to the issues identified.

Visit MilitaryTech.news for more stories like this.

Watch the video below about 6G-powered mixed-reality goggles made by China.

This video is from the PureTrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Microsoft colluding with communist Chinese military to build A.I. systems that will execute civilians who resist government rule.

Microsoft and Amazon may destroy humanity with A.I. research that resembles Skynet from the Terminator movies.

U.S. military possesses advanced technology that can cause typhoons, earthquakes, floods and droughts.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

InterestingEngineering.com

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned against sending weapons to Ukraine as they could easily end up in the hands of the Iranians.

On the question of weapons, theres always a possibility, and this has happened time and again, that weapons that we supplied in one battlefield end up in Iranian hands used against us, he said.

In the Golan Heights, where were trying to prevent Iran from creating a second Lebanon front, a second terrorist front against us, we encounter Israeli-made weapons. (Related: Ukraine-bound weapons shipments will end up in Irans hands, former Israeli PM Netanyahu warns.)

His warning came after Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba asked Israel for military aid by means of advanced air defense systems that they can use against Russia.

Ukraine will send an official note to the government of Israel with a request to urgently provide Ukraine with anti-aircraft systems and to start high-quality cooperation in obtaining appropriate technologies for Ukraine, said Kuleba.

Iran is a red line for Israel. And after Iran has directly become complicit in the crime of aggression against Ukraine, I think anyone in Israel who still has any hesitation about whether or not to help Ukraine, must dispel these hesitations.

Some Israeli politicians apparently agree with Kuleba, saying that Israel should aid Ukraine since Iran is allegedly supporting Russia. An Israeli minister recently called for Jerusalem to provide military aid to Ukraine, although there has been no official announcement from Israel about sending military aid.

Diaspora Minister Nachman Shai said there is no longer any doubt where Israel should stand in the Ukraine conflict with Iran transferring ballistic missiles to Russia. He added that the time has come for Israel to send military aid to Ukraine just as the U.S. and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries have done.

Netanyahu said this is the kind of logic that led to world wars in the past. He thinks constraint is required to avoid World War III.

I dont think it makes that much difference if its tactical nuclear weapons or strategic nuclear weapons  that threshold has not been crossed for 77 years. And I think what is required right now is a combination of firmness and prudence to make sure that this conflict ends and certainly doesnt spread, Netanyahu said.

Former Russian president warns Israel against sending arms to Ukraine

Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and a key ally of incumbent President Vladimir Putin, recently warned Israel against sending arms to Ukraine.

It seems Israel will supply weapons to the Kyiv regime. A very reckless move. It will destroy all diplomatic relations between our countries, said Medvedev, currently the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia.

Medvedevs remarks came after streams of explosive-laden suicide drones hit Kyiv, setting buildings on fire and sending people running for cover. Drones used in the attack reportedly include Iranian-made Shaheds.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other officials have been pressuring Israel for military support since Putin started Russias invasion on February 24.

Israel has provided shipments of humanitarian aid to Ukraine but has refused Kyivs requests for defensive weapons.

Israel gave us nothing. Nothing, zero. I understand they are in a difficult situation with Syria and with Russia. I understand they need to defend their land, but then I got information from my intelligence services that Israel provides [air defenses] to other countries. They can sell, they can export, which is why I am shocked, Zelensky said.

The Times of Israel noted that Israels refusal to provide weapons to Ukraine is seen as an attempt by Jerusalem to keep its working relationship with Moscow because of Russias control of Syrian airspace.

Follow WWIII.news for more news about the war in Ukraine.

Watch the video below featuring Zelenskys speech before the Israeli Parliament last March.

This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

While all eyes are on Russia and Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East are a ticking time bomb ready to explode: Joe Bidens Iran deal will make him the #1 funder of terrorism in the world.

Some of the weapons delivered to Ukraine will be used against us.

Russia warns WWIII is all but GUARANTEED if Ukraines Western allies continue to meddle in ongoing conflict.

Sources include:

BigLeaguePolitics.com

NewsMax.com
(Natural News) Iranian Gas Engineering and Development Company CEO Reza Noushadi told Shana News Agency on Sunday, Oct. 23, that Iran will supply Russia with 40 domestically-produced gas turbines.

Russia and Iran hold some of the worlds largest gas reserves and are both under strict U.S. sanctions. Both countries have stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation.

In late September, the Iranian oil ministry announced its own plans to purchase nine million cubic meters of gas per day from Russia via Azerbaijan for its needs, with an additional six million cubic meters of gas per day as part of its agreement that would see the gas exported onward to other nations from Iranian liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

The announcement was made as Tehran revealed details of a deal struck in July between the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and Russian majority state-owned multinational energy corporation Gazprom, which involved cooperation in the field of oil and gas infrastructure development, including the construction of LNG terminals and gas pipelines. Iranian media reported that the agreement is worth $40 billion.

According to Noushadi, Irans industrial successes are not limited to the fields of missiles and drones. He said the country is currently capable of independently producing 85 percent of the necessary equipment in the gas industry, which allowed it to sign the contract with Moscow. Details of the latest deal were not revealed.

Western sanctions affect ties between Russia and its equipment suppliers

This development came as the sanctions imposed by the West hit industry ties between Russia and its equipment suppliers.

Earlier this year, state energy giant Gazprom had to reduce gas deliveries to Europe via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline due to technical problems related to turbine servicing. (Related: Gazprom signs $40 billion deal to develop Iranian oil and natural gas production capabilities.)

Western sanctions on Russia have also prevented some equipment maintenance and delivery of spare parts. One of the turbines initially supplied to Russia by the German company Siemens got stuck in Canada due to Ottawas sanction policies. While Berlin eventually got the turbine back, it was never delivered to Russia.

Give us a turbine, we will turn Nord Stream on tomorrow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Vladivostok economic forum last month.

Nord Streams 1 and 2 are currently out of operation due to leaks that resulted from a series of undersea explosions that many think is an act of sabotage. Moreover, Western countries have accused Russia of using gas supplies as weapons.

Meanwhile, Noushadi said the U.S. sanctions on Russia seek to exclude Moscow from the gas market. (Related: Biden mulls deals with Iran, Venezuela after announcing ban on Russian oil imports.)

In recent years, the United States of America has widely set up LNG production plants. And recently, with the all-out embargo on Russia and then the explosion in the Nord Stream gas pipeline, it effectively eliminated one of its biggest competitors in gas exports, he said.

Russia, Iran expand economic cooperation

Russia and Iran are not limiting their alliance through natural gas alone. Putin visited Tehran in July, meeting Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the Islamic Republics supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who also called for stronger, long-term cooperation with Moscow.

Kazem Jalali, Irans ambassador to Russia, also said the Islamic Republic is planning to increase imports of Russian grain and become the biggest importer of this product. Last year, I believe, we were in second place in our purchases from Russia. Next year we will, I think, be number one, he said.

Visit FuelSupply.news for more updates about the Russia and Iran agreement.

Watch the video below to know more about Irans support for Russia.

This video is from the channel Cynthias Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia and Iran are cementing an alliance amid global sanctions.

Bidens Iran nuclear deal will be a massive boon to Russia, with Moscow set to cash in on $10 billion contract.

While all eyes are on Russia and Ukraine, Iran and the Middle East are a ticking time bomb ready to explode: Joe Bidens Iran deal will make him the #1 funder of terrorism in the world.

Escalation: Iran seizing oil tankers in vital strategic waterway after U.S. confiscates Iranian oil sailing under Russian flag.

Sources include:

RT.com

English.AlArabiya.net

Brighteon.com
(Natural News) As Russia ramps up its cruise missile and kamikaze drone attacks, Ukraines anti-aircraft defenses are running low, and the country is now on the verge of running out of surface-to-air missiles.

At the heart of Ukraines aerial defenses are older anti-aircraft systems that they inherited following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which makes them at least 30 years old, if not more. Despite their age, they have proven effective against incoming Russian projectiles.

The deputy commander of a battalion in the Kiev region, Vladimir Kliman, said that although his unit has never missed a target in the conflict, the country does not have enough of these systems to cover the entire territory.

He said: There are some Russians who are not stupid and know how to think. And so theyre trying to get around our air defense systems by using the landscape or intelligence about where were located. Theyre trying to beat us, too. But if the system sees the target and locks in on it, then it will shoot it down.

An official responsible for training the countrys anti-aircraft missile forces, Denis Smazhny, echoed the concerns about the shortfall and said that the old systems need to be replaced because they cannot keep up with the current threats.

The positions of Ukraines air defenses are regularly changed according to the missile routes that forces expect the Russians to use, but Russia is constantly adjusting its approach in response.

As part of its quest to conserve surface-to-air rockets for the high-precision Russian missiles that cause the greatest destruction, Ukraine has been scrambling fighter jets to shoot down Russian kamikaze drones coming in from across the border. One pilot recently took out five of them before he had to eject from his aircraft.

Russia has recently intensified its aerial bombing campaign, targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine with drones and cruise missiles following the Crimean bridge bombing, which Russia has said it considers a terrorist attack by Ukraine. The blast, which caused the transport artery to sustain heavy damage, was cheered by Ukrainian officials, but Kiev has denied being involved in the attack.

UK, Germany and U.S. sending more aid

Several Western nations have offered to provide Ukraine with more anti-aircraft defenses in the wake of the increase in aerial bombings. British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced earlier this month that the country will be donating air defense missiles that can shoot down cruise missiles to the Ukrainian effort. In the coming weeks, they will be sending Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air missiles, or AMRAAM, which can be used with the air defense systems that the United States has already promised to the country known as the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS. It is a mid-range system using radar that is capable of seeing threats as far as 80 miles away.

The UK will also be donating hundreds of additional air defense missiles, aerial drones and Howitzer artillery guns. Meanwhile, Germany has pledged four of its IRIS-T systems. The IRIS-T systems and NASAMS are better at locating targets thanks to their ability to integrate different sources of radar data and engage them.

Although some experts believe that Ukraine has sufficient air defenses at the moment to protect many of its strategic military targets, such as ammunition dumps and command and control centers, they lack coverage for other important assets, such as power and water facilities and transportation hubs, which are precisely the types of targets that Russian forces have been focusing on recently.

However, Russia is also reportedly running low on high-precision missiles, and a point could eventually come when they run out and would have to rely on ground forces instead.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

Reuters.com

CBSNews.com
(Natural News) The sheriffs office in Grant County, Washington, has extended a shelter in place order that was issued following the mysterious recent explosion of the Wilbur Ellis fertilizer plant, located near Moses Lake in eastern Washington.

Poor air quality following a massive fire that left the facility in shambles has made it unsafe for area residents to engage in certain activities. Until it clears up, folks are being advised to lay low, use air purifiers and just wait.

The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 23, with firefighters called to the scene at around 4 p.m. They arrived to a building that was fully engulfed in flames. (Related: Remember back in 2013 when Monsanto was believed to have been involved with the freak explosion of a Texas-based West Fertilizer Company production plant?)

Because of the nature of the chemicals used and produced at the plant, the Grant County Health District (GCHD) issued a health advisory for people living downwind (north-east) from the fire.

GCHD warns that smoke from the fire may contain dangerous chemicals which can irritate eyes, nose, throat, airways, and lungs, reported King 5.

People most at risk include infants, children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other lung diseases. People at risk should stay indoors.

Why are so many fertilizer plants mysteriously catching fire?

Very little water was used to put out the fire due to the presence of fertilizer chemicals. Extra care had to be taken to avoid having those chemicals end up seeping into underground water tables and ecosystems.

There is also a standing elevator on site that fire crews had to pay special attention to in order to prevent the flames from jumping to and causing a second fire. Had that occurred, the elevator could have collapsed, bringing down nearby power lines.

At the time of the fire, nobody was inside the plant  it was a Sunday afternoon, after all. This meant that no evacuation order was necessary.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, which is just one of many that have occurred in recent months, also under mysterious circumstances.

Hurricane Ian also happened to strike Floridas fertilizer alley, delivering another blow to the production of this important crop input. Could it be that this is all just a big coincidence?

Then we have entire fertilizer plants in Europe that need to shut down because there is no more cheap energy available to keep them running. Everywhere you look, fertilizer  and thus the food supply  is under attack, it would seem.

Seems to be a lot of factors, all happening at the same time, that have the effect of shutting down worldwide food production in years to come, wrote someone who reads Natural News. If I didnt know better, Id wonder if this were all part of some larger plan.

This winter will be very hard for the Europeans when they are cold and hungry, wrote another, suggesting that this does not necessarily have to spell the end for global food production. Come the Spring the cold and hungry masses will hopefully make the necessary changes to end this nonsense.

Someone else not all that convinced about the resolve of the people, wrote that he is just amazed at the amount of passivity in response to this, especially after all weve been through these past two years.

More related news coverage about the spate of freak explosions and fires occurring at food chain-related companies across the country and around the world can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

King5.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
Farmers and communities in East Africa are hopeful for the coming rainy season after prolonged droughts, affecting animals, farm harvests, and the livelihood of many farmers.

The effect of drought can be catastrophic as it could impact the economy and livelihoods. Prolonged droughts could also affect the harvest and disrupt the lives of animals.

Climate Change and Drought

In a previous report, the United Nations (UN) raised the alarm over the effect of heat waves in southwest Asia and portions of Africa, causing regions to become unsustainable for human life and probably animals.

Extreme and prolonged drought can be associated with the impact of climate. The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions explained that climate change could increase the possibility of droughts, which could alter water availability or disrupt the rains.

The report added that climate change contributes to worsening drought by warmer temperatures affecting evaporation. The effect could reduce impact, surface water, or low precipitation. In addition, the extreme drought would affect the water supply, agricultural harvests, or supplies and energy.

Hopeful for the rainy season

As the rainy season becomes near East Africa, Newsweek reported that it could offer a glimmer of hope for farmers or communities suffering from prolonged drought.

Also Read: UN, Red Cross Warn Heat Waves Would Cause Regions Uninhabitable Within Decades

The report explained that portions of East Africa, such as Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Somaliland, have been experiencing drought after over five failed rainy season events.

Without rain to drench and alleviate the drought, many farmers or animals could suffer from drought. The decline and, eventually, the shortage of water supply also threaten communities and agricultural lands. Many communities and farming rely on rainfall, and droughts without rain could have a bigger problem.

Meanwhile, a new study showed that improved groundwater management could offer solutions to the drought's impacts. According to Newsweek, the study authors are Dr. Markus Adloff of the School of Geographical Sciences in Bristol and Dr. Katerina Michaelides from the University of Bristol.

The study explained that scientists discovered that groundwater storage appears to be increasing, which could provide hope for African communities.

Dr. Michaelides told Newsweek that the scarcity of rainfall and the impact of crops could result in food scarcity, leading to a food crisis or famine. The effect of droughts on scarce resources for many communities and the livelihood of people in east Africa. Michaelides is also an associate professor in dryland hydrology.

Michaelides added that illness and death for humans and animals could occur when there are water shortages.

The research noted that groundwater could help unlock potential use for communities, adding that rainfall is most common from October to December.

According to Newsweek, the researcher plans to conduct regional groundwater surveys. The research findings or outcome after the surveys would help provide accurate assistance to fight the drought.

Droughts have been a concern in East Africa, especially for those who depend on their daily lives farming. Research shows that drought could disrupt the food source and cause food insecurity in many communities.

Related Article: New Study Reveals that Flooding Can Affect Food Security Across African Nations

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.
Researchers grouped animals that 'come-hither' or 'get-lost' and saw a pattern in the different animal colors in each category.

It should come as no surprise that animals frequently use the same colors for far different purposes given the wide variety of colors used within the animal kingdom.

In strawberry poison-dart frogs (Oophaga pumilio), a male's brilliant red coloration is a stern warning to stay away lest you consume a mouthful of a potent, lethal toxin. Meanwhile, the brilliant red of a male northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) sends out a message for potential mates to draw closer.

Zachary Emberts, an evolutionary biologist from Oklahoma State University, and John Wiens, a colleague from the University of Arizona, pondered how the same colors could have evolved to serve such disparate functions in various animals.

1,824 Land Vertebrates: Come-Hither vs. Get-Lost

They studied 1,824 species of land vertebrates, classifying their colors as either get-lost or come-hither, and discovered the link that bound each group together.

Birds and lizards are examples of come-hither animals that are descended from diurnal ancestors, or active during the daytime. The get-lost animals, like amphibians and snakes, are related to nocturnal ancestors.

Emberts says that the evolution of a species may have left it with characteristics that are present today. The team conducted two separate analyses using their actual day-night activity and their ancestor's day-night activity to search for evolutionary patterns.

According to University of Arizona News, the researchers discovered that there is no current connection between animal activity during the day and night and coloration; rather, the connection is only ancestral. The evolution of terrestrial vertebrates, which dates back about 350 million years, appears to have shared this trait.

Wiens said that it makes no difference how a species creates its colors. However, this general trend of day-night behavior still holds, even though birds make red in a different way than a lizard does.

Generations of Color

The majority of the animals the researchers studied began life rather plain and dull, which evolved into vivid hues over time. Most of the animals live in environments wherein their vivid colors stand out, according to the analysis done by the researchers.

The most logical explanation is that more animals with brighter colors had a better chance of surviving and passing on their genes to subsequent generations, which sustained the trend.

Read also: Through the Eyes of the Wild: Study Sheds Light on How Animals See Colors

Speaking in Colors

Red, orange, purple, yellow, and blue were among the colors examined. The researchers discovered that, except for blue, all other colors were fairly evenly split between warning and sex signaling. At this time, it's unclear what could be the cause of that.

Emberts said that it is interesting to note that some hues, like orange, red, and yellow, are used equally frequently for both mate attraction and predator avoidance. On the other hand, blue coloration was much more frequently related to mating than to fend off predators.

The coloration of the diurnal animals makes sense because a flashy animal will be seen by other animals during the day, including potential mates. That might also make them more attractive to predators, but it seems that finding a mate and having offspring are more crucial than avoiding being eaten. These species' females are frequently dull in comparison, making them better at hiding from predators and surviving to raise young.

However, nocturnal wildlife slithers and crawls around at night. If the females can't see it, a male nocturnal snake will not use vibrant colors for sexual signaling.

Wiens said that even species without eyes have evolved warning colors. Since it is doubtful that the majority of snakes and amphibians have color vision, their vivid colors are typically used to attract predators rather than other members of the same species.

Animal coloration may have evolved as a warning to diurnal predators who may come across the sleeping animal to stay away, the researchers contend but further study might turn up more information, Science Alert reports.

The Evolution Angle

The team wants to conduct more in-depth research into the history of vivid colors to determine if their purposes have evolved.

However, the study demonstrates that studying the evolutionary history of animal attributes and behaviors may reveal trends that are no longer the same today.

The study conducted by the group was published in the scientific journal Evolution.

Related article: Iridescence in Beetles Is a Misleading Sort of Warning Coloring
A live albino alligator was found inside the luggage of a man who was supposed to travel from Germany to Singapore. Security officers at Munich Airport saw the bizarre image through an airport x-ray scanner, revealing that the gator was wrapped in a cling film inside the man's suitcase.

Customs officials opened the man's luggage and confirmed that the alligator was still alive but had barely enough space to breath.

The officers caught the said passenger before boarding his departure plane at Munich Airport. German officials said the man was not named but revealed he was an American traveler, who was responsible for wrapping the 3-foot alligator with only one hole for its nostrils to breath.

Despite smuggling allegations, the officials have not decided on whether the American tourist intended to smuggle the reptile or not.

Live Albino Alligator in Suitcase

A report by Asia One on Tuesday, October 25, mentioned that media reports confirm the accused man of wildlife smuggling is an American national. In a statement earlier in October, the Munich's main Customs office said proceedings have been initiated against the 42-year-old man for the alleged offense that occurred on September 25.

Following the discovery of the alligator, Customs officers and a veterinarian freed the wild animal, which received treatment and has been kept and taken care of at a reptile sanctuary. While details surrounding the motive of the American man remains unclear, airport authorities know that bringing the alligator for the Munich-Singapore flight was unauthorized.

A spokesman for the Munich Customs investigation office told The Strait Times that the passenger's final destination was Singapore. When asked about any information of the American passenger's intention, the spokesman said there is no information about a smuggling intention of the alligator into Singapore. In addition, there was also no information about potential offenders in Singapore amid the investigation.

Also Read: Flights Delayed in Tokyo After a Turtle Was Spotted Casually Strolling in Airport Runway

Wildlife Smuggling

Smugglers are known for moving rare animals like albino alligators as they can be sold with a high price, according to Anbarasi Boopal, the deputy chief executive of the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, as cited by The Strait Times.

Boopal adds that based on the Munich Airport's white albino alligator report, the reptile can be sold from $20,000 to $2 million in the illegal wildlife market. She also emphasized there is this reality in the world of illegal wildlife trade; the rarer the animal, the higher the returns for traffickers.

Although the incident occurred last month, the Munich customs office only revealed the apparent albino alligator smuggling on October 14. The customs office confirmed the alligator is now healthy and still being cared for, according to the Munich-based newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Aside from reasons related to wildlife trafficking, carrying crocodilians like alligators and crocodiles on a plane poses security risk.

In 2010, a small plane crashed in Africa after passengers panicked when a smuggled crocodile escaped on board the plane. All passengers were killed except for one person who testified the crocodile escaped from a carry-on bag, causing a stampede amongst the passengers which made the plane lose its balance.

Related Article: Snake on a Plane: Garter Snake Frightens Passengers at a United Airlines Flight
Hundreds of skeletons dating back from the Medieval Times were found by archaeologists under a department store in Wales, United Kingdom, earlier in October.

The establishment, which has been closed since 2013 after serving for over a century, is part of an ongoing renovation project when the unprecedented discovery was made.

The medieval skeletal remains indicate that it was a former cemetery for victims of war.

Medieval Skeletons Found

Under the old Welsh department, archaeologists have unearthed around 300 human skeletons dating back to the Medieval Ages (from late 5th century to late 15th century). The so-called medieval skeletons consist of children, who were believed to be members of the community. Initial reports indicate only more than 240 skeletal remains were found at the site.

The Dyfed Archaeological Trust confirmed to have exhumed 307 graves, which are believed to be several centuries old, during an excavation work at the old Ocky White department store building in the heart of Haverfordwest, according to Wales Online. In March 2022, the archaeological company first discovered signs relics and human remains dating 700 years old during initial groundworks at the site.

The discovery occurred while the archaeological team was digging potential medieval artifacts beneath the old establishment as part of an excavation project in an urban area. The site of the unprecedented findings about the medieval human skeletons were found from ruins under the commercial building, which is reportedly likely from the friary of St. Saviour's.

The Ocky White in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, has been undergoing a redevelopment project when "significant archaeological findings were discovered" during a demolition activity, according to the Pembrokeshire County Council, as cited by the Smithsonian Magazine. The council was responsible for launching the project, which was delayed due to the archaeological dig.

Also Read: Ancient Gold Coins and Skeletons Found In Pompeii Excavation

Former Medieval Cemetery

On October 11, details of the bizarre excavation revealed that the archaeological team was able to find the medieval skeletal remains, half of which from children, under the former department store, according to the Evening Standard. Experts have asserted the discovery is indeed significant since they perceived the site belonged to a priory named St. Saviour's from 1256.

The medieval priory was once thought to have comprised a set of complex building, including dormitories, a hospital, and stable, along with a graveyard which was possibly used until the early 1700s.

Victims of War

Dyfed Archaeological Trust Site Supervisor, Andrew Shobbrook, told the BBC that the underground burial site was a prestigious place to rest, with people ranging from the wealthy to the general townsfolk, as cited by the UK media outlet.

Shobbrook claimed the uncovered medieval remains show evidence the bodies sustained injuries that could be present during battle. He theorized that some of the deceased people could be victims of a siege in Haverfodwest in 1405 involving French and Welsh rebels.

Archeologist Gaby Lester also told the BBC the shite is showing itself to be a crucial part of the history of Haverforwdwest and Pembrokeshire.

Related Article: Remains of Ancient Human Sacrifices in Korea Found Beneath the Walls of Wolseong Palace
According to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, a black bear that broke into the house in the middle of the night on Saturday injured a visitor who was on vacation in Tennessee. The black bear was later trapped and euthanized by authorized officials.

Around 11:00 PM, according to TWRA officers, the incident happened in downtown Gatlinburg. A bear had entered the house through a set of French doors that were locked but not deadbolted when a male tourist staying in the rental cabin stepped into the kitchen, according to a press release.

According to TWRA officials, the man suffered injuries to his face and the top of his head when the bear charged at him and swatted at him. The bear gouged at him across the back as he fled to the bedroom, where the man was able to lock the doors and call 911. His family then drove him to a nearby hospital where he received treatment and was later released.

Trapping the Black Bear

According to TWRA, authorities set a trap at the scene, and a bear matching the description was captured and put to death on Sunday afternoon. The black bear was a female between the ages of 2 and 3, without cubs. It weighed nearly 210 pounds, according to officials.

The bear's claws were swabbed for traces of human hemoglobin testing, and hair samples were taken for DNA analysis. Results are anticipated to be made public this week, according to a release. TWRA statements were also reported by WBIR 10 News on their website.

According to wildlife officials, bears that are accustomed to being around people and eating unnatural foods occasionally enter homes, cars, and other places where people live in search of food, WVLT reports.

Read also: 5 Wildlife Officers Relocate 400-Pound Massive Black Bear From Colorado Home Deck to Suitable Habitat

What To Do When a Bear is Nearby

According to National Park Service (NPS), the park's bears are wild animals, and their behavior is unpredictable. Attacks on people have happened, despite being extremely rare, and have resulted in fatalities and severe injuries. Bear encounters must be handled with the utmost caution.

Here are some reminders from NPS:

Locals and visitors alike are reminded to remain watchful of their surroundings when staying in parks or forests where bears are known to roam.

It is not advisable to approach a bear and likewise let it approach or come nearby.

There may be times when a bear could be seen at a distance, feeding or walking by. There is no need for action in the situation for individuals who were noticed by the bear but were not approached.

It is recommended to carry on while observing the bear until it is no longer within sight.

However, for people who see a bear and the bear changes its behavior, it might mean that there is a shorter distance between the bear and the person. Behavior change is seen when the bear stops feeding, changes its travel direction, and watches the human it sees.

Being too close might encourage the bear to act aggressively, such as by charging at the person it sees, making loud noises, or even pounding or swatting the ground. This means that the bear is demanding more space.

If this happens, suddenly running is discouraged. The best course of action is to gradually step back while keeping a close eye on the bear and extending the distance from the bear. According to NPS, the bear is likely to follow suit.

Related article: Enormous Grizzly Bear Weighing 450 Pounds Put Down in a Drive-By Shooting Alberta
Seismologists discovered several underwater explosions in the Gulf of Finland on Thursday and Friday, but the causes of them are still unknown.

The explosions occurred close to Vyborg, a town in Russia.

Connections to the Nord Stream Leak, if any, are yet to be determined.

Researchers at the University of Helsinki's Institute of Seismology discovered the five explosions.

They discovered that the explosions occurred in the Gulf of Finland close to the Russian town of Vyborg, which is situated close to the Finnish border and about three hours' drive east of Helsinki, Finland.

Timo Tiira, the director of the institute, told Newsweek in an interview that On October 20, there were four explosions between 9:35 in the morning and 3:33 in the afternoon; on October 21, there was a fifth explosion at 00:08 UTC.

Earthquake Magnitude Explosions

When compared to the strength of an earthquake, the explosions had an intensity of between 1.3 and 1.8. Although it is too small to be felt by humans, a seismograph can measure its strength.

Tiira said that these unusual events are explosions rather than earthquakes based on signal characteristics.

He added that although the "events" had previously been found in the region, they did not occur annually.

Tiira further stated that the Nord Stream pipe runs further northeast, and the team is unaware of any infrastructure present in the area.

The team is scheduled to assess the depth of the explosions.

Read also: Understanding Nord Stream Methane Leaks: Environmental Impacts, Action Plans Identified

Mysterious Explosions that Got the Nord Stream 1

The reported explosions coincide with the ongoing investigation into the unexplained explosions that in late September damaged a portion of the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline.

Investigations revealed the pipeline had sustained significant damage, with about 50 meters missing from one section, according to South China Morning Post.

The cause of the explosions is still unknown despite police investigations.

The pipeline was built by Russia and other nations, and it is used to transport energy to other regions of Europe.

States in Europe and the US have attributed the pipeline explosions to sabotage, but it is unknown who may be responsible.

According to Russia, the US or possibly its allies were responsible for the explosions and that the pipeline ruptures took place in areas that were entirely under the control of the US intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, support ships and submarines of the Russian navy not far from the locations of the Nord Stream leaks, Reuters noted.

America has disputed being involved in the event.

The explosions occurred as winter approached and European governments struggled with a current energy crisis, which is partially attributable to the interruption of Russian gas supplies as a result of political unrest between the West and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

By pipeline, Russia supplies 40% of the gas needed by the European Union, despite a 75% reduction in exports this year, Newsweek reported.

Related article: Scientific Trip Investigating the Nord Stream Leak Discovers Methane Levels Were 1,000 Times Higher Than Usual
Meteorologists are warning that a "strong blast of Antarctic air is expected to send a shudder all over Victoria" on Melbourne Cup Day.

Next week, the southern states will be hit by severely low temperatures, strong winds, showers, and maybe tiny hail.

The "dynamic" low-pressure system that pounded Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria is moving south towards Tasmania, but experts are warning of another weather catastrophe forming in Antarctica.

'Bitterly cold' weather system brewing after NSW and Victoria

According to Weatherzone, the south-eastern states will be slammed by a "bitterly cold arctic blast," causing temperatures to plunge.

It will bring high gusts, rains, and maybe some hail - just in time for the Melbourne Cup, as per 9News.

"It's going to be a very chilly and occasionally rainy week," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

Temperatures will be five to six degrees cooler than usual for the time of year, much more characteristic of August.

The warning comes after a single weather event slammed Melbourne's north-east overnight night.

Flash flooding was produced by two hours of heavy rain at Lilydale, a neighborhood less than 50 kilometers from Melbourne's CBD.

The system resulted in around 200 calls for assistance and 11 flood rescues.

A local claimed he's never seen anything like the rapid floods. "Honestly, it was comparable to a battle zone; there was a mess everywhere," he told Today.

After a rainstorm, similar events played out in the NSW town of Cooma.

As the town flooded with shin-deep water, homes were separated and routes were restricted.

According to accounts, this is beginning to subside.

The low-pressure system that has caused the severe weather is now travelling south across Victoria and into Tasmania, where it is thought to be "deepening."

During the following 48 hours, the system will intensify wind and rain over Tasmania.

Weatherzone predicts 100 to 200 mm of rain in the state's east during the next two to three days.

A flood watch is also in effect for the North, North East, Derwent, and South East Catchments of the state.

Residents in Victoria could expect further rains over the next three days until the system dissipates.

The rainy weather is expected to cease soon, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) indicating that La Nina will decrease in early 2023, with the Indian Ocean Dipole "rapidly withering" in late Spring.

The warning comes as extensive flooding in New South Wales and Victoria persists.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that 25,000 Australians have received Commonwealth relief funds as a result of the recent flood.

As of 6 a.m., 107 flood warnings were in effect in NSW, with 77 in Victoria.

Twenty and six of these are classified as emergencies.

Also Read: Severe Weather Warnings Issued for New Zealand Due to Heavy Rain and Snowfall

'Polar blast' to whack southeast

"It's going to be a very chilly and occasionally rainy week," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said, as per news.com.au.

There will be enough rain in the run-up to the cold outbreak to make the track soft, if not heavy, and the grassy expanses of the Flemington lawn may mud in patches and swallow up high heels.

Top temperatures in Melbourne will only reach around 15 degrees on Tuesday, but breezy winds and showers will make it feel even colder, with similar conditions expected for Oaks Day on Thursday.

The polar blast will reach the southern states, bringing freezing temperatures to Melbourne.

Tasmanians will not be able to escape the unpleasant weather until long until next week, with rainy, windy, and chilly conditions predicted for the state until next Wednesday.

The feared weather system that caused torrential rain and deadly flooding will pass in the spring, but summer will bring new difficulties and unexpected projections.

As the negative Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) in the west comes to an end, the La Nina weather phenomenon in the east will continue to produce damp weather over the Christmas season and beyond.

But, in order to grasp what this implies in terms of weather during the silly season, we must first define all of these meteorological occurrences.

Climate drivers are events induced by the waters surrounding us and the atmosphere above us, all of which have the potential to significantly influence the weather.

The IOD has minimal effect on the climate around us in neutral years, while negative years bring copious rains to the nations on the eastern side of the Indian Ocean and droughts to the west.

A positive IOD event has the opposite impact, increasing the likelihood of drought and, in severe circumstances, raging bushfires.

Consider the positive IOD event in 2019, when Australia saw one of its most destructive wildfire seasons on record.

Related article: Severe Weather and Flash Floods Wreak Havoc in the Southwestern United States Causing Massive Flight Delays
An employee works on an electric vehicle assembly line in Ningde, Fujian province, in August. [Photo/Xinhua] Global manufacturers spending big for expertise in software, electrification Major foreign automakers are looking to Chinese companies for their expertise in smart electric vehicles as established giants are ramping up efforts to charge into the burgeoning sector. BMW announced recently that it will purchase newly developed round lithium-ion battery cells from Envision AESC, the battery-making arm of Chinese company Envision Group, for its EVs to be manufactured in the United States. "The new round cell specially designed for the electrical architecture of our next-generation models will allow us to improve range, driving performance and reduce charging times," said Joachim Post, a BMW board member responsible for its purchasing and supplier network. Envision AESC is planning to build a dedicated 30 gigawatt-hour battery manufacturing plant in South Carolina, and work is currently underway to finalize a suitable site close to BMW's vehicle production and battery assembly facilities. This is the third Chinese battery cell maker that BMW has inked deals with in the past 40 days. In early September, the German carmaker unveiled its agreements with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd and EVE Energy to power new-generation electric models starting in 2025. The two battery companies will build battery plants in both China and Europe. Their new round cells, which Envision AESC will produce in the US, will enable a major leap for BWM's EVs with regard to energy density, charging speed and range, said the carmaker. BMW's cumulative EV sales are expected to reach 2 million units by 2025, and EV sales will account for at least half of its global sales by 2030. CATL has been a supplier to BMW for years. "We look forward to developing and delivering more competitive and sustainable solutions for our partners to promote the global drive for e-mobility and energy transition," said Robin Zeng, founder and chairman of CATL. BMW is not alone. Volkswagen is spending 2.4 billion euros ($2.35 billion), its largest single investment in China, to develop driving-assist functions with Horizon Robotics for its EVs. Establishment of a joint venture is underway and is expected to be complete in the first half of 2023, said Volkswagen, adding that its software arm Cariad will hold a 60 percent share in the partnership. Beijing-based Horizon is one of the major players in China providing computing solutions for smart vehicles, specializing in software, algorithms and chip design. Ralf Brandstaetter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said China has been the world leader in intelligent and connected vehicles since 2015 and is "always faster than expected". Brandstaetter attributed China's leading role to factors like the country's clear guidelines, as well as the cooperation between the government, scientific institutions and companies. "The best possible way to harness this trend of innovation and strengthen our competitive edge is to immerse ourselves in this ecosystem," said Brandstaetter. Brandstaetter said some weeks ago, he test-drove an electric Volkswagen ID.4 SUV featuring technology that Cariad and Horizon are working on together. "It was an amazing experience," he said. In terms of electrification, Chinese company Gotion is serving as a pillar of Volkswagen's growth plan. Volkswagen acquired a 26 percent share in the Anhui-based battery maker in 2020. Last year, it was entrusted with the task of developing the first-generation unified cells for its volume vehicle segment. Gotion is also tasked with fast-cell industrialization at Volkswagen's Salzgitter plant in Germany as the "technology partner for the cell factory layout, machinery and production processes". Production is expected to start around 2025. Tesla said on Thursday that its first overseas plant, located in Shanghai, is "supplying vehicles to most markets outside of North America". The plant, as Tesla's major export hub, has an annual production capacity of over 750,000 units. Tesla said more than 95 percent of the auto parts used in its Shanghai-made vehicles are from China and almost all the employees at the plant are Chinese nationals. China is emerging as the main source of supplies in the global auto industry primarily, thanks to its first-mover advantage, said Zhang Yongwei, vice-president of China EV 100, a major think tank in the new energy vehicle sector. Zhang said the rise of local companies along the industrial chain has a lot to do with China's faster pace toward electrification, which started in earnest in 2009 when most countries thought it was too early to develop the sector. SNE Research shows that six out of the world's top 10 battery makers in the first half were from China. China EV 100 said carmakers in China launched 33 passenger electric and plug-in hybrid models in the first half, accounting for 60 percent of total newly launched passenger vehicles in the period, bringing the total number of EV model types to around 300 in the country.


A beneficial rainfall would occur in portions of the South-central U.S and from Texas to Alabama. The rain would help drench areas experiencing drought, while some residents would feel a temperature cool down.

However, the report said that the storm could unleash heavy rains, which could benefit many states, but advised residents to watch out for flash flood risk, travel delays, and potentially severe thunderstorms this coming weekend.

According to AccuWeather, many parts of the United States have been experiencing drought, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Billings, Kansas City, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and Chicago.

The beneficial rain would alleviate the heat and offer much-needed rain for the farmers and agricultural lands.

AccuWeather added that portions of Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Lubbock, Little Rock, and San Antonio could expect rainfall from late Thursday to Saturday.

At the same time, local downpours would occur in Wichita and Odessa.

Also Read: U.S Midwest Farmers Worry About Drought that Could Threaten Major Crops' Harvest

While Halloween is around the corner, Americans should expect rain while enjoying the start of November.

Meanwhile, the weather news said the severe storm could cause strong wind gusts and localized flash flooding.

Residents in the affected areas should listen to weather updates.

In the previous report, portions of the Northwest have also expected a rainy beginning of November. The severe conditions in the Northwest could result in strong winds, flooding risks, and rising rivers.

The rain would also help to drench areas in the Northwest that are drought-stricken.

Moreover, the report raised concerns for travelers about mountain snow in the area.

Rainfall and thunderstorms

Other than potential heavy rains, the forecast said that thunderstorms could also emerge late Thursday to Thursday night.

It could cause torrential downpours, hail, and travel delays.

Meanwhile, damaging wind gusts up to 55 to 65 mph could unleash the same day.

According to AccuWeather, the following areas at risk of severe thunderstorms are Del Rio, Abilene, Wichita Falls, Odessa, Lubbock, and Amarillo,

On Friday, the report said portions of Lubbock, El Paso, Odessa, and San Antonio would have windy and chilly weather.

Thunderstorms could occur in Dallas, Austin, and Houston.

Meanwhile, dry air retreats could occur in Wichita, Oklahoma City, Jackson, and New Orleans.

Drought in U.S Midwest

In a recent report, U.S Midwest farmers have been worried about the impact of drought on their farmlands and crop harvests.

The dwindling water supply and non-existent rainfall could affect the harvest of major crops in the United States, including corn, soybeans, and wheat.

The heavy toll on farmers of the prolonged drought has been a concern for them, calling the drought even worst than the 2012 drought.

With the impact on harvest, the report said that the U.S Department of Agriculture decided to lower the yield predictions due to drought.

Moreover, farmers who depend on the Mississippi River for the water supply and drench their crops are also affected.

According to reports, the Mississippi River would now show any sign of improvement this year.

Related Article: Much-needed Rain in Northwest To Continue Until Early November; Heavy Mountain Snow Also Expected

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Tumbleweeds, with some as high as cars and trees, have covered a Colorado couple's home after a windstorm in the municipality of Fountain in El Paso County, Colorado, it was reported on Wednesday, October 26.

A windstorm struck the area on Sunday, October 23, resulting in a strong air mass that pushed the tumbleweeds into the Colorado ranch, blocking road access to and from the property.

Windstorm Tumbleweeds

A Colorado woman named Marlies Gross told local media KRDO the predicament she experienced when the tumbleweeds blocked her window and all exits of her home, as cited by KCRA news.

She also attempted to escape but was hindered by the sea of tumbleweeds.

Local media reports said neighbors of the Colorado ranch helped Gross and her husband to leave the house, including by removing the tumbleweeds one at a time.

Reports said that Gross initially though she was lost since her surroundings, including the driveway, was replaced by massive tumbleweeds and made it unfamiliar.

Also Read: Weather Emergency: Wild Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding Lash at Australia's East Coast

What is a Tumbleweed?

A tumbleweed is a plant that detaches itself from its roots during the autumn or fall season.

The term comes from the fact that it "stumbles" as it is driven by the wind as a light rolling mass of tumbleweeds.

Although disruptive to the said Colorado couple's home, these so-called "wind witch" are also beneficial to a number of animal species that feed on this plant.

Tumbleweeds are reportedly one of the symbols of the Western US, particularly in arid regions like Colorado.

This chunk of weeds has been the iconic props of classic Western movies.

However, they are not only a noxious weed but they also move around in real life, wherein they can entire neighborhoods, become a threat for drivers, and an expensive annoyance for farmers, according to PBS Newshour.

These weeds stumble along highways and can cause accidents, as well as pile up against homes and fences, according to Mike Pitcairn, a tumbleweeds tracker at the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Sacramento.

This means that the plant could benefit some animals and their ecosystems.

However, this botanic matter can disrupt residential areas and even road traffic movement.

Tumbleweed Origins

Pitcairn says the common name of tumbleweeds is "Russian thistle" and that one might think the plants are native since they have been around for a long time already.

However, tumbleweeds are reportedly not originally from California or even the West.

Conducted genetic tests have indicated that the Russian thistle, California's most common tumbleweed, likely originated from Ukraine, according to Debra Ayres, a retired plant population biologist who studies tumbleweeds in the University of California, Davis.

In 2014, the Smithsonian Magazine cited that America's tumbleweeds are "Russian invaders" of the American West in the form of plants but was the most aggressive weed invasion in the North American country's history.

The magazine said the tumbleweeds arrived from Russia to the US around the year 1870; since then, the wind witches have been impossible to get rid of.

Related Article: Australia: Intense Windstorm Flooded Melbourne with Tumbleweed
There has been much teeth-gnashing, mixed with a little obfuscation and concern, about what the merged VMware and Broadcom might look like and what it will mean to customers.

Broadcom President and CEO Hock Tan has taken to his blog to offer some details about what he expects the deal will mean to Broadcom and try to ease some customer concerns.

One worry: cost of products going forward.

Following the purchases of CA and Symantec, Broadcom raised prices, decreased support, and stopped investing in innovation, Tracy Woo, senior analyst for Forrester told Network World in a recent article. VMware customers would be wise to have an exit plan, she cautioned.

Then there is Broadcoms track record of not only hiking prices, but also trimming operating budgets and cutting support after acquisitionsa track record which, according to a survey by 451 Research, already worries VMwares existing customers.

Tan addresses fears of Broadcom price hikes

Addressing these issues, Tan stressed that the focus of the merger is not on price increases.

VMware develops technology for the future and addresses a growing market. The Broadcom business case for this transaction is premised on focusing on the business model, increasing R&D, and executing so that customers see the value of the full portfolio of innovative product offerings  not on increasing prices, Tan wrote. Following the close of the transaction, we will invest in and innovate VMwares products so we can sell even more of them and grow the VMware business within enterprises, deepening and expanding the footprint instead of potentially raising prices.

Tan also highlighted the company's long-term intentions.

Our growth into a global technology leader was not based on taking existing products and raising their prices, but by creating technology and products that provide clear value to customers and continuing to improve them, Tan wrote. We fuel growth by offering more and better products so customers are using more of our entire portfolio of technology products, rather than just one or two. By delivering long-term value to customers and investing in improved, customer-focused R&D, we can innovate, scale and offer better products without raising prices.

One of the other concerns expressed but some industry watchers is how Broadcom will move multicloud and cloud software forward especially as VMware develops new packages such as its recent raft of new multicloud products introduced at its VMware Explore 2022 conclave in August.

Those new products included a SaaS-based upgrade for the companys core networking software, NSX, as well a new cloud-native management service, VMware Aria, and integrated security features. VMware Explore Europe is next week, where more products will be shown off and introduced.

Broadcom's VMware buy fuels multicloud vision

Tan said that customers are enthusiastic about the Broadcom and VMware multicloud vision and, with increased resources from Broadcom following transaction close, the potential to implement it as VMware grows and increases momentum in the space.

For some time, Broadcom has recognized that the future of enterprise IT is multi-cloudthe ability to distribute applications and services across a combination of clouds. Its one of the many reasons Broadcom solutions complement what VMware does in the multi-cloud space across private, public, edge and sovereign clouds today. Its clear our customers have already adopted this mindset, too, Tan wrote.

Customers are similarly excited about VMwares momentum around cloud-native apps, Tan said.

Containers are changing the way modern applications are built, resulting in faster and more predictable development and deployment. Developers also can take advantage of Kubernetes clusters, which more efficiently use the containerized infrastructure that power those applications, Tan said.

By providing customers with the environment and hands-on guidance to help build cloud-native applications quickly and upskill their teams along the way, a combined Broadcom-VMware can help them drive forward their businesses, Tan stated.

Tanzu is key for cloud-native app development

Tan also drilled down into the position that the Tanzu app-development product portfolio will have in the merged company.

Many customers and partners are asking me how I see the VMware Tanzu portfolio and Broadcoms future commitment to the Tanzu business. My answer to them is that I see Tanzu as a strategic part of the VMware software portfolio and it will remain that way as we move forward within Broadcom, Tan stated.

VMware Tanzu customers are running some of the most mission critical applications in the world. As customers think about future investments in cloud native applications and the modern application development space, they should feel confident in Broadcoms commitment going forward, Tan stated.

Broadcom said it would acquire VMware in May for about $61 billion. There have been published reports from Reuters and others that Broadcom has recently tried to fast-track antitrust approval from the European Union, saying that AWS, Microsoft and Google are huge competitors already and that approving this deal wont unhinge competition.

Things are on track," said VMware CEO Raghu Raghuram at the Explore event recently. "They're going through all of the regulatory approvals, on the one hand. On the other hand, we are working with the Broadcom team and helping them understand the depth and breadth of our business and product portfolio. And in the meantime, as we are required to, we are operating as a completely independent, standalone company with our own execution track and strategy.

The deal isnt likely to close until sometime next year.
Reporter

Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
Jessica Alber, assistant professor of biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences at the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rhode Island, is looking to change the way doctors diagnose Alzheimer's disease, a change that could raise new possibilities for treatment.

Alber has received a five-year, $10.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support her work using retinal imaging to screen for early changes associated with Alzheimer's disease. The project, "Longitudinal validation of retinal biomarkers against cerebral imaging in preclinical Alzheimer's disease," could help provide a low-cost, minimally invasive screening technique to detect Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear.

While there are no current treatments that can slow or stop the progression of Alzheimer's disease, new developments in drug and lifestyle therapies indicate the potential for success with earlier intervention. Yet one of the primary challenges in treating the disease has been that it is difficult to diagnose. While clinicians can use positron emission tomography scanning or lumbar puncture to detect the build-up of amyloid and tau proteins, or "plaques and tangles," that are hallmarks of the disease, the procedures are both invasive and expensive. Using retinal imaging as a "window to the brain," Alber and collaborators seek to develop a more affordable and accessible screening tool that could potentially be part of a routine eye exam.

In the near future, screening for risk in the general population will become increasingly important in order to treat people before they are experiencing the devastating loss in quality of life and cognitive function that affects them and their families. The retina allows us to look at what might be changing in the brain in a cost-effective and minimally invasive way to identify people who are at high risk but not sick yet." Jessica Alber, Assistant Professor, the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island

The NIH grant builds upon Alber's work with the Atlas of Retinal Imaging in Alzheimer's Study (ARIAS). Led by URI Vice President for Research and Economic Development Peter Snyder, and Dr. Stuart Sinoff, of Florida-based BayCare Health System, the ARIAS study was launched in 2020 to create a reference database of structural, anatomic, and functional imaging of the retina to develop markers of Alzheimer's disease risk and progression.

In addition to validating the retinal imaging biomarkers identified during the ARIAS study, Alber's study, called ARIAS 2, will explore the potential for using Alzheimer's disease blood plasma biomarkers in tandem with retinal imaging for greater sensitivity in detecting early-stage disease. "We don't know yet if blood biomarkers can be used to identify preclinical disease, but we have seen some exciting developments in this area," said Alber.

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The ARIAS 2 study team is led by Alber. Other partners are Snyder, URI co-investigator; clinical site leads at Butler Hospital Memory and Aging Program, Washington University at St. Louis School of Medicine, and University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth; core leads at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and all three clinical research sites; and collaborators at Heidelberg Engineering and University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Founded in 2013, the George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience at URI is focused on investigating under-explored factors in Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

ARIAS 2 study team

Jessica Alber, Ph.D., Principal Investigator; Data Management and Administrative Core Lead; Retinal Imaging Core Lead, George & Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island.

Peter J. Snyder, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, University of Rhode Island.

Gregory Van Stavern, M.D., Co-Investigator, Site Principal Investigator, Washington University at St. Louis.

Cyrus Raji, M.D., Co-Investigator; Brain Imaging Core Lead, Washington University at St. Louis.

Tammie Benzinger, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Washington University at St. Louis.

Beau Ances, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Washington University at St. Louis.

Abraham Snyder, M.D., Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Washington University at St. Loui.

Shang-Kwei Song, Ph.D., Co-Investigator, Washington University at St. Louis.

Louisa Thompson, Ph.D., Co-Investigator; Cognitive Core Lead, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler Hospital.

Meghan Riddle, M.D., Co-Investigator; Site Principal Investigator, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Butler Hospital.

Fenghai Duan, Ph.D., Biostatistics Core Lead, Brown University.

Melissa Petersen, Ph.D., Co-Investigator; Blood Biomarker Core Lead, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth.

Sima Mozdbar, O.D., M.P.H., Co-Investigator, Site Principal Investigator, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth.

Stephanie Large, N.P., Co-Investigator, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center at Fort Worth.

Brian Fernandez, M.D., Consultant, Heidelberg Engineering.

Edmund Arthur, O.D., Ph.D., Consultant, University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Researchers at Linkoping University have identified in mice the cells in the blood vessels of the brain that are necessary for a fever reaction. The results have been published in PNAS, and answer a long-standing question of which organs are involved in producing fever.

Everyone gets fevers, occasionally. If we understand the mechanisms behind fever, we can also understand how new drugs and treatments can work." Anders Blomqvist, Professor Emeritus, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linkoping University

Fever is the body's response to infection or inflammation, and a defence mechanism against, for example, viruses and bacteria. When affected by infection or inflammation, the body releases molecules known as cytokines into the blood circulation. These molecules are too large to pass through the blood-brain barrier, a network of tiny blood vessels that protects the brain from harmful substances. But fever is just a symptom, which becomes manifest after the brain has itself released signals. So how does the brain detect that the body is affected by an inflammation or infection?

The explanation can be found in receptors located on the outer surface of the blood-brain barrier that detect the cytokines. These receptors pass the signal on to cells on the inner surface of the blood-vessel walls in the blood-brain barrier, known as endothelial cells. They then start to produce the hormone-like molecule prostaglandin E2, which in turn activates receptors in the hypothalamus, which acts as the body's thermostat. A fever reaction has been initiated. It has, however, been unclear until now whether this is the only mechanism behind fever.

It has previously been believed that prostaglandin must be produced also in certain cells of such organs as the liver and lungs in order to start a fever reaction. But the researchers at Linkoping University have now shown that this is not the case. In a study on mice published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PNAS, Anders Blomqvist and his colleagues show that the endothelial cells of the brain are the only ones required for a fever reaction to be produced.

"Our results answer a question that has been asked for several decades. There has not previously been any evidence that only the endothelial cells in the brain are needed to start a fever reaction. We have now filled this gap in our knowledge," says Anders Blomqvist.

The researchers have worked with gene-modified mice in which they have removed certain genes that code for prostaglandin production in the brain endothelial cells. The mice were subsequently injected with substances that are present in the cell walls of certain bacteria, producing in this way fever. The gene-modified mice did not show any fever reaction after the injection.

This allowed the researchers to conclude that these endothelial cells are necessary to elicit fever, but did not show whether they are sufficient. For this reason, the researchers conducted tests on another gene-modified mouse model in which the only cells that could produce prostaglandin E2 were the brain endothelial cells. These mice exhibited a fever reaction, which confirms that the brain endothelial cells are, indeed, sufficient.

These experiments have been made possible using advanced techniques for managing and examining experimental animals. By surgically inserting an intravenous catheter and recording body temperature using telemetry, both the injections and the measurements can be made without causing stress for the animal, which means that the fever reaction can be observed more accurately.

"The general public has long believed that the body temperature of small animals is higher than that of humans and other large mammals, around 40 degrees. But the measurements have been erroneous, since the animals became stressed during the process. The techniques we have used show that the mice have the same temperature as humans," says Anders Blomqvist.

The research has received financial support from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Brain Foundation and the Swedish Cancer Society.
Long-term use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), or vaping, can significantly impair the function of the body's blood vessels, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, the use of both e-cigs and regular cigarettes may cause an even greater risk than the use of either of these products alone. These findings come from two new studies supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The findings, which appear today in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, add to growing evidence that long-term use of e-cigs can harm a person's health. Researchers have known for years that tobacco smoking can cause damage to blood vessels. However, the effects of e-cigarettes on cardiovascular health have been poorly understood. The two new studies - one on humans, the other on rats - aimed to change that.

In our human study, we found that chronic e-cigarette users had impaired blood vessel function, which may put them at increased risk for heart disease. It indicates that chronic users of e-cigarettes may experience a risk of vascular disease similar to that of chronic smokers." Matthew L. Springer, Ph.D., Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco

Springer is the leader of both studies.

In this first study, Springer and his colleagues collected blood samples from a group of 120 volunteers that included long-term e-cigarette users, long-term cigarette smokers, and nonusers. The researchers defined long-term e-cigarette use as more than five times/week for more than three months and defined long-term cigarette use as smoking more than five cigarettes per day.

They then exposed each of the blood samples to cultured human blood vessel (endothelial) cells in the laboratory and measured the release of nitric oxide, a chemical marker used to evaluate proper functioning of endothelial cells. They also tested cell permeability, the ability of molecules to pass through a layer of cells to the other side. Too much permeability makes vessels leaky, which impairs function and increases the risk for cardiovascular disease.

The researchers found that blood from the e-cigarette users and smokers caused a significantly greater decrease in nitric oxide production by the blood vessel cells than the blood of nonusers. Notably, the researchers found that blood from the e-cig users also caused more permeability in the blood vessel cells than the blood from both tobacco smokers and nonusers. The e-cigarette users' blood also caused a greater release of hydrogen peroxide by the blood vessel cells than the blood of the nonusers. Each of these three factors can contribute to impairment of blood vessel function in e-cig users, the researchers said.

In addition, Springer and his team discovered that e-cigarettes had harmful cardiovascular effects in ways that were different from those caused by tobacco smoke. Specifically, they found that blood from tobacco smokers had higher levels of certain circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risks, and the blood from e-cig users had elevated levels of other circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular risks.

"These findings suggest that using the two products together, as many people do, could increase their health risks compared to using them individually," Springer said. "We had not expected to see that."

In the second study, the researchers tried to find out if there were specific components of tobacco smoke or e-cigarette vapor that were responsible for blood vessel damage. In studies using rats, they exposed the animals to various substances found in tobacco smoke or e-cigarettes. These included nicotine, menthol (a cigarette additive), the gases acrolein and acetaldehyde (two chemicals found in both tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapors), and inert carbon nanoparticles to represent the particle-like nature of smoke and e-cigarette vapor (which contains oily droplets).

Using special arterial flow measurements, the researchers demonstrated that blood vessel damage does not appear to be caused by a specific component of cigarette smoke or ecigarette vapor. Instead, they said, it appears to be caused by airway irritation that triggers biological signals in the vagus nerve that somehow leads to blood vessel damage, possibly through an inflammatory process. The vagus is a long nerve extending from the brain that connects the airway to the rest of the nervous system and plays a key role in heart rate, breathing, and other functions. The researchers showed that detaching the nerve in rats prevented blood vessel damage caused by tobacco smoke, demonstrating its key role in this process.

"We were surprised to find that there was not a single component that you could remove to stop the damaging effect of smoke or vapors on the blood vessels," Springer said. "As long as there's an irritant in the airway, blood vessel function may be impaired."

The finding has implications for efforts to regulate tobacco products and e-cigarettes, as it underscores how difficult it is to pinpoint any one ingredient in them that is responsible for blood vessel damage. "What I like to tell people is this: Just breathe clean air and avoid using these products," Springer said.

Lisa Postow, Ph.D., an NHLBI program officer in NHLBI's Division of Lung Diseases, agreed that the study results "provide further evidence that exposure to e-cigarettes could lead to harmful cardiovascular health effects." She added that more data is needed to fully understand the health effects of e-cigarettes. The NIH and others are continuing to explore this area.
In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination on the occurrence and severity of symptoms in SARS-CoV-2 Omicron-infected hospitalized patients.

Background

Compared to the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern (VOC), the enormous number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections reported during the Omicron surge were accompanied by a lower case-fatality rate. This novel VOC fueled curiosity about the effects of vaccination on both an individual and a community level about whether COVID-19 vaccines intrinsically decreased the risk of severe infection. Research so far has given only a partial picture of the scenario since a majority of mild cases are not hospitalized or not even diagnosed.

About the study

In the present study, researchers determined whether vaccination status was related to the severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in hospitalized patients.

A retrospective, multicenter investigation was conducted across 14 hospital centers in Bulgaria, Croatia, France, and Turkey. Notwithstanding the reason for hospitalization, hospitalized patients having a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis between 1 December 2021 and 3 March 2022, were included in the study. A patient was deemed fully vaccinated if that were immunized with a minimum of one Ad26.CoV2-S injection, two ChAdOx1-S, and/or messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccines such as tozinameran and elasomeran, with the last dose administered at least 14 days prior to the PCR diagnosis.

Results

The study cohort included 1215 hospitalized patients, 746 of whom had received all vaccine doses, whereas 469 had received none. Most vaccinated patients who had complete records of their vaccinations had either received solely tozinameran or a combination of the two mRNA vaccines. More than two dosages were administered to 395 patients. Although no significant variance was noted between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients with respect to the number of comorbidities, vaccinated patients were more likely to be slightly older, be men, and have specific comorbidities.

Unvaccinated patients displayed more severe COVID-19 infections and were more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 than any other reason that was incident with diagnosis of an asymptomatic COVID-19. Furthermore, their lung involvement was comparatively extensive on computed tomography (CT) scan. Unvaccinated patients also needed oxygen supplementation more often, for longer periods at a higher flow. They were also more likely to require immunomodulatory therapy, including steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Notably, the vaccine's protective impact was more prominent at an older age.

The primary outcomes considered included oxygen supplementation, the requirement for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 28-day mortality. In bivariate analysis, patients who were older, were male, and had comorbidities were significantly linked to one or more negative outcomes. Multivariate analysis showed that the protective effect of immunization was maintained with respect to oxygen requirement, ICU admission, and the risk of death. Vaccination also mitigated and essentially eliminated the detrimental effects of several comorbidities. Kidney failure, solid or hematological cancer, and older age were independent risk factors that could lead to more severe outcomes, including death. Only the need for oxygen was significantly impacted by pulmonary illnesses, which tended to have a negative effect on the result.

Compared to Delta-infected patients, Omicron-infected patients showed less severe infection, irrespective of their vaccination status. Regardless of vaccination status, Omicron-infected patients had significantly lower median C-reactive protein (CRP) and extended lung lesions on CT scan, were less likely to need oxygen supplementation, steroid therapy, high-flow oxygen therapy, ICU admission, and had lower 28-day mortality rates.

In multivariate analysis, infection with the Omicron VOC was linked to fewer deaths, lesser need for oxygen therapy, and fewer ICU admissions. Immunization against SARS-CoV-2 and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection also protected disease severity. The interactions observed between vaccination and immunosuppression showed that protection elicited after vaccination against the need for ICU admission was reduced among immunosuppressed patients. On the other hand, the interaction noted between vaccination and a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed that patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infections may benefit less from immunization.

Conclusion

Overall, the study findings showed that vaccination with adenovirus-based and mRNA-based vaccines were significantly effective against the severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection.

*Important notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A fault in cells that form a key part of the immune system can be repaired with a pioneering gene editing technique, finds new research demonstrated in human cells and mice, led by UCL scientists.

Researchers say the study, published in Science Translational Medicine, could lead to new treatments for a rare disease of the white blood cells that normally help to control the immune system  known as regulatory T cells  and those that protect the body from repeat infections and cancer  known as effector T cells.

Patients with the condition, known as CTLA-4 insufficiency, carry mutations in a gene that cause these T cells to function abnormally. It leads them to suffer from severe autoimmunity, where their immune system attacks their own tissues and organs, including their blood cells.

The condition also hampers their immune system's 'memory', meaning patients can struggle to fight off recurring infections by the same viruses and bacteria. In some cases, it can also lead to lymphomas, a type of blood cancer.

In human cells, using 'cut' and 'paste' gene editing techniques, using the CRISPR/Cas system, the researchers were able to target the faulty gene in T cells taken from patients with CTLA-4 insufficiency and repair the errors. This restored the levels of CTLA-4 in the cells to those seen in healthy T cells. They were also able to improve symptoms of the disease in mice with CTLA-4 insufficiency by giving them injections of gene edited (corrected) T cells.

Co-senior author, Professor Claire Booth, Mahboubian Professor of gene therapy and pediatric immunology at UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, said: "It's really exciting to think about taking this treatment forward to patients. If we can improve their symptoms and reduce their risk of getting lymphoproliferative disease this will be a major step forward. This particular paper is important because we are using the newest gene editing techniques to precisely correct these T cells, which is a new approach in inborn errors of immunity."

CTLA-4 is a protein produced by T cells that helps to control the activity of the immune system. Most people carry two working copies of the gene responsible for producing CTLA-4, but those who have only one functional copy produce too little of the protein to sufficiently regulate the immune system.

Currently, the standard treatment for CTLA-4 insufficiency is a bone marrow transplant to replace the stem cells responsible for producing T cells. But transplants are risky and require high doses of chemotherapy and many weeks in hospital. Older patients with CTLA-4 insufficiency are typically not well enough to tolerate the transplant procedure.

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Professor Booth said: "Our approach has many positive aspects. By correcting the patient's T cells, we think it can improve many of the symptoms of the disease, at the same time as being much less toxic than a bone marrow transplant. Collecting the T cells is easier and, correcting the T cells is easier. With this approach the amount of time in hospital the patients would need would be far less."

The gene editing approach, developed by the UCL researchers, uses the Nobel-prize winning gene editing technology CRISPR/Cas9 to target and snip the faulty CTLA-4 gene in two. Then a corrected sequence of DNA is delivered to the cell using a modified virus. This is then pasted over the faulty part of the gene using a cellular DNA repair mechanism known as homology-directed repair.

This allowed the researchers to preserve important sequences within the CTLA-4 gene  known as the intron  that allow it to be switched on and off by the cell only when needed.

Genes that play critical roles in controlling immune responses are not switched on all the time and are very tightly regulated. The technique we have used allows us to leave the natural (endogenous) mechanisms controlling gene expression intact, at the same time as correcting the mistake in the gene itself." Professor Emma Morris, Co-Senior Author, Professor of Clinical Cell and Gene Therapy and Director of UCL's Division of Infection and Immunity

The study was led by Dr Thomas Fox, a Wellcome Trust Clinical PhD Fellow at UCL, and built on work by Dr Pietro Genovese at Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorder Center in Boston, Massachusetts, who is one of the authors on the study.

Although CTLA-4 insufficiency is rare, the research team say the gene editing therapy they have developed for tackling the disease could be a proof of principle of their approach that could be adapted to tackle other conditions.

Professor Morris added: "It's a way of correcting genetic mutations that could potentially be applicable for other diseases. The bigger picture is it allows us to correct genes that are dysregulated or overactive, but also allows us to understand much more about gene expression and gene regulation."
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The French University of Rennes has added the poetry of Bahraini poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa to its curricula thanks to the efforts of a group of professors of modern literary criticism at the university.

Dr. Shukri Maimouni, a member of the National Council of Universities at the Ministry of Education, translated into French a book by Dr. Abdul Sattar Jami, professor of modern literature at the French University of Rennes, in which he collected research and studies from twelve researchers from different Arab and foreign countries.

The book, "Structures and Visions : Readings from the Poetry of Ali Abdullah Khalifa", was printed by (L'Harmattan) in Paris.

The book was translated by Dr. Meri Asel, Professor of Curriculum Design in English at Henry Ford College and was printed by iUniverse in Michigan.

The Abdulrahman Kanoo Cultural Center recently organized a major event of writers and translators, where the poet Ali Abdullah Khalifa read a selection of his poems to a large audience from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

The guests took turns talking about the experience and their interaction with the poet's texts, and received copies of the book.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding) has appointed the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the worlds leading management consulting firms, to assist in the development of a National Energy Strategy for Bahrain and build a supporting Operating Strategy for nogaholding and its portfolio companies.

This announcement comes as nogaholding undergoes a strategic transformation in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the sector.

The National Energy Strategy and the Operating Strategy will facilitate and drive the transition of the nogaholding Group of companies from a traditional oil and gas only focus into a more progressive and responsible group of energy companies.

The Strategy will also pave the way and prepare the oil and gas sector for the journey towards delivering a more sustainable, long-term approach aligned with the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 and the Kingdoms net-zero goals outlined by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister at COP26.

To develop the National Energy Strategy, a Steering Committee will be appointed and will include senior officials from various ministries and other key stakeholders.

Group Chief Executive Officer of nogaholding, Mark Thomas, commented: nogaholding is committed to transitioning its operations and aligning them with the aspirations of the Government of Bahrain and His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majestys Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of nogaholding.

By working closely with BCG, we aim to deliver energy security, maximize the value of Bahrains natural resources, while also decarbonizing and moving to alternative energy sources over the next decade.
The Japan Railways group says four of its group companies will introduce peak fares for Shinkansen trains and limited express services during the busiest travel seasons.

JR Tokai, JR West, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu will raise the fare for express reserved seats by 400 yen for peak season travel in the fiscal year that begins next April.

JR East and JR Hokkaido have already introduced this type of fare system.

The peak season includes the spring holiday period known as Golden Week, the Bon summer holidays, as well as the yearend and New Year holidays. The group says the price hike is aimed at easing congestion.

The Tokaido, Sanyo and Kyushu Shinkansen lines and some limited express trains will apply the new rates.

The group companies currently charge 200 yen more during the high season and 200 yen less during the low season. The group plans to extend the low season by 25 days per year to encourage people to travel outside the peak periods. ...continue reading
A descendant of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, is due to step down as the head of the clan at the end of this year and hand the role to his son.

Sources close to the family say 82-year-old Tokugawa Tsunenari, the 18th and current head of the Tokugawa family, has decided to step down, citing his age. His eldest son, Iehiro, 57, will take over. Iehiro currently serves as the director of the Tokugawa Memorial Foundation.

Tsunenari, who became head of the family in 1963, established the foundation in 2003 to preserve and exhibit cultural property and documents associated with the clan, which ruled Japan during the Edo period, between the early 17th and late 19th centuries. ...continue reading
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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.

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.

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. [email protected]

[email protected] 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.
FERNIE, BC, Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville, along with Katrine Conroy, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kootenay West and Minister Responsible for Columbia Basin Trust, announced a $1.41 million investment from the federal government through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund toward construction of a 35-unit apartment building in Fernie.

Govt of Canada logo (CNW Group/Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Located at 302 (A-D) 13th Avenue, the project will be a mix of affordable rental housing serving priority groups including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, and single people and families with low to moderate incomes.

The Province of British Columbia and the Columbia Basin Trust are providing a combined grant of approximately $4.57 million while the Fernie Family Housing Society is providing $151,000 in land equity for the apartment building.

This investment by the Government of Canada was made possible by the National Housing Strategy's (NHS) National Housing Co-Investment Fund.

In addition to the 35-unit apartment building, North End Court will feature 14 townhouse units. The Province is providing approximately $1.4 million from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund and annual operating funding of approximately $71,000 for the 14 townhouse units.

Quotes:

"Every Canadian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. By investing in affordable housing here in Fernie and across Canada, our government is working hard to create jobs and improve quality of life for those who need it most. Thanks to today's announcement, 49 seniors, families and persons with disabilities will have access to affordable homes. This is our government's National Housing Strategy in action."  The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion

"This investment from the Government of Canada's National Housing Co-investment Fund is improving the quality of life for all those who will call North End Court their home and has made Fernie a better place to live. When people have a secure and stable home, they gain the confidence they need to succeed and fulfill their potential."  Taleeb Noormohamed, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville

"Families and seniors in Fernie will benefit from more affordable housing, right in their community, close to their loved ones, schools, and the services they count on thanks to the federal government, Columbia Basin Trust and the Fernie Family Housing Society. Through partnerships like this, our government is continuing to build homes that make life more affordable for people, in rural areas and across the province."  Katrine Conroy, MLA for Kootenay West and Minister Responsible for Columbia Basin Trust

"The Fernie Family Housing Society consists of a small group of volunteers working to provide affordable housing to the citizens of Fernie. Since 2001 we have completed 2 projects which provided 59 units for seniors, people with disabilities, and low income families. We are now nearing completion on our third project which will provide an additional 49 units. Each of our projects has depended on grants from the CMHC for the development of affordable and accessible units, and we are grateful for CMHC funding which has helped to generate grants from other levels of government."  Gayle Vallance, President, Fernie Family Housing Society

Quick facts:

This project is part of the more than 35,000 new homes that are complete or underway for people in BC through provincial government investments made since 2017.

The Community Housing Fund is part of the Province's 10-year, $7-billion housing plan.

housing plan. The fund is an investment of $1.9 billion to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes over 10 years for moderate- and low-income families and individuals.

to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes over 10 years for moderate- and low-income families and individuals. More than 8,800 of these homes are already open, under construction or in development across the province.

The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults.

is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults. With a budget of $13.2 billion , the NHCF plans to:

, the NHCF plans to: Create up to 60,000 new homes



Repair up to 240,000 homes



Create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence



Create at least 7,000 new homes for seniors



Create at least 2,400 new homes for people with developmental disabilities

Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units.

in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units. The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home.

Related links:

As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, visit: www.placetocallhome.ca

Check out the National Housing Strategy Housing Funding Initiatives Map to see affordable housing projects that have been developed across Canada.

To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/.

A map showing the location of all announced provincially-funded housing projects in BC is available online at: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC.

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

For further information: Arevig Afarian,Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]; Ministry of Attorney General and Responsible for Housing, Media Relations, 236 478-0251; BC Housing, Media Relations, [email protected]
VANCOUVER, B.C., Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - University Canada West is delighted to announce that it will present an Honorary Doctorate to Matt Vickers at its Fall 2022 Convocation ceremony later this month.

Mr. Vickers (Gunaatsk) is an accomplished businessperson who has been at the forefront of establishing links in a cross-cultural business environment in Canada for more than 40 years.

Matt Vickers (CNW Group/University Canada West)

As Director and Chief Executive Officer of NorthernNations Cooperative, Senior Associate with IMC and Managing Director of Indigenous Engagement with Hillcore Group, Mr. Vickers is responsible for developing strategy and advancing new business opportunities with First Nation communities.

Throughout his career, Mr. Vickers, who is of Tsimshian, Heiltsuk, Haida and English heritage, has worked in a broad base of industries, including First Nations, arts and culture, financial institutions, healthcare, government and information technology.

Before taking on the role of President and Chief Executive Officer for Eagle Dancer Enterprises Limited in 1992, Mr. Vickers owned and managed Vickers & Associates, a management consultancy. There he became known as one of the top Aboriginal administrative managers in Canada with a successful track record of matching the needs of Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal potential business partners in organizing and developing business ventures.

Mr. Vickers is a founding member of the Administration of Aboriginal Government Program  a certificate program at the University of Victoria. At UVic, he also was a member of the President's Advisory Council on Aboriginal Issues. Mr. Vickers served on the President's Advisory Council on Aboriginal Issues at Simon Fraser University and as a founding board member for the Chinook Program at the University of British Columbia.

Mr. Vickers was a Senior Manager with Royal Bank Financial Group, where he assisted in developing their Aboriginal Banking program. In 1999, Mr. Vickers and Royal Bank Financial Group received an End Racism Award from the Government of British Columbia for the Cross-Cultural Awareness Training sessions that Mr. Vickers developed and delivered nationally and internationally. Mr. Vickers has also received the Distinguished Service Award  Human Rights from the Vancouver Multiculturalism Society and the Outstanding Tsimshian Achievement Award from the Vancouver local Tsimshian Tribal Council.

In September 2022, Fulbright Canada announced Mr. Vickers as one of the co-chairs of the Honouring Nations Canada Circle of Advisors. Honouring Nations Canada was established to recognize, celebrate and share stories of Indigenous achievement and promote and encourage opportunities for Indigenous persons.

Over the years, Mr. Vickers has held and continues to hold, various appointments, including Commissioner for the BC Forest Resources Commission, member of the Provincial Task Force on the Environment and Economy in BC, member of the Provincial Devolution Committee (Assembly of First Nations), Director of the Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR) Art Foundation, Director for the Native Fishing Association, External Thought Leader for the Auditor General of BC and member of the Vancouver Chief of Police's Advisory Committee.

"We are thrilled to bestow an honorary doctorate on Matt Vickers, recognizing his important contributions to Canada and Canada's Indigenous people over the past four decades," said UCW President and Vice-Chancellor Sheldon Levy. "His commitment to creating an enduring legacy that will educate and impact the world is not only an inspiration to all of us at UCW, but to many others in Canada and around the world."

Mr. Vickers will receive the Doctor of Laws degree during UCW's Fall 2022 Convocation ceremony at The Centre on Friday, October 28.

About University Canada West (UCW)

University Canada West (UCW) is an innovative business and technology-oriented institution in Vancouver, Canada, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees for domestic and international students.

UCW offers a range of career-focused programs including, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication, Associate of Arts and Master of Business Administration. Courses are offered at our two downtown Vancouver campuses  our West Pender Campus in the heart of Vancouver's financial district and our new Vancouver House Campus.

SOURCE University Canada West

For further information: For media inquiries or to arrange an interview contact Jessica Kerr, UCW Public Relations Manager, at [email protected]
The Canadian company celebrates a key milestone in its environmental, social and governance commitments. The September 2022 re-certification highlights the evolution of its carbon solutions potential and the impact on its business ecosystem over the past few years.

BELOEIL, QC, Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - In September 2022, Will Solutions obtained its B corp re-certification, recognizing the company for another 3 years, until September 2025, alongside leading organizations and companies in sustainability and social engagement. Determined by the B Corp movement, the minimum score to achieve certification is 80/200. In 2019, Will Solutions' score was 83.5. In 2022, our score was re-evaluated at 143.7 , the highest score the company has ever achieved, highlighting the breadth and evolution of its social, environmental and governance (ESG) impact. In particular, the report highlights the model's impact on the environment, communities, employees and customers.

Score methodology

Based on an independent international standard, the B Corp assessment aims to stimulate private sector commitment to sustainability and the greater good. By creating this rich, qualitative performance indicator that is aligned with the issues of our time, B Corp stands for a transition to a regenerative economy. For its assessment, B Corp gathers, evaluates and certifies organizations that apply for its certification according to 5 main sections: communities, employees, environment, governance and customers. After answering more than 200 questions, the notion of impact on environmental, social and governance criteria is then detailed by section and by the attribution of points, with a maximum total score of 200.

"B Corp certification is an integral part of our brand image. Thanks to the rigour, expertise and transparency of its evaluation processes, B Corp and its certification are recognized by all stakeholders in society. This is tangible, third-party evidence of foremost importance to us, as it highlights our environmental and social commitment and the quality of our actions to date. Added to this, we are part of a pioneering corporate movement on ESG values. This has many benefits for us, such as networking, identifying key partners in line with our vision and improving our employer brand", said Martin Clermont, President of Will Solutions Inc.

Key points of impact

Will Solutions has been recognized as one of the companies that excel on these forward-looking criteria. The section below summarizes the impact by calculation section:

Community section : based on a community and social vision, we were notably recognized for our 'giving model' and our 'contribution to local economic development'.

: based on a community and social vision, we were notably recognized for our 'giving model' and our 'contribution to local economic development'. Employees section : through a positive business model for sustainable development, we enable our employees to have a career in line with their core values

: through a positive business model for sustainable development, we enable our employees to have a career in line with their core values Clients section : we design accessible and high value-added services for tomorrow's companies, aware that environmental management is a responsible and ethical choice, but also an economic one, which allows them to anticipate climate regulations, build a competitive advantage and optimize their value chain.

: we design accessible and high value-added services for tomorrow's companies, aware that environmental management is a responsible and ethical choice, but also an economic one, which allows them to anticipate climate regulations, build a competitive advantage and optimize their value chain. Environment section: we have been recognized for democratizing, facilitating and encouraging climate commitment. We create sustainable communities of eco-responsible actors and provide them with economic support. Finally, we have been carbon neutral ourselves since 2007.

we have been recognized for democratizing, facilitating and encouraging climate commitment. We create sustainable communities of eco-responsible actors and provide them with economic support. Finally, we have been carbon neutral ourselves since 2007. Governance section: Will Solutions has been recognized as a 'protected mission' by the B Corp movement, demonstrating the quality and potential of its core mission.

Thus, between 2010 and 2019, through its Sustainable Community project (a cluster of small projects), Will Solutions contributed to reducing more than 6.4 million tons of CO 2 e equivalent (CO 2 e). Between 2020 and 2029, we are aiming to reduce 34 million tons of CO 2 e. In addition to this impact, Will Solutions qualifies projects, quantifies, and verifies greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions to market and rewards the reduction efforts of willing and committed actors.

Following these recent successes, the Canadian company will continue to leverage the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) for climate action. Other key milestones, such as the opening of a new Sustainable Community in Ontario, the addition of the transportation sector to its methodology, and the tokenization of its carbon credits should further accelerate the scale of climate action by Will Solutions and the stakeholders of its ecosystem.

Will Solutions Inc. is a privately held, Canadian company headquartered in Beloeil, Quebec. The company is active in the voluntary carbon markets (VCM) sector through its Sustainable Community. Will Solutions has a social philosophy based on sharing. It has two major axes: democratize access to carbon credits by pooling local GHG reduction projects carried out by SMEs, municipalities and NPOs, and return as much money as possible to these partners following the sale of carbon credits by Will Solutions. The company's name reflects its desire to promote voluntary climate initiatives that go beyond standard practices and government regulations. Will Solutions has been carbon neutral since 2007 and is committed to donating 10% of its net income to community projects that support sustainable development.

SC is a project to democratize access to voluntary carbon markets that is validated under the VCS program administered by VERRA. SC is the first cluster project out of more than 1800 projects validated under this program that aggregates GHG reductions in a one-stop shop for its members. The community cluster business model of hundreds of micro GHG reduction projects is intended to be a catalyst for local action to engage a variety of stakeholders. In July 2020, Sustainable Community was awarded the Solar Impulse label, recognizing effective and efficient solutions to protect the environment.

B Corp certification measure corporate performance on indicators richer than profit alone. With more than 5,000 certified organizations worldwide in over 80 countries, B Corp is a visionary movement that is reinventing the role of organizations toward a more environmentally responsible, inclusive, equitable and regenerative business model.

SOURCE Will Solutions

For further information: Martin Clermont | President of Will Solutions Inc. | solutionswill.com/en/, 514-990-2124 (extension 6) | [email protected]
The Leader, Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Struggle, Prof Banji Akintoye, on Thursday, claimed that the All Progressives Congress presid...

The Leader, Yoruba Nation Self-Determination Struggle, Prof Banji Akintoye, on Thursday, claimed that the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubus ambition was for personal interest.

He said with his emilokan which meant I am the next person statement, it was obvious Tinubus mission to become Nigerias president was personal and not for the welfare of the Yoruba people.

Akintoye, who is a Professor of History, disassociated himself from an interview he granted two years ago where he had endorsed Tinubu for president, saying the former Lagos State governor was contesting at the wrong time.

In a statement on Thursday, Akintoye clarified that he is not endorsing Tinubu and would not vote for the former governor during next years election.

The self-determination group leader also chided other Yoruba politicians seeking elective offices, saying they were doing so at the expense of Yoruba people seeking emancipation to achieve the Yoruba Nation.

According to him, I have no personal animosity towards any Yoruba person seeking election. But I am sorry for you. You are creating a legacy that your childrens children will be ashamed to know about very soon in the future of the world.

The statement read, Our brother, Tinubu, you are fighting for yourself alone when your whole family is perishing. There is fire on our roof as a nation. It is unbelievable that any Yoruba man would do to his people what you are doing to our people now. You have been carrying around a video of an interview that I granted Alaroye in the campus of Obafemi Awolowo over two years ago. They asked me that if there was no struggle for self-determination and you want to recommend a Yoruba person for President of Nigeria, who would I recommend? And I said yes! If that is so, I would recommend Tinubu, without any hesitation. But that is if the times are right, the times are not right, you know, I do not endorse any Yoruba man, Tinubu or any other for any elected position, any position at all in Nigeria at this time. I stand fully and without looking back, with the Yoruba struggle for self-determination for our own country, for Yoruba nation now!

Thats the truth of the matter. Dear Tinubu, please dont deceive yourself. You cannot deceive our people. You think you can carry that kind of video around and deceive our people, our people are smarter than that. The world is watching you. Our history will judge that at a time when our nation needs to stand up and defend itself, you started to bring up an agenda. A personal agenda of your own before them. You are asking us to vote for you. We will not vote for you. Whether it is for the Presidency or the Senate or House of Rep or whatever, we will not vote for you. We would have taken our country out of Nigeria by then. So, we advise you now to return to your people. I am advising you now, return to your people and wash your soul clean. You are doing a thing that is unpardonable.

Tinubu, you are destroying the Yoruba future. You are creating a legacy for yourself that your childrens children will be ashamed to know in the future. We ask you to return. You can still save yourself now and your future. We are determined to take our country. And Im standing solidly with the young people who are running around trying to take their country. Oh! you might say they are fighting themselves, thats what young people do everywhere. That does not mean that they dont want their country, they want their country. And the Lord God, the creator of All Nations, has given them that country, and very soon, the Lord will deliver their country into their hands. Then it will be their duty to settle down and begin to do for their people the kind of government that Yoruba people have been giving to their people from the beginning of time, a government whose objective is the improvement of the life of the people of our nation.
The Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has admonished Senator Enyinn...





The Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has admonished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, to abandon his ambition to return to the senate for fifth term or risk outright rejection by the electorates in the 2023 general elections





He was speaking against the backdrop of exchange of political brickbats by political leaders, critical stakeholders and socio-political groups over Abaribes decision to seek reelection in 2023 to represent Abia south senatorial district for fifth term in the red chamber of the National Assembly.





Recall that Senator Abaribe, who was an Abia governorship hopeful, had in May withdrew from the conducted Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries





He also resigned as the Minority Leader in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, citing illegality, impunity, and hesitations in decision-making as reasons for dumping the PDP.





This development is consequent upon the shameful display of illegality, impunity and undemocratic decision of the party and after due consultations with my constituents, he added





On 27 May 2022, Senator Abaribe confirmed that he had joined the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to pursue his fifth term ambition to the senate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.





However, Isiguzoro, who hailed from Obingwa Local Government Area which formed Abia south senatorial zone, while speaking with journalists in Umuahia on Thursday, ruled out Abaribes decision to return to the senate for a fifth term, and regretted that the federal lawmaker has failed to justify the mandate entrusted to him by the people, especially towards enhancing their social welfare, and complementing the positive efforts of well- meaning Abians to raise the bar in Infrastructure in Abia south senatorial zone.





He said, The National Assembly, particularly the Senate, is not the birthright of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. He has remained in the senate for the past sixteen years, and has equally done his best. At this point in time, there is an important and urgent need for Abaribe to leave the political stage for other people with the needed and requisite capacity and expertises, to speak and attract necessary federal presence or Infrastructures in Abia south. He has played his role in nation- building, and advancing the course of igbo nation for better developmental welfare packages, and inclusion in governance which are highly celebrated and appreciated by Ndigbo at home and in diaspora.





Ill advise him to jettison his ambition to seek fifth term in office, and relinquish the Abia south senatorial seat to someone track records of performance in public or private sector, because we, the people from Abia south cannot afford to reelect or allow Senator Abaribe for 5th term, it will not help in our collective and positive efforts, and desire to deepen democratic process in the country.
Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna central Senator, has reacted to the security threat in Abuja. Sani said terrorists dont reveal the date, p...





Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna central Senator, has reacted to the security threat in Abuja.

Sani said terrorists dont reveal the date, place and time they would strike.

His comment is coming against the backdrop of security reports by the United States, United Kingdom, Canadian and Australian Embassies that there is an elevated risk of terror attacks in Nigerias capital city.

The warnings said attacks would be aimed at government buildings, places of worship, schools and other centres where large crowds gather.

Reacting, the former lawmaker observed the increased security presence in Abuja.

In a tweet, Sani urged Nigerians to be vigilant.

He tweeted: Even though the FG dismissed the US security alert, Ive noticed some increased security presence in the capital city. Terrorists dont announce the date, place and time they will strike. We must just keep vigilance.
Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu was only after Atiku Abubakars mon...

Minister of State for Labour, Festus Keyamo said Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu was only after Atiku Abubakars money.

Festus Keyamo is the spokesperson of the Bola Tinubu-Kashim Shettima Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

Momodu, who holds the same position in the PDP campaign, had called Keyamo a nuisance and a figurehead in the Buhari administration.

In reply, Keyamo called the publisher a miserable fellow that overrated himself but crashed like a wingless bird from a futile presidential ambition.

The minister said Momodu and ended up as an hyperactive hireling and attack-dog of perhaps the worst serial loser in Nigerias electoral history.

Keyamo noted that his opponents only CV to make an attempt at the presidency is no more than mere photo ops with celebrities and the high-and-mighty in society.

This is the sad story of a hopeless clown in his sixties, desperately looking to pick whatever pieces are left of his life by shamelessly worming his way into the pockets of Atiku Abubabar.

The APC chieftain said Momodu made himself available to execute dirty jobs against his long-standing benefactor, Bola Tinubu.

Keyamo said Momodu was quick to don the toga of freedom fighter on behalf of ex-Lagos governor Akinwunmi Ambode for not getting a second term ticket in APC in 2018.

The Senior Advocate noted that despite serving as a PR consultant to Ambode, Momodu came out to praise Tinubu on October 26, 2019 in his column.

Keyamo said Momodu operates from the lowest rung of moral debauchery, adding that the PDP official is a man who provides his next meal ticket.

Atiku is the latest victim of this con man. If by Gods grace Asiwaju wins the presidency next year, expect Mr. Momodu to do another somersault by shamelessly composing another Oriki (praise), the statement added.
A former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere has been abducted. It was learnt that he is among several other commuters ki...





A former Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Dr. Dan Shere has been abducted.





It was learnt that he is among several other commuters kidnapped along the Enugu-Ugwuogo Nike-Nsukka Road on Thursday.





Shere, a medical doctor, served under the administration of former Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani.





A source told our correspondent that the Enugu politician was travelling to Nsukka for a meeting when the gunmen attacked him alongside other travellers.





One of the survivors, who shared a video of the attack, said the gunmen were about eight in number.





They shot severally at our vehicle; one of us was hit by the bullets. But our driver managed to move on. We succeeded in taking the victim to the hospital, he narrated while thanking God for saving him and four others from the same community.





Meanwhile, it was gathered that the kidnappers, who are said to be Fulani herdsmen, have increased their ransom demand on those they earlier picked on Sunday.





They earlier demanded the sum of N2m on one of the victims but they have now increased it to N30m. They search the phones of the victims to know their status, the source said.





Returning students of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, who were abducted on Sunday are also yet to be freed.





An enquiry sent to the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe has not been returned as of the time of filing this report.
The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Borno State, Joseph Icha has warned that the misuse of hard drugs can ...





The Commandant of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Borno State, Joseph Icha has warned that the misuse of hard drugs can cause instant death to commuters.





The Commandant, who was speaking Tuesday in Maiduguri during the 2022 ember month enlightenment by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) called on commuters in the State to avoid drug abuse entirely during the yuletide celebration.





Icha noted that it was in the interest of all, both the drivers and the passengers to flee completely from misuse of drugs or alcohol if they wished to stay alive.





Also speaking the representative of the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bello Fago called on stakeholders to imbibe what has been taught to them during the enlightenment campaign.





He remarked that the main concern of commuters during the period under review should be overspeeding, purchase of inferior spare parts, especially breaks and of course misuse of all manner of hard drugs.





The Commissioner of Transportation, Abubakar Tijani, who represented Governor Babagana Zulum commended the FRSC for keeping faith with the people all these years of the lingering insurgency in the State.





I must commend you for helping us in keeping our people alive in spite of our numerous security challenges on our roads.





We are also happy with you for keeping the synergy with other security agencies alive. We are aware of the vulnerability of some of the roads in the State yet you continue saving lives and properties on a daily basis, he said.





On overloading by commuters, Zulum called on various groups in the motor parks to initiate new strategies to bring the menace to the nearest minimum.





Sector Commander, Boyi Utten also called on commuters to ensure they make defensive driving their watchword while using the roads.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Daewoo Group, a South Korean conglome...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Daewoo Group, a South Korean conglomerate, for the rehabilitation of the Kaduna refinery.

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2022 World Bio Summit on Thursday in Seoul, South Korea

The summit is a gathering of health experts, heads of international organisations and leaders of top biopharmaceutical firms.

According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari, who witnessed the signing ceremony, was excited as it came against the back of ongoing rehabilitation work at Warri refinery.

Daewoo Group has massive investments in the automobile, maritime and other sectors of our economy, Adesina quoted Buhari as saying.

I am also aware that Daewoo is currently engaged in the execution of the NLNG train seven project and also constructing sea-going LPG vessels for NNPC and her partners.

The president said he looks forward to the delivery of ongoing projects, especially at the Warri and Kaduna refineries, and the NLNG Train Seven.

This no doubt will open many more windows of opportunities for Daewoo and other Korean companies in Nigeria, he said.

I thank you for your faith in Nigeria.

In August 2021, the federal executive council (FEC) approved $1.48 billion for the rehabilitation of both Warri and Kaduna refineries.

Desmond Inyamah, acting managing director, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), had said the refinery will commence full operations in December 2023.
A family member of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Services, DSS, of d...





A family member of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has accused the Department of State Services, DSS, of detaining the Biafra agitator in a torture chamber.





Kanunta Kanu, one of the brothers of the agitator, said Kanu had not been released despite court orders.





He was reacting to the Federal High Court in Umuahias ruling that Kanu is returned to Kenya.





The court ruled that Kanus extraordinary rendition was against his fundamental rights.





It ordered that the IPOB leader should be restored to the state he was in before the Kenyan arrest and extraordinary rendition last year.





Recall that Kanu was arrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria last year.





The Nigerian Government was accused of subjecting the IPOB leader to extraordinary rendition last year.





Upon his return to Nigeria, Kanu was locked up by the Department of State Services, DSS, while subjecting him to legal tussles.





To this end, Kanus Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, instituted a legal action against the Nigerian Government.





On Wednesday, the court granted all the seven prayers sought by Ejimakor.





Reacting, Kanunta tweeted: Some people are having the notion that #MaziNnamdiKanu has being released from detention the answer is NO, he is still in DSS torture chamber.





When will @NGRPresident and @GovNigeria obey the court orders? @StateDept @FCDOGovUK @CanadianPM @EU_Commission @UN @UKParliament.
Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, has distanced himself from the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (...

Samuel Ortom, Benue state governor, has distanced himself from the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer.

Ortom said he has no input in the composition of the campaign council and as such he will remain on his own.

The governor spoke on Tuesday in reaction to Abubakars comments on his criticisms against the Fulani ethnic group.

Recently, Abubakar, in a political rally in Kaduna state, accused Ortom of profiling the Fulani people living in Benue as bandits and terrorists.

I had a big quarrel with Governor Ortom on his accusation of Fulani people. I am a Fulani man, why should you categorise all Fulani; we have to improve ways and manner we look after our livestock. I am angry with Samuel Ortom for profiling Fulani as bandits and terrorists, Abubakar had said.

In response, Ortom said he only accuses migrant Fulanis from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya and Chad as perpetrators of attacks in Benue.

He said Atiku, who is seeking to be elected president, should not make wrong assumptions about a sitting governor.

Ortom said he has written to Atiku to request an apology for the negative profiling.

I have never profiled any Fulani I have always qualified anytime I call Fulani  these are Fulani from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania, Libya, Chad who have come together to say they will take over our country to become their own and that is why they have displaced our people. And who on earth would say I should not say that? I am a governor of Benue state, Ortom said.

More than two million people have been displaced so why should I not talk about those enemies killing my people? I remain committed.

I have sent a message to our presidential candidate telling him that he was unfair to me when he made those remarks in Kaduna. And I told him I needed an unreserved apology from him. And the following morning he chatted back and accepted what was said, he is not arguing it, but all the same, he apologised.

It was not correct for a presidential candidate who is seeking to rule the people to say that kind of thing.

It was very wrong. And it would appear that he doesnt even reference me and consider me to be the governor of my state.

I am not in his campaign team. The people they appointed there, no consent from me. So Ill remain on my own. But Im waiting. When the election comes, we shall vote the election according to the election.

Meanwhile, a group known as MINDA Leaders of Thought has described Abubakars comments about Ortom as baseless, reprehensible and condemnable.

The group also announced the withdrawal of his support for Abubakars presidential ambition.

Ortom has so far failed to attend any of the presidential campaign rallies of the PDP.

The Benue governor has repeatedly joined Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Seyi Makinde of Oyo and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu to demand the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu as the chairman of the major opposition party.
Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo, says he was not consulted before he was appointed as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party ...

Olusegun Mimiko, former governor of Ondo, says he was not consulted before he was appointed as the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign council committee in the state.

The PDP had recently appointed Mimiko to lead the presidential campaign in Ondo, with Roland Omowa and Eyitayo Jegede as chairman and vice-chairman, respectively.

Mimikos appointment had stirred speculations that the former governor has withdrawn his support for his associate, Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, who has been demanding the resignation of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the party.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday by John Akinduro, his special assistant on media, Mimiko said his consent was not sought before he was appointed.

The former governor said he fully supports the agitations of Wikes camp that the leadership structure of the party should cut across the different zones in the country.

Dr Olusegun Mimiko has been inundated with calls and messages from the general public, and his political friends and concerned individuals around the nation; and in particular, his teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ondo State, seeking clarity on fake news making the rounds since yesterday that he had ditched Governors Nyesom Wike, Seyi Makinde and their colleague governors, and abandoned the agitation for regional equity within the PDP; and in particular, making a party member of southern extraction its national chairman before the 2023 election, the statement reads.

The report and the list that triggered it are fake and a deliberate attempt to muddle things up and smear Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

It must be stated with emphasis that Dr Mimiko was neither consulted by anyone nor consented to his inclusion in any Ondo state PDP Presidential Campaign Council list.

For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, Dr Mimiko is unwavering in his commitment to the principle of equity, fairness and justice through which he believes a credible push for a PDP victory is possible.

He fully subscribes to the agitation by his colleagues and other stakeholders in PDP and the generality of Nigerians that the PDP structure must reflect Nigerias diversity if it genuinely wants to unify a visibly divided country.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a political party in South Africa, has asked the United States (US) embassy in the country to provide...

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a political party in South Africa, has asked the United States (US) embassy in the country to provide evidence of its claim of possible terrorist attack in South Africa.

On Wednesday, the US government issued a security alert warning its citizens about the possibility of terror attacks in South Africa.

The US had said it received information that terrorists may be planning to attack large gatherings of people in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Saturday.

The embassy, however, added that it had no further information regarding the timing, method, or target of the potential attack.

The warning for South Africa came hours after the US warned its citizens in Nigeria about possible terror attacks in parts of the country.

The US had said the federal capital territory (FCT) stands a high risk of attacks, and that terrorists may target government buildings, places of worship, schools, and markets.

There was also no further intelligence shared on the nature of the attack.

So far, the action has been condemned by the Nigerian federal government, which said it will not be stampeded by the security alerts and described the warning as clickbait.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Sinawo Thambo, EFFs spokesperson, the party asked the US government not to cause panic in South Africa and share evidence of its claim on the possible terror attack.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calls on the USA Embassy in South Africa to provide evidence for its claims of a possible terrorist attack in Santon,  the statement reads.

The United States foreign missions are well known to be information peddlers, embedded in international terrorist networks.

It is also a historic fact that the USA invaded Iraq based on faulty intelligence: this action alone unleashed the greatest human rights violation by a government since the holocaust.

For all we know, the CIAs agents working with terrorist groups are the ones staging the terrorist attack so as to destabilise our country. Alternatively, the claim seeks to impact the international reputation and standing our country as one which is terrorist infested.

It is not the first time that the USA South Africa embassy makes such a warning related to Sandton. Even then, they could never back it up with credible evidence.

We reject these warnings as part of a self-made plot to destabilise our country and damage its reputation.

If the USA really seeks to protect lives they must cooperate openly with our agencies and share evidence of their claims.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy skies. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low near 25F. Winds light and variable.
Smash your jack-o'-lantern to pieces at the Pumpkin Smash so it can be used as compost
Author Rien Fertel to discuss his new 'Brown Pelican,' a tribute to the Louisiana state bird
In this wonderful world, there are famous people, there are superfamous people  and then there is Louis Armstrong, who is in so many ways in 
The midterm elections on Nov. 8 will have a profound impact on our nation as well as our state and city, but for different reasons. The national balance of power hangs precariously on the outcomes of several dozen key Senate and House races  all of them outside Louisiana.

Locally, the ballot features an important amendment to the New Orleans City Charter, eight amendments to the Louisiana Constitution, a key state Senate contest in Orleans and Jefferson parishes, and races for state Public Service Commission, local judgeships, clerk of First City Court, and one seat on the Orleans Parish School Board. Early voting runs from Oct. 25-Nov. 1.

Louisianas clownish U.S. Sen. John Neely Kennedy, a Republican, faces Democrats Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers and several unknowns. Kennedy is a prohibitive favorite, though he doesnt deserve to be. The same is true of 1st District U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, the powerful GOP Whip who has mostly used his post as a megaphone for his blind fealty to Donald Trump and the Big Lie (See Editor John Stantons take here). We make no endorsements in those contests.

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, the freshman Democrat from New Orleans, also is virtually unopposed. We endorsed Carter in the 2021 special election, and his record since then shows why he earned that endorsement.

The most important local race is the special election in state Senate District 5 between Democratic state Reps. Royce Duplessis and Mandie Landry. The district stretches from the CBD through Central City, Gert Town, Carrollton and Uptown to parts of Metairie. Both Duplessis and Landry are staunchly pro-abortion rights and reliably progressive. The main difference between them, in our view, is their ability to work with fellow legislators to get things done for New Orleans. For that reason, we recommend Royce Duplessis.

Since his election to the state House in 2018, Duplessis has authored significant but hard-to-pass legislation on criminal and juvenile justice reforms, access to mental health services, womens health, voting rights, local economic development, tenants rights and more. That is no easy task for a liberal Democrat who champions abortion rights and opposes GOP efforts to limit minority representation and voting rights. Duplessis impressive legislative accomplishments show that he has gained the respect of his colleagues on the other side of the aisle while distinguishing himself as an effective advocate for his city and his constituents.

Elsewhere, we previously stated why we support the City Charter amendment to give the New Orleans City Council authority to vet and approve top mayoral appointments. We also explained our support for state constitutional amendments 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8, and our opposition to amendments 1, 3 and 7. You can see those reasons on our site. Gambit does not endorse in judicial elections; we believe judges should be appointed based on merit. We also take no position this time on the contests for Public Service Commission, First City Court Clerk, and Orleans Parish School Board.

We urge all our readers to vote early before Nov. 1  or vote in person on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Find information about your ballot and polling location at geauxvote.com.

The Gambit Ballot

Vote early by Nov. 1 or in person on Tuesday Nov. 8

State Senate District 5

Royce Duplessis

State Constitutional Amendments

Amendment 1

State investments in stocks  No

Amendment 2

Disabled veterans exemption  Yes

Amendment 3

Allow civil servants to campaign  No

Amendment 4

Rural water district rate relief  Yes

Amendment 5

Lower local property taxes  Yes

Amendment 6

Cap NOLA assessment hikes at 10%  Yes

Amendment 7

Eliminating forced servitude  No

Amendment 8

Property tax relief for disabled people  Yes

New Orleans Charter Amendment

Allow City Council to vet & approve mayoral appointees  Yes
The music has finally resumed in the Marrero Middle School band room, after a group of music foundations teamed up to replace the instruments Hurricane Ida damaged last year.

The Guitar Center Music Foundation, Save the Music Foundation and Music Rising gave the band the new instruments at a ceremony on Sept. 30. And the students got to debut them with a performance of When the Saints go Marching In with members of the Preservation Hall Collective.

For some of the band students, it wasnt their first time playing with the Preservation Hall Collective. Over the summer, some Marrero Middle School students and other local students recorded an album of jazz standards with Preservation Hall greats over the summer.

But without the bulk of their instruments, over the last year band director Jeremy Williams has had to stick to teaching the around 100 Marrero band students music theory. In a video by the Guitar Center, he said class just wasnt the same.

Music is not supposed to be about worksheets, Williams said. Its an organic experience that you feel, you live and you do it  but without an instrument, how do you do any of that?

The school provides instruments at no cost to its band students, as almost all of the schools students are considered economically disadvantaged by the Louisiana Department of Education. About half of the students at the Jefferson Parish middle school are Black, 23% are white and 18% are Hispanic.

+2 'Absolute devastation:' Ida leaves Marrero Middle School band without working instruments Ever since the school reopened after Hurricane Ida, the band room has been a lot quieter.

As the band has grown over the years, Williams told Gambit last year, he and his wife have found and purchased additional instruments so more students could play.

Replacing the instruments was a team effort. Artist Josh Wingerter held a fundraiser at his gallery last November to raise money for new instruments. He reached out to the Guitar Center foundation, which then gave students a new drum line, brass instruments and lockers in which to store their instruments. Music Rising and Save The Music Foundation donated several dozen instruments as well.

Myka (Miller, the executive director of the Guitar Center Music Foundation) is basically giving the entire band and each child a new voice and a new hope, Williams said.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story stated the students performed with members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a touring band. They performed with members of the Preservation Hall Collective, which does not tour.
Also, Xiaomi has included a 3.5 mm jack and NFC, but only MIUI 13 based on Android 12, not Android 13. The Redmi Note 12 is orderable in China now, with the handset available from CNY 1,199 with 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Alternatively, Xiaomi offers the Redmi Note 12 with 6 GB of RAM, 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage for the following prices:
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 attempts by Meadows and others to influence the results of the 2020 election.

Meadows involvement in a Dec. 21, 2020, meeting with Trump and others to discuss the certification of Electoral College votes from Georgia and his visit the following day to the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, where absentee ballot signature matches were being made, showed that Meadows should be questioned in the investigation, Willis said.

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 also said.

A spokesman for Willis did not pick up the phone or return a voicemail.

In court filings, Meadows argued that even if the petition for an appearance wasnt dismissed, Meadows is not a material witness because of constitutional protections such as executive privilege.

Meadows 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 President Donald Trumps White House or were allies of 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 Giuliani was a necessary and material witness.

Brasher also concluded Graham was a key witness but Graham continued fighting the ruling and the U.S. Supreme Court blocked it, at least temporarily, on Oct. 24.

From The Epoch Times
Indiana and LaPorte County both struggle with high infant mortality rates.

Franciscan Health Foundation board members sought to address the issue by raising more than $19,400 for the Prenatal Assistance Program in Michigan City at a recent reception.

They succeeded in matching an anonymous $15,000 contribution.

This combined educational and fundraising reception was completely the idea of two of our incredible Foundation Board members who toured our Prenatal Assistance space this summer and were moved to raise awareness of and funds for the program, Franciscan Health Foundation Director of Development Debbie Tatum said. We cant thank them enough for hosting this amazing event.

Board members Kelly Shikany and Jennifer Hogberg hosted the fundraiser at the Franciscan Health Michigan City legacy campus at 301 W. Homer St. The former St. Anthony's Hospital is where Franciscan's Prenatal Assistance Program is located.

Im a lifelong resident of Michigan City and its really important to me that this community is the best it can be, Shikany said. Its about doing the best we can for women and their children. When we have healthy families, it impacts the whole community.

Indiana also ranks eighth nationwide for infant mortality. The infant mortality rate in LaPorte County exceeds both the state and national averages, standing at 11.7%.

I want to ensure that every single woman out there who is pregnant or parenting has the supportive services that they need to not only be successful in their own role but to mitigate and reduce any risks that may be generationally passed on to their children, Franciscan Health Community Health Improvement Director Danielle Crowder said.

Franciscan Health launched its prenatal assistance program in Crown Point in 2002, eventually expanding it to Hammond, Rensselaer and Michigan City. It's a multidisciplinary program. Case managers and paramedics ensure moms get access to round-the-clock support during their pregnancy and after childbirth.

Theyre helping mothers and infants get the care they need so we can have healthy moms, healthy babies and healthy pregnancies, Franciscan Health Michigan City President and CEO DeanMazzoni said.

Hogberg said the Michigan City Prenatal Assistance Program benefits the community.

It was so impactful, Hogberg said. Looking at the need is a real driver and the people here care so deeply.
HOBART  An asbestos analysis is the next item to address for an apartment building thats been shut down since July for multiple code violations.

Hobart building official Karen Hansen said several items have been completed, including surface-mold and air-quality testing, related to a do-not-occupy order at the apartment building, 215 East St.

Hansen said the mold and air tests produced acceptable results.

Eleven families were displaced when the notice was issued.

James Yannakopoulos, an attorney representing apartment owner Joe Gore, said his client wants to move on to electrical work at the building. He said the city is requiring an asbestos analysis before that can start, but he believes it isnt necessary because the electrical work doesnt affect areas where asbestos is.

To require the entire building to be tested for asbestos when work will not be done in the entire building goes above and beyond what I believe is normal, Yannakopoulos said at a recent Board of Works and Safety meeting.

Hansen said there are asbestos concerns in other areas of the building. She said she recently received a call from Gore to meet him and an asbestos inspector at the apartment building. When she arrived, she was informed that the inspector wasnt licensed for inspections in Indiana, but the person patched asbestos on a pipe in the basement.

Its important that we follow the initial order, Hansen said. Were not raising our bar at all.

Yannakopoulos said he recognizes that asbestos around pipe was addressed prior to completing an inspection.

That was encapsulated immediately to avoid any issues, he said.

The board decided to stand by the initial order and make no modifications, so the asbestos analysis must be completed.

The matter will be reviewed again during the board's Nov. 2 session, and Hansen believes the asbestos work could be finished by then.

If the asbestos analysis is done, the city could issue an electrical permit. Hansen said the order also requires HVAC enhancements.

Gores legal team has said the HVAC system was updated before Gore bought the building and it was in compliance with city code when it was installed by the previous owner.

They believe the system should be grandfathered in because it met city standards when it was installed.

Hansen said Hobart has no record that permits were issued when the HVAC system was installed. Hobart also has no documentation that it was up to code when Gore purchased the building, so the system must be updated to meet the current standards.
What started out as a friendly recommendation letter for a co-worker seeking a new job is roiling Lake County Democratic politics less than two weeks before Election Day.

The letter, signed by Lake County Councilmen Ted Bilski, D-Hobart; David Hamm, D-Hammond; and Al Menchaca, D-Gary, praises Lake County Councilman Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, as an effective advocate for his district who always is willing to work across party lines to get things done.

"Dan is a doer. He does not care who gets the credit, he just wants to work and be a problem solver. We can honestly say Dan was a huge asset on the Lake County Council," the Democrats say in the letter about their colleague, who also serves as Lake County Republican Party chairman.

The problem? Dernulc is running for Indiana Senate this year against state Sen. Michael Griffin, D-Highland, in one of the most competitive Statehouse races in Northwest Indiana.

In the past few days, Dernulc's campaign has mailed a flyer featuring the Democrats' testimonial to selected voters in the 1st Senate District, spurring charges of disloyalty, and worse, by Democrats throughout Lake County toward the three councilmen who signed it.

Each of the councilmen, in separate interviews with The Times, said they have nothing against Griffin. They just think district voters living in Highland, Griffith, Dyer, Schererville, St. John, unincorporated Calumet Township and southwestern Merrillville should get to know Dernulc from people who have worked alongside him on the county council for up to 12 years.

"Dan and I are friends. It goes above politics. I see him as a very level-headed guy that likes to look at issues based on facts. There's times that Dan and I don't agree," Hamm said. "But we never let that affect anything because we always know we're doing what we think is right for the people."

"I'm a little surprised that they're faulting me for supporting a friend who I think does a great job that happens to be of the other party," he added.

Bilski, likewise, said he doesn't understand why Democrats are criticizing him for working across the aisle and getting along with fellow elected officials.

"It just doesn't make sense why this is so blown out of proportion," Bilski said. "I don't think you pick a tribe and you never have to work outside your tribe the rest of your life. I think we have to learn to work with one another."

"Dan did a fine job up here. Dan is not a bad person. I'm not going to villainize somebody just because they have an 'R' or 'D' behind their name," he added.

Menchaca insisted he's had no second thoughts about signing the letter. Though he doesn't consider it an endorsement, merely an acknowledgment Dernulc worked well with others while serving on the county council.

At the same time, Menchaca said he ran into Griffin at a Democratic Party event Tuesday night and Griffin refused to speak with him  "He was not a kind person, I'll put it that way. He walked away and mumbled a little bit and I'm sure it wasn't good things."

"With that being said, I don't think Mike Griffin is the right guy," Menchaca said. "I've been involved in politics a long time and I know that certain things get taken out of context a little bit, and sometimes there's nothing better than having a conversation. And he refused to do that."

Griffin did not respond to a request for comment about the controversy.

However, Griffin previously complained Dernulc's campaign mailers and television ads misconstrue his voting record during the nine months he's served in the Indiana Senate after being chosen by Democratic Party leaders to succeed former state Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond, following his retirement.

Meanwhile, Lake County Democratic Chairman Jim Wieser is alleging Dernulc traded favors, "Chicago-style," with the letter writers by agreeing to support the 2023 county budget and ensuring they wouldn't face Republican opposition at the general election.

All three Democratic councilmen and Dernulc deny those allegations: "There wasn't a deal," Dernulc said.

In fact, the deadline for Dernulc to fill general election ballot vacancies in his role as county GOP chairman was July 5. The letter wasn't signed until Sept. 1.

Menchaca isn't even on the Nov. 8 ballot after being defeated in the May 3 Democratic primary. While Hamm and Bilski are unopposed for reelection, only two of the seven county council seats, and just a single countywide office, have Republican candidates running this year.

Similarly, the new county budget was unanimously approved Oct. 11 by all five Democratic and two Republican council members following a bipartisan, weeks-long process of evaluating department needs and crafting an appropriate spending plan.

"Why is a person of the opposite party ever going to work with you if you punch him in the nose when you're done talking to him?" asked Bilski, the council president. "We put together one of the best budgets that I think the county has ever had this year."

Dernulc echoed those sentiments. He said Lake County is in good financial shape because of bipartisan efforts at both the county council and the Board of Commissioners.

"I think we're all in it for the right reasons, and I'm going to really miss being on the council in that regard," Dernulc said. "I think we all need to try to work together, instead of against each other, and that's what that letter basically says."

Wieser isn't convinced. He contends the letter says much more about the three men who signed it than about its subject, and he's heard from numerous town and city party chairmen across the county outraged the councilmen would write approvingly about Dernulc as he's trying to take out a Democratic state senator.

"This thing smells and I don't like it at all," Wieser said. "Their explanations are so fanciful that it makes no sense."

"You know what, I think Dan Dernulc is a nice guy too. Would I ever support him for an elected office? Hell no! Especially against an incumbent state senator who is one of the finest public officials I've ever known, and clearly one of the finest human beings I've ever known," Wieser said.

Wieser acknowledged he has no formal authority over the councilmen in their elected positions. But he does, as county party chairman, have the authority to remove Hamm and Menchaca as Democratic precinct committeemen if they no longer support the party.

He said he's been urged by numerous Lake County Democrats to do that as soon as possible. But Wieser said he's decided to wait until after Nov. 8 to avoid interfering with the party's get-out-the-vote efforts.

"We're going to get Michael Griffin elected and we'll deal with it right after the election," Wieser said.
GARY  Discussions were lengthy but far less contentious during the fourth and final committee meeting dedicated to reviewing legislation that would reform the Gary Police Department.

The stack of 17 ordinances first came before the Common Council at the end of August, about five months after it was announced that the police department would be partnering with Indiana State Police. The goal of the partnership has been to evaluate the entire Gary Police Department and determine what changes should be made and what resources are needed.

ISP Major Jerry Williams has been working out of the Gary unit since the end of April.

The majority of the proposed ordinances relate to the hiring, firing, promotion and discipline of officers. The legislation also clarifies the role of the police chief. The city is in the final stretch of a months-long search for a new chief. Brian Evans, formerly the deputy chief, has been serving as interim chief for about two years.

When the legislation was introduced, Common Council President William Godwin, D-1st, said he felt the council had been excluded from the drafting of the ordinances. The council and members of the Police Civil Service Commission also said the ordinances gave too much power to the chief and, ultimately, the administration because the mayor selects the chief.

The council's grievances were discussed during three Public Safety Committee meetings. In the second meeting, ISP Superintendent Douglas Carter called the council's intense questioning "semantics," a characterization Godwin said was "disrespectful."

However, council members have met with ISP in the weeks since, making revisions and compromising on much of the legislation.

During a Public Safety Committee meeting Tuesday that lasted more than four hours, all 17 ordinances were reviewed. They still vest the majority of the authority to hire, promote, fire and discipline with the chief, but the commission would be more involved in the processes.

The spirit of all these ordinances is not having to rely on the timing of anybody but the chief and to a certain extent the commission," City Attorney Rodney Pol said.

One of the biggest proposed changes would affect the Gary Police Department's disciplinary practices.

The police chief can only place an officer who violates standard operating procedures on unpaid leave for five days. Beyond that, the chief has to send a verified complaint to the commission and launch an internal investigation. Throughout the investigation, the officer must either continue to work or be placed on paid leave.

The ISP originally proposed giving the chief the authority to place officers on unpaid leave for up to six months. After discussions with the commission and council members, the maximum amount of unpaid leave was reduced to 30 days. However, the officer can appeal the suspension to the commission. Any unpaid suspension lasting longer than five days cannot begin until the commission has reviewed the appeal.

Allowing the commission to certify many of the police chief's decisions is not about who has the power, commission attorney Rinzer Williams said.

"This is all about checks and balances," Williams explained, adding that he believes "placing all the trust in one entity" is "dangerous."

Based on the desire for more commission involvement, the ordinance dictating hiring interviews was revised. Under the original legislation, applicants would interview with a panel of officers selected by the chief; however, the draft was edited to include commission members.

Councilman Clorius Lay, D-at-large, said he does not think the commission should sit in on interviews because "the people most capable of hiring is the police department."

"I wholeheartedly agree with Councilman Lay," Jerry Williams, the ISP major, said. I would caution you to be careful with trying to involve too many people in what should be a structured interview process.

Similarly, Lay opposed an ordinance allowing officers to appeal to the commission if they take issue with the results of their annual performance review.

It should stop with the police department, he said. "The police department should know more about the person than the commission."

A public hearing for half of the 17 ordinances is set for the Nov. 1 council meeting; the second half will be discussed Nov. 15. The Common Council will be able to vote during the two meetings on final changes they would like to see.
Seamus Hughes, a terrorism expert at George Washington University who closely tracks court cases, uncovered the filing and posted it on Twitter.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to say on Thursday what led to the inadvertent disclosure. It was made in a recently unsealed filing in an apparently unrelated sex-crimes case charging a man named Seitu Sulayman Kokayi with coercing and enticing an underage person to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Mr. Kokayi was charged in early August, and on Aug. 22, prosecutors filed a three-page document laying out boilerplate arguments for why his case at that time needed to remain sealed.

While the filing started out referencing Mr. Kokayi, federal prosecutors abruptly switched on its second page to discussing the fact that someone named Assange had been secretly charged, and went on to make clear that this person was the subject of significant publicity, lived abroad and would need to be extradited  suggesting that prosecutors had inadvertently pasted text from a similar court filing into the wrong document and then filed it.

Another procedure short of sealing will not adequately protect the needs of law enforcement at this time because, due to the sophistication of the defendant and the publicity surrounding the case, no other procedure is likely to keep confidential the fact that Assange has been charged, prosecutors wrote.

They added, The complaint, supporting affidavit, and arrest warrant, as well as this motion and the proposed order, would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connection with the charges in the criminal complaint and can therefore no longer evade or avoid arrest and extradition in this matter.

The Justice Department has been studying how to charge Mr. Assange or WikiLeaks with some kind of criminal offense since the site began publishing its trove of secret military and diplomatic documents. Prosecutors, for example, toyed with the idea of charging Mr. Assange as a conspirator in Ms. Mannings crime of unauthorized disclosure of secrets related to national defense. And it eventually became public that a grand jury in the Eastern District of Virginia was investigating people with links to WikiLeaks.

But even as the Obama administration brought criminal charges in an unprecedented number of leak-related cases, it apparently held back from charging Mr. Assange. Members of the Obama legal policy team from that era have said that they did not want to establish a precedent that could chill investigative reporting about national security matters by treating it as a crime.
Mr. Adams pointed to his experience working with Ms. Kavanagh on the response to a deadly fire in the Bronx in January and to members of the department who died this year.

Ms. Kavanagh, 40, will oversee 17,000 employees, including firefighters and emergency medical workers, and units such as 911 dispatch operations. As of August, there were 141 female firefighters, the most in the history of the department.

News of Ms. Kavanaghs appointment was first reported by The Daily News on Wednesday evening.

Ms. Kavanagh was named interim commissioner in February after the previous commissioner, Daniel A. Nigro, retired. She had served as his first deputy and had earlier held several other positions in the department after joining in 2014, according to her profile on LinkedIn.

As Mr. Adams named Ms. Kavanagh commissioner, he highlighted his commitment to promoting women. She was joined onstage by more than a dozen other top female officials, including Lorraine Grillo, the first deputy mayor; Keechant Sewell, the police commissioner, and Jessica Tisch, the sanitation commissioner.

Under his administration, there is no glass ceiling, the mayors longtime adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin told reporters.
Issue-wise, the big faux pas of the evening actually came from Oz, who flubbed his answer to an abortion question. The good doctor has, um, evolved since he was dispensing medical advice on TV. He was slightly vague but apparently pro-choice back then. Once he became an ambitious Republican politician, he discovered he was 100 percent pro-life. Now that hes running in a general election, hes trying to jump back to the old between-a-woman-and-her-doctor territory.

Sort of. On stage this week, he called for a decision made by women, doctors, local political leaders 

Hmm, how many of you want to bring the local political leaders into this? May I see a show of hands?

Oz seemed unthrilled about being asked if hed back Donald Trump for the 2024 nomination. Which was a little ungrateful, given that he was probably on stage only because Trump had endorsed him in the Republican primary.

Bringing up the former president was yet another reminder that our main concern right now is about which party wins control. If you want a Senate thats going to reject anything that comes out of a Biden White House, feel free to consider the Republican candidates. Otherwise, come on 

I know, its tough. Voters have less than two weeks to make a choice, and in a fair world theyd be able to think about more than that One Big Thing. What about Fettermans long-term prognosis? After the debate, his spokesman said he did great tonight for a man who was in a hospital bed just several months ago. Thats true, but its not a qualification voters would want to hear for the next six years.

You certainly hope hell at least be able to get up and go to work. But whatever his condition, dont express your concern by helping turn the Senate over to Mitch McConnell.
Dear Kanye West, or Ye:

Weve never met and I hope we never will.

Still, Id like to express a sort of gratitude. With a few outbursts in a few days  you threatened in a tweet this month to go death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE and its been downhill from there  youve probably done more to raise public awareness about the persistence, prevalence and nature of antisemitism than any other recent event.

Its remarkable how long it took us to get here. For 2020, the F.B.I. reports that Jews, who constitute about 2.4 percent of the total adult population in the United States, were on the receiving end of 54.9 percent of all religiously motivated hate crimes. On many nights in New York City, Hasidic or Orthodox Jews are being shoved, harangued and beaten.

So far, this has been one of the most underreported stories in the country  itself a telling indicator in an era that is otherwise hyper-attuned to prejudice and hate.

At times, the reporting has all but accused Jews of bringing the violence on themselves, with lengthy stories about allegedly pushy Jewish neighbors or rapacious Jewish landlords. At other times  such as after the attack in January on a Texas synagogue by a British Muslim man who had traveled 4,800 miles to get there  reporters seem to have gone out of their way to find non-antisemitic motives for nakedly antisemitic attacks.
An elephants trunk has 40,000 muscles and weighs more than a Burmese python. The appendage is strong enough to uproot a tree, yet sensitive enough to suction up fragile tortilla chips.

But how does an elephants brain help accomplish these feats of dexterity? That has been difficult to study, according to Michael Brecht, a neuroscientist at the Humboldt University of Berlin. Weighing in excess of 10 pounds, the elephants brain degrades quickly after death and is a hassle to store. I tend to think that the big animals are a bit neglected because we dont do enough work on big brains, Dr. Brecht said.

Dr. Brecht and his colleagues were fortunate enough to gain access to a trove of elephant brains from animals that had died of natural causes or were euthanized for health reasons and ended up either frozen or in a fixative substance at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin.

In a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, Dr. Brecht and his colleagues reported that elephants had more facial neurons than any other land mammal, which might contribute to trunk dexterity and other anatomical abilities. The study also helped to pinpoint major differences between the neural wirings of African savanna elephants and Asian elephants.
We have enjoyed and continue to enjoy terrific bipartisan support for our approach to Ukraine and the kinds of security assistance that were providing, and were going to need that support going forward, Mr. Kirby said. The presidents not worried about that.

Biden allies said Democrats had proved to be self-correcting when it came to the progressives letter but urged the president to explain his strategy to the public and the stakes involved.

This is a difficult and dangerous situation that requires staying power and to some extent sacrifice on the part of the United States, said Representative Tom Malinowski, Democrat of New Jersey and a staunch supporter of Ukraine aid. Its always important for the president to be making the case to Congress and to the American people that this is in the national interest and the right thing to do.

Still, as the war grinds on, in Europe it feels more and more like an American venture. American contributions of war materiel and money exceed those of all the other allies put together, and American strategy choices are dominant, aided by the brutality of the Russian war, the bravery of the Ukrainian government and military and Mr. Putins clear disinterest in negotiations, let alone a Russian withdrawal.

In these European countries, there is quiet worry that Ukraine will do so well as to drive Mr. Putin into a desperate gamble of escalation  a worry not unknown in Washington, too. For the Germans and the French, a settlement along the lines that existed before the Feb. 24 invasion would seem quite sufficient  a defeat for Mr. Putin but not a rout. The fear is that too big a loss of face for Russia would push Mr. Putin into using nuclear weapons in some fashion, or a dirty bomb conventional explosive with radioactive material that could be blamed on the Ukrainians in order to justify a significant escalation.

That is a major reason that Germany and France seem to be carefully calibrating the sophistication of the weapons they send to Ukraine, as Mr. Biden does too. Europe has pretty much run out of Soviet-era weapons to send to Ukraine, and its own stocks, intended for its own defense, are also low, a function of the post-Cold War peace benefit that caused military spending to plummet all over the continent, a trend only slowly being reversed in earnest.

There is a significant disparity between the flood of arms supplied by the United States, Britain, and Poland and what the rest of Europe is providing, which has raised the persistent question of whether some countries are slow-walking supplies to bring about a shorter war and quicker negotiations.
A 29-year-old Maryland man who federal prosecutors said was one of the first rioters to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced Wednesday to five years of probation by a federal judge who cited the mans autism as an extenuating circumstance.

During his statement to the court, the man, Nicholas Rodean, struggled to explain his conduct on Jan. 6. Judge Trevor McFadden of U.S. District Court in Washington asked if he would ever do something like this again, according to Politico. No, Mr. Rodean replied.

Federal prosecutors had sought a sentence of 57 months in prison. During the attack, they said, Mr. Rodean used a flagpole and a small round object to break two panes of glass in a window, which became the entry point for many rioters.

Mr. Rodean also had a hatchet, which he put away after being asked to by a police officer. Federal prosecutors said that he was the 15th rioter to enter the Capitol and was one of the last rioters to leave.
WASHINGTON  Justice Elena Kagan on Wednesday temporarily blocked a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol for phone records of Kelli Ward, the chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party.

Justice Kagan, who oversees the appeals court that refused to block the subpoena, issued an administrative stay meant to preserve the status quo while the Supreme Court considers the matter. As is the courts practice, she gave no reasons.

Justice Kagan ordered the committee to respond to Ms. Wards emergency application by Friday. That was an indication that the full court would rule on the matter.

Inquiries into efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election have given rise to all sorts of litigation, but relatively little of it has reached the Supreme Court. That may be changing. The justices are also considering whether Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, must answer questions from a special grand jury in Georgia investigating efforts to overturn former President Donald J. Trumps election loss in the state.
I think it will have a negative impact on Fetterman because he didnt really answer the accusations very well, Mr. Kirk said. And for people who are merely going to listen and not really think it through for themselves or check the research, unfortunately, I think Fetterman might have lost a few independent votes.

Megan Crossman of South Philadelphia said she was mostly worried that other voters would conclude that Mr. Fetterman is not up to the job.

Im a physician, so that doesnt necessarily mean his cognitive skills are off, its just his ability to get the words out, she said. But it does make me concerned about what voters who are less familiar might think.

Russell Greer, 75, of Butler, Pa., said he was a Republican who intended to vote for Mr. Fetterman. He said he didnt think Dr. Oz  whose longtime principal residence was in New Jersey  had lived in Pennsylvania long enough to understand the state or its people, and he has followed Mr. Fettermans career.

But the debate, he said, was hard to watch.

I think he was forced into that debate to quell different opinions, and I think he didnt, Mr. Greer said. I think it made it worse.

He said he watched Mr. Fetterman and Dr. Oz debate for about 15 minutes. Then he turned it off.

Jon Hurdle and Kim Lyons contributed reporting.
Mr. Patel repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In response, prosecutors asked a top federal judge in Washington to compel Mr. Patel to answer questions  a move Mr. Patels lawyers have strenuously opposed. The question now is whether the Justice Department will grant him immunity in order to secure his testimony.

Mr. Trump first learned that Mr. Patel had invoked the Fifth Amendment when The New York Times reported it on Monday, according to a person briefed on the matter. Mr. Patel, who served as a top aide in the Pentagon at the end of Mr. Trumps term, has publicly amplified misleading narratives about previous Justice Department investigations into the former president and has become an increasingly influential adviser to him since he left office.

Even if Mr. Trump had declassified the documents at issue, it would not change his exposure to two of the crimes the Justice Department is investigating, including obstruction of justice. Before the F.B.I. search of his residence found 103 documents marked as classified, Mr. Trump had received a subpoena for documents with classification markings. He appears to have defied that subpoena regardless of whether he declassified the files, since they still bore classification markings.

Still, if Mr. Trump could show that he declassified the documents it would make a prosecution less appealing to senior Justice Department officials, who want as strong and clear a case as possible if they take the extraordinary move of charging a former president. Prosecutors would have to make a more complicated and legalistic case that he had flouted secrecy laws.

As a centerpiece of his defense in the court of public opinion, Mr. Trump has suggested that he declassified all the material he had in his possession. Asked by the Fox News host Sean Hannity about what procedures he supposedly had used, Mr. Trump replied that presidents do not need to follow ordinary procedures and could even declassify materials with their minds.

Mr. Trumps office also claimed in a statement to a pro-Trump writer that he had issued a standing order under which anything he took out of the Oval Office and up to the White House residence  from which boxes later went to Mar-a-Lago  automatically became declassified.

But former Trump national security officials say they never heard of any such order and deemed the concept of declassifying documents without anyone tracking them incoherent.
WASHINGTON  The American secretary of state said on Wednesday that the United States would re-evaluate its relationship with Saudi Arabia over the kingdoms decision to support Russia by agreeing to cut oil production next month, a move that the White House has asserted helps Moscows war effort against Ukraine.

Saudi leaders decided earlier this month to join Russia in leading a cartel of oil producers to announce cutting production by two million barrels a day, which could raise prices and help Russia. Moscow is spending heavily on its war in Ukraine.

The secretary, Antony J. Blinken, said the United States continued to view the decision announced on Oct. 5 in Vienna by OPEC Plus, a group of 23 oil-producing countries that includes Russia, as wrong.

Weve not been shy about making clear the extent to which we view that as a wrong decision and one that does nothing actually to advance our interests, he said at a talk at the Bloomberg News bureau in Washington. He also said that the re-evaluation of the U.S.-Saudi relationship would be done in a very deliberate fashion, in consultation with members of Congress as the president said, to make sure that the relationship better reflects our own interests.
In a country where sexual assault trials are usually shrouded in secrecy, the case is unusual in that both the plaintiff and defendant have been publicly identified. It has been covered by dozens of journalists providing live updates, putting a rare spotlight on the process, including the grueling cross-examination practices to which accusers in such cases are often subjected, experts said.

The extraordinary publicity the case received has presented issues in a country where the courts are sensitive to outside influences on jurors. Justice McCallum had warned the jury on at least a dozen occasions that they could not seek out media reports or outside information about the trial, and must solely rely on what was presented to them in court.

Ms. Higgins testified that she had blacked out and woken up to find herself on the couch in the defense ministers private suite, with Mr. Lehrmann on top of her. She told Mr. Lehrmann no several times, she said in a police recording that was played for the court. It wasnt acknowledged, she said. He just kept going.

She sat through days of intense cross-examination by defense lawyers, who suggested that she did not actually remember what had happened and accused her of making up the accusation to protect her job. She denied that each time, sometimes defiantly and sometimes in tears.

Mr. Lehrmann did not testify. In a taped interview with the police, he said there had been no sexual contact between them and that he had never entered the defense ministers private suite. When the two arrived at the office, he told the police, he went to his desk and Ms. Higgins went to the private suite, after which I didnt see her again.

He said he spent about 45 minutes preparing some documents for the defense minister, picked up what he needed for the weekend and summoned an Uber.

Ms. Higgins also said she was made to feel she would lose her job if she pursued a police complaint, and that the governing Liberal Party had treated the issue as a political problem with a federal election looming. That claim was vehemently denied by two Liberal Party senators who gave evidence.
KYIV, Ukraine  With the city of Kherson shaping up to be the site of the next major battle in Ukraine, occupying forces there raised the pressure on residents Wednesday to abandon their homes and leave for Russia, warning that if they stayed they would be considered hostile and treated accordingly.

We live, like, in a dystopian movie here, one resident of Kherson, Katerina, 38, said by telephone, asking that her full name not be used for her safety.

As windows rattled from nearby explosions, pharmacy shelves emptied and prices skyrocketed for what few provisions were to be had, Katerina described widespread looting and an increasingly threatening atmosphere.

People are trying to get rid of Russian money as soon as possible, she said.

To make the warning to those who refuse to leave unmistakable, a top Russian proxy official in Kherson released a harrowing video purporting to show a 17-year-old boy being interrogated after he was accused of providing information to the Ukrainian military.
The war in Ukraine is raging, Russian natural gas exports to Europe are dwindling and the winter heating season is approaching. That would seem like a recipe for higher prices, yet the cost of the fuel, which is vital for heating homes and for powering electricity plants and industry, has been plummeting.

The benchmark European price of natural gas this week fell to a level that is more than 70 percent below its record high in August. One of the main reasons for the plunge in prices is that Europe, at least for now, has all the natural gas it needs.

That is because over the summer, Europe went on a global buying spree as Russia, its longtime main supplier, reduced its flow of natural gas.

Across the continent, governments and businesses have aggressively replenished how much gas they are holding in storage. At the urging of European Union officials and at a high cost, energy companies and governments have filled underground caverns and other facilities to more than 90 percent of capacity, compared with less than 80 percent year ago.
KAMIANKA, Ukraine  Little moved in the village of Kamianka, except for a cat bolting from under the rubble of a destroyed house and metal roofing banging in the wind.

Serhii, a livestock farmer, sat slumped beside the burned ruins of his home.

I came here in case I could find anything and to clear up a bit, he said. But there is nothing, he said, gesturing with a sweep of his arm at the wreckage.

The scale of the destruction is staggering across hundreds of towns and villages recently vacated by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine. The few residents who have traveled back into the war zone to check on their property, like Serhii and his wife, Iryna, often stand speechless with dismay before the devastation.

Throughout Ukraine, the war had destroyed or damaged about 120,000 houses and 16,000 apartment buildings by the end of September, according to the Kyiv School of Economics, which estimated overall physical damage at $127 billion. The World Bank, the European Union and the Ukrainian government have estimated recovery costs at about $350 billion.
PRISTINA, Kosovo  For an international art-world gathering, the visitors at Manifesta were younger than what you would expect. Last Thursday, at the Grand Hotel here, dozens of teenage girls roamed the corridors, posing in front of installations and snapping selfie after selfie next to paintings and video works.

Enesa Havoli, 19, said she had never been to exhibitions before, and had decided to give Manifesta a try. Its so beautiful, she added, just yards from an installation by the Dutch artist Mette Sterre that featured a grotesque rubber sea monster.

The 14th edition of Manifesta, a roving 100-day event staged every two years in a different European city, opened in July and runs until Sunday. The Pristina edition, spread out across 25 venues, had become a whole trend among schoolchildren in Kosovo, said Eliosa Jerliu, 15, who was visiting the show with three friends. Since Dua Lipa, the British-Kosovan pop star, had stopped by the exhibition in August and posted about it on Instagram, everyone wants to come here, she added. Jerliu and her friends then headed into a room that the Kosovan artist Laureta Hajrullahu had covered with cotton fluff so that it looked like a cloud. Immediately, the young women struck poses and began taking selfies.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Opening a new contemporary art museum as you enter your 80s in a city not known for contemporary art, when you already have a large museum in Miami, and when cultural institutions all over the country are still recovering from a pandemic contraction, would at first seem foolhardy, if not downright reckless.

But then, the Rubells have never played it safe when it comes to collecting art.

Were crazy, right? said Mera Rubell, on a recent walk through the new museum. Do you think were obsessed?

Donald, her husband, added: Were addicted.

That addiction drove Mera, 79 and Donald, 82  along with their son, Jason, 53, and their daughter Jennifer, age 52, an artist  to amass more than 7,000 artworks over the last half century, making theirs one of the largest and most important collections of contemporary art in the country.
Look again and youll catch whiffs of the Old World. The paintings been done in staggered oils reminiscent of Bruegel. At left, Spaniards loiter in their dour capes and ruffs, eyeing the party. At right, its a Catholic church the couple has just left  a vague stone edifice obscured by the framing, but a house of God.

Like the mitote dance on view here (the Nahua-Spanish hybrid dance that colonial authorities tolerated), the New World was not Spain, and yet Spain touched all.

Folding screens came from Asia, a territory at least partially Spanish since Miguel Lopez de Legazpi conquered the Philippines in 1565. The format of this particular screen, LACMAs curator of Latin American Art Ilona Katzew writes in the excellent catalog, is connected to Asia, the medium of painting to Europe, and the subject matter to the New World. In time, America became such an entrepot among these continents that an eighteenth-century visitor, lending this show its title and theme, called Mexico City the archive of the world.

Colonial Spain is not new to museums. But Archive of the World is rare in that it displays no loans. For 15 years, under Katzews eagle eye, LACMA has been rigorously acquiring. These greatest hits could position LACMA as a major destination for Spanish Colonial art, depending on the outcome of its expansion.
Prices Third Symphony is a work rooted in the traditions of symphonic Romanticism and classical Black composition, simultaneously adding to and expanding the expectations of orchestral technique. A cross-section of Negro life and psychology is how she described it in a letter to Sergei Koussevitsky, the Boston Symphony Orchestras music director, in 1941. That was a year after the symphonys premiere, with Valter Poole and the Michigan W.P.A. Symphony, which was positively received in the Detroit press and even earned a mention in Eleanor Roosevelts syndicated column, My Day.

Prices music, Nezet-Seguin said, is like a great wine that really ages very well. He and the Philadelphia Orchestra released a Grammy Award-winning recording of her First and Third Symphonies last year. Since then, he added, We keep exploring all the finesse and the detail and the language.

Philadelphias recording of the Third is the most high-profile, though not the first. (That was by Apo Hsu and the Womens Philharmonic, released in 2001.) The album comes after decades of artists championing Prices work, including luminaries like Marian Anderson and Leontyne Price, as well as present-day virtuosos like Michelle Cann, Samantha Ege and Randall Goosby, whose live recording of the violin concertos with the Philadelphia Orchestra will be released on the Decca label next year.

Rae Linda Brown, in her book The Heart of a Woman: The Life and Music of Florence B. Price, described the Third Symphony as a reflection of a maturity of style and a new attitude toward Black musical materials. Rather than applying African American music idioms through melody and harmony alone, Price incorporates conventions of form, texture, rhythm and timbre, an approach she also used in her Concerto in One Movement (1934), Violin Concerto No. 1 (1939) and Violin Concerto No. 2 (1952). Her percussion section calls for snare drum, cymbals, triangle, orchestral bells, castanets, wood blocks and sand blocks, to name a few; and she expands the brasses and woodwinds beyond the sets of twos from her earlier works. The first and final movements feature more contrapuntal motion and tonal ambiguity.

Nezet-Seguin said that during a rehearsal, a Philadelphia Orchestra member mentioned that Price probably played a lot of Bach, and that the third movement Juba-Allegros melody seemed to be a reference to Bachs Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. That speaks to another core aspect of her style: her use of the African American musical procedure of signifyin(g), in which older works and forms are referred to and transformed in new, unexpected directions.

The juba dance movement of Prices Third features asymmetrical phrasing, rhythmic complexity and interaction between sections. The cool trio section, with habanera rhythms and a muted trumpet, and her use of a modified jazz progression for the main theme, reflects a creative palette that crosses time, region and culture.
Over two nights at Carnegie Hall, Gustavo Dudamel defied expectations.

Dudamel is the conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic  one of the countrys top orchestras  a collaborator of choice for pop artists like Billie Eilish and the voice of Wolfgang Amadeus Trollzart in the animated film Trolls World Tour.

But at Carnegie, this celebrity conductor refused to take a solo bow, choosing instead to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Los Angeles players and absorb one standing ovation after another as part of their rank. The only thing that made him pop  besides, of course, his megawatt charisma, corkscrew curls and elegantly powerful restraint on the podium  was his white dress shirt amid a sea of black.

Dudamels personal appeal and his ability to fire a citys  and donors  enthusiasm for classical music have landed him on wish lists for the music directorship of the New York Philharmonic if he doesnt renew his contract with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which ends in 2026. (Jaap van Zweden, New Yorks maestro, is leaving in 2024.)

On Tuesday night, Dudamel conducted the New York premiere of Gabriela Ortizs blazing violin concerto Altar de Cuerda, with the stupendous soloist Maria Duenas, and Mahlers First Symphony. The next night, he and his players unveiled two more local premieres  Ortizs brief Kauyumari and, with the violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, Arturo Marquezs Fandango, along with Coplands Third Symphony.
As fascism spread in Europe in the 1930s, Jewish artists and composers struggled to have their music heard. They faced persecution by the Nazis, and were banned by orchestras and cultural institutions because of their Jewish identity. Many fled abroad.

As a result, hundreds of works by promising composers were lost or neglected. But a group of researchers and publishers is now working to ensure that their music is heard again.

G. Schirmer, a major music publishing house, and Exilarte, an organization at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, announced on Thursday an initiative to publish more than 400 pieces by Jewish composers whose careers were disrupted by the Holocaust, making it possible for them to be performed and recorded on a wider scale.

Our understanding of the 20th century is incomplete without these composers, Robert Thompson, the president of G. Schirmer, said in an interview. He added that it was vital to guarantee that composers who were silenced during World War II are not forgotten and their legacies are restored.
A climate protester glued his head to Girl With a Pearl Earring, the famous painting by Johannes Vermeer that was on exhibit at a museum in The Hague on Thursday, the latest in a series of actions by activists that have targeted world-renowned paintings in recent months as the protesters have sought to draw attention to climate change.

The stunts have recently included hurling mashed potatoes at a painting by Claude Monet and splattering soup on a painting by Vincent van Gogh.

Vermeers much-celebrated painting from 1665 is part of the collection at the Mauritshuis, a small museum exhibiting Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 17th century.

The one-minute video clip of the action shows a man coming close to the painting and gluing his head to it. At the same time, another man adheres his hand to the wall next to the artwork and pours a red substance on the first mans head and body.
SEOUL  Samsung Electronics announced Thursday that it had named Lee Jae-yong as executive chairman, officially elevating the heir and longtime de facto leader of the South Korean tech and industrial giant, less than 15 months after he was released from prison for bribery.

Mr. Lee, also known as Jay Y. Lee, had been serving a two-and-a-half-year prison term for bribing a former South Korean president, Park Geun-hye, before he was released on parole in August 2021. About a year later, President Yoon Suk Yeol pardoned Mr. Lee.

Mr. Lee has been running the conglomerate since a heart attack incapacitated his father, Lee Kun-hee, in 2014. Lee Kun-hee, who built Samsung into a global giant, died in 2020, and Lee Jae-yong is his only son.

Forbes has estimated Mr. Lee to have a net worth of $7.2 billion, which it says makes him South Koreas second-richest man.
The Biden administration is mulling further export controls that would clamp down on Chinas ability to gain access to cutting-edge technologies and expects to soon secure a deal for allies to issue their own restrictions on selling such goods to China, a senior Biden administration official said on Thursday.

Those steps would broaden the impact of the sweeping limits the Biden administration announced this month on the sale of semiconductor technology to China. The United States imposed extensive restrictions on the sale of advanced computing chips, chip-making equipment and related products to China, saying that Beijing had used these goods to develop advanced weapons and surveillance systems that ran counter to U.S. national security interests.

In an event at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank, Alan F. Estevez, the under secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security who oversees U.S. export controls, said the measures were motivated purely by the need to protect U.S. national security, not a desire to limit Chinas economic development. He said that his department would enforce the restrictions to their fullest extent, including applying civil and criminal penalties to companies that try to contravene the rules.

When asked if the United States would consider further controls in quantum information science, biotechnology, artificial intelligence software or advanced algorithms, Mr. Estevez said that he was meeting with his staff weekly to discuss such restrictions.
European leaders have been converging on Africas capital cities, eager to find alternatives to Russian natural gas  sparking hope among their counterparts in Africa that the invasion of Ukraine may tilt the scales in the continents unequal relationship with Europe, attracting a new wave of gas investments despite pressure to pivot to renewables.

In September, Polands president arrived in Senegal in pursuit of gas deals. In May, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, came seeking the same thing and in recent weeks told the German Parliament that Europes energy crisis necessitated working together with countries where there is the possibility of developing new gas fields, while keeping pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With the war, its a U-turn, said Mamadou Fall Kane, energy adviser to the president of Senegal. The narrative has changed.

The flurry of European overtures has led to new or fast-tracked energy projects, with talk of more to come. The hope in African capitals is that Europes appetite will mean the financing of gas facilities not just for export but for use at home. In parts of the continent, the economic stakes are enormous.
Teaching the procedures used for abortions has long been a required element of the OB-GYN residency curriculum in the United States.

We feel that abortion, or evacuating the uterus, is a core procedure for OB-GYN. Its also used for management of miscarriages and complications of pregnancy like infection and bleeding, said Dr. John Combes, a spokesman for the council, which accredits more than 12,000 medical residencies. So its a technique that has to be learned.

To avoid running afoul of state laws that restrict abortion, a program can maintain accreditation by arranging for residents to do a clinic rotation in a state where abortion is legal, the council said. But some program directors fear that route could also be fraught with legal peril.

More than two dozen program directors and residents in abortion-restrictive states declined to be interviewed by The New York Times about their plans, citing the advice of lawyers. Those who did speak emphasized that they did so on their own behalf and not as representatives of their institutions.

Some faculty said that with lawmakers increasingly looking to block citizens from getting abortions out of state, they feared that establishing out-of-state training could make them vulnerable to private lawsuits or even charged with aiding and abetting a crime. Attorneys general from Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, among the states that ban abortion, did not respond to requests for comment about whether they would press such cases.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do, and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

On a gorgeous afternoon this month, I was walking through Greenwich Village in Manhattan, enjoying a day off. My phone vibrated with a text from a friend, alerting me that Medieval Twitter (yes, its a thing) was abuzz with breaking news about  Geoffrey Chaucer. The author of The Canterbury Tales. Who has been dead for more than 600 years.

Specifically, new information had emerged about a rape charge made against Chaucer in 1380, which had shadowed his reputation since it surfaced 150 years ago. But now, previously unknown legal documents (held in deep storage, in a British salt mine) seemed to show that the earlier information had been misinterpreted  and there had never been any rape charge against Chaucer at all.

It was the biggest Chaucer-related discovery in nearly 30 years  the equivalent, one scholar joked, of a Beyonce album drop.

Standing on the sidewalk, I sent a message to my editors and started sending out inquiries the next morning. Within two days, my story was online  and then it landed on the front page of The New York Times. It may have been a rare turn in the headlines for Chaucer. But for me, it was just another typically atypical day on the beat.
Lesson Overview

Featured Article: Over 370 Republican Candidates Have Cast Doubt on the 2020 Election

In many ways, the 2020 election was like any other presidential election in the United States. Millions of Americans voted, the results were tallied by the individual states, and a winning candidate was sworn into office as the new president.

However, in other ways, the 2020 election was different from any previous election in American history. Months before the vote, the incumbent president started to cast doubt on the integrity of the election. Afterward, he outright declared that the election was stolen. And on the day Congress was supposed to certify the election results, the presidents supporters invaded the Capitol in an attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power.

Donald Trump is no longer president, but hundreds of Republicans running for national and statewide offices in the upcoming midterm elections have questioned or spread misinformation about the 2020 election, in some cases outright denying President Bidens victory. These claims persist even though no evidence of widespread election irregularities was found by top Trump administration officials in the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security, which investigated the 2020 election, or by judges throughout the country and even auditors commissioned by political operatives intent on proving fraud.

In this lesson, we ask students to explore what can happen in a representative democracy when politicians and a significant portion of the electorate systematically question the legitimacy of elections (when their side loses). How serious a threat does the election denial movement pose to a healthy democracy?
When I first saw Call Jane in January, I filed it away as an appealing if familiar period piece, more dusty than revelatory. Its a fictionalized drama about the Jane Collective, a real-life clandestine Chicago group that, starting in the late 1960s, helped women secure safe, illegal abortions, stopping only in 1973 with the Roe v. Wade decision. Watching it again recently, four months after the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, it felt like a different film. History can do that to a movie  and to a critic.

The aesthetic qualities of Call Jane havent changed since my first viewing, of course. Its an intimate, fine-looking work that has a lightly grainy visual texture (it was shot on film) and the usual era-appropriate swinging hair, skirts and the like. The director, Phyllis Nagy, making her feature film debut, has embraced unobtrusiveness as a style, perhaps to soft-pedal the material. She doesnt overuse close-ups or indulge in irritating contemporary habits: The camera doesnt hover pointlessly, there are no self-aggrandizing crane shots. The cast is as appealing as I remembered it; the awkward scenes still jar as do the upbeat music choices.

Written by Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi, the movie focuses on a fictional character, Joy (a solid Elizabeth Banks), a genial pregnant housewife with a nice husband, a teenage daughter, a pleasant home and not much else going on. Shortly after the movie opens, Joys doctor tells her that she has a heart condition that will probably kill her unless her pregnancy is terminated. Because abortion is criminalized in Illinois, she is forced to petition a hospital board to obtain one. At the meeting, her doctor makes the case for her  she brings a tight smile and some home-baked goodies  but the all-male board votes against providing the procedure, deeming that theres a 50 percent chance Joy will survive the pregnancy.

Joy is an appealing character, but shes also about the most anodyne emblem for abortion rights imaginable: a pretty lady with a life-threatening condition who wants to carry her pregnancy to term but cant. Nagy tries to push the story beyond its cautious framing, but its tough going. She wrote Todd Hayness Carol  about two women in love in the early 1950s  and here shows a similar interest in exploring the smooth surfaces of repression. The first time that you see Joy, she is floating through a hotel like a soap bubble. Chicly dressed with a complicated upsweep that evokes Hitchcocks blondes, she moves as if in a trance all the way through the front doors, where she sees people rioting. Its 1968, and youth is in revolt.
Nearly two decades ago, the uncanny forces inside Henry Selicks own home inspired him to summon the original concept for Wendell & Wild, his first stop-motion animated feature in 13 years, which is streaming on Netflix.

My two grown sons were once little kids who acted like demons sometimes, so I did a loose drawing of them as demons, Selick, 69, said by phone. Based on that personal doodle, he wrote a seven-page story about the mishaps of two diabolical brothers, Wendell and Wild, trying to escape hell and come to the land of the living to become rich.

To materialize this idea many years later, Selick, an accomplished animation veteran whose credits include James and the Giant Peach (1996) and Coraline (2009), joined talents with the comedian-turned-director Jordan Peele, long before Get Out positioned Peele as a hit-making genre storyteller. Their shared ability for weaving horror and comedy cohesively in their work made for great synergy in their artistic partnership.

The best thing about Jordan, besides that hes a genius  as a comic, a writer and now as a horror director  is that he loves stop motion animation and he knows all about it, said Selick. Even the logo for his company, Monkeypaw Productions, is stop-motion animation.
And for all the time the movie devotes to Hanaeis life, we learn little about the lives of Mashhads prostitutes, who only appear briefly before their gratuitously detailed killings. Instead, Abbasi makes the fictionalized character of Rahimi (Zar Amir Ebrahimi)  a Tehrani journalist whose own experience with sexual harassment drives her crusade to catch the killer  the films sole representative of womens concerns, burdened with an implausible cat-and-mouse arc. In reality, Hanaei was arrested after one woman fought him back and escaped, and reported him to the police, in spite of the risks involved. Her story of courage feels far worthier of a movie than Abbasis grim vision of murder and mania.

Holy Spider

Not rated. In Persian, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 56 minutes. In theaters.
This chance first meeting with the Young Gents spells trouble for the married pair  trouble with a capital T that rhymes with G and that stands for gender. From this encounter, the film spins out into a romp through the muddle of 1950s masculinity. Arthur has spent his life resisting what he sees as the prison of his own manhood, and he finds himself drawn to the gangs pouting pretty-boy leader (Karl Glusman). Suze is unleashed as a blossoming leather daddy in a beehive, taking further inspiration from a provocative neighbor, Maureen (Demi Moore). As Arthur and Suze navigate the physical threats to their safety imposed by their introduction to the Young Gents, they question their relationship and the roles that they play as husband and wife.

The director Amanda Kramer takes aesthetic and erotic cues from the traditions passed down by artists like Kenneth Anger and Tom of Finland. The films ironic tone largely defangs the transgressive films it parodies, but Kramer does broaden the scope of the queer leather canon. She includes women among those searchers who might find their sense of identity through a performance of hyper-masculinity. Riseborough offers a dynamite performance as Suze, leaning into a thick New York accent as she slouches and slinks through her characters awakening.

Please Baby Please

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 35 minutes. In theaters.
The Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office on Thursday delivered to local prosecutors its investigative report into the shooting on the set of Rust that killed the films cinematographer and wounded its director, bringing the district attorneys office closer to a decision about whether to file criminal charges.

The submission of the report, which the sheriffs office declined to immediately release, came more than a year after the office began investigating how live bullets ended up on the set in New Mexico. The films cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot when a gun the actor Alec Baldwin was rehearsing with went off.

On Thursday morning, the sheriffs investigative team met with the district attorney, Mary Carmack-Altwies, and the special prosecutor appointed to help with the case, Andrea Reeb, said Heather Brewer, a spokeswoman for the Santa Fe County District Attorneys Office.

The district attorney and her team of investigators and prosecutors will now begin a thorough review of the information and evidence to make a thoughtful, timely decision about whether to bring charges, Ms. Brewer said in a statement.
Nearly every scene is an indignity: corpses left neglected in beds, loved ones grieving next to the sickly glow of a vending machine, managers haranguing their exhausted staff about the cost of coffee filters. Even the storys heroine, a nurse named Amy Loughren (Jessica Chastain) who provides the only empathy in this miserable tale, is also one of its victims. The single mother of two is tirelessly devoted to her patients despite a heart condition that puts her at high risk for a stroke. Yet her own hospital wont provide her with health insurance until shes worked there for a year, a common plight for contract workers that Lindholm sees as a moral affront that falls somewhere between bitter irony and indentured servitude.

Theres a touch of Gogol-esque satire in a subplot in which two investigating detectives (Nnamdi Asomugha and Noah Emmerich) are thwarted by hospital bureaucrats who downplay deaths as unexplainable incidents, in the words of a chillingly placid risk manager (Kim Dickens), and, when low on excuses, put the cops on hold with punishing Muzak. Similarly, while Redmayne mostly plays his murderer at a low hum, he allows himself one scene to unleash his big mime energy, theatrically gasping and twitching and letting his long fingers crawl over his face. The moment is reminiscent of Anthony Perkins at the end of Psycho, but The Good Nurse offers no assurances that its danger is safely locked away. In the judgment of the film, Cullen is just a side effect of an institutional cancer.

The Good Nurse

Rated R for language. Running time: 2 hours 1 minute. Watch on Netflix.
Suctioning brains and snacking on innards, the monsters in The Lair appear motivated solely by hunger, any higher purpose remaining stubbornly veiled. Though I suppose when youve spent more than three decades entombed in an abandoned Soviet bunker, a good meal would be something of a priority.

Lively, noisy, dark and daft, this gloopy creature feature from the British director Neil Marshall plays like a loose, if vastly inferior callback to his two best films, Dog Soldiers (2002) and The Descent (2006). The year is 2017, and Kate Sinclair (Charlotte Kirk), a resolute Royal Air Force pilot, is shot down in a remote region of Afghanistan. Fleeing insurgents, she takes refuge in said bunker, only to face a toothy blob that has eaten one of her pursuers and ripped the face off another. Venturing deeper, she discovers pods containing more beasties in a liquid suspension. Has she found a nursery, or a laboratory?
You dont need to consult the most recent polls to realize that the race for New York governor between Gov. Kathy Hochul and Representative Lee Zeldin appears to be tightening  just follow the string of Democrats calls to action this week.

With just 12 days until Election Day, Democrats and their allies are mounting a frenzied push to keep Ms. Hochul in office, pouring millions of dollars into last-minute ads and staging a whirlwind of campaign rallies to energize their base amid concerns that their typically reliable bedrock of Black and Latino voters might not turn out.

Labor unions have gone into overdrive, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on television and radio ads to cajole those voters to turn up for Ms. Hochul. On the ground, Ms. Hochul is expected to campaign with Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a party power broker whose Brooklyn district provides crucial votes for the Democratic base, as well as in southeast Queens with Mayor Eric Adams over the weekend.

The Hochul campaign has even turned to its former adversaries for help, including progressive lawmakers who opposed her during the Democratic primary in June, and the left-leaning Working Families Party, which called for an emergency all-hands-on-deck meeting of its leadership earlier this week to mobilize in favor of Ms. Hochul.
Lee Zeldin is attempting to overturn the will of Manhattan voters one year after a local election that Alvin Bragg  a career prosecutor  won in a landslide, said Danielle Filson, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bragg. This pledge, which is grounded in blatant fearmongering while deliberately ignoring facts and reality, is a direct attack on democracy.

Mr. Braggs campaign promise and the Day 1 memo that implemented it helped lock in public perception of his tenure, although he soon revised his policies to clarify that his prosecutors had the final authority when it came to decisions about charging and bail.



Republicans and some conservative Democrats including Mayor Eric Adams have pushed to overturn a state law that made it harder to require cash bail for people charged with certain crimes. Though Mr. Bragg has at times come under fire over cases in which people were set free before trial, there is little evidence that his office differs from his predecessor and other New York City prosecutors in how it requests bail from judges under the new law.

But the memo has continued to define him in the eyes of skeptics, particularly after the Police Department commissioner, Keechant Sewell, sent an email to officers saying that she was concerned about the policies implications for public safety, officer safety and justice for victims of crimes.

Mr. Zeldin, already a candidate, sent his first tweet calling for Mr. Bragg to be fired the day after Ms. Sewell sent her email and has since made the call a staple of his campaign.

Until recently, he had promised to remove the district attorney on his first day in the governors office. During a Tuesday debate against his Democratic opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul, he amended that, saying instead, Im going to remove him as soon as I can.
BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- For some time, the Japanese side has deliberately hyped up China-related issues like the Taiwan question, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and played up the so-called "China military threat", which is ulterior and irresponsible, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.

According to Japans Kyodo News Agency, the Japanese government is considering revising its National Security Strategy by the end of 2022, which will mention that "no unilateral change of the status quo by force will be tolerated" over Taiwan, and may introduce policies highlighting the "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept and the "Quad" framework involving Japan, the US, Australia and India.

In response to that, Spokesperson Tan said, both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China, and Taiwan is a part of China. The Japanese side made solemn commitments in the China-Japan Joint Declaration fifty years ago. The Government of Japan recognizes that Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. The Government of the People's Republic of China reiterates that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China. The Government of Japan fully understands and respects this stand of the Government of the People's Republic of China, and it firmly maintains its stand under Article 8 of the Postsdam Proclamation.

Snr. Col. Tan stressed that Japan should abide by the basic norms of international relations, and fulfill its serious political commitments to China, instead of interfering in the Taiwan question. It must be noted that in recent years Japan has been keen on following up the other countries' policies of containing China, and has established targeted "cliques" in the name of freedom and opening up. These moves have gone against the common expectations of regional countries for peace, development and cooperation.

The spokesperson mentioned that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. The Japanese side should review its original aspiration and walk toward China to implement the important consensus of "being each others cooperative partners, not a threat", so as to promote bilateral relations along the right track. We urge the Japanese side to take history as a mirror, act cautiously in the field of military security, and refrain from interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining Chinas security interests, or undermining regional security and stability, he added.
According to government court filings, Victim-1 had dinner with Mr. Elkorany in a restaurant in Iraq in November 2016, and when she left the table briefly during dinner, he added drugs to her drink. After finishing the drink, she had only brief flashes of memory from the rest of the night, she said in a written statement. Mr. Elkorany took her, in a compromised state and without her consent in his U.N.-marked car, to his apartment. There, he raped her while she was unconscious from the drugs he had surreptitiously given her, the government said.

This was not fleeting conduct, a federal prosecutor, Lara Pomerantz, told the judge. It was what he did over and over.

After Victim-1 reported the attack to the U.N. in 2016, the organization began an investigation and later passed the case to the F.B.I., according to the authorities.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said in an email that the U.N. cooperates with member states to ensure that United Nations personnel who engage in criminal conduct are held accountable, in particular with respect to criminal allegations relating to sexual exploitation and abuse.

The office of Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, in urging the judge to impose the maximum 15-year sentence, said in a memorandum that many of Mr. Elkoranys victims have been left trying to piece together what happened for years  and still do not know all details, including precisely what drugs he used.

After the hearing Mr. Williams commended the victims for their bravery in coming forward, a sentiment the judge echoed earlier in court.

A federal indictment said Mr. Elkorany, an American citizen, worked for the U.N. in Iraq, initially for UNICEF and later as a communications specialist. The government noted that Mr. Elkorany had committed some of his crimes in countries where he knew his victims would be hesitant to contact local law enforcement  assuming they could even figure out what happened to them.
On Oct. 30, Brazilians go to the polls to elect their next president. But at stake is something far more important than just the leadership of one of the worlds largest economies.

Whoever wins will inherit control over more than half of the Amazon rainforest and, by extension, will determine the conditions for future life on Earth.

In the Opinion video above, Brazilian Indigenous leader Txai Surui argues that this election is the last chance to save the Amazon.

Because of soaring deforestation rates under President Jair Bolsonaro, the Amazon ecosystem is on the brink of catastrophe. The loss of millions of trees has already caused decreased rainfall. Areas not yet turned to ranchland are projected to shift from dense forest into dry savannah as the Amazon reaches a tipping point  of spiraling degradation from which there is no return.
The cases this term  for which oral arguments are on Monday  concern the legality of race-based affirmative action in college admissions, at Harvard and at the University of North Carolina. It would not be surprising to see Chief Justice Roberts writing the courts eventual decisions.

The second issue is the administrative state. Like affirmative action, it has inspired some of the chief justices most pointed barbs. The Framers could hardly have envisioned todays vast and varied federal bureaucracy, and the authority administrative agencies now hold over our economic, social, and political activities, he wrote in a 2013 dissent.

The chief justice has led the court in a wide variety of cases on administration, in decisions that cut across political lines. We should expect this to continue in cases this term concerning the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Trade Commission.

For the administrative state and affirmative action cases, the chief justice may find himself in a position to write forthrightly conservative majority opinions. In other cases, he may well succeed in fostering some moderation and even consensus across ideological lines.

But it will not be easy. Today the justices disagree not just about principles, but also about the courts pace. In an era when federal and state agencies can announce and enforce policies very quickly, litigants are asking the courts to intervene just as quickly, from district courts all the way up to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roberts has been particularly wary of the court doing too much, too fast, in the emergency orders of the so-called shadow docket.

He also has tried to slow the courts pace of change. Here, too, his Dobbs opinion is telling. The courts disavowal of Roe raises questions of what other precedents might be reconsidered next. Dobbs did not renounce precedent altogether, and the majoritys opinion emphasized why any precedents viability must be judged in light of many different legal and prudential factors.

Chief Justice Robertss solo opinion in Dobbs should be recognized as being less about the case itself  when he finally published it, the case was a fait accompli  but rather about his remaining years on the court. His Dobbs opinion is the encapsulation of his institutionalist approach as chief justice.
To the Editor:

Re Debate Showing Elicits Worries in Pennsylvania (front page, Oct. 27):

I see much gnashing of teeth among supporters of John Fetterman for his less than stellar performance in debating Mehmet Oz. If this had been a competition to see who would be captain of the school debate team, I would feel the same and tell John to come back and try again after his recovery is further along.

But these made-for-TV debates do not capture how they would perform as a U.S. senator, someone who needs to be very familiar with the issues faced by all Pennsylvania residents to effectively represent their interests.

John Fetterman is a longtime Pennsylvania resident who spent years as mayor of Braddock learning about the difficulties faced by citizens of a working-class town and then almost four years as lieutenant governor learning from citizens all around the state.

The very wealthy Dr. Oz has virtually nothing in common with typical Pennsylvanians, giving over $20 million to his own campaign after moving to the state in late 2020 because Pat Toomey was not running for re-election. Does anyone seriously think he would be in Pennsylvania otherwise?
So when patients with PEM say effort exhausts them and even worsens their condition, theyre viewed with suspicion  medically and culturally. Their complaints dont mesh with societal expectations that we should exhort ourselves to push through. We boast of working through sickness. We celebrate how grit can deliver results.

That might also be one reason that medical doctors have often been skeptical of M.E. and PEM. They had to push through 16- or even 24-hour shifts during hospital training. No wonder many of the (too few) scientists and doctors working on M.E. have family members with the disease.

Over decades, patients devised their own approach to the disease, figuring out that resting and pacing after a crash provided the best hope for regaining more of their already limited capabilities. Many also practice resting, sometimes for days, before an important activity, to enable them to function better. Early in the pandemic, many of them urged long Covid patients to stop, rest and pace. Many long Covid patients told me that advice allowed them to finally make sense of their condition.

For these patients, rest often means lying in darkened, quiet rooms, often in pain, and even going to the bathroom can be an ordeal.

Many told me that before they understood their illness, they pushed themselves because thats how things worked for them before or because thats what doctors advised them to do. But then they crashed so hard that they never fully recovered.

And thats what those protesters were risking that day. How do you protest when the very act is a dire threat to what little ability you have left?

These activists wanted to follow the playbook that AIDS activists used years ago, escalating civil disobedience. First, they marched a bit in front of the White House. They chanted. Then they lay down in front of the White House fence, in violation of their permit.
Jason Panda cares deeply about branding. During a recent video interview, the logo for his company, B Condoms, was visible in no fewer than four places: on a blue wall behind him in an Atlanta warehouse, on his white T-shirt, on a condom package that just so happened to be within arms reach and on a cornhole board in a nearby storage room.

Just as important is where he hides the logo. His companys Instagram page features explainer-type posts with titles like 8 things women really want in bed and Lets normalize laughing during sex  two of the more printable headlines from the account. The final slide of each post features a photo of condom boxes with the words A Black-Owned Condom Company in bold letters above them, underlined in red.

You may not know about us, but when you go through those slides because theyre interesting, theyre captivating, they bring you in, Mr. Panda said. When you hit that last slide, youre like, Oh wow, theyre a Black-owned company.
How does a design success come to feel like a flub? Is it when a clear vision doesnt find the right platform? Is it when a ballyhooed debut limps onto the sales floor? Or is it just a matter of a trial balloon looking like its leaking air?

These thoughts are brought to mind by the reboot of J. Crew under the direction of Brendon Babenzien, the former design director at Supreme who once did for the hoodie generation what J. Crew had done for its dads.

Supreme, that is, defined a landscape. Mr. Babenzien set the tone at Supreme. The Supreme marketing strategy may have been built around manipulated scarcity and drops, but the design chops behind it were Mr. Babenziens and were real.

During his decade or so at the label, Mr. Babenzien toyed with proportions. He understood messaging graphics. He got that you can subvert gender stereotype through such simple means as taking a hue traditionally associated with the My Little Pony set and effectively rebranding it as millennial pink.
When Apple released the 16th version of its iPhone in September, some tech reviewers described it as an incremental improvement over earlier models.

Apples customers didnt care. They bought the new iPhone 14 in droves.

On Thursday, the worlds most valuable company said that strong demand for iPhones helped it increase total revenue by 8 percent to $90.1 billion for the three months that ended in September, bringing an end to a fiscal year in which it posted sales gains every quarter. The company reported that profits rose nearly 1 percent to $20.7 billion.

The company said iPhone sales increased 10 percent to $42.6 billion in the quarter that ended in September, a major deceleration from the 47 percent increase it reported in the same period last year. The signature product accounts for about half of the companys total revenue.

During a call with analysts, Apple said its business was slowing down in the current quarter, with a deceleration in sales of Macs and services. In noting the slowdown, it joined peers like Google, Amazon and Microsoft in warning that their business are being hobbled as the economy weakens.
A day before Elon Musks court-imposed deadline to complete his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, he posted a message to advertisers in an apparent attempt to soothe nerves as concerns circulate about how he intends to run the platform.

I wanted to reach out personally to share my motivation in buying Twitter, he wrote. There has been much speculation about why I bought Twitter and what I think about advertising. Most of it has been wrong.

Mr. Musk went on to say that the reason he was buying Twitter was because it is important to the future of the civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner without resorting to violence. But, he added, Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences!
LONDON  Praise the lord for Tammy Faye, the new musical that opened Wednesday at Londons Almeida Theater. Telling the unlikely story  for the English stage at least  of the American televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, the show has a heart as big as the title characters bouffant hairdo, and runs through Dec. 3.

Rupert Goolds vigorous production is also an increasing London rarity: a musical with an original score at a time when most repackage existing hits. That the composer is Elton John has only intensified interest in a project that also includes the Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears as lyricist and the prolific playwright James Graham as book writer. Johns most recent musical, The Devil Wears Prada, ran aground in Chicago over the summer, so its a relief to report that Tammy Faye is, for the most part, spectacularly entertaining, even if it could do with some trims and the toning down of a few tasteless sections.

And when the astonishing Katie Brayben in the title role seizes center stage to rock out at the close of both acts, you can feel the intimate Almeida transformed into the sort of pulsating arena that Tammy Faye would surely love. Show me mercy, open your hand, she sings, letting rip in one of several impassioned numbers, Empty Hands, that comes from the gut. I was right there with her, as I was in the comparable If You Came to See Me Cry near the end, in which Tammy Faye reflects on her legacy from heaven. (Where else?)

We know shes headed there right from the start. The show begins with the revelation that Tammy Faye has colon cancer, and a sexually explicit joke that comes after the diagnosis indicates that this wont exactly be family fare.
But its contrast to the last document issued by a Democratic president, Barack Obama, is stark. Mr. Obamas strategy  first issued in 2010 with Mr. Biden, who was the vice president at the time  aimed to drastically diminish the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defenses and focused much of its attention on keeping nuclear material out of the hands of terror groups. At the time, China and Russia were considered full partners in the effort to contain North Koreas nuclear arsenal and dissuade Iran from building nuclear weapons.

The new document is devoid of much specificity about how the Pentagon will shift its weapons and personnel to fit a new era of heightened superpower competition.

It describes a Russia armed with 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons and not bound by any treaty that limits the number, raising the possibility it would use these forces to try to win a war on its periphery or avoid defeat if it was in danger of losing a conventional war.

That is exactly what President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has threatened.

The document also describes an effort by China to expand its nuclear arsenal to about 1,000 strategic weapons in coming years. The current and growing salience of nuclear weapons in the strategies and forces of our competitors heightens the risks, it says.

Threats from Iran, North Korea and terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State persist  and new challenges, like global climate change, are emerging. But the strategy document focuses heavily on China and Russia.
Beyond that, seats considered long shots at best  in states won by former President Donald J. Trump  were sent to the bottom: Florida and Ohio. Though Ms. Demings and the Democratic nominee in Ohio, Representative Tim Ryan, have run what Washington Democrats acknowledge to be remarkably effective campaigns, they have been left largely to their own devices.

Democrats have spent big to save one deeply endangered Black female incumbent, Representative Jahana Hayes of Connecticut, and to help one Black female candidate contending for an open seat in Ohio, Emilia Sykes.

The House Majority PAC, the outside group tied to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has spent $2.5 million for Ms. Hayes and against her opponent, George S. Logan. Spending for Ms. Sykes and against her opponent, Madison Gesiotto Gilbert, has been even higher, $2.9 million. A much smaller sum, about $200,000, has been spent to lift Jackie Gordon, a Black female Democrat, in a long-shot challenge to Representative Andrew R. Garbarino on Long Island, in New York.

But other Black women in Congress are in safe districts and are not in need of rescuing. Other Black female incumbents, such as Representatives Lauren Underwood of Illinois and Lucy McBath of Georgia, found themselves in newly drawn districts that are now much more Democratic.

It is in Democratic races for the Senate  where only two Black women have served in the nations history  that discontent is most prevalent, especially among Black female House members who serve alongside Ms. Demings and saw her prove herself in the impeachments of Mr. Trump.

Theres much more they can do, and they should do, and they should have done much earlier, said Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California.

Ms. Lee said Black women had long had higher hurdles to clear before the Democratic Party extended help in campaigns. When she first explored running for the California State Assembly in 1989, she said, party officials told her she had to raise $50,000 in a week to prove her viability. She did, but she faced the same tests when she ran for State Senate, and then for the U.S. House.
Lucianne Goldberg, a colorful, conservative literary agent who played a pivotal role in the scandal that led to Bill Clintons impeachment, died on Wednesday at her home in Weehawken, N.J. She was 87.

The journalist Jonah Goldberg, her son, confirmed the death. He said that she was in hospice and had suffered from liver and kidney failure.

It was Ms. Goldberg who advised Linda Tripp, a Pentagon aide, to record her conversations with her young co-worker Monica Lewinsky, who as a White House intern had an affair with President Bill Clinton.

Those recordings became crucial evidence in the special counsel investigation that led to Mr. Clintons impeachment for lying under oath in claiming that he had not had an affair with Ms. Lewinsky.
WASHINGTON  The Biden administration is weighing a request by Somalia that the United States loosen restrictions on its military drone strikes targeting Shabab militants in the troubled Horn of Africa nation, according to several U.S. officials.

The request comes as a new Somali administration has launched an offensive against Al Shabab, with several local clan militias joining the central governments fight. President Biden also recently redeployed 450 U.S. troops to Somalia, reversing former President Donald J. Trumps abrupt withdrawal in January 2021.

But the Somali government wants U.S. military operators to be able to attack groups of Shabab militants who might pose a threat to Somali forces  even if they are not firing upon them at the moment, the officials said. Such a move would further escalate American involvement in the long-running counterterrorism war.

In May, Somalia elected a new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who also held the role from 2012 to 2017. Since returning to office, he has made pushing back Al Shabab a top priority. He has ordered Somalias fledgling national army to go on the offensive in the countryside, is planning for the delivery of services to stabilize areas that have been newly liberated and is trying to forge stronger partnerships with both clan leaders and international allies.
Steven Mnuchin, who was Treasury secretary under President Donald J. Trump, moved faster than previously known to obtain billions of dollars in investments from Persian Gulf royal families after leaving government, two Democratic lawmakers said in a letter on Thursday.

The letter noted that Mr. Mnuchin filed papers to create a precursor to his new investment firm, Liberty Strategic Capital, just one day after leaving government, according to Delaware state records.

Mr. Mnuchin then visited the capitals of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar a total of 11 times over the next five months, according to a letter to the Treasury Department from Representative Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, the chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

The speed of Mr. Mnuchins pivot to private business in the gulf, they said, raises serious concerns about Mr. Mnuchins actions in office and whether his personal financial interest influenced U.S. policy.
The worry about weapons trafficking  whether to extremist groups, adversarial governments or Russias army  arose almost as soon as the United States and its European allies began to flood military support into Ukraine to repel Moscows invasion. Experts say it is nearly impossible to track all light weapons, including the portable shoulder-fired missiles known as Javelins.

American officials said they were confident that high-tech missiles and launchers and other arms donated to Ukraine had reached the front lines, where commanders are using them as fast as they can be supplied. They also noted recent arrests of Russians and others who were caught trying to smuggle out assault rifles, ammunition and other weapons.

Yet lawmakers in Congress have demanded stricter oversight. American taxpayers deserve to know that their money is helping Ukraine beat back Russia effectively, Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, said in May.

In July, the European police agency known as Europol said that the deluge of arms being sent to Ukraine could lead to an increase in firearms and munitions trafficked into the E.U. via established smuggling routes or online platforms.

This threat might even be higher once the conflict has ended, the agency warned.

That month, Ukraines defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, told the BBC that growing fears about weapons trafficking were largely the result of a Russian disinformation campaign and that Ukraine had instituted several tracking efforts.
HOUSTON  At a somber and occasionally emotional oversight hearing, the director of the Texas state police faced pressure on Thursday to resign over his agencys role in the delayed police response to the Uvalde school shooting and its handling of the subsequent investigation.

Relatives of two of the children killed during the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary School directly addressed the state police director, Steven McCraw, from a lectern that included a box of tissues, accusing him of creating more pain and hurt in Uvalde and urging him to step down.

You, sir, have told lies, said Brett Cross, who raised his nephew, Uziyah Garcia, 10, like a son until the boy was killed in a classroom at the school. Youre not in control of your officers, nor are you the leader this great state deserves at the helm of what was once known as one of the best law enforcement agencies.

Mr. McCraw, in his remarks, said that he would resign if it were shown that his agency, the Department of Public Safety, had as an institution failed in its handling of the shooting, something he said had not yet happened. (He had previously promised to step down if there was any culpability in his agency.)
President Vladimir V. Putin began to deliver a wide-ranging speech on Thursday that was expected to offer an opportunity to gauge the Russians leaders appetite for escalating the war in Ukraine to avoid defeat.

Mr. Putins remarks on Thursday at the Valdai Discussion Club, a Kremlin-affiliated research institute, came a day after he became the most senior Russian official to make unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine was preparing to use what is known as a dirty bomb.

Western governments have dismissed the claims as false and warn that they could be a pretext for Russia to use tactical nuclear weapons.

The Kremlins spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told reporters on Wednesday that the Valdai speech would be an important event. There will be an extensive speech; there will be a discussion, he said.
LONDON  Ruby Williams was 14 when a teacher stopped her as she walked down a corridor of her school in London and told her that her Afro hair was too big. A few days later, her mother, Kate Williams, said, the teacher summoned Ruby out of her class and sent her home, recommending some chemicals to straighten her hair. He did not allow her back until she braided her hair so it stuck to her head.

Her mother said Ruby had loved school, but after her experience had refused to get out of bed, and her attendance dropped. They destroyed her, she said.

Rubys case and that of other Black or mixed-race children who were disciplined for their hairstyles at school prompted Britains national equality body to instruct schools on Thursday that students should not be stopped from wearing their hair in natural Afro styles at school.

You shouldnt have to change your hair to get an education, Ms. Williams said.

In 2010, Britain passed an Equality Act that stated that people must not face discrimination because of their race or ethnicity. The act did not specifically refer to hair and hairstyles, but anti-discrimination groups and Britains equality regulator, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said that it was clear the law would apply when hair was associated with race or ethnicity.
KYIV, Ukraine  With Ukrainian forces bearing down on the occupied port city of Kherson this week, the Kremlins puppet rulers dispatched a team to an 18th-century stone cathedral on a special mission  to steal the bones of Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin.

The memory of the 18th-century conqueror is vivid for those in the Kremlin bent on restoring the Russian imperium. It was Potemkin who persuaded his lover, Catherine the Great, to annex Crimea in 1783. The founder of Kherson and Odesa, he sought the creation of a New Russia, a dominion that stretched across what is now southern Ukraine along the Black Sea.

When President Vladimir V. Putin invaded Ukraine in February with the goal of restoring part of a long-lost empire, he invoked Potemkins vision.

Now, with Mr. Putins army having failed in its march toward Odesa and threatened with ouster from Kherson, his grand plans are in jeopardy. But among Kremlin loyalists, the belief in what they view as Russias rightful empire still runs deep.
For the second day in a row, tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets across the country on Thursday to remember a young woman killed by security forces in a protest movement calling for an end to clerical rule that shows no sign of abating, and once again security forces fired on the crowds, according to witnesses and videos.

Videos showed anti-riot police attack and open fire during a memorial service in a rural cemetery near the northwestern town of Visian for Nika Shakarami, 16, whose killing at a street protest in Tehran last month where women were burning their hijabs catapulted her into a national symbol of defiance.

We are all Nika, fight and we will fight back, chanted the attendees at the service as they threw rocks at the security forces firing at them, videos showed. Women standing around her grave, which was covered in flowers and a black cloth, cut their hair and burned their head scarves, another video showed.

My dear Nika, I am grief stricken by your loss and heartbroken for your dreams, her mother Nassrin Shakarami said in a speech at the memorial service, calling her daughter a martyr. Others cried, clutching photos of Nika, and sang an ode for war.
Iraqs Parliament approved a new government on Thursday that was more than a year in the making but that perpetuates an almost two-decade-old political system that has been blamed for endemic corruption and dysfunction since being ushered in after the U.S.-led invasion.

The new prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, presented his list of cabinet ministers to Parliament more than a year after elections last October that were meant to produce a new, reformist government in response to sweeping protests.

The new government embodies a system put in place after the 2003 invasion, which allots key roles for specific sects and ethnic groups, and allocates government ministries to the most powerful political parties, which have routinely used those ministries to enrich themselves.

The parties once again negotiated among themselves to divide up important posts, and once again Nouri al-Maliki, a former prime minister, played a prominent role in the process. Lawmakers approved Mr. Sudani and his cabinet choices in a closed session.
JERUSALEM  Israel and Lebanon, neighboring countries still technically at war, signed an American-brokered agreement on Thursday demarcating a joint maritime border and regulating their rights to gas reserves at sea. The move came amid a bitter debate in Israel over the terms of the deal and its chances of reducing  or, conversely, fanning  future conflict.

The leaders of Lebanon and Israel signed the deal separately in restrained ceremonies in their respective countries, which have no formal diplomatic relations. The occasion provided a rare moment of harmony, based in shared interest, but it also showed a sense of the limitations of the breakthrough.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid of Israel, presented the deal on Thursday as a political achievement, saying, It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community. The chief Lebanese negotiator, Elias Bou Saab, similarly hailed the agreement as the beginning of a new era.

But the Lebanese government has also emphasized that the deal, reached earlier this month after more than a decade of negotiations, does not signal normalization of relations with Israel and is far less momentous than the agreements that established full diplomatic ties between Israel and three Arab states in 2020, or Israels earlier peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan.
Nothing excites Eric Wong like the thrill of the hunt  usually in the clearance section of a West Elm outlet store.

I get high as hell on a deal, Mr. Wong, 42, said of his best finds at the interior-design chain.

He so loves West Elm that about six years ago, in addition to his full-time work as an investment banker, he took a part-time job as a sales associate at a Manhattan store, working 15 to 20 hours a week so he could get the 40 percent employee discount.

Hes basically furnished his whole apartment with West Elm stuff, said his sister, Elke Wong. He likes to change things up all the time.

It was in that spirit that Mr. Wong decided, in 2021, that it was time to update not just his furnishings, but his whole apartment.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

A New York lifer  he grew up in the Bronx and on Staten Island  Mr. Wong bought his last apartment, a sunny 600-square-foot, one-bedroom with 10-foot ceilings in a Central Harlem condo, for about $373,000 in 2015. In six years, he said, he went through five sofas, at least four rugs and scads of midcentury-modern accents, including tall glass hurricanes, candles and floor lamps.

But after barely leaving his apartment during the first waves of Covid-19, he was feeling isolated. And after years of moonlighting at West Elm, he said, the store let him go when his managers demanded that he work more hours a week than he could manage.

I still love them, so hard, Mr. Wong said of his erstwhile coworkers. The experience also sharpened his design sense for his next big project.

In June, he sold the Harlem apartment for $463,000 and moved back into his childhood home on Staten Island, where his parents, retired postal workers who immigrated from Hong Kong decades ago, still live. The move wasnt too jarring: Mr. Wong had already decorated the entire three-bedroom home with West Elm furniture, rugs and decor, as well as lighting from Rejuvenation, another favorite store. His 89-inch, slate saddle-leather sofa, a focal point of his Harlem living room, is currently in his mothers basement. (She has a similar one in the living room.)

Then he set about ranking his wish list: high ceilings, a floor plan conducive to renovation, and decent views. He also wanted to live closer to his sister in Midtown, and to shorten the commute to his parents.

The search had to take into account the neighborhood, said Charlie Lewis, the agent with Compass who sold Mr. Wong his Harlem home and helped him find his new one. Mr. Wong wanted something centrally located, but also fun for a bachelor. He set a budget of around $600,000, and focused on studio apartments.

He was eyeing a building on the East Side, and I was like, Dude, youre not an East Side person, Mr. Lewis said. It can be cute all you want, but that neighborhood aint cute.

Among his options:
A 33-year-old gorilla who has spent most of her life alone inside a metal cage on the seventh floor of a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, has been dubbed the worlds loneliest gorilla.

Bua Noi was only one when she was put into the cage that would become her permanent home for more than three decades. She was one of the main attractions of a bizarre zoo  if one could even call it that  inside Bangkoks oldest shopping mall, Pata Pinklao Department Store, and owners refused to relocate her to a more suitable location, despite numerous requests from animal rights activists and the Thai Government. Even today, Bua Nois owners refuse to let her live out the rest of her days in a sanctuary, with other members of her species.

Photo: Anthony Yin/Unsplash

This shabby facility is internationally condemned as one of the worst zoos in the world, PETA Senior Vice President Jason Baker said. I urge everyone to keep the pressure on Pata Zoo and to demand that it let PETA help retire these animals to reputable sanctuaries that would meet their physical and mental needs.

Thailands environment minister has also stated that he wants to see Bua Noi, whose name means Little Lotus, transferred to a wildlife sanctuary where she can experience her homeland and be with other gorillas, but one of his secretaries has made it very clear that the gorilla is private property and the owners permission is required to have her relocated.

Bua Noi is considered private property so we cannot do anything to remove her, Thanetpol Thanaboonyawat said. The owner bought Bua Noi before laws were introduced to prevent the trade and ownership of endangered animals and wild animals. We collected donations from Bua Nois supporters. But the problem is that the owner refuses to sell Bua Noi. When he does agree to sell her, the price is too high.

According to Thai news sources, Bua Nois owner is asking for around $800,000 to set the gorilla free, but the company that owns the zoo has denied any negotiation to sell the animal. Its representatives insist that the gorilla is well taken care of and that she hasnt suffered any physical or mental stress.

Those people saw the picture of her on the internet and assume shes depressed. But thats how she looks just like humans  some have a sad face and some have a happy face, zoo director Kanit Sermsirimongkol said. The criticism doesnt concern me, because we know her best.

Unfortunately, despite the international outcry, there isnt much anyone can do, unless the zoos owners decide to let her retire after a lifetime of loneliness. Gorillas can live 35 to 40 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity, so Bua Noi is already going into her golden years.



Bua Nois sad story is reminiscent of another tragedy we covered a few years back  the sad story of Honey, the worlds loneliest dolphin, who died alone in an abandoned Japanese waterpark.
Apples & Oranges Public Relations is named agency of record for The Butterfly Mark powered by Positive Luxury, a platform that provides independently verified evidence to stakeholders of an organization's ESG+ performance. This is the first North American agency relationship for the platform. AOPR will work with Butterfly Mark to help define its PR strategies, brand expressions, consumer engagement and messaging for potential members, partners and media. Its efforts will include messaging, event activation, partnerships, and PR. Founded in 2011, The Butterfly Mark works with more than 150 luxury organizations.

Lou Hammond Group adds independent living residence The Peninsula of Charleston to its client roster. LHG will be handling public relations/corporate communications, strategic planning, branding and digital marketing for the Robert A.M. Stern-designed property, which features concierge services and a full complement of healthcare services. The agency also has signed on to work with The Town of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, a residential community incorporating a resort and shopping village, and etuHOME, a national home decor collection sold through an e-commerce business as well as storefront locations in Charleston, SC and Atlanta.

Forberger Communications is selected by LoyaltyLion, an e-commerce loyalty platform based in London, to represent it in North America. The B2B tech PR and communications firm will be responsible for media relations, building and executing a thought leadership program, and supporting strategic messaging. Founded in 2012, LoyaltyLion works with brands to help them drive more ROI from other ecommerce tools, steers them to deliver better customer experiences, and provides loyalty expertise and guidance they don't have in-house.
AT a recent meeting of the joint policing committee held at Aras an Chontae, Councillor Ken Smollen referred to people sleeping in doorways in Tullamore.

Councillor Smollen said he noted that ''our foreign national friends are back again sleeping in doorways, specifically Boots doorway. There could be four or five of them sleeping there at night time. Not every night but some nights of the week. I'm just wondering if they have ever been spoken to.

"I just noticed that they have a bucket, that they are looking for people to donate money. I don't know whether they are intimidating people or not but from previous experience they weren't very pleasant to people passing by,'' said Cllr Smollen.

Responding, Superintendent Eamon Curley said he wasn't familiar with the issue, but he would look into it.

''We have facilities to assist the homeless and we have facilities to integrate and assist people from different ethnic minorities and groups. We will certainly look into it,'' he said.
THIS Samhain, the National Museum of Ireland is inviting people across County Offaly to share and help preserve ghost stories that have been passed down through oral tradition in their locality.

The Irish Community Archive Network (iCAN), a Museum initiative that supports communities to collect and share their local history and heritage online, has launched a new project called Ghost Stories of Ireland  Seeking Tales of the Unexplained.

Ghost stories and encounters with otherworldly beings are a common theme in Irish folklore, explained Lorna Elms, iCAN Development Officer, so this Halloween we are inviting the public to help us document those stories that continue to be told and to help us find out which county in Ireland is the spookiest!

Stories passed down through oral tradition give us a greater understanding of how our ancestors perceived and explained the world around them, which is why the Irish Folklore Commission was set up in 1935 to collect and study the folklore and traditions of Ireland. Much of this work continues to be carried out by local volunteer History and Heritage groups, such as those supported by the iCAN initiative.

The project also wants to revisit the ghost stories gathered by schoolchildren for the Irish Folklore Commission in the 1930s. The Commission prepared a guidance booklet that listed 55 subject headings  topics that the children could explore with older people in the community.

Despite Ghost Stories not being on the headings list, the collection contains over 1,000 spooky tales, suggesting that a belief in the unexplained strongly persisted in the public consciousness at that time, added Ms Elms. Going by the amount of ghost stories collected by county, Tipperary appears to have been the most haunted, with 95 accounts of frightful folklore. There are 27 ghost stories listed from Co Offaly, so here is an opportunity to capture more stories from the county. As part of our Ghost Stories of Ireland project, we would also like to revisit and highlight those tales gathered by the children 75 years ago, and bring them back to life.

Visit ouririshheritage.org to learn more about the Ghost Stories of Ireland project; submit a ghost story of your own; or choose your favourite story from the National Folklore Collection and tell the Museum why you like it.

Through iCAN, the National Museum works in partnership with the Local Authority Heritage Officers to support communities as they document their own history, heritage and culture on digital platforms. This initiative is supported by the Heritage Council.

Visit ouririshheritage.org or www.museum.ie for further information.
TWO teenage boys were in a gang which arrived at a house to enforce a 500 drug debt, Tullamore District Court heard.

Judge Andrew Cody was told it will be alleged by gardai that a resident of a house was stabbed in the leg with a scissors during an incident a year ago.

Two boys, who were aged 17 and 15 at the time, were in the company of an older male and all three are facing charges as a result, Sergeant James O'Sullivan said.

The older accused has been sent to the Circuit Court and the DPP asked a judge to adjudicate on whether or not the younger defendants should be dealt with in the District Court.

Sergeant O'Sullivan said the prosecution case will be that at about 3pm one day three males entered the home of another male uninvited and demanded 500 payment for a drugs debt.

The males were aggressive and the person in the house received a stab wound to his leg. Sergeant O'Sullivan made it clear that the youngest of those allegedly involved did not have an active role in the incident but was present.

The court was told the scissors was not brought by the three accused males but was taken from the kitchen in the house and then allegedly used.

Judge Cody was also told that the incident could have been more serious had neighbours not come to the assistance of the injured party.

After hearing the outline of the case, Judge Cody said he would give his decision later but was disappointed when the two young males, who are on bail, were not present to hear him.

Their solicitor said they had gone down town but would be returning.

Judge Cody said the law required that he take into account the age and maturity of the accused persons at the time of the alleged offence, along with any other relevant factors.

He said while there were three people in total involved, these two were part of what can only be described as a gang.

He said they had gone in a threatening manner to the home of the injured party and one male, who was not one of the two accused before him, stabbed an individual with a scissors in the leg as part of that intimidation and threats.

He noted the gardai had outlined that only for neighbours' involvement it could have been far more serious and the matters before him were generally serious and in the circumstances he would certainly consider refusing jurisidiction.

He said that such threats could only be made when people go in numbers and the three had acted as a gang.

However, he took their ages at the time of 15 and 17 into account and said he was prepared to deal with the matters summarily.

He was advised that they had returned to court but said he was not impressed by their cavalier attitude, strolling in and strolling out and going down the town.

Having been told by the defence that disclosure of evidence was awaited from the prosecution, Judge Cody remanded the two teenagers on bail to appear in court again on January 11 next.
Sky News 30 Oct 2022

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Belfast Telegraph 27 Oct 2022
Director of Content and Operations

Spencer McKee is OutThere Colorado's Director of Content and Operations. In his spare time, Spencer loves to hike, rock climb, and trail run. He's on a mission to summit all 58 of Colorado's fourteeners and has already climbed more than half.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of National Unity Thursday condemned the "terrorist attack" that targeted a Shiite shrine in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz, that killed 15 people and injured more than 40 others
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Nairobi, Kenya (PANA)  Islamist armed groups in Mali have killed hundreds of people and forced tens of thousands to flee their villages during apparently systematic attacks since March 2022, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday
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John Chrysostom, Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen, Cyril of Jerusalem, Cyril of Alexandria, John Damascene

[from my book, The Quotable Eastern Church Fathers: Distinctively Catholic Elements in Their Theology, 2013, 246-253]

[see the complete 38-volume edition of the Church Fathers, edited by Philip Schaff]

Well, then, let us speak to you to-day from the Old Testament. What does it tell us? Accustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to the naming of the Holy One. And why? For as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark, so he that sweareth. (Ecclus. [Sirach] xxiii. 10.) (John Chrysostom, Homily X on Acts 4:1; NPNF1-11)

Let him attend to the Scripture-readings, . . . The sway of his fury is his destruction (Ecclus. i. 22); and, . . . He that is angry with his brother without a cause (Matt. v. 22); . . . is any one taken captive by love of money? let him hear, that There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for this man setteth even his own soul for sale (Ecclus. ix. 9); . . . Is another proud? Let him hear that God resisteth the proud (James iv. 6); and, Pride is the beginning of sin (Ecclus. x. 14) . . . let each choose out from the Divine Scriptures the remedies for his own hurts. (John Chrysostom, Homily XXIX on Acts 13:16-17; NPNF1-11)

And a wife, Scripture says, that agrees with her husband. (Ecclus. xxv. 1) (John Chrysostom, Homily XLIX on Acts 23:6-8; NPNF1-11)

And thus elsewhere He saith, (Ecclus. ix. 15.) New wine is as a new friend: but if it become old, then with pleasure shalt thou drink it: . . . And again, The Ancient of days sat, (Dan. vii. 9.) here again, taking the term ancient as among those laudatory expressions which confer highest glory. Elsewhere the Scripture takes the term old in the sense of blame . . . (John Chrysostom, Homily XV on 1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 10, v. 5:7; NPNF1-12)

Listen to the Scripture, which saith, Say not, His mercy is great, He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins. (Ecclus. v. 6.) (John Chrysostom, Homily IV on Ephesians, v. 2:10; NPNF1-13)

For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter. (Wisd. i. 4.)[after citing 2 Samuel, Proverbs, and two NT passages] (John Chrysostom, Homily XV on Ephesians, v. 4:31; NPNF1-13)

For if a certain wise man gave this advice in the Old Testament, and said, Whatsoever is brought upon thee take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate (Ecclus. ii. 4.); much more ought this to be the case in the New. (John Chrysostom, Homily XIX on Ephesians, v. 5:18-21; NPNF1-13)

Hear the Scripture that saith, The bee is little among such as fly, but her fruit is the chief of sweet things. (Ecclus. xi. 3.) (John Chrysostom, Homily XX on Ephesians, v. 5:26-27; NPNF1-13)

It showed that the Spirit is to come to men through mercy, since God pities and is kind to man. For, Thou hast mercy upon all, it is written, for Thou canst do all things. (Wisd. xi. 23.) . . . Consider that the world was established by pity, and then imitate thy Lord. The mercy of man is toward his neighbor, but the mercy of the Lord is upon all flesh. (Ecclus. xviii. 13.) (John Chrysostom, Homily IV on Philippians, v. 1:30; NPNF1-13)

Nothing is worse than envy and malice; through these death entered into the world. For when the devil saw man honored, he endured not his prosperity, but used every means to destroy him. (Wisd. ii. 24.) (John Chrysostom, Homily XLVIII on John, v. 7:1-2; NPNF1-14)

Let us then repeat to ourselves soothing charms drawn from the holy Scripture, and say, Thou art earth and ashes. Why is earth and ashes proud? ( Ecclus. x. 9 ), and, The sway of his fury shall be his destruction ( Ecclus. i. 22 ): and, The wrathful man is not comely ( Prov. xi. 25 , LXX.); . . . (John Chrysostom, Homily XLVIII on John, v. 7:8; NPNF1-14)

And this doctrine is not my own, but Scripture also recognizes the same distinction. For, it says, honorable age is not that which standeth in length of time, and an unspotted life is old age. (Wisd. iv. 8, 9.) (John Chrysostom, Homily VII on Hebrews, v. 4:16; NPNF1-14)

For hear what the Divine Scripture says, Give alms, and all things shall be clean. ( Luke xi. 41 .) And again, By alms-giving and acts of faithfulness sins are purged away. ( Prov. xvi. 6.) And, Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms will do away with great sins. ( Ecclus. iii. 30.) (John Chrysostom, Homily IX on Hebrews, v. 6:4-5; NPNF1-14)

[B]ecause even with great openness he said, And as to me, O King, this secret hath not been revealed to me through any wisdom that is in me. ( Dan. ii. 30.) And again; he was in the den for Gods sake, and when the prophet brought him food, he saith, For God hath remembered me. ( Bel and the Dragon, ver. 38.) (John Chrysostom, Homily XXVI on Hebrews, v. 11:27; NPNF1-14)

[I]n his other letters he [Dionysius] calls Him from the Scriptures the word, wisdom, power, breath (Wisd. vii. 25), and brightness of the Father. (Athanasius, On the Opinion of Dionysius, 9 [cf. 15]; NPNF2-4)

But the Lord said, But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and shut the door. [Matt 6:6] What then will the accuser answer? or rather what will all prudent and true Christians say? Let your Majesty ask the opinion of such: for it is written of the other, The foolish person will speak foolishness; [Is 32:6] but of these, Ask counsel of all that are wise. [Tobit 4:18] (Athanasius, Apology to the Emperor Constantius, 17; NPNF2-4)

Whence the Jews, as denying the Son as well as they, have not the Father either; for, as having left the Fountain of Wisdom, as Baruch reproaches them, [Baruch 3:12] . . . (Athanasius, Four Discourses Against the Arians, II, 42; NPNF2-4)

And this difference divine Scripture recognises, saying concerning the creatures, The earth is full of Thy creation, and the creation itself groaneth together and travaileth together; and in the Apocalypse it says, . . . and in the book of Wisdom it is written, Having ordained man through Thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which Thou hast made. [Wisd 9:2] . . . and from Moses in the Song, . . . And Paul in Colossians, . . . (Athanasius, Four Discourses Against the Arians, II, 45; NPNF2-4)

Hence He is not classed with creatures in Scripture, but David rebukes those who dare even to think of Him as such, saying, Who among the gods is like unto the Lord? . . . and Baruch, This is our God, and another shall not be reckoned with Him. [Baruch 3:35] (Athanasius, Four Discourses Against the Arians, II, 49; NPNF2-4)

[H]ow is it if there is no wisdom, that a multitude of wise men are found in Scripture? for a wise man feareth and departeth from evil; and through wisdom is a house builded; and the Preacher says, A mans wisdom maketh his face to shine; and he blames those who are headstrong thus, Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire in wisdom concerning this. But if, as the Son of Sirach says, He poured her out upon all His works; she is with all flesh according to His gift, and He hath given her to them that love Him, [Ecclus. 1:9-10] . . . (Athanasius, Four Discourses Against the Arians, II, 79; NPNF2-4)

The reader then of divine Scripture may acquaint himself with these passages from the ancient books; and from the Gospels on the other hand he will perceive that the Lord became man; . . . for the Word, as John says, became flesh (it being the custom of Scripture to call man by the name of flesh, as it says by Joel the Prophet, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and as Daniel said to Astyages, I do not worship idols made with hands, but the Living God, who hath created the heaven and the earth, and hath sovereignty over all flesh; for both he and Joel call mankind flesh). [Bel and the Dragon, 5] (Athanasius, Four Discourses Against the Arians, III, 30; NPNF2-4)

Let us not fulfil these days like those that mourn, but, by enjoying spiritual food, let us seek to silence our fleshly lusts. For by these means we shall have strength to overcome our adversaries, like blessed Judith [Judith 13:8], when having first exercised herself in fastings and prayers, she overcame the enemies, and killed Olophernes. And blessed Esther, when destruction was about to come on all her race, and the nation of Israel was ready to perish, defeated the fury of the tyrant by no other means than by fasting and prayer to God, and changed the ruin of her people into safety. [Esther 4:16] (Athanasius, Festal Letter #4, 2; NPNF2-4)

There are, then, of the Old Testament, . . . Jeremiah with Baruch . . . But for greater exactness I add this also, writing of necessity; that there are other books besides these not indeed included in the Canon, but appointed by the Fathers to be read by those who newly join us, and who wish for instruction in the word of godliness. The Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach, and Esther, and Judith, and Tobit, and that which is called the Teaching of the Apostles, and the Shepherd. But the former, my brethren, are included in the Canon, the latter being [merely] read; nor is there in any place a mention of apocryphal writings. But they are an invention of heretics, who write them when they choose, bestowing upon them their approbation, and assigning to them a date, that so, using them as ancient writings, they may find occasion to lead astray the simple. (Athanasius, Festal Letter #39, 4, 7; NPNF2-4)

For what extent of time is needed by Him who upholds all things by the word of His power, [Heb 1:3] and works not by bodily agency, nor requires the help of hands to form and fashion, but holds in obedient following and unforced consent the nature of all things that are? So as Judith says, Thou hast thought, and what things thou didst determine were ready at hand. [Judith 9:5-6] (Basil the Great, The Holy Spirit, 19; NPNF2-8)

I pass by the rest, the three young men bedewed in the fire [Dan 3:5], the fugitive prophet praying in the whales belly [Jon 2:1], and coming forth from the creature, as from a chamber; the just man in the den, restraining the lions rage [Dan 6:22], and the struggle of the seven Maccabees, who were perfected with their father and mother in blood, and in all kinds of tortures [2 Maccabees 7:1]. Their endurance he rivalled, and won their glory. I now turn to the New Testament, . . . (Gregory Nazianzen, Oration XLIII: Funeral Oration for St. Basil the Great, 74-75; NPNF2-7)

And of the Old Testament, . . . of the Twelve Prophets one book, of Isaiah one, of Jeremiah one, including Baruch . . . (Cyril of Jerusalem, Fourth Catechetical Lecture, 35; NPNF2-7)

And the Divine-uttering Baruch, pointing out the Word of God already Incarnate and seen in likeness to us, says, This is our God, there shall none other be accounted of in comparison of Him, He found out all the way of knowledge and gave it to Jacob His servant and to Israel His beloved: afterward did He shew Himself upon earth and conversed with men. (Cyril of Alexandria, Tomes Against Nestorius: III, 4; LFC47)

He is all-seeing [2 Maccabees 10:5]: for nothing can escape Him, and over all He keepeth watch. (John Damascene, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, I, 9; NPNF2-9)

[I]t is to be observed that the holy Scripture often uses the past tense instead of the future, as for example here: Thereafter He was seen upon the earth and dwelt among men. [Baruch 3:38] (John Damascene, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, IV, 6; NPNF2-9)

The divine Scripture likewise saith that the souls of the just are in Gods hand [Wisdom 3:1] and death cannot lay hold of them. (John Damascene, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, IV, 17; NPNF2-9)

There are also the Panaretus, that is the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Jesus [Ecclesiasticus], which was published in Hebrew by the father of Sirach, and afterwards translated into Greek by his grandson, Jesus, the Son of Sirach. These are virtuous and noble, but are not counted [by the rabbis] nor were they placed in the ark. (John Damascene, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, IV, 17; NPNF2-9)

God is seen clothed in flesh, and conversing with men, (Baruch 3.38) . . . (John Damascene, Apologia Against Those Who Decry Holy Images, I; JDHI)

[St. Gregory Nazianzen: additional references to the Deuterocanon: Judith 5:6 (Oration 45), Wisdom 1:2, 6 (Oration 41), 1:7 (Oration 28), 2:24 (Oration 21, 45), 3:7 (Oration 40), 3:15 and 5:10 (Oration 7), 4:8 (Oration 43), 5:9 (Oration 42), 7:26 (Oration 29), 9:15 (Oration 16), Baruch 3:35, 37 (Oration 30), 3:37 (Epistle 102), Susanna 1:5 (Oration 2), Bel and the Dragon 1:33 (Oration 18), Sirach / Ecclesiasticus 1:2 (Fifth Theological Oration), 3:9 (Oration 2), 3:10-11 (Oration 37), 25:9 (Oration 2, 27), 32:3 (Oration 40), 38:16 (Oration 7), 49:14 (Oration 28) ]

[St. Cyril of Jerusalem: additional references to the Deuterocanon: Wisdom 2:12 (Lecture 13), 6:16 (Lecture 16), 7:25 (Creed of St. Cyril), 13:5: twice (Lecture 9), Baruch 2:25 (Lecture 2), 3:17 (Lecture 8), 3:35-37 (Lecture 11), Susanna 1:45 (Lecture 16), Bel and the Dragon 1:33 (Lecture 14), 1 Maccabees 2:58 (Lecture 14), 2 Maccabees 2:4 (Lecture 2), 9:4 (Lecture 19), 9:27 (Lecture 4), Sirach / Ecclesiasticus 3:21-22 (Lecture 6), 3:22 (Lecture 11), 4:30 (Lecture 15), 4:31 (Lecture 13), 25:1 (Lecture 4), 45:12 (Lecture 22) ]

***

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***

Photo credit: Codex Sinaiticus (4th century): text of Matthew 6:4-32. This manuscript included all seven deuterocanonical books [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

Summary: John Chrysostom, Athanasius, Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen, Cyril of Jerusalem, Cyril of Alexandria, & John Damascene on the seven deuterocanonical books.
To climax its year-long 15th-anniversary celebration, Fidelity Bank Ghana has launched Orange Impact, a social impact project in education which seeks to support 15 marginalised schools across the country with a suite of customized resource and facility upgrades.



The initiative was officially launched at a ceremony held on the premises of one of the beneficiary schools, the Duose D/A Primary school, Duose, in the Upper West Region.



In a speech to a gathering of pupils, teachers, inhabitants of the Duose community and other dignitaries during the launch, the Deputy Managing Director, Operations and Support Functions of Fidelity Bank, Mr. Atta Yeboah Gyan, stated: Right from day one, Ghanaians have accepted and co-owned the vision of Fidelity Bank and supported us.



From our customers to our partners, shareholders and our regulator, Ghanaians have pushed the Fidelity Bank agenda and made our meteoric rise in the Banking industry possible. We therefore decided that the best way to celebrate this milestone is by saying Thank you to Ghanaians for the relentless support that has brought Fidelity Bank thus far.



He further stated, We acknowledge that the most effective tool for empowering our youth, harnessing their limitless talent, and securing a bright future for this country, lay in providing quality educational opportunities for majority of our youth by levelling the educational playing field as much as possible across the country.



Therefore, in commemoration of our 15th anniversary, I am glad to officially set the ball rolling on our thank you initiative aptly dubbed Orange Impact, he added.



The Orange Impact Initiative is funded by Fidelity Bank as an entity as well as donations from staff of the Bank. The initiative will ensure that beneficiary schools receive support in various forms such as the construction of classroom blocks, refurbishment works and provision of teaching and learning materials, depending on the peculiar need of each school.



On his part, the Duose Naa, Naa Bawa Seidu, expressed his profound gratitude to Fidelity Bank for selecting a school in his town as the flagship beneficiary of the Orange Impact project. He stated that the leaders and people of Duose were overjoyed at the impending project which would see the Duose D/A Primary School receive a comprehensive facelift, transforming its current facility into an ultra-modern 6-unit classroom block.



I am surprised and overjoyed that Duose, a deprived community has been chosen for this project by Fidelity Bank. In fact, this gesture has made me rather emotional. We are grateful to Fidelity Bank and God almighty for what is about to happen, and I believe I speak not only for myself but for the people of Duose, when I say that I cannot wait for this building to be put up, he said.



The Wa West District Chief Executive, Hon. Vida Dioretey and the Wa West Director of the Ghana Education Service, Mr. Amatus D. Tug-uu who were all present to grace the occasion, commended Fidelity Bank Ghana for its contribution to education and human resource development. They assured the bank of their full support for the project and urged other corporate organisations to take a cue from Fidelity Bank.



With the launch of the initiative, similar projects are also being rolled out in 14 other beneficiary schools located in various regions across the country. Each Branch and Business Office of the Bank has been assigned a supervisory role over a specific school, while staff of the Bank have been enjoined to play a direct role in seeing each project through to completion.





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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Four dynamic young men and women from the Jospong Group of Companies camp have been nominated and awarded at the just-ended 2022 edition of 40 Under 40 awards held at Kempinski Hotel in Accra, Ghana.



These young hardworking individuals whose nominations were facilitated by Sophia Kudjordzi-Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Jospong Group were nominated in the categories of Transport & Automobile contested by Adwoa Frimpomaa Nimako Boateng, GM for J. A. PlantPool and S. A. Automobile, Environment and Climate Sustainability contested by Ing. Senam Tengey the GM for Medical Waste Services Ltd., Logistics & Supplies contested by Hannah Boohemaa Otu, Head Procurement and Supply Chain at the Jospong Group Office and Consultancy and Professional Services which was also contested by Mr. Felix Atsrim C.E.O of FEDEMS LTD. a consultant and a business partner to the Jospong Group.



In the various categories contested, Adwoa Frimpomaa Nimako Boateng, GM for J. A. PlantPool and S. A. Automobile emerged the Winner for Transport & Automobile followed by Hannah Boohemaa Otu, Head Procurement and Supply Chain at the Jospong Group Office who also won her category, Logistics and Supplies, however Ing. Senam Tengey couldnt win his category which is Environment and Climate Sustainability



In appreciation remarks, all awardees dedicated their awards to the hardworking staff and partners whose contributions and corporations propelled them into achieving this feat.



Addressing patrons at the event, Richard Abbey Jnr. Event Director, Xodus Communications Ltd. underscored that the 40 under 40 awards scheme seeks to identify, honor and celebrate a cross-section of the nations most influential and accomplished young business leaders under age Forty from a wide range of industries.



According to the Event Director, putting the spotlight on these young achievers will not only celebrate them but also build a robust platform for them by giving a voice and opportunities to the next generation of industry pacesetters whiles building a positive attitude in our youth to strive for excellence at a tender age.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, 22 October 2022, opened the Specialty Beers Ghana (SBL) Limited, an enterprise operating under Governments One-District-One-Factory initiative.



Located in Kwasi Tenten, in Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, on a five-acre land, Specialty Beers was established to manufacture specialty ale or top fermented beers for the Ghanaian market.



The company was registered in Ghana in 2012, but became active in 2020 and applied in January 2021 to take advantage of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Construction of the factory started in May 2021 and the first brew test run was completed in April 2022.



SBL is a medium size craft brewery with an annual production capacity of 10,000 hectolitres.



As part of SBL's vision to reduce dependency on the importation of raw materials, the company has already invested in the development of a number of beer recipes using mainly adjuncts (such as maize and broken rice) partly replacing malted barley which cannot be sourced in Ghana.



A number of local suppliers of these cereals, including Avnash Limited and Hila Farms, Limited have been engaged as anchor suppliers of basic raw materials.



The brewery will be the first to introduce the top fermentation brewing process in Ghana. This high-end brewing technology allows the usage of over 70% un-husked grains during the mashing process while ensuring the absolute clarity of the beer without stripping any flavour or aroma due to the centrifuge filtration system.



The company has introduced four brands into the market, namely Farmhouse Ale (5% abv), Hibiscus IPA (6% abv), Ginger Triple (7% abv), and Cocoa Stout (8% abv).



The entire production process of the state-of-the-art production facility is environmentally friendly and utilises only recyclable materials (no plastics). In addition, the company uses cleaning chemicals that allow the wastewater (by-product) to be used as fertiliser and potassium acetate.



Currently, the company has engaged 20 permanent staff who are involved in the pre-factory launch activities in specific areas of factory operations. It is expected that once the company starts full operation, over 60 additional staff would be directly engaged whiles about 1500 indirect employment opportunities will be generated.



The second phase of the project is intended to develop exports to the wider ECOWAS region, the rest of Africa and possibly the European market via specialized international distributors. For this reason, Specialty Beers Ghana Limited has already acquired ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Certification (ETLS) certification.



Thus far, the One-District-One-Factory initiative, which has seen the ongoing construction of two hundred and ninety-six (296) factories across the country, of which one hundred and twenty-five (125) have been completed, is part of the foundation on which the Akufo-Addo Government is we are building a comprehensive industrialization programme, inspired by the development of strategic anchor industries, such as the emerging automotive industry and the co-ordinated exploitation for the entire domestic value addition of our bauxite and iron ore resources.



In the Eastern Region alone, there are seventeen (17) completed 1D1F enterprises, with sixteen (16) more under construction and four (4) in the pipeline.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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AirtelTigo has once again proven it is Ghanas most innovative telecommunication company by winning three prestigious awards at this years Ghana Information Technology and Telecom Awards (GITTA) in Accra.



AirtelTigo received awards in the following categories: Marketing Campaign of the Year  To Gu Me So promotion, Innovative Product of the Year  Fuse Voice Bundle and The Digital Influencer of the Year  Alex Offei Lartey.



The Marketing Campaign of the year went to AirtelTigo To Gu Me So, a reload and point-based promotion which was designed to reward over 50,000 AirtelTigo customers with over One Million Ghana Cedis Cash, and other amazing prizes across the country. The Campaign also stood out for its captivating nature through responsible communications, music, and engaging market activations, leading to its high popularity among Ghanaians.



The innovative product of the Year, Fuse Voice bundle offers voice minutes to call all networks. This product was designed with the customer in mind offering them affordable bundle options to choose from on *567# or *111#.



Head of Digital Marketing and New Product Development at AirtelTigo, Alex Offei Larteys outstanding leadership contributions to driving various digital innovations at AirtelTigo was also given recognition as he bagged the Digital Influencer of the Year.



Speaking on the awards, Nancy Assor Asiedu-Amrado, Head of Brands and Communications, expressed her delight at the recognition of the innovative products the company has offered to its customers over the years. AirtelTigo will continuously evolve with its customers and release exciting marketing campaigns which will drive involvement and base stimulation. We dedicate this award to all our loyal customers, especially, those who participated in the To Gu Me So promotion. These honors would not have been achieved without them.



In its 12th edition, the Ghana Information Technology & Telecom Awards (GITTA) has become the cornerstone event that promotes and celebrates governments, IT operators, ISPs, infrastructure providers, fintechs, banks and other stakeholders to share the progress of their successful ICT innovations, aiming to further enhance the Ghanaian community as part of the governments vision of a robust digital economy.

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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Specialty Beers Ghana Limited (SBL), brewers of African craft beer, have introduced a new beer brand  Tale, into the Ghanaian market brewed with locally sourced raw materials.



Tale Beer is made with over 70% un-husked grains. To ensure the clarity of the beer without stripping any flavour or aroma, the Beers are passed through a centrifuge filtration system. The beer range consists of green, yellow, red and black Tales, which is a tribute to the national colours of Ghana. The company invested in developing these beer recipes with the assistance of a Belgian university using mainly adjuncts such as broken rice, hereby replacing malted barley, which cannot be sourced in Ghana.



Speaking during the launch of Tale Beer, the Managing Director of Specialty Beers Kristof Henot said the quality of Tale Beerand its African richness were crafted with the Ghanaian at heart.



"Brewing in Ghana invites us to do things differently. Apart from water, malt, and hops, we add locally grown rice and maize as a cereal base to our mash and use local botanicals alongside hops to create a unique taste and aroma profiles", he added.



Our different flavours, such as cocoa, hibiscus flower, lemongrass, ginger or lime leaves, make all our beers from 100% natural ingredients without adding additives, colourants, conservatives or sugars. We are keen on telling our Ghanaian story through our beers, hence the use of Ghanaian symbols as the Tale logo, which contains an interpretation of the eagle's talon, symbolizing power, strength and unity. Every Tale has a different colour.



"For years, we have relied on imported strong beer. Being local manufacturers, we have chosen to fill this gap and give Ghanaians a choice of beer with great taste that makes for an easy, enjoyable drinking experience," [he added]

Tales are tasty African craft ales with a story. The perfect blend of African ingredients and Belgian brewing technology. A high-end selection of unique African craft beers, brewed in Nsawam, Ghana.



On his part, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, said: "This goodwill very much inspires my government and me. We have devoted our tenure in office to supporting local industries through our Industrial Transformational Agenda - One District One Factory Ghana agenda. Through this, we have established over 254 Factories across Ghana, among other impactful projects."



"The introduction of Tale Beer in Ghana demonstrates our commitment to usher and help establish businesses in Ghana to support our teaming youth in employment and skill development," he added.

Tale Beer is available in different flavours such as Farmhouse Ale-5% abv, Hibiscus IPA 6% abv, Ginger Triple 7% abv and Cocoa Stout with an alcohol content of 8%.



The beer can be bought at selected premium bars, mainstream bars, and shopping malls.



About Specialty Beers Ghana (SBL)



Specialty is a state-of-the-art brewery in Ghana that uses top fermentation brewing process to produce its beers. This high-end brewing technology allows.



the usage of over 70% un-husked grains during the mashing process while ensuring absolute clarity of the beer without stripping any flavour or aroma due to the centrifuge filtration system the beers go through. The brewery has installed environmentally friendly production process with the entire production process using only recyclable materials and zero plastics.

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 Bank of Ghana (BoG) has urged the general public to disregard reports suggesting that it is set to slap serious restrictions on holders of Foreign Exchange Accounts (FEA) and Foreign Currency Accounts (FCA) in a bid to curb the rapid depreciation of the cedi.



In a statement released on the social networking site, Twitter, on Thursday, October 27, 2022, the BoG said the reports are false and should be disregarded.



Reports were rife on social media platforms that the BoG has imposed new controls on the movement of foreign currencies in the country in a move meant to tackle the downward spiral of the cedi.



However, the Central Bank says such reports are untrue cautioning against false reportage.



In a related development, the BoG engaged the Association of Bankers and Forex Bureau Operators on Tuesday as it put measures in place to control forex circulation in the country.



The move is to streamline, sanitize and provide clarity on the supply of foreign exchange in the country.



Accordingly, it assured stakeholders that appropriate measures are being rolled out to restore order in the forex market by making sure the interbank market takes full control of the forex market to enforce regulations surrounding forex trading in the country.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The QI Group, a diversified multinational entity with a wide range of subsidiary companies in nearly 30 countries, has built a university that aspires to be the Harvard of Asia. QI Groups Quest International University (QIU), is a private Malaysian university established in 2011 under a public-private partnership with the State Government of Perak.



It is located in the state capital of Ipoh, in Perak which lies in the western coast of peninsular Malaysia. QIU offers cutting-edge and comprehensive Foundation, Diploma, Bachelor's Degree and Postgraduate programmes.



The US-trained Chief Operating Officer of the University, Mr. Nicholas Goh, a passionate and experienced educationist, hosted a number of journalists from West Africa at the universitys campus, where he explained in detail, the institutions mission, vision, philosophy, uniqueness, achievements, and teaching methodology, all aimed at churning out highly functional, problem-solving, market-fit and future-ready graduates.



An enthusiastic Mr. Goh recounted the Universitys history. He narrated how the visionary entrepreneur Dr Vijay Eswaran, who also serves as the Council Chairman for the University, conceived the idea of establishing a University with global excellence and a legacy of world-class education, delivered from Ipoh, a charming town known for food, culture, history and the arts, to Malaysia and to the rest of the world.



According to Mr. Goh, QIUs education focuses on all-round development of students and covers a wide range of industries and sectors. The University has the following faculties and centres: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Business & Management, Computing & Engineering, Integrated Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Social Sciences, Centre for Postgraduate Studies and Centre for Research and Innovation.



QIU offers courses ranging from Foundation in Science, Environmental Technology, Biotechnology MSc, PhD (Science), Foundation in Business, Business Administration, Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, Finance, Accountancy, Hospitality Management MBA, PhD (Business Administration), DBA, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Bridge Programme with Pacific University, Oregon, IT, Mechatronics Engineering, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, Biomedical Sciences, MBBS, MSc Microbiology, Foundation in Arts, Mass Communication (Journalism & Advertising), Corporate Communication, Early Childhood & Special Needs Education to Psychology (BA, MEd, MA) among others.







Mr. Goh emphasized that the Universitys philosophy of excellence is hinged on four cardinal pillars: knowledge, skills, attitude, and student experience. Students are taught to demonstrate systematic and comprehensive knowledge of facts, concepts, theories and technical knowledge in their field of study. They are trained to exhibit cognitive, practical, digital, numeracy and entrepreneurial skills. They are shaped to develop a resilient, proactive, ambitious, ethical, professional and socially-responsible attitude. Their overall student experience is designed to be relevant, enlightening, practical and future-ready.



They are taught to acquire more varied, broader and specialised knowledge, critical thinking, analytical, operational and problem-solving skills, coupled with responsible, resilient and progressive attitude which could be applied in different situations in and outside the field of work to help them compete, withstand, recover or cope with challenging conditions anywhere.



He reiterated that: At QIU, we believe no one should be left behind. To accomplish this, we have put strategies and initiatives in place that allow students achieve their goals at their own pace. The Enhanced Academic Support for You (EASY) initiative provides extra support for students who may be facing difficulties with their lessons. If they have problems or issues in class, their lecturers provide extra guidance until they are able to fully grasp the concept of the topic.



They are also taught time management, goal setting and how to cite and reference properly. Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are conducted by students for students. During PASS, appointed student leaders will facilitate the review of lectures, discussion on tutorials, or revision for final examinations. Supplementary tutoring is available for students, augmenting the tutorials conducted by course lecturers. Our finishing school, led by the Career and Professional Development Centre helps graduates build their resume and polish their interviewing and communication skills. The CPDCs Career Portal connects alumni with hundreds of job vacancies and internship opportunities around the region. Our graduates are employed in a diverse range of fields and industries, with many starting their careers in multinational companies. Employability for 2019 was 92%, which went down to 81% in 2020 due to the pandemic, but bounced back to 93% last year (2021).



QIU is one of 19 Malaysian universities to be listed in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2021. The University was awarded a 4-star rating by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. Its medical degrees are fully accredited by the Malaysian Medical Council, Maldives Medical and Dental Council and the National Medical Council of India, among others.



QIUs student population is diverse with students from Malaysia and other parts of the world including Africa.

While taking the visibly-impressed journalists from West Africa on a tour of the modern campus, Mr. Goh mentioned that the University is open to admitting students from any part of the world and that people should be wary of anyone or group of people who may want to use the Schools name or identity for unethical activities. Details of the Universitys admission requirement and application guidelines are available at:

https://qiu.edu.my/

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 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









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 Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday expressed worry about the activities of the black currency market which has significantly contributed to the weakening 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 governments 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 countrys 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 Ghanas 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 on 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 peoples speculation and trying to make windfall out of the situation that we are in he said.



The meeting went into a closed-door session.





Source: GNA









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Festus Bumankama Agyapong, a Ghanaian metallurgist, has made Ghana proud at this year's "Generation Gold Programme" in Alaska, USA.



The Generation Gold Programme trains engineers in the extractive industry.



He was among three graduates who stood out in the programme which helps to build capacities in the processing of various metals and alloys.



This years graduates gained a variety of experiences working across the global operations over the last three years.



He is currently with Fort Knox, a USA military installation in Kentucky which houses a large portion of the United States official gold reserves.



The programme is dedicated to advancing employee development and leadership skills.



It allows employees to work through various activities that teach new capabilities, help them sharpen skills and broaden one's knowledge.



Festus Bumankama Agyapong



He is the son of Katakyie Kwasi Bumagama II Sefwi Wiawso Omanhene and Council of State member.



He attended the Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast and furthered to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, in Kumasi.



Festus grew up in the Sefwi-Wiawso region of Ghana and began his career as a junior metallurgist at Chirano in 2012 after earning a Bachelor of Science in Material Engineering and a Certificate in Metallurgical Engineering.



Festus became interested in the Generation Gold program and believed it would be an excellent opportunity to gain global experience working across a variety of climates and cultures.



He joined the program in 2019 working at Bald Mountain in Nevada as a Metallurgist. During this time, he was exposed to management of ounce production, the VCIC/CIC and cyanide plant optimizations, production reporting and worked throughout the Assay and Metallurgy Labs. After 18 months, Festus transferred to Fort Knox in Alaska where he had the opportunity to expand his skills and gain exposure to new methods of mine operations including working on one of the few cold weather heap leach facilities in the world and working on project-specific tasks including in-pit tailings and the Manh Choh project.



During his time in the program, Festus gained broad knowledge in his field, while learning the importance of health and safety and how our safety culture is interchangeable across our global operations.



Since graduating from the program, Festus has joined Fort Knox as a full-time Metallurgist where he is passionate about the responsibilities, leadership and challenges the site has to offer and is excited to share his knowledge and experience gained during his time in the Generation Gold program. Festus hopes to strengthen his leadership skills and one day become the General Manger of a mine.



Experience



The Ghanaian metallurgist was exposed to the management of ounce production, cyanide plant optimisations, and production reporting and worked throughout the Assay and Metallurgy Labs.



After 18 months, Agyapong transferred to Fort Knox in Alaska where he had the opportunity to expand his skills.



He also gained exposure to new methods of mine operations including working on one of the few cold-weather heap leach facilities in the world and working on project-specific tasks including in-pit tailings and the Manh Choh project.



Festus gained broad knowledge in his field, while learning the importance of health and safety and how our safety culture is interchangeable across our global operations.



Since graduating from the programme, Festus has joined Fort Knox as a full-time metallurgist where he is passionate about the responsibilities, leadership and challenges the site has to offer and is excited to share his knowledge and experience gained during his time in the Generation Gold Programme.



The Generation Gold program



The Generation Gold program relaunched in 2018 with a refreshed approach that consists of two 18-month assignments at different Kinross mines, including a one-week Foundation School at our corporate headquarters in Toronto.



This years graduates gained a variety of experiences working across our global operations over the last three years. Lets learn more about each graduate and their accomplishments!





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has suggested that it is untenable that Ken Ofori-Attas dismissal as Finance Minister will derail Ghanas negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).



His comments come on the back of reports that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked the over eighty (80) NPP MPs demanding the sack of Ofori-Atta to allow him complete the IMF negotiations.



In a Facebook post, the award-winning journalist wondered if the negotiations with the Bretton Woods institution will grind to a halt if Ofori-Atta fell ill or passed away.



He wrote: 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.



Background



On Tuesday, October 25, a group of NPP MPs held a press conference to demand that want Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen be sacked from their respective roles.



According to them, new faces in their stead will inject confidence in the economy which is on slope of decline.



Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, the Member of Parliament for the Asante-Akim North Constituency, who spoke on behalf of the over 80 MPs said they will boycott the 2023 budget reading and debate if President Akufo-Addo fails to dismiss his appointees.



Following this, the president has held meetings with the MPs where it is reported that he has appealed to them to allow Ken Ofori-Atta in particular complete the IMF negotiations.



Meanwhile, the majority caucus in Parliament have said in a statement that there is a consensus to dismiss Ofori-Atta however it should be deferred to after the IMF negotiations.











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 Royal Senchi Hotel has been adjudged Ghanas leading hotel at the recently organised World Travel Awards.



This was announced at the industry awards event which took place in Nairobi, Kenya to recognise outstanding hospitality companies across the continents for hitting certain milestones in the global hospitality space.



A number of selected hotels and resorts as well as individuals and groups were brought together for the one most important event in the travel and tourism world.





A statement by the organisers said World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, and is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence



The awards are won by votes cast across the globe based on firsthand experience with a nominated facility.



The General Manager of Royal Senchi Hotel, Gerard Schraven in a statement to the press noted that the recognition was for Ghana as much as it was for the hotel, saying the West-African country was the anchor of the resort's brand .



He explained that the hotels recognition could be attributed to its representation of Ghanas beautiful culture and tradition which had been woven into its fine contemporary hospitality.





He added that the Royal Senchi Hotel would continue to enhance its services and products to suit the dynamic taste of customers, and also strive to embody the wealth of indigenous royalty which it seeks to represent.





For his part, the Head of Sales and Marketing, Mr Emmanuel Mensah expressed gratitude to the voting public, noting that much more would be done in the coming years to add to the satisfaction of customers.



He said the hotel took pride in being identified with Ghanas rich resources and cultural prestige, adding the resort would not relent in doing its bit to project the countrys image worldwide.



He called on Ghanaians to be more appreciative of the countrys tourism offerings as done by others from around the world.



Mr Mensah also added that the hotel was well positioned not only to receive visitors to Ghana for the coming festive season, but also to introduce them to the soul of the country through customer-tailored packages and services.



Considered one of Ghanas premium hotels, the Royal Senchi hotel which was built in 2011 and officially opened in 2014, and has become a celebrated brand in Ghanas hospitality space, offering indigenously designed world class hospitality amenities to local and international guests alike.



The 35-acre resort makes creative and efficient use of its proximity to the Volta lake, affording guests luxury in a relaxing peaceful and unspoiled atmosphere.



For its distinctive traditional architecture and service, the resort has over the years attracted many from all walks of life, especially guests with an appetite for plain luxury and originality.

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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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









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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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









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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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









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 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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Former deputy General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, has praised Members of Parliament (MPs) of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their move to get Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta dismissed.



In a tweet shared on Tuesday, October 25, Koku Anyidoho intimated that the NPP MPs are changing the face of politics in Ghana with the action they have taken.



He added that while the NPP is bringing improvement to Ghanas body politics, the NDC is likely to be taken over by an inward-looking Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.



I feel so sorry for my NDC because on a day that NPP MPs are re-defining the frontiers of our democracy, the inward-looking General Secretary of my NDC prefers to be fanning his dead ego by supposedly launching a move to become Chairman and Leader of NDC. His end is surely nigh, parts of the tweet read.



A group of NPP MPs, on Tuesday, 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 at a media briefing by their spokesperson, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, who is the Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North.



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.

















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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Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah Asante, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to consider the demand of the Majority Caucus regarding the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry.



Over 80 Members of Parliament of the New Patriotic Party have asked the President to dismiss the two Ministers.



According to Subin MP, Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Finance Minister is "experimenting with this country and we've had enough".



He fumed that if the President refuses to "let Ken Ofori-Atta go, we are going to boycott all government business in Parliament".



Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the MPs stressed "if our request is not responded to positively, we will not be present for the budget hearing, neither will we participate in the debate".



Giving his political insight on the matter during Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Dr. Asah Asante stated that the President not paying attention to the MPs will have serious consequences.



He noted that if the President fails to listen to the aggrieved MPs, he will jeopardize the fortunes of his party.



He elucidated it will create a situation where the constituents in NPP strongholds will vote "skirt and blouse" which will adversely affect the party's representation in Parliament and also a situation that will badly affect the NPP in the 2024 elections.



Furthermore, the party will lose its credibility and integrity.



"This is the time for the President to listen to what the party members are saying, those 80 people. It will help him," he said.



He added it may also lead to a situation where "they (NPP MPs) will demonstrate" against President Nana Akufo-Addo by "uniting with the Minority to pass a vote of censure to remove the Finance Minister. This will bring disgrace to the party and also weaken it".







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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District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South District, Clement Opoku Gyamfi says the calls by some NPP Members of Parliament for the head of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is a show of democratic maturity.



Over eighty (80) members of the Majority Caucus have signed a petition to the President to relieve of Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta and Charles Adu Boahen, Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, of their positions.



They have threatened to boycott government business in Parliament should the President fail to honour their request.



Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, the MPs said; 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, in an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme also says if the President refuses to "remove Ken, he should add Parliament to the Execuitve and rule Ghana with Ken Ofori-Atta".



Touching on the conduct of the MPs, the Amansie South DCE was happy that there can be a situation where Members of Parliament on the ticket of a ruling party can freely express their minds.



"This shows that our democracy is growing. For a majority group in Parliament, forming government, and if from within the government emerges its Members of Parliament coming out to hold a press conference" against it, then it means "we are indeed practicing democracy," he stated.







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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Renowned Ghanaian broadcaster, Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, has received an alumni award from the University of Cape Coast (UCC).



Abeiku Santana, who has a Masters Degree in Tourism Management from UCC, was honoured for projecting the name of the institution in various endeavours.



The media mogul, who currently works with Despite Media, has had a distinguished career in radio broadcasting spanning over two decades, and he is one of Ghanas most popular radio presenters.



Abeiku Santana, after receiving the award, said: I deem it a great honour to receive this great recognition from my alma mater, and it further encourages me to do more for the betterment of humanity.



This honour means a lot to me and I want to dedicate it to my family, especially my wife, who has been very supportive of the numerous successes I have achieved over the years.



Abeiku Santana, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Kaya Tours, has contributed to the growth of Ghanas tourism industry as he was adjudged the Tourism Oriented Media Personality at the 2020 National Tourism Awards.



In 2020, he gained a special recognition award as the Exclusive Man of the Year for his exploits in tourism marketing and promotion, using his platform to promote Ghanas tourism.



The 2021 Radio and Television Personality of the Year is one of the topmost personalities in Ghanas music space, having contributed to the unearthing of numerous musical talents over his 20 years in the music industry.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Musician, Black Sherif says buying a luxurious car is not his priority at the moment because he sees no profit in that.



According to him, it is not a reasonable thing to do at this point in his career.



In an interview on Peace FM with Kwami Sefa Kayi, the Soja crooner said he has been investing his music money back into the business.



I havent reached anywhere. I only came to Accra two years ago to make my music. The money I am making. If I buy cars and other things, it wont benefit me. I have money to reinvest in my videos and promote my music because I believe thats the only way forward, he stated.



Sherif is currently promoting his maiden album The Villain I Never Was which was on October 6. The album is currently one of the most streamed works on the African continent.



Many had thought that he had made huge sums after his breakout, hence he should be enjoying a luxurious lifestyle. However, he says he has no time for that.







Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dancehall musician, Stonebwoy, has expressed his opinion following the horrific shooting and fire incident that occurred in Dzorwulu on Monday, October 24, 2022.



Earlier in a viral video, an unidentified driver of a V8 vehicle was allegedly shot by unknown assailants while his car was set on fire.



Although it is unclear what caused the incident, it reportedly stemmed from a land dispute.



Interestingly at the scene, an eyewitness was captured busy running a commentary in a 33-seconds video.



The said commentator was heard asking for help for the victim while exclaiming that he is not dead.



But reacting to this incident which has since sparked public interest, Stonebwoy appears peeved about the fact that people were more interested in recording the incident than rendering help to the victim.



I saw a video of a man laying hurt on the floor in Dzorwulu. A residential area with his V8 bumped/crashed into all these while there was this man filming him shouting, he is not dead ooo. With other passerby also filming until the car caught fire. This man started shoutingwe need fire Ghana fire service oo. Please fire service come o. and so on and so forth. Like I am so disappointed in some of us. Our smart phones have sucked out common sense, he wrote on social media.



He could have called an ambulance or fire service. Anyways realizing how long it takes for both to show up. How about quickly arranging for a taxi to carry this man to the hospital to save his life. I see many of us interested in filming the incidences that happen in order to post instead of actually saving the situation then dealing with the extras later. We can surely do better. Pls lets try, he added.





Read the post below:

Source: instagram/ghanaweb









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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South Africa: Labour DG calls for more efforts to fight unemployment

Employment and Labour Director-General, Thobile Lamati, says officials must redouble efforts to reposition the organisation to lead the war against unemployment.

Speaking at the opening of the Public Employment Services (PES) strategic planning conference, underway in Polokwane, Lamati said the department can no longer focus on counting the number of work seekers registered on their system.

In redoubling our efforts, we need to focus more on the placement of those that are on our database... Building relationships will serve as a cornerstone if we want to register success in this area, Lamati said.

The draft National Labour Migration Policy (NLMP) and National Employment Policy (NEP), he said, are two pivotal instruments to the changing nature of the South African labour market.

The NLMP, together with the amended Employment Services (ES) Bill, were unveiled in February 2022 to regulate issues of labour migration, while the NEP provides an overarching framework on issues of employment, including the NLMP.

The NLMP and the ES Bill are currently in Parliament before legislators, while the draft NEP has been concluded and submitted to the Presidency for a Socio-Economic Impact Analysis.

The NEP is to undergo an extensive consultation with various departments and other stakeholders before it is tabled before Cabinet.

Lamati said the PES Branch has been leading the formulation of these policies.

PES is a departmental branch that assists companies and workers to adjust to changing labour market conditions. The branch does this through the provision of employer services and work-seeker services, including the facilitation of subsidies to designated groups special services to promote the employment of persons with disabilities."

He said the world is facing its greatest crises in recent memory, and South Africa is not exempt, as it has one of the highest unemployment rates and inequality in the world.

There is a severe unemployment challenge, which exacerbates inequality and poverty. Therefore, as the country, while we focus on elusive high economic growth, we need to urgently roll out employment strategies.

Central to this effort is the Department of Employment and Labour, more specifically, the Public Employment Services Branch."

He said the problem of unemployment should be resolved by all concerned.

"It is for this reason that at last weeks strategic planning session, with the senior management of the department, I have called for the establishment of a War Room on Employment.

We need to accelerate the implementation of our industrial policy... COVID-19, the July unrest and floods in KwaZulu-Natal, have both resulted in increases in unemployment across South Africa and amplified the extent of the inequality, with millions depending on social assistance to support their daily livelihoods, he said

In further addressing unemployment, Lamati said government has announced a number of measures to help with the recovery of economy and creating the enabling conditions for growth.

Increasing employment will require strategies that will stimulate growth in sectors with the greatest job creation potential, and be coupled with large scale public employment interventions.

These strategies also need to take into account the large number of workers that are engaged in the informal sector, Lamati said.

The two-day conference will end on Friday.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe recently had a telephone conversation with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday. According to the spokesperson, the two sides exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.
Much like the light truck tire market, you can easily spend a premium for quality all-terrain tires, but there are products out there that sell for a whole lot less and still punch above their price point in terms of bang for buck. The Delium Rugged Reinforced tire draws similar parallels to the automotive world, undercutting premium-priced Maxxis and Schwalbe tires by up to 45%.



One way Delium lowers that price tag is by offering tires through their website on the direct-to-consumer business model. Founded in 1956, the Indonesian company has been manufacturing bicycle tires and tubes for over fifty years. Previously, theyve created products on a larger OEM scale until recently turning their efforts towards the high-performance side of mountain bike tires.

Delium Rugged Reinforced Details

 Extra Soft Triple 42/50/65a

 Triple Zone Casing

 62 TPI + Rim impact protection

 Folding Aramid Bead

 Sizes: 29 x 2.5" or 27.5 x 2.5"

 Weight: 1235g - 29 x 2.5" / 1150g - 27.5 x 2.5" (claimed weights)

 MSRP: $58 USD

 deliumtires.com

 Extra Soft Triple 42/50/65a Triple Zone Casing 62 TPI + Rim impact protection Folding Aramid Bead Sizes: 29 x 2.5" or 27.5 x 2.5" Weight: 1235g - 29 x 2.5" / 1150g - 27.5 x 2.5" (claimed weights) MSRP: $58 USD

DETAILS

WEIGHT & PRICE

WARRANTY AND RETURNS

INSTALLATION

The proof is in the pudding. This slice didn't make it all the way through the sidewall shield.

RIDE IMPRESSIONS

This is the rear tire after plenty of hard braking in all sorts of conditions. A softer compound would provide increased traction, but this tread is still in great shape.

Delium Rugged Reinforced - left, Maxxis Assegai - right.

Pros

+ Excellent value

+ Predictable braking and turning characteristics

+ Solid mid-weight gravity focused tire for all conditions

+ Durable casing with long tread life



Excellent valuePredictable braking and turning characteristicsSolid mid-weight gravity focused tire for all conditionsDurable casing with long tread life Cons

- Casing could use more damping

- Tackier option would allow more grip without compromising support

Casing could use more dampingTackier option would allow more grip without compromising support

Pinkbike's Take

If youre looking for a cheaper tire alternative for your enduro bike with a predictable, all-conditions tread and adequate protection without feeling like youre pedalling on hot tar then the Delium Rugged Reinforced tires are a suitable candidate.



They dont surpass their look-a-like Maxxis Assegai in its grippiest MaxxGrip compound, but they do give the MaxxTerra option a run for a lot less of its money.  Matt Beer

The Rugged Reinforced tire is designed for the most technical terrain with an open tread, triple compound rubber and a gravity casing that protects three areas using different layerings.Delium makes understanding their tire lineup simplistic and also streamlines possible combinations to the most common choices. For example, the low-profile tread of the Fast model, aimed at cross-country riding, isnt available in the heaviest, Reinforced carcass. Similarly, the meaty Rugged model is only available in All-around or Reinforced casings for trail and gravity applications. Delium only offers their tires in one width per tire model, but in two diameters; 27.5 and 29.Similar to a Maxxis DH casing, the Delium's Reinforced casing uses a dual-ply, 62 TPI casing, Rim impact protection, all in a folding Aramid bead. TPI stands for threads per inch, as Mike Levy explained in this tire tech video . Like bed sheet thread counts, the lower the number, the thicker the threads are. Above the bead is a belt to deter flats when the rim might bite through the tire casing, plus a second layer continues up the sidewall to mitigate rock slashes.Another triple layering strategy is found in the rubber where three durometers make up those square-edge blocks. At the base to support the knobs is a firm 65a rubber, with 50a covering the center and a softer 42a durometer on the shoulder lugs.As you can imagine, when sporting these gravity-oriented tires, you can expect to hear the "looks like an Assegai" comment frequently. Without a doubt, they are close in appearance to the alternating two-three-two center knobs and are another take on the popular Maxxis tire. When mounted and compared on a 30mm rim, the Rugged has a flatter profile across the top of the tread and measured to exactly 2.5" at the widest point.Each rider will have their own tire security demands based on their discipline and terrain. The Rugged Reinforced casing comes in at 1259-grams for the 29 x 2.5, twenty-four more than claimed. That aligns closer to the equivalent size of a Maxxis Double Down carcass, which is about 100-grams lighter than their DH casing tire.Are tires the best place to save money, though? Remember, our bikes cost thousands of dollars. Whats a few hundred more for max traction? Maybe you could spend less on carbon parts or shiny suspension and hoard more black magic rubber. Thats a decision you have to make for yourself, but it doesnt change the fact that Delium Rugged tires are an exceptional value at $58 USD. Keep in mind too that Maxxis and Schwalbe pricing doesnt vary between their soft and softest rubbers.For up to one year from the date of purchase, or 50% of the original tread depth, Delium provides a warranty for original owners in the North American market. This of course does not include punctures, only manufacturing defects, such as knobs possibly detaching from the casing or warped casings. All of the fine print is clearly listed in the warranty section of their website and instructions for warranty returns will be handled by their warranty team.There is also a 30-day return policy for tires that are in new condition only. Meaning you have thirty days from receiving the tires, still in their packaging, to begin the return process. Any tire that has been mounted or without the packaging will not be eligible for a refund.Customers are responsible for shipping costs associated with tires returning for refunds and authorization must be acquired first. This process will be handled by contacting their sales team via the Delium website.Tire in hand, you can feel the protective layers throughout the casing. The foldable tire is intended for front and rear use, so I doubled down on the Ruggeds. Popping the tire onto the bead on either rim posed no issue and a compressor or charging pump wasnt needed. They snapped straight into place with no sign of any wobbles.The tires never wept sealant, but they would drop considerably more pressure over the span of a few days compared to Maxxis. The loss of 10 psi wasnt due to faulty rim tape either, the usual suspect when a stored tire drops pressure. Thats not a deal-breaker, but a reminder to always check your tire pressures before setting off.Considering the price of the Rugged tires is close to half that of premium tires from Maxxis and Schwalbe, does that mean that the performance is also cut in half? Most definitely not.The first thing youll notice is that the rubber is not as soft of a compound or as slow rebounding as the Maxxis MaxxGrip, however, it is very close to their MaxxTerra formula. If youve spent time on both Maxxis compounds, you know that even with the same tread pattern, there is a noticeable difference in grip. Compared to a Schwalbe Magic Mary Super Gravity Soft compound, the Rugged grips on wet rocks and roots with more consistency. There seems to be the extra surface area on tap from the Deliums, which makes control on slick rock slabs manageable. Dropping the pressure helps here because the sidewall is fairly supportive for a mid-weight gravity tire - knock on wood, I haven't flatted on the Deliums yet.My pressures would hover around 21 psi up front to 24 out back on the dampest days in Squamish and on the North Shore. I also got to feel out the Ruggeds characteristics on the dry, loose, and blindly fast trail conditions around Kamloops, BC, where I upped the pressures to 23 and 27 psi. Tire roll was manageable and no major burps occurred on either wheelset, even when hitting those face-melting corners found in the arid landscape of the provinces interior region. I did start to notice more bounce from the tires than first perceived at lower pressures on slower speed trails. This is where the suppleness in the top makes up for harder rubber and is an example of the compromises one must choose for their riding needs.On harder pack trails and rock slabs, there is a limit to the 50a durometer top rubber layer on the center though. Striking a balance between sidewall support and grip means a narrower window to hone in on the optimal pressure - something has to give, and sometimes that meant sliding early in a turn or feeling the front tire folding. Where the square profile digs into the perfect loam around the PNW the harder compound and closer shoulder knob didnt allow for the same lean angles that you can reach with a MaxxGrip Assegai. However, they are predictable across the tread and breaking the rear tire free doesnt come with a jump or sudden loss of traction. "Consistent" is the best way to describe the traction that the Rugged tires produce.After weeks of use in every condition possible, the Deliums still look very fresh, even the rear tire. There's no sign of the knobs cracking and they don't fold as easily as some super soft compound tires. Its all a balancing act: rolling speed to straight-line braking, carcass support to suppleness, quality to cost, durability to weight. However you want to sum it up, the Delium Rugged Reinforced strikes the target of meeting all demands very well in a gravity tire that doesnt lose much performance to hit a cheaper price point.
EPT London Hands of the Week: Cracked Aces for Victoria Coren Mitchell; Strong Fourth Pair Call

October 27, 2022 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S.

PokerNews is known throughout the world for our industry-leading live updates for both live and online events. In fact, right now we're offering various updates right here.

Over the years, weve captured memorable hands, many of which have become a part of poker history. In this column, we will bring you some of the biggest hands that took place during some of the early events from the European Poker Tour (EPT) London.

Remember, if youre playing an event PokerNews is covering, you can get in the updates via the MyStack App. You can download the app for iPhone or Android now to get started. Then, create a new PokerNews account or update your current one to start updating your status immediately. Your followers can see all the live action that you're involved in.

Click here to download the My Stack app for iPhone, or click here to download the My Stack app for Android.

Follow EPT London live updates here!

Two-Time EPT Main Event Champ Eliminated After Getting Aces Cracked

Victoria Coren Mitchell

On Day 1a of the 5,300 EPT Main Event, it was Level 8 (500/1,000/1,000) when Victoria Coren Mitchell opened to 2,000 from early position and Lawrence Brandt defended out of the big blind. Before he called, the was exposed as a player folded their hand.

The flop landed and Brandt checked. Mitchell bet 2,000 and Brandt check-raised to 5,400.

"Check-raise?! Why did you do that?! Is it me?" Mitchell asked before calling.

The turn brought the and Brandt put out a stack of blue 5,000-denomination chips to put Mitchell all in. She quickly called off with around 25,000.

Victoria Coren Mitchell:

Lawrence Brandt:

Despite there being one less eight in the deck, Brandt had flopped a straight to have Mitchell drawing dead with her pocket aces headed to the river to eliminate the two-time EPT Main Event champion, who first took down 2006 EPT London Main Event for 500,000 and later 2014 EPT Sanremo Main Event for 476,100.

"Hard for me to fold that," the two-time champ turned BBC presenter said as she left the tournament area.

Learn more about Victoria Coren Mitchell here!

Back-to-Back Eliminations for Sinclair

Jack Sinclair

Also on Day 1a, albeit one level earlier in Level 7 (400/800/800), 2018 WSOP Europe Main Event champ Jack Sinclair defended his big blind after Samuel Gillis raised to 2,000 in the small blind. The flop was and Gillis bet 2,500. Sinclair called.

The turn was the and Gillis checked. Sinclair bet 7,500 and called a shove from Gillis for over 20,000.

Samuel Gillis:

Jack Sinclair:

Gillis was drawing dead against Sinclair's turned flush, with the river sending him to the rail.

On the following hand, Sinclair three-bet after a raise and a call in front of him, and three players saw the flop. They all checked and Sinclair bet 7,000 on the turn. Lukas Zaskodny was the only caller.

The river was the and Sinclair shoved. Zaskodny had around 22,000 behind and muttered something across the table before calling.

Sinclair showed for a flopped full house, with Zaskodny showing for a rivered nut straight.

"Is that two in two since you joined the table?" asked probable tournament chip leader Ian Drake.

"No, I folded one," replied Sinclair with a smile.

Docherty Correctly Calls River Overbet With Fourth Pair

David Docherty

On Day 3 of the Main Event, it was Level 17 (3,000/6,000/6,000) in a heads-up battle between the blinds when Harry Lodge led out for 8,000 on the flop of and David Docherty called.

The turn brought the and Lodge put out an overbet of 38,000 with slightly less than that in the pot. Docherty again called.

The on the river completed the board and Lodge put out yet another overbet for 145,000, which sent Docherty deep into the tank. After using three time extensions, Docherty made the call.

Lodge sheepishly turned over a stone bluff with for nine-high, leading Docherty to turn over for a rivered bottom pair after missing his straight draw.

Romero at Risk, Flops Quads to Double

Jordi Romero

Also on Day 3 in the same Level 17, Yiannis Liperis opened to 12,000 and Jordi Romero reraised from the next seat to 98,000 and was all in.

Liperis thought for a second and made the call and the players tabled their cards with Romero at risk.

Jordi Romero:

Yiannis Liperis:

Romero let out a loud tap on the table when the flop came , flopping quad nines and securing his full double up. The completed the board but had no impact as Romero stacked his newfound wealth.

Merrilees Calls Clock on Tedeschi in

Paul Tedeschi

On Day 1 of the 3,000 Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty in Level 12 (600/1,200/1,200) when action was caught on the turn with the board showing the .

Daniel Merrilees checked in the big blind before Paul Tedeschi bet 12,500. Merrilees then jammed for 74,400. After a few moments, Merrilees called the clock, much to the objection of Tedeschi who felt not enough time had passed.

The clock began and Tedeschi called, by splashing his bigger stack into the pot.

Daniel Merrilees:

Paul Tedeschi:

Merrilees was ahead with a superior ace but couldn't believe his luck when the hit the river, to give his opponent two pair. A dejected Merrilees then exited the tournament area.

Check out PokerNews' profile on Paul Tedeschi here!

Bonus Hand from Benny Glaser

"Right, it's time for a blind raise" And then opens blind to 6k. (30k starting)  Benny Glaser (@BennyGlaser)

With... AJ.  Benny Glaser (@BennyGlaser)

Sharelines Check out some of the biggest & game-changing hands from the @PokerStars #EPTLondon.
Pavel Plesuv Comes All the Way Back to Win 3,000 Platinum Pass Mystery Bounty

October 27, 2022 Adam Lamers Contributor

Sometimes all you need is a chip and a chair...and some luck in the case of Pavel Plesuv. Down to his last two big blinds, Plesuv came all the way back to capture the title in the 3,000 Platinum Pass Myster Bounty at this year's PokerStars European Poker Tour London.

Plesuv will be taking home 154,426 for his efforts after defeating Santhosh Suvarna in an epic heads-up battle. This was the fifth time Plesuv reached the heads-up stage of a tournament on the EPT dating back to 2016 and the third win of his career on the tour. The poker pro has amassed over $5.6 million in career tournament winnings with the majority of it coming on European soil.

The man from Moldova has not been playing much of the higher-stakes buy-ins as of late but this win will give him some renewed confidence. He will also be adding 11 bounties on top of the first-place prize for an additional 20,000 when he appears at the payout desk. As for his heads-up rival, Suvarna will earn a cool 96,700 plus some bounty money as well, pushing his total into the six-figure mark.

3,000 Platinum Pass Myster Bounty Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (GBP) 1st Pavel Plesuv Moldova 154,426 2nd Santhosh Suvarna India 96,700 3rd Iacopo Brandi Italy 69,100 4th Robert Macsim Romania 53,100 5th Sebastien Jung United Kingdom 40,850 6th Yasuhiro Waki Japan 31,450 7th Blaz Zerjav Slovenia 24,200 8th Bruno Soutavong France 19,850

Action from Day 3

Day 3 began with 16 players returning to their seats with their sights set on the lion's share of the prize pool that was still up for grabs. Oh, and there was also a PSPC Platinum Pass waiting in one of the remaining envelopes. However, it didn't take long for that prize to be snagged up by Hannes Jeschka who was the first to be eliminated on the day. Jeschka headed to the treasure chest to redeem three of his unclaimed bounty tickets and one of them happened to be the coveted Platinum Pass that will earn him a direct entry into the PSPC this coming January in the Bahamas.

It was smooth sailing from there as the final table was reached in an orderly manner but that is when the action seemed to stall out. Once Paul Tedeschi was eliminated in ninth place, Bruno Soutavong followed to the payout desk when his aggressive style backfired. His nut-flush draw ran into Iacopo Brandi's set and Soutavong was unable to catch up.

Iacopo Brandi

Many players fell into the short stack at the table on multiple occasions but one thing stayed consistent and that was the big stack of Plesuv ever since the start of the day. Blaz Zerjav and Yasuhiro Waki put up a good fight but eventually, they succumbed to the blinds and bowed out in seventh and sixth place respectively. Sebastien Jung also made a climb up the leaderboard at one point, but a cold deck didn't allow for him to get anything going afterward.

The start-of-day chip leader was Robert Macsim who battled his way up to a fourth-place finish. A cooler eventually finished him off when his pocket tens ran into the pocket kings of Suvarna. That allowed Suvarna to take over the chip lead for the time being. However, after the elimination of Brandi, Plesuv regained his crown and took a slight lead into the heads-up match.

A monster hand at the start of the heads-up match went in the favor of Suvarna who flopped a full house. Plesuv was unable to get away from his turned two pair and was left with less than two big blinds at the time. Just when everyone thought the match was over, including Plesuv, the deck had other things to say about it. In three consecutive hands, Plesuv was all in and at risk and won all of them, including two of them coming from behind. That momentum carried forward for the next two levels and by now we all know how that finished.

That wraps up the PokerNews coverage for this event but there are still a couple of days remaining at the EPT stop at Hilton Park Lane so keep it tuned in here for all of the latest updates.

Sharelines Plesuv was down to his last big blinds before he came back to win 154,426
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The campaign of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) went after Herschel Walker hard after another woman came forward to detail Walker paying for her abortion.

In a statement, Warnock Deputy Campaign Manager Rachel Petri said, 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.

Warnocks campaign had a muted response to the reports weeks ago that he paid for a girlfriends abortion in 2009. With the allegations from a second woman  and a tight Senate race  Warnock is taking a sharper approach. Herschel Walker shouldnt be representing Georgians pic.twitter.com/GuBS9rYfkh  Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) October 26, 2022

The Walker campaign responded by pointing to a small crowd in a grocery store parking lot as proof that they are winning:

How do you know youre winning with less than 2 weeks to go? You draw crowds like this in Rabun County and Gloria Allred trots out anonymous accusers. It wont work. pic.twitter.com/FJdJS3bLrF  Scott Paradise (@swparadise) October 26, 2022

That picture does not send the message that the Walker campaign seems to think it sends.

The problem with the new allegation is that just like the previous allegations of Walker paying for an abortion and pressuring his girlfriend to have an abortion is that there is evidence.

The Warnock campaign would not talk about the allegations against Walker, but with two weeks left in the campaign, they have decided that the issue can no longer be ignored.

Rev. Warnocks campaign is calling Herschel Walker unfit to be in the U.S. Senate.

A new Monmouth University Poll shows Warnock leading Walker by five points, 49%-44%, but Warnock needs to get over 50% to avoid a runoff.

Sen. Warnock sees that Walker is on the ropes and a strong final two weeks could go a long way toward keeping the Senate under Democratic control.
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It is October 26, 2022, less than two weeks from what some people believe to be the most critical mid-term election in history. For reasons passing understanding and logic, Dinesh DSouza hosts a show (podcast type), and today he had former President Donald Trump on, as a guest to address the election the 2020 election.

Trump spent a good part of his time complaining bitterly about people voting more than once. He said people would vote five votes, six votes, seven votes, then go toanother one, (Precinct?), and then it adds up! He noted that you cant put in a thousand votes or it wouldnt look right, but what these five, six, seven people do adds up to millions of votes. He even heard of someone who voted 28 times in a day.

In a new interview, Trump says he heard that some people went back and voted up to 28 times on the same day in 2020. pic.twitter.com/5Z5ZxjEm5C  Ron Filipkowski  (@RonFilipkowski) October 26, 2022

The information provided below contributes mightily to the discussion. Surely, the reader recalls the all-important state of Georgia; the one Trump called with the infamous, Guys, come on, I need 11,700 votes, give me a break! And lets see how many people voted 28 times in Georgia. From the Secretary of States office:

Below is a list from a total of 35 people arrested for voting crimes in the same state of Georgia in the 2020 election.

Joseph B of Atlanta for allegedly registering to vote while serving a felony sentence

 Hassan M of Decatur for allegedly voting while serving a felony sentence

 Michael W of Columbus for allegedly voting while serving a felony sentence

 Brian P of Cherry Log for allegedly voting while serving a felony sentence

 Talibah B of Lilburn for allegedly submitting a false voter registration application

 Sharmaine S of Lithonia for allegedly submitting a false voter registration application

 Sophia S of Valdosta for allegedly voting in another persons name

 Albert N of Winder for allegedly voting as a non-citizen

 Sean W of Covington for allegedly voting as a non-citizen

 Clifton S of Fairburn for allegedly registering to vote as a non-citizen

There are more but you get the gist.

As they should, Georgia takes voting security very seriously. If you vote in another persons name, youve taken what is essentially a secular-sacred right. The authorities catch these people. There have been many stories out of Florida (especially The Villages, for some odd reason) of people being caught voting twice. The point is, of course, that election security is extremely strong. Additionally, our decentralized form of elections, where the vote is done precinct by precinct and reported up the chain, through various states, to the top, makes it that much harder for someone to alter a vote count that would change an election. Are we perfect? No. Can a person vote five, six, or twenty-eight times in a day? No.

But even funnier or sadder, depending on how one views it, we are  again  thirteen days from a critical mid-term election, and Trump isnt spending every second talking about the importance of getting out and voting. He is talking about the fact that if youre a Republican, you best get 28 of your buddies and go vote, lest the Democrat who voted 28 times overcome your voice.

Last, obviously, it is worth mentioning we are thirteen days from the mid-terms, and Trump is still talking about the election he lost by almost 8 million popular votes and  through narrow margins in certain states, lost by a significant margin in the electoral college too.
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Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said that she would endorse Democrats who are fighting to protect democracy, and she is following through by endorsing Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

The AP reported:

Cheney, of Wyoming, planned to announce her support for the two-term House member from Holly, Michigan, on Thursday morning, according to Slotkin aides, then join her in the Lansing-area district for a public event next Tuesday.



I have come to know Elissa as a good and honorable public servant, Cheney said in a statement provided to The Associated Press by Slotkins campaign. While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress.

Rep. Cheney has said that she will endorse people from either party who show a willingness and a commitment to fighting to protect democracy from Donald Trump and the authoritarian movement that is the Republican Party.

Slotkins race in Michigan is rated as a toss-up, and a Cheney endorsement could help to keep a pro-democracy member of Congress in the House.

Democracy is on the line, so how a Republican or a Democrat feels about various policy issues should take a backseat to forming a coalition to protect democracy.

Once democracy is safe, members of each party can go back to arguing about policy differences.

Without democracy, there will be no policy arguments because people will no longer be free to disagree with the government.

Liz Cheney is putting country first, which is why Donald Trump and Kevin McCarthy had to get her out of the Republican Party.
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If you are running for the U.S. Senate in a race that is tighter than it should be and suffered a couple of mild setbacks, you are going to want all the gravitas and presence brought by the worlds most popular Democrat, along with the worlds most powerful man (And an extremely popular Democrat). Yes, Fmr. President Obama and President Biden are about to take Pennsylvania by storm on behalf of John Fetterman, who is on the right side of history and his health, despite any word to the contrary. In the run-up to the blazing trail, Obama filmed a GOTV ad:

From Axios: (Continues Below Quote and Video)

Former President Barack Obama cut an ad for Democrats in Pennsylvania ahead of his plans to barnstorm the key battleground state with President Biden in the days before the midterm elections, Axios has learned. Driving the news: In the ad, the former president cites two key issues that Democrats have been hammering on this cycle: the willingness of some Republicans to help overturn elections, and abortion rights. In addition to Pennsylvania, hes set to campaign in Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin this week.

The fact that a duo with the power of Obama and Biden would take time out of an insane schedule to tour Pennsylvania a week and a half before the election is indicative of the stakes. Fetterman still enjoys a slight lead, but Oz has been cutting into that lead, and the national news seems fixated on a verbal-auditory cognition issue that doesnt impact Fettermans judgment in any way. Fetterman knows what he believes about a womans right to choose, Oz does not.

Obama and President Biden know that control of the U.S. Senate depends largely upon what happens in Pennsylvania. It looks increasingly like the entire map will hold, with the exception of a possible Democratic loss in Nevada. It leaves the Democrats in need of picking up a Republican seat to hold the slimmest of leads in the Senate, and Pennsylvania is the most likely pick-up, provided Fetterman can get over the finishing line. The powerful duo will surely bring the message that Pennsylvanians know John Fetterman. They know that if Fetterman believed his judgment was impaired, he wouldnt be running. Obama and Biden will surely talk about the need for just that kind of judgment in an environment in which the GOP will do all it can to make the country less democratic by the day.

Even if one tosses aside all hope of legislation by conceding a loss in the House (not that this site is conceding the House), the critical nature of holding the U.S. Senate going into the 2024 presidential election cannot be understated. The 2024 presidential election is going to make 2020 look like a run for class president. The MAGAs feel entitled to a win, they feel owed, and many will insist upon taking it, if they dont earn it. At least one house of Congress must be in a position to stand in their way.

As said, the stakes really couldnt be any higher, and no one knows it better than Obama, President Biden, and John Fetterman. Pennsylvania is about to be lit. Every Pennsylvanian is going to hear of a bright future, provided by a Democratically controlled Senate, with a strong, determined John Fetterman casting those crucial last votes.
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

Clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph, becoming NNE and decreasing to less than 5 mph..

Tonight

Clear skies. Low near 40F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph, becoming NNE and decreasing to less than 5 mph.
COLUMBIA  People hoisted one wall, then a roof onto the base structure of a Pallet shelter  the last in a long row of the small white structures.

The 50 64-square-foot units off Calhoun Street, at the site of what was formerly known as the Inclement Weather Center and is now Rapid Shelter Columbia, are set to open Nov. 1 to house chronically unsheltered people.

The project is part of the city's $2.6 million plan to fill gaps in services for people who aren't comfortable in traditional shelters, which typically have congregate housing. With a single mattress, heating and air-conditioning units, a fire extinguisher and outlets, the single-occupancy structures offer privacy and security for short-term stays.

"I'm confident in saying, from the city's perspective, we're looking at a new era to help end homelessness in our community, the chronically unsheltered having a new tool in the toolbox if they choose to use it and have an opportunity for a dignified option for transitional housing," City Manager Teresa Wilson said.

Cities across South Carolina have been working to address homelessness, but Columbia will be the first in the region to use the shelters from Everett, Washington-based Pallet. Other cities, like Fayetteville, Ark.; San Jose, Calif.; and Boston have used the tiny homes to house unsheltered people, according to Pallet's website.

Rapid Shelter Columbia is meant to be a place for people to stay for a brief period before going into housing or other programs. The city is considering limiting stays to 90 days, but that could change as the program develops, said Kameisha Heppard, the city's newly appointed homeless services director.

The space inside the former Inclement Weather Center, which will be called the overflow area, will still open Nov. 1 through April 1 for people who need a place to stay during cold weather, said Assistant City Manager of Operations Henry Simons. Other service providers will be able to refer people they think are eligible to stay in the individual units.

The Pallet shelter units are divided up into a side for women and a side for men. Each unit will house one person, with enough space for their belongings. Mobile bathrooms and showers will be available inside the main building.

To ensure the site's safety, a security officer and city staff person will be on site around the clock. More than 200 cameras and LED lights will provide additional security. Everyone entering will be screened by a metal detector at the single entrance.

Staff and service providers will work with each person to address their individual needs, Heppard said, whether that means helping with substance abuse or getting someone a job. The ultimate goal is to get people into more long-term housing.

Heppard will oversee Rapid Shelter Columbia, while Homeless Services Project Manager Mackin Wall will manage day-to-day operations. Both have backgrounds in social work, particularly with homeless populations.

This is just the first step, city leaders said. Next, the city hopes to involve surrounding areas, existing providers and the state to come up with a more permanent solution. City Council plans to ask the Legislature for $9 million in the upcoming session to build a facility with this purpose, as well as increased funding for mental health services that are open past 5 p.m.

"I will be very clear: This is temporary," Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said. "Our long-term goal is to provide a permanent solution with wraparound services that provide each and every individual who's suffering through homelessness, through whatever the circumstance is, an opportunity to have a successful life moving forward."

The space is also set to become a hub of resources, where Columbia's multiple homeless service providers can operate. With more than 100 such services in the city, it can help consolidate their reach, Councilwoman Aditi Bussells said.

"When you look at the map of services all across the greater Richland area, even with a car, it's difficult to reach some of the services that are available for the homeless," Bussells said.

"So, we really hope this is an opportunity to develop that hub, that triage point where providers can come and get folks into the services they need and really make an effective system that allows those wraparound services to occur."

Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C.
COLUMBIA  The capital city's latest efforts to land an Apple Store are on the fingertips of college students.

Through petitions, social media campaigns and letters, a council of students is working with Columbia City Council to land the vaunted retailer of smartphones, tablets and laptops.

"What sends a stronger message to a company than 60,000 students reaching out to them?" Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said.

Rickenmann formed the Intercollegiate Engagement Council in January, made up of students at six of Columbia's colleges  the University of South Carolina, Benedict College, Allen University, Columbia College, Columbia International University and Midlands Technical College.

As city leaders try to spur development, the council is part of an effort to keep college students in town after they graduate and harness their economic power while they're here.

After hearing on the campaign trail from students who felt left out of the conversation, Rickenmann's goal was to help create a sense of community and brainstorm ways to make Columbia a more appealing place to live.

The first step: "Operation Apple Cola," as Melanie Jenkins, a council member and second-semester Midlands Tech student called it.

Other than Gamecock iHub  an "Apple-authorized" store for USC students  Columbia doesn't have a place to buy, trade or troubleshoot Apple products in person. The nearest Apple Store is nearly an hour and a half away in either Augusta, Ga., or Greenville.

With Apple phones and other devices already in use by many people, "this is going to benefit everyone in this town, and it's a beautiful thing to be a part of," Jenkins said.

The plan is to create petitions, send letters and reach out on social media  basically, anything to get Apple CEO Tim Cook's attention.

"We are trying to grab this man's attention and (say) we are a town whose biggest asset is the students, and the students want this," Jenkins said.

It exemplifies the power of Columbia's 50,000 or so students, Rickenmann said.

"When people look at our population and they look at the city and they go, 'Oh, it's a government town,' and this and that, they forget about the student population," Rickenmann said. "They don't understand the buying power that's there."

The work doesn't end with an Apple Store. Rickenmann wants to start a contest for students to design an app that would help them get to know Columbia better, potentially including features like business recommendations and maps of restaurants or attractions.

At the same time, the council is helping students build community across campuses and leave their bubbles, Rickenmann said. That community will culminate in an end-of-year event  possibly a concert  open to students from the six colleges.

It also gives college students the power to help move Columbia forward, something that will benefit both the students and the city as a whole, Jenkins said.

"It's giving students the opportunity to have a voice and say what they want for the town and how they want the town to progress and grow," Jenkins said. "We're helping amplify that voice."

Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C.
Two months before her hand-off to a new administration, Spearman sat down with The Post and Courier to reflect on her tenure, as well as her hopes and concerns for the future. Read moreExiting schools' chief Spearman reflects on teacher recruitment, mergers and takeovers
Boba tea shops can be found throughout large Southern cities like Atlanta, Houston and Charlotte, yet spots specializing in the Taiwanese drink have historically been few and far between in Charleston, especially after the 2021 closure of Spring Streets Ice Bing Cafe.

Opening a business based on boba, or bubble, tea might not be all that attractive after in 2021 the chewy tapioca balls that sink to the bottom of the milk- or fruit-infused teas were in short supply due to shipping delays in Asia.

Hi Boba Tea Owner Jose Nguyen says those shortages are no longer impacting boba businesses locally, one of the reasons he believes he can capitalize on the lack of Charleston-area boba tea shops.

We see that theres a potential (for) boba tea in Charleston, said Nguyen, who opened Hi Boba Tea at 5646 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston with his sisters Huong and Ngoi Aug. 6. Americans (are starting) to know boba tea.

The Nguyen name is known in North Charleston for those who have visited Phuong Vietnamese Restaurant, owned by Jose Nguyens brother Dat and sister-in-law Phuong.

Most Phuong diners come for the noodle soups: Pho (beef broth and rice noodles) and mi (seaweed broth and egg noodles). The restaurant offers six types of pho, including one with thinly sliced beef and meatballs, called pho tai bo vien.

Dat, Jose, Huong, Ngoi and their six other siblings were born and raised in Vietnam before moving to Belgium. Many of the siblings, including Jose, eventually settled down in the United States.

Since arriving in 1992, Jose has spent time working in the real estate industry, and he owns a nail salon in Mount Pleasant. Hi Boba Tea is his first food and beverage venture, made possible by Huong, who leads day-to-day operations.

The siblings visited Houston for inspiration before opening Hi Boba Tea, Jose said.

The Nguyens arent the only new boba tea game in town. Maccaro recently started serving pastries, coffee and boba tea at 427 King St. in downtown Charleston.

Owned by Pramon and Wulan Sembiring, Maccaro Charleston joins another location in Maryland. Maccaros boba tea menu caters to the downtown crowd with the option to order with oat or almond milk, and the cafe is also known for its croffles, or croissant waffles, made using croissants from EVO Craft Bakery in North Charleston.

The sugar-crusted croffle is a sticky but delicious treat, as patrons who wander into the shop will discover when offered a free sample.

At Hi Boba Tea, the Nguyen siblings chose to pair their boba tea with the savory banh mi sandwich, served with either pork or chicken.

But the Vietnamese tea drinks, crafted daily by Huong, are the main draw at Hi Boba Tea. Nearly 20 types of milk teas headline the large drink menu, with honeydew, coconut, matcha and brown sugar flavors in the mix. I recently sampled oolong tea with boba and cheese foam, a frothy layer of milk and cream cheese resting atop the chilled tea. When shaken, the cheese foam adds a satisfyingly creamy and salty tartness.

The small store with just a handful of seats was filled with two other patrons when I walked in, and four other curious individuals stopped by as I was placing my order.

Since we open theres a lot of new customers, Nguyen said. They try us out and they seem to like us, the way we do it.

Nguyen has more Hi Boba Tea locations in his sights  hes currently keeping an eye out for real estate opportunities in Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island and Summerville.

For now, his familys North Charleston shop is open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.
A prominent Charleston businessmans hospitality group has tapped a renowned chef to help curate its first stand-alone restaurant concept.

Beemok Hospitality Collection, an affiliate of Beemok Capital, the family office of local businessman and philanthropist Ben Navarro, will open Sorelle in a stretch of three historic townhomes on Broad Street.

The expanding hospitality group is partnering with James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina of MINA Group, whose portfolio includes 40 restaurants in eight states, Washington, D.C., and Dubai.

Mina and MINA Group chef/partner Adam Sobel will both be in Charleston alongside Sorelle executive chef Nick Dugan for the restaurants opening in early 2023.

This is three years in the making, said Mina, who met Navarro through a mutual friend. Charleston is a city that we always looked at.

Sorelles name, which means sisters in Italian, is a nod to the 88 Broad St. space that was occupied in the late 1800s by a school run by two sisters. The multi-level structure will be transformed into a two-part dining concept: the first floor market, or alimentari, and second story dining room, highlighted by an open kitchen overlooking the downstairs area.

According to Beemok Hospitality Collection President Casey Lavin, the space lends itself to this really bespoke and beautiful opportunity to take people through a number of experiences, day and night. Meyer Davis Studio is leading the design efforts.

In the morning, patrons will be able to order pastries and coffee while perusing the market for gourmet items, such as Italian olive oil and flour. The morning menu will evolve into lunch, with salads, paninis and Sicilian pizza served near a downstairs bar offering wine, beer and cocktails. A downstairs wine cellar will house Sorelles wine and spirit collection, along with intimate private events.

Upstairs, Sorelle executive chef Nick Dugan will serve a variety of Southern Italian dishes made with Lowcountry ingredients. A handful of the spots inside the 100-seat dining room will be at the chefs table and pizza counter, with housemade pasta, seafood and modern interpretations of classic Italian fare on the menu throughout.

You can kind of build this experience in a couple of different ways, said Dugan, who has worked at MINA Group restaurants in Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Francisco and most recently, Las Vegas at Bardot Brasserie in the ARIA Resort & Casino.

Patrons will be able to, for instance, grab a drink while snacking on small plates like warm Sicilian olives, crudos and meatballs made using Anson Mills polenta. Large plates will include three rotating pizzas, Italian mains and bowls of pasta, with the restaurant offering six different types at all times: two extruded in-house, two imported in Rome and two stuffed pastas.

Many of Sorelles ingredients will be sourced from a MINA Group partners farm in Sicily, Mina said.

The forthcoming restaurant is a big addition to Beemok Hospitality Collection, which made a splash in 2021 when it purchased Charleston Place, the peninsulas largest hotel and an iconic property that played a critical role in making the city a prime tourist destination. Two months later, the group acquired a stake in The Cooper, a 225-room hotel project under construction next to Waterfront Park. Beemok Hospitality Collections assets also include The Riviera Theater in downtown Charleston, Credit One Stadium on Daniel Island and now, Sorelle.

Its been fun to watch Broad Street and Lower King and Lower East Bay kind of evolve, Lavin said. We think that this is going to further cement this part of town as a place where people want to go and spend their evening.

While the restaurant is Beemok Hospitality Collections first foray into stand-alone restaurant ownership, dining concepts will be a central focus for the group as it looks ahead to the opening of The Cooper and renovations at Charleston Place in 2024.

With a much larger focus on restaurants in Charleston Place'' and five restaurants at The Cooper, Beemok Hospitality will soon have nearly a dozen restaurants in its portfolio, Lavin said.

The group will evaluate opportunities as they come, but there are no immediate plans to open or acquire any additional restaurants.
GREENVILLE  A coalition of organizations has received a $1.5 million federal grant to address policies and practices that worsen health disparities among racial and ethnic groups in Greenville County.

Social and economic factors influence health outcomes for different demographic groups. According to Greenville County data from the 2021 American Community Survey, families with White heads of households had a median yearly income around $77,000, while figures for families with Black and Hispanic heads households were about $42,000 and $49,000, respectively.

Finances and insufficient insurance hinder access to proper health care, while language barriers make it harder for Spanish-speaking households to receive proper care, Stacey Mills said at an Oct. 27 news conference celebrating the award.

Mills, executive director of the Greenville Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Coalition, said the group believes they can expand health care access and increase cultural competency in care.

It matters that people feel seen when they see each other, Mills said.

In the first year of the three-year project, researchers with Clemson and Furman universities will study the social and economic factors that lead to inequities, such as economic mobility, education and the built environment.

In the following years, the research will inform efforts by LiveWell Greenville, Hispanic Alliance and REEM to address barriers and improve health for Black and Hispanic residents of Greenville County. These organizations will hire new employees to work on the project.

As a community, we need to understand that health is a basic need and right for all people," said Adela Mendoza, executive director of the Hispanic Alliance. "That drivers such as poverty, housing, economic mobility, strongly affect health. That the stronger and healthier that all of our communities are, the stronger and healthier Greenville will be as a whole."

The grant was awarded by the federal Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health to 10 U.S. communities. Greenville is one of only two communities in the South  the other is Atlanta  that will implement a project. Other cities include Boston and Los Angeles.

Sally Wills, executive director of LiveWell Greenville, said they hope the program can serve as a model for communities across the South.

We know there is work to be done in the South, and if we can make it work here, we know that it can be scalable to our peers and our partners across the state and across the region, Wills said.
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
The Association of Mature American Citizens and The American Constitutional Rights Union Join Forces to Protect Senior Voters
MYRTLE BEACH  Myrtle Beach Police arrested a Virginia man in connection with attempted murder and kidnapping following an Oct. 25 stand off.

William Berry Hodges, 45, of Roanoke, Va., in custody on 10 counts of attempted murder, one count of kidnapping, one count of arson second degree, one count of cruelty to animals and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to a Facebook post by the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Officers were called to Myrtle Beach Fire Station No. 6 on 38th Avenue North around 6:30 a.m. Oct. 25 for a report of kidnapping and attempted murder. The victim told officers that on Oct. 23, while inside their home, Hodges hit the victim in the head with a hammer and told her he would kill her. The victim said he tied her to a bed and threatened to harm her if she tried to escape. The victim escaped Oct. 25 and sought help at the fire station, where she reported the kidnapping to officers.

Myrtle Beach SWAT and Negotiations teams were called to assist in the arrest of Hodges because of the nature of the crime and threats of violence. When tactical units arrived, Hodges shot at officers from inside the home and refused to come out, according to police.

On several occasions during the standoff, he fired shots from inside the house. No injuries were reported, but property was damaged. After several hours of negotiations, Hodges stopped communicating with officers and tactical teams used tear gas to force him out.

Hodges attempted to barricade windows and set a mattress on fire in the back of his home, according to police. After the house was on fire, he came out to the front of the home and surrendered. Officers initially believed Hodges let his dog outside before setting the fire, but fire crews found his dog dead inside his home.

Because of threats made by Hodges to set the house on fire and claims that he had explosives, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department was in a position to begin putting the fire out immediately.

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Horry County Police Department Bomb Squad were also on the scene to clear the home and ensure it was safe for fire crews to work, police said.

The Myrtle Beach Police Department was supported by the Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff's Office, North Myrtle Beach Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, FBI, ATF, and US Marshals Service.

The investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges may be filed, according to police.
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH  Waties Island, one of South Carolinas last remaining undeveloped barrier islands, has been the target of conservation efforts for decades and a recent land purchase through a donation by tech giant Google seeks to expand on that.

Just beyond locked gates at the end of Little River Neck Road sits a completely different world, set apart from the hi-rises and beach homes located miles away in Cherry Grove.

Land conservation group Open Space Institute, which recently purchased nearly 260 acres on the northern half of the 2.5-mile long island at an undisclosed price from long-time landowner Olivia Boyce-Abel, recently led The Post and Courier and various stakeholders on a rare land tour that few from the public have ever experienced.

Chris Crolley, owner of Coastal Expeditions, who was at the helm of his truck Oct. 13, pointed out the various trees and wildlife along the sandy path that eventually ends at the Atlantic Ocean, as he made the slow trek to the northern tip of the Grand Strand.

I assumed that all was lost north of Georgetown, Crolley said. The idea that there was a savable gem north of Myrtle Beach was not something that I was aware of.

After entering the first section of the barrier island owned by the Coastal Educational Foundation and used for research, Crolley explained that the area could easily be classified as a maritime forest, noting the Loblolly pine trees and Yaupon Hollys blanketing the path just as squirrels and birds looked down from their perch.

The view abruptly shifted a few minutes later as the forest scene suddenly changed over to a salt marsh landscape as Crolleys truck made its way up the private causeway.

Youve got all of the things that thrive in the woods  wild turkeys, deer, owls  and suddenly you drop off into the salt marsh flat and you have a completely different dynamic, Crolley said. All of a sudden, the mammal isnt a white-tail deer, its an Atlantic bottled-nosed dolphin."

With views of nearby Cherry Grove on the right side of the truck and the marsh on the left, Nate Berry, OSIs senior vice president in South Carolina, explained what was about to happen as the tour approached the shore.

The drive up in; this is something you are not going to experience many times in your life, Berry said. "Especially this next 20 seconds.

A few seconds later Crolleys truck crept over a tall sandy hill unveiling the nearly 3 miles of undisturbed beach, populated with only shorebirds looking for their next meal.

I believe 670 miles due east is Bermuda, Crolley said.

After parking nearby and walking the remaining distance to OSIs 260 acres, Crolley noted that it was important to get the anchor of Waties Island locked down to preserve its unique ecosystem, which he said is similar to a semi-arid desert.

I recognize trends, Crolley said, while standing on the landmark 30-foot-tall sand dune. To have OSI acquire this property is amazing and inspirational, but thats what Ive come to expect from their footprint throughout the Southeast. Ive seen it before and Im seeing it again.

Others have taken notice, including tech giant Google, which provided a $500,000 grant that will help ensure that Waties Island remains free from future development.

The gift was sent to Sustain SC  a nonprofit that aims to improve the states economy and environment  for its newly formed Land and Water Action Fund.

OSI was selected to be the first recipient of the fund whose goal is to bring private sector dollars into South Carolina to leverage local, state and federal funds to protect its natural resources.

A public funding source, The South Carolina Conservation Bank awarded a $4 million reimbursable grant, to be paid back from other funding sources.

Google has invested $2.9 billion in South Carolina since opening a data center in Berkeley County in 2007, but SC Sustain officials said the tech giant wanted to make a significant contribution that would preserve a natural resource in the state.

We have an incredible responsibility to preserve South Carolinas natural beauty and to foster sustainable growth as people from around the world are discovering all that our state has to offer and moving here, said Gov. Henry McMaster, who will make the announcement and present an award to Google Oct. 27 at the inaugural Sustainability Symposium hosted by Sustain SC in Columbia. Sustain SCs Land and Water Action Fund is going to help us do that, and Waites Island is as deserving of a conservation project as we have in the state.

Im grateful for Googles investment in this project because it will inspire further investment and collaboration across our state in the future.

Local nonprofit Waccamaw Community Foundation additionally announced it is matching Googles gift with a $500,000 contribution to the conservation project.

OSI said it plans to hold onto the property until it can be transferred to the S.C. Department of Natural Resources to be eventually used as a Heritage Preserve.

A majority of Waties Island is owned by the Coastal Educational Foundation. The rest is owned by members of the Boyce family and Virginia-based Riverstone Properties, according to Berry.

The Waties Island land purchase by OSI comes at a time when developable acreage along the coast in the states fastest-growing county is becoming rare, resulting in a recent construction boom that continues to push inland toward the northwestern parts of rural Horry County.

Once a quiet pit stop for vacationers headed to Myrtle Beach and parts south, the northern tip of the Grand Strand grew by one-third in the past decade, adding nearly 3,000 residents.

But the conservation group said they worked for years on a purchase agreement with Boyce-Abel to make sure that the tract  which not many from the public have seen from the ground  stays safe from developers hands.

Berry said as the 260 acres eventually turn into a Heritage Preserve by DNR, OSI hopes to buy more land from the other landowners on Waties Island to protect it.

They are certainly open to a conservation sale, we just have to find a lot of money, Berry said. Hopefully in the not-too-distant future, we will figure out a way.

According to DNR Director Robert Boyles, 191 bird species have been documented on Waties Island, which is nearly half of all the bird species in the state. He said the reserve will provide an oasis for migratory birds, sea turtles and shorebirds.

Sustain SC said with the establishment of the fund, the door for collaboration is open now and they welcome more private companies like Google to the table in an effort to preserve additional areas across the state.

We are beyond grateful for the support launching this fund and hope its just the beginning of something that will truly make a difference for future generations," said Ethel Bunch, Sustain SCs founder and CEO.
Discussion about the Union Pier redevelopment plan has largely focused on the buildings and such to be constructed on the 40 acres of high ground and ideas such as smaller lots sizes and buildings that reflect the granular and diverse character of the city. Read moreCommentary: What are unique challenges, opportunities at Union Pier?
The idea of creating housing villages for young teachers came to South Carolina 15 years ago, when then-S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex talked it up as a way to provide community for new teachers moving to rural communities, where they might otherwise feel isolated. A few districts loo Read moreEditorial: Pursue teacher housing plan  in the open, with attention to details
SPARTANBURG  The raising of a massive Confederate battle flag that towers over Interstate 85 has Spartanburg County threatening legal action to take it down.

The flag pole, erected on private property near where I-85 and I-85 Business converge northeast of Spartanburg, is in violation of county zoning law, County Councilman David Britt told The Post and Courier on Oct. 27.

"The flag pole has to come down," Britt said.

A Spartanburg chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans claims responsibility for the flag, which the group said is the largest Confederate flag in South Carolina. A video posted Oct. 23 to the organization's YouTube account depicts a flag-raising ceremony the day before on vacant private property.

The county has issued the property owner an order demanding removal based on a 1999 zoning law that in part bans flag poles that have no accompanying uses such as a home or a business. The county's order demands removal within 20 days before officials seek remedy through the ordinance.

"We will go through court proceedings and follow due process like we do with anyone who doesn't follow the county's laws," Britt said.

In his interview with the newspaper, Britt didn't offer his views on the Confederate symbol when asked and said "the flag pole is in violation, and that is where the focus is."

Reached Oct. 27, County Council Chairman Manning Lynch said: "I was aware of it, of course, and understand they are in violation of our land-use ordinance. Our staff is handling it."

The Spartanburg chapter refers to itself as the Adam Washington Ballenger Camp 68 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

In response to a request for comment, an attorney representing Camp 68 provided an emailed statement that discusses the history of a July 1864 Civil War battle in Virginia known as the Battle of the Crater, during which the Confederacy suffered heavy losses. The group said many of them hailed from Spartanburg County.

Camp 68 recently erected the flag pole on property it owns off I-85 for the purpose of remembering Confederate soldiers.

"We remember and honor them by flying a variety of historical flags under which they fought," the statement reads. "This includes the flag of the state of South Carolina that flew on the pole for the past months."

The current Confederate Naval Jack flag is part of a variety of flags intended for the pole, the statement reads, and Camp 68 "will continue to alternate the flags that it flies" and "looks forward to providing an array of historical flags and hopes that their presence spurs further interest of our citizens in the rich history of Spartanburg County and South Carolina."

The Confederate flag has long been a divisive symbol in South Carolina dating back to the onset of the Civil War when the slave-owning state was the first to secede from the Union.

The symbol has lived on more than a century after the South's defeat. Despite efforts to claim it represents a deep cultural heritage for White Southerners, the flag's use by white-supremacist organizations like the Ku Klux Klan and later others have branded it a racist symbol.

The flag flew atop the Statehouse dome in Columbia until 2000, when legislators in a compromise removed it and placed it prominently in front of the capitol building along Gervais Street, a main city avenue.

The debate over the flag's presence smoldered for years until white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine Black parishioners during a June 2015 Bible study at Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston.

In the weeks that followed the mass murder, lawmakers voted to remove the flag from the capitol grounds for good.

In the past two years since the killing of George Floyd sparked a nationwide wave of protests over systemic racism, Confederate symbols have come under more scrutiny and fire with efforts, both successful and ongoing, to have them removed.

The city of Greenville's Confederate monument tucked away on North Main Street downtown has been the subject of sometimes-violent protests over the past two years.

South Carolina's Heritage Act, which blocks the removal of public historic monuments without the state legislature's approval, has stood in the way of efforts to remove it. This month, Mayor Knox White said the city is in the early stages of conceptualizing a monument nearby for and by the African American community in Greenville.
INMAN  Construction of a 31-mile rail trail on the inactive Saluda Grade railroad line in South Carolina and North Carolina could begin within five years if negotiations with Norfolk Southern are successful.

Three nonprofit groups including Conserving Carolina, Upstate Forever and PAL: Play. Advocate. Live Well., continue to negotiate with Norfolk Southern to purchase the railroad property.

The line was active from 1878 to 2001. Sixteen miles of the rail line are in South Carolina and 15 miles are in North Carolina. The trail would pass through Inman, Campobello and Landrum in South Carolina, and through Tryon, Columbus and Saluda in North Carolina.

The S.C. Legislature earmarked $5 million for the trail project. Andrea Cooper, Upstate Forever executive director, told The Post and Courier negotiations with Norfolk Southern are ongoing.

"We expect to have a signed purchase agreement by the end of this year," Cooper said. "We are moving forward in a good position."

If a purchase agreement is reached, Norfolk Southern will go through a federal transportation board to abandon the rail. Laura Ringo, PAL executive director, said the process would likely take about 18 months to complete and construction of the new rail trail could begin as soon as mid-2024. The cost to purchase the abandoned rail line is about $30 million. It would cost another $30 million to develop the rail trail.

"Those are certainly the estimates we have been working off of but we are still in negotiations for purchasing the corridor so we don't know the final purchase price," Ringo said. "Once we get a final purchase price and agreement we will start the planning process as part of that and we will have a better idea on what it is going to take to construct the trail and the cost."

Ringo estimated the trail could attract up to 125,000 people annually. The new rail trail could also generate up to $11 million combined for area towns along the route, Cooper said.

Inman City Administrator Joe Lanahan said the proposed rail trail, if approved, would boost the local economy.

"We are very excited about it," Lanahan said. "Our City Council and downtown merchants are very excited about the process and connecting all of Spartanburg County across the state line to Tryon."

About 3 miles of the proposed rail trail would pass through Inman. The city has already experienced business growth downtown. The prospect of a new rail trail has generated more interest.

"There are people definitely interested in buying property here in anticipation of the trail coming," Lanahan said. "We are getting ready as a city to expand our parking footprint and make downtown more walkable."

Landrum Mayor Bob Briggs supports the proposed rail trail, as well.

"I can say that if it wasn't for the railroads, these towns like Inman, Campobello and Landrum probably would not exist, and it was the railroad that brought economic prosperity to the area," Briggs said. "Now that the railroad no longer runs, converting the rails to trails would have a similar effect in providing the kind of economic impact to the area with the kind of tourism and small businesses we saw 100 years ago."

State Rep. Josiah Magnuson, R-Campobello, held a town hall meeting Oct. 22 at the Campobello Oaks Event and Lodging Center off Old Mill Road. The proposed rail trail would pass near the center. About 10 property owners attended the meeting.

Magnuson said while he isn't against the proposal he believes the process should be more transparent and take into account what infrastructure may be needed for the rail and how it will be funded.

"We feel like it is moving pretty quickly and I feel like we need more answers than we are getting so far," Magnuson said during the town hall meeting.

Magnuson expressed some doubts that the project would move forward since Norfolk Southern has not agreed to sell the abandoned rail line property. If the project does move forward, Magnuson said safety along the trail needs to be addressed.

Brian Vogel, who recently renovated the Campobello Oaks Event and Lodging Center, questioned the project by asking how law enforcement would keep people walking or biking the trail from coming on his property. Vogel also asked how long it might take to develop the rail trail if a purchase agreement is reached.

Campobello Mayor Jason Shamis attended the town hall meeting. Shamis said if the trail was developed, there would likely be new vacation rental housing in the area.

"I have asked (Campobello) residents and everybody seems to really enjoy the idea (of a rail trail)," Shamis said. "I am very supportive of the idea and from my perspective it is a good thing."

Ringo said fundraising efforts for the proposed rail trail continue and local, state and federal funding opportunities will be considered.
Insights

Lots of us in this strange world of ours feel that we must have it all. We suffer from the kind of acquisitiveness that just never ends. An or Read moreWhat Panni, our housekeeper, taught me
essentially nothing. Jeff Currie, who is Global Head of Commodities Research for Goldman Sachs, describes the utter futility of green energy:

Heres a stat for you, as of January of this year. At the end of last year, overall, fossil fuels represented 81 percent of overall energy consumption. Ten years ago, they were at 82. So though, all of that investment in renewables, youre talking about $3.8 trillion, let me repeat that $3.8 trillion of investment in renewables moved fossil fuel consumption from 82 to 81 percent, of the overall energy consumption. But you know, given the recent events and whats happened with the loss of gas and replacing it with coal, that number is likely above 82.

So, in other words, $3.8 trillion in dead economic loss. Currie adds this, which I dont agree with:

The net of it is clearly we havent made any progress.

By progress, he means progress in replacing fossil fuels with wind and solar. But I dont call that progress, I call it regression, along the lines of: What did socialists use for light, before candles? Electricity. Wind and solar have both been obsolete for a long time, and happily, no transition to those inadequate energy sources is occurring, nor will it ever.

Finally, given the total absence of the allegedly intended impact of spending on wind and solar, how in the world has $3.8 trillion (and counting) gone up in smoke? Easy: enormous amounts of money have been made by a small number of people, at the expense of the rest of us. And those people have shared a small share of their ill-gotten gains with politicians.
Next Monday the Supreme Court takes up the Harvard and University of North Carolina affirmative action admissions cases, but before getting to the constitutional doctrine of the matter, there is a vexing matter that is often overlooked: if were going to be giving out racial preferences for admissions (and government contracts, etc), who counts as a member of which minority group? The governments racial classifications turn out to be something of a red hot mess, as David E. Bernstein explores in his new book Classified: The Untold Story of Racial Classification in America.

In this lecture delivered recently at Berkeley Law, Prof. Bernstein reviews some of the milestones and confusions in this whole sordid business and responds to my questions. Give a listenbut especially pick up a copy of his book. It is relatively short, and easy reading despite the complications of the issue.

Listen here, or see if you get a better classification over with our hosts at Ricochet.
 Some relevant items out today, starting with a new USA Today poll that not only finds surging Republican support, but that Republicans are drawing 40% of Hispanics and 21% of Blacks . . . To compare, Republican Donald Trump carried 12% of Blacks and 32% of Hispanics in the 2020 presidential election, according to network exit polls.

This trend, if it continues, is an extinction-level meteor heading straight for the Democratic Party.

 Meanwhile, the party of diversity and tolerance is blocking Rep. Mayra Flores, the first Mexican-born member of Congress, from joining the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, because shes a Republican. Another reminder that for Democrats its all about ideology, and not your ethnic group. No wonder they are losing support from blacks and hispanics.

 The Nation magazine asks in an email slugline: What are you drinking on election night? Theyre trying to plump for The Nation Whine Club. . . I mean, Wine Club, but if I were The Nation, Id ask what kind of hemlock leftists want on election night.
In my comments on Tuesday evenings Oz-Fetterman debate, I noted the disparity between Fettermans obvious cognitive disability and Dr. Clifford Chens doctors note released last week by the Fetterman campaign. It is embedded in the tweet below.

News: @JohnFetterman releases an updated medical report after a visit with his primary care doctor. Letter via his campaign  pic.twitter.com/i75J7utrR0  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) October 19, 2022

Everyone saw Fettermans inability to articulate his thoughts. According to the doctors note, however, Chen observed that Fetterman spoke intelligently without cognitive deficits and noted that his speech is normal. That is a lying farce perpetrated by the Fetterman campaign and his handlers.

I watched the debate live and read nothing about the debate until I had posted my own comments. Reading about the debate, I saw no reference to the doctors note by Chen that the Fetterman campaign had just released. It seemed to me that it was worthy of note. The Fetterman campaign is lying about Fettermans capacity to do the job for which he seeks election. Where are the media fact-checkers to call out the fraud? I wont say when you need them, but it would be nice to see them ply their trade on an even-handed basis.

We turn to the mavericks at the Washington Free Beacon. The Free Beacons Andrew Stiles delivers FACT CHECK: Normal John Fetterman Speaks Intelligently Without Cognitive Deficits. Subhead: Dr. Clifford Chens so-called medical assessment contradicted by disastrous debate performance. Stiles judges Chens doctors note to be false: Fettermans speech was neither normal nor intelligent. It was one of the most disastrous debate performances in American political history. He delivers this verdict:

Chens letter failed to disclose that the so-called doctor has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Democratic campaigns and committees since 2014, including $830 to Fettermans campaign since July 2022. (The candidate suffered a stroke in May.) Chen donated $3,000 to Hillary Clinton, a notorious liar. The letter might as well have been written by Dr. Jill Biden. Thats to be expected, because only a dedicated partisan would sign his name to a letter touting Fettermans normal speech and lack of cognitive deficits just days before a much-anticipated debate. A medical expert already told the Washington Post that Fettermans condition wont get worse, so we can rule out the possibility that he was perfectly normal and intelligent during his visit with Dr. Chen.

Doing the job that the mainstream media wont do, Stiles rates Chens letter Four Clintons.

Related Free Beacon stories: WATCH: Dems, Media Struggle To Spin Fettermans Debate Performance and WATCH: John Fetterman vs. Miss South Carolina Teen USA. The video below accompanies Stiless fact-check.
This week is the 60th anniversary of the climax and resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis, whose memory was made fresh again when President Biden recently remarked to Democratic donors that Putins threats to use nukes in Ukraine had brought the prospect of Armageddon closer than at any time since the Cuban crisis.

The outcome of the Cuban crisis was thought to have been a triumph for JFK and America (an early achievement of the Kennedy publicity apparatus), as the USSR removed the missiles in return for an American guarantee that wed honor the integrity of the pro-Soviet regime in Cuba, thus ensuring and enabling Cuban proxy mischief on behalf of the Soviet Union for the next 30 years in Africa and Central America. Some victory.

Harold Rood once directed our attention to a glaring anomaly of the whole scene, in Kingdoms of the Blind:

It was a strange anomaly indeed. The Soviet foreign minister denied that his country had any intention of doing what in fact it was doing. Yet the missile sites were being prepared and the missiles erected with absolutely no attempt either to conceal the offending activity, or to render its nature ambiguous. The missiles themselves had been identified in military parades in the Soviet Union so that it was impossible to mistake them for anything but what they were. Here was the Soviet Army, past master of camouflage and deception, unable to hide a handful of missiles and their ancillary equipment. This was the same Soviet Army that, in the offensive to liberate Byelorussia in 1944, was able to conceal the concentration of 2.5 million troops, 4,000 tanks, and 24,000 mortars and artillery pieces from the German troops they were about to attack. The same Soviet Army had taught North Koreans how to build bridges underwater to achieve surprise against United Nations troops fighting to defend South Korea. Even a superficial inspection of the series of aerial photographs taken by U.S. reconnaissance aircraft could hardly fail to reveal the nature of the installation and identify the weapons being emplaced.

Its almost as though the Soviets wanted us to see the missiles. And why might they have wanted that? Conventional thinkers (i.e., most of our foreign policy and defense establishment, then and now) should keep their hands down.
Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, on Wednesday visited Twitters headquarters ahead of his $44 billion Twitter takeover bid.

Mr Musk disclosed this in a nine-second tweet video of himself smiling and carrying a sink to the building.

The visit came days ahead of the deadline to complete his Twitter takeover bid.

Delawares court of chancery has given Mr Musk until Friday to close an agreement to acquire the company.

Mr Musk in a tweet on Wednesday said Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in.

Meeting a lot of cool people at Twitter today, the tweet reads.

Earlier, Mr Musk changed his Twitter profile to refer to himself as Chief Twit and his location as Twitter headquarters.

Mr Musk currently owns 73,486,938 shares of Twitter, which represents a 9.2 per cent stake in the company.

On 14 April, Mr Musk offered to buy 100 per cent of Twitter for $54.20 per share in cash.

Upon completion of Twitters sale, the company would have become privately held.

It was to be the biggest social media acquisition, surpassing the $26.2 billion buyouts of Linkedin by Microsoft.

On 5 May, Mr Musk announced he has secured $7 billion in new funding to fund the Twitter takeover.

On 13 May, Mr Musk, however, announced he has halted his $44 billion Twitter takeover. Mr Musk said he needed to resolve concerns over the number of fake or spam accounts on the platform.

On 8 July, Mr Musk announced he was terminating the takeover bid. Mr Musk said his decision was due to Twitters breach of multiple provisions of the merger agreement.

READ ALSO: Elon Musk offers to proceed with Twitter takeover

Following his termination, Twitter, however, pursued legal action to enforce the merger agreement and a trial date was fixed for 17 October.

Two weeks before the trial was scheduled to begin, Mr Musk offered to proceed with the Twitter takeover bid.

According to a letter by Skadden Arps attorney Mike Ringler in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, on Monday, Mr Musk said he would proceed with the transaction on the original terms, pending receipt of the debt financing for the deal provided that the Delaware Chancery Court entered an immediate stay of the action.

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Ije Awele, a new Nollywood feature film starring veteran actors Onyeka Onwenu, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Ejike Asiegbu, Ngozi Nwosu, and younger stars such as Victoria Nwogu and Jidekene Achufusi (Swanky JKA).

Other actors in the film are Seun Ajayi and Esther UzoDimma.

The star-studded thought-provoking project, produced by Victoria Nwogu and directed by Emeka Ojukwu, highlights the story of many girls facing abuse from people who should protect them.

It touches on all sides of a young girls journey to self-discovery. It was executive-produced by Emeka Nwokocha.

On the inspiration behind the film, Mr Nwokocha said the countless cases of sexual victims from people within the home, that call for a better investigation into the lives of proposed foster parents, inspired the film.

He said, I recently met a girl who confessed to me that she and her sister were deflowered by their father. She thought it was a normal thing until she mentioned it to some of her friends.

Later, I got to know there were other cases like hers. The rise in such cases inspired the movie and the need to bring to the world what really happens and to encourage victims to speak out.

Synopsis

Ije Awele is a story of a girl whose father has molested her since the age of six, and she finds out in her later years that her mother knew all the while and had been giving her contraceptives, to cover up for her father to save the family name.

It leaves the young girl mainly feeling betrayed and begins searching for answers because how can a mother do this to her child?!!

Along the way, she finds love and finds more secrets.

Eventually, she finds fulfilment and grows past the abuse and anger.

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Elon Musks proposed US$44 billion deal to acquire Twitter and take it private is reportedly coming together as a courts Oct. 28, 2022, deadline nears.

Musk told his bankers he intends to complete the deal by then  and his lenders have reportedly already begun funding the deal. If he doesnt, Twitters lawsuit against Musk  which seeks to force the worlds richest man to stick to the offer he made in April 2022  will go to trial.

While most people are likely familiar with the idea of taking a private company public  the process that allows individuals to buy and sell a companys shares in the stock market  the reverse process is not as well understood and happens far less often.

As a business and law professor, I have been analyzing mergers, privatizations and other corporate deals for over two decades. The most common question I have been getting from students and faculty colleagues is why would Musk want to take Twitter private? Or more simply, what does it mean to go private?

The answers to these question help address a more interesting one: Will he succeed?

Public vs. private

Lets start with the basic differences between a public and private company.

For starters, a public company is widely held, meaning it has a lot of shareholders. Anyone can buy shares of most public companies, their shares trade on stock exchanges, and their market price is widely available on websites and apps.

Federal securities law requires public companies to disclose a lot of information about their operations and financial condition in reports that are posted on the Security and Exchange Commission website. Basically, anything that happens to a public company thats of consequence to investors must be disclosed publicly.

A private company, on the other hand, is closely held. It has few shareholders  sometimes just one. It usually is impossible to buy shares of a private company. When it is possible, it is difficult because shares dont trade on exchanges. You have to find someone who is willing and able under restrictive securities laws to sell you their shares.

In addition, a private company is not required to file disclosures or anything else with the SEC.

Another key difference is the power the chief executive has. While public company CEOs have a lot of power, that power is constrained by things like a board of directors and rules on compensation.

Private companies have no meddlesome boards or rules governing compensation or other issues. And with few or no pesky outside shareholders, leaders of private companies dont have to worry about the effect their decisions might have on the share price.

Going private

Many, if not most, companies begin their lives as a private company  perhaps in a family garage, as seems to be the case in so many startup origin stories.

As a young company grows, it needs more funding, a problem often solved by doing an initial public offering that pulls in a lot of cash and opens up ownership to anyone.

Taking a company private, as Musk intends to do, reverses the IPO. If it goes through, the Tesla billionaire will pay Twitter shareholders $54.20 a share, which is a 64% premium over the price Twitter stock was trading at a few weeks before Musks offer was disclosed on April 14, 2022.

A success story

So why would Musk or anyone want to take a company private? One key reason is control, which allows a buyer to impose his or her vision and singular strategy.

Once the shares change hands, Twitter will be Musks to do with as he pleases  from reopening the accounts of former President Donald Trump and Ye, the artist formally known as Kanye West, to slashing the workforce by up to 75%, all of which he reportedly is considering.

Thats why Michael Dell decided to take the computer company that bears his name private in 2013.

At the time, the company was struggling as personal computer sales slumped amid the rise of the smartphone. As he explained in a securities filing, Dell believed it was essential to quickly transform the company from primarily a PC maker to one focused on providing large organizations with entire information technology systems and managing them.

He said he couldnt make the transformation as a public company because it would hurt short-term profits, which would likely cause the share price to fall. That in turn could harm consumers perception of Dell and lead to employee turnover.

In other words, Dells plan was perhaps too bold for a public company. But the strategy paid off  for him, his fellow investors and his company.

Dell himself chipped in $750 million in cash and over $3 billion in the form of his 16% stake in the company, with about $3.4 billion coming from other investors and $16 billion in debt.

By 2018, when the company went public for the second time, Dells stake was worth $32 billion, with similar large payouts for his co-investors. The company thrived as well, with sales and profits soaring after a period of low growth, as Dell predicted. Workforces often fall when a company goes private, but Dells was up about 50% in 2020 compared with 2013.

A classic fail

But it doesnt always end well.

In the early 2000s, Toys R Us was in serious trouble. Although e-commerce was still in its infancy, it was beginning to disrupt brick-and-mortar retailers, increasing competition  especially in the market for childrens toys. A plan to sell its wares online via Amazon fizzled, leaving Toys R Us way behind in e-commerce. Meanwhile, its stores were growing old and shabby, customer service was lousy and Target and Walmart were gaining market share.

In 2005, two buyout firms and a real estate trust won the bidding to take Toys R Us private for $6.6 billion, using $5 billion in debt. Unlike Dell, who knew his business cold, Bain Capital, KKR & Co. and Vornado Realty Trust didnt have much experience in the toy industry. And they followed a classic private equity strategy of consolidation, closing marginal stores and cutting costs.

Also unlike Dell, Toys R Us never recovered. The significant debt incurred in the buyout saddled the company with large interest payments that left little money to invest in remodeling stores or building a competitive online business. Toys R Us filed for bankruptcy in 2017, 12 years after going private.

As I see it, Dell had a plan that fit his companys environment  a key concept in the study of business strategy. Toys R Us buyers did not.

Does Musk have a vision?

So what does this all mean for Musks potential success at Twitter?

We still dont know a lot about what he plans to do.

In his letter to Twitter shareholders, he said, I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy. One could ask whether that is a business model or a statement of sociopolitical philosophy.

In any case, he said Twitter cant thrive nor serve this societal imperative as a public company. Hes also tweeted that he would fight bots on the social network, let Trump and others rejoin and potentially let users pay bills via tweet  part of his Project X super app idea.

More recently, The Washington Post reported that Musk plans to cut Twitters 7,500 employees by about 75%  though on Oct. 26 he told Twitter employees in San Francisco that he wouldnt get rid of that many.

Musk understood the physics of launching rockets and the engineering behind building an electric car, but he doesnt have deep experience running a social media platform or in building super apps. I believe he doesnt have a thoroughly thought-out strategy that fits Twitters difficult environment.

What he will have is a huge amount of debt. Last year, Twitter owed about $51 million in interest on its debt. After going private, the estimates are that Twitter will owe at least a billion dollars annually on about $13 billion in new debt.

In 2021, the company generated just $630 million in cash from operations. That means Musk wont have much cash to fund a super app or any other big ideas, unless he is able to attract additional investment in the company.

With the company in his hands, Musk can, of course, do what he likes. He can implement any free speech policy that suits his fancy. He can let Trump and Ye tweet. He can ban Tesla short sellers and anyone who questions his foreign policy initiatives. He can fire 75% of his staff in a heartbeat  something a public CEO would have a very hard time doing.

Its too soon to tell if taking Twitter private will be a Dell-like success or a Toys R Us disaster. But given Musk has said he doesnt care about the economics, it may not matter.

Erik Gordon, Professor of Business, University of Michigan

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has signed an agreement with Daewoo Group of South Korea for the rehabilitation of the Kaduna Refinery, the government said Thursday.

A spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement that the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2022 World Bio Summit on Thursday in Seoul, South Korea. Mr Buhari is attending the summit.

The 110,000 bpd-capacity Kaduna Refinery is one of Nigerias four dysfunctional refineries that have produced no fuel for years leaving the country to rely on imported products. It recorded a N22.9 billion loss in 2021.

The biggest state-run refinery, which is Port Harcourt, is currently undergoing repairs handled by Tecnimont of Italy. The government says it expects the plant to start production by December, although a PREMIUM TIMES review showed that is unlikely.

The Federal Executive Council in August last year approved the award of the contract for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna Refineries at the combined total sum of $1.5 billion.

Mr Adesina said Daewoo is also repairing the Warri plant which will at the first instance deliver fuel before the first half of 2023.

At the signing of the agreement, Mr Buhari was quoted as saying Daewoo Group has massive investments in the automobile, maritime and other sectors of our economy.

I am also aware that Daewoo is currently engaged in the execution of the NLNG train seven project and also constructing sea-going LPG vessels for NNPC and her partners, he was quoted as saying.

Mr Buhari said he looked forward to the delivery of ongoing projects, especially at the Warri and Kaduna refineries, and the NLNG Train Seven.

This no doubt will open many more windows of opportunities for Daewoo and other Korean companies in Nigeria.

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The Chief of Air Staff, Oladayo Amao, has said that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has set up a committee to compile all allegations of accidental air strikes on civilians.

This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Edward Gabkwet, an air commodore.

Mr Amao, an air marshal, who made the disclosure at the opening of the 2022 Air Operations Seminar in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said the committee would review the circumstances leading to such strikes.

Military jets apparently targeting terrorists have in the recent past accidentally killed scores of civilians in some places.

In April 2019, an air strike on Tangaram in Zamfara State killed a little girl and left another injured.

Seven children were killed by an air strike around the Nigeria and Niger Republic border in February this year. The pilot reportedly hit the wrong coordinates while targeting bandits operating in the area.

Again in April, an air force jet killed six girls at Kurebe Community in the Shiroro area of Niger State, north-central Nigeria.

In July, a fighter jet bombed Kunkuna village in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing some villagers.

Mr Amao said that the investigation was to proffer far-reaching measures that would mitigate future incidences of collateral damage to civilians during NAF operations.

He said the investigation was aimed at promoting accountability and allowing NAF to learn valuable lessons to avoid and mitigate similar cases in the future.

He added that the investigation would give NAF the opportunity to take extra measures to minimise civilian harm and casualties in conflict areas.

(NAN)

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An American woman linked to the $20 million fraud allegedly organised by Air Peace CEO, Allen Onyema, has expressed regrets over her involvement in the scheme.

Ebony Mayfield said her participation in the alleged fraud brought shame upon her family.

The United States government arrested her on 7 June 2019, and subsequently charged her with eight counts of fraud at the District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

She initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but later changed her plea to guilty on 29 June.

The judge, Eleanor Ross, then fixed 28 October (Friday, tomorrow) for her sentencing.

She now faces five years jail term, aside agreeing to make full restitution of all the proceeds she benefitted from the alleged fraud.

Ahead of the sentencing, however, Ms Mayfields lawyer, Manubir Arora, on 13 October, filed for a downward variance of sentence.

She pleaded with the judge in her court filing to sentence her to a conditional release instead of imprisonment.

Over the past 3 years, Ms. Mayfield has tried to move forward with her life, her lawyer wrote.

Her defence lawyer noted that she had tried to make amends for her actions by confessing to law enforcement when arrested, cooperating with federal authorities as the investigation continued, and finally, accepting responsibility.

Hoping to put this unfortunate series of choices behind her, she confessed that Mr Onyema paid her a total of $20,000 for the part she played in the scheme between 2016 and 2018.

She conceded that she behaved irrationally by signing fake documents to help Mr Onyema carry out the money laundering and bank fraud involving $20 million.

Impact on relatives, family background

On the impact her conduct had on her relatives, she admitted that her actions have caused shame and embarrassment upon the family.

She was born in Houston, Texas, but her family later moved to New Orleans. Her parents separated when she was age nine.

She then moved to Atlanta with her mother, and then attended college at Atlanta Metropolitan College. She graduated in 2006 with a degree in Business Education.

In her adult life, Ms Mayfield said she had been a bartender, an adult dancer, and most recently ran a nail salon.

She said since her arrest in 2019, she had been unable to pass a background check and had to return to working in nightclubs to make ends meet.

Ms Mayfield said she lost numerous friends due to her charges.

She noted that the shame she brought upon her family was further exacerbated as this story was in the press and on the internet (due to federal governments press conference / press releases.

Alleged fraud

Mr Onyema engaged the bartender and nightclub dancer as a manager for his Atlanta, Gerogia-based Springfield Aviation Company LLC in 2016.

The Air Peace founder set up the firm to, purportedly, specialise in the wholesaling, trading, and sale of commercial aircraft and parts.

The US government said, Mr Onyema engaged Ms Mayfield to enter into aviation-related contracts on behalf of Springfield Aviation, despite her lack of education, training, or licensing in the review and valuation of aircraft and aircraft components.

In her plea bargain that she filed in June, she confessed to signing and submitting fake documents enabling a $20 million credit disbursement from Nigeria to US bank accounts, purportedly for Air Peace to buy five Boeing 737 passenger planes from Springfield Aviation.

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The fake documents allegedly submitted by the conspirators, according to the US prosecutors, included fabricated purchase agreements, bills of sale, and valuation.

Both Air Peace, a major Nigerian commercial airline, and the purported aircraft seller, Springfield Aviation, are owned by My Onyema.

Prosecutors alleged that the aircraft referenced in the letters of credit and other fake documents submitted with respect to the deal were already owned by Air Peace. None of them ever belonged to Springfield Aviation, the prosecution said

They also alleged that Mr Onyema founded and used Springfield Aviation to facilitate large transfers of funds from his Nigerian bank accounts to the United States.

Mr allegedly moved about $15 million from Springfield Aviations account with a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Atlanta, Georgia, to his personal savings account with the same bank in 27 transactions in 2017.

The flagged 27 transactions took place between 22 March and 29 November 2017.

Prior to the alleged $20 million deal, the US government alleged

Mr Onyema and Air Peace Limiteds Head of Administration and Finance, Ejiroghene Eghagha, are facing 36 charges at the District Court in Atlanta, in connection with the alleged $20 million fraudulent scheme.

Among the charges preferred against them are bank fraud, credit application fraud and money laundering.

Each of the flagged 27 online transfers carried out by Mr Onyema within nine months in 2017 involved values ranging from $100,000 to $1 million.

The transactions totalled $15.14 million.

Each of the 27 transactions stands alone as a charge of money laundering.

Under the money laundering charges, prosecutors alleged that both Messrs Onyema and Eghagha, aided and abetted by others, attempted to engage in a monetary transaction involving a financial institution, with effect on interstate and foreign commerce.

They alleged that each of the transactions involved more than $10,000 criminally derived from unlawful activities including bank fraud and credit application fraud.

In November 2020, the government of the state of Georgia dissolved Springfield Aviation over its failure to file its annual registration and/or failure to maintain a registered agent or registered office in this state.

Mr Onyema denied all the allegations of fraud levelled against him when the charges against him were unveiled by the US government in 2019.

Although he said the charges did not reflect his personality as a business owner, he and his co-defendant have yet to appear in court.

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Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has sworn in Chris Finebone, a former spokesperson of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, as commissioner.

Mr Finebone, who defected to the ruling party in the state  the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  in August, was sworn in alongside 17 others as commissioner on Wednesday.

No portfolio was assigned to the new cabinet members, who have just seven months to stay in office, before the end of Mr Wikes administration next year.

Mr Finebone, before his defection, was an ally of the former minister of transportation, Rotimi Ameachi.

Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Wike urged the new commissioners to double up efforts to ensure that the administration completes what it started.

The spokesperson to the governor, Kelvin Ebiri, gave the names of the other commissioners as: Princewill Chike, Jacobson Nbina, Ndubuisi Okere, Inime Aguma, Charles Amadi, Tonye Briggs, Ben Daminabo and Austin Chioma.

Others are Uchechukwu Nwafor, Fred Kpakol, Emenike Oke, Prince Ohia, Kaniye Ebeku, Ezekiel Agri, Ukiel Oyaghiri , Damiete Miller and Emeka Onowu.

APC, a dead party in Rivers

Governor Wike, while inaugurating the PDP campaign council in the state, had described the APC in the state as a dead party.

As far as Rivers State is concerned, its dead. What would they come and campaign for?

They would come and tell us we didnt do well? How could we not do well? Their president has judged that we have done very well, Mr Wike said, referring to an Award of Excellence for infrastructure delivery bestowed on him by President Muhammadu Buhari last week.

The APC in Rivers has had many setbacks to contend with, ranging from defections which hit the party in the state within the last four months, and litigations.

This newspaper reported how a Federal High Court in the state nullified all the primaries conducted by the party in the state over illegal exclusion of some members.

The court judgment has put candidates of the party in the state in a limbo until the outcome of their appeal at the Court of Appeal.

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A Magistrate Court in Ogurute, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, Wednesday, struck all charges filed against four youths who were accused by the Nigerian government of being members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, disclosed this in a statement, Wednesday.

He gave the names of the accused persons discharged by the court as Ifeanyi Ogbu, Arinze David, Uchenna Abah and Stephen Ejiofor.

The lawyer said they were illegally arrested and also detained briefly at a military detention facility in Enugu Cantonment, but did not say the exact time of their arrest.

He said the four suspects were later charged to the court following irresistible legal pressure mounted on the Nigerian security agencies, who were carrying out the prosecution.

Today, after hearing our application praying the court to strike out these frivolous charges filed against them and after listening to our robust argument on law, as convincingly canvassed by our own Augustine Ezeokeke, the honourable court, consequently found the application to be meritorious and accordingly struck out the entire charge and discharged these innocent defendants, Mr Ejiofor said.

They have now gone home as free men.

The magistrate court ruling comes barely two weeks after the Court of Appeal in Abuja, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the government and ordered his release from the custody of the State Security Service.

The government is yet to release the IPOB leader and has asked the appeal court for permission not to implement the ruling.

IPOB is a group agitating for an independent state of Biafra which it wants to be carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria.

The government has accused the separatist group of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the two regions. But the group has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks.

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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State says no few than 113 deaths were recorded in the state from Road Traffic Crashes between January and September 2022.

This is contained in a statement on Wednesday by the FRSC State Sector Commander, Henry Benemaisia.

Mr Benemaisia, who disclosed this at the flag-off of the Ember Months campaign in the state, said that the deaths were recorded from about 193 crashes.

He said that of the total crashes, 58 were fatal, 106 serious and 29 minor, adding that about 456 persons were involved in those incidences.

According to him, about 477 persons sustained various degrees of injuries, adding that the figures were alarming. He called for concerted effort amongst all to curb the carnage.

He said a research conducted by the command indicated that the rapid causes of crashes included impatience, indiscipline and intolerance.

In addition, he explained that impatience on the part of drivers had to do with the lack of time management and planning, whereas indiscipline is characterised by dangerous driving, wrongful overtaking, indiscriminate parking, route violation, poor vehicle maintenance, excessive speeding, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres, distracted driving attitude and others.

Intolerance is characterised by hostility among motorists and inconsideration for other road users, and these are known as the three Is, he said.

The sector commander noted that though people had given bad connotations to the Ember months and made them sound dreadful, they were, however, just like other months.

He emphasised the commands readiness to combat road crashes and other road mishaps in the state in order to ensure a safe crossover into the year 2023.

Mr Benemaisia quoted Governor Godwin Obaseki, who was the special guest of honour at the event, as reiterating the governments readiness to continually support the FRSC in its efforts to reduce road crashes in the state.

He said the governor, represented by the states Head of Service, Mr Anthony Okungbowa.

According to him, the governor further called on residents of the state to key into the 2022 ember month theme: Avoid Speeding, Overloading and unsafe Tyres to arrive alive, and be safety conscious to ensure that our roads are safe for motorists and other road users.

As a government, we are very much concerned with the challenges on our roads. The Edo State government will not sit on its oars but create an enabling environment and support for the corps.

(NAN)

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A Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Thursday, heard how Chidinma Ojukwu charged with the murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, allegedly transferred N5 million from his bank account.

Ms Ojukwu allegedly transferred the money on 15th June, 2021, the day Mr Ataga died.

The ninth prosecution witness in the trial, Olusegun Bamidele, made this known while testifying in the trial of Ms Ojukwu, a third-year student of Mass Communication, University of Lagos.

Abubakar Muhammed, a security guard at a short-let service apartment, where Mr Ataga was allegedly murdered, had on 16th November, 2021, told the court that Ms Ojukwu left the apartment on the night of 15th June, 2021, and never returned.

He also told the court that Mr Atagas dead body was recovered in the apartment the next day.

Ms Ojukwu is standing trial before Justice Yetunde Adesanya for the murder of Mr Ataga.

She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

Mr Bamidele, a deputy superintendent of police, was led in evidence on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP), Adenike Oluwafemi.

Mrs Oluwafemi asked Mr Bamidele to tell the court what he knew about Exhibit P11, which is the Access Bank statement of Mr Ataga.

The witness said that during the investigation into the alleged murder, the police wrote to Access Bank Plc., asking for a statement of the deceaseds account.

Mr Bamidele said the bank obliged.

He said that the mobile phones of the deceased were in Ms Ojukwus possession and she had been in control of the account.

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Mr Bamidele said that on 15th June, 2021, Ms Ojukwu used the deceaseds phone to transfer N5 million from his account to another bank.

On June 16, 2021, four transactions of N20,000 was made from the deceaseds account; on June 17, another withdrawal of N20,000 was made five times and the remark was: transfer between customers.

On the same June 16, N50,000 was transferred to Nkechi Mogbo, N11, 200 transferred to Caprical Capital.

On the same June 16, another N50,000 was transferred from Atagas account to Mogbo and N93,000 transferred from Atagas GTBank to his Access bank account, he testified.

He added that N110,000.75kobo was debited from the deceaseds account on 18th June, 2021.

On June 19, 2021, a transfer of N20,000 was made four times, another transfer of N20,000 was made five times and it was through the USSD code, Mr Bamidele said.

The witness also told the court that the police wrote to GTBank to get Mr Atagas statement of account.

He said that on 13th June, 2021, there was an internet transfer of N10,000 to Ms Ojukwu, adding that N105,000 was transferred to her on the same day for payment of the apartment where Mr Ataga died.

He said the payment was to Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the apartment.

On that same June 13, there was a N13,000 purchase transaction at Ango Villa; 14, 200 transaction for purchase at Dwine Bar Global. On the same June 13, there was also a transfer of N20,399.

On June 14, 2021, there was N21,000 transfer from Atagas account to Chidinmas account and another transfer of N15,000 to Chidinma.

There was a N5,000 transaction that was made on June 14 and paid to Adiba online choppy, he said.

When the prosecution sought that written statements of the defendant be admitted in evidence, Ms Ojukwus counsel, Onwuka Egwu, objected to the admissibility.

He said that Ms Ojukwu did not make the statements voluntarily.

He said the statements were obtained by oppression, inducement, intimidation, and under duress.

The counsel urged the court to test the veracity of the voluntariness of the statements.

The second defendants counsel, Babatunde Busari, did not object to the admissibility.

Ms Egbuchus counsel, M. A. Abia-Bassey, also did not object.

Thus, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to conduct a trial within a trial on that.

The judge adjourned the case to 8th November for a trial within trial.

Ms Ojukwu was arraigned alongside Messrs Quadri and Egbuchu on 12th October, 2021, on a nine-count charge preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

Messrs Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements, and stealing.

Ms Egbuchu is facing the ninth count of receiving a stolen iPhone 7 belonging to the late Mr Ataga.

Messrs Ojukwu and Quadri were alleged to have conspired and murdered Mr Ataga on 15th June, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife on the neck and chest.

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Usman Shidi, a member of the House of Representatives, has accused Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, of ordering the arrest of his campaign Director-General, Sumaila Yakubu.

Mr Shidi, who represents Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency, is running for Taraba South Senatorial District under the All Progressives Congress (APC) against Mr Ishaku who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The lawmaker made the allegation on Thursday during a press briefing in Abuja.

Mr Shidi said his DG was arrested during a rally in Takum LGA by security operatives acting at the behest of the governor. He said his DG was arrested on the basis of incitement.

He said a court in the state has set a bail bond of N50 million and two traditional rulers as sureties for the release of the DG.

The lawmaker described the bail conditions as impossible.

He also accused the governor of ordering the removal of all campaign posters of opposition in the state.

The governor is the one that ordered the arrest of my campaign director-general in the ongoing campaigns by the party in the senatorial zone.

He was simply addressing our supporters in Takum town to remain calm because the PDP on the orders of the governor removed all our posters and billboards. But the state government is now interpreting that as inciting violence and ordered his arrest.

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Today, the court has set very impossible bail conditions of N50 million and two 2nd class traditional rulers and two serving permanent secretaries in the state. How can we get all these people to stand sureties for him when they are all answerable to the governor? So the whole thing is a calculated attempt to make his bail impossible to secure, he said.

Mr Shidi also alleged that Mr Yakubu was beaten by the police and that he was stripped naked, thrown into the back of their truck and driven five hours along the very bad road from Takum to Jalingo.

When PREMIUM TIMES contacted the media aide of the governor, Bala Abu, he denied that the governor ordered the arrest.

The governor does not order the arrest of people. He is not a policeman, he does not have the power of arrest and he does not arrest anybody. He has no hand in the arrest of anybody, Mr Abu said.

If some people have committed an offence that deserves arrest, they will be arrested. I know someone was arrested, but I did not know his relationship with anyone, he said.

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The Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday, released an updated list of 1,453 members, as its final Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) list for the 2023 general election.

The party had earlier released a 1, 234 member Campaign Council list, which was later retracted to accommodate more people.

The National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure, at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the first list was retracted in order to capture all interests which have been covered in the new list .

Mr Abure said the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council remained Doyin Okupe, while retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Zarewa, would serve as the chairman.

Some of the members included Oseloka Obaze, who would serve as Deputy Director-General and Campaign Manager, and Yusuf Maitama, Deputy Director-General (North).

Also in the council were Yunusa Tanko, who would serve as spokesperson, while Clement Ojukwu, would serve as the Secretary.

Denzel Ketenbe would serve as Deputy Director-General (South); Isaac Balami, Deputy Campaign Manager 1, and Eyitemi Taire, Deputy Campaign Manager 2 among others.

The Zonal Officers are Coordinator South East, Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, Coordinator South-South, Prince Favour Rueben and Coordinator South-West, Balogun Oshuntokun.

Other State officers are Coordinator North-Central, Joseph Ndira, Coordinator North-East, Alhassan Fawu and Coordinator North-West, Audie Mohammed.

You will recall that on October 12, we presented the Campaign Council list. Obviously, there were some errors, some misplacements and we had general complaints about the list.

As a party that is democratic, that is a listening party, we decided to take all these grievances into account and we then promised that we are going to review the list to update it to accommodate other interests.

We have been working on the list and I am highly elated today to announce to you that we have received the list and that is the list we are presenting today .

We are presenting the presidential council list as well as the committee and it is also pertinent to put on record that it is not possible to accommodate every interest, he said.

Mr Abure appealed to all LP supporters and all those who have been working for the party that the list was unable to accommodate to continue to do their work and continue to support the party.

According to him, what is most important is for all to focus on the election and be able to deliver all candidates of the party, including the presidential candidate.

It is also pertinent to announce that the campaign council and the committees will be inaugurated on Friday, October 28, then our Campaign will kick off in Lafia in Nassarawa state on Saturday, October 29.

I want to appreciate all our candidates who have been working tirelessly to establish the party. This call, like we have always maintained, is a patriotic duty that history has entrusted on us at this time, he said.

Mr Abure said the aim was for all to come together to solve the leadership problem of the nation by working to enthrone a patriotic ,visionary and proactive leadership and every other thing would follow to reposition the country for greatness.

He expressed optimistism and confidence that the PCC no doubt would lead the presidential campaigns and Nigerians would support LP programmes and the men of integrity being paraded to wn the election.

Mr Ojukwu, the secretary general of the council, commended Nigerians for their support for the party.

Your interest in the affairs of our great party and your desire to ensure that our presidential candidate becomes the next democratically elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria saw you speaking out on the list published.

Fellow compatriots, it is in keeping with our promise to look into your candid observations following the publication of the list of members of our great partys presidential campaign council that we have studiously reviewed and updated the list which we present to you today, he said.

Mr Ojukwu said that the party encouraged all to continue to work assiduously at their various goups, wards, LGAs, senatorial districts, and states including the Diaspora to ensure victory for the party at the pools in the 2023 presidential election.

He said the LP remained grateful to all members of the party, members of the presidential campaign council, volunteers, and sympathisers for their nterest and commitment.

(NAN)

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Nigerias Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, on Wednesday, announced the preferred and reserved bidders for the concession of major airports across the country.

The minister disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja. He said out of the four airports and cargo terminals approved for concession under the Nigerian Airport Concession programme, only three could meet the deadline of September 19, 2022.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) phase of the Nigeria Airports Concession Programme (NACP), which came to a close on the 19 of September 2022 has seen the emergence of preferred and reserve bidders for three out of four Airports and Cargo Terminals as approved for concession under the programme, Mr Sirika said.

The aviation minister explained that his ministry was in consultation with the Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission and other key stakeholders to discuss the way forward for the fourth airport asset that failed to meet the deadline.

The preferred bidder for the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was Corporation America Airports Consortium, he said, adding that ENL Consortium was selected as the reserve bidder for Abuja airport.

According to Mr Sirika, TAV/NAHCO Project Planet Limited emerged as preferred bidder for Murtala Muhammed International Airports, Lagos and that Sifax/Changi Consortium was selected as the reserve bidder.

He said Corporation America Airports Consortium also emerged as the preferred bidder for Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, explaining that there was no reserve bidder for the airport.

Mr Sirika said: Port Harcourt International Airport (PHIA), Port Harcourt, did not receive any proposals as the RFP deadline closed and as such has not had preferred and reserve bidders attached to it.

He emphasised that the next stage of the programme would be the negotiations and due diligence stage.

In this phase, the minister noted that the Federal Government would invite preferred bidders to enter detailed negotiations with its representatives, with a view to developing a Full Business Case (FBC) before onward transmission to ICRC for review and approval.

He said that only after successful conclusion of the negotiation and due diligence phase would the FBC and all other approvals be presented before the Federal Executive Council for final approval.

Mr Sirika urged all participants who have responded to the RFP to ensure that they continue to refer to the NACP website.

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Nigerias biggest quoted oil and gas company Seplat Energy Thursday posted a net profit of N34 billion ($618.6 million) for the year to September, 144 per cent stronger than the figure reported a year ago in a period during which crude prices averaged $108.3.

Revenue grew to N258.7 billion from N182.7 billion, 86.5 per cent of that contributed by crude oil sales and the rest by gas.

Yet, the quarter from July through September was a kick in the teeth for Seplat, given that turnover shrivelled by 36.5 per cent as operations took a battering from damage and theft in a period CEO Roger Brown described as unusually challenging.

Seplat is listed on the Nigerian Exchange as on London Exchange.

Cost of sales for the nine months rose 12.5 per cent to N140.2 billion, while general and administrative expenses soared by more than a half to N33.2 billion.

The corporation committed $110.3 million to capex, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbing 27 per cent to N141.3 billion.

We remain confident that our transformational acquisition of MPNU will be approved and are working closely with all the relevant stakeholders to achieve a successful outcome for all parties, Brown said.

The acquisition will add significant reserves and production capacity that will strongly reinforce Seplat Energys position as Nigerias leading indigenous oil and gas producer.

Seplat announced late September it had successfully refinanced its existing $350 million revolving credit facility (RCF) expiring in December 2023, with a new $350 million RCF of a three-year tenor falling due in June 2025.

Profit before tax for the review period scaled up to N77.5 billion, 101 per cent higher than a year earlier. Net profit improved by 143.7 per cent, standing at N33.9 billion.

Seplat said in a separate document seen by PREMIUM TIMES it will pay an interim dividend of US2.5 cents per share to stockholders whose names appear in the register of member as of the close of business on 10 November.

It will bring its total payout so far this year to US7.5 cents per share equivalent to a cumulative dividend of $44.1 million paid for the period January to September.

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Governors of Cross River, Ben Ayade and Ebonyi State, David Umayi, Wednesday evening met behind closed doors with their Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.

Mr Wikes ally and Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, later joined the meeting held at Wikes country home, Rumueprikon, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Punch newspaper said in its report.

Details of the meeting among the four governors, two each from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was not disclosed.

Mr Wike, who had fallen out with the leadership of PDP after the partys presidential primaries, had been receiving emissaries from the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and that of the APC, Bola Tinubu.

Messrs Ayade and Umayis visit comes days after Mr Wike explained why Atikus photos were missing in Rivers PDP campaign materials, and hours after Mr Wikes ally, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State openly withdrew support for Mr Atiku.

Mr Ortom demanded an open apology from the PDP presidential candidate over comments allegedly made against him (Ortom).

Messrs Ayade and Umayi were elected on the platform of the PDP but later defected to the ruling APC.

There are speculations that the two governors may have sent by the APC to talk Governor Wike into supporting the APC presidential candidate, Mr Tinubu, particularly as the rift between Messrs Wike and Atiku appears to deteriorate by the day.

Some other APC governors from Mr Tinubus geopolitical zone, South-west, had earlier visited Governor Wike.

Governors Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos, Rotimi Akerendolu of Ondo, and the then governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi, met with Mr Wike in July.

Messrs Tinubu and Atiku have also met with Mr Wike and his allies outside the country but the Rivers governor has yet to reveal the presidential candidate he would support.

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has also paid several visits to Governor Wike in Port Harcourt.

Rivers State has over 3.5 million registered voters and is placed fourth in terms of voters population in the country, after Lagos, Kano and Kaduna. This may be why presidential candidates of other political parties are seeking the support of Mr Wike in next years election, amidst deepening crisis in the PDP.

Mr Wike is leading a group of party loyalists, including four other governors, who are demanding the replacement of the National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, with a southerner to achieve regional balance in the party leadership since Messrs Ayu and Atiku are both northerners.

The governors who are with Mr Wike on the demand for Mr Ayus resignation are Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue.

The group had earlier withdrawn from Mr Atikus presidential campaign council and boycotted its inauguration.

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The Chinese national, Geng Quandong, accused of killing his Nigerian girlfriend, Ummukulsum Buhari, pleaded not guilty on Thursday.

The Kano State Government arraigned Mr Quangrong, 47, before a Kano High Court, No.17 at Miller Road before a trial judge Sanusi Maaji

Mr Quandong was charged with culpable homicide.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Quandong, 47, allegedly murdered Ummukulsum, 23, at Janbalu quarters for allegedly refusing his hand in marriage and exploiting him.

At the hearing on Thursday, Mr Quandong appeared in the court with an interpreter,

Guo Cumru, a fellow Chinese national who interpreted the charges against him in Mandarin.

The prosecutor, Musa Lawan, who is also the Attorney General of Kano State, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Sept.16, at Janbulo Quarters Gwale Local Government Area of Kano.

The prosecutor alleged that on the same date at about 9 p.m. the defendant stabbed Ms Buhari, which led to her death.

READ ALSO: How Chinese who killed Nigerian girlfriend converted to Islam

We are ready and intend to present witnesses; we dont want to take much time as the interpreter is from Abuja, Mr Lawan said.

He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 221(b) of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The judge Mr Maaji, ordered the remand of the defendant to a correctional centre. He adjourned the matter until 16, 17 and 18 November for hearing.

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Benue Republicans, a pressure group made of indigenes of Benue State, North-central Nigeria, has condemned statements by President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, for statements they released after suspected herdsmen killed several people in Gbeji in Ukum Local Government of the state.

At least 39 people including two police personnel were killed in the community last week.

In a statement signed by the convener of the group, Peter Shande, the group described the statements as insensitive and irresponsible.

In a condolence statement to the people of the community, signed by one of his media aides, Garba Shehu, President Buhari, stated that though he has had political disagreements with the governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, he was ready to put that aside to commiserate with the governor over the killings.

The president then asked for the assistance of Nigerians to investigate the gruesome killings.

When tragedies like this occur, we must remember first and foremost that we are all Nigerians. Politics, too often, gets in the way of what is best for our nation. Too often, it divides us. As those who have been entrusted with leadership by our citizens, we have a duty to remember that, and do everything we can to bridge divisions and come together in the interests of all our people, Mr Buhari said in the statement.

Similarly, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, Mr Atiku expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the attack and suggested that if elected president, he would undertake the need for constitutional reform to promote inclusiveness.

When people are well integrated into the communities where they live, work, pay taxes and raise their children, theyd be obliged to reciprocate the love and acceptance.

The group particularly reserved his harshest words for Mr Atiku describing his statement as insane, ethnocentric and inciting.

Atikus statement on the senseless killing of innocent people in Gbeji is not only insane, and ethnocentric but insults to the sensibilities of the Nigerians.

Mr Atiku and President Buhari are both Fulani. Residents alleged that the herdsmen who attacked the agrarian community are of Fulani origin. Benue, an agrarian state has been the centre of age-long conflicts between farming communities and herdsmen.

It is disappointing that Atiku, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, has refused to detach himself from ethnic sentiments even in the wake of the killing of the defenceless citizens, but chose tribal loyalty and political correctness to mock the victims, the group stated.

It is rather expected that, when people are being slaughtered and displaced in times such as this, people are expected to restrain from further comments that are so sensitive that would aggravate the pains of the victims.

It is, however, sad that despite the sustained onslaught of the marauding (gunmen) on the people of the people of Benue with (alleged) tacit support from the Buhari-led federal government, the response from Atiku Abubakar who bears the revered title of Zege Mule u Tiv, to dish out such inane, ethnocentric and venomous mockery statement, it added.

The group stated that the claim by Mr Buhari that he and Mr Ortom have often disagreed on political issues was elusive, meaningless and had no relationship with the killing of the people of Gbeji.

There is no recorded report that the people of Gbeji have ever disagreed on political issues with President Buhari that his Federal Government should not protect them from the rampaging killers.

Does Shehu (president Buhari) want Nigerians to believe that the killing of innocent Nigerians all over the country by the (gunmen) is a result of Buharis political disagreement with the various state governors?

This further confirms Shehus usual attempts to cover up the Presidents failure or deliberate refusal to protect the lives of Nigerian citizens, it stated.

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Nigerian healthcare workers have expressed concern over the rising number of trained and professional medical practitioners who are leaving the country for improved working conditions and security of lives and property.

Speaking on PREMIUM TIMES Twitter Space Wednesday, the healthcare personnel noted that the Nigerian system has frustrated not just doctors or nurses, but many promising professionals to consider living as second class in foreign nations.

The National President of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Michael Nnachi, said based on the statistics his office is currently compiling, not less than 50,000 nurses out of Nigerias less than 150,000 have exited the country within the last five years.

Mr Nnachi said; There are over 50,000 nurses who have left this country in the past maybe five to six years. I feel bad for the health sector but on the other hand, I also see them as nurses who are looking for their safety and an improved standard of living.

Looking at the workforce in the health sector, nurses constitute over 50 per cent, and we are at the receiving end of the terrible situations in our health facilities because we are the first and possibly the last point of contact.

Mr Nnachi, who said many Nigerian nurses lose their lives on the line of their duties and particularly during the Coronavirus pandemic, described as unfortunate the failure to list a single nurse for national honour during the last national honours award.

Nobody has appreciated or celebrated what the nurses are doing. Their conditions can be very critical even as they die regularly from COVID-19, Ebola, and Lassa fever. The condition of service is very poor, remuneration is nothing to write home about, the standard of living is zero and yet we are serving humanity, he lamented.

On the nurse-patient ratio, he said with a population of between 160 million to 200 million, Nigeria now has a ratio of one nurse to about 1,160 patients instead of an average of one nurse to five patients.

Doctors speak

Speaking on the Space also, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dele Olaitan, said the reality is that even the 24,000 medical doctors that are believed to currently remain in Nigeria cannot be correct because many are leaving on a daily basis.

Mr Olaitan said; Now in Nigeria, we are beginning to lose focus on institutions that are in the healthcare system. Naturally, we are meant to have primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare institutions but because of the shortage of workforce, we have a lot of patients that are meant to visit the primary and secondary but who are going to the tertiary healthcare institutions.

READ ALSO:

He, however, noted that because the conditions of work are very bad, qualified healthcare workers are not even willing to work for the public system.

Many teaching hospitals are putting out vacancies for employment and were not even having doctors to apply because they dont feel the need to join the collapsing system.

So unless we find a way to increase the total number of doctors in the system, its quite appalling that we have such few doctors, he said.

Look beyond doctors

Meanwhile, in his comment, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Waleola Akinboboye, noted that it is not only Nigerian doctors that are migrating but other professionals too.

He said: It is not only Nigerian doctors that are migrating; for every one Nigerian doctor that is leaving Nigeria there are about three to five nurses or even more who have also migrated. As much as the doctors are critical parts of healthcare, the nurses, laboratory scientists, and pharmacists, are equally important. So we should also consider their migration.

So the question we need to ask is: why are these people migrating? And I think the simple reason is that their existence is being threatened on their own soil. So insecurity and economic reasons are the basic ones and until we address these reasons no effort will keep anyone stay in a hostile environment.

Possible restriction to work in UK?

The speakers also responded to rumours about the bilateral agreement between the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the UK medical agency that all Nigerian doctors must practice in Nigeria for 10 years before migrating to the UK.

They said they would resist every attempt to challenge the fundamental principles of labour mobility and that if Nigeria is successful in its perceived attempt at forcing the UK to stop engaging Nigerian experts, many other nations would open their doors.

The Secretary of the Association of Resident Doctors, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Ogunsanya Ayomide, said the doctors will still travel to other countries regardless of any restrictions.

The fact that they may try to restrict people from moving to the UK does not mean that medical personnel of this country will not go to other places. It is not only the UK that medical personnel are going to in the world.

In the last two or three years, most of the consultant professors of Medicine have been going to Saudi Arabia. And also, even young medical doctors and dentists have been moving to America. So the fact that you block a source does not mean that other places will not open up, he said.

Way forward

While he commended the government for the increment in the 2023 budget for health, Mr Olaitan, who is the incoming National President of NARD, recommended the implementation of what is popularly known as 2001 Abuja Declaration which prescribes at least 15 per cent of budgetary allocation to health.

We have 24,000, yet we dont have facilities that can train as many doctors as we have. And we dont have facilities that can absorb as many doctors as we have.

So we shouldnt let the government get away with the impression that doctors moving away from Nigeria is our major headache today, he said.

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The Instituto Coordenadas para la Gobernanza y la Economia Aplicada in its working group on North Africa, concludes in its latest study

Morocco places the Sahara at the heart of its social and economic development strategy.

Since 2015, Rabat has invested $8 billion to turn the Sahara region into a major economic hub as a bridge between sub-Saharan Africa and Europe .

MADRID, Oct. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Contrary to the much-abused cliche, Morocco has demonstrated its strategic commitment to the Sahara's development. For Rabat, the promotion of the region's well-being and economic progress are major objectives that cut across the country's own development plans. With the aim of accelerating the Sahara's development and socio-economic integration, Morocco launched an ambitious $8 billion project in 2015.

The New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, as the project has been dubbed, revolves around infrastructures aimed at structuring the territory of the Sahara region which includes the Tiznit-Elaayoune-Dajla motorway and the Lamhiriz fishing and the Dakhla Atlantique ports. The programme includes creating a maritime freight line between Casablanca and Dakhla, establishing nautical connections between the Canary Islands and Tarfaya and Laayoune. Additionally, the program also features the construction of a University Hospital Centre in El Ayoun and a Technopolis in Fum El-Ued, demonstrating Morocco's strong commitment to the region and its inhabitants.

Morocco's objective is to make this region the logistical and economic bridge between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa.

By the end of 2018, 48% of the objectives had already been achieved, giving a strong perceived boost to socio-economic momentum, increasing the creation of companies, jobs and attracting investment. The region's renewable energy potential, both solar and wind, is driving much of the investment. This reality, which aims to contribute to the four large solar power plants and up to eleven wind farms, will make Morocco a leader in renewable energy on the continent. Morocco will not only achieve energy self-sufficiency but also be able to export a significant percentage of the EU's energy needs.

Some international actors such as the African Union and the European Union, faced with the Western Sahara issue, are significantly holding back the region's development potential, both in social and economic terms. Because of this, the actions of the United States and Spain in defense of the resolution of the conflict through the political route provided by autonomy within the framework of the Alawi kingdom are so important and provide the impetus for progress, stability and improvement in this area. It is not just economic development; it is the people living in the Sahara that are at stake.

SOURCE Instituto Coordenadas
Cloth Band, Made from Recycled Plastic Bottles, Printed with Spectacular Snowy Mountain Views

TOKYO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Casio Computer Co., Ltd. announced today the release of the latest addition to the PRO TREK line of outdoor watches. The new PRW-61MA is a collaboration model designed with the Swiss outdoor brand MAMMUT.

This latest release, the PRW-61MA, brings PRO TREK and MAMMUT together for a design that is perfect for an urban outdoor lifestyle.

PRW-61MA PRW-61MA and interchangeable band

The watch comes with a cloth band and interchangeable soft urethane band that suit a variety of different occasions and clothing styles. The primary cloth band features the monochromatic MAMMUT Alpine all over print of spectacular views of snowy mountains for which the outdoor brand's designs are known. The tag on the band is embroidered with the MAMMUT mammoth logo. The soft urethane band is a simple black design with the mammoth logo on the band loop for everyday wear. The timepiece also incorporates the signature MAMMUT orange on the brand name logo on the watch dial, the hour and minute hands, buttons, and other design accents.

Another important aspect of this collaboration is both brands' commitment to environmental conservation. MAMMUT focuses on eliminating hazardous substances from its manufacturing processes as it develops sustainable products, and the PRO TREK is the first Casio line to incorporate watch parts made with eco-friendly biomass plastics, which were introduced in March 2022. Reflecting the passion for conserving nature that the two outdoor brands share, the PRW-61MA employs sustainable materials. The cloth band is made of recycled PET material from plastic bottles and other plastics, while the soft urethane band is made of biomass plastics using raw materials from castor seeds and corn. The case and case back are also made of biomass plastics.

In addition, the watch is equipped with the Tough Solar charging system, which effectively converts light from the sun, fluorescent lamps and other sources to power the watch, eliminating the need to regularly replace the battery, thereby further reducing environmental impact.

More informationhttps://www.casio.com/intl/news/2022/1027-prw-61ma/

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1928840/PRW_61MA.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1928841/PRW_61MA_interchangeable_band.jpg

SOURCE CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD
PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Access Ready Reporter Issue 32 -The Reporter Newsletter is a service of Access Ready Inc. which is a nonprofit cross disability advocacy organization promoting a policy of inclusion and accessibility across information technology through education and best practices. The Board of Directors of Access Ready has deemed inaccessible information technology to be a clear, growing, and present danger to the civic, economic, and social welfare of people with disabilities.

Access Ready asks the question, "If physical facilities in this country must be built in accordance with accessibility standards, why not information and communication technology?" Businesses, employers, and federal / state / local governments are becoming more and more dependent on ICTs to provide goods and services. Read More.

Big Story

DISABLED COMMUNITY CALLS OUT ABLEISM IN COVERAGE OF JOHN FETTERMAN FOLLOWING STROKE

Experts in the disability community say there's been a dismaying element of ableism surrounding a recent NBC News interview with John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, who experienced a stroke in May. The on-camera interview, which aired Tuesday, was Fetterman's first since his stroke. While speaking to reporter Dasha Burns, Fetterman required closed captioning due to his difficulties with auditory processing? A common experience among stroke survivors. Read More .

Business Accessibility

FROM PHARRELL'S INCLUSIVE SKINCARE LINE TO A LUBE WITH BRAILLE WRITING, CONSUMER BRANDS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CUSTOMERS

Thinking inclusively as a brand sounds easy enough. Yet for the majority of companies out there, inclusion is an afterthought, often triggered by a PR scandal or public shaming on social media. Many brands don't think proactively about making their products and services accessible to those who live with a disability. Read More .

Current Legal Actions

ELON AMONG DOZENS OF UNIVERSITIES SUED OVER WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY

A New York resident has included Elon University in a series of lawsuits alleging the university's website design violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Emanuel Delacruz filed the lawsuit Aug. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He has also filed similar lawsuits against dozens of other companies and universities going as far back as 2017. Read More .

Election Accessibility

Sponsored by VOTEC .

DEAF, HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS MAY FACE BARRIERS AT THE POLLS

People who are deaf and hard of hearing face unique challenges this general election, including accessibility and information. Those who are deaf and people with hearing impairments make up the largest minority population in the United States. Read More .

Government Spotlight

SENATORS DEMAND ANSWERS ON WEB ACCESSIBILITY

A bipartisan group of senators is calling out the federal government for failing to do enough to make information and services accessible to people with disabilities. Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the government is supposed to ensure that its electronic and information technology  including websites  are accessible. Read More .

Healthcare Accessibility

DISTURBING NEW DATA SHOWS DOCTORS ARE BIASED IN TREATING PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Patients with disabilities often find trouble getting the proper medical care, and new data confirms doctors are biased in their care of those with disabilities, sometimes even discharging them from their practice. Authors of a recent study showing this bias spoke about their concerns on Greater Boston, saying some of the anecdotes they heard from doctors about treating patients with disabilities moved them to tears. Read More .

Technology Spotlight

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD SOON DIAGNOSE ILLNESS BASED ON THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

Voices offer lots of information. Turns out, they can even help diagnose an illness and researchers are working on an app for that. The National Institutes of Health is funding a massive research project to collect voice data and develop an AI that could diagnose people based on their speech. Read More .

TOP TECH TIDBITS

Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology. Read More .

Contact

Douglas Towne

727-531-1000

[email protected]

Sponsored by Allyant

Distribution sponsored by eReleases

Content Curation Sponsored by Micro Assist

Assistive Technology curation sponsored by Top Tech Tidbits

SOURCE Access Ready Inc.
Performance marketing channels respond to shifting customer demand by increasing ad volume at lower prices

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Skai , an omnichannel platform for performance marketing, is publishing its Q3 2022 Digital Marketing Quarterly Trends Infographic , an in-depth analysis of the digital marketing trends that defined the last quarter (Q3), with a full report to follow next week. Overall, spending increased in retail media, search, and social channels compared to both last quarter and last year, even as the external environment became more challenging.

Growth trends continue in the third quarter

Spending growth in Q3 was broadly similar to last quarter, despite economic headwinds. Retail media spending increased 45% year over year (YoY) and 3% quarter over quarter (QoQ). Search spending rose 12% YoY and 2% QoQ, while social spending was up 12% YoY and 10% QoQ.

Shopping ad prices adapt to market conditions

In retail media and search shopping campaigns, average cost-per-click (CPC) was down 12% and 20% YoY, respectively. In both cases, key conversion metrics also showed a decline, which implies that bidding algorithms are adapting to lower consumer demand by lowering prices in order to hit cost per action (CPA) or return on ad spend (ROAS) goals.

Social commerce flexes its muscles

Amid the broader market downturn in spending, which was reflected in ad revenue reports from the social media platforms themselves, commerce-focused ads and campaign objectives continued to show positive growth for Skai clients in the shopping and retail space. Shopping ad prices bucked the trend across other channels and increased 14% YoY on a cost per thousand impression (CPM) basis.

Other QoQ and YoY findings include:

Channel Metric QoQ Change YoY Change Retail Media Impressions +14 % +61 %

Clicks +11 % +64 %

CPC -7 % -12 % Paid Search Impressions -2 % +29 %

Clicks +1 % +18 %

CPC +1 % -5 % Paid Social Impressions +19 % +31 %

Clicks +21 % +23 %

CPM -8 % -15 %

"This quarter has been transformative, as key performance media platforms adapt to external changes in the marketplace," said Chris Costello, Senior Director of Marketing Research at Skai. "The lower ad prices across retail media and the shopping campaign segment of search seem to be a clear response to shoppers buying less, or less often, so the algorithms controlling bid prices have adapted accordingly to hit program goals. All the while, the number of ad impressions and clicks have grown, suggesting shoppers are still out there shopping, but they're a bit harder to find and a bit harder to convert into customers.

"Meanwhile, shopping ads on social media seem to be way out in front of the overall channel performance, increasing in both price and volume. This may signal increasing confidence in commerce activity as we continue to regain the signals lost when Apple revamped privacy policies last year. A key tenet of omnichannel marketing is understanding how each of these channels behaves across a particular categorysuch as commerce in this instanceand incorporating those differences into your strategy as a marketer."

For more information and to view the infographic, visit skai.io/digital-marketing-trends/ .

Methodology

Analysis is drawn from a population of approximately $9 billion in advertising spend over five quarters, comprising more than 3,000 advertiser and agency accounts across 40 vertical industries and more than 150 countries running on the Skai platform on Google, Microsoft, Baidu, Yandex, Yahoo! Japan, Verizon Media, Amazon, Walmart, Instacart, Criteo, Kroger, Apple Search Ads, Pinterest, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Except where noted, only advertisers with 15 consecutive months of performance data are included. Some additional outliers have been excluded. Ad spending and pricing have been translated to USD at the time the spending was incurred, where applicable.

About Skai

Skai (formerly Kenshoo) is a leading omnichannel marketing platform that uniquely connects data and media for informed decisions, high efficiencies, and optimal returns. Its partners include Google, Meta, Amazon Ads, TikTok, Snap, Walmart Connect, Instacart, Roundel, Criteo, CitrusAd, Pinterest, Microsoft, Apple Search Ads, and more. For over 15 years Skai has been trusted by an impressive roster of brands including Pepsico, Michaels, Reckitt, Daimler, LG, and Vodafone. The company is headquartered out of Tel Aviv, with seven international locations, and is backed by Sequoia Capital, Arts Alliance, Tenaya Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, Pitango, and Qumra Capital. Visit skai.io for more information.

SOURCE Skai
One of the fastest-growing freight brokerages in the nation awarded for its Arrive Fresh program, created to manage and deliver its transportation partners' most sensitive freight

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arrive Logistics , a leading multimodal transportation and technology company headquartered in Austin, Texas, has been recognized as a 2022 "Top Food Chain Provider" by Food Chain Digest, the official magazine of Food Shippers of America. In its inaugural year, the award honors industry leaders that excel in capabilities and service to food transportation, logistics, distribution and supply chain management.

This award honors the company's Arrive Fresh program, launched in 2020 to further assist its shipping partners in responsibly delivering their most sensitive freight. Since 2021, Arrive has seen a 98% increase in refrigerated business and, thus far, in 2022, a 40% increase compared to the same timeframe in 2021.

"Since the introduction of Arrive Fresh, we have made it a priority to collaborate with reliable partners from our network of over 70,000 carriers who understand the nuances of shipping sensitive freight," said Mitchell Mazzaro, Director of Temperature Controlled Solutions at Arrive Logistics. "We aim to provide the best training possible for our team, which includes an 'Arrive Fresh' certification process required for any representative who wants to move refrigerated shipments."

The award is a testament to Arrive's multimodal transportation options for its partners. In addition to temperature controlled offerings, the company also operates an industry-leading drop trailer program. The drop trailer program promotes efficiency and relieves some of the pressures shippers may face amid complicated supply chain needs. Arrive is projected to double its drop trailer volumes in 2022.

"Food shippers rely upon their logistics partners and carriers to help manage a productive, efficient and seamless food chain," said Brian Everett, group publisher and editorial director of Food Chain Digest. "A common theme for the companies on the 2022 list is that they have been providing significant value to food shippers at a time when demand in all modes has been surging while the people and assets needed to move and store goods and materials remain scarce. This program highlights leaders like Arrive Logistics that are helping shippers navigate through their food chain challenges and accomplish their business goals."

"Arrive Fresh, and all of our multimodal service offerings, enable us to further distinguish ourselves as a trusted partner for our shippers and carriers, reinforcing our mission: We deliver, so you can," added Mazzaro.

To learn more about Arrive Fresh and the entire offering of Arrive's multimodal program, visit https://www.arrivelogistics.com/shippers/ .

About Arrive Logistics

Arrive Logistics is a leading multimodal transportation and technology company delivering unparalleled service and custom strategic solutions. With over 1,500 employees, 6,000 customers, and 70,000 carriers in its network, Arrive is one of the largest firms in the freight brokerage industry, with projected $2.4 billion in 2022 revenue. The company has been recognized as a top workplace by Inc., Great Places to Work, The Austin American-Statesman and The Chicago Tribune. Learn more at www.arrivelogistics.com and explore career opportunities at www.arrivelogistics.com/careers . At Arrive, "We Deliver, So You Can."

About The Top Food Chain Provider Award

This is the first year that Food Chain Digest has deployed this recognition program to serve as a resource to food shippers as they secure partners and capabilities in managing their supply chain strategy and execution.

Here's how the program works: First, nominations were made by food chain providers and reviewed by the staff of Food Chain Digest. Requirements of all candidates are that they are a 3PL, freight broker, motor carrier, rail/intermodal provider, or maritime company that generate at least U.S. $5 million in gross global sales. These nominations were evaluated based upon value provided to food shippers, achievements accomplished in the last 12-18 months, and solutions that have helped to solve a business problem of food shippers.

Next, nearly 6,000 participants in the food industry voted for nominated companies that had the strongest reputation and value in the food chain technology segment. As part of the process, companies earning an adequate volume of votes are validated, which helped to identify the companies named to the list.

CONTACT: Nicole Paleologus, [email protected]

SOURCE Arrive Logistics
New Bentley University  Gallup survey shows Democrats and Republicans sharply divided over Washington's impact

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With the midterm elections now less than two weeks away, voters are being deluged by campaign ads and candidate debates, lawn signs and robocalls. But after the campaigns end and the last ballot is cast, how much will it matter? When it comes right down to it, how effective is government at actually changing people's daily lives?

A new nationwide survey by Bentley University and Gallup finds that only 39% of people believe the federal government is effective at impacting people's lives in a positive way.

A new nationwide survey by Bentley University and Gallup finds that only 39% of people believe the federal government is effective at impacting peoples lives in a positive way.

And there's a huge difference depending on which party you belong to: 57% of Democrats believe the federal government is effective at improving people's lives, compared to only 24% of Republicans.

The Bentley-Gallup Force for Good Survey of 5,757 U.S. adults also found:

People who identify as Black are much more likely to believe the federal government can make a difference. 62 percent of Black people say the federal government is effective at impacting people's lives, compared to 33 percent of white people.





Older people are most likely to believe in the federal government's effectiveness. Among those over age 70, 44 percent say the federal government is effective at impacting people's lives, followed by those aged 18 to 29 (42 percent).





People aged 50 to 59 had the least faith in Washington , with only 34 percent believing that the federal government is effective at impacting people's lives.





, with only 34 percent believing that the federal government is effective at impacting people's lives. 75% of Democrats say companies should speak out on current events but Republicans overwhelmingly say they should stick to business. Only 18% of Republicans say businesses should give their opinion on stories in the news.

"Democrats see corporate executives as allies in recent social conflicts, but they should be careful what they wish for," said Jeff Moriarty, professor of Philosophy at Bentley. "Eventually they will find themselves on opposing sides of an issue, and then encouraging corporations to get more involved in politics will seem like a bad idea."

So if Americans are skeptical of Washington, who do they think should step in?

57% of people think businesses are effective at improving people's lives, the Bentley-Gallup poll found. Republicans believe businesses make a positive impact more than Democrats do -- 72% of Republicans say businesses are effective at making a positive impact, compared to 51% of Democrats.

The difference in people's trust in government compared to business highlights a growing trend.

"The role of business in our society is evolving. People expect more from companies than simply increasing profits and meeting shareholder goals," said Bentley President E. LaBrent Chrite. "As people's expectations expand and businesses change to meet them, businesses themselves will have a larger role in our society  everything from how we debate political ideas to how we treat the poorest among us. The impact of business in our society has never been more important."

About the Survey

The Bentley University  Gallup Force for Good Report is based on a Gallup Panel web survey completed by 5,757 adults, aged 18 and older, conducted June 8 to 19, 2022. The Gallup Panel is a probability-based longitudinal panel of U.S. adults whom Gallup selects using random-digit-dial phone interviews that cover landline and cell phones. Gallup also uses address-based sampling methods to recruit panel members. The sample for this survey was weighted to be demographically representative of the U.S. adult population, using the most recent Current Population Survey figures. For results based on this sample, the maximum margin of sampling error is plus or minus 1.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are higher for subsamples.

SOURCE Bentley University
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
Jindal Institute For Youthful Aging Offers The Best Mini Facelift Surgery In Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Sumeet Jindal is a leading facial plastic surgeon who performs the best mini facelift at his new Raleigh, North Carolina practice, the Jindal Institute for Youthful Aging. Coming from a background that included both medical and cosmetic facial surgery, Dr. Jindal is uniquely qualified to address all of your facial aging concerns.

A mini facelift differs from a traditional facelift surgery by offering minimal incisions that are often hidden completely behind the ear. Through these small incisions, Dr. Jindal removes extra skin and tightens the skin of the face for a more youthful appearance. This less invasive version of a mini facelift is ideal for patients with mild to moderate jowling and lower face sagging. It can also be combined with a neck lift , eyelid surgery , or brow lift for optimal results.

Dr. Jindal performs all mini facelifts under local anesthesia. Patients remain perfectly comfortable and often experience a reduced recovery time and fewer complications. Local anesthesia does not require full sedation and thus the side effects and complications associated with general anesthesia are either completely eliminated or significantly less.

The cost of a mini facelift in Raleigh starts at $4,900. This price is competitive for the Raleigh area because Dr. Jindal reduces patient costs by performing his mini facelift under local anesthesia. The Jindal Institute for Youthful Aging does work with Care Credit and HealthPartner to offer outside financing options.

About JIYA: The Jindal Institute for Youthful Aging is Raleigh's top eyelid and facial cosmetic surgeon that specializes in helping patients age on their own terms. Dr. Sumeet Jindal prefers to use non-invasive approaches first, before resorting to surgery. Even if surgery is warranted, Dr. Jindal works to find a minimally invasive surgical approaches that offer patients optimal results.

Contact: realdrseattle

Phone: 206-787-0784

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Jindal Institute for Youthful Aging
- The boutique coffee chain's winter menu boasts four yummy festive drinks including its most popular Peppermint Bark White Mocha -

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Rock Coffee Bar, a national boutique coffee chain, will celebrate the winter season with its new lineup of festive drinks that will be available beginning November 1st at all its 100-plus store locations across seven states, including OR, WA, AZ, CA, ID, CO, and TX.

Whether it's hot, iced, or blended, Black Rock Coffee Bar's Winter Wonder drinks feature some returning fan favorites such as creamy eggnog and peppermint bark  but with an infusion of other flavors for extra pizazz.

Black Rock Coffee Bar's 2022 Winter Drink Lineup

With this menu, the fast-growing coffee chain aims to provide its customers with various flavorful festive drinks to help get into the holiday spirit. Following is the winter lineup:

Peppermint Bark White Mocha  This refreshing and spirit-lifting drink is an absolute fan favorite during the winter season. Black Rock Coffee Bar baristas mix a delicious rich peppermint bark sauce with white chocolate, and espresso. For a finishing holiday touch, it is topped with whip cream and colorful holiday sprinkles.

 This refreshing and spirit-lifting drink is an absolute fan favorite during the winter season. Black Rock Coffee Bar baristas mix a delicious rich peppermint bark sauce with white chocolate, and espresso. For a finishing holiday touch, it is topped with whip cream and colorful holiday sprinkles. Caramel Nog Latte  For eggnog lovers who value seasonal traditions, Black Rock Coffee Bar has the drink to satisfy the palate - the Caramel Nog Latte. This holiday drink consists of a combination of eggnog with the addition of caramel and espresso for an extra kick of flavor.

 For eggnog lovers who value seasonal traditions, Black Rock Coffee Bar has the drink to satisfy the palate - the Caramel Nog Latte. This holiday drink consists of a combination of eggnog with the addition of caramel and espresso for an extra kick of flavor. Christmas Cookie Cold Brew  Cookies are another popular staple during the winter holidays. Black Rock Coffee Bar baristas can create a yummy cold brew that tastes like a cookie by adding chocolate macadamia nut and topping it with a sweet vanilla cold foam and holiday sprinkles.

 Cookies are another popular staple during the winter holidays. Black Rock Coffee Bar baristas can create a yummy cold brew that tastes like a cookie by adding chocolate macadamia nut and topping it with a sweet vanilla cold foam and holiday sprinkles. Orange Marmalade FUELO  For customers who want to stay fueled during the holidays, Black Rock Coffee Bar has created a refreshing drink from its FUEL energy drink brand - the Orange Marmalade FUEL. Combining a special blend of almond, vanilla and orange, this tasty holiday energy drink is sure to help check lists twice.

Each drink price will vary depending on modifications to the original receipt including alternative milks, additional flavors or additional shots.

Guided by its three principles - coffee, community and connection, the popular coffee chain was founded in Oregon and is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful Fuel energy drinks. Its mission is to be a positive force in the communities it serves. The boutique coffee chain was named the Fastest Growing Private Company in Oregon and SW Washington in 2021 by the Portland Business Journal. Most recently, Inc. Magazine ranked Black Rock Coffee Bar No. 837th on its 2022 Inc. 5000 Annual List, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

About Black Rock Coffee Bar

Black Rock Coffee Bar is a national boutique coffee shop that is known for its premium roasted coffees, teas, smoothies and flavorful blended energy drinks. Founded as a family owned and operated business in Oregon in 2008, Black Rock Coffee Bar has grown to more than 100 retail locations in seven states.

The Black Rock culture emphasizes personal and professional growth for each Black Rock employee and ensuring that they provide compassionate customer service towards each person who experiences the store.

For more information, visit https://br.coffee/

SOURCE Black Rock Coffee Bar
COLOMBES, France, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bostik, the adhesives segment of Arkema, is proud to announce the opening of the Paris showroom of Ideal Work, an Italian specialist in high-added value decorative flooring technologies, which the Group acquired in 2020.

The opening of this first showroom outside of Italy is a concrete illustration of the strong support provided by the Group since the acquisition of Ideal Work to help accelerate its development in Europe and around the world.

Showcasing some of Ideal Works most iconic technologies A showroom conceived as a House of Concrete

Conceived as a "House of concrete", the showroom, located in the heart of Paris, showcases over 200m2 some of Ideal Work's most iconic technologies such as Mictrotopping, Lixio and Concrete Optik. True to Ideal Work's and Bostik's DNA of creating long-term, quality relationships with their partners and customers, it will act as a meeting place for decorative coating's professionals in Europe.

"IDEAL WORK has been writing its history for 25 years now, and this new page is a milestone in our development in France. The creation of this showroom is one of the most ambitious projects carried out by IDEAL WORK, and the setting up of this place has been possible thanks to the support of many applicators, partners and the support of Bostik and the Arkema group." Christophe Vaissier, head of development for Ideal Work in France.

"Becoming part of the Arkema Group has been a key step to support the growth of Ideal Work. The showroom opening in Paris is a milestone, allowing us to present our solutions to European professionals, which would not have been possible without the support of our Bostik colleagues who believed in our vision" Luca Seminati, Ideal Work Managing Director.

About Bostik, an Arkema company

Bostik, a subsidiary of the Arkema Group and a global player in specialty adhesives for the construction, consumer and industrial markets, develops innovative and multifunctional sealing and bonding solutions that have been shaping our daily lives for over 130 years. With an annual sale of 2.1 billion euros in 2019, a presence in more than 40 countries, and 6,000 employees, the company is committed to meeting the major ecological, energy and technological challenges through its innovations. It is focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence to meet the expectations of its customers and partners. www.bostik.com

Contact: Hortense BLAZSIN, [email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1696494/Bostik_Logo.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931656/Ideal_Work_Showroom_1.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931657/Ideal_Work_Showroom_2.jpg

SOURCE Bostik, an Arkema company
The Cannabis Testing Market is expanding due to the increased medicinal use and approved use of cannabis. Additionally, an increase in the number of testing laboratories, as well as increased investments in RDs, will drive the market growth.

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Verified Market Research recently published a report, "Cannabis Testing Market" By Product And Software (Products, Software (Cannabis LIMS)), By Service (Potency Testing, Pesticide Screening, Heavy Metal Testing, Genetic Testing), By End-User (Laboratories, Research Institutes, Drug Manufacturers, Cultivators), and By Geography.

As per the deep research carried out by Verified Market Research, the global Cannabis Testing Market size was valued at USD 1253.34 Million in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 3013.48 Million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 11.70% from 2021 to 2028.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/download-sample/?rid=22449

Browse in-depth TOC on "Cannabis Testing Market"

202 - Pages

126  Tables

37  Figures

Global Cannabis Testing Market Overview

Cannabis is the product of a cycle that starts with the discovery of its quality and ends with its use. Numerous countries are lifting their bans on cannabis as a result of their discovery that it is beneficial for clinical treatment. Cannabis testing alludes to the inspection of a specific specimen of cannabis to determine THC, CBD, and terpene levels as well as for foreign substances and pollutions, such as persistent solvents, form, illness, irritations, or pesticide buildup. Every state and region can impose their own guidelines and standards for what should be tried and imprinted on cannabis names. Individual cultivators may choose more severe principles and risk having their examples tested for CBC and CBG levels. Cannabis testing should be done only by certified physicists and lab specialists.

Cannabis has become more widely used for medical purposes, which has led to its legalisation in many different countries around the world. For instance, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is currently permitted in more than 30 countries worldwide. For instance, in 2018 the Farm Bill was proposed to authorise the growth of hemp in the United States. Following the trend, many countries in Europe and Asia are poised to legalise clinical marijuana for the growing quiet population. It is assumed that the number will increase exponentially over the hypothetical time period.

Key Developments

On January 2019 , Digipath, Inc., announced an agreement with Cannabis, Inc. to increase its market share in the Cannabis test and strengthen its position in the domestic and international cannabis testing market.

, Digipath, Inc., announced an agreement with Cannabis, Inc. to increase its market share in the Cannabis test and strengthen its position in the domestic and international cannabis testing market. In 2020, DigiPath acquired VSSL Enterprises Ltd., a provider of agritech consulting solutions for cannabis genetics, tissue culture, cultivation, analytical testing, and predictive tools.

In 2020, Agilent Technologies Inc., launched Cannabis and Hemp Potency Kit.

Key Players

The major players in the market are Shimadzu Corporation, Millipore Sigma, Restek Corporation, SC Laboratories, Inc., Agilent Technologies Inc., Waters Corporation, PerkinElmer Inc., AB SCIEX LLC, CannaSafe Analytics and Steep Hill Labs.

Verified Market Research has segmented the Global Cannabis Testing Market On the basis of Product And Software, Service, End-User, and Geography.

Cannabis Testing Market, By Product And Software

Products



Analytical Instruments





Chromatography Instruments





Spectroscopy Instruments





Consumables



Software (Cannabis LIMS)

Cannabis Testing Market, By Service

Potency Testing



Pesticide Screening



Heavy Metal Testing



Genetic Testing



Others

Cannabis Testing Market, By End-User

Laboratories



Research Institutes



Drug Manufacturers



Cultivators

Cannabis Testing Market, by Geography

North America



U.S





Canada





Mexico



Europe



Germany





France





U.K





Rest of Europe



Asia Pacific



China





Japan





India





Rest of Asia Pacific



ROW



Middle East & Africa

&



Latin America

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Biosynthesis of Cannabinoids Market By Product (Concentrates, Flowers), By Application (Medical, Recreational), By Compound (Balanced THC And CBD, Cannabidiol Dominant), By Geography, And Forecast

Cannabis Industry Software Market By Product Type (Cannabis Seed to Sale Software, Cannabis Retail POS Software), By End-Use (Medical, Agriculture, Industrial, Others), By Technology (Track & Trace Technology, Delivery Management Technology, POS Compliance Technology), By Geography, And Forecast

Cannabis Market By Product (Flower, Concentrates), By Compound-Type (Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD), Balanced THC & CBD), By Application (Medical, Recreational), By Geography, And Forecast

Medicinal Cannabis Market By Product (Oral Medications, Topical Medications), By Application (Hospitals, Clinics), By Geography, And Forecast

Best Cannabidiol Oil Manufacturers offering treatment for various medical issues

Visualize Cannabis Testing Market using Verified Market Intelligence:

Verified Market Intelligence is our BI Enabled Platform for narrative storytelling in this market. VMI offers in-depth forecasted trends and accurate Insights on over 20,000+ emerging & niche markets, helping you make critical revenue-impacting decisions for a brilliant future.

VMI provides a holistic overview and global competitive landscape with respect to Region, Country, Segment, and Key players of your market. Present your Market Report & findings with an inbuilt presentation feature saving over 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development pitches. VMI enables data delivery In Excel and Interactive PDF formats with over 15+ Key Market Indicators for your market.

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Verified Market Research is a leading Global Research and Consulting firm servicing over 5000+ customers. Verified Market Research provides advanced analytical research solutions while offering information enriched research studies. We offer insight into strategic and growth analyses, Data necessary to achieve corporate goals and critical revenue decisions.

Our 250 Analysts and SME's offer a high level of expertise in data collection and governance use industrial techniques to collect and analyze data on more than 15,000 high impact and niche markets. Our analysts are trained to combine modern data collection techniques, superior research methodology, expertise and years of collective experience to produce informative and accurate research.

We study 14+ categories from Semiconductor & Electronics, Chemicals, Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Energy & Power, Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Automotive & Transportation, Information & Communication Technology, Software & Services, Information Security, Mining, Minerals & Metals, Building & construction, Agriculture industry and Medical Devices from over 100 countries.

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SOURCE Verified Market Research
CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 700 student entrepreneurs, and their faculty advisors, will be in downtown Chicago next week for the 39th annual Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO) Global Conference and Pitch Competition.

The conference will be held Oct. 28-30, 2022, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago River Walk. Attendees will network with other entrepreneurial-minded students, listen to presentations from seasoned entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, motivational speakers and fellow students who seek to be one of the transformative entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Keynote speakers at this year's conference include: Dylan Gambardella, of Next Gen HQ; Cary Singleton, of Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship; Jason Feifer, of Entrepreneur Magazine; Courtney Gras, of AWS  Startups; David Zasada, of Intuit; Abby Malchow, of Amazon.com; Steven Shaw, of Verizon; and, Rebecca White, author of See, Do, Repeat.

One of the highlights of the conference is the $20,000 Global Pitch Competition. For the past few weeks, 100 student-entrepreneurs have been hard at work building their business profiles on the platform PitchPages. Twenty of the top 100 students will pitch live. These student-entrepreneurs will have five minutes to pitch their startup business ideas to a panel of judges, for a chance to win part of $20,000 in prize money. Members of the general public can view pitch competition submissions here: ceo.pitchpages.io. Qualified investors are invited to attend the conference as spectators of the pitch competition.

A few of the Top 25 finalists include:

March , an inclusive toiletry line for hotels and resorts that has an emphasis on providing shampoos and conditioners that suits Black hair.

, an inclusive toiletry line for hotels and resorts that has an emphasis on providing shampoos and conditioners that suits Black hair. Resense , creates a Memory Box toolkit that increases brain health, exercises the senses and elicits long-term memories for those living with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

, creates a Memory Box toolkit that increases brain health, exercises the senses and elicits long-term memories for those living with Alzheimer's and Dementia. TuneHatch , a web-based platform that uses predictive analytics to maximize fan turout at concerts, helping artists and venues book more profitable shows.

, a web-based platform that uses predictive analytics to maximize fan turout at concerts, helping artists and venues book more profitable shows. Kwizera Coffee, a revolutionary coffee supply chain that is vertically integrated which creates larger opportunities for the farming communities.

Coinciding with the Global Pitch Competition there will be two other competitions at the conference. These two competitions offer the chance to showcase and develop student entrepreneurs' skills with a chance to win cash prizes:

Marketplace Simulation Challenge: Students attending the CEO Global Conference and Pitch Competition will have the chance to compete in teams against one another for cash prizes. This is a half-day, fast-paced competition where teams compete within a simulated business ecosystem to start and manage their own businesses.

Students attending the CEO Global Conference and Pitch Competition will have the chance to compete in teams against one another for cash prizes. This is a half-day, fast-paced competition where teams compete within a simulated business ecosystem to start and manage their own businesses. $10,000 Venture Valley E-Sports Tournament: Participants will play a match of the Venture Valley Game, picking one business and gaining the highest revenue within the five-minute match. The winner of the match will win a $10,000 cash prize! All scores will be tallied on a leaderboard throughout the conference, and the winners will be announced on Oct. 30 .

In an effort to create a more inclusive conference and to ensure that Black, indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) college students face no financial barriers in attending the conference, the Verizon Foundation has sponsored a Black, Indigenous and People of Color Scholarship. This scholarship will cover the full registration cost of the conference for 25 BIPOC students.

The event will also honor the co-founder of CEO, Dr. Gerald Hills on his Retirement and a Legacy Video, created in his honor will be debuted.

The conference also features a university awards program where CEO will recognize the top chapters in the CEO network. The awards will include Outstanding CEO Chapter Leader, Global Chapter of the Year and many more.

The 2022 conference is sponsored by The University of Tampa, Amazon.com, Amazon Web Service (AWS), The Singleton Foundation, The John E. Hughes Foundation, The Coleman Foundation, The Calvin K. Kazanjian Economics Foundation, Marketplace Simulations, Startup Wars and Verizon.

According to Giles Hertz, President of CEO, the annual conference will generate an economic impact of more than $600,000 for the Chicago region and showcase Chicago as a startup region of choice for future founders. For more information, contact Dean Mesick at [email protected].

The Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization (CEO), based in The University of Tampa's Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, a part of Sykes College of Business, is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to "inform, support and inspire college students to be entrepreneurial and to seek opportunity through enterprise creation." From its inception in 1984, the organization has grown to approximately 16,500 members, representing nearly 250 college- and university-based chapters.

SOURCE Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tom Fowdy, a British political and international relations analyst, contributes an opinion to China Focus.

As the world's largest industrial and manufacturing base, it's no secret that energy resources are crucial for China. Over the past four decades, the country's economy has grown rapidly, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. It has also become outstanding in many global industries, thereby boosting both its consumption and demand for energy and exceeding that of any other country.

Given the pressing impact of climate change, countries across the world need to act quickly and make their own efforts to help mitigate the impact of climate change and ensure a sustainable development model. China thereby has to deal with the challenge of not only acquiring ever-increasing amounts of energy in order to continue economic growth but also making sure that its energy stores increasingly come from renewable methods that are sustainable for the environment.

China has so far made remarkable progress in its clean energy transition, becoming one of the biggest investors in solar and wind power in the world. However, 60 percent of the energy it uses still comes from coal-fired power stations.

In 2020, China set up a goal to reach peak carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060. These plans intend to accelerate renewable energy development and reduce the country's reliance on coal as quickly as possible.

This is not an easy task, partly because energy transition has to adapt to become more environmentally friendly in view of the energy resources that industries consume, while not ceding capacity or productivity.

China's consideration is bringing about sweeping changes. The country is set to install a record 156 gigawatts of wind turbines and solar panels this year, according to Bloomberg. This constitutes a 25 percent jump from the previous record set last year. In its renewable energy development plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), China aims for renewables to supply 33 percent of national power consumption and for non-hydro renewables to constitute 18 percent.

Moreover, Chinese authorities have introduced a raft of measures to boost energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. This includes a number of measures to facilitate green growth, including finding ways to reduce the consumption of water needed to run factories by at least 16 percent from 2020 levels by the end of 2025.

In doing this, China has promoted over 20,000 green products and 4,000 types of equipment for energy and water conservation and comprehensive resource utilization since 2011. In the process, a growing number of companies in low-carbon energy technologies have been established, providing more new jobs.

Yet on its own, this is not enough. China continues its comprehensive energy transition and advocates putting even more resources toward renewable energy development and conservation.

This comes in tandem with the rapid rise of the electric vehicle (EV) industry. According to Wired Magazine, China has become "the center" of the world when it comes to EVs, which it plans to constitute 40 percent of all vehicles sold in the country by 2030. It also aims to facilitate charging infrastructure to meet the needs of more than 20 million cars, again demonstrating how China is acting as a world leader in the transition to renewables.

China is prevailing against the odds when it comes to the challenges of the 21st century. It endeavors to improve energy efficiency and accelerate energy transition so as to achieve its ambition of "dual carbon goals," which will lead to an even further boom in low-carbon technologies and a significant decline in fossil fuel utilization in the years to come.

Contact: Bai Shi

Tel: 008610-68996995

Email: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1927890/logo_china_focus.jpg

SOURCE China Focus
BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors (the "Board") of China Life Insurance Company Limited (the "Company" or "China Life") (NYSE: LFC; SSE: 601628; HKSE: 2628) announced today that due to the adjustment of work arrangements, Ms. Huang Xiumei tendered her resignation to the Board as the person in charge of finance of the Company on October 27, 2022, which took effect on the same day. Ms. Huang Xiumei has confirmed that she has no disagreement with the Board and there are no other matters relating to her resignation that need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders of the Company. The Company would like to express its gratitude to Ms. Huang Xiumei for her contribution to the Company during her tenure of service.

The Board further announced that Ms. Hu Jin has been appointed as the person in charge of finance of the Company at the eighteenth meeting of the seventh session of the Board held on October 27, 2022. The qualification of Ms. Hu Jin is still subject to the approval of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. The Company has designated Ms. Hu Jin to serve as the person temporarily in charge of finance of the Company prior to obtaining such approval.

Ms. Hu Jin, born in November 1971, has been the General Manager of the Finance Department of the Company since June 2020. From June 2020 to March 2021, she served as the General Manager of the Shared Service Center (Financial Segment) of the Company. From August 2019 to June 2020, she served as the Deputy General Manager (responsible for daily operations) of the Finance Department and concurrently acted as the Deputy General Manager of the Shared Service Center (Financial Segment) of the Company. From 2013 to 2019, she successively served as the Deputy General Manager of the Finance Department, the Deputy General Manager of the Accounting Department and the Deputy General Manager (responsible for daily operations) of the Accounting Department of the Company. Ms. Hu graduated from Renmin University of China with a master's degree in economics. She is a senior accountant.

SOURCE China Life
Despite newfound workplace freedoms, new research from Cigna International reveals young people now face higher levels of stress, financial concern and reduced workplace satisfaction and growth

48% of 18-34-year-olds are looking for a new job in the next 12 months

Over half of all 18-34-year-olds say work feels transactional

51% of 18-34-year-olds don't feel fully present or engaged in their work

HONG KONG and ANTWERP, Belgium, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Young people around the world have relished newfound workplace freedoms, but new research by Cigna International reveals the move towards flexible and remote work risks hurting their mental well-being and professional development, with many now seeking new jobs.

The health service provider's latest 360 Global Well-Being Survey, titled Exhausted by Work  The Employer Opportunity, shows that while hybrid and flexible work is seen as very important amongst younger workers, they are also experiencing worrying levels of burnout and concern for the future. Over 97% of 18-34-year-olds are burned out, and 40% are worried by the rising costs of living.

Despite over three-quarters of younger respondents saying they are 'always on' with work, many are actually struggling to engage with their work and feel it has become purely transactional with no in-person interaction. A fifth (20%) say a lack of learning and development opportunities is also causing stress.

Now, with over 70% saying they are re-evaluating their life priorities and nearly half looking for new jobs, employers must urgently recognize the need for action.

Michelle Leung, HR Officer, Cigna International Markets, said the findings should ring alarm bells for employers everywhere.

"Business leaders must not become complacent in this new flexible workplace era. Remote work shouldn't mean less opportunity, growth or sense of belonging for younger people," said Leung.

"If we are not careful, this could quickly escalate into a generational divide  those who built lasting professional careers during the years of traditional onsite work, and those who were disenfranchised during the remote transition  the, so called, Great Resignation and the Quiet Quitting phenomena."

"The workplace is fundamentally changed. More than ever, bosses and managers need to tune into employee needs if they want to retain good staff. They need to invest more time and consideration to help employees grow, get satisfaction from their jobs and to perform at their best," said Leung.

Failure to respond to these issues could mean a significant loss of talent. Up to 73% of 2534-year-old Millennials and 71% of 1824-year-old Gen Zs are spending more time evaluating their priorities compared to two years ago. Worryingly, Cigna's research shows 48% of 18-34-year-olds are now looking for new roles at a time when much of the world is entering uncertain economic times.

"All over the world, the younger generation has been most impacted by the changes in workplace culture," said Jason Sadler, President, Cigna International Markets.

"While they welcome the move to flexible working models, they need support to adapt to the new work culture. Employers need to ensure all employees, especially younger staff members, have the opportunities to develop and grow in their careers. They also need to be careful that 'out of sight' isn't 'out of mind', and that Whole Health and well-being forms a central pillar of their business and workplace strategy."

To debate the implications of these findings, Cigna has partnered with the Economist to host 'Rewriting the Rules; Building a Healthy Hybrid Workplace' on November, 1, 2022. This webinar will feature Arjan Toor, CEO, Cigna Europe, alongside Cary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Alliance Manchester Business School, Andy Davis, Head of Future Workplace Strategy and Growth, Fujitsu, and Gertrud Ingestad, Director-General for Human Resources and Security, European Commission. Click here to register.

To read the full study, and download the report, please visit: www.cignaglobal.com/360-global-well-being/the-employer-opportunity.

-Ends-

About the Cigna 360 Global Well-Being Survey 2022

To monitor and track the annual evolution of well-being, the Cigna 360 Global Well-Being Survey 2022 looked at five key components - family, financial, physical, social, and work. In partnership with Kantar, a leading data, insights and consulting company, Cigna International has analyzed the findings to uncover the latest trends and challenges for health and well-being.

Cigna International surveyed 11,922 people aged 18-65, in Australia, Belgium, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UAE, UK and USA.

The fieldwork for this survey was completed in April and May 2022.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being, and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability, and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth companies or their affiliates, and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products.

Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 190 million customer relationships around the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

SOURCE Cigna
Variety of options, including $0 premium plans, will be offered in Dayton, Cincinnati areas

CINCINNATI , Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna is expanding its Medicare Advantage (MA) presence to southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky for the first time. Choices include plans with $0 premiums and attractive extra features, such as a dental allowance, and hearing, vision and fitness benefits. These plans will be available to Medicare-eligible customers during Medicare's Annual Election Period (AEP), which begins Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7. They will be effective Jan. 1, 2023.

"We have been providing Medicare beneficiaries in Cleveland with access to quality, affordable Medicare Advantage plans for the past several years," said Jamie Benedict, president for Cigna Medicare in Ohio. "We are thrilled to expand into the Dayton and Cincinnati areas to give residents more choices to find the plan that fits their health needs, lifestyle and budget."

Cigna MA plans are now available in the following new counties: Brown, Clermont, Hamilton, Warren, Butler, Greene, Montgomery, Preble, Clark, Miami, Darke, Champaign and Shelby counties in Ohio, as well as Boone, Campbell, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton counties in northern Kentucky.

Cigna also continues to offer MA plans in the Cleveland area.

Medicare Advantage plans are popular with people who qualify for Medicare because they include benefits that original Medicare does not.

A number of plans are offered in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas to appeal to every lifestyle, budget and health status. These include: Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO) and Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO), both with $0 premium; Cigna Preferred Savings Medicare (HMO), with $0 premium and featuring a rebate on the customer's Part B premium; Cigna Preferred Plus Medicare (HMO), with more robust benefits for a premium; Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP), a plan for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and Cigna True Choice Courage Medicare (PPO), which is a stand-alone Medicare Advantage plan designed to appeal to U.S. military veterans that features $0 premium, a monthly $50 rebate on Medicare Part B premiums and a $300 annual allowance for people with certain chronic conditions to use for caring for a pet.

All plans also include the following:

$0 copay for in-person and virtual primary care and behavioral services when visiting an in-network provider

copay for in-person and virtual primary care and behavioral services when visiting an in-network provider A dental allowance to be used for preventive and comprehensive non-cosmetic services at any licensed dentist who accepts Medicare

Hearing and vision benefits

A fitness benefit, including a fitness tracker

Transportation to doctors and pharmacies at no extra cost

Meal delivery following a hospital discharge

An allowance for certain over-the-counter health-related purchases

The Healthy Today flex card, which can be used at participating retailers to redeem benefits and incentives, such as wellness incentives and OTC dollars

PPO plans provide coverage at out-of-network providers, giving customers more freedom and flexibility. Higher cost shares may apply.

Cigna also offers Medicare Supplement plans and stand-alone prescription drug plans across all of Ohio.

For more details about Cigna's Medicare plans, please visit www.CignaMedicare.com.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation (NYSE: CI) is a global health services 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 over 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.

All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Cigna contracts with Medicare to offer Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans and Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. Some content may be provided under license.  2022 Cigna

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Media Contact: Doug Bennett Jr.

Phone: (812) 557-5312

[email protected]

SOURCE Cigna
30 FIREBird Devices will help protect the City's Vulnerable Wildland Urban Interface

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Rancho Cucamonga, California received $1.9 million in funding to implement an early wildfire detection system using the FIREBird wildfire detection system manufactured by Lindsey FireSense, LLC. Rancho Cucamonga will install 30 FIREBird devices along the City's wildland urban interface bordering the San Gabriel Mountain range.

"Wildfires have become increasingly common and more severe in California, and fire scientists are telling us these risks will only grow in the future," said Keith Lindsey, president of Lindsey FireSense. "We applaud the City of Rancho Cucamonga and California Assembly member Chris Holden in applying for and obtaining the funding for this important project. We are proud to be a partner in making the citizens of Rancho Cucamonga safer."

FIREBird is the first wildfire detection system intended specifically for deployment along high fire risk rights-of-way, and wildland urban interface boundaries adjacent to residential developments. Easily mounted on any structure, FIREBird devices provide continuous wildfire detection when placed at regular intervals.

The FIREBird system requires no additional staffing and offers automatic notification of detected wildfires to authorized personnel, typically within two minutes. Early detection of wildfires results in faster fire response and smaller fires to contain.

A single FIREBird device can detect fires as small as 5 feet by 5 feet from as far away as 900 feet. Smaller fires can be detected when located closer to a FIREBird unit. Each unit contains specialized thermal sensors, cameras, weather sensors, and uses advanced neural network computer processing. The system may be integrated with existing emergency communication systems.

The FIREBird system will be exhibited at the Heat and Fire Expo, part of the Natural Disasters Expo California being held at the Anaheim Convention Center on Nov. 9-10, 2022. Lindsey FireSense will be located in Booth 515.

For more information:

www.lindsey-firesense.com

City of Rancho Cucamonga Press Release

CBS News Story on Rancho Cucamonga Wildfire Detection System

About Lindsey FireSense

Established in a foothill community of Southern California, Lindsey FireSense is in a high-risk location for wildfires. Our products are developed by a group of engineers and scientists who have decades of experience with sensors, wildfire detection, the utility industry and IoT devices and applications.

Lindsey FireSense focuses on products designed to detect and mitigate damage associated with wildfires.

SOURCE Lindsey FireSense LLC
BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion DMS announces certified SecureVUE integration with AutoPoint's MPI. This technology partnership brings a full-service command center to your entire shop by providing seamless communication tools to keep your service team on the same page.

"The relationships with our technology partners allow dealerships to maximize the value of our cloud-native VUE DMS. By collaborating with strong service experience vendors, we offer dealers more choices in running their business." - Arlene Clements, VP of Business Development, Dominion DMS.

This partnership brings innovative features like parts inventory integration and a self-learning pricing guide, helping dealerships deliver a consistent, transparent, and professional service experience.

"The VUE/Autopoint integration has increased our team's productivity by keeping our Tech, Advisors, and Parts Counterpersons on the same page in real-time. The in-system communication and functionality improve our Parts and Advisor response times to our Techs for repairs and provide better information to our customers for approvals." - Mike Detwiler, Vice President, Dave Sinclair Ford.

These key benefits ensure faster inspections and shorter wait times for your customers:

Electronic inspections

Prompt, thorough, and consistent results

In-system communication tools

Everyone on your tech team will use the same system



Exception report alerts are sent directly to your or your team's devices

Real-time estimate updates

Reports and alerts can improve management techniques

Transparent reporting so you can track your progress

AutoPoint gathers info from 100 million repair orders

Photo capability to take images of the customer's actual vehicle to support service recommendations

Photo support for service recommendations and generate upsells

Dealer Benefits

Parts catalog integration



Accurate estimates every time

"Dealerships can increase revenue, boost margins, and better engage and retain customers with AutoPoint's service center solution because of this integration. AutoPoint MPI product streamlines the service journey, helping the shop run smarter, faster, and better  all while elevating the customer experience." - Saunvit Pandya, Vice President of Vehicle Solutions, Solera.

This announcement is another reason for dealers to reconsider their current DMS relationship and consider what VUE DMS can offer. To learn more about VUE DMS and future integrations, visit DominionDMS.com .

About Dominion DMS:

Dominion DMS partners with automotive dealers to offer modern solutions in an ever-evolving landscape. Dominion DMS introduced VUE DMS, a cloud-native dealer management system that gives US-based franchised automotive dealers the digital security, flexibility, and efficiency to meet today's rapidly changing market. Built on Microsoft Azure Cloud by a team with decades of experience serving dealerships, VUE DMS enables dealers to deliver seamless customer interactions, reduce costs and protect their business. Through its robust suite of certified SecureVUE APIs, VUE DMS provides technology partners with the access and workflows they need to satisfy our common customers, the dealers. Consider Dominion DMS today. For more information, visit our website , and like us on Facebook , LinkedIn , and YouTube .

About AutoPoint:

AutoPoint's dealership and service center software transform the vehicle ownership experience, bringing together every service necessary for providing unmatched automotive customer service. These industry-leading tools empower dealerships and OEMs with a robust technology platform that demystifies sales and customer retention.

AutoPoint's powerful software suite contains every tool dealerships and OEMs need to promote sales, launch effective digital and email marketing campaigns, provide maintenance support, supply proper documentation, and increase customer retention. This comprehensive software solution supports you every step of the way so that you can ensure top-notch customer satisfaction.

About Solera:

Solera is the global leader in vehicle lifecycle management software-as-a-service, data, and services. Through four lines of business  vehicle claims, vehicle repairs, vehicle solutions, and fleet solutions  Solera is home to many leading brands in the vehicle lifecycle ecosystem, including Identifix, Audatex, DealerSocket, Omnitracs, LoJack, Spireon, eDriving/Mentor, Explore, cap hpi, Autodata, and others. Solera empowers its customers to succeed in the digital age by providing them with a "one-stop shop" solution that streamlines operations, offers data- driven analytics, and enhances customer engagement, which Solera believes helps customers drive sales, promote customer retention, and improve profit margins. Solera serves over 300,000 global customers and partners in 100+ countries. For more information, visit www.solera.com.

MEDIA RELATIONS:

Scott Smith

Product & Content Marketing Manager

Dominion DMS

[email protected]

Priti Sharma

Solera

[email protected]

SOURCE Dominion DMS
Qualifying customers can receive up to $300 annually toward their energy bill

Customers struggling to pay bills encouraged to apply for Indiana LIHEAP assistance

PLAINFIELD, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is dedicating an additional $200,000 in financial assistance to its Indiana customers who may be struggling to pay their energy bills. Qualifying Duke Energy customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually.

Year-to-date, Duke Energy has aided nearly 1,700 Indiana households with more than $378,000 in energy bill assistance through its Share the Light Fund.

Duke Energy works in partnership with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute assistance funds. Customers should contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible. A list of Indiana community action agencies by county can be found at www.incap.org/energy-assistance.

"We know that our customers are facing rising costs for necessities, from groceries and transportation to their electric bill, which has risen due to escalating fuel costs to produce electricity," said Duke Energy Indiana President Stan Pinegar. "We've found that more of our customers could take advantage of the resources available to them, and we want to connect them to help."

The company also is encouraging customers who may be struggling to apply to the Indiana Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federally funded program is administered through statewide community action agencies and assists qualifying individuals with their energy bills. The application period opened Oct. 3.

"We expect that with the rising cost of natural gas and heating oil, as well as the challenging economy, the number of families in need of energy assistance will increase again this year. We are proud to partner with our local service providers to administer the Energy Assistance Program to help Hoosiers with these costs," said Jacob Sipe, executive director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

Hoosiers should contact their local service provider to apply for LIHEAP. A list of service providers and more information can be found at eap.ihcda.in.gov.

Duke Energy also offers a number of tools and resources to help customers manage their bills, control their energy use and save money, including:

Budget Billing: Budget Billing lets customers pay one predictable amount every month to better manage their budget. The amount is periodically reviewed and adjusted.

Pick Your Due Date: Customers can choose the date they want their Duke Energy bill to be due each month to align with a date that works for them.

Installment plans: Duke Energy recently extended interest-free payment plans from three to six months for eligible Indiana customers. Customers can request a few extra days or restructure a past-due balance into a monthly payment plan. Customers should contact Duke Energy at 800.521.2232 to discuss options available to them.

Usage alerts: Customers can sign-up for emails and/or texts halfway through a billing cycle, well before a bill arrives, with their current usage amount and a projection of what their final monthly bill could be.

Budget alerts: Customers can also set alerts, so they know when their bill reaches a specific dollar amount of their choosing, allowing them to adjust their usage before their bill arrives.

To learn more about these programs and others, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 870,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.

Contact: Angeline Protogere

24-Hour: 888.559.3853

SOURCE Duke Energy
Event will expose 500 high school girls to STEM opportunities

YPSILANTI, Mich., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eastern Michigan University's Digital Divas program will host its 12th annual high school conference on Friday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. at EMU's Student Center Ballroom, located at 900 Oakwood Street in Ypsilanti. The event will provide invaluable insight into STEM careers and opportunities for young women.

EMU Digital Divas

During the program, participants will tour EMU classrooms, labs, and learning spaces and receive a full tour of Eastern's campus. Students can also expect hands-on breakout sessions led by professional women in STEM from companies such as Cisco, La-Z-Boy, Domino's, Code 313, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the Washtenaw Area Council for Children, among others. Guests will also enjoy an exclusive fashion show by Detroit clothing brand, Nerdy Gangsta.

"The layout for the conference will allow young girls to learn, network, and experience EMU's STEM culture, in addition to meeting women in corporate companies who specialize in the STEM profession," said Bia Hamed, EMU's director of K-12 STEM outreach and Digital Divas program director.

The doors open at 8 a.m., and the main program will begin at 9:15 a.m., with remarks from two keynote guest speakers, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and brand storyteller, marketer, and technical writer for Industrial Manufacturers, Meaghan Ziemba.

The Digital Divas conference was founded in 2011 by Gerald "Skip" Lawver, former professor for the College of Technology, to connect young women to opportunities in the fast-growing technology and computer science fields. This year's conference will include 500 high school girls from Southeast Michigan, EMU faculty, students, and staff as well as local company volunteers to help build the pipeline of creating more women in STEM majors and careers.

To learn more about the Digital Divas 12th annual high school conference, visit the conference website to learn more.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University's rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.

SOURCE Eastern Michigan University
Minister Herman Halushchenko speaks with S&P Global Commodity Insights Senior Vice President, Amb. Carlos Pascual for a new edition of CERAWeek Conversations  available at https://ondemand.ceraweek.com/cwc

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have destroyed more than 30% of the country's power generation capacity. In an exclusive interview for CERAWeek Conversations, Ukraine's minister of energy, Herman Halushchenko makes real the impact on Ukraine's people and the economyand how Ukraine seeks to rebuild.

In a conversation with Amb. Carlos Pascual, senior vice president for global energy and international affairs, S&P Global Commodity Insights and a former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Minister Halushchenko details the various dimensions of the war's impact on Ukraine's energy systems and the country's response to Russian attempts to weaponize energy to its strategic advantage.

The wide-ranging discussion covered:

Aerial attacks on Ukraine's power-generation facilities:

A combination of Iranian-supplied drones, aircraft attacks originating from Russian and Belarusian territory, and missile launches from Russia's Black Sea fleet have been targeting Ukraine's thermal generation facilities in central and western Ukraine, Minister Halushchenko notes.

"One of the goals which we see in this massive shelling is [Russia] wants to split our energy system into different areas," he said. "The idea [is] that when they split the systemor if they doit's easier to damage during the wintertime."

Gas flows through Ukraine:

Approximately 40-45 mmcm/d of Russian gas are currently still flowing through Ukraine, levels that are well below contracted amounts. Minister Halushchenko says that it is indicative of how gas has been used as a measure to pressure European countries to break their solidarity with Ukraine and with each other. He notes that when the war started, Russia dramatically increased the volumes of gas transited through Ukraine to maximum levelsa move designed to curry European support, he says. However, when support for Ukraine held Russia responded by decreasing flows to minimum levels. Ukraine, he projects, will need to import gas from December through March.

Ukraine's gas storage systems:

Ukraine operates one of the largest underground storage systems for natural gas in the world. That storage infrastructure has largely been unscathed by Russian attacks. As Europe prepares for winter, Minister Halushchenko says that Ukraine's storage system can play a role in bolstering energy security across the continent.

"[Our storage infrastructure is] quite secure," he says. "Any attempts to hit this infrastructure have failed. It's very difficult to reach."

"We welcome any foreign companies to store gas in our storages. It's important for us to maintain the system. [It is a] good business opportunity for companies to have this gas and then to sell it during the heating season when the price is high. The price of storage in Ukraine is very cheap compared to the storages in Europe."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant:

Europe's largest nuclear power facility has been at the center of ongoing shelling for months. Minister Halushchenko provides an operational status report of the plant and details the human toll being exacted on the Ukrainian engineers who oversee day-to-day operations.

"Russia is trying to push our staff to agree to work for [them]...," Minister Halushchenko said. "The people are under pressure. [They are] exhausted physically but they are responsible for nuclear safety."

The conversation with Minister Halushchenko also details the status of energy supplies for Ukraine's agribusiness sector and the success of its recent efforts to synchronize the country's power grid with European Union power markets, which he said was an important shield against possible terrorist attacks on the Ukrainian power grid. That synchronization also gave Ukraine the ability to trade electricity with the European Union. Cutting off electricity exports is another motivation for the Russian shelling of energy infrastructure, he said.

The complete video is available at: https://ondemand.ceraweek.com/cwc

Podcast version available: CERAWeek Conversations is also available via audio podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and Stitcher.

About CERAWeek Conversations:

CERAWeek Conversations features original interviews and discussion with energy industry leaders, government officials and policymakers, leaders from the technology, financial and industrial communitiesand energy technology innovators.

The series is produced by the team responsible for the world's preeminent energy conference, CERAWeek by S&P Global.

Media Contacts:

S&P Global: Jeff Marn +1-202-463-8213, [email protected]

About S&P Global

S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides essential intelligence. We enable governments, businesses and individuals with the right data, expertise and connected technology so that they can make decisions with conviction. From helping our customers assess new investments to guiding them through ESG and energy transition across supply chains, we unlock new opportunities, solve challenges and accelerate progress for the world.

We are widely sought after by many of the world's leading organizations to provide credit ratings, benchmarks, analytics and workflow solutions in the global capital, commodity and automotive markets. With every one of our offerings, we help the world's leading organizations plan for tomorrow, today. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com.

SOURCE S&P Global
The Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program was launched this summer as an extension of the high-quality protein brand's second-annual Honoring the Heartland Tour. To demonstrate its continued commitment to partners in the industry, Farmland embarked on year two of its food truck tour to show appreciation to hardworking farming communities with grab-and-go meals, invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders, and support neighborhoods rooted in the Midwest through protein-rich food donations.

During the truck tour, Farmland served over 7,500 community meals to Heartland residents, donated $150,000 to FFA at the national and state-level, and provided more than 245,000 servings of protein to benefit Heartland neighborhoods. Farmland also teamed up with the National Pork Board and Luke Bryan's Farm Tour to supply truckloads of protein to local food banks in Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota, bringing the product donation total for this year's tour to an estimated one million servings of protein.

Over the past months, Farmland witnessed firsthand the extraordinary efforts of invaluable individuals and organizations working in farming and agriculture across the heartland, from local retailers to regional food banks and state fairs, said Jessica Scarlett, senior associate brand manager for Farmland. Were proud to further our commitment to the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts by providing $1,000 grants to 20 students rooted in the Midwest. Were inspired by the hard work and heart exemplified from this years grant recipients and excited to see what comes next.

Were constantly proud of the dedication of our talented FFA members and the enthusiasm they bring each and every day, said Molly Ball, president for the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer for the National FFA Organization. This generous donation will equip our students with much-needed resources so that they can stay focused on achieving their ambitions and making a valuable impact within the industry. We extend our sincerest gratitude to the team at Farmland for helping make this possible.

For more information, follow Farmland on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @FarmlandFoods and visit www.farmlandfoods.com.

About Farmland

Founded in 1959, Farmland is the maker of high-quality, flavorful meats. Rooted in rich traditions of America's heartland, Farmland is committed to a strong work ethic, community, substance over flash, and wholesome, quality food that people feel good about serving. Farmland's robust portfolio of products includes varieties of bacon, sausage, ham and lunch meat. For more information about our products and recipe inspiration, please visit www.FarmlandFoods.com or follow us on Facebook (@FarmlandFoods), Instagram (@farmlandfoods) or Twitter (@FarmlandFoods). Farmland is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About National FFA Organization

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation

The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. A separately registered nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes the national FFA president, educators, business leaders and individual donors. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.

SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.
The Leading Sign, Graphics and Visual Communications Franchise Makes the 2022 List at #4 out of 150

CARROLLTON, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise in the nation, has been ranked 4th on Entrepreneur magazine's 2022 list of Top Franchises for Veterans. This is the fifth consecutive year FASTSIGNS has been recognized in the top 10 and the sixth year the brand has been included on this list, which highlights a wide variety of franchises that provide advantageous opportunities for veterans.

Entrepreneur magazine's Top Franchises for Veterans list ranks the top 150 franchises that offer incentives and other programs to help veterans become franchisees. FASTSIGNS, which is already associated with low start-up costs, provides veteran-friendly financing options including 50% off the initial franchise fee for veterans and first responders as well as reduced royalties for the first 12 months of business.

"FASTSIGNS is proud to support and provide opportunities for our nation's veterans, and the continued recognition on Entrepreneur's Top Franchises for Veterans list is a testament to our success," said Mark Jameson, Chief Support and Development Officer at Propelled Brands. "Veterans are some of the most qualified and ideal candidates for franchise business ownership, with the drive, work ethic and integrity needed to run a successful business. We have consistently seen those who have served thrive as business owners with our brand's support behind them, and we look forward to helping more veterans achieve their goals as FASTSIGNS continues to grow."

To develop the list of the Top Franchises for Veterans, Entrepreneur invited hundreds of companies to take part in a survey that requested information regarding each company's veteran programs. Such information included the company's veteran incentives and how veteran franchisees are attracted to and supported by the company, as well as how each company scored in the 2022 Franchise 500 list.

"Veterans have good discipline and the ability to look for solutions, which provides a leg-up working within a structured franchise system," said Navy veteran Daniel Nichols, who owns a FASTSIGNS in The Woodlands, TX.

To date, FASTSIGNS operates more than 760 locations in 46 states and eight countries. Of these FASTSIGNS franchisees, around 14% are veterans.

To view FASTSIGNS in the full Entrepreneur magazine Top Franchises for Veterans list, visit https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/topfranchiseveterans. Results can also be seen in the October/November issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or 214-346-5679).

For more information about owning a FASTSIGNS franchise, visit https://www.fastsigns.com.

About FASTSIGNS

FASTSIGNS is a leading national visual ideas company that creates a wide variety of comprehensive sign and graphics solutions. With over 35 years of experience, FASTSIGNS helps you achieve more than you ever thought possible. We are the worldwide franchisor of more than 760 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers. FASTSIGNS locations span across the United States, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS is frequently recognized for franchisee satisfaction and through franchising awards which include being ranked #1 on Entrepreneur's Highly Competitive Franchise 500 List For The Sixth Consecutive Year for 2022 as well as being named a 2022 Best-in-Category Franchise by Franchise Business Review.

In 2021, Propelled Brands was formed, and is now the multi-brand franchisor for FASTSIGNS, NerdsToGo, MY SALON Suite and Salon Plaza brands.

To learn more visit fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns, Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson ([email protected] or call 214.346.5679).

SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The American classical music publisher, G. Schirmer, Inc. (part of Wise Music Group) has signed an historic agreement with the Exilarte Center for Banned Music in Vienna, Austria, the world's leading center for the restoration, preservation and publication of composers banned by the Nazis during World War II.

G. Schirmer and Exilarte will make available more than 400 musical works  over 300 songs, 100 chamber music works, 50 orchestral works, several vocal and stage works, and numerous film scores, all of which have yet to be published. G. Schirmer will act as the publisher for all works restored by Exilarte and, via Wise Music Group's foundation, will provide continued financial support to Exilarte to guarantee the continued restoration, preservation, and publication of composers' works banned during the 1930s and 1940s.

Robert Thompson, president of G. Schirmer/Wise Music, says, "The agreement between Exilarte and G. Schirmer will ensure that these composers who were silenced during World War II are not forgotten, their legacies restored, and their musical works brought to the public for the first time in performances and recordings."

Dr. Gerold Gruber, Exilarte founder and chairman of the Exilarte Center, says, "The Nazis wanted a world in which the music of Jewish composers would have been banned and forgotten. It is therefore our obligation to counteract these policies by rescuing the music of exiled composers from oblivion. The cooperation between Exilarte and Schirmer/Wise is of incredible value for future generations."

Founded in 2006 as an association to address the preservation of music that had been suppressed by the Nazi regime  largely written by Jewish composers who were targeted by the Third Reich's genocidal anti-Semitic policies  Exilarte in 2016 became a fully accredited research center and archive based on the historic campus of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Exilarte's senior researcher is Dr. Michael Haas  the Grammy Award-winning classical music producer and author of Forbidden Music: The Jewish Composers Banned by the Nazis (Yale University Press).

G. Schirmer, Inc. is the oldest continuously active North American music publisher, founded in 1861. For more information visit www.exilarte.org and www.wisemusicclassical.com

SOURCE Wise Music Group
With a 15-year career in creating solutions and driving growth for clients at Google and Microsoft, Natasha Berney will usher GlassView into its next phase of expansion

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GlassView, the world's largest independent video advertising distribution platform, today announced the appointment of Natasha Berney as Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Berney will be responsible for leading GlassView's sales strategy domestically and internationally to drive revenue and deepen relationships with the company's clients, which includes 80 Fortune 100 brands. She will report to James Brooks, Founder and CEO at GlassView.

Berney brings more than 15 years of experience developing high-performing sales teams and leading initiatives to enhance organizational performance. Most recently, she held the role of Head of Industry, Retail and Global Business Solutions, International Growth at Google, with a multi-billion book of advertising business. During her seven-year tenure at Google, she established new lines of specialty business at Google, which continued to perform in consecutive years.

"Natasha brings an impressive level of experience in leading sales strategies and international teams, and we're ecstatic for her to join us as our Chief Growth Officer," said James Brooks, CEO and Founder of GlassView. "To have an all-star of this magnitude join our team is a testament to the hard work and growth GlassView has accomplished over the past few years, and we're thrilled to have her on board to help guide us through our next chapter of global expansion."

Prior to Google, Natasha spent nearly 10 years at Microsoft, overseeing brand partnerships, while also building the company's sales teams. Additionally, she developed outsource team models including scope of work and capacity planning and served as hiring manager for over 100 roles for Microsoft and Google. She received her master's in management from Harvard University.

"Brand market share is in more flux today than ever before, necessitating intelligent marketing strategies and activation," said Natasha Berney, Chief Growth Officer. "GlassView has proved itself as a high-performing vehicle to drive brand growth and defend market share. The amount of opportunity for customers is tremendous, and I cannot wait to see how brands lean into our unique offering."

About GlassView

GlassView's mission is to drive performance through video advertising. We work with over 80 of the top Fortune 100 Global Brands, offering access to over 2.6 billion unique users worldwide, and over 280 million unique users in the United States, reaching 98% of the connected country.

Through emotion-based targeting and optimization, high frequency trading (SmartGamma) & delivery across connected devices, GlassView is best known for its performance.

Leadership includes Renaud Dutreil, former Chairman of LVMH North America, who previously held several ministerial positions in the highest levels of French Government; Conde Nast former Executive Stephanie Newhouse; Yann Coatanlem, former Global Head of Multi Asset Quantitative Analytics at Citigroup, David Gerbitz, former COO of Pandora; Chien Chung (Didi) Pei, chairman of the China Institute and partner in the legendary Pei Partnership Architects; Beauty and Well Being Founder & Editor Clemence von Mueffling; Jim Porcarelli, Co-founder of MediaCom North America; CBS Revenue & Operations Executive Director Dennis Colon; Candy Pratts Price, previously Creative Director for Vogue.com.

Launched in 2014, GlassView has headquarters in Dallas, with offices in New York City, Tokyo, Singapore, London, and Paris, among other locations.

For more information on GlassView, please visit www.glassview.com.

SOURCE GlassView
DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Xenon Lights Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global xenon lights market size reached US$ 3.0 Billion in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 3.6 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.09% 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. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor.

Xenon lights use a xenon gas-charged and sealed system to produce clean, white and bright light. Also known as high-intensity discharge (HID) lights, they offer high light output, consume low energy, emit less heat and have a longer service life. Xenon bulbs burn relatively more brightly than the glowing filament design bulbs, which helps to improve visibility. Moreover, these lights are cost-effective as compared to their counterparts like other halogen and LED lights. As a result, they are widely used in searchlights, projectors and to simulate natural sunlight for specialized applications across industries and research institutes.

Growing applications of xenon lights across various industries are influencing the growth of the market. These lights are extensively used in the automotive industry to enhance the design and appearance of modern cars. They also assist in improving visibility and indicating the position of other vehicles while driving. Moreover, design-oriented driving enthusiasts use xenon lights to customize the underbody and interior of their cars.

The increasing production of vehicles on account of the rising global population is contributing to the market growth. Apart from this, xenon lights are used in interior lighting designs owing to the growing trend of ambient lighting. Some of the other factors contributing to the market growth are inflating income levels, changing living standards and rising purchasing power.

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the market has also been analyzed with the detailed profiles of the key player operating in the market.

Some of the key players include:

Osram

General Electric

Philips

Stanley Electric

Hella

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

How has the global xenon lights market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global xenon lights market?

What are the key regions in the global xenon lights market?

What are the major application segments in the global xenon lights market?

What are the various stages in the value chain of the global xenon lights market?

What are the key driving factors and challenges in the global xenon lights market?

What is the structure of the global xenon lights market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the global xenon lights market?

How are xenon lights manufactured?

Key Topics Covered:

1 Preface

2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Properties

4.3 Key Industry Trends

5 Global Xenon Lights Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Breakup by Application

5.5 Market Breakup by Region

5.6 Market Forecast

5.7 SWOT Analysis

5.7.1 Overview

5.7.2 Strengths

5.7.3 Weaknesses

5.7.4 Opportunities

5.7.5 Threats

5.8 Value Chain Analysis

5.8.1 Overview

5.8.2 Research and Development

5.8.3 Raw Material Procurement

5.8.4 Manufacturing

5.8.5 Marketing

5.8.6 Distribution

5.8.7 End-Use

5.9 Porters Five Forces Analysis

5.9.1 Overview

5.9.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

5.9.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

5.9.4 Degree of Competition

5.9.5 Threat of New Entrants

5.9.6 Threat of Substitutes

6 Market Breakup by Application

6.1 Automotive Headlights

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Theatre and Movie Projectors

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Interior Lighting

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

6.4 Others

6.4.1 Market Trends

6.4.2 Market Forecast

7 Market Breakup by Region

8 Xenon Lights Manufacturing Process

8.1 Product Overview

8.2 Raw Material Requirements

8.3 Manufacturing Process

8.4 Key Success and Risk Factors

9 Competitive Landscape

9.1 Market Structure

9.2 Key Players

9.3 Profiles of Key Players

9.3.1 Osram

9.3.1.1 Company Overview

9.3.1.2 Description

9.3.1.3 Product Portfolio

9.3.1.4 Financials

9.3.2 General Electric

9.3.2.1 Company Overview

9.3.2.2 Description

9.3.2.3 Product Portfolio

9.3.2.4 Financials

9.3.2.5 SWOT Analysis

9.3.3 Philips

9.3.3.1 Company Overview

9.3.3.2 Description

9.3.3.3 Product Portfolio

9.3.3.4 Financials

9.3.3.5 SWOT Analysis

9.3.4 Stanley Electric

9.3.4.1 Company Overview

9.3.4.2 Description

9.3.4.3 Product Portfolio

9.3.4.4 Financials

9.3.5 Hella

9.3.5.1 Company Overview

9.3.5.2 Description

9.3.5.3 Product Portfolio

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/aw6ts7

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

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SOURCE Research and Markets
CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Great Lakes Dental Partners ("GLDP") is excited to announce the addition of Rochester Dental Center in Indiana to its network of affiliated practices, growing its reach in the Midwest.

GLDP, a Shore Capital Partners portfolio company, provides practice management services to 35+ partner locations. GLDP provides best-in-class support in operations, recruiting, technology, marketing, and collaboration among clinicians.

Rochester Dental Center was founded in 2000 by David Barts, DDS, and later acquired by his daughter, Caitlin Rich, DDS. For more than 20 years, Rochester Dental Center has provided area residents with multi-specialty dental care while supporting local community causes. "It's important to me to partner with a DSO that will provide me with the resources and support needed to take my father's vision for Rochester Dental to the next level, says Dr. Caitlin Rich.

"Rochester Dental has a rich history and is well rooted in the community," said Jeff McCall, CEO of Great Lakes Dental Partners. This is another great partnership in Indiana, and we'll continue to look for similarly impressive partners that embody our mission and values of extraordinary dental care, community, and servant leadership," said Jeff McCall on the new affiliation and the company's plans for expansion.

GLDP is actively seeking dental office partnerships in the Midwest and is backed by Shore Capital Partners. Ideal affiliation opportunities include owner doctors who want to partner with functional experts to grow their practices.

About Great Lakes Dental Partners

Great Lakes Dental Partners is a dental support organization (DSO) committed to offering dentists and dental specialists the opportunity to focus on the clinical aspects of dentistry, providing exceptional care for every patient.

With a centrally located support center, operational best practices, access to the latest dental technology, and a best-in-class continuing education program, GLDP is dedicated to advancing dental healthcare in the Midwest.

For more information and a list of clinic locations, visit www.greatlakesdentalpartners.com . GLDP is actively seeking new partnerships in the Midwest. Those interested in affiliation opportunities should contact Jordan Dods at [email protected].

About Shore Capital Partners

Shore Capital Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on microcap healthcare and food & beverage investments. Shore supports management partners with capital, business development expertise, and industry knowledge to accelerate growth, fund acquisitions, and generate value to shareholders. Shore targets investments in proven, successful private companies with superior management teams, stable cash flow, and significant growth potential, including organic and growth through industry consolidation. More information visit www.shorecp.com .

SOURCE Great Lakes Dental Partners
HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Greentown Labs , the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, today launched the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E) , a first-of-a-kind collaboration among Greentown Labs, MIT's Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship , and universities across Texas to create a powerful student-driven entrepreneurship ecosystem in Houston, focused on energy innovation and implementing lessons learned from building a successful ecosystem in the Greater Boston Area.

"Houston has long been known as the energy capital of the world, but to lead the world's energy transition, the city must create a strong, vibrant innovation ecosystem to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and energy companies," said Lara Cottingham, Chief of Staff at Greentown Labs. "TEX-E will build upon Texas universities' deep and long-standing connections to the energy industry by helping to attract and retain the world-class talent needed to supercharge Houston's innovation ecosystem."

Greentown Labs, MIT, Texas Universities Reveal New Student Entrepreneurship Program Focused on Energy Innovation Tweet this

TEX-E's mission is to train and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to lead the energy transition and to share in the massive economic opportunity it entails, while also addressing the existential threat of climate change. As part of the program, participating students have access to mentorship with Greentown Labs' climatetech entrepreneurs, networking events, career opportunities, and cross-learning with MIT, including the TEX-E energy ventures short course that was held at Greentown Labs Houston this fall.

"The Boston area and Houston might seem like an odd pairing, but they complement one another beautifully," said Ben Soltoff, Ecosystem Builder and Entrepreneur In Residence at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. "Boston has a strong community-driven ecosystem around climate innovation, including MIT's pioneering Climate and Energy Ventures Course in Cambridge, which has spawned over 30 companies. But often when MIT startups need to scale up, they look towards Texas, where they can find talent, space, and industry knowhow in spades. Together, these two regions are unstoppable."

The partnership spanning two of the United States' great citiesHouston and Bostonwill have benefits that extend far beyond the boundaries of university campuses. In Houston, it will help ensure that the city remains an economic leader as the future of the energy industry evolves. In Boston, innovation from universities will find fertile ground to scale in partnership with energy industry leaders. Nationally and globally, this partnership will accelerate efforts toward solving a massive, generational challenge.

The founding institutions of TEX-E are Rice University , Texas A&M University , Prairie View A&M University , University of Houston , and The University of Texas at Austin . Over time, the collaboration may expand to include other universities.

Interested students and university representatives are encouraged to sign up for the TEX-E newsletter and attend an upcoming event.

"Like our state of Texas and city of Austin, The University of Texas at Austin has always been deeply committed to entrepreneurship, developing marketable and innovative solutions for societal challenges, and harnessing students' creative potential through practical experiences," said UT Austin President Jay Hartzell. "This collaboration is a perfect fit for UT's Energy Institute and the Cockrell School of Engineering, along with Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center. As part of the TEX-E ecosystem, they will offer our students yet another opportunity for both mentorship and impact around energy innovation."

"At Texas A&M, we are committed to providing a transformative education that prepares today's students for tomorrow's world," said M. Katherine Banks, President of Texas A&M University. "We are proud to be part of this collaboration and are confident that by providing this hands-on learning opportunity to student entrepreneurs, great things will happen."

"Rice University is extremely excited to be part of this important initiative," said Yael Hochberg, Head of Rice Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. "MIT Trust Center has been a leader in this space for years, and the collaboration between our Texas universities and their experience and knowledge is a tremendous opportunity to help Texas lead the way in the energy transition space."

"The TEX-E collaboration will provide valuable opportunities to our students, and Houston is a natural location to create such an ecosystem," said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president for energy and innovation at the University of Houston. "Training new talent and supporting their pursuit of innovative ideas are vital in addressing the growing global need for affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable energy."

"Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) is enthusiastic about the partnership with Greentown Labs through the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E) initiative," said Magesh Rajan, Vice President of Research and Innovation. "PVAMU is committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within its campus and the region surrounding it. The PVAMU students interested in starting new ventures for the energy transition, entrepreneurship, and climate action will greatly benefit through this initiative."

About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a community of climate action pioneers working to design a more sustainable world. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown Labs brings together startups, corporates, investors, policymakers, and many others with a focus on scaling climate solutions. Driven by the mission of providing startups the resources, knowledge, connections, and equipment they need to thrive, Greentown Labs offers lab space, shared office space, a machine shop, an electronics lab, software and business resources, and a large network of corporate customers, investors, and more. With incubators in Somerville, Mass. and Houston, TX, Greentown Labs is home to more than 200 startups and has supported more than 450 startups since the incubator's founding in 2011. These startups have collectively created more than 8,400 jobs and have raised more than $2.2 billion in funding. For more information, please visit www.greentownlabs.com or Twitter , Facebook , and LinkedIn .

Greentown Labs Media Contact:

Julia Travaglini

[email protected]

888.954.6836 ext. 1

SOURCE Greentown Labs
SHANGHAI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Chinese securities company Guotai Junan Securities (Guotai Junan) and the global consulting firm Boston Consulting Group (BCG) on Monday jointly released a white paper on "open securities" for 2022, aiming to promote construction of an open securities ecosystem.

"Open securities" is a development concept initiated by Guotai Junan in 2020. It emphasizes platform- and ecology-oriented growth through opening of mindset, business and technologies to boost capacity integration and build a community of values.

To be more specific, in an open securities ecosystem, participants in the capital market, after refining and opening their core capabilities and offerings, will carry out cross-industry collaboration in business scenario integration, data sharing, technology complementation, thus creating new customer experience and enhancing business value, according to Yu Feng, chief information officer of Guotai Junan.

The white paper on open securities for 2022 elaborates the significance of open securities for capital market construction, customer demand satisfaction, as well as industry development and prosperity. It also summarizes pioneering practices of domestic and foreign institutions in strengthening service capabilities, expanding business boundaries and promoting industrial connectivity.

To boost the opening and development of securities sector, a key path for securities brokers to implement the concept of "open securities", and suggestions for securities firms, financial institutions and technology companies to engage in open cooperation are also included in the white paper.

Over the past two years, Guotai Junan has made progress in practicing the "open securities" concept by initiating an open finance alliance, launching open products such as smart trading system (STS) and OTC financial cloud system, setting up a financial technology lab and working with securities exchanges to build industrial cloud chain infrastructure, said He Qing, chairman of Guotai Junan.

"Open securities" will become a backbone force to propel the transformation and groundbreaking performance of China's securities industry, which is facing new opportunities and challenges, said Hans-Paul Burkner, global chair emeritus of BCG, adding that he hoped to take advantage of the release of the white paper to promote more open cooperation in the securities sector and cross-industry collaboration.

SOURCE Guotai Junan Securities
HemoSystem improves patient outcomes while shortening the length of stay in intensive care units,

reducing the sepsis burden for patients, hospitals, and healthcare systems.

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Frost & Sullivan assessed the blood purification technology industry and, based on its findings, recognizes hemotune with the 2022 Europe Technology Innovation Leadership Award. The company developed a therapeutic blood purification platform to improve health outcomes and save patients' lives. The innovative medical device company provides ground-breaking blood purification technology based on magnetic beads, which uniquely removes large biomolecule targets with extremely high selectivity and efficiency. The system will be first used to treat sepsis, a severe life-threatening condition linked to 20% of all deaths and rising healthcare costs according to hemotune. Its solution focuses on the immunological aspects of sepsis, tackling multiple disease pathways while restoring immune balance.

hemotune

HemoSystem, a multi-target precision medicine blood purification solution based on magnetic beads, treats life-threatening diseases like sepsis. As in dialysis or hemoperfusion, blood is pumped outside the body in a dedicated device (HemoDevice) with a single-use disposable kit containing tubing and all blood-contacting parts (HemoDisposable). Instead of purifying the blood with a dialysis filter or hemoperfusion cartridge, the platform injects magnetic beads (HemoSorbent) into the extracorporeal circuit. The magnetic beads are coated with a polymer to avoid unwanted adsorption and equipped with specific binding agents, such as antibodies, on the surface to capture the desired targets.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Research Industry Analyst, Ashish Kaul, noted, "hemotune refined its holistic approach to blood purification based on leading-edge nanotechnology, continuously evolving its revolutionary technology to bridge industry gaps. Using specific antibody binders, its unique purification technology based on magnetic beads removes large biomolecule targets, such as bacterial toxins, antibodies, and cytokinesis."

HemoSystem's beads freely flow with the blood and selectively bind to the target compounds, tagging them magnetically. Before returning the blood to the patient, beads and bound targets are efficiently removed via a magnetic filter in the device. Depending on the target, HemoSystem ensures over 95% target removal in a single pass through the device. A mixture of different beads with different binding agents enables multi-target strategies. hemotune's strong intellectual property portfolio, worldwide exclusive licenses on a magnetic core, chemical functionalization and binding agents, and patents on device assembly and treatment strategy for sepsis safeguard its pioneering technology, adding value relative to its growth potential, thus securing a competitive advantage.

"hemotune's goal is to address both mortality and cost challenges associated with sepsis treatment. The company stands out from competitors based on its commitment to innovation and creativity while being in a prime position to achieve commercial success," observed Pavel Zhebrouski, a Best Practices Research Analyst for Frost & Sullivan. With its strong overall performance, hemotune earns Frost & Sullivan's 2022 Europe Technology Innovation Leadership Award in the blood purification technology market.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that develops a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in various regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analyses, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Lindsey Whitaker

P: 1.210.477.8457

E: [email protected]

About hemotune

hemotune is a MedTech start-up based in Schlieren, Switzerland, developing a revolutionary blood purification platform. This combines cutting-edge scientific results from biomedicine and nanotechnology to develop the HemoSystem, a new treatment platform that combines the benefits of medical devices and biotechnology. The company, which was founded in 2017 as a spin-off of the ETH Zurich was accelerated by Wyss Zurich and supported by Venture Kick, Gebert Ruf Foundation, Innosuisse, H2020 and EIT Health. In addition, the company has won several prestigious awards such as the Swiss Technology Award 2020, was recognized by Forbes magazine as No.1 Spin-off to watch in 2021, won a German Innovation Award 2022, was a finalist of the Swiss Economic Award 2022 and won a Red Dot Desing Conept Award 2022 for the HemoSystem.

More information is available at www.hemotune.ch.

Contact:

Diane Luber

P: +41 77 512 36 98

E: [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930349/hemotune_Award.jpg

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan
BANGKOK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2022 (MBBF2022), Yang Chaobin, President of Huawei ICT Products & Solutions and Huawei Wireless Solution, releases One 5G concept and set of solutions designed to facilitate the evolution of all bands to 5G. "5G is in the fast lane," Mr. Yang said. "The future calls for the evolution of all bands to 5G. Huawei's All-Band 5G Solution series will help customers build 5G networks with optimal performance, ultimate experiences, and minimal energy consumption."

Yang Chaobin speaking at MBBF2022

5G has been commercialized for three years. It has developed rapidly in terms of network coverage, devices, and user scale. 5G delivers a more HD and immersive digital experience to consumers, and has accelerated digital transformation across industries. It has improved the way people work and the production efficiency of industries. In terms of 5G network construction, operators focused on TDD and mmWave development during the initial phase, but recently TDD+FDD convergence has been the choice for most operators.

Moving forward, all connections and services will evolve to 5G, and so will all bands. Huawei has developed the One 5G concept and solutions to maximize the capabilities of all bands, and facilitate in-depth coordination between bands, which lays the groundwork for the construction of efficient and cost-effective 5G networks.

MetaAAU with ELAA Improves TDD Uplink and Downlink Coverage While Reducing Energy Consumption

Combination of TDD high bandwidth and Massive MIMO has enabled cross-generation 5G experience. It is important to provide better coverage and higher capacity with lower energy consumption, which has inspired a series of new TDD Massive MIMO solutions.

Huawei's MetaAAU boosts performance and energy efficiency to new levels, by making use of extremely large antenna array (ELAA) technology, as well as innovative software and hardware coordination. MetaAAU has been deployed at scale around the world. It has been proven to boost uplink and downlink coverage and user experience, while consuming less energy.

Products with wider bandwidth will be a must-have for operators to fulfill new band allocation needs and simplify the ultra-wide bandwidth deployment. Huawei's new 800 MHz MetaAAU supports current deployment on C-Band and enables simplified deployment on future new spectrum.

For scenarios with limited antenna installation space, Huawei provides Meta BladeAAU, which combines Meta and Blade technologies in a unique way, to allow for easy deployment of MetaAAU and all sub-3GHz bands on a single pole, making it ideal for single-antenna scenarios.

Ultra-wideband and Multi-antenna Technologies Simplify Deployment with Fragmented FDD Spectrum and Improve Spectral Efficiency

Legacy FDD bands will continue to evolve to 5G. This process may meet challenges of the fragmented spectrum of narrow-band and co-existence of multi-RATs.

Huawei has been upgrading its ultra-wideband and multi-antenna solution series to help operators simplify deployment, improve spectral efficiency, and provide high-level user experience for all RATs.

Huawei's ultra-wideband 4T4R RRU supports simplified multi-band network deployment on 700900 MHz or 1.82.6/1.4 GHz, and millisecond-level power sharing across all carriers, bands, and RATs, which reduces power consumption while ensuring GU coverage.

Another Huawei product, ultra-wide band 8T8R RRU can increase 4G and 5G network capacity by 1.5 and 3 times, respectively. Together with the Hertz platform antenna which having built-in signal direct injection feeding (SDIF) technology, 8T8R RRU is able to reduce energy consumption.

For scenarios requiring a large capacity, Huawei provides FDD Massive MIMO AAU, which can increase 4G and 5G network capacity by 3 and 5 times, respectively, enhancing 4G and 5G performance. This product has been commercially deployed at scale on over 70 networks around the world.

For single-pole scenarios, Huawei provides the FDD BladeAAU solution, which is the industry's first to combine FDD Massive MIMO AAUs and sub-3 GHz passive antennas. It allows for simple deployment on one pole.

LampSite and RuralLink Solutions Enable Ubiquitous 5G

Considering that 70% of wireless network traffic comes from the indoor scenarios, Huawei has developed the LampSite 5.0 solution that features TDD+FDD multi-band and multi-RAT combination. Thanks to a highly-integrated design, LampSite 5.0 reduces hardware weight and volume while reducing power consumption. In addition, mmWave is introduced for the LampSite solution to deliver indoor 10 Gbps capacity based on ultra-wide bandwidth and distributed architecture.

Huawei has also launched the RuralLink solution that is designed for remote areas. With this solution, a single RRU and antenna are all that's needed to provide rural coverage for three sectors, and microwave fronthaul can save BBU deployment on the site. The inter-site distance between RuralLink site and host site is up to 20 km. With simplified design and ultra-low power consumption, only 6 solar panels are enough to power a single site and remote O&M is supported.

Innovative mmWave Solution Enables mmWave Commercial Deployment in Outdoor Hotspots and Indoor Scenarios

mmWave spectrum resources are abundant, and more than 140 operators have obtained access to the high-bandwidth spectrum. Outdoor hotspots and indoor environments are typical application scenarios of mmWave.

In outdoor hotspot scenarios, Huawei's mmWave solution makes use of iBeam and intelligent high- and low-band coordination algorithm to achieve precise beam alignment and fast tracking. Performance under continuous networking reveals that a continuous high user-perceived rate can be delivered in moving vehicles and indoor environments along streets.

In indoor scenarios, Huawei's LampSite 5.0, supporting 800 MHz mmWave, C-band, and the 1.8 GHz band, works with the distributed architecture, providing an ultra-large capacity of more than 10 Gbps. These new capabilities will also make indoor connections seamless while unlocking the full potential of mmWave.

IntelligentRAN Empowers Intelligent 5G Networks

As all bands evolve to 5G, intelligent networks are needed to support the requirements of diversified services, enhance multi-RAT O&M efficiency, and balance user experience and energy consumption. With layered intelligence architecture, Huawei's IntelligentRAN helps operators reduce network O&M costs, open network capabilities, and create more business opportunities.

The combination of One 5G all-band solutions and IntelligentRAN unlocks the full potential of all bands including TDD, FDD, and mmWave, and facilitates all-band coordination for better network performance and lower power consumption, following the principle: Bands Work As One and Networks Work As One.

"This is the best of times," concluded Mr. Yang. "5G is entering a new era. Let's continue 5G innovation with the goal of fulfilling the vision of reshaping the world with 5G, and stride towards the intelligent world."

The Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2022 is hosted by Huawei, together with its industry partners GSMA and GTI. This annual forum gathers mobile network carriers, vertical industry leaders, and ecosystem partners from around the world to discuss how to make 5G a commercial success, as well as other high-priority industry topics like green development, intelligence, and 5G evolution. For more information, please visit:

https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2022.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931498/Yang_Chaobin_speaking_MBBF2022.jpg

SOURCE HuaWei


Taipei 101 Tower, a landmark in Taipei, Taiwan, is seen in this photo. [Photo/VCG]

China firmly opposes the United States' recent actions which have "again and again violated its commitment" of not supporting "Taiwan independence", a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

"For some time, the US side has repeatedly interfered in China's internal affairs by playing 'Taiwan card' and even sent wrong signals by assisting Taiwan in 'rejecting unification by force'," Senior Colonel Tan Kefei of the Ministry of National Defense said, stressing those moves seriously harmed China's national sovereignty and security.

He made the remarks at a news conference in response to recent Taiwan media reports saying the US could announce multiple arms sales to the island.

Tan said egregious actions by the US side seriously threaten peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, posed a major strategic risk to relations between the two countries and militaries, and sent a grave signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

The spokesman outlined the commitments the US made in the August 17 Communique which was jointly issued by China and the US 40 years ago.

"In the communique, the US explicitly recognized there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government of China," he said. "The US explicitly committed not to pursue a long-term policy of selling arms to Taiwan and to gradually reduce arms sales to Taiwan until the issue is finally resolved."

However, Tan said, the United States has repeatedly reneged on its commitments.

"In recent years, in particular, the US has hollowed out the one-China principle, constantly instigated arms sales to Taiwan and created obstacles to China's peaceful reunification."

The official warned US arms sales to Taiwan would only increase tensions and the risk of conflict and confrontation across the Taiwan Straits, stressing that Taiwan's security depends on the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Tan urged the US to stop arms sales to Taiwan and military contacts with Taiwan, and not to make repeated mistakes on the Taiwan question, warning the People's Liberation Army is paying close attention to the situation across the Straits and would continue to take strong measures to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and security interests.
The plans aim to enhance local access and boost protection for all Angelenos

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- While the U.S. saw low levels of flu activity the past two years, many health experts are now projecting that a potentially severe flu season is due, in part, to relaxed pandemic safety measures  such as lifted mask mandates  and winter infection trends in Southern Hemisphere countries. To address those concerns, L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans' Community Resource Centers will offer members and the public free flu and COVID-19 vaccines at several upcoming clinics throughout Los Angeles County.

L.A. Care and Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plans' Community Resource Centers host free flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics in L.A. County.

The clinics  which are free and open to all  will take place from October 28 to November 15 at four of the health plans' 10 jointly operated centers in Lynwood, El Monte, Koreatown, and Inglewood. Individuals who receive a flu or COVID-19 vaccine at these clinics will receive gifts such as vouchers for turkeys or grocery gift cards, while supplies last.

"More than two years of face masking and social distancing helped keep the flu away, and with these safety measures now modified, we need to continue to do all that we can to reduce the risk of infection," said Richard Seidman, M.D., M.P.H., L.A. Care chief medical officer. "With highly effective flu and COVID-19 vaccines widely available, we must do our part to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors who may be more vulnerable to these two viruses."

This flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults 65 years and older get either the high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine to offer greater protection, given they are considered a more vulnerable group. Three of the four Resource Center-hosted vaccine clinics will have the high-dose formulation available for this age group.

"Blue Shield Promise Health Plan is encouraged that so many people have taken the necessary steps to stay safe against COVID-19 and the flu. However, we cannot let our guard down now. We must vigilantly continue to help protect our communities by offering protection against the flu and COVID-19 viruses as we approach the winter months," said James Cruz, M.D., Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan chief medical officer. "We are proud to bring free COVID-19 and flu vaccines to the L.A. County communities we serve and encourage everyone to get their vaccines to stay healthy."

The vaccine clinics will also give visitors a chance to see the variety of services offered at the L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise Community Resource Centers. The Resource Centers offer a range of free classes, programs, and services that aim to improve the health and well-being of members and local residents in their surrounding communities, which includes addressing social needs. To learn more about the Community Resource Centers, visit activehealthyinformed.org.

The following is a list of the flu and COVID-19 clinics hosted by L.A. Care and Blue Shield Promise. Registration in advance is not required, but encouraged to save time on-site during a visit.

Friday, October 28 | 10:00 a.m.  3:00 p.m.

Community Resource Center in Lynwood

3200 East Imperial Hwy., Lynwood, CA 90262

Registration link for flu and COVID vaccine: https://myturn.ca.gov/

Age eligibility: 6 months and older

High-dose flu vaccine for people ages 65+ NOT available

Vaccinated individuals will receive reusable water bottle canteens and beach totes while supplies last.

Wednesday, November 9 | 12:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.

Community Resource Center in El Monte

3570 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte, CA 91731

Registration for flu vaccine: https://redcap.link/USCPharmacyLACBSPFlu22

Age eligibility: 3 years and older

High-dose flu vaccine available for people ages 65+

Registration for COVID vaccine/booster: https://redcap.link/USCPharmCOVID

Age eligibility: 12 years and older

Vaccinated individuals will receive turkey vouchers while supplies last.

Friday, November 11 | 12:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.

Community Resource Center in Metro L.A. (Koreatown)

1233 S Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90006

Registration for flu vaccine: https://redcap.link/USCPharmacyLACBSPFlu22

Age eligibility: 3 years and older

High-dose flu vaccine available for people ages 65+

Registration for COVID vaccine/booster: https://redcap.link/USCPharmCOVID

Age eligibility: 12 years and older

Vaccinated individuals will receive park chairs or yoga mats while supplies last.

Tuesday, November 15 | 12:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.

Community Resource Center in Inglewood

2864 W. Imperial Hwy., Inglewood, CA 90303

Registration for flu vaccine: https://redcap.link/USCPharmacyLACBSPFlu22

Age eligibility: 3 years and older

High-dose flu vaccine available for people ages 65+

Registration for COVID vaccine/booster: https://redcap.link/USCPharmCOVID

Age eligibility: 12 years and older

Vaccinated individuals will receive $25 grocery gift cards while supplies last.

About L.A. Care Health Plan

L.A. Care Health Plan serves more than 2.7 million members in Los Angeles County, making it the largest publicly operated health plan in the country. L.A. Care offers four health coverage plans including Medi-Cal, L.A. Care Covered, L.A. Care Cal MediConnect Plan and the PASC-SEIU Homecare Workers Health Care Plan, all dedicated to being accountable and responsive to members. As a public entity, L.A. Care's mission is to provide access to quality health care for L.A. County's low-income communities, and to support the safety net required to achieve that purpose. L.A. Care prioritizes quality, access and inclusion, elevating health care for all of L.A. County. For more information, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan

Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is a managed care organization, wholly owned by Blue Shield of California, offering Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect. It is led by healthcare professionals with a "members-first" philosophy and committed to building a quality network of providers and partnering with community organizations for more than 450,000 members. For more information about Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, please visit www.blueshieldca.com/promise. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit www.news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

Media Contacts:

L.A. Care  Penny Griego

(310) 613-8309

[email protected]

Blue Shield Promise  Olga Gallardo

(323) 537-6364

[email protected]

SOURCE Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan
SLOUGH, UK and RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Indivior PLC (LON: INDV) today announced its financial results for the period ending September 30, 2022. The earnings release, investor presentation and webcast are available at www.indivior.com.

The earnings press release can be found at https://www.indivior.com/en/media/press-releases

The investor presentation can be found at https://www.indivior.com/investors

Indivior will also host a webcast presentation today at 8:00 AM US EST / 13:00 GMT.

The webcast event link is https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/23i6t2wv

Participants may also access the presentation telephonically:

Participants may access the presentation telephonically by registering with the following link:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7788b990aaff4a54b5aafc49c52d2ad2

Registrants will have an option to be called back immediately prior to the call or be provided a call-in # with a unique pin code following their registration).

About Indivior

Indivior is a global pharmaceutical company working to help change patients' lives by developing medicines to treat substance use disorders (SUD) and serious mental illnesses. Our vision is that all patients around the world will have access to evidence-based treatment for the chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD. Indivior is dedicated to transforming SUD from a global human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic disease. Building on its global portfolio of opioid use disorder treatments, Indivior has a pipeline of product candidates designed to both expand on its heritage in this category and potentially address other chronic conditions and cooccurring disorders of SUD. Headquartered in the United States in Richmond, VA, Indivior employs more than 900 individuals globally and its portfolio of products is available in 39 countries worldwide. Visit www.indivior.com to learn more. Connect with Indivior on LinkedIn by visiting www.linkedin.com/company/indivior.

SOURCE Indivior
SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- International Airlines Group (IAG) has announced that its shareholders approved an agreement with Boeing [NYSE:BA] to order a total of 50 737-8-200s and 737-10s, plus 100 options.

Boeing and IAG announced the agreement that was subject to shareholder approval in May 2022. The firm order for 50 737s will be reflected on Boeing's Orders & Deliveries website in November.

"We welcome today's decision by IAG's shareholders to approve a firm order for 50 737-8-200s and 737-10s, with options for 100 more, and we look forward to working with IAG on reintroducing the 737 in to the Group's fleets," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing's senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing.

The largest model in the family, the 737-10 seats up to 230 passengers in a single-class configuration and can fly up to 3,300 miles. The fuel-efficient jet can cover 99% of single-aisle routes, including routes served by 757s.

The 737-8-200 will enable IAG to configure the airplane with up to 200 seats, increasing revenue potential and reducing fuel consumption.

The 737 incorporates the latest-technology CFM International LEAP-1B engines, Advanced Technology winglets and other improvements to deliver the highest efficiency, reliability and passenger comfort in the single-aisle market. The 737 family of airplanes is on average 14% more fuel-efficient than today's most efficient Next-Generation 737s and 20% more efficient than the original Next-Generation 737s when they entered service.

Contact

Boeing Media Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE Boeing
SharkNinja Gross Sales Increased by 11.7% Year-on-Year

Nearly All Major Product Categories Achieved Single Digit Market Share Growth Year-on-Year

HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) ("JS Global" or the "Company"), a world-leading producer of small household appliances that operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung, today announced certain unaudited key operational data for the three months ended September 30, 2022 for its SharkNinja segment.

"SharkNinja delivered exceptional results globally this quarter, despite the presence of macro headwinds," said Wang Xuning, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JS Global. "Gross sales increased meaningfully across each of our key regions as we gained market share across nearly all of our major categories, demonstrating the consumer's strong preference for SharkNinja's innovative offerings. Additionally, we launched numerous products across new categories that have performed strongly out of the gate, driving further incremental sales growth. With strong customer and retail support behind existing and new products, we look forward to continued growth and expansion of the SharkNinja brand, as we combine powerful technology with great designs to bring innovative products to market that solve real consumer problems."

Unaudited Operational Update

SharkNinja gross sales[1] increased 11.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2022, when compared to the same period in the prior year. On a constant currency basis, gross sales increased by 14.9% year-over-year. Growth was largely attributable to new products launched during the quarter, as well as growth from international markets, such as in the UK, Europe, Japan and rest of the world.

Note, gross sales differ from the total revenue metric reported in the Company's audited financial statements as gross sales do not take into account allowances for customer returns and promotional funding.

North America

In North America , SharkNinja gross sales increased by 11.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 , when compared to the same period in the prior year.

, SharkNinja gross sales increased by 11.1% for the three months ended , when compared to the same period in the prior year. In the United States of America , cleaning appliances attained a 34.7% market share [2] for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , an increase of 300 basis points when compared to the same period in the prior year.

, cleaning appliances attained a 34.7% market share for the nine months ended , an increase of 300 basis points when compared to the same period in the prior year. In the United States of America , food preparation appliances attained a 36.0% market share [3] for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , an increase of 320 basis points when compared to the same period in the prior year.

, food preparation appliances attained a 36.0% market share for the nine months ended , an increase of 320 basis points when compared to the same period in the prior year. In the United States of America , cooking appliances attained a 25.7% market share[4]for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , a decrease of 50 basis points when compared to the same period in the prior year.

Europe

In Europe , SharkNinja gross sales increased by 11.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 , when compared to the same period in the prior year. On a constant currency basis, gross sales increased by 30.2% year-on-year.

, SharkNinja gross sales increased by 11.2% for the three months ended , when compared to the same period in the prior year. On a constant currency basis, gross sales increased by 30.2% year-on-year. In Great Britain , electrical cooking pots attained a 56.7% market share [5] for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , an increase of 970 basis points when compared to the prior year period.

, electrical cooking pots attained a 56.7% market share for the nine months ended , an increase of 970 basis points when compared to the prior year period. In Great Britain , vacuum cleaners attained a 30.7% market share [6] for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , an increase of 170 basis points when compared to the prior year period.

, vacuum cleaners attained a 30.7% market share for the nine months ended , an increase of 170 basis points when compared to the prior year period. In Great Britain , food preparation appliances attained a 16.0% market share[7] for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 , an increase of 400 basis points when compared to the prior year period.

Japan & Rest of the World

In Japan and rest of the world, SharkNinja gross sales increased 29.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 . On a constant currency basis, gross sales increased 43.6% year-over-year.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

JS Global will provide an operational update call for the three months ended September 30, 2022 on Thursday, October 27, 2022 ET / Friday, October 28, 2022 HKT.

October 27, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. ET / October 28, 2022 , at 9:30 a.m. HKT: JS Global management will host a presentation and live Q&A audio webcast which will be posted to the Events section of JS Global's Investor Relations website at https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/detail/328.html. Those who would like to ask a question during the live call can join via the webcast link or dial-in using the information below.

at / , at HKT: JS Global management will host a presentation and live Q&A audio webcast which will be posted to the Events section of JS Global's Investor Relations website at https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/detail/328.html. Those who would like to ask a question during the live call can join via the webcast link or dial-in using the information below. The presentation and the live Q&A will be in both English and Mandarin and will also be archived and available for replay.

The accompanying slide presentation will be posted to the Events section of JS Global's Investor Relations website at https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/tool.html in advance of the call.

Please see below links:

Announcement

https://www.jsgl.com/en/investor/notice.html

Press release

https://www.jsgl.com/en/news/list/11.html

Investor and Analyst Presentation & Real-Time Conference Call:

Date / Time: October 27, 2022 at 9:30 p.m. ET / October 28, 2022, at 9:30 a.m. HKT Language: Mandarin/English Format Zoom Meeting and Conference Call (PPT can be viewed on Zoom)

Please dial in to register for the English Channel at 9:15 a.m. (HKT):

Regions Dial-in Number Conference ID: Mainland China 4008070263 325697537 Hong Kong +852-3018 3602 / 800 931018 International +8623-62737100 United States +1-516-226 8028/1800 3876 988 United Kingdom +44-20-3761 0113 / 0800 0291098 *Q&A session is available. After joining the conference, investors can press "*1" to raise hand and will be guided to ask questions later

If you prefer to join the Zoom meeting, the information is listed below:

Zoom ID 897 5452 5095 Zoom link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89754525095?pwd=K0VsZW0xQk13WXFqSjBUZWJxbHNNQT09 Passcode 20221028 You can choose Mandarin or English channels on the Zoom platform. If you'd like to raise your question via

Zoom, please use the "raise hand" function on the control panel below. Later, when the host invites you to

unmute yourself, please select "agree", and start your question.

Source:

1. Gross sales refers to the gross amount invoiced to retailers, distributors, individual customers and other customers, but does not include amounts payable to a customer for variable considerations, including but not limited to, rights of return, and other discounts and allowances. Accordingly, gross sales does not represent the SharkNinja segment's total revenue, yet JS Global considers gross sales to be one of the various business operational indicators of the SharkNinja segment. 2. Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-September 2022 vs January-September 2021. "Cleaning appliances" include: Bare Floor Cleaners, Hand Vacuums, Robotic Vacuums, Stick Vacuums, Upright Vacuums 3. Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-September 2022 vs. January-September 2021. "Food preparation appliances" include: Juice extractor, Kitchen System, Single Serve Blending & Processing, Traditional Blending, Traditional Food Processor 4. Source: The NPD Group/Retail/Tracking Service, U.S. dollar sales, January-September 2022 vs. January-September 2021. "Cooking appliances" include: Air fryers, Electric Grills, Fryers, Multi-Cookers, Toaster Oven 5. Source: GfK; Market Intelligence; Total Electrical Cooking Pots; Volume & Value Sales, GB; JanSep 2022 & JanSep 2021 6. Source: GfK; Market intelligence; Total Vacuum Cleaners; Value Sales, GB; JanSep 2022 & JanSep 2021 7. Source: GfK; Market Intelligence; Total Food Preparation; Value Sales, GB; JanSep 2022 & JanSep 2021 8. Source: Frost & Sullivan Global Small Home Appliance Industry Study - March 2022

About JS Global

JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) is a world leading producer of small household appliances. It ranks fourth globally in the small household appliance industry and third among small household appliance-focused companies.[8] It primarily operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung. The Company's success is centered around its deep understanding of consumer needs, and is built on its strong product innovation and design capability powered by a global research and development platform, marketing strengths driving high brand engagement, and an omni-channel distribution coverage with high penetration.

About SharkNinja

SharkNinja is an innovation leader in the housewares industry and creator of the familiar household brands Shark and Ninja. SharkNinja provides the latest in easy-to-use innovative technology with a growing line of solutions that consist of Shark cleaning and home care products and Ninja kitchen appliances. Products are sold at major retailers and through distributors around the world. Ninja and Shark are registered trademarks of SharkNinja Operating LLC. SharkNinja is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) a leader in small household appliance innovation.

About Joyoung

Joyoung (Stock code: 002242.SZ) is SharkNinja's sister brand and has become a well-known small household electrical appliance enterprise and one of the market share leaders in China. Joyoung invented the first soymilk maker in China and closely connect the concept to plant-based solutions. With 28 years of experience and over 10,000 patented technologies, Joyoung specializes in the research and development, design, manufacturing, and sale of its innovative product categories including small household appliances, primarily focusing on kitchen. Joyoung is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Stock code: 1691.HK) a leader in small household appliance innovation.

Media

Edmond Lococo, Managing Director, ICR Inc.

[email protected]

Company Contacts

Venus Zhao, Head of Investor Relations, Public Relations and Compliance, JS Global Lifestyle

[email protected]

Adam Quigley, VP of Finance at SharkNinja

[email protected]

Investor Relations

[email protected]

SOURCE JS Global Lifestyle
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LandFund Partners ("LFP"), a farmland investment company, in partnership with AgriCapture, is the first investment fund to be granted carbon credits from the Climate Action Reserve. LandFund Partners owns and manages more than 40,000 acres in the Mississippi River Valley. LFP launched Soil Enrichment Fund ("SEF") in 2021, an open-end liquid farmland fund committed to using regenerative farming techniques in order to create more climate-friendly farms.

The first carbon credits have been issued as part of a pilot carbon credit project for two of LFP's Arkansas farms. These pilot farms provided proof of concept, which has led LandFund to enroll their 15 farms comprising more than 25,000 acres in the project. Carbon credits for these additional acres should be received at some point in 2023.

"We are incredibly proud that LandFund is now the first investment fund to receive agricultural carbon credits for on-farm practices from a premier carbon registry. We are showing that farming can be part of the climate solution," states Chris Morris, LandFund Partners President and COO.

LFP partnered with AgriCapture and Climate Action Reserve at the launch of SEF in order to generate carbon credits on SEF farmland and will receive the credits within one year of completing harvest on 2021 farming activity.

AgriCapture's agronomists and sustainable farming experts determine an optimal combination of Climate-Friendly practices for each farm. The team collects data from farm records, satellite imagery, and soil sampling to submit for validation and verification of emission reductions through Climate Action Reserve.

"When we made a commitment to using regenerative farming practices to improve soil health, we knew we needed a partner organization that would get results when it came to carbon credits. AgriCapture delivered our 2021 carbon credits within 12 months of harvest," Chris Morris LandFund Partners President and COO.

AgriCapture successfully generated agricultural carbon credits within one year of harvest, proving that in partnership with LFP there is a sustainable, nature-based approach to climate change that provides positive financial benefits for climate conscious farmers.

About LandFund Partners

LandFund Partners manages over 40,000 acres of row crop farmland, or roughly $200 million of assets, in the Mississippi River Valley. LandFund Partners identifies and acquires high-quality farmland and leases the land to experienced farm operators under the supervision of a professional management team.

SOURCE LandFund Partners
OTC Homeopathic health product brand continues retail expansion through the national retailer

PEARL RIVER, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Marie Originals, an emerging brand of effective natural OTC homeopathic health products, announced today the availability of its bestselling Eczema & Psoriasis Soap, Poison Ivy & Oak Soap, Sinus Relief, Ear Pain Drops, Ear Oil, Skin Repair Ointment, and Skin & Nail Fungus Ointment products at Natural Grocers locations nationwide.

"Consumers continue to embrace the power of natural, plant-based remedies, and this is especially true of Natural Grocers' shoppers; this partnership could not be more aligned with our values and core consumers," said Sammy Goodman, COO at Marie Originals. "By teaming up with Natural Grocers, we will be able to get our effective earth-based OTC homeopathic ear and skin care products into even more hands, as we continue to show consumers the raw, safe power of medicinal plants and biomaterials."

Marie Originals strives to discover effective, groundbreaking treatment solutions and has transformed the OTC space with its innovative plant-powered product formulations. Products provide targeted, lasting relief that's safe, pure, and gentle enough for even sensitive and allergy-prone skin, while powerful and potent enough to get the job done.

"We welcome Marie Originals to Natural Grocers' Body Care Department," said Laura Perkins, VP of Purchasing for Natural Grocers. "We've been setting the bar in this department for over 60 years because we believe that everyone benefits from body care products that meet our high standards. We only partner with companies and brands who are committed to crafting products whose principles and passion align with ours. Marie Originals is one such brand. They share that same commitment to quality that Natural Grocers' customers trust and depend on."

Marie Originals is revolutionizing the OTC drug space by identifying natural homeopathic alternatives and making their solutions conveniently available at national retailers and online. For more information on Marie Originals, please visit www.marieoriginals.com.

About Marie Originals

Marie Originals is a leading brand of effective natural, lab-tested remedies, for a variety of common health concerns. Founded by a team of entrepreneurs passionate about innovating the synthetic-heavy OTC space, they discover and develop groundbreaking treatment options that provide fast and effective relief. Backed by "Trulore," the science and research they bring to categories across the OTC pharmaceutical space has impacted millions of lives and is revolutionizing an industry which has seen minimal innovation since the advent of modern medicine. Their products can be found online and in thousands of pharmacies across the US. For more information visit www.marieoriginals.com.

SOURCE Marie Originals
What's Next: Living Longer Better Smarter podcast to launch in senior living communities nationwide

LA JOLLA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spiro100, the leading web-based fitness provider for older adults, and Mary Furlong and Associates (MFA), a concierge consulting practice and event producer for the longevity economy, today announced a distribution partnership for the What's Next: Living Longer Better Smarter podcast.

The podcast, produced by MFA, will appear in more than 500 Spiro100 communities across the U.S. and will reach more than 2,000 individual subscribers in their homes or rooms beginning immediately. What's Next: Living Longer Better Smarter will be available to the public at no cost by visiting home.spiro100.com or via the app. Mary Furlong and award-winning journalist Fred Fishkin are co-hosts of the podcast, interviewing the leaders, personalities and innovators who are making a difference. The podcast, bringing listeners to the intersection of longevity, technology and aging, is supported in part by the sponsorship of Vivid-Pix, the creator of easy-to-use image improvement software.

"We know Spiro100 can make a difference in the lives of seniors who exercise and stay active leveraging our library," says Alex Rochestie, co-founder and president of programming. "But to truly accomplish the mission of Spiro100 and make a difference in the lives of millions of older adults and family caregivers requires a broader content library. The addition of this podcast, and bringing Mary, Fred and some of the brightest tech minds in aging to our platform is an important step in achieving a healthier and happier future."

The second phase of the podcast distribution rollout is expected to begin in 2023 and will include an additional network of 10,000 senior living communities via organizations including Icon, K4Connect and Lifestone Link.

"We are excited to work with Spiro100 in bringing thought-provoking, insightful discussions into these communities," adds Mary Furlong, CEO of Mary Furlong and Associates. "The impact that these conversations can have on the tens of thousands of older adults, as well as the care professionals and family members surrounding them, can make a lasting difference in their mental, physical and cognitive health."

About Spiro100

Spiro100 is committed to making wellness available to every older adult regardless of their age, ability or physical location and dedicated to changing cultural beliefs around aging by demonstrating what's possible with exercise and healthy activities. It's our belief that accomplishing a mission of this magnitude is only possible through collaboration with companies, organizations and individuals who share our mission and commitment to servicing older adults. To that end Spiro100 has sought out the best fitness and wellness experts in the Active Aging world to offer Spiro100 customers programming that is second to none. We've made that programming available to older adults and those who care for them by partnering with a growing list of top age tech companies to ensure the content is easy to access and available on the screen or system of their choosing.

About Mary Furlong and Associates

Founded in 2003, Mary Furlong & Associates (MFA) is a concierge consulting firm specializing in the longevity market. A successful serial entrepreneur, Mary founded SeniorNet.org, and ThirdAge Media prior to creating MFA. MFA has produced industry-leading conferences including the What's Next Longevity Venture Summit and What's Next Longevity Innovation Summit. Mary has been recognized by the American Society on Aging, Fortune, Time and as one of the top 100 Women in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. She is an adviser to the Ziegler LinkAge Fund, CABHI, The Thrive Center and numerous start-up companies in addition to her private client practice. Mary has a doctorate in education and is the Dean's Executive Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University.

About Vivid-Pix

Vivid-Pix connects people with their most treasured memories restored through its software, which is sold in over 120 countries, improving old, faded photos and documents. Their extensive education assists family historians, as well as paid and unpaid caregivers, which can create buffers to early onset Alzheimer's and create connections to assist individuals with cognitive decline and dementia through photo reminiscence therapy.

Media Contact:

Elyse Dasko

760-994-5954

[email protected]

SOURCE Mary Furlong & Associates
Operating under the Airedale by Modine brand, Modine ships first chillers from newly repurposed Rockbridge, VA facility

RACINE, Wis., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD), a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions, today announced that it has shipped its first chillers for the data center market from their newly repurposed production facility in Rockbridge, Virginia, as part of a previously announced order with data center giant, Corscale.

"We have made a significant investment in our Rockbridge facility in order to bring world-class chillers to the North American data center market," said Eric McGinnis, President, Climate Solutions at Modine. "In line with our strategy to promote businesses with favorable market trends, we can now provide a full range of cooling solutions to our data center customers in this growing market. Just two years ago, we were operating out of a single facility in Leeds, U.K., and we now are producing data center products out of five facilities in North America and Europe. This is providing capacity to support future growth as we continue to build relationships with key global players in the hyperscale, colocation and telecom markets."

Before shipping the chillers, witness testing was completed at the Airedale headquarters in Leeds. In describing the results of this testing, Stuart Kay, Sales Director, Precision/Data Centers at Modine commented, "The unit met or exceeded all of the test criteria. We have designed a chiller tailor made for critical data center environments, which we believe delivers market-leading free cooling performance."

Modine's Rockbridge facility is ideally located to serve the U.S. data center market. Virginia is the largest data center market in the world and is home to more than 20 percent of all known hyperscale data centers worldwide. Modine has created a specialized data center chiller that provides an exceptional level of free cooling and delivers superior performance while using less energy and water. Alongside chillers, Modine will also manufacture computer room air handling units and fan walls in the U.S., offering complete cooling solutions for colocation and hyperscale data center operators.

"Data centers is a target growth market for Modine, and bringing this proven technology from the U.K. to the North American market is a key component to our growth objectives," continued McGinnis. "We anticipate generating more than $100 million of data center revenue in North America next year, with a peak goal of over $250 million over the next five years. The finished facility will include world-class witness testing capabilities that are scheduled to launch later this calendar year. I am grateful to our teams in Leeds and Virginia for providing the support to make this important milestone a reality."

A ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the repurposed facility is scheduled for November 4, 2022, and will be attended by government officials, local dignitaries, plant staff and Modine executive leadership.

About Airedale by Modine

At Airedale, we believe that air conditioning has a critical role to play in an increasingly connected world. We also passionately believe that air conditioning equipment must play a responsible role in an era where sustainability is key to the preservation of our planet.

Airedale is a global specialist in providing complete cooling solutions to industries where HVAC is mission critical, like data centres, healthcare, telecoms, education and pharmaceuticals. Our leading edge products, including chillers, close control and air handling units, are backed up with intelligent software solutions and complete applications and service support. With a strong R&D ethos rooted in sustainability and quality, Airedale's 600+ employees are committed to providing experiences, products, service and solutions that support our clients to meet their performance, efficiency and sustainability goals.

Headquartered in Leeds, U.K. and with facilities in Consett (U.K.), Guadalajara (Spain), Dubai (UAE), Rockbridge (U.S.) and Grenada (U.S.), Airedale is part of Modine (NYSE: MOD), a diversified global leader in thermal management technology and solutions. For more information visit www.airedale.com.

About Modine

At Modine, we are Engineering A Cleaner, Healthier World. Building on more than 100 years of excellence in thermal management, we provide trusted systems and solutions that improve air quality and conserve natural resources. More than 11,000 employees are at work in every corner of the globe, delivering the solutions our customers need, where they need them. Our Climate Solutions and Performance Technologies segments support our purpose by improving air quality, reducing energy and water consumption, lowering harmful emissions and enabling cleaner running vehicles and environmentally-friendly refrigerants. Modine is a global company headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin (USA), with operations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. For more information visit www.modine.com.

Media contacts

Nicola Ware

+44 (0)113 3958108

[email protected]

Julie Walton Horsley

(262) 636-1125

[email protected]

Investor contact

Kathleen Powers

(262) 636-1687

[email protected]

SOURCE Modine Manufacturing Company
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --NASA released the results of its second agencywide economic impact report on Thursday, demonstrating how its Moon to Mars activities, investments in climate change research and technology, as well as other work generated more than $71.2 billion in total economic output during fiscal year 2021.

Combined, NASA's impact supported more than 339,600 jobs nationwide, and generated nearly $7.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes throughout the United States.

"Investment in NASA's missions is an investment in American workers, American innovation, and American competitiveness for the 21st century. NASA is positioning our partners in commercial space and the national economy to win the future of spaceflight in 21st century as we prepare to return astronauts to the Moon, and then go on to Mars," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. "While our work will always push the limits throughout the cosmos, it also strengthens the planet beneath our feet. NASA partners with small businesses, industry, academia, and other government agencies to address engineering challenges, and to transfer out our technologies, capabilities, and data all for public benefit here on Earth. NASA may be a small federal agency, but we punch above our weight, fueling growth in American industry with good-paying, quality jobs in all 50 states and maintaining our leadership in space and science."

The study found NASA's Moon to Mars exploration approach generated more than $20.1 billion in total economic output and supported more than 93,700 jobs nationwide. For investments in climate research and technology, the agency's activities generated more than $7.4 billion in total economic output and supported more than 37,000 jobs nationwide.

Additional key findings of the study include:

Every state in the country benefits economically through NASA activities. Forty-six states have an economic impact of more than $10 million . Of those 46 states, nine have an economic impact of $1 billion or more.

. Of those 46 states, nine have an economic impact of or more. NASA's agencywide fiscal year 2021 economic output increased by 10.7% from fiscal year 2019, the year the agency conducted its first report.

The agency's Moon to Mars campaign, which includes the Artemis program, generated nearly $2.2 billion in tax revenue, and saw an economic output increase of 42.6% from fiscal year 2019. These activities provided about 28% of NASA's economic impact.

in tax revenue, and saw an economic output increase of 42.6% from fiscal year 2019. These activities provided about 28% of NASA's economic impact. The agency's investments in climate change research and technology generated nearly $810 million in tax revenue and provided 11% of NASA's economic impact.

in tax revenue and provided 11% of NASA's economic impact. NASA has more than 2,655 active domestic and international agreements for various scientific research and technology development activities in fiscal year 2021. The International Space Station is a significant representative of international partnerships  representing 15 nations and five space agencies and has been operating for more than 20 years.

NASA has 700 different active partnerships with non-federal U.S. partners and partnerships in 44 of 50 states. For example, flight technology like NASA's all-electric X-57 Maxwell.

NASA spinoffs, which are public products and processes that are developed with NASA technology, funding, or expertise, provide a benefit to American lives beyond dollars and jobs. The agency has recorded more than 2,000 spinoff technologies since 1976. For example, NASA's indoor agricultural techniques in vertical farm structures are being adopted by private companies to build indoor farms.

Scientific research and development, which fuels advancements in science and technology that can help improve daily life on Earth and for humanity, enjoys the largest single-sector impact, accounting for 20% of NASA's overall economic output.

The study was conducted by the Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

See a summary of the report:

https://go.nasa.gov/3gQIFuJ

To review the full study visit:

https://go.nasa.gov/3Fj4MnC

SOURCE NASA
New community now selling in Bushnell from the mid $200s

BUSHNELL, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Century Communities, Inc., a top 10 national homebuilder and industry leader in online sales, announced the company's Century Complete brand has expanded its Florida presence to Sumter County, starting with new homes at Sumter Villas in Bushnell. Now selling from the mid $200s, Sumter Villas will offer 175 single-family homes with open-concept layouts and desirable included features, such as granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, yard irrigation and more.

Alton Plan at Sumter Villas in Bushnell, FL | Elevation B | Century Complete Lynford Plan at Sumter Villas in Bushnell, FL | Elevation A | Century Complete Mayfield Plan at Sumter Villas in Bushnell, FL | Elevation A | Century Complete

"We're excited to expand our offerings in Florida to Sumter County, bringing quality and streamlined floor plans to more homebuyers through our industry-leading online homebuying process," said Greg Huff, President of Century Complete. "With ranch and two-story homes now available to purchase online, we've got a versatile lineup of options for homebuyers to find their best fit."

Learn more and join the community interest list at www.CenturyCommunities.com/SumterVillas.

MORE ABOUT SUMTER VILLAS:

175 single-family homesites

Ranch and two-story floor plans

3- to 4-bedroom homes featuring 2 to 3 baths, 2-bay garages, and up to 1,964 square feet

Granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, yard irrigation and more included

Sumter Villas boasts a fast-growing location with convenient proximity to the Orlando and Tampa metro areasjust one hour from both downtown Orlando and downtown Tampaplus shopping and dining at The Villages. Residents will also enjoy a community pool with a cabana, in addition to quick access to area lakes and wilderness preserves.

New Model Home Opening Late Fall!

We'll be showcasing the two-story Mayfield plan at Sumter Villas soon. Contact our sales team for more information.

Location:

1868 Iowa Drive

Bushnell, FL 33585

352.988.2697

Near the intersection of Yancey Lane and US-301

IN-PERSON SALES STUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE!

Our industry-leading online homebuying process allows you to buy on your schedule24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. However, if you'd like assistance with purchasing a new home, please contact or visit our Sales Studio in Brooksville!

Sales Studio:

3198 Aerial Way

Brooksville, FL 34604

813.606.4095

DISCOVER THE FREEDOM OF ONLINE HOMEBUYING:

Century Complete is proud to feature its industry-first online homebuying experience on all available homes in Florida.

How it works:

Shop homes at CenturyCommunities.com Click "Buy Now" on any available home Fill out a quick Buy Online form Electronically submit an initial earnest money deposit Electronically sign a purchase contract via DocuSign

Learn more about the Buy Online experience at www.CenturyCommunities.com/online-homebuying.

About Century Communities

Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is a top 10 national homebuilder, offering new homes under the Century Communities and Century Complete brands. Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuilding  including the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Colorado-based company operates in 17 states and over 45 markets across the U.S., and also offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Home Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loans subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com.

For information, contact:

Alyson Benn

Century Communities, Inc.

303-558-7352

[email protected]

SOURCE Century Communities, Inc.
Teachers alarmed schools haven't done more to improve air quality; Air quality seen as important as teacher salaries

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey, released today, finds that the vast majority of teachers (74%) nationwide are concerned about the indoor air quality in their schools and on buses, citing the negative impacts it has on the health and productivity of teachers, faculty, and students. The results highlight the growing importance teachers place on working in a healthy, safe, and clean environment.

National Educators Survey by Aura Air

Despite having federal government funding available, 87% of educators surveyed say they are alarmed that their school hasn't done more to improve air quality. While 84% have made recent changes regarding air quality, such as installing air purifiers or new ventilation systems, only 31% say they have real-time air monitoring at their school. When it comes to making improvements in their schools, improving air quality (64%) ranked second only behind salaries (66%).

The survey of 1,000 teachers and school facility managers was conducted by Researchscape in early October 2022. The national study was commissioned by Aura Air , the leading smart air platform that is installed in thousands of classrooms across North America.

"In an environment where schools across the country are grappling with teacher shortages and another year of potential disruptions, keeping our teachers and students healthy has to be a top priority," says Roei Friedberg, CEO of Aura Air Americas. "The fact that teachers see air quality just as important as teacher salaries is eye-opening. Schools have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take advantage of federal funding programs to upgrade their air quality systems and show teachers and students they take their health seriously."

Disruptions and Absenteeism

This is the third school year since the start of the pandemic, yet 77% of respondents expressed a level of concern that their school will be disrupted by COVID-19 and 74% by Influenza A and other viral diseases. Eight out of ten (79%) believe better indoor air quality will help reduce chronic student absenteeism.

Students Suffer

Half (50%) of respondents say their students are suffering from more allergies and asthma (32%) and are at greater risk of COVID transmission and other viruses as a result of poor air quality in school. Lack of focus (30%) and lower grades (20%), and test scores (13%) were also cited as downside impacts.

Unhealthy Work Environment

Nearly half (47%) of those surveyed say that poor air quality in their classrooms increases risks of respiratory illness, greater transmission of COVID infections (42%), and an increase in teacher sick days (35%). Overcrowded classrooms were a concern for 87% of respondents. Ninety percent of respondents say better indoor air quality will help improve their health and wellness.

Teacher Shortage

Seven out of ten (69%) respondents say that their school faces a staffing shortage. The top reasons for staffing shortages include: low salaries (59%), early retirements (40%), and health and safety, specifically noting poor indoor air environment (31%), fear of getting COVID (32%), and impact of long COVID (29%).

Aura Air will host a webinar on November 15, 2022, to further discuss the findings. To learn more and to register visit: https://bit.ly/3DdBmob

About Aura Air

Aura Air created the world's smartest data-driven air purification system, one that cleanses indoor air while vigilantly monitoring its quality in real time. Aura Air's award-winning and patented technology filters and disinfects indoor air through a unique four-stage purification process that captures and kills 99.9% of viruses, bacteria, germs, and allergens. Founded in 2018, Aura Air is now helping to purify the air in homes, hospitals, schools, businesses, hotels, restaurants, buses, and nursing homes in more than 87 countries around the world. Aura is headquartered in Israel with global offices in the U.S. and India. For more information, visit www.auraair.io.

CONTACT: Sivan Ron, [email protected]

SOURCE Aura Air INC
The healthcare sector is twice as likely to face data breach consequences as any other industry surveyed.

FRISCO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Netwrix, a cybersecurity vendor that makes data security easy, today announced additional findings for the healthcare sector from its global 2022 Cloud Security Report.

61% of respondents in the healthcare industry suffered a cyberattack on their cloud infrastructure within the last 12 months, compared to 53% for other verticals. Phishing was the most common type of attack reported.

"The healthcare sector is a lucrative target for attackers because the chances of success are higher. The first two years of the pandemic exhausted the industry. With patient health being the main priority for these organizations, IT security resources are often too stretched and are focused on maintaining only the most necessary functions," comments Dirk Schrader, VP of Security Research at Netwrix. "Plus, the high value of data gives cyber criminals better opportunities at financial gain: They can either sell stolen sensitive medical information on the dark web or extort a ransom for 'unfreezing' the medical systems used to keep patients alive."

An attack in the healthcare sector is more likely to result in financial consequences. 32% of respondents from other industries report that an attack had no impact on their business, while only 14% of healthcare organizations say the same. Unplanned expenses to cover security gaps and compliance fines are the most common types of damage that the healthcare sector faces due to a cyberattack.

"Healthcare organizations plan to increase the share of their workload in the cloud from 38% to 54% by the end of 2023. Fast cloud adoption should be accompanied by relevant security measures and special attention to internet-of-things (IoT) devices and systems; for example, compromise of respirators or IV infusion devices can lead to physical harm to patients," adds Schrader. "Network segmentation will help prevent one compromised device from impacting the entire system. IT teams must also strictly limit who  humans and machines  can access what data and systems according to the least-privilege principle, and regularly review and right-size those access rights."

About Netwrix

Netwrix makes data security easy, thereby simplifying how professionals can control sensitive, regulated and business-critical data, regardless of where it resides. More than 11,500 organizations worldwide rely on Netwrix solutions to secure sensitive data, realize the full business value of enterprise content, pass compliance audits with less effort and expense, and increase the productivity of IT teams and knowledge workers.

Founded in 2006, Netwrix has earned more than 150 industry awards and been named to both the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 lists of the fastest growing companies in the U.S.

For more information, visit www.netwrix.com.

CONTACT:

Erin Jones

Avista PR for Netwrix

P: 704.664.2170

E: [email protected]

SOURCE Netwrix Corporation
SHARJAH, UAE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UAE is among the most popular destinations for international students, because many global universities have set up their campuses here. The country is also known for its diversity of life experiences and high quality of life.

Studying in the UAE helps one learn about many different cultures. More than 150 nationalities call UAE home. The local population makes around 10% of the total population, the rest are foreign nationals from other countries. However, the UAE has created such conditions of life and work that nobody feels as a foreigner in this country. In addition to this, high level of a security and personal safety, absence of corporate and income tax, as well as VAT are also some of the major reasons why UAE is becoming the next education hub for international students.

Located in the heart of Sharjah, Britts Imperial University College offers a one-of-its-kind platform to learners from all across the globe to earn prestigious European degrees in the Middle East. Britts Imperial is an Academic Centre and Education Partner of top-tier globally recognized British and European universities to offer Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate degree programs awarded by these universities.

Britts Imperial is also the first overseas campus of the France-based Euclea Business School, a Private Higher Education degree-granting institution, leader in research and education that offers a range of higher education suitable for all types of profiles and careers, with titles recognized by the State (RNCP titles) and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Together, the two most prestigious institutions from two different continents of the world are making it possible for students across the globe to network with peers from different corners and learn the respective business and industry ideologies. Thus, giving them an insight in International Business, IT, Hospitality, Healthcare, Blockchain and many such new age specialisations, simultaneously advancing their careers and professional & personal development, and prepare them to transform from global learners to global leaders.

Media Contact:

+971(06)7675511 / +971-522161590

[email protected]

www.brittsimperial.com

SOURCE Britts Imperial University College, Sharjah, UAE
Nation's network of micro and nano technology sector community colleges to join the National Talent Hub and support the expansion of NIIT Registered Apprenticeship Programs.

HANOVER, Md. and PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT), the leader in developing the nation's semiconductor talent pipeline, and the Micro Nanotechnology Education Center (MNT-EC), a network of community colleges that support the micro and nano technology sectors, announced a collaboration focused on workforce development for the semiconductor sector and nanotechnology-related industries.

With the agreement, MNT-EC colleges will have access to NIIT's National Talent Hub, which connects employers, education providers, jobseekers and individuals looking to improve related skills. Colleges will be able to use the Talent Hub free of charge to ensure courses align with industry requirements and give their students access to the service's job portal. The Micro Nano Technology Education Center is a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education (NSF-ATE) national network of colleges and universities.

"The MNT-EC joining the National Talent Hub is exciting," said Mike Russo, President and CEO of NIIT. "After years of development and input from industry, academia and jobseekers, the Hub was finally released this year to ensure real-time connection between course providers, employers and jobseekers. It is powered by a dynamic database of industry required competencies that reflects the skills needed in ever-changing tech-based jobs. Having the MNT-ECs endorsement and use of the Hub will move us one step closer to the single, comprehensive, nationally integrated system that was envisioned."

Students enrolled in MNT-EC programs will be eligible for "learn-and-earn" opportunities through NIIT's Growing Apprenticeships in Nanotechnology and Semiconductors (GAINS) Registered Apprenticeship Program. NIIT has the exclusive, 5-year contract to expand the use of Registered Apprenticeships in the strategic supply chains of semiconductors and nanotechnology, which includes biomanufacturing, pharmaceuticals, clean energy, etc.

"We have supported the development of the National Talent Hub and worked with NIIT to ensure that it meets the needs of our community colleges and our mission to prepare students for successful careers in the semiconductor and nanotechnology fields", said Jared Ashcroft, the Center Director of the MNT-EC. "Our goal was to support the development of what would be a singular, national infrastructure that is able to ensure alignment between our course offerings and industry requirements and to connect our students with those employers. We believe that the National Talent Hub meets those objectives".

The National Talent Hub represents a decade long public-private effort developed to create a nationally integrated platform available to states and regions which bolsters the nation's talent pipeline. The partnership launch comes on the heels of an announcement on July 27th at the HI-TECH conference in Salt Lake City when the National Talent Hub was rolled out nationally to the NSF-ATE network of colleges and universities.

About the National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT)

The National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT) is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to identify roadblocks to innovation in strategic industry sectors  those important to the nation's security and global competitiveness - and ensure they are eliminated. Talent pipeline development is the major focus of NIIT, and through comprehensive industry engagement, NIIT is leading the deployment of a national strategy and infrastructure to broaden and build the talent pipeline for the semiconductor industry and strategic industry sectors. Through its National Talent Pipeline Development Initiative and the support of the federal government, NIIT has developed a comprehensive, nationally integrated approach that includes the alignment of programs K-12 through higher education and adult and veteran training, infrastructure to attract a broader population and improve access and connections to career and needed training, and the ability to scale to support the nation.

About the MNT-EC

The Micro Nano Technology Education Center (MNT-EC) is an NSF-ATE national network of colleges and universities. The center was founded on the idea that working together to accomplish a greater goal will enhance the quality of education for our students who then become higher quality technicians for our industry. The center's mission is to grow the MNT technician workforce by fostering academic and industry mentorship between existing MNT partners and educators developing prospective community college MNT programs. The MNT-EC is focused on developing a coordinated national approach to advance MNT education, delivering professional development to enhance knowledge, skills, and abilities, and conducting strategic outreach, recruitment and retention of traditional and underrepresented faculty/students.

About the National Talent Hub

The portal is the first of its kind, competency-based system that uses dynamic signaling from industry to inform NIIT's "Comprehensive Competency Standards Database" in real-time and advanced data analytics to provide comprehensive skills matching, gap analysis, as well as career and education mapping capabilities for individuals. As the nation's leader in semiconductor talent pipeline development, NIIT is deploying the National Talent Hub to support the semiconductor industry; however, the architecture was designed to support all strategic tech-based industries and their supply chains and is being expanded to be the nation's first integrated system. The National Talent Hub is a culmination of a decade-long evaluation and development period which included comprehensive industry engagement. It is the only solution of its type intended to broaden the talent pipeline by making tech-based careers, previously viewed as unattainable, accessible to underserved and underrepresented populations as well as creating a comprehensive means for returning military service members and their families to connect to and succeed in high-value careers in strategic industry sectors.

SOURCE National Institute for Innovation and Technology (NIIT)
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) will host an Investor Day starting at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 in New York City. A live webcast of the Investor Day, including presentation materials, will be accessible through Nucor's investor relations website at nucor.com/investors. A replay of the webcast will be available for 60 days following the live presentations.

Due to limited capacity, in-person attendance is by invitation only. Institutional investors wishing to attend in person may contact [email protected] to receive registration details.

About Nucor

Nucor and its affiliates are manufacturers of steel and steel products, with operating facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Products produced include: carbon and alloy steel -- in bars, beams, sheet and plate; hollow structural section tubing; electrical conduit; steel racking; steel piling; steel joists and joist girders; steel deck; fabricated concrete reinforcing steel; cold finished steel; precision castings; steel fasteners; metal building systems; insulated metal panels; overhead doors; steel grating; and wire and wire mesh. Nucor, through The David J. Joseph Company and its affiliates, also brokers ferrous and nonferrous metals, pig iron and hot briquetted iron / direct reduced iron; supplies ferro-alloys; and processes ferrous and nonferrous scrap. Nucor is North America's largest recycler.

SOURCE Nucor Corporation
TEL AVIV, Israel and BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pentera , the leader in automated security validation today announced that it has been named a winner in the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022. The award is given to the 10 most innovative, successful infosec companies who are changing the landscape in cybersecurity. The winning companies all demonstrate high growth revenues and rapid trajectory through execution and market adoption.

"The existing cybersecurity paradigm is flawed. The current focus on vulnerability management does not enable companies to understand their true organizational risk and is therefore ineffective towards reducing exposure," said Aviv Cohen, CMO of Pentera. "By continuously challenging existing security controls in production, Pentera's platform validates the effectiveness of their security against real-world hacker tactics, enabling surgical remediation to reduce risk exposure. We're extremely honored to be named a Black Unicorn for 2022. Our selection is a reflection of the incredible work of the entire Pentera team and underscores the value that we are providing to the market."

Pentera's Automated Security Validation platform enables users to dramatically improve security readiness and ability to defend against cyber threats. Emulating the real-world techniques of hackers across the entire cyberattack kill-chain, Pentera continuously challenges existing cybersecurity controls to provide security teams with an actionable roadmap to reduce security exposure.

"We're pleased to name Pentera as a winner among the small, but elite group of cybersecurity industry leaders in our annual Black Unicorn awards," said Gary Miliefsky, Chairman & CEO of Cyber Defense Media group. "With the rate of cyberattacks continuing to rise around the world, the market needs innovative and dynamic solutions like Pentera's to meet the evolving challenges to our security."

Want to work with a 2022 Black Unicorn? Pentera is currently looking to fill more than 60 open positions worldwide. To apply please visit: https://pentera.io/careers/

About Pentera



Pentera is the category leader for Automated Security Validation, allowing every organization to test with ease the integrity of all cybersecurity layers, unfolding true, current security exposures at any moment, at any scale. Thousands of security professionals and service providers around the world use Pentera to guide remediation and close security gaps before they are exploited. For more info, visit: pentera.io

About Cyber Defense Awards



This is Cyber Defense Magazine's 10th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber, Dino Boukouris of MomentumCyber and with much appreciation to emeritus judges Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG and David DeWalt of NightDragon. To see the complete list of finalists and winners for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-winners-for-2022/

Media contact



Noam Hirsch

[email protected]

SOURCE Pentera
Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors Announces National Event for Burn Survivors

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A burn injury is a life-changing event that impacts all aspects of human life, from the physical to emotional aspects of healing. Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting survivors' healing journeys, knows firsthand how peer-to-peer support can positively impact that healing. The opportunity of connection brings hope and healing to survivors and their loved ones at any stage of recovery. Phoenix World Burn Congress began in 1985 and has helped over 20,000 people since its inception. Phoenix Society is proud to announce the return of the Phoenix WBC to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Habor, MD, on October 4-7th!

The 2023 conference was officially announced during a live-stream event on Tuesday with Phoenix World Burn Congress's proud partners MedStar Washington Hospital Center and the National Fire Protection Association:

"We are thrilled to welcome Phoenix World Burn Congress to our neck of the woods," said Jeffrey Shupp, MD, director of the Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. "As the Washington region's only Burn Center, we have been a fixture for a half-century serving our community with groundbreaking surgical, critical, and rehabilitative care with the focus on the wellbeing of our burn patients. We are proud to partner with an organization that places priority on helping burn survivors and their families on their journey to recovery."

Phoenix World Burn Congress offers opportunities for burn survivors, families, medical teams, and healthcare professionals alike. The 4-day event will be located 15 minutes from the heart of Washington, D.C., in its reimagined format; here are a few of the new offerings to be expected:

Schedule : The event will occur in person as a biennial gathering, allowing the organization for more impactful and sustainable programming.

: The event will occur in person as a biennial gathering, allowing the organization for more impactful and sustainable programming. Walk of Solidarity : The annual "Walk of Remembrance" is reimagined to offer both remembrances for the lives lost while also opening the walk for burn prevention advocacy and honoring the impact of the injury itself.

: The annual "Walk of Remembrance" is reimagined to offer both remembrances for the lives lost while also opening the walk for burn prevention advocacy and honoring the impact of the injury itself. Wellness and Vendor Fai r: An updated exhibit hall with opportunities to network and connect with the burn industry.

r: An updated exhibit hall with opportunities to network and connect with the burn industry. First-Time Attendee Meet-Up: A burn survivor's first year at Phoenix WBC can be overwhelming; this event offers a first-time event to learn how to navigate, get support, and more!

Registration for the event opens in Spring 2023. For sponsorship opportunities or to stay updated on Phoenix WBC updates, visit WorldBurnCongress.org. Phoenix Society can be reached by visiting Phoenix-Society.org or emailing [email protected].

About Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors

Burn survivors and their loved ones face a lifelong physical, emotional, and social recovery journey. Connecting with others who have walked a similar path is essential to optimal recovery and social reintegration. Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to empowering burn survivors and their families at all healing points. Since 1977, Phoenix Society has worked with survivors, families, healthcare professionals, and first responders to support burn recovery, improve the quality of burn care, and prevent burn injuries. For more information, visit www.phoenix-society.org.

Media Contact:

Amber Wilcox

Marketing Lead

616.208.1146

[email protected]

SOURCE Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors
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
Of the various remodeling and service companies on the list, Kitchen Magic ranked #1 for kitchen specialty remodeling.

NAZARETH, Pa., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Qualified Remodeler Magazine named Kitchen Magic to its 2022 Top 500 List of most qualified remodelers. Family-owned and operated since 1979, this is the 19th year Kitchen Magic, a Lehigh Valley-based kitchen remodeling firm has achieved premier status by the influential industry publication.

The magazine ranked Kitchen Magic at No. 78 on their Top 500 List of the most qualified remodelers in the nation. In addition, Kitchen Magic is the first specialty kitchen remodeling firm listed, based on revenue and performance.

Qualified Remodeler Magazine named Kitchen Magic to its 2022 Top 500 List of most qualified remodelers. Family-owned and operated since 1979, this is the 19th year Kitchen Magic, a Lehigh Valley-based kitchen remodeling firm has achieved premier status by the influential industry publication. Kitchen Magic ranked No. 78 Nationwide but is the first specialty kitchen remodeling firm listed, based on revenue and performance.

President of Kitchen Magic, Brett Bacho, stated, "We are proud of these accolades; it tells us that we know how to pivot, particularly post-pandemic, an unprecedented time for home improvement companies." Bacho added, "We continue to make the right decisions and maintain our core values."

A Year in the Industry

Patrick O'Toole, Editor & Owner, in " Riding the Wave ," Qualified Remodeler, August 2022 issue, penned that the Top 500 remodelers were able to capitalize on strong demand "despite persistent labor and supply chain issues."

Indeed, complexities due to the pandemic challenged even the most experienced remodeling firms, O'Toole wrote. But, he continued, "The big are getting bigger at an increasing rate. From 2020 to 2021, remodeling revenues for the Top 500 grew a whopping 23.6 percent while the broader industry grew fast, but at a 7-percent to 9-percent clip."

What the Future Holds

In the future, market fundamentals will remain solid despite hints of a recession. With a large inventory of existing homes, favorable demographics, and the continued trend for employees to work from home, the remodeling sector is fit to ride the wave, summed the trade publication.

In 2022, remodeling's most prominent firms will command higher prices and ultimately drive higher margins. However, remodeling is inherently a local, person-to-person business, which will not change soon, O'Toole noted in their August issue.

About Qualified Remodeler's Top 500

All winners are chosen as a 2022 Top 500 remodeler by the magazine's editorial staff for meeting a set of criteria, which included: installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association memberships, industry certifications, industry awards, and community service.

Read more about Qualified Remodeler Top 500 https://www.qualifiedremodeler.com/riding-the-wave/

ABOUT KITCHEN MAGIC

Kitchen Magic is a kitchen remodeling company with headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Nazareth, PA. Kitchen Magic has been family-owned and operated since 1979. Kitchen Magic has transformed nearly 60,000 kitchens using an exclusive cabinet refacing process. Today, Kitchen Magic serves CT, NJ, NY and PA, Kitchen Magic has been recognized by Qualified Remodeler as #1 in kitchen remodeling nationwide 9 times, is an 11-time Angie's List Super Service Award winner, an 11-time Best of Houzz winner for service & design, and an 8-time winner of The Morning Call's Top Workplace Award.

To learn more about Kitchen Magic, visit www.kitchenmagic.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram , Twitter , and Pinterest .

Read more Kitchen Magic News.

Media contact: Linda Fennessy

[email protected]

800.237.0799 x4155

SOURCE Kitchen Magic, Inc.
WALL, N.J., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Student Transportation of America (STA) announced today that Rachel Lane has joined the company's Leadership Team as Vice President of Electrification & Sustainability. In this role, Rachel will lead the company's Green Fleet initiative, including the electric vehicle program, and further the company's commitment to achieving a greener environment through the addition of electric buses to its fleet.

The addition of Rachel to our management team reinforces STA's continued commitment to achieving a greener environment. Tweet this Rachel Lane, Student Transportation of America

"I am thrilled to welcome Rachel to STA and our leadership team. Her deep experience in the adoption of electric vehicles gives STA the elevated level of expertise and support necessary to continue our forward momentum toward the goal of zero emissions," said Patrick Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of STA. "The addition of Rachel to our management team reinforces STA's continued commitment to achieving a greener environment."

Rachel comes to STA from PSEG Long Island's Electric Vehicles Program where she supported New York's nation-leading Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction goals by increasing the state's adoption of electric vehicles. Her experience in building out the necessary infrastructure and knowledge of utility and grid capabilities will be instrumental in leading STA's move toward fleet electrification.

"With Rachel's experience in electrification, passion for sustainability, and in-depth knowledge of the installation of commercial and residential EV charging infrastructures, she is no doubt the right person to lead STA's EV program," said STA Chief Operating Officer Gene Kowalczewski. "It's an exciting time for STA, as we've laid the foundation for a more sustainable future and I'm confident that Rachel will continue to move us forward in a thoughtful, pragmatic way. She will play a key role in further mapping the future of STA's sustainability goals."

"I am thrilled to join the STA family at such an exciting time for the company," said Rachel. "STA has already made great strides toward meeting its goal of zero emissions, especially with the launch of its pilot programs for electric buses in select rural, suburban, and urban environments. I look forward to diving in and further evolving, and where necessary improving, these EV initiatives in a strategic and efficient manner."

Rachel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University's Kelly School of Business. She complemented her education by securing a certificate in Energy Innovation & Emerging Technologies from Stanford University, as well as attending leadership programs at Fordham University. Rachel also served in the U.S. Air Force as a chief engineer and flight commander before moving on to Northrop Grumman Corporation where she served in roles of increasing responsibility in the development of military intelligence systems.

About Student Transportation of America

Founded in 1997, Student Transportation of America (STA) is an industry leader in school transportation, safety and fleet services. STA operates more than 16,000 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, managers, information technology professionals and others, who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.

SOURCE Student Transportation of America
AVENTURA, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RAD Technology Medical Systems (RAD), a provider of custom, modular healthcare facilities, has partnered with Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), a facility of the Antelope Valley Healthcare District located in Lancaster, California, to provide them with a modular Emergency Department addition.

Antelope Valley Medical Center CEO, Edward Mirzabegian, the hospitals executive team, and Antelope Valley Healthcare District board members, Kristina Hong, NP and Don Parazo, M.D. stand in the area of where the new modular Emergency Department will be located.

The new addition will be 7,200 square feet and certified as an OSHPD-1 facility. The building will include 40 treatment bays, a nurses' station and support areas. When complete, the additional emergency room space will allow Antelope Valley Medical Center to better meet their patient demand of around 9,000 patients a month.

"This has been a much-anticipated project," said Edward Mirzabegian, AVMC Chief Executive Officer. "AVMC is the 2nd busiest emergency room in the State; without a doubt, this expansion needed to happen to accommodate the growing need in this region. As the only level II trauma center and ED (emergency department) approved for pediatric care, we're excited for this expansion and what it'll mean to this community."

With modular construction, the modules are constructed off site at a factory. This benefits the hospital and its community, as it will greatly reduce the amount of disruption a project like this typically has on patients and staff.

"Factory construction is underway and the modules are currently scheduled to arrive on site this winter," said Mike Kosinski, RAD's Vice President of Construction and Field Operations. "We are pleased we are able to use our modular technology to benefit Antelope Valley Medical Center and the surrounding community."

"We look forward to the completion of the ED (emergency department) expansion," said Don Parazo, M.D., Antelope Valley Healthcare District board member. "This expansion will allow for a more spacious workflow, and provide additional support to our patients."

The addition will be connected to the existing emergency department and located in part of the current ambulance drop off area. It will look and operate as though it has always been a part of the original building.

The new addition is scheduled to be fully operational this spring.

About RAD Technology Medical Systems, LLC

RAD Technology Medical Systems provides complex, design-built modular facilities for the healthcare industry. These customized, factory fabricated solutions are completed up to 50% faster than standard construction and are installed for temporary, interim or permanent use. RAD's Operating Leases require no capital, allowing projects to commence and complete sooner and customers to generate revenue faster. For more information on our facilities, please visit www.radtechnology.com or contact RAD at [email protected].

About Antelope Valley Medical Center

Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC), the only full-service, acute-care hospital in the Antelope Valley. AVMC has been delivering exceptional care to the community since 1955. It offers the region's only Level II Trauma Center, Pediatric unit, NICU, Inpatient Mental Health Department, Labor and Delivery, Accredited Chest Pain Center/STEMI Receiving Center, Advanced Primary & Comprehensive Stroke Center and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. AVMC is now a Thrombectomy Capable Center. More information is available at www.avmc.org or by calling (661) 949-5000. Follow us @avmedicalcenter

SOURCE RAD Technology Medical Systems
ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Following an extensive international search, Emory University announced today that Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, has been appointed executive vice president for health affairs (EVPHA). Thadhani also will serve as executive director of Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors. He will begin his tenure at Emory on Jan. 1, 2023.

Emory University announced Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, as the next executive vice president for health affairs. Tweet this Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, appointed Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Emory University

"Dr. Thadhani is a dynamic and innovative leader for Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center," says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. "He has deep experience in delivering the highest-quality health care, advancing biomedical research, training health professionals and serving the public to improve the health of all. He will inspire Emory's talented doctors, nurses, frontline staff, faculty and researchers to reach new heights of excellence. In his many years of academic health system leadership, he has never stopped his research and clinical work, which is a testament to his lifelong commitment to serving patients and improving community health. I can't wait for him to get started at Emory."

Thadhani currently serves as chief academic officer and dean for faculty affairs for Mass General Brigham and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, Massachusetts. At Mass General Brigham, he is a member of the executive leadership team and oversees graduate medical education, professional development and a $2.3 billion research enterprise. Previously, he served as vice dean of research and graduate research education at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (2017-2019), associate director of research at Mass General Brigham (2012-2017) and chief of nephrology at Massachusetts General Hospital (2013-2017).

"I am excited to be coming to Emory University and honored to be joining its outstanding leadership team," says Thadhani. "Emory's commitment to serving the Georgia community is impressive and is the driver for its international reputation as a leader in health care delivery and health sciences research, discovery and innovation."

As EVPHA, Thadhani will oversee Emory's academic health sciences center, the Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC), and in this position will shape the next era of research, training and health-care delivery innovation. Founded in 1966, WHSC includes Emory's schools of medicine, public health and nursing, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory Global Health Institute, Goizueta Institute @ Emory Brain Health, Emory Global Diabetes Research Center and Emory Healthcare.

Emory Healthcare, with more than 24,000 employees, 11 hospital campuses and 425 locations, is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia. As EVPHA and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board, Thadhani will provide oversight of Emory Healthcare's CEO and leadership team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care focused on supporting the health and well-being of patients around the state.

"As a physician leader and researcher, Dr. Thadhani understands the needs of patients and how those needs translate to the mission of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, including Emory Healthcare," says John Rice, chair of the WHSC Committee of Emory's Board of Trustees and chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors. "He has a vision for the future that will support our community to address complex health care needs not only in Atlanta and Georgia but around the world."

With more than 30 years as a general and specialized internal medicine physician, Thadhani has extensive experience in patient care, research and clinical trials. He has led a successful research lab with continuous federal funding for more than 25 years, with a focus on kidney disease and developing diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with preeclampsia. Thadhani has performed several clinical trials focused on effective treatments and preventative measures for preeclampsia, which is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

He is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific manuscripts and has published in top-tier journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet and Journal of the American Medical Association. Thadhani has been inducted into several honor societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Epidemiological Society and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He also serves as a board member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a research organization that convenes a community of researchers from across many disciplines and partner institutions  MIT, Harvard and Harvard-affiliated hospitals.

A recipient of several distinguished national awards, Thadhani has an extensive track record of recruiting and mentoring women and underrepresented staff, trainees and faculty. He has been honored with the Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School, the Alumni Award of Merit from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the John P. Peters Award from the American Society of Nephrology.

Thadhani earned his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1991. He received a master of public health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame. He also completed the LEAD Innovation Certificate Program in 2020 at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

"This is an exciting time at Emory, and I look forward to supporting the tripartite mission of education, research and clinical care of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and advancing its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice," says Thadhani. "There is no limit to what we can accomplish with the remarkable faculty, staff and students at Emory."

About Emory University

Emory University is one of the world's leading research universities. Since 1836, Emory's missionto create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanityhas guided the university in its work to drive discovery, serve the common good, and prepare leaders to make a difference in the world. Emory is internationally recognized for its outstanding liberal arts colleges, highly ranked graduate and professional schools and one of the world's leading health care systems. Emory offers more than 80 majors and 60 minors and encompasses nine academic divisions. More information is available at emory.edu.

Media contacts:

Nikki Troxclair, APR, [email protected]

Brian Katzowitz, [email protected]

Janet Christenbury, [email protected]

SOURCE Emory University
Transaction Marks the Fourth Portfolio Realization for RoundTable's Equity Fund IV

LAKE FOREST, Ill., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RoundTable Healthcare Partners ("RoundTable"), an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, announced today that it has completed the sale of Symmetry Surgical ("Symmetry" or the "Company") to Aspen Surgical ("Aspen"), a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Symmetry is a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of reusable surgical instrumentation, electrosurgical products, and minimally invasive surgical devices. The Company maintains a rich legacy of trusted brands including Bookwalter, Bovie, Greenberg, Reddick and The O.R. Company, amongst others, that support a wide range of surgical specialties and sites of care. The Company is headquartered in Nashville, TN, with operations in Louisville, KY, Tuttlingen, Germany and Melbourne, Australia.

RoundTable acquired a majority interest in Symmetry in July 2016. In partnership with management, RoundTable supported the diversification into adjacent product categories, implemented a new commercial model focused on direct selling and executed and integrated three material add-on transactions, positioning the business for sustainable long-term growth.

"I would like to thank the outstanding management team and dedicated employees of Symmetry for their tireless work in building a leading surgical solutions platform. We are proud of the team for the growth they have achieved and the service they have provided their customers," said Tom Kapfer, Managing Partner of RoundTable and Chairman of Symmetry. "We believe that Aspen will be an excellent partner for the Company and its employees and customers going forward."

Brian Straeb, Chief Executive Officer of Symmetry, added, "RoundTable has been an invaluable partner for Symmetry. They have supported us through strategic investments to enhance the commercial organization and multiple transformative acquisitions to build our portfolio of brands. We now look forward to entering our next phase of growth with Aspen."

William Blair and Baird acted as financial advisors to Symmetry. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as exclusive legal advisor to RoundTable in this transaction.

About RoundTable Healthcare Partners

RoundTable Healthcare Partners, based in Lake Forest, IL, is an operating-oriented private equity firm focused exclusively on the healthcare industry. RoundTable partners with companies that can benefit from its extensive industry relationships and proven operating and transaction expertise. RoundTable has established a successful track record of working with owner/founders, family companies, management teams, entrepreneurs and corporate partners who share a vision and believe in the value creation potential of its partnership model. RoundTable has raised $4.25 billion in committed capital, including six equity funds totaling $3.65 billion and three subordinated debt funds totaling $600 million. More information about RoundTable Healthcare Partners can be found at www.roundtablehp.com.

SOURCE RoundTable Healthcare Partners
SCADAfence is a finalist for the title, "Black Unicorn" in the prestigious awards for cyber security companies with the potential to reach over $1B valuation

RAMAT GAN, Israel, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SCADAfence, the global technology leader in OT & IoT cyber security, today announced that it has been named a finalist in the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022.

The term "Black Unicorn" refers to a cyber security company that is expected to reach a one billion USD valuation as determined by private or public investment. These awards showcase the small group of companies that are believed to have this rare potential. SCADAfence was selected from a large pool of many of the industry's leading providers of cyber security products and services.

We're pleased to name SCADAfence as a finalist among a small, elite group of cybersecurity industry leaders in our annual Black Unicorn awards," said Judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of AllegisCyber Capital , Dino Boukouris of Momentum Cyber and Gary Miliefsky of Cyberdefense Media Group .

"We are honored to be named a Black Unicorn for 2022, illustrating our continued ability to successfully combat the next generation of cyber threats on critical infrastructure & manufacturing" said Elad Ben-Meir, CEO of SCADAfence. "We have a world class team at SCADAfence and we are well on track to reach unicorn status."

"I have no doubt that SCADAfence will reach the rarefied level of unicorn status," said Erel Margalit, Founder & Executive Chairman of JVP , SCADAfence's largest investor.

"There are few companies in the cyber security space who have the necessary combination of technical expertise, vision of where they want to go, and commitment to customer experience to reach that valuation. I have no doubt SCADAfence will be one of the extraordinary few to achieve it."

"We are proud of the success that SCADAfence has achieved so far," said Naoki Kamimaeda, Partner at Global Brain , a major SCADAfence investor from Japan. "We are aware of the tremendous potential for continued growth that exists within this company. They are at the forefront of OT security and it's understandable why so many major manufacturing and critical infrastructure organizations continue to choose SCADAfence to secure their networks."

"SCADAfence continues to be a strategic partner, helping our customers more efficiently manage risk by providing a holistic view of their IT and OT environments," said Andre Cuenin, Chief Revenue Officer at Rapid7 . "We are excited to watch SCADAfence enter its next stage of growth as they strive to bridge the gap between IT and OT cybersecurity."

About Cyber Defense Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazine's 10th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber, Dino Boukouris of MomentumCyber and with much appreciation to emeritus judges Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG and David DeWalt of NightDragon.

About SCADAfence

SCADAfence is the global technology leader in OT & IoT cyber security. The SCADAfence platform enables organizations with complex OT networks to embrace the benefits of industrial IoT by reducing cyber risks and mitigating operational threats. The non-intrusive platform provides full coverage of large-scale networks, offering best-in-class detection accuracy, asset discovery and governance with minimal false-positives. SCADAfence delivers proactive security and visibility to many of the world's most complex OT networks, including the largest manufacturing facility in Europe. SCADAfence enables organizations in manufacturing, building management and critical infrastructure industries to operate securely, reliably and efficiently. To learn more, visit our website , check out our blog , or follow us on LinkedIn .

Contact:

Joan Weiner-Levin

[email protected]

SOURCE SCADAfence
MILWAUKEE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating UserTesting (NYSE: USER) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Thoma Bravo and Sunstone.

Click here to learn how to join the action https://www.ademilaw.com/case/usertesting-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

Ademi LLP alleges UserTesting's financial outlook and prospects are excellent and yet UserTesting holders will receive only $7.50 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for UserTesting by imposing a significant penalty if UserTesting accepts a superior bid. UserTesting insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of UserTesting's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for UserTesting.

If you own UserTesting common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/usertesting-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Azure Power Global Limited ("Azure" or the "Company") (NYSE: AZRE). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Azure and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 29, 2022, Azure issued a press release disclosing, among other items, that "[t]he Company received a whistleblower complaint in May 2022 alleging potential procedural irregularities and misconduct by certain employees at a plant belonging to one of its subsidiaries." Azure further reported that "[a]s part of the Company's review of these allegations, it discovered deviations from safety and quality norms, and it has implemented mechanisms to remediate them and in so doing strengthen safety and quality protocols. Azure's Audit Committee, with the assistance of legal counsel and forensic accounting support, also identified evidence of manipulation of project data and information by certain employees. The Company is implementing immediate remedial measures, and Azure is initiating disclosure of the findings to the appropriate authorities." On this news, Azure's stock price fell $4.61 per share or 44.07% percent, to close at $5.85 per share on August 29, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
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 Young

Vice President, Global Corporate Communications

Direct: 216.515.8849 - [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:

Jim Jaye

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Direct: 216.515.8682 - [email protected]

Eric Swanson

Vice President, Investor Relations

Direct: 216.566.2766 - [email protected]

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company
MUNICH and PFORZHEIM, Germany, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global solar and energy storage industries are booming, and a rising number of companies are driving this growth and international expansion. The innovation hub The smarter E Europe from June 14-16, 2023 at Messe Munchen will be providing the ideal support for this growth. Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, will have 105,000 square meters of exhibition space  almost 20 percent more than previously. ees, Europe's largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, is even growing by almost 60 percent and will occupy 35,000 square meters of exhibition space. The smarter E Europe, which also encompasses the exhibitions EM-Power and Power2Drive is thus further strengthening its position as Europe's largest platform for the energy industry. In 2023, The smarter E Europe expects to see a total of 1,600 exhibitors and over 75,000 visitors across 15 exhibition halls.

The photovoltaics industry has arrived in the terawatt age: The global solar energy capacity reached one terawatt in 2022, and this figure is set to more than double within the next three years to 2.3 terawatt, according to the Global Market Outlook for Solar Power 20222026, which was first presented at Intersolar Europe in May 2022 by SolarPower Europe. The mood in the German solar industry is also excellent. The photovoltaics (PV) business climate index, which is periodically determined by the German Solar Association in cooperation with Intersolar Europe, has been on the rise for years and reached an all-time high of 149 in the first quarter of 2022, with 86 percent of responding PV companies saying that the business climate is excellent or rather good. 65 percent of companies are expecting a markedly more favorable or rather more favorable situation for the coming six months. 29 percent expect the situation to remain unchanged.

At Intersolar Europe, companies drive their growth and make international contacts. This is where manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and start-ups meet investors, project developers, system integrators and installers. As a catalyst of the solar industry, Intersolar Europe creates new dimensions for the PV market with even more exhibition space in the next year: Companies will be presenting their products, innovations and concepts on a total 105,000 square meters across ten halls.

More than three exhibition halls for ees Europe in 2023

The strong growth in solar power systems is also driving the market for residential storage systems: According to EUPD Research, 87 percent of residential storage systems in Germany are installed in combination with a new PV installation. The industry and market research organization is expecting the number of residential storage systems to hit the one million mark in 2024. This will make Germany the biggest market for residential storage systems in Europe. But it is not just the market for residential storage systems that is growing: Analysts at Wood Mackenzie are predicting that the use of stationary battery storage systems could reach a global output of 500 gigawatts by 2031, with Germany as the third largest market after the US and China. According to Battery-Atlas, Germany is already leading within Europe in terms of planned battery cell production, module and pack production and in terms of supply. Since batteries will be the key value creating factor in the automotive industry in the future, German automotive companies are pushing into the energy storage industry more than ever.

ees Europe is growing along with the storage industry: Next year, 35,000 square meters will be dedicated to Europe's largest exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems. ees Europe provides the ideal platform to connect manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of battery cells and of solar storage systems, commercial storage systems and grid storage systems with project developers, systems integrators, installers and professional users within the energy and the automotive industries.

A large number of companies have already registered for The smarter E Europe 2023. The list of exhibitors is available on the website www.thesmartere.de/ausstellerliste. You can download the exhibition site plan of The smarter E Europe 2023 and a diagram showing the changes to the floor plan in the press service area.

The smarter E Europe, which encompasses four individual exhibitions (Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe), will take place from June 14 to 16, 2023, at Messe Munchen. You can now register.

For more information, please visit:

www.intersolar.com

www.ees-europe.com

www.TheSmarterE.de

Intersolar Europe

Intersolar Europe is the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry. It takes place as part of The smarter E Europe  the continent's largest platform for the energy industry  and focuses on the photovoltaic, solar thermal technology and solar power plant sectors. Under the motto "Connecting solar business," manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers, project planners and developers as well as start-ups from around the world meet in Munich every year to discuss the latest developments and trends, explore innovations firsthand and meet potential new customers. Intersolar Europe will take place from June 1416, 2023, at Messe Munchen.

It is held in parallel to three more energy exhibitions as part of the innovation hub for new energy solutions: ees Europe, Europe's largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, Power2Drive Europe, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility, and EM-Power Europe, the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions.

At the accompanying Intersolar Europe Conference, renowned experts shed light on hot topics in the international solar industry.

After three decades of working towards a sustainable energy supply for the future, Intersolar celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. Having started off as the local "Solar '91" exhibition, Intersolar has evolved to become the most important solar industry platform in the world. The exhibition brings together pioneers and drivers of innovation within the solar industry, since 2018 under the umbrella of The smarter E Europe innovative platform.

For more information on Intersolar Europe, please visit: www.intersolar.de/en

Intersolar Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM).

ees Europe

ees Europe  Innovating Energy Storage: This is the motto of Europe's largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, which every year brings together manufacturers, distributors, project developers, system integrators, professional users and suppliers of innovative battery technologies and sustainable solutions for storing renewable energies such as green hydrogen and Power-to-Gas applications.

ees Europe covers the entire value chain for innovative battery and energy storage technologies, from individual components to complete systems.

ees Europe will take place from June 1416, 2023, at Messe Munchen.

In 2023, more than 500 suppliers of energy storage technology and energy storage systems are expected to take part in ees Europe and the parallel exhibitions. The four energy exhibitions are held as part of The smarter E Europe, the continent's largest platform for the energy industry. The exhibition will be accompanied by the ees Europe Conference, where prominent experts will conduct in-depth discussions of hot industry topics.

ees Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM).

www.ees-europe.com

Contact:

Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany

Horst Dufner | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28

[email protected]

Contact:

Solar Promotion GmbH | P.O. Box 100 170 | 75101 Pforzheim, Germany

Sabine Kloos | Tel.: +49 7231 58598-0 | Fax: +49 7231 58598-28

[email protected]

Press contact:

fischerAppelt, relations | Otl-Aicher-Str. 64 | 80807 Munich, Germany

Juliane Heermeier

[email protected]

SOURCE The smarter E Europe
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. , Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Insignia Capital Group is pleased to announce it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its majority interest in WillowTree ("WillowTree" or the "Company") to TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT) for a total enterprise value of US$1.225 billion. The deal is anticipated to close in January 2023, and is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, WillowTree is a digital product consultancy that provides end-to-end, strategy, design, full-stack development, and growth marketing services to the world's leading brands. WillowTree's client roster includes Fortune 500 companies across key verticals including telecommunications and media, healthcare and life sciences, financial services, and technology and software.

Insignia Capital Group invested in WillowTree in 2018. Since then, the company has quadrupled revenue and scaled from two locations in Virginia and North Carolina to thirteen global studios across three continents. Together, WillowTree and Insignia made significant investments in the organization and completed three highly strategic acquisitions, all of which accelerated the company's growth and strengthened its market positioning.

"It has been an honor to partner with the world-class team at WillowTree during a period of transformative growth over the last four years. Management's execution of the strategic plan we envisioned at the outset of our partnership has been truly exceptional," said Tony Broglio, Partner at Insignia Capital Group.

"The team at Insignia were outstanding partners during a critical period of explosive growth, and we are grateful for their insight, support, and commitment to our vision," said Tobias Dengel, CEO of WillowTree. "We believe the best is yet to come for WillowTree, and we're excited to execute on the major opportunities ahead with TELUS International."

Canaccord Genuity served as exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Davis & Gilbert LLP served as legal counsel to Insignia Capital and WillowTree.

About Insignia Capital Group

Insignia Capital Group is a San Francisco Bay Area private equity firm focused on lower middle-market companies. Insignia partners with company founders and management teams to help drive growth and achieve true business potential. The firm's principals have significant experience building businesses across a range of industries including consumer and business services. For more information, please visit www.insigniacap.com .

About WillowTree

WillowTree helps the world's most admired brands on their path to digital leadershipfrom product to process. Founded in 2008 as a pioneering mobile app development company, WillowTree has grown into a full-service digital product consultancy, helping our clients anywhere humans and technology intersect. Our teams provide end-to-end, full-stack development, strategy, design, and growth marketing services. To learn more, please visit www.willowtreeapps.com .

About TELUS International

TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The company's services support the full lifecycle of its clients' digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS International's integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across high growth industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, eCommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and travel and hospitality.

TELUS International's unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than one million citizens around the world, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $4.8 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com .

SOURCE Insignia Capital Group
BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- October 28, 2022, marks the Fourth Annual BE POWER POSITIVE DAY in the United States. This date was chosen to honor the birthday in 1466 of the Dutch philosopher Disiderius Erasmus, considered one of the greatest scholars of the Northern Renaissance. In 1516 he wrote The Education of a Christian Prince, a curriculum to assure that future kings would rule for the greatest good of their subjects, not themselves. This book argued directly against Machiavelli's The Prince, written three years earlier, which advised rulers on how to maintain and increase power for their own benefit.

Each year The Right Use of Power Institute (RUPI) selects one individual and one organization for their annual Power Positive Award. This year's awardees are Kate Raworth, Senior Associate at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute, England, and Bioneers, a nonprofit organization co-headquartered in San Francisco, California, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Ms. Raworth is a self-described "renegade economist," creator of the Doughnut economic model based, per Wikipedia, on balancing "essential human needs and planetary boundaries," and co-founder of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab. She argues in understandable layperson's language for the priority of human thriving versus the Western economic gospel of continuous economic growth, which she believes will doom the planet.

Bioneers describes itself at its website (bioneers.org) as "an innovative nonprofit organization that highlights breakthrough solutions for restoring people and planet. Founded in 1990 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by social entrepreneurs Kenny Ausubel and Nina Simons,  [it acts] as a fertile hub of social and scientific innovators with practical and visionary solutions for the world's most pressing environmental and social challenges." For more information, visit www.rightuseofpower.org.

SOURCE Right Use of Power Institute
The three year agreement marks the beginning of the SUTD-Tecnologico de Monterrey research collaboration on the improvement of cyber-physical learning through the SUTD campusX initiative.

The agreement will result in the improvement of cyber-physical learning, resulting in new pathways for the future of education.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Tecnologico de Monterrey (Tec) through its Institute for the Future of Education, signed a research collaboration agreement to improve the cyber physical learning of students and teachers in Singapore and Mexico.

Through this three year agreement both parties will share practices and experiences in the configuration and usage of cyber-physical learning infrastructure to create new opportunities for educational innovation and research, resulting in new pathways for the future of education.

The SUTD-Tec's Institute for the Future of Education agreement will foster the exchange and sharing of practices of cyber physical learning, and evaluation of the effectiveness of associated educational delivery models. Both parties will conduct joint experiments involving students and instructors to explore domains such as technology-enabled learning, translational pedagogical innovations, learning analytics, and personalized and engaging learning.

This research collaboration will have its main focus in the SUTD campusX initiative, that focuses on the needs and experiences of students and instructors using data analytics and learning sciences with the purpose of creating a safe, inclusive and enjoyable space for students to learn, interact and optimize their learning outcomes

Regarding the campusX and its impact on the future of education, Professor Phoon Kok Kwang, SUTD's Provost said: "Both Tec and SUTD share a common vision of cyber-physical learning, with similar interests and understanding of the challenges in areas of applying human-centric technology and design to the practice of pedagogy and andragogy in actual higher learning environments. This forms a strong basis on which many more projects can be conducted between Tec and SUTD. The current research collaboration is an important start and SUTD looks forward to furthering the partnership with Tec in years to come. In a similar vein, SUTD also looks forward to work with more like-minded partners across academia and industry and from local and global landscapes to make cyber-physical learning a reality."

Regarding this research collaboration between the two renowned higher education institutions, Juan Pablo Murra, Rector for Higher Education of Tecnologico de Monterrey expressed his satisfaction for the signing of the agreement: "To advance in today's education challenges and design the future of education, collaboration is key. Tec has pioneered educational innovation in Mexico and Latin America, and we are aiming to expand our projects and initiatives to have an increasingly global relationship and impact. In particular, we're developing an initiative to strengthen linkages with Asia and since we have a long-standing relationship with Singapore and SUTD we're pleased to extend collaborations with them through research, education and technology."

Furthermore, Michael Fung, Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Education of Tecnologico de Monterrey emphasized the importance of this kind of agreements between both universities: "Conducting joint experiments to test innovative cross-border educational models will be key to developing effective cyber-physical learning environments. This collaborative project with SUTD's campusX initiative will increase learning opportunities for global higher education audiences, capitalizing on the intercultural exchanges between Singaporean and Mexican students and professors, and developing best practices with an international perspective."

The research activities framed in this agreement are due to start during the first quarter of 2023 and the experimental and simulated learning environment trials will result in the identification of best practices in digital education delivery models supported by effective cyber-physical technology platforms.

Download pictures here: https://bit.ly/3gzTSiS

Press contacts:

Tecnologico de Monterrey

Dafne Tenorio

Tel: 81 2319 2887

[email protected]

SUTD

Melissa Koh

Tel: +65 6499 8742

[email protected]

Visit Newsroom, the Tecnologico de Monterrey press room.

About Tecnologico de Monterrey

Tecnologico de Monterrey (http://www.tec.mx) is a private, non-profit, multi-campus university system. Since its founding in 1943, it has stood out for its academic excellence, educational innovation, entrepreneurship and internationalization, as well as for its links with industry and employers, and its great capacity for execution. It has campuses in 29 cities in Mexico; an enrollment of more than 67 thousand professional and graduate students, and almost 7 thousand professors; in addition to more than 26 thousand high school students and 2 thousand 500 high school teachers. The institution has been accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) since 1950. According to the QS World University Rankings (2022), it is in position 161, ranking 30th among private universities in the world; and in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings (2022) as number 1 in Latin America and 26th in the world. In the Times Higher Education Latin America University Rankings (2022), it is ranked 4th in Latin America; it is also the only university outside the U.S. in the Top Schools for Entrepreneurship Ranking (2022) of Princeton Review and Entrepreneur, ranking 6th in entrepreneurship programs at the undergraduate level. It belongs to several prestigious international networks such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), Universitas 21 (U21) and The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), among others.

SOURCE Tecnologico de Monterrey
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The vacation rental market in Europe is expected to grow by USD 29.23 billion during 2021-2026. The market is fragmented and segmented by management (managed by owners and professionally managed) and geography (UK, France, Italy, Spain, and the Rest of Europe). Get Free Sample Report.

Vacation Rental Market in Europe: Major Driver

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Vacation Rental Market in Europe 2022-2026

The rise in tourists visiting Europe is one of the major drivers fueling the expansion of the global vacation rental sector. The top tourist destinations in Europe are France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The governments of remote nations have put initiatives in place that are favorable to the expansion of the tourism sector. Apartments, farm stays, private residences, cabins, beach houses, villas, and cottages are in high demand worldwide. Investments in short-term rental properties are seen as a popular choice, significantly when diversifying a single investment. During the predicted period, the demand for holiday rental properties will rise as more travelers visit Europe. Request Free Sample Report.

Vacation Rental Market in Europe: Vendor Analysis

The vacation rental market in Europe is fragmented with large and small-sized players, and the competition among these players is intense. However, as international players expand their market footprint with their vast infrastructure and reach, regional vendors struggle to compete in terms of quality and technology. The competitive environment in the vacation rental market in Europe is likely to intensify further with an increase in product service extensions and technological innovations. Vendors are adopting various advertising strategies through mobiles and social media platforms and working toward incorporating an impressive experience. Large players are expanding on providing urban and non-urban vacation rental offerings to cater to diverse customer segments.

Major Vendors with key Offerings

9flats.com PTE Ltd.: The company offers vacation rental that includes lease, rent short-term lodging.

The company offers vacation rental that includes lease, rent short-term lodging. Airbnb Inc.: The company offers vacation rental that includes vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, castles, tree houses, and hotel rooms.

The company offers vacation rental that includes vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays, castles, tree houses, and hotel rooms. Booking Holdings Inc.: The company offers vacation rental that includes online travel and related services.

The company offers vacation rental that includes online travel and related services. Clickstay Ltd.: The company offers vacation rental that provides holiday homeowners and agents a platform to manage their rentals while giving holidaymakers the tools to find, book, and pay for their property online.

The company offers vacation rental that provides holiday homeowners and agents a platform to manage their rentals while giving holidaymakers the tools to find, book, and pay for their property online. Expedia Inc.: The company offers vacation rental that provides its guests with a seamless browsing and booking experience for travel accommodations.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Buy Sample Report.

Parent Market Analysis

Technavio categorizes the vacation rental market in Europe as a part of the global specialized consumer services market within the global Consumer Discretionary market. Our research report widely covered external factors influencing the parent market's growth potential in the coming years, which will determine the levels of growth of the European vacation rental market during the forecast period.

Vacation Rental Market in Europe Value Chain Analysis

The end-to-end understanding of the value chain is essential in profit margin optimization and evaluation of business strategies. During the forecast period, the data available in our value chain analysis segment can assist vendors in driving costs and improving customer service.

The value chain of the Vacation Rental Market in Europe includes the following core components:

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Outbound logistics

Marketing and sales

Service

Support activities

Innovation

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

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Vacation Rental Market In Europe Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 8.18% Market growth 2022-2026 $29.23 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 14.28 Regional analysis UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Rest of Europe Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 9flats.com PTE Ltd., Agoda Co. Pte. Ltd., Airbnb Inc., Booking Holdings Inc., Casamundo GmbH, Clickstay Ltd., Expedia Inc., FlipKey, Holiday Lettings, HomeToGo GmbH, Hotels.com, HOUSETRIP LTD., KASA Hotel Collection, KAYAK Software Corp, RedAwning.com Inc., Sonder Holdings Inc., TripAdvisor LLC, Vacasa LLC, and Vrbo 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 by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Management



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 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 14: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Europe : Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 16: Data Table on Regional - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Management

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Management - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Management - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Management

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Management



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Management

5.3 Managed by owners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Managed by owners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Managed by owners - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Managed by owners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Managed by owners - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Professionally managed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Professionally managed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Professionally managed - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Professionally managed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Professionally managed - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Management

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Management ($ 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 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 42: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 44: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 48: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 49: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Italy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 52: Chart on Italy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on Italy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Spain - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Spain - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Spain - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Spain - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Spain - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 Rest of Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Rest of Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Rest of Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 60: Chart on Rest of Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Rest of Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 62: 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 63: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

8.4 Market trends

9 Vendor Landscape

9.1 Overview

9.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 64: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

9.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 65: Overview on factors of disruption

9.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 66: Impact of key risks on business

10 Vendor Analysis

10.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 67: Vendors covered

10.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 68: Matrix on vendor position and classification

10.3 9flats.com PTE Ltd.

Exhibit 69: 9flats.com PTE Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 70: 9flats.com PTE Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 71: 9flats.com PTE Ltd. - Key offerings

10.4 Airbnb Inc.

Exhibit 72: Airbnb Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 73: Airbnb Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 74: Airbnb Inc. - Key offerings

10.5 Booking Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 75: Booking Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 76: Booking Holdings Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 77: Booking Holdings Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 78: Booking Holdings Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 79: Booking Holdings Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Casamundo GmbH

Exhibit 80: Casamundo GmbH - Overview



Exhibit 81: Casamundo GmbH - Product / Service



Exhibit 82: Casamundo GmbH - Key offerings

10.7 Clickstay Ltd.

Exhibit 83: Clickstay Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 84: Clickstay Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 85: Clickstay Ltd. - Key offerings

10.8 Expedia Inc.

Exhibit 86: Expedia Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 87: Expedia Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 88: Expedia Inc. - Key offerings

10.9 FlipKey

Exhibit 89: FlipKey - Overview



Exhibit 90: FlipKey - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: FlipKey - Key offerings

10.10 HOUSETRIP LTD.

Exhibit 92: HOUSETRIP LTD. - Overview



Exhibit 93: HOUSETRIP LTD. - Product / Service



Exhibit 94: HOUSETRIP LTD. - Key offerings

10.11 TripAdvisor LLC

Exhibit 95: TripAdvisor LLC - Overview



Exhibit 96: TripAdvisor LLC - Business segments



Exhibit 97: TripAdvisor LLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 98: TripAdvisor LLC - Segment focus

10.12 Vacasa LLC

Exhibit 99: Vacasa LLC - Overview



Exhibit 100: Vacasa LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 101: Vacasa LLC - Key offerings

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 102: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 103: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 104: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 105: Research methodology



Exhibit 106: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 107: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 108: 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
Business Intelligence Group gives Vajro cloud leadership honors for no-code platform to convert Shopify stores to mobile apps

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vajro, the mobile app platform that builds exquisitely crafted Android and iOS apps for Ecommerce stores, has received the 2022 Stratus Award from the Business Intelligence Group for Top Products and Services of the year. Vajro has been named the winner in the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) category.

2022 Stratus Award

The Business Intelligence Stratus Awards recognizes companies and individuals innovating in the cloud space. Gartner expects spending on public cloud services to grow more than 20% this year as businesses and consumers adopt more cloud computing services. The Stratus Awards recognizes key players who are uniquely adding value through cloud innovation.

"We are delighted and honored that our app development platform for online store owners was chosen for a 2022 Stratus Award," said Baskar Agneeswaran, CEO and Founder of Vajro.

"We designed our drag-and-drop platform to create customized e-commerce apps seamlessly and easily, usually in under an hour. And we've built in push notifications, live video streaming, and other key features to help stores increase their sales and conversions. The Stratus Award for best Platform-as-a-Service proves the value that Vajro brings to e-commerce and the cloud market."

Vajro is aligned with the e-commerce industry, enabling Shopify stores to build native mobile apps in under 60 minutes without writing a single line of code. Vajro currently offers its platform to Shopify stores but plans to open up its MADP for WooCommerce and Magento in the near future. Vajro is the first mobile app builder to launch live video commerce features and is currently the only mobile app builder to offer this feature.

For more information visit: https://www.bintelligence.com/stratus-awards

About Vajro

Vajro, headquartered in Irving, Texas, is a mobile app platform that builds exquisitely crafted Android and iOS apps for stores. Brands can use Vajro to build native Android and iOS apps in just sixty minutes without writing a single line of code. Learn more at www.vajro.com.

Contact:

Chelsea Freeman

Firecracker PR

[email protected]

(909) 573-7237

SOURCE Vajro
Developed and refined for over a decade, Visions' Launchpad Student Support System seamlessly integrates all technologies into one easy-to-use platform

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In September 2022, Visions In Education, a Sacramento-based charter school serving over 6,500 students throughout Northern California, applied for and received copyright protection for its Launchpad Student Support System. This unique system, built from the ground up by Visions, ensures that technology is an asset for the school, not a complicated patchwork of programs and systems that can often overwhelm and confuse users.

"As a non-classroom-based charter school, the effective use of technology is critical to our core mission of serving students," said Tom Tafoya, Visions' Chief Operating Officer who has been with the school for 18 years. "About 15 years ago, we really started seeing an acceleration of different programs and platforms being launched to assist students, parents, teachers and administrators. It was great to see so much technology being developed for the education space but it quickly became clear that all those different products had the potential to overwhelm users."

Visions began exploring how it could spend its own time and technology resources to better integrate these different products into a single ecosystem, minimizing the need for end users to organize and maintain the different products.

"The Launchpad Student Support System creates a single point of entry for users regardless of the programs and platforms they are accessing," continued Tafoya. "This was a significant investment for us considering the technological expertise involved and the responsibility to ensure that the data collected and shared through Launchpad was secure and protected. It's amazing to look back years later and see how Launchpad has evolved as such an important part of how we serve students now."

The Launchpad Student Support System is the single point of entry for parents to access student records, order curricula and supplies, manage events and more. Visions has partnered with major curriculum and supply vendors including Amazon, Staples, BNC K-12 powered by MBS, Bookshark, Lakeshore Learning, Rainbow Resource Center and TextbookX to create custom integrations within Launchpad. Staff use Launchpad to track enrollment and attendance, manage vendors, monitor and track student requests and streamline communication between different school audiences.

Launchpad was also critical in Visions winning a "Pivotal Practice Award" from California Department of Education for its ability to quickly and effectively distribute technology to families and staff as the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person interaction.

"We were incredibly proud of the fact that we were able to quickly adapt to meet the challenges of the pandemic with minimal disruption to our students and staff," said Dr. Steve Olmos, Visions' CEO. "Because Launchpad was already such an integral part of our work, we were able to avoid the struggles of maintaining student engagement and attendance that impacted so many other schools."

After spending considerable time and resources building and refining Launchpad, it only made sense to seek copyright protection for this critical asset. As such, all versions of the software code have been copy written and the name of the software has been trademarked. This IP protects Visions significant investment in the system going back to 2011.

About Visions In Education

Visions In Education is a free, public charter school that serves over 6,500 TK-12 students in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Visions offers students flexible and personalized service in their Independent Study, University Prep and Home School programs. Learn more at viedu.org .

Contact:

Christopher Bertelli

[email protected]

SOURCE Visions In Education
- Conference Call Scheduled for 9 a.m. EDT Today -

EXTON, Pa., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE: WST) today announced its financial results for the third-quarter 2022 and updated full-year 2022 financial guidance.

Third-Quarter 2022 Summary (comparisons to prior-year period)

Net sales of $686.9 million declined 2.8%; organic net sales growth was 4.3%.

declined 2.8%; organic net sales growth was 4.3%. Reported-diluted EPS of $1.59 declined 31.2%.

declined 31.2%. Adjusted-diluted EPS of $2.03 declined 1.5%.

declined 1.5%. Company is updating full-year 2022 net sales guidance to a new range of $2.830 billion to $2.840 billion , compared to a prior range of $2.950 billion to $2.975 billion .

to , compared to a prior range of to . Company is updating full-year 2022 adjusted-diluted EPS guidance to a new range of $8.15 to $8.20 , compared to a prior range of $9.00 to $9.15 .

to , compared to a prior range of to . The Company also announced that its Board of Directors has approved a fourth-quarter 2022 dividend of $0.19 per share, a 5.6% increase over the $0.18 per share paid in each of the four preceding quarters. This is the thirtieth consecutive annual increase in the Company's dividend. The dividend will be paid on November 16, 2022 , to shareholders of record as of November 9, 2022 .

"Adjusted-diluted EPS" and "organic net sales" are Non-U.S. GAAP measurements. See discussion under the heading "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" in this release.

"While our base, non-COVID-19 demand continues to grow, we have had multiple constraints that impacted our financial results," said Eric M. Green, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board. "Delays in expansion projects as well as customer delivery timing and mix-shift related productivity impacts resulted in lower-than-expected overall high-value product (HVP) net sales. We expect to resolve these issues in early 2023."

Mr. Green concluded, "We project our full-year 2023 base business, led by our Biologics market unit, to exceed our financial construct of 7% to 9% annual organic net sales growth. While we expect a further decline in COVID-19-related net sales, our base business growth will more than offset the decline, resulting in overall organic net sales growth in 2023."

Proprietary Products Segment

Net sales declined by 1.7% to $567.0 million. Organic net sales growth was 5.5%, with currency translation decreasing net sales growth by 720 basis points. HVP net sales represented over 70% of segment net sales and generated mid-single digit organic net sales growth, led by customer demand for NovaPure, Westar and Envision components and self-injection devices.

The Biologics and Generics market units had mid-single digit organic net sales growth, and the Pharma market unit had low-single digit organic net sales growth.

Contract-Manufactured Products Segment

Net sales declined by 7.5% to $120.0 million. Organic net sales declined by 1.2% with currency translation decreasing net sales growth by 630 basis points. Segment performance was affected by a decline in components for healthcare diagnostic devices.

Financial Highlights (first nine months of 2022)

Operating cash flow was $493.2 million, an increase of 16.5%. Capital expenditures were $189.7 million, an increase of 7.2% over the same period last year. Free cash flow (operating cash flow minus capital expenditures) was $303.5 million, an increase of 23.2%.

During the first nine months of 2022, the Company repurchased 563,334 shares for $202.9 million at an average share price of $360.03 under its share repurchase program.

Full-Year 2022 Financial Guidance

Full-year 2022 net sales are expected to be in the range of $2.830 billion to $2.840 billion , compared to a prior guidance range of $2.950 billion to $2.975 billion .

to , compared to a prior guidance range of to . Organic net sales growth is expected to be approximately 7%, compared to a prior guidance range of approximately 11%.



The Company expects a full-year decline in COVID-19 related net sales of approximately $85 million , unchanged from prior guidance.

, unchanged from prior guidance.

Net sales guidance, based on current foreign currency exchange rates, includes an estimated fourth-quarter 2022 headwind of approximately $60 million .

. Full-year 2022 adjusted-diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $8.15 to $8.20 , compared to a prior guidance range of $9.00 to $9.15 .

to , compared to a prior guidance range of to . Based on current foreign currency exchange rates, fourth-quarter adjusted-diluted EPS guidance includes a $0.17 headwind.

headwind.

The revised guidance includes a $0.16 EPS positive impact from the first nine-months 2022 tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

EPS positive impact from the first nine-months 2022 tax benefits from stock-based compensation.

For the fourth-quarter 2022, our EPS guidance range assumes a tax rate of 23% and does not include potential tax benefits from stock-based compensation. Any tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation beyond those recorded in the first nine months of 2022 would provide a positive adjustment to our full-year adjusted-diluted EPS guidance.



Full-year 2022 capital spending is expected to be in a range of $300 million to $320 million , compared to prior guidance of $380 million .

Third-Quarter 2022 Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results and business expectations at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. The live audio-only webcast will be made available via the Company's Investor Relations website at https://bit.ly/3cgSM9S .

To participate and ask questions during the conference call, you must register in advance at https://bit.ly/3eipdG3 . Upon registration, all telephone participants will receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that will be used to access the call.

Management will refer to a slide presentation during the call, which will be made available on the day of the call. To view the presentation, select "Presentations" in the "Investors" section of the Company's website.

A replay of the conference call and webcast will be available on the Company's website for 30 days.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include such words as, "updating," "expect," "will be," "to resolve," "project," "is expected," "includes," "assumes," "guidance," "would provide," "future," "will," "may," and other similar terminology. These statements reflect management's current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this release. There is no certainty that actual results will be achieved in-line with current expectations. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The following are some of the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or underlying our forward-looking statements: the prolonged effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic, including prevailing economic conditions and general uncertainties relating thereto that may be unknown and unforeseeable; customers' changing inventory requirements and manufacturing plans and customer decisions to move forward with our new products and product categories, including any re-prioritization of product needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic; other potential impacts from COVID-19, including interruptions or weaknesses in our supply chain, illness in our workforce and access to transport for our products; disruptions or limitations in the Company's manufacturing capacity; average profitability, or mix, of the products we sell; dependence on third-party suppliers and partners; increased raw material, energy and labor costs; fluctuations in currency exchange; and the ability to meet development milestones with key customers; and the consequences of other geopolitical events, including natural disasters, acts of war, and global health crises. This list of important factors is not all inclusive. For a description of certain additional factors that could cause the Company's future results to differ from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements, see Part I Item 1A , entitled "Risk Factors," in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

Except as required by law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains certain non-GAAP financial measures, including organic net sales and adjusted-diluted EPS. For the purpose of aiding the comparison of our year-over-year results, we may refer to net sales and other financial results excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Organic net sales exclude the impact from acquisitions and/or divestitures and translate the current-period reported sales of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. Dollar at the applicable foreign currency exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior-year period. We may also refer to financial results excluding the effects of unallocated items. The re-measured results excluding effects from currency translation and excluding the effects of unallocated items are not in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and should not be used as a substitute for the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures. The non-U.S. GAAP financial measures are incorporated into our discussion and analysis as management uses them in evaluating our results of operations and believes that this information provides users a valuable insight into our overall performance and financial position. A reconciliation of these adjusted non-U.S. GAAP measures to the comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures is included in the accompanying tables.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (in millions, except per share data)



Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,

2022 2021 2022 2021 Net sales $686.9 100 % $706.5 100 % $2,178.2 100 % $2,100.8 100 % Cost of goods and services sold 418.9 61 418.3 59 1,304.1 60 1,225.6 58 Gross profit 268.0 39 288.2 41 874.1 40 875.2 42 Research and development 13.6 2 13.1 2 42.6 2 39.1 2 Selling, general and administrative expenses 66.3 10 91.9 13 231.2 11 264.8 13 Other (income) expense, net 1.9 - 1.8 - (4.0) - 3.0 - Operating profit 186.2 27 181.4 26 604.3 27 568.3 27 Interest expense, net 0.7 - 1.4 - 4.0 - 4.9 - Other nonoperating expense (income) 49.3 7 (1.1) - 49.1 2 (3.6) - Income before income taxes 136.2 20 181.1 26 551.2 25 567.0 27 Income tax expense 20.4 3 12.0 2 85.8 4 73.0 4 Equity in net income of affiliated companies (4.8) (1) (6.5) (1) (17.5) (1) (20.1) (1) Net income $120.6 18 % $175.6 25 % $482.9 22 % $514.1 24 %

















Net income per share:















Basic $1.62

$2.37

$6.49

$6.95

Diluted $1.59

$2.31

$6.36

$6.78



















Average common shares outstanding 74.4

74.1

74.4

74.0

Average shares assuming dilution 75.7

76.0

75.9

75.8



WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES REPORTING SEGMENT INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (in millions)



Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended

September 30, September 30, Net Sales: 2022 2021 2022 2021 Proprietary Products $567.0 $577.0 $1,822.0 $1,708.0 Contract-Manufactured Products 120.0 129.7 356.5 393.2 Eliminations (0.1) (0.2) (0.3) (0.4) Consolidated Total $686.9 $706.5 $2,178.2 $2,100.8









Gross Profit:







Proprietary Products $247.3 $267.3 $810.3 $811.5 Contract-Manufactured Products 20.7 20.9 63.8 63.7 Gross Profit $268.0 $288.2 $874.1 $875.2 Gross Profit Margin 39.0 % 40.8 % 40.1 % 41.7 %









Operating Profit (Loss):







Proprietary Products $188.6 $195.5 $615.9 $594.3 Contract-Manufactured Products 14.7 16.8 48.0 51.9 Stock-based compensation expense (6.0) (11.4) (17.0) (27.5) General corporate costs (10.9) (18.1) (43.6) (45.5) Adjusted Operating Profit $186.4 $182.8 $603.3 $573.2 Adjusted Operating Profit Margin 27.1 % 25.9 % 27.7 % 27.3 % Other unallocated items (0.2) (1.4) 1.0 (4.9) Reported Operating Profit $186.2 $181.4 $604.3 $568.3 Reported Operating Profit Margin 27.1 % 25.7 % 27.7 % 27.1 %

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Reported and Adjusted Operating Profit, Net Income and Diluted EPS

Three months ended September 30, 2022 Operating

profit Income

tax

expense Net

income Diluted

EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $186.2 $20.4 $120.6 $1.59 Unallocated Items:







Pension settlement (2) - 20.0 29.6 0.39 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 0.2 0.1 0.7 0.01 Tax law changes (5) - (3.2) 3.2 0.04 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $186.4 $37.3 $154.1 $2.03

Nine months ended September 30, 2022 Operating

profit Income

tax

expense Net

income Diluted

EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $604.3 $85.8 $482.9 $6.36 Unallocated Items:







Restructuring and severance related charges (1) (1.6) (0.4) (1.2) (0.01) Pension settlement (2) - 20.3 30.5 0.40 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 0.6 0.1 2.1 0.03 Royalty acceleration (4) - 1.3 (1.3) (0.02) Tax law changes (5) - (3.2) 3.2 0.04 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $603.3 $103.9 $516.2 $6.80



Three months ended September 30, 2021 Operating

profit Income

tax

expense Net

income Diluted

EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $181.4 $12.0 $175.6 $2.31 Restructuring and severance related charges (1) 0.3 0.1 0.2 - Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 0.2 - 0.7 0.01 Royalty acceleration (4) - 20.4 (20.4) (0.27) Cost investment activity (6) 0.9 0.2 0.7 0.01 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $182.8 $32.7 $156.8 $2.06

Nine months ended September 30, 2021 Operating

profit Income

tax

expense Net

income Diluted

EPS Reported (U.S. GAAP) $568.3 $73.0 $514.1 $6.78 Restructuring and severance related charges (1) 2.5 0.6 1.9 0.02 Pension settlement (2) - 0.2 0.6 0.01 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (3) 0.6 0.1 2.1 0.03 Royalty acceleration (4) - 20.4 (20.4) (0.27) Tax law changes (5) - 1.4 (1.4) (0.02) Cost investment activity (6) 1.8 (0.1) 1.9 0.02 Adjusted (Non-U.S. GAAP) $573.2 $95.6 $498.8 $6.57





(1) During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded a benefit of $1.6 million in restructuring and severance related costs in connection with its 2020 plan related to revised severance estimates. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $0.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively, of restructuring and severance related costs.



(2) During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we recorded a gross pension settlement charge of $49.6 million and $50.8 million, respectively, within other nonoperating expense (income), that fully settles the U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded a pension settlement charge within other nonoperating expense (income), as it was determined that normal-course lump-sum payments for our U.S. qualified defined benefit pension plan exceeded the threshold for settlement accounting.



(3) During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of amortization expense within operating profit associated with an intangible asset acquired during the second quarter of 2020. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company recorded $0.6 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of amortization expense in association with an acquisition of increased ownership interest in Daikyo. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, of amortization expense within operating profit associated with an intangible asset acquired during the second quarter of 2020. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded $0.5 million and $1.6 million, respectively, of amortization expense in association with an acquisition of increased ownership interest in Daikyo.



(4) During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company increased its expected tax benefit related to the prepayment of future royalties from one of its subsidiaries by $1.3 million. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company prepaid future royalties from one of its subsidiaries, which resulted in a $20.4 million tax benefit.



(5) During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company incurred additional tax expense of $3.2 million due to the impact of a tax law change in the state of Pennsylvania enacted during the period. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $1.4 million due to the impact of a United Kingdom tax law change enacted during the period.



(6) During the three months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded a net loss on the sale of one of the Company's cost investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we recorded an impairment charge on one of our cost investments, partially offset by the gain on the sale of one of our cost investments.





WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Net Sales to Organic Net Sales (7)

Three months ended September 30, 2022 Proprietary CM Eliminations Total Reported net sales (U.S. GAAP) $567.0 $120.0 $(0.1) $686.9 Effect of changes in currency translation rates 41.7 8.1 - 49.8 Organic net sales (non-U.S. GAAP) (7) $608.7 $128.1 $(0.1) $736.7

Nine months ended September 30, 2022 Proprietary CM Eliminations Total Reported net sales (U.S. GAAP) $1,822.0 $356.5 $(0.3) $2,178.2 Effect of changes in currency translation rates 103.3 18.0 - 121.3 Organic net sales (non-U.S. GAAP) (7) $1,925.3 $374.5 $(0.3) $2,299.5





(7) Organic net sales exclude the impact from acquisitions and/or divestitures and translate the current-period reported sales of subsidiaries whose functional currency is other than the U.S. Dollar at the applicable foreign exchange rates in effect during the comparable prior-year period.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES RECONCILIATION OF NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (UNAUDITED) Please refer to "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" for more information (in millions, except per share data)

Reconciliation of Reported-Diluted EPS Guidance to Adjusted-Diluted EPS Guidance



2021 Actual 2022 Guidance % Change Reported-diluted EPS (U.S. GAAP) $8.67 $7.70 to $7.75 (11.2%) to (10.6)% Pension settlement 0.02 0.40 - Cost investment activity 0.06 - - Restructuring and severance related charges 0.02 (0.01) - Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 0.04 0.04 - Asset impairment 0.04 - - Royalty acceleration (0.25) (0.02) - Tax law changes (0.02) 0.04 - Adjusted-diluted EPS (Non-U.S. GAAP) (8) $8.58 $8.15 to $8.20 (5.0%) to (4.4%)





Notes:



See "Full-year 2022 Financial Guidance" and "Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures" in today's press release for additional information regarding adjusted-diluted EPS.

(8) We have opted not to forecast 2022 tax benefits from stock-based compensation in upcoming quarters, as they are out of the Company's control. Instead, we recognize the benefits as they occur. In the first nine months of 2022, tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation increased adjusted-diluted EPS by $0.16. Any future tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation that we receive in 2022 would provide a positive adjustment to our full-year EPS guidance. In full-year 2021, tax benefits associated with stock-based compensation increased adjusted-diluted EPS by $0.41.

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES CASH FLOW ITEMS (UNAUDITED) (in millions)



Nine months Ended September 30,

2022 2021 Depreciation and amortization $89.5 $87.9 Operating cash flow $493.2 $423.2 Capital expenditures $189.7 $176.9 Free cash flow $303.5 $246.3

WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES FINANCIAL CONDITION (UNAUDITED) (in millions)



As of September 30, 2022 As of December 31, 2021 Cash and cash equivalents $729.0 $762.6 Accounts receivable, net $485.3 $489.0 Inventories $413.1 $378.4 Accounts payable $188.9 $232.2 Debt $209.4 $253.0 Equity $2,470.8 $2,335.4 Working capital $1,276.9 $1,147.9

Trademark Notices

Trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., in the United States and other jurisdictions, unless noted otherwise.

Daikyo, Daikyo Crystal Zenith and Daikyo CZ are registered trademarks of Daikyo Seiko, Ltd. Daikyo Crystal Zenith technologies are licensed from Daikyo Seiko, Ltd.

SOURCE West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Gas Engine Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global gas engine market reached a value of US$ 5.05 billion in 2021. Looking forward, the market is projected to reach a value of US$ 6.74 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.70% during 2022-2027.

Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, the analyst is 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.

Gas engines refer to internal combustion engines that operate on various gaseous fuels, such as natural gas, coal gas, producer gas, and biogas. They consist of a fixed cylinder and a moving piston and are widely used as heavy-duty industrial engines capable of running at full load continuously.

They can power automobiles, light trucks, medium-to-large motorcycles, and lawn mowers. Gas engines are more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable than their traditional counterparts that utilized an ignition source, such as a spark or small amount of pilot fuel. They also offer high electrical and thermal efficiency, low maintenance and operation costs, and environmental benefits. As a result, gas engines are rapidly gaining traction across numerous industries, including power generation, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, and transportation.

The rising need for clean and efficient power generation technology represents the primary factor driving the market growth. Besides this, the escalating demand for electricity due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, growing population, and infrastructure development has accelerated the adoption of gas engines in electric utilities to handle peak load demand effectively.

Additionally, governments of various countries are taking favorable initiatives, such as the implementation of stringent regulations, for minimizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution. Along with this, the rising environmental concerns and the shifting preferences toward renewable energy sources among the masses are propelling the market growth.

Furthermore, the leading manufacturers are making heavy investments in research and development (R&D) activities to launch innovative gas engines to meet the need for higher power outputs and diesel engine standards. Other factors, including the emerging applications in the aerospace industry, easy availability of natural gas, and growing focus toward gas engine-based power plants and distributed power generation, are also anticipated to create a positive market outlook in the upcoming years.

Competitive Landscape

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Caterpillar Inc., China Yuchai International Limited, Cummins Inc., Doosan Corporation, General Electric Company, Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., JFE Holdings Inc., Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Rolls-Royce plc, Siemens AG, Volkswagen AG and Wartsila Oyj Abp.

Key Questions Answered in This Report

How has the global gas engine market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?

What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global gas engine market?

What are the key regional markets?

What is the breakup of the market based on the fuel type?

What is the breakup of the market based on the power output?

What is the breakup of the market based on the application?

What is the breakup of the market based on the industry vertical?

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 gas engine market and who are the key players?

What is the degree of competition in the industry?

Key Topics Covered:

1 Preface

2 Scope and Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Introduction

4.1 Overview

4.2 Key Industry Trends

5 Global Gas Engine Market

5.1 Market Overview

5.2 Market Performance

5.3 Impact of COVID-19

5.4 Market Forecast

6 Market Breakup by Fuel Type

6.1 Natural Gas

6.1.1 Market Trends

6.1.2 Market Forecast

6.2 Special Gas

6.2.1 Market Trends

6.2.2 Market Forecast

6.3 Others

6.3.1 Market Trends

6.3.2 Market Forecast

7 Market Breakup by Power Output

7.1 0.5-1 MW

7.1.1 Market Trends

7.1.2 Market Forecast

7.2 1-2 MW

7.2.1 Market Trends

7.2.2 Market Forecast

7.3 2-5 MW

7.3.1 Market Trends

7.3.2 Market Forecast

7.4 5-10 MW

7.4.1 Market Trends

7.4.2 Market Forecast

7.5 10-20 MW

7.5.1 Market Trends

7.5.2 Market Forecast

8 Market Breakup by Application

8.1 Mechanical Drive

8.1.1 Market Trends

8.1.2 Market Forecast

8.2 Power Generation

8.2.1 Market Trends

8.2.2 Market Forecast

8.3 Cogeneration

8.3.1 Market Trends

8.3.2 Market Forecast

8.4 Others

8.4.1 Market Trends

8.4.2 Market Forecast

9 Market Breakup by Industry Vertical

9.1 Utilities

9.1.1 Market Trends

9.1.2 Market Forecast

9.2 Manufacturing

9.2.1 Market Trends

9.2.2 Market Forecast

9.3 Oil and Gas

9.3.1 Market Trends

9.3.2 Market Forecast

9.4 Mining

9.4.1 Market Trends

9.4.2 Market Forecast

9.5 Others

9.5.1 Market Trends

9.5.2 Market Forecast

10 Market Breakup by Region

11 SWOT Analysis

12 Value Chain Analysis

13 Porters Five Forces Analysis

14 Price Analysis

15 Competitive Landscape

15.1 Market Structure

15.2 Key Players

15.3 Profiles of Key Players

15.3.1 Caterpillar Inc.

15.3.1.1 Company Overview

15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.1.3 Financials

15.3.1.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.2 China Yuchai International Limited

15.3.2.1 Company Overview

15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.2.3 Financials

15.3.3 Cummins Inc.

15.3.3.1 Company Overview

15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.3.3 Financials

15.3.3.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.4 Doosan Corporation

15.3.4.1 Company Overview

15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.4.3 Financials

15.3.5 General Electric Company

15.3.5.1 Company Overview

15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.5.3 Financials

15.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.6 Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd.

15.3.6.1 Company Overview

15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.7 JFE Holdings Inc.

15.3.7.1 Company Overview

15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.7.3 Financials

15.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.8 Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.

15.3.8.1 Company Overview

15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.8.3 Financials

15.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.9 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

15.3.9.1 Company Overview

15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.9.3 Financials

15.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.10 Rolls-Royce plc

15.3.10.1 Company Overview

15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.10.3 Financials

15.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.11 Siemens AG

15.3.11.1 Company Overview

15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.11.3 Financials

15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.12 Volkswagen AG

15.3.12.1 Company Overview

15.3.12.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.12.3 Financials

15.3.12.4 SWOT Analysis

15.3.13 Wartsila Oyj Abp

15.3.13.1 Company Overview

15.3.13.2 Product Portfolio

15.3.13.3 Financials

15.3.13.4 SWOT Analysis

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/o3xg90

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Philanthropists Greg and Kim Wasson and Institutional Partner DePaul University Honored on November 9, 2022 for Their Support of Equity in Education

CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) will host its Annual Benefit Dinner, "Elevating Student Success," on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at the Four Seasons Chicago Hotel to recognize leaders and institutions who are advancing educational equity.

This year, the AUSL community will celebrate by honoring philanthropists Greg and Kim Wasson for their visionary leadership in and philanthropic support of AUSL's mission to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested schools and communities.

AUSL will also spotlight DePaul University as an honoree. Through DePaul University's institutional commitment and collaboration, AUSL is able to continue developing more diverse, resilient, and talented teachers for Chicago's neighborhood schools.

AUSL's Executive Director, Donald Feinstein Ph.D., stated, "AUSL's work has always been predicated on educational equity and excellence. Our supporters like Greg and Kim Wasson allow us to grow our teacher training program that has a record of recruiting, training, and retaining highly effective educators. DePaul University's College of Education has provided invaluable support to the Chicago Teacher Residency, educating aspiring teachers whose future contributions will benefit Chicago's students.

AUSL's Advisory Services collaborates and innovates with private and public partners to ensure students in the greatest need come into contact with talented and committed educators to guide them. Current partnerships span 5 states, 50 schools in 9 cities serving 30,000 students.

The AUSL Annual Benefit Dinner helps raise revenue that is essential to fund incremental support for educator training and professional development through the Chicago Teacher Residency program. With over 1,300 graduates, the Chicago Teacher Residency is a ground-breaking innovation and one of our nation's first residency programs.

For information and registration, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/auslbenefitdinner

About AUSL

The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) is a nonprofit organization that provides equity-focused programming to improve educational outcomes for students in underinvested communities. Through our nationally recognized Teacher Residency Program, AUSL recruits and trains diverse teachers with the passion and skillset to serve long-term in underinvested communities. Through AUSL Advisory Services and the LiberatED Way approach, we leverage two decades of success transforming schools to help schools and school districts across the country.

Contact: Shane Caterino, [email protected]

Related Links https://www.auslchicago.org/

SOURCE AUSL
Akima Infrastructure Services will provide staffing capabilities at two DOE Nuclear Security Enterprise sites

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima today announced that its subsidiary, Akima Infrastructure Services, has been selected by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) to provide staff augmentation capabilities for engineering, professional, and technical services at the Department of Energy (DOE) Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The award has a 4-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $63 million, if all options are exercised.

Akima Infrastructure Services, along with partners Strata-G, LLC and Pinnacle Specialty Group, will provide engineering, professional, and technical services to address specific project needs. Roles will include engineers, scientists, and technicians in a variety of disciplines, as well as professionals in business and project management and support roles.

Akima Infrastructure Services will provide staffing capabilities at two DOE Nuclear Security Enterprise sites Tweet this

"Supporting the DOE mission has been a long-standing focus for Akima," said Duncan Greene, President of Akima's Mission Systems, Engineering & Technology Group. "This award from CNS will allow us to continue this partnership and provide the DOE with support to operate critical nuclear security facilities effectively and efficiently."

Critical to the Department of Energy's Nuclear Security Enterprise, the Y-12 National Security Complex and Pantex Plant are essential to maintaining the nation's nuclear stockpile. Y-12 is responsible for production, surveillance, dismantlement, and storage of nuclear components; reducing global nuclear threats by detecting, removing, and securing nuclear material; and providing fuel feedstock for Naval Reactors. Missions at Pantex include assembly and disassembly of nuclear warheads, testing and evaluation of special weapons materials, and manufacturing and assessment of high explosive used in weapons.

The award was issued to Akima under the CNS Engineering Professional and Technical (EP&T) Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). It was awarded through the DOE Integrated Contractor Purchasing Team (ICPT), a collaboration among DOE and its Management & Operations (M&O) sites to award strategic agreements that result in lower total cost of ownership for DOE contractors through reduced prices and streamlined procurement processes.

CNS operates the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS comprises member companies Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos; ATK Launch Systems; and SOC LLC, with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. as a teaming subcontractor.

About Akima Infrastructure Services

Akima Infrastructure Services (AIS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima, an Alaska Native Corporation, supporting vital government missions with the most demanding and specialized skill sets in the world. With expertise obtaining hard-to-find, highly skilled personnel for programs of any size, AIS can source and hire for full time, part time, exempt, non-exempt, cleared and un-cleared positions on very short notice. Whether you're seeking someone in advanced science, nuclear engineering or business and administration, AIS will provide the most qualified personnel. To learn more about AIS, visit www.akimainfrastructureservices.com .

About Akima

Akima is a global enterprise with more than 8,000 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #28 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com.

SOURCE Akima
DETROIT, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) today announced that it will conduct its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Additional details will be provided in the company's proxy statement.

About Ally Financial

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a digital financial services company committed to its promise to "Do It Right" for its consumer, commercial and corporate customers. Ally is composed of an industry-leading independent auto finance and insurance operation, an award-winning digital direct bank (Ally Bank, Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender, which offers mortgage lending, point-of-sale personal lending, and a variety of deposit and other banking products), a consumer credit card business, a corporate finance business for equity sponsors and middle-market companies, and securities brokerage and investment advisory services. Our brand conviction is that we are all better off with an ally, and our focus is on helping our customers achieve their strongest financial well-being, a notion personalized to what is important to them. For more information, please visit www.ally.com and follow @allyfinancial.

For more information and disclosures about Ally, visit https://www.ally.com/#disclosures.

Contacts:

Sean Leary

Ally Investor Relations

704-444-4830

[email protected]

Peter Gilchrist

Ally Communications (Media)

704-644-6299

[email protected]

SOURCE Ally Financial
By integrating with SAP S/4HANA, several Prometheus Group solutions deliver improved master data quality and maintenance performance productivity to asset-intensive customers

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Group, Inc. today announced that five of its asset management solutions are now available on SAP Store , the online marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. The solutions comprise Planning & Scheduling, Shutdown, Turn Around, & Outage (STO) Manager, Electronic Permit to Work, Prometheus Mobile, and Master Data-as-a-Service by Utopia Global (a Prometheus Group company). Integrated with SAP S/4HANA and SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the solutions deliver sustainable master data quality and improved maintenance productivity to asset-intensive customers.

"Now, more than ever, our clients require new ways to increase production output and reduce overall maintenance expenditures," said Ed Mason, Prometheus Group CRO. "Our solutions help our clients to optimize productivity and efficiency by bridging the gap between maintenance and operations. Our cloud-based solutions give our clients the flexibility they need to run their business on cleansed, enriched and standardized master data, which contributes to the optimization of their performance."

SAP Store, found at store.sap.com, delivers a simplified and connected digital customer experience for finding, trying, buying and renewing more than 2,000 solutions from SAP and its partners. There, customers can find the SAP solutions and SAP-validated solutions they need to grow their business. And for each purchase made through SAP Store, SAP will plant a tree.

Prometheus Group is a partner in the SAP PartnerEdge program. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs  quickly and cost-effectively.

About Prometheus Group

Prometheus Group is a leading global provider of comprehensive and intuitive enterprise asset management software solutions that work within enterprise resource planning systems and span the full work management life cycle for both maintenance and operations. Developed jointly with end users, Prometheus software enhances the customer experience for planning, scheduling, and executing work for both routine maintenance and shutdowns and turnarounds, all while protecting the workforce with safety solutions and electronic permit to work. Our straight-forward functionality, graphical visualization, and simple processes enable customers to increase productivity, reduce costs, and improve reporting. For more information, please visit www.prometheusgroup.com.

Prometheus Group and other Prometheus Group products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Prometheus Group in the United States and other countries. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

For more information, press only:

Douglas Gattuso

Prometheus Group

[email protected]

(312) 889 1442

SOURCE Prometheus Group
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The automotive rental and leasing market size is expected to grow by USD 147.98 billion from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.46% during the forecast period, according to Technavio.

The report offers an up-to-date analysis of the current market scenario and the overall market environment. Request Latest FREE PDF Sample Report

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026

Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The automotive rental and leasing market report covers the following areas:

Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports every month

Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd., Avis Budget Group Inc., Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd., CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU, DriiveMe Ltd., Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd., Enterprise Holdings Inc., Europcar Mobility Group SA, Expedia Group Inc., Getaround Inc., Green Motion International, Hertz Global Holdings Inc., Localiza Rent a Car SA, Mercedes Benz Group AG, Mex Rent a Car, Movida Participacoes SA, OK Group, SIXT SE, Al Futtaim Group Co., and Zoomcar India Pvt. Ltd. are among some of the major market participants. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below:

Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd. - The company offers automotive rental and leasing services through its subsidiaries such as Hertz, Al Futtaim Vehicle rentals, Firefly, and Thrifty rental car.

The company offers automotive rental and leasing services through its subsidiaries such as Hertz, Al Futtaim Vehicle rentals, Firefly, and Thrifty rental car. Avis Budget Group Inc. - The company offers automotive rental and leasing services such as SUVs, sedans, and luxury cars.

The company offers automotive rental and leasing services such as SUVs, sedans, and luxury cars. Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd. - The company offers automotive rental and leasing services such as Ford Mustang, Minivan, and standard SUVs.

The company offers automotive rental and leasing services such as Ford Mustang, Minivan, and standard SUVs. CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU - The company offers automotive rental and leasing services for airport transfers, chauffeur drives, corporate travels, and holiday driving.

The company offers automotive rental and leasing services for airport transfers, chauffeur drives, corporate travels, and holiday driving. DriiveMe Ltd. - The company offers automotive rental and leasing services in Spain , Portugal , Italy , and Greece .

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Request a FREE PDF Sample Now

Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026: Driver and Challenge

The growing urbanization and industrialization are driving the automotive rental and leasing market's growth. The global economy is growing at a rapid rate, as cities and countries are becoming smarter. In addition, the rise in global construction and shipping activities has increased the demand for high-performance vehicles. Moreover, the significant rise in the number of business and leisure travelers has increased the demand for car rental services. Thus, the market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Lack of awareness in tier-II cities is challenging the automotive rental and leasing market's growth. The adoption of car leasing business models is also low in semi-urban and rural communities. Moreover, in developing countries such as China, India, and Indonesia, renting or leasing a car is not considered appropriate. Such factors can limit the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help vendors improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. Buy Now to learn about market dynamics in detail

Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

Type

Passenger Car Rental



Truck Utility Trailer



Recreational Vehicle Rental And Leasing



Passenger Car Lease

Geography

North America



Europe



APAC



South America



Middle East And Africa

Automotive Rental and Leasing Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive rental and leasing market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the automotive rental and leasing market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the automotive rental and leasing market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive rental and leasing market vendors

Related Reports

Car Leasing Market by End-user and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: Off-lease cars fueling the used car market are driving the market growth. Numerous on-lease vehicles become off-lease every year. Each car leasing dealer has to manage an increasing number of off-lease vehicles that stay unused or under-utilized in the vehicle stockpile.

Vehicle Leasing Market in Europe by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025: The cost-effective way of obtaining a vehicle is driving the market. The most popular method of acquiring a vehicle is by paying for the vehicle or through financing options. A majority of vehicle dealership centers have dedicated personnel to assist buyers with purchasing vehicles through loans.

Automotive Rental And Leasing Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.46% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 147.98 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.5 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd., Avis Budget Group Inc., Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd., CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU, DriiveMe Ltd., Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd., Enterprise Holdings Inc., Europcar Mobility Group SA, Expedia Group Inc., Getaround Inc., Green Motion International, Hertz Global Holdings Inc., Localiza Rent a Car SA, Mercedes Benz Group AG, Mex Rent a Car, Movida Participacoes SA, OK Group, SIXT SE, Al Futtaim Group Co., and Zoomcar India Pvt. Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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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 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 Passenger car rental - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Passenger car rental - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Passenger car rental - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Passenger car rental - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Passenger car rental - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Truck utility trailer - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Truck utility trailer - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Truck utility trailer - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Truck utility trailer - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Truck utility trailer - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Recreational vehicle rental and leasing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Recreational vehicle rental and leasing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Recreational vehicle rental and leasing - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Recreational vehicle rental and leasing - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Recreational vehicle rental and leasing - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Passenger car lease - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 40: Chart on Passenger car lease - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Passenger car lease - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 42: Chart on Passenger car lease - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Passenger car lease - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Market opportunity by Type

Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by 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 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 56: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 58: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 59: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 60: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 61: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 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 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 82: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



Exhibit 83: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)



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 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion)

Exhibit 88: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on France - 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 Al Futtaim Group Co.

Exhibit 97: Al Futtaim Group Co. - Overview



Exhibit 98: Al Futtaim Group Co. - Product / Service



Exhibit 99: Al Futtaim Group Co. - Key offerings

10.4 Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 100: Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 101: Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 102: Aspark Holidays Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.5 Avis Budget Group Inc.

Exhibit 103: Avis Budget Group Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 104: Avis Budget Group Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 105: Avis Budget Group Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 106: Avis Budget Group Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 107: Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 108: Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 109: Carzonrent India Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.7 CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU

Exhibit 110: CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU - Overview



Exhibit 111: CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU - Product / Service



Exhibit 112: CENTAURO RENT A CAR SLU - Key offerings

10.8 DriiveMe Ltd.

Exhibit 113: DriiveMe Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 114: DriiveMe Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: DriiveMe Ltd. - Key offerings

10.9 Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd.

Exhibit 116: Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 117: Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 118: Drivezy India Travels Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings

10.10 Enterprise Holdings Inc.

Exhibit 119: Enterprise Holdings Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 120: Enterprise Holdings Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: Enterprise Holdings Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 122: Enterprise Holdings Inc. - Key offerings

10.11 Europcar Mobility Group SA

Exhibit 123: Europcar Mobility Group SA - Overview



Exhibit 124: Europcar Mobility Group SA - Business segments



Exhibit 125: Europcar Mobility Group SA - Key news



Exhibit 126: Europcar Mobility Group SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Europcar Mobility Group SA - Segment focus

10.12 Expedia Group Inc.

Exhibit 128: Expedia Group Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 129: Expedia Group Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Expedia Group Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Expedia Group Inc. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 132: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 133: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 134: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 135: Research methodology



Exhibit 136: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 137: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 138: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The baby food packaging market size is expected to grow by 2048.39 mn units, at a CAGR of 4.41% during the forecast period. The increase in the demand for pouch packaging is the major factor propelling the market growth. However, food perishability and contamination of baby food during packaging will hamper the market growth. Request Free Sample Report.

Baby Food Packaging Market: Geographical Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Baby Food Packaging Market 2022-2026

The global baby food packaging market in APAC is expected to grow positively during the forecast period owing to better economic conditions in various countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Australia. Growing urbanization and changing lifestyles have increased demand for baby food and ready-to-eat meals, driving regional demand for baby food packaging.

The evolving e-commerce landscape is a major contributor to the growth of the APAC baby food packaging market. The regional food industry is undergoing a significant transformation as consumers prefer packaged foods to traditional, cooked meals. It is due to the increasing disposable incomes, hectic lifestyles, time constraints for meal preparation, and easy availability of packaged foods for babies. All these factors will drive the market growth during the forecast period. Download Free Sample Report.

Baby Food Packaging Market: Vendor Landscape

The global baby food packaging market comprises well-established players involved in designing and producing packaging solutions across a wide range of industries. These companies are investing heavily in research and development in order to bring better products to market and expand their customer base. Mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships are some of the strategies used by market vendors to strengthen their positions. The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several market vendors, including:

ABC Packaging Direct

Amcor Plc

AptarGroup Inc.

Ardagh Group SA

BERICAP Holding GmbH

Berry Global Group Inc.

Cascades Inc.

Dow Inc.

DS Smith Plc

Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Ltd.

Hood Packaging Corp.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Buy Sample Report.

Baby Food Packaging Market: Major Driver

One of the major factors driving the infant food packaging market's expansion is the rise in the demand for pouch packing. Pouches are easier to make and take less time than other packaging materials like glass and metal. Pouches are prone to tearing, though. Pouches are constructed of several layers of materials compacted together, each of which plays a crucial part in the packing performance. This prevents punctures. They also have a transparent surface, making printing on them simple. By giving clear information, it promotes the product and raises brand recognition. Due to this, technologies such as reusable and microwaveable pouches will boost convenience and cut down on the work involved in preparing meals, which will drive the growth of the market during the forecast period.

What our reports offer:

Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments

Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

Market trends (drivers, opportunities, threats, challenges, investment opportunities, and recommendations)

Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

Related Reports:

Baby Food Maker Market by Application and Distribution Channel - Forecast and Analysis - 2022-2026: The report extensively covers baby food maker market segmentation by application (food preparation products and bottle preparation products), distribution Channel (offline and online), and Geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa).

Frozen Baby Food Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The report extensively covers the frozen baby food market segmentation by product (frozen ready meals, frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, and others) and geography (Europe, APAC, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America).

Baby Food Packaging Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.41% Market growth 2022-2026 2048.39 mn units Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.9 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 74% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and Brazil Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ABC Packaging Direct, Amcor Plc, AptarGroup Inc., Ardagh Group SA, BERICAP Holding GmbH, Berry Global Group Inc., Cascades Inc., Dow Inc., DS Smith Plc, Hindusthan National Glass and Industries Ltd., Hood Packaging Corp., Mondi plc, Printpack Inc., ProAmpac Intermediate Inc., Sealed Air Corp., Silgan Holdings Inc., Smurfit Kappa Group Plc, Sonoco Products Co., Tetra Pak Group, and Winpak Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market Overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Type of Packaging



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 units)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



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 of Packaging

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Type of Packaging - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type of Packaging - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Type of Packaging

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type of Packaging



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type of Packaging

5.3 Rigid packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Rigid packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Rigid packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Rigid packaging - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Rigid packaging - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Flexible packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Flexible packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Flexible packaging - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Flexible packaging - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Flexible packaging - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Type of Packaging

Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type of Packaging (million units)

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 units)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



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 units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 47: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

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 units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

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 units)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

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 units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

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 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 64: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 68: Chart on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on India - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 70: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)



Exhibit 72: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

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 Brazil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Brazil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Brazil - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 (million units)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Brazil - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Brazil - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 82: Market opportunity by geography (million units)

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 ABC Packaging Direct

Exhibit 89: ABC Packaging Direct - Overview



Exhibit 90: ABC Packaging Direct - Product / Service



Exhibit 91: ABC Packaging Direct - Key offerings

10.4 Amcor Plc

Exhibit 92: Amcor Plc - Overview



Exhibit 93: Amcor Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 94: Amcor Plc - Key news



Exhibit 95: Amcor Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 96: Amcor Plc - Segment focus

10.5 AptarGroup Inc.

Exhibit 97: AptarGroup Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 98: AptarGroup Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 99: AptarGroup Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 100: AptarGroup Inc. - Segment focus

10.6 Ardagh Group SA

Exhibit 101: Ardagh Group SA - Overview



Exhibit 102: Ardagh Group SA - Business segments



Exhibit 103: Ardagh Group SA - Key news



Exhibit 104: Ardagh Group SA - Key offerings



Exhibit 105: Ardagh Group SA - Segment focus

10.7 Cascades Inc.

Exhibit 106: Cascades Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 107: Cascades Inc. - Business segments



Exhibit 108: Cascades Inc. - Key offerings



Exhibit 109: Cascades Inc. - Segment focus

10.8 Hood Packaging Corp.

Exhibit 110: Hood Packaging Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 111: Hood Packaging Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 112: Hood Packaging Corp. - Key offerings

10.9 Mondi plc

Exhibit 113: Mondi plc - Overview



Exhibit 114: Mondi plc - Business segments



Exhibit 115: Mondi plc - Key news



Exhibit 116: Mondi plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 117: Mondi plc - Segment focus

10.10 Printpack Inc.

Exhibit 118: Printpack Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 119: Printpack Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 120: Printpack Inc. - Key offerings

10.11 Sealed Air Corp.

Exhibit 121: Sealed Air Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 122: Sealed Air Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 123: Sealed Air Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 124: Sealed Air Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 125: Sealed Air Corp. - Segment focus

10.12 Winpak Ltd.

Exhibit 126: Winpak Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 127: Winpak Ltd. - Business segments



Exhibit 128: Winpak Ltd. - Key offerings



Exhibit 129: Winpak Ltd. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 130: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 131: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 132: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 133: Research methodology



Exhibit 134: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 135: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 136: 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
CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Black Phosphorus Market by Form (Crystal, Powder), Application (Electronic Devices, Energy Storage, Sensors), and Region (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027", will grow to USD 83 million by 2027, at a CAGR of 43.1% from USD 13 million in 2022.

This growth is primarily triggered by the growing demand for black phosphorus in energy storage and sensors application. Refineries emit several gases, such as sulfur dioxide, VOCs, nitrogen oxide, chlorine, and benzene. Black phosphorus sensors give increased conduction on nitrogen dioxide exposure and great sensitivity in detecting NO2 at levels as low as five parts per billion. Excess inhaling of VOCs by humans may impact their ability to breathe. Some of these gases can also cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, nausea, eye problems, headache, congenital disabilities, leukemia, and cancer. Thus, it is required to monitor and detect these harmful gases, which consequently is increasing the demand for gas sensors in refineries. All these factors are driving the demand for gas sensors, which in turn, is driving the demand for black phosphorus.

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Browse and in-depth TOC on "Black Phosphorus Market"

136 - Tables

44 - Figures

153 - Pages

View detailed Table of Content here  https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/black-phosphorus-market-94195719.html

Crystal is estimated to be the largest form of black phosphorus market in 2021

The crystal form of black phosphorus is estimated to be the largest form of black phosphorus market, in terms of value, in 2021. Crystal black phosphorus is used to produce single-or few-layer phosphorene through mechanical or liquid exfoliation. Phosphorene is at the center of various fundamental studies and applications, including electronics, optoelectronics, spintronic devices, sensors, actuators, and thermoelectric as well as energy conversion and storage devices.

Electronic Devices is estimated to be the largest application of black phosphorus market in 2021

The electronic devices application accounted for the largest share of the global black phosphorus market, in 2021. Due to the growing demand and integration of optoelectronic components with various consumer devices, manufacturers and various R&D communities have become more focused on R&D to develop new technologies. They are investing in optical and optoelectronic technologies for next-generation communication networks and high-speed optical computing. This is expected to drive the market for black phosphorus used in electronic devices.

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Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing market for black phosphorus during the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is projected to witness the highest CAGR due to the rapid economic expansion in the region. The growth is mainly attributed to a high economic growth rate, followed by heavy investment in the healthcare, safety, electronics, and automotive industries. With economic constraints and saturation in the European and North American markets, the demand is shifting to the Asia Pacific region. This region not only serves as a manufacturing hub but also has key R&D facilities. The automotive industry in the emerging economies of Asia Pacific is expected to grow because of improving lifestyles, economic conditions, and the booming manufacturing sector.

The key market players profiled in the report include ACS Material LLC (US), 2D Semiconductors (US), Nanochemazone (Canada), American Elements LLC (US), Merck (Germany), HQ Graphene (Netherlands), Hunan Azeal Materials Co. Ltd. (China), Ossila Ltd. (UK), Stanford Advanced Materials (US) and Manchester Nanomaterials (UK) among others.

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Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: 1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/black-phosphorus.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
Will focus on Austin and San Antonio markets

ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Brennan Investment Group, a private real estate investment firm that acquires, develops, and operates industrial facilities throughout the United States, is pleased to announce the promotion of William Saied from Acquisitions Associate to Acquisitions/Asset Manager, reflecting Mr. Saied's dual role of sourcing new investments and overseeing operations for each asset in his region.

Brennan Promotes William Saied to Acquisitions/Asset Manager

William began his career with Brennan Investment Group five years ago when he joined the Texas team as an Acquisitions Analyst in September, 2017 and assumed multiple roles in acquisitions, leasing, operations, and dispositions. "This comprehensive real estate experience was an important factor in William's promotion and in Brennan's decision to give William the Austin and San Antonio markets," commented Troy MacMane, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Brennan's Texas region.

"William has demonstrated excellent growth in his skill sets since he started at Brennan," said Scott McKibben, Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer. "He brings a willingness to overcome challenges and has an aptitude for excellence. Troy and I have every confidence that William will source interesting opportunities for us."

About Brennan Investment Group

Brennan Investment Group, a Chicago-based private real estate investment firm, acquires, develops, and operates industrial properties in select major metropolitan markets throughout the United States. Since 2010, Brennan Investment Group has acquired or developed nearly $6 billion in industrial real estate in 30 states. The company's current portfolio spans 27 states and encompasses approximately 46 million square feet.

Brennan Investment Group co-invests with private and institutional capital to achieve outstanding risk-adjusted returns. The company has 11 regional offices throughout the United States and the firm's management team is among the most accomplished in its industry, having invested in over 5,000 properties covering more than 60 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

For more information on Brennan Investment Group, go to brennanllc.com.

CONTACT: Ursula Walendzewicz, [email protected], 8476308722

SOURCE Brennan Investment Group, LLC
MIAMI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Cafe Bustelo & Pilon, coffee brands in The J.M. Smucker Co. portfolio, have announced a $1.25 million gift to Florida International University benefiting student scholarships, the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the construction of FIU CasaCuba.

The gift marks a deepening of the relationship between FIU and the brands; the Cafe Bustelo venues on two campuses have served as gathering places for the FIU community for years. In fact, the Cafe Bustelo location inside FIU's Graham Center on its main MMC Campus is Cafe Bustelo's largest retail store in the United States.

Through this new initiative and partnership between the university and Cafe Bustelo & Pilon, the success of FIU students and the university's continuing endeavor to provide innovative programming to meet the demands of the 21st century workplace, will be the main focus.

A portion of the gift will create the Cafe Bustelo El Cafe Del Futuro Scholarship for students studying hospitality management. Additional support will fund the development of new curricula and master classes at the Chaplin School that examine the coffee industry. Cafe Bustelo will be recognized as a founding partner of the Chaplin School's new coffee initiatives and a partner in the school's ongoing effort to expand food and beverage education that is focused on consumer experience and education, research and sustainability.

"Our curriculum emphasizes giving students real-world experiences that will prepare them for success in diverse areas of the food and beverage industries. We are excited to work with Cafe Bustelo & Pilon  brands with world-wide recognition that are loved by Miamians  to create new and engaging academic programming centered on the coffee industry," said Michael Cheng, dean of the Chaplin School.

The gift will support the mission and construction of FIU CasaCuba, the university's proposed 57,000-square-foot facility to be located on the university's west Miami-Dade campus, as the center for the celebration and preservation of Cuban culture and the study of Cuban affairs.

"FIU CasaCuba will be a true home for our heritage. Just as Cafe Bustelo has become a staple in the homes of many Cuban Americans and other South Floridians, it will be staple at FIU CasaCuba, too. We are grateful Cafe Bustelo & Pilon have joined our mission as a pillar of FIU CasaCuba," said Maria Carla Chicuen, founding executive director of FIU CasaCuba.

In recognition of this gift, FIU has named Cafe Bustelo a founding sponsor and corporate pillar of FIU CasaCuba in perpetuity.

"We are very excited about this partnership with FIU's Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and the future FIU CasaCuba, which gives us the opportunity to deepen the connection with the FIU family and the local community," said Eduardo Merino, Senior Brand Manager, The J.M. Smucker Co. "Giving back to the communities we serve through our support of education initiatives while bringing people together through every cafecito is at the core of our Cafe Bustelo and Pilon brand identities."

Cafe Bustelo & Pilon's gift benefits FIU's Next Horizon campaign, which is advancing student success and research excellence at the university.

Media Contact

Ivonne Yee-Amor

305.299.2091

[email protected]

news.fiu.edu

@FIUNews

SOURCE Florida International University
Caverion Corporation Investor news 27 October 2022 at 2.30 p.m. EEST

HELSINKI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion has signed an agreement to acquire TM Voima group's substation and transmission line business. Decentralised electricity generation and renewable energy transition are creating a significant need for upgrading electricity transmission and distribution systems. The acquisition will strengthen Caverion's presence in the energy sector and enable growth especially in the substation business.

In 2021, the revenue of TM Voima group's substation and transmission line business amounted to EUR 30.5 million and the number of employees was 66. The closing of the acquisition is subject to the approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. The purchase price is not disclosed.

TM Voima group's substation contracts comprise mainly of the design and construction of 110-400 kV main grid electricity substations in Finland and in Estonia. In transmission lines contracts, the company focuses on the design and construction of 110-400 kV transmission lines in Finland. The company's wind power business is excluded from the acquisition.

"With projects becoming larger in scale, more capabilities and resources are required from the players in the field. As part of Caverion, our business is better prepared to respond to this change. Furthermore, the way Caverion values its employees' expertise as well as its customer-oriented operation are fully in line with TM Voima group's way of working," says Kim Tahkoniemi, CEO of TM Voima group. "Following the transaction, TM Voima will focus on the development of renewable energy projects in Finland and Estonia."

"The ongoing energy transition and the increasing demand for renewable solutions require substantial investments into electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure. Caverion is already well positioned to support the energy sector and the additional expertise and resources will enable us to serve our customers even more broadly. We are looking forward to welcome the skilled professionals to join our team," says Elina Engman, Head of Caverion Industry division.

The acquisition includes TMV Service Oy, TMV Line Oy and TMV Power Ou, which are part of TM Voima group.

CONTACT:

Elina Engman, Head of Caverion Industry division, tel. +358 50 351 4673, [email protected]

Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations and External Communications, Caverion Corporation, tel. +358 40 5581 328, [email protected]

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/14078/3656468/1644800.pdf Release https://news.cision.com/caverion/i/tm-voima-group-logo,c3107104 TM Voima group logo

SOURCE Caverion
The 100th procedure milestone was achieved quickly following the announcement of the first U.S. pro disc C Vivo implantation on Sept. 7 .

pro The pro disc C Vivo system has been used internationally since 2009 and is one of the most frequently implanted TDR devices in the world.

pro The prodisc C Vivo device incorporates prodisc CORE technology used in over 225,000 implantations worldwide.

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Centinel Spine, LLC, ("the Company") a leading global medical device company addressing cervical and lumbar spinal disease through anterior surgical access, today announced the 100th completed procedure in the United States with its prodisc C Vivo Cervical Total Disc Replacement (TDR) product. This milestone was achieved quickly after the Company announced the first U.S. implantation of the prodisc C Vivo on Sept. 7. During this short period, the Company has trained over 70 surgeons and more than 30 new surgeons are now using the system.

prodisc C Vivo Cervical Total Disc Replacement Device

According to Dr. Kevin Rutz, an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon from St. Louis, Missouri, "I have had the opportunity to use the prodisc C Vivo system multiple times and this device offers unique benefits to the surgeon and the patient. Because the Vivo implant is keel-less and incorporates a streamlined surgical technique, I have found that I am able to reduce the number of x-rays required during implantation of the device. This is a benefit to both the patient as well as the staff in the operating room. I have also found that making intra-operative adjustments to the positioning of the implant is easier with the Vivo device than other total discs that I have used in the past."

"Degenerative disc disease is a leading cause of pain and disability in the U.S. and around the world," said Centinel Spine CEO Steve Murray. "Providing total disc replacement solutions that can match individual patient anatomy is an important step in addressing this all-too-prevalent condition. We are pleased to see surgeons rapidly adopting the prodisc C Vivo technology knowing that many patients are benefiting from our broadened total disc portfolio."

According to Dr. Adam Bruggeman, an Orthopedic Spine Surgeon from San Antonio, Texas, "The prodisc C Vivo system incorporates the simplicity of a keel-less disc replacement implant without sacrificing stability, an issue seen in many other implants. This is the best of both worlds in disc replacement and will rapidly be adopted by surgeons who embrace motion preservation."

The prodisc C Vivo system has been in clinical use internationally since 2009 and is currently one of the most frequently implanted TDR devices in the world. The device has keel-less fixation and combines a unique anatomically-designed superior endplate with lateral spikes to optimize fit and provide immediate fixation. Similar to all prodisc products, the prodisc C Vivo device incorporates prodisc CORE technology, the basis behind the predictable clinical outcomes of the prodisc platform after 30 years and over 225,000 implantations worldwide.*

Centinel Spine's cervical TDR portfolio includes four devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 1-level indications, offering the broadest spectrum of solutions to address surgeon preference and individual patient anatomy.

* Data on file.

About Centinel Spine, LLC

Centinel Spine, LLC is a leading global medical device company addressing cervical and lumbar spinal disease through anterior surgical access. The company offers a continuum of trusted, brand-name, motion-preserving and fusion solutions backed by over 30 years of clinical successproviding the most robust and clinically-proven technology platforms in the world for total disc replacement (prodisc) and Integrated Interbody fusion (STALIF).

Centinel Spine continues to advance its pioneering culture and corporate mission to become a catalyst of change in the spine industry and alter the way spine surgery is perceived. Centinel Spine remains the only company with comprehensive motion-preserving and fusion solutions for both cervical and lumbar anterior column reconstruction.

For more information, please visit the company's website at www.CentinelSpine.com or contact:

Centinel Spine

Varun Gandhi

Chief Financial Officer

900 Airport Road, Suite 3B

West Chester, PA 19380

Phone: 484-887-8871

Email: [email protected]

Media

Kyle Evans

ICR Westwicke

Phone: 646-677-1295

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Centinel Spine, LLC
VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Chemistree Technology Inc. (CSE: CHM) (OTCQB: CHMJF) (the "Company" or "Chemistree"), announced that it has negotiated the conditional sale of its Washington state subsidiary.

The Company has executed a Share Purchase Agreement with an arms-length party, whereby the Company under certain circumstances would sell 100% of its Washington Assets via the sale of subsidiary, Chemistree Washington to the other party in exchange for consideration of $US 500,000 ($644,563). Closing of the sale is subject to several conditions, including the transfer of a Tier 3 recreational marijuana producer/process license, from the Company's sub-lessee to the purchaser. Closing is anticipated to occur within calendar Q4 2022.

Douglas Ford, Chemistree's CFO commented "The Company has been evaluating strategic alternatives for its Washington State assets for several months. The protracted downturn in the cannabis sector generally, and specifically in mature markets where supply has overcrowded demand, licensees are struggling to maintain gross margin. The Company has seen the ability to raise additional financing effectively cease, a fact that provided additional motivation to reassess the cannabis industry as a core focus overall."

About Chemistree Technology Inc.

Chemistree Technology Inc. is a Canadian investment company whose strategy is to focus on opportunistic investments across a broad range of industries, and is seeking to invest in early stage, promising companies where it may be the lead investor and can additionally provide investees with advisory services, mentoring and access to the Company's management expertise. Existing holdings are in the U.S. cannabis sector, a consumer-targeted biotechnology venture and a renewable energy developer in the wind and solar sector. For more information, visit www.Chemistree.ca.

Advisory

The Company wishes to inform shareholders that there are significant legal restrictions and regulations that govern the cannabis industry in both Canada and the United States.

Cannabis-related Practices or Activities are Illegal Under U.S. Federal Laws

The concepts of "medical cannabis" and "recreational cannabis" do not exist under U.S. federal law. The Federal Controlled Substances Act classifies "marihuana" as a Schedule I drug. Under U.S. federal law, a Schedule I drug or substance has a high potential for abuse, no accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of safety for the use of the drug under medical supervision. As such, cannabis related practices or activities, including without limitation, the manufacture, importation, possession, use or distribution of cannabis are illegal under U.S. federal law. Strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis will neither absolve the Company of liability under U.S. federal law, nor will it provide a defence to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company. Enforcement of U.S. federal laws will be a significant risk to the business of the Company and any such proceedings brought against the Company may adversely affect the Company's operations and financial performance.

Further information regarding the legal status of cannabis related activities and associated risk factors, including, but not limited to, risk of enforcement actions, risks that third-party service providers, such as banking or financial institutions cease providing services to the Company, and the risk that Company may not be able to distribute profits, if any, from U.S. operations up to the Company, are included in the Prospectus, the Company's annual information form and other documents incorporated by reference therein and in the Company's Form 2A annual listing statement filed with the CSE and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

"Karl Kottmeier"

President

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 news release.

Information set forth in this news release includes 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", "budget", "scheduled" and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this news release contains forward-looking statements pertaining to: the ability for the Company to pay future interest payments on the Debentures as such payments become due and the anticipated results of the Debenture Amendments on the debt burden and future operations of the Company.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the 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 risks identified in the Company's reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. 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. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.

SOURCE Chemistree Technology Inc.
Long-Awaited Telling Of The First Reparations In History; Opening Event To Be Held In Partnership With The Paley Center For Media

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gideon Taylor, President of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), announced today the opening of a new film, Reckonings: The First Reparations. Funded by the German government with support provided by the Claims Conference and recently accepted for the United Nations Annual Film Festival, the film is directed by award-winning filmmaker, Roberta Grossman. The film tells the story of how global Jewry achieved the first and only reparations ever paid by a state to those persecuted. The opening, at the Paley Center in New York City will feature a panel moderated by Rebecca Jarvis, Chief Business, Tech & Economics Correspondent, ABC News and a discussion on the first time in history that compensations were paid to individuals and not government to government.

Gideon Taylor, President of the Claims Conference, said, "Capturing the incredible history of these agreements is critical to the story of the Holocaust. The hardship of survivors did not stop when World War II was declared over. The Jewish world continued to fight for what was taken from them and negotiated to ensure those critical pieces of their lives that could not be restored would at least receive symbolic reparations. We are incredibly proud of this film that tells the harrowing story of those negotiations."

Set in the aftermath of the Holocaust, the film chronicles the daunting process of negotiating indemnification for the Jewish people with Germany. These first negotiations took place at a time when tensions were still extraordinarily high and each agreement was its own complicated milestone to what would ultimately lay the foundation for the reparations that areto this daynegotiated, expanded, and distributed to Holocaust survivors around the world every year.

Greg Schneider, Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, said, "The work done by these leaders from both the Jewish and German people created the blueprint for the first-ever indemnification in history. There was nothing to base it on, no one had ever done this or negotiated this level of compensationand all of this was done as the world was still learning about the atrocities of the Holocaust."

The film, which provides a first-ever inside look at Holocaust reparations, features Jewish and German leaders risking their lives by meeting in secret under threats of death. It captures the anger, shame, and anguish experienced by the various parties as talks broke down and failure seemed imminent. From the halls of power in Bonn, West Germany, where fierce debate raged over how to pay wartime debts; to violent protests in the streets of Jerusalem, where a public infuriated by the thought of bargaining with Germany stormed the Knesset; to meetings with Jewish organizations from around the world, viewers are shown the complexities faced by the various sides in negotiating for compensation.

Director and Producer Roberta Grossman stated, "I am honored to help bring to life this story which illustrates that the path to democracy, to peace, and to reconciliation, no matter how devastating the conflict or awful the injustice perpetrated on individuals and groups of people, is a truthful and factual account of what has occurred, a real acceptance of responsibility on the part of the perpetrator, and a sincere apology from the perpetrator expressed both in words and in terms of some kind of reparations."

Ben Ferencz, prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials that followed World War II, said, "I'm honored to be in a film that recognizes the dangers, complexities, and tribulations that went into the first-ever compensation. At the time, we were just trying to do what was right. Looking back, I can see that it was this work, the legal work of negotiating agreements and finding justice, that led to peace. It is the indemnification that allowed both Israel and Germany to find a peaceful path forward and rebuild themselves on the world stage."

Maureen Reidy, The Paley Center's President and CEO, "The Paley Center continues our work to shine a light on media's powerful shaping influence in combating the alarming rise of antisemitism with the next installment in our quarterly series, the U.S. premiere of Reckonings: the First Reparations at The Paley Museum. The Paley Center is proud to convene some of the most respected and leading voices to educate audiences on the dangers of antisemitism and thank Shari Redstone and Aryeh and Elana Bourkoff for their continued generous support of this ongoing series and the Claims Conference for their sponsorship and support of this event."

The event at the Paley Center, moderated by Rebecca Jarvis, will feature Director and Producer Roberta Grossman; Claims Conference Executive Vice President, Greg Schneider; Holocaust survivor, member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League, Abe Foxman; and historian and author Michael Berenbaum. The event in partnership with the Paley Center is made possible by generous support from Shari Redstone, Aryeh and Elana Bourkoff.

For more information about the film: https://www.claimscon.org/reckonings/

For more information about the Claims Conference: www.claimscon.org

About the Claims Conference: The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference), a nonprofit organization with offices in New York, Israel and Germany, secures material compensation for Holocaust survivors around the world. Founded in 1951 by representatives of 23 major international Jewish organizations, the Claims Conference negotiates for and disburses funds to individuals and organizations and seeks the return of Jewish property stolen during the Holocaust. As a result of negotiations with the Claims Conference since 1952, the German government has paid more than $90 billion in indemnification to individuals for suffering and losses resulting from persecution by the Nazis. In 2022, the Claims Conference will distribute over $700 million in compensation to over 210,000 survivors in 83 countries and allocated over $720 million in grants to over 300 social service agencies worldwide that provide vital services for Holocaust survivors, such as homecare, food and medicine.

SOURCE Claims Conference
LONDON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Expert in global pay solutions, CloudPay, has raised a new $50 million round of capital whilst recording strong growth as demand for cloud-based integrated global payroll and payments services continues.

The funds raised were led by Runway Growth Capital and The Olayan Group. The new capital will support CloudPay's continued innovation of its end-to-end enterprise global pay offering, meeting the need for integrated payroll and payments services as well as employee solutions that fit the modern world of work.

CloudPay continues to show high double-digit growth year-on-year and is projecting revenue growth circa. 40% for 2022, with the business now processing 2.5 million payslips per annum worldwide. As a result, the organisation has increased its headcount, recently welcoming its 1000th employee.

"We believe that CloudPay is at an inflection point in their growth that makes it a great time to invest strategically," said Nicholas Briody, Director of Direct Private Equity, Americas, The Olayan Group. "They are well-positioned to capitalize on the needs of the modern workplace for payroll and payments services. CloudPay's growth has been strong year-on-year, and we have confidence in their vision and in the management capabilities of their leadership to continue to drive innovation."

"Payment processing is a critical function for every business. CloudPay has proven its capabilities by servicing an impressive list of global, blue-chip customers," said Brian Sapp, Managing Director, Runway Growth Capital. "We are pleased to deepen our relationship and continue our support of CloudPay's growth."

Earlier this year a new partnership with Visa Direct was announced, enabling fast, secure salary payments to any debit or credit card, and taking days off the traditional payroll payments process. Demand for CloudPay's Earned Wage Access (EWA) solution has also sky-rocketed and new partnerships have been launched with innovators such as HR platform, HiBob.

CloudPay CEO, Paul Bartlett, explained: "It's an exciting time for the payroll world. As a profession that's historically been quite set in its ways, we're seeing a shift as demand grows for global and scalable solutions underpinned by powerful technology. Payroll has traditionally ended at the payslip, but over 90% of our new business now includes payment services in addition to payroll processing. Companies are also seeing the advantage of being able to offer employees flexibility around when and how they get paid  particularly during the cost-of-living crisis. In this environment, innovation is needed, and that's where CloudPay has been able to add real value to our clients with solutions such as the pay-on-demand app and new money movement methods.

"Our focus on challenging the norm to offer comprehensive pay solutions across the globe has led to this new funding and I am delighted to have the support of our investors to continue the expansion of CloudPay's global payroll and payments business. We're excited about our plans for 2023."

About CloudPay

Employee pay processes have broad business consequences, requiring modern solutions and trusted experts across the globe. CloudPay connects all employee pay processes  including payroll, payments, and on-demand pay  through a unified platform available across 130+ countries, and 168 currencies. CloudPay's experts help global companies implement best practices, navigate change, optimize operations, and improve employee experiences, guiding them with vision and care toward the comprehensive pay experience employees deserve.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1918624/CloudPay_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Sadie McGrath

[email protected]

+44 (0)1582 797958

SOURCE CloudPay
Oak Crest Institute of Science unexpected findings seen as new tool to manage patient care and optimize testing

MONROVIA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Waging the fight against Covid-19 from the front lines, Oak Crest Institute of Science has released groundbreaking findings with major medical and public health implications.

"We measured the speed at which SARS-CoV-2 reproduces in unvaccinated individuals at various timepoints, between when they first became infected and there was no longer any detectable virus present in their bodies. We also measured changes in their immune response," CEO Marc M. Baum said.

Oak Crest Front

"Our findings can be used to develop guidelines for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients and optimize testing procedures to determine whether people are infected with SARS-CoV-2."

Link to full abstract in Communications Medicine: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43856-022-00195-4



Oak Crest is a non-profit research institute in Southern California that developed an FDA-approved reaction test to detect the virus on nasal swabs. That led to selecting Oak Crest as an Institutional Review Board-approved clinical study site. All Oak Crest researchers took part. https://www.oak-crest.org/faculty-and-staff/

Nine study participants who developed COVID-19 between November 2020 and March 2021 were monitored for three months. Blood samples were evaluated for viral loads, as well as associated inflammatory biomarker and antibody responses.

The results yielded some unexpected findings:

Early viral replication is rapid, with median doubling time of 3.1 hours, providing a narrow window between exposure and viral shedding, (w hen the virus can be spread through sneezing, coughing or speaking).

The clearance phase is slow and heterogeneous.

Host immune responses differ widely across participants.

"Results from our small study give a rare insight into the life-cycle of COVID-19 infection, and hold a number of important biological, clinical, and public health implications," Baum said.

Oak Crest also conducted research on HIV prevention, the delivery and sustained release of anti-HIV drugs, and the development of new drug candidates for the delivery, prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Research on HIV prevention and the development of sustained delivery devices to be used for HIV prevention will continue, and new developments are expected.

ABOUT OAK CREST INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

https://www.oak-crest.org/

Oak Crest Institute of Science (Oak Crest) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to facilitate productive, high-quality, fundamental chemistry and environmental science research opportunities for students of all scholastic levels. Oak Crest was established specifically to teach and conduct cutting-edge science research. The institute provides an experience-giving role in education, where students work on authentic, funded research projects and develop a sense of belonging to the STEM community. Since its founding in 1998, Oak Crest has participated in educational programs, taking in groups to experience mentored research and near-peer mentoring. In 2006, the Oak Crest Institute of Science was awarded an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site grant, the first to focus on community college students. Oak Crest gives more than 100 students annually the opportunity to conduct hands-on laboratory experiments. The Institute also offer tours and workshops to more than 1,000 students, teachers and the general public.

Media Contact:

Paul Webster, Ph.D. Senior Faculty

1-626 817 0883

[email protected]

SOURCE Oak Crest Institute of Science
Product demonstrations of its newest innovation to its tool assortment are set for Booth 1501

SPARKS, Md., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crescent Tools to bring exciting innovation in key product categories to the showroom floor at the 2022 STAFDA conference in San Diego, California from Sunday, October 30 to Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

The Crescent team will have a wide range of its latest tools available to view, including Pocket Knives, Circular Saw Blades, Bolt Biter Impact Nut Extractor and Drivers and the newly-unveiled Shockforce G2 Measuring Tapes.

"This year's product line-up is sure to impress," said Kevin Burnet, Senior Product Manager at Crescent Tools. "Our team of experts ensures each tool is equipped with the forward-thinking details that tool users ask for. For example, the Nite Eye markings of the Shockforce G2 Tape Measure and our Pocket Knives' Low Profile design demonstrate exactly how Crescent Tools is leading the way with meaningful innovation for our end users."

In the booth, attendees can experience live demonstrations of the new Shockforce G2 measuring tape, saw blades and visit our Crescent Tools Road Show Hauler to learn more about the full range of Crescent Tools.

To see all of Crescent's innovative products, visit Booth 1501 for a tour through each demo station. For more information, visit www.crescenttool.com .

About Crescent

Crescent is a premier brand from Apex Tool Group, one of the largest hand tool manufacturers in the world. The product line includes Crescent adjustable wrenches, mechanics hand tools, and power tool accessories, Crescent Wiss snips, scissors, shears, knives and trade tools, Crescent Lufkin measuring tapes, rules, wheels and chalk reels, Crescent Nicholson files and saws, Crescent H.K. Porter heavy-duty cutting products, and Crescent JOBOX on-site, flammable liquid and truck storage products. Visit www.crescenttools.com

About Apex Tool Group

Apex Tool Group, LLC is one of the largest worldwide producers of hand and power tools, tool storage, drill chucks, chain, and electronic soldering products. Apex serves a multitude of global markets, including automotive, aerospace, electronics, energy, hardware, industrial, and consumer retail. For more information, visit www.apextoolgroup.com

SOURCE Crescent Tools
Daring Plant Chicken is Now Proudly Served in all Bluestone Lane Cafes across the US

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Daring Foods , the leading Plant Chicken brand with a clean label, short ingredient list, and perfectly chicken-like flavor and texture is excited to announce their arrival in Bluestone Lane , the Australian-inspired coffee roaster, cafe lifestyle brand as the company's first plant-based chicken offering. Daring is a uniquely textured and tasty vegan and gluten-free 1:1 substitute for chicken, made through a clean and simple flavor infusion process, with almost 50% less ingredients than market competitors. It's a perfect fit for Bluestone Lane as the cafe brand continues to modernize US coffee culture with an emphasis on premium quality coffee, fresh healthy food and a hyperfocus on creating an optimal customer experience for "locals."

"We are thrilled to begin a partnership with such a well respected restaurant like Bluestone Lane and are honored to be their first plant-based protein offering," said Daring's Founder and CEO Ross Mackay. "We are confident that through this expansion we can show customers just how tasty plant-based swaps can be, and in turn those small changes can make a massive impact."

Starting today, Bluestone Lane customers will be able to add or swap Daring Plant Chicken to any menu item including their signature salads, bowls, or sandwiches at 25 Bluestone Lane Cafe locations across the U.S. For example, Bluestone Lane's popular Warm Chicken and Grains bowl can now be made with Daring Plant Chicken. Later this year, Bluestone Lane will also unveil a chef-collaborated menu item featuring Daring Plant Chicken at all Cafe locations.

Bluestone Lane will serve Daring Plant Chicken cooked via a sous-vide process made possible by their partnership with Cuisine Solutions Inc., the global leader and largest premium food company pioneering and perfecting this method. The sous-vide format allows for less preparation time, hot and cold applications, guaranteed product consistency, labor savings, and increased food safety by eliminating the chance of contamination or foodborne illnesses.

"Many of our locals follow a plant-based lifestyle, and we have been looking for the right partner for a plant-based chicken offering," said Nick Stone, Founder and CEO of Bluestone Lane. "Daring's chicken substitute is the perfect fit, thanks to its clean, simple ingredient profile and process, as well as its delicious flavor and texture that complements many of our most popular menu items. We are excited to expand our plant-based protein selections to continue to delight our locals."

As a brand that prides itself in products that are better for people, animals, and the planet, Daring's mission aligns perfectly with Bluestone Lane which also prioritizes environmentally friendly and health forward offerings. Currently, the progressive cafe provides full table service for all-day breakfast, brunch, lunch, and early evening appetizers in beautifully designed spaces.

To learn more about Daring visit www.daring.com , and to find a Bluestone Lane Cafe near you visit https://bluestonelane.com/cafe-and-coffee-shop-locations/ .

About Daring: Daring is the #1 un-breaded plant-based chicken brand in the US, founded by Ross Mackay, with the mission of removing chicken from the global food system. Backed by global celebrities like Drake and Naomi Osaka, the award-winning brand is available online through food delivery services like Amazon Fresh, GoPuff, and InstaCart, via meal delivery services like SunBasket, HungryRoot and Imperfect Foods, and nationally at nearly 11,000 retail stores like Target, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Walmart and Kroger. Daring is a uniquely textured and tasty 1:1 substitute for chicken, made through a clean and simple flavor infusion process, with almost 50% less ingredients than market competitors. Daring's vegan, gluten-free, and non-gmo plant chicken pieces are made with just six natural ingredients and seasoned in four flavor-packed signature spice blends including Original, Lemon & Herb, Cajun and Breaded.

About Bluestone Lane:

Bluestone Lane is a New York-born Australia lifestyle and hospitality brand and currently operates 60 premium coffee shops and cafes across the United States. Named as one of Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies based in NYC, Bluestone Lane has enjoyed rapid adoption from consumers looking for superior coffee, an elevated experience and healthier menu options. The brand is leading the movement to modernize US coffee culture with its emphasis on the quality of its coffee and menu items and a hyperfocus on offering a world-class hospitality experience to serve its locals, not customers. Nick Stone founded Bluestone Lane to infuse a personal connection into the American cafe experience, making it feel more like personalized daily-ritual, and less like a transaction. Bluestone Lane also offers a broad suite of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), whole bean coffee, coffee pods, teas, sparkling waters and cold-pressed juices. Visit us at www.bluestonelane.com and on Instagram.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Daring
LONDON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DataOps.live, the software company dedicated to helping organizations build, test, and deploy their critical data applications and data products more effectively company, today announced the availability of the DataOps.live Orchestrator for Collibra, the Data Intelligence company. The Orchestrator provides a direct integration with Collibra from the universe of metadata and other information from DataOps.live pipelines and more. DataOps.live is also proud to be a Premier Sponsor and presentation partner at their upcoming Data Citizens '22 event, being held on November 1-3 in San Diego, California. DataOps.live is presenting on Thursday at 9:45am PST for "Data Products as first-class citizens in a Snowflake architecture". Register for the event at citizens.collibra.com, and learn more in our blog, "The Road to Collibra Data Citizens 22".

"The Collibra Data Intelligence Cloud is a perfect enterprise platform to complement the technical DataOps.live benefits for Snowflake Data Cloud developers who need to deliver a complete business solution to all their users, and ease the management of their growing data product portfolio," says John Marchese, EVP Strategic Business, Alliances & Channels of DataOps.live. "Our platform now provides a low-code orchestrator for Collibra and collects critical operational metadata on data pipelines, data usage, and data infrastructure, that in combination with Collibra's powerful data catalog and data quality capabilities can demystify and deliver major business benefits to joint customers."

Collibra enables data engineers and business stakeholders to understand the structure and lineage of data assets across the entire Snowflake Data Cloud, from ingestion to analytics, through a collaborative interface. CDOs and other data stakeholders have a holistic view of the data's linage and quality across business use cases. Collibra Data Quality can proactively manage and continuously monitor the operational metadata telemetry that DataOps.live proactively pushes into the Collibra Data Catalog to jointly ensure our customers benefit from the highest quality data pipelines possible using true DataOps.

Joint DataOps.live and Collibra customers such as Roche Diagnostics are already using Collibra to understand data distribution, schema, and lineage. DataOps.live integrates and orchestrates Collibra as part of the overall Roche data pipelines and provides an additional unique perspective in terms of the operational metadata gathered from all the disparate data pipeline components of Snowflake data products. As a result, organizations can build test, and deploy data pipelines faster, and unify metadata to make better business decisions. Collibra also provides the data catalog for publishing all new data products and updates, along with the most recent features, documentation, and any operational telemetry the customer wishes to track.

To find out how DataOps.live can help drive success from modern data architectures, visit http://www.DataOps.live.

About DataOps.live

DataOps.live was built to meet the real-life needs of modern, data-driven companies using Snowflake's cloud data platform. It removes the need for enterprises to choose between governance and agility, delivering fundamental improvements in both. The platform brings agile DevOps automation (#TrueDataOps) to the Snowflake cloud data platform. DataOps.live is a single platform for 100% of an organization's DataOps lifecycle needs around Snowflake.

Media Contact:

Patrick Connolly

[email protected]

+1 608-738-8029

SOURCE DataOps.live
LONDON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- De Beers is proud to announce Lupita Nyong'o as its first Global Ambassador. The Academy Award-winning actor stars in the new brand campaign, De Beers: Where It Begins, which tells the story of the only global luxury brand that starts at the source. As a core element of the partnership Nyong'o will support De Beers' Building Forever commitment, which aims to advance women and girls where its diamonds are discovered.

De Beers global brand ambassador Lupita Nyong'o

Renowned Australian photographer and director Lachlan Bailey follows Nyong'o from the discovery of a rough diamond to its magical transformation into magnificent jewellery. The campaign celebrates De Beers' unique passion for sourcing the rarest treasures of nature and revealing their exceptional beauty through remarkable craftsmanship. As Nyong'o embarks on her journey, she discovers the power that only a De Beers natural diamond jewellery creation holds: turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, a moment into forever and herself into a magnetic woman with limitless potential.

As a powerful woman who cares deeply about the world around her, Nyong'o is the ultimate representative of De Beers' Building Forever commitment to people and the planet. As a brand that is part-owned by the citizens of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, De Beers thinks differently about what value is and how it is created. To this end, through its Building Forever approach, De Beers will work with Nyong'o in pursuit of the brand's public goals to engage 10,000 girls in STEM, support 10,000 women entrepreneurs and invest at least $10 million across southern Africa to achieve these goals by 2030.

"I'm honored to be the first Global Ambassador for De Beers. This campaign brings to life the transformative power that I feel when I wear De Beers' diamond creations, and the pride in knowing where they come from and the good they do. Even more importantly, my partnership with De Beers allows me to extend my advocacy for women and girls around the world" says Lupita Nyong'o.

"With her rare magnetism and elegance, Lupita Nyong'o is a testament to the power of boundless possibilities. Embodying modern and responsible luxury, Lupita is an inspiration for all of us. De Beers is proud that Lupita has joined our Building Forever commitment to people and the planet and we stand with her as she embarks on an exciting chapter in her career," says Marc Jacheet, De Beers CEO Brands.

The De Beers Where It Begins campaign launches globally with integrated media activations across multiple touchpoints on November 3rd.

SOURCE De Beers
BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Diagnostic Robotics , a leading provider of artificial intelligence and care management solutions for health plans and providers, announced today that it has been recognized by MedTech Outlook magazine as a 2022 Top 10 MedTech Startup for its AI-powered solutions.

MedTech Outlook, a print and digital magazine that bridges the gap between medical technology companies and healthcare providers, publishes this annual list to showcase MedTech startups reshaping the modern healthcare industry and developing promising solutions to influence how medical professionals approach patient care.

In announcing the 2022 Top 10 MedTech Startups, the magazine feature highlights how Diagnostic Robotics is redefining risk stratification with historical AI-driven mining of 60B claims and 100M+ medical records to accurately predict a patient's treatment needs, clinical journey, and outcomes while optimizing for clinical ROI. The company is also revolutionizing provider workflows with an integrated platform that leverages AI to organize the patient journey into a user-friendly workstream and reduces intake cost and time while driving incremental patients.

"We take immense pride in being named as a Top 10 MedTech Startup and the recognition it brings to our solutions," said Dr. Kira Radinsky, CEO of Diagnostic Robotics. "2022 was a monumental year for us as we continued to enhance our AI solutions, tripled our revenue compared to 2020, and closed a $45M Series B funding round."

To read the MedTech Outlook article, please visit https://bit.ly/3C3HEWX .

Learn more about Diagnostic Robotics at www.diagnosticrobotics.com .

About Diagnostic Robotics

Diagnostic Robotics has brought together the leading artificial intelligence researchers to create powerful AI solutions for healthcare institutions and organizations. Trained on tens of billions of claims data points and nearly 100 million patient visits, Diagnostic Robotics' solutions are actively in use at several leading health plans around the globe. The company's systems integrate seamlessly into major touchpoints along the patient journey, providing high-value decision support while slashing administrative burdens, massively reducing cost of care, and improving patient experiences.

Media Contact:

Kathryn Brown

[email protected]

SOURCE Diagnostic Robotics
$5 million investment to support Italian automotive manufacturers with shift to software-defined vehicles

Plans to hire additional 400 software engineers over the next two years

TURIN, Italy, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxoft, a DXC Technology company (NYSE: DXC), has opened a new Italian headquarters and Automotive Center of Excellence in Turin. As part of the investment worth over $5 million USD (4.4 million), Luxoft plans to hire 400 software engineers over the next two years. The move is designed to support Italian automotive companies with cutting edge technology talent and drive new revenue streams in the burgeoning area of software-defined vehicles.

Luz Mauch, EVP Automotive Luxoft (left) and Marco Bottero, Country Director for Luxoft in Italy, Spain and Portugal (right), cutting the ribbon of the Luxoft Italy HQ and Automotive Center of Excellence in Turin, Italy (credit: DXC-Luxoft)

With more than 30 years' experience in the country, DXC already employs over 2000 technology experts across Italy at facilities in Milan, Rome and Bari. By building on this presence and adding to the 200 software engineers it already has in the country, Luxoft is growing its capabilities to partner with Italian car manufacturers and OEMs as they tackle challenges such as data analytics, application management, and business process optimization.

Luxoft selected Turin based on its access to local skills, its proximity to key customers and partners, and its important position in Italy's automotive ecosystem. It forms part of a network of Luxoft facilities focused on digital mobility solutions across Europe and around the world.

Inaugurated today at a ceremony with Luxoft and DXC executives, government officials and leaders from automotive companies, Luxoft's new Italy HQ and Automotive Center of Excellence are housed in Turin's Lingotto building, previously a car factory, and today a symbol of Italy's automotive industry.

Quotes

"The move to software-defined vehicles is a revolutionary and unstoppable force in today's automotive industry. In this new business model, automakers are able to engage customers directly with digital services, while at the same time reducing complexity and costs. Operating from Turin allows us to be part of one of the most important automotive hubs in the world where there is expertise, research capacity and an ecosystem of companies all working in pursuit of the vehicle of the future."

Luz G. Mauch, EVP Automotive Luxoft

"DXC has three decades' experience supporting leading Italian organizations across many areas of national importance  from manufacturing, to energy, finance and government. With the launch of Luxoft's cutting-edge technology facility in the city of Turin, we are now boosting Italy's automotive sector and confirming our commitment to Italian innovation."

Eugenio Maria Bonomi, Managing Director, DXC Technology Italy

"The metropolitan city of Turin is focused on the economic development of the region. The automotive sector is a key part of that. We aim to support innovation across technology and society, capable of combining a vision of the future with the development of skills in our region. We are excited about Luxoft's investment and will follow it with interest."

Sonia Cambursano, Councilor of the Metropolitan City of Turin

About Luxoft

Luxoft is the design, data and development arm of DXC Technology, providing bespoke, end-to-end technology solutions for mission critical systems, products and services. We help create data-fueled organizations, solving complex operational, technological and strategic challenges. Our passion is building resilient businesses, while generating new business channels and revenue streams, exceptional user experiences and modernized operations at scale. For more information, please visit www.luxoft.com

About DXC Technology

DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com.

Together, DXC and Luxoft deliver a differentiated customer value proposition for digital transformation, combining Luxoft's digital front-end capabilities with DXC's expertise in IT modernization and integration.

Media contacts: Cristina Pipolo, Head of Marketing and Communications, DXC Technology Italia, [email protected]; Sergey Karas, Head of Global Marketing, Luxoft, [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931409/DXC_Technology_Company_DXC_Luxoft_Opens_New_Italy_HQ_and_Automot.jpg

SOURCE DXC Technology Company
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eDynamic Learning -- North America's largest provider of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and elective digital curriculum for grades 6-12, announces it has expanded their scholarship offerings to include the new Passion to Purpose Student Scholarship Program.

eDynamic Learning's new Passion to Purpose Scholarship Program for High School Students.

The Passion to Purpose Scholarship Program joins the company's growing Recognition & Rewards Program that honors, recognizes, and awards students and teachers and their accomplishments and contributions. The Passion to Purpose Scholarship Program will offer students an opportunity to write an original essay where they can reflect on their career exploration journey, visualize their future, and share their story. Every year, hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students use eDynamic Learning curriculum and now they can benefit even more from their experience by sharing their story about the impact the curriculum has had on their lives and in helping them make decisions about their future.

This new scholarship program will complement the long-standing and popular Virtual Business Simulation Scholarship Programs for students that use Knowledge Matters' simulations. The combination of these programs will now offer the most scholarship programs available for K-12 students focused on career education in North America by one organization.

"Our mission is to help students explore their career options early and often, so they can discover their skills, talents, and interests and do what they love. We are proud to grow our student recognition programs to support and highlight the valuable contributions students will make to our workforce and economy in the future," said Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning.

There will be two 1st place award recipients, one award will be open to all students who meet the qualifications of the program and the other 1st place award will be reserved for students with a documented Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Accommodation Plan or disability, as indicated by their guardians and teachers when applying. There will also be 2nd and 3rd place prizes as well as 10 finalists. Winners will receive valuable scholarship funds and the finalists will receive digital badges and their essays will be published on the eDynamic Learning website, where they will receive official recognition as a published author. Complete Scholarship Program details can be found on the Passion to Purpose website. Essay submissions will be accepted beginning March 1st, 2023.

"Our goal is for all students participating in the scholarship program to discover that learning challenges or disabilities do not define your future. We hope our scholarship opportunities help motivate and precipitate students to reach their educational goals whether their chosen career requires certifications, a license, college, or a 2 year degree," said Tyler Wood, Vice President of Marketing & Professional Development at eDynamic Learning.

The company's Fall 2022 Virtual Business All-Access Scholarship competition kicked off earlier this month and Virtual Business Challenges with Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) partners are also underway where student competitors will have the chance to win scholarship money. Registration for the DECA, FBLA, & FCCLA CTSO virtual events are still open and will remain open during, and in between, qualifying rounds. Challenge participants and CTSO advisers can register at the Knowledge Matters challenge page.

Throughout the years, the company has remained dedicated to offering students a chance to earn scholarship money. These scholarship opportunities have offered an extreme value to students as well as teachers as they provide an additional level of engagement in their classrooms. Many students also find that including their competition scores on resumes or college applications has been extremely beneficial.

eDynamic Learning's Recognition & Rewards Program also offers an avenue for educators to be appreciated and acknowledged through the Career Compass Teacher Awards, which honors outstanding teachers and provides opportunities to earn a curriculum grant, complimentary professional development, and much more. The Empowered Educators Program gives educators an opportunity to participate in pilots, provide input and feedback and ensure our programs are the best they can be for teaching and learning.

About eDynamic Learning

With offices in Southlake, Texas, Hadley, Massachusetts, and Kelowna, BC, Canada, eDynamic Learning is a teacher-founded company, established with a mission to support schools in helping students find their passion and ensure they leave high school with the knowledge and preparation needed to make life-shaping college and career decisions. eDynamic Learning offers nearly 250 CTE and career-focused elective digital courses and Knowledge Matters' career-based simulations. All curriculum is available online and works continuously in any instructional model, and is compatible with nearly all LMS systems.

SOURCE eDynamic Learning
MILAN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading two-wheel electric vehicle brand, Yadea (01585:HK) has announced it will be exhibiting its newest models at EICMA 2022 from November 8 to 13 at Fiera Milano, Milan, Italy. As one of the world's most important exhibitions for two-wheel vehicles, EICMA 2022 will be an opportunity for Yadea to further showcase its outstanding product range on a global scale. The company also announced that it will be hosting a dual-product line release conference at 4:40 pm local time (3:40 pm GMT) on November 8th with the theme "Glow with Red".

EICMA 2022: Yadea to Unveil New Models and Showcase Product Lineup with its Latest Tech

With over 100 years of history, the International Motorcycle and Accessories Exhibition (EICMA) is renowned for being a source of inspiration for mobility and an incubator of trends and passions. As one of the world's leading brands in electric mobility, the Yadea exhibit will be a significant highlight of the event, with the company set to launch a series of all-new products aimed at consumers from Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia.

"Since our first visit to EICMA in 2009, Yadea has grown to be a leading global micromobility brand sold throughout 100 countries and regions. Reflecting on this gives us a chance to consider how far we've come and cements our vision to continue to grow and serve more customers globally," said Aska Zeng, General Manager of Yadea Europe Division. "Moving forward, we will continue to focus on product design and technological innovation, providing a consistent user experience to our customers and upgrading our products to better meet the needs of consumers."

At EICMA 2022, Yadea will display a diverse range of products, including electric scooters, e-bikes, electric kick scooters, and more. One highlight will be the newly upgraded Guanneng 3 range, which represents a new generation of long-range, intelligent electric vehicles and features breakthrough long-lasting battery technology. The battery is capable of more than 1,000 cycles with 30% greater capacity than conventional lead-acid batteries and low-temperature protection. Also included in the exhibition will be devices such as the sleek Y80 e-bike, which combines style with performance, featuring a 350W engine delivering 100Nm torque powered by a 36V 10.5Ah large-capacity battery that can reach up to 80km of range (assisted).

Yadea's booth will be located at Hall 11, M06, Fiera Milano, where EICMA attendees are welcome to visit and experience Yadea's product range and innovative technology. The brand's collaborative partner Studio F.A.Porsche will also attend the event with Yadea on November 8th.

Over the past two years, Yadea has consistently shown its vision to establish itself as an internationally renowned household name. Through brand launch in Spain under the theme #YADEATakestheCity, setting up its German operations center, participating in Eurobike Exhibition, and partnering with local businesses in Europe, Yadea is committed to growing its brand image and reaching into new markets. Through a continued focus on innovation and R&D, Yadea is well positioned to consolidate its position as a global market leader in the production of electric-powered two-wheeled vehicles.

About Yadea

Yadea is a global leader in developing and manufacturing electric two-wheel vehicles including electric motorcycles, electric mopeds, electric bicycles and electric kick scooters. To date, Yadea has sold products to 60 million users in over 100 countries and regions, and has a network of 40,000+ retailers worldwide. With a mission to help people "Electrify Your Life", Yadea continues to invest in R&D, production and global expansion to build a shared and sustainable future for humankind.

For more information, visit our:

Official Website: https://www.yadea.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yadea.Official

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YADEA.GLOBAL/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YadeaGlobal

SOURCE Yadea
EIS Holdings, LLC, continues strategic expansion of environmental consulting services in the West.

A transformative growth plan, Eagle Environmental Consulting marks EIS' 2nd acquisition in 2022.

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EIS Holdings, LLC (EIS), one of the largest providers of mission-critical environmental and infrastructure services, announced today the acquisition of privately owned Eagle Environmental Consulting, Inc. (Eagle Environmental), located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. This expansion provides EIS the opportunity to geographically expand environmental consulting services to customers throughout the northwest and marks the company's second strategic acquisition in 2022.

Headquartered in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Eagle Environmental Consulting provides environmental services to the petroleum, industrial, commercial real estate, legal, and oil and gas sectors, as well as local, state and federal government with focused service areas in Colorado and New Mexico. Eagle Environmental's turnkey service offerings are sharply focused on soil and groundwater assessments, remedial action plans, remediation, compliance and permitting, and continued monitoring and reporting.

"Eagle's experienced team has delivered turnkey environmental services focused on soil and groundwater for over 17 years and we are thrilled to welcome them to EIS." -- Kory Mitchell, EIS CEO Tweet this

Kory Mitchell, EIS CEO states, "The addition of Eagle Environmental to the EIS family of companies continues our mission, building a full-service environmental remediation platform with the ability to support customers from assessment through project completion and continued audits and monitoring. Eagle's experienced team has delivered turnkey environmental services focused on soil and groundwater for over 17 years and we are thrilled to welcome them to EIS."

In June 2022, EIS acquired Advanced Environmental Technologies, LLC, headquartered in Albany, Georgia. The addition of Eagle Environmental further demonstrates the Company's commitment to creating a well-rounded, industry recognized, environmental and remediation solutions company with footprint in new regions of the U.S. to also support organic growth.

EIS provides a full suite of environmental and remediation service solutions to a wide range of industries across the United States. Together, the EIS family of companies creates one of the nation's largest providers of environmental and infrastructure services in the United States. EIS' excellent safety record, ability to bond and insure any size project ensures clients receive the highest qualified environmental service provider.

To learn more about EIS Holdings, LLC, please visit https://eisholdings.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn.

About EIS Holdings, LLC

EIS Holdings, LLC (EIS) provides mission-critical environmental, remediation, and infrastructure services across the United States, serving a wide variety of public and private end markets. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, EIS has 27 offices across the country operating in 34 states. As a leading remediation and specialty infrastructure services firm, our team is dedicated to exceptional growth that is bolstered by geographic expansion, service line extensions, and exceptional safety records.

SOURCE EIS Holdings, LLC
Ellucian recognized for achievement in education technology solutions

RESTON, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, today announced that International Awards Associate (IAA) has awarded Ellucian with a 2022 TITAN Business Award in the Business Technology Solutions  Education Solution category. The TITAN Business Awards acknowledge the achievements of entrepreneurs and organizations globally, and Ellucian was selected as a winner for its leadership in transitioning higher education institutions to the cloud. In 2022, the awards program received over 1,000 entries from 55 countries.

"Ellucian is proud to see our dedication to the technology transformation of higher education recognized by the 2022 TITAN Business Awards," said Laura Ipsen, President & CEO, Ellucian. "Today, digital transformation is creating new opportunities for higher education to accelerate student success and create better outcomes for all learners. We are proud to lead the way with the most advanced cloud solutions providing faculty, administration and students the most modern experience. Ellucian's data-driven capabilities empower institutions to turn insights into action to meet the evolving needs of today's learners and innovate for the future."

TITAN Business Awards bring attention to the international business industry and celebrate strategies, cultures, and teamwork of leaders across a range of categories. TITAN aims to elevate standards of excellence and ultimately drive the business sector forward with seasoned professionals as jurors. The jury exercised strict standards and impartiality in the process, and was tasked with identifying exemplary entries and awarding them appropriately.

"Despite this being the second season for this competitive year, we received a staggering number of entries, all of which demonstrated remarkable qualities of excellence," Thomas Brandt, spokesperson of IAA, remarked. "It is particularly motivating to see so many parties still actively engaging in excellent practices in their businesses. It really does come through clearly from their submissions."

See the full list of winners at: https://thetitanawards.com/winner.php

About Ellucian

Ellucian is the market leader charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence.

Working with a community of more than 2,900 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com.

About International Awards Associate (IAA)

IAA, established in 2015, is the organizer of the MUSE Creative Awards, MUSE Design Awards, MUSE Photography Awards, MUSE Hotel Awards, Vega Digital Awards, NYX Marcom Awards, NYX Game Awards, NYX Video Awards, TITAN Business Awards, TITAN Property Awards, LIT Commercial Awards, LIT Talent Awards, London Photography Awards, NY Product Design Awards, New York Photography Awards, and iLuxury Awards.

IAA's mission is to honor, promote and encourage professional excellence, from industry to industry, internationally and domestically, through award platforms that are industry appropriate. IAA assembled the TITAN Business Awards to bring attention to the international business industry and promote their strategies, cultures, and teamwork to the world.

Media Contact

Lindsay Stanley

[email protected]

SOURCE Ellucian
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner of the class action firm Monteverde & Associates PC (the "M&A Class Action Firm"), a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Applied Genetics Technologies Corp. (AGTC), relating to its proposed acquisition by Syncona Limited. Under the terms of the agreement, AGTC shareholders are expected to receive $0.34 in cash plus potential future cash payments of up to $0.73 per share they own. Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/applied-genetics-technologies-corp. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018-2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers in 2013 and 2017-2019 as a Rising Star and in 2022 as a Super Lawyer in Securities Litigation. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2021 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, we have recovered or secured over a dozen cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.

If you own common stock in AGTC and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2022 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

SOURCE Monteverde & Associates PC
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The threat of violent crime looms large for many young people around the world. New research finds that the stress from this threat puts female students at a long-term disadvantage in school and beyond.

A recent study highlights the gender inequity of standardized tests and finds that exposure to violence puts female students at a long-term disadvantage in school and beyond.

The study  co-authored by Maria Padilla-Romo, assistant professor of economics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business, and Eunsik Chang (HCB Ph.D., '21), assistant professor of economics at Mississippi State University  examines how violent crime in a student's local area affects high-stakes test scores and subsequent school placement.

The team focused on Mexico City, where violent crimes are commonplace, and the school system uses an annual exam called the COMIPEMS as its sole means of assigning middle school students to public high schools. The researchers looked at students' COMIPEMS scores and at homicide and firearms injury records in the area over a period of three and a half years.

The data revealed a significant gender gap in test results. Exposure to violent crime within 0.1 miles in the week before the exam lowers female students' test scores by approximately 11 percent compared to female students not exposed to such an environment. Similar exposure has no such effect on male students' test scores.

The disparity is even more pronounced when violent crimes occur in neighborhoods that are usually considered relatively safe, Padilla-Romo points out. "The detrimental effects on girls' test scores are larger in areas where they are not used to seeing shootings and homicides," she says. "It's more of a shock for them."

Long-Term Impact on Education and Earnings

Lower COMIPEMS scores affect high school placement, putting girls who have been exposed to violent crime at a disadvantage. Approximately 19 percent of female students exposed to violent crime are subsequently assigned to less-preferred, lower-quality high schools than where they would have been assigned without that exposure.

Placement at less desirable high schools leads to further gender disparity in post-secondary education and career opportunities. Mexico City students at elite high schools enjoy privileges such as smaller class sizes, fewer students per computer and more college-educated teachers. Students at these schools also score better on a high-stakes graduation test. In the study, 3 percent of the female students who were exposed to violent crime before the COMIPEMS test lost the opportunity to be conditionally admitted to Mexico's most prestigious university, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico), because they were not accepted to high schools affiliated with UNAM.

Padilla-Romo says the study provides valuable evidence in ongoing education policy debates around high-stakes standardized tests. "Our results highlight the shortcomings of relying on entrance exams to make admission decisions," she says. "Something as random as being exposed to violence  a fairly common event in many cities  the week before taking an admission test has detrimental effects not only on the exam score but on the educational trajectory thereafter."

Exacerbating Economic Disadvantages

The study suggests that girls at economically-disadvantaged schools may experience a longer impact of crime-induced mental distress. Female students in high-poverty schools who are exposed to violent crimes two weeks before the test perform significantly worse than female students at the same poverty level who do not. Regardless of poverty levels, male students' exam scores do not suffer due to crime exposure.

In school systems where so much rides on standardized test scores, even short-term shocks can have long-lasting consequences for girls' futures, the researchers conclude.

"These shocks affect the test scores, which affect placements and education quality, which affect future education and future earnings, especially for girls who are already at a disadvantage when taking high-stakes exams," Padilla-Romo says. "We have to rethink how admission decisions are made in many parts of the world, as many of these exams put historically marginalized groups at a disadvantage."

"When Crime Comes to the Neighborhood: Short-Term Shocks to Student Cognition and Secondary Consequences" is forthcoming in the Journal of Labor Economics. The paper can be accessed online.

SOURCE University of Tennessee, Haslam College of Business
National Carrier recognized as five star by APEX

NADI, Fiji, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Fiji Airways , Fiji's National Carrier has been rated a Five Star Major Airline 2023 in the Official Airline Ratings by its passengers.

For the 2023 Awards, nearly one million flights were rated by passengers across more than 600 airlines from around the world using a five-star scale. The APEX Official Airline Ratings were independently certified by a professional external auditing company.

Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr Andre Viljoen is in Calfornia, USA to receive the award on behalf of the airline.

"We at Fiji Airways have worked very hard to elevate the airline to a level where it has been recognized as an APEX Five Star Major Airline. This is no easy feat for a carrier our size, based out of a remote location in the South Pacific."

"This rating by APEX is a win for the whole of Fiji. While battling the challenges brought on by the pandemic, the National Carrier showed resilience and managed to become a Five Star Rated Airline. We are now counted among the best 'Major Airlines' in the world, thanks to the GRIT and TENACITY of our team."

Fiji Airways success in resuming services in a COVID safe manner, the quick ramp up and record number of visitor arrivals contributed to our rating as a Five Star Airline.

Where many airlines of a similar size are struggling, the National Carrier has managed to stay afloat, successfully navigated the pandemic, and is now soaring to newer heights in terms of bookings and revenue earnings.

Additionally, Mr Viljoen has also been invited to deliver a keynote address on Fiji Airways Journey from SURVIVING to THRIVING.

There will also be a panel discussion on Maximising Customer Service, where Fiji Airways will share how it has placed quality service delivery at the core of the airline's functions and operations.

The APEX Official Airline Ratings were created based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights gathered through APEX's partnership with TripIt from Concur, the world's highest-rated travel-organizing app.

About Fiji Airways: Founded in 1951, Fiji Airways Group comprises of Fiji Airways, Fiji's National Airline and its subsidiaries: Fiji Link, its domestic and regional carrier, Pacific Call Comm Ltd, and a 38.75% stake in the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, Nadi. From its hubs at Nadi and Suva International Airports, Fiji Airways and Fiji Link serve 108 destinations in over 15 countries (including code-share). Destinations include Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, India, Japan, China, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. The Fiji Airways Group brings in 64 percent of all visitors who fly to Fiji, employs over 1000 employees, and earns revenues of over FJD$1 billion (USD $460m) pre-COVID. Fiji Airways rebranded from Air Pacific in June 2013. Visit www.fijiairways.com for more information

Images can be downloaded from here.

SOURCE Fiji Airways
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global forensic technology market size is expected to reach USD 10.64 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 10.2% from 2022 to 2030. Novel innovations in Research & Development (R&D) of criminal sciences have introduced progressive techniques which have increased the efficiency of forensic analysis.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

By type, the capillary electrophoresis segment held the dominant share in 2021. This technique is broadly used owing to its micro sampling capabilities, ease of sample preparation, and simple detection methods.

By services, the chemical analysis segment dominated in 2021. The wide range of applications of chemical analysis in fingerprinting, bloodstain pattern analysis, alcohol testing, serology, fire debris analysis, analysis of trace evidence, and toxicology studies among others are expected to boost the segment's growth.

By application, the judicial/law enforcement segment held a large share in 2021, due to the constant efforts by government authorities globally to generate DNA databases are the key growth contributing factor.

By location, laboratory forensics technology accounted for the largest share in 2021. This can be attributed to the presence of testing instruments, that are massive in nature and designed for the analysis of a huge volume of samples.

North America dominated the global market in 2021, due to the growing incidence of criminal cases and results in the increase in crime scene analyses in the region.

dominated the global market in 2021, due to the growing incidence of criminal cases and results in the increase in crime scene analyses in the region. The Asia Pacific is projected to grow considerably in the future owing to the rising awareness regarding various analytical technologies and rising investments in the region for criminal identification.

Read 150 page full market research report, "Forensic Technology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (PCR, Capillary Electrophoresis), By Services (DNA profiling, Chemical Analysis) By Application, By Location, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Forensic Technology Market Growth & Trends

Several government initiatives undertaken to attain sustained development in research related to criminal science are broadening the market space. For instance, in March 2022 The Forensic Technology Center of Excellence undertook an initiative and assisted the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct NIJ forensic science research and development (R&D) symposium. This R&D symposium aims to discuss, discover, and share new approaches and applications in increasing the impact of forensic sciences.

Furthermore, the surge in the number of rapes, murders, robberies, and homicides is the major factor boosting the necessity for criminological studies. For instance, in 2021, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 31,677 rape cases were reported across India with an average of 86 cases daily and ranked as the fourth most common crime against women. Thus, growing incidences of crime cases led to a pile up in the number of unsolved cases and requires the implementation of novel forensic technologies to resolve the pending cases.

Technological developments in forensic laboratories and infrastructure are widening the growth prospects of the market. Recent advancements, such as automated extraction methodologies, predictive dual quantitation assay, next-generation STR multiplexes, and mini-STR kits further enhance the analysis of degraded and compromised samples thereby improving forensic capabilities. For instance, in August 2021, the Karnataka government announced the plan to upgrade forensic labs to strengthen investigations to pin down criminals. Such upgrades led to the enhancement of existing technologies, and the decreased time and expenditures involved in resolving the case, thereby creating lucrative growth prospects.

However, stringent regulatory constraints are expected to limit the growth of the forensic technology industry in emerging countries. Federal agencies are bound to adhere to Quality Assurance Standards (QAS), including testing standards for the proficiency of forensic laboratories and analysts, involved in conducting DNA analyses. In addition, the lack of skilled professionals and the high cost of advanced forensic techniques are some of the factors restraining the growth of the global market to some extent.

Forensic Technology Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global forensic technology market based on type, services, application, location, and region:

Forensic Technology Market - Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Polymerase Chain Reaction(PCR)

Capillary Electrophoresis

Next Generation Sequencing(NGS)

Rapid DNA Analysis

Automated Liquid Handling Technology

Microarrays

Others

Forensic Technology Market - Services Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

DNA Profiling

Chemical Analysis

Biometric Analysis

Firearms Identification

Others

Forensic Technology Market - Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Pharmacogenetics

Biodefense & Bio surveillance

Judicial/Law Enforcement

Others

Forensic Technology Market - Location Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

Laboratory Forensics Technology

Portable Forensics Technology

Forensic Technology Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)

North America

U.S.



Canada

Europe

U.K.



Germany



France



Italy



Spain

Asia Pacific

Japan



China



India

Latin America

Brazil



Mexico

Middle East & Africa

& South Africa



Saudi Arabia

List of Key Players of Forensic Technology Market

Agilent Technologies

GE Healthcare

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

NMS Labs

Eurofins Medigenomix GmbH

LGC Forensics

Forensic Pathways

SPEX Forensics

Forensic Fluids Laboratories

Pyramidal Technologies Ltd

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

Genotyping Market - The global genotyping market size is expected to reach USD 46.5 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 15.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Factors such as the rising prevalence of genetic diseases, rising awareness and research for personalized medicine, and increasing R&D funding for genomics research is expected to contribute to this growth.

- The global genotyping market size is expected to reach by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 15.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Factors such as the rising prevalence of genetic diseases, rising awareness and research for personalized medicine, and increasing R&D funding for genomics research is expected to contribute to this growth. Spectrometry Market - The global spectrometry market size is expected to reach USD 24.5 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2021 to 2028. Key players offer technologically advanced spectrometry products for several healthcare applications and have collaborated with research institutes to develop novel products.

- The global spectrometry market size is expected to reach by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2021 to 2028. Key players offer technologically advanced spectrometry products for several healthcare applications and have collaborated with research institutes to develop novel products. DNA Sequencing Market - The global DNA sequencing market size is expected to reach USD 11.2 billion by 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 11.4%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increased the utility of genomic data in clinical practices and thus creates a new frontier in the advancement of genomic data analysis. In May 2020 , Nvidia Corporation developed new AI tools, genomic sequencing software, and speech recognition technologies to aid the COVID-19 research efforts. Thus, AI accelerates the variant annotation and prioritization in the clinical diagnosis, which drives the market.

Browse through Grand View Research's Biotechnology Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Dr. Javad Sajan Gives Away Botox for Food to Patients Donating to Food Drive

SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Food insecurity remains a widespread issue throughout Washington and the United States. Seattle plastic surgeon, Dr. Javad Sajan is partnering with the Zera Foundation to fight food insecurity by hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive. The donated food will benefit families of the Greater Seattle Area facing food insecurity and who could otherwise not get to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

Dr. Sajan immigrated to the United States from Tanzania. During this time, he and his family experienced food insecurity. Now that Dr. Sajan is lucky enough to no longer have to worry about food scarcity, he believes that he can give back to the community with more than with his hands as a surgeon. Dr. Sajan hopes that he can make an impact on the lives of people experiencing food insecurity in Seattle.

If patients donate five non-perishable food items at one of three locations can receive five free units of Botox . The locations are:

Lynnwood : 3500 188th St SW #670 Lynnwood, WA 98037

: 3500 188th St SW #670 98037 Seattle : 600 Broadway Suite 320 Seattle, WA 98122

: 600 Broadway Suite 320 98122 Kirkland : 3100 Carillon Point Kirkland, WA 98033

Only one 5 food items for 5 Botox units promotion per person. Units are non-transferable and cannot be banked. Must redeem 5 units of Botox within 90 days. All 5 units must be used in 1 visit. Patient must be a candidate for Botox to redeem the promotion. The provider in their sole discretion will determine if the patient is a good candidate. No guarantee of treatment. We reserve the right to refuse treatment for any reason. Limited quantities available.

Some of the non-perishable food items needed include (all types of non-perishable food items are welcome):

Canned corn

Cornbread mix

Instant potatoes

Canned peas and carrots

Pie crust mix

Canned pumpkin

Condensed milk

Boxed stuffing mix

Powdered or canned gravy

Instant coffee

About Dr. Javad Sajan: Dr. Javad Sajan is a plastic surgeon who is dedicated to serving his patients. He started the Zera Foundation because he is committed to serving people in every way possible. From organizing food drives to performing pro bono surgery, Dr. Sajan has a passion for helping others. Find Dr. Sajan and more information about the fundraiser on Instagram .

Contact: realdrseattle

Phone: 206-787-0784

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Allure Esthetic
The Asia Pacific is projected to lead the global automotive performance parts market by 2032. Sales of shock absorbers are to grow at a 4.6% CAGR during the forecast period. Japan to Turn into a Lucrative Market for Automotive Performance Parts

NEWARK, Del., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As a result of escalating demand for passenger cars, the market for automotive performance parts is likely to reach an estimated US$ 339.32 Mn by the end of 2022. A rise in disposable income across the globe further supplements the growth of automotive performance parts market during the forecast period.

Manufacturers in this market are able to provide cost-effective products and record sales growth because of the competition in China, India, Thailand, and Vietnam. With the advancement of technology and swift development occurring in the field of logistics, many manufacturers are now able to supply high-quality items faster and across a variety of regions. The expanding market for used cars in the United States further bolsters the maintenance and repair segment of the automotive performance parts market during this period. In the past couple of years, owing to rising vehicle ownership and a surge in car collisions, replacement parts dominated the automotive performance parts market, thus contributing immensely to the overall growth of the target market.

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Moreover, rapid transformation in lifestyles and a growing desire for useful and progressive technology-based products are propelling consumer growth for the target market. The automotive performance parts are more appealing than ever as they are readily available. A heightened use of use of gauges, switches, and audio/video devices has resulted in the market domination of the interior segment which, in turn, contributes to the growth of the automotive performance parts market during the forecast period.

"Rising vehicle ownership coupled with escalating demand for passenger cars will propel the global growth of the automotive performance parts market over the forecast period," says an FMI analyst.

Key Takeaways:

The automotive performance parts market in the U.S. will account for 87% of the market share in North America .

. By suspension parts, sales of the shock absorbers segment will grow at 4.6%

Sales of torque converters will register a CAGR of 5.8%.

The air filters segment will grow at a CAGR of 4.2%.

High demand for passenger cars will push the target market growth in China.

Competitive Landscape

Tenneco Inc., Robert Bosch GmbH, Continental AG, BorgWarner Inc., Mahle GmbH, Donaldson Company Inc., Holley Performance Products, MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., Honeywell International Inc., EXEDY Corporation, Denso Corporation, AISIN SEIKI Co., Ltd., Hitachi Astemo, Ltd., The NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd., Cummins Inc., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Valeo, TREMEC, and Hyundai Mobis, among others are some of the major players in the automotive performance parts market profiled in the full version of the report.

Leading market players are focusing on adopting new strategies such as internet sales channels. Some of the other businesses are offering customizations and concentrating on expanding their businesses to gain a competitive advantage.

Browse Full [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-performance-parts-market

More Insights into Automotive Performance Parts Market Report

In its latest report, FMI offers an unbiased analysis of the global automotive performance parts market, providing historical data from 2017 to 2021 and forecast statistics for 2022 to 2032. To understand the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented on the basis of product type (exhaust system (exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, oxygen sensors, mufflers, headers), suspension parts (suspension bushing, sway bars, shock absorbers), brakes (brake pads, brake rotors, brake caliper, brake lines, brake master cylinders, vacuum pumps), fuel air & intake systems (fuel filters, throttle bodies, intake manifold, MAF sensors, air filters, fuel pumps, fuel injectors, spark plugs), transmission parts (clutch pressure plates, clutch linkage, torque converters, flywheels), power adders (turbochargers, intercoolers, nitrous oxide systems, superchargers)), vehicle type (passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, heavy commercial vehicles), sales channels (first fit, aftermarket), and region.

According to the latest FMI reports, based on segmentation, the shock absorbers segment will register a CAGR of 4.6% propelled by the rising global demand. The torque converters segment will grow at 5.8% CAGR while the sales of air filters will also record a spike during the projected period.

Based on region, the automotive performance parts market in China will demonstrate substantial growth during 2022-2032. Owing to the presence of top manufacturers of automobile performance components, the country is expected present an opportunity of US$ 38 Bn. The target market in this region will hold the largest market share in East Asia. Other countries like Japan, Spain, and the United States will exhibit notable growth over the forecast period.

Key Segments

By Product Type:

Exhaust Systems

Headers



Mufflers



Oxygen Sensors



Exhaust Pipes



Catalytic Converters

Suspension Parts

Suspension Bushing



Sway Bars



Shock Absorbers

Brakes

Brake Pads



Brake Rotors



Brake Caliper



Brake Lines



Brake Master Cylinders



Vacuum Pumps

Fuel Air & Intake Systems

Air Filters



MAF Sensors



Intake Manifold



Throttle Bodies



Fuel Filters



Spark Plugs



Fuel Injectors



Fuel Pumps

Transmission Parts

Clutch Pressure Plates



Flywheels



Torque Converters



Clutch Linkage

Power Adders

Turbochargers



Intercoolers



Nitrous Oxide Systems



Superchargers

By Vehicle Type:

Passenger Cars

Light Commercial Vehicles

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

By Sales Channel:

First Fit

Aftermarket

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

East Asia

South Asia & Pacific

& Pacific Middle East & Africa

Ask An [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-the-analyst/rep-gb-10710

Table of Content

1. Executive Summary

1.1. Global Market Outlook

1.2. Demand-side Trends

1.3. Supply-side Trends

1.4. Technology Roadmap Analysis

1.5. Analysis and Recommendations

2. Market Overview

2.1. Market Coverage / Taxonomy

2.2. Market Definition / Scope / Limitations

3. Market Background

3.1. Market Dynamics

3.1.1. Drivers

3.1.2. Restraints

3.1.3. Opportunity

3.1.4. Trends

3.2. Scenario Forecast

3.2.1. Demand in Optimistic Scenario

3.2.2. Demand in Likely Scenario

3.2.3. Demand in Conservative Scenario

3.3. Opportunity Map Analysis

3.4. Product Life Cycle Analysis

3.5. Supply Chain Analysis

3.5.1. Supply Side Participants and their Roles

3.5.1.1. Producers

3.5.1.2. Mid-Level Participants (Traders/ Agents/ Brokers)

3.5.1.3. Wholesalers and Distributors

3.5.2. Value Added and Value Created at Node in the Supply Chain

3.5.3. List of Raw Material Suppliers

3.5.4. List of Existing and Potential Buyer's

To be continued!

Have a Look at Latest Related Reports of Automotive Domain

Europe Automotive Night Vision System Market : The Europe Automotive Night Vision System Market share is projected to reach US$604.8 Mn in 2032. Demand for automotive night vision systems has been fueled by growing concerns about increasing road traffic, road safety and reducing accidents during night driving.

APAC Automotive Telematics Market : Driven by the growing technological advancements and increasing production of passenger as well as commercial vehicles, the APAC automotive telematics market posted substantial gains reaching a valuation of US$ 32.6 billion during 2016 and 2020.

Latin America Automotive HVAC Market : The Latin America Automotive HVAC market is estimated to be valued at US$ 7,270.6 Mn in 2022 and is projected to increase at a CAGR of 4.6% in the forecast period from 2022 to 2032.

ASEAN Automotive Aftermarket : The ASEAN automotive aftermarket is forecast to expand at 8.7% CAGR, reaching a market valuation of US$ 21.05 Bn in 2021.

APEJ Automotive Aftermarket : The automotive aftermarket is an integral part of the automotive industry. The auto-components market has expanded multifold in the past few years at regional as well as global levels. The global automotive industry is majorly identified by mergers & acquisitions and re-provisioning of production facilities in emerging economies.

About Future Market Insights, Inc.

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DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Vegan Cosmetics Market By Product Type, By Price Point, By Gender, By End User, By Distribution Channel: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this report the vegan cosmetics market size was valued at $16.6 billion in 2021, and is estimated to reach $28.5 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2031.

Vegan cosmetics are composed of chemical compounds produced from natural or synthetic sources that do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Animal-derived substances include, honey, beeswax, lanolin, collagen, albumen, carmine, cholesterol, gelatin, and many others. Vegan cosmetics are also devoid of animal testing and cruelty.

Vegan cosmetics are used to cleanse or protect the body or hair and are meant for personal care, skincare, face care, and hair care. Vegan cosmetics are used to improve or modify one's appearance (makeup) by hiding imperfections, accentuating natural features (such as brows and eyelashes), adding radiance to a person's face, or completely redefining the look.

In recent years, the cruelty-free (no animal testing), vegetarian (no byproducts of animal slaughter), and vegan (no animal components at all) cosmetics markets have expanded. Vegan cosmetics are chosen by customers because they are ethical in nature since vegan cosmetics are produced without the use of any animal components. Considering the medical benefits of vegan cosmetics on the skin, consumers gradually choose vegan cosmetics over non-vegan cosmetics.

Furthermore, vegan cosmetics are believed to assist in decreasing skin damage caused by many environmental changes and growing pollution globally. For example, the anti-oxidants included in vegan cosmetics are naturally processed from plants and can aid to alleviate skin dryness. As a result of the benefits that consumers obtain from using these products, the demand for plant-based components increases, which also fuels the expansion of the vegan cosmetics market.

The cosmetics sector is fragmented because it is very competitive and saturated. Trade restrictions, strong competition, and an increase in demand for low-cost products are stifling the expansion of the vegan cosmetics market and leading the market's product quality to deteriorate. Small-scale business owners join the market, and because of the significant fluctuation in raw material costs, they employ low-quality raw materials to earn a good profit margin for themselves.

On the other hand, items of a well-known brand are exorbitantly priced, and buyers are eager to find low-cost alternatives. The market is flooded with counterfeit items available at low prices as a result of the high demand for products from well-known brands. In recent years, counterfeit items have thoroughly permeated the market, harming the profitability of well-known businesses. The decline in product quality and the widespread availability of counterfeit items impede the growth of the global vegan cosmetics market.

The usage of emulsifiers also plays a major role in the manufacturing of cosmetics. Hence, vegan cosmetic manufacturers are aware of using vegan-based emulsifiers in their vegan cosmetics products. Vegan emulsifiers are costly as it takes more time to get extracted from the vegan sources and vegan emulsifiers take a longer period for emulsion which slows down the production process. The slow emulsion speed and high price force the vegan cosmetics manufacturers to increase the initial price of the cosmetics. On the other hand, clear labeling of vegan products provides a clear message to the consumers about the usage of ingredients which encourages them to go for vegan cosmetic products.

The players operating in the global vegan cosmetics market have adopted various developmental strategies to expand their vegan cosmetics market share, increase profitability, and remain competitive in the market. The key players profiled in this report include Amway Corporation, Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Groupe Rocher, L'Occitane Group, L'Oreal S.A., LVMH Group, MuLondon, Pacifica Beauty, Unilever, and Weleda.

Key Benefits For Stakeholders

This report provides a quantitative analysis of the market segments, current trends, estimations, and dynamics of the vegan cosmetic market analysis from 2021 to 2031 to identify the prevailing vegan cosmetic market opportunities.

The market research is offered along with information related to key drivers, restraints, and opportunities.

Porter's five forces analysis highlights the potency of buyers and suppliers to enable stakeholders make profit-oriented business decisions and strengthen their supplier-buyer network.

In-depth analysis of the vegan cosmetics industry segmentation assists to determine the prevailing market opportunities.

Major countries in each region are mapped according to their revenue contribution to the global market.

Market player positioning facilitates benchmarking and provides a clear understanding of the present position of the market players.

The report includes the analysis of the regional as well as global vegan cosmetics market trends, key players, market segments, application areas, and market growth strategies.

Key Topics Covered:

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1. Market definition and scope

3.2. Key findings

3.2.1. Top investment pockets

3.3. Porter's five forces analysis

3.4. Top player positioning

3.5. Market dynamics

3.5.1. Drivers

3.5.2. Restraints

3.5.3. Opportunities

3.6. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on the market

3.7. Pricing Analysis

3.8. Value Chain Analysis

3.9. Market Share Analysis

CHAPTER 4: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE

4.1 Overview

4.1.1 Market size and forecast

4.2 Skincare

4.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.2.3 Market analysis by country

4.3 Cosmetics

4.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.3.3 Market analysis by country

4.4 Haircare

4.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.4.3 Market analysis by country

4.5 Others

4.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

4.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region

4.5.3 Market analysis by country

CHAPTER 5: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY PRICE POINT

5.1 Overview

5.1.1 Market size and forecast

5.2 Premium

5.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.2.3 Market analysis by country

5.3 Economic

5.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

5.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

5.3.3 Market analysis by country

CHAPTER 6: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY GENDER

6.1 Overview

6.1.1 Market size and forecast

6.2 Women

6.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.2.3 Market analysis by country

6.3 Men

6.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.3.3 Market analysis by country

6.4 Children

6.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

6.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

6.4.3 Market analysis by country

CHAPTER 7: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY END USER

7.1 Overview

7.1.1 Market size and forecast

7.2 Personal

7.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

7.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

7.2.3 Market analysis by country

7.3 Commercial

7.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

7.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

7.3.3 Market analysis by country

CHAPTER 8: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

8.1 Overview

8.1.1 Market size and forecast

8.2 Hypermarkets/supermarkets

8.2.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

8.2.2 Market size and forecast, by region

8.2.3 Market analysis by country

8.3 Specialty Stores

8.3.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

8.3.2 Market size and forecast, by region

8.3.3 Market analysis by country

8.4 Online Channels

8.4.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

8.4.2 Market size and forecast, by region

8.4.3 Market analysis by country

8.5 Others

8.5.1 Key market trends, growth factors and opportunities

8.5.2 Market size and forecast, by region

8.5.3 Market analysis by country

CHAPTER 9: VEGAN COSMETICS MARKET, BY REGION

CHAPTER 10: COMPANY LANDSCAPE

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Top winning strategies

10.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player

10.4. Competitive Dashboard

10.5. Competitive Heatmap

10.6. Key developments

CHAPTER 11: COMPANY PROFILES

11.1 Amway Corporation

11.1.1 Company overview

11.1.2 Company snapshot

11.1.3 Operating business segments

11.1.4 Product portfolio

11.1.5 Business performance

11.1.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.2 Estee Lauder Companies Inc.

11.2.1 Company overview

11.2.2 Company snapshot

11.2.3 Operating business segments

11.2.4 Product portfolio

11.2.5 Business performance

11.2.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.3 Groupe Rocher

11.3.1 Company overview

11.3.2 Company snapshot

11.3.3 Operating business segments

11.3.4 Product portfolio

11.3.5 Business performance

11.3.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.4 L'Occitane Group

11.4.1 Company overview

11.4.2 Company snapshot

11.4.3 Operating business segments

11.4.4 Product portfolio

11.4.5 Business performance

11.4.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.5 L'Oreal S.A.

11.5.1 Company overview

11.5.2 Company snapshot

11.5.3 Operating business segments

11.5.4 Product portfolio

11.5.5 Business performance

11.5.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.6 LVMH Group

11.6.1 Company overview

11.6.2 Company snapshot

11.6.3 Operating business segments

11.6.4 Product portfolio

11.6.5 Business performance

11.6.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.7 MuLondon

11.7.1 Company overview

11.7.2 Company snapshot

11.7.3 Operating business segments

11.7.4 Product portfolio

11.7.5 Business performance

11.7.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.8 Pacifica Beauty

11.8.1 Company overview

11.8.2 Company snapshot

11.8.3 Operating business segments

11.8.4 Product portfolio

11.8.5 Business performance

11.8.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.9 Unilever plc

11.9.1 Company overview

11.9.2 Company snapshot

11.9.3 Operating business segments

11.9.4 Product portfolio

11.9.5 Business performance

11.9.6 Key strategic moves and developments

11.10 Weleda

11.10.1 Company overview

11.10.2 Company snapshot

11.10.3 Operating business segments

11.10.4 Product portfolio

11.10.5 Business performance

11.10.6 Key strategic moves and developments

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/97njws

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

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SOURCE Research and Markets
SAO PAULO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. ("GOL" or "Company") (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), Brazil's largest domestic airline, today announced its consolidated results for the third quarter of 2022 (3Q22). During this period, through its Executive Team acting assertively in managing capacity and increasing productivity, the Company recorded the highest yield in its history, the highest net operating revenue in a quarter and returned its ex-fuel unit costs to pre-pandemic levels.

All information in this release is presented in Reais (R$), in accordance with international accounting standards (IFRS) and with adjusted metrics, made available to enable comparability of this quarter with the same period of the previous year (3Q21). Adjusted indicators (recurring) exclude non-recurring expenses related to the quarter's result and are detailed in the respective tables.

Highlights

The highest net revenue in the Company's history, reaching R$4,0 billion in 3Q22, 109% and 8% above 3Q21 and 3Q19 figures, respectively;

in 3Q22, 109% and 8% above 3Q21 and 3Q19 figures, respectively; GOL continues to recover corporate demand and transported 6.9 million passengers in the quarter, 39% above 3Q21 but still 29% below the volume of 3Q19;

Another record for yields, registering 45 cents (R$), 36% higher than in 4Q19 and a 4.5% increase compared to the previous quarter;

(R$), 36% higher than in 4Q19 and a 4.5% increase compared to the previous quarter; The lowest unit cost ex-fuel in Dollars since the beginning of the pandemic, reaching 3.6 cents (US$) or 4.5% lower than 3Q19, even with the supply 23% lower;

(US$) or 4.5% lower than 3Q19, even with the supply 23% lower; Third quarter with EBIT margin of 6.5% and EBITDA margin of 17.3%, totaling R$1.7 billion of EBITDA in the first nine months of the year;

of EBITDA in the first nine months of the year; Total liquidity (cash and cash equivalents, financial investments, deposits and accounts receivable) was R$3.7 billion ; and

; and GOL took delivery of three new Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft during the quarter, totaling 37 (26% of the current fleet), contributing to a greater cost efficiency and lower carbon emissions.

Comment from the CEO

Celso Ferrer, CEO, said: "My primary focus is to provide value to our Customers in the current economic climate. I believe we can achieve that by further harnessing GOL's inherent strengths in its flexible and cost-efficient business model. As such, in the last three months, we have strengthened initiatives to increase productivity, consistency in our operations and service to our Customers. I thank our Team of Eagles, our Customers, Suppliers and Partners for their support in achieving this goal."

SUMMARY OF the Third Quarter 2022 Results

Revenue Passenger-Kilometers (RPK) increased 41%, while Available Seat Kilometer (ASK) increased 41.3%;

Net income grew 109.4%, reaching R$4,0 billion . Ancillary Revenues, mainly originated by SMILES and GOLLOG, increased by 69.3% to R$250 million ;

. Ancillary Revenues, mainly originated by SMILES and GOLLOG, increased by 69.3% to ; The average and domestic load factor remained stable at 81%. The international load factor was 84.3%;

Aircraft utilization was 11.1 hours/day, a gain of 9% in productivity;

The number of passengers transported by Company was 6.9 million, an increase of 39.2%;

Net Revenue per Available Seat Kilometer (RASK) increased 48.2% to 39 cents (R$);

(R$); Average yield per passenger increased 50.9% to 45 cents (R$), the highest level in GOL's history;

(R$), the highest level in GOL's history; Recurring Cost per Available Seat Kilometer (CASK) increased by 6.5% to 36.45 cents (R$). CASK Fuel increased 87.9% to 17.36 cents (R$), due to the increase of 91.3% in the jet fuel price. Recurring CASK Ex-Fuel decreased by 23.6% to 19.09 cents (R$) or 3.60 cents in US$, a lower level compared to the same quarter of 2019;

(R$). CASK Fuel increased 87.9% to (R$), due to the increase of 91.3% in the jet fuel price. Recurring CASK Ex-Fuel decreased by 23.6% to (R$) or in US$, a lower level compared to the same quarter of 2019; Recurring EBIT was R$261.7 million with a margin of 6.5%, while recurring EBITDA was R$695.2 million with a margin of 17.3%;

with a margin of 6.5%, while recurring EBITDA was with a margin of 17.3%; Operating activities generated approximately R$0.5 billion in 3Q22, leveraged by the increase in billing volume and working capital initiatives, partially offset by higher jet fuel prices;

in 3Q22, leveraged by the increase in billing volume and working capital initiatives, partially offset by higher jet fuel prices; Recurring net loss was R$596.2 million (- R$1.94 /share and - US$0.75 /ADS); and

(- /share and - /ADS); and The net debt ratio (including 7x annual lease payments and excluding the perpetual bond) to recurring EBITDA LTM reached 9.1x as of September 30, 2022 , a decrease of 2.0x due to the growth of recurring EBITDA (+70%) in the last 12 months, which more than offset the 52% increase in adjusted net debt.

FULL EARNINGS RELEASE & PRESENTATION

Access the earnings release, presentation and full financial statements at: www.voegol.com.br/ir

3Q22 Conference Call: October 27, 2022, 10h00 (New York time; US EDT), Phone: +1 (412) 317-6382, Code: GOL, broadcast via webcast (http://webcastlite.mziq.com/cover.html?webcastId=dc99b98a-4fe2-4743-b186-4c2906292cce).

Investor Relations: [email protected], +55(11) 2128-4700

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (www.voegol.com.br): The largest airline in Brazil, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since it was founded in 2001, the Company has the lowest unit cost in Latin America, thus democratizing air transportation of passengers.

SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
To date, Hagee Ministries has donated more than $100 million to Israeli and Jewish charities

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, Hagee Ministries held its 42nd annual Night to Honor Israel at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. Several thousand people were on hand for the event. The two keynote speakers were founder of Hagee Ministries and Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Chairman Pastor John Hagee and Texas Lt.Gov. Dan Patrick.

Pastor Hagee focused a substantial portion of his remarks on the rising tide of antisemitism in the United States, including efforts by some to use anti-Zionism as a fig leaf for Jew-hatred.

Hagee Ministries Holds 42nd Night to Honor Israel Tweet this

"Anti-Zionism is anti-Israel; both are antisemitic We will continue to confront the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people in any form, wherever it may be found," Pastor Hagee said.

During his remarks, Lt. Gov. Patrick echoed a similar note, stating unequivocally, "We will not stand for antisemitism in this state. We will fight it!"

Towards the conclusion of the event, Hagee Ministries donated $1.7 million dollars to Jewish and Israeli charities. The donations come on the heels of the ministry raising more than $7 million dollars as part of a larger effort to aid the Jewish Agency for Israel in rescuing Ukrainian Jewish war refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of the European nation.

Recipients of Hagee Ministries donations during the Night to Honor Israel included, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Afikim Family Enrichment Association, Bikur V'Ezas Cholim, Emunah Israel, Just one Life, the Koby Mandell Foundation, Nefesh B'Nefesh, Save a Child's Heart, and the Women's International Zionist Organization.

Since holding its first Night to Honor Israel, Hagee Ministries has donated more than $100 million to Israeli and Jewish charities.

Hagee Ministries is an international Christian Evangelical Ministry led by Pastors John and Matt Hagee. John Hagee is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, a non-denominational evangelical church with more than 22,000 active members and is the founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel, the nation's largest pro-Israel organization. Matt Hagee serves as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church and is the sixth generation in the Hagee family to carry the mantle of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to America and the nations of the world.

SOURCE Hagee Ministries
With locations in Miami and Delray Beach, the premium car clubhouse and storage facilities offer gathering spot for car lovers

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Hagerty announced the expansion of its national network of premium clubhouse and car storage facilities with the opening of Hagerty Garage + Social Palm Beach. Building on existing locations in Delray Beach and Miami, Garage + Social offers world-class clubhouse and storage facilities to South Florida's car collectors and enthusiasts.

Courtesy of Hagerty Media

Garage + Social Palm Beach offers climate-controlled storage for up to 450 classic, collector and exotic cars and motorcycles, in addition to maintenance, detailing and concierge services. The facility also features a clubhouse with luxury amenities, providing members a social space to spend time with fellow enthusiasts.

"South Florida has such a vibrant and engaging car culture," said John Belniak, managing director, Hagerty Garage + Social. "With our new Palm Beach location we now have three distinct facilities that offer both the luxury of service and a gathering place for car enthusiasts."

Garage + Social Palm Beach has more than 50,000 sq. ft. of storage, social and meeting space for members to gather, serving as a place for the car community to meet, enjoy on-site events and participate in driving events. Garage + Social Palm Beach is located at 3215 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida and previously operated as Palm Beach Garage since 1998.

The Palm Beach location complements Garage + Social Miami and Garage + Social Delray Beach. Garage + Social Miami offers a clubhouse, member services and experiences, and climate-controlled, dust-free storage for 250 vehicles. Garage + Social Miami is located in the Little River district, adjacent to the Upper East Side at 355 NE 71st Street. Garage + Social Delray Beach stores more than 225 cars within a 58,000 sq. ft. facility at 777 S. Congress Avenue and is located close to downtown Delray Beach and minutes from route 95.

All nine nationwide Garage + Social locations are open seven days a week, with round-the-clock access available for members with appointments. Garage + Social facilities are located in Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Bedford Hills (NY), Delray Beach, Miami, Palm Beach, Culver City (CA) and Van Nuys (CA).

For more information, visit www.garageandsocial.com or engage with us on Instagram or Facebook.

About Hagerty, Inc. (NYSE: HGTY)

Based in Traverse City, Michigan, Hagerty's purpose is to save driving and car culture for future generations and its mission is to build a global business to fund that purpose. Hagerty is an automotive enthusiast brand offering integrated membership products and programs as well as a specialty insurance provider focused on the global automotive enthusiast market. Hagerty is home to Hagerty Drivers Club, Hagerty Drivers Club magazine, Hagerty Drivers Foundation, Hagerty DriveShare, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty Media, MotorsportReg, Hagerty Garage + Social, The Amelia, the Detroit Concours d'Elegance, the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, the California Mille, Motorlux, RADwood, Broad Arrow Group and more. For more information on Hagerty please visit www.hagerty.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

More information can be found at newsroom.hagerty.com.

SOURCE Hagerty
Independent insurance agencies can efficiently discover, buy, and implement both platforms together in the HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals package.

CANBY, Ore., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, HawkSoft and Rocket Referrals are announcing a new collaboration that helps independent insurance agencies discover, buy, and implement a comprehensive technology stack to position their businesses for success.

HawkSoft is launching the HawkSoft+ brand as a package that includes additional technology as part of the insurance agency's tech stack. Rocket Referrals is now available as a technology package called HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals.

HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals

The package combines HawkSoft's workhorse agency management system with Rocket Referrals' best-in-class automated communication platform. HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals is sold, billed, and supported by HawkSoft. Agencies receive streamlined implementation that simplifies setup across both platforms coupled with live, coordinated training with dedicated account managers from HawkSoft and Rocket Referrals. HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals also introduces the first single sign-on (SSO) between HawkSoft and a third-party service.

HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals promises to help independent agencies acquire best-in-class policy management and automated communications capabilities from a central resource.

Rocket Referrals and HawkSoft have a long history of working together to push insurance technology forward. In 2020, Rocket Referrals used HawkSoft's Partner API to automate syncing HawkSoft data into the Rocket Referrals' platform. To help mutual customers to use HawkSoft and Rocket Referrals in tandem, Rocket Referrals introduced Sidecar as a companion app exclusive to HawkSoft in 2021. Rocket Referrals was the first API Partner to implement two-way API integration with HawkSoft in 2022. HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals is the latest collaboration, using each previous milestone as a stepping stone to this new opportunity.

HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals borrows the philosophy behind why independent agencies offer package policies to their clients. First, comprehensive coverage. Automated communications with insureds are just as necessary for the modern agency as a robust agent management system is. Second, convenience to the buyer. Instead of having to go through two separate sales processes to explore and purchase each system, the conversation can be had directly with one company. Instead of the agency tracking two distinct onboarding and training processes, the HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals package is now centralized to HawkSoft with close coordination with Rocket Referrals at the right time. Any issue that comes up in the use of either platform can be directed to HawkSoft's Product Support team, backed up by a direct line to Rocket Referrals.

"The independent insurance agency world is full of family-owned businesses," says Paul Hawkins, CEO and co-founder of HawkSoft, "and yet not many of the technology companies that serve them are family-owned these days. HawkSoft and Rocket Referrals stand out as two family-owned, private companies in a sea of private equity and investment groups."

Rocket Referrals was co-founded by brothers Torey Maerz (CEO) and Carl Maerz (COO), and HawkSoft was co-founded by Paul Hawkins (CEO) with his son-in-law Jason Hansen (COO) and son Sean Hawkins (CPO). Both companies have expressed commitments to remaining independent and privately funded. Paul Hawkins continues, "That independence and commitment to our values allows us to focus on what is best for our customers and what is best for our employees. I see that same level of commitment every time I interact with Torey and Carl."

"We love HawkSoft, we love building on top of the platform. Rocket Referrals has done everything we can to build a special integration with full customization," explains Torey Maerz, CEO and co-founder of Rocket Referrals.

"This collaboration is about enabling agencies to build better relationships with their customers without extra work. That is true with our original Rocket Referrals and HawkSoft integration, but HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals takes it to the next level by making agents' day-to-day even easier."

While HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals marks a new frontier for both companies, they each remain independent through the collaboration. Exclusivity was never an option nor a request from either party. HawkSoft remains committed to expanding options and functionality via an array of vetted API Partners, and Rocket Referrals will continue to offer their direct-to-agency ClientCircle platform and integrations to other customers. The goal of supporting each unique independent agency's needs made this an obvious decision for both companies.

HawkSoft has prepared resources for agencies looking to learn more about HawkSoft+ Rocket Referrals that are available at https://www.hawksoft.com/automated-communications. Additionally, HawkSoft also has an FAQ prepared for both customers and their other Partners to better understand HawkSoft+.

About HawkSoft

Since 1995, HawkSoft is a leader in management systems for independent insurance agencies that want effective workflows and a delightful experience for staff and policyholders. Created by independent agents, HawkSoft continues to evolve as a cutting-edge system that powers thousands of agencies. HawkSoft offers the following promise to insurance agents: your investment in HawkSoft will pay for itself in the first year. Learn more about HawkSoft's unique father-and-son story at www.hawksoft.com/story.

About Rocket Referrals

Rocket Referrals is a leading insurance communications platform company based in Des Moines, Iowa. Since 2013, Rocket Referrals has been providing insurance agents across the U.S. with innovative tools to grow their business. Their software, ClientCircle, helps insurance agencies manage the complete customer journey, collect and analyze customer feedback, improve online reputation, collect reviews and testimonials, grow referrals, automate cross-selling, and send communications spanning email, text messaging, web chat, and direct mail. For more, visit www.clientcircle.com.

Media Contacts:

HawkSoft

Rushang Shah

CMO

866-884-4680

[email protected]

Rocket Referrals

Yana Glezina

Director, Brand

[email protected]

SOURCE HawkSoft
School-based telehealth provider releases impact report following one year of dramatic expansion during the nation's youth mental health crisis.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hazel Health (Hazel) , the national leader in school-based telehealth, has expanded to 14 states, reaching nearly 2.5 million students in more than 3,000 schools. This expansion means that more than 10 percent of K-12 students in the states where Hazel currently operates now have access to physical and mental health care at school and at home.

Hazel Health releases impact report following year of dramatic expansion during the nation's youth mental health crisis. Tweet this More than 10 percent of K-12 students in the states where Hazel currently operates now have access to physical and mental health care at school and at home.

A partnership with Children's Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Health System's pediatric network across the Greater Houston area, was announced last week, along with a strategic investment from the regional health system. More than 20 new school districts across the U.S. have also become partners in recent months, including in Nevada, Florida, Washington state, Georgia, and Hawai'i . The collaboration with the Hawai'i Department of Education represents the first ever statewide student coverage partnership for mental health services, while the expansion in Clark County School District covers 80 percent of students in the state of Nevada.

Hazel also announced today the closure of a $51.5M Series C1 funding round with participation from Tao Capital Partners, Owl Ventures, Firework Ventures, Memorial Hermann, and Carrie Walton Penner through Fiore Ventures, among others. They join Hazel's existing investors Bain Capital Ventures, Centene Corporation, HLM Venture Partners, HopeLab, Uprising, California Healthcare Foundation (CHCF), and UCSF Foundation Investment Company. The new funding will support Hazel's rapid expansion and allow for continued product innovation to address the needs of a strained pediatric healthcare system.

"We have been fortunate throughout our history to have an exceptional group of investors that are equally passionate about our mission of ensuring that all students have access to healthcare," said Josh Golomb, CEO of Hazel. "They supported us to build a new model of care with the knowledge that while it would be challenging, our work would be groundbreaking if successful. We are thrilled to add new partners into the Hazel community, which now includes some of the most respected health plans, health systems, and academic institutions. This funding will enable Hazel to support our many new district partners, expand the care we provide for students, and invest in more technology and infrastructure to deepen our impact. Most importantly, it will enable us to continue to build a world class team of clinicians, educators, technologists, case managers, and other professionals who help us ensure students get the care they need every day."

A Vision for Children's Health Equity

Founded in 2015 by an educator, doctor, engineer, and technology entrepreneur in a rural community in California, Hazel Health began building partnerships with local schools and strove to provide pediatric physical health care to all families. Their mission was to ensure that all children, regardless of family income, geography, race, ethnicity, insurance or immigration status, had access to high quality health care so they could feel their best and ready to learn. Today, the cost of Hazel services are covered by a combination of insurance reimbursement, fees paid by partnering school districts and several federal initiatives which can be used by school districts to fund programs supporting students' physical and mental health.

"Hazel was created to address the ongoing challenges that students, families, and school faculty face in their attempts to access timely, high quality health care for their children," said Andrew Post, a former assistant superintendent and Chief Innovation Officer at Hazel. "Hazel helps to streamline the identification, treatment, and ongoing support for students' health concerns, paving a path to improved academic outcomes and social-emotional development."

Over time, the clinical care team saw that mental health challenges were increasingly manifesting as physical health symptoms, even prior to the pandemic when awareness of the youth mental health crisis increased.

"Hazel's care team consistently surfaced underlying mental health concerns during visits, and we realized that providing physical health care alone is not enough," added Golomb. "In order to truly address and improve attendance and quality learning time, we realized we must expand our services to offer whole child care - integrated physical and mental health care services."

Rapid Growth, Driven by Post-Pandemic Demand + Youth Mental Health Crisis

In summer 2021, just as students were about to return to in-person learning for the first time since the start of the pandemic, Hazel launched its mental health services to bring direct therapy to K-12 students at school and home, offering both physical and mental telehealth services, covered by school districts and health plan reimbursement. Shortly thereafter, in October 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children's Hospital Association declared a national emergency in children's mental health .

At the same time, schools were facing staff shortages, especially to fill mental health support vacancies. While schools traditionally support students via health offices, social workers, and counselors, the increased need for care placed a strain on already taxed school resources. And many studentsespecially those from historically marginalized communitiesfaced a multitude of overlapping barriers to care.

"Mental health issues affect students from all walks of life, but students that the healthcare system has traditionally failed to reach seem to be the most impacted," said Dr. Travis Gayles, Chief Health Officer at Hazel. "Finding ways to connect with all students, requires reimagining our current health delivery and care model. Hazel's telehealth services connect students to a team of locally licensed providers, more than 50 percent of whom identify as BIPOC, specializing in pediatric physical and mental health care. Our telehealthcare model removes barriers that prevent students from accessing care such as insurance coverage, high costs, and inflexible work schedules for caregivers."

Hazel rose to meet the need, and over the past year grew rapidly, its therapists helping students manage anxiety, depression, academic stress, relationship issues, trauma, and more.

According to a one-year impact report also issued today, Hazel has added over 20 school districts, expanding its footprint to offer services in 14 states. Other figures for the past 2021-2022 school year include:

Growing its mental health program into 8 states, offering direct therapy to students in over 20 unique districts, resulting in over 15,000 total mental health sessions.

Reaching students in over 100 schools who live in rural areas that may lack broadband access and rely on schools for internet connectivity.

Partnering with a diverse set of school districts to increase health equity - 63% of students in Hazel's partner schools are eligible for free or reduced price lunch, and 77% of Hazel's partner schools in the 2021-2022 school year received Title I funding.

Securing several national health plan partnerships and achieving near 100% Medicaid coverage in key markets.

Maintaining a 99% retention rate with partner school districts.

About Hazel Health

Hazel Health (Hazel) is the leader in school-based telehealth, contracted to provide services to nearly two and a half million students in school districts across the country, consistently delivering successful outcomes for access and quality of care. Hazel partners with school districts to provide mental and physical health care services to K-12 students where they areat school or home. Hazel's diverse, culturally competent providers partner with parents and school staff to make the best care decisions for students. Hazel's mission is to transform children's access to health care because when students feel better, they learn better.

For additional information about Hazel Health, please visit www.Hazel.co or contact [email protected] .

Media contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Hazel Health
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HD Hyundai's ship autonomous navigation subsidiary, Avikus, participated in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world's largest boat show, proving its leading capability in autonomous ship technology.

Avikus first introduced "NeuBoat," the level 2 autonomous navigation solution for recreational boats, at this boat show in Florida, held from October 26 to 30.

HD Hyundais ship autonomous navigation subsidiary, Avikus, participated in the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the worlds largest boat show, and proved its leading capability in autonomous ship technology.

NeuBoat is a combination of "neuron" and "boat," implying Avikus' AI autonomous navigation solution will play a critical role in self-recognition, decision, and control in various maritime conditions as human nerve cells do.

On October 26, the show's opening day, Avikus signed a collaboration agreement (memorandum of understanding) with Raymarine, the global top-tier maritime electronics, for the commercialization of autonomous navigation boats.

Based on the agreement, Avikus will launch a joint research and development to install the autonomous navigation solution onto a multi-function display for boats manufactured by Raymarine.

In addition, Avikus will hold a demonstration for autonomous navigation during the show by inviting world-class boat companies, including Brunswick and Garmin, into Marina near the exhibition venue.

Through the demonstration, Avikus will introduce the advanced autonomous navigation solution for recreational boats, such as Navigation Assistant System (NAS) and Docking Assistant System (DAS) technologies, which are NeuBoat's special capabilities.

For demonstration, Avikus will install an experience booth where visitors can intuitively figure out autonomous NAS and DAS technologies and hardware devices, such as computers and cameras, used for autonomous navigation solutions. With the booth operation, Avikus will expand the communication for private boat customers as well as business counterparts.

Lim Do-hyung, CEO of Avikus, said, "Avikus will introduce its technological capabilities worldwide while actively promoting sales activities to achieve the sales target of KRW 200 billion in 2026. Starting next year, we will work on commercializing the autonomous navigation solution for recreational boats focusing on the US and Europe."

In June 2022, Avikus successfully conducted the world's first transoceanic voyage of an ultra-large carrier based on autonomous navigation technology. With this achievement, Avikus won the orders for HiNAS 2.0, the autonomous control solution for large vessels, from SK Shipping and Sinokor Merchant Marine and became the world's first who commercialize the level 2 autonomous navigation solution.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931025/HD_Hyundai_s_Avikus.jpg

SOURCE Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) Group
Helium Deploy is investing $9.5million on Baicells equipment to support the Helium 5G Network buildout and operation

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Baicells, a leading provider of turnkey LTE and 5G solutions for operators, enterprises, and communities, and Helium Deploy, a provider of Helium 5G Solution bundles, have announced a partnership to bring the Helium Network opportunity to the international community. The partnership will see Helium Deploy invest $9.5 million in Baicells Nova430H DeWi radios, to meet global demand.

Through the partnership with Baicells, Helium Deploy is bringing the DeWi network model to the global market or more specifically, the opportunity to purchase and deploy in the US network build out. The program pairs global consumers with US based hosts. Consumers (outside of the US) can purchase the Baicells small cells from Helium Deploy to then connect them with local hosts across the US, who deploy the equipment. In exchange for deploying the small cell, the host earns 20% of the Mobile Token earnings, with the owner outside the US taking the remaining 80%. The duration is indefinite with a minimum term of two years.

Until now, the Helium Decentralized Wireless (DeWi) Network being built across the US was open to participation by only those residing in the US since the network is based on CBRS, a US specific wireless band, for wirelessly connecting users and devices.

DeWi networks are made possible by the ongoing advances in small cell technology and are increasingly gaining momentum across the United States. They offer an entirely new technical and economic model with the goal to help close the coverage gap and become a platform to launch new use cases. A DeWi operator like Helium allows most anyone to purchase and deploy their own small cell, indoors or outdoors, along with a low-cost gateway to offer high performance wireless (cellular) connectivity to all kinds of user devices like popular smartphones, tablets, and devices that are in its local coverage footprint.

The owner/operator of the small cell then gets compensated for simply providing this wireless coverage and gets additional compensation each time a device connects and then again as more data is transported over that small cell. Compensation is in the form of the Helium Mobile Token.

In anticipation of this new program, Helium Deploy has been evaluating the market outside the US and quickly found that there is significant demand. Helium is already known outside the US since it offers a similar approach globally for LoRa and IoT connectivity, which uses a different and more universal wireless spectrum band globally to connect all kinds of smart devices, sensors, and more.

The Helium Deploy Program allows a way forward for those outside the US to now participate and benefit from the 5G rollout that has started only in mid-2022 and is US specific. To date, in just a short duration since the 2022 launch, the Helium DeWi network boasts over 6,000 radios deployed across the US.

Helium Deploy CEO, Emile Chouha stated, "As Canadians, we at Helium Deploy want to make 5G mining available to our community which is why we launched this program and even US investors are interested in our digital miners! We love to innovate and come up with new ways to approach crypto mining with Baicells as our Partner."

"Baicells is excited to be working with Helium Deploy," said Minchul Ho, CEO of Baicells North America. "The company is innovative and a growing influence in the decentralized wireless ecosystem. Launching this program to bring the earning opportunity of the DeWi to the global community will only help accelerate the scaling of the national network footprint."

To learn more about Helium Deploy's new project, please visit: https://heliumdeploy.io/pages/hosted-miners

About Helium Deploy

Helium Deploy is a blockchain focused company unlocking mining capabilities to the general public. We have clients across North America and Europe. We are a dynamic team who moves quickly and has innovative ideas. We are passionate about anything crypto.

About Baicells

Baicells is a global technology company offering turnkey 4G and 5G Network Solutions under new economics for service providers, enterprises, and communities. With commercial deployments across more than 50 countries, offices on five continents, and innovative engineering awarded 300 patents, Baicells has established itself as a technology leader. Baicells currently has more than 700 private LTE deployments in operation, including a significant presence across North America. To meet the demand for connectivity in a mobile-first world, Baicells continues to scale with manufacturing capacity online in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam backed by partnerships with leading global manufacturers. Baicells innovations help connect the unconnected.

Media Contact

Paul Campbell

Babel PR for Baicells

[email protected]

SOURCE Baicells Technologies
Digital customer experience transformation provider recognized for its continued growth in the local economy

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hero Digital , a leading customer experience digital transformation company, today announced that it has been ranked in the San Francisco Business Times' 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in 2022, a list honoring firms at the forefront of the bay area economy with the highest revenue growth.

This award continues a pattern of momentum for Hero Digital following its recent recognition as Adobe's Emerging Partner of the Year as well as being named Optimizely's DXP Partner of the Year for North America . The digital transformation consultancy was also named the customer experience innovator of the year at the Martech Breakthrough awards in August.

"It's an honor for Hero Digital to be included on this list alongside other successful industry leaders in our area," said David Kilimnik, CEO & Founder at Hero Digital. "This award demonstrates the continued faith our clients and employees have in our CX digital transformation capabilities and ability to craft industry-leading customer experiences. Ultimately, we're proud that our accomplishments continue to be recognized and greatly look forward to continuing our growth in 2023."

The full list of companies featured in the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area can be found here: https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2022/10/21/fastest-growing-companies-list.html .

To learn more about Hero Digital, please visit https://herodigital.com/ .

About Hero Digital

Hero Digital is a leading independent digital customer experience company leveraging strategy, design, technology, marketing, and data, to solve the critical digital transformation needs of the Fortune 1000. Hero Digital's purpose is to bring moments of Truth & Beauty into people's lives by creating customer experiences that are good for people and good for business. Hero Digital's blended teams help Fortune 1000 companies like Comcast, U.S. Bank, Salesforce, Twitter, UnitedHealthcare, and TD Ameritrade Institutional invent, transform, and perform to deliver new business value.

Media Contact:

Richie Roesner

[email protected]

SOURCE Hero Digital
BANGKOK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 14th Huawei User Group Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand. During the meeting, Wang Jinping, Marketing Director of Huawei NCE Optical Network Domain, delivered a speech saying that Huawei's Premium Broadband solution can effectively help carriers to implement user experience operations, seize business growth opportunities and provide users with quality experience.

Nowadays users have high requirements for premium HBB experience, and users want a better network experience even if it comes at a higher cost.

Wang Jinping also mentioned that carriers should develop HBB services from the following three aspects:

To meet the requirements of various services and the huge potential user market, apply intelligent technologies to improve the accuracy of identifying potential users and increase the marketing success rate, thus quickly gaining market share.

Ensure the device-network-service matching, construct networks based on user experience requirements, and maximize the return on investment (ROI).

Build capabilities that help perceive user experience to improve HBB user experience and user satisfaction, thereby improving brand reputation and achieving service growth.

To help carriers realize these goals, Huawei launched the Premium Broadband solution outside China for the first time. In this solution, intelligent AEC boards are installed on OLTs to collect application KPIs such as delay and jitter in real time so that user experience can be accurately and effectively perceived. In addition, the collaboration between iMaster NCE (a management, control, and analysis system which provides the big data intelligent analysis capability) and Agile Digital Operations (ADO) helps carriers gain dividends from HBB user experience operations.

Insights into Experience Requirements, Facilitating Marketing Growth

In this solution, the potential user identification model is optimized from being single-dimensional to being multidimensional, helping carriers perceive user experience requirements. Accordingly, the marketing department can formulate marketing strategies to meet user requirements.

Device-Network-Service Matching, Facilitating Orderly Network Upgrades

In this solution, carriers can further ensure the correctness of device-network-service mapping, upgrade networks in an orderly manner, and provide basic assurance for high-quality HBB connections and optimal experience.

Minutes-level Experience Perception, Improving Passive Responses to Proactive Services

This solution integrates the upgraded perception capability, which implements minutes-level perception of poor-QoE issues. It changes the passive perception mode to the brand-new proactive experience perception and assurance mode, helping carriers to improve the user retention rate and user satisfaction.

The Premium Broadband solution has been widely commercially deployed in China. In Henan, the marketing success rate increased from 3% to 10% and the network ROI was improved by 40%. In Zhejiang, the poor-QoE rate decreased from 4.3% to 2.7% and complaints per 10,000 users decreased from 165 to 95.

According to Wang Jinping, through solution enablement and joint verification of best practices, user experience operations will truly facilitate development, further broaden business boundaries, and expand the dividend pattern.

SOURCE Huawei
LISLE, Ill., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IC Bus supports dealers in educating customers on funding opportunities for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. The federal rebate program has allotted $5 billion over the next five years to replace current school buses with alternative fuel or electric vehicle (EV) models. Through customer education and grant writing support, IC Bus has helped more than 230 school districts  many of which are in high-need or low-income areas  take their first step toward electrification.

IC Bus has helped more than 230 school districts take their first step toward electrification. Tweet this IC Bus (PRNewsfoto/Navistar International Corporat)

"The Clean School Bus Program prioritizes electric school bus deployments to communities that will experience the most positive impact," said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager, IC Bus. "IC Bus is committed to ensuring customers have the necessary resources to obtain the funding needed in their transition to electric. This starts with supporting our dealer network with EV and grant education."

IC Bus began educating dealers in early 2022 on their critical role in supporting the EV transition. Dealers have aided customers in funding opportunities, charging infrastructure, route analysis and overall EV education.

Cumberland, an IC Bus dealer based in Nashville, Tennessee, worked with 19 customers to identify nearly 60 eligible buses for the EPA Clean School Bus Program rebate funding.

Ashley Scurlock, bus account manager at Cumberland, approached customers when grant applications opened. Over the course of the next few months, Scurlock met with school boards, transportation directors and district superintendents to educate them and answer all the questions they had surrounding electric buses.

Other customer education initiatives that Scurlock and the Cumberland team conducted included meeting with area utility companies to understand charging infrastructure needs, hosting the NEXT Experience trailer for educational and demonstration sessions, holding IC Bus Electric CE Series school bus ride and drives, and inviting potential electric bus customers to see the delivery process.

"The key is to make the process simple for every stakeholder to understand, dispel the myths and reassure our customers that we will be there to help them through the unknowns," said Scurlock. "The education portion of this process is vital in obtaining customer buy-in and making them comfortable with the change."

Now that the initial round of funding has been announced, IC Bus will continue supporting customers through their entire electrification journey. Additionally, IC Bus is poised to support future rounds of grant funding.

For more information about EV grants and how to get started, download the IC Bus whitepaper, The Electric Bus Journey: Grant Funding and Beyond, and read a recently published thought leadership article, How Customers Can Begin the EV Grant Process.

About Navistar

Navistar, Inc. ("Navistar") is a purpose-driven company, reimagining how to deliver what matters to create more cohesive relationships, build higher-performing teams and find solutions where others don't. Based in Lisle, Illinois, Navistar or its subsidiaries and affiliates produce International brand commercial trucks and engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, all-makes OnCommand Connection advanced connectivity services, and Fleetrite, ReNEWeD and Diamond Advantage brand aftermarket parts and includes a Brazilian manufacturer of engines and gensets, MWM Motores Diesel e Geradores. With a history of innovation dating back to 1831, Navistar has more than 14,500 employees worldwide and is part of TRATON SE, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. Additional information is available at www.Navistar.com.

All marks are trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Navistar International Corporation
This channel partnership marks an important milestone in iMDsoft's mission to make its state-of-the-art MetaVision Suite available in new territories. With Viridian Polska, iMDsoft now has 10 channel partners operating globally

Through its channel partner program, iMDsoft teams up with leading healthcare technology companies around the world and empowers them to lead marketing and sales activities relating to the MetaVision Suite for critical care and anaesthesia, and provide related implementation and support services. With channel partners driving local market activities and leveraging their physical proximity to the customer, iMDsoft dedicates its full attention to the development and enhancement of the MetaVision Suite, as a fully-scalable market leading solution.

"We are excited to partner with Viridian Polska and have the opportunity to bring our solutions that are designed to improve the quality of care for the benefit of patients and clinicians, now also to Poland. We are confident that Viridian Polska has the right combination of customer reach, understanding of market dynamics and commitment to success, necessary to develop a substantial business," said Shahar Sery, Executive Vice President, iMDsoft

"We are proud and content that from now on we are partners with iMDsoft . We start this cooperation with a large dose of optimism, curiosity and commitment! Our knowledge of the local market, the trust of Polish customers and the quality of iMDsoft's products, are a combination that promises a successful long-term partnership," said Tomasz Woznicki, CEO, Viridian Polska

iMDsoft is a global leader in clinical information systems, with a specialty in critical care, anaesthesia, and acute care. Hundreds of hospitals and health networks in 24 countries use its MetaVision Suite, the company's flagship product, to improve care quality and enhance financial results. The global channel partner program offers an end-to-end approach for distribution partners to deliver iMDsoft's best in class software. iMDsoft is a wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation.

MetaVision has played a pivotal role in hospitals throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic with its flexible capabilities to manage Covid-19 related workflows. Learn more at www.imd-soft.com.

Viridian Polska Ltd. specializes in creating modern solutions in medical technology. The core of the business is designing and implementing patient monitoring systems. For almost 25 years, the solutions it proposes have been used in ORs, ICUs, surgery, cardiology and many other hospital wards. It works in the Integrated Quality Management System certified by TUV Nord, in accordance with ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015. Viridian Polska also provides technical services for medical equipment. Employees have all the necessary knowledge, experience and skills that are confirmed and certified by manufacturers. The goal of the Viridian Polska team is to create optimal and innovative solutions based on good relations with its customers and business partners. All this leads to a harmonious, coherent and trustworthy motto of the entire company: "Partnership for the Patients' Good".

For more information about the iMDsoft Channel Partner Program, please contact [email protected]

For more information on Viridian and MetaVision Poland please contact [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931117/iMDsoft.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931118/Viridian.jpg

SOURCE iMDsoft; Viridian Polska Ltd.
SLOUGH, UK and RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Indivior PLC (LON: INDV) today announced its financial results for the period ending September 30, 2022. The earnings release, investor presentation and webcast are available at www.indivior.com.

The earnings press release can be found at https://www.indivior.com/en/media/press-releases

The investor presentation can be found at https://www.indivior.com/investors

Indivior will also host a webcast presentation today at 8:00 AM US EST / 13:00 GMT.

The webcast event link is https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/23i6t2wv

Participants may also access the presentation telephonically:

Participants may access the presentation telephonically by registering with the following link:

https://register.vevent.com/register/BI7788b990aaff4a54b5aafc49c52d2ad2

Registrants will have an option to be called back immediately prior to the call or be provided a call-in # with a unique pin code following their registration).

About Indivior

Indivior is a global pharmaceutical company working to help change patients' lives by developing medicines to treat substance use disorders (SUD) and serious mental illnesses. Our vision is that all patients around the world will have access to evidence-based treatment for the chronic conditions and co-occurring disorders of SUD. Indivior is dedicated to transforming SUD from a global human crisis to a recognized and treated chronic disease. Building on its global portfolio of opioid use disorder treatments, Indivior has a pipeline of product candidates designed to both expand on its heritage in this category and potentially address other chronic conditions and cooccurring disorders of SUD. Headquartered in the United States in Richmond, VA, Indivior employs more than 900 individuals globally and its portfolio of products is available in 39 countries worldwide. Visit www.indivior.com to learn more. Connect with Indivior on LinkedIn by visiting www.linkedin.com/company/indivior.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1814851/Indivior_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Indivior
DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Humanoid Robots Market: Analysis By Component, By Motion Type, By Application, By Region Size and Trends with Impact of COVID-19 and Forecast up to 2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global humanoid robots market in 2021 was valued at US$1.53 billion. The market is expected to reach US$12.07 billion by 2027.

Humanoid robots are service robots, with their body shape built to resemble the human body. Humanoid robots are being used in the inspection, maintenance and disaster response at power plants to relieve human workers of laborious and dangerous tasks. Similarly, they are prepared to take over routine tasks for astronauts in space travel.

Humanoid robots with artificial intelligence algorithms find large application in the healthcare sector as medical assistsants, training aids as these robots can execute tedious, and complex task from various body position.

Therefore, surging demand from healthcare sector is one of the main factors that would drive the demand for humanoid robots in the forthcoming years. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approx. 41.21% during the forecasted period of 2022-2027.

Market Dynamics:

Growth Drivers: One of the most important factors impacting the global humanoid robots market is accelerating adoption for educational purposes. With rapid urbanization and a rise in global education expenditure, academic domain has been proactively adopting advanced devices such as humanoid robots for providing an improved learning experience. In addition, the humanoid robots enable educators to create an enhanced interactive education session, which is propelling their adoption and bolstering the market growth. Thus, accelerating adoption of humanoid robots for educational purposes have positively contributed to the market growth. Furthermore, the market has been growing over the past few years, due to factors such as rapid urbanization, surging demand from healthcare sector, increasing geriatric population, rising income levels, and many other factors.

Challenges: However, the market has been confronted with some challenges specifically, high initial cost and research & development expenses, lack of high level interfacing, etc.

Trends: The market is projected to grow at a fast pace during the forecast period, due to various latest trends such as growing demand from retail industry for personal assistance, rising adoption in aviation industry, expansion of construction industry, etc. Technological advancements have influenced the demand for robotics and driven its adoption by various applications. Humanoid robots provide the best interface for human-robot interactions as they can mimic a person, that makes humans treat humanoid robots as companions. All these are the result of continuous technological advancements and growing research in the robotics field. Hence, continuous technological advancements and growing research in the robotics field would congruently support the growth of the humanoid robots market also.

Impact Analysis of COVID-19 and Way Forward:

In 2020, the pandemic affected growth of the humanoid robot market by halting the export of humanoid robot components, impacting the production of humanoid robots during the initial phase of 2020. However, the demand for humanoid robots increased in the healthcare sector in the second half of 2020. Humanoid robots handled COVID-19 panic situations at healthcare facilities by assisting and providing relief to over-burdened medical staff. They were used in hospitals to ensure the safety of the medical staff and supply food and medicines to the patients affected by the virus.

Competitive Landscape:

The global humanoid robots market is consolidated, with a few companies accounting for majority market revenue share.

The key players in the global humanoid robots market are:

Toyota Motor Corporation

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

SoftBank Group Corp.

Toshiba Corporation

Kawada Technologies, Inc. (Kawada Robotic Corporation)

Hyulim Robot Co., Ltd.

Hanson Robotics Limited

Agility Robotics Inc.

Engineered Arts Limited

Hyundai Motor Group (Boston Dynamics)

UBTECH Robotics Inc.

Qihan Technology Co., Ltd.

Hajime Research Institute Ltd.

Some of the strategies among key players in the market for humanoid robots are product launches, mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations. For instance, in 2021, SoftBank Robotics signed a partnership agreement with Keenon Robotics to widen the applications of robotics systems in the service industry. Whereas, UBTECH Robotics, Inc., partnered with Ricoh USA, Inc., during the same year, to combine the deployment and maintenance of UV-C power disinfection system.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

3. Global Market Analysis

3.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market: An Analysis

3.1.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market: An Overview

3.1.2 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.1.3 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Component (Hardware and Software)

3.1.4 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Motion Type (Bipedal and Wheel drive)

3.1.5 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Application (Retail & Healthcare, Hospitality, Construction, Military & Defense, and Others)

3.1.6 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Region (Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and rest of the World)

3.2 Global Humanoid Robots Market: Component Analysis

3.2.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Component: An Overview

3.2.2 Global Humanoid Robots Hardware Market by Value

3.2.3 Global Humanoid Robots Software Market by Value

3.3 Global Humanoid Robots Market: Motion Type Analysis

3.3.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Motion Type: An Overview

3.3.2 Global Bipedal Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.3.3 Global Wheel Drive Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.4 Global Humanoid Robots Market: Application Analysis

3.4.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market by Application: An Overview

3.4.2 Global Retail & Healthcare Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.4.3 Global Hospitality Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.4.4 Global Construction Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.4.5 Global Military & Defense Humanoid Robots Market by Value

3.4.6 Global Others Humanoid Robots Market by Value

4. Regional Market Analysis

5. Impact of COVID-19

5.1 Impact of COVID-19 on Humanoid Robots Market

5.1.1 General Impact

5.1.2 Post COVID Impact on Humanoid Robots

6. Market Dynamics

6.1 Growth Drivers

6.1.1 Rapid Urbanization

6.1.2 Accelerating Adoption for Educational Purposes

6.1.3 Rising Income Levels

6.1.4 Increasing Geriatric Population

6.1.5 Surging Demand from Healthcare Sector

6.2 Challenges

6.2.1 High Initial Cost and Research & Development Expenses

6.2.2 Lack of High Level Interfacing

6.2.3 Privacy & Security Concerns

6.3 Market Trends

6.3.1 Rising Adoption in Aviation Industry

6.3.2 Growing Demand from Retail Industry for Personal Assistance

6.3.3 Expansion of Construction Industry

6.3.4 Technological Advancements

6.3.5 Increasing Rental Offerings of Humanoid Robots

7. Competitive Landscape

7.1 Global Humanoid Robots Market Players: Comparison based on Product Launches

8. Company Profiling

8.1 Toyota Motor Corporation

8.1.1 Business Overview

8.1.2 Operating Segment

8.1.3 Business Strategy

8.2 Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

8.2.1 Business Overview

8.2.2 Operating Segment

8.2.3 Business Strategy

8.3 SoftBank Group Corp.

8.3.1 Business Overview

8.3.2 Operating Segment

8.3.3 Business Strategy

8.4 Toshiba Corporation

8.4.1 Business Overview

8.4.2 Business Segments

8.4.3 Business Strategy

8.5 Kawada Technologies, Inc. (Kawada Robotic Corporation)

8.5.1 Business Overview

8.5.2 Operating Segment

8.5.3 Business Strategy

8.6 Hyulim Robot Co., Ltd.

8.6.1 Business Overview

8.6.2 Business Strategy

8.7 Hanson Robotics Limited

8.7.1 Business Overview

8.7.2 Business Strategy

8.8 Agility Robotics Inc.

8.8.1 Business Overview

8.8.2 Business Strategy

8.9 Engineered Arts Limited

8.9.1 Business Overview

8.9.2 Business Strategy

8.10 Hyundai Motor Group (Boston Dynamics)

8.10.1 Business Overview

8.10.2 Business Strategy

8.11 UBTECH Robotics Inc.

8.11.1 Business Overview

8.11.2 Business Strategy

8.12 Qihan Technology Co., Ltd.

8.12.1 Business Overview

8.13 Hajime Research Institute Ltd.

8.13.1 Business Overview

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5n64sd

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



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SOURCE Research and Markets
The Companies sign a strategic long-term global partnership in RRP

TOKYO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Japan Tobacco (JT) (TSE: 2914) announced today that the JT Group, through its subsidiary JTI, has entered into a joint venture (JV) with Altria Group (Altria), through its subsidiary PM USA, to market and commercialize heated tobacco sticks (HTS) products in the U.S. with Ploom branded devices and Marlboro branded consumables. The two Groups also signed a long-term, non-binding global memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore commercial opportunities for a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products (RRP).

"As part of our strategic focus on HTS, we're very enthusiastic to launch our Ploom brand in the U.S., the world's largest RRP market in value, through our partnership with the market leader, Altria. We also look forward to entering into a long-term strategic collaboration with Altria to further explore global commercial opportunities in the RRP category. I strongly believe that this cooperation will increase the global harm reduction possibilities for adult consumers and drive incremental value for the JT Group and Altria," said Masamichi Terabatake, JT Group CEO and President of the Tobacco Business.

The JT Group believes that this newly formed partnership will support its strategic ambition to build a global presence in RRP, through a strong focus on HTS, and drive sustainable growth for all stakeholders of the 4S model. Joining forces with Altria, the leading U.S. tobacco company, to enter the nascent HTS segment in the U.S. will increase growth opportunities for both companies, enhancing the JT Group's and Altria's objectives to provide a wide range of harm reduction products to adult consumers around the world.

The JV is structured to exist in perpetuity and establishes Horizon Innovations LLC (Horizon) as the exclusive JV vehicle responsible for the U.S. commercialization of current and future HTS products owned and developed by either party. Horizon will commercialize HTS products in the U.S. under the Ploom and Marlboro trademarks.

JTI will have a 25% economic interest in Horizon to reflect its HTS product contribution. PM USA will have a 75% economic interest, reflecting the company's strong distribution network and infrastructure, as well as its initial capital contribution of $150 million to Horizon. Subsequent capital contributions made to Horizon will be split according to the parties' respective economic interest. JTI and PM USA will both maintain independent ownership of their respective intellectual property (IP), including any IP acquired after the formation of the JV that supports the development of future HTS products.

As part of the JV, JTI and PM USA will combine their scientific and regulatory expertise to jointly prepare U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filings, including a Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) for the latest version of Ploom HTS products. The parties currently expect to submit the PMTA for these products in the first half of 2025. Upon PMTA authorization, JTI will supply HTS devices and PM USA will manufacture HTS consumables for Horizon. In addition, JTI and PM USA have agreed to commercialization milestones for Horizon, which include distribution requirements and minimum levels of cumulative marketing investments.

"By forming this JV, we are bringing together the marketing, innovation, R&D and science capabilities that JTI has developed over the years, with Altria's science, U.S. regulatory experience and vast infrastructure, to create a very strong proposition for the U.S. adult smoker," said Eddy Pirard, CEO of Japan Tobacco International.

Separate to the JV, the JT Group and Altria also announced the mutual signing of a non-binding MOU. Under this MOU, the parties aim to structure a strategic partnership over time to market and commercialize a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products and strengthen their shared development capabilities and geographic reach. The companies believe this collaboration will accelerate global tobacco harm reduction solutions and bring significant value to their respective businesses.

Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco company selling its products in more than 130 countries and regions. With approximately 55,000 employees, it manufactures and sells some of the world's best-known brands including Winston, Camel, MEVIUS and LD. The JT Group is committed to investing in Reduced-Risk Products (RRP) and currently markets its heated tobacco products under its Ploom brand and various e-cigarette products under its Logic brand. The Group is also present in the pharmaceutical and processed food businesses. For more information, visit https://www.jt.com/.

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Contacts:

IR: Jerome Jaffeux, Head of Investor Relations

Shingo Yano, Director

Tokyo: +81-3-6636-2027

E-mail: [email protected]



Media: Dinesh Babu Thotakura, Director of Media Relations

Tokyo: +81-3-6636-2026

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE JAPAN TOBACCO Inc.
- Korea's ginseng overseas exports increased 16.3% year-on-year to $267.2 million, a record high

- Korea's representative regional specialty, red ginseng, has been recognized as the world's best red ginseng for its excellent quality and efficacy

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp. (aT), Korea's agricultural and fishery exports reached $11.36 billion last year, exceeding $10 billion for the first time in history.

Red Ginseng

Korea's No.1 red ginseng brand is 'CheongKwanJang' created by KGC (Korea Ginseng Corporation), which has a tradition of 123 years, accounting for about 70% of the total red ginseng market in Korea. In order to produce the highest quality red ginseng, 'CheongKwanJang' conducts 430 safety tests for a total period of 8 years before products are shipped, including 2 years of soil management and 6 years of cultivation, to produce premium red ginseng that customers can consume with confidence.

The growth of traditional foods has been remarkable. Among them, export of ginseng products, such as red ginseng, was the highest ever at $267.2 million, up 16.3% from the previous year.

The popularity of various K-cultures, including the K-pop craze led by , the globally recognized movie and Korean dramas that are popular around the world through the OTT platform, has led to interest in Korean cuisine and food culture, and is believed to have played a part in the popularity of K-foods.

Historically, the first K-food loved by people around the world was 'Korean ginseng.' For thousands of years, Korean ginseng has been known as a special gift from the heavens to protect the health of Koreans.

In particular, due to its excellent quality and efficacy, Korean ginseng is exported to more than 40 countries around the world, including China, the United States and Japan, and it is loved by people all around the world.

Korean ginseng is called by various names depending on the processing method, but most of the Korean ginseng is manufactured in the form of red ginseng through streaming and drying. Red ginseng is known to have the best efficacy for each active ingredient among various forms of ginseng as unique saponins are synthesized during the manufacturing process.

Red ginseng is also one of the regular state-visit gifts that South Koran leaders give to foreign leaders.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1924842/Red_Ginseng.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1902566/Logo_KGC_new.jpg

SOURCE KGC (Korea Ginseng Corp.)
Scholarships will prioritize students from underrepresented groups, who have overcome disadvantages or are first generation to attend college

Research collaboration aims to develop new methods for delivering therapies to patients

INDIANAPOLIS and WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Purdue University and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) are establishing an innovative new pharmaceutical manufacturing scholarship program and have renewed their strategic research collaboration in a series of moves that will expand their impact in Indiana and improve lives on a global scale. Lilly has committed $92.5 million to the West Lafayette campus through these two programs.

Lilly's commitment includes $42.5 million over 10 years to fund pharmaceutical manufacturing scholarships for incoming Purdue undergraduate students, offering 75-100 talented students each year full tuition with a guaranteed internship or co-op at Lilly and a promise of coordinated interaction with company leaders. Priority access to the new Lilly Scholars program will be given to undergraduate students who are underrepresented in Purdue's student population, have overcome socioeconomic or educational disadvantages or are among the first generation in their family to attend college.

"Lilly is among Purdue's most important partners, and this latest commitment reaffirms our longtime collaboration. Through these collaborations, Lilly and Purdue are helping to build a critical pharmaceutical ecosystem in the heartland," said Purdue President Mitch Daniels. "We have a company that is committed to advancing research and fostering talent. Lilly is investing in students very early in their education rather than waiting until late in their college careers  connecting to students before they even arrive on campus."

The Lilly Scholars program will provide participating students with preferred access and opportunities to compete for a role at the company following graduation. The first scholarships will be offered for fall 2023.

Purdue and Lilly have a historic relationship, dating back to the organizations' founding years. The organizations entered into a new strategic research collaboration in 2017, funded by an initial $50 million commitment from Lilly. Those collaborative research efforts have helped advance understanding of the physiology of drug delivery and develop technologies to improve delivery of pharmaceuticals for better patient outcomes and experiences. Lilly and Purdue are now expanding that research collaboration, signing a new $50 million master agreement that extends the work for another five years, with a research focus on genetic medicine, intrathecal delivery and nanoparticle drug delivery.

"As the number of people who may benefit from our innovative medicines continues to increase, we are investing to advance critical research and build a more diverse pipeline of talent in Indiana. Together with Purdue, we can help to keep our state's best and brightest in Indiana, furthering Lilly's ability to make life better for millions of people," said David A. Ricks, Lilly's chair and CEO. "As a Purdue graduate, I am proud of the success the university has built and even more proud to see Lilly and Purdue team up to make both institutions better and better."

The basic research by Purdue faculty helps Lilly expedite the development of technologies and pharmaceuticals, improving the pace of getting therapies to patients who need them. Over the last eight years, Lilly has introduced 18 new medicines to make life better for people living with diseases like diabetes and cancer. The company aims to introduce four additional potential new medicines in the next 18 months.

"Purdue's approach to interdisciplinary research with Lilly is driven by an impact-focused mindset aimed at improving the lives of patients. Our collaboration spans training and development all the way to cutting-edge research and facilities," said Theresa Mayer, Purdue University executive vice president for research and collaboration. "The extension of our agreement will continue to provide exceptional opportunities for faculty members and hundreds of graduate students from across the country to work side-by-side with colleagues from this leading pharmaceutical company."

Both Lilly and Purdue have made strategic commitments in recent years to strengthen expertise and programs in bioscience areas, including pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Earlier this year, Purdue established the William D. Young Institute for Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals, an interdisciplinary organization focused on furthering pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce costs and expand access to new drugs emerging from biotech research. That institute follows a $250 million investment in life sciences as part of the Purdue Moves strategic plan, which resulted in three university-wide interdisciplinary institutes: the Purdue Institutes of Drug Discovery; Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease; and Integrative Neuroscience, which have helped to attract leading faculty researchers in critical research areas. Purdue has also invested in state-of the-art facilities, including the Bindley Bioscience Center, which provides a unique infrastructure to support interdisciplinary research.

Over the last five years, Lilly has committed over $6 billion in pharmaceutical manufacturing globally. This includes $2.1 billion and up to 500 new jobs in the LEAP Technology Park in Boone County, Indiana, announced in May 2022, and up to 1,500 more jobs during construction of the site.

"Collaborations between academia and industry are essential to innovation to bring therapies to patients as quickly as possible," said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of manufacturing operations at Lilly. "With the expansion of our footprint in Indiana, these initiatives with Purdue will help bring a highly skilled pipeline of diverse talent and enhance our manufacturing capacity to deliver medicines to patients around the world."

As Lilly and Purdue work together on new curricula, experiential learning, and certificate and degree programs in pharmaceutical manufacturing, they will help continue to grow pharmaceutical manufacturing in Indiana and expand Purdue's talent pipeline to the company with students supported by the new scholarship program. Every year, Lilly hires Purdue graduates in areas such as engineering, sales, finance, human resources, marketing, procurement, supply chain and more. In fact, Lilly employs nearly 2,500 Purdue graduates  more than from any other university.

"These commitments will better position Purdue to recruit the best, brightest and most diverse students we can," said Kristina Wong Davis, vice provost for enrollment management at Purdue.

About Lilly

Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 47 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit Lilly.com and Lilly.com/newsroom or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. C-LLY

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today's toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Lilly's recent collaborations and commitments with Purdue and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, there can be no assurance that these collaborations and commitments will achieve the desired objectives. For further discussion of risks and uncertainties relevant to Lilly's business that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company
Smokers in the UK are being challenged to quit their habits as part of a nationwide stop smoking campaign.

LEICESTER, England, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Local retailer, Flawless CBD and Vape Shop, which is based in Leicester, is taking part in Stoptober, the campaign of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, which is now in its 11th year and aims to empower thousands of adult smokers to give up smoking during October. Evidence shows people are five times more likely to quit for good if they can make it to at least 28 days smoke free.

The Stoptober campaign in the UK

The retail outlet is teaming up with leading disposable vape manufacturer ELFBAR, one of the top sellers of vape products in the UK, as part of a national challenge to get 1,000 adult smokers across the country to give up the equivalent of 50,000 cigarettes during Stoptober month.

ELFBAR is handing out its new CIGALIKE vape product free to the first 1,000 adult smokers nationally who commit to handing in their conventional cigarettes during October. The CIGALIKE is designed to mimic the conventional cigarette and offers around 400 puffs which is equivalent to smoking 50 standard cigarettes. The product is particularly designed to help hard core adult smokers quit their habits.

Mandeep Singh Kohli, owner of the Flawless CBD and Vape Shop, one of 20 retail stores participating nationally in the challenge, said: "ELFBAR is one of the leading vape brands in the UK and has helped thousands of former smokers transition to vaping, which according to evidence from Public Health England is at least 95% less harmful than smoking."

"Public health campaigns such as Stoptober are crucial to raising awareness of and providing advice on the alternatives to smoking, including vaping, as there are still some 6 million smokers in England. We're delighted to do our bit through challenging adult smokers to come into our store and give up their ciggies and try vaping as a quit method," added Mandeep.

Said Victor Xiao, chief Executive of ELFBAR: "Stoptober is a great campaign to raise awareness of vaping as a considerably less harmful and expensive option than smoking. We are challenging smokers to give up the equivalent of tens of thousands of cigarettes during the month of the campaign and to inspire them to quit their habits. "

"According to the NHS, vaping is one of the best ways to quit smoking. Brands like ours and the retail sector have an important role to play in getting this message out there to adult smokers by working closer together," added Xiao.

The National Health Service is a big supporter of Stoptober and highlights vaping as one of the main ways to quit smoking. On its website promoting the campaign the NHS states about two thirds of people who use a vape along with expert support successfully quit smoking.

SOURCE ELFBAR
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lotte Hotels & Resorts ("Lotte") welcomes Gustavo Sarago to the newly created role of Chief Development Officer, Americas.

Gustavo Sarago

Sarago joins Lotte from AIG Global Real Estate Investments where he was Senior Vice President, Head of Hospitality and Leisure Group. At AIG, Sarago was responsible for the sourcing, execution and oversight of a diversified portfolio of hotel investments across North America. At Lotte, Sarago will be responsible for growing Lotte's collection of lifestyle and luxury brandsLotte, L7 and Signiel throughout the Americas with a focus on gateway cities, tech centers and iconic resort destinations.

"We are thrilled to have Gustavo join our team here in the Americas" said Jim Petrus, Chief Executive Officer, Lotte Hotels & Resorts Americas. "Gustavo's passion, enthusiasm and strategic thinking will play a key role in Lotte's success as we further develop the footprint of our great brands."

Lotte currently owns and operates three hotels in the Americas Lotte New York Palace, Lotte Hotel Seattle and Lotte Hotel Guam. In early 2022, Lotte purchased a property in Chicago, which it is currently converting to L7Lotte's lifestyle brand. L7 Chicago is expected to open in 2023. Lotte Hotels & Resorts is targeting to grow its footprint by twenty-five properties over the next five years throughout the Americas.

Sarago is a graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and resides in the New York City area.

About Lotte Hotels & Resorts

Lotte Hotels & Resorts is the largest hotel group in Korea and currently has 34 hotels globally with 11,200 rooms within its three current hotel brands in addition to another 3 hotels in the pipeline which will bring its room count to 12,400. Lotte Hotels and Resorts is comprised of their signature brand, Lotte Hotels; their Lifestyle brand, L7; and their 6-star brand, Signiel. Currently properties are located in Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Russia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and the United States. The newest addition to the Lotte portfolio in the United States is Lotte Hotel Seattle which debuted in 2020.

SOURCE Lotte New York Palace
The esteemed tequila producer partners with globally renowned bartender Lynnette Marrero to serve as an official brand advocate

JALISCO, Mexico, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lunazul Tequila, the hand-crafted, 100% agave tequila that's blended under the masterful direction of Heaven Hill Brands partner Tierra de Agaves, is pleased to announce award-winning bartender Lynnette Marrero as the brand's first Brand Advocate. In this role, Marrero will promote trade and consumer engagement with the premium tequila portfolio and expand the brand's reach across the United States via consumer education, recipe development, and more.

Lunazul Tequila Blanco, credit Heaven Hill Lynnette Marrero, Lunazul Tequila Brand Advocate, credit Eric Medsker

Marrero brings over 17 years of experience in the beverage industry and has spent her esteemed career developing bar programs and cultivating a new generation of cocktail bartenders, all while elevating the beverage offerings of renowned restaurants. She co-created Speed Rack, an international, all-women's cocktail competition that has raised more than $1.25 million in the fight against breast cancer.

She was the first mixologist to ever be featured on Masterclass, the online education subscription platform that gained viral notoriety in March 2020. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Food & Wine, Wall Street Journal, and Jimmy Kimmel Live! among many other outlets. Additionally, Marrero received the Tales of the Cocktails Spirited Awards World's Best Bar Mentors and the inaugural Philanthropy Award with Speed Rack co-founder Ivy Mix. She also placed in the inaugural Drinks International Bar World 100 in 2019, 2020, and 2021. In 2021, Marrero was awarded the illustrious Altos Bartender's Bartender award from The World's 50 Best Bars.

Most recently, she served as Beverage Director for Llama Inn and Llama San, garnering the latter a semifinalist nod for the coveted James Beard Foundation award for "Outstanding Bar Program" in 2022.

"Tequila is a category that I have an incredible amount of respect for, and I look forward to working directly with trade and consumers to further their appreciation for Lunazul's premium portfolio," shared Lynnette Marrero. "The spirit is very versatile and increasing in popularity, and our key focuses are to empower cocktail enthusiasts to deepen their knowledge of the category and to have fun working with the expressions of Lunazul to create seasonal, balanced cocktails while expanding their education of brands with deep ties to the communities in Mexico."

Marrero will be working closely alongside Lunazul's Master Tequilero Francisco Quijano who is based in Mexico at the Tierra de Agaves distillery.

"What an immense honor to work with a bar talent of Lynnette's caliber," shared Francisco Quijano. "Her body of work speaks for itself, and her contributions to Lunazul as a Brand Advocate will further our efforts to reimagine premium tequila."

Lunazul has been named the fastest growing mid-tier tequila by Beverage Information Group (2021) and is currently growing 30% on average month over month by volume. Lunazul offers five unique, handcrafted expressions, including Anejo, Blanco, El Humoso, Primero, and Reposado.

To learn more about Lunazul Tequila, please visit the website , Instagram , and Facebook . To follow along with Lynnette Marrero, please follow along on her Instagram .

ABOUT LUNAZUL:

Lunazul Tequila is a hand-harvested, estate-bottled tequila made from only the nest 100% Blue Weber agave. Hailing from Tierra de Agaves distillery, which is located in Tequila, Jalisco  the heart of Mexico's agave country  the brand offers ve varieties of tequila to choose from: Blanco, El Humoso, Reposado, Aneio, and Primero, each representing a traditional, authentic preparation method. Born from the unparalleled expertise and erce determination of the Beckmann Family, who has more than 250 years of experience in agave spirits and tequila making, Lunazul was founded on the premise of creating an exceptional tequila at a price point that's accessible for all to enjoy. Lunazul leaders, President Jorge Beckmann and Master Distiller Francisco Ouijano , are helping to carry the torch for the deeply revered, authentic spirit, and they each proudly offer a wealth of expert experience in the world of agave. Follow along at @lunazultequila on Instagram.

Media Inquiries :

Foxglove Communications

Gabby Lauretti | [email protected]

912.856.2138

SOURCE Heaven Hill Brands
Providing mentorship for minority researchers and clinicians is vital to create an inclusive work environment and improving outcomes for minority patients

WASHINGTON , Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, LUNGevity Foundation, the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit organization, launched a Minority Mentorship and Training Program to increase diversity in thoracic oncology and ensure that minority researchers and clinicians have the support and training they need to thrive in their careers.

The lack of representation in STEM fields has alienated minority scholars, who often face bias and racism at all career stages, leading many to leave academia. LUNGevity is looking for new solutions that will impact healthcare delivery in the future. In addition to the issue of the lack of diversity in the workforce, it is well known that minority patients have better outcomes when their clinicians look like them, as they have more confidence that they will be listened to and treated fairly.

"The traditional solution to increasing diversity in STEM has been to fund new programs to train minority scholars. However, funding alone is not a solution unless there is also intent to holistically train, mentor, and support these scholars and set them up for success in their careers," said Eugene Manley, Jr, PhD, Director of STEM Workforce Initiatives at LUNGevity Foundation and the creator of this new program. "As a Black man who was the first in my family to go to college, I know from experience the countless obstacles that minority researchers and clinicians face in academia. I'm proud to say that LUNGevity is committed to improving diversity in the lung cancer workforce to better serve an increasingly diverse patient population."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US and globally. Although African Americans and Black Americans have the highest incidence of lung cancer in the US, this population is significantly underrepresented in STEM fields and oncologyi. This is also true for Hispanic/Latinx Americans and American Indians and Alaska Nativesii. Barriers that minority researchers and clinicians face include lack of respect, not receiving funding, and fear of reprisalsiii. Additionally, minority scholars often face repeated micro- and macroaggressions that they cannot report because of a lack of institutional support.

Robert Winn, MD, director of VCU Massey Cancer Center, noted, "As a LUNGevity Board member, I am proud that the organization is taking steps toward holistically supporting underrepresented scientists in STEM."

The Minority Mentorship and Training Program is a complement to LUNGevity's Health Equity and Inclusiveness Research Fellow and Junior Investigator Awards, which aim to support diversity and inclusivity within the scientific lung cancer community, with special attention being paid to populations underrepresented in STEM. The 2022 awards were given to five early-career researchers in September. Each of the awardees will participate in the pilot phase of the Minority Mentorship and Training Program.

The program will train scholars in the grant writing process, provide professional career development to prepare them for life after training is completed, expose trainees to alternative career paths to ensure they are aware of how to transition if they leave academia, and provide multiple layers of external mentorship to mitigate dependence on one principal investigator.

"We see this program as an important step in LUNGevity's commitment to improving health equity, starting with diversifying the workforce. While other funding organizations support minority researchers, we know that just providing funds is not sufficient. Through wraparound mentoring and support, we seek to have a workforce that reflects the communities with the highest incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer and increases overall survival," said Andrea Ferris, President and CEO of LUNGevity. "We are making this long-term investment to nurture the field of lung cancer and impact the patients of tomorrow."

The first cohort to be trained through this program includes:

Rebecca Shulman, MD

The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center

Project: Synergistic expression of combined RT and dual-immune checkpoint blockade

Narjust Florez, MD

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Project: Young lung cancer: Psychosocial needs assessment

Coral Olazagasti, MD

University of Miami

Project: Promoting lung cancer screening in Latinx patients with previous HNSCC

Ana Velasquez Manana, MD

University of California, San Francisco

Project: Lung Equity Through Social needs SCREENING (LETS SCREEN)

Jonathan Villena-Vargas, MD

Weil Medical College of Cornell University

Project: Tumor draining lymph node immunomodulation to decrease recurrence in NSCLC

LUNGevity thanks Thermo Fisher Scientific for its generous support of this program.

About LUNGevity Foundation

LUNGevity Foundation is the nation's leading lung cancer organization focused on improving outcomes for people with lung cancer. The foundation works tirelessly to advance research into early detection and more effective treatments, and to ensure that patients have access to these advances. LUNGevity seeks to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship for everyone touched by the diseasewhile promoting health equity by addressing disparities throughout the care continuum. LUNGevity provides information and educational tools to empower patients and their caregivers, promote impactful public policy initiatives, and amplify the patient voice through research and engagement. The organization provides an active community for patients and survivorsand those who help them live better and longer lives.

Comprehensive resources include a medically vetted and patient-centric website, a toll-free HELPLine for support, the International Lung Cancer Survivorship Conference, and an easy-to-use Clinical Trial Finder, among other tools. All of these programs are to achieve our visiona world where no one dies of lung cancer. LUNGevity Foundation is proud to be a four-star Charity Navigator organization.

About Lung Cancer in the US

About 1 in 17 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in their lifetime.

More than 236,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year.

About 60%-65% of all new lung cancer diagnoses are among people who have never smoked or are former smokers.

Lung cancer takes more lives in the United States than the next two deadliest cancers (colorectal and pancreatic) combined.

than the next two deadliest cancers (colorectal and pancreatic) combined. Only about 23% of all people diagnosed with lung cancer in the United States will survive 5 years or more, BUT if it is caught before it spreads, the chance of 5-year survival improves dramatically.

Please visit LUNGevity.org to learn more.

i Estrada M, Burnett M, Campbell AG, Campbell PB, Denetclaw WF, Gutierrez CG, et al. Improving Underrepresented Minority Student Persistence in STEM. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2016;15(3).

ii Estrada M, Burnett M, Campbell AG, Campbell PB, Denetclaw WF, Gutierrez CG, et al. Improving Underrepresented Minority Student Persistence in STEM. CBE Life Sci Educ. 2016;15(3).

iii Soule EK, Ford S, Newton RL, Jr, Thomas A, Eissenberg T. Perceived Barriers to Serving on National Institutes of Health Scientific Review Groups Experienced by Black and African American Scientists. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e22220.

SOURCE LUNGevity Foundation
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The maternity support products market research report provides a detailed analysis of emerging market trends, regional outlook, competitive landscape, and a comprehensive analysis of different market segments. The maternity support products market is poised to grow by USD 149.03 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 8.66% during the forecast period.

Maternity Support Products Market: Vendor Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Maternity Support Products Market 2022-2026

The global maternity support products market is a competitive and fragmented market due to the presence of numerous international and regional brands globally. In this market, competitors distinguish themselves through product quality, innovation, product features, product pricing, and product portfolio. They also focus on business expansion and product innovation to increase their profit margins and market share. ASOS plc, BLANQI, Belly Bandit, Comfytopia Europe BV, Ingrid and Isabel LLC, It's You Babe LLC, ITA-MED Co., and Marquee Brands are some of the prominent vendors in the global maternity support products market. Pregnant women need a lot of comfort and convenience. Therefore, the demand for innovative products could solve all their requirements.

Maternity Support Products Market Key Offerings:

ASOS Plc: The company offers maternity support products such as expandable maternity jeans, swimwear, nursing tops, and dresses, under the brand names ASOS Maternity, Mamalicious, and New Look.

The company offers maternity support products such as expandable maternity jeans, swimwear, nursing tops, and dresses, under the brand names ASOS Maternity, Mamalicious, and New Look. BLANQI: The company offers maternity support products such as expandable maternity jeans, swimwear, nursing tops, and dresses, under the brand names ASOS Maternity, Mamalicious, and New Look.

The company offers maternity support products such as expandable maternity jeans, swimwear, nursing tops, and dresses, under the brand names ASOS Maternity, Mamalicious, and New Look. Advin Health Care: The company offers maternity support products such as belly support bands and belts, under the brand names Upsie Belly, Belly Boost, and Flawless Belly.

The company offers maternity support products such as belly support bands and belts, under the brand names Upsie Belly, Belly Boost, and Flawless Belly. Belly Bandit: The company offers maternity support products such as belly support bands and belts, under the brand names Upsie Belly, Belly Boost and Flawless Belly.

The company offers maternity support products such as belly support bands and belts, under the brand names Upsie Belly, Belly Boost and Flawless Belly. Carriwell Aps: The company offers maternity support products such as underwear and maternity belts that will be comfortable and supportive throughout pregnancy.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report.

Maternity Support Products Market: Segmentation Analysis

By Distribution Channel

Offline



Pregnancy support wear, maternity shapewear, and other items sold under maternity support products are primarily distributed offline through retail establishments such as specialty shops, hypermarkets, department stores, drugstores, and warehouse clubs. As a result, the majority of the money generated by the global market comes from these retail forms. The offline distribution channel accounts for more than 90% of the total sales in the worldwide maternity support goods market, with a significant portion coming from retail formats.



Online

By Product

Maternity support wear



Products such as belly bands and maternity support belts are considered in this segment. Such products are widely used by pregnant women for abdominal support and to maintain a good body posture. Belly bands and maternity support belts can be used easily by expectant mothers during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Belly bands and support belts are specially designed in such a way that they can support the lower back and abdomen of a pregnant woman.



Maternity shapewear

By Geography

North America



North America will contribute 36% of the market's growth over the forecasted timeframe. In North America , the market for maternity support items is mostly centered in the US. The expansion of maternity support goods in North America will be aided by the entrance of new vendors and the rise in product launches during the forecast period.

will contribute 36% of the market's growth over the forecasted timeframe. In , the market for maternity support items is mostly centered in the US. The expansion of maternity support goods in will be aided by the entrance of new vendors and the rise in product launches during the forecast period.

Europe



APAC



Middle East and Africa



South America

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Get Free Sample Report.

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Maternity Support Products Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.66% Market growth 2022-2026 $149.03 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.97 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 36% Key consumer countries US, China, Australia, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled ASOS Plc, BLANQI, Advin Health Care, Belly Bandit, CABEA LLC, Carriwell Aps, Comfytopia Europe BV, HGR Ltd., Ingrid and Isabel LLC, Its You Babe LLC, ITA-MED Co., JoJo Maman Bebe Ltd., Krishco Medical Products Pvt. Ltd., Marquee Brands, Medela AG, Neotech Care Inc., Queen Bee Maternity Pty. Ltd., REH4MAT Slawomir Wronski, Ripe Maternity, Spanx Inc., and Times Three Clothier LLC Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

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 Distribution Channel



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



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 between2021 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 Distribution Channel

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 25: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 26: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 27: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel



Exhibit 28: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel

5.3 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 29: Chart on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Data Table on Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 31: Chart on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 32: Data Table on Offline - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 33: Chart on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Data Table on Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 35: Chart on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 36: Data Table on Online - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel

Exhibit 37: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million)

6 Market Segmentation by Product

6.1 Market segments

Exhibit 38: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

6.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 40: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Comparison by Product

6.3 Maternity support wear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 42: Chart on Maternity support wear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Maternity support wear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 44: Chart on Maternity support wear - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Maternity support wear - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.4 Maternity shapewear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 46: Chart on Maternity shapewear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Maternity shapewear - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 48: Chart on Maternity shapewear - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Maternity shapewear - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

6.5 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 50: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

7 Customer Landscape

7.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 51: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

8 Geographic Landscape

8.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 52: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

8.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 54: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 55: Data Table on Geographic comparison

8.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 56: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 57: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 58: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 60: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 61: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 62: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 64: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 65: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 66: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.6 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 68: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 70: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 71: 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 72: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 73: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 74: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 76: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 77: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 78: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 79: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 82: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 84: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 86: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 88: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 89: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 90: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 91: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.12 Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 92: Chart on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 93: Data Table on Australia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 94: Chart on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 95: Data Table on Australia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

8.13 Market opportunity by geography

Exhibit 96: 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 97: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026

9.4 Market trends

10 Vendor Landscape

10.1 Overview

10.2 Vendor landscape

Exhibit 98: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation

10.3 Landscape disruption

Exhibit 99: Overview on factors of disruption

10.4 Industry risks

Exhibit 100: Impact of key risks on business

11 Vendor Analysis

11.1 Vendors covered

Exhibit 101: Vendors covered

11.2 Market positioning of vendors

Exhibit 102: Matrix on vendor position and classification

11.3 ASOS plc

Exhibit 103: ASOS plc - Overview



Exhibit 104: ASOS plc - Business segments



Exhibit 105: ASOS plc - Key news



Exhibit 106: ASOS plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 107: ASOS plc - Segment focus

11.4 Belly Bandit

Exhibit 108: Belly Bandit - Overview



Exhibit 109: Belly Bandit - Business segments



Exhibit 110: Belly Bandit - Key offerings



Exhibit 111: Belly Bandit - Segment focus

11.5 BLANQI

Exhibit 112: BLANQI - Overview



Exhibit 113: BLANQI - Business segments



Exhibit 114: BLANQI - Key offerings



Exhibit 115: BLANQI - Segment focus

11.6 CABEA LLC

Exhibit 116: CABEA LLC - Overview



Exhibit 117: CABEA LLC - Business segments



Exhibit 118: CABEA LLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 119: CABEA LLC - Segment focus

11.7 Carriwell Aps

Exhibit 120: Carriwell Aps - Overview



Exhibit 121: Carriwell Aps - Business segments



Exhibit 122: Carriwell Aps - Key offerings



Exhibit 123: Carriwell Aps - Segment focus

11.8 Comfytopia Europe BV

Exhibit 124: Comfytopia Europe BV - Overview



Exhibit 125: Comfytopia Europe BV - Business segments



Exhibit 126: Comfytopia Europe BV - Key offerings



Exhibit 127: Comfytopia Europe BV - Segment focus

11.9 Ingrid and Isabel LLC

Exhibit 128: Ingrid and Isabel LLC - Overview



Exhibit 129: Ingrid and Isabel LLC - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Ingrid and Isabel LLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Ingrid and Isabel LLC - Segment focus

11.10 Its You Babe LLC

Exhibit 132: Its You Babe LLC - Overview



Exhibit 133: Its You Babe LLC - Business segments



Exhibit 134: Its You Babe LLC - Key offerings



Exhibit 135: Its You Babe LLC - Segment focus

11.11 ITA-MED Co.

Exhibit 136: ITA-MED Co. - Overview



Exhibit 137: ITA-MED Co. - Business segments



Exhibit 138: ITA-MED Co. - Key offerings



Exhibit 139: ITA-MED Co. - Segment focus

11.12 Marquee Brands

Exhibit 140: Marquee Brands - Overview



Exhibit 141: Marquee Brands - Product / Service



Exhibit 142: Marquee Brands - Key offerings

12 Appendix

12.1 Scope of the report

12.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 143: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 144: Exclusions checklist

12.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 145: Currency conversion rates for US$

12.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 146: Research methodology



Exhibit 147: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 148: Information sources

12.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 149: List of abbreviations

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NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Insight Partners published latest research study on " Medical Device Coating Market Size, Share, Revenue, Growth Strategy, Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028  COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis  by Material Type, Devices, Coatings, Application, and Geography," the global medical device coating market size is valued at USD 7.64 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 12.81 billion by 2028; it is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.7% from 2022 to 2028. The rising demand for coated medical devices in surgical and diagnostics procedures and the high prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) fuel the overall market growth.

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Global Medical Device Coating Market Report Scope, Segmentations, Regional & Country Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Size Value in USD 7.64 Billion in 2021 Market Size Value by US$ 12.81 Billion by 2028 Growth rate CAGR of 7.7% from 2022 to 2028 Forecast Period 2022-2028 Base Year 2021 No. of Pages 275 No. of Tables 198 No. of Charts & Figures 105 Historical data available Yes Segments covered Material Type, Coating, and Application Regional scope North America; Europe; Asia Pacific; Latin America; MEA Country scope US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Argentina Report coverage Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends Companies Covered Koninklijke DSM NV, Hydromer Inc, Surmodics Inc, Biocoat Inc, AST Products Inc, Covalon Technologies Ltd, Harland Medical Systems Inc, Precision Coating Company Inc, Kisco Ltd, Formacoat LLC Key Research Capabilities Global Market Assessment, Business Development Strategies, Competitive Landscape, Opportunity Analysis, Regional and Country Level Market Analysis, Market Entry Strategies, Market Dynamics, Risk and Return Assessments, Pricing Analysis, Market Size and Forecasting, Company Profiling, Value Chain Analysis, Expansion Strategies, SWOT Analysis, New Product Development Global Medical Device Coating Market Forecast to 2028 - Latest COVID-19 Analysis https://www.theinsightpartners.com/covid-analysis-sample/TIPRE00009272/

Browse key market insights spread across 275 pages with 198 list of tables & 105 list of figures from the report, "Medical Device Coating Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis By Material Type (Polymer, Metal, and Others), Devices (Medical Equipment and Tools, Medical Devices, Medical Implant, and Others), Coating (Hydrophilic Coating, Anti-Microbial Coating, Drug-Eluting Coating, Anti-Thrombogenic Coating, and Others), and Application (Infection Diseases, General Surgery, Orthopedic, Neurology, and Others)" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/medical-device-coatings-market

Global Medical Device Coating Market Analysis: Competitive Landscape and Key Developments

Koninklijke DSM NV, Hydromer Inc, Surmodics Inc, Biocoat Inc, AST Products Inc, Covalon Technologies Ltd, Harland Medical Systems Inc, Precision Coating Company Inc, Kisco Ltd, and Formacoat LLC are among the key companies operating in the medical device coating market. The market leaders focus on new product launches, expansion and diversification, and acquisition strategies, which allow them to tap into prevailing business opportunities.

In April 2022, Harland Medical Systems, Inc. announced the release of the CTS1100 Coating Thickness Testing System at MD&M West. CTS1100 allows medical device manufacturers to accurately and easily measure coating thickness on their devices.

In March 2022, DSM Biomedical and Svelte Medical Systems, a privately-held company engaged in the development of highly deliverable balloon expandable stents, revolutionized the standard for coronary stenting procedures to treat coronary artery disease (CAD). The collaboration fuels the development of DISCREET Bioresorbable Coating Technology used with SLENDER IDS and DIRECT RX Bioresorbable Coated Drug-Eluting Stent (DES) Systems.

In April 2022, Biocoat, Inc., announced its expansion into the design, development, and delivery of hydrophilic dip coating equipment. Biocoat's new equipment line is called EMERSE and offers companies who require an in-house dip coating system to coat their medical devices and complete the production process. The addition of coating equipment now positions Biocoat as one of the only companies that can offer a complete, full-service solution for medical devices that require a hydrophilic coating.

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In September 2021, Precision Coating, a leading medical coatings service provider to interventional, orthopedic, and advanced surgical markets announced a merger with N2 Biomedical, a Bedford, MA-based company. N2 Biomedical, an Ampersand Capital Partners portfolio company, provides nano-engineered surface treatment and coating services to the medical device industry with its low-temperature ion implantation surface treatments and Ion Beam Assisted Deposition (IBAD) technologies.

In February 2020, Biocoat, Inc. announced the launch of HYDAK UV. The new version of its original HYDAK coating is designed to be cured using ultraviolet (UV) light, allowing for flexible integration with industry standard UV coating systems. The innovative coating is built on the proven bi-laminar platform used in Biocoat's existing thermal heat cure coating technology.

North America dominated the medical device coating market in 2021. The US remains the largest medical device market globally, owing to the presence of more than 6,500 medical device companies comprising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In the US, California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia have the highest number of medical device companies. Additionally, the US medical device companies are highly recognized across the world due to their innovative and high-technology products. Thus, the US medical device coating market is anticipated to grow in the coming years owing to the rising adoption of medical devices and substantial spending on these devices.

Rising Demand for Coated Medical Devices in Surgical and Diagnostics Procedures to Influence Market Growth during Forecast Period:

Disposable medical devices, such as cannulas, blades, anvils, triggers, diagnostic probes, and guide wires, need coatings for anti-infectious procedures and maneuverability improvement. The diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain, kidney stones, varicose veins, and intestinal infections are increasing, demanding coated medical devices. As per the American Cancer Society, the number of carcinogenic cases is going to hit 27.5 million by 2040 leaping from the previous figure of 17.0 million in 2018. Such rising cases of diseases demanding medical devices for surgical procedures are propelling the growth of the medical device coating market.

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Global Medical Device Coating Market: Segmental Overview

Based on the material type, the medical device coating market is segmented into polymer, metal, and others. In 2021, the metal segment accounted for the largest share of the market. However, the polymer segment is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the biocompatible nature of polymers with wide applications providing numerous possibilities in the manufacturing of various medical device coatings. Based on devices, the medical device coating market is segmented into medical equipment and tools, medical devices, medical implant, and others. In 2021, the medical device segment held the largest share of the market. The medical equipment and tools segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028. Based on coatings, the medical device coating market is segmented into hydrophilic coating, anti-microbial coating, drug-eluting coating, anti-thrombogenic coating, and others. In 2021, the hydrophilic coating segment held the largest share of the market. The same segment is also expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028, owing to the wide applications in treatment sites for procedures such as balloon catheter angioplasty, neurological intervention, lesion crossing, and site-delivery drug therapy by reducing thrombogenicity. Based on application, the medical device coating market is segmented into infection, diseases, general surgery, orthopedic, neurology, and others. In 2021, the other segment held the largest share of the market. Also, the same segment is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2022 to 2028.

Global Medical Device Coating Market: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic brought various changes in the medical device industry. This involves a shift toward entirely new medical device manufacturing systems and forcing companies to adopt new technology. During the COVID-19 period there have been increase in demand for medical devices, new materials intended to deliver safe procedures/surgeries. Additionally, medical devices coated with biomaterials reveal promising results in invasive surgical catheters driving the need for anti-viral coatings. The main aim is to offer durability alongside cost-effective solutions for healthcare and practitioners. Owing to such growth trends within the medical device coating industry, the market witnessed high procurement amid the pandemic, and now it is rapidly growing.

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Learn about crucial advisory and intelligence that can assist buyers in identifying and shortlisting the most suitable suppliers for their dairy product requirements. Some of the leading Medicated Feed Additives suppliers profiled extensively in this report are Evonik Industries AG, Novozymes, and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.

https://procurement.spendedge.com/report/commercial-printing-sourcing-and-procurement-

intelligence-report

Medicated Feed Additives Procurement: Pricing Insights

It is crucial to keep track of current and future Medicated Feed Additives price trends to completely optimize the value of the purchase, both from current cash outflow as well as overall cost and benefit perspective. Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by constant monitoring of price influencing factors described in the report.

Pricing insights presented in this report cover pricing benchmarks and the trends and strategies that can help optimize cost savings.

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that answers all your key questions on price trends and analysis:

Am I paying/getting the right prices? Is my Medicated Feed Additives TCO (total cost of ownership) favorable?

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Which pricing models offer the most rewarding opportunities?

Medicated Feed Additives Sourcing and Procurement Market Report Key Details:

Report Specs Details Spend growth (CAGR) 5.29 % Incremental spend USD 3611.92 Million Pricing models Volume-based pricing and Market pricing Supplier selection scope Integrated manufacturing techniques, Accurate product marking systems, Litigation history, and Assessment of product quality Market dynamics Regional categories spend in terms of percentage with respect to North America, South America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa and APAC and global category spend and CAGR in terms of percentage over a span of 5 years.

https://procurement.spendedge.com/report/commercial-printing-sourcing-and-procurement-

intelligence-report

What are the Key Data Covered in this Medicated Feed Additives Sourcing and Procurement Market Report?

Detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the Medicated Feed Additives procurement and sourcing market.

Precise estimation of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for Medicated Feed Additives requirements.

Accurate predictions on upcoming trends and changes in vendor behavior.

Analysis of various supplier selection criteria, RFX questions, supplier evaluation metrics, and service level agreements.

Insight into the most adopted procurement strategies by buyers across industries and an analysis of these strategies with respect to innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost.

Comprehensive details about each pricing model and the pros and cons attached to every pricing model prevalent in the market.

Best Selling Report:

Printing Ink Sourcing and Procurement Report : This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the printing ink procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Read More

This report offers detailed insights and analysis of the major cost drivers, volume drivers, and innovations of the printing ink procurement and sourcing market, which the global suppliers have been leveraging to gain a competitive edge across regions. Read More Industrial Gases Market Top Spending Regions and Market Price Trends: Only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America , Europe , and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. Know More

Table of Content

Executive Summary

Market Insights

Category Pricing Insights

Cost-saving Opportunities

Best Practices

Category Ecosystem

Category Management Strategy

Category Management Enablers

Suppliers Selection

Suppliers under Coverage

US Market Insights

Category scope

Appendix

About SpendEdge:

SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions.

Contact

SpendEdge

Anirban Choudhury

Marketing Manager

Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340

https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us

SOURCE SpendEdge
TAIPEI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As countries reopen their borders for international travel with global vaccination coverage on the rise, the world is slowly returning to pre-pandemic activity levels since the COVID-19 outbreak nearly 3 years ago. Needless to say, personal protective equipment (PPE) must remain in place for most people to return to their pre-pandemic lives. The world's leading PPE brand, Medtecs International Corporation Limited (Medtecs), will once again participate in MEDICA in Dusseldorf, Germany on November 14-17 and at Expoprotection in Paris, France through November 15-17, to demonstrate its readiness and strength in coping with new and changing protection demands.

Medtecs to showcase Taiwan's world-leading PPE technology in Germany and France

In these two upcoming exhibitions, Medtecs will be showcasing its excellent medical protection equipment designs and manufacturing capacity, as well as its comprehensive product lines, which cover all protection levels and cater to the needs of medical institutions. This year, Medtecs also plans to introduce its latest collection of scrub suits, together with its OMO acne patch, which is equipped with the patented peel-and-stick design, and medical-grade nitrile gloves. Through these exhibitions, Medtecs will share its extensive experience and know-hows in the healthcare industry, and its strengths and efforts in disease prevention and control.

For more than 40 years, MEDICA has been recognized as the world's largest medical trade fair covering virtually every aspect of the medical industry from outpatient clinic to home/remote care to laboratory science. Each year, thousands of industry players and experts around the world gather to discover the latest medical technology. At a similar scale, Expoprotection is one of the world's largest exhibitions for security protection, work safety, and fire safety solutions. The event is held biennially and draws a constant participation of nearly 800 reputable global businesses.

Medtecs, a professional manufacturer of PPE and medical consumables headquartered in Taiwan with more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, will be taking this opportunity to expand its presence on the world stage by advocating its five main capabilities:

Complete and diverse product lines  Medtecs' current product lines include PPE, medical and surgical consumables, workwear and textile, and consumer health, with products ranging from nitrile gloves, isolation gowns, surgical gowns, and coveralls to face masks, scrub suits, bed sheets, disinfectants, and wound care. World's largest capacity in seam tape processing  With it, Medtecs is able to meet the increasing demands for protective equipment with resistance to liquid and viral penetration. Globalized supply chain and stable output  Medtecs had expanded its production, logistics, and warehousing facilities to the US in 2020, and at the same time made further optimizations to the production process and delivery service so as to minimize risks of supply chain disruption, guarantee access to raw materials and ensure timely delivery of products to serve different markets. International certifications  Medtecs' products conform to international standards, including those of Taiwan , the US, Europe , and are rigorously tested to ensure quality, safety and optimal effectiveness. In-depth experience in serving national health institutions  Medtecs has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and supplying medical goods, and has earned an extensive track record in serving major healthcare institutions in the US, Singapore , and the Philippines , in line with its mission to bring safe and effective medical and protective supplies to people around the world.

The main products to be showcased during the exhibitions are as follows:

Personal Protective Equpiment:

Medtecs' coveralls and isolation gowns, part of the CoverU collection, are made with a combination of nonwoven material and polyethylene film. With Medtecs' professional seam tape processing, the seams are sealed against the fabric to further prevent liquid from passing through. This effectively shields healthcare workers from contact with contagious bodily fluids.

Nitrile Gloves:

Nitrile gloves are the newest addition to Medtecs' comprehensive product portfolio. The automated factory, based in Cambodia, began mass production in September. The main raw material used in these gloves, NBR latex, has good abrasion and puncture resistance and does not contain allergens found in natural latex, eliminating the risk of latex allergies. Currently the factory has the production capacity of approximately 50 million pieces of gloves per month, or 600 million pieces per year.

Scrub Suits:

The elastic scrub suits designed specifically for healthcare personnel are available in different colors and come in V-neck and U-neck styles. Featuring specialized materials and new functional designs, the scrubs provide healthcare personnel with the safety, practicality, durability, and visual appeal they need to perform various work assignments.

Workwear:

Apart from medical protection, Medtecs also supplies workwear such as jackets, lab coats, and bib and brace overalls to protect workers on duty.

Acne Patch:

The new "OMO Acne Patch" is Medtecs' first hydrocolloid offering. Featuring a patented design, the acne patch can be easily applied and peeled off to prevent the affected area from bacterial infection. It also absorbs pus to speed up recovery.

Exhibition details:

MEDICA 2022

Venue: Messe Dusseldorf

Booth name: MEDTECS ( TAIWAN ) CORPORATION

) CORPORATION Booth ID: Hall 6, B57-7

Date and time of exhibition: 10:00-18:00, November 14-17, 2022

EXPOPROTECTION 2022

Venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles

Booth name: Medtecs ( Taiwan ) Corp.

) Corp. Booth ID: Hall 1, Aisle S, Stand number 102

Date and time of exhibition: 09:00-18:00, November 15-16, 2022 ; 09:00-17:00, November 17, 2022

About Medtecs

Medtecs International Corporation Limited (the "Company" or "Medtecs") is the world's leading provider and distributor of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a trusted multi-national PPE stockpiling solutions provider to governments and group purchasing organizations around the world.



Medtecs and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Group") commenced operations in 1989 and has since established a strong presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

The Group has offices and facilities spanning across Asia including Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, mainland China, Cambodia, and the United States of America for expansion into the global domestic PPE and medical consumables market. Currently, the Group's headquarters is located in Taipei, Taiwan.

Medtecs is dual-listed on Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX: 546) and Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 9103).

Official Website: https://www.medtecs.com/

SOURCE Medtecs International Corporation Limited
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine a life-like virtual world where people live, work, connect, and collaborate with others, all from the comfort of their own couches in the "real" physical world. Today, the metaverse is building on the internet to seamlessly combine our physical and digital lives. In the metaverse, people can traverse a virtual world that mimics numerous aspects of the physical world, all using technologies that include virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), artificial intelligence (AI), social media, digital currency, and many more.

Lady Layla's Debut Single "Meta-Coming" Is Pioneering the Future of Chinese Pop Lady Layla's Debut Single "Meta-Coming" Is Pioneering the Future of Chinese Pop Meet Metastar's First Metaverse Idol-Lady Layla

This immersive virtual environment is certainly exciting, and big companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft have all been trying to bring the metaverse to life. This platform's potential is limitless: a gaming zone, a retail spot, a training tool, a shopping paradise, a digital 3D classroom . . . and now a mind-blowing music experience!

Now, after 3 years of intensive work, Metastar has just introduced Lady Layla, the first-ever virtual Taiwanese Pop artist to exist in the metaverse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EaQkmJ8pdk

A blend of fashion and pop, Lady Layla has a stylish look and a debut single entitled "Meta-Coming" that aims to give a younger generation of fans new ways to connect with music and artists. Moving at an up-tempo pace, this new song features a strong contemporary electronic and hip-hop vibe and showcases the artist's ability to switch between cadences and move across the vocal range. An eye-catching performance also features dynamic, highly choreographed moves that are in sync with a group of dancers.

Like all human beings, Lady Layla learns, grows, and improves by interacting with the world. Programmed to be a bright 20-year-old female with concomitant characteristics and charisma, this young idol pursues her dreams with curiosity and passion. Metastar, however, has emphasized that "Nobody is perfect," and Lady Layla, just like all of us, still has room for improvement in many ways. Like any newcomer to the pop industry, for example, Lady Layla and her singing, expressions, moves, and so on, can still be improved upon.

Without a doubt, the digital world is changing rapidly. The internet, for instance, is something that we can browse, but now, to a certain degree, we can "live" in the metaverse. Soon, fans will be able to participate in Lady Layla's events, enjoy her live streams, interact with her, and so much more! While the metaverse continues to evolve, the potential to unleash the next wave of digital disruption is clearly here.

Starting on 10/27, Lady Layla's debut single will be available on most music channels. Fans can also connect with Lady Layla for future updates at the following:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyMeGGCorHA0rNYFhwYAW8Q

https://www.instagram.com/_lady_layla_/

https://www.facebook.com/Lady-Layla-103454275040732/

About Metastar

Metastar is a multi-talented company with top-notch experts in content creation, video directing/production, 3D animation, software and hardware solutions, AI, AR, VR applications, and much more.

As the first and only metaverse idol agency, Metastar continues to deliver modern digital technologies to the metaverse by creating, developing, and managing new idols and opportunities, including building business relationships, taking charge of the marketing, promotion, and execution of various projects, and much more.

Lady Layla is Metastar's first signed idol, and more exciting stars will be introduced in the near future.

Contact:

George Hu

886-919563599

[email protected]

SOURCE Metastar
HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Melax Tech, a world leader in biomedical Natural Language Processing (NLP) Technology, announced a continued collaboration with the University of Florida (UF) in Gainesville, one of the nation's top five public universities and a leader in AI research and development. This alliance will provide UF researchers with the ability to unlock meaningful clinical information from electronic health record (EHR) notes.

LANN is a team-based text annotation tool that the UF data curation team will use to annotate clinical notes and train NLP models.

"We are excited to provide the University of Florida with an enterprise-level text annotation tool to help facilitate their NLP research focused on improving healthcare quality. I am looking forward to working with the UF data curation team on more NLP use cases in the future," says Jingqi Wang, Chief Technology Officer at Melax Tech.

According to Yonghui Wu, Ph.D., director of natural language processing at the UF-FSU Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Melax Tech's LANN tool accelerated corpus annotation speed and efficiency in developing cutting-edge clinical natural language processing models.

"Creating high-quality corpora is a critical stage in developing natural language processing models to accelerate research and medical decision-making leveraging clinical narratives. With the help of LANN, we hope to efficiently organize multiple annotation projects, monitor annotation progress, and assess annotation quality."

Wu added that UF's continued collaborations with Melax Tech could lead to innovative natural language processing tools and advanced, data-driven health research methods that were unimaginable even 10 or 15 years ago. For example, the GatorTron model, which was released at UF in 2021 as the largest transformer model developed using more than 82 billion words of clinical text, can be applied to many critical NLP tasks through fine-tuning over good quality clinical corpora.

The benefits of this continued collaboration include the following:

Accelerate corpus annotation speed and efficiency of the UF data curation team.

Validate our NLP technologies on a large scale of EHR datasets.

Build relationships with UF researchers and find potential collaboration opportunities.

About Melax Tech: Melax Tech empowers healthcare and life science organizations to use data science approaches such as AI / Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology to extract information from biomedical textual data to solve real-world problems.

SOURCE Melax Technologies, Inc.
Molecule, the most modern cloud-based ETRM/CTRM software company, has announced a new product for renewables. Hive will handle the full, complex lifecycle of commodities and products related to renewables.

HOUSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Molecule announces the launch of its latest product, Hive, to handle data related to renewables commodities and products. Hive delivers a set of customized reports and models that risk managers need to handle the nuanced lifecycle of renewables trades.

Hive lets risk managers and leaders of renewables trading desks avoid mistakes and frustration caused by the clunky existing systems they use to manage their renewable trades. Another customer segment is the growing set of companies who manage full or partial lifecycles of renewable credits  such as independent power producers (IPPs), retail electric providers (REPs), and transportation companies.

Common questions customers seek to answer include:

Which certificates are available that we haven't yet retired?

Which credits have we sold and are required to deliver?

What optionality do I have around the eligibility of the credits in my portfolio?

"Renewables trading is growing rapidly, and the industry is coalescing around a set of standard instruments that everyone  producers, consumers, and liquidity providers  need to manage. We've taken our learnings from six years' worth of experience in renewables, and are excited to deliver them in a powerful, consistent, and easy-to-use new product line from Molecule," says Sameer Soleja, Founder and CEO of Molecule.

Companies trade a variety of renewable commodities and product types. These include renewable energy credits (RECs), renewable identification numbers (RINs), regional greenhouse gas initiative contracts (RGGIs), carbon credits, and carbon offsets. Each type of trade has custom characteristics that risk managers need to track and manage.

About Molecule

Molecule makes the world's most modern, cloud-native ETRM/CTRM software. The company offers turnkey implementations, proactive customer support, and consumer-grade design so that customers can focus on their business of driving the global economy. The Molecule platform offers near-real-time visualization of financial models and reports  accessible anywhere with an internet connection. Molecule values trades and assets for over 25,000 physical and financial products, across 50+ commodities, including power, gas, crude, chemicals, agricultural products, cryptocurrencies, and now renewables.

Learn more about Molecule at https://www.molecule.io.

Media Contacts

Dustin Whipple

Phone: +1 (832) 464-4037

Email: [email protected]

Melanie Bell

Phone: +1 (281) 900-5287

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Molecule Software
Latest white paper shows how computer vision technology can help employers advance on their safety innovation journey to protect workers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Despite concerted efforts to reduce serious injury and death on the job, workplace fatality rates have remained steady over the past several decades. Recognizing this trend and continued challenges employers face, the National Safety Council, America's leading nonprofit safety advocate, today released a new white paper through its Work to Zero initiative: Using Computer Vision as a Risk Mitigation Tool.

"Every worker deserves the promise of returning home safely from work at the end of each day, but nationwide, 3.4 fatalities occur per every 100,000 full-time equivalent workers," said Paul Vincent, NSC executive vice president of workplace practice. "While computer vision is being adopted by more organizations, the benefits are not widely understood and used to their full potential. This white paper highlights top research findings to make it easier for employers to leverage this technology to better identify root causes of workplace incidents and keep their employees safe on the job."

Building on Work to Zero's initial 2020 research to determine several key technologies to mitigate hazardous workplace situations, this new report evaluated findings from several academic and industrial journals related to computer vision  artificial intelligence-paired camera technology and video analytics  to facilitate a greater understanding of the innovation's ability to identify risks across a variety of environments. Further, the white paper compiled case studies and interview data from previously published reports to outline the most promising trends and resources employers can leverage to more effectively prevent worker injury and death.

Notable findings from the report include:

Due to its ability to track and log data and instantly deploy this information to predict when incidents may occur, computer vision is ideal for industries involving heavy machinery and extensive movement such as manufacturing, logistics, construction and warehousing.

Computer vision is especially effective in identifying when personal protective equipment is being properly utilized, such as in the case of employees wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, and enables managers to more efficiently mitigate unsafe situations. In addition, this technology can be used to help monitor fatigue and other impairing conditions when driving.

By detecting anomalies in the workplace, such as unwanted guests, unusual behaviors and weapons, computer vision can be a helpful tool for employers to identify and prevent workplace violence.

Computer vision also has applications that can improve workplace health by monitoring ill employees, including with whom they have interacted and objects in which they may have come in contact. Some computer vision systems can also be trained to recognize best practices during emergency situations.

Despite its many benefits, the Work to Zero research team also uncovered limitations with current computer vision technology, such as image quality on closed-circuit televisions and A.I. software's ability to operate in unfamiliar settings. Further, the publication emphasized common challenges to widespread computer vision adoption, including cost and system security barriers, prompting the call for employers and vendors to increase collaboration as well as transparency when implementing safety solutions.

Funded by the McElhattan Foundation, Work to Zero aims to eliminate workplace fatalities through the use of technology. To learn more about creating a safer workplace, visit nsc.org/worktozero.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate  and has been for more than 100 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.

Connect with NSC:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

YouTube

Instagram

SOURCE National Safety Council
Relied on by thousands of physicians in the US, Navina is already impacting millions of patients

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Navina , the healthcare technology company that is using data to transform every provider-patient interaction, today announced a $22 million Series B funding round, doubling the total investment to date to $44M. The financing was led by ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund , with participation from existing investors: Grove Ventures , Vertex Ventures Israel , and Schusterman Family Investments. The company has added thousands of new users in the primary care market in 2022 through relationships with sophisticated value-based care and multi-state physician groups across the US. This rapid adoption drove a 10x increase in revenue for Navina, over just the last six months.

Navina uses medically-informed AI to make sense of the exponentially increasing amounts of data that primary care physicians are overwhelmed by. The platform is uniquely able to put exactly the right information in front of physicians at the right time, to give them both a deep understanding of their patients at a glance and actionable insights at the point of care. It distills entire patient histories from different sources, turning thousands of data points into a concise Patient Portrait, ensuring critical decision-making data is not missed. This creates a powerful cascade of benefits, solving the interconnected problems of data overload and dangerous physician burnout that lead to clinical misses and suboptimal care.

Powering the platform is the company's proprietary AI, which is capable of comprehending the specialized language of primary care. Its nuanced understanding of clinical workflows is enabling Navina to lift data burdens off physicians, so they can take better care of their patients, impacting millions of lives. In the past year, the Navina platform expanded its footprint to include not only physicians but also their supporting staff, aligning workflows across all stakeholders in their common goal of effectively serving their patient populations and improving value-based care.

Navina's real-world effectiveness was validated by a recent report issued by the Innovation Lab of the American Academy of Family Physicians, which found the platform increases diagnosis accuracy, as well reduces pre-visit preparation time by a significant 61 percent.

"Navina's growth has been remarkable; they have achieved penetration levels among advanced primary care groups in the United States at a pace that we have seldom seen, and our aim is to further support the company's accelerated growth" said ALIVE's Managing General Partner, Professor Ari Shamiss, who will join Navina's Board of Directors. "They are clearly addressing a gaping, unmet quadruple need: to meet the aims of improving population health; patient experience; clinician well-being and productivityall while improving economics. This is being validated every day."

"We welcome ALIVE into our family of investors, and are gratified by the continued support of our initial investor group" said Ronen Lavi, co-founder and CEO of Navina. "Our mission, from the beginning, has been to give physicians the time and confidence they need to stay ahead of their patients' health, and to transform the physician-patient interaction, changing it from reactive to proactive. As Israel's top HealthTech fund, whose leaders are former directors of the country's largest hospitals and medical centers and accomplished investors, ALIVE is the ideal partner for this journey."

Shay Perera, co-founder and CTO, went on to say, "Our investors recognize that AI can enable primary-care doctors to practice medicine the way they desire, while empowering physician groups and health systems to achieve the economics that enable them to meet their responsibilities to the community."

The new funding will be used to accelerate growth and adoption of Navina's platform among US physician groups and the enterprise healthcare market. The company will further invest in its AI technology and clinical algorithms, and expand its integration of more emerging data sources to deliver physicians a single source of truthno matter how complex the information.

About Navina

Navina uses medically-informed AI to turn chaotic data into an intuitive and concise Patient Portrait that gives physicians a deep understanding of their patients' health status. Designed for and loved by physicians, Navina allows for high quality and empathic patient care, resulting in better treatment, reduced missed diagnoses, and a reduced burden on physicians.

About ALIVE Israel HealthTech Fund

ALIVE is a HealthTech-dedicated mid-to-late stage fund, leveraging an exclusive ecosystem of strategic partners comprising leading hospital chains, HMOs, and financial institutions to support and accelerate portfolio companies' clinical and commercial expansion. With decades of combined experience and $110 million AUM, ALIVE drives its growing portfolio of companies to gain an in-depth understanding of clinical workflows and procedures, ensuring product-market fit under challenging health economics, while delivering better care for patients and creating business and strategic value for all stakeholders.

SOURCE Navina
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Technavio has been monitoring the neurology devices market, operating in the healthcare industry. The report estimates the market to register an incremental growth of USD 10.98 billion, at a CAGR of 11.65% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Request the Latest Free sample report

Neurology Devices Market: Parent Market Analysis

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Neurology Devices Market 2022-2026

Technavio categorizes the global neurology devices market as a part of the global healthcare equipment market within the global healthcare industry. External factors influencing the parent market's growth potential in the coming years have been thoroughly investigated in our research analysis.

The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Competitors must focus on differentiating their product offerings with unique value propositions to strengthen their foothold in the market. Market vendors also have to leverage the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments.

Online Fashion Retail Market in US Value Chain Analysis

An overall understanding of the value chain is critical for optimizing profit margins and evaluating business strategies. The data available in our value chain analysis segment can help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period.

The value chain of the internet and direct marketing retail market includes the following core components:

Inputs

Inbound logistics

Operations

Outbound logistics

Support activities

Innovation

To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, download a free sample report.

Neurology Devices Market: Segmentation Analysis

Product

Neurostimulation Devices



To treat persistent, uncontrollable nausea and vomiting linked to gastroparesis a programmable implantable gastric neurostimulator provided by Medtronic (ENTERRA II NEUROSTIMULATOR) are positioned in the lower abdomen of the patient. Persons with uncontrollable epilepsy and treatment-resistant depression can activate their vagus nerves using vagus nerve stimulators. Due to the availability of a wide range of uses for stomach neurostimulators and vagus nerve stimulators this segment will boost growth during the forecasted period.



Interventional Neurology Devices



Neurosurgery Devices



Cerebrospinal Fluid Management Devices



Others

Geography

North America



North America will contribute 40% of market growth. The North American market for neurology devices is mostly centered in the US. Over the forecast period, the North American neurology devices market is expected to increase due to rising capital spending on treating patients with neurological disorders including epilepsy and dementia, and rising demand for neurology devices.

will contribute 40% of market growth. The North American market for neurology devices is mostly centered in the US. Over the forecast period, the North American neurology devices market is expected to increase due to rising capital spending on treating patients with neurological disorders including epilepsy and dementia, and rising demand for neurology devices.

Europe



Asia



Rest Of World (ROW)

To know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and their impact in coming years, Buy Sample Report.

Neurology Devices Market: Scope Analysis

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The neurology devices market report covers the following areas:

This study identifies the rising prevalence of neurological disorders and the introduction of new technologies and products as the prime reasons driving the Neurology Devices Market growth during the next few years.

Neurology Devices Market: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period

Detailed information on factors that will assist neurology devices market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the neurology devices market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the neurology devices market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of the neurology devices market, vendors

Get lifetime access to our Technavio Insights! Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000.

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Neurology Devices Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11.65% Market growth 2022-2026 $10.98 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 7.1 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 40% Key consumer countries US, Germany, France, Japan, and China Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, B. Braun SE, Becton Dickinson and Co., Boston Scientific Corp., Contego Medical Inc., inomed Medizintechnik GmbH, Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corp., Johnson and Johnson, KARL STORZ SE and Co. KG, LivaNova Plc, Medtronic Plc, MicroPort Scientific Corp, Natus Medical Inc., NeuroPace Inc., Neurosoft, Nevro Corp., Nihon Kohden Corp, Penumbra Inc., Rapid Medical, and Stryker Corp. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

1.1 Market overview

Exhibit 01: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Overview



Exhibit 02: Executive Summary  Data Table on Market Overview



Exhibit 03: Executive Summary  Chart on Global Market Characteristics



Exhibit 04: Executive Summary  Chart on Market by Geography



Exhibit 05: Executive Summary  Chart on Market Segmentation by Product



Exhibit 06: Executive Summary  Chart on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 07: Executive Summary  Data Table on Incremental Growth



Exhibit 08: Executive Summary  Chart on Vendor Market Positioning

2 Market Landscape

2.1 Market ecosystem

Exhibit 09: Parent market



Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics

3 Market Sizing

3.1 Market definition

Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition

3.2 Market segment analysis

Exhibit 12: Market segments

3.3 Market size 2021

3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026

Exhibit 13: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

4 Five Forces Analysis

4.1 Five forces summary

Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2021 and 2026

4.2 Bargaining power of buyers

Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers  Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026

4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers

Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.4 Threat of new entrants

Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.5 Threat of substitutes

Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.6 Threat of rivalry

Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry  Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026

4.7 Market condition

Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026

5 Market Segmentation by Product

5.1 Market segments

Exhibit 24: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 25: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%)

5.2 Comparison by Product

Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Product



Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Product

5.3 Neurostimulation devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Neurostimulation devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Neurostimulation devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Neurostimulation devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Neurostimulation devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Interventional neurology devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Interventional neurology devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Interventional neurology devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Interventional neurology devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Interventional neurology devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Neurosurgery devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Neurosurgery devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Neurosurgery devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Neurosurgery devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Neurosurgery devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.6 Cerebrospinal fluid management devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 40: Chart on Cerebrospinal fluid management devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 41: Data Table on Cerebrospinal fluid management devices - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 42: Chart on Cerebrospinal fluid management devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 43: Data Table on Cerebrospinal fluid management devices - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 44: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 45: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 46: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.8 Market opportunity by Product

Exhibit 48: Market opportunity by Product ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 49: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 50: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 51: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 52: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 53: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 55: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 56: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 57: 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 58: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

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 (%)

7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 66: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 67: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 68: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 69: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 70: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 72: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 75: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 76: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 77: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 80: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 81: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.11 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 87: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 88: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 89: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 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 Abbott Laboratories

Exhibit 97: Abbott Laboratories - Overview



Exhibit 98: Abbott Laboratories - Business segments



Exhibit 99: Abbott Laboratories - Key news



Exhibit 100: Abbott Laboratories - Key offerings



Exhibit 101: Abbott Laboratories - Segment focus

10.4 B . Braun SE

. Braun SE Exhibit 102: B. Braun SE - Overview



Exhibit 103: B. Braun SE - Business segments



Exhibit 104: B. Braun SE - Key news



Exhibit 105: B. Braun SE - Key offerings



Exhibit 106: B. Braun SE - Segment focus

10.5 Becton Dickinson and Co.

and Co. Exhibit 107: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Overview

and Co. - Overview

Exhibit 108: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Business segments

and Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 109: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Key news

and Co. - Key news

Exhibit 110: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Key offerings

and Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 111: Becton Dickinson and Co. - Segment focus

10.6 Boston Scientific Corp.

Exhibit 112: Boston Scientific Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 113: Boston Scientific Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 114: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 115: Boston Scientific Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 116: Boston Scientific Corp. - Segment focus

10.7 Johnson and Johnson

Exhibit 117: Johnson and Johnson - Overview



Exhibit 118: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments



Exhibit 119: Johnson and Johnson - Key news



Exhibit 120: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings



Exhibit 121: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus

10.8 Medtronic Plc

Exhibit 122: Medtronic Plc - Overview



Exhibit 123: Medtronic Plc - Business segments



Exhibit 124: Medtronic Plc - Key news



Exhibit 125: Medtronic Plc - Key offerings



Exhibit 126: Medtronic Plc - Segment focus

10.9 MicroPort Scientific Corp

Exhibit 127: MicroPort Scientific Corp - Overview



Exhibit 128: MicroPort Scientific Corp - Business segments



Exhibit 129: MicroPort Scientific Corp - Key offerings



Exhibit 130: MicroPort Scientific Corp - Segment focus

10.10 Nihon Kohden Corp

Exhibit 131: Nihon Kohden Corp - Overview



Exhibit 132: Nihon Kohden Corp - Product / Service



Exhibit 133: Nihon Kohden Corp - Key news



Exhibit 134: Nihon Kohden Corp - Key offerings

10.11 Penumbra Inc.

Exhibit 135: Penumbra Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 136: Penumbra Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 137: Penumbra Inc. - Key news



Exhibit 138: Penumbra Inc. - Key offerings

10.12 Stryker Corp.

Exhibit 139: Stryker Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 140: Stryker Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 141: Stryker Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 142: Stryker Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 143: Stryker Corp. - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 144: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 145: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 146: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 147: Research methodology



Exhibit 148: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 149: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 150: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio


The Taipei 101 skyscraper commands the urban landscape in Taipei, Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua]

The intention of the Democratic Progressive Party, the ruling party in Taiwan, of increasing the island's military power to resist the historic trend of unification will bring nothing but catastrophe to Taiwan's people, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei said at a news conference in Beijing the DPP has been relying on false narratives about "democracy, freedom and the mainland's threat" to deceive the people and misguide the international community for their political interests.

"Politicians in the DPP are always 'generous' when they use Taiwan people's security as a wager. They want to depend on military power to pursue 'Taiwan independence' and split the motherland. These plots are doomed to fail and will only bring catastrophe to people on the island. Such obstacles must be eliminated in our efforts to strive for peaceful unification," he said.

"Taiwan independence" is on a road to ruin and the right path leads to national unification, the officer said, noting the People's Liberation Army is always on alert to safeguard China's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Responding to a request for comment on the United States' annual National Defense Authorization Act that may include strengthening defense ties with Taiwan, Tan said the US has been recently producing Taiwan-related policies and acts that compromise China's sovereignty and some terms are intended to enhance military relations between the US and Taiwan and to boost the so-called self-defense capability of Taiwan.

Such actions have seriously interfered in China's internal affairs and severely jeopardized the one-China principle and related clauses in the three China-US joint communiques, and have gravely contradicted the US' political commitment to China on the Taiwan question.

"Taiwan belongs to China. Solving the Taiwan question is our own business. We demand the US stop playing with fire on the Taiwan question," the spokesman said.
Six Dallas-area legal associations launch one-of-a-kind online job platform

DALLAS, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Six Dallas-area legal associations with diverse membership have joined forces to create the Dallas Legal Equity and Diversity (LEAD) job board, an online career platform that focuses on diversity and inclusion in the workplace specific to the legal industry.

The first-of-its-kind project came to fruition with the help of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association (DWLA), the South Asian Bar Association of Dallas, the Dallas LGBT Bar Association, the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, and the Dallas Asian American Bar Association.

For video/sound of DWLA representatives speaking about the job board, click here.

"We believe there is a need on both ends, for hiring partners and potential candidates alike," said McGuire, Craddock & Strother, P.C. shareholder and DWLA board member Jennifer Ryback. "Our priority in establishing this platform is to make a positive impact on the quality and quantity of career opportunities open to diverse attorney candidates in the North Texas legal market."

The board is a resource for lawyers diverse in gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation seeking employment opportunities as in-house counsel, government lawyers, and private-practice attorneys across North Texas.

"Developing DEI initiatives that actually create change  real, tangible change  is always the challenge. But that's what we've attempted to do here," said Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, L.L.P. partner and DWLA President Marisa O'Sullivan. "This job board allows in-house legal departments and law firms to find and attract a diverse pool of candidates, which is essential to any successful business. As the leaders of these diverse bar organizations, it's our duty to continue to push for equality and I'm so proud that we've worked together to do that with LEAD."

Although all visitors can see the posted jobs, only members of associations supporting Dallas LEAD can apply. To become a member of the participating organizations, click here. Current members can gain access by entering an organization-specific code provided by their Dallas LEAD Association.

"It is inspiring to see leaders of diverse bar associations come together to collaborate on this important program that promotes our shared goal  the professional growth of our diverse membership," said Ogletree Deakins attorney and DAABA President-Elect Janet Smith.

Media Contact:

Alyssa Woulfe

800-559-4534

[email protected]

SOURCE Dallas Women Lawyers Association
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Newfront, the tech-driven insurance brokerage based in San Francisco, announced that former Microsoft leader Greg Kaplan, CFA will serve as Senior Vice President over its award-winning Retirement Services team.

Greg joins from Specialized Bicycle Components, an innovative bicycle manufacturer, where he was head of Strategic Finance and Operations. He brings 15 years of experience in the financial industry.

Newfront announced that former Microsoft leader Greg Kaplan, CFA will lead its award-winning Retirement Services team. Tweet this Newfront announced that former Microsoft leader Greg Kaplan, CFA will serve as Senior Vice President over its award-winning Retirement Services team.

"Greg is known for blazing trails and disrupting the status quo," said Brian Hetherington, President at Newfront. "His ability to design innovative and scalable solutions to deliver sustainable results will be an incredible asset to Newfront and our already-robust Retirement Services team."

Greg spent nearly a decade on the finance team at Microsoft, where he developed deep financial market expertise managing multi-billion-dollar investment and hedging portfolios, before he joined Specialized as Treasurer. He quickly took over real estate and facilities, operations, logistics, and planning at the company.

"I've accomplished quite a few things on the day job I never expected, including beekeeping, building a solar farm, navigating a crisis in the Suez Canal, and auctioning an NFT," said Mr. Kaplan, who is located in the San Francisco Bay area. "The opportunity at Newfront to build upon a category-defining company, at a place where one of the values is Focus on People, will undoubtedly be added to that list of accomplishments!"

The team's leadership is transitioning from former Newfront Retirement Services President Chris Call, who will shift his focus to strategic consulting and talent development.

In the past few years, the Retirement Services team was recognized as a Top DC Advisor Team and also received certification from the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence (CEFEX). The certification recognizes adherence to a global standard of fiduciary best practices and the team's commitment to acting in the best interest of clients.

About Newfront

Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout the country and is home to more than 750 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally. Learn more about building the modern insurance experience here .

Contact Information

Traci Johnson

Director of Communications

Newfront

[email protected]

SOURCE Newfront
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new petition is educating voters on the negative impacts of flavored tobacco bans as efforts to prohibit the sale of those items gain steam across the country. The petition highlights data recently released by Nicokick that details how consumers are using flavored products to transition from traditional tobacco products toward healthier options.

"Nicokick has seen firsthand the positive effects that flavored alternative tobacco and nicotine products have on long-term smokers who have struggled to quit or transition away from harmful traditional cigarettes. In fact, according to new data, the majority of our customers view our flavored nicotine pouches as a way to quit their tobacco usage altogether," said Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at Nicokick's parent company, the Haypp Group. "Flavor bans remove a critical offramp for smokers looking to quit and create widespread public health risks as users are forced to return to using traditional cigarettes. Study after study has shown that flavor bans do not work and could contribute to an uptick in cigarette smoking."

"While concerns about youth use of e-cigarettes are legitimate, the federal government has already banned the sale of tobacco products to customers under 21. This unnecessary overreach will negatively impact adult users who are attempting to lead a healthier lifestyle and switch to less harmful smoke-free products like flavored nicotine pouches."

About Nicokick:

Nicokick is the world's leading e-commerce company in the smokeless industry, present in seven countries where we served more than 680,000 active consumers during 2021. As users move away from traditional tobacco products toward healthier smokeless options, Nicokick's sales have continued to surge over the past two years throughout the country. The site is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for consumers interested in learning more about and purchasing smokeless tobacco products. To learn more about Nicokick, visit the website at: https://nicokick.com/learn-more.

SOURCE Nicokick
Leader in solo travel reports continued strong solo demand

BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), the leader in personalized small group and solo travel, announced that it has added more single cabins with free single supplements for January to December 2023 departures of select Small Ship Adventures.

"By adding more single cabins with free single supplements, we hope more solo travelers will be able to afford travel to faraway places," said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of O.A.T. "We invite travelers to travel solobut never alonethen after a day of adventure, relax and recharge in their own cabin."

"More single cabins and free single supplements mean more solo travelers can travel," said Brian FitzGerald, O.A.T. CEO. Tweet this O.A.T. Travelflix features 3,500 videos from 85 countries, including Greece, the Dalmatian Coast, and Slovenia, by 3-time traveler Liz Sands from Saint Paul, MN.

O.A.T.'s solo-friendly move acknowledges the needs of its travelers. Sixty percent of O.A.T. travelers are solo travelers. Additional single spaces give travelers who prefer their own cabin greater opportunity to find space on their preferred departure. Further, no single supplement translates into a savings of up to $1,695 per person.

Top Small Ship Adventures for solo travelers include popular trips such Suez Canal Crossing: Israel, Egypt, Jordan & the Red Sea, Iberian Voyage: Lisbon to Barcelona, and Allure of the Adriatic: Italy & Croatia.

In 2023, there are 30,000 single spaces across all O.A.T. adventures -- 93% more than offered in 2019. O.A.T. offers free Single Supplements on 92% of its single spaces.

O.A.T. was named #2 in the Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines category in the Travel + Leisure 2022 World's Best Awards.

For January to December 2023 select Small Ship Adventures with free single supplements, travelers must reserve their departure by 11/15/22. Call 1-800-955-1925 and mention code ETHS 101.

O.A.T Travelflix  The Go-To Resource for Travel Videos

O.A.T. Travelflix is a comprehensive collection of more than 3,500 engaging and informative films and videos from 85 countries all in one place. Visitors to the O.A.T. Travelflix can search by region, country, or city to see all the content that highlights a destinationor a specific adventure of interest. This resource is available to travelers at every stage of the planning processwhether they are traveling on an O.A.T. adventure, personalizing their experience by arriving early or staying later in a destination, or traveling on their own.

ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwideamong them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981.

SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel
BEIJING, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A report from chinadaily.com.cn:

International students are enjoying more opportunities for personal development in China, thanks to the great number of prestigious scholarships and advantageous internships available to them. These not only help students to apply what they have learned at school, but also give them the opportunity to explore China's workplace and economic development.

Daniel Tolessa Negera (right), an Ethiopian student at Hefei University of Technology, conducts a product quality test at a cosmetics laboratory in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

"I never expected that I could intern at one of the top five futures companies in China. I feel so lucky and cherish this opportunity very much," says Tsend-Ayush Batkhaan, a Mongolian student and finance major at Zhejiang University.

Batkhaan is one of many international students benefiting from the internship program launched by the China International Youth Exchange Center. The program has been running for two years, and provides great career opportunities for young global talent in China. As for Batkhaan, he worked as an intern at Yongan Futures Co to study pure terephthalic acid, also known as PTA, its industrial chain distribution and the law of price fluctuation.

Since childhood, Batkhaan has often traveled between China and Mongolia with his family, which has given him a front-row seat to China's spectacular economic development over the years. "Compared to my home country, China's economy is more developed, I would like to stay here and start my own business in the future," he says.

Fast pace, fast growth

Kevin Gong is an American student at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing. He interned at Shenwan Hongyuan Securities Co, and was responsible for the analysis of announcements of listed companies, as well as data excerpts from balance sheets, cash flow statements, and income statements.

"I would rate my internship performance a seven out of 10. Although the job was not hard, there was still a lot of experience required for me to adapt to fast-paced work for the first time," Gong says.

He had never worked as part of a team and the internship taught him how to work with other people. He once cooperated with team members on collecting fiscal revenue data from counties across the country, but he forgot to check the results of his colleagues to avoid errors. The mistake resulted in an increased workload within the group and affected their work efficiency.

For him, working in the financial sector is bittersweet. "This mistake was both a lesson and an opportunity for me. Now that I have decided to continue in the financial industry in the future, I will try my best to adapt and become better," he says.

Dream chaser from Africa

Daniel Tolessa Negera comes from Ethiopia and studies electromechanical engineering at Hefei University of Technology in East China's Anhui province. His impression of China began with the movie Karate Kid, and when he grew up, he decided to pursue his own Chinese dream.

Negera was excited when he learned that he got an internship at a Suzhou-based cosmetics company in East China's Jiangsu province. "I like new challenges in my life. Leaving the comfort of staying at school with my friends during the winter vacation and doing an internship, where I knew nobody, was not easy," he says, adding that it was an amazing opportunity.

He worked for two months in the production department of the company. Every morning in the workshop, he needed to keep an eye on the machines and take samples, reporting product defects to the production line workers.

Thanks to the internship, he got hands-on experience with a lot of new machines and technologies, a great complement to his professional development. Under the guidance of his leaders, he also learned about a lot of standardized operation processes on production lines.

"The leaders supported me through the internship, especially my immediate boss. He treated me like a brother and I felt at home during my two months at the company," says Negera, stressing the close ties between people when talking about the internship.

Now his greatest wish is to explore and discover more about China, and he plans to seek more opportunities to study and work in China, which he describes as his "second home", and try to achieve his dream.

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pablo Arts Inc. (represented by Kim Seung-Ah), one of the best edtech companies in Korea, will participate in EDUTech Asia 2022 held in Singapore from November 8 to 10 to introduce its innovative real-time online art education platform "ART BONBON."

EDUTech Asia 2022 is the education fair in which 200 global edtech leaders and 150 startups will take theirs parts, while 350 experts in K-12, virtual classroom, digital curriculum and various fields will give lectures.

Pablo Arts ART BONBON

Pablo Art plans to demonstrate 4 to 6 real-time classes on ART BONBON on 9th and 10th with Four themes of "My Magical Puppy", "Flower Basket", "Merry Christmas", and "Gustav Klimt: The Artist of Gold".

A special session will also be held for global edtech companies. Baek Yeon-Ji, head of the Art Cognitive Psychology Biz Div, will be a speaker, explaining the characteristics and features of ART BONBON to stakeholders around the world, and revealing the company's vision and growth engine.

ART BONBON is a digital art education platform incorporated with a patented real-time interactive drawing tool. It is the world's first service that allows teachers and students to share one screen, have a communication, and draw in real time using tablet PCs. The program consists of three programs: "Technique Bonbon", a drawing skill improvement program; "Brain Bonbon", an art-based creative thinking enhancement program; and "Mind Bonbon", a mindset education program. It also provides AI-based diagnosis tools to analyze all learning processes and achievements.

"We plan to launch ART BONBON 2.0 within this year," said Kim Seung-Ah, CEO of Pablo Arts. "B2B service will also be enhanced to provide customized applications to schools, private institutes, and other entities in the world where ART BONBON is needed. We expect that EDUTech Asia serves as an opportunity for ART BONBON's entry into the global market."

Pablo Arts is an affiliate of Sigong Tech, the global exhibition media group, operating ART BONBON, Pablo Arts Centers (in Daechi and Pangyo), and Libro Arts.

SOURCE Pablo Arts
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The petroleum sorbent pads market size is expected to grow by USD 37.46 million from 2021 to 2026. In addition, the growth momentum of the market will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.55% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The increasing incidents of oil spills and pipeline ruptures are driving the petroleum sorbent pads market growth. However, factors such as saturation and buoyancy of petroleum sorbent pads may challenge market growth.

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026

View a comprehensive report summary that describes the market size and forecast along with the research methodology. The FREE sample report is available in PDF format

Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026: Scope

The petroleum sorbent pads market report covers the following areas:

Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026: Segmentation

End-user

Oil and gas industry: The oil and gas segment will be a significant contributor to market growth during the forecast period. New oil and gas discoveries will increase crude oil production, which can lead to chances of oil spillage. This will fuel the demand for petroleum sorbent pads during the forecast period.



Chemical industry



Manufacturing industry



Others

Geography

North America



APAC



Europe



Middle East And Africa



South America

Learn about the contribution of each segment summarized in concise infographics and thorough descriptions. View a FREE PDF Sample Report

Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026: Vendor Landscape

The petroleum sorbent pads market is fragmented due to the presence of numerous regional and global players. The vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Vendors compete in terms of differentiated product offerings and business expansions. Some of the major players have a vast geographical presence. To survive and succeed in such a competitive environment, vendors should distinguish their offerings through clear and unique value propositions.

Subscribe to our "Basic Plan" billed annually at USD 5000 that enables you to download 5 reports and view 100 reports per month

Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the petroleum sorbent pads market, including 3M Co., American Textile and Supply Inc., Brady Corp., Breg International Inc., Chemtex LLC, ENPAC, Darcy Products Ltd., Global Environmental Products Ltd., Enretech Australasia Pty Ltd., New Pig Corp., Global Spill, Oil Dri Corporation of America, Norco Inc., Supremex Equipments, and UNIQUE SAFETY SERVICES are some of the major market participants.

This report provides a full list of key vendors, their strategies, and the latest developments. Buy Now to gain access to exclusive vendor information

Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market 2022-2026: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during 2022-2026

Detailed information on factors that will help the petroleum sorbent pads market grow during the next five years

Approximation of the petroleum sorbent pads market size and its contribution to the parent market

Forecasts on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the petroleum sorbent pads market

Analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will impede the growth of petroleum sorbent pads market vendors

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Petroleum Sorbent Pads Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.55% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 37.46 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.98 Regional analysis North America, APAC, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 38% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled 3M Co., American Textile and Supply Inc., Brady Corp., Breg International Inc., Chemtex LLC, Darcy Products Ltd., ENPAC, Enretech Australasia Pty Ltd., Global Environmental Products Ltd., Global Spill, New Pig Corp., Norco Inc., Oil Dri Corporation of America, Supremex Equipments, and UNIQUE SAFETY SERVICES 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.

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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 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 Oil and gas industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 28: Chart on Oil and gas industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 29: Data Table on Oil and gas industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 30: Chart on Oil and gas industry - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 31: Data Table on Oil and gas industry - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.4 Chemical industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 32: Chart on Chemical industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 33: Data Table on Chemical industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 34: Chart on Chemical industry - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 35: Data Table on Chemical industry - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

5.5 Manufacturing industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 36: Chart on Manufacturing industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 37: Data Table on Manufacturing industry - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 38: Chart on Manufacturing industry - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 39: Data Table on Manufacturing industry - 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 End-user

Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million)

6 Customer Landscape

6.1 Customer landscape overview

Exhibit 45: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria

7 Geographic Landscape

7.1 Geographic segmentation

Exhibit 46: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%)

7.2 Geographic comparison

Exhibit 48: Chart on Geographic comparison



Exhibit 49: Data Table on Geographic comparison

7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 50: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 51: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 52: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 53: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.4 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 54: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 55: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



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 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 59: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

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 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 63: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 64: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 65: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 67: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 68: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 69: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 70: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 71: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 72: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 73: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.9 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 (%)

7.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 79: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

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 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 83: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

- Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)

Exhibit 84: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

- Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

Exhibit 85: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)

7.12 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026

Exhibit 86: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 87: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million)



Exhibit 88: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%)



Exhibit 89: Data Table on UK - 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 3M Co.

Co. Exhibit 97: 3M Co. - Overview

Co. - Overview

Exhibit 98: 3M Co. - Business segments

Co. - Business segments

Exhibit 99: 3M Co. - Key news

Co. - Key news

Exhibit 100: 3M Co. - Key offerings

Co. - Key offerings

Exhibit 101: 3M Co. - Segment focus

10.4 Brady Corp.

Exhibit 102: Brady Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 103: Brady Corp. - Business segments



Exhibit 104: Brady Corp. - Key news



Exhibit 105: Brady Corp. - Key offerings



Exhibit 106: Brady Corp. - Segment focus

10.5 Chemtex LLC

Exhibit 107: Chemtex LLC - Overview



Exhibit 108: Chemtex LLC - Product / Service



Exhibit 109: Chemtex LLC - Key offerings

10.6 Darcy Products Ltd.

Exhibit 110: Darcy Products Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 111: Darcy Products Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 112: Darcy Products Ltd. - Key offerings

10.7 ENPAC

Exhibit 113: ENPAC - Overview



Exhibit 114: ENPAC - Product / Service



Exhibit 115: ENPAC - Key offerings

10.8 Global Environmental Products Ltd.

Exhibit 116: Global Environmental Products Ltd. - Overview



Exhibit 117: Global Environmental Products Ltd. - Product / Service



Exhibit 118: Global Environmental Products Ltd. - Key offerings

10.9 Global Spill

Exhibit 119: Global Spill - Overview



Exhibit 120: Global Spill - Product / Service



Exhibit 121: Global Spill - Key offerings

10.10 New Pig Corp.

Exhibit 122: New Pig Corp. - Overview



Exhibit 123: New Pig Corp. - Product / Service



Exhibit 124: New Pig Corp. - Key offerings

10.11 Norco Inc.

Exhibit 125: Norco Inc. - Overview



Exhibit 126: Norco Inc. - Product / Service



Exhibit 127: Norco Inc. - Key offerings

10.12 Oil Dri Corporation of America

Exhibit 128: Oil Dri Corporation of America - Overview



Exhibit 129: Oil Dri Corporation of America - Business segments



Exhibit 130: Oil Dri Corporation of America - Key offerings



Exhibit 131: Oil Dri Corporation of America - Segment focus

11 Appendix

11.1 Scope of the report

11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist

Exhibit 132: Inclusions checklist



Exhibit 133: Exclusions checklist

11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$

Exhibit 134: Currency conversion rates for US$

11.4 Research methodology

Exhibit 135: Research methodology



Exhibit 136: Validation techniques employed for market sizing



Exhibit 137: Information sources

11.5 List of abbreviations

Exhibit 138: List of abbreviations

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contact

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AllerPops, a Los Alamos-based company that sells all natural allergy relief products, is excited to announce the completion of its clinical trial. The study was initiated in early April, with full enrollment reached by September. The company worked with dicentra, a world-renowned Contract Research Organization (CRO) based in Toronto, Canada, to complete this trial.

The home for natural relief - AllerPops.com

This phase II trial, the first clinical trial sponsored by AllerPops Corp., established that AllerPops relieved the symptoms of airborne allergies. Described as a randomized, double-blind, controlled, single-center, 21-day study, it attempted to determine the safety and effectiveness of AllerPops in relieving nasal allergy symptoms, such as sneezing or airway blockage. The trial concluded that AllerPops significantly improved nasal symptoms, with relief even lasting for at least a week after treatment halted. Moreover, the study found that AllerPops was safe to consume, with no changes in vital signs after 2 weeks and only minimal side effects, if any.

"The completion of this trial is a huge milestone for AllerPops," said Cliff Han, founder and CEO of AllerPops Corp. "We're excited about the prospects the results bring for the growth and national expansion of AllerPops."

"We want to congratulate AllerPops on pursuing this clinical trial and are proud to be a part of fast-tracking a truly innovative concept that intends to address people suffering from allergies," commented Peter Wojewnik, Partner at dicentra. "We pride ourselves in our ability to meet the recruitment needs of all of our clinical trial sponsors, offering a state-of-the-art clinical research clinic strategically located in the heart of Toronto, Canada."

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), allergic rhinitis, also known as nasal allergies, hay fever, or seasonal allergies, affects between 10% to 30% of the global population. Despite this high prevalence, the etiology and pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis are complex and many cases often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Allergic rhinitis is characterized by a number of symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, itching, and nasal congestion.

About AllerPops

AllerPops Corp. is a Los Alamos, NM-based company dedicated to relieving allergies for long periods, removing the need for daily shots or drugs. The company's guiding principle is reconnecting customers with nature and the world. https://allerpops.com/

About dicentra

dicentra is a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO) and global consulting firm that specializes in addressing all matters related to safety, quality, and compliance for all product categories in the life sciences and food industries. https://dicentra.com/

For more information contact:

Cliff Han

[email protected]

(505) 695-4236

SOURCE AllerPops Corp
AMERICAN FORK, Utah, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Practice Booster, an eAssist Publishing Company, released for pre-sale the 2023 editions of the dental industry's most respected resources. The Practice Booster library includes three of the most well-known and highly-regarded manuals  Dental Coding with Confidence, Dental Administration with Confidence, and Medical Dental Cross Coding with Confidence. The 2023 pre-sale includes the launch of two new manuals  Dental Documentation with Confidence, and Dental Technology with Confidence  expanding the lineup of definitive resources available to dental practice owners and their office teams.

Practice Booster Powered by eAssist Dental Solutions

"Dental office cash flow and profitability depends, to a large extent, on their ability to collect all that is rightfully owed to them by dental insurance carriers and/or their patients," explained James DiMarino, DMD, MSED, CDC, the new CEO of Practice Booster. "It simply cannot be done without the wealth of knowledge, guidance, and 'insider info' these manuals provide to the dental profession for accurately preparing, submitting and processing claims. Running a dental practice without these critical tools is like trying to do dentistry with one hand tied behind your back!"

Dr. DiMarino recently assumed the Chief Executive Officer position at Practice Booster. He holds a dental and master's degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a General Practice Residency, became a solopreneur practicing general dentistry, all while researching and implementing advanced dental technologies and consulting as a Dentrix and Schick trainer. Dr. DiMarino has worked in the dental insurance industry for over a decade as a dental consultant, a State Dental Director, and as a National Dental Director. In 2018 he completed the certification requirements to become an AADC Certified Dental Consultant.

Dr. DiMarino served as the Director of Medical Affairs for GlaxoSmithKline ensuring the effective deployment of safety/compliance/governance standards across GSK's Consumer Healthcare business which included: Sensodyne, ProNamel, Biotene, Parodontax, and Aquafresh in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico. As the Director of Clinical Affairs for Premier Dental Products, Dr. DiMarino coordinated product launch strategies, sales team and dealer representative training, led their key opinion leader (KOL) engagement program, and participated in new product development. Dr. DiMarino is also a patented inventor, trainer, educator, publisher, and lecturer having presented across the USA, Japan, Germany, London, Poland, Mexico, and Finland.

Orders are now being accepted for the 2023 editions of the following five manuals:

Dental Coding with Confidence  Dentistry's premier CDT coding guide. Exclusive reader-friendly graphics arm dental teams with the ability to prevent the most common and costly coding errors. Comprehensive content includes predictive error correction and expert comments about CDT codes (including the 22 additions, 14 revisions, and 2 deletions to the 2023 code set), dental plan limitations, and key narrative guidance in order to successfully submit dental claims for maximum and timely reimbursement.





Exclusive reader-friendly graphics arm dental teams with the ability to prevent the most common and costly coding errors. Comprehensive content includes predictive error correction and expert comments about CDT codes (including the 22 additions, 14 revisions, and 2 deletions to the 2023 code set), dental plan limitations, and key narrative guidance in order to successfully submit dental claims for maximum and timely reimbursement. Dental Administration with Confidence  The go-to guide for front office and dental insurance administration. The extensive guide sets both new and experienced team members up for success with need-to-know information from before a patient walks into your dental practice to posting. Get answers to top dental administration questions from A to Z with this must-have resource. The guide is filled with proven solutions for both common and complex problems facing every practice today; is easy to read and understand; and is packed with information, tools, and solutions to help teams maximize reimbursement, reduce claim denials and delays, increase patient satisfaction, and boost revenue.





The extensive guide sets both new and experienced team members up for success with need-to-know information from before a patient walks into your dental practice to posting. Get answers to top dental administration questions from A to Z with this must-have resource. The guide is filled with proven solutions for both common and complex problems facing every practice today; is easy to read and understand; and is packed with information, tools, and solutions to help teams maximize reimbursement, reduce claim denials and delays, increase patient satisfaction, and boost revenue. Medical Dental Cross Coding with Confidence  Needed now more than ever. Dental teams now require the knowledge of successful medical billing, medical plan benefits, and the coordination of benefits (COB) process between medical and dental payers. This exceptional manual enables teams to conquer the complexities of medical claim submission for dental practices by: explaining the different types of medical codes; providing easy-to-follow clinical scenarios with cross-coding guidance; listing step-by-step instructions for completing the medical claim form; and providing procedure-specific examples for proper electronic claim submission to medical payers.





Dental teams now require the knowledge of successful medical billing, medical plan benefits, and the coordination of benefits (COB) process between medical and dental payers. This exceptional manual enables teams to conquer the complexities of medical claim submission for dental practices by: explaining the different types of medical codes; providing easy-to-follow clinical scenarios with cross-coding guidance; listing step-by-step instructions for completing the medical claim form; and providing procedure-specific examples for proper electronic claim submission to medical payers. Dental Documentation with Confidence  The NEW go-to guide for effective documentation and record-keeping for the dentist and clinical team. This new manual provides tools to keep practices in compliance, minimize risk in the event of an audit, and maximize legitimate reimbursement. The guide provides everything practice owners and teams need to know when it comes to obtaining and recording proper documentation.





This new manual provides tools to keep practices in compliance, minimize risk in the event of an audit, and maximize legitimate reimbursement. The guide provides everything practice owners and teams need to know when it comes to obtaining and recording proper documentation. Dental Technology with Confidence  The NEW guide for forward-thinking practices. Specialists and general dentists that specialize in innovative procedures, or simply enjoy incorporating the latest state-of-the-art technologies and techniques, need the insurance coding and administration insight provided in this one-of-a-kind guide. Practice owners can feel confident in navigating the confusing world of insurance as it relates to technological advancements in dentistry, avoid common errors, and maximize legitimate insurance reimbursement for more advanced procedures.

"Practice Booster is already the definitive source for insurance billing, coding and administrative support for dentists and their teams. We're proud to launch these two NEW and much-needed manuals, in keeping with our commitment to continually expand our lineup of educational tools and resources that solve problems, and bring practice owners greater peace of mind and profitability," said Dr. DiMarino.

About Practice Booster

Practice Booster, an eAssist Publishing Company, encompasses the full line of Dr. Charles Blair & Associates products listed above  including the online system, Practice Booster Code Advisor, Insurance Solutions Newsletter, manuals, and other resources; as well as Revenue Enhancement Training and Coordination of Benefits 1:1 Training which are customized for your practice. Designed to provide accurate and comprehensive billing, coding, and implementation tips, these resources lead to maximum reimbursement from dental insurance payors while mitigating risk.

eAssist clients have access to the Practice Booster Code Advisor as part of a subscription included in their service agreement. The Practice Booster suite of offerings also includes the Dental Zing online education platform, which offers on-demand training for dental practice owners and teams.

To learn more, visit Practice Booster online at: https://www.practicebooster.com .

About eAssist Dental Solutions

eAssist Dental Solutions is the nation's leading platform in dental billing and patient billing services for dental offices. eAssist serves thousands of dental practices through a proprietary technology platform that connects dental practices to vetted dental billing specialists, allowing practice owners to fully outsource their billing department to eAssist. The end-to-end solution enhances a dental practice's revenue cycle management and eases the burden of dental teams, ultimately helping practices be more efficient, profitable, and patient-focused.

To learn more, visit eAssist online at: www.dentalbilling.com , Facebook.com/eAssistMe , and @eAssist.me on Instagram .

Media Contact:

Amanda Hoyle

704-829-3194

[email protected]

SOURCE eAssist Dental Solutions
A capacity crowd of Procede customers, Certified Partners, and OEMs descended on the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego's historic Gaslamp Quarter for two action-packed days of interactive sessions, dealer collaboration, and industry networking.

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Procede Software, a leading heavy-duty commercial vehicle dealer management system (DMS) and solutions provider, today announced record-breaking attendance at the 2022 Procede Software Conference (PSC). A capacity crowd of attendees "Put the Pedal to the Metal,"the conference themeat the event, which marked the company's first in-person gathering since before the pandemic.

2022 Procede Software Conference

"After three years apart, this event was so much more than a conferenceit was a celebration! said Larry Kettler, CEO. "It was incredibly exciting to once again be able to meet face-to-face with our customers, Certified partners, and valued OEM representatives. The energy was simply electric."

Kettler kicked off the conference with a keynote presentation and company update covering how Procede has been listening to and collaborating with customers and evolving their software to deliver increasing value to the dealerships that use it. The keynote was followed by two full days of new features and enhancements announcements, product roadmap updates, and dynamic dealership department- and OEM-specific breakout sessions.

Attendees were also treated to a sneak peek at Procede's new logo and branding, which will be formally launched in early 2023.

Procede's highly interactive conference session format provides an opportunity for their customers to give feedback on its products and services and input into the development roadmap. Shana Kearns, Vice President of Corporate Accounting, Peach State Truck Centers, explains, "There are so many great reasons to attend the Procede Software Conference, but for me, the most important one is having a voice in the direction of the development of their software. The conference is just one of the ways Procede listens to and gets input from their dealer network."

Customers also cite the opportunity to learn from and network with other dealerships as one of the most valuable features of this unique conference. "One of the best things about the PSC is the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from other dealers who use Excede, especially those affiliated with the same OEMs as we are," said Cody Miller, Corporate Parts Manager, Bruckner's Truck and Equipment, one of the largest and oldest Mack/Volvo dealerships in the country.

Next year's Procede Software Conference is scheduled for September 13  14, 2023, at the Hard Rock Hotel. Space is limited, and the conference is again expected to sell out early. Customers and certified partners interested in attending can add their names to the interest list by completing this form.

About Procede Software

Since 2001, Procede Software has been a leading provider of enterprise-level Dealer Management Solutions (DMS) for the heavy-duty truck and ancillary markets. Serving dealer locations throughout the United States and Canada, the industry's leading dealerships trust Excede to run their business because of its full functionality across all dealership departments, high reliability, and strong integration with their OEM providers. Procede Software is a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner: Excede, its powerful DMS, leverages the strength of Microsoft SQL technology to provide advanced Windows and browser-based applications with real-time information.

Contact: Jennifer York, Director of Marketing Communications, [email protected] , 858-450-4800

SOURCE Procede Software
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF) will release its financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2022, on Thursday, November 10, 2022. Bret Kidd, President and CEO, and John Karnes, CFO, will host a conference call and audio webcast at 10:00 a.m. ET the same day.

Webcast Information

The live audio webcast will be available at: https://app.webinar.net/b1AYZ8A2LOj

Dial-in Information

To access the call from Canada and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free)

and U.S., dial 1.888.664.6383 (Toll Free) To access the call from other locations, dial 1.416.764.8650 (International)

Replay Information

Webcast replay will be available for 365 days at: https://app.webinar.net/b1AYZ8A2LOj

Telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET on November 10, 2022, until 11:59 p.m. ET on November 17, 2022, at: 1.888.390.0541 (Toll Free North America) or 1.416.764.8677.

Conference ID: 41630519 and Replay Passcode: 630519

About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is a leading provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry, as well as, through its Wi-LAN Inc. subsidiary, a leader in Intellectual Property licensing. Our goal is global leadership in ITS, via organic growth of the Electronic Transaction Consultants, LLC (ETC) and International Road Dynamics, Inc. (IRD) platforms, and by continuing an acquisition-oriented investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive growth opportunities within ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information, visit www.quarterhill.com.

SOURCE Quarterhill Inc.
Mark Gordon of Ascent Fund and Michael Hoban of Chevron New Energies join Raven SR Board of Directors

of Ascent Fund and of Chevron New Energies join Raven SR Board of Directors Election of new directors provides continued strategic direction from committed investors

PINEDALE, Wyo., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Raven SR Inc. (Raven SR), a renewable fuels company, announced today the election of Mark Gordon of Ascent Fund and Michael Hoban of Chevron New Energies to its Board of Directors. Gordon succeeds David Wu, co-founder and president of Ascent Fund, and Hoban succeeds Michael Ruddock, hydrogen business development manager at Chevron.

Ascent Fund and Chevron are strategic investors in Raven SR, a privately held U.S.-based company developing renewable fuels projects around the globe. Its non-combustion, waste-to-energy technology produces hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels, synthetic liquid fuels (diesel, Jet A, mil-spec, JP-8), additives and solvents (such as methanol, butanol, and naphtha).

"We truly appreciate the ongoing commitment of our investors and their representative members of the Raven SR Board as we prepare to scale up our commercially ready advanced renewable fuels and continue our geographic expansion with customers and partners around the world," said Matt Murdock, CEO of Raven SR. "Mark and Michael both bring valuable and unique perspectives from extensive financial and commercial experiences in the energy transition toward more sustainable fuels."

Michael Hoban is general manager of hydrogen supporting the U.S. West Coast of Chevron New Energies. He is engaged in accelerating Chevron's lower carbon business prospects, including the commercialization of hydrogen transportation, power, industrial, and other difficult-to-abate sector opportunities.

Previously, Hoban served as general manager for hydrogen at Iwatani, where he was responsible for the hydrogen operations and infrastructure development in California. Prior to joining Iwatani, Michael held various engineering, operations, and project positions with Shell, including a role supporting hydrogen transportation infrastructure for Shell New Energies. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, an M.S.in Energy Systems and Policy from the University of Iceland, and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Mark Gordon is chief investment officer and co-founder of Ascent Funds. He is a former CFO for Hyzon Motors Inc., which is also a strategic investor in Raven SR.

Previously, Gordon was a senior portfolio manager at Janus Henderson, where he managed the Alphagen Energy Funds, and prior to that, he was a senior analyst at Paulson & Co., responsible for the energy sector. In addition, Gordon previously was a portfolio manager at Soros Fund Management, where he ran an energy and natural resources fund for three years, and also spent eight years at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, rising to the roles of portfolio manager and managing director. He holds an MBA (honors) from the University of Chicago, with concentrations in Analytic Finance and Economics, a M.A. from Stanford University and a B.A. from Brown University (honors). Gordon is a chartered financial analyst.

About Raven SR

Raven SR, headquartered in Wyoming, transforms biomass, mixed municipal solid waste, bio-solids, sewage, medical waste, and natural or biogas into renewable fuels. Using its proprietary, non-combustion, non-catalytic "Steam/CO 2 Reformation" technology, Raven SR dependably produces a hydrogen-rich syngas regardless of feedstock utilized. Raven SR, led by co-founders Matt Murdock and Matt Scanlon, is committed to adding value to local resources and communities while responsibly reducing greenhouse gases and achieving a low carbon economy. By using modular systems and producing low air emissions, their systems can be located closer to customers and feedstock, creating local fuel from local waste for local mobility. Visit https://ravensr.com/.

SOURCE Raven SR Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - RBC Wealth Management  U.S. is committed to bringing more diversity to financial services. That's why the firm is excited to join in activities with the Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE) coalition. RBC Wealth Management fully supports the FARE mission to unite financial services firms, historically Black colleges and universities and industry partners around the goal of making a career in financial services more appealing and inclusive.

"We have made progress in making our industry a more attractive place for women to grow and thrive as financial advisors," said Shareen Luze, Head of culture and field experience at RBC Wealth Management. "But we still have a lot of work to do to make it more inclusive for Black, Indigenous and People of Color."

As a member of FARE, RBC Wealth Management will focus on creating awareness of opportunities to attract and retain diverse talent to the financial services industry, increasing retention among early career professionals of color and helping mid- to late-career professionals grow in their career.

"The Financial Alliance for Racial Equity was created because it was clear that no individual firm could solve this challenge on its own," said Kristi Rodriguez, Senior Vice President of Nationwide, which is a founding member of FARE. "We knew we could make a much bigger impact by working together as an industry to drive change. RBC Wealth Management brings a tremendous commitment to this cause, which makes them an outstanding addition to the FARE coalition."

Research shows that Black financial advisors face unique challenges including discrimination and lack of mentorship opportunities, and it translates into fewer African American advisors joining our ranks.

According to data gathered by FARE, 67% of students who participated in a recent survey say they find the financial services industry appealing, but 90% of Black students feel there are challenges that are unique to Black financial advisors. Research shows that lack of support and discrimination by consumers deter them from choosing a career as advisors.

"These findings are an urgent call to action for our industry," said Luze. "In addition to making changes to our recruiting outreach, increasing mentorship opportunities and other actions to foster inclusion, joining FARE is another step RBC Wealth Management is taking to help bring real change to our industry."

As a member of the coalition, RBC Wealth Management participated in FARE's HBCU Connect event, "Finding Your Fit in Financial Services" on Oct. 19 in Columbus, Ohio, where recruiters networked with students and recent graduates. Representatives from the firm also spoke at the conference about their path into the financial services industry and their experience working in the firm.

Elijah Hall, a client associate in Canonsburg, PA, says what attracted him to RBC Wealth Management is the supportive environment and a culture of mentorship and opportunities for growth. And his role working directly with clients is rewarding.

"The fact that I make such a positive impact on clients' lives and watching them see past the color of my skin is great," he said. "They seem to have a lot of respect for me and that extends to respect for the African American community as a whole."

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 92,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

About RBC Wealth Management  U.S.

In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Wealth Management is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges. RBC Wealth Management has $510 billion in total client assets with more than 2,100 financial advisors operating in 184 locations in 42 states.

About FARE

Founded on research, the Financial Alliance for Racial Equity (FARE) was launched by several leading financial services organizations, industry associations and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in September 2020. The FARE mission is to increase racial diversity, drive greater equity and foster inclusion within the financial services industry and the communities served. In addition to RBC Wealth Management, the FARE coalition includes: Swiss Re, Morgan Stanley, M Financial Group, NFP, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Huntington Bank, Franklin Templeton, Miami Life, Advisor Group, DCIIA, the American College of Financial Services, Capital Group, American Retirement Association, CFP Board and Nationwide, in partnership with six HBCUs, including Hampton University, Howard University, Lincoln University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University.

SOURCE RBC Wealth Management - U.S.
The Cruise Line Reports Reservations Reached a New Single-day All-time High in its 53-year History

MIAMI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It's a record-breaking start for the new era of vacations. Fresh off the heels of revealing the first look at Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International saw its single largest booking day in its 53-year history when reservations opened for the cruise line's first Icon Class ship. Icon first made headlines on Thursday, Oct. 20, when Royal Caribbean unveiled the new ship as the vacation industry's first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation. From the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, with Icon, every kind of family and adventurer can experience their version of the ultimate family vacation.

Royal Caribbeans Icon of the Seas is the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation, from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure. The first in the Icon Class has an all-encompassing lineup of firsts and next-level favorites for everyone, including the new Thrill Island  home to the largest waterpark at sea. Icon of the Seas will debut the first Ultimate Family Townhouse. Spanning three levels, the perfect home away from home for families features an in-suite slide, a cinema space, karaoke, a spacious balcony, a private entrance to the ultimate family neighborhood, Surfside, and more. In the new Chill Island on Icon of the Seas, theres a pool for every mood, each with prime ocean views. Among the seven pools on board, the four in this three-deck slice of paradise include the vibrant Swim & Tonic, the lines first swim-up bar at sea; and Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea. Royal Caribbean International gives the first look at Icon of the Seas after more than five years of design. The innovators behind it all reveal the adventures in store on the ultimate family vacation. From firsts to reimagined favorites, Icon is the culmination of 50 years of delivering memorable vacations and more.

"The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning. We can't wait to share more of what Icon has in store in the coming months."

The ultimate family vacation features an all-encompassing lineup of firsts and next-level favorites across eight neighborhoods, making it the perfect getaway for adults and parents, kids and grandparents alike. Between the adrenaline-pumping thrills at the new Thrill Island and unrivaled ways to chill at neighborhoods like the new Chill Island and the luxurious four-level Suite Neighborhood, vacationers bonding with their families or getting away with friends will have all the ways stay and play their way. With 28 room categories that range from standard rooms to suites and new layouts for families of three, four, five, six and more, even the accommodations on Icon are thoughtfully designed for every type of vacationer  and there are more choices, ocean views and room than ever before.

Icon will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. Every cruise will visit Royal Caribbean's top-rated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas, and a mix of destinations like Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Basseterre, St. Kitts.

More details about Icon are available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/Icon.*

About Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International, owned by Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 19 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on Twitter and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

*NOTE TO EDITOR:

More on Icon, including images and video, is available to media on the Royal Caribbean Press Center at www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com/Icon.

SOURCE Royal Caribbean International
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity, a Los Angeles-based cybersecurity provider protecting major Fortune 500 corporations worldwide, showcased its cyber threat intelligence (CTI) solutions to participants at the Korea Police World Expo (KPEX) 2022 held in Incheon, South Korea. The solutions of interest to attendees from law enforcement agencies (LEA) and private sector businesses were focused on dark web monitoring and human intelligence (HUMINT) tools. These tools enable collection threat data to profile bad actors their tactics.

The dark web, an untraceable area of the internet that traditional search engines do not index, where individuals mask their identities through powerful anonymization tools has become home to innumerable hidden marketplaces, communities, groups, and forums used to traffic illegal goods and services (from child pornography, drugs, and weapons to tools for malware and ransomware distribution). The consequences of cybercrime originating from the dark web impact nearly every industry and cost the global economy as much as $600 billion and about 0.8 percent of global GDP. Security industry experts project that companies around the world will incur costs and lost revenue amounting to more than $5 trillion over the next five years due to cyberattacks.

As a geographic neighbor to North Korea, a hotbed for hacker groups, South Korea, along with its advanced technology sector, is a major target for cyber-attacks. The region is known for activity of nation-supported groups such as Lazarus which are focused on data theft, espionage and large-scale financial crimes including heists from major cryptocurrency exchanges. Resecurity provides unique Human Intelligence (HUMINT) capabilities in the region recognized for its reach and access, and comprehensive investigative and intelligence services to target Dark Web actors and sophisticated cyberespionage groups. During the year, the company arranged numerous digital forensics & incident response (DFIR) projects for large enterprise and government clients in APAC region to assist them with post-incident procedures, as well as preventive measures via proactive cyber threat intelligence to enhance their cybersecurity posture. South Korea remains one of the strategic markets in APAC region for Resecurity with a rapid growth across critical verticals including technology, e-commerce, energy, and government organizations.

Marking its 4th anniversary this year, Korea Police World Expo is a top destination for the security industry with 150,000 members of law enforcement attending. The latest products and technologies in the security and safety industries are showcased.

The company successfully showcased its award-winning cyber threat intelligence platform (CTIP)  Resecurity Context which is designed to assist law enforcement and a portfolio of products for effective digital risk monitoring (DRM) of the enterprise digital ecosystem. The intelligence-driven solutions introduced by Resecurity are powered by AI and machine learning, enabling operators and threat intelligence analysts to extract meaningful insights from context-enriched big data, containing threat actors' profiles with mapped network activity, indicators of compromise and historical archive of underground communications with opportunity of in-depth search, translation and analysis using natural language processing (NLP). In the context of the KPEX 2022, these tools are especially interesting for law enforcement as they can assist in tracking illicit criminal activities on the web, including terrorism. Resecurity serves major organizations worldwide, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to international law enforcement.

"Monitoring the Deep and Dark Web can be technically challenging, considering the dynamic nature of underground economy and sophistication of modern threat actors and groups. Resecurity provides state-of-art cyber threat intelligence and dark web monitoring solutions tailored to law enforcement e-agency needs and security challenges they are solving. These challenges require advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities," said Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity. "Our solutions have been successfully implemented in national law enforcement units specializing in digital crimes, as well as cyber fusion centers of major defense organizations", he added.

This year Resecurity products and services were honored with Gold by the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2022 in 3 major categories:

GOLD WINNER for Cyber Threat Intelligence in North America : Resecurity  Context  Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform

: Resecurity Context Cyber Threat Intelligence Platform GOLD WINNER for Third Party Risk Management (TPRM) in North America : Resecurity  Risk  Supply Chain Risk Management Platform

: Resecurity Risk Supply Chain Risk Management Platform GOLD WINNER for Threat Hunting in North America : Resecurity Hunter Research & Development

Resecurity exhibited at KPEX 2022 together with a partner Daekyoung Systech, accelerating local business development and channel sales. "Daekyoung Systech and Resecurity are uniquely positioned to offer leading intelligence-driven cybersecurity solutions in South Korea, especially, with focus on the law enforcement segment," remarked Daekyoung Systech President Mr. Jinn Yee.

About Resecurity

Resecurity, Inc. (USA) is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Member of Infragard, AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, and FS-ISAC. To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com.

SOURCE Resecurity
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Barclays PLC ("Barclays" or the "Company") (NYSE: BCS). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Barclays and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On March 28, 2022, Barclays announced that Barclays Bank PLC ("BBPLC") had issued approximately $15.2 billion in unregistered securities under an August 2019 shelf registration statement, that BBPLC would commence a rescission offer for those unregistered securities, and that Barclays expected the rescission losses to be approximately 450m.

On this news, Barclays' American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $0.96 per ADR, or 10.61%, to close at $8.09 per ADR on March 28, 2022.

Then, on July 28, 2022, Barclays issued interim financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2022 and announced for the first time that BBPLC had also over-issued unregistered securities under a second BBPLC shelf registration statement. The July 28, 2022 financial results announcement also informed investors that Barclays had provisioned "1,592m [approximately $1.940 billion] (December 2021: 220m) related to the overissuance of structured notes and 165m [approximately $201 million] (December 2021: nil) related to liabilities that could be incurred arising out of ongoing discussions in respect of a potential SEC resolution."

On this news, Barclays' ADR price fell $0.41 per ADR, or 5.2%, to close at $7.48 per ADR on July 28, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Allstate Corporation ("Allstate" or the "Company") (NYSE: ALL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Allstate and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On October 19, 2022, Allstate announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Among other items, Allstate announced that it expected an adjusted net loss of $400 million to $450 million, impacted by an $875 million charge for unfavorable prior-year reserve re-estimates, excluding catastrophes. In addition, the Company estimated catastrophe losses at $763 million, pretax, for the quarter.

On this news, Allstate's stock price fell $17.44 per share, or 12.9%, to close at $117.71 per share on October 20, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter" or the "Company") (NYSE: TWTR). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Twitter and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 25, 2022, Twitter announced that it had agreed to sell itself to Elon Musk for $54.20 per share, or approximately $44 billion (the "Buyout").

Then, On May 13, 2022, Elon Musk issued misleading tweets claiming that the Buyout was "temporarily on hold." On May 17, 2022, Musk issued another tweet stating that the Buyout "cannot go forward" until Twitter showed him proof of the number of "fake accounts" on its platform. Thereafter, between July 8, 2022 and September 9, 2022, Musk issued three separate notices purporting to terminate the Buyout.

Then, on October 4, 2022, less than two weeks before Musk was set to go to trial in Delaware over the merger, Musk issued a statement indicating he would proceed with the purchase of Twitter at the original purchase price of $54.20 per share. Following Musk's announcement, the price of Twitter stock increased by 22% in one day. However, Twitter stockholderswho sold their Twitter stock based on Musk's statements purporting to terminate the Buyoutwere damaged by selling Twitter stock at prices artificially depressed by Musk's conduct.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Palantir Technologies Inc. ("Palantir" or the "Company") (NYSE: PLTR) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and docketed under 22-cv-02384, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Palantir securities between November 9, 2021 and May 6, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Palantir securities during the Class Period, you have until November 14, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Palantir builds and deploys software platforms to assist the U.S. intelligence community in counterterrorism investigations and operations. The Company has two operating segments, commercial and government, with the latter primarily serving agencies in the U.S. federal government and non-U.S. governments. Palantir also invests in so-called "marketable securities" consisting of equity securities in publicly-traded companies.

Palantir has consistently described sources of geopolitical instability and other disruptionse.g., armed conflicts, economic crises, and the COVID-19 pandemicas tailwinds for its business, given that the Company's products and services are purportedly built to aid its customers in assessing and responding to such disruptions.

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Palantir's investments in marketable securities were having a significant negative impact on the Company's earnings per share ("EPS") results; (ii) Palantir overstated the sustainability of its government segment's growth and revenues; (iii) Palantir was experiencing a significant slowdown in revenue growth, particularly among its government customers, despite ongoing global conflicts and market disruptions; (iv) as a result of all the foregoing, the Company was likely to miss consensus estimates for its first quarter 2022 ("Q1") EPS and second quarter 2022 ("Q2") sales outlook; and (v) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On May 9, 2022, Palantir issued a press release announcing its Q1 financial results and guidance for Q2. For Q1, Palantir announced adjusted EPS of $0.02, compared to analyst estimates of $0.04 per share, noting on a conference call that the "[f]irst quarter adjusted [EPS of] $0.02 . . . includes a negative $0.02 impact driven primarily by unrealized losses on marketable securities." The Company also disclosed that government revenue grew by only 16% year-over-year for Q1, representing a significant slowdown in revenue growth compared to prior quarters, and that, for Q2, the Company expected $470 million in sales, compared to estimates of $483.76 million.

On this news, Palantir's stock price fell $2.02 per share, or 21.31%, to close at $7.46 per share on May 9, 2022.

As multiple news outlets reported that day, Palantir's significant decline in revenue growth, particularly from its government customers, surprised investors, especially given the ongoing geopolitical instability and other disruptions caused by, inter alia, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Russo-Ukrainian Warthat is, precisely the type of destabilizing conditions that the Company had previously touted as tailwinds for its business.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid" or the "Company") (NYSE: RAD) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and docketed under 22-cv-04201, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities between April 14, 2022 and September 28, 2022, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.

If you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities during the Class Period, you have until December 19, 2022 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

Rite Aid, through its subsidiaries, operates a chain of retail drugstores in the U.S. The Company operates through two segments, Retail Pharmacy and Pharmacy Services. The Pharmacy Services segment provides integrated suite of pharmacy benefit management ("PBM") offerings through, inter alia, the Company's Elixir subsidiary, including technology solutions, mail delivery services, specialty pharmacy, network and rebate administration, claims adjudication, and pharmacy discount programs.

In Rite Aid's Q4 2022 earnings call on April 14, 2022, Rite Aid's President and CEO, Defendant Heyward Rutledge Donigan ("Donigan"), addressed the growth of Elixir's PBM services business during the selling season ending January 1, 2023, stating that (i) in the past few months, Elixir had already "sold 35,000 new members" (as against a total of 55,000 new members in the prior year), (ii) Elixir was a finalist for 150,000 additional new members, and "results have shown that once we get to finalist, we're winning deals 35% of the time," and (iii) Elixir had "a current pipeline of nearly 1 million members and growing."

In a letter to shareholders, dated June 10, 2022, appearing in Rite Aid's 2022 Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and Proxy Statement, Defendant Donigan stated, "[o]ur Elixir account and sales teams are gaining momentum, and we are executing more efficiently by consolidating functions. And the market is noticingwe have added 34,000 individuals covered by Elixir's PBM services since January 1, 2022, with many more in the pipeline."

In Rite Aid's Q1 2023 earnings call on June 23, 2022, Defendant Donigan stated concerning the PBM services business that "[o]ur strong network contracts, new rebate capabilities, innovative clinical services and expertise in government programs have enabled us to add 80,000 new lives for January 1, 2023 start date. These are more new lives than we sold last year. And additionally, the selling season is still in progress, and we've got close to 1 million lives remaining in the pipeline for January 1, 2023." On the same call, Elixir's COO, Defendant Chris DuPaul, advised that "we've had a pretty strong start to our selling season, particularly on the health plan side," and "we're feeling really good about where our lives are headed going into [1/1/23]. . ."

The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) despite representations to the contrary, the number of new members (i.e., "lives") that the Elixir PBM services business was adding during the selling season ending on January 1, 2023 was in material decline; (ii) Rite Aid was likely to recognize a significant charge for the impairment of goodwill related to Elixir due to a decrease in "lives" covered by Elixir's PBM services business; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

On September 29, 2022, Rite Aid announced a $252.2 million charge for the impairment of goodwill related to the Company's Elixir subsidiary. On an earnings call held later in the day, Rite Aid's Chief Financial Officer, Matt Schroeder, explained that the large impairment charge was related to Elixir based on "an update to our estimate of lives for 2023 based on the latest selling season," and that Rite Aid "expected[ed] lives to go down."

On this news, Rite Aid's stock price fell $1.97 per share, or 28.02%, to close at $5.06 per share on September 29, 2022.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Weiss Law is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of UserTesting, Inc. ("UserTesting" or the "Company") (NYSE: USER), in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company by Thoma Bravo and Sunstone Partners. Under the merger agreement, the Company's shareholders will receive $7.50 in cash for each share of UserTesting common stock owned. The transaction is valued at $1.3 billion.

If you own UserTesting shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslaw.co/news-and-cases/user

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

Weiss Law

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10007

(212) 682-3025

(888) 593-4771

[email protected]

Weiss Law is investigating whether (i) UserTesting's board of directors acted in the best interests of Company shareholders in agreeing to the proposed transaction, (ii) the $ 7.50 per-share merger consideration adequately compensates UserTesting's shareholders, and (iii) all information regarding the sales process and valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed. Notably, the merger consideration is below the $8 median price target set by analysts, and at least one analyst set a price target for the Company of $9 per share, $1.50 above the per-share merger consideration.

Weiss Law has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

SOURCE Weiss Law
Second US IND approval this year for the global pharmaceutical group

NANJING, China and BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (2096.HK), an innovative global pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company's investigational new drug (IND) application for SIM0237, an anti-PD-L1/IL-15 bi-functional fusion protein, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced solid tumors. It is the second IND approval Simcere obtained in the US this year. In addition, the IND application of SIM0237 in China was accepted by the National Medical Products Administration on October 10, 2022.

"There is demonstrated history of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) showcasing strong efficacy in a variety of cancers, but there is a large percentage of oncology patients who are either refractory these therapeutics or develop resistance," said Dr. Bijoyesh Mookerjee, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Oncology of Simcere. "By developing this compound as a bi-functional fusion protein, that combines an anti-PD-L1 antibody with an IL-15 cytokine, we can direct therapeutic activity to the tumor microenvironment, enabling us to potentially limit toxicity while improving tolerability and enhancing efficacy in patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors."

IL-15 is an immune-activating cytokine that promotes the expansion and activation of NK cells and CD8 + T cells. Previous research has revealed that IL-15 when combined with anti-PD-L1/PD-1 antibodies showed good clinical benefits in patients with advanced malignancies including patients who have either not responded to or have relapsed after immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment. Therefore, bi-functional fusion protein, targeting both IL-15 and PD-1/PD-L1 may have the potential for antitumor efficacy in relapsed/refractory patients after immunotherapy.

About the SIM0237-101 Clinical Trial

SIM0237-101 is a phase 1, first-in-human, open-label, multicenter study to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity of SIM0237 in adult participants with advanced solid tumors. The dose escalation phase of the study will evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and identify the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) or the recommended dose for expansion (RDE) of SIM0237. The dose expansion phase of the study assess safety, and activity of SIM0237 at the RDE.

About SIM0237

SIM0237 is an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody fused with potency reduced IL-15/IL-15R sushi domain developed in-house by utilizing the Simcere's protein engineering platform. It can block the PD-1/PD-L1 immunosuppressive pathway via binding to PD-L1 and activate the immune system through its IL-15 part, thus playing a synergistic role of relieving immunosuppression and boosting the immune activation to exhibit antitumor effect. The attenuated IL-15 part of SIM0237 prolongs its PK, increases MTD and avoids overstimulation and accompanied anergy of NK and CD8+ T cells. In the meantime, fusion of attenuated IL-15 to full anti-PD-L1 mAb further enhances the half-life of attenuated IL-15 and delivers IL-15 directly to the tumor microenvironment avoiding notorious CRS toxicity induced by systemic IL-15 exposure. Moreover, SIM0237 is able to bridge CD8+ T and NK cells to PD-L1+ APC/tumor cells, which fosters immune synapse formation to further boost the activation of effective cells and promote tumor cell lysis. Preclinical studies showed that SIM0237 is more effective than PD-L1 or IL-15 mono treatment in mouse tumor models, suggesting a high potential for clinical development.

About Simcere

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group Limited (2096.HK) is an innovation and R&D-driven pharmaceutical company. The company focuses on three therapeutic areas, oncology, central nervous system and autoimmune diseases, with a forward-looking vision toward disease areas that may have significant clinical needs in the future, aiming to achieve the mission of "providing today's patients with medicines of the future." Leveraging its R&D capability and commercialization excellence, Simcere has built a market-leading product portfolio in China. Its vigorous in-house R&D efforts and extensive R&D collaborations have made it a strategic cooperation partner with world leading innovative companies and research institutes.

For more information, please visit: http://en.simcere.com/

SOURCE Simcere
SINGAPORE, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore Airlines (SIA) has successfully gone live with its new Integrated Cargo Management System (ICMS), powered by IBS Software's iCargo cargo management platform. The ICMS is a strategic initiative to future-proof SIA's core cargo platform by eliminating disparate cargo systems and bringing in the latest cloud technology to transform cargo operations and customer delivery.

Singapore Airlines Goes Live with IBS Softwares iCargo Platform

iCargo supports SIA in its cargo business processes. The ICMS provides a single integrated cargo application for business users in Singapore and overseas, as well as a seamless interface with partners including general sales agents, ground handling agents, and freight forwarders, simplifying the end-to-end operations. Enhanced data quality and insights also allow SIA to make real-time, data-driven decisions across its sales, operations, and finance processes, while ensuring compliance with international regulations.

Since the ICMS went live on 1 August 2022, approximately 1,500 users across sales, operations, and finance industries have benefited from the system, with iCargo enabling more than 24,000 flights, creating 202,000 bookings and 192,000 airway bills, as well as processing and responding to 8.5 million incoming messages.

IBS Software's Consulting and Digital Transformation (CDx) business provided user acceptance testing (UAT) support to SIA. The UAT focused on business process transformation and change management efficiency, with inputs from more than 100 end users across the world, and end-to-end testing involving more than 20 upstream and downstream messaging systems.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the need for digital transformation, especially given the important role that air freight plays in critical supply chains, as well as the need for greater supply chain visibility to improve resilience. IBS Software's iCargo platform is a key element in SIA's digitalisation efforts to enable it to serve its customers even better, respond more quickly to changes in the marketplace and improve work processes, while allowing it to stay compliant and update-to-date with global industry standards and initiatives," said Mr Chin Yau Seng, Senior Vice President Cargo at Singapore Airlines.

"It is an honour to work with SIA, a team that recognises the transformative impact of digitalising air cargo and is dedicated to creating innovative customer experiences that will enable it to capitalise on the air cargo opportunities ahead," said Ashok Rajan, Head of Cargo & Logistics Solutions at IBS Software. "We are beyond excited to continue to work with SIA on the ICMS to deliver even further capabilities and business benefits in the future."

The second phase of the implementation is planned for in March 2023. This includes migrating the mail module, implementing mail revenue accounting, and rolling out new capabilities in sales, operations, and cargo revenue accounting modules.

iCargo is an integrated solution that supports end-to-end business functions such as cargo reservations, rating, manifesting, import and export operations, warehouse management, revenue accounting, air mail handling, as well as revenue management of cargo carrying airlines and ground handlers. iCargo follows the air cargo industry's best practices and is fully compliant with global industry standards and initiatives, such as Cargo iQ, C-XML, OneRecord, e-AWB, and e-Freight in general.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real-time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. The Consulting and Digital Transformation (CDx) business focuses on driving digital transformation initiatives of its customers, leveraging its domain knowledge, digital technologies and engineering excellence. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com/.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930904/SIA_IBS_iCargo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1169353/IBS_Software_Logo.jpg

SOURCE IBS Software
Three months ago, FDA listing paved the way for MedTech startup Sleepiz to enter the US market with its remote patient monitoring device, now the company is already reporting expansion progress and joining the largest US organization for telemedicine.

ZURICH, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- It was only in July that the Swiss MedTech startup registered its Sleepiz One+ device for contactless measurement of breathing and heart rate with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and announced its expansion into the US. Now Sleepiz is joining the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). Membership gives the company access to a broad network of tech providers, investors, health institutions, industry experts and policy makers.

Sleepiz One+ monitors breathing during sleep with 99 percent accuracy

Three months after expanding into the U.S., Sleepiz joins the ATA - a broad network of leading healthcare delivery systems, academic institutions, technology solution providers and payers, committed to advancing telehealth in the United States. Founded in 1993 and with more than 400 members, the organization is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and appropriate care when and where they need it.

"Membership with the ATA gives us the opportunity to raise awareness of Sleepiz's technology in U.S. and global markets," said Robb LaChappelle, Sleepiz's vice-president in the United States. Sleepiz CEO Soumya Dash said, "This is an important step in bringing the benefits of our technology to patients, physicians and researchers, expanding the company's success into foreign markets."

Sleepiz One+ provides new insights into patient health status

Sleepiz One+ is one of the first respiratory monitoring devices to contactlessly capture and record patient data during sleep. The technology provides entirely new insights into patient health, as physicians no longer have to rely on random measurements, but gain access to continuous data. Physicians in the U.S. can prescribe Sleepiz One+ to their patients to measure their vital signs in the short and long term, providing greater insight into patients' physiological status. For patients, Sleepiz One+ provides a new and convenient way to take continuous measurements at home by simply placing a small device on their bedside table before bed.

Product visuals and portrait pictures are available for download at https://we.tl/t-fED1yygtix

About Sleepiz

Sleepiz AG (Ltd.) is a Zurich, Switzerland-based medical technology company with a mission to provide patient-centric disease management through seamless integration of contactless monitoring into people's homes. Sleepiz leverages the power of sleep insights with a device that is simply placed on the bedside table. The device operates in a contactless fashion and measures movements originating from heart contractions and breathing patterns, as well as body motions with medical-grade accuracy. While focusing on respiratory illnesses in a first step, Sleepiz aims to improve people's lives by creating the future of healthcare. By making use of wireless millimeter wave technology, sensor fusion and artificial intelligence, Sleepiz will not only be able to diagnose sleep disorders but also perform long-term monitoring in the future. This will allow the monitoring of the progression of chronic diseases for faster intervention and better treatment.

Media contact

Oppenheim & Partner GmbH

Marash Pulaj

Stockerstrasse 32, CH-8002 Zurich

+41 44 515 65 00

[email protected]

Sleepiz contact

Robb LaChappelle

Vice President Sleepiz USA

[email protected]

Photo https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1930390/Sleepiz_One.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1860099/Sleepiz_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Sleepiz AG
Various initiatives taken by the government, increase in awareness about the diseases related to smoking and various anti-smoking campaigns organized by leading organizations drive the growth of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market.

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Smoking Cessation and Nicotine De-Addiction Products Market by Product (Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products, Drug Therapy, E-cigarettes), by Form (Gum, Inhaler, Tablet, Others), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Online Provider, Drug stores and Retail Pharmacies): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2022- 2031". According to the report, the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products industry generated $20.0 billion in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $54.7 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 10.6% from 2022 to 2031.

Download Free Sample Report- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/469

Prime determinants of growth

Various initiatives taken by the government, increase in awareness about the diseases related to smoking and various anti-smoking campaigns organized by leading organizations drive the growth of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market. However, high cost of smoking cessation therapies lead to the decrease in the purchase of these products which ultimately hinder the growth of the market to some extent. Conversely, the invention of various advanced smoking cessation products presents new opportunities in the coming years.

Covid-19 Scenario

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic changed the patterns of smoking, other substance use and health related behaviors of the smokers. Smokers in several nations increased their tobacco consumption since the epidemic.

On the other hand, there has also been a surge in interest in stopping, quit attempts, and successful cessation rates which further impacted the growth of the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market positively.

According to WHO, as smoking is associated with increased severity of disease and death in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, a large number of population quit smoking and this created a growth opportunity for the smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market.

The e-cigarettes segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period

Based on product, the e-cigarettes segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than four-fifths of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to the growth in number of smoking population, and awareness about the lower health risks associated with e-cigarettes. Moreover, the Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 16.7% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rise in adoption of quit smoking challenges by large population, cost-effectiveness, improved innovation, and various product launches.

The gum segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on form, the gum segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to more than half of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Moreover, the same segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 11.5% from 2022 to 2031, owing to the rise in demand for nicotine replacement therapy products, innovations by key market players, and rising awareness about quitting smoking disorders among the growing population.

The drug stores & retail pharmacies segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period

Based on distribution channels, the drug stores & retail pharmacies segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to more than half of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market, and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period, owing to the easy accessibility anywhere any time. They also offer precise drugs according to status of disease of patient. Moreover, the online providers segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 12.2% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rise in digitalization, ease of purchase, faster delivery of products and accessibility of smartphones.

For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/469

North America to maintain its dominance by 2031

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global smoking cessation and nicotine de-addiction products market, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period, owing to the increase in awareness regarding harmful effects of smoking that forced many people in the region to quit smoking and advancement in the therapy products. Moreover, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 12.5% from 2022 to 2031, owing to large prevalence of tobacco users in this region and rising rate of users to quit tobacco and smoking.

Leading Market Players: -

British American Tobacco Inc.

22nd Century group Inc.

Cipla Ltd.

Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd.

GlaxoSmithKline PLC (Haleon)

Imperial Brands Plc. (Fontem Ventures)

Johnson and Johnson (McNeil Consumer Health)

Njoy Company

Pfizer Inc.

Perrigo Company Plc.

Rusan Pharma Ltd.

Zydus Cadila

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SOURCE Allied Market Research
MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- During their October board meeting, the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD) Board of Trustees approved a federal grant in the amount of $1.9 million for support of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students at Irvine Valley College (IVC).

As an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI), IVC was eligible for the U.S. Department of Education grant and received the good news about the five-year funding in late September.

"We value our strong partnership with the Department of Education," said President of the Board, Marcia Milchiker. "As an AANAPISI, Irvine Valley College has the opportunity through this funding to direct resources to students with some of the greatest needs." The grant will allow IVC to implement the Equitable Learning Experience Valuing Achievement, Transfer, Empowering Asian American Pacific Islander (ELEVATE AAPI @IVC).

ELEVATE will provide wraparound services and to 300 students in groups of 60 students, with a focus on serving disadvantaged AAPI students who are impacted by: poverty, low academic attainment, their status as a first- generation college student, mental health challenges, and/or marginalization due to LGBTQIA+ identification.

"The U.S. Department of Education grant could not have been awarded to Irvine Valley College without the technical and writing assistance provided by a talented grant proposal team of faculty and staffunder the leadership of Brooke Bui, Dean of Liberal Arts and a team comprised of Marianne Wolfe, Rachel Manders, Kevin Hsu, Tuan Nguyen, and Josh Dorman," said IVC President, Dr. John Hernandez.

IVC serves a highly diverse population that has historically experienced significant gaps in academic achievement. In the grant application, IVC reports that over 40 percent of its students are Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander (AANAPI), of which 43 percent experience poverty - the largest group of students from low-income households by volume.

"The grant funding provides a real opportunity to expand our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) efforts in the district," said SOCCCD Chancellor, Dr. Julianna Barnes. "While we work to uplift cultural heritage and enrichment programming for all students, this funding allows for focused engagement for AANAPI students who need support in overcoming barriers and navigating through hurdles to achieve academic success."

About South Orange County Community College District

To learn more, visit http://www.socccd.edu

Media Contact:

Letitia Clark

[email protected]

SOURCE South Orange County Community College
Rosario Dawson, Malcolm Gladwell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ken Burns, Retta, Aly Raisman, Elaine Chao, Joy Harjo, and more join together in unprecedented show of unity to champion the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation announced the inaugural members of its Council of Ambassadors, an honorary body of renowned leaders uniting across industries and political parties to champion the Foundation in its mission to build a monument in Washington, D.C. memorializing the early American movement for women's equality. The Council of Ambassadors will serve for the duration of the multi-year effort and the Foundation will add members throughout the life of the project.

This announcement follows the recent news from the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation that all of the living First LadiesDr. Jill Biden, Mrs. Melania Trump, Mrs. Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Mrs. Rosalynn Carterwill serve together as Honorary Chairs of the organization. In their role as Honorary Chairs, the First Ladies will spearhead the Foundation's efforts to ensure that the 36 million people who visit our National Mall each year experience a deeper and more inclusive American story.

"There is something beautifully American about the way our Nation's leading voices are uniting in support of the Foundation's mission to elevate women out of the footnotes of history and into their rightful place in our country's commemorative landscape," said Anna Laymon, Executive Director of the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation. "We are honored to have these distinguished Ambassadors standing alongside us in this historic work."

The 23 inaugural appointees to the Council of Ambassadors include: two Pulitzer-Prize winners; one Olympian; four New York Times bestselling authors; the longest-serving woman in congressional history; three former Cabinet members; two Emmy winners; one Grammy winner; one Poet Laureate; one Peabody Award winner; one Eisner Award winner; two winners of the Lincoln Prize; one winner of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award; seven congressionally appointed commissioners of the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commission; six groundbreaking podcast hosts and producers; and more.

Inaugural Ambassadors of the Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation

David Blight, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author & Historian

Ken Burns, Filmmaker

Jovita Carranza, 44th U.S. Treasurer & 26th Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration

Elaine Chao, 24th U. S. Secretary of Labor & 18th U. S. Secretary of Transportation

Susan Combs, Former Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, & Budget of the Department of the Interior

Rosario Dawson, Activist, Producer, & Designer

Malcolm Gladwell, New York Times Bestselling Author & host of Revisionist History

Doris Kearns Goodwin, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author & Presidential Historian

Joy Harjo, 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States

Karen Hill, President & CEO of the Harriet Tubman Home

Kerri Hoffman, CEO of PRX

Kay Coles James, Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Brad Meltzer, Historian & New York Times Best-Selling Author

Senator Barbara Mikulski (Ret), Longest Serving Woman in Congressional History

Nicola Miner, Philanthropist

Norah O'Donnell, Anchor & Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News

Monica Padman, Co-Host & Producer of the Armchair Expert Podcast

Aly Raisman, Gold Medalist & Advocate

Retta, Actress, Comedienne, & Author

Deborah Rutter, President of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Filmmaker & First Partner of California

Shaina Taub, Songwriter & Performer

Nina Totenberg, NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent

With the support of its Ambassadors , the Foundation will continue to advance the mission as mandated by the U.S. Congress in Public Law 116-217 to bring the Women's Suffrage National Monument to the heart of the Nation's Capital.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

The Women's Suffrage National Monument Foundation leads the effort to fund, design, develop, and construct the Women's Suffrage National Monument, which will serve as a lasting legacy of the longest political movement in American history and honor the generations of women who lobbied, marched, picketed, and protested in their decades-long fight for equality. For more information visit www.womensmonument.org and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter .

SUPPORT

Amongst our most iconic monuments and memorials, American women's stories are missing. Today, fewer than 5% of statues in our Nation's Capital depict women. And we need your support. Like most monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C., the Women's Suffrage National Monument will be funded in its entirety through private donations. Learn more about our movement, donate , and be a part of making history.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Womens Suffrage National Monument Foundation
FRANCHISE BUSINESS REVIEW HONORS BRAND AS THIRD QUARTER DEALS LEAP BY 50% VS. PRIOR YEAR

GILBERT, Ariz., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SYNERGY  HomeCare , the nation's fastest growing home care franchise, an Entrepreneur 500 ranked enterprise and a Top 200 Franchise according to Franchise Business Review, has continued its strong multi-year growth trajectory, inking 32 new territories thus far in 2022, including 12 in the third quarter, representing a 50% year-over-year increase.

"In addition to our mission to become the most admired brand in home care, we believe we offer one of the best value propositions in all of franchising," said Charlie Young, Chief Executive Officer of SYNERGY HomeCare. "One of the leading indicators of the success of a franchise system is the number of existing owners purchasing additional territories," he added. "It's especially rewarding to see that some of our largest operators continue to reinvest in the brand."

Business opportunities in home care fueling growth of SYNERGY HomeCare, one of nation's leading franchise systems. Tweet this

Young pointed out that Franchise Business Review recognized the company as one of the Top 100 Best Franchise Cultures , citing the brand exceeding franchise-industry benchmarks in overall satisfaction, leadership rating and long-term growth opportunity. SYNERGY HomeCare was also recently honored by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise for Veterans , as well as one of the Most Innovative and Most Profitable Franchises .

Ross Fierman, who opened SYNERGY HomeCare of Rockville, Marlyland in 2015, has quickly risen in the ranks of the brand's national franchisee network, recently expanding his service footprint to cover 30 additional zip codes in the Washington, D.C., suburb.

"The unparalleled tools and support that SYNERGY HomeCare provides its franchisees have enabled my business to grow and thrive. It's because of this continued success that I've chosen to expand my business with SYNERGY HomeCarethere's no other franchise that offers their level of superior service to both their franchisees and the clients we serve," Fierman said. "As a SYNERGY HomeCare franchise owner, I get the rewarding experience of doing what I love while positively impacting so many lives in my community, and I'm excited for the opportunity to reach even more."

SYNERGY HomeCare also notably grew its Florida presence during the third quarter of 2022, launching franchised operations in Palm Bay, Port St. Lucie and Boca Raton.

Carlos Cuesta , an experienced human resource professional, launched SYNERGY HomeCare of Palm Bay , noticing the lack of a local support system for many area residents.

, an experienced human resource professional, launched SYNERGY HomeCare of , noticing the lack of a local support system for many area residents. U.S. Navy veterans Lucille and Henry Menard opened SYNERGY HomeCare of Port St. Lucie with a desire to "continue to care and serve" as they assist fellow veterans and community members.

opened SYNERGY HomeCare of with a desire to "continue to care and serve" as they assist fellow veterans and community members. Husband-and-wife team Ken and Alex Lund launched SYNERGY HomeCare of Boca Raton after experiencing the challenges of providing care for Ken's 96-year-old mother.

"Our message is resonating as so many compassionate entrepreneurs want to enter the home care space," said SYNERGY HomeCare Chief Growth Officer Mike Steed. "Not only are we growing in size, but the quality and service offerings of our franchisees continue to rise. We are attracting incredible people who recognize that the 'SYNERGY Effect'the way we improve the lives of so many, has emotional and financial value."

For more information on SYNERGY HomeCare franchising opportunities visit SYNERGYHomeCareFranchise.com .

ABOUT SYNERGY HOMECARE

SYNERGY HomeCare is the fastest-growing national franchisor in the home care industry with over 200 franchisees operating in more than 400 territories across the U.S. The company provides a broad range of non-medical in-home services including personal care, companion care, memory care, and specialized care for individuals who are living with physical or developmental disabilities, chronic health conditions or recovering from illness or surgery. No matter what each person's circumstances are, SYNERGY HomeCare steps in with effective, comforting, life-affirming care that moves people emotionally and physically forward. For more information visit SYNERGYHomecare.com .

Media Contact :

David Siroty

Imagine Productions

[email protected]

(908) 337-5865

SOURCE SYNERGY HomeCare
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Talisker Resources Ltd. ("Talisker" or the "Company") (TSX: TSK) (OTCQX: TSKFF) is pleased to announce high-grade results from the North Vein located within the historic King mining block. The results are the final assays received from the 2022 pre-resource drill program that were re-assayed following initial laboratory failure of QAQC.

Key Points:

Figure 1: SB-2022-036, 044, 053 and 068A hole locations within the King block. (CNW Group/Talisker Resources Ltd) Figure 2: SB-2022-032, 044 and 053 cross section with vein intersections and grade. (CNW Group/Talisker Resources Ltd) Figure 3: SB-2022-063, 068A cross section with vein intersections and grade. (CNW Group/Talisker Resources Ltd)

Holes SB-2022-032, 036, 044, 053, 063 and 068A are located within the King Mining Block and focuses on the King, North and C Veins.

Hole SB-2022-053 is highlighted by:

42.61 g/t Au over 1.30 metres within 15.51 g/t Au over 3.70 metres (North Vein)

Hole SB-2022-032 intersected a total of three veins highlighted by:

12.04 g/t Au over 3.60 metres within a broader zone of 2.44 g/t Au over 22.50 metres (New Vein)



13.72 g/t Au over 1.20 metres (243 Vein)



12.14 g/t Au over 1.00 metres (North Vein)

Hole SB-2022-068A is highlighted by:

19.17 g/t Au over 2.35 metres (North Vein)

Hole SB-2022-063 is highlighted by:

11.48 g/t Au over 1.00 metres ( King Vein )



6.15 g/t Au over 1.50 metres (King Splay)

Talisker drilling to date at the Bralorne Gold Project has produced 401 vein intersections with a combined weighted average diluted grade of 9.45 g/t over an average intersection length of 1.73 metres.

Terry Harbort, President and CEO of Talisker, commented, "These final results continue to demonstrate the consistent high-grade nature of the veins at the Bralorne Gold Project. Despite delays caused by these assay re-runs and the new requirement to conduct stope optimization of inferred resource to meet the "Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction" guidelines, we expect to release our maiden resource statement in November and to meet our anticipated range. With the entire resource located from surface to 700m depth, approximately 70% represents brand new discovered ounces with minimal or no historic activity, 20% represents resource along strike from historic stopes and 10% is remnant ore bodies. Of the 86 veins now identified at Bralorne, 74 are open in all directions indicating the clear near-term resource expansion upside."

A total of 140,476 metres (286 holes) has been drilled since Talisker initiated drilling at the Project in February 2020.

Talisker is providing an opportunity for shareholders and other interested parties to participate in a Webinar to be held at 1 pm ET on Tuesday, November 1st, To register, please click on the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CsU7_-SMR--TrsHxr0f9Fw

SB-2022-032 Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in diorite and sediment

New vein intersected from 12.8 to 13.15 metres with visible gold

243 vein intersected from 273.58 to 274.56 metres with visible gold

North Vein intersected from 341.85 to 342.05 metres with visible gold

SB-2022-036 Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in diorite and sediment

C vein intersected from 383.18 to 384.38 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

SB-2022-044 Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in diorite and sediment

North vein intersected from 334.35 to 336.05 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

SB-2022-053 Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in and diorite and sediment

North vein intersected from 273.00  273.92 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

Shaft vein intersected from 371.00  371.30 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

SB-2022-063 Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in diorite and sediment

King vein intersected from 540.1 to 541.7 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

Splay of the King vein intersected from 562.7 to 562.92 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

SB-2022-068A Hole Description:

Complete assay results received

Located in the King block and hosted in diorite and sediment

North vein intersected from 277.55 to 277.7 metres with pyrite and arsenopyrite

Major vein structures intersected are considered classic Bralorne crack-seal quartz-carbonate veins with densely banded sulphide septae. Crack-seal septae host fine-grained arsenopyrite and pyrite mineralization. Alteration halos consist of strong silica-sericitemariposite alteration halos.

All reported drill assay results are available on the Company's website at the following link: https://taliskerresources.com/bralorne-gold-project-released-drill-results/.

Table 1: Bralorne Gold Project - Drill Holes SB-2022-032, 036, 044, 053, 063, 068A Diamond Drill

Hole Name From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Interpreted

Structure Method

Reported SB-2022-032 12.8 13.3 0.5 32.70 New Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 13.3 14 0.7 0.17 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 14 15 1 0.14 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 15 16.5 1.5 0.14 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 269 270 1 2.76 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 270 271 1 11.85 243 Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 271 271.5 0.5 24.90 243 Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 271.5 272 0.5 14.00 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 272 272.5 0.5 12.00 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 272.5 273 0.5 4.50 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 273 273.6 0.6 6.33 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 273.6 274.55 0.95 0.69 Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 274.55 275.3 0.75 0.34 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 340.9 341.7 0.8 0.33 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 341.7 342.2 0.5 23.90 North Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-032 342.2 342.7 0.5 0.37 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-036 383 383.85 0.85 2.90 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-036 383.85 384.35 0.5 14.65 C Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-036 384.35 384.85 0.5 0.43 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-044 334.35 334.85 0.5 6.51 North Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-044 334.85 335.5 0.65 3.43 Au-AA26 SB-2022-044 335.5 336.05 0.55 4.42 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 269.25 270 0.75 0.49 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 270 271 1 0.46 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 271 271.8 0.8 0.25 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 271.8 272.45 0.65 0.31 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 272.45 272.95 0.5 0.43 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 272.95 273.75 0.8 65.90 North Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 273.75 274.25 0.5 5.35 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 274.25 275.25 1 0.22 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 275.25 276.2 0.95 0.36 Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 370.4 370.9 0.5 1.04 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-053 370.9 371.4 0.5 8.60 Shaft Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 536.9 537.65 0.75 1.27 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 537.65 538.45 0.8 0.98 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 538.45 539 0.55 0.95 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 539 539.6 0.6 2.61 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 539.6 540.2 0.6 1.67 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 540.2 540.7 0.5 1.25 King Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 540.7 541.2 0.5 19.50 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 541.2 541.7 0.5 3.45 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 541.7 542.35 0.65 2.35 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 542.35 542.9 0.55 2.81 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 542.9 543.6 0.7 1.80 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 543.6 544.5 0.9 0.20 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 544.5 545.25 0.75 0.85 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 545.25 546.3 1.05 0.27 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 546.3 547.05 0.75 0.25 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 547.05 547.65 0.6 0.22 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 560.6 561.5 0.9 0.52 King Splay Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 561.5 562.25 0.75 4.50 Au-AA26 SB-2022-063 562.25 563 0.75 7.79 Au-AA26 SB-2022-068A 277.5 278 0.5 88.70 North Vein Au-AA26 SB-2022-068A 278 278.8 0.8 0.07 Vein Halo Au-AA26 SB-2022-068A 278.8 279.3 0.5 0.45 Au-AA26 SB-2022-068A 279.3 279.85 0.55 0.77 Au-AA26

Notes: Diamond drill hole SB-2022-032 has a collar orientation of Azimuth 180; Dip -52.5. Diamond drill hole SB-2022-036 has a collar orientation of Azimuth 145; Dip -69. Diamond drill hole SB-2022-044 has a collar orientation of Azimuth 194; Dip -61. Diamond drill hole SB-2022-053 has a collar orientation of Azimuth 202; Dip -56. Diamond drill hole SB-2022-063 has a collar orientation of Azimuth 151; Dip -63. Diamond drill hole SB-2022-068A has a collar orientation of Azimuth 140; Dip -47. True widths are estimated at 40 - 90% of intercept lengths and are based on oriented core measurements where available. Method Reported includes the most up-to-date information as of the date of this press release.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release relating to the drill results at the Bralorne Gold Project has been approved by Leonardo de Souza (BSc, AusIMM (CP) Membership 224827), Talisker's Vice President, Exploration and Resource Development, who is a "qualified person" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Talisker Resources Ltd.

Talisker (taliskerresources.com) is a junior resource company involved in the exploration of gold projects in British Columbia, Canada. Talisker's projects include two advanced stage projects, the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spences Bridge Project where the Company holds ~85% of the emerging Spences Bridge Gold Belt, and several other early-stage Greenfields projects. With its properties comprising 304,931 hectares over 500 claims, three leases and 197 crown grant claims, Talisker is a dominant exploration player in south-central British Columbia.

Sample Preparation and QAQC

Drill core at the Bralorne Gold Project is drilled in HQ to NQ size ranges (63.5mm and 47.6mm, respectively). Drill core samples are a minimum of 50 cm and a maximum of 160 cm long along the core axis. Samples are focused on an interval of interest, such as a vein or zone of mineralization. Shoulder samples bracket the interval of interest such that a total sampled core length of not less than 3m both above and below the interval of interest must be assigned. Sample QAQC measures of unmarked certified reference materials (CRMs), blanks, and duplicates are inserted into the sample sequence and makeup 9% of the samples submitted to the lab for holes reported in this release. ALS Global performs sample preparation and analyses in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Drill core sample preparation includes drying in an oven at a maximum temperature of 60C, fine crushing of the sample to at least 70% passing less than 2 mm, sample splitting using a riffle splitter, and pulverizing a 250 g split to at least 85% passing 75 microns (ALS code PREP-31). Gold in diamond drill core is analyzed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) of a 50g sample (ALS code Au-AA26), while multi-element chemistry is analyzed by 4- Acid digestion of a 0.25 g sample split with detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) for 48 elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Re, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, Sr, Ta, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Zn, Zr). Gold assay technique (ALS code Au-AA26) has an upper detection limit of 100 ppm. Any sample that produces an over-limit gold value via the gold assay technique is sent for gravimetric finish (ALS method Au-GRA22) which has an upper detection limit of 10,000 ppm Au.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Talisker's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to Talisker. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of Talisker's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate.

Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, title and environmental risks and risks relating to the failure to receive all requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals.

The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and Talisker 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. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

SOURCE Talisker Resources Ltd
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa Bay Defense Alliance (TBDA) President Donna Huneycutt and Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA) Chairman Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, USAF (Ret) announced today Mr. Larry Wilson from Little Rock Air Force Base, AR as the winner of the 2022 Tampa Bay Trophy. The Tampa Bay Trophy recognizes a civic leader whose lifetime achievement and distinguished service to the United States Air Force and Air Mobility Command epitomizes the synergy between civilian and military communities.

Tampa Bay Defense Alliance Presents Tampa Bay Trophy to Larry Wilson from Little Rock Air Force Base

Donna Huneycutt and Gen. McNabb will present Mr. Wilson with his citation at the 2022 Airlift Tanker Association Convention held at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center, Aurora CO on October 28, 2022, in the Heritage Room at 9:00 PM (MST).

"This year highlights the power of great relationships between military bases and their surrounding communities as they come together during a time of great change and rebuilding. As always, the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance was impressed by and deeply grateful for the service and contributions of the outstanding nominees identified by their Air Force communities. We enjoyed the hard task of selecting a winner from these fantastic leaders who support military communities, personnel, and their families. We're incredibly honored to recognize this year's recipient, Mr. Larry Wilson, from Little Rock Air Force Base, for his outstanding leadership, stewardship, and devotion to his community," said Huneycutt.

Wilson distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Airmen and families of Little Rock Air Force Base, the Jacksonville community, the State of Arkansas, and to the United States Air Force. An acclaimed advocate for Jacksonville, Arkansas for over 40 years, his leadership strengthened the relationship between Little Rock AFB and the local community, enabling solutions that secured a 50-year base water system maintenance contract, as well as easements for mission critical drop zones. His education focus assisted Jacksonville school district improvements and helped gather local funding to pioneer a joint venture education center with LRAFB. Appointed by the governor to the state's Military Affairs Council, he assisted efforts to make Arkansas one of four states to meet every Department of Defense military family support criterion and helped drive legislation providing active duty and retired pay income tax exemptions and exempting military spouses from onerous licensure rules. His leadership helped his community earn the 2009, 2011, and 2019 Abilene Trophies for Air Mobility Command's best community support, Air Education and Training Command's 2019 Altus Trophy, and the 2020 Great American Defense Community Award. He served as the 19th Airlift Wing Honorary Commander and was selected for the Air Mobility Command, Air Education Command and Air Combat Command Civic Leader Groups. His outstanding civic leadership enhanced our communities, improved quality of life for our Airmen and their families, and boosted the air mobility mission. Mr. Wilson truly championed Little Rock Air Force Base's air mobility mission earning honor and recognition as the winner of the 2022 Airlift/Tanker Association Tampa Bay Trophy.

"Larry Wilson has dedicated countless years to helping Little Rock AFB," said Colonel Angela Ochoa, 19th Airlift Wing commander. "I cannot think of a more deserving individual who exemplifies the partnership between our local community and base. His work has been vital to accomplishing our mission and cultivating resilient Airmen and families. We are extremely thankful and blessed to have Larry as a part of our family."

"We are proud to partner with the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance as we honor our outstanding air mobility civic leaders each year with the Tampa Bay Trophy. Larry's sustained leadership and engagement has made a huge difference for our Airmen, service members, veterans, and families in Arkansas. Especially in these uncertain and changing times, he steadfastly advocated for our Airmen and their families, the Air Mobility mission in Arkansas and blazed the trail to make his community, our Air Force, and our nation better," said A/TA Chairman, Gen. (ret) Duncan McNabb.

About the Tampa Bay Trophy

The Tampa Bay Trophy was created in 2016 by the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance and honors a civilian each year for their distinguished service and contributions to our country's Air Force servicemen and women. The Trophy, a one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture by Steve Dickey, Tampa's unofficial sculptor laureate, highlights the true spirit of the Tampa Bay Community and recognizes the service of the patriots who receive the prestigious award.

About the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance

The Tampa Bay Defense Alliance (TBDA) was formed in 2012 to champion our defense community by connecting our civilians to our military. The TBDA represents an eight-county region covering Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Hernando, and Citrus. Speaking as One Team with One Voice, TBDA collaborates and cooperates with our community partners on issues of importance to the defense and military communities in our region. The TBDA promotes a collaborative and engaging environment that vigorously supports a robust and growing defense community. United in actions, we are a forum of strategic thinkers that provide vital linkage to all organizations supporting our military personnel and their families.

About the Airlift Tankers Association

The Airlift/Tanker Association (A/TA) is the world's premier professional non-profit association for the Air Mobility community embracing innovation, promoting operational excellence, raising awareness, and understanding of the value of global mobility. The A/TA works across the DOD and Air Mobility Enterprise promoting a deeper understanding, appreciation, and reinforcement of Air Mobility heritage, culture, values, and relationships.

SOURCE Tampa Bay Defense Alliance
Michigan-based firm honored at No. 16 on inaugural national list

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Telemus Capital, LLC ("Telemus"), an independent, fee-based firm that offers comprehensive financial advisory, investment management and asset management solutions for high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals and institutional investors, has ranked among the top 20 nationwide and the top firm in Michigan on the inaugural Forbes/Shook American's Top RIA Firms list for 2022. The firm, headquartered in Southfield, has been in business since 2005.

This title is given to the top 100 advisory firms compiled by SHOOK Research which selects firms based on how clients are treated, the team's purpose, the underlying company culture, and the highest quality of service. Each awarded firm on this distinguished list is being recognized for decades of experience and dedication to helping clients preserve wealth and achieve financial success.

"At Telemus, our number one focus is enriching our clients' lives so they can enjoy their wealth," said Lyle Wolberg, CFP, CEO and Partner at Telemus Capital. "We have worked hard over the last 17 years to build a dedicated team and provide customized solutions from financial advisory to asset and liability management, investment management, insurance and risk protection, and family office services. Our holistic approach helps clients achieve their financial, investment, and life goals, and most importantly, provides peace of mind. It is truly an honor to be recognized by Forbes. It inspires us to keep building and growing and finding new ways to support our clients nationwide."

Telemus currently manages and advises on approximately $3 billion in investment assets for wealthy individuals, families, and their related interests.

Award is based on 12/31/2022 numbers. Telemus did not pay to participate in this award, however Telemus does pay a fee to use the awards promotional materials. The full Forbes rankings and additional award methodology information are available here.

About Telemus

Founded in 2005 as a fee-based RIA committed to upholding a high fiduciary standard, Telemus currently manages and advises on approximately $3 billion in investment assets for wealthy individuals, families and their related interests. Telemus is based in Southfield, Michigan, with offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Chicago, Illinois. For more information, please visit telemus.com.

Media Contact:

Jay Scott

[email protected]

484-695-3774

SOURCE Telemus Capital, LLC
$385,000 will support play therapy programs at 19 children's hospitals to improve treatment, outcomes, and overall hospital experience for pediatric patients in underserved communities

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toy Foundation (TTF), the charitable organization for the North American toy industry, and Children's Hospital Association, which represents over 200 children's hospitals in the nation, announced the Children's Hospital Play Grants program will fund more than $385,000 in play therapy projects and activities at 19 children's hospitals in the United States. The projects selected are designed to improve pediatric care through the healing power of play at hospitals that serve communities of the greatest need. For the second year, TTF is partnering with Children's Hospital Association to carry out the program.

A hospital stay can be an unbearable time for a child and their family. Incorporating play therapy into daily care can relieve stress, positively impact the child's wellbeing, and measurably improve treatment outcomes. The inaugural program in 2021 impacted 175,000 children; in 2022/2023, TTF expects to support an additional 185,000 pediatric patients through play.

"The extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play are well documented," said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. "We are delighted to help these amazing hospitals deliver the power of play to the children and families they serve every day."

Play projects and activities are in-kind services a hospital provides for the benefit of the child and their family. As pediatric emergency department visits continue to rise from the growing mental health crisis, as well as viral infections, chronic medical problems, and injury, hospitals are more reliant than ever on grant funding to offer impactful programming, such as Children's Hospital Play Grants.

"Congratulations to the children's hospital recipients of this year's TTF's Children's Hospital Play Grants," said Amy Wimpey Knight, president of Children's Hospital Association. "We are grateful and delighted The Toy Foundation recognizes the importance of play to children's health  emotionally and physically. Play is necessary therapy for children and families as they navigate health challenges, and we are proud to partner to recognize children's hospitals efforts in caring for the whole child."

The play grants to 19 children's hospitals will fulfill a variety of needs that may have otherwise not been met for a diverse pediatric patient population. Projects include VR technology to create customized and adaptive activities and experiences for patients at Elizabeth Seton Children's Center in New York; inclusive dance play-therapy available for all patients at Norton Children's Hospital in Kentucky; sensory safe spaces and toys for emergency department and inpatient children at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital in California; and more.

Recipients of TTF's Children's Hospital Play Grants 2022/2023 program include:

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago - Chicago, IL

- Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center - Temple, TX

& White McLane Children's Medical Center - Children's Hospital at Montefiore - Bronx , NY

, NY Children's Specialized Hospital - Mountainside, NJ

Children's Hospital of Orange County - Orange, CA

- El Paso Children's Hospital - El Paso TX

Elizabeth Seton Children's Center - Yonkers, NY

Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital - Orlando, FL

La Rabida Children's Hospital - Chicago, IL

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital - Loma Linda, CA

Children's Hospital - Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Network - Tacoma, WA

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital - Charleston, SC

Norton Children's Hospital - Louisville, KY

Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital - Maryland Heights, MO

Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children's Hospital - Memphis, TN

St. Louis Children's Hospital - St. Louis, MO

The Children's Hospital at Saint Francis - Tulsa, OK

- University of New Mexico Children's Hospital - Albuquerque, NM

Children's Hospital - UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center - Worcester, MA

For more information about The Toy Foundation's Children's Hospital Play Grants program, visit ToyFoundation.org.

About The Toy Foundation www.toyfoundation.org

The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)3 children's charity whose mission is to provide philanthropic support and the vital commodity of play to children and families in need, across the country and globe. TTF's donations represent the charitable works of TTF and the toy industry. Last year, TTF provided $360K in cash grants to nearly 4 million children severely impacted by the pandemic. Since its inception in 2003, TTF's signature Toy Bank has provided $225 million in toys to more than 26 million underserved children coping with serious illness, enduring temporary home placements in the foster care system, living with domestic violence, and/or dealing with natural disasters. TTF is also broadening its mission to provide grant funding to children's hospitals to encourage healing through play and to foster a diverse and inclusive culture and pipeline of talent for the toy industry.

About Children's Hospital Association www.childrenshospitals.org

The Children's Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children's hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care. For more information visit childrenshospitals.org.

SOURCE The Toy Foundation
Existing Multi-Unit Franchisee Expands Brand Footprint with Innovative New Restaurant Design in Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading fast casual restaurant brand, announced today the opening of a double drive-thru location in Oklahoma City, the first of its kind for the brand. Franchisee Rohit Patel is opening the uniquely designed location, which features two drive-thru lanes, one standard and the other designated for online, third party and curbside ordering pick up. The new location marks Patel's 14th cafe.

The new stand-alone cafe is located at 1714 Northwest 23rd Street, near Downtown Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma State Capitol building.

"Opening new locations is always something we look forward to, and there is an extra level of excitement when a new cafe model opens for the first time," said Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. "Rohit is an extremely dedicated franchisee. We knew his confidence in the brand and passion for the design and construction element of his new cafes would make him the right person for the first double drive-thru location."

With just a few in-restaurant dining tables, the small building footprint allows Tropical Smoothie Cafe to serve guests how they want to be served, leaving ample space for multiple cars and quick, convenient pick up. Likewise, the Oklahoma City location provides an experiential few moments for guests in the drive-thru lane, sending them on a quick escape by paying homage to the Born on a Beach history of Tropical Smoothie Cafe with eye-catching visuals.

"I am so honored to be the first franchisee to launch a double drive-thru for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, signifying growth for the brand's tech-driven operations," said Patel, who was part of the design team that developed the plans for the brand's double drive-thru model. "Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to meet the demand for digital ordering, the new model also offers more convenience and a unique guest experience. We can't wait to officially open and see the response to the new design."

Aside from owning and operating locations throughout the Oklahoma and Kansas City markets managed by Hero Hospitality, Patel also sits on the brand-wide construction committee.

In addition to the double drive-thru opening in Oklahoma City, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has reinforced itself as a leader in the fast casual restaurant segment with its spot on QSR magazine's 25 Fastest-Growing Fast-Food Chains in America list, ranking #10 in 2022 among a prestigious group of brands. To view the entire QSR 25 Fastest-Growing Fast-Food Chains in America list, visit: www.qsrmagazine.com/content/25-fastest-growing-fast-food-chains-america

Additionally, Franchise Times recognized Tropical Smoothie Cafe for its impressive growth, naming the concept to its Top 500 list, an exclusive annual ranking of the 500 largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales. The brand moved up 10 spots in its 2022 ranking, listed at #102. To view the full 2022 Franchise Times Top 500 rankings, visit: www.franchisetimes.com/top-500-2022/.

Interested Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise candidates should have business experience, along with a minimum net worth of $350,000, which includes $125,000 in liquid assets. Candidates who meet these preliminary qualifications will need to make an initial investment ranging between $277,000 - $584,000.

About Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a national fast-casual cafe concept inspiring a healthier lifestyle with more than 1,150 locations nationwide. For 25 years, the brand has been serving better-for-you smoothies, wraps, sandwiches and flatbreads. Tropical Smoothie Cafe also offers upgraded app technology and enhanced mobile ordering capabilities to further elevate the digital and dine-in cafe experience and emphasize the brand's focus on convenience. The rapidly growing franchise has received numerous accolades, including a top 10 ranking in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. It has also been named to Forbes' Best Franchises list, Franchise Times' Fast & Serious list and the Franchise Times Top 400 ranking. Notably, the franchise was also recognized on Fast Casual's Top 100 Movers and Shakers, Nation's Restaurant News' Top 200 and Top 10 Fastest-Growing Chains, Restaurant Business' America's Favorite Chains, and was awarded the TOPSCORE Fund Award and a Fund Score of 910 by FRANdata.

*2022 Entrepreneur magazine "Franchise 500" rankings.

SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Attending an Open Day is a great opportunity to find out about the postgraduate programs we offer. Watch information sessions delivered by our faculties and get a deeper insight into our excellent programs. We are for you to provide all the information you want, including how we can help build your career path, what the curriculum is like, what kind of guidance and counselling we offer and most importantly, what it's like to be a student at Tsinghua.

Come join us and discover where your future starts

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) Virtual Open Day 2023 will be held on October 29th, 2022.

This event is organized by the SIGS Admissions Office and supported by recruiting institutes, divisions, and programs, including the Institute of Materials Research, Open FIESTA, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Institute of Environment and Ecology, Hydraulic Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Big Data Engineering, Artificial Intelligence.

Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) Virtual Open Day 2023 will be held on October 29th, 2022.

Participants will be able to receive information based on teaching resources, academic research, future development, and international educational features of each faculty. At the end, the Graduate Admission Office and Academic Affairs will discuss admission requirements and financial aid system, followed by a Q&A session.

See you @SIGS Virtual Open Day

When: October 29, 2022

Presented by: Tsinghua SIGS Faculty and Staff

Venue:

1. Zoom (ID: 867 1967 4943)

2. Follow WeChat Account 'TsinghuaSIGS'

About Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS)

Launched in March of 2019, Tsinghua SIGS is a research and graduate education institution of Tsinghua University located in southern China. Building upon Tsinghua's academic legacy and Shenzhen's innovative resources, our students and faculty are dedicated to tackling global challenges through cutting-edge research and collaboration. Preparing future leaders for global challenges. At Tsinghua SIGS, our mission is to reshape graduate education as well as research and development to better serve local, national, regional, and global sustainable development. Here, we nurture the next generations of global leaders, tackle global challenges through international collaborations, and facilitate interdisciplinary research and industrial partnerships

Tsinghua SIGS has set up 6+1 theme areas that overcome traditional borders between academic disciplines and promote interdisciplinary research and learning. They include Materials Science, Data Science & Information Technology, Biopharmaceutical & Health Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Future Human Habitats, Environment & Ecology and Innovation Management.

Tsinghua SIGS offers Doctoral Programs and Master's Programs to international students. The 1st round of applications for international admission 2023 starts on October 15th, 2022. Applicants should complete an Online Application on THU website (http://gradadmission.tsinghua.edu.cn). For more application information, please refer to Admission to Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School 2023 (For International Students): https://www.sigs.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/2022/0929/c1402a58113/page.htm

For more Open Day information and admission inquiries, please contact Tsinghua SIGS Graduate Admission Office or visit Tsinghua SIGS official website.

Graduate Admission Office

Mail: [email protected]

Phone: +86 755 26036110

Tsinghua SIGS official website

https://www.sigs.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/

SOURCE Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
A coalition of more than 15 stakeholders urges the USDA to protect the integrity of the USDA Organic label and strengthen consumer trust by swiftly implementing the new Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards rule

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) led more than 15 other organizations, farmers, and companies in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finalize the Organic Livestock and Poultry Standards (OLPS) rule. These landmark federal regulations would require stronger welfare standards for animals raised under the "USDA Organic" label that better align with consumer expectations. The OLPS rule would also level the playing field for organic farmers who already adhere to higher-welfare practices, such as providing chickens with meaningful access to outdoor space where they can engage in natural behaviors.

The OLPS rule is similar to a 2017 rule that was withdrawn during the Trump administration, despite garnering support from tens of thousands of Americans and the vast majority of the organic farming community. The new rule offers a second chance at improving the lives of the more than 186 million farm animals raised annually under the USDA's National Organic Program by ensuring it represents truly higher-welfare farming. Notably, the rule would clarify that enclosed, screened-in porches with a roof do not qualify as outdoor access, closing a major loophole that has resulted in producers denying outdoor access for egg-laying hens. It would also prohibit certain painful mutilations, such as the debeaking of birds, routine tail docking of pigs, and tail docking and face branding of cattle; prohibit gestation crates for pigs; and require environmental enrichment, including bedding, rooting materials for pigs, and perches for egg-laying hens.

According to a recent national poll, the overwhelming majority (80 percent) of organic consumers say animal welfare is important to them when considering whether to purchase organic animal products, and 85 percent stated that it's important for the federal government to establish clear, uniform standards for animal welfare on organic farms.

"We're encouraged to see the USDA revisiting the OLPS rule to fix inconsistencies and loopholes in the National Organic Program. The exploitation of these flaws has put the lives and welfare of millions of animals at risk, and we urge the agency to act swiftly and decisively to correct them," said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA President and CEO. "The National Organic Program should be acting as intendedprotecting animals raised on organic farms and keeping consumers accurately aware of farming conditionsnot obscuring the truth and allowing cruel farming practices to get a pass. The ASPCA is dedicated to ensuring the USDA's welfare standards are meaningful for animals and meet public expectations of what the organic label entails."

"We applaud the USDA for taking steps to right the wrongs of the previous administration by proposing the OLPS rule that will codify animal welfare standards for hundreds of millions of animals raised on organic farms. For far too long, the lack of clear, uniform animal welfare standards under the National Organic Program has failed consumers and allowed factory farm-style operations to reap the financial benefits of the organic label without providing the higher-welfare conditions that consumers expect," said Susan Millward, Executive Director of AWI. "Meaningful outdoor access for animals and the ability for them to live more natural lives are at the heart of organic production. If the USDA truly wishes to protect the integrity of the organic label, it must quickly finalize and implement the OLPS rule to ensure animals are raised to a higher standard that is consistent across organic farms."

As part of its deliberation on the proposed OLPS rule, the USDA is accepting comments on its implementation timelines. The department has proposed giving existing organic producers as many as 15 years to comply with the new outdoor space requirements for poultry. Organic consumers overwhelmingly reject such an unacceptable delay and want faster implementation, with 92 percent of organic consumers supporting timelines of three years or less. As this pending rule waits to be implemented, many conscientious consumers continue to purchaseand pay more fororganic animal products under the mistaken belief that this label ensures animals have pasture access and other welfare-related benefits. Until the USDA finalizes the OLPS rule, large multinational corporations will continue to take advantage of loopholes in existing organic regulations to label items produced under cruel, factory-farm conditions as "organic" and mislead well-intentioned consumers.

In addition to protecting farm animals and bringing the USDA Organic label more in line with consumer expectations, these new standards will support a level playing field for the majority of independent organic farmers who already provide meaningful outdoor access for their animals and hold themselves to higher standards than what is currently required. This long-awaited rule is supported by 57 U.S. representatives and 20 senators, who have recommended quick implementation. Public support for the OLPS rule also remains high, with over 28,000 comments already submitted by ASPCA and AWI advocates alone.

The extended deadline to submit public comments is November 10, and the USDA will review comments before publishing the final rule. To submit a comment in support of the OLPS rule before the deadline, please visit ASPCA.org/OrganicRule.

About the ASPCA

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Animal Welfare Institute

The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywherein the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates and other important animal protection news.

SOURCE ASPCA
RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- When a professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) asked his students to attend a health equality conference, they had no clue how their ideas on healthcare for underserved populations would change. Professor Randy M. Page, Ph.D., Department of Public Health at BYU, asked his "Working with Vulnerable and Diverse Populations" class to attend the Healthy Churches 2030 Annual Conference and compose a reflection paper.

For these BYU students, this conference served as a catalyst for a change in their worldview of healthcare systems and an acknowledgment of the bias and injustice faced by people of color. The students left feeling motivated to work toward cultural competency and become advocates for people from diverse backgrounds who don't look like them after hearing the personal accounts of religious leaders, public health experts, and community activists regarding health conditions, treatments, and research on health equity.

One BYU student stated, "I need to know that it is never too early to be an advocate, and that I need to take advocacy opportunities whenever I can throughout my life and my career."

When The Balm In Gilead, Inc. created the conference nine years ago, the purpose was to help churches gain access to the resources they needed to build healthy and thriving health ministries. The conference has evolved into a convergence of church leaders, public health professionals, community activists, and corporate leaders to address health equality concerns affecting Black people.

Professor Page first attended the conference in-person in 2019 to build on his almost 30 years of teaching experience and extensive research on healthcare disparities among vulnerable populations. At the conference, "I was surrounded by people who wanted to improve the world. I was inspired by the passion and convictions of the speakers and attendees. I wanted to share this experience with my students," said Professor Page. His class curriculum now incorporates the conference.

The Balm In Gilead, Inc. will virtually host the Health Churches 2030 Annual Conference yet again, this year from November 14 to 17, 2022. Attendees enjoy access to keynote speeches, symposiums, panel discussions, and over 30 exhibitors and a special performance by gospel musician, Charles Jenkins.

Featured speakers include Lecrae, mental health champion and Grammy-award winning artist, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Emmy Award-winning actress and activist, Dr. Thema Bryant, psychologist and minister, Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby and others. Visit HC2030.org for more information.

About The Balm In Gilead, Inc.

The Balm In Gilead, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that is leading future generations into healthier life choices and aiding them with the tools for a bountiful life. As a not-for-profit, The Balm In Gilead, Inc. has developed an international reputation for providing an insightful understanding of religious cultures and values and an extraordinary ability to build strong, trusted partnerships with faith communities worldwide.

SOURCE Balm In Gilead, Inc.
VERO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Watercrest Senior Living Group proudly welcomes Joan Cisneros as executive director of Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care in Columbia, South Carolina. Watercrest Columbia is a 107-unit resort-style senior living community recently named 2022 Best Memory Care Community by Columbia Metropolitan Magazine.

Watercrest Senior Living Group welcomes Joan Cisneros as Executive Director of the award-winning Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care community.

"Upon learning about the values and people-centered focus of Watercrest Senior Living Group, I knew I had found a workplace to call home," says Joan Cisneros, Executive Director of Watercrest Columbia. "My primary goal is to bring out the best in people and Watercrest's vision of honoring our mothers and fathers in an environment of servant leadership is exactly where I hope to flourish as a leader and mentor to our associates and residents."

Cisneros joins the Watercrest family having served her entire career in the healthcare industry, primarily in geriatrics, for over thirty years. She found a special calling for senior living and memory loss as her own father was ravaged by Alzheimer's disease. She has served as a nurse since 1990, while successfully progressing as a Director of Nursing in both assisted living and memory care communities before stepping into the role of an administrator.

Under Cisneros' leadership, Watercrest Columbia has been nominated once again as a finalist in the categories of Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care by Columbia Metropolitan Magazine.

Watercrest Columbia is a signature product by Watercrest Senior Living offering 75 assisted living and 32 memory care apartments with premium accommodations, resort-style amenities and world-class care. Residents enjoy aquatic therapy in the resort-style pool, pampering in elegant Spa W, savoring private label Watercrest wines at the wine bistro, and relishing the flavors of locally grown, seasonal ingredients and organic fare whether dining outdoors, bistro-style, or in the chef's private dining room.

Designed by LifeBUILT Architecture, Watercrest Columbia includes a stunning promenade, pool, fireplace, signature water wall, multiple dining venues, children's play space, grand balconies and Southern style outdoor living spaces. Watercrest's uniquely designed Market Street Plaza, showcases an 'outdoor' streetscape with numerous LifeBUILT programming touches; a highlight and crucial element of their multi-sensory memory care programming.

Ideally located at 1951 Clemson Road, Watercrest Columbia is one of two joint venture development projects between Watercrest Senior Living Group and equity partner, Titan Development. For community information, or to schedule a tour call 803-882-3350.

About Watercrest Senior Living Group

Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia. A five-time certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. Visit www.watercrestseniorliving.com.

About Titan Development Real Estate Fund I

Titan Development Real Estate Fund I (TDREF I) is a $200 million private equity real estate fund established in 2017 to raise and invest equity in approximately $600 million of Titan Development's investment opportunities. Visit www.titan-development.com.

SOURCE Watercrest Senior Living Group
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilden, part of PSG, a Dover (NYSE: DOV) company, and a worldwide leader in specialty pumps, today announced that it has expanded its line of metal Equalizer Surge Dampeners  Integrated SD Series (ISD) with the addition of a new 76 mm (3") model. Designed to integrate directly into the manifold of a Wilden metal air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump, ISD Series dampeners reduce fluid pressure and flow fluctuations inherent in AODD pumps, providing a smoother discharge flow and maximum process fluid containment.

The function of a Wilden ISD Series dampener is critical in applications that need to minimize vibration and control pipe hammer while protecting the piping system as well as downstream instrumentation. This makes the dampeners an ideal solution for a wide range of applications, including oil and gas, paint and coatings, chemical and more.

In addition to the new 76 mm model, ISD Series stainless steel metal dampeners are available in 25 mm (1), 38 mm (1-1/2) and 51 mm (2) sizes.

For more information about Wilden and its line of surge dampeners, please visit wildenpump.com. Wilden is a product brand within PSG, a Dover company. For more information on PSG, please visit psgdover.com.

About Wilden Pump and Engineering Company:

Jim Wilden revolutionized the pumping industry when he invented the air-operated double-diaphragm (AODD) pump in 1955. Since that time, Wilden Pump and Engineering Company has been at the forefront of bringing AODD technology into the future by building its extensive infrastructure, knowledge base and intellectual capital. Wilden offers a comprehensive line of safe, reliable and energy-efficient AODD pumps  including the Pro-Flo SHIFT Series, Pro-Flo Series and Specialty Series  for critical pumping applications in the general industrial, paints and coatings, oil and gas, chemical process, water and wastewater, hygienic, mining, ceramics, and military and marine markets. Additionally, Wilden offers the largest selection of AODD diaphragms in the world to ensure your unique application demands are fully met. Headquartered in Grand Terrace, CA, USA, Wilden is part of PSG, a Dover company. To learn more about Wilden, please visit wildenpump.com.

About PSG:

PSG is the global pump, metering, and dispensing solution expert, enabling the safe and efficient transfer of critical and valuable fluids that require optimal performance and reliability in applications where it matters most. Additionally, PSG is a leading provider of flow meters designed to reduce waste and downtime while accurately measuring, monitoring and controlling the distribution of fluids. Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, IL, USA, PSG is comprised of several world-class brands, including Abaque, All-Flo, Almatec, Blackmer, Ebsray, em-tec, Griswold, Hydro, Malema, Mouvex, Neptune, Quantex, Quattroflow, RedScrew and Wilden. PSG products are manufactured on three continents  North America, Europe and Asia  in state-of-the-art facilities that practice lean manufacturing and are ISO-certified. PSG is part of the Pumps & Process Solutions segment of Dover Corporation. For additional information on PSG, please visit psgdover.com. PSG: Where Innovation Flows.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of over $8 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy & Fueling, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Climate & Sustainability Technologies. Dover combines global scale with operational agility to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 65 years, our team of over 25,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com.

PSG Contact:

Christine Nunez

(909) 422-1774

[email protected]

Dover Media Contact:

Adrian Sakowicz, VP, Communications

(630) 743-5039

[email protected]

Dover Investor Contact:

Jack Dickens, Senior Director, Investor Relations

(630) 743-2566

[email protected]

SOURCE Dover
DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Wipes Global Market Report 2022, By Type, By Product, By Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global wipes market.



The global wipes market is expected to grow from $18.09 billion in 2021 to $19.67 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8%. The market is expected to grow to $26.45 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7%.

Reasons to Purchase

Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies

Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates

Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis

Identify growth segments for investment

Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market

Understand customers based on the latest market research findings

Benchmark performance against key competitors

Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing

Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis

Major players in the wipes market are Rockline Industries, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Procter and Gamble Co., Unicharm International, Edgewell Personal Care, Johnson & Johnson, Diamond Wipes International, La Fresh, NicePak International, and Meridian Industries Inc..



The wipes market consists of sales of wipes and related services that are used in personal, household sector and industrial sectors. A wipe is a moistened, disposable cloth that is used for cleaning surfaces. It is often used as an antiseptic fabric primarily for skin cleansing.



The main types of wipes are disposable wipes and non-disposable wipes. Disposable wipes are nonwoven textiles that have been saturated with water and gentle cleansing chemicals used for baby care, hand washing, feminine and other personal cleansing. The various products include baby, facial & cosmetic, hand and body, flushable, others that are used by household sector, industrial sector and others.



Asia Pacific was the largest region in the wipes market in 2021. North America was the second largest region in the wipes market. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.



The increased demand for specialty wipes and wet wipes is a key factor driving the growth of the wipes market. Specialty wipes have multiple applications, from household to industrial including aerospace, while, wet wipes can be used for various purposes such as cleansing, hygiene, and skincare among others. Wet wipes are one of the best hygienic options for cleaning babies as they are fragile on sensitive children's bodies.

Manufacturers such as Pigeon offer products for children, such as anti-mosquito wet tissues. These mosquito repellent wet tissues and wipes are used to avoid mosquito bites and infectious diseases like malaria, dengue and other infections. These wipes can be easily carried to any place and used for both babies and adults for their sanitizing and easy cleaning benefits. Companies including Petkin, Wetnaps and other national wet wipes companies are selling wet wipes for even pets. Therefore, the increased demand for specialty wipes is expected to drive the growth of the wipes market.



The environmental threat is a key factor hampering the growth of the wipes market. Typically, the wipes are composed of a fabric like cotton blended together with plastic resins including polyester or polypropylene that are not biodegradable. According to Thames21, a leading waterways charity in London reported that around 23,000 wet wipes from one stretch of the Thames foreshore and 473 bin bags of wet wipes from the foreshore in Barnes, West London were removed in March 2019. Therefore, the environmental threat is expected to hinder the growth of the wipes market during the forecast period.



The toxin free baby wipes is a key trend in the wipes market. The toxin free baby wipes are purest clinical grade filtered water wipes loaded with Aloe vera extracts and vitamin E. These baby water wipes are specially formulated with pH to match the delicate skin of new born babies. Though these wipes are often used for babies they can even be used by adults and elderly. Bey Bee, a progressive child care company brand, launched India's first toxin-free baby wipes. These toxin-free wipes are distributed in all prominent web stores such as amazon, flipkart, Snapdeal, Paytm etc.



In October 2021, Ecolab Inc., the American based provider of water, hygiene and energy technologies and services acquired National Wiper Alliance for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Ecolab aimed to expand its contract manufacturing business of producing several disinfecting wipes products. National Wiper Alliance is a wipes manufacturing facility headquartered at North Carolina, USA.



The countries covered in the wipes market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK and USA.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary



2. Wipes Market Characteristics



3. Wipes Market Trends And Strategies



4. Impact Of COVID-19 On Wipes



5. Wipes Market Size And Growth

5.1. Global Wipes Historic Market, 2016-2021, $ Billion

5.1.1. Drivers Of The Market

5.1.2. Restraints On The Market

5.2. Global Wipes Forecast Market, 2021 - 2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

5.2.1. Drivers Of The Market

5.2.2. Restraints On the Market



6. Wipes Market Segmentation

6.1. Global Wipes Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

6.2. Global Wipes Market, Segmentation By Product, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

6.3. Global Wipes Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion



7. Wipes Market Regional And Country Analysis

7.1. Global Wipes Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

7.2. Global Wipes Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2026F, 2031F, $ Billion

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cikb3j

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

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Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Inc. recently revealed that BLAZE PR is No. 3872 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment  its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

John Davies, BLAZE PR and Davies Public Affairs CEO, says, "I've truly enjoyed witnessing BLAZE's growth and success over the years. This Inc. 5000 ranking speaks to their hard work, determination and creativity." He adds, "The future is bright with President Matt Kovacs at the helm, and I am confident we will only see continued momentum."

The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years.

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000 . The top 500 companies were featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine.

"The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated," says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work and rising to the challenges of today."

BLAZE PR is the go-to partner for lifestyle brands hungry for a real piece of the marketshare. Fresh and seasoned, the PR boutique agency is comprised of veteran practitioners who stay one step ahead of trends and will not rest on the laurels of past successes. BLAZE puts the strategy back in PR. Their media strategies are meaty, creative and on-point because they're backed by a thoughtful process that considers the particular world of each brand.

BLAZE represents leading brands in luxury travel, hospitality, consumer and lifestyle. In recent years, the team at BLAZE has been recognized for their leadership in consumer PR, taking home two Hermes Awards, Communicator Award, PRSA PRism and Silver Quill Awards. It is their particular ability to understand the opportunities and challenges each client faces that allows them to develop innovative, influential programs to overcome these obstacles and successfully achieve clients' business objectives.

For more information, and to learn how BLAZE PR can support and elevate your brand, visit blazepr.com

CONTACT:

Taylor DeVries

(805) 895-7470

[email protected]

1427 Third Street Promenade, Suite 201

Santa Monica, CA 90401

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000

Methodology

Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independentnot subsidiaries or divisions of other companiesas of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine's September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000 .

About Inc.

The world's most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com .

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit http://conference.inc.com/ .

SOURCE BLAZE PR
DUBLIN, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Bioplastics Market, Size, Share, Global Forecast 2022-2027, Industry Trends, Impact of COVID-19, Opportunity Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Global Bioplastics Market is expected to reach US$ 9.9 Billion by 2027. Bioplastics have been regarded as a potential solution to address environmental and economic challenges in recent years. Bioplastics is a sustainable material from renewable feedstock and an alternative to petroleum-based plastics, reducing 30-70% of carbon dioxide emissions.

It represents an approximately 42% reduction of carbon footprints. Remarkably, bioplastics represent the fastest growing product line for bio-based products. Moreover, the adoption of bioplastics has increased tremendously across various applications, owing to the advanced technical properties and functionalities. Besides, the demand for bioplastics has gained incredible traction across multiple plastic applications due to the encouraging legislation implemented by various governments around the globe.

Worldwide Bioplastics Industry will expand with a CAGR of 6.7% during 2021-2027

Since the past decade, the demand for bioplastics has increased due to growing awareness concerning environmental conservation, bio-based or natural resources for manufacturing materials, and various regulations across countries for effective use of natural resources and waste management. Further, as an alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics, the use of biomass based-plastics is being promoted for applications wherein the former was generally utilized. Further, due to numerous agencies' stringent laws and legislation on the usage of non-renewable, single-use plastics, industries have deviated their focus on developing and utilizing bioplastics for innumerable purposes.

Bioplastics Packaging - An Integral Part of the Global Bioplastics Market's Application:

With the evolution of time, bioplastics have found their application in packaging, agriculture, consumer goods, textile, automotive and transportation, building and construction. Besides, bioplastic packaging has been of fundamental significance over the years. Recently, bioplastic packaging has become an integral part of the global bioplastic market's application. Bioplastics apply in various sectors, including fibers, medical, packaging, and agriculture. The rising consumer awareness towards bioplastic packaging has led to the tremendous growth of the overall market. In addition, eco-friendly initiatives by corporates and abundant availability of raw materials for manufacturing bioplastics are prominent factors driving growth for the global bioplastics market.

PLA to Pace Biodegradables:

Biodegradable plastics account for their majority application in the world bioplastics market. Excellent growth is forecast for the leading biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA), which will pace its demand through 2021. As per the analysis, rapid growth for PLA is expected to benefit from advancements in compounding polymerization technology and it's relatively low cost compared to other bioplastics. Similarly, the fastest gains for biodegradable plastics will also be seen for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) resins, which are just entering the commercial market.

Non-Biodegradable Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT) to Lead Gains:

Despite the solid advances for biodegradables, non-biodegradable Polytrimethylene Terephthalate (PTT) will be the primary driver of bioplastics demand through 2021 and beyond. Majorly, gains will be fuelled by the industrial and residential carpet market. Polytrimethylene Terephthalate is used in the textile industry as it can be spun both in yarn and fibers. Also, PTT can be used in textiles and apparel, non-woven films, engineering thermoplastics, and monofilaments. Besides, PTT is used in carpets for the automotive market. Hence, this material finds apparel, home furnishing, and automobile upholstery applications. Remarkably, PTT composites and bio-composites can be significant opportunities for the market.

Asia-Pacific Is Well Positioned to Become A Global Bioplastics Hub:

Asia-Pacific is well-positioned to become a global bioplastics hub. The Asia-Pacific is a leading producer of the raw materials required for bioplastic synthesis and is well equipped with progressive technology and technical expertise through all phases of the supply chain. Consumers in the market have access to the industry, and a solid governmental supporting policy has been implemented to fuel growth in the bioplastic sector. Hence, all of these factors highlight Asia-Pacific's readiness to emerge as a global bioplastic hub.

Material Type - Global Bioplastics has been covered from 2 viewpoints:

1. Biodegradable

2. Non-Biodegradable

Biodegradable - Global Bioplastics has been covered from 6 viewpoints:

1. Polybutylene adipate Terephthalate (PBAT)

2. Polybutylene Succinate (PBS)

3. Polylactic Acid (PLA)

4. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)

5. Starch Blends

6. Others

Non-Biodegradable - Global Bioplastics has been covered from 6 viewpoints:

1. Polyethylene (PE)

2. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

3. Polyamide (PA)

4. Polypropylene (PP)

5. Polytrimethylene terephthalate) ( PTT)

6. Others

Applications - Global Bioplastics Market has been covered from 7 viewpoints:

1. Packaging

2. Agriculture

3. Consumer Goods

4. Textile

5. Automotive and Transportation

Region - Global Bioplastics Market has been covered from 4 viewpoints:

1. North America

2. Europe

3. Asia Pacific

4. Rest of the World

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction



2. Research & Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Dynamics



5. Global Bioplastics Analysis



6. Market Share - Global Bioplastics Analysis



7. Volume Share - Global Bioplastics Analysis



8. Material Type - Global Bioplastics Market



9. Applications - Global Bioplastics Market



10. Regions - Global Bioplastics Market



11. Porters Five Forces



12. Company Analysis

Companies Mentioned

Total Corbion ( Netherlands )

) Mitsubishi Chemical Holding Corporation ( Japan )

) Toray Industries ( Japan )

) Biome Bioplastics (UK)

Green Dot Bioplastics

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/m5tifx

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets
XIAMEN, China, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On October 26th local time, Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) announced the winners of a number of different awards including Five-Star Global Airlines and World Class awards. Rated as a Five-Star Global Airline for the third year in a row, Xiamen Airlines was thrilled to win an even bigger award, i.e. World Class award 2023, the most eminent of all APEX awards. Seven other airlines, including Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines, were awarded the same title.



Distinctive Services Earned Xiamen Airlines the Top Award

Xiamen Airlines Wins APEX World Class award Xiamen Airlines Wins APEX World Class award

In late August this year, Mr. Hichem, APEX's official auditor for rating Xiamen Airlines' services, flew first class, business class, and economic class with several of the airline's flights, and was impressed by its crew members' professionalism, their impeccable services, and their incredible attention to detail. "One of the highlights of this world-class service audit experience is Xiamen Airlines' s commitment to sustainability," he said. "As the first airline in the world to support the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, Xiamen Airlines has virtually eliminated the use of disposable plastic products."

During the audit, the auditor rated Xiamen Airlines' hardware, software and services with utmost professionalism against the world's highest standards. He teased out 197 pages, more than forty thousand words of service audit report, recognized Xiamen Airlines' consistency and integrity of its services throughout the whole chain, including flight safety, punctuality, worry-free checking-in, cabin services, and transfers. "Xiamen Airlines wins this great honor by standing out from a group of the world's leading airlines," Hichem said. "It is truly something that is hard earned."

Innovating to Continuously Elevate Passenger Experience

"The 2023 World Class award represents APEX's recognition of our high quality services," said Zhao Dong, chairman of Xiamen Airlines. "We will continue to adopt high standards for our services, and stick to rigorous anti-COVID measures and sustainable, responsible operation to ensure remarkable experiences for all our passengers."

In 2019, Xiamen Airlines was invited to attend the annual APEX meeting marking its 40th anniversary. Zhao Dong, chairman of Xiamen Airlines, was highly applauded at the event when he delivered a speech in English explaining to the audience how the airline had been trying to be sustainable in support of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Mr. Zhao was also the first Chinese ever to join APEX's board of governors, which is comprised of leaders of the world's top airlines such as Delta Air Lines and JetBlue. In the same year, for the concrete actions it had taken in support of the United Nation's SDGs and its quality service capabilities, Xiamen Airlines received from APEX three other awards, i.e. SDGs Global Visionary Leader Award, Passengers' Choice for Best Cabin Service in Mainland China, and Passengers' Choice for Best Food & Beverage in Mainland China.

Since the beginning of this year, Xiamen Airlines has been innovating its services to try to effect changes and breakthroughs in the new landscape of the market. For example, to be more environmentally friendly and promote the concept of sustainability, Xiamen Airlines flew its first carbon-neutral flight this year. It was the first Chinese airline to provide first class passengers with sumptuous "A Starred Journey" meals and wines in collaboration with a three-star Michelin restaurant. Plus, to promote Chinese culture and show the typical Chinese character, the airline launched Tianji Teahouse, a tea-ceremony-based new service system integrating both traditional Chinese tea culture and modern flight cabin services. All these indicate Xiamen Airlines' commitment to innovation and have been applauded by APEX.

SOURCE Xiamen Airlines
SHANGHAI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company"), a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the third quarter 2022 ended September 30, 2022, after the U.S. market closes on November 21, 2022.

ZTO's management team will host an earnings conference call at 7:30 P.M. U.S. Eastern Time on Monday, November 21, 2022, which is 8:30 A.M. Beijing Time on Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows:

United States: 1-888-317-6003 Hong Kong: 852-5808-1995 Singapore: 800-120-5863 Mainland China: 4001-206-115 International: 1-412-317-6061 Passcode: 1907552

A replay of the conference call may be accessible through November 28, 2022 by dialing the following numbers:

United States: 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Canada: 855-669-9658 Passcode: 2728405

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://zto.investorroom.com .

About ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.

ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc. (NYSE: ZTO and SEHK: 2057) ("ZTO" or the "Company") is a leading and fast-growing express delivery company in China. ZTO provides express delivery service as well as other value-added logistics services through its extensive and reliable nationwide network coverage in China.

ZTO operates a highly scalable network partner model, which the Company believes is best suited to support the significant growth of e-commerce in China. The Company leverages its network partners to provide pickup and last-mile delivery services, while controlling the mission-critical line-haul transportation and sorting network within the express delivery service value chain.

For more information, please visit http://zto.investorroom.com .

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations

Tel: (86) 21 5980 4508

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE ZTO Express (Cayman) Inc.
Stockholm, Oct 27 : The Swedish Navy said that it had deployed two vessels to conduct further investigations into the Nord Stream pipeline leaks in the Baltic Sea.

"I can confirm that we are there with two minesweepers," Jimmie Adamsson, the Navy's head of communications, told Swedish Television on Wednesday, adding that the vessels were deployed "to carry out work and investigations underwater." "We felt the need to conduct further surveys to complement the investigation," Adamsson was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.

He said the investigation was done on the Navy's initiative and was not part of the country's simultaneous criminal investigation.

Adamsson declined to divulge further information other than that the aim of the operation was to satisfy the needs of the Navy.

The Swedish Navy has earlier assisted the criminal investigation by deploying a submarine rescue vessel to investigate one of the sites where the four leaks occurred in the Swedish and Danish exclusive economic zones of the Baltic Sea in September.

The investigation strengthened the suspicion that acts of sabotage were behind the blasts that damaged the two pipelines built to transport natural gas from Russia to Germany.

Russia has demanded that Sweden shares the findings, but the Swedish authorities have ruled that out, citing pre-trial confidentiality.

Denmark and Germany have also launched operations to gather information and potential evidence material after the cordons were removed following the Swedish crime scene investigation.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Delhi BJP leaders on Wednesday termed the property tax amnesty scheme announced by Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena as 'a historic step'.

Leader of Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and former Delhi BJP chief and MP Manoj Tiwari held a joint press conference on Wednesday and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Lieutenant Governor Saxena for the scheme.

State BJP Media Relations Department in-charge Harish Khurana, spokesperson Yasir Jilani and Ajay Sehrawat were present in the press conference.

Bidhuri said that the Modi government with this property tax amnesty scheme has given a huge concession to the people of Delhi, which will benefit lakhs of people.

Under the scheme, all the previous dues prior to 2016-17 will be completely waived off on payment of property tax for the current year and the previous six years.

"Such a historic decision has been possible only because of the Modi government," asserted Bidhuri.

He further said that many pending court cases related to the property tax will gradually end now.

Similarly, Tiwari said that the "Modi government, with its good work, is delivering benefits to the people without any publicity".

Party will spread words about the scheme by visiting unauthorised and authorised colonies in the national capital, he added.

Tiwari claimed that the amnesty scheme proposal was pending since 2004 but the Congress government had not implemented it. Many cases are also in court.

The BJP leader also said that initially, the Modi government has regularised the unauthorized colonies and now, it has waived the property tax.
Rome, Oct 27 : The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin.

The final tally in the Senate was 115 votes in favour of confirming Meloni's government, 79 against and five abstentions, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Tuesday, the government easily won approval in the lower house of parliament, with 235 votes in favour, 154 against and five abstentions.

The two confidence votes are a step required by the Italian constitution for a new government to become fully operative.

Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, told the parliament ahead of the confidence vote on Wednesday her policy goals, including curbing high energy costs, sparking stronger economic growth, continuing support for Ukraine and strengthening the office of prime minister.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party was the top vote-getter in Italy's Sept. 25 general election with over 26 per cent of the ballots cast. She had run the campaign with her two coalition allies, the Forza Italia party and the League, both of which gained over 8 per cent of the votes.

The new government formed by Meloni was officially sworn in on Saturday.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that there has been an increase in drug smuggling through the darknet and cryptocurrencies, which is also responsible for terrorism.

The Home Minister made the remarks at a high-level regional meeting on drug trafficking and national security in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

Shah said that on the one hand narcotics are eating the youth like termites and on the other hand the illegal money coming from the narcotics trade nurtures terrorism.

He said that to keep the youth safe and to combat the financing of terrorism, all the Central and state agencies have to fight this as a common battle and have to win.

Shah said that the major drug smuggling issues in western states include the increasing maritime smuggling of heroin from the west coast, illegal cultivation of narcotics such as opium, ganja, and poppy, use of couriers and parcels in drug smuggling, darknet and increase in drug smuggling through cryptocurrencies.

Shah said that during the recent investigation of cases, new trends have emerged in drug trafficking in western states and necessary action needs to be taken to tackle these new trends.

The Home Minister said that among the states of the western region of the country, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have a vast coastline, additionally Rajasthan and Gujarat share borders with Pakistan.

Shah said that there has been an increase in the smuggling of South Central Asian heroin through the sea route as well as the increasing cases of heroin smuggling through the Indo-Pak border is a matter of concern.

Sharing details drug smuggling cases, the Home Minister said that from 2006 to 2013, a total of 1,257 cases were registered, while from 2014 to 2022, 3,172 cases were registered, which is a total increase of 152 per cent.

Similarly, from 2006 to 2013, a total of 1.52 lakh kg of drugs were seized, which increased to 3.33 lakh kg from 2014 to 2022, earlier its value was Rs 768 crores, which has now increased to Rs 20,000 crores.

Shah said that a drug addict is not a criminal, but a victim. He stressed on the need to destroy the entire network of drugs by attacking both the source and destination of drugs by adopting top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approaches.

The Home Minister also stressed on strict implementation of various provisions of the NDPS Act. He stressed the need to consider setting up fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials.
Tehran, Oct 27 : Rejecting the claims that Russia used Iranian drones against Ukraine, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed Tehran's readiness for talks with Kiev on such allegations.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a joint press conference with his visiting Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei in Tehran, Xinhua news agency reported.

"We strongly dismiss the baseless claims of some countries on Russia's use of Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine. We invite Ukrainian authorities to attend a bilateral meeting of experts, and present any evidence supporting the accusations," he was quoted by Press TV as saying.

Iran's principled policy is to oppose arming either of the parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, he added, reiterating Tehran's opposition to the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine and Western countries like the US have in recent weeks accused Tehran of exporting suicide drones to Moscow for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Noting cooperation in different fields including defense between Iran and Russia, Amir-Abdollahian said on Monday that "in the past, we have taken weapons from Russia and given it weapons as well, but not during the Ukraine war".

Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War
Tehran, Oct 27 : At least 13 people were reportedly killed and 21 others injured in a "terrorist attack" at the Shahcheragh religious shrine in Iran's southern city of Shiraz.

One woman and two children were among the victims, semi-official Fars news agency said in a report, adding that investigations showed that the security forces of the shrine were also targeted in this attack on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Although the earlier reports said three terrorists were behind the attack, the police commander of Fars province said there is one attacker and the one has been arrested.

According to Fars, the perpetrator of this attack is an element of Takfiri groups.
Lucknow, Oct 27 : A retired merchant navy personnel, who had gone missing from his home, was found murdered with his throat slit, in a village located on the outskirts of Lucknow.

The police said that the crime could be the result of a family dispute.

A case under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) has been registered and the body has been sent for post mortem.

Lucknow Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP-South) Rahul Raj said that the body of Nand Kumar Tiwari, 62, was found in the bushes on Nagram Road under Mohanlalganj police station limits on Wednesday evening.

He said the victim had head injuries and his throat was slit, suggesting that the assailants could have hit him with a blunt object before killing him.

The deceased, lived with his son in Maharajajipuram Colony under Krishna Nagar police circle.

The DCP said a police team has recovered a diary belonging to the victim, his spectacles and two kitchen knives apparently used to slit Tiwari's throat from near the bushes.

He added that Tiwari's son had strained relations with his wife.
Ankara, Oct 27 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be pleased to host new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Turkey during a phone talk between the two leaders, after months of tension with the Nordic country over its NATO bid.

Erdogan told Kristersson on Wednesday that it is in the "common interest to prevent terrorist organisations from taking Sweden's NATO membership and its bilateral relations with Turkey hostage", Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the Turkish presidency.

Ankara was ready to enhance bilateral relations with the Swedish government in every field, the Turkish President said.

Erdogan also conveyed his congratulations to Kristersson for being elected as the Prime Minister of Sweden, according to the statement.

Finland and Sweden's NATO bid was initially blocked by Ankara, which accused them of supporting anti-Turkey groups as they rejected Ankara's extradition requests for suspects affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulen movement.

On June 28, Turkey, Sweden and Finland agreed on a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of the NATO Madrid summit.

In the MoU, Finland and Sweden pledged to support Turkey's fight against terrorism, and agreed to address Ankara's "pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly".

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

The Gulen Movement is led by and named after the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the 2016 failed coup in which at least 250 people were killed.
London, Oct 27 : Indian-origin Labour MP Nadia Whittome has deleted a tweet, which she posted earlier this week saying Rishi Sunak becoming Prime Minister "isn't a win for Asian representation".

Whittome was "instructed" to remove her tweet, a spokesman for Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer confirmed, after it drew backlash on social media, the BBC reported.

"Rishi Sunak as prime minister isn't a win for Asian representation," Whittome wrote in the tweet, which now stands deleted.

"He's a multi-millionaire 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," she added.

Sunak, the UK's first Asian Prime Minister, and his wife Akshata Murty's combined fortune is estimated to be 730 million pounds, double the estimated 300 million-350 million pounds wealth of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort.

They own four properties spread across the world and valued at more than 15 million pounds, The Guardian reported.

Whittome's Punjabi Sikh father emigrated to the UK from Banga, Punjab at the age of 21. Her mother is an Anglo-Indian Catholic solicitor and former member of the Labour Party.

In a statement to BBC, Whittome's office said: "Like Rishi Sunak, Ms Whittome is second-generation British Indian.

"Ms Whittome was pointing to Rishi Sunak's record as chancellor to demonstrate that effective political representation of British Asian communities -- and the interests of all working people -- is about far more than the ethnicity of the prime minister." Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, meanwhile, "welcomed" the appointment of Sunak as "the first British Asian Prime Minister", describing it as a "real milestone for our country".

But on being pressed by the Sky News on Wednesday to comment on the issue, he said: "The position of the Labour party is the position that I have set out. the whole Labour Party supports that, and we're very, very pleased to do that".

Whittome, a staunch critic of Sunak, had earlier tweeted: "Rishi Sunak and his wife sit on a fortune of 730,000,000 pounds. That's around twice the estimated wealth of King Charles III. Remember this whenever he talks about making 'tough decisions' that working class people will pay for." She was elected in 2019 at the age of 23 as a member of the Labour party, and became the "Baby of the House" as the youngest MP.

Before her election, she was a hate crime worker, and prior to that a care worker while studying law at the University of Nottingham.
Auckland, Oct 27 : Police in New Zealand arrested a woman on Thursday in connection with a sword attack on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's electorate office in Auckland.

A police spokesperson confirmed the arrest of the 57-year-old woman, adding that she was "currently assisting police with our inquiries into the matter", reports The New Zealand Herald newspaper.

According to emergency services, the sword outside the Mt Albert electorate office on New North Rd in Morningside was found on the ground outside.

So far, no injuries have been reported, Xinhua news agency quoted the emergency services as saying.

A scene examination will be conducted and inquiries were also underway.

Ardern is presently in Antarctica for a four-day visit celebrating the 65th anniversary of New Zealand's Scott Base, the country's only research station in the icy continent.

She is slated to return on Friday.
New York, Oct 27 : The man who murdered an Indian-American Sikh sheriffs deputy in Texas has been sentenced to death, according to officials.

The verdict was handed down on Wednesday by the jury, a panel made up of citizens, which had earlier found Robert Solis guilty of murdering Sandeep Dhaliwal in 2019.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted: "Verdict is in: Jurors sentence Robert Solis to death. We are extremely grateful that justice has been served." Dhaliwal had made headlines when the obtained a religious exemption in 2015 to wear a turban as part of his uniform as a deputy for Harris County sheriff.

"Sandeep changed our Sheriff's Office family for the better, and we continue striving to live up to his example of servant leadership. May he Rest In Peace," Gonzalez tweeted.

History-sheeter Solis, who dismissed his lawyer and presented a bizarre defence while admitting he had fired the shot that killed Dhaliwal, defiantly told the jury after the guilty verdict on October 17, "since you believe I'm guilty of capital murder, I believe you should give me the death penalty".

And the jury obliged him.

He could appeal to higher courts all the way to the US Supreme Court and if the sentence is upheld the execution will be by the injection of Pentobarbital, a lethal drug, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Solis shot Dhaliwal in the back of the head in December 2019 near Houston as the officer was returning to his vehicle after a traffic stop, according to the prosecution.

The trial was held in two phases: In the first, the jury considered the charges and the evidence and found him guilty, and in the second, it decided on the sentence after considering more evidence about Solis who, according to ABC13 TV has arrest records going back at least 25 years.

Solis was convicted in a kidnapping and assault case in 2002 and sentenced to 20 years, but was paroled in 2014.

When he killed Dhaliwal, there was a warrant for his arrest in connection with an assault complaint by a former girlfriend.

During the proceedings for determining the penalty, the court heard testimony from various sources to bolster the prosecution's case for the death penalty.

Among them, the father of a former girlfriend blamed him for her death.

A woman reported being raped by Solis, which he admitted.

The mother of his three children told the jury he was a "psychopath" while describing his violent outbursts and said his children did not want to see him again.

Dhaliwal, who was 42 and had served as a sheriff's deputy for 10 years when he was killed, is survived by his wife and three children, according to Tunnel to Towers Foundation which honours the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre by raising funds to help families of first responders killed in action.

It said that he became a law enforcement officer "to help build the relationship between the Sikh community and the Sheriff's Department".

"He organised volunteers to help his fellow Texans after Hurricane Harvey devastated much of the state in 2017, and he travelled to Puerto Rico to help with relief after Hurricane Maria" in the same year, it added.
Lucknow, Oct 27 : Despite warnings of strict action by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, nearly 18 districts in the state have failed in checking stubble burning.

The fact came to light in a review meeting held by Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra.

Mishra pinpointed the 18 districts -- Gautam Buddha Nagar, Ghaziabad, Saharanpur, Shamli, Aligarh, Mathura, Sambhal, Meerut Bulandshahr, Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Fatehpur, Barabanki, Kanpur, Hardoi and Rampur -- for failing to take adequate measures to check stubble burning post-paddy harvesting season.

While these districts have come on the radar of the state government, the Chief Secretary has asked all district authorities to take steps to check the problem with immediate effect.

This includes daily monitoring and taking legal action against those flouting the norms.

The situation has surfaced despite the strict directives of the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal to check stubble (NGT) year after year.

The Uttar Pradesh government has also issued four orders on the issue since 2019, the recent one on October 10 this year.

The state reportedly recorded 80 instances of crop burning till October 6 against 52 recorded last year, according to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) that tracks such fires via satellite.

In 2020, 101 incidents of stubble burning were recorded.

As per an estimate, Uttar Pradesh is the highest producer of agricultural residues (40 MT) followed by Maharashtra (31MT) and Punjab (28 MT).

Last year, the state agriculture department had proposed feeding stubble to stray cattle as a key measure to dispose of the agricultural residue.

The Yogi government had also proposed funding carriage of stubble to shelter homes meant for stray cattle.
United Nations, Oct 27 : Ambassador Chris Lu will be representing the US at the special meeting of the UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) in India this week, according to Washington's UN mission.

The CTC, headed by India, is to meet in Mumbai on Friday and in New Delhi on Saturday in India's untiring efforts to draw attention to international terrorism and push for action against it.

The mission said that Lu will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony in honour of the victims of the 2008 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai and lead the US delegation in the CTC meetings there and in New Delhi that will focus on terrorism threats posed by emerging technologies.

Lu, who arrives in Mumbai on Thursday, will also meet with graduate students from the Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership" to hear their aspirations and discuss the essential role public service plays in democracy", the US UN said.
Seoul, Oct 27 : More than three quarters of North Korea's missile tests conducted since 1984 were deemed to be successful, new data revealed on Thursday,.

The US-based James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies produced the data on the North's testing of missiles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg at a distance of at least 300 km, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Of the 204 missiles tested by the North since 1984, 156 were classified as successes, 32 as failures and the rest as "unknown", according to the institute's data posted on the Nuclear Threat Initiative's website.

The figure translates to a success rate of 76 per cent over the period.

The overall success rate stood in stark contrast with the 1984-1992 period, during which only five out of the total 10 missile launches were rated as successes.

The database also analysed 44 North Korean missile tests conducted this year.

As of October 14, the tests included 27 successes and four failures, which led to a success rate of 61 per cent.

Pyongyang has recently ratcheted up regional tensions with a range of missile tests, including those involving an intermediate-range ballistic missile and a long-range cruise missile earlier this month.
Paris, Oct 27 : First-half goals from Daichi Kamada and Randel Kolo Muani helped Eintracht Frankfurt beat Marseille 2-1 in the fifth round of UEFA Champions League Group D even as Liverpool, Inter and Porto marched into the Round of 16 in impressive style as early exits were confirmed for Ajax, Barcelona and AtlAtico Madrid.

Liverpool rode out plenty of early Ajax pressure to emerge as comfortable 3-0 victors and the round of 16 qualifiers. Steven Berghuis hit a post after three minutes and DuAan Tadic was also denied, yet Liverpool were ahead at half-time.

Jordan Henderson's outside-of-the-boot cross got the finish it deserved as Mohamed Salah scored a brilliant goal. Darwin NAAez, who hit the post in the first session, got on the mark early in the second half with a show of strength and guile to head in from a corner. Harvey Elliott smashed into the roof of the net to make it three.

In the same Group A, Napoli got the better of Scotland's Rangers with a 3-0 win.

Giovanni Simeone scored twice in a blistering opening 16 minutes as a much-changed Napoli swept aside Rangers to stay top of Group A with a 12th straight win in all competitions. Simeone ran away from Ben Davies to thump in a low shot before meeting MArio Rui's wonderful cross with a powerful header. Rangers improved after the break, with Alfredo Morelos missing a great chance at the far post, but allowed Leo Ostigard a free header for a late third.

Porto advanced with a 4-0 win at Club Brugge, avenging their defeat earlier in the event.

The visitors, beaten 4-0 by Club Brugge on Matchday 2, gave their Belgian hosts a taste of their own medicine. Mehdi Taremi scored two and set up another for Stephen Eustaquio, while there was a first Champions League goal for Evanilson as Porto ran riot against a team that had not conceded in the group stage before Wednesday night.

The Dragons were also indebted to Diogo Costa, who saved Hans Vanaken's penalty with the score 1-0 and then, when it was retaken because of encroachment, dived the other way to deny Noa Lang.

Inter made things look easy as they booked their last-16 berth at the expense of Barcelona, who lost 0-3 to Bayern Munich, who lead Group C with five wins from five matches.

In Milan, Jindrich Stanek had already pulled off a fine double save when Henrikh Mkhitaryan headed the hosts in front after 35 minutes, and it was one-way traffic thereafter. The indefatigable Federico Dimarco laid the ball on a plate for Edin DAeko to make it 2-0, and the 36-year-old added his second and Inter's third with a consummate finish midway through the second half. The returning Romelu Lukaku iced the cake with a vintage fourth.

In Group D, Tottenham Hotspur were held 1-1 by Sporting Lisbon while Frankfurt overcame Marseille.

Frankfurt kept alive their hopes of progressing from Group D with a narrow victory. Daichi Kamada set the competition debutants on their way with an early strike following Jesper LindstrAm's clever dummy, but it was soon cancelled out by Matteo Guendouzi's smart back-post volley. Randal Kolo Muani restored Frankfurt's lead moments later and the hosts survived a second-half onslaught to leave the section with all to play going into Matchday 6.

Spurs' hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages are on a knife edge after a costly draw. Former Tottenham man Marcus Edwards gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half but the home side responded emphatically after the break, levelling through Rodrigo Bentancur nine minutes from time.

Antonio Conte's charges pushed desperately for a winner and they thought they had found it in the 95th minute when Harry Kane netted, only to be ruled offside.
Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27 : Fight between Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan continues unabated with none willing to exercise any restraint.

What began as a spar between two seasoned veterans, grew into a full blown battle after Khan, on Wednesday, wrote to Vijayan saying he is withdrawing his "pleasure" that he had on State Finance Minister K.N.Balagopal, over his harsh words against the former at a meeting.

Vijayan instantly replied that since Balagopal's speech contained nothing that showed any disrespect to the head of the state, it can be left like that.

Also, as the ruling CPI-M has called for a statewide protest with one lakh of their cadres expected to arrive before Khan's official residence on November 15, the state BJP has warned the Left against doing anything "foolish", saying they should not forget that Vijayan's house is only a stone's throw away from that of Khan's.

Following the withdrawal of the "pleasure" of Khan, clearly implying that Balagopal has to go, the police have tightened security near his residence. The CPI-M has expressed apprehension that the BJP cadres might attack Khan's residence but the blame will fall on the CPI-M.

Currently, the focus has shifted to the national capital as both Khan and Vijayan are away in the north and all eyes are on Vijayan who is attending the two-day Chintan Shivir (reflection camp) of all state Home Ministers called by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah which begins in Haryana on Thursday.

Vijayan, who generally keeps away from such meetings, is however, attending it and it remains to be seen if he raises the issue of federalism and if he does, then it can be assumed that he has decided to intensify the fight with Khan.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Khan, while in Delhi, is expected to solicit advice on how to deal with the November 15 protests and is mulling calling for Central forces to take over his security and also at the Universities.

So all in all, with neither of them willing to show any restraint in their way forward, this case could well become a benchmark one when it comes before the judiciary.
Kolkata, Oct 27 : Sukanya Mondal, daughter of Trinamool Congress strongman Anubrata Mondal, will skip her scheduled appearance at the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday for questioning on the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam in West Bengal.

Sukanya Mondal informed the probe agency of the development citing personal reasons and also sought some more time before she is questioned by the ED sleuths.

ED sources said that Sukanya Mondal was supposed to be questioned on the companies wherein she is the director as well as the rice mills in which she is the "partner".

The two companies -- ANM Agrochem Private Limited and Neer Developer Private Limited -- are already under the scanner of both ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is also conducting a parallel probe into the cattle smuggling scam.

In both the firms, Sukanya Mondal is one of the two directors and the central agency sleuths believe that these two corporate entities are basically shell companies meant for channelising the crime proceeds.

Recently, the CBI had submitted a charge sheet where it said that Sukanya Mondal's annual income increased from Rs 3.10 lakhs in the 2013-14 financial year to Rs 1.45 crore in 2020-21.

Apart from that she also has a fixed deposit worth Rs 3 crore.

The ED sources further said that their officers also want to question Sukanya Mondal on certain properties which were registered under her name, and were purchased at prices much lower than the prevailing market rates only to be sold off later at much higher prices.
Los Angeles, Oct 27 : Harvey Weinstein's genitalia and a social media photo of Al Pacino became key sticking points in the cross-examination of a Jane Doe in Weinstein's rape trial.

After three days on the stand, the first woman to testify in Weinstein's Los Angeles trial completed her testimony, which included a full day of gruelling questions from the already-convicted rapist's attorney, who aimed to poke holes in her account of the night she says she was assaulted by the former Hollywood producer, reports Variety.

Jane Doe #1, who is a European actress and model, testified that Weinstein sexually assaulted and raped her in February 2013 in a hotel room when she was visiting as a VIP guest at the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival.

Through tears and sometimes uncontrollable deep breaths, the woman told the jury how Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him, groped her, pulled her hair, bent her over a sink and raped her, all after he had barged into her hotel room unannounced, reports Variety.

Weinstein's defence attorney, Alan Jackson, focused on a few pieces of information when questioning Jane Doe #1: her time frame of events; her social media posts; whether there were any medical records, evidence or documentation surrounding the alleged incident; and Weinstein's testicles.

Weinstein's genitalia has emerged as a key factor during the trial; the topic is expected to repeatedly come up during testimony from various women.

Due to a surgery in 1999, Weinstein's testicles are abnormal, his attorneys have explained. During opening statements, the prosecutor, deputy D.A. Paul Thompson, told the jury, "Because of an infection, his testicles were actually taken from his scrotum and put into his inner thighs." During Jane Doe #1's testimony, she tearfully told the jury that when Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him, he demanded she "suck him and suck his balls." Rehashing the graphic details, Jane Doe #1 told the jury: "He forced me to do what he asked I was crying, choking." When Jackson cross-examined Jane Doe #1, he questioned how she could have reported to the police that "his balls were in your mouth" - emphasising the plural word she used - if Weinstein does not have testicles.

"The reason that you changed your story is because you realised at some point that Mr Weinstein does not have testicles in his scrotum," Jackson said to Jane Doe #1 on the stand. She disagreed with that statement and testified that she never changed her story, always telling detectives that Weinstein had abnormal genitalia. "I recall that he didn't have one," she said. "It was like empty skin." Weinstein's attorney also asked why she would have let Weinstein into her hotel room in the first place when he unexpectedly showed up at her door, or why she wouldn't have called down to the hotel front desk for help when he forced his way into her room.

"I was confused," she said. "It wasn't in my mind to call for help, I was fighting. I was being grabbed by him, I regret that I didn't fight and stand up for myself." Jane Doe #1 continued her hotel stay in Los Angeles for a few more weeks in the same room where she alleged she was raped. She explained that she had to continue with her life as normal and that she was in L.A. for the film festival and other work obligations.

"You stayed in the very room where you say you were attacked and victimised?" Jackson asked.

Jackson also questioned Jane Doe #1's social media activity. In the days immediately following the alleged rape, she posted numerous photos onto her Facebook and Instagram accounts, sharing images of herself smiling and socialising at parties, including a photo at the Italia festival with Al Pacino.

"I was trying to deny to myself that this happened to me," she explained. "My public life is part of my job." Jackson asked why she would use the hashtag "amazing time" on a photo that was posted days after her traumatic rape. He also showed the jury a bathroom selfie that Jane Doe #1 posted from the hotel bathroom where the alleged assault occurred.

"You testified in graphic detail about the mental trauma," Jackson said to her, then telling the judge he found it odd that she would take a photo in the bathroom where she claimed she was raped. "She posts a photo of herself in underwear. She is literally drawing attention to herself in that spot." Another social media post that became a focus of the cross-examination was a photo of Jane Doe #1 at a Golden Globes afterparty in 2017, hosted by Netflix and The Weinstein Company.

Jackson questioned why the woman would attend an event thrown by Weinstein's own company, after she alleged she was brutally assaulted by him four years prior. Jane Doe #1 explained that she did not realise the party was affiliated with The Weinstein Company, since she was invited by her friends and PR team, who would encourage her to attend big industry events. She explained to the jury that she posts herself on her private accounts, but her PR manager would regularly post on her public account without her knowledge.

Jackson raised the issue of why there were no medical records to confirm whether the sexual assault occurred. Jane Doe #1 said that when she returned to Italy after the alleged 2013 incident, she visited a doctor twice for STD tests. Jackson questioned why she did not have any documentation from those medical visits.

Jackson also questioned why she didn't have any evidence that could confirm whether she was assaulted, such as DNA samples, semen samples, a rape kit or photos. He suggested Jane Doe #1 was never even with Weinstein that night, since she claimed he left a jacket in her hotel room, but the hotel did not have any account of that item in lost-and-found.

"Do you have any physical items to corroborate you were ever with my client?" he asked. "Is there a single witness that can establish if you were ever in the same room at the same hotel?" He asked if she was bruised or had any markings on her body. She said no. "Do you think somebody after rape takes a video of themselves?" she shot back.

Jane Doe #1 had trouble nailing down the exact time frame of the alleged assault, which Jackson repeatedly asked her about through his cross-examination. She said that she returned to her hotel sometime after midnight and that Weinstein suddenly showed up knocking on her door roughly 20 minutes after.

She told the prosecutor that the night of the assault felt like the longest night of her life, but she had no clear sense of time.

Jackson asked if she recalled hearing a fire alarm go off in the hotel, to which she appeared to be confused. He said that a fire alarm loudly rang for four minutes in the hotel, which he found hard to believe she would not hear.

She said she never evacuated her room and could not remember hearing any fire alarm. Jackson then suggested that the entire incident could have never happened, prodding her in an animated tone: "You don't remember the fire alarm because you weren't in your room, right?" When asked about the timing of her police report (Jane Doe #1 reported the assault in October 2017, roughly four-and-a-half years after the alleged incident), Jackson was keen to ask about her awareness of Weinstein's public downfall.

"After the #MeToo movement, that's when you reported?" he asked.

"The #MeToo movement targeted Mr Weinstein. Are you aware of that?"
New Delhi, Oct 27 : A 32-year-old man was beaten to death by the family of a girl, whom he had allegedly molested, in Faridabad, police said on Thursday.

While three men have been arrested in connection with the murder, a manhunt has been launched to nab the remaining accused.

According to a senior police official, at around 11:50 p.m. on Wednesday, when the now-deceased Mohit Yadav was sitting in a car along with his friend Naveen-- both involved in molesting the girl--, around 10 to 11 people came and attacked them with iron rods, sticks and axe.

Yadav was also wanted in a murder case that took place in Kheripul area in April and had reportedly harassed the other women of the girl's family.

In a complaint, Yadav's wife Deepika stated that when she along with her brother-in-law Bharat reached the spot, she saw the people thrashing Yadav and Naveen.

They rushed them to hospital where Yadav was declared brought dead while Naveen is undergoing treatment.

The accused identified as Mukesh, his brother-in-law Ajay and his son Karan, all residents of Riwajpur village have been arrested and are being interrogated, said an official.

"A case has been registered under sections 302 (murder), 148 (riots ), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (causing hurt), and 427 (causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code at Bhupani police station against more than ten accused and further investigation is going on," said the senior police official.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : As Meta doubles down on its monetisation drive across its family of apps, its Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that JioMart on WhatsApp in India is going to be a big opportunity for the paid messaging market.

During the company's Q3 earnings call, Zuckerberg said that paid messaging is another opportunity that we are starting to tap into.

"We launched JioMart on WhatsApp in India, and it's our first end-to-end shopping experience that shows the potential for chat-based commerce through messaging," Zuckerberg told analysts.

"So between click-to-messaging and paid messaging, I am confident that this is going to be a big opportunity," he added.

In August, Meta and Jio Platforms launched an end-to-end shopping experience, where users can shop from e-commerce platform JioMart via using WhatsApp chat.

The new experience will enable the customers to browse the JioMart catalog, add products to the cart and make purchases all within WhatsApp.

Zuckerberg said that the company is putting the foundation in place now to scale the paid messaging ambition.

The JioMart-WhatsApp launch is part of a strategic partnership between Meta and Jio Platforms to accelerate India's digital transformation and provide people and businesses of all sizes opportunities to connect in new ways and fuel economic growth in the country.

"Excited to launch our partnership with JioMart in India. This is our first-ever end-to-end shopping experience on WhatsApp -- people can now buy groceries from JioMart right in a chat," Zuckerberg had said in an earlier Facebook Post.

"Business messaging is an area with real momentum and chat-based experiences like this will be the go-to way people and businesses communicate in the years to come," he added.

Users can start shopping on JioMart via WhatsApp by simply sending 'Hi' to the JioMart number on WhatsApp.
Belagavi : , Oct 27 (IANS) A 70-year-old man died on Thursday after drinking contaminated water in Karnataka's Belagavi district, just four days after two fatalities were reported in Yadgir due to the same reason, authorities said.

The latest death was reported in Mudenuru village where 94 people are currently hospitalised, with four in critical condition.

The deceased has been identified as Shivappa.

According to local residents, Shivappa fell sick four days ago after consuming contaminated water.

They added that a water pipe broke on October 23 and contaminated water got mixed with drinking water.

Among the 94 people in the hospital, 44 are men, 30 women. 12 boys and eight girls. They all have the same symptoms -- vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach ache.

Mudenuru residents have expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of government response despite the large number of people falling sick.

In Yadgir, the two deaths took place on Monday in Hothpet village, with more than 40 hospitalised.

The tragedy occurred after water from the old well was supplied to the houses through tap connections.

It is suspected that the water in the well is contaminated.
Skopje, Oct 27 : The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros ($504 million) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said here.

The energy support package will help the whole Western Balkan region to invest in energy connections, energy efficiency and renewable energy, she said at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.

She said the first batch of 80 million euros out of the total 500 million euros will help North Macedonia to address the impact of high energy prices, reports Xinhua news agency.

Also on Wednesday, von der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of an agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and North Macedonia.

The agreement will allow Frontex to assist North Macedonia in its efforts to manage migratory flows, counter illegal immigration and tackle cross-border crime.

The European Commission chief will also visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro on her Western Balkan tour.
San Francisco, Oct 27 : Microsoft has claimed that the Xbox Game Pass is profitable, despite a slow subscription growth.

According to The Verge, about 15 per cent of the company's total Xbox content and service income comes from Xbox Game Pass, CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer has announced at The Wall Street Journal's tech live conference.

Spencer said that he wants Xbox Game Pass to stay at near 10 to 15 per cent of the company's Xbox content and services revenue since "it is profitable for us".

"Game Pass as an overall part of our content and services revenue is probably 15 per cent," he was quoted as saying in the report.

"I think the overall revenue grows so 15 per cent of a bigger number, but we don't have this future where I think 50-70 per cent of our revenue comes from subscriptions." Spencer suggests that Xbox Game Pass won't make for the majority of Microsoft's gaming earnings as only Xbox console owners can subscribe to the service.

"We are seeing incredible growth on PC. On consoles, I have seen growth slowdown, mainly because at some point you have reached everybody on the console that wants to subscribe," he explained.

Recently, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella had announced that more than 20 million people had streamed games using Xbox Cloud Gaming, double the 10 million figure from earlier this year.

At the company's quarterly earnings call, Nadella said that subscriptions to PC Game Pass increased by 159 per cent over the previous year.
Islamabad, Oct 27 : PTI chairman Imran Khan said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif seemed to be in "low spirits" after his announcing the date of the long march to Islamabad, vowing to "free the nation" from the "gang of thieves".

The PTI chief made the remarks while addressing his supporters in Sialkot, The Express Tribune reported.

"A gang of thieves and slaves of America were imposed upon us. Our fight is against these thieves and (mission is to) bring real freedom to the country," he said.

Khan said all the sacrifices would go to waste if the "gang of thieves" continued to rule the country and vowed to free the nation from them.

Calling upon the incumbent government to hold early elections, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman said he was kicking off his long march from Lahore's Liberty Chowk on Friday.

"We will continue to strive until people get their rights through elections." The former Prime Minister said an "attempt" was made to "scare the people" by martyring journalist Arshad Sharif but noted that the nation had been more resolute than before, The Express Tribune reported.

The journalist was shot dead by police along Nairobi-Magadi Highway on Sunday night in a case of "mistaken identity", as reported by the Kenyan media.

He had fled the country in August after he was charged with sedition.

Khan claims Arshad Sharif had been a victim of targeted killing.
Islamabad, Oct 27 : Lt. Gen. Nadeem Anjum, Director-General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and chief of the Inter Services Public Relations, (ISPR) Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar have made shocking revelations about the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif.

Addressing a joint press conference, General Iftikhar said: "On August 5, the KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) government issued a threat alert that regarding ARY anchorperson Arshad Sharif. According to our information, this alert was issued on special instruction of KP chief minister. It warned that the Afghanistan-based TTP held a meeting in Spinboldak and want to target Arshad Sharif in Rawalpindi or adjoining areas," Samaa TV reported.

"No information was shared with the federal government or the security institutions who and how gave this information to the KP government that Arshad will be targeted," he said.

"It shows that the alert was issued with specific mindset which was probably aimed at forcing Arshad Sharif to leave the country." He said that there are reports that Arshad did not want to leave the country.

"But time and again, he was told that his life is in danger," Samaa TV quoted General Iftikhar as saying.

"Since Arshad was an investigative journalist, he also looked into the cypher issue when it surfaced," shared DG ISPR.

He also highlighted that the journalist had also interviewed the then Prime Minister Imran Khan on the issue, adding that at the time it was claimed that he was shown the document, Geo News reported.

"Facts linked with the cypher and Arshad Sharif's death need to be found. So there is no ambiguity left in this regard," said the DG ISPR.

Making a rare appearance at the press conference, General Anjum said: "I know you might be surprised to see me amongst you. My policy on my promotion and publishing of my photos is clear. My position is such that I have to remain in shadows.

"But today is a bit different, I did not come for myself but for my department and officers who lay their lives for the security of Pakistan. And especially for my agency, who as the first defence line of the country work around the clock in every part of the world."
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Logistics solution provider Shiprocket on Thursday said it has gone live on ONDC, enabling first ever inter-city logistics on the government-backed e-commerce network.

The first successful transaction was fulfilled on October 22.

"Our mission is to reach every independent retailer in the country and enable them with state of the art technology that can help them better manage their delivery and customer experience and be able to compete on even keel with the larger platforms that are out there," said Saahil Goel, Co-Founder, Shiprocket.

Shiprocket serves over 1,00,000 sellers in the country.

The company said it will enable sellers on ONDC to select a trusted delivery partner to pick up their products from 24,000 pincodes, with both cash-on-delivery as well prepaid shipping facilities available to the customers.

Small and medium logistics providers, operating in towns and cities, can now offer their services through Shiprocket on the ONDC network.

"ONDC's mission is to enable an inclusive e-commerce ecosystem for all of India where a business in a small village in a remote corner of India can have the confidence and the opportunity to sell their products to customers anywhere in the country," said T Koshy, CEO, ONDC.

ONDC and Shiprocket are also working to enable warehousing-as-a-service on ONDC.

This will allow small and medium businesses to provide same-day shipping services to their customers.

ONDC, a Ministry of Commerce initiative, will enable sellers to tap this massive market by offering an equitable and secure platform that integrates multiple sellers, buyers and logistics players.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : A Delhi-bound Akasa Air flight was hit by a bird during the climb on Thursday, due to which the aircraft suffered a radome damage.

In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said: "Today, Akasa B-737-8 (Max) aircraft VT-YAF operating flight QP-1333 (Ahmedabad-Delhi) experienced a bird strike during the climb out passing 1900ft. Post landing at Delhi, radome damage was observed. Aircraft declared AOG (Aircraft on ground) at Delhi." On October 14, a Bengaluru-bound Akasa Air flight was diverted to Mumbai also due to a bird hit.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other officials visits the Ghazipur landfill site, in New Delhi on Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo:IANS/Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other officials visits the Ghazipur landfill site, in New Delhi on Thursday, October 27, 2022. (Photo:IANS/Twitter) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Oct 27 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday visited the Ghazipur landfill site and launched a scathing attack on the BJP for the 'garbage mountain' ahead of the MCD elections.

"If we don't clean Delhi in five years, don't vote for us", Kejriwal said on the site, and added further that the BJP workers will leave the party one day. "A day will come when BJP waalas will leave the BJP. A day will come when even Sambit Patra will say BJP is a gandi party. I'm a jaadugar (magician), I know how to win people's hearts," Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party workers protested against CM Kejriwal's visit at the site with black flags and slogans. However, soon AAP workers also reached the spot and countered the BJP workers. The two sides came face to face and raised slogans against each other in Ghazipur.

Both accused each other for the mismanagement of garbage ahead of the MCD polls, which is likely to be held by the end of this year or in early 2023.

"BJP protested my arrival. They don't let anyone visit here, and deploy cops to protect this garbage mountain. Protest as much as you want, but remember Kejriwal is going to build schools, hospitals, and provide electricity to you. I want to urge the people, especially the supporters of BJP to forget their party and vote for me once for the cleanliness of Delhi. If I don't clean Delhi in the next five years, don't vote for me," Kejriwal said on the occasion.

"In the last 15 years, the BJP has littered the entire Delhi. Today I have come to see their Ghazipur garbage mountain.

"My appeal to all Delhiites is to vote for the cleanliness of Delhi in the municipal elections this time. Together we have to make Delhi clean and beautiful", Kejriwal tweeted after the visit.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Congress on Thursday demanded a white paper on the plight of the Kashmiri Pandits and alleged that there have been 30 targeted killings in the valley since January.

Addressing a press conference here, the chairman of Congress communication department, Pawan Khera said, "We demand white paper from the government on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and what the government has done or not done." "We owe it to them as they have been forced to be refugees in their own country," he added.

He said that the government wants to show everything is normal, "but is it a normal thing".

Khera said that during the Manmohan Singh government near normalcy was reached, but the current situation is pathetic and the government must answer, even if they are not able to conduct elections there.

In the aftermath of Kashmiri Pandit Puran Krishan Bhat's killing by terrorists, about 10 families of local Pandits 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 left their ancestral homes in Chaudhary Gund 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.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in connection to a scuffle that broke out at a Rohingya refugee camp in the city's Madanpur Khadar area.

On Wednesday, the scuffle took place between a woman and a man, who runs a garage, after his car's glass was allegedly broken. The police however, have ruled out no angle of the Rohingya in connection with the incident.

According to a senior police official, a case has been registered and they have nabbed the accused.

"So far, it has been revealed that both the victim and accused belong to the same community and there is no angle of Rohingya in connection with the incident," said the official, adding that further probe is still on.

Meanwhile, a woman, who lives beside the alleged garage, said that some men had beaten and attacked five women, including her and a child, in the refugee camp.

"A woman had also sustained major injuries and she is in hospital. The men from the garage had an issue with children playing near their workshop and this is not the first time they had misbehaved," she alleged.
Tokyo, Oct 27 : Two men died in a vehicle collision apparently caused by a deer in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, local police said on Thursday.

The police said they received an emergency call on Wednesday saying that a head-on collision had occurred between a minivan and a truck in Shibecha town, reports Xinhua news agency.

Three people were rushed to a hospital, emergency responders said, with the driver of the minivan and its passenger being pronounced dead, while the driver of the truck was unconscious and deemed to be in a serious condition.

According to local accounts, a dead deer was found at the crash site, with the police suspecting one of the vehicles veered into the opposite lane after hitting or trying to swerve to avoid the deer and collided with the oncoming vehicle.

More than 4,000 deer-related accidents were reported on Hokkaido roads last year, marking a record high for the fifth consecutive year, the police said.

Around 40 per cent of the accidents took place in October and November, the police said, as winter and mating season see the deer become more active.
Valsad : , Oct 27 (IANS) A youth while attempting a new hair style 'Fire Hair Cut' suffered burn injuries when the barber failed to give the controlled cut in Vapi town of Valsad district.

The mishap happened on Wednesday and the youth is being treated in a government hospital in Surat.

Vapi Town police station Assistant Sub Inspector Mayuriben told IANS that Valsad hospital informed the police station that Arif Shah, a resident of Vapi, was brought to the government hospital for burn injuries.

According to the primary information, Arif had gone for a hair cut at Banti Saloon on Wednesday, when he requested the barber for the 'fire hair cut'. While the barber was cutting the hair, the victim's friend was video recording it as the youth was active on social media and wished to post his fire hair cut on his Instagram page.

After spraying chemicals, when the barber lit the matchstick, the entire head caught fire. The victim suffered injuries on his face, neck and chest. The video clip of the incident went viral on social media.

The victim was shifted to Surat government hospital for further treatment. Mayuriben told IANS the investigation will begin only after recording the statement of victim and the barber and all those present in the saloon at the time of accident.

'Fire hair cut' has been trending in India, especially among the youths and women with long hair go for it. The barber first applies flammable powder on the hair and later sets it on fire and then cuts it with scissors.
London, Oct 27 : British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision to reappoint Suella Braverman as the Home Secretary six days after she was forced to resign for a security breach is facing fresh questions after a former chairman of the Conservative party claimed that she was responsible for "multiple breaches of the ministerial code".

Jake Berry, who sat in the cabinet alongside Braverman at the heart of the former Liz Truss government, said the Home Secretary was responsible for a "really serious breach" after sending confidential information to a private address, sending it to an MP, attempting to send it to the MP's wife and then accidentally sending it to a member of parliamentary staff, the Guardian reported.

He also indicated that the UK's most senior civil servant, Simon Case, had been consulted and ruled that it had broken the rules, The Guardian reported.

Sunak told MPs on Wednesday that Braverman had made an "error of judgment" and had recognised her mistake, adding: "That's why I was delighted to welcome her back into a united cabinet that brings experience and stability to the heart of government." Asked during Prime Minister's questions if officials had raised concerns about the appointment, given Case was said to have been furious, Sunak simply said he had already "addressed the issue".

Berry said there had been "multiple breaches of the ministerial code" after Braverman had sent the document to her confidante and fellow MP Sir John Hayes, The Guardian reported.

The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, said Berry's intervention was "extraordinary" and "very serious", and highlighted the latter's comments about "cybersecurity breaches".

Tweeting at Sunak, she wrote: "What security warnings did you ignore when you reappointed home secretary?"
Hassan : , Oct 27 (IANS) BJP National General Secretary and MLA from Karnataka C.T Ravi on Thursday took a dig at Mallikarjun Kharge, the new AICC President from the state, and termed him the "captain" of a sinking ship (Congress).

"Congress is a sinking ship. Mallikarjun Kharge has become the captain of that ship. The ship is not going to float, it will sink, but if he wears a life jacket he might be able to survive," Ravi stated.

Kharge has taken over as the AICC President at a time when the grand-old party is beaten down and garnering defeats after defeats in the elections in the country, he said.

If only Mallikarjun Kharge had recounted how former AICC President Sitaram Kesri was treated by the Congress, he would not have accepted the post.

"However, one of our state leaders has become the President of the Congress after 50 years. Keeping his seniority in mind, as a junior I want to give him advice. Do not go out of the jurisdiction of the remote (Gandhi family). You should not think independently and always listen to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," he ridiculed.

If you follow these rules, then only Kharge will be allowed to continue as the AICC President, he said.

Ravi said that the consequences of making him AICC President can't be said immediately. They have not made him as the Prime Minister candidate.

Though Congress is a sinking ship, Kharge has the experience of finding a life jacket to escape, he remarked.
New Delhi, Oct 27: The Canadian police on Wednesday arrested three Punjabi youths and recovered drugs worth 25 million Canadian dollars from them, in the largest single contraband seizures by the local police. As much as 70,000 dollars in hard cash was also seized from the trio.

Rajinder S. Taggar New Delhi, Oct 27: The Canadian police on Wednesday arrested three Punjabi youths and recovered drugs worth 25 million Canadian dollars from them, in the largest single contraband seizures by the local police. As much as 70,000 dollars in hard cash was also seized from the trio.

The role of two affluent Punjabi business families settled in Mississauga and Malton cities around Toronto is also under investigation for being drug distribution points.

Those arrested include Jaspreet Singh, 28 from Brampton, Gurdeep Singh Gakhal, 38 from Caledon, Ravinder Singh Boparai, 27 from Mississauga, Khalilullah Amin 46, from Caledon and Wray Ip, 27 from Richmond Hill (USA). The arrested youths were a part of a 5-member drug trafficking gang.

Inspector Todd Custance told media persons that the modus operandi of the traffickers was to conceal the contraband in their commercial trucks plying between the US and Canada.

The drugs were being brought to the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and sold continuously since November 2021. The drop and distribution points included Friends Furniture in Mississauga, owned by a Punjabi and North King Logistics trucking company in Malton city, also owned by a Punjabi.

Both Friends Furniture and North King Logistics are known to be stinkingly rich Punjabis in the GTA having business in thousands of millions dollars. They have been reportedly flooding media houses including Punjabi radio programmes and newspapers with advertisements besides taking active part in religious programmes of the community, according to information provided by Punjabi media sources.

The police started surveillance of the accused over 11 months ago and named its project Zucaritas. The Peel Regional Police of Toronto busted the gang with the help of the US police.

The police seized 182 kg of Methamphetamine, 166 kg of Cocaine, and 38 kg of Ketamine totaling 383 kg. The Peel police in 9 months of this year confiscated drugs worth 40 million Canadian dollars in the GTA.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
New Delhi, Oct 27: 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 civilisations 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 other's 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.

Much before Sun's reflections on Tuesday, the EAM had summed up "eight broad propositions" to stabilising 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, civilisational states like India and China must always take the long view.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative
Islamabad, Oct 27 : In a direct jibe at Imran Khan, Director-General of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum said that it is not possible that the former Pakistan Prime Minister can meet the army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at night and then call him a "traitor in the day".

"If the commander-in-chief is a traitor then why did you meet him in hiding? Meeting (him) is your right but it cannot be possible that you meet at night and call (him) a traitor at night," asked the DG ISI.

Lt Gen Anjum said that the military was called "neutral and an animal" as they had committed treason by refusing to be part of an "illegal" decision, Geo News reported.

He said that the refusal to do the "illegal job" was not the decision of a single person or army chief but of the entire institution.

The ISI chief said that the military has been under a lot of pressure since March but they decided to limit themselves to its constitutional role.

He said that General Bajwa could have spent the last six months of his term in peace but he took the decision in favour of the country and institution, Geo News reported.

"The Army chief was offered an extension for an indefinite period in his term (by PTI government)," said Lt Gen Anjum.

He also wondered if the commander in chief was a traitor then "why was he praised endlessly in the recent past", Geo News reported.

"If the army chief is a traitor in your eyes, why did you want to give an extension in his term, why do you still meet him secretly," asked the DG ISI.

The DG ISI revealed the information in a press conference alongside Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar.

The two were addressing the media on the death of senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya.

"The purpose of this press conference is to inform you about the death of prominent senior journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it," said DG ISPR at the start of the press conference.

Lt Gen Iftikhar said that the press conference is being done at a time when it is "important to present the facts correctly" so "fact, fiction and opinion" can be differentiated. He also shared that the military's media wing has informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif about the press conference.
Belagavi, : Oct 27 (IANS) A 70-year-old person died on Thursday after consuming contaminated water in Mudenuru village of Belagavi district of Karnataka. According to authorities, 94 persons from Mudenuru have fallen sick and have been hospitalised.

Irrigation Minister, Govind Karajol, who is also district in charge minister, announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of the deceased person.

The deceased has been identified as Shivappa Yandigeri, a resident of Mudenuru village. Among 94 persons, the condition of four is critical and they are being treated at the district hospital. The locals explain that the deceased Shivappa fell sick four days ago after consuming contaminated water.

After the media report, BJP MLA Mahadevappa Yadavada rushed to the village and took the authorities to task over the failure to ensure proper drinking water.

They also explained that the incident had taken place after a water pipe broke and contaminated water got mixed with drinking water on October 23. Till date, 94 persons have been hospitalised.

Among the 94 who have fallen sick, 44 are men and 30 are women. Twelve boys and eight girls have also fallen sick with symptoms of vomiting, loose motion and stomach ache.

The villagers of Mudenuru of Ramdurg taluk explain that the government authorities had not visited their place even as a large number of people had fallen sick. They had expressed outrage against Ramdurg Tehsildar for turning a blind eye to the situation.
Mumbai, Oct 27 : 'Bigg Boss OTT' fame Raqesh Bapat has posted a sweet video celebrating Bhai Dooj with his sister Sheetal Bapat.

In the video he can be seen sitting with the gifts and his sister doing the tika and aarti. He touches her feet to take the blessings.

Raqesh is known for his work in 'Saat Phere: Saloni Ka Safar', 'Qubool Hai', 'YeH Hai Aashiqui' and he was a contestant on 'Bigg Boss OTT' and 'Bigg Boss 15'. The 44-year-old actor chose an old track, 'Phoolon Ka Taron Ka' from Dev Anand's 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' to express his feelings for his sister.

He wrote in the caption: "Ek Hazaaron mein meri behna hai"(My sister is one among thousands).

His sister also posted a picture with him and wrote: "A very happy "Bhau Bij" to all the lovely siblings out there from both of us. Partners in crime, life-lines in crisis best mutual cheer leaders and the small self contained universe for life." Many of his fans, family and friends have called them "Cute bhai bhen" (cute brother sister) and shared their best wishes.
Ahmedabad, Oct 27 : Ahead of Gujarat Assembly elections, lobbying for tickets has begun in the ruling BJP with party observers travelling to 33 districts and major cities to seek opinions of party workers, and leaders about likely candidates for the polls.

In some places the lobbying is at its peak with a heavy rush for Scheduled Castes reserve seats like Asarwa in Ahmedabad, as party workers believe this is the easiest seat to win.

Vadodara city observer Shankar Chaudhary told mediapersons that they will be in the city to reach out to aspiring candidates and party workers for four Assembly seats for two days.

In Surat, a controversy broke out over Varaccha constituency sitting MLA Kumar Kanani's comment on aspiring candidate Dinesh Navadia.

"Party is successful because of the party workers' hard work, their day and night selfless service. Industrialists never work for the party, so while selecting a candidate, the party by mistake should not ignore or insult workers, by nominating an industrialist," Kanani had said.

His comment came after several trade and industries associations made representation to the party observers to nominate Navadia as BJP candidate.

In Ahmedabad city, Asarwa seat is reserved for the Scheduled Caste, on which maximum number of BJP workers and leaders have demanded tickets, Asarwa ward president told media that this is the safest seat for any candidate, because party workers have nurtured the constituency very well, so candidates from Scheduled Caste from across the state wishes to contest from this seat.
Lucknow, Oct 27 : Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad, who heads the Nishad Party, now wants the women in the community to enter politics.

Sanjay Nishad has gifted women members of the party in Gorakhpur a new vehicle on the occasion of 'Bhai Dooj' to make it easy for them to travel all over the state.

The Nishad party has its head office in Gorakhpur.

He said, "It is the responsibility of the party's Mahila Morcha to add more women in every booth, block, district and Assembly segment. The women in the Nishad community may still be an untapped political force in the state." The Nishad Party had won six seats in the 2022 UP Assembly elections in alliance with the BJP, which was enough to establish the seven-year-old 'regional' party in state politics.

The 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election was the second Assembly election that the Nishad party had contested in the state.

The Nishad (Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal) party, catering to non-Yadav OBCs in the state, was registered as a political party in August 2016.

The 2017 Assembly elections were the first that it contested on around 100 seats in alliance with the Peace Party and other smaller outfits and won the Gyanpur seat in Bhadohi.

The party has one MP Praveen Nishad, one minister Sanjay Nishad and one MLA, Sarvan Nishad -- all from the same family.
San Francisco, Oct 27 : Disney has announced plans to use the viewing history of its streaming platform for a better park experience and vice versa.

At an event, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that the company is working on a way to personalise experiences on the basis of how someone interacts with its physical and digital services, reports The Verge.

"If you are on Disney+, we should be aware of what happened, what you experienced, what you liked, the last time you visited a park, and vice versa," Chapek was quoted as saying in the report.

"When you are in a park, we should know what your viewing habits are on Disney+," he added.

For instance, if someone uses a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride in the park, then the company will track the ride and curate the content on the Disney+ accordingly.

The rolling timeline of the program is still unclear as Chapek said that the company is "putting the arms and legs on it right now".

According to the report, it was not the first time that Chapek hinted at mixing its Disney Plus and Disney park experiences.

In an interview in September, Chapek had said that the company aimed to blend the two components of the Walt Disney Company into one, for one common visitor experience across its parks and streaming service.
Islamabad, Oct 27 : In an unexpected press conference, chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum joined Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) DG Lt Gen Babar Iftikhar to speak about journalist Arshad Sharif's killing and former premier Imran Khan's confrontational narrative against the military, as well as a host of other related topics.

This is the first time in Pakistan's history that the head of the country's spy agency has directly addressed the media, Dawn reported.

At the outset of the press conference, Gen Iftikhar said the purpose of the conference was to shed light on the killing of the journalist in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it.

This press conference is being held in the context of presenting facts so that "facts, fiction and opinion can be differentiated", he said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been "specially informed" about the sensitivity of the press conference.

Gen Iftikhar went on to say that Arshad Sharif's popularity was based on being an investigative journalist and when the cypher, which Khan has touted as evidence of a foreign conspiracy to oust his government - surfaced, he conducted several programmes on the issue.

He held several meetings with the former premier and interviewed him, the DG ISPR said.

"As a result, it was stated that he was shown meeting minutes and the cypher." The facts behind the cypher and Arshad Sharif's death have to be determined, he said.

Talking about the cypher, Gen Iftikhar said that the army chief had discussed it with Khan on March 11 when the latter had termed it to be "not a big thing".

At this time, Arshad Sharif and other journalists were fed a particular narrative and an attempt was made to defame Pakistan and the country's institutions across the world, Dawn news quoted the ISPR chief as saying.

"In this media trial, ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army and promoting a false narrative [...] the NSC meeting was presented in the wrong context." Gen Iftikhar stated that the army was expected to intervene in domestic politics.

"The word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse. To all this baseless narrative, the army chief and the institution showed restraint and we tried our level best that politicians sit together to resolve their issues." He noted that Sharif made strong comments regarding the army during this time but added that "we did not have any negative sentiments about him and we don't have such feelings now", Dawn reported.
Hyderabad, Oct 27 : Union Minister for Tourism and Culture G. Kishan Reddy on Thursday alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) scripted poaching drama to malign BJP, and demanded that the police reveal details like the amount of cash seized from three persons arrested in the case.

Dismissing the allegations that BJP tried to lure four TRS MLAs with huge sums of money, important positions and contracts, he said BJP would have gained nothing by making four MLAs to defect to the party.

He wondered why the police were not revealing how much money was seized and where it came from.

Addressing a news conference, the minister denied any links with the accused in the case.

Cyberabad Police on Wednesday arrested three persons from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad when they were allegedly trying to lure four TRS MLAs to make them defect to BJP.

On a complaint by one of the MLAs, Pilot Rohit Reddy, police registered a case against Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati.

TRS leaders have alleged that Nanda Kumar is close to Kishan Reddy.

The Union Minister said the police should reveal details if the money belonged to TRS MLAs or it came from Chief Minister KCR's farmhouse.

He said if KCR was sincere, he should order a probe into the case by sitting judge of the Supreme Court or by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Launching a counter attack on TRS, the BJP ladder said it was TRS which promoted defections. "Has TRS not lured many MLAs and MPs to join its ranks. How much the party paid to 12 MLAs of Congress who joined TRS in the past," he asked.

He alleged that TRS was resorting to the drama due to fear of losing Munugode by-election. He claimed that BJP enjoyed people's support and that TRS will not win the November 3 by-election even if it spends thousands of crores.

He alleged that TRS leader KTR telephoned a BJP leader of Munugode to lure him to join TRS.

Kishan Reddy said the TRS played same tactics in Dubbak by-election but BJP emerged victorious. He was confident that the same result will be repeated in Munugode.
Hyderabad, Oct 27 : In another dramatic twist in the case relating to alleged attempt to poach four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the BJP on Thursday moved the Telangana High Court seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

With the TRS alleging that the three men arrested while trying to lure its MLAs belonged to the BJP, the saffron party hit back by approaching the high court seeking direction to transfer the case to the central agency for a 'fair' probe.

In its petition, the BJP found fault with the manner in which police are conducting the probe and pleaded for interim orders to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for an impartial investigation.

The BJP has made the state government, Director General of Police, Cyberabad police commissioner, other police officials, union government and the CBI as respondents in the case.

The saffron party alleged that attempts are being made to tarnish its image by making false accusations of trying to buy TRS MLAs.

Cyberabad police on Wednesday arrested three persons from a farmhouse at Moinabad near Hyderabad when they were allegedly trying to lure four TRS MLAs to defect to BJP.

On a complaint by one of the MLAs Pilot Rohit Reddy, police registered a case against Ramachandra Bharati, alias Satish Sharma, of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati.

The TRS leaders have alleged that the two godmen and businessman Nanda Kumar are close to union ministers and top BJP leaders.

Police have booked the accused for criminal conspiracy), bribery and criminal intimidation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the complainant, the accused offered him Rs 100 crore, central government civil contract works and other high central government positions for monetary benefits.

Rohit Reddy told police that the accused warned him that if he does not join the BJP, there will be criminal cases and raids by ED/CBI and the Telangana government led by TRS will be toppled by them. He said the accused offered Rs 50 crore each to the three other MLAs.

On a tip-off by Rohit Reddy, Cyberabad police reached the farmhouse and arrested the three accused.

The police seized mobile phones of the accused and were retrieving call data.

The trio were being questioned by the police at an undisclosed location. They will be produced in a court later in the day.

The arrests have created a political storm in the state with the TRS alleging conspiracy by BJP to destabilise the government.

The BJP, however, has denied the allegations and dared the TRS government to order a probe by CBI or a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

Union minister G. Kishan Reddy has alleged that CM KCR scripted the poaching drama to malign BJP and demanded that the police reveal details like the amount of cash seized from three persons arrested in the case.

Dismissing the allegations that BJP tried to lure four TRS MLAs with huge sums of money, important positions and contracts, he said BJP would have gained nothing by making four MLAs defect to the party.

He wondered why the police were not revealing how much money was seized and where it came from.
Rampur : , Oct 27 (IANS) The MP/MLA court in Rampur on Thursday awarded Samajwadi Party MLA Mohd Azam Khan three-year jail term in connection with a 2019 hate speech case against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, besides slapping a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.

The court, meanwhile, granted him bail in the case.

Azam Khan has been convicted under Sections 153a (promoting enmity between two groups) and 505-1 (statement conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) along with Section 125 of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

Akash Saxena, the BJP leader who had lodged the complaint against Azam Khan, termed the court's decision as a vindication of his stand. He said it is a historic verdict which will make people think twice before making defamatory statements.

The case was registered against Azam Khan in Rampur in April 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against Adityanath and Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, then District Magistrate of Rampur.
Panaji, Oct 27 : Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said that he is optimistic about tourism and the footfall of tourists will increase in the state after both airports are operational.

The coastal state having Dabolim airport in South Goa, will also commission Mopa International airport in North Goa, work of which is getting completed.

Goa government had initially planned to inaugurate the greenfield International airport at Mopa between August 15 and 30, however it was delayed.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in August had said that work of Mopa International Airport in Goa will be completed by October 23 and later will be inaugurated at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"After both Airports are operational, footfall of tourists will increase with international and domestic tourists coming to Goa, this is what we expect. Challenge is to ensure all the services to type of tourist coming in. We are working with stakeholders to (increase footfall)," Khaunte said.

Khaunte said that more charter flights will arrive in Goa.

He also said that e-visa issue of United Kingdom will be sorted out, which would help to attract more tourists.

The first charter flight of the tourist season with 180 passengers from Kazakhstan had arrived in the coastal state on Wednesday.

Dabolim Airport sources informed that from November 3, flights from Russia will also arrive in Goa.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Edtech major BYJU's is taking an unsecured loan of Rs 300 crore from its subsidiary Aakash Educational Services, which it acquired for more than $950 million, to bolster its "principal business activities".

The company told IANS in a statement that Rs 300 crore loan from Aakash is, in effect, an advance against the marketing activities and campaigns that BYJU's has been running for Aakash.

"In order to benefit from the economies of scale, BYJU'S buys media spots in bulk for all its group companies. This is a strategy that has yielded really positive results for both the group and Aakash," a company spokesperson said.

BYJU'S Aakash has grown more than 100 per cent since its acquisition last year.

"The loan is only for 'principal business activities' that a subsidiary and the parent company can give or receive loans. In this case, the principal business activity is marketing for the core business of BYJU'S Aakash on which the group has already spent and is now being reimbursed," the company spokesperson explained.

Last month, the edtech major paid the remaining dues of nearly Rs 1,983 crore (over $245 million) to global VC firm Blackstone in the acquisition of Aakash Educational Services.

According to BYJU's financial report FY21, "as per the terms of the agreement for acquisition of Aakash Educational Services, consideration to the extent of Rs 1,983 crore was due to be paid by the company to the sellers in June, 2022. This has been deferred to September 23, 2022".

Blackstone has nearly 38 per cent stake in Aakash and BYJU's has paid nearly 75 per cent of the Aakash acquisition amount.

BYJU'S last week raised $250 million from its existing investors in a fresh round of funding, consolidating all its K10 India subsidiaries into one unit to leverage their synergies.

Aakash Education and Great Learning, respectively into test-prep and upskilling, will continue to operate as stand-alone independent units.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : In a major boost to 'Make in India' and domestic aviation manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of a transport aircraft manufacturing project for the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Gujarat's Vadodara on October 30.

The first 16 fly-away C-295MW aircraft are scheduled to be received between September 2023 and August 2025. The first 'Made in India' aircraft is expected from September 2026.

C-295MW is a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the IAF's ageing Avro aircraft. It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features. The aircraft will strengthen the logistic capabilities of the IAF.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel are among those who will attend the function.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had, on September 8, 2021, approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain. On September 24, 2021, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space S.A. for acquisition of the aircraft with associated equipment.

Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar said on Thursday said, as part of the contract, 16 aircraft will be delivered in flyaway condition and 40 will be manufactured in India by the Indian aircraft contractor, Tata consortium of Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) led by TASL.

This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company. The total cost of the project is Rs 21,935 crore. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well.

Officials said that the project offers a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter into technology-intensive and highly-competitive aviation industry. It will augment domestic aviation manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and expected increase in exports.

Also, 96 per cent of the total man hour work per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing facility at Spain will be undertaken in India by the Tata consortium. Manufacturing of over 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven major component assemblies will be undertaken in India, along with tools, jigs and testers. Various systems such as engines, landing gear, avionics, EW suite etc. will be provided by Airbus Defence & Space and integrated on the aircraft by the Tata consortium, which will also test the aircraft as an integrated system.

The aircraft will be flight tested and delivered through a Delivery Centre at the Tata consortium facility.

All 56 aircraft will be fitted with indigenous Electronic Warfare suite of Indian DPSUs - Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd. After completion of delivery of 56 aircraft to IAF, Airbus Defence & Space will be allowed to sell the aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export to countries which are cleared by the Indian government.
Bengaluru, Oct 27 : Karnataka High Court took the ruling BJP to task in connection with the pothole menace in Bengaluru on Thursday. The court has categorically stated that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has failed to adhere to the orders given by the court in this regard.

The division bench headed by the Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varale expressed its displeasure while looking into the petitions filed by Vijay Menon and others regarding pothole menace.

The counsel for petitioners argued that the number of deaths is increasing in Bengaluru due to pothole ridden roads and the BBMP has not utilised the appropriate technology to fill up potholes.

The bench opined that the BBMP has totally failed in terms of closing of potholes. The court also directed the officers to submit a detailed report on what action has been initiated. How many potholes are filled? The counsel appearing for BBMP intervened and submitted a detailed action taken report on filling up of potholes in Bengaluru. The counsel had also sought time to argue over the matter.

The court agreed to give a hearing and adjourned the matter to November 2.

Ruling BJP is under fire from all corners over pothole menace in the city. Opposition Congress and JD(S) parties have slammed that BJP has turned Silicon Valley Bengaluru into a pothole valley.

They have also chided that the ruling BJP is busy organising the Global Investors' Meet (GIM) with pothole ridden roads.

Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala had stated that the potholes in Bengaluru have turned into death traps. The government is sleeping even as a series of cases of deaths have been reported because of potholes in Bengaluru. He had also challenged the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to show his might in getting the potholes filled and ensure the safety.
Pune/Udaipur, Oct 27 : The miniscule Dawoodi Bohra community in India and worldwide grieved over the death of Indian Army Major Mustafa Zakiuddin Kherodawala - who was killed in an air crash in Arunachal Pradesh last week, officials said here on Thursday.

The community's spiritual leader, HH Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin currently in Rajasthan, visited the Kherodawala family home and offered solace and prayers for the loss of Major Mustafa - as he was popularly known.

Syedna Saifuddin met to convey his heartfelt condolences to Maj. Mustafa's aged parents - father Zakiuddin, mother Fatema - and his younger sister Alifiya.

On another touching note, it emerged that the late Maj. Mustafa, 27, was expected to tie the knot with an Udaipur girl, Fatema Abdeali Kankroliwala this week.

Coincidentally, their 'nikaah' ceremony was scheduled to be performed today (October 27) at the hands of the Syedna himself.

"Sadly, he passed away just six days before his marriage. Both the Kherodawala and Kankroliwala families are in deep gloom and despair at the monumental tragedy that has befallen them just before their 'nikaah' ceremony," said an aide to the Syedna.

The Syedna also met the Kankroliwala family, offered his deepest condolences and solace to the prospective young bride who lost her fiancee in the chopper crash.

The Syedna recalled Major Mustafa's six years' services with the Indian Army and acknowledged his contribution to the nation, and the ultimate sacrifice while performing his duties for the country.

Major Mustafa was among four other Indian Army personnel killed in the Advanced Light Helicopter crash in a mountainous region at Siang in Arunachal Pradesh on October 21.

Later, his body, along with the other deceased, was retrieved and taken to Udaipur where he was accorded a funeral with full military honours at the Khanjipeer Cemetery.

The National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune organised a special wreath-laying ceremony at its sprawling Pune campus on Tuesday (October 25) in honour of Major Mustafa -- one of its distinguished alumnus.

The solemn commemoration, led by NDA Commandant Vice-Admiral Ajay Kochhar, was held at the 'Hut of Rememberance' at the NDA campus, with the participation of a large number of officers and cadets.

"Major Mustafa of 252 Army Aviation, in the highest traditions of the Indian Army, made his supreme sacrifice while performing his duties on October 21, during an ALH crash in Arunachal Pradesh. He was an alumnus of the 128th NDA Course, November Squadron," said an NDA Spokesperson.

"Today, as his name gets inscribed in golden letters with full military honour in the sacred 'Hut of Remembrance', his martyrdom will continue to inspire future generations of NDA cadets. The NDA fraternity offers heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief," said the NDA.

Besides Major Mustafa, his co-pilot Major Vikas Bhambhu, craftsman Ashvin K.V., Havildar Biresh Sinha and Naik Rohitashva Kumar also perished in the tragic disaster.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)
Chennai, Oct 27 : Digital analytics consulting and solutions company Latent View Analytics Ltd on Thursday said it closed the second quarter of FY23 with a net profit of Rs.37.27 crore.

The company, in Q2FY23, earned a total of Rs 141.23 crore (Rs 98.87 crore Q2FY22) and an after tax profit of Rs 37.27 crore (Rs.21.70 crore).

"We witnessed healthy client additions, of which two are Fortune 500 companies. We ended the quarter with a headcount of more than 1,050, highest in the company's history. We onboarded 102 campus hires during the quarter," said Rajan Sethuraman, Chief Executive Officer.
Los Angeles, Oct 27 : "Black Panther Wakanda Forever" made its long-awaited world premiere on Wednesday night in Hollywood, with director Ryan Coogler and the film's star-studded cast paying tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.

The Marvel sequel takes place following the death of Boseman's King T'Challa, with the people of Wakanda - especially Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright), War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and M'Baku (Winston Duke) - grieving their loss and searching for a way for their kingdom to endure, reports Variety.

As T'Challa's death plays a major role in the story of 'Wakanda Forever', Boseman's absence during the evening's premiere cast a shadow over the celebration. Amid great speculation that Shuri will assume T'Challa's mantle of the Black Panther in 'Wakanda Forever', Wright shared her feelings about creating a sequel without Boseman on the carpet.

"I'm bracing," Wright told Variety.

"I've seen some member's of Chad's team. When we lock eyes, we know how this feels. We have to take a step away. I see my aunt locking eyes with me, she's very proud. I have to take a step away. It's emotional. We're trying to hold it together." Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige shared his own thoughts on Boseman, expressing gratitude that they were able to work together, even if it was for all too brief a time.

"I got to have him in my life for the short time that I did," Feige shared.

"More importantly, he did it at such a young age, such a body of work, that it will last forever. Generation after generation after generation will get to feel his presence." Feige was also greeted by Coogler during his interview, offering some glowing praise for the filmmaker on his big night.

"He's one of the best people I've ever met, one of the best filmmakers," Feige said. "Maybe the best person I've ever met." "This is hyperbole! This is hyperbole right here," Coogler laughed, before offering some kind words in return to Feige. "Incredible producer!" Along with returning cast members, new entrants to the world of Wakanda include Michaela Coel as Aneka, a captain and combat instructor in the Dora Milaje, and Dominique Thorne, who makes her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Riri Williams a.k.a. Ironheart, as well as representatives for the kingdom of Talokan, led by Tenoch Huerta Mej's Namor, one of Marvel's oldest characters.

In the comics, Namor has been both a friend and a foe; it seems Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole have found a way to demonstrate both sides with this antagonist.

Like Marvel Cinematic Universe entries, much of the plot for "Wakanda Forever" has been shrouded in secrecy.

One major news item was revealed early Wednesday though, when Disney confirmed that Rihanna would sing an original song written for the film, titled 'Lift Me Up'. The song marks Rihanna's first new music in six years.

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' hits theatres on November 11.
London, Oct 27 : Iran on Wednesday saw one of the biggest nights of protests since anti-government demonstrations erupted six weeks ago, media reported.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in all major cities, including the capital Tehran.

BBC Persian has confirmed that there were protests in at least 30 cities. The largest was in the city of Saqqez, the birth place of Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of morality police 40 days ago.

Other cities, such as Andimeshk and Borujerd in the west, and Lahijan, near the Caspian Sea in the north, also saw a resurgence of protests.

"The society is very angry. We had enough of them (Iranian leadership)," a 27-year-old protester who lives close to Tehran told BBC Persian.

"I want to have the right to say no to these people. I'm tired of being a second-class citizen because I am a woman. Men are tired of the intimidation by the regime. This is the first time in the history of our country that we stand together for a goal which is woman, life and freedom." In the capital Tehran, fires were lit in the street, while hundreds marched down a main road chanting slogans including "Death to the dictator!", a reference to Iran's supreme leader and which has become a common refrain.

Wednesday's protests were among the largest to take place in Iran since the death of Mahsa Amini.

As the 40th day following an individual's death is a religiously and culturally significant moment of respect for the deceased in Iran, calls had already gained momentum on social media to mark the day with protests in memory of Amini, BBC reported.

Thousands gathered at a cemetery in Amini's hometown, chanting against the ruling establishment before clashing with security forces on their way back. Angry protests took place at multiple locations across the capital Tehran, as police were seen firing tear gas.

"Death to the dictator," men and women chanted in videos published by multiple social media outlets. Twirling their headscarves, women showed their defiance of the mandatory hijab rules, in a gesture that has been a recurring motif of the protests.

Many students, who have been at the front line during the recent protests, took part in campus rallies in over a dozen cities. Many chanted against Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and faced off government loyalists, BBC reported.
Mumbai, Oct 27 : Actor Zayn Ibad Khan, who plays the character of Yash in the streaming show 'Aashiqana', revealed that in the second season of the show, his character will finally be able to rebuild his reputation but he will face a new set of challenges that will drain him physically, mentally and emotionally.

Talking about the challenges Yash will experience in the new season, he said, "In this season of Aashiqana, Yash is finally able to cast out the stains on his reputation that has followed him his whole life. But now he faces even bigger challenges that will challenge him physically, mentally and emotionally. It is an all-new journey for him and me." The second season of the show will further the unusual love story of Yash and Chikki and will explore the marital chapter of their lives.

Talking about the arc of Yash's love life, the actor said, "Because they are married this time, the emotional graph is different. Yash and Chikki love each other and want to get married, but they also don't want to do it under the present circumstances. They want to do it in the future but are also not sure. It is a bit twisted and complex, just like their relationship equation." Directed and produced by Gul Khan, 'Aashiqana' season 2 is available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a 2-day 'Chintan Shivir' to discuss problems relating to internal security at Surajkund, Haryana, on Thursday. Addressing the inaugural session, Shah said that there has been a 34 per cent reduction in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. At the same time, he said that the government has decided to set up National Investigation Agency (NIA) branches in every state by 2024.

Shah added that a 64 per cent reduction in deaths of security personnel and 90 per cent reduction in civilian deaths have been recorded after the revocation of Article 370. Apart from this, an investment of Rs 57,000 crore has also been seen in J&k since then.

He stated that the NIA has been given special powers. It is the collective responsibility of the states and the Centre to effectively deal with cross-border crimes. He added that various suggestions have been received regarding reforms in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and said that the government will bring new drafts in Parliament soon.

Shah added that the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) has been amended to prevent its misuse by NGOs. The government has taken strict measures against such NGOs, which were obstructing the development of India. He said that the Shivir will help in drawing up a joint plan to tackle cyber crimes, narcotics smuggling, cross-border terrorism, sedition etc.

Home Ministers of all the states, Lt Governors and Administrators of Union Territories are participating in this two-day meeting.
Aizawl, Oct 27 : Despite a ban on Chinese-origin foreign bikes in Mizoram, the two-wheelers are freely available in the notheastern state, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, and police have begun action.

A police official said that these Chinese bikes are being smuggled to Mizoram and other northeastern states through the India-Myanmar border and being used by the Indians violating the Motor Vehicles Act.

The Mizoram Police, in a crackdown on Wednesday night, impounded 16 foreign bikes from different areas of Siaha district in southern Mizoram.

"Legal action is being initiated against the foreign bikes owners and users. Our crackdown against the foreign bikes would be intensified in all the 11 districts," the official said.

On Wednesday, the Assam Rifles seized four Kenbo bikes in the same Siaha district while these two-wheelers were ferrying a large cache of Myanmar-bound tactical and war-like stores including a satellite phone.

Four people were arrested with the material, which also include five mobile phones, eight SIM cards, 105 bullets of point .22 rifles, and 9,000 airgun pellets, being smuggled to Myanmar-based militant outfits.
Mumbai, Oct 27 : The Mumbai Airport Customs intercepted and arrested two Indian women passengers who landed here from Dubai with 2.65 kg gold, concealed in wax form, in their jeans, an official said here on Thursday.

The two women arrived here by an IndiGo flight 6E-64 on Wednesday and based on profiling and surveillance, the Customs sleuths stopped them for searches.

During the physical search, both the women were detected with something wrapped below their knees in a bandage-like arrangement, arousing suspicions.

On further examination, it was found that the duo had wrapped 24 carat pure gold in wax form around their legs, concealed with an adhesive bandage-like material underneath their jeans.

The total recovery was 2.65 kgs of purest form of gold worth around Rs 1.40 crore, said the official.

Both women were arrested and have been sent to police custody by a court, while further investigations are on into their accomplices or others involved in the entire gold smuggling racket.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : With Germany ready to open student visa appointment slots from November 1, the norms for Indians have got stricter, who now have to get their academic records assessed by the the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) and obtain authenticity certificates before applying for student visas.

Applications for APS certification have been open since October 1, and the certificate will be a mandatory document to be submitted along with the visa application, the German Embassy stated.

A steady rise in the number of Indian students applying for courses in Germany has also led to an increase in number fraudulent practices, like attaching fake academic documents.

German ambassador Philipp Ackermann said the move was initiated as "up to 15 per cent of the applications have fraudulent academic documents, which at times lead to genuine students getting rejected".

The APS certificate background checks a student's academic record.

"The certificate will act as proof of authenticity for Indian academic documents. It will first look into an applicant's identity via an Aadhaar linked to a mobile number and passport," Ankur Dhawan, the President of upGrad Abroad, told Edex Live.

It would also check a students high school grade sheets and bachelor's or master's degrees or diplomas a student holds," he said.

"With only genuine cases coming to the embassy, the process will be more streamlined, with visas getting approved in shorter durations and more applicants processed," Dhawan added.

An APS certificate is not required for shorter-term courses, but for those that are longer than 90 days. One can register online at www.aps-india.de and later print the document and sign it.

Thereafter, a procedure fee of Rs 18,000 is to be transferred to the APS bank account.

More than 3,000 students from India have queued up for Germany in the 2022-23 academic year.

The number of Indian students in Germany has increased three-fold in the past seven years with Indians forming the second largest group of international students in German universities. Currently, there are 33,753 Indian students studying in Germany.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) revealed the number of Indian students who went to Germany in 2021-22 is 33,753 -- an 18 per cent jump from last year's 28,542.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : A narcotic drug peddler, who allegedly tried to kill a Delhi Police constable by crushing the victim through his car, was arrested and 57.70 kg cannabis was recovered from him.

A senior police official said that on October 25, the local police were patrolling in the area, meanwhile when they reached behind Alok Punj School in Karawal Nagar, they noticed one Honda Civic Car in suspicious condition.

The police noticed that conduct of the driver of the car was highly suspicious. Seeing the police team, he panicked and tried to run away along with the car.

"He reversed the car dangerously in a bid to crush the police team. To save himself, constable Harender hanged on the car while the accused kept on driving it. After driving for a few meter, the accused lost his balance and the car hit a wall. The police constable suffered severe injuries in the incident," the official said.

Meanwhile, Head Constable Amrish reached there and nabbed the accused identified as Ankur, 22.

Harender, the injured constable, was shifted to Max Hospital Patparganj, where doctors told him that he had a fracture in his hip.

"11 suspected packets wrapped with brown tape were found stacked in boot of the car. Forensic Science Laboratory team was called and it was learnt that suspicious item was cannabis. A total 57.70 kg was recovered from his car," the official said.

The police said that they have lodged an FIR under section 30/186/353 of IPC read with sections of NDPS Act at Karawal Nagar Police Station.

The accused told the police that he used to work for one Rohit. He was being paid Rs 20,000 per month to deliver cannabis. He knew Rohit through his friend Pankaj.
Guwahati, Oct 27 : Assam Police seized a huge quantity of ganja weighing around 2500 kg, valued at Rs 15 crore on Thursday, officials said.

A senior police officer said that this is one of the biggest seizure of ganja in recent times. Police have seized the consignment of cannabis from the Jorabat area in Guwahati at the Assam-Meghalaya interstate border.

Based on a tip-off received by the police, a team of Guwahati Police led by Joint Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta conducted a raid. A truck bearing the registration number of Haryana was seized.

The police officer informed that at least 2500 kgs of ganja were recovered from the truck.

"The estimated market value of the ganja seized should be around Rs 15 crore," he added.

According to police, the ganja was carried from Manipur and was to be delivered somewhere in Guwahati. But before that, the consignment was caught by the police.

The driver of the truck, Ashok Kumar, and his helper, Jitendra Kumar, were arrested by the police on the spot. They hail from Haryana and Uttarakhand respectively.

Police have been interrogating them to get further details about the ganja smuggling gang.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister lauded the action of the Assam police.

in the last couple of weeks, police have foiled many attempts of ganja smuggling in different parts of the state.
London, Oct 27 : The extraordinary wealth of the wider family of Britain's super-rich Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his billionaire heiress wife Akshata Murthy has been laid bare, the media reported.

With an estimated net fortune of 730 million pounds that includes multiple properties in Britain and the US, a string of business interests and even a fleet of cars including a 'high-spec' Range Rover, a 'top-of-the-range' Lexus and a BMW, the Oxbridge former Goldman Sachs banker and his Stanford-educated spouse are by far the wealthiest occupants of Downing Street in the history, the Daily Mail reported.

Indeed, Akshata Murthy is said to be wealthier than even King Charles III due to her 430 million pounds stake in her billionaire tycoon father Narayana Murthy's IT empire.

She has also continued to hold stakes in businesses over the years including a joint venture with Amazon, Cloudtail, in India worth 900 million pounds a year, a project she and Rishi set up together, Catamaran Ventures UK, shares in the firm which runs Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria and burger chain Wendy's in India, and Etonian tailor New & Lingwood, which makes pupils' tailcoats costing 2,500 pounds each, Daily Mail reported.

Rishi's father-in-law, dubbed 'India's Bill Gates' due to his role pioneering the country's tech boom, was recently ranked the sixth richest person in India and the 654th in the world after his remarkable success in founding Bengaluru-based IT firm Infosys in the 1980s, now a 9.6 billion pounds multinational that employs more than 3,45,000 people.
London, Oct 27 : The Conservative MP and former member of the intelligence and security committee (ISC) Mark Pritchard said a "breakdown" in trust between MI5 and the home secretary, Suella Braverman, must be "sorted asap", media reported.

A report by the Daily Mail claimed Braverman was investigated by national security officials earlier this year as part of an MI5-linked inquiry into a security breach relating to a British spy.

The investigation found "no conclusive evidence" of the identity of the leaker. The newspaper said Braverman, who was attorney general at the time, was seeking an injunction against the BBC to stop it from identifying a spy accused of using his position to terrorise his former partner.

The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, described the allegations as "extremely serious." She added, "There needs to be an urgent investigation into the home secretary's security breaches, including these new allegations while she was attorney general.

"The prime minister needs to say whether he knew about these allegations when he reappointed her. Ignoring warnings about security risks when appointing a home secretary is highly irresponsible and dangerous." Tory MP Caroline Nokes has questioned the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary, just days after she was forced to resign for a security breach, The Guardian reported.

Speaking to the BBC, she said there were "big questions" hanging over the issue and called for a full inquiry. She said, "I think what is apparent is that there are big questions hanging over this whole issue. And to be frank I would like to see them cleared up so that the home secretary can get on with her job."
Kolkata, Oct 27 : The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday said that it had apprehended three Bangladeshis, who had crossed over into India illegally, in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on late Wednesday night.

The three arrested have been identified as Kutubuddin Sheikh, Miraj Sheikh and Jasim Sheikh, all three residents of Shibganj area in Bangladesh's Chapai Nawabganj district.

Later, the BSF handed the three persons to the local police, who have presented them before a local court. BSF sources said that their men are trying to track the exact route through which these three Bangladeshi citizens crossed the border illegally as well as their intentions behind their illegal crossover.

On Wednesday night, personnel of BSF's 115th Battalion saw some persons, including the three, arrested moving suspiciously in a village extremely close to the international border. The BSF personnel challenged them and the three could not furnish any documents related to their Indian citizenship. Thereafter, the three were arrested and after interrogation, accepted that they were Bangladeshi residents and illegally crossed the borders.

This is the second major arrest of Bangladeshi residents illegally crossing the borders and entering India in Murshidabad district. In August this year, the personnel of the same 115th battalion arrested four Bangladeshi residents from Samserganj area in Murshidabad district after they illegally crossed the borders. The four arrested persons were identified as Naim Sheikh, Rabiul Ali, Rahman Sheikh and Sohel Sheikh, all residents of the same Chapai Nawabganj district.
Islamabad, Oct 27 : Never in the history of Pakistan, a joint presser has been done by the DGISPR (Director General Inter-Services Public Relations) and DGISI (Director General Inter-Services Intelligence), that too with revelations that are not only explosive, but will also change the overall standing of the country's politics, strategic political alliances and political agenda going forward.

On a day when slain Pakistani journalist and anchor Arshad Sharif, who was brutally killed in a shootout in Kenya allegedly in a case of mistaken identity (as per the Kenyan police authorities), was being laid to rest, the explosive joint press conference by DGISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar and DGISI Lieutenant General Nadeem Ahmed Anjum sent shockwaves to former Prime Minister Imran Khan, his narrative of a conspiracy that led to regime change in the country, and put serious questions over Imran Khan, a leading news channel's owner Salman Iqbal and other elements that led to the killing of Arshad Sharif.

Arshad Sharif's murder The media talk was focused on talking about the tragic murder of Arshad Sharif in Kenya and the circumstances surrounding it.

"This press conference is being held in the context of presenting facts, so that facts, fiction and opinion can be differentiated. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been specifically informed about the sensitivity of the press conference," said DGISPR Babar Iftikhar.

Talking more into the key pointers related to the journalist's murder, Iftikhar said that Arshad Sharif was among many of those journalists who were fed with a propaganda based narrative built by Imran Khan in the wake of the cypher, which allegedly led to the regime change conspiracy in the country.

The DGISPR also stated that Arshad Sharif's employer and prominent news channel ARY News played the role of a spin doctor in targeting the army, adding that its CEO Salman Iqbal should be brought back to Pakistan and investigated.

It was also revealed that the threat letter and alert that was issued by the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) government was fake, as the DGISPR confirmed that the intelligence agencies had no information of any such threat to Arshad Sharif.

"The threat letter by Khyber Pukhtunkhwa government was issued as part of the plan to create grounds to compel Arshad to leave Pakistan. Arshad did not want to leave Pakistan," said Iftikhar.

"ARY CEO Salman Iqbal then asked for immediate arrangements for Arshad Sharif's exit from Pakistan and he was given KP government's protocol to fly from the Peshawar airport. His plane ticket was also booked and paid by ARY Digital," added the DGISPR.

The DGISPR and the DGISI confirmed that no one forced Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan as Sharif did not face any threat in the country.

The statements from the DGISPR and the DGISI can be seen as parallel to the recent claim by Imran Khan that he was the one who asked Arshad Sharif to leave Pakistan after he was informed of imminent threats form TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) splinter groups, which, as per the 'threat letter', wanted to assassinate him.

It is also important to note that while Arshad Sharif was in Kenya since September, he was in contact with or either staying with two persons -- Khurram Ahmed and Waqar Ahmed.

It was reported that Khurram Ahmed was driving the vehicle, which was sprayed with bullets by the Kenyan police, two of which hit Arshad in the head and the back. However, the driver remained unharmed. The first call that Khurram made after Arshad was shot was to ARY CEO Salman Iqbal, and not to his family or any other journalist. The farm house that Arshad was going to in Kenya is also owned by Salman Iqbal, which has raised even more questions over the contacts and connections related to Arshad's killing.

The DGISPR and the DGISI emphasised that a thorough investigation should be conducted into the matter, and if a UN body, or an international independent body, is to be involved in it, it should be done on priority.

DGISI & DGISPR demolish Imran's narrative Demolishing former Prime Minister Imran Khan's narrative that his government was ousted from power through a conspiracy, revealed through the cypher and implemented by his opposition political parties along with the military establishment in what he terms as a regime change, the DGISPR said the reality of the cypher and the March 27 narrative built through it was "far from reality" and in fact poles apart.

Babar Iftikhar said that the intelligence agencies and the military had already made it abundantly clear that there was no proof of a conspiracy in the cypher, a fact that was conveyed to the government clearly during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting.

However, he added that a different narrative was built in the name of regime change and its propaganda tools became journalists and social media influencers.

DGISI Nadeem Ahmed Anjum said that he was compelled and forced to come and do a joint press conference as "lies continued to be spread and kept repeating themselves, which were being accepted by majority of the youth of the country".

"I also came today because opting to remain silent for long is not the right option when lies are becoming more vocal. Besides, it is necessary to determine the factors due to which a particular narrative is being built and people are being misled," he said.

"Chief of Army staff (COAS) General Qamar Jawed Bajwa was also targeted and faced criticism. And attempts were made to create a divide in the society," the DGISI added.

Talking about how Imran Khan waved a piece of paper during the March 27 public rally in Islamabad, Iftikhar said, "It was surprising for us when on March 27 a piece of paper was waved and an attempt was made to build a narrative that was far from reality.

"Several facts had come to light regarding the cypher revealing the baseless and unfounded narrative surrounding it. The Army was expected to intervene in domestic politics. The word neutral and apolitical was turned into an abuse. To all this baseless narrative, the Army chief and the institution showed restraint and we tried our best that politicians sit together to resolve their issues." Anjum said the nation has given him the responsibility to take secrets to the grave.

"But when needed and when necessary, I will bring those facts to light. Last year, the establishment decided that it would restrict itself to its constitutional role... The Army had an intense discussion and we reached the conclusion that the country's benefit lies in us restricting ourselves to our constitutional role and remaining out of politics," the DGISI said.

He said that in March, there was "a lot of pressure" but the institution and the Army chief decided to limit the military to its constitutional role.

The DGISI also slammed Imran Khan for openly targeting the military establishment in the day while meeting the same institution's personnel during the night with a wish list of things he intended to see be done in order to bring him back into power.

"You (Imran Khan) meet quietly at night through the back door and express your unconstitutional wishes, but call the Army chief a traitor in broad daylight. That's a big contradiction between your words and your actions," Anjum said.

Anjum also said that Imran Khan had offered COAS Bajwa an unlimited extension in office in March, when the no-confidence motion was at its peak and the opposition parties were ganging up against Khan to oust his government from power.

"The offer was made because the no-confidence motion was at its peak," he said.

The unprecedented and explosive press conference has opened up a new Pandora's Box that would be a massive blow to Imran Khan's upcoming long march, his narrative of regime change and his anti-establishment position.

In addition, the press conference directly hinted at Imran Khan and his KP government of being involved in the murder of Arshad Sharif, which in itself is a massive damage to Khan and will have an impact on his public support for the long march at large.
Itanagar, Oct 27 : A local tribal organisation -- Adi Bane Kebang (ABK) - on Thursday strongly denied the media reports, that earlier claimed that the militants belonging to Manipur-based groups, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF) recently shot down the Army helicopter.

Due to technical reasons, an Advanced Light Combat Helicopter of the Indian Army crashed in Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Siang district on October 21, killing all five personnel on board. After the mishap, the PLA and the MNRF had reportedly issued a joint statement claiming the responsibility for shooting down the Army Helicopter and these appeared in a section of the media.

The ABK, an apex body of the Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh, has condemned the media reports and the reported statement of the PLA and the MNRF.

ABK Spokesperson Vijay Taram said that the news and the statement are 'misleading and bogus.' ABK being the Apex supreme council of the Adi People registers the displeasure of the community over such callous, careless, insensitive, bogus claims made by MNRF for cheap publicity in the strongest terms, Taram told the media.

He further said that the Adi community would not tolerate any sort of anti-national activities in their territories.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : The Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, a one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the Prime Ministers of India and located on Teen Murti Marg in New Delhi, received 1,15,161 visitors till September 30 this year.

On October 15, 2022, a record breaking 3,233 people visited the museum which was opened to the public on April 21 this year.

Prominent personalities including the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister and other Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, members of the higher judiciary, diplomats have visited the Sangrahalaya.

The Sangrahalaya displays a comprehensive and balanced perspective on the post-independence history of India. The healthy mix of the latest technology and historic artefacts has impressed one and all. The use of augmented reality and virtual reality has created an enthralling experience of its cutting-edge technology based content. This inclusive endeavour is also aimed at sensitizing the younger generation to the leadership role of all the Indian Prime Ministers.

Educational institutions have been arranging visits of students to the Sangrahalaya. On October 15, 2044 students visited from 10 schools. Guided tours are provided with special attention to school groups by the Sangrahalaya staff. The remarks of Children's Academy, Ghaziabad read "The tour was great. I got to know so much about our Prime Ministers. I am really mesmerised with the museum collection." A new gallery on present Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being added to the Sangrahalaya. It is scheduled for public viewing in January 2023. A light and sound show is also planned in November with the opening episode on the space programme of India.

A Quarterly Lecture Series by eminent academicians and public leaders on the life and achievements of the Prime Ministers is also planned. It will also present selected exhibits on such occasions. The first in the series will be on Atal Bihari Vajpayee by Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India.
Hyderabad, Oct 27 : Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday asked party cadres not to make any comments before the media on the alleged attempt by the BJP to lure four MLAs with the offer of huge sums of money.

Stating that the investigation into the case is in the preliminary stage, he advised party leaders not to talk to the media.

"The thieves who caught red-handed keep barking. The party cadres need not pay any attention to this," tweeted KTR, as Rama Rao is popularly known.

This was his first reaction since Cyberabad police on Wednesday night arrested three persons from a farmhouse near Hyderabad when they were trying to lure four MLAs of TRS to defect to the BJP.

The police have registered a case against Ramachandra Bharati a.k.a. Satish Sharma of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati.

They have been booked for criminal conspiracy, bribery and criminal intimidation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Prevention of Corruption Act.

The TRS has alleged that the accused are close to some top BJP leaders including union ministers and that it was a conspiracy by the saffron party to destabilize the TRS government.

Pilot Rohit Reddy, who tipped-off Cyberabad police about the poaching attempt, has claimed that they offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to three other MLAs.

Meanwhile, KTR has authorised a panel of 12 TRS leaders to participate on behalf of the party in debates on national television channels. He took the step as the party found that some leaders who are not even members of TRS are participating in the debate.

The arrest of three persons has caused a tremor in the state politics.

While TRS has termed the attempt to buy its MLAs an attack on the self-respect of Telangana, BJP has alleged that it was a drama scripted by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to tarnish the party's image.

Accusing the state police of acting with bias, the BJP has also approached Telangana High Court seeking probe into the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Meanwhile, the four MLAs of TRS remained in Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister since Wednesday night. Chief minister and TRS president KCR is said to be discussing the party's strategy with ministers KTR and Harish Rao.

There have been speculations throughout the day that KCR will address a press conference along with the four MLAs to place all details of the alleged attempt by BJP to buy the legislators.

He was also expected to announce the future course of action. However, no press conference was convened.
Mumbai, Oct 27 : With the Tata-Airbus project to make the C-295 military aircraft also going to Gujarat, Maharashtra's opposition Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday slammed Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for being "ineffective".

NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said that after the Vedanta-Foxconn project was shifted to Gujarat in mid-September, Shinde had assured the people of this state that the Tata-Airbus military aircraft manufacturing plant will come up in Nagpur.

"However, now it transpires that even the Tata-Airbus project of Rs 21,935 crore for manufacturing 56 aircraft will come up in Gujarat... CM Shinde has not commented on this so far," he said.

Besides the Vedanta-Foxconn and the bulk drugs project, now Maharashtra has lost even the prestigious Tata-Airbus project which will directly impact the unemployed youth of the state, he pointed out.

"If all mega-projects intended for Maharashtra keep shifting out of here, then how will the people here get jobs, how will the state develop? It's the CM's bounden duty to ensure such things don't happen, but he is unable to prevent it," Tapase added sharply.

In what is billed as a major boost to the 'Make In India' initiative and domestic aviation manufacturing sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the Tata-Airbus' proposed transport aircraft plant for the Indian Air Force at Vadodara on October 30.

The first 16 fly-away C-295MW aircraft are scheduled for delivery between September 2023-August 2025, while the first of the 40 locally made aircraft are likely from September 2026.

The C-295MW is a 5-10 tonnes capacity transport aircraft with contemporary technology, short take-off and from semi-prepared surfaces and will replace the IAF's aging fleet of Avros.

It also has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo, which strengthen the logistics capabilities of the IAF.

The Centre had approved the procurement of the 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space S.A. Spain in Sep. 2021.

Later, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the two companies which will entail 40 of the 56 aircraft to be manufactured here by the Indian contractor, a consortium of Tata Advances Systems Ltd and Tata Consultancy Services.

This will be the first of its kind project in which a military aircraft - which can also be deployed for civilian purposes - shall be manufactured in India by a private company.

All the 56 aircraft shall be fitted with indigenous Electronic Warfare suite of Indian DPSUs like Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
Right from August 1947, Pakistan had its eye on the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir, whose ruler had been vacillating on its political future. After subversion and blockade, the Pakistanis mounted a full-borne, though proxy, invasion by Pashtun tribals, who easily overran a considerable stretch of territory, but two gallant soldiers -- one each of the state forces and the Indian Army -- saved Srinagar from capture.

The actions of Brig Rajinder Singh Jamwal, the Chief of Staff of the state forces, and Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai, the commander of the first unit of Indian Army troops to reach the Valley, may have been tactical in scope, but they helped upset the invaders' schedule and forestall their advance, earn time for a political settlement, and subsequent pouring in and build-up of Indian forces.

Brig Rajinder Singh was ordered into action right after the tribal lashkar entered the state and captured and ransacked Muzaffarabad on October 22, aided by a mutiny of the state forces unit there.

A worried Maharaja Hari Singh called up the Brigadier that afternoon and ordered him to stop the raiders - "save the state till the last man and the last bullet" till help from the only available source - India - could be obtained.

Brigadier Rajinder Singh just saluted and walked away. He collected a body of men from the Badami Bagh cantonment - though why he took only a group, spanning 150 to 250 odd, as per various estimates - out of the over 1,000 available, even after taking out a group of troops from Poonch whose loyalty was suspect, is not known.

His makeshift force reached Uri early on October 23, where they clashed with the enemy, though the latter's superior numbers forced them to withdraw - despite the Maharaja's command to hold Uri - back to Mahura and further. However, before retreating, Brig Rajinder Singh accomplished the destruction of the Uri bridge, which stopped the raiders who depended on motorised transport.

Over the next three days till October 26, Brig Rajinder Singh and his force fought a number of rearguard actions along the Jhelum Valley Road as they were forced to withdraw, and though they did not make much of an impact on enemy strength and intent, they severely disrupted the timeline and stopped them from an unhindered advance down to an unprotected Srinagar.

On October 26, as the force, severely depleted by now, was falling back towards Baramulla, the Brigadier was hit and severely wounded, and asked his men to leave him and withdraw.

He was placed under a culvert early on October 27, and that was the last ever seen of him - fulfilling his commitment to only let the enemy pass over his dead body. In the process, the raiders who planned to reach Srinagar by October 26 were only at Baramulla on that date.

Meanwhile, the four days grace Brig Rajinder Singh had obtained saw important developments, especially Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India on October 26, and the Indian government's decision to send troops forthwith.

It is here that Lt Col Dewan Ranjit Rai's role came into focus.

Amid the chaos and unsettled conditions across the newly-Independent India in the wake of the Partition and the communal blood-letting, most of the Army was placed on internal security duties and there was a small reservoir that military commanders could draw on to send to Jammu and Kashmir.

One of this was 1 (first battalion of the) Sikh Regiment, then deployed across then Gurgaon district in internal security role, and this was ordered on October 26 to leave for the Kashmir Valley early the next day.

Lt Col Rai's orders were simple and short - he was first given an intelligence briefing that just boiled down to the fact that there were thousands of well-armed raiders in the Uri area, understood as bent to reaching Srinagar but with no idea by when. Thus, he was to report to the Safdarjung airport in Delhi the next morning with whatever troops he could muster, land in Srinagar and organise the airfield's defence, while further troops would be sent when available.

Dakota aircraft piloted by civilians, said to include Biju Patnaik, who were flying the route for the first time, were placed at their disposal. With uncertainty about the location of the raiders, Lt Col Rai was instructed to abort the mission and return to Jammu if they had any inkling if the enemy had reached there.

However, he went on undaunted to land on the dusty Badgam airstrip with one company at around 9 a.m. on October 27 and by mid-day, the battalion HQ and most of the battalion was in place.

However, Lt Col Rai did not dig down for static defence but personally led his men towards Baramulla, with an eye on holding a line there to prevent any further enemy advance. However, they encountered a well-armed and bigger enemy force, and despite valiantly clashing, had to withdraw. Lt Col Rai was wounded and then shot dead by a sniper, along with a platoon commander.

The force returned to the Srinagar airport where his second-in-command, Major Sampuran Bachan Singh, reformed them and advanced again to Pattan where they formed a defensive position. However, no attack came as it appeared the enemy had been spooked.

On Lt Col Rai's decisions and fate, Lt Gen L.P. Sen, who, then as a Brigadier, was soon to arrive in the Valley in command of the 161 Brigade, held in his memoirs that there were both pros and cons but, on the whole, his actions were "bold, but certainly, not foolhardy".

"If it was said by some at that time, he strayed from the orders given to him, it was extremely fortunate he did so, although it cost him his life. He deserves full credit for having had the initiative and the courage to do what he did. It was a sound move by a gallant soldier," he held.

Though Srinagar had been saved for the time being and more troops were arriving, the raiders were still in the Kashmir Valley and the danger was by no means over yet.

(To be continued) (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Bengaluru, Oct 27 : A shocking incident of a wife killing her husband after getting his genitals cut by her lover came to light in Bengaluru on Thursday.

The Yelahanka police, who investigated the case have arrested Shwetha and her lover, Suresh in connection with the case.

Both hailed from Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh. The accused had killed Chandru at his residence on October 21.

According to police, Shwetha is a relative of Chandru, to whom she was got married by family elders, though there was an age gap of 18 years between them.

After marriage, Chandru had come to Bengaluru leaving Shwetha behind in Hindupur. Shwetha was in love with her college senior Suresh before marriage and they continued the affair even after her marriage.

Meanwhile, Shwetha's relative Lokesh was also in love with her and expressed his feelings to her. Concealing her affair with Suresh, she had alleged that Lokesh was harassing her and Chandru had lodged a complaint with Hindupur police.

Shwetha had also beaten Lokesh with her sandals in the presence of her family members and police in a compromise meeting.

After this incident, Chandru had brought his wife to Yelahanka. Meanwhile, her lover Suresh kept on messaging her. Shwetha, who found it difficult to continue her affair, then asked him to finish off her husband.

On October 21, when Chandru returned home, Shwetha took him to the terrace, where Suresh who was already waiting, and attacked him.

Police say that Shwetha had given a wooden log to her lover to assault Chandru. She had also given a knife to him and got her husband's private part cut, police said.

After killing Chandru, Shwetha pretended that nothing had happened and claimed that Chandru had not returned home from work.

When Chandru did not return, family members started searching for him and found him lying in a pool of blood on the terrace.

Shwetha, continuing her acting, shifted him to Yelahanka Government Hospital and maintained that she knew nothing. The police, ascertained that it was a case of murder, grew suspicious about her as she kept changing her statements.

When grilled, she tried to put the blame on Lokesh. She had told police that Lokesh was troubling her by making phone calls for a year. However, police investigations showed that Lokesh had not made any phone calls to her.

When Shweta's mobile data was retrieved, they found Suresh's calls, including 20 on the day of the murder. The police have also found that she had sent the location of her house to him.

The police arrested Suresh from Penugonda in Andhra Pradesh and also arrested Shwetha. Further investigation is on.
Ahmedabad, Oct 27 : The Congress party's five Parivartan Yatras will be flagged off and led by the party's national leaders, covering 175 assembly seats. This will put the party campaign in top gear and boost the workers' morale.

Kutch District Committee president Yajuvendrasinh Jadeja told IANS that one such yatra will start on October 31 from Bhuj district. It will be led by Madhya Pradesh former chief minister Digvijaya Singh, will cover six assembly constituencies in two days and move ahead in Jamnagar and Morbi districts.

The second yatra will be led by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot from Palanpur in North Gujarat and will cover the entire North Gujarat region. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will led the third yatra from Fagvel in Kheda district and travel in Central Gujarat.

Congress leader Mukul Wasnik will led the Parivartan Yatra from Jambusar in Bharuch district and cover the entire South Gujarat. Madhya Pradesh former Chief Minister Kamal Nath will lead the yatra from Somnath and cover the districts of Saurashtra region.

Party sources said the Central Election Committee met in Delhi and candidates for 137 assembly constituencies have been finalised. The party has already given the green signal to 45 sitting MLAs that they will be renominated.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to his new United Kingdom counterpart Rishi Sunak and congratulated him on assuming charge, while seeking early conclusion of the India-UK foreign trade agreement (FTA).

Sunak responded to Modi's tweet by thanking him for his "kind words".

"Glad to speak to @RishiSunak today. Congratulated him on assuming charge as UK PM. We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA," Modi tweeted from his personal Twitter handle.

"Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your kind words as I get started in my new role. The UK and India share so much. I'm excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defence and economic partnership in the months & years ahead," Sunak tweeted in response to Modi's tweet.

The FTA between India and UK has been hanging fire as talks between the two sides got delayed after Liz Truss had abruptly resigned as Prime Minister after being in office for just 45 days.

Earlier, then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had set Diwali as deadline for finalising the FTA.

Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is scheduled to begin his visit to India from Friday, and will hold talks with his counterpart S. Jaishankar.

The two leaders will discuss strengthening of diplomatic ties, Britain's Foreign Office said on Thursday.
Chennai, Oct 27 : MDMK General Secretary Vaiko on Thursday came out strongly against the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit, accusing it and its chief K. Annamalai of trying to politicise the Coimbatore car blast case to gain a foothold in the state.

Addressing media persons at Krishnagiri, he said Annamalai was indulging in reckless allegations and irresponsible statements and that this has become his habit.

He said that however much the BJP tries, it won't get a foothold in the Dravida land.

The MDMK chief said: "These are the same people who have been silent on the issues of worshipping Godse and the symbolic shooting of the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh." He said that the Tamil Nadu government was dealing with the Coimbatore blast case with an iron hand and added that immediately after the blast, had traced down those behind it. This swift action was a clear indicator of the efficiency of the Tamil Nadu Police, he added.

Even after the Tamil Nadu police had Proved its mettle, the state government had recommended an NIA investigation showing the bonhomie the state government has with the NIA in investigating crucial cases, he said.

Vaiko also said that the BJP does not have any right to comment against the anti-Hindi agitation as even in Karnataka where the saffron party was in power, there are objections to the three-language policy and people have come up against Hindi imposition.

He said that the history of the anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu dates back to 85 years when pioneer social reformers of the Dravidians, Periyar and Marimalai Adigar had spearheaded that movement.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Taking suo motu cognisance of reports that girls are being "sold on stamp papers" in some districts of Rajasthan and their mothers are subjected to rape on the diktats of caste panchayats for settlement of disputes, the NHRC has asked the Chief Secretary for a detailed report in the matter, along with an action taken report, measures taken and if not, proposed to be taken to prevent such happenings.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said that the report must also contain how the state government is ensuring the functions of the Gram Panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj laws, to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the state.

A notice has also been issued to the Director General of Police, Rajasthan to submit a detailed report mentioning the initiation of criminal prosecution against the perpetrators of such crime and their abettors/sympathisers.

The apex human rights body said that the report must contain the status of cases, including the registration of FIRs, charge sheets, arrest, if any, in such incidents and the mechanism initiated to apprehend the people involved in such systematic crimes of flesh trade in the state.

"The report must also mention steps being taken or proposed to be taken against the public servant(s), who purported to have neglected perpetually prevention of such incidents. The response from both the Chief Secretary and DGP is expected within four weeks," it said.

The NHRC also said that reportedly whenever there is a dispute between two parties, particularly involving financial transactions and loans etc, girls aged between 8-18 are auctioned to recover money. These girls are being sent to UP, MP, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries and subjected to physical abuse, torture and sexual assault in slavery.

Media reports have documented the ordeal of many victims of such horrendous crimes, it said.

According to the media report, whenever there is any dispute between the two parties in Bhilwara, they, instead of going to the police, approach the caste panchayats for its settlement. As per the report, in order to pay off Rs 15 lakh debt, a caste panchayat forced a man to sell his sister first and even after this when the debt was not cleared, he was forced to sell his 12-year-old daughter. The buyer purchased the girl for Rs 8 lakh. Thereafter, all the five sisters became slaves but still their father could not pay off his debt.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to human rights violations of the victims of the such abominable practice. It has also asked its Special Rapporteur Umesh Kumar Sharma to visit and inspect the affected areas and submit a comprehensive report on the incidents noted about and the prevailing practice in the area, at the earliest, preferably, not later than three months.
Patna, Oct 27 : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Thursday said that he will not campaign in Mokama and Gopalganj Assembly constituencies for the November 3 bypolls.

"I have an injury in my stomach due to a boat accident in the Ganga river a few days ago and I am not fully fit. Once I recover from the wound, then I will think about it. For now, I am not going to these two places. The leaders of our party are going to Mokama and Gopalganj," he said as he went to attend Chitragupta Puja in Gardanibagh locality here.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar announced he would go to Mokama and Gopailganj along with Tejashwi Yadav and Jitan Ram Manjhi for the election campaign in favour of the grand alliance candidates on October 27.

"At present, the wound is such that I am not sitting on the front seat of the car as it requires wearing a seat belt. I am travelling while sitting in the rear seat," he said.

The voting in bypolls for Mokama and Gopalganj Assembly constituencies will be held on November 3 and RJD's Neelam Devi, who is wife of Bahubali leader Anant Singh, and Mohan Prasad Gupta, are the candidates for the grand alliance.

As the RJD did not give these two seats to the JD-U, sources have said that the chances of RJD candidates are grim, especially in Gopalganj.

The political relation between Nitish Kumar and Anant Singh, the sitting MLA, whose conviction and sentencing in an arms case, necessitated the bypoll, is also said to be sour.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery on Thursday called for adoption of an Indian model for achieving the United Nation's Social Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030.

Bery said that the Indian model for adoption of SDG goals is based on four tenets of creating institutional ownership, establishing a robust review and monitoring system, developing capacities for integrating SDGs in planning and monitoring, and promoting a "whole society approach".

He expressed these views while delivering the ninth Dr Verghese Kurien Memorial Oration at XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Poverty alleviation, zero hunger, quality education and gender equality are some of the major 17 SDGs charted out by the UN in 2015.

Bery further elaborated how the government think tank Niti Aayog keeps track of national progress annually on the basis of targets and indicators.
Lhasa, Oct 27 : Footage has emerged showing what appear to be rare large-scale protests against strict Covid-19 measures in the Tibetan regional capital, Lhasa, a media report said.

Multiple videos on social media show hundreds demonstrating and clashing with the police. They are said to be mostly ethnic Han Chinese migrant workers, BBC reported.

The city has been under lockdown for nearly three months as it battles a wave of infections.

Tibet is one of the most tightly-guarded regions in China.

The protests are said to have taken place on Wednesday afternoon and stretched on till the night. One video shows hundreds of people gathered on the streets, with officials blocking them at one end. A message calling for calm can be heard on a loudspeaker, with an official asking for people to "please be understanding and to go back", BBC reported.

Another video shows scores of people on the streets at night, and a man can be heard commenting on the scene.

"[They] have been locked up for too long. And a lot of people in this community are people who have just come to work and earn money. If they could get that in mainland China, they wouldn't have come here," he says in Mandarin.

Yet another video showed people marching on the streets with the caption "We just want to go home".

Tibetan sources have told news outlet Radio Free Asia (RFA) that protesters warned they would "set off a fire" if restrictions were not lifted - though it is not clear what this meant.

Another source said there were fears that scuffles between civilians and police officers could turn violent.
Patna, Oct 27 : At least 12 persons, mostly women and children, were injured after a clash over a property dispute in Bihar's Madhepura district on Thursday, police said.

The incident occurred in Gopali Tola village under Murliganj police station in the district. Five of the injured are in critical condition and they were admitted to the Common Health Centre (CHC) in Murliganj block.

The two groups were each claiming a piece of land and on Thursday, they attacked each other with sharp edge weapons.

An official of Murliganj police station said that it was an old property dispute and it earlier reached the police station.

"On that occasion, we managed to settle the matter. Now, both sides were involved in a violent clash on Thursday. All the injured persons belong to two groups. We have not received a written complaint from any side, still we have initiated action against those persons who attacked the victims," an officer of Murliganj police station said, requesting anonymity.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in India on Friday for his first official trip to the country during which he will meet his Indian counterpart and discuss strengthening UK-India ties.

Cleverly will first pay his respects to those who lost their lives in the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Palace Hotel in Mumbai in 2008.

On Saturday, Cleverly will travel to Delhi wherte he will speak at the special meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee. He is expected to call on countries to work together to fight online terrorism, including global terror recruitment campaigns and live streaming of attacks.

Cleverly is also due to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss the latest on the 2030 Roadmap, the landmark commitment to boost cooperation between the UK and India over the next decade under a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Since it was launched last year, huge progress has been made, including the start of the ambitious free trade negotiations, the expansion of defence and security partnership, and joint exercises to enhance cyber security collaboration.

"Our relationship with India is hugely important for me; as the world's largest democracy, India is a natural partner of the UK in the Indo-Pacific. It is an economic and tech powerhouse. Our deeper ties will boost both our economies and help tackle global security challenges. I look forward to working even more closely with India when it takes up the G20 Presidency in December," Cleverly said.
Chennai, Oct 27 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) in connection with the October 23 car blast case in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore in which one person was killed, an official said on Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Director General of Police, C. Sylendrababu said on the direction from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the NIA officials would now work out the modalities in the case.

The order for the investigation of the case was issued by the Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalisation division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

It may be noted that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin who also holds the Home portfolio had requested the NIA to take over the probe on Wednesday after a high-level meeting of officials in which the state Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and DGP were also present.

It may be noted that the Deputy Inspector General of NIA, K.B. Vandana, and the Superintendent of the premier agency, Sreejith are in Coimbatore and have conducted some preliminary inquiries regarding the blast. Six persons have also been arrested.

The Unlawful Atrocities (Prevention) Act -- UAPA, has been revoked against all the arrested individuals.

Tamil Nadu Police have already seized 75 kg of potassium nitrate, sulphur, aluminum powder, and charcoal from the residence of Jameesha Mubin who was killed in the blast.

Mubin, a 25-year-old engineering graduate was charred to death in the early morning explosion of the car triggered by the explosion of a gas cylinder.

He was previously questioned by the NIA in 2019 regarding his social media contact with the main accused in the Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka.

The Tamil Nadu police had immediately after the car blast arrested five accomplices of Mubin which included Mohammed Thalka, son of Nawab Khan who is the brother of Al-Umma founder and the main culprit in the Coimbatore serial bomb blast of 1998, February 14 in which 56 people died and 200 people injured.

The others arrested are -- Mohammed Azharuddin, Mohammed Riyaz, Firoz Ismail, and Mohammed Navas Ismail.

Of them, Firoz Ismail was deported from the United Arab Emirates in 2019 after he was found to have links with the Islamic State.

Mubin's cousin Afsar Khan was also arrested on Thursday after questioning him for two days. Police found that he was instrumental in buying the chemicals through online commercial sites.

A strong police contingent comprising more than 3,000 personnel is camping at Coimbatore as Ukkadam -- where the blast happened, is a communally sensitive area.

The police are also tracing chemicals like potassium nitrate, charcoal, sulfur, and aluminum powder that are purchased through commercial websites and have sent notices to major online platforms.
Srinagar, Oct 27 : Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday filed a charge sheet against four accused persons involved in attack on minority community members in Budgam district, officials said.

"Budgam Police today filed a charge sheet against four accused (three adults, one juvenile) in a case of terror attack on minorities at Gopalpora Chadoora.

The four accused persons are Altaf Farooq Rather, son of Farooq Ahmad Rather and resident of Dharambugh Kralpora, Suhail Ahmad Malik, son of Abdul Hamid Malik and resident of Panzan Chadoora, Faizan Khursheed Panjabi, son of Khursheed Ahmad and resident of Dharambugh Kralpora, and a juvenile.

On August 15, a grenade attack took place on minority family's house at Gopalpora Chadoora in which Karan Kumar, son of Anil Kumar, was injured and taken to hospital.

"Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 147/2022 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Chadoora and investigation was taken up," police said.

"During the course of investigation, offences under section 307 IPC, 16, 18 ,23 39 ULPA were established against the above four accused (including a juvenile) and the charge sheet to this effect was produced before competent court today in shortest possible time of 72 days after obtaining the sanction from the competent authority," police said.
Itanagar, Oct 27 : The Arunachal Pradesh government on Thursday decided to remove and suspend four members of Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC), two months after the reported leak of recruitment exam papers, officials said here.

Following the instructions of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the state government has handed the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which also registered a case and a team of the central probe agency headed by a joint director is in Itanagar now.

After the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, Chief Minister Khandu handed over the recommendations of the council of ministry to Governor Brig (retd) B.D. Mishra to invoke the provisions of Article 317 to remove the four members of APPSC, which had conducted the examination for the post of assistant engineer (civil).

The Chief Minister said the state government is determined to initiate the process of cleansing of APPSC in the larger interest of the people of the state.

The state government, from day one, has made its intentions very clear for overhauling the entire APPSC and conducting the examinations for various posts in a free, fair and transparent manner, Kandu said.

So far, 10 persons, including APPSC deputy secretary-cum-deputy controller of examination, have been arrested by the state police for their alleged involvement in the paper leak case.

The Chairman of the Commission, Nipo Nabam, had resigned on October 14 "owning moral responsibility for the omissions and commissions of the officer of the commission" who was responsible for ensuring secrecy and preventing leakage of question papers.

Many organisations, including the Anti-Corruption Foundation, have been demanding the suspension of the APPSC Chairman, Secretary and other officials for the reported leak of question paper ahead of the recent examination for the post of assistant engineer (civil).

They have also demanded a "transparent" probe into the alleged leak.

On August 28, a candidate for the examination had lodged an FIR at the Itanagar police station, complaining that the question paper for the APPSC exam held on August 26 and 27 were leaked.

Meanwhile, the CBI has registered a case against Akhilesh Yadav of the Jeju Institute in Itanagar and unknown officials of APPSC.

"We will summon all the accused persons to join the investigation in the coming days," a CBI official said.
Patna, Oct 27 : Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday alleged high level corruption in the construction of MLA flats in Patna.

"The officials of the Building Construction Department deliberately delayed the construction of MLA flats in a bid to get commissions. They are involved in high-level corruption and the state government is afraid of taking action against those officials. If the state government initiates inquiry with the independent agency, the truth will come out," he claimed.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who handed over the keys to 65 MLAs, also expressed dissatisfaction over delays in the project.

Sinha also said that there are more than 168 MLAs in Bihar who do not have government flats or bungalows in Patna.

"Due to the delayed project, only 65 legislators got the flat so far. The Nitish Kumar government, during its second tenure, started the project in 2012 to provide flats to legislators. He had set a target of 2017 for completion of the project. However, the project will not be completed in 2022," he said.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : The 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' campaign, slated to start in the national capital from Friday, has been indefinitely shelved after the LG's inordinate delay in clearing the file, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday.

"Dust, biomass burning, and vehicle pollution are the main contributors to pollution in Delhi. The 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign plays an important role in reducing vehicular pollution in Delhi.

"The campaign was supposed to start from Friday but surprisingly, the LG is sitting on the fence over this brilliant effort of the Delhi government. The file sent to him in this regard is still pending for approval. In such a situation, the silence of LG is increasing the concern of Delhiites as well as environmentalists," he told the media here.

Rai said that with the objective of reducing pollution in Delhi during winter season, the Delhi government has prepared a 15-point winter action plan, on which work is being done on a war footing.

"To prevent vehicular pollution, our government had successfully run the campaign of 'Red Light On, Gadi Off" in 2020 and after that, this campaign was run successfully in 2021 as well. This year also, tomorrow i.e. from October 28, this campaign was to be implemented in the whole of Delhi, but very unfortunately we have to tell you that on the 21st, the Chief Minister sent the file related to it to the Lt Governor, but he didn't approve the file," he said.

He further said that it is beyond their comprehension that for all other work, there is time for LG there is time to write daily letters to the Chief Minister, but he does not have time for this important work.

"We all know that when a person leaves with his vehicle in Delhi, he passes through at least 10 to 12 red lights. According to a survey by the Indian Petroleum Consumer Association, each person burns fuel at idle for about 25 to 30 minutes per day due to keeping the vehicle started even when there is a red light. Therefore, on red light, if every person turns off his vehicle, then about 15 to 20 per cent of vehicle pollution can be reduced. This year also, through the 'Red Light On, Gadi Off' campaign, about 2,500 civil defence volunteers were to be trained and deployed at 100 busiest intersections of Delhi", he said.

"It is very unfortunate that due to the non-signing of the file by the Lt Governor, we have to postpone this important campaign," he added.
New York, Oct 27 : The New York Post on Thursday said it has been hacked, after several offensive articles and tweets were published on the publication's website and Twitter account.

Reports said that the New York Post's content management system (CMS) may have been hacked to post offensive articles.

"The New York Post has been hacked. We are currently investigating the cause," the publication said in a tweet.

Cyber-criminals posted offensive tweets via SocialFlow, a popular website plugin used to push stories to social media sites.

According to TechCrunch, the tweets had links that took to web pages on the Post's website.

The articles and tweets were racist and sexually violent in nature which were later pulled out.

"Confirming that the Post was hacked. The vile and reprehensible content posted has been removed, and we're still investigating the cause," a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.

Last month, US-based business news publication Fast Company's content management system (CMS) was hacked and two obscene and racist push notifications were sent to users via its Apple News alerts.

Apple immediately addressed the incident and disabled Fast Company's channel on its platform.

"The messages are vile and not in line with the content and ethos of Fast Company," the publication said in a tweet, after taking down its website.

Apple said in a tweet that "an incredibly offensive alert was sent by Fast Company, which has been hacked. Apple News has disabled their channel".

The hackers posted a message on Fast Company's website before it disappeared, saying they were able to break in thanks to a password that was shared across many accounts, including of an administrator.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : A Kyrgyzstan national was held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by the Customs officials for allegedly trying to smuggle in 7.5 kg gold worth Rs 3.5 crore, officials said on Thursday.

A senior Customs official said that the woman arrived at the IGI Airport from Kyrgyzstan on Thursday.

"She attempted to smuggle in four gold bars by hiding them in ingeniously made pockets in the body shaper worn by her. She failed to produce relevant documents for the seized gold," the official said.

He added that the accused did not declare the said gold bars collectively weighing 7.5 kg at the Red Channel before the officers with deliberate intention to clear the impugned goods clandestinely.

"Therefore, the said recovered goods were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act. We have booked a case of smuggling of gold in this respect," said the official.

The woman was produced before a local court, which remanded her to 14-day judicial custody.
Bengaluru, Oct 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on November 11, where he will launch several developmental projects, including flagging off south India's first Vande Bharat Express train which will run between Chennai and Mysuru via Bengaluru.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a virtual meeting on Thursday to oversee the arrangements for the various programmes to be held in Bengaluru which will attended by the Prime Minister.

During his visit, Modi will also inaugurate the second terminal of the Kempegowda International Airport built at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore to handle an additional 2.5 crore air passengers.

A 108-foot tall statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda will also be unveiled by the Prime Minister on the occasion, which will be followed by a public meeting.

The meeting was attended by the top officials from the bureaucracy, police, railways and civil aviation sectors.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : A 22 year-old man was stabbed to death in south Delhi's Badarpur area on Thursday, police said.

According to police, information was received from Safdarjung hospital regarding Sachin, a resident of Bilaspur Camp, Molarband, who was admitted by his friend Aakash after a stab injury.

"Sachin succumbed to his injuries during the treatment. A police team reached the hospital where Akash told police that they visited the house of their childhood friend Mukul, also a resident of Molarband, to celebrate his birthday," a senior police official said.

"At around 8 p.m., Sachin left the house and within a half an hour, a child from the neighbourhood informed them that he was lying near the house. Thereafter, Sachin was taken to nearby Bajarang Hospital by Aakash and Mukul. Later on, the injured was shifted to Safdarjung hospital, where he succumbed to injuries," the official added.

A case under Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intension) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Badarpur police station and investigation was taken up.

"During investigation, four accused, identified as Badal, Jatin, Mahipal and a 17-year-old were apprehended from their hideouts within hours," said police, adding that further investigation is in progress.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) IT cell head Amit Malviya said on Thursday that he will file a case against news and opinion website 'The Wire', claiming that the media outlet tried to tarnish his image and reputation.

Malviya, who is also BJP's West Bengal co-in-charge, said in a statement: "After consultation with my lawyers and seeking their advise, I have decided to file criminal and civil proceedings against 'The Wire'.

"Not only will I be setting the criminal process in motion, but I will also sue them in a civil court seeking damages as they forged documents with a view to malign and tarnish my reputation." The Wire had in a series of reports alleged that Malviya had certain privileges to take down posts from Meta-owned Instagram, a claim which was later denied by Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook.

"The posts in question were surfaced for review by automated systems, not humans. And the underlying documentation appears to be fabricated," Meta's director for policy communications, Andy Stone, had said in a tweet.
New Delhi, Oct 27 : Amid concerns on the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has said that "Smog Tower" installed in several places in the national capital has the capacity to reduce air pollution by 70-80 per cent up to 50 meters, and by 15-20 per cent up to 300 meters.

In fact, the government's claim has not been backed in toto by the people residing in areas where the smog towers have been installed.

When IANS tried to seek people's feedback from the people living in the houses close to the Smog Tower that is installed near Connaught Place, even as they submitted that they feel that there has been a reduction in air pollution, questions were also raised on its operation for a limited duration.

Raj Kumar, the president of the RWA Central Government Employees Residential Welfare Committee, told IANS: "I notice that it is not in operation most of the times. I cannot say much on technical grounds how much it is benefiting because I do not know how accurate its figures are on the digital screen above. But when the Smog Tower is on, we see an improvement in the air quality." Nidhi, vice-president of RWA, said: "When the smog tower is in operation, the air quality in my area is fine. If I go somewhere else I feel the air quality is getting worse.

"However, before Diwali, I had rarely seen this tower functioning. Also, I remember that last year when stubble burning cases had increased, the air quality in my area was much better than elsewhere. The smog tower was then functioning continuously," she added.

Another resident, Satendra, said: "We have benefited from the Smog Tower... it operates without making much noise. It does not remain in operation 24 hours though." A few days ago, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai had also inspected the Smog Tower built near Connaught Place last year.

As per the directions of the Supreme Court, the Smog Towers were installed in Delhi last year.

The pilot project of Smog Tower was started in October last year for two years duration. The team of IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi and DPCC are monitoring it.
Hyderabad, Oct 28 : A city court here on Thursday declined to send three persons arrested for allegedly trying to buy four MLAs of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) into judicial custody.

The ACB Court judge, citing lack of evidence, dismissed the petition in which the police sought judicial remand of the accused. The court also made it clear that this can't be treated as a case of corruption.

The court asked the police to question the accused by serving notices under section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code.

The police produced Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy before the judge at his residence in Saroornagar late on Thursday.

The accused, alleged to be BJP agents, were arrested from a farmhouse near Hyderabad on Wednesday night while they were trying to lure four MLAs of the TRS with offers of huge sums of cash, important positions and contracts.

On a complaint by one of the MLAs - Pilot Rohit Reddy, police registered an FIR against Ramachandra Bharati of Delhi, Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad and Simhayaji Swamy of Tirupati.

The case was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy), 171-B (bribery) read with 171-E (punishment of bribery), 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the complainant, the accused offered him an amount of Rs 100 crore. They also offered to give central government civil contract works and higher central government positions for monetary benefits and lured him to join the BJP.

The MLA told the police that they warned that if he does not join the BJP, there will be criminal cases and raids by ED and CBI, and the Telangana government led by TRS will be toppled by them.

The accused allegedly offered bribes of Rs 50 crore each to three other MLAs to join the BJP.

On a tip-off by Rohit Reddy, Cyberabad police reached the farmhouse and arrested the three accused.

The trio were questioned by the police at an undisclosed location throughout Thursday.
Bhopal, Oct 28 : Days after a Portuguese tourist was attacked and robbed in broad daylight at a busy market in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal, the police on Thursday claimed to have arrested three accused involved in the case.

District Collector Avinash Lavania along with a couple of senior police officers met the Portuguese national -- Nuno Rodricks -- at a city hotel where he has been staying for the last one week.

As per the police, the Portuguese national, who is said to be manager at a KFC restaurants in his country, was targeted by a group of people at Bharat Talkies area in Bhopal on the afternoon of October 23 while he was heading back to the hotel. The miscreants had not only robbed the victim but had also pelted stone on him. The victim was then admitted to Hamidia hospital, from where he was discharged after treatment.

The police have arrested three miscreants who executed the crime after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan intervened in the matter and asked the police to take prompt action.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mohd. Faizal, Sharvar Ali and Afzal Khan - all are residents of Bhopal.

"Accused have been arrested and they are being interrogated. CCTV footage helped in identifying the criminals," a police official told IANS.
With Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro, users can easily import Locusview work orders into their companys GIS & Utility Network, rather than entering it manually. The result is a seamless integration with significantly faster close-outs.

Locusview, a digital construction management company for energy infrastructure organizations, will showcase several product milestones and partnership achievements with Esri at the 2022 Esri IMGIS Conference.

Utilities are increasingly relying on Locusviews market-leading Digital Construction Management platform to help manage and digitize the expansion of construction projects. To meet this growing need, Locusview, an Esri Silver Partner, is proud to announce the latest release of LocusviewBuild.

Locusviews new Esri integration and expanded partnership offer a complete end-to-end solution for Esri-based utilities seeking a seamless digital workflow - from design to construction execution to closeout.

Our customers need to shorten construction lifecycles, get assets booked into service quickly and update their Esri Utility Network with highly accurate data. By digitizing and automating what was previously a manual, paper-driven process, we're helping them digitally transform their construction projects while leveraging their Esri investment, noted Shahar Levi, Co-Founder and CEO of Locusview.

The centerpiece of the release is Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro, an ArcGIS Pro add-in that allows GIS teams to easily import Locusview work orders into their Esri GIS Utility Network.

Danny Petrecca, Vice President of Business Development at Locusview, said, Our continued partnership with Esri is about providing maximum value to our joint customers across construction operations and GIS. Now with Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro, users of ArcGIS Pro can easily import Locusview work orders into their companys GIS & Utility Network, rather than entering it manually. The result is a seamless integration with significantly faster close-outs. Danny added, And, by achieving Esri's ArcGIS System Ready Specialty status, were giving utilities the confidence that Locusviews solution is aligned with the latest Esri technology and ideal for the GIS user. Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro will be listed in the Esri Marketplace, allowing utilities easier access to the add-in.

Jeff Rashid, Director of Global Business Development  Utilities & Telecommunications at Esri, said, We are excited that Locusview has strengthened its partnership with Esri as reflected in the newly developed Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro tool. Our integration between Locusviews Digital Construction Management platform and the ArcGIS System will further enhance our utility customers mobile experience, not just at the point of data capture, but through to the QA/QC process as utilities update their core Esri System of Record with new digital assets. Partnerships are a key part in delivering the best industry solutions for our utilities customers, and we look forward to working more closely with Locusview in the years to come.

In addition to Locusview Connect for ArcGIS Pro, the company is also releasing a number of new capabilities including:



Dynamic Maps: Dynamic maps allow users to see and identify live GIS data from their organizations ArcGIS Enterprise on maps in LocusviewBUILD. The symbology of the GIS data and user access permissions are taken directly from their organizations ArcGIS Enterprise.

Compatible Units: Locusview automates the translation of reported materials, labor, equipment or services to aggregated Compatible Units with their quantities, allowing utilities to simplify, standardize, and automate construction work and closeout.

Graphic Work Design: Integration with Graphic Work Design (GWD) systems helps utilities move away from the legacy paper job packet approach towards a Digital Job Packet delivered directly from the GWD system to Locusview. With the GWD data in Locusview, field workers can report as-builts against the GWD, identifying deviations, saving time and avoiding construction and reporting errors, while back office personnel can review the designs and as-builts generated from them.

Locusview University: An e-learning platform designed for utility employees and contractors to access on-demand educational courses on web or mobile, with personalized learning plans and custom training tracks to increase knowledge retention and user adoption rates.

Locusviews new features will be demonstrated at booth #210 at the Esri IMGIS Conference on Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2022. To register for this event, please visit the conference website.

About Locusview:

Locusview is a Digital Construction Management (DCM) platform that manages the entire infrastructure process for utilities, from planning to revenue. Founded in 2014, Locusview enables all stakeholders to streamline data flow and manage the three crucial phases of infrastructure construction projects: planning, construction, and close-out. Guided by a mission to be the world leader in digital construction technology that supports large-scale infrastructure projects from design to completion, it is committed to creating the future of smart utility construction technologies.

About Esri:

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.
NewSpace New Mexico is excited to announce the first group of space companies participating in NewSpace Ignitor, a new incubator-like program funded in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

The 18 companies selected brought forth innovative concepts aligned with several solution areas identified in the State of the Space Industrial Base report. The novel concepts span space domain awareness, launch services, next-generation power and propulsion, remote sensing and traffic management  all areas identified to strengthen national security and win the new space race.

Companies participating in the program will have opportunities to level up their concept readiness levels through a tiered program structure and multiple NewSpace Ignitor teams. Selected companies include:

The Ignitor AAA Team:



Kall Morris

Evolution Space

RS21

TrustPoint

Blue Space

Miles Space

New Frontier Aerospace

O Analytics

Goodman Technologies

The Ignitor AA Team



Exos Aerospace

Modal Technology Corporation

Proof Labs

The Spaceport Company

Auriga Space

Gorilla Link

TYBRAM

Lesath International

Southwest Creek Engineering

The companies have big visions to transform space capabilities and drive prosperity on-planet and off-planet. NewSpace Ignitor will accelerate their progress with access to expert support and specialized resources to help them refine and develop their concepts, improving their ability to compete in the NewSpace economy.

The program will give participating companies opportunities to level up their concept readiness levels through TR-elevator assessments (across technology, manufacturing, integration, business and investment) and taking actions that accelerate product development, funding and sales. Services include market analytics, strategy and scaling curriculum, tailored navigation plans, and customer demonstration opportunities.

Throughout the program companies will engage with the NewSpace Ignitor Expert Network, the NewSpace Alliance, space solution buyers, investors and CEOs of successful space companies. All companies will have access to the Launchpad co-innovation center, which offers access to shared work, collaboration and prototyping spaces, and testing, integration and manufacturing equipment at Launchpad and partner locations.

We were very impressed with the caliber of the concepts and companies that applied to NewSpace Ignitor, stated Scott Maethner, vice president of operations and integration at NewSpace New Mexico. Our goal is to help these companies take their concepts to the next level, and ultimately, level up the nations capabilities in space services, applications and off-planet manufacturing.

Fourteen evaluators from the Expert Network reviewed and selected the first group of companies participating in the program. Evaluators included former senior government space executives, space company executives, space-focused investment companies, and business and technology leaders.

Scouting promising new technologies that have dual-use purposes for national security and space commercialization is increasingly important to the U.S. government, added Gabe Mounce, deputy director of SpaceWERX. In concert with our Hyperspace Challenge, and Q-Station Soft Landing Program, the NewSpace Ignitor adds the necessary element to help New Mexico and the nation grow the space industrial base.

AFRL New Mexico is dedicated to accessing the best innovation available from commercial space companies, added Col. Jeremy Raley, commander of Phillips Research Site and director of AFRLs Space Vehicles Directorate. We anticipate leveraging the NewSpace Ignitor to facilitate access to government expertise and to specialized or expensive equipment that those industry partners would not otherwise be able to utilize.

Applications for NewSpace Ignitor can be submitted at any time. New spots will open up as companies progress through the program, level up their readiness and become NewSpace certified. Companies can apply to NewSpace Ignitor online at newspacenm.org. Applicants will be notified if they are selected.

About NewSpace New Mexico

NewSpace New Mexico is a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity that is accelerating the pace of space innovation by uniting and igniting the industry. NewSpace New Mexico was established to bring together space stakeholders, promote a universal voice for space leadership, and grow the commercial space innovation base for the benefit of the nation. With extensive experience in commercial, civil and military space and product marketing and sales acceleration, NewSpace New Mexico uses its knowledge and vast network of stakeholder relationships to bring vetted opportunities and hard-to-find resources to the companies that need them. For more information, visit: http://www.newspacenm.org.

About the State of the Space Industrial Base Series

NewSpace New Mexico leads the annual State of the Space Industrial Base conferences with key participants Defense Innovation Unit, United States Space Force and Air Force Research Laboratory. Critical actions and recommendations outlined from the working group sessions are summarized in an annual report authored by the key participants, offering a framework for operationalizing solutions and accelerating progress year-over-year. The latest report can be accessed at newspacenm.org.
Neighborhood CU employees and members, Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, with city and state leaders, came together to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of the new Oak Cliff branch. "We look forward to sharing the Neighborhood CU spirit with our Oak Cliff neighbors and humbly serving our members as they strive to achieve their financial goals and improve their financial health and well-being."

Neighborhood Credit Union, the first credit union in Dallas, recently celebrated the official ribbon cutting of its new brick-and-mortar location in Oak Cliff at 650 Fort Worth Avenue. The event was attended by city and state leaders including JR Huerta with the city of Dallas, a representative from Congressman Marc Veaseys office and members of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks and got a first look at the large mural inside the branch designed by Dallas-based muralist Mari Pohlman.

We cant thank the city and state leaders, the chamber and the community enough for celebrating the grand opening of our Oak Cliff branch with us, said Chet Kimmell, president and CEO of Neighborhood Credit Union. We are delighted to be back home in Oak Cliff and be part of this thriving community that honors its roots but is focused on the future.

Originally known as the Dallas Postal Employees Credit Union, Neighborhood Credit Union first opened its doors to members in April 1930. More than 90 years later, the company has grown significantly with assets topping $1 billion, a growing membership of 60,000 and 14 branches across the state. On top of the Oak Cliff opening, Neighborhood Credit Union recently opened branches in Anna, Prosper and Waxahachie.

It is an exciting time at Neighborhood Credit Union, and we are excited to be returning to the Oak Cliff neighborhood, said Francis Santana, senior vice president of retail at Neighborhood Credit Union. For many of us, this is a homecoming as we started our careers in the previous headquarters in Oak Cliff. We look forward to sharing the Neighborhood Credit Union spirit with our Oak Cliff neighbors and humbly serving our members as they strive to achieve their financial goals and improve their financial health and well-being.

The new location will make it even more convenient for current members and others who live, learn, work or worship in the area to enjoy the benefits of a Neighborhood Credit Union membership. To view details on the services, products and membership benefits at Neighborhood Credit Union Oak Cliff, visit http://www.myncu.com/oak-cliff.
"With AvevoRx, we are investing in a future that prioritizes a patients most basic, fundamental needs  a welcoming human voice on the other end of the phone, a single point of contact for care navigation  and making that a part of their customized care plan."

A group of seasoned, specialty pharmacy and home infusion executives, with a combined 130 years of industry experience, have announced the formation of AvevoRx, a national, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services. The venture brings bespoke services and clinical care to patients facing various complex and chronic disorders who receive a range of intravenous medication therapies. AvevoRx is based out of Greensboro, North Carolina.

The AvevoRx co-founders are industry veterans of private and public companies who serve as the management team and bring deep experience in building and scaling specialty infusion therapy platforms. The company entered the market by acquiring Mid Valley Health Services, a long-established infusion company based in Modesto, Calif. Concurrent with the Mid Valley acquisition, AvevoRx opened a new pharmacy distribution center in Greensboro, N.C. The company expects to execute at least one additional acquisition before the years end.

In building AvevoRx, we are investing in a future that prioritizes a patients most basic, fundamental needs  a welcoming human voice on the other end of the phone, a single point of contact for care navigation  and making that a part of their customized care plan, said Robin Johnson, Co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of AvevoRx.

The addition of Mid Valley Health Services to the AvevoRx family reinforces the core tenants of our specialized, personal care model by bringing in an amazing group of accomplished professionals in the California market, said Lauren Pumphrey, Co-founder, and head of western-U.S. sales. With a track record of more than 25 years of regional excellence, AvevoRx has the right foundation upon which to build.

Specialty infusion pharmacies are not always special, so we have set out to change that, said Courtney Remley, Co-Founder, and head of eastern-U.S. sales. AvevoRx is committed to remaining an independent provider that earns its reputation for scrappy, hard work and going the extra mile for patients.

The founding management team for AvevoRx includes:



Eric Hill, Co-Founder, brings more than 30 years of specialty infusion experience to AvevoRx. Eric is the former Chief Operating Officer of Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group, which he came to via the acquisition of BioRx, the company he co-founded in 2004. The company would enjoy organic and acquisition-driven growth to become a leading specialty infusion platform with more than 800 employees, $1 billion in revenue, and approximately $100mm in EBITDA. Prior, Eric served in various Vice President roles for Coram Healthcare over a 10-year period, where as VP of Blood Products he grew the business from $30mm to $175mm in just a few years. Eric earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He splits his time between N.C and Florida.

Phil Rielly, Co-Founder, served as President of Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group until August 2020. He joined Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group in 2014 with the acquisition of BioRx, LLC, the company he co-founded with Eric Hill in 2004. Prior, Phil co-founded CliniCare, a respiratory equipment provider, and PRO2, a business serving the respiratory therapy market. Phils healthcare career began with Apria in 1992. He gained specialty pharmaceutical experience with Alpha Therapeutics and Coram, where he served as area market director for the blood products division. Phil earned his Bachelor of Arts in communications and marketing from Spring Hill College in Alabama.

Robin Johnson, CPA, Co-Founder, and Chief Financial Officer, brings 30+ years of professional, public, and private accounting experience to AvevoRx, with expertise in various healthcare and software verticals. She served as Chief Financial Officer for Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group through June of 2020 with oversight of eleven legal entities, eight of which were acquired during her tenure, and contributed greatly to Diplomats position as a leading national specialty infusion platform. Prior, Robin served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer for VITAS Healthcare Corporation, one of the nations oldest and largest providers of end-of-life care. Robin became a certified public accountant through the Kentucky State Board of Accountancy and earned her MBA from Morehead State University, Ky.

Lauren Pumphrey, Co-Founder, and head of western-U.S. sales, brings 9 years of experience in the specialty infusion industry to AvevoRx. Most recently, she served as regional business director for mid-Atlantic and southeast markets at OptumRx (previously Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group). Prior, she served as the west coast regional sales director, overseeing $127 mm in revenue. Concurrent with her management responsibilities, Lauren personally built and grew the leading U.S. sales territory, delivering more than $33 mm in annual revenue in just over 3 years. Laurens strengths are in establishing and scaling up businesses in new and untapped markets, including several in rural Indiana, Missouri, and Massachusetts. She ended 2020 as the top growth performer in the U.S., along with building a full team for the western region. She was an active participant in new therapy launches as a member of the advisory board, which serves as the committee for strategy development for new products. Lauren graduated with a degree from Ball State University in business with a minor in international studies.

Courtney Remley, Co-Founder, and head of eastern-U.S. sales, brings to AvevoRx more than 17 years in the healthcare and specialty infusion services industry. Most recently, she served as a senior national account manager for the specialty infusion division at OptumRx (previously Diplomat Specialty Infusion Group). Over her 11-year tenure at OptumRx and predecessor companies, she grew her region by 1,233%, representing regional revenue of over $12 million annually. Her focus centered on the development, contracting, and implementation of a large national contract that is innovative and transformative for the industry. Before her time in specialty infusion, she served as a sales leader and manager in long-term care, acute rehabilitation, and home healthcare industries. Courtney resides in South Carolina where she serves on multiple non-profit boards and committees. Courtney is a graduate of Purdue University with a major in Audiology and Speech Sciences.

AvevoRx currently serves patients in several states and continues to grow. Visit http://www.AvevoRx.com to learn more or call 877-AvevoRx.

About AvevoRx

AvevoRx is a bespoke, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services. The company focuses on the highest-quality, personalized care customized to patients facing various complex, chronic disorders. Treatments are made available via specialized pharmacy locations, field nurses, and additional support staff throughout the United States. AvevoRx also provides acute infusion therapies for patients with short-term therapeutic needs on a regional basis. Privately held, the company was founded in 2021 by a small group of industry veterans with a combined experience of more than 130 years. AvevoRx is headquartered in North Carolina. To learn more, visit http://www.AvevoRx.com or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn.

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$2000 CANVASDISCOUNT Scholarship The company is convinced that theres creative potential in everyone: as a custom printing expert, theyve seen the evidence first-hand. And theyre now offering a special scholarship for one American student: $2000 will be awarded to the candidate who writes the best essay on creativity and design.

CANVASDISCOUNT.com is an online print provider specializing in custom photo products. One of the leading producers of canvas prints in the USA, CANVASDISCOUNT.com also offers many other print solutions including custom wall art, printed home accessories, and photo gifts.

The company is convinced that theres creative potential in everyone: as a custom printing specialist, theyve seen the evidence firsthand. CANVASDISCOUNT helps people across the US turn their own images into wall art and home decor pieces  providing a new life in print not just for their precious memories, but for their creative work too: photography, paintings, digital art, and more.

CANVASDISCOUNT already supports the American workforce by manufacturing all their products in the United States. And this year theyre offering a special scholarship that will support one lucky American student: $2000 will be awarded to the candidate who can write the best scholarship essay.

The essay should take as its subject those questions which the printing provider is most inspired by: why creativity is important, and how creativity can be expressed in designing custom decor products that put a unique personal stamp on our living space.

To read more about the terms and conditions, or to apply for the scholarship by submitting an essay yourself, follow this link: https://www.canvasdiscount.com/creativity-scholarship-2022/

The deadline for applications is December 1st, 2022. A winner will be selected and notified by December 15th, 2022.
Left to Right: Gaston Silva, Luis Rios, John Pierce, Phil Skalaski, Diana Sweeney, Doreen Harris, Lewis Kwit, Janet Joseph, Jeannette Williams, Lauren Moss, Marc Zuluaga The ENYA honors organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation in energy use and sustainability, and whose work has vast impact.

The New York Energy Consumers Council (NYECC), one of the largest energy customer advocacy organizations representing energy users in New York State, today announced its 2022 Energy New York Awards (ENYA) recipients. The ENYA honors organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and innovation in energy use and sustainability, and whose work has vast impact. Doreen Harris, President & CEO of NYSERDA, served as Keynote Speaker at the event.



Janet Joseph, Principal of JLJ Sustainability Solutions, received a vision award for leading NYSERDAs work in building decarbonization, advancing programs and policies to deliver a carbon-neutral building stock.

Lewis M. Kwit, President of Energy Investment Systems, received an innovation award for his significant impact on energy policy and planning throughout his career and for launching the first real time project in NYC.

Gaston Silva, Chief Operating Officer, Vornado Realty Trust, received a leadership award for the development of Vornados sustainability program, which is on track to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030 and for his years in various NYC government positions, positively influencing NY real estate.

The ENYA Award for Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI), for those who demonstrate an inspiring level of leadership to drive greater justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in the world of New York City real estate/energy was awarded to:

Bomee Jung, Co-founder and CEO of Cadence OneFive Inc, has contributed to New York Citys climate leadership through policy and programmatic innovations since 2002, including leading the nations first large-scale public housing electrification design-build program.

Pat Sapinsley, Managing Director of Cleantech Initiatives at NYU Urban Future Lab/ACRE, has overseen the creation of approximately 1000 jobs, graduated 67 companies from ACRE and another 48 companies in its short duration accelerators..

John Pierce, Advisory Director, of Rockefeller Group was presented a Lifetime Service Award for the positive impact and lives changed through the many organizations hes been affiliated with during his career, including his work with ACE, which mentors students and focuses on career readiness and preparation for further education, serving over 1,300 students annually in NYC.

Also recognized at the event were Rick Wilson, Neiman Marcus Group; Dennis Auriemma and Mike Fallon, Vornado Realty Trust; Cissy Bai, TBL Building Sciences; Amanda Clevinger, Bright Power: Laura Spencer Humphrey and Joe Weishaar, L+M Development Partners.

Diana Sweeney, Executive Director, NYECC noted Our ENYA honorees are leaders who have made a significant, positive impact on energy, sustainability and the environment in NYC. Our JEDI awardees have a passion for and commitment to creating a just and equitable NYC energy and real estate community and will be welcomed to share with the NYECC their leadership practices and exemplary contributions to society.

Vornado Realty Trust was the host for the event. Gold sponsors were Constellation, Veolia, and The Durst Organization.

About The New York Energy Consumers Council (NYECC)

The New York Energy Consumers Council represents the interests of an ever-expanding spectrum of major energy users in New York City and Westchester County in order to realize a sustainable, environmentally responsible and equitable energy future for the region that provides for safe and reliable generation, transmission and delivery of energy the lowest possible price for our members. The NYECC advocates for its members through ongoing interventions in regulatory, legislative, executive and judicial arenas.
On October 23, 2022, Workplace Mental Health Therapist, Tamika Hill hosted an interactive seminar, "Beautifully Broken and Mending Well," at Coopers Hawk Winery in Chicago to help professionals process the ongoing issues of mental wellbeing.

One out of four working professionals experience mental health problems. A nationwide behavioral health crisis has worsened as a result of the pandemic.

According to the American Psychological Association, leaders of major organizations are calling on CEOs to increase mental health support in the workplace.

Tamika Hill is a mental health professional who holds a licensed Clinical Social Worker MSW LCSW CAMS-II both in Illinois and Indiana. She offers counseling and trauma training to help everyday heroes manage stress, reduce burnout, and boost productivity.

I am committed to educators, healthcare professionals, and other essential workers who are working hard to support people in crisis because while they are focused on saving lives, someone needs to strengthen their mental wellbeing to continue to do great work, Workplace Mental Health Therapist, Tamika Hill.

We are at a critical point where crucial changes are needed in the workplace. Over 89% of human resource leaders said mental health support is a high priority because workers who feel unsupported are twice as likely to quit, says Tamika Hill. She continued, Mental wellbeing is not only crucial at work, but also a necessity to our personal lives. Our families and friends are forced to bear the pain silently and alone.

Tamika Hill seeks to bring more attention to workplace mental health, deliver more seminars, and offer counseling to help essential workers who are in need.

By joining corporations in a nationwide effort to prevent suicide and other negative mental health outcomes, she hopes to save lives and reduce stress to anyone suffering in silence.

To hire Tamika Hill to speak at your next conference or workshop to address the crisis of mental health, visit http://www.thillconsultant.com.
Supply chain heroes who exhibited partnership, collaboration, innovation and sacrifice during the COVID-19 pandemic were celebrated Friday evening by Supply Chain Canada and The Owl Solutions. 4Refuel Canada, Greenfield Global and Regional Oil Sands Operating Alliance (ROA) were honoured with the 2022 Supply Chain Heroes Award  recognizing pandemic heroes who stepped up to keep the supply chain going throughout unprecedented times. The award recipients were nominated by industry peers, in three categories: public or private organizations, teams, and individuals.

More than 20 supply chain professionals gather for a dinner event in downtown Toronto to celebrate the outstanding leadership of their industry selected peers.

"The supply chain heroes awards was yet another testament to the relentless and round the clock work that supply chains across the globe continue to deliver daily. The awards provided a moment to celebrate our sector and collective success while reflecting on the resilience shown by Supply Chain heroes who kept the Supply Chain going through unprecedented times.



As Supply Chain Canada continues to work on elevating the supply chain profession on multiple fronts, we need to collectively work and grow as a united sector and drive into the future together.

It is truly our moment to grow and shine as a united sector voice."



 Shalini Talwar, Board of Director for Supply Chain Canada

Larry Rodo, winner of the individual Supply Chain Heroes Award gave a moving speech at the event when collecting his trophy.



"Receiving this award is such an honour for our team. It goes without saying that I want all of my employees to feel safe, secure and supported every dayBut living in the uncharted time period of a global pandemic transformed this from a want to a need. I am humbled that our dedicated efforts were recognized, because recognition is not the reason we do what we do. Rather, it is to give our employees a place they feel safe both mentally and physically safe, and ensure they are treated with respect, compassion and empathy as we navigate the uncharted territory of COVID-19.



It wasnt an easy task, given our reach of 32 separate locations spread over 8 provinces and the state of Texas, but through diligence and teamwork, we made sure to constantly balance the employee experience with customer needs and business continuity."





Larry Rodo, CEO and President of 4Refuel.

A non-profit association, Supply Chain Canada is a Federation of the National Association, Provincial and Territorial Institutes working together to achieve a common vision. The Owl Solutions is a software company that helps high performance organizations achieve top supply chain performance through data analytics and exceptional customer support.

Both organizations were thrilled to provide industry professionals with the opportunity for discussions, dinners, awards and fun. The two organizations hope that the Supply Chain Heroes Award will become an annual event.
They were able to make the curriculums available in both English and Spanish, again, helping us to better serve the region and beyond. Were excited to add these offerings to our existing portfolio of professional education programs

Focus EduSolutions, in partnership with Northwest Missouri State University, is excited to announce the launch of micro-credentials in Insurance Sales and Food Truck Entrepreneurship. These two innovative micro-credentials were designed by industry experts for those looking to start a new profession or further their career in either the food truck industry or the insurance industry. Both micro-credentials will teach the basics and fundamentals of how to be successful in either career path.

The Insurance Sales Accelerator credential was created to address the skill gaps that exist in the insurance industry by providing a core, foundational understanding of sales, advanced sales conversion optimization strategies, productivity planning, and an overview of technologies expected to be utilized in todays insurance market. This credential is for anyone looking to start a rewarding career that serves people, who has their license or studying for the test, or someone looking to enhance their sales and portfolio.

Food Truck Entrepreneurship is perfect for anyone wanting to own or operate their own food truck. This credential provides all the information to successfully start and run an operating truck. This credential can help you to get started or improve your current operations.

Focus EduSolutions completed extensive research to determine which niche markets would be a good fit for the footprint that Northwest serves, said Rebecca Lobina, Continuing Professional Education and Missouri Small Business Development Center Director for Northwest Missouri State University. They were able to make the curriculums available in both English and Spanish, again, helping us to better serve the region and beyond. Were excited to add these offerings to our existing portfolio of professional education programs."

After reviewing the outline of the Insurance Sales Accelerator curriculum, Don Tolly of Tolly & Associates Inc.  American Family Insurance stated, This course looks awesome and I would love to see someone with the certificate and their license. Big plus!

Current Micro-Credentials offerings:

 Insurance Sales Accelerator: In the Insurance Sales Accelerator, you will learn the foundations of insurance, the ins and outs of personal line insurance such as auto, home, and life insurance, why they are needed, how they work together, and how you will engage these tools to improve the lives of others. In addition, this credential provides solid tools for building your sales funnel, putting processes into place that will allow you to manage your portfolio more effectively, and learning to start and build relationships with clients who become your repeat customers and word of mouth.

 Food Truck Entrepreneurship: This credential provides start-to-finish content on starting a food truck, successfully operating a truck, and navigating the challenges that can arise in the industry. From your business plan to menu designing, marketing to financial planning, inventory to hiring, and knowing your states food truck regulations, this certificate provides the details and information you need to know to successfully get your food truck up and running. This credential can also be very helpful to those currently in the industry and operating a truck who are looking to improve their skills and business success.

Enrollment is now open for both credentials. The credentials will begin Tuesday, November 8th.

About Focus EduSolutions: Focus EduSolutions is a Boston-based company that works with colleges, universities, and industries to create micro-credentials to meet the needs of industries throughout the country. These micro-credentials are developed by Focus EduSolutions in partnership with subject matter experts directly from the industry and industry associations. Their mission is to create an education system that truly addresses the needs of the industry, provides alternative methods of education for future generations that are cost and time effective, and creates stronger relationships between higher education institutions and industry, for permanent culture change and workforce development solutions. Their certificates address the skills gaps that currently exist in the workforce, assist industries in their transformational changes, and provide educational opportunities for future generations of the industry.

For more information on Northwest Missouri State Universitys continuing professional education, visit http://www.nwmissouri.edu/kc/professional-development/continuing.htm.
Our LIVEbe Ambassadors are who truly make the difference. People want to live where they know theyll be taken care of, and our team members do a tremendous job making it happen.

LIVEbe, a premier apartment developer and operator dedicated to delivering distinct apartment homes within connected communities, today announced that The Remy Phase II has been recognized with a Delta Associates Excellence Award as a co-winning property in the category of Best Lease-Up Pace for a Suburban Maryland Apartment Community.

The Remy Phase II, a 268-home apartment community based in the Harkins District of Lanham, Md., began leasing in early 2022 and joined the thriving original phase, which opened in 2017. LIVEbe was presented with the award on Oct. 20 at the Delta Associates 26th Annual Apartment and Condominium Industry Awards for Excellence in Washington, D.C.

The original phase was recognized with the same award in 2018.

Our mantra when we opened Phase II is that now we have two of everything, said Jayme Martin, community director of LIVEbe. We understood that it might be difficult to match the brisk lease-up pace of the original building, but once again, our wonderful team was able to make it happen. Were honored to be recognized by Delta Associates and will keep working to deliver a best-in-class experience at The Remy buildings.

The Remy Phase II has averaged 29 move-ins and 60 applications per month since beginning preleasing in Nov. 2021. The community delivered first homes in early February. Delta Associates calculates lease-up pace from the beginning of lease-up through stabilization.

Located at 7700 Harkins Road, The Remy Phase II offers studio, one- and two-bedroom homes with various layouts and an average square footage of more than 750. Community amenities include a resort-style saltwater pool and sundeck, rooftop lounge, two courtyards, outdoor fitness equipment, grilling stations, clubrooms and game rooms, billiards and bocce ball, Smiota package lockers, refrigerated lockers and resident lounge areas throughout the common areas. The community also caters to the ever-increasing remote worker with teleworking spaces and a conference room. The Remy also offers various specially curated events designed to bring residents together.

Apartment interiors at The Remy Phase II emanate an abundance of natural light due to the size and scope of the interior windows. Homes are delivered with luxury engineered plank flooring, stone tile bathrooms, in-home washers and dryers, keyless entry, chef-inspired kitchens with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless-steel appliances and oversized interior windows to maximize the presence of natural light.

Our team of ambassadors deserves all the credit for this honor, said Elaine De Lude, vice president of LIVEbe. While the amenities and home features can certainly draw the attention of potential residents, our LIVEbe Ambassadors are who truly make the difference. People want to live where they know theyll be taken care of, and our team members do a tremendous job making it happen.

About LIVEbe

Headquartered in Rockville, Md., LIVEbe was founded in 2016 and is helmed by multifamily veterans Elaine De Lude and Jennifer Rucker. LIVEbe is the multifamily division of Berman Enterprises and was established with a specific focus on fostering a sense of community by offering an unparalleled living experience for residents and employing LIVEbe Ambassadors who are forward thinking and passionate about providing exceptional customer service.

About Berman Enterprises

Berman Enterprises is a multi-generational real estate and investment company founded on the principles of honesty, integrity, hard work, hands-on management, community and philanthropy. Employing a conservative financial strategy, Berman Enterprises has experienced sustained growth since brothers Melvin J. Berman and I. Wolford Berman founded the company in 1952.

Today, the Company and its affiliates own and manage more than 9 million square feet of commercial office, retail, industrial/flex and residential properties in Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. The Company also owns several hundred acres of developable land representing thousands of units of residential and hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial and retail development potential.
The Ultimate Wine Insider, Emma Davis We are delighted to celebrate 40 years of better wine delivered with Emma, our first Ultimate Wine Insider!

Wine Insiders, the Internet's leading destination for premium wine at everyday low prices and Wine Enthusiasts 2021 Top 5 Best Value Retailer, announced that it has enthusiastically selected Emma Davis from New York City as its first international Ultimate Wine Insider, as a capstone to its 40th-anniversary celebration. Her grand prize includes a $100,000 cash payment, learning the craft from expert winemakers in four countries, and helping to craft new wines that Wine Insiders will market across the United States.

Emma was chosen from a rigorous selection process and won out against an overwhelming response to the contest. She will spend 2023 living the jet-setting wine lifestyle and documenting her journey as she helps craft a new line of wine and rubs elbows with some of the biggest names in the industry.

The experience will culminate in four week-long luxurious trips to artisanal wineries:



Cremaschi Furlotti  a fifth-generation, 130-year family winery in Loncomilla Valley, Chile, that produces 75+ varieties

Cantina Etrusca  third-generation family winery crafting wine in the heart of Italys Tuscan countryside for nearly 70 years

Radford Dale  minimal intervention winery producing uniquely South African wines in Stellenbosch and the Cape of Good Hope

Chateau de Monbazillac  16th-century castle producing renowned white wines in Perigord, Southwest France

Wine Insiders, the pioneering brand managed by DRINKS, developed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate 40 years of heritage in the wine industry. It has delivered award-winning premium wine to two million households in 41 states plus D.C. The Ultimate Wine Insider role was created to embrace the rising importance of the consumer in the marketplace and give them a well-earned place at the industrys table.

We are delighted to celebrate 40 years of better wine delivered with Emma, our first Ultimate Wine Insider, said DRINKS Co-Founder & President of Wine Insiders Louis Amoroso. Her infectious wit and passion for wine made her the perfect representative of what Wine Insiders is all about. I am grateful customers have connected so deeply with the Wine Insiders brand, and I am thrilled for what the next 40 years have in store.

Davis grew up in Portland, OR, and moved to New York City over a decade ago. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre from New York University Steinhardt. Emma is an arts professional in NYC and has spent the past two years working at Manhattan School of Music, where she is Assistant Director of Admission. When not working, youll find Emma singing, drinking wine, and watching reality television with her husband, Joe, and dog-child, Ruthie.

Emma and the Wine Insiders team will begin preparations for their 2023 world tour in January. Keep track of their activities at UltimateWineInsider.com.

About Wine Insiders:

Wine Insiders, with 40 years of heritage and home delivery to two million households across the country, is the nation's Direct to Consumer wine leader. Wine Insiders offers a curated selection of award-winning premium wines to customers in 41 states plus D.C. Customers receive fast, no-cost shipping on orders of more than six bottles and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee with each purchase. Wine Insiders' offerings include individual bottles, packs of six or twelve, and a no-obligation wine club for a hassle-free way to explore the world of wine.

About DRINKS:

DRINKS powers digital commerce for the $250 billion alcohol market. The company enables alcohol ecommerce for leading retailers, online marketplaces, and wineries, eliminating a century of red tape with simple-to-use enterprise-grade technology. Electriq, DRINKS digital growth marketing agency, extends the companys unparalleled beverage alcohol and ecommerce experience to create best-in-class customer experiences in the wine industry and beyond. Patented DRINKS IQ technology leverages Artificial Intelligence to better understand the science of selling. DRINKS was named a Top Place to Work by Built In LA for the last four years, one of Americas Best Startup Employers by Forbes for two consecutive years, Most Innovative Retail Model by Modern Retail in 2020, and its Wine Insiders brand was named one of America's Best Value Retailers by Wine Enthusiast in 2021.
Catalyst Spirits is a new global spirits incubator company helmed by industry veteran Simon Hunt focused on leveraging the new economy and the companys extensive experience to build and rapidly grow premium brands.

Campari Group and London-based Catalyst Spirits communicate the recent acquisition by Campari Group of a minority equity stake in brand incubator Catalyst Spirits for an undisclosed sum. This follows Campari Groups recent announcement that it had acquired an initial 15% interest in Howler Head Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with Natural Banana Flavor with a medium-term route to total ownership, and concomitantly to obtain exclusive global distribution rights.

Catalyst Spirits is a new global spirits incubator company helmed by industry veteran Simon Hunt focused on leveraging the new economy and the companys extensive experience to build and rapidly grow premium brands. Beyond Howler Head - the official flavoured bourbon whiskey of UFC - the companys spirits portfolio includes The Oceanus Hibernicus, a unique blend of Irish and Scotch malt whisk(e)y, as well as a number of other exciting brands in development.

The Catalyst Spirits team seeks scalable opportunities and leverages unique brand partners to create and develop impactful brands and bring them to market with pace, building them with exceptional marketing, retail, ecommerce and distributor support. Howler Head is currently available in the U.S., U.K. and Canada, with further global expansion planned for 2023. In its first full year of operations, Howler Head has sold over 50,000 9L cases, and generated overall net sales of USD6.7 million in accordance with local GAAP.

Media images of Howler Head can be found HERE.

ABOUT CAMPARI GROUP

Campari Group is a major player in the global spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, spreading across Global, Regional and Local priorities. Global Priorities, the Groups key focus, include Aperol, Campari, SKYY, Grand Marnier, Wild Turkey and Appleton Estate. The Group was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. It has a global distribution reach, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. Campari Groups growth strategy aims to combine organic growth through strong brand building and external growth via selective acquisitions of brands and businesses. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group operates in 22 production sites worldwide and has its own distribution network in 23 countries. Campari Group employs approximately 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company Davide Campari-Milano N.V. (Reuters CPRI.MI - Bloomberg CPR) have been listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001.

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We are humbled by the opportunity to address the leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally and grateful to our founding partners who share our belief that geography should not be destiny for people living with advanced breast cancer, said Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO of The Max Foundation.

The Max Foundation Announces Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration to Improve Outcomes for People Living with Advanced Breast Cancer in Low-Resource Countries



Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Cancer Treatment (PACT) to launch in 5 countries in 2023 providing access to treatment and support for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer

The Max Foundation, the ABC Global Alliance, the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Cepheid and Novartis AG are joining and committing resources to a unique collaboration

Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women worldwide and patients in low-resource settings face delayed diagnosis and poor access to treatment and care

The Max Foundation (Max), a global non-profit organization that aims to accelerate health equity by delivering medication, technology, and supportive services to cancer patients, today announced a multi-stakeholder collaboration to improve outcomes for people living with HR+/HER2- advanced breast care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The Humanitarian Partnership for Access to Cancer Treatments (PACT) is a collaboration among professional, nonprofit and commercial organizations that share the commitment of The Max Foundation to increase global access to treatment, care, and support for people living with cancer. Next year, The Max Foundation will expand this innovative partnership model to include treatment for advanced breast cancer. Founding partners of the Humanitarian PACT for Advanced Breast Cancer include the ABC Global Alliance, the American Society of Clinical Pathology, Cepheid and Novartis AG. Novartis is a member of the Humanitarian PACT through CancerPath to Care, an access partnership between Max and Novartis that provides innovative medicines free of charge to people living with certain cancers in more than 70 lower-income countries.

While there is great worldwide awareness of breast cancer today, the urgent needs of people living with advanced breast cancer in low-resource countries have been overlooked. Expanding our focus to include advanced breast cancer is in line with our commitment to helping those whom no one else is helping, said Pat Garcia-Gonzalez, CEO of The Max Foundation. We are humbled by the opportunity to address the leading cause of cancer deaths among women globally and grateful to our founding partners who share our belief that geography should not be destiny for people living with advanced breast cancer in low-resource countries.

Partners in the Humanitarian PACT for Advanced Breast Cancer have agreed to invest resources and/or their unique organizational knowledge and capabilities to support the expansion of the Organizations Max Access Solutions (MAS) to provide access to treatment for HR positive/HER2 negative advanced breast cancer. MAS is a proven treatment access model that harnesses the power of partnerships and prioritizes individual patients needs to improve outcomes for cancer in low-resource healthcare settings. More than 100,000 people have received access to treatment through MAS, which now operates in over 70 low-resource countries.

Preparations underway for launch of the new initiative include engagement of additional partners, expansion of in-country teams, growth of the physician network to treat patients and introduction of health systems strengthening programs such as diagnostics and supportive care. Patients enrolled in the program will receive the medication and support free-of-charge. In collaboration with its partners, Max will initially provide access to breast cancer treatments to patients in five countries next year, expanding to 28 countries by 2025. With the addition of breast cancer, starting in 2023, The Max Foundation will provide access to cancer treatments for 12 different diseases in over 70 low-resource countries.

Breast Cancer in LMICS Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Approximately 2.2 million cases occur each year worldwide with about 700,00 deaths annually. An estimated 45% of new cases diagnosed each year, and more than 55% of breast cancer-related deaths occur in LMICs. Managing breast cancer in low-resource countries poses unique challenges including access to screening and timely diagnosis, stage at presentation, adequacy of management, and availability of therapeutic interventions. For example, routine pathology, diagnostic exams, and standard breast cancer medicines are often unavailable. Breast cancer is usually diagnosed at late stages, and due to limited resources, patients with breast cancer may receive inadequate treatment including supportive and palliative care.

About The Max Foundation

The Max Foundation (Max) is a global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 25 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring lifesaving treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope. Learn more at http://www.themaxfoundation.org

Quotes from our Partners about expansion of Humanitarian PACT to Advance Breast Cancer

ABC Global Alliance

The ABC Global Alliance defined the most urgent and actionable goals in the field of metastatic/advanced breast cancer, with and for the patients, that comprise the ABC Global Charter. Ensuring that patients with ABC have access to treatment regardless of their ability to pay, is one of such goals. We are honored and proud to be part of this initiative that will greatly contribute to this goal.

Fatima Cardoso, Director of the Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Lisbon, Portugal, and President of the ABC Global Alliance

American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)

An accurate diagnostic test is at the core of every successfully treated cancer patient. Ensuring that every patient receives an accurate, rapid diagnosis of their cancer is at the heart of ASCPs patient-centric global health mission. We are thrilled for the Max Foundation to tackle one of the major killers of women, breast cancer, and are delighted to support the diagnostic quality assurance with Max for this impactful effort.

ASCP CEO Dr. Blair Holladay, PhD, MASCP, SCT(ASCP)CM

Cepheid

Breast cancer diagnostics are a major focus area of the oncology efforts at Cepheid, so we are thrilled at this opportunity to extend our successful ten-year partnership with the Max Foundation to help patients with advanced breast cancer get the diagnosis and treatment that they need.

Scott Campbell, SVP and GM for Oncology at Cepheid.

Novartis AG

Novartis is committed to helping ensure that our medicines are accessible to as many patients as possible, irrespective of the country in which they live. Our two-decade-long partnership with The Max Foundation which has helped tens of thousands of patients access innovative oncology medicines reflects this commitment. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Max and all the partners in the Humanitarian PACT to improve outcomes for people living with advanced breast cancer in low-resource countries.

Dr. Lutz Hegemann, President Global Health & Sustainability, Novartis AG

About the ABC Global Alliance

Established in 2016, the ABC Global Alliance originated as an initiative of the European School of Oncology and registered as a non-profit association in Portugal in 2019. It is a multi-stakeholder platform for all those interested in collaborating on common projects relating to advanced breast cancer (ABC), aiming to improve and extend the lives of women and men living with ABC worldwide and to fight for a cure. It consists of more than 200 members across 93 countries. Learn more at: http://www.abcglobalalliance.org

About American Society of Clinical Pathology

The American Society for Clinical Pathology unites more than 100,000 anatomic and clinical pathologists, medical laboratory professionals, residents, and students to accelerate the advancement of laboratory medicine to better improve patient care through knowledge, collaboration, and global community. Visit https://www.ascp.org/content/home

About Cepheid

Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Cepheid is a leading molecular diagnostics company that is dedicated to improving healthcare by developing, manufacturing, and marketing accurate yet easy-to-use molecular systems and tests. By automating highly complex and time-consuming manual procedures, the company's solutions deliver a better way for institutions of any size to perform sophisticated molecular testing for organisms and genetic-based diseases. Through its strong molecular biology capabilities, the company is focusing on those applications where accurate, fast, and actionable test results are needed most, such as managing infectious diseases and cancer. For more information, visit http://www.cepheid.com.

About Novartis

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend peoples lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the worlds top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 108,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com.

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Media Contact: Geoff Cook

+1-973-652-7927
"We really focus on listening to our team. Our mission has been, and will continue to be, to maximize potential for our consultants, our clients, and our communities." - Mike Gunter

The Gunter Group, a management consulting firm that serves clients across the United States, received recognition for the fourth year in a row as one of Consulting Magazines Best Small Firms to Work For.

Award candidates were evaluated across six different categories of employee satisfaction including: client engagement, firm culture, firm leadership, career development, work/life balance, along with compensation and benefits.

The Gunter Group was one of only 17 small firms selected nationwide based on survey submissions of over 12,000 consultants, representing approximately 300 firms nationally.

When asked what has lead to four straight years of national recognition, Mike Gunter, founder of The Gunter Group commented:

"We really focus on listening to our team. Our mission has been, and will continue to be, to maximize potential for our consultants, our clients, and our communities. We frequently engage our team in conversations about how to make our organization better and how to operate as a company that they can continue to be proud of. Then we have followed these conversations up with actionable steps and enhancements to our culture, structure, and processes."

The Gunter Group continues to focus on responsible growth and placing a premium on employee engagement by centering every business decision, large or small, on their six Non-Negotiables. They are Integrity, Intellectual Curiosity, Emotional Intelligence, Ability to Thrive in Ambiguity, Grounded Confidence, and Collaboration.

Mike Gunter concluded by stating: As we focus on continuing to build our company and growing into new markets, our Non-Negotiables have never been more important as the basis for framing our decisions. The work weve done this year to prepare our company and our team for a brighter future is going to become tangible and real over the next 12 to 18 months, and were excited for the opportunity that represents for our team!

About The Gunter Group

Founded in 2011, The Gunter Group (TGG) features an experienced team of consultants serving clients across the country. TGG prides itself on providing consulting services to a broad range of organizations spanning Fortune 100 companies to locally-based businesses. The firm has been named one of the Best Companies to Work For in Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine for eight consecutive years and named one of the Inc. Magazines Best Workplaces in the Nation two years in a row. The Gunter Group currently has over 70 team members with operational hubs in Portland, Reno, Salt Lake City, and Denver.
Aisha Bowe is the First Black Woman Confirmed to Fly to Space with Blue Origin Ive dedicated my life to helping people break stereotypes, said Bowe. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers as we begin to realize the potential of public access to space.

Former NASA rocket scientist, founder, and CEO Aisha Bowe is manifested on a future flight of New Shepard. She is the first Black woman confirmed to travel on a commercial flight to space with Blue Origin, the private spaceflight company founded by Jeff Bezos. New Shepard is a reusable suborbital rocket system named after astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American to go to space.

Todays historic announcement about my flight is both surreal and emotional, said Bowe. Im thrilled, Im excited, and I know that this experience will change my life forever.

Bowe is expected to be the sixth Black woman to cross the Karman line, the internationally recognized boundary of space. Her flight is announced 30 years after former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel to space in 1992. Since Jemison, there are only four other Black women who carry that distinction: NASA astronauts Stephanie Wilson, Joan Higginbotham, Jessica Watkins, and Dr. Sian Proctor of the SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission.

Ive dedicated my life to helping people break stereotypes, said Bowe. I am honored to follow in the footsteps of these pioneers as we begin to realize the potential of public access to space.

Bowe, the child of working-class parents in Ann Arbor, Michigan, always loved science fiction and math. Advised to study cosmetology by a high school guidance counselor, she instead chose a different path. Bowe elected to study mathematics at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor before transferring to the University of Michigan earning both an undergraduate and masters degree in aerospace engineering. She has worked for NASA as a rocket scientist and served as U.S State Department global speaker, inspiring students around the world.

Bowe is also an accomplished serial entrepreneur. Recognized on Inc.s fifth annual Female Founders 100 list, honoring a bold group of 100 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place, Bowe is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, an award-winning tech company ranked on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America. She also shares the distinction of being one of a select group of women of color who have raised over $1 million in funding. Bowes venture-backed LINGO, a hands-on, self-paced coding kit that enables students to learn how to code at home is sold on Amazon, Target and Walmart.
It is groundbreaking for health plans to recognize this powerful evidence-based, first-line approach to chronic disease treatment.

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) has announced the addition of the progressive health plan Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to its Lifestyle Medicine Corporate Roundtable, a group of thought leaders and industry professionals who explore effective clinical innovations, activate marketing strategies, accelerate reimbursement and policy adoption, and pursue research and demonstrations of lifestyle medicine in practice. ACLM launched its Corporate Roundtable in 2016 and it now includes nearly 50 active member organizations in the lifestyle medicine ecosystem.

Lifestyle medicine is a medical specialty that uses therapeutic lifestyle interventions as a primary modality to treat chronic conditions including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Lifestyle medicine certified clinicians are trained to apply evidence-based, whole-person, prescriptive lifestyle change to treat and, when used intensively, often reverse such conditions. Applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicinea whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connections also provides effective prevention for these conditions.

Lifestyle medicine is a solution to improve patient outcomes, lower costs, improve patient experience, improve provider experience and address health equity, said ACLM President Cate Collings, MD, FACC, DipABLM. It is groundbreaking for health plans to recognize this powerful evidence-based, first-line approach to chronic disease treatment. We welcome Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to our Corporate Roundtable.

As the states only local, not-for-profit health plan, the goal at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is to help its members live healthier, more active lives. For over 30 years, the organization has been enhancing the health and well-being of the Vermonters they serve by offering innovative benefits to individuals, older Vermonters, and businesses.

The health plan is dedicated to finding new ways to support high-quality care, programs, and events that promote wellness, and now, lifestyle medicine. This new partnership will enable the expansion of lifestyle medicine programs and training throughout their clinical network in Vermont.

As a health plan, we are working diligently to offer lifestyle medicine and support our members with interventions that, over decades of research and published literature, have been proven to change the trajectory of ones health outcomes," said Don George, President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont. "This gives patients the tools and education to become their own health advocate and champion. We are pleased to collaborate with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine Corporate Roundtable in support of educating, empowering and engaging our members in positive health practices.

ABOUT BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT -- As the states only local, not-for-profit health plan, the goal at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is to help their members live healthier, more active lives. For over 30 years, the organization has been enhancing the health and well-being of the Vermonters they serve by offering innovative benefits to individuals, older Vermonters, and businesses. Blue Cross employees are dedicated to finding new ways to support high-quality care, programs, and events that promote wellness. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is located in Berlin, Vermont. For more information about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, visit bluecrossvt.org.

ABOUT ACLM -- The American College of Lifestyle Medicine is the nations medical professional society advancing lifestyle medicine as the foundation for a redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system, leading to whole person health. ACLM educates, equips, empowers and supports its members through quality, evidence- based education, certification and research to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease, with a clinical outcome goal of health restoration as opposed to disease management. Learn more at lifestylemedicine.org.
After seven consecutive years among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Atlanta, CATMEDIA was recently honored among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation for 2022. We are humbled and honored to receive this recognition on a national level, said Catherine Downey, CATMEDIA founder and CEO. Our people are our strongest asset, and we believe this award is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to providing our team with the high standards for HR practices.

After seven consecutive years among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Atlanta, CATMEDIA was recently honored among the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in the Nation for 2022.

The Best and Brightest Program identifies and honors organizations throughout the country that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. These employers of choice are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, and retention.

This year, CATMEDIA ranked among the nations elite companies in the following categories:



Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Strategy and Company Performance

Leadership

We are humbled and honored to receive this recognition on a national level, said Catherine Downey, CATMEDIA founder and CEO. Our people are our strongest asset, and we believe this award is a reflection of our ongoing commitment to providing our team with the high standards for HR practices.

These 2022 winning organizations have stood out during unpredictable times and have proven they are an employer of choice, said Jennifer Kluge, President and CEO of the National Association of Business Resources (NABR) and The Best and Brightest Program. They continue to keep the needs of their employees first and provide perks that include development, wellbeing, work-life balance, rewards, and recognition. In addition, these winning companies offer a fantastic work culture and workplace environment that attract and retain superior employees.

Other national honorees included the American Academy of Pediatrics, Panasonic Automotive, Six Flags, and T-Mobile. A full list of winners can be viewed on the Best and Brightest website, all of which will be honored during the Illuminate Business Summit on the week of November 7-11, 2022.

About The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For:

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For is a national program that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices, and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community. It is presented annually in several markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York, San Francisco Bay Area, and nationally.

About CATMEDIA:

CATMEDIA is an award-winning agency that specializes in advertising, creative services, media production, program management, and leadership training. As a national leader working with highly regulated clients, breaking down complex issues, and effectively communicating to a wide array of audiences, this Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) provides world-class customer service and innovative solutions to commercial and government clients, alike, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Black Unicorn Report for 2022 Were pleased to name these finalists and winners among a small, elite group of cybersecurity industry leaders and innovators in our annual Black Unicorn awards, said the judges.

CYBER DEFENSE MAGAZINE (CDM), the cybersecurity industrys leading publication and provider of daily infosec news from around the globe, today announces the winners and finalists in the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022.

The term Black Unicorn signifies a cybersecurity company that has the potential to reach a $1 billion dollar market value as determined by private or public investment (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicorn_(finance)_) and these awards showcase those companies with this kind of incredible potential in the cybersecurity marketplace.

Were pleased to name these finalists and winners among a small, elite group of cybersecurity industry leaders and innovators in our annual Black Unicorn awards, said Judges Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of http://www.allegiscyber.com, Dino Boukouris of http://www.momentumcyber.com and Gary Miliefsky of http://www.cyberdefensemediagroup.com.



Black Unicorn Winners for 2022

https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-winners-for-2022/

Baby Black Unicorn Winners for 2022

https://cyberdefenseawards.com/baby-black-unicorn-winners-for-2022/

Top InfoSec Innovators for 2022

https://cyberdefenseawards.com/top-infosec-innovators-for-2022/

Top Global CISOs Winners for 2022

https://cyberdefenseawards.com/top-global-cisos-winners-for-2022/

The Black Unicorn Report for 2022

https://cyberdefenseawards.com/the-black-unicorn-report-for-2022/

About CyberDefenseCon 2022

Taking place in Q4 every year in Orlando, Florida, where the Top Global CISOs and the Top InfoSec Innovators gather each year. Two amazing days packed with speakers and expert peers focused on issues concerning the most talented CISOs in the world. In an exclusive invitation-only venue, we have an educational and enjoyable networking event, using much of Chattam House rules, with more information found online at https://cyberdefenseconferences.com/

About Cyber Defense Awards

This is Cyber Defense Magazines 10th year of honoring cybersecurity innovators, in this case the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022 on our Cyber Defense Awards platform. In this competition, judges for these prestigious awards includes cybersecurity industry veterans, trailblazers and market makers Gary Miliefsky of CDMG, Robert R. Ackerman Jr. of Allegis Cyber, Dino Boukouris of MomentumCyber and with much appreciation to emeritus judges Robert Herjavec of Herjavec Group, Dr. Peter Stephenson of CDMG and David DeWalt of NightDragon. To see the complete list of finalists and winners for the Black Unicorn Awards for 2022 please visit https://cyberdefenseawards.com/black-unicorn-winners-for-2022/

About Cyber Defense Magazine

Cyber Defense Magazine was founded in 2012 by Gary S. Miliefsky, globally recognized cyber security thought leader, inventor and entrepreneur and continues to be the premier source of IT Security information. We are managed and published by and for ethical, honest, passionate information security professionals. Our mission is to share cutting-edge knowledge, real-world stories and awards on the best ideas, products and services in the information technology industry. We deliver electronic magazines every month online for free, and limited special editions exclusively for the RSA, BlackHat and Cyber Defense Conferences. Learn more about us at http://www.cyberdefensemagazine.com. Cyber Defense Magazine is a proud member of the Cyber Defense Media Group.

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The Servant of All: a reflective autobiographical work that shares a message of hope. The Servant of All is the creation of published author Dr. Kenneth Barbour, the tenth out of thirteen children born to a Pittsburgh coal miner whose mother performed domestic work. Despite growing up poor and suffering from racial discrimination on a daily basis, his parents always taught their children to never harbor hatred in their hearts. Dr. Barbour states that this lesson has enabled him to not only succeed in life, but also strive to touch hearts and lives of all races of people throughout his lifetime. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior after high school graduation. In the years that followed, he earned a masters degree in Christian ministry, a masters degree in elementary education, principal certification, and PhD in educational leadership. Dr. Barbours degrees qualified him to serve in many different capacities, such as pastor, president of a citywide Bible school, supervising elder (over the denominational churches), teacher, principal, and school superintendent. He was also afforded the opportunity to work with a variety of different people from lower class, inner-city residents to upper-class suburbia. After forty years of service in the public school system, Dr. Barbour retired and accepted a position as principal of a predominantly upper-middle-class Christian academy for twelve years, and that is when he made the difficult decision to retire completely. Still eager to impact the lives of others and help them succeed as he has, he now spends his time teaching English as a second language at his daughters piano and tutoring center. In addition, he serves as mentor to principals of two Christian schools on a needed basis.

Dr. Barbour shares, It is a journey of how one man beat the odds to become teacher, principal, school superintendent, short-term missionary to Africa, pastor, community leader, and influential servant of God. How familial love and cooperation, parental example, hard work, and a life of dedication to loving and serving Jesus Christ can triumph over racial discrimination, poverty, and difficult beginnings. A man who had a myriad of education and religious experiences and qualifications. These included fifty years of distinguished service in public and Christian ministry. A man who received accolades of being honored by the US Department of Education for exemplary performance and leadership in schools and community, earned the Blue Ribbon School Award, and Urban Heroes Award that honors residents who serve with distinction behind the scenes in an urban setting and Professional Man of the Year award. A testimony reinforcing the belief that all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them (Walt Disney). About hope and the fact that the American Dream is not only still alive but also achievable. To bring hope, inspiration to rise above, and to love in the midst of any circumstance, create a legacy putting needs of others first, and helping people develop and perform as highly as possible. Despite a humble background, and limited resources and opportunities, the story demonstrates how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary success. It dispels the myth that people do well in life only if they are from privileged backgrounds. It is a lesson to us that though our environment helps shape us, we are not defined by it.

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. Kenneth Barbours new book provides an uplifting message that, regardless of initial circumstance, chasing ones dreams is vital.

Dr. Barbour brings readers an inspiring message within the pages of this compassionate and inspiring reflection on life.

Consumers can purchase The Servant of All at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about The Servant of All, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
Our new brand and logo are a reflection of who Rieke Interiors and Vertical Interior Design Studio has become in the last nine years. Vertical Interior Design Studio, a division of Rieke Interiors, has been providing our clients with a turn-key solution for their projects, both big and small.

After 28 years of helping people create and envision their spaces according to their realities, Rieke Interiors recently launched its own rebranding plans.

The company, which was formerly known as Rieke Office Interiors, has been designing and building custom workspaces and office furniture in the Chicagoland area. It offers turn-key commercial furniture solutions using smart design, positive customer service, and professional office furniture installation.

Over the past 10 years, Riekes clientele has evolved and the company works on more than just offices. Its clients are from the areas of design retail, healthcare, financial institutions, veterinarian clinics, restaurants, homes and so much more. As the company evolved, it decided on a name change to reflect all the markets it supports.

Riekes President and Owner Melissa Kehl welcomes the refresh as it reflects how the company is always changing and evolving. Thats just who we have been as a company forever. We are always asking ourselves: Whats next? What else do our customers need? and How can we help them with this service? (Always thinking about the customer and finding solutions for their needs) has been our modus operandi for our whole life being a company.

Senior VP & Co-Owner of Rieke Interiors Colleen Baader said that our new brand and logo are a reflection of who Rieke Interiors and Vertical Interior Design Studio has become in the last nine years. Vertical Interior Design Studio, a division of Rieke Interiors, has been providing our clients with a turn-key solution for their projects, both big and small.

Clients are wanting certain things for their rooms for flexibility, functionality, and comfort. Baader explained that now that COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed, the emphasis on the commercial side is to create spaces to encourage collaboration and efficiency. For example, there is an interest in having hybrid offices that allows space for conference rooms to hold Zoom meetings. Also on the list are lounge spaces to recreate for employees that working from home feel. Even the break rooms, also known as kitchens and social zones, are getting a facelift by adding bar-height seating and lounge furniture.

Most business owners want their people back in their offices to collaborate at least three days a week, she said. We're hearing that a lot from our clients. So, they want to make the space work for the new culture and the new environment.

On the residential side, Baader said these clients are renovating kitchens or master bathrooms. When there was a buying and selling boom in the housing market, people bought homes and decided to renovate spaces to add their own touch. She predicts that these types of projects may slow down and then the focus would shift to furniture accessories and window treatments.

No matter if its in the workplace or the home, Baader said Rieke Interiors & Vertical Interior Design Studio wants to give clients the opportunity to improve their space that they live and work in.

Kehl added: We are so passionate about space and believe that if you start with your space as the foundation to build your dreams, it can make reaching your dreams easier. So, if you're trying to attract new talent into your office, you need a space that's going to make them feel welcome. And, if you're trying to share family experiences and create memories, you want your space in your home to work with the way your family works, you want it to function and be designed and have a mood that can help. What's really cool about our designers is that they take whatever it is that you're looking for in your home or your office and then turn that into a reality.

Baader acknowledged that Riekes well-known reputation in the industry is very important to its history. This new branding presents to customers Riekes growth and expansion.

Now, we encompass so much more than what we did in the past with the help of Vertical Interior Design Studio, said Baader. We believe our new branding reflects who we are and where we are going. We do so much more than just offices.

About Rieke Interiors:

Rieke Interiors has an impressive, state-of-the-art, 150,000-square-foot, office furniture manufacturing facility in Elgin, Illinois. As a certified WBE business in its 28th year, Rieke provides innovative products and services that are fully customizable, a unique capability that isnt found anywhere else in the interior industry. This flexibility allows Rieke to create a big impact for any budget, streamlining the project process to make each vision come to life. For more information, visit Rieke.com. ###
Seeds of Sunshine: a delightful opportunity to discuss how to overcome bullying. Seeds of Sunshine is the creation of published author Ellen Kolman, who has taught and entertained children in both church and Christian school settings. Kolman currently resides in Ashtabula, Ohio, with her husband, Andy, and teaches kindergarten and first grade. Together, she and her husband have five grown children and two grandchildren.

Kolman shares, Every Tuesday, Sunshine visits his Grammy. When classmates use mean words and hurt Sunshines feelings, Grammy takes him on a nature walk where a cocoon and dandelion puffs provide lessons in Jesuss love and forgiveness. Will Sunshine choose to forgive his classmates?

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Ellen Kolmans new book brings an important message to young readers that encourages the idea of spreading love, forgiveness, and trusting in God.

Kolman shares a heartwarming story for the encouragement and spiritual guidance of young readers.

Consumers can purchase Seeds of Sunshine at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Seeds of Sunshine, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
It is a privilege to work with hundreds of Greenberg Traurig attorneys and staff on pro bono matters and to witness them meet moments of crisis time and again, and we are honored to be recognized by two of our longtime partners in this work, Caroline Heller.

Coinciding with the weeklong National Celebration of Pro Bono, global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP received two awards for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to pro bono, particularly on behalf of refugees over the last year.

On Oct. 24, Human Rights First presented the firm with a Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service for accomplishment and their continued commitment to life-saving pro bono work. The award is named in memory of Marvin E. Frankel, who, in addition to his career as a federal judge, was a founder of Human Rights First and former chairman of the board of directors. The Frankel Award is presented annually to law firms that demonstrate outstanding commitment to pro bono service, helping Human Rights First achieve justice for refugees in the United States, Human Rights First said in a press release.

A longtime partner to Human Rights First, attorneys from the firms Los Angeles and Orange County offices took on seven new cases in 2021, assisting a total of 17 refugees as a result.

On Oct. 27, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) will present Greenberg Traurig with its Champion of Justice award, its highest and most prestigious honor. NYLAG selected the firm to recognize its work this year on behalf of Ukrainian refugees in the United States by taking on more than 100 applications to obtain Temporary Protected Status, employment authorization, and advanced parole.

It is a privilege to work with hundreds of Greenberg Traurig attorneys and staff on pro bono matters and to witness them meet moments of crisis time and again, and we are honored to be recognized by two of our longtime partners in this work, Chair of Greenberg Traurigs Global Pro Bono Program and New York Litigation Shareholder Caroline Heller said. The firm is in a unique position to assist refugees because we have both a strong immigration practice as well as attorneys and staff throughout the United States and around the world who are committed to supporting those escaping war and persecution. We are proud of the pro bono work our attorneys and staff do each year as well as the philanthropic support they and our firm provide to others.

Greenberg Traurigs commitment to leveraging its platform to serve communities allows it to give a voice to those in need and maximize the impact of its pro bono efforts. Whether through philanthropic and volunteer efforts, the firms commitment to providing pro bono legal services, or participation in sustainability initiatives, its professionals take pride in directly and positively impacting the communities they serve.

Complementing the services Greenberg Traurigs individual lawyers provide, the Holly Skolnick Fellowship Foundation enables the firm to serve as the largest sponsor of Equal Justice Works.

About Greenberg Traurigs Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firms offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, childrens rights, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program certifies that the firms U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
Blockchain Enterprise Solutions to a Major Real Estate Conglomerate Blockchains revolutionary viability is finally being utilized in sectors outside of banking, finance, crypto, public governance, and more. Estate developers can benefit from increased transparency across sub-contracts, procurement protocols, and more.

The real estate industry deals with one of the largest asset classes with estimates suggesting a global market capitalization surpassing USD 10 trillion. HashCash Consultants, a leading global blockchain development company, has ventured forward offering enterprise-grade blockchain solutions to a significant player in the South-East Asian real estate segment.

Blockchain, the underlying technology behind cryptocurrencies, has demonstrated far wider scopes of application than previously anticipated. The distributed ledger mechanism is deemed a game-changer across all areas where accurate documentation is critical to operational success. From urban planning to large-scale real estate management firms, blockchain can facilitate efficient data sharing, streamlining rental amounts directly to landlords/property owners, and automating due-diligent premium payments for properties. The uses are, however, not limited to this itself.

HashCash Chief and noted blockchain pioneer Raj Chowdhury explains, Blockchains revolutionary viability is finally being utilized in sectors outside of banking, finance, crypto, public governance, and more. Estate developers can benefit from the increased transparency across sub-contracts, procurement protocols, and more.

A blockchain-powered real estate exchange offers a secure decentralized marketplace to leverage the benefits of blockchain through tokenization. The proposed enterprise solution will utilize blockchain-based digital identities and accelerate KYC/AML compliances between proprietors and tenants. reducing operational costs while improving security.

Blockchain-powered smart contracts enable on-chain lease payments and signing, automating rental payments or additional services. Real-time transaction updates in the ledger benefit financial auditing. Last but not least, the tokenization of real estate assets across a blockchain network eases the process of peer-to-peer transfer, allowing the traceability of transactions at each step.

Real Estate remains a key pillar in any nations economy- establishing business and employment opportunities in other associated industries as well, concluded Chowdhury, who had previously highlighted blockchains potential in disaster management and weather forecasting.

HashCash has remained a frontrunner winning multiple accolades in global blockchain development. The global blockchain specialists have acknowledged plans of expansion and diversification into the ruining metaverse segment by 2023. HashCash-designed products and solutions have received critical acclaim post successful deployment in over 26 nations across 6 continents, including Finland, Vietnam, Ireland, the US, and more.

Nations across the globe have started integrating blockchain technology allowing easier access to database records. It has successfully substituted yesteryear's paper deeds with authentic digital assets and displays verified change or transactions on an immutable ledger-based platform available to multiple parties. Growing examples of blockchain integration across the real estate sector attest to blockchains potential in empowering both sides of a transaction, contributing to the overall economy.

About HashCashh Consultants:

HashCash is a global software company. HashCash Blockchain products enable enterprises to move assets and settle payments across borders in real-time for Remittances, Trade Finance, Payment Processing, and more. HashCash runs a US-based digital asset exchange, PayBito & digital asset payment processor, Billbitcoins. HashCash offers white label crypto exchange and payment processor software solutions, ICO services, and customized use cases. HashCash propels advancement in technology through Blockchain1o1 programs and its investment arm, Satoshi Angels. HashCash offers solutions in AI, Big Data, and IoT through its platforms, products & services. HashCash solves the toughest challenges by executing innovative digital transformation strategies for clients around the world.
Annual CellTrak Home Care Aide Scholarship Winner Announcement Coming Soon We are proud to show our support for these home care heroes through our annual scholarship and we look forward to recognizing their hard work and sharing their stories.

Homecare Homebase (HCHB), the nations leading software for home-based care has partnered with CellTrak and the National Association for Home Care and Hospice to offer fifteen $1,000 scholarships to Home Care Aides. The scholarship winners will be announced on CellTrak & Homecare Homebases social media platforms starting on November 1, 2022.

November is National Home Care and Hospice month and announcing our scholarship winners is the perfect way to celebrate the vital workers in our industry. We are proud to show our support for these home care heroes through our annual scholarship and we look forward to recognizing their hard work and sharing their stories, stated Andrew Kaboff, CRO (Founder) of CellTrak.

Scott Decker, Chief Executive Officer of Homecare Homebase discussed HCHBs support of the scholarship program this year. We are proud to have the opportunity to join NAHC and CellTrak in supporting this scholarship for Home Care Aides. This program puts a spotlight on individuals who are providing exceptional care that helps Americans stay in their home while combatting isolation.

Follow Homecare Homebase or CellTrak on social media starting November 1, 2022 to catch the scholarship winners.

Homecare Homebase | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

CellTrak | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter

About Homecare Homebase, LLC

Homecare Homebase is a Dallas-based software leader offering hosted, cloud-based solutions to streamline operations, simplify compliance and boost clinical and financial outcomes for home-based care agencies. Our customized mobile solutions enable real-time, wireless data exchange and communication between field clinicians, physicians and office staff for better care, more accurate reporting, and improved revenue cycle management. Founded by industry veterans in 1999, HCHB empowers over 200,000 users to service more than 800,000 patients daily, resulting in over one hundred million visits per year. The company is part of the Hearst Health network. For more information visit http://www.hchb.com or call us toll-free at 1- 866-535-HCHB (4242)

About Hearst Health

The mission of Hearst Health is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a persons health journey. Care guidance from Hearst Health reaches the majority of people in the U.S. The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase and MHK (formerly MedHOK). Hearst also holds a minority interest in the precision medicine and oncology analytics company M2Gen. Follow Hearst Health on Twitter @HearstHealth and LinkedIn @Hearst-Health.

About CellTrak

CellTrak, a Homecare Homebase Company, is used by leading providers from home care, hospice and behavioral health agencies, offers a mobile app, interactive voice response (IVR) system, and web portal that uniquely includes data analytics and real-time messaging to give providers the ability to manage, monitor and connect with field caregivers to improve outcomes. Over 500 million visits have been electronically verified by CellTrak across the US, UK, and Canada by over 130,000 caregivers. CellTraks strategic partnerships with the leading EMRs and EVV aggregators allows for easy implementations and delivery of the best of breed solutions in the industry. For more information, visit http://www.celltrak.com.

About National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC)

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nations 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit nahc.org.
We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our experiences with attendees.

Miami-based JetStream Federal Credit Union announces CEO Jeanne Kuceys attendance at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Conference, where she will be presenting to industry leaders on banking and underserved populations. This year's All-In on DEI & ACCESS summit will take place on November 2-4, 2022. In addition to covering diversity, equality, and inclusion, the conference will further NCUAs initiative for advancing communities through credit, education, stability, and support.

Ms. Kucey will speak on Thursday, November 3, 2022 as part of the fireside chat, Helping the Unbanked and Underbanked Populations Build Credit, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST.

The third annual event brings together subject matter experts, credit union leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss crucial subjects impacting members of the National Credit Union Administration. This year, the summit will cover the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion for credit unions, discuss solutions to industry-specific challenges, and encourage financial inclusion practices.

Participating in the third annual NCUA conference aligns with JetStream's goals, said Jeanne Kucey, CEO of JetStream Federal Credit Union. We represent one of the most diverse communities  from our members and community partners to our staff  and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to share our experiences with attendees.

Ms. Kucey regularly speaks about the value of credit unions and has extensive experience serving as a volunteer for both for-profit and non-profit organizations. She has also served on the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions Board of Directors for nine years.

This is an exciting opportunity for JetStream, added Ms. Kucey. We have extensive experience assisting underserved communities and look forward to sharing our experience to help credit union industry stakeholders and operators.

For more information about JetStream Federal Credit Union, or to schedule an interview, please contact Meieli Sawyer at msawyer@weinbachgroup.com.

About JetStream Federal Credit Union

JetStream Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial cooperative with $230 million in assets. The 74-year-old credit union has 5 branches located in Miami, Miami Lakes, Doral and Hialeah, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Membership is open to anyone (and their family members) that lives, works, worships or attends school in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and anyone (and their family members) that lives, works, worships or attends school in Carolina, Trujillo Alto and San Juan, Puerto Rico. All persons (and their family members) who work in any of our select companies and organizations located in Miami-Dade County and the select areas of Puerto Rico may also join. Membership is open to businesses and other legal entities located in Miami-Dade County, Florida and the select areas of Puerto Rico. For additional information, visit our website at http://www.jetstreamfcu.org.
This LZ 200 report is a critical annual report that captures the behaviors and characteristics of the countrys largest not-for-profit senior living organizations in the country, stated Dan Hermann, President & Chief Executive Officer and Head of Investment Banking at Ziegler.

LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, and Ziegler, the nations leading underwriters of financings for not-for-profit senior living providers, today release the 19th Annual LeadingAge Ziegler (LZ 200) report.

The report, developed annually through a partnership between LeadingAge and Ziegler, is a ranking and analysis of the nations 200 largest not-for-profit senior living organizations across the country as of December 31, 2021. This years report represents more than 306,000 market-rate units and nearly 1,600 market-rate communities across the country. It also outlines relevant business trends in the industry to showcase the variety of older adult services and offerings provided in this sector.

Consistent with the last several years, the 2022 LZ 200 listing shows that not-for-profit senior living providers have grown primarily through community expansions from existing campuses as well as affiliation and acquisition activity. Nearly 30 percent of the total number of units for all senior living systems in the LZ 200 are represented by the 10 largest providers.

The 10 largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living organizations include:

1. National Senior Campuses  Wellesley, MA

2. The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society  Sioux Falls, SD

3. Acts Retirement Services, Inc.  Fort Washington, PA

4. Presbyterian Homes and Services  Roseville, MN

5. Ascension Living  St. Louis, MO

6. HumanGood  Pleasanton, CA

7. Covenant Living Communities & Services  Skokie, IL

8. Lifespace Communities, Inc.  West Des Moines, IA

9. Trinity Health Senior Communities  Livonia, MI

10. Benedictine  Duluth, MN

The LZ 200 also showed that in the last 10 years, the average annual growth rate in total units since 2000 is 2.3 percent, with independent living and assisted living units growing each year, but decline in the number of nursing care beds.

Since the publications introduction almost two decades ago, we have captured the factors and trends driving innovation and change in how older adults live, stated Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge. The LZ200s valuable findings demonstrate the significant role of LeadingAge members both in providing the resources and services older adults seek and also in shaping the sectors future.

This LZ 200 report is a critical annual report that captures the behaviors and characteristics of the countrys largest not-for-profit senior living organizations in the country, stated Dan Hermann, President & Chief Executive Officer and Head of Investment Banking at Ziegler. Readers are also able to gain insights into the fastest growing and most progressive organizations nationally, regionally and in their respective states. This information helps to pave a path forward for overall sector growth among not-for-profit providers.

The LZ 200 report, developed annually through the LeadingAge/Ziegler partnership, includes more than 200 providers of multi-site systems, more than 150 single-site campuses, and government-subsidized multi-site housing providers. Previously known as the LZ 100 and LZ 150, the report was expanded in 2014 from LZ 100 to the LZ 150 and to the LZ 200 in 2018 in response to the growing industry and increasing interest.

To view the full report, click here.

About Ziegler:

Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance and Analytics. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com.

About LeadingAge:

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.
Onsite Womens Health, a leading national provider of breast health services, announces with Whiterabbit.ai and Washington University in St. Louis the results of a longitudinal study of breast density using artificial intelligence (AI). RSNA (Radiological Society of North America) accepted the scientific abstract submitted by researchers from Onsite, Whiterabbit and Washington University in St. Louis for an oral presentation, titled: Artificial Intelligence and Consistency in Patient Care: A Large-Scale, Longitudinal Study of Breast Density Assessment at the 108th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting (Date/Time of Session: 11/28/2022 1:30-2:30 pm CT).

Higher density breast tissue on mammograms means higher risk for breast cancer, says Dr. Susan Holley, clinical director of Onsite Womens Health and presenter of the abstract. Therefore, breast density is an important variable to get right. We wanted to know if an AI tool could help us be right more often, over the long-term.

We are eager to share the findings of this large-scale retrospective study as it reveals fascinating trends about the assessment of breast density over time by radiologists and our AI software, WRDensity. We believe the consistent assessment of breast density is vital to more effective patient management that moves us towards the goal of precision medicine. Im enthusiastic that new technologies may make a difference in this noble endeavor, says Jason Su, Whiterabbits co-founder and chief technology officer. We are grateful to have been able to partner with Onsite and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct this study. Their interest in our AI tool and engagement with us has and will continue to be critical to its ongoing development.

The team hopes to expand upon this work to explore implications for supplemental screening, and how longitudinal changes in breast density might further inform our understanding of breast cancer risk.

The diversity of our research team with representation from real world practice, industry, and academic researchers allows us to pursue really exciting and clinically relevant questions, concludes Aimilia Gastounioti, assistant professor of Radiology and director of the Breast Image Computing Lab at Washington University in St. Louis. The advent of AI is poised to change the delivery of health care dramatically in the near future. With academic researchers, physicians and industry partners working hand-in-hand, we can bring all our strengths together to look at questions that have big implications for breast imaging and patient care.

About Onsite Womens Health

Onsite Womens Health is the leading provider of convenient breast health services, including 3D Tomosynthesis mammography screening and diagnostic services and screening breast ultrasound powered by an AI-driven strategy. Onsite partnerships support screening compliance by ensuring preventive breast care is convenient, accessible, and personalized to the individual risk profile of each patient. By utilizing advanced risk assessment tools, Onsite creates a personalized breast care plan for each patient applying the latest technology and expert review to each service. Onsite services increase patient satisfaction, improves breast health compliance, and serves as a revenue opportunity for our practice clients. They currently operate in 25 states with two more states being added soon. They have performed 1.5 million studies since 2013 and conducted 98,000 risk assessment exams since January 2018. For more information visit us at: http://www.onsitewomenshealth.com,

About Whiterabbit.ai

Whiterabbit.ai is an AI technology company with a mission to improve lives through earlier, more accurate cancer detection. A growing number of radiologists and healthcare providers are using Whiterabbit's technology to improve patients' experience with breast cancer screening. In addition to ACT, an AI-powered outreach service that helps improve compliance and get more women screened, Whiterabbit has developed two other product lines  WRDensity and WRRisk. WRDensity is an FDA-cleared artificial intelligence-driven software that helps radiologists better assess breast density. WRRisk, a clinical decision support software for risk assessment based on well-established breast cancer risk models, assigns a risk rating to a patient, and provides vital information to a physician to create a more personalized screening regimen with consistent follow-up and more accurate clinical diagnosis. Whiterabbit is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. For more about Whiterabbit, visit https://whiterabbit.ai/

About Washington University in St. Louis

The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, consistently ranked in the top 10 medical schools in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has a rich scientific history in basic, clinical, and translational research. The Breast Image Computing Lab at Washington University in St. Louis, led by Aimilia Gastounioti, conducts translational breast imaging research towards risk assessment, early diagnosis, and prognosis for breast cancer. Their research activities combine elements of computational breast imaging, AI, and informatics to build technologies with a potential for clinical impact in advancing breast cancer screening and prevention strategies. For more information, visit us at https://mir.wustl.edu/gastounioti-lab
Lydia Y. Pope Burden, a veteran and community volunteer with a passion for writing, has completed her new book Free Land for Sale!: a potent and absorbing play about the importance of education and the power of open communication.

When was the last time someone discussed Billie Holiday or Dorothy Dandridge in a classroom? asks author Lydia Y. Pope Burden. Christian and his eight students embark on various controversial topics, such as political views and social views. These topics are often considered taboo, but thats exactly why Christian wanted to tackle these subjects in his adult continuing education class. Are we openly ready to discuss and agree to disagree? There is always more than one way to see a situation. Tempers will rise, and personalities will show truth. Life is not just about your perspective; open your minds to other possibilities and experiences.

Published by Page Publishing, Lydia Y. Pope Burdens gripping tale finds readers in the adult continuing education classroom of Christian Barns, a college professor who just landed his first teaching job. His class consists of mostly low-income students struggling to get by. Wanting to make a difference in their lives, Christian pulls stories from American history that could help them contextualize their situations. From slavery to the War on Drugs, Christian leads his classroom of eight in passionate discussion about the issues that truly affect them, past and present.

Burden says that her goal for this play is to evoke thought and self-evaluation. We are our brothers keepers. In todays world, it can be difficult to hold meaningful debates and spread awareness of significant topics. Free Land for Sale shows readers the positive and powerful effects of honest communication amongst peers.

Readers who wish to experience this stirring work can purchase Free Land for Sale! 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.
Nelson Coleman Jewelers, the ninth-oldest jewelry retailer in the United States, is opening its newest store in Frederick, Maryland. Located at 11 W Patrick Street in historic Downtown Frederick, the sixth-generation jeweler is known for their striking pieces, jewelry education, and passion for helping others.

Amanda Coleman-Phelps, Nelson Coleman Jewelers owner and CEO, joined the company in February 2004. Coleman-Phelps is the visionary behind Nelson Coleman Jewelers' evolving culture and inviting environment. They chose Frederick for their newest location because of the vibrant downtown atmosphere and overall growth of the area in recent years. As a sixth-generation jeweler that has been in business for over

165 years, we have been touched by the warm welcome weve received from the vibrant and gracious community of Downtown Frederick. We are in business to enrich the lives of every individual we meet. Now that circle will expand, and we are thrilled to see it grow and be a part of an amazing city.

Their dedication to helping others happens through The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program. The company's charitable giving arm is named after the current CEOs father, who retired from the company in 2021. When any customer makes a purchase at Nelson Coleman, 10% of full-purchase priced items is given to an organization of the customers choice. Whether it's a non-profit, local school, animal rescue, or homeless shelter, where their clients hearts are is where the jewelers donation goes.

The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program is our funds-in-action commitment to help our clients support causes they are passionate about. I am proud to continue my fathers mission to serve others and spread that message as far as possible to our new Frederick friends and neighbors, Coleman-Phelps shared.

With plans to open in late 2022 or early 2023, the company is actively hiring employees for its new location across from the Weinberg Center. Part- and full-time positions are available. The company is seeking experienced team members interested in connecting with others and helping them along their jewelry journey for life.

An official grand opening event is being planned for later this year. To learn more about official opening events and detail, please contact Sarah Goggins at sgoggins@nelsoncoleman.com.

To learn more about open positions, visit https://nelsoncoleman.com/join-our-team/.

Nelson Coleman Jewelers is in the business of enriching the lives of individuals in their community. For 166 years, the sixth-generation family business has taken a holistic and educational approach to support and guide customers through the jewelry buying process. Headquartered in Towson, MD, with retail locations in Towson, Woodbridge, VA, and a new location opening soon in Frederick, MD, Nelson Coleman is committed to listening and learning how they can best serve each and every client and their community through their interactions, outreach, and the mission of The Chris Coleman Enrichment Program.
Rendering of new Pearlson Shiplift for Korean Coast Guard

HL D&I Halla (Halla) and Pearlson Shiplift Corporation (PSC), are pleased to announce the signing of a new multimillion-dollar contract for the Design and Build of a state-of-the-art Shiplift System in South Korea. Upon completion, the shiplift system will support the Korean Coast Guard in the West Sea of Korea.

The new shiplift system will be approximately 70 meters long and 14 meters wide and will be capable of handling a variety of vessels in the Korean Coast Guards fleet.

HL D&I Halla selected Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, a company based in Miami, Florida, with a recognized technical team with over 60 years of experience in the design, engineering and development of shiplift and transfer systems, for this critically important project for the Korean Coast Guard.

Douglas Pearlson, President and C.E.O. of Pearlson Shiplift Corporation said: We are very pleased to be building this new state-of-the-art shiplift system in conjunction with HL D&I Halla and are very excited to support the Korean Coast Guard with the installation of this new facility. South Korea remains an incredibly important market for Pearlson Shiplift and we are committed to building and maintaining facilities which become the benchmark for others to use as an example of what a shiplift system should look and operate like.

The new Pearlson Shiplift System will be commissioned in 2024.

HL D&I Halla and this new facility for the Korean Coast Guard join the ranks of more than 250+ shiplift facilities, in 65+ countries around the World, which use the engineering expertise of Pearlson Shiplift Corporation for ongoing service and support.

About Pearlson Shiplift Corporation:

Pearlson Shiplift Corporation is the world-leader in shiplift technology, and the only company in the World which is solely dedicated to the design and build of shiplift systems. These innovative systems enable the safe lifting of vessels during construction, maintenance and repair. Their capacity ranges from 500 to 30,000 tons, and they can be used in newbuilding and ship repair of all types of vessels, from simple freighters and tug boats to advanced nuclear submarines. There is no better system to safely lift and launch vessels, then a Pearlson Shiplift System.

https://www.shiplift.com

About HL D&I Halla:

Established in 1980, HL D&I Halla played a leading role in Koreas economic development by carrying out various construction projects at home and abroad.

Its excellent capabilities in fields such as civil engineering, architecture, housing, plants, and environmental business are appreciated, and HL D&I Halla has grown into a company beloved by customers for its superior quality and competitiveness from national infrastructure creation to buildings with differentiated design and advanced technology, various industry/environment plants, and the high-quality residential spaces of the Halla Vivaldi brand.

Website: https://www.hldni.com/eng/
Modern workers have thousands of apps at their disposal to help them collaborate and streamline work. But when they use apps not sanctioned and controlled by the organization, they introduce risk.

Messaging Architects, an eMazzanti Technologies Company and Microsoft security expert, explains how to control risky app usage with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps in a new article. The informative article first urges administrators to take a balanced approach to risky app usage by combining technology with user education and open communication.

The author then lists the common types of shadow IT, including home file storage, collaboration and productivity apps, and unsecured messaging apps. He continues by noting the risks posed by shadow IT, such as security gaps, data loss, and compliance issues. He concludes by explaining how to use Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps to block or monitor risky app usage.

Modern workers have thousands of apps at their disposal to help them collaborate and streamline work, stated Greg Smith, Vice President of Services Delivery at Messaging Architects. But when they use apps not sanctioned and controlled by the organization, they introduce risk.

Below are a few excerpts from the article, Protect Business from Risky App Usage with Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps.

Common Types of Shadow IT

Remote work has increased the use of shadow IT as users try to work around several typical challenges. For instance, one common area of risky app usage involves file storage. Employees working from home may find it easier to store work files using the apps they use for personal files. Tools for collaboration and productivity represent another risky area, especially when collaborating with colleagues outside the company network.

Risks Posed by Shadow IT

Security gaps  Using unsanctioned apps creates a potential opening for bad actors to inject malware or enter the system. For instance, when employees use apps without the knowledge of IT, they may be using programs with unpatched vulnerabilities.

Data loss  Regular backups only include the sources known to the organization. When users store files outside the known network, they introduce the risk of losing that data without a recovery option. Additionally, storing and sharing sensitive information through risky apps increases the chance of data leaks.

Control Risky App Usage by Blocking or Monitoring Apps

One helpful tool in monitoring risky app usage involves employing a cloud access security broker (CASB) such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. Formerly known as Microsoft Cloud App Security, Defender for Cloud Apps delivers critical visibility into all the cloud apps and services used throughout the organization.

Compliance and Security Experts

The compliance and security experts at Messaging Architects bring deep knowledge of Microsoft and other security and compliance technologies. They will help you choose and implement the tools and features you need to harness the power of the cloud while keeping critical data safe.

Have you read?

Compliance Program for Microsoft Cloud Offers Personalized Services to Address Compliance Risk

Microsoft 365 Governance Tips to Balance Productivity, Control, and Security

About Messaging Architects

Messaging Architects specializes in effectively managing and securing an organizations most precious asset, its information. With over 20 years of information management and technology consulting experience, the Messaging Architects team has provided corporations, educational intuitions, health care facilities and nonprofits with methodologies, procedures, and technology to keep their data organized, compliant and secure.

About eMazzanti Technologies

eMazzantis team of trained, certified IT experts rapidly deliver increased revenue growth, data security and productivity for clients ranging from law firms to high-end global retailers, expertly providing advanced business cyber security, retail and payment technology, digital marketing services, cloud and mobile solutions, multi-site implementations, 247 outsourced network management, remote monitoring, and support.

eMazzantis consistent growth landed them on the Inc. 5000 list 9X. Recognized as a 4X Microsoft Partner of the Year, the #1 ranked NYC area MSP, NJ Business of the Year, and 5X WatchGuard Partner of the Year, the company excels as a trusted outsourced IT partner! Contact: 1-866-362-9926, info@emazzanti.net or http://www.emazzanti.net Twitter: @emazzanti Facebook: Facebook.com/emazzantitechnologies.


In conjunction with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, PVI held a celebration at their Frederick, Maryland location to commemorate this special anniversary. Chamber members were joined by customers, employees, and community guests including Mayor Michael O'Connor, Delegate Ken Kerr, Aldermen Nash, Aldermen Russell, and Aldermen Shackelford.

In his remarks, PVI Office Furniture President Mark Hill emphasized the importance of having a successful and experienced team with over three decades of experience, as well as having trusted relationships with customers, vendors, and the broader community.

PVI Office Furniture Company provides new and used office furniture in Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and beyond, as well as office space planning, delivery, and installation. For more information, visit http://www.pvipvi.com.


Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. is pleased to announce the firm was highlighted in Chicago Lawyer Magazines 2022 Settlement Survey as one of the top three law firms in the state of Illinois.

Each year, Chicago Lawyer and the Illinois Jury Verdict Reporter  sister publications within Law Bulletin Media  examine the top reported settlements. This years rankings are based on 393 Illinois settlements of $500,000 or more submitted to the Jury Verdict Reporter between August 1, 2021 and July 31, 2022. The report includes confidential settlements for which the Jury Verdict Reporter editors were able to verify details between the parties.

The 2022 JVR Settlements Report features 101 law firms - 66 new firms made the cut and only 35 firms who claimed spots in 2021 returned this year.

The average and median settlements increased significantly this year versus 2021. Average value rose 18% to $1.9 million while the median value across grew 50% to $750,000 in 2022. Auto collision, premises liability and pedestrian cases hit five-year highs, Chicago Lawyer Magazine states.

In 2022, Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. ranked in the top three law firms in terms of reported settlements, settling 36 cases for a total of $108,939,000.00. The firms top case of the year was a $20 million settlement on behalf of a Plaintiff who suffered a thoracic spine injury in a Cook County T-bone collision.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard was founded by attorney Patrick A. Salvi in 1982 in Lake County, Ill. The firm represents clients in a variety of medical malpractice, personal injury and product liability cases. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchards record of success includes more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements.

For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com .


Scout & Cellar, the creator of Clean-Crafted wine, announces the launch of Scouting Grounds Roasting Co., the worlds first coffee fueled by their proprietary standard for quality and transparency, the Clean-Crafted Commitment.

Scouting Grounds Roasting Co. enters the market with its medium-roast ground coffee, batch tested for mold, mycotoxins (including ochratoxins), pesticides and pH. Sourced from Ocotepeque, Honduras, it is made from 100% Arabica coffee beans and is low in acidity for a smooth and balanced taste. Additionally, the coffee is packaged in sustainable 10 oz bags made with 100% solar energy.

Since we launched this company in 2017, our Clean-Crafted Commitment has guided our approach to winegrowing and total transparency about what goes into the bottle. But the wine industry isnt the only industry that can benefit from our exacting standards, explains Scout & Cellar Founder and CEO, Sarah Shadonix. Coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world, both in how its grown and produced. Our rigorous standards for crop growing and coffee production, validated by our extensive testing practices, position Scouting Grounds Roasting Co. to deliver the consistent standard and high threshold for quality and deliciousness that we continue to demand and prioritize.

With the launch of Scouting Grounds Roasting Co., Scout & Cellar continues to elevate the communal experience around the table with another beverage that shares similar qualities to wine. Like wine, coffee is a beverage thats rooted in romance and tradition, Shadonix says. It brings people together and makes conversations better. It heightens the senses and is ripe for exploring, so it felt like the next logical step in our product portfolio.

Available online at scoutandcellar.com/brands/scouting-grounds for purchase, Scouting Grounds Medium Roast is retailing for $20 for the single bag, $36 for the 2-Bag Bundle, and $49 for the Clean-Crafted Morning coffee gift set featuring 2 bags, a coffee scoop/clip, and a single-serve reusable coffee filter (only available during holiday gifting).

For more information on Scout & Cellar, Scouting Grounds Roasting Co., the Clean-Crafted Commitment, or about their independent consultants, please visit scoutandcellar.com.

About Scout & Cellar

Founded in 2017, Scout & Cellar is the female-founded-and-led Clean-Crafted winery that has created a higher, more authentic and more sustainable standard for how wine is made. With its expansion into coffee, Scout & Cellar is broadening the reach and impact of its Clean-Crafted Commitment, which eliminates the need for anything artificial on the farm or throughout the production process. Scout & Cellar products are available online at scoutandcellar.com where you can shop directly or with the help of a diverse network of Independent Consultants who share a passion for the standard by which our products are made.


Students will receive real world experience, an opportunity to earn, and a fantastic narrative for their college application or resume.

Shop LC is the 2022 Business Champion in Education for Round Rock ISD, as nominated by the school district.

The awards are designed to recognize businesses' significant contributions to improve education and college and career opportunities and workforce readiness for the community.

SEE THE STUDENTS IN ACTION

The Austin-based home shopping network and ecommerce site was nominated for the award for their participation in the Fashion Collective initiative at Round Rock ISD. Together, the network and school district are helping prepare young entrepreneurs for the fashion industry. Students learn about the entire development cycle and get to participate by learning how to create their own designs.

The Fashion Collective Competition exposes students to the guts of the fashion industry, says Michelle Long, Director of CSR for Shop LC. Students receive real world experience, an opportunity to earn, and a fantastic narrative for their college application or resume.

For the upcoming school year, Shop LC is expanding the program to the entire Austin-area, welcoming high school and college students with an interest in pursuing fashion. The program will include over $10,000 in cash prizes, summer internship opportunities, and a chance for student designs to appear on the network. Round Rock ISD was the pioneer partner in the program.

For more information, visit http://www.shoplc.com/fashioncollective.html.
We selected a mix of municipal professionals from a variety of sectors to represent the myriad ways in which to have an influential career. These individuals are standard-bearers, innovators, trend-setters who have had an indelible impact on the industry theyve dedicated their professional lives to

The Bond Buyer, Arizents essential resource serving the municipal finance community, has announced the inaugural inductees for its new Hall of Fame program, which recognizes and celebrates groundbreaking individuals who have left an indelible legacy on the business of municipal finance and the people and places it represents. The class will give representation to a range of different areas and specialties within the business, and provide an aspirational path for each sector of public finance.

Five of the industrys most impactful careers  and the people behind them  are honored in the first-ever group of inductees. Those individuals are:



Ben Watkins, Director of Bond Finance, State of Florida

F. John White, Chairman Emeritus, Public Financial Management

Suzanne Shank, President & CEO, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

Roger Davis, Partner, Orrick

David Andersen, Managing Director, Municipal Negotiated and Competitive Underwriting, BofA Securities

In addition, the new initiative will posthumously honor two legendary leaders who passed away this year: Claire Cohen and Frank Hoadley. Cohen was one of the first women professionals in the municipal bond industry, with a career in public finance that spanned 49 years. Hoadley, a retired Wisconsin Capital Finance Director, left an influential mark on the public finance industry as a champion of issuer advocacy and best marketplace practices.

There are countless individuals deserving of the Hall of Fame honor, but for our first class, we selected a mix of municipal professionals from a variety of sectors of the business to represent the myriad ways in which to have an influential career, said Michael Scarchilli, Editor in Chief of The Bond Buyer. These individuals are standard-bearers, innovators, trend-setters  people who have had an indelible impact on the industry theyve dedicated their professional lives to.

The inaugural class will be celebrated at The Bond Buyer Hall of Fame Honoree Dinner on Tuesday, November 15 at the conclusion of their INFRASTRUCTURE conference, which takes place November 14-15 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C. The dinner will also host honorees of the seventh-annual Rising Stars program, which showcases the brightest young minds in the municipal bond industry.

We intend for the Hall of Fame to grow into an annual tradition, celebrating not just the modern day, but also those of the past, said Michael Ballinger, Publisher of The Bond Buyer. And with the celebration also inclusive of our annual class of Rising Stars, we can map that journey from Rising Star of today to Hall of Famer of tomorrow.

The list of Hall of Fame honorees and their profiles can be found here.

About The Bond Buyer

Since 1891, The Bond Buyer has empowered issuers, investors and other municipal finance professionals to navigate the complexities of policy, regulation, market activity, infrastructure, public/private partnerships and more. Across its journalism, events, research and benchmarking, The Bond Buyer provides insight into the most relevant topics  from ESG to innovative deal structures. As the only independent resource serving the complete municipal finance community, The Bond Buyers authoritative content connects leaders online, in person and in print every day.

About Arizent

Arizent is a business information company that advances professional communities by providing insights and analysis and convening industry leaders. The company uses deep industry expertise and a data-driven platform to deliver its services, which include subscriptions, marketing services, live events and access to Leaders, an executive forum. Arizent also connects business communities through leading financial services brands like American Banker, The Bond Buyer, Financial Planning and National Mortgage News, as well as professional services brands like Accounting Today, Employee Benefit News and Digital Insurance.
We are honored to partner with the State of Maryland in careful stewardship of these important places and grateful to the NPS for their support," - Elizabeth A. Comer, CFHS President

The Catoctin Furnace Historical Society (CFHS) has received two significant grants through the National Park Service's Semiquincentennial grant program to stabilize and reinterpret the historic Ironmasters Mansion (ca. 1781) at Catoctin Furnace and to upgrade the HVAC system and museum infrastructure in the Museum of the Ironworker. The grant program commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and was created by Congress in 2020. We are honored to partner with the State of Maryland in careful stewardship of these important places and grateful to the NPS for their support, said CFHS President Elizabeth A. Comer. The projects are supported through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program funded by the Historic Preservation Fund as administered by the National Park Service, Department of Interior.

Congress appropriated funding for the Semiquincentennial Grant Program in FY2021 through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF). The HPF uses revenue from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf, assisting with a broad range of preservation projects without expending tax dollars, with the intent to mitigate the loss of a nonrenewable resource to benefit the preservation of other irreplaceable resources.

Established in 1977, the HPF is authorized at $150 million per year through 2023 and has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Administered by the NPS, HPF funds may be appropriated by Congress to support a variety of historic preservation projects to help preserve the nations cultural resources

National parks and National Park Service programs serve to tell authentic and complete history, provide opportunities for exploring the legacies that impact us today and contribute to healing and understanding, said NPS Director Chuck Sams. Through the Semiquincentennial Grant Program, we are supporting projects that showcase the many places and stories that contributed to the evolution of the American experience. For more information about NPS historic preservation programs and grants, please visit nps.gov/stlpg/

In 1774, Catoctin Furnace was built by laborers owned (enslaved Africans) or employed by four brothers in order to produce iron from the rich deposits of hematite found in the nearby mountains. The iron furnace at Catoctin played a pivotal role during the industrial revolution in the young United States. Cannonballs fired during the battle of Yorktown were made at the furnace. The furnace industry supported a thriving community, and company houses were established alongside the furnace stack. Throughout the nineteenth century, the furnace produced iron for household and industrial products. After more than 100 years of operation, the Catoctin Furnace ceased production in 1903.

The village of Catoctin Furnace maintains the layout and structures built from 1774 to 1820 with remarkably few modern intrusions. A visitor to Catoctin Furnace is introduced to the historical importance and heritage resources of the area, and experiences the look and feel of an early industrial complex. For the past 50 years, the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, Inc. has worked to commemorate, study, preserve, protect, and interpret the historic village located 12 miles north of Frederick on Maryland Route 806 (Catoctin Furnace Road). For more information, call 240-288-7396 or visit http://www.catoctinfurnace.org.
We appreciate this new partnership with Matter, which has enabled us to get critical medical supplies to places in need in Ukraine, said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions.

UKRAINE: Salesian Missions sends critical shipment of medical and food aid. Donations impacted more than 1,000 people.

Salesian missionaries in Ukraine have medical supplies and rice-meals to aid people thanks to donations secured and shipped by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Salesians living and working in Ukraine* have remained in their centers and churches where they are helping families with shelter, support, and nutrition. The donations impacted more than 1,000 people.

The medical supply donation was provided by Matter, an organization that provides valuable corporate surplus to the places and people who need these life-saving resources the most. The medical supplies were provided to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Eastern Rite in Ukraine and then dispersed to the Salesian community in Zhytomyr, among other sites. The supplies are being used in local hospitals and for people in need.

Katie Johnson, director of global health initiatives at Matter, said, The team at Salesian Missions is doing wonderful work and Matter is honored to partner with such a special organization. We are grateful for organizations like Salesian Missions that allow us to be a small part of bringing these life-saving devices to those who need them most.

We appreciate this new partnership with Matter, which has enabled us to get critical medical supplies to places in need in Ukraine, said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. Salesian organizations around the globe have come together to help support Salesians in Ukraine who are working with people displaced inside the country. This support is essential, especially now, when the warehouses of food and medicines in Ukraine are empty. The needs of people are increasing.

Along with the medical supply shipment, Salesian Missions also sent a container of rice-meals from Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to feeding Gods children hungry in body and spirit. The food is destined for poor residents of towns and villages in eastern Ukraine, where food is needed most.

In addition to these efforts, soon after the war started, Salesian Missions launched a Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund that is helping to provide shelter, nutrition and supplies to refugees in need. This fund is among other fundraising efforts that Salesians in more than 130 countries are doing in support of Salesians on the front lines of this crisis.

###

About Salesian Missions USA

Salesian Missions is headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, and is part of the Don Bosco Networka worldwide federation of Salesian NGOs. The mission of the U.S.-based nonprofit Catholic organization is to raise funds for international programs that serve youth and families in poor communities around the globe. The Salesian missionaries are made up of priests, brothers and sisters, as well as laypeopleall dedicated to caring for poor children throughout the world in more than 130 countries and helping young people become self-sufficient by learning a trade that will help them gain employment. To date, more than 3 million youth have received services funded by Salesian Missions. These services and programs are provided to children regardless of race or religion. For more information, go to SalesianMissions.org.

Contact:

Hannah Gregory

media@salesianmissions.org

914-960-4642 (text messages OK)

Twitter: @MissionNewswire

Newswire: MissionNewswire.org

Press room: SalesianMissions.org/press
During its annual meeting held at the new Cannons event venue in historic Brunswick on October 19, Visit Frederick staff emphasized the tourism successes seen in 2021-22. With a decrease in pandemic-related restrictions on travelers, Frederick County saw a return of visitors from across the country and around the world.

Executive Director Dave Ziedelis pointed to strong numbers from Frederick County hotels as a sign of the regions strength as a visitor destination in the wake of the pandemic. Hotel revenues in Frederick County surged to all-time highs in 2022, to more than $56 million. That number outpaced the previous all-time high recorded in 2019 by more than 5 percent.

The hotel revenue supported a sizable 21% increase in revenue for Visit Frederick, to more than $3.2 million in 2022. Those funds go directly to supporting tourism and tourism-related businesses and nonprofits in Frederick County. Ziedelis noted that tourism-related tax revenue reported by the State of Maryland also showed major growth - a 33% increase over the last pre-pandemic year in 2019.

All told, Ziedelis concluded, available data shows Frederick Countys tourism sector has largely recovered lows experienced during the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.

Assistant Director Becky Bickerton shared the organizations marketing efforts in 2022, including the exciting initial steps to create a new orientation film and website for Visit Frederick slated for debuts in early 2023.

As part of the annual meeting, Visit Frederick also acknowledged the work of those in Frederick County who provide invaluable assistance in promoting the region as a destination. Peter Kremers received Visit Frederick's "Tourism Ambassador of the Year" award for his tireless efforts to bring colorful plant life and brightly-lit sailboats to Carroll Creek. Sailing Through The Winter Solstice, the months-long event on Carroll Creek has become one of the top visitor attractions to Frederick County in the winter.

Phil Bowers, co-owner of Fountain Rock Management and board president for Visit Frederick, was awarded a citation for distributing the most visitor guides in the county at Brewers Alley restaurant in Downtown Frederick.

More than 90 people attended the annual meeting at Cannons, which recently reopened as an event venue in downtown Brunswick. The space, located above the historic fire station that is now home to Smoketown Brewing Station, once played host to music icons like Patsy Cline, Duke Ellington, and Bob Seger.

Visit Frederick is the recognized Destination Marketing Organization for Frederick City and Frederick County, Maryland. It operates the Frederick Visitor Center and related Visit Frederick programs that include Destination Marketing and Group Tour Marketing. For more information about Visit Frederick, visit http://www.visitfrederick.org or call 301-600-4047.
On Wednesday, October 26, the Childrens Book Council held its annual meeting virtually electing its new slate of board members and highlighting the organizations notable work throughout the year.

The meeting opened with Shaina Birkhead, associate executive director, welcoming guests and introducing a short video featuring authors and illustrators such as Jason Reynolds, Gene Luen Yang, and Raul the Third, as well as publishing professionals, librarians, and students giving the CBC a thank you for all its hard work in 2022.

Yolanda Scott, associate publisher and editorial director of Charlesbridge and chair of the CBC board of directors, called the business portion of the meeting to order, opening with the election of the board officers. The board welcomed two new officers: Francesco Sedita, president and publisher of Penguin Workshop, as board chairperson, and Alvina Ling, v-p and editor-in-chief of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, as vice chairperson.

New additions to the board since the last meeting included Diane Mangan, marketing director of childrens books at Andrews McMeel Universal; Lisa Moraleda, executive director of publicity at Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing; Ginee Seo, childrens publishing director of Chronicle Books; and Tracey Keevan, editorial director of childrens books at Union Square Kids.

Several members of the previous board were up for reelection; the slate was accepted as it was proposed.

Treasurer Terry Borzumato-Greenberg then took over, explaining the balancing act between cost savings in the budget with the rise of basic costs and an increase in membership dues. CBC had a travel budget for the first time in three years, used to host panels at San Diego Comic Con, where the CBC held six panels.

Birkhead resumed moderating, reflecting on how virtual panels have affected the social aspect, the eating okay bagels and talking to people face to face, which has been sorely missed. Birkhead took this moment to introduce Continuing Connections, a forthcoming program featuring more than 40 publishing veterans who will offer 30-minute remote sessions to network and share insight to members.

This is a chance for you to connect with industry pros from different houses, learn more in-depth knowledge about our industry, and continue fostering connections within the industry as remote working models are sustained. she said.

The Year in Review

To kickstart the next portion of the meeting, there was a video compilation of publishers and authors highlighting their favorite big moments of the year. Experiences ranged from publicity assistants placing their authors on podcasts to new authors hitting the New York Times bestseller list, and publishers launching new initiatives to stay in touch with readers. The video also showed clips of employees getting to see each other in-person for the first time, finally putting names to faces in person.

Next, the entire CBC staff took a moment to share their favorite moments from the past year, starting off with executive director Lennertz taking time to brag on my creative and hardworking colleagues.

Head of content Laura Peraza shared her experience transforming her History Is Lit blog series into a new format, a podcast that highlights literary history, alongside CBCs freelance social media manager John McCormack. An episode discussing the horror genre is currently available, with more episodes to come. Peraza also hinted at future podcast projects in the pipeline from the CBC.

CBCs freelance social media manager John McCormack noted both the joys and importance of using social media to highlight critical moments. Over the last five years, Ive gotten to see some amazing things happen and watch communities come together through social media accounts. This year, in particular, posts on banned books week and our National Ambassador Jason Reynolds have really taken off.

Paulina Ramirez, a newcomer to the CBC, shared her experience from her brief but impactful time as a marketing associate with the team. Joining full-time this fall has given me a chance to work creatively on many other programs and projects, especially within Every Child a Reader [the CBCs charitable arm], Ramirez said. Im ecstatic to be part of a group whose goal is connection and communication between publishers and librarians.

Working alongside Ramirez in the marketing department are marketing assistant Sommer Wissner and marketing manager Jena Groshek. Wissner touched on the expansion of the CBC blog which houses several book lists as resources for readers and publishers alike, and expanded inclusivity resources, curating lists for banned books, and books that center LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent experiences. Groshek started the CBC book club in the summer of 2021 and worked on a sensitivity series as an expansion of the CBC Ed Talks. The first of the sensitivity series focused on disability and neurodiversity, in which a panel featuring disabled and neurodivergent speakers shared their thoughts on representations and how best to promote and advocate for their respective communities.

I was so humbled and inspired to see that these two events garnered some of our highest RSVP numbers of any of our Ed Talk events to date, Groshek said. I believe that is a testament to our collective goals in childrens publishing to not only foster accessible and inclusive workplaces, but to also translate that into the books that we create. The next in the sensitivity series will center LGBTQIA+ experiences in the workplace.

Birkhead reflected on her time supporting National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature Jason Reynolds on his journey in providing access to books and storytelling over the past year through book tours and his Grab the Mic initiative.

I take Jasons mission seriously, and I feel like it can be incorporated into all aspects of life. Birkhead said. Everyone deserves a chance to grow and shine, to feel like they matter, to grab the mic, which is the absolute best part of my job.

The staff then touched on the many plans the CBC has coming up for members to look forward to, including a new Midlevel Career Committee, dedicated to help midlevel professionals network and find next steps forward. Upcoming dates include the announcement of the eighth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature in January 2023, and the Eloise Greenfield CBC Poetry Award in partnership with HarperCollins.

Newly reelected chair Yolanda Scott called the meeting to a close, and said she was grateful for the opportunity to replace the bagels with some personal connection on the screen to bring us all together.
The memoir by Prince Harry, announced by publisher Random House in July, finally has a title and a publication date. Spare will be released on January 10, 2023.

Scant details about the book, which PRH's Ben Greenberg is editing, have been available. The New York Times reported that the title, which The Tender Bar author J.R. Moehringer is ghostwriting, sold for a rumored $20 million. In the U.K., the title will be published by Transworld, with that imprint's publisher, Bill Scott-Kerr editing.

PRH said the book will be released worldwide in 16 languages, with an unabridged audio edition narrated by the author accompanying the print edition. Elaborating on the book's content, PRH said Spare will take readers "immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mothers coffin as the world watched in sorrowand horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feelingand how their lives would play out from that point on." Spare, the publisher added, is Harry's story "at last."
Lagarderes publishing group managed to shake off slowing industry book sales to post a 12% increase in the third quarter, with worldwide revenue hitting 780 million ($781 million). Excluding the contribution from Workman Publishing, which was acquired last September, and the impact of favorable exchange rates, sales rose 3.6%. Lagardere does not break out earnings results in its quarterly updates.

At Hachette Book Group, revenue, excluding Workman results, rose 4.7% in the quarter, which was attributed in part to the success of Colleen Hoovers Verity, which has sold almost 1.7 million copies in 2022, according to NPD BookScan. In addition to Verity, HBG CEO Michael Pietsch attributed the increase to growth in downloadable audio and in HBG's distribution business.

For the first nine months of the year, Pietsch said sales were slightly behind an "extraordinarily strong" 2021 (excluding Workman results). Pietsch pointed to a slew of big books coming in the quarter from such authors as David Baldacci, Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, Elin Hilderbrand, Christopher Kimball, Andrew Morton, Joel Osteen, and James Patterson.

Elsewhere at Lagardere Publishing, year-on-year sales in France were up 1% in the quarter, as gains in trade publishing were offset by declines in education. In the U.K., revenue increased 8.6%, where the gain was also helped by sales of Verity. Revenue in Spain/Latin America increased 10.5%, buoyed by the roll-out of curriculum reform in Spain as well as a solid performance in the trade segment, Lagardere reported.

E-books accounted for 9% of total Lagardere Publishing revenue in the third quarter of 2022, compared to 8.4% in third-quarter 2021. Digital audio books represented 4% of revenue, and 3.6% in the same period one year earlier.

Publishing revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, increased 9.3%, to just under 2 billion. Excluding the additions of Workman and Paperblanks, which added 90 million, and the 66 million gain from currency fluctuations, sales were up 0.8%.

Lagardere still expects publishing revenue for the full year to be even with 2021, with a slight decline in earnings.
In 1987, Qatar took a chance on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Back then, oil was king. Rarely did anyone give serious thought to a post-oil economy, the idea of climate change was bitterly opposed when not ignored altogether, and our current green transition seemed like something that only a science-fiction writer would care to consider.

But the Qataris begged to differ. Their decision to double down on LNG production raised eyebrows in the late 1980s. The price of natural gas was so low that few even considere d it a serious commodity.

Despite adversity, ridicule and misunderstandings, Qatar stood by its gamble. 35 years later, Qatar is among the largest exporters of LNG in the world. In fact, LNG helped the country boost its GDP from $5.4 billion in 1987 to $179.5 billion in 2021.

The US and Australia are the other two large LNG exporters, and this suits Qatar just fine, because, when betting on LNG, the country committed itself to widening the global LNG market. As such, Qatar views the US and Australia as strategic partners in efforts to widen the market, not as competitors. When one aims to make the LNG market as large as possible  and encouragecountries to switch from oil to LNG consumption  everyproducer be comes your ally.

The focus on LNG led to a second strategic bet: in January 2019, Qatar left the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC). Technically speaking, this was a purely economic decision. Once the country determined that it would become amajor producer and exporter of LNG, it made little sense to maintain membership in an oil producing conglomerate.

However, even the purest economic decisions have political consequences. Dohas decision to focus on LNG productionimplied that LNG was on the rise and that oil would gradually lose its importance. The countrys decision to exit the oil producers club signaled its members that Qatar believed their influence would wane. That the leader of the club  an oil reliant Kingdom  would be angry is understandable, if a bit emotional.

In retrospect, Qatars decision to exit OPEC was the right one  economically, politicall y, and strategically. OPEC is now increasingly viewed as an alliance between Saudi Arabia and Russia, particularly after OPECs recent decision to cut oil production to raise the price of oil.

With Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine, the decision to cut the production of oil is widely interpreted, especially in Washington and Brussels, as an attempt to help Russia get the money it needs to finance its war of aggression against the Ukrainian people.

This makes the unholy alliance between Riyadh and Moscow a po isonous one, at least in the Wests eyes. And if this alliance is perceived as toxic, OPEC, as an extended part of the alliance, will also be perceived as destructive. So, politically speaking, it was a sensible decision to leave an organization which, given the context, is likely to be perceived as increasingly malignant the years ahead.

More importantly, Qatars strategic interest in LNG should help itstrengthen its ties with the US. A boycott of Russian oil is likely to increase the demand for LNG, especially in Europe but also in Asia and Africa, and the two countries should be able to find ample opportunity to work together to help the world switch from oil to LNG.

This brings us to Qatars third strategic bet: supporting Europe in its efforts to reduce  and, in the longer run, to halt altogether  its dependency on Russian gas.

Back in March, Qatars Energy Minister, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, declared that Qatar will stand in solidarity with Europe and will continue to deliver gas to EU member states even if other potential customers, particularly in Asia, are willing to pay more than the Europeans for Qatari gas.

This, like the decision to focus on LNG production and the decision to leave OPEC, was a strategic decision. Currently, just 20% of Qatari LNG goes to Europe, with 80% going to Asia. But Qatar is planning for its LNG exports to be evenly divided by 2028: 50% to Europe and 50% to Asia.

A geopolitical triangle is about to emerge: one between Qatar, the US, and Europe. Based on LNG and aimed at reducing the influence of Russian (and Saudi) oil and gas, this triangle deserves attention.

The post-oil world may come to rely on it.

Prof. Ivan Sascha Sheehan is the executive director of the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore. Opinions expressed are his own. Follow him on Twitter @ProfSheehan
Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new film The Pale Blue Eye.

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The streaming service shared a teaser trailer for the gothic mystery film Thursday featuring Christian Bale and Harry Melling.

The Pale Blue Eye is based on the Louis Bayard novel of the same name. The film is inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe and features a fictional version of the author.

The Pale Blue Eye follows Augustus Landor (Bale), a detective who teams up with a young Poe (Melling) to investigate a series of murders at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., in 1830.

"A world-weary detective is hired to discreetly investigate the gruesome murder of a cadet. Stymied by the cadets' code of silence, he enlists one of their own to help unravel the case -- a young man the world would come to know as Edgar Allan Poe," an official description reads.

The Pale Blue Eye is written and directed by Scott Cooper. The film premieres Jan. 6, 2023, on Netflix.
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Despite what the court said, the woman says she did not agree to drop charges against assailant.

The widow of a slain Cambodian opposition party activist said she received compensation for her husbands death, but had not agreed to withdraw charges against the assailant as court officials claimed she had.

Wen Kimyi, whose husband Po Hin Lean was shot on his way to go fishing early on the morning of Oct. 16 in the southeastern province of Tbong Khmum, told Radio Free Asia on Tuesday that she received $12,000 in compensation from a Cambodian court.

But when she received the compensation, court officials read a document stating that she had withdrawn her criminal complaint and agreed not to press charges against her husbands killer.

"They read me a letter saying that my husband resisted arrest, and so the police shot him, according to the police officer, said Wen Kimyi. I don't allow the police to release my husband's killers. I want to find out: who is my husband's killer?"

She said she accepted the compensation money to pay for her husbands funeral.

The court in Tbong Khmum province only said that a security guard named Vet was detained for the killing and charged with involuntary manslaughter. RFA was unable to confirm if he was released after the victim's wife accepted compensation.

A court spokesperson discussed the case with a local radio station in Cambodia and said that the matter is being handled by an investigative judge.

Po Hin Leans killing was part of a series of attacks targeting opposition activists across Cambodia, especially those linked to the relatively new Candlelight Party.

Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party has had a firm grip on Cambodias government since 1997. In the most recent communal elections, several opposition candidates and activists reported being harassed and targeted in the run-up to the vote.







Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Nawar Nemeh.
Trigger appears to be the opposition leaders comments about the king.

Supporters of the Candlelight Party take part in a rally on the last day of campaigning for the commune elections in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 3, 2022.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday threatened to dissolve the opposition Candlelight Party if it does not clarify its stand on alleged insulting comments about King Norodom Sihamoni by exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

Sam Rainsy, co-founder of the now banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, or CNRP, fled to France in 2015 to avoid arrest for various charges.

On Monday, he posted a comment on Facebook that in 2005, Hun Sen forced the king to support a treasonous act  a reference to signing a border treaty with Vietnam  otherwise he would abolish monarchy. Sam Rainsy also blamed Hun Sen for using the king to shield his dictatorship.

The king today has no national conscience, not even a little, Sam Rainsy said in the video. After Hun Sen, the king of Cambodia betrayed the nation, because we supplemented others, betrayed the nation completely, because we cut off Khmer territory to foreigners.

On Wedneday, Hun Sen responded by demanding the Candlelight Party make its stance on Sam Rainsy clear.

Is Sam Rainsy right or wrong? I want the Candlelight Party to clarify its stand on Sam Rainsys statement claiming the King has no conscience. The partys leaders need to clarify before our compatriots, Hun Sen told a crowd at a public gathering in Kampong Chhnang province.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades, also urged party activists to join his ruling party, saying the Candlelight Party is at risk of being dissolved.

In 2017, Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP, a move that allowed Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party to capture every seat in the National Assembly in 2018 general elections.

It isnt a small story, and [its] not a joke, Hun Sen said. The Candlelight Party members must immediately defect to avoid any problem [because Sam Rainsys supporters in the party] want to topple the government and monarchy.

On Tuesday, Cambodias Ministry of Justice alleged that Sam Rainsy had seriously insulted the king and ordered Phnom Penh Municipal Court to take immediate and strict legal action against him, though he has been sentenced to life in prison and permanently barred from engaging in politics.

Hun Sen recently tried to convince party activists to condemn Sam Rainsy for supposedly insulting the king, calling on party vice presidents Thach Setha and Son Chhay to issue a statement.

The prime minister also said he learned of a phone conversation between CNRP co-vice president Eng Chhai Eang and Candlelight Party officials about setting up the partys network in Ratanakiri province. The prime minister told the crowd that political parties cant work with convicts in accordance with the law.

With this, I want to tell you [the Candlelight Party] that you are facing any issue for yourself, so what you should do is to clarify your stand over Sam Rainsys comment. Is it right or wrong? I want an affirmation from you, said Hun Sen.

He went on to say that he has a problem with the Candlelight Party because the party was founded by Sam Rainsy.

Senior Candlelight Party officials said they have no connection to Sam Rainsy. Thach Setha, who also serves as the partys spokesman, said the Candlelight Party acted in accordance with the law and has a leadership structure that has nothing to do with Sam Rainsy.

He said the party would issue a statement on its stand, but would not condemn Sam Rainsy as a person.

"We work independently, we have full sovereignty of our party, we do not accept orders from anyone, Thach Setha said. We will make a statement but not name a specific person, and [condemn] all of those who insult the king. Those who abuse the constitution, we will also condemn. We fight to protect Cambodia and the throne.

Political analyst Em Sovannara said the countrys leaders should not compromise national interest with political conflict, and that Cambodia has no law prohibiting citizens or politicians from talking to convicts.

"Yes, if we talk about communication, it is not illegal, he said. Any person has the right to communicate, the accused, the convict or the prisoner. The politician has the right to communicate.

Translated by Samean Yun for RFA Khmer. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
A former professor at the Communist Party school hits out at the concentration of power in one person's hands.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials attend the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 22, 2022.

Amendments to the Chinese Communist Party charter have transformed the ruling party from an organization for political cooperation to a "gang" led by general secretary Xi Jinping, analysts told RFA.

The amendments, the final version of which was published on Wednesday, describe Xi Jinpings thought as "the essence of Chinese culture and the spirit of the times" and endorsing Xi's ideology and tasking the party's 90 million members with "safeguarding" his position as "core" leader.

Former Communist Party school professor Cai Xia said the amendments effectively turn the party into Xi's personal "gang," as its members are obliged to uphold his leadership.

"This concept of the 'two safeguards' actually reduces the party to a gang," Cai told RFA. "Why? Because political parties are about coming together and cooperating to achieve common political goals. The relationship between members is one of comradeship and equality," she said.

"But now that he has enshrined [these amendments] in the party constitution,... it's no longer a political party when you have 90 million people in the party all revolving around a single person," she said.

"The Communist Party has become a gang organization with him as its gang boss," said Cai, who now lives in the United States.

New Politburo Standing Committee members Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi arrive to meet the media following the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Oct. 23, 2022. Credit: Reuters

Xi began a third term in office on Sunday, packing the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee with his close political allies, in a consolidation of personal power not seen in Beijing since the personality cult surrounding Mao Zedong, political commentators told RFA.

The Central Committee reselected Xi as general secretary, breaking with decades of political precedent by granting him a third term after his predecessors were limited to two, prompting speculation that he may now stay in post indefinitely given the lack of an obvious successor.

Baked in

Political analyst Chen Daoyin said the constitutional changes bake in Xi Jinping's absolute leadership through the party machine.

"We hadn't yet seen [this insistence on] the absolute leadership of the party over the armed forces ... which is effectively putting the gun ... in Xi Jinping's hands," Chen said.

"They also emphasize that, in the organizational line of the 'new era, that the evaluation and appointment of party officials is also in his hands," he said. "It turns maintaining [Xi's leadership] into an obligation for every member of the party."

"This means absolute power for Xi Jinping ... because of that binding power on party members and officials, Chen said.

Ming Chu-cheng, honorary politics professor at National Taiwan University, said the "two safeguards" refers to "resolutely safeguarding general secretary Xi Jinping's position at the core of the party."

Xi's smooth transition to an unprecedented third term in office was marked by rare public protest, including against his zero-COVID policy, both at home and overseas.

On the eve of the congress, a lone protester dubbed Bridge Man unfurled a banner with anti-Xi slogans on a highway overpass before quickly getting carried off by police. Chinese authorities were quick to shut down social media accounts circulating images of the banner, but photos and videos of the incident got wide attention among Chinese living overseas.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Peng Lifa's banner protest calling on Xi Jinping to step down has been erased from Chinese social media platforms.

Wu Jingsheng, a dissident who was targeted for posting information online about the Bridge Man protest, was detained and then released in the early morning hours of the following day.

Authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang have detained a dissident who openly supported the Oct. 13 "Bridge Man" anti-Xi Jinping banner protest ahead of the 20th party congress in Beijing, the rights website Weiquanwang reported.

"Dissident Wu Jingsheng has been arrested by Qujiang district police in his hometown of Quzhou city," the website said.

"Wu Jingsheng was called in to drink tea after he retweeted information about the heroic Sitong Bridge protest by Peng Lifa in WeChat groups and on Facebook," the website said, using a phrase referring to a summons from China's feared state security police.

"He was sent home in the early hours of the next day and posted the following on Facebook," it said. "He hasn't updated his Facebook page since."

In the Oct. 16 post, Wu repeated the slogans painted on two banners by Peng Lifa, who was detained after hanging them from the Sitong traffic flyover in Beijing's Haidian district, days before the ruling Chinese Communist Party convened its five-yearly party congress.

"I am posting Peng Lifa's slogans here," Wu wrote, in a reference to the banners, which read "Remove the traitor-dictator Xi Jinping!"

Freedom, not lockdowns

Video and photos of Peng's banners were quickly posted to social media, only to be deleted. A post linked from the account called for strikes and class boycotts to remove Xi.

"Food, not PCR tests. Freedom, not lockdowns. Reforms, not the Cultural Revolution. Elections not leaders," read the second, adding: "Dignity, not lies. Citizens, not slaves."

Wu said he was interrogated over his forwarding of social media posts about the protests on WeChat by district police chief Yang Fan, while his phone was scanned by police for photos and contacts.

"They also wanted the name of the circumvention software I used [to access Facebook]," he wrote. Like other overseas social media platforms, Facebook is blocked by China's Great Firewall of internet censorship, and users in mainland China need circumvention tools to access it.

"They asked me why I reposted those things," Wu wrote. "I told them I greatly admired Peng Lifa's righteous deeds."

Wu, who has been described in unconfirmed social media posts as a former university lecturer who lost his job for his pro-democracy views and started driving a pedicab to make a living, said he had refused to hand over access to his Facebook account when Yang asked him, citing his right to privacy.

At risk of torture

Han Yutao, a Chinese student studying in the U.S. whose family was threatened by local police after he made a video supporting the "Bridge Man" protest, said Wu is likely now at risk of state-backed violence and trumped-up charges.

"Wu Jingsheng is now incommunicado, which means he could be at risk of torture and ill-treatment, as well as fabricated charges," Han told RFA.

He said he could understand why Wu took the risk of showing public interest in the "Bridge Man" incident.

"It's pretty unbearable for anyone with a conscience to live in today's China," Han told RFA, citing the mass incarceration of millions of Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in camps, the discovery of a woman held in chains in the eastern province of Jiangsu, and the privations suffered by many under Xi Jinping's zero-COVID policy.

Han Yutao, a Chinese student studying in the U.S. whose family was threatened by local police after he made a video supporting the "Bridge Man" protest, said Wu Jingsheng is likely at risk of state-backed violence and trumped-up charges.

"Peng Lifa's righteous deeds can be said to have encouraged a lot of people, Han said. His heroic act was true selflessness. He gave up the life he had to spark hope for a lot of Chinese people."

Han said the treatment meted out to Wu was unlikely to be more lenient than the authorities' treatment of Peng.

"He could be facing the same kind of [situation] as Peng Lifa," Han said. "Wu ... could be tortured and subjected to various kinds of psychological pressure, and his family won't escape political scrutiny."

Police in Beijing contacted Han's family after he expressed support online for Peng, contacting his brother and parents and putting pressure on them to persuade him not to be a "traitor," and to distance themselves from him.

"My family ... will now definitely never pass a political evaluation, and won't be able to hold any government job in China," Han said.

"This could also have a huge impact on their daily lives, if [COVID-19 tracking] codes get linked to social credit in future," he said, in a reference to the use of the Health Code COVID-19 app to hinder the movements of protesters and government critics when the authorities wish to silence them.

Xing Jian, a dissident from the central province of Henan now based in New Zealand, said Wu did nothing wrong by reposting the "Bridge Man" content.

"Wu Jingsheng's support of the Sitong Bridge protester Peng Lifa in online communities is protected by law," Xing told RFA. "The arrest of Wu Jingsheng is all about currying favor now that Xi Jinping was given a new term in office by the 20th party congress."

"Mainland China has entered an era of imperial rule, and the power of the ruler trumps everything else," he said.

Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie
U.K., Spain and Netherlands are among countries investigating claims stations are used to force Chinese to go home.

Human Rights group Safeguard Defenders alleged that Chinese police run 54 service stations in 30 countries across five continents .

Portugal became the latest nation to open a probe into allegations that China has been running illegal police stations in the country just as Ireland ordered Beijing to shut down its "overseas Chinese police service center" in Dublin.

Portuguese police launched an investigation into China's alleged overseas police "service stations", the Attorney Generals Office confirmed to the Expresso newspaper on Thursday.

The authorities are paying special attention to the Chinese Embassy in Lisbon after Portuguese lawmakers raised concerns about a report by Human rights group Safeguard Defenders in September that Chinese authorities operate 54 police stations overseas, including three in Portugal.

A growing number of governments including Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands are investigating reports about Chinese police offices overseas that are accused of coercing emigrants to return home to China to face criminal charges or silencing dissent abroad.

Until now, no cases of immigrants living in Portugal having been forced to travel to China are yet known, the Expresso quoted a police source as saying.

Human Rights group Safeguard Defenders alleged that Chinese police run 54 service stations in 30 countries across five continents CREDIT: Safeguard Defenders



Also on Thursday, Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs ordered the so- called Fuzhou Police Service Overseas Station in Dublin city center to close, Irish media reported.

The office opened earlier this year and the Chinese authorities said it offered services to Chinese citizens in Ireland such as driving license renewals.

Yet Irelands Foreign Ministry said Chinese officials have never sought permission to set up the station in Dublin.

"The Department noted that actions of all foreign states on Irish territory must be in compliance with international law and domestic law requirements," the Irish Times quoted a foreign ministry spokesman as saying.

"On this basis, the Department informed the Embassy that the office on Capel Street should close and cease operations.

The Chinese Embassy confirmed that the office has now ceased operations, the foreign ministry said.



China denies reports

The Irish statement came after the Dutch government said it would probe service centers in the Netherlands in response to two reports run by broadcaster RTL Nieuws earlier this week.

"Appropriate action will be taken. We take this very seriously," a Dutch foreign ministry spokesperson told the station.

In an investigation that appeared to confirm earlier allegations by Safeguard Defenders, the RTL reports quoted Dutch lawmakers as calling for the immediate closure of the offices.

Free People's Party MP Ruben Brekelmans said the offices were "another example of the Chinese government's infiltration of the Netherlands."

The Chinese repression model must not be allowed to infiltrate the Netherlands," Brekelmans said via his Twitter account.

In Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Brenda Lucki described the Chinese overseas service centers in January as 'a growing problem, with a probe already under way.

In the U.K., the China Research Group of Conservative MPs called for concerning reports about Chinese police stations to be investigated. Safeguard Defenders alleged there are three such stations in the U.K. including two in London and one in Glasgow.

Safeguard Defenders reported in September that China is carrying out "illegal, transnational policing operations" across five continents, targeting overseas critics of the Chinese Communist Party for harassment, threats against their families back home and "persuasion" techniques to get them to go back to China.

The Chinese foreign ministry denied Chinese police are operating out of offices in Europe.

Spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday that Chinese public security authorities strictly observe international law and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries.

"The allegation is simply untrue," another spokesman, Wang Wenbin, said on Wednesday.

He added that the purpose of the service centers is to help overseas Chinese nationals, who have not been able to return home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, to have their driving licenses renewed and receive physical examinations.

Canadian journalist Jonathan Manthorpe, said there are at least three service centers in Toronto, describing China's claims about them as "absolute nonsense," and adding that they enable Chinese law enforcement agencies to operate overseas.
Home Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said his country would take action against foreigners who violate Malaysias laws.

Malaysian authorities use a police truck to transport immigrants believed to be in the country illegally from a wholesale market in Selayang, Selangor state, May 11, 2020.

United Nations organizations and other groups should stop meddling in Malaysias internal affairs, the countrys home minister said Thursday when asked about these agencies criticizing the deportations of Myanmar nationals, including asylum seekers.

Kuala Lumpur would take action against any foreigner who violates Malaysian laws, no matter where they were from, Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin said.

So, the UNHCR, United Nations or anyone at all, if the people we detain entered the country legally but then violate our laws, we will then send them back. No need for outsiders to interfere, he told reporters in Kelantan state on Thursday.

Hamzah made the remarks about a week after news broke that Malaysia had deported 150 Myanmar nationals, including defectors from the Burmese military.

The Reuters news agency had reported that the expelled people included six former Myanmar naval officers, who were arrested in September and sent back to Myanmar on Oct. 6. It said at least four of the officers had sought U.N. refugee status in Malaysia and that one officer and his wife were detained upon arrival in Yangon.

They were among more than 2,000 Myanmar nationals deported since April, Human Rights Watch stated in a statement earlier this week.

In defending the governments action, Hamzah said the deportations were based on international law, adding that Malaysia would not deport any foreigner if their life would be put in jeopardy.

We will not deport people if they will disappear in their own country or if it would oppress them. We do it based on the international law. So, everyone, every Malaysian must understand this, he said.

Hamzah was the only Malaysian government official to respond to the U.N. statements.

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, who for months was seen in ASEAN circles as the most outspoken critic of the military regime in post-coup Myanmar and the biggest ally of the National Unity Government, has kept silent on the issue of the deportations.

Saifuddin was the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign minister to contact Myanmars shadow government, publicly meet with its foreign minister and push for the regional bloc to actively engage with it.

Saifuddin did not attend an emergency meeting of top ASEAN diplomats in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss how to end the Myanmar political crisis and contain widespread violence there.

183,000 refugees

As of September, more than 183,000 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Malaysia, according to UNHCR data. Of the total, 157,900 were from Myanmar  105,870 Rohingya followed by 23,190 Chins and 28,840 from other ethnic groups. The other refugees were from 50 countries where they were escaping prosecutions and wars.

Malaysia is not a signatory of the U.N. 1951 Refugee Convention, but the Muslim-majority Southeast Asian country has become the favorite location for people from Myanmar seeking refuge, especially members of its stateless Rohingya Muslim minority.

On Tuesday, UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said her agency was concerned about Malaysias continued deportation of Myanmar asylum-seekers, placing lives at risk.

We have received multiple disturbing reports of these forced returns of Myanmar nationals from Malaysia since April this year, including those 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.

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, she told reporters at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

UNHCR appeals to the Malaysian authorities to adhere to their international legal commitments and ensure full respect for the rights of people in need of international protection, she said.

Moratorium

On Wednesday, U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Turk called for a moratorium on the forced return of Myanmar nationals, adding that with the rising levels of violence and instability and the collapse of its economy and social protection systems, it was not the time to send anyone back to Myanmar.

This is especially the case for anyone with specific protection concerns, such as political activists or military defectors, who are at grave risk upon return, he said in the statement.

Under international law, the principle of non-refoulment says that people cant be sent back to a country where they are likely to be persecuted, tortured, mistreated or have their human rights violated in other ways.

It is essential that in light of the prevailing situation in Myanmar, now more than ever, that states do not return people to suffering and danger, and provide them with a secure legal status while their country remains in crisis, Turk said.

Meanwhile, Migrant Care country representative Alex Ong joined other human rights groups and the U.N. in calling for Malaysia to stop deportations of Myanmar nationals.

It is not about intervention of Malaysia home affairs, but a joint collaboration to save lives from returning to face the life-threatening oppression, Ong told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news service. Group appeal is to prevent the mass massacres of innocent refugees. It is a purely humanitarian appeal.

Pushing refugees back to the unsafe situation is like sending them back to be slaughtered, Ong said.

Since its coup on Feb. 1, 2021, the Myanmar junta has been carrying out a widespread campaign of torture, arbitrary arrests and attacks that target civilians, the U.N. and rights groups have said.

Since the coup nearly 2,400 people have been killed and nearly 16,000 have been arrested in Myanmar, according to Thailands Assistance Association for Political Prisoners .

BenarNews is an RFA affiliated news service.
In this Sept. 19, 2012 file photo, Kachin Independence Army soldiers pray before taking their positions at a frontline camp in Loije township, outside Laiza, northern Kachin state, Myanmar. KIA said Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2002 that dozens of its personnel were among those killed along with 17 civilians, in what is believed to be the bloodiest single airstrike in Myanmar since last years military coup.

An ethnic rebel group said Wednesday that dozens of its personnel were among those killed along with 17 civilians, in what is believed to be the bloodiest single airstrike in Myanmar since last years military coup.

The revelation comes as top diplomats from Southeast Asia prepare for emergency talks on Myanmar after more than a year of diplomacy has failed to end the countrys political crisis and halt widespread violence.

Col. Naw Bu of the ethnic Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) told RFA Burmese that on Tuesday evening, a KIO staffer succumbed to injuries he sustained in the Oct. 23 attack on Kachin states Hpakant township, bringing the death toll from the incident to 63. Of the dead, 46 were KIO officers, including the commander of the 9th Brigade of the Kachin Independence Army, the groups military wing.

According to the list sent to me yesterday, there were 62 bodies and 62 injured, he said of the tally prior to the additional death on Tuesday evening. The death toll may continue to rise.

Of the remaining 61 injured, 33 are KIO officers and 28 are civilians, Naw Bu said, adding that rescuers continue to search for people missing after the attack and are working to identify those on the list of casualties.

Sundays carnage was the result of military jets dropping munitions on a concert celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the KIOs founding.

Among the 63 dead were two KIA officers, members of the Kachin business community, religious leaders, prominent Kachin vocalist vocalist Aurali Lahpai, keyboard player Ko King, and a Myanmar-born Chinese national named Kyar Kyo, residents said.

Injured seek to circumvent military roadblocks

As rescue efforts continued on Wednesday, residents told RFA that the military had yet to remove roadblocks set up in the aftermath of the attack. They said no traffic was allowed to come in or out of the area from Hpakant, around 15 miles away, leaving them short of the medical supplies they need to care for the injured.

There are too many injured patients and too few nurses here, said one resident assisting the wounded, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Some have died because they didnt get the treatment they needed  The medication we already have is barely sufficient either.

Meanwhile, family members have been unable to claim the bodies of their loved ones because junta authorities are refusing to allow vehicles through checkpoints to carry them home, sources said.

A resident of Hpakant told RFA that some of those in need of medical treatment are taking huge risks to leave via footpaths in the jungle.

Some people walked very risky and dangerous paths through jungles and over several mountains to return home  I think three or four of them. They carried some seriously injured people with them, but they couldn't bring all of them, said one resident, speaking on condition of anonymity.

There arent enough people to carry them out through the mountains. Some are still in the jungle getting what little medical help they can. They have no access to clinics or hospitals.

Win Ye Tun, the juntas spokesman for Kachin state, told RFA he had no way to organize assistance for the injured amid ongoing tensions between the military and the KIA.

When the situation is safer here in the Hpakant area, we are going to start helping, he said.

The junta has said it was justified in its airstrike on the KIO gathering as a response to attacks on military bases and boats by the KIA and anti-junta Peoples Defense Force paramilitary groups, which it calls terrorist organizations. It maintains that the only casualties in the attack are members of the KIA and PDF.

The U.N. and foreign embassies have condemned the attack for causing mass civilian casualties in statements the junta foreign ministry dismissed on Tuesday as fabricated claims meant to interfere in Myanmars internal affairs.

Special envoy

The latest reports from the military attack in Kachin state came as the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar told the U.N. General Assemblys human rights committee in New York that the political crisis in the nation is taking a catastrophic toll on the people.

Speaking to the assembly on Tuesday evening, Noeleen Heyzer said that more than 13.2 million of the countrys 54.4 million people lack enough food to eat, while 1.3 million are displaced by fighting and raids by a military using disproportionate force, including arson and the killing of civilians.

The address marked Heyzers first at the U.N. in New York since visiting Myanmar in August and meeting with junta chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who she said she had urged to end aerial bombing and the burning of civilian infrastructure, as well as non-discriminatory distribution of aid.

Heyzer said that she has been working with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Myanmar is a member, to restore stability in the country, despite the juntas failure to uphold its end of the blocs Five-Point Consensus, agreed to in April 2021.

The plan calls for an immediate end to violence, a dialogue among all concerned parties, mediation of the dialogue process by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid through ASEAN channels and a visit to Myanmar by the blocs special envoy to meet all concerned parties.

ASEAN foreign ministers are planning to hold an emergency meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday to discuss the status of the agreement ahead of the blocs annual summit on Nov. 10 in Cambodias capital Phnom Penh. ASEAN has not extended an invitation to junta Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin to attend Thursdays meeting.

Kyaw Zaw, the spokesman for the office of the president of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, said that the meeting will likely discuss actions that can be taken against the junta to ensure that it implements the Five-Point Consensus, because there is no positive outcome, no progress.

He also urged ASEAN to extend negotiations to the National Unity Government and all opposition parties in Myanmar, instead of exclusively with the junta.

More than 450 civil society groups sent open letters to ASEAN leaders on Tuesday, calling for bolder and more effective action on Myanmars crisis than the Five-Point Consensus.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Protests over COVID-19 restrictions in the Tibetan capital Lhasa spread to at least four different areas of the city Thursday, prompting scuffles with authorities in some cases, sources told Radio Free Asia, as ethnic Chinese migrant workers demanded permits to return home from the region.

RFA was able to confirm that many of the protesters were ethnic majority Han Chinese migrant workers who likely obtained permission to reside in Lhasa for jobs that pay daily wages.

Sources in the city, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said that the migrant workers have been demanding that local authorities issue them permits to return to their homes in eastern China because they have been unable to earn a living during the nearly three months of lockdown in the city.

In footage from one video obtained late on Wednesday, a man claiming to be a police officer pleads with protesters in Mandarin Chinese to return to their homes, and tells them their concerns have been relayed to senior officials.

Please return to your homes. Why? If you [dont] go back and block up this area, what might happen? Youll infect each other, the apparent officer says. Weve already reported to the higher ups, okay? Please go home.

We understand your pain. Were going to make a report soon, he goes on to say. Please everybody understand, we will report to the relevant authorities.

On Wednesday, RFA Tibetan reported that scores of people had taken to the streets in what appeared to be Chengguan districts Chakrong area, in eastern Lhasa, as well as the Payi area of the city, based on video obtained by sources in the region.

By Thursday, protests had spread to include the districts of Lhalu and Kuang Ye, sources told RFA, with newly obtained video footage showing crowds growing more restless. In one such video, protesters appear to engage in a yelling and shoving match with authorities, while in another, a group of people appear to push a large iron gate off of its hinges.

Sangay Kyab, a Tibet expert based in Spain, told RFA that Chinese authorities likely did not resort to violence to crack down on the protests in Lhasa because they were related to COVID-19 restrictions, and because Beijing doesnt want the situation to escalate.

Sakar Tashi, a Belgium-based China and Tibet watcher, took it a step further, suggesting that authorities wouldnt have responded as peacefully to a protest held exclusively by Tibetans.

Han people in Lhasa protested against the epidemic control policy. Tibetans are also involved, he wrote in a post to Twitter. Most who led & participated were Han  if it were Tibetans, it would have been bloodily suppressed long ago.

RFA was able to contact an officer with the Lhasa Public Security Bureau who insisted that no protest had taken place over the past two days. There was no gathering, assembly or protest, he said. Everything is in an orderly manner. We did not arrest anyone.

When asked how many people were able to obtain permits to leave the region, the officer replied that anyone who meets conditions can receive permits and leave Tibet freely.

When pressed further about the status of the protests, the officer said that everyone is fine, everyone went home.

Other sources inside the city appeared more wary about discussing the incidents, including some who had provided RFA with updates on Wednesday.

However, accounts provided to RFA by some Lhasa residents on Thursday appeared to confirm the officers explanation of events. Residents said that protesters dispersed after authorities agreed to process applications for Chinese migrant workers to return to their homes outside of the region.

RFA was unable to independently verify whether such an arrangement had been made.

COVID-19 restrictions

Reports of the protests in Lhasa  believed to be the largest in the city in more than a dozen years  came days after the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region issued an Oct. 24 statement announcing that a harsh COVID-19 lockdown in Lhasa would be loosened.

The lockdown in Lhasa began in early August as COVID-19 numbers there and throughout China continued to climb.

Lhasa residents have said on social media that the lockdown order came without enough time to prepare, leaving some short on food, and making it difficult for those infected with the virus to find adequate treatment.

Despite Mondays announcement by authorities, residents of Lhasa told RFA on Thursday that the lockdown remains in effect and claimed even more stringent measures were being implemented.

One video obtained by RFA appears to be taken inside a bus full of people who the narrator says are Tibetans being rounded up and taken to an undisclosed location.

Look, they are taking all these people who arent even sick, a mans voice says, urging viewers to please share this on Douyin, referring to a popular video-hosting website in China.

Chinese state media had reported more than 18,000 cases of COVID-19 infection as of early October, with at least 60,507 people now held in quarantine in conditions described as harsh by sources inside the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In a Sept. 26 statement, the Central Tibetan Administration  the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan government-in-exile  said Chinese authorities are holding Tibetans in quarantine camps without adequate food, water or medical care. Camp managers have routinely placed infected persons with others still uninfected, resulting in a further spread of the virus, it said.

Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force more than 70 years ago, following which the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of fomenting separatism in Tibet.

Translated by Kalden Lodoe, Rita Cheng and Chase Bodiford. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Residents take to Lhasa streets in largest demonstrations in nearly 15 years.

In this combo of image grabs from citizen videos taken Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022, residents protest in a street in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, China. A rare protest broke out in at least two locations in Lhasa, angry over a harsh COVID-19 lockdown in the city, sources in Tibet told RFA Tibetan Service.

UPDATED at 12:13 p.m. EDT on 11/01/2022

Angry residents in the Tibetan regional capital of Lhasa took to the streets on Wednesday to protest the harsh COVID-19 lockdown that Chinese authorities have imposed on them for more than two months, Radio Free Asia has learned.

They were the first major protests in the city since the 2008 Tibetan Uprising, a series of demonstrations against the Chinese governments treatment of the ethnic minority group. Chinese police and military forces crushed that uprising, killing dozens.

Videos obtained by RFA show scores of protesters on the streets. A daytime video shows people mostly standing or milling about, with officials in white protective suits standing nearby. In two nighttime videos, crowds and cars block a large street and the crowd surges forward while raising their voices.

Protesters can be heard speaking both in Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese in the videos, but it's hard to decipher what they were saying.

Sources informed RFAs Tibetan Service that the protesters warned Chinese officials that they would "set off a fire" if they refused to lift Covid lockdown restrictions, enacted under Beijings Zero-Covid Policy.

The protesters did not specify what they meant exactly, but they might have alluded to self-immolations, more than 150 of which have happened since 2009.

Based on street signs and restaurant names that RFA located on maps, the protesters appeared to be on the street in the Chakrong area, in Lhasas Chengguan district in the eastern part of the city, as well as in the Payi area of the city.

One source also told RFA that Tibetans in Lhasa fear that scuffles between civilians and Chinese police could turn violent.

The lockdown in Lhasa began in early August as COVID numbers there and throughout China continued to climb.

Lhasa residents have said on social media that the lockdown order came without enough time to prepare, leaving some residents short on food, and making it difficult for those infected with the virus to find adequate treatment.

RFA reported late last month that a source inside Tibet confirmed reports on social media that Tibetans in Lhasa were jumping from buildings.

Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force more than 70 years ago, and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers later fled into exile in India and other countries around the world following a failed 1959 national uprising against Chinas rule.

Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment and extrajudicial killings.

Tibetans are not alone in suffering particularly harsh Chinese zero-COVID lockdowns and other restrictions.

RFA reported last month that at least 22 people died of starvation or lack of medical attention due to Chinas COVID lockdown policies in the northern Xinjiang city of Ghulja.

Videos posted by desperate Uyghurs on Chinese social media platformsand quickly deleted by government censorsshow local people under strict zero-COVID lockdowns struggling to access food and medical care, with some saying family members had starved to death.

Translated by Tashi Wangchuk. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

Correction: An earlier version of this story suggested that the majority of participants in protests were Tibetan.
The new round of the Strike Hard campaign targeted young Uyghurs and others.

Police patrol the Kashgar Old Town in the center of Kashgar city in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, May 4, 2021.

China detained hundreds of Uyghurs in its northwestern Xinjiang region during a new round of its Strike Hard campaign in the month leading up to last weeks Chinese Communist Party congress to ensure that the predominantly Muslim ethnic group would not stir up trouble, a Uyghur source and regional authorities said.

Chinese authorities announced the "Strike Hard" crackdown on "violent terrorist activities" in May 2014 after officials blamed suicide bombers for an attack in the regional capital Urumqi (in Chinese, Wulumuqi) that left 31 people dead. Many Uyghurs believe that China intentionally orchestrated the tragedy to launch the widespread crackdown on them as a people.



The detentions began in July, months ahead of the congress, which ended on Sunday. During the congress, Xi Jinping was granted an unprecedented third term of office and designated a leader on par with late Chairman Mao Zedong.

In early October, authorities implemented a travel ban in Xinjiang to prevent residents from leaving the region unless absolutely necessary. The ban came on the heels of strict residential lockdowns from August to September that prevented Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities from leaving their homes. Some reportedly died of malnourishment or untreated illnesses.

During the most recent crackdown, authorities rounded up Uyghurs who had recently turned 18, those released from internment camps in recent years and those who managed to elude monitoring in recent years, said a source with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

Police frequently sounded sirens in towns and cities to intimidate Uyghur residents during the congress, he said.

An officer at the Xinha police station in Aksu (Akesu) prefecture told RFA that authorities were safeguarding stability and preventing three things from happening  large, medium and small incidents.

When RFA called the home of Elijan Obulhesen, the SWAT team leader of the Hotan (Hetian) City Police Department, his mother answered the phone and said that Obulhesen had been busy detaining people during the current crackdown.

He has been [busy] since the Strike Hard campaign started, she said. He works and sleeps in his office.  He said hed be really busy because of the party congress and asked me not to be upset if he couldnt visit me during this time.

When asked if Obulhesen told her how many people had been detained so far, the woman estimated the number to be between 1,000 and 2,000 people.

An officer in Ghulja (Yining) told RFA that police had detained 125 people during the recent crackdown because they were members of the dangerous generation, a reference to Uyghurs who eluded arrest in 2017, when authorities arbitrarily started detaining adult Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in a vast network of re-education camps and in prisons, despite no evidence they had committed crimes.

The Chinese Communist Party branch secretary of lower Panjim village in Ghulja said the most recent detentions there took place in late September and early October and were part of a crackdown before the party congress.

They were mainly youth born after 2000 from the dangerous generation, he said, adding that the names of those detained were based on a list issued by regional and prefectural officials.

Young Uyghurs are easily influenced by harmful influence and are easily misled, so we are explaining that they need education for a while, the branch secretary said. In addition, some had made mistakes by contacting individuals on the watch list.

Translated by Mamatjan Juma and Alim Seytoff for RFA Uyghur. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
The wife of Vietnamese prisoner of conscience Bui Van Thuan has filed a petition for help after a series of strangers visited her house, sometimes swearing and asking how she paid for her childrens meals.

Trinh Thi Nhung said the most recent incident was on Oct. 20, when a tall, young man wearing a mask drove to her house and asked to buy honey but ended up insulting her.

When the houses owner asked the man to leave, he turned to Nhung and asked her how she paid for her childrens upbringing. He also claimed someone was giving her money while her husband was in prison. Finally, he told her to move out of her mothers house and go to her husbands hometown to live.

After the incident, Nhung filed a petition with authorities in Mai Lam ward, Nghi Son town, Thanh Hoa province but they said there was no basis to handle it.

Nhung was previously visited by a tattooed young man. She said he tried to break into the house when only she and her son were inside. She noticed that in the recent visit the car had the same registration plate as the one driven by the tattooed man.

Nhung filed two complaints to Mai Lam ward police to report being harassed, providing a video clip showing the second man with a clear shot of the car license plate.

On Monday, Oct. 24, I filed a complaint with the commune police. The commune police chief saw the clip and said that because the man had not broken into my house, there was no basis to track him down, she said.

The person in charge of local security in Mai Lam ward told Nhung if the man came back, she could defend herself or call the ward police.

RFA has not been able to contact Mai Lam ward police to verify the information that Nhung provided.

Nhung's husband, Bui Van Thuan, 41, was arrested at the end of August last year on charges of "making, storing, distributing or propagating information, documents and items aimed at opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

The former chemistry teacher is known for his series of Facebook posts, in which he wrote about the internal fighting of state officials in many Vietnam localities, which he dubbed the "dog fighting ring."

State media cited documents from the Investigative Security Agency that said Bui Van Thuan was "frequently using social networks to post articles and images with content that infringes on national security."

More than 12 months of interrogation ended last month. Thanh Hoa province police announced the end of the investigation into Thuan, and transferred the file to the Procuracy to propose prosecution.

Nhung said the family had signed a contract with two lawyers Dang Dinh Manh and Nguyen Ha Luan to defend her husband in the upcoming trial.

Lawyer Dang Dinh Manh met Thuan in prison last week to prepare his defense, Nhung said.

During the time Thuan was detained, Thanh Hoa police repeatedly threatened to arrest his wife because she often announced details of her husband's case on social networks, and wrote a letter of complaint to demand her husbands rights were observed.

In March and July of this year, Nhung was summoned for interrogation by the Security Investigation Agency of Thanh Hoa province's police, asking her to limit the number of articles about her husband that she posted on Facebook.

The police asked Nhung to confirm her husband's Facebook account and also her social network accounts. When she refused, the police threatened to arrest her for "failing to cooperate with the investigation agency."
ASTANA -- European Council President Charles Michel has called for closer cooperation between EU and Central Asia during a visit to the region seen as part of Moscow's sphere of influence.

In his first official visit to Kazakhstan, Michel said after talks with President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev on October 27 that the largest and wealthiest Central Asian nation was "a crucial partner" of the European Union and "an important player on the international stage and in the region."

"Central Asia and Europe are coming closer together and becoming more and more connected," Michel said, adding he is looking forward to the EU-Central Asian Substantial Connectivity conference scheduled to be held in neighboring Uzbekistan next month.

He also said the EU "underlines the importance of a full, fair, and transparent investigation" into unprecedented antigovernment protests -- sparked by a fuel price hike that morphed into anger over corruption and nepotism -- in January that left at least 238 people dead.

"The EU supports the efforts aimed to bolster democracy, the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms as essential elements of cooperation," Michel said.

Russia's influence in the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan has been showing signs of weakening amid Moscow's unprovoked war with Ukraine.

Now in its ninth month, the conflict has made some in the region jittery over seeing another ex-Soviet state invaded by Moscow.

Michel noted the tensions, stressing his visit "takes place at a difficult time for Europe and the wider region."

"Russia continues to grossly violate international law and the UN Charter, and the EU stands firmly in support of the principles of territorial integrity. We have strongly condemned Russia's war of aggression, and we are committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes," Michel stated.

As Michel spoke about democratic freedoms, a police officer entered RFE/RL's office in Astana on October 27 and demanded the deletion of a video taken by an RFE/RL cameraman of a convoy of vehicles leaving the president's office during a visit by European Council President Charles Michel.

When RFE/RL journalists at the office refused to delete the video, saying they are accredited reporters and have the right to film events in the country, the officer spoke by phone with his supervisors and warned as he was leaving that a group of officers would return. No further police showed up.

Qasym Amanzhol, RFE/RL's Astana bureau chief, said the police visit appeared to be an attempt to "psychologically pressure" his team of journalists.

While in Astana, Michel met with leaders of other Central Asian nations -- Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, who all gathered in the Kazakh capital.

Michel called the first EU-Central Asia summit in Astana "much more than just a policy dialogue between two regions."

Earlier this month, Astana hosted several summits attended by the region's former dominion -- Russia, as well as leaders of China, and Turkey, who have been seeking to strengthen their influence in Central Asia.
Doctors for former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili have recommended against transporting him to the Tbilisi City Court building from a clinic where he has been treated since May despite his desire to take part in a hearing in a case against him.

Saakashvili had expressed his desire to be transferred to the court to attend the hearing on a charge of illegal border crossing filed last year, and it had been expected that he would speak at the trial.

But his attending physician said it would be inappropriate, based on the fact that he could not take responsibility for the possible deterioration of Saakashvili's health during the transfer.

Judge Nino Chakhnashvili decided on another postponement of the trial after receiving the doctors' recommendation.

Court hearings have been repeatedly canceled or postponed because the 54-year-old Saakashvili, who held two separate hunger strikes earlier this year, has been unable to appear in court for health reasons.

Saakashvili, who served as Georgia's president from 2004 until 2013, is the founder of the main opposition United National Movement (ENM) party.

The ENM believes that the authorities are trying to conceal the state of Saakashvili's health. Representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party disagree, saying that Saakashvili's public appearance would only be a publicity stunt.

Saakashvili, who cannot move independently, had decided that he would arrive at the trial in a special wheelchair, according to one of his lawyers, Shavla Khachapuridze, who added that his condition was "serious" and that his defense team had been told by phone from abroad that arsenic was found in his blood.

Nika Melia, chairman of the ENM, said that had Saakashvili appeared in court it would have confirmed the conclusions of several foreign experts who have spoken about the deterioration of his health and would have confirmed the comments of people who have visited him that his condition has deteriorated sharply since his transfer from prison to the Vivamed clinic.

The authorities do not want this to be disclosed to the public because it would conflict with "propaganda" circulating in the media that Saakashvili and his defenders have exaggerated his condition, Melia said.

Saakashvili was convicted in January 2018 in absentia of abuse of office and sentenced to three years in prison. Later that year he was again convicted in absentia of abuse of office and sentenced to six years in prison.

He was arrested on October 1, 2021, after he returned to the country to rally the opposition ahead of local elections.

Saakashvili and his supporters say all his prosecutions were politically motivated.

Georgia has been plagued by political paralysis and escalating tensions between Georgian Dream and the opposition since parliamentary elections in 2020.

The crisis has been exacerbated by the arrest of Saakashvili, who doctors say suffers from severe post-traumatic stress and anorexia that most likely developed after his hunger strikes. They said in May that he needed urgent and complex neuro-psychological and physical treatment.

Even before Saakashvili was transferred to the Vivamed clinic his relatives, friends, and colleagues demanded the authorities allow him to travel abroad to receive medical treatment.
The coaches of the U.S. and Iranian soccer teams have said that they do not want to get caught up in a game of political football when their sides clash for a chance to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup.

"I envision the game being hotly contested for the fact that both teams want to advance to the next round -- not because of politics or because of relations between our countries," U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter said ahead of the November 29 showdown at Al-Thumama Stadium in Qatar.

"Our preparation starts with a good rest, refresh the minds, and put all the complementary and garbage things outside of our minds," said Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese head coach of Iran's national team.

But as the two coaches attempt to keep the focus on the playing field with either team assured of advancing to the next round with an outright victory, a political fever pitch looms over the game pitting two countries that severed relations more than 40 years ago and are open rivals on the world stage.

The World Cup has been a showcase of discord in Iran since the tournament kicked off on November 20, with Tehran's deadly crackdown on ongoing anti-government demonstrations leading to fresh U.S. sanctions against Iranian officials and dividing the country's fan base.

The Iranian team has faced immense pressure from the authorities and protesters alike to take sides amid the demonstrations, which are seen as one of the greatest threats to Iran's clerical establishment since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

The nationwide demonstrations erupted following the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman who died shortly after she was arrested for allegedly violating the state-mandated requirement that women wear the hijab, or head scarf.

According to rights watchdogs, at least 450 people have been killed and more than 15,000 detained in the government crackdown.

Some fans have honored Amini's memory by wearing "Mahsa Amini-22" shirts in a nod to her age when she died.

In an apparent sign of solidarity with demonstrators, members of the Iranian team did not sing the country's national anthem ahead of their first game, a 6-2 loss to England that was blamed partly on outside distractions. But the players did join in singing what anti-government demonstrators have called the "blood anthem" ahead of the second game, a 2-0 win against Wales on November 25.

While that result was cause for mass celebration, RFE/RL's Radio Farda reported from Qatar that a group of pro-government fans who waved the flag of the Islamic republic harassed and intimidated a group of Iranian supporters who aired their grievances against the clerical regime.

Following the Wales match, a former coach of the U.S. team, Jurgen Klinsmann, came under fire for his postgame comments. Speaking as a pundit on the BBC, Klinsmann said the Iranian team "worked the referee." "They work the linesman and fourth official, they are constantly in their ear," he said. "There were a lot of incidents we didn't see. This is their culture, they take you off your game."

Queiroz -- who coached Iran during two stints from 2011 to 2019 and was once hired by U.S. Soccer to develop a road map for the United States to win a World Cup by 2010 -- responded with a torrent of tweets defending Iranian culture and his team. He said Klinsmann's comments were a "disgrace to football."

Just days before the decisive group match, the U.S. Soccer Federation triggered a row when it temporarily displayed Iran's green, white, and red flag without the emblem of the Islamic republic in a social-media post.

The Iranian government responded angrily, with Iran's hard-line Tasnim news agency calling for the U.S. team to be kicked out of the World Cup and suspended for 10 games.

The post was eventually removed, with U.S. Soccer explaining that the intention had been to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights" by displaying the Iranian tricolor without the emblem for 24 hours.

Back in Iran, former members of the Iranian national soccer team have apparently been punished for supporting the ongoing demonstrations.

Voria Ghafouri, who has been an outspoken critic of the Iranian establishment and was surprisingly left out of this year's World Cup squad, was reportedly arrested on November 24, just days after expressing sympathy for Amini's family and calling for an end to the violent crackdown on protesters in his and Amini's native western Kurdistan region.

Iranian state media reported that the 35-year-old Ghafouri had been arrested for "insulting the national soccer team and propagandizing against the government."

Ghafouri earlier this month tweeted that "it is better to die standing than to live kneeling." In June, he was accused by an Iranian official of being a Kurdish separatist after the player tweeted the word "Kurdistan" twice.

Iranian media reported that Ghafouri has been released on bail. But rights groups said he had been transferred from western Iran to a prison in the capital, Tehran.

Pressure has also been placed on an Iranian soccer legend, Ali Daei, who said he chose not to travel to Qatar due to the government's crackdown and said on social media on November 28 he had received "numerous threats against myself and my family in recent months and days."

The Black Reward hacktivist group, which has targeted Iranian government institutions and infrastructure, added to fears that Tehran was targeting fans by leaking recordings this week purporting to reveal an Iranian pro-government militia commander saying that Qatar had provided a list of Iranians who had purchased tickets to the World Cup, allowing the Iranian authorities to identify 500 individuals known for anti-government activities.

While Iran could progress with a draw on November 29, it cannot afford to lose if it wants to advance to the last 16. The United States has no option but to win.

The U.S. players have said they were unaware that U.S. Soccer had planned to publish its controversial flag post, while also publicly declaring their support for women's rights.

The day before the big match, U.S. coach Berhalter was apologetic for the flag post but also insistent that he was not focusing on the controversies leading up to it.

"Of course, our thoughts are with the Iranian people, the whole country, the whole team, everyone, but our focus is on this match," he said on November 28.
ASTANA -- The Kazakh parliament's upper chamber, the Senate, has approved a bill granting mass amnesty to hundreds of people charged and imprisoned in connection with violent antigovernment protests in January that claimed at least 238 lives.

The bill approved by the Senate on October 27 must be signed by President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev to become law.

According to the text of the bill, the amnesty will affect more than 1,500 people who were arrested and charged over their involvement in the protests on January 4-7, as well as in dispersal of the demonstrators.

Those who committed minor crimes will be released and all charges against them will be dropped, while those who were convicted of serious crimes will have their prison terms cut by half or three-quarters. Individuals found guilty of terrorism, extremism, high treason, corruption, and organization of mass disorders will not be affected by the amnesty, the bill says.

Toqaev announced the mass amnesty plan in early September as human rights groups and political activists in the Central Asian nation demanded a full investigation into the deadly dispersal of the protests.

Many in Kazakhstan, including relatives of those killed during the unrest, have demanded an explanation from Toqaev on his decision to invite Russia-led troops from the Collective Security Treaty Organization to disperse the protests, as well as his public "shoot to kill without warning" order.

The unrest occurred after a peaceful demonstration in the western region of Manghystau on January 2 over a fuel-price hike tapped into deep-seated resentment of the country's leadership, leading to widespread antigovernment protests.

Thousands of people were detained by officials during and after the protests, which Toqaev said were caused by "20,000 terrorists" from abroad, a claim for which authorities have provided no evidence.

Human rights groups have provided evidence that peaceful demonstrators and people who had nothing to do with the protests were among those killed by law enforcement and military personnel.

In his September 1 address, Toqaev announced that all of those arrested or convicted for taking part in the January unrest, as well as law enforcement officers arrested for alleged beating and torturing the detained protesters, will be granted clemency.

Rights activists have said the mass amnesty was initiated to help law enforcement officers who opened fire at unarmed demonstrators evade accountability.
The head of the main Serb political party in Kosovo has warned that members of the Serb minority will again block roads if Kosovar authorities do not agree to again delay the implementation of a rule under which ethnic Serbs must switch their car license plates to local ones.

In July, Kosovo's government declared Serbian identity documents and vehicle license plates would no longer be valid on Kosovo territory.

The move has been met with strong and sometimes violent resistance by ethnic Serbs who live in the northern part of the country.

The government in Pristina agreed to extend until the end of October the deadline for the change of license plates after Serb protesters put up roadblocks and fired their guns into the air and in the direction of Kosovo police officers during the July standoff. No one was injured.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti earlier this week announced the deadline will still expire at the end of the month despite calls by Kosovo's main backers, the United States and the European Union, to delay the rule for 10 months and avoid ethnic tensions.

"We already delayed the deadline.... The last date is October 31 when all Kosovo citizens who have old automobile plates, which are a legacy of the Milosevic era, will be able to convert them into legitimate ones," Kurti told reporters in Pristina on October 25, referring to late Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

The announcement prompted Goran Rakic, leader of the Serbian List party, to announce on October 27 that Kosovar Serbs will again block roads in northern Kosovo if authorities in Pristina decide to confiscate vehicles with Serbian license plates.

Rakic was speaking after talks in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

"If Pristina starts enforcing the confiscation of vehicles, we will block all crossings and entrances from the north to central Kosovo," Rakic told a news conference in Belgrade.

Rakic said he assured Vucic there will be no violence as ethnic Serbs will "use all democratic and peaceful means" to resist the move.

Later on October 27, Besnik Bislimi, the deputy prime minister of Kosovo, was unable to make a planned two-day visit to Serbia.

Bislimi, who has served as the head of Kosovo's delegation for dialogue with Serbia, said his vehicle was pulled over by the police about 85 kilometers from Belgrade and he was told he could not continue due to "security reasons." Bislimi then returned to Kosovo.

Bislimi was on his way to take part in discussions on October 27 on the topic of Kosovo and the European perspective at the Forum for Ethnic Relations. He was expected to participate in the Belgrade Security Conference on October 28.

"We have been told that Serbia cannot provide security or that security has been compromised, which for us is a signal that Serbia is still not ready to work toward normalization, Bislimi told reporters at a border crossing point between Serbia and Kosovo.

He added that it was a little absurd that Serbia publicly admitted there were security issues affecting the participants in a conference on security.

He also said it had been his goal in Belgrade to offer Kosovo's version both for current developments and for the dialogue process. He had hoped to be able to talk with diplomats and citizens to set the record straight on Kosovo's version of the developments.

The citizens of Serbia have been exposed to a very terrible propaganda by the government of Serbia and an invented truth about the developments in Kosovo and in the dialogue with Serbia, he said.

Kosovo and Serbia fought a bloody war in 1998-1999, with Kosovo eventually declaring independence from Serbia in 2008.

Ethnic Serbs in the north of Kosovo have been using car plates issued by Serbian institutions since the end of the war with acronyms of Kosovo cities, such as KM (Kosovska Mitrovica), PR (Pristina), or UR (Urosevac).

The government in Kosovo regards the plates as illegal but until now has tolerated them in four northern municipalities with Serb majorities.

Serbia -- as well as Russia, China, and five EU member states -- has not recognized its former province's independence and accuses Pristina of suppressing the rights of minority Serbs, who account for 5 percent of Kosovo's 1.8 million population, which is 90 percent Albanian.
BISHKEK -- The Kyrgyz government has suspended access to the website of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Radio Azattyk, after RFE/RL refused to take down a video of one of its news programs that reported on clashes at the border with Tajikistan.

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Information said in a statement on October 26 that Radio Azattyk's website is being blocked for two months.



"The measure was undertaken as a response to unreliable materials that appeared in the nation's information space which contradict the national interests of the Kyrgyz Republic (inaccurate information about the events of September 14-17, 2022)," the ministry said.



The ministry earlier this week said in a letter to RFE/RL that government monitoring of articles by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz-language service "has revealed that it [the video] has been biased in its coverage of the events on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border, predominantly taking the position of the Tajik side."



The video in question was produced by Current Time, a Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA.

While Kyrgyzstan is known for having a vibrant and pluralistic media environment compared to its Central Asian neighbors, human rights groups have warned that the climate for free expression has deteriorated since President Sadyr Japarov first came to power in October 2020.

In response, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said that the broadcaster "takes our commitment to balanced reporting seriously" and that after a review of the content in question, "no violation of our standards" was found.

"We will not succumb to pressure to remove balanced reporting from our sites, be it from the Kremlin or the Kyrgyz government, Fly said in a statement.



Threatening journalists and trying to silence independent media are authoritarian tactics that only serve to undermine Kyrgyz democracy," he added. "We will be appealing this decision."



A protest outside RFE/RLs Bishkek bureau earlier this month called on authorities to close the service and other independent local outlets.



"These actions are the latest in a series emblematic of a deteriorating media climate in the country," the RFE/RL statement said.

Dozens died on both sides in the latest clashes at a disputed segment of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border in mid-September. The two former Soviet republics have blamed each other for the escalation of tension that led to the loss of life.

Border issues in Central Asia stem to a large extent from the Soviet era, when Moscow tried to divide the region between ethnic groups whose settlements were often located amid those of other ethnicities.

For the last decade or more, violent outbursts between ethnic Kyrgyz and Tajik communities in the area close to Tajikistan's Vorukh exclave have become common, with interventions by gun-wielding border troops a notable trend in the last few years.

Other areas of the border have also raised concerns, with a recent backlash erupting in the country over a demarcation deal with Uzbekistan. According to the deal, Kyrgyzstan will hand over the territory of the Kempir-Abad water reservoir, covering 4,485 hectares, to Uzbekistan in exchange for over 19,000 hectares elsewhere.

Some 20 politicians and activists were detained on October 23 over their opposition to the draft agreement and subsequently sent by a court to pretrial detention for two months for allegedly planning riots over the deal.

On October 24, hundreds rallied in Bishkek demanding the detained activists and politicians be released and urging the government to revise the border demarcation deal. Similar protests were held in the countrys second-largest city, Osh.
Information about what happened earlier this month to Tetyana Mudryenko, a 56-year-old pediatric nurse in the Ukrainian Azov Sea town of Skadovsk, is hard to come by.

On October 7, Mudryenko and her partner, 60-year-old Anatoliy Oryekhov, were abducted from their own yard in the town, which has been occupied by Russian forces since the first hours of Moscow's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Local sources have told Mudryenko's twin sister, Natalya Chorna, that the men who took the couple away were former Ukrainian police officers who had been cooperating with the Russian invaders.

Chorna, who spent the first few months of the occupation in Skadovsk with her sister before later making her way back to their hometown of Dnipro, which was and remains under Ukrainian control, found out about the abduction in a private social-media group of Skadovsk locals.

"I was in that closed group by invitation," Chorna told News of Azov, a project of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service. "There are only people who trust one another there. They wrote that our Tanya had been taken away."

A week later, someone in the group posted a photograph of Mudryenko's body and a copy of a coroner's report stating she had died of "suffocation."

Later, group members wrote that Mudryenko had been hanged. Mudryenko "was hanged by police collaborators in front of the courthouse for saying: 'Skadovsk is Ukraine,'" a member of the group wrote.

Because of the ongoing fighting and the circumstances inside areas occupied by Russian forces, RFE/RL is not able to independently verify information from Skadovsk.

Later, Chorna received additional information.

"One girl called me one evening and told me how they hanged her," Chorna said. "She said: 'You should know that they pumped her with something -- poured something into her mouth -- and then hanged her in front of the courthouse.'"

The woman also said Oryekhov, who had been beaten, had been released and allowed to bury Mudryenko. Chorna said she has had no communication with Oryekhov and that none of her sources in Skadovsk seems to know of his whereabouts.

In general, she said, people in the town live in fear.

"They are all very afraid there," Chorna said. "Four young men were killed there -- Tanya told me. People say there is some kind of structure there and that workers saw how something was being buried. Trenches were dug and covered over. People saw something being buried in the cemetery. I don't think they were just burying garbage. But we'll see after liberation what was buried there."

Although Russia denies targeting civilians or committing war crimes in Ukraine, mounting evidence of atrocities by Russian forces has emerged both from inside areas under their control and in areas from which they have withdrawn.

In a Telegram post on October 14, Ukraine's SBU security agency said it "had established instances of murder and torture of local residents during the temporary occupation" of the Kherson region, where Skadovsk is located.

Mudryenko's case has been documented by the Media Initiative For Human Rights (MIPL), a Ukrainian NGO that uses journalism and activism to expose human rights violations by Russian forces and collaborators in Ukraine.

"Anatoliy was held captive for some time, and he was released on October 18 and allowed to bury his wife," said MIPL journalist and analyst Anastasia Pantelyeyeva about Mudryenko's partner, Oryekhov. "What happened to him next is unknown. Very often such people are released from captivity but not allowed to evacuate to territory controlled by Ukraine. Such people are in constant danger of being abducted again. We know of cases in the Kherson region in which the same person was abducted two or three times."

Pantelyeyeva added that Mudryenko's case appeared to be the first instance of a hanging by occupation collaborators recorded in the Kherson region. But she said more cases might emerge.

"Our main task is to record them," she said. "Later, when these territories are de-occupied, we hope they can be investigated more objectively. Therefore, our main task is to record these crimes and hand the cases over to the law enforcement agencies."

RFE/RL feature writer Robert Coalson contributed to this report.
Mohammad Nayeb-Zehi was among the hundreds of worshippers who gathered on September 30 at the Great Mosalla, a religious site in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, for Friday Prayers.

Just hours later, the 16-year-old's family learned he was dead.

Nayeb-Zehi was among the scores of people gunned down by security forces in a brutal crackdown following anti-government protests in Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan Province, which is home to the country's Baluch minority.

"He was a simple laborer and not political," Nayeb-Zehi's brother, Ahmad, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda in a telephone interview from Zahedan, adding that his sibling had been shot in the heart. "We're in pain, and we cannot accept it."

The crackdown in Zahedan came amid weeks-long nationwide protests triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died on September 16, days after she was detained by Iran's morality police.

In Sistan-Baluchistan, public anger at the authorities escalated amid reports that a 15-year-old Baluch girl had been raped by a police official in the province's southern port city of Chabahar.

The violence erupted soon after protesters gathered outside a police station near the central mosque in Zahedan. Members of the crowd chanted anti-government slogans, and some threw rocks. Security forces responded with deadly force by firing on the crowd from the station, according to witnesses.

Security forces also raided the central mosque and the nearby Great Mosalla and opened fire on worshippers using live ammunition, rights groups said, adding that many were shot in the head, heart, neck, or torso, revealing a clear intent to kill or seriously wound.

At least 94 people were killed and 350 wounded on that day, referred to as "Bloody Friday," according to the U.S.-based Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. At least 13 minors were among those killed, including Nayeb-Zehi.

The victims were overwhelmingly Baluch -- a mostly Sunni ethnic group that has long faced disproportionate discrimination at the hands of the Iranian authorities.

"He was martyred inside the Mosalla while holding his prayer mat," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

Nayeb-Zehi's family first visited Zahedan's Khatam al-Anbia hospital, hoping he was among the wounded. They later found his body in a seminary at the Great Mosalla.

"We entered a room there and saw about 10 bodies," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi. "[Mohammad] was among them."

He said the authorities prevented the family from filming the scene. "I told them this has to be documented, it has to be published by international media," he said, adding that footage later emerged on social media showing the gruesome scene at the seminary.

The family refused to send Nayeb-Zehi's body to the morgue. Instead, his body lay in the living room for around 24 hours before he was buried.

"We said he was martyred and there was no need for an autopsy," said Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi.

The authorities accused Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, of attacking the police station. The group is recognized as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States and has previously claimed deadly attacks in Sistan-Baluchistan targeting Iranian security forces.

But local and independent sources have rejected the authorities' claims.

The authorities have also reported a much lower number of fatalities, announcing that only 19 people, including several members of the security forces, were killed.

Ahmad Nayeb-Zehi said the authorities were "rubbing salt into the wounds of the people" by claiming "terrorists" were involved.

He said he witnessed a military helicopter shooting at civilians near the Great Mosalla. "I haven't even seen such scenes in Hollywood movies," he said. "A helicopter was shooting at people. A lady was shot in front of my eyes."

RFE/RL could not verify his account. But activists have accused security forces of shooting at protestors from helicopters.

"I don't know what the intention of this crime was," he said. "Our only demand from the establishment is for the murderers of our [family members] to be punished."

The killings have led to widespread anger in Sistan-Baluchistan, one of Iran's poorest provinces.

Anti-establishment protests have been reported in Zahedan since the crackdown, including on October 14 and October 21, when protesters took to the streets after Friday Prayers and chanted "Death to the dictator."

During his Friday Prayers sermon on October 21, influential Sunni cleric Molavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi said senior officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were "responsible" for the September 30 killings.

"We are surprised by the silence of the high-ranking officials," he said in his sermon, which was posted on his website.

"Scores were killed here without any reason. I don't have the exact number. Some have reported 90, some say less, some say more," Ismaeelzahi added.

He also said people will not be satisfied until "those who killed the people" are brought to justice.

The Iran Human Rights Documentation Center said the events of September 30 amounted to "a massacre of protesters by security forces."

"The government's total denial of responsibility for the massacring of citizens by its security apparatus is consistent with similar past denials and is evidence that internal calls for investigation of such crimes are insufficient," said the rights group, which documents human rights violations in Iran.
Russian forces have launched fresh strikes on targets in Kyiv and the city of Zaporizhzhya, the military and officials said on October 27, as Ukrainian forces repelled attacks near two towns in the eastern region of the Donbas and the Moscow-installed administration left Kherson.

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.

A Russian drone attack early on October 27 hit an energy facility in the capital, causing a fire, said Oleksiy Kuleba, governor of the Kyiv region. The latest attacks inflicted "very serious damage," he said.



"The Russians are using drones and missiles to destroy Ukraine's energy system ahead of the winter and terrorize civilians," Kuleba said in televised remarks.

Ukrainian officials said the attacks on Ukraine's electrical infrastructure have made it difficult to set an accurate schedule for outages, and the damaged caused by the latest strikes could mean Kyiv and four regions may have to cut electricity supplies for longer than planned.



In Zaporizhzhya, the Russians used Smerch rockets to strike the city overnight, the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Starukh, wrote on Telegram.



"At night, the enemy attacked the outskirts of the regional center. According to preliminary information, these were three projectiles of the Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems. There are no casualties," he wrote.



Starukh said infrastructure was destroyed and a fire broke out but it was extinguished by emergency services.



Part of the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhzhya is under Russian occupation, but the homonymous regional capital remains in Ukrainian hands.



Zaporizhzhya is one of four regions partially occupied by Russia that Moscow claims to have annexed last month following illegal referendums rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies as sham votes.

Ukraine's General Staff said on October 27 that Kyiv had boosted its forces in the northern region near Belarus to counter any possible renewed Russian attack across the border.



Belarus is Moscow's main ally in the war against Ukraine and has allowed Russian forces to use its territory as a launching pad for the invasion.



"At the current time the creation of a strike force (in Belarus) is not observable. (But) there are and will be threats. We are reacting, we have already increased our troops in the northern direction," Oleksiy Hromov, deputy head of the General Staff's Main Operations Directorate, told a regular briefing.



In the eastern Donbas region, Ukrainian troops are holding out against attacks near the towns of Avdiyivka and Bakhmut, where fierce battles were under way, Zelenskiy said on October 26.



Russian forces have repeatedly tried to seize Bakhmut, which sits on a main road leading to the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.



Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said that on one single day Russian forces launched eight separate attacks on Bakhmut before noon and had been pushed back on each occasion.



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.



The reports could not be independently verified.

Ukraine has pushed ahead with an offensive to reclaim the Kherson region and its capital of the same name, which Russian forces captured during the first days of the war.

Zelenskiy described reports of Russian troops' possible withdrawal from the city as disinformation.

"I don't see them fleeing from Kherson," Zelenskiy said in an interview with an Italian newspaper. "This is an information attack, so that we go there, transfer troops from other dangerous directions there."

The Russian-appointed governor of Ukraine's Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, said on October 27 that more than 70,000 people have left the region's capital, the strategic city of Kherson.



Saldo's deputy, Kirill Stremousov, said members of the Moscow-installed regional administration were included in the evacuation.



Saldo also said the remains of Grigory Potemkin, the Russian general who founded Kherson in the 18th century that had been kept at the citys St. Catherines Church, have also been moved along with his monument.

With reporting by AFP, BBC, Reuters, and guardian.co.uk
For the Love of the Black Community

Cafe X is serving up coffee and economic resilience by any means necessary
Case in Brief

R. v. Nahanee

The Supreme Court upholds the eight-year prison sentence for a B.C. man who sexually assaulted two girls.

In 2019, Kerry Nahanee plead guilty to two counts of sexual assault against his nieces. Mr. Nahanee admitted to sexually assaulting one niece once and sexually assaulting the other niece many times. At the sentencing hearing, the Crown asked the judge to sentence Mr. Nahanee to between four to six years in prison. The lawyer for Mr. Nahanee asked the judge for a sentence of three to three-and-a-half years.

The judge sentenced Mr. Nahanee to five years for the assaults on the first niece and three years for the assault on the second niece for a combined total of eight years in prison. The judge considered various aggravating and mitigating factors in calculating Mr. Nahanees sentence. Aggravating factors increase the severity of a sentence, while mitigating factors contribute to a more lenient sentence.

In the judges view, the aggravating factors in this case included: abuse of a family member; abuse of a person under the age of 18; abuse of a position of trust; and that the offences significantly impacted the two victims. As for mitigating factors, Mr. Nahanee had plead guilty, he was relatively young, and he had no criminal record.

The judge also considered Mr. Nahanees Indigenous background during sentencing. Section 718.2(e) of the Criminal Code directs courts to pay special attention to the circumstances of Indigenous offenders. As such, the judge reviewed the Gladue report, which is a pre-sentencing report done for Indigenous offenders.The Gladue report gets its name from the Supreme Court of Canadas 1999 ruling in R. v. Gladue, which established the factors that courts must take into account when sentencing Indigenous offenders.

Mr. Nahanee appealed his sentence to British Columbias Court of Appeal. He argued that the public interest test established by the Supreme Court of Canada in its 2016 ruling in R. v. Anthony-Cook should apply to his case. That test guides judges when the Crown prosecutor and defence lawyer agree to a specific sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. According to the test, judges should impose the agreed-upon sentence unless it would bring the administration of justice into disrepute, which is never in the public interest. Mr. Nahanee also argued the sentencing judge should have advised the parties that she intended to impose a harsher sentence than the Crown was seeking. The Court of Appeal dismissed Mr. Nahanees appeal. He then appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

The Supreme Court has dismissed Mr. Nahanees appeal.

The Anthony-Cook case does not apply.

Writing for the majority, Justice Michael Moldaver said that the public interest test in the Anthony-Cook case, does not, and should not, apply to contested sentencing hearings following a guilty plea. The Anthony-Cook case applies only when both parties propose a joint submission on sentencing, meaning they agree on the sentence. Mr. Nahanees case involved a contested sentencing hearing because the Crown and defence lawyer had proposed different sentences.

The majority said judges must notify the parties if they intend to impose a harsher sentence than the one sought by the Crown. The judge must then give the parties the opportunity to make further submissions.

In this case, the judge did not notify the parties that she intended to impose a harsher sentence and did not provide them an opportunity to make further submissions. However, the majority said Mr. Nahanee did not show he had information to provide the judge that would have impacted his sentence. Also, the judge provided adequate reasons for why she exceeded the sentence the Crown was seeking and her reasons, when read as a whole, were not wrong. Finally, the eight-year sentence was not demonstrably unfit.
Western Sahara: Vote on Resolution to Renew the Mandate of MINURSO*

Tomorrow morning (27 October), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2023. The US, the penholder on Western Sahara, circulated the initial draft text to Council members on 19 October. This followed Council members bi-annual consultations with Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura and Special Representative and head of MINURSO Alexander Ivanko on 17 October. Members held one expert-level meeting on the text on 21 October. On 24 October, the US circulated a revised draft, which it placed under silence procedure until noon yesterday (25 October). Kenya and Russia broke silence; however, the US placed the draft resolution in blue without making further changes to the text.

Several updates to this years draft resolution renewing MINURSOs mandate were made with the apparent objective of providing de Mistura, who was appointed in October 2021, with space and flexibility to advance the political process. As described in the Secretary-Generals most recent report on Western Sahara, dated 3 October, Morocco favours reconvening the roundtable talks that de Misturas predecessor, Horst Kohler, had initiated in 2018 and 2019, involving Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania. Morocco has said that this process should be based on its autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. (Moroccos autonomy plan, which it submitted to the UN in 2007, calls for integrating the territory into Morocco, with the Sahrawi people managing their internal affairs while being represented externally by Morocco.) Conversely, Algeria has objected to the roundtable format, which it sees as potentially reframing the situation as a regional conflict, instead of one between Morocco and the Polisario Front, with Algeria and Mauritania viewed as concerned neighbours.

The draft resolution in blue introduces new language stressing the importance of all concerned expanding on their positions in order to advance a solution. It seems that the term all concerned was inserted as more ambiguous language to accommodate actors different views regarding who are considered the parties to the conflict, while giving de Mistura space to determine how to move forward with the political process. The draft text further expresses support for building on the progress and framework of the former Personal Envoy, and strongly encourages Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania to engage with the Personal Envoy.

Among other updates, the US added new language in this years draft calling for the resumption of the safe and regular resupply of MINURSO team sites. This is an issue raised in the Secretary-Generals report, as the Polisario Front has imposed movement restrictions on MINURSO since the breakdown of the ceasefire in November 2020, which have significantly limited the missions ability to re-supply its team sites east of the berm. According to the report, these restrictions have negatively affected the serviceability and lifecycle of equipment, as well as the morale and health of MINURSO personnel at the sites, and, if not removed, risk making these sites unsustainable.

The US also introduced new language to this years mandate renewal that strongly encourages donors to provide additional funds and for aid agencies to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. This reflects concerns about severe food insecurity and malnutrition in the Tindouf refugee camps due to funding gaps, which have forced the World Food Programme (WFP) to cut food rations in the camps by 80 percent.

Kenya and Russia considered the draft text unbalanceda position that they have expressed in previous mandate renewals for MINURSOand they proposed several revisions. One of their main concerns was to have the draft resolution more clearly distinguish Morocco and the Polisario Front from the concerned neighbouring countries, Algeria and Mauritania. It seems that both Kenya and Russia also requested making a broader reference to the contributions of all previous Personal Envoys, instead of singling out Personal Envoy Kohler, which appears to lend greater weight to his roundtable format.

Kenya and Russia also apparently reiterated concerns about the resolutions reference to realistic approaches to a political settlement, among other issues. This was an issue they raised during last years mandate negotiations, as they consider the term ambiguous: it is often also used by countries expressing support for Moroccos autonomy proposal. More broadly, it appears that they have maintained their concerns about the dilution of references in MINURSO resolutions to the referendum and to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. During last weeks closed consultations on Western Sahara, Kenya apparently underscored that the original purpose of MINURSO when it was established in 1991 through resolution 690 was to implement a referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, but that its mandate has subsequently deviated from this.

The revised text that the US circulated earlier this week contained three changes from the original draft. Ireland, supported by several Council membersincluding Kenya, Mexico, and Norwayhad requested to update the language in a preambular paragraph on womens participation in the UN-sponsored talks. The draft was revised to encourage womens full, equal and meaningful participation as opposed to full, effective and meaningful. Ireland also apparently proposed including in the draft resolutions operative section a paragraph from its preambular section on enhancing cooperation with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). While the penholder did not make this change, it strengthened the language in the preambular paragraph by replacing strongly encouraging with urging the enhancing of cooperation with OHCHR. It seems that a third and similar edit to the text was made urging aid agencies to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, instead of strongly encouraging.

Besides these edits, Kenya and Russias concerns and proposals were not accommodated, which led them to break silence. On the other hand, it seems that several Council members yesterday reiterated their support for keeping the draft resolution as is. With the US placing an unchanged text in blue, it is unclear if Kenya and Russia will support the resolution at tomorrows vote. Despite expressing some similar concerns during last years negotiations, Kenya voted in favour of resolution 2602 of 29 October 2021 that renewed MINURSOs mandate. Russia has abstained on the adoption of all MINURSO mandate renewals since 2018 (six times).

_________________________________________________________________

*Post-script: On 27 October, the Security Council adopted resolution 2654, renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year, until 31 October 2023. Thirteen members voted in favor and two abstained (Kenya and Russia).
Crime

featured spotlight

After losing opioid lawsuit, Walgreens pushes S.F. to address crime

Craig Lee/The Examiner A federal judge ruled in August that Walgreens could be held responsible for contributing to San Franciscos opioid crisis.

Walgreens has thousands of stores across the country, yet in San

Francisco the massive Illinois-based pharmacy store chain has become a symbol of The Citys social strife.

As Walgreens unsuccessfully defended itself from The Citys accusations that it played a key role in creating the opioid crisis roiling San Francisco, it has simultaneously pushed city officials to address the increase in crime in its stores.

New San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has taken meetings with executives from Walgreens and the operators of Westfield mall, who are pushing her office to rein in retail crime.

The District Attorneys Office says the meetings in recent weeks are a reflection of her commitment to addressing crime and retail theft.

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She specifically met with Walgreens and Westfield about how their on-site security staff and store employees can coordinate with the District Attorneys Office and San Francisco Police to address organized retail theft rings and retail theft broadly, DA spokesperson Randy Quezada wrote in an email.

In a statement to The Examiner, a representative for Walgreens did not specify the topics of discussion in the meeting but described safety as a priority for the company.

Organized retail crime continues to be a challenge facing retailers across San Francisco. Part of our efforts to combat it includes regular conversations on topics of mutual interest with members of the San Francisco Police Department, the office of the mayor, supervisors and the district attorney, Kris Lathan, a company spokesperson, wrote in an email to The Examiner.

The meetings were documented on Jenkins daily calendar, which is subject to public disclosure under city law.

The meeting with Walgreens came less than a month after the company lost a landmark lawsuit brought against it by The City for its role in the opioid epidemic.

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That victory was touted by another top city official with a law degree, City Attorney David Chiu.

While we all understandably want to see conditions on our streets improve, it is ironic that Walgreens has loudly complained about street conditions and the opioid crisis when a court found that their irresponsible dispensing practices helped create that crisis, Chiu said in a statement to The Examiner. It is akin to an arsonist complaining about the fire they started.

The City accused Walgreens of unscrupulously profiting off the opioid epidemic. It dispensed opioids from its pharmacies too readily, the city successfully argued in court, and failed to report or halt the suspiciously steady flow of orders coming in for the drugs.

The evidence showed that Walgreens did not provide its pharmacists with sufficient time, staffing or resources to perform due diligence on these prescriptions. Pharmacists experienced constant pressure to fill prescriptions as quickly as possible, and a shortage of resources to review them before dispensing, U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer wrote in his Aug. 10 decision.

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But Walgreens is looking to the same city government to protect its assets and prevent retail theft, which isnt hard to spot during a routine trip for shampoo or a snack at a location like the Market Street Walgreens between 4th and 5th streets.

The companys detractors argue that the impacts of the opioid crisis it helped create are simply playing out in its stores.

Almost 100% of the clients I have who are charged with retail theft, I believe I could safely say suffer from some sort of substance use disorder and are unhoused, said Deputy Public Defender Peter Calloway.

Its not just Walgreens decrying the rise in retail theft, noted Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who launched a commercial retail theft working group that includes Jenkins and Police Chief Bill Scott.

Safai said he was initially unaware of the problem of organized retail theft, but was convinced after speaking with retailers and even witnessing it himself at a Walgreens on Geneva Avenue in his district.

Locally, retailer Cotopaxi announced last week that it closed its Hayes Valley storefront after repeated theft and vandalism. Safai said he spoke with the building owner, who told him that hes lost four businesses due to crime. And its not just major corporations who are victimized, Safai added, but mom-and-pop shops in neighborhoods like Chinatown and the Richmond District.

Its not hyperbole, its real, Safai said.

Police reports of shoplifting in San Francisco have increased sharply this year, according to San Francisco Police Department data.

Across the four different levels of shoplifting recorded in police data  less than $50, between $50 and $200, between $200 and $950, and greater than $950  there were 2,346 reports made this year through Sept. 30.

Thats a 35.6% increase over 2021.

Both years of the pandemic, 2020 and 2021, brought a decrease in shoplifting reports. But this years increase exceeds even pre-pandemic levels by a sizable margin. The 2,346 shoplifting reports made in 2022 are a 19% increase over the same time period in 2019.

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City leaders and retailers say their focus is not on small-time shoplifters, but organized retail crime, though the distinction between the two is a bit nebulous.

According to its most recent annual retail security survey, the National Retail Foundation found a 26.5% increase in organized retail crime among the 63 retailers surveyed in 2021.

When contacted by The Examiner, a spokesperson for the industry group clarified they define shoplifting as the theft of goods by one person who has no plans to resell them, while it defines organized retail crime as involving a criminal enterprise that plans, organizes and executes large-scale thefts from retailers to sell illegally obtained goods for financial gain.

SFGate reported in February that Walgreens had closed at least 10 locations in San Francisco since the start of 2019. A company spokesperson told the news outlet that retail theft across our San Francisco stores has continued to increase in the past few months to five times our chain average.

Skeptics of Walgreens claims  including Mayor London Breed  have countered that the closures may be a consequence of an oversaturated market and lackluster profits, not increasing theft. Others have pointed to the shift toward online shopping.

Either way, retailers are taking theft seriously. Its hard to walk into a Walgreens in San Francisco without meeting the glare of a uniformed security guard. So too, are city officials.

San Francisco was one of several cities across the region targeted in organized retail theft sprees last November, which resulted in a bolstered police presence in Union Square.

Last year, the Board of Supervisors adopted legislation that would allow San Francisco Sheriffs deputies to take on overtime shifts working security outside retail stores like Walgreens, at the retailers expense.

The National Retail Federation has called for harsher penalties for those convicted of shoplifting, including lowering the threshold for a person to be charged with a felony.

Safai isnt ready to go that far, and noted more than a dozen states already have higher thresholds for felony charges than California.

What The City has done, he noted, is take action like adopting a new law that aims to stymie street vendors who sell illegal goods.
At the seminar

The assessment was given at the seminar Taking advantage of the leverage of CPTPP to increase exports to the American market held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade today in Hanoi.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, after three years of implementation, many types of Vietnamese goods have been increasing exports to the Americas market region thanks to the CPTPP.

In the first eight months of 2022, export turnover between Vietnam and CPTPP member countries reached US$41 billion, up 38.7 percent over the same period in 2021. In the opposite direction, Vietnam's import turnover from the region in this sector reached $35 billion, up 17.2 percent over the same period in 2021. Trade surplus after eight first months was recorded at $6 billion, the highest level after this FTA had taken effect while during the first years of implementation of the CPTPP, the two-way trade balance has been the same.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the Center for the World Trade Organization and Integration of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, Director of the Center for the World Trade Organization and Integration of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the CPTPP is not Vietnam's first free trade agreement, but it is the first trade agreement to aim at the Americas market. Before that, we had the Vietnam - Chile Free Trade Agreement but it was a traditional agreement on a small scale.

With the CPTPP, for the first time, the Southeast Asian country has had access to two markets in South America - Peru and Chile  along with two markets in North America - Canada and Mexico. It has offered a great opportunity for Vietnam to access new markets, with many potentials and certain challenges, said Ms. Trang.

Ms. Trang disclosed that while other countries have seen a decline in their market share or their market share stayed flat; even Japan, which used to be familiar with the American market, has seen a flat market share, Vietnams market share has increased.

Vo Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades European - American Market Department, Vo Hong Anh, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trades European - American Market Department, also affirmed that before the CPTPP took effect in 2019, Vietnam's export volume to this market area was quite limited, but after the CPTPP took effect, local goods shipped to countries in Americas have grown dramatically.

Regarding the structure of Vietnamese exports to this market, she said that the group of phones and components accounts for about 20 percent, the group of electronics and computers accounts for about 16 percent while machinery and spare parts account for about 9 percent and the proportion of the group of textiles and garments, thick leather is also high.

Through the CPTP, textile and garment and footwear are two groups of goods that have a tariff advantage of up to 10 percent-20 percent compared to other direct competitors, said Ms. Anh.

For example, Canada committed to completely eliminating tariffs, bringing them to zero percent after three years of the agreement coming into force for the textile and garment industry. As a result, in the first nine months of 2022, Vietnam's textile and garment export to the Canadian market grew by more than 50 percent compared to the same period in 2021, said Ms. Hong Anh.

Similarly, most seafood products in Vietnam are also committed to bringing the tax back to zero percent. The country is present as the largest shrimp and pangasius fish exporter in Canada with pangasius fish accounting for 80-90 percent of the market share in Canada. Similarly, pangasius fish export growth to Mexico has seen an increase of over 70 percent in the past eight months. Currently, Mexico is one of the three largest pangasius fish importers of Vietnam.

Ms. Anh disclosed that Vietnam is also exporting a large volume of items such as bags, umbrellas, suitcases, and processed agricultural products such as tea, coffee, pepper, and cashew, and is also gradually dominating the CPTPP markets in the Americas region.

Ms. Vo Hong Anh also said that the CPTPP not only helps us to expand new markets for exports but also helps take advantage of businesses to diversify their sources of imported goods, avoiding dependence on some traditional markets like before.

In the past time, businesses have experienced disruption of the logistics chain; therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will coordinate with ministries and agencies to find solutions, and explore new direct transport routes to increase connectivity for businesses in this area.

At the same time, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to promote solutions for information systems, and early warning for businesses, as well as support businesses to handle arising problems, handle risks of trade barriers, and trade remedies that Vietnamese exports may encounter.

By Van Phuc  Translated by Anh Quan
Page Content

According to a recent media statement released by the South Africa Department of Employment and Labor (DoEL), the long-anticipated amendments to the Employment Equity Act 1998 (EEA) will come into operation from Sept. 1, 2023.

The Employment Equity Amendment Bill (the Bill) was originally introduced in Parliament in July 2020. It was subsequently passed by the National Assembly in November 2021 and, more recently, by the National Council of Provinces on May 17. It is currently awaiting the president's signature. The DoEL's statement indicates that such signing may be imminent, and that President Cyril Ramaphosa will affix his signature between now and the beginning of 2023.

Amendments

The most notable amendments to be introduced by the Bill include the following.

Deletion of part of the current definition of "designated employer." This will mean that, with effect from Sept. 1, 2023, an employer (other than a municipality, organ of state or an employer appointed as a designated employer in terms of a collective agreement) will only be considered a designated employer for purposes of the affirmative action provisions of the EEA if it employs 50 or more employees. There will no longer be any consideration given to an employer's total annual turnover.

Ability of the minister of employment and labor to identify national economic sectors and set numerical targets. In this regard, the DoEL has indicated that engagements with relevant stakeholders on the setting of sector-specific targets commenced in June 2019, with sectors such as education, agriculture, finance and insurance. The remaining sectors still to be consulted are mining and quarrying, public administration and defense, manufacturing, information and communication, construction and real estate. The DoEL will publish the list of sector targets for public comment in due course.

Introduction of criteria to be met by employer in order for certificate of compliance to be issued by the DoEL. Such certificate will be required for employers to conclude agreements with the state. Interestingly, this certificate requirement (contained in section 53 of the EEA), was introduced some time ago, but it has not yet taken effect. Section 53 will, it seems, become operational following the amendments. In terms of section 53, "every employer" (designated or nondesignated) that makes an offer to conclude an agreement with any organ of state for the furnishing of supplies or services to that organ of state, or for the hiring or letting of anything must, if it is a designated employer, comply with Chapters II and III of the EEA; and if it is not a designated employer, comply with Chapter II of the EEA.

The employer's offer should be accompanied by a certificate issued by the minister. In terms of the amendments, a compliance certificate may only be issued if the minister is satisfied that:

The employer has complied with any sectoral numerical targets applicable to the employer, or has raised a reasonable ground justifying its failure to comply.

The employer has submitted its annual employment equity report.

There have been no findings by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) or a court that the employer breached the unfair discrimination provisions of the EEA in the previous 12 months.

The CCMA has not issued an award against the employer in the previous 12 months for failing to pay the national minimum wage.

Comment

The removal of the turnover requirement in order to determine whether an employer is a designated employer is welcomed.

The amendments may have significant implications for larger, designated employers, or designated or nondesignated employers who seek to do business with the state. Among other things, designated employers will need to review their employment equity plans to ensure that their numerical targets and goals align with any sectoral targets that may be published by the minister, and where they do not, that there is reasonable justification. It is advisable that such justification is set out in the employer's employment equity plan.

The DoEL has indicated that it will implement a new online assessment system to monitor employers' implementation of sector targets. The system will be able to flag whether employers are achieving their targets.

The issue of sector-specific targets has been particularly contentious. Recently, trade union Solidarity reportedly addressed a letter to the president cautioning the president not to sign the Bill into law and to refer it back to Parliament for review, on the basis that it is unconstitutional. If the president does sign the Bill into law, Solidarity has indicated that it will approach the courts for relief. Notwithstanding this, it appears from the DoEL's statement that the president intends to go ahead and pass the Bill into law and employers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the amendments and the effect that they may have on their businesses.

Chloe Loubser is an attorney with Bowmans in Cape Town, South Africa. Talita Laubscher is an attorney with Bowmans in Johannesburg.  2022 Bowmans. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission of Lexology.
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Coghlan says CreditorWatch provides credit management solutions to help businesses mitigate credit risk across the customer lifecycle from onboarding to assessment and collections.

We provide tools like credit reports and ratings so that a supplier or lender can assess whether the customer is going to pay their bills. And can assist in managing the credit risk over time with credit alerts when the customers circumstances change.

And with insolvencies on the rise to pre-COVID levels and payment defaults surging by a massive 53 per cent year on year according to the CreditorWatch Business Risk Index (BRI), Coghlan suggests there has never been a better time for businesses to invest in data and technology around credit risk.

He says smaller businesses often dont invest in a service such as CreditorWatch when times are tough because they see it as discretionary spend.

When times are tough its often not a bad idea to follow the lead of big professional organisations and invest in better data and technology because they will help you through.

Its important to arm yourself with good quality information about your customers because by dealing with good quality customers, you ensure that your future cashflows are protected, Coghlan says.

This improved cashflow, combined with the reduction of bad and doubtful debts, then gives you the ability to invest in and grow your business and trade with greater confidence and certainty.

Vital tool

Chief executive of online small business loan specialists, Banjo Loans, Guy Callaghan, says CreditorWatch is an integral part of his firm.

Banjo Loans provides lending facilities to small businesses in Australia, which is something the big banks seem to have retreated from as they become more risk averse, says Callaghan.

The big banks tend to take their time to make a decision and are likely to ask for some sort of security over a small business and a lot of SMEs either cant offer security or theyre already holding large mortgages on their premises for example, says Callaghan.

Chief executive of Banjo Loans, Guy Callaghan. Credit:Arsineh Houspian

We are filling a hole that the major banks dont provide a service to, Callaghan says

He says CreditorWatchs data is utilised in every single loan application that we review and approve.

I really like dealing with the CreditorWatch guys because they have a really well-run business and the data they provide is of a really high quality, Callaghan says.

Callaghan is also a big fan of the companys regional business report because it provides in-depth insights into whats happening in different regions around Australia.

Callaghan says those insights are invaluable because when you look at regional businesses you gotta make micro-macro decisions.

Banjo Loans have been working with CreditorWatch since they were founded, and the relationship continues to flourish because we both like the insights we provide each other in regard to whats happening out there in the market.

Theyre vital - a key ingredient in everything we do. What also makes CreditorWatch good is we can discuss with them where the opportunities are or ways in which they can sharpen their data.

Theyre just so willing to constantly improve their product - its fantastic, Callaghan says.
The combined effect of three key elements of Labors budget will disproportionately benefit high-income regions of Sydney, with households in Ku-ring-gai set to receive seven times more on average in 2024-25 than parts of western Sydney.

Modelling of how the money flowing from the stage three tax cuts, increased childcare subsidies and longer paid parental leave will be distributed among households has revealed huge regional disparities.

The three measures will deliver households in the Ku-ring-gai district on Sydneys north shore an additional $5950 on average in 2024-25  more than anywhere else in Australia. Last years census showed the Ku-ring-gai statistical area (called an SA3) had the highest median weekly family income in the nation. Households in Manly, Chastwood-Lane Cove and North Sydney-Mosman are also among the biggest beneficiaries.

But in Fairfield, a relatively low-income district of western Sydney, households will only receive an extra $859 on average during that period. Households in Wyong, on the Central Coast, will get just $659 more on average.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Book critics Steven Carroll and Cameron Woodhead cast their eyes over recent fiction and non-fiction releases. Here are their reviews. Non-fiction pick of the week Credit: Australias Secret Army

Michael Veitch, Hachette, $32.99 In the early days of Australian military intelligence, they were officially known as special reporting officers. Come World War II, this team of civilian observers, spread across the southern Pacific, achieved collective fame as the coast watchers. Michael Veitchs absorbing account of their exploits puts names to that collective fame. There were about 100 individual operators by 1941 whose job was to observe Japanese movements and report to Australia via Port Moresby. They were never meant to fight, but once war started, they became invaluable spies and much more  the rescue of Lark Force (left for dead by Australian military after the fall of Rabaul) by a district officer, Keith McCarthy, his team of coastwatchers and the amazing Gladys Baker is worth a book in itself. They also rescued JFK in the Solomons. This is lively, assured and witty. Credit:

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Victory

Peter van Onselen & Wayne Errington, HarperCollins, $34.99 This is not so much a fly-on-the-wall account of this years election as a thoroughly engaging, highly informed account by two flies on a wall. Peter van Onselen and Wayne Errington, going back to the 2019 loss that spooked so many Labor people, take the reader into Anthony Albaneses team huddle: his small-target strategy (de-Bill the message) that put all the emphasis on what the authors call the clown show of the Morrison government. What comes through is the tenacity and pragmatism of Albanese, the effort of staying upbeat as well as registering just how much he enjoyed beating Morrison like a drum. Mind you, he didnt write his victory speech until Morrison conceded. The authors also catch a pivotal moment, reflecting that the country had changed and was just waiting for a safe pair of hands. Credit: Sub-Imperial Power

Clinton Fernandes, MUP, $24.99 The euphemism, says Clinton Fernandes in this forthright and detailed study of Australias standing in international relations, is that Australia is a middle power trying to uphold a rules-based international order. The reality is that we are a sub-imperial power upholding US-led imperial order.

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The crucial term here is rules-based (introduced by Kevin Rudd and taken up by Hilary Clinton), a post-World War II state of affairs that affirms international liberalism economically and politically. The US sits at the apex of this imperial order, while smaller countries such as Australia play a sub-imperial role. Fernandes examines the implications of this in relation to Taiwan, the rise of China and the extent to which this constitutes the national interest. He finishes by posing an alternative: a democratic, equitable international order. Credit: Farm

Nicola Harvey, Scribe, $32.99 For years, New Zealand-born Nicola Harvey led a frenzied life working in the media in Australia. Although brought up on a farm, shed adopted an intensely urban life with her husband. Then came a miscarriage and everything changed. At the suggestion of her farmer father, they left the old life behind, shifted to New Zealand and became dairy farmers. Her account of the shift, part memoir, part environmental clarion call, is conversational in tone and often vivid in evoking the dung, death and daily life of the farm. It also introduces her to the complexities of changing farming so that it becomes more environmentally conscious, which leads her into such diverse topics as methane-producing cows and conflicts over food labelling. Emblematic of the new life is the birth of her daughter, and the ongoing fight to create a better world.

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Fiction pick of the week Credit: Bloodrust

Julia Prendergast, Spineless Wonders, $24.99 A fiction collection of great economy, intensity and accomplishment, Julia Prendergasts Bloodrust stands out from the pack of Australian short stories, not only for its bitter insistence on emotional truth, but for its almost overdeveloped ear for contemporary voice. The suite of tales, snapshots and fragments returns to a theme introduced in the opener, Contrapuntal, in which a woman seethes with silent rage while hosting her adult children on her birthday. Unexpected angles on motherhood  from a mum trying to deal with her stoner son to a young man assisting his own mothers emergency birth  are sketched onto a broader canvas of Australian domestic life. Prendergast is an author unafraid to strike surgically under the surface of the mundane, and her prose has a jagged, unflinching, remorselessly drawn quality that exposes complex realities beneath it. Credit:

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Less is Lost

Andrew Sean Greer, Little, Brown, $29.99 Andrew Sean Greers Less is Lost bequeaths us a sequel to the 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winner Less. It returns to the adventures of hapless Arthur Less, a moderately successful queer American novelist who avoids emotional frying-pans (in the first book, the prospect of attending an ex-boyfriends wedding) by stepping into literary fires. This time, Less is on the run after an ex-lovers death leaves him with a demand from the executors of the estate for unpaid rent. Awkward, but not as diabolical as the circuit of minor literary events he attends to escape his woes. The mash-up of literary farce and comedy of gay manners cleaves to the same formula as the first novel and should appeal to the same readership. Anyone whos encountered the absurdity of, say, judging a book prize or being buttonholed by oddballs at literary festivals will smirk in recognition, although Greers wit can seem too cute and too contrived, and the striving for emotional depth under the surface drollery doesnt quite get there. Credit: Our Missing Hearts

Celeste Ng, Little, Brown, $32.99 Another follow-up that doesnt outshine the novel that came before it is Our Missing Hearts from Celeste Ng, whose bestselling suburban mystery Little Fires Everywhere was adapted for television. This isnt a sequel, though it does share a dystopian lens with its predecessor. Its set in a US that has been overtaken, after years of crisis, by an authoritarian regime that erodes civil liberties, plays on xenophobic fears and persecutes PAOs (people of Asian origin).

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This article has been compiled from several stories first published in The Sydney Morning Herald on October 28, 1952

Mr. William Morris Hughes, M.P., died at his home in Lindfield, Sydney, at 1.30 this morning. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Billy Hughes with a group of students at Sydney University on March 12, 1952. Credit:Ken Redshaw

Mr. Hughes, who was 88 last month, was Prime Minister of Australia from 1916 to 1922. He became ill just over two weeks ago, but rallied remarkably.

Mr. Hughes was in the forefront of Australias national life for more than half a century.
Private health insurers are calling for Medicare to stop funding spinal cord stimulators after a controversial new study concluded the expensive devices were no better than a placebo for treating a key type of chronic pain.

The stimulators are small computers surgically wired into the spinal cord. They are mostly used to treat chronic pain or back pain, in theory by sending electrical pulses to mask or interrupt nerve signals before they get to the brain.

An x-ray showing a spinal cord stimulator in situ.

Their use is growing fast, with the global industry expected to be worth almost $3 billion USD by 2025.

Studies have shown they are safe and effective. But independent scientists argue those studies are biased because they are funded by the manufacturers of the devices or run by surgeons who have received industry funding.
Lizzie Gordon was only five when her parents packed up their four children, two birds, two dogs and the family cat and drove from Queensland to Warialda, in north-west NSW, to take on the towns sole general practitioner clinic.

Now a GP herself, Lizzie is back in her home town, helping her parents tend to their 6000 patients, while also caring for her 21-month-old daughter and five-month-old twins. When the clinic lost its GP registrar in August, she moved to full-time hours and works mostly from home, doing phone consultations.

Dr Lizzie Gordon (centre) at her home in Warialda with her fellow GP parents Clem Gordon and Di Coote, and her daughters. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Mum and Dad have been doing this job for 33 years, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, she said after a broken nights sleep, babe in arms.

Dads 69 and Mums 67, so they are certainly at the other end of their career, and they have still got a lot of pressure on them. Absolutely I worry about their health, and where that leaves me when they need to step back  what will that look like for Warialda.
Champagne at Hugo exhibition

French conversation matched the champagne, served against a background of books in the Mitchell Library, when Victor Hugo admirers gathered at an exhibition to mark the sesqui-centenary of the poet and patriots birth. After looking at the collection of documents, books and photographs illustrating his life, most of the smartly dressed women present listened to an address given by M. Georges Talon, lecturer in French at Sydney University.

Mr. W.M. Hughes, M.P., dead

Mr. William Morris Hughes, M.P., died at his home in Lindfield, Sydney, at 1.30 this morning. He died peacefully in his sleep. Mr. Hughes, who was 88 last month, was Prime Minister of Australia from 1916 to 1922. He became ill just over two weeks ago, but rallied remarkably. Mr. Hughes was in the forefront of Australias national life for more than half a century, being a member of the Federal Parliament, without a break, from its inception.

Memorial to settlement
Queenslands Labor government is coming under pressure from both the political left and right to tear up its longstanding exclusivity agreement with Airtrain to run public transport services to Brisbane Airport.

Greens MP Michael Berkman said the 35-year agreement, which was signed by the Borbidge Coalition government but came in force under the Beattie Labor government, had resulted in exorbitant fares and a disincentive for airport users to catch the train.

Greens MP Michael Berkman wants the state to buy out Airtrains contract. Credit:Matt Dennien/Supplied

The renewed pressure came a fortnight after Brisbane City Council public transport chairman Ryan Murphy, a member of the LNP, called for an end to Airtrains exclusive airport access to enable Brisbane Metro to service the precinct.

At the time, Transport Minister Mark Bailey suggested the council could foot the bill for breaking the contract with Airtrain.
The man who blew the whistle on alleged war crimes committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan will face prosecution.

Lawyers for former military lawyer David McBride withdrew an application to have him protected under whistleblower laws after the Commonwealth moved to suppress expert evidence.

David McBride has withdrawn his application for protection under whistleblower laws. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Two experts were set to support McBrides case, but commonwealth lawyers sought to have their testimony quashed under public interest immunity laws.

The laws suppress information that would prejudice the public interest if they were made public.
Anthony Albanese has been accused of bullying Liberal National Party MP Michelle Landry, who left the House of Representatives visibly upset during question time after the prime minister responded to her question by mocking Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

The interaction began when Albanese mentioned the Yeppen floodplain and Dutton interjected in an attempt to correct the prime minister over the pronunciation of Yeppoon, a different location, and Albanese seized on the interruption to target the opposition leader for confusing the two locations.

The video footage of the incident showed Albanese mocking Dutton, a Queenslander, for not knowing about Queensland roads.

The Speaker of the House, Milton Dick, concluded he did not see the prime minister show any disrespect to Landry.
We transported to the left bank the remains of the holy prince that were in St Catherines Cathedral, Saldo said in an interview broadcast on Russian television. We transported Potemkin himself. Local Ukrainian activists confirmed that the church had been looted and that, along with the bones, statues of venerated Russian heroes had been removed. By the count of historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of the book Catherine the Great and Potemkin, it was the ninth time Potemkins restful peace had been interrupted. Montefiore said in an interview that shortly after his books publication in 2000, the Kremlin contacted him to say how much Putin admired his work. But Montefiore said Thursday that Putins reading of history was deeply flawed and that his war has reduced to ruins Ukrainian cities such as Mariupol and Mykolaiv that Potemkin and early Russian imperialists helped to build. (The term Potemkin village was coined to describe an impressive facade constructed to hide an undesirable state of affairs, although Montefiore says the term was incorrectly ascribed to the prince, whose achievements in present-day Ukraine were real.) Potemkin would have despised Putin and everything he stands for, he said. Potemkin and Catherine, he said, regarded that area as a cosmopolitan window onto the Mediterranean, populated by a vibrant mix of people of different ethnicities and national backgrounds.

The destruction of the cities that Potemkin helped build, he said, has cast Putin in the role of destroying those earlier triumphs. Loading The plundering of Potemkins grave is of a piece with Russias efforts to obliterate Ukrainian identity. Russian forces have destroyed and systematically looted Ukrainian treasures, including Ukrainian Orthodox churches, national monuments and cultural heritage sites. They sent specialists to abscond with gold antiquities from the Scythian culture dating back 2,300 years. As of October 24, UNESCO, the United Nations agency, had documented damage and destruction in more than 200 cultural locations. But the bones of Potemkin, a famed military commander and statesman, have added resonance for the Kremlin. Montefiore, who chronicled the outrageously libertine lifestyle and exuberant political triumphs of Potemkin and Catherine, noted the special place in history the pair hold for Putin and the ultranationalists, as they try to meld the gilded majesty of the Romanov empire with the grim glory of a Stalinist superpower into a peculiar modern hybrid.

Russian rulers have not always viewed the legacy of Potemkin and Catherine admiringly  a fact underscored by the story of what has happened to Potemkins remains over the centuries. When Potemkin died in 1791, the grieving empress ordered a grand funeral and had his body brought to Kherson, where it was displayed uncovered in a specially constructed tomb in a crypt, Montefiore wrote. By the time Catherine died in 1796, it had become something of a pilgrimage site, infuriating her son and successor, Paul I, who ruled Russia until his assassination in 1801. He ordered that Potemkin be buried in an unmarked grave, with some reports suggesting that he directed a local official to smash and scatter Potemkins bones in the nearby Devils Gorge. For years, it was unclear if the orders were carried out. It was not until 1818 that a search of the crypt established that the remains were still there. In 1859 and again in 1873 the grave was opened again to determine that the remains were indeed those of the great prince. A telltale triangular hole in the skull, left there as part of the embalming process, established that they were.

As the Bolshevik Revolution raged, the crypt at St. Catherines was opened yet again and, as Montefiore noted in his book, there were yellowed photographs of revolutionaries holding up the remains. Loading In 1930, a young writer visited St. Catherines, which the Communists had renamed Khersons Anti-Religious Museum. He found two strange exhibits holding the skull of Catherine IIs lover Potemkin and the bones of Catherine IIs lover Potemkin. Soon after the discovery, the remains were buried yet again in the crypt. The grave was opened again in the 1980s by officials seeking to confirm the identity of the remains.
PHILIPSBURG:--- With a majority of the islands secondary school students in the vocational tract, it is no surprise that many often want to continue their education at a higher level. Having the right information can often make a world of difference to these future professionals.

With this in mind, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport will be hosting a workshop entitled My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in Rooms 202-203 at the University of St. Martin.

The aim is to inform the graduates of PSVE/VSBO and their parents about the options for further education and also to offer them more clarity on the subject matter, SSSD officials indicated. They added that many times graduates from PSVE/VSBO complain that they cannot find schools or there are not many options for them, but many fail to realize that there is no cookie-cutter approach to education.

Some parents are not even aware of what the system entails, SSSD officials said while stressing that these parents should also attend this workshop.

The Voorbereidend Secundair Beroepsonderwijs (VSBO) or Preparatory Secondary Vocational Education (PSVE) system has three sections  PBL, PKL and TKL and each offer different options. Milton Peters College is the only secondary school that offers all three sections while the St. Maarten Academy and Sundial School only offer two (PBL and PKL). The graduates from these vocational schools have the possibility of continuing their education in St. Maarten, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, the Netherlands, the United States, or Canada, but they have to be aware of what their options are and what it takes to be successful, SSSD official said.

Rather than complaining, it is wiser to obtain information from workshops like these, the schools themselves, or research what options there are for continuing your education, SSSD officials said. The workshop, which is open to students in the last two years of the PBL, PKL, and TKL sections and recent graduates and their parents, will highlight many studies or educational opportunities for these students. The specific requirements for success and the technicalities will also be outlined.

Moving from vocational education to a higher level or even to academic education is often not without its challenges, but it can be done and it is up to the individual, SSSD officials indicated.

The My PBL, PKL and TKL Education and Beyond workshop will highlight opportunities to study in English as well as in Dutch. Students are encouraged to register, in advance for the workshop since space is limited. If parents or students have any questions on these workshops, they can contact the Student Support Services Division at telephone 543-1235 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, speech language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services, parent sessions, and crisis response.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Public meeting on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

The Public meeting is scheduled for 10.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1. Incoming documents

2. Ratification of the decision list of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) held from September 27-30, 2022 in the Hague, the Netherlands (IS/048/2022-2023 dated September 30, 2022)

3. Thank the Chair for her services thus far and relieve her from her duties (IS/026/2022-2023 dated September 20, 2022)



This agenda point was requested by MP W.V. Marlin, MP G.C. Pantophlet, MP A.J.G. Romou, MP R. Brison, MP A.E. Arrindell, MP C.E. Brownbill, MP S.M. Bijlani and MP H.L. Richardson.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maartens firefighters are fed up with the government and decided to stage a protest on Thursday morning. A large group gathered in front of the government administration building.

The grievances have to do with the so-called Function Book dealing with promotions of the firefighters and outdated equipment among other grievances.

Several meetings were put off or moved, so members had enough and decided to stage the protest Thursday morning.
18:00 | Lima, Oct. 26.

"This is a confidence boost for our country, for macroeconomic policy. It recognizes that political noise has not generated an impact on the country's macroeconomic fundamentals," he told Andina news agency.









The government official stressed that this announcement means an opportunity to craft an agenda which allows the economy to reactivate and increase potential GDP.





"It leaves us calm in the sense that this rating reflects the current moment in Peru," he emphasized.





However, the economist acknowledged that there is an institutional challenge. He went on to add that there are issues which can be improved.





Short-term goal





Deputy Minister Contreras stated that the short-term objective is to regain our rating (downgraded by another rating agency).





"We want to be 'BBB+' once again. Thus, we are working on giving confidence to investors, creating an environment of stability, and proposing measures that contribute to potential growth," he expressed.





In that case he said political stability is key to improving the credit rating.





"If we see it from an international perspective, more than 30 countries have suffered downgrades in their credit ratings. So, the fact that S&P maintains the rating outlook reflects the progress and the implementation of the measures from the Peru Boost Plan , which we hope will be approved at Congress soon. This way we will continue to give positive signs for the recovery of confidence," he indicated.





Unlocking of investments





It will also give economic agents more peace of mind, which would favor the unlocking of investments as it allays fears, Contreras said.





(END) SDD/MVB
The ratings winner also welcomes an array of stellar guest stars to its sandy shores throughout the Christmas special and new seriesLes Dennis (Coronation Street) and Siobhan McSweeney (Derry Girls) will spend Christmas in the Caribbean as they join the Death in Paradise series regulars Ralf Little (D.I Neville Parker), Don Warrington (Commissioner Selwyn Patterson), Elizabeth Bourgine (Catherine Bordey) Tahj Miles (Officer Marlon Pryce), Shantol Jackson (D.S Naomi Thomas) and Ginny Holder (Darlene Curtis) for the BBC crime dramas second ever festive feature-length special, airing later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.The ratings winner also welcomes an array of stellar guest stars to its sandy shores throughout the Christmas special and new series, including: Chelsea Edge (I Hate Suzie), Robert Webb (Peep Show), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Black Sails), Jo Martin (Doctor Who), Christopher Villiers (Top Secret!), Kevin Eldon (Sanditon), Amit Shah (Happy Valley), Jo Hartley (After Life), Barney Walsh (The Larkins), John Michie (Coronation Street), Fiona Button (The Split), Okorie Chukwu (Kate & Koji), Gamba Cole (The Outlaws), Cara Theobald (Downton Abbey) and more.As Death in Paradise continues into its twelfth year - providing some much-needed escapism with its glistening seas and bright blue skies - the award-winning murder mystery will see Saint Maries crack squad of crime solving stars investigating even more baffling and brainteasing cases. The end of last series saw Selwyn hit with a bombshell from the blue, leaving fans eager to see how the Commissioner will come to terms with the knowledge that he has a daughter...Christmas in Saint Marie takes a spooky turn this year when an old case of Selwyns comes back to haunt him following the murder of a true crime podcaster on the hunt for a missing child. Marlon is forced to spend the night in a haunted house and Darlene takes a hard look at her life choices. And after a chance encounter in an airport car park, could love finally be in the air for Neville Parker?The new series kicks off with the mysterious death of a celebrity astronomer and a change of job for Darlene. We also meet a bunch of Preppers digging in for the apocalypse on a Saint Marie hillside, when the end comes dramatically early for one of them. An impossible killing on a boat takes the team to a beautiful beach under threat, and an apparently straightforward domestic murder twists into what could be Neville's greatest ever challenge...2021s first-ever festive special gained an audience of over 8.8 million, making it the third most watched show of the festive period (based on all-screens 30+ days figures). Licensed to over 230 territories across the globe, Death in Paradise is much loved by audiences worldwide often proving to be the best performing drama on its respective channel in each region.Death in Paradise is a Red Planet Pictures production for the BBC made with the support of the region of Guadeloupe and internationally distributed by BBC Studios. The feature length episode and series 12 is executive produced by Tim Key and Ceri Meyrick for Red Planet Pictures and Tommy Bulfin for BBC and produced by Candida Julian-Jones.All series of Death in Paradise are currently available on BBC iPlayer.
Algiers, 22 October 2022 (SPS) - The United Nations should opt for a new approach to the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara that must be in line with the new requirements, said the member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, in charge of Europe and the European Union (EU), Oubi Bouchraya Bachir.



"The time has come for the United Nations to find a new formula in line with current requirements", recalling that the Sahrawis have always been committed to facilitating the mission of the United Nations, Mr. Oubi Bouchraya to APS, Wednesday evening in Algiers, at the end of the preparatory work of the 46th conference of the European Coordination for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), scheduled to take place in Berlin on December 2 and 3.



"The UN has appointed an experienced diplomat in the person of Staffan de Mistura as personal envoy of the SG, to revive the process, but the resolution of the conflict in Western Sahara does not depend on him, but rather on the Security Council.



"The failure of the Council to adapt its approach encourages the Moroccan occupier to continue its headlong rush and some countries of the European Union (EU) friends of Morocco to try to circumvent the decision of the European Court of Justice which was clear," he regretted.



The Saharawi official indicated, moreover, that the conflict in Western Sahara is "now at a historic turning point and the year 2023 will be decisive for the future of the liberation struggle of the Saharawi people".



062/T
Pretoria, 24 October 2022 (SPS) - The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) has welcomed the recent state visit to South Africa by President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali.



In a statement, NEC reaffirmed the ANCs support for the right of the Sahrawi People to self-determination and rejected the position by the Kingdom of Morocco that an autonomous Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty is the only acceptable solution. This position stands in opposition to the will of the Saharawi People, and resolutions of the United Nations, UN Security Council and the African Union (AU).



The NEC welcomed the high-level deliberations between President Ghali and President Ramaphosa. It commended the principled and steadfast leadership provided by President Ramaphosa in committing to elevate South Africas bilateral relationship with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to a Strategic Partnership. The Alliance called for this to be translated into a deepening of bi-lateral economic and trade relations with the Sahrawi Republic.



The ANC, together with its Alliance partners has resolved to strengthen its solidarity with the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi People, by engaging in intensified united action on the domestic and international fronts for their national liberation and self-determination.



062/T
Hoy el Consejo de Ministros acordo levantar el Estado de Emergencia por COVID-19, gracias al avance de la vacunacion y la disminucion de casos. Se derogan todas las restricciones. La medida sera oficializada proximamente. A quienes no se han vacunado, les instamos a hacerlo. pic.twitter.com/IgO1EXpays
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The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that on Thursday, a number of 90,693 people entered Romania through border points throughout the country, of whom 7,272 were Ukrainian citizens, decreasing by almost 11 percent compared to the previous day, told Agerpres.

According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Tuesday, approximately 176,400 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 52,000 means of transportation, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out.

As of 10 February 2022 (the pre-conflict period), a number of 2,679,856 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania.

In the relevant areas - the border crossing points and the "green border," the border policemen discovered 49 illegalities (23 offenses and 26 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, with the amount of fines enforced exceeding 16,000 lei.

On Wednesday, a number of 37 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they didn't meet the requirements stipulated by the law, while a number of 18 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons.
El Jefe de Estado @PedroCastilloTe lidero la entrega del Plan Maestro Piura, en la provincia de Chulucanas; plan que permitira ejecutar obras en rio Piura y de drenaje pluvial para beneficio de mas de 500 mil ciudadanos. pic.twitter.com/gN80iXdcnN
Army Chief of Staff, General Daniel Petrescu, met on Thursday at the headquarters of the National Defense Ministry with the Secretary of Slovakia's National Security Council Pavel Franko, currently on a working visit to Romania, the Defense Ministry said in a release.

The agenda of talks focused on the regional security situation, bolstering bilateral military cooperation, the allied security architecture, as well as best practices in the combat of hybrid threats.

The Romanian Chief of Defense highlighted the good relations between the two armies in an allied and regional context, pointing out the participation of the Romanian and Slovak troops in the exercises of the Tisa Multinational Engineer Battalion, a regional initiative that also includes Hungarian and Ukrainian forces.

The two top military officials expressed mutual appreciation for the support the two countries provide each other with the activity of the multinational allied commands deployed to each of them, as well as for the filling of certain positions with NATO's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Center of Excellence (EOD) in Slovakia, and the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Centre of Excellence in Romania. AGERPRES
In order to decide the party's candidate for the 2024 presidential elections, there will be a race within the party, after a statutory amendment will be made in this regard at the next Congress, on Thursday evening told a news conference in southern Craiova the president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu.

"I told my colleagues and I had a discussion with them before making this announcement, that from now on a custom has ended in the PSD, that is, the president of the party was by right the candidate for the position of president (of Romania, ed. n.). We have to decide this through a statutory amendment that we will make next year, in order to fit in, however, the elections you are asking me about are at the end of 2024. After that amendment in Congress, I automatically announced that there will be a race for those who want to run for the position of president, within the party. (...) Not a handful of people decide who the candidate is. Just like today, in a broad conference, with mayors, vice mayors, councilors, parliamentarians, they will decide who among those who entered the race represents them best, by vote. So it's a democratic system and, I repeat, we made a mistake somewhere if we lost four times, it means we made a mistake. We have to fix that," Marcel Ciolacu said.

The PSD leader also said, in the context of a comment by journalists about Mircea Geoana and Alexandru Rafila as possible candidates, that currently everyone should focus on the position for which they were voted.

"You should know that Minister Daea, who is next to me, is a person who cannot be neglected as a candidate for the president of Romania," added the head of the PSD.

"Let me do what I know," replied the Minister of Agriculture, Petre Daea.AGERPRES
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca stated, on Thursday, that there are positive prospects for Romania to have the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism lifted, after the meeting he had in Brussels with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, supplemented by the technical discussions that the Minister of Justice, Catalin Predoiu, had with EC Vice-President Vera Jourova and the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders.

"As far as the CVM is concerned, we had discussions that are related to the entire technical process through which the Justice laws were drafted. There were technical discussions that Minister Predoiu held at the level of the Commission both with Commissioner Reynders and Ms. Jourova, and there are also positive prospects for Romania to have this chapter of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism lifted," the PM declared, in a press conference, at the end of his two-day working visit in Brussels.

He emphasized that, following the meeting he had with the Romanian MEPs on Thursday, they agreed on a joint action to fulfill the objectives related to the lifting of the CVM and accession to the Schengen area.

"At the meeting I had with the MEPs, I want to emphasize only one aspect. It was a very beneficial meeting and, practically, regardless of the political color, we agreed together to use all our resources and do so in such a way that we can see what the lifting of the CVM and the accession to the Schengen area means, both national objectives that we must bring to an end. Once again, the political color does not matter, the national objective part matters," Ciuca added.AGERPRES
Fluor Corporation (the US), Sargent & Lundy (the US), SNC Lavalin (Canada) and Framatome (France) companies will explore cooperation opportunities in the civil nuclear area, both in terms of the development of traditional and advanced nuclear reactors, with Nuclearelectrica, Minister of Energy Virgil Popescu announced on his Facebook page.

"Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm is a supporter of development and innovation in the area of energy, including in Romania. Today [Wednesday], on the sidelines of the International Ministerial conference Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, I participated, alongside Jennifer Granholm and Jonathan Wilkinson, the Minister of Natural Resources in Canada, in a very important announcement for the development of the civilian nuclear programme in our country: Fluor Corporation (the US), Sargent & Lundy (the US), SNC Lavalin (Canada) and Framatome (France) companies will explore cooperation opportunities in the civil nuclear area, both in terms of the development of traditional and advanced nuclear reactors, with Nuclearelectrica (Romania)," wrote the Minister, who is attending these days the conference organized by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in Washington, told Agerpres.

He underscored that these four companies are leading global providers of nuclear technology and engineering, procurement and construction management and "bring unparalleled expertise in delivering world-class nuclear power in safety and security, and the partnership with SNN proves the experience and professionalism in the nuclear area which Romania has."

"Through these partnerships, we will also achieve our decarbonization goals and, at the same time, we will strengthen energy independence and security, which are very important in the current geopolitical context. Through cooperation, we will prove that we do not allow energy to be used as a political weapon. The partnership between Romania and the US - Canada and France will bring new opportunities for the future of nuclear energy, as the motto of the conference says 'Atoms for peace and Development'," the Energy Minister added.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is considering funding the construction of units 3 and 4 at the Cernavoda nuclear-power plant, the US Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk told a meeting with Romanian Energy Minister Virgil Popescu, told Agerpres.

"I had a very good business meeting with David Turk - the US deputy secretary of energy - to discuss the latest developments in the projects provided for under the agreement between the government of Romania and the government of the United States of America regarding co-operation in connection with nuclear-power projects at Cernavoda and in the civil nuclear energy sector in Romania. The American official said that the US DoE (Department of Energy) is considering funding for the construction of units 3 and 4 at Cernavoda, in addition to the financial support we will have from EximBank," Popescu wrote on his Facebook page.

According to the minister, the two also discussed "the SMR project, the current situation in our region, including the energy systems of Ukraine and of Moldova, both affected by Russia's aggressive war."

"We said that Romania supports the two countries and we will continue to do so, and we thank the US for the support provided so far and in the future. Romania and the US have a solid strategic partnership, and energy represents an important component now and in the future," Virgil Popescu also said.
Reducing high energy prices requires investments in new capacities with low carbon emissions and nuclear energy is an important component of the energy mix, believes the Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, who is participating these days in Washington, in the ministerial conference Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, organized by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), told Agerpres.

At the opening of the conference, the Minister of Energy gave a speech in which he strongly condemned the use of energy as a political weapon and the war waged by Russia against Ukraine.

"That's why we appreciate the continued support of the US in securing additional LNG supplies to the EU. In the long term, we need to start thinking about Europe's economic recovery. Reducing high energy prices requires investment in new low-carbon energy capacities and adequate financial and administrative support. In our view, nuclear power is an important component of the energy mix, allowing Romania to build on its excellent existing track record in terms of operational safety, as well as to be at the forefront of SMR implementation in the EU," Virgil Popescu wrote on Facebook.

He added that efforts are needed to accelerate nuclear innovation and nuclear power must be placed at the center of political and strategic discussions about security of supply and decarbonization.

"I strongly believe that timely efforts are needed to accelerate nuclear innovation. But I am convinced that in the future, nuclear power must be placed at the center of our political and strategic discussions about security of supply and decarbonisation, and the international community can play an important role in paving the way. Romania is ready to share its experience in the nuclear sector and regarding the implementation of SMRs at the regional level, so that we can join our efforts for a common goal: safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for our consumers. Decarbonization is not possible without nuclear energy," the Minister of Energy said.

He also spoke about the strong partnership with North American and European companies in the nuclear field, since the selection of CANDU technology in the 60s, and recalled that, based on this partnership, the new construction project in Cernavoda, Units 3 and 4, will advance and the renovation of Unit 1 for another 30 years of safe and efficient operation.

"Furthermore, the Agreement between the Government of Romania and the Government of the United States of America on cooperation in connection with the nuclear-energy projects at Cernavoda and in the civil nuclear energy sector in Romania demonstrates the importance of the strategic partnership we have. At the same time, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale will be developing the first small modular reactor (SMR) in Romania on the site of the former thermal power plant in Doicesti, Dambovita County," said the quoted source.
The first regional tourism conference, a two-day event dedicated to the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Mures, officially opened on Thursday to a 200-strong attendance, including authorities from the three counties and Budapest officials.

Present at the event, chairman of the Hungarian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Zsolt Nemeth spoke in his address about the investments made by the government in Budapest in the development of tourism, pointing out that tourism based on local resources can become the engine of the economy in Szeklerland and in Romania.

He added that Hungarian tourists coming to this area are attracted by the "Transylvanian experience", the "Szekler brand" and the local natural beauties, but it is important for them to also be provided with modern amenities such as internet, fast traffic and easy access, financial services or phone service for all these facilities.

President of the Harghita County Council Borboly Csaba emphasized in his speech the need for tourism collaboration among the three counties, arguing that this requires financing and higher tourism allocations. Also, Borboly said that the biggest opportunity for today's tourism is the use of digitization possibilities.

At the same time, he thanked the Hungarian government for supporting investments in tourism in the area and for financing training in this field.

In their turn, Mures County Council president Peter Ferenc, and vice-president of the Covasna County Council Jakab Istvan-Barna pleaded for a good cooperation in promoting the local values, pointing out that the three counties must be partners, not competitors.

President of the Brasov County Council Adrian Ioan Vestea also took part in the event, presenting the stage of works on the Ghimbav airport and emphasized the fact that the counties in the region must pursue an integrated concept, so as to attract as many tourists as possible.

Vice-president of the Harghita County Council, Biro Barna Botond, who is also president of the Harghita Intercommunity Development Association, the initiator of the conference, said that the purpose of this event is to find a common answer to the challenges related to tourism and render the three-county region visible on Romania's tourist map. AGERPRES
Minister of Health Alexandru Rafila said on Thursday, in eastern Bacau, that it is premature to discuss his potential candidacy for the Presidency of Romania, told Agerpres.

Asked, in a press conference, if his candidacy in the presidential elections in 2024 is possible, Alexandru Rafila stated that such a position is honorable, but requires "at least two elements".

"One is related to the clear support of a political party for such a candidacy and another element is related to the conscience and preparation that a person has - and I am not necessarily referring to myself - for such a candidacy which means not only the greatest honor, but also the greatest responsibility in a country. So it is premature and pointless to speculate on this topic," said Alexandru Rafila.
MP Mihai Politeanu announced on Thursday that, together with over 100 members of the Prahova Save Romania Union (USR), he was resigning from the party, accusing that the county branch was placed "under National Liberal Party Prahova and Baron Iulian Dumitrescu."

In a social media post, Politeanu says that 103 signatories of an open letter, including himself, have decided to resign from USR.

"We, the more than 100 signatories of this open letter, members of USR Prahova, decided today to resign together from USR, considering the takeover of the branch by a group of opportunists who, with the active support of USR's national management, decided to place the branch under PNL Prahova and Baron Iulian Dumitrescu. Many other colleagues will resign individually or permanently withdraw from the activity of the branch. The majority of the USR National Bureau and chairman Drula chose, either out of political cynicism, or due to a lack of vision, to prioritise the promotion of individuals obedient to the majority team in the National Bureau of USR and also to PNL, to the detriment of internal democracy, the legitimate values and interests of USR in Prahova, and also of our voters," reads the post, told Agerpres.

The list of signatories published on the MP's Facebook page comprises 103 people, including Politeanu.
NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana argues that he would adopt a policy of fiscal stimulation, targeted public investments, "chasing" foreign investments in the areas of research - development and innovation, told Agerpres.

"I am not the one who believes that if we automatically increase public budgets than the yield also increases, because the state is not yet functioning properly. But, perhaps, we should for this area, if I were to give you a piece of advice from the IT experience of almost 20 years ago, when we came up with an aggressive fiscal policy, in a good way, to stimulate IT&C - and after 20 years we see that it is almost 9pct of the GDP. I would go 'across the board' with a policy of fiscal stimulation, targeted public investments and chasing foreign investments in these areas of research-development, innovation, thus, increasing the volume, dynamics and quality of our participation," Mircea Geoana stated at the "Future of Europe" Conference, organised by the National Bank of Romania (BNR) and the Bucharest University of Economic Studies - the Faculty of International Business and Economics.

He stated that "the innovation effort, the innovation board" are the ones leading at NATO and the institution has access to "everything that means universities, researchers, industries, financial markets and intellectual imagination" at the level of the 32 NATO states, including Sweden and Finland, as future member states

"And I believe that our partners and allies in the West, in this extremely tough competition, mainly with China, in order to keep our technological advantages, which in the end are economic, strategic, military advantages, we need everything that means the innovation ecosystem of the democratic world. Thus, in a way, when Chancellor Scholz, in his speech in Prague, talked about moving Europe's center of gravity toward the East, his lordship - and I too, resumed this topic in my speech - didn't exclusively refer to the purely strategic dimension. Obviously that by cutting Russia off, the arrival of Ukraine, there is another strategic geography of Europe. Therefore, the ones currently existing - the developed, innovative countries and economies, with large capital markets, with very rich universities and an innovation ecosystem - realize that they have to widen the center and that Romania too, as well as the Czech Republic, and Estonia and many other countries that today are somehow in the value chain of the European and transatlantic economy, somewhere below it is in the interest of the developed West that our region grows. But, as the Romanian says: "God helps those who help themselves!," Mircea Geoana stated.

According to him, if we take a look at the investment figures from Romania's public budgets, at central level, but also below-national, in research-development and innovation areas, but also in what Romania's private sector is investing in these areas, we still rank last in Europe.

In this context, Mircea Geoana talked about the fiscal stimulation policy in the area of research-development and innovation.

"Once again, if I were in a position to give a piece of advice - and I do this only with extreme reserve - I would go right away to Germany, to France, to Italy, to America, to Canada, where we have the main sources of investment in the industry and I would start talking right away about the needs so that in their future economic model we can remain part of this process. How? By investing in other types of skills for the workforce, anticipating the changes. Because, if we remain passive and wait for them to change the model and afterwards decide what to do with the ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania, it will probably be very late and we will practically suffer and have special social-economic costs. Therefore, my invitation is to be bold, because the West encourages us to be braver. They need us, we need them. It is not an antagonistic paradigm between Eastern and Western Europe. On the contrary, it's a plea for synergy and innovation and co-design," Mircea Geoana stated.
Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasized, on Thursday, at the Feast of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, that the saints, who bring peace to the soul, are also intercessors before the Most Holy Trinity for peace between peoples, told Agerpres.

"These feasts in which the saints of different nations meet through their relics, by inviting clergymen of Orthodoxy from other Churches, strengthen the Orthodox communion, especially in a time when there is a lot of individualism, a lot of division, a lot of turmoil. We, therefore, consider that the saints who bring peace to our souls are also intercessors before the Most Holy Trinity to bring peace between peoples. We permanently hold prayers for peace here, at the Cathedral, every day, especially since the war broke out in Ukraine," said His Beatitude Daniel to the thousands of pilgrims who participated in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, told Agerpres.

The high hierarch performed the service alongside Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naousa and Kampania, together with 39 hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, priests and deacons.

Patriarch Daniel recalled the promise made by Metropolitan Panteleimon to give Bucharest a piece of the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki the Myrrh-streamer emphasizing that this represents "a joy and an encouragement, as well as an intensification of the bond between our Orthodox peoples, Greek and Romanian".

"Thus, the essence of spiritual life is not the fasting itself, nor the prayer itself, nor asceticism in itself, but the cleansing of the heart from bad thoughts and after that the cleansing of the words, in the sense that bad words and deeds must be avoided," emphasized the Patriarch.

Metropolitan Panteleimon praised the presence on the Hill of Joy, at the Feast of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, of tens of thousands of believers, who came to honour the Holy Relics, "wellsprings of soul and body healing for our illnesses".

"You are therefore privileged and happy, because the grace of God has given you the honour and the blessing of having here in Bucharest such a strong protector, as is your patron saint, Our Venerable Father Demetrius Basarabov the New, who protects the Citadel of Bucharest and its pious people, so that we can all run to him and to the reliquary with his honourable relics, so that we too receive grace, blessing and healing. And it is truly a great blessing in our times when the world is shaken from its foundations by conflicts and wars, by riots and disorder, to have in your midst your holy protector and defender as a strong and unshakable anchor," the Greek Metropolitan said.

Many officials were present on Dealul Mitropoliei, at the Feast of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, such as the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Marcel Ciolacu, the ministers of Labor and Social Solidarity and Investments and European Projects, Marius Budai and Marcel Bolos, the vice-president of the Chamber of Deputies Florin Alexe, the general mayor of the Capital, Nicusor Dan, the head of the Prime Minister's Chancellery, Mircea Abrudean, the president of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Corina Corbu, the president of the National Property Restitution Authority, Cristina Florentina Stanca.

The events organized on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Demetrius the New began last Saturday and will end on Friday. Along with the relics of Saint Demetrius the New, Saints Emperors Constantine and Elena and Saint Hierarch Nectarius of Aegina, those of Saint Hierarch Gregory Palamas, brought from Greece from the Metropolis of Veria, are also being venerated this year.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca has a meeting on Thursday, in Brussels, with the Romanian MEPs, whom he discussed with about Romania's objectives in European context.

"I had a very applied discussion with the Romanian MEPs, a reconfirmation of the fact that, regardless of their political option, we share the priorities of European Romania. I underscored that there is a need for coordination to promote our country's objectives in European context and I appreciated their openness to be part of this joint effort," PM Ciuca stated in a post on the Facebook page of the Government, told Agerpres.

He underscored that Romania is ready to join the Schengen area.

"The positive results of the evaluation mission carried out in the first part of October provides a consistent basis for obtaining the necessary political guarantees for a swift adoption of the accession decision, and this is the message which I asked the Romanian MEPs to support," the PM stated.

Moreover, PM Ciuca showed that the file on energy security remains of great interest.

"Romania fully supports the measures agreed at European level in respect to reducing the energy prices and the security of supply, and it shall use European money to strengthen the measures to protect the citizens and the economy," Gov't head stated.

He also underlined that accessing the available resources through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR) and through the operational programmes requires a permanent effort.

"I underscored the Government's adhesion to implement the commitments assumed through the PNNR and I showed that objective circumstances determine us to request an adjustment of some benchmarks, such as the one regarding the allocation of the percentage of the GDP for pensions," PM Nicolae Ciuca said.

The PM mentioned that on the agenda of all the meetings he had in Brussels also included was the current crisis, generated by Russia's aggression in Ukraine.

"Romania remains a responsible and active contributor for the promotion of European and Euroatlantic security and stability, a standpoint supported by Romania's representatives in the European Parliament. The concrete help we provide to the Republic of Moldova, from an economic point of view, through the supply of energy, wood and funds, is doubled by the support at the level of the European institutions, for speeding up the accession process to the European Union," the Prime Minister added.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca is paying a working visit to Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
The first installment of 2.6 billion euros from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) has been disbursed on Thursday by the European Commission and confirms the objectives assumed by Romania have been fulfilled, informs Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.

According to the head of the Executive, the amount covers reforms that contribute to the digital transition, sustainable mobility, decarbonization, audit and control, education and health, but also preliminary measures in reforming the pension system and taxation.

"Measures to support businesses and to ensure the good governance of the country are also included. We reaffirmed, at the meeting in Brussels with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, our commitment to implementing the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This is our chance to capitalize on these funds," added Ciuca, according to a post on the Government's Facebook page.

Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca was on a working visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.AGERPRES
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca on Thursday stated that all the officials he met with in Brussels emphasized their support for Romania's accession to Schengen, told Agerpres.

"All my interlocutors emphasized the support that Romania enjoys in order to continue and complete the Schengen accession process," the head of Executive told a press conference.

He mentioned the assessment mission on Schengen issues.

"The results of the evaluation committee are as positive as possible and ensure the continuation of the evaluation framework and discussions in order to clarify any problem at the level of any Schengen member state, so that when the decision is made in the JHA Council we can have support based on merit which our country must enjoy, a merit that must be recognized for everything it has achieved in order to meet all the requirements of the Schengen acquis," said the PM.

He said that currently there are some problems that need to be clarified in the bilateral relationship with the Netherlands. In this context, he recalled that the Minister of the Interior, Lucian Bode, sent a letter to his Dutch counterpart for an additional mission regarding Schengen.

"I am convinced that, as it emerged from the meetings and discussions, all these issues will be resolved in a timely manner," Ciuca added.

Nicolae Ciuca is paying a working visit to Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca discussed on Thursday in Brussels with European Transport Commissioner Adina Valean about the importance of completing the projects aimed at increasing the traffic capacity of the Sulina Canal.

"In the Danube Delta, the Sulina Canal is of particular interest, ensuring and increasing its traffic capacity (...) is a goal that must be completed by the end of the year, by providing the necessary documents for approval, so that the project is eligible for all the financial facilities and receives the necessary money," Premier Ciuca told a press conference at the end of his two-day visit to Brussels.

He mentioned that Romania's projects under the Connecting Europe Facility Program were also reviewed at the meeting with Commissioner Valean.

"Developments in railway transport and the continuation of the project for connecting the eastern city of Constanta to Bucharest, Brasov, Sighisoara with the western border by a northern and a southern route were also highlighted, as well as the continuation and completion of the Timisoara - Caransebes - Drobeta-Turnu Severin - Craiova - Bucharest rail transport project, with two connections from Bucharest to Giurgiu, and the continuation of the project for the construction of the second Danube bridge, the electrification of the Craiova - Calafat railway, thus linking the Romanian to the Bulgarian electrified railway component," the Prime Minister explained.

According to him, aspects regarding the development of road transport infrastructure were also approached, with emphasis on the continuation of the second stage of the Fast Danube Project.

"The first stage was completed. We must continue coordination and cooperation with the Bulgarian side, so that we devise a joint project for the second stage and thus ensure the continuity of this project," Nicolae Ciuca said. AGERPRES
Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca said on Wednesday that the budget to be allocated in 2023 for research and development will be doubled, if not tripled.

The announcement was made at a meeting with leaders of the Romanian and Belgian business community at the residence of the Romanian ambassador to Belgium Andreea Pastarnac.

"The government is aware of what mean the over 4 million Romanian professionals in various fields, highly qualified professionals who carry out their activity outside Romania and support the economies of the countries where they carry out their activity and also support Romania, because some of them have a significant contribution to what the Romanian economy means. (...) It makes us proud when we meet leaders from the partner states who come and tell us how many Romanians of high professional standing they meet in their countries, how much they appreciate the Romanian community, and it is our duty, a responsibility at a governmental level to offer the possibility that businessmen, Romanians who carry out their activity in other countries can benefit and of what the Romanian government can provide, in support and development of the businesses they own," said Ciuca, told Agerpres.

He mentioned the measures adopted this year by the government to convince Romanian citizens that it is worth turning their attention to their native country.

"The government has released a 40-million-euro programme for 1,000 companies abroad that are managed by Romanians. I would like to mention that under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) the government has allocated 168 million euros to attract high-level specialists in research and innovation. (...) The program can be accessed until November 15 (...) and the cap per project is set at 1.5 million euros over three years. It is a programme that we really want a lot for Romanian researchers from abroad to access and be part of everything we are trying to do now."

Ciuca added that research and development in Romania is not "exactly in the best shape," because in the last national budget research and development public spending was 0.17%.

"We have analysed and we were able to come to the conclusion that even if we came now with 1%, there is still no framework in place to make sure the money is spent. And there is one additional condition - that this spending should not be done on papers and files, but on practical things that will have an impact and produce added value through their subsequent application in the economy. For next year, the budget will be at least double, if not triple, because our intention is to have as real a picture as possible of what can be done and, little by little we will begin to secure the due attention to this field of research and development. We are aware that Romanians need real opportunities and programmes."

Ciuca told the entrepreneurs in attendance that business development in the two countries has contributed to the strengthening of bilateral relations between Romania and Belgium.

He told them that they are welcome to start up in business in Romania, considering the opportunities offered, both by projects funded under PNRR, as well as in the context of the measures taken by the government.

Ciuca mentioned a recent decision taken by the Romanian government regarding the issuing of single industrial licenses.

He also pointed to estimates by international institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, regarding Romania's economic growth, which should get past 4.5% at the end of 2022.

Also attending the meeting was Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu.
Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca stated that within the discussions with President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leryen regarding the fulfillment of the commitments Romania has assumed within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR), also discussed, among other matters, was the topic of adjusting some targets and benchmarks and the possibility of replacing the provision regarding the percentage of 9.4pct of the GDP for pensions with an indicator related to financial discipline, told Agerpres.

"We also discussed the aspect of adjusting a series of benchmarks and targets, so that they can be achieved by 2026. The pension chapter is of great interest. I specifically discussed this aspect, I presented that there is that limit of 9.4pct in the PNRR for the pensions budget and we agreed that it is possible to replace this indicator with another one, which takes into account the World Bank study and an indicator of financial discipline," PM Nicolae Ciuca told a press conference on Thursday, at the end of his working visit to Brussels.

The PM mentioned that the discussion with the EC President was one of principle, following to go over the technical details at the level of experts.
The president of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Marcel Ciolacu, declared, on Thursday evening, in southern Craiova, that the social democrats chose to enter the government, because at that moment Romania had reached an "economic, sanitary and social disaster", and today some of the partners of the coalition try to forget this truth, sometimes, they try to manipulate this truth through certain statements.

According to the PSD leader, from November 2019 until November 2021, public debt increased by 139 billion RON, almost 2% of Romania's GDP, from 36.9% of GDP to 49%, "more precisely, from 364.9 billion RON to 557.8 billion RON: 139 billion RON."

"On the deficit: worse. The PSD left the country's finances at a budget deficit of 2.8% in October 2019. Experts Citu and Valceanu who were in finance raised the deficit to an astronomical figure in 2020, of almost 10% of GDP. We are the only European country that has an agreement with the European Commission to return to the 3% deficit, although all European countries have exceeded the 3% deficit. (...) I think you still remember the purchases from the pandemic and we also expect now to find out the truth from the anti-graft directorate (DNA)," Ciolacu added.

According to Ciolacu, this money is neither in schools, nor in kindergartens, nor in Motorways, nor in agriculture, "but in the pockets of crooks".

"Furthermore, this spending spree continued in 2021. When PSD took over the country's finances, the deficit was already 4.7%. I sit and wonder how stupid one can be to come and accuse the Minister of Finance and PSD of how expensive they borrow and why do we make loans. I think things must be said very clearly and see exactly whose fault it is. The fault is theirs," the PSD president concluded.AGERPRES
The social democrats will make the nomination for the position of prime minister "when the time comes", said the Social Democratic Party (PSD) chair, Marcel Ciolacu, on Thursday evening in southern Craiova, adding that he believes that there will be no problems next year regarding the rotation of the position of prime minister.

When asked when the PSD will make the nomination for prime minister, the PSD president answered: "when the time will come", and when asked if the president Iohannis will sign the decree for a PSD prime minister, Ciolacu replied that he does not think there will be problems.

Marcel Ciolacu also said that in the situation where there are problems with the rotation, the only solution is to return to the vote of the Romanians.

"Please, at the first conference of the president, ask him the question. I believe that there are no problems with the rotation in May, absolutely none. If there are problems with the rotation in May, we have only one solution, we return to the vote of the Romanians," Ciolacu said.AGERPRES
The re-opening of rail traffic between Romania and Ukraine through the Campulung la Tisa border point was analyzed with the representatives of the military administration from the Transcarpathia region, the Prefect of Maramures County, Rudolf Stauder informed on Thursday.

"I am confident that together we will be able to put into operation the section Teresva (Ukraine) - Campulung la Tisa (Romania) - via Sighetu Marmatiei - Valea Viseului (Romania) - Dilove and Berlibas (Ukraine) as quickly as possible, and thus develop this transport link which will have a positive impact on the economy of Maramures county. (...) I also visited the border crossing point on the Romanian-Ukrainian railway at Campulung to Tisa. It is very important to make this point operational again, which activity has been suspended since 2007, being an important freight transport link between Romania-Ukraine and Europe," said Rudolf Stauder, told Agerpres.

According to him, participating in the working meeting were the head of the consular office from Solotvino, Florin Parvu, the president of the State Military Administration of the Transcarpathia Region - Viktor Mykyta, the head of the Sighetu Marmatiei customs office, representatives of the management of the Sighetu Marmatiei Territorial Inspectorate of the Border Police, the City Hall and of the Romanian Railways.

Also, the prefect of Maramures county discussed with Viktor Mykyta about the support actions that the local authorities have organized since the first day of the war in Ukraine, together with NGOs, representatives of the business milieu, civil society and public institutions in Maramures.

At the same time, the prefect of Maramures county reiterated that the reopening of the border crossing point on the railway from Campulung to Tisa is an objective supported by the president of the Maramures County Council, Ionel Bogdan.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the representatives of the Chamber of Advocates/ Lawyers Order (Ordre Des Avocats ) of the city of Montpelier.

The Human Rights Defender Ms. Kristinne Grigoryan held a meeting with the Batonnier of the Lawyers Order (Ordre Des Avocats)/Chamber of Advocates of Montpelier Mr. Nicola Bedel de Buzareingues, and representatives Mr. Luke Kyghkyashaghyan, Mr. Amin Faraj, and Ms. Naira Zoroyan.

The Defender welcomed and thanked the representatives of the Chamber for their work to protect the rights of Armenian Prisoners of War, and presented the Defender's functions, role and mandate.

The Defender referred to the visits and monitoring conducted in closed institutions, and informed that the activities conducted during the year are summarized in the reports of the Human Rights Defender.

The Defender referred to the applications received by the citizens, and underlined that in recent years, the number of applications that received positive solutions through the intervention of the Defender has been increasing: Our goal is not to say that a violation of a right has occurred (by a state body), but to work to restore the violated right noted Ms. Grigoryan.

The Defender mentioned about the situation of human rights and democracy in Armenia, emphasizing security issues.

The Defender mentioned the consequences of the September 13-14 Azerbaijani military attack on the sovereign territory of Armenia, presented the continuous violations of rights and war crimes, which were registered in the ad hoc reports of the Defender.

Ms. Grigoryan spoke about the trials of Armenian Prisoners of War in Baku, stressing that they are artificial and aimed at terrorizing their family members and the Armenian society.

The Batonnier of the Lawyers Order (Ordre Des Avocats)/Chamber of Advocates of Montpelier Mr. Nicola Bedel de Buzareingues thanked the Defender for the reception, noting that it was very important to be informed about the situation in Armenia, and to present it to the international community.
As many as 478 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania, down 88 from the previous day, with almost 13,000 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Thursday, told Agerpres.

Of the new cases, 106 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 - 148, and Cluj County - 43.

The highest 14-day notification rate is in Bucharest City - 0.89, followed by Cluj County - 0.66, and Sibiu County- 0.59.

As of Thursday, 3,285,394 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania.

- Hospitalisations -

As many as 779 people with COVID-19, up nine from the previous reporting, including 50 minors, are hospitalised in Romania at specialist care facilities.

Out of the total number of hospitalised patients, 106 are in intensive care, including two minors.

Of the 106 patients admitted to ICU, 95 are unvaccinated against COVID-19.

- Deaths -

According to the ministry, five Romanians, four men and one woman, are reported dead in the last 24 hours.

Of the five deaths, two were recorded in the age group 60-69 years, two in the age group 70-79 years, and one in the age group over 80 years.

Four deaths were in patients with comorbidities, and one death was in a vaccinated patient.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 67,174 people diagnosed with the SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.
Billionaire Elon Musk said on Wednesday he was entering Twitter Inc.s San Francisco office, days ahead of a court-ordered deadline to close his $44 billion deal for the social media platform.

Entering Twitter HQ  let that sink in! said the caption of a video that Musk tweeted in which he was walking into the Twitter office carrying a sink in his hands.

Hours earlier, he hinted at being the companys top boss after updating his profiles bio to Chief Twit.

Twitter confirmed Musk would visit the San Francisco office this week, but declined to comment further.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that banks have started to send $13 billion in cash backing Musks takeover of Twitter in a sign that the deal is on track to close by the end of the week.

Once final closing conditions are met, the funds will be made available for Musk to execute the transaction by the Friday deadline, the report added.

Morgan Stanley, Barclays and Bank of America did not respond to Reuters requests for comment on the WSJ report.

In the six months of dramatic back-and-forth since Musk announced his $54.20 per share bid, Twitter initially resisted the deal by adopting a poison pill and later sued the worlds richest man after he announced plans to abandon the offer on concerns about spam accounts on the platform.

Earlier this month, Musk proposed to proceed with his original $44 billion bid, calling for an end to the lawsuit by Twitter.

The Tesla Inc. CEO notified co-investors who committed to help fund the Twitter deal that he plans to close it by Friday, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Equity investors including Sequoia Capital, Binance, Qatar Investment Authority and others have received the requisite paperwork for the financing commitment from Musks lawyers, Reuters reported.

Twitter shares were up about 1.1% at $53.91 in extended trading, slightly below Musks offer price.
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.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Americans again called on Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz to end his complicity in Turkeys Armenian Genocide denial, at a protest organized by the ANC of Pennsylvania (ANC-PA), timed with the televised debate between Dr. Oz and his opponent, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, ANCA reported.

Protesters shared their concerns with local, national, and international media in the run-up to the debate, noting Dr. Ozs refusal to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, his close ties of Turkeys dictator Recep Erdogan, and concerns that a Dr. Oz victory would open the door to foreign influence in the U.S. Senate.

Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, who issued a series of statements outlining his support for Armenian Genocide affirmation and education as well as a broad range of Armenian and Greek American concerns. Lt. Governor Fetterman stated:

As a Pennsylvanian, I welcomed long overdue U.S. government recognition of the Armenian Genocide  by the U.S. House and Senate in 2019 and by President Biden in 2021  and will, as a U.S. Senator, support promoting public education about this atrocity.

I support policy provisions  adopted recently by the U.S. House as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)  that require close U.S. scrutiny of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan (Speier Amendment), call for State Department and Pentagon reports on Azerbaijani war crimes (Cardenas Amendment), and demand Azerbaijans release of Armenian prisoners of war (Schiff Amendment). 

I join with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez in calling for an immediate suspension of U.S. military aid to Azerbaijan and a robust U.S. humanitarian aid program for the victims of Azerbaijani aggression in both Artsakh and Armenia.
ST. LOUIS  A mother is suing the state Department of Corrections to force the agency to release medical and investigative reports connected to her sons death from a drug overdose while in custody, citing Missouris Sunshine Law.

A prison employee told Mary James her son died at Mercy Hospital on June 1 after he got ahold of K2, or synthetic marijuana, while incarcerated at the Northeast Correctional Center in Pike County, according to the lawsuit.

James filed four Sunshine requests for her sons records, as well as prison policies and procedures. The Department of Corrections records department has produced heavily redacted documents and unrelated documents and denied or ignored the specifics of her requests, according to the lawsuit filed in Cole County on Wednesday by attorneys from the ACLU and ArchCity Defenders.

The Departments illegal withholding of records has only worsened Ms. James pain, said Gillian Wilcox, deputy director for litigation at the ACLU of Missouri. She is not only grieving over the death of her son but also cannot get basic information about how he died.

Mary James son, LeVaughn Dupree James, had been in prison since 2018 for stealing from a Ruths Chris steakhouse in downtown St. Louis, after multiple convictions for stealing and other nonviolent crimes. While incarcerated in Pike County, James said her son called her almost every day until May 22.

That was the day jail staff discovered her son unresponsive. It was not until May 26, after multiple attempts to contact the prisons warden and staff, that Mary James says she learned her son was at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis.

When she arrived, her son was on a ventilator. Doctors informed her that her son had gone into cardiac arrest, diagnosed with acute metabolic encephalopathy, severe sepsis with septic shock, pneumonia, seizure disorder, acute kidney injury, and acute respiratory failure with hypoxia.

She noted in a statement LeVaughn, 45, was her only son.

Im so used to him calling me, cracking jokes with me, asking, Mom, how are you doing? or asking what Im cooking, she said.

According to Missouris Sunshine Law, she is entitled to the public and closed records related to her sons death. She has also asked for an autopsy as well as toxicology, coroner, incident and arrest reports and more.

The petition raises also concerns about the rise in drug overdoses in Missouri prisons, specifically at the prison where LeVaughn James was incarcerated.

This lawsuit is about transparency and a mothers right to know what happened to her son, said Brandon Jackson, staff attorney at ArchCity Defenders. The families of the incarcerated have a right to know whats going on.

The Missouri Department of Corrections declined to comment on the case.
ST. LOUIS  A fund to cover homebuyers down payments and closing costs, with priority given to city employees, would be covered by a new round of federal pandemic aid proposed to the Board of Aldermen.

The $4 million homeownership fund is part of a $93 million measure from Mayor Tishaura O. Jones administration to be introduced at Fridays board meeting.

The money would come from $498 million that the city has gotten over the past two years in American Rescue Plan Act funds appropriated by Congress.

So far, more than $278 million has been allocated by aldermen, most recently $10.6 million for the Regional Arts Commission earlier this month.

Nick Dunne, a spokesman for Jones, said although ARPA funds cant be used to fund pay raises, they can go into some other incentives for employees.

In that vein, aldermen earlier this year approved Jones proposal to use $12 million in ARPA money for one-time $2,000 retention bonuses for city workers.

Details on who would qualify for the down payment and closing cost aid, along with the amounts, have yet to be worked out. Plans also call for employees of other public sector agencies to be given priority in getting the aid.

Among other items in the $93 million bill is a $9 million neighborhood beautification program, involving grass cutting, tree trimming and planting and cleanup efforts.

Dunne said that would be aimed at lower-income areas with numerous abandoned properties and would be in addition to ongoing city efforts in those neighborhoods.

The bill also includes $1 million to provide housing aid to college students who qualify for federal need-based Pell grants.

Another new program proposed would be $500,000 to fund jobs requiring little training for homeless people and other low-income residents who need a starting point toward reentering the work force, Dunne said.

A possible example could be picking up trash, he said.

The measure also would assign $8 million to the city Building Division to stabilize dangerous vacant buildings that are privately owned.

This is something the Building Division has wanted to do but has lacked the funds, Dunne said.

Another new outlay  $500,000  would help lower-income households obtain homeowners insurance. Dunne said some people dont qualify for an existing home repair program funded by previous ARPA allocations because they dont have such insurance.

The bill also allocates $1 million to allow more people to take part in an existing city program to train residents who want to get commercial drivers licenses needed to drive trash trucks and vehicles tied to other jobs.

Much of the money in the measure would add to ongoing city efforts, some of it previously funded through ARPA.

That includes $20 million to build or preserve affordable housing for lower- and moderate-income residents and $20 million for land clearance, site assembly, brownfield remediation and other aid for commercial development.

The purpose of the funding is to address areas of need that have been affected most by the pandemic and its economic effects, he said.

The bills sponsor, Alderman Marlene Davis of the 19th Ward, chairs the boards Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Committee, which likely will be assigned to consider the legislation.

Jones recently also said she would propose $40 million in ARPA funds to make city streets safer with traffic-slowing measures.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Cori Bushs team is expected to become the fifth congressional office to unionize since an organizing campaign launched publicly this year. The St. Louis Democrats staff began voting to form a union on Tuesday.

The vote is the latest development in what has been a busy year for labor organizers on Capitol Hill  which, they say, shows no signs of slowing down as Washington obsesses over the upcoming elections and begins to look ahead to an overstuffed lame-duck session.

Bushs workers will join aides to Reps. Andy Levin of Michigan, Ro Khanna of California, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico. Levins staff was the first to officially vote.

Staff for another five members  all Democrats  have filed petitions with the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to hold elections.

Since the initial eight offices filed petitions when they were first allowed to in July, only two more have done so  staff for Reps. Dina Titus of Nevada and Sean Casten of Illinois. If all form unions, around 100 House staffers out of 9,100 will be represented by the Congressional Workers Union.

The union and its supporters arent worried that the stream of offices organizing hasnt yet turned into a flood.

We are thrilled by the momentum of the historic, worker-led unionization drive taking place on Capitol Hill right now, the CWU said in a written comment. The Congressional Workers Union has already secured substantial wins with more on the way as staff continue to head to the bargaining table  demonstrating just how much can be accomplished when workers come together in solidarity.

Daniel Schuman, policy director at Demand Progress, a left-leaning activist group, praised the action so far in the House and said he expects more offices to unionize soon. He wants the office bargaining units to begin looking at changing more than their own circumstances.

In addition to negotiating workplace benefits, you can also change the rules by which offices operate, which means you can do more to address concerns around harassment, do more about benefits, do more about funding levels for offices, Schuman said, urging the CWU to lobby the House Rules and Appropriations committees.

Up until now, there has always been pressure in one direction, and staff have not been able to sit at the table, he said. Now they will have opportunity to have their voices heard.

After quietly organizing for about a year, the CWU kicked its unionization push into high gear in February after Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would support staff unions. The group approached Levin, who was an organizer for the Service Employees International Union before he came to Congress, asking him to introduce a resolution that would authorize House staffers to organize office by office. He agreed, and in May, the text passed the House.

That capped off a process that began in 1995, when lawmakers passed the Congressional Accountability Act, which removed legislative branch exceptions to a host of federal statutes, including labor laws. But before federal labor rules could apply to Congress, each chamber had to approve regulations issued by OCWRs predecessor agency. The House finally did this year, but the Senate still hasnt.

The lack of Senate action also affects some nonpolitical staff shared between the two chambers, like Congressional Budget Office employees, Schuman said. Hed like to see an authorizing resolution passed during the upcoming lame-duck session.

Some other legislative branch workers, like the Capitol Police, fall under a different category and have been unionized for decades.

With Republicans expected to take back control of the House following Novembers midterm elections, some Hill labor supporters have worried the next Congress might roll back this years gains. Would-be Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he opposes staff unions.

But those fears are needless, said Schuman. First, Schuman believes it would take a federal law repealing parts of the CAA, not merely a House resolution unauthorizing the OCWR regulations, to undo the staff unions.

OCWR is empowered to promulgate and enforce the regulations by federal law. The House cannot regulate the OCWR by resolution, he said, adding that the collective bargaining agreements already in place would remain legally binding.

And as far as Republican members are concerned, Schuman said, unions are just a Democratic headache  no GOP offices have shown an interest in organizing.

Levin lost his primary in August after Michigans redistricting pitted him against fellow incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens. But his office made history earlier this month by becoming the first to agree to a tentative union contract. The goal of completing a collective bargaining agreement that will cover only a few months, both Levin and CWU representatives told CQ Roll Call, is to provide other offices with a template to emulate in their own negotiations.

Levins support for unionizing extends beyond legislative staff and to the other side of the Capitol: He was arrested in July at a protest by Senate cafeteria workers seeking their first collective bargaining agreement with Restaurant Associates, the concessionaire company contracted by the Architect of the Capitol for the Senate side.

Those UNITE HERE Local 23 members ratified a new CBA with Restaurant Associates last week. The four-year deal sets a $20 minimum wage, offers more affordable health care with no deductible, and provides pension contributions. The union also celebrated provisions that provided members paid time off for voting, job training, and protections for immigrant workers.

The cafeteria workers formed their union last fall and fought off the threat of layoffs multiple times during negotiations, thanks in part to redirected pandemic funds.

UNITE HERE is now turning its attention to the House side of the Hill, where the catering workers contract with Sodexo expires at the end of the year and the dining services agreement expires in May.

2022 CQ-Roll Call Inc. Visit cqrollcall.com.
ST. LOUIS  After holding up legislation preserving tech district Cortexs 2013 incentive package for over a year, Alderman Tina Pihl has relented and plans to introduce bills for the development on Friday.

The move follows legislative maneuvering around Pihl to pass development incentives for another project in the bustling 17th Ward, which covers the Central West End and Forest Park Southeast.

Mayor Tishaura O. Jones  usually aligned politically with Pihl  has also put pressure on the progressive lawmaker to move the legislation, supporting Cortexs request to use the remaining tax breaks in its decade-old incentive package to continue building out the employment district.

Under St. Louis aldermanic courtesy tradition, Pihl is expected to sponsor bills for development in her ward.

As recently as last month, Pihl was still skeptical of the Cortex incentive package, despite the developers commitment to contribute $250,000 to the citys Affordable Housing Trust Fund and allocate 10% of the value of incentives to a city-controlled infrastructure fund for low-income areas.

Pihl on Thursday said Cortex and its development partner have since offered to make 17 units of a planned 165-apartment building affordable for those making less than 60% of the area median income, a price point she and others say is sorely needed in parts of the city.

Theres a lot of things that changed from the initial conversations to now to make this better for the city, Pihl said in an interview. None of this stuff had been done before I got involved in terms of this particular project.

Cortex has long enjoyed broad political support and is seen by many as a St. Louis success story. Startups, pharmaceutical firms and major tech companies such as Microsoft have opened offices employing some 6,000 people there. But Cortex has also faced headwinds since the pandemic hammered the economy and revolutionized office culture. A major office building started by developers Wexford and Ventas in 2019 remains stalled. Another residential project proposed before the pandemic hasnt materialized.

Pihl, elected last year on a platform that called for reining in tax incentives and more affordable housing, questioned whether Cortex still needed all the help it was promised as that area of the city became more affluent.

Cortex officials, meanwhile, face a looming deadline. In 2013, aldermen granted the nonprofit founded by area universities, hospitals and other institutions a $168 million tax increment financing package to lure developers and rebuild infrastructure. That package, and $79 million in unused TIF incentives, is set to expire in February without legislative approval to extend it.

In addition, developer Keeley Properties wanted authorization to use $4.6 million of the Cortex TIF to support a $51 million, 165-unit project at Sarah Street and Clayton Avenue. Adding residential units has been a longtime goal of Cortex leaders to support restaurants and other amenities in an area that clears out after work hours.

Cortex and the developer had agreed to the $250,000 affordable housing contribution as far back as July. At the beginning of the year, they agreed to carve out 32 units as workforce housing affordable for people making 80% of the areas median income  $60,750 for a household of two.

The new agreement will make 17 apartments in the new building affordable for those making 60% of the area median income, or $45,600 for a household of two. That stipulation is in a loan agreement between business group Greater St. Louis Inc. and the developer.

We have plenty of workforce housing at 80% AMI, so that is a huge win for the city at 60% AMI where we need the housing, Pihl said. Its all around a better project than it was just a few weeks ago.

The St. Louis Development Corp. on Thursday also approved a request for proposals for a study that could help develop a citywide policy for affordable housing allocations, something Pihl said she had been championing.

As the sponsor, Pihl now controls when a final vote on the Cortex bills is held. She said Cortex would get a final vote before their deadline.

A Cortex spokesman declined to comment.

As Cortex officials and the Jones administration grew frustrated with the delays from Pihl, aldermen and the citys development office in recent weeks sent a strong signal that they were willing to go around her if she didnt move ahead with the Cortex bills.

Development incentives for the long-stalled Armory redevelopment in Pihls ward passed through the board Friday after neighboring Alderman Marlene Davis sponsored the bills when Pihl wouldnt.

After Pihl criticized the maneuver last month, SLDC responded that one aldermans approval should not be the sole determinant for a development project to move forward.

On Thursday, the mayors office thanked Pihl for moving forward with the bill.

Through months of negotiations on this project, Mayor Jones made clear that to receive public funds, Cortex must create community benefits, a spokesman for the mayor said in a statement. The mayor appreciates (Alderman) Pihls sponsorship of this legislation which will help create affordable housing and improve infrastructure while financing projects in disinvested neighborhoods.
ST. CHARLES  St. Charles officials want Ameren Missouri to spend about $40 million to move wells supplying much of the citys drinking water away from groundwater contamination linked to a company substation.

Mayor Dan Borgmeyer and other officials also want the electric utility to pay for improvements at the citys water treatment plant to remove any contaminants. That could cost another $10 million to $20 million.

City officials on Wednesday asked federal regulators to require Ameren to make the improvements. The substation is on Huster Road near Highway 370.

Borgmeyer emphasized that while the citys water is safe now, efforts are needed to keep it that way. He said the treatment plant supplies water throughout the city.

It is safe for consumption and use, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to ensure that it is safe for the future, he said at a news conference Wednesday at the Foundry Art Centre in the citys Main Street shopping district.

If Ameren doesnt cover the costs, he said, the city would have to do the work itself and pass the costs on to residents and businesses through higher water rates, or use other city revenue.

It is not fair or right that you should bear the additional cost caused by others, he said.

Craig Giesmann, director of environmental services for Ameren Missouri, didnt comment on the demand for the multimillion-dollar outlay. But he said the company would continue to work with the city and regulators on the issue, as it has for many years.

He said Ameren installed a groundwater treatment system several years ago, with input from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and that it has been very, very successful in eliminating contaminants.

Borgmeyer said he called the news conference because he wants changes in a proposed agreement filed in court recently by Ameren and the EPA. The document outlines the utilitys responsibilities for dealing with the contamination.

He also said groundwater samples in recent months showed increased contamination in the area but that the agreement was based on earlier information.

The contamination that were seeing is beginning to migrate to other wells that were further away from the contamination source, said Nick Galla, the citys public works director.

Because of the new readings, he said, the city this year shut down two of its seven water wells, including one last month. That followed the closing of two other wells in 2005 and 2011 because of contamination.

Prior to the recent shutdowns, Galla said, the city got about 60% of its water from the wells and the remainder from a plant run by the city of St. Louis along the Missouri River in Chesterfield.

Now those percentages have reversed, Galla said. Its cheaper for the city to produce its own water rather than contract with St. Louis.

Regarding the new contamination readings, Giesmann of Ameren said, We support constructive discussions ... with EPA, DNR and the city to understand whats there and discuss the next steps.

Borgmeyer called on St. Charles residents to contact the EPA about the agreement with Ameren and said mailings would be sent across the city on the issue.

He also asked the EPA to hold two public meetings and extend the public comment period until 30 days after the second meeting. Now the period is set to expire Nov. 3.

Curtis Carey, an EPA spokesman, said the agency agreed to extend the comment deadline another 30 days and would consider the request for public meetings. He said a virtual public meeting was held on the issue last February.

If there is (new) information and data that show ongoing concerns, we definitely take those in consideration, he said.

The EPA also is working with several other companies in charge of cleaning up chemical contamination tied to a defunct chemical manufacturing plant about a half-mile from the substation.
BRIG, Switzerland  A battle is brewing around Europes rooftop over the planets most precious resource.

Bountiful for centuries, the crystal-clear waters issuing from the Alps could become increasingly contested as climate change and glacier melt affect the lives of tens of millions in the coming years: Italy wants them for crop irrigation in the spring and summer. Swiss authorities want to hold up flows to ensure their hydroelectric plants can rev up when needed.

For the first time in four years, after a pandemic lull, government envoys from eight Alpine countries  big, small and tiny  are holding a two-day meeting in Brig, southern Switzerland, under a grouping known as the Alpine Convention, set up 30 years ago to help coordinate life, leisure and the limited resources from Europes most celebrated peaks.

The countries, ranging from pint-sized principality Monaco and small Slovenia to powerhouses like France, Germany and Italy, focused attention Thursday on whats known as the Simplon Alliance. Named after an Alpine pass between Italy and Switzerland, it aims to make transportation more eco-friendly, such as by favoring rail over roads, electric vehicles, and public transport over private cars in the mountains.

But with global warming causing a worrying shrinkage in Alpine glaciers this year, especially in Switzerland, the issue of water frozen up in the mountains, or showered and snowed on them, is growing in importance. Environmental advocates say jockeying for water isnt being addressed with enough urgency  and want the Alpine countries to do more to talk and act about the future of the resource.

Many parts of the world have grappled with water woes. But well-irrigated and relatively rich Europe has been largely above such troubles, reaping bountiful water resources for agriculture, hydropower, ski resorts, and human consumption.

Factors like global warming, geopolitics  like fallout from Russias war in Ukraine on electricity and energy sectors  and economic demands, however, have made the issue more pressing.

Last month, Swiss authorities authorized a seven-month increase in the amount of water available for electricity generation from 45 of Switzerlands 1,500 hydraulic plants  hoping to churn out up to 150 gigawatts more power. Alluding to the possible knock-on effect, the Swiss said the move could temporarily affect fish migration, which could make replenishing fish populations more difficult in 2023.

Meanwhile, sparse summer rainfall and a punishing heat wave in northern Italy  which melted snowfields and glaciers in the area  dried up the Po River, jeopardized drinking water and threatened irrigation in whats known as the Italian food valley.

The 9th report on the State of the Alps  drafted by the Swiss hosts and set to be approved Thursday  notes that water supply is a particularly pressing issue because the Alps are a huge reservoir of water, which ultimately flows to the benefit of some 170 million people along some of Europes most famous rivers, including the Danube, Po, Rhine and Rhone.

A draft of the report, obtained by The Associated Press, noted the need for consistent availability of Alpine water for industry, agriculture, hydropower and other uses, adding: Climate change puts these functions under pressure, as glaciers are receding and precipitation regimes are constantly changing.

Reduced quantities of water and limited reliability of water supply will be a major issue in the coming decades, it added.

Kaspar Schuler, director of CIPRA International, a commission devoted to protecting the Alps based in tiny Liechtenstein, said governments have done well to put water on the agenda but stopped short of steps to tackle the issue  by setting up working groups, expanding research, or coming up with ways that water can be better shared in the future.

The description of the difficulties is well done by the Swiss, but they have still no courage to really address the elephant in the room, said Schuler added.

While Alpine resorts and villages rely on water, the major upstream users are Switzerlands hydropower plants, which want to hold onto the water until its most needed to power turbines that provide some 60% of the countrys electricity.

But the biggest consumers of the water are downstream  industrial areas like Grenoble and Annecy in France, Austrias capital Vienna, and areas around Bolzano in Italys South Tyrol are likely to feel an impact.

The southern Alpine towns, especially in France and Italy with their drier climates, are more likely to undergo water shortages than the northern towns, the report said. This is particularly true of inner-Alpine dry valleys such as the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy, already affected by significant water stress.

State Secretary Bettina Hoffmann, who is representing Germanys Environment Ministry in Brig, said Germany wants to fuse issues of sustainable water in the broader context of the fight against the climate crisis  the centerpiece of the United Nations climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, starting Nov. 6.

She called for in-depth exchanges on how to protect the water cycle in the Alps, and suggested countries in the region should share best practices and ideas. We need to involve all stakeholders, from tourism to agriculture right through to the water supply sector."

CIPRAs Schuler suggested that many have become too complacent about the Alps bountiful waters  and those days may be over soon.

Until now, all the non-Alpine countries  the lowlands  were happy that the Alps have been providing so much: landscape for leisure and sports, ski resorts, and the water as much as everybody needs, he said. So far, everybody was happy and the Alps delivered.

In future it will be a battle ... about these resources because especially the lack of water can really harm a lot of people, he said.
Scary or not-so-scary? Kitschy or upscale?

Take your pick. Its not too late for some Halloween season fun whether at a theme park, zoo, aquarium, a haunted house (there are more than 1,200 haunted attractions in the country, according to America Haunts), a haunted hotel stay, even a dusk ride on a ski lift when the ghouls and ghosts come out to play at Sundance Mountain Resort.

Enjoy a meal at a haunted restaurant. The Church Street Cafe in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is said to be haunted by Sarah Ruis, a healer who reportedly rearranges the dolls in the China cabinet or just makes sure guests are enjoying themselves, New Mexico Magazine reports. In London, experience afternoon tea in Theatre Royal Drury Lanes Grand Salon.

Thats not counting all the places you can (still) pick pumpkins or race the kids around a corn maze. (USA Today reports there are more than 500 corn mazes, including the worlds largest, Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, Illinois. The farms spread over 28 acres and yes, you can pick pumpkins here too.)

Some events last into November. For example, Angels on the Bluff will be held the first two weekends in November at The Natchez City Cemetery in Mississippi, one of the oldest burial grounds in the country. Iconic Natchez personalities buried within the cemetery will be portrayed by their descendants and other local citizens in period costumes, complete with candlelight cemetery tours, RV tours, storytelling, music and more.

There will be Dia de los Muertos celebrations throughout the country Oct. 31 through Nov. 2 celebrating a loved one who has died. The celebrations include the building of ofrendas (private altars) in celebration of the departed; honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds (the flower of the dead), and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed; and bringing gifts and belongings to graves.

Of course, you dont want to frighten a child out of their wits. Just like taking a child on a thrill ride before they are ready for the experience, you run the danger of them being forever frightened by such experiences. Thats why famous theme park attractions like Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort recommend that children under 13 do not attend. There are lots of choices for younger families. For example, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hop aboard the new The Great Pumpkin Train, a vintage railroad ride decorated for fall with a wacky cast of singing and dancing characters. Check out our Taking the Kids 22 Fabulous Fall Getaways section for 2022, organized with our colleagues at Family Travel Forum, for more options for those with younger children, as well as all of us who dont like being scared silly.

I love hotels with a story to tell and you cant do better than the tale that led to the ghosts at various large and small hotels around the country. You may bump into ghostly apparitions of famous authors, actors, children and even Mary Todd Lincoln (at the Equinox in Manchester, Vermont, where the Lincoln family vacationed). Travel & Leisure offers 12 options around the country.

According to Priceline, the Top 10 searched cities for a Halloween-inspired getaway are Las Vegas, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, New Orleans, Phoenix and Miami with hotels in some cities under $200 a night. Priceline Experiences, which launched in late September, provides access to 80,000 ticketed experiences, including many spooky-themed tours around the U.S. and internationally.

And you dont need to visit by Halloween. The ghosts presumably will welcome you other times as well. Year-round, the Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, hosts paranormal tours that allow guests to learn from a ghost-tour guide and Elms historian about frequent sightings and the spirits backstories. With a favorable exchange rate, visit Frankensteins Castle in Germany or the famous Paris Catacombs.

Book room 320 at Denvers oldest boutique hotel, the Oxford, which dates back 123 years. In 1898, a woman named Florence Montague killed her lover and then took her own life in this room. Ever since, male guests report sheets being ripped from the bed and their arms being pulled by an unseen force. Also in Denver, The Brown Palace Club in the historic Brown Palace Hotel is famous for a ghost dressed as an old-fashioned railroad conductor who when approached, retreats into a corner wall. Wed be remiss if we didnt mention the iconic century-old Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, overlooking Rocky Mountain National Park where Stephen King was inspired to write The Shining.

New Orleans prides itself on being one of the most haunted cities in the country with ghost and cemetery tours (plenty of voodoo) and plenty of haunted hotels. Guests at the Hotel Monteleone report that theyve seen ghosts of employees and children playing in the hall, including a young boy named Maurice said to be searching for his dead parents.

Can you smell the cigar? The Bourbon Orleans is home to an elderly ghost who reads his newspaper in the lobby while smoking a cigar. Guests say they smell the cigar before seeing the ghost.

See Marilyn Monroe? She lived in room 1200 at the Hollywood Roosevelt at the beginning of her career and guests report seeing her reflection in the rooms mirror.

Guests report that Charles Dickens spirit may be felt on the third floor of Bostons Omni Parker House where he once stayed and where the ghost of the hotels founder, Harvey Parker, still roams the halls.

Happy Halloween!
The Board of Directors of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS) today announced the appointment of Kevin R. Johnson as an independent director of the firm, effective October 26, 2022. Mr. Johnson will also become a member of each of the firms Governance, Compensation and Risk Committees.

Mr. Johnson retired in April 2022 as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation, a role he had held since April 2017. Previously, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Starbucks from March 2015 after serving as an independent director on Starbucks board of directors since 2009. From September 2008 to January 2014, Mr. Johnson served as Chief Executive Officer of Juniper Networks, Inc. and served in a variety of roles of increasing seniority at Microsoft Corporation, including as President, Platforms and Services from 2005 to September 2008, having joined Microsoft in 1992.

We are excited to announce the addition of Kevin to our Board. Kevin will bring his CEO perspective, informed by experiences across a breadth of topics, including building, managing and sustaining a highly visible and global brand, international business and growth markets, and technology. Kevins addition adds to the strength and depth of our Board, and we look forward to benefiting from Kevins insights, said David M. Solomon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.

We look forward to benefitting from Kevins advice across a wide range of topics. Adding to the breadth and depth of skills and experiences represented on our Board, including consumer leadership, technology and international business, Kevin will be able to draw upon his many years as a public company CEO and a public company director to provide seasoned judgment to our Board, said Adebayo O. Ogunlesi, Lead Director.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced the signing of definitive agreements under which KKR will acquire 100% of Ness Digital Engineering (Ness or the "Company), a global full-lifecycle digital services transformation company, from The Rohatyn Group (TRG).

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006146/en/

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, Ness is a leading provider of end-to-end digital transformation services that specializes in building digital software products and platforms. Ness helps organizations envision, build, and continually evolve their digital platforms to enter new markets, capture new revenue, and gain operational efficiencies. The Company offers a wide range of digital practices that include cloud engineering, data and analytics, experience design, intelligence engineering, and salesforce for businesses across sectors. Today, Ness has a presence in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with a globally diversified talent pool across India, Eastern Europe, and the United States.

Gaurav Trehan, Partner and CEO of KKR India, said, Digital transformation and adoption is a critical strategy for businesses of all sizes worldwide. Against this backdrop, KKR believes that Ness is well-positioned for growth, supported by its exceptional, experience-led product engineering heritage. KKR is pleased to invest in Ness capabilities and looks forward to working alongside its talented team to further scale Ness digital-first platform, achieve its global ambitions, and better enable its customers to compete in the digital economy.

Ranjit Tinaikar, CEO of Ness, said, We are thrilled to welcome an investor of KKRs caliber in Ness. We believe this transaction will help us turbocharge our growth plans and further strengthen our competitive market position. We look forward to leveraging KKRs global platform and strong investment and operational expertise to deliver more innovative solutions to help our customers keep up with the pace of digitalization required by the accelerated online economy. I want to thank TRG for their consistent stewardship throughout the years. They have been great strategic partners to the management team and helped us to execute our growth strategy.

Nicolas Rohatyn, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Rohatyn Group, said, We are proud to have tapped into TRGs technology services expertise and extensive global experience to help Ness become a unique, global leader in the digital space. We wish the Company the best in its next chapter. Tom Kucera, Managing Director at TRG, added I am grateful to Ranjit, the management team and Ness more than 4,000 employees for their partnership, dedication and support over the years. It has been a privilege working closely with them to build Ness into a premier digital transformation platform and I wish them continued success.

Ness adds to KKRs global portfolio of technology investments, which includes, but is not limited to, Cloudera, a leading provider of enterprise-grade, hybrid data management software in the United States; Yayoi, a software developer, distributor, and support service provider for small-and-medium-sized enterprises in Japan; Probe CX, a provider of outsourced customer experience and business process outsourcing solutions in Australia; MYOB, a leading Australian online business management company; and Jio, a next-generation technology platform that provides digital services across India.

KKR makes its investment from its Asian Fund IV. Additional terms of the transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, were not disclosed.

About Ness Digital Engineering

Ness is a full lifecycle digital engineering firm offering digital advisory through scaled engineering services. Combining our core competence in engineering with the latest in digital strategy and technology, we seamlessly manage Digital Transformation journeys from strategy through execution to help businesses thrive in the digital economy. As your tech partner, we help engineer your companys future with cloud and data. For more information, visit ness.com.

About KKR

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKRs insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life, and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKRs investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), please visit KKRs website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co.

About TRG

Founded in 2002, The Rohatyn Group is an asset management firm focused on emerging markets and real assets, headquartered in New York, with a global presence in 16 cities across the US, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia. For more information, please visit www.rohatyngroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006146/en/

Media

For KKR:

KKR Asia Pacific

Wei Jun Ong

+65 6922 5813

[email protected]

For Ness:

Vivek Kangath

+91 97425 65583

[email protected]

For TRG:

Julia-Ambra Verlaine

+1 212 984 3539

[email protected]

KKR Americas

Julia Kosygina and Miles Radcliffe-Trenner

+1 212 750 8300

[email protected]

AdFactors (for KKR India)

George Smith Alexander

+91 98213 56867

[email protected]

Source: KKR
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defense and Security Affairs MP Andranik Kocharyan publicly asked the new Prosecutor-General of Armenia to be coherent in the probe of the 27 October 1999 parliament shooting.

Speaking to reporters, Kocharyan said he believes that today there is a chance to fully reveal the crime.

The October 27 case being continuously unresolved doesnt give us the opportunity to build domestic solidarity in our country and abandon distrustfulness. Thus, I am asking the prosecutor-general on this day to be coherent regarding all issues pertaining to resolving the October 27 case. Even at this moment there is an opportunity for fully revealing October 27 [case], Kocharyan said on the anniversary of the attack.

Kocharyan said that many witnesses have died over the course of the years since the attack took place, but still there are prospects to reveal the case. He said that if no progress happened during so many years it means that there have been obstructing circumstances, and these circumstances must also be revealed.

23 years ago on this day, a group of five heavily armed gunmen led by Nairi Hunanyan stormed into the parliament while it was in session and assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Deputy Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, as well as three lawmakers and a Cabinet member. The gunmen held the remaining MPs hostage until surrendering to authorities the next day.

There have since been many theories on possible masterminds, including possible foreign involvement behind the attack. An investigation was reopened in 2019.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The 2023 Nissan Ariya was honored as an Editors Pick in Newsweek magazines second annual Newsweek Auto Awards. The all-electric Ariya crossover was chosen for its packaging, drivability and overall likeability.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005876/en/

The 2023 Nissan Ariya was honored as an "Editor's Pick" in Newsweek magazine's second annual Newsweek Auto Awards. The all-electric Ariya crossover was chosen for its packaging, drivability and overall likeability. The "Editor's Pick" award is new this year to Newsweek's lineup of auto awards. It was added to spotlight vehicles that stand out from the crowd and deserve overall recognition. "The 2023 Ariya delivers the best of Nissan, with the latest connectivity, convenience, driver assistance and safety technology," said Mike Colleran, senior vice president, Nissan U.S. and Marketing and Sales. "As we work toward our Ambition 2030 long-term vision, Ariya is an important step forward in our journey to electrified mobility for all." (Photo: Business Wire)

The Editors Pick award is new this year to Newsweeks lineup of auto awards. It was added to spotlight vehicles that stand out from the crowd and deserve overall recognition.

The 2023 Ariya delivers the best of Nissan, with the latest connectivity, convenience, driver assistance and safety technology, said Mike Colleran, senior vice president, Nissan U.S. and Marketing and Sales. As we work toward our Ambition 2030 long-term vision, Ariya is an important step forward in our journey to electrified mobility for all.

The Newsweek Autos Awards winners are selected based on features, specifications and drive impressions. The awards also focus on what is important to buyers in each vehicle category. The auto awards story is available today in the digital version of the magazine and the print version will be on newsstands worldwide in the coming week.

The 2023 Nissan Ariya is Nissans first all-electric crossover and offers seamless and purposeful technology that integrates and elevates Ariyas driving capabilities, with features including available ProPILOT Assist 2.0 advanced driver assistance technology, standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Alexa integration.

Find more information on the 2023 Nissan Ariya, including specifications, range information, pricing, photos and video, in the full press kit.

About Nissan

For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissanusa.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

About Newsweek

Newsweek is a premier news magazine and website that has been bringing high-quality journalism to readers around the globe for over 80 years. Newsweek provides the latest news, in-depth analysis and ideas about international issues, technology, business, culture and politics. In addition to its online and mobile presence, Newsweek publishes English print editions in the United States, Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia as well as editions in Japanese, Korean, Polish, Serbian and Spanish.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005876/en/

Steve Parrett

(615) 306-9599

[email protected]

Source: Nissan
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent), the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a (Excellent) and the Mexico National Scale Rating of aaa.MX (Exceptional) of Tokio Marine HCC Mexico Compania Afianzadora, S.A. de C.V. (TMHCC Mexico) (Mexico City, Mexico). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect TMHCC Mexicos balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

The ratings also reflect TMHCC Mexicos affiliation with its parent company, Houston Casualty Company (HC), in terms of reinsurance protection, ERM and capital commitments. Limiting the ratings is the inherent risk of a company of recent creation implementing its business plan, and the volatility of Mexicos economy.

TMHCC Mexico is the Mexico-based surety subsidiary of HC; the company received regulatory approval for operations in April 2019 and issued its first policy in July 2019. HC and TMHCC Mexico also have a sister company, Tokio Marine Compania de Seguros, S.A. de C.V. (TMX), which is domiciled in Mexico. TMHCC Mexico takes advantage of TMXs corporate structure, which provides additional support to the operation.

The company is developing its presence in Mexico through a predominant mix of construction and commercial administrative surety, strongly backed by a comprehensive reinsurance program largely placed with its parent company.

TMHCC Mexicos very strong balance sheet strength assessment is derived from its strongest risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). To achieve its business targets, the company has been capitalized with MXN 81.8 million (USD 4.3 million) as of July 2019 and might require more capital contributions as the operation evolves.

The adequate assessment of TMHCC Mexicos operating performance reflects the successful track record of its seasoned management and underwriting team, and the operational leverage the company gains from being integrated into the Tokio Marine Group. However, due to the companys short history of operation, business plan implementation has to evolve for AM Best to evaluate the companys operating performance adequately.

As of year-end 2021, gross written premium stood at MXN 357 million, continuing the trend of surpassing the originally projected business volume, and presenting a positive bottom-line result of MXN 9.8 million. Despite the significant variation in business volume, the company reports strict compliance with underwriting discipline and with its business model, coupled with several large policies.

As of June 2022, TMHCC Mexico posted negative bottom-line results, mainly due to an adjustment to the ceded commission rate, which is still above market levels. The companys loss ratio stood at 3.6%, consistent with 2021.

Positive rating actions are not expected in the medium term. Negative rating actions could take place if the company experiences a deterioration in its risk-adjusted capitalization from weak operating performance or capital outflows, or if AM Best determines that the strategic importance of the Mexico subsidiary to the Tokio Marine group has decreased.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006005/en/

Olga Rubo, FRM

Senior Financial Analyst

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 134

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Manager, Public Relations

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159

[email protected]

Alfonso Novelo

Senior Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Communications Specialist

+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5098

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Global Business Travel Group, Inc. (NYSE: GBTG), operating American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT), the worlds leading B2B travel platform, today announced that it will report third quarter 2022 financial results on November 10, 2022, before the market opens followed by a live audio webcast at 9:00 a.m. ET. Paul Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, and Martine Gerow, Chief Financial Officer, will discuss Amex GBTs financial performance and business outlook.

The webcast is expected to last approximately one hour and will be accessible by visiting the Investor Relations section of Amex GBTs website at www.investors.amexglobalbusinesstravel.com. A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for at least 90 days following the event.

About American Express Global Business Travel

American Express Global Business Travel is the worlds leading B2B travel platform, providing software and services to manage travel, expenses, and meetings & events for companies of all sizes. We have built the most valuable marketplace in B2B travel to deliver unrivalled choice, value and experiences. With travel professionals in more than 140 countries, our customers and travelers enjoy the powerful backing of American Express Global Business Travel.

Visit amexglobalbusinesstravel.com for more information about Amex GBT. Follow @amexgbt on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006139/en/

Media:

Martin Ferguson

Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs, American Express Global Business Travel

[email protected]

Investors:

Barry Sievert

Vice President Investor Relations, American Express Global Business Travel

[email protected]

Source: Global Business Travel Group, Inc.
Company recognized for innovations in clinically validated cell therapy for corneal endothelial dystrophies

SEATTLE, BOSTON & TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Aurion Biotech, whose mission is to restore vision to millions of patients with its life-changing regenerative therapies, today announced it has won the prestigious Prix Galien Award for Best Startup in Biotech / Pharma. The Galien Foundation, the premier global institution dedicated to honoring innovators in life sciences, fosters, recognizes, and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve the state of human health.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006159/en/

Prix Galien USA

The Prix Galien is known throughout the world for its ability to shine a bright light on the most important, impactful innovations in medicine, biotechnology, healthcare and the life sciences, said Greg Kunst, Aurion Biotech chief executive officer. Aurion Biotech has a transformational opportunity to positively impact the lives of millions of people suffering from corneal endothelial diseases, with our remarkable, sight-restoring cell therapy. On behalf of our patients, employees, scientists and physicians, we thank the Galien Awards Committee for this incredible achievement for our company.

Aurion Biotech received the Best Start-up in Biotech / Pharma award, one of six different award categories, and was chosen from more than 146 products from 129 nominee companies, spanning 14 therapeutic areas. The vetting process was rigorous: nominees are invited to apply for the Prix Galien award. Judges included leaders from venture capital, medical and academic institutions, and Fortune 1000 biomedical and pharmaceutical companies.

According to the Galien Foundation, the Prix Galien is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research. The Galien Foundation oversees and directs activities in the US for the Prix Galien, an international awards program dedicated to progress through innovative medicines development, with chapters in 14 countries and the continent of Africa. The Prix Galien was created in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honor of Galien, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. In the last 50 years, only a handful of ophthalmology products have been awarded the Prix Galien.

Previously, Bernard Poussot, the Chair of Prix Galien Startup, Digital Health and Incubators, Accelerators and Equity Committee; Director of Roche Holding; and Former Chairman & CEO at Wyeth, has stated, "The Prix Galien Awards have become the most coveted prizes for those who dedicate their lives to the development of meaningful drugs and innovations. Members of the Awards Committees applaud the unwavering commitment of each nominee in their quest to provide a healthier future for the next generation."

About Corneal Endothelial Diseases

Corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction is a sight-threatening and debilitating condition affecting millions of people throughout the world. When corneal endothelial cells die or degrade, they do not regenerate. Ultimately, corneal endothelial cell loss can cause corneal edema and loss of vision. Although corneal transplants are effective, there are disadvantages with these procedures - PKP/DMEK/DSAEK1 - including limited donor organ supply. Transplants require a supply of donor corneas in a 1:1 ratio (one healthy donor cornea to treat each diseased one), yet its estimated that there is only one donor cornea available for every 70 diseased eyes.2 In addition, post-operative recovery for corneal transplant patients requires that they like flat on their backs for up to three days, in order for the transplant to adhere to the corneal stroma.

About Aurion Biotech

Based in Seattle, Boston and Tokyo, Aurion Biotech is a clinical-stage biotech company. Our mission is to restore vision to millions of patients with our life-changing regenerative therapies. Our first candidate is for the treatment of corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction, and is one of the first clinically validated cell therapies for corneal care. The Aurion Biotech team is preparing for clinical trials in the U.S. The company is privately held, and backed by leading investors that include Deerfield, Alcon, Petrichor, Flying L Partners, Falcon Vision / KKR, and Visionary Ventures. To learn more about Aurion Biotech, visit www.aurionbiotech.com.

1 Penetrating Keratoplasty, Descemets Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty / Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty

2 JAMA: Global Survey of Corneal Transplantation & Eye Banking: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2474372

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006159/en/

Judith McGarry

415-971-2900

[email protected]



Michele Gray

917-449-9250

[email protected]

Source: Aurion Biotech
TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Home2 Suites by Hilton will help support booming tourism in Nashville suburbs

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chartwell Hospitality today announced it has purchased land in Brentwood and Lebanon, Tenn., to bring new hotels to these suburbs of Nashville. Chartwell Hospitality will transform the land in Brentwood into a TownePlace Suites by Marriott and will build a Home2 Suites by Hilton in Lebanon. Chartwell Hospitality has partnered with Rockbridge on both hotel projects. Chartwell Hospitality will develop and manage both properties.

TownePlace Suites by Marriott offers guestrooms with full kitchens, outdoor community patios with grills, free Wi-Fi, on-site laundry, upscale fitness center, outdoor pool, and lobby marketplace. The Brentwood TownePlace Suites will feature 120 rooms and will be located in the East Park development of Maryland Farms. Chartwell Hospitality worked with Boyle Investment Company on their efforts to rezone the existing office building parcel to allow for hotel use. Chartwell Hospitality plans to demolish the existing obsolete Office Building #1 within East Park by the end of 2022 and redevelop the space into the TownePlace Suites. The firm plans to break ground on the hotels construction in the spring of 2023.

Chartwell Hospitality will concurrently break ground in Lebanon, Tenn., for the 120-room Home2 Suites in the spring of 2023. Home2 Suites features an extended-stay hotel concept with complimentary hot breakfast, laundry and fitness areas, free Wi-Fi, multiple outdoor spaces, 24-hour business centers, expansive community spaces, and pet-friendly environments.

As Nashville grows and draws more tourists and new businesses, so do its surrounding towns and cities. We are excited to bring these two new hospitality options to the Brentwood and Lebanon communities and continue to support the growing tourism in Middle Tennessee, said Will Schaedle, Executive Vice President of Chartwell Hospitality.

About Chartwell Hospitality

Chartwell Hospitality is a fully integrated real estate company based in Nashville, Tennessee. We specialize in the acquisition, development, and management of high-quality, branded, limited- and full-service hotels. Founded in 2003, Chartwell consistently surpasses competition in occupancy and market rates. Simply, our mission is to be the best in the business. For more information, visit www.chartwellhospitality.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005114/en/

Ashley Schulte

Connect2 Communications for Chartwell

[email protected]

Source: Chartwell Hospitality
Construction begins on sterile fill-finish expansion for the production of vaccines and injectable medicines

ALBANY, N.Y. & ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Curia, a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization, today hosted a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of its expanded campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The additional space will house a new, advanced isolated high-speed fill-finish vial line  which includes biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) containment as well as two lyophilizers for the high-speed fill-finish line and an isolated flexible filling line for vials, syringes, and cartridges to support smaller-batch advanced therapies.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006125/en/

Left to right: City of Albuquerque Mayor Timothy M. Keller, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Curia Chairman and CEO John Ratliff, New Mexico Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Curia Albuquerque Vice President and General Manager Jonathan Shoemaker. (Photo: Business Wire)

We are delighted to recognize the beginning of construction for this much-needed expansion in bioscientific capacity and capabilities, said Curia Chairman and CEO, John Ratliff. Im proud of the important work performed by Curias team here in Albuquerque, as they conduct the last step in the complex manufacturing process needed for injectable vaccines and medicines. Each day, they advance our mission of delivering life-changing life science as part of a broader community dedicated to improving health. The expansion will not only provide career opportunities in New Mexico, it enables Curia to make a greater contribution to the production of vaccines and treatments, potentially saving millions of lives locally, nationally and globally. We appreciate the support and collaboration of all the organizations represented at our ground-breaking celebration.

The expansion was part of a cooperative agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defenses Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO-CBRND) and the U.S. Army Contracting Commands Joint COVID Response Division (ACC-JCRD) to support the domestic production of injectable medicines. The State of New Mexico is also supporting the expansion through assistance from the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) job creation fund. Curia is also eligible for state assistance for employee job training from JTIP, New Mexico's Job Training Incentive Program.

Curia leadership partners contributing to todays ground-breaking event included New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.

The facility expansion is designed by Burns & McDonnell and will be constructed by BE&K Building Group. The flexible filling line and high-speed fill-finish vial line are planned to be operational in 2025.

About Curia

Curia is a leading contract research, development and manufacturing organization providing products and services from R&D through commercial manufacturing to pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical customers. Curias 3,700 employees at 29 locations across the U.S., Europe, and Asia help its customers advance from curiosity to cure. Learn more at CuriaGlobal.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006125/en/

Corporate Contact:

Sue Zaranek

Curia

+1 518 512 2111

[email protected]

Media Communications:

Charya Wickremasinghe, Ph.D.

Brandwidth Solutions LLC

+1 832 776 9115

[email protected]

Source: Curia
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cybin Inc. (NEO:CYBN) (NYSE American: CYBN) (Cybin or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on progressing Psychedelics to Therapeutics, today announced the graduation of highly-skilled facilitators from its EMBARK Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy Training Program.

EMBARK is a leading-edge model of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy co-developed by Alex Belser, Ph.D., and Bill Brennan, Ph.D. The EMBARK model is currently being implemented in two clinical-stage trials, including Cybins Phase 1/2a trial evaluating the Companys investigational deuterated psilocybin analog, CYB003, designed to be a faster-acting, shorter duration treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD).

The support of these well-trained facilitators is integral to the ultimate success of Cybins CYB003 program. We expect the combination of EMBARK, together with the advantages of our CYB003 psilocybin analog over classic psilocybin, will ultimately lead to improved treatment options for patients suffering from MDD, said Doug Drysdale, Chief Executive Officer of Cybin.

EMBARK provides six clinical domains (Existential-Spiritual, Mindfulness, Body Aware, Affective-Cognitive, Relational, and Keeping Momentum). Additionally, EMBARK is built upon four care cornerstones: trauma-informed care, culturally informed care, ethically rigorous care, and collective care. Cybin launched the EMBARK Psychedelic Facilitator Training Program for study facilitators in October 2021. The program offers facilitators the foundational training needed to provide skillful and ethical care to work with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy participants. The curriculum prepares facilitators for a range of experiences that may arise for participants in each domain and to ground their work in each care cornerstone. EMBARK has been described in a recent publication in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology.

"There is a bottleneck of training in the field and a shortage of clinicians prepared to do this important work, and we are therefore pleased to provide high-quality training for psychedelic treatment. Its inspiring to see the skill, compassion, and integrity these clinicians bring to their work with patients, said Dr. Alex Belser, Cybins Chief Clinical Officer. Importantly, these highly skilled EMBARK facilitators will play a critical role in Cybins CYB003 Phase 1/2a trial. We congratulate the graduates on completing the EMBARK training.

As part of the training towards certification, facilitators completed 75 hours of curriculum on the EMBARK model, as well as training on clinical trial conduct. In addition, facilitators participate in peer consultation groups and will receive ongoing clinical supervision from members of EMBARKs esteemed faculty experienced in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. For more information on the EMBARK program, including information on the EMBARK Faculty, please click here.

The EMBARK training program integrates best practices in both the delivery of the information and the content provided. The depth and breadth of what is covered is unparalleled with any other training that I have done over the last 25 years. The authors of the manual created a program that offers a strong practice model, not just for psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, but for psychotherapy in general. I feel grateful to have completed the training and know that it will be a foundation that helps to guide all aspects of my practice going forward, said Nina Lerner, LCSW, EMBARK Facilitator Graduate.

Recruitment is currently ongoing for the CYB003 Phase 1/2a trial at Clinilabs in Eatontown, New Jersey, Cybins clinical research organization. EMBARK facilitators are actively supporting clinical trial participants with preparation, medicine, and integration sessions during their study participation. For more information on Cybins Phase 1/2a trial of CYB003 for the treatment of MDD, please click here.

About Cybin

Cybin is a leading ethical biopharmaceutical company, working with a network of world-class partners and internationally recognized scientists, on a mission to create safe and effective therapeutics for patients to address a multitude of mental health issues. Headquartered in Canada and founded in 2019, Cybin is operational in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Ireland. The Company is focused on progressing Psychedelics to Therapeutics by engineering proprietary drug discovery platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches and treatment regimens for mental health disorders.

Cautionary Notes and Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking information. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding Cybins future, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, plan, continue, will, may, would, anticipate, estimate, forecast, predict, project, seek, should or similar expressions or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the Companys plan to engineer proprietary drug development platforms, innovative drug delivery systems, novel formulation approaches, potential treatment regimens for psychiatric disorders and development of medicinal psychedelics to address unmet medical needs.

These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the psychedelics market; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for growth; political, social and environmental uncertainties; employee relations; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions in the markets where the Company operates; and the risk factors set out in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and the Company's annual information form for the year ended March 31, 2022, which are available under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Cybin makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about Cybins proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding psilocybin, psychedelic tryptamine, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds or nutraceutical products. The efficacy of such products has not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of psilocybin, psychedelic tryptamine, tryptamine derivatives or other psychedelic compounds or nutraceuticals can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Rigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. Cybin has not conducted clinical trials for the use of its proposed products. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential products do not imply that Cybin verified such in clinical trials or that Cybin will complete such trials. If Cybin cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on Cybins performance and operations.

Neither the Neo Exchange Inc. nor the NYSE American LLC stock exchange have approved or disapproved the contents of this news release and are not responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the contents herein.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005198/en/

Investor & Media Inquiries for Cybin:

Leah Gibson

Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategic Communications

Cybin Inc.

[email protected]  or  [email protected]

Gabriel Fahel

Chief Legal Officer

Cybin Inc.

1-866-292-4601

Source: Cybin Inc.
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE: DCI), a leading worldwide provider of innovative filtration products and solutions, today announced that Tod Carpenter, chairman, president, and chief executive officer will present virtually at the Gabelli Funds 46th Annual Automotive Aftermarket Symposium on Monday, October 31, beginning at 1:00 p.m. PDT.

WEBCAST: To listen to a live webcast of the presentation, visit the Events & Presentations section of Donaldsons Investor Relations website at IR.Donaldson.com and click on the listen to webcast option.

About Donaldson Company

Founded in 1915, Donaldson is a global leader in technology-led filtration products and solutions, serving a broad range of industries and advanced markets. Our diverse, skilled employees at over 140 locations on six continents partner with customersfrom small business owners to the worlds biggest OEM brandsto solve complex filtration challenges. Discover how Donaldson is Advancing Filtration for a Cleaner World at www.Donaldson.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005748/en/

Sarika Dhadwal (952) 887-3753

[email protected]

Source: Donaldson Company, Inc.
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exxon Mobil Corporation will release third quarter 2022 financial results on Friday, October 28, 2022. A press release will be issued via Business Wire and available at 5:30 a.m. CT at www.exxonmobil.com.

Darren Woods, chairman and chief executive officer; Kathy Mikells, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Jennifer Driscoll, vice president of investor relations, will review the results during a live, listen-only conference call at 7:30 a.m. CT. The presentation can be accessed via webcast or by calling (888) 596-2592 (United States) or (786) 789-4790 (International). Please reference confirmation code 8966572 to join the call. An archive replay of the call and a copy of the presentation with accompanying supplemental financial data will be available at www.exxonmobil.com/ir.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005437/en/

ExxonMobil Media Relations

(972) 940-6007

Source: Exxon Mobil Corporation
A- Ratings Affirmed for United Life Insurance Company, Lincoln Benefit Life Company

BATON ROUGE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company (GILICO), a life and annuity affiliate of Kuvare US Holdings, Inc. (Kuvare) headquartered in Baton Rouge, earned an AM Best Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent), upgraded from B++ (Good). AM best also noted a stable outlook for the GILICO ratings.

Kuvare Chief Executive Officer Dhiren Jhaveri noted, The AM Best rating upgrade acknowledges GILICOs balance sheet strength, strong operating performance and business profile. We will continue to execute our strategy to grow our business and remain committed to our mission and long-term financial strength in support of our policyholders and distribution partners.

According to AM Bests announcement of the upgrade, The ratings of GILICO reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as [GILICOs] adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. AM Best also stated, GILICOs rating upgrades reflect the increased synergies with sister company, [United Life Insurance Company], including common management and business strategies supporting Kuvares retail operations.

GILICO President Joe Wieser commented, GILICO takes great pride in its financial strength, technology solutions and focus on delivering outstanding service to agents and policyholders. Wieser added, We have safeguarded the financial future of our policyholders and their families for nearly 100 years. Our strength and enduring stability stems from the unwavering support and collaboration with Kuvare, along with the best-in-class asset management and reinsurance services provided by our affiliates Kuvare Insurance Services and Kuvare Life Re, respectively.

In addition, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) of United Life Insurance Company of Cedar Rapids, IA. The outlook of this rating remained stable. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) of Lincoln Benefit Life Company (LBL), headquartered in Rosemont, IL. This LBL rating outlook is negative.

About GILICO

Since 1926, Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company (GILICO) has been creating best-in-class wealth solutions that generate income and peace of mind for individuals and families, including competitive annuity and long-term care products and services. In 2016, GILICO, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, became a subsidiary of Kuvare US Holdings, Inc. and is now licensed in 46 states as well as the District of Columbia. Protecting wealth is our Guaranty.

About Kuvare

Kuvare is a technology-enabled financial services platform that provides insurance, reinsurance, and asset management solutions. Headquartered in Chicago, Kuvare focuses on delivering value-oriented solutions to the middle market. Founded in 2015, Kuvare is committed to a sustainable growth strategy, backed by a consortium of long-term capital partners. The family of Kuvare companies includes Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Guaranty Income Life Insurance Company, United Life Insurance Company, Kuvare Life Re (Bermuda), and Kuvares affiliated investment management business, Kuvare Insurance Services LP.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005751/en/

Janet Jacobsen

[email protected]

800-637-6318

Source: Kuvare US Holdings, Inc.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Members of the Cabinet of Armenia held a moment of silence during todays session for the victims of the 1999 October 27 parliament attack.

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the terror attack of October 27, 1999. That terrorism was an attack against the Republic of Armenia, its sovereignty and independence, the leadership elected by the people. On that day, the terror group that invaded the Parliament during the Q&A session killed with assault rifles Speaker of the National Assembly Karen Demirchyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Vice Speakers of the National Assembly Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, Minister for Operational Issues Leonard Petrosyan, Members of Parliament Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan and Mikayel Kotanyan. I ask you to pay tribute to the memory of the October 27 terror victims with a moment of silence, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting today.
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced plans to launch two liquid natural gas (LNG) futures contracts for North-West Europe and South-West Europe.

The contracts are designed to help market participants trade and hedge the difference in price between LNG for delivery in North-West and South-West Europe, versus natural gas provided by pipeline to Europe, as well as LNG across the rest of the world.

The contracts will be cash settled based on Spark Commodities price assessments for LNG cargos and priced in USD per MMBTu in line with ICEs existing LNG contracts. The contracts are due to launch on December 5, subject to regulatory approval.

Reflecting the energy situation which exists within Europe today, customers need a futures contract to price LNG imports into Europe, and provide a means to manage the difference with the price of natural gas delivered via pipeline, said Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets at ICE. The price of natural gas in Europe remains high because of an imbalance between supply and demand, caused by the significant reduction in the supply of natural gas into Europe from Russia and the downstream impact of physical capacity constraints across the European natural gas network.

Futures markets are providing important price signals to identify the location of these bottlenecks, allowing for capital to be allocated efficiently to address them by adding, for example, regasification capacity to import more LNG, continued Gordon Bennett. Futures markets are also a key risk transfer mechanism to reduce exposure to spot markets and thus a critical avenue for energy firms to manage their risk so they can maintain a stable source of energy to European societies. We continue to work closely with our customers, regulators and governments to find market-based solutions to the pressures caused by the energy crisis and ICE is ready to assist with developing an EU futures market based on the complementary LNG benchmark to be developed by the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).

Additionally, ICE plans to launch three supporting French PEG, German THE and Italian PSV Natural Gas 1st Line contracts on December 5, subject to regulatory approval. The cash settled contracts will trade and settle in USD per MMBTu and provide market participants with additional flexibility to manage their LNG import exposure. ICE already offers physically delivered PEG, THE and PSV futures which are priced in Euros per megawatt hour.

ICE is home to the natural gas benchmark TTF, a physically delivered contract which upon expiry results in natural gas being added to, or taken from, the TTF natural gas hub via title transfer. TTF trades from ICE in Amsterdam, producing a daily settlement price based on transactions of customers physically buying and selling natural gas and is the worlds second most liquid natural gas contract after the U.S.-based Henry Hub.

TTF and the new North-West Europe LNG futures are complemented by ICEs existing German, Italian, French and Austrian natural gas futures and together with the new South-West Europe LNG futures, which add coverage of Iberia and the Mediterranean, will increase the choice of pricing and risk management tools available to market participants.

The five futures contracts will trade from ICE Futures Europe and clear at ICE Clear Europe alongside global energy benchmarks including Brent Crude, TTF natural gas, European Carbon Allowances, Coal and Electricity, offering meaningful margin offsets across energy portfolios to maximize liquidity and capital efficiency.

The new contracts will form part of ICEs global natural gas portfolio alongside the existing TTF, NBP, Henry Hub, JKM LNG (Platts), WIM LNG (Platts) futures, and the Spark30S Atlantic and Spark25S Pacific LNG freight futures.

About Intercontinental Exchange

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity.

Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading Key Information Documents (KIDS).

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022.

ICE- CORP

Source: Intercontinental Exchange

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005586/en/

ICE Media Contact:

Rebecca Mitchell

[email protected]

+44 7951 057 351

ICE Investor Contact:

Katia Gonzalez

[email protected]

(678) 981-3882

Source: Intercontinental Exchange
AVer and Lenovo create Microsoft Teams certified solution for hybrid meeting connectivity

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AVer Europe, an award-winning provider of education technology and video collaboration solutions, announces a technology collaboration with Lenovo to streamline hybrid meeting room connectivity.

The plug-and-play solution bundles are certified for Microsoft Teams to offer seamless, global collaboration between business meeting spaces and remote offices. The hybrid room-ready solution includes the Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + Controller and two camera options for different room sizes, as VB130 (small rooms) and VC520 Pro2 (medium to large rooms).

AVers VB130 is a compact 4K video all-in-one soundbar with wide angle camera and beamforming microphone array with AI that delivers Audio Tracking, Audio Fence and Auto tracking functionality to enjoy the best experience of a totally hands-free meeting in small spaces.

The VC520 Pro2 is a premium conferencing system ideal for medium to large meeting rooms. The solution is equipped with a 24X total zoom (12X optical + 2X digital), advanced AVer SmartFrame, single USB installation for audio and video, and an expandable speakerphone solution, supporting either up to three speakerphones or a speakerphone plus four individual microphones to make VC520 Pro2 an ideal videoconference system for large spaces. The VB130 and VC520 Pro2 allows third party integration via VISCA over IP for control simplification and advanced operation from control panels or intelligent buttons.

In addition to the above, the Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + Controller seamlessly integrates with other AVer camera solutions, such as the VB342Pro and PTC310UV2 Auto Tracking camera, that are currently deployed in multiple universities and large auditoriums across Europe.

Rene Buhay, SVP of Sales and Marketing at AVer Europe says:

"The collaboration between AVer and Lenovo provides an unprecedented Pro-AV solution for business. The certification of the room-ready bundle by Microsoft for MS Teams underpins its suitability in helping businesses to work more efficiently by offering seamless hybrid meeting functionality.

Shannon MacKay, General Manager of Worldwide Smart Collaboration Business, Lenovo says:

We developed the ThinkSmart Core as a modular room kit for meeting spaces that enables flexibility and scalability to deliver high performance. Todays work-or-learn-from-anywhere world needs collaboration solutions that empower and inspire participants no matter where they are. Lenovo will continue innovating to meet customers evolving demands for solutions in hybrid scenarios.

AVers camera solutions and Lenovos ThinkSmart Core + Controller enable plug-and-play connectivity for Microsoft Teams. AVers technology collaboration will provide users with another layer of seamless technology to increase meeting efficiency and participant engagement. AVers solutions establish a safe collaboration culture in any organisation and make productivity and engagement higher for all meeting attendees, even the remote ones.

To learn more about AVer Europe, please visit avereurope.com. Keep up with the latest news from AVer on Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About AVer Europe

AVer Europe provides intelligent technological solutions to harness the power of visual communications for business and education. With over 20 years of research, development and manufacturing excellence AVer holds numerous international design, innovation, application, and service awards for exceptional product usability, reliability and customer satisfaction.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005575/en/

AVer Europe Press Contact

Michael Bull/Carys Geer

brookscomm

[email protected]

[email protected]

Source: AVer
PURCHASE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA) today announced its third quarter 2022 financial results through an earnings release available on the companys Investor Relations website at investor.mastercard.com. The earnings release will be furnished with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on a Form 8-K and available here.

At 9:00 a.m. ET today, the company will host a conference call to discuss these financial results.

Conference Call Details:

Toll-free dial-in: 1-888-330-2508

Toll dial-in: 1-240-789-2735

Conference ID: 6451878

A replay of the call will be available for 30 days using the following dial-in:

Toll-free dial-in: 1-800-770-2030

Toll dial-in: 1-647-362-9199

Conference ID: 6451878

The webcast recording and all related materials can also be accessed at investor.mastercard.com.

About Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005535/en/

Investor Relations: Warren Kneeshaw or Jud Staniar, [email protected], 914-249-4565

Communications: Seth Eisen, [email protected], 914-249-3153

Source: Mastercard Investor Relations
Publication of new guidelines in The Journal of Sexual Medicine represents a significant moment of change in prostate cancer care, where sexual dysfunction is the most reported health-related quality of life outcome and greatest unmet need

represents a significant moment of change in prostate cancer care, where sexual dysfunction is the most reported health-related quality of life outcome and greatest unmet need The evidence and clinical expertise-based, biopsychosocial framework, authored by an international expert panel, has been informed by 25 years of scientific research and the expert perspectives of 37 clinicians, researchers and prostate cancer survivors and their partners

The guidelines promote openness and inclusivity, encouraging healthcare professionals to consider cultural context and provide tailored care to enhance sexual health and quality of life for every patient

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- New clinical practice guidelines were launched today, generated through the collaboration of a 37-member international panel of experts across 14 countries with analysis of 25 years of scientific research, which has led to the introduction of a new standard of excellence for sexual health care in prostate cancer.

The Guidelines for Sexual Health Care for Prostate Cancer Patients: Recommendations of an International Panel provide a first of its kind evidence and expert opinion-based framework that is inclusive for all prostate cancer survivors who have undertaken treatment and their partners. Published following a thorough peer review process in The Journal of Sexual Medicine and developed with support from the leading mens health charity Movember, the guidelines will support clinicians to assess and manage the sexual side effects of prostate cancer therapies and facilitate shared decision-making between clinicians, patients and their partners.

Prostate cancer therapies can negatively impact patients sexual function; this can lead to changes in their relationship with their partner and remains the most reported unmet care need. Reliable information or support is not always available, contributing to distress and relationship breakdowns.

Lead Guidelines Author, Daniela Wittmann, PhD, MSW, Certified Sex Therapist and Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Michigan, said: These guidelines were informed not only by evidence, but also by listening to people with prostate cancer and their partners. Addressing sexual health is the responsibility of every clinician of every discipline who touches the life of a prostate cancer patient. Now we have an inclusive roadmap that will allow healthcare providers to address the needs of their patients. By understanding the fact that many prostate cancer patients live long lives, some with partners, requires us to help protect and enhance the quality of their lives in survivorship. By including sexual health as a part of usual care, we will be responding to significant unmet needs and achieve a new standard of care.

Across the world, 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, with almost 10 million living with or beyond the disease.1 Through a global collaboration of sexual health clinicians, researchers, physicians, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, social workers, and prostate cancer survivors and their partners, 47 statements and recommendations provide clinicians with a framework to address sexual health challenges in prostate cancer. The framework aims to summarise the evidence, enable clinicians to empower patients and increase their preparedness to initiate sensitive conversations about sexual concerns. Through a biopsychosocial perspective, the guidelines emphasise the importance of tailoring counselling to the cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual and gender needs of individual prostate cancer patients and their partners.

Kellie Paich, MPH, Global Director, Clinical Quality and Survivorship at Movember, said: Historically the delivery of sexual health care services for people with prostate cancer has been neither sufficient nor inclusive. Understanding how societal and cultural norms, help-seeking behaviours and the social determinants of health may influence an individual person -- or an entire community -- is essential to understanding how to shape their care.

Movember takes our responsibility to be the voice of those we serve seriously. We know that sex remains an important part of life for many people living with prostate cancer and their partners, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual preference or gender identity. By uniting healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive, inclusive, multi-disciplinary care, we can begin to transform sexual health care in prostate cancer.

-ends-

About Guidelines for Sexual Health Care for Prostate Cancer Patients: Recommendations by an International Panel

Informed by 25 years of scientific literature and research, the guidelines provide an evidence and expert opinion-based framework for sexual health care in prostate cancer. The framework helps clinicians to assess and manage the sexual side effects of prostate cancer therapies, facilitate shared decision-making, and increase their preparedness to initiate sensitive, inclusive conversations about sexual concerns with prostate cancer patients and their partners.

The guidelines were created through the collaboration of an international panel of 37 sexual health clinicians, researchers, physicians, nurses, psychologists, physical therapists, social workers, and prostate cancer survivors and their partners. They were created in the context of Movembers ongoing work in the area of sexual health and wellbeing for men living with prostate cancer.

The guidelines were first published online in the Journal of Sexual Medicine in September 2022 and were published fully in October. To read the guidelines in full, please visit Movember.com/sexualhealthguideline.

About Movember

Movember is the leading global charity changing the face of mens health. We exist to stop men dying too young by tackling some of the most complex health issues facing men today  mental health, suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

What started as a single-minded fundraising and awareness campaign in 2003 has evolved into a multi-faceted health organisation with programs accessed by millions worldwide.

With global support from our Mo Bros, Mo Sisters and Mo community, Movember funds and delivers biomedical research, cancer survivorship programs, innovative community mental health programs and digital health products that work for men.

To find out more about the important work Movember are doing to support the prostate cancer community, visit the Movember True North Website. True North is a global prostate cancer programme, proudly funded by Movember, that aims support and guide people living with prostate cancer through every step of their journey.

References

1 Data Source: Global Burden of Disease, Date Accessed: 2021-11-29, Dataset Name: NA, Data Source Link: http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005997/en/

Notes to Editor:

Media contacts:

Amy OConnor

Senior Lead, Social Impact Campaigns, Movember

E: [email protected]

Nathan McGlone

Senior Account Director, Aurora Healthcare Communications

E: [email protected]

Source: Movember
Additional investments across the company support customer supply needs

Building reinforces the companys sustainable growth strategy

New logistic infrastructure extends storage capacity of packaging materials

Further investments are planned across the company

RAVENSBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vetter, a globally leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced the commissioning of a new warehouse designed to help meet increasing customer market supply demands. With a total investment of approx. 20 million euros, the new fully automated building provides storage space for materials with high-stock turnover rates such as packaging components and thus optimizing the companys logistical infrastructure. In addition, valuable capacity will be freed up in the existing warehouse.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005723/en/

New fully automated Vetter warehouse for packaging materials. (Photo: Business Wire)

Construction of the warehouse began in April 2021 and was designed to further address the companys strategic expansion plans. We have already taken a process-related expansion concept into account during our planning process. The warehouse operation will initially start with a two-shift operation which can be extended to three shifts per day, explains Peter Mayer, Senior Vice President Customer Project Management, Procurement and Logistics. The new storage facility includes 7,700 sq. meters of logistics space consisting of 1,200 sq. meters for incoming and outgoing goods and 6,500 sq. meters of room temperature storage with the capacity for more than 16,000 pallets and a shelf height of 14 meters. The state-of-the-art high-bay warehouse is equipped with automated forklifts and six positions for trucks on a receiving area ramp connected to the transfer area. Four driverless shuttles connect the transfer area with the buildings shelves while four driverless forklifts operate between them.

The additional warehouse is a further testament of our commitment to support our customers supply chain needs, states Managing Director Peter Soelkner. We have also planned for more investment projects that will help us to continue the momentum of sustainable growth of our company. The numerous investments at all Vetter sites include the recently completed extension of the development service laboratories as well as a new multipurpose building at the Ravensburg South production site that houses laboratories for quality control, thawing rooms, offices and a new attractive employee canteen. The completion of another production building for aseptic manufacturing, at the CDMOs Schuetzenstrasse site, is planned for the end of 2026, with several new cleanrooms to be realized in the subsequent years. In addition, the implementation of further automated visual inspection machines is planned. Managing Director Thomas Otto summarizes: Despite the multi-faceted challenges we currently face, such as pandemic as well as political and economic circumstances, we will continue to invest over the next years to expand our capacities in the areas of development services, aseptic filling, visual inspection and packaging to meet the increasing market demand. The planned expansions will go hand in hand with the optimization of the infrastructure across all our sites.

 Vetter Pharma International GmbH: New fully automated Vetter warehouse for packaging materials.

Find the Vetter press kit and more background information here.

About Vetter

Headquartered in Ravensburg, Germany, Vetter is a family-owned, global leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with production facilities in Germany, Austria and the United States. Currently employing more than 5,700 individuals worldwide, the company has long-term experience in supporting biotechnology and pharmaceutical customers both large and small. Vetter services range from early stage development support including clinical manufacturing, to commercial supply and numerous packaging solutions for vials, syringes and cartridges. As a leading solution provider, Vetter appreciates its responsibility to support the needs of its customers by developing devices that contribute to increased patient safety, convenience, and enhanced compliance. Great importance is also given to social responsibility including environmental protection and sustainability. Learn more about Vetter at www.vetter-pharma.com.

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Vetter Pharma International GmbH

Markus Kirchner

Corporate Spokesperson / Media Relations

Phone: +49 (0)751-3700-3729

E-mail: [email protected]

Source: Vetter Pharma International GmbH
Valideres platform and expert team will empower regulatory, emissions measurement, and reconciliation efforts.

HOUSTON & CALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Validere, a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) SaaS company, announces today that PureWest Energy, LLC (PureWest) has chosen Validere as its emissions quantification and reconciliation solution.

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PureWest selects Validere as emissions measurement, reporting, and verification solution. (Graphic: Business Wire)

An independent natural gas company based in Wyomings Green River Basin, PureWest will leverage Valideres Carbon Hub SaaS platform and team of industry experts to synthesize emissions and operational data, informing the companys carbon reduction strategies. This data-driven approach complements PureWests Project Canary TrustWell  certification and fieldwide stationary monitoring strategy.

Valideres technology and team will play vital roles, enabling us to further reduce our emissions, says Kelly Bott, SVP, ESG, Land, and Regulatory at PureWest. After evaluating available offerings in the market, we aligned on working with Validere due to their unique ability to understand the data challenges as well as nuances of the evolving landscape for regulations and voluntary initiatives.

Validere will validate and organize operational and emissions data into a consolidated platform that PureWest can utilize across multiple emission reduction initiatives. In particular, this will allow PureWest to highgrade its emissions data as part of commitments to the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP) 2.0. As a recognized top ESG performer, PureWest recently joined the initiative as an important next step in the companys mission to responsibly deliver essential energy with exceptional reliability and proven environmental stewardship.

As a key technology partner, Validere will transform disparate, disconnected data into actionable insight while providing expert guidance to help PureWest further reduce emissions and chart a clear path through evolving regulations. Using data and deep industry expertise to drive decisions, Validere looks to address the most pressing energy challenges through an integrated, holistic approach.

PureWest prioritizes measurement-based emissions as the foundation to its mitigation strategy, says Kayla Ball, Chief Product Officer at Validere. With a solid baseline of data built around strategic deployment of measurement technology, we are excited to work with PureWest, integrating operations and emissions data to further accelerate emissions reductions in a way that is transparent, auditable, and credible.

About Validere

Validere is a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) SaaS company that helps energy organizations transform disconnected, incomplete data into clear and immediately actionable pathways to financial and environmental value. Over 50 of North Americas leading energy companies rely on Valideres technology and multidisciplinary experts to understand their physical and environmental commodities and navigate an increasingly complex environment with clarity and ease. Validere is on a mission to better human prosperity by making the energy supply chain efficient and sustainable. The company has offices in Houston, Calgary, and Toronto.

About PureWest

PureWest Energy, LLC is a private energy company focused on developing its long-life gas reserves in Wyomings Green River Basin where the Company controls more than 114,000 net acres in and around the prolific Pinedale and Jonah Fields. PureWest is focused on achieving ever-higher ESG performance as part of its commitment to stakeholders and has an industry leading methane intensity rate of 0.05%, more than two years with zero motor vehicle incidents, and PureWests employee led community investment program. Additional information is available at PureWest.com.

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Media:

Nicole Yager

Validere

[email protected]



Matthew Juul

Validere

[email protected]

Source: Validere
- Milestone marks a new opportunity for patients with severe paralysis to receive groundbreaking Stentrode device

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Synchron, the leading endovascular brain-computer interface (BCI) company developing technology to restore functionality in patients with severe paralysis, today announced enrollment in the COMMAND trial has commenced at the University of Pittsburgh (the University), Pittsburgh, PA.

The COMMAND trial is an early feasibility study (EFS) funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and will primarily assess safety while beginning to explore quantified efficacy measures of Synchrons Stentrode in patients with severe paralysis with the goal of enabling the patient to control digital devices, hands-free.

The COMMAND trial is being conducted under the first investigational device exemption (IDE) awarded by the FDA to a company assessing a permanently implanted BCI. This new site at the University marks the second approved COMMAND trial location, joining Mount Sinai in New York.

Today marks an important milestone in our mission to advance technology access for the millions of people who have lost the ability to use digital devices, said Tom Oxley, MD, PhD, CEO & Founder, Synchron. We are excited to expand the COMMAND trial with enrollment at the University as we look to advance a scalable BCI solution to market.

The Stentrode is implanted within the motor cortex of the brain via the jugular vein in a minimally-invasive endovascular procedure. Once implanted, it detects and wirelessly transmits motor intent, restoring a capability for severely paralyzed patients to control personal devices with hands-free point-and-click. The trial will assess the impact of tasks such as texting, emailing, online shopping, and telehealth services. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device designation to Synchron in August 2020 and an IDE in July 2021.

Synchrons Stentrode has the potential to restore functionality to the millions of people worldwide suffering from paralysis, said Raul Nogueira, MD, FAHA, FSIN, Endowed Professor & Division Chief of Cerebrovascular Medicine, Director, UPMC Stroke Institute, Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery at the University of Pittsburgh. Giving patients the option to receive this device without the need for open brain surgery, may open endless possibilities into the application and scalability of this promising technology.

This exciting technology may open up the possibility for patients with paralysis to use digital devices to communicate with loved ones again, and restore independence back into their lives, said David Lacomis, MD, principal investigator and Chief of Neuromuscular Division at the University of Pittsburgh. Something as simple as surfing the web or doing online grocery shopping can seem mundane to some, but it can change the world for someone who previously had those fundamental abilities taken away.

COMMAND trial sites in New York, NY and Pittsburgh, PA are recruiting patients. Referring physicians may direct their inquiries to [email protected] to be put in touch with a study coordinator. There is no guarantee of participation and principal investigators make the final determination of patient eligibility.

About the Stentrode

Synchrons flagship technology, the Stentrode, is an endovascular brain implant designed to enable patients to wirelessly control digital devices through thought and improve functional independence. Synchrons foundational technology, a motor neuroprosthesis (MNP), or motor BCI, is implanted via the jugular vein using neurointerventional techniques commonly used to treat stroke, and does not require drilling into the skull or open brain surgery. The system is designed for patients suffering from paralysis as a result of a broad range of conditions, and aims to be user friendly and dependable for patients to use autonomously.

About Synchron, Inc.

Synchron, an endovascular brain interface company, is a leader in implantable neural interface technology. The clinical-stage company is developing a neuroprosthesis for the treatment of paralysis and the first endovascular implantable neuromodulation therapy. Future applications include the potential to diagnose and treat conditions of the nervous system, including Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, depression, and hypertension. Synchron is headquartered in New York City with R&D facilities in Melbourne, Australia. For more information, visit www.synchron.com. Follow us on Twitter @synchroninc.

About the University of Pittsburgh: Founded in 1787, the University of Pittsburgh is an internationally renowned leader in health sciences learning and research. A top 10 recipient of NIH funding since 1998, Pitt has repeatedly been ranked as the best public university in the Northeast, per The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Pitt consists of a campus in Pittsburghhome to 16 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools  and four regional campuses located throughout Western Pennsylvania. Pitt offers nearly 500 distinct degree programs; serves more than 33,000 students; employs more than 13,000 faculty and staff; and awards 9,000 degrees systemwide.

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Kimberly Ha

Synchron

[email protected]

Tyler Hubin

Moxie Communications Group

[email protected]

Source: Synchron, Inc.
Hengde Qin, currently President of Syngenta Group China, is taking over as Chief Human Resources Officer of Syngenta Group

Hongsheng Liu, former President of Sinochem International, will become President of Syngenta Group China

Minjie Ying, Head of Syngenta Group Seeds China, will now be also responsible for the MAP business in China

Laure Roberts, Chief Human Resources Officer, is retiring at the end of Q1 2023, after 12 years of service

BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syngenta Group today announced the following succession plans for its leadership team:

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(Photo: Business Wire)

Laure Roberts, Chief Human Resources Officer, will retire on March 31, 2023, after a 12-year tenure at the company. Hengde Qin, currently President of Syngenta Group China, will take over as Chief Human Resources Officer on Jan 1, 2023. He will move to Basel for the role, and Laure Roberts will support him in Q1 2023. Hengde Qins former role will be assumed by Hongsheng Liu, currently President of Sinochem International, effective November 1, 2022. Both Hengde Qin and Hongsheng Liu will be part of the Group Leadership Team, reporting to the CEO.

I would like to thank Laure for her many achievements. During her tenure with the company, Laure transformed the HR function, balancing business focus and genuine care for our employees. With her emphasis on leadership and culture, she played a key role in driving employee engagement and a more agile organization. Her passion for diversity and inclusion will continue to be felt for many years to come, said Syngenta Group CEO Erik Fyrwald. At the same time, I am excited to welcome Hengde and Hongsheng to their new roles, building on our momentum. Both are proven leaders with long track records, who will continue to help Syngenta Group move strongly forward as we help farmers fight climate change and embrace regenerative agriculture.

Hengde Qin built a strong Syngenta Group China (SGC) Team that is delivering outstanding revenue and profitability growth. Under his leadership, SGC has built leading market positions in the China Crop Protection and Seeds markets, while strengthening our leadership position in Crop Nutrition and making MAP the fastest growing business in agriculture.

Hongsheng Liu will replace Hengde Qin as President, Syngenta Group China, effective November 1, 2022. He is a seasoned leader who brings international experience, a track record of business delivery, and strong relationships with Sinochem. Most recently, Hongsheng Liu was CEO of Sinochem International Corporation and President of Chemical SBU of Sinochem Group and Chairman of Halcyon Agri Corporation Limited. He joined Sinochem in 2000 in management and rapidly evolved into leadership roles of increasing responsibilities. Prior to joining Sinochem, he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China and the Chinese Embassy in Thailand.

With increasing ambitions for MAP business in China, Minjie Ying currently Head of Syngenta Group Seeds China, will now also oversee the further expansion of the MAP business as from November 1, 2022. Jianbo Liu will continue in his current role as Head of MAP and remain member of the Syngenta Group China Leadership Team, reporting directly to Minjie Ying.

About Syngenta Group

Syngenta Group is one of the worlds leading agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. In more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture through breakthrough products and technologies that play a vital role in enabling the food chain to feed the world safely, sustainably and with respect for our planet. Syngenta Group, registered in Shanghai, China and with its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units  Syngenta Crop Protection headquartered in Switzerland, Syngenta Seeds headquartered in the United States, ADAMA headquartered in Israel, and Syngenta Group China  that provide industry-leading ways to serve customers everywhere.

For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as expect, would, will, potential, plans, prospects, estimated, aiming, on track and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006060/en/

Media Relations

[email protected]

Source: Syngenta Group
Growth driven by products and services that help farmers grow crops sustainably amidst global food security and climate change challenges

9M Group sales at $25.9 billion, growth of $4.9 billion, +2124% vs. prior year Q3 Group sales grew to $7.9 billion

9M EBITDA at $4.6 billion, +30% vs. prior year Q3 EBITDA grew to $1.0 billion



BASEL, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syngenta Group today announced strong financial results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2022. Third quarter Group sales increased 20 percent to $7.9 billion, up $1.4 billion year-on-year. Third-quarter EBITDA for 2022 increased 24 percent to $1.0 billion, driven by higher sales of innovative products and services, increased productivity and prices offsetting higher costs.

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Syngenta Group Headquarters -Basel, Switzerland (Photo: Business Wire)

Group sales for the first nine months of 2022 were $25.9 billion, up $4.9 billion, 24 percent year-on-year. EBITDA for the first nine months of the year was $4.6 billion, 30 percent higher year-on-year.

Q3 2022

Q3 2022 Q3 2021 Change Change (CER) $bn $bn % % Sales 7.9 6.5 +20 +25 EBITDA 1.0 0.8 +24 +29

9M 2022

9M 2022 9M 2021 Change Change (CER) $bn $bn % % Sales 25.9 21.0 +24 +27 EBITDA 4.6 3.5 +30 +36

Syngenta Groups strong performance continued in the third quarter despite an increasingly challenging macroeconomic environment, including continued strengthening of the US dollar. All business units saw good momentum, benefitting from solid demand for the Groups diverse products and services which help advance regenerative agriculture, enabling farmers to grow crops sustainably while enhancing yields. Sales growth was attributable to a significant increase in sales across all business units, driven by robust grain prices, attractive farm economics and inventory builds across the value chain. Necessary price increases were implemented to help mitigate higher costs.

The Group continued to advance innovative seeds, crop protection and crop nutrition technologies that help farmers address challenges caused by climate change, and restore and protect soil health, biodiversity and water systems.

Syngenta Group Chinas MAP sales grew 80 percent to $2.6 billion in the first nine months and expanded to 565 centers. Average sales per center were up 30 percent year-on-year, helping farmers drive agricultural transformation by equipping them with solutions that increase their crop quality and reduce environmental impact.

Syngenta Groups digital offerings have reached 208 million acres globally, benefitting from strong uptake by farmers in major markets. (For comparison, 208 million acres is roughly 1.25 the land area of France.)

Amidst global macroeconomic challenges, Syngenta Group continued to manage its supply chains to mitigate higher procurement, logistics, and energy costs. The Group is driving productivity initiatives, pricing to help offset cost increases and other actions to mitigate the ongoing headwinds. EBITDA margin increased 0.9 percentage points from a year earlier to 17.6 percent in the first nine months of 2022.

Synergy-driven sales in the nine months more than doubled to $1.1 billion. The profit contribution increased to $0.4 billion.

Highlights

Sales by Business Units

Q3 2022

Q3 2022 Q3 2021 Change Change (CER) $bn $bn % % Syngenta Group 7.9 6.5 +20 +25 Syngenta Crop Protection 4.1 3.1 +30 +34 ADAMA 1.6 1.4 +18 +22 Syngenta Seeds 0.9 0.8 +6 +10 Syngenta Group China 1.8 1.7 +11 +16 Eliminations -0.5 -0.5 n/a n/a

9M 2022

9M 2022 9M 2021 Change Change (CER) $bn $bn % % Syngenta Group 25.9 21.0 +24 +27 Syngenta Crop Protection 12.6 9.9 +27 +30 ADAMA 5.2 4.2 +22 +26 Syngenta Seeds 3.2 2.8 +14 +18 Syngenta Group China 7.1 5.9 +22 +23 Eliminations -2.2 -1.8 n/a n/a

Syngenta Crop Protection

Syngenta Crop Protection sales grew 27 percent to $12.6 billion in the first nine months of 2022.

Sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East grew 7 percent and in Asia Pacific (excluding China) 5 percent. Driven by strong volume growth and price increases, sales in Latin America increased 62 percent; North America grew 17 percent; and China 30 percent.

ADAMA

ADAMA sales grew 22 percent to $5.2 billion in the first nine months of 2022, driven by strong demand and higher prices, led by the business in Brazil.

Sales in Europe grew 4 percent; North America 17 percent; Latin America 42 percent; India, Middle East and Africa 3 percent; Asia Pacific (excluding China) 19 percent; and China 59 percent.

Syngenta Seeds

Syngenta Seeds sales grew 14 percent to $3.2 billion in the first nine months of 2022.

Field crop sales in Europe, Africa and the Middle East grew 16 percent; North America 13 percent; Asia Pacific (excluding China) 23 percent; and China 35 percent. Latin America grew 17 percent. Sales of Vegetable Seeds were 1 percent lower due to an adverse currency impact, underlying growth at constant exchange rates was 6 percent.

Syngenta Group China

Syngenta Group China, consisting of the Groups Seeds, Crop Protection, Crop Nutrition, MAP and digital activities in China, achieved sales of $7.1 billion, up 22 percent, in the first nine months of 2022. Underlying growth, adjusting for the new distribution model of the Crop Nutrition nitrogen commodity business, was 36 percent.

Syngenta Group Chinas Crop Protection sales increased 22 percent. Sales of Seeds in China, including vegetables, grew 35 percent driven by strong demand for rice and corn.

Crop Nutrition sales were 9 percent lower; underlying growth was 16 percent. Prices have softened in the third quarter.

In the first nine months of the year, MAP sales grew 80 percent to $2.6 billion. The number of MAP centers increased by 127 to a total of 565. MAP digital applications achieved more than 2.2 million registered users, equipped with digital tools that help modernize farms across China.

Syngenta Group Summary Financials

Q3 2022

Q3 2022 Q3 2021 Q3 2022 Q3 2021 $bn $bn bn bn Sales 7.9 6.5 54.3 42.4 Syngenta Crop Protection 4.1 3.1 28.2 20.3 ADAMA 1.6 1.4 11.2 8.9 Syngenta Seeds 0.9 0.8 6.2 5.4 Syngenta Group China 1.8 1.7 12.3 10.8 Of which MAP 0.9 0.5 5.8 3.5 Eliminations -0.5 -0.5 -3.6 -3.0 EBITDA 1.0 0.8 7.1 5.4

9M 2022

9M 2022 9M 2021 9M 2022 9M 2021 $bn $bn bn bn Sales 25.9 21.0 171.6 135.8 Syngenta Crop Protection 12.6 9.9 83.6 64.4 ADAMA 5.2 4.2 34.3 27.4 Syngenta Seeds 3.2 2.8 21.1 18.2 Syngenta Group China 7.1 5.9 46.3 38.2 Of which MAP 2.6 1.5 17.4 9.4 Eliminations -2.2 -1.8 -13.7 -12.4 EBITDA 4.6 3.5 30.1 22.6

Endnotes

For further information, see the reporting of financial results for ADAMA Ltd. (SHE: 000553), Sinofert Holdings (SEHK: 0297), Winall Hi-tech Seed (SHE: 300087) and Yangnong Chemical (SHA: 600486).

Unless otherwise mentioned, comparisons are to the same period in 2021. The results presented in this release are unaudited and a consolidation of the business units in the Syngenta Group which includes Syngenta AG, Syngenta Group China, ADAMA Ltd., Sinofert Holdings, Winall Hi-tech Seed and Yangnong Chemical. Yangnong Chemical was purchased through a business combination under common control in July 2021, and its respective sales in 9M 2021 appended to the Groups Crop Protection units and domestically to Syngenta Group China.

EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure and EBITDA as defined by Syngenta Group may not be comparable to similarly described measures at other companies. Syngenta Group has defined EBITDA as earnings before interest, tax, non-controlling interests, depreciation, amortization, restructuring and impairment. Information concerning EBITDA has been included as it is used by management and by investors as a supplementary measure of operating performance. Syngenta Group excludes restructuring and impairment from EBITDA to focus on results excluding items affecting comparability from one period to the next.

EBITDA as used in this press release excludes one-time events; other documents may treat this as an underlying or adjusted EBITDA. EBITDA excludes other one-off or non-cash/non-operational items that do not impact the ongoing performance of the business, as well as the impact of a time-bound, Group launch long-term incentive scheme for leadership.

When referred to as such, the Group implies Syngenta Group.

About Syngenta Group

Syngenta Group is one of the worlds leading agriculture innovation companies, with roots going back more than 250 years. In more than 100 countries, the company strives to transform agriculture through breakthrough products and technologies that play a vital role in enabling the food chain to feed the world safely, sustainably and with respect for our planet. Syngenta Group, registered in Shanghai, China and with its management headquarters in Switzerland, draws strength from its four business units  Syngenta Crop Protection headquartered in Switzerland, Syngenta Seeds headquartered in the United States, ADAMA headquartered in Israel, and Syngenta Group China  that provide industry-leading ways to serve customers everywhere.

For Syngenta Group photos and videos, please visit the Syngenta Group Media Library.

Data protection is important to us. You are receiving this publication on the legal basis of Article 6 para 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest). However, if you do not wish to receive further information about Syngenta Group, just send us a brief informal message and we will no longer process your details for this purpose. You can also find further details in our privacy statement.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as expect, would, will, potential, plans, prospects, estimated, aiming, on track and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta Group, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or grain prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta Group assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006064/en/

Media Relations

[email protected]

Source: Syngenta Group
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tutor Perini Corporation (NYSE: TPC) (the Company), a leading civil, building and specialty construction company, announced today that it will host a conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific Time on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, to discuss the Company's third quarter 2022 results.

Speakers on the call from Tutor Perini will be Ronald Tutor, Chairman and CEO, and Gary Smalley, Executive Vice President and CFO. The Company plans to issue its earnings announcement the same day after the market close.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 877-407-8293 five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled time. International callers should dial 1-201-689-8349.

The conference call will be webcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties on Tutor Perini's website at www.tutorperini.com. To listen to the webcast, please visit Tutor Perini's website at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register and to download and install any necessary software. For those unable to participate during the live call, the webcast will be available for replay shortly after the call on Tutor Perini's website.

About Tutor Perini Corporation

Tutor Perini Corporation is a leading civil, building and specialty construction company offering diversified general contracting and design-build services to private clients and public agencies throughout the world. We have provided construction services since 1894 and have established a strong reputation within our markets by executing large, complex projects on time and within budget while adhering to strict quality control measures.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005769/en/

Tutor Perini Corporation

Jorge Casado, 818-362-8391

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

www.tutorperini.com

Source: Tutor Perini Corporation
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Member of Parliament of Georgia from the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Khakhubia, 51, was found dead in his home on Thursday, local media reported.

The cause of the incident is still unknown.

According to some reports, the lawmaker committed suicide, with a firearm found at the scene.

Criminal case has been initiated.
UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and critical care experts William Fischer, MD, and David Wohl, MD, in collaboration with UNC Hospitals colleagues, will lead a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals have been selected to be a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). UNC-Chapel Hill was one of three sites selected to expand beyond 10 existing RESPTC sites across the US.

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William Fischer, MD (left) and David Wohl, MD (right) of UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. (Photo: Business Wire)

UNC School of Medicines William Fischer, MD, and David Wohl, MD both members of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, will lead the new center, established through a $3-million ASPR grant. The other two new centers will be established at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan. The ASPR also awarded $1.2 million to each of the original 10 RESPTCs for a total investment of $21 million.

For several years, UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill has been one of eight North Carolina healthcare facilities designated as an assessment hospital to identify, isolate, and care for a patient infected with an emerging pathogen for up to 96 hours before transfer to a RESPTC. Now UNC will join Emory University as the only two RESPTCs in the Southeast.

These awards will bolster the countrys preparedness and capacity to respond to emerging pathogens during medical and public health emergencies. At UNC Hospitals, the grant will allow experts in critical care, infectious diseases and infection control to train and educate staff at UNC Hospitals, other hospitals, and clinics in urban areas and rural communities across the Southeast.

Fischer and Wohl, both of whom have directly provided care to patients with special pathogens such as Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and human monkeypox here and abroad, will lead implementation of plans and protocols to quickly establish a special intensive care unit with capacity to care for two patients with special pathogens. Their plans will also account for expanding hospital capabilities should the need arise.

UNC Hospitals has been at the forefront of caring for infectious diseases patients for decades, starting with the HIV epidemic in the 1980s, said Wohl, professor of infectious diseases in the department of medicine. This award is a recognition of our ability to train clinical staff and care for people with new or concerning infections. There will be no better place to receive this special care than at UNC Hospitals.

Fischer and Wohl are collaborating with UNC Hospitals and campus leadership, the medical intensive care unit, as well as several infection prevention experts at UNC Hospitals, including Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, Brooke Brewer, RN, MS, David Weber, MD, and their entire teams.

Over the past two decades we have witnessed a rise in the number of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. This award is an important opportunity to strengthen local, regional and national preparedness, response and recovery, said Fischer, director of the Emerging Pathogens Program at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and associate professor of pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine. This has been a total team effort, including support from each state in our region, local public health officials, and emergency medical professionals.

Wohl noted that North Carolina has a large military presence often stationed overseas and a citizenry dedicated to missionary and nonprofit work abroad, where new pathogens have historically emerged.

UNC-Chapel Hill is perfectly situated to take on this responsibility, said Myron Cohen, MD, founding director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology, and associate vice chancellor for medical affairs. Our long history and dedication to treating special pathogen patients in Africa, around the world, and at home, as well as our strong partnerships with North Carolina public health leaders, has prepared us to handle whatever might come our way.

UNC-Chapel Hill is ranked 19th worldwide in the "Best University in Infectious Diseases" rankings by US News & World Report. Carolina, the only university in North Carolina ranked in the top 30 globally, is ranked 7th among U.S. institutions.

Drs. Fischer and Wohl are internationally respected and extraordinary clinicians and researchers who have proven their expertise in this field, said UNC Hospitals President Janet Hadar, MSN, MBA. We are thankful for their leadership, for the dedication of their colleagues and our hospital staff, and for local and state support, which greatly aided our grant application.

In announcing the $21-million investment, HHS said the RESPTCs are hospitals with enhanced capability and capacity to care for highly infectious diseases, and serve as regional hubs for the National Special Pathogen System. These hospitals are continuously ready and available to care for a special pathogen patient medically evacuated from overseas or diagnosed within the United States.

These are the 13 RESPTCs:

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation/HHC Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, New York

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland

Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

Emory University Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia

UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals, in Chapel Hill, NC

University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in Galveston, Texas

Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska

Denver Health & Hospital Authority in Denver, Colorado

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Childrens Hospital in Spokane, Washington

About UNC School of Medicine

The UNC School of Medicine (SOM) is the states largest medical school, graduating more than 180 new physicians this past year. It is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the country, including 3rd overall for primary care by US News & World Report and 6th for research among public universities. More than half of the schools 1,700 faculty members served as principal investigators on active research awards in 2021. Two UNC SOM faculty members have earned Nobel Prize awards.

About the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases

Established in 2007, the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID) brings solutions to the most pressing global health issues of our time through research, training and service. Working on problems critical to the people of North Carolina and the worldwide, IGHID provides a unique pan-university framework for facilitating global health science and practice.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006021/en/

Mark Derewicz

919-923-0959

[email protected]

Source: UNC Health
Benefits may include $0 unlimited primary care, $0 unlimited virtual urgent care, an opportunity to earn a $100 gift card, dental and vision coverage, prescriptions as low as $3, deductibles as low as $0, and complimentary digital fitness classesi.

Some plans also offer 24/7 virtual visits for urgent, primary and specialty care in English and Spanish, at no additional cost.

MINNETONKA, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- UnitedHealthcare today announced its 2023 Individual and Family Plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace, which will feature affordable coverage, a wide range of benefits, and a simple service experience in 22 states. Consumers can enroll by visiting www.uhcexchange.com during the open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1, 2022, through Jan. 15, 2023ii.

States in which people may be able to access these plans in 2023 include: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washingtoniii.

Individual and Family Plans play an important role in helping expand coverage by providing affordable benefits, with many people qualifying for plans as low as $0 per month depending on their income.

Everyone should have access to quality affordable health care coverage, particularly now as many Americans are working hard to keep their costs down, said Marcus Robinson, senior vice president, UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family Plans. With extended eligibility and subsidies, we have created even more options for the 2023 Health Insurance Marketplace that meet the diverse needs of our members and help people make the best choice for themselves and their families.

Affordable Plans With a Wide Range of Benefits

Highlights of 2023 UnitedHealthcare Individual and Family plans includei:

$0 unlimited primary care.

$0 unlimited virtual urgent care.

Prescriptions as low as $3 at Optum Rx Home Delivery.

Prescriptions as low as $3 at Walgreens and 20% off Walgreens branded health and wellness products.

Dental and vision coverage.

An opportunity to earn a $100 gift card.

Complimentary access to digital fitness classes.

Deductibles as low as $0.

Health savings account options.

In addition to its robust benefit offering, UnitedHealthcare has created a seamless experience for those who enroll, with multiple platforms available to ensure easy and convenient access to information regarding plans, specific benefits, claims, how to find the best health care provider, and more. This includes a personalized member website, myuhc.com, available in English and Spanish, which has a live chat embedded to allow real-time assistance. Additionally, the member services call center is available 24/7 in multiple languages.

Shoppers can visit www.uhcexchange.com (also available in Spanish: www.uhcexchange.com/es) or call 1-877-649-9797 to enroll or change plans from Nov. 1, 2022, to Jan. 15, 2023ii.

In 2021, UnitedHealthcare offered Individual and Family Plans in 11 states: Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. In 2022, the company expanded its footprint to seven more states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan and Texas. For 2023, UnitedHealthcare will bring its plans to 22 states in total with the addition of Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio.iii

For more information, visit www.uhcexchange.com.

About UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.5 million physicians and care professionals, and 7,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

____________________________

i The benefits described may not be offered in all plans or in all states. Some plans may require copayments, deductibles and/or coinsurance for these benefits. The policy has exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage, review the plan coverage documents or contact UnitedHealthcare.

ii Open enrollment dates may vary by state.

iii Subject to regulatory approval.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005648/en/

Urko Lapedriza

UnitedHealthcare

(224) 532-7768

[email protected]

Source: UnitedHealthcare
Education leaders will meet to discuss emerging initiatives and data standards

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- University of Phoenix announces that Doris Savron, vice provost, is a featured speaker at PESCs (Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council) October 2022 Data Summit. The event will be held in Vancouver, BC, October 26-28, 2022. Savrons special session on Skills, Competencies & Microcredentials - What Does It All Mean and Why Should I Care, will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 8:30am.

PESC is leading the establishment and adoption of trusted, free and open data standards across the education domain. The Summit will be an opportunity for leaders in education, policy-makers and technologists to learn about emerging initiatives and participate in discussions with leaders and experts surrounding access, implementation and integration of data systems.

Over the last two years, University of Phoenix has built blueprints to work to align all programs and course learning outcomes to in-demand skills leveraging market data that incorporate employer needs, says Savron. Weve begun to pilot digital badges and our strategy for micro credentials. We will be sharing the lessons learned from this pilot, including approaches to facilitate scaleability and integration with both internal and external systems, and our future strategy as a result of these programs.

Doris Savron's career spans 30 years in healthcare, information technology and academia. In her role as Vice Provost, she oversees strategy for degree, certificate and course offerings, design of curriculum and student learning outcomes for the University. She works collaboratively with her team members to innovate academic solutions that enable the University to provide exceptional student experiences and learning environments to support student success.

For more information about PESCs October 2022 Data Summit Data Summit, visit the registration website.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005673/en/

Sharla Hooper

University of Phoenix

[email protected]

Source: University of Phoenix
HANOVER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (Utz or the Company), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today announced it plans to report its third quarter 2022 financial results on Thursday, November 10, 2022, before market open.

The Company will host a conference call and webcast with members of the executive management team to discuss these results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Please visit the Events & Presentations section of Utzs Investor Relations website at https://investors.utzsnacks.com to access the live webcast and presentation. The webcast will be available in listen-only mode, and the replay will be archived on the Events & Presentations section of Utzs Investor Relations website.

About Utz Brands, Inc.

Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) manufactures a diverse portfolio of savory snacks through popular brands including Utz, On The Border Chips & Dips, Golden Flake, Zapps, Good Health, Boulder Canyon, Hawaiian Brand, and TORTIYAHS!, among others.

After a century with strong family heritage, Utz continues to have a passion for exciting and delighting consumers with delicious snack foods made from top-quality ingredients. Utzs products are distributed nationally through grocery, mass merchandisers, club, convenience, drug, and other channels. Based in Hanover, Pennsylvania, Utz has multiple manufacturing facilities located across the U.S. to serve its growing customer base. For more information, please visit www.utzsnacks.com or call 1-800-FOR-SNAX.

Investors and others should note that Utz announces material financial information to its investors using its investor relations website (investors.utzsnacks.com), SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls and webcasts. Utz uses these channels, as well as social media, to communicate with our stockholders and the public about the Company, the Companys products, and other issues. It is possible that the information that Utz posts on social media could be deemed to be material information. Therefore, Utz encourages investors, the media, and others interested in the Company to review the information posted on the social media channels listed on Utzs investor relations website.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006111/en/

Investor Contact

Kevin Powers

Utz Brands, Inc.

[email protected]

Media Contact

Kevin Brick

Utz Brands, Inc.

[email protected]

Source: Utz Brands, Inc.
State-of-the-art facility will have the capacity to produce over 250,000 EV chargers in 2022 and over 1 million in 2030 exclusively for the North American market.

EV charging leader offered a live demo of Hypernova, its 400kW DC fast charger which is capable of adding up to 100 miles of range in just five minutes of charging.

Wallboxs $70 million investment in the Arlington factory will support approximately 700 local jobs by 2030.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wallbox (NYSE: WBX), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions worldwide, officially opened its first North American manufacturing facility in Arlington, Texas. Designed to produce over 250,000 units in 2022 and over one million in 2030, the 130,000 square foot factory will manufacture all of the companys chargers in the U.S. which will serve multiple segments of EV charging including residential charging, bidirectional charging and hyperfast highway corridor charging.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005950/en/

Today only 3% of the chargers required globally for the next decade have been installed, showing the magnitude of the need for innovative and reliable charging solutions, said Enric Asuncion, CEO of Wallbox. Bringing Wallboxs manufacturing capabilities to the U.S. significantly bolsters our ability to meet U.S. needs, deliver to public funding programs and drive the energy transition.

As part of the factory opening, Wallbox offered a live demonstration of Hypernova, its hyperfast DC charging solution that delivers up to 400 kW of charging power, making it ideal for highway corridors. The charger is capable of adding up to 100 miles of range in just five minutes of charging.

Hypernova was designed specifically to be deployed throughout long-distance EV corridors, the same as those defined by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. All Hypernova chargers produced in the Arlington facility are expected to meet Buy America requirements when production begins in 2023.

Hypernova has a centralized power system that can feed one or multiple dispenser units. The innovative design allows for a wide variety of configurations that can be upgraded over time, including the addition of more power modules or dispenser units to the installation, thereby allowing charging services operators and fleets to match current and future demand. It offers a seamless user experience with its compact size, integrated cable management system, interactive lighting system and sunlight readable touchscreen.

Hypernova was specifically designed to bolster public charging infrastructure in the U.S., said Douglas Alfaro, General Manager North America at Wallbox. It aims to solve the current deficit in public charging along key U.S. highway corridors and simplify long-distance traveling for EV drivers. Were already seeing vehicles with higher power charging capabilities hit the road that would be looking to benefit from faster charging from an ultra fast charger like Hypernova than whats being installed today.

The Arlington facility is now producing Pulsar Plus, Wallboxs global best-selling smart home EV charger that is compatible with all EVs. In 2023, the factory is expected to begin the production of Hypernova.

This new facility complements Wallboxs existing operations and services in North America, including its North American headquarters in Mountain View, California, and warehouses in Burlington, North Carolina and Bloomington, California. It is also Wallboxs fourth manufacturing facility worldwide.

The $70 million project is expected to double the local workforce over the next twelve months and bring approximately 250 jobs to the Arlington area by 2025 and approximately 700 by 2030. To further demonstrate its commitment to the local community, Wallbox is contributing $30,000 to start the Wallbox Endowed Scholarship at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, TX. The scholarship will provide financial aid to a different TCC student each year, in perpetuity (beginning in 2025).

Clean energy is the future, and together, were going to lead the world in innovation and were going to make sure all of America sees the benefits, said Mitch Landrieu, Senior Advisor to President Biden and Infrastructure Coordinator. Wallboxs rapid growth proves that we can do this work while creating good-paying jobs and growing the economy right here in America.

Wallbox is a significant addition to Arlingtons Great Southwest Industrial District and were thrilled the company chose our city for its first U.S. manufacturing plant. Wallbox hasnt just brought great-paying manufacturing jobs to our city, they have created jobs that are geared towards the future of where this country is going. The company is already at work creating electric vehicle charging units right here in Arlington that will be shipped all across North America, Mayor Jim Ross said.

The new factory is being constructed through a cradle-to-cradle methodology whereby unnecessary waste is eliminated through design and eco-efficient materials. This approach is part of Wallboxs commitment to promote sustainability in all aspects of the business. The company is committed to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its global footprint by 2030.

About Wallbox Chargers

Wallbox is a global company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy in the electric vehicle industry. Wallbox creates smart charging systems that combine innovative technology with outstanding design and manage the communication between vehicle, grid, building and charger. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public and public use in more than 100 countries. Founded in 2015, with headquarters in Barcelona, Wallboxs mission is to facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles today to make more sustainable use of energy tomorrow. The company employs approximately 1,100 people in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

For additional information, please visit www.wallbox.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005950/en/

Wallbox Public Relations Contact:

Elyce Behrsin

Public Relations

[email protected]

+34 622 513 358



Wallbox Investor Contact:

Matt Tractenberg

VP, Investor Relations

[email protected]

+1 404-574-1504

Source: Wallbox
New Trendsetting Frames Will Hit the Zenni App and Website Each Week

NOVATO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zenni, the online eyewear retail leader, today announced the launch of its Limited Release Collection, which includes more than 30 fashion-forward eyeglass and sunglass styles updated each week. Each cutting-edge style is only available for a short time, normally 30 days, but the most popular sellers become permanent additions to Zennis impressive catalog of more than 3,000 styles.

Zenni mobile app users will get the first look at the Limited Release Collections glasses and sunglasses each Friday before they appear on the Zenni website every Monday at Zenni.com/limited. Zenni fans can also preview some of the stylish and unique new additions to the Limited Release Collection each Friday via Zennis TikTok series, Friday Frame Finds.

Limited Release Collection styles may include distinctive frame shapes, vibrant multi-colored combinations, seasonal and holiday-themed frames, brightly-colored tinted lenses and mirrored finishes. Glasses in the collection start at just $19.95, including lenses, and are all made from the high-quality materials for which Zenni is known. Limited Release Collection glasses can be personalized with various lens types including readers, high-index, impact-resistant, bifocals, progressives, non-prescription and Blokz, Zennis blue light blocking lenses.

The Limited Release Collection is the perfect new offering for Zennis stylish customers who are eager to show off their unique personality and expand their eyeglass wardrobe, as the active Zenni customer makes a new purchase every six months, said Errol Pinto, Head of Product for Zenni. Zenni recently surpassed 50 million pairs of glasses sold, and part of this success is our continued focus on providing customers with something for everyone and fresh new products, such as the Limited Release Collection.

The Limited Release Collection is Zennis latest new product offering as the brand continues to provide its customers with the most high-quality eyewear options to express their personal style at an affordable price. The collection comes on the heels of Zennis recently introduced Fast Frame premium service that expedites new eyeglass orders so U.S.-based customers receive their glasses in as quick as two business days. The brand also recently launched ReMakes by Zenni, its first collection of sustainable glasses made with 100% certified recycled post-consumer plastic.

For more on the Limited Release Collection, visit Zenni.com/limited.

About Zenni

Zenni pioneered the online eyewear industry in 2003 with a mission to make prescription eyewear affordable and accessible to everyone. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Zenni offers adults and children the freedom to express their personal style through high-quality prescription and protective eyewear curated with a sense for fashion and incredible selection. With complete prescription pairs starting at just $6.95, and averaging just over $40, the company has brought massive price disruption to the traditional retail model. With over 45 million frames sold worldwide, a pair of Zennis is owned in every country across the globe. Zenni is proud to be the Official Eyewear of the San Francisco 49ers, Boston Red Sox, Call of Duty League and the Chicago Bulls. Zenni has worked with designers and tastemakers on curations and collections, including Iris Apfel, Rashida Jones, Cynthia Rowley, David Ortiz and George and Claire Kittle. For more information, please visit Zenni.com/Press.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006038/en/

Cat Dillon Lyons

[email protected]

Source: Zenni
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL), Brazil's largest domestic airline, provides an Investor Update. All information is presented in Brazilian Reais (R$). The information below is preliminary and unaudited.

GOL is updating its financial forecasts in light of higher jet fuel prices, the results obtained for the first nine months of the year, the current level of tickets sales, and expectations on seat availability.

The Company is focused on its fleet transformation and expects that by the end of the year, 44 737- MAX aircraft will be in operation, representing around 30% of the total fleet. The new and more efficient Boeing MAX play an important role in GOL's strategy in the coming years, contributing to deliver enhanced productivity, reduced unit costs, and lower carbon emissions.

To help investors and analysts understand how GOL addresses its near-term planning, the Company shares the following indicators:

Financial Outlook 2022E Previous 2022E Updated Total fleet (average) 132  138 135 - 140 Total operational fleet (average) 101  104 100 - 102 ASKs, System (% change yoy) 55  65% 50 - 55% Seats, System (% change) 55  65% 50 - 55% Departures, System (% change) 55  65% 50 - 55% Average load factor (%) ~80% ~81% Ancillary revenues. net1 (R$bn) ~1.0 ~1.1 Total net revenues (R$bn) ~15.4 ~15.4 Non-fuel CASK2 (US$ cents) ~3.5 ~3.7 Fuel liters consumed (mm) ~1,150 ~1,110 Gross Global Scope 1 emissions (thousand ton CO2) ~2,950 ~2,800 Total Fuel Consumed (1,000 liters/RPK) ~33.7 ~33.7 GHG Emissions/Flight Hour (t CO2) ~8.4 ~8.4 Fuel price (R$/liter) ~5.7 ~5.9 EBITDA margin (%) ~20% ~19% EBIT margin (%) ~8% ~7% Net financial expense3 (R$bn) ~1.8 ~1.9 Pre-tax margin3 (%) ~0% ~0% Effective income tax rate (%) ~0% ~0% Capex, net4 (R$mm) ~700 ~650 MAX Aircraft Acquisitions (R$mm) ~1,000 ~900 Aircraft Debt (7x Annual Acft Lease Payments) (US$bn) ~3.2 ~3.2 Financial Debt (US$bn) ~2.0 ~2.2 Net Debt5 / EBITDA2 (x) ~8x ~9x Fully-diluted shares out6 (mm) ~435 ~435 EPS, fully diluted (R$) ~NA ~0 Fully-diluted ADS out.6 (mm) ~217.5 ~217.5 EPADS, fully diluted (US$) ~NA ~0

(1) Cargo. loyalty. buy-on-board and other ancillary revenues; (2) Recurring operating results; (3) Excluding currency gains and losses and Unrealized losses on Exchangeable Senior Notes; (4) Capex, net is calculated as Gross capex (fleet capitalized maintenance) subtracted by financed Capex (credit facilities to finance assets acquisition and capitalized maintenance costs) ; (5) Including 7x annual aircraft lease payments and excluding perpetual bonds; and (6) Includes stock option exercises that may be issued from the stock option program and related to Exchangeable Senior Notes.

Investor Relations [email protected] www.voegol.com.br/ir+55(11) 2128-4700

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

GOL is the largest airline in Brazil, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since founded in 2001, the Company has the lowest unit cost in Latin America, thus democratizing air transportation. The Company has alliances with American Airlines and Air FranceKLM, besides several codeshare and interline agreements available to Customers, bringing more convenience and simple connections to any place served by these partnerships. With the purpose of "Being the First for All", GOL offers the best travel experience to its passengers, including: the largest number of seats and more space between seats; the greatest platform with internet, movies and live TV; and the best frequent-flyer program, SMILES. In cargo transportation, GOLLOG delivers orders to different regions in Brazil and abroad. The Company has a team of 13,700 highly qualified aviation professionals focused on Safety, GOL's #1 value, and operates a standardized fleet of 145 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ri.

Disclaimer

The information contained in this press release has not been subject to any independent audit or review and contains "forward-looking" statements, estimates and projections that relate to future events, which are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including, without limitation, those regarding GOL's future financial position and results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, future developments in the markets in which GOL operates or is seeking to operate, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words "believe", "expect", "aim", "intend", "will", "may", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "predict", "seek", "should" or similar words or expressions, are forward-looking statements. The future events referred to in these forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, many of which are beyond GOL's control, that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding GOL's present and future business strategies and the environment in which GOL will operate in the future and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents undertakes any duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and agents make any representation, warranty or prediction that the results anticipated by such forward-looking statements will be achieved, and such forward- looking statements represent, in each case, only one of many possible scenarios and should not be viewed as the most likely or standard scenario. Although GOL believes that the estimates and projections in these forward- looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect and actual results may materially differ. As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

To be consistent with industry practice, GOL discloses so-called non-GAAP financial measures which are not recognized under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, including "Net Debt", "Adjusted Net Debt", "total liquidity" and "EBITDA". The Company's management believes that disclosure of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, financial analysts and the public in their review of its operating performance and their comparison of its operating performance to the operating performance of other companies in the same industry and other industries. However, these non-GAAP items do not have standardized meanings and may not be directly comparable to similarly-titled items adopted by other companies. Potential investors should not rely on information not recognized under IFRS as a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or liquidity in making an investment decision.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gol-announces-investor-update-301661235.html

SOURCE GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.
It's a record-breaking start for the new era of vacations. Fresh off the heels of revealing the first look at Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International saw its single largest booking day in its 53-year history when reservations opened for the cruise line's first Icon Class ship. Icon first made headlines on Thursday, Oct. 20, when Royal Caribbean unveiled the new ship as the vacation industry's first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation. From the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure, with Icon, every kind of family and adventurer can experience their version of the ultimate family vacation.

"The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. "The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning. We can't wait to share more of what Icon has in store in the coming months."

The ultimate family vacation features an all-encompassing lineup of firsts and next-level favorites across eight neighborhoods, making it the perfect getaway for adults and parents, kids and grandparents alike. Between the adrenaline-pumping thrills at the new Thrill Island and unrivaled ways to chill at neighborhoods like the new Chill Island and the luxurious four-level Suite Neighborhood, vacationers bonding with their families or getting away with friends will have all the ways stay and play their way. With 28 room categories that range from standard rooms to suites and new layouts for families of three, four, five, six and more, even the accommodations on Icon are thoughtfully designed for every type of vacationer  and there are more choices, ocean views and room than ever before.

Icon will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. Every cruise will visit Royal Caribbean's top-rated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas, and a mix of destinations like Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Basseterre, St. Kitts.

More details about Icon are available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/Icon.*
SKF announced on their website today that the Swedish bearing and seal manufacturing company has strengthened its relationship through an agreement with Chinese electric vehicle maker, Nio (NYSE: NIO). As part of the agreement, SKF will be a preferred supplier of ceramic ball bearings and provide wide-ranging technical expertise to support NIOs product development and global expansion plans.

David Johansson, President, SKF Automotive, says: "SKF has supported NIO since the launch of their first car in 2014. During this time, we have built a strong technical relationship, which is exemplified by this agreement. It also illustrates SKF's premium capability within electric vehicles and our ability to support customers all over the world."

Alan Zeng, Senior Vice President of NIO and CEO of XPT, says: "We have a history of working with SKF to build competitive EV products in the industry. We believe that SKF's global experience and competence will provide strong support for our global strategy. Together we will bring more innovative products and excellent user experience to consumers on a global scale."

Shares of NIO are down 4.76% in mid-day trading on Thursday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
FILE PHOTO: Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta is seen on smartphone in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

By Katie Paul and Chavi Mehta

(Reuters) - Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc on Wednesday forecast a weak holiday quarter and significantly more costs next year, sending shares down nearly 20% as investors voiced skepticism about the company's pricey metaverse bets.

The forecast knocked about $67 billion off Meta's stock market value in extended trade, adding to the more than half a trillion dollars in value already lost this year.

If Meta's after-hours stock rout is matched in Thursday's trading session, it will have been its deepest one-day loss since Feb. 2, when the company last issued a dismal forecast.

The disappointing outlook comes as Meta is contending with slowing global economic growth, competition from TikTok, privacy changes from Apple, concerns about massive spending on the metaverse and the ever-present threat of regulation.

Executives announced plans to consolidate offices and said Meta would keep headcount flat through the end of 2023.

Revenue fell 4% in the third quarter ended Sept. 30. That deepened a revenue decline begun the previous quarter, when the company posted a first-ever revenue drop of 0.9%, although it was less steep than the 5.6% decline Wall Street had expected, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

GRAPHIC: Meta's revenue fell for a second straight quarter https://graphics.reuters.com/METAPLATFORMS-RESULTS/dwvkrbbwbpm/chart.png

More troubling was the company's estimate that fourth-quarter revenue would be in the range of $30 billion to $32.5 billion, mostly under analysts' estimates of $32.2 billion, according to the Refinitiv data.

Meta also forecast that its full-year 2023 total expenses would be $96 billion to $101 billion, significantly higher than a revised estimate for 2022 total expenses of $85 billion to $87 billion.

That includes an estimated $2.9 billion in charges over the course of both 2022 and 2023 from the office downsizing.

It also forecast that operating losses associated with the Reality Labs unit responsible for its metaverse investments would grow in 2023 and pledged to "pace" investments after that.

Total costs for the third quarter came in above estimates at $22.1 billion, compared with $18.6 billion the year prior.

'EXPERIMENTAL BETS'

Meta is carrying out several overhauls of its apps and ads products to keep its core business pumping out profits, while also investing $10 billion a year in a bet on metaverse hardware and software.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said he expects the metaverse investments to take about a decade to bear fruit. In the meantime, he has had to freeze hiring, shutter projects and reorganize teams to trim costs.

An analyst on the investor call told Zuckerberg investors were worried that the company had taken on "just too many experimental bets" and asked the chief executive why he believed his gambles would pay off.

Meta executives defended the spending, saying most of the company's expenses were still going toward the core business, including investments in more expensive AI-related servers, infrastructure and data centers.

Zuckerberg added that he expected the metaverse work to provide returns over time.

"I appreciate the patience," he said. "And I think that those who are patient and invest with us will end up being rewarded."

Zuckerberg said plays of Meta's TikTok-like short-video product Reels now number more than 140 billion across Facebook and Instagram each day, up 50% from six months ago, and its revenue run rates are now $3 billion annually.

He believes Reels is gaining against rival TikTok, he added, with Reels being reshared more than 1 billion times a day.

Meta also posted user growth figures roughly in line with expectations, including a year-over-year increase of monthly active users on flagship app Facebook.

"The worry for Meta is that this pain is likely to continue into 2023 as cost headwinds remain a real challenge and the strong dollar impacts on overseas earnings," said Ben Barringer, equity research analyst at Quilter Cheviot.

"Given revenues were down at a time when costs have grown significantly, modest user growth and impressions simply isn't going to bail you out."

Net income in the third quarter fell to $4.40 billion, or $1.64 per share, from $9.19 billion, or $3.22 per share, a year earlier, its worst showing since 2019 and the fourth straight quarter of profit decline.

Analysts had expected a profit of $1.86 per share.

(Reporting by Katie Paul in Palo Alto, Calif. and Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Anil D'Silva, Peter Henderson and Lisa Shumaker)
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Defense is offering a new volunteer service option for joining the military. The program will be called Homeland Defender and will enable conscripts having served the first six months of mandatory service term to join the military for a 5-year term.

A 5,000,000 dram benefit is envisaged for servicemembers completing the 5-year contract or in the event of early discharge due to medical reasons.

The salaries of servicemembers will increase under a certification program.

The bill was presented at the Cabinet meeting by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.

In turn, the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that this program is a part of the military reforms package. He added that this program is one of the steps towards having a professional military.
FILE PHOTO: A woman poses with a cigarette in front of Altria logo in this illustration taken July 26, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

(Reuters) - Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc on Thursday announced a strategic partnership with Japan Tobacco in an attempt to boost its smoke-free category.

Altria and JT will jointly establish Horizon Innovations LLC, which would be responsible for U.S. marketing and commercialization of heated tobacco stick (HTS) products owned and developed by either company.

Altria said the joint venture would be through its subsidiary Philip Morris USA that will hold a 75% economic interest in Horizon and Japan Tobacco International, a subsidiary of JT, holding the rest. Altria added it would make an initial $150 million in capital contribution to Horizon.

The companies expect to jointly prepare U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filings for the latest version of Ploom HTS products that are not currently commercialized and submit pre-market tobacco product applications in the first half of 2025.

The announcement comes just days after Altria's U.S. rights to sell IQOS returned to peer Philip Morris International Inc, which was spun off from Altria in 2008 when the group wanted to separate its U.S. and overseas businesses.

Philip Morris agreed to pay $2.7 billion for the exclusive right to sell IQOS heated tobacco products in the United States.

Late September, Altria exercised the option to be released from its non-compete deal with Juul Labs Inc, almost four years after buying a 35% stake in the company.

The FDA, in early July, put on hold its ban on sales of Juul's e-cigarettes in the U.S., after the health agency for a brief period banned its products as data submitted by the company failed to show its products would be appropriate for public health.

(Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
All amounts expressed in US dollars

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE: GOLD) (TSX: ABX)  The ability of Africas largest gold mine to replace its reserves beyond depletion will secure its position as one of Barrick Gold Corporations Tier One1 assets well into the future, president and chief executive Mark Bristow said here today.

Speaking to local media, Bristow said the 13 year old mine, which has just improved its performance for the third consecutive quarter, still had an enormous upside. With its exploration prospect pipeline continuing to expand, it was well set to maintain its business plan for at least another 10 years.

Kibalis underground operations are being further extended by two years through the addition of the 11,000 Lode to the mine plan. This lode continues to deliver promising results, unlocking additional value, and remains open down plunge. Drilling is also under way at the Mengu Hill, Agbarabo, Rhino, Zambula and Makoro targets which are showing potential as additional underground and open pit satellites.

Bristow said with an in-country investment of $4.2 billion, Kibali had made a significant contribution to the Congolese states coffers. More importantly, it had transformed the countrys previously undeveloped north-eastern region into a thriving new economic frontier.

During the past quarter, minister of mines HE Antoinette N'Samba Kalambayi launched the steering committee which will manage Kibalis social development fund, based on 0.3% of the mines annual turnover. An amount of $13.7 million, accrued over the past three years, has already been earmarked for community projects which will be launched this year. The new 2,500-seat Catholic church in Kokiza has recently been officially handed over to and accepted by the Diocese and its approximately 30,000 strong congregation who were resettled in the new township between 2010 and 2016.

Barrick also continues to invest in the future of Africas biodiversity with the planned reintroduction of 76 white rhinos to the Garamba National Park, a critical move in the long-term plan to protect this endangered species.

Enquiries:

President and CEOMark Bristow+1 647 205 7694+44 788 071 1386

DRC country manager Cyrille Mutombo +243 812 532 441

Investor and Media RelationsKathy du Plessis+44 20 7557 7738Email: [email protected]

Website: www.barrick.com

Endnote 1A Tier One Gold Asset is an asset with a reserve potential to deliver a minimum 10-year life, annual production of at least 500,000 ounces of gold and total cash costs per ounce over the mine life that are in the lower half of the industry cost curve.

Technical InformationThe scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Simon Bottoms, CGeol, MGeol, FGS, FAusIMM, in both his capacity as Mineral Resources Manager: Africa & Middle East and Mineral Resource Management and Evaluation Executive (Mr. Bottoms held the title of Mineral Resources Manager: Africa & Middle East until September 30, 2022, and was promoted to Mineral Resource Management and Evaluation Executive effective October 1, 2022), a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information Certain information contained or incorporated by reference in this press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans, or future financial or operating performance, constitutes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words continue, strategy, pursue, expect, will, maintain, growth, opportunities, design and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking statements including, without limitation, with respect to: Kibalis potential to replace reserves net of depletion; production guidance and performance; exploration projects at Kibali; the potential to extend the life of Kibali including through underground and open pit expansions; the potential to grow the mines mineral resource base; the anticipated environmental and operational benefits from Kibalis investment in its infrastructure; Kibalis sustainability projects, including commitments to make certain investments though its social development fund; Barricks investment in Africas biodiversity including through the reintroduction of white rhinos to the Garamba national park; and Barricks commitment to the DRC and potential further growth opportunities.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions including material estimates and assumptions related to the factors set forth below that, while considered reasonable by the Company as at the date of this press release in light of managements experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper, or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas, and electricity); the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; changes in mineral production performance, exploitation, and exploration successes; the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Companys expectations; risks that exploration data may be incomplete and considerable additional work may be required to complete further evaluation, including but not limited to drilling, engineering and socioeconomic studies and investment; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; steps required prior to the distribution of cash and equivalents held at Kibali in banks in the Democratic Republic of Congo; risks associated with projects in the early stages of evaluation, and for which additional engineering and other analysis is required; failure to comply with environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; timing of receipt of, or failure to comply with, necessary permits and approvals; uncertainty whether some or all of Barricks targeted investments and projects will meet the Companys capital allocation objectives and internal hurdle rate; changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/ or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property and political or economic developments in the DRC and other jurisdictions in which the Company or its affiliates do or may carry on business in the future; damage to the Companys reputation due to the actual or perceived occurrence of any number of events, including negative publicity with respect to the Companys handling of environmental matters or dealings with community groups, whether true or not; risks associated with new diseases, epidemics and pandemics, including the effects and potential effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic; litigation and legal and administrative proceedings; employee relations including loss of key employees; increased costs and physical risks, including extreme weather events and resource shortages, related to climate change; and availability and increased costs associated with mining inputs and labor. Barrick also cautions that its guidance may be impacted by the unprecedented business and social disruption caused by the spread of Covid-19. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion, copper cathode or gold or copper concentrate losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks).

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, us. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements and the risks that may affect Barricks ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Barrick disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Source: Barrick Gold Corporation
PASCAGOULA, Miss., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a $2.4 billion U.S. Navy fixed-price-incentive contract for the detail design and construction of amphibious assault ship LHA 9. The award includes options, that if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $3.2 billion. Ingalls was awarded the original long-lead-time material contract for the fourth ship in the America (LHA 6) class on April 30, 2020.

Ingalls shipbuilders are ready to build the Navys newest LHA, said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson. We understand how important this work is, and consider it an honor to be given the opportunity to deliver this capability to the fleet. We value our partnership with the Navy and all of our critical supplier partners.

Construction on LHA 9 is scheduled to begin in December 2022.

Ingalls has a long tradition of building large-deck amphibious ships that are operated by the Navy and Marine Corps. The shipyard has delivered 15 large-decks, including the Tarawa-class, LHA 1-5; the Wasp-class, LHD 1-8; and most recently the America-class, LHA 6 and LHA 7. The third of the America-class, Bougainville (LHA 8), is currently under construction.

The America-class is a multi-functional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force or an amphibious ready group. LHA 9, like Bougainville, will retain the aviation capability of the America-class design while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense partner, building and delivering the worlds most powerful, survivable naval ships and technologies that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber.

As Americas largest shipbuilder and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our mission in service of the heroes who protect our freedom. HIIs diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business professionals. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact: Kimberly Aguillard [email protected](228) 935-6821

Source: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
Reaffirms Company Commitment to Process and Quality Management

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HIIs (NYSE: HII) Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Solutions business group was recently rated at a Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) V2.0 Maturity Level 5 (ML5), the highest appraisal rating, for best practices that rapidly improve and sustain an organization's performance and customer service capabilities.



LVC Solutions, part of HIIs Mission Technologies division, is one of only three U.S. organizations serving the U.S. military with concurrent ML5 Development (CMMI-DEV) and ML5 Services (CMMI-SVC) ratings, each with a corresponding Supplier Agreement Management (SAM) rating, and is the only organization in Hampton Roads, Virginia with this achievement.

CMMI ML5, designated as Optimizing, is the highest appraisal rating that can be achieved and is reserved for organizations that demonstrate true process optimization through the use of predictive analysis. Organizations appraised at CMMI ML5 are recognized for their approach to quality and the principles of continuous improvement.

HIIs LVC team has implemented a systematic, disciplined process in the design, development, and operation of the largest LVC enterprise preparing warfighters for cross-domain battle. HIIs ML5 rating reflects HIIs ability to execute large-scale, complex LVC training programs on time, within budget, and with predictable results.

HII is transforming LVC training across the joint defense community, said Glenn Goodman, president and general manager of HIIs LVC Solutions business group. This rating is affirmation of HIIs methodical approach to tailoring and scaling LVC mission training solutions to respond to our customers requirements and support the joint force at the peak level of readiness.

CMMI is a proven, outcome-based performance model and the globally accepted standard used by the best companies of all sizes across many industries for improving capability, optimizing business performance, and aligning operations to business goals.

The evaluation was conducted by ISACA, an international professional association focused on information and technology governance.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense partner, building and delivering the worlds most powerful, survivable naval ships and technologies that safeguard our seas, sky, land, space and cyber. As Americas largest shipbuilder and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national defense, we are united by our mission in service of the heroes who protect our freedom. HIIs diverse workforce includes skilled tradespeople; artificial intelligence, machine learning (AI/ML) experts; engineers; technologists; scientists; logistics experts; and business professionals. Headquartered in Virginia, HIIs workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/

HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII

HII on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII

HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:

Greg McCarthy

(202) 264-7126

[email protected]
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (the Company) (TSX: III) reports Red Chris metal production (100%) for the third quarter of 2022 was 19.2 million pounds copper and 17,513 ounces gold, down 13% and 10% respectively from the 22.0 million pounds copper and 19,540 ounces gold produced during the second quarter of 2022.

Gold production of 17,513 ounces was lower than the prior period due to lower recovery and lower throughput. Recovery is expected to improve in the December 2022 quarter with various improvement initiatives nearing completion including the cleaner column expansion project. Gold head grade was consistent with the prior period. Copper production was down 13% on lower throughput and grade. Mined grades for copper and gold are expected to decrease with mining now complete in Phase 5.

Imperials 30% portion of the second quarter production was 5.75 million pounds copper and 5,254 ounces gold.

Production at Mount Polley was 2.4 million pounds copper and 5,084 ounces gold for the third quarter. During the third quarter 984,814 tonnes were milled. There has been a steady increase in throughput from 7,268 tonnes per day in July to 11,079 tonnes per day in August to 13,868 tonnes per day in September. Further increases in throughput were hampered by the trunnion machining that was required to repair Pebble Mill 3. This work is complete and Pebble Mill 3 was put into operation in early October. All eight mills in the grinding circuit are now operational, and we look forward to increasing the mill throughput.

Red Chris Exploration Update

During the quarter, there were up to seven diamond drill rigs in operation. A further 20,926 metres of drilling has been completed from 27 drill holes, with all drill holes intersecting mineralization. Approximately 50,000 metres of drilling is planned for the second half of 2022 from eight drill rigs. Two of the rigs are drilling from underground stations along the exploration decline. Drilling from underground will reduce the meterage required to further test the East Ridge and the surface disturbance required to construct drill pads and roads.

East Ridge drilling is ongoing with 63 holes completed and six in progress. Drilling to date has tested a corridor 900 metres long and to a vertical extent of 1,000 metres within which zones of higher-grade mineralization have been identified. Drilling is being completed on a nominal 100 metres x 100 metres grid to determine the extent and continuity of the East Ridge zone and further define the higher-grade mineralization in the East Ridge zone. The East Ridge zone is not included in the current Mineral Resource estimate.

Drilling continues to expand the vertical extent of the East Ridge mineralization. The latest drilling results from holes RC819, RC820 and RC835 extend the higher-grade mineralization by a further 100 metres at depth to more than 600 metres vertical. The zone remains open to depth on these sections.

RC819 was drilled on section 37N and was drilled to test the down-dip extension of the East Ridge zone. RC819 returned 334 metres of 0.50% copper and 0.35 g/t gold from 1,276 metres, including 56 metres of 0.80% copper and 0.83 g/t gold (see Figure 32, cross section 37N).

RC820 was drilled on section 36N to test the down-dip extension of mineralization encountered in RC750W (previously released). RC820 returned 312 metres of 0.49% copper and 0.49 g/t gold from 1,296 metres and 278 meters of 0.44% copper and 0.74 g/t gold from 1,658 metres; these intervals are separated by 50 meters of late-staged barren porphyry (Phase 3 porphyry). Both intervals included higher-grade intervals; the upper interval included 16 meters from 1,562 meters of 1.2% copper and 1.7 g/t gold, and the lower interval included 22 metres from 1,882 metres of 1.8% copper and 3.3 g/t gold (see Figure 31, cross section 36N).

RC835, which was drilled on section 34N, returned 284 metres of 0.63% copper and 0.75 g/t gold from 1,295 metres including 86 metres from 1,459 metres of 1.2% copper and 1.7 g/t gold. It is the furthest hole down dip on section 34N and extends the zone at depth (see Figure 29, cross section 34N).

Drilling within the East Ridge continues to confirm the continuity of the zone. As an example, in RC808, on section 38N and located 100 metres above RC786 (previously reported), intercepted 222 metres of 0.61% copper and 0.44 g/t gold from 818 metres, including a higher-grade intercept of 28 metres of 1.6% copper and 1.5 g/t gold from 936 metres (see Figure 33, cross section 38N).

Drilling completed between the Main Zone pit and the Gully zone included RC813, located approximately 100 metres west of the Main Zone pit on section 16N. This hole intersected 298 metres of 0.31% copper and 0.26 g/t gold from 446 metres that included a higher-grade interval of 52 metres of 0.75% copper and 0.51 g/t gold from 458 metres, and a 346.4 metre interval of 0.33% copper and 0.31 g/t gold from 852 metres (see Figure 26, cross section 16N).

The East Ridge mineralized corridor (>0.4% copper and >0.4 g/t gold) extends over 900 metres long, up to 1,000 metres high and 125 metres wide, with higher-grade (>0.8% copper and >0.8 g/t gold) in several smaller pods over an area 500 metres high, 400 metres long and 100 metres wide.

These results demonstrate further support of the upside range of the Exploration Target defined in the June 2022 Newcrest Quarterly Exploration Report dated 21 July 2022. The Exploration Target potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature; there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.

Significant results since last release:

Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Copper (%) Gold (g/t) RC808 818 1040 222 0.61 0.44 including 936 964 28 1.6 1.5 RC813 446 744 298 0.31 0.26 including 458 510 52 0.75 0.51 and 852 1198.4 346.4 0.33 0.31 including 910 944 34 0.58 0.37 RC819 1276 1610 334 0.50 0.35 including 1574 1596 22 0.93 1.1 RC820 1296 1608 312 0.49 0.49 including 1406 1588 182 0.64 0.64 including 1562 1578 16 1.2 1.7 and 1658 1936 278 0.44 0.74 including 1870 1936 66 1.1 1.7 including 1882 1904 22 1.8 3.3 RC835 1295 1579 284 0.63 0.75 including 1459 1545 86 1.2 1.7

Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration with Imperial Metals, is the designated Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for the Red Chris exploration program and has reviewed this news release. Red Chris samples for the 2022 drilling reported were analyzed at Bureau Veritas Mineral Laboratories in Vancouver. A full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates was completed for all diamond drilling samples submitted to the labs. Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals.

1 Cross section, plan view maps and drill hole data are available on imperialmetals.com.

About Imperial

Imperial is a Vancouver based exploration, mine development and operating company with holdings that include the Mount Polley mine (100%), the Huckleberry mine (100%), and the Red Chris mine (30%). Imperial also holds a portfolio of 23 greenfield exploration properties in British Columbia.

Company Contacts

Brian Kynoch | President | 604.669.8959Darb Dhillon | Chief Financial Officer | 604.488.2658Jim Miller-Tait | Vice President Exploration | 604.488.2676

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this news release are not statements of historical fact and are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Company managements expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Companys expectations with respect to the current and planned drilling programs at Red Chris, including plans to define the extent and continuity of the mineralization in the East Ridge zone; the potential quantity and grade of the Exploration Target, including the uncertainty for a Mineral Resource estimate; and the expected recovery, throughput and mined grades for copper and gold.

In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "outlook", "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 or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

In making the forward-looking statements in this release, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on information currently available to the Company as well as the Companys current beliefs and assumptions. These factors and assumptions and beliefs and assumptions include, the risk factors detailed from time to time in the Companys interim and annual financial statements and managements discussion and analysis of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. 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 statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, many of which are beyond the Companys ability to control or predict. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and all forward-looking statements in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Such information is given only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Source: Imperial Metals Corporation
CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iteld Plastic Surgery, a respected practice known for providing advanced plastic surgery in Chicago, is celebrating the launch of a fully redesigned website. Dr. Iteld is a top-rated, award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery) and is also a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and the Illinois Society of Plastic Surgery. His team offers cosmetic surgical procedures for the breast, body, and face, along with nonsurgical options such as injectables, fat reduction, skin tightening, lasers, skin rejuvenation techniques, and more.

The updated design and navigation of the Iteld Plastic Surgery website make it easier for patients to discover and learn more about cosmetic treatments for an improved overall user experience. It features a modern look with a user-friendly interface. These bold overhauls and enhancements convey the quality of care patients can expect when visiting the practice.

For patients who are considering surgical or nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, its recommended that you plan ahead and have an in-depth consultation with your plastic surgeon. If youre thinking of having a procedure but are unsure where to start, you can find more information about the services Iteld Plastic Surgery offers by browsing the remodeled website. Patients can check out the before-and-after photo gallery, as well as find details about consultations, surgical facilities, and fees and financing on the refreshed site. Explore the Q&A page to see high-quality videos that have answers to general questions about plastic surgery so that you can make informed decisions when youre planning your cosmetic journey.

You can learn all about the Lincoln Park area where the offices are located if youre searching for a comfortable place to stay and discover the latest events and specials available at the practice. The Iteld Plastic Surgery team is committed to providing fully personalized cosmetic treatments for patients in the most comfortable atmosphere possible.

For more advice about the benefits of plastic surgery, contact Chicagos Iteld Plastic Surgery. Call (312) 757-4505 or fill out a contact form on their revamped website to request a consultation to discuss your cosmetic options.

Source: Iteld Plastic Surgery
BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jushi Holdings Inc. (Jushi or the Company) (CSE: JUSH) (OTCQX: JUSHF), a vertically integrated, multi-state cannabis operator, announced it has debuted its newly formulated vegan and gluten-free Tasteology Fruit Chews in Massachusetts, and expects to roll out the new product line in Virginia, Ohio and Nevada in Q1 2023.

Made with the finest real fruit purees by Ponthier, and crafted by Jushis Director of Manufacturing and Bravos Top Chef: Just Desserts finalist, Matthew Petersen, along with Jushis Product Development Team, Tasteology Fruit Chews are now available in three new varieties  Blood Orange Boost, Blueberry Calm and Passion Raspberry Balance  at Natures Remedy dispensaries in Tyngsborough and Millbury, Massachusetts, and will continue to rollout to partner dispensaries in the coming months. Containing no colorings, preservatives or artificial flavors, each package of Tasteology Fruit Chews includes 20 chews, each with 5mg of THC, unique terpene blends and minor cannabinoids like CBD and CBN for specific experiences. Tasteology Fruit Chews are made from real fruit purees and use pectin rather than gelatin to deliver a consumption experience with more experience-focused terpenes. In addition, Jushi updated the brands packaging with new Tarot card-theme branding and sustainable pouches rather than the more commonly used tins, which use less waste and preserve freshness better. Our Tasteology Fruit Chews are made with only the highest-quality ingredients like real fruit purees, contain no additives or preservatives and are vegan and gluten-free, said Jim Cacioppo, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Founder of Jushi Holdings Inc. Derived from single-origin fruits and tested with the strictest of quality control measures, we believe our newly formulated chews have set a new standard for taste in the infused-cannabis fruit chew category.

Besides the incredible tastes and effects of our new fruit chews, these products mark an important evolution for the Tasteology brand in terms of creating a new captivating aesthetic that not only plays on Tarot card and astrology themed artwork, but also appeals to the curious sensibilities of our customers while simultaneously reducing waste, said Andreas Dre Neuman, Jushis Chief Creative Director.As cannabis markets mature, the demand for edibles has outpaced overall industry growth. According to cannabis point-of-sale software provider Flowhub, in 2021, the edibles category made up 11% of overall sales, compared to 9% in 2020, representing $2.75B. Coupled with results from Jushis inaugural 4/20 Cannabis Insights Poll, which found that out of any product category, non-cannabis users would be most interested in trying edibles (32.7%), the demand for edibles remains strong and is likely to keep growing.

About Jushi Holdings Inc.We are a vertically integrated cannabis company led by an industry-leading management team. In the United States, Jushi is focused on building a multi-state portfolio of branded cannabis assets through opportunistic acquisitions, distressed workouts, and competitive applications. Jushi strives to maximize shareholder value while delivering high-quality products across all levels of the cannabis ecosystem. For more information, visit jushico.com or our social media channels, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation as well as statements that may constitute forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995 Section 27 A of the Securities Act, and Section 21 E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, intended expansion of our retail operations and production capacity, intended expansion of our cultivation facilities, future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, including without limitation Q4 2022 annualized guidance, as well as expected filings, materiality or significance and effects of errors on current or prior period financial statements, and any anticipated conclusions of the Company, the Audit Committee or the Companys management related thereto, are forward-looking statements.. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved.

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include but are not limited to, information concerning the expectations regarding Jushi, or the ability of Jushi to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including risks related to the ability of Jushi to successfully and/or timely achieve business objectives, including with regulatory bodies, employees, suppliers, customers and competitors; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; and compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors section of Jushi Holding Inc.s prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on August 12, 2022, its Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on September 26, 2022, its Management Discussion & Analysis filed on SEDAR on September 26, 2022, and other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC (www.sec.gov) and/or on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).

There may be additional risks that Jushi Holdings Inc. does not presently know or that Jushi Holdings Inc. currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Jushi Holdings Inc. assumes no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Jushi Holdings Inc. does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. All written forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations Contact:Michael PerlmanExecutive Vice President of Investor Relations561-281-0247[email protected]

Media Contact:Ellen Mellody570-209-2947[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49e863ab-697d-461b-b915-d570bac15158

Jushi Holdings Inc. Launches Newly Formulated Cannabis Infused Fruit Chews by Tasteology Jushi Holdings Inc. debuted its newly formulated vegan and gluten-free Tasteology Fruit Chews in Massachusetts and expects to roll out the new product line in Virginia, Ohio and Nevada in Q1 2023. Crafted by Jushis Director of Manufacturing and Bravos Top Chef: Just Desserts finalist, Matthew Petersen, the chews are made with the finest real fruit purees by Ponthier and are now available in three new varieties  Blood Orange Boost, Blueberry Calm and Passion Raspberry Balance  at Natures Remedy dispensaries in Tyngsborough and Millbury, Massachusetts. In addition, Jushi updated the brands packaging with new Tarot card-theme branding and sustainable pouches rather than the more commonly used tins, which use less waste and preserve freshness better.

Source: Jushi Holdings Inc.
WESTFORD, Mass., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kadant Inc. (NYSE: KAI) announced it will release its 2022 third quarter results after the market closes on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 and will hold a webcast the next day, Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. eastern time. During the call the Company will discuss its third quarter financial performance and future expectations.

To listen to the live call and view the webcast, go to the Investors section of the Companys website at www.kadant.com. Participants interested in joining the calls live question and answer session are required to register by clicking here or the Q&A link on our website to receive a dial-in number and unique PIN. It is recommended that you join the call 10 minutes prior to the start of the event. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Companys website through December 2, 2022. The earnings release and webcast presentation will be posted in the Investors section of the Companys website.

About Kadant Kadant is a global supplier of technologies and engineered systems that drive Sustainable Industrial Processing. The Companys products and services play an integral role in enhancing efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in process industries. Kadant is based in Westford, Massachusetts, with approximately 3,000 employees in 20 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.kadant.com.

ContactsInvestor Contact Information:Michael McKenney, 978-776-2000[email protected] orMedia Contact Information:Wes Martz, 269-278-1715[email protected]

Source: Kadant Inc
Denver, Colorado, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virtual care is changing the way providers and patients alike think about behavioral health care. It increases access to treatment and allows mental health experts to meet people where they are: in their everyday lives, surrounded by their daily stressors and support systems. For many people with eating disorders and mood and anxiety disorders, specialized virtual care is key to sustainable recovery. Thats why, today, Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (ERC Pathlight) announced a new name for their proven virtual intensive outpatient programs (IOP): Eating Recovery At Home and Pathlight At Home.

With years of experience rooted in evidence-based mental health care both in-person and online, ERC Pathlight has already brought treatment into the homes of more than 7,000 patients through virtual IOP. Currently available and accessible across the nation (see the current list here) and covered in-network by most commercial insurance plans in the U.S., Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home will expand to 40 states by the end of the year and all 50 states in 2023.

Our virtual programming is an amazing platform rooted in clinical excellence, transforming access to services so patients can receive care when and where they need it, said Anne Marie OMelia, MS, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Clinical Officer of ERC Pathlight. We have been providing in-person care since 2008 and virtual care since 2016; we didnt have to start from scratch in the pandemic. Weve seen the positive effects of our virtual treatment model for years now. And soon we will bring our proven treatment to Americans in every state. ERC Pathlight is the nations leading mental health care system dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders and primary mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders; the largest provider of online mental health treatment at higher levels of care; and the first virtual IOP provider with published results showing virtual IOP is clinically effective in all outcomes measured including eating disorder symptoms, depression, self-esteem, quality of life, and overall satisfaction. Led by the industrys most experienced cliniciansa team of renowned professionals with extensive training in telebehavioral health ethics and deliveryEating Recovery and Pathlight At Home is breaking down geographic barriers and putting patients at the center of their healing with easier access to treatment from comfort of their homes.

According to ERC Pathlights Director of Telebehavioral Health Initiatives, Casey Tallent, PhD, virtual IOP patients reported significant improvements in their symptoms while participating in the program.

Patients in treatment for eating disorders reported clinically significant improvements in body dissatisfaction, binge eating, cognitive restraint, purging, restricting, and excessive exercising; while our mood and anxiety patients reported clinically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and PTSD, said Tallent.

ERC Pathlights virtual IOP outcome data also indicated higher levels of attendance, participation, and program completion compared to in-person treatment. Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home programs offer the same intensive treatment and clinical expertise as in-person programming, but with the convenience of participating wherever a patient is located. Five distinct programs make up the Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home virtual IOP offerings: Eating disorders treatment for adults Eating disorders treatment for children and adolescents Binge eating disorders treatment for adults Mood and anxiety disorders treatment for adults Mood and anxiety disorders treatment for children and adolescents

A new patient portal app will launch in early November to improve the patient experience, ensuring virtual patients feel supported and connected to their healing community. The new app features easier access to joining sessions and a direct chat function to communicate directly with their health care provider.

For Eating Recovery At Home alumna Mackenzie Carmichael, moving from in-person treatment to a virtual format provided her with the ability to maintain her everyday life and routines without having to travel. Apprehensive at first, Carmichael wondered if she would receive the same level of care or connect with other group members the same way she did in person. With a decision to trust the process, she fully immersed herself in the program and was able to connect and participate in the same ways she did through in-person meetings.

It (was) similar to what our programs were like within the buildings when we were in person, said Carmichael. We all felt very much supported, our voices were heard. It was very supportive and loving and inclusive. And for me, it was such a comfort to be able to do treatment at home, where I had my family pictures on my desk, and I was in a place where I was completely comfortable.

One of the hallmark features of the Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home programs is that patients stay with the same group and treatment team throughout their care to ensure they have a cohesive, supportive, and connected experience.

At Home programs mean our patients can experience recovery in their everyday lives, getting the treatment they need without having to travel to a facility or putting their jobs, families, or life on hold, said Tallent. We are removing geographic barriers and helping to provide access in communities where there are limited resources or long waitlists.

Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home provide: A team of experienced clinicians who provide three hours of programming a day, three days a week. Weekly individual or family therapy in addition to weekly nutrition therapy sessions for those in the eating disorders program. Support and resources for family members to participate, learn, and grow alongside their loved one are offered via weekly caregiver groups for education and support. A caregiver nutrition group is also offered for those supporting loved ones with eating disorders.  In-network coverage by most commercial insurance plans in the U.S.

Family involvement is essential to facilitate and maintain recovery, regardless of age, so we ensure that we offer a robust program in which families are strongly encouraged to participate, said Deborah Michel, PhD, CEDS-S, FAED, National Director of Virtual Care at ERC Pathlight.

To learn more about Eating Recovery and Pathlight At Home programs, visit www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/virtualcare or www.pathlightbh.com/virtual-treatment.

###

About Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center Eating Recovery Center (ERC) and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center (Pathlight) comprise the nations leading mental health care system dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders and primary mood, anxiety, and trauma-related disorders. ERC specializes in treating patients struggling with eating disorders and related conditions including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, diabulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and unspecified feeding or eating disorders (UFED) and co-occurring conditions. Pathlight specializes in treatment for mood and anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, depression and mania, trauma-related disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as co-occurring substance use disorder. ERC and Pathlight provide innovative, evidence-based, treatment programs tailored for patients of all ages, genders, races, and ethnicities. Working closely with patients as well as their families, ERC and Pathlights multi-disciplinary treatment programs are designed to help illuminate their unique paths forward and provide a foundation for resilience and long-lasting mental wellness. ERC and Pathlight offer Inpatient, Residential, Partial Hospitalization (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient (IOP) levels of care in centers across the country as well as Virtual IOP (video) telebehavioral health services. For more information, please visit eatingrecoverycenter.com or pathlightbh.com.

Attachment

Carla Potts Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center 413-348-2230 [email protected]

Source: Eating Recovery Center
Nexans welcomes Maria Lorente Fraguas as Senior Corporate Vice President,

Chief Human Resources Officer and member of the Executive Committee

_PRESS RELEASE_

Nexans is pleased to announce the arrival of Maria Lorente Fraguas as Senior Corporate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible also for Corporate Social Responsibility

as Senior Corporate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible also for Corporate Social Responsibility She brings to the role more than 20 years of international experience in several leadership positions in product development, operations and international team management

This leadership appointment comes at a time when Nexans is perfectly positioned to pursue and accelerate its strategy as a pure-player in electrification, placing people and the environment at the heart of its business





Paris, October 27, 2022 - Nexans is pleased to announce the arrival of Maria Lorente Fraguas as Senior Corporate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, responsible also for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Maria has more than 20 years of experience in leading international teams around the world and in a wide range of positions, including Operations, New Product Development, Transformation and Human Resources.

In this role, Maria will actively contribute to Nexans transformation and future growth in electrification. Based at the companys headquarters in Paris, Maria is Spanish and reports to Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Guerin.

Graduated from Universidad Politecnica de Valenica, Spain and Supelec in France, Maria brings with her a strong skill-set and a great reputation for relationship building, performance, and team leadership. She joins the Group with 21 years of experience at Schlumberger where she managed international teams in senior HR, functional, and line roles around the world. She worked in eight different countries accross Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and North America, in a wide range of positions including New Product Development, Marketing, Line Management, Transformation, and most recently served as the Director of Human Resources  Production Systems.

Christopher Guerin, CEO of Nexans, comments: "I am very pleased to welcome Maria. Her track record and international profile match our ambition to be a pure player in electrification worldwide. Her rich experience in business transformation and talent development will help accelerate Nexans' transformation. I am also convinced that Maria will help integrate Corporate Social Responsibility more broadly into our strategic ambitions, which is at the heart of our priorities.

Maria Lorente Fraguas, the newly appointed Nexans Group Senior Corporate Vice President & Chief Human Resources Director, says:  The people-centric culture, the passion for innovation and the ambition for growth, anchored in value creation across the three axis of Economics, Environment and Engagement, are what attracted me to Nexans. I am thrilled to join the team and contribute to the next chapter of the companys strategy, keeping our customers and employees at the center of everything we do.

About NEXANS

For more than a century, Nexans has played a crucial role in electrifying the planet and is committed to electrifying the future. With 25,000 staff in 42 countries, the Group is driving the change towards the new world of electrification  a safer, more sustainable, renewable, carbon-free world, accessible to all. In 2021, Nexans generated 6.1 billion in standard sales. The Group is a leader in the design and manufacturing of cable systems and services in five main areas of activity: Energy Production & Transmission, Distribution, Uses, Industry & Solutions and Telecom & Data. Nexans was the first player in its industry to create a Corporate Foundation to support actions that promote access to energy for disadvantaged populations worldwide. The Group is committed to helping achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.

Nexans. Electrify the future.

Nexans is listed on the Euronext Paris stock market, compartment A.

For more information, visit www.nexans.com

Contact:

Attachments
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The agenda of the Armenian side during the upcoming trilateral meeting between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Sochi on October 31 will be to get clarifications over the incidents that have taken place in the past one year, the talks over the Azerbaijani aggression and the analysis of the implementation process of the trilateral statements, Member of Parliament of Armenia from the ruling Civil Contract faction Sargis Khandanyan said at a parliamentary press briefing.

A year has passed since the trilateral meeting in this format, and I think there is a need for correcting the clocks. And the agenda of the Armenian side is the clarification of the issues which have taken place so far, over the past one year, in particular the latest Azerbaijani aggression and its consequences. The analysis of the implementation process of the November 9, January 11 statements and the statement of last November will also be the expectation of the Armenian side from the meeting, he said.

And the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani troops from Armenia is on the Armenian agenda at any platform. It is a red line and a demand for Armenia, he stated.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense and Security Affairs Andranik Kocharyan said in his turn that the withdrawal of the Azerbaijani troops from Armenias sovereign territory is not a demand, but a necessity. Regardless of the course of the negotiations, what belongs to the Republic of Armenia is not a subject of discussion. Presence of any foreign soldier in our sovereign territory will never be tolerated, they must withdraw our territory in peaceful conditions. In all other cases it will hold the tension on our borders, but this will not lead to a good end, he said.

As for the possible precondition by the Armenian side before the negotiations, MP Artur Hovhannisyan said any precondition during any negotiations, especially in this very tense situation, will mean freezing and stop of the processes which is highly dangerous. He said that the Armenian side is presenting the demand of the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from Armenias sovereign territory at all possible platforms.

Our international partners are also presenting this demand, very clearly and in an addressed way. And we hope that the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan will eventually pull back its troops to initial positions. And in the process of negotiations these demands go hand in hand with each other. We hope that when a moment comes when it will be possible to talk around any text about the peace treaty and start some practical steps, at that moment the Azerbaijani armed forces will withdraw the sovereign territory of Armenia and will stop the occupation of Armenian lands, the lawmaker said.
PRESS RELEASE : REGULATED INFORMATION



27 October 2022, 17:40 CEST





Results of the Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting held on 27 October 2022



Mechelen, Belgium, 27 October 2022  Biocartis Group NV (the Company or Biocartis), an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels: BCART), held its extraordinary general shareholders' meeting today. The proposed resolution referred to in item 7 of the agenda regarding the approval and ratification of the change of control clauses in the legal documentation relating to the comprehensive recapitalization transaction of the Company was approved by the extraordinary general shareholders' meeting. However, there was no deliberation and voting on the items 2 to 6 of the agenda of the extraordinary general shareholders' meeting, because the attendance quorum to deliberate and vote on such items was not reached.

Biocartis will therefore convene a second extraordinary general shareholders' meeting for the relevant agenda items, which is to be held on Monday 14 November 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (Belgian time) at the offices of the Company at Generaal de Wittelaan 11B, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium. There shall be no attendance quorum for this new extraordinary general shareholders' meeting.

All documents relating to the general shareholders meeting can be consulted on the website of the Company.

--- END ---



More information:

Renate Degrave

Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Biocartis

e-mail [email protected]

tel +32 15 631 729

mobile +32 471 53 60 64

About Biocartis

With its revolutionary and proprietary Idylla platform, Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) aspires to enable personalized medicine for patients around the world through universal access to molecular testing, by making molecular testing actionable, convenient, fast and suitable for any lab. The Idylla platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) based system designed to offer in-house access to accurate molecular information in a minimum amount of time for faster, informed treatment decisions. Idyllas continuously expanding menu of molecular diagnostic tests address key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology. This is the fastest growing segment of the molecular diagnostics market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal, lung and liver cancer, as well as for COVID-19, Flu, RSV and sepsis. For more information, visit www.biocartis.com or follow Biocartis on Twitter @Biocartis_ , Facebook or LinkedIn.

Biocartis and Idylla are registered trademarks in Europe, the United States and other countries. The Biocartis and Idylla trademark and logo are used trademarks owned by Biocartis. Please refer to the product labeling for applicable intended uses for each individual Biocartis product.

This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Any persons reading this press release should inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions. Biocartis takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities in any jurisdiction. No securities of Biocartis may be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company directors' or managements' current expectations and projections concerning future events such as the Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.




LA VERNE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AARDVARK Tactical 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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Image 1: LOKI Mk2

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LOKI Mk2 LOKI Mk2

Source: AARDVARK Tactical ( aardvarktactical.com
HIGHLIGHTS

Standout gold results have been intersected on the southern Irvine Shear corridor including 20 m @ 0.67 g/t Au , as part of the current aircore drilling program at the high priority Becher Area in the Egina District.

, as part of the current aircore drilling program at the high priority in the Egina District. Over 650 shallow aircore holes for 16,500 m of the > 30,000 m program have been completed.

The aircore program will test multiple structural and intrusive targets along a series of significant mineralized corridors, some interpreted to extend to De Grey Mining Limiteds ( De Grey ) Hemi gold deposit within the Mallina gold project ( Hemi ).

) Hemi gold deposit within the Mallina gold project ( ). Several additional quartz veined, large-scale sericite-silica-sulphide alteration zones have been identified from drilling across the Irvine and Whillans Shear corridors, with assays pending.

Deeper reverse circulation ( RC ) drilling will commence in November 2022, designed to follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area.

) drilling will commence in November 2022, designed to follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area. Numerous targets have been enhanced or newly identified from a recent high resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric survey, coupled with detailed ground gravity surveys which have advanced structural interpretation and geological understanding.

Two heritage surveys were recently completed, enabling infill and extensional aircore drilling traverses and RC drilling to be completed for the remainder of 2022 and first half of 2023.

Initial results from the Becher Area, combined with previously reported results from Nunyerry North1, reconfirm potential for the Egina District to be a standalone gold production hub.

"Our first aircore drill results have yielded strong gold results at the Becher Area," commented Dr. Quinton Hennigh, Non-Executive Co-Chairman of Novo, "indicating that the Whillans and Irvine shear zones are indeed prospective for deposits similar to those at De Grey's adjacent Mallina project. Aircore drilling, a means of rapid, shallow drilling widely used across Australia as a first pass means of testing new areas for mineralization, is proving highly effective at Becher. Several large-scale anomalies are emerging, the largest of which is 650m across and situated along the southern Irvine shear zone. Alteration assemblages, lithologies, geochemical associations and size of these mineralized areas are similar to those observed in other nearby large gold discoveries. Although we have lots more drilling to complete and results to come in, the anomalies suggest that deeper drill testing is required."

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ce0fc4ae-fc26-4a42-b7a2-ac9f18fc1724Figure 1: Typical aircore drill line across the Irvine Shear looking southwest

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (Novo or the Company) (TSX: NVO, NVO.WT & NVO.WT.A) (OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an exploration update on the Companys drilling program in the Becher Area of the Egina District, Western Australia.

Exploration programs testing high-priority structural and intrusive-related gold targets are in progress after two heritage surveys were recently completed at the Becher Area. The exploration programs comprise of systematic regional aircore drilling, with over 650 holes for 16,500 m of a > 30,000 m program completed to date and a deeper RC drilling program, which will follow-up significant aircore results and test discrete drill targets within the Becher Area, scheduled to commence in November 2022. The Becher Area drilling program is expected to continue in 2023.

The Becher Area aircore drilling complements the previously announced surface soil anomaly at Nunyerry North, which is also located within the Egina District and approximately 80 km south of Becher.

Initial results generated from drilling at Becher Area and Nunyerry North reconfirm the potential of the Egina District to support a standalone production hub, with follow-up drilling to test multiple targets in 2023. Results referred to in this news release are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Egina District.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0f3cb9b-4e34-4988-92ce-cfaed37aa287Figure 2: Becher target area showing the position of the De Grey Hemi gold discovery (JORC 2012) hosted to the east-northeast of the Becher Area along the interpreted fertile corridor; background aeromagnetic greyscale mosaic

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/23faf7b7-18cd-4e24-bf50-c88af225965dFigure 3: Novo Pilbara tenure showing project areas and priority prospects

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e40361f0-57fd-4c1d-b9a4-3709f16aac7eFigure 4: Map of the Egina District tenements showing priority prospects, including the Becher Area in the north and Nunyerry North in the south

EGINA DISTRICT

Becher Area

The Becher Area (northern E47/3673, 100%-owned by Novo) contains multiple priority orogenic gold targets in the highly prospective and under-explored Mallina Basin. The area is located ~28 km to the WSW of De Greys Hemi gold deposit2. Novos interpretation of a series of significant shear corridors, including the ENE trending Irvine and Bonatti Shears (part of the regional Wohler Fault using GSWA 1:100,000 scale mapping nomenclature) and the EW trending Whillans and Heckmair Shears, is key to delineating these newly defined targets.

The current > 30,000 m aircore drilling program commenced in early September 2022, with over 650 holes for 16,500 m completed to date. 16 regional traverses at approx. 640 m line spacing and 25 m hole spacings have been completed along the Irvine Shear and Whillans Shear, with the opportunity to infill to 320 m spaced lines now possible given the recently completed second heritage survey on E47/3673. Drilling was designed as part of a large-scale systematic targeting program, supported by recent high resolution geophysical data sets, in conjunction with field mapping and sampling and research of all relevant historical data1.

Aircore drilling is best suited to areas with abundant cover or oxidation, easily drilling through unconsolidated or saprolitic material testing for gold and pathfinder element (arsenic, antimony, bismuth, tellurium, etc.) anomalism to identify broader zones of geochemical dispersion.

A minimum of 30,000 m of aircore drilling has been planned for 2022, however Novo expects this to be exceeded. The program will test four shear corridors and numerous sanukitoid targets, as well as antimony-arsenic-gold soil anomalies defined by previous explorers.

Results have been received from the first assay batch of 4 m composite samples analysed by PhotonAssay for the southernmost drill lines on the Irvine Shear Corridor (Figure 5). Four zones for infill aircore drilling have been identified from geological logging and current assay return. 1 m split samples and multielement assays are pending for anomalous drill holes.

Best intercepts include:

6 m @ 0.15 g/t Au from 24m (A0028)

12 m @ 0.16 g/t Au from 12m (A0029)

8 m @ 0.22 g/t Au from 4m (A0033)

20 m @ 0.67 g/t Au from 0m (A0034); examples of the chips from this zone are shown in Figure 5

examples of the chips from this zone are shown in Figure 5 12 m @ 0.24 g/t Au from 0m (A0035)

6 m @ 0.21 g/t Au from 24m (A0038)

Refer to Appendix 1 below for a complete list of assay results. True widths cannot be estimated at this time.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/db85e195-a263-40b3-8e2d-f38b4b76e5daFigure 5: Aircore chips and associated gold assays from composites on hole A0034 on the southern Irvine Shear Corridor

Aircore drilling also identified a large zone of alteration across an approx. 650 m strike length proximal to the intersection of the Whillans Shear and the northern Irvine Shear corridor. This zone of alteration is defined by silica-carbonate-sulphide altered rocks (likely ultramafic), with quartz veining in a sequence of deformed sediments. Examples of the drill chips from this zone are shown in Figure 7.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/39326091-3a1f-44fc-87b9-3a2e31398548Figure 6: drill chips from hole F0572 on the Whillans Shear showing quartz veining, intense sericitic alteration and up to 5% sulphides

Results referred to in this news release are not necessarily representative of mineralization throughout the Egina District.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4c579432-1bab-4f05-9e7c-60c21794f8b8Figure 7: Map showing progress of aircore drilling to date, red lines completed, black lines planned. Insert area shows summarised results received to date

Nunyerry North

The geology of the Nunyerry North target area includes quartz vein-related gold mineralization within a sequence of ultramafic komatiites and mafic rocks, juxtaposed by regional shears and offset faults. Novos exploration licence 47/2973 is 70%-owned, with the remaining 30% held by Mark Creasy and entities controlled by him.

A significant high-order gold soil anomaly at Nunyerry North now extends over 1.4 km of strike, with a second 1.2 km long soil anomaly at > 30 ppb gold defined south of the main target. Rock chip sampling returned peak high-grade results from quartz veins including 8.81 g/t Au, 7.39 g/t Au and 1.23 g/t Au1. Further detailed mapping has defined additional swarms of quartz veins and specimen gold has been detected in the main target area1.

Follow-up work planned includes heritage surveys and logistics for road access in preparation for drilling in 2023.

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8bc0815-b100-4a92-9bef-a89f3c6308a7Figure 8: Gold in soil anomaly at the Nunyerry North prospect

ANALYTIC METHODOLOGY

Four-metre composite samples of aircore chips were sent to Intertek in Perth, Western Australia with the entire sample smart crushed to -3mm (NVO02 prep code), with a 500 g split sample analysed for gold using Photon Assay (PHXR/AU01). An additional bottom hole sample from each drill hole (1 to 4 m composite representing rock from the bottom of the drill hole) was assayed using four acid digest and 50 g charge fire assay FA50/OE and for 48 multielement using four acid digest  MS finish (4A/MS)  results are pending.

QAQC procedures to date include insertion of a certified blank approximately every 25 samples (4 per hundred) and duplicate sampling (split of 4m composite) at the rate of 4 per hundred. Intertek inserts customized Chrysos certified standards at the rate of 2 per hundred.

There were no limitations to the verification process and all relevant data was verified by a qualified person as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) by reviewing analytical procedures undertaken by Intertek.

QP STATEMENT

Mr. Iain Groves (MAIG), is the qualified person, as defined under NI 43-101, responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Mr. Groves is Novos Exploration Manger  West Pilbara.

ABOUT NOVO

Novo explores and develops its prospective land package covering approximately 10,500 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, including the Beatons Creek gold project, along with two joint ventures in the Bendigo region of Victoria, Australia. In addition to the Companys primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its stakeholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail [email protected].

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,

Novo Resources Corp.Michael SpreadboroughMichael SpreadboroughExecutive Co-Chairman and Acting CEO

Forward-looking information

Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation) including, without limitation, planned exploration activities across the Becher Area and Nunyerry North in Western Australia. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors include, without limitation, customary risks of the resource industry and the risk factors identified in Novos managements discussion and analysis for the six-month period ended June 30, 2022, which is available under Novos profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, Novo assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If Novo updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

APPENDIX 1:Table 1: Becher Area - aircore drilling data - hole locations and results, including key intercepts.

HOLE ID COORDSYS EASTING NORTHING RL AZI GRID DIP TYPE DEPTH LEASE A0001 MGA94_50 620751.5 7683677.2 60.27 147 -60 AC 88 E47/3673 A0002 MGA94_50 620737.8 7683698.1 60.24 147 -60 AC 76 E47/3673 A0003 MGA94_50 620724.1 7683719 60.12 147 -60 AC 70 E47/3673 A0004 MGA94_50 620710.4 7683739.9 60.11 147 -60 AC 66 E47/3673 A0005 MGA94_50 620696.7 7683760.8 60.06 147 -60 AC 55 E47/3673 A0006 MGA94_50 620683 7683781.7 60.11 147 -60 AC 48 E47/3673 A0007 MGA94_50 620669.3 7683802.6 60.15 147 -60 AC 44 E47/3673 A0008 MGA94_50 620655.6 7683823.5 60.11 147 -60 AC 49 E47/3673 A0009 MGA94_50 620641.9 7683844.5 60.11 147 -60 AC 37 E47/3673 A0010 MGA94_50 620628.2 7683865.4 60.16 147 -60 AC 32 E47/3673 A0011 MGA94_50 620614.5 7683886.3 60.32 147 -60 AC 29 E47/3673 A0012 MGA94_50 620600.8 7683907.2 60.54 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 A0013 MGA94_50 620587.1 7683928.1 60.70 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0014 MGA94_50 620573.4 7683949 61.01 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0015 MGA94_50 620559.7 7683969.9 61.47 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0016 MGA94_50 621355.3 7683923.4 65.27 147 -60 AC 79 E47/3673 A0017 MGA94_50 621341.6 7683944.3 64.59 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0018 MGA94_50 621327.9 7683965.2 64.01 147 -60 AC 39 E47/3673 A0019 MGA94_50 621314.2 7683986.1 63.69 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0020 MGA94_50 621300.5 7684007 63.53 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0021 MGA94_50 621286.8 7684028 63.58 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0022 MGA94_50 621273.1 7684048.9 63.67 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0023 MGA94_50 621259.4 7684069.8 63.69 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0024 MGA94_50 621245.7 7684090.7 63.80 147 -60 AC 51 E47/3673 A0025 MGA94_50 621232 7684111.6 63.94 147 -60 AC 45 E47/3673 A0026 MGA94_50 621218.3 7684132.5 64.06 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0027 MGA94_50 621177.2 7684195.2 64.51 147 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 A0028 MGA94_50 621163.5 7684216.1 64.30 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0029 MGA94_50 621149.8 7684237.1 64.04 147 -60 AC 31 E47/3673 A0030 MGA94_50 621136.1 7684258 64.18 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0031 MGA94_50 621122.4 7684278.9 64.49 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0032 MGA94_50 621108.7 7684299.8 65.37 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0033 MGA94_50 621095 7684320.7 66.57 147 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 A0034 MGA94_50 621081.3 7684341.6 67.98 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0035 MGA94_50 621067.6 7684362.5 68.98 147 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 A0036 MGA94_50 620971.7 7684508.9 64.50 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0037 MGA94_50 620958 7684529.8 63.31 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0038 MGA94_50 620944.3 7684550.7 62.75 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0039 MGA94_50 620930.6 7684571.6 62.43 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0040 MGA94_50 620916.9 7684592.5 62.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0041 MGA94_50 620903.2 7684613.4 61.94 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0042 MGA94_50 620889.5 7684634.4 61.59 147 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 A0043 MGA94_50 620875.7 7684655.3 61.21 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0044 MGA94_50 620862 7684676.2 60.93 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0045 MGA94_50 620848.3 7684697.1 60.77 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0046 MGA94_50 620834.6 7684718 60.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0047 MGA94_50 620820.9 7684738.9 60.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0048 MGA94_50 620807.2 7684759.8 60.00 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0049 MGA94_50 620793.5 7684780.7 59.96 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0050 MGA94_50 620779.8 7684801.6 60.01 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0051 MGA94_50 620766.1 7684822.5 59.82 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0052 MGA94_50 621876.9 7684295.1 59.83 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 A0053 MGA94_50 621863.2 7684316 59.43 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 A0054 MGA94_50 621849.5 7684336.9 59.29 147 -60 AC 4 E47/3673 A0055 MGA94_50 621835.8 7684357.8 59.19 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0056 MGA94_50 621822.1 7684378.7 59.06 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 A0057 MGA94_50 621808.4 7684399.6 58.95 147 -60 AC 5 E47/3673 A0058 MGA94_50 621794.7 7684420.6 58.88 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 A0059 MGA94_50 621781 7684441.5 58.90 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 A0060 MGA94_50 621767.3 7684462.4 58.86 147 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 A0061 MGA94_50 621753.6 7684483.3 58.76 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 A0062 MGA94_50 621739.9 7684504.2 58.73 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0063 MGA94_50 621726.2 7684525.1 58.35 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0064 MGA94_50 621712.5 7684546 58.24 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0065 MGA94_50 621698.8 7684566.9 58.17 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0066 MGA94_50 621685.1 7684587.8 58.24 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 A0067 MGA94_50 621671.4 7684608.8 58.18 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0068 MGA94_50 621657.7 7684629.7 58.15 147 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 A0069 MGA94_50 621644 7684650.6 58.16 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 A0070 MGA94_50 621630.3 7684671.5 58.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0071 MGA94_50 621616.6 7684692.4 58.18 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0072 MGA94_50 621602.9 7684713.3 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0073 MGA94_50 621589.2 7684734.2 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0074 MGA94_50 621575.5 7684755.1 58.17 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0075 MGA94_50 621561.8 7684776 58.21 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0076 MGA94_50 621548.1 7684796.9 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0077 MGA94_50 621534.4 7684817.9 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0078 MGA94_50 621520.7 7684838.8 58.15 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0079 MGA94_50 621507 7684859.7 58.14 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 A0080 MGA94_50 621493.3 7684880.6 58.16 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0081 MGA94_50 621479.6 7684901.5 58.13 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0082 MGA94_50 621465.9 7684922.4 58.13 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0083 MGA94_50 621452.2 7684943.3 57.94 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0084 MGA94_50 621438.5 7684964.2 57.87 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0085 MGA94_50 621424.8 7684985.1 57.87 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0086 MGA94_50 621411.1 7685006 57.97 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0087 MGA94_50 621397.4 7685027 57.97 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0088 MGA94_50 621383.6 7685047.9 58.06 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0089 MGA94_50 621369.9 7685068.8 58.13 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0090 MGA94_50 621356.2 7685089.7 58.35 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0091 MGA94_50 621342.5 7685110.6 58.21 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0092 MGA94_50 621328.8 7685131.5 58.26 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 F0093 MGA94_50 621315.1 7685152.4 58.21 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0094 MGA94_50 621301.4 7685173.3 58.22 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0095 MGA94_50 622604.1 7684353.1 59.22 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0096 MGA94_50 622590.4 7684374 59.24 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0097 MGA94_50 622576.7 7684395 59.28 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0098 MGA94_50 622563 7684415.9 59.22 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0099 MGA94_50 622549.3 7684436.8 59.18 147 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0100 MGA94_50 622535.6 7684457.7 59.18 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0101 MGA94_50 622521.9 7684478.6 59.29 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0102 MGA94_50 622508.2 7684499.5 59.15 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0103 MGA94_50 622494.5 7684520.4 58.87 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0104 MGA94_50 622480.8 7684541.3 58.84 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0105 MGA94_50 622467.1 7684562.2 58.75 147 -60 AC 23 E47/3673 F0106 MGA94_50 622453.3 7684583.1 58.69 147 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0107 MGA94_50 622439.6 7684604.1 58.74 147 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0108 MGA94_50 622425.9 7684625 58.66 147 -60 AC 5 E47/3673 F0109 MGA94_50 622412.2 7684645.9 58.46 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0110 MGA94_50 622398.5 7684666.8 58.39 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0111 MGA94_50 622384.8 7684687.7 58.67 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0112 MGA94_50 622371.1 7684708.6 58.60 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0113 MGA94_50 622357.4 7684729.5 58.55 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0114 MGA94_50 622343.7 7684750.4 58.59 147 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0115 MGA94_50 622330 7684771.3 58.73 147 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0116 MGA94_50 622316.3 7684792.2 58.69 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0117 MGA94_50 622302.6 7684813.2 58.82 147 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0118 MGA94_50 622288.9 7684834.1 59.24 147 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0119 MGA94_50 622275.2 7684855 59.02 147 -60 AC 48 E47/3673 F0120 MGA94_50 622261.5 7684875.9 59.27 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0121 MGA94_50 622247.8 7684896.8 59.33 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0122 MGA94_50 622234.1 7684917.7 59.10 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0123 MGA94_50 622220.4 7684938.6 58.82 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0124 MGA94_50 622206.7 7684959.5 58.91 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0125 MGA94_50 622193 7684980.4 58.73 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0126 MGA94_50 622179.3 7685001.4 58.71 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0127 MGA94_50 622165.6 7685022.3 58.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0128 MGA94_50 622151.9 7685043.2 58.67 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0129 MGA94_50 622138.2 7685064.1 58.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0130 MGA94_50 622124.5 7685085 58.87 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0131 MGA94_50 622110.8 7685105.9 59.12 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0132 MGA94_50 622097.1 7685126.8 58.89 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0133 MGA94_50 622083.4 7685147.7 58.59 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0134 MGA94_50 622069.7 7685168.6 58.44 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0135 MGA94_50 622056 7685189.5 58.52 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0136 MGA94_50 622042.3 7685210.5 58.60 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0137 MGA94_50 622028.6 7685231.4 58.69 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0138 MGA94_50 622014.9 7685252.3 58.75 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0139 MGA94_50 622001.2 7685273.2 58.86 147 -60 AC 19 E47/3673 F0140 MGA94_50 621987.5 7685294.1 58.54 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0141 MGA94_50 621973.8 7685315 58.31 147 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0142 MGA94_50 621960.1 7685335.9 58.36 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0143 MGA94_50 621946.4 7685356.8 58.35 147 -60 AC 25 E47/3673 F0144 MGA94_50 621932.7 7685377.7 58.40 147 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0145 MGA94_50 621919 7685398.7 58.78 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0146 MGA94_50 621905.3 7685419.6 59.61 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0147 MGA94_50 621891.5 7685440.5 59.82 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0148 MGA94_50 621877.8 7685461.4 59.42 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0149 MGA94_50 621864.1 7685482.3 59.37 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0150 MGA94_50 621850.4 7685503.2 60.07 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0151 MGA94_50 621836.7 7685524.1 60.57 147 -60 AC 39 E47/3673 F0152 MGA94_50 621823 7685545 60.56 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0153 MGA94_50 621809.3 7685565.9 60.70 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0154 MGA94_50 621795.6 7685586.8 60.52 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0155 MGA94_50 621781.9 7685607.8 60.63 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0156 MGA94_50 621768.2 7685628.7 60.80 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0157 MGA94_50 621754.5 7685649.6 61.00 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0158 MGA94_50 621740.8 7685670.5 61.27 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0159 MGA94_50 621727.1 7685691.4 61.61 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0160 MGA94_50 621713.4 7685712.3 62.21 147 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0161 MGA94_50 621699.7 7685733.2 62.57 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0162 MGA94_50 621686 7685754.1 62.23 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0163 MGA94_50 621672.3 7685775 61.38 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0164 MGA94_50 621658.6 7685795.9 60.67 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0165 MGA94_50 621644.9 7685816.9 60.64 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0166 MGA94_50 621631.2 7685837.8 60.60 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0167 MGA94_50 623344.9 7684390.3 60.34 147 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0168 MGA94_50 623331.2 7684411.2 60.62 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0169 MGA94_50 623317.5 7684432.1 60.42 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0170 MGA94_50 623303.8 7684453 60.17 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0171 MGA94_50 623290.1 7684473.9 60.03 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0172 MGA94_50 623276.4 7684494.8 59.94 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0173 MGA94_50 623262.7 7684515.7 59.87 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0174 MGA94_50 623249 7684536.6 59.75 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0175 MGA94_50 623235.3 7684557.5 59.53 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0176 MGA94_50 623221.6 7684578.5 59.36 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0177 MGA94_50 623207.9 7684599.4 59.20 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0178 MGA94_50 623194.2 7684620.3 59.04 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0179 MGA94_50 623180.5 7684641.2 58.88 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0180 MGA94_50 623166.8 7684662.1 58.72 147 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0181 MGA94_50 623153.1 7684683 58.70 147 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0182 MGA94_50 623139.4 7684703.9 58.72 147 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0183 MGA94_50 623125.7 7684724.8 58.75 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0184 MGA94_50 623112 7684745.7 58.51 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0185 MGA94_50 623098.3 7684766.6 58.81 147 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0186 MGA94_50 623084.6 7684787.6 58.73 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0187 MGA94_50 623070.9 7684808.5 58.71 147 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0188 MGA94_50 623057.2 7684829.4 58.67 147 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0189 MGA94_50 623043.5 7684850.3 58.62 147 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0190 MGA94_50 623029.8 7684871.2 58.59 147 -60 AC 26 E47/3673 F0191 MGA94_50 623016.1 7684892.1 58.64 147 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0192 MGA94_50 623002.4 7684913 58.63 147 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0193 MGA94_50 622988.7 7684933.9 58.67 147 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0194 MGA94_50 622975 7684954.8 58.71 147 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0195 MGA94_50 622961.2 7684975.7 58.65 147 -60 AC 33 E47/3673 F0196 MGA94_50 622947.5 7684996.7 58.63 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0197 MGA94_50 622933.8 7685017.6 58.62 147 -60 AC 29 E47/3673 F0198 MGA94_50 622920.1 7685038.5 58.61 147 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0199 MGA94_50 622906.4 7685059.4 58.38 147 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0200 MGA94_50 622892.7 7685080.3 58.51 147 -60 AC 29 E47/3673 F0201 MGA94_50 622879 7685101.2 58.43 147 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0202 MGA94_50 622865.3 7685122.1 58.34 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0203 MGA94_50 622851.6 7685143 58.33 147 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0204 MGA94_50 622837.9 7685163.9 58.33 147 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0205 MGA94_50 622824.2 7685184.9 58.30 147 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0206 MGA94_50 622810.5 7685205.8 58.33 147 -60 AC 6 E47/3673 F0207 MGA94_50 622796.8 7685226.7 58.53 147 -60 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MGA94_50 618161.4 7686485.9 56.08 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0622 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686510.9 56.11 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0623 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686535.9 56.23 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0624 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686560.9 56.22 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0625 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686585.9 55.98 180 -60 AC 30 E47/3673 F0626 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686610.9 55.95 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0627 MGA94_50 618161.4 7686635.9 55.90 180 -60 AC 42 E47/3673 F0628 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684085.9 58.74 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0629 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684110.9 58.49 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0630 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684135.9 58.42 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0631 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684160.9 58.27 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0632 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684185.9 58.18 180 -60 AC 22 E47/3673 F0633 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684210.9 58.15 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0634 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684235.9 58.13 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0635 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684260.9 58.14 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0636 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684285.9 58.10 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0637 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684310.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0638 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684335.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 7 E47/3673 F0639 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684360.9 57.98 180 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0640 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684385.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 9 E47/3673 F0641 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684410.9 57.92 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0642 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684435.9 57.87 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0643 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684460.9 57.88 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0644 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684485.9 57.84 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0645 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684510.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0646 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684535.9 57.81 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0647 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684560.9 57.85 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0648 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684585.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0649 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684610.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0650 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684635.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0651 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684660.9 58.26 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0652 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684685.9 58.44 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0653 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684710.9 58.28 180 -60 AC 20 E47/3673 F0654 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684735.9 58.14 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0655 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684760.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0656 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684785.9 57.99 180 -60 AC 10 E47/3673 F0657 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684810.9 58.00 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0658 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684835.9 57.92 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0659 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684860.9 57.87 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0660 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684885.9 57.73 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0661 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684910.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0662 MGA94_50 620081.4 7684935.9 57.82 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0663 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685035.9 57.77 180 -60 AC 36 E47/3673 F0664 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685060.9 57.74 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0665 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685085.9 57.70 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0666 MGA94_50 620081.4 7685110.9 57.67 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0667 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683810.9 59.13 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0668 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683835.9 59.05 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0669 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683860.9 58.92 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0670 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683885.9 58.86 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0671 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683910.9 58.81 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0672 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683935.9 58.74 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0673 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683960.9 58.65 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0674 MGA94_50 618801.4 7683985.9 58.57 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0675 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684010.9 58.64 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0676 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684035.9 58.54 180 -60 AC 21 E47/3673 F0677 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684060.9 58.50 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0678 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684085.9 58.46 180 -60 AC 27 E47/3673 F0679 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684110.9 58.40 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0680 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684135.9 58.36 180 -60 AC 24 E47/3673 F0681 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684160.9 58.31 180 -60 AC 17 E47/3673 F0682 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684185.9 58.26 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0683 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684210.9 58.20 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0684 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684235.9 58.22 180 -60 AC 14 E47/3673 F0685 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684260.9 58.15 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0686 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684285.9 58.12 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0687 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684310.9 58.08 180 -60 AC 18 E47/3673 F0688 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684335.9 58.04 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0689 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684360.9 57.99 180 -60 AC 8 E47/3673 F0690 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684385.9 57.98 180 -60 AC 12 E47/3673 F0691 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684410.9 57.94 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673 F0692 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684435.9 57.96 180 -60 AC 16 E47/3673 F0693 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684460.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 13 E47/3673 F0694 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684485.9 57.95 180 -60 AC 11 E47/3673 F0695 MGA94_50 618801.4 7684510.9 57.85 180 -60 AC 15 E47/3673

Hole ID Depth From Depth To Au (g/t) Width (m) A0001 8 12 0.17 4 A0001 20 24 0.2 4 A0002 16 20 0.21 4 A0002 44 52 0.14 8 A0003 64 68 0.39 4 A0004 20 28 0.13 8 A0004 40 44 0.14 4 A0027 8 12 0.1 4 A0027 24 28 0.13 4 A0028 24 30 0.15 6 A0029 12 24 0.16 12 A0033 4 12 0.22 8 A0034 0 20 0.67 20 A0035 0 12 0.24 12 A0037 4 8 0.13 4 A0037 12 16 0.13 4 A0037 24 28 0.13 4 A0038 24 30 0.21 6 A0067 28 32 0.12 4 F0123 32 36 0.19 4 F0137 4 8 0.13 4 F0146 28 30 0.1 2

__________________________________1 Refer to the Companys news release dated September 6, 2022.2 Refer to De Greys public disclosure record.

Figure 1 Typical aircore drill line across the Irvine Shear looking southwest Figure 2 Becher target area showing the position of the De Grey Hemi gold discovery (JORC 2012) hosted to the east-northeast of the Becher Area along the interpreted fertile corridor; background aeromagnetic greyscale mosaic Figure 3 Novo Pilbara tenure showing project areas and priority prospects Figure 4 Map of the Egina District tenements showing priority prospects, including the Becher Area in the north and Nunyerry North in the south Figure 5 Aircore chips and associated gold assays from composites on hole A0034 on the southern Irvine Shear Corridor Figure 6 drill chips from hole F0572 on the Whillans Shear showing quartz veining, intense sericitic alteration and up to 5% sulphides Figure 7 Map showing progress of aircore drilling to date, red lines completed, black lines planned. Insert area shows summarised results received to date Figure 8 Gold in soil anomaly at the Nunyerry North prospect

Source: Novo Resources Corp.
LAFAYETTE, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wabash (NYSE: WNC), the visionary leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, today announced a national partnership to help end food insecurity with Feeding America, the nations largest domestic hunger-relief organization.

Through this partnership, Wabash will donate $150,000 this year in support of mobile food pantries, which are crucial to increasing the distribution of fresh and healthy food in vulnerable communities.

Wabash is committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and were excited to scale up our efforts to help end food insecurity in partnership with Feeding America, said President and Chief Executive Officer Brent Yeagy.

According to the USDA, nearly 34 million people, including more than 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Wabash employees have selected fighting hunger as a cause they would like to personally support through donations, volunteer efforts and their work at Wabash.

Wabash donations will be directed to mobile food pantries that serve communities with high food insecurity rates, where Wabash facilities are located. In the first year of this partnership, funds will be allocated to five Feeding America member food banks. Wabash hopes to scale these efforts in the years to come, which may include supplying Wabash Acutherm refrigerated vans and truck bodies to keep food fresh while transporting and delivering it to communities in need.

Feeding America and member food banks across the country are working hard to meet the increasing demand for food assistance, said Lauren Biedron, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. No one should have to worry about where they will find their next meal. In our fight against hunger, were grateful to Wabash for their generous donation that will help our neighbors in need across the country.

This national partnership is an expansion of the work Wabash has done over the past 20 years on a local level with various Feeding America member food banks, such as Food Finders Food Bank Inc. in Lafayette, Indiana, where the company is headquartered. Wabash plans to continue to grow its partnership with Feeding America to serve all communities where Wabash facilities are located.

Wabash: Changing How the World Reaches YouAs the innovation leader of connected solutions for the transportation, logistics and distribution industries, Wabash (NYSE: WNC) is Changing How the World Reaches You. Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, the companys mission is to enable customers to succeed with breakthrough ideas and solutions that help them move everything from first to final mile. Wabash designs and manufactures a diverse range of products, including: dry freight and refrigerated trailers, platform trailers, tank trailers, dry and refrigerated truck bodies, structural composite panels and products, trailer aerodynamic solutions, and specialty food grade processing equipment. Learn more at www.onewabash.com.

About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 6.6 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Media Contact:Dana StelselDirector, Communications(765) 771-5766[email protected]

Investor Relations: Ryan ReedSr. Director, Corporate Development & Investor Relations(765) 490-5664[email protected]

Source: Wabash
Funding Round Oversubscribed and Brings in Leading Middle East Institutional Investor as Key Shareholder and Provides Funds for the Company's Commercial Expansion

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd.(CSE: CGN) (OTCQB: CGNSF) (FSE: 1UB)(the "Company" or "Cognetivity")is pleased to announce the successful completion of its non-brokered private placement; the offering being oversubscribed with a final amount of $4,502,478 being raised, resulting in the issuance of 15,525,786 convertible preferred shares (the "Preferred Shares") of the Company at a price of $0.29 per Preferred Share (the "Private Placement").

SAYACORP B.S.C. (c) ("SAYACORP"), headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, assisted by SAYACORP CAPITAL LTD ("SAYACORP CAPITAL"), its wholly owned subsidiary based in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has successfully led and completed an oversubscribed funding round. SAYACORP's shareholders are mainly Sovereign Wealth Funds, leading institutions and family offices from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and its portfolio includes investments in food manufacturing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, commercial property and aviation industries.

SAYACORP CAPITAL's CEO, Mohamed Idriss commented "This is a very exciting moment for SAYACORP, as it demonstrates the group's vision of backing technology companies in massive growing markets at a stage when the most value can be realized. Cognetivity has an incredible technology platform that will have a great positive impact both commercially and socially, and as demonstrated by their early commercial success including in the Middle East, is truly globally scalable." He added "By directly backing and supporting the ongoing growth of companies like Cognetivity, the group aims to be proactive with its investments; both in delivering significant returns and making a positive impact on people's lives. This transaction is in line with the group's investment strategy, to work with undervalued firms which demonstrate potential and help them to become successful."

Cognetivity CEO Sina Habibi said "We are delighted to have completed this funding round with such a fantastic financial partner. SAYACORP is showing belief in our technology, strategy and team and is backing us to be a success in the huge global market for cognitive assessment, and their support is going to be enormously helpful in our development. Their backing allows us to take the company to the next level, to build on the early commercial success of our CognICATM clinical tool and grow our customer base and strategic partnerships in North America and elsewhere. This is an exciting chapter of the Cognetivity story, enabling us to step up to the next level of growth, and demonstrating our potential in this rapidly growing global market."

All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on February 26, 2023 in accordance with applicable securities legislation. The Company paid aggregate cash finder's fees totaling $31,466 to a finder.

The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used towards the development of the Company's commercial operations in the USA, product marketing, technology development to expand product range as well as general operations.

About Cognetivity Neurosciences Ltd.

Cognetivity is a technology company that has created a cognitive testing platform for use in medical, commercial and consumer environments. Cognetivity's ICA uses Artificial Intelligence and machine learning techniques to help detect the earliest signs of cognitive impairment by testing the performance of large areas of the brain. The ICA is currently available for clinical use in the USA, UK and Europe, with regulatory approval for other regions planned for 2022.

About SAYACORP B.S.C (c)

Headquartered in Manama, the Kingdom of Bahrain, SAYACORP B.S.C. (c) is an investment holding company. SAYACORP has two wholly owned subsidiaries, SAYACORP CAPITAL LTD, a financial services firm in the Dubai International Finance Centre and SAYACORP AQAR W.L.L., a real estate investment and development company in the Kingdom of Bahrain. SAYACORP's investment thesis is focused on opportunities in defensive sectors with strong growth prospects, both regionally and globally. The firm believes that such sectors have increasing demand and present clear opportunities to generate returns for its stakeholders. For more information about SAYACORP, please visit www.sayacorp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Sina Habibi"

Sina Habibi

Chief Executive Officer and Director

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including those identified by the expressions "anticipate", "assume" "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "should" and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its management. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect current expectations regarding future results or events. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Such statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. The Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information: Please visit: www.cognetivity.com or contact: [email protected]; For media enquiries, please contact: Josh Stanbury, [email protected], 416-628-7441

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142080
Dieppe, New Brunswick--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Colibri Resource Corporation (TSXV: CBI) (OTC Pink: CRUCF) ("Colibri" or the "Company") is pleased to report that the Company has resumed exploration at the Evelyn Gold Property. Company geologists have recently mobilized to the property and are currently collecting soil samples. The Company is also pleased to report that on October 10th, applications for drilling and trenching permits at the Evelyn property were submitted to SEMARNAT (the Mexican government environmental authority). Approvals for this work are expected shortly.

Upon receipt of the drill permit, the Company intends to complete 2 drill programs. The first program will be following up on the Company's Phase 1 reverse circulation ("RC") drilling program completed in the fall/winter of 2021/2022 will include a planned 2,000 metres ("m") in 5 holes designed to test the results of the Induced Polarization ("IP") Survey completed in 2021. The primary target is a chargeability anomaly that underlies the Main Zone, and the program will include testing a chargeability and resistivity target west of the Main Zone. The locations of the holes planned to test the IP results are indicated in Figure 1.

The second drill program is planned to explore under extensive alluvial cover north of the Main Zone and will comprise drilling a number of short, relatively closely spaced RC holes designed to penetrate the alluvium and sample the top of bedrock. The objective of this program is to locate the northern extension of the Main Zone and to test for the location of other potentially mineralized structures interpreted by the Company. The locations of the areas planned for drill testing bedrock covered by alluvium are indicated in Figure 1.

The soil sampling currently in progress has been designed to test for the southern extension of the Main Zone structure under an apron of relatively thick colluvium and will consist of a Soil Gas Hydrocarbon ("SGH") program with analyses and interpretation being completed at Activation Laboratories Ltd. ("Actlabs") located in Ancaster, Ontario. The planned locations of the soil samples being collected are indicated on Figure 1.

Upon receipt of the permit to excavate trenches, the Company will complete a series of trenches across the West Sahuaro target. The West Sahuaro target is based on a discrete soil anomaly whose location and orientation is coincident with a strong resistivity gradient evident in the 2021 IP survey results.





Figure 1 Main Zone Drill Intercepts on Apparent Chargeability at -100m

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/142130_de86803674d53a05_001full.jpg

MAIN ZONE EXPLORATION AND PLAN

The Main Zone mineralization occurs as a quartz vein that is discontinuously exposed over a strike length of approximately 120 m. The quartz vein pinches and swells along the strike length on surface reaching a maximum exposed thickness of approximately 1.5 m. Grab samples from surface exposures of the vein have returned assay values of 43.9 g/t Au and 40.1 g/t Au. During Phase 1 RC drilling at Evelyn, the Company completed a total of 872 m in 6 holes at the Main Zone. Four of the holes were directed at the Main Zone vein and two of the holes were drilled in the footwall of the Main Zone vein in a direction away from the Main Zone vein. Highlights of the Main Zone vein drilling include 12.19 g/t Au over an intersection length of 3 m which includes an assay of 30 g/t Au over 1 m in hole EVE21-027 and an intersection of 3.28 g/t Au over an intersection length of 2 m in hole EVE22-029. Hole EVE22-030 was drilled in the footwall of the Main Zone vein and intersected 87 m at an average grade of 0.127 g/t Au including 8 m at an average grade of 0.336 g/t Au. Planned to reach a target depth of 250 metres, Hole EVE22-030 was lost due to drilling conditions at a depth of 129 m. Hole EVE22-042 was drilled beside EVE22-030 as an attempt to extend the hole to the target depth of 250 m. The hole intersected multiple zones of mineralization including 0.165 g/t Au over an intersection length of 86 m which included an intersection of 0.551 g/t Au over 10 m. EVE22-042 did not reach target depth as it was also abandoned due to drilling conditions at 177 m. An assay of 0.374 g/t Au over an interval of 1 m was returned from a sample at 174 m depth: 4 m from the end of the hole. Complete Phase 1 drilling results from the Main Zone are contained in the table below.

Hole ID From To Length Au gpt Cutoff EVE21-026 3 7 4 0.257 .1 g/t Au includes 3 4 1 0.446 .2 g/t Au EVE21-026 65 66 1 0.237 .2 g/t Au EVE21-026 64 79 15 0.196 .1 g/t Au includes 72 77 5 0.412 .2 g/t Au EVE21-027 12 13 1 0.322 .2 g/t Au EVE21-027 32 46 14 2.818 .1 g/t Au includes 38 46 8 4.823 .2 g/t Au includes 41 44 3 12.19 3 g/t Au includes 42 43 1 30 5 g/t Au EVE21-027 55 56 1 0.287 .2 g/t Au EVE21-027 99 100 1 0.204 .2 g/t Au EVE22-028 24 43 19 0.129 .1 g/t Au includes 37 43 6 0.182 .2 g/t Au EVE22-028 55 57 2 0.115 .1 g/t Au EVE22-028 73 76 3 0.240 .1 g/t Au EVE22-028 83 84 1 0.293 .2 g/t Au EVE22-028 117 118 1 0.295 .2 g/t Au EVE22-029 36 41 5 1.393 .2 g/t Au includes 36 38 2 3.275 .2 g/t Au EVE22-029 122 125 3 0.337 .2 g/t Au EVE22-029 129 131 2 0.160 .1 g/t Au EVE22-030 25 112 87 0.127 .1 g/t Au includes 24 49 25 0.201 .1 g/t Au includes 25 43 18 0.230 .1 g/t Au includes 28 36 8 0.336 .2 g/t Au includes 101 106 5 0.215 .2 g/t Au EVE22-042 19 105 86 0.165 .1 g/t Au includes 19 41 22 0.316 .1 g/t Au includes 22 32 10 0.551 .2 g/t Au includes 60 68 8 0.184 .1 g/t Au includes 100 105 5 0.232 .1 g/t Au EVE22-042 125 131 6 0.178 .1 g/t Au EVE22-042 173 174 1 0.324 .2 g/t Au Note: Reported lengths for all holes are intersection lengths. True widths are not known.

Table 1 Drill Highlights from Phase 1 Drilling at Main Zone Area

The Main Zone mineralization, including mineralization intersected in holes EVE22-030 and EVE22-042 directly overlies a discrete Induced Polarization ("IP") chargeability anomaly (Figures 1 and 2). The chargeability anomaly is coincident with an apparent resistivity anomaly and is most strongly developed at a depth greater than 200 m (Figure 2). The exploration model relates Main Zone mineralization, exposed on surface and intersected in Phase 1 drilling, to an altered rock body with elevated disseminated sulphide at depth which is controlled by the intersection of the northeast and northwest structures. Phase 2 drilling is planned in the near term to test this model to a depth of at least 500 metres. (Figure 2). In addition, 2 holes are planned to test a weaker IP anomaly on the flank of a resistive high west of the Main Zone.





Figure 2 Main Zone Drill Holes Over Apparent Chargeability

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/142130_de86803674d53a05_002full.jpg

WEST EL SAHUARO TARGET EXPLORATION AND PLAN

El Sahuaro Zone is located in the northeastern part of the property and is characterized by north-northeast trending magnetic anomalies. Detailed structural mapping in the northeast part of the property indicates a dominant north-northwestern strike and easterly dip to foliation and veins. The structural orientations observed are consistent with north-northwest trending structures interpreted from magnetic intensity contrasts and an apparent dislocation and offset of the north-northeastern magnetic trend. The El Sahuaro area is underlain by Jurassic rhyolite and andesite and by Proterozoic (?) metasedimentary rocks. All holes drilled at El Sahuaro have intersected Au mineralization. Highlights of Phase 1 drilling at El Sahuaro include: (also see Figure 3 below)

EVE21-025 - 0.172 g/t Au over an intersection length of 22 m.

EVE21-018 - 0.103 g.t Au over an intersection length of 25 m.

EVE21-019 - 2.36 g/t Au over an intersection length of 15 m.

EVE22-043 - 0.92 g/t Au over an intersection length of 3 m.

EVE22-044 - 0.627 g/t Au over an intersection length 6 m.

EVE22-046 - 1.943 g/t Au over an intersection length of 2 m and 0.51 g/t Au over an intersection length of 4 m.

West of El Sahuaro zone, a sharp north-northwest trending gradient in apparent resistivity (Figure 3) is interpreted as a fault zone that separates dominantly rhyolite to the southwest with a mixed succession of rhyolite and andesite with Proterozoic metamorphic rocks to the northeast.

To further explore the interpretation of apparent resistivity, the Company completed in-fill soil sampling of the historical soil geochemistry survey which resulted in a coherent soil anomaly over an approximately 500 m length and 200 m width with a north-northwest trend: parallel to the resistivity gradient (Figure 3). Anomalous soil samples in the anomaly area are interpreted to be locally derived and include an assay of 1.5 g/t Au.

The model being explored by the Company relates mineralization intersected in Phase 1 drilling at El Sahuaro, and the Au soil anomaly, to a major controlling structure indicated by the apparent resistivity gradient. Trenches currently being permitted will be excavated over the soil anomaly with the objective of advancing he target to the drill stage.





Figure 3 Evelyn Assay Values on Apparent Resistivity

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4269/142130_de86803674d53a05_003full.jpg

ABOUT SGH

SGH is a deep penetrating geochemical exploration method that involves the analysis of surficial samples from over potential (buried) mineral or petroleum targets. The analysis involves the testing for 162 hydrocarbon compounds in the C5-C17 carbon series range applicable to a wide variety of sample types. Samples are collected in the target area in a systematic manner generally at sample stations spaced at 25 m along 100 m spaced lines. Actlabs has developed an in-depth understanding of the unique SGH signatures associated with different commodity targets. Using a forensic approach based on scientific research, orientation surveys over known (buried) mineralization, and the results of exploration projects, Actlabs has developed commodity target signatures, or templates, for identification of the expected analytical results exhibited by each class of SGH compounds.

EVELYN GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION

The Evelyn Gold Project is an Orogenic-type gold target located in the Caborca Gold Belt of northwestern Sonora. The property is located approximately 25 kilometres ("km") east of La Herradura, Mexico's largest open pit gold mine, which produced 425,288 ounces of gold in 2020 at an average grade of 0.77 grams per tonnes ("g/t") Au and is also approximately 9 km northeast of the Noche Buena mine which produced 87,988 ounces Au at an average grade of 0.52 g/t Au in 2020. The setting and style of mineralization at Evelyn is similar to that reported from La Herradura and Noche Buena. Higher grade mineralization on the Evelyn property consists of quartz veins and veinlets, ranging from 2 3 centimeters up to 1.5 m hosted by fault and fracture zones with minor oxidized pyrite, iron oxide, copper bearing oxide and carbonate minerals, and locally minor to trace amounts of galena, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite. Alteration of the host rocks includes iron bearing carbonate minerals, quartz, sericite, and chlorite. Lower grade mineralization is associated with altered volcanic rocks containing minor amounts of oxidized sulfide. Mineralization is hosted dominantly by Jurassic volcanic rocks consisting of andesite and rhyolite.

The exploration model being developed and tested by the Company relates the mineralization consisting of higher-grade veins and veinlets hosted by altered and sulphide bearing lower grade metamorphic and volcanic rocks, to north-northeast trending stratigraphy and layer-parallel fault zones and southeast striking, moderately southwest dipping fault zones.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Jamie Lavigne, P. Geo and a Director for Colibri is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release.

ABOUT COLIBRI RESOURCE CORPORATION:

Colibri is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company listed on the TSX-V (CBI) and is focused on acquiring and exploring prospective gold & silver properties in Mexico. The Company has six exploration projects of which five currently have exploration programs being executed 2021 and 2022. (1) The flagship Evelyn Gold Project is 100% owned and explored by Colibri, (2) the Pilar Gold & Silver Project (optioned to Tocvan Ventures - (CSE: TOC)), (3) the El Mezquite Gold & Silver Project , (4) the Jackie Gold & Silver Project, and (5) the Diamante Gold & Silver Project. 3, 4, and 5 are subject to earn-in agreements by Silver Spruce Resources - (TSXV: SSE).

For more information about all Company projects please visit: http://www.colibriresource.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.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

For information contact: Ronald J. Goguen, President, Chairperson and Director, Tel: (506) 383-4274, [email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142130
Highlights

Fall Program identified tourmaline, garnet, and muscovite mineralization on the Rouget formation greenstone belt underlying the Hellcat Claims, which is consistent with other discoveries in the area.

Over 87 samples taken with assays being conducted at SRC in Saskatoon, Sask.

Further exploration being conducted in the context of the rapidly expanding lithium and battery metals market.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Infinity Stone Ventures Corp. (CSE: GEMS) (OTCQB: GEMSF) (FSE: B2I) (the "Company" or "Infinity Stone"), is pleased to provide an exploration update on its Camaro and Hellcat Lithium Project (the "Camaro - Hellcat Project") adjacent to Patriot Battery Metals' ("PMET" or "Patriot") Corvette Lithium Discovery in the James Bay Lithium District of Quebec.

The fall exploration program, conducted by Axiom Exploration Group, Infinity Stone's contracted technical team, (the "Fall Program") was extremely successful in confirming historically mapped pegmatites and identified new showings. 87 samples were collected over 3,850 hectares of claims adjacent to the Patriot discovery. The samples have been shipped to the Saskatchewan Research Council ("SRC") lab in Saskatoon, Sask., with assay results expected to be returned in the coming weeks.

One of the significant highlights of the Fall Program was the identification of a cluster of highly prospective pegmatitic dykes and cross cutting structures near the northern margin of the Hellcat claims extending to the north, which resulted in the Company expanding its claim area.

The white, coarse grained, pegmatite dykes in this area were mineralogically characterized by tourmaline, garnet, and muscovite which are common LCT (Lithium-Cesium-Tantalum) pegmatite indicator minerals in the district.

The Hellcat claims are underlain by 9 km of strike length of underexplored greenstone and metasediments of the Mesoarchean Rouget formation and Neoarchean Marbot formation, respectively. The under-explored Rouget formation greenstone belt represents an attractive exploration target which is geologically similar and proximal to the Guyer Group greenstone, which hosts the PMET Corvette Pegmatites.

Infinity Stone is in the process of defining the next steps of its exploration program, including conducting a geophysical survey of the Project ahead of a planned drill program in early Q1 2023. With the increased infrastructure in the area, winter access and operability to the Corvette lithium trend has improved considerably, ultimately enabling winter drilling on the Camaro - Hellcat Project.





Figure 1.Hellcat Geology

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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FALL 2022 EXPLORATION GALLERY

INVESTOR PRESENTATION

"We are excited to further our exploration efforts on the Hellcat - Camaro Project with the identification of pegmatites underlain by the Rouget greenstone, presenting parallels to the geology underlying Patriot's Corvette discovery and warranting further exploration," said Zayn Kalyan, CEO of Infinity Stone. "The progress made on our James Bay Property, alongside the ongoing exploration on our other assets, is timely given the rapid growth of the lithium and battery metal market over the past months. Nearly every day there is another announcement regarding expansion in the North American battery metals supply chain. Every major car manufacturer and battery manufacturer is in the process of building out infrastructure in Canada and the US, all in the context of considerable government support, including the recent announcement by the Biden administration of $2.8 billion in support for manufacturing and processing companies in the battery metals space" furthered Mr. Kalyan.

About the Camaro Lithium Project

The 5,187-hectare Camaro Lithium Project is located adjacent to Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette Property, in the James Bay Region of Quebec, approximately 235 kilometres east of Radisson, Quebec and 245 kilometres northeast of the Cree village municipality of Nemaska. The Project has three property blocks, the Taiga, Hellcat, and Camaro, collectively covering 3,850 hectares adjacent to Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette Lithium discovery in the James Bay Region of Quebec. PMET's CV8 pegmatite, with grab samples averaging 4.6% Li2O, is located 1,400 metres north of the Taiga Project. The newly discovered CV13 pegmatite cluster is located 1,500 metres north of the Camaro Project.

Qualified Person

Technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Case Lewis, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" as defined under NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects and a director of the Company.

About Infinity Stone Ventures

Infinity Stone's mission is to be a diversified, single source supplier for the critical energy metals being used in the clean energy revolution alongside its established SaaS solution portfolio. Infinity Stone is meeting the demand from battery and wind turbine manufacturers, nuclear and hydrogen energy producers, and energy metals speculators by acquiring 100% interest in critical mineral deposits and occurrences in stable mining-friendly jurisdictions, close to final use destinations in North American manufacturing hubs.

To register for investor updates please visit https://infinitystone.ventures.

Connect with Infinity Stone

Email | Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram/|

Infinity Stone Contact

Zayn Kalyan

CEO and Director

Direct: 778-938-3367

[email protected]

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "projects", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management of Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements may also be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of the Company, including those described in the Company's public filings available on www.SEDAR.com. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142152
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Kraken Energy Corp. (CSE: UUSA) (OTCQB: UUSAF) (the "Company" or "Kraken Energy") is pleased to announce the appointment of Madeline Berry as Senior Geologist to execute exploration programs at the Company's former-producing Garfield Hills and Apex uranium mines in Nevada.

Ms. Berry is an experienced geologist having worked with several mineral exploration companies, including NexGen Energy, Northern Star Resources and White Gold Corp., where she was involved in a spectrum of exploration activities, including logging core, overseeing QA/QC, collecting samples, and planning and managing drilling programs. Madeline is the fifth former NexGen Energy employee to join the ranks at Kraken Energy.

"We are pleased to welcome Madeline, who brings a wealth of exploration experience to the Kraken team," stated CEO Matthew Schwab. "Madeline joins us at an exciting time for the Company as we prepare to initiate an inaugural drill program at our newly acquired Garfield Hills project in the coming weeks. We believe that the ability of Kraken to continue to attract high caliber talent like Madeline, speaks volumes about the quality of uranium projects in our portfolio."

Madeline will be spearheading Phase I of an up to 2,000-metre diamond drill program at Garfield Hills, expected to commence in the coming weeks.

About Kraken Energy Corp.

Kraken Energy Corp. is a new energy company advancing its 100%-owned Apex Uranium Property, located 280 km (174 miles) east from Reno, Nevada. The Apex Property is recognized as Nevada's largest past-producing uranium mine. The Company has additionally entered into an option agreement to earn 100% of the Garfield Hills Uranium Property, located 19 km (12 miles) east of Hawthorne in Mineral County, Nevada. Additional staking has been done on the Garfield Hills Uranium Property, bringing the total area of the Property to 1,238 hectares (3,060 acres). For more information about the Company, please visit www.krakenenergycorp.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Kraken Energy Corp.

Matthew Schwab

President & Chief Executive Officer

Corporate Office:

400-1681 Chestnut Street

Vancouver, BC

V6J 4M6

T: (604) 737-2303

For investor relations inquiries, contact:

Kristina Pillon, High Tide Consulting Corp.

E: [email protected]

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release includes "forward-looking information" that is subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Such statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties normally incident to such events. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future events and that actual events or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements represent management's best judgment based on information currently available.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142039
Thunder Bay Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Metals Creek Resources Corp.(TSXV: MEK) (OTCQB: MCREF) (FSE: M1C1) (the "Company" or Metals Creek)reports results from recent prospecting at the Clark's Brook Property up to 10.1 grammes per tonne (g/t) Gold (Au). A table of rock sample results are listed below. Previous work on the Property included geochemistry, prospecting and diamond drilling on the Clark's Brook East Zone in 2017 and 2018 by joint venture partner Sokoman Minerals Corp, who subsequently returned the property to MEK. The Clark's Brook West Zone has not been drill tested to date. The distance between the Clark's Brook East and Clark's Brook West Zones is approximately 1.75 kilometers. This sampling has extended the gold mineralization at the West Zone for approximately 35 meters.





Table 1



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/142111_table1.jpg

Note: The surface grab samples described in this news release are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades of the property. The float samples are non in-situ samples and not necessarily from a proximal source.

The Clark's Brook Property is located in central Newfoundland, 25 km southwest of Glenwood and straddles the Appleton Fault which appears to be a key conduit for gold mineralization and hosts the Newfound Gold's Keats Zone (See Figure 1 - Property Location) and was originally staked in 2016 to cover two untested gold showings. Limited drill testing at the Clark's Brook East Zone, subsequent to the property acquisition had significant results up to 1.004 g/t Au over 25.8 m and 26.878 g/t Au over 0.25m. The 100% owned property consists of 31 claim units (7.7 sq. km), surrounded by New Found Gold's Queensway Project.

Previous drilling tested the Clark's Brook East zone in ten holes. (see MEK press release dated 23 August 2017) Results include numerous gold intersections as tabulated below:





Table 2



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/943/142111_image2.jpg

Note- Drill results, as reported by Sokomon, are drill widths only, as the information is not adequate to calculate true widths. Analysis techniques are described in the previously quoted press release.

MEK is actively seeking a partner to continue drill testing the wide-spread gold mineralization.

Wayne Reid, P.Geo and a qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the information forming the basis for this release.

About Metals Creek Resources Corp.

Metals Creek Resources Corp. is a junior exploration company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, is a reporting issuer in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, and has its common shares listed for trading on the Exchange under the symbol "MEK". Metals Creek has earned a 50% interest in the Ogden Gold Property from Newmont Corporation, including the former Naybob Gold mine, located 6 km south of Timmins, Ontario and has an 8 km strike length of the prolific Porcupine-Destor Fault (P-DF). In addition, Metals Creek has signed an agreement with Newmont Corporation, where Metals Creek can earn a 100% interest in the past producing Dona Lake Gold Project in the Pickle Lake Mining District of Ontario.

Metals Creek also has multiple quality projects available for option in Ontario and Newfoundland which can be viewed on the Company's website. Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact the Company at the number below.

Additional information concerning the Company is contained in documents filed by the Company with securities regulators, available under its profile at www.sedar.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Alexander (Sandy) Stares, President and CEO

Metals Creek Resources Corp

telephone: (709)-256-6060

fax: (709)-256-6061

email: [email protected]

MetalsCreek.com

Twitter.com/MetalsCreekRes

Facebook.com/MetalsCreek



Figure 1 Property Location



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

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Growth potential advances across all regions as exploration portfolio expands

At Brucejack, drilling continues to confirm the potential for resource growth at the Valley of the Kings (VOK) deposit and the surrounding area with further high grade intercepts returned from the 1080 HBx Zone and Golden Marmot, which are located outside the current Pretium published resource.

At 1080 HBx Zone, drilling has expanded the VOK deposit and confirmed the continuity of the higher grade mineralisation at depth and to the south, with 22 of 44 holes returning intervals in excess of 5 grams per tonne gold. Drilling continues to deliver narrow intervals of very high grade gold mineralisation within broader zones of stockwork and vein arrays. Mineralisation now extends over 75m of strike and remains open. Results include, VU-4546, 22m @ 178g/t Au from 2m, including 1.0m @ 3,876g/t Au from 2m. In addition, VU-4331 returned 70.1m @ 35g/t Au from 337.5m, including 1.0m @ 2,310g/t Au from 361.5m.

At Golden Marmot, located approximately 3.5 km north of the Valley of the Kings, assays were received for the first 19 holes drilled during the quarter. Holes were drilled to infill the main zone, with 7 of 19 holes returning intervals in excess of 5 grams per tonne gold with results including, SU-888, 46.5m @ 16g/t Au from 66m, including 1m @ 488g/t Au from 77.5m and including 1m @ 236g/t Au from 99.5m. In addition, SU-879 returned 91.5m @ 9.1g/t Au from 100.5m, including 1.5m @ 514g/t Au from 138m.

At Red Chris, ongoing drilling activities at East Ridge continue to confirm continuity and expand the footprint of higher grade mineralisation.

At East Ridge, drilling has expanded the vertical extent of the mineralisation within the Exploration Target area previously reported on 21 July 2022. RC820 returned 278m @ 0.74g/t Au & 0.44% Cu from 1,658m, including 66m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,870m and RC835 returned 284m @ 0.75g/t Au & 0.63% Cu from 1,295m, including 112m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,433m. Both holes have extended higher grade mineralisation by a further 100m at depth to more than 600m vertical and both holes remain open at depth.

At Havieron, growth drilling continues to identify and expand high grade extensions to the mineralisation in the Eastern Breccia, South East Crescent Zone and Northern Breccia with potential for further incremental resource growth.

In the Eastern Breccia extensions to the southeast of the current Mineral Resource are reported including HAD152W2, 120m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,724m including 20.3m @ 3.1g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,781.7m, HAD152W3, 64.5m @ 2.8g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,798m including 13.5m @ 9.8g/t Au & 0.89% Cu from 1,843.5m and HAD104W3, 62m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,566m including 26.7m @ 6.4g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,593m.

At the Northern Breccia a new zone of high grade sulphide mineralisation is being defined within the ~200m gap between the current Northern Breccia and Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource volumes. Results include HAD098W3, 15.4m @ 12 g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,379.6m and HAD098W5, 81.3m @ 3.2g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,357.2m including 53.3m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1,360.5m. Drilling is ongoing to define the extents of this higher grade zone of mineralisation which is open to the northwest.

At the South East Crescent, drilling continues to demonstrate incremental growth at depth outside of the current Mineral Resource. Results include HAD086W5, 39.9m @ 4.6g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,401.1m, including 20.6m @ 8.7g/t Au & 0.13% Cu from 1,403m, HAD086W6, 110m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,337m including 20.7m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,380.3m and HAD152W2, 20m @ 7.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,453m.

Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 26, 2022) - Newcrest (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) (PNGX: NCM) Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sandeep Biswas, said, "Newcrest delivered another excellent quarter of exploration results with significant growth potential highlighted across our key targets at Brucejack, Red Chris and Havieron."

"At Brucejack we returned several high-grade intercepts during the quarter, supporting our views for significant resource growth potential. Golden Marmot remains open to the east, north, and south, with the target displaying many geological features of the nearby Valley of the Kings deposit."

"The results of our East Ridge discovery at Red Chris continue to expand the higher-grade footprint, and Havieron has continued to deliver encouraging results, demonstrating its potential for incremental growth outside of the current resource."

"We were also very pleased to expand our global exploration portfolio during the quarter with the addition of five new emerging projects in the highly prospective Great Basin Region in North America," said Mr Biswas.

Brucejack, British Columbia, Canada(1)

The Brucejack Property hosts the Valley of the Kings (VOK) high-grade gold deposit. The VOK is characterised by multiple occurrences of higher grade mineralisation over selected intervals hosted within broader zones of stockwork and vein arrays. Growth activities are focused on both resource expansion within the existing mine area, as well as brownfields exploration activities within 4km of the mine area. Both programs returned results of higher grade mineralisation during the period.

Resource expansion drilling during the quarter was focused on targets in the 1080 HBx Zone and Galena Hill. A total of 19,913m in 92 drill holes was completed using 3 underground drill rigs. Assay results were received for four drill fans in the 1080 HBx Zone. All other assays are pending.

Brownfields drilling during the quarter focused on targets in Gossan Hill South and Golden Marmot. A total of 23,731m in 55 drill holes was completed using 4 drill rigs on surface. During the quarter final assay results were received from the first 19 holes at Golden Marmot.

At 1080 HBx Zone, assays were received for 44 drill holes (four drill fans). All drill holes intersected gold mineralisation, with 22 of the 44 drill holes intersecting higher grade mineralisation, in excess of 5 grams per tonne. Drill holes at 1080 HBX are collared within the current Pretium published resource and are drilling in the resource for the initial 120 to 150 meters, depending on the orientation of the drill hole. The drill program was designed to follow up on the extensions of the high-grade gold mineralisation intersected in 1080 East drill program (previously reported).

Results have confirmed the continuity of higher grade gold mineralisation hosted in a zone oriented sub-parallel to Domain 20, which is currently being mined in the VOK. Drill fans were spaced at 15 meters horizontally in order to rapidly advance this new zone. Assays received to date cover an area of 75m x 300m x 250m. The 1080 HBX zone extends mineralisation an additional 150m south of the previous 1080 East drilling and gold mineralisation has now been intersected up to 225m south and 240m below the existing Mineral Resource estimate. Drilling is currently in progress to test the structure an additional 60 meters along strike to the west and an additional 15 meters along strike to the east.

Results for the reporting period include:

VU-4331 70.1m @ 35g/t Au from 337.5m including 1m @ 2,310g/t Au from 361.5m

VU-4340 25.63m @ 88g/t Au from 49.5m including 1m @ 2,100g/t Au from 50.5m

VU-4529 38.5m @ 36g/t Au from 118.5m including 1m @ 1,315g/t Au from 156m

VU-4546 22m @ 178g/t Au from 2m including 1m @ 3,876g/t Au from 2m



At Golden Marmot, assays were received for 19 drill holes. All drill holes intersected gold mineralisation, with 7 of the 19 drill holes intersecting higher grade gold mineralisation, in excess of 5 grams per tonne.

The focus for the 2022 drill program at Golden Marmot was to infill the main zone identified in 2021 and to step out from known mineralisation. Initial assays from the 2022 drill program have confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation over an area with dimensions of 100m wide, 200m long, and 300m high. The zone remains open to the east, north, south, and at depth. Mineralisation encountered at Golden Marmot displays many of the salient geological features that characterise hanging wall domains in the Valley of the Kings deposit immediately to the south. Future exploration drilling will focus on identifying controlling structures.

Results for the reporting period include:

SU-873 12m @ 9.9g/t Au from 154.5m and 1m @ 3,010g/t Au from 269.5m

SU-874 13.5m @ 25g/t Au from 148.5m including 1.5m @ 216g/t Au from 150m

SU-875 10.5m @ 32g/t Au from 183m including 1m @ 328g/t Au from 190m

SU-879 91.5m @ 9.1g/t Au from 100.5m including 1.5m @ 514g/t Au from 138m

SU-888 46.5m @ 16g/t Au from 66m including 1m @ 488g/t Au from 77.5m including 1m @ 236g/t Au from 99.5m and 12.5m @ 6.9g/t Au from 180m



Approximately 54,000m of resource expansion drilling and 35,000m of brownfield exploration drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity are planned during calendar year 2022 with three drill rigs operating underground and four drill rigs operating on surface.

Refer to Appendix 1 for additional information, and the Drill hole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 1. Plan view map of the Brucejack Property, spanning the 4km gossanous trend from Golden Marmot and Hanging Glacier in the northwest to Bridge Zone in the southeast.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_003full.jpg





Figure 2. Long section view (looking west) of the Brucejack Property. Refer to figure 1 for the location of the cross section. Viewing window is +/- 150 meters.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_004full.jpg

Red Chris, British Columbia, Canada(2)

Red Chris is a joint venture between Newcrest (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%) and is operated by Newcrest.

The Brownfield Exploration program is focused on the discovery of additional zones of higher-grade mineralisation within the Red Chris porphyry corridor, including targets outside of Newcrest's Mineral Resource estimate. During the period, there were up to seven diamond drill rigs in operation. A further 20,926m of drilling has been completed from 27 drill holes, with all drill holes intersecting mineralisation. This contributed to a total of 286,300m of drilling from 278 drill holes since Newcrest acquired its interest in the joint venture in August 2019.

At East Ridge, located adjacent to the East Zone, drilling is ongoing with 63 holes completed and 6 in progress. The follow up drilling is being completed on a nominal 100m x 100m grid to determine the footprint and characterise the mineralisation, and to demonstrate the continuity of the higher-grade mineralisation. Drilling to date has tested a corridor 900m long and to a vertical extent of 1,000m within which zones of higher grade mineralisation have been identified.

East Ridge is outside of Newcrest's Mineral Resource estimate. Diamond drilling continues to define the extent and continuity of this higher grade mineralisation. A further 25 diamond drill holes are planned, at a minimum, to test and close out the target mineralisation. This program is expected to be completed by the second quarter of calendar year 2023.

Results for the reporting period include:

RC808 222m @ 0.44g/t Au & 0.61% Cu from 818m including 46m @ 1.2g/t Au & 1.3% Cu from 936m including 28m @ 1.5g/t Au & 1.6% Cu from 936m

RC813 298m @ 0.26g/t Au & 0.31% Cu from 446m including 52m @ 0.51g/t Au & 0.75% Cu from 458m

RC819 334m @ 0.35g/t Au & 0.50% Cu from 1,276m including 56m @ 0.83g/t Au & 0.80% Cu from 1,552m including 22m @ 1.1g/t Au & 0.93% Cu from 1574m

RC820 312m @ 0.49g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,296m including 182m @ 0.64g/t Au & 0.64% Cu from 1,406m including 16m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 1,562m 278m @ 0.74g/t Au & 0.44% Cu from 1,658m including 66m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,870m including 22m @ 3.3g/t Au & 1.8% Cu from 1,882m

RC835 284m @ 0.75g/t Au & 0.63% Cu from 1,295m including 112m @ 1.4g/t Au & 1.0% Cu from 1,433m including 86m @ 1.7g/t Au & 1.2% Cu from 1,459m



Drilling continues to expand the vertical extent of the East Ridge mineralisation. The latest drilling results from holes RC819, RC820 and RC835 extend the higher grade mineralisation by a further 100m at depth to more than 600m vertical. All holes remain open at depth.

These results demonstrate further support of the upside range of the Exploration Target defined in the June 2022 Quarterly Exploration Report dated 21 July 2022. The Exploration Target potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature, there has been insufficient exploration to estimate a Mineral Resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a Mineral Resource.

Drilling within the Exploration Target area also continues to define the continuity of the higher grade mineralisation in hole RC808, located 100m above RC786 (previously reported).

The East Ridge mineralised corridor (>0.4g/t Au and >0.4% Cu) extends over 900m long, up to 1,000m high and 125m wide, with higher grade (>0.8g/t Au and >0.8% Cu) in several smaller pods over an area 500m high, 400m long and 100m wide.

Approximately 50,000m of growth-related drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity is planned for the first half of FY23 from eight drill rigs.

Refer to Appendix 2 for additional information, and the Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 3. Schematic plan view map of the Red Chris porphyry corridor spanning East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone showing significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report), 0.3g/t Au, 1g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_005full.jpg







Figure 4. Long section view (looking North West) of the Red Chris porphyry corridor showing drill hole locations, gold distribution and Exploration Target (previously released).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_006full.jpg

Havieron Project, Western Australia, Australia(3)

The Havieron Project is operated by Newcrest under a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with Greatland Gold. Newcrest is the manager and holds a 70% interest in the Havieron Project (Greatland Gold holds a 30% interest). The JVA includes tolling principles reflecting the intention of the parties that, subject to a successful exploration program, Feasibility Study and a positive decision to mine, the resulting joint venture mineralised material will be processed at Telfer.

The Havieron Project is centred on a deep magnetic anomaly located 45km east of Telfer in the Paterson Province. The deposit is overlain by more than 420m of post mineral Permian cover. The Joint Venture commenced drilling during the June 2019 quarter and has completed 269,585m of drilling from 327 drill holes to date (excluding holes in progress, abandoned holes, or drill holes which have not been sampled).

Drilling activities in the quarter have produced a further 20,345m of drilling from 21 holes with up to 6 drill rigs operating during the quarter. New assay results are reported from 20 drill holes (7 were assays pending from previous quarter). Of the reported holes, 11 holes returned significant assay intercepts in excess of 50 gram metres gold (Au ppm x length m).

Growth drilling targeting mineralisation definition and continuity continues to show potential for resource additions outside of the existing Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource limits, including:

Extensions of the Eastern Breccia including definition of identified internal higher grade zones - assay results reported for 8 drill holes, 3 holes awaiting assays.

including definition of identified internal higher grade zones - assay results reported for 8 drill holes, 3 holes awaiting assays. Extensions to the Northern Breccia at depth between the current Northern Breccia Resource and Eastern Breccia Resource - assay results reported for 4 drill holes, 2 holes awaiting assays.

at depth between the current Northern Breccia Resource and Eastern Breccia Resource - assay results reported for 4 drill holes, 2 holes awaiting assays. Extension of the South East Crescent at depth below the current Mineral Resource - assay results reported for 5 drill holes.

at depth below the current Mineral Resource - assay results reported for 5 drill holes. Drilling is continuing to target geophysical targets outside of the main Havieron system - 3 drill holes results reported and 4 holes awaiting assays from step out drilling north and south of the Havieron system.

At the Eastern Breccia, assays for 8 holes targeting strike and depth extensions from previously reported drill holes have been received, with 3 holes awaiting assays. The Eastern Breccia is developed below the 4,100RL with a footprint of over 500m in strike, up to 200m in width, and over 250m in vertical extent. Within this zone multiple northwest trending internal higher-grade (>1 g/t Au) sulphide dominated domains are observed. The Eastern Breccia remains open at depth and to the northwest and southeast.

Results for the quarter further highlight geological continuity within the Eastern Breccia with results extending the high grade zones ~170m to the southeast of the current Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource. Drilling within the Eastern Breccia footprint is ongoing to confirm the continuity of internal higher grade sulphide zones.

Results include:

HAD104W3 62m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,566m. including 26.7m @ 6.4g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,593m.

HAD145AW5 168m @ 0.69g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,623m. including 11.3m @ 2.4g/t Au & 0.53% Cu from 1,686m. 38m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 2,038m. including 23m @ 2.5g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 2,053m.

HAD152W2 120m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,724m. including 20.3m @ 3.1g/t Au & 0.68% Cu from 1,781.7m.

HAD152W3 82m @ 2.7g/t Au & 0.21% Cu from 1,695m. 64.5m @ 2.8g/t Au & 1.1% Cu from 1,798m. including 13.5m @ 9.8g/t Au & 0.89% Cu from 1,843.5m.



At the Northern Breccia a new zone of high grade sulphide mineralisation is being defined within the ~200m gap between the current Northern Breccia and Eastern Breccia Mineral Resource volumes. This new zone originally intercepted in HAD093^^, 76.7m @ 1.9 g/t Au & 0.07 % Cu from 1,306.13m including 18.2m @ 10 g/t Au & 0.17 % Cu from 1,347.8m and HAD101^^ 92.5 m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.06% Cu from 1,296m has now been defined over a NW trending strike length of 100m in HAD098W2, HAD098W3 and HAD098W5, and remains open to the northwest. Drilling is ongoing to define the extents of this higher grade zone of mineralisation with the potential to provide incremental resource growth.

Results include:

HAD098W2 27m @ 1.9g/t Au & 0.19% Cu from 1,170m. including 12m @ 3.7g/t Au & 0.26% Cu from 1,178m. 39.3m @ 2.1g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,335.7m. 20.7m @ 3.6 g/t Au & 0.43 % Cu from 1,387.3m.

HAD098W3 15.4m @ 12 g/t Au & 0.27% Cu from 1,379.6m.

HAD098W5 106.2m @ 0.78g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,114.7m. 81.3m @ 3.2g/t Au & 0.29% Cu from 1,357.2m. including 53.3m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.30% Cu from 1,360.5m.



South East Crescent growth drilling continued during the quarter targeting higher grade mineralisation at depth below the current Mineral Resource. Results were received from 5 drill holes indicating an extension of Crescent style mineralisation up to 100m to the northwest of the current Mineral Resource between 4,100mRL and 4,000mRL. Additionally, HAD153W2 extended Crescent style mineralisation ~100m to the west of the current South East Crescent Mineral Resource on the 3,900mRL.

Results include:

HAD086W5 39.9m @ 4.6g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,401.1m. including 20.6m @ 8.7g/t Au & 0.13% Cu from 1,403m. 41.9m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.11% Cu from 1,491.8m. including 16.1m @ 3.9g/t Au & 0.12% Cu from 1,512m.

HAD086W6 110m @ 1.7g/t Au & 0.16% Cu from 1,337m. including 12.9m @ 3.5g/t Au & 0.49% Cu from 1,356.1m including 20.7m @ 4.4g/t Au & 0.10% Cu from 1,380.3m.

HAD152W2 20m @ 7.6g/t Au & 0.14% Cu from 1,453m. including 16m @ 9.4g/t Au & 0.17% Cu from 1,455m.

HAD153W2 21.5m @ 3.0g/t Au & 0.22% Cu from 1,663.5m.



Testing for system depth extents, HAD156 successfully intersected mineralisation 450m below the current Mineral Resource extents on the 3,400mRL returning 30m @ 1.5g/t Au & 0.18% Cu from 2,079m. Further analysis is required to confirm if this intercept links up to the South East Crescent, or Eastern Breccia, or if it is a separate zone, but it demonstrates the Havieron mineralised system has the potential to extend over 1,450m from the base of the Permian cover sequence.

Drilling to test geophysical targets outside of the known Havieron mineralised system, including evaluating the Havieron dolerite at multiple intervals north and south of the Havieron mineralised envelope revealed no significant intercepts from three drill holes (HAD157, HAD158 and HAD160). Three additional holes are awaiting assays.

Ongoing drilling is planned for the Eastern Breccia, Northern Breccia and camp scale targets external to the Havieron mineralised footprint.

Refer to Appendix 3 for additional information and Drillhole data table for all results reported during the period.





Figure 5. 3D Plan view schematic showing the spatial association of the South East Crescent, Northern Breccia, North West Pod and Eastern Breccia in relation to the current exploration growth target areas and the Mineral Resource extents. Also highlighted are selected previously reported^^ and new intercepts >100 gram metres (Au ppm x length) that have been intersected outside of the Inferred Mineral Resource. Intercepts are projected to the 4600RL.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_007full.jpg





Figure 6. 3D oblique view of the Havieron system viewed from the south-east, showing the position of high-grade intercepts (previously^^ reported and new) and mineralised zones >100 gram metres (Au ppm x length) that have been intersected outside of the Mineral Resource extents. Further higher-grade mineralisation and assay results continue to support incremental expansion of the Northern Breccia and Southeast Crescent, as well as extensions to the Eastern Breccia (refer to Figure 5 for spacial relationship of drill holes and zones).

To view an enhanced version of Figure 6, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_008full.jpg





Figure 7. Plan view schematic of a horizontal slice at 3900mRL through the Crescent Sulphide Zone and Breccia-hosted Zones, showing the extents of the 0.5 and 1.0 g/t Au LeapfrogTM grade shells with highlighted newly reported intercepts for this period. This diagram highlights >50 gram metres intersections drilled during the period, refer to inset diagram for relationship to all Havieron drilling.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 7, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_009full.jpg

Wilki Project, Western Australia, Australia

The Wilki Project is an exploration farm-in and joint venture with Antipa Minerals Limited (Antipa). The project area covers a strategic landholding of ~2,200km2 surrounding the Telfer operation and is adjacent to the Havieron Project. Newcrest entered into this exploration farm-in and joint venture agreement with Antipa on 11 March 2020. Newcrest currently also has a 9.9% shareholding in Antipa.

As previously highlighted, Newcrest has elected to proceed to the next stage (Stage 1) of the farm-in agreement following completion of the initial exploration expenditure commitment (A$6 million). Newcrest has the potential to earn a 51% joint venture interest in the Wilki Project through expenditure of a further A$10 million by March 2025 during Stage 1. As of 1 July 2022, Newcrest is now the manager and operator of the Wilki Project.

Cultural clearance activities commenced over priority areas during the quarter allowing access for soil sampling and follow up drilling will be ready for execution on completion of access.

Juri Joint Venture, Western Australia, Australia

The Juri Joint Venture is a farm-in and joint venture agreement with Greatland Gold with respect to the Black Hills and Paterson Range East projects, located within the Paterson Province approximately 50km from the Telfer operation and in proximity to the Havieron Project. The joint venture covers an area of approximately 248km2. Newcrest currently has a 51% interest in the Juri Joint Venture. Under the terms of the agreement, Newcrest has the potential to earn an additional 24% joint venture interest through expenditure of a further A$17 million by October 2024.

Drilling was completed at the A9 target and the initial hole of a planned two hole program was completed at Tama. Assay results are currently pending. Further work will be focused on the A27 anomaly in Black Hills region.

Western USA

During the quarter Newcrest entered into agreements with two separate companies in the Great Basin Region in North America. The Great Basin is a prospective region for gold deposits of multiple types including epithermal deposits.

Newcrest entered into four separate definitive option and earn-in agreements with Headwater Gold Inc. (Headwater Gold) and purchased a 9.9% equity interest in the company. Newcrest has the option to acquire up to a 75% interest individually in each of Headwater Gold's Agate Point, Midas North and Spring Peak Projects in Nevada and the Mahogany Project in Oregon. At Spring Peak, preparation is underway for diamond and RC drilling in the December 2022 quarter to follow up on promising gold intercepts completed by Headwater Gold in late 2021. Target definition work is currently underway at Midas North.

Newcrest has also signed an option and earn-in agreement with Gunpoint Exploration Ltd. (Gunpoint) to acquire up to 75% of the Appaloosa property located in Nevada, USA (with an option to acquire the remaining 25% of Appaloosa post the earn-in period). Appaloosa is an underexplored mineralised structural zone situated within Gunpoint's Talapoosa gold-silver project. Newcrest is currently performing target definition work including mapping, geophysics and rock chip and channel sampling.

Central Andes, Northern Chile

During the September 2022 quarter, Newcrest provided notice to Mirasol Resources and Cornerstone Capital Resources to terminate the earn-in agreements at the Gorbea and Mioceno projects, respectively.

Northern Andes, Ecuador

Planning is in progress for the second phase of scout drilling at the Gamora Project, located in southeast Ecuador. This work is being conducted by Newcrest as the operator under an earn-in agreement with Lundin Gold Inc. (Lundin Gold) pursuant to which Newcrest can earn up to a 50% interest in eight exploration concessions. The concession area covers strategic landholdings to the north and south of Lundin Gold's Fruta del Norte mining operation. The next phase of drilling at Gamora will focus on testing priority copper-gold porphyry targets starting in the December 2022 quarter.

Appendix 1

Brucejack (100% Newcrest): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling. HQ diameter diamond core was drilled on a 3m run. Whole core was sampled at 1.5m intervals except where visible gold was identified, in which case the sample length was shortened to 1.0 or 0.5m. Drilling techniques Core drilling was advanced with HQ diameter coring configuration.



Core from select inclined drill holes are oriented on 3m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 43,644m).



Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Brucejack Mine.



Digital data logging was captured, validated and stored in a GeoSpark database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to sampling the core. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.



Whole core HQ samples. Whole core samples were collected in plastic bags together with pre-numbered sample tags and grouped into shipping bins for dispatch to the laboratory by dedicated transport. Sample lengths were typically 1.5m, and weights typically varied from 11 to 15kg, with an average weight of approximately 12.5 Kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation.



All drill core samples were freighted by road to the laboratory via hired transport.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 accredited ALS Global preparation laboratories. Samples were dried at 600C, and crushed to 90% passing 2 mm, and split to obtain up to 1 kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM2) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 85% passing 75m.



Duplicate sample data are available from crush and pulp samples at a rate of approximately 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at ALS in North Vancouver. All samples were assayed for 33 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-OES determination (method ME-ICP61). Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with atomic absorption finish (method Au-AA26; with trigger to Au-Gra22 50g gravimetric overlimit method at 18 ppm).



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in the Geospark SQL database and verified as acceptable prior to formal use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality duplicates including replicates and preparation duplicates are captured in the Geospark SQL database and assessed.



Prepared pulp splits for mineralized samples were sent to MS Analytical Labs in Langley BC for secondary lab check work by comparable Au and ICP methods to ensure agreement with original results; check pulps were prepared for 20 samples, from 5 of the Golden Marmot holes, and overall a representative 5-7% of mineralized samples for VOK drilling was sent for secondary lab checks, including North Block Phase 4 and 1080 East level drilling. Comparisons are acceptable.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved. The database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.

The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core sampling. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled sample tags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure GeoSpark database with restricted access.



Sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the GeoSpark database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by review of visible gold identified in the drill core and review of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points All collar coordinates are provided in the North American Datum (NAD83 Zone 9N).



1080 HBx: Underground drill collar locations are marked up by the survey department with spray paint, and a back site and foresight are provided to enable alignment; Drills are then aligned by the drill contractor based on the markup and sights, and a TN-14 collar Gyro is used to confirm orientation prior to drilling.



Golden Marmot: Surface drill collar locations are marked with a stake, and a back site and fore site are provided to enable alignment. Collar locations are picked up using a Trimble 7-series differential GPS and a TN-14 collar Gyro is used to confirm orientation prior to drilling.



Topographic control is established from 2014 Lidar. Data spacing and distribution 1080 HBx: Drill hole spacing is 15m laterally. Assays have been received for six drill fans to date, which is insufficient for estimation of a Mineral Resource.



Golden Marmot: Drill hole spacing was at 30m horizontal spacing within an area of 0.75km2. The current drill hole spacing does not provide sufficient information for the estimation of a Mineral Resource.



No sample compositing is applied to samples. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drill holes at 1080 HBx are oriented towards 205 degrees in order to drill perpendicular to the broadly WNW-ESE oriented mineralization domains. Drilling at 1080 HBx intersected a mineralized structure oriented sub-parallel to Domain 20, hosted in the Eastern Promises Porphyry unit.



Drill holes at Golden Marmot are oriented towards either 145 degrees or 325 degrees in order to drill perpendicular to the mineralization domains which broadly strike towards 115 degrees. Sample security The security of samples is ensured by tracking samples from drill rig to database and by using trusted transportation services, and third party laboratories with security protocols.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Brucejack Core Facility. Geological and geotechnical logging, high resolution core photography and whole core sampling was undertaken at the Brucejack Core Facility.



Sample numbers are obtained from pre-made sample tag books, first ensuring no duplication of sample ID's in the database. Sample tags are inserted into labelled plastic bags together with the sample, and the bagged sample secured with a zip tie.



Samples were grouped in sequence into rice bags, then placed into dedicated sample shipment bins for transport offsite. Samples are transported by road to the preparation lab where transfer of custody occurs.

Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advice issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample shipments are recorded in a shipment tracking table and require offsite removal forms prior to leaving the Brucejack site. Shipping dates, Hole IDs, sample ranges, and special instructions are recorded with the dispatch of samples to the laboratory analytical services. Receiving laboratories have a workorder template of methods and duplicates by which to process the samples unless otherwise specified. Any discrepancies noted during sample login at the laboratory are communicated and addressed. Audits or reviews Due to the limited duration of the program, no external audits or reviews have been undertaken.



Internal verification and audit of Newcrest exploration procedures and databases are periodically undertaken.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Brucejack comprises 346 mineral tenures including four mining leases and is 100% owned by Newcrest Mining Limited.



All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Granduc, Esso, Newhawk, Lacana Mining Corp., and Silver Standard conducted exploration in the area between 1960 and 2010.



Pretium Resources acquired the Brucejack Property in 2010 and drilled the discovery hole at the Valley of the Kings in 2011. North Block and 1080 level were first drilled in 2020. Golden Marmot was previously drilled in 1988 and 2011. Geology The Brucejack Project is located in the Stikine terrane of north-western British Columbia, 50 km north of the town of Stewart. Early Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Lower Hazelton Group host mineralisation. A pervasive quartz-pyrite-sericite alteration event predates the main stage of epithermal mineralisation. Gold mineralisation at Brucejack consists of electrum hosted in vein stockworks, sheeted veins, and veinlets. Drill hole information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as length-weighted averages exceeding 0.6g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 7.5m of consecutive internal dilution. Also reported are intervals greater than 150g/t Au. Intervals below a cutoff of 1.0gt Au were not reported as significant results. No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the third release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since April 2022.



Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil. Further work Drilling is currently underway at 1080 HBx to complete the remaining 5 drill fans in the program. . Follow up drilling is also being planned for the Bridge Zone, Eastern Promises, and West VOK.

Drillhole data(1)

Brucejack, British Columbia, Canada

Reporting Criteria: Intervals are reported as length-weighted averages exceeding 0.6g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 7.5m of consecutive internal dilution. Also reported are intervals greater than 150g/t Au. Intervals below a cutoff of 1.0gt Au were not reported as significant results. Samples are from core drilling which is HQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being whole core sampled and sent for assay. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality.

Hole ID Hole

Type Easting

(m) Northing

(m) RL

(m) Total

Depth

(m) Azimuth Dip From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(ppm) Cut

off VU-4329 DD 426756 6257839 1087 444.4 205 -45 61.5 91.5 30 10 0.6















102 129 27 2.2 0.6















153 180 27 2.0 0.6















193.5 211.5 18 2.2 0.6















292.5 309.4 16.9 1.8 0.6















332 360 28 1.5 0.6 VU-4330 DD 426756 6257839 1088 372 205 -36.7 64.5 94.5 30 1.0 0.6















123 141 18 1.7 0.6















202.5 279 76.5 13 0.6













incl. 227.5 228.5 1 426 150













incl. 271.92 273 1.08 189 150















288 370.5 82.5 7.9 0.6













incl. 341 342 1 409 150 VU-4331 DD 426756 6257838 1088 407.6 205 -30.1 106.5 123 16.5 6.0 0.6















135 156 21 1.4 0.6















177 211.5 34.5 1.3 0.6















337.5 407.6 70.1 35 0.6













Incl. 361.5 362.5 1 2310 150 VU-4332 DD 426756 6257838 1088 365.8 205 -23.6 51 61.5 10.5 1.3 0.6















76.5 90 13.5 1.3 0.6















105 153 48 2.1 0.6















247.6 248.6 1 408 150















268.5 283.5 15 5.5 0.6 VU-4333 DD 426756 6257839 1088 282.2 205 -17.4 27 48 21 1.0 0.6















58.5 108 49.5 5.5 0.6















229.5 241.5 12 1.3 0.6 VU-4334 DD 426756 6257839 1089 267 205 -9.1 27 39 12 1.6 0.6















52.5 132 79.5 3.0 0.6 VU-4335 DD 426756 6257839 1089 234.1 205 0.2 46.5 94.5 48 1.7 0.6 VU-4336 DD 426756 6257839 1089 218.3 205 8.9 49.5 90 40.5 8.1 0.6













incl. 84 85.5 1.5 175 150















108 120 12 3.6 0.6 VU-4337 DD 426756 6257839 1090 200.8 205 17.9 24 105 81 2.2 0.6 VU-4338 DD 426756 6257839 1090 182.7 205 26.6 12 94.5 82.5 1.4 0.6 VU-4339 DD 426756 6257839 1091 125.5 205 33.6 11 24 13 150 0.6













incl. 12 13 1 1850 150 VU-4340 DD 426756 6257839 1091 110.8 205 40.5 49.5 75.13 25.63 88 0.6













Incl. 50.5 51.5 1 2100 150 VU-4405 DD 426810 6257848 1087 393.2 205 -37.3 179 286.5 107.5 3.6 0.6 VU-4406 DD 426810 6257848 1087 360.2 205 -30.2 22.5 37.5 15 1.6 0.6















98 109.5 11.5 16 0.6













Incl. 98 99 1 158 150















121.5 157.5 36 1.7 0.6















237 250.5 13.5 1.0 0.6















279 292.5 13.5 1.1 0.6















301.5 359 57.5 29 0.6













incl. 316.5 317.5 1 186 150













incl. 324 325 1 1414 150 VU-4407 DD 426810 6257848 1087 321.2 205 -23.8 26 27 1 152 150















58.5 84 25.5 1.6 0.6















108 142.5 34.5 7.4 0.6













incl. 140 141 1 235 150















206 207 1 480 150















291 304.5 13.5 2.4 0.6 VU-4408 DD 426810 6257848 1088 351.4 205 -17.2 9 30 21 1.6 0.6















43.5 63 19.5 1.2 0.6















220.5 234 13.5 1.2 0.6















316.5 351.4 34.9 3.1 0.6 VU-4409 DD 426810 6257848 1088 420.2 205 -9.2 7.5 31.5 24 21 0.6













incl. 16 17 1 408 150















55.7 56.7 1 1064 150















91.5 111 19.5 5.5 0.6















121.5 142.5 21 1.6 0.6















249 262.5 13.5 5.7 0.6















300 319.3 19.3 2.2 0.6















346.5 360 13.5 1.2 0.6 VU-4410 DD 426810 6257848 1088 336.3 205 -0.4 84 99 15 1.1 0.6















295.5 318 22.5 2.0 0.6 VU-4411 DD 426810 6257848 1088 300.4 205 8.1 31.5 78 46.5 3.4 0.6















216 226.5 10.5 1.6 0.6















261 283.5 22.5 1.2 0.6 VU-4412 DD 426810 6257848 1089 242.7 205 17.7 82.5 93 10.5 12 0.6















120 132 12 2.6 0.6 VU-4413 DD 426810 6257848 1089 221.8 205 25 4.5 21 16.5 13 0.6















39 70.5 31.5 2.5 0.6 VU-4414 DD 426810 6257848 1090 179.7 205 33.3 27 28 1 216 150















52.5 70.5 18 3.0 0.6 VU-4415 DD 426810 6257848 1090 137.7 205 39.9 5.5 6.5 1 1575 150















54 70.5 16.5 2.4 0.6 VU-4527 DD 426740 6257839 1088 447.1 205 -36.9 31.5 42 10.5 2.8 0.6















84 174 90 1.1 0.6















213 447.1 234.1 1.7 0.6 VU-4528 DD 426740 6257839 1088 429 205 -30.1 240 265.5 25.5 1.5 0.6















340.5 394.5 54 2.7 0.6 VU-4529 DD 426740 6257839 1088 441 205 -23.9 46.5 87 40.5 3.6 0.6















118.5 157 38.5 36 0.6













incl. 156 157 1 1315 150















370.5 406.5 36 2.2 0.6 VU-4530 DD 426740 6257839 1088 420 205 -17.5 48 145 97 1.9 0.6















230.5 231.5 1 1865 150















231.5 232.5 1 189 150 VU-4531 DD 426740 6257840 1089 410.6 205 -9.3 84 147 63 3.4 0.6















298.5 373.5 75 1.1 0.6 VU-4532 DD 426740 6257840 1089 413.7 205 0.5 16.5 121.5 105 2.0 0.6 VU-4533 DD 426740 6257840 1089 156.1 205 8.9 15 45 30 1.7 0.6















55.5 121.5 66 1.4 0.6 VU-4534 DD 426740 6257839 1090 212.9 205 17.8 63 112.5 49.5 6.5 0.6















147.36 158.06 10.7 58 0.6













Incl.. 147.36 148.36 1 611 150















198 212.9 14.9 1.5 0.6 VU-4535 DD 426740 6257839 1090 188.6 205 26.6 15 25.5 10.5 1.5 0.6















110 129 19.5 1.0 0.6 VU-4536 DD 426740 6257840 1091 161.7 205 33.3 103.5 123 19.5 1.1 0.6 VU-4537 DD 426740 6257839 1091 101.2 205 40.3 No significant results VU-4546 DD 426826 6257848 1087 243.2 205 -37 2 24 22 178 0.6













incl. 2 3 1 3876 150















62.2 63.2 1 187 150















118.5 138 19.5 2.0 0.6















165 222 57 1.1 0.6 VU-4547 DD 426826 6257848 1087 336.1 205 -29.6 78 106.5 28.5 1.9 0.6 VU-4548 DD 426826 6257848 1088 200.6 205 -22.9 175.5 186 10.5 2.0 0.6















199 200 1 157 150 VU-4549 DD 426826 6257848 1088 186.3 205 -14.5 92 111 19 1.5 0.6















156 184.5 28.5 1.9 0.6 VU-4550 DD 426826 6257848 1089 147.3 205 -7.9 0 1.5 1.5 451 150















84 99 15 15 0.6















130.5 145.5 15 6.6 0.6 VU-4551 DD 426826 6257848 1089 389.9 205 1.6 27 49.5 22.5 3.8 0.6















67.5 82.5 15 1.2 0.6 VU-4552 DD 426826 6257848 1090 300.4 205 11.9 No significant results VU-4553 DD 426826 6257848 1090 290.7 205 23 58.5 72 13.5 1.2 0.6















258 274.5 16.5 1.7 0.6 VU-4554 DD 426826 6257848 1091 101.7 205 34.1 60 70.5 10.5 5.0 0.6 VU-4555 DD 426826 6257848 1092 104.9 205 43.5 No significant results SU-872 DD 425479 6261832 1702 418.2 147 -49.8 No significant results SU-873 DD 425476 6261833 1702 433.5 149 -62.51 154.5 167 12.5 9.9 0.6















269.5 270.5 1 3010 150 SU-874 DD 425752 6261700 1770 191.7 325 -50.71 148.5 162 13.5 25 0.6













incl. 150 151.5 1.5 216 150 SU-875 DD 425752 6261700 1770 341.5 327 -73.89 183 193.5 10.5 32 0.6













incl. 190 191 1 328 150















202.5 216 13.5 1.5 0.6 SU-876 DD 425752 6261700 1770 369 352 -59.42 No significant results SU-877 DD 425752 6261700 1770 404 351 -75.76 195 207 12 1.8 0.6 SU-878 DD 425570 6261802 1716 361.3 146 -44.68 171 183 12 1.1 0.6 SU-879 DD 425570 6261802 1716 457.3 145 -52.05 100.5 192 91.5 9.1 0.6













incl. 138 139.5 1.5 514 150 SU-880 DD 425570 6261802 1716 376.3 146 -59.95 18 57 39 1.0 0.6















114.4 138 23.6 2.0 0.6















192 204 12 1.6 0.6















271 272 1 202 150















273.5 274.5 1 354 150 SU-881 DD 425570 6261864 1724 425.2 199 -45.3 97.5 109.5 12 1.2 0.6 SU-882 DD 425569 6261868 1723 379.9 200 -57.5 148.5 163.5 15 1.8 0.6















174.3 189 14.7 1.1 0.6 SU-883 DD 425757 6261639 1762 352.6 326 -75.7 92 93 1 275 150















313.5 331.5 18 4.0 0.6 SU-884 DD 425586 6261877 1721 364.8 146 -55.8 100.5 124.5 24 1.0 0.6















141 205.5 64.5 2.5 0.6 SU-885 DD 425828 6261612 1780 442.2 020 -50 Assays pending SU-886 DD 425528 6261807 1712 290.1 147 -44.4 40 93 53 2.0 0.6















126 166.33 40.33 2.6 0.6 SU-887 DD 425528 6261807 1710 438.1 148 -52.46 127 162.3 35.3 1.0 0.6 SU-888 DD 425528 6261807 1710 456.5 147 -59.96 66 112.5 46.5 16 0.6













incl. 77.5 78.5 1 488 150













incl. 99.5 100.5 1 236 150















180 192.5 12.5 6.9 0.6 SU-889 DD 425971 6261430 1764 394.5 22 -45.12 No significant results SU-890 DD 425628 6261869 1724 184.2 147 -44.99 84 163.5 79.5 1.1 0.6 SU-891 DD 425628 6261868 1723 280.5 146 -57.6 129 187.5 58.5 1.2 0.6















196.5 217.5 21 1.2 0.6















207.16 242.5 35.34 1.3 0.6 SU-892 DD 425628 6261869 1723 367.9 145 -70 Assays pending SU-893 DD 425542 6261893 1710 442.8 145 -45 Assays pending SU-894 DD 425542 6261892 1709 547.6 145 -55 Assays pending SU-895 DD 425448 6261452 1578 494 55 -45 Assays pending SU-896 DD 425447 6261451 1577 666 55 -60 Assays pending SU-897 DD 425754 6261643 1765 307.4 325 -65 Assays pending SU-898 DD 425611 6261796 1727 352.4 145 -45 Assays pending SU-899 DD 425611 6261796 1727 448.2 145 -52.5 Assays pending SU-900 DD 425611 6261796 1727 388.4 145 -60 Assays pending SU-901 DD 425972 6261430 1748 676.8 20 -75 Assays pending SU-902 DD 425569 6261695 1705 311.2 325 -55 Assays pending SU-903 DD 425570 6261694 1704 472.9 325 -65 Assays pending SU-904 DD 425828 6261614 1782 796.8 20 -65 Assays pending SU-905 DD 425356 6261511 1565 605.1 55 -45 Assays pending SU-906 DD 425289 6261556 1541 800.4 55 -60 Assays pending SU-907 DD 425697 6261727 1754 186.5 325 -50 Assays pending SU-908 DD 425698 6261726 1755 271.4 325 -80 Assays pending SU-909 DD 425447 6262038 1632 404.2 340 -50 Assays pending SU-910 DD 425453 6262036 1635 653.5 55 -50 Assays pending SU-911 DD 425450 6262038 1636 511.6 80 -50 Assays pending SU-912 DD 425321 6261829 1640 604.1 145 -50 Assays pending SU-913 DD 425223 6261823 1592 600.3 145 -50 Assays pending SU-914 DD 425419 6261916 1660 544.4 145 -50 Assays pending SU-915 DD 425419 6261917 1660 556.7 145 -60 Assays pending SU-916 DD 425462 6261903 1679 466.3 145 -45 Assays pending SU-917 DD 425462 6261905 1678 487.5 145 -52 Assays pending SU-918 DD 425462 6261905 1679 514.5 145 -60 Assays pending SU-919 DD 425502 6261902 1695 551 145 -57.5 Assays pending SU-920 DD 425062 6261988 1498 402.7 340 -50 Assays pending SU-921 DD 425487 6261961 1666 538.3 143 -51 Assays pending SU-922 DD 425486 6261961 1665 596.6 143 -58 Assays pending SU-923 DD 425718 6261800 1754 249 325 -50 Assays pending SU-924 DD 425514 6262026 1634 521 145 -60 Assays pending SU-925 DD 425532 6261958 1675 445.9 145 -45 Assays pending SU-926 DD 425533 6261957 1675 566.6 145 -60 Assays pending SU-927 DD 425853 6261724 1769 301.6 335 -50 Assays pending

# drilling in progress, **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept ^^previously reported intercept





Figure 8. Schematic plan view map of 1080 HBx showing the location of the four drill fans from this release, the previously released drill fans, and the additional planned drilling, relative to Domain 20 and Domain 13.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 8, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_010full.jpg





Figure 9. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_ELAT17_40 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 9, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_011full.jpg





Figure 10. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_ELAT17_39 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 10, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_012full.jpg





Figure 11. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_WLAT18_36 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 11, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_013full.jpg





Figure 12. Cross section for drill fan 1080_37_WLAT18_35 (as shown on Figure 8) showing all drill holes and significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (270U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 12, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_014full.jpg





Figure 13. Schematic plan view map of the Golden Marmot drilling showing the location of the drill fans and previous drilling.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 13 please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_015full.jpg





Figure 14. Cross section for drill holes SU-872, SU-873, SU-902, SU-903, SU-914, SU-915 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 14, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_016full.jpg





Figure 15. Cross section for drill holes SU-886, SU-887, SU-888, SU-916, SU-917, SU-918 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 15, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_017full.jpg





Figure 16. Cross section for drill holes SU-878, SU-879, SU-880 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/- 30m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 16, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_018full.jpg





Figure 17. Cross section for drill hole SU-884 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-30m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 17, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_019full.jpg





Figure 18. Cross section for drill holes SU-883, SU-890, SU-891, SU-892, SU-897, SU-908, SU-924 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 18, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_020full.jpg





Figure 19. Cross section for drill holes SU-874, SU-875 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (060U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 19, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_021full.jpg





Figure 20. Cross section for drill holes SU-876, SU-877 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (090U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 20, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_022full.jpg





Figure 21. Cross section for drill holes SU-881, SU-882 (as shown on Figure 13) showing all significant intercepts. Due to window size (+/-20m) and section orientation (090U) holes may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 21, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_023full.jpg

Appendix 2

Red Chris (70% Newcrest): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling. HQ and NQ diameter diamond core was drilled on a 3, 4.5m or 6m run. Core was cut using an automatic core-cutter and half core sampled at 2m intervals. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Core drilling was advanced with HQ3, HQ, NQ3 and NQ diameter coring configuration.



Core from inclined drill holes are oriented on 3, 4.5m or 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 20,925.8m in 27 holes - all holes intersected mineralisation, including orientation of key geological features).



Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Red Chris Mine.



Digital data logging was captured, validated and stored in an acQuire database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.



Core was cut and sampled at the Red Chris Mine core processing facility. Half core samples were collected in plastic bags together with pre-numbered sample tags and grouped in wood crates for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 5 to 10kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by road to the laboratory.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO 9001 certified and ISO 17025 accredited Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd Laboratory, Vancouver (Bureau Veritas). Samples were dried at 650C, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75 mm, and the split to obtain up to 1kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM2) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m.



Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation.



Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Bureau Veritas. All samples were assayed for 59 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method MA250). Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with ICP-ES finish (method FA350). Carbon and Sulphur were determined by Leco (method TC000) and mercury using aqua regia digestion followed by ICP-ES/MS determination (method AQ200).



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in the acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data.



Due to the limited extent of the drilling program to date, extended quality control programs are yet to be undertaken, whereby pulped samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.



The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled sample tags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access.



Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed. Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a RTK GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.025m.



Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner (Reflex TN14 GYROCOMPASS). Downhole survey was collected at 9 to 30m intervals of the drill hole using single shot survey (Reflex EZ-SHOT). At the end of hole, all holes have been surveyed using a continuous gyro survey to surface (Reflex EZ-GYRO).



Topographic control is established from PhotoSat topographic data and derived digital elevation model. The topography is generally low relief to flat, with an average elevation of 1500 m, with several deep creek gullies.



All collar coordinates are provided in the North American Datum (NAD83 Zone 9). Data spacing and distribution The drill hole spacing ranges from 100 - 200m in lateral extent within an area of 1.5km2 at the East Ridge, 1.5km2 at the East Zone, 1.5km2 at the Main Zone and 1.5km2 at the Gully Zone. An initial Mineral Resource for the East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone was released on 31 March 2021.



No sample compositing is applied to samples. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drilling of reported drill holes RC804W, RC805, RC805W2, RC807, RC808, RC809, RC811, RC813, RC814, RC815, RC816R, RC818, RC819, RC820, RC822, RC825, RC832, RC834, RC835, RC839 and RC844 are oriented perpendicular to the intrusive complex. The intrusive complex has an east-northeast orientation, with drilling established on a north-northwest orientation.



Drill holes exploring the extents of the East Ridge, East Zone, Main Zone and Gully Zone mineral system intersected moderately dipping volcanic and sedimentary units cut by sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Steeply dipping mineralised zones with an east-northeast orientation have been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Red Chris Mine core yard every shift. Geological and geotechnical logging, high resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Red Chris core processing facility.



Samples were freighted in sealed bags with security tags by road to the laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives.



Sample numbers are generated from pre-labelled sample tags. All samples are collected in pre-numbered plastic bags. Sample tags are inserted into prenumbered plastic bags together with the sample.



Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advice issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to the laboratory analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the laboratory analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Due to the limited duration of the program, no external audits or reviews have been undertaken.



Internal verification and audit of Newcrest exploration procedures and databases are periodically undertaken.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Red Chris (including the GJ Property) comprises 204 mineral claims including five mining leases and is a joint venture between subsidiaries of Newcrest Mining Limited (70%) and Imperial Metals Corporation (30%). Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited is the operator of Red Chris. In June 2022, Newcrest closed the acquisition of four early stage exploration properties from Hawkeye Gold & Diamond. The Todagin, McBride and Railway properties are expected to be added to the Red Chris Joint Venture.



Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited and the Tahltan Nation (as represented by the Tahltan Central Government, the Tahltan Band and Iskut First Nation) signed an amended and restated updated Impact, Benefit and Co-Management Agreement (IBCA) covering Red Chris on 15 August 2019.



All obligations with respect to legislative requirements including minimum expenditure are maintained in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Conwest Exploration Limited, Great Plains Development Co. of Canada, Silver Standard Mines Ltd, Texasgulf Canada Ltd. (formerly Ecstall Mining Limited), American Bullion Minerals Ltd and bcMetals Corporation conducted exploration in the areas between 1956 and 2006.



Imperial Metals Corporation acquired the project in 2007 and completed deeper drilling at the East and Main Zones between 2007 and 2012. Geology The Red Chris Project is located in the Stikine terrane of north-western British Columbia, 80 km south of the town of Dease Lake.



Late Triassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Stuhini Group host a series of Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (204198 Ma) diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes.



Gold and copper mineralisation at Red Chris consists of vein, disseminated and breccia sulphide typical of porphyry-style mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by diorite to quartz monzonite stocks and dykes. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrite-chalcopyrite-bornite sulphide mineral assemblages as vein and breccia infill, and disseminations. The main mineralisation event is associated with biotite and potassium feldspar-magnetite wall rock alteration. Drill hole information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.1g/t Au greater than or equal to 20m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.5g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (C) length-weighted averages exceeding 1g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; (D) length-weighted averages exceeding 5g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution; and (E) length-weighted averages exceeding 10g/t Au for greater than or equal to 10m, with less than 10m of consecutive internal dilution. No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Insufficient geological information is available to confirm the geological model and true width of significant assay intervals. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the twentieth release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since January 2020.



Earlier reporting of exploration programs conducted by Newcrest and Imperial Metals Corporation have previously been reported. Exploration drilling programs are ongoing and further material results will be reported in subsequent Newcrest releases. Other substantive exploration data Nil. Further work Further drilling is planned to define the extents of the East Ridge, Main Zone and Gully Zone.

Drillhole data(1)

Red Chris Project, British Columbia, Canada

Reporting Criteria: Intercepts reported are downhole drill width (not true width) Au >0.1ppm (0.1g/t Au) and minimum 20m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Also highlighted are high grade intervals of Au >0.5ppm (0.5g/t Au), Au >1ppm (1g/t Au), Au > 5ppm (5g/t Au), Au >10ppm (10g/t Au) and minimum 10m downhole width with maximum consecutive internal dilution of 10m. Gold and copper grades are reported to two significant figures. Samples are from core drilling which is HQ or NQ in diameter. Core is photographed and logged by the geology team before being cut. Half core HQ and NQ samples are prepared for assay and the remaining material is retained in the core farm for future reference. Each assay batch is submitted with duplicates and standards to monitor laboratory quality. Total depth (end of hole) is rounded to one decimal place for reporting purposes.

Hole ID Hole

Type Easting

(m) Northing

(m) RL

(m) Total

Depth

(m) Azimuth Dip From

(m) To

(m) Interval

(m) Au

(ppm) Cu

(pct) Cut

off RC804W DD/ 453877 6396985 1342 1684.2 147 -57 1458 1534 76 0.12 0.35 0.1















1554 1618 64 0.12 0.34 0.1 RC805 DD/ 453731 6396989 1364 1133.5 144 -58 1056 1082 26 0.13 0.04 0.1 RC805W2 DD/ 453731 6396989 1364 1330.1 144 -58 1276 1330.1 54.1 0.14 0.51 0.1 RC807 DD/ 453758 6396761 1375 1619.4 148 -58 918 1050 132 0.35 0.40 0.1













incl. 990 1032 42 0.61 0.54 0.5















1088 1430 342 0.27 0.42 0.1













incl. 1258 1298 40 1.0 0.88 0.5















1442 1528 86 0.12 0.20 0.1 RC808 DD/ 453753 6396582 1394 1442.0 148 -55 24 44 20 0.20 0.00 0.1















736 758 22 0.16 0.45 0.1















774 800 26 0.10 0.29 0.1















818 1040 222 0.44 0.61 0.1













incl. 888 922 34 0.52 0.81 0.5













incl. 936 982 46 1.2 1.3 0.5













incl. 936 964 28 1.5 1.6 1 RC809 DD/ 453826 6396816 1352 1812.2 146 -56 910 1050 140 0.22 0.42 0.1













incl. 1020 1038 18 0.52 0.93 0.5















1098 1346 248 0.17 0.34 0.1 RC811 DD/ 451453 6395327 1524 1043.3 147 -71 14 120 106 0.14 0.02 0.1















152 192 40 0.11 0.04 0.1















222 518 296 0.44 0.29 0.1













incl. 278 290 12 0.62 0.33 0.5













incl. 338 464 126 0.62 0.39 0.5















536 850 314 0.23 0.25 0.1















926 1014 88 0.14 0.19 0.1 RC813 DD/ 451622 6395868 1529 1198.4 151 -54 216 238 22 0.11 0.13 0.1















322 398 76 0.25 0.31 0.1















446 744 298 0.26 0.31 0.1













incl. 458 510 52 0.51 0.75 0.5















796 816 20 0.17 0.13 0.1















852 1198.4 346.4 0.31 0.33 0.1













incl. 910 944 34 0.58 0.37 0.5 RC814 DD/ 451528 6396040 1529 1289.4 149 -57 404 426 22 0.11 0.04 0.1















486 754 268 0.25 0.20 0.1













incl. 606 616 10 0.71 0.39 0.5















930 1020 90 0.21 0.13 0.1















1100 1282 182 0.22 0.25 0.1 RC815 DD/ 453889 6396750 1347 1634.0 149 -54 764 818 54 0.13 0.29 0.1















1230 1260 30 0.11 0.39 0.1 RC816R DD/ 453753 6396582 1394 1257.9 149 -48 842 910 68 0.15 0.33 0.1 RC818 DD/ 453208 6396916 1464 2019.8 146 -60 1454 1540 86 0.23 0.27 0.1















1648 1764 116 0.56 0.25 0.1













incl. 1648 1698 50 0.64 0.43 0.5















1790 1918 128 0.10 0.08 0.1 RC819 DD/ 453372 6397010 1462 2065.5 145 -55 1276 1610 334 0.35 0.50 0.1













incl. 1516 1540 24 0.52 0.74 0.5













incl. 1552 1608 56 0.83 0.80 0.5













incl. 1574 1596 22 1.1 0.93 1















1708 2010 302 0.24 0.35 0.1 RC820 DD/ 453285 6396970 1466 2069.0 145 -56 1296 1608 312 0.49 0.49 0.1













incl. 1406 1588 182 0.64 0.64 0.5













incl. 1562 1578 16 1.7 1.2 1















1658 1936 278 0.74 0.44 0.1













incl. 1658 1672 14 1.1 0.50 0.5













incl. 1684 1702 18 0.81 0.36 0.5













incl. 1796 1830 34 0.64 0.20 0.5













incl. 1870 1936 66 1.7 1.1 0.5













incl. 1882 1904 22 3.3 1.8 1













incl. 1916 1934 18 1.2 1.1 1















1950 1980 30 0.36 0.37 0.1













incl. 1952 1962 10 0.74 0.78 0.5 RC822 DD/ 451664 6395989 1542 1286.0 148 -58 432 506 74 0.12 0.23 0.1















518 590 72 0.16 0.25 0.1















610 674 64 0.27 0.32 0.1















692 820 128 0.11 0.13 0.1















916 964 48 0.33 0.14 0.1















982 1280 298 0.23 0.23 0.1













incl. 1020 1032 12 0.65 0.74 0.5 RC825 DD/ 453484 6396402 1417 932.2 145 -53 442 494 52 0.12 0.15 0.1















612 676 64 0.11 0.16 0.1















696 750 54 0.11 0.15 0.1 RC832 DD/ 451410 6396014 1520 974.5 147 -59 298 326 28 0.11 0.03 0.1















400 470 70 0.15 0.02 0.1















574 664 90 0.20 0.16 0.1















682 710 28 0.13 0.09 0.1















758 928 170 0.33 0.34 0.1













incl. 860 926 66 0.52 0.48 0.5 RC833 DD/ 451611 6396091 1529 1022.1 149 -58 Assays Pending/ RC834 DD/ 453146 6396417 1448 809.0 149 -48 464 490 26 0.12 0.13 0.1















534 702 168 0.17 0.11 0.1 RC835 DD/ 453083 6396913 1466 1808.6 146 -54 1295 1579 284 0.75 0.63 0.1













incl. 1323 1355 32 0.53 0.57 0.5













incl. 1399 1413 14 0.66 0.67 0.5













incl. 1433 1545 112 1.4 1.0 0.5













incl. 1459 1545 86 1.7 1.2 1 RC836 DD/ 453111 6396595 1442 2030.5 141 -65 Assays Pending/ RC837 DD/ 451474 6395925 1529 926.4 149 -60 Assays Pending/ RC838 DD/ 451473 6395924 1529 815.1 149 -50 Assays Pending/ RC839 DD/ 453807 6396678 1381 1409.1 148 -58 672 698 26 0.12 0.25 0.1















762 1194 432 0.22 0.4 0.1















1234 1276 42 0.11 0.29 0.1 RC840 DD/ 453667 6396944 1371 1979.2 147 -62 Assays Pending/ RC841 DD/ 453896 6397057 1098 1576.1 145 -48 Assays Pending/ RC842 DD/ 453733 6396993 1363 1754.0 148 -56 Assays Pending/ RC843 DD/ 453628 6396537 1403 1189.0 146 -53 Assays Pending/ RC844 DD/ 451701 6395891 1536 797.0 145 -58 234 262 28 0.11 0.24 0.1















276 350 74 0.12 0.27 0.1















398 422 24 0.20 0.31 0.1















500 730 230 0.21 0.20 0.1













incl. 564 574 10 0.82 0.54 0.5















742 770 28 0.20 0.10 0.1 RC845 DD/ 453628 6396536 1404 1085.5 145 -47 Assays Pending/ RC846 DD/ 453831 6397026 1352 1790.3 145 -57 Assays Pending/ RC847 DD/ 450864 6395158 1520 233.3 150 -63 Development Hole RC848# DD/ 453481 6397024 1443 1901.3 145 -57 Assays Pending/ RC849 DD/ 450966 6395181 1483 200.3 338 -60 Development Hole RC850 DD/ 451015 6394898 1488 200.0 146 -44 Development Hole RC851 DD/ 450908 6394856 1523 250.2 139 -68 Development Hole RC852 DD/ 450925 6394817 1524 229.6 125 -60 Development Hole RC853# DD/ 453109 6396596 1442 1386.0 154 -63 Assays Pending/ RC854# DD/ 453896 6397057 1096 1311.1 144 -53 Assays Pending/ RC855 DD/ 454037 6397102 1122 1214.7 148 -40 Assays Pending/ RC856 DD/ 451306 6395596 1435 1050.0 147 -59 Assays Pending/ RC857# DD/ 453253 6397066 1471 1286.0 146 -57 Assays Pending/ RC858# DD/ 451297 6395477 1457 782.2 152 -59 Assays Pending/ RC859# DD/ 453158 6397048 1471 584.0 149 -58 Assays Pending/

# drilling in progress, **partial intercept, assays pending. ^updated intercept ^^previously reported intercept





Figure 22. Schematic plan view map of East Ridge showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 22, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_024full.jpg





Figure 23. Schematic plan view map of Main Zone showing drill hole locations (Newcrest & Imperial) and significant Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases). 0.3 g/t Au, 1 g/t Au, 0.3% Cu and 1% Cu shell projections generated from a LeapfrogTM model.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 23, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_025full.jpg





Figure 24. Schematic cross section of RC811 (Section Line 12N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 24, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_026full.jpg





Figure 25. Schematic cross section of RC832 (Section Line 15N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 25, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_027full.jpg





Figure 26. Schematic cross section of RC813 and RC814 (Section Line 16N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 26, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_028full.jpg





Figure 27. Schematic cross section of RC822 and RC844 (Section Line 17N - as shown on Figure 23) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 27, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_029full.jpg





Figure 28. Schematic cross section of RC834 (Section Line 32N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 28, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_030full.jpg





Figure 29. Schematic cross section of RC835 (Section Line 34N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 29, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_031full.jpg





Figure 30. Schematic cross section of RC818 and RC825 (Section Line 35N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 30, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_032full.jpg





Figure 31. Schematic cross section of RC820 (Section Line 36N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 31, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_033full.jpg





Figure 32. Schematic cross section of RC819 (Section Line 37N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 32, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_034full.jpg





Figure 33. Schematic cross section of RC808 and RC816R (Section Line 38N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1 g/t Au, 0.5 g/t Au and 1 g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 33, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_035full.jpg





Figure 34. Schematic cross section of RC807 and RC839 (Section Line 39N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 34, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_036full.jpg





Figure 35. Schematic cross section of RC805/W2, RC809 and RC815 (Section Line 40N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 35, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_037full.jpg





Figure 36. Schematic cross section of RC804/W (Section Line 41N - as shown on Figure 22) showing Newcrest and Imperial drill holes and Newcrest intercepts (drill intercepts have been reported in Appendix 2 of this report, and in prior Newcrest exploration releases) 0.1g/t, 0.5g/t Au and 1g/t Au shell projections generated from LeapfrogTM model. Due to window size (+/- 50m) and section orientation (150U) hole may appear on multiple sections.

To view an enhanced version of Figure 36, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/142076_c8c59e7494a96824_038full.jpg

Appendix 3

Havieron Project (Greatland Gold Plc - Joint Venture Agreement): JORC Table 1

Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data

Criteria Commentary Sampling techniques Core samples are obtained from core drilling in Proterozoic basement lithologies. PQ-HQ and NQ diameter core was drilled on a 6m run. Core was cut using an automated core-cutter and half core sampled at 1m intervals with breaks for major geological changes. Sampling intervals range from 0.2 - 1.0m. Cover sequences were not sampled. Drilling techniques Permian Paterson Formation cover sequence was drilled using mud rotary drilling. Depths of cover typically observed to approximately 420m vertically below surface. Steel casing was emplaced to secure the pre-collar.



Core drilling was advanced from the base of the cover sequence with PQ3, HQ3 and NQ2 diameter coring configuration.



Core from inclined drill holes is oriented on 3m and 6m runs using an electronic core orientation tool (Reflex ACTIII). At the end of each run, the bottom of hole position is marked by the driller, which is later transferred to the whole drill core run length with a bottom of hole reference line. Drill sample recovery Core recovery is systematically recorded from the commencement of coring to end of hole, by reconciling against driller's depth blocks in each core tray with data recorded in the database. Drillers depth blocks provided the depth, interval of core recovered, and interval of core drilled.



Core recoveries were typically 100%, with isolated zones of lower recovery.



Cover sequence drilling by the mud-rotary drilling did not yield recoverable samples. Logging Geological logging recorded qualitative descriptions of lithology, alteration, mineralisation, veining, and structure (for all core drilled - 15,824m for 21 drill holes, all intersecting mineralisation), including orientation of key geological features.

Geotechnical measurements were recorded including Rock Quality Designation (RQD) fracture frequency, solid core recovery and qualitative rock strength measurements.



Magnetic susceptibility measurements were recorded every metre. The bulk density of selected drill core intervals was determined at site on whole core samples.



All geological and geotechnical logging was conducted at the Havieron site.



Digital data logging was captured on diamond drill core intervals only, and all data validated and stored in an acQuire database.



All drill cores were photographed, prior to cutting and/or sampling the core.



The logging is of sufficient quality to support Mineral Resource estimates. Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation Sampling, sample preparation and quality control protocols are considered appropriate for the material being sampled.

Core was cut and sampled at the Havieron core processing facility. Half core samples of between 0.2 and 2.0 m were collected in pre-numbered calico bags and grouped in plastic bags for dispatch to the laboratory. Sample weights typically varied from 0.5 to 8kg. Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralisation. Drill core samples were freighted by air and road to the laboratory.



Sample preparation was conducted at the independent ISO17025 accredited Intertek Laboratory, Perth (Intertek). Samples were dried at 105oC, and crushed to 95% passing 4.75mm, and the split to obtain up to 3kg sub-sample, which was pulverised (using LM5) to produce a pulped product with the minimum standard of 95% passing 106m. Routine grind size analysis is conducted.



Duplicate samples were collected from crush and pulp samples at a rate of 1:20. Duplicate results show an acceptable level of variability for the material sampled and style of mineralisation.



Periodic size checks (1:20) for crush and pulp samples and sample weights are provided by the laboratory and recorded in the acQuire database. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests Assaying of drill core samples was conducted at Intertek. All samples were assayed for 48 elements using a 4-acid digestion followed by ICP-AES/ICP-MS determination (method 4A/MS907), which is considered to provide a total assay for copper. Gold analyses were determined by 50g fire assay with AAS finish (method FA50N/AA), which is considered to provide a total assay for gold.



Sampling and assaying quality control procedures consisted of inclusion of certified reference material (CRMs), coarse residue and pulp duplicates with each batch (at least 1:20).



Assays of quality control samples were compared with reference samples in acQuire database and verified as acceptable prior to use of data from analysed batches.



Laboratory quality control data, including laboratory standards, blanks, duplicates, repeats and grind size results are captured in the acQuire database and assessed for accuracy and precision for recent data.



Extended quality control programs including pulp samples submitted to an umpire laboratory and combined with more extensive re-submission programs have been completed.



Analysis of the available quality control sample assay results indicates that an acceptable level of accuracy and precision has been achieved and the database contains no analytical data that has been numerically manipulated.



The assaying techniques and quality control protocols used are considered appropriate for the data to be used for reporting exploration drilling results. Verification of sampling and assaying Sampling intervals defined by the geologist are electronically assigned sample identification numbers prior to core cutting. Corresponding sample numbers matching pre-labelled calico bags are assigned to each interval.



All sampling and assay information were stored in a secure acQuire database with restricted access.



Electronically generated sample submission forms providing the sample identification number accompany each submission to the laboratory. Assay results from the laboratory with corresponding sample identification are loaded directly into the acQuire database.



Assessment of reported significant assay intervals was verified by re-logging of diamond drill core intervals and assessment of high resolution core photography. The verification of significant intersections has been completed by company personnel and the Competent Person/Qualified Person.



No adjustments are made to assay data, and no twinned holes have been completed.



There are no currently known drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data. Location of data points Drill collar locations were surveyed using a differential GPS with GNSS with a stated accuracy of +/- 0.5m for all drill holes reported.



Drill rig alignment was attained using an electronic azimuth aligner. Downhole survey was collected at 6-12m intervals in the cover sequence, and every 6 to 30m in diamond drill core segments of the drill hole using single shot (Axis Mining Champ Gyro). The single shot surveys have been validated using continuous survey to surface (Axis Mining Champ) along with a selection of drill holes re-surveyed by an external survey contactor using a DeviGyro tool - confirming sufficient accuracy for downhole spatial recording.



A LIDAR survey was completed over the project area in Nov 2019 which was used to prepare a DEM / topographic model for the project with a spatial accuracy of +/- 0.1m vertical and +/- 0.3m horizontal. The topography is generally low relief to flat, elevation within the dune corridors in ranges between 250-265m Australian Height Datum (AHD) steepening to the southeast. All collar coordinates are provided in the Geocentric Datum of Australian (GDA20 Zone 51). All relative depth information is reported in AHD +5000m. Data spacing and distribution Within the South-East Crescent and Breccia zone drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 100m, to 50 by 50m within the resource extents. Outside the initial resource boundary drill hole spacing ranges from 50 to 200m in lateral extent within the breccia zone over an area of ~2km2. The data spacing is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity.



Significant assay intercepts remain open. Further drilling is required to determine the extent of currently defined mineralisation. No sample compositing is applied to samples.



Drilling intersects mineralisation at various angles. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Drill holes exploring the extents of the Havieron mineral system intersect moderately dipping carbonate and siliclastic sedimentary facies, mineralised breccia and sub-vertical intrusive lithologies. Geological modelling has been interpreted from historic and Newcrest drill holes.



Variable brecciation, alteration and sulphide mineralisation is observed with a footprint with dimensions of 650m x 350m trending in a north west orientation and over 1000m in vertical extent below cover.



The subvertical southeast high grade arcuate crescent sulphide zone has an average thickness of 20m and has been defined over a strike length of up to 550m, and extended to over 700m in vertical extent below cover.



Drilling direction is oriented to intersect the steeply dipping high-grade sulphide mineralisation zones at an intersection angle of greater than 40 degrees. The drilled length of reported intersections is typically greater than true width of mineralisation. Sample security The security of samples is controlled by tracking samples from drill rig to database.



Drill core was delivered from the drill rig to the Havieron core yard every shift. On completion of geological and geotechnical logging, core processing was completed by Newcrest personnel at the Havieron facility.



High resolution core photography and cutting of drill core was undertaken at the Havieron core processing facilities.

Samples were freighted in sealed bags by air and road to the Laboratory, and in the custody of Newcrest representatives. Sample numbers are generated directly from the database. All samples are collected in pre-numbered calico bags.



Verification of sample numbers and identification is conducted by the laboratory on receipt of samples, and sample receipt advise issued to Newcrest.



Details of all sample movement are recorded in a database table. Dates, Hole ID sample ranges, and the analytical suite requested are recorded with the dispatch of samples to analytical services. Any discrepancies logged at the receipt of samples into the analytical services are validated. Audits or reviews Internal reviews of core handling, sample preparation and assays laboratories were conducted on a regular basis by both project personnel and owner representatives.



In the Competent Person's opinion, the sample preparation, security and analytical procedures are consistent with current industry standards and are entirely appropriate and acceptable for the styles of mineralisation identified and will be appropriate for use in the reporting of exploration results and Mineral Resource estimates. There are no identified drilling, sampling or recovery factors that materially impact the adequacy and reliability of the results of the drilling programme in place at the Havieron Project.

Section 2: Reporting of Exploration Results

Criteria Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status The Havieron Project is entirely contained within mining tenement M45/1287, which is jointly owned by Greatland Pty Ltd and Newcrest Operations Limited. Newcrest has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement (effective 30 November 2020) and Farm-In Agreement (effective 12 March 2019) with Greatland Pty Ltd and Greatland Gold plc. Newcrest is the manager of the Havieron Project and holds a 70% interest (Greatland Gold holds a 30% interest).



Newcrest and Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (formerly WDLAC) are parties to an ILUA which relates to the use of native title land for Newcrest's current operations at Telfer and its activities within a 60km radius around Telfer and includes its exploration activities at Havieron. The parties have agreed that the ILUA will apply to any future development activities by the Joint Venture Participants (Newcrest and Greatland Gold) at Havieron.



The mining tenement M45/1287 wholly replaces the 12 sub-blocks of exploration tenement E45/4701 (former part of the exploration tenement on which the Havieron Project is based) and was granted on 10 September 2020. Exploration done by other parties Newcrest completed six core holes in the vicinity of the Havieron Project from 1991 to 2003. Greatland Gold completed drill targeting and drilling of nine Reverse Circulation (RC) drill holes with core tails for a total of approximately 6,800m in 2018. Results of drilling programs conducted by Greatland Gold have previously been reported on the Greatland Gold website.



Drilling has defined an intrusion-related mineral system with evidence of breccia and massive sulphide-hosted higher-grade gold-copper mineralisation. Geology The Havieron Project is located within the north-western exposure of the Palaeo-Proterozoic to Neoproterozoic Paterson Orogen (formerly Paterson Province), 45 km east of Telfer. The Yeneena Supergroup hosts the Havieron prospect and consists of a 9km thick sequence of marine sedimentary rocks and is entirely overlain by approximately 420m of Phanerozoic sediments of the Paterson Formation and Quaternary aeolian sediments.



Gold and copper mineralisation at Havieron consist of breccia, vein and massive sulphide replacement gold and copper mineralisation typical of intrusion-related and skarn styles of mineralisation. Mineralisation is hosted by metasedimentary rocks (meta-sandstones, meta-siltstones and meta-carbonate) and intrusive rocks of an undetermined age. The main mineral assemblage contains well developed pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite and pyrite sulphide mineral assemblages as breccia and vein infill, and massive sulphide lenses. The main mineralisation event is associated with amphibole-carbonate-biotite-sericite-chlorite wall rock alteration. Drilling has partially defined the extents of mineralisation which are observed over 650m by 350m within an arcuate shaped mineralised zone, and to depths of up to 1400m below surface. Drill hole Information As provided. Data aggregation methods Significant assay intercepts are reported as (A) length-weighted averages exceeding 1.0g/t Au greater than or equal to 10m, with a maximum of 5m consecutive internal dilution; and (B) length-weighted averages exceeding 0.2g/t Au for greater than or equal to 20m, with a maximum of 10m consecutive internal dilution, and (C) intervals of >30g/t which are greater or equal to 30 gram metres (Au_ppm x length). No top cuts are applied to intercept calculations. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths Significant assay intervals reported represent apparent widths. Drilling is not always perpendicular to the dip of mineralisation and true widths are less than downhole widths. Estimates of true widths will only be possible when all results are received, and final geological interpretations have been completed. Diagrams As provided. Balanced reporting This is the twenty-fourth release of Exploration Results for this project made by Newcrest.. Exploration results have been reported by Newcrest since July 2019.



Earlier reporting of 
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. In context of higher education reforms the Armenian government is considering to launch an education institution for military officers, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

Pashinyan said that in any country the class of officers is one of the most important pillars of the state, and due to objective circumstances there are many officers in Armenia now who have an entirely different, non-military profession  an educator, a scientist or engineer. The PM said that this trend could lead to strategic problems in the long-term.

This has been an understandable and acceptable process since the first years of independence, but I think that after 30 years the continuation of such policy is problematic because the officers class is an entirely different phenomenon. It is understandable that due to needs we find solutions in many cases, thinking to solve the problem of the given time, but we are missing the strategic problem. In context of changes in the university system we are discussing the issue of creating an officers institution, which will differ from ordinary universities. It wont simply be a bachelors degree, but rather an educational institution preparing officers. This is a very serious and deep problem, a conceptual issue, an issue of the establishment of the state and formation of a state-oriented class of institutions. We must seriously think here. We had a consultation about this yesterday, and I have issued a directive in this regard. This is a highly important and sensitive topic, we must have very serious discussions in order to be able to make accurate decisions, the PM said.
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Sitka Gold Corp (CSE: SIG) (OTCQB: SITKF) (FSE: 1RF) a junior explorer developing gold, silver and copper assets in North America, will be participating in the TAKESTOCK Calgary Investor Forum, which will take place on November 2 at the Calgary Petroleum Club.

Mike Burke, VP of Corporate Development, will be speaking at 12:32pm MT on November 2. Interested parties can register to attend here.

Sitka Gold Corp's CEO, Cor Coe, will also be taking meetings throughout the day. Take advantage of the opportunity and meet your favorite industry executives.

Come meet senior management from companies across a wide range of industries: tech, industrial, finance and services. Market caps from $1M to $1B. Choose from a selection of presentations to help inform your investment choices.

To register and access, please follow this link.



About SITKA GOLD CORP.

Sitka Gold Corp. is a well-funded mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada. The Company is managed by a team of experienced industry professionals and is focused on exploring for economically viable mineral deposits with its primary emphasis on gold, silver and copper mineral properties of merit. Sitka currently has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the RC, Barney Ridge, Clear Creek and OGI properties in the Yukon and the Burro Creek Gold property in Arizona. Sitka owns a 100% interest in its Alpha Gold property in Nevada, its Mahtin Gold property in the Yukon and its Coppermine River project in Nunavut.

Sitka is currently awaiting additional assay results for 10 diamond drill holes from its recently completed Phase II summer diamond drill program at its RC Gold Project in the Yukon. Up to 1,500 metres of drilling is also currently underway at the Company's Alpha Gold Property in Nevada where a new Carlin-type gold system was recently discovered and where the Company is focused on vectoring towards the high-grade core of this system.

About the TAKESTOCK Investor Series

TakeStock Investor Series is the ideal forum for investors to connect with high growth companies. Its mission is to connect public and emerging private companies with key influencers and investors, providing a platform for networking, education and growth.

The series of forums take place each year, providing an excellent opportunity for a select group of companies to tell their story in greater detail. The forum features companies drawn from a wide range of sectors.

For further Information:

Mike Burke

Director and VP of Corporate Development

Cell: 867-335-5373

[email protected]



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/142078
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 27, 2022) - Sixty Six Capital Inc. (CSE: SIX) ("Sixty Six" or the "Company") have agreed with Northern Data Inc. ("Northern Data") on the final tax settlement regarding the Swedish VAT liabilities following the sale of the data centre in Boden, Sweden to Northern Data in March of 2021. The total amount is 1,921,669, of which 1,213,544 has been met by the release of funds held in escrow and the remainder to be paid by March 31, 2023. The Company has made an additional balance sheet adjustment to reflect the settlement and remaining liability.

About Sixty Six Capital

Sixty Six is an investment company specialising in crypto assets, which owns 338,273 shares in Northern Data, a high performance computing company which is one of the world's largest specialist HPC operators with facilities in Canada, the USA, Norway and Sweden. The shares are subject to a two-year holding period which expire on 9th March 2023. The directors remain opportunistic about further investments in Crypto, Fintech and AI assets.

For more information, please visit: https://sixtysixcapital.com/.

For more information, please contact:

David Rowe

Chief Executive Officer

15 Percy Street

London W1T 1DS

United Kingdom

Tel: +44 207 1268354

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

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Chinese State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 24, 2022. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is willing to deepen its relationship with Russia in all levels and any attempt to block the progress of the two nations will never succeed, China's senior diplomat Wang Yi said on Thursday.

It is the legitimate right of China and Russia to realise their development and revitalisation, Wang Yi said in a telephone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, according to the statement posted on China's foreign ministry.

(Reporting by Twinnie Siu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses heads of security and intelligence agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states via a video link in Moscow, Russia October 26, 2022. Sputnik/Alexei Babushkin/Kremlin via REUTERS

By Guy Faulconbridge

LONDON (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the world faced the most dangerous decade since World War Two as Western elites scrambled to prevent the inevitable crumbling of the global dominance of the United States and its allies.

In one of his longest public appearances since he sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, Putin signalled he had no regrets about what he calls "a special operation" and accused the West of inciting the war 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," Putin, Russia's paramount leader, told the Valdai Discussion Club during a session entitled "A Post-Hegemonic World: Justice and Security for Everyone".

"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 70-year-old former KGB spy was more than an hour late to the meeting of Russia experts where he gave a typically scathing interpretation of what he portrayed as Western decadence and decline in the face of rising Asian powers such as China.

He appeared relaxed over more than three and a half hours as he was questioned about fears of nuclear war, his relations with President Xi Jinping, and about how he felt about Russian soldiers killed in the Ukraine war, which he cast "partly" as a civil war, a notion Kyiv rejects.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the war, while the West has imposed the most severe sanctions in history on Russia, one of the world's biggest suppliers of natural resources.

'DIRTY BOMB'

The Russian leader blamed the West for stoking recent nuclear tensions, citing remarks by former British Prime Minister Liz Truss about her readiness to use London's nuclear deterrent if the circumstances demanded it.

He repeated an assertion that Ukraine could detonate a "dirty bomb" laced with radioactive material to frame Moscow - an allegation dismissed by Kyiv and the West as false and without evidence.

A suggestion by Kyiv that the Russian charge might mean Moscow plans to detonate such a device itself was false, he said.

"We don't need to do that. There would be no sense whatsoever in doing that," Putin said, adding that the Kremlin had responded to what it felt was nuclear blackmail by the West.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis in the depths of the Cold War when the Soviet Union and the United States came closest to nuclear war.

Asked about a potential nuclear escalation around Ukraine, Putin said the danger of nuclear weapons would exist as long as nuclear weapons existed.

But he said Russia's military doctrine was defensive and, asked about the Cuban Missile crisis, quipped that he had no desire to be in the place of Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader who, along with John F. Kennedy, took the world to the brink of nuclear war before defusing the situation.

"No way. No, I can't imagine myself in the role of Khrushchev," Putin said.

'DIRTY GAME'

Putin quoted a 1978 Harvard lecture by Russian dissident and novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who launched a frontal assault on Western civilisation, decrying the hollow materialism and "the blindness of superiority" of the West.

"Power over the world is what the so-called West has put on the line in its game - but the game is dangerous, bloody and I would say dirty," said Putin. "The sower of the wind, as they say, will reap the storm."

"I have always believed and believe in common sense so I am convinced that sooner or later the new centres of the multipolar world order and the West will have to start an equal conversation about the future we share - and the earlier the better," Putin said.

He cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second largest Eastern Slav country which he said had ended in tragedy for Kyiv.

Putin said he thought constantly of Russian casualties in Ukraine, but avoided getting into detail about what the West says are huge losses. But only Russia could guarantee the territorial integrity of Ukraine, he said.

Ultimately, Putin said, the West would have to talk to Russia and other major powers about the future of the world.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge/Andrew Osborn)
FILE PHOTO: A logo of Tesla Motors on an electric car model is seen outside a showroom in New York June 28, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two Democratic U.S. senators said they are "encouraged" by a reported criminal probe by the Justice Department into Tesla Inc over claims its electric vehicles can drive themselves.

Reuters first reported the investigation on Wednesday, citing sources.

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Ed Markey in a joint statement said they had "long sounded the alarm about Teslas misleading marketing practices, which overstate the real capabilities of its vehicles and put drivers and the public at grave risk."

The senators added that they would "continue pressing for oversight of (CEO) Elon Musk and Tesla to avert driver confusion and prevent deadly crashes -- and for accountability if any misconduct is uncovered."

Reuters reported the Justice Department 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, citing sources.

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.

Markey and Blumenthal are pressing regulators to more closely investigate Autopilot.

The senators said in February "complaints and investigations paint a troubling picture: Tesla repeatedly releases software without fully considering its risks and implications, creating grave dangers for all on the roads."

In June, NHTSA said it was upgrading its defect probe into 830,000 Tesla vehicles with Autopilot, a required step before it could seek a recall.

The probe centers on the performance of Autopilot after more than a dozen crashes in which Tesla vehicles struck stopped emergency vehicles.

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.

Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department, did not respond Thursday.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Mark Porter and Marguerita Choy)
Among the participations were emigrants from Ukraine, the Kosovan and Slovakian Ambassadors to Israel, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Benjamin Netanyahu and Nir Barkat.

JERUSALEM, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight, Thursday, October 27, 2022, an event in support of the Ukrainian people was held at the Friends of Zion Media Center in Jerusalem.

The event was attended by dozens of emigrants from Ukraine who made Aliya to Israel in recent months, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman; the Kosovan and Slovakian Ambassadors to Israel; Former Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat; and former Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Nir Barkat thanked Dr. Mike Evans and Michael Evans II, founder and president (respectively) of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center, for their work on behalf of the citizens of Ukraine. "Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, both Dr. Evans and Michael have been going to and from Ukraine, providing over 1400 tons of food, medicine, generators, and supplies for refugees in the war zones," Barkat said. "I believe that the State of Israel should stand by Ukraine along with the Western world, the USA and European countries."

Michael Evans II said, "When I see firsthand on the front lines the unspeakable pain that Ukrainian homeless refugees are experiencing, I know that what we are doing at Friends of Zion, as friends of the State of Israel, is so very important."

Dr. Mike Evans is the Founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, a number one best-selling author, and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for a lifetime of combating antisemitism. He and his son Michael have been working in Ukraine for more than a decade, feeding hundreds of Holocaust survivors and Jewish orphans. In the last year, Evans has been assisting in bringing Ukrainian children and Holocaust survivors to Israel.

In Jerusalem, Evans built a community center for Ukrainian Holocaust survivors, and beautiful apartments for them at the Friends of Zion Heritage Center campus. In addition, Evans and his son feed several thousand Holocaust survivors each week in Israel, along with organizing parties and events for them, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies at the Kotel for Survivors who never had the chance to celebrate theirs. Evans also sponsored this year's Miss Holocaust Survivor beauty pageant, at the Friends of Zion campus.

For inquiries, contact Tal Marom Spokesperson for FOZ [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931916/Friends_of_Zion.jpg

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SOURCE Friends of Zion
Recent contract, new customer installations, and marketplace listings further advance Anchore's presence in the federal market.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Anchore announced a $1.58M tactical funding award to extend its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract with the United States Air Force (USAF) Platform One (P1) program. The tactical funding award is to provide 12 months of work in critical areas that build on Anchore's deep expertise and institutional knowledge to advance P1 goals. With the award, Anchore and P1 will deliver new innovative capabilities for securing software supply chains.

"It is important now, perhaps more than ever before, to be proactive about software supply chain security in order to stay ahead of current and emerging threats. Anchore's role in this contract award is to continue developing technology that identifies and illuminates the constantly evolving software components that are used to compose critical infrastructure across a broad spectrum of programs," said Dan Nurmi, CTO of Anchore. "We're proud to partner with the P1 team and happy to see that this contract will continue into the future to help secure our nation's critical software systems."

"Anchore's partnership with P1 continues to advance software security across the Department through innovative technical solutions and modern, industry standard security practices," said Colonel Timothy Helfrich, Senior Materiel Leader, Cyber Systems Group, USAF. "P1's mission is to transform how the Department of Defense (DoD) delivers warfighter capability through innovative frameworks, collaborative culture, and secure software. Adversaries attempt to compromise our national defense daily, and the software supply chain is a growing attack vector. At P1, security is not an afterthought, it is the first thought. Anchore's industry standard software bill of materials (SBOM) formats help Iron Bank publish SBOMs for broad consumption and track for unexpected drift to mitigate supply chain risk for the Department of the Air Force."

In the Executive Order on Improving the Nation's Cybersecurity, President Biden encourages federal agencies to mandate the use of SBOM as a best practice to understand software dependencies and components to prevent malicious activity. Anchore's software supply chain solutions automate compliance checks with pre-built policy packs for U.S. government standards, including the DoD, Defense Information Systems Agency STIG, CISA, FedRAMP, NIST, and Center for Internet Security benchmarks.

In addition, Anchore's software container scanning capabilities are included in the U.S. DoD Container Hardening Guide and Container Image Creation and Deployment Guide to help federal agencies maintain a strong security posture when working with containerized applications.

Federal Footprint Expansion

Anchore technology is deployed across a wide number of DoD agencies and programs. Anchore's solutions are used specifically to identify and remediate critical vulnerabilities and malware, ensure strict adherence to government compliance standards, and improve the overall security posture of these and other critical aircraft and warships, conventional and nuclear weapons systems, and key intelligence centers and software factories.

Anchore Available in the Federal Marketplace

As Anchore continues to collaborate with federal agencies, its offerings are now available for purchase through the online government marketplaces of GSA Advantage and Second Generation IT Blanket Purchase Agreements (2GIT). Anchore's software supply chain security solutions can be purchased through contract vehicles at pre-negotiated rates and terms, enabling federal agencies to easily procure solutions to institute proactive cyber hardening and software supply chain security measures.

For more information about Anchore's secure public sector solution that automates compliance with stringent government security standards, visit anchore.com.

About Anchore

Anchore is a leader in software supply chain security and enables organizations to protect applications against attacks. Anchore technology embeds continuous security and compliance checks at every stage of the software development process. Large enterprises and government agencies use Anchore solutions to generate a comprehensive software bill of materials, pinpoint vulnerabilities, identify malware, and discover unprotected credentials that can lead to hacks and ransomware. With an API-centric approach, Anchore solutions integrate into the tools developers already use to detect issues earlier, saving time and lowering the cost to fix vulnerabilities.

Anchore is recognized on the Forbes 2022 list of America's Best Startup Employers. To learn more visit anchore.com.

Media Contact:Brandie Gerrishpress@anchore.com

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SOURCE Anchore
SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boviet Solar Technology Co. Ltd. (Boviet Solar), a leading global solar energy technology company specializing in manufacturing of PERC PV cells, Gamma Series Monofacial and Vega Series Bifacial PV Modules, celebrates the 35th anniversary of its parent company Boway Group.

Boviet Solar's parent company Boway Group marks 35 years in business.

Boviet Solar Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2013. In 2016, Boviet Solar was acquired by Ningbo Boway Alloy Material Co., Ltd., a subsidiary holding company of the Boway Group (formally known as Powerway Group). Boway Group, which was founded in 1987, is a multi-national, billion-dollars-plus company that focuses on multiple industries including new materials, new energy, precision EDM wire, precision machine parts, high-end sanitary hardware, and corporate capital. For more information about Boway Group, visit https://www.en.bowaygroup.com/

As part of Boway Group's portfolio of companies, Boviet Solar is the one of the largest PV manufacturers in Vietnam with 1.5 gigawatts of PV cell and PV module manufacturing capacity and more than 700 plus employees worldwide.

"Boway Group's 35th anniversary is an important milestone for Boviet Solar," said Sienna Cen, president of Boviet Solar USA. "As the solar energy industry has become more commoditized, having the technological resources of a company like Boway Group keeps Boviet Solar competitive. Capabilities provided by the parent company allow us to continue to grow, expand and deliver top performing PV modules to our clients."

Boviet Solar has maintained its position as a BloombergNEF Tier 1 solar module manufacturer since 2017. The company offers financial stability, technology know-how, manufacturing excellence and supply chain transparency. Boviet Solar's PV Modules are known for their power, performance and quality and have been rated as top performers on the PVEL module reliability scorecard since 2019.

About Boviet SolarFounded in 2013 in Vietnam, Boviet Solar is part of Boway Group and a global Tier 1 solar technology company that specializes in the manufacturing of Monocrystalline PERC cells, Gamma Series Monofacial and Vega Series Bifacial PV modules, as well as solar project development. The company works with IPPs, EPCs, project developers, solar installers, and contractors to deliver top-performing PV modules for utility-scale, commercial, industrial, and residential solar projects. With a proven track record of success working with many of the industry's leading players, Boviet Solar has maintained its position as a BloombergNEF Tier 1 solar module manufacturer and supplier since 2017. The company offers financial stability, technology know-how, manufacturing excellence and supply chain transparency. Boviet Solar's PV Modules are known for their power, performance and quality and have been rated as top performers on the PVEL module reliability scorecard since 2019. Boviet Solar has offices in the USA and Germany, and its global headquarters are in Vietnam. For more information, visit www.bovietsolar.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boviet-solars-parent-company-boway-group-marks-35-years-in-business-301661529.html

SOURCE Boviet Solar
BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Staypineapple, a hospitality company based in the Pacific Northwest, is pleased to announce the appointment of Casey Barks as Corporate Director of Marketing.

"We are delighted to welcome Casey Barks to the Staypineapple Family," said Steve Allison, Chief Revenue Officer.

"We are delighted to welcome Casey Barks to the Staypineapple Family," said Steve Allison, Chief Revenue Officer for Staypineapple. "Casey brings a wealth of marketing, communications, and public relations experience and extensive hospitality industry knowledge to his role."

In his new position at Staypineapple, Barks is responsible for developing, leading, and executing strategic marketing, public relations, and media planning.

Barks began his marketing career in San Francisco with the Ritz-Carlton Club & Residences. From there, he served as Marketing Account Manager for Andrew Freeman & Co. and as Director of Marketing for Tacolicious Restaurant Group. Barks then spent eight progressive years with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, culminating with Regional Director of Public Relations for the hotel group's Pacific Northwest Region. Most recently, he successfully led marketing, messaging strategy, PR, and media relations as the Marketing & Communications Director for Willamette Valley Vineyards and the company's subsidiary brands and labels.

Barks holds a degree in both Public Relations and Advertising from Northern Arizona University.

About Staypineapple

Staypineapple is a brand of upscale, out-of-the-ordinary boutique hotels in urban markets nationwide, owned and managed by Pineapple Hospitality, based in Bellevue, Wash. Focused on thoughtful service and design, with an uncanny knack for anticipating needs, the dog-friendly hotels wholeheartedly embrace the pineapple's symbol of hospitality and joy. For more information or to make a reservation, visit Staypineapple.com or call (866) 866-7977. Follow Staypineapple on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter.

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SOURCE Staypineapple
Census director of developer marketing recognized for her contribution to analytics engineering and data practitioner community

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Census, the first and leading reverse ETL platform that syncs customer data from data warehouses to key business tools, today announced that Allie Beazell, director of developer marketing for Census, has received an award as a 2022 dbt Community Champion from dbt Labs. The dbt Community Champions were named during the dbt Partner Awards presented at Coalesce, dbt Labs' flagship industry event held October 17-21 in New Orleans, La., London, England, and Sydney, Australia, as well as virtually around the world.

The dbt Partner Awards recognized practitioners within companies that belong to the dbt Technology Partnership Program, which includes dozens of companies providing tools and infrastructure to extend dbt Labs' capabilities. The Community Champions awards were presented to those individuals who freely share their expertise and insights to help advance the dbt community.

"The data community is one of the most welcoming communities I've ever interacted with," said Allie Beazell, director of developer marketing at Census. "It's so fun working alongside practitioners to build educational community programs and help them advance their careers, whether that's around dbt skills, proving the ROI of new data projects, building the managerial muscle, or helping folks network with their fellow community members."

Over the last year and half, Allie has been instrumental in developing industry support programs for data practitioners at Census and in the broader community. Census launched the Operational Analytics Club (The OA Club) in 2021 as a community dedicated to advancing the soft and technical skills of data professionals everywhere. The OA Club welcomes all data professionals and analytics experts and provides a forum to build foundational skills, learn from peers, network with friends, and share tools and techniques to further the industry.

This year, Census and The OA Club also hosted the first annual Summer Community Days, a two-day, community-first virtual conference of data practitioners and experts. The online event was created to elevate and center the expertise of the community's analytics engineers, data analysts, data-savvy business experts, and data leaders.

Building on the Census's community program, The OA Club will soon offer peer-to-peer mentorship programs, community ambassador programs, in-person meetup programs, and more, in addition to existing programming. All data practitioners are welcome to apply to join the community at operationalanalytics.club.

About Census

Census turns data warehouses into a hub for marketing and business operations, empowering everyone with trustworthy and actionable data. With its reverse ETL (extract, transfer, and load) tool, data teams can validate and publish analytics directly into all their applications in real time. Hundreds of companies like Canva, Figma, Loom, and Notion use Census to sync billions of records to empower their customer success, sales, and marketing teams. Census is backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Insight Partners, Sequoia, and Tiger Global. For more information, visit www.getcensus.com or follow @census on Twitter.

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SOURCE Census
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. On October 27, within the framework of the events of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the Speaker of the Senate of Olij Mazhlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva, the Armenian Parliaments press service said.

The sides documented that Armenia and Uzbekistan consistently develop the political dialogue, at the same time stressing that the potential of cooperation is not fully used, thus there is need for making additional efforts. In the interlocutors opinion, the key role of bilateral relations belongs to the parliamentary cooperation.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia highlights the development of cooperation with the colleagues of the parliament of Uzbekistan, as in bilateral format, so in the international parliamentary structures, which can be effective in terms of the systemized approach of voting and mutual support of the parliamentarians of both sides in the international arena, Alen Simonyan noted.

The colleagues highly appreciated the role of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly as an important platform dialogue and collaboration of parliaments.

The Speaker of Parliament of Armenia touched upon the manifestation of the Azerbaijani aggression in Armenia on September 13 and the events following it. He noted that Azerbaijan denies withdrawing its armed forces from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and returning prisoners of war, hostages and other held persons. We are resolute in building peace in our region. We actively work with our international colleagues, and we hope that the Republic of Uzbekistan will also remain part of it, Alen Simonyan concluded.

At the meeting a reference in detail was made to the Armenian community. According to the last data, about 80.000 reside there. The Armenians mainly are concentrated in the cities of Tashkent (50.000) and Samarkand (25.000).

The city of Samarkand as a crossroad of cultures, was inspiring our compatriot, Armenian impressionist and the Peoples Artist of the Uzbek SSR Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan. In Samarkan he created more than 400 art works. I would like to mention with pride the role of Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan in the formation of fine arts of Uzbekistan at the beginning of the 20th century. He took part in the creation of the Union of Artists and founded Association of Fine Arts Workers, Alen Simonyan underlined.

The Head of the Parliament of Uzbekistan requested Alen Simonyan to share advanced experience of our country in the World Trade Organization and in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

At the end of the meeting the sides conveyed invitations of official mutual visits to each other.
Backed by leading VCs, the popular fintech app supporting co-parents enters its next phase of growth

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onward, the financial platform for co-parents, announced today it has raised $9.7 million in Series A funding led by TTV Capital with participation from Lerer Hippeau, Citi Ventures, Correlation Ventures, and Gingerbread Capital. The funding comes on the heels of significant growth for the company, which is the only fintech app designed to serve the needs of divorced and separated parents. Onward has gained significant momentum with nearly 100,000 installs from those seeking relief from the tense, unclear, and often disorganized methods of managing money with their co-parent. The new funding will support growing the team and expanding its portfolio of innovative fintech products.

Onward's mission is laser focused on improving the lives of co-parents and creating happier homes for the next generation. Today, the roughly 50 million co-parents in the U.S. rely on messy text messages and emailed spreadsheets to keep track of shared expenses for their children, often leading to unnecessary arguments. The vast majority of these co-parents have no child support agreement in place, meaning that every expense is up for negotiation. Even for those who have a child support agreement, child support doesn't cover medical bills, extracurricular activities, and more, so they still end up going back and forth with their co-parent multiple times each month. Onward significantly reduces friction in communication for these co-parents and makes it easier to see who owes whom and pay each other back. The app also keeps a record of all expense history for children, pets, and other shared expenses, which can be exported at any time.

The fundraise signals Onward's hold on this particular market which continues to grow and demand tailored fintech tools for its highly specific and often emotionally-laden needs. It also comes in the midst of an exciting growth period for the company as it rapidly gains new customers and adds new members to the team, welcoming top talent from fintech companies including PayPal, Stash, Acorns, and Intuit. It will use the funds from its Series A to continue expanding the team, test new acquisition channels, and gear up for a major product launch.

"Money is the number one cause of arguments for co-parents, even in the most amicable relationships. Seeing my own parents get divorced when I was 14 gave me an intimate understanding of the difficulties that parents and their children face when it comes to difficult conversations about money," said Jacklyn Adele Rome, CEO and founder of Onward. "We're very excited and grateful to continue to have the support of our investors as we aim to address a significant and unaddressed need for millions of co-parents across this country. We're determined to continue to build products that reduce friction in their lives and deliver social impact by enabling them to be better parents to the next generation."

Beyond its financial products, Onward is also building a strong and uplifting consumer brand to empower co-parents in their next stage of life. Despite the fact that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, there tends to still be a societal and cultural stigma around it. Onward is looking to reframe that narrative, normalize co-parenting, and build a community that helps co-parents feel optimistic about the future.

"We always look for three things when deciding to make an investment: founder, vision, and opportunity. Onward checks all of those boxes and more," said Mark Johnson, Partner at TTV Capital. "Jacklyn and her team have dug into the co-parenting experience to design an intuitive product. We're confident that this infusion of new capital will enable Onward to build even more solutions that benefit co-parents everywhere."

"Jacklyn and the Onward team stood out to us in their early work with Citi Ventures because we saw how the company was tackling a massive gap in the market head-on with thoughtful, human-centric financial services," said Luis Valdich, Managing Director of Venture Investing at Citi Ventures. "We're excited to continue supporting Onward's growth trajectory as it enables co-parents to streamline financial discussions and focus on what matters most: their families."

"We've been glad to support Onward from the beginning as they build a first-of-its-kind financial product for co-parents," said Caitlin Strandberg, Partner at Lerer Hippeau. "There is a huge opportunity in this market, and Jacklyn and the team are just getting started."

Onward was founded in 2020 by CEO and serial entrepreneur Jacklyn Rome following her stints leading innovative new product launches at Uber and Blue Apron. The company was founded while Jacklyn was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Co-Created, a venture studio based in New York, with support and funding from Citi Ventures.

About Onward

Onward is a fintech platform designed to help co-parents manage shared finances for their children more easily. The app solves an acute pain point for co-parents who primarily send text messages or spreadsheets back and forth to track expenses for their children, pets, and other shared expenses. With Onward, co-parents can streamline the often tense communication about shared finances to enable themselves and their families to thrive. Onward is based in Los Angeles, California. For more information, visit https://www.onwardapp.com, download the app on the App Store or Google Play, or follow Onward on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Onward
Collide's Founding Partners, Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins, have helped build and scale two of the largest Black entrepreneurship ecosystems in the world, AfroTech and BLCK VC.

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Collide Capital, one of the largest Black-owned first time funds, is supporting intersectional founders solving the next generation of global challenges. Today, Collide Capital announced the close of its $66M Fund I. To date, Collide has backed over 40 companies, of which more than 80% are led by Black, Latinx, or Female Founders.

Collide is the first venture fund to be simultaneously backed by Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter, and is also anchored by the University of California Endowment. Additional LPs joining the fund include Bank of America, Citi, Northwestern Mutual, Bain Capital, Insight Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners, among others.

"At Alphabet, we invest in companies and people who are passionate about using technology to change how we live for a better future," said Jeremiah Gordon, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at CapitalG, Alphabet's growth equity fund. "Aaron and Brian are building a powerful ecosystem that connects us to the founders who are working to solve the next generation of global challenges, and we are excited to bring the resources of Alphabet to their diverse portfolio of founders. This Fund I is just the beginning for Collide Capital, and we're excited to see what the future holds for them."

Collide Capital's mission is to direct investment from leading technology and financial institutions to the founders most prepared to build generational companies. With institutional training from Goldman Sachs, Bain & Co, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Collide founders Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins want to give their communities of under-networked founders a sizable advantage through their connection to VC-funding, knowledge, and hands-on operational support.

"Aaron and Brian bring investment acumen and operator expertise to their portfolio, coupled with a demonstrable track record of funding diverse and women-led teams," said Jon Chen, VP of Corporate Development & Strategy at Twitter. "As Twitter continues to prioritize its investments in the teams, companies, and funds that represent diverse and underrepresented groups, we're proud to support Collide Capital's Fund I and join them in the pursuit for a more diverse and inclusive tech industry."

"Brian and Aaron are building an innovative venture capital fund that represents the future of the VC industry," said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Chief Investment Officer of the UC Regents. "Our investment in Collide Capital supports their vision, and we hope that students in the University of California system and beyond are inspired by this work. It's truly remarkable."

Collide Capital will usher in a new era of venture capital where resources and opportunities are directed toward the most deserving founders by backing a high-performing portfolio led by a diverse array of founding teams who have the lived experiences, courage, and grit to create solutions for the next generation. Samuels and Hollins believe great investors are strongly rooted in the communities they source deals from, and Collide Capital has proven experience building leading systems of change, including two of the largest Black tech ecosystems, AfroTech, co-founded by Samuels, and BLCK VC, where Hollins serves as a founding board member. Samuels also co-founded and served as COO at Blavity Inc., the largest global Black media company for millennials and Gen-Z.

"We believe that storytelling and community building are necessary tools to reshape the world into a more just and equitable place," said Aaron Samuels, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. "But after a decade as a poet and entrepreneur, I now believe that we also need one additional fundamental tool: capital. Collide Capital is a natural extension of the work that both Brian and I have been deeply engaged in, and allows us to place dollars behind the next generation of diverse founders."

"Collide is the culmination of a decade-long journey identifying and supporting the most talented founders we know," said Brian Hollins, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. "Aaron and I have spent years bringing recognition and resources to deserving innovators, and we're thrilled to now add capital to that equation to ensure those founders have the financial support they need to win."

To learn more about Collide, visit https://collidecap.com.

About Collide Capital:

Collide Capital believes that great founders are intersectional in nature and will demand that their investors will be equivalently so. Building off of the success of their top-quartile proof of concept fund, the Collide Capital team is now publicly announcing the close of their oversubscribed fund of $66M to invest in founders with the lived experiences, courage, and grit to create solutions for the next generation. Collide Capital is Black-owned and led by two founders under the age of 35, Aaron Samuels who co-founded AfroTech, and Brian Hollins who is a founding Board Member of BLCK VC.

Collide Capital is led by two Black GPs with institutional training from Goldman Sachs, Bain & Co, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Collide Capital is anchored by the University of California Endowment, and the first fund to be simultaneously backed by Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter. To date, Collide Capital has backed over 40 companies, of which 80%+ are led by Black, Latinx, or Female Founders.

+++

Media Contact: BAM for Collide Capital[email protected]

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SOURCE Collide Capital
EUREKA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowley signed an agreement with the Port of Humboldt Bay to exclusively negotiate to be the developer and operator of a terminal to serve as California's first hub to serve offshore wind energy installations.

"Clean, renewable energy for Californians took a step forward through our partnership ..."

Through Crowley's Wind Services group, the company will enter into negotiations with the port to lease and serve as the port's developer of the Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal. The services provided will support tenants in the manufacturing, installation and operation of offshore wind floating platforms, use of large heavy cargo vessels and providing crewing and marshalling services in the Pacific waters.

"Clean, renewable energy for Californians took a step forward through our partnership with the leaders of the Port of Humboldt Bay. Crowley looks forward to working together with the Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District to formalize a lease and development plan," said Bob Karl, senior vice president and general manager, wind services. "Through our collaboration, we can reach our shared commitment for sustainable development that gives the state and the nation a new source of energy that respects the environment and reduces greenhouse gas emissions."

This public-private partnership will support both federal and state government goals to develop more American offshore wind power and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Department of Interior announced on Oct. 18 that waters off the coast of Humboldt Bay areas will be part of the first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the U.S. West Coast on Dec. 6.

The State of California has set a goal to create at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. The Humboldt offshore wind areas alone are projected to provide 1.6 GW of energy, capable of supplying power to up 1.6 million homes. The federal lease auction also will include the Morro Bay area, which offers 3 GW of projected energy.

Utilizing a grant from the Humboldt County Headwaters Fund in 2021, the Port of Humboldt Bay developed a conceptual master plan for the site. That led to a $10.45 million grant from the California Energy Commission, to conduct of technical studies, preliminary design and pre-permitting activities. The Port anticipates completing permitting and design in mid-2024. The new agreement with Crowley focuses on a 98-acre Phase I, with options to expand on adjoining land in additional phases.

"This is a historic and transformational moment in the history of Humboldt County and the State of California," said President Greg Dale of the Board of the Port of Humboldt Bay. "Guided by the support and expertise of Crowley, the Port of Humboldt Bay now stands to be an international leader in the transition to renewable energy. The Port will play a critical role not only in the Humboldt and Morro Bay Call Areas, but in all future offshore wind areas of the U.S. West Coast.

"Within the next few years, this project will generate high-skill manufacturing and technical jobs, investments, and clean energy that will extend for generations into the future. And this project is just the beginning for Humboldt Bay, with the potential for additional complementary projects on other underutilized sites throughout the Bay."

Humboldt Bay will mark Crowley's second dedicated U.S. wind service terminal project. Design and engineering are underway in Salem, Massachusetts, for the Crowley terminal as part of a public-private partnership that will support offshore wind projects in New England.

About CrowleyCrowley is a privately held, U.S.-owned and -operated maritime, energy and logistics solutions company serving commercial and government sectors with more than $2.9 billion in annual revenues, over 170 vessels mostly in the Jones Act fleet and approximately 7,000 employees around the world  employing more U.S. mariners than any other company. The Crowley enterprise has invested more than $3 billion in maritime transport, which is the backbone of global trade and the global economy. As a global ship owner-operator and services provider with more than 130 years of innovation and a commitment to sustainability, the company serves customers in 36 nations and island territories through five business units: Crowley Logistics, Crowley Shipping, Crowley Solutions, Crowley Fuels and Crowley Wind Services. Additional information about Crowley, its business units and subsidiaries can be found at www.crowley.com.

About the Port of Humboldt Bay (Humboldt Bay Harbor District)

The Port of Humboldt Bay was established by the California Harbors and Navigation Code in 1970 with the express purpose to manage Humboldt Bay for the promotion of commerce, navigation, fisheries, recreation, and the protection of natural resources, and to acquire, construct, maintain, operate, develop, and regulate harbor works. Ancestral home to the Wiyot Peoples, Humboldt Bay is the second largest Bay in California and hosts a broad array of natural ecosystems and coastal industrial uses. The Bay has predominantly serviced the fishing, timber, and wood products industries, each of which will continue to play a critical role in the port's future. In 2021, the Port initiated a process to develop a world-class heavy-lift marine-terminal and green port development on a 170-acre site designed to serve as the West Coast's first offshore wind manufacturing, installation, marshalling, and operations hub. The District has committed to having a project labor agreement on the construction of the new terminal. More information about the Harbor District can be found here: http://humboldtbay.org/.

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SOURCE Crowley
The High-Quality Protein Provider Recognized Recipients of its Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program at the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis

SMITHFIELD, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier today, Farmland proudly announced the recipients of its Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program at the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. After receiving applications, 20 FFA students across Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri were carefully selected to receive grants valued at $1,000 each to fund agricultural and community projects. The donation is providing a total of $20,000 in financial support to empower students' goals and inspire growth in the agriculture industry.

The Farmland FFA Heartland Grant Program was launched this summer as an extension of the high-quality protein brand's second-annual Honoring the Heartland Tour. To demonstrate its continued commitment to partners in the industry, Farmland embarked on year two of its food truck tour to show appreciation to hardworking farming communities with grab-and-go meals, invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders, and support neighborhoods rooted in the Midwest through protein-rich food donations.

During the truck tour, Farmland served over 7,500 community meals to Heartland residents, donated $150,000 to FFA at the national and state-level, and provided more than 245,000 servings of protein to benefit Heartland neighborhoods. Farmland also teamed up with the National Pork Board and Luke Bryan's Farm Tour to supply truckloads of protein to local food banks in Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Minnesota, bringing the product donation total for this year's tour to an estimated one million servings of protein.

Over the past months, Farmland witnessed firsthand the extraordinary efforts of invaluable individuals and organizations working in farming and agriculture across the heartland, from local retailers to regional food banks and state fairs, said Jessica Scarlett, senior associate brand manager for Farmland. Were proud to further our commitment to the next generation of agriculture enthusiasts by providing $1,000 grants to 20 students rooted in the Midwest. Were inspired by the hard work and heart exemplified from this years grant recipients and excited to see what comes next.

Were constantly proud of the dedication of our talented FFA members and the enthusiasm they bring each and every day, said Molly Ball, president for the National FFA Foundation and chief marketing officer for the National FFA Organization. This generous donation will equip our students with much-needed resources so that they can stay focused on achieving their ambitions and making a valuable impact within the industry. We extend our sincerest gratitude to the team at Farmland for helping make this possible.

For more information, follow Farmland on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter @FarmlandFoods and visit www.farmlandfoods.com.

About FarmlandFounded in 1959, Farmland is the maker of high-quality, flavorful meats. Rooted in rich traditions of America's heartland, Farmland is committed to a strong work ethic, community, substance over flash, and wholesome, quality food that people feel good about serving. Farmland's robust portfolio of products includes varieties of bacon, sausage, ham and lunch meat. For more information about our products and recipe inspiration, please visit www.FarmlandFoods.com or follow us on Facebook (@FarmlandFoods), Instagram (@farmlandfoods) or Twitter (@FarmlandFoods). Farmland is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. With more than 60,000 jobs globally, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." and serve as one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

About National FFA OrganizationThe National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA FoundationThe National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agricultural education. A separately registered nonprofit organization, the foundation is governed by a board of trustees that includes the national FFA president, educators, business leaders and individual donors. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.

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SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc.
To date, Hagee Ministries has donated more than $100 million to Israeli and Jewish charities

SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, Hagee Ministries held its 42nd annual Night to Honor Israel at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. Several thousand people were on hand for the event. The two keynote speakers were founder of Hagee Ministries and Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Chairman Pastor John Hagee and Texas Lt.Gov. Dan Patrick.

Hagee Ministries Holds 42nd Night to Honor Israel

Pastor Hagee focused a substantial portion of his remarks on the rising tide of antisemitism in the United States, including efforts by some to use anti-Zionism as a fig leaf for Jew-hatred.

"Anti-Zionism is anti-Israel; both are antisemitic We will continue to confront the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people in any form, wherever it may be found," Pastor Hagee said.

During his remarks, Lt. Gov. Patrick echoed a similar note, stating unequivocally, "We will not stand for antisemitism in this state. We will fight it!"

Towards the conclusion of the event, Hagee Ministries donated $1.7 million dollars to Jewish and Israeli charities. The donations come on the heels of the ministry raising more than $7 million dollars as part of a larger effort to aid the Jewish Agency for Israel in rescuing Ukrainian Jewish war refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of the European nation.

Recipients of Hagee Ministries donations during the Night to Honor Israel included, The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Afikim Family Enrichment Association, Bikur V'Ezas Cholim, Emunah Israel, Just one Life, the Koby Mandell Foundation, Nefesh B'Nefesh, Save a Child's Heart, and the Women's International Zionist Organization.

Since holding its first Night to Honor Israel, Hagee Ministries has donated more than $100 million to Israeli and Jewish charities.

Hagee Ministries is an international Christian Evangelical Ministry led by Pastors John and Matt Hagee. John Hagee is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, a non-denominational evangelical church with more than 22,000 active members and is the founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel, the nation's largest pro-Israel organization. Matt Hagee serves as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church and is the sixth generation in the Hagee family to carry the mantle of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to America and the nations of the world.

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SOURCE Hagee Ministries
 New 44,000 square-foot fully integrated facility for development, manufacturing and testing of cell and gene therapies in Watertown, Massachusetts, offers end-to-end capabilities and one-stop manufacturing solutions 

WATERTOWN, Mass., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Landmark Bio, a collective endeavor launched by leaders from academia, the life sciences industry, and world-renowned research hospitals to accelerate development and industrialization of next-generation genomic medicine, today announced the opening of its state-of-the-art full-spectrum development and biomanufacturing facility in Watertown.

"Landmark Bio is a unique venture bringing together the best of academia, industry, and research hospitals to translate groundbreaking research into life-changing therapies," said Ran Zheng, chief executive officer of Landmark Bio.

"By fostering a strong cross-sector collaboration, we aim to solve three critical challenges in novel therapy development  capabilities, technology, and talent. We provide expertise in novel modality product design and development, innovative manufacturing technologies, in-house quality control capabilities, and best-in-class development, regulatory and supply chain management practices to enable fast to clinic with a line of sight to commercialization. We are grateful for the generous support of our founding partners, collaborating institutions and the life sciences community in Massachusetts as we push the frontiers of life sciences innovation to ultimately benefit patients," she added.

"This new state-of-the-art facility will bring together leading innovators from universities, research institutes, hospitals, and industries in the Greater Boston life science community," said Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D., provost, Harvard University, Mallinckrodt Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, professor of economics in Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, professor of public policy in the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and chairman of Landmark Bio's board of directors. "Landmark Bio will be a platform that enables groundbreaking ideas from our laboratories to be transformed into life-changing therapies. The work here will facilitate access to the most promising approaches to preventing and treating illness, thanks to advances in biomanufacturing technologies."

"This facility serves as a transformational development center for our talented research community to advance technologies that manufacture and distribute breakthrough therapies," said MIT Provost Cynthia Barnhart, who is a member of Landmark Bio's board of directors and the Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management Science and professor of operations research at MIT.

"This opening for Landmark Bio celebrates the collaborative spirit established by the founding members with the purpose of accelerating access to innovative therapies for patients," said Emmanuel Ligner, Landmark Bio founding director and president and chief executive officer of Cytiva. "Landmark Bio is gathering the brightest minds across academia and industry, along with leading clinicians, to develop immediate manufacturing capabilities, and to enable innovation and research."

The 44,000 square-foot fully integrated development and manufacturing facility includes laboratory space for translational research and early development, process and analytical development and technology innovation. The biomanufacturing area is comprised of eight cleanrooms for cell therapies, genome editing, viral vector, mRNA and lipid nanoparticle production as well as fill and finish and in-house Quality Control (QC) testing.

In addition, Landmark Bio provides wraparound services such as drug development and regulatory consulting, program management and other support services. The facility currently has about 60 staff members and will grow to more than 100 people in the coming years.

"The opening of Landmark Bio's biomanufacturing facility is an important milestone for the company and Massachusetts' world-class life sciences sector," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. "Landmark Bio's continued growth is another demonstration of how our Commonwealth's ecosystem of innovation and talent is positioning us at the leading edge of medical advancements."

About Landmark BioLandmark Bio PBLLC, a statutory public benefit limited liability company, or PBLLC, is a collective endeavor launched by leaders from academia, the life sciences industry, and world-renowned research hospitals to accelerate the development and industrialization of novel therapeutics. Inspired by recent advancements in cell and gene therapy, Landmark Bio was established to remove barriers in drug development, create accessible capability, expertise, and solutions, and offer a collaboration platform to advance manufacturing technologies for the new generation of medicines to come. Founding partners include Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cytiva, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies (FDB),, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Other collaborating institutions include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Mass General Brigham, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For more information, visit http://landmarkbio.com.

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SOURCE Landmark Bio
Angela Flaim, Wife of Late Galapagos Conservation Icon Juan Flaim, Together With Lindblad Expeditions Founder Sven Lindblad, Name 26-Suite Ship in the Galapagos Islands

National Geographic Islander II Hosts Marine Scientists In Galapagos Deep Sea Exploration Quest

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindblad Expeditions, the pioneering expedition cruise company that introduced international adventure expeditions to the Galapagos Islands more than 50 years ago, officially named their next generation, all-suite National Geographic Islander II this week in the awe-inspiring Galapagos Islands.

Honoring his visionary work, Angela Flaimwife of the late longtime Lindblad leader and passionate Galapagos conservation advocate, Juan Flaimpresided over the intimate ceremony that reflected the ship's spirit and soul as a vessel designed for deep discovery and supreme comfort. The ceremony took place in Black Turtle Cove, Santa Cruz Islandthe center of the Galapagos archipelago and the gateway to its wonderswith the ship's VIP guests, local dignitaries, company leaders and media surrounding the bow in zodiacs. Flaim and Lindblad Expeditions Founder, Sven-Olof Lindblad, symbolically smashed an environmentally friendly champagne bottle from the bow of the elegant 48-passenger National Geographic Islander ll, as guests cheered and raised a glass of champagne to toast to the occasion.

"May this ship be blessed with calm seas, curious minds, and caring hearts as her guests celebrate the beauty and wonder of these islands and Ecuador. I wish those lucky enough to sail with her, both crew and guests alike, experience the joy that is only possible when we explore life passionately," said Angela Flaim.

The occasion was also an opportunity to highlight the pillars and legacy that distinguish Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic, from its commitment to conserve the globe's most critical and breathtaking regions, to its assurance of carbon neutrality, from supporting local communities to preserving culture.

"This incredible ship is our mission in motion, exciting guests to what we know about this wild place and even more importantly, to what is yet to be discovered," said Sven-Olof Lindblad, Founder and Co-Chair of the Board. "As the pioneers in Galapagos tourism, our expertise and commitment to genuine engagement with this region's natural wonders provides our guests with extraordinary, life changing experiences, and a lifelong passion to protect these incredible and fragile environments."

Lindblad continued that he was especially delighted to be hosting local marine scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation and Galapagos National Park Directorate, in partnership with National Geographic Society's Exploration Technology Lab on this voyage. The research team is continuing a deep-sea monitoring campaign in the Galapagos Marine Reserve to assess the biodiversity and distribution of organisms and habitats on the largely unchartered underwater mountains that exist thousands of meters under the surface.

The last exploration campaign, conducted in 2019, uncovered two apex predator shark species that were previously unknown to be inhabiting the Galapagos Marine Reserve, as well as a kelp forest. This year, the team will regroup on National Geographic Islander II for ten days to re-survey the sites where key observations were made during the pilot study, as well as to explore new sites in search of yet unknown species.

Making it easy for guests to connect to the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic legacy of conservation and research, National Geographic Islander ll features a Science Hub outfitted with the capacity for underway oceanographic sensoring, an interactive video display, lab benches and seating for guests to observe this important work. Two suites are dedicated to Conservation and Community, and are designated for Galapagos community members, local and international researchers, educators, storytellers, and other experts on each voyage, providing guests with a deeper connection to people and place.

Named to honor the much beloved National Geographic Islander that she replaced and the remarkable islands where she sails, the all-suite National Geographic Islander ll expedition ship elevates the guest experience with teak decks that gracefully connect the indoor and outdoor spaces, a well-outfitted observation deck, indoor-outdoor dining options, 26 large and airy suites, and purpose-built expedition amenities including a marina for snorkeling gear storage and easy Zodiac embarkation. Designed for active exploration, National Geographic Islander II carries a fleet of kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, a custom-built glass bottom Zodiac and flotilla of versatile Mark V Zodiacs to provide the adventures that are at the heart of every Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic voyage.

Celebrating Lindblad's deep connection to the Galapagos islands, Ecuador and its people, National Geographic Islander ll offers a carefully considered food and beverage program that is a first-of-a-kind in the region, highlighting the four regions of Ecuador with ingredients sourced directly from local farmers. The ship further offers artwork, decor and music created by local artists and artisans, plus spa treatments infused with local ingredients, ensuring guests experience the beauty, warm hospitality and wonder of Ecuador on and off the ship.

For reservations or additional information on Lindblad Expeditions voyages to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on Earth, visit www.expeditions.com, call (855-734-3271) or contact your travel advisor. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

Editor's Note: Image Gallery (photos can only to be used in conjunction with promoting Lindblad Expeditions and must include photographer copyright information, included on the enclosed contact sheet).

About Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions is a pioneer and global leader in journeys of deep discovery, providing immersive and authentic ship expeditions to the world's most remarkable destinations. Lindblad offers 100% carbon neutral trips that highlight nature, preserve culture and support local communities and artisans. In partnership with National Geographic, Lindblad delivers unmatched expertise, bringing together leading scientists, naturalists and researchers to inspire travelers, highlighting moments that elevate the soul, fostering a lifelong passion for the planet and its people.

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SOURCE Lindblad Expeditions
TAIPEI, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As countries reopen their borders for international travel with global vaccination coverage on the rise, the world is slowly returning to pre-pandemic activity levels since the COVID-19 outbreak nearly 3 years ago. Needless to say, personal protective equipment (PPE) must remain in place for most people to return to their pre-pandemic lives. The world's leading PPE brand, Medtecs International Corporation Limited (Medtecs), will once again participate in MEDICA in Dusseldorf, Germany on November 14-17 and at Expoprotection in Paris, France through November 15-17, to demonstrate its readiness and strength in coping with new and changing protection demands.

In these two upcoming exhibitions, Medtecs will be showcasing its excellent medical protection equipment designs and manufacturing capacity, as well as its comprehensive product lines, which cover all protection levels and cater to the needs of medical institutions. This year, Medtecs also plans to introduce its latest collection of scrub suits, together with its OMO acne patch, which is equipped with the patented peel-and-stick design, and medical-grade nitrile gloves. Through these exhibitions, Medtecs will share its extensive experience and know-hows in the healthcare industry, and its strengths and efforts in disease prevention and control.

For more than 40 years, MEDICA has been recognized as the world's largest medical trade fair covering virtually every aspect of the medical industry from outpatient clinic to home/remote care to laboratory science. Each year, thousands of industry players and experts around the world gather to discover the latest medical technology. At a similar scale, Expoprotection is one of the world's largest exhibitions for security protection, work safety, and fire safety solutions. The event is held biennially and draws a constant participation of nearly 800 reputable global businesses.

Medtecs, a professional manufacturer of PPE and medical consumables headquartered in Taiwan with more than 30 years of manufacturing experience, will be taking this opportunity to expand its presence on the world stage by advocating its five main capabilities:

Complete and diverse product lines  Medtecs' current product lines include PPE, medical and surgical consumables, workwear and textile, and consumer health, with products ranging from nitrile gloves, isolation gowns, surgical gowns, and coveralls to face masks, scrub suits, bed sheets, disinfectants, and wound care. World's largest capacity in seam tape processing  With it, Medtecs is able to meet the increasing demands for protective equipment with resistance to liquid and viral penetration. Globalized supply chain and stable output  Medtecs had expanded its production, logistics, and warehousing facilities to the US in 2020, and at the same time made further optimizations to the production process and delivery service so as to minimize risks of supply chain disruption, guarantee access to raw materials and ensure timely delivery of products to serve different markets. International certifications  Medtecs' products conform to international standards, including those of Taiwan, the US, Europe, and are rigorously tested to ensure quality, safety and optimal effectiveness. In-depth experience in serving national health institutions  Medtecs has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and supplying medical goods, and has earned an extensive track record in serving major healthcare institutions in the US, Singapore, and the Philippines, in line with its mission to bring safe and effective medical and protective supplies to people around the world.

The main products to be showcased during the exhibitions are as follows:

Personal Protective Equpiment:

Medtecs' coveralls and isolation gowns, part of the CoverU collection, are made with a combination of nonwoven material and polyethylene film. With Medtecs' professional seam tape processing, the seams are sealed against the fabric to further prevent liquid from passing through. This effectively shields healthcare workers from contact with contagious bodily fluids.

Nitrile Gloves:

Nitrile gloves are the newest addition to Medtecs' comprehensive product portfolio. The automated factory, based in Cambodia, began mass production in September. The main raw material used in these gloves, NBR latex, has good abrasion and puncture resistance and does not contain allergens found in natural latex, eliminating the risk of latex allergies. Currently the factory has the production capacity of approximately 50 million pieces of gloves per month, or 600 million pieces per year.

Scrub Suits:

The elastic scrub suits designed specifically for healthcare personnel are available in different colors and come in V-neck and U-neck styles. Featuring specialized materials and new functional designs, the scrubs provide healthcare personnel with the safety, practicality, durability, and visual appeal they need to perform various work assignments.

Workwear:

Apart from medical protection, Medtecs also supplies workwear such as jackets, lab coats, and bib and brace overalls to protect workers on duty.

Acne Patch:

The new "OMO Acne Patch" is Medtecs' first hydrocolloid offering. Featuring a patented design, the acne patch can be easily applied and peeled off to prevent the affected area from bacterial infection. It also absorbs pus to speed up recovery.

Exhibition details:

MEDICA 2022

Venue: Messe Dusseldorf

Booth name: MEDTECS (TAIWAN) CORPORATION

Booth ID: Hall 7a, B57-7

Date and time of exhibition: 10:00-18:00, November 14-17, 2022

EXPOPROTECTION 2022

Venue: Paris Expo Porte de Versailles

Booth name: Medtecs (Taiwan) Corp.

Booth ID: Hall 1, Aisle S, Stand number 102

Date and time of exhibition: 09:00-18:00, November 15-16, 2022; 09:00-17:00, November 17, 2022

About Medtecs

Medtecs International Corporation Limited (the "Company" or "Medtecs") is the world's leading provider and distributor of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a trusted multi-national PPE stockpiling solutions provider to governments and group purchasing organizations around the world.Medtecs and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Group") commenced operations in 1989 and has since established a strong presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

The Group has offices and facilities spanning across Asia including Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines, mainland China, Cambodia, and the United States of America for expansion into the global domestic PPE and medical consumables market. Currently, the Group's headquarters is located in Taipei, Taiwan.

Medtecs is dual-listed on Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX: 546) and Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE: 9103).

Official Website: https://www.medtecs.com/

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SOURCE Medtecs International Corporation Limited
TSX and OTC: MPVD

TORONTO and NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. ("Mountain Province", the "Company") (TSX: MPVD) (OTCQX: MPVD) today announces production and sales results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2022 ("the Quarter" or "Q3 2022") from the Gahcho Kue Diamond Mine ("GK Mine"). All figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Q3 Sales Highlights

Highest Quarterly Revenue in Company History. Total proceeds of $111M representing the highest quarterly revenue in the Company's history, and a 9% increase relative to that achieved in Q2 2022.

Total proceeds of $111M representing the highest quarterly revenue in the Company's history, and a 9% increase relative to that achieved in Q2 2022. Quarter-on-quarter 37% Increase in Carats Sold. The Company sold 805,227 carats in Q3 2022, a 37% increase relative to Q2 2022.

The Company sold 805,227 carats in Q3 2022, a 37% increase relative to Q2 2022. Q3 production of 1,451,453 carats, which is 22% better than Q1, 2022 and 15% better than Q2, 2022.

Mark Wall, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"After a disappointing production performance in Q1 and into Q2, an action plan was developed to drive operational and safety improvements at the mine. The safety performance was however further impacted by a workplace fatality in early September. Workplace fatalities have no place in our industry and ensuring a safe workplace is a primary focus. On production, Q3 was stronger than both Q1 and Q2 and the action plan in place is incrementally delivering the required improvements. This improving production performance, coupled with our very strong financial performance during the quarter places the Company in a strong position as we enter the final quarter of the year.

We have also recently announced our refinancing solution with a net US$190 million in private second lien notes from our existing bondholders at a coupon of 9%, with further details within the associated press release. From discussions with several shareholders there was a concern that there would be a large equity issue with this refinancing, I am very happy to report that our three main existing bondholders have presented a refinancing package that features no equity dilution of existing shareholders."

Q3 Production Takeaways

816,201 ore tonnes treated, an 2% decrease relative to Q3 2021, and a 9% increase relative to Q2 2022 (Q3 2021: 832,511 tonnes treated; Q2 2022, 749,821 tonnes treated)

1,451,455 carats recovered, 7% lower than Q3 2021, and a 15% increase relative to Q2 2022 (Q3 2021: 1,562,105 carats recovered, Q2 2022: 1,260,899 carats recovered)

Average grade of 1.78 carats per tonne, a 5% decrease relative to Q3 2021, and 6% higher than to Q2 2022 (Q3 2021: 1.88 carats per tonne, Q2 2022: 1.68 carats per tonne)

Q3 2022 Production Figures 2022 Q3 2021 Q3 YoY Variance Total tonnes mined (ore and waste) 7,753,629 10,280,749 -25 % Ore tonnes mined 1,345,654 1,033,461 30 % Ore tonnes treated 816,201 832,511 -2 % Carats recovered 1,451,455 1,562,105 -7 % Carats recovered (49% share) 711,213 765,431 -7 % Recovered grade (carats per tonne) 1.78 1.88 -5 %

Q3 Sales Performance

Though rough diamond market prices have stabilized compared to the strong gains achieved in H1 2022, the Company's sales continue to show resiliency. During the quarter 805,227 carats were sold for total proceeds of C$110.6 million (US$83.3 million), resulting in an average value of C$137 per carat (US$103 per carat). This Q3/22 sales result represents a 13% increase in revenue relative to Q2/22, and a 10% reduction on an US$ average value per carat basis. Adjusting for mix of goods sold, on a like-for-like basis the Q3/22 sales result represented a 2% increase in average value per carat relative to Q2/22.

About Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.

Mountain Province Diamonds is a 49% participant with De Beers Canada in the Gahcho Kue diamond mine located in Canada's Northwest Territories. The Gahcho Kue Joint Venture property consists of several kimberlites that are actively being mined, developed, and explored for future development. The Company also controls 107,373 hectares of highly prospective mineral claims and leases surrounding the Gahcho Kue Mine that include an Indicated mineral resource for the Kelvin kimberlite and Inferred mineral resources for the Faraday kimberlites. Kelvin is estimated to contain 13.62 million carats (Mct) in 8.50 million tonnes (Mt) at a grade of 1.60 carats/tonne and value of US$63/carat. Faraday 2 is estimated to contain 5.45Mct in 2.07Mt at a grade of 2.63 carats/tonne and value of US$140/ct. Faraday 1-3 is estimated to contain 1.90Mct in 1.87Mt at a grade of 1.04 carats/tonne and value of US$75/carat. All resource estimations are based on a 1mm diamond size bottom cut-off.

For further information on Mountain Province Diamonds and to receive news releases by email, visit the Company's website at www.mountainprovince.com.

Caution Regarding Forward Looking InformationThis news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and United States securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to operational hazards, including possible disruption due to pandemic such as COVID-19, its impact on travel, self-isolation protocols and business and operations, estimated production and mine life of the project of Mountain Province; the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; the future price of diamonds; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; the ability to manage debt; capital expenditures; the ability to obtain permits for operations; liquidity; tax rates; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Mountain Province, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be", "potential" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Mountain Province and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include the development of operation hazards which could arise in relation to COVID-19, including, but not limited to protocols which may be adopted to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and any impact of such protocols on Mountain Province's business and operations, variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, changes in project parameters, mine sequencing; production rates; cash flow; risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; supply of, and demand for, diamonds; fluctuating commodity prices and currency exchange rates, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Mountain Province's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent MD&A filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Mountain Province cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Mountain Province believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Although Mountain Province has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Mountain Province undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered as the property is developed. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability.

Further, Mountain Province may make changes to its business plans that could affect its results. The principal assets of Mountain Province are administered pursuant to a joint venture under which Mountain Province is not the operator. Mountain Province is exposed to actions taken or omissions made by the operator within its prerogative and/or determinations made by the joint venture under its terms. Such actions or omissions may impact the future performance of Mountain Province. Under its current note and revolving credit facilities Mountain Province is subject to certain limitations on its ability to pay dividends on common stock. The declaration of dividends is at the discretion of Mountain Province's Board of Directors, subject to the limitations under the Company's debt facilities, and will depend on Mountain Province's financial results, cash requirements, future prospects, and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.

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SOURCE Mountain Province Diamonds Inc.
North County artist Taylor Chapin debuts colorful and quirky hand-painted mural on iconic Leucadia Donut Shoppe building

LEUCADIA, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past 36 years, drivers on the 101 Coast Highway have become used to the white stucco building home to the popular Leucadia Donut Shoppe. Today, passersby are getting treated to more than just donuts after Taylor Chapin, a local artist who has been visiting Leucadia Donuts since she was a little kid, transformed the building with a mural that is truly a feast for the eyes.

Bold, bright, and wildly patterned, the eye-catching mural brings new life to the iconic building. With a nod to the coastal Leucadia aesthetic, the image depicts a lounging figure covered head to toe in blue and white wavy patterning atop of pink striped towel, cast above a sea of blue and green patterned triangles. The larger-than-life painting packs quite the playful punch on this previously mundane white wall.

"I absolutely loved doing this project. It was invigorating to get out of the studio and create a mural using an entirely new format. Everyone I worked with was incredibly supportive and excited about my first-ever North County installation. Having been born and raised in Encinitas, it was an honor to create this piece for a community that is so near and dear to my heart," said Chapin.

The new mural will be on display permanently on the Leucadia Donut Shoppe building, located at 1604 N Coast Hwy 101 in Encinitas. Chapin's art may seem familiar as her work was recently featured in the Oolong Gallery in Solana Beach and the Quint Gallery in La Jolla. The Oceanside Museum of Art also featured Chapin as a solo exhibition last year. To learn more about Taylor Chapin's and her upcoming exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Diego, visit http://www.taylorchapin.com/exhibitions-1.

About Taylor Chapin

Chapin was born and raised in Encinitas, California. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from San Francisco Art Institute in 2016, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of California San Diego in 2022. She currently lives and work in Oceanside, California.

Working in both oil and acrylic, Chapin's paintings examine advertising, branding, superficiality, and the construction of value under the lens of American neoliberal capitalism. Her work questions our mindless drive toward industrialized American consumerism, the contents of which fill and fetishize our interior and exterior spaces. She reimagines mundane consumer goods, emphasizing their inherent banality while simultaneously enshrining them, questioning how value is manufactured and challenging the perceptions of what is real/unreal, and valuable/valueless. Find more information at www.taylorchapin.com or follow the artist @blackbearss on Instagram.

Media Contacts:

Jodi WassermanEmail: [email protected]

Taylor ChapinEmail: [email protected]Phone: 760.473.2815

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SOURCE Taylor Chapin
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended condolences to the government and people of Iran on the Shah Cheragh mosque attack in the city of Shiraz which left 20 dead and dozens others injured.

We express our sincere condolences and sympathy to the people of Iran and the government of Iran upon the terror attack in Shah Cheragh Mosque in city of Shiraz, resulting in devastating loss of innocent lives. We wish speedy recovery to those injured, foreign ministry spokesperson Vahan Hunanyan tweeted.
HUNTINGTON, Ind., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc., (OTCQB: NIDB), the parent company of First Federal Savings Bank, is proud to announce the Corporation has increased the cash dividend paid to shareholders for the 28th year in a row.

The cash dividend of $0.32 per common share per quarter represents a $0.02 per share, or 6.7%, increase over the Company's previous quarterly dividend. President and CEO Michael S. Zahn stated, "We are pleased to reward our shareholders with our 28th consecutive year of increasing our cash dividend. Due to our continued strong financial performance and capital levels, the Board of Directors feels the dividend increase is warranted." The dividend will be payable on November 25, 2022 to shareholders of record on November 10, 2022. This makes an annualized dividend yield of 3.1% based on a closing price of $41.50 per common share, which was the last reported trade on October 24, 2022. The book value of NIDB's stock was $34.85 per common share as of September 30, 2022 with 1,205,135 shares outstanding.

Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. is headquartered at 648 N. Jefferson Street, Huntington, Indiana. The company offers a full array of banking and financial brokerage services to its customers through its main office in Huntington and six full-service Indiana offices in Huntington (2), Warsaw (2) and Fort Wayne (2). The Company is traded on the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (www.otcmarkets.com) utilizing the OTCQB platform under the symbol "NIDB". Our web site address is www.firstfedindiana.bank.

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SOURCE Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc.
Leader in solo travel reports continued strong solo demand

BOSTON, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.), the leader in personalized small group and solo travel, announced that it has added more single cabins with free single supplements for January to December 2023 departures of select Small Ship Adventures.

"More single cabins and free single supplements mean more solo travelers can travel," said Brian FitzGerald, O.A.T. CEO.

"By adding more single cabins with free single supplements, we hope more solo travelers will be able to afford travel to faraway places," said Brian FitzGerald, CEO of O.A.T. "We invite travelers to travel solobut never alonethen after a day of adventure, relax and recharge in their own cabin."

O.A.T.'s solo-friendly move acknowledges the needs of its travelers. Sixty percent of O.A.T. travelers are solo travelers. Additional single spaces give travelers who prefer their own cabin greater opportunity to find space on their preferred departure. Further, no single supplement translates into a savings of up to $1,695 per person.

Top Small Ship Adventures for solo travelers include popular trips such Suez Canal Crossing: Israel, Egypt, Jordan & the Red Sea, Iberian Voyage: Lisbon to Barcelona, and Allure of the Adriatic: Italy & Croatia.

In 2023, there are 30,000 single spaces across all O.A.T. adventures -- 93% more than offered in 2019. O.A.T. offers free Single Supplements on 92% of its single spaces.

O.A.T. was named #2 in the Best Intimate-ship Ocean Cruise Lines category in the Travel + Leisure 2022 World's Best Awards.

For January to December 2023 select Small Ship Adventures with free single supplements, travelers must reserve their departure by 11/15/22. Call 1-800-955-1925 and mention code ETHS 101.

O.A.T Travelflix  The Go-To Resource for Travel Videos

O.A.T. Travelflix is a comprehensive collection of more than 3,500 engaging and informative films and videos from 85 countries all in one place. Visitors to the O.A.T. Travelflix can search by region, country, or city to see all the content that highlights a destinationor a specific adventure of interest. This resource is available to travelers at every stage of the planning processwhether they are traveling on an O.A.T. adventure, personalizing their experience by arriving early or staying later in a destination, or traveling on their own.

ABOUT OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Established in 1978, Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.) is part of Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation's family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel. In 1992, owners Alan and Harriet Lewis established the nonprofit Grand Circle Foundation to support communities in which Grand Circle works and travels, including some 300 humanitarian, cultural, and educational endeavors worldwideamong them, 100 schools, in 50 countries. The Foundation is an entity of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation, which has pledged or donated more than $250 million since 1981.

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SOURCE Overseas Adventure Travel
PRESTON, Md., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PSB Holding Corp. (OTCQX: PSBP), parent company of Provident State Bank, Inc., announced the board of directors declared an annual common stock dividend of $0.20 per share payable on December 1, 2022 to shareholders of record on November 14, 2022.

About PSB Holding, Corp. / Provident State Bank, Inc.

PSB Holding Corp. is the holding company of Provident State Bank, Inc., a full service financial institution serving the eastern shore of Maryland since 1904. Provident State Bank, Inc. has ten locations in Preston, Federalsburg, Ridgely, Denton, Easton-Elliot Road, Easton-Harrison Street, Secretary, Cambridge, Salisbury and Lewes, DE. For more information on PSB Holding Corp. and Provident State Bank, Inc., visit www.providentstatebank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements relating to PSB Holding Corp. and its subsidiary, Provident State Bank, Inc. may include plans, strategies, objectives, expectations, intentions and adequacy of resources. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding business strategy, future events, activities, performance, and plans and objectives for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Therefore, the illustrative value of forward-looking statements made in or pursuant to this press release should not, under any circumstances, be considered a guaranty or promise that such future events, activities, occurrences or performances will take place.

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SOURCE PSB Holding Corp.
Biotechnology Innovator and Manufacturer Deliver First-to-Market Natural CBC using Microalgae Fermentation, Offering Formulators and Brands Access to an Essential, Rare Cannabinoid

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Purissima, a leading, multi-patented health and wellness biotechnology company, announced today the official commercialization and sample availability of their Cannabichromene (CBC) in partnership with Open Book Extracts (OBX). This launch follows the unveiling of Purissima's exclusive, multi-year processing and distribution partnership with OBX that was announced in July.

With this launch, Purissima is the first biotech company to reach commercial scale production of natural cannabinoids using microalgae fermentation. As part of the launch, Purissima is offering a discovery sample box containing CBC products such as a topical serum, gummies, capsules and tinctures, showcasing how CBC can be formulated in a multitude of consumer-friendly formats for anti-inflammatory and wellness benefits. Interested parties can visit purissima.bio or openbookextracts.com to inquire about wholesale sourcing of CBC and CBC formulations, pure CBC samples or discovery boxes.

"Open Book Extracts is excited to continue our partnership with Purissima to unlock the potential of natural biosynthetic cannabinoid production," said Dave Neundorfer, Chief Executive Officer of OBX. "We are eager to introduce the market to a more sustainably produced cannabinoid that delivers the efficacy, purity, and safety consumers need."

The benefits of CBC have been validated through multiple end user trials that have taken place this year. In June, Open Book Extracts and Radicle Science released its findings resulting from one of the largest IRB approved, placebo controlled cannabinoid trials. The study showed that a formulation which included CBD, CBN, and CBC led to meaningful improvement in sleep disturbance, pain and anxiety. Purissima has been able to validate their findings as well, as seen in their most recent study that highlighted the significant and positive impact of CBC on the relieving and soothing of stressed and irritated skin. These studies further highlight the advantage of formulating with CBC to target a range of beauty and wellness concerns. The commercial availability of CBC through the Purissima-OBX partnership will dramatically increase the access of CBC for brands, formulators and consumers who will get to experience the benefits for themselves.

"In bringing this first-of-its-kind ingredient to market, Purissima is excited to showcase the potential that our biotechnology platform has on beauty, wellness, pharmaceutical industries and more," said Robert Evans, Purissima Co-Founder and Chief Business and Strategy Officer. "The effectiveness of CBC in both topical and ingestible formulations is a testament to the clear advantages that algae fermentation brings to the natural sourcing of hard to access ingredients. Versus plant sources of CBC, algae fermentation offers reliable and repeatable purity and dosage as well as a vastly more sustainable profile."

As Purissima and OBX connect their ingredient offerings with like-minded brands, the company looks forward to continuing to deliver solutions through innovative technology that will improve the quality of life for millions of people. For more information please visit www.purissima.bio.

About Purissima

Purissima Inc. is revolutionizing the way companies source and use plant-based ingredients, through the development and production of commercially viable, microalgae biotechnology. Purissima's mission is to provide the world access to high-quality, pure, safe, and sustainable ingredients for products that improve the quality of life for millions. Purissima has sustainably and effectively biosynthesized 70+ natural ingredients, including those rare or hard to access, at a fraction of the cost and without adverse environmental, varietal or supply chain impact. The brand's patented and proprietary biotechnology advances critical plant-derived health + wellness solutions while preserving Earth's biodiversity and natural resources. For more information please visit www.Purissima.bio

About Open Book Extracts (OBX)

Headquartered in Roxboro, N.C., Open Book Extracts is an NSF cGMP-certified manufacturer of premium cannabinoid products, aiming to be the industry's true north by delivering premium products, exceptional service, and industry-leading transparency. With control of the entire supply chain, a state-of-the-art extraction and manufacturing campus near North Carolina's Research Triangle, proprietary refinement and conversion methods backed by a growing IP portfolio, and a team of PhD chemists and seasoned business leaders, OBX is the trusted partner for global brands seeking to enter the marketplace. OBX offers concept-to-market formulation and manufacturing services, leveraging a broad portfolio of cannabinoid ingredients, leading water soluble technology and unique delivery mechanisms to help its clients bring to market a wide range of finished goods, from core softgels, capsules, and gummies, to orally dissolving tablets, tongue strips, and aerosol sprays.

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SOURCE Purissima
HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Reap, a fintech company powering global financial transactions through the industry first Reap Visa Corporate Card ("Reap Card") platform, today announces a US$ 40 million Series A investment round led by Acorn Pacific Ventures, Arcadia Funds and HashKey Capital through a combination of equity and debt financing. Hustle Fund, Fresco Capital, Abacus Ventures also invested as returning investors in this round, joined by Payment Asia as a co-investor.

The Series A funding will be used to quickly expand into international markets, set up regional hubs and round out management hires throughout Asia, North America and Europe as a part of this market expansion.

Derek Chau, Partner at lead investor Acorn Pacific Ventures, "The Acorn Pacific team is very excited and privileged to be investing into Reap. We had been actively watching the space for a number of years, waiting for the right platform and team to address the nuances of the payments space in Asia. We believe Reap is a solution that will make a very meaningful impact helping businesses to improve their cash flow, efficiency and speed to market with their digital-first payment solutions."

Since Reap's inception in 2018, it has focused on creating novel financial technologies to enable access to payables management, international payments and collections through a centralized software platform. By harnessing the power of data, Reap effectively lowers costs for operating companies that take advantage of the Reap platform across industries.

Daren Guo & Kevin Kang, Co-Founders of Reap said, "The purpose of our latest funding round is two-fold  to accelerate our go-to-market strategy for global market expansion, as well as position Reap for the next phase of growth by investing into the industry leading products that we have been developing since launch. We are confident we have the right team and product platform to enable the next phase of growth."

In November 2021, Reap launched the Reap Card, powered by the Visa network, that delivers credit for businesses and enables corporate purchases and expenses that traditionally were not able to be conducted through business credit cards. For clients of all sizes, Reap has scaled its products to work specifically to meet the demands of their discerning customers.

Reap is uniquely positioned within the industry, as the Reap Card platform already has the functionality to enable digitisation and payments for different business needs across both Web2 and Web3 customer segments.

Web2 clients including Acer, Buy and Ship, Pirata Group, Sompo Insurance and Wallem Group and more, all rely on Reap to gain an advantage over their competition, whilst leading Web3 customers Amber Group, Animoca Brands, Binance, Gnosis and LayerZero are already using Reap as their day to day payments driver, with the added ability to plug immediately into their internal systems to be up and running on day 1 of implementation. As a result, Reap has been able to double revenue over the past year, while increasing its current customer base to over 20,000 since launch.

"We have been closely watching Reap as an integral part of the Hong Kong fintech scene and seeing their expertise in developing a financial platform that is able to scale from traditional non-digital businesses to tech companies, shows that they have a competitive edge with their Reap Card platform, and could not be more pleased to invest" said Kenneth Lai, Founder of Payment Asia.

Reap currently has a team of over 40 spread across Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. The Company plans to hire and double the current size by the end of 2023. In addition to establishing country offices, Reap is also expanding its presence to set up regional hubs that cover North America, Europe and Greater China. Reap continues to help businesses orchestrate success - by providing the best financial tools that evolve with its customers and the market.

About Reap

Reap is a financial platform that enables access and financial connectivity through innovation for companies of all sizes. Reap combines spend management software with a range of innovative payment products  including the flagship Reap Visa Corporate Credit Card. Reap is committed to helping businesses orchestrate success by providing the best financial tools that evolve with its customers and the market.

Reap is supported by an empowering group of investors, including Acorn Pacific Ventures, Arcadia Funds, HashKey Capital, Hustle Fund, Fresco Capital, Abacus Ventures and Payment Asia. The Company was founded in 2018 and has since expanded to a team of over 40, working across offices in 7 countries.

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SOURCE Reap
The event keynote highlights how Relativity continues to empower its evolving user community to solve industry challenges with the power of AI and the cloud

CHICAGO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal and compliance technology company, today announced several AI and data management product updates at its annual conference, Relativity Fest. In the keynote presentation, Relativity shared its progress in leveraging AI to transform the review experience, empowering users to solve new challenges with AI, simplify data management, and accelerate document review and translation.

Relativity's CEO Mike Gamson kicked off the keynote address reflecting on the company's strong trajectory in 2022, significant progress on its product roadmap, and acknowledging continued forward momentum. Earlier this year, Relativity acquired Heretik to expand its contract intelligence capabilities and offer integrated, purpose-built contract review. The company launched Relativity Patents in April 2022, the first AI-based patent search and workflow tool designed for attorneys. Relativity released Translate for RelativityOne which leverages the power of AI to securely translate documents. Since its launch in September, Translate accounts for 49 direct customers.

"We're acutely cognizant of the critical role technology plays in service of empowering our global community to tackle today's emerging and proliferating data challenges," said Gamson. "And we see this as our opportunity to activate our mission through bold innovation, strategic investment and remaining laser-focused on delivering the cutting-edge solutions our customers need to navigate an ever-changing data landscape."

Moreover, the company has taken key steps to growing its global footprint with 16 data centers, including those in France, India and Japan which opened this yearand another coming soon in South Africa. In the recently published IDC MarketScape report, Relativity was named the Leader in eDiscovery review, demonstrating industry confidence in the company's offerings and strategic direction. This title follows the recent naming of Relativity as a Leader in eDiscovery Early Case Assessment (ECA).

Leveraging AI to Transform the Review Experience

As the shape of data changes, data volumes explode and privacy laws proliferate, Relativity is making thoughtful and strategic product investments in response to the evolving landscape, including harnessing the power of AI to enhance the review experience. This year, Relativity has made significant progress in improving review-based workflows with sentiment analysis and Review Center, both of which are currently in advanced access and will be available to all RelativityOne customers in the coming months.

Sentiment analysis uses AI to identify positive, negative and other targeted signals across data helping users grasp the full, people-driven picture. Sentiment scores and filterable fields are used to prioritize information, identify the most relevant documents and easily view material in the context of communications. Viewer integration and communication visualizations will allow users to click into documents to see highlighted sentences or overlay sentiment across communication analyses to dig into key conversations.

"Sentiment analysis identified 20 documents that were pivotal to a case we were working on that may have never been reviewed," said Craig Macaulay, Data Scientist at Phi Finney McDonald. "We don't often find a 'smoking gun' in our discovery. Using sentiment analysis that quickly identifies these powerful, relevant documents has been instrumental in painting a picture that helps us prove our case."

Review Center is RelativityOne's new destination for review management and administration. Consolidation of previously disparate tasks, coupled with advanced AI functionality and flexibility, produces a comprehensive dashboard to help users understand the nature and status of projects.

Empowering Users to Solve Privacy and Compliance Challenges with AI

With data breaches on the incline  the overall number of data compromises is up more than 68 percent compared to 2020  it's even more critical for law firms and service providers to quickly help clients identify impacted individuals and ensure they're notified in the timeline required by privacy laws. And Relativity continues to iterate on its purpose-built AI to manage data breach response and better tackle privacy challenges.

Text IQ for Data Breach powers data breach response with AI so users can respond quickly, accurately and intelligently. Leveraging AI in data breach response can cut assessment time by 75% allowing action to be taken in a timely manner when it matters most. Text IQ for Data Breach is currently in advanced access and Relativity is targeting general availability in RelativityOne in Q1 2023.

Additionally, Text IQ for Personal Information (PI) will be integrated with Redact in RelativityOne and available for advanced access in Q1 2023. Text IQ for PI will combine the industry's most comprehensive redaction capabilities in RelativityOne with the purpose-built AI in Text IQ to help organizations better adhere to evolving global privacy regulations. The solution improves the accuracy of PI identification, cutting the PI document population for review by 50% and increasing the speed of review by five to six times. By automating the identification of sensitive data and redaction, legal teams can focus on strategy and innovation.

"The volumes and varieties of personal information subject to a breach make it difficult to use a traditional e-discovery workflow to isolate information for notification purposes," said Kelly Friedman, Senior Counsel & National Leader at BLG Beyond Discovery. "Text IQ for Data Breach groups personal information and individuals, allowing the legal team to focus on what they are good at  making legal judgement calls  instead of organizing data."

Relativity's AI-powered communication surveillance product, Relativity Trace, uses data cleansing to prevent alerts from being generated on duplicative or non-authored content, so reviewers are only notified of the relevant portion that was written by the sender. Relativity Trace will expand its data cleansing capabilities in 2023 by removing more irrelevant content like cybersecurity disclaimers, salutations/greetings and duplicative content by focusing on individual messages and sentences to get a more granular understanding of intentions and potential risks.

New Capabilities Make Data Management Easier

By end of year, Relativity will launch its new import-export capabilities, enabling all RelativityOne users to easily and efficiently transfer data. The solution provides simple drag-and-drop functionality and eliminates the needs for various tools saving time and effort and accelerating the path to review. Shortly after the release, an Express Transfer app will be available for large imports and exports to enable greater speed than ever before.

In addition, Relativity has partnered with iManage to create an integration that evolves how law firms manage their data. The integration allows customers to directly collect documents from Cloud iManage into RelativityOne, via Collect. Users can stay within RelativityOne and kick off a Cloud iManage bulk export using key filters, ensuring only the most relevant data is collected and never leaves the secure boundaries of Microsoft Azure.

"Our customers are genuinely excited about the burgeoning partnership with Relativity," said Dan Dosen, EVP Channel & Alliances at iManage. "The integration between our cloud platforms will remove friction to allow lawyers to more easily and securely achieve their business outcomes. We are looking forward to our first Relativity Fest in Chicago and continuing to speak with customers about how we can maximize the benefits for our shared customers."

Review and Translate Documents Faster Than Ever

Once data is in RelativityOne, it is critical that investigators and reviewers can quickly dive in. To accelerate speed to review, Relativity has increased the power of the processing engine to help place structure and automation around large volumes of unstructured data to save time and resources. Relativity Processing has already processed more data in RelativityOne through September 2022 than all of 2021.

In addition, Relativity continues to enhance Automated Workflows to help teams increase efficiency out-of-the-box, eliminate manual steps, and reduce the risk of human error. With this capability, over 80% of tasks have been automated.

"Automated Workflows has saved us an enormous amount of time. This year, we worked to get the full-scale use of Analytics on all of our cases," said Kacey Hall, Counsel Litigation at Verizon. "We've added dtSearch, search terms reports, and conceptual and classification indexes to different templates and have set different triggers based on the matter type. Knowing that these steps are automated gives us peace of mind. Automated Workflows has become an essential part of our process."

For many of Relativity's global customers, reviews often involve document translation which can be time consuming and expensive. To streamline this process, Relativity now offers Translate, a solution that provides machine translations for 112 languages directly in RelativityOne, saving customers hours of translation time and costs. Translate will soon be supported by Automated Workflows, which will enable both triggers to update search and analytics indexes once translations are complete and mass exports of translated native documents to be easily leveraged for depositions and interviews.

Learn More about Relativity Fest

Relativity Fest is an annual event for the e-discovery and compliance communities, taking place in Chicago October 26-28. Attendees can join in-person or online. View the session catalog and register here.

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 www.relativity.com for more information.

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SOURCE Relativity
New integration maximizes efficiency for account-based marketing & sales teams

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Account-based marketing platform RollWorks, a division of NextRoll, and Outreach, the leading sales execution platform, today announced a new integration to enable more efficient prospecting, engagement, and forecasting.

With the RollWorks and Outreach integration, B2B teams now have an easy way to prioritize their engagement with prospects and take immediate action on key contacts within their target accounts. Surfaced contacts can be added directly into Outreach sequences and engaged at the most optimal times in the buying journey.

"Our new Outreach integration is a powerful addition to the RollWorks partner ecosystem," said Mike Stocker, SVP of Partnerships, RollWorks. "Outreach does a fantastic job enabling sales organizations to maximize prospecting productivity and optimize their sales execution through automated email sequences and workflows. Now, sales teams can add contacts that are spiking with engagement to a sequence, directly from the RollWorks Sales Insights CRM widget."

The RollWorks and Outreach integration helps B2B organizations:

Save time and effort by providing a single source of truth for sales teams to access valuable contact-level engagement data for a target account and quickly add contacts directly to an Outreach sequence from the CRM.

by providing a single source of truth for sales teams to access valuable contact-level engagement data for a target account and quickly add contacts directly to an Outreach sequence from the CRM. Get more responses by identifying known contacts at target accounts with PII and activity data to prioritize and personalize outreach.

by identifying known contacts at target accounts with PII and activity data to prioritize and personalize outreach. Identify gaps in the buying committee and understand how contacts at target accounts are engaging to determine personas for which they need more contacts.

and understand how contacts at target accounts are engaging to determine personas for which they need more contacts. Achieve marketing and sales alignment by providing contact-level data and insights in a single source of truth.

"RollWorks' platform uncovers account signals that help B2B teams drive and prioritize opportunities," said Phillip Friedman, Head of Partner Ecosystem, Outreach. "With the Outreach and RollWorks integration, users can easily add prospects to the desired sequence in Outreach directly from the RollWorks widget. Having all marketing and sales intelligence data for the target account, including prospect information, in one location, makes revenue teams more efficient - it saves marketing time to create these insights for sales, and saves sales time navigating between platforms."

Outreach joins a growing roster of market leaders in the RollWorks technology partner ecosystem. The integrations across content management, digital engagement / personalization, direct mail and offline engagement, email signature engagement, intent data, marketing automation, and now sales engagement, provide a breadth of solution options for marketing and sales teams with account-based strategies that drive increased ROI.

Head to RollWorks to learn more about the RollWorks and Outreach integration and how you can turn insights from within your CRM into immediate action.

About RollWorks

RollWorks, a division of NextRoll, offers ambitious B2B companies an account-based platform to align their marketing and sales teams and confidently grow revenue. Powered by proprietary data and machine learning, RollWorks' solutions address the needs of organizations large and small  from those with best-in-class ABM programs to those just beginning their exploration. By empowering teams to identify their target accounts and key buyers, reach those accounts across multiple channels, and measure program effectiveness in their system-of-record, RollWorks is an indispensable platform for marketers and sellers who believe that an account-based approach is just good business. To learn more visit www.rollworks.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

About Outreach

Outreach is the leading sales execution platform that helps market-facing teams efficiently create and predictably close more pipeline. From prospecting to deal management to forecasting, our platform leverages automation and artificial intelligence to help revenue leaders increase efficiency and effectiveness of all go-to-market activities and personnel across the revenue cycle. Outreach is the only company to offer sales engagement, revenue intelligence, and revenue operations functionalities in a unified platform. More than 5,500 companies, including Zoom, Siemens, Okta, DocuSign, and McKesson depend on Outreach to power their revenue organizations. Outreach is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington, with offices worldwide. To learn more, please visit www.outreach.io.

Media Contact:Melissa Rossiter[email protected] 480.749.4324

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SOURCE RollWorks
Grants to ACORNS, Raleigh Violence Intervention Program, NCVAN, and Focus Church Aim to Prevent Violence and Offer Community Supports for Those Impacted by Recent Violence

RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of recent violence that has impacted the Raleigh area, WellCare of North Carolina announced today a series of grants and coalition-building initiatives to support several Raleigh-based organizations. Funding will go toward community supports for victims and those impacted by violent crime as well as community violence intervention and prevention programs.

"As a health plan, we are grieving the tragic loss of life in the city we call home," said Troy Hildreth, Plan President and CEO of WellCare of North Carolina. "Community violence is a public health threat that affects our members, their families, our employees, and the communities we serve. We hope these grants and resources will help prevent violence, provide training, and help our community continue to heal from this devastating event."

Providing Grants to Prevent Violence, Offer Community Resources

WellCare provided a grant to ACORNS (Addressing Crises through Outreach, Referrals, Networking, and Service), which consists of Wake County Police Officers, Social Workers, and Detectives who connect with individuals in crises and provide them with resources.

"This approach emphasizes care and safety first, and enforcement last," said Christine Craig, Vice Chair, Raleigh Police Department Foundation. "Together, a social worker and police officer respond to crisis calls. By addressing emergencies in this way, we prevent crime and make Raleigh safer. This generous gift from WellCare will enable the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) to greatly enhance its ACORNS program."

WellCare will also fund a new initiative launching in 2023 called the Raleigh Violence Intervention Program, which aims to curb gun violence by identifying and providing support to those most at-risk in the City of Raleigh. WellCare will join the collaborative along with the NAACP, RPD, and other local partners to seek additional ways of moving the needle on violence in local communities.

Finally, WellCare will fund two local organizations that are providing direct crisis supports to the communities and individuals impacted by the recent events. WellCare will donate to the North Carolina Victim Assistance Network (NCVAN), which provides services, resources, and referrals to victims of violent crime, especially their surviving family members and Focus Church, located in the heart of the area where the shooting took place. Focus Church is ensuring community members' basic needs, such as groceries and water, are met.

"NCVAN is committed to supporting victims at no charge to ensure those in need have equal access. We would like to express our deep appreciation to WellCare for their generous donation," said Frances Battle, Executive Director of NCVAN. "This donation will help us ensure that victims in the Hedingham community will continue to have access to both one-on-one therapy and group therapy. Their support reminds NCVAN that we can count on our North Carolina friends and neighbors to partner with us in caring for those victims and communities harmed by violent crime. Thank you WellCare for going beyond words of encouragement and actively supporting the immediate and ongoing care of the Hedingham community."

Additional Resources Offered by WellCare

WellCare is also partnering with local providers by offering free training on the use of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Therese Garrett, WellCare's Behavioral Health Medical Director, who leads the training noted, "Mental health needs will continue to emerge over the course of the next weeks to months, and we hope that we can help support those in need to connect to trauma-focused services and therapies. In addition to local and community resources, parents, educators, and families can access a great deal of resources through the Center for Traumatic Stress Studies and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) website."

About WellCare of North Carolina

Headquartered in Raleigh, WellCare of North Carolina provides government-sponsored managed care services to families, children, seniors, and individuals with complex needs primarily through Medicaid as one of the state's Medicaid Prepaid Health Plans (WellCare of North Carolina), Marketplace (WellCare of North Carolina by Celtic Insurance Company), Medicare Advantage (Wellcare), and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Wellcare). WellCare of North Carolina is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise committed to helping people live healthier lives. For more information, visit www.wellcarenc.com.

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SOURCE WellCare of North Carolina
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of October 2022

(Commission File No. 001-32221)

GOL LINHAS AEREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

GOL INTELLIGENT AIRLINES INC.

(Translation of registrants name into English)

Praca Comandante Linneu Gomes, Portaria 3, Predio 24

Jd. Aeroporto

04630-000 Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo

Federative Republic of Brazil

(Address of registrants principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file

annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.



Form 20-F ___X___ Form 40-F ______

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the

information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the

information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



Yes ______ No ___X___

Investor Update

Sao Paulo, October 27, 2022 - GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (NYSE: GOL and B3: GOLL4), (GOL or Company) , Brazils largest domestic airline, provides an Investor Update . All information is presented in Brazilian Reais (R$). The information below is preliminary and unaudited .

GOL is updating its financial forecasts in light of higher jet fuel prices, the results obtained for the first nine months of the year, the current level of tickets sales, and expectations on seat availability.

The Company is focused on its fleet transformation and expects that by the end of the year, 44 737- MAX aircraft will be in operation, representing around 30% of the total fleet. The new and more efficient Boeing MAX play an important role in GOLs strategy in the coming years, contributing to deliver enhanced productivity, reduced unit costs, and lower carbon emissions.

To help investors and analysts understand how GOL addresses its near-term planning, the Company shares the following indicators:

Financial Outlook 2022E Previous 2022E Updated Total fleet (average) 132  138 135 - 140 Total operational fleet (average) 101  104 100 - 102 ASKs, System (% change yoy) 55  65% 50 - 55% Seats, System (% change) 55  65% 50 - 55% Departures, System (% change) 55  65% 50 - 55% Average load factor (%) ~80% ~81% Ancillary revenues. net 1 (R$bn) ~1.0 ~1.1 Total net revenues (R$bn) ~15.4 ~15.4 Non-fuel CASK 2 (US$ cents) ~3.5 ~3.7 Fuel liters consumed (mm) ~1,150 ~1,110 Gross Global Scope 1 emissions (thousand ton CO 2 ) ~2,950 ~2,800 Total Fuel Consumed (1,000 liters/RPK) ~33.7 ~33.7 GHG Emissions/Flight Hour (t CO 2 ) ~8.4 ~8.4 Fuel price (R$/liter) ~5.7 ~5.9 EBITDA margin (%) ~20% ~19% EBIT margin (%) ~8% ~7% Net financial expense 3 (R$bn) ~1.8 ~1.9 Pre-tax margin 3 (%) ~0% ~0% Effective income tax rate (%) ~0% ~0% Capex, net 4 (R$mm) ~700 ~650 MAX Aircraft Acquisitions (R$mm) ~1,000 ~900 Aircraft Debt (7x Annual Acft Lease Payments) (US$bn) ~3.2 ~3.2 Financial Debt (US$bn) ~2.0 ~2.2 Net Debt 5 / EBITDA 2 (x) ~8x ~9x Fully-diluted shares out 6 (mm) ~435 ~435 EPS, fully diluted (R$) ~NA ~0 Fully-diluted ADS out. 6 (mm) ~217.5 ~217.5 EPADS, fully diluted (US$) ~NA ~0

(1) Cargo. loyalty. buy-on-board and other ancillary revenues; (2) Recurring operating results; (3) Excluding currency gains and losses and Unrealized losses on Exchangeable Senior Notes; (4) Capex, net is calculated as Gross capex (fleet capitalized maintenance) subtracted by financed Capex (credit facilities to finance assets acquisition and capitalized maintenance costs) ; (5) Including 7x annual aircraft lease payments and excluding perpetual bonds; and (6) Includes stock option exercises that may be issued from the stock option program and related to Exchangeable Senior Notes.

1 GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A .

Investor Update

Investor Relations [email protected] www.voegol.com.br/ir

+55(11) 2128-4700

About GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A.

GOL is the largest airline in Brazil, leader in the corporate and leisure segments. Since founded in 2001, the Company has the lowest unit cost in Latin America, thus democratizing air transportation. The Company has alliances with American Airlines and Air FranceKLM, besides several codeshare and interline agreements available to Customers, bringing more convenience and simple connections to any place served by these partnerships. With the purpose of Being the First for All, GOL offers the best travel experience to its passengers, including: the largest number of seats and more space between seats; the greatest platform with internet, movies and live TV; and the best frequent-flyer program, SMILES. In cargo transportation, GOLLOG delivers orders to different regions in Brazil and abroad. The Company has a team of 13,700 highly qualified aviation professionals focused on Safety, GOLs #1 value, and operates a standardized fleet of 145 Boeing 737 aircraft. The Company's shares are traded on the NYSE (GOL) and the B3 (GOLL4). For further information, visit www.voegol.com.br/ri .

Disclaimer

The information contained in this press release has not been subject to any independent audit or review and contains forward-looking statements, estimates and projections that relate to future events, which are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including, without limitation, those regarding GOLs future financial position and results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets, future developments in the markets in which GOL operates or is seeking to operate, and any statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words believe, expect, aim, intend, will, may, project, estimate, anticipate, predict, seek, should or similar words or expressions, are forward-looking statements. The future events referred to in these forward- looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors, many of which are beyond GOLs control, that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding GOLs present and future business strategies and the environment in which GOL will operate in the future and are not a guarantee of future performance. Such forward-looking statements speak only as at the date on which they are made. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents undertakes any duty or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. None of GOL or any of its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, professional advisors and agents make any representation, warranty or prediction that the results anticipated by such forward-looking statements will be achieved, and such forward- looking statements represent, in each case, only one of many possible scenarios and should not be viewed as the most likely or standard scenario. Although GOL believes that the estimates and projections in these forward- looking statements are reasonable, they may prove materially incorrect and actual results may materially differ. As a result, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Measures

To be consistent with industry practice, GOL discloses so-called non-GAAP financial measures which are not recognized under IFRS or U.S. GAAP, including Net Debt, Adjusted Net Debt, total liquidity and "EBITDA". The Companys management believes that disclosure of non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors, financial analysts and the public in their review of its operating performance and their comparison of its operating performance to the operating performance of other companies in the same industry and other industries. However, these non-GAAP items do not have standardized meanings and may not be directly comparable to similarly-titled items adopted by other companies. Potential investors should not rely on information not recognized under IFRS as a substitute for the GAAP measures of earnings or liquidity in making an investment decision.

****

2 GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A .

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: October 27, 2022
false 0000867665 0000867665 2022-10-24 2022-10-24

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)

ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Nevada 1-16071 74-2584033 (State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation) (Commission

File Number) (IRS Employer

Identification Number)

18803 Meisner Drive

San Antonio , Texas 78258

( 210 ) 490-4788

(Address of principal executive offices and Registrants telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17CFR 230.425)  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class Trading Symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock , par value $.01 per share AXAS OTCQX

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 27, 2022, Abraxas Petroleum Corporation (the  Company ) and Biglari Holdings Inc. ( Holdings ), entered into that certain Exchange Agreement, as disclosed on the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2022, which was subject to the approval by the Stockholders of the Company of the amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (the  Increased Share Amendment ), and the acceptance of the Increased Share Amendment by the Nevada Secretary of State.

In light of approval by the Stockholders of the Increased Share Amendment, as more fully described in the Item 5.07 disclosure below, the Company caused the Increased Share Amendment to be filed, via the filing of a Certificate of Amendment, with the Nevada Secretary of State on October 24, 2022, and the Nevada Secretary of State accepted the Increased Share Amendment on October 25, 2022.

Based upon the foregoing, on October 26, 2022, the Exchange Agreement was consummated by the following transactions: (i) the Company caused 90,631,287 shares of Common Stock to be registered in the name of Holdings with the Companys transfer agent in book-entry form and (ii) Holdings assigned and transferred 685,505 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the  Preferred Shares ) to the Company, constituting all of the Series A Preferred Stock of the Company then outstanding, by delivering a Stock Power and Assignment to the Company. The Company cancelled the Preferred Shares and the Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation, such that only Common Stock of the Company remains outstanding.

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On October 24, 2022, the Company held a Special Meeting of the Stockholders (the  Special Meeting ), at which the Company submitted the following proposal to its Stockholders for a vote:

1. To approve an amendment to the Companys Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to increase the Companys authorized shares of Common Stock from 20,000,000 shares to 150,000,000 shares.

The following table lists the final voting results for Proposal 1 at the Special Meeting:

Number of Shares For Against Withheld 48,660,369 661,995 1,066,858

Based upon the foregoing, the amendment to the Companys Articles of Incorporation, as amended, was approved by the Stockholders.

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.

ABRAXAS PETROLEUM CORPORATION By: /s/ G. William Krog G. William Krog Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer

Dated: October 27, 2022

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The government plans to build and open 337 new schools and 521 new kindergartens by 1st September 2026, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

He added that on January 1, 2023 the government will commission newly built 24 schools and 53 kindergartens, in 2024  64 schools and 141 kindergartens, in 2025  57 schools and 144 kindergartens, in 2026  111 schools and 87 kindergartens, and in 2026  78 schools and 92 kindergartens.

I am very happy that the plan is concentrated, we must constantly monitor this to be certain that the plan will be fully implemented, Pashinyan added.
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  U.S. Army garrisons in Europe are set to be colder and darker this winter because of new conservation measures taken in response to the Continents energy crisis.

The energy cutbacks were presented in a memo that is dated Oct. 21 but was released this week. They went into effect immediately and will be observed until April.

We must reduce fuel and energy consumption; otherwise, our costs will continue to rise, Installation Management Command-Europe director Tommy Mize said in the memo.

As part of the measures, buildings are to be heated to no more than 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and unnecessary outdoor lighting is to be turned off.

The move comes less than two months after the Army told Stars and Stripes it had no plans to specify heating limits at its European installations.

Officials said then that the service is not bound by host nation regulations and would try to reduce energy consumption by other means.

Earlier this year, the European Union pledged to cut overall consumption of natural gas by 15% as Russian imports dwindle, a consequence of the Kremlins response to Western sanctions punishing Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine.

The Armys conservation measures will help ensure it is part of the solution to the energy challenges facing European allies, Mize said.

The 66 degrees cap, which is slightly below heat level 3 on many European radiators, will apply to all workplaces during office hours and will be reduced to 50 degrees, or heat level 1, during nonworking hours, according to the new guidelines.

Nonwork areas, such as hallways and bathrooms, will remain at 50 degrees throughout the day. Facilities such as hospitals, schools and child development centers are exempt from the measures but are being encouraged to adopt them if possible.

The memo also says outdoor lighting at all installation buildings should be turned off if it provides little safety or security.

In addition, it directs service members to get rid of space heaters, keep doors and windows closed except for ventilation and open shutters during the day to let in sunlight but close them at night to trap warmth.

Although no enforcement mechanism is specified in the memo, garrison leaders think there will be a personal incentive to abide by the measures, command spokesman Mark Heeter said.

People are looking to their own energy consumption as a way to help themselves while also contributing to solving a bigger problem, Heeter said.

Officials say soldiers living in barracks and Army family housing also should reduce heat at home. The memorandum lacks a standard maximum home temperature but says DOD employees who are leaving on vacation should keep their residence no warmer than 50 degrees.

Despite a recent drop in energy costs, continued concerns over the price of natural gas, which jumped by 300% in some military communities in Germany and Italy this summer, appear to be a main reason for the U-turn by the command.

As a result of unusually warm fall weather and ongoing EU efforts, natural gas prices on Europe's TTF benchmark on Monday fell below $100 per megawatt-hour for the first time since June. That was a 70% drop from late-August highs of about $350 per megawatt-hour.

European storage facilities are also over 90% full, according to data from Gas Infrastructure Europe.

Still, prices could rise sharply again when the weather gets colder, according to experts, who have also voiced concerns about the threat of sabotage and the impact it could have on the market.

The largest Air Force wing in Europe and Africa is also attempting to match the EUs collective 15% gas reduction. Ramstein Air Bases 86th Airlift Wing announced that decision in a Sept. 26 memorandum that was issued Sunday, nearly a month later.

The Air Force memo says buildings should not be heated over 68 degrees Fahrenheit, as opposed to the Armys 66 degrees.

The Army relies on local power grids for most of the electricity it uses to power its European garrisons.

In fiscal year 2021, the Army spent $6.6 million on natural gas for its garrisons in Germany alone during, and it is estimated to have spent about $10 million during fiscal year 2022, which ended last month, IMCOM-Europe told Stars and Stripes in August.
NAPLES, Italy  American sailors from two Navy ships rescued a trio of Yemeni nationals from a burning motorboat moments before it sank in the Gulf of Aden this week, the service said Thursday in a statement.

The destroyer USS Nitze and the patrol coastal ship USS Monsoon responded Wednesday after seeing the mariners in distress in international waters, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet said.

One man required medical attention but was stable when he and the other two civilians were transferred to Yemens coast guard, said Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for the command and 5th Fleet.

The rescue took place about 50 miles off the coast of Yemen, the Navy said.

Homeported at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Nitze began operating in the Middle East this summer, the Navy said. The ship is part of the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, which deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in August.

Monsoon is forward-deployed to U.S. 5th Fleet and operates from Bahrain, according to the statement.
As Xi Jinping edges out his rivals in the Chinese Communist Party, shakes up his leadership team and begins an unprecedented third term as Chinas leader, Beijings military modernization continues apace. In a span of two decades, China has transformed itself from a relatively minor player on the world stage into a formidable geopolitical force that is willing and able to pursue its interests aggressively. Xis objective, as stated in numerous documents and communiques, is none other than to turn the Peoples Liberation Army, or PLA, into a world-class military by 2049.

Chinas neighbors and competitors, however, arent sitting still as the PLA builds up the worlds largest arsenal of ballistic missiles and fields a growing armada of cruisers, ships and fighter aircraft. Japan and Australia, two countries that have their own grievances with Beijing, are also strengthening their own militaries, increasing their defense budgets and teaming up to create a balancing coalition against China.

Last week, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed an agreement that will broaden the strategic relationship between Tokyo and Canberra on everything from defense and energy to the economy and the climate. This was the fourth time Kishida and Albanese have met since the latter took office in May, and the latest cooperation accord comes less than a year after Japan and Australia agreed to a lengthy reciprocal access agreement that set the foundation for regular military exchanges on one anothers territory. While nobody is predicting the formation of a defense alliance between the two Pacific powers, its safe to say that the Japanese and Australian governments are sufficiently concerned about Chinas enhanced wealth, influence and hard power that both are willing to combine forces to manage it. The old mantra, Theres strength in numbers, very much applies.

Its not a mystery why Japan and Australia feel an imperative to improve their bilateral relations. The three core pillars of a nations power  population, wealth and military strength  have been noticeably kind to the Chinese since the dawn of the 21st century. Chinas gross domestic product has increased by 1,365% since 2000, surpassing that of the European Union. Hundreds of millions of people in China have been lifted out of poverty as a result, decreasing the strain on the state and adding more productivity to the labor force. China is now a significant trading partner for many; in Latin America, widely considered to be in the U.S. sphere of influence, trade has ballooned to nearly $449 billion last year from $18 billion in 2002.

All of this wealth has allowed China to turn its military from a backward, unsophisticated force into one that rivals Washington in Asia. While the United States still outspends China on defense by a ratio of more than 2 to 1  in fact, the U.S. spends more on defense than the next nine nations combined  the trend line for Beijing has been exponential. According to the World Bank, Chinas military expenditures have risen more than 1,000% since the beginning of the century. More dollars mean more capacity, with the PLA earmarking a large chunk of the money toward researching and developing the next generation of weapons, from anti-submarine warfare aircraft to cruise missile modifications.

None of this is to suggest China is capable of establishing hegemony in the Asia-Pacific or is intent on steamrolling its neighbors. For one, the PLA hasnt fought a major conventional war in decades. While Xis rhetoric can be ominous at times, hes also relatively cautious and appears to understand the limits of Chinese power.

Chinas assertiveness, however, does help explain why countries such as Japan and Australia feel the need to collaborate more frequently. As University of Notre Dame professor Michael Desch wrote for Defense Priorities in July, As China grows more powerful and assertive, states closest to it are feeling a greater sense of peril. Rather than accede to Chinas wishes in the hopes Xi will show some mercy, Tokyo and Canberra (and New Delhi, for that matter) are instead balancing against Chinese power by boosting their own military capability and pooling resources.

This summer, Japans Defense Ministry released its highest budget request in history, asking for $43 billion to fund a litany of items, including standoff weapons that would permit Tokyo to strike at bases in places such as China and North Korea. If Kishida and his party have their way, Japan will devote nearly $280 billion over the next five years toward defense, a big deal for a country whose pacifist leanings are embedded in the constitution. Australia, too, is planning to throw more money into defense projects; its budget for 2022-23 is more than 7% higher than the previous years  and the Australians are projected to increase it by another 6% in 2023. If there is anything Australias major political parties agree on, its the utility of improving the countrys ability to defend itself.

Its easy to get carried away with all of these numbers. But the bottom line is clear: Faced with a more bellicose China, the smaller nations that operate in the same region have no intention of submitting. If anything, the stronger the PLA becomes, the more committed its competitors will be to not only take responsibility for their own security but also to unite in pursuit of a stable modus vivendi.

Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist for the Chicago Tribune.
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TOKYO  Stock up on candy, carve those pumpkins and get your costumes ready because Halloween is coming back strong this year on U.S. military bases in Japan.

The COVID-19 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization more than 2  years ago dampened Halloween spirits and curtailed traditional costume parties and trick-or-treating.

This year, many military commands in Japan are shedding prohibitions to accommodate group activities like spooky bowling nights, haunted houses and increased numbers of local guests.

However, bases on Okinawa are limiting their Halloween activities to base personnel only while emphasizing safe practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

At Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, one sponsor may bring as many as 10 trick-or-treaters on base 5-9 p.m. Saturday. Last year, sponsors could invite five guests.

We are looking forward to celebrating another year of Halloween, and the Trick-or-Treat tradition with members of our community, Staff Sgt. Juan Torres Chardon, a spokesman for 374th Airlift Wing, told Stars and Stripes via email Tuesday.

Eligible sponsors include Defense Department ID cardholders and Japanese base employees  master labor contracts and indirect hires  as well as members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Yokota, Torres Chardon said.

Air Force spouse Lisa Ricci, 35, of Charleston, S.C., said she and her daughters, ages 8 and 9, are excited about sharing the holiday.

I think it is awesome, she told Stars and Stripes on Monday at her Yokota home. The Japanese have their traditions, but this is a great way for the community to bond on something.

Zama zombies

At Camp Zama, the headquarters of U.S. Army Japan about 20 miles south of Yokota, eligible sponsors may welcome up to 28 guests onto the base or the Sagamihara Family Housing Area from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31, Amber Kurka, a spokeswoman for U.S. Army Garrison Japan, told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.

This is the first year since 2019 that Halloween guests are permitted on the Army installations for trick-or-treating, she said.

Eligible sponsors, including Japanese employees and members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, may bring up to seven adult guests. Each of those adults can bring up to three children under age 18 with them.

Camp Zama required sponsors to obtain installation passes by Wednesday for all guests 18 and older.

U.S. Army Garrison Japan is excited to be able to host events this year that are traditionally popular for our community, friends and neighbors, Kurka said.

Yokosuka ghosts

At Yokosuka Naval Base, the homeport of the U.S. 7th Fleet southwest of Tokyo, local children are welcomed again on base after two years of pandemic restrictions.

Eligible residents and base employees may bring up to four guests on the base or the Ikego Housing Detachment for trick-or-treating 4:30-7:30 p.m. Oct. 31, base spokesman Randall Baucom told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.

It gives an opportunity for our Japanese partners to participate in this American tradition, he said.

For the past two years at Yokosuka only the children of individuals covered by the status of forces agreement, typically Americans in uniform or DOD civilian employees, could trick-or-treat on base, he said.

This year, SOFA members may invite guests under Yokosukas normal guest policy, which is based on rank or position, Baucom said. Japanese employees may bring as many as four guests.

Sasebo spirits

At Sasebo Naval Base in southern Japan, the Hario Village, Dragon Vale and Fiddlers Green housing areas will be open for trick-or-treating 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31, base spokesman Aki Nichols told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday.

Visitors from the surrounding communities may enter the base without an escort provided they present a valid, government-issued ID. Children ages 12 and older must show a school ID or be escorted by an adult age 18 or older with a valid ID.

We expect to have a good turn out this year, Nichols said.

Eerie Okinawa

Installations on Okinawa, still mindful of the coronavirus, are planning Halloween events for base residents only.

Kadena Air Base has scheduled trick-or-treating for 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31, according to the bases official Facebook page.

Halloween will look a bit different this year, so were providing official guidance which capitalizes on social distancing, hygiene, and protecting each other, the mission, and the Okinawan community, the post said.

On Marine base Camp Lester, a haunted house and trunk-or-treat event in which base residents decorate the trunks of their cars, are scheduled 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Lester Middle School. Anyone with base access may take part. Camp Foster plans a similar event, Mardie Marqueze-Velasquez, the bases USO center manager, told Stars and Stripes by phone Wednesday.

Stars and Stripes reporters Frank Andrews and Jonathan Snyder contributed to this report.
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  About 50 new and soon-to-be mothers laughed, cheered and chatted alongside the author of a best-selling pregnancy guide this week, part of a USO program that brings the baby shower experience to future parents who are far from home.

The Special Delivery program in the past decade has feted more than 30,000 military moms and dads to-be at showers on U.S. bases around the world, according to the U.S. Navy Office of Information.

The events feature food, games, prizes, Q&A sessions and guest speakers.

At Yokosukas Officers Club on Monday, new and expectant mothers were joined by the programs co-founder, Heidi Murkoff, author of the bestselling What to Expect book series, and parents in attendance received copies of her books.

The series, which began in 1984 with What to Expect When Youre Expecting, are guides that focus on pregnancy, giving birth, and parenthood. The series has been translated into 44 languages and sold more than 42 million copies, according to Murkoffs website.

Being pregnant is difficult enough, but the challenges only multiply thousands of miles away from home, Murkoff told Stars and Stripes before the event. Programs like Special Delivery are meant to bridge that gap.

These moms are so far from their family and friends and their network of support. They wont necessarily have a baby shower - at least not an in-person one, especially if they dont have a lot of friends in the community yet, she said. This is a way to celebrate them and shower them with love and gifts and all the things you would get at a baby shower.

The program was born in 2013, when Murkoff and her husband, Erik Murkoff, attended a shower at Fort Belvoir, Va.

We went to the shower, and we were immediately hooked; we knew we had to do this, she said. And a month later, we were doing our first baby showers.

Mondays shower was the second this year at Yokosuka. Combined with events at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima, Special Delivery has celebrated with more than 230 parents-to-be this year, according to USO area coordinator Natalie Rowland.

What the USO does, our sole purpose, is to connect our military service members and their families to home, Rowland told Stars and Stripes on Monday. Having an event like this is our opportunity to support the mothers and mothers-to-be to have a tradition that they would normally have at home.

Games included Pass the Paci, where mothers passed a pacifier around the table and awarded each other for mom superlatives such as who had lived in Yokosuka longest and who has the most kids. The mom who had the most unique pregnancy craving  buffalo sauce with lemon  won the pacifier.

In another game, moms used Play-Doh to sculpt something related to babies, being a mom or pregnancy. Murkoff and others visited each table to guess each sculpture.

First-time mom Heather Johnson, 31, of Dunnellon, Fla., said learning about concepts such as baby-led weaning, a method of introducing solid foods to infants, made the shower a positive, informative experience.

Emily Osgood, 30, of Boston, said the event was a great way for off-base residents like herself to make new friends and connect with other military moms.

Jasmine Iyer, 32, of Dallas, recommended all expectant mothers to attend Special Delivery.

Its a great event, she said. Heidi has such great energy.
Germany on Wednesday announced plans to legalize cannabis for recreational use. It was a move the countrys health minister said would make Germany Europes most liberal cannabis legalization project, but also its most tightly regulated market.

Presenting a detailed cornerstone paper laying out a slate of regulations to Germanys cabinet Wednesday, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the legalization of cannabis is necessary to end Germanys unsuccessful fight against drug-related crime, and its flourishing black market. The goal of the change is to reduce consumption, especially for young people, he said in a tweet.

Under the governments new plans, cannabis and THC will no longer be classified as narcotics. The substances will be able to be produced, supplied and distributed to people 18 or older, within a licensed and government-regulated environment  including specialist shops and, if necessary, pharmacies. Adults can possess 20 to 30 grams of recreational cannabis, both in private and in public.

And Germans will be able to cultivate their own cannabis, to some extent.

The drug policy must be renewed. We want to reform cannabis consumption from a health perspective, the governments key issues paper said. Lauterbach said that 4 million people in Germany used cannabis last year, a quarter of whom were between ages 18 and 24.

The regulations were formed after intensive exchange with experts, interest groups and Germanys Commissioner for Drug and Addiction Policy, the paper noted. The controlled legalization aims to curb the black market, and improve health protections for users, especially younger ones, it added.

Germany also plans to impose a cannabis tax, and a potential upper limit of THC content for adults under 21. Advertising for cannabis will be completely prohibited, and neutral outside packaging will be required.

There is no set timeline for the plan, and the draft rules still need to be assessed by the European Commission and made into law. Medical marijuana, in limited circumstances, has been legal in Germany since 2017.

Lauterbach, of the ruling Social Democrats, said in his presentation that he had tested out cannabis. I can only say that I have actually tried it. I have also made that public, he said while presenting the regulations. However, I am not a user and I would not benefit from this regulation either, because I only took it to see what its like.

Reacting to the announcement, Berlin-based cannabis company the Sanity Group said in a statement that the German governments proposal contained interesting approaches and some fruitful frameworks, but also some aspects worth critiquing.

A total advertising ban is not conducive to education and destigmatization of the drug, said Sanity Group CEO Finn Hansel. A completely new legal market is developing in which consumers must orient themselves responsibly, he added.

He also called out the restriction of imports, saying national demand will not be able to be met by German production alone.

Pointing out the governments rule that edibles will not initially be allowed, he said that by restricting the dosage forms, you give the illicit market a gateway to offer more edibles in the future.

To Germanys west, France maintains strict marijuana laws, forbidding all recreational use. The same applies for neighbors Poland and Denmark. Other countries, including Switzerland, Belgium and Austria, keep the substance illegal but allow or do not prosecute small amounts. Under the Dutch policy of toleration, the Netherlands allows coffee shops to sell hash and marijuana to residents.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan described the current economic situation in Armenia as good.

In September of 2022 we recorded 14,6% economic activity index, and a year-on-year 14,1% growth in January-September of 2022. Industrial output grew 10%, construction grew 14,3%, trade turnover grew 14,5%, services grew 27,1%, electric-energy production grew 16,9%. Exports grew 63,8%, imports grew 61,6%, the Prime Minister said, adding that agriculture is the only branch where a decline was recorded.

Pashinyan added that if the optimistic projections become reality, then it will turn out that averagely the 7% pace of growth has been maintained in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.

This years high economic growth brings certain risks for us, next year we must ensure 7% growth again on this high pace, this is our commitment. Once again I want to draw your attention on efficient state spending, which will have crucial significance together with other factors on the economic growth, the PM told Cabinet members.
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan  The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is rolling out 500 self-checkout units at its military department stores worldwide over the next few months.

The DIY stations will be available at AAFES exchanges, convenience stores and specialty locations, according to AAFES spokesman Chris Ward.

Self-checkout allows more customers to be served, improves in-store productivity and increases the availability of associates on the sales floor to assist customers with purchase decisions, he said Wednesday in an email to Stars and Stripes.

Ward declined to reveal how much the project cost, except to say the expense associated with self-checkout equipment is minimal relative to its efficiencies and the improved customer experience it provides. Self-checkout will have no impact on staffing, he said.

Employees who staffed checkout lanes will instead focus on answering customer questions or providing specialized service, according to Ward.

The Exchange is steadfast in its efforts to incorporate technology to improve efficiencies and the services it is honored to provide service members and their families, he said.

AAFES follows the Defense Commissary Agency, which installed self-checkout lanes 14 years ago at its supermarkets on U.S. military bases.

The exchange at Yokota, home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo, put four self-checkout machines into service Oct. 19, store manager Andrew Defelice said Thursday as he watched customers scan their purchases.

Its more expeditious, he said.

Defelice said store employees stand by to assist employees when their items fail to properly scan.

A store employee must approve sales of alcohol and over-the-counter medicines that have age restrictions, he said.

Employees who once manned the registers will spend more time taking inventory or working on store displays, Defelice said.

People might take a while to get used to the new machines, said Air Force Staff Sgt. Brent Cook, 32, of Wheeling, W.Va., as he checked out at the Yokota exchange on Thursday.

Air Force veteran Jerry Deyoe, 61, a contractor visiting Yokota on Thursday from Washington state, said hell still sometimes visits cashiers.

Ill wait in line to have some human interaction, he said.
A Republican senators latest moves against a program that provides visas to interpreters who worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan could spell doom for it, some advocates and aides say.

Lawmakers this week are debating a provision in the annual defense budget that would extend the Special Immigrant Visa program beyond 2023.

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley has raised objections that could kill the program, Jeff Phaneuf, advocacy chief at the Virginia-based nonprofit No One Left Behind, said in a statement Wednesday.

Ensuring the continuation of this program is critical to keep our promise to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with U.S. troops on the battlefield, Phaneuf said, adding that thousands of translators remain in Afghanistan and are seeking the visas.

The Special Immigrant Visa program resettles translators and their family members who face risks to their lives because of their previous work with the U.S. Currently, anyone who applies by Dec. 31, 2023, will be considered.

A spokesman for Grassley declined to comment on the senator's position but said the matter is part of ongoing negotiations, in which various lawmakers have concerns.

"It seems there are a number of objections, from both the House and Senate minority," George Hartmann, deputy communications director Grassley, said in an email Wednesday.

Grassley is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the SIV program. He has objected to it in the past and tried repeatedly to limit its scope, The Daily Beast reported in 2018.

He has taken issue with what he consider lax standards in the program and has sought to include stipulations that only Afghans who were classified as a translator or interpreter can apply for an SIV, according to The Daily Beast.

Grassley represents a significant hurdle to the programs survival, said a congressional staffer who is familiar with the negotiations but is not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Barring something rather extraordinary, the provision probably doesn't get included and the SIV program would effectively stop at the end of 2023, the staffer told Stars and Stripes on Wednesday.

But the program has survived previous objections by Grassley, noted Lawrence Montreuil, legislative director at the American Legion. He downplayed the foreboding expressed by the congressional staffer.

We're frustrated by his opposition, but we're not overly concerned that Sen. Grassley will succeed, Montreuil said Wednesday, adding that if the program ends up in a dire predicament, the American Legion and other groups will lobby for it.

The U.S. welcomed some 74,000 Afghans after the fall of the American-backed government to the Taliban in August 2021. About half of them are eligible for SIVs or have applied, a senior administration official said in 2022.

The SIV program has seen case delays lasting years because of understaffing and a reliance on outdated technology, a State Department inspector general report in 2020 said.

The debate comes amid advocacy for another bill, the Afghan Adjustment Act, which provides permanent legal status to Afghans outside the SIV program or the asylum system.

The bill faces opposition by some Republicans, who say the security procedures in it are not stringent enough.
A Navy SEAL snipers killing of an ISIS fighter in Cameroon, the wounding of a Marine in battle in Tunisia and large-scale gunfights in Somalia.

Those are among the reporting failures across presidential administrations that have put U.S. troops at heightened risk because of insufficient oversight, according to a transnational think tank based in Brussels.

In a report released Wednesday, the International Crisis Group called for greater congressional oversight of ongoing American counterterrorism missions.

The failure to report such hostilities, or quietly and retroactively sweeping them under the 2001 (Authorization for Use of Military Force)  increases the risk that the U.S. will unwittingly slide into new conflicts, the report said.

The report, which focused on authorizations granted after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, argues that lawmakers should take a range of steps to bring more scrutiny to globe-spanning military missions.

For years, critics have lamented that the 2001 legislation has been used by successive U.S. administrations to carry out secret counterterrorism missions outside the public eye and with little pushback from Congress.

Such missions, which the Pentagon generally refers to as advise, assist and accompany operations, continue even as the military has shifted its attention to countering adversaries like Russia and China.

On numerous occasions, things have quickly turned violent. According to one unidentified former U.S. official cited in the report, American forces ended up running with scissors and chasing (high-value targets), which they never should have been doing.

Since 2015, U.S. armed forces have engaged in several clashes that should have been reported to Congress under the War Powers Resolution but werent, the Crisis Group report said.

One little-known episode occurred in 2017 in northern Cameroon, where SEALs accompanied a local unit to a compound flying an ISIS flag. The SEALs took up overwatch 300 yards away as Cameroonian troops approached the site.

An unidentified man emerged with an AK-47, and a Cameroonian soldier tried to fire upon him, but the soldiers gun reportedly jammed, the report said. Acting in what a former official characterized as collective self-defense of the Cameroonian forces, a SEAL sniper shot and killed the man with the AK-47.

Another 2017 battle involved U.S. Marines accompanying Tunisian partners, who got into a firefight with militants along the Tunisia-Algeria border.

A former U.S. official told the Crisis Group that a Marine was shot during the battle when a bullet ricocheted underneath his body armor.

But those instances and several others like them in places such as Niger and Mali werent reported to Congress within the War Powers Resolutions 48-hour reporting period, according to the Crisis Groups findings.

Nor was any of this fighting widely understood to be authorized at the time, the report said.

It made the following recommendations:
WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  House Republicans are launching an investigation into what they say could be the potential misuse by the Biden administration of the nations emergency oil reserves to lower gasoline prices, as well as White House deliberations over a fuel export ban.

The move by the Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform previews a more robust probe if the GOP takes control of the chamber after the November midterm elections, a development that would grant them the power to subpoena key administration officials of President Joe Biden.

Committee Republicans, in a letter Wednesday, said they were examining the use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by the administration amid a historic 180 million barrel release that began in the spring on the heels of Russias invasion of Ukraine and culminated last week when the White House announced it was offloading the final tranche of 15 million barrels. The Republicans also said in the letter to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm that it was seeking information about a possible export ban of refined petroleum products.

We are concerned that the president may soon impose an oil and gas export ban that will result in even higher gas prices, supply chain issues, global market upheaval, and reduced energy security for the U.S. and our allies, said the letter, which was led by Rep. James Comer, the committees top Republican, and South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace.

The Department of Energy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The letter comes amid Republican ire over the administrations use of the SPR to tame high gasoline prices ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. The latest release followed OPEC+s decision earlier this month to slash production, which drew criticism from the White House and further soured U.S.-Saudi Arabia relations. Biden has said further releases from the oil reserve are possible in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias oil minister has warned major importers for trying to tame prices by selling down their inventories. People are depleting their emergency stocks and using it as a mechanism to manipulate markets, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh this week. Losing emergency stocks may become painful in the months to come.

At the same time, the administration has been weighing an export ban on petroleum products like gasoline and diesel, a move that would mark the most radical step yet by the White House to tackle gasoline prices. Although no time line has been set for a decision, which has sparked division within Bidens team, it isnt expected to happen before next months elections, according to a person familiar with the matter.

House Republicans, in their letter, requested documents and communications related to internal communications by Energy Department officials, as well between agency officials and White House staff and third-party groups on releases from the SPR to lower prices as well as in conjunction with export bans, among other documents.

Similar to U.S. oil producers and analysts, the committee members argue withholding exports of petroleum products will drive up global fuel prices and ultimately make it more expensive for the U.S. Northeast and West Coast, regions that are both heavily reliant on imports. The timing wouldnt be ideal, as the East Coast is grappling with shortages of both diesel and gasoline.

Committee Republicans previously have raised flags about the administrations use of the SPR, alleging the Energy Department transferred 900,000 barrels of oil to Unipec America Inc., a subsidiary of Communist Party-owned Sinopec Corp. and the recipient of billions of dollars of investment by BHR Partners, a private equity firm where Hunter Biden, the presidents son, was a founding board member. Republicans also have previously asked the Energy Department for a briefing on the agencys plans to refill the reserves.

The White House said the Energy Department is required by law to sell the SPR oil in a competitive auction to the highest bidder, regardless of whether the bidder is a foreign company. This independent process has been consistent across administrations, said Ian Sams, spokesman for the White House Counsels Office.

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AUSTIN, Texas  Gov. Greg Abbott and four top state lawmakers approved $339 million to keep thousands of Texas National Guard troops deployed to the states border with Mexico.

The officials pulled the funds from the state Department of Criminal Justices budget and said it was necessary because insufficient funds for border security had created an emergency.

The Guard spent about $1.4 billion in its first year of the mission, Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, Texas Military Department adjutant general, told state lawmakers earlier this year. He said he anticipated to spend the same in fiscal 2023.

This is more than Texas lawmakers appropriated for the military departments budget, and this was not the first time Abbott has transferred funds to keep it operational. Officials conducted a similar transfer of about $500 million in April, which supported the border mission for about four months.

The mission, known as Operation Lone Star, puts Texas National Guard troops along the states border with Mexico to stop criminal activity between the legal ports of entry. The service members have the authority to arrest people suspected of violating state law and work closely with the Department of Public Safety.

"As the crisis at our border continues, it is critical that the legislature continues to fund Operation Lone Star as the flow of illegal immigrants, weapons and drugs has hit unprecedented levels," state Sen. Joan Huffman, chairwoman of the Senate Finance Committee, said in a statement. "Because the federal government has completely neglected this emergency, imagine how unsafe communities across the country would be had Texas not stepped up to provide its full support.

There were about 5,400 troops deployed to the border as of July. The Texas Miliary Department did not immediately respond to questions about the size of the border force now or how long they expected the new infusion of money to support operations.

The Texas Legislative Budget Board presented a budget request Wednesday to the states House Appropriations Committee. In it, the Texas Military Department ranked Operation Lone Star ninth on a list of large expenditures it would like to be funded in 2024 and 2025.

However, it did not list an estimated cost because the size, scope and duration have not been determined, according to the budget documents. The state legislature will finalize the new budget in May.
WASHINGTON  China remains the greatest threat for U.S. interests at home and abroad, despite Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, according to a new Pentagon defense strategy released Thursday.

[China is] the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order, and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to do so, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin states in the foreword to the 2022 National Defense Strategy.

The Defense Department unveiled its first National Defense Strategy in four years, a comprehensive security assessment that identifies China, Russia, North Korea, Iran  and climate change  as some of the top threats for which the U.S. military is preparing. It is the first defense strategy issued under the administration of President Joe Biden.

While the strategy identifies several potential threats, it calls China the chief U.S. competitor.

[China] remains our most consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades. I have reached this conclusion based on [its] increasingly coercive actions to reshape the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to fit its authoritarian preferences, alongside a keen awareness of [Beijings] clearly stated intentions and the rapid modernization and expansion of its military, Austin said.

The Pentagon released the 2022 National Defense Strategy concurrently with its nuclear posture and missile defense reviews, which detail the U.S. militarys key priorities and approaches to modern warfare worldwide. Its a department-specific follow up to the National Security Strategy that Biden released earlier this month.

The defense strategy outlines four top-level defense priorities  defending the homeland, deterring attacks against the United States, deterring aggression and preparing for possible conflict and building a resilient joint force and defense ecosystem.

The 80-page strategy is the Pentagons unclassified version. Its classified version was given to Congress last spring, not long after Russia invaded Ukraine, but officials said there isnt a lot of foundational difference between the two versions.

In these times, business as usual at the department is not acceptable, Austin said. The 2022 NDS lays out our vision for focusing the Defense Department around our pacing challenge, even as we manage the other threats of our swiftly changing world. It builds on my 2021 message to the force, which stressed as core values defending the nation, taking care of our people, and succeeding through teamwork.

Biden and other military officials have previously identified China as a potential threat to U.S. interests, in part, because it has made aggressive statements toward Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway territory. Air Force Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, said earlier this month that Beijing creates a unique challenge because China and Taiwan are located in the vast Pacific Ocean, which poses some logistical difficulties in transporting military equipment, weapons and personnel.

The defense strategy identifies Russia as an acute threat.

We chose the word acute carefully, Austin told reporters, adding the word was chosen because its unlikely that Russia can systemically challenge the U.S. over the long term.

Senior defense officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity underscored the importance of nuclear weapons as a deterrent. Russian President Vladimir Putin on multiple occasions has threatened the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, particularly after Moscow sustained heavy losses during Ukraines successful counteroffensive.

Our central charge is to develop, combine, and coordinate our strengths to maximum effect, Austin said in the foreword to the defense strategy.

We live in turbulent times. Yet, I am confident that the department, along with our counterparts throughout the U.S. government and our allies and partners around the world, is well positioned to meet the challenges of this decisive decade.

A significant component to the new strategy, officials said, is the U.S. militarys need to plan for a scenario in which it might need to address multiple conflicts at once.

In a potential conflict with a competitor, the United States would need to be able to deter opportunistic aggression by another competitor, according to the strategy. We will rely in part on nuclear weapons to help mitigate this risk, recognizing that a near-simultaneous conflict with two nuclear-armed states [Russia and China] would constitute an extreme circumstance.

The Pentagon also issued its Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review on Thursday. For the first time, officials said, all three documents were integrated, meaning Defense Department officials and experts across portfolios were involved in putting together the reviews.

One senior defense official described the process as everyone having a hand in baking the cake. The official said the strategy is a call to action for the defense enterprise to incorporate allies and partners at every stage of defense planning.

After China and Russia, the National Defense Strategy identifies other persistent threats to include North Korea and Iran.

North Korea continues to expand its nuclear and missile capability to threaten the U.S. homeland, deployed U.S. forces, and [South Korea] and Japan, while seeking to drive wedges between the United States, [South Korea-] and United States-Japan alliances, the strategy states. Iran is taking actions that would improve its ability to produce a nuclear weapon should it make the decision to do so, even as it builds and exports extensive missile forces, uncrewed aircraft systems, and advanced maritime capabilities that threaten chokepoints for the free flow of energy resources and international commerce.

Some of the important challenges that will affect U.S. national security, the department said, also include global threats such as pandemics and climate change. The Pentagon refers to these as transboundary challenges. Austin called them threats that do not respect borders.

Beyond state and non-state actors, changes in global climate and other dangerous transboundary threats are already transforming the context in which the department operates, according to the strategy. Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent extreme weather conditions will affect basing and access while degrading readiness, installations, and capabilities.

Climate change is creating new corridors of strategic interaction, particularly in the Arctic region. It will increase demands, including on the joint force, for disaster response and defense support of civil authorities, and affect security relationships with some allies and partners.

The coronavirus pandemic is a good example of how transboundary challenges can impact national security, defense officials said. The pandemic is still impacting many countries, global supply chains and the U.S. defense industrial base  and is requiring substantial commitment of resources and is highlighting the immense costs and risks of future biological threats.

Together, these rapidly evolving features of the security environment threaten to erode the United States ability to deter aggression and to help maintain favorable balances of power in critical regions, it states. [China] presents the most consequential and systemic challenge, while Russia poses acute threats  both to vital U.S. national interests abroad and to the homeland.

Two main points of the departments Nuclear Posture Review, the officials said, are maintaining a safe nuclear deterrent and taking steps to reduce the risks of a nuclear war.

As long as nuclear weapons exist, the United States and other nuclear weapon states have a special charge to be responsible custodians of these nuclear capabilities and work with a sense of urgency to create a security environment that would ultimately allow for their elimination, according to the strategy. Nuclear weapons have not been employed in more than 75 years. While ensuring our security, our goal is to extend this record of non-use and reduce the risk of a nuclear war that could have catastrophic effects for the United States and the world.

Austin said the Pentagon is confident that its effectively identifying traditional and emerging defense challenges and responding accordingly. That includes, he said, taking care of Americas troops. For example, he said, a decision to increase pay for service members by more than 4% will take effect in January.

We do not shy away from tough challenges, especially when it comes to securing our national interests and defending our national values, he said. To meet this moment, we will tap into our core strengths: our dynamic, diverse, and innovative society; our unmatched network of allies and partners, and the tremendous men and women of our armed forces.

Thursdays release came one day after Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Biden at the White House to discuss the latest in Ukraine and some of the other threats outlined in the National Defense Strategy.

There are no easy solutions, Biden told Austin and Milley at the meeting, according to the White House. But I know you and your teams are up to the task.  Modernizing and strengthening our military is a core source of our national strength and is a priority for me and my administration.
Kirk Smith Jr. never met his uncle.

The man whos his namesake  Lance Cpl. Kirk Smith Sr.  was killed in the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut. But thanks to a new street sign and the tremendous treasure trove of stories courtesy of the senior Smiths friends, the memory of his uncle will never die.

From what I know of him, he was a good dude and the honor that theyre doing for them is respectable because he died for the United States, Kirk Jr., 37, said.

A portion of Northwest 13th Avenue near Liberty Square was recently renamed Lance Corporal Kirk Smith Way in honor of the fallen U.S. Marine. Smith is the first person born and raised in Liberty Square, known also as the Pork-n-Beans, to have a street named after him, according to former Miami Commissioner Jeffrey Watson. Opened in 1937, Liberty Square is the oldest public housing project in the Southeastern United States.

I can stick my chest out, said Terrence Uncle Tee Smith, Kirk Sr.s younger brother and Kirk Jr.s father.

Terrence called the moment a blessing. As a kid, Kirk Sr. liked to play with army men and read comics. He eventually graduated from Miami Northwestern and went right into the Marine Corps. In Terrences words, his older brother didnt like to hang on the corners and hang around in the hood like his friends.

He always was a traveler, Terrence recalled. Smith added that his extended family, many of whom were spread throughout the east coast from Georgia to New Jersey to New York, knew of Kirk Sr.s love for traveling and would send for him every summer break.

Terrence, however, was the opposite. He liked hanging out. He wasnt really fond of traveling. He was, as he said, the bad cop out of him and his only brother.

When we left the house, he went left, I went right, Smith quipped.

The two brothers different pathways is part of the reason why Smith now views his brothers sign as a point of pride.

For me to still live and see this, its a real, real blessing because I should be either dead or still in prison somewhere, Smith said. His family received a healthy settlement due to his brothers killing and he used some of the money to open his restaurant Barbara & Kirks Barbecue, named after his mother and brother, in the shadow of Liberty Square. A mural of the family is currently being painted on both sides of the restaurant.

Watson played in instrumental role in the street renaming. Understanding how gentrification is rapidly changing the historically Black neighborhood of Liberty City, Watson made sure to push through the item before he left office roughly a year ago.

As you look around, there will come a time when there has to be some sort of memorialization of us, Watson said, even if theres no us.

In the meantime, Kirk Jr. cant wait to show his son, TJ. The 8-year-old is always asking about why there are so many American flags throughout the familys home. Now, hell know why, and arguably even more important to Kirk Jr., he and the others kids in the neighborhood will know that Liberty City does produce greatness.

They can be one of the ones to have their name up their on the sign too, Smith Jr. said. They dont got to go that route that my uncle went but they can eventually go do the right thing knowing that they can have their name honored on one of them streets as well.

2022 Miami Herald.

Visit miamiherald.com .
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. The Department of Investigations of the National Security Service is investigating case number 62207199 on the 27 October 1999 parliament shooting.

The Prosecutor-Generals Office said that a number of investigative actions were carried out in 2022.

In order to reveal possible accomplices of the gunmen, as well as officials who had the possibility or duty to prevent the attack, and people connected with the weapons used in the attack, the authorities questioned several people, including Nairi Hunanyan, Karen Hunanyan, Derenik Bejanyan, Ashot Knyazyan, Anahit Bakhshyan, Ashot Gasparyan, Hrachya Sargsyan, Karen Khachaturyan, Gagik Harutyunyan, Taron Sahakyan, Zhora Sargsyan and others, the Prosecutor-Generals Office said.

Nairi Hunanyan is the perpetrator who led the group of gunmen in the 1999 attack.

Anahit Bakhshyan is the widow of Yuri Bakhshyan, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament who died in the 1999 attack.

Confiscations were carried out.

The files of gunmen Eduard Grigoryan, Vram Galstyan and Hamlet Stepanyan  who died in prison  were confiscated from the prisons to clarify certain questions in the probe into the cause of their deaths.

Other materials of interests have been confiscated from various police departments and other state agencies.

Audio-visual examinations into confiscated videos and recordings are underway.

The data of persons who visited the shooters in prison have been acquired.

Several versions have been brought forward and a plan of investigation has been developed.

On 27 October, 1999 a group of five heavily armed gunmen led by Nairi Hunanyan stormed into the parliament while it was in session and assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Deputy Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, as well as three lawmakers and a Cabinet member. The gunmen held the remaining MPs hostage until surrendering to authorities the next day.

There have since been many theories on possible masterminds, including possible foreign involvement behind the attack. An investigation was reopened in 2019.
Jonathan David Patterson appeared in court charged with murder of 44-year-old

Flowers at the scene of the murder of Liam Christie who was shot at close range in Antrim (Credit: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker)

A Co Antrim man was executed by two men as he slept, a court has heard.

A police officer gave details of the killing of Liam Christie as a 44-year-old man appeared in court charged with murder.

Mr Christie had been shot multiple times, including twice in the face and under his jaw.

Appearing at Ballymena Magistrates court via videolink, Jonathan David Patterson, with an address at Moylinney Park in Antrim, was charged with the murder of the father-of-three.

He was also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm, namely a 9mm handgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

Mr Christie (44) was shot eight times at close range in his home on the Ballycraigy estate last Thursday.

The father-of-three was known to police and was originally from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

Members of the victims family were in court to hear the charges put to the defendant.

The court was told that Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 9.01am on October 20, stating that a male was injured at Craighill in Antrim.

The victim had been temporarily living at the address.

Mr Christie was found in the bedroom of his property not breathing and in a pool of his own blood. Bullet shell casing was found on the bedroom floor.

A post-mortem examination was carried out and it was found that he had been shot eight times, twice in the head, two times to the chest, once to the face and one more shot where the gun was placed under his jaw and fired at close range and other injuries to his arm.

Two separate weapons were used in the attack.

A PSNI sergeant said neighbours reported that shortly after 2.30am on October 20 they were woken by a large bang.

It was said that the front door of the address at Craighill, where the victim was sleeping, would be regularly left unlocked  there was no sign of forced entry.

A CCTV trawl of the surrounding area located two males at 2.34am, a short walk from the scene.

Flowers at the scene of the murder of Liam Christie who was shot at close range in Antrim (Credit: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker)

CCTV also captured two men exiting an address at Whinburn, confirmed as the defendants regular address.

The two males are seen exiting the property and one is seen going to a dark coloured vehicle, while the other goes to a Dacia car parked outside.

Patterson admitted in interview that the Dacia vehicle was his and he is a registered driver.

Both men are then seen walking with one male said to be holding a firearm with a long barrel.

They are picked up several more times on CCTV but there are no cameras that capture the front of the house where the victim had been staying.

Five minutes later the two men are again seen at an alleyway close to the scene of the shooting.

One male was seen putting an item into a vehicle and one walks back into the address linked to Patterson. CCTV later captures a male putting what police believe to be shoes in the Dacia vehicle.

The accused was arrested on Monday afternoon at his partners address in Antrim.

During interview he denied involvement in the murder but provided no alibi for that night.

The court was told that all forensics were outstanding at present.

The police officer said it was a brutal execution carried out while victim lay in bed asleep.

The firearms have not been recovered; the two vehicles linked to the suspects are also missing.

Police claimed if granted bail the accused would destroy evidence or interfere with witnesses.

Ballycraigy is a very tight knit community, people are known to each other, the detective sergeant said.

We have spoken to a large number of witnesses but the majority of people have failed to provide statements due to fear.

A lawyer from Madden and Finucane representing Patterson said that his client denied all charges and had agreed to hand himself into police prior to his arrest.

He also added that his client provided police with a phone that had been examined and did not provide any evidence connecting him to the murder.

The police case seems to be that he is seen with another male walking around the estate, he contended, adding that there was no forensic evidence connecting the accused.

Police rely heavily on the timings of the shootings," he said.

He argued that there were fireworks going off and a thunderstorm on the same night that could have accounted for the witnesses who said to have heard bangs at 2.30am.

The police have nothing here to connect this man, he contended.

There are no witnesses in this case, all the witnesses claim to have heard fireworks.

Police accept he does a school run for his daughter every morning and has lived in that estate all his life.

He has a bail address well away in Scotland.

Magistrate Nigel Broderick said he faces three charges of the most serious nature.

I remind myself this is a bail application not a trial.

I am satisfied that here is prima facia evidence at this case to connect him to the charges.

There are live lines of enquiry.

In all the circumstances I wouldnt minded to commit the defendant to bail.

Patterson was remanded in custody to appear at Antrim Magistrates Court again on November 22 .

A 43-year-old was also arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday morning and remains in custody.
Carey was banned from driving for four years and received a suspended sentence in May

Fraudster Catriona Carey will now contest her driving ban in full after initially pleading guilty to four road traffic offences including driving without a licence or insurance.

Carey, of Weir View Hill, Co Kilkenny, was banned from driving for four years and received a suspended sentence in May.

She appealed the decision and was due to appear in Kilkenny Circuit Court today.

State solicitor Gerald Meaney had asked for the matter to be put back until later in the day as he understood that Carey was due to attend and her counsel needed to travel from another court case in Dublin.

However, Mr Meaney later told the court that he had received instructions from defence solicitor Andrew Broderick that his client intended to now contest the appeal in full and needed time to prepare a case.

Mr Meaney indicated that he understood the appeal was standard in nature relating to the severity of the ban, but it was now Carey's case that she wanted to proceed with a full appeal of her conviction.

"Up until an hour ago it was the understanding these appeals were as normal," Mr Meaney told Judge Kenneth Connolly.

"She has a solicitor and his counsel was at the Criminal Courts of Justice and was due to travel down, but when I spoke to him again he said she wants to contest the matter fully.

"I was certainly surprised as there was no indication of this previously."

Carey, who has been allowed to continue driving while awaiting the outcome of her appeal, was not present in court.

Judge Kenneth Connolly adjourned the matter until January to allow the defence time to put together a case.

The former Kilkenny camogie player came to the attention of gardai last year for driving offences and received 12 penalty points for speeding in a 50kmh zone, speeding in a 120kmh zone while twice she was caught driving while holding a mobile phone.

She received a six-month disqualification from November 8, 2021 until May 8 2022.

However, she was stopped by gardai on two occasions for motoring offences while the disqualification was active.

Garda Julie Chapman gave evidence in Kilkenny District Court that she stopped the defendant travelling along the Castlecomer Road in the county on November 21, 2021.

Gda Chapman said Carey was driving 70kmph in a 50kmph zone and that, when stopped, only had a picture of her driving licence on her phone.

It was discovered that she was banned from driving and when informed of this Catriona Carey disagreed and started roaring and screaming.

Gda Chapman said the defendant was totally out of control and said there was no talking to her.

Her barrister, Kevin Roche BL, said there was a certain confusion about the penalty points which led to her disqualification.

Garda Thomas Loughnane informed the court that he stopped Catriona Carey driving her BMW on the Castlecomer Road on December 10 last year.

Gda Loughnane said he was aware that Carey had been disqualified from driving and informed her of this.

Carey told the garda This is my car, that she felt she was being picked on, and added: Do you expect me to get taxis?.

Judge Geraldine Carthy took into consideration Carey's apology and guilty plea, but said it was difficult to offer an excuse when she was stopped a month later after getting into a car knowing full well she's disqualified.

The court heard how Carey had previous convictions.

She was convicted of fraud in February 2020 after altering a cheque she received from a client who had hired her as his accountant.

Carey changed a cheque for 6,948 which had been made out to Revenues collector general, instead making it payable to herself, and cashed it at a bank in Kilkenny.

She received an eight-months suspended sentence.

Carey, who has been seen driving a silver jeep as the 55,000 white BMW she owns, which she bought with funds lodged to the account of her company Careysfort Asset Estates, remains impounded after gardai seized it earlier this year.

More than 200,000 in client funds deposited by desperate homeowners to the Careysfort account was spent on personal items and services, including the Series 5 BMW.

Carey received thousands of euro from people across the country through a mortgage scheme that offered to buy debt from their lenders at a discount once they paid her a deposit.

RTE Investigates exposed how the deals never happened and the deposits were not returned.

She has since admitted that this money is gone and not recoverable.

Garda investigations into the allegations of fraud are ongoing.
Lupascu was found guilty of assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and public intoxication

Costel Lupascu also abused gardai when they arrived on scene

A drunken man spat in a park supervisors face, laughed and said he had Covid before thumping him in the kidneys.

Costel Lupascu (48) had been asked to leave the park over anti-social behaviour when he delivered low blows to the security mans body.

Judge Bryan Smyth said what he did was pretty disgusting and gave him a four-month sentence suspended for two years.

Lupascu, of Clonskeagh Road, Dublin 6, was found guilty of assault, threatening and abusive behaviour and public intoxication. He had denied the charges.

The victim, Peter Comerford, said Lupascu was with a group of friends being loud and obnoxious in the Blessington Basin park, Dublin 7, on August 12 this year.

One of the group, not Lupascu, urinated on the path in front of women and children. After he asked them to leave, Lupascu got right into my face, clenched his fists and threatened me, he was going to do this, he was going to do that, Mr Comerford said.

They went off but he found them again. When again asked to leave, Lupascu got very aggressive, nudged him with his head and began thumping his stomach and back, with low blows to his kidneys.

Lupascu spat in his face twice, laughed and said he had Covid.

The victim tested negative for Covid but still had to isolate.

Lupascu was verbally abusive to the investigating garda, saying what is wrong with you? F**k you, garda.

The accused claimed he tried to leave the park but Mr Comerford followed him out, badgering him. He denied touching or spitting at the victim.

Lupascu accepted he was drunk but not that he was a danger to anyone.

The alleged abuse was not directed at the prosecuting garda but at another officer who put his hands on the accused, his lawyer said.

Lupascu, from Romania, had been here for 10 years, had worked in a kitchen and was not addicted to alcohol, an alcoholic, his lawyer said.
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.
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.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the 1999 October 27 parliament attack in the Parliaments Park, his Office said.

The PM was accompanied by members of the Cabinet and the Parliament.

Pashinyan laid flowers at the memorial honoring the victims.

23 years ago on this day, a group of five heavily armed gunmen led by Nairi Hunanyan stormed into the parliament while it was in session and assassinated Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Speaker Karen Demirchyan, Deputy Speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, as well as three lawmakers and a Cabinet member. The gunmen held the remaining MPs hostage until surrendering to authorities the next day.
Stefan Posschier, was found dead at the property in Rattin near Milltownpass at around 6pm yesterday evening

A man in his 60s who gardai believe died violently at his Westmeath home was a popular psychic and medium.

The victim, named locally as Stefan Posschier, was found dead at the property in Rattin near Milltownpass at around 6pm yesterday evening.

He was originally from Belgium but had been living in the area for around 20 years.

Gardai are this evening awaiting the results of a post-mortem examination but believe he died in violent circumstances.

Detectives have also identified a person of interest in relation to the suspected murder.

The man, who is also being investigated for other offences, was located in the south-east of the country after Mr Posschier's remains were found.

Gardai at the scene in Rattin near Miltownpass, Westmeath, where the body of a man in his 60s was found. Picture: Collins

The suspect has not yet been formally arrested in relation to the investigation but has been spoken to by gardai.

Locals in the small townland of Rattin today expressed shock at the news of Mr Posschier's death.

One woman said: "He'd have been known around here for doing tarot readings, he would have done them at a few different venues."

Another local man said that the deceased had lived in the area for between 15 or 20 years and was "always friendly" when they met.

He also went by the stage name 'Stefan De Guylian' when working as a medium, clairvoyant and shamanic healer.

Mr Posschier also did tarot readings in towns across the country.

On Tuesday night Garda headquarters announced details of the tragedy and confirmed that an investigation was underway.

A spokesman said: "Shortly after 6pm, the body of a man in his 60s was discovered by Gardai in a house at Rattin near Milltownpass.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene short time later.

The Office of the State Pathologist and Garda Technical Bureau have been requested to assist in the investigation. The local Coroner has also been notified.

The body of a man has been removed from Rattin, Westmeath

Gardai at Mullingar are investigating and the outcome of a post-mortem examination will determine the course of the investigation.

The scene at the property in Rattin near Milltownpass remains sealed off this evening as the garda investigation continues.

A forensic examination of the house is being carried out with inquiries focused on locations both inside and outside the home.

Shortly before midday a hearse arrived to take the deceased's remains to the local mortuary at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, where a postmortem examination is being conducted.

It's understood Stefan Posschier lived at the property for more than 20 years and previously had an address in south Dublin.

The house where the grim discovery was made is located along a lane that passes over the M6 motorway, near Rattin Castle.
A masked man gestures at the camera after grave is left broken and shattered in an attack likely ordered by those behind Careys murder.

The aftermath of the attack on the Carey grave in Palmerstown Cemetery

The aftermath of the attack on the Carey grave in Palmerstown Cemetery

THE grave of slain Dublin mobster Gary The Canary Carey has been smashed up and a taunting video sent to members of his grieving family.

Carey passed away in hospital last August two months after being shot in an underground car park in Kilmainham, south Dublin.

Carey had been involved in bitter drugs disputes with convicted killer Brian Rattigan  who is now based in Spain  as well as the west Dublin gang known as The Family. The Sunday World previously reported that gardai are investigating whether those gangs were involved in his death.

This week, rival mobsters filmed an attack on his burial plot at Palmerstown Cemetery, smashing up the marble gravestone and using a screwdriver to prise off a family photo.

Video shows men vandalising the grave of murdered gangster Gary Carey

During the shocking attack, a masked man gestures to the camera after the grave is left broken and shattered by the marauding thugs.

The headstone was then struck with a rock and then flung on the ground during the horror incident.

Balloons with the word dad can be seen as the attack on the memorial continues.

The father-of-three was buried alongside his brother, Darren Carey, whose name adorns the monument, which is still surrounded by wreaths and tributes.

Garys 20-year-old brother was shot dead with his pal Patrick Murray (19) during the New Year period between 1999 and 2000.

The aftermath of the attack on the Carey grave in Palmerstown Cemetery

Gardai said in a statement: Gardai are investigating an alleged incident of criminal damage at a cemetery in Dublin 20 that occurred between Tuesday 25th October 2022 and Wednesday 26th October 2022. No arrests have been made at this time. Investigations are ongoing.

Gary Carey (41), who was linked to at least one murder and was suspected of involvement in a number of other gun attacks, died at St Jamess Hospital following the shooting in Kilmainham on June 24.

The notorious criminal was shot numerous times and was hit in the shoulder, arm, chest and leg by the gunman who is thought to have had him under surveillance.

Witnesses reported hearing up to eight shots before Carey was discovered critically injured in the underground car park of the Hilton Hotel in Kilmainham.

It was previously reported he was not wearing a bullet-proof vest after working out in the hotels gym and was chased around the car park by the gunman.

Detectives believe that a silver Audi vehicle was used in the shooting and are investigating if the gunman was waiting in it in the underground car park prior to the attack.

This car was later found burnt out in Blessington, Co Wicklow.

The vandalised grave in Palmerstown Cemetery

Carey, originally from nearby Islandbridge, may have been targeted after getting into a dispute with three separate gangs over his drug distribution network in the capital.

He had been based in Spain for a number of months before returning home in the weeks before he was shot.

Last November, Carey was lucky to survive after being shot several times outside a house on Ballyfermot Crescent.

Carey was sitting in a car in the front drive of a house when a gunman fired nine bullets through the windscreen.

The previous March, gardai also received reports that he was shot at in Ballyfermot but escaped serious injury.

He only received a light injury in that attack and drove himself to hospital and did not make any complaint to gardai.

The aftermath of the attack on the Carey grave in Palmerstown Cemetery

Carey had been questioned a number of times by detectives in relation to seizures of drugs, firearms and cash.

Despite his multiple arrests as part of organised crime investigations, Carey had only served one significant prison sentence when he pleaded guilty to drug dealing at Dublin Circuit Court back in 2002 and was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

On another occasion, he was charged with assault but the charges were later dropped.
CRIME WORLD | Episode 175: The murder trial of Detective Garda Colm Horkan

Motorbike mechanic Stephen Silver has denied murdering the officer but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility

Garda Colm Horkan and, inset, murder accused Stephen Silver

Nicola Tallant Sunday World Thu 27 Oct 2022 at 11:42






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 appeal focused on the daily challenges faced by people in Zimbabwe to provide food, water and education for their families

Thandelike and her children will benefit from the Aid Match scheme in conjunction with Trocaire's Lenten Campaign

Trocaire has run the health services in the Gedo region of Somalia for over 30 years. Irish Aid funding has been crucial to the development of this programme. Photo: Miriam Donohoe.

Irish charity Trocaire has announced it has secured an additional 2m (2.3m) in funding for this years Lenten Appeal through the UK Aid Match initiative.

That has boosted the 2m plus raised, thanks to the generosity of people of Northern Ireland.

The appeal, which ran from March to May, focused on the daily challenges faced by people in Zimbabwe to provide food, water and education for their families due to drought caused by climate change and the effects of Covid-19.

Over 2m was raised in Northern Ireland through the appeal and 2 million is being matched by the UK government, the maximum amount available, resulting in a total of more than 4m (4.6m) for Trcaires work.

Thandelike and her children will benefit from the Aid Match scheme in conjunction with Trocaire's Lenten Campaign

Siobhan Hanley, Trocaires Head of Region in Northern Ireland, thanked the people of Northern Ireland for making it possible.

She said: This extra funding will be used to create long term, positive change in the lives of people in Zimbabwe and to enable them to be self-sufficient and not to have to rely on aid. People living in poverty, especially women, in drought-prone southern Zimbabwe have been disproportionately affected by the long-term impacts of Covid-19. These matched funds will enable thousands of people within the country, particularly women, to continue feeding their families despite these impacts and through climate shocks and other challenges.

The news came as Trcaire issued a dire warning about the current food crisis in the Horn and East Africa which has left millions of people facing starvation.

Siobhan added: There are 22 million people in the region, more than 11 times the population of Northern Ireland, and they are currently facing starvation due to ongoing drought, with this figure projected to rise substantially by the end of the year.

Millions are suffering massive displacement due to four failed consecutive rainy seasons which have resulted in a million and a half people already forced to leave their homes.

One of the countries in the region where Trocaire is working to avert disaster is Somalia, where the agency provides critical health support to over 200,000 people each year in the Gedo region in the south of the country.

The situation in Somalia is a stark reminder of what happens if support is not in place in times of crisis, she added.

This match funding will make a difference to the lives of thousands of people and would not have been possible without the terrific support and generosity of people in Northern Ireland who, despite the challenges of Covid and the cost of living crisis, have shown yet again that they stand in solidarity with people in the developing world who face a daily struggle to survive. I cannot thank those who donated to our Lenten Appeal enough.
Pictures show that part of the remaining structures at the Applegreen site, where 10 people lost their lives on October 7, are being dismantled

A Garda Crime Scene Investigator on duty at the Applegreen Service Station at the centre of the Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal. Pic: Joe Dunne

Gardai have said that work is underway at the scene of the tragic Creeslough service station explosion to make it safe.

Pictures show that part of the remaining structures at the Applegreen site, where 10 people lost their lives on October 7, are being dismantled.

A specialist team of investigation experts is overseeing the operation, while gardai are coordinating efforts with expertise from post-blast investigators from the Garda National Technical Bureau.

Other experts from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities and the Health and Safety Authority are also helping to ensure that the site is safe and secure.

Meanwhile, Donegal County Council has appointed a Community Support Officer to Creeslough, to help all those affected by the tragedy.

They will be available at Unit 12 of the Wild Atlantic Campsite from 10am to 4pm today and tomorrow.

A Garda Crime Scene Investigator on duty at the Applegreen Service Station at the centre of the Creeslough explosion in Co Donegal. Pic: Joe Dunne

The Irish Red Cross will host a public meeting in Creeslough tonight to update the community on its plans for the distribution of funds raised through a national appeal.

The meeting takes place at Creeslough Community Centre in Massinass at 7pm this evening.

Funds from the 1.3million raised jointly by the Irish Red Cross, Applegreen, and An Post for those affected have started to be distributed.

Around 35,000 has been distributed so far.

The 10 people who lost their lives in the incident were Leona Harper, 14; Martin McGill, 49; Martina Martin, 49; Catherine ODonnell, 39; and her 13-year-old son James; Jessica Gallagher, 24; Hughie Kelly, 59; Robert Garwe and his five-year-old daughter Shauna Flanagan Garwe; and James OFlaherty, 48.

A further eight people suffered serious injuries, of whom one is understood to remain in a critical condition.

The scene of the explosion is currently undergoing a make safe process and experts from a number of agencies stand ready to assist with the Garda investigation into the cause of the blast at Creeslough, gardai said.

The scene investigation is being coordinated by Garda National Technical Bureau (GNTB) Crime Scene Managers who are highly experienced post-blast investigation experts.

Experts from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) are also providing valuable assistance and expert guidance on site, while independent specialists in gas and oil installation failures/explosions have also been brought in to assist.

Gardai added: An Garda Siochana retains primacy of the scene with a Crime Scene Manager from the Garda National Technical Bureau overseeing all forensic and expert activities on site.
Sharyar Ali (34) killed little Hunter McGleenon while he was supposed to be caring for him

Baby Hunter's family speak to the the media outside Newry Court on Thursday, after Sharyar Ali, aged 34, was sentenced for his murder (Colm Lenaghan)

The family of a murdered Co Armagh baby have branded his killer "a monster after he was jailed for at least 13 years.

Hunter McGleenons family said they had been robbed of lifes precious gift after Sharyar Ali was sentenced on Thursday.

He inflicted serious injuries on the defenceless 11-month-old child.

Ali (34), who had an address at Westenra Terrace in Monaghan, killed Hunter while he was supposed to be caring for him.

Members of little Hunters family were at Newry Crown Court for the sentencing.

Hunter died in Keady, Co Armagh, on November 26 2019.

Ali, who was in a relationship with Hunter's mother, had been caring for the baby while she went to visit a sick relative.

He pleaded guilty in April just before he was due to go on trial for murder.

Sharyar Ali

After the sentencing, Hunters aunt Coleen McGleenon said: This monster who murdered a defenceless baby will, at some point, get to go on to live his life whilst we will continue to grieve and struggle with ours.

No amount of time will make up for what our family have lost - not being able to see baby Hunter take his first steps, say his first words, celebrate his first birthday, or grow and develop in life.

We have been robbed of life's precious gift.

That monster has taken everything from us.

We love and miss you Hunter, more than any words could say."

Detective Inspector Mark Gibson said: First and foremost, my thoughts today are with Hunters loving mother and family, who have suffered terribly. This is a loss that no one  no parent  should ever have to endure."

He said: Mr Ali, who was in a relationship with Hunter's mother, had been entrusted to look after the baby while she went to visit a sick relative.

He originally claimed the little one had sustained head injuries from a fall, but he subsequently admitted to murder."

DI Gibson said Hunter suffered serious injuries.

"These were injuries inflicted by Sharyar Ali  the very person who should have been caring for and protecting him.

Its been an extremely distressing case, and Im grateful to my officers for their dedication and sensitivity from the beginning of the investigation right through to todays sentencing."

Newry Crown Court heard on Thursday that Hunter, an only child, was an "affectionate" and "healthy" little boy who was not yet walking when he was left in the sole care of Ali at Ms McGleenon's home in Keady on November 25 2019.

The prosecutor told the court that Ms McGleenon had asked her then-boyfriend to take care of Hunter so she could attend to her grandmother.

Ali took the baby to see Ms McGleenon at about 10pm that night to say goodnight, and there had been "no cause for concern".

It was the last time Hunter was seen alive by his mother.

Detective Inspector Mark Gibson and Hunter McGleenon's aunt Coleen speak to the the media outside Newry Crown Court as Sharyar Ali was sentenced for murder

The prosecutor said Ms McGleenon later returned to her own home with her sister in the early hours of November 26 but Ali did not answer the door.

He said they banged on the door and shouted through the letterbox for around 20 minutes in a bid to gain entry but they failed to do so and left.

The following morning Ali drove Hunter to the house where Ms McGleenon was staying and told her and other members of her family that the little boy was unable to breathe, at which point they rushed out to the car but he was dead, the prosecutor added.

Describing the events of the morning of November 26, the judge, Mr Justice McFarland, said Ali had appeared "calm" when he arrived at the house.

"You initially said that Hunter was asleep but soon volunteered that Hunter, in your words, had fallen off the sofa, had hit his head and was not breathing," the judge told Ali.

"Understandably that caused panic in the McGleenon family. Family members ran out to the car and observed Hunter, who was in his car seat. He appeared to be unresponsive and appeared to be lifeless.

"Resuscitation was attempted by family members. Emergency services were quickly on the scene."

Undated handout photo issued by the PSNI of Hunter McGleenon who died in Co Armagh on Tuesday, a post-mortem was examination was carried out and the results led police to believe the youngster was murdered.   PA

The judge added that the emergency services crews were of the opinion that "Hunter was dead" and his death was later confirmed.

He told the court the injuries Hunter suffered were caused by "blunt trauma to the head" and that it was "crystal clear" they were not due to the baby falling off the sofa, as Ali had originally claimed.

Mr Justice McFarland said medical evidence confirmed there were 19 areas of head and neck injury to Hunter that "may not relate to 19 separate episodes of trauma, but it does reflect multiple injuries to this area nonetheless".

The judge also said it was the opinion of the assistant state pathologist that those injuries had been caused by "either direct trauma, or blows or kicks and/or by shaking of Hunter".

"The medical opinion was also that, at the time, Hunter having received these injuries would have been in a state of reduced consciousness," he added.

"What is crystal clear is that the injuries were not caused by Hunter falling off a settee or falling from a similar height or by a similar mechanism. Death was certified as being caused by blunt trauma to the head."

In his ruling, the judge told the court he was imposing a term of 13 years for the murder of Hunter after taking account of victim impact statements as well as aggravating factors and mitigating factors.

He said he had received victim impact statements detailing how Ms McGleenon and the rest of the family are "devastated" by Hunter's death and that, over the years, their grief and suffering "has not departed".

He added that Ms Gleenon suffers from "persistent complex bereavement disorder", which he described as "perfectly understandable", but told the court he would not be divulging any further details of the victim impact statements in a bid to protect the family's privacy.

Mr Justice McFarland said he had also taken into account mitigating factors.

Ali had no criminal record, had a good work record in recent times, had no history of drug or alcohol abuse, and had a mild learning disability with traits of autism, the court heard.

The judge said he had taken into account that there was no previous aggravated behaviour.

He handed down a term of at least 16 years reduced by three years for Ali's guilty plea to the murder charge.
A band of heavy rain will move in from the west by evening, though, bringing with it the chance of embedded thunderstorms 

A Status Yellow rain warning has been issued for 16 counties ahead of a deluge of heavy rain and local flooding.

Met Eireann advised that the alert will be in place for all of Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Tipperary and Waterford from 11pm tonight to 8am tomorrow.

Heavy rainfall is likely to cause flooding in Carlow, Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow, the forecaster tweeted.

However, a rainy start to Thursday will later make way for a drier spell with some sunshine as temperatures look set to hit 18 degrees in places.

A band of heavy rain will move in from the west by evening, though, bringing with it the chance of embedded thunderstorms, Met Eireann said.

Rainy weather

The rain will clear all but northeast and east counties by Friday morning with clear spells and heavy showers following, Met Eireann said.

Friday will see sunny spells and scattered showers, some of which will be heavy, and most frequent in the west half of the country while drier in the southeast. Highs will range from 14-17 degrees.

Highest temperatures will be in mostly moderate southwest winds, fresher in the southwest and west.

Rain over the southern half of the country will be heavy at times on Saturday morning, bringing a risk of flooding, Met Eireann revealed.

"The rain will clear northwards in the early afternoon to scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in moderate southerly winds.

Rain will clear for most by Saturday night with a chance of heavy showers along east and south coasts, possibly bringing thunderstorms to coastal areas.

Sunday will see sunny spells and scattered heavy showers becoming widespread by afternoon with highs of 13-15 degrees.

Met Eireann are forecasting further unsettled weather for bank holiday Monday and beyond with temperatures set to dip slightly next week.
My sister is a doctor in the USA and shes with me here and she has seen your nose and you have a BCC - a basal cell carcinoma

Minister of State for Health Mary Butler has revealed how she found out she had skin cancer after a chance encounter with a woman during a St Patricks Day event in Brussels.

She had noticed there was a spot or mole on the bridge of her nose previously but during a consultation with her GP, she was told it was benign.

It used to heal and it used to come back and it used to kind of come back and then it would heal again, The Fianna Fail minister told Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk.

I tried every kind of a cream that you could rub into it.

However, when the wires on facemasks she used during lockdown kept inflaming it, Ms Butler asked to be referred to a dermatologist.

She was given an appointment for May and in the meantime was sent to represent the Government at St Patricks Day events in Brussels.

And there were lots of Irish people milling around and I met a lovely girl who had twin boys and she was from Ireland and feeling really lonely on that day" she said.

But it was the chance encounter with another woman that stopped her dead in her tracks.

She was walking with the Irish Ambassador to the Grand-Place when she met a stranger who said to her: I hope you dont mind what Im going to say to you.

"But my sister is a doctor in the USA and shes with me here and she has seen your nose and you have a BCC - a basal cell carcinoma.

"Its a form of skin cancer and you should get it checked out.

In May, Ms Butler went to her long-awaited appointment with the dermatologist and was given some good news.

He told me it had to be removed but that it was more of a nuisance than anything else, she said.

He referred her to a plastic reconstructive surgeon and they operated on her in June under local anaesthetic.

It was like being at the dentist because I was frozen from my nose down to my mouth.

Further analysis confirmed that it was quite as benign as hoped for and the doctor described it as a rodent ulcer - so it borrows right down.

A further operation was scheduled for 29th September - which was coincidently her birthday.

The last thing I remember before I went to sleep was about nine of them all around the bed and the anaesthetist, the consultant and the nurses, everyone, all singing Happy Birthday to me!

Minister Butler returned to the Dail yesterday and says she hopes her story will serve as a reminder about the dangers of skin cancer.

It is a warning to people, she said.

I tan fairly well and I never thought I would be one of the people that would have skin cancer.
Nicola Furlong was just 21 years old when she killed by American Richard Hinds while studying abroad in Japan in 2012

The mother of Nicola Furlong is speaking out ahead of the release of the man who killed her daughter while studying abroad in Japan in 2012.

Nicola was just 21 when she was murdered by American musician Richard Hinds in a killing that shocked the nation.

Her mum, Angela, will appear on Primetime tonight as her still grief-stricken family fear Hinds release from a Japanese prison in 23 days time.

"Hes counting down the days till his freedom when he gets on with his life and we still have to carry this burden every single day, she tells RTE.

Nicola was on her way to a concert with a friend in May 2012 when the pair asked two Americans for directions. They were Richard Hinds and his co-worker James Blackston, both working in Japan on a musicians tour.

All four drank and danced together at a nearby bar before Nicolas friend passed out. She had just taken a Tequila shot handed to her by James Blackston, she said in court.

Nicola

The two women were bundled into a taxi while Hind and Blackston were captured on CCTV discussing what they would do sexually to Nicola and her friend.

Both women were unconscious when they were brought into a hotel, where a worker prepared wheelchairs for the two girls.

Tonight on Primetime, Angela explains her reaction to the devastating footage shown in court.

"It was awful. She couldnt stand, to put two girls into wheelchairs. Thats some sort of sick mind that would do that. Horrendous.

James Blackston was later jailed for sexually assaulting Nicolas friend in another room and for a separate sexual assault weeks earlier on another woman he allegedly spiked.

Hotel staff called the police when noises were heard from Richard Hinds room. He had strangled Nicola, who was found unconscious by officers just after 4am on May 24.

As he was 19 at the time, Nicolas killer was sentenced as a juvenile and given 5 to 10 years with labour.

He has never shown remorse, so has served a full sentence and will be released in just 23 days.

The fact that he showed no remorse, Angela says on Primetime tonight. He's just a horrible, nasty person to do that to a little girl. The day he walked past me in court, when he had been sentenced, that he had to count 10 years.

"We were counting days without Nic and now he's counting days till his freedom when he gets on with his life and we still have to carry this burden every single day."

On RTE this evening, Angela recounts the heart breaking moment she got the call that her daughter had been killed half-way across the world.

Nicola Furlong and her mum Angela.

"I just fell to the ground. There was a noise came out of me, it wasn't human. It was just a shock. It was horrendous.

"I'll never forget that morning, at that time we didn't know the circumstances surrounding it. When you hear of an accident you automatically think of a road traffic accident, and I was trying to think, was she on her bike?

"I then had to go up to Gorey and tell my parents that Nicola was gone. We didn't know that the circumstances for about two days."

Angela reveals that she travelled to Japan with Nicolas father Andrew and her sister Andrea for more than just the trial of Hinds:

"I just wanted to make sure there were no traces of Nicola left in Tokyo. The clothes she wore the night she was murdered.

"I have those at home. The only thing that's missing is her shoe. There was one shoe in Tokyo belonging to Nicola and that is it.

"Everything else, all trace of Nicola is gone from Tokyo, back home with us, where she should be."

In July, Andrew Furlong told the Irish Independent that the family have been living a nightmare ever since" Nicola was killed.

"Hes going to get out and youd be worried for other peoples daughters.

A security source told sundayworld.com in May of this year that Hinds will be released from prison as he cannot legally be held any longer. He will be just 29 years of age. Still with his entire life ahead of him.

Angela Furlong speaks to RTEs Primetime at 9.35pm tonight on RTE One and RTE Player.
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan received today the delegation of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces led by Guillaume Ollagnier, Head of the General Department for International Relations and Strategy at the Ministry, the Office of the Security Council said.

The meeting was also attended by French Ambassador to Armenia Anne Louyot.

Armen Grigoryan welcomed the delegations visit to Armenia and highlighted the importance of their visit.

Grigoryan and Guillaume Ollagnier praised the bilateral practical steps aimed at both deepening and expanding the Armenian-French relations.

During the meeting Armen Grigoryan presented also the process of the Armenian Army reforms and the efforts aimed at achieving regional peace.

They discussed the prospects of developing the cooperation in the field of defense.
A senior security source said a secret bug heard Charlie McCormick admitting he carried out the 1977 killing of Catholic Sergeant Joe Campbell

MI5 bugged the home of a notorious Special Branch officer and secretly recorded him admitting carrying out one of the most controversial murders of the Troubles, the Sunday World has learned.

A senior security source said a secret bug heard RUC Sergeant Charlie McCormick admitting he carried out the 1977 killing of Catholic Sergeant Joe Campbell, whose inquest resumes this week.

MI5 placed a bug in McCormicks house, the source told the Sunday World. I heard snippets of the recording myself. And I listened to an emotional McCormick admitting that he had killed Sgt Campbell.

McCormick was later charged with murder but was found not guilty.

The source said: This was recorded after Sgt Campbells death but before Special Branch Sgt Charlie McCormick was arrested and charged with the murder.

Police officers have told me that had the tape been made available to those investigating the murder, McCormick would never have seen light of day again.

The bug  which has since been removed from the house  was thought to have been in the kitchen of McCormicks home near Ballymena.

And if it was in the kitchen theres every possibility it picked up this reporters conversations with McCormick  who died aged 77 in 2014  as I was a frequent visitor to the house in the mid-eighties to the early nineties after his acquittal where I tried to persuade him to do an on-camera interview for the BBC.

Sgt Joe Campbell

McCormick often hinted that he might one day tell his story. But he never did. He faced trial for the murder of Sgt Campbell in 1981 but was found not guilty.

Father-of-eight Sgt Campbell (49) was shot dead as he closed the gates of his country station in Cushendall, Co Antrim.

McCormick was convicted on 27 charges of armed robbery and possession of firearms and explosives but was later cleared on appeal.

McCormick and his republican informant Tony ODoherty had been suspected by other police officers of being involved in a series of shootings, using explosives and the robbery of Post Offices and a bank in the Glens of Antrim.

A Special Branch (SB) colleague of McCormicks  Denis Murray  worked with Sgt Campbell on gathering intelligence on McCormick and ODoherty but rather than file their intelligence reports in the normal way in the Ballymena SB office, they secretly took them to Belfast.

Retired officer Denis Murray told me: Joe Campbell and me knew that McCormick and ODoherty were involved in robberies and other crimes.

Charlie McCormick had ODoherty shooting up Portglenone police station to create the impression that the IRA were active in the area. Then he would report to headquarters in Belfast that he had learned of supposed IRA planned attacks in his area.

He would create fear of these attacks and get out-of-bounds orders in certain areas, meaning no police or soldiers could enter for fear of attack. Thats when he and his informant would do the Post Office and bank robberies.

It became very predictable.

The evidence gathered by Sgt Campbell and Denis Murray as well as other police officers was written down on Special Branch report forms and delivered into the hands of operational head of Special Branch Mick Slevin.

This was how they kept their detective work secret from McCormick.

After Sgt Campbells murder, Mr Murray expected these intelligence files would be produced to help the murder investigators.

But the files were missing. Some of them did turn up during the murder investigation.

Denis Murray said they were found in black bin liners during a search of a house where McCormick was a lodger for a time after the break-up of his first marriage.

How did they get there? he asked. Those reports made it abundantly clear that Joe Campbell was being targeted for murder.

And now you tell me there was a taped admission by McCormick in the hands of MI5, said Mr Murray. That tape would have been enormously helpful to the murder investigation into Joe Campbells killing. It should have been made available.

But MI5 did not make the tape available and it wasnt the only time they withheld such potential evidence. A 1982 MI5 surveillance tape at a hayshed in Lurgan in Co Armagh in which police shot dead a teenager, Michael Tighe, was not provided to John Stalker. trigger

Joe Campbell junior told me he believed loyalist killer Robin Jackson pulled the trigger on his father.

He told me he once confronted Robin Jackson along with Sunday World reporter Martin OHagan, who was later shot dead by the LVF.

Joe said: I put it to Jackson that he killed my father and this is how he responded: I am convinced I had nothing to do with that. But I still believe he did it.

He then referred to a crucial section of the report by Police Ombudsman Dr Michael Maguire which pointed the finger of blame at the RUC for failing to conduct an effective investigation of the murder of his father.

The report stated: The failure of Special Branch to disseminate the highly relevant intelligence, had a profound and adverse impact on the RUC murder investigation and the lives of all parties involved, particularly the Campbell family. This inaction resulted in a delay of more than three years before any semblance of a proper investigation began.

Denis Murray was one of those who provided that intelligence.

And he is determined not to let the murder of Sgt Campbell rest until theres a proper exposure of the truth about the manner of his death and the failure of the police to truthfully account for their failings to save him.

How did our intelligence reports go missing and then end up in bin liners at a house where Charlie McCormick lived?

Remember these were files we were assured by the head of Special Branch that were being placed in the Chief Constables safe. It looks like they we placed elsewhere  perhaps into the hands of the chief suspect in the murder of Joe Campbell.
Gerard McKenna (33) struck the victim during an encounter in the city centre earlier this year

A man who snapped and assaulted a street preacher in Belfast has been given a conditional discharge.

Gerard McKenna, 33, struck the victim during an encounter in the city centre earlier this year.

McKenna, a chef from Forfar Street in Belfast, admitted a charge of common assault.

He was arrested after police were alerted to the incident at Donegall Place on May 31.

A witness claimed that he observed the defendant run up to another man who was speaking into a microphone and punch him in the face.

McKenna was due to contest the allegations, but instead pleaded guilty at Belfast Magistrates Court.

During a hearing on Tuesday defence barrister Michael Boyd said his client had an earlier interaction with a group of street preachers over alleged comments about alternative kids in the area.

Read more Gardai seize cocaine worth 67k while on patrol in north Dublin

On his way back something else was said, he snapped and struck this particular individual, counsel submitted.

He had difficulty remembering what happened, but was ashamed about the way it was described to him. Its not in his nature.

Mr Boyd disclosed that McKenna suffers from complex post-traumatic stress disorder after being subjected to a serious beating in the past which left him in an induced coma for a week.

The defendant now works as a chef at a primary school while studying at the Open University, the court heard.

Mr Boyd added: Its very unlikely he will be back before the court for anything like this in future.

Passing sentence, District Judge Alana McSorley confirmed: There will be a conditional discharge for 12 months.
The podcast has gone from strength to strength since it launched two years ago, and I am delighted that we are continuing to reach new audiences who have varied interests in crime.

Nicola Tallant's Crime World Podcast has attracted over one million listeners in just one month

Sunday Worlds podcast, Crime World , has reached an enormous milestone as it surpassed one million listens in just one month.

The hard-hitting crime reporting of award-winning journalist Nicola Tallant has helped to bolster the podcast as Irelands number one true crime podcast, regularly featuring at the top of the charts.

Tallants expert coverage of the Regency Murder trial, as well as the murder of Sean Fox, the trial of John Gilligan and the story of George The Penguin Mitchell, were the most listened-to episodes within the last four weeks.

Celebrating the news, Nicola Tallant said: Its great to know that our listeners are enjoying the content that we make, but not only that, we see it as they engage with us on social media about the issues that are important to them.

The podcast has gone from strength to strength since it launched two years ago, and I am delighted that we are continuing to reach new audiences who have varied interests in crime.

Over the last 264 episodes, the show has covered a variety of stories to keep the audience engaged.

Our listeners enjoy learning about everything from gangland feuds and drug busts to serial killers and how the law works.

She added: "I'm covering the Gerry Hutch trial at the moment. It is being dubbed the 'trial of the century' and my aim is to bring the listeners into the courtroom with me.

"I want them to feel they are there listening to the evidence and tasting the atmosphere as not everyone can go along themselves.

Sunday World editor, Brian Farrell added: "Crime World celebrates its two-year anniversary next month, so to have surpassed one million monthly plays in such a short space of time is quite a phenomenal achievement.

"The series was the first of its kind in Ireland and its success is a testament to Nicola Tallant's reputation as one of the country's leading authorities on underworld criminality, he continued.

"As Sunday World approaches its 50th anniversary in print, it's appropriate that Nicola has taken our unique style of crime reporting and introduced it to an entirely new digital audience."

It comes as the podcast is set to launch The Dingle Whiskey Movie Club.

Nicola Tallant is set to take listeners beyond the usual gritty headlines on her podcast as she and a host of guests review some of the most popular gangster films of our time.

Comedians Emma Doran and Peter McGann, presenter Fionnuala Jay, podcasters The Two Norries, and a host of Sunday World favourites will join Nicola across five very special episodes.

Crime World is available to listen now on Apple, Spotify, and more.
I think once you put the leather jacket on, youre in trouble, Adam Weafer jokes, referring to Cians trademark attire

Fair City fans were left reeling tonight with the bombshell revelation that the killer in its biggest whodunnit mystery in years is Dermot Fahy.

Dermot, who reappeared in the show just recently after an absence of five years, confessed to killing Cian Howley after a confrontation between the pair at Raffertys building site.

James had earlier tonight revealed the woman in the picture is a sugar baby named Megan and the key  which had Cians blood on it and turned out to be the murder weapon - belongs to an apartment he rented for her.

He insisted Megan never returned the key when he ended things.

Carol and Rafferty planned to meet Megan to find out more. When Dermot barged in on their meeting, Carol discovered that Megan is actually Dermots daughter, Zoe.

Zoe swore she knows nothing about the key. Rafferty was suspicious of Dermot and Zoe and wanted to go to the guards, but Carol convinced him to let her speak to Dermot first.

Murdered Cian Howley

Gardai told James they knew the key belonged to an apartment leased in his name, in which Cian was residing. Fidelma posited that James was the real target, and Cian was collateral damage.

Carol met with Dermot to explain things. Dermot insisted Zoe was not capable or murder and revealed that he was the one who killed Cian.

Actor Seamus Power played Dermot, who in the soap was sent to jail for robbing Paul Brennan.

I think Cian didnt burn bridges, he blew them up, laughed actor Adam Weafer, who played Cian.

This latest whodunnit on the hit RTE soap comes on the back of the murders in recent years of Kerri-Anne Bishop, Ritchie Lennon and Will Casey.

Adam laughed when its suggested the north Dublin soap is beginning to rival Midsomer Murders in body count.

I think once you put the leather jacket on, youre in trouble, he jokes, referring to Cians trademark attire on the show.

The 32-year-old admits he enjoyed playing the part of the troublesome teacher, having arrived into the cast almost three years after replacing a different actor who previously had the same role.

Theyre the best ones to play. I was lucky to crack one of them out of me because it was fun to play.

Its strange, because when I started out to play him he was quite a nice character, where he did have a past but I never kind of played that (devious) role.

But I think he just comes from a very troubled childhood with his father and he kind of always got away with murder it seemed with his mam, the star explains.

I had to play him in a sense where I had to give him a moral compass. I just didnt want to play a pantomime villain, so I had to give some reasoning behind his actions.
The Love Island star (31) spoke about the steamy fling on ITV2's Shopping with Keith Lemon, which airs tonight.

Maura Higgins has revealed that she spent a drunken night with a woman when she was younger.

The Love Island star (31) spoke about the steamy fling on ITV2's Shopping with Keith Lemon, which airs tonight.

In the programme, Maura goes toiletry shopping with the comedian, who grills her about her love life.

He asks: Have you been with a lady?"

And the Longford lady replies: I actually have. It was years and years ago and it was just a drunken night thing.

She then admits: I am more... man.

Keith then asks her if she found it different kissing a woman instead of a man, to which Maura answered: It was but I was very drunk, you know.

Maura Higgins

Later on the show, the reality star shares her belief that women need to stop relying on men being good in bed and learn how to give themselves an orgasm.

Most girls I know have never had an orgasm, she explains.

But do you know what it is? I dont think people understand  you actually have to teach yourself how to orgasm, its not about how good the man is or whatever, its about you as a woman.

Us women dont understand how lucky we are, the women that can, do you know what I mean?

It comes after Maura was spotted locking lips with The Only Way Is Essex star Joey Essex (32) at the Pride of Britain Awards on Monday night.

The pair were photographed looking cosy and even went home together in a taxi afterwards.

And according to eyewitnesses, Mauras ex-boyfriend Giovanni Pernice, who was also attending the event at Londons Grosvenor House, was less than impressed with the pairs flirty behaviour.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional is said to have stormed off after seeing Maura and Joey share a kiss.

A source told The Daily Star: Joey and Maura were walking through the afterparty hand in hand through the sea of celebs in the red room.

The pair were smiling, but Mauras ex definitely wasnt as he walked right past them in a huff.

The loved-up pair were then standing in the foyer area with their hands entwined talking about how they were getting home.

However, a rep for Giovanni denied the rumours, saying: This story is totally untrue. Gio enjoyed his evening celebrating with friends and colleagues. He had a brilliant evening at the Pride of Britain and loved meeting the winners and heroes on the night.
Winston Watusi

Music Plus

Musicians tend to do a bit of everything  but not Mike Garner.

Particularly in a place the size of Tauranga youll find most musicians have played a broad range of music. If youre a guitarist youve probably played in a covers band or three and made music that might range from folk to metal.

This is just the reality of things: its a smallish city and options are limited. Many musicians will pursue the style of music they most want to play while dabbling in all sorts of other stuff on the side, whether to gain experience, to make a buck, or just for the sheer pleasure of playing music.

In the great scheme of things you might prefer country music to jazz but that doesnt mean you cant have a bunch of fun playing jazz while youre setting up those country gigs...

But not Mike Garner.

Mike plays the blues. Well, sings and plays and writes the blues. For as long as Ive known him Mike has been a bluesman. He founded the Hamilton Blues Society 30 years ago when he lived there and the Rotorua Blues Club a decade or so later when he switched cities. For the past decade hes been living in Papamoa.

If youve read this column over time you would probably know this since I have written about him on and off for years, as he has toured the country continually and released a string of critically-acclaimed albums.

Headlines

And therein lies a bit of a problem for anyone dedicated to a craft so specific: Mike Garner Plays The Blues is a great headline for the first story but Mike Garner Plays The Blues (Again) isnt so good. Once you reach Mike Garner Is Still Playing The Blues (Again) a certain amount of deja vu is creeping in and, over time, its easy to start taking what he does for granted.

This is particularly true for Mike since, between tours, he makes himself so available. Most recently hes played the Blues, Roots & Groove Festival in Palmerston North and a series of South Island gigs with harmonica maestro, Neil Billington. But here in Tauranga you can always catch him one Saturday night each month at The Barrel Room in a blues duo for free.

So when he puts on a special ticketed show here I suspect there are folk who rather take it for granted, assuming itll be the same thing, the same songs theyll be able to hear of a Saturday for free...

Well, Im here to tell you that youre making mistake! While those monthly downtown gigs are a generous treat presenting one of the countrys top bluesmen in a relaxed intimate surrounding for free  seriously, what more do you want?  The key word in special ticketed show is special.

November

At the start of November Mike is getting the band back together, recreating a fantastic tour he undertook last year. This is the quartet known as the Ragtime Washboard Kings, with drummer/washboard player Warren Houston returning from Motueka in the South Island and upright bass player Stuart Lawrence coming back from Dargaville. Multi-instrumentalist (including washboard) Robbie Laven completes the band.

Between them they delve into some of the most entertaining blues ever made, the wonderful sounds of the early Mississippi Delta and other southern states, mainly originating between the two world wars, incorporating acoustic guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, fiddle, djembe, cahon, and all sorts of eclectic acoustic sounds as well as, of course, those two washboards.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, a washboard is just that. A corrugated metal, wooden or glass board that people actually used to wash clothes in the days before Fisher & Paykel invented the washing machine. It was a mainstay of early blues and continues today to be a defining feature of Zydeco music. Search the name Clifton Chenier on YouTube and youll see what I mean.

Together the Ragtime Washboard Kings create something special. Theyre at The Arts Junction in Katikati on Thursday November 3 and The Jam Factory on Saturday, November 5. Tickets are $25, available from the respective venues websites.

Ragtime Washboard Kings. Photo: Supplied.
Powerco is using low flying helicopters to inspect parts of its rural network in the Bay of Plenty in November.

The work is part of a pole top photography survey, which Powerco has conducted each summer for the last four years.

From November 2022 to February 2023, Powerco will use low-flying helicopters to take high resolution photographs of more than 50,000 power poles, lines and associated hardware on its electricity network across the Bay of Plenty, South Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu and Wairarapa.

The work in the Bay of Plenty is planned for November 1  7, however, this timeframe may be extended in the event of bad weather.

Powerco customer delivery head Mark Hermann says its an efficient and effective way to carry out network inspections to help deliver a safe and reliable power supply to customers.

Getting clear, aerial visibility of our network allows us to assess the condition of our assets, check for any potential issues such as vegetation growing into lines, and resolve them before they cause harm or outages.

The helicopters will only be flying in open air space, above 1,000 feet in urban areas, and above 500 feet in rural areas.

We work hard to minimise the potential disruption to customers. We strictly follow Civil Aviation Authority regulations and notify customers about the flight paths in advance through a range of online, print and social media advertising as well as direct communication with local stakeholder and community groups.

We know that low-flying helicopters may unsettle some animals or affect planned events, so we encourage any concerned customers to please contact us, so we can alter our flight plan timings if necessary.

For more information about the flight areas, or to ask a question or log a concern, visit www.powerco.co.nz/helicopter
Police and Special Olympics athletes from the Tauranga club are poised for a walk which starts at the Waka on The Strand at 1pm on this Saturday to support the nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run.

The walk is poised to head from The Strand onto Devonport Road, travel via Elizabeth, then Grey Streets, back towards the waterfront by the Soundshell.

The Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games are being held from 8 to 12 December in Hamilton.

A contingent of New Zealand Police will walk alongside Special Olympics local athletes and carry the Flame of Hope this Saturday for Tauranga and other Bay of Plenty athletes.

The flame symbolises courage, celebrates diversity, and unites communities around the globe with over 97,000 law enforcement members carrying the Flame of Hope at events annually.

The Flame of Hope represents courage, opportunity and equality and represents LETRs mission of engaging law enforcement worldwide to be champions for acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities, says LETR New Zealand Charitable Trust chair and New Zealand LETR director, Inspector Mark Harrison.

Sergeant Anna Plowman of Tauranga Police is proud to be involved in this leg of the torch journey.

We are really happy to support an awesome event like this and were wishing all the amazing athletes the best and good luck for the competition.

Special Olympics chief executive Carolyn Young is excited to see the nationwide Law Enforcement Torch Run weaving its way around the country and reaching Tauranga this week to mark the final countdown to the National Summer Games.

Our clubs have been building up to our pinnacle event for five years, and the LETR is a wonderful way to raise awareness around the country and to get everyone excited about the National Summer Games, says Young.

We are very grateful to the New Zealand Police for being such a fantastic partner in this event for so many years and we hope the people of Tauranga and the rest of the country will come out in numbers to show their support for our athletes.

Acting Inspector Anson Lin walks with athletes from the Howick-Pakuranga club through the Manakau Velodrome on their torch run.

The torch will be travelling through most major centres in New Zealand in the next two months.
Rainbow Warriors - a photographic exhibition telling the stories of 25 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, former and contemporary personnel from the New Zealand Defence Force  will have an extended run over summer at the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa, Waiouru.

The exhibition was developed in 2019 as part of Pride 25, a series of events commemorating 25 years of LGBTQ+ personnel serving openly in the NZDF, and recognising the journey of the NZDF from exclusion to becoming a world leader in military LGBTQ+ inclusion.

The exhibition includes large portrait images accompanied by individual personal stories, each of them both inspirational and poignant.

Warrant Officer Annie Clarkson of NZDFs OverWatch Group contacted the National Army Museum in Waiouru to see if it would like to exhibit them.

OverWatch supports the unique needs of the Defence Forces LGBTQI staff  both in uniform and civilian, and provides education to its leaders so they understand different sexualities and gender identities.

Warrant Officer Clarkson says the response from the National Army Museum was amazing and the exhibition opened last month.

It will run until the end of January next year to ensure more schools will have the opportunity to visit, as well as the general public.

It was great to see the portraits up and being viewed by so many people, including overseas visitors. The images are very powerful and the stories inspiring, some of them a bit heart-breaking to start with.

The hope is that it will show people outside of the military how far we have come and that we now fully support our Rainbow Community. It will inspire some of the newer generation to join up with no fear, knowing they will be encouraged to bring their whole selves to the workplace.

Rainbow Warriors is a photographic exhibition that tells the stories of 25 lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, former and contemporary personnel from the NZDF.

From the National Army Museum, Warrant Officer Clarkson will be transporting the portraits and stories to Auckland and the Navy Museum and then hopefully at other museums.

I definitely dont want any of them going back into the closet any time soon.

The National Army Museum is open 9am to 4.30pm daily. See www.armymuseum.co.nz
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan extended condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the terror attack in the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz.

It is with sorrow that I learnt about the act of terrorism in the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which claimed the lives of dozens of innocent people.

Armenia condemns all forms and manifestations of terrorism.

I extend sincere condolences and support to the families and friends of the victims and wish swift recovery to all those who were injured, the Armenian Prime Minister said in a letter to President Raisi.
Some things are too big to tackle alone, so Tauranga City Council is teaming up with mana whenua partners, stakeholders and its communities to create Taurangas first climate plan.

One of several council Action and Investment Plans on the go this side of Christmas, the climate plan will clearly outline what actions we can take together to fight climate change.

Tauranga City Council Commissioner Shad Rolleston says the community has made it clear that looking after the environment and reducing our carbon footprint is important to them, and the council is listening.

New Zealand and Tauranga Moana are already experiencing the effects of climate change with rising sea levels, increased time spent in drought and when it does rain, we get a lot of it in a single event, he says.

Globally, if we dont reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, the climate will keep changing and well face huge challenges in the future. Tauranga must play its part in that global effort.

Shad acknowledges it can be hard to know what to do as an individual or single organisation when facing something as daunting as climate change, which is why we need to take action together.

One easy thing everyone in Tauranga can do right now is to jump online and take our survey, which will help us get this right. A youth climate conference is also being planned for early next year to ensure we include the views and perspectives of our rangatahi, he says.

The whole community has a part to play in addressing the effects of climate change  from government and business through to communities and individuals  and we want to hear from everyone. Some actions the council can lead, but many are in the hands of others. Our ambitions need to be broader than any single organisation or individual.

When we lift each other up, we all win.

Other Action and Investment Plans the council is looking for feedback on before Christmas include making Tauranga more accessible for everyone, making our communities safer, and doing more to support arts and culture. Unlike the climate plan, these plans are not starting from scratch.

Instead, they will pull together actions from councils existing plans and strategies and build on feedback already received from the community to create new actions.

Weve heard from more than 10,000 people through various methods that they want to live in a place where we prioritise nature, lift each other up and fuel possibility. These plans will include actions that are already planned and identify possible new actions that can be considered as part of our future planning and investment decision-making, says Shad.

Together our community has decided that its important for Tauranga to become a city for the people and live up to its name  Tauranga  a place of safe anchorage and wellbeing.

We know everyones time is precious, so were not bothering our communities by asking questions weve already asked before, but we are checking in on anything new, like the climate plan, which is a first for this council.

To take the survey go to www.Tauranga.govt.nz/actionplan
The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that police unlawfully entered a Bay of Plenty home on November 2, 2020.

Following an encounter with Ms X, a woman asked police to serve Ms X with a trespass notice.

Three officers went to Ms Xs home and knocked on her front door.

Ms X did not wish to speak with them, so did not answer.

When Ms X heard the officers opening her back gate, she was alarmed and fled into the bathroom, locking herself in.

The officers entered her home through the unlocked kitchen door, without a warrant, says the IPCA ruling release today.

Ms X complained the officers unlawfully entered her home.

At first, police told us the officers lawfully entered Ms Xs home under section 14 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012, says the IPCA ruling.

Police said they had reasonable grounds to suspect a risk to the life or safety of Ms X that required an emergency response.

We independently investigated Ms Xs complaint. We found, and police now accept, that the officers unlawfully entered Ms Xs home.

The officers did not have the necessary information to form a reasonable suspicion that Ms Xs life or safety was at risk and that they needed to urgently respond, which would justify a warrantless entry under section 14 of the Search and Surveillance Act 2012. No other power made their entry lawful.

The authority also found the police staff involved were ill-equipped to effectively respond to mental health crises, despite being routinely called upon to do so.

The officers did not have substantive information indicating Ms Xs life or safety was at risk, says authority chair Judge Colin Doherty.

Their perceptions were coloured by the fact they are often asked to respond to suicide and self-harm incidents.

Those incidents remained fresh in the minds of the officers. Although the actions of the officers were unlawful, they were not uncaring.

Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Tim Anderson says while police note the IPCA report into the incident, the officers had genuine concern for the woman.

Given that, they entered the home based on what unfolding at the time, the information they had available and their past experiences.

The IPCA notes that the officers concern for Ms X was genuine and not uncaring.

Police officers go to work every day to keep people safe, and part of this work does involves complex incidents where people are in potential mental distress.

In these instances, we enable our people to make the best decisions possible (with the information they have at this time) to ensure peoples safety and wellbeing.
Creating integrated, accessible health care for whanau has been the focus for Te Puna Ora o Mataatua as it opens its all new medical hub in the heart of Kopeopeo.

Rehua Medical, formerly known as Med Central, opened in Whakatane on Monday October 10, with an all new name and location.

The facility, which was previously located 100 meters up the road, behind Adamsons Pharmacy, has opened its doors at 90 King Street, Whakatane.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Chief Executive Dr Chris Tooley is elated to have the facility up and running.

Months of hard mahi (work) and planning, and our desire to ensure healthcare is easy to access for our Mataatua whanau (families) have led us to this point.

This medical hub offers whanau (families) new avenues of support on their hauora (health) journeys whilst also remaining true to our core value, that is, to provide manaakitanga (care) for Mataatua whanau and ensure they live healthy and supported lives.

All the same friendly doctors, nurses and administration staff continue to operate the servicewith new next generation facilities and modern medical equipment coming at no extra cost.

New features include six consultation rooms, a three-bed nursing triage area and capacity to enrol at least 10,000 patients. The clinic can be accessed through automatic doors and is mobility friendly.

This gives us capacity to grow and meet the demand of our rohe in the short to medium term, and also gives us space for another General Practitioner which we are currently recruiting for, says Dr Chris Tooley.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatua Chief Executive Dr Chris Tooley gives a speech at the blessing of Rehua Medical. Photo: Supplied.

The facility also includes a shared reception space with Te Puna Ora o Mataatua, with the aim being to provide better wraparound care for whanau (families).

We want our new facility to be the centre point for all whanau (families) wanting to access our health, medical, social and employment services.

Te Puna Ora o Mataatuas Cultural Director Haromi Williams says this vision is strongly reflected in the services new name, the name of the building and in the name of its reception, which have all been jointly gifted to Te Puna Ora o Mataatua by its Board together with Kahui Kaumatua.

Rehua is spoken as the Chief among our stars. It is also the tenth and highest of heavenly realms for Maori.

Rehua possesses the power of health, the ability to heal and the gift to cure disease.

As the eldest son of Rangi and Papa and first manifesting as lightening, Rehua is also a source of invigoration and innovation, guiding us to push the boundaries in exploring new ways of serving our whanau (families).

The name of the building is Te Whakarauora o Rehua which broken down is whaka, or to make something happen, rau meaning one hundred, ora being life or health, and Rehua is the power of healing.

Our whakaaro (thinking) behind this ingoa (name) is to say there are a hundred (or many) ways to heal.

Lastly, our reception, which will be known as Te Wheke O Muturangi is about recognising our integrated model of care.

History tells us Kupe pursued a wheke (octopus) with the same name from Hawaiki to Aotearoa.

The spaces within Te Whakarauora o Rehua are an ode to the tentacles of the wheke (octopus).

It all comes back to whanau (families), and serving them the best way possible.

Haromi Williams says one person who was instrumental in gifting these ingoa (name) was former Te Puna Ora o Mataatua deputy chairperson, academic, and long-serving member of the New Zealand Maori Council, Maanu Paul, who sadly died in September 2022.

Maanu was a staunch Maori rights advocate who believed in the betterment of Maori through Maori led solutions.

His strong belief in mana motuhake is something that will live on not only in the legacy of his lifes work, but also in this taonga he has gifted to us in Rehua Medical.

The all new medical hub is just the first step in Te Puna Ora o Mataatuas goal of regional, integrated care.

Over Labour Weekend Rehua Medical also launched its mobile arm, Rehua Nuku Ora, a fully mobile GP bus.

Rehua Nuku Ora launched at Ngati Awa Te Toki with free ear checks for whanau. Photo: Supplied.

Medical Director Jethro LeRoy says both of these sites offer whanau different avenues to use when they need healthcare.

The variety means some existing barriers, like not having the right travel, are removed and our whanau can seek the care that they need to live a long and healthy life.

The mobile bus unit has a reception, two minor surgery rooms, and a full bathroom. It also has extendable awnings to allow for drive-through services to take place, or care to be given to whanau outside of the unit too.

Another barrier to healthcare is sometimes cost. With both of our new services, all fees will remain the same including free healthcare for under 18s and subsidised health care appointments for youth and kaumatua, says Dr Jethro LeRoy.

Communities hoping to have the bus travel to them for care will be able to enquire about this by emailing reception@rehuamedical.co.nz

Whanau wanting to visit the fixed site at 90 King Street Whakatane will be able to visit between 8am and 4pm weekdays.

Everyones welcome at Rehua Medical and we cannot wait to see you at both facilities.
A radical shake up is being proposed to address plummeting voter turnout and a lack of diversity around council tables.

Set up 18 months ago by Minister of Local Government Nanaia Mahuta, an independent panel has now come up with 29 draft recommendations and a number of questions as it closes in on its final report.

The Future for Local Government review proposes allowing 16-year-olds to vote, mana whenua appointees potentially sitting alongside elected Maori ward councillors, moving all councils to the Single Transferable Vote system, and more money for councillors.

Panel chairperson Jim Palmer says while Maori wards are valuable, mana whenua appointees are a recognition of the special place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in New Zealand, which allowed for the greater involvement of iwi and hapu in local decision making.

We think its a more nuanced conversation than just one person, one vote, says Palmer.

He maintains that councils will be strengthened by being able to take a te ao Maori approach to local issues.

However, decisions around the number of appointees should be left up to individual councils, rather than legislation, he says.

Moving all councils to a Single Transferable Vote system in place of the First Past the Post method currently favoured by most councils would also lead to greater diversity on councils, says Palmer.

It works best when there are multiple candidates for a ward, as an example - it ensures every vote counts.

In the same way, lifting the amount councillors are paid will help encourage a wider range of people to put their names forward than the very narrow section of society candidates are currently coming from.

Many who wish to be able to stand for council are unable to because nearly it becomes a full-time role and its only those who are highly self sufficient [who can stand].

Palmer says it's only fair that 16-year-olds be allowed to have a say about the make-up of councils.

Youth use a lot of local government services, whether its parks and reserves, libraries, playgrounds, swimming pools, bus systems, and theres a growing interest we see in youth in issues that affect them.

Moving from three- to four-year terms would give councils more breathing space.

That short cycle puts pressure on councils to be thinking about the next election, whereas a four year term, which is adopted quite widely around the world  enables councils to implement their plans that theyve been elected on and hopefully encourages a longer term view.

There was also a recommendation to take the running of elections away from councils and the companies they contracted to, and hand them over to the Electoral Commission.

Palmer says the commission is better placed than councils to promote elections to both candidates and voters.

Promoting greater diversity and a wider range of candidates is not necessarily in the councils or elected members best interests, he says.

The panel was eager to hear from a wide cross section of people on its proposals and asked a number of questions of councils around the sorts of changes they believed would help achieve the review's aims.

Submissions on the draft close on 28 February, with the final report due to be delivered to the minister by June next year.

-Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
YEREVAN, 27 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 27 October, USD exchange rate down by 2.68 drams to 396.70 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 2.13 drams to 398.17 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate down by 0.04 drams to 6.47 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 3.34 drams to 458.62 drams.

The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals.

Gold price down by 47.31 drams to 21258.06 drams. Silver price up by 7.42 drams to 249.85 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams.
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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Director of the United States State Departments Office of Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts Mark Cameron paid his respects to the victims of the Armenian genocide by laying flowers and observing a moment of silence at Armenian Genocide Memorial in Tsitsernakaberd, the United States Embassy in Armenia said in a statement.

He also toured the Armenian Genocide Museum, where he learned more about the Armenian genocide in which 1.5 million Armenians perished, and signed the honorary guest book.
Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp.  Vessel 'Nissos Kea' attacked by drones at port of Ash Shihr, Yemen

Two drone-driven exploded in close proximity to a vessel that had called for loading at the port of Ash Shihr in Yemen

ATHENS, GREECE, October 21, 2022  Okeanis Eco Tankers Corp. (the Company or OET) (Oslo Bors: OET), today provides an update on one of the Companys tankers, the Nissos Kea. In the afternoon of 21 October 2022, while the vessel had called for loading at the port of Ash Shihr in Yemen, there were two drone-driven explosions in close proximity. Neither explosion impacted the vessel. All crew is safe and unharmed. There was no damage to the vessel and no pollution. Accordingly, our Master sailed the vessel from the loading port and she is now in international waters. All necessary precautionary measures were duly taken beforehand and during the incident. The relevant authorities have been kept closely informed, as required. The Company is satisfied that its health & safety protocols, which are well-designed to deal with such circumstances, were appropriately applied to ensure the safety of our vessel and our crew in a timely manner.




YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Baroness Caroline Cox, member of the House of Lords of Great Britain, raised during the parliamentary debates the issues of non-fulfillment of commitments to Armenia by Azerbaijan and holding Azerbaijan responsible for war crimes by the United Kingdom government, while Lord Hussain reaffirming the British government's support for EU-led mediation efforts.

ARMENPRESS reports Caroline Cox said, Baroness Cox. My Lords, I thank the Minister for his encouraging reply, but I point out that I

have visited Armenia twice this year and witnessed the pain inflicted on Armenians by Azerbaijan with impunity, including failure to fulfill its commitment in the 2020 ceasefire agreement to release all prisoners. Whereas Armenia released all Azeri prisoners, Azerbaijan recently confirmed holding at least 33 Armenian captives, including three civilians, and several hundred Armenians are still missing, with Azerbaijan refusing to allow Armenia to retrieve its dead from the occupied territories. There is recent video footage showing the maltreatment, torture and slaughter of Armenian prisoners. What significant initiatives have been or are being taken by the UK Government to call Azerbaijan to account?

Lord Hussain. My Lords, the recent border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan highlight the urgent need to accelerate the EU-led peace and normalization process between those two countries. Does the Minister agree that to achieve a sustainable solution to all the remaining issues and fully normalize the relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a comprehensive peace agreement needs to be in place? Furthermore, can the Minister reaffirm the British Governments support for the EU-led mediation efforts between the two countries?
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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. On October 25, in Erbil member of the National Assembly of Armenia Rustam Bakoyan, accompanied by the Consul General of the Republic of Armenia Arshak Manukyan had a meeting with the Speaker of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament Rewaz Faeq, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia.

Rustam Bakoyan presented to the interlocutor the main purpose of his visit, touched upon the provision of the humanitarian aid to the needy Armenian families and the Yazidi refugees of Sheikhan Camp.

At the meeting a reference was made to the perspectives of the inter-parliamentary cooperation. Taking into consideration the term of the authorities of the parliament was extended for one year, Bakoyan proposed Rewaz Faeq to observe the possibilities of visiting Armenia with parliamentary delegation. He added that the Armenian side will convey the official invitation, and its terms will be specified through diplomatic means.

During the meeting Rustam Bakoyan also raised the issue related to the recognition of the diplomas of the Armenia universities in the Iraqi Kurdistan. The Speaker of the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament promised to be consistent in the solution of that problem within the framework of her authorities.

The sides discussed the matter of the presence of the national and religious minorities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament. The Armenian MP highlighted the provision of a separate quota in the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament to the Yazidi people, taking into account the presence of about 500.000 Yazidis in Iraqi Kurdistan. Rewaz Faeq noted that at present a series of issues regarding the presence of the national and religious minorities in the Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament are under discussion between the national and religious minorities between the political forces of the Iraqi Kurdistan.

Rustam Bakoyan presented the Azerbaijani aggression against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia in May, November of 2021, and in September 2022 and the invasion to the internationally recognized territories of the Republic of Armenia.

At the meeting issues on the role of the parliaments in the development of trade-economic cooperation were also discussed.
In brief: Even before it launched, Microsoft was promising to bring Android connectivity to Windows 11 to offer users a similar functionality that iPhone customers have long enjoyed with Macs. A new look at a developer roadmap sheds more light on the Android elements heading to the Windows experience.

A GitHub page for Windows-Android subsystem developers has revealed Microsoft's roadmap for improving Android compatibility on Windows 11. The company's plans include incorporating the recently-released Android 13.

The roadmap displays a column for Android app features Microsoft has either implemented or soon will and another for plans further off in the future. The latter mentions adding Android 13 support and lists tools such as file transfer, shortcuts, picture-in-picture, and default local network access.

In the "current features" column, Microsoft is still working on Android widgets, direct Bluetooth access, BLE, file backup and restore, hardware DRM, picture-in-picture, quick tiles, and USB. Just a few of the many already-available functions include front and back camera support, ethernet, GPS, secondary display support, gamepad compatibility, WebView, and freeform window management.

The Android app compatibility that Microsoft promised with Windows 11 reached public availability with the first update in February. Microsoft released the feature in a "preview" state, letting users access around 1,000 Android apps from the Amazon AppStore. Users can also sideload APK files. Developers will continue implementing more features over time.

Google released Android 13 for its Pixel phones in August, with it coming to other devices later this year. Most of the major OS update's new features deal with security, privacy, and customization. Android users gained more granular controls over which files apps can access and more cross-compatibility with tablets and Chromebooks. It's unclear how much of this new functionality could make its way into Android apps for Windows 11.

The new and upcoming Android features in Windows 11 follow the 22H2 update Microsoft began rolling out in September. The patch includes a new video editing app, Start Menu changes, HDR calibration, Smart App Control security, and more. It also refreshes File Explorer, giving it a new homepage. Developers are also adding browser-like tabs at the end of October.

Users adoption has been somewhat lukewarm on Windows 11. Recent metrics indicate that Windows 11 is gaining traction much more slowly than Windows 10, primarily due to the new OS's onerous CPU requirements. A significant number of systems may not support it at all.
Any workplace without management would be unimaginable, since diverse work arrangements function well for different companies. Office management software is available to help you with such concerns.

These solutions could bring you and your staff together for improved relationships and cooperation, rather than just providing office personnel management. So, no matter how many resources you have on hand or how fully-booked your calendar is, you can readily sort out your task operations.

What Is Hybrid Work Management?

Simply said, hybrid work office management is a dynamic approach that enables your staff to distribute their time between working in the office and working from home. The best space management software can boost the workforce's efficiency, resulting in higher productivity and career satisfaction while overcoming the primary problems that hybrid setups pose.

How to Manage Hybrid Working

Aside from clearly communicating goals to employees, increasing freedom for self-direction, and other strategic methods, the best way to manage hybrid setups is to give the necessary tools and assistance. The appropriate technological tools are essential for any remote-first architecture, and once you've chosen the ideal one, everything else will fall into place, from goal setting to work productivity.

Space Management Tools for the Hybrid Work Model

Now, to make your hybrid work model more bearable and successful in the long run, here is the best space and workplace management software for this setup.

#1 Yoffix

Yoffix is one of the best office management software for managing hybrid workplaces and teams. Yoffix is a Microsoft partner and offers full-scope integration with Microsoft Office 365, including MS Teams, Azure AD, and Outlook/Exchange. Yoffix can also be integrated with Slack, Google, and leading HR systems like BambooHR or Personio.

Yoffix helps implement a flexible office concept with Shared Desks and Home Office to manage office attendance, bring employees together, and optimize office space by >50%. It provides the best booking experience for desks, meeting rooms, telephone booths, and parking slots.

Employees can easily coordinate their office days with each other, and team leads can invite multiple teams to the office with just a few clicks. You may use this office space management software to help your staff build a work schedule that works best for them.

Using Yoffix, you can leverage everything you have on hand to make your hybrid projects work. You can assess office usage to plan & manage capacity, create a more comfortable workplace environment, and minimize expenditures. You can also track attendance to ensure your teams are meeting on-site to work together and socialize.

Also, you have the liberty to enforce disciplined use of your hybrid office. This contains weekly reminders, a weekly plan, a channel bot, scheduling notifications, a check-in, and other features. With these options, you don't need to worry about no-shows or resource waste. Yoffix provides several check-in methods, including Slack, MS Teams, and sensors at your workstation.

Key Features

It's a flexible office builder for offices of any size and complexity.

This office personnel management aims to bring your teams together to meet and collaborate.

Employees can share scheduling information and plan office days together.

Locate coworkers' desks to quickly find them at your disposal.

Set office days for teams to work and interact, and choose who should be at the office. Yoffix will distribute seats to them automatically.

It provides weekly reminders and daily check-in options to enhance disciplined use.

It commits to full transparency on office use and teams' attendance.

It offers an intuitive office day and desk booking in MS Teams.

Google, Microsoft AD, Okta, OneLogin, Open ID Connect, and SAML are all supported.

It offers dedicated assistance with integrations.

You may also use 3D floor plans, bookable desks, rooms, tel booths, parking spots, and variable asset distribution to digitize a workplace of any size and complexity. Designate specific work areas in peaceful areas or for dog owners. Employees can be filtered by departments or offices. Meet additional coworkers on-site.

Plan your schedule appropriately, including office, work from home, and travel days. Choose the most comfortable spot in the workplace for you, and reserve a desk for a few hours or the entire day. Filter desks easily to locate the workspace that meets your requirements.

Aside from that, this space management software allows you to administer your workplace via Microsoft Teams. From there, you can utilize MS Teams to organize and arrange office days, book desks and rooms, and track office usage and attendance. Simply select MS Teams as your preferred channel to receive all booking notifications.

You can also add the Yoffix chatbot to any Slack channel to check who will be at the office on a specific schedule. Then, access seamless communication with your coworkers without the hassle of manually synchronizing your schedules.

This office people management interacts with BambooHR, Workday, and Personio to help onboard new workers and synchronize employee data and absence status. You don't need IT to set it up since there are only three simple steps.

Benefits

Synchronize everything from top to bottom to remain in touch with employees and work operations.

Optimize your workplace space and save 50% on your expenditures.

Secure where you can sign in via SSO.

Employee data may be synchronized with Personio, BambooHR, Active Directory, SCIM, or imported through CSV.

It's GDPR-compliant, employing best practices in security, privacy, and data protection.

People may use familiar tools to manage bookings, get notifications, and collaborate with colleagues.

Bring your teams together on-site or in a hybrid setup to meet, collaborate, and enjoy the job you do together only with Yoffix. To get started, schedule a demo today or view their price plans here.

#2 OfficeRnD

By using sleek and simple desk booking and room scheduling, this hybrid office management brings workers together in collaborative and flexible workplaces. It enables employees to easily locate and reserve available desks on a detailed workplace map.

With customizable hybrid work software and a meeting room booking system, OfficeRnD makes it simple to identify and reserve rooms. Advanced search allows you to identify available spaces depending on location, size, and room amenities.

Enhance employees' workplace experiences by providing an easy-to-use mobile app and web access. Allow people to reserve workstations, conference rooms, or any other form of space by communicating corporate policies, events, and rewards.

This platform allows you to give your workers an immersive hybrid work experience fully integrated with Office365, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook. You may also use an office personnel management solution to allow employees to identify and reserve any area in minutes. Allow customers to pick between your company's main headquarters, regional offices, or any coworking space.

Key Features and Benefits

Manage employees, their tasks, and schedule

Easily onboard and invite new employees

Set hybrid and on-site conference meeting

Book meetings and access everything from different devices

Integration with other productivity tools

#3 Stayhome.ai

Stayhome.ai is an artificial intelligence-powered tool for forming and managing hybrid teams. This office management software allows you to intelligently organize who will work remotely or in the office. By providing a good perspective for your employees' requirements using this software, you can save money, enhance their productivity, quickly reintegrate teams back into the office, and boost employee morale.

In 10 seconds, you can easily build a weekly/monthly employee work plan. Reduce per-employee costs by eliminating redundant space without sacrificing productivity or company demands. Automatically organize your hybrid work plan based on the essential aspects of your business. Maintain your efficiency and growth by utilizing the greatest tools available under one platform.

Access to a dedicated mobile app for employees guarantees that you can control your team consistently, regardless of where they like to work. Plus, this office personnel management platform's versatility makes it an ideal tool for any firm that works with hybrid (partially remote and office-based) teams, attracting clients from a wide range of sectors and business disciplines.

Key Features and Benefits

Powered by artificial intelligence

Seamless sign-up and task delegation

Created for flexible work setups

Easy to implement, ideal for newbies

Made for different use-cases

#4 Maptician

Maptician can help you transform your office into a hybrid workplace. This hybrid office management system provides your team with space and communication capabilities. In exchange, your organization will receive interactive floor layouts, integrated desk hoteling, room booking, and personnel scheduling to provide the finest hybrid office strategy.

The traditional seating pattern of one person per desk is no longer appropriate for the modern office. When establishing your seating arrangement, Maptician's seats provide versatility. Employees generally reserve seats and meeting space based on the availability of other employees in the office.

Your employees may use Maptician to know when their coworkers will be in the office, discover available meeting space, and make seat or room bookings.

The data and analytics capabilities provided by Maptician also assist you in making informed judgments on how to best utilize your coworking space. The detailed reporting gives you the information you need to upsize, downsize, modify seating, plan an office redesign, and more.

You can modify your seating configuration, add office space, or reuse existing space with Maptician's Map Editor tool. At the same time, employees may view any modifications to your workspace in real time.

Key Features and Benefits

Lets you create spaces for your team

Seating strategies for a more modern workplace

Well-coordinated office schedule creation

Provides office reporting and analytics

With easy-to-edit floor plans

#5 Officevibe

The hybrid work software from Officevibe provides enterprises with the tools they need to flourish in the hybrid workplace. Employees who work from home need interaction. Thus, by using features such as anonymous feedback, Pulse Surveys, and one-on-one appointment planning capabilities, this office personnel management software lets you stay involved and improve relationships with your team members.

More virtual work is associated with a hybrid approach. And although video conferences and communication technologies help you work smarter, there are fewer opportunities for informal run-ins and feedback. The Officevibe platform allows remote employees to provide feedback to their bosses anonymously and easily.

The hybrid workplace paradigm has given rise to a new set of requirements for groups and leaders. Remote work technologies like Officevibe assist in resolving some of these new difficulties, allowing your employees to bring their best work to the table.

To gain a more accurate view of how different teams feel, this office personnel management segments your team members by region or demographics. From there, you can set SMART objectives with your team and OKRs with your company all in one place.

Key Features and Benefits

Built to provide better office personnel management

With virtual one-on-one consultations to improve work operations

Designed to boost employee morale through feedback

Helps team leaders see which will work best for the team

The hybrid work approach involves a combination of virtual and physical work locations. Your team members can select whether they want to work remotely or in the office. However, striking two birds with one stone in this field can be difficult because success is not assured.

Fortunately, our top 5 best hybrid office management solutions, including Yoffix, OfficeRnD, and others, can set your mind at ease when it comes to handling hybrid business operations.

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A decade-old NASA moon rover is undergoing pressurized ground operations. If this lunar vehicle is that old, why does the space agency makes such efforts?

(Photo : Photo by OLIVIER TOURON/AFP via Getty Images)

NASAs Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) team members practice with a Moon rover prototype for future Artemis missions at the Black Point Lava Flow near Flagstaff, Arizona, on October 24, 2022. (Photo by Olivier Touron / AFP)

The moon rover is specifically the so-called Desert RATS (Research and Technology Studies), developed more than a decade ago.

Now, the international aerospace organization has been conducting pressurized ground tests to improve the rover's technology.

Decade-Old NASA Moon Rover Undergoes Pressurized Ground Tests

According to Fox Business' latest report, NASA and its partners, such as the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), are working with the United States Geological Survey.

(Photo : Photo by OLIVIER TOURON/AFP via Getty Images)

NASAs Desert Research and Technology Studies (Desert RATS) team members practice with a Moon rover prototype for future Artemis missions at the Black Point Lava Flow near Flagstaff, Arizona, on October 24, 2022. (Photo by Olivier Touron / AFP)

NASA researchers explained that the pressurized ground operations involving the Desert RATS rover are key elements of future Artemis missions.

"We're starting by testing here on Earth, then moving on to testing on the moon, and then using the moon as a stepping stone to Mars," said Barbara Janoiko, the mission manager of Desert RATS.

During their ground tests, NASA and JAXA gather critical data about the pressurized rover's design, as well as driving modes, timeline constraints, cabin configuration, and mission operations.

They collect these details to support potential design concepts for next-gen pressurized lunar vehicles.

Location and Other Details

The official NASA Gov report stated that pressurized ground activities are being conducted in Arizona.

The international space agency said that the Desert RATS is specifically in the high-desert terrain of Black Point Lava Flow.

Desert RATS crew members stayed and worked in the lunar rover during the ground operations.

This means they already slept inside the prototype, were driven across challenging terrain, and conducted other essential studies, such as surface mapping, communication systems, and navigation techniques.

If you want to learn more about the Desert RATS rover, you can visit this link.

In other news, the NASA Lucy mission was recently mistaken for the closes asteroid flyby of 2022.

Meanwhile, the NASA James Webb Space Telescope discovered some galaxies merging around a monster black hole.

For more news updates about NASA Desert RATS rover and other lunar vehicles, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Arrives at Salty Region Formed Billions of Years Ago

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An American federal court today charged British hacker Daniel Kaye with additional accusations of access device fraud and conspiracy to launder money, among others. Seven years ago, he also took the whole country of Liberia offline after a massive cyberattack.

Kaye is allegedly running a dark web storefront called The Real Deal, where he sells items including narcotics and illegal hacking tools, The Verge reported. Materials being sold also include stolen login information for social media and bank accounts, as well as US government equipment.

The Real Deal allowed independent merchants to set up online shops, and customers could assess vendors according to their authenticity.

Also Read: New Hacker Technique Lets Attackers Disable Antivirus Solutions and Infect the Users Device Anyway

New Legal Charges Against Daniel Kaye

Based on The Verge's report, after running The Real Deal for almost a year, Kaye disappeared in August 2016, not long after it was revealed that other site administrators had been detained.

In today's indictment, Kaye is charged with selling the login credentials for computers used by US government organizations. These credentials belong to the US Postal Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the US Navy.

The allegation further claims that Kaye, together with an entity with an alias "thedarkoverlord," engaged in stolen social security numbers and that Kaye possessed 15 or more stolen login passwords for Twitter and LinkedIn.

Finally, it asserts that Kaye used Bitmixer.io to launder the Bitcoin he acquired from The Real Deal transactions. Bitmixer.io is a website that provides Bitcoin mixed services and aims to keep its customers anonymous, confidential, and resistant to Bitcoin blockchain tracking research.

"While living overseas, this defendant allegedly operated an illegal website that made hacking tools and login credentials available for purchase, including those for US government agencies," said US attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said in a statement via The Verge.

FBI's Warning to All Hackers

According to Keri Farley, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, this investigation is an example of the agency's persistent willingness to collaborate with its international partners. Their objective is to hold criminals accountable no matter how complicated their cyber schemes or geographic location is.

She added, "Let this indictment be a message that the FBI and our partners place a high priority on the investigation and prosecution of hackers who intrude into our infrastructure and threaten the personal security of our citizens."

The 2019 Cyberattacks on a Liberian Telcom Firm

While Kaye is accused of running an illegal online market, the hacker already admitted responsibility to a series of cyberattacks against a Liberian telecoms business in 2019. That incident resulted in the country's internet is down for many days.

According to CNN, Kaye was hired by a top employee at Cellcom, a competing telecom business. However, it is unclear whether other corporate executives were informed of the plot.

Kaye received a prison sentence of more than two years because of it.

Related Article: FBI Warns Businesses About Iranian Hacker Group Emennet Pasargad

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PickNik Robotics landed a deal with the United States Space Force and NASA for its innovative robotic hands that will grab space objects for the agency, with the tech staying in orbit. These mechanical hands will allow NASA and Space Force to control it from Earth, featuring a remote capability that will let them grab what they can from afar.

This next-generation robotic hands is something like a claw machine in an arcade, but not necessarily resembling the arcade machine, with its special design.

PickNik Robotics gets NASA, Space Force Deal

(Photo : PickNik Robotics)

PickNik Robotics announced via its press release that it landed a massive deal with the US Space Force and NASA for its robotic arms to stay in orbit and collect different samples and objects from the cosmos. The company said that this deal focuses on machine learning for space, something which the company offers with its tech.

The company won multiple contracts from different organizations including the SpaceWERX contract from Space Force, NASA Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract for autonomous tech in space, and the Advanced Industries Accelerator (AIA) from Colorado for space robotics.

It is a massive win for PickNik and its technology which secured massive deals for the company.

Read Also: Jellyfish-Inspired Robotic Grippers Could Grasp Delicate Objects Well

PickNik's Robotic Space Arms in Orbit

PickNik said that it would help NASA and Space Force to gather objects from space, centering on remote-controlled robotic arms which it would deliver soon. It is unknown when PickNik's technology would launch into orbit for its actual use, but it will come sometime in the future to extend the United States space ventures with its mechanical hands.

Robots in Space

Robots in space are not what one may think of, as present in past sci-fi films featuring sentient beings somewhere in the cosmos that will make contact with the planet and plan an invasion. Instead, the technology centers on innovations that humans made, focusing on these mechanical inventions to help scientists, astronomers, astronauts, and more with their ventures.

Different companies center on delivering the robotic experience to space, with its many useful features which aim to elevate the space industry.

An upcoming robot from the University of Lincoln-Nebraska and Virtual Incision aims to launch its "MIRA" towards the International Space Station with the surgery bot performing complex procedures in orbit.

Another is the NASA contest for kids which aims to gather a design that the agency may use as an inspiration for its Moon-digging robot that would get samples of its soil.

Robotic developments for space are not a new thing, but it still presents a novel approach by including technology to help humans get the most out of their experience to expand more of the current industry. PickNik Robotics will soon help Space Force and NASA to collect different objects in orbit, as commanded by the agency for its needs.

Related Article: Decade-Old NASA Moon Rover Undergoes Pressurized Ground Tests; Here's What to Know About Desert RATS

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The next generation of Meta's Quest has been confirmed, and it will be coming in 2023. This was confirmed by CFO Dave Whener during the earnings call, which was days ago after releasing the Meta Quest Pro.

(Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA - MAY 04: Meta employee Dennis Hampton demonstrates a video game that is played using the Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset at the new Meta Store on May 04, 2022 in Burlingame, California. Meta is set to open its first physical retail store on May 9.

Coming Soon: Next Gen Quest

During the company's most recent earnings call, the outgoing Meta's Chief Financial Officer confirmed during his presentation that there will be a next-generation Quest headset, as reported by Engadget.

No names were given for the teased headset as Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg also addressed this upcoming device as "the next generation of our consumer Quest headset". There is also no confirmation whether this is the rumored Quest 3.

This was not the first time that the executives, especially Zuckerberg, mentioned and teased the fans regarding an upcoming Quest besides the Pro variant. The CEO told just this month through Analyst Ben Thompson that the company has been working on Quest 3 and that it would likely range from $300 to $500.

Release Date

During the presentation, Whener announced that this will be launched to the market later next year. No specific date was given but looking back to the past launches, Meta usually introduces its new head headset during fall, the same time as the annual Connect event.

Earnings Call

Details of the Quest 3 were leaked online by a Tech YouTuber named Brad Lynch, popularly knowns as SadlyItsBradley. This includes the headset's specs and other displays, as Euro Gamer reported.

BGR reported that the CEO is very confident with the metaverse's future despite several investors have started to step back and lose faith regarding the vision of the company to virtual reality. As he stated, there are no plans to stop the investment in this sector since there is a difference between something experimental and not knowing how good will be the outcome.

Also Read: Mark Zuckerberg Confirms Launch of Meta Quest Pro-Can This $1500 VR Headset Beat Apple's Upcoming Wearable?

Quest 3 Rumors

Details of the Quest 3 was leaked online by a Tech YouTuber named Brad Lynch, popularly knowns as SadlyItsBradley. This includes the specs and other display that the headset will offer, as Euro Gamer reported.

Quest 3 will be having a soft strap, 6DOF tracking, four cameras array, a depth sensor, two LCD displays, mechanical IPD adjustments, Pancake lenses, a single fan design, pogo pin connector, and Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2.

Some of the features for Quest Pro will not be seen in the upcoming generation as it was branded as a cheaper option to the Pro variant.

Related Article: Meta Oculus Quest 3's Specs and Design Leak Online, A Cheaper Option to Quest Pro

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NASA, ESA, and the CSA's monitoring with the James Webb Space Telescope reached a different stage as it managed to capture the clashing of two galaxies in the Cetus constellation. The pair is now called the IC 1623, and its banging heads gave birth to new stars in the process, with the space telescope bearing witness to them all.

James Webb's powerful telescopes were able to capture many astrological events in the making and gave the world different sights to see which bring them a dazzling look at the cosmos.

NASA James Webb Captures Clashing Galaxies

(Photo : ESA/James Webb Space Telescope)

James Webb captures IC 1623, two galaxies clashing with one another.

According to the European Space Agency's press release, the James Webb Space Telescope managed to set its sights on the Cetus constellation region which had two galaxies clashing with one another. The duo is now collectively with IC 1623, which radiated bright infrared wavelengths as they interacted with one another.

The clashing galaxies used three of Webb's most advanced cameras including the MIRI, NIRSpec, and NIRCam.

The team of astronomers who helped Webb monitor the event looked into the infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum which was able to capture the breathtaking site.

Read Also: [LOOK] NASA Webb Telescope Discover 'Fingerprint' Rings on WR 140 Stars-How Did it Form?

New Stars Born on IC 1623's Clash

Located 270 million light-years away from the Earth, the galaxies' clash gave birth to new stars in the process, delivering new space objects for the world to see. The study behind these clashing galaxies of the IC 1623 brought stars at an unprecedented pace, over 20 times faster than the Milky Way galaxy.

The trio of Webb's cameras captured the massive light emanating from both galaxies as they intersected each's path, resulting in its clash.

NASA James Webb's Discoveries

The NASA James Webb is a testament to many space phenomena and anomalies that took place since it first launched almost a year ago, in December 2021. Back in July, the famous space telescope released its first photos that showed the deepest image of the universe, and it brought the most detailed look from all snaps.

It is no doubt that NASA James Webb is one of the most advanced systems from the space agency's disposal, currently active in delivering its service to the world.

Apart from capturing still objects in space, James Webb is capable of keeping track of different heavenly bodies that pass by it or is detectable by its lenses. One of its missions now is to practice keeping an eye on space objects, where it first showed another of its skills by keeping track of an asteroid as its first target.

The James Webb has multiple capabilities and it delivers on many ventures for NASA and its partner organizations and agencies which have privileges in monitoring together with the world. Its recent capture of the galaxies which clashed with each other only shows that it can monitor different intergalactic events and bear witness to astronomical happenings which happen daily.

Related Article: NASA James Webb Captures 'Pillars of Creation' and Brings a Majestic Sight to See

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As NASA goals to have a permanent presence on the moon, the Artemis program and scientists from a university in Florida teamed up as they built a new method for constructing a base on Earth's only natural satellite.

(Photo : OLIVIER TOURON/AFP via Getty Images)

Members of the media stand next to a Moon rover prototype for future Artemis missions at the Black Point Lava Flow near Flagstaff, Arizona, on October 24, 2022.

3D Lunar Regolith Printed Bricks

As Nasa's Moon mission with the Artemis program approaches, Interesting Engineering reported that several scientists from the University of Central Florida had run an experiment for 3D printed bricks made of lunar regolith and salt water, which can help to construct the Artemis Base Camp and build their future homes. Lunar regolith is a combination of dust and looser rocks from the lunar surface.

Alongside the team, UCF Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Ranajay Ghosh discovered that these bricks could be used for withstanding pressure 250 million times higher than Earth's capability. He joined the UCF team last 2016 as an assistant professor for the same department.

Ghosh stated that the whole team was delighted and honored that their work was published through Ceramics International Journal and in the New Scientist Magazine. Both publications detailed the whole findings of the study.

The experiment basically answered the ongoing discussion among the space exploration community as they figured out the balance between in-situ extraterrestrial resource utilization and material transported from Earth.

Printing the Bricks

UCF stated on its website that in order for these bricks to be printed, it would need a combination of 3D printing and binder jet technology, which is an additive manufacturing method that "forces out a liquid binding agent onto a bed of powder." Saltwater and regolith powder which was made through UCF's Exolith Lab, will be the key ingredients for the bricks to be bound.

Based on a report by Eureka Alert, these were described as sustainable to produce different parts, components, and construction structures as Ghosh stated that "BJT is uniquely suitable for ceramic-like materials that are difficult to melt with a laser."

Ghosh also added that the faster the scientists develop different techniques that use regolith, the more capabilities will be established, and several expansions to other base camps in the future possible, like on the moon, Mars, and other planets.

Also Read: Japan's Commercial Moon Launch to Overlap With NASA's Artemis Mission; Will This Create Conflict?

According to the report, several experiments were conducted by a different scientist with the same proposal of Ghosh's team in the Complex Structures and Mechanics of Solids Laboratory.

The reason for this is NASA will be going to the moon for the Artemis mission, and these experiments are a stepping stone if there will ever be a separate human exploration of Mars.

For example, the proposed binding ingredient for housing on Mars from a scientist at the University of Manchester. By using human blood and urine, the scientist stated that it would reduce the cost and increase the construction of future homes on the planet.

Related Article: NASA Further Delays Artemis I Launch Date by Sept. 27 at Earliest, Oct. 2 for Backup

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In what is believed to be the highest campaign finance penalty in American history, a judge in Washington state fined Facebook's parent corporation Meta nearly $25 million on Wednesday for repeatedly and deliberately breaking the law requiring disclosure of campaign contributions, according to a report by AP.

For more than 800 violations of Washington's Fair Campaign Practices Act, which voters passed in 1972 and the Legislature later tightened, King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North imposed the maximum penalty possible.

Maximum "Justified"

Attorney General of Washington Bob Ferguson stated that the maximum was justified since his agency filed a lawsuit against Facebook in 2018 for breaking the same law.

According to Washington's transparency law, ad vendors like Meta are required to keep track of and make public the names and addresses of people who purchase political advertisements as well as the target audience, method of payment, and total number of views for each ad.

The ad vendors must provide the details to anyone who requests them. Networks for newspapers and television have consistently followed this law, according to AP.

However, Meta has consistently protested the requirements, claiming in court that the law is unconstitutional since it "unduly burdens political speech" and is "nearly impossible to fully comply with."

Facebook does retain a record of the political advertisements that are placed on its site, but the record does not contain all of the information that is required by Washington's law, as per AP's report.

Read also: Meta Introduces New Tools for Brands that Easily Report Potential IP Violations on Facebook and Instagram

Ferguson's History with Facebook

Following the initial complaint filed by Ferguson in 2018, Facebook consented to pay $238,000 and committed to transparency in political advertising and campaign financing. It subsequently declared that it would discontinue selling political advertisements in the state rather than follow the rules.

But Ferguson filed a second lawsuit in 2020 when the social media giant persisted in selling political advertisements.

The typical fine for each violation of the statute is $10,000, but if the judge determines that the infraction was deliberate, the fine might be tripled. For each of its 822 offenses, North fined Meta $30,000, totaling nearly $24.7 million.

The fine, according to Ferguson, was the biggest campaign finance-related fine ever levied in the U.S.

Meta is currently treading hot waters as its stock price plunged by roughly on Thursday, Oct. 27. It comes after none other than its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, addressed the doubts of its investors regarding the company's exorbitant costs for its metaverse project.

The tech giant's share price fell sharply at the heels of its announcement that it expects a dismal outlook for the holiday season or the year's final quarter. The parent business of Facebook also acknowledged that by the next year, its costs would likely soar.

Related Article: Meta Announces Next Generation Quest Headset After Just Releasing the Quest Pro, to be Launched in 2023

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According to the website of the New York Stock Exchange, trading in Twitter's shares will be suspended on Friday as Tesla, and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has until Oct. 28 to complete his $44 billion acquisition of the social media giant.

"Chief Twit"

Musk, the richest man in the world, visited Twitter's San Francisco offices on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and implied that he was going to be the company's top executive by changing his profile bio to "Chief Twit."

Musk's visit to Twitter's headquarters earlier today is unknown. However, there are rumors that he may have officially closed the purchase on the blue bird app.

Although neither party has yet made an announcement, his entrance may indicate that they are finalizing the agreement as both parties are already in communication.

According to a report by Reuters, the billionaire's attorneys had provided the necessary documentation for the finance pledge to equity investors such as Binance, Sequoia Capital, Qatar Investment Authority, and other companies.

The closing of the transaction would put an end to Twitter's litigation. Twitter, together with the investors, now anticipates that the transaction will close at the agreed-upon price of $54.20 per share.

In premarket trade, Twitter's shares were up about 1% at $53.92, vs. Musk's offer price of $54.20 per share, as per Reuters' report.

It is worth noting that the social media company's stock has increased by about 65% ever since it hit a four-month low in July.

Read also: Elon Musk Wants to Close Twitter Deal by Friday, Oct. 28, Asks Banks for Help

Musk-Twitter Saga

It won't be long before the Twitter and Musk agreement is finalized, and the tech CEO intends to close this social media acquisition to usher in fresh beginnings in the business. However, once he takes over as the company's head, the workforce will reportedly be slashed by 75%, signaling an impending disaster for Twitter workers.

However, it is worth noting that the deal was not a linear process. Musk unexpectedly announced in July that he is backing down from his Twitter takeover, citing reasons that the company is not being transparent on the number of bots on the platform.

This prompted Twitter to file a lawsuit against Musk so that he would continue his initial acquisition plan. Musk's visit to the company's HQ may just signal the end of the tumultuous saga between the two parties.

Related Article: Elon Musk Twitter Deal Update: Billionaire Got Pre-Trial Deposition Delay, But Not a Discount

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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, ARMENPRESS. Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock arrived in Armenia on October 27 on a two-day working visit at the invitation of Police Chief of Armenia Vahe Ghazaryan. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the Police of Armenia, Police Chief of Armenia, Police Major General Vahe Ghazaryan received him.

The head of the Armenian police, the Secretary General of Interpol and members of the police collegium laid a wreath and bowed flowers at the memorial to the memory of the policemen who died while performing their official duties.

Police Chief Vahe Ghazaryan, welcoming Jurgen Stock, highly appreciated the role and contribution of the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, in the fight against international crime.

Vahe Ghazaryan noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Interpol National Central Bureau in Armenia. He emphasized that active cooperation is being implemented in the fight against areas of crime, such as cybercrime and financial crimes committed using digital technologies, illegal drug trafficking, and organized crime.

Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock, thanking for the warm welcome, pointed out several areas of important cooperation. He noted that 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Interpol, and the key to the organization's effective operation is the work and close cooperation of Interpol's National Central Bureaus of the member states.

Jurgen Stock also spoke about new types of crime. The parties discussed the issues related to the fight against them.

At the end of the meeting, Police Chief of Armenia Vahe Ghazaryan awarded Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock with the Medal For Strengthening Cooperation.

Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock, accompanied by Vahe Ghazaryan, visited the National Central Bureau of Interpol in Armenia, where they got acquainted with the work of the unit.
SpaceX's Starlink collaborates with a tycoon-owned Philippines firm.

(Photo : Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket sits on launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center as it is prepared for tomorrow's lift-off on February 5, 2018 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket, which is the most powerful rocket in the world, is scheduled to make its maiden flight between 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.

This new partnership between the aerospace company and Data Lake Inc. is expected to help the rising internet service to expand in Southeast Asia.

Data Lake Inc., a company based in the Philippines owned by Henry Sy Jr., announced on Thursday, Oct. 27, that a deal with SpaceX's Starlink has been signed.

Thanks to this latest collaboration, Data Lake Inc. is now the space agency's first Southeast Asian partner.

SpaceX Starlink Collabs With Tycoon-Owned Philippines Firm

According to Philstar's latest report, SpaceX has already announced its plan to expand the Starlink broadband service in the Philippines.

(Photo : Photo by SpaceX via Getty Images)

In this SpaceX handout image, a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft launches on the Demo-2 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard at Launch Complex 39A May 30, 2020, at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Also Read: SpaceX Requests Pentagon to Pay for Starlink Service in Ukraine; Elon Musk Finds Ambassador Andrij Melnyk Rude

The new partnership with Data Lake Inc. is its latest move to roll out Starlink in Southeast Asia.

"The Philippines is an archipelago, and connecting our country to the wider world often requires extensive infrastructure," said Anthony Almeda, Data Lake Inc.'s chairman, via Euro News.

As of writing, there are many areas in the Philippines that are having a hard time acquiring the internet services they need.

This is because the Asian country is composed of 7,600 islands; most of them are isolated and have mountainous terrains.

Since SpaceX's Starlink broadband service relies on thousands of satellites to relay connections, it is expected to reach isolated areas.

What Philippines Should Expect

Inquirer.Net reported that once Starlink's internet services roll out in the country, Philippine-based consumers are expected to pay around $99 for monthly subscription fees.

Starlink Sales VP Jonathan Hofellere said Filipinos could expect Starlink to arrive in the Philippines in the coming months.

However, he didn't clarify if SpaceX's internet service would be rolled out before 2022 ends.

You can click here to learn more about the newest partnership between the independent space agency and Data Lake Inc.

In other news, the Starlink Antarctica expansion finally began.

Recently, the Starlink Flat High-Performance service was launched by SpaceX.

For more news updates about SpaceX's Starlink and other new internet services, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet for RVs Now Works on Any Moving Vehicles: Here's What's New

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The US military successfully launched a rocket carrying tests for developing hypersonic weapons at the Wallops Flight Test Facility in Virginia on Wednesday, as reported first by CNN.

According to the Navy, the rocket carried 11 experiments to test and gather information for hypersonic weapons development to support the joint Army-Navy initiative.

Land and Sea Hypersonic Weapons

This test was the second one conducted as part of a program to enhance land- and sea-based hypersonic capabilities. The initial examination was carried out in October 2021.

For this second test, a sounding rocket was deployed from the launchpad and used to conduct various experiments to gather data and learn more about the high-tech electronics and heat-resistant materials found in hypersonic missile components.

According to the Navy, another rocket will be launched on Thursday, October 27, and it will conduct an additional 13 experiments to assist in developing hypersonic weaponry.

The Navy's Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic system and the Army's Long Range Hypersonic Weapon will both benefit from the data gathered from these test launches.

The Common Hypersonic Glide Body, a projectile mounted atop a booster rocket and coasting toward its target at speeds greater than Mach 5, will be used by both of the programs.

It is worth noting that hypersonic missiles travel at speeds greater than Mach 5, or over 4,000 miles per hour, making it challenging to identify and quickly prevent them. As per CNN, the missiles can also change their height and maneuver, enabling them to avoid missile defense systems.

Read also: HACM: US Air Force Chooses Raytheon Technologies to Develop Air-Breathing Hypersonic Missile

Primary Goal

The Pentagon decided to make the development of hypersonic weapons one of its primary goals to fulfill after China successfully conducted hypersonic launches last year and Russia began using hypersonic missiles in its war against Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the US also took part in the nuclear drills conducted by NATO members in Northwest Europe despite escalating tensions in Ukraine.

The drills involved 60 aircraft, including fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and refueling planes. It was also joined by 14 of NATO's 30 member countries.

The majority of the war simulations took place at least 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) away from Russia's borders. Additionally, American long-range B-52 bombers reportedly participated in the exercises, known as Steadfast Noon, which will last through October 30.

NATO as an organization does not hold any weapons. The US, France, and the UK are still firmly in charge of the alliance's nuclear arsenal.

The drills were already planned long before Putin decided to send Russian troops into Ukraine in February. NATO anticipates that Russia would exercise its nuclear capabilities this month since it typically conducts its own annual operations around the same time.

Related Article: US Military Will Use 'High-Altitude Hot Air Balloons' to Prevent Hypersonic Missiles Against China and Russia

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Honda's new battery charging and exchange station called the Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: (HPPEe:), was unveiled on Oct. 25, Tuesday, RideApart reported. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will use the first HPPEe: to promote the usage of electric motorcycles within the city.

The station is compatible with the Mobile Power Pack e: (MPPe:), a removable battery that powers electric scooters or motorcycles. It has a variety of battery compartments, so people may swap out their dead batteries with fully charged MPPe: ones.

The battery pack swapping firm Gachaco, jointly founded by Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki, has now received the stations.

As a group, these four Japanese motorcycle manufacturers are often referred to as the "Big Four." They spearheaded the creation of a consortium to provide a standardized battery replacement method for all types of motorcycles.

Read Also: Sony Teams Up With Honda to Produce EVs for US Delivery

How Does it Work

The procedure seems easy enough from the perspective of the consumer. Users can use their chip cards to connect with the HPPEe: station wirelessly. They may then swap out their drained battery for a fresh one by inserting it into an available slot and pulling a charged one out of another.

The slots for the batteries are slanted so that the user may insert and remove them quickly and easily.

Honda stated, via RideApart, that charging will start automatically when a used battery is plugged in. Also, the HPPEe: stations have built-in battery cooling features to prevent overheating.

Honda Has a Global Expansion Goal for the HPPEe:

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is reportedly planning to establish Japan's first HPPEe: station in Tokyo, according to Electrek.

Honda is increasing its presence in India and will soon introduce a new electric moped, so additional charging stations there have also been installed in preparation.

There are currently electric rickshaws in India that utilize Honda's MPPe: batteries and make use of the switch stations. These rickshaws are very popular modes of transportation in India's larger cities.

Honda has great aspirations, but it is unclear where precisely they want to roll out its battery-switching facilities. They referred to the system as a battery infrastructure that may be extensively employed both in Japan and internationally.

Honda Is Not the First to Roll Out Battery Swap Stations

The concept of HPPEe: is similar to those used in Japan's popular Gogoro network.

Battery-swapping company Gogoro unveiled its GoStations in Taiwan in 2015, and now there are hundreds of them spread over the whole nation.

Gogoro's wide network in Taiwan facilitates over 350,000 battery swaps daily, for a grand total of over 350 million since the company started doing business.

Its stations are built to keep running even in the face of widespread blackouts. They can even feed the energy they have stored in their batteries back into the grid to power institutions like hospitals that are essential to the community.

Gogoro's battery-swapping network was initially only available in Taiwan, but the company has now expanded throughout Asia and into its first Western market, Israel, where users can purchase electric scooters and sign up for the service.

Related Article: US Military Conducts a Live Fire Simulation Using Electric Motorbikes

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The South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics made the announcement Thursday, Oct. 27, that it has elected Lee Jae-Yong to the position of executive chairman.

Also known by his English name Jay Y. Lee, he is the grandson of the company's founder and now has official leadership over the business.

The Unsatisfactory Earnings Report From Samsung

The news was made on the same day that Samsung disclosed a number of unsatisfactory financial figures, including a decline in profits of 23% when compared to the previous quarter.

The market for some of Samsung's most important products, such as memory chips, mobile phones, and televisions, has recently seen a significant downturn. The company anticipates that demand will not begin to increase again until the second half of next year.

Also Read: Samsung is Currently Developing a Smart Ring -Next Oura Ring Competitor?

The Decision to Appoint Jay Y. Lee

According to The Verge, Samsung released an official announcement explaining the decision. It stated that the Board of Directors emphasized the current uncertain global economic environment and the compelling need for increased accountability and company stability to support the recommendation.

Bloomberg noted that given Lee's extended tenure as Samsung's de-facto leader, the company's short-term trajectory is not anticipated to be much altered due to his promotion to the position of chairman.

However, now that Lee has formally taken control of the empire, he can make more significant strategic decisions to guide the business through a period of turbulent economic conditions. These decisions may include pushing through acquisitions and mergers and channeling investment into emerging technologies.

As Lee put it in a statement released after his appointment, "Without a doubt, we are at a pivotal moment. Now is the time to plan our next move. Now is the time to act, to be bold and unwavering in our focus," Bloomberg reported.

Background

Lee received his bachelor's degree in East Asian History from Seoul National University and his master's degree in the same field from Keio University in Japan. He attended Harvard Business School for his PhD studies but did not graduate.

After his father, Lee Kun-Hee, died in October 2020, his son Jay Y. Lee was expected to take over as CEO of the biggest tech firm in South Korea.

After suffering a heart attack in 2014, Lee Kun-Hee had been unable to function normally for many years.

Since 2017, Jay Y. Lee has been involved in a bribery and corruption scandal, and he was sentenced to jail on two separate occasions. In August of this year, a presidential pardon was granted to Lee, which cleared the path for him to assume official management of the multinational electronics corporation.

This pardon was reminiscent of the two that were granted to Lee's father, who was convicted of corruption and tax evasion in 1996 and 2008. These convictions occurred in 2008 and 1996, respectively.

Read Also: Samsung Unveils Budget Galaxy A04E Amidst Powerful Galaxy S23 Series: Specs Revealed

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Russian President Vladimir Putin will take part in a plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club on Thursday. The sessions topic will be A Post-Hegemonic World: Justice and Security For Everyone.

October 27, 2022, 12:17 Putin to speak at Valdai club session, answer questions

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Putin would deliver a extensive report, which will be followed by a discussion. The session will be moderated by Valdai scientific director Fyodor Lukyanov.

According to the Kremlin spokesman, the event "is promising to be very and very important." However, he refused to say which topics the president will touch upon.
The CELAC countries also proposed holding a meeting of economy ministers in order to design a common agenda that can respond to the global crisis.

At the end of their 23rd meeting in Buenos Aires, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the countries belonging to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) demanded that the United States exclude Cuba from the list of State sponsors of terrorism.

They renewed their commitment to defend the sovereignty of the Latin American countries by demanding the elimination of all threats, aggressions, and unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law.

The CELAC countries reiterated the call of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba, a US policy established 6 decades ago that causes serious damage to the well-being of the Cuban people.

They also reiterated their rejection of the U.S. unilateral lists and certifications that affect Latin American countries. Among those is the list of States that allegedly sponsor terrorism.

The US blockade of Cuba has a heavy price on its people. With Biden keeping Trumps 243 sanctions, Cuba loses about $15 Million a day!



Just between Aug 2021 & Feb 2022 this amounted to $3.8 Billion that Cuba cant invest in its aging energy grid or to purchase food & medicine pic.twitter.com/g5digXtAHc  Manolo De Los Santos (@manolo_realengo) October 25, 2022

The participants in the Buenos Aires meeting expressed their interest in overcoming poverty and inequalities through social, economic, productive, cultural, and environmental integration.

They proposed holding a meeting of economy ministers in order to design a common agenda that can respond to the global crisis fueled by the Ukrainian conflict.

In their final declaration, the CELAC foreign affairs ministers also highlighted the importance of addressing the drug problem from a health policy perspective and the need to strengthen South-South cooperation mechanisms.

In order to face the impacts of climate change, they also proposed strengthening CELAC's Fund for Climate Adaptation and Comprehensive Response to Natural Disasters.
[Pick] I took care of you all my life... Son in his 40s who murdered his mother for nagging him
Ukrainian lives have been a bargaining chip in Washingtons great game, while the Russians who were killed in the conflict would be avenged either in combat or "in any other way," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev warned on Thursday.

October 27, 2022, 14:45 US using Ukrainians as bargaining chip in great game, says ex-Russian president

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: In the run-up to the November 8 midterm elections in the United States, the Russian politician wondered how either Democrats or Republicans could pay for a Capitol Hill win or justify a defeat.

"There is only one currency for both the incumbent Biden team and their Republican opponents which is the lives of citizens of the mythical country of Ukraine that they do not need. They are a bargaining chip in Americas great game, and they are easily laid upon the altar for a future political triumph overseas," Medvedev wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to the ex-president, Ukrainians have been paying with their lives for the endless supply of US weapons and for the services of instructors and mercenaries. Ukrainians could be the price of using a dirty bomb as well, he added.

However, Russians have been suffering in this conflict, too, he emphasized. "The only difference is that our people will be avenged. Every one of them. Both in combat and elsewhere, far from the battlefields. And certainly not as part of ineffective court trials, but by some other means," Medvedev assured, "while nobody will remember Ukrainians," the deputy chairman lamented.

The politician said the question of who will gain control in the House and Senate was what mattered most to the American establishment. "Therefore, this is a battle until the bitter end. Or, to be exact, until the end - the end of Ukraine. The winner takes it all," Medvedev concluded.
On October 27, an event dedicated to the 50th birthday of Spartak Grigoryan, a graduate of the school and missing in the first Artsakh war, was held in the capital's Ashot Ghulyan primary school N2.

October 27, 2022, 16:33 Event dedicated to the anniversary of the missing freedom fighter-graduate held in Stepanakert primary school N2

STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: As "Artsakhpress" informs, those present first paid tribute to the memory of the fallen freedom fighters.

The event dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the missing freedom fighter started with the Lord's prayer and the blessing of Father Beniamin Tsaturyan.

Vera Grigoryan, Spartak Grigoryans mother and the chairwoman of the Union of Relatives of Missing Freedom Fighters NGO, expressed her gratitude to the management and staff of the educational center for organizing the event. Vera Grigoryan, Spartak Grigoryans mother and the chairwoman of the Union of Relatives of Missing Freedom Fighters NGO, expressed her gratitude to the management and staff of the educational center for organizing the event.

9 graduates of this school went missing in the first Artsakh war. We long for and remember them. Hope dies last. I live with that hope and wait," said Mrs. Vera.



Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan also attended the event.

"I am convinced that thanks to our determination, intelligence, consistent steps and struggle, we will be able to preserve, protect and develop our values.

Let all the missing people return to their homes safe and continue this struggle with us," said A. Beglaryan.
Lead singer Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran performs during a sold-out show at the Fillmore New Orleans in 2019. A new docu-concert film about the English new wave band will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Manship Theatre.
The St. James Solar farm in Vacherie collects the rays of the sun and turns them into power for the New Orleans area on Thursday, July 7, 2022. The farm, owned by the hedge fund D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, supplies power to Entergy New Orleans. The farm is located just north of La. 3127 and west of La. 20. The hedge fund, also known as DESRI, is seeking to expand around the 210-acre farm by 3,900 more acres in the area with different investors. Power from those farms would go to Entergy Louisiana, which supplies power to St. James, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and many other parts of the state.
State wildlife officials say they seized these antlers from a man accused of hunting out of season.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has challenged the government to invest in sustainable aviation fuel production or risk missing the chance to become market leaders in the industrys ticket to a carbon-neutral future.

Joyce told CBAs sustainability conference that Australias landmass presented a natural advantage if only the government prioritised early investment in the fuels production, adding it would create at least 15,000 jobs.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce. Credit:James Brickwood.

Australians are the most competitive people Ive ever come across. We should be leading the world on this. We should be making it into a world cup of how we produce [sustainable aviation fuel]. I think wed win if that were the case, Joyce told the conference on Thursday.

In addition to Australias landmass, the countrys range of assets provided an advantage over other regions who had already begun production, he said.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The woman who put the hole in modern sculpture died alone in her studio in 1975. Barbara Hepworth had battled throat cancer for several years, but it was a fire at Trewyn Studio in the Cornish seaside town of St Ives that ended her life. The 72-year-old artist was an inveterate smoker and the blaze was probably started by one of the cigarettes she enjoyed in bed. At the time of her death, Hepworth and Henry Moore were already enthroned as Britains greatest sculptors. In America, where she was probably best known as the creator of Single Form, a monumental bronze installed in New Yorks United Nations Plaza, she was acknowledged by a New York Times obituary as one of the worlds foremost sculptors. The article recounted her description of sculpture as a three-dimensional projection of primitive feeling: touch, texture, size and scale, hardness and warmth, evocation and compulsion to move, live and love. Hepworths standing in Australia, a place she never visited, but where her work influenced a generation of mid-century artists, is more muted. Examples of her art are held in several state gallery collections  the polished bronze Head (Ra) is a popular exhibit at the Art Gallery of South Australia, for example  but there has never been a major Australian survey. Until now, that is. Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium, an exhibition of more than 40 works, opens at Heide Museum of Modern Art on November 5. Hepworths influence on Australian sculpture has been widespread, but not well examined, says Kendrah Morgan, co-curator of In Equilibrium. Her work connects to some really elemental ideas about people, landscape and the universe, and shes a great example of an artist synthesising big themes into accessible forms. Barbara Hepworth with the plaster of Curved Form (Bryher II) in the Palais de Danse, 1961. Credit:Studio St Ives,  Bowness The show features plenty of the sensuous ovoid forms she carved from wood and stone in her St Ives studio. Figure (1933) is an early example of her pierced work, says Heides artistic director and co-curator of In Equilibrium, Lesley Harding. She was exploring the idea that a void or absence could be filled with meaning. Spring (1966), which is a firm favourite of both Harding and Morgan, brings all of her ideas together in one stunning bronze. Its got everything, Harding says. The ovoid form, the colour, the piercing and the strings [pieces of cord threaded across the sculptures aperture like a harp] that were so important to her middle period.

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The co-curators appreciation of the modernist sculptor runs deep, which is just as well because the realisation of Barbara Hepworth: In Equilibrium was far from straightforward. The pair began work on the show in 2018 with visits to Hepworths childhood home in Yorkshire, the St Ives studio and the wild Cornish coastline that inspired much of her work. They negotiated loans in the face of competition from a major British show and hung on tight when COVID struck. To their delight, many institutions in Britain, Australia and New Zealand honoured their promises to loan work despite the decision to move the show from 2021 to 2022. Loading Heide is the obvious place to stage a Hepworth survey, they argue. She was a contemporary of Heide founders John and Sunday Reed and they would have known her work, Morgan says. They were interested in the same kind of politics and they read the same kind of books. Theres a lovely parallel stream. Hepworths personal life suggests she also shared the Reeds disregard for social conventions. She met her first husband, sculptor John Skeaping, in Rome and was still married to him when she began an affair with the abstract painter Ben Nicholson in 1931. The liaison produced triplets three years later. As Nicholson shuttled between life with Hepworth in London and his wife and three children in Paris, Hepworth felt trapped in a basement flat with three newborns and Skeapings four-year-old son. I felt fear for the first time in my life, she wrote. Clockwise from main: Mother and Child, 1934; the triplets in 1937; Three Magical Stones, 1973. Desperate to keep making art, she made the difficult decision to allow her babies to be cared for at a nursery training college. The episode has been interpreted as the work of a coldly ambitious woman who chose art over motherhood. But letters published in 2020 reveal both her deep love for the infants and the agony she suffered when debating whether to let others care for them. She did have contact with them later in life and her works often reflect the significance of the number three. Critics have speculated that works such as 1973s Group of Three Magical Stones, which will be shown at Heide, are a direct reference to the triplets.

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Harding acknowledges the need for an exhibition to strike a balance between the artists story and their work. You cant talk about art without talking about the artists life, she says. But its also true that female artists have been defined by their relationships to a far greater degree than their male counterparts. Barbara Hepworth in Trewyn Studio, October 1949. Credit:Studio St Ives,  Bowness Which brings us to Henry Moore. The tendency to compare and contrast Hepworth with a man she first met as a student at art school in Leeds, began in her lifetime and did her few favours. They mixed in the same artistic circles and took holidays together in Norfolk with mutual friends. But as their stars rose, the comparisons between their work were often detrimental to her. When Hepworth represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 1950  two years after Moore  some commentators mistook her for his student. In fact, Hepworth pierced her first work in 1931; Moore followed suit 12 months later. Yet it was Moore, a confident, vocal proponent of his own work, who declared 1932 to be The year of the hole. Hepworth, happily ensconced in St Ives, was sometimes seen as a provincial artist, while Moore was a global art star with solid art establishment connections. In 2018, it was revealed that he actively undermined Hepworth when the board of the Tate Gallery was considering buying one of her wooden works. Moore, a Tate trustee at the time, wrote: If sculpture [was] nothing more than that, it would be a poor affair. His interjection was effective and the purchase was scrapped. Barbara Hepworth, Two Figures (Menhirs), 1964 (left) and Figure, 1933. Credit: Art historian Dr Sophie Bowness, who is Hepworths granddaughter, acknowledges the incident came at a time when her grandmother was very short of money and therefore had a real impact. It doesnt reflect well on Henry, she says. Hepworth sometimes felt unsupported by key institutions such as the Tate Gallery and the British Council, Bowness says. Both favoured Moore to a degree that we may now see as unbalanced and unfair, she says. But Hepworth and Moore are very different artists, and the constant, indiscriminate coupling of her with Moore, or presentation of her as an epigone of Moore, in the past and to some extent still today, is very tedious and inaccurate.

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Prime Minister Billy Hughes standing with a crowd in Sydney on his return from the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Credit:The Age Archives

CANBERRA, Tuesday - Moving tributes were paid to the late Mr. W. M. Hughes in the Senate and House of Representatives today before both Houses adjourned until tomorrow as a mark of respect.

I find it most difficult to realise that this is the first day in the history of the Federal Parliament in which William Morris Hughes has not sat as a member, the Prime Minister, (Mr. Menzies) said in the House of Representatives.

Members of both Houses, with heads bowed in silence, carried motions expressing deep regret at the death of Mr. Hughes and tendering sympathy to his widow and family. The public galleries of the House of Representatives were crowded to overflowing. Announcing the death of Mr. Hughes in the House, Mr, Menzies said it was very seldom it could truthfully be said that a man was as well-known outside his own country as inside it.

But I think, he said, it can be said that William Morris Hughes was as well-known outside Australia as inside Australia.

He represented our country at the Versailles peace conference in 1919, and it will never be forgotten that at that conference he conducted a magnificent and successful battle for Australia to have a mandate over New Guinea, a matter which has proved historically significant.
Dominic McAfee, Author provided

Imagine youre in a food court and spoilt for choice. How will you choose where to eat? It might be the look of the food, the smell, or even the chatter of satisfied customers.

Marine animals do the same thing when choosing a good place to live. Even seemingly simple creatures such as marine larvae use sight, smell and sound as navigational cues. Once we understand these cues, we can use them to help nature recover faster than it would on its own.

In our new research, we amplified the natural sounds of the sea through underwater speakers. We were testing if sound cues would draw baby oysters to swim to the locations where we are trying to regrow oyster reefs. It worked better than wed hoped. Many thousands more larvae swam to our locations than control areas and settled on the bare rocks.

Billions of Australian flat oysters once filtered our coastal seas. Could they return? John Turnbull/Flickr, CC BY

Why cant these reefs return naturally?

Oyster reef restoration is gaining momentum in Australia and globally as a way to restore healthy ecosystems. Reefs of shellfish filter and clean vast volumes of water as they feed, while their shell piles provide habitat for fish. Oysters are also food for many marine species.

These highly productive shellfish reefs once spanned thousands of kilometres of Australian waters, but more than 90% were dredged up for food and or to use their shells as lime for cement during the early colonial years.

Read more: The surprising benefits of oysters (and no, it's not what you're thinking)

When we try to restore these reefs, however, we hit a problem. Free-swimming baby oysters need to find the boulders we drop onto sandy seafloors at our restoration sites.

Thats where our siren songs come in. Many marine animals use sound like we use sight on land. Think of whalesong, which lets whales communicate over long distances. Sound is more useful than sight or smell underwater because it can carry information a long way  much further than you can see  and without getting pushed about by ocean currents.

If youve snorkelled on a coral or rocky reef, youll know healthy reefs are surprisingly noisy. As you float over the reef, you hear a cacophony of sound: crackles and pops from fish as they feed and invertebrates like snapping shrimp.

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If this soundscape is present, it tells oyster larvae its a healthy habitat. And because sound travels so well, the soundscapes are broadcast a decent distance. Thats why its such a useful cue if youre a baby oyster looking for a rock to settle on and begin growing your shell.

To test if this works outside the laboratory, we recorded sounds from the healthy Port Noarlunga Reef in South Australia. Then we played these sounds underwater near two large reef restoration sites offshore from Adelaide and the Yorke Peninsula.

This attracted up to 17,000 more oysters per square metre to our restoration sites. Not only that, but over the next five months, close to four times more large oysters grew in our test areas, which accelerated habitat growth. By contrast, the areas where we played ambient sound from oyster-free areas produced only stunted habitat with few oysters settling.

Read more: The world's most degraded marine ecosystem could be about to make a comeback

Hang on, oysters can hear?

The way we hear is based on the pressure of soundwaves hitting our eardrums. Marine mammals like seals and dolphins hear this way too. But fish and marine invertebrates such as oysters are different.

Oyster larvae are brainless and earless, but they are certainly not clueless. Like fish, they hear by detecting and interpreting the movement of water particles stirred up by soundwaves as they pass. Soundwaves alternately squish and stretch water particles, sending vibrations in the direction the soundwave is moving. Oysters sense this motion with tiny sensory hairs, or with statocysts, sensory organs used for balance and orientation.

Despite being only the width of a human hair themselves, larval oysters use these organs to follow these vibrations back towards the healthy reef producing the sound. In adult oysters, the tiny statocyst is near impossible to find. But swimming oyster larvae project their statocysts out in front of them, presumably to improve navigation and interpret marine sounds.

You can see the oyster larvaes sound-sensing organ covered in tiny hairs. S. Pouvreau/Ifremer, Author provided

The reefs are alive with the sound of music

Researchers and community groups around the world are launching restoration efforts to repair some of the damage weve done. In Queensland, for instance, fishing communities in Moreton Bay offshore from Brisbane plan to restore 100 hectares of oyster reef over the next decade.

While exciting, success isnt guaranteed. It can be hard to restore ecosystems which havent existed for a century. And it can be expensive to get large stocks of larvae.

This technique  and others like it  could help improve how many baby oysters or other keystone species actually make it to their new homes and start the great task of reef-building.

Researchers have discovered fish can be attracted to coral reef sites by playing healthy reef noises, and it has long been known that birds can be drawn to specific nesting sites by playing their social calls.

Oyster reef restorations are taking place in countries like America. This image shows surviving oyster reefs in Virginia. Aileen Devlin/Flickr, CC BY

In science, theres no such thing as a silver bullet and there are potential downsides. It wouldnt help if we drew all larval oysters to our sites at the expense of others  or if we attracted predators in large numbers.

But if we do this carefully, these techniques could help re-establish the invisible acoustic highways of the sea  and turn the deathly quiet of many coastal waters back into vibrant, noisy and healthy oyster reefs.

Read more: Once the fish factories and kidneys of colder seas, Australias decimated shellfish reefs are coming back

This article is republished from The Conversation is the world's leading publisher of research-based news and analysis. A unique collaboration between academics and journalists. It was written by: Dominic McAfee, University of Adelaide; Brittany Williams, University of Adelaide; Lachlan McLeod, University of Adelaide, and Sean Connell, University of Adelaide.

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Dominic McAfee receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Sean Connell receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

Brittany Williams and Lachlan McLeod do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A Sydney teenager intends to plead guilty over his role in a text scam that demanded money from dozens of Optus customers whose data was leaked online following the massive hack, a court has heard.

Dennis Su, 19, appeared at Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday following his arrest by the Australian Federal Police at his Rockdale home, in Sydneys south, on October 6.

Dennis Su leaves Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday after his case was adjourned. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone/The Sydney Morning Herald

He was charged with using a telecommunications network with intent to commit a serious offence and dealing with identification information, which carry maximum penalties of 10 years and seven years behind bars respectively.

Court documents, seen by the Herald, allege Su dealt with Optus customer information over a 12-day period from September 24 to October 6, and the serious offence he intended to commit was blackmail.
Police are hunting for three people following a robbery in Sydney's West

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WA Premier Mark McGowan sees no issue with government ministers and MPs accepting hospitality from betting giant Tabcorp weeks before the government restarted the sale process to sell its own betting agency TAB.

He suggested that if MPS did not accept tickets to hospitality and sporting events they could be accused of being out of touch.

WAs Premier Mark McGowan says MPs who dont accept gifts can be accused of being out of touch. Credit:James Brickwood

Two Labor ministers and three MPs attended the Perth AFL grand final on betting giant Tabcorps dime.

The gifted tickets were declared by the MPs in their 2021-22 annual returns tabled in parliament last week.
The City of Melbourne will not publicly release the results of its investigation into former chief executive Justin Hanney and his yacht race fundraising.

A spokesman for the council said the four-month investigation, led by independent chair Jude Munro, found the $35,855 in online donations Hanney solicited to crew and equip a yacht to compete in the Sydney to Hobart race should have been declared.

The investigation into former Chity of Melbourne chief executive Justin Hanney is being kept confidential. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Councillors were given a copy of the report into Hanney on Wednesday night and held a confidential council meeting on Thursday to discuss the findings.

Council has noted the report and found that the donations should have been declared as part of City of Melbournes personal interests return process, but found no evidence to indicate that Mr Hanney intentionally or recklessly lodged returns that were false or incomplete, the spokesman said.
A Perth woman who killed an elderly man after crashing into the side of his car while travelling at 146 kilometres per hour has been sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Kylie Marie Cochrane appeared in Perth Supreme Court on Thursday to be sentenced after pleading guilty to manslaughter for her role in the death of 94-year-old Edwin Alfred Moore.

Cochrane was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on Thursday. Credit:Erin Jonasson

During sentencing, Justice Bruno Fiannaca described the incident as an egregious offence that has had profound consequences.

Cochrane was driving a Holden Berlina 86 kilometres over the speed limit along Albany Highway in Kenwick around 11.50am on November 8 last year.
The hard man of Australian politics did what he could on Thursday night to tell voters he was more than a conservative warrior with a mission on border control and defence.

And he tried to tell his Liberal colleagues he could rebuild a shattered party and win back some middle ground at the next election.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton prepares to make his budget reply speech. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Peter Dutton, five months into his job as opposition leader, made sure his budget reply speech spoke about helping women, welcoming migrants and respecting wonderful Indigenous history.

That is a jarring message for those who know Dutton as the man who joked about sea level rise in the Pacific Islands, questioned the settlement of Lebanese Muslims in the 1970s and boycotted the apology to the Stolen Generation in 2008.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Explore more of our in-depth coverage of the seat of Richmond this state election. See all 21 stories . Next door to the Greens slick campaign office in Smith Street, Collingwood, half a dozen people are sitting on the footpath beneath a pungent cloud of marijuana smoke. Inside the building the partys candidate for the state seat of Richmond, Gabrielle de Vietri, shrugs. Legalise it! she laughs. Gabrielle de Vietri, outside her Smith Street campaign office. Credit:Justin McManus Richmond is the scene of one of the November state elections biggest battles. It takes in the progressive heart of Melbourne  Fitzroy, Collingwood, Clifton Hill, Richmond, Burnley and Cremorne (after redistribution, North Fitzroy becomes part of the neighbouring seat of Brunswick). Labor has held Richmond for more than a century, but the Greens are throwing everything at this seat, the party identifying it as its number-one target to win at the November 26 state election. Party leader Adam Bandt, whose federal seat of Melbourne covers the area, launched 39-year-old de Vietris campaign, and one of his media advisors has been seconded to run her communications. A small army of volunteers is aiming to knock on 15,000 doors in Richmond during the campaign. Over on Bridge Road, Richmond, Labor candidate Lauren ODwyers volunteers hit the phones in a former bridal shop-turned campaign office. Glitter is still embedded in the walls and purple velvet curtains frame the front windows.

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Posters of Labor giants including Julia Gillard and Lindsay Tanner line the walls; a reminder of just what is at stake at this election. Richard Wynne, who has held Richmond for 23 years, is about to retire. In his place Labor has preselected 37-year-old ODwyer, associate director of First Nations programs at the Arts Centre and a former Labor staffer. Labor candidate Lauren ODwyer. Credit:Darrian Traynor Both leading candidates are women who identify as queer and work in the arts. ODwyer, who hails from Yorta Yorta country, is proudly of Irish and Aboriginal heritage. They are canny choices for this young and highly mobile electorate. According to the latest Census data, 53 per cent of Richmond residents rent their homes, compared with the state average of 28.5 per cent. This is a similar number to the neighbouring Greens-held seats of Melbourne (67 per cent) and Prahran (57 per cent). The average age in Richmond is 33. The seat hosts three large public housing estates in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond. But, on average, residents enjoy incomes 40 per cent higher than the Victorian average.

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Some 65 per cent of people here are white-collar professionals or managers. The biggest issues for the dozens of voters The Age has spoken to are climate, housing, and  for a section of the community in North Richmond  the medically supervised injecting room. For years, the Greens have talked up their chances of taking this seat from Labor. This election, the party is closer than ever. Richard Wynne has represented Richmond for 23 years. Credit:The Age Redbridge director Kosmos Samaras, a former Labor strategist, says polling electorates like Richmond is notoriously difficult. They dont answer their phones, and they dont want to participate in polling, he says. This means many young voters likely to vote for the Greens are not captured in single-seat polling, he says. He predicts the Greens will win Richmond and Albert Park  which is on the other side of Prahran  on November 26, creating a five-electorate-wide Greens bloc across the inner suburbs of Melbourne.

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The brand loyalty for the Greens there is very strong, he says. It doesnt matter who the candidate is, unless theres a scandal ... But in absence of that, you will see the sorts of swings to the Greens that we saw at the federal election. De Vietri says she can sense growing support for the Greens among the people shes speaking to. We know that if everyone who voted Greens at a federal level votes Greens at the state level that the Greens will take Richmond this election, she says. I can feel on the ground that there is a huge support for progressive politics, action on climate and for the Greens. Its a message that will resonate with voters such as wedding videographer Lachy Henry. I care a lot about the environment, so thats huge. [I want to see] more conservation, he said.

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Labor, too, is pouring more resources into Richmond than any other seat this campaign, so ODwyer cautions the Greens shouldnt take anything for granted. Theres a real knowledge from many in our ranks that the inner cities are absolutely still in need of people that understand what a social safety net looks like, and the need for a social safety net and an ecosystem of supports for people, ODwyer says. And particularly with the proportion of low-income housing and social housing in the electorate, and younger people that are growing up that need access to those public services, we should in no way be abandoning a seat like this. Shes had federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek helping her campaign. At state level, frontbenchers including Lily DAmbrosio and Gabrielle Williams have lent their support, attending events and hitting the phones to urge residents to vote Labor. Labors Lauren ODwyer says the Greens should take nothing for granted in Richmond. Credit:Darrian Traynor If she is elected, ODwyer  who grew up in Echuca and moved to Melbourne to attend university (the first in her family to do so)  expects to be the only parliamentarian who rents their home. Whats cutting through is how refreshed people are to see someone who goes, yeah, I was an adviser for a little bit, but Ive also done all these other things outside the party, and I have lived experience thats a lot different to other candidates, she says.

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Medical testing company Medlab Pathology and its parent, Australian Clinical Labs, took five months after a government warning that customers data was on the dark web to tell 223,000 people their personal information had been exposed.

The exposed data includes 17,539 test records; almost 30,000 credit card details, though some are expired; some drivers licence and passport information; and Medicare card information of 128,000 people.

Optus and Medibank were both pilloried for their communications after their respective cybersecurity breaches, however, both issued repeated updates to customers as soon as they became aware of the intrusion. In contrast, Medlab first detected signs of the hack in February but waited until October to publicly disclose it.

Australian Clinical Labs waited months to disclose the breach. Credit:Bloomberg

Australias corporate and privacy watchdogs, which enforce rules that require prompt disclosure of hacks, are both reviewing the episode. Cybersecurity policy expert Rachael Falk said Medlab should have gone public faster.
Two county judges and a pair of Rochester-area attorneys are the candidates for seats on the state Supreme Court in the 7th Judicial District that includes Cayuga County.

Maroun Ajaka, Jason Cook, Roman Misula and Jim Vazzana are seeking to become state Supreme Court justices. The top two vote-getters will win the seats, one of which was created after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation that added justices to each of the state's judicial districts.

Ajaka, of Pittsford, Monroe County, has his own law practice with a focus on criminal defense, civil and family court cases. According to his biography, he has represented defendants in hundreds of criminal cases. He has also handled various civil and family court matters, such as child support, custody disputes and divorces.

JustCause, a legal organization in Monroe County, honored Ajaka with the William E. McKnight Award for volunteer services in 2003.

Cook, of Milo, has served as Yates County Court judge since 2017 and presides over a variety of cases, including criminal, family, surrogate and drug treatment courts. He was appointed acting state Supreme Court justice in 2019 and oversees civil cases.

In 2021, Cook was named the supervising judge for the town and village courts in Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben and Yates counties.

Before becoming a judge, Cook was the Yates County district attorney from 2010 and 2013 and an assistant district attorney in four counties. He also worked in private practice and was an adjunct instructor at Keuka College.

Misula, who was born in Ukraine, emigrated to the United States as a boy. His family settled in the Rochester area, where he still lives.

He is a former criminal prosecutor in the Monroe County District Attorney's office and was assigned to the DA's economic crime bureau. He now is a partner at Ganguly Brothers in Rochester. He represents clients through Monroe County's Assigned Counsel Program for indigent individuals and is an assistant conflict defender in Livingston County.

Monroe County Judge Jim Vazzana rounds out the candidates in the 7th Judicial District. His experience includes seven years as a family court judge, four as an acting state Supreme Court justice, three as the presiding justice for the Integrated Domestic Violence Supreme Court and two as acting surrogate court judge.

As an attorney, Vazzana worked in private practice for 25 years.

The 7th Judicial District is comprised of eight counties  Cayuga, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates. The state Supreme Court handles criminal and civil trials. The Court of Appeals, not the state Supreme Court, is New York's highest court.

Ajaka and Misula are running on the Democratic line, while Cook and Vazzana will appear on the Republican and Conservative lines.

Early voting begins Saturday and continues through Sunday, Nov. 6. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Geely Auto saw its all-new flagship model, the Boyue L, officially go on sale on October 26.

Photo credit: Geely Auto

Coming with three powertrain options and six trim levels, the Boyue L lineup features a price range of 125,700-170,700 yuan ($17,440-$23,690). As Geelys strategic mass-produced model inspired by its Vision Starburst concept car, the Boyue L, is an integration of the carmakers best automotive technologies.

Inheriting the companys Technology Geely 4.0 design language, the Boyue L is futuristic, technological, and digital, with a splash of oriental aesthetics. It is built on top of Geelys GEEA2.0 electronic and electrical architecture, and is installed with a 13.2-inch vertical center control screen, the Qualcomm 8155 processor, and the Galaxy OS Air operation system.

In terms of intelligence, the Boyue L is deployed with an NOA advanced intelligent driving assistance system, paired with centimeter-grade high-precision locating technology, human-machine co-driving VR navigation, and all-lane dynamic monitor capability.

Photo credit: Geely Auto

In addition, the 25.6-inch AR-HUD on the Boyue L can display navigation, vehicle speed, and other real-time auxiliary safety information for users. Moreover, the display effect is programmed to be dynamically fitted to the road, creating an immersive driving experience where users do not need to look away from the road ahead. Whats more, the Boyue L also features a unique Harman Infinity stereo on the headrest, playing navigation, warning assistance, and other sounds independently to the driver without affecting other occupants in the car.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Pony.ais autonomous driving mobility service (Robotaxi) was officially available on GAC Groups ride-hailing service platform, Ontime, Pony.ai announced on October 27.

Photo credit: Pony.ai

Pony.ais will cooperate with Ontime to start mixed operation of Robotaxi, which will integrate general manned vehicles and autonomous vehicles. Users in Nansha District, Guangzhou, will have the chance to hail a Pony.ai Robotaxi via the Ontime mobile App. The mixed operation indicates that the penetration rate of Robotaxis in core cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macau Greater Bay Area will be greatly increased, and the large-scale implementation of autonomous driving technology in urban scenarios will be further accelerated.

In addition to working with leading ride-hailing platforms like Ontime to broaden Pony.ais reach into the ride-hailing ecosystem, Pony.ai continues to develop and deploy its own robotaxi app, PonyPilot+. On April 24, the company announced that it has become the first and only autonomous driving company to receive a taxi license in China, with a permit to operate 100 autonomous vehicles as taxis in Nansha District, Guangzhou. In May, Pony.ai started to charge fares in the entire 803 square kilometers of Nansha District with 100 Robotaxis. Notably, Pony.ai explained that the 100-vehicle fleet operates in parallel to the Pony.ai Robotaxi fleet on the Ontime platform.
DELAWARE  Cherry.tv has announced that couples are now welcome to register and stream. This latest development comes in the wake of recently unveiling the Cherry 2.0 platform upgrades, which the company says includes "ultra-fast" web streaming as an alternative to OBS.

We are thrilled to finally open Cherry.tv to couples, said Jolene Louw, head of affiliation at Cherry.tv. Not only is this a super popular niche for fans, but it will allow models even greater flexibility.

Louw added, This move is sure to drive traffic and increase potential earnings for both models and affiliatesjust in time for the holidays.
Opening statements were presented Wednesday in Coconino County Superior Court in the trial of a Page man charged in the overdose death of his 6-year-old granddaughter.

James Lane is accused of first-degree murder after his granddaughter died in his home on May 3, 2019. Medical examiners determined her cause of death to be a fentanyl overdose.

Lane appeared in court Wednesday in a navy blue button-up shirt and black slacks, facing judgment before a jury selected Tuesday, with Superior Court Judge Cathleen Nichols presiding.

Lane's defense attorney, Greg Parzych, would explain that Lane struggles with cocaine addiction.

The prosecution presented Lane as a drug dealer, and a person whose home was the site of rampant drug use, describing it as a mine field for a child and a drug-fueled and dangerous environment.

According to opening statements offered by senior felony prosecutor Michael Tunink on behalf of the prosecution, Davidsons mother, Kamaya Lane, had moved to New Mexico and left her daughter in Lanes care so that she could finish out the 2019 school year in Page.

That decision had Kamaya also facing charges (manslaughter and child abuse) in connection with her daughters death. According to Tunink, she accepted a plea agreement that could result in her facing some 13 years in prison.

The defense presented the argument that Kamaya had struggled with alcohol addiction prior to her daughter's moving in with her grandfather. That battle with addiction had grown to an extent that Kamayas housing was often in jeopardy and the child's safety was at risk, according to Parzychs opening statement.

Lane is also facing charges of child abuse.

Everyone will tell you how much he loved (his granddaughter), said Parzych, pointing at his client.

The defense painted Lane as a caring grandparent who moved to protect his granddaughter by offering her a place in his home. It was a home, it was argued, that was the site of substance use, but the best Lane  fighting addiction himself  could provide at the time.

Meanwhile, projecting a legal definition of child abuse over his shoulder for the jury to read, Tunink asserted that the environment provided by Lane was dangerous from the start -- not the safe quarter the defense was arguing Lane aimed to provide.

The projector was on throughout the prosecutions opening statements, as Tunink introduced the case and showed video of the 6-year-old victim.

In the videos, her hair is in curly buns on the top of her head. She wears a bright pink top and backpack, and plays with a gray bully-breed puppy. A harsh contrast would come moments later, when Tunink presented a different clip of the child being carried out of the house and placed into a green Land Rover. The vehicle would take her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Parzych said Lane had rules about drug use in front of his granddaughter, forbidding anyone who came to or lived in the double-wide trailer he rented in Page from using substances around her.

Parzych referenced the first clip of her happily playing with a puppy on a sunny front porch to demonstrate that Lanes rules were working, arguing that Lane did his best to keep the girl safe -- given his circumstances.

The rules worked, until they were tragically violated, Parzych said.

In countering that argument the prosecution presented a list of witnesses, whose photographs were also projected on the wall opposite the jury box.

Tunink noted they would call Kamaya Lane, Ronald Lehr, Tiana Nez and Victoria Bizardi.

Bizardi was Lanes significant other, and according to prosecutors pleaded guilty to manslaughter and child abuse in connection with the 6-year-old's death. Parzych said she sold drugs regularly on the Navajo Nation, was aware of the presence of illicit substances in the house and was there the morning Lanes granddaughter was found unresponsive.

Bizardi faces between five and 25 years in prison for her role, pending sentencing.

Lehr and a woman named Elizabeth McAllister (who would appear on tape as the woman putting Davidson into the Land Cruiser) were both hired to do odd jobs around Lanes home. Both were in the throes of addiction at the time of the child's death. Lehr was present in the house the night before her death and the morning she was found unresponsive.

After the death McAllister also died of an overdose.

Nez, meanwhile, allegedly purchased drugs from Lane, namely fentanyl, around the time of the death.

The witnesses, prosecution promised, would underline the prevalence of drug use also documented in physical evidence. Under oath, Page Police Detective Terry TerEick, stated his investigation turned up glass pipes, foils, baggies, scales and residue to indicate that marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, and fentanyl were all present in the home.

The presence of drugs in the house did not seem to be a point the defense contended. Instead, Parzych focused on Lanes safeguards, compassion and caring for his granddaughter. He also noted that more than one of the witnesses had changed their statements multiple times.

Different people have laid claim to the fentanyl in the house. The truthfulness of their testimony, he said with an open armed gesture, would be up to the jury to decide. He characterized their words as unpredictable, saying, Well all experience that testimony together.

Time was spent discussing time itself, and what that might imply about Lanes investment (or lack thereof) in the well-being of his granddaughter. Prosecutors explained that the defendant did not go to the hospital with his granddaughter. He allegedly didnt leave the house until 40 minutes after she had been carried out of his home.

Defense countered with an explanation of a history of snoring, asthma, and sleep-related health concerns the child had had in the past. That history, Parzych asserted, meant Lane had not fully grasped the seriousness of the little girls situation.

The seriousness of his current situation seemed absolutely clear to Lane, who often leaned his cheek on an open fist, and leaned in to confer with his council.

The prosecution has started to call witnesses will continue to do so for the next portion of whats scheduled to be a 16-day trial.
The batteries go out in your smoke detector. A lightbulb dies. Your desktop printer gives up the ghost. When everyday items need replacing, there isnt always a clear safe disposal solution.

Thats why the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office is hosting a community Drop-Off Day on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Flagstaff Police Station. Theyll be inviting folks to bring their used aerosol cans, batteries, lightbulbs (including fluorescent tubes), and computers and printers.

The power of partnering with the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) for a waste disposal event extends beyond their willingness to provide a location. For its part, FPD will be offering an opportunity for community members to rid their homes of unused and expired drugs, prescription of otherwise.

The event will also be considered an official Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) drop-off event, meaning police will use the event as an opportunity to get drugs off the streets.

During a DEA event, Odis Brockman, FPD spokesperson, explained, [community members] can also drop off any illegal drugs that they might have with no questions asked.

Helping community members to rid their homes of potentially harmful drugs, and even peskier waste materials (such as batteries), Brockman said, is a service in keeping with the departments mission.

"The mission of the Flagstaff Police Department is to protect and preserve life, property, public order and the rights of the individual, by providing exemplary service through the establishment of a partnership of shared responsibility, support and trust with the law-abiding members of the community. Any time we have the opportunity to build on our partnerships, we are working towards our mission, said Brockman.

Elevated Shredding will be at the police station on Sawmill Road Saturday, to help dispose of personal documents. Theyll take up to two boxes of personal documents to shred. Ponderosa Medical waste will be available to collect sharps, and other items not accepted by the DEA. Westech Recyclers will also be present to dispose of old electronics.

The kinds of items and waste that will not be accepted during the event are objects such as car seats, liquid chemicals and cough syrups, CRT televisions and commercial waste.
The entrance of Tempurung Cave in Perak state, about 200 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 24, 2020. (AP Photo)

30 People Rescued After Being Trapped in Malaysian Cave

KUALA LUMPUR, MalaysiaAbout 30 members of a film crew who were trapped in a limestone cave in northern Malaysia during heavy rain Wednesday have been rescued, police said.

Perak police chief Mohamad Yusri Hassan Basri was quoted by the Utusan Malaysia newspaper as saying that the people were trapped when water level near the caves exit rose to about 1.5 meters (5 feet) due to heavy rains.

He said those trapped were members of a film crew from a Singaporean production company who were shooting at the location. He said there were a total of 80 crew members but most managed to escape except for 30 people, including local people and Singaporeans.

All the trapped crew were rescued and taken out of the area two hours after authorities were notified, he was quoted as saying. He said no injuries were reported.

Tempurung Cave, a spectacular network of chambers more than three kilometers (1.8 miles) long, is believed to be the longest and largest limestone cave in peninsular Malaysia. It is a popular tourist attraction, with sections developed with walkways and lighting.
Abortion Survivors Speak Out: We Are Just as Human as You

Months after the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, voters across five states will be considering ballot measures relating to abortion on Nov. 8.

Some of those measures aim to expand abortion access, while others seek the opposite. But whatever voters decide, one oft-overlooked group is asking that their experiences be considered in the process.

An Untold Story

Theres another part of this [abortion] story thats not being told, said Sarah Moe, who heads up the Abortion Survivors Network Education and Policy Center (ASN), a Missouri-based nonprofit.

The Abortion Survivors Network is an organization thats actually led by abortion survivors, Moe told The Epoch Times. It empowers and equips abortion survivors to work through their trauma, their questions, and its a safe place for them in a society that really thinks their lives should have ended.

ASNs community engagement coordinator, California resident Jennifer Milbourn, takes special care to maintain that atmosphere of safety, understanding all too well how elusive it can be.

When Milbourn was 19 years old, she found out that she was a survivor of a vacuum aspiration abortion. I was shopping with my adoptive mom and challenged her to tell me something I didnt know about myself, and thats what came out of her mouth.

Milbourn learned that her biological mother had tried to abort her in the spring of 1978, but as her mother was further along in the gestation process than she had told the clinician, the abortion was unsuccessful.

They began the procedure and realized that my head was larger than expected, Milbourn said.

While unable to complete the procedure, the abortionist did manage to tear the embryonic sac. Assuming that Milbourns mother had miscarried, he sent her home. Then, months later, Milbourn was born.

At first, learning what she had survived came as a shock to Milbourn, and unsure how to process her feelings, she repressed them until years later when, as a mother herself, she was forced to confront them head-on.

For a survivor of an abortion, theres a lot of trauma that comes with it, she said. Rejection is the biggest component of that.

However, bolstered by her Christian faith and the support of her family members, Milbourn found healing.

It has meant a lot for her to have me just be there for her in every capacity that she needs me, said Milbourns husband, Noah, who volunteers as the mens program coordinator at ASN.

I opened myself up to make sure that she had everything she needed, especially through this journey of finding out and healing from the trauma of knowing that she was rejected, knowing that she was unwanted. And that is a difficulty all in itself, he said.

A Robin Finds Her Song

Like Milbourn, Montanan pastor and abortion survivor Robin Sertell has spent much of her life healing from the trauma of what she endured in the womb.

At the age of 9, during one of many stints in the hospital, Sertell learned from her grandmother that she had survived not just one but three saline abortion attempts that had left her with a variety of health issues, including difficulties hearing and walking, and problems with her skin, hair, and digestive and urinary tracts.

The trauma is very real in my life, she said, adding that she had also experienced symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Additionally, the realization of her mothers initial rejection had a lasting impact on Sertells emotional health and her ability to trust others.

And while medical treatment and her faith have brought her to a place of healing and forgiveness, she noted, The reality of these effects on my life means I really desperately want to see a world where nobody ever has to go through what I went through again.

A Lack of Accurate Reporting

Although the voices of survivors like Milbourn and Sertell are rarely heard in abortion conversations, Moe said they are greater in number than previously thought.

A 1981 estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) placed the annual number of infants born alive after a failed abortion at between 400 and 500.

However, according to Moe, ASN questioned those numbers because the United States has woefully horrible reporting requirements surrounding the abortion procedures that are done across the country.

Currently, there is no federal requirement that states report abortion data to the CDC, but using the data available and the annual Canadian rate of infants born alive after a failed abortion (0.28 percent), ASN conducted a case study to extrapolate an updated estimate for the United States.

The results indicated that in 2019, there would have been approximately 1,780 infants born alive after a failed abortion.

While acknowledging that 0.28 percent is still a rare occurrence, Moe noted that other factors often considered in the abortion debatesuch as rape, incest, or life-threatening health risks to the motherare also rare, as per a Guttmacher Institute survey.

Lamenting that legislation to protect born-alive infants is sometimes dismissed as unnecessary, Moe added: My goal is to help convince people that born-alive legislation may not affect them and their life, but its a decision to create a future youre proud ofa future in which children who are at risk can thrive.

With our data, hopefully, we can show that its not just a solution in search of a problem but, in fact, these are real lives.

States to Decide

Since the reversal of Roe v. Wade, six states have put the question of abortion on the ballot.

Primary voters in Kansas rejected a constitutional amendment declaring that nothing in the states constitution outlines a right to an abortion, and on Nov. 8, other abortion-related ballot measures will be considered in California, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana and Vermont.

In Montana, LR-131 would entitle born-alive infants to medically appropriate and reasonable medical treatment and would impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to provide that treatment.

Sertell, who supports the measure, contended: Many abortion survivors  have been laid aside on cold steel tables and declared medical waste and left alone, crying and screaming.

I was very blessed to not be in that situation because my dad was in the room and advocated for my life, but  there is an absence of proper legal protection, and that needs to change.

However, some health providers have opposed the referendum, holding that laws already exist to protect the lives of infants, and that the new law would force doctors to provide care where it would be futile.

LR-131 will deny grieving families the choice to spend precious time with their infant, even to provide spiritual care, argues an open letter signed by more than 700 Montana health care providers.

Sertell, however, holds that such arguments are misleading.

The detractors are saying this will force people to have unwanted care, she said. There is no forcing. This is saying that they must be treated as a legal person with the right to medically appropriate and reasonable care.

California

In California, Proposition 1 would amend the states constitution to forbid state interference with an individuals reproductive freedom, including their decision to have an abortion or to use or refuse contraceptives.

The amendment is supported by Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California President and CEO Jodi Hicks, who in July stated, Prop 1 will ensure that individuals and families continue to have the freedom to decide if and when to have children because access to affordable, comprehensive reproductive health careincluding abortion and birth controlallows people to plan their lives and achieve their dreams.

Milbourn, however, said she felt the state had been underhanded in its presentation of the amendment.

Every bill in the voter guide has pages of fluff and description, but Prop 1 is one tiny paragraph, right in the middle, hidden where no one can see it, she noted. I feel like thats manipulation. Thats not a correct way to conduct business, if you will, at all.

Noah Milbourn added that he found the positioning of abortion as a form of health care by those like Hicks to be offensive.

That baby growing inside that woman is not a disease, he said. This is something that has a heartbeat, something that has the very essence of life. Calling an abortion health care is [like] saying that a child is a diseasethat its something that can just be eradicated and no thought has to be given toward that child or that life.

Further noting that his children would not have been born if his wife had succumbed to what others call health care, Milbourn added: There are second-generation and third-generation survivors today because doctors failed. Usually, when doctors fail, somebody dies. But in abortion, when a doctor fails, people live.

Hicks did not return a request for comment.

But whether the ballot measures pass or fail, the Milbourns and Sertell said they hoped voters would take their perspectives into account.

Babies survive abortions, Sertell said. Not clumps of cells, not fetuses  but babies, human beings, survive abortions, and I am one of them. We are just as human as you and everyone else in the world, and the experience of having someone try to kill you before you were born makes a lasting impression on youphysically, emotionally and spirituallythat no other human should have to go through.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized approximately 47,000 rainbow-colored fentanyl pills, 186,000 blue fentanyl pills, and 6.5 pounds of meth hidden in a floor compartment of a vehicle at the Nogales port of entry on the southern border with Mexico on Sept. 3, 2022. (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Ahead of Halloween, Police Warn Parents of Rainbow-Colored Fentanyl Candies

With Halloween falling on Oct. 31, many children are looking forward to trick-or-treating. However, with the trafficking of fentanyl on the rise, U.S. law enforcers have reminded parents to stay on high alert to avoid fentanyl candies.

A number of cases of fentanyl pills disguised as candies have been recently identified with the Pasadena Police Department in September seizing more than 300,000 fentanyl pills, including brightly-colored rainbow fentanyl that looks like candy.

On Oct. 12, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and New York law enforcement officials announced the seizure of 300,000 pills of rainbow fentanyl in an apartment.

Most recently, local authorities seized some 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills packaged in popular candy boxes at the Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 19.

The findings have cast a shadow over the upcoming Halloween.

Remember that any candy that looks like a pill merits a second look. Just this month, the LAPDs Gang and Narcotics Division has been hard at work confiscating over $1 million worth of disguised fentanyl. If you come across something suspicious, contact the police immediately, the LAPD warned in a Twitter message on Oct. 20.

Stick to Name-Brand Candy

Kenneth Cabrera, a captain with LAPDs Hollenbeck Division, told The Epoch Times that parents need to be extra careful this year.

You want to make sure that youre eating name-brand candy thats sealed, he said. Its very important to inspect it to make sure that no wrapper has been opened or altered or looks like its been tampered with.

As it is difficult to tell the difference between fentanyl candy and normal candy by appearance, taste, and smell, parents have been suggested to soak candy in water and use fentanyl test strips to determine whether the candy is abnormal.

If someone accidentally takes fentanyl, the medication Naloxone can reverse the toxic effects.

Narcotic detectives seized about 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills packaged in candy bags at Los Angeles International Airport, Calif. on October 19, 2022. (Courtesy of Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department)

Alfonso Mendoza, another captain at the Hollenbeck Division, stressed that its parents responsibility to take care of their kids safety.

And really at the end of the day, make sure that youre inspecting your childrens candy so that it is safe and let them enjoy it, he said.

He also suggested that kids stay in groups, where its well lit, walking down the sidewalk, staying out of the streets, especially dark streets.

Fentanyl Overdose Deaths

In the past few weeks alone, several teenagers in California have died or been sent to the hospital after accidentally consuming drugs containing fentanyl.

According to data from DEA, just 2 mg of fentanyl can be fatal.

Fentanyl is the number one killer of adults between the ages of 18 and 40 in the United States. Its also the leading cause of drug overdoses among Californians, including teens.

With multiple incidents of rainbow fentanyl, federal law enforcement is concerned that drug traffickers are using these candy-like synthetic opioids to lure children.

DEA data shows that the vast majority of fentanyl-containing drugs found in the United States are produced in Mexico, while the chemical ingredients come from China.
Jennifer-Ruth Green, an Air Force veteran, won the Republican primary for Indiana's 1st Congressional District. She will face Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan in the general election in November. (Courtesy of Jennifer-Ruth Green's campaign)

Air Force Admits Fault for Releasing Records on Republican Candidates Sexual Assault

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) has accepted responsibility for a leak that revealed that GOP congressional candidate Jennifer-Ruth Green survived a sexual assault during her time in the military.

Initially, the USAF denied responsibility for the leak.

However, a spokesperson for the branch later told The Epoch Times that the leak, while unauthorized, was the result of a misstep in how Greens documents were handled.

Based on the preliminary findings of an investigation, it appears information from Jennifer-Ruth Greens service record was released to a third party by a junior individual who didnt follow proper procedures and obtain required consent, USAF Chief of Media Operations Ann Stefanek said in an email.

The Department of the Air Force takes its responsibility to safeguard private information seriously and the matter remains under investigation, Stefanek added.

After the unknown leaker obtained the documents, he handed them over to Politico, which published a story about Greens sexual assault.

Specifically, Politico published Greens Officer Performance Report (OPR), a document that federal guidelines do not permit to be made public without the consent of the person in question.

Cotton Demands Answers

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) responded to the leak with a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and National Guard Bureau Chief Daniel Hokansan.

On October 7, 2022, Politico published highly private information from the military records of Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer-Ruth Green, USAF, including both the contents of her Officer Performance Reports and her own detailed account of being sexually assaulted while serving in Iraqan assault she had chosen to keep private until Politico decided to ignore her objections and publish the details anyway, Cotton wrote.

In the Politico article, Cotton noted, the reporter responsible contended that the documents were obtained by a public records request and provided to [Politico.] According to the reporter, these documents were obtained in accordance with the guidelines of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

However, Cotton noted, these kinds of documents cannot be revealed without the express consent of the subject of such documents.

Absent the written consent of the servicemember, military performance evaluations appear to be protected by the Privacy Act and not releasable under the Freedom of Information Act, based on the statutes themselves, various government FAQs, and the Air Force itself in response to a formal congressional inquiry from my office into whether Officer Performance Reports are releasable under FOIA, Cotton said.

In response to his inquiry, Cotton noted, the USAF told him that [an] OPR could only be released if that member agreed, in writing, to release his/her document. Without written consent/release, Air Force has no authority to release these documents.

If thats true, Cotton said, the release of Lt Col Greens personnel records appears to be a grave violation of both Lt. Col. Greens privacy and federal law.

Cotton also noted that the release of these documents may have had nefarious and partisan goals in view of the proximity of the 2022 midterms.

Of additional concern is the appearance that the party responsible for releasing these Air Force documents may be exploiting private matters, including a sexual assault, for partisan purposes to interfere in the democratic process just weeks before an election, Cotton concluded, closing the letter out with a demand for a prompt explanation of how the documents were leaked.

Greens campaign poses a threat to Democrats amid an election cycle already expected to be favorable to Republicans. Some observers expect Green to flip Rep. Frank Mrvans (D-Ind.) House seat in a traditionally Democrat-leaning district of Indiana.

Following the leak, Green contended that Mrvan was likely responsible.

I believe Congressman Frank Mrvan illegally obtained those documents and was floating them around to [the] press, Green told Fox News. Thats what our political team told us, that they were farming it out to several different press outlets to see who could write a very disgusting, ugly smear piece against me with the intent to paint me as a disgraced military officer.

USAF Accepts Responsibility

After the USAF initially evaded accepting responsibility for the leak, it has since admitted that clerical errors on its own part were responsible for the release of the private documents.

We cannot confirm any documents on this individual were released by the Department of the Air Force under the Freedom of Information Act, an Air Force spokesperson told Fox News initially. In general, any release of information that, if disclosed, would invade another individuals personal privacy would be reviewed under Exemption FOIA 5U.S.C. 552 (b)(6) with redactions made to ensure compliance with the law. Each document would be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) said in a joint statement to Fox News that they had been told by Air Force Inspector General Lt. Gen. Stephen Davis that the branch was responsible for the leak.

On yesterdays call, the Air Force took full responsibility for improperly releasing Lt. Col. Greens confidential personnel records to an opposition research firm just weeks before the midterm election. Lt. Gen. Davis informed us that the leaker has been identified and will be held accountable, Banks and Bucshon wrote.

The Air Force completed its preliminary investigation and is currently investigating whether the leaker had a political or financial motive, whether the leaker acted alone, and if the Air Force needs to strengthen policies related to its handling of confidential records, Banks added.

The Worst of Politics: Green

Following the confirmation that proper procedures were not followed, Green blasted the leak as the worst of politics.

I appreciate that we now have confirmation, as I have contended all along, that my records were not properly obtained through FOIA, as Politico claimed, Green said in a statement posted to her campaign website.

The documents were obtained by a Democrat opposition research firm, and their release was illegal, Green continued. Its the worst of politics, and its just the latest example that Hoosiers deserve better than Congressman Frank Mrvan.

I want to thank Senators Tom Cotton, Todd Young and Mike Braun as well as Congressman Jim Banks and Congressman Larry Bucshon for their ongoing efforts to demand accountability and get to the bottom of the illegal leak of my confidential files, Green added.

The walls are closing in on Congressman Mrvan, said Kevin Hansberger, the communications director for Greens campaign. He denied any involvement in obtaining and leaking Jennifer-Ruth Greens military records.

Now we know the Air Force did release documents illegally to a Democrat opposition research firm. And we know what firm it was and we know they work for the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee], which has been coordinating so closely with Frank Mrvan that every ad hes aired in this race they split the cost of. To believe Mrvan and his cronies didnt know is laughable. There is more to come.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks during a media event at the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon on June 28, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Liam Richards)

Alberta Applauds Saskatchewan Premiers Legislation Seeking More Autonomy From Ottawa

EDMONTONThe government of Alberta is applauding Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moes move to introduce Sovereignty Act-style legislation for more autonomy over its economic future.

Moes government is set to introduce the Saskatchewan First Act in the coming days as it seeks more independence over its natural resources. It also wants the separation of provincial and federal powers, as outlined in Canadas Constitution, written in its own laws.

As it works to develop its own sovereignty legislation, Alberta Premier Danielle Smiths office said her government hopes to see more provinces follow the prairies move to defend their jurisdictional rights.

Its great to see other provinceslike Saskatchewan, follow Albertas lead in defending provincial existing constitutional division of powers, a spokesperson with Smiths office said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

Its no secret this is a top priority for our government and we hope to continue to see other jurisdictions do the same.

In a speech to party members at the United Conservative Party (UCP) annual general meeting on Oct. 22, Smith said work has begun on her proposed Sovereignty Act. She first pitched the legislation during the UCP leadership race to oppose federal legislation deemed harmful to the province.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference in Edmonton on Oct. 11, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson)

When Ottawa announces policies and laws that attack our economy or violate the rights of our people or when Ottawa seeks to take control of our sovereign areas of provincial jurisdiction, our UCP government will not enforce those laws and policies in this province, period, Smith said on Oct. 22.

The Saskatchewan government has said its Saskatchewan First Act would define that Saskatchewan alone has exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources and economic future.

In the throne speech on Oct. 26, Saskatchewan Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirastry said the legislation will draw the jurisdictional line and defend that line based on the existing constitutional divisions of powers.

Mirastry added that the proposed legislation is not about abrogating or ignoring the Constitution.

Moe said on Oct. 26 that his government would respect and follow all the laws of the land amid the changes.

Were trying to do everything we can as a province to try to provide clarity for the investment community and for Saskatchewan residents, as well as Canadians, he said.

Smith, meanwhile, outlined a plan to push back against Ottawa on major policy issues like the gun buyback program. In a letter to her cabinet on Oct. 27, the new premier said Alberta is consistently treated as a subordinate level of government with unilateral federal decisions that landlock resources, undermine provincial prosperity, and make life less affordable for Albertans.

On major policy issues, our government will be discussing a push back strategy to address issues such as the federal oil and gas emissions cap fertilizer reductions, and the firearms confiscation program, Smith wrote.

Alberta has its own legislation, policies, priorities, and procedures.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at a press conference after members of her cabinet were sworn in, in Edmonton on Oct. 24, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jason Franson)

Alberta Premier Asks Cabinet Members to Keep a Unified Approach in Dealing With Ottawa

EDMONTONAlberta Premier Danielle Smith has asked her cabinet to maintain a unified approach when dealing with Ottawa, pushing back on issues such as the gun buy back program.

On major policy issues, our government will be discussing a push back strategy to address issues such as the federal oil and gas emissions cap fertilizer reductions, and the firearms confiscation program, Smith said in a letter to her cabinet ministers on Oct. 27.

Our government will be holding our ground when federal policies threaten Albertas interests.

I have sent all Cabinet Ministers the memo below to ensure we are presenting a united front in all dealings with the federal government.#abpoli #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/QKqmQ56kGi  Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) October 27, 2022

She added that Alberta is consistently treated as a subordinate level of government with unilateral federal decisions that landlock resources, undermine provincial prosperity, and make life less affordable for Albertans.

Alberta is to be treated as an equal owner of government under the constitution and not as a stakeholder, she said.

Alberta has its own legislation, policies, priorities, and procedures. Albertas government is accountable to its residents, not to the federal government.

Speaking at the United Conservative Party annual general meeting on Oct. 22, Smith said work has begun on her much-publicized Alberta Sovereignty Act, legislation she proposed during the leadership race to oppose federal legislation deemed harmful to the province. The premier said she has asked for the proposed bill to be ready to be tabled in the legislature by the time she has a seat in the Alberta Legislative Assembly. If shes successful in the Brooks-Medicine Hat by-election, that could be as early as Nov. 29.

We will introduce it, we will pass it, and we will use it to push Ottawa back in its own lane every time they step out of line and intrude on our constitutional rights, Smith said on Oct. 22.

Until then, Smith told her cabinet in her letter to carefully consider the effects of federal spending on the province. She added that targeted, time-limited federal funding agreements often focus on federal priorities, undermine the constitutional responsibility of provinces in areas like resource development, and target municipalities directly in an attempt to circumvent provincial authority.

Cabinet ministers must consider the constitutional division of powers, equal orders of government, accountability to citizens, and jurisdictional diversity, Smith said.

There may be cases where Alberta will seek to opt out of new federal program if they arent in Albertas best interest, she wrote.

If the federal government does not honour cooperative federalism through meaningful engagement, we will simply not participate in their consultations.

Ministers were also told to share all information related to federal funding and federal funding proposals with Intergovernmental Relations to ensure a unified approach.
An undated police mugshot of Jemma Mitchellconvicted of murdering Mee Kuen Chong in London in June 2021. (Metropolitan Police)

Alternative Therapist Guilty of Murder of Devout Christian Whose Will She Forged

A woman who killed a friend she met through a church in London, decapitated her, and dumped the headless body on a public footpath 200 miles away, has been convicted of murder.

The trial at the Old Bailey in London heard Jemma Mitchell, 38, murdered Mee Kuen Chong, 67, in June 2021 after they fell out over money and then forged a will in which Chongwho was known as Deborahleft 95 percent of her estate, worth 700,000, to pay for repairs to the home in which Mitchell lived.

The jury heard how Charlotte Rollings and her family made the gruesome discovery as they took a walk near their holiday cottage in Salcombe, south Devon, on June 27, 2021.

Mitchell and Chong met through a church group and Mitchell, a trained osteopath, acted as a spiritual healer for her.

In a press release, Detective Chief Inspector Jim Eastwood said the murder was a truly despicable crime and he added: The motivation for Jemma Mitchells actions was money and she showed a significant degree of planning and calculation as she attempted to cover up her horrific actions. The cold facts of this case are shocking.

A woman alleged to be Jemma Mitchell, is seen pulling a blue suitcase, which allegedly contained the body of Mee Kuen Chong, down a street in Wembley, north west London, on June 11, 2021. (Metropolitan Police)

Mitchell, who had won a prize at university for her anatomical knowledge, lived with her mother, Hilary Collard, who used to work at the Foreign Office.

Collard had decided to construct a third floor on their home in Brondesbury Park, north west London, but the project ran into problems when a builder went bankrupt.

In June 2021 the house had no proper roof and was covered with scaffolding.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer, KC, told the jury Chong and Mitchell were both devout Christians and Chong had offered 200,000 ($220,000) of her own money to complete the building work on condition that the house was used for Christian worship.

But she changed her mind four days before she went missing.

After forging Chongs will, Mitchell went to the victims home and killed herprobably by hitting her on the head with a blunt objectand then removed the body in a suitcase.

Two weeks later she rented a car and drove to Devon before dumping the headless body and the head on a hillside overlooking the English Channel.

A still image from CCTV footage showing a rented Volvoallegedly being driven by Jemma Mitchellnear the body deposition site in Salcombe, Devon, England, on June 26, 2021. (Metropolitan Police)

After Chongs lodger, David Klein, reported her missing, Mitchell sent him a text message in which she said: Hey David. She said on Monday she was going to stay with family friends for a year to clear her head  somewhere close to the ocean, she said she felt depressed about the home visit by the mental team.

Chong, who was born in Malaysia, suffered from schizophrenia and had been injected with anti-psychotic medication in May 2021, after she repeatedly wrote bizarre letters to Prince Charles and the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Irena Stein, founder of Alma Cocina Latina, has turned her restaurant into a cultural ambassador for her native country, and a landing pad for fellow immigrants in search of a better life

The most important ingredient Irena Stein has brought to Baltimores dining scene isnt found in her Venezuelan food. Its her team.

As the proud founder of the countrys first contemporary Venezuelan restaurant, Alma Cocina Latina, and a Venezuelan immigrant herself, Stein is supporting the next generation of Venezuelan chefs in Americawhich begins with helping them immigrate and secure legal paths to citizenship. Her efforts include sponsoring five chefs for O-1 visas, granted only to individuals with exceptional talent.

They come here for a better life and for opportunities they cant get at home because of the situation and violence, Stein said. Its so important for me to build a link between the country I am living in and the country that Im from. That is what Alma is.

Zamudios menu showcases imaginative Latin cuisine, rooted in Venezuelan culinary traditions. (Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

Steins nonlinear path to opening Alma began in 1980, when she left Caracas on a Fulbright scholarship to earn her masters in cultural anthropology at Stanford University. After graduating, she endured a period without official status before securing a diplomatic passport to work at the Venezuelan Consulate. She then worked in anthropological sciences and the creative arts, and moved to Baltimore in the late 90s.

The beverage program, designed by Maja Griffin, focuses primarily on spirits and wines from South America and Spain. (Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

When the 2001 recession hit the art world, I was encouraged to go into the culinary arts, and was lucky enough to earn a contract with NASA to open a cafe at their Hubble telescope facility at Johns Hopkins University, Stein said. Her cafe was so successful that she opened a second on campus.

(Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

For 15 years, Stein wowed diners with her from-scratch Venezuelan foodparticularly her arepas, which always sold out.

Selling so many arepas gave me the idea to thank Baltimore for its warm welcome, she said. She opened Alma in 2015, minutes away from campus, to serve the community that supported her.

Stein still remembers her difficult path to legal residency, which continued even after she was married to an American citizen and had a child.

Im extremely sensitive to the difficulties of immigration, Stein said. Its important that I support as many people as I can.

Among the chefs she has sponsored is David Zamudio, who worked on a six-star cruise ship and under Michelin-starred chefs before coming to Alma. He started as sous chef; now, at 28, hes the executive chef and co-owner.

(Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

Steins mentorship goes beyond the immigration process. In some cases, she housed the chefs when they first arrived, and she works to help them understand their new city and connect with locals.

Tropical vegetation and Latin music fill the breezy open-kitchen dining room. (Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

My main goal is to introduce them to the community, so they have a better sense of belonging, Stein said.

She believes that Alma is more than a restaurant. Its a place where Baltimores community can come together to understand and support each otherand get to know the beauty of the Venezuelan people, culture, and food.

Food is an extraordinary vehicle for peace, dialogue, and understanding, she said. The world is upside-down right now, so helping each other is the only way to make the planet better.

Stein has a background in anthropology and the creative arts. (Courtesy of Alma Cocina Latina)

Irena Stein

Age: 69

From: Caracas, Venezuela

Lives: Baltimore, Maryland

Favorite Restaurant in Baltimore: The Milton Inn

Biggest Misconception About Venezuelan Food: That its very similar to Central American cuisine.
Arizona County Approves Plan to Hand Count Ballots

A Republican-controlled county in Arizona will hand count some ballots cast at polls in Novembers midterm congressional elections after voting to approve the measure on Oct. 24.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors in southeastern Arizona voted 21 on Monday to count ballots in next months elections by hand.

Republican Supervisors Peggy Judd and Tom Crosby supported the move while the boards lone Democrat, Chairwoman Ann English, opposed the move on the basis that it could open up the county to an increasing number of lawsuits.

The proposal (pdf) for the hand count states that it is widely known that many voters lack confidence in the voting system, noting that a county-wide hand count of audit of the 2022 General Election will enhance voter confidence.

It will provide proof of concept for emergency back-up, the proposal states. Such audit will be completed prior to final certification of 2022 general election canvass by the Board of Supervisors.

Specifically, the approved measure will see an expanded hand count audit of the votes. The Board of Supervisors said promised Secretary of State Katie Hobbs that they will ensure the vote-counting process does not violate the law in any way.

Voters wait to cast their midterm election ballots at Burton Barr Library, a polling station in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 6, 2018. (Nicole Neri/Reuters)

Hand Count Must Comply With Law

However, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, initially threatened legal action over the move if the board failed to provide assurances that they would proceed with the hand count of ballots cast at the polls in compliance with the law by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Hobbs, who is running for governor, later said on Twitter that the board had clarified such assurances and had also promised not to attempt to hand count every vote cast in the race, which she said would be unlawful.

They also committed to certify their election results on time, Hobbs said. The Secretarys Office will stay in contact with Cochise County to ensure the process complies with the law.

Hand-counting ballots is a conspiracy theory-driven tactic used to disrupt and delay the election, said Alex Gulotta, Arizona state director of All Voting is Local, in a statement on Tuesday. Supporters of hand-counting want to grab power rather than follow the will of the people. Instead of shutting down the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen, Cochise County officials have chosen to give it new life and further undermine the legitimacy of our elections.

Arizonas decision this week to hand count ballots cast at polls comes as neighboring Nevada on Wednesday forged ahead with its own plans to hand count its midterm ballots.

Nye County began counting mail-in ballots after getting the green light from the state supreme court last week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
B.C. NDP leadership candidate David Eby responds to questions while speaking with reporters in Vancouver, B.C., Oct. 19, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck)

BC Premier-Designate David Eby Meets Lieutenant-Governor Before Transition

British Columbias incoming premier David Eby has been asked by the provinces lieutenant-governor to begin the process of forming government in a step toward transitioning into his new role.

However, Eby will remain premier-designate until he is officially sworn in as premier at a date that has yet to be announced.

Eby told a news conference Wednesday after meeting Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin that the province is in an unusual situation because the transition is set to take place during a legislative session.

His goal and hope is to be sworn in as premier and sit in the legislature during the current session while he tries to deliver on key priorities, Eby said.

The issues of housing and health care and public safety are issues that we need to address in a really aggressive and urgent way. And thats why Im trying to work with our team to accelerate and have in place key legislative initiatives to respond to that, he said.

Im hopeful to be able to deliver on some key priority areas even in the short time that remains in the session.

Eby said he couldnt say when a possible cabinet shuffle would happen but that hes being briefed by the public service on major issues facing the province, the state of its economy and how the government could respond.

He says part of the process would involve conversations with his colleagues about their priorities and their communities.

Eby was acclaimed leader of the New Democrats last week, about four months after Premier John Horgan announced his impending resignation due to health reasons.

The 46-year-old premier-in-waiting unveiled his transition team earlier this week, co-chaired by former NDP finance minister Carole James and First Nations negotiator Doug White.

Deputy attorney general Shannon Salter was appointed deputy minister to the premier and head of the public service.
Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) in his office in Woodville, Texas on April 9, 2021. (Screenshot/The Epoch Times)

Biden Administration Is Turning All States Into Border States, Texas Lawmaker Claims

The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state, says Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas).

Every state is now considered a border state. Every county is now considered a border county, because of the influx of literally millions and millions of illegal aliens who have been invited in and enabled via this Biden administration, Babin said in an interview with Capitol Report, a program on The Epoch Times sister media outlet NTD News.

In Babins opinion, it will be a top issue not only for his home state of Texas, but for the entire country going into the midterms.

He called the situation at the border nightmarish, pointing to the skyrocketing number of deaths of aliens in 2022.

According to CBP officials, at least 782 illegal aliens have died while crossing the southern border in fiscal year 2022, eclipsing last years record by over 240.

The lawmaker further sounded an alarm that over 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in the 12 months ending in April 2021, based on a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The study shows that more than 64,000 of these deaths resulted from synthetic opioids such as fentanylthe deadliest opioid in existence.

As reports emerge that China has played a key role in flooding America with fentanyl, Babin blames the failure of the border policies that have enabled the deadly substance to be smuggled into the United States.

 we have enabled the Chinese to send in those ingredients to Mexico, who then mix them upeven putting rainbow colors into their fentanyl pills to make them attractive to children and young people, he said.

No other administration has evereverhelped, enriched, or empowered the Mexican drug cartels the way Secretary [of Homeland Security Alejandro] Mayorkas and President [Joe] Biden and Kamala Harris have done, he declared.

Sharp differences Between the Two Parties

The Texas lawmaker pointed out that there is a distinct contrast between the Democratic and Republican parties nowadaysto an extent he had never seen before.

Babin characterized the Democratic Party as a socialistic one that advocates for woke policies, political correctness, open borders, and letting criminals out of jail.

The party, he said, wants to weaken America with its pro-radical leftism.

Over and over again, weve seen the Democrats prioritize climate change over national security, over the prosperity of the American taxpayer. It is incredible, Babin noted.

In contrast, the Republican Party believes in strong traditional values, our Constitution, the rule of law, closed and secure borders, he said.

Growing Public Awareness of the Contrast

Babin believes Americans have become more and more aware of the sharp differences between the two parties.

The American people know whats going on every time they go to the grocery store, fill up their gas tanks, have to worry about criminals in their communities, and see the millions of illegal aliens swarming into our country, he said.

Babin pointed to the letter sent by the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to President Joe Biden comparing parental behavior at school board meetings to domestic terrorism in late 2021.

The letter referred to the protest by parents in Virginia against the COVID restrictions and the teaching of critical race theory in district schools in June that year. The NSBA characterized the protests as domestic terrorism and appealed to federal agencies to use laws designed to target domestic terrorism, such as the PATRIOT Act, to address the issue.

NSBA later apologized for the letter. Yet the issue of parents rights in education propelled Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin to a historic win in Virginia, a swing state that hadnt voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.

I think the American people all over this country are in the same frame of mind as those Virginians that tossed out the Democratic Party of Virginia, were, Babin stated.

The Epoch Times reached out to the White House and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.

Terri Wu contributed to this report.

Hannah Ng Reporter Follow Hannah Ng is a reporter covering U.S. and China news. She holds a master's degree in international and development economics from the University of Applied Science Berlin.
Biden DOJ Urges Supreme Court Not to Take Away Judges Power to Intervene in Federal Elections

High court to hear case about Trump-backed 'independent state legislature doctrine' on Dec. 7

The Biden administration has urged the Supreme Court to reject a Republican bid to re-empower state legislatures to regulate congressional and presidential elections as they say the U.S. Constitution requires, including removing the judiciarys power to weigh in on redistricting and other disputes.

The legal filing came in a high-stakes case, Moore v. Harper, court file 21-1271, that the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Dec. 7.

At issue is the independent state legislature doctrine, an idea embraced by former President Donald Trump that tends to evoke strong opinions among those who follow election law. Although three Supreme Court justices have said the doctrine applied in the Bush v. Gore case that resolved the disputed 2000 presidential election, the court has never ruled on the doctrine directly.

Republicans say the Constitution has always directly authorized state legislatures to make rules for the conduct of federal elections. The political establishment, including Democrats and some Republicans, say this idea is a fringe conservative legal theory that could endanger voting rights. The doctrine, if endorsed by the high court, could allow state legislatures to select presidential electors in disputed elections, something critics decry as a threat to democracy.

The doctrine could upend more than 200 years of practice that confirms that state legislatures are subject to state constitutional constraints when they exercise their authority under the Constitutions elections clause, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said in a friend-of-the-court brief (pdf) filed after hours on Oct. 26.

The elections clause in Article 1 states: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof. The presidential electors clause in Article 2 gives each state the power to appoint presidential electors in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct.

North Carolina Republicans, led by petitioner Tim Moore, who is the speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, are appealing a ruling by their state Supreme Court that rejected the state Legislatures electoral map. Respondent Rebecca Harper is one member of a group of 25 North Carolina voters.

The Court has repeatedly rejected arguments that state constitutional checks on a state legislatures lawmaking function violate the Elections Clause, Prelogars brief states.

And the Court has emphasized that state constitutions can provide standards and guidance for state courts to apply in addressing partisan gerrymandering, citing a Florida Supreme Court decision that struck down that States congressional districting plan as a violation of the state constitution.

More than 70 friend-of-the-court briefs have been filed with the court in the case.

One brief (pdf) filed by Democratic U.S. senators led by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Oct. 26 argued the doctrine would undermine the Constitutions guarantee of a republican form of government and the elections clause by allowing state legislatures to act independently of  checks and balances.

Because state legislatures receive their authority from state constitutions, they must be bound by the states founding documents. Legislatures cannot supersede state constitutions, the brief continues.

The legislature cannot circumvent the authority delegated by the state constitution (and the people) to the state courts to review its enactments to vindicate the rights guaranteed by [the state] Constitution.

In total, 18 Democrats and two independents who caucus with Democrats, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Angus King (I-Maine), signed onto the brief.

The attorneys general of Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, and 10 other states filed a friend-of-the-court brief (pdf) backing North Carolina.

The threats to state interests are clear in this case. If state courts are allowed to override legislative decisions based on vague state constitutional provisions, the rule of law is undermined, states the brief authored by Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich, both Republicans.

Moore explained in March why he supports the doctrine.

The U.S. Constitution is crystal clear: State legislatures are responsible for drawing congressional maps, not state court judges, and certainly not with the aid of partisan political operatives, Moore said.

We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will reaffirm this basic principle and will throw out the illegal map imposed on the people of North Carolina by its highest court. It is time to settle the elections clause question once and for all.
(L) President Joe Biden speaks during the annual St. Patrick's Day luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 17, 2022. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images); (R) Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, on March 4, 2021. (Leo Ramirez/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Says US Not Seeking Conflict With China, as Xi Seeks Cooperation With Washington

President Joe Biden said on Oct. 26 that the United States does not seek conflict with the Chinese regime, and its leader Xi Jinping knows this.

We do not seek conflict with them, Biden said of Chinas communist regime during a meeting with top military advisers.

Biden added that the United States would continue to lead the world on several issues that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership had failed to pursue, including curbing Russias war of conquest in Ukraine and climate change initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping said on Oct. 27 that the regime is willing to cooperate with the United States for mutual benefit.

The two nations, Xi said, could use their status as major powers to provide stability to the world by strengthening communications and cooperation, Chinese state television reported on Thursday.

The comments came just ahead of Novembers G-20 summit in Indonesia, where Biden and Xi are expected to meet in person for the first time in Bidens presidency.

Tensions between China and the United States have been at their highest in decades over a range of contentious issues including U.S. lawmakers visits to Taiwan, the CCPs covert espionage campaigns within the United States, and the use of American technologies in Chinese weapons.

U.S. prosecutors earlier this week unveiled charges against more than a dozen individuals, including 10 Chinese intelligence officers or officials, across three cases involving an alleged effort to obstruct a criminal prosecution, forcibly repatriate a U.S.-based dissident back to China, and recruit U.S. spies for China.

Xi, who just secured an unprecedented third term as leader of the CCP, recently reaffirmed that China would never renounce the right to use force against Taiwan and its inhabitants. The CCP views the democratic island as part of its territory, even though Taiwan has been ruled as an independent entity for more than seven decades and has never been under CCP control.

Washington and allies have sounded the alarm over the Chinese regimes increasing aggression towards the island, citing frequent aircraft incursions in the area near Taiwan and unprecedented military drills surrounding the island in August, coinciding with House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) high-profile visit to Taipei.

Xi and Biden will attend the G20 summit in Indonesia in November, and are rumored to be preparing a meeting, but no information has been officially released.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo listens to national security adviser Jake Sullivan at a virtual meeting with President Joe Biden, CEOs, and labor leaders on the CHIPS for America Act, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, next to the White House in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2022. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)

Biden Ups the Ante With China

Raising the pressure on Beijing, with little comment

Commentary

If Donald Trump first made clear that China is a competitor, not a partner, as was previously claimed, the Biden administration has escalated the contest tremendously.

Trump began the change in U.S. policy when in 2018 he imposed heavy tariffs on Chinese goods and demanded that Beijing alter its trade practices. In more recent years, under Biden, the contest has come to involve American export controls, restrictions on investment flows, and visa limits. The recently passed CHIPS for America Act adds subsidies for domestic U.S. production of semiconductors to the mix.

The latest step in this battle involves the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Through this otherwise obscure Washington bureau, the United States aims to limit Chinas access to advanced semiconductors, chip-making equipment, and supercomputer components.

Looking back from these latest moves to the flap that surrounded the Trump tariffs shows how far and how fast elite American opinion has moved against China and globalization in general.

Certainly, Trumps tariffs look tame compared to where U.S. policy has gone since. Yet, there is much less controversy about what is happening now than there was four years ago when the tariffs began to go into place. Back in 2018, some of the tariff criticism argued that the levies would hurt the American economy more than they would Chinas. That claim was always dubious since sales in America are much more important to China than Chinese products are to Americans.

More telling in the environment of 2018 were complaints from the commentariat and the academic community that tariffs ran counter to free trade and globalization on whichaccording to prevailing elite opinion at the timepolitical liberalization and world economic prosperity rested.

Trumps rather inarticulate defense of his actions claimed that he had no desire to stop world trade but was using tariffs to pressure Beijing to abandon its unfair trade policies. He wanted China to cease using subsidies to support domestic production, stop its patent theft, and end its insistence that foreigners doing business in China transfer technology and trade secrets to a Chinese partner. The White Houses explanation did little to stop the criticism, while the tariffs did little to change Chinese policies.

The critical perspective in this country has changed radically since then. Without a word of comment, President Joe Biden has kept the despised Trump tariffs in place. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai made clear that todays reasoning is the same as Trumps, stating that the tariffs offer a significant piece of leverage to get Beijing to change its unfair trade practices. But the present administration has gone well beyond tariffs, with almost no question from the opposition, the commentariat, or the academic community.

The recently passed CHIPS for America Act is indicative. It introduces subsidies for U.S. semiconductor production of the sort that China uses to support its domestic industrial development. Other acts working their way through Congressand clearly supported by this White Housewould impose limits on American investment in China. And as already mentioned, the White House, under the auspices of the CHIPS for America Act, has pressed the BIS to limit the sale of semiconductor production tools and computer components to China.

Without much room for cavil, these moves can only be described as a single-minded effort to thwart Chinese capabilities at a broad and fundamental level. In response, critical semiconductor tool manufacturer ASML has already told its American employees to stop servicing Chinese customers. However, typical of Washington, regulators have granted TSMC, Samsung, and SK Hynix exceptions that allow them to continue shipping to China.

In some respects, it is remarkable how quickly elite opinion has changed. Those who vociferously heaped criticism on the Trump tariffs have remained silent as those tariffs stayed in place, and as the Biden administration has taken more aggressive steps.

Partisan politics might explain some of this difference. Much of the commentariat and academic community identify with the party presently in power. What is more, members of those communities showed personal and intense animosity toward Trump.

However, it is more likelyand more interestingthat the lack of criticism captures a steep decline in elite support for globalization and free trade. This is a remarkable turn of events, and seemingly a complete shift, in only 34 years.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Silver Dollar City amusement park's Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track in Stone County, Mo., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Courtesy of Gary Eldridge/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Bounced up Like It Hit a Bump: Train Derails at Missouri Amusement Park

A Missouri amusement park has reported that a steam train derailed on Wednesday night, injuring six guests and one employee. A passenger and guest of the park said the carriage bounced before tipping.

Silver Dollar City confirms that earlier this evening, sections of the Frisco Silver Dollar Line Steam Train derailed from the track, the company said in a statement.

Onsite paramedics provided emergency care until first responders arrived. Six guests and one employee have been transported by ambulance to nearby medical facilities.

At this time, we are wholeheartedly focused on providing support for guests and team members in partnership with Stone County first responders. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available, the statement reads.

Guest Describes What Happened

Gary Eldridge boarded the last carriage of the train with his family around 6 p.m. with his wife, mother-in-law, and two daughters, one aged five and the other just three days old. Theirs was the only carriage that didnt flip over.

Eldridge said his family was enjoying a performance about train robbers when the carriage in front of them bounced up like it hit a bump.

It then shook for about 10 seconds before it derailed. The two cars in front of us laid over directly on their side. The other cars in front of them were partially leaning over, he told The Epoch Times.

He said they had to break the windows out of the two cars lying on their sides to be able to get everyone out. He added, After what seemed about 20 minutes, we got everyone out and emergency personnel showed up.

Eldridge, his family, and the other guests waited at the top of the hill from the train wreck for about an hour, he said. Eventually, they were shuttled to another area of the park.

Eldridge shared a video of the aftermath, which shows most of the train on its side while emergency crews work.

Authorities Investigating

Stone County Office of Emergency Management Director Tom Martin told Ozarks First that the train was almost full of guests.

Television station KOLR10 reported that one of the guests in the second last carriage of the train said it was completely on its side. Guests smashed the windows to get out, she reportedly said.

Authorities have said injuries range from minor to moderate.

The Missouri Division of Fire Safety said its Amusement Ride Safety Unit is investigating.

[Missouri Division of Fire Safetys] Amusement Ride Safety Unit is responding to Silver Dollar City, where there was a derailment of a train ride tonight with several injuries, the agency said in a statement on its social media channels. They will begin their investigation tonight and be back on site to continue the investigation in the morning.
Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly and US.. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hold a joint press conference in Ottawa, on Oct. 27, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Canada to Send Delegation to Haiti, Joly Says Following Blinkens Ottawa Visit

Canada is sending a delegation to Haiti to assess the nations ongoing power struggle, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly said on Oct. 27 following a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Ottawa.

Joly called it an assessment mission while speaking to reporters during a press conference.

The goal is to be able to have information coming from the team that is right now in Haiti on these three crises, Joly said, referring to the nations security, humanitarian issues, and political unrest.

The situation in Haiti has deteriorated significantly since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021. Gang violence and political interference have risen to the point where one criminal organization titled G9 and Family is demanding the resignation of Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

Haitian demonstrators have also blockaded major roads and ports of entry into some of the nations largest cities, notably its capital, Port-au-Prince.

Haiti now faces a situation where gangs dominate important space in Port-au-Prince, the capital, as well as in other parts of Haiti, said Blinken, noting that blockades are threatening the importation of fuel, food, and clean water.

Blinken also said if Haitis situation continues deteriorating, it would make the possibility of a future democratic election impossible.

There needs to be fair elections happening, said Joly. And we need to make sure that the environment for these elections to happen is the right one.

Different Options

As of Oct. 11, there had been 16 confirmed cholera deaths in Haiti, harkening back to the countrys 2010 outbreak, during which time over 10,000 Haitians died of cholera.

Cholera spreads through water contaminated by the feces of an infected person, which is becoming more common as Haitis clean drinking water supply dwindles.

Haiti has more than its hands full, said Blinken, adding that Haiti must be able to supply itself with clean water and other essential resources.

Joly didnt specify whether the Canadian government is contemplating delegating military to Haiti to help resolve the situation. She said the Haitian police needs to be able to handle the gangs, which is not the case at this point.

Were looking at different options, she said. But we want to make sure that we have the right assessment.

Ive said it many times: [the solution] needs to be by and for Haitians, so we will be working with Haitians themselves.

The Canadian Press, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
People take part in a rally to encourage Canada and other countries as they consider labelling China's treatment of its Uyghur population and Muslim minorities as genocide, outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington on Feb. 19, 2021. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Canadian MPs Ask for Expansion of Immigration Program for Uyghurs Facing Persecution in China

MPs have voted unanimously to support a report that calls on the federal government to expand existing immigration measures to accommodate Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims who are fleeing the repression of the Chinese communist regime.

The motion, introduced by Conservative MP Garnett Genuis, was adopted on Oct. 25. MPs voted 258 to 0 in support of a recent report from the House Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration urging the government to provide safe haven for the Uyghurs in China who are targets of an ongoing genocide.

The report also noted that many victims who fled to third countries are at continuing risk of detention and deportation back to China, where they face serious risk of arbitrary detention, torture, and other atrocities.

To provide relief to these victims, the committee asks that Ottawa extend existing special immigration measures to Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, including the expansion of biometrics collection capabilities in third countries and the issuance of Temporary Resident Permits and single journey travel documents to those without a passport.

The committee also asked that the government allow displaced Uyghurs in third countries, who are at risk of detention and deportation back to China, to seek refuge in Canada, and to waive the requirement that they be first designated as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The government was given a 30-day limit to provide a comprehensive response to the committee.

The House of Commons is currently voting on a motion to re-affirm its recognition of the #UyghurGenocide and to call for special immigration measures to assist Uyghur refugees. The Liberal cabinet fled the chamber  they are abstaining again. Cowards. #cdnpoli #Uyghur  Garnett Genuis (@GarnettGenuis) October 25, 2022

Genuis, the shadow minister for international development, criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus cabinet for abstaining from voting.

International Trade Minister Mary Ng initially broke ranks with her party and voted to endorse the report, though a spokesperson from her office later said the minister made a mistake and had intended to also abstain, according to Globe and Mail reporter Steven Chase in a Twitter post.

The Liberal cabinet also abstained when MPs were voting on a similar motion in February 2021, when the House of Commons first recognized Beijings mistreatment of the Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities to be genocide.

Call for Admitting 10,000 Refugees

The House of Commons this week is debating another motion in relation to providing humanitarian assistance to the Uyghurs who are facing genocide carried out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The motion, M-62, was introduced by Liberal MP Sameer Zuberi, who called on Ottawa to use Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canadas (IRCC) Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program to expedite the entry of 10,000 Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims into Canada over a period of two years starting in 2024.

M-62 asked the government to recognize that Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims that have fled to third countries face pressure and intimidation by the Chinese state to return to China, where they would face even more serious atrocities, including mass arbitrary detention, mass arbitrary separation of children from their parents, forced sterilization, forced labour, and torture.

The international community, in 2005, said that these types of international crimes must be prevented. Therefore, each and every country has a responsibility to protect when we see crimes against humanity occurring, or the threat of them occurring, Zuberi said at the House of Commons debate on Oct. 26.

When we see genocide occurring or the threat of genocide occurring, we, as a human family, as a collective of countries, and as Canada, all have a responsibility to protect.

The first hour of debate for #M62, my motion to resettle 10K #Uyghurs took place today. As an MP and as a Canadian, it is my duty to shed light on the genocide unfolding in  I am asking all Parliamentarians to join me in doing something about it. We must offer them asylum. pic.twitter.com/jLeWwF5z37  Sameer Zuberi  (@SameerZuberi) October 27, 2022

On Oct. 26, more than 160 Uyghur Canadians, wearing T-shirts that read We were all once refugees, registered to attend the visitors gallery in the House of Commons to watch the parliamentary debate on M-62, said Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the rights group Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project (URAP).

Parliaments actions are bringing hope to many thousands Uyghur Refugees stranded in the third-party states and who live in fear of deportation back to Communist China, URAP said in a Twitter statement.

There have been other similar calls for opening doors to Uyghur refugees.

In 2019, a Commons subcommittee on human rights published a report recommending the IRCC use existing refugee programs and create an exceptional stream to expedite entry to accommodate Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims who are in need of protection from CCP repression, especially human rights defenders. The report also said the Canada Border Services Agency should suspend the removal of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims to China or other states where they are at risk of deportation.
Capistrano Unified Allows Foreign Students to Enroll in District Schools for One Year

The Capistrano Unified School Board approved a new program last week to allow foreign students to enroll in the districts schools for up to a year.

The programwhich is separate from the districts existing student exchange programis intended to provide another form of access for international students  as well as augment enrollment, according to an Oct. 19 board report.

Assistant Superintendent Cary Johnson told The Epoch Times in an email that he suggested the program after the principal of Capistrano Valley High School expressed an interest in enhancing the schools Mandarin immersion program by enrolling foreign studentsincluding students from Chinato have long-term authentic interactions with native Mandarin speakers.

In addition, Johnson said he hoped admitting foreign students can help boost the districts enrollment and funding.

District officials have said that for almost a decade, the district has faced underfunding after the state established a funding formula based on average daily attendance and the number of high-need students, including foster youth and students from low-income families.

Because of these criteria, the district received less annual state funding than other districts in the county, even though it serves more students. Capistrano Unified received $12,700 per student in 2021, while the average amount received by school districts in the state was nearly $15,000 per student, district officials told The Epoch Times in a previous interview.

The district had nearly 50,000 students enrolled for the 202122 school year, according to the California Department of Education. In May, a budget presentation projected enrollment would drop by 812 students from the current school year, putting the district at around 42,000 for the 20222023 school year.

Johnson anticipates only five to 10 foreign students for the first few years until we get an efficient system in place, and then the total per year would have to be assessed annually to determine space availability and ensure placements for all district students.

Since enrollment preference would be given to district resident students, they will not be impacted by the program, Johnson said.

According to Johnson, international students in the new program would come through an F-1 visawhich allows students to pursue academic enrichment over two years, one year at a public school and one year at a private school, and requires them to pay tuitionwhereas students holding a J-1 visa in the existing international exchange program are engaging in cultural exchange for up to one year and are typically funded by outside scholarships or grants.

With the new program, individual students from other countries who are interested can apply for an F-1 visa through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program run by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Participating foreign students would be responsible for arranging their own housing.

Johnson said he hopes to launch the program by the 202324 school year.
A customer shops for vegetables at a supermarket in Fuyang, China, on Oct. 14, 2022. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas Domestic Consumption Unlikely to Pick Up Despite Push For Internal Demand: Expert

Chinese leader says the country will now focus on the domestic market rather than exports

Chinas economy will now rely less on exports and steer toward the domestic market, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said at the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Oct. 16.

We will make sure that our implementation of the strategy to expand domestic demand is integrated with our efforts to deepen supply-side structural reform, Xi stated.

Jointly published by several Chinese state-owned newspaper groups, The Beijing News said that China, the worlds largest developing country, shall not let its economy rely primarily on international demand.

Yao Jinyuan, the former chief economist of Chinas National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), told The Beijing News that domestic demand includes investment and consumption. And although the Chinese government had talked about expanding domestic demand for more than 20 years, what had been done was limited to investment.

In 1998, the Chinese government invested heavily in housing and automobiles. Ten years later, in 2008, it started the four trillion yuan to boost domestic demand scheme by investing heavily in significant infrastructure, such as railroads, highways, and airports.

Yao said that for a long time China had relied on significant investment to stimulate domestic demand, resulting in some over-expanded capacity coupled with issues of low supply efficiency and supply imbalance.

He added that the CCP would use consumption to boost the economy after the 20th Party Congress.

On the other hand, the NBS data showed that consumption in China shrank in the first half of 2022, with a 0.7 percent year-over-year (YoY) decrease in the total retail sales of social consumer goods.

But according to the NBS data released on Oct. 24, the countrys total retail sales of social consumer goods had somehow recovered 0.7 percent YoY in the first three quarters.

Domestic Consumption Unlikely to Pick Up: Expert

Albert Song, a senior financial analyst and expert on the Chinese financial system, told The Epoch Times that Chinas economic data should be for reference only.

Chinas economy continues to decline, and financial risks are increasing. In the first two quarters, the CCPs zero-COVID policy severely damaged the economy, and the downturn exceeded any expectations and triggered widespread panic, Song said.

In the third quarter, the Chinese regime continued sticking to its zero-COVID policy, and local governments still enforced lockdown measures for the sporadic outbreaks. Under the name of maintaining stability for the 20th Party Congress, the CNBS had to work overtime to polish the data.

Song said in the second quarter, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang convened a meeting of over 100,000 party officials, asking all levels of government to act urgently to save the falling economy. Li also released many measures in an attempt to stimulate the Chinese economy, which might be one of the factors accounting for the GDP growth in the third quarter.

However, Song urged keeping in mind that the CCPs economic data is always inflated and should be for reference only.

Considering the regimes zero-COVID policy and the widespread debt defaults in China, Song predicts that the Chinese domestic demand will not pick up as the CCP expects.

The CCP reorganized the State Council to change the economic policy. However, its political system is incapable of fostering the so-called reformists. Anyone holding an expectation will likely be disappointed, Song said.

Song has worked in the Chinese financial sector for 27 years. He is also an expert in Chinas politics and economy.

China is the worlds largest consumer market, and it is a correct approach to let consumption lead its economic growth. However, the countrys household debt level is at the warning line. Most families assets are real estate with mortgages. Hence, the domestic demand is unlikely to pick up considering the current debt pressure and zero-COVID policy, Song added.

According to NBS data released on Oct. 25, Chinas real state market, where most Chinese families hold assets, continues to worsen. The countrys property investment growth rate dropped 8.0 percent YoY in the first three quarters.

In a press conference on Sept. 16, Fu Linghui, director of the department of Economic Statistics at NBS, said that the property market was currently still on a decline. The data at the time showed the property investment growth rate had already fallen 7.4 percent YoY in the first eight months. Now the YoY decline has increased by another 0.6 percent.

Chinas National Real Estate Climate Index (NRECI) also showed a continued decline since 2021, from 100.97 last July to 94.86 in September, except for a slight rebound of 0.08 in February.
Lucki Contemplated Having Soldiers Wear RCMP Uniforms During Convoy Protest: Text Messages

RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique on Feb. 13 that she was thinking about having military personnel don RCMP uniforms to increase police resources, according to text messages filed as evidence at the Public Order Emergency Commission.

Its funny you say that, because I was thinking maybe we use CAF [Canadian Armed Forces] but in our uniforms as unarmed Auxiliaries or Spl. Csts. [special constables] to supplement us.. in teams, Lucki wrote.

Lucki had previously asked Carrique whether he saw a role for CAF in the enforcement or management of the events during the Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa.

[For] example, after we secure and all is back to normal, maybe keeping sites secure or patrolling unmanned POEs [Points of Entries] etc.

Protests and border blockades demanding the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions were also taking place across the country at the time.

Carrique told Lucki he was not supportive of the idea of using CAF personnel.

Best step for government  I would rather not see CAF playing a role off of govt properties, he wrote.

We could use special constables controlled by police for unarmed patrols and an immediate long term commitments to adequate policing resources to both prevent and respond to these events.

The Epoch Times contacted the RCMP and the Department of National Defence for comment but didnt immediately hear back.

Text messages exchange between RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique. (Screenshot from evidence presented at the Public Order Emergency Commission)

Carrique testified before the Public Order Emergency Commission on Oct. 27 and Lucki is expected to testify at a later date.

The commission is reviewing the Liberal governments invocation of the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14 to clear protests and blockades.

The summary of Carriques August interview with commission counsels says that he did not request emergency powers from the federal government, and the decision to invoke the act was not communicated directly to the OPP.

The OPP did not change its approach to enforcement action as a result of invocation of the Emergencies Act, says the summary.

During the events in February, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke against the idea of calling in the military.

One has to be very, very cautious before deploying military in situations engaging Canadians, Trudeau said on Feb. 3.

He later said on Feb. 11 a military deployment is something to avoid having to do at all costs.

The military can provide aid to civil power to quell riots or disturbances, according to the National Defence Act.

Section 282 of the act says that soldiers called for that task have all the powers and duties of constables without having to take an oath, so long as they remain so called out, but they shall act only as a military body and are individually liable to obey the orders of their superior officers.
COVID Vaccine Mandates Expose Religious Discrimination Within the Military

Commentary

The COVID-19 vaccination mandates impacted Americans across the country, forcing many to choose between their bodily autonomy and, in many cases, their livelihoods. But many Americans had to choose between not just their preferred health choices but also their sincerely held religious beliefs. Sadly, the very men and women who defend constitutional rights, such as freedom of religion, have experienced their own rights being attacked. An Epoch Original Documentary, available on EpochTV, titled Pentagons War on Religion exposes an ongoing trend of religious discrimination within the Department of Defense.

An award-winning reporter for The Epoch Times, Joshua Philipp, leads the investigation into what appears to be widespread religious discrimination within the U.S. Armed Forces. Pushback to the COVID-19 vaccination mandates revealed possible military and constitutional law violations in an institution designed to protect these fundamental rights.

In July 2021, the Biden administration explored COVID-19 vaccine mandates for the armed forces. Although service members were told they could file for religious accommodations, their requests were overwhelmingly denied. For example, Philipp interviewed Lt. Col. Brandi King, who served in the Air Force Reserve Command for 19 years. She was mandated via phone in September 2021 that she had to get vaccinated or submit an exemption request. However, when King disclosed her intention to file for religious accommodation, her supervisor asked her to reconsider, saying he had heard that those requests would not be allowed.

The Uniform Code of Military Justice details crimes and punishments for the armed forces. Article 92 addresses a failure to obey an order. Troops have been punished, kicked out, and segregated for not getting vaccinated. However, military law requires allowing religious exemptions for vaccinations. Nevertheless, the military broadly displayed little intent to recognize this legally protected right. King was not the only one.

U.S. Navy documents detail service members risk in refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. According to a document from the U.S. Navy titled Immunization Exemptions for Religious Beliefs, troops face punishment if they file for a religious exemption and then it is denied. Punishments include potential court marshals, among other measures, for disobeying a lawful order.

Documents reveal the military has already determined that the COVID vaccine mandate is a lawful order. A document titled Navy Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination and Reporting Policy states, refusal to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, absent an approved exemption, will constitute a failure to obey a lawful order and is punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and / or may result in administrative action. A Secretary of the Navy order states that because COVID-19 vaccination is now mandatory, commanders, commanding officers, or officers in charge  are authorized to temporarily reassign Navy service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of exemption status, including allowing them to submit a report of misconduct and delaying promotion of any officer who refuses the vaccine.

Major Kim Bitter served for 22 years in the U.S Air Force Reserve. Now, her career is in jeopardy right before retirement. Bitters underlying health condition caused her doctor to advise against the COVID-19 vaccination. Although she submitted a medical exemption request signed by her doctor, the military still denied it. She also submitted a religious accommodation request, which was denied. Her commander then informed Bitter that she wouldnt be serving in the military anymore and would be out-processed to inactive ready reserve. This means sitting on the sidelines until her enlistment contract expires, which is detrimental to many troops careers, livelihoods, and pensions.

Why is the military willing to treat its service members this way? Are these actions even legal? Philipp spoke with multiple lawyers to find out.

Lawyer Mike Berry, First Libertys General Counsel, represented 35 Navy Seals and others seeking religious exemptions from the COVID-19 vaccination mandates at the time of the documentary. Berry said the DOD is acting as if the unvaccinated are unworthy of protection of their constitutional rights and that only the fully vaccinated have rights and liberties to be enjoyed. He believes this treatment displays blatant bigotry and discrimination, especially due to the religious beliefs that forbid many from getting the vaccine.

As of January 2022, only the U.S. Marine Corps had granted any religious accommodations for the COVID vaccine, and even the two they granted have been called into question. Some have received an exemption for medical or administrative purposes, suggesting the military is not considering religious exemptions with the same weight as others.

The apparent blanket denial of religious exemptions may violate religious protections such as the First Amendment of the Constitution, and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, among other laws, according to lawyers. Philipp cites one allowed exemption for people participating in the COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials using placebos, meaning these participants are unvaccinated. If the mandates were set because the unvaccinated pose too much danger to the armed forces, no one would be allowed to be unvaccinated.

The EpochTV episode shows that a June 2021 order from the Air Force Chief of Chaplain states that when considering religious exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine, commanders will approve the religious accommodation requests unless a compelling government interest exists behind the act they are requesting exemption from. Does this suggest a predetermined policy based on government interests to deny religious accommodations?

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 holds that religious protections under the U.S. Constitution are not just limited to official interpretations of religions or denominations. Beyond this, it protects the sincerely held beliefs unique to each individual, stating that the military cannot burden the exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability. The only exception is if the government can show compelling justification to place restrictions, and even then, must prove that the path taken is the least restrictive means available. How is it least restrictive if medical exemptions are recognized for certain reasons, but religious exemptions are not allowed?

Alarmingly, it appears that religious exceptions have been denied for some time. For example, the Department of the Navy says the last vaccine religious exemption request to be approved was in 2015. This suggests that refusal to honor religious freedoms with exemption requests predates the COVID-19 vaccines.

According to former Navy Chaplain Dr. Gordon Klingenschmitt, the COVID-19 mandates reveal a pattern of religious discrimination within the military that has been going on for over a decade. In 2006, Klingenschmitt was no longer allowed to conduct sectarian prayers. This means chaplains could pray to a god, but they could not pray in Jesuss name. Doing so would result in punishment by their commanding officer.

In February 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a military-wide effort to address extremism in the ranks. Details on these discussions raised allegations of discrimination towards those with religious beliefs. In March 2021, while testifying before the House Armed Service Committee, Berry exposed a slide in a Department of Defense training manual that categorized Catholics and evangelical Christians as religious extremists. Does this mean that the militarys efforts to wipe out extremism include a campaign that discriminates against Catholics and evangelical Christians? asked Phillip. The slide even placed Catholics and evangelical Christians on a list next to the violent and racist Klu Klux Klan groups and terrorist organizations such as Al Quaeda and Hamas.

According to the EpochTV episode, the DOD has been promoting extremist views itself. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has exposed hundreds of stories from military whistleblowers that the DOD is pushing the Marxist ideology of Critical Race Theory within its ranks. Military history has been replaced with extreme leftist political ideologies such as systemic racism and white privilege. The military also has incorporated racist and openly discriminatory books such as White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo in its education. For the military to allow the presence of socialist ideology that has falsified American history and divides society based on race, gender, and ethnicity, is deeply concerning, Phillip said. All service members swear an oath to defend the Constitution, yet the departments policies actively discriminate against religion.

Every freedom in the U.S. Constitution is contingent on freedom of religion. If a person has freedom of speech, press, and assembly, but isnt allowed to write, speak, or assemble on issues of faith, then they dont have those rights after all. All American liberties hinge upon the individuals religious freedom to have their own conscience and to live accordingly.

1.4 million people serve in the U.S. military. If successful, Berrys case will show that people do not have to give up their religious freedoms when they serve in the military. Being in the military means that there will be orders and directives. However, those orders and directives must comply with the law and the Constitution. Service members have a right and obligation to challenge orders that violate their constitutional rights. Freedom of religion is closely tied to freedom overall, and a threat to either is a threat to both.

Watch Pentagons War on Religion on Epoch Cinema here.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaks at the podium during the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Descent Into Totalitarianism

The public humiliation of a revered former leader has dark implications for China

Commentary

What does the removal of Hu Jintao from the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mean for China going forward?

It means quite a lot.

Xi Has a Long Memory

First, its important to understand that Xi Jinping and Hu Jintao share a history that goes back decades. Hu was Xis predecessor as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party from 200212, retiring in 2013 as Xi took power.

Hus era as leader of China was a mixed bag, as economic growth masked signs of strain. He has been described as a pragmatist, but supported Li Kequiang for the top leadership position that ultimately went to Xi Jinping. Li instead became premier, Chinas second most powerful political position.

By publicly removing Hu from the National Congress meeting, the leader of the CCP sent a clear message that he will not tolerate any competition. In fact, on Saturday, Xi had Li Kequiang and two other members who were also supported by Hu removed from the Central Committee.

Party Loyalty Is Not Enough

The symbolism behind Xi Jinpings very public humiliation of Hu Jintao goes even further than political competition. Members now understand that loyalty to the CCP is no longer enough. Holding various opinions on how the Party ought to proceed on a matter, even though one is unquestionably devoted to it, is no longer safe nor smart. Furthermore, as Xis recent purge demonstrates, expressing ones opinions can be hazardous to ones political if not physical longevity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) looks on as former President Hu Jintao is helped to leave early from the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, at The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Oct. 22, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

It seems that political loyalty to the CCP and personal loyalty to Xi Jinping have now become one and the same. It would appear that members loyalty to Xi is the litmus test for holding onto Party membership. It was for that reason that Hu was escorted out of the congress by officials on camera, midway through the days events at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Textbook Totalitarianism

Hus very public purge was a textbook totalitarianism tactic by Xi, intended to put fear into the hearts of everyone. After all, if top Party members arent safe from being purged, who is?

Therefore, as much as these purges were political and personal, they also send a stark message to other Party members and Chinese citizens as well.

That message: to be an enemy of Xi is to be an enemy of the Party, of the State, and of China. All three of these are embodied in Xi Jinping. In short, the broader message is that no one can escape the reach of the Party (or Xi Jinping) and no one is above removal.

What does Xis behavior tell us about China in the near future?

The Growing Instability of Chinas Economy

This year has driven Chinas economy into its worst financial crisis in 40 years and it grows more unstable every day. The main drivers of the economy are all collapsing due to unsound financing schemes and Xis zero-COVID lockdowns, which keep factories and ports closed for months.

For example, real estate development, which alone accounts for 30 percent of Chinas GDP, is collapsing. Evergrande, one of the countrys leading developers, is unable to pay a crushing $300 billion burden of debt. That company is just one of many in the industry that face bankruptcy.

The effect of the development sector crash is rippling throughout the economy. The steel industry is also contracting, as demand has cratered along with the real estate sector. The manufacturing sectors, such as automobiles and other durable goods, are also seeing demand fall, with lockdowns bearing much of the blame. It is estimated that 80 percent of Chinas steel mills are running at a loss.

A deserted street during a COVID-19 lockdown in the Pudong district of Shanghai, China, on May 30, 2022. (Liu Jin/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinas tech industries are also in trouble, losing a trillion in market value due to Xis crackdown. Tencents quarterly profits and Alibabas quarterly income halved earlier this year, with both companies recording their first-ever quarterly losses.

Whats more, direct foreign investment is fleeing Chinas tech sector. Over $7 billion worth of investments were withdrawn from Tencent in the second half of 2022 alone. Japans SoftBank and Berkshire Hathaway have also recently pulled their investments in Chinese tech firms.

Will Xi Compromise for Economic Recovery?

Some observers believe that deteriorating economic conditions will force Xi to compromise on policy and liberalize the economy going forward. I dont think this will happen, for a few key reasons.

First, in the past several years, Xi has increased repression across all quarters of China, from adding state-owned enterprises to enforcing extended lockdowns, even though it has hurt economic performance and innovation.

This has allowed him to retain power. Why should he change now? A parallel could be drawn with North Korea. Things have been horrendous there for decades, and yet the Kims have remained in power through the consistent application of deep and broad repression. Chinas capabilities outpace those of North Korea, with a much larger military and a comprehensive state security apparatus in the form of its infamous social credit system.

Secondly, the specter of Gorbachevs glasnost and perestroikaleading to the collapse of the Soviet Unionhaunts the minds of Xi and the CCP.

What many seem to overlook is the fact that the source of Xis power isnt economic growth, but rather, the loyalty of the CCP and its near absolute ability to exert control over the people.

Xi Jinping has set himself up as the sole authority in Chinanot for the sake of economic growth, but rather, with the goal of expanding his power and that of the CCP.

China will see less economic agility due to high debt loads as well as political sclerosis. Both of these require financial support or severe state oppression, which certainly will beand has already beenramped up. Unfortunately, the CCP is able to ramp up its surveillance, its punishments, and the like.

Recent protests indicate that Xi and the CCP are losing loyalty among the middle class. Chinas middle class is sick of mass lockdowns, losing their jobs, and being locked in their homes. At least 36 Chinese cities, across 31 provinces, were under various degrees of lockdown recently, affecting about 197 million people.

Three years of mass lockdowns and unsound financing have led to economic decline, rising unemployment, lost savings, and a negative view of the future. With nearly 20 percent of workers ages 1624 unemployed, its clear that Xis priority isnt economic growth. His focus is on gaining an iron grip over the country, for whatever he has planned next.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Dutch Probe Illegal CCP Offices in Netherlands

AMSTERDAMThe Netherlands is investigating offices that have been operating illegally in the country on behalf of the Chinese communist regime, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The investigation follows reports by RTL Nieuws and website Follow The Money that two such offices have carried out functions, including remotely renewing Chinese citizens drivers licenses.

The Chinese Embassy said in an emailed reaction to Reuters questions it was not aware of the issue  and not involved in it.

Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Maxime Hovenkamp said: We are now investigating as a ministry what is going on with the centers, and when we have more intel about it we can determine the appropriate action.

What is correct is that the Chinese government never informed us about the centers via diplomatic channels so that makes them illegal to begin with, Hovenkamp said.

RTL interviewed Wang Jingyu, a Chinese dissident, who said representatives from one such office in Rotterdam had sought to pressure him to return to China, as part of a wider harassment campaign.

A September study by Madrid-based rights group Safeguard Defenders said Chinese police agencies had established offices in 30 countries and were using them to press political aims abroad, including in covert and illegal policing operations in Spain.

The point of such underground centers was for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to stifle criticism within expatriate communities as much as it has done at home for so long, said Safeguard Defenders spokesperson Laura Harth.
Elon Musk Says Twitter Wont Become a Free-for-All Hellscape

Elon Musk wrote in a note to advertisers on Thursday that Twitter cannot be a free-for-all hellscape ahead of a Friday deadline to complete the purchase of the social media firm.

Twitter obviously cannot become a free-for-all hellscape, where anything can be said with no consequences, Musk wrote on Twitter in a message, titled, Dear Twitter Advertisers. The tech billionaire did not elaborate.

There were reports, including one from the Wall Street Journal, indicating that some Twitter advertisers expressed worry in private to Musk and Twitter that the social media platform would have little-to-no content moderation. In previous months, Musk sharply criticized Twitters content moderation policies and accused it of having a left-wing bias.

The reason I acquired Twitter is because it is important to the future of civilization to have a common digital town square, where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner, without resorting to violence, Musk also wrote Wednesday. There is currently great danger that social media will splinter into far right wing and far left wing echo chambers that generate more hate and divide our society.

Kieley Taylor, global head of partnerships at GroupMan advertising agencytold the WSJ that some brands would stop advertising on the platform if former President Donald Trumps account is reinstated, for example. Trump was banned in January 2021 after months of him voicing concerns about irregularities during the 2020 election, with Twitter moderators claiming that his speech on Jan. 6 was linked to the breach at the U.S. Capitol.

Earlier this year, Musk indicated that he wanted Trump back on Twitter, although Trump has since started his own social media website, Truth Social. Trump has publicly said that he would not rejoin Twitter even if he is allowed back on the platform, telling Fox News several months ago that using Truth Social is much better than being on Twitter.

While during a June meeting with Twitter staff, Musk said that he believes people should be able to say pretty outrageous things within the law but shouldnt be amplified.

But on Thursday, Musk expressed confidence in the companys advertising, saying that advertising, when done right, can delight, entertain and inform you.

Fundamentally, Twitter aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world that strengthens your brand and grows your enterprise, Musk said.

The message comes as Musk, who is expected to close his deal by Friday evening, updated his bio to Chief Twit on Wednesday. He also posted a video of him entering Twitters headquarters carrying what appears to be a bathroom sink.

He attempted to back out of the $44 billion agreement with the company in July after criticizing Twitter for a lack of transparency over fake accounts. However, he reversed that decision after the company sued him in Delaware.
Epoch Cinema Documentary Review: Systematic Deception

A highly revelatory documentary on how the Democratic Party manipulates black people

Commentary

Those who only watch or listen to the mockingbird legacy media outlets, such as CNN, MSNBC, CBS, NPR, etc. are most likely living in a carefully fabricated dream world where all is fine within the Democratic Party. But nothing could be further from the truth. Democrats have become more and more extremist in recent years and are not only losing the culture war, but also the political one with regard to Americans who were once members of their party.

Thus, there has been a multitude of organizations that have sprung up that support the torrent of people who are leaving the DNC. One of them is called Blexit. Blexit could be summarized in this succinct explanation by conservative activist Candice Owens: Blexit is a Renaissance, Owens explains. Blexit is the black exit from the Democratic Party. Its the black exit from permanent victimhood, the black exit from the false idea that we are somehow separate from the rest of America.

Indeed, the Democratic Partys increasingly radical tactics are more evident than ever, and black people are beginning to wake up to the lies theyve been told for so many years. In this amazing time of enlightenment and transformation, filmmakers are producing incredibly impactful and thought-provoking documentaries that expose these lies.

One such documentary is filmmaker and director Frank Panicos Systematic Deception. This new documentary (brought to you by EpochTV) was inspired by Lisa Noel Babbages The Black History Bible: How the Democratic Party Deceived a People. After watching this well-researched documentary, I couldnt think of more appropriate titles for both film and book.

This revelatory film is mainly composed of interviews with black conservatives from all walks of life, as well as a wide array of film snippetsof both older and more recent events.

Pierre Wilson, the national director of Blexit, is one of the first black conservatives to talk about Black Lives Matter (BLM), and how its self-professed Marxist co-founder and leader, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, has resigned from the questionable organization amid much controversy.

Once regularly seen at packed rallies (composed of throngs of misinformed supporters) with a bullhorn in hand, condemning law enforcement and supposedly standing up for the rights of black people, Cullors allegedly misused BLM donor money to buy up wealthy properties in white neighborhoods with what she refers to as white guilt money.

As author Noel Babbage alleges, none of the money BLM took in went to black communities, instead, much of it went to the Democratic Party. In other words, the DNC, through BLM, took the tragic circumstances of George Floyds death, to allegedly swindle funds from peoples pockets directly into their coffers.

As Michael Lancaster, of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, wisely points out, issues of race are used by leftists (such as BLM and the DNC) as a method of controlling people. Its also used as a divisive wedge to drive society apart, something that Marxists have always been known to specialize in.

The so-called Summer of Love of 2020, in which legions of crazed rioters not only caused billions of dollars in property damage (including the burning down of numerous black-owned businesses, ironically), but also injured and murdered dozens of people, is a perfect example of this sinister deception, and indicative of the leftists who support this sort of systemic violence and racial division.

The documentary also shows that there is a profound spiritual component to the lefts devious tactics. After all, in communism (including, of course, Marxism), the centralized state always replaces God. Therefore, the state becomes the peoples religion, such as with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

I thoroughly enjoyed this thought-provoking and fact-based documentary. It sheds much-needed light on the lies and deceptive tactics employed by leftists and should spark some good discussions among people who watch it.

More than that, however, I believe that this must-see film will inspire black people to break through the smokescreen of lies that have allowed them to be bamboozled for so long. Hopefully, this, in turn, will encourage newly enlightened conservative folks to urge themselves, and others, to run for political office, and be the change they want to see in America. is available to watch on EpochTV here.

Watch Systematic Deception on Epoch Cinema here.

Systematic Deception

Director: Frank Panico

Running Time: 1 hour, 22 minutes

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Release Date: 2022

Rated: 4.5 stars out of 5

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
EXCLUSIVE: Pennsylvania Woman Sues Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro for Defamation in Political Ads

Toni Shuppe, co-founder of Audit the Vote PA, says Shapiro made false statements about her

Pennsylvania mother of three Toni Shuppe is not running for office, but Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro keeps bringing up her name in his statewide campaign advertising for the governors seat.

He has called her a dangerous conspiracy theorist who spread blatant lies about the 2020 election.

Now she is suing both Shapirothe Democrat candidate for governorand his campaign manager, Dana Fritz, for making defamatory, slanderous, and libelous statements about her, court documents say. Shuppe says these statements have damaged her reputation and brought threats to her safety.

Her name and photo have been the subject of press releases, social media posts, and statewide television commercials, with the Shapiro campaign quoting a Vice article claiming Shuppe is a QAnon-linked, election-denying conspiracy theorist hell-bent on upending the current election system.

None of that is True, Shuppe told The Epoch Times.

Toni Shuppe, co-founder of Audit the Vote. (Courtesy of Toni Shuppe)

Ive been incredibly critical of the QAnon stuff, Shuppe said.

Shuppe is a co-founder of Audit the Vote PA, a nonprofit organization founded in early 2021 calling for a full forensic audit of the 2020 election. The group of three women who created Audit the Vote PA never intended to start an organization, but found there was demand for such a group when they quickly collected over 100,000 signatures on a petition requesting an audit and realized they were not the only ones who had concerns about the 2020 election.

Using election records and research, Audit the Vote PA documented anomalies in the 2020 election. Today they advocate for educated voters and election integrity.

Shuppe has been helping people get educated about civics.

I teach Constitution classes. Ive done that for the last two years, and Im encouraging people to get involved in their local government and to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech, but to first and foremost educate themselves on how civics and government is supposed to work, so that we can get involved again, and so that the government cant do things like they were able to do in 2020 when they shut the world down.

Then, nobody even recognized that they violated our First Amendment right to assemble when they shut everything down and said we couldnt gather groups of 10 or more. I dont believe in QAnon. [Shapiros] just trying to destroy my character.

Damage to Reputation

Shuppe said she worries how she will be viewed by parents at her childrens schoolwho may not share the same politicsif they see the comments Shapiro has made about her.

Shapiros campaign claims Shuppe has already been chosen as Republican candidate Doug Mastrianos secretary of state. Neither Mastriano nor Shuppe have confirmed this.

Its pure speculation on Joshs part, Shuppe said.

One of Shapiros press releases asks questions such as, Does Doug Mastriano agree with Toni Shuppe that the official story about 9/11 was a lie and a false flag operation? and Does Doug Mastriano agree with Toni Shuppe that QAnon is a very valuable resource and that a cabal of elites are running a global child sex slave ring?

Again, Shuppe says these are not her beliefs.

Im a private citizen and he is an elected official. He is using me as a pawn for political gain. He is being a cyberbully, Shuppe said.

Her name has even appeared in a fundraising email from Fritz as a reason to give money to the Shapiro campaign.

You probably havent heard of Toni Shuppe, but trust meyoull want to know more about her, the email says. Toni Shuppe believes 9/11 was a false flag attack, Barack Obama wasnt born in the US, and QAnon is a very valuable resource. Its no surprise she supports Trumps false claims of election fraud in Pennsylvania.

The email goes on to say Shuppe is Mastrianos #1 ally in promoting conspiracy theories, silencing the will of the voters, and doing anything to put Donald Trump back in the White House in 2024.

The email then claims that if Mastriano wins, Shuppe will be put in charge of Pennsylvanias elections, and that Mastriano can count on her to rig elections in the GOPs favor and put politics over truth.

Shuppe says she has never said Obama was not born in the United States and that the other claims made about her are wrong, too.

I believe that 9/11 was an epic tragedy of monumental proportions, Shuppe said. I have no doubt that it happened. We should never forget the assault on the American people.

A fundraising email from Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiros campaign for governor repeatedly names Toni Shuppe, co-founder of Audit the Vote PA. (Courtesy of Toni Shuppe)

Defamation Claims

Under Pennsylvania Law, a private individual can bring a defamation claim against a candidate for public office, the lawsuit says.

The determination of whether a statement is defamatory depends on whether it harms a persons reputation or lowers their esteem in the community, the filing says. A statement is defamatory if it ascribes to another conduct, character, or a condition that would adversely affect their fitness for the proper conduct of their business.

The lawsuit claims Shapiros statements were defamatory because they were meant to portray Shuppe as a dangerous conspiratorialist, a liar, and a dishonest person, which has exposed her to hatred, contempt, ridicule, threats of physical harm, and physical illnesses.

The things Shapiro said about Shuppe lowered her in the estimation of those who read them or heard about them, the filing says, adding that the statements about Shuppe are false and that Shapiro and Fritz should have known that.

Despite knowing the falsity of the statements and/or insinuations, and/or the likelihood thereof, [Shapiro and Fritz] promoted them anyway, on a national level, to support their claims, which were bereft of any evidence whatsoever, particularly as concerns [Shuppe].

Shapiro has also used social media to claim Shuppe is in line to be Pennsylvanias top election official.

If Doug Mastriano wins, he could appoint Toni Shuppe as his Secretary of State, Shapiro wrote on Twitter in September. We cant give her the power to control the outcome of our elections. Shes dangerous.

Shuppes case was filed Thursday in the Forest County Court of Common Pleas. She is seeking monetary damages.

Josh Shapiro, Joe Biden and the radical Democrats are operating outside the rule of law to demonize and smear their political opponents, a Mastriano campaign spokesperson told The Epoch Times. From FBI raids to unlawful imprisonments and online censorship, Biden and Shapiro have abandoned any sense of law and order. We are heartened to see someone fight back against Shapiro personally and hold him accountable.

The Epoch Times has contacted Shapiros campaign for comment.
Former Ohio College Physician Charged With 50 Counts of Rape, Sex Crimes

A former physician in Ohio has been charged with 50 counts of rape, sexual battery, and other sex crimes involving 15 women.

Donald Gronbeck, 42, was indicted in Greene County by a grand jury. The 50 charges include felony and misdemeanor charges, including nine counts of rape between 2017 and 2021.

Gronbeck was arrested on Oct. 21 and had been held in the Green County Jail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 27.

At at a news briefing on Oct. 24, a Greene County sheriffs detective said that the investigation of Gronbeck was triggered by complaints from patients.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost at the news briefing called the allegations against Gronbeck an incredibly graphic and brutal betrayal of trust. He added that one of the victims recorded a portion of the acts committed by Gronbeck.

However, Gronbecks attorney John Paul Rion said that there is definitely another version of the events as told by the prosecutors office.

Gronbeck previously served as the campus physician at Antioch College in southwest Ohio from 2015 through 2019. He also had a medical practice in Yellow Springs, where the school is located. Gronbeck himself had received his undergraduate degree from Antioch in 2002.

The former physician surrendered his medical license in February 2022 after he was suspended by the State Medical Board of Ohio in late January, based on complaints from eight female patients (pdf) about his sexual misconduct between January 2013 and January 2022, including having been engaged in a sexual relationship with a patient.

The Ohio Attorney Generals Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Greene County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant at Gronbecks Yellow Springs practice in January 2022 after the emergence of the eight womens complaints.

Antioch College President Jane Fernandes said in a statement in January: Antioch College unequivocally condemns sexual violence of any nature and we are working with local authorities to provide information and help ensure that a full accounting is made of any harms done as a result of Dr. Gronbecks work for the College.

At the time, she also said the college would be working with local authorities to provide information and help ensure that a full accounting is made of any harms done as a result of Gronbecks work for the college.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
German Chancellors China Visit Motivated by Eagerness to Strengthen Economic Ties

News Analysis

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that he will lead a German business delegation to visit China in early November. The visit comes after EU leaders shared their concerns about Europes economic dependence on China under the leadership of the Chinese Communist regime. However, Scholz stated repeatedly that Germany must continue trade with China.

Scholz announced his long-planned trip to China after the EU summit on Oct. 21. He will be the first Western leader to visit China after the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) 20th Congress, and the first leader of a G7 country to visit China since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The trip is scheduled for Nov. 3 to 4. The timing is particularly significant since Chinese leader Xi Jinping just started his unprecedented third term in office, further consolidating his power within the CCP.

Scholzs planned China visit has been the subject of much attention in the German press. In early October, it was reported that the trip had been postponed but might still happen before the end of the year.

It has been only 10 months since Scholz took office as the German Chancellor in December 2021. Since then, the relationship between the EU and China deteriorated over a range of issues, from human rights in Xinjiang, to the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, the Russia-Ukrainian war, and trade and investment barriers.

The EUs relationship with China was on the agenda at the Oct. 21 EU summit in Brussels, Belgium. Along with growing tensions between the United States and China, smaller countries in the EU have begun to call for a unified EU stance toward the Chinese regime. Scholz, on the other hand, said that Germany must continue its trade with China. His recent statements included saying that delinking the German economy from China is the wrong way to go and that Germany must do business with many countries, including China.

Electric Car Manufacturing Partnerships

According to Mike Sun, a veteran U.S.-China investment strategist and China expert, Scholzs visit to China could be seen as a gesture of goodwill toward the CCP at a time when other EU countries have negative views of the regime.

China is currently the largest market for German cars, exceeding both the United States and the domestic German market. At the same time, Chinese electric car manufacturers, such as BYD and Azera, are already cooperating with German manufacturers to establish new research and development centers in Europe, Sun told The Epoch Times.

In the past, with traditional fuel cars, Chinese car manufacturers relied largely on imported parts and technologies as Chinas know-how lagged behind the West. But in electric car manufacturing, the technologies are all quite similar and there is less of a gap between Chinese and Western technologies. China is now able to adopt an approach where Chinese car manufacturers invest in Europe and cooperate with European manufacturers in terms of technology. Those electric vehicles are not just exported to Europe but are developed between Chinese and European manufacturers who share the profits and technology.

Chinese auto workers on the assembly line at the FAW-Volkswagen plant in Chengdu, southwest Chinas Sichuan province, during the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on July 6, 2014. The plant, the second one in China, produced its first car in October 2011 and was operating in full capacity with an expected production of 600,000 vehicles in 2014. (Got Chai/AFP via Getty Images)

Sun pointed out that, in a way, Europe is cooperating with the CCPs scheme to hold the EU economy hostage since countries like Germany now cannot simply say that they are giving up on trade with China when their own companies are benefiting hugely from cooperation. This will also prompt European governments to look the other way when it comes to Chinas human rights issues and growing authoritarianism.

Chinese Acquisition in Port of Hamburg

Aerial view of a container terminal in the port of Hamburg, Germany, on Nov. 14, 2019. (Fabian Bimmer/Reuters)

Recently, Scholz allowed Chinese shipping company COSCO to acquire stakes in the German Port of Hamburg, despite unanimous opposition from the German ministries of economy, interior, defense, transport, foreign affairs, and finance. German media Deutsche Welle reported that Scholz has been under fire from both his allies and opposition about the deal, as well as receiving criticism from other EU countries.

The Port of Hamburg is the largest port in Germany and one of the most important hubs for European trade with China. COSCO is Chinas largest shipping company and is currently seeking a 35 percent stake in the Container Terminal Tollerort of the Port of Hamburg. The acquisition is said to be part of a broader strategic initiative by the CCP to gain control of infrastructure critical to its global Belt and Road initiative.

The Belt and Road initiative consists of a series of infrastructure projects, from roads and ports, to telecommunications and banking facilities. The primary strategy is for Chinese state-owned banks to provide loans to developing countries, and allowing the borrowing countries to use these funds to pay Chinese companies for infrastructure construction.

COSCO already holds shares in the Rotterdam and Antwerp ports in the Netherlands, two of Europes largest ports. It also holds stakes in the Piraeus Port Authority in Athens, Greece. The Port of Hamburg will be the final link in its European plan.

The Deutsche Welle reported on Oct. 21 that Hamburg is worried that if COSCOs deal fails, a large part of the container business will be taken away by Rotterdam and Antwerp in The Netherlands, or Wilhelmshaven in Germany, and even ports in the Mediterranean will also take business from the Port of Hamburg in the future. The report said that Hamburgs green light for Chinese investment in the port came as a surprise, as the city had previously resisted foreign investment in the port on the grounds that key infrastructure should not be influenced by foreign powers.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has repeatedly said that Germany is reconsidering its overall trade policy with China. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action in Germany is reviewing the Hamburg deal under an investment screening process. Scholz, for his part, has asked the ministry to draft a compromise proposal to be approved by the end of October, when the governments legal deadline arrives. If the government fails to pass a resolution banning the deal by the end of the deadline, the deal is legally considered done.

In addition, a Chinese stake in the Port of Hamburg may give COSCO an undue competitive advantage. German companies have so far been unable to take a stake in key infrastructure such as ports in China, while COSCO, a CCP-controlled enterprise, will receive substantial subsidies, both explicit and implicit, from the Chinese regime. This raises concerns that the Chinese regime can further interfere with domestic affairs in Germany and the wider EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends a meeting of the College of European Commissioners at the EU headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, on April 27, 2022. (Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool via Reuters)

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said that the EU has learned a lesson from its dependence on Russian energy imports and needs to remain vigilant against the Chinese regime. Among all EU countries, Germany has relied the most on Russian energy and was initially reluctant to abandon Russian oil and gas amid Putins invasion of Ukraine. It is increasingly concerning that Germany now is becoming economically dependent on another authoritarian regime, the CCP, von der Leyen said.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Bullet holes on the wall and blood on the ground after gunmen attacked the Shah Cheragh shrine in the southern city of Shiraz, Iran, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Mohammadreza Dehdari/Iranian Students' News Agency, ISNA via AP)

Gunmen Attack Major Shiite Mosque in Iran, Killing 15

DUBAI, United Arab EmiratesGunmen attacked a major Shiite mosque 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 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 countrys 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 Islamas in many other traditionsagain 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.

[Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] will be toppled! they chanted.

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.

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 Irans biggest antigovernment movement in over a decade, in Tehran, Iran, on Oct. 26, 2022, in this frame grab from video taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran. (AP Photo)

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.

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.
As if those werent bad enough, Ive now come across articles that detail what the covid shots due to vision. At least 200 cases of uveitis after the mRNA or vectorborne vaccines have been reported as per the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The UK equivalent of VAERS (MHRA) had 132 cases of blindness and 6,682 reports of eye disorders after COVID19 shots.

The ocular manifestations occurred on the eyelid, cornea, conjunctiva or internally on the retina, uvea, nerve, and vessel. The abnormalities were found to occur up to 42 days after vaccination. Vaccine-induced immunologic response could be the cause.

This Week:

An article published in 2022, Ocular Complications Following Vaccination for COVID-19: A One-Year Retrospective, includes this:

In total, 58 articles were included in the review:

28 were case reports

22 were letters to the editor

5 were case series

3 were photo essays

In when the doses of the vaccine were known, 45 cases of ocular disturbances were after the first dose; 35 were after the second dose and one after a booster dose.

From this series, the adverse events were divided into the following categories: eyelid, orbital, corneal, uveitis, retinal, vascular, neuro-ophthalmological, ocular motility disorders and unspecified. In a different paper, published in August 2021, researchers summarized findings from 16 publications.

Specific Disorders:

Perhaps the most disconcerting were the adverse events associated with the retina. The retina is the thin layer of cells that line the very back of your eyeball. These cells convert light from energy photons into electrical signals which are relayed to the optic nerve and then are transmitted to your brain. The images become what we actually see.

In this review, 14 of 45 patients had visual acuity problems after a Covid19 shot. Several developed acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), a disease with vision changes without any known treatment; the changes are often permanent. AMN is characterized by a sudden onset of paracentral scotoma (black blind spots) in one or both eyes. In a case report of a healthy 23-year-old woman, the blind spots were still present 15 months later.

Researchers have also found other, equally devastating eye conditions after an mRNA-containing shot. In a study conducted over multiple sites in Israel, 21 people were identified who developed acute uveitis within 1 to 14 days after receiving the first Pfizer shot. Or within 1 to 30 days after receiving their second shot.

In a separate case report, an 18yo girl developed bilateral uveitis 5-days after her second Covid19 shots. The inflammation subsided and vision returned after many months of topical steroid drop treatment.

Uveitis, or inflammation of the uvea (which consists of the iris, the ciliary body, and the choroid [blood vessel layer of the globe] ). Uveitis is one of the most common types of eye inflammation seen by eye doctors. The condition usually presents with blurred vision, photophobia (light sensitivity) and pain ranging from a dull ache to extreme throbbing. The treatment includes hourly topical steroid drops for the inflammation and drops to dilate the pupil for pain. Although complete vision loss is an uncommon complicationin anterior uveitis, the condition frequently leads to development of glaucoma.

A truly devastating effect of the Pfizer shots was finding the shots can lead to corneal transplants rejection. Graft rejection can be caused by intraocular inflammation. In one study, two of three patients who had had bilateral corneal implants suffered graft rejection in both eyes after a Covid19 injection. I read separate case reports of three people who developed graft rejection after Covid19 shots:here, here and here

More Case Reports

Here is an abbreviated list of case reports documenting ophthalmologic side effects following Covid19 injections:

A study out of India reported on four very significant cases of eye complications after the Covid19 shots:

Optic Neuritis Vertical Gaze Palsy (cant look up) Acute 6th Cranial Nerve Palsy (abducens nerve) (eye cant turn out) Acute onset esotropia (eye turning in)

Central retinal vein occlusion observed in a 50-year-old healthy, non-obese, and nonsmoking patient. This occurred immediately after the 2nd vaccination with an mRNA-based vaccine.

They Knew

This Substack was not meant to be all encompassing, but it gives you a sobering overview of what has happened to the vision of many persons after a Covid19 shot. The researchers should not have been surprised; Pfizer knew the following eye problems had been reported, even before the shots were released:

Eye hemorrhage

Eye and/or eyelid edema

Eye pruritus (itching)

Saccadic (abnormal) eye movements caused by brain injury

Ophthalmic artery thrombosis

Ophthalmic vein thrombosis

Optic neuritis

Optic neuropathy

Optic perineuritis

As more of these injury reports are released nearly every week, everyone should know by now that these Covid19 shots do not prevent Covid illness, but they certainly do cause long lasting harm.

Reposted from the authors Substack
Because were situated in a resort community, our hospital admits as many visitors as locals. Some of these tourists are in the middle of treatments for severe diseases. Im sure that their thinking is along the lines of I dont care if I do have cancerIm going to live my life! Im taking that long-planned vacation!

Often these restless souls dont bother telling their oncologists that theyre slipping down south for a few days of R&R following a session of chemotherapy treatment. (I cant blame them. In their shoes, I would be sneaky, too.) Im sure theyre concerned that their doctors would discourage traveling.

Mrs. L was one such sojourner. She had been coming to our beaches all her life, even after she and her husband became empty nesters. However, this visit was different. In recent months, her health passport had been stamped multiple times by hospitals and treatment centers back home in Indiana. The couple realized that this beach trip would be her last.

Upon greeting her, I could sense the strength of her will. She spoke of the blur of all those family vacations.

I have so many memories of my children playing in the sand, the morning sun warming our faces, she said. I didnt come to simply see the ocean. I came to relive those memories in their fullness. I came to sink my toes in that sand, the same sand where my children left so many footprints through the years. I know that you must understand.

Immediately, I remembered my own kids running and laughing as the low-tide waves chased them in a game of tag. I thought of the beautiful sunrises that greet me daily, leaving gorgeous reflections in tide pools. In my minds eye, I could see the brilliance of a harvest moon set against the darkness of the sea.

I did understand.

Mrs. L spoke of all this beauty before saying a single word about how she felt, before we ever discussed her health. I listened closely, because what people talk about most passionately reveals what they value most deeply. She was making her priorities known. Cancer had robbed her of many things. It wasnt going to rob her of this final memory at the beach.

Eventually, we did get around to her medical issues. She told me that none of the treatments that the doctors had tried to cure, or at least slow, her disease had worked. She had, at best, a few weeks or perhaps a couple of months to live. Although she didnt use the phrase a good death, as she talked about her family, life, and current decline, this was what she was describing. This trip was meant to close the last chapter; the epilogue would occur at home.

We would never have met, had she not become sick enough to require hospitalization during this, her final trip. While she was quite familiar with her health care system back home, our hospital was a foreign land to her. I was a stranger. Her anxious husband stood by as she walked me through her health history. She expressed confidence that she would return home to her loving family and die with her dreams fulfilled.

I marveled at this strong woman. She was yet another patient who would be my teacher. She knew her true condition. But more than knowledge, she had wisdom. She must have been a little afraid, but she displayed courage more than fear. Because of her obvious hope, she exuded peace.

My role as her temporary physician changed at that point. I wasnt to keep her in the hospital for some recommended length of time. Nor was I to run multiple tests that would only delay her release. My job was to get her well enough ASAP so that she might fulfill her dream of enjoying a few last days at the beach before returning home to die.

This is what I call a paradigm shift. Its a necessary, important change in perspective for physicians and patients. As health care providers, were trained to do everything in our power to battle disease and restore or maintain health. With our white coats and stethoscopes as armor and new pharmaceuticals and cutting-edge treatments as our weapons, were always ready to go to war. But sometimes we fight so hard that we lose sight of what were fighting. If we arent careful, our mission can become driven by data rather than by the patient. We can forget that winning the battle means much more than good numbers for the day or week.

Like all people, Mrs. L had faced multiple paradigm shifts along her health journey; however, what I was witnessing was her final shift. She no longer sought treatment that would extend her life, whatever the cost and however long it took. She simply wanted her health passport stamped with a hospital exit visa as quickly as possible. Time on the beach was much more precious and meaningful to her than getting back a few labs marked WNL (within normal limits).

Conversations about such a paradigm shift require time, active listening, and, most importantly, empathy. In this instance, Mr. L gave his wife all these gifts. Despite lamenting her imminent departure, he chose to love her unselfishly by embracing her dream of what would make for a good death.

His example reminds us that its vital for family members to both recognize when such a paradigm shift is occurring and support their loved ones through the process. Its equally important for clinicians to note such paradigm shifts and cooperate.
Many language skills are left brain, but a new study shows that when a newborn suffers a stroke in that region, the brain is able to shift those language duties to the right.

The researchers said the findings highlight the striking malleability of the infant brain, and could potentially point to ways to treat adults who suffer similar strokes.

Strokes occur when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, starving the tissue there. Depending on the location and extent of the damage, strokes can leave people with physical disabilities or problems with memory, thinking, or communication.

While older adults account for most strokes, they can strike younger adults, kids, and even babies.

Perinatal strokesthose that occur around the time of birthaffect roughly one in every 4,000 newborns, according to the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke.

The new study, published Oct. 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, included 15 teenagers and young adults whod suffered a perinatal arterial ischemic stroke. Thats the most common type of perinatal stroke, and it occurs when an artery in the brain is blocked by a blood clot.

In these cases, the stroke damaged the language-governing areas in the left hemisphere of the brain.

Despite that, all 15 young people had normal scores on tests of language skillsincluding the ability to process spoken words and sentences and to interpret vocal emotions.

Specialized MRI scans revealed how that was possible: Their brains had moved the responsibility for all language skills to specific areas in the right hemisphere of the brain. The right brain normally handles the vocal-emotion piece, but not word processing.

The results demonstrate the remarkable plasticity of the brain in early life, said lead researcher Elissa Newport, a professor of neurology at Georgetown University Medical Center, in Washington, D.C.

Its been known that people who suffered such strokes as a newborn can go on to have typical language skills. But its important to understand what is happening in the brain to allow that, according to Newport.

That knowledge could prove useful in developing treatments for strokes that happen later in life, she noted.

Researchers have had different ideas on how language abilities are recovered after a perinatal stroke. One is that uninjured parts of the left hemisphere take over; another is that the newborn brain is so malleable, that language duties can be assumed by areas that normally have nothing to do with language.

A third hypothesis, Newport said, holds that left-brain language skills are transferred to a specific part of the right hemispherethe frontotemporal cortex, which normally takes care of interpreting the emotional part of communication.

Thats what Newports team saw in their study participants.

Their language recovery is remarkable, Newport said, since their left-hemisphere injuries would have devastated communication skills in an adult.

We think they do so well because, in young children, the brain is not so lateralized, Newport said. That is, the brains various jobs are not as fixed to one hemisphere, as is the case in adults. According to Dr. Solomon Moshe, a neurologist and professor at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York City, The developing brain does have the ability to compensate for very serious injury. Moshe, who was not involved in the new study, said, Weve seen babies recover from injuries that adults cannot tolerate. He said the message from these findings for parents is, Be optimistic. If a newborn suffers this type of stroke there is still a good chance for normal language development, Moshe added. Newport said that while older brains are not innately capable of such plasticity, one question is whether they can be encouraged in that direction. Could, for instance, noninvasive stimulation of right-hemisphere structures, along with standard speech therapy, help stroke survivors with language impairments? Of course, a large stroke to the left hemisphere can affect functions beyond language. And not all can be recovered, Moshe noted. The 15 young people in this study did have some lasting effects from their early-life strokeincluding paralysis of the right hand, and mild problems with short-term memory and information-processing speed. But overall, they were thriving, Newport said, with many working toward or having higher-education degrees. More information For more about stroke in newborns, visit the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke. SOURCES: Elissa Newport, Ph.D., professor, neurology, director, Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Solomon L. Moshe, MD, Charles Frost Chair, neurosurgery and neurology, Montefiore Medical Center, professor, neurology, neuroscience & pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Oct. 10, 2022, online

This story was originally published on the HealthDay site.
Choosing the right investments for your business can generate growth or stifle it without the right strategy in mind. Every companys goals and trajectory are different, but there are a few core tips you can use to help guide your investment choices.

Choosing your businesss next investment is about staying anchored in your goals and putting financial resources toward the right stepping stones to reach those aims. Heres an overview of some top considerations you should have in mind when planning your businesss investments for the future.

Consider Long-Term Plans

The first thing you should do when trying to choose your businesss next investment takes a look at how you are hoping to grow. It can help to lay things out over the next five to 10 years. Consider where your company is and how far you could reasonably progress toward your hopes in the near future.

For example, maybe you currently run a small construction business. In five years, you might want to have a larger team, take on more projects annually or operate over a larger area. In 10 years, you might want to own your own vehicles and equipment or take on larger-scale projects. These goals are ambitious and motivating while also remaining realistic and achievable.

Your long-term plans for your company serve as a road map for where you should invest your money now. An investment might sound attractive at first glance, but it might not be a good fit if it doesnt align with your long-term vision. Think of your five to 10-year goals as your travel itinerary for a road tripits alright to take detours now and then, but each step along the way should move you toward your ultimate destination.

Save for Worst-Case Scenarios

It may sound grim initially, but planning for worst-case scenarios can help save your business stress and money in the long run. Investing in disaster recovery resources could potentially save your company in the event of a natural disaster or cyber attack. Disaster recovery investments will vary for different businesses and different areas.

For example, imagine a coffee shop based in Orlando, Florida. Business owners in Southern Florida are all too aware of the dangers of hurricanes. There may not be any way to stop these natural disasters, but business owners can make critical investments to help them recover faster afterward.

If you owned this coffee shop, you might want to invest money in a securities stock, where you could leave your money to grow over time with minimal risk of losing any. In a disaster, you could pull that money out of the stock market and use it to help cover damages and other recovery expenses. There are a variety of online tools you can use to research good stock investments like this.

Similarly, you might buy backup storefront gear for your coffee shop that you could store in a safe location. This would allow you to reopen quicker after a natural disaster like a hurricane, where property destruction could be a problem. Organizing emergency clean-up services ahead of time could be another good investment for quick storefront recovery after a storm.

Remember to consider financial fallout, as well. For example, you might invest in a real estate entity that ends up falling through. Having the possibility of a 1031 exchange for that investment could help save you hefty tax payments when backing out of the investment. It might sound pessimistic to arrange worst-case scenario plans like thesehopefully, you dont have to use them. However, you will be glad you have these disaster preparations in place if worst comes to worst.

Consider Personnel Investments

In addition to physical investments, its always a good idea to consider investing in new team members or contractors. Part of being a growing company is recognizing when you could benefit from something your team is not currently doing and responding to that.

For example, you might see a lot of potential in content marketing, but your company doesnt currently have a team member with strong content marketing skills. You could invest in a freelance content writer or a training program or course for one of your team members to learn content writing skills. This investment would deliver a return in the form of improved marketing for your business.

Its also worth asking your team members what skills they would like to learn or what help they could use on the job. Employees will have a unique perspective on everyday life in your company, including things you might not be aware of. Their input can help guide your personnel investments to meet your workers needs, helping them strengthen the business as a whole.

One particular personnel investment every entrepreneur should consider is IT and cybersecurity expertise. Ransomware attacks rose by an estimated 92.7 percent in 2021, hitting organizations in all fields and industries. Cyber attacks can be extremely costly for companies, particularly ransomware attacks. Investing in someone who can build a robust cybersecurity system for your business could help protect you from these rising security threats.

Invest in Your Businesss Reach

When new entrepreneurs think about investing, things like property or stocks may come to mind. However, you need to remember to invest in your companys growth. You can do this by investing in your reachthe audience connecting with your brand.

A helpful way to think of this is in terms of Wi-Fi. A single Wi-Fi router on its own can only reach so far. Eventually, the signal will grow weak and drop off. If you invest in more routers and hot spots, your signal can go much further. Investing in your businesss reach is all about finding new people and avenues to help you expand the audience your brands message is connecting with.

There are all kinds of ways to do this. You might invest in a couple of videographers or social media experts to build out your companys social media pages or create YouTube ads. Similarly, you could invest in copywriters and micro-influencers to help spread the word about your brand online.

You could also invest in market research services. Whether you do this analysis internally or hire a third-party firm, thorough market research requires time and resources. It can be a worthwhile investment for discovering your target markets interests, where they interact online, their awareness of your brand, and how you can potentially improve your relationship with them.

Consider what audience you are attracting now, what audience you would like to reach that you arent already and what investments could bridge that gap.

Additionally, consider the role technology plays in expanding your businesss reach. Investing in something like a customer relationship management platform could help your business deliver a better experience for your customers, improving the word-of-mouth marketing you generate. Technology can help you support a larger community of customers as you grow, as well.

Keep Your Investments Diverse

Finally, while choosing new investments for your company, remember to step back every now and then. Check-in with the investments you have planned. Are they heavily concentrated in one area or another? Are they spread out between various types of investments and assets?

Ideally, you want to make sure your business is growing evenly. You dont want to invest in a vast new team of employees before you have the sales revenue to support them. So, analyze the assets you are currently investing in and consider what could help diversify your investments.

At this stage, it is also worth considering how your investments impact your companys taxes. You may want to diversify your investments to include some that help lower or minimize your tax burden. There are many ways small businesses can do this, such as investing in retirement funds or equipment that qualifies for business expense tax write-offs.

Creating a Diverse Investment Plan

This is an excellent opportunity to build on the five to 10-year road map mentioned earlier. You might have many ideas for exciting investments for your company, but you dont need to start diving into those investments all at once. In fact, the wisest course of action is to give each asset your full attention while planning and implementing it before moving on to another.

Considering what your five to 10-year goals are and the current state of your business, pinpoint which investments would be the most impactful over the next one to three years. Make sure you keep them varied, as mentioned above.

Maybe over year one, you invest in cybersecurity training for a few team members and a disaster recovery plan. Add those to your road map. Similarly, maybe in five years, you have invested in some new staff and are now ready to open a second office.

Each investment you add to the road map should build on progress in some area of your company, such as personnel or real estate. By outlining your goals over the next five to 10 years, you can get a clear overview of what investments you have in mind and how youll grow in the years to come. This allows you to plan well ahead and keep your assets diverse and relevant to your ultimate aspirations.

Making the Right Investment Moves

Choosing company investments can often feel like a game of chessevery move contributes to your businesss larger vision and strategy. Be tactical about your next investment. Consider the current state of your company and your team, where you want to go, and how you could improve.

With the right goals and strategy in mind, you can choose the perfect investments to build the business of your dreams, one wise investment at a time.

By Devin Partida

The Epoch Times Copyright  2022 The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
Zillow has laid off about 300 employees as it is shifting focus toward technology-related positions in the company, TechCrunch has learned from sources and confirmed with the company over e-mail.

The Seattle-headquartered online real estate marketplace informed its impacted employees about the decision on Tuesday. Shortly after receiving the communication, the impacted employees had to leave the company. The layoffs impacted Zillow Offer advisors, PA sales and back-end staff at Zillow Home Loans and Zillow Closing Services, as well as other teams.

As part of our normal business process, we continuously evaluate and responsibly manage our resources as we create digital solutions to make it easier for people to move. This week, we have made the difficult  but necessary  decision to eliminate a small number of roles and will shift those resources to key growth areas around our housing super-app. Were still hiring in key technology-related roles across the company, a Zillow spokesperson said in a statement emailed to TechCrunch.

The company did not reveal the percentage of its workforce affected by the decision. However, in its last quarterly report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in August, Zillow reported that it had 5,791 full-time employees in its workforce. Using that figure, this layoff has impacted around 5% of employees.

In November last year, Zillow announced that it would lay off a quarter of its staff  around 2,000 people  due to shutting down its home-buying service Offers that aimed to provide sellers with instant home offers. The company, at the time, had 8,000 employees.

Zillow has become one of the latest tech companies to lay off employees during this economic slowdown. Earlier this week, telehealth unicorn Cerebral reduced its workforce by 20% due to an ongoing push for efficiency. Companies including Netflix, Momentive Global, Spotify and Tencent have also made similar decisions recently. Similarly, Indian startups including Byjus and Ola have let hundreds of employees go amid the downfall of funding and investments
How Wise Are Our Political Leaders?

Commentary

We are less than two weeks from the midterm elections. Many Americans have high hopes that we will elect people who will lead us to a brighter future. My hopes are more modest. I just hope they dont mess things up too much.

Am I being too pessimistic? I guess it all depends on what your particular expectations for Congress are. Our country faces complex issues and formidable challenges. What special qualifications will the 535 people we elect to the House and Senate have to solve those problems?

The members of the next Congress are bound to have a similar profile to that of the current Congress. Our elected representatives present a cross-section of American society. Members may be doctors, lawyers, military veterans, businesspersons, educators, etc. They may also include political opportunists who never made a mark in the private sector before discovering that they could make a lucrative living out of telling other people how unfair our country is and how they would be their Santa Claus.

Lets assume for the sake of argument that, collectively speaking, Congress includes many highly accomplished individuals and that (on average at least) they are more intelligent than a random sample of 535 Americans. But does that give them the ability to make wise decisions? The present Congress appropriated several hundred billion dollars to subsidize computer chip manufacturing. What qualifies those members of Congress to decide which industries should be subsidized and by how much? The doctors and lawyers in Congress may be smart individuals, but what special knowledge do they have about computers (or about green energyanother chosen recipient of congressional largess this year)?

Lets take a look at governments track record and see if that bolsters our confidence in the superior wisdom of members of Congress. I wrote not long ago of the danger of forgetting truths that we have long known. Now, progressives and some of you reading this may not agree with my contention in that article that we need to remember the superiority of free markets, so let me lower the bar here. Can we all agree that humans need food, water, and energy? So let us survey how competently government has dealt with those basic necessities of life.

Food

Multiple threats to the global food supply have become apparent this yeareverything from the war in Ukraine to governments in countries such as Sri Lanka, Canada, and The Netherlands (the second leading exporter of agricultural goods in the world after the USA) throttling back food production in pursuit of the anti-human ESG agenda to an ominous confluence of droughts and poor crop yields.

Here in the United States, we see similar actions. Several months into his presidency Joe Biden announced plans to pay farmers to leave another 4 million acres fallow. This year Biden called for more farmland to be used to grow corn for ethanol rather than corn that humans can eat in a step toward more complete government control over food production.

A famous statement (of unknown origin) bears remembering here: If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand. Obviously, that is colorful hyperbole, but the history of food shortages in societies where government has assumed control over food production should never be forgotten. And let us not forget about the months-long shortage of baby formulaa market distortion brought to you courtesy of your friendly federal Food and Drug Administration.

Water

The only natural resource that rivals food in importance to human life is water, both for human consumption and for agricultural production. Does government manage water well? Not really, when you consider the environmentalist zealotry that results in California channeling water into the Pacific Ocean to preserve a fish called the delta smeltwater that is desperately needed by drought-stricken California food-growers. (There we go again: less food at a time of increasing need for food.)

The federal governments U.S. Geological Survey has been warning for years about the depletion of water tables under midwestern farmlands, and yet Bidens stated desire to ramp up the production of corn for ethanol exacerbates the threat.

Governments in cities such as Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, havent been able to provide safe drinking water to their populations. Yes, those are municipal governments instead of the federal government, but the point is: If governments cant demonstrate competency in something as elementary and essential as supplying drinking water, can we really trust them to solve larger problems?

Energy

The typical American citizen knows that having reliable, affordable supplies of energy is crucial to human life. Energy is the great multiplier of human strength that has powered the unprecedented economic growth of the last two or three centuries. Yet against this backdrop we have the stunning spectacle of Biden and his party striving mightily to deny us access to fossil fuels, leaving American consumers scrambling to cope with higher utility bills and gasoline prices.

You undoubtedly can rattle off several examples of how our governments anti-energy policies are adversely affecting you. Ill just cite one specific example that illustrates how foolhardy it is for us to trust government to devise an intelligent energy policy: Shortly after California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that only electric vehicles would be permitted to be sold in his state several years hence, there was an official request that owners of EVs refrain from charging their expensive vehicles to avert blackouts. This seems to be leading to a future in which the government decides when and how much you will be permitted to drive.

Politicians Skill Set

If government cant manage food, water, and energy policies wisely, what makes so many voters believe that politicians can intelligently manage, fix, plan, or control our economy benignly? Whatever skills they may have demonstrated in the private sector, neither the new nor the old members of Congress will be equipped with the wisdom to solve major problems, devise economically rational economic plans, or even to simply take care of us. (Of course, our founders never expected Uncle Sam to take care of us. The federal government was supposed to keep us free and let private citizens direct private property to the meeting of human needs. But thats another story.)

Did you ever ponder how members of Congress decide how much money goes to which special interests? Its not a matter of wisdom or enlightened reason, but of responding to political pressures and incentives. Lobbyists bend their ears, contribute to their campaign treasuries, and persuade them that federal dollars would be better spent supporting the lobbyists causes than the causes of other potential cronies (er, I mean recipients) of federal aid. That is how Washington operates today.

By all means, vote. Some candidates are clearly better (or in some cases, less bad) than others. But the best we can hope for from the new Congress is that it not be quite as profligate in dispensing taxpayer dollars to special interests as the present Congress has been.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The 80-year-old billionaire CEO of the retail franchise Hobby Lobby, David Green, has made headlines for his decision to give away ownership of the company. Rather than continue as a business owner, Green wishes to be a steward for God.

In an Oct. 21 op-ed for Fox News, Green explained his decision, writing: I chose God.

As Green discussed his piece on Fox & Friends Weekend, he said: Theres a huge paradigm change between owning a company and stewarding it, and we want to be stewards of what God has given us.

Since its inception in Oklahoma in 1970 on a $600 loan, according to David and his wife Barbara Greens origin story, Hobby Lobby has grown to have over 900 stores across the country with over 43,000 employees in 47 states.

As an owner, there are certain rights and responsibilities, including the right to sell the company and keep the profits for yourself and your family. As our company grew, that idea began to bother me more and more, Green said. I was responsible for the mission and purpose of what Id been given. When I realized that I was just a steward, it was easy to give away my ownership.

God was the true owner of my business.

Regarding his decision to give away the ownership of the company, Green cited Patagonia founder, Yvon Chouinard, and Alan Barnhart of Barnhart Crane, who have made similar decisions to place faith before fortune and give away ownership of their companies.

He has transferred 100 percent of Hobby Lobbys voting stock into a trust where it will be stewarded by a succession of trustees, so that Green and his wife no longer think of themselves as owners.

David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Throughout his 52-year journey with the Hobby Lobby franchise, Green has kept his dedication to the Bible at the forefront and the Christian message at the core of the companys ethos. It has long been Greens policy to close all stores on Sunday to allow associates time for family and church and to pay employees well above the national minimum wage.

Feeling blessed by God for the success of his chain of art and craft stores, Green has also given back to society by using Hobby Lobby as a channel through which to support ministries and plant churches all over the world. He encourages other leaders to consider if they are owners or stewards and to reflect on where their success comes from.

Ive seen many a business with the greatest of ideas not make it, and yet others with the simplest of ideas thrive, he said. I believe that God is the one who grants success, and with it the responsibility to be a good manager.

Hobby Lobby co-founders David Green (L) and Barbara Green (R). (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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This is one of four poster designs that EmpowerU America is offering through its "In God We Trust" project. Donors are buying the framed prints and the organization is shipping them to Ohio school districts. (Courtesy of EmpowerU America)

In God We Trust Movement Seeks to Unify a Fractured Nation

A new initiative in Ohio joins the national effort

One day in April, Dan Regenold was sitting at his desk, handling a $1 bill, when the words on its flip side, In God We Trust, seemed to leap off the paper.

Regenold began to wonder: How many times had heand many other Americanslooked at U.S. currency without giving those words, our national motto, a second thought?

The words In God We Trust are seen on U.S. dollar banknotes in Washington, on Oct. 14, 2004. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

I almost feel like I was tapped on the shoulder, and someone said, Hey, think about this, Regenold told The Epoch Times. He is a managing board member of EmpowerU America, a nonprofit university that offers free educational seminars near Cincinnati, Ohio.

Idea Turns Into Action

In September, Regenold and EmpowerU launched The In God We Trust Project, which seeks to place framed copies of the national motto in Ohio schools.

Dan Regenold, a leader of EmpowerU America in Ohio, in an undated photo. (Courtesy of EmpowerU America)

The project, believed to be the only active one of its kind in Ohio, follows in the footsteps of similar campaigns promoting the motto across the nation over the years. Sometimes, controversy has followed even though promoters see the motto as a bridge across Americas ideological divide.

In both Ohio and Texas, state laws require schools to display donated signage that proclaims In God We Trustas long is it meets specific conditions. The Texas law is only a year old. Regenold was surprised this summer when he learned that Ohios law has been on the books since 2006; he believes it has remained largely unnoticed in recent years.

Meanwhile, a California woman has been crusading since 2002 to publicly post the national motto in government buildings across the United States.

Jacquie Sullivan, a former city councilwoman in Bakersfield, Calif., launched a national campaign to promote In God We Trust, the national motto, in 2002. Bakersfield council approved Sullivans proposal to display the motto. (Courtesy of Jacquie Sullivan)

West Coast Patriotism

Jacquie Sullivans nonprofit organization, In God We Trust America Inc., has tallied 753 victories where local governments voted in favor of such displays, she told The Epoch Times in an Oct. 26 interview.

Now 82 and retired, Sullivan began her mission in Bakersfield, California, where she served 25 years on city council. In 2001, after hearing about an East Coast protest of In God We Trust on a public building, Sullivan was indignant. She decided to push back from her West Coast home.

The following year, Sullivans proposal to display the motto in city hall drew protesters to Bakersfield, between Fresno and Los Angeles.

Still, Sullivan and her city council colleagues voted yes to publicly feature the motto.

In the two decades since then, 147 cities and counties in California have followed suit, Sullivan reports, adding, If we can do it here in California, it can be done anywhere.

In God We Trust first appeared on the obverse side of the two-cent piece in 1864. (Public Domain)

Democrats, Republicans Both Faithful

Faith in God is a rare issue that transcends political party lines, Sullivan said. While she describes herself as a conservative, she points out that In God We Trust resolutions seem to enjoy bipartisan support in most places.

In 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives reaffirmed In God We Trust as the national motto, and encouraged its public display in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions. The measure passed by a vote of 396-9.

Can you imagine anything today having such a strong bipartisan victory in Congress? Sullivan asked.

In its 2014 Religious Landscape Study, the Pew Research Center found that 83 percent of respondents were certain or fairly certain that they believe in God.

I proudly, knowingly say that our motto is intended to be all-inclusive, nonpartisan, and nondenominational, Sullivan said. Thats why she believes that promoting the motto is one of the most important unifying efforts to go on in our country.

EmpowerU America board members, John ONeill (L), Nita Thomas (2R) and Leigh Ann Cartier (R), pose with one of four posters that donors can purchase for display in an Ohio school district to promote the national motto, In God. We Trust, in October 2022. (Courtesy of Dan Regenold)

Sullivan supports the initiatives in Texas and Ohio; she would like to see the motto appear in hundreds more public spaces, from classroom to courtroom.

In Texas, some people objected to the motto being displayed in schools. They considered it a religious intrusion into a public, non-church setting, The Epoch Times reported in August.

Church-State Doctrine Misconstrued?

But, in Sullivans view, using the motto in public spaces doesnt breach the oft-quoted separation of church and state doctrine. Her view of that principle: Its meant to keep the state out of religion; its not meant to keep religion out of the state.

Further, Sullivan points out that the national motto doesnt specify what God means; its open to individual interpretation.

Regenold said the history of the motto, which he researched after that inspirational moment in his office, is intertwined with the history of America.

U.S. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, sits at his desk in the Marly headquarters, near Paris. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Ike Promoted Motto

Although Congress approved In God We Trust to be used on coins in 1864, it took another 92 years for those words to be adopted as the official national motto.

President Dwight Eisenhower took a step in that direction when he gave a radio address in 1954. He stated: Out of faith in God, and through faith in themselves as His children, our forefathers designed and built the Republic.

Regenold said Eisenhower considered faith in God a unifying feature of the American experience. Americans of varying religions may use different words in their prayers and hymns, but they share a common theme: trusting in God.

Thus, Eisenhower pushed to have the words, under God, added to the Pledge of Allegiance. Two years later, in 1956, Eisenhower signed a law officially designating In God We Trust the national motto.

Regenold prepared a synopsis of the mottos history and affixed it to a plaque that will accompany framed posters of In God We Trust, which donors sponsor.

I thought it would be great to combine the history with [the motto] and make it kind of a learning opportunity for students, Regenold said.

In God We Trust is prominent in the meeting area of the Orange County Board of Education in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

In a little more than a month, the patriotic wall decorations have been sent to 28 Ohio school districts, all sponsored by donors, Regenold said.

People wishing to donate a poster and plaque can choose from four designs on EmpowerUs In God We Trust Project website.

Regenold owns a frame-manufacturing business called Frame USA, which provides the posters at cost, he said. Each poster costs roughly $90 to $105, including shipping to the school, Regenold said.

So far, the initiative has generated only positive responses, he said.

Symbolic of Silent Majority

Helga Silven, a 1973 graduate of Clermont Northeastern High School in Ohios Clermont County, donated one of the framed posters to her alma mater in anticipation of her 50th class reunion next year.

Silven, who now lives across the Ohio River in Bellevue, Ky., has been attending EmpowerU programs for several years.

After learning about the organizations In God We Trust project, she decided to become a sponsor.

I think many of the schools are moving away from the traditional values of the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthemall of the things like that, that we hold dear, she told The Epoch Times. I just wanted to bring that to the forefront a little bit.

She hopes that Ohios national motto project grows.

Many people feel that God has been kicked out of schools for a long, long time and this is one way to insert that back into our schools, she said.

A slim minority has been very vocal in opposing traditional American values, Silven said.

I think a lot of people feel like I do Were the silent majority, she said. So this is my little way of getting out of the silent majority and becoming a speaking majority.
Ireland Orders Closure of Chinese Police Service Station in Dublin

An unofficial Chinese police station in Dublin has been told to shut down, the Irish government confirmed on Oct. 26.

Safeguard Defenders, a human rights NGO that uncovered the existence of the overseas Chinese police stations last month, applauded the Irish government for taking a great first step while urging it to investigate the wider issue at stake.

The so-called service station, which shares an address with a Chinese supermarket in Dublin, is one of the dozens of such stations peppered around Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, according to a Safeguard Defenders report published on Nov. 13.

The programme, piloted by the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau (PSB), is dubbed 110 Overseas after the Chinese national police emergency phone number.

According to Chinese-language reports, Chinese expats can call to access services such as document renewal or to report cases such as fraud to PSB officers in China.

Compliance With International Law

In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it had told the Chinese Embassy to close the station in Dublin and was told that its activities had ceased.

A DFA spokesperson said the department had raised the issue with the Chinese Embassy in recent weeks as neither the Chinese authorities nor Fuzhou/Fujian Province had made a request in advance to set up the police station.

The Department noted that actions of all foreign states on Irish territory must be in compliance with international law and domestic law requirements. On this basis, the Department informed the Embassy that the office on Capel Street should close and cease operations. The Chinese Embassy has now stated that the activities of the office have ceased, the statement reads.

The spokesperson added that the DFA will continue to liaise with the embassy to facilitate consular and citizen services to Chinese citizens in Ireland.

The Chinese Embassy didnt respond to The Epoch Times request for comment, but according to The Irish Times, the embassy said in a statement that the station had been set up during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide driving licence renewal services and that the services had moved online.

Overseas Chinese police Service Stations, or 110 Overseas, are found in dozens of countries across five continents. (Courtesy of Safeguarddefenders)

The online Overseas 110 website, reportedly launched in June, provides access to document renewal as well as reporting by phone, email, and WeChat.

According to a Chinese-language news report published in January, the Capel Street station was one of the 30 first batch stations established around the world.

The report states that the stations were set up to help Chinese expats from Fuzhou and to crack down on criminal activities among overseas Chinese nationals.

Illegal Transnational Policing Campaigns

Safeguard Defenders report states that the programme was set up after the launch of a massive nationwide campaign to combat the growing issue of fraud and telecommunication fraud by Chinese nationals living abroad in 2018.

The report also states that authorities of the communist regime claimed that 230,000 Chinese nationals had been persuaded to return to face criminal proceedings in China between April 2021 and July 2022.

The NGO said innocent people have also been targeted with the persuasion tactics because they live in one of nine forbidden countries that are designated by the authorities as hotbeds of fraud.

Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told The Epoch Times on Oct. 27 that the NGO is quite happy that the Irish government took immediate action but warned of the bigger issue of the transnational repression going on and these kinds of illegal transnational policing campaigns.

As long as the people that were running the station are still there, as long as theres not an investigation into how these operations are being carried out, who might be involved, as long as theres not adequate protection mechanisms for the communities at risk, the problem will continue to exist, Harth said.

So its a great first step, but we hope and encourage, [and] call upon the Irish authorities to actually go and investigate the wider issue at stake here.

The Irish government is the first to confirm it has ordered the closure of a Chinese overseas police station.

Authorities in other countries, including Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands, have also started investigating the police stations.

Harth welcomed the investigations into the stations and wider issues involving Chinese agents.

On Oct. 24, the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against 10 Chinese intelligence officers and officials over three separate cases, including one involving allegedly coercing a Chinese dissident to return to China.

The UK government on Oct. 18 introduced legislation that, if it becomes law, will require foreign agents to register their activities in the UK.
Irvine Man Charged With Killing Dog for Defecating in His Car

SANTA ANA, Calif.A 40-year-old man was behind bars Wednesday on charges of beating a service dog to death in a parking lot in Santa Ana for defecating in his car.

Randy Francois of Irvine was charged in September with two felony counts of cruelty to animals, but he failed to appear in court after bonding out of custody and an arrest warrant was issued for the defendant, according to court records.

Francois was arrested Tuesday and appeared in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana on Wednesday when his arraignment was rescheduled for Monday.

Francois is accused of killing the Yorkshire Terrier service dog June 28 in a parking lot in the 1500 block of East 17th St., according to Santa Ana police Sgt. Maria Lopez. He allegedly killed the dog with his bare hands because the canine defecated in his car, Lopez said.
Spurred on by her wedding date, a Finnish knitwear designer and YouTuber decided to take her dress into her own hands, literally. She came up with a delicate knitted and crocheted design and set to work creating a masterpiece.

Veronika Lindberg of Helsinki, Finland, who goes by the name Kika, shares her talent for knitting on her YouTube channel. She told The Epoch Times all about her pretty crazy project.

It was all really spontaneous, we didnt have that much time to plan, Lindberg said, referring to the inspiration behind her wedding dress. First, I thought it was too stressful to make my own wedding dress. I also thought if I ordered it, it would take so long  then I started to think, Maybe I should just make it myself. Im a designer, knitting is what I do!'

Veronika Lindberg wearing her knitted wedding dress, displaying its square-shaped neckline. (Courtesy of Jukka Heino)

Lindberg took a few days to sketch, design, and look for inspiration. She knew that she wanted the dress to have long sleeves and the neckline to be square-shaped. However, for the rest of the design, she said, I saw how it would work then I would sort of design it as I went along.

She ordered 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) of 100 percent silk yarn from Denmark and began making her dress, starting from the top and taking inspiration for lace patterns from the book, Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible.

Veronika Lindberg knitting her wedding dress. (Courtesy of Veronika Lindberg)

Her project wasnt without challenges.

When she first completed her bodice with the sleeves, she realized it was too big. So she had to rip it apart and repeat one day of work.

That was a really frustrating moment, Lindberg said. But after completing the top part of her dress, she abandoned her Plan B to buy a backup in case hers went wrong.

A close-up of Veronica Lindbergs dress shows her sleeves. (Courtesy of Jukka Heino)

Figuring out the skirt was another challenge.

I wanted to have movement and a nice drape, she said. My initial plan was to crochet that as well, [but] at some point, I realized [the crochet] was too thick so it didnt have that movement  I thought, This is not going to work, and then I decided, Okay, Im going to have to knit the whole skirt!'

Lindberg estimates that it took her almost four out of the six weeks to just make the skirt alone.

A close-up of Veronicas dress shows her skirt. (Courtesy of Jukka Heino)

During this time, as Lindberg was knitting her dress, she and her fiance were also in the midst of moving houses and planning the wedding.

A week before the wedding, when shed almost completed her entire dress, she made a mistake and decided, on the spot, to rip a portion of her knitting open and start again.

I felt like, Oh, I just want to be done now, she said. That was maybe the most difficult part, [to] just keeping going.

The knitting expert also used a trick of the trade to alleviate tension in the yarn caused by criss-cross stitchingshe soaked the lace in water to soften it. The pattern will usually bloom out; it will lay nicer and flatter so you can see the texture better, she said. Lindberg also made a slip, by hand, to wear underneath to make the dress less transparent.

A close-up of the bodice of Veronikas wedding dress, in progress. (Courtesy of Veronika Lindberg)

Lindbergs fiance had been a little skeptical from the outset, and her sister added to the sense of panic by calling often to check on dressmaking progress. But toward the end, both were impressed that Lindberg was able to pull it off.

All in all, Lindberg believes her dress took 200 hours of knitting across 45 days and cost almost $400 to make. She tried on her finished dress for the first time four days before she tied the knot in the backyard of the couples brand-new home on Nov. 10, 2021.

I didnt know how that was going to look until I really, like, finished the dress and I tried it on, she said. But it felt very, very nice and very special.

Lindberg shared her entire dressmaking process on Instagram and YouTube. Many friends and family members had only seen the dress online before the big day.

On the wedding day, everybody came to me and said, Oh, this is the dress! and wanted to look at it and feel it.

Veronika Lindberg wearing her knitted wedding dress. (Courtesy of Jukka Heino)

While the stretchy knit made Lindbergs dress really comfortable to wear, she did notice one amusing detail of the heavy garment as the day wore on. During the day it probably grew four or five centimeters! At the end of the night, the skirt was completely dirty. That was kind of funny, she said.

Veronica Lindberg with her husband on their wedding day. (Courtesy of Jonas Kukkonen)

Lindberg, who had been living in London since 2018, moved to Finland in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic and met her husband that same summer. They fell in love and were engaged in November 2020.

Planning a wedding was hard amid social distancing restrictions, so, when the couple finally closed on a house, they decided to make their housewarming party their wedding, too.

Lindberg described the day as pretty informal  a little bit bohemian and romantic, with music, dancing, and a food truck replete with a huge pizza oven to feed the gathered crowd. Lindberg did her own makeup and wore flowers in her hair, whilst her husband wore pants and suspenders.

She also kept her phone away so that she could enjoy the day with friends and family.

Veronika Lindberg and her husband celebrating among family and friends on their wedding day. (Courtesy of Jonas Kukkonen)

Since knitting her own wedding dress, Lindberg continues to make YouTube videos on knitting, digital courses in photography, and social media. She has also published a book on knitting patterns. With the success of her wedding dress, she is also considering adding more big-knit projects to her repertoire.

This was something I felt really excited about, she told The Epoch Times. For five weeks, I didnt do any other YouTube videos because I was just focused on this  but I feel like I learned that when I really commit to one project that is higher quality, I really put in a lot of effort.

Lindbergs mission is to show people that knitting can be high fashion, and with a dream, a pattern, and a little determination, anyone can make a garment fit for a catwalkor a wedding.

Watch the video:

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Former lawyer of former President Donald Trump, John Eastman, appears on screen during the fourth hearing by the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the US Capitol in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, on June 21, 2022. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

J6 Committee, DOJs Targeting of Trump Attorneys Aimed at Destroying MAGA, Threatens Democracy: Lawyers

The House Jan. 6 Committee, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and other bodies around the country are targeting lawyers who defend those involved in the events surrounding Jan. 6, according to experts and attorneys, who describe such moves as an unprecedented attack on democracy.

Conservative attorneys have faced ethics charges, been threatened with criminal charges, or been harassed via the service of subpoenas for documents that amount to nothing more than a fishing expedition, the experts said.

Some of the targeted attorneys include Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, Sidney Powell, Jeffrey Clark, and John Eastman, who represented or aided former President Donald Trump in his challenges to the 2020 election, as well as prominent criminal defense attorney Bob Costello, who represented Giuliani and Steve Bannon on several separate matters.

The tactic has been employed to prevent these attorneys from adequately representing their conservative clients and is part of the broader trend of canceling conservatives, the experts said.

They added that the development is one of the most dangerous aspects of the Jan. 6 committees work.

A Constitutional Right

This trend, however, started well before the events of Jan. 6., experts said, with liberals perfecting the tactic of targeting lawyers and non-lawyers in the Trump administration or representing Trump.

The experts cited as examples: the prosecution of Gen. Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor to Trump, attorney Michael Cohen, who personally represented the former president before he was elected, the attempted prosecution of Trump advisor George Papadopoulos, the conviction of Trump political advisor Roger Stone, as well as cases against former Trump advisor Steve Bannon.

The consequences could be dire for the country if the development is left unchecked, warned one attorney who represents clients charged in Jan. 6 matters.

The attorney is the sword and the shield for the citizens of the United States, New York attorney Joe McBride, who represents almost a dozen Jan . 6 defendants, told the Epoch Times.

The attorney-client privilege that is built into the United States Constitution, in the Sixth Amendment, but also is representative of the preservation and execution of defense of all the other rights: your due process rights, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom, to protest, freedom of assembly, privacy rightsyou name it. An attorney representing clients is how you protect those rights, he said.

McBride said the Jan. 6 committee and the DOJ have issued broad subpoenas to attorneys that amount to little more than a fishing expedition. By demanding lawyers turn over volumes of communications, much of which falls under attorney-client privilege, they are violating these rights, and making effective counsel by attorneys more difficult, he said.

Denying Conservatives Full Benefit of the Legal System

One legal expert described this tactic as an attempt to entrap attorneys by twisting written documents normally produced by lawyers on behalf of clients into vague fraud and conspiracy-to-incite-an-insurrection charges.

John Malcolm, vice president for the Institute for Constitutional Government and director of the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said that liberals are attempting to prevent conservatives from having the full benefit of the legal system that is supposed to give even the worst criminals the same treatment as innocent citizens.

Attorneys represent people in court all the time, Malcolm told The Epoch Times.

And their job is to give them the complete benefit of the legal system, not to adjudicate whether theyre guilty or not guilty of a crime, he added, noting that its extremely rare that attorneys are accused of conspiring with clients, even when lawyers know clients are guilty of a crime.

Malcolm said that in the case of Trump and the election, even if the attorneys hypothetically were convinced that Trump lost the election, if there were legal improprieties in the process of the election or legal arguments to make, attorneys are obliged to make them on behalf of their clients.

Even if you think you lost, if you think that there were improprieties in the way the election was conducted, and you have legal argument to make challenging that result, you have an absolute right as an attorney to do that, Malcolm said.

Disciplinary Action

Several attorneys involved in Trumps 2020 efforts have also faced professional disciplinary action over their advocacy disputing the election results. Giuliani, a former top federal prosecutor, has had his law license suspended in New York and Washington pending bar proceedings. Powell and other pro-Trump lawyers were sanctioned in Michigan over their filing of an election fraud lawsuit in that state. Clark, a former DOJ lawyer, is fighting professional ethics charges in Washington.

But this advocacy forms the basis of how a representative government works, argued McBride.

The attorney warned that without lawyers to represent people in court, all the government is left with is the use of force to settle disputes, with the government holding the upper hand on in this regard.

They are trying to remove the adversarial nature from the process that attorneys represent. And without the adversarial process, there is nobody to fight for your rights in a court of law. Its over, McBride said

Malcolm agreed and questioned why liberal attorneys do not seem to be similarly concerned about such abuses of the right to legal representation.

Attorneys should be encouraged to represent those in [unpopular] circumstances, and not be canceled or have ethics charges filed against them, or face the risk of indictment for representing clients, Malcolm said.

Its a very dangerous development for society. It has been a dangerous development in the legal profession. Its just terrible, he added.

Use of DC Courts

Republican Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, who recently got licensed in the District of Columbia (D.C.) specifically to help defend people charged over Jan. 6, said the legal system is being used to unfairly target conservatives.

Thats why so many cases are being brought in federal courts in the District of Columbia, so liberals can find sympathetic jury pools, he said.

So I see a new trend emerging where theyre going to start charging conservatives in the federal district of D.C., mostly to get the juries that they want, which are radical left-wing juries, Sabatini told The Epoch Times.

So you basically, guarantee that youre going to get a guilty charge on any political charge they crank up, he added.

Sabatini recently posted on Twitter that he was now licensed to appear in D.C. federal courts and he encouraged other conservative attorneys to do the same to defend fellow conservatives.

McBride agreed that no conservatives can get a fair trial in federal courts in D.C., and thats one reason why he has asked for a change of venue in every case that he represents there.

He compared the Jan. 6 cases to the 1989 trials of Reagan administration officials, including Lt. Col. Oliver North and former national security adviser John Poindexter who were convicted in the U.S. District Court in D.C. over actions arising out of the Iran-Contra affair. The scandal involved the secret sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of profits to aid rebels in Nicaragua, an act banned by Congress.

The convictions of North and Poindexter were eventually overturned when an appeals court found that trial testimony was tainted by the use of Congressional statements given by the two officials under an immunity agreement.

Is there any possibility of getting a fair shake at a trial in D.C.? asked McBride, noting that if anything, cable, social media, and wall-to-wall internet coverage, make the jury pool and trial testimony even more tainted than the North-Poindexter trial.

Theres just no way that anybody can ever get a fair trial at this point in time, he said.

McBride said he thinks that the Jan. 6 cases that have convictions will eventually be overturned after appeals on grounds that pretrial publicity tainted the jury pools in D.C., which are already hostile to conservatives, in turn denying defendants the right to a fair trial.

Destroying MAGA

Sabatini said the goal of liberals and establishment figures like Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) is to destroy the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement started by Trump.

The legal prosecutions and harassment are merely new tactics deployed in this campaign.

They know what theyre doing  and this is just their new way of doing it, he said.

[Cheney] does what she does because her goal is to destroy the MAGA movement. Thats why shes on the J6 Committee, he added.

McBride also had stern words for his fellow attorneys on bar committees who he said are allowing attacks on the basic right of people to get legal counsel.

Not only do you not hear any bands of attorneys or Bar Associations backing the rights of attorneys who have come under attack, these people are actually joining the attacks on their fellow attorneys, McBride said.

Malcolm agreed and warned of the serious consequences for the country if these campaigns continue.

Lawyers have an obligationand its the most honorable part of the professionto represent unpopular causes, Malcolm said.

And that includes former President Trump and his challengers to the 2020 election. And charging these attorneys with ethics complaints, or potentially charging them as criminals, is a very dangerous and ill-advised development that threatens the integrity of the legal process, he said.

And it threatens our democracy itself, each expert agreed.

When you look at the criminalization of political protest, or you look at the targeting of attorneys, the cancellation of attorneys, threatening them with jail, and ready to take away their bar license for defending people, you have to really wake up to whats going on, McBride said.

The moment that attorneys stop fighting for you in the courtrooms, the war for our democracy is lost without the firing bullets of any bullets. You lose your most meaningful, daily way to exercise your rights, he added.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Cheneys office, the Jan. 6 committee, and the DOJ for comment.
Kanye West attends the WSJ Magazine 2019 Innovator Awards at the Museum of Modern Art in New York on Nov. 6, 2019. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Kanye West Escorted from Skechers Headquarters in Manhattan Beach

LOS ANGELESAdd Skechers to the list of companies not interested in doing business with Kanye West.

A day after Adidas cut ties with the rapper, West was escorted out of the Skechers headquarters in Manhattan Beach on Oct. 26 after he showed up unannounced with a film crew.

Adidas is one of the many brands and partners that have broken ties with West after he made a series of antisemitic comments online.

A Skechers USA, Inc. corporate office building is pictured in Manhattan Beach, Calif., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Skechers released a statement about the encounter with West which said, Considering Ye was engaged in unauthorized filming, two Skechers executives escorted him and his party from the building after a brief conversation.

Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West, the company said. We condemn his recent divisive remarks and do not tolerate antisemitism or any other form of hate speech.

In a statement released by Adidas, referring to West by Ye, said, 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.

Variety is reporting that Adidas estimates the move to cut ties with West will impact their bottom line by up to $246 million this year.

West and Adidas partnered to create a fashion line called Adidas Yeezy seven years ago. Adidas said in its statement it will stop the Yeezy business with immediate effect. Adidas also added in its statement they are the sole owner of all design rights, which some say is a warning to West to not reproduce the designs with a new manufacturer.

The moves come after West made repeated attacks on the Jewish community in recent weeks.

Hollywood talent agency CAA has dropped West as a client after the rapper made the series of antisemitic comments.

West has made bigoted remarks about Jewish people, resulting in his Twitter and Instagram accounts being suspended. On Saturday, antisemitic demonstrators gathered on a 405 Freeway overpass in Westchester, hanging banners praising West and giving Nazi salutes.

In a comment recently posted on his Twitter account, Westalso known as Yesaid he was going death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE.

Balenciaga, the Gap, and JP Morgan have also ended their relationships with West.

On Thursday, the private school West founded in Simi ValleyDonda Academyabruptly closed its doors for the remainder of the school year.

Kim Kardashian, Wests ex-wife, whom he has been accused of insulting in the wake of their divorce, condemned antisemitism on Oct. 24, in a reference to the rapper and fashion designers comments.

Hate speech is never OK or excusable. I stand together with the Jewish community and call on the terrible violence and hateful rhetoric towards them to come to an immediate end, she wrote on Twitter.

Variety reported that a completed documentary about West will be shelved in light of his comments.
Kentucky Education Leader Not Surprised by Nations Report Card

Kentuckys top education official said he was not surprised by the states results in this years National Assessment of Educational Progress, which were released on Monday.

Billed as the Nations Report Card, the assessment conducted by the U.S. Department of Educations National Center for Educational Statistics found that 43 percent of Kentuckys eighth graders had below basic achievement in mathematics and just 4 percent earned an advanced, or highest, rating.

More than a third, 35 percent, received basic scores, defined as partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work in a grade and subject, and just 17 percent earned proficient scores.

In reading, just 3 percent of eighth graders earned advanced scores, while 32 percent scored at the below-basic level. The report found that 39 percent were rated at basic achievement.

Nationally, 38 percent of eighth graders tested at the below-basic level in math, and 30 percent tested at that level in reading.

The NCES acting associate commissioner for assessment found the results from middle schoolers troubling.

Eighth grade is a pivotal moment in students mathematics education, as they develop key mathematics skills for further learning and potential careers in mathematics and science, Daniel J. 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.

Kentuckys fourth graders performed slightly better in math, with 25 percent scoring below basic, 42 percent at basic, 27 percent at proficient and 6 percent advanced. However, 38 percent tested at the below-basic level for reading.

Like most states, Kentucky saw declines from the 2019 results in 2022 scores for fourth graders and eighth graders in both categories.

In a statement, Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason E. Glass said the scores reflect the profound impact COVID-19 had on students learning. He pointed out that the state received more than $2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding for education, and nearly all of that went directly to schools based on need.

But, he said theres no quick fix for the problem.

Even with these resources, recovering from so much interrupted learning will take time, he said. We must use this data strategically to help inform us of where our students are and provide appropriate supports to keep them moving ahead.

Glass comments echoed ones he made last week after the state released its report card on student achievement.

That assessment found 32 percent of elementary school students achieved novice-level math performance, compared to 10 percent who performed at a distinguished level. At the middle school level, 35 percent were novices, while just 9 percent were distinguished.

By Steve Bittenbender
LA City Council Censures Kevin de Leon, Gil Cedillo Over Role in Scandal

LOS ANGELESAfter another raucous start to its meeting, the Los Angeles City Council voted Oct. 26 to approve a pair of motions to censure Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Gil Cedillo for their roles in the City Hall racism scandal.

The city council voted 120 to approve the motions, which is the first time the council has censured council members since at least 1911, according to the city clerks office.

The council also called for former Council President Nury Martinez to be censured, because the motions were introduced before her resignation from the council. But a representative from the city attorneys office said during a morning meeting of the councils Ad Hoc Censure Committee that it was unclear whether the council can censure a former member.

The committee had approved the censure motions 50, sending them to the full council for its later approval.

After the full council vote, Council President Paul Krekorian said at a briefing that, while some may view the censure motions as just symbolic, it was still important for the council to stand united in calling for the two members to step down.

With this vote, we have literally done every possible action available to the council in demanding the resignation of our two colleagues, Krekorian said. There are no steps remaining for this council to take to demand those resignations.

The last time a motion to censure a council member was brought before the council was in 1977against Councilman Dave Cunningham over comments he made, during a council meeting, about busing. But the motion was not acted on by the council, according to the city clerks office.

Wednesday, the council had to clear the chamber prior to taking up the censure items due to protesters chanting throughout the meeting.

Police issued a dispersal order as council members left the chamber, but a couple dozen protesters stayed, still chanting, even after a police captain issued a warning over the loudspeaker. The protesters left about 30 minutes laterpledging to return on Friday.

It was the second straight day the council conducted business amid loud and persistent protests, though on Tuesday the chambers were not cleared.

The October 2021 conversation between de Leon and fellow councilors Nury Martinez and Cedillo, along with Ron Herrera, president of the LA County Federation of Labor, included racially charged comments and discussions over favorable redistrictingand led to Martinez resigning her council presidency and later her council seat two weeks ago.

De Leon and Cedillo have defied widespread calls for resignation that range from President Joe Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom to nearly all of their council colleagues. Neither de Leon nor Cedillo has attended a meeting since Oct. 11, when they were forced to leave after protesters shouted at them.

Under the City Charter, a seat would be considered vacant if a council member is absent from the city without consent of the Council for more than 60 consecutive days or has ceased to discharge the duties of the office for 90 consecutive days.

Krekorian filed a motion Wednesday asking the city attorney to report back within a week in a closed session with clarification on those two provisions.

Its a challenging question, Krekorian said. I certainly dont want a situation where the majority of a council who disagrees with a council member says, Oh, well, he or she is not performing their duty. So there has to be a clear definition of what that means.

Sophie Li contributed to this report.
South Africa: SMART Skills Centre opens in Saldanha Bay

The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has become the first to make the new vision a reality by unveiling the CHIETA SMART Skills Centre in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape.

The aim of the R3 million centre, which was unveiled on Tuesday, 25 October 2022, is to bridge the digital skills divide and accelerate the development of basic digital skills for a future-fit workplace.

This comes after the Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, articulated a vision for SMART Skills Centres to be established in all parts of the country in 2020.

The SMART Skills Centres were planned to usher in a new era of skills development and training that would be located within rural communities and able to offer digitized training programmes for rural masses, the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) said.

The launch, according to CHIETA, follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, less than a year ago, with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone (SBIDZ) Licensing Company.

The project is the culmination of a partnership between CHIETA, the Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), and the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA).

The CHIETA SMART Skills Centre is but one of nine SMART centres that will be developed across the country by CHIETA, the authority said.

The centres services are free and include access to data and training courses aimed at job seekers, business start-ups and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) that wish to grow their operations.

The centre is fully automated and features equipment, which is in line with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) training requirements.

Nzimande said CHIETA and the Freeport Saldanha IDZ recognised the need to develop digital readiness through technology-enabled learning programmes like virtual and augmented reality, robotics, and the internet of things, among others.

I congratulate CHIETAs visionary leadership for conceiving the idea of such a centre and for locating it with the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone.

He said that the centre would increase the number of sustainable businesses and available talent, ensuring that the Saldanha Bay economy grows.

CHIETA CEO Yershen Pillay has described the CHIETA Smart Skills Centre as a game-changer in skills development and training.

Rural communities will now have access to free data and Wi-Fi services as well as basic digital skills and 4IR-related training thereby ensuring that no one is left behind in the digital skills revolution."

He believes that what makes the centre unique is its accessibility to rural communities and the virtual reality or virtual reality-based training for artisans.

Pillay said the centre will include a digital boardroom for SMMEs and cooperatives to conduct meetings with potential clients.

The centre will also offer skills programmes in the areas of 5G cellular networking, data analytics, technopreneurship, Java programming and cybersecurity.

In addition, CHIETA has committed to enrolling 50 000 learners in digital skills programmes through its centre by March 2025.

This will ensure that people are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in the workplace.

According to NEMISA CEO, Trevor Rammitlwa, there are more than 3 000 online courses on offer, while the organisation will also avail its training facilitators for face-to-face classes.

The centre is an exemplar in the pursuit of excellence in tech education, research and development towards high calibre solutions and the generation of business that find opportunities to drive innovation as part of Saldanha Bays socioeconomic development, said Freeport Saldanha IDZ CEO, Kaashifah Beukes.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
After long periods of poor service in rural Montana, CenturyLink has been given 45 days by Montana utility regulators to come up with a solution.

Rural Montana customers of CenturyLink have gone without service for weeks at a time, according to the Montana Public Service Commission, particularly in Wibaux County, where the corporate descendent of Qwest Corporation also doesnt provide internet speeds fast enough to support video streaming.

Wibaux County officials first asked the PSC to do something about CenturyLink in June 2021, citing failures in 911 services posing a risk to public safety.

Commissioners on Tuesday issued the 45-day period for CenturyLink to produce a service solution to nagging rural customer service issues in the near term while the company address bigger infrastructure problems.

CenturyLink is suggesting that its affected customers receive satellite phone service, which the company indicates it would pay for, for up to two years as CenturyLink addresses the causes of its poor rural service. The company has done the same in Wyoming, where similar problems with rural service have occurred.

CenturyLink tells regulators there arent enough customers in its rural Montana service areas to justify improvements to decades-old infrastructure that it acquired from Qwest and is now antiquated. PSC analysts say the equipment dates back to the 1980s. Officials from Wibaux County say the phone equipment is even older, dating back to Rocky Mountain Bell, a casualty of antitrust litigation against AT&T in 1983.

At the same time, CenturyLink has asked commissioners to waive Montanas out of service rule for telecommunications utilities. The rule requires telecommunication utilities to repair 90% of service issues within 24 hours. Regulators first suggested imposing the rule a year ago, but havent as CenturyLink argues against enforcement.

I think its deplorable in that customers of CenturyLink have not only been without adequate phone service for quite some time, but there is no reflection, as far as Im aware, of any compensation on their bills for lack of service, said Commissioner Tony ODonnell who represents south central and southeast Montana. I think this constitutes an unfair business practice, that people have been charged for something that they havent been getting. Were not talking about an outage, an hour here, an hour there, small things. Were talking, in some of the comments that I have read, for weeks at a time. I think CenturyLink needs to come up with a resolution to this, that they should have suggested a long time ago when they found themselves in this situation.

ODonnells reference to CenturyLink customer complaints offers a rare glimpse into the nature of documents commissioners agreed not to disclose to the public at CenturyLinks request. The company had argued that the complaints were sensitive business information that could be used by its competitors if made public.

However, PSC analysts have sharply summarized CenturyLinks Rural Montana problems for some time. Last December, analyst Gary Duncan explained that CenturyLinks Montana customer base had shrunk significantly in areas where the company had competitors, while rural customers unable to shop around for a better deal were stuck.

What has happened with CenturyLink is that CenturyLink has gone from something like 400,000 subscribers in Montana down to I think 60,000 subscribers, Duncan explained. So, in the major urban areas served by CenturyLink. You know, customers have all sorts of choices. They can get voice over internet protocol service from Spectrum. They can get cellular service. They have multiple choices, and theyve simply left CenturyLink.

What has happened with CenturyLink is there are pockets out there in rural areas served by CenturyLink where customers dont have any choices, such as the case in Wibaux. Those customers dont have cell service. They probably have, if they have broadband at all, its very limited and is provided through CenturyLink, Duncan said. And its my perception from the last service quality case that we did that CenturyLink has basically been very reluctant to spend any money serving those pockets of customers. The two pockets of customers we identified last time was Wibaux. The other one was with Wolf Creek. In both cases, they submitted plans to us to improve service in those areas. And we required reports and supposedly they did fix the service. But I think its obvious, in the case of Wibaux at least, all they did was slap on a Band Aid.

Brad Johnson, the commissioner for Lewis and Clark County and the Flathead Valley, said this week that the future of legacy wireline systems like CenturyLinks is questionable. Federal funding intended to improve telecommunications services in rural areas is focused on broadband, meaning fiber optics.

But the lack of competition in CenturyLinks rural Montana service areas is exactly what Montanas out of service rule was created to address, argues Montana Consumer Counsel Jason Brown.

Attempting to persuade commissioners not to waive the out of service rule, Brown argues CenturyLink could use the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a key 2021 infrastructure bill of President Joe Biden, to make upgrading CenturyLinks equipment in rural Montana more affordable.

CenturyLink could substantially mitigate these costs, however, through federal funding made available by Congress through IIJA, he argued.

Several of the broadband service issues facing CentryLink fit the purpose of the Infrastructure Bill, according to Brown.

The $1.2 trillion bill, dubbed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act included $42.5 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. Those funds were specifically given to states for unserved and underserved areas.

The companys failure to date to invest in a modern network for all Montana customers should not be rewarded with a waiver that allows CentryLink to provide inferior service to certain customers indefinitely, Brown argued in comments aimed at CenturyLinks request for a stay.

However, CenturyLink has been in a prolonged argument with the State of Montana over the laws created by the Legislature concerning federal rural broadband funding. Specifically, legislators require companies produce 20% of the funding for broadband projects receiving federal money. CenturyLink tells the state that there isnt enough revenue in rural areas to even cover the required 20% buy-in.

The same point was made in March by attorney Adam Sherr for Lumen Technologies, CenturyLinks corporate parent. The company was arguing that it be allowed to use 100% federal funding to get fiber to the home, or FTTH to rural Montana customers in sparsely populated areas. Otherwise, the improvements would be too expensive. Sherr spoke directly about service improvements in Wibaux County.

There are only 39 living units in the areas Lumen explored, an area 138 square miles in size, and the total cost of construction would exceed $7 million, for an average cost per living unit of over $180,000, Sherr said in a letter to Chad Rupe, manager of the state Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Program. At 80% funding, there is simply no reasonable way for Lumen to pursue funding, as the payback period would likely exceed 100 years, and that assumes all 39 customers opt for Lumens FTTH offering rather than subscribing to satellite services already available to them.

The federal government has made a substantial amount of funding available to Montana for rural broadband development. The state started accepting applications last February for the first $266 million in federal rural broadband money available. More funding expected to come. As recently as Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced another $759 million in grants to rural areas for broadband development.
Police recruits attend their graduation ceremony at Los Angeles Police Department Headquarters in Los Angeles on July 8, 2016. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

LA Councilman Paul Koretz Transfers $250,000 to LAPD for Overtime Funding

LOS ANGELESCity Councilman Paul Koretz announced Oct. 27 that he was providing $250,000 in overtime funding for the Los Angeles Police Department.

The funds will come from Koretzs office, which said the councilman has provided $750,000 in the police departments overtime funding to date.

Koretz said the funds will help lower crime rates.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz attends a ceremony Proclaiming September 7, 2018 as the official Step Up To Cancer Day in City Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on Aug. 29, 2018. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

We did something similar, particularly on Melrose [Avenue] when we had a spike in crime and we were able to make that area much safer and reduce those [crime] numbers dramatically, Koretz said to KNX.

Koretz announced the funding at a news briefing Thursday at the Los Angeles Police Department Operations West Bureau with Police Chief Michel Moore.

Moore cited a recent survey done by Loyola Marymount University that found three-quarters of Angelenos wanted to see more police patrolling their neighborhoods, but the survey also highlighted mixed reviews on residents attitudes towards the police department.

Currently, the agency is facing a deficit of approximately 800 officers, according to Koretzs office.

Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore speaks to the media about fallen LAPD officer Fernando Arroyos in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 20, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Laith Marouf Says Feds Begged His Group to Take Funding

Former government-funded consultant Laith Marouf, whose groups funding was pulled because of deragotary tweets with comments such as Jewish white supremacists, says Heritage Canada begged his group to take over $130,000 in funding.

Marouf, a senior consultant working for the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) in Montreal, said Minister Pablo Rodriguezs department of Canadian Heritage initially approached CMAC, asking them to apply for federal grants.

Heritage Canada outreached to the Community Media Advocacy Centre, the group that I work for, which is the global authority on this issue, and begged us to apply within four days to receive funding to create a series of conferences across the country that bring together racialized and Indigenous broadcasters, media producers, academics, to discuss a strategy for anti-racism in the media, Marouf told an American podcaster on Oct. 23, according to Blacklocks Reporter.

We were shocked because there were no funding packages open for us to apply to, said Marouf. We applied anyway and we got the money very fast. We did all this work.

In total, CMAC received over $133,822 in funding from Heritage Canada, which was pulled on Aug. 22 shortly after past Twitter posts by Marouf were found in which he referred to Jewish people using derogatory terms such as bags of human feces, aka the Jewish White Supremacists.

Rodriguez condemned Maroufs tweets on Sept.1.

Racism in any form has no place in Canada. I condemn the disgusting antisemitic comments made by Laith Marouf, Rodriguez told the Canadian Press. I have no tolerance for this.

Rodriguez also said the CMAC should never have received a cent of taxpayer dollars.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Aug. 31 that it is absolutely unacceptable that federal dollars have gone to this organization that has demonstrated xenophobia, racism and antisemitism.

Racist Discourses

Before the Twitter posts surfaced, Marouf and CMAC hosted a workshop in Vancouver on May 14 to speak about racist discourses and white supremacy in the Canadian media.

At the workshop, a former policy analyst for the Canadian Heritage Department, Karim Karim, praised CMAC for its progressive and forward-thinking activism and said that Canadian media upholds white supremacy, genocide, and colonialism.

Marouf hosted the event, which he opened by calling the Israeli Defence Force Zionist occupation forces and said Israel is a Zionist apartheid regime.

Referring to his controversial Twitter posts, Marouf told the American podcaster on Oct. 23 that Heritage Canada went into a frenzy to attack my tweets.

They were calling me names, all these MPs, the Minister of Heritage, defaming me, misrepresenting me, libeling me, he said, according to Blacklocks.

Now Heritage Canada broke the contract and is asking for all the money back from the Community Media Advocacy Centre.

Marouf added that CMAC had already spent half of the money by the time Heritage Canada pulled its funding.

As this debacle shows, the media across Canada are Jewish white supremacists or supporters of Jewish white supremacy, he said.

Heritage Canada has yet to name which of the departments staff was responsible for approving CMACs funding.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Twenty-one 'non-woke' trustees were elected to public school boards across Ontario during the province's municipal elections on Oct. 24. (Geoff Robins/AFP via Getty Images)

Large-Scale Pushback: 21 Non-Woke Trustees Elected in Ontario Public School System

Twenty-one non-woke trustees were elected to public school boards across Ontario during the provinces municipal elections on Oct. 24, says the founder of the website VoteAgainstWoke.ca.

A movement has started, said the anonymous founderwho goes by the pseudonym Matt to protect his identityin an email to The Epoch Times.

This is the first time in Canada weve seen a large-scale pushback against the woke.

Matt started VoteAgainstWoke in late September to help voters understand which trustee candidates advocated for parental choice in schools and were against expanding curriculum items like gender theory and critical race theory.

Twenty-four Catholic school board trustees that VoteAgainstWoke endorsed were also elected.

Teresa Pierre, founder and president of the Ontario advocacy group Parents As First Educators (PAFE), said the number of elected trustees that PAFE endorsed was even higher than those endorsed by VoteAgainstWoke.

Were very pleased with the outcomes that we saw, Pierre told The Epoch Times in an interview. There are boards that havent had pro-parental-rights candidates in them before that now do.

Tipping Point

PAFE doesnt publicize its list of endorsed candidates, but Pierre said they saw a marked difference in results this year compared to the last municipal election.

Things have just reached a tipping point in the board with respect to parents being frustrated with the woke ideologies and gender ideology that theyre finding in the schools, she said.

The case of the teacher in Halton was probably a motivator for this election cycle as well, said Pierre, referring to the high school teacher in the Halton District School Board (HDSB) who made international headlines in September after being videotaped wearing large prosthetic breasts with protruding nipples in class.

Margo Shuttleworth, who was re-elected chair of the HDSB this week, previously said the school board supported the teachers actions as prescribed by the Ontario Charter of Human Rights.

Newly-elected HDSB trustee Xin Yi Zhang addressed the teachers actions in an email to The Epoch Times, saying the school board should implement a dress code for teachers.

Students are the clients of the school, Zhang wrote. The decision should be made by the parents who have children in the school.

The 2021-2022 student dress code at Oakville Trafalgar High School, where the teacher works, states that students cannot wear clothes that exposes or makes visible genitals and nipples. The dress code does not designate clothing regulations for staff and faculty.

This issue should be resolved by the current board members, Zhang said.

Within the Halton District, three candidates endorsed by VoteAgainstWoke, including Zhang, were elected to the trustee board. Shuttleworth retained her seat.

Waterloo Board

Three Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) trustee candidates endorsed by VoteAgainstWoke were also elected or re-elected on Oct. 24.

WRDSB trustee Mike Ramsay, who is currently involved in a lawsuit against the boards chair Scott Piatkowski, was re-elected. Ramsay was suspended from attending board meetings from June to September following allegations that he broke the trustee code of conduct.

Ramsay released documents in a Twitter post on Oct. 2 that he said showed his suspension was related to his public criticism of the board and Piatkowski, who was also re-elected this week.

Ramsay had criticized Piatkowski on social media after a teacher in the WRDSB was ejected from a school trustee board meeting after voicing concerns about the age-appropriateness of sexual content in certain books in the districts school libraries.

Waterloo Region District School Board trustee Mike Ramsay. (Handout)

Teacher Carolyn Burjoski was cut short in the middle of her presentation on Jan. 17 by Piatkowski, who said he was concerned that her comments violated the Ontario Human Rights Code.

At the following board meeting on Jan. 24, trustee Mike Ramsay called on Piatkowski to apologize for his actions against Burjoski, but the chairman refused. Several months later, the board voted to suspend Ramsay.

Bill Cody, a newly-elected WRDSB trustee, said he believes the board has become disconnected from the parents.

We cannot ignore how the accumulated problems within a dysfunctional board affect our kids, Cody wrote to The Epoch Times.

He said schools need to end all age-inappropriate curriculum and policies, as well as their politicized and divisive responses.

Differing opinions can strengthen decision-making, and can expand possibilities, he said. If done respectfully, opinions should be able to be shared, without fear of repercussions, intimidation, or being labeled.

It is our kids who suffer the consequences when political agendas turn our schools into battlefields.

Jared Gnam contributed to this report.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) speaks to supporters at an election night event during the Wyoming primary election at Mead Ranch in Jackson, Wyo., on Aug. 16, 2022. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Liz Cheney Endorses Democrat in Contested House Race

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) on Oct. 27 endorsed Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Cheneys first endorsement of a Democrat.

Cheney has been anathema among Republicans during the 117th Congress for her role on the Jan. 6 Committee, which other Republicans have described as little more than a partisan witch hunt directed against former President Donald Trump and his allies.

Im proud to endorse Elissa Slotkin. Serving together on the Armed Services Committee, I have come to know Elissa as a good and honorable public servant who works hard for the people she represents, wants whats best for the country, and is in this for the right reasons, said Cheney.

She added, While Elissa and I have our policy disagreements, at a time when our nation is facing threats at home and abroad, we need serious, responsible, substantive members like Elissa in Congress. I encourage all voters in the 7th districtRepublicans, Democrats, and Independentsto support her in this election.

At a moment when the very heart of our democracy is being challenged, Rep. Cheneys voice has been critical, Slotkin said in a campaign statement announcing the endorsement (pdf).

Im grateful for her support in this race and Im proud of the work weve done together to strengthen our national security and Americas role in the world, Slotkin added. We all know that our country is going through a dicult moment right now. But throughout our history, two things have helped us weather times like these: engaged citizens and principled leaders, from both sides of the aisle.

Rep. Cheney has shown tremendous leadership over the last two years, and while we certainly dont agree on every issue, I look forward to welcoming her to Michigans 7th district next week to discuss the points where all Americans can leave politics aside and put our country above all else.

Slotkin is running against Republican Tom Barrett, and the race is one of the most closely watched of the cycle as Republicans seek to take back the House after four years in the minority.

Cheney and Slotkin are united in their view of the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally, which Democrats have portrayed as the culmination of a months-long conspiracy orchestrated by Trump and his allies. During the effort to establish the committee in 2021, Slotkin described Trump as clearly unfit for public office.

With her endorsement of Slotkin, Cheney has joined Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), the only other Republican on the Jan. 6 Committee, in breaking with her party and endorsing a Democrat.

On Oct. 11, Kinzinger unveiled a list of endorsements that included endorsements of Democrats for many state-level offices, comprising several secretaries of statetop officials for elections.

Early on in the 117th Congress, Kinzinger announced that he would not seek reelection. Cheney, for her part, mounted a bid to receive her partys nomination for Wyomings only House seat, but was defeated in the primary by Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman.

Both Cheney and Kinzinger in February were censured by the Republican National Committee for their roles on the Jan. 6 panel, cutting them off from central party funds and support.

Slotkin and Cheney Are Establishment War Hawks: Barrett

In an email to the Epoch Times, Barrett wrote off Cheney and Slotkin as establishment war hawks.

My entire adult life has been committed to service in the Army, and sadly Ive lost too many friends in Americas endless wars, Barrett said. Now, establishment war hawks like Liz Cheney and Elissa Slotkin are standing together because I oppose their senseless thirst for more foreign entanglements.

Rep. Slotkin has already said she would commit U.S. soldiers to combat with China so its no surprise the Cheney family would join her. Slotkin can keep Cheney while I work to keep America out of war, he added.

For years, the Cheney family has been a target for more non-interventionist wings of the GOP, who blame Cheneys father for the U.S. involvement in controversial wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While vice president under President George W. Bush, Dick Cheney was a key architect of the administrations foreign policy.
Lucki Was Ready to Go to Trudeau Over Ottawa Police Handling of Freedom Convoy

Brenda Lucki not only lost confidence in the leadership of former Ottawa police chief Peter Sloly over the Freedom Convoy protests, the RCMP commissioner was so concerned she was prepared to go directly to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a public inquiry learned Thursday.

Luckis comments were released in the form of notes taken during a Feb. 15 meeting between her and several high-ranking Ontario Provincial Police officers.

Its unclear what time the meeting took place, but Feb. 15 was also the day Sloly resigned, and one day after the Liberal government invoked the Emergencies Act, which brought in temporary and extraordinary powers aimed at restoring order.

Hundreds of protesters had blockaded the streets around Parliament Hill with their vehicles for three weeks at that point, calling for an end to COVID-19 mandates, and in some cases, an end to the Trudeau government.

The Emergencies Act is meant to be used when an urgent, critical and temporary situation threatens the lives, health or safety of Canadians, the provinces are thought to lack the capacity or authority to handle the situation and the crisis cannot be handled effectively with existing laws.

The Public Order Emergency Commission is tasked with determining whether the government was justified in triggering the never-before-used legislation. It is holding public hearings in Ottawa until Nov. 25.

On Thursday, the commission was given some insight into Luckis private feelings about the protests, and her assessment of the Ottawa polices ability to handle the blockades.

Notes taken at the Feb. 15 meeting show Lucki wanted the OPP to take over from Ottawa police.

The documents say Lucki commented that the police needed a communications strategy and rules of engagement for enforcing a law prohibiting people from joining the blockades. Reputation of policing at stake here, she said, according to the notes.

The document says OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique, who testified at the inquiry Thursday, told Lucki during the Feb. 15 meeting they needed to speak with Sloly, on what is not working and expectations as well as the operational objectives.

Lucki responded by saying she does not trust his leadership anymore  or that this will get done.

She added that she will personally go to the PM if I need to, to have this changed, telling Carrique he had the RCMPs full support to take over.

Weve told Peter that he needs to succeed, as his failure empowers the protesters, Lucki said.

Sloly resigned amid widespread criticism over the police services handling of the protests. He is expected to testify on Friday, and Lucki is also expected to be a witness in the coming weeks.

The commission heard earlier Thursday that on Feb. 5, Lucki told Carrique the federal cabinet was already highly concerned, according to text messages between the two that were also entered into evidence.

That was a week after the protest around Parliament Hill officially began on Jan. 29.

Between you and I only, (Government of Canada) is losing (or) lost confidence in OPS  we gotta get to safe action (or) enforcement, Lucki texted. Cause if they go the Emergency Measures Act, you or (I) may be brought into lead  not something I want.

Lucki then said she was on a call with cabinet ministers, whom she did not name.

Trying to calm them down, she wrote. Not easy when they see cranes, structures, horses, bouncing castles in downtown Ottawa. Any suggestion for calming them?

On Thursday afternoon, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino was asked outside the House of Commons whether he lost confidence in the Ottawa police back in February. He did not say yes or no, instead commenting that the government supported police as much as it could during the illegal occupation.

On Wednesday it was revealed at the inquiry that Lucki emailed Mendicinos office just hours before the Emergencies Act was invoked, saying she did not believe police had exhausted all existing options under the Criminal Code and a provincial state of emergency to end the blockade.

Carrique, when asked what he thought of the email, said I would agree with that sentiment.

By Stephanie Taylor and David Fraser
Robert Solis appears before Judge Chris Morton at the Harris County Criminal Courthouse in Houston on Sept. 30, 2019. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)

Man Sentenced to Death for Killing Texas Deputy

HOUSTONA man was sentenced to death Wednesday for the fatal 2019 shooting of a law enforcement officer in Texas.

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 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 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 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.
Nicholas Rodean, wearing a red hat, and Jacob Chansley inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Man Who Breached Capitol on Jan. 6 Avoids Jail Time Due to Condition

A man who was convicted of breaching the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been sentenced to no jail time.

Nicholas Rodean, 29, on Oct. 26 received 60 months of probation and 240 hours of home detention during a sentencing hearing in Washington.

Prosecutors had requested 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release, arguing Rodeans actions on Jan. 6, including smashing windowpanes and following a U.S. Capitol Police Officer once inside the Capitol, should bring a sentence that reflects the gravity of Rodeans conduct.

An attorney for Rodean said Rodean should serve any sentence at home because of the mans history and characteristics. Those details were redacted in the sentencing memorandum, but were revealed during the hearing to include a diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome.

I believe your Aspergers Syndrome is significant to what you did and mitigates blame, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, said during the hearing, the Frederick News-Post reported.

Aspergers is an autism spectrum disorder that can impair language and communication skills, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Spending time in jail would be hard for a person with Aspergers, the judge said, adding that he learned that Rodean was easily influenced by others, prompting him to join the crowd that entered the Capitol.

The sentence was handed down after prosecutors revised their request from 57 months to 21 months but did not detail why.

Rodean, a Maryland resident, apologized during the hearing.

I was just following everyone else in the Capitol, he said.

Charles Burnham, representing Rodean, declined to comment.

Rodean was convicted of seven counts, including obstruction of an official proceeding, destruction of government property, and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

Congress was in the midst of holding discussions over Electoral College slates when they halted the proceedings due to the Capitol being breached.

Video footage and photographs showed Rodean, wearing a Donald Trump hat and holding a Trump flag, inside the building near Jacob Chansley, a man with no shirt and wearing horns. Chansley later pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and was sentenced to 41 months in prison.

Rodean broke two windowpanes near the Capitols Senate Wing, according to prosecutors, and pursued Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman up two flights of stairs.

Rodean was among those facing off with officers in a corridor for more than 30 minutes, at one point taking out a hatchet. Rodean put away the weapon per a request from officers and also allowed them to search one of his bags.

He said he was at the Capitol to stop the steal, a reference to allegations that the 2020 election was stolen.

Rodean eventually left the building. He was not accused of being violent.

FBI agents received screenshots from social media and statements from acquaintances leading them to Rodean, who turned himself in to authorities.
People walk as Israeli navy boats are seen in the Mediterranean Sea as seen from Rosh Hanikra, close to the Lebanese border, in Israel, on May 4, 2021. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

Israel and Lebanon Finalize Maritime Border Agreement

HAIFA, IsraelIsrael and Lebanon signed a maritime agreement on Oct. 27 that settles a sea border between the two states, which dont have diplomatic relations and have been officially in a state of war for decades.

The deal, which has the potential to unlock additional natural gas production in the Mediterranean at a time of global energy flow disruptions, had been finalized on Oct. 11, according to Israeli and Lebanese officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Lebanese President Michel Aoun both hailed the U.S.-mediated agreement.

Lapid said in a statement that the deal is a historic achievement that will strengthen Israeli security, will bring billions to Israels economy, and ensure stability on the northern border, while Aoun wrote on Twitter on Oct. 13 that it is a historic achievement because we were able to recover an area of 860 square kilometers that was the subject of a dispute.

Aoun approved the deal in a letter signed in Baada, Lebanon, followed by Lapids signature on a separate copy in Jerusalem. A handover ceremony of less-senior officials took place at a United Nations peacekeeping base in Naqoura, Lebanon, along the border.

Gas Production Began the Day Before

Energean, a London-based energy exploration and production company, said it had started gas production on Oct. 26 at the offshore Karish gas field, located near the border between Israel and Lebanon.

The agreement places the Karish field inside Israeli territory, while providing Lebanon with full rights to develop the Qana or Sidon reservoirs nearby.

We have achieved first #gas at #Karish. The gas will flow through our unique FPSO to deliver #energy market competition, #sustainabledevelopment & #energysecurity for the region & beyond, Energean wrote on Twitter on Oct. 26.

Both Countries at the Same Time Producing Gas

What more can secure stability on this border than having both countries at the same time producing gas, Elias Bou Saab, the deputy speaker of the Lebanese Parliament who was Lebanons top negotiator, told CNN on Oct. 11.

Amos Hochstein, the U.S. envoy who mediated the negotiation, told reporters he expects the agreement to hold even amid leadership changes in both countries. He referred to the Nov. 1 elections in Israel and the end of Aouns term on Oct. 31, saying the accord should be kept up regardless of who is elected very soon as next president of Lebanon.

Hours ahead of the signing, Lapid wrote on Twitter: This is a political achievementit is not every day that an enemy state recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in front of the entire international community.

Benjamin Netanyahu, a former Israeli prime minister and now leader of the opposition, said earlier this month that Lapid shamefully surrendered to Hezbollah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallahs threats and that the agreement isnt binding to him if hes elected prime minister.

The mission is over. What happened regarding the marking of the maritime border from the beginning to the end and the results is a very big victory for Lebanon, Nasrallah reportedly stated on Oct. 27, according to a tweet by Roi Kais, Arab affairs correspondent for Israeli state-owned television channel Kan 11.

Aoun said the deal was purely technical and would have no political dimensions or impacts that contradict Lebanons foreign policy.

Lebanon doesnt recognize Israels right to exist and still considers itself at war with its neighbor, with laws barring contact with Israeli officials.

Tom Ozimek and Reuters contributed to this report.
The Mercedes-Benz logo at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sept. 10, 2019. (Ralph Orlowski/Reuters)

Mercedes-Benz to Sell Shares in Russian Subsidiaries to Local Investor, as Foreign Automakers Pull Out

Mercedes-Benz announced that it was pulling out of Russia and would sell all of its shares in its local subsidiaries to a little known Russian investor.

The German automaker is the latest foreign car manufacturer to abandon the Russian market, after it suspended its local operations in early March, after the invasion of Ukraine.

It was revealed by Forbes that the local investor was Avtodom, a Russian car dealership chain.

No financial details of the Oct. 26 transaction were provided by either side, or any future plans for the brand.

The Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade later mentioned the transaction in a Telegram statement.

Mercedes-Benz intends to sell its shares in Russian subsidiaries to a local investor, Avtodom, the ministry said.

The German auto maker confirmed in a separate statement, that it would hand over its local shares to the Russian car dealer, reported AFP.

The completion of the transaction is subject to the approval of all relevant authorities, Mercedes-Benz said in the statement.

Mercedes 15 percent stake in Russian truckmaker Kamaz would not be affected by the latest move and the deal to transfer its shares to Daimler Truck is expected as planned, a company spokesperson said.

The main priorities in agreeing to the terms of the transaction were to maximize the fulfilment of obligations to clients from Russia, both in terms of after-sales services and financial services, as well as preserving jobs of employees at the Russian divisions of the company, said Natalia Koroleva, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Rus, in a press statement.

Goodbye Moscow

Mercedes-Benzs CFO Harald Wilhelm, told investors at a presentation that the companys withdrawal will not have any repercussions regarding the firms future finances, other than the losses already suffered in Russia during the second and third quarters.

Final completion of the transaction is subject to the authoritys approval and the implementation of contractually agreed conditions, Wilhelm said.

The Association of European Businesses reported that only 9,558 Mercedes-Benz cars were sold in Russia from January to September, a drop of 72.8 percent from 2021.

The Russian government said that the new owner of the Russian divisions of Mercedes-Benz, Avtodom, will be able to attract other companies as partners for joint productions.

Avtodom said it would find a local partner to restart operations at the Esipovo industrial estate northwest of Moscow, where Mercedes-Benz had its production plant.

The sanctions on Russia by many leaders in the international community have severely disrupted supply chains worldwide, with a big impact on the tech and car manufacturing sectors.

Most Western auto companies left Russia due intense political and logistical pressures when the war in Ukraine started in late February.

Mercedes-Benz has already suspended the export of passenger cars and vans to Russia as well as the local manufacturing in Russia at the beginning of the year, a spokesperson for the German auto maker told CBS News.

Foreign Automakers Flee Conflict, Sanctions

Mercedes-Benzs confirmation came the same day that Ford Motor Company completed its exit from Russia.

Ford gave a press release, saying that it had sold its remaining Russian ventures and that it [followed] the full suspension of all operations in Russia, including manufacturing, supply of parts, IT, and engineering support, in March this year.

The American automaker sold its 49 percent share in the Sollers Ford Joint Venture, which will be transferred to its Russian partners for a nominal value.

The deal allows Ford to retain the option to repurchase them within five years should the global situation change, the company said in its statement.

Japanese car company Toyota announced its departure from Russia back in September.

Its fellow Japanese rival, Nissan, also left Russia earlier this month with a $687 million loss, after handing over its stake in AvtoVAZ to a state owned company for a single euro, according to a company statement.

Renault, which was another shareholder in AvtoVAZ, sold its majority stake for a similar amount at only one ruble.

Mazda is looking to pull out as well and Volkswagen is still actively looking for a local buyer to acquire its Kaluga factory, even though the production plant has been shuttered since the start of the war.

South Koreas Kia is still deciding whether to keep its St Petersburg plant in operation, which is run by Hyundai Motors Russian subsidiary.

Both Nissan and Renault retain six-year buyback clauses, similar to that of Ford.

It is unknown if Mercedes-Benz has a similar clause in its deal, but there have been rumors in the Russia media that it contains one as well.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The Facebook logo is seen on a smart phone held in front of the company's new name and logo, Meta, in this illustration photo taken on Oct. 28, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Meta Fined $24.7 Million for Violating Washington States Campaign Finance Transparency Law

Tech giant Meta Platforms Inc. has been fined $24.6 million for violating Washington states campaign finance transparency laws in a victory for state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who had asked that the judge impose the maximum penalty.

Judge Douglass North of King County Superior Court ruled on Wednesday that Meta, the parent company of Facebook, intentionally violated Washington law 822 times between 2019 and 2021, according to court documents (pdf).

The judge ruled that Meta failed to display for public inspection all of the information required under the states commercial advertiser law.

Because the violations were deemed intentional, they each carried a maximum fine of $30,000. In total, the company owned by Mark Zuckerberg was ordered to pay $24.7 million.

The judge also ordered that Meta reimburse the attorney generals costs and fees and ordered that those fees be tripled as punitive damages for Metas intentional violations of state law.

Those fees will be determined at a later date, although the attorney generals office is requesting $10.5 million. Additionally, the judge ruled that Meta must pay 12 percent interest per year on the total judgment, beginning from the date that the payments are due.

Ferguson said in a statement on Oct. 26 that the multimillion dollar fine represents the largest campaign finance penalty anywhere in the country.

I have one word for Facebooks conduct in this casearrogance, Ferguson stated. It intentionally disregarded Washingtons election transparency laws. But that wasnt enough. Facebook argued in court that those laws should be declared unconstitutional. Thats breathtaking. Wheres the corporate responsibility? I urge Facebook to come to its senses, accept responsibility, apologize for its conduct, and comply with the law. If Facebook refuses to do this, we will beat them again in court.

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson speaks at a news conference in Seattle about the states response to President Donald Trumps revised travel ban on March 9, 2017. (Elaine Thompson/AP Photo)

Meta Attempts to Strike Down Law

According to the attorney general, the law that Meta violated requires campaign advertisers, including entities such as Meta that host political ads, to make information about Washington political ads that run on their platforms available for public inspection in a timely manner.

As well as being ordered to pay the hefty fine, Meta was also ordered to come into full compliance with the states election transparency laws for all political advertising within the next 30 days.

The company must also file a sworn certificate within that same time period stating that it has come into full compliance with the judges injunction.

Ferguson has sued Meta twice for its failure to produce campaign advertising records. The first time he did so was in 2018 for a total of $238,000, at which point Meta agreed to be transparent in campaign finance and political advertising.

However, according to Ferguson, the tech giant failed to make good on its commitment and continued to run political ads in the state without maintaining the required information, prompting the attorney general to file another lawsuit in 2020.

In that lawsuit, the state asserted that Meta violated the campaign finance transparency law, which has been in place since 1972, repeatedly since December 2018, and committed hundreds of violations.

Meta filed a motion earlier this year asking that the court strike down key provisions in the transparency law, prompting the state attorney generals office to file a responding motion requesting that the court deny Metas attempt to do so. North denied Metas motion in September and granted Fergusons request for summary judgment, resolving the case without a trial.

The Epoch Times has contacted a Meta spokesperson for comment.
A Billings woman was sentenced last week to pay back more than $200,000 in funds she embezzled while working at a local business.

Vicky Hendricks McHenry, 60, pocketed about $230,000 over a period of six years. Along with having to pay restitution, Yellowstone County District Judge Michael G. Moses ordered McHenry to five years of probation at her sentencing Oct. 18.

The owner of Northwest Glass, which specializes in fabricating and distributing glass for buildings and cars, contacted Billings Police Department in March 2014, according to court documents. He told police he suspected his former bookkeeper, McHenry, was stealing from his business when he became aware of inconsistencies in his sales numbers.

The owners accountant reviewed financial records between 2010 and 2013, court documents said, and noted that $1,000 to $2,000 were missing during certain months. McHenry resigned from her job at Northwest Glass in February 2014, about a month before its owner reached out to police.

A Billings detective was assigned to investigate the embezzlement accusation. The amount of data and records to review, combined with the detectives caseload, stalled his investigation for several years, according to court documents. Northwest Glass launched its own internal audit in April 2018, with its owner asking the detective to reactivate the investigation.

The audit revealed McHenry took cash deposits from customers, court documents said, then altered the companys financial ledgers to take some of the cash for herself. She also rewrote deposit slips from Northwest Glasss store managers to lesser amounts, taking home the difference. The audit, which cost the business nearly $6,000, concluded that McHenry embezzled $229,153.09 throughout her time as bookkeeper for Northwest Glass.

Yellowstone County prosecutors initially charged McHenry with one count of embezzlement in February 2019. She was arraigned five months later, and pleaded not guilty to the charge. In August of this year, she reached a plea agreement with prosecutors, admitting to an amended two counts of theft by embezzlement.

White collar crimes in Billings, such as forgery, deceptive practices and identity theft, spiked in 2019, according to data from BPDs annual report. Crimes related to fraud went from around 450 cases in 2018 to just over 1,100 the next year. Fraud offenses consistently dropped over the next two years, going from 926 in 2020 to 635 in 2021.

Earlier this year, a licensed social worker admitted to Medicaid fraud and identity theft. Kyla Harper, admitted in September to using her practice to collect nearly $134,000 in fraudulent Medicaid funds. The Montana Attorney Generals Office prosecuted the case, and Harper has yet to be sentenced.

At McHenrys sentencing Oct. 18, Judge Moses ordered her to pay $240,086.23 in restitution.
A car passes Facebook's new Meta logo on a sign at the company headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2021. (Tony Avelar/AP Photo)

Metas Arrogance Results in Washington Court Fining Company Nearly $25 Million for Disclosure Violations

A Washington state court fined Meta $24.66 million for intentionally violating campaign finance disclosure lawthe largest-ever such penalty in U.S. historywhich was imposed on the company for repeatedly violating state law.

The parent company of social media behemoth Facebook was fined the maximum allowed under the Fair Campaign Practices Act for 822 violations. Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson argued that the fine amount was appropriate, especially because his office previously sued Facebook in 2018 for violating the same law.

The act requires media companies to disclose names and addresses of those who buy political ads, ad targets, how the ads were paid for, and the total number of ad views, to anyone who seeks it. Traditional platforms like television and newspapers have been following the law, passed by voters in 1972, but Meta had repeatedly objected to the requirements.

Meta, in a summary judgment, claimed the law is unconstitutional, and that it unduly burdens political speech and is virtually impossible to fully comply with. Violators of the law typically are charged $10,000, with the fine amount tripled when the violations are judged to be intentional.

I have one word for Facebooks conduct in this case: arrogance, Ferguson said in a news release. It intentionally disregarded Washingtons election transparency laws. But that wasnt enough. Facebook argued in court that those laws should be declared unconstitutional. Thats breathtaking. Wheres the corporate responsibility?

The Epoch Times has reached out to Meta.

Suing Meta and Judges Final Verdict

The attorney generals office first sued Meta in 2018, following which the California-based tech company agreed to pay $238,000 in fines while committing to uphold transparency in campaign finance and political advertising.

Meta, then Facebook, went on to announce that the company will not be taking ads in Washington. Starting Dec. 28, Facebook will not accept ads that relate to Washingtons state or local elected officials, candidates, elections, or ballot initiatives while we look to address these new disclosure requirements, said the company.

But the company continued to take on political ads without the following disclosure laws, which prompted Ferguson to sue again in 2020.

Meta was aware that its ban would not and did not ban all Washington political advertisements from appearing on its platforms, King County Superior Court Judge Douglass North said in his ruling (pdf).

North said that Meta has never fully complied, and continued intentionally violating the law from the instant the judgment in the first case was entered.

The judge said that the company, with 3.64 billion users worldwide and $117 billion in annual revenue, was the largest social media company in the world, and nearly 97.5 percent of its revenues, $115 billion, came from digital advertising.

North emphasized that Metas lack of good faith efforts to comply and lack of demonstrated desire to acknowledge and take responsibility for its violations  including the brazenness of its behavior, supports the maximum penalty.

Meta, due to its size and impact, is at the center of much discussion and controversy around election integrity and transparency. In an effort to deflect such controversy, Meta publicly touts the importance of transparency, but then chooses for business and profit reasons to violate the very laws that serve those purposes in Washington State, said the ruling.

The court imposed the maximum penalty of $10,000 for each violation, amounting to $8,220,000 for 822 violations, which tripled, to a total civil penalty of $24,660,000.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, on June 28, 2022. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Minister Resigns Over Gender Reform Bill That Allows Self-ID: My Conscience Will Not Allow Me

Community safety minister Ash Regan has quit hours before legislation that would allow people in Scotland to legally change gender by making a statutory declaration was due to go to a vote.

The Scottish National Party frontbencher has said her conscience would not allow her to vote with the Scottish Government and back the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill at stage one on Thursday.

The Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill will allow individuals to change their sex by simply making a statutory declaration.

The age people can apply to the gender recognition process will be reduced from 18 to 16. Furthermore, the time period applicants need to live in the acquired gender will be reduced from two years to three months, with the requirement for a medical diagnosis and evidence removed.

There will be no requirement under the Bill for an applicant to undergo surgery or hormone therapy and itll also simplify the process to change sex on birth certificates.

Resign My Position

The Scotsman reported that the Bill is all but guaranteed to pass as the vast majority of the SNP, most of the Scottish Labour party, and all of the Scottish Green and Scottish Liberal Democrats MSPs back the legislation. The Scottish Conservatives have been given a free vote, with most expected to oppose.

In a letter to the First Minister, Regan said: I have considered the issue of gender recognition reform very carefully over some time.

I have concluded that my conscience will not allow me to vote with the Government at the stage one of the Bill this afternoon, she said.

Consequently, I am writing to resign my position in the Scottish Government as minister for community safety, added Regan.

Senior SNP politicians such as MP Joanna Cherry, womens groups, and Harry Potter author JK Rowling have opposed the Bill citing grave concerns around sex-based rights.

Rowling supported a protest rally by wearing a T-shirt calling Scotlands first minister a destroyer of womens rights.

Sturgeon responded by saying at no stage have you approached me to raise your concerns about the Bill.

Responding to Regans resignation, the First Minister said: As you are aware, a key requirement of the ministerial code is collective responsibilitya principle essential to effective governance, and which applies across all matters of government policy irrespective of the issue.

I note that at no stage have you approached meor indeed the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justiceto raise your concerns about the Gender Recognition Reform Bill or the vote this evening.

However, in circumstances in which a minister is unable to support the Government, it is the case that the only options available are resignation ahead of the vote or dismissal thereafter, said Sturgeon.

PA media contributed to this report.
Two soldiers fold the national flag during the daily flag ceremony on the Liberty Square of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

Nearly Half of Australians Support Sending Troops to Defend Taiwan: Poll

A new poll shows that almost one in two Australians support Australia sending troops to help defend Taiwan in the event of an invasion by Beijing.

This is a much higher percentage of the population than in Japan and the United States, where about one in three respondents supported sending local troops, according to an online poll by YouGov commissioned by the U.S. Studies Centre, University of Sydney.

The YouGov survey, conducted between Sept. 5-9, asked a sample of 1,068 Australians: If China attacks Taiwan, how much do you agree or disagree with Australia responding in the following ways?

Nearly half of the respondents (46 percent) said they agreed or strongly agreed that Australia should send military forces to help the United States defend Taiwan, with 18 percent strongly agreeing.

In the same question, 25 percent of respondents opposed, including nine percent who strongly disagreed. The rest did not commit to either position.

Australia, Guam and Japan, which are forming a military stronghold against Beijings maritime ambition to reach the Pacific Ocean, taken on Sept. 23, 2021. (Screenshot via Google maps)

In the survey conducted in Japan, 35 percent of the 1,015 respondents agreed or strongly agreed with sending Japanese troops to help the United States defend Taiwan, while another 29 percent opposed or strongly opposed it.

As for the United States, 33 percent of the 1,066 respondents supported or strongly supported sending U.S. troops to help defend Taiwan, while 31 percent opposed or strongly opposed.

Respondents from all three countries generally support economically isolating China through sanctions if the CCP were to invade Taiwan, as the Wests response to Russias invasion of Ukraine. Sixty-one percent of Australian respondents were also in favour of such a measure.

More than half of the Australian respondents (53 percent) supported supplying weapons to Taiwan. However, 38 percent of the respondents thought that Australia should not get involved at all.

Xi May Invade Taiwan to Shift Blame

The poll comes at a time after Chinese leader Xi Jinping said at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that the regime would never renounce the use of force to achieve unification of Taiwan, a self-ruled democracy which the communist regime has long regarded as a renegade province.

We will never promise to renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all measures necessary, Xi, who has successfully claimed a record-breaking third five-year term in office, told over 2,000 hand-picked CCP delegates in Beijing at the opening of Congress.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists at The Great Hall of People in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

The communist leader may launch an invasion of Taiwan after the Congress to shift blame for the regimes economic turmoil, according to China economic analyst Antonio Graceffo.

He [Xi] cant actually do anything about the economy. The economys in such a bad state, theres no way he can fix it. He cant end COVID, so Im very concerned that the only thing he can really do after the Congress is invade Taiwan, Graceffo said in an interview with China in Focus on NTD News, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, on Oct. 21.

All they have to do is make a war, and then they can blame every problem on the war. Then its not Xi Jinpings fault that they would have an economic crisis; it would be the fault of that war.

In response to the situation, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida signed a joint security pact (pdf) in Perth on Oct. 22 to consult on contingencies that threaten their national security interests amid growing concerns over ChinaTaiwan tensions.

Japan regards Australia as a special strategic partner that forms the core within the cooperation by the like-minded countries of Japan, Australia, India, and the United States, Kishida said in a statement a day before the meeting.

Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) shakes hands with Japans Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their meeting in Tokyo on Sept. 27, 2022, (Japan Pool Via Jiji Press/Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images)

Reasons for Australias Awakening: Taiwanese Expert

The YouGov survey is not the first one that shows Australians concern over Beijings move into the Pacific.

Research by the Australian Institutes International & Security Affairs in August found that nearly half of Australians believe the CCP will launch a military attack on Australia. Nearly one in 10 Australians think China will attack Australia soon, while just one in 20 Taiwanese think that China will attack Taiwan soon.

Dr. David Yeau-Tarn Lee, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies of National Chengchi University in Taiwan, believes that there are two main reasons for the Australian peoples awakening to Beijings threat.

The first is that Australia has been subject to stronger economic sanctions by Beijing since the COVID-19 pandemic than Japan and the United States, such as the trade restrictions on Australias wine and beef.

The CCPs suppression of Australia over the past two years [has made] Australian people to awake, Lee told The Epoch Times in an interview in Chinese.

The second reason being the CCPs gnawing-away operation targeting Pacific island countries, especially the Solomon Islands, which has signed a contentious security deal with Beijing that supports Chinese security forces to conduct training for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.

This also shocked Australia and the U.S., because the Pacific island countries has long been cooperating with the U.S. and Australia, but the CCP is trying to buy these countries over with its external propaganda work and money, Lee said. Thats why Australia is waking up so fast.

Im very glad the Australian people have such as response.
Never Got My Permission: Trump Responds to Bob Woodward Releasing Interview Recordings

Former President Donald Trump took to his own social media platform Tuesday to condemn Bob Woodward, alleging the veteran journalist has no right to publicize his early talks.

In his new audiobook published Tuesday titled The Trump Tapes, Woodward compiled eight hours of raw audio he taped from previous conversations with Trump, during the-then chief executives last year in charge.

Newly released clips of a total of 20 past interviews show Trump discussed issues including nuclear weapons and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic with the longtime Washington Post journalist, who made his name breaking stories about the Watergate scandal in 1972.

As he fully understands, writer Bob Woodward never got my permission to release tapes of my various interviews with him, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Oct. 25.

Trump argued that the conversation recordings were solely to serve Woodwards printed publication in 2020 about the presidency. Those tapes were allowed only for purposes of making sure that he got my quotes & statements correct for the WRITTEN WORD, in other words, for his, nevertheless, highly inaccurate book, he added.

The tapes are much better than the book, Trump continued, at least if they were not bludgeoned to death by him to make me look as bad as possible, but he & his publisher had NO right to use my VOICE or them!

All on the Record

In response, Woodward said later that day that the recordings were done voluntarily. It was all on the record. Ive used some of it before, he told CNNs Wolf Blitzer.

Despite clips from his new book portraying Trump as the chief commander in the White House in an unfavorable light, the 79-year-old journalist claimed in an op-ed published Sunday in The Washington Post that the interviews, which pounded in his ears, gave an unvarnished portrait of the president while saying that disclosing raw interviews was unprecedented for him.

A file image of Bob Woodward attending the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on May 21, 2019. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Last Friday, Trump pledged to sue the journalist, whom he called a very sleazy guy, over the release of the tapes.

In many ways, I like the tapes, I insist on tapes, but I also say the tapes belong to me, Trump told Fox News host Brian Kilmeade.

We gave tapes for the written word, not tapes to sell, and thats always made clear, he said. Now hes making an audiobook out of it, so well sue him.

Trump granted Woodward the taped interviews in for the reporters second book on his presidency, titled Rage, which came out shortly before the 2020 presidential election. The Watergate journalists first 2018 book about the Trump White House, which the president didnt work with, casts the administration as chaotic and dysfunctional.
A TV screen shows a file image of a North Korean missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Sept. 28, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

North Korea to Face Unparalleled Response If It Conducts Another Nuclear Test: Official

A senior South Korean official said on Oct. 26 that an agreement was reached with allies Japan and the United States to mount an unparalleled response if North Korea conducts a seventh test of a nuclear weapon.

The warning to North Korea was issued by South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong, who made the remarks at a joint press conference alongside Japanese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs 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, Cho said.

Pyongyang recently carried out a series of unannounced missile tests, including a ballistic missile that flew over northern Japan.

South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyundong (L), Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori (C), and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (R) at a joint news conference in Tokyo on Oct. 26, 2022. (Eugene Hoshiko, Pool/AP Photo)

Cho and Sherman both condemned North Koreas recent ballistic missile launches as reckless and destabilizing, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price, who noted that Sherman made clear to U.S. allies that its commitment to their defense remains ironclad.

Sherman said on Oct. 25 that the United States was prepared to make full use of its military capabilities, including nuclear, conventional, and missile defense to defend Japan and South Korea.

The ramped-up rhetoric focused on North Korea is part of a strategy by Washington and its allies to boost defense and deterrence capability, according to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to reporters at Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., on Oct. 17, 2022. (Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images)

Blinken told Bloomberg in an Oct. 26 interview that the United States and its allies fear that North Korea seems to be girding for another nuclear test.

Weve made it clear to the North Koreans going back to last year that we were prepared to engage with them without any preconditions to move toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Blinken said, noting that North Korea hasnt responded to those overtures.

In fact, the response has been exactly what youve cited, which is the increased number of missile tests, the prospect potentially of another nuclear test, which would be the seventh that theyve undertaken.

A TV screen shows file images of North Koreas missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 13, 2022. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo)

Washington is determined to work even more closely with allies and partners to strengthen defense and deterrence while exerting appropriate pressure on North Korea for actions that Blinken called dangerous and destabilizing.

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada recently said North Korea has most likely succeeded in miniaturizing its nuclear warheads while boosting its missile capabilities by diversifying launch technologies, making such weapons more difficult to intercept.

All three allies also reaffirmed their joint aim of the complete denuclearization of North Korea.
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique appears at the Public Order Emergency Commission, in Ottawa, on Oct. 27, 2022. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

Not All Tools Exhausted Before Invoking Emergencies Act, Says Ontario Police Commissioner

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Commissioner Thomas Carrique said he shares the view his counterpart at the RCMP expressed about not all available tools having been exhausted before the Emergencies Act was invoked.

While testifying before the Public Order Emergency Commission on Oct. 27, Carrique was asked what he thought about RCMP Commissioner Brenda Luckis stance on the invocation of the act.

The OPP Commissioner was presented with an email Lucki wrote to the chief of staff of Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino on Feb. 14.

I am of the view that we have not yet exhausted tools that are already available through the existing legislation, Lucki wrote.

There are instances where charges can be laid under existing authorities for various Criminal Code offences occurring right now in the context of the protest. The Ontario Provincial Emergencies Act just enacted will also help in providing additional deterrent tools to our existing toolbox.

Commission counsel Eric Brousseau asked Carrique whether he agreed with that sentiment.

I would agree with that sentiment, yes, he replied.

The Trudeau government went on to declare a public emergency on Feb. 14, hours after Lucki had provided her input.

Supports OPP Intelligence Chief

Along with agreeing with Lucki on the Emergencies Act, Carrique also supported the testimony provided earlier to the commission by OPP Superintendent Pat Morris.

Morris said on Oct. 19 the Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau (POIB) he manages had found no credible intelligence of threats of violence related to the Freedom Convoy movement.

The superintendents evidence was that there were no threats that materialized and that there were no credible threats to national security. Do you agree with that? asked Brousseau.

I do agree with that, I do agree with that, said Carrique.

When you move from strategic intelligence into operational and tactical intelligence, and establishing thresholds for mandates and thresholds for charges, that further analysis needs to be done to determine whether its credible, and whether that threat actually came to fruition.

Carrique said in his August interview with the commission before testifying in person that he had not requested emergency powers from the federal government.

In reference to the issue of tow trucks, the interview summary said the OPP recognized that it would be beneficial to compel service providers, but the act was not used to compel them to provide service.

The OPP did not change its approach to enforcement action as a result of the invocation of the Emergencies Act, it said.

Despite having a sizeable role in managing the Freedom Convoy protest, Carrique told the commission he was never advised the Emergencies Act would be invoked and learned about it after it was announced publicly by the federal government.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) shakes hands with State Emergency Service workers on a tour of flood-affected areas with New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet in the suburb of Richmond in Sydney, Australia, on July 6, 2022. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images)

NSW Premier Seeks Extra Federal Flood Funds

As roiling thunderstorms again cross eastern and inland New South Wales (NSW), Premier Dominic Perrottet will seek more federal funding to repair flood-damaged roads, and regional communities will attempt to salvage whats left after weeks of devastating rain.

The premier said damage wrought by the inundation was heartbreaking to see in the border towns of Deniliquin and Moama, where the Murray River is expected to continue to flood through next week.

The trip is part of a week-long tour of flood-hit NSW regions, which on Monday included a visit to Moree, where much of the town remains under evacuation orders after the Mehi River reached major flood levels over the weekend.

Repairing roads and infrastructure in the wake of natural disasters was the role of federal, state and local governments, who needed to work together, Perrottet said.

Theres going to be a lot of work thats going to have to be put into fixing up roads right across the state, he said.

Its a long journey, but weve just got to be there every step of the way.

The premier will meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday to discuss the additional repair funding.

A number of major roads and highways are closed across NSW due to flooding, straining farmers already facing crop losses.

Some of our farmers were going to be facing a bumper harvest this year, and thats been taken away, Deputy Premier Paul Toole said on Wednesday.

We probably wont know the full extent of it until the waters do recede, to actually see whether or not farmers can get onto their paddocks.

Thunderstorms are forecast for the eastern half of NSW through to the Queensland border on Thursday, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse told AAP.

Areas likely to be hit by storms include the Hunter and the North Coast, while showers will continue across parts of inland NSW, including the Western Slopes.

Next week, a new system will bring rain, widespread showers and storms from Sunday, continuing on Monday and Tuesday.

It does seem likely that well see widespread showers and storms, Woodhouse said.

As everything is so wet, its not going to take much for some of those rivers to respond and cause flooding across those inland catchments.

A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the South Coast on Wednesday night as convergent winds triggered dangerous cells around Eden and Merimbula.

The storms were forecast to bring heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds to the warning area on Wednesday evening.

Some 27 flood warnings remain in place across NSW, including nine for major flooding at the Namoi, Gwydir, Mehi, Macquarie, Bogan, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Barwon, Darling and Snowy rivers.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Says There Will Be Delays in Counting 2022 Midterm Votes

Pennsylvanias top election official warned that there will be delays in counting midterm votes next month, declaring that results wont be delivered on Election Night.

Acting Secretary of State Leigh Chapman, a Democrat, this week told a local NPR station that its really important for us to get accurate information about the election process in Pennsylvania. That delay, she alleged, will be because election workers cannot pre-canvas or count mail-in ballots before Nov. 8, the date of the midterm elections.

So voters and the public know that when there are delays in counting, she added, it doesnt mean that theres anything nefarious happening. Its just what the law is in Pennsylvania.

Chapman, a Democrat, is likely referring to the numerous delays that occurred following the 2020 General Election, which sparked allegations of voter fraud.

She also responded to questions about whether voters should hold onto their absentee ballots or turn them into their local election board on Election Day. The official said that voters shouldnt delay sending them in.

We have heard that theres messaging out there in Pennsylvania, as far as instructing voters to hold onto their mail-in ballots, Chapman said. As part of our voter education campaign, we encourage voters to request that mail-in ballot now and return it as soon as possible. We dont want voters to delay.

Court Cases

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court vacated an appeals court decision that required Pennsylvania to count mail-in ballots that dont have dates on the envelope. Pennsylvania law stipulates that voters have to write the date on the outer envelope in order for their mail-in ballot to be counted.

The judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit with instructions to dismiss the case as moot, wrote Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson as they sided with David Ritter, a Republican candidate for a judgeship in the commonwealth who lost by only a handful of votes.

About a week later, Republicans in Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against Chapman and asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to declare illegal guidance regarding ballots that lack dates.

Petitioners ask the Court to issue a declaration that the date requirement is valid and mandatory, and that the Acting Secretarys contrary guidance is invalid. Moreover, to preserve the rights of all voters and candidates, the Court should immediately issue an order directing county boards of elections to segregate any undated or incorrectly dated ballots received for the 2022 general election, the legal challenge reads.

Pennsylvanias midterm election includes the hotly contested race between Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Republican, who are both vying for the commonwealths Senate seat.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin delivers a closing statement during a press conference at Ramstein Air Base in Ramstein, western Germany, on Sept. 8, 2022. (Andre Pain/AFP via Getty Images)

Pentagon: US to Scrap Sea-Launched Nuclear Missile Program

The United States will stop developing nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missiles, according to new documents released by the Department of Defense.

The documents (pdf), released on Oct. 27, stated that the United States will retire the B83-1 gravity bomb, and will cancel the nuclear-armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) program.

During a news conference, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced questions about retiring the two programs, arguing that our inventory of nuclear weapons is significant.

I do not believe this sends a message to Putin, Austin told a reporter. He understands what our capability is.

The Biden administration released three documents on Oct. 27: the National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review, and Missile Defense Review. Together, they lay out the militarys priorities for the coming years and underscore that Washington plans to maintain a very high bar for nuclear employment.

During the Trump administration, the Pentagon made a decision in 2018 to develop a new nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile, with a focus on the threat from Russia.

But the Biden administration said in its review that the sea-launched cruise missile program was unnecessary and would be canceled because the United States already had the means to deter limited nuclear use.

One program from the Trump era that Biden is keeping is the W76-2 low-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile, which the Pentagon fielded in 2020 to address Russias potential employment of similar-scale tactical nuclear weapons, the kind that Moscow has threatened to use in Ukraine to salvage its war there.

Very High Bar

The document also said that U.S. nuclear policy will maintain a very high bar for nuclear employment, but it would only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances to defend the vital interests of the United States or its Allies and partners.

Intercontinental ballistic missiles are launched by the Vladimir Monomakh nuclear submarine of the Russian navy from the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia, on Dec. 12, 2020. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

By the 2030s, the United States will, for the first time in its history, face two major nuclear powers as strategic competitors and potential adversaries. This will create new stresses on stability and new challenges for deterrence, assurance, arms control, and risk reduction, the document says.

In addressing the U.S. militarys strategy, Austin told reporters that Russia, unlike China, cannot systemically challenge the United States in the long term, but he said that Russian aggression currently poses an immediate and sharp threat to our interests and values.

Meanwhile, the Chinese regime wants to employ 1,000 deliverable warheads by the end of the 2020s, according to the Pentagon document. The Chinese Communist Party, it added, could use those weapons for military provocations against U.S. allies in the region.

Despite Russian officials recent comments about using nuclear weapons to defend Russia, U.S. officials say they havent seen indications that Moscow is preparing to use them. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Oct. 26 observed exercises by Russias strategic nuclear forces, the Kremlin said.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Getting away with your friends doesnt just have to be about celebrating big milestones. Why not plan the perfect weekend getawayjust because?

Spending quality time with friends helps one to feel accepted, supported, and confident. Healthline reports that strong friendships, especially in our adult lives, are pivotal and that the lack of meaningful relationships can contribute to loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

With that in mind, Travel + Leisure curated a list of the top destinations for a perfect friends getaway. Here are their top six:

Joshua Tree, California

If nature is calling you and hiking is in your blood, Joshua Tree has great trails and campsites. The area is best known for its new-age spirituality and retreats. Grab a good book and your friends for a peaceful adventure.

Find out more at NPS.gov.

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport was once the hot spot for Gilded Age millionaires and big-name celebrities; some of them still own mansions in the area today. Now, you and your friends can also stay in the area, tour some mansions, rent bikes, enjoy the beach, and maybe do a little high-society people-watching.

Visit Viator.com for more information on tours.

Key West, Florida

With year-round tropical temperatures, Key West is a longtime hot spot for a friends getaway.

To find the perfect place to stay, tips for a night out, and other things to do, visit the Keys tourism site.

Montreal, Canada

Brush up on your French and head to Montreal, which is one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world. You can get all the European vibes without having to travel to France.

Check out MTL.org for trip ideas.

Nassau, Bahamas

The Bahamas is just a 2 1/2 hour flight from Atlantathats closer than Vegasmaking it perfect for a quick getaway. Grab your sunscreen and take joy in the island life with amazing food, drinks, and music while soaking up the culture.

More information can be found at Bahamas.com.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

This city is vibrant with art, culture, and history. There are plenty of areas for local shopping and tons of eateries along the way. Santa Fe is jam-packed with rich history featuring some amazing womendont miss the Women of the West Historical Walking Tour.

Plan your trip at SantaFe.org.

2022 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
North Dakota law enforcement agencies seized more than 50 pounds of illegal drugs during a joint detail of the American Governors Border Strike Force.

Officers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and State and Local Intelligence Center seized $26,000 in cash, a pound of cocaine, 26 pounds of marijuana, 16  pounds of methamphetamine, and nearly 8 pounds of fentanyl during the late-August effort. They also seized eight vehicles and nine illegal firearms, and recovered one stolen vehicle.

Gov. Doug Burgum in April signed a memorandum of understanding with two dozen other governors to create the strike force. Its aim is to disrupt and dismantle transnational crime organizations, and combat human trafficking and drug smuggling activities, according to the governors office.
South Korean army soldiers prepare to fire 105mm howitzers during an exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea Wednesday, June 22, 2016. In a remarkable show of persistence, North Korea on Wednesday fired two suspected powerful new Musudan mid-range missiles, U.S. and South Korean military officials said, but at least one of the launches apparently failed, Pyongyang's fifth such reported flop since April. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Poland, South Korea Sign Major Arms Deal After CCP Reportedly Blocks Polish Visit to South Korea

Although Polish deputy prime minister and minister of national defense Mariusz Baszczaks recent visit to South Korea was reportedly blocked by China, the Polish Defense Ministry signed a major new arms deal with a South Korean military-industrial corporation on Oct. 19.

South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported that Hanwha Defense signed a framework agreement with the Polish Ministry of National Defense in Warsaw, Poland, for the export of 288 K-239 Chunmoo rocket artillery systems. The contract has a price tag of about $6 billion, with deliveries starting in 2023.

Quoted on the Polish governments website, Defense Minister Blaszczak said the K-239 Chunmoo is a very good weapon, with similar characteristics to the U.S.-made M142 HIMARS rocket system that Poland ordered in 2019, to be delivered next year.

Blaszczak said Poland had submitted an inquiry for larger deliveries of the HIMARS system, but the equipment could not be delivered in a satisfactory time, so Poland turned to South Korea for the rocket systems.

Signing Was to Coincide With Weapons Delivery Ceremony in Seoul

In August, the Polish Armaments Agency signed the first phase of the contract with two Korean arms companiesHyundai Rotem and Hanwha Defensefor the export of K-2 Panther tanks and K-9 self-propelled howitzers, for $5.8 billion. The first batch of weapons was delivered at a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 19th, which officially kicked off the weapons delivery process.

Baszczak was scheduled to lead a Polish government delegation to South Korea to participate in the release ceremony for the weapons purchased recently and at the same time to sign the framework agreement with Hanwha Defense.

The trip was canceled, reportedly because of a technical fault with the aircraft, according to a Polish government statement. Therefore the meeting between Korean and Polish defense ministers took place online.

Korean Media Report CCP Blocked Polish Delegation Visit

However, the Korea Times reported, citing officials, that the trip was canceled because the Chinese regime refused to allow the Polish delegation to fly through Chinese airspace, necessitating a virtual meeting for the arms deal.

Alternate air routes would have been too time-consuming, ultimately causing the Polish mission to abandon its trip to Korea. Therefore the meeting between Korean and Polish defense ministers took place online.

Kim Taewoo is a Professor at South Koreas Konyang University Department of Military Affairs, and former president of the Korea Institute for National Unification. He told the Epoch Times that China is clearly unhappy that Poland is buying weapons from South Korea. Most likely, this is because Poland opposed Russias invasion of Ukraine and actively supported Ukraine through weapons donations.

Kim stressed that denying airspace to the Polish delegation was a backward step by China. In the international arena, he said, all countries open their airspace to non-military civilian aircraft, and China is violating that principle.

Kim said that Chinas move was also a warning to South Korea, which is in the Western camp.

Peoples Liberation Army Daily, the military newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) published an August report titled South Koreas arms sales to Poland threatens itself. The report claimed that the arms deals constitute South Koreas involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to a certain extent and that South Korea threatens itself by profiting from war.

South Korea Now Worlds Eighth-Largest Arms Supplier

Recently, South Korea has signed a series of groundbreaking arms deals.

Its August contract with Poland was the first phase of a comprehensive deal inked in July between the two countriescalled the largest arms deal in South Koreas history. The deal agreed to supply Poland with nearly 1,000 K-2 Black Panther main battle tanks, 672 K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, and 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft. The total value of the procurement agreement was estimated to be as much as 19 trillion won (about $14.5 billion).

On Feb. 1, South Korea signed an agreement, worth about $1.7 billion, to supply Egypt with hundreds of K9 self-propelled howitzers, K10 ammunition resupply vehicles, and K11 Fire Direction Control Vehicles.

On Jan. 16 this year, South Korea signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates to export Korean-made medium-range surface-to-air missiles, valued at about $3.5 billion. At the time, it was said to be South Koreas largest-ever export deal.

On Dec. 13 last year, South Korea signed a contract with Australia to export 30 K-9 self-propelled guns and 15 armored ammunition resupply vehicles, for a total of about $716.5 million.

In addition, South Koreas arms exports to Asia-Pacific countries are also growing. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) (pdf), the Philippines and Indonesia were South Koreas two largest buyers, accounting for 16 percent and 14 percent of arms purchases from South Korea between 2017-2021.

In March, the SIPRI released new data on the global arms trade, showing that South Koreas share of the global arms export market expanded from 1 percent in the period 201216 to 2.8 percent in the time period 201721, a 177 percent increase.

That makes South Korea the worlds eighth largest arms exporter, after the United States, Russia, France, China, Germany, Italy, and the UK. Among the worlds top 25 arms exporters, South Koreas market share increased the most in that time period.

Expert: South Korea Has Become a Favored Arms Source

Ramon Pacheco Pardo, Professor of International Relations at Kings College London, said in an August article in Korea JoongAng Daily that after South Koreas deal with Poland in July, it became the only Asian country exporting weapons to NATO members.

Pacheco Pardo noted that South Korea has become a favored arms supplier to countries around the world for three reasons: First, it has the ability to reliably and quickly supply sophisticated weapons. Secondly, although Russia and China are major arms exporters, many countries in the West refuse to buy weapons from both countries, limiting their options to Western allies.

Finally, because South Korea is a U.S. ally, its weapons systems frequently include U.S. technology. It may not be state-of-the-art, but it is nonetheless sophisticated and helps to boost the quality of South Koreas military equipment, according to Pacheco Pardo.
Evan Bray, chief of Regina Police Service and co-chair of the Special Purpose Committee on Firearms for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), speaks at a press conference in Regina on Sept. 5, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Michael Bell)

Police Chiefs Say Upcoming Gun Control Legislation Doesnt Address Illegal Firearms

Police experts are warning MPs that proposed legislation to restrict access to handguns in Canada does not address the real issue of illegal firearms.

The House of Commons Public Safety Committee met on Oct. 27 to continue its study of Bill C-21.

Evan Bray, chief of Regina Police Service and co-chair of the Special Purpose Committee on Firearms for the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), said restricting lawful handgun ownership will not meaningfully address the real issue.

Its illegal firearms, illegal handguns, obtained from the United States that have led to the disturbing current trend in gun violence that is largely related to street gangs and more sophisticated organized crime groups, he said.

Bray said the CACP supports implementation of new firearms-related offenses, intensified border controls, and strengthened penalties to help deter criminal activities and to combat firearm smuggling and trafficking. Such measures will reduce the number of illegal firearms that find their way into Canadian communities and are used to commit criminal offenses, he said.

Brian Sauve, president of the National Police Federation, said the proposed legislation primarily targets legal firearm owners who have followed government regulations.

The Government of Canada is encouraged to widen its focus as Bill C-21 narrowly focuses on the tool or the firearm and not the criminal activity surrounding it, Sauve said.

By only addressing the tool, the criminal perpetrator will continue to offend and victimize with different tools, he said.

Between 2016-2021, the Violent Crime Index across provinces rose 30 percent while the Crime Severity Index rose 10 percent.

Sauve said jurisdictions with the highest rates of firearm related violent crime also have relatively high rates of crime in general. Reducing firearm violence is a key issue and should remain a priority for the government, he said.

Canada already has a strict licensing regime for firearms purchases and the changes proposed do not address issues of organized crime, nor gang violence, illegal weapons smuggling, systemic causes of crime, or emerging threats such as 3D printed or ghost guns, Sauve told MPs.

We have an opportunity here to create a unique system to deal with this issue by strengthening border controls, composing stronger penalties to combat firearms, smuggling and trafficking, and thereby reducing the presence of illegal firearms in Canadian communities, and the frequency of them being used to commit criminal offenses.

The federal government said that its freeze on handguns, which makes it illegal to buy, sell, or transfer handguns, came into effect on Oct. 21. On top of Bill C-21, the federal government has also implemented a firearm buy-back program, where owners of assault-style firearms are required to give their guns to the government at a price set by the feds.

Conservative MP Dane Lloyd asked whether new federal gun legislation would lead to resources being diverted from dealing with illegal gun crime to deal with legal gun owners who will have their firearms taken away.

I would suspect they will, Sauve said. Youre adding an added job.

On Oct. 20, Edmonton Police Service Chief Dale McFee told the committee that the federal governments proposed handgun transfer freeze legislation could actually increase crime in the short-term.

On Oct. 27, Bray also warned that law-abiding gun owners could become criminals if administrative work isnt prioritized once the amnesty period is closed.

If its not given a high enough priority, then I think it will have a counter effect and it will actually cause us problems on the backend as well, he said.
Grants Pass High School in Oregon displays an LGBT pride heart over its main office entrance on Oct. 18, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Radical Gender Ideology Invades Small-Town Schools

GRANTS PASS, Ore.When the school called his 14-year-old son to the principals office for refusing to say a female student was a boy, Matthew Duncan decided hed had enough.

At first, Duncans son thought his longtime classmate was joking when she told him to say she was a boy. He refused.

Duncan said the school administrators then chastised his son, saying: You cant do that! You cant call somebody by something that theyre not!

Just so you know, if you do it again, youre going to get in trouble.

After the school year ended, Duncan transferred his two children to a private school.

Grants Pass is a small, conservative town, but locals have found they cant control what their children are taught in public school. Families have found that directives from Oregons governor trample their own beliefs. Teachers who want a politically neutral curriculum say local schools have actively promoted LGBT ideology.

Matthew Duncan, photographed in Grants Pass, Ore., on Oct. 18, 2022, moved his two children to a private school after administrators at the local high school threatened to punish his son for refusing to say a girl classmate was a boy. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

There was never a push toward dominance and control like there is now, Duncan said. You cant voice your opinion.

Grants Pass teachers, school administrators, and parents told The Epoch Times that, in response, many families have withdrawn their children from public school, enrolling them in private school or starting to homeschool.

But those solutions can be expensive and inconvenient, and private schools sometimes dont have enough space to absorb the exodus of students.

Boys Arent Girls

In just a few years, LGBT ideology has swept into Oregon schools. Betty, a former school employee who asked to use only her first name to avoid backlash within the community, retired early because she was tired of trying to help kids while simultaneously fighting left-wing ideology, she told The Epoch Times.

Just a few years ago, there wasnt any LGBT indoctrination in her school, Betty said. Then, education workers slowly and quietly filled schools with pro-LGBT material.

One day, Betty discovered a poster in the library that stated left-wing talking points:

This sign promoting left-wing ideology was displayed at a public high school in Grants Pass, Ore. (Courtesy of Betty)

We believe black lives matter, no human is illegal, love is love, womens rights are human rights, science is real, water is life, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

It didnt seem educational to provide just one perspective on controversial issues, she said. So she put up her own poster next to it. It read:

We believe all lives matter, legal immigration, marriage is one man & one woman, unborn female and male babies have rights, Gods creation supports science, water is life, return to law abiding Constitutional America.

Then, she was called to the principals office.

They said, This is unacceptable. You need to clear everything with us,' Betty recalled.

The administration forced her to take her poster down but allowed the left-wing poster to remain.

In another incident, when Betty stopped a young elementary school boy from walking into the girls bathroom by mistake, administrators expressed their disapproval.

Oh, did I get it for that! she said. They said, Betty, dont you understand? They can walk wherever they want.'

Radical gender ideology broke into schools after younger teachers embraced it in their training in college.

They bought the propaganda, Betty said. They were immersed in the propaganda at the college level, so theyre just spewing that out. My sense is that they dont have the same morality that us oldsters do.

Another conservative teacher, Deborah, left her job after facing pressure to resign. Deborah asked not to use her real name because she was concerned about drawing criticism.

Before she left, a school-mandated lecture told all teachers to raise their hands if they had white privilege, she said. She was the only one not to signal affirmation.

As far as I know, no one else spoke up, she said.

A school bus outside Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Ore., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

In another incident, a student expressed panic after Donald Trump was elected president. The girl said she feared Trump would put her in a concentration camp because she was a lesbian.

Deborah assured her that that wouldnt happen. The student filed a complaint, and the schools administration talked with Deborah about the incident.

It was so ridiculous, she said. It never went anywhere and isnt even documented in my employment file. But I was visited by the administration because of it.

Then, after Deborah accidentally handed a graded test to the wrong student, the student filed a complaint against her. Documents she provided to The Epoch Times show that the school assigned her focus goals that included passing out papers to the correct students.

Deborah has 22 years of teaching experience. She said she believes the school used the complaint to make her job so frustrating that shed quit. She suspects the school wanted her out because of her political beliefs.

I think that people knew that I probably wouldnt call a girl a boy, Deborah said.

After the complaint, the school subjected all her work to intense scrutiny, she said.

I would have to email my every single detail [in a] plan, at 5 in the morning, to the principal and the personnel director, Deborah said. And then they would have people coming in my class every day. Different administrators were picking apart everything. And I found that many of the things that they said were just flat-out lies.

Tired of the pressure, Deborah retired in 2019.

A pro-socialism bumper sticker in the employee parking lot of Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Ore., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Local Kids, State Standards

Some in the community believe schools have also swung left in towns like Grants Pass because Oregons state government sets educational standards that promote radical gender ideology.

The whole system is set up to reprogram the kids. I mean, thats what theyre doing. Theyre literally destroying these innocent little brains, Betty said.

The Oregon State Board of Education sets educational policies and standards, and its members are selected by the governor.

Democrats have controlled the governors office since 1986. Oregons current governor, Kate Brown, is the nations first openly bisexual governor.

Some have accused the Oregon Department of Education of pushing left-wing ideology at the expense of educational excellence. Its website urges administrators to educate while focusing on race and ethnicity.

A pro-LGBT sticker in the window of Grants Pass High School in Grants Pass, Ore., on Oct. 18, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times)

Oregons health education standards also say children should learn there are many ways to express gender in kindergarten. The standards state that third-grade students should learn about sexual orientation and how to prevent the spread of AIDS.

According to state guidelines, by the third grade, students should recognize differences and similarities of how individuals identify regarding gender or sexual orientation.

Beginning in kindergarten, students should learn to recognize the importance of treating others with respect including gender expression, the standards read. Students should also be able to identify different kinds of family structures.

The Oregon state curriculum has also included pornographic material, in the opinion of Heidi Napier, a Grants Pass local who works with the areas Republican Party education committee.

Napier paid for a copy of the states curriculum and discovered it included photographs of diseased genitals and line drawings of people having sex.

When Napier showed the pictures to a police officer, he told her that it would be a crime if she distributed them to children.

Its legal, however, to use the same materials in the classroom.

These are from the CDC, the officer told her. And as long as theyre used by a schoolteacher, theyre not pornography. But if anybody else used them, they would be considered pornography.

Napier wondered if she could even show them at a school board meeting without facing repercussions.

The exterior of Grants Pass High School suggests the school promotes left-wing gender ideology. The school has a rainbow-colored LGBT pride heart above its main entrance and LGBT pride stickers on the windows of its classrooms.

The Epoch Times requested an interview with the Grants Pass school district, but one had not been scheduled by press time.

Pushing Private School

As local parents have removed their children from public schools, admissions for Grants Pass New Hope Christian School have skyrocketed, according to school administrator Annie Burnham.

Since 2020, the school has gone from 190 students to 340, with about 30 students on a waiting list, she said. To meet the need, New Hope has more than doubled its staff. This switch is part of a nationwide post-COVID-19 trend.

New Hope Christian School in Grants Pass, Ore., in 2022. (Courtesy of New Hope Christian School)

I think thats when parents became aware of some of those curriculum things that were going on in the classroom, she said.

At first, parents switched to New Hope because they wanted in-person classes after COVID-19, Burnham said. Then parents started switching because they didnt like the sexualized curriculum at public schools.

Around 2021, Burnham said, parents started expressing that they didnt want their kids to be taught some of [those] things.

And it wasnt just the sex ed and transgender indoctrination, she said. They also disapproved of topics woven into history and social studies, such as critical race theory.

Public schools in Oregon have had dismal educational results recently. According to Oregon statewide assessments from 2020 to 2021, only 42 percent of third graders can read at proficiency level.

Although New Hope is a Christian school, many non-Christian families have enrolled their children there to avoid them being taught radical gender theory.

With rapid growth, theres been a bit of culture shift. Were working on how to maintain who we are as a Christian school, she said.

Annie Burnham, a school administrator for New Hope Christian School in Grants Pass, Ore. (Courtesy of New Hope Christian School)

New Hope isnt alone in experiencing dramatic enrollment growth. Local private schools, charter schools, and homeschooling groups have all seen enrollment rise.

The public school districts have reported significant decreases in enrollment, Burnham said. Our little 340 doesnt make that big of a difference on their total enrollment. But families are definitely leaving for other options.

Between waitlists and the cost, it can be challenging for parents to arrange to switch their children to private schools. But theres a growing movement in Oregon to create a voucher system.

Such a system would allow parents to pay for any school with taxpayer money.

I definitely think that there will be more political support for a voucher system or some kind of tax support for private schools, she said.

Many local parents dont want their kids to learn radical gender ideology, no matter the cost to find an alternative.

If we dont stand up for what we believe, thats all [the ideologues] need, Duncan said. And theyll continue to take little bits at a time until they have complete control.
Railroad Strike Threatens US Power Grid

Commentary

If you cant hear that train acoming, dont blame Johnny Cash. Blame the railway workers strike that could effectively shut down interstate commerce just as the holiday season begins.

The strike could lead to further supply chain disruptions. Its not just the consumer goods that drive Black Friday and beyond; its also the fuel that powers nearly our entire electrical grid.

Coal is predominantly transported via rail to power plants and ports, but diesel fuel, oil, and propane are just some of the other products that are hauled by trains. Almost 40 percent of our long-distance interstate commerce travels by train. Just the possibility of a strike is increasing uncertainty and the prices of multiple products.

We dont talk a lot about trains anymore, even though they remain necessary in the transportation of goods. In fact, we dont hear about them at all unless our supply of energy is interrupted. Thats the whole problem with the climate cult. Its members want to get rid of affordable and reliable energy but then dont want our modern lives to end as we know them.

I was just in Wyoming to visit North Americas largest coal mine. The trip from my home in Texas took just a few hours by plane and rental car; if my ancestors were making the trek, they would have walked for monthsbefore the advent of trains and modern transportation.

This preindustrial reality is what we could face if we allow the virtue-signaling globalists to use the strike as an opportunity to scold us about not going 100 percent renewable to save the earth.

Yet if we ask the woke scolds if theyre ready to give up air travel, the autonomy of automobiles, and things such as reliable electricity, theyre dumbfounded. They want all their current privileges to continue to exist without the energy needed to power them. And their unreliable, inadequate alternatives would be destructive. Solar panels and wind farms would go in every direction as far as the eye could see.

So what about coal?

Coal lies a few hundred feet below the surface. Miners move the land, retrieve the coal, and then start a process called reclamation. Miners put back the land that they moved to get the coal and make sure the land surface is regraded properly, the topsoil is stable, and the vegetation meets all requirements. They plant trees that are native to the area. This reclamation happens simultaneously with the mining.

Luminant reclaimed a mine in East Texas. And it did such a good job that when the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was looking to repopulate Texas with the beloved eastern wild turkey, it chose the retired Oak Hill Mine at Martin Lake. A total of 80 turkeys were brought to Rusk County and released, according to the Tyler Morning Telegraph. The turkeys are thriving now.

Still, the demonization of coal over the past couple of decades is taking its toll. You would think Wyoming would be an awful place to visit since more than 70 percent of its electricity is generated from coalbut Wyoming is one of the most naturally beautiful places on the face of the earth.

And yet the employees at the mine I visited face an uncertain future. We have 400 years worth of coal reservesthat we know about. Will it be used? Or will those who think they know best be the demise of human flourishing? The coal-fired power plant in Arizona that the Texas Public Policy Foundation covered in 2018 is now shuttered. Jobs and opportunities are gone with it. More letdowns for the Navajo people. All that demonization is rooted in one thing: a cult-like fascination with decarbonizing our planet. The climate cult doesnt talk about harmful pollution, just carbon dioxide, which is necessary for abundant life.

There are 250 families that are dependent on the Wyoming mine I visited being a sustainable company. And by sustainable, I mean profitable. I should correct myself, however: Its not just the 250 families, its the more than 300 million Americans who are dependent on the mine and other companies like it operating in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming that are supplying the coal thats generating 20 percent of the electricity we consume on a daily basis.

We need those trains coming round the bend, which means that we should be paying attention to the railroad more often than when a strike is threatened. A life powered by affordable reliable energy requires trains, coal, and the many American workers who produce it.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Grooming gang members Adil Khan (left) and Qari Abdul Rauf, pictured in 2010 after their arrest in Rochdale, England. (Greater Manchester Police)

Rochdale Sex Grooming Pair Lose Appeal Against Deportation to Pakistan

Two men who were convicted of being part of a gang that groomed and sexually exploited under-age girls in the town of Rochdale, near Manchester, have lost their appeal against being deported to Pakistan.

Adil Khan, 51, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 52, are being deported for the public good after their arguments failed to impress judges at an immigration tribunal in London earlier this year.

Judges Charlotte Welsh and Judge Siew Ling Yoke released a 31-page legal ruling on Wednesday which said Khan had shown a breath-taking lack of remorse and there was a very strong public interest in removing Rauf too.

The decision was made in August but was only made public this week.

Khanwho was jailed for eight years for conspiracy and trafficking for sexual exploitation after he fathered a baby with a 13-year-old girltold the tribunal in June his son would be robbed of a role model if he was sent back to his native Pakistan.

Lawyers for the pair also pointed out the gangs leader, Abdul Azizwho was referred to as The Masterhas been told by the Home Office he will be allowed to remain in Britain.

Khan, Rauf, and Aziz were among nine members of the Rochdale gang jailed for child sex offences in 2012.

Sentencing the gang Justice Gerald Clifton said they were driven by lust and greed and told the men they had treated the girls as though they were worthless and beyond respect.

The then Home Secretary Theresa May said it would be conducive to the public good for them to be stripped of their UK citizenship and deported but they have fought it every step of the way.

Aziz renounced his Pakistani citizenship in July 2018, days before the Court of Appeal ruled he could be stripped of his UK citizenship and deported to Pakistan. But because he had renounced his citizenship the Home Office decided he could not be sent back to Pakistan.

Two months later Rauf and Khan renounced their Pakistani citizenship.

Political Correctness Blamed for Ignoring Grooming Gangs

The Rochdale case, along with similar Asian grooming gangs in Rotherham, Oxford, Telford, and Huddersfield who targeted white girls often in care homes, led to accusations that politicians, social workers, and senior police officers turned a blind eye to the abuse for fear of being accused of being racist.

The new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has previously called for the National Crime Agency to set up a special taskforce to tackle grooming gangs.

In August, during the Conservative Party leadership contest, Sunak told GB News: For too long, we just havent focused on this issue. Its a horrific crime. A horrific crime affecting not just girls in a few places, its far more pervasive across the country than we all realise. We all know the reason that people dont focus on it is because of political correctness. They are scared of calling out the fact that there is a particular group of people who are perpetuating these crimes. I think thats wrong, and I want to change it.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Roy Leads House GOPers Demanding DOD Stop Paying Abortion Travel Expenses

Forty House Republicans, led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), are demanding that the Department of Defense (DOD) shut down a fund it set up to pay the travel expenses of service members seeking abortions.

The United States military is facing a historic recruiting crisis as a result of wokeness and its strategically foolish COVID shot mandate. The Biden Administrations response is to kill more unborn Americans, Roy said in a statement.

By creating an abortion travel slush fund with hard-earned taxpayer dollars, the Biden Administration is outright mocking the majority of Americans who oppose their tax dollars being used to end life in the womb. Secretary Austin must immediately rescind this directive; its as abhorrent as it is unconscionable.

Roy also had a message for any Republican colleagues who join Democrats in backing the DOD action.

And any Republican who votes to fund or authorize this in December should be asked one simple question: Why?

Roy was referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins Oct. 20 memorandum, titled Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care, in which he said, I am committed to the Department taking all appropriate action, within its authority and consistent with applicable federal law, as soon as possible to ensure that our Service members and their families can access reproductive health care and our health care providers can operate effectively.

Austins memorandum was issued nearly four months after the Supreme Court in its decision, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, overturned the 1972 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion during the first six months of pregnancy as a privacy right, the existence of which is implied by the Constitution.

In the more recent decision, the courts majority said no nationwide right to abortion is mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, so the issue must be left to the people to decide, acting through their state legislatures.

As a result, some states are expected to continue allowing abortions, while others ban them to some degree. With DOD service members and employees stationed throughout the country, Austins memorandum is intended to ensure access to the procedure regardless of the location of any DOD domestic duty station.

Roy was joined by 40 House Republican colleagues in signing an Oct. 26 letter to Austin that was made public by the Texas Republican. The letter condemned Austins decision as an unprecedented politicization of the U.S. military.

This move represents an unprecedented politicization of our Armed Forces, which has unfortunately been a hallmark of the Biden Administration from the start. Your decision to bypass Congress and establish a DOD abortion travel fund flies in the face of nearly a half-century of bipartisan consensus to respect the sincere beliefs of millions of pro-life Americans by restraining the federal government from using taxpayer dollars to fund most abortions, the signers told Austin.

It is even more disgraceful that you are using our brave service members and their familiestasked with providing for our nations securityas the vehicle to push this extreme policy on the American public. This obvious political gamesmanship will only serve to further undermine Americans trust in the U.S. Armed Forces and further hamstring future military recruitment efforts. We demand the immediate rescission of this unconscionable directive.

The letter writers were referring to the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funds from being used to pay for abortions. The amendment, which was first adopted in 1977 and was authored by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), does permit federal funds to pay for abortions if the mothers life is in danger or the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest.

Austins memorandum comes as U.S. military recruiters are failing to achieve their annual recruitment goals for the first time since the all-volunteer force was created under then-President Richard Nixon in 1972.

The abortion issue adds to recruiting difficulties already complicated by demographic factors meaning 71 percent of youth do not qualify for military service because of obesity, drugs, physical and mental health problems, misconduct, and aptitude, according to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying a payload of 53 Starlink satellites lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on May 18, 2022. (Steve Nesius/Reuters)

Russia Warns West: We Can Target Your Commercial Satellites

LONDONA senior Russian foreign ministry official said that commercial satellites from the United States and its allies could become legitimate targets for Russia if they were involved in the war in Ukraine.

Russia, which in 1957 launched Sputnik 1, the first manmade satellite, into space and in 1961 put the first man in outer space, has a significant offensive space capabilityas do the United States and China. In 2021, Russia launched an anti-satellite missile to destroy one of its own satellites.

Konstantin Vorontsov, deputy director of the Russian foreign ministrys department for non-proliferation and arms control, told the United Nations that the United States and its allies were trying to use space to enforce Western dominance.

Vorontsov, reading from notes, said the use of Western satellites to aid the Ukrainian war effort was an extremely dangerous trend.

Quasi-civilian infrastructure may be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike, Vorontsov told the United Nations First Committee, adding that the Wests use of such satellites to support Ukraine was provocative.

We are talking about the involvement of components of civilian space infrastructure, including commercial, by the United States and its allies in armed conflicts, Vorontsov was quoted as saying at the United Nations.

Vorontsov did not mention any specific satellite companies though Elon Musk said earlier this month that his rocket company SpaceX would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for good deeds.
Leaves of a mature marijuana plant are seen in a display at The International Cannabis and Hemp Expo at the Cow Palace in Daly City, Calif., on April 18, 2010. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

San Diego County Supervisors Vote to Transfer Cannabis Licensing To Planning Department

SAN DIEGOThe San Diego County Board of Supervisors Oct. 26 unanimously voted to advance a proposed ordinance that would transfer cannabis licensing duties from the sheriffs department to the planning department.

The board approved a first reading of the ordinance, which if passed will allow Planning and Development Services to handle enforcement, conduct background checks, quarterly and periodic inspections, issue operating certificates, and process license renewals and transfers.

According to board Chairman Nathan Fletchers office, Wednesdays action is another step in the countys efforts to create a safe, regulated, and legal cannabis policy for the unincorporated communities.

Shifting to code compliance teams makes San Diego more consistent with the rest of California, and frees up our sheriff deputies to spend their time protecting our community and cracking down on illegal cannabis operations, Fletcher added.

A second reading for the proposal is set for the boards Nov. 16 meeting. If supervisors approve it, the ordinance will take effect 30 days afterward.

Five marijuana operations are currently allowed to operate within the county. Three are located in Ramona, while the other two are in unincorporated El Cajon and Escondido. Supervisors have also approved increased law enforcement efforts to crack down on illegal pot operations.

Supporters and Opponents

Members of the public weighed in before Wednesdays vote, with those in favor saying the ordinance made sense in terms of social justice and economics, while opponents said the change would send the wrong message on marijuana use.

Anthony Avalos of the Council for Equity Advocacy in San Diego thanked the board for taking a progressive and necessary step toward building a socially equitable cannabis program.

As a direct descendant of the war of drugs, I cannot overstate the impact that both the San Diego Police and Sheriffs Department has had on not just on me, but my family and my community, he added.

Joel Weisberger, chairman of the San Diego County Farm Bureaus cannabis working group, said it makes sense to have Planning and Development Services oversee compliance duties.

[The Sheriffs Department] doesnt regulate alcoholwhy would they regulate cannabis? Weisberger asked. He added that most licensed cannabis businesses havent been cited for any serious infractions, including the five facilities located in San Diego County.

Diane Grace, a frequent critic of the cannabis program, said the duties are too daunting for the planning department, and opined that the sheriffs department is better equipped for such a task.

Citing a recent Los Angeles Times report on political corruption allegations in connection with the legal marijuana industry in California, Grace said having deputies handle enforcement would show that the county is committed to transparency.

A member of CleanEarth4Kids.org, a childrens health advocacy group, said the county should find other ways to help those unfairly prosecuted for drug offenses without putting kids at risk.

This is not about equity, he said. This is addiction for profit.

Transferring the Duties

Joe Eberstein, program manager of the San Diego County Marijuana Prevention Initiative, said the sheriffs department has done an excellent job with licensing, and suggested the county also investigate the problem of underage access to marijuana.

After the meeting, Eberstein said it took a while for the sheriffs department to get up to speed on enforcement, and he hopes that knowledge is easily transferred to Planning and Development Services.

Supervisor Jim Desmond remains opposed to pot dispensaries in the countys unincorporated regions and considers marijuana to be a gateway drug, but he since the ordinance deals with oversight, he said the planning department can do just as good a job, freeing the sheriffs department for more serious public safety matters.

Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said transferring compliance duties means getting great service for less than a third of the costs.

Early last year, Fletcher and colleague Nora Vargas proposed a socially equitable cannabis policy as a way to eliminate the black market and address how anti-drug policies impact low-income and minority communities.

In June, supervisors approved placing a marijuana business tax proposal on the November ballot. If passed by voters, the measure would affect businesses only in the countys unincorporated areas.
Colin Thatcher walks out of the chamber after the speech from the throne at the Saskatchewan Legislature in Regina, on Oct. 26, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu)

MLA Says Invite for Killer to Sask. Throne Speech an Error

A member of Saskatchewans legislative assembly says it was a mistake for him to invite a notorious convicted killer to sit in on the provincial governments tough-on-crime throne speech.

Lyle Stewart said in a statement Thursday it was his decision alone to invite his longtime friend and constituent Colin Thatcher.

In retrospect, this was an error in judgment as his presence was a distraction from a very positive and forward-looking Throne Speech, which included a number of new initiatives to keep Saskatchewan families safe in their communities, Stewart said in the statement distributed by the director of media relations for executive council.

Thatchers ex-wife JoAnn Wilson was found beaten and shot to death in the garage of her Regina home in 1983.

Thatcher, who was an energy minister under former Conservative premier Grant Devine, was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

He has always maintained his innocence.

Thatcher, 84, said Wednesday he was happy to accept an invitation from Stewart, whom he called a good friend.

Wearing a blazer and bolo tie, Thatcher sat next to a provincial police chief as Lt.-Gov. Russell Mirasty delivered the speech laying out the agenda for the session.

Mirasty said the government is set in the coming days to introduce legislation akin to Albertas proposed sovereignty act, the Saskatchewan first act, which would define that Saskatchewan has exclusive jurisdiction over its natural resources and economic future.

But it was the focus to crack down on crime, with Thatchers attendance, that drew the most reaction.

Many Saskatchewan residents see the federal government as too lenient on violent offenders who commit gun crimes and too focused on punishing law-abiding gun owners, Mirasty said.

This session, my government will take significant action to crack down on the illegal and violent use of firearms in the commission of crimes to ensure families feel safe in their communities.

When asked by a reporter in the rotunda if he thinks the province needs tougher crime measures, Thatcher laughed and said enough before walking away. He then joined Stewart for tea at a social gathering.

Colin was a longtime MLA, and hes a constituent of mine and a friend of mine and thats why I (invited him) and Im happy that I did, Stewart told The Canadian Press on Wednesday, adding it was the first time hed invited Thatcher to a throne speech.

If anybody has a right to be here, its Colin Thatcher.

He added that Thatcher, a fine individual, has had a tough life because of his time in prison.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks to the media during her visit to Buchanan Street Residential Children's Home in Coatbridge, Scotland, on Oct. 24, 2022. (Andrew Milligan/PA Media)

Scotlands First Minister Says Reports of Chinese Overseas Police Stations Taken Very Seriously

The reports of unofficial Chinese police stations are deeply concerning, Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Thursday.

It comes after human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders published a report on Sept. 13 uncovering dozens of overseas police service stations on five continents, including one in Glasgow, Scotland, and two in London.

Responding to a question during First Ministers Questions on Thursday, Sturgeon said the matter is being taken very seriously and that she has discussed it with Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone.

I agree these reports are deeply concerning and I want to be very clear that we take them very seriously, she said.

Any foreign country operating in Scotland must abide by Scottish law.

Sturgeon said the government fully supports an individuals right to freedom of expression, and that the matters in relation to the Chinese police station in Scotland require to be fully and properly investigated.

The first minister said she knows that the police are aware of these reports after speaking to Livingstone on Wednesday.

She stressed the police remain independent of government, and any investigations would be a matter for the force, but she repeated that the issue requires to be treated extremely seriously.

In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Andy Freeburn said: We are currently reviewing these reports to assess any criminality in conjunction with local and national partners.

Loon Fung Cantonese Seafood Restaurant

This overseas police service station programme, piloted by the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau (PSB), is dubbed 110 Overseas after the Chinese national police emergency phone number.

According to Chinese language reports, Chinese expats can call to access services such as document renewal or to report cases such as fraud to PSB officers in China.

Sturgeons statement came after The Times of London on Thursday reported that a spokesman at Safeguard Defenders alleges one of the outposts is running from 417 Sauchiehall Street in central Glasgow, which is the home of Loon Fung Cantonese seafood restaurant.

These stations are not registered, hence they are unknown to their host government. They are operating on foreign soil, using local Chinese residents to carry out duties for the Chinese police, the publication quoted the spokesman as saying.

The address, along with a phone number, is included in a list of numbers and addresses of 30 first batch stations, published in January in a Chinese language news report that was cited in the Safeguard Defenders report last month.

When The Epoch Times rang the restaurant on Sept. 13, one staff member confirmed the overseas 110, which has a separate phone number, shared the address. Another staff member said the address was used by the police programme in the name only.

The Times of London said on Thursday that a spokesperson for the restaurant strongly denied involvement, saying Theres no secret police here.

According to The Telegraph, one of the listed addresses in London belonged to an estate agency and another one hosted a food delivery office.

Wider Issue at Stake

Ireland on Wednesday became the first country to confirm it has ordered the closure of a Chinese overseas police station.

Irelands Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Wednesday that it had told the Chinese embassy to close the unofficial station located at a Chinese supermarket in Dublin as all foreign states on Irish territory must be in compliance with international law and domestic law requirements.

However, it appears Chinese expats can still access the service online.

Laura Harth, campaign director at Safeguard Defenders, told The Epoch Times on Thursday that there is a bigger issue of the transnational repression going on and these kinds of illegal transnational policing campaigns.

As long as the people that were running the station are still there, as long as theres not an investigation into how these operations are being carried out, who might be involved, as long as theres not adequate protection mechanisms for the communities at risk, the problem will continue to exist, Harth said.

She applauded the Irish government for taking a great first step but also urged it to investigate the wider issue at stake.
The North Dakota attorney generals office says a judge did not use a rational mental process when determining there was a substantial probability that a constitutional challenge to the states abortion ban would succeed. The state says there are errors in South Central District Judge Bruce Romanicks opinion that prevents the ban from going into effect until the heart of the lawsuit by a Fargo abortion clinic is resolved. Attorneys for the Red River Womens Clinic says Romanick properly considered the arguments and theres no need to rectify errors and prevent injustice, as the appeal requires. The state Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for next week on whether Romanicks preliminary injunction putting the ban on hold should remain in place.
The seal of the Department of Commerce is pictured in Washington on March 10, 2017. (Eric Thayer/Reuters)

Seagate Technology May Have Broken Export Rules Selling Hard Drives to Blacklisted Company: US Officials

U.S. officials have accused Seagate Technology Holdings of potentially violating export control laws by selling hard disk drives to a customer on a U.S. trade blacklist.

Seagate, which manufactures computer hard drives, announced in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Oct. 26 that it had received a proposed charging letter from the U.S. Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security on Aug. 29 (pdf).

The letter alleges that the Dublin-based company, which also operates in California, acted in violation of the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, which govern the export and re-export of some commodities as well as software and technology.

It allegedly did so by providing Seagate hard disk drives (HDDs) to a customer and its affiliates listed on the BIS Entity List between August 2020 and September 2021, the Seagate filing states.

Under U.S. law, companies operating in the United States that plan to sell certain commodities or do business with other companies that are on the governments entity list are required to obtain a special license beforehand.

Seagate on Wednesday said it had responded to the proposed charging letter, stating it did not engage in prohibited conduct as alleged by BIS, because, among other reasons, Seagates HDDs are not subject to the EAR.

The matters raised by the PCL remain unresolved at this time, and there can be no assurance as to the timing or terms of any final outcome, the company said, adding that it is unable to estimate the range of loss or penalty, if any.

It noted, however, that the outcome of the issue could have a material impact on the business operations, financial condition, and cash flows.

Seagate believes it has complied with all relevant export control laws and regulations. Seagate has committed to compliance through its global team of international trade compliance and legal professionals and by maintaining robust trade controls compliance policies and procedures, the company said. Seagate has been cooperating with BIS and intends to continue to engage with BIS to seek a resolution of this matter.

Alleged Dealings With Blacklisted Company

Seagates filing did not identify the alleged blacklisted customer.

However, in October 2021, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation released a report (pdf) alleging that Seagate had continued selling hard disk drives containing semiconductors to Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. after the company was placed on a U.S. trade blacklist.

Huawei and its affiliates have been on the U.S. Commerce Departments entity list since 2019 and are banned from receiving technology and software produced domestically and abroad without government approval, owing to the companys threat to national security and foreign policy.

The report states that the committee found evidence that suggests that Seagate Technology continued shipping hard disk drives to Huawei after the rule went into effect.

Seagate officials told Minority Staff that the company does not hold a valid license to continue shipping hard disk drives to Huawei, likely making transactions for this product unlawful after the effective date, the report states.

Seagate Benefitted From Uneven Playing Field

By shipping these prohibited products to Huawei, it appears Seagate benefitted from an uneven playing field to the detriment of national security and at the expense of its competitors who abide by the rule designed to combat threats posed by companies with known connections to the Chinese government, the Senate report added.

In a statement to Reuters, a spokesperson for the U.S. Commerce Department declined to comment on the potential violation but said the department is committed to fully investigating any allegation of violations pertaining to the rules on certain foreign-made items, adding that it aggressively pursues criminal and civil actions related to unauthorized exports to China.

According to Reuters, Seagate could face fines of up to $300,000 per violation, or twice the value of each transactionwhichever is greaterfor administrative charges.

The Epoch Times has contacted the U.S. Commerce Department for comment.
Secessionist Sentiments at a Time of Political Polarization

Commentary

In recent years, families have fragmented and friendships have been fractured by clashing political ideologies and beliefs. Whats happening on the micro level is happening on the macro level, too: Secessionist sentiments are strengthening as American politics becomes ever-more polarized.

Several counties in eastern Oregon are actively seeking to secede from Oregon and to join the neighboring state of Idaho. Many of the rural denizens of eastern Oregon feel that their conservative values are not only ignored but threatened by the predominant progressivism of the more densely populated western part of the state. With Idaho being noticeably more conservative, eastern Oregonians think that the state government in Boise will be more in sync with their values and more responsive to their concerns.

The secessionist movement in Oregon hints at a much larger split in the United Statesone that exists in multiple states: An ideological political chasm that divides large cities from small towns and rural areas within states. Indeed, when looking at electoral maps of the United States after recent presidential elections, one cant help but notice the striking predominance of red, signifying counties where Republicans won a majority of votes with scattered spots of blue marking the urban counties where Democrats prevailed. Clearly, if presidents were elected by acreage rather than by head count, Republicans would win national elections by landslides.

Theres a stark divide in state after state. Take Philadelphia out of Pennsylvania, the Big Apple out of New York State, Detroit out of Michigan, Chicago out of Illinois, Milwaukee out of Wisconsin, St. Louis out of Missouri, etc., and a lot of blue states would instantly be red. Indeed, whereas secession in the 19th century divided the country between north and south, today the fault lines lie between urban and rural parts of the country. While nobody realistically anticipates a separation of large cities from the states of which they are currently part, if the United States were to realign itself along ideological lines, one can see the makings of two distinct political entities: a League of Liberal Cities and a Confederation of Conservative States.

What explains the pronounced partisan/ideological divide between urban and nonurban areas?

One obvious explanation for the overwhelming Democratic majorities in big cities is the Curley effect. Named after pre-1950 Boston Mayor James Michael Curley, the Curley effect is the attainment of one-party hegemony by bestowing financial favors on large voting constituencies while driving out ones political opponents by raising taxes and otherwise making life miserable for them. This phenomenon has come to pass in many large cities.

Another plausible explanation for our major cities being solidly Democratic is more innocent and unintentional. Im not sure whether to categorize this factor as psychological, but it has to do with how urban dwellers perceive how the world works. Those perceptions are often different from the way people out in the hinterlands see the world.

Those who live in cities are relatively insulated from how difficult and challenging it can be to produce the food, energy, equipment, devices, etc., that urbanites often take for granted. In their urban cocoons, city-dwellers have grown to expect that what they want will be there at the click of a mouse or the sending of a text. Push a button andpresto!youve got what you want. And if there are things that you dont have, well, why not vote for political candidates who promise that they will make it easier for you to have them?

Many well-to-do, educated urbanites see no downside to supporting stricter regulations and higher taxes on energy producers. To them, energy is something thats always there at the flip of a switch (although the growing trend toward brownouts and blackouts will hopefully awaken some of these people from their self-delusions).

Affluent denizens of our metropolises see no inconsistency in supporting the Democratic jihad against greedy corporations and the rich while also expecting their every whim to be supplied, often by those same corporations and successful entrepreneurs. This is because they are removed from the harsh daily realities of life that confront those who are on the front lines of mankinds ongoing struggle to produce wealth. They have forgotten that mankinds natural state is poverty and that strenuous, heroic efforts are required to produce the astounding bounty of our modern, affluent lifestyles. To use Marxian terminology, urbanites have become alienated from economic reality.

Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter in the Little House on the Prairie stories, who later became a globetrotting journalist (even traveling alone to Vietnam to report on the Vietnam War when she was 78 years young) remarked on the illusions that can beguile urbanites long ago. In her 1943 book, The Discovery of Freedom, Lane blasted the myth that government can and should guarantee economic security thats so prevalent among progressives today, writing:

Anyone who says that economic security is a human right, has been too much babied. While he babbles, other men are risking and losing their lives to protect him. They are fighting the sea, fighting the land, fighting diseases and insects and weather and space and time, for him, while he chatters that all men have a right to security and that some pagan GodSociety, The State, The Government, The Communemust give it to them. Let the fighting men stop fighting this inhuman Earth for one hour, and he will learn how much security there is.

Lane perceived that liberals and progressives suffer from a self-deluded notion about how the world works. Like the ivory-tower academics who enthuse about socialism because they have never lived under the harsh realities of a socialist polity, so today, many denizens of our big cities are afflicted with a metropolitan blind spot that causes them to support Big Government policies that are economically irrational and ultimately self-destructive.

Heres a thought experiment for you: If, magically, large American cities were to split off from their states and become independent political entities, which would suffer most from such a secession, the cities or the states? Dont you think the cities would need supplies from the rural parts of the state to survive more than vice-versa?

But no such secession is on the horizon, despite the pronounced urban/rural ideological split. Thus, we can expect Americas metropolises to continue to be painted blue in upcoming elections. The people in my theoretical League of Liberal Cities will continue to vote for candidates seeking to impose pernicious progressive policies on their more conservative fellow citizens in the outlying red regions of their respective states.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, at the White House on April 18, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Senators Share Documents With Prosecutors Probing Hunter Biden

Two senators have shared documents theyve obtained while investigating President Joe Bidens son with prosecutors who are probing the son, Hunter Biden, the senators announced on Oct. 26.

Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) sent the documents, including banking records, to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Delaware after the office and the Department of Justice, which oversees the office, declined to ensure that the federal probe would be both thorough and free from interference.

Today, in light of your and DOJs failure to respond to our legitimate congressional oversight requests and as part of our ongoing congressional investigation, we are transmitting to you over two hundred pages of records relating to the Biden familys connections to the Chinese regime and persons connected to its military and intelligence elements, Johnson and Grassley wrote in a letter to U.S. Attorney David Weiss, a Trump appointee.

If you are conducting a full and complete investigation, you should already possess these records. In the case that you are not and do not possess these records, we suggest that you review them in detail.

The documents include records showing a business relationship between Hunter Biden and CEFC China Energy, a firm that was one of the largest energy companies in China before it later went defunct, including while Joe Biden was vice president.

One document shows that Hunter Biden and Chinese businessmen established a company together in 2017, after Joe Biden left office. The operating agreement shows that Hunter Biden was slated to receive $100,000 per month, while James Biden, Joe Bidens brother, was slated to be paid $65,000 per month.

Other records show financial transactions between companies and firms run by Hunter Biden and James Biden, including $6 million in wire transfers.

Weisss office declined to comment. Hunter Bidens lawyer didnt respond to requests for comment.

Hunter Biden said in 2020 that he was under investigation for tax issues.

A subpoena reviewed by The Epoch Times in January shows that Weiss was seeking to obtain transactions between Hunter Biden and a Chinese bank.

FBI agents are involved in the investigation into Hunter Biden, FBI Director Christopher Wray said over the summer.

Chris Clark, Hunter Bidens lawyer, said in October that prosecutors are diligently and thoroughly weighing not just evidence provided by agents, but also all the other witnesses in this case, including witnesses for the defense.

Clark was speaking out amid reports alleging that Hunter Biden may soon be charged.

Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have maintained that Hunter Biden did nothing wrong.

Hunter Biden has said that he made mistakes but didnt commit crimes.
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An aerial view of solar panels at the Sutter Greenworks Solar Site in Calverton, N.Y., on Sept. 19, 2021. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Solar, Gas Company Fined for Greenwashing Carbon Neutral Credentials

In a nation-first, Australias corporate watchdog has fined solar and gas firm Tlou Energy $53,280 (US$34,625) for greenwashing and claiming its electricity production was carbon neutral.

Greenwashing is the practice of misrepresenting the extent to which a product, service, or investment fund is environmentally friendly, sustainable, or ethical.

The practice can be carried out across a range of industries, whether it is fund managers combining green and fossil-fuel investments into one product to ensure overall returns remain strong or in this instance, energy companies claiming their operations are carbon neutral when they are not.

As entities promote sustainability and green practices as part of their value proposition, they must ensure they can support those statements and have a reasonable basis for doing so, said Sarah Court, deputy chair of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).

Court pointed to guidelines outlining how companies can avoid greenwashing, and warned more organisations were under investigation.

ASIC is currently investigating a number of listed entities, super [pension] funds, and managed funds in relation to their green credentials claims, she said.

Companies are on notice that ASIC is actively monitoring the market for potential greenwashing and will take enforcement action, including Court action, for serious breaches.

ASIC issued Tlou with four infringements and accused the company of claiming its electricity production was carbon neutral; that its gas-to-power project was low emissions; that it had environmental approval and the capability to generate certain amounts of electricity from solar power (when it did not); and that it was concerned about producing clean energy.

Solar panels on the rooftop at AGLs Docklands office in Melbourne, Australia, on Aug. 20, 2015. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

The corporate regulator said it did not have a reasonable basis to make any representations that are factually incorrect.

Tlou paid the fines on Oct. 25.

The fine comes as regulators in the United Kingdom and Canada begin ramping up enforcement against greenwashing, while Danish and Dutch companies face private legal action scrutinising their claims.

Greenwashing the Bane of Progressives and the Right

Targeting the greenwashing will likely appeal to both sides of the political aisle, with progressives keen to ensure companies are not simply joining the bandwagon and properly implementing initiatives like net zero.

While at the same time, those on the right will be keen to test the viability of 100 percent green products and services in the market without being propped up by non-green elements.

In fact, oil and gas engineer Peter Castle has previously noted that the clean energy industrynotably hydrogenis not entirely free from the use of fossil fuels.

Green hydrogen is made by separating water (H2O) into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2), using electricity that must come from a renewable source, he wrote in The Epoch Times.

Note that this hydrogen is only green because of a technicality, in reality, the electricity comes from the grid so it is not 100 percent renewable (but insider note: some plants have purchase agreements in place so they can claim their portion of electricity is part of the renewable portion of the current supply mix).

Meanwhile, managed funds have been accused of mixing and matching different investment options (green and fossil fuel) to ensure the returns for customers remain strong while at the same time saying they have green credentials.

This has spurred tech investor Steve Baxter to suggest there needs to be more disclosure and transparency of these funds, particularly those linked to major investment firms like BlackRock, which actively encourages companies to adopt net-zero initiatives.

If these funds are pressuring companies to do things that see them underperform, then you have to wonder what incentive operates inside that fund to push that angle? he told The Epoch Times in an email.

Are they being rewarded for poorly performing investments? Are they charging more for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments to cover or compensate (the fund manager) for the seemingly illogical pressure they are bringing to bear on their portfolios?
Public Order Emergency Commissions Commissioner Paul Rouleau delivers brief remarks at the start of the second day of hearings, in Ottawa on Oct. 14, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Some Emergencies Act Evidence Can Be Presented Non-Publicly at Inquiry, Commissioner Rules

The federal government can disclose some of its evidence to the inquiry examining the use of the Emergencies Act without releasing that information publicly due to national security reasons, the commissioner overseeing the inquiry has ruled.

In his Oct. 26 ruling, Justice Paul Rouleau, who leads the Public Order Emergency Commission, said the Liberal government has requested some of the evidence that will be called by Commission counsel to be received in the absence of the public, on grounds that disclosure would be injurious to national security.

The request also asked that witnesses to be examined based on the classified evidence be questioned behind closed doors for the same reasons.

Having considered the Governments representations, I am satisfied that the burden has been met for this evidence in the absence of the public, Rouleau ruled.

Rouleau said the evidence includes a classified version of one of the institutional reports (IR) submitted by the government concerning the role of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) in response to the Freedom Convoy protest earlier this year.

The classified version of the lR augments the public version with information that, in the Governments view, would be injurious to national security if disclosed to the public, Rouleau said.

Neither version has been publicly released, but the judges ruling stated that the unclassified version was made available on Oct. 6 to all parties who have been granted legal standing at the inquiry.

Categories of Injury

Rouleau said after Commission counsel advised the government of their intention to examine CSIS witnesses and a witness from the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre (ITAC) on both versions, the government asked for a closed hearing related to the classified report.

In response to this notice, the Government applied to me in writing, pursuant to the Commissions Rules, for leave to have the examination of the CSIS and ITAC witnesses on the classified version of the IR heard in camera and ex parte; that is to say, in the absence of the public and the Parties, the judge said.

The Trudeau government argued that the disclosure of the classified evidence would jeopardize CSISs past or present investigations, methods of operations and investigative techniques, relationship with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and safety of its employees and informants, among several categories of injury.

Rouleau stressed that his ruling pertains only to the manner in which the evidence will initially be called, but that he will ultimately decide whether its released to the public after hearing all the evidence.

When I have heard the evidence, I will decide whether the evidence must remain confidential, he said.

I may decide that some or all of the evidence can be made public, for example in a summary that describes the evidence without disclosing information that must remain confidential.
German Economy and Climate Action Minister Robert Habeck speaks during a news conference on the future use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Berlin, Germany, on Aug. 16, 2022. (Lisi Niesner/File Photo/Reuters)

Steel Giant Shuts Down Plants in Germany, Sparking Energy Crisis Fears

The energy crisis has been hitting Europes largest economy hard, with two of Germanys largest steel manufacturing plants being forced to shut down.

ArcelorMittals plan to deactivate one of its largest steel plants in Hamburg last month caused shockwaves through out the industry.

The worlds second largest steel company also said it would later shut down a blast furnace at its Bremen site at the end of October.

ArcelorMittal is the first large industrial group in Germany to shut down production due to the energy crisis.

High energy use sectorsfrom steel, chemicals, glass, paper, to ceramics productionhave now been put on notice.

The CEO of ArcelorMittal Germany, Reiner Blaschek, warned that the German wing of the steel manufacturing giant can no longer compete with high energy prices, according to Slay News.

Rising gas and electricity prices have left many industrial firms in Germany facing input costs exceeding profitability.

With a tenfold increase in gas and electricity prices, which we had to accept, within a few months, we are no longer competitive in a market that is 25 percent supplied by imports. We see an urgent need for political action to get energy prices under control immediately, Blaschek said.

Soaring gas prices have already reduced demand for steel in manufacturing, the auto industry, and construction, while steel plant operational costs continue to go up.

Production in Germany is currently no longer competitive, said the ArcelorMittal CEO.

Russian Energy Sanctions And German Dependency

Massive cuts in Russian natural gas, triggered by European Union sanctions on Moscow over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine and the loss of key pipelines due to sabotage, have seen the German industrial sector to struggle.

European steel capacity has already been cut by about 20 percent across the bloc, with ArcelorMittal bearing most of the cuts, reported Bloomberg.

Additional energy costs in Germany are expected to exceed $10.6 billion in 2022, about 25 percent of the steel industrys average annual turnover, according to German steel trade association Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl.

The steel company said low market demand, negative economic perspectives and high CO2 costs in steel production were behind the decision to close both sites, in addition to energy costs, reported Industry Week.

Germany has not been able to import enough LNG or gas from Norway to keep electricity prices down, with much of the continent at the mercy of the market.

The decision by the firm to partially idle its massive steelworks in Hamburg and in Bremen have raised fears that German industry, the backbone of Europes biggest economy, is facing an eminent threat.

The Hamburg plant will also stop producing sponge iron on Oct. 1, a key ingredient for making steel, until further notice.

The move by ArcelorMittal has caused trouble for the supply chain, as the plant produces more than one million tonnes of steel a year for machine, automobile, ship, pipeline production, and for construction.

Workers will be kept on shorter hours at its Bremen site, joining their the 530 employees at the Hamburg plant.

The Hamburg steel plant, which consumes an enormous amount of energy, was coordinating production with local authorities to avoid interference with peak electrical usage with local residents.

The Hamburg facility consumes large amounts of natural gas, which is currently costing a premium, but without flows from Russia, the steel plant was dependent on the weatheronly able to operate when there was enough solar and wind power on the grid.

One of the smelters to produce crude iron used 76,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity in an hour, the equivalent of running half a million televisions, according to Die Welt.

We have the gas needs of the city of Lubeck and the electricity needs of Kiel, said Ansgar Juchter, an engineer at the plant, according to Slay News.

Scholzs Government Tries To Assure Public as Analysts Warn of Looming Disaster

There is concern among economists that the mounting energy crisis plaguing Germany may push the economy towards disaster if the faltering situation in its core industrial sector fails to improve.

Industrial production accounts for around 22 percent of Germanys GDP, according to AFP.

The German government is already preparing for a recession after it forecasted earlier this month a contraction in GDP of 0.4 percent in 2023.

Blaschek called for immediate political intervention as energy costs spiral out of control, saying we need competitive energy prices for industry.

Other industrial sectors are also having major problems, warned Blaschek, and any downturn in Germanys steel industry may lead to a domino effect that could take down the rest of the countrys industrial sector.

The Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) told the Frankfurter Allegmeine Zeitung that the German economy could crash to a halt if companies are unable to access more energy supplies.

More and more companies are telling us that they no longer have a supply contract for electricity or gas at all, DIHK President Peter Adrian said.

Economics Minister Robert Habeck told German industry that the government would do their best to support them during the energy crisis, reported Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland.

There is a threat of operational closures and we must address it. That is why we will expand the aid programs, the vice chancellor said.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a $198 billion energy relief fund to for struggling households and businesses, along with a temporary cap on gas prices into next year, reported AFP.

Last week, Scholz ordered his ministers to keep the countrys three remaining nuclear plants running until mid-April, after the energy crisis split his three-party coalition, reported The Associated Press.

However, Scholz will still push through a law to end coal use in Germany by 2030 and build new power plants that would burn hydrogen instead.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The P4 laboratory building at the Wuhan Institute of Virology is shown in Wuhan, China, on May 13, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Substantial Evidence COVID-19 Result of Wuhan Laboratory Incident: Senate Report

Considerable evidence points to the COVID-19 pandemic being linked to the high-level laboratory in Wuhan, China, thats located near where the first cases were reported, a U.S. Senate report released on Oct. 27 states.

Substantial evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic was the result of a research-related incident associated with a laboratory in Wuhan, China, the report states.

A research-related incident is consistent with the early epidemiology showing rapid spread of the virus exclusively in Wuhan with the earliest calls for assistance being located in the same district as the Wuhan Institute of Virologys (WIV) original campus in central Wuhan. The WIV is an epicenter of advanced coronavirus research, where researchers have collected samples of and experimented on high-risk coronaviruses.

The origins of COVID-19 are still unknown. Some scientists lean toward a lab origin, which would mean the virus leaked or was released by Chinese researchers. Others favor a natural origin theory.

The report states that a natural origin remains possible but noted that evidence found in previous instances of a virus starting in nature hasnt been identified for COVID-19, such as the original animal host.

Such gaps include the failure to identify the original host reservoir, the failure to identify a candidate intermediate host species, and the lack of serological or epidemiological evidence showing transmission from animals to humans, among others outlined in this report, the report states. As a result of these evidentiary gaps, it is hard to treat the natural zoonotic spillover theory as the presumptive origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 35-page document (pdf) was produced by minority staff on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee under the direction of Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the panels ranking Republican member. It was described as an interim report.

Staffers spent 15 months poring over hundreds of scientific studies, interviewing dozens of subject-matter experts, and analyzing previous reports and studies on the possible origins, Burr said.

I believe that this report provides a significant contribution to the existing body of evidence and helps establish parameters for how future analyses should be reviewed, he said.

The Chinese Communist Partys lack of transparency prevents reaching a more definitive conclusion, he said.

Burr and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the panels chair, in June 2021 announced a bipartisan effort that was to include reviewing information from federal agencies and relevant experts regarding the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, and regarding how to improve the nations ability to assess the safety and security of biosafety laboratories.

Neither Murray nor her staff were said to be involved in the interim report.

Murrays spokesperson didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment by press time.

The report came after a recent study concluded that the odds of a natural origin for COVID-19 were less than 1 in 100 million after analyzing qualitative aspects, such as virus features.
Then-Arizona GOP senate candidate Kelli Ward concedes the primary in a speech to supporters at an election night event in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Aug. 28, 2018. (Ralph Freso/Getty Images)

Supreme Court Justice Kagan Temporarily Blocks Jan. 6 Committee Subpoena for Phone Records of Arizona GOP Chair

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has temporarily blocked the Jan. 6 Committees subpoena seeking phone records belonging to Arizona Republican Party chairwoman Kelli Ward, while the high court considers her emergency appeal.

The Jan. 6 committees subpoena had asked Wards phone carrier, T-Mobile, to produce call and text message records from November 2020 to January 2021.

Kagans decision on Wednesday is granting an emergency application that Ward and her husband filed earlier in the day seeking to prevent their phone records from being turned over to the Jan. 6 committee, after a lower appeals court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, voted 2-1 to deny her request.

Kagan gave the Jan. 6 committee until Friday evening to respond to Wards Supreme Court filing.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stands during a group photograph of thejJustices at the Supreme Court in Washington on April 23, 2021. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Ward had argued that her First Amendment rights would be challenged if the committee found out whom she spoke with following the November 2020 presidential election.

She and her husband were among 11 Republican Arizona residents on an alternate slate of electors for former President Donald Trump. The group cast alternative Electoral College votes showing that Trump had won Arizona, after the state had certified the election in favor of President Joe Biden. At the time, Ward said the electors believe they represent the legally cast votes in Arizona.

Read More Explainer: Dueling Electors and the Upcoming Joint Session of Congress

Another six states had also cast dueling votes for Trump following the November 2020 electionPennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico.

The Jan. 6 committees subpoena is seeking the phone records as part of its probe into Wards role as an alternate elector.

The Wards in court papers on Wednesday characterized the Jan. 6 probe as a politically motivated one that carried profound precedential implications for a persons constitutional right to free political association.
The Supreme Court of Canada is pictured under fall coloured leaves in Ottawa, on Oct. 20, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick)

Supreme Court Will Not Hear Appeal of Manitobas Public-Sector Wage Freeze

The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear an appeal from unions that consider the Manitoba governments public-sector wage freeze a violation of collective bargaining rights.

Just over a year ago, the provincial Court of Appeal ruled the government was within its rights to legislate the wage freeze.

It said the original judge from what was then the Court of Queens Bench erred in deciding the legislation violated bargaining rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Moreover, the appeal court said, the government removed only wages from the bargaining table, not any other issue.

The decision prompted public-sector labour groups to appeal to the Supreme Court.

As usual, the top court gave no reasons for refusing today to hear the case.
In his new memoir, Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story, U2-frontman Bono regales a story about the Provisional IRA, who he claimed had set their sights on him and his family because of his open denouncement of armed Irish Republicanism. The Belfast Telegraph summed it up as such:

Bono recalled Mr Adams saying he "stinks" after it was perceived that "U2's opposition to paramilitaries (of all kinds) had cost the IRA valuable fundraising in the US". Bono, who spoke for the first time about his memoir last night at The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, writes, however, that he was told by special branch officers that his wife, formerly Ali Stewart, was the more likely target. "I still take that badly," he writes. He also mentions a discovery in the 1990s that a "famous gangland leader in Dublin had been planning to kidnap [his daughters], that [the gangster's] people had been casing our houses for several months and developed an elaborate plan".

The "Mr Adams" in question is, of course, Gerry Adams. The former leader of the Irish political party Sinn Fein, Adam is perhaps more famously known as the guy who's spent the last 50 years denying that he was ever the commander of the IRA during the Troubles, despite the fact that pretty much the entire world has accepted this claim as an open secret at this point. After spending the 80s having his voice banned on broadcast by Margaret Thatcher, Adams ultimately played a significant diplomatic role during the Northern Irish Peace Process, but has continued to shrug off claims that he was the mastermind of the IRA as recently as 2014, when he was detained by police during an investigation long-unresolved IRA murder. Even then, Adams cheerily cooperated with the authorities, all while denying that he was ever personally involved in the IRA.

Upon hearing the news about Bono, however, Adams sang a different tune. In a message to a local Belfast newspaper, Adams said:

I understand from press reports that [Bono] says his wife Ali and he were targets for the IRA. That's news to me.

That's some  interesting phrasing, for a man who has historically been quite careful with his words (impressively or frustratingly so, depending who you ask). Yet Adams went on, saying that Bono's criticisms of the IRA at the time were indeed "shrill, ill-informed and unhelpful," before adding:

You echoed the Irish establishment line. It was the wrong line for decades. A failure of governance and the abandonment of responsibility to lead a process of peace and justice. Thankfully that changed. But it took a long time. Despite this some of us got through it all. With or without you.

Diddid Gerry Adams just finally acknowledge being in charge of the IRA, just to make a U2 joke? Truly, what a time to be alive.

This is objectively the funniest possible way that Gerry Adams could have confessed to being in the leadership of the IRA https://t.co/K0qeO2Lhcc  Michael McDoormat (@GlassHalfArsed) October 25, 2022

Bono's claims the IRA targeted the U2 frontman is 'news to me', says Gerry Adams [Amy Cochrane / Belfast Telegraph]
Q: Our Rottweiler has a docked tail, as do many dogs in the United States. While watching a British dog show on television, I noticed that all the show dogs had natural, undocked tails. Why?

A: Many countries ban cosmetic tail docking, or amputation of the tail, because the risks of long-term problems are greater than any perceived cosmetic benefit.

Tail docking handicaps dogs, robbing them of the ability to use their tails to signal their moods and intentions. Conversely, when a dog with a full-length tail wags it to greet another dog, the other dog is less apt to feel threatened and respond aggressively.

Dogs also use their tails for balance while running and as rudders when they swim, so dogs with docked tails have additional disadvantages.

Cosmetic tail amputation further harms dogs because it can cause chronic tail pain. This pain can sensitize the central nervous system, making minor discomforts anywhere in the body feel extremely painful for the remainder of the dogs life.

Several situations can cause chronic pain after tail docking: a) the dog may experience phantom limb pain of the tail, a common occurrence after any amputation; b) the person amputating the tail may cut through a tail bone instead of between two bones; c) insufficient skin may remain to cover the boney stub; and d) a painful nerve tumor called a neuroma can form at the amputation site.

In the United States, tail docking is usually done without anesthesia on very young puppies by breeders or veterinarians. In the UK, tail docking is banned, as it is in most European and South American countries, Iceland, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and many other nations.

Q: I rarely find ticks on my indoor-outdoor cats, so I assume they groom any ticks off their bodies before they become embedded. Does this mean I dont have to apply a tick preventive?

A: Your cats may indeed be grooming most of the ticks off their bodies, although I frequently see ticks on cats faces. Because even one tick can cause disease, I recommend you use a tick preventive regularly.

In cats, the most serious tick-borne disease is cytauxzoonosis, which is caused by a one-celled protozoal parasite called Cytauxzoon felis. This parasite lives in bobcats without causing them much difficulty. When a lone star tick or an American dog tick bites an infected bobcat, it ingests the parasite.

Soon after the infected tick bites a domestic cat, clinical signs of cytauxzoonosis appear. Within a week, the disease progresses from fever, loss of appetite, breathing problems, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen to death.

Aggressive treatment must be started immediately and continued for up to a week before the cat begins to improve. Because treatment is expensive and often unsuccessful, prevention is crucial.

Cytauxzoonosis occurs throughout the world. In the United States, the disease is most prevalent in the South and Midwest. It affects only cats; despite its name, cytauxzoonosis is not a zoonotic disease that spreads to humans.

Ticks also transmit Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and tularemia bacteria, which can cause fever; loss of appetite; lethargy; and other problems in cats.

So ask your veterinarian to recommend a tick and flea preventive for your cats, and use it throughout the year. Or better yet, keep your cats indoors, where they will be protected not only from tick-borne diseases but also from predators, automobiles, toxins, and other dangers.
Fairfax County parents and residents protested against a library holiday display featuring the Bible next to "Gender Queer" and "Lawn Boy"the two challenged books returned to Fairfax County school libraries after the Thanksgiving holidayoutside Dolley Madison Public Library in McLean, Va., on Dec. 11, 2021. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times)

Texas Lawmaker, Parents Battle School District Over Sexual Content in Libraries

A Texas state representative and local parents say theyve battled mostly woke school board trustees for almost a year to remove sexually explicit books from their citys school libraries.

Its been a very long story and a very big fight, State Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican from Frisco, told The Epoch Times.

Patterson said he started objecting to sexually explicit books in November 2021.

However, when school began in August, there were still 28 books with sexual or inappropriate content on library shelves in Frisco Independent School District libraries, he said.

Neighboring districts or publishers had already pulled these books from school library shelves, he said. But Friscos superintendent and most of the board members had stonewalled efforts by him and other parents to remove the books that included descriptions of child rape, homosexual encounters, masturbation, and incidents of physical and sexual abuse.

Frisco Independent School District (ISD) put the books through a process of staff review and reconsideration by committee. But the rubric they used to judge the books appropriateness didnt mention obscenity. Of the 28 books of concern, only five were pulled, he said.

They hand-picked these local liberal activists to be on these reconsideration committees that they knew werent going to pull any of these books, he said.

Patterson appealed. Staff members reviewed the remaining books, eventually pulling another 21 titles, he said.

State Rep. Jared Patterson, a Republican in Frisco, Texas. (Courtesy of Jared Patterson)

The book Identical finally was pulled after parent Shanon Ayres read excerpts during her turn to speak at an October school board meeting. The passage she read aloud from the podium explicitly describes a father raping his young daughter.

Ayres is a board member of the watchdog group County Citizens Defending Freedom in Frisco. Persuading board members to remove the books has been an uphill battle because only two conservatives sit on the board, Ayres told The Epoch Times.

Parents need to be aware of whats happening in their schools and stand up to protect their children, she said.

This is the hill we are ready to die on. Theyre after our kids.

Elected school officials who do nothing, or oppose parental efforts to protect children, will be challenged next election cycle, Ayres told school board trustees at the meeting.

They cant hide behind claims that removing books would violate students rights, she said.

Minors arent allowed to carry guns, and that isnt an infringement on their Second Amendment rights, she pointed out. Likewise, taking filth out of libraries doesnt infringe upon their First Amendment rights, as some have claimed.

Childrens books containing transgender and homosexual content on display at the library in Columbia, Tenn., in 2022. (Courtesy of Aaron Miller)

School librarians invite people they know to sit on book-review committees, including at least one left-wing teacher who supports Antifa and Black Lives Matter, Ayres said.

School board trustees could pull those books overnight if they wanted to, Ayres said.

On Oct. 17, Patterson joined forces with state Rep. Matt Shaheen, a Republican from Plano, and state Sen. Drew Springer, a Republican from Muenster. Together, they met with Frisco ISD superintendent Mike Waldrip and Rene Archambault, the school board president. Their discussion of the books issue didnt go well, Patterson said.

The bottom line is theres just a culture within the school district of acceptance in promoting these types of materials, he said.

By example, he pointed out an official counselor Instagram page for Emerson High School.

The counselor posted an image about relieving anxiety by utilizing sex toys, Patterson said. That counselor is still employed in the district.

The next step for Patterson and the parents will be an escalated request, known as a level-three appeal on Oct. 26, asking again to remove the remaining seven books they say are inappropriate for children. They include: Check, Please! #1 Hocky, Chicken Girl, Glass, Glass Castle, Perks of being a Wildflower, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and The Exact Opposite of Okay.

On a level-three appeal, trustees will vote on the issue.

Neither the Frisco ISD communications department nor Archambault responded to requests for comment.
George Washington, Napoleon, The Three Graces, and others

In 1820, the preeminent neoclassical sculptor Antonio Canova completed a marble sculpture of George Washington that divided many viewers. Dressed as a Roman emperor, the over life-sized, seated Washington appears middle-aged, relaxed, and confident as he contemplates what hes written on the tablet he holds.

Canova inscribed To the Great Nation of the United States of America on the bottom of the sculpture.

Thomas Jefferson had suggested that Canova, an Italian, create the work because he deemed no American sculptor capable; however, not everyone agreed with that sentiment. When the marble first came to the Hall of the Senate in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Dec. 24, 1821, opinions differed. The Raleigh Register viewed it as Doubtless the best specimen of the fine arts in the United States, while American historian R.D.W. Connor, in his 1910 history of the sculpture, wrote that some viewers accused Canova of Romanizing the American general, declaring it to be a better statue of Julius Caesar than of George Washington.

To gain Washingtons likeness, Canova used a bust that Italian sculptor Giuseppe Ceracchi had created from life. According to The Frick Collection website, while Canova carved Washington, he had assistants and his half-brother read aloud a history of the American Revolution. Canova later wrote of the first president that he was the immortal Washington  the genius who has performed such sublime deeds, for the safety and liberty of his country.

A 1910 plaster replica of an 1821 marble sculpture of George Washington, created by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova, is now on display at the North Carolina Museum of History. The original sculpture was destroyed in a fire in 1831. (Public Domain)

To understand why Canova chose to create his Washington in a seated position, we need to look at his sculpture Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, explains art lecturer Christina Ferando in her talk on Canova for The Frick Collection. He depicted a standing, nude Napoleon triumphantly holding a statue of Nike, the goddess of victory. But Canova couldnt design a similar monumental work for his Washington piece because the display space available was not large enough; the rooms ceiling was too low to effectively show the sculptures grandeur. In addition, he knew that Americans would be offended by a nude Washington, so he clothed him.

Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker, 18031809, by Antonio Canova. Bronze; 127 3/4 inches. Palace of Brera, in Milan, Italy. (SeaRain/Shutterstock)

Reviving the Ancient Greek Heritage of Sculpture

Canova (17571822) created his Washington piece at the end of an illustrious career. Hed worked for popes, European royals, aristocrats, and politicians, including Napoleon, the Duke of Wellington, and Catherine the Great. Canova worked at a time of great discovery: Archaeologists had begun excavating ancient sites in Rome and then in Greece.

A detail of Antonio Canovas memorial cenotaph for Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria in Augustin Church, Vienna. (Alessandro Cristiano/Shutterstock)

Early in his career, Canova became known for reviving the ancient Greek heritage of sculpture. Some, at the time, even called him the modern Phidias (circa 480430 B.C.). Equating Canova to the ancient Greek sculptor was a grand gesture, and Canova would have been flattered by the comparison, as he believed the works of Phidias are truly flesh and blood, like beautiful nature itself, according to Jean Martineau and Andrew Robinson in their book The Glory of Venice: Art in the Eighteenth Century.

According to legend, only Phidias had seen the exact image of the gods, which he imparted to man. Phidias oversaw the Parthenons complete sculptural design, making several important sculptures for the temple, such as his now lost 38-foot-high Athena Parthenos made in gold and ivory that held Nike in her hand. Similarly, Canova depicted Napoleon holding Nike in his work Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker.

A self-portrait by Antonio Canova. Oil on canvas; 26 3/4 inches by 21 5/8 inches. (Public Domain)

Antonio Canovas self-portrait in marble is displayed near Canovas tomb inside the Temple of Canova, in Possagno, Italy. (LorenzoPeg/Shutterstock)

In 1779, when he was in his early 20s, Canova finished a sculpture of the ancient Greek mythical inventor, architect, and sculptor Daedalus and his son Icarus, titled Daedalus and Icarus. The work shows Canovas Baroque style before he went to Rome; he later became known for his neoclassical works.

In this work, we can see Daedalus carefully fashioning wings on his son by binding feathers to his back with wax. Daedalus made wings for himself too, and the pair used their wings to fly, fleeing the clutches of King Minos. Famously, Icarus died. His father warned him not to fly too high, yet he did. Icaruss bravado enticed him to fly closer to the sun, which then melted the wax on his makeshift wings, and he fell into the sea and drowned.

Daedalus and Icarus, 17771779, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 78 1/2 inches by 37 1/4 inches by 38 inches. Correr Museum, in Venice, Italy. (Livioandronico2013/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Daedalus and Icarus fled from King Minos after Daedalus had a hand in saving the life of the young Athenian prince Theseus by giving Theseuss beloved, Minoss daughter Ariadne, the secret to escape the labyrinth of the dreaded Minotaur. The Minotaur had the body of a man and the head of a bull. Theseus entered the labyrinth, offering himself as the Minotaurs sacrifice.

Theseus and the Minotaur, 1782, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 57 1/4 inches by 62 1/2 inches by 36 inches. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (Public Domain)

In his neoclassical sculpture Theseus and the Minotaur, Canova chose to depict Theseus towering over the Minotaur hed just slain. The work represents the contemplative mind (Theseus) triumphant over the material body (the dead Minotaur), scholar David Bindman said in his Sydney J. Freedberg Lecture on Italian Art in 2015.

Many people who saw Theseus and the Minotaur couldnt quite believe it was an original work by Canova rather than a copy of an ancient Greek sculpture. It was this work and his first papal commission in Rome, Pope Clement XIVs tomb (completed 1787) in the Santi Dodici Apostoli basilica, that cemented Canovas fame across Europe.

Pope Clement XIVs tomb, by Antonio Canova, in the Santi Dodici Apostoli basilica, in Rome. (essevu/Shutterstock)

At the height of his fame, Canova created his best-known works, including The Three Graces, Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss, and Pauline Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victorious.

Pauline Borghese Bonaparte as Venus Victorious, 18011807, by Antonio Canova. Marble. Borghese Gallery, in Rome, Italy. (Vasilii L/Shutterstock)

To Color or Not

For centuries, the pure white marble statue was the quintessential image of ancient sculpture. The idea of uncolored ancient sculpture arose during the late Italian Renaissance, when the sculptures fit the artists ideal, as Vinzenz Brinkmann explains in a video on the Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection website. Brinkmann is the head of the department of antiquity at the Liebieghaus Sculpture Collection in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. For 40 years, his team has been researching ancient artists use of color. (This is explored in The Metropolitan Museum of Arts current exhibition Chroma: Ancient Sculpture in Color.)

White had long symbolized light and godliness. Using lighter or white marble for the face or parts of the body may have been one way of representing gods or god-like emperors, differentiating them from mortals or their bodies from the clothes they might be wearing, scholar David Bindman explained in his talk.

During the 18th century, archaeologists unearthed ancient Romanand then ancient Greekartifacts with traces of paint. Despite this discovery, the myth of uncolored ancient art persisted. Even in the 20th century when researchers used science to confirm that color was used on ancient statues, the idea of ancient sculpture being white still reigned.

Hebe, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 25 5/8 inches by 63 inches by 33 1/2 inches. The State Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Public Domain)

Yet whats particularly fascinating about Canova is how he finished his works by reintroducing color and gilding (dorures) as the ancients once did. Bindman noted that Canova had actually seen colored pigments on the surface of ancient sculptures. Canovas friend, archaeology enthusiast Antoine-Chrysostome Quatremere de Quincy, was one of the first to note that the ancient Greeks once applied color to their sculpture and architecture.

Canovas patrons, however, found his new embellishments jarring. They believed that pure white sculptures were true to ancient tradition. For instance, Bindman explained that when the Duke of Bedford commissioned Canova to make him a sculpture of The Three Graces, he gave clear instructions that it should be cleaned down to bare marble.

Admired by Design

Many museums and art galleries were founded during Canovas lifetime, and he was one of the first to create works solely for museum display rather than for architectural settings.

Canova made the designs for the sculptures, and his workshop assistants created the initial figures, leaving the final finishing touches for their master to perfect. According to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London website, the Duke of Bedford described The Three Graces as unsurpassed by any modern specimen of the art of sculpture, and noted The morbidezza,that look of living softness given to the surface of the marble, which appears as if it would yield to the touch.

The Three Graces, 18151817, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 68 1/8 inches by 38 1/4 inches by 22 3/8 inches. Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (Shuishouyue/CC BY SA- 3.0)

When Canova designed those works, he considered every aspect and viewing angle. For example, hed design architecture to house a work, control how the piece would be lit, and even alter existing architecture to ensure that his sculptures were seen in the best possible way.

Today, were used to seeing museum artworks from afarbehind glass, a security rope, or from below at statues placed on pedestals. Art lovers in Canovas time viewed art differently. They were allowed to interact with the sculptures. They could touch and sometimes even rotate them. Viewers could turn Canovas sculpture Cupid and Psyche 360 degrees via a small metal handle in the base, Ferando explains in her talk for The Frick Collection. Viewers could also rotate some of Canovas sculpture groupings. The two wrestlers in his Fight Between Creugas and Damoxenos could be individually rotated 180 degrees, which meant that they still made visual sense as a pair. If he allowed them to be rotated 360 degrees, one could be facing the other way and not fighting the other.

Cupid and Psyche, 1808, by Antonio Canova. Marble; 59 inches tall. Museum visitors could once rotate this sculpture. The State Hermitage Museum, in St. Petersburg, Russia. (Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock)

Viewers were also encouraged to see the art by torchlight, as they believed the ancients once did. The polish throws upon the parts which are lighted so great brilliancy as frequently to make invisible the most laborious diligence, German art historian Johann Joachim Winckelmann wrote.

In Light of Washington

When Canovas George Washington sculpture was unveiled in Raleigh, a newspaper commented: Even the celebrated Statues of the Apollo of Belvidere [sic] and the Venus of Medici have their blemishes, but the Statue of Washington, like Washington himself, is without a stain or spot.

Today, we cannot see Canovas original marble sculpture of George Washington because fire destroyed it in 1831. But just as we can sometimes see ancient Greek sculptures only through ancient Roman copies or plaster casts, visitors can see a plaster cast replica of Canovas model for the work, as well as a 1970 marble copy.

Canovas George Washington sculpture summarizes the artists approach to making great neoclassical art. He kept the essence of what he believed was the ancient Greek tradition of sculpturethe color, form, and accessorieswhile staying true to contemporary sensibilities.
A favorite teaching trick of mine, in my work as a tour guide in Europe, is to build a Gothic cathedral out of tourists. It just takes 13 bodies: six columns, six buttresses, and a spire. Imagine the scene: raised arms creating pointed arches, plenty of space between the columns for stained glass, and the buttresses taking a step back to become flying buttresses  its perfect. When the skinny spire muscles her way into the sky, and the skeleton of support stands strong, all involved will forever better understand the medieval genius of Gothic.

Europe is a treasure chest of great art and history. And our challenge is to enjoy it.

As a kid on family trips to Europe, I dutifully went to the great galleries because my mom said it would be a crime not to. Touring places like the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, I was surrounded by people looking like they were having a good time  and I was convinced they were faking it. I thought, How could anybody enjoy this stuff? A few years later, after a class in classical art history, that same museum was a fascinating trip into the world of Pericles and Socrates, all because of some background knowledge.

People ask me about saving money on museum tickets. And while you can save a little here and there, a better budget tip is to make those experiences more worthwhile. Those who bring an understanding with them will enjoy the art and architecture a lot more. And when you appreciate the context in which things were made, paintings and statues become the closest thing youll get to a time machine in your travels.

Learn who paid for what youre looking at and why. Climbing the dark spiral staircase in Paris Sainte-Chapelle, you suddenly emerge in the most beautifully lit medieval chapel in Europe  a virtual lantern of 800-year-old stained glass built to house what people believed was Jesus crown of thorns. Standing in a radiant shower of colored light filtering through that glass and knowing that, so long ago, King Louis IX of France paid a fortune to build the most glorious space in all of Europe to properly house this relic, takes you back.

See things in the context of the age they were created. Stepping into Milans Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Leonardos Last Supper comes vividly to life when you understand what a blessing it was for the friars  who for centuries ate in silence under that fresco  to dine in such divine company.

Rick Steves and crew with Leonardo da Vincis Last Supper at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. (Rick Steves)

Let art be ground-breaking. Looking into the eyes of Michelangelos David in Florence, you see more than a shepherd boy sizing up a giant: You see humankind stepping out of the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance  and our modern world. And you can imagine feeling proud to be a Florentine.

Venture out of your comfort zone. At Pariss Musee dOrsay, watching a group of first-graders sit on the floor in front of a painting of a naked prostitute as they learn about Edouard Manet and the Realists of the 19th century  you realize art appreciation is a frontier, and we can all be students  wide-eyed, inspired, and free to venture in.

Its more than knowing the best views and angles. Its recognizing just how many Madonnas and Children your travel partners can enjoy before their eyes glaze over. Its being atop the Acropolis in Athens in the cool of the early evening  when the crowds are gone and the magic hour light warms the stony brilliance of the Parthenon. Its succumbing to art as propaganda  letting a divine monarch or a corrupt pope con you into compliance  just for a moment.

From 20,000-year-old cave paintings in the Dordogne, to todays street art in Glasgow, from El Grecos faces flickering like candles, to Botticellis Cupid shooting his arrow blindfolded, and sultry Art Nouveau that make me mutter m-m-m-much more Mucha  these are a few favorite artistic moments that await travelers to Europe.

I recently completed the final shoot for a new television series about European art. As we filmed the last tiny pieces, it felt like finishing a massive puzzle: a saint riddled with arrows, a hidden self-portrait, pudgy winged babies, a six-year-old prince painted looking impossibly good on a horse, a fanciful castle that earned a romantic king the nickname Mad, and abstract art looking like how atonal music sounds. Now that puzzle is complete. The story of Europe is told through its art, and it is ready for you to enjoy.
A general view shows voting results during a U.N. General Assembly meeting at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Oct. 12, 2022. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

Top US Banks Under Investigation Over ESG and Climate Action

A coalition of 19 state attorneys general (AGs) from across the country launched a formal investigation into six major U.S. banks, citing legal concerns about banks ESG investing and their involvement with a U.N. alliance fighting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

The banks appear to be colluding with the U.N. to destroy American companies and undermine the nations best interests, one of the AGs told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.

Another AG argued that these U.N.-inspired banking policies were resulting in jobs being sent to communist China as the regime there continues building coal-fired power plants to ensure low-cost, reliable energy.

The new investigation is the latest salvo by Republican-led states amid growing nationwide concerns about the woke policies of financial institutions and other powerful business interests.

Multiple AGs who spoke to The Epoch Times about the probe said it was their job to enforce consumer protection laws and protect citizens in their states from potentially illegal activity by companies.

In particular, officials are investigating the banks involvement in the controversial U.N. Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). The global network of banks, convened and overseen by the U.N., pledges to eliminate emissions of so-called greenhouse gases by 2050 by transforming their lending and investment practices.

Numerous AGs sounded the alarm about the U.N.s involvement in targeting key American industries as banks cede policymaking influence to the global organization.

The top law-enforcement officers for the group of mostly Republican-controlled states said they have reason to believe that the banks being investigated agreed to align their investing and loan portfolios with U.N. emissions goals.

The goals, outlined in the U.N. Paris Agreement on climate change, call for a transformation of the economy away from traditional energy sources. Government and business leaders in developed nations, including the United States and Western Europe, agreed to pursue significant reductions in CO2.

The effect of these policies, the AGs said, would be to starve key industries of creditespecially companies in the energy and agriculture sectors that are critical to the prosperity and even the national security of the United States.

The banks being scrutinized by the AGs include Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup.

Each of the companies was recently served with civil investigative demands, essentially acting as a subpoena, demanding that they turn over documents related to their involvement in the U.N. NZBA.

The banks are also expected to provide records of all Global Climate Initiatives in which theyre participating and how these U.N.-backed agendas are being incorporated into their businesses, civil investigative demands reviewed by The Epoch Times show.

The banks are also being asked to give details on the involvement of their CEOs in the process and how the decisions were made.

Also under scrutiny are banking actions related to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing. The controversial metrics take into consideration environmental and social policies in making business decisions, rather than simply the traditional metrics of risk and return.

Critics say ESG investing is being used to impose unpopular and economically harmful ideas on Americans while forcing businesses across the economy to adopt them. The term is increasingly being linked by opponents to a woke mentality, social justice ideas, and radical left-wing politics.

AGs Speak Out

We got involved in this investigation because this is another attempt by the liberal woke left to shove their ideas down our throats, and since they cant change the laws using the political process, they want to do it by weaponizing business, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. They are doing this out of some misplaced desire to advance their liberal agenda.

But it may not be legal, Knudsen and many other state AGs say.

This seems to run afoul of our consumer protection laws that Im in charge of enforcing, Knudsen told The Epoch Times, saying his office and elected officials at all levels were under growing public pressure to address the issue and potential legal violations.

It gets cold here in Montana. We need a robust energy sector to keep our homes warmand we certainly cant do that using wind and solar.

Knudsen, whos also working with a coalition of state AGs focusing on investment behemoth BlackRock, said this was essentially a continuation of the same issue: Powerful banking and financial interests seeking to improperly impose their views on the public.

You have corporate banking and the investment industry trying to flex their muscle and pressure businesses into a political direction and political action, he said. But thats not their function. Their job is to provide credit and earn profit for shareholders.

This is a continuation of the woke ESG garbage that were having to deal with more and more.

Going forward, Knudsen said that everything is on the table, depending on the outcome of the investigation. Under consumer protection laws, the state has the authority to levy civil fines.

Knudsen said Montana lawmakers, who are also under growing public pressure, intend to take strong legislative action when the state Legislature reconvenes next year.

The effects of these banking policies are hurting numerous legal industries, he said, pointing to firearms businesses as examples of those being pinched by financial services and even insurance companies.

These companies need to be held accountable, so we are all looking at what authorities are available, Knudsen said. All options are definitely on the table.

In Oklahoma, Attorney General John OConnor said his office joined the investigation for two primary reasons: America is not run by the U.N., and these banks are attacking Oklahoma fossil-fuel producers and consumers, as well as Oklahoma jobs.

The Net-Zero Banking Alliance, overseen by the U.N., will destroy companies that are engaged in fossil fuel-related activities or depend on them for energy or these lenders for capital, he told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. It is unacceptable that these banks are pushing an investment strategy designed to impose a leftist social and economic agenda.

The subpoenas sent to the banks by OConnors office include requests to explain how NZBA objectives are being incorporated into the banks operations and what actions theyve taken to eliminate hydrocarbon energy from the economy.

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sounded the alarm about what his office described as an apparent conspiracy involving the U.N. and the banks being probed.

These banks appear to be colluding with the U.N. to destroy American companies that specialize in fossil fuels or otherwise depend on them for energy, Rokita said. They are pushing an investment strategy designed not to maximize financial returns but to impose a leftist social and economic agenda that cannot otherwise be implemented through the ballot box.

Blasting ESG investing as a scheme, the Indiana AG vowed to protect the people of his state.

This new woke-ism in the financial sector poses a real threat to everyday Hoosiers, he said. Indianas farmers, truck drivers, and fuel-industry workers are hurt when the radical left attacks whole segments of our economy. And its troubling that these banks in the Net-Zero Banking Alliance are taking marching orders from U.N. globalists all-too-eager to undermine Americas best interests.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said the Net-Zero Banking Alliance was a major threat to key industries in his state.

Missouri farmers, oil leasing companies, and other businesses that are vital to Missouris and Americas economy will be unable to get a loan because of this alliance, Schmitt told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement.

Missouri became the latest state to divest from BlackRock over its woke policies, announcing that it would withdraw roughly $500 million of pension fund investments held with the increasingly controversial financial giant.

Blasting the banks for ceding authority to the U.N., the Missouri AG said these actions would result in the killing of American companies that dont subscribe to the woke climate agenda.

These banks are accountable to American lawswe dont let international bodies set the standards for our businesses, Schmitt said.

The Missouri AG has become increasingly vocal about the threat that he believes these trends pose to the nation, sounding the alarm about how these woke policies benefit communist China and its economy at Americas expense.

This summer, Schmitts office also sent civil investigative demands involving ESG investing to Morningstar and Sustainalytics.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to get to the bottom of the relationship between the U.N. and the banks potential legal violations.

The radical climate change movement has been waging an all-out war against American energy for years, and the last thing Americans need right now are corporate activists helping the left bankrupt our fossil fuel industry, the Texas AG said.

If the largest banks in the world think they can get away with lying to consumers or taking any other illegal action designed to target a vital American industry like energy, theyre dead wrong. This investigation is just getting started, and we wont stop until we get to the truth.

Other states that are investigating include Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Virginia. At least five other states have joined but cant be named due to state confidentiality policies.

In August, a similar coalition of state AGs warned BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, a board member of the World Economic Forum and the powerful Council on Foreign Relations, that his companys policies may be illegal.

Our states will not idly stand for our pensioners retirements to be sacrificed for BlackRocks climate agenda, they said, pointing to several potential legal violations involving the politically connected firms ESG investing.

Effects and Implications

Bloomberg, a media outlet that has vocally supported the U.N. climate agenda and was founded by Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) co-chair Michael Bloomberg, complained this month that Fink and other key financial leaders wouldnt be attending the upcoming U.N. COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

With more than $135 trillion in assets, GFANZ was supposed to be the planets ticket to a more climate-friendly form of finance. But a year later, its unclear how members will live up to their promises, Bloomberg writer Alastair Marsh reported, pointing to Republican states efforts as part of the reason.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is among the Republican political leaders aiming to stop woke policies at banks. Hes asking lawmakers to pass legislation in the 2023 session to rein in ESG policies.

Multiple states have pulled or are working to pull public money out of woke financial institutions.

West Virginia even created a Restricted Financial Institution List of banks that are banned from banking contracts with the state. Several of the banks now being investigated are on that list.

Our own money is being weaponized against us, West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore told The Epoch Times in August.

The U.N. Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), which oversees the Net-Zero Banking Alliance, boasted on its website of helping to catalyze action across the financial system to deliver more sustainable global economies.

The UNEP-FI website states, Weve established the worlds foremost sustainability frameworks that help the finance industry address global environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges.

In a response to a request for comment sent by The Epoch Times, the U.N. Net-Zero Banking Alliance provided a statement attributable to no particular person that didnt address the questions asked by the newspaper.

Membership in the Alliance is a voluntary commitment, under which member banks commit to align their lending and investing activities to net-zero emissions pathways by 2050, the NZBA statement reads. This commitment is underpinned by credible, widely accepted climate science that demonstrates the need for urgent reductions in human-caused emissions in order to curtail the worst effects of climate change.

Even as states push back, the Biden administration is working to support and entrench ESG policies in American business. European regulators are, too.

State AGs who spoke with The Epoch Times said, to their knowledge, the banks hadnt yet responded to the civil investigative demands.

A spokesman for Citi said the bank would decline to comment at this time. None of the other banks responded to emails and phone calls by The Epoch Times requesting comment by press time.

The state AGs said more information will be released to the public as the investigations continue.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 6, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press)

Trudeau Pushes Back on Challenge to Use of Emergencies Act After Position of Police Forces Revealed

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pushed back Wednesday on recent challenges to the federal governments use of the Emergencies Act in February after both the Ottawa Police Service (OPS) and Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said they could have cleared Freedom Convoy protesters without emergency powers, and it was revealed that RCMP commissioner had said not all options had been exhausted hours before the act was used.

Trudeau said during question period in the House of Commons on Oct. 26 that he is eager to testify before the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC), which is investigating if the federal governments use of the Emergencies Act was justified.

[The Emergencies Act] was both necessary and done responsibly, Trudeau said.

That is why we launched a public inquiry to shed light on all the reasons why it was invoked, so that Canadians can learn, impartially and in a nonpartisan fashion, why it was the right thing to do, why it was done in a limited and proportional fashion, and that it worked to put an end to the truckers occupation that was illegal.

OPS interim chief Steve Bell told the POEC on Oct. 25 that police could have cleared away Ottawa Freedom protesters without the additional powers granted by the Emergencies Act.

In the absence of the invocation of the Emergencies Act, the OPS, the OPP, the RCMPas part of unified commandwere going to clear the protests, Bell said.

The federal government invoked the Emergencies Act during the afternoon of Feb. 14. Just hours prior, RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki informed the Liberal cabinet that they had not yet exhausted all available tools that are already available through the existing legislation.

Former OPP senior officer Carson Pardy recently told the POEC that the Emergencies Act was helpful, but not necessary.

We had some help with [the provincial declaration of emergency] and the Emergencies Act, but in my humble opinion, we would have reached the same solution with the plan that we had without either of those pieces of legislation, Pardy said on Oct. 21.

Necessary

Responding to questions about Luckis Feb. 14 email saying the Emergencies Act wasnt needed, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said it doesnt change her previous testimony before a parliamentary committee when she said the emergency powers were necessary to end the Freedom Convoy protests.

[Lucki] said very clearly that the Emergencies Act was needed to resolve the situation on the ground, Mendicino told reporters on Parliament Hill on Oct. 25.

Lucki told the House of Commons public safety committee in February that the Emergencies Act allowed the RCMP to bar additional protesters from joining the Freedom Convoy in downtown Ottawa, which she said they couldnt have done under ordinary laws.

Operationally, it was all about reducing that footprint in Ottawa, she told the committee on Feb. 25, adding that the RCMP used the Emergencies Act as a big deterrent to people against coming into the area.

We did use the measures that were put in the Emergencies Act, along with other authorities that we had, she said.

Mendicino also told reporters on Oct. 25 that the federal government listened carefully to the array [of] advice that we were getting at the time.

We consulted with various partners, provincially, territorially, etc., he said. But we took the decision because it was necessary.
(LR) Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and former President Donald Trump, who were then-Republican presidential candidates, chat during a commercial break in the broadcast of a presidential primary debate at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., on March 10, 2016. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Trump to Hold Campaign Rally for Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida

Former President Donald Trump will hold a Get Out the Vote rally with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Nov. 6, just two days before the midterm elections, Trumps Save America PAC announced on Wednesday.

The Republican senator is up for reelection against his Democrat opponent, U.S. Rep. Val Demings.

President Trump delivered a historic red wave for Florida in the 2018 midterms with his slate of endorsed candidates up and down the ballot and molded the Sunshine State into the MAGA stronghold it is today, the news release said. Thanks to President Trump, Florida is no longer a purple state; its an America First Red State.

Trump threw his support behind Rubio in April, saying the senator would never let the people of Florida or this country down.

The two were rivals during the 2016 presidential election but eventually became allies. Trump praised Rubio for his work as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, where Rubio presided over an investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Polls are showing Rubio with a lead over Demings. A survey from Florida Atlantic Universitys Business and Economics Polling Initiative showed Rubio garnering the support of 48 percent of registered voters, with Demings only getting 42 percent support.

A poll by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy shows Rubio with a 6-point lead over Demings, Politico reported. Rubio was pulling in 45 percent support from Hispanic voters, 41 percent from female voters, and 53 percent from voters aged 50 and older.

Trump and DeSantis

The Save America PAC press release didnt mention whether Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis would attend the Nov. 6 rally.

There has been widespread speculation that Trump and DeSantis are each considering a 2024 presidential run. Multiple polls show Trump being the most popular GOP candidate for president, with DeSantis usually the second most popular choice.

A Harvard-Harris poll conducted in July (pdf) found that 52 percent of Republicans said they would vote for Trump in the 2024 GOP primary if the elections were held at that time. DeSantis got 19 percent.

Trump will also be holding rallies in Pennsylvania and Iowa to support GOP candidates in those states for the upcoming midterms.

Trump will visit Iowa on Nov. 3 to stump for Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Chuck Grassley. Two days later on Nov. 5, he will be in Pennsylvania to support Republican gubernatorial nominee state Sen. Doug Mastriano and Senate hopeful Mehmet Oz.

Masooma Haq contributed to this report.
The logo of Meta Platforms in Davos, Switzerland, on May 22, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters)

Turkish Competition Board Fines Meta Platforms $18.6 Million

ISTANBULTurkeys competition authority has fined Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. 346.72 million lira ($18.63 million) for breaking competition law, it said on Wednesday.

The Turkish regulator said the company held a dominant position in personal social networking services and online video advertising and had obstructed competitors by merging data collected through its core services Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

In 2021, the competition authority launched an investigation into WhatsApp, and then Facebook Inc., after the messaging app updated its terms of service saying it was reserving the right of its owner Facebook Inc. and its subsidiaries to collect user data such as phone numbers and locations, a change that was rolled out globally.

A spokesperson for Meta Platforms said the company disagrees with the probes findings and will consider all options.

The 2021 update did not ask users to agree to let Facebook collect user data. It provided clearer, more detailed information to our users on how and why we use data, the spokesperson said, adding that there were no changes to WhatsApps data sharing practices with that update.

Turkeys competition authority said Meta must act to reinstate competition in these markets and prepare annual reports about the steps it will take for the next five years.

It said the fine was based on the companys 2021 income and the company could object to the decision within 60 days.

Social media companies have been a focus of attention in Turkey, which adopted a law last week that would jail journalists and social media users for up to three years for spreading material deemed disinformation.

Analysts have said social media companies are unlikely to abide in full by the law, that requires them to remove such material and to share user data with authorities.

($1 = 18.6080 liras)

By Ebru Tuncay
Home Secretary Suella Braverman arrives in Downing Street ahead of the first Cabinet meeting with Rishi Sunak as prime minister, in London, on Oct. 26, 2022. (Victoria Jones/PA Media)

UK Lawmakers Question Suella Bravermans Return to Cabinet Days After Dismissal Over Security Breach

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure as both opposition and Conservative MPs question his decision to reappoint Suella Braverman as home secretary just six days after she was forced to resign by Liz Truss over a security breach.

Braverman resigned as UK home secretary on Oct. 19 after she was caught sending a backbench Conservative MP a sensitive document from a personal email account, breaching the ministerial code.

But hours after Sunak replaced Truss as prime minister on Oct. 25, he reappointed her as home secretary.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak waves to members of the media after taking office outside Number 10 in Downing Street, London, on Oct. 25, 2022. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Sunak of doing a grubby deal trading national security in order to buy her support in the Tory leadership election.

Labours shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper wrote to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case demanding an investigation into the extent of this and other possible security breaches.

The Liberal Democrats also demanded an inquiry into Sunaks decision to reappoint her including any promises Sunak made to her behind closed doors.

Tory Disquiet

Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi defended Bravermans reappointment, saying she deserves a second chance.

She fell on her sword, she didnt try to ride it out and try to hang on to her job, he told the BBC.

This prime minister looked at the details of this case and he believes in second chances and hes giving Suella Braverman a second chance, he said.

But a number of Conservative MPs have also raised concerns.

Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee in the House of Commons, told the BBC there are big questions hanging over this whole issue and said she would back opposition calls for a full inquiry into the reappointment.

Former Tory chairman Sir Jake Berry told TalkTV that Braverman committed multiple breaches of the ministerial code.

While Braverman said she rapidly reported her mistake through official channels as soon as she realised ita claim repeated by Sunak in Parliament during Prime Ministers Questions on Oct. 26Berry said she only admitted wrongdoing after evidence was put to her.

Trust Breakdown

Allegations that Braverman had earlier been investigated by government officials after the leaking of a story involving the security services have added to the concerns.

According to a report in The Mail, when Braverman was attorney-general, she was investigated by a unit within the Cabinet Office over a leak about the governments plan to seek an injunction preventing the BBC from identifying an intelligence officer accused of terrorising his ex-partner.

The newspaper said no conclusive evidence was found about the identity of the leaker, but it said MI5 played a role in the inquiry after the leak sparked concern in the security services.

Mark Pritchard, who used to sit on Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee, said a breakdown in trust between MI5 and Braverman must be sorted ASAP.

Pritchard wrote on Twitter: MI5 need to have confidence in the home secretarywhoever that might be.

Its a vital relationship of trust, key to the UKs security and democratic oversight of MI5. Any breakdown in that relationship is bad for the security service and the government. It needs to be sorted ASAP.

Reacting to the report, Downing Street insisted that Braverman maintains strong relationships with security services.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Roxanne Tahbaz holds a photograph of her father, Morad Tahbaz, outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London, on April 13, 2022. (Rob Pinney/Getty Images)

UK Urges Iran to Release British-Born Environmentalist Morad Tahbaz

The UK government has called on the Iranian regime to release a British-born environmentalist from the notorious Evin prison.

Morad Tahbaz, 66, a British-U.S.-Iranian wildlife conservationist, was arrested in 2018 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

He was granted bail in July, but his family said he has now been returned to Evin prison.

In a statement released on Oct. 26, UK Foreign Office minister Lord Ahmad said, 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 re-join family in Tehran immediately. We will continue to work closely with our U.S. partners to hold Iran to account, and to secure Morads permanent release and departure from Iran.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con) looks on as he answers questions on the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in the House of Lords chamber, in London, Britain, on July 8, 2020. (Screenshot/Parliament TV)

Spying Charges

Tahbaz is a board member of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, which seeks to protect endangered species.

He was arrested during a clampdown on environmental activists in January 2018. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with his colleagues on vague charges of spying for the United States and undermining Irans security. His wife has also been placed under a travel ban by the Iranian authorities.

Tahbaz was initially released on March 16 along with two other British Iranian national detainees43-year-old Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and 67-year-old Anoosheh Ashooriafter months of intensive diplomatic negotiations between London and Tehran.

While Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Ashoori were allowed to return to the UK, London-born Tahbaz was returned to custody after just two days. British ministers said at the time that his U.S. citizenship had complicated the matter as that is seen in Iranian eyes as also meaning that the [United States] are involved.

In July, 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.

Responding to the news that Tahbaz is back in prison, Amnesty International urged UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly to step up pressure on the Iranian authorities to secure his immediate and unconditional release.

Sacha Deshmukh, the charitys UK chief executive, said, 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.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A 48-year-old man was involved in an altercation at a Glendale, Colorado strip club Shotgun Willie's in 2019 and died after a bartender tackled him. His family is suing the bartender and nightclub over the matter. The trial has now been delayed after Shotgun Willie's defense attorney Steve Long visited the club and also died there. From The Guardian:

"The timing of this was just awful for everybody," said Long's co-counsel, Peter Middleton, acknowledging it was "kind of weird" that Long died at the club he was defending over another death[]

On the night Long died, the lawyer shared drinks and played cards with a woman employed by Shotgun Willie's as an entertainer, according to a local CBS affiliate.

The entertainer reportedly perceived Long to be "extremely" intoxicated. Another employee began taking him home before bringing him back, to let him sleep in his car.

Staff members checking on Long every few minutes noticed he wasn't breathing and called 911, the CBS affiliate reported. Paramedics brought Long to hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via a video link at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow on Oct. 19, 2022. (Sergei Ilyin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Putin Claims Ukraine Is Testing Site for Biological Experiments

Ukraine has become an instrument of U.S. foreign policy and a testing site for military biological experiments, Russian President Vladimir Putin alleged on Oct. 26.

He made the remarks at a meeting of security chiefs from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional grouping established in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Along with Russia, CIS members include Belarus, Moldova, and six Central Asian countries.

The potential for conflict remains very high, both in the world as a whole and at the regional level, Putin told meeting attendees, according to the Kremlins official transcript of his remarks.

The world is changing and becoming multipolar before our very eyes.

Referring to Washington and other Western capitals, he asserted that some members of the international community were doing everything in their power to preserve their faltering hegemony.

He accused the latter of resorting to subversive actions, citing recent acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream pipeline, which links Russian gas fields to northern Europe via the Baltic Sea.

Late last month, the pipeline was intentionally breached in Swedish and Danish territorial waters, prompting a flurry of recriminations from Moscow and Western governments.

Putin said the neutralization of the strategic pipeline amounted to the destruction of the common European energy infrastructure.

In recent months, dwindling inflows of Russian gas have led to surging energy prices, affecting households and businesses across Europe.

The Russian president said the recent acts of sabotage are doing colossal damage to the European economy and are seriously impairing the quality of life for millions of people.

And besides, he added, they are keeping silent about who has done this and who stands to gain from it.

In mid-October, Swedish, Danish, and German investigators concluded that the pipeline breaches were caused by underwater explosions. Soon afterward, Stockholm abruptly halted joint investigations, citing concerns over national security.

This week, however, Swedens military announced plans to conduct a separate investigation.

I cant comment on what we are looking for, why we are there, but we had the need to come back to do an additional search, a Swedish military spokesman said on Oct. 26.

A Russian construction worker speaks on a mobile phone during a ceremony marking the start of Nord Stream pipeline construction in Portovaya Bay some 106 miles (170 kms) northwest of St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 9, 2010. (Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Photo)

Russia Repeats Biolab Claims

Speaking to security chiefs in Moscow, Putin also brought up the situation in Ukraine, which, he said, had lost its sovereignty and had become an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.

Ukraine, he alleged, had become a testing site for military biological experiments and was being flooded with weapons, including heavy weaponry.

In March, Moscow formally accused the United States of using Ukrainian laboratories for the development of biological weaponsa claim U.S. officials were quick to dismiss.

Theres nothing to it, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said at the time. Its classic Russian propaganda.

The U.S. State Department, for its part, accused Russia of inventing false pretexts in an attempt to justify its own horrific actions in Ukraine.

This week, however, Russia appeared to double down on the claims.

On Oct. 25, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Moscow had asked the U.N. Security Council to establish a commission to look into alleged breaches of the U.N.s Convention on Biological Weapons by the United States and Ukraine.

A road sign reading Kherson is shown on Oct 19, 2022, in the town of Armyansk, north of the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula bordering the Russian-controlled Kherson region in southern Ukraine. (STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images)

Developments in the Field

Meanwhile, an ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive in the southern region of Kherson is proving more difficult than expected due to rough terrain and rainy weather, according to Ukrainian military officials.

The south of Ukraine is an agricultural region, and we have a lot of irrigation and water supply channels, and the Russians use them like trenches, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told reporters on Oct. 26.

He also said that adverse weather conditions were hindering the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson.

This is the rainy season; its very difficult to use fighting carrier vehicles with wheels, he said. The counteroffensive campaign in the Kherson direction is more difficult than in the Kharkiv direction.

Last month, Ukrainian forces made significant gains in the northeastern Kharkiv region, driving Russian forces from several positions captured earlier. Since then, however, the counteroffensive has run up against much stiffer resistance along the southern front, including in Kherson.

Late last month, the Kherson regionalong with the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhiawas incorporated into the Russian Federation following referendums in all four territories.

Most of Kherson, including its regional capital, was captured by Russian forces and their local allies in the first weeks of Moscows special military operation in Ukraine, which entered its ninth month this week.

On Oct. 27, Khersons Moscow-appointed deputy governor said the frontline remained unchanged and that Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy losses in repeated attempts to break through Russian defenses.

Heavy fighting is also being reported in other areas, including Avdiivka and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region and Kreminna and Svatove in Luhansk.

The Epoch Times was unable to verify the reports.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Lawrence MacAulay rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 25, 2022. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Union Calling for Prime Minister to Fire Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay

A union representing thousands of Veterans Affairs Canada employees is asking the prime minister to replace Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay.

In a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees says it has lost faith in MacAulay for repeatedly refusing to meet to discuss their concerns.

Those concerns include a $570-million contract the department recently awarded to an outside company related to rehabilitation services for veterans.

While Veterans Affairs says the contract will help veterans and employees alike, the unions national president Virginia Vaillancourt says it will have the opposite effect.

Vaillancourt also took issue with the governments continued reliance on temporary staff to address backlogs and other challenges, in contrast to repeated calls from the auditor general and others for more permanent employees.

MacAulays office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The U.S. Department of Defense launches a sounding rocket from NASA's launch range at Wallops Flight Facility carrying hypersonic weapon experiments that will inform the development of the hypersonic class of weapons, on Wallops Island, Va., on Oct. 26, 2022. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

US Navy, Army Successfully Test Hypersonic Weapon Components: Pentagon

The U.S. Navy and Army successfully conducted a test of hypersonic weapons components and materials on Oct. 26, the Pentagon announced, amid continued efforts to surpass Russia and China in developing the emerging class of weapons.

Hypersonic weapons refer to weapons that can travel faster than Mach 5meaning five times faster than the speed of sound, or around 3,800 mph (6,116 kph)and can maneuver during the flight.

Sandia National Laboratories ran the test from a seaside launch pad at NASAs Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

This test will be used to inform the development of the Navys Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) and the Armys Long Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) offensive hypersonic strike capability, the Navy announced. Efforts are on track to support the first fielding of a hypersonic capability to the Army in fiscal year 2023, it said.

The test involved a precision launch of a sounding rocketa smaller and more affordable test vehicleto test various hypersonic weapon communications and navigation equipment.

Tests also included seeing whether materials could withstand the heat generated when traveling at Mach 5.

These rockets contained experimental payloads that provided data on the performance of materials and systems in a realistic hypersonic environment, the Navy said in a statement.

A second sounding rocket was to be launched this week to complete the latest round of testing.

The Navy said that the sounding rocket launches fill a critical gap between ground testing and full system flight testing during weapon systems development.

This test is a vital step in the development of a Navy-designed common hypersonic missile, the Navy stated. The missile consists of a booster rocket and a Common Hypersonic Glide Body (CHGB).

The system would be fielded by both the Navy and Army, with individual weapon systems and launchers tailored for launch from sea or land.

The first full-system test of the CHGB hypersonic weapon was conducted on June 29 at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. But it failed because of an unspecified anomaly after ignition.

Separately, the U.S. Air Force has been developing a different type of hypersonic weapon intended to achieve constant high speeds over longer distances. The weapon, which uses a supersonic combustion ramjet (scramjet) engine to achieve high speeds, is referred to as the Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept and can be used for land attacks. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in April confirmed that it and the Air Force had successfully conducted a hypersonic test of that weapon.

That test came just weeks after Russia in March announced it had used a similar weapon in Ukraine for the first time, which also marked the first use of such missiles in combat.

Gillian Bussey, director of the Joint Hypersonics Transition Office at the Department of Defense, expressed concern in February over the scale and pace of Chinas development of hypersonic technology. She noted the importance of increasing U.S. hypersonic capabilities as well as the rate of production.

The United States has lagged in hypersonic weapons development over the past decade. Thats in part due to a much-derided military bureaucracy that can slow weapons development to as much as 20 years per system, and partly due to a perceived lack of need among senior leadership.

Andrew Thornebrooke contributed to this report.
Wisconsin Judge Hands Win to Republicans Over Mail-In Ballot Lawsuit

A judge in Wisconsin on Wednesday rejected a request to allow election officials to count mail-in ballots with incomplete addresses on them.

Dane County Circuit Judge Nia Trammell refused a request from the League of Women Voters, a group that sought a temporary injunction and argued it would upend the status quo and not preserve it, frustrate the electoral process by causing confusion, and said her court doesnt want to add to the confusion by issuing a temporary injunction with just two weeks to go before the 2022 midterms, reported The Associated Press.

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, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. 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.

The ruling was a win for the Republican-controlled Wisconsin legislature, which intervened in the lawsuit. The case focused on how much of the address of a witness needs to be included on an absentee ballot certificate in order for the ballot to be counted.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission previously said that an address must include three elements: a street number, street name, and municipality.

In a lawsuit filed in October, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin asked the court to declare that a missing address on a mail-in ballot means only that the address field is left entirely blank.

But no court has ever issued an order defining missing as it is used in that provision of the law, Trammell said Wednesday in blocking the groups request.

If she agreed with the league, the ruling would be quickly appealed and possibly overturned, which would result in ballots being tossed that were submitted by voters who thought their witness signatures were sufficient, Trammell said.

Election Numbers

Since the 2020 election, the Wisconsin legislature has passed a number of election integrity bills that make it harder to vote via mail-in ballots. Theyve all been vetoed by Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat who is up for reelection next month and is facing off in a tightly contested race against Republican Tim Michels.

Ahead of the November General Election, more than 510,000 mail-in ballots have been requested by the state of Wisconsin, of which about 305,000 have been returned, according to data provided by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. During early voting on Tuesday, some 33,000 people voted in person, the data shows.

This election cycle, meanwhile, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has filed 73 election-related lawsuits, announced RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel.

Last week, a court in Michigan also found that Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson updated an election manual to impose new restrictions on poll observers and challengers without using the right rulemaking process. And earlier this month, Republicans filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania officials who said they will accept mail-in ballots without dates.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hong Kong police blocked the road on the day Jimmy Lai went to the Court of Final Appeal to hear the court's verdict on Dec. 31, 2020. (Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times)

WJP Rule of Law Index 2022: Hong Kong Not in Top 20 for the First Time

In the latest Rule of Law Index 2022 released by the American NGO World Justice Project (WJP), Hong Kong dropped to 22nd among 140 countries and regions in the world, hitting a new low since it was included in the index in 2014. It fell in all eight key categories, with Constraints on government powers and Fundamental rights being the two items that received the lowest scores.

To be more specific, according to the WJP, Hong Kongs overall score was 0.73, a decrease of 0.02 from last year and the second consecutive year that the ranking has dropped. Hong Kong ranked 19th in 2021, down from 16th in 2020.

On an individual item basis, Hong Kongs score fell across the board. Constraints on government power scored the lowest at 0.58 points, down 0.03 points from last year, and the rank dropped nine places to 54th; followed by Fundamental rights, at only 0.59 points, a reduction of 0.02 points from last year, with the rank dropping seven places to 61st from last year. As for the scores that dropped the most, Constraints on government powers, Open government, and Civil justice were all down 0.03 points from last year.

Going through the finer details onto the indicators, it could be seen that the score of Government power constrained by the legislature in the Constraints of government powers category is 0.58, with the ranking drop from 52 last year to 65. On Constraints of government powers by the judiciary, it fell 0.06 point from last year, with the ranking also dropping 16 places from 22 to 38 this year.

Ted Piccone, senior consultant of the World Justice Project, pointed out that Hong Kong is the only region within Asia-Pacific whose ratings have dropped by more than 2 percent in five years, especially in the areas of checks and balances of powers, and basic human rights.

Piccone believes that the decline in Hong Kongs ratings may be related to the implementation of the national security law (NSL). He pointed out that peaceful protesters in Hong Kong are accused of violating the Hong Kong NSL, and the Chief Executive can appoint judges to hear cases involving national security. The increase in government powers has also weakened judicial independence. He described the future of the rule of law in Hong Kong as discouraging.

The Hong Kong government responded in a press release last night, saying that Hong Kongs overall ranking in the Rule of Law Index 2022 remains high. The government disagrees with the opinions about Hong Kongs score that were cited by some media reports.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaks at the meeting between members of the standing committee of the Political Bureau of the 20th CCP Central Committee and Chinese and foreign journalists in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Xi Jinpings Historic Third Term Signals Continued International Conflict: Analysts

Xi Jinping secured his third term as Party leader and has full control of the Politburo, the apex of political power, during the 20th national meeting of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Judging from Xis defending ideology more than the economy, scholars anticipate the CCP will only intensify its competition and confrontation with the West.

On Oct. 23, the CCP announced the seven members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the Partys top leadership, with Xi as the party general secretary, and Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi making up the rest.

In an interview with the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times on Oct. 23, scholars said the composition of the top echelon indicates that the role of the team has changed from policy makers to policy followers.

No Collective Leadership

Historian Li Yuanhua said that the composition of Xis leadership team suggested that Xi dominates and controls the entire Politburo.

Members are either Xis former subordinates or loyalists and define the Politburo Standing Committees role in enforcing Xis policy, he said.

Collective leadership by the committee no longer exists, according to Yuanhuas analysis.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping (front) walks with members of the Chinese Communist Partys new Politburo Standing Committee, the nations top decision-making body, as they meet the media in Beijing on Oct. 23, 2022. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

However, these allies werent necessarily political achievers.

Li used Cai Qi as an example. Cai forcibly evicted Beijings mass of low-income migrant workers from their communities and demolished their homes in just one freezing Beijing winter night.

His ruthless policy sparked public outrage. Even Beijing dignitaries demanded his resignation as Beijings party secretary.

Li Qiang, the incumbent Shanghai party secretary, is another example.

Yuanhua said that it was Li Qiangs insistence on the Shanghai lockdown following Xis zero-COVID policy that led Chinas most important economic hub to a dire situation.

Xis Ideology Will Intensify Conflict

Jung-Chin Shen, Associate Professor at York University, in Toronto, Canada, expressed his concern about Xis thinking in going against the West.

Shen said that Xis opening remarks at the 20th congress were heavily focused on national security, socialism, countering foreign interference, and included, for the first time, the use force for reunification of Taiwan, as a warning to the United States and other countries who may interfere in Chinas Cross Strait relations.

In particular, Xi continued to emphasize enforcement of the zero-COVID policy, despite the sluggish real estate market and frustrated private economy.

Shen said, Its a clear indication that the economy has a rather low priority in the CCPs policy.

Ideology, especially the idea of countering the West, becomes its main policy framework.

Coupled with the fact that Xi excluded the Youth League, that played a significant role in the economic development, from his Politburo standing committee, No one can play the role of stepping on the brakes, Shen explained.

He said the situation is quite worrisome. The escalated U.S.-China tension is different from the Cold War. The highly intertwined U.S.-China trade and economic system makes decoupling unfeasible. But now it seems that Xi Jinping is going in another direction, Shen stated.

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a virtual summit from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Nov. 15, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

In March 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, Our relationship with China will be competitive when it should be, collaborative when it can be, and adversarial when it must be.

Shen doubted the feasibility of this strategy.

He anticipates that with Xis third term leadership, The economy is subordinate to politics and ideology, the space for cooperation is narrowed and intense confrontation and competition will supersede existing policies.

Xis Worldview Leads Diplomacy

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently commented, Under Xi, ideology drives policy more often than the other way around.

In his article, The World According to Xi Jinping, Rudd said, In his Marxist-Leninist view, Chinas ultimate victory is guaranteed because the deep forces of historical determinism are on the CCPs side, and the West is in structural decline.

This view will affect the likelihood of conflict in Asia.

Yeh-chung Lu, Professor and Chair of the Department of Diplomacy, National Cheng-chi University, said Xis centralized power is reconfirmed by the arrangement of his top echelon.

Therefore, if there are any changes in foreign policy, the focus is how Xi Jinping judges the world and calibrates the relationship with major powers, he said.

He also pointed out that Xi no longer emphasized the claim, East is rising and the West declining, during the 20th national meeting, a signal of the change in his foreign policy.

Lu said Xis personal view of the West and the United States will have a major effect on the CCPs foreign policy.

Wang Yi, the incumbent foreign minister, was promoted into the Politburo, the second highest level of power during the CCP congress; but Lu expects Wang will only enforce Xis will.

Lin Cenxin and Yi Ru contributed to this report.
Xis Speech and PLA Modernization: No Surprises

Commentary

They used to say that when you stayed at a Holiday Inn the big surprise was no surprise. You pretty much knew what to expect and you usually got it.

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was the Holiday Inn of CCP political happenings. We knew what was going to happen, often months in advance, and it pretty much came off as planned. Xi Jinping was reaffirmed as head of the CCP, winning an unprecedented but not unexpected third five-year term (the rumors that circulated a few weeks ago that Xi had been deposed in a palace coup were obviously a fiction).

Moreover, Xis personal picks for leading party positions, especially the Politburo Standing Committee (the CCPs top leadership council) were affirmed without dissent. Finally, the Two Establishes and Two Safeguardsslogans that specifically referred to Xis central place in the partywere enshrined in the CCP Constitution.

As a result, Xi will rule with nearly unchecked power for the next five years, maybe even longer.

The only dramatic incident during the entire five-day event was when an obviously bewildered Hu Jintao, Xis predecessor, was abruptly and unceremoniously escorted from his privileged place next to Xi. Xi ignored him like a mobster refusing to look at his right-hand man as he is led away to get whacked.

Xis goals for Chinas armed forces, as laid out at the National Congress during his wearisome 108-minute speech, were also nothing new. We will innovate the guidance of military strategy, develop strategies and tactics of peoples war, build a strong system of strategic deterrent forces, raise the presence of combat forces in new domains and of new qualities, and deeply promote combat-oriented military training, he said.

Xi added that Beijing will intensify troop training and enhance combat preparedness across the board, strengthen all-around military governance, and consolidate and enhance integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities.

Xi Jinping, in an army camouflage uniform, visits the Joint Command Headquarters (JCH) after being named commander-in-chief of the JCH of the Central Military Commission (CMC) on April 20, 2016. (The Epoch Times/composite photo)

Finally, China must comprehensively strengthen military training and preparation, and improve the [Peoples Liberation Armys] ability to win.

Altogether, Xi mentioned security at least 80 times in his speech. But none of the so-called details are particularly novel.

China has been engaged in a concerted and aggressive effort to modernize PLA since at least the late 1990s. Much of the first two decades of this undertaking consisted of a dual-track (double construction) approach that embraced both mechanization and informatization.

Mechanization called for the general upgrading of existing equipment, at the same time that newer generations of conventional weapons were also introduced. Informatization, meanwhile, meant a longer-term transformation of the PLA along the lines of the information technologies-led revolution in military affairs (RMA).

Informatization particularly emphasizes improved capacities for precision-strike, command and control, communications, and especially advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

The ultimate goal of this mechanization/informatization process was for the PLA to fight and win informationized wars. According to the U.S. Defense Department, this means using information during a conflict to conduct joint military operations across the ground, maritime, air, space, cyberspace, and electromagnetic spectrum domains.

This phase of mechanization and informatization is supposed to have been completed by 2020. Now, according to Chinas 2019 defense white paper (the latest version available), the PLA is in the midst of a second phase to complete the modernization of national defense and the military by 2035, including the modernization of military theory, organizational structure, military personnel, and weaponry and equipment.

Peoples Liberation Army cadets wait beside a T-89 Anti-tank Missile Launcher at the PLAs Armored Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing, on July 22, 2014. Xi Jinping, head of the Chinese Communist Party, is calling for a new focus on information warfare. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

Moreover, by the middle of the 21st Century (generally interpreted to mean 2049, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China), the PLA expects to fully transform itself into a world-class force.

So Xi was not exactly plowing new ground when it came to laying out the future course of the PLA. That said, it is critical to note a couple of facts.

First, there is no factioneither within the CCP or the PLAfor pausing or even slowing the modernization of Chinas armed forces. The entire country, in fact, is pretty much united behind the idea of turning the PLA into an advanced military forceand spending the money to make it happen. So dont expect to see anyone willing to put his or her head on the proverbial chopping block to oppose higher defense budgets or new weapons programs.

Second, even as the PLA labors to adopt informationized warfare, it is already planning for the next phase of its modernization, which it has termed intelligentized warfare. This would entail the militarization of the so-called fourth industrial revolutionartificial intelligence (AI), big data, autonomous unmanned systems, 5G networking, and the likein order to create new dominant military-technological advantages, particularly over the U.S. military.

As Chinas 2019 defense white paper puts it, war is evolving in form towards informationized warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon.

While there is no opposition to the plan, achieving this level of intelligentization in the PLA is a daunting task, and China could easily miss its 2049 goal. That being said, no surprises, but still, pretty frightening.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Father and son duo become guardians for the 'Galaxy' with camera and lenses

Beginning his journey as a photography hobbyist At the age of 11, Hong Kong teenager Javan Lie has followed his fathers footsteps for the past three years to document the mysterious night sky and galaxy with a backpack full of heavy photographic gear.

Hong Kong, a sleepless city, shines more bright lights than the stars in the sky. To capture the night of the galaxy, one has to travel far and wide to the deserted, waiting for the night to fall.

Javan recently celebrated his 14th birthday. He has spent the past three years following his dad, Billy Lie, traveling all over Hong Kong in his spare time. He enjoys appreciating the beauty of Hong Kong from different perspectives. (Courtesy of Billy Lie)

A passionate photographer will never complain about the distance they have to go to snap the perfect moment. Although he is only 14, Javan is one of the talented youngsters who travel in the sweltering summer braving insects and mosquito bites without fuss.

The magnificence of nature makes Javan forget his tired body. As soon as he lifts his lens, fatigue dissolves, and he suddenly becomes alive.

Javan captured a sea of clouds. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Having been on the photography journey for three years, Javan has also won two photo competitions. Billy Lie, the father of Javan, is happier for his sons triumph than for himself winning the prize.

Billy is a professional photographer himself. Accompanying his son on his journey and his love for photography, Billy is proud of his son for following his passion and becoming a photographer like himself.

A photo of the night sky. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

The inseparable duo always travel together to capture images of their beloved home, Hong Kong.

The ongoing pandemic has changed the way many people live. Especially in Hong Kong, families are experiencing increasing conflicts as they have been in quarantine and lockdowns in their tiny homes for too long. Schools became online zoom classes, which burdened parents caring for their children.

In 2020, Javans work Sunsetting in Wu Kai Sha won third place in the student group. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

But for the Lie family, the pandemic since 2020 has stopped them from traveling overseas, but it didnt stop the father and son from spending time together. Billy recalls, when the pandemic broke out, everything stopped. There was no travel, no face-to-face classes. So whenever I got off from work, I would take Javan out to take pictures. Gradually Javan developed his love for photography.

Planning An Itinerary for A Photo

Billy usually does his homework to prepare for their trips beforehand. If our visit is somewhere more remote, I will usually scout the location first during the day to see if the location is safe and suitable for photographing at dusk or dawn. I will ensure we have a solid itinerary and pleasant weather before heading out with Javan.

In 2020, Javans work Sunsetting in Wu Kai Sha won third place in the student group. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Billys dedication can span a year of planning for a single photo.

One of the favorite spots for the father and son is Tai Mo Shan. The sea of clouds and sunrises are their favorite themes.

In 2021, Javans work Light Up the Sanguine Sky took first place in the student group category of the ACFD photo contest. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

14-Year-Old with A Heart of Gold

Javan visited the highest Hong Kong mountain top to take photos with his fathers friends. Javan enjoys the process and emphasizes the joy of photography, which is the process and not just a candid shot. Sure, it is fun to admire a photo you have taken, but the process is vital to me. Everyone has fun chatting and laughing, creating lovely memories. Being able to overlook such amazing views of nature is something I treasure.

When asked if he felt the long journey and heavy equipment were hard work, Javan disagreed, Not at all. Photography is my passion. In the entire process, challenges are my motivation. It gives me great joy to overcome the difficulties.

For two consecutive years, Javan won awards in the ACFD photo contest. He won third place in 2020 and was champion in 2021 with Light and Shadow Plover Cove. (Courtesy of Billie Lie)

Winning Is A Recognition

The Agriculture, Fisheries, and Conservation Department (AFCD) organizes an annual photography competition called the Light of Tolo Channel and Plover Cove Photography Competition. The event aims to promote awareness, beauty, and biodiversity of coastal and marine life and their habitats in Hong Kong.

AFCD selects winners from public entries in various categories. Javan won third place with his work of Sunsetting in Wu Kai Sha in the coastal and marine landscape category student group.

Javan photographed Blue Tears under the Milky Way in Pak Lap Wan in March 2022. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Mapping His Path

Javan has a unique point of view when it comes to composition. He believes everyone is unique and there is no one style fits all with photography. We should not follow what others do simply because their work looks good. Javan thinks every person has an exceptional concept in their imagination, we should try our best without being scared of failure, the youngster expressed.

Javan also wants to try different ideas and approaches instead of copying others.

Javan realized the importance of composition from his dads work, The Oceans Heart. (Courtesy of Billy Lie)

Behind the Blue Tears

One of the most memorable moments for the duo was their trip to Pak Lap Wan in Sai Kung. The father and son were trying to capture the famous phenomenon, blue tears in a milky way, that is, Noctilucent Algae.

Although blue tears happened previously in Hong Kong, it seems to be occurring more frequently and spectacularly in 2022. What makes Billys experience more joyful this year is the assistance by his little helper, his son, Javan.

Javan learned about environmental pollution issues by photographing Blue Tears. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Javan had an epiphany after he saw his fathers work, I realized the importance of photo composition. Many people were shooting the same styles of the galaxy or blue tears, except my dad. He thought of the unique characteristics of composing images. My dad was able to capture unique-looking stones and skylines.

Billy also took one of his photos and named it The Oceans Heart that night. His picture was picked as a reference exhibit by a professional lens company, validating his talents.

An image of The Moon by Javan. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

What Are Blue Tears and Sea Sparkle?

To understand the visually mesmerizing phenomenon, you must first understand what blue tears are. Noctilucent Algae, or Noctilucent Scintillans, are unicellular microorganisms. They give water a bright blue glow at night due to their bioluminescence. There are green and red noctilucent algae.

The microorganism itself is not toxic until they react chemically with another organism. The toxicity can be worsened due to climate change as well as causing environmental hazards, such as toxic red tides.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration defines red tides as harmful algal blooms. NOAA writes on its website that these harmful algal blooms, or HABs, grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds.

While taking beautiful scenery over different mountains, Javan realized the importance of protecting and cherishing our beautiful nature. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

The Prettier, The More Harmful

Blue tears, or sea sparkle, appear visually attractive. However, they are signs of polluted water. Bioluminescence occurs during mechanical stress. Therefore bioluminescent organisms and blue tears can be observed in disturbed water in coastal areas.

Timing is key

When it comes to nature photography, timing and patience are essential. As a young photographer, Javan understands this very well. Whenever we take photos of the milky way, we have to hike somewhere much farther away, as light pollution in Hong Kong is comparatively severe. We often have to wait for the clouds or fog to subside; the entire experience is a testament to our patience and perseverance.

Javans photo of the Voyage to The Sanguine Sky. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Climate Change matters

Billy takes every opportunity to educate Javan about environmental issues, Blue tears are a form of pollution called Red tides. They are luminescent algae appearing red during the day but becoming blue at night.

Red tides remove oxygen in the luminescence. So, where there is a red tide, for example, in Hong Kong fishing rafts, it impacts the fishermen negatively, as many fish will die due to suffocation.

Guardians for the galaxy

Javan looks up to his father, and Billy influences his son as a role model.

Billy often takes the initiative to pick up trash that people throw away on the mountain trails. During festivals or special occasions, the amount of waste is even more evident on popular routes.

The father and son duo then work as a volunteer cleaning team to remove the wastes people have left behind and carry them back to town after taking photos.

A misty Victoria Harbor. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Hidden Meaning Behind Photography

Javan has traveled through mountains and hills with his father to practice his nature photography. While taking amazing pictures, Javan wants to use his photography skills to raise environmental awareness.

There is a lot of garbage along the way to popular beaches in Wu Kai Sha. I hope I can encourage people to protect and cherish our beautiful earth by taking photos of different landscapes of Hong Kong. It might seem insignificant, but picking up after yourself can be the most helpful.

To Javan, capturing nature through his lens is not about just freezing a moment. It can also be a responsibility to do his part to protect the earth.

Javans love for being behind the lens will not change anytime soon, Living in a city makes it impossible to see the stars because of light pollution. Whenever I arrive in nature, all the stress I feel from school dissipates. The beautiful scene slows me down and relaxes me. There is no other feeling better than that.

Sunset on Austin Road. (Courtesy of Javan Lie)

Jenny Zeng contributed to this article.
Former Vice-President Mike Pence flat-out lies about the separation of Church and State. The founders of the United States were deeply concerned about state religions and wanted there to be no such thing.

In this interview on Fox Business, Pence completely discards one of the founding principles of his country.

Crooks and Liars:
There are recorded events in the recent past that have proved beyond reasonable doubt that the nation Nigeria may not need gun boats to solve its problems particularly, in the oil rich Niger Delta region, notorious for crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Essentially, evidence has emerged and points to the fact that what the nation needs is a sincere and selfless leadership, a politically and economically restructured polity brought by the national consciousness that can unleash the social, economic and political transformation of the country via sustainable Public-Private sectors partnership while rejecting the present socio-economic system that has bred corruption, inefficiency, primitive capital accumulation that socially excluded the vast majority of our people.

A telling example is the result that a few weeks ago trailed the crude oil pipeline surveillance contract recently awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a company owned by High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (A.K.A. Tompolo), the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation.-and Global Ambassador of the Ijaw people.

According to media reports, barely two months after he was awarded the multi-billion naira oil security contract in the Niger Delta region, Government Ekpemupolo has discovered over 58 illegal points in Delta and Bayelsa States where crude oil is being stolen. More specifically, there was a media report that Tantita Security Service Nigeria Limited, on Thursday, October 7, 2022 successfully arrested a crude oil tanker, loaded with an unspecified quantity of crude oil at the Escravos River in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta state.

Aside from the fact that Tompolos revelations in this direction have again rekindled the hope that despite Nigerians long romance with, and love for corruption, there exists some of her citizens that cannot be corrupted, the development has also deeply sparked consciousness about challenges facing Niger Delta region before the human right and other advocates for oppressed communities, while bringing to the fore a renewed call for legislative and policy reforms that will permanently curb crude oil theft in the region and ensure that the process of decision making on issues that concern oil and gas sector and the living environment of the people of the region are opened up.

As the nation and of course the people of Niger Delta region celebrate the ongoing process of liberating the region from economic hardship and environmental pollution, it is however, important to recognize that Tompolos contributions towards restoration of peace and sustainable development in the region is long standing, noticed across the globe and deeply qualifies him as a catalyst for a new order and Niger Delta regions ambassador for peace and development.

This piece may not be alone in this line of belief.

The British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC), in a recent report titled  Nigerias Stolen Oil, The Military And A Man Named Government , specifically noted as follows; Tompolo's motivation for the crackdown on crude-oil theft has left many bewildered. He is getting paid for it, and has spoken glowingly of his love for Nigeria and the Niger Delta environment.

Again, Like the generality of right thinking Nigerian, the Guardian Newspaper in a well considered commentary, agreed that High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (A.K.A. Tompolo) of Oporoza Town, Gbaramotu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, is a reputable community leader that holds one of the highest traditional titles in Ijaw nation known as the Ibe-Ebidouwei of Ijaw Nation. The Newspaper further stated that as the Global Ambassador of the Ijaw people, High Chief Tompolo displayed honesty, truthfulness and sincerity in all his dealings. Most importantly, the Newspaper admitted and recognized chief Tompolo as a leader of the Niger Delta fighting for the control of the regions resources and a reversal of the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.

This piece believed and still believes that Guardian Newspapers editorial board cannot be wrong in this latest description.

Away from Guardians objective analysis to another sincere x-ray of Chief Tompolos personality, by Nnamdi Obasi, Nigeria researcher for the International Crisis Group (ICG).

Obasi in that report said; Tompolo's acceptance of a presidential amnesty program offered by the Nigerian government in 2009 was "highly significant, some would say decisive, in ending the violence at the time," and that the former militant still commands a strong following in the Niger Delta region''.

Separate from the above observations, Chief Tompolo himself while speaking on his burning desire to achieve results in this respect made comments which suggest that he placed his life at risk for this national duty.

Take for instance, while noting that he is 100 percent committed to eradicating this menace of illegal oil theft and refining from the Niger Delta, warning those who have operated unhindered for years to detach and leave the area or face dire consequences from the surveillance team as it would not be business as usual, High Chief Tompolo said; we are not too scared of our people. We are more scared of people with guns that are involved in these activities than people without guns. We are more scared of the GSAs that are accomplices in this, and the oil multinationals than we are afraid of our people.

Even as High Chief Tompolo is celebrated, this piece holds the opinion that another personality that has through the ongoing surveillance emerged a new face of Niger Delta region is Chief Ebipade Kari, the Operational Head of Tantita Security Services Limited and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, who was reportedly offered a bribe of Twenty Five Million Naira (N25m) to let the ship (MT Deinmo, with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) number 7210525, ) go but he turned down the offer.

For me, this is commendable!!!

Thus, this piece holds the opinion that Chief Tompolo and Ebipade Kari, are in the interim, the real ambassadors of the new Niger Delta region!!!

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Public Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), A Lagos-Based Non Governmental Organization (NGO).And could be reached via [email protected] /08032725374.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is looking too late now for any final fence-mending session between you and the anti-Atiku candidacy, a situation that has made the inner battle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) difficult to overcome by you or your current in-house political enemies.

At least five irritated governors, some southern chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, which include Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, SeyiMakinde (Oyo State), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) and Samuel Ortom(Benue State), have openly poisoned your 2023 presidential election bid. The current disunity among the factions within the ranks of the party could make your candidacy irreparably troubled.

There are just a few weeks left before the election. To think there is going to be a genuine conversation about reconciliation is just a fantasy.

Mr. Atiku, this isn't just about your personality clashes with Wike; it's a full-fledged philosophical war in which you, as a Northerner, want to preside over the nation as a PDP presidential representative, while your other party faction sees it as unfair to the nation's southern geopolitical zone.

Dont run on divine wishes as the intractable crisis confronting PDP ahead of the 2023 general elections is enmeshed in the instrumentality of lack of godliness on your part to see the fairness of power shift to the South. That is the operating perception in Nigeria.

Unfortunately for you, while the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, appears to be on your side, the infighting between those who defected with him from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) and the original party members in Edo State only makes you weaker.

The lone south-south state, speaking of Delta State, under the governorship of your Vice-Presidential Candidate, Ifeanyi Okowa, lacks the complete show of strength to save you.

In the Middle Belt of Nigeria, Governor Samuel Ortomof Benue State has left you as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

The current APC government in power, whose presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has all-round support from all northern and southern factions with Buhari, has a psychological distance from you because they have painted you to Nigerians as a Cameroonian, not a citizen of Nigeria, even when this is an exaggeration of facts. That means you should not be running in any Nigerian presidential election.

Mr. Atiku you recently gave a political shot yourself when you said this, "What the average Northerner needs is somebody whos from the North and also understands that part of the country and has been able to build bridges across the country. This is what the Northerner needs. It doesnt need a Yoruba or Igbo candidate. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of Northern origin."

This was a terrible national shame on your part, especially when it pertains to the people of the South-East the only zone in recent Nigeria yet to take its turn at the Presidency.

Even a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Abia State, Sampson Orji, openly declared his support for the Labour Partys presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

In an apparent subconscious manner, Governor Obaseki, a recent runaway politician to the PDP, in an apparent subconscious manner, although he continues to fluctuate, said, "I dont know whether you have them in your house. Just ask them, which party are you?; they will say Obidients; you understand. They do not want us; they are not talking about PDP or APC. They are looking for alternatives, and there are many. You see all of them queuing for their PVCs now. They are not looking at the direction of the PDP or APC now. They are looking for alternatives. "

Then, as part of his apparent subconscious distractions and uncertainties, nervous about the dying political fate of PDP's win, Obaseki just said, "God forbid, but should APC win and come to power in 2023, this country will break. APC has done much damage to this country... "

So, Mr. Atiku, looking at all these interconnected adverse factors around your person and candidacy, the odds are against you.

Your only chance of winning is if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, becomes incapacitated or dies, which I hope does not happen, but even if it does, the entire Nigerian people see the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari as a complete economic, political, and legal disaster to the country, who has harmed the little democracy that was growing in Nigeria.

Mr. Atiku, many Nigerians have no doubt that you are a good man and have served your country in different ways in public service, but the political will of the nation, except for a few ethnic men and women, is not on your side. I know you love this young nation called Nigeria. If so, what do you have to lose by directly or indirectly patronizing the new collective voice of the people, we are talking about Peter Obi. Sir, this is the time to be on the right side of history. Show it boldly.

Unlike Obaseki, Mr. Atiku, do not allow Nigeria's democracy to collapse through any means. You helped plant the initial seeds of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. As you can see, under Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians believe that the political rights and civil liberties around the country have greatly deteriorated to their lowest point. Nigeria's democracy is at a dangerous inflection point. Obi is not perfect, but you will agree that he remains an ideal president for Nigeria. In fact, he is your political heir.

Mr. Atiku, Except for the presidency, God has long blessed you; but where the people have chosen to make Obi serve this country, you sir, can, in good faith, make it happen; and this you can do in the coming days and weeks; if you do, you will be fighting for a better, fairer, and brighter future for every Nigerian.

Prof. John Egbeazien Oshodi

John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult and child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional, and Career Development. He is a former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings In 2011, he introduced State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He is currently a Virtual Behavioral Leadership Professor at ISCOM University, Republic of Benin. Founder of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien Open University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, and Openness. Over forty academic publications and creations, at least 200 public opinion pieces on African issues, and various books have been written by him. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues. His most recent textbook publication is Concise Psychology: An Integrated Forensic Approach to Psychology for Global African Settings.

Prof. Oshodi wrote in via [email protected]
Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji is a linguistic virtuoso, scholar par excellence and administrator extraordinaire. The life and living of this gentleman who is the pioneer vice chancellor of Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, is worth simulating and emulating by anyone who desires a modest and impactful life. Like his favourite Thomas Edison's quote which says "genius is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration", Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji (MA) is the product of hard work crowned by good luck. Born into an average family that cannot be described as being rich or poor, MA hawked pap for his mother even as a secondary school student. This stress did not stop his father from making him repeat a class for coming third in his Arabic and Islamic school despite combining that with western education. Professor Adedimeji is a confirmation of the Yoruba saying that work does not kill; not working kills instead. Being the son of a renowned Islamic scholar who would not accept any excuse for mediocrity, MA grew to understand that one cannot justify laziness and its effects.

One big lesson to learn from his life is that God rewards hard work. The professor of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin who also graduated from the same department started his career as a lecturer immediately after his one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Ladoke Akintola University around 2000 from where he moved to the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). This is because it has always been his plan to be a knowledgeable person and to impart others. As an avid learner and reader, he trained at the Virtual Institute of Higher Education Pedagogy under distinguished Professor Peter Okebukola when he was the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, and Virtual Institute for Higher Education in Africa under Prof J. Shabani. MA also received training at Governors State University, Illinois, and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Notre Dame University, Indiana, United States of America. Professor Adedimeji was made the Director of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, UNILORIN and became a professor in October 2019. He was appointed as the pioneer vice chancellor of Ahman Patigi University in the same year, 2019. His life is a testimony that God does not only call the qualified but also qualifies whoever he calls. Another important lesson to grab from this amazing personality is the fact that life and living come in turns. Having worked diligently under the former vice chancellor of UNILORIN, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, as a director and mentee, MA had gathered enough experience and exposure that help him pull through his job as a young vice chancellor even when he did not see it coming. This shows the importance of serving as a natural condition for reaching expected and unexpected heights in life. Anyone who desires to go far in life must be ready to grow under the tutelage of others.

Professor Mahfouz Adedimeji's strong reliance on God and religious commitment is another part of him that is deserving of emulation. At all times, he makes clear that he holds all he is and will become to Almighty Allah. Being a lover of peace and scholar of peace studies, he is a member of the Nigeria Inter-religious Council; a body promoting peaceful co-existence in the face of the religious diversity in Nigeria, and he has also published religious cum spiritual books that can help one live a just life and maintain a good relationship with the Almighty God. This is, of course, in addition to the several academic books and many articles published in learned journals. When asked what standard he lives by in an interview, MA remarked that goodness is a comprehensive term that describes it all. He explained that he holds on to the maxim that if one lives right and does right, everything shall be alright.

This erudite, diligent and god-fearing husband and father is a role model and national treasure. It is my prayer that Almighty Allah preserve him upon his goodness.

Ganiu Bamgbose writes from Lagos State University, Lagos.
Malaysian tourists on the rise

BANGKOK: More than a million Malaysian tourists have made holidays in Thailand so far this year. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) now hopes to bank on the tourism high season and raise this figure to 1.8 million by years end.

Thursday 27 October 2022, 11:20AM

Photo: NNT

TAT deputy governor Tanes Petsuwan indicated Malaysia is a high-potential market due to tourists being able to enter Thailand by land as well as by air, reports state news agency NNT.

Mr Tanes said most Malaysian tourists drive into Thailand through various border points. Unlike in the past, Malaysian tourists no longer remain solely in Hat Yai City during their holiday in Thailand.

Instead, they now visit other provinces such as Krabi, Phatthalung, Phuket, Satun, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. About 1.04mn tourists visited Thailand from January 1 to October 7.

These visitors are expected to have contributed about B26.575 billion of tourism income to Thailand, said the report.

Mr Tanes, who is in charge of International Marketing in Asia and South Pacific, said the number of Malaysian tourists will increase as Thailand has entered the high season.

Additionally, the tourism high season coincides with the school break in Malaysia, as well as the Diwali, Christmas and New Years festivals.

Mr Tanes said the TAT will continually hold tourism promotion activities with an aim of attracting 1.8mn Malaysian tourists to Thailand this year.

The TAT deputy governor said cooperation between his agency and partners in Malaysia has contributed to the revival of the tourism industry. This is illustrated by the resumption of international flights between Malaysia and Thailand, of which there are now 23 per day.
Patong Hill opens for motorbikes

PHUKET: Officials are now allowing motorbikes over Patong Hill, riding past the section of road damaged by the landslide last week.

patongtransportSafety

By The Phuket News

Thursday 27 October 2022, 09:29AM

The notice by Patong Municipality announcing the road has reopened for motorbikes. Photo: PR Phuket

The notice by Kathu Municipality announcing the road has reopened for motorbikes. Photo: PR Phuket

Tens of thousands of people need to cross the hill each day, Governor Narong said. Photo: PR Phuket

Children needing to cross the hill to attend school was cited as one of the main reasons for reopening the road for motorbikes. Photo: PR Phuket

Governor Narong at the site, with the section of collapsed road behind him. Photo: PR Phuket

The first riders get the thumbs-up for crossing the hill. Photo: PR Phuket

Governor Narong at the site yesterday to declare the road open to motorbikes. Photo: PR Phuket

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was at the checkpoint on the Kathu side of the hill yesterday evening (Oct 26) to declare the road open to motorbikes at about 6pm.

The move to reopen the road to motorbikes came just seven days after the landslide.

Governor Narong said the decision was to help alleviate the suffering of those who need to travel across the hill each day, especially young students.

Various agencies are working together to come up with ways to access Patong both by walking routes and roads, but such problems have affected a large number of people because it is the opening of the school semester. This caused the province [provincial government] to urgently find a way to alleviate such problems for the people, he said.

Every day, tens of thousands of people have to park their motorcycles and travel on foot [from Kathu] to the Patong area, and from further analysis of the soil strength, while previously there was still a large amount of groundwater, the analysis from geologists from the Department of Highways and related agencies such as Kathu Municipality have concluded that the hillside area is strong enough to allow motorcycles to pass through, he added.

Motorbikes are allowed over the hill in both directions, but restricted to the hill side of the lane past the danger zone, some 500 metres below the Patong City sign.

Police, military personnel and local administration officers will be on duty to regulate the traffic so the road can remain open to motorbikes 24 hours a day, he added.

Motorbikes only are now allowed over the hill, Governor Narong emphasised.

Cars and larger vehicles are still banned from crossing the hill, he said.

This is just temporary relief for people to travel over the hill. Cars or other types of vehicles still have to use the alternative routes [via Kamala or Chalong-Kata-Karon], he noted.

Officers are continuing to make improvements to the walking path up the hill from the Bang Thong Monastery in Kathu to the Chao Por Suea Shrine at the top of the hill, he added.

Patong Municipality and Kathu Municipality are accelerating adjustments by bringing backhoes to level the area. It is expected that the improvements will be completed in the next two days, Governor Narong said.

As for the route behind Wat Luang Pu Supa - Chalong [see here], the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation [PPAO] is bringing machinery to improve that route as well. It is expected to open for use next week, he added.
The New York Post was hacked this morning, publishing outrageous headlines and Twitter posts such as the fake title "by" Ben Shapiro titled, "We must assassinate AOC for America." And the tabloid's tweet calling out Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin for saying, "I will rape and batter [opponent Kathleen] Hochul's sorry ass."

Other fake tweets, now deleted but published by Mediate (see images below), included:

"Gov. Abbott: I will order border patrol to start slaughtering illegals."

"Zeldin: Eric Adams is NYC's fried chicken eating monkey"

"Rufo: We must destroy and imprison Union teachers"

"Devine: We must murder and destroy Hunter Biden"

From Mediate:

The hacker apparently not only had access to the tabloid's Twitter account, but also the backend of its website, as one story was edited to show Ben Shapiro recommending the assassination of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).  The story was quickly deleted from the Post website, but many tweets remained. Other deleted tweets included horrific fake headlines about New York gubernatorial candidates Lee Zeldin and Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, as well as a fake column of Miranda Devine calling for Joe and Hunter Biden to be executed, among the tweets.  Mediaite confirmed that the text of the Shapiro "assassinate AOC" piece matched an old piece from the Post editorial board on Ocasio-Cortez's connection to Biden's polling struggles.

The New York Post said in a tweet that it is currently investigating the "cause."
Prayut orders urgent relief funds for flood victims

BANGKOK: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered a relief fund to be handed out to flood victims quickly without first waiting for the water to recede, said government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.

weather

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 27 October 2022, 07:16AM

A child wades through floodwater in Ban Hua San village of Muang district, Khon Kaen, yesterday (Oct 26). Photo: Chakrapan Natanri

Gen Prayut has issued instructions for related ministries to hasten the relief fund disbursement using a payment guideline from 2011 when similar compensation of B5,000 baht per flood-affected household was approved, reports the Bangkok Post.

The prime minister has made it clear the funds should be given out quickly without having to wait for the floods to recede first, the spokesman said.

Prayut said the issue should be concluded next week so people can rest assured that the government is taking active steps to help them financially in times of need.

Mr Anucha added the premier was anxious about the people, including those bed-ridden, who are stranded in their flooded homes. He insisted communication technology and the necessary equipment should be deployed to provide remote medical consultation to the sick or evacuate them if necessary.

During his tour last week of Sing Buri, one of the Central Plains provinces hardest hit by floods, Prayut received word about a bed-ridden resident in distress. He immediately ordered the governor to dispatch a boat to take the patient to a hospital.

At Tuesdays (Oct 25) weekly Cabinet meeting, Prayut was briefed on the flood situation nationwide. He said equipment and machinery should be mobilised to drain floodwater, particularly in areas hit by protracted inundation.

Various state agencies have released funds to aid households impacted by the floods. Local administrative organisations have approved 181 million baht to cater to the emergency needs of residents.

The Budget Bureau has set aside B2 billion as a flood disaster fund while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has contributed part of its own budget for relief efforts.

At the same time, the Finance Ministry has issued measures, including extending the tax filing period for business operators and waiving rent for businesses leasing state properties.

Mr Anucha said the Prime Ministers Office has injected a budget into state funds to be spent helping the organisation of funerals, paying for the welfare of affected families, and buying building materials to fix flood-wrecked homes.

A separate tranche of state funds worth B65 million has also gone toward producing 92,300 relief bags which will be handed out to people in the 13 provinces most heavily flooded.

For the overall picture, about 528,000 households in 59 provinces have been affected by floods.

Emerging from Tuesdays Cabinet meeting, Prayut said he was keen to get the flood assistance funds to the public, adding the quicker this happens, the better.

The government prepared water-catchment areas, however, these were quickly filled up by floodwater due to a large volume of rainfall that was three times what authorities had estimated.
Putin oversees nuclear response drills

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday (Oct 27) surveyed drills carried out by his nuclear-capable forces as Moscow pressed unfounded claims to India and China that Ukraine was developing a dirty bomb.

ChineseRussianUkraine

By AFP

Thursday 27 October 2022, 07:26AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin oversees the training of the strategic deterrence forces, troops responsible for responding to threats of nuclear war. Photo: AFP

The drills are the latest in a series of escalatory comments from Moscow and Putin - who observed the drills from a control room - that the eight-month conflict in Ukraine could turn nuclear.

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 state-run media ran footage of a submarine crew preparing the launch of a Sineva ballistic missile from the Barents Sea in the Arctic.

The drills also included launching test missiles from the Kamchatka peninsula in the Russian Far East.

Footage of the drills across state media came after Russias Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu pressed ahead with telephone calls to his counterparts globally, claiming that Ukraine was developing a dirty bomb.

Shoigu, who has made these claims in recent days to counterparts from NATO countries, reiterated them to Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe yesterday.

Moscow alleges irresponsible behaviour

Shoigu also voiced the same concerns in a phone with Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh earlier yesterday, Moscow said.

Ukraine has dismissed the allegations as absurd and dangerous, suggesting the claims could be cover for Russias own plans on the battlefield, as have its western allies, including Britain, France and the United States.

A dirty bomb is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials which are disseminated in an explosion.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier yesterday that Russia had information pertaining to the existing threat of Ukraine using a dirty bomb and that Kyiv was preparing for such a terrorist act of sabotage.

He added: We will continue vigorously bringing our point of view to the world community to encourage them to take active steps to prevent such irresponsible behaviour.

Nuclear rhetoric from Russia began building in September, when Moscow said it was annexing four regions of Ukraine over which its forces have partial control. Putin warned Russia could use nuclear weapons to defend them.

Advance on Kherson

One of those regions is Kherson, in southern Ukraine near Moscow-annexed Crimea, where Kyiv has been clawing back territory since a counter-offensive it announced at the end of the summer.

Russian-backed authorities in recent days urged residents to flee what they say is an oncoming onslaught. They claimed to have turned the city of Kherson into a fortress, vowing to defend it at all costs.

A Moscow-installed official in the region, Vladimir Saldo, said Wednesday that at least 70,000 people have left their homes within the last week.

Ukraines capture of the Kherson region would give Kyiv back important access to the Sea of Azov. It would also cut off Moscows land bridge to Russian-annexed Crimea.

Saldo banned entry to the right bank area of the region for a period of seven days due to the tense situation on the contact line, according to a statement on his social media yesterday.

Russias offensive to capture Ukrainian territory spurred a wave of international solidarity with Kyiv, including hundreds of foreigners who volunteered to help fend off Russian advances.

Kyiv said yesterday that Russia had returned the remains of US citizen Joshua Alan Jones, who was killed fighting Moscows forces in August, along with 10 Ukrainian servicemen in a prisoner swap.
Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High 28F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Low 7F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow

Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 16F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
A rise in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles began to take root in the Midwest, hitting Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota relentlessly since last year.

But the trend exploded over the summer as a result of viral challenge on TikTok, and may now be fueling illegal activity in Buffalo  and revealing a deadly side that has local law enforcement on high alert.

Four people between the ages of 14 and 19 died Monday morning in a single-vehicle, rollover crash where the westbound Kensington Expressway meets the on-ramp for the Scajaquada Expressway. The 16-year-old driver now faces a felony charge in the crash.

When Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia revealed Monday that the stolen vehicle was a Kia Sportage reported stolen the night before, he referenced a TikTok and YouTube trend that has instructed viewers how to hotwire and steal Kia and Hyundai vehicles with traditional key ignition using mundane tools, such as a USB cable found on iPhone chargers. The commissioner said the social media challenge could have inspired the theft.

A social media trend, a stolen car and speeding prove a deadly combination A day after a horrific crash Monday left four teens dead, another hospitalized and the driver facing criminal charges, Buffalo was learning about the young lives that were lost and the tragic consequences of a dangerous trend spread through TikTok.

The original TikTok users that began the trend were called "the kia boyz," a term that now covers anyone involved in the criminal activity. A search for "the kia boyz" on TikTok indicates the subject has attracted 5.9 billion views, and while representatives from that social media platform have said there's increased vigilance about removing these instructional videos, it is not difficult to find users bragging about stolen-car conquests, or other users showing the aftermath of what car thieves have done after stealing their Kias or Hyundais. Videos on YouTube and TikTok show drivers of what are purported to be stolen Kias driving erratically and at high speeds through neighborhoods.

Chris Gallant, former communications chair and current associate professor at Hilbert College, spoke Tuesday about the viral nature and popularity of TikTok, the most downloaded application in the world over the last three years, according to CNET.com. He said the platform is a "double-edged sword" in the same way as other social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook.

"It can be used for good or used for evil," Gallant said, "and it needs to be regulated."

News of the Kia Challenge has spread widely, even to Gallant's 77-year-old mother, who is reluctant to take her Kia out of the garage.

"It strikes fear into a lot of people," Gallant said of the trend.

Thieves key on hack that leaves Hyundai, Kia cars vulnerable Some Hyundai and Kia cars and SUVs are missing a "key" anti-theft device, and thieves know.

Experts have connected the popularity of the Kia Challenge with national statistics regarding the make of stolen vehicles. Last month, CNN shared a Highway Loss Data Institute study that revealed 2015-2019 models of Kias and Hyundais were stolen in 2021 at nearly twice the rate of any other car of similar age.

Buffalo is not the only city in which fatalities or serious injuries have been linked to stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles. WISN, a TV station in Milwaukee, Wisc., reported about the death of a 16-year-old who crashed a stolen Kia in June. A 70-year-old woman in St. Paul, Minn., was killed in a crash involving a stolen Kia in July, Fox 9 in Minnesota reported.

The two manufacturers now find themselves in legal hot water.

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.

In late September, Kia America and Hyundai Motor America were served a class action lawsuit in southern California, with MLG Attorneys at Law representing three plaintiffs against the two manufacturers. For many Kias built from 2011 to 2021, and Hyundais built between 2015-2021, the lawsuit accuses Kia and Hyundai of "blatantly valuing profits over the safety and security of their customers" by remaining among the few automobile manufacturers to not include engine immobilizers. These are electronic security parts in engine control units that restrict a vehicle from starting without a manufacturer's key.

The three plaintiffs in the complaint, who said their Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen "by thieves exploiting the defect" between Aug. 10 and Sept. 11, are seeking damages and injunctive relief for themselves and the subset of Kia and Hyundai vehicle owners. The complaint adds that Hyundai and Kia considered adding engine immobilizers for theft prevention reasons in 2007 and 2009, respectively, but ultimately opted not to.

Jonathan Michaels, one of the two MLG attorneys representing the plaintiffs, said Tuesday he was aware of the fatal crash in Buffalo that was believed to be connected to the same issues in the lawsuit. He said the trend of stolen Kias and Hyundais does not appear to be slowing down, and that its motive veers from what's typical.

"Stealing cars is usually for economic gain, but this is more done for sport," said Michaels, adding that his office has fielded more than 500 related calls this month. "They're motivated by the challenge and are doing it for fun."

'Absolutely unprecedented': East Aurora dealing with rash of car thefts, mirroring local and national trend Six vehicles have been reported stolen from East Aurora in the last two weeks, the town and village's police department confirmed. All six incidents shared one factor in common: At the time they were stolen, the cars were unlocked with the keys or key fob inside.

MLG, Michaels said, is demanding a recall of 10 million cars in the lawsuit, which would be the third largest class action suit ever, he said. The southern California lawsuit is accompanied by similar suits from Illinois and Minnesota.

Kia and Hyundai have added engine immobilizers for the majority of their 2022 and all of their 2023 models, Forbes reported.

Gramaglia's reference to the Kia Challenge is a microcosm of a bigger problem of stolen vehicles in Western New York, with suburban police departments such as East Aurora this summer warning residents to not leave their key fobs in unlocked cars. A 2021 Buffalo News report on car thefts in the City of Buffalo noted almost a quarter of those arrested for car theft were under 17 years old, and many were arrested and released for the act multiple times.
Scranton, PA (18503)

Today

Rain and snow tapering off this evening. Decreasing cloudiness overnight. Low near 30F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%..

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Rain and snow tapering off this evening. Decreasing cloudiness overnight. Low near 30F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
MADI ALLARD, Stonington, Field Hockey, Senior; Allard made four saves in a penalty shootout, helping Stonington defeat Canton in the Class S semifinals. Most of the game was played in a steady snow. Stonington later lost in the title game to North Branford.

DREW DENONCOUR, Chariho, Boys Soccer, Senior; DeNoncour made a save in the final 30 seconds to preserve a 2-1 win for the Chargers in the Division II championship game. DeNoncour was named the games MVP as Chariho won the D-II title for the second straight year.

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Franchise Brands now anticipates annual revenues and profits will outstrip forecasts following healthy performances from its two largest businesses.

The AIM-listed company said kitchen services provider Filta had performed very strongly across North America, while commercial drainage specialist Metro Rod experienced robust trading in the UK.

Having acquired Filta for 49.2million earlier this year, the group noted the division was benefiting heavily from the increasing price of cooking oil, which franchisees often amass before selling to other customers.

Pouring money: Having acquired Filta for 49.2million earlier this year, Franchise Brands noted the division was benefiting heavily from the increasing price of cooking oil

But it is also driving higher demand for the Filta Fry process, something the firm claims can double the length of time cooking oil is used, while the appreciating dollar is providing a further boost to the bottom line.

At the same time, Franchise Brands observed 'continued strong momentum' in sales at its Metro Rod subsidiary, prompted by franchisees widening their service offering, especially with regards to pump service and maintenance tasks.

Consequently, it now anticipates sales surpassing current market expectations of 92.9million this year, alongside adjusted underlying earnings and earnings per share of more than 14.3million and 7.31p, respectively.

Stephen Hemsley, the group's executive chairman, said the result 'demonstrates the strength of our growth strategy and quality of our franchise networks.

'I am particularly pleased that the acquisition of Filta has given us a significant international presence in the large franchise-friendly North American market.

'This will considerably enhance our scope for both organic development and accretive B2B acquisitions.'

Services: Franchise Brands controls a network of around 600 franchisees across the UK, Europe and North America who operate under nine principal brands

Following the release of its trading update, Franchise Brands shares jumped by 6.7 per cent to 1.60 on Thursday, although their value has slightly fallen since the start of the year.

Based in Macclesfield, the company controls a network of around 600 franchisees in Britain, Europe and North America who operate under nine principal brands across a variety of industries.

Metro Road and Filta are situated within its B2B division, as are national plumbing franchise Metro Plumb and water pump installation provider Willow Pumps.

Meanwhile, its B2C arm comprises car paintwork repair specialist Chipsaway, dog home boarding service Barking Mad and domestic cleaning firm OvenClean.

Franchise Brands said the latter division was having trouble gaining new franchisees in the UK due to the country's labour shortages, with vacancies standing at more than 1.2 million as of October.

The business also owns software developer Azura Group, bought in November 2021, and home maintenance service The Handyman Van.

However, mirroring remarks he made when Franchise Brands published its interim results in July, Hemsley said the firm remained 'highly profitable and cash generative' with a large ungeared balance sheet to boot.

He added: 'The group is in a robust financial position to weather more challenging economic conditions and take advantage of future growth opportunities both in the UK and in the US. I, therefore, look forward to the future with considerable confidence.'
An arbitrator has found that the City of Lockport failed to provide sufficient evidence that Mayor Michelle M. Roman had just cause to fire Richelle J. Pasceri as city clerk, which could result in the city owing her $250,000 in back salary and benefits.

Pasceri, a Republican who had served as clerk since January 2012, was fired from the $65,752-a-year post by Roman, a Democrat, on April 1, 2020. Roman contended that Pasceri had failed to attend Police and Fire Board meetings to take minutes, omitted items from Council agendas and failed to respond to Freedom of Information Law requests in a timely manner.

Robert McLennan, a business representative for OPEIU Local 153, represented Pascieri through several steps of her grievance procedure before it went to arbitration. On Thursday, McLennan noted that the arbitrator fully sustained the union's grievance on Pascieri's behalf, and while a specific amount has not yet been awarded to her, the arbitrator plans to maintain jurisdiction over the final settlement if the parties are in dispute.

"But our figures show this is going to be worth about $250,000, including keeping Richelle on the rolls for lifetime health insurance," McLennan said.

Roman and Lockport's assistant corporation counsel, Jason Cafarella, did not respond to requests from The Buffalo News for comment on the arbitration ruling.

As a member of the city's department head union, Pasceri had filed a grievance over her firing, and the all-Republican Common Council Personnel Committee voted unanimously June 4, 2021, to uphold Pasceri's grievance, calling for her to return to work and receive full back pay and benefits.

Roman did not respond to the committee's vote, however. Instead, the city sued the union to prevent arbitration.

Representatives for the city had argued that the city clerk is not a position that is entitled to be represented by collective bargaining and that the city charter gave the mayor authority to remove the clerk.

"We went through several levels of appeals with the Employee Relations Board with the state, and it's been ruled in our favor at every step," said McLennan.

"The contract the city signed several years ago ... very explicitly states that the city clerk is part of the bargaining unit," he said.

"They lost that case and she is in the bargaining unit. She has every right to union representation," McLennan added.

Pasceri and the union were represented at arbitration by Michael Dolce of labor law firm Hayes Dolce. The city was represented by Cafarella.
Buffalo Police are asking the public for help in finding a missing 46-year-old woman.

Marie Chostel, who also goes by Marie Jean-Baptiste, was last seen in the 100 block of High Street in Buffalo, driving a silver 2014 Nissan Rogue SUV with a Florida license plate.

Police described her as 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with brown eyes and a shaved head. They noted that she sometimes wears wigs and was last seen in a gray coat and multi-colored headwear.
Police have charged a man with murder after a father of three was shot up to eight times in Co Antrim last week.

Detectives said a 44-year-old man had been charged with murder and firearm offences following the death of Liam Christie, also 44, last Thursday.

The PSNI launched a murder investigation last week following the discovery of Mr Christies body in a house in the Craighill area of Antrim.

Our detectives investigating the murder of Liam Christie in Antrim have charged a 44-year-old man. pic.twitter.com/MutCSHeldE  Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) October 26, 2022

The 44-year-old suspect was arrested on Monday afternoon in Antrim, police previously said.

The PSNI had confirmed Mr Christie was shot up to eight times as they appealed for any witnesses, especially those who could provide dash-cam footage from the Ballycraigy Estate and surrounding area of Antrim between 7am on Wednesday October 19 and 12pm on Thursday October 20.

Another man, aged 31, who was previously arrested over the murder, was released on police bail to allow for further inquiries.

The 44-year-old man will face Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday, PSNI said.
A man convicted of murdering an 11-month-old baby must serve 13 years in jail, a Northern Irish court has ruled.

Sharyar Ali, of Westenra Terrace in Co Monaghan, killed his then-girlfriends son, Hunter McGleenon, in Keady, Co Armagh, in November 2019.

The 34-year-old Pakistani national automatically received a life sentence at Newry Crown Court in April this year after pleading guilty to the murder.

Hunter suffered a fatal head injury while Ali was looking after him for the babys mother, Nicole McGleenon, who was with her terminally-ill grandmother.

A pathologists report said the injury was not accidental.

Newry Crown Court heard on Thursday that Hunter, an only child, was an affectionate and healthy little boy who was not yet walking when he was left in the sole care of Ali at Ms McGleenons home in Keady on November 25 2019.

The prosecutor told the court that Ms McGleenon had asked her then-boyfriend to take care of Hunter so she could attend to her grandmother.

Ali took the baby to see Ms McGleenon at about 10pm that night to say goodnight, and there had been no cause for concern.

It was the last time Hunter was seen alive by his mother.

The prosecutor said Ms McGleenon later returned to her own home with her sister in the early hours of November 26 but Ali did not answer the door.

He said they banged on the door and shouted through the letterbox for around 20 minutes in a bid to gain entry but they failed to do so and left.

The following morning Ali drove Hunter to the house where Ms McGleenon was staying and told her and other members of her family that the little boy was unable to breathe, at which point they rushed out to the car but he was dead, the prosecutor added.

Describing the events of the morning of November 26, the judge, Mr Justice McFarland, said Ali had appeared calm when he arrived at the house.

You initially said that Hunter was asleep but soon volunteered that Hunter, in your words, had fallen off the sofa, had hit his head and was not breathing, the judge told Ali.

Understandably that caused panic in the McGleenon family. Family members ran out to the car and observed Hunter, who was in his car seat. He appeared to be unresponsive and appeared to be lifeless.

Resuscitation was attempted by family members. Emergency services were quickly on the scene.

The judge added that the emergency services crews were of the opinion that Hunter was dead and his death was later confirmed.

He told the court the injuries Hunter suffered were caused by blunt trauma to the head and that it was crystal clear they were not due to the baby falling off the sofa, as Ali had originally claimed.

Mr Justice McFarland said medical evidence confirmed there were 19 areas of head and neck injury to Hunter that may not relate to 19 separate episodes of trauma, but it does reflect multiple injuries to this area nonetheless.

The judge also said it was the opinion of the assistant state pathologist that those injuries had been caused by either direct trauma, or blows or kicks and/or by shaking of Hunter.

The medical opinion was also that, at the time, Hunter having received these injuries would have been in a state of reduced consciousness, he added.

What is crystal clear is that the injuries were not caused by Hunter falling off a settee or falling from a similar height or by a similar mechanism. Death was certified as being caused by blunt trauma to the head.

In his ruling, the judge told the court he was imposing a term of 13 years for the murder of Hunter after taking account of victim impact statements as well as aggravating factors and mitigating factors.

He said he had received victim impact statements detailing how Ms McGleenon and the rest of the family are devastated by Hunters death and that, over the years, their grief and suffering has not departed.

He added that Ms Gleenon suffers from persistent complex bereavement disorder, which he described as perfectly understandable, but told the court he would not be divulging any further details of the victim impact statements in a bid to protect the familys privacy.

Mr Justice McFarland said he had also taken into account mitigating factors.

Ali had no criminal record, had a good work record in recent times, had no history of drug or alcohol abuse, and had a mild learning disability with traits of autism, the court heard.

The judge said he had taken into account that there was no previous aggravated behaviour.

He handed down a term of at least 16 years reduced by three years for Alis guilty plea to the murder charge.

Following the sentencing, the Public Prosecution Service issued a statement.

Ciaran McQuillan, head of the PPS Serious Crime Unit, said: We recognise the pain and distress suffered by the family of baby Hunter McGleenon since he was murdered by Sharyar Ali on 26 November 2019. Our thoughts are with baby Hunters family as they continue to try to cope with his devastating loss.

While sentencing is a matter for the judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions does have the power to refer particular sentences to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that they may be unduly lenient.

An unduly lenient sentence is one that falls outside the range of sentences that a judge, taking into consideration all relevant factors and having regard to sentencing guidance, could reasonably consider appropriate.

We are considering whether there are is a legal ground to refer the sentence in this case to the Court of Appeal for consideration.
Northern Ireland is on course for a pre-Christmas Assembly election as the deadline to restore devolved government at Stormont has elapsed.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is expected to call the election on Friday, following the failure of a last-ditch effort to restore the multi-party executive.

The DUP is blocking the restoration of powersharing as part of its protest against the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

A six-month legislative timeframe to form an administration expired in the early hours of Friday.

With no ministerial executive in place, the UK Government assumes a legal responsibility to call another election.

While Mr Heaton-Harris has not yet laid out the details, there has been speculation the poll would be held on December 15.

Stormont ministers, who have been operating in shadow form since the Assembly collapsed earlier this year, also ceased to hold office at midnight.

Responsibility for running devolved departments will now pass to senior civil servants.

MLAs met during a recalled sitting of the Assembly on Thursday, but a bid to elect a new speaker  which must be done before the election of first and deputy first ministers  did not proceed as the DUP refused to support the nominations.

The session was then suspended.

The DUPs boycott of the Stormont institution is part of a campaign of opposition to the protocol, and the party says it will not return to powersharing until decisive action is taken to remove 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.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said not enough progress has been made on addressing issues of concern around the protocol.

But Sinn Feins Stormont leader Michelle ONeill said the DUP have left us all at the mercy of a heartless and dysfunctional Tory government.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also urged the DUP to get back to Stormont just hours before the deadline to restore devolution expired.

His official spokesman said: Theres still time for the DUP and executives to get back to Stormont and we urge them to do so because the people of Northern Ireland deserve a fully functioning and locally elected executive which can respond to the issues facing the communities there.

The last Northern Ireland Assembly election was held in May of this year, and Sinn Fein emerged as the largest party for the first time.

Meanwhile, the UK Government has insisted that in the absence of the Stormont executive, a joint authority arrangement with Dublin for the governance of Northern Ireland is not being considered.

Both Irelands premier Micheal Martin and Ms ONeill have said there cannot be direct rule from Westminster in the event of powersharing not being restored.

But an NIO spokesperson said: The UK government is absolutely clear that the consent principle governs the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.

We will not countenance any arrangements that are inconsistent with that principle.
[October 26, 2022] SWEATER-THE VENTURE FUND FOR EVERYONE-ANNOUNCES ITS INVESTMENT INTO THE STONKS Y COMBINATOR ACCESS FUND

The Sweater and Stonks Partnership Opens Investment Access to Coveted YC Startups for Non Accredited Investors BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sweater, the mobile fintech democratizing the venture ecosystem, announced a new partnership with Stonksthe technology platform bridging top accelerators and VC firms with a massive network of accredited investors through live, demo day events. As the first step in this partnership, Sweater's Cashmere Fund has invested into the Stonks YC S22 Access Fund, which is targeting 35 of the top companies emerging from YCombinator's (YC) Summer 2022 cohort. YC has helped launch some of the most exciting startups over the past two decades and amassed a collective of companies with a combined valuation nearing $1T. It's well-known that YC has consistently churned out some of the most successful technology startups, including Airbnb, Stripe, and Instacart. However, their invite-only demo days have typically made accessing those top deals difficult for many accredited investors looking to invest in high-potential, early-stage deals. The launch of the YC Access Fund gives Stonks's 25k audience of accredited investors access to the most recent batch of YC companies. Even mre, they are doing this with no management fee or carry. Stonks looks forward to working closely with these founders as they continue to build a leading solution for all participants in the early-stage ecosystem.



"This was a win-win for us," said Adam Hardej, Head of Private Markets at Stonks. "We get to work with great founders coming out of YC, and we get to give our investors great access. We're excited to do more of this." The investment from Sweater's Cashmere Fund extends access to these YC companies to their thousands of non accredited and accredited investors. The added benefit of having zero fees is a bonus to this opportunity to bring their communities together.

"Our decision was driven by the fund thesis, strong team, and alignment with Sweater's goal of leveraging networks to enhance founder outcomes," said Sweater Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Chad Lewkowski. "We're looking forward to a continued partnership with the Stonks team, as we share the vision of creating more favorable opportunities and connections for both founders and funders." With visions aligned around democratizing access to venture opportunities and creating a more equitable venture landscape for all founders and investors, Stonks and Sweater are excited about the future. Both attack a similar mission from different angles, and their endeavors to make the private market more public are only going to benefit the larger investing community and founders shaping the future of how we live. About Sweater Sweater is a fintech company founded on the mission to accelerate generational wealth creation for all people through venture investing. They believe everyone deserves access to better financial opportunities and every founder deserves the chance to build their vision. Their vision to revolutionize the venture ecosystem started by democratizing access to the VC asset class with the Sweater Cashmere Fund. They're building tools and resources to educate, connect, and shape a thriving and inclusive venture community that propels companies shaping the future of how we live. About Stonks Stonks is a technology platform creating a network of investors and accelerators through live demo day events. Now individual angels have access to premier events from top accelerators including Techstars, Plug & Play, and 500 Global. Since launching Stonks in 2021, founder Ali Moiz has built the platform to 50K+ users and raised $15m from investors such as a16z, 500 Global, Yes VC, and others. Contact

Emma Clark

[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sweaterthe-venture-fund-for-everyoneannounces-its-investment-into-the-stonks-y-combinator-access-fund-301660541.html SOURCE Sweater

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[October 26, 2022] Space Technologies Offer Opportunity to Achieve One-Sixth of Emissions Cuts Needed to Reach Net Zero By 2050

Satellite technologies are already reducing carbon emissions by 1.5 billion tonnes (or 1.5 gigatons) every year, according to independent research commissioned by Inmarsat from leading consultants at Globant's Sustainable Business Studio. This is equivalent to almost a third of the entire United States' carbon emissions in 2021[1][2], or the lifetime emissions of 50 million cars[3]. Demonstrating the possibilities of space technologies in the race to Net Zero, the report focuses on three industry sectors: 1) transport and logistics, 2) agriculture, forestry and other land use and 3) energy systems. Together these account for approximately 60% of global emissions[4]. If satellite technologies were adopted universally by these industries, the CO 2 savings currently being delivered through satellite technologies could almost quadruple to up to 5.5 billion tonnes a year based on current technologies alone, the Globant analysis suggests. This is equivalent to one-sixth of the total carbon emissions currently estimated as necessary to keep the global temperatures rise below 1.5C by 2030 - or one-third of that necessary to keep temperature rises below 2C[5] - underlining the positive impact space technologies could have on the largest single challenge facing the world. Based on the research, the Globant calculations suggest that the world is currently missing out on up to 4 billion tonnes of potential and immediate CO 2 reductions[6] by not taking advantage of the decarbonising abilities of satellite technologies. These technologies enable fuel consumption savings and improved routing in transport, reduced energy use and optimisation in energy and even fire prevention in forestry, among many others. Rajeev Suri, Inmarsat CEO, said "Action to address decarbonisation is a global priority, and space technologies offer a significant source of hope in addressing this challenge. Our report, commissioned from Globant, underlines how space can offer significant carbon emissions savings now and even greater savings in the future - directly contributing to the fight against climate change. "As world leaders gather shortly for COP27, we offer them the opportunity to look at the role of satellite technologies within their decarbonisation strategies and encourage them to work closely with our industry to gather more effectively the data we need to make an impactful contribution towards de-risking Earth's temperature rise. At COP27 and beyond, we look forward to working with world and industry leaders to seize this opportunity, and effect real, lasting change for our planet." Recent consumer research conducted for Inmarsat as part of its 'What on Earth is the value of space?' initiative found that 4 in 10 people think space can help solve climate change.[7] The findings from the second study in the initiative should be particularly encouraging to this large minority. That said, satellite technology is by no means the sole solution to climate change. Crucial work on alternative energy sources and new energy storage technologies and other remedies needs to continue at full pac. But the savings available from existing space technologies can make an immediate impact - helping to potentially buy more time for these additional remedies to be developed and rolled out.



Looking ahead, the Globant report also found that 8.8 billion tonnes of carbon emissions - equivalent to almost a quarter (23%) of global emissions in 2021[8], or the emissions per capita of 1.8 billion people[9] - could be saved if the wealth of nascent space-enabled technologies that are emerging or set to emerge were widely adopted over the coming years. These include: In maritime, autonomous ships could save 400 million tonnes by reducing fuel consumption

In energy, AI-driven energy optimisation for energy transition could save 1.3 billion tonnes of CO 2

In aviation, the ESA Iris technology could save 100 million tonnes of carbon if adopted across the aviation industry - with the first aircraft set to fly in early 2023 Martin Umaran, Co-founder and Chairman for EMEA at Globant, said "As a digitally native company, we are constantly striving to understand and appreciate the role that disruptive technologies play on paramount topics for the greater good such as sustainability and the race to Net Zero. This is why this joint effort with Inmarsat is both thrilling and impactful for us. At Globant, we are front runners in sustainability powered by tech, and the synergy with satellite communications technology delivers an unprecedented thought leadership decarbonisation piece as a result".

[1] ONS

[2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/183943/us-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-1999/

[3] Roughly 66,000 lbs CO2 [is] emitted by an ICE car (assuming 93,000 miles driven)

[4] Included in the research: transport (15% of global emissions), agriculture, forestry and land use (22%), electricity and heat (23%)

[5] "The emissions gap in 2030 is estimated at 12-15 Gt CO2 to limit global warming to below 2C and 29-32 Gt CO2e to 1.5C."

[6] The difference between 1.5 billion tons of existing savings, and the 5.5 billion tons of savings projected from full adoption of satellite technologies

[7] https://www.inmarsat.com/en/news/latest-news/corporate/2022/people-unaware-concerned-space-landmark-report.html

[8] "In 2021, global CO2 emissions ... totalled 37.9 Gt CO2"

[9] https://www.statista.com/statistics/268753/co2-emissions-per-capita-worldwide-since-1990/ ABOUT INMARSAT

Inmarsat delivers world leading, innovative, advanced and exceptionally reliable global, mobile communications - in the air, at sea and on land - that enable a new generation of commercial, enterprise, government and mission-critical services, including the digitalisation of the maritime and aviation sectors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005104/en/

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The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Announces Investigation of Pfizer Inc. (PFE) on Behalf of Investors

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz announces an investigation of Pfizer Inc. (PFE) ("Pfizer" or the "Company") (NYSE: PFE) on behalf of investors concerning the Company's possible violations of federal securities laws.

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.







On October 26, 2022, Bloomberg reported that Pfizer is the target of an Italian probe claiming that the Company hid at least 1.2 billion euros in profit by transferring money to units in other countries, including the US and the Netherlands, to avoid taxes on profits. The probe began in February and covers 2017 through 2019.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW.

If you purchased Pfizer securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

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A former Buffalo police officer who pleaded guilty in a domestic violence incident was sentenced Wednesday to three years of probation by State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced.

Keenan J. Redmon, 37, also was ordered to wear an ankle monitor, abide by a curfew on weekdays and remain under house arrest on weekends.

Redmon pleaded guilty May 24 to third-degree assault, second-degree menacing and second-degree criminal trespass, all Class A misdemeanors.

According to prosecutors, at about 11 p.m. on July 22, 2021, Redmon forcibly grabbed a woman by the back of her neck at a Hertel Avenue restaurant. Then, while unlawfully in the woman's Buffalo home late on Aug. 26, 2021, and early the next day, he forced her into a bathroom and threatened her with what appeared to be a pistol.

Redmon, who was off-duty from his job as a Buffalo police officer at the time of the incident, resigned from his post on the day of his guilty plea.

Meanwhile, Haendiges issued a final order of protection Wednesday on behalf of the victim, which will remain in effect for the next five years.
[October 26, 2022] Forsea Attracts USD5.2M to Expand Cultivated Seafood, Without Harming Sea Life

Start-up pioneers organoid technology to make nature identical, cultured eel meat at cost parity REHOVOT, Israel, Oct. 27, 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 seafoodinitially eel meatwithout 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-foundersbiotech engineer Roee Nir, MBA; Iftach Nachman, PhD; and Yaniv Elkouby, PhDfounded 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: [email protected] Web: www.forseafoods.com Press Contact NutriPR Liat Simha Tel: +972-9-9742893 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nutripr.com

SOURCE Forsea Foods, Ltd.

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[October 27, 2022] Claro Brasil to Extend 4G and 5G-Ready Mobile Services Across Amazon Region with SES's O3b mPOWER

With unprecedented demand for high-powered mobile connectivity in the most isolated communities of the Amazon, SES today announced it has signed a multiyear capacity renewal with Claro Brasil, through Embratel, its corporate solutions division, to enable the delivery of enhanced 4G/5G-ready services via its O3b mPOWER network, SES's next-gen medium earth orbit (MEO) communications system, in at least eight of 23 cities the telco serves via SES's multi-orbit satellite network across the region. Under the renewal agreement, Embratel could leverage 4 Gbps over SES's O3b mPOWER network to extend its high-powered mobile backhaul service through this cutting-edge technology to serve more than 260,000 inhabitants of the eight cities in the Amazon region. SES will continue to serve other communities in the region with SES's geostationary (GEO) satellite-delivered backhaul capacity. Embratel has relied on an increasing amount of SES satellite services over the past five years to fulfill the Brazilian National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) universal service requirements in support of the communities in the Amazon - the most isolated region in Brazil. Embratel has grown its demand of SES capacity from an initial 250 Mbps serving four towns to 5.5 Gbps of GEO and MEO bandwidth supporting 23 cities. For example, thanks to the flexibility offered by SES's current generation MEO system, O3b, some sites have grown to more than 500 Mbps. By leveraging SES's mPOWERED Mobile Backhaul service, a solution delivered via O3b mPOWER, Embratel would also be able to support 5G networks' high throughput demand with a solution that is scalable to multiple gigabits-per-second per location. According to Embratel, SES's O3b mPOWER new technology will allow us to extend the company network platform and provide a whole new level of mobile services to our customers in some of the most isolated villages and cities in the Amazon region. "Our mPOWERED Mobile Backhaul service offers unmatched scalability and flexibility, which enables leading telecom providers like Claro Brasil to land traffic with unrivaled flexibility - either in country or directly to the cloud - and can be easily expanded to accommodate data growth from Claro's cellphone customers, offering a great quality of experience, even in some of the most remote areas of Brazil," saidOmar Trujillo, Vice President of Network Sales for Americas at SES. "SES is thrilled to extend our partnership with Embratel and Claro in Brazil and the Amazon region, where they are the first telco to sign on with O3b mPOWER to continue reducing the connectivity divide for a growing number of people and communities."



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SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries about 8,000 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 366 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com.

About Embratel

Embratel is one of the main suppliers of IT and Telecom services in Brazil. As a Digital Service Enabler and leader in telecommunications with its high-level infrastructure, it promotes the digital transformation of companies in all segments. Embratel provides solutions such as Cloud Computing, Data Center, Cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Professional Services, Connectivity and Collaboration, Omnichannel, Robotic Process Automation, data transmission, video, Internet, corporate mobile telephony, fixed telephony, domestic and international long distance, as well as a series of other solutions to support the business and corporate market in its journey of growth in the new digital economy. Acting in the development, implementation and management of convergent solutions, Embratel is widely recognized for delivering services with excellence and a focus on customer experience. Embratel is part of Claro and more information is available on the website www.embratel.com.br ### View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005667/en/

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[October 27, 2022] ANNOUNCING SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 WINNERS

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 jury selected the best and most inventive campaigns of the year after months of due deliberation. In light of their significant influence on the industry, these campaigns are worthy of becoming outstanding case studies for the Modern Marketing community. A season of fierce competition among the best campaigns. The 9th SMARTIES Awards - the prestigious competition for leaders from brands, agencies, and technology suppliers in Modern Marketing - has a long history of bringing three regional awards (South America, APAC, and EMEA) and ten country awards, including Vietnam. This year, SMARTIES Vietnam 2022 embraced innovation in the screening and assessment process, resulting in a 140% increase in applications over the previous year. The SMARTIES jury selected over 100 outstanding campaigns to compete in the most prestigious prize categories. SMARTIES Vietnam 2022 collected not only well-known Marketers, Agencies, and Publishers but also fresh brands capable of overcoming obstacles to improve and satisfy customer experience. Ms. Phan Bich Tam, MMA Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar's country manager, gave her thoughts. "SMARTIES Vietnam 2022 inspires and motivates us to pioneer new ways in modern marketing." At this Smarties Gala, Smarties APAC first presented the NFT version, officially launched in Vietnam in 2022, allowing the winners to maintain their impressive winnings in the digital world. The journey to the most prestigious award of SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 In the very first Pre-screening round, 60 Prescreeners had to work very hard in 2 weeks to find the finalists, requiring that they themselves are not allowed to evaluate the campaign coming from their company. Coming to the Final round, 23 Juries discussed together on Jury Day to identify the owners of Gold, Silver, and Bronze prizes for each category, and especially the most prestigious prize of the competition - the Industry Award - under the supervision of Knowledge Partner, Kantar. After more than 12 hours, each award received the agreement of at least 50% of the Jury to appear in the Winners List. The "hit" campaigns at SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 also had the opportunity to register in the Industry Awards categories: Most Resilient Brand of the Year, Publisher of the Year, Creative Agency of the Year, Agency of the Year, Best in Show/ Grand Prix, Brand of the Year and Marketer of the Year. Most importantly, the screening process is conducted confidentially, fairly, and transparently. Therefore, each campaign registered in the SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 roll of honors deserves to be a case study for Marketers to learn. Congratulations on the most outstanding campaigns that went gold in the SMARTIES Vietnam 2022. SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 is a long and challenging journey in which each selected campaign must demonstrate considerable effort in each category: Strategy, Execution, Creativity, and Business Impact. "Two months is not a long time, but this is a procedure that requires considerable commitment and hard effort by Juries and leading specialists to provide a fair evaluation." Each campaign has its own personality, providing innovation and originality to the advancement of Modern Marketing," organizers said. The campaigns on the SMARTIES VIETNAM 2022 honor list were not only distinctive in terms of innovative concepts and reasoning tactics, but they were also original and significantly influenced business. This was not just an acknowledgment of accomplishments but also an inspiration and incentive for every organization to break through and create its own mark by going beyond the traditional norms and structures.



A special thing this year, Doctor of Arts - People's Artist Bach Tuyet was honored in the category "Social Impact Marketing", this was considered the novelty and attractiveness of this year's award itself, honoring the beauty of the traditional and cultural identity of Vietnam.

SMARTIES Vietnam 2022 winners' list: 1. Industry Award Most Resilient Brand of the Year  Nescafe

Publisher of the Year  Grab

Creative Agency of the Year  Dentsu Redder

Agency of the Year  Publicis Groupe

Best in Show/ Grand Prix  Unleash Your Fandom

Brand of the Year  Samsung Galaxy S21

Marketer of the Year  Heineken Vietnam Brewery Limited (HVBL) 2. Marketing Impact Channel Brand Experience: GOLD: Unleash Your Fandom  Samsung Galaxy & Publicis Groupe

GOLD: Banh Mi  Job Mobility Centers  Viec Lam Tot & Cho Tot

BRONZE: Bia Saigon Tet 2022  How Real Local Pride Beats Fake News  Bia Saigon & Ogilvy

BRONZE: Grabfood Tiktok Foodieland  Grab Vietnam & Mindshare Vietnam Instant Impact: GOLD: Heineken Silver's The Ekoin  Heineken & Publicis Groupe

The Ekoin  Heineken & Publicis Groupe SILVER: Milo Teen  More The Scan, More The Reward  Nestle & Adtima

? BRONZE: Grab  Never Miss A Meal 3.0  Grab Lead Generation: GOLD: FE Credit X PMAX  Cross-Selling With Real Time Data  FE Credit & PMAX

SILVER: Techcombank Casa 2021  Techcombank & Mindshare Vietnam

BRONZE: Keeping Festive Stories Virtually Alive  Mondelez Kinh Do Mooncake & Publicis Groupe

BRONZE: Peugeot: How The White Lion Adapted To Thrive  Thaco Auto  Peugeot Vietnam & Novaon Digital Data Insights: GOLD: Grab's Millions Of Firsts  Grab

SILVER: FE Credit  A Switch To High Performance Mode  FE Credit & AKA Digital Product & Service Launch: GOLD: Unleash Your Fandom  Samsung Galaxy & Publicis Groupe

SILVER: Samsung Tab S8 Series  Let Your Night Side Rule  Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Series & Circus Digital

BRONZE: Strongbow Chilly Peach  Unordinary Launch For An Extraordinary Impact  Strongbow & Golden Digital

BRONZE: Ariston - Ice Challenge Campaign  DSquare/ Ariston & DSquare Cycle Marketing: SILVER: Pernod Ricard's Know Your Whisky, Get Your Rewards  Pernod Ricard & Dentsu McGarryBowen Vietnam

BRONZE: Heineken Silver's The Ekoin  Heineken & Publicis Groupe 3. Purpose Driven Marketing Channel Social Impact Marketing: GOLD: Comeback To Mom's Lullaby: How Did A Forgotten Type Of Art Make A Grand Comeback To Youtube Top Trending And Topped Tiktok Trend  Ms. Bach Tuyet & Dentsu Redder

SILVER: Nestle Corporate  Green Tet: Disrupting A Thousand-Year Tradition With Sustainability  Nestle Corporate & Ogilvy Vietnam

SILVER: Banh Mi  Job Mobility Centers  Viec Lam Tot & Cho Tot

BRONZE: Grab - Never Miss A Meal 3.0  Grab Brand Purpose/ Activism: GOLD: Accelerate Vietnam Digital 4.0 Brand Purpose/ Activism Award Submission  RSVP/ Accelerate Vietnam Digital 4.0/ Google & RSVP

SILVER: Bia Viet  Uniting Millions Of Vietnamese On Their Way Home For A Blooming T?t  Bia Viet & Phibious VietNam Diversity & Inclusion: GOLD: Sport Is A Great Equaliser  Nestle Vietnam & Ogilvy

& Ogilvy SILVER: Kinh Do Shop For Hope  Mondelez Kinh Do & Publicis Groupe 4. Impact Media Channel Cross Platform  All Media: GOLD: Unleash Your Fandom  Samsung Galaxy & Publicis Groupe

SILVER: Heineken Silver  The Hunt For Smooth Gears & Ekoins  Heineken & Dentsu Redstar

 The Hunt For Smooth Gears & Ekoins  Heineken & Dentsu Redstar SILVER: Bia Saigon Tet Campaign  Sabeco & MediaCom VietNam

BRONZE: Generali  L?i C?u Hon Th? 2  The Second Proposal  Generali Vietnam & Dentsu X Cross Platform  Digital Only GOLD: Starverse: Brewing & Experiencing Heineken In The Metaverse  Heineken & Dentsu Redstar

SILVER: Cream-O X Dynamite  A Handshake That Shakes Boredom Off School Life  URC & Ogilvy Vietnam Gaming, Gamification & E-Sports SILVER: Castrol In Gaming  An Ultimate Ride To The Next  Castrol POWER1 Ultimate & Mindshare Vietnam

BRONZE: The Banca Game  A Simulation Game Of Insurance Industry  Prudential Vietnam & Tequila by TBWA Group Vietnam Social Media Marketing: GOLD: Ensure Gold 2022 Tet Campaign  A Social Movement To Awake Caregivers  Ensure Gold Vietnam & Hakuhodo & Saigon Advertising Co., Ltd.

SILVER: 1 Brand  100 Names  1 Solution  Head & Shoulders & Dentsu Redder

BRONZE: Unleash Your Fandom  Samsung Galaxy & Publicis Groupe Creator/ Influencer Marketing: GOLD: Keeping Festive Stories Virtually Alive  Mondelez Kinh Do Mooncake & Publicis Groupe

SILVER: M?y Be Li 2.0 - Transforming Multiple Shades Of Daring  Maybelline New York & XYZ Saigon

BRONZE: We Liberty  Piaggio Liberty & Click 5. Experience Technology Channel Programmatic: GOLD: TenMax & Traveloka  Target The Micro Moment With Real-Time Intention Signal Analysis  Traveloka & TenMax Ad Tech Lab

SILVER: 20 Years Of Drive  FORD Ranger & Mindshare Vietnam Experimental/ Innovation Technology: SILVER: Keeping Festive Stories Virtually Alive  Mondelez Kinh Do Mooncake & Publicis Groupe

BRONZE: Starverse: Brewing & Experiencing Heineken In The Metaverse  Heineken & Dentsu Redstar Geo Targeting: SILVER: Bia Saigon Tet Campaign  Sabeco & MediaCom VietNam

BRONZE: Telfast & Grab Help Vietnamese Overcome Allergies & Live Their Greatness  Telfast & Omnicom Media Group Vietnam 6. Web 3.0 Channel Spatial: GOLD: Heineken Silver's The Ekoin  Heineken & Publicis Groupe Real Time Marketing: SILVER: FE Credit X PMAX  Cross-Selling ling With Real Time Data  FE Credit & PMAX

BRONZE: Telfast & Grab Help Vietnamese Overcome Allergies & Live Their Greatness  Telfast & Omnicom Media Group Vietnam Metaverse: GOLD: From Real Life Interaction To Virtual Engagement For Ultimate Victory  Castrol POWER1 Ultimate & Mindshare Vietnam

SILVER: Starverse: Brewing & Experiencing Heineken In The Metaverse  Heineken & Dentsu Redstar 7. E-Commerce Marketing Channel Integrated Ecommerce Innovation: GOLD: The 1st Ever Ecommerce Campaign Tailored For Gen Z The Spiritual Followers  Bitis' Hunter & Dentsu Redder

SILVER: Pampers Mood Up, Summer Up  Pampers & MediaCom O2O/ New Retail/ Innovative Sales Channels GOLD: Nescafe Tarot Ca Phe  Nestle Nescafe & Publicis Groupe

SILVER: Zespri Kiwifruit  Dynamic Uplift In A New Normal  Zespri & Mindshare Vietnam

BRONZE: Pampers Mood Up, Summer Up  Pampers & MediaCom 8. Creative Channel Customer Experience (CX): SILVER: Nescafe Tarot Ca Phe Nestle  Nescafe & Publicis Groupe

BRONZE: Generali  L?i C?u Hon Th? 2  The Second Proposal  Generali Vietnam & Dentsu X User Experience (UX) & Design: SILVER: A Tet Out Of Sight But Still Full Of Mind  Grab Vietnam & Mindshare Vietnam Personalization: GOLD: Grab's Millions Of Firsts  Grab

BRONZE: Nescafe Tarot Ca Phe Nestle  Nescafe & Publicis Groupe

BRONZE: VPbank Credit Card Rebranding  Add Wonder To Life  VPBank & T&A Ogilvy Short or Long Form Video: GOLD: Let Your Night Side Rule  Samsung Mobile Experience & Cheil Vietnam

SILVER: 1 Brand  100 Names  1 Solution  Head & Shoulders & Dentsu Redder PR Newswire is the Media Partner of MMA Impact Vietnam. SOURCE MMA Vietnam

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[October 27, 2022] SuperMap Showcased GIS Technologies and Solutions at INTERGEO 2022

BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SuperMap, an innovative GIS platform software and service provider, showcased its cutting-edge GIS technology and innovative solutions to the global geospatial community at INTERGEO 2022 held in Essen, Germany on October 18-20. INTERGEO is the world's leading geospatial platform for people from the geo community to share, learn and connect. At INTERGEO 2022, SuperMap demonstrated the application of digital twins, including its overall solutions for 3D data acquisition and data integration into warehousing. The development of 3D GIS technology was also a highlight. Combined with connection and processing features for oblique photogrammetry data and BIM data, data beautification and analysis capabilities based on the SuperMap game engine plug-in were displayed. Integrated with the latest Geo-video capture technology of SuperMap, the application of drones in emergency security, land inspection, and urban management was shown for visitors. The 3-day meeting brought people from the geospatial industry together. It was a delight to meet and talk about deeper cooperation with people from Spain, France, theNetherlands, Romania, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, Norway, Croatia, Latvia, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Israel, etc.



SuperMap also showed up in many in-person activities. Wang Haitao, Vice President of SuperMap, was present at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Zhejiang Service Trade (Germany) Exhibition and delivered a welcome speech. SuperMap felt so honored to welcome the two presidents of the International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) at the SuperMap booth. Wang Haitao expressed his gratitude to Prof. Dr. Rudolf Staiger, President of FIG, for his strong support for the GIS Software Technology Conference and International Workshop on GIS Technology and Application hosted by SuperMap. The incoming President, Dr. Diane Dumashie, spoke highly of the advances that SuperMap has achieved. SuperMap was also warmly invited to participate in the FIG hand-over event. FIG is one of the most influential global organizations in surveying and related disciplines. SuperMap has been in close contact with FIG and jointly held many international geospatial events for years.

SuperMap will persist in the effort to develop the international market, provide more customers with professional and high-quality products and technologies, establish closer ties with the global GIS community, and integrate more deeply and widely into the development trend of the global GIS industry. Please visit www.supermap.com for more information about SuperMap. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/supermap-showcased-gis-technologies-and-solutions-at-intergeo-2022-301661033.html

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[October 27, 2022] eDynamic Learning Announces the Passion to Purpose Student Scholarship Program

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eDynamic Learning -- North America's largest provider of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and elective digital curriculum for grades 6-12, announces it has expanded their scholarship offerings to include the new Passion to Purpose Student Scholarship Program. The Passion to Purpose Scholarship Program joins the company's growing Recognition & Rewards Program that honors, recognizes, and awards students and teachers and their accomplishments and contributions. The Passion to Purpose Scholarship Program will offer students an opportunity to write an original essay where they can reflect on their career exploration journey, visualize their future, and share their story. Every year, hundreds of thousands of middle and high school students use eDynamic Learning curriculum and now they can benefit even more from their experience by sharing their story about the impact the curriculum has had on their lives and in helping them make decisions about their future. This new scholarship program will complement the long-standing and popular Virtual Business Simulation Scholarship Programs for students that use Knowledge Matters' simulations. The combination of these programs will now offer the most scholarship programs available for K-12 students focused on career education in North America by one organization. "Our mission is to help students explore their career options early and often, so they can discover their skills, talents, and interests and do what they love. We are proud to grow our student recognition programs to support and highlight the valuable contributions students will make to our workforce and economy in the future," said Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning



There will be two 1st place award recipients, one award will be open to all students who meet the qualifications of the program and the other 1st place award will be reserved for students with a documented Individualized Education Program (IEP), 504 Accommodation Plan or disability, as indicated by their guardians and teachers when applying. There will also be 2nd and 3rd place prizes as well as 10 finalists. Winners will receive valuable scholarship funds and the finalists will receive digital badges and their essays will be published on the eDynamic Learning website, where they will receive official recognition as a published author. Complete Scholarship Program details can be found on the Passion to Purpose website. Essay submissions will be accepted beginning March 1st, 2023. "Our goal is for all students participating in the scholarship program to discover that learning challenges or disabilities do not define your future. We hope our scholarship opportunities help motivate and precipitate students to reach their educational goals whether their chosen career requires certifications, a license, college, or a 2 year degree," said Tyler Wood, Vice President of Marketing & Professional Development at eDynamic Learning.

The company's Fall 2022 Virtual Business All-Access Scholarship competition kicked off earlier this month and Virtual Business Challenges with Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) partners are also underway where student competitors will have the chance to win scholarship money. Registration for the DECA, FBLA, & FCCLA CTSO virtual events are still open and will remain open during, and in between, qualifying rounds. Challenge participants and CTSO advisers can register at the Knowledge Matters challenge page. Throughout the years, the company has remained dedicated to offering students a chance to earn scholarship money. These scholarship opportunities have offered an extreme value to students as well as teachers as they provide an additional level of engagement in their classrooms. Many students also find that including their competition scores on resumes or college applications has been extremely beneficial. eDynamic Learning's Recognition & Rewards Program also offers an avenue for educators to be appreciated and acknowledged through the Career Compass Teacher Awards, which honors outstanding teachers and provides opportunities to earn a curriculum grant, complimentary professional development, and much more. The Empowered Educators Program gives educators an opportunity to participate in pilots, provide input and feedback and ensure our programs are the best they can be for teaching and learning. About eDynamic Learning

With offices in Southlake, Texas, Hadley, Massachusetts, and Kelowna, BC, Canada, eDynamic Learning is a teacher-founded company, established with a mission to support schools in helping students find their passion and ensure they leave high school with the knowledge and preparation needed to make life-shaping college and career decisions. eDynamic Learning offers nearly 250 CTE and career-focused elective digital courses and Knowledge Matters' career-based simulations. All curriculum is available online and works continuously in any instructional model, and is compatible with nearly all LMS systems. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edynamic-learning-announces-the-passion-to-purpose-student-scholarship-program-301660485.html SOURCE eDynamic Learning

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[October 27, 2022] Innoviti unveils a new name to rebrand itself from being an enabler of commerce to an accelerator of commerce

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Innoviti Payment Solutions, India's leading collaborative commerce platform, has initiated a rebranding effort, and effective, October 14th, 2022, Innoviti Payment Solutions has become Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd. At the core of this rebranding is the vision to use technology to unleash the power of payments as not just an enabler of commerce, but an accelerator of commerce. Traditionally payment technology has been enabling newer and better ways of accepting payments. Innoviti's rebranding initiative expands these possibilities to solve problems of financial control, reconciliation, customer acquisition and customer retention. Innoviti will be doing this by a) providing a suite of APIs and technology tools that are relevant and simple to use, b) empowering businesses to use these to create their own unique solutions and c) enabling them to measure the effectiveness of their ideas by correlating with their impact on payment flows. Innoviti's Founder and CEO Rajeev Agrawal said, "We believe technology is no longer a department but a skill that every department in a business needs to have to be relevant and successful in today's worl. Innoviti's vision with its rebranding exercise is to unlock the creative potential of every individual in every department of a business by making it easy for them to create and implement solutions to their unique business problems using Innoviti's APIs and tools. To help them improve their design, Innoviti will also provide APIs that will enable them to measure the impact of their design on the eventual source of truth for a business - its impact on payment inflows or outflows. We believe this will help non-tech individuals develop technology to convert their ideas to reality and bring in a new wave of unparalleled efficiency in businesses."



About Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore, India. Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd. is India's largest provider of Collaborative Commerce Platforms, helping diverse businesses such as banks, product brands, and merchants, partner to acquire consumers together. The platform helps these businesses turn payment transactions into attractive purchase tools delivered right at the retail point of sale, urging consumers to buy better products and more products. The company has a dominant share of >70% in providing such purchase solutions to the leading enterprises of India, managing over Rs. 75,000 Cr. of annual purchases from over 2000+ cities in India. Bessemer Venture Partners, USA, FMO, Netherlands, Catamaran Ventures, Panthera Growth Partners, Singapore and Alumni Ventures are investors in the company. The company has four patents, including one US patent and is the winner of Mastercard's Innovation Wizards Award, Reliance's Most Promising Growth Consumer Finance Award and Deloitte Fastest Growing Companies in Asia award in 2020. Innoviti is the only Indian payments SaaS company to be awarded the coveted SOC3 seal of excellence for adherence to principles of trust in privacy, security, confidentiality, availability, and processing of transactions. The company is Great Place to Work certified and strives to create a workplace where people can learn more to earn more. Innoviti has an in-principle license to operate as a payment aggregator from RBI.

https://innoviti.com/ Media Contact: Sumanth C A

[email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1912823/Innoviti_GPTW_Logo.jpg

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[October 27, 2022] FREYR Battery and ITOCHU Partner to Develop Materials Supply Chain

FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) ("FREYR"), a developer of clean, next-generation battery cell production capacity, has announced a new service agreement with ITOCHU Corporation ("ITOCHU"), the Japan-based global trading and import/export company. As part of this agreement, ITOCHU will serve as a direct materials supplier for FREYR's procurement and supply chain operations. "We are excited to partner with ITOCHU, and we intend to build on their expertise in shipping, planning, and production, as we establish, maintain, decarbonize, and localize our growing supply chain. ITOCHU possesses a broad global network of trusted materials suppliers, which we believe will lead to meaningful benefits for FREYR as we cooperatively source and price high-quality materials," said Dr. Tilo Hauke, EVP Supply Chain Management, FREYR. "As the world moves towards decarbonization, we see FREYR as an integral part of enabling a clean and sustainable lithium battery industry. The supply chain will be an essential part of their journey towards greater speed and scale in the market, and we are eager to support them in sourcing the raw materials to meet their growing needs," said Yasuhiro Abe, Power & Environmental Solution Division COO, ITOCHU. FREYR and ITOCHU previously entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2020, which outlined a mutual intention to explore potential opportunities within lithium-ion battery production and related operations. As FREYR approaches initial production from the Customer Qualification Plant, the two companies are deepening collaboration to secure the raw materials required for FREYR's planned battery production at giga scale. ITOCHU and FREYR are both investors in 24M Technologies, Inc., FREYR's U.S.-based technology licening partner. The 24M production platform is designed to enable significant reductions in capital expenditures, factory footprint, energy consumption and raw materials.



About FREYR Battery FREYR Battery aims to provide industrial scale clean battery solutions to reduce global emissions. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, FREYR's mission is to produce green battery cells to accelerate the decarbonization of energy and transportation systems globally. FREYR has commenced building the first of its planned factories in Mo i Rana, Norway and announced potential development of industrial scale battery cell production in Vaasa, Finland, and the United States. FREYR intends to install 50 GWh of battery cell capacity by 2025 and 100 GWh annual capacity by 2028 and 200 GWh of annual capacity by 2030. To learn more about FREYR, please visit www.freyrbattery.com.

About ITOCHU Corporation The history of ITOCHU Corporation dates to 1858 when the Company's founder Chubei Itoh commenced linen trading operations. Since then, ITOCHU has evolved and grown over 150 years. With approximately 100 bases in 62 countries, ITOCHU, one of the leading sogo shosha, is engaging in domestic trading, import/export, and overseas trading of various products such as textile, machinery, metals, minerals, energy, chemicals, food, general products, realty, information and communications technology, and finance, as well as business investment in Japan and overseas. For more information, go to: www.itochu.co.jp. Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, including, without limitation, statements regarding ITOCHU's ability to serve as a direct materials supplier for FREYR's procurement and supply chain operations; FREYR's ability to derive meaningful benefits from ITOCHU's broad global network of trusted materials suppliers through cooperatively sourcing and pricing high-quality materials; FREYR's integral part in enabling a clean and sustainable lithium battery industry; the role of supply chain in achieving greater speed and scale in the lithium battery market; FREYR's ability to achieve initial production in its Customer Qualification Plant in Mo i Rana, Norway; and the 24M production platform's ability to enable significant reductions in capital expenditures, factory footprint, energy consumption and raw materials are forward-looking and involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside FREYR's control and difficult to predict. Information about factors that could materially affect FREYR is set forth under the "Risk Factors" section in (i) FREYR's Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 1, 2022, and (ii) FREYR's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 9, 2022, available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005063/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Hong Kong and Singapore lead green fintech development among the Five Economies in APEC

Study finds government support and talent development are crucial in driving the growth of green fintech HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- GoImpact, an ESG and Sustainability education firm, together with The Chinese University of Hong Kong's Business School ("CUHK Business School") released the findings from their working paper, Exploring the Green Fintech Ecosystem in Asia: Insights from Five Economies in APEC. This study finds that government support plays a vital and essential role in facilitating green fintech development, while talent shortage is a common concern in the five economies in the region. Derived from three elements  environment, finance, and technology  the industry report defines green fintech as financial activities that utilize green technologies that bring better environmental outcomes. Industry experts from five APEC ecnomies, namely Hong Kong SAR, China ("Hong Kong"), Indonesia, the Republic of Korea ("Korea"), Singapore and Thailand, have urged policymakers to establish a conducive environment for green fintech to flourish. According to them, governments can help through offering incentive schemes for startups to develop in this area and spearhead the change by setting sustainable regulatory frameworks and mandating disclosures, reporting, and thresholds.



The study also suggests that financial institutions should embrace the sustainable agenda to achieve the triple bottom line: profit, people, and the planet. Given the current competitive banking environment and the global shortage of green talent, financial institutions should utilise their unique positions in the business ecosystem to develop more in-house sustainability talent to promote the sustainability agenda, the report further explains. The study examined policies, markets, and opportunities regarding fintech's role in driving green finance in the five selected APEC economies through desk research, interviews, as well as focus group discussions involving green fintech startups, government and quasi-government organisations, green fintech-related associations, and financial institutions.

The full press release with key findings from the study is available for download from:

https://www.bschool.cuhk.edu.hk/press-releases/exploring_the_green_fintech_ecosystem_in_asia_insights_from_five_economies_in_apec SOURCE GoImpact

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[October 27, 2022] Access Ready Covers Reality Check, Accessible Technology a Matter of National Security

PINELLAS PARK, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Access Ready Reporter Issue 32 -The Reporter Newsletter is a service of Access Ready Inc. which is a nonprofit cross disability advocacy organization promoting a policy of inclusion and accessibility across information technology through education and best practices. The Board of Directors of Access Ready has deemed inaccessible information technology to be a clear, growing, and present danger to the civic, economic, and social welfare of people with disabilities. Access Ready asks the question, "If physical facilities in this country must be built in accordance with accessibility standards, why not information and communication technology?" Businesses, employers, and federal / state / local governments are becoming more and more dependent on ICTs to provide goods and services. Read More. Big Story

DISABLED COMMUNITY CALLS OUT ABLEISM IN COVERAGE OF JOHN FETTERMAN FOLLOWING STROKE

Experts in the disability community say there's been a dismaying element of ableism surrounding a recent NBC News interview with John Fetterman, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, who experienced a stroke in May. The on-camera interview, which aired Tuesday, was Fetterman's first since his stroke. While speaking to reporter Dasha Burns, Fetterman required closed captioning due to his difficulties with auditory processing? A common experience among stroke survivors. Read More . Business Accessibility

FROM PHARRELL'S INCLUSIVE SKINCARE LINE TO A LUBE WITH BRAILLE WRITING, CONSUMER BRANDS ARE FINALLY STARTING TO THINK ABOUT BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CUSTOMERS

Thinking inclusively as a brand sounds easy enough. Yet for the majority of companies out there, inclusion is an afterthought, often triggered by a PR scandal or public shaming on social media. Many brands don't think proactively about making their products and services accessible to those who live with a disability. Read More . Current Legal Actions

ELON AMONG DOZENS OF UNIVERSITIES SUED OVER WEBSITE ACCESSIBILITY

A New York resident has included Elon Univerity in a series of lawsuits alleging the university's website design violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. Emanuel Delacruz filed the lawsuit Aug. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He has also filed similar lawsuits against dozens of other companies and universities going as far back as 2017. Read More .



Election Accessibility

Sponsored by VOTEC .

DEAF, HARD OF HEARING INDIVIDUALS MAY FACE BARRIERS AT THE POLLS

People who are deaf and hard of hearing face unique challenges this general election, including accessibility and information. Those who are deaf and people with hearing impairments make up the largest minority population in the United States. Read More . Government Spotlight

SENATORS DEMAND ANSWERS ON WEB ACCESSIBILITY

A bipartisan group of senators is calling out the federal government for failing to do enough to make information and services accessible to people with disabilities. Under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the government is supposed to ensure that its electronic and information technology  including websites  are accessible. Read More .

Healthcare Accessibility

DISTURBING NEW DATA SHOWS DOCTORS ARE BIASED IN TREATING PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Patients with disabilities often find trouble getting the proper medical care, and new data confirms doctors are biased in their care of those with disabilities, sometimes even discharging them from their practice. Authors of a recent study showing this bias spoke about their concerns on Greater Boston, saying some of the anecdotes they heard from doctors about treating patients with disabilities moved them to tears. Read More . Technology Spotlight

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COULD SOON DIAGNOSE ILLNESS BASED ON THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE

Voices offer lots of information. Turns out, they can even help diagnose an illness and researchers are working on an app for that. The National Institutes of Health is funding a massive research project to collect voice data and develop an AI that could diagnose people based on their speech. Read More . TOP TECH TIDBITS

Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology. Read More . Contact

Douglas Towne

727-531-1000

[email protected]

Sponsored by Allyant

Distribution sponsored by eReleases

Content Curation Sponsored by Micro Assist

Assistive Technology curation sponsored by Top Tech Tidbits View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/access-ready-covers-reality-check-accessible-technology-a-matter-of-national-security-301661216.html SOURCE Access Ready Inc.

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[October 27, 2022] Neustar Security Services Appoints Alice Palmer Chief Marketing Officer

Neustar Security Services, a leading provider of cloud-oriented security services that enable global businesses to thrive online, announced that Alice Palmer has joined the company as chief marketing officer. Palmer will draw on more than twenty years of experience to lead the company's global marketing strategy and marketing team, and to drive growth through accelerated demand generation, product and partner marketing and brand building. "Neustar Security Services is highly attuned to the needs of its customers as they work to keep pace with digital acceleration and the increasing challenges associated with protecting their brands online," said Palmer. "I am excited to join a dynamic and talented team with best-in-class products and services, and to get to work uncovering new opportunities to delight our existing customers and bring new segments into the fold." Palmer's extensive experience spans public and private global organizations, where she has seamlessly blended her signature customer-centric approach with strategic, creative thinking and data insights to generate compelling results. Most recently, she capped a six-year tenure at Monotype by serving as senior vice president of marketing, with a mission to empower the world's top brands to be authentic, powerful and consistent. "With her broad, global perspective and data-driven marketing savvy in the B2B tech space, Alice brings a unique skillset to her role as chief marketing officer," said Colin Doherty, CEO of Neustar Security Services. "We are thrilled to welcome her to the leadership team, and we look forward to enriching our strategic vision with her insights and data-driven approach to vertical markets and our customer base. Under her leadership, we are confident that Neustar Security Services will expand its reach as we cement our reputation for delivering unmatched cloud-based security services and solutions." Throghout her career, Palmer has managed top B2B brands and successfully led organizations through business model transformations and market expansions, including at Monotype as well as in previous roles with Autodesk and Avid Technology. At Autodesk, Palmer led go-to-market and product lifecycle strategies for the company's leading brands and drove product launches, M&A integrations, and brand extensions. At Avid Technology, she oversaw the company's largest marketing campaigns, PR initiatives, and partner marketing programs across all key markets.



Palmer's effectiveness is a product, in part, of a commitment to strong cross-functional collaboration, particularly across sales and product teams. She has a reputation for nurturing talent within an organization and for building an organization's reputation through effective thought leadership initiatives. She holds an MBA from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College, where she was valedictorian and summa cum laude, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University. About Neustar Security Services

The world's top brands depend on Neustar Security Services to safeguard their digital infrastructure and online presence. Neustar Security Services offers a suite of cloud-based services that are secure, reliable and available to enable global businesses to thrive online. The company's UltraSecurity suite of solutions protects organizations' networks and applications against risks and downtime, ensuring that businesses and their customers enjoy exceptional interactions all day, every day. Delivering the industry's best performance, Neustar Security Services' mission-critical security portfolio provides best-in-class DNS, application and network security (including DDoS, WAF and bot management) services to its Global 5000 customers and beyond. Neustar Security Services is backed by Golden Gate Capital and GIC. For more information, visit https://neustarsecurityservices.com.

About Golden Gate Capital

Golden Gate Capital is a San Francisco-based private equity investment firm with over $19 billion in cumulative committed capital. The principals of Golden Gate Capital have a long and successful history of investing across a wide range of industries and transaction types, including going-privates, corporate divestitures and recapitalizations, as well as debt and public equity investments. Notable software and technology-enabled services investments sponsored by Golden Gate Capital include Infor, BMC Software, LiveVox, Vector Solutions, Ex Libris, 20-20 Technologies and Ensemble Health Partners. For more information, visit www.goldengatecap.com. About GIC

GIC is a leading global investment firm established in 1981 to secure Singapore's financial future. As the manager of Singapore's foreign reserves, GIC takes a long-term, disciplined approach to investing and is uniquely positioned across a wide range of asset classes and active strategies globally. These include equities, fixed income, real estate, private equity, venture capital and infrastructure. Our long-term approach, multi-asset capabilities and global connectivity enable us to be an investor of choice. We seek to add meaningful value to our investments. Headquartered in Singapore, we have a global talent force of over 1,800 people in 10 key financial cities and have investments in over 40 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005273/en/

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An Orchard Park man was arrested on a weapons charge in Buffalo early Thursday morning, about four hours after police investigated gunfire on Webster Road near Southwestern Boulevard, Orchard Park police said.

The situation began at roughly 1:12 a.m., when police received several 911 calls about shots fired at 5925 Webster Road, police said in a news release.

Callers told police a man had been firing a handgun at other people and that he was fleeing the area in a vehicle while still in possession of the weapon.

An Orchard Park police officer found the suspect's vehicle unoccupied at the intersection of Webster and Southwestern.

Police set up a perimeter and learned the man also had an AR-15 rifle in his possession, the department said.

SWAT units from Orchard Park and Hamburg responded to the scene, along with officers from West Seneca, Hamburg, state troopers and Erie County sheriff's deputies. Law enforcement enlarged the perimeter and searched the area.

At about 3:15 a.m., a 911 caller reported the man was at an address in Buffalo. When Buffalo police officers arrived, the man ran.

A search by Buffalo police, as well as SWAT officers and the Sheriff's Office's helicopter ended at about 5 a.m., when the man was taken into custody off South Park Avenue, police said.

The man had arrived at the Buffalo address in a 3/4-ton dump truck stolen from an Orchard Park auto repair shop, police said.

Jeremy Page, 45, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree grand larceny and third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, police said.

A K-9 officer from the Sheriff's Office found a handgun "a short distance" from the abandoned vehicle at Southwestern and Webster.

No AR-15 had yet been recovered as of Thursday afternoon.

Page was arraigned in Orchard Park Town Court, where a judge ordered he be held without bail.

Orchard Park police are continuing to investigate.
[October 27, 2022] ICE to Launch European LNG Futures for North-West and South-West Europe and Three Supporting French, German and Italian Natural Gas Futures

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE), a leading global provider of data, technology, and market infrastructure, today announced plans to launch two liquid natural gas (LNG) futures contracts for North-West Europe and South-West Europe. The contracts are designed to help market participants trade and hedge the difference in price between LNG for delivery in North-West and South-West Europe, versus natural gas provided by pipeline to Europe, as well as LNG across the rest of the world. The contracts will be cash settled based on Spark Commodities' price assessments for LNG cargos and priced in USD per MMBTu in line with ICE's existing LNG contracts. The contracts are due to launch on December 5, subject to regulatory approval. "Reflecting the energy situation which exists within Europe today, customers need a futures contract to price LNG imports into Europe, and provide a means to manage the difference with the price of natural gas delivered via pipeline," said Gordon Bennett, Managing Director of Utility Markets at ICE. "The price of natural gas in Europe remains high because of an imbalance between supply and demand, caused by the significant reduction in the supply of natural gas into Europe from Russia and the downstream impact of physical capacity constraints across the European natural gas network." "Futures markets are providing important price signals to identify the location of these bottlenecks, allowing for capital to be allocated efficiently to address them by adding, for example, regasification capacity to import more LNG," continued Gordon Bennett. "Futures markets are also a key risk transfer mechanism to reduce exposure to spot markets and thus a critical avenue for energy firms to manage their risk so they can maintain a stable source of energy to European societies. We continue to work closely with our customers, regulators and governments to find market-based solutions to the pressures caused by the energy crisis and ICE is ready to assist with developing an EU futures market based on the complementary LNG benchmark to be developed by the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)." Additionally, ICE plans to launch three supporting French PEG, German THE and Italian PSV Natural Gas 1st Line contracts on December 5, subject to regulatory approval. The cash settled contracts will trade and settle in USD per MMBTu and provide market participants with additioal flexibility to manage their LNG import exposure. ICE already offers physically delivered PEG, THE and PSV futures which are priced in Euros per megawatt hour.



ICE is home to the natural gas benchmark TTF, a physically delivered contract which upon expiry results in natural gas being added to, or taken from, the TTF natural gas hub via title transfer. TTF trades from ICE in Amsterdam, producing a daily settlement price based on transactions of customers physically buying and selling natural gas and is the world's second most liquid natural gas contract after the U.S.-based Henry Hub. TTF and the new North-West Europe LNG futures are complemented by ICE's existing German, Italian, French and Austrian natural gas futures and together with the new South-West Europe LNG futures, which add coverage of Iberia and the Mediterranean, will increase the choice of pricing and risk management tools available to market participants.

The five futures contracts will trade from ICE Futures Europe and clear at ICE Clear Europe alongside global energy benchmarks including Brent Crude, TTF natural gas, European Carbon Allowances, Coal and Electricity, offering meaningful margin offsets across energy portfolios to maximize liquidity and capital efficiency. The new contracts will form part of ICE's global natural gas portfolio alongside the existing TTF, NBP, Henry Hub, JKM LNG (Platts), WIM LNG (Platts) futures, and the Spark30S Atlantic and Spark25S Pacific LNG freight futures. About Intercontinental Exchange Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE: ICE) is a Fortune 500 company that designs, builds and operates digital networks to connect people to opportunity. We provide financial technology and data services across major asset classes that offer our customers access to mission-critical workflow tools that increase transparency and operational efficiencies. We operate exchanges, including the New York Stock Exchange, and clearing houses that help people invest, raise capital and manage risk across multiple asset classes. Our comprehensive fixed income data services and execution capabilities provide information, analytics and platforms that help our customers capitalize on opportunities and operate more efficiently. At ICE Mortgage Technology, we are transforming and digitizing the U.S. residential mortgage process, from consumer engagement through loan registration. Together, we transform, streamline and automate industries to connect our customers to opportunity. Trademarks of ICE and/or its affiliates include Intercontinental Exchange, ICE, ICE block design, NYSE and New York Stock Exchange. Information regarding additional trademarks and intellectual property rights of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. and/or its affiliates is located here. Key Information Documents for certain products covered by the EU Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products Regulation can be accessed on the relevant exchange website under the heading "Key Information Documents (KIDS)." Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 -- Statements in this press release regarding ICE's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see ICE's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors in ICE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the SEC on February 3, 2022. ICE- CORP

Source: Intercontinental Exchange View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005586/en/

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[October 27, 2022] HeartCore Enters into License Agreement with Transcosmos Digital Technology for its Apromore Process Mining Tool

NEW YORK and TOKYO, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HeartCore Enterprises, Inc., (HeartCore or the Company), a leading software development company, announced that it has signed an agreement with Transcosmos Digital Technology Inc. (TCDT) to license its advanced process mining tool, Apromore. Per an exclusive reseller agreement for the Japanese market with Apromore, within its suite of assets and strategic arrangements, HeartCore focuses on assisting Japanese enterprises accelerate their digital transformation.

With the capabilities of apromore, TCDT will deliver cutting edge business visualization and process mining services to clients in Japan, as an additional service to its current portfolio of offerings. In particular, apromore allows the user to conduct critical analyses of business operations to identify bottlenecks, perform what-if scenarios and identify risks due to non-conformity. The technology features an intuitive design for ease of operation and analysis and is an open-source process mining tool supported by an active community of leading research institutions and experts worldwide. We are pleased to sign a licensing agreement with TCDT, a company that understands the magnitude and importance of digital transformation, said CEO Sumitaka Kanno (Yamamoto). Though the prevalence of process mining is in its nascent stage, the growing concern among business managers struggling to optimize complex operations led us to pursue our initial exclusive reseller agreement with Apromore in June of last year. We intend to continue partnering with companies such as TCDT, as we expand our go-to-market efforts. We remain laser focused on leveraging our exclusive right to resell apromore in Japan, as par of our own process mining service and plan to continue taking advantage of synergistic opportunities to scale our Digital Transformation initiative.



About HeartCore Enterprises, Inc.

Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, HeartCore Enterprises is a leading software development company offering Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to enterprise customers in Japan and worldwide. The Company also provides data analytics services that allow enterprise businesses to create tailored web experiences for their clients through best-in-class design. HeartCores customer experience management platform (CXM Platform) includes marketing, sales, service and content management systems, as well as other tools and integrations, which enable companies to enhance the customer experience and drive engagement. HeartCore also operates a digital transformation business that provides customers with robotics process automation, process mining and task mining to accelerate the digital transformation of enterprises. Additional information about the Companys products and services is available at www.heartcore.co.jp and https://heartcore-enterprises.com/. Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as believe, intend, expect, anticipate, plan, potential, continue or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors, risks and uncertainties are discussed in HeartCores filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond HeartCores control which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects HeartCores current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. HeartCore assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. The contents of any website referenced in this press release are not incorporated by reference herein.

HeartCore Investor Relations Contact:

Gateway Group, Inc.

Matt Glover and John Yi

[email protected]

(949) 574-3860



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[October 27, 2022] ShadowDragon and Siren Form Strategic Partnership

ShadowDragon, a provider of open source intelligence (OSINT), unique datasets, and APIs that reduce the friction of sourcing, collecting, and sorting publicly available information in modern investigations, today announced a strategic partnership with Siren, a leading provider of Investigative Intelligence analytics. The partnership between the two companies establishes an alignment particularly relevant to law enforcement, national security, and investigative corporate users. ShadowDragon simplifies the complexities of modern investigations that involve multiple online environments. Data sources it can access include news, current affairs, social media, chatrooms, online forums, malware intelligence, and historical datasets. Applications such as SocialNet, OIMonitor, and MalNet are part of the ShadowDragon suite, which extract static and live open source data from global networks. "Partnering with Siren presented the opportunity to connect restful APIs for our entire ShadowDragon intelligence suite into a single investigative source, tipping the balance for investigative teams worldwide," said Daniel Clemens, founder and CEO of ShadowDragon. The Siren platform is used worldwide as a key component in investigative solutions, searches, and discovery efforts. It performs enterprise-wide search, providing sets of links which enables the clear visualization and exploration of relationships between records. Siren supports the spctrum of data used in open source intelligence. OSINT's volume and complexity of unstructured and structured data demands a robust platform. Siren offers end-to-end capabilities that address these types of challenges.



Siren's intuitive user interface supports analysts as they search for key bad actors. As events unfold, Siren fuses data with other sources in real-time. It is critical to fuse the new data with existing data in a seamless environment and Siren's unique ability to onboard data using its fluid schema makes it ideal for the depth of open source intelligence delivered by ShadowDragon. Siren allows analysts to blend traditional and new intelligence disciplines into a single view. The combined real-time processing of news and media sources are a must for any OSINT mission. Siren, Powered by ShadowDragon, gives analysts the edge they need. John Randles, CEO of Siren, said: "Enriching classified data with OSINT data is a key challenge that many investigators face. This partnership completely solves that issue. Both companies have the same mantra - provide technology which enables the good guys to win and the bad guys to lose, and in doing so you keep people, assets, and networks safe."

Investigators are now able to access ShadowDragon data from directly within the Siren platform. The offering is available for both cloud and on-premises deployments. ShadowDragon solutions are used by hundreds of clients in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. This includes Fortune 50 companies as well as U.S.-based and international law enforcement, government, military, and intelligence organizations. About Siren.io

Siren provides the leading Investigative Intelligence platform to some of the world's largest and most complex organizations for Investigative Intelligence on their data. Rooted in academic R&D in information retrieval, distributed computing and knowledge representation, the Siren platform provides integrated investigative intelligence combining previously disconnected capability of search, business intelligence, link analysis and big data operational logging and alerting. Among Siren awards are Technology Innovation of the Year and the Irish Startup of the Year (Ireland's National Tech Excellence awards). In 2020, Siren was named as a Gartner Cool Vendor in an Analytics and Data Science Report. For more information, visit www.siren.io About ShadowDragon

ShadowDragon provides comprehensive, cyber investigative resources and training for use by private companies, intelligence gathering professionals, law enforcement, and government. The U.S.-based company delivers open source intelligence (OSINT) from over 200 networks including social media platforms, chat rooms, forums, historical datasets, and the dark web. The company monitors malware history, data breach dumps, and other areas for active cyber threats. These data collection and analytic tools help defend against malicious acts in the digital and physical world. For more information, visit www.shadowdragon.io View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005314/en/

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[October 27, 2022] TripleBlind Appoints Sean Cardenas as Vice President of Sales

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TripleBlind , the leader in privacy-enhancing computation (PEC), today announced the addition of Sean Cardenas to the executive team as Vice President of Sales. Cardenas will be responsible for leading and scaling the sales function as the company moves into its next stage of growth. With nearly three decades of industry experience, including having scaled multiple organizations through IPO, Cardenas will be pivotal to accelerating revenue, driving customer acquisition, expanding into new markets and geographies, and delivering on business strategies.

Data continues to be one of the most valuable and untapped assets within an organization. When we met Sean, he immediately understood our vision and mission and is a believer in the importance of maintaining privacy while garnering important insights from data, said Riddhiman Das, CEO and co-founder of TripleBlind. Were excited to welcome Sean to the team and support him as he works to get our technology in front of organizations across the globe. Cardenas joins TripleBlind from Incopro, where he led global sales and was responsible for scaling North American operations. He previously held senior sales roles at Nutanix, Plethora and Data Domain among other technology businesses from start-ups to global corporations. TripleBlinds technology is impacting lives every day, from healthcare organizations providing better diagnostics, to financial institutions heping protect customer data, said Sean Cardenas, Vice President of Sales of TripleBlind. The TripleBlind team is impressive, their mission is meaningful and Im excited to bring my expertise to the company as we work to help organizations get the most out of their data while maintaining the highest level of privacy.



Resources TripleBlind Product Introduction video

TripleBlinds Chief Data Officer Survey

Follow TripleBlind on LinkedIn

Follow TripleBlind on Twitter TripleBlind is growing quickly and looking for new team members. To learn more, please visit: https://tripleblind.ai/careers/

About TripleBlind

TripleBlind has created the most complete and scalable solution for privacy enhancing computation by combining data and algorithms while preserving privacy neutrality and ensuring compliance with all known data privacy and data residency standards, such as HIPAA and GDPR. The TripleBlind solution is software-only and delivered via a simple API. It solves for a broad range of use cases, with current focus on healthcare and financial services. The company is backed by Accenture, General Catalyst and Mayo Clinic . To learn more, visit https://tripleblind.ai/ or contact us via email here: [email protected] . Media Contact

Stephanie Schlegel

Offleash for TripleBlind

[email protected]



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[October 27, 2022] Renowned 'White Hat' Hacker Marc Rogers Joins Q-Net Security as Chief Security Officer (CSO)

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Missouri-based hardware cybersecurity firm Q-Net Security have today announced that Marc Rogers  internationally-renowned white hat hacker and member of the US Ransomware Taskforce  has joined the team as Chief Security Officer (CSO).

Rogers has been a key figure in the world of information security since the late 1980s, both as an ethical hacker and as a cybersecurity expert. He brings specialized and vast security knowledge to Q-Net  a company designing innovative, high-security cybersecurity solutions for defense and critical infrastructure, such as utilities and communications networks. Rogers distinguished and varied career has included hacking Apple's TouchID and the Tesla Model S; revealing vulnerabilities to ultimately make the systems more secure for both the companies and their users. He is also well-known for his work on television, including technical support for USA Network's Mr. Robot, helping create hacks for the show, and regularly featuring on the BBC series The Real Hustle as an on-screen expert and designer of technical scams. Prior to Q-Net Security, Marc was Senior Director of Cybersecurity Strategy for Okta, and the Head of Security for Cloudflare. Q-Net will also be Rogers' second time building a security company  he spent time in South Korea as a CISO, then later moved to Silicon Valley to co-found the disruptive security company Vectra. Roges is Head of Security for the world's largest hacking conference, DEF CON, where he has been an organizer and champion for safety and equality for 25 years. More recently, he also gained recognition for co-founding the CTI League, as a response to the global pandemic. The CTI League is a collective of professionals, government agencies and law enforcement from 80 different countries who work together to protect the medical sector and other life-saving organizations from cyberattacks. For this work he and his co-founders were named as Wired Magazine's People Making Things Better in 2020.



Q-Net Security CEO Dr. Ron Indeck said the appointment was a major advantage for the company, as Rogers was highly trusted across the many expanses of the global cybersecurity community. As Q-Net seeks to entice customers away from traditional software security models to a hardware offering, Marcs breadth of expertise and insight is proving indispensable, Indeck said.

Rogers said he was drawn to Q-Net Security because they were doing something quite different from the norm, and had created an offering that was extremely secure, and better than anything else in the marketplace. For quite a few years, the security landscape has seen a big push to move from hardware into software. While this has driven great scalability and major improvements in agility and interconnectability, it has also introduced substantial complexity - simultaneously creating a vast, often unmapped attack surface. When you're dealing with extremely sensitive services - such as critical infrastructure - thats the opposite of whats needed, Rogers said. Having a very small attack surface, and using hardware to create an environment that is difficult to compromise  which is Q-Nets approach  is better both in terms of performance, and in terms of security. I would say that describes my approach to things: I like thinking that is outside of the box, which challenges what's considered normal, in order to deliver a better solution. I guess that's probably the hacker mentality: we like things that go against the grain, he said. As CSO, Rogers will also be contributing blog posts for Q-Net Security platforms. Stay updated on his insights by following Q-Net on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook. ABOUT Q-NET SECURITY

Q-Net Security designs and sells provably-secure hardware cybersecurity solutions to protect defense systems and critical infrastructure, such as utilities and communications networks. While most other cybersecurity solutions involve complex software that detects and responds to threats after an attack is underway, Q-Nets hardware defends an entire system's surface. By creating a physical barrier against would-be hackers, Q-Net offers a powerful defense that is superior to software detection models. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Q-Net was founded in 2015 by a team of highly acclaimed technologists, engineers, and security experts. CONTACT

Jayde Lovell, CMO, Q-Net Security: [email protected] | +1 347 698 3291



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[October 27, 2022] Lumos Controls Announces Partnership with a Leading Manufacturer Representative from New York

LAKE FOREST, Calif., Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lumos Controls, the smart lighting control solution from WiSilica, has partnered with OBlaney Rinker Associates (ORA) to promote and sell their wide range of smart lighting control products in the New York and New Jersey. This partnership allows ORA to bring in the most simplified wireless lighting controls to its line card, which will be a perfect fit for new construction, remodels, and retrofit/energy upgrade projects. ORA is a well-known manufacturer representative agency in New York, offering a vast range of experience and knowledge across the complete spectrum of lighting design, engineering, architectural, and distribution communities. We are excited about this new partnership - said Vivek Pramod Senior Vice President & GM  Smart Controls, WiSilica. We believe their in-depth knowledge about lighting controls and commitment to customer service will enhance Lumos Controls brand presence throughout New York and Northern New Jersey markets, he added. It's our privilege to represent Lumos Controls. Their expansive lighting control portfolio aligns with our focus to provide our customers with highly functional and quality lighting controls products, said James OBlaney, Co-Founderand Principal of ORA.



About Lumos Controls Lumos Controls is a smart controls solution from WiSilica, the leading IoT platform and solutions provider. Built on an IoT platform (ARIXA), this solution features the most advanced lighting control devices, intuitive interfaces, and versatile edge/cloud computing that are brought together to build an intelligent lighting network thats future-ready for smart enterprises. Lumos Controls is on a mission to unlock the extraordinary potential of light and give lighting controls a life of its own and beyond.

For insights on lighting innovations, visit Lumos Controls resource page About OBlaney Rinker Associates OBlaney Rinker Associates is a Manhattan-based manufacturer representative agency specializing in architectural lighting for the New York and New Jersey lighting communities. ORA provides service from schematic development through project completion and aftermarket service, offering a vast range of experience and knowledge across the spectrum of New Yorks lighting design, engineering, architectural, and distribution communities. Along with their manufacturer-partners, ORA can turn your lighting ideas into practical and economical solutions. Media Contact: Gokul Ravindran WiSilica Inc 20321 Lake Forest Dr. D6, Lake Forest, California 92630, USA. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/afc78025-dd64-4c10-ae74-5513c5a30e9d



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[October 27, 2022] Oxford Finance's Healthcare Real Estate Group Closes Over $347 Million of Transactions During Q2 & Q3 of 2022

Oxford Finance LLC ("Oxford"), a leading specialty finance firm that provides senior debt to life sciences and healthcare services companies worldwide, is pleased to announce that their Healthcare Real Estate Group closed over $347 million of transactions during Q2 & Q3 of 2022, bringing the total commitments YTD to over $636 million. Despite the uncertain economic environment and fluctuating competitive landscape, Oxford Finance remains committed to providing customized, relationship-driven solutions to the healthcare real estate market. Below are highlights from Q2 & Q3 2022. Texas Acquisition: Oxford provided a $26.2 million term loan and $3.0 million revolving line of credit to finance the acquisition of three skilled nursing facilities containing 391 beds in Texas for an experienced Texas-based operator. West Coast Revolving Line of Credit: Oxford supplied a $9.0 million revolving line of credit to finance working capital needs for seven skilled nursing facilities for an expanding California-based operator. Kansas Sale/Leaseback: Oxford prvided a $52.0 million term loan in support of a sale/leaseback for 16 skilled nursing facilities containing 910 beds primarily located in Kansas for an experienced real estate investor. Texas Acquisition: Oxford provided an $87.5 million term loan to support the acquisition of nine skilled nursing facilities consisting of 1,059 licensed beds in Texas for an experienced healthcare real estate investor. Maryland Acquisition: Oxford's largest deal of the period included a $124.8 million term loan to finance the acquisition of four skilled nursing facilities consisting of 520 beds for a large operator. Florida Acquisition: Oxford provided a $36.8 million term loan and $8.0 million revolving line of credit to finance the acquisition of one skilled nursing facility in Florida for an experienced East Coast-based operator.



About Oxford Finance LLC

Oxford Finance is a specialty finance firm providing senior secured loans to public and private life sciences and healthcare services companies worldwide. For over 20 years, Oxford has delivered flexible financing solutions to over 500 companies, allowing them to maximize their equity by leveraging their assets. Since 2002, Oxford has originated approximately $9 billion in loans. Oxford is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, with additional offices in California (San Diego, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles), and the greater Boston and New York City metropolitan areas. For more information, visit https://oxfordfinance.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005746/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Tupperware Reinforces Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) Commitments with 2022 ESG Report

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP), a leading global consumer products company, today published its 2022 ESG Report, which details the company's commitment to further integrating environment, social, and governance efforts into its business strategy as part of its ongoing Turnaround Plan. The report highlights the progress Tupperware made toward its 2025 and 2030 targets in 2021 and describes how the company has aligned its purpose, values, and strategy with ESG principles. It also showcases the company's commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. The report details the company's ongoing ESG targets for 2025 and 2030, which align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5, 6, 12, and 13. Highlights include: Environment In 2021, among other achievements, Tupperware achieved the following results at the company's owned manufacturing facilities:

75% diversion of waste diverted from disposal



18% reduction in water withdrawal per ton of product



20% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2)



16.5% reduction in polybag use for product packaging



95% of products returned were resold, recycled, or repurposed

Tupperware more than quadrupled its total volume of sustainable resins used in 2021 compared to 2020, increasing from about 0.35% of total raw materials to 1.48%.

Tupperware achieved International Sustainability Carbon Certification at its plants in Brazil and Greece , and the company's plant in Portugal became the first Tupperware factory to operate with 100% clean energy. Social The ongoing societal, economic, and global health challenges in 2021 led to Tupperware implementing initiatives like a flexible, hybrid work schedule; the TuppWell wellbeing program; a Fridays Unplugged initiative; mental health facilitations; and other programs to improve the lives and wellbeing of its associates.

In 2021, the company also achieved the following awards and recognition:

Tupperware was named an Honorable Mention for Fast Company's Innovation by Design Materials, and was recognized in the Fast Company 2021 list of Brands That Matter



Named one of America's Most Responsible Companies in 2022 by Newsweek



Named in the Forbes Halo 100 of 222

In 2021, Tupperware also invested millions in Sales Force events, training and development initiatives, reinforcing the company's commitment to its people.

Tupperware renewed its premier partnership with the National Park Foundation, including a $2 million donation to support the Resilience and Sustainability Initiative.

donation to support the Initiative. The company and its independent sales force members supported local disaster relief efforts around the world including the donation of Tupperware product in partnership with Convoy of Hope to support Hurricane Ida relief efforts in the United States , and the provision of warm meals, gas masks and other in-kind donations to areas in China and Greece that were hit by flooding and fires, among others.

, and the provision of warm meals, gas masks and other in-kind donations to areas in and that were hit by flooding and fires, among others. In 2021, women comprised 58% of the Tupperware global workforce and 68% of all new hires.

Tupperware progressed toward its goal of achieving global certification for gender equity areas including representation, pay equity, policies and practices, inclusiveness in career development, skills-based hiring and the global expansion of its Associate Resource Groups.



Governance In 2021, Tupperware achieved the following:

Distributed Code of Conduct training modules, enabling Tupperware Associates to complete critical training sessions remotely and at their convenience.



Strengthened the company's compliance department leadership structure to help further improve company compliance processes, leading to a reduced turnaround time in processing Code of Conduct complaints.

Pursuant to its governance targets related to the diversity of the company's Board of Directors, Tupperware achieved 45% women representation on the Board. The company is also progressing toward its ESG performance and compensation-related targets, to be achieved by 2030. "Sustainability and environmental & social responsibility have been core to how this brand has operated since the very beginning. We continue to be true to who we are and who we have always been to fulfill our purpose of nurturing a better future for all," said Miguel Fernandez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands. "As ESG issues move into the mainstream both due to regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations, our integrated ESG approach remains critical to guide our business strategy across all functions and markets."

About Tupperware Brands Corporation Tupperware Brands Corporation (NYSE: TUP) is a leading global consumer products company that designs innovative, functional and environmentally responsible products that people love and trust. Founded in 1946, Tupperware's signature container created the modern food storage category that revolutionized the way the world stores, serves and prepares food. Today, this iconic brand has more than 8,500 functional design and utility patents for solution-oriented kitchen and home products. With a purpose to nurture a better future, Tupperware products are an alternative to single-use items. The Company distributes its products into nearly 70 countries primarily through independent representatives around the world. For more information, visit Tupperwarebrands.com or follow Tupperware on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. Investors: Douglas M. Lane, CFA, [email protected] (321) 503-9640

Media: Cameron Klaus, [email protected], (407) 371-9784 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tupperware-reinforces-environment-social-and-governance-esg-commitments-with-2022-esg-report-301661513.html SOURCE Tupperware Brands Corporation

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[October 27, 2022] Akima Subsidiary Awarded $63M for Engineering, Professional, and Technical Services

Akima Infrastructure Services will provide staffing capabilities at two DOE Nuclear Security Enterprise sites HERNDON, Va., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Akima today announced that its subsidiary, Akima Infrastructure Services, has been selected by Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) to provide staff augmentation capabilities for engineering, professional, and technical services at the Department of Energy (DOE) Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. The award has a 4-year period of performance and a total contract value of approximately $63 million, if all options are exercised. Akima Infrastructure Services will provide staffing capabilities at two DOE Nuclear Security Enterprise sites Akima Infrastructure Services, along with partners Strata-G, LLC and Pinnacle Specialty Group, will provide engineering, professional, and technical services to address specific project needs. Roles will include engineers, scientists, and technicians in a variety of disciplines, as well as professionals in business and project management and support roles. "Supporting the DOE mission has been a long-standing focus for Akima," said Duncan Greene, President of Akima's Mission Systems, Engineering & Technology Group. "This award from CNS will allow us to continue this partnership and provide the DOE with support to operate critical nuclear security facilities effectively and efficiently." Critical to the Department of Energy's Nuclear Security Enteprise, the Y-12 National Security Complex and Pantex Plant are essential to maintaining the nation's nuclear stockpile. Y-12 is responsible for production, surveillance, dismantlement, and storage of nuclear components; reducing global nuclear threats by detecting, removing, and securing nuclear material; and providing fuel feedstock for Naval Reactors. Missions at Pantex include assembly and disassembly of nuclear warheads, testing and evaluation of special weapons materials, and manufacturing and assessment of high explosive used in weapons.



The award was issued to Akima under the CNS Engineering Professional and Technical (EP&T) Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). It was awarded through the DOE Integrated Contractor Purchasing Team (ICPT), a collaboration among DOE and its Management & Operations (M&O) sites to award strategic agreements that result in lower total cost of ownership for DOE contractors through reduced prices and streamlined procurement processes. CNS operates the Pantex Plant and Y-12 National Security Complex in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS comprises member companies Bechtel National, Inc.; Leidos; ATK Launch Systems; and SOC LLC, with Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. as a teaming subcontractor.

About Akima Infrastructure Services Akima Infrastructure Services (AIS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Akima, an Alaska Native Corporation, supporting vital government missions with the most demanding and specialized skill sets in the world. With expertise obtaining hard-to-find, highly skilled personnel for programs of any size, AIS can source and hire for full time, part time, exempt, non-exempt, cleared and un-cleared positions on very short notice. Whether you're seeking someone in advanced science, nuclear engineering or business and administration, AIS will provide the most qualified personnel. To learn more about AIS, visit www.akimainfrastructureservices.com . About Akima Akima is a global enterprise with more than 8,000 employees, delivering agile solutions to the federal government in the core areas of facilities, maintenance, and repair; information technology; logistics; protective services; systems engineering; mission support; furniture, fixtures & equipment (FF&E); and construction. As a subsidiary of NANA, an Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 15,000 Inupiat shareholders, Akima's core mission is to enable superior outcomes for our customers' missions while simultaneously creating a long-lived asset for NANA consistent with our Inupiat values. In 2022, Akima ranked #28 on Washington Technology's Top 100 List and #56 on Bloomberg Government's BGOV200 List of top federal contractors. To learn more about Akima, visit www.akima.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akima-subsidiary-awarded-63m-for-engineering-professional-and-technical-services-301661544.html SOURCE Akima

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Spin-Out of Nextech AR's Spatial Computing Platform, "ARway" is Now Complete

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. ("Nextech" or the "Company") (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29), Metaverse Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies, wayfinding technologies and 3D model services is pleased to announce that the spin-out of ARway Corp., a no-code spatial computing platform for real-world metaverse is now complete.

ARway began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 using the ticker symbol: ARWY. Nextech AR believes ARway is the first pure-play spatial computing public Company.

View ARway CSE listing - click here

Nextech AR has retained an ownership stake of 13 million shares of ARway, and is distributing 4 million additional shares as a stock dividend to Nextech shareholders on a pro-rata basis, which are now expected to settle in brokerage accounts on Friday, October 28, 2022.

No Hardware.

No BLE Beacons.

Create precise and robust navigation without any on-site hardware installation and ongoing maintenance.

ARway is disrupting the augmented reality wayfinding market with a no-code, no hardware, no BLE beacon, spatial computing platform enabled by visual marker tracking. ARway can create precise and robust navigation without any on-site hardware installation and ongoing maintenance which represents a significant TAM opportunity for ARway, as the global indoor positioning and indoor navigation market is projected to reach $44 Billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 42.0% from 2018 to 2025, according to Allied Market Research.1

While ARway is focusing revenue generation towards AR wayfinding, it is finding applications of its robust AR engine in additional markets that are opening up entirely new revenue opportunities. Announced earlier this week, ARway's technology is now being used as part of the XR engine powering the music app: Encore. This application of the ARway platform opens up a substantial new market; providing AR spatial activations for the music industry.

ARway Investor Relations

Visit the ARway Investor Relations website and sign up for the investor mailing list to receive the latest news, press releases, investor presentations, CEO interviews, financial information and more.

Sign up for the investor mailing list - click here

Recent ARway News







ARway is disrupting the Augmented Reality Wayfinding market with a no-code, no beacon spatial computing platform enabled by visual marker tracking. Visitors can access a venue map by scanning a visual marker (e.g., QR code) with their smartphone and navigate to any Point of Interest (POI) by following an augmented path and step-by-step directions, while interacting with rich AR content and experiences. ARway only requires end-users to scan a QR code with their smartphone to activate.

ARway Videos

London Science Museum - click here to watch

Trend Hunter Future festival - click here to watch

RC Show 2022 - click here to watch

The ARway Platform Includes:

Web Creator Platform

The Web-Based Creator Platform provides 'advanced' authoring capabilities compared to the mobile app, including the ability for creators to upload their own OBJ/GLB files, and create their own 3D objects. Placing content in a large area using only the mobile app required the user to physically be in the specific location which was unscalable. The web studio allows the user to place and author content remotely and at scale.

Mobile App

With the ARway mobile app, anyone can spatially map their location within minutes using their smartphone, and populate it with interactive 3D content, augmented reality wayfinding, audio, text, images, and more. Nextech AR provides several pre-loaded 3D objects which creators can leverage to populate their metaverse.

Download the Mobile App

Apple iOs - click here

Google Play Store - click here

ARwayKit SDK

The Software Development Kit contains code libraries and API information that allows developers to build their own white label & private label mobile apps on both iOs and Android leveraging ARway's technology and creator tools to build AR wayfinding and spatial experiences. Creators will be able to develop white label and private label apps and access ARway APIs to author maps using the Web Creator Portal. The SDK features the latest and greatest of the ARway mobile app.

To learn more about ARway, please follow on Social Media: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, and visit our website: www.arway.ai

About Nextech AR

Nextech AR Solutions is the engine accelerating the growth of the Metaverse. Using breakthrough AI, Nextech AR is able to quickly, easily and affordably ARitize (transform) vast quantities and varieties of existing assets at scale making products, people and places ready for interactive 3D use, giving creators at every level all the essential tools they need to build out their digital AR vision in the Metaverse. Our platform agnostic tools allow brands, educators, students, manufacturers, creators, and technologists to create immersive, interactive and the most photo-realistic 3D assets and digital environments, compose AR experiences, and publish them omnichannel. With a full suite of end-to-end AR solutions in 3D Commerce, Education, Events, and Industrial Manufacturing, Nextech AR is in a unique position to meet the needs of the world's biggest brands and all Metaverse contributors.

Nextech funds the development of its AR and Metaverse growth initiatives through its eCommerce platforms, which currently generate most of its revenue. Nextech's eCommerce platforms include: vacuumcleanermarket.com ("VCM"), infinitepetlife.com ("IPL") and Trulyfesupplements.com ("TruLyfe"). VCM and product sales of residential vacuums, supplies and parts, and small home appliances sold on Amazon. These eCommerce platforms serve as an incubator for developing and testing Nextech's leading edge AR, AI and machine learning applications for powering next-generation eCommerce technology.

To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com.

Forward-looking Statements

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Nextech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

_______________________

1 https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/indoor-positioning-and-indoor-navigation-ipin-market

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005929/en/
Kia America is providing free steering wheel locks for owners of Kias with steel key and "turn to start" ignitions that are vulnerable to theft, the automaker said in a statement.

The offer for the "optional safeguard" comes as Buffalo reels from a horrific crash involving a stolen Kia Sportage on Monday morning that killed four teenagers, injured a fifth, and left a sixth facing criminal charges.

The Kia was reported stolen the night before in Buffalo. The car crashed at about 6:40 a.m. at the entrance of the Scajaquada Expressway from the inbound Kensington Expressway. All five passengers were ejected from the Kia's panoramic sunroof.

"Kia America joins the Buffalo community in mourning the tragic crash involving six local teenagers early Monday morning," the statement said.

Certain Kias, as well as Hyundais, that don't have engine immobilizers have been targeted for thefts across the country, fueled by how-to videos on TikTok and other social media apps.

"Kia is aware of the recent trend amongst our youth  encouraged by social media  that target certain Kia cars with a steel key and turn-to-start ignition systems," Kia America said in the statement dated Wednesday.

"In many cases, the vehicles are stolen solely for the purpose of operating in a reckless and dangerous manner. Such criminal conduct endangers our local communities and violates the property rights of the vehicle owner," Kia said.

The statement said that Buffalo police have "not yet released all pertinent details from its investigation that will allow us to connect this particular instance with this larger societal trend."

Buffalo police report a dramatic increase in stolen Kias.

In all of 2020, 55 Kias were reported stolen to Buffalo police, according to the Buffalo Police Department. In 2021, there were 69. So far this year, 177 have been reported stolen.

"Look at the numbers," Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said earlier this week. "You can plainly see that this is a significant problem."

Kia America said it is working with law enforcement by providing steering wheel locks at no cost to concerned owners. Kia owners can call 800-333-4542 for more information.

Kia America and Hyundai Motor America face a class action lawsuit in Southern California. The suit filed in September accused the automakers of "blatantly valuing profits over the safety and security of their customers" by remaining among the few automobile manufacturers to not include engine immobilizers. These are electronic security parts in engine control units that restrict a vehicle from starting without a manufacturer's key.

All Kia vehicles "fully meet or exceed all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards," the automaker said in the Wednesday statement.

All 2022 Kias have smart key technology, Kia America said.

The lawsuit calls for a recall of 10 million cars. The southern California lawsuit is accompanied by similar suits from Illinois and Minnesota.
[October 27, 2022] UNC School of Medicine Awarded $3 Million for Emerging Pathogen Preparedness and Training

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals have been selected to be a Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Center (RESPTC) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR). UNC-Chapel Hill was one of three sites selected to expand beyond 10 existing RESPTC sites across the US. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006021/en/ William Fischer, MD (left) and David Wohl, MD (right) of UNC School of Medicine and the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. (Photo: Business Wire) UNC School of Medicine's William Fischer, MD, and David Wohl, MD both members of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, will lead the new center, established through a $3-million ASPR grant. The other two new centers will be established at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan. The ASPR also awarded $1.2 million to each of the original 10 RESPTCs for a total investment of $21 million. For several years, UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill has been one of eight North Carolina healthcare facilities designated as an assessment hospital to identify, isolate, and care for a patient infected with an emerging pathogen for up to 96 hours before transfer to a RESPTC. Now UNC will join Emory University as the only two RESPTCs in the Southeast. These awards will bolster the country's preparedness and capacity to respond to emerging pathogens during medical and public health emergencies. At UNC Hospitals, the grant will allow experts in critical care, infectious diseases and infection control to train and educate staff at UNC Hospitals, other hospitals, and clinics in urban areas and rural communities across the Southeast. Fischer and Wohl, both of whom have directly provided care to patients with special pathogens such as Ebola, Lassa fever, COVID-19, and human monkeypox here and abroad, will lead implementation of plans and protocols to quickly establish a special intensive care unit with capacity to care for two patients with special pathogens. Their plans will also account for expanding hospital capabilities should the need arise. "UNC Hospitals has been at the forefront of caring or infectious diseases patients for decades, starting with the HIV epidemic in the 1980s," said Wohl, professor of infectious diseases in the department of medicine. "This award is a recognition of our ability to train clinical staff and care for people with new or concerning infections. There will be no better place to receive this special care than at UNC Hospitals."



Fischer and Wohl are collaborating with UNC Hospitals and campus leadership, the medical intensive care unit, as well as several infection prevention experts at UNC Hospitals, including Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, Brooke Brewer, RN, MS, David Weber, MD, and their entire teams. "Over the past two decades we have witnessed a rise in the number of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks. This award is an important opportunity to strengthen local, regional and national preparedness, response and recovery," said Fischer, director of the Emerging Pathogens Program at the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases and associate professor of pulmonary diseases and critical care medicine. "This has been a total team effort, including support from each state in our region, local public health officials, and emergency medical professionals."

Wohl noted that North Carolina has a large military presence often stationed overseas and a citizenry dedicated to missionary and nonprofit work abroad, where new pathogens have historically emerged. "UNC-Chapel Hill is perfectly situated to take on this responsibility," said Myron Cohen, MD, founding director of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, the Yeargan-Bate Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Epidemiology, and associate vice chancellor for medical affairs. "Our long history and dedication to treating special pathogen patients in Africa, around the world, and at home, as well as our strong partnerships with North Carolina public health leaders, has prepared us to handle whatever might come our way." UNC-Chapel Hill is ranked 19th worldwide in the "Best University in Infectious Diseases" rankings by US News & World Report. Carolina, the only university in North Carolina ranked in the top 30 globally, is ranked 7th among U.S. institutions. "Drs. Fischer and Wohl are internationally respected and extraordinary clinicians and researchers who have proven their expertise in this field," said UNC Hospitals President Janet Hadar, MSN, MBA. "We are thankful for their leadership, for the dedication of their colleagues and our hospital staff, and for local and state support, which greatly aided our grant application." In announcing the $21-million investment, HHS said the RESPTCs are hospitals with enhanced capability and capacity to care for highly infectious diseases, and serve as regional hubs for the National Special Pathogen System. These hospitals are continuously ready and available to care for a special pathogen patient medically evacuated from overseas or diagnosed within the United States. These are the 13 RESPTCs: Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation/HHC Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, New York

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland

Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

Emory University Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia

UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Hospitals, in Chapel Hill, NC

University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Spectrum Health System in Grand Rapids Michigan

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in Galveston, Texas

Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska

Denver Health & Hospital Authority in Denver, Colorado

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California

Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital in Spokane, Washington About UNC School of Medicine The UNC School of Medicine (SOM) is the state's largest medical school, graduating more than 180 new physicians this past year. It is consistently ranked among the top medical schools in the country, including 3rd overall for primary care by US News & World Report and 6th for research among public universities. More than half of the school's 1,700 faculty members served as principal investigators on active research awards in 2021. Two UNC SOM faculty members have earned Nobel Prize awards. About the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Established in 2007, the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases (IGHID) brings solutions to the most pressing global health issues of our time through research, training and service. Working on problems critical to the people of North Carolina and the worldwide, IGHID provides a unique pan-university framework for facilitating global health science and practice. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006021/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Dealer-Pay's Payment Acceptance, Alongside DealerBuilt DMS, is Designed to Increase CSI Scores and Customer Retention

Today, Dealer-Pay, a specialist payments and point-of-sale provider for dealerships, has announced their alignment with DealerBuilt, a leading dealer management system in the automotive industry. This integration provides DealerBuilt with Dealer-Pay's advanced payment tools that can be used across the entire dealership department to capture frictionless customer payments. Dealer-Pay's payment tools enable employees in all departments of the dealership to safely record payments in multiple ways, making the process as convenient as possible for the customer. This addition is highly successful, as it retrieves data "real-time" from DealerBuilt to use for business and consumer payment acceptance. Julie Douglas, President/ CEO of Dealer-Pay elaborates, "We are thrilled to provide integrated payment acceptance to DealerBuilt's dealership customers as an enhancement to their state-of-the-art retail DMS platform." The technology offers real-time data that encompasses the consumer information and Repair Order, Parts Ticket or Deals details, as well as amounts owed. Customers can pay in person, through text/email hosted links, online, and more. The technology relationship between Dealer-Pay and DealerBuilt is a series of application programming interactions designed to increase user productivity, reduce data entry/errors, and reduce chargebacks in each department. "Our technology and customer success objectives at DealerBuilt are similar to those of Dealer-Pay. We both are dealer advocates focused on providing our dealers with choices when choosing their vendor partners. We aim o provide the tools needed to foster strong relationships and increase deal efficiency and profitability. Both our companies are recognized industry wide as providing cutting-edge software solutions designed to exceed customer expectations," explains Veronica Dunford, EVP of Strategic Partnerships.



Dealer-Pay links every transaction back to the DMS at the end of the business day, providing an exception report for any unmatched transactions. Ericka Stoeger, current customer and Controller of Cornhusker Auto Center in Norfolk, Nebraska endorses, "Dealer-Pay offers functionality that saves us a lot of time and energy. Our users can access data in real-time, which makes reconciling it a breeze." Dealer-Pay's Point-of-Sale solutions provide modern payment acceptance to dealers, both franchised and independent, single location, and enterprises alike. The DealerBuilt integration not only enhances the effectiveness of Dealer-Pay's POS system, but also positions dealers using DealerBuilt's DMS to have the best payment options available.

About Dealer-Pay: Dealer-Pay provides modern and "dealer-specific" payment acceptance and point-of-sale technology, serving both franchise and independent dealers nationwide. Dealer-Pay has over 23 years' experience in the space and is expanding with strategic development and integrations. Dealer-Pay's parent company, Convenient Brands, is a portfolio company of New York-based private investment firm, The Beekman Group. Call 800.226.1007 or visit https://www.dealer-pay.com/ About DealerBuilt: DealerBuilt is an enterprise Dealer Management System (DMS) provider for retail automobile dealerships. With a philosophy of refusing to lock dealers into long-term contracts and working with vendors of any size for ease of integration, DealerBuilt is perhaps best known as a strong dealer advocate. Founded by a CPA who owned dealerships, DealerBuilt has a deep understanding of the automotive market challenges and demands and enterprise dealer accounting complexities. For more information about DealerBuilt, call (888) 808-0733 or visit https://dealerbuilt.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026006090/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Ramada by Wyndham Seeks Chief Eats Officer to Help Discover and Share Global Culinary Delights

Launches global search for cultural brand ambassador with a $10,000 reward GURUGRAM, India, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sampling Mexico's sizzling street tacos, inhaling the bold aroma of Turkish coffee, uncovering the tangiest chimichurri in Argentina  it's an opportunity any foodie would covet and now, it could be theirs. Ramada by Wyndham, one of the world's most well-known hotel brands, is searching for its first-ever Chief Eats Officer ("CEO"), who will travel around the globe to help the brand uncover and share some of the world's best culinary and cultural delights. Best of all, the gig comes with a $10,000 reward. Known for its diverse portfolio of award-winning hotels in more than 63 countries around the globe, Ramada helps travellers sample the world. The winning 'CEO' will be tasked with uncovering the culture and cuisine throughout five different continents and creatively showcase their finds on the brand's social media and marketing channels. In exchange, the winner will receive $10,000 reward, plus a $150 towards daily travel to help them make the most of their globetrotting adventure. The selected 'CEO' will also get paid accommodations and air travel, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership and bucket-list travel experiences. "Food is the key that opens the door to new cultures, which is what Ramada by Wyndham is all about, inspiring travelers while connecting them to new global experiences," said Stephanie Kendrick, brand leader and VP of Operations, Ramada by Wyndham. "Our CEO will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in the best Ramada and its many destinations have to offer, all while bringing along a global audience to share in every moment of their life-enriching adventure." About the opportunity: The Chief Eats Officer's responsibilities include travelling the world for up to three weeksand documenting a curated list of must eats on social media. The CEO's creative content and experiences will be featured on Ramada's brand website and social media channels to help inspire other travellers to sample the world with Ramada.



Responsibilities: Visit up to eight countries over the course of a three-week trip.

Document travel and culinary adventures in real-time with unique photo, video, and written content.

Inspiring others around the world by sharing their experiences on their social media channels. Qualifications:

Active and proficient on various social media accounts (TikTok and Instagram preferred).

Fluent in spoken and written English.

At least 21 years old with a valid passport.

Availability to travel for up to three weeks during summer 2023.

Self-confessed foodie.

Strong writing skills (required for blog writing).

Comfortable working remotely and on deadline.

Must follow all applicable COVID-19 protocols based on the requirements stated by each country to be visited.

Applicants must be a resident of Argentina , Australia , Canada , Germany , India , Mexico , New Zealand , Thailand , Turkey , United Kingdom , or the United States. The Perks: $10,000 reward.

reward. $150 daily towards travel for up to three weeks.

daily towards travel for up to three weeks. Round trip economy air transportation.

Paid hotel accommodations for up to three weeks at Ramada by Wyndham hotels as part of a pre-selected itinerary.

Upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond level membership for one year. How to Apply: Post a public video via TikTok tagging @RamadabyWyndham and #RamadaCEO describing what makes the applicant the ideal candidate to be selected for the opportunity. Video submissions should be at least 2 minutes and applicants are encouraged to demonstrate food and travel flair, as well as storytelling skills and social savviness. Applicants applying via TikTok must follow @RamadabyWyndham to be considered. Alternatively, applicants may email their video to [email protected] .

. Please include the country of residence in the video. If applying via email, please include handles to the respective active personal social media accounts. Accounts must be public to be considered.

All entries must be submitted and received by 11:59 p.m. ET on November 14, 2022 , in English, by adults 21 years and older. Applicants must be available to travel internationally for up to three weeks between May- August 2023 . Entries must comply with the official rules. Ramada by Wyndham will select the winning "CEO" on or around the week of December 19, 2022. No purchase is necessary to enter. For more information, including official rules, visit www.ramada.com/ceo . About Ramada by Wyndham With more than 900 hotels globally, travellers are bound to find Ramada by Wyndham, one of the world's most recognised hotel brands, wherever their travels take them. Guests choose Ramada to not only sample the world but for the brand's passionate team members and full-service hospitality as well as functional meeting space, comfortable guest rooms, free Wi-Fi, and casual dining options. Visit www.ramada.com for more information. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: WH) is the world's largest hotel franchising company by the number of properties, with approximately 9,000 hotels across over 95 countries on six continents. Through its network of approximately 819,000 rooms appealing to the everyday traveller, Wyndham commands a leading presence in the economy and midscale segments of the lodging industry. The Company operates a portfolio of 23 hotel brands, including Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Microtel, La Quinta, Baymont, Wingate, AmericInn, Hawthorn Suites, Trademark Collection and Wyndham. The Company's award-winning Wyndham Rewards loyalty programme offers over 95 million enrolled members the opportunity to redeem points at thousands of hotels, vacation club resorts and vacation rentals globally. For more information, visit www.wyndhamhotels.com/en-uk Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931481/Ramada_by_Wyndham_CEO.jpg

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[October 27, 2022] Stonepeak Upsizes Invesment in American Tower's Data Center Business

CoreSite, a leading hybrid IT solutions provider and subsidiary of American Tower Corporation (NYSE: AMT) ("American Tower") and Stonepeak, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets, today announced that Stonepeak, on behalf of certain affiliated investment vehicles, invested an additional $570.0 million, which, together with its initial $2.5 billion investment in August 2022, on a fully converted basis and based on the currently outstanding equity, represents an approximately 36% ownership interest in American Tower's U.S. data center business. The conversion is expected to occur four years from the date of the initial closing in August 2022. The upsize transaction was completed on October 20, 2022. The upsize investment comprises both common equity and mandatorily convertible preferred equity, on the same terms and valuation as the initial investment. Stonepeak's investment is part of its core infrastructure strategy. J.P. Morgan is serving as lead financial advisor to American Tower, who is also being advised by CDX Advisors. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is serving as principal legal advisor to American Tower, who is also being advised by Sullivan & Worcester LLP with respect to certain REIT and tax matters. MUFG Bank, Ltd. is serving as sole financial advisor to Stonepeak. Sidley Austin LLP is serving as principal legal advisor to Stonepeak. About CoreSite CoreSite, an American Tower company (NYSE: AMT), provides hybrid IT solutions that empower enterprises, cloud, network, and IT service providers to monetize and future-proof their digital business. Our highly interconected data center campuses offer a native digital supply chain featuring direct cloud onramps to enable our customers to build customized hybrid IT infrastructure and accelerate digital transformation. For more than 20 years, CoreSite's team of technical experts have partnered with customers to optimize operations, elevate customer experience, dynamically scale, and leverage data to gain competitive edge. For more information, visit CoreSite.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.



About Stonepeak Stonepeak is a leading alternative investment firm specializing in infrastructure and real assets with approximately $51.7 billion of assets under management. Through its investment in defensive, hard-asset businesses globally, Stonepeak aims to create value for its investors and portfolio companies, and to have a positive impact on the communities in which it operates. Stonepeak sponsors investment vehicles focused on private equity and credit. The firm provides capital, operational support, and committed partnership to sustainably grow investments in its target sectors, which include communications, energy transition, transport and logistics, and social infrastructure. Stonepeak is headquartered in New York with offices in Austin, Hong Kong, Houston, London and Sydney. For more information, please visit www.stonepeak.com.

Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements about future events and expectations, or "forward-looking statements," all of which are inherently uncertain. We have based those forward-looking statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the transaction described above and the value and future investment activities of our U.S. data center business. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the information contained in Item 1A of American Tower's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated in American Tower's Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, each under the caption "Risk Factors" and in other filings American Tower makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither we nor American Tower undertake any obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027005872/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Jasper Ridge Announces Hiring of Greg Ruiz to Expand Private Equity Leadership Team

Jasper Ridge Partners, a firm providing customized investment solutions for families, foundations and global institutions, announced today that Greg Ruiz will join the firm as a Partner in its private equity practice. Together with Rick Hayes, Jenny Chen and Jamie Scarbrough, he will help lead the team's deep bench of investment talent and contribute to the ongoing expansion of its co-investment and direct private equity capabilities. "Greg is a talented senior investment professional who is well-recognized in the industry for his contributions to the private equity asset class, and we are delighted to welcome him to the ranks of our next generation of leadership," said Cori Duncan, CEO and Managing Partner. "As a firm, we continue to enhance our investment capabilities in an effort to optimize our clients' portfolios. Greg brings to Jasper Ridge distinguished leadership experience, deep sector expertise and a fluent command of the broader investment landscape that will complement our robust internal team with the goal of delivering results for our clients." Ruiz comes to Jasper Ridge Partners from the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the nation's largest pension fund, where he led the Private Equity program focused on private equity investments across a broad range of strategies and geographies. As the leading decision-maker for the largest US-based LP investor, he grew capital committed by the PE program by almost 300% during his tenure. He joined CalPERS rom Altamont Capital Partners, where he was a Principal leading direct private equity investments, and previously worked at FFL Partners after beginning his career at Goldman Sachs. Ruiz holds an AB from Princeton University and an MBA from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.



"I'm very excited to be joining a firm with an extensive private equity practice, that also values the importance of a customized approach to address specific client needs," said Ruiz. "Jasper Ridge Partners is highly differentiated in its ability and commitment to provide tailored, discretionary investment solutions to its clients, and I'm grateful and eager for the opportunity to contribute to its mission and growth." "Private equity continues to be a compelling asset class for investors, and we have a very large portfolio and opportunity set that continues to evolve and present intriguing new investment opportunities," said Rick Hayes, co-leader of the firm's private equity practice. "I look forward to the contributions Greg will make to our practice and working together to chart and execute on the next chapter of growth for our firm."

On behalf of the firm's global clients, the 20-person private equity and venture capital team at Jasper Ridge Partners deploys over $2.5 billion per year in new investments across primary funds, co-investments, direct investments, and secondary opportunities. Greg will be based in the firm's Roseville/Sacramento, CA office. ABOUT JASPER RIDGE Jasper Ridge Partners provides discretionary investment management services and customized solutions to prominent families, foundations and global institutions. The firm manages approximately $33 billion in assets, with expertise across all major asset classes, including public equity, fixed income, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, real estate and natural resources. The 100+ cross-asset class team includes 34 investment professionals with extensive expertise in portfolio construction, risk management, manager selection and capital markets, a majority of whom have principal investing experience. JRP has offices in California, Virginia and Texas. For more information, please visit www.jasperridge.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006036/en/

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[October 27, 2022] Sosei Heptares' Partner Neurocrine Biosciences Initiates Phase 2 Clinical Study Evaluating NBI-1117568 in Adults with Schizophrenia

NBI-1117568 is an Investigational, First-in-Class, Muscarinic M4 Selective Agonist TOKYO and CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sosei Group Corporation (the Company; TSE: 4565), the world leader in G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) focused structure-based drug design (SBDD) and development, notes its partner Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (Neurocrine) announced the first patient has been randomized for its Phase 2 placebo-controlled, inpatient clinical study evaluating the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of investigational compound NBI-1117568 in adults with schizophrenia. NBI-1117568 is an investigational, muscarinic M4 selective acetylcholine receptor agonist believed to be a key regulator of neurotransmitters impacted by schizophrenia. Initiation of this Phase 2 study for NBI-1117568 brings forward a first-in-class, orally active, highly selective investigational M4 agonist as a potential treatment for schizophrenia, a serious and complex psychiatric syndrome impacting 0.5-1.0% of the U.S. population and approximately 20 million people worldwide, said Eiry W. Roberts, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Neurocrine Biosciences. The differentiated profile of NBI-1117568 in terms of its selectivity as an M4 agonist may provide an opportunity for efficacy in treating the symptoms of psychosis with a potentially different side effect profile. The NBI-1117568 Phase 2 multi-arm, multi-stage study will enroll approximately 200 adults and is being conducted at 15 centers throughout the United States. The placebo-controlled study will evaluate multiple active dose levels of NBI-1117568. The primary outcome measure will be the change in total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) score from baseline to Week 6. For more information about this study (NBI-1117568-SCZ2028), visit ClinicalTrials.gov .

About Muscarinic Receptors

Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) found in multiple tissues including the brain, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal tract. Selective activation of M4 and M1 receptors in the brain is a clinically validated approach to treating cognitive and neuropsychological symptoms of neurological diseases, including Schizophrenia, dementia associated with Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and others. Until now, attempts to develop medicines that selectively target M4 and M1 receptors have been unsuccessful because of side effects caused by the activation of M2 and M3 receptors. Highly selective M4 or M1 agonists that do not activate M2 or M3 therefore are highly sought after and expected to have the potential to address major unmet medical needs with blockbuster potential. About the Agreement with Neurocrine Biosciences

Sosei Heptares and Neurocrine entered a collaboration and licensing agreement in November 2021 to develop novel muscarinic receptor agonists for the treatment of schizophrenia, dementia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Under the terms of the agreement, eurocrine gains development and commercialization rights to a broad portfolio of novel clinical and preclinical subtype-selective muscarinic M4, M1 and dual M1/M4 receptor agonists discovered by Sosei Heptares. Neurocrine is responsible for development costs associated with the programs globally, except for M1 agonists being developed in Japan. Sosei Heptares retains rights to develop M1 agonists in Japan for any indication, with Neurocrine receiving co-development and profit share options.



Sosei Heptares is eligible to receive R&D funding plus development, regulatory and commercial milestones of up to US$2.6 billion, with further product royalties, provided the criteria under the agreement are satisfied. About Neurocrine Biosciences

Neurocrine Biosciences is a neuroscience-focused, biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs, but few options. We are dedicated to discovering and developing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, neuroendocrine, and neuropsychiatric disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, Parkinson's disease, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as over a dozen mid- to late-stage clinical programs in multiple therapeutic areas. For three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com , and follow the company on LinkedIn , Twitter , and Facebook . (*in collaboration with AbbVie).

About Sosei Heptares

We are an international biopharmaceutical group focused on the discovery and early development of new medicines originating from our proprietary GPCR-targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug design platform capabilities. We are advancing a broad and deep pipeline of novel medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including neurology, immunology, gastroenterology, and inflammatory diseases. We have established partnerships with some of the worlds leading pharmaceutical companies and multiple emerging technology companies, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Genentech (Roche), GSK, Kallyope, Neurocrine Biosciences, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda and Verily. Sosei Heptares is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with corporate and R&D facilities in Cambridge, UK. Sosei Heptares is the corporate brand and trademark of Sosei Group Corporation, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). Sosei, Heptares, the logo and StaR are trademarks of Sosei Group companies. For more information, please visit soseiheptares.com

LinkedIn: @soseiheptaresco | Twitter: @soseiheptaresco | YouTube: @soseiheptaresco Enquiries: Sosei Heptares  Media and Investor Relations

Hironoshin Nomura, Chief Financial Officer

Shinichiro Nishishita, VP Investor Relations, Head of Regulatory Disclosures

Candelle Chong, SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy

Japan: +81 (0)3 5210 3399 | United Kingdom: +44 (0)1223 949390 | [email protected] MEDiSTRAVA Consulting (for International Media)

Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Eleanor Perkin

+44 (0)203 928 6900 | [email protected] Forward-looking statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development, and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Sosei Group Corporations actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



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Like it or not . . .

Jackson County Prosecutor Mean Jean scores another victory for her office in an ongoing fight against police.

Remember when this case first started . . . There was an allegation that the po-po were on this youngster's neck . . . Along with more typical complaints against law enforcement. There's was no mention of that today in deets of serious sanctions against the former law enforcement officer.



We'll start with the statement from the courthouse that was just released moments ago . . .



Former KCPD sergeant pleads guilty to excessive force against a KC teen



A former Kansas City Police Department sergeant, Matthew Neal, 42, pleaded guilty today to felony assault charges for excessive force he used against a Kansas City juvenile in November 2019, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced.



A Jackson County judge accepted Neals plea of guilty. Neal agreed he cannot carry a firearm and he would surrender his post license required to be a police officer, complete an anger management class, have no contact with the victim or his family and would send a written apology to the victim. Those were conditions of his 4-year probation.



Neals attorney told the court that Neal had resigned from the Kansas City police department yesterday.



The victim in this case did not make an appearance because of his strong interest in maintaining his privacy, Deputy Prosecutor Dion Sankar told the court. "The state remains in communication with the (young) victim in this caseThe state would note that the victim thanks this court and others for the work put into this case. He fully supports this outcome and the finality it will bring."



This case was not charged by way of complaint using a probable cause statement. Rather, Neal was charged by Jackson County citizens who served on the grand jury by way of indictment. This office thanks the local and federal law enforcement agencies who assisted in this matter.



In 2020, during her announcement of the charges, Baker noted, I hope all involved in this case and our community will rally around this victim and support him. Today, the office asks for the community's continued support of this young man.

#################



Meanwhile, progressive perspective from the newspaper and the mainstream story that most newsies will impose on the public . . .

"We should not celebrate criminal convictions, and we wont do so here. Instead, we hope Kansas Citians will use this day to reflect, and commit to making the police department, and its officers, better.



"Kansas City must rededicate itself to developing and implementing a truly independent public review process so that complaints can be addressed and appropriate steps taken. We also hope Kansas City police officers learn lessons from this case. Policing is very hard work, and dangerous. Most officers are hardworking and dedicated. We support them.



"At the same time, the rank and file know the bad actors in their ranks."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Guilty plea in teen's assault is welcome, but Kansas City police are still in crisis OPINION AND COMMENTARY Matthew Neal, now a former Kansas City police sergeant, pleaded guilty Thursday to the felony assault of a teenage suspect in his custody almost exactly three years ago. It has taken far too long to reach this day of justice, but the plea is still welcome.

More deets from a better sources . . .

Former KC Police sergeant pleads guilty to assaulting teenager KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City Police sergeant pleaded guilty to assaulting a 15-year-old boy while on duty. In court Thursday, Matthew Thomas Neal admitted to a judge that he put his knee on the back of the victim's head and neck in November 2019.
Today's reminder that late night stops to Kansas City's oldest party district aren't just dangerous because of the clientele . . .



Here's the aftermath . . .



Kansas City, Missouri, police say a male driver was traveling eastbound on Westport Road in a black Nissan Altima.

After hitting speeds of about 80-90 mph, the man lost control and hit the concrete Papa John's sign.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

1 killed in crash at Westport Road, Roanoke Parkway KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person was killed in a crash at Westport Road and Roanoke Parkway early Thursday morning. Emergency crews were called to the scene around 4 a.m. Kansas City, Missouri, police say a male driver was traveling eastbound on Westport Road in a black Nissan Altima.
The investigation is ongoing following a tragic death of a local delivery driver.

The news is exceptionally relevant given that delivery season for the holidays is already underway.



Here's a terrifying passage from a local report . . .



But some neighbors say local authorities have not done enough leading up to this situation, like one woman who asked not to be identified.



"I 100% believe that if the sheriff's department does not step up its response to aggressive dogs, dogs off-leash in the county or whatever that sort of looks like - if they don't, there will be more," she said.



"But I'll be honest with you. I know my Amazon driver. My Amazon driver knows me. All these new drivers and stuff, they didn't know: don't open that gate," she said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Official cause of death on Amazon driver killed in Ray County will take up to 16 weeks to determine KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It will take eight to 16 weeks to determine an official cause of death after an autopsy was performed on an Amazon delivery driver found dead outside of an Excelsior Springs residence. Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers said the results of the autopsy are going to take a while because of "high attention."

Concerns raised after Amazon delivery driver's death in Ray County EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - Neighbors in Excelsior Springs, Missouri have growing questions after a driver delivering for Amazon is left dead in a suspected dog attack Monday evening. On Tuesday, authorities in Ray County said it will be another 24 hours "at least" until they have official cause of that driver's death.

Safety top of mind for Amazon drivers after possible animal mauling in Ray County BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - Amazon drivers are alarmed after a fellow driver died in a possible dog mauling in Ray County on Monday. Though the victim has yet to be identified, employees told KSHB 41 News that the driver was a father, who worked out of the Blue Springs Amazon Center for a-year-and-a-half.

Amazon reportedly makes changes after driver's death in Ray County EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - Amazon is reportedly making changes in the wake of a driver's death this week in Ray County, Missouri. A dispatcher working with the company tells FOX4 drivers now have the ability to put warnings about dogs during deliveries in the system alerting other drivers to potential dangers.

Autopsy complete for Amazon delivery driver found dead in Ray County EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo. - An autopsy is now complete for an Amazon delivery driver who was found dead in an Excelsior Springs, Missouri yard Monday night. The death is suspected to be a dog attack that happened Monday evening, however, investigators say there is a real possibility that the driver experienced a medical emergency before getting mauled by the dogs.

'Too great of a person to have gone in that manner': Amazon driver killed in Ray County leaves impact KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Neashya Wright scrolled through her phone for days after her friend and former coworker died Monday. "It's like my brain registers what happened," Wright said. "But my heart has not yet." Wright first met the delivery driver killed outside of a home Monday night while working for a third-party delivery service.

Developing . . .
The midweek mugshot of the moment reminds that ALLEGED danger is HOMEGROWN IN THE SUBURBS . . .



Here's the story . . .



In an email to parents, USD 232 said it learned the Johnson County District Attorney's Office filed charges Wednesday against the Monticello Trails Middle School teacher, alleging criminal conduct "pertaining to his role as an educator."



"If ever you suspect inappropriate behavior in any school or classroom, please notify the principal or law enforcement without delay," the district said.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Shawnee middle school teacher accused of sex crimes A Shawnee middle school teacher is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on six counts of unlawful sexual relations.Johnson County online court records show the allegations against Keil E.
SUNY Erie Community College's President David Balkin's efforts to get the college out of financial trouble were put in flux Thursday when the ECC Board of Trustees voted to suspend him with pay while investigating unspecified allegations made against him.

Balkin came on board only 10 months ago with a mission to stabilize ECC and put it on a path to attract more students and train more of the workers needed by the region's employers.

Trustees are tight-lipped about the reason for the suspension, but the college said the suspension stemmed from an argument Balkin had with an employee.

"The complaints followed a recent conversation regarding the colleges operations between a staff member and the president," the college said in a statement.

Two other sources familiar with the situation said the allegations were related to concerns that Balkin planned to close ECC's City Campus Library and have students use the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library's main downtown branch. When asked about that idea last week, Balkin said he had no plans to close a library.

There was no indication that Balkin was in trouble as the board of trustees met for two hours Thursday in a session that covered routine topics and included extensive input from Balkin. Then the board went into executive session to discuss "a personnel matter" for more than two hours.

The board then emerged to vote to suspend Balkin and conduct a third-party investigation into allegations that it did not detail beyond the statement it issued later.

WNY Faculty Coalition holds forum, vows to 'fight to preserve ECC' Leaders of the faculty coalition, a network of educators from area colleges and universities, held the forum to express alarm at the changes happening and proposed at ECC.

ECC Board of Trustees Chair Jeffrey W. Stone said the board cannot comment on the matter except to say that it will employ a third-party investigator to avoid any appearance of bias.

"We will work with Dr. Balkin with all due respect and maintain his status as paid president while this investigation is undertaken," Stone said after the vote. ECC Provost Adiam Tsegai will serve as the college's lead official during Balkin's suspension.

Balkin declined to comment Thursday.

But his suspension raises questions about how the college will be able to pursue the extensive changes that Balkin has been seeking since becoming president in early February.

Balkin has made two rounds of layoffs totaling 150 positions to right size the colleges staff after years of declining enrollment.

He discontinued several low-performing programs at ECCs South Campus and is working to reduce the footprint of a three-campus college with duplicate programs at each.

And he has been outspokenly transparent about wasteful spending by previous administrations that will take years to recover.

Going forward, Balkins plan is to shift ECC's focus away from general studies spread across three campuses and streamline programs to reflect industry demands  including offering short-term certificate programs for new careers that don't require traditional college degrees.

He wants to focus on programs that provide a pathway to jobs for students by building ties with local employers that are struggling to find workers with in-demand skills.

"I hope that whatever happened gets rectified soon," said Rich Canazzi, president of ECC's chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "Dave and I have shared conversations that have been very hopeful for both the college and its employees."

Canazzi said his union was not involved in any complaints about Balkin, but he was aware of a complaint by another entity.

Balkin came to ECC from Ivy Tech Community College, where he had been chancellor of its South Bend-Elkhart campus in Indiana since 2019.

After layoffs, SUNY ECC president looks ahead to 'student-centric' agenda Five months into his tenure as president of SUNY-Erie Community College, David Balkin already is making his mark on the struggling school.

Balkin grew up in Amherst and spent five years as an administrator at the University of Notre Dame, including as managing director of the Nanoscience and Technology Center from 2014-2017 and as associate director of regional development for San Francisco and Silicon Valley from 2014 to 2019.

Before that, he was president and chief operating officer of Genea Energy Partners. He also worked in various posts in the Microelectronics Division of IBM from 1984 to 2010. Balkin earned bachelors and masters degrees in metallurgical engineering and materials science and a doctorate in materials science and engineering  all from the University of Notre Dame.
The sign announcing a flood mitigation project in Scarboroughs Morningside Heights area had stood near Sewells Road for decades.
LIVE NOW: Your Thursday, Oct. 27 updates on traffic, weather and school bus cancellations in Toronto
'Irish Country' series is an exceptional read  or listen

If you havent read Patrick Taylors books you are in for a treat
Last summer, several Shea's employees called themselves victims of Michael Murphy's "bullying" behavior.

On Thursday, the ousted president of Shea's cast himself as the victim amid the drama that has played out for several months.

Just over a week after his firing, Murphy sued the landmark cultural institution he had led for the past six years, alleging the not-for-profit theater breached his contract, defamed him, and retaliated and discriminated against him because he's a 61-year-old gay man. The suit was filed in State Supreme Court.

Murphy said he "poured his heart and soul into Shea's and helped it survive the pandemic" before he was fired on Oct. 19.

"Eight months after some employees began making allegations in dog-whistle terms that would have been deemed complimentary of a straight man, and three months after his counsel raised this anti-gay conduct to Shea's lawyer, Shea's Board of Trustees bought into the bigoted conduct and fired him in a very public and extremely degrading manner," according to his lawsuit.

Murphy had a contract that was supposed to extend to June 2026.

Michael Murphy is out as Shea's president "Shea's Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees today announced that Michael G. Murphy is no longer its president," a statement said, without explaining whether Murphy resigned or was fired.

He had been working remotely at the direction of the Sheas Board since July, "doing anything and everything the board asked him to do," according to his lawsuit.

Murphy said he was summoned last Wednesday to the Buffalo Club, where he expected to meet and offer his feedback to board members about his return to the office to work. But during the meeting, Murphy was offered three alternatives: termination for cause, resignation or retirement, according to his lawsuit.

"Of course, there was no basis for a 'for cause' termination, Murphy having done everything his board had asked him to do," according to the lawsuit.

Two sources told The News that Murphy was fired last Friday after being given 48 hours by the board to resign or retire, and he chose to do neither. The board's action came after a consultant concluded Murphy was not adhering to his new job description since September, when he was allowed to retain the title of president but could no longer be in charge of theater operations, according to the sources.

Shea's issued a statement rejecting the lawsuit's claims.

"This lawsuit is without merit, and it is unfortunate that Mr. Murphy chose this path," according to the statement. "This is a desperate effort meant to intimidate Shea's into an undeserved financial settlement. We intend to vigorously defend Shea's against that. Due to this now being in litigation, we will have no further comment."

Eleven staff members leveled complaints, many anonymously, against Murphy earlier this year complaining of his behavior, according to Bill Patti, who was fired as Shea's general manager for "insubordination" in early September.

25 Shea's Buffalo Theatre staffers seek board inquiry into 'toxic' work environment The departure of 27% of the staff was, with a few exceptions, partly due to a "toxic" and demoralizing workplace under Shea's President Michael Murphy, four current and former Shea's employees told The Buffalo News.

An Aug. 12 letter to the board from 25 staff members expressed concerns over Murphy's continued tenure and urged the board to reconsider allowing his return from a board-instituted leave of absence that lasted six weeks.

"We believe that Michael's actions are in violation of our values and policies held by this organization," the letter read. "There are members of our staff who have endured abusive behavior and an unsafe work environment because of Michael. We stand with our colleagues."

The turmoil rocked Shea's, a major Western New York cultural attraction and leading theater nationally for touring Broadway productions.

Five of the board's 15 members resigned over the summer. Four employees left in the past two months, joining 11 other employees who departed earlier this year, many due to Murphy's treatment of employees and a demoralized work environment, according to several former employees.

Murphy contended Shea's is responsible for harm done to his reputation.

In the months before his termination, the lawsuit said, Sheas made false and defamatory statements to the media about Murphy and his job performance, harming his business reputation and impairing his ability to get another theater job.

Press statements and an interview with the board's chairman in September consistently defended Murphy.

"We'd like to believe that people will understand that Michael is excellent at what he does, and that he has a good reputation that, frankly, I have got to believe has been unfairly tarnished, if we believe the consultants," board Chairman Randall Best told The News on Sept. 3.

Asked about the staff turmoil, Best cited two reports by consultants that he said found no wrongdoing on Murphy's part.

"What we find is a few bad apples sully the reputation of Shea's," Best told The News.

Board member Jonathan Dandes, also expressing support for Murphy, said the Shea's president also enjoyed support from staff.

"There are a whole lot of staff members who are fully supportive of Michael," Dandes said in September. "This is not a situation that is unanimous, by any stretch."

Best said in the interview that Murphy acknowledged he needed to work on his management style.

"Michael is the first to admit that he can sometimes be short with people," Best said. "But Michael has promised us, and we believe him, that he is going to work very hard to change his style."

Murphy has repeatedly declined to speak with The News.

Sheas prospered because of Murphy's leadership, the lawsuit said. Shea's went into the pandemic with a $2 million surplus and emerged with a $6 million surplus," according to the lawsuit.

Murphy suggested in the lawsuit that his accomplishments and a "reasonable expectation of staff accountability" may have been responsible for "unfounded allegations."

Beginning last April, some Sheas employees complained about Murphys management at Sheas, "and they did so in terms that were especially pointed, since Murphy is gay," according to his lawsuit.

The complaining staffers referred to him "with dog-whistle terms like 'toxic,' 'temperamental,' 'chaotic,' 'volatile,' prone to 'fits,' and 'privileged,'  according to the lawsuit.

"Whereas a straight man who leads an organization may often be characterized as tough or firm, Sheas employees used sexual-orientation-laced terms which not only are derogatory but are discriminatory as a matter of law in New York State," according to the lawsuit.

Shea's president pulled from day-to-day supervision amid trustee resignations, staff turmoil A release from Shea's Buffalo Theatre on Thursday afternoon announced Director of Operations Robert Brunschmid will expand his duties to include day-to-day supervision of the theater's operations.

Jennifer Orr, former Shea's public relations coordinator under Murphy, said she had difficulty imagining how he could be a victim of discrimination for his sexuality in the theater world, where being gay is commonplace.

"I find the discrimination allegations very hard to believe," Orr said. "I had gay colleagues at Shea's. We never thought twice about someone's sexual orientation because it didn't matter. And why would it? What mattered was getting the job done and getting it done well."

Murphy had legal counsel first approach a Shea's attorney in July, claiming he had been experiencing discrimination for being a gay man.

The lawsuit said Murphy has suffered from "emotional distress, psychological injury and mental anguish, degradation and embarrassment," in addition to "a loss of professional opportunities."

Murphy, who earned a $305,000 annual salary plus bonuses, is seeking $2 million in damages in addition to more than $400,000 for severance, bonuses and back pay he says he is owed.

Shea's board announced plans last Friday to form a committee and open a national search for Murphy's successor.
Early voting begins Saturday in New York, and some local officials expect a high-profile governor's race and the intense national debate over the midterm elections to drive turnout here.

Voters can head to the polls over the nine days from Saturday to Nov. 6 to cast their ballots early.

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.

A recent boost in requests for absentee ballots for the general election suggests local early-voting turnout could rise, matching a national surge as Democrats and Republicans vie for control of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, said Ralph Mohr, Erie County's Republican election commissioner.

"We expect more than last year. The absentee ballot requests have really picked up. They started out slow, but the last two, two-and-a-half weeks are really heavy," Mohr said. "So we anticipate that that same sentiment is going to carry through to the early voting."

In the 2021 general election, preliminary tallies showed just fewer than 40,000 people voted early in Erie County. This total was less than anticipated, given Buffalo had a rare, competitive general election contest for mayor. There also were countywide races for sheriff and comptroller, and an election for Amherst town supervisor, among other races.

Hochul-Zeldin debate keeps coming back to the same issue  crime The moderators took Gov. Kathy Hochul and her Republican challenger, Rep. Lee Zeldin, through more than a dozen concerns facing New Yorkers in their televised debate Tuesday night, but the conversation kept returning to the same issue  crime.

Voters, including those who went to the polls early, likely had some confusion during this year's unusual primary schedule after legal challenges to new district maps led to split primaries in June and August.

So what will turnout during the next early-voting window look like? Data show Democrats and people who aren't registered with a party remain more likely than Republicans to vote early, Mohr said.

A number of races are likely to bring voters to the polls before Election Day, highlighted by the contest between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Lee Zeldin.

Races for state attorney general and state comptroller also are on the ballot, along with the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, but their Republican opponents haven't gained as much traction as Zeldin.

While redrawn district lines created competitive congressional races elsewhere in New York, the general election congressional contests in Western New York are shaping up as lopsided ones.

Erie County clerk's race marks biggest challenge yet for incumbent as Eden Supervisor Hartman challenges Kearns This year's clerk's race may represent the biggest test incumbent Michael "Mickey" Kearns has faced in his seat for the office since first taking over the position in 2017.

Still, the broader battle over control of Congress, along with some competitive State Senate and Assembly races in the region, should draw early voters, officials said.

"I think it's a combination of the governor's race, plus the national attention," Mohr said.

That is already the case in other states where early voting has begun.

For example, over the first five days of early voting in Georgia, a key battleground state, in-person turnout is up 70%, compared with the same period before the 2018 midterm elections, the New York Times reported.

"If you were to ask me to give you a number, I don't. Because, you know, you'd have to be psychic to do that," said Lora Allen, Niagara County's Democratic election commissioner. "But I'm expecting a pretty good turnout. I hope so."

Zeldin vows to reopen Bills stadium deal as Hochul defends agreement Zeldin vowed if he's elected governor next month to reopen the state's stadium financing agreement with the Bills to try to negotiate a better deal for New York taxpayers.

In Niagara County, there are four locations for early voting: Amtrak Niagara Falls Station, 825 Depot Ave. West, Niagara Falls; Cornell Cooperative Extension of Niagara County, 4487 Lake Ave., Lockport, on the county fairgrounds; Wheatfield Community Center, 2790 Church Road, North Tonawanda; and the Newfane Community Center, 2737 Main St., Newfane.

Hours for early voting in Niagara County are: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Noon to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 2 through Nov. 6.

"You have nine days of early voting. You can vote on a Saturday or Sunday. Early voting is good," Allen said. "But some people love to go to the polls on Election Day. It just depends on that individual and what they like to do."

In Erie County, the public can use the same 38 early voting locations provided in 2021. They're in each of the county's 25 towns, the cities of Tonawanda and Lackawanna and the nine Buffalo Common Council districts, as well as two additional Buffalo sites.

Early voting hours in Erie County are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; noon to 9 p.m. Oct. 31 through Nov. 4; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 and Nov. 6. Ballots cast in person during the early voting period are secured until counting on election night.

In addition, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in the weeks leading up to Election Day have requested and submitted absentee ballots, a form of voting that grew in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Erie County alone, voters have requested about 25,000 absentee ballots, and the county Board of Elections has sent out 16,344 ballots, Mohr said Monday.

Erie County soon may shut down the online portal that people can use to request an absentee ballot, said Mohr, who is waiting for a directive from state elections officials. People have until Nov. 7 to request an absentee ballot in person, he said.

Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day in order to count, Mohr said.

Absentee ballot dispute between major political parties now a lawsuit Democrats and voting-rights advocates are blasting a lawsuit filed by state Republicans and their allies that could upend how absentee ballots are processed in New York.

A lawsuit filed by Republicans and Conservatives challenges how absentee ballots are counted and challenges who is eligible to vote by absentee.

A state Supreme Court justice in Saratoga County created significant uncertainty by invalidating portions of the state's absentee ballot law, though her decision is under appeal.

Gothamist reported that 427,000 New Yorkers have requested absentee ballots, and 108,000 voters in the state have returned them so far.

Mohr said Erie County had canvassed 8,000 of the ballots the board had received through Friday, a process that involves opening and inspecting the outer envelope that includes the voter's signature, separating it from the inner ballot and preparing it for counting.

The judge's ruling paused this work, Mohr said, pending a final decision in the lawsuit and guidance from the state. Another 300 or so absentee ballots, with more coming every day, have been sorted by election district, but not opened, he said.

"So we're going to have to see what the courts and the State Board say on that," Mohr said.
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.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to present U.S. President Joe Biden with evidence that Iranian drones are being used against Ukrainian civilians as part of Russia's war in Ukraine.

That's according to The Jerusalem Post, Ukrinform reports.

"President Herzog will present U.S. government officials with images of Shahed-136 exploding UAVs prepared for a launch in a military exercise in Iran in December 2021. Another photo shows the same type of drone downed during the fighting in Ukraine," Herzog's office said in a statement.

Despite Iranian denials and attempts to obscure their Iranian origins by adding Russian stamps, the photos show that the drone stabilizers are identical in their structure, dimensions, and numbering, the statement said.

According to Reuters, U.S. President Joe Biden will play host to Israel's President Isaac Herzog for a White House meeting on October 26.
The missile and artillery units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine performed 190 fire missions, eliminating more than half a hundred invaders in the southern direction over the past day.

"The situation in the Southern Buh direction in the entire operational zone is quite tense but controlled. The enemy continues holding active defense, looks for ways to renew logistics and set up defensive lines on the left bank of the Dnipro River. The counter-battery confrontation of forces along the contact line is ongoing. The enemy inflicts fire damage on our positions with the use of MLRS, heavy artillery, mortars, tanks, and aviation," the Operational Command "South" posted on Facebook.

As noted, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions with a Ka-52 attack helicopter but it was shot down by a well-aimed shot of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners.

In order to clarify the positions of our troops and adjust artillery fire, the enemy significantly increased aerial reconnaissance along the contact line. In addition, the kamikaze drone attacks continue.

Assault and army aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched six strikes on the enemy anti-aircraft defense forces, a stronghold, and three areas of manpower, weapons, and equipment buildup in Beryslav and Mykolaiv districts.

The missile and artillery units performed 190 fire missions.

The confirmed enemy losses are as following: 53 personnel, two mortars, Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two armored vehicles, and two dugouts with personnel. The data are being updated.

"In the stormy Black Sea, enemy keeps nine ships, including a large landing ship and three missile carriers, including two submarines. Sixteen Kalibr missiles are ready to be used," the Operational Command "South" added.

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Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Khrystyna Hayovyshyn stated at a meeting of the UN Security Council that the investigation into the supply of Iranian drones to Russia should be launched immediately.

As an Ukrinform correspondent reported from New York, Hayovyshyn urged "all states to consider any possible steps to stop supplies of such UAVs, missiles or conventional weapons from Iran that could be used in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine."

The diplomat noted that Ukraine had appealed to the UN Security Council on October 14 with a request to start a corresponding independent investigation. "In our letter, we drew attention to the alarming situation around Iran's Mohajer and Shahed UAVs supplies to Russia, particularly at the end of August 2022," the Deputy Permanent Representative said.

According to her, Ukraine informed the Security Council about Russia's use of long-range Iranian drones to attack civilian population and infrastructure facilities. "This is a flagrant violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed by China, France, Germany, Great Britain, the United States, the European Union, and Russia itself, and then adopted by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 in 2015," Hayovyshyn added.

She noted that the deliberate abuse of the provisions of the UN Charter to obstruct the investigation "is an obvious attempt to put pressure on the Secretariat in order to avoid its own responsibility."

Russia initiated the UN Security Council meeting in response to the letters sent to the Security Council by France, Germany, Great Britain, and the USA, noting that the Iranian-made drones supplies to the Russian Federation run counter to Resolution 2231. Russia claims that the UN leadership is not authorized to send experts for inspections at the call of organization members.

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Over the past day, the Ukrainian troops repelled the Russian attacks near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Bakhmut, Ivanhrad, Soledar, Mayorsk, Krasnohorivka, and Marinka, Donetsk region.

This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00, October 27, posted on Facebook.

As noted, the enemy tries to hold the temporarily captured territories, focuses its efforts on restraining the actions of the Defense Forces in certain directions, while continuing offensive operations in Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions.

Over the past day, the units of the Defense Forces repelled the Russian attacks near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region, and Bakhmut, Ivanhrad, Soledar, Mayorsk, Krasnohorivka, and Marinka, Donetsk region.

The enemy shells the Ukrainian positions along the contact line, fortifies its positions in certain directions, particularly on the left bank of the Dnipro River, actively conducts aerial reconnaissance.

In violation of international humanitarian law, laws and customs of war, the Russian occupiers continue to destroy critical infrastructure and civilian homes.

Over the past day, the enemy launched 18 airstrikes, four missile strikes, and 56 MLRS attacks.

The enemy attacked Kupyansk, Druzhkivka, and Zaporizhzhia.

The situation in Volyn and Polissia directions has not changed significantly.

In Slobozhansky direction, mortars, tube and rocket artillery were fired from the territory of the Russian Federation on the areas of Chuhunivka, Strilecha, Dvorichna, Kamyanka, Krasne and Starytsia settlements.

In Kupyansk direction, tanks, mortars, tube and rocket artillery were fired in the areas of Berestove, Kyslivka, Kotliarivka, and Fyholivka.

In Lyman direction, tanks, mortars, tube and rocket artillery were fired in the areas of Hrekivka, Druzheliubivka, Makiivka, Terny, Torske, Yampolivka, Spirne, Nevske, Verkhniokamyanske, and Zarichne.

In Bakhmut direction, tanks and rocket artillery were fired in the areas of Andriivka, Bakhmut, Bakhmutske, Soledar, Mayorsk, New York, Yakovlivka, Zelenopillia, and Ozarianivka settlements.

In Avdiivka direction, the enemy inflicted fire damage in the areas of Marinka, Vodiane, Novomykhailivka, Pervomaiske, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Oleksandropil, and Novokalynove settlements.

In Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia directions, the enemy fired artillery in the areas of Orikhiv, Vremivka, Dorozhnianka, Malynivka, Novoukrainka, Huliaypole, Zaliznychne, Novopil, Neskuchne, Olhivske, and Bilohirya.

In Southern Buh direction, areas of 20 settlements, not far from the contact line, came under fire. Nikopol was hit with rocket artillery.

Ukraines aviation launched five strikes over the past day, hitting the areas of enemy's manpower, weapons, and military equipment buildup, three strongholds, and an anti-aircraft missile system. The air defense units shot down an enemy Ka-52 helicopter, Kh-59 missile, and 17 enemy combat UAVs.

During the day, the missile and artillery troops struck four command posts, eight areas of manpower, weapons, and military equipment buildup, three ammunition depots, and six other important enemy military objects.

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The Kremlin involves regional officials in the "development of security measures" in Russias regions in order to deflect public criticism away from the national leadership of the Russian Federation.

The UK Ministry of Defence said this in its latest intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, which was posted on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

On 24 October 2022, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin will coordinate the development of security measures in Russias regions.

This followed Russian President Vladimir Putins decree introducing a new regimen of security alert levels. This measure is likely to lead to a closer interlinking of regional governors into Russias national security system. It is a further measure to organise society as Russias war against Ukraine continues to be under pressure, the ministry said.

It is noted that the greater involvement of regional officials is likely at least partially designed to deflect public criticism away from the national leadership.

The Kremlin pursued a similar approach during the COVID-19 crisis. However, it will likely make it more difficult for the Kremlin to insulate Russian society from the effects of the special military operation in Ukraine, the ministry said.

As Ukrinform reported, earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the government to develop a draft decree on establishing a special coordination council, headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, in order to meet the needs arising during Russias war against Ukraine.

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Russian forces in the past week 10 times launched Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones at targets across Ukraine from the territory of Belarus.

Thats according to Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of Ukraine Armys General Staff, who spoke at a Kyiv briefing on the security situation in Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"In addition to the Ziabrivka airfield, the enemy is trying to deploy its troops at other airfields, also conducting active operations on the training grounds across the Republic of Belarus. Also, the enemy continues to use kamikaze drones from that direction. In addition, this week, 10 launches of Shahed drones were carried out from the territory of the Republic of Belarus," said Hromov.

According to the senior defense official, Ukraine monitors all these operations and movements. "Currently, we have not spotted an enemy offensive group being created in Belarus, but the enemy is purposefully undertaking certain measures. There are and there will be threats. We are responding accordingly while we monitor the situation. We have already increased our grouping in the northern operational zone. We respond adequately to all threats, not only threats from the Republic of Belarus, but also from the east and south of our country," added the General Staff official.

As reported, full-scale Russian military aggression has been ongoing in Ukraine since February 24. The defense forces are fiercely repelling Russian invaders.
Defense Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov discussed with his Spanish counterpart Margarita Robles the issue of strengthening the country's defense capabilities. A new package of military aid is expected to arrive in Ukraine.

The Defense Ministrys press service reported the news on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"I had a productive conversation with the Minister of Defense of Spain, Margarita Robles. Thank you for your support and for being the first to provide Hawk systems to make our skies safer. We are awaiting a new package of military aid, which will arrive soon," Reznikov said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, in October 2022, the Ministry of Defense of Spain provided another batch of aid to the Ukrainian military, which included eight armored vehicles, two ambulance vehicles, and five tonnes of medical supplies.

Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office
Ukrainian air defense forces successfully down 79% of incoming strike drones.

Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov, presented the fresh statistics at a Kyiv briefing on the security situation in Ukraine on Thursday, October 27, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The effectiveness of our air defense system also remains at a fairly high level, accounting for 79% of the enemy's drones shot down. In the last day alone, our air defenses destroyed 18 out of 20 kamikaze drones," the official noted.

According to Hromov, over the past week, Ukraines defenders have destroyed six Ka-52, Mi-24, and Mi-28 Russian attack helicopters. The total number of downed Russian helicopters stands at about 250, which is equal to five army aviation regiments.

"Therefore, we can congratulate all the crews of Russias army aviation on their upcoming professional holiday, which is marked tomorrow. They may fly in, and well be shooting them down," stressed the General Staff official.

As reported, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.

Illustrative photo
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he expects to continue close relations with Italy and hopes Ukraine will be supplied with air defense systems, such as SAMP-T.

He said this in an interview with Italy's Corriere della Sera, Ukrinform reports.

"Air defense systems. This is a high priority for us today. You know why. Because we want our people to come back from abroad so that their children could go to school, university, etc. But without security, without air defense systems, we can't do it. There are very few countries that produce air defense systems - not only those that have them, but those that produce them. Italy produces SAMP-T systems together with France and Germany. And we need them," Zelensky said.

He said that he had already informed the Italian government about such needs.

At the same time, Zelensky said he had had only one phone call with Italy's new prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and invited her to visit Ukraine.

"I think we are building a new level of relations between Ukraine and Italy. This was during the period of Mario Draghi. This became possible thanks to him and the Italian people. I think we have built very good and strong relations. And I don't want to destroy them. And I said that to Giorgia, and she said, 'Yes, of course. I really support you and I want to have the same level of relations that you had before was. And I don't want to destroy them either," he said.

Zelensky assured that Ukraine is honest and open in its relations with Italy, grateful for the great assistance already provided. He expressed hope that Italy would continue to provide support to Ukrainians.
The Russian Federation has already blocked 175 ships expected to leave the ports as part of the grain export initiative.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian authorities work daily to protect the grain export initiative.

It is obvious that Russia once again intends to exacerbate the global food crisis, bring back the threat of large-scale famine. And this, in particular, is the responsibility of all our partners  after all, to guarantee food security and put an end to this dirty Russian game with hunger. Currently, due to Russia deliberately slowing down our food exports, the number of vessels waiting for an opportunity to perform contractual obligations has already reached 175, Zelensky said.

In his words, this is not just some trade issue. This is the deterioration of access to food for millions of people and the threat of an even greater increase in prices for basic products in Africa, Asia and Europe.

If, after all, Russia succeeds in the negative scenario, this will cause a new large-scale migration crisis. Russia as a terrorist state is a terrorist at everything and deserves a daily increase in international pressure on it, Zelensky stressed.

The President of Ukraine expressed gratitude to all leaders and politicians who understand this. In particular, Zelensky thanked the Senate of the Republic of Poland, which officially recognized Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. According to Zelensky, such decisions should be endorsed by the majority of countries across the globe, as Russias actions leave no alternative.

Photo: Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry

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Over the past day, almost 33,000 people have crossed the border into Ukraine, 29,000 of them Ukrainians.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said this in a statement, Ukrinform reports.

Over the past day, 33,000 people have arrived in Ukraine, 29,000 of them Ukrainian nationals, the report reads.

On October 26, almost 70,000 people and 19,000 vehicles crossed Ukraines western borders with the EU and Moldova.

Almost 37,000 people left Ukraine on October 26. Of whom, more than 23,000 crossed the border into Poland, the rest into other EU countries and Moldova.

In addition, 68 trucks with humanitarian aid entered the territory of Ukraine.

As reported, according to the UN Refugee Agency, since Russias full-scale invasion, Ukrainians have crossed borders into neighboring countries 10 million times.

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The mayors office of Dnipro and the municipality of the German city of Cologne concluded a cooperation agreement, which was signed during a video conference on October 27.

The press service of the Dnipro City Council said this in a statement, Ukrinform reports.

We feel assistance from Germany, the German people. This is not only humanitarian goods. First, it is moral support. This agreement is not only about partnership and assistance to Dnipro. We want and know how to be friends. And after the Victory of Ukraine, relations with the city of Cologne will also develop in cultural, social and economic directions," said Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov.

Energy efficiency has been identified as a key area of cooperation between Dnipro and Cologne. According to Filatov, this is extremely important now, when Dnipro and other Ukrainian cities are subjected to Russias terrorist attacks on the energy infrastructure.

"Such a partnership between the cities is necessary to quickly achieve goals and provide assistance. Such an exchange should also create an impetus for reconstruction in Ukraine," said German Ambassador to Ukraine Anka Feldhusen.
A judge Thursday appointed a public defender to represent Michael W. Luehrsen, a former pharmaceutical rep who said he has been unable to afford a lawyer for his upcoming retrial over a health care fraud charge and other counts.

In 2020, a magistrate judge issued criminal and civil seizure warrants for Luehrsen's financial accounts and waterfront condos in Miami and Buffalo that prosecutors called the proceeds of unlawful activity. Luehrsen said the government seized between $4 million and $5 million worth of assets. He has asked the court to return a portion of his assets back so he can hire new defense counsel. Prosecutors oppose his request.

Federal prosecutors allege Luehrsen generated more than $10 million in wrongful insurance reimbursements through his company, MedHype, by orchestrating a pyramid operation to get prescriptions for non-narcotic, custom-made creams for scars, wounds and pain that included highly priced ingredients without doctors even seeing the patients.

After jurors acquitted the former Clarence resident of eight money laundering charges and two evidence tampering charges in March, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo declared a mistrial when they could not reach a verdict on the health care fraud charge and remaining money laundering charges.

Vilardo allowed the three lawyers who represented Luehrsen in the first trial to withdraw from the case. Vilardo said it would be unfair to make them continue if Luehrsen can't continue to pay them.

So the judge appointed a public defender to represent Luehrsen in his bid to get back the seized assets and for the rest of the case if needed. Vilardo has previously said he wanted to see Luehrsen's tax returns, statement of net worth and how he his paying his living expenses before scheduling a hearing on whether to returned the seized assets.

Luehrsen did not object to the public defender representing him.

"I would prefer to have my funds released so I can hire an attorney of my choice," Luehrsen said during Thursday's status conference.

Luehrsen paid a $680,000 legal bill for his trial earlier this year by selling his ownership interest in a Chippewa Street nightclub and borrowing $400,000 from his parents, according to a legal filing.

"If funds are released, you can use those funds to hire a lawyer," Vilardo told him Thursday.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi visits a Somali family who recently arrived at a temporary site near Dagahaley refugee camp, Kenya.  UNHCR/Samuel Otieno

NAIROBI  As he concluded a five-day visit to Somalia and Kenya on Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, called on global leaders to spare no efforts in assisting countries in the Horn of Africa to break the cycle of conflict and climate crises.

As people try to avert famine and seek safety, many have been forced to flee. 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 1 million, with another nearly 500,000 displaced due to conflict and insecurity.

Many who have already been forced to flee violence have been displaced yet again by the worst drought in 40 years, brought on by four failed rainy seasons, with a fifth predicted. Globally, such extreme weather events are intensifying and becoming more frequent due to the climate crisis.

Despite urgent calls from humanitarian agencies active in Somalia, the catastrophic and multifaceted consequences are largely unnoticed as the worlds attention remains elsewhere.

While in Somalia, Grandi met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and expressed solidarity with the people and government of Somalia at this difficult moment. Under the leadership of Somalias authorities, we will continue to step up collective efforts to save lives. UNHCR teams are on the ground doing what they can to help, but weve secured funds to cover just a small percentage of the people in need, Grandi said.

He also reaffirmed UNHCRs commitment to supporting the country to pursue solutions for those who have been displaced.

In Galkacyo, Grandi met families 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, and the particular consequences for women and 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, where Somali refugees have been living in camps for more than 30 years, Grandi saw first-hand how the drought is impacting displacement.

More than 50,000 Somali refugees who have arrived in recent years are in dire need of support. Some 20,000 have arrived this year alone. UNHCR is providing basic assistance and supporting local Kenyans with the provision of water and other aid.

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.

Grandi met with Kenyan President William Ruto and reaffirmed UNHCRs commitment to work closely with his new administration on protection and solutions for refugees as well as to encourage more development support to host communities.

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.

In their meeting, Grandi and President Ruto agreed that allowing refugees to work and integrate with their host communities is the best option to end dependency on humanitarian aid.

We have the opportunity for Kenya to be a leader in adopting a settlement model and to achieve sustainable solutions for refugees. We must take advantage of it, Grandi said. I call on the international community to support this promising approach.

In Kalobeyei settlement, he saw how much the investments in development, such as the International Finance Corporations Kakuma-Kalobeyei Challenge Fund, an innovative private sector partnership, have already benefitted refugees and, more importantly, the host community.

Since Kalobeyei was launched in 2016, it is impressive to see how much progress has been made in development, livelihoods and provision of social services, despite various challenges, despite COVID-19, Grandi said. We cant let the momentum stall and are ready to continue our support to Kenya.

ENDS

Note to editors:

To provide emergency support to some 1.5 million refugees and internally displaced people affected by the drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, in June UNHCR urgently appealed for US$42.6 million for the rest of 2022. The overall funding levels of the three country operations indicate that approximately 45 per cent of the funds required for UNHCRs drought response are available.

See UNHCRs Regional Drought Appeal for Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

Link to B-Roll:

For Somalia: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/0jq0jp7f3p35ong1081ud66sv7dag856

For Kenya - Dadaab: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/xf2pjke1nlb3xn53igfs6uiy272wwmm5

For Kenya - Kakuma: https://media.unhcr.org/Share/0aurjn3655akpkq32uexjm726txpf8iy

For more information on this topic, please contact:
With wet season rains just days away, a group of farm workers race to clear tree stumps, cut up branches and dig the soil across a broad tract of bush in this remote corner of South Sudan, close to the border with Uganda.

Working with a purpose, they hope to grow crops at sufficient scale to lift themselves and their community out of a hand-to-mouth existence of grinding poverty in one of the worlds poorest and most conflict-affected countries.

If you dont feel hope, you dont do the work. [But] if you see something in the future, then you run to get it, says returned refugee Mwaka Paul, explaining the energy that ripples through the farm six kilometres down a dirt track south of Magwi Town.

Paul, 33, is a member of the Can-Coya farming community comprising returned refugees and local residents who are on a mission to turn their lives around.

The fast-growing group, whose name means Poverty Keeps Me Awake in Acholi, began cultivating cabbages, tomatoes, pumpkins, bananas and spinach last year on a plot of four acres of gently sloping land bordered by a stream, and this year aim to plant 250 acres.

They started out with 31 members, but this growing season, have grown to 54, half of them returned refugees. They are looking to add maize, groundnuts and onions this time around, and sell their crops in Juba, the nations capital and principal market, where prices are higher.

The idea, says group chairman Odong Anthony, is to work together and eradicate poverty  and stop importing food.

"If you work alone, it's hard. If you join hands, it's easy."

To scale up fast, they need help, Anthony says, and persuading more refugees to return from the diaspora to work alongside them is key. He says word is getting back to the camps in Uganda a few miles across the border, where many acquire useful skills and knowledge.

Our message (to them) is you are welcome, says the 45-year-old, as the group set down their hand tools in a clearing to break for lunch cooked over an open fire. If you work alone, its hard. If you join hands, its easy.

Among recent returnees with specialist skills is Alice Ayo Matata, 30, who learned to grow seedlings in a nursery, harden them off and transplant them. Since coming home a year ago, she is also keen to share her knowledge of animal husbandry and beekeeping with the community, some of whose members forage for wild honey in the nearby forest, using smoke to pacify the bees.

I know how to do it, and I can teach people, she says.

Meanwhile Mwaka, who came back from Uganda in 2010 and has since gained a degree in economics and has studied accountancy, believes his practical knowledge can help the group as it grows.

If we manage to cultivate and have our supplies taken to the market, it needs an accountant. Someone who knows how money is supposed to be kept, how money is supposed to be used, to make good records, he says. That knowledge can help all the cooperative.

Currently, members make the daily trip to the farm from Magwi on foot, by bicycle and motorbike. But they are building a house out of mud bricks in the centre of the plot, to have a presence around the clock, guarding against theft and even raids by monkeys from the forest across the boundary stream.

Returned refugee Mwaka Paul, 33, takes a break from clearing the land for planting.  UNHCR/Tim Gaynor

Odong Anthony stands in a field of corn growing on lands planted by the Can-Coya farming collective, of which he is chairman.  UNHCR/Tim Gaynor

A convoy of UNHCR vehicles drive along a track to land cleared by the Can-Coya farming community.  UNHCR/Tim Gaynor

Odong Anthony digs the soil on land cultivated by the Can-Coya farming collective.  UNHCR/Tim Gaynor

Amid a soundtrack of thrumming insects, birdsong and laughter, is Grace Abalo, a widowed mother of seven children, who returned to South Sudan two months previously. She relishes the energy and sense of a shared purpose.

When I work in a group, I feel that we can get something done, says Grace. It feels good to be home.

There are currently around 2.3 million refugees from South Sudan scattered across five neighboring countries. More than 500,000 refugees have now returned to South Sudan since 2018, some 110,000 of them to Eastern Equatoria State, where the group is based.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is helping those who return voluntarily to live a safe and dignified life through support for peacebuilding, governance and livelihoods in Magwi County and other pockets of hope in the country.

It is currently helping the Can-Coya community to incorporate as a cooperative, and is also providing tractors, assistance with irrigation, hand tools and training to members, to help them transition from subsistence living to a market economy.

While Magwi County is currently largely secure, the country as a whole remains fragile since achieving independence in 2011. It continues to be impacted by outbreaks of deadly inter-communal violence, as well as political challenges and the impacts of climate change.

See also: Displaced women in South Sudan work to hold back floodwaters

Despite the uncertain picture, the project has already delivered tangible gains for the group that its members feel demonstrate that they are moving in the right direction.

Whats exciting is that I can provide for my children. My children are going to school, there is food, I can buy them clothes, get them medical care, says Alice, taking a break from clearing branches. I feel proud to be here and proud to be home, she adds.

"I feel proud to be here and proud to be home."

Anthony himself recognizes the significant challenges that South Sudan faces. But he believes that the farming collective offers a lesson about the benefits of unity that the country as a whole can learn from.

There are different groups coming together (here) from different communities for one goal: production, he says. That is peace in action. Why wait?

This story is part of a series about the "Pockets of Hope" initiative in South Sudan.
Four months and 19 days ago a letter to the editor was submitted criticizing Sen. Sean Ryan for taking too much credit for the suspension of the gas tax. Despite repeated overtures seeking clarification of those claims, the Senator has failed, neglected or refused to respond to this constituent.

Similar concerns on unrelated matters were expressed to Assembly Member Bill Conrad. Unlike the senator, Conrad responded within 24 hours, recognizing their validity.

Instead of acknowledging the error in the earlier communication, a flyer calling for the senators reelection paid for by NY DSSC tells the reader that the senator secured over $1 billion for various law enforcement initiatives. It seems doubtful given the nature of the State Legislature that a single senator could accomplish the equivalent of being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound without massive help from his colleagues.

Since he previously demonstrated with the gas tax the metaphoric ability to bend steel with his bare hands, this legislator could claim to be more powerful than a locomotive all the while fighting for truth, justice and the American way.

Leo Fabrizi

Town of Tonawanda
As someone who lived through the McCarthy Era (Joseph, not Kevin) back in the 1950s, I am startled by how familiar to me is todays political conversation on the issue of sympathy for the victim. For me, this appeal to voters to support a candidate on a pity me basis is deja vu all over again, and brings back sad personal memories of my chance intersection with this chapter of Americas political history.

I grew up in Appleton, Wisc., in the hometown  in fact on the very street  of Sen. Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-Communism campaign dominated American politics in the 1950s, and served to create a strong base of support for his re-election as one of Wisconsins two senators.

McCarthy milked his constituency for their sympathy for the attacks he sustained for his practice of destroying opponents by naming them as Communists, or at least Communist sympathizers, with no proof.

Early in 1950, after a speech in Wheeling, W.Va., accusing the State Department of harboring Communists, McCarthy became a hero for many during the Red Scare. I was the typical ninth grader, oblivious to politics. Our family paid little attention to McCarthys campaign; nevertheless I recall being impressed when told that he had used a wire recorder four years earlier to make notes of his conversations with rural constituents on a route he carefully repeated in 1950 as he played back the notes just before knocking on a given farmhouse door  How is that herd of a hundred cows doing? Did your boy come back home to put his agriculture degree to use on your farm? The new barn you were building when I was here before certainly has upgraded your farm!

I recall my older sister making pin money handwriting postcards that read, Your vote Tuesday will be greatly appreciated by and signed with a great flourish Joseph R. McCarthy. She was proud of the flourish.

My civics teacher encouraged me to take on the special project of reporting on McCarthys speech in his hometown to a mostly devoted crowd of 2,000. As he hurried onto the movie theater stage, dramatically clutching a bunch of telegrams, he muttered that these were a few of the many hate messages sent to him as small thanks for saving his country. From the balcony I heard weeping citizens exclaiming Poor Joe; they should thank him, not attack him!

As he was campaigning for his second term in the Senate, he had already won the loyalty of his fellow Catholics for providing flags to their parochial schools  flags that had been run up and down in one day over the U.S. Capitol.

Even as a 15-year-old I sensed the theatricality of McCarthys campaign. He relied on hearsay and guilt by association to name as reds respected citizens, including Nathan Pusey  president of Appletons Lawrence College, soon to become president of Harvard  and our neighbor Mr. Jacobson, a Jewish lawyer aligned with the anti-McCarthy faction.

The Senator listed him, and soon his family suffered rocks and trash thrown at the house, crank phone calls, and even a campaign against his daughter  my friend and classmate  who left school in tears one day after her locker was defaced and she suffered catcalls in the hall. One night in the wee hours, a moving van packed them up and they were gone by dawn.

The report I handed in was primarily an eyewitness report, aiming for objective journalism. As a young teen, I was barely aware that I had just witnessed the cruelty of narcissistic propaganda.
October 27 2022

A failed shopping centre in Kirkcaldy is to be bulldozed as part of a 50m vision to deliver 300 town centre apartments.

The Kirkcaldy Centre, now owned by property development firm Evergold, closed last summer after 40 years of trading and demolition of the three-acre site has already been approved.

Purchased in 2019 for 320k the site will be sold to another developer following its demolition for the delivery of a series of apartment blocks, landscaped walkways and public spaces.

Evergold director Tahir Ali said: "Our redevelopment in the heart of Kirkcaldy should help attract other investors to progress their own plans for restaurants, more national chains, cinemas, hotels and other potential developments. These will help revitalise and regenerate the town centre and attract more people back to the area.

Initial plans for expanded retail and leisure offerings were dashed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which Ali acknowledges has irrevocably undermined the value of large-format retail.
London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) :Northern Ireland on Thursday appeared headed for a second election this year, after UK government efforts to resolve months of political stalemate over its post-Brexit status failed to secure a breakthrough.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Britain's Northern Ireland minister, has been holding talks with the political parties in a fresh bid to get them to form a new executive.

If no agreement is reached by Friday, London will be legally required to call early elections for the devolved assembly in the volatile province.

Heaton-Harris spoke to party leaders in Belfast on Wednesday "to reiterate the importance of restoring the Northern Ireland executive", a government statement said.

"If the executive is not formed by 28 October, I will call an election," the minister said.

"Time is running out," he added. "People deserve an accountable devolved government." Northern Ireland has been without a functioning government since February, when the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) collapsed the executive over its staunch opposition to post-Brexit trade rules there.

It wants the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol -- agreed by London and Brussels as part of Britain's 2019 Brexit deal -- overhauled or scrapped entirely. They say it weakens the province's place within the United Kingdom.

Many unionists also argue the pact is threatening the delicate balance of peace between the pro-Irish nationalist community and those in favour of continued union with Britain.

The Brexit measures -- which effectively keep Northern Ireland in the European Union's single market and customs union -- were agreed to avoid the return of a hard land border with the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, which remains an EU member.

Eliminating that hard border was a key strand of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

- Sinn Fein appeal - Pro-Irish party Sinn Fein scored a historic first electoral 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 away the debris of the protocol". An election would do little to resolve the standoff, he said.

"I don't think it helps us to get any quicker towards the solution that we need or to get the political institutions back up and running," he added.

Donaldson noted the party was nonetheless ready to contest a fresh ballot.

Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill, who is set to become Northern Ireland's first minister if the executive can be restarted, 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 into people's pockets," she tweeted on Wednesday.

Britain's Conservative government, which has been wracked by turmoil and had three prime ministers in two months, has urged Brussels to revise the protocol and is passing contentious legislation to rip it up.

Britain has previously threated to unilaterally modify the protocol.

That has sparked fears of a trade war and worsening relations with Europe, when the economic landscape is already gloomy.

- 'Strong relationship' - Northern Ireland's political impasse was discussed in a phone call on Wednesday between Irish premier Micheal Martin and the new British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who only took office the previous day.

The two leaders "agreed on the vital importance of a strong relationship between the UK and Ireland", Downing Street said.

On the Northern Ireland Protocol, Sunak stressed that he would prefer "a negotiated outcome and hoped all parties would approach the current challenges with pragmatism and goodwill", his office said.

The British premier tweeted that he discussed with Martin "how the UK and Ireland as close neighbours and friends can work together in the coming months".

Sunak also spoke by phone to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who said on Twitter that she hopes to find "joint solutions under the protocol... that will provide stability and predictability".
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COLOMBO, Oct. 27 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) --:The Sri Lankan government said on Thursday that the cabinet of ministers had approved an aviation pact with the Netherlands on initiating direct flights between the two countries in order to boost tourism.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said its Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva made a proposal earlier this week to sign a bilateral aviation agreement with the government of the Netherlands, and the cabinet agreed to it.

The agreement would facilitate Sri Lanka and the Netherlands to commence direct flights and would be a boost for tourism, trade and investment between the two nations, the minister said in his proposal.
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Port Vila, Vanuatu, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) :Gloria Julia King, the first woman elected to the Vanuatu parliament in 14 years, said entering the male-dominated house shows that times have changed in the Pacific nation.

King based her campaign around creating more opportunities for women in a country where gender violence is common and they have long been disadvantaged in employment and education.

She will join the 52-member national legislature when it next sits on November 4.

"I am very honoured to be the one voice representing the women of Vanuatu ... to table their concerns in parliament," King said.

"Coming from a very traditional background, I think the main challenge was getting everyone to accept ... that time has changed," King told AFP.
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Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2022 ) :Russia's invasion of Ukraine highlights the "acute threat" posed by Moscow, but China is the most consequential challenge for the United States, the Pentagon said Thursday.

The dangers are both conventional -- Moscow's aggression toward its neighbors and Beijing's efforts to gain control of Taiwan -- and nuclear, with Russia possessing an extensive arsenal and China's stocks of atomic weapons growing fast.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin highlighted the different challenges posed by China and Russia as he unveiled the unclassified versions of several military strategy documents.

China "is the only competitor out there with both the intent to reshape the international order, and increasingly the power to do so," Austin said.

"Unlike China, Russia can't systemically challenge the United States over the long term. But Russian aggression does pose an immediate and sharp threat." The National Defense Strategy, which was released Thursday, likewise places the Primary emphasis on China.

Beijing is seeking to "refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences," it says, describing this dynamic as "the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security." The strategy says Chinese rhetoric about and "coercive activity" toward self-ruled Taiwan -- which Beijing has vowed to take control of, by force if necessary -- is a destabilizing factor that risks miscalculation and threatens peace in the area.

As for Russia, it says the "acute threat" posed by Moscow has been most recently demonstrated by Moscow's February invasion of Ukraine.

- 'Emerging threat' of climate change - "The Department (of Defense) will support robust deterrence of Russian aggression against vital US national interests, including our treaty Allies," the strategy says.

In a departure from the previous National Defense Strategy, which was issued during Donald Trump's presidency, the newly released document classifies climate change as an "emerging threat." The US "will integrate climate change into threat assessments," as well as increasing the "resiliency of military installations" and taking "climate extremes" into account in decisions on training and equipping the armed forces, the strategy says.

In an updated report on US nuclear posture released in parallel with the National Defense Strategy, the Pentagon defines the role of its nuclear arsenal as deterring both nuclear and non-nuclear attacks that have strategic consequences.

"This includes nuclear employment of any scale, and it includes high-consequence attacks of a strategic nature that use non-nuclear means," a senior defense official told journalists.

The Nuclear Posture Review emphasizes that China's nuclear arsenal is growing, but says Russia's is currently more extensive.

- Warning to North Korea - "By the 2030s the United States will, for the first time in its history, face two major nuclear powers as strategic competitors and potential adversaries," the document says.

It emphasizes the importance of modernizing US strategic assets, while scrapping a submarine-launched nuclear cruise missile program and saying a type of obsolete nuclear bomb will be retired.

The document also contains a stark warning for Kim Jong Un against employing North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal.

"Any nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies and partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of that regime. There is no scenario in which the Kim regime could employ nuclear weapons and survive," it says.

The Missile Defense Review -- also released Thursday -- likewise points to growing threats from China and Russia.

Beijing is closing the gap with Washington when it comes to ballistic and hypersonic missile technology, while Moscow is modernizing its intercontinental-range missile systems and developing advanced precision-strike missiles.

The document says drones -- which Russia has used to strike against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure -- are also a threat that is likely to grow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile offered a distinctly different take on the international strategic environment Thursday, saying Moscow is trying to "defend its right to exist" in the face of Western efforts to "destroy" his country.

"Ahead is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time important decade since the end of the Second World War," he said.
Argentina to provide technical assistance for increasing the production of milk and dairy products and preparation of livestock vaccines in Sindh

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2022 ) :Argentina to provide technical assistance for increasing the production of milk and dairy products and preparation of livestock vaccines in Sindh.

It was agreed in a meeting between Sindh Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Abdul Bari Patafi and Ambassador of Argentina, Leopoldo Francisco Sahores in a meeting here Wednesday. Secretary Livestock and Fisheries Tamizuddin Khero and Director General Livestock Dr. Nazir Kalhoro were also present on this occasion.

The Argentinean envoy expressed his desire to work together with the Sindh Livestock department for preparation of vaccines in Sindh. He also assured to provide technical assistance for increasing production of milk and dairy products in Sindh.

The provincial minister informed the visiting envoy that 68 types of vaccines were currently being prepared locally by the Livestock Department while the lumpy skin vaccine was in the final stages of preparation.

He said that island was an excellent choice for preparation of vaccine under the international virus protocol while Sindh province had islands to set up such a facility. Khapriyanwala Island would be a suitable choice for Biosafety Lab-3 where vaccines for various animal diseases can be developed without any possible biological harm as per international best practices, he added.

Production of vaccines at the local level will help meeting requirements of the country while additional doses of vaccines could be provided to the neighbouring countries as well, Pitafi said.

They also agreed to work together in the field of information exchange and research for the development of the livestock sector.
FILE PHOTO: A man walks past the sign of "Google for India", the company's annual technology event in New Delhi

By Praveen Paramasivam and Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Alphabet Inc's Google should not restrict app developers from using third-party billing or payment processing services in India, the country's antitrust body said on Tuesday, as it fined the U.S. giant $113 million for anti-competitive practices.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) said Google used its "dominant position" to force app developers to use its in-app payment system, noting the sale of in-app digital goods is a key means for developers to monetize their work.

The CCI's move is the latest setback for Google in one of its priority markets, where it was fined another $162 million by the watchdog on Thursday for anticompetitive practices related to its Android operating system, and was asked to change its approach to its Android platform.

A Google spokesperson said, "By keeping costs low, our model has powered India's 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 the next steps."

The U.S. giant can appeal the orders in an Indian tribunal.

Google also was asked to adopt 8 remedies or operations adjustments within three months, including not restricting "app developers from using any third-party billing/ payment processing services, either for in-app purchases or for purchasing apps," the 199-page CCI order said.

Google should ensure complete transparency in communicating with app developers and details about service fees charged, the CCI added.

The order would come as a major relief for Indian startups and smaller companies that have long objected to Google's policy of imposing use of its own payments system on app developers.

The investigation into Google's payment ecosystem was started in 2020, after an antitrust case was filed against Google. The watchdog kept the identity of the complainant confidential on his request.

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Naval Chopra, an antitrust partner at India's Shardul Amarchand law firm which represented that complainant, told Reuters on Tuesday that CCI's order will help ensure healthy competition and reduce costs for app developers.

"The CCI order directing Google to allow alternate payment processing systems will remove the artificial barrier that Google had erected," Chopra said, declining to disclose the name of the complainant for whom he had filed the case.

The search engine giant is also facing a separate probe into its business conduct in the Indian smart TV market.

It had called CCI's Thursday move "a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses", adding it will review the order and decide on its next steps.

Google has faced criticism globally, including in South Korea, for mandating software developers using its app store to use a proprietary in-app payment system that charge commissions of up to 30% on purchases made within an app. Of late, Google has begun to allow alternative payment systems in more countries.

Google's Android operating system powers 97% of India's 600 million smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research.

(Reporting by Aditya Kalra, Chris Thomas, Praveen Paramasivam and Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru, Editing by Louise Heavens, Bernadette Baum and Kim Coghill)
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ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) :The funeral prayer of slain journalist Arshad Sharif was offered here at Faisal Mosque on Thursday.

His body will be buried at the H-11 cemetery in the capital later.

Some 3,792 security personnel were deputed for the security.

Sharif's body was handed over to his family at Islamabad International Airport on Wednesday, where he received a heroic greeting from FC staff and a sizable police detachment. The dead body was received by the deceased's relatives, friends, and well-wishers at the airport. The corpse was then moved to a morgue at PIMS Hospital Islamabad.

The contingents of Sindh police and the FC also supported the Islamabad police troops who had already been deployed at the place.

The security plans were majorly overseen by three superintendents of police (SPs), five assistant superintendents of police (ASPs), and deputy superintendents of police (DSPs).

Additionally, 1010 constables and 6 inspectors were stationed for security around Faisal Mosque. 204 members of the Sindh police and 2,500 members of the FC also accompanied them.

An eight-member medical board from the PIMS hospital performed a postmortem on his body at the hospital as per the family's request. The team also comprised an OMFS surgeon and an ENT surgeon.

His body was also subjected to an X-ray and a CT scan at the hospital by the PIMS medical board.
BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) :Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's upcoming visit to China will inject new impetus into bilateral relations and encourage new progress on friendly bilateral cooperation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan will pay a state visit to China from Nov. 2 to 4.

Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that President Hassan will be the first African head of state to be hosted by China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Noting that Tanzania is an important country in East Africa and China and Tanzania enjoy a traditional friendship, Mao said the two countries have deepened political mutual trust, cooperated pragmatically with fruitful results, and have maintained good cooperation on international and regional affairs in recent years.

The principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith put forward by President Xi during his visit to Tanzania in 2013 has now become the fundamental principle guiding the cooperation between China and other developing countries, Mao added.

During President Hassan's visit, President Xi will hold a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet, and the two heads of state will hold talks and jointly attend a ceremony for the signing of cooperation documents, according to the spokesperson.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet President Hassan respectively, Mao said.

"We believe President Hassan's visit will inject new impetus into the comprehensive and profound development of China-Tanzania relations and make new progress in bilateral friendship and cooperation," said the spokesperson.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2022 ) :US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome on Thursday announced an additional US$30 million in humanitarian assistance to support flood-affected populations in Pakistan.

Ambassador Blome made the announcement during a visit with USAID's implementing partner, ACTED, in the Shikarpur district of Sindh, where he helped to distribute emergency shelter, latrines and hygiene kits among flood-affected people.

The Ambassador also traveled to Makhno village, where the flood-affected community uses USG emergency shelter kits as temporary housing. He talked with flood victims to learn about the impact of the flooding and understand their needs.

This new funding brings the United States' total assistance to Pakistan for flood response, food security and disaster preparedness and capacity-building efforts to $97 million this year, said a statement issued here by the U.

S. Embassy in Islamabad.

The new funding will expand efforts to address immediate needs, scaling up assistance to the most affected communities and enabling USAID to reach more than 4 million people. With the additional funding, the U.S. government, through USAID, will provide life-saving food, nutrition, and health assistance to mitigate increased food insecurity and malnutrition resulting from the impact of the floods, as well as curb the rise of diseases resulting from stagnant flood waters.

The new funding will also provide shelter supplies to help families rebuild as well as winterization kits to help families prepare ahead of cold weather. As the women and girls are disproportionately impacted by natural disasters, like flooding, the United States is providing increased protection support to prevent gender-based violence as well as provide support for survivors.
Any attack by Russia against US commercial satellites would be met with an appropriate response, White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Any attack by Russia against US commercial satellites would be met with an appropriate response, White House Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday.

"I would just say that any attack on US infrastructure will be met with a response and it'll be met with a response appropriate to the threat that's posed to our infrastructure," Kirby said after Russia warned US "quasi-civilian" infrastructure used in the Ukraine conflict could become a legitimate target for a strike.

He added that Washington is also concerned that Russia may seek to acquire advanced conventional weapons from Iranians, including surface-to-surface missiles.

"And that would, of course, almost certainly be used to support their war in Ukraine," Kirby said.

On Wednesday, deputy head of the Russian delegation to the UN General Assembly First Committee, Konstantin Vorontsov, said that the United States and its allies use civilian infrastructure in space in armed conflicts. He referred to the Ukraine crisis, specifically.

The official warned that "quasi-civilian" infrastructure could become a legitimate target for a strike.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that Russia, unlike China, cannot systemically challenge the United States in the longer term, but it does pose an immediate threat to US interests

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that Russia, unlike China, cannot systemically challenge the United States in the longer term, but it does pose an immediate threat to US interests.

"Unlike China, Russia cannot systemically challenge the United States over the long term, but Russian aggression does pose an immediate and sharp threat to our interests and values," Austin said during a press conference to announce the rollout of the new US National Defense Strategy.
BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) China has called on Japan to speed up the process of eliminating the chemical weapons it left in China during World War II, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said on Thursday.

Earlier in October, the 101st session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) approved a plan for the elimination of Japanese chemical weapons left in China.

"The Chinese side urges Japan to fully implement the plan for the elimination of chemical weapons left behind in China after 2022, to fulfill its political and legal obligations to the international community and China, to increase investment and accelerate this process, and to eliminate the danger which these chemical weapons represent, as soon as possible," Tan told a briefing, adding that the liquidation process is now seriously lagging behind schedule.

The approval of the plan by the OPCW Executive Council demonstrates the international community's increased attention and support regarding the issue, he added.

During World War II, Japan left about two million tons of munitions, including chemical ones, in the three northeastern Chinese provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, and Heilongjiang.

In 1999, the countries signed an agreement under which Tokyo had to remove all weapons by June 2007. Later, at the request of the Japanese government, this period was extended, since Japan was unable to meet the deadline specified by the convention.
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MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) The government of Belarus has terminated two agreements with the European Union on financing under a decree published on Thursday.

"Based on Article 44 of the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated July 23, 2008, No.

421-Z 'On International Agreements of the Republic of Belarus', the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus decides to terminate: the Financing Agreement signed in Minsk on April 5, 2018; the Financing Agreement, signed in Minsk on July 6, 2020," the decree, dated October 25, published on the national legal portal said.

The document goes into force from the date of its adoption.

According to agreements between the parties, funds were allocated to support entrepreneurship, economic development in Belarus, and the implementation of a program on regional investment and competitiveness.
The volume of exports from Italy to Russia in the first nine months of 2022 decreased by 22%, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) said on Wednesday

ROME (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th October, 2022) The volume of exports from Italy to Russia in the first nine months of 2022 decreased by 22%, the Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) said on Wednesday.

In September, exports to Russia fell by 34.8% compared to the same period last year, a statement added.

At the same time, Italy's general trade turnover with non-EU countries has increased, both in terms of exports (5.9%) and imports (0.3%), over the past month. On an annualized basis, exports grew 26.9% and imports 62.3%, the statement read.

The rise in exports was driven by supplies of energy carriers and non-durable consumer goods, Istat said, adding that energy resources also have a large share in imports.

According to the statement, exports of Italian goods and services increased by 49.7% to Turkey, by 48.5% to the United States, and by 35.1% to ASEAN countries.

In September 2022, the trade balance with non-EU countries showed a deficit of 5.4 billion Euros ($5.4 billion) compared to a surplus of 1 billion euros in September 2021. Excluding energy, the surplus was 6.6 billion euros, compared to a surplus of 5 billion euros in September 2021, Istat said.
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The German government considers that the explosions on Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines affected the entire network, despite Russia saying that one of the pipelines remained unaffected, German magazine Spiegel reported on Thursday, citing a cabinet response to a lawmaker inquiry

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) The German government considers that the explosions on Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines affected the entire network, despite Russia saying that one of the pipelines remained unaffected, German magazine Spiegel reported on Thursday, citing a cabinet response to a lawmaker inquiry.

In mid-October, Gazprom chief Alexey Miller said that the second pipeline of Nord Stream 2 could be slightly damaged, but there was definitely no gas leaks on it.

Spiegel said that the deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, Leif-Erik Holm, sent an inquiry to the German cabinet.

"It is very likely that the act of sabotage with strong explosions had a negative impact on both pipelines, and therefore basic technical readiness is no longer ensured," the government said in response, as quoted by the magazine.

In addition, the cabinet recalled that Nord Stream 2 had not received the necessary certification and would not be able to operate even if fit to function.

In late September, leaks of fuel were registered on the pipelines of the Nord Stream network in the Baltic Sea. The Swedish and Danish authorities suspect that the incident was the result of sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office is investigating the incidents as acts of international terrorism.
Baghdad is in favor of reforming the UN and the Security Council, Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammed Bahr Aluloom told Sputnik on the sidelines of the IAEA ministerial on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Baghdad is in favor of reforming the UN and the Security Council, Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations Mohammed Bahr Aluloom told Sputnik on the sidelines of the IAEA ministerial on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested on Thursday changing the structure of the United Nations and the UN Security Council to reflect the world's diversity.

"We support any reform, we support any reform at the United Nations and the Security Council," Aluloom said when asked about Putin's proposal.
Calibre Mining Corp.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) (Calibre or the Company) is pleased to announce that, further to its press release dated October 25, 2022, following discussions with its advisors relating to the sanctions imposed on the Nicaraguan General Directorate of Mines by the United States Treasury Department on October 24, 2022 (the Sanctions) and an internal review of its current and future planned operations, the Company confirms that the Sanctions do not have a material impact on its Nicaraguan operations. The Libertad and Limon complexes are operating to plan, and the Company is on track to meet our 2022 consolidated annual production guidance of 220,000  235,000 ounces gold.

Calibre reiterates its commitment to its assets in Nicaragua, and particularly to its employees and host communities. Calibre operates these assets in a way that is protective of people, respectful of cultural heritage and that contributes to economic development, while acting as a steward of the natural environment. The Company will continue to strive to deliver sustainable value for all stakeholders through responsible operations and a disciplined approach to growth.

Calibre will continue to monitor its operations with the assistance of its advisors to ensure that the Company continues to comply with all relevant laws and regulations, including any sanctions that may result from Executive Order 13851, as well as international standards and best practices.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Darren Hall

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.

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking statements) 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. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks, and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibres control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibres 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 Calibres forward-looking statements such as potential sanctions implemented as a result of the United States Executive Order 13851 dated October 24, 2022.

Calibres 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 managements 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.




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Baghdad views the OPEC+ oil production cuts as a purely technical decision, and sees the current market price as suitable, Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Mohammed Bahr Aluloom told Sputnik on Thursday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Baghdad views the OPEC+ oil production cuts as a purely technical decision, and sees the current market price as suitable, Iraqi Ambassador to the UN Mohammed Bahr Aluloom told Sputnik on Thursday.

"Our oil minister was in Washington last week.

So the message he delivered on Iraq voting for this point is really a technical reason, not a political reason behind it," Aluloom said at the IAEA ministerial in Washington. "That is why we are committed to keep the market at this level and with it, the level of protection to give all the nations the benefits of the oil market."

The envoy also said the pricing level these days "is suitable for our situation."
A man has been seriously injured in a shooting outside the Russian Embassy in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, national police spokesman Paul Nyathi said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) A man has been seriously injured in a shooting outside the Russian Embassy in the capital of Zimbabwe, Harare, national police spokesman Paul Nyathi said on Thursday.

"We confirm that there has been a shooting incident at Russian Embassy where a suspect approached a policeman on duty and as a result there was a shooting incident," Assistant Commissioner Nyathi was quoted by The Herald newspaper as saying.

Nyathi said that the incident occurred on Wednesday at 19:20 local time (17:20 GMT), adding that the 24-year-old suspect was taken to the Parirenyatwa General Hospital.

Police have launched an investigation into the reasons for the shooting and why the man turned to the police officer, Nyathi noted.

Sputnik has not yet received a comment from the embassy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had sided with Chisinau during its disagreements with Gazprom, and the gas contract was signed on the terms of Moldovan authorities

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he had sided with Chisinau during its disagreements with Gazprom, and the gas contract was signed on the terms of Moldovan authorities.

"The Moldovan side did not agree with the position of Gazprom and insisted on price preferences.

Gazprom was against it. Then (Gazprom CEO Alexey) Miller came to me, stated his position and declared that he considered his point of view to be correct. I asked him to meet the needs of the Moldovan side, referring to the economic opportunities and financial possibilities of the Moldovan state," Putin said at the Valdai discussion club.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that destroying the pan-European gas pipelines by the West was "outrageous."

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that destroying the pan-European gas pipelines by the West was "outrageous."

"The destruction (by the West) of pan-European gas pipelines is an outrageous thing. Nevertheless, we are witnessing these sad events," Putin said at a plenary session of the 19th annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th October, 2022) Uganda is taking a close look at energy sources in Africa amid the global oil crisis in addition to developing its own petroleum, Energy Minister Okaasai Sidronius Opolot told Sputnik on Thursday.

"We're looking more into African sources and suppliers of energy sources. For example, we're developing our own petroleum," Opolot said when asked about the possible impact of the G7 plan to impose a price cap on Russian oil.

He said the price cap deal is for Western Europe, not for African countries. He said Uganda, for one, does not rely so much on Russian oil.

Opolot also said Uganda has diverse sources of energy, including solar, thermal, and wind.

"We're not limited in energy sources. And you know, Uganda is... right along the equator. So we are not scared that this winter is going to be severe," he said. "We always have our temperatures at about 25-30 (Celsius). So that makes us comfortable."

Opolot spoke on the sidelines of the the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear power in the 21st century being held in Washington, DC from October 26-28.
(@FahadShabbir)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th October, 2022) Uganda is looking at the technology of Russia as well as other countries for constructing its first nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Okaasai Sidronius Opolot told Sputnik on Thursday.

"We're looking at what technologies that Russia has, but we're also looking across the globe. We're not always saying we're going to move along with Russia," Opolot said. "Whoever gives us a better offer, we shall take it. And it also had to be approved appropriately for our operations for development at national level."

Opolot said Uganda is looking at the United States, China, and Canada for their technologies and expertise.

Uganda expects its first nuclear plant will be operational in 2031, he added.

"It means the construction has to start before that. In 2028 -2030, we should be getting down the construction of our first nuclear plant," the minister said.

Opolot said he cannot comment on if any discussions are currently going on between Russia and Uganda.

"But we are open, we remain open," he said.

Opolot spoke on the sidelines of the the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear power in the 21st century being held in Washington, DC from October 26-28.
UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) The UN Security Council members should continue consultations to reach an agreement over whether the United Nations Secretariat has a mandate investigate Russia's alleged use of Iranian drones in Ukraine, Chinese Deputy Permanent Representative to the world body Geng Shuang said.

"Faced with clear differences, the Council members should continue consultations to strive to define clearly how the Secretariat should carry out its mandate and avoid hasty action that would undermine the unity of the Council," Shuang said on Wednesday.

Last week, leading members of the collective West requested the United Nations Secretariat to conduct an investigation into Iran allegedly supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the allegations in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Nebenzia also criticized the Secretariat for siding with the West and noted that the latter has no legal mandate to conduct an investigation.

Russia has requested Wednesday's UN Security Council meeting at the beginning of the week in order to to clarify the UN Charter. Upon Russia's request, the UN Legal Department also briefed the Security Council member states.

Nevertheless, the United Nations representative did not specifically answer on whether the Western states have the legal right to request the United Nations Secretariat to undertake an investigation.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) A law allowing adults to use and cultivate cannabis for recreational purposes could go into effect in Germany in two years, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced Wednesday.

Germany legalized medical marijuana five years ago but the new proposal of the left-green coalition government may add it to a short list of countries where pot smoking is legal.

Lauterbach did not provide a clear-cut timeline for the adoption of the draft legislation, arguing there were more pressing issues at hand. But he said that "if everything goes well, I could imagine it becoming legal in 2024."

Some four million people admitted to having smoked marijuana in the past year, a quarter of them underage consumers, according to the ministry.

Lauterbach said he had been opposed to legalization, but a "flourishing black market" with associated criminality and a rise in the production of stronger cannabis convinced him that a new law would deliver better youth protections.

The German government on Wednesday published the draft law to legalize cannabis for further submission to the European Commission for consideration.

"The Federal Government would like to allow the controlled sale of cannabis to adults for personal consumption, with an emphasis on protecting youth and health. For this purpose, the cabinet has approved the draft document that contains the key conditions and should become the basis of a future bill," the cabinet said on the website.

The draft law will permit possession of between 20 and 30 grams of dried cannabis leaf. Production will be restricted to Germany and distribution will only be allowed in licensed shops and drugstores, with adults allowed to grow up to three cannabis plants.

According to the draft law, each shop will have to verify the age of consumers before selling cannabis. Licensed suppliers and producers will have to be under strict supervision to limit the influence of organized drug crime and the black market. Advertising of cannabis will be strictly prohibited. The government also proposed that minors will not be legally punished for using drugs, but will be required to participate in prevention programs, for example.

Lauterbach suggested that a cap on the maximum strength of the psychoactive substance THC in cannabis products was also being considered.

Germany will submit key points of the draft to the European Commission for a pre-evaluation and expects a quick response, the minister said. The EU executive has the power to torpedo the plan.

"If this law comes it will be, on the one hand, the most liberal cannabis legalization project in Europe and, on the other, the most strictly-controlled market in terms of decriminalization and youth protection," he said.

According to a poll held by the Civey polling institute for the Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper in November 2021, 43% of Germans supported the legalization of cannabis, 43% opposed the idea, while 14% said they were not sure.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 27th October, 2022) The United States and its allies are now trying to destabilize the situation on territories bordering Afghanistan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Oleg Syromolotov has told Sputnik.

"Now, the United States and its allies continue to play their geopolitical games, carefully contributing to the destabilization of the situation both in Afghanistan and on the territories bordering it," Syromolotov said.

He added that this is a "demonstration of the not exactly unknown concept of 'controlled chaos' in action."
ANKARA, Turkey (AP)  Turkish authorities placed the president of the Turkish Medical Association under arrest on terrorist propaganda charges Thursday after she called for an investigation into allegations that the Turkish military used chemical weapons against Kurdish militants.

A court ordered Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanci, 63, jailed pending a trial on charges of disseminating propaganda in favor of a terrorist organization, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Fincanci was detained Wednesday in Istanbul following a raid at her home and brought to Ankara for questioning. A trial date is expected to be set after prosecutors prepare an indictment.

The 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.

Both the Turkish Medical Association and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey have called for her release.

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.

Fincanci gave an interview to a pro-Kurdish news outlet in which she called for an effective investigation into the allegations and said she had inspected a video purporting to show the use of chemical weapons. Turkish authorities maintain the outlet is linked to the PKK.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused her of slandering Turkeys armed forces and of insulting her country. He vowed to take actions to clear the Turkish Medical Association and other professional organizations of supporters of the terrorist organization.

A nationalist party that is allied with Erdogans ruling party, demanded that she be stripped of her Turkish citizenship and for her association to be shut down.

During her questioning by police and court officials, the doctor rejected accusations of engaging in propaganda on behalf of Kurdish militants, HaberTurk television reported. She also told interrogators she was not aware of any links between the pro-Kurdish media outlet and 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.

The Associated Press
At least 26 people were injured and an international airport was shut after a powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked northern Philippines.

The quake struck 9km northwest of Lagayan town in the landlocked Abra province at a depth of 11km on Tuesday night, followed by numerous aftershocks till the next morning.

It was set off by movement in a local fault, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Tremors were felt across the northern Luzon region, including in some parts of metropolitan Manila, located over 400km south of Abra province.

In Ilocos Norte, the home province of president Ferdinand Marcos Jr, at least 26 were injured in the earthquake. The international airport in the capital city of Laoag was ordered to close temporarily due to damage from the quake, civil aviation officials said.

In Ilocos Nortes Batac city, patients were forced to spend most of the night outside after parts of the province's largest government hospital collapsed on several rooms and damaged equipment.

Medical consultation services were temporarily suspended as engineers assessed damage to the building, officials said.

We hid under a table and my family only went out of the house after the shaking stopped, Ron Sequerra, a rescuer in Abra told AFP.

A man walks beside a damaged wall after a strong earthquake at Ilocos Norte, Northern Philippines (AP)

The president, who was in Manila, said authorities are inspecting damage to roads and buildings, while welfare officials were providing help to affected residents. Everyone is advised to keep out of tall structures, Mr Marcos Jr said in a tweet.

People are asking for tents, and the reason why is they are afraid of going back to their houses because of the aftershocks, which could collapse their houses with the foundations weakened, the president told reporters.

Several old churches in Abra and Ilocos Norte sustained damage.

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.

Matthew Manotoc, the governor of Ilocos Norte, declared a school holiday and asked government workers not to report for work as authorities inspected the integrity of buildings.

Story continues

At least two towns in Cagayan province were without electricity for a short period of time due to damaged power lines. A number of bridges and roads in outlying provinces were damaged, according to the Associated Press.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire and has witnessed some of the most severe earthquakes in the world.

In July this year, a seven-magnitude earthquake set off landslides, killing at least five people and injuring dozens in Abra and other northern provinces.

In 1990, a magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines and wrought extensive damage.
Next Tuesday, 1 November, Pope Francis is scheduled to hold a virtual synodal dialogue with Africas young people from Catholic institutions of higher learning.

Paul Samasumo - Vatican City.

The young people from some of Africas Catholic Universities will engage in a synodal conversation with Pope Francis.

An African network for students

During the virtual synodal encounter between Pope Francis and students, the Holy Father is expected to speak about the challenges facing Africas young people and give guidance. The students, in turn, will share their experiences in an unfiltered manner.

According to the organisers, nine questions have been identified. The questions highlight some key challenges that young people, in Africa, face.

Speaking to ACI Africa ahead of the encounter, Fr. Emmanuel Bueya of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN), which is organising the virtual event, said that the engagement between the Pope and the African students would also be an opportunity for them to form a network that tackles some of their ideas.

Not an opportunity for lamenting

Countering some perceptions, Fr Bueya told ACI Africa that the meeting with the Pope would not an occasion to lament about the continent's difficulties.

Even though we face many challenges in Africa, our goal in this dialogue with Pope Francis is not to complain to the Holy Father. Of course, the students will share with him the situation of the continent, ask him to listen to specific challenges in various African countries, but most importantly, the goal will be to beg him to accompany the young people in their daily struggles in Africa, Fr. Bueya said.

Fr Bueya echoed the words of the Nigerian Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah. The eloquent Nigerian prelate urged African students to see their participation in the virtual Synod on Synodality with the Pope as a time for revelation and not a moment to lament. This should not be a time for lamentation but a time for revelation, Bishop Kukah said.

In part, the idea is also to engage African university students in the life of the Church and society.

Building bridges across Africa

Billed as Building Bridges Across Africa: A Synodal Encounter Between Pope Francis and University Students, PACTPAN indicated that some African Bishops have also been invited to join the dialogue along with participants from Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Zambia.
On the sidelines of the Caritas-sponsored 'Women in Leadership' conference in Paris, the CEO of Trocaire, Caoimhe de Barra, says that though women worldwide face discrimination, change can happen and long-standing societal concepts can slowly but surely be dismantled.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov and Francesca Merlo

"Change can happen," says Trocaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra, to advance qualified women in leadership, but it is necessary to realize that the challenges women face are great, and that long-standing societal concepts must be broken down.

This was the observation which the Irish NGO's female Chief Executive Officer told Vatican News' Francesca Merlo in an interview on the sidelines of the conference taking place in Paris entitled "The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society," on 27-28 October.

The two-day event was organized by Caritas Internationalis, in partnership with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNESCO.

Trocaire: the Irish member of Caritas Internationalis

Trocaire is the Church in Ireland's overseas development agency, operating in up to 20 of the world's most fragile countries..

The Irish member of the Caritas Internationalis federation, Trocaire, last year alone, brought support and relief to 1.8 million people living in poverty, conflict and injustice.

Discrimination, even where greatest equality

Asked about her view of the current realities facing the equality of women in the workplace in particular, and in leadership, the CEO responded candidly.



At present, all around the world, even in the countries with the highest degree of equality, women face discrimination in all walks of life, whether that is in the workplace, whether that is in public policy and participation in politics or in any facet that you can imagine.

Exacerbated in low-income countries

She noted that this phenomenon is exacerbated depending on where one looks.

Imagine how much more difficult it is for women in low income countries to achieve things like being elected as a female member of parliament, being a director of a company, being even safely able to stand up and say she wants to represent your community locally. The challenges that women face are immense.

Society rooted in mistaken concepts

Asked why, she said: "It is essentially because our societies are rooted in a concept of what it means to be male and what it means to be female and what men can do and should do and women can and should do."



"These social norms," he said, "effectively determine the space that women have to safely decide to step out and to challenge what society expects of them."

"Very often when women do step out of their prescribed roles, they face discrimination, they may face violence, they face barriers, such as the fact that there is nobody else to do the child care," said Ms. de Barra. "If a woman wants to go out to work or even to put herself forward for a politically representative role. So it is because that we in society tolerate these norms, that change is not happening now."

Change can happen

Change can happen. And here at the conference organised by Caritas, we are talking a lot about how we as Caritas members can work over time to change what people believe, their attitudes, their knowledge and their skills, so that women are freer to safely lead in any society worldwide.

She responded to some ways to break down these barriers.

Since various "faith leaders are influential people to whom others look for direction," she suggested that this ongoing conversation they, as a faith-based organization, maintain among them "can be a useful instrument in advancing change, and adjusting mentalities."



Evidenced-based strategies can achieve awareness



"Ordinary community members asking each other to think about what it means to hold views that men and women are different and should behave in different ways and how things could be done differently and done better."



"Ultimately, by using evidence based strategies that are locally and contextually appropriate," she explained, "we can achieve huge change both in areas like reduction of gender-based violence, but also in other realms like enabling women to play bigger roles in the societies that they live in, roles as decision makers, as policymakers."

This is to the benefit of all but above and beyond all of that, it is women's rights. Everybody has the right to be able to do as they wish to do in terms of public representation, engagement in the workforce or whatever that may be.

Need to critically analyse

"In all parts of our societies," Ms. de Barra said, "we need to have more women in leadership roles and we need to critically analyze what are the barriers that stop women participating at senior levels, whether it's in a corporate function or whether it's in a faith-based organisation or any institution."



By properly examining the barriers, she said, they can often be dismantled.
The Cardinal and Bishop delegates, along with priests, religious and lay people attending the General Conference of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, went on pilgrimage on Thursday to explore Thailands Catholic and social history.

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp - Bangkok

The Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) has been holding its General Conference in Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center of Bangkok Archdiocese to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the FABC, an event which began on 12 October.

Now in its third week, the Cardinal and Bishop delegates along with invited guests including priests, religious and lay Catholics, went on pilgrimage on Thursday to explore Thailands Catholic and social history.

First stop

Their first stop was Sacred Heart Church and School in Wat Pleng. Here the FABC Delegates and guests were warmly welcomed by school children waving colourful flags.

They were then treated to two performances  a traditional Thai dance, followed by a delightful performance of Its a Wonderful World, complete with choreography.

Second stop

Next on the pilgrimage was a stop at Sacred Heart of Jesus seminary, the former seminary that served Bangkok, just a ten-minute drive from Sacred Heart Church. Here, Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung, a native-born Thai priest and martyr, completed a portion of his seminary formation.

Third stop

The group then headed to the Nativity of Our Lady Cathedral, where Holy Mass was celebrated by Bangkoks Cardinal Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak.

He began his homily reminding those present that Jesus Himself and His work is the most important thing in our lives. The gift of the Holy Spirit received by the first Apostles was what completely changed their lives, he continued. That gift allowed the Apostles to witness to Jesus through the love they showed one another.

The Cardinal continued saying that is not only a common faith that holds Christians together, but that fact that we are Christs body, sharing one same life. Thus, since Pentecost, Christians make the Risen body of Christ appear in a clearer way every day. People of other faiths will be able to meet Jesus still present in the Church at this time, now-a-days, and Jesus will manifest his love to them because the God of the Christian is love.

This is the real attraction for people today, just as it was at the time of the early Christians, because people living today are looking for love, the Cardinal noted. In conclusion, he declared that the key to evangelization today, therefore, is the proclamation of the Gospel and the witness of Christians lives that live the faith in the way they show their love.

Holy Mass, Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady

Final stop

After enjoying a beautifully prepared lunch consisting in a variety of Thai cuisine, the group moved on to NaSatta Park. Here they toured a museum depicting various aspects of Thai history, culture and politics, as well as a bit of history about Buddhism in Thailand.

The group then returned to Baan Phu Waan Pastoral Training Center where they will pick up their work tomorrow discussing the Final Document due to be released at the end of the General Conference.
With war raging in Ukraine, peace was the central theme of a just-concluded meeting of leaders of the Bishops' Conferences from Central and Eastern Europe in Budapest. They gathered in the Hungarian capital shortly after Hungary's prime minister opened a memorial center for the late Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty.

By Stefan J. Bos - Budapest

The Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference said that its president, Bishop Andras Veres, took the Second Vatican Council's message to a two-day regional bishops conference in Budapest.

It says: "Peace is not the mere absence of war or the simple maintenance of a balance of power between forces, nor can it be imposed at the dictate of absolute power. It is called, rightly and properly, a work of justice."

Archbishop Michael Wallace Banach, the Apostolic Nuncio to Hungary, noted that the Church is an institution that loves peace. The Vatican's representative also wondered: "What does the Church do for peace?" adding, "this is a question that must resonate in people's hearts."

His appeal prompted Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius to ask everyone "to pray for peace" in nearby Ukraine and the rest of Europe. That call for prayer was appreciated by Cardinal Mario Grech, the General Secretary of the Secretariat of the Synod, who highlighted the importance of peace.

The conference participants also celebrated Mass in Budapest's famed Saint Stephen's Basilica, which was presided over by Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo. The group also met with Hungary's President Katalin Novak.

They prayed in a nation where authorities say some 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees have arrived from war-torn neighboring Ukraine. Though most pass through Hungary, thousands were also accommodated here, with the support of churches.

New center commemorating Cardinal Mindszenty

The gathering came after Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban opened a new center Sunday commemorating the late Hungarian Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty, in the Hungarian city of Zalaegerszeg.

It also came as Hungary remembered the crushed 1956 Revolution against Soviet rule, in which Cardinal Mindszenty played a vital role.

The prime minister views the late Cardinal Mindszenty as a symbol of uncompromising opposition to fascism during World War Two and communism in Hungary.

Following eight years in prison for his faith and political views, Cardinal Mindszenty was freed in the 1956 Revolution and granted political asylum by the United States' Embassy in Budapest, where he lived for fifteen years. He was eventually allowed to leave Hungary in 1971 and died in exile in 1975 in Vienna, Austria.
As war plagues the world, Pope Francis and religious leaders make an adamant appeal for a universal ceasefire, as part of the Community of SantEgidio's prayer for peace to mark the closing of its 36th 'Spirit of Assisi' event at Rome's Colosseum.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"With firm conviction we say: no more war! Let us stop all conflict."

This was the appeal of Pope Francis and religious leaders at the closing ceremony of the annual 'Spirit of Assisi' prayer for peace held the afternoon of 25 October, at the Colosseum, and also the words that he and the religious leaders a year ago, gathered in the same place.

The three-day peace summit, held under the theme 'Il Grido della Pace' (The Cry for Peace), was hosted by the Community of SantEgidio, and has been welcoming presidents, religious leaders, and various high-ranking authorities.

The Spirit of Assisi

This marks the 36th edition of the meetings initiated in the wake of the historic World Day of Interreligious Prayer for Peace of 27 October 1986, with Pope St. John Paul II.

The representatives of the Christian Churches and World Religions began their appeal by directing their concerns to the world and to the leaders of states.

"We become the voice of those who suffer from war, of the refugees and of the families of all the victims and those who have died."

With firm conviction we say: no more war! Let us stop all conflict. War carries only death and destruction; it is an adventure with no return in which we are all losers. Let the guns be silent; let a universal ceasefire be declared at once.

Invitation for negotiations

The leaders also called for peace talks and dialogue.

Let negotiations capable of leading to just solutions for a stable and lasting peace be activated soon before it is too late. Let dialogue be resumed to nullify the threat of nuclear weapons.

After the horrors and pains of World War II, the appeal continued, the nations were able to mend the deep rifts of the conflict and, through multilateral dialogue, to create the United Nations Organization.

It was the result of an aspiration for peace, which they note is necessary, today more than ever.

"We are at a crossroads," the appeal highlights, stressing: "we can either be the generation that lets the planet and humanity die, the one that accumulates and trades weapons, living under the illusion of being able to save ourselves against others, or we can be the generation that creates new ways of living together, that does not invest in weapons, that abolishes war as a means of conflict resolution and stops the excessive exploitation of planetary resources."

Abuse of the name of God

They stressed that believers must work for peace in every possible way, saying it is "our duty" to "help disarm hearts" and to "call for reconciliation among peoples."

Unfortunately, even among ourselves we have at times been divided by abusing the holy name of God: we ask forgiveness for this, with humility and shame. Religions are, and must continue to be, a great resource for peace. Peace is holy; war can never be holy!

Humanity must end wars, dismantle nuclear weapons

If humanity does not end wars, wars will end humanity, the appeal noted, adding that the world is not our possession but belongs likewise to future generations.

"Therefore," it stressed, "let us rid it of the nuclear nightmare."

"Let us immediately reopen a serious dialogue on nuclear non-proliferation and the dismantling of atomic weapons."


Pope Francis meets with priests and religious of Madagascar who reside in Rome (Vatican Media)

Pope Francis encourages Madagascar's priests and religious men and women residing in Rome to form a unified spiritual family, centred on the love of Christ, and the joy the Lord gives.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov



"Our personal and community experience of consecration to Christ is proof that life can be lived differently in the light of the Gospel, which gives true joy."

The Pope offered this reminder to the priests and men and women religious of Madagascar residing in Rome, in the Vatican on Thursday.



Earlier that same morning, Pope Francis received the bishops of Madagascar on the occasion of their ad Limina Apostolorum visit to Rome, and the Pope greeted the President of the Bishops Conference, also present at this encounter.

The Holy Father visited Madagascar in September 2019, during his Apostolic Visit there, as well as to Mauritius and Mozambique.

Pope meets with priests and religious of Madagascar who reside in Rome

The Pope expressed his joy to have this encounter, calling it an opportunity to get to know the religious better and understand more clearly their expectations and hopes as consecrated persons in mission in Rome.

Your presence today, while your Bishops are on an ad limina visit, is an expression of your communion of prayer with the spiritual journey they are making at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul," he said.

The need for unity

The fruitfulness of their mission, the Pope said, depends on the unity they cultivate, among themselves and their pastors, and the witness they bring to society.

"This unity is very important," the Pope said.

Today, in our societies, and unfortunately sometimes also in the Church, the Holy Father said, we see too many people following their own self interests.

Pursuing personal interests, this 'virus of selfishness', threatens peaceful coexistence between peoples, as between the sons and daughters of the same country.

The joy of Christ

"Faced with this situation, your personal and community experience of consecration to Christ," the Holy Father insisted, "is proof that life can be lived differently in the light of the Gospel, which gives true joy."



I therefore encourage you always to walk together and to make your presence here in Rome a precious opportunity to enrich and renew your faith in the footsteps of the great figures of saints and holy men and women who have preceded you here.

Form a large spiritual family

"I urge you to form a large spiritual family," the Pope said, calling on them to respect, love and support one another, and to become signs of hope for their particular Churches and for Madagascar.

The Holy Father concluded by entrusting all those before him to the Blessed Mother.

May she help you to faithfully preserve your identity as priests, men and women religious in the midst of the changes of this time.

Praying that Mary intercede for them, the Holy Father invoked God's blessing upon the Church in Madagascar and the whole nation, and asked them to pray for him.
The interior of the chapel at the monastery of Tibhirine, Algeria ( monastere-tibhirine.org)

At the conclusion of Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher's visit to Algeria to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, Archbishop Jean-Paul Vesco of Algiers says the welcome given to the Holy See's "number three" testifies to the attention paid to the small Christian community of Algeria.

By Jean Charles Putzolu

After meeting with the highest authorities of the State on Tuesday, 25 October, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, in Algeria for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Algeria and the Holy See, went the next morning to the monastery of Tibhirine, the site of the martyrdom of the seven Trappist monks murdered in 1996 by Islamist fighters and beatified in 2018 in Oran.

"This reflects the importance of this monastery for the Church; and it was also a moment of recollection, a peaceful moment, and a strong experience for anyone who goes to this place, to this monastery, to also feel the presence of the monks," said Archbishop Jean Paul Vesco, welcoming the presence of members of the Chemin Neuf community who now occupy the monastery.

Civil and religious authorities

For the Archbishop of Algiers, the welcome extended these two days to the head of Vatican diplomacy over the past two days is a testament to the attention given to the country's small Catholic minority.

On Tuesday, Archbishop Gallagher was received by the head of state, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, after a day of talks with members of the government, and a visit to the Martyr's Memorial - a monument built in memory of the victims of the war of independence against French troops.

At the interreligious chapter, the head of Vatican diplomacy also met with Sheikh Mohamed Mamoune El Kacimi El Hassini, rector of the Great Mosque of Algiers, which is the largest mosque in the African continent.

Archbishop Vesco noted that it is a visit to a great sacred space and communion, adding that these exchanges are "extremely important".

"We like to welcome people in sacred spaces, he said. People like to go up to Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, to Our Lady of Santa Cruz in Oran, to the Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba.

Sharing sacred spaces, even without speaking, "says much more, perhaps of the reality lived in each of our traditions and religions, the Archbishop said.

Read also 25/10/2022 Gallagher in Algeria for 50 years of diplomatic relations with Holy See The Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, is visiting Algeria, where he meets with civil and religious leaders and ...

Service to the needy

Archbishop Gallagher's visit also came less than a month after the closure of Caritas Algeria. The closure is at the request of the public authorities, to which the local Catholic Church has complied, while expressing its concern and its desire to continue to provide assistance to those who are vulnerable and the Algerian people.

"The presence in Algiers of the Pope's representative and the closure of Caritas are two different events," says Archbishop Vesco. However, he adds, this visit in itself, independently of the closure of our Caritas service, does indeed kindle lights of hope.

The Archbishop also acknowledged that the issue of Caritas was addressed. It is mainly a lack of understanding due to lack of communication on both sides, of what Caritas is at the global level and at the level of Algeria.

The Caritas service will not reopen, but the assurance was given that the humanitarian charitable activities of the Church will be able to continue, "and that was indeed completely reaffirmed to us," said Archbishop Vesco.
An earthquake has struck the northern Philippines, injuring at least three dozen people and leaving buildings damaged.

By Alastair Wanklyn

An earthquake has struck the northern Philippines, injuring at least three dozen people and leaving buildings damaged.

The 6.4 quake shook buildings across much of northern Luzon island, including the capital, Manila. Houses were damaged. The belfry of a church collapsed. Cracks appeared in roads.

The victims were mostly hurt by falling debris.

Hospitals evacuated patients, and schools were closed until buildings could be checked for damage.

Centered around Abra Province

The quake centered on Abra province, which was recovering from a stronger quake in July which killed at least five people.

Following the latest incident, hundreds of aftershocks were felt.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said residents are asking for tents because theyre afraid to go back into their houses.

The Philippines suffers a range of natural disasters every year. Luzon is currently bracing for a storm which is developing off the eastern coast.

Meteorologists say the storm is likely to become a typhoon, which will bring strong wind and flooding to the northern Philippines this weekend.
North Korea will warrant an unparalleled scale of response if it conducts another nuclear test, senior diplomats from Tokyo, Seoul and Washington said Wednesday during a meeting in Tokyo following a series of missile launches by North Korea.

By Alastair Wanklyn - Tokyo

North Korea will warrant an unparalleled scale of response if it conducts another nuclear test, senior diplomats from Japan, South Korea and the United States said today.

The officials were speaking after talks in Tokyo.

South Koreas First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong added, a nuclear attack by North Korea is now more possible, after Pyongyang changed its military doctrine last month.

This, he said, has created serious tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, Japans representative said North Koreas recent volley of missiles, including one which flew over Japan has put the region on edge.

North Koreas recent high rate of missile launches poses a clear and serious challenge to the international community, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori said.

Also at the meeting, United States Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, said North Korea has lost the trust of its neighbours.

All of this behavior, all of it, is reckless and deeply destabilising to the region. We urge the DPRK to refrain from further provocations. And we remain committed to dialogue with the DPRK, without preconditions.

Japans Mori said Tokyo, Seoul and Washington will strengthen joint deterrence and means of coping with the threat from North Korea. He gave no further details.

Officials in Washington and in East Asia have said recently they believe North Korea is preparing to detonate a nuclear bomb, its first such test in about five years. There are few options to prevent it from doing so.

The meeting came a day after Pope Francis addressed a peace summit in Rome. He warned against nuclear arms.

He said war is a failure of humanity but conflicts can be defused, he said, by the weapon of dialogue.

The Pope signed a document calling for the world to be rid of the nuclear nightmare, for the sake of future generations.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

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Any lingering hopes for the royal family that Prince Harrys forthcoming memoir would pull its punches or be abandoned were shattered today as publisher Penguin Random House confirmed its devastating title: Spare.

The title is a reference to the old aphorism about the brutal nature of the system of primogeniture, which will one day see his brother William made king, that it is best to have two sons, an heir and a spare.

The Spanish language edition is subtitled, In the Shade, the Daily Mail reported.

Harry has often accused his family of emotionally neglecting him, and the title seems likely to prompt speculation the book will be damning about his perceived treatment at their hands.

In a podcast with Dax Shepard, Harry spoke about the genetic pain and suffering of his upbringing, saying it was a mix between The Truman Show and living in a zoo.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey as part of a documentary on Apple TV+ called The Me You Cant See, Harry said: My father used to say to me when I was younger, he used to say to both William and I, Well, it was like that for me so its going to be like that for you. That doesnt make sense. Just because you suffered it doesnt mean your kids have to suffer. In fact, quite the opposite. If youve suffered, do everything you can to make sure whatever experiences, negative experiences that you had, that you can make it right for your kids.

The book will be released on Jan. 10 and, the publishers said, will be full of insight, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom and told with raw, unflinching honesty.

The palace said it would not be commenting.

In a press release, the publishers confirmed the worst nightmares of the royals, saying: Spare takes readers immediately back to one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mothers coffin as the world watched in sorrowand horror. As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feelingand how their lives would play out from that point on.

Story continues

For Harry, this is his story at last. With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Harry is reputed to have been paid an advance of $20 million for the book.

Markus Dohle, Global CEO of Penguin Random House worldwide added: Penguin Random House is honored to be publishing Prince Harrys candid and emotionally powerful story for readers everywhere. He shares a remarkably moving personal journey from trauma to healing, one that speaks to the power of love and will inspire and encourage millions of people around the world.

Harry previously said that the proceeds of the book would be donated to charity and today announced a massive donation of $1,500,000 to Sentebale, which supports vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana affected by HIV/AIDS, and $300,000 to British kids charity WellChild.

Sources have previously told The Royalist that the palace is extremely concerned by one chapter in particular in the book which it fears could damage the new king, Charles III.

The Daily Beast also understands that Charles is waiting to see what is in the book before deciding whether or not to invite Harry and Meghan to his coronation.

Duncan Larcombe, former royal editor at the Sun and a biographer of Harry told The Daily Beast: Spare is not a nice word in the royal sphere where its a derogatory, very loaded term, suggesting you are a substitute and not important. While you cant always judge a book by its cover, or its title, this gives a certain insight into where we are going. It certainly suggests that Harry, the multimillionaire prince, is going to be portraying himself as a victim. Im not sure how well that is going to go down. He may not have had the easiest of lives  but who has?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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The shooting death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya has once again raised concern about the behavior of the East African countrys police. Sharif was killed at a roadblock on Sunday as officers searched for a missing vehicle. The suspicious circumstances have caused an uproar in Pakistan, where officials say Kenyan authorities have vowed a fair and transparent investigation.



The Kenyan government has released the body of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif for burial after conducting a postmortem on how the well-known journalist was killed.



The Pakistani embassy in Nairobi said an autopsy found that Sharif died of bullet wounds to his head and shoulder, and termed the killing an accident.



Kenyan police said they were searching for a stolen vehicle with a child inside on Sunday when Sharif refused to stop his car at a checkpoint. Officers opened fire, killing the 50-year-old journalist.



Security analyst George Musamali questions the police statement that the shooting was a case of mistaken identity and notes the presence of a paramilitary police unit known as the General Service Unit at the checkpoint.



If you are saying you are circulating my car, you need to give a brief description of the vehicle, the registration number, the make of the vehicle and the type of vehicle so whoever is out on the look can easily identify what they are out looking for, said Musamali. But in this case, we [were] only just given a registration numbers, we are not given the color of the vehicle. And also something else, rarely do we have the GSU manning roadblocks. When there is this kind of circulation, it does not touch on the GSU because a GSU is a unit that has its duties, special duties that do not involve erecting roadblocks to catch criminals who have stolen vehicles in Nairobi.



In a statement, Amnesty International called for an investigation and said the death of Sharif is among nearly 110 people killed by Kenyan police each year.



The Kenyan government said it would investigate the killing and provide answers. The countrys Independent Police Oversight Authority has also deployed its officers to independently investigate the killing of the journalist.



Musamali says the judiciary should take charge of the case and police should be blocked from conducting the investigation.



The best way to handle this is for the government to order a judicial inquiry into sudden death where people will be put through questions by a magistrate that has been appointed. This will show the ambiguity of all the stories that we are being told, but if we leave and say this is a police investigation, then we definitely will not get answers.



Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said Kenya promised to provide fairness and transparency into the killing.



International relations expert Kizito Sabala says the death of the journalist will not strain relations between the two countries.



I dont think the relationship between Kenya and Pakistan is going to be affected by this killing. I think the present regime is probably going to give a very satisfactory answer. I dont think Pakistan is going to stretch that far.



Kenyan President William Ruto recently disbanded another police unit accused of numerous extrajudicial killings.



On Monday, four former officers of that unit went on trial, facing murder charges for the killing of two Indian nationals and their driver.
Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Yang, both of whom were unceremoniously dropped from the top leadership at last week's Chinese Communist Party Congress, have something else in common.

The two were cast as key figures in a fictionalized plot to overthrow Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a book by Roger Garside, a former British diplomat posted to Beijing. Garside describes the book, China Coup: The Great Leap to Freedom, as one-quarter fiction, three-quarters analysis. In it, Li and Wang, a former vice premier, were portrayed as reform-minded figures who sought to save China from what they saw as Xi's misguided policies.

The two men's exit was not the outcome imagined for them in the book, but Garside told VOA in an interview this week that their ouster showed he was right to identify them as posing the most significant threat to Xi's consolidation of power in his own hands.

While the internal party machinations may have strengthened Xi, Garside does not believe they strengthened China.

"Is China now more likely to prevail in what [U.S.] President [Joe] Biden calls the 'contest for the future of our world'? My answer is emphatically no," he said.

Garside, who is now an associate fellow at the London-based Henry Jackson Society, predicted that for Xi, the cost of the moves in the congress would ultimately outweigh the benefits because the greatest threats to the nation's future are not inside the ruling party but on the outside.

What will undo the party's hold on power is "the array of problems that China faces and to which Xi's political report to the congress offered no solution," Garside said.

Bruce J. Dickson, a political science professor and China specialist at George Washington University in the U.S. capital, agreed that the party leadership unveiled at the congress ensured Xi would be surrounded only by proven loyalists.

"If there was a possibility of coup, [Xi] seems to have put his foot on it," Dickson said in a phone interview, describing the power structure established by the CCP over its 100-year history as essentially "coup-proof." But while his moves to stifle any dissenting voices may be good for Xi politically, Dickson said, "in the long run, they may be detrimental to both the party and to [China's] national interest."

Control of wealth creation

Most outside analysts believe that by sidelining people like Li and Wang, who favored a greater role for market forces in the Chinese economy, Xi has cleared the way for bringing more of the sources of wealth creation under the direct control of the Communist Party.

"Xi Jinping may have killed the golden goose for China because he attributes the source of China's success to the wrong sources," said Jacob Stokes, a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, a Washington-based think tank.

"He thinks it's due to party control," Stokes said, "when actually much of the success of China is probably better attributed to the party getting out of the way, to some extent, of the population's entrepreneurial spirit, and hard work and innovation, and that requires a degree of freedom."

Apart from the centralization of the economy, Xi was seen by many close watchers of the congress as having used the event to signal a hardening of his administration's determination to bring Taiwan under Beijing's control, by force if necessary.

With no one but loyalists around him, Xi "will not be deterred from completing the Great Rejuvenation of the [People's Republic of China] by 2049," said James Fanell, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of intelligence and information operations at the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

And that, Fanell said in an interview, "entails total restoration of the CCP's perceived territory." The first step on that list, he said, "is the total subjugation of Taiwan under the control of Beijing."

Fanell said he believed Xi and the Communist Party "would prefer to obtain this goal via nonviolent means," but that the timeline for an attempted military invasion of Taiwan might have advanced to "sometime before 2025."
Australia has promised long-term support for Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.

A group of up to 70 Australian Defense Force personnel will join the British-led multinational training effort known as Operation INTEFLEX in the next two months, but they will not operate inside Ukraine.

Australia also will send an additional 30 Bushmaster armored personnel vehicles to Ukrainian forces. They have an innovative V-shaped floor designed to spread the impact of explosions more effectively than a conventional flat floor.

Australia also has sent missiles and humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

Defense Minister Richard Marles told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Thursday that Canberra is committed to Ukraines war effort.

We are mindful that Ukraine needs to now be supported over the longer term if we are going to put Ukraine in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms," he said. "And so this tranche is very much focused on that both in terms of making sure that we are helping in a U.K.-led initiative in respect of training and also extending the line of Bushmasters that we will be providing to Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Australia for its assistance on social media.

We will always remember Australias support! he tweeted.

This week's Australias federal budget pledged more than $129 million USD to Ukraine.

Australia has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, military commanders and businesspeople.

Since February, Australia has granted visas to almost 9,000 Ukrainian refugees.

Australia is the largest non-NATO contributor to Kyivs war effort.
Russia has launched its annual nuclear exercise against the backdrop of heightened rhetoric from Moscow hinting at the use of a nuclear weapon against Ukraine. President Joe Biden has warned Moscow that the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine would be a very serious mistake, as VOAs Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports.
China's Huawei Technologies reported modest revenue growth for a second quarter on Thursday, citing steady growth in its ICT infrastructure business as it finds its footing after U.S. sanctions knocked its once mighty handset business.

Huawei posted revenue of $62.03 billion (445.8 billion yuan) for the first three quarters, 10 billion yuan less than it saw in the same period a year earlier, the company said on Thursday.

Profits fell 42.45% in the same period to 26.75 billion yuan, based on Reuters calculations, a drop a company spokesperson attributed to investment in research and development and new business areas.

Revenue for the third quarter alone came to 144.2 billion yuan, up 6.5% on a year earlier, based on Reuters calculations.

Performance was in line with the company's forecast, said rotating Chairman Eric Xu.

"The decline in our device business continued to slow down, and our ICT infrastructure business maintained steady growth."

The United States placed Huawei on an export blacklist in 2019, banning the telecom giant from buying components and technology from U.S. companies without U.S. government approval.

The move largely hobbled Huawei's handset business, which commanded 42% of the China market in 2019. The company is now a bit of a player behind rivals, including its former budget unit Honor, which it sold in 2020.

Huawei is pushing to develop other businesses that are less dependent on U.S. technology, including smart car components, energy efficiency systems and cloud services.

In its first nine months the Aito M5 vehicle, which Huawei jointly developed with Seres, ranked 10th among all electric SUV models by sales in China, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

($1 = 7.1870 Chinese yuan)
China remains the top challenge to U.S. national security interests, while Russia remains an "acute" threat as it continues its brutal war in Ukraine, according to the Pentagon's newly released National Defense Strategy.

"The [People's Republic of China] is the only competitor out there with both the intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, a power to do so," Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday at the Pentagon.

A senior defense official, speaking to reporters about the new defense strategy on the condition of anonymity, said China continues to gain more "capability to systematically challenge the United States across the board: militarily, economically, technologically, diplomatically."

The "China challenge," according to Austin, has led to boosting defense capabilities across all warfighting domains, especially space and cyberspace, to make it clear to any potential adversary that "the cost of aggression against the United States or our allies and partners far outweighs any conceivable gains."

The unclassified strategy report comes as both China and Russia have escalated aggressions against their neighbors. China repeatedly threatens to control Taiwan, by force if necessary, and Russia invaded Ukraine in February and continues to attack Ukrainian towns and cities with missiles and even Iranian-made kamikaze drones.

A classified version of the report was released to Congress earlier this year.

Another senior defense official, also speaking to reporters on the condition of anonymity Thursday, said nuclear weapons would continue to be the "bedrock" of U.S. military deterrence.

According to the official, the new defense strategy reflects that the U.S. is now facing two major nuclear-armed competitors in Russia and China.

"Other non-nuclear capabilities have the potential to complement but cannot replace nuclear deterrence in some circumstances," the official said.

Other major threats

Russia's aggression against Ukraine poses "an immediate and sharp threat," Austin said, causing the United States to increase its military presence in Europe from about 80,000 troops to more than 100,000.

But unlike China, Austin told reporters, "Russia can't systemically challenge the United States over the long term."

The senior official added that "Russia is absolutely deterred from attacking NATO," as the United States has made clear that it will defend every inch of NATO territory.

But the official raised concern that Russia's failures on the Ukrainian battlefield could cause it to rely more on its nuclear forces in the future.

Other threats mentioned in the 2022 National Defense Strategy include North Korea, Iran and global violent extremists.

Iran remains a destabilizing presence in the Middle East and the greatest state sponsor of terrorism, all while continuing to develop nuclear capabilities that would enable Tehran to produce a nuclear weapon. However, according to the report, "Iran does not today possess a nuclear weapon" and the U.S. "currently believe[s] it is not pursuing one."

North Korea also continues to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities to threaten U.S. forces and American allies in the region.

The 2022 strategy is largely a continuation of the 2018 National Defense Strategy under then-Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, which made a fundamental shift away from primarily countering extremists to focusing first on a potential war with a near-peer competitor.

Last year the U.S. ended its 20-year war in Afghanistan. The U.S. still has a small number of troops in Somalia, Iraq and Syria but has largely shifted away from major counterterrorism operations.

The new strategy calls for more advancements in technologies from hypersonic weapons to artificial intelligence. Austin added that the fiscal 2023 budget includes more than $130 billion for research and development, the largest such research budget in the department's history.
Learning Management Systems

ASU Thunderbird Taps Canvas LMS to Power 100 Million Learners Initiative

Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management has partnered with ed tech company Instructure to provide its Canvas learning platform to the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Global Learners Initiative through 2030. The initiative will offer free online certificate programs to learners worldwide, with an emphasis on women and girls, who are expected to make up 70% of the student body.

The Najafis, both ASU Thunderbird alumni who said their lives were transformed by their experience at the school and wanted to extend to others with less opportunity, donated $25 million to the school in early 2022 to launch the initiative to teach global management and entrepreneurship courses to 100 million learners worldwide in underserved communities. The free program has three levels: foundational courses available to all, intermediate courses for advanced high school to undergraduate learners, and advanced courses for advanced undergraduate learners and higher. Courses include leadership, data analytics and digital transformation, customer experience and digital marketing, financial accounting, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business. Delivered via the Canvas LMS, the program will be offered in 40 languages, from Arabic to Zulu.

"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 Thunderbird.

Read Thunderbird's facts document to learn more about the initiative.
Germany on Wednesday unveiled plans to legalize cannabis, potentially making it one of the first countries in Europe to make marijuana legal.

Presenting his plans to the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said the proposal aims to achieve the most liberal cannabis liberalization in Europe, and, on the other hand ... the most tightly regulated market."

Germany's federal Cabinet reportedly approved the plan, kicking off a lengthy process to legalize growth, cultivation and distribution of the plant.

German laws must comply with European legislation, and under the proposal, the government would regulate cannabis production, sale, and distribution as part of a controlled, legalized market, said Lauterbach, describing the reform as a possible model for other European countries.

Although many European countries have decriminalized small amounts of cannabis for recreational purposes, only one, Malta, has fully legalized it.

The proposed plan would also legalize the acquisition and possession of 20 to 30 grams of cannabis for personal consumption, cultivation of up to two or three plants per person, and sales through specialized stores. Use of cannabis would remain prohibited for anyone under 18.

According to the plan, the government would also introduce a special consumption tax and develop education and abuse prevention programs, while ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings connected to cannabis would be terminated.

Legalizing cannabis would push out Germany's cannabis black market and could increase annual tax revenues, create 27,000 new jobs, and generate cost savings of about $4.7 billion, according to a report by Reuters.

Wednesday's announcement was met with mixed reactions throughout the country. A national pharmacists association warned of potential health risks of legalizing cannabis, while some regional officials expressed concerns that Germany would become a drug-tourism destination, similar to the Netherlands, where some coffee shops are allowed to sell cannabis under strict conditions.

According to The Guardian, Germanys health minister said the Dutch system combined two disadvantages: liberal use but not a controlled market. What we have learned from the Dutch experience is that we dont want to do it that way. We want to control the entire market.

Some information from this report came from Reuters.
Hong Kongs government removed a national security bill from the legislatures schedule for the rest of the year, with city Chief Executive John Lee saying the bill required more review to ensure it would be truly effective when implemented.

On October 7, the Legislative Councils House Committee received an updated list of bills the government intends to bring into the legislative body in 2022. The Security Bureaus Safeguarding National Security Bill, which was present in a previous version of the list from January, was absent from the new list.

After passing the law, we do not want there to be loopholes that mean we have to review it again, Lee said at an October 11 press conference. He said the government had to take more time to study the best form that these laws should take.

The bill pertained to the implementation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The Basic Law is Hong Kongs mini-constitution, which was established as part of the handover of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of colonial rule. Under Article 23, Hong Kong must pass its own national security legislation.

Security law of 2020

Following the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, China introduced a new, broad National Security Law in 2020. That vaguely worded law criminalizes any acts Beijing deems as secession, subversion, terrorism or foreign collusion, with these crimes punishable by up to life in prison.

Dennis Kwok, a former member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council and a founding member of the citys pro-democracy Civic Party, wasnt surprised that the bill was delayed.

The reason why I think they are doing more research is because the scale of the amendments covers everything from cybersecurity to fake news, he told VOA Mandarin in an interview. Kwok was among four pro-democracy legislators who were disqualified from Hong Kongs legislature for endangering national security in November 2020. He left Hong Kong soon afterward.

The bills deferral reminded Charles Mok, also a former member of Hong Kongs Legislative Council, of the delays to the controversial application of Chinas anti-sanctions law to Hong Kong in 2021.

Both cases were probably [a] tacit admission that the practical circumstances were not favorable to take on such controversial legislation that will invite even further indignation from the global community, Mok wrote in an email to VOA Mandarin.

There are enough problems on hand for Hong Kong, and the government, endorsed by Beijing no doubt, may be choosing to focus on its economic recovery from COVID and NSL, Mok added, referring to the 2020 National Security Law. The legislation made it riskier to do business in Hong Kong, prompting some foreign companies to leave.

Ray Wong, an exiled Hong Kong activist now based in Gottingen, Germany, told VOA Mandarin he thought that delaying the bill was an attempt to preserve Hong Kongs status as a global financial hub, which has faltered because of rising repression such as crackdowns on press freedom.

If they push Article 23 legislation this year, it will just accelerate the deterioration and the fleeing of foreign investment out of Hong Kong, Wong, the chair of the Germany-based Freedom for Hong Kong Association, told VOA Mandarin in an interview. But he said it was unlikely that delaying the bill would save the citys reputation.

The spokesperson for Hong Kongs Security Bureau told VOA Mandarin that Hong Kongs government has a constitutional responsibility to enact legislation "relevant to safeguarding national security."

"The HKSAR Government will continue to actively press ahead the legislative exercise to implement Article 23 of the BL, with a view to drawing up effective and pragmatic proposals, and conduct public consultation at a suitable juncture," the spokesperson added, without going into specifics on the Safeguarding National Security Bill. The spokesperson used the abbreviation for Hong Kongs official name, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

This bill will eventually be reintroduced, analysts told VOA, with some estimating that it will be reintroduced in early to mid-2023.

Little effect seen

To Kwok, now a partner at the New York City law firm Elliott, Kwok, Levine & Jaroslaw, the 2020 National Security Law already has caused so much damage to Hong Kong that additional national security legislation will not have much of an impact.

The National Security Law already in place is already so all-encompassing. I actually dont understand why they need another set of laws, Kwok told VOA in an interview. It really doesnt mean anything to the people living in Hong Kong because the NSL is repressive enough that it has already changed Hong Kong society beyond recognition.

Its just a matter of time before national security legislation targets what remains of internet freedom in Hong Kong, according to Wong, who is also on the advisory board of Hong Kong Watch, a human rights organization. This delay will probably postpone the elimination of internet freedom in Hong Kong, he noted.

Regardless of what happens with this national security bill, Mok said the government would likely continue repressing the population through other legislation. Most of the rest of the agenda can serve similar aims to stifle dissent, he wrote. So, the government will be kept busy anyway.
The trial of a former political adviser accused of raping a colleague inside Australia's Parliament House has been abandoned because of juror misconduct.

Bruce Lehrmann, who is 27, was accused of raping his colleague, Brittany Higgins, in a ministers office at Parliament House after a night out drinking in the Australian capital in March 2019.

He had pleaded not guilty and insisted that there was no sexual contact between the two.

The trial in Canberra ran for 12 days. Twenty-nine witnesses gave evidence, including former government ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash.

However, the trial has been aborted by Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucy McCallum because at least one juror had a research paper on sexual assaults that was not included in the trial.

Jurors were repeatedly warned not to research the case outside the parameters of what was presented during the trial.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Higgins insisted that she had been let down by the justice system.

This is the reality of how complainants in sexual assault cases are treated. Their lives are torn apart, their friends and families are called to the witness stand and the accused has the legal right to say absolutely nothing, she said.

Defense lawyers have argued Higgins comments outside court could prejudice any retrial and said they had referred her remarks to police and the court for investigation. However, there is no confirmation from the police or the court at this stage.

The jury had deliberated for several days without coming to a decision. Australian Capital Territory law requires a jury to reach a unanimous verdict for findings of guilty or not guilty.

Higgins allegations prompted protests across Australia over the safety of women, especially in politics.

Demonstrators rallied in cities and towns to vent their anger about sexism, and misogyny. It also led to a damning review which found that a third of employees in the Federal Parliament had been sexually harassed.

The prosecution and defense teams are yet to make arguments about whether Lehrmann should be retried.
Control of the U.S. Congress is at stake on Nov. 8, when American voters will elect new representatives in the House and Senate. As VOAs Congressional Correspondent Katherine Gypson explains, just a handful of races across the country will decide whether Democrats remain in power or Republicans win the majority.
For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine.

The latest developments in Russias war on Ukraine. All times EDT.

11:25 p.m.: Over the 28 years of Alexander Lukashenkos 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, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

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.

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.

9:08 p.m.: U.S. automaker Ford has completed its withdrawal from the Russian market with the sale of its 49% stake in the Russian-based Sollers Ford joint venture, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Thursday.

Ford said it had finalized the deal to sell its stake in Sollers Ford for a "nominal" undisclosed price.

Ford secured an option to buy back the shares within a five-year period "should the global situation" change in the coming years, the company said. The joint venture with Russian company Sollers was established in 2011.

Ford suspended its business operations in Russia in March citing deep concerns about Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. At the time, Ford took a $122 million write-down in connected with the suspension while stressing that it had already greatly reduced its presence in Russia.

A slew of foreign automakers have halted operations in Russia or exited entirely.

Earlier on October 26, German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz said it would exit Russia by selling shares in its industrial and financial services subsidiaries to a local investor.

8:28 p.m.:

7:51 p.m.: A local official told Russian conscripts, "You are not cannon fodder," in a video published online recently. The men responded by angrily shouting that, actually, that's exactly what they are. The incident, in the Ardatovsky district some 360 kilometers east of Moscow, followed a stream of videos in which Russian conscripts complain of old equipment and poor training. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has this report.

7:03 p.m.: Germany is struggling to ramp up defense procurement or even just replace arms and munitions it has supplied to Kyiv, several sources told Reuters eight months after Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged 100 billion euros to bring the military up to speed, Reuters reported.



There is almost no movement at all, a source involved in German defense procurement procedures said on Thursday, adding very few orders had been placed so far.



The source was echoed by managers in the defense industry who expressed disappointment at what they see as the governments sluggishness in replenishing the Bundeswehrs inventories, caused by slow procedures and a lack of decisions at the top level.



We would have expected to see many more orders by now, one defense industry manager, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters.



6:13 p.m.: The Ukrainian interior ministry said in a statement Thursday that local police found a mass grave outside the city of Izium, which Ukraines forces retook last month as part of a sweeping offensive in the northeast, The Associated Press reported.



The statement cited locals as saying that Russian troops dumped the bodies in a pit outside the nearby village of Kopanky in mid-April and then leveled the ground with tanks.



Locals say that (Ukrainian) soldiers died in battle and were buried there. The Russians did not put a single mark on the grave and did not allow the villagers to go to the cemetery. People found three crosses, and (used them to) mark the perimeter of the grave, removed weeds, Dmytro Soima, a local police representative, was cited as saying in the ministrys statement.



His account could not be independently verified.



5:18 p.m.: Residents of Ukraines capital Kyiv have been getting creative amid power cuts, Reuters reported Thursday.



When near-daily rolling blackouts began in his Kyiv apartment block, Taras Logginov knew anyone getting stuck in the lifts of the 17-storey building would appreciate some basic supplies to help them through the ordeal.



With Russian strikes on Ukraine's power infrastructure now wreaking havoc on the hundreds of high rises in the capital Logginov and other thoughtful residents regularly leave so-called "survival kits" in lifts across the city.



A typical pack contains water, energy bars and sweets, a torch and a container for going to the toilet. Logginov also includes extra items such as bubble solution to keep children entertained, or a square of foam to sit on.



"I could of course claim that I thought of this myself, but in truth I saw it on the internet," grinned Logginov, 63, referring to dozens of social media posts offering tips on how to survive blackouts that can last several hours.



4:31 p.m.:

3:29 p.m.: The Ukrainian capital Kyiv and four regions may have to cut electricity supplies for longer than planned after Russian strikes overnight targeting energy infrastructure, a senior official said on Thursday, Reuters reported.



Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of President Volodymyr Zelenskiys office, said energy supplies would be significantly limited in Kyiv itself and the central regions of Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Cherkasy and the northern region of Chernihiv.



Authorities had previously said power could be shut off for four hours a day to ease the strain on the generating system as technicians worked to repair the damage.



According to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, due to enemy attacks, the previously approved electricity shutdown schedules in these areas will not be observed, and the duration of shutdowns may exceed four hours, said a statement on Zelenskiys website.



2:40 p.m.: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Thursday that the U.S. has still not seen anything to indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to use a dirty bomb, The Associated Press reported.



He said there are continued concerns that the conflict could escalate, and said thats why it is critical for the U.S. to keep the lines of communication open with allies and with Russia.



Were going to continue to communicate that any type of use of a weapon of that sort, or even the talk of the use of a weapon of that sort is dangerous and irresponsible, said Austin, who spoke with his Russian counterpart twice in the last week. Its important to make sure that were talking to adversaries and allies alike and making sure that that were tamping down dangerous talk.



Asked if there are concerns Russia might use its upcoming nuclear exercises as a cover for a strike inside Ukraine, Austin said, Its something we continue to watch. And we havent seen anything to cause us to believe at this point that that is some kind of cover activity.



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.



2:25 p.m.:

2:10 p.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow has no intention to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.



We see no need for that, Putin said Thursday at a conference of international foreign policy experts, adding: There is no point in that, neither political, nor military.



Without offering evidence, he repeated Moscows claim that Ukraine was plotting to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb in a false flag attack blaming Russia. Ukraine has rejected the unsubstantiated accusation, and Western allies have dismissed it as transparently false.



Putin said Russia knows the Ukrainian facilities allegedly working on the purported project and asserted, again without providing proof, that Kyivs plan is to rig a missile with radioactive waste and blow it up, casting it as a Russian nuclear strike. He maintained the goal was to politically isolate Russia and to force its allies to end any cooperation with Moscow.

Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian military officer, Gen. Oleksii Hromov, the chief of the main operational department of the Ukrainian militarys General Staff, on Thursday accused Russia of planning to stage explosions at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and blame them on Ukraine in a false flag attack.

Russia took control of the Zaporizhzhia plant in the opening days of the invasion. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of attacking the plant, which has been shut after continuous shelling.

1:05 p.m.:

12:20 p.m.: Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak reacted with scorn to a speech Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered Thursday at a conference of international policy experts, where Putin sought to cast the conflict in Ukraine as part of efforts by the West to secure its global domination.

Putin accused the U.S. and its allies of trying to dictate their terms to other nations in a dangerous and bloody domination game. The Russian leader claimed that he who will sow the wind will reap the whirlwind. He said, humankind now faces a choice: accumulate a load of problems that will inevitably crush us all or try to find solutions that may not be ideal but working and could make the world more stable and secure, The Associated Press reported.

In a message sent on Twitter, Podolyak characterized Putins comments as Freudian, saying that Putin was the aggressor, and tried to blame the aggression on other countries. Podolyak quoted Putins words back to him, saying the one who starts a wind will get a storm.

11:55 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the world faced the most dangerous decade since World War II as Western elites scrambled to prevent the inevitable crumbling of the global dominance of the United States and its allies, Reuters reported.

In a broadside against Washington and its allies, which he accused of inciting the conflict in Ukraine, Putin said the West was playing what he cast as a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" geopolitical 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," Putin, Russia's paramount leader, told the Valdai Discussion Club. Russia did not consider the West to be an enemy of Russia despite the current phase of confrontation, he added.

Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, triggering the biggest confrontation with the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis in the depths of the Cold War when the Soviet Union and the United States came closest to nuclear war. Tens of thousands of people have been killed while the West has imposed the most severe sanctions in history on Russia, one of the world's biggest suppliers of natural resources.

Putin cast the conflict in Ukraine as a battle between the West and Russia for the fate of the second largest Eastern Slav country. It was, he said, partly a "civil war" as Russians and Ukrainians were one people. Kyiv flatly rejects both those ideas.

Asked about a potential nuclear escalation, Putin said the danger of nuclear weapons usage would exist as long as nuclear weapons existed.



11:25 a.m.: Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said Thursday that the threat of a nuclear conflict has risen amid the fighting in Ukraine, The Associated Press reported.

Maria Zakharova argued that the more the U.S. is drawn into supporting the Kyiv regime on the battlefield, the more they risk provoking a direct military confrontation between the biggest nuclear powers fraught with catastrophic consequences.

She charged that unlike the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis when the Soviets and the United States quickly negotiated a compromise, Washington now keeps upping the ante, apparently believing that its capable of controlling the escalation.

Zakharova said that instead of the ongoing thoughtless and mad escalation, the U.S. should take a more responsible approach shown during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The warning comes as Moscow has made unsubstantiated allegations of a Ukrainian plot to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb, claims rejected by Ukraine and denounced its Western allies as transparently false.

11:05 a.m.:

10:45 a.m.: Europes energy crisis, triggered by Russia slashing natural gas flows amid its war against Ukraine, has forced some people to turn to cheaper heating sources like firewood as the weather gets colder, The Associated Press reported.

But as more people stock up and burn wood, prices have skyrocketed, shortages and thefts have been reported, and scams are emerging. Foresters are putting GPS devices into logs to track the valuable stocks, and fears are rising about the environmental impact of increased air pollution and tree-cutting.

The clamor for firewood is not limited to poorer nations like Moldova but has surged across richer regions of Europe, too. Germany, Poland and the Czech Republics state-owned forests are seeing much stronger demand for the limited amounts of firewood they sell as part of their sustainable forest management.

Often its coming from people who have never ordered firewood before and seem unaware that it needs to be purchased two years ahead so it can dry out enough to be burned in wood stoves, according to the forest service in southwest Germanys state of Hesse.

German forest rangers also are seeing more people gathering fallen wood in forests, often not knowing its illegal. Czech state forests, which sell wood only for household consumption, have had to limit the amount of firewood sold to individuals to prevent speculative purchases. In Poland, demand for small firewood from state forests grew 46% and larger firewood was up 42% through the end of August from a year earlier. This was even before fall, when demand for firewood is highest.

10:15 a.m.:





9:50 a.m.: Delegations from Russia and Ukraine are among those meeting in Australia this week to decide the future of Antarcticas pristine waters, The Associated Press reported.

Conservationists say new marine protected areas and rules to prevent overfishing are desperately needed, but that Russia could use its veto-like powers to once again block progress.

Achieving the required consensus for action among this diverse group of 27, which also includes China, the United States and the European Union, has always been an immense challenge.

And when two of the members are at war  and relations between China and many Western nations have deteriorated  consensus looms as an even bigger obstacle. Just this month, Russian bombing in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, partially destroyed Ukraines Antarctic research center.

Yet despite the enormous political hurdles, some remain hopeful that scientific arguments will win through. The U.S. is paying more attention to the region under President Joe Biden, and this year has sent a relatively high-level delegation led by Monica Medina, an assistant secretary in the State Department.



9:35 a.m.: Ukraines Ministry of Defense said it has conducted 28 prisoner swaps with Russia since February, the Kyiv Independent reported Thursday.

It quoted Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Maliar as saying 978 Ukrainians have been released from Russian captivity since February 24, including 99 civilians.

The media organization also quoted Security Service's spokesman Artem Dekhtiarenko as saying that Ukraine has returned the bodies of 579 soldiers.



9:20 a.m.:

8:45 a.m.: Poland tore down four monuments on Thursday to Red Army soldiers who died during World War Two, as historically strained relations between Warsaw and Moscow hit new lows due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The legacy of World War II is a divisive issue in Polish-Russian relations, and the conflict in Ukraine has prompted Poland to step up the demolition of memorials to fallen Soviet troops across the country.

Russia argues that it liberated Poland when its forces drove out German Nazis at the end of the war. Most Poles believe that the Soviet Union replaced Nazi occupation with another form of repression.

"This monument is a monument of lies," said Karol Nawrocki, head of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), as he stood before a statue in Glubczyce in southern Poland shortly before its demolition.



8:30 a.m.:

8:10 a.m.: Australia said on Thursday it will deploy 70 soldiers to Britain to help train Ukrainian troops there and ship 30 more armored vehicles to bolster Kyivs war against Russias invasion, Reuters reported.

We expect this now to be a protracted conflict, Defense Minister Richard Marles told ABC television. The latest package takes Australias support for Ukraine to about A$655 million ($425 million) since the conflict began in February.

Were mindful that Ukraine needs to now be supported over the longer term if were going to put Ukraine in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms, he said.

Australia, one of the largest non-NATO contributors to the Wests support for Ukraine, has been supplying aid and defense equipment and has banned exports of alumina and aluminum ores, including bauxite, to Russia. It has also placed sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities.

Australian troops, who will arrive in Britain in January, will join a UK-led international training exercise but will not enter the war zone in Ukraine, Marles said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Australia for the latest aid.



7:55 a.m.: Nearly 10 million Ukrainians are potentially at risk of mental disorders including acute stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, according to a recent report by the World Economic Forum. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) on Thursday said on Twitter that it is stepping up assistance for those in need.

7:40 a.m.: Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine's occupied region of Zaporizhzhia ordered phone checks on local residents, announcing the implementation of military censorship under Russian President Vladimir Putin's martial law decree, Agence France-Presse reported.

"From today in the Zaporizhzhia region, law enforcement officers have begun a selective preventing check of the mobile phones of citizens," Moscow-appointed official Vladimir Rogov said. He said those subscribed to "propaganda resources of the terrorist Kyiv regime" will receive a warning, before being fined.

7:25 a.m.: Uzbek workers of a waste processing plant in the western Russian city of Oryol, who were handed mobilization notices and ordered to show up at the local conscription point, asked their president for help, Reuters reported Thursday, citing a local news outlet.

Moscow started the mobilization campaign, its first since World War II, last month as its military campaign in Ukraine stalled and Russian forces began to lose ground. Hundreds of thousands of men have since fled Russia to avoid being sent to the front lines.

According to the Istoki video report, Oryol authorities sent out a fresh batch of mobilization notices this week, including 50 to workers of the EcoCity waste processing facility.

Half of the workers, however, are Uzbek nationals, it said, showing a group of men displaying their Uzbek passports and asking Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to intervene on their behalf.

The mobilization campaign drew criticism after notices were served to many people not eligible for military service, prompting Russian President Vladimir Putin to order officials to correct all mistakes.

Uzbekistan has warned its citizens against joining foreign armies, which qualifies as a felony under Uzbek law.

Uzbekistan's embassy in Moscow could not be immediately reached for comment.

7:15 a.m.:

6:50 a.m.: Ukraine is bolstering its defenses near the border with Belarus, Reuters reports.



Ukraine's General Staff said that, while troops don't appear to be gathering across the boundary, "there are and will be threats."

Russia has been reportedly massed troops in Belarus, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier this month ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near Ukraine, accusing Ukraine and its allies of planning an attack on Belarus.

"Strikes on the territory of Belarus are not just being discussed in Ukraine today, but are also being planned," he said, without providing evidence for the assertion.

6:30 a.m.: The head of the Crimean city of Sevastopol said a power plant just outside the city has come under a drone attack, The Associated Press reported.

Mikhail Razvozhayev said early Thursday a drone hit a transformer and sparked a fire but didnt affect the operation. Razvozhayev said that electricity supplies havent been interrupted.

Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, has faced drone attacks and explosions from supporters of Ukraine.

In a major setback for Russia on Oct. 8, a powerful truck bomb blew up a section of a strategic 19-kilometer bridge linking Crimea to Russias mainland.

6:15 a.m.: The International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report Thursday that the war in Ukraine and economic factors may ramp up development of green energy, and the use of natural gas and other fossil fuels will level off and then decline in the next 15 years, according to the Associated Press.

The energy world is shifting dramatically before our eyes. Government responses around the world promise to make this a historic and definitive turning point toward a cleaner, more affordable and more secure energy system, the IEA's executive director Fatih Birol Birol said.

5:57 a.m.:

5:16 a.m.: Concerns of Germans that dissipated with the fall of the Berlin Wall are now creeping back after decades of peace, according to Reuters.

It's a flashback for a nation that found itself at the geographic and political center of the Cold War.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has escalated his "special military operation" in Ukraine - calling up reservists and threatening to use nuclear weapons to defend Russian land, while U.S. President Joe Biden has talked of "Armageddon".

A survey by insurer R+V found that 42% of Germans now fear a war with German participation, up from 16% last year, the biggest jump since the Kosovo War in 1999.

4:45 a.m.: The latest update from Britains Ministry of Defense Thursday says that the Russian government is interlinking regional governors into the national security system, thereby taking further steps to organize society as Russias war in Ukraine comes under pressure.



4:15 a.m.: Iran may soon boost its involvement on behalf of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, according to an analysis published by Foreign Policy. In addition to supplying Russia with more drones  a charge Tehran denies  Iran may soon sell Fateh-110 and Zulfiqar short-range ballistic missiles to supplement Russia's shrinking supply of its own missiles. Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guard are already deployed in Ukraine and Belarus to train Russian troops to use the Iranian drones, according to reports. An Israeli news agency last week reported that 10 Iranian soldiers died as Ukraine struck Russian forces.

4:05 a.m.:

3:50 a.m.: The area around Kherson, one of the first cities in Ukraine captured by Russia after it invaded in February, is now the scene of intense fighting as Ukrainian soldiers attempt to retake it, The New York Times reports. A nearby hydroelectric dam is the last major crossing over the Dnipro River available to Russian forces. If Ukraine captures the dam, thousands of soldiers may be left with no way to retreat.

According to the report, the Russian occupiers are stepping up measures aimed at getting civilians to abandon the city and flee to Russia ahead of the expected battle for the city.

"We live, like, in a dystopian movie here,' one resident told The Times.

2:45 a.m.:

2:20 a.m.: News reports and social media in Russia indicate that many of the soldiers heading for the frontlines in Ukraine may not be well-equipped or well-trained, according to the Associated Press.

Russian President Vladimir Putin last month ordered the conscription of about 300,000 men to bolster Russia's forces fighting in Ukraine. During a photo-op at a military facility earlier this week, Putin was seen talking to soldiers in new uniforms and equipped with combat gear, including helmets and bulletproof vests. But independent media and rights groups suggest the call-up is poorly organized, and men are being moved to combat duty without adequate training or gear.

Recruits posted video on social media showing rusty weapons and filthy living conditions.

Activists also report that ethnic minorities in some regions are being drafted in numbers disproportionate in comparison to other regions of Russia.

1:00 a.m.:

12:05 a.m.: Chicago wheat futures gained more ground on Thursday, with slowing exports from the Black Sea region amid the Russian-Ukraine war raising concerns about world supplies.

Concerns over Ukrainian grain exports mounted as data from the country's farm ministry showed that shipments have slowed over the past 10 days, with volumes so far this month 9% behind the same period last year.

Ukraine on Sunday said Russia was blocking the full implementation of a Black Sea grain export deal, forcing Ukrainian ports to work at 25% to 30% of their capacity, Reuters reported.

The agreement, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July, paved the way for Ukraine to resume grain exports from Black Sea ports that had been shut since Russia invaded in February.

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. 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.

Some information in this report came from Agence France-Presse, The Associated Press and Reuters.
The charity Doctors Without Borders said Thursday that Kenya's Dadaab Refugee Complex faces a high risk of measles and cholera outbreaks as thousands of new refugees arrive from areas of Somalia where the diseases are circulating.

More than 233,000 refugees live in three overcrowded camps in the complex.

Doctors Without Borders, best known by its French acronym MSF, reported a sharp rise since January in the number of people fleeing to Kenya to escape drought, hunger and violence.

Many of the new arrivals are from southern Somalia, where measles and cholera outbreaks recently have occurred, the charity said.

MSF's deputy program manager for Kenya, Adrian Guadarrama, said Thursday in Geneva that many are being received by refugee communities inside camps, but many more are living in very poor conditions on the outskirts of the camps.

Last week, he said, MSF teams recorded three cases of measles and two suspected cases of cholera in Dagahaley, one of Dadaab's three refugee camps.

"This should be an alarm for all the actors and stakeholders involved in the response in Dadaab. Because we know that just one case of any of these diseases can cause a full-blown outbreak very quickly, affecting not only the refugee community, but also the host community," Guadarrama said.

Kenya's Health Ministry last week issued a cholera alert following confirmation of 61 cases in six counties.

Guadarrama said Kenya stopped registering new arrivals in Dadaab in 2015.

Unregistered refugees, he said, cannot get basic services and assistance. He said clean drinking water is scarce, and toilets and handwashing points lacking. These conditions, he said, make the unregistered refugees highly vulnerable to life-threatening diseases.

Guadarrama said the need for measles and cholera vaccination campaigns is urgent, but that devising a strategy is complex. Some people are scattered in the outskirts, he said, while others are inside Dagahaley camp.

"We talk about a camp of 115,000. So, just to identify them is quite a challenge," he said. "And this is why having screening, or a reception center or a registration center  that would be ideal  would allow us to cope with those activities and provide access to basic services including vaccination, for example."

Guadarrama said the humanitarian situation in the camps and in the surrounding communities is not yet at the breaking point and there is still time to avoid an emergency in a long and protracted crisis.


Ahead of COP27, Namibian and European Union officials say they have reached an agreement for Namibia to export rare earth materials to the EU.

According to Erasmus Shivolo, commissioner of mines at Namibias Ministry of Mines and Energy, the EU is interested in developing the mining of minerals like lithium, cobalt and graphite, which are currently mined on a small scale in the country.

Per Shivolo, "The EU is the one saying, 'Well, Namibia has got certain minerals that are critical to the energy transition and therefore we want to explore opportunities in working together to develop projects in that space.' "

This possible agreement comes at a time when Western nations are seeking sources besides China for these minerals, which are used to make batteries for mobile phones, electric cars and other technology.

Shivolo added that the EU is also interested in Namibia's ambitious plan to become a producer of "green hydrogen," a clean power source that could be used by industry and to power electric vehicles.

The commissioner pointed to the promises made at COP26, the 2021 U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, as one important factor: "Everyone, almost everyone who has signed up to COP26 has made a commitment to reduce carbon emission in their respective countries by a certain percentage."

He added that "it is not a surprise that countries who are the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are interested to do this because they need to clean up their environments."

The head of the EU delegation to Namibia, Sinikka Antila, told VOA that Namibia and the EU are working on a memorandum of understanding. She said the memorandum is an outgrowth of an African Union-EU summit that took place last year in Brussels.

She confirmed that the agreement had not yet been signed, but will be soon, and said that both the president of the EU Commission and Namibian President Hage Geingob "agreed that we will start on building a partnership on sustainable raw materials and the green hydrogen."

Antila pointed to another factor speeding up the EUs pursuit of alternative energy sources  Russias invasion of Ukraine. "This situation makes it even more important now, because the fact is we have to get rid of the dependency on Russian gas because Russia is not a reliable partner at the moment," she said.

According to Antila, the agreement may be signed as soon as November, during the COP27 conference in Egypt.

However, in Namibia, the agreement may spark new anxieties. Abraham Noabeb, community liaison for the Black Business Leadership Network of Namibia, said he worries that foreign companies involved in the EU projects may simply use Namibia for its raw materials.

"The mining sector is not Namibian," he said. "It is in Namibia but it is not Namibian. The mines that are in Namibia are owned by foreigners, foreign nationals and foreign multinational companies and corporations. They are the ones who own these mines."

Noabeb called for the government to review its policies and make sure locals have a stake in any mineral exploration projects going forward.
Sweden has historically been viewed as Europes most welcoming country for refugees, but observers say that changed in 2015 when the government decided to close its borders.

The election in September of a new government steered by the far-right Sweden Democrats has further tightened migration policy.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristerssons Moderate Party, the Liberals and Christian Democrats constitute Swedens new ruling coalition. But observers say the Sweden Democrats, who have neo-Nazi roots and won the largest number of parliamentary seats, hold enormous sway over the coalition, setting far-reaching policies on migration and other key issues.

Observers say the Sweden Democrats have further stroked anti-immigrant sentiment over rising violence, some of which occurred in migrant communities.

Rights advocates criticize a deal the coalition and Sweden Democrats reached called the Tido Agreement, which gives the Sweden Democrats a powerful say in drafting new laws. The deal proposes a drastic reduction in the quota of refugees coming into Sweden, from 5,000 per year to just 900; consideration of an end to the permanent residence permit system; and the possible return of people who have "not integrated."

It also tightens requirements for Swedish citizenship and reduces the right to family reunification to the minimum set at the European Union level.

Contradictory position

John Stauffer, legal director and deputy executive director of the Stockholm-based Civil Rights Defenders organization, says the Tido Agreement contradicts the human rights norms to which Sweden is bound by focusing on harsher sentencing measures, undermining the rule of law and making it more difficult to be a refugee or asylum-seeker, he told The Local, an online publication.

He says the deals proposals should be challenged, including stop-and-search zones, easier surveillance, elimination of benefits for newly arrived immigrants, and the detention of asylum-seekers while their asylum applications are processed, among others.

Swedish migration expert Anna Lundberg, a professor in sociology of law at nearby Lund University, told VOA that the Tido Agreement is not a legally binding document, and that it's unreasonable to implement these suggestions within given time frames.

"Its easy to say that you should aim at the EU minimum level," she said, "but its not so clear what this minimum level actually means.  I assume that the government is also interested in considering knowledge about how legislation works in practice, if they want to achieve effect with their legislative changes. In that case, a thorough work is needed on the root of the problems they wish to solve.

Law-abiding Afghan refugees in Malmo, who suffered religious persecution at home and in neighboring Iran, told VOA they felt particularly vulnerable to the proposals because they cannot return to either country, where they would face likely death at the hands of the Taliban and Islamic Republic rulers.

"I can understand their concern," Lundberg said. "Young people who have sought protection in Sweden without their guardians have been very badly affected by the restrictive changes in both law and legal application after 2015. Now that the new government is talking about a paradigm shift, I assume they want to clean the slate through collective regularization programs so that these young people can make a life for themselves.

Rights advocates point out that it is not Afghan youth who are involved in gun violence and gang crime in Sweden, but such incidents may involve second- or third-generation migrants. They allege that arguments for stricter migrant controls are used by the far-right Sweden Democrats to distort perceptions.
In a foreign policy speech Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western nations of trying to dominate the world, saying the coming decade will be one of the most dangerous since the end of World War II.

In a lengthy speech in Moscow during the opening session of Valdai Discussion Club's annual foreign affairs forum, Putin characterized the West as aggressively, desperately seeking to "single-handedly govern humanity." He said people of the world no longer want to put up with it.

He said the West is playing a dangerous, bloody and dirty game, and blamed Western aggression for, in his words, "the incitement of war in Ukraine ... provocations around Taiwan, the destabilization of the global food and energy markets," and the destruction of the European gas pipelines.

The Reuters news agency later cited the White House as saying Putin's comments were not new and did not indicate a change in his strategic goals, including in Ukraine.

Analysts say Putin's annual speech has traditionally provided the best insight into the Russian president's view of the world and geopolitics.

Putin said the world is at a "historical turning point," and the "period of undivided dominance of the West in world affairs is coming to an end." He said, "Russia is not challenging the elites of the West, Russia is just trying to defend its right to exist."

During a question-and-answer session, Putin spoke about the conflict in Ukraine  which he continued to refer to as Russia's "special military operation." Russia invaded Ukraine February 24 and has faced Western sanctions over the offensive.

Putin said he thinks "all the time" about the casualties Russia has suffered but that the operation "ultimately benefits Russia and its future."

During the session, Putin ruled out the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, saying it would "make no sense at all to us  either in political or military terms."

He said Ukraine and the West accused Russia of military escalation to "influence neutral countries," which he maintained had failed.

Putin also called on the International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring team in Ukraine to inspect Ukraine's nuclear sites "as fast as possible," reiterating Moscow's claims  without evidence  that Kyiv is preparing to use a "dirty bomb" in the conflict.

He said Ukraine is "doing everything to cover up traces of this preparation."

A dirty bomb is a conventional bomb laced with radioactive, biological or chemical materials which are spread in an explosion.

The United Nations Security Council discussed Russia's allegations at a closed-door meeting Tuesday.



Ukraine and its Western allies have strongly denied the accusations, and suspect they are being made as a pretext for some type of escalation in the war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Joe Biden has warned that the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine would be a "very serious mistake."

Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Press.


Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has urged the South African government to deny entry to a Russian billionaire's megayacht, warning that allowing it to dock in the country could lead to sanctions.

Steel and mining tycoon Alexei Mordashov is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The U.S., European Union and allies have been seizing property of Russian oligarchs close to Putin since Russia invaded Ukraine.

The $500 million megayacht Nord left Hong Kong after that city was accused of giving safe haven to those who've been sanctioned. It is expected to arrive in South Africa on November 8 or 9. Although it is not known exactly where it will dock, the popular port of Cape Town is said to have people with the skills required to maintain the vessel.

"The position of the South African government on the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the illegal war being perpetrated there has been nothing short of spineless and embarrassing," said Hill-Lewis, a member of the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, which controls the municipality but remains subject to national policies set by the African National Congress ruling party.

"In this case," he added, "they had an opportunity to put some of that right by standing up for principle, by standing up for international law and enforcing sanctions by refusing entry to Mr. Mordashov and his enormous luxury yacht."

Hill-Lewis said he will continue to object.

"This is an enabler of Putin's war and of Putin's regime, and he should be stopped. He should not be welcome. But unfortunately, they have missed an opportunity, and they have decided to muddle through sitting on the fence without taking any clear principled position on this matter," he said. "I will certainly stand up for the basic principle that Cape Town and South Africa should not be offering safe harbor to international criminals."

South Africa has abstained from voting on every United Nations resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which started in February.

After the most recent vote earlier this month, South Africa's ambassador to the U.N., Mathu Joyini, said South Africa remains steadfast that dialogue, mediation and diplomacy is the only path that will lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya discussed Mordashov's yacht at a media briefing this week.

"South Africa's obligations with respect to sanctions relate to only those specifically adopted by the United Nations. Currently, there are no U.N.-imposed sanctions on the particular individual," Magwenya said. "Therefore, South Africa has no legal obligations that the U.S. and EU have decided to impose within specific jurisdictions. For as long as individuals abide by our immigration laws, we have no reason to prevent their entry into South Africa."

Brooks Spector, a political analyst and associate editor of The Daily Maverick, said the South African government should be condemning the war.

"If it had been me and I were in charge, which I'm not, I would've said, 'No, the ship can't dock until we have proof that it has no relationship to the war effort or other transgressions,' and that would've put a stop to the immediacy of it and perhaps postponed if off to the distant future as a port visit," Spector said.

He said in this instance, the South African government's expressed desire to take a neutral stance is damaging its reputation.


Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette speaks to reporters after a hearing on April 1, 2011, in Dane County Circuit Court in Madison. La Follette has said he decided to run again to stop Republicans from meddling with elections.
Thousands of Sri Lankans marched in the capital on Thursday to urge the government to halt its crackdown on demonstrations against an unprecedented economic crisis that has engulfed the Indian Ocean nation for months.



Trade union and civil rights activists, university students and others marched in the streets and then joined a rally in Colombo condemning the government's moves to intimidate protesters and its failure to ease people's economic woes.



Ravi Kumudesh, a trade union leader, said the demonstrators wanted to give a clear message to the government: Stop harassing those who protest over their grievances and give relief to the people.



He said they would expand their demonstrations if the government is not ready to listen to the voices of the people.



Sri Lankans protested for months over the economic crisis that has led to severe shortages of many essential imported items such as medicines, fuel and cooking gas. Thousands stormed the president's residence in July, forcing then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee and later resign.

The protesters also occupied other key government buildings, including the offices of the president and prime minister.



The countrys new president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has since cracked down on opposition. His first actions as leader included ousting the protesters from the government buildings and dismantling their tents in the middle of the night.



Rights groups say the military has sought to curtail protests through intimidation, surveillance and arbitrary arrests since Wickremesinghe took office in July.



Dozens of protest leaders and activists have been arrested since July. Some have been released. Wickremesinghe has promised leniency for those who committed violence unknowingly or at the instigation of others but promised to punish those who broke laws willfully.



We demand the government release all prisoners who have been taken into custody during this struggle and stop this suppression, said Wasantha Samarasinghe, another trade union activist.



The protests dismantled the powerful Rajapaksa familys grip on politics. Before Rajapaksa resigned, his older brother stepped down as prime minister and three other family members quit their Cabinet positions.



Wickremesinghe was elected by Parliament to complete Rajapaksas term, which ends in 2024. He is unpopular because he is supported by lawmakers who are still backed by the Rajapaksa family, which ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. Many accuse Wickremesinghe of protecting the Rajapaksas, who are widely blamed for corruption and misrule that led to the crisis.



Jehan Perera, executive director of the independent National Peace Council of Sri Lanka, said protests occur because of the unjust arrest of protest leaders and the deteriorating living standards of the people.



He said people are also unhappy that authorities have not taken action against those responsible for the economic crisis.



There has been no accountability process for those who have brought the country to this situation, he said. Political leaders who caused the problems are acting as if they have done nothing and are trying to return, and this has caused frustration among the protesters.



Sri Lanka is effectively bankrupt and has suspended repayment of nearly $7 billion in foreign debt due this year pending the outcome of talks with the International Monetary Fund on an economic rescue package. The countrys total foreign debt exceeds $51 billion, of which $28 billion has to be repaid by 2027.
With Russia curtailing natural gas supplies to Europe, the European Union is scrambling to find alternative sources. The EU is looking to gas providers like Azerbaijan to help fill the gap, but Turkey is positioning itself to play a pivotal role in keeping the lights on and furnaces working in Europe this winter.

The European Union has a mammoth task ahead to replace Russian gas. In 2021, Moscow provided about half of the continents gas supplies.

Energy-rich Azerbaijan is one country that can help make up the shortfall, as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared in her July visit to the Azeri capital, Baku.

The European Union has therefore decided to diversify away from Russia and to turn toward more reliable, trustworthy partners. And I am glad to count Azerbaijan among them. You are indeed a crucial energy partner for us, and you have always been reliable, she said.

Baku has already increased its supply to Europe by about a third. The gas is delivered through the Tanap pipeline that crosses Turkey to Greece, linking up with Europe's pipeline network.

As analyst Ilhan Uzgel of the news portal Kisa Dalga points out, that fact makes Turkey an important player in Europes energy future.

All the pipelines are running through Turkey, and they are connecting to the European pipeline, it's a transit country in this sense. They are coming up with many plans that Turkey could become an energy hub. For many years we've been hearing this rhetoric, but they are not realized, said Uzgel.

An energy hub is a distribution center with storage facilities and the ability to become an energy exchange, reselling gas to different buyers.

The importance of Turkey as a transit is set to grow. Turkmenistan's vast gas reserves also are a potentially significant supply of gas to Europe. That gas could be piped west through Azerbaijan and the Turkish Tanap pipeline.

Energy expert and former Turkish ambassador to Qatar Mithat Rende said Turkey is considering projects to enhance its pipeline capabilities.

One of the projects could be to enhance the capacity of Tanap, the southern gas corridor, and it could take place in less than two years' time. The second project could be to bring Iraqi gas from northern Iraq, and there you need to build about 200 kilometers of pipeline, so it's not a big deal but then you need the support of the Federal government in Iraq, said Mithat.

Europe is already rebuilding its gas pipeline infrastructure to accommodate supply change. Attending the opening ceremony of a pipeline between Greece and Bulgaria, von der Leyen underlined the importance of such projects.

This pipeline is a game-changer. It's a game-changer for Bulgaria and for Europe's energy security. And it means freedom. It means freedom from dependency on Russian gas, she said.

The Greek Bulgarian pipeline is being supplied by Azeri gas delivered via Turkey.

As Europe weans itself from dependency on Russian gas, it will increasingly, at least in the medium term, become reliant on Turkey as a transit country for its energy. Some observers warn that it could create its own challenges, given the EUs recent strained ties with Ankara.
Ukraines state energy company said Thursday it was limiting electricity use in multiple regions of the country after Russian attacks overnight targeting energy infrastructure.

Ukrenergo said damage from the strikes included equipment in the central part of the country. It said restrictions on power use are necessary to avoid network overloads and to make it easier to fix damaged facilities.

The new attacks on Ukrainian energy sites came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked workers in the energy sector for their efforts to stabilize the power grid.

No matter what the enemy does, our task is to break its plans and protect Ukraine. And this is not just someone's task, it concerns not only energy workers or anyone else. Conscious energy consumption is now needed by all Ukrainians, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday.

A Russia-installed official in Crimea said Thursday an overnight drone attack targeted a thermal power plant in the Russia-annexed peninsula.

The official said there was no threat to the power supply there and that there were no casualties.

Nuclear exercises

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday remotely observed exercises by its strategic nuclear forces that are meant to simulate a response to a massive nuclear strike.



Russian state television showed video of Putin observing the drills on a huge television screen, with comments from military leaders. In the broadcast, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the drills involved a nuclear submarine, long-range aircraft and multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.



The White House said Tuesday that Russia had given notice it was going to stage the annual exercises, called "Grom" or "Thunder." They come as NATO began its own annual nuclear exercise, known as "Steadfast Noon," on Monday.



For several days, Russian officials have alleged that Ukraine is planning to develop and use a so-called dirty bomb in its conflict with Russia.

Dirty bombs combine conventional explosives with radioactive material and are designed to spread radioactivity that can cause massive death and contamination.



The U.N. Security Council discussed Russias allegations at a closed-door meeting Tuesday.



Ukraine and its Western allies have strongly denied the allegations, and suspect they are being made as a pretext for some type of escalation in the war in Ukraine.



Speaking from alliance headquarters in Brussels Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the accusations absurd and "blatantly false, and he warned Russia not to use false pretexts to escalate the war.



U.S. President Joe Biden issued a similar warning Tuesday. When asked by a reporter if he thought Russia was using the dirty bomb allegations to set up a "false flag" operation and deploy a dirty bomb of its own, he said, "Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it to use tactical nuclear weapons."



Iranian drones



Biden met Wednesday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House. Herzog had indicated he planned to share intelligence with the U.S. president about Iranian drones being used by Russian forces in Ukraine.



Herzogs office said Israel has images showing similarities between drones shot down in Ukraine and those Iran tested in 2021. Ukraine and its Western partners have said Russias recent use of drones to attack Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, involves Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones.

Iran has denied supplying them to Russia, and Russia has denied using them in Ukraine. Kyiv has asked the U.N. to send experts to examine the debris, and the United States, Britain, France and Germany have also written to the U.N. supporting an investigation.



Russia called another meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to discuss whether the U.N. secretariat has the authority to send experts to Ukraine under the U.N. Charter and Security Council Resolution 2231, which restricts transfers of certain items to and from Iran.



The secretariat needs to respond to requests of member states, but to act on the basis of a clear explicit mandate and the U.N. Charter, not on the basis of the desires of certain countries, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said of Ukraine and the Western states letters.



Irans envoy said his country has taken a neutral position on the war and has consistently advocated for peace.



Iran has never provided the parties with weapons for use in the Ukraine conflict, either before or after the conflict, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told council members.



The U.N.s top lawyer told the council that the secretary-general is tasked with reporting twice a year on the implementation of Resolution 2231, including findings and recommendations.



Absent further guidance by the Security Council, the secretary-general will continue to prepare these reports in the manner that they have been prepared to date, U.N. legal counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares told the council.



The U.N. has not said it would deploy experts to Ukraine and has only gone so far as to say it is ready to assess any information a member state provides it, as in past reports.



In 2017 and 2021, the U.N. investigated allegations that Iran supplied drones to Houthi rebels in Yemen, which were used in attacks on Saudi Arabia. Last year, the U.N. team went to Israel to inspect Iranian drones that had infiltrated Israeli air space.



It is thus well-established that it is well within the authority of the secretary-general to investigate allegations of violations of Resolution 2231, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said.



Russia has called for yet another council meeting Thursday to discuss its debunked claims that Ukraine and the United States are planning to infect migratory birds, bats and even mosquitos with lethal pathogens, and then deploy them to infect Russian troops and/or civilians.



VOAs U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
GENEVA - A U.N. report warns the window for preventing a climate catastrophe is fast closing. The U.N. Environment Programs latest Emissions Gap Report urges unprecedented cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and a rapid transformation of societies to head off the worst.

The U.N. report finds the world is falling far short of the Paris climate goals agreement, with no credible pathway for limiting a temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said progress since last years climate change conference, COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland, has been woefully inadequate. She said nations have failed to deliver on their pledges for greater emissions cuts.

She noted greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 45 percent by 2030 to stop climate change. However, instead of stabilizing global temperatures at 1.5 degrees above the pre-industrial level, she said temperatures will likely rise 2.4 to 2.6 degrees by 2100.



We are sliding from climate crisis to climate disaster. This report is sending us a very, very clear message. If we are serious about climate change, we need to kickstart a system-wide transformation now. We need a root and branch redesign of the electricity sector, of the transport sector, of the building sector, and food systems.

Additionally, she said financial systems must be reformed so they can bankroll the required transformations. She says incremental changes no longer are an option. Bold action must be taken now.

Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization Peterri Talaas called the transformational changes doable. He noted the IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, earlier this year reported that prices of climate-friendly energy solutions have been dropping.

Nowadays, it is cheaper to invest in solar or wind energy as compared to the fossil energy. And the good news is also that 32 countries have reduced their emissions during the past 15 years, whereas their economies have been growing. So, there is not an automatic connection between economic growth and emissions growth.

He mentioned European countries, the United States, Japan, and Singapore as some of the countries that have managed to grow their economies while reducing emissions.

Environmental experts estimate a global transformation to a low-emissions economy is expected to require investments of at least $4 trillion to $6 trillion a year. They are urging nations attending next weeks COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to agree to foot the bill and to up their pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Of the nations that committed themselves to renewed efforts to fight climate change during last year's U.N. Climate Change Conference, or COP26, only a small fraction of them have followed through on their pledges, according to a report issued by the United Nations on Wednesday.

Each of the 193 countries involved in COP26 had produced plans for lowering emissions of greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Presented with evidence that their existing plans were insufficient to prevent the planet from warming by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels  the point at which scientists believe catastrophic climate changes become inevitable  the participants promised to revise them.

The report released Wednesday, which collected those action plans, found that of the 193 participants, only 24 had taken steps to increase their efforts at reducing emissions.

"At the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow [Scotland] last year, all countries agreed to revisit and strengthen their climate plans," Simon Stiell, executive secretary of U.N. Climate Change, said in a statement released to the media. "The fact that only 24 new or updated climate plans were submitted since COP26 is disappointing. Government decisions and actions must reflect the level of urgency, the gravity of the threats we are facing, and the shortness of the time we have remaining to avoid the devastating consequences of runaway climate change."

COP27 on the horizon



The announcement comes less than two weeks before the next U.N. Climate Change Conference, COP27, is scheduled to begin in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

Cherelle Blazer, senior director of the Sierra Club's International Climate and Policy Campaign, told VOA that the U.N.'s analysis doesn't come as a surprise to the activists tracking various countries' commitments.

"It's accurate, and I'm really glad that ahead of the conference, they're letting people know exactly where we are, and the fact that we need to be doing better, in really clear terms. We need to be trying to stay on track and understanding exactly what's at stake," Blazer said.

Some good news

While the overall findings of the report might be discouraging, there is some evidence that at least limited progress is being made.

While an assessment of current plans by U.N. Climate Change found that emissions would rise 13.7% by 2030 and would continue to rise after that, new commitments have changed the organization's analysis. If countries keep their promises, emissions will rise by only 10.6% between now and 2030 and will begin to decline after that, though not at the rate scientists believe is necessary.

"The downward trend in emissions expected by 2030 shows that nations have made some progress this year," Stiell said. "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 emissions reductions required to put us on track toward a 1.5-degree Celsius world. To keep this goal alive, national governments need to strengthen their climate action plans now and implement them in the next eight years."

The report warns that without significant changes, the planet will greatly exceed the 1.5-degree increase, noting that in the next century, temperatures could be between 2.1 and 2.9 degrees higher.

'Code red moment'

Climate activists told VOA they are hopeful that the new report will add a sense of urgency to the discussions at COP27.

"The main takeaway is that we're not winning. We're not going to be hitting any of our temperature and emissions goals," said Seth Laxman, a climate campaigner with Greenpeace USA.

"It's great that so many countries are creating these long-term low-emissions development strategies.  But ultimately, these plans mean nothing unless they are implemented in full and on time," he said. "We need actual accountability measures that can turn these goals into reality. And we also need the plans to become more ambitious, both in speed and scale.

"We're in a code red moment," Laxman said. "It's important to remember that the more we do now, the more impact it will have. Early emissions reductions mean that there will be less work to do in the future. But the longer that we delay, the more we'll have to compensate."

For their part, U.N. officials say they are confident that the representatives convening for COP27 will understand the urgency of the moment.

"COP27 will be the world's watershed moment on climate action," said Sameh Shoukry, Egyptian minister of foreign affairs and president-designate of COP27.

"The report from U.N. Climate Change and before that from the IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] are a timely reminder for all of us. Raising ambition and urgent implementation is indispensable for addressing the climate crisis," Shoukry said in a statement. "This includes cutting and removing emissions faster and at wider scope of economic sectors, to protect us from more severe adverse climate impacts and devastating loss and damage."
The U.N. special rapporteur for Myanmar warns that unless the international community changes how it deals with the military junta in that country, the already catastrophic situation will only get worse.

There's no coordination, there's no strategy. There's no focus. And as a result, these don't add up to any kind of a coherent whole, Tom Andrews told VOA of the various sanctions and arms embargoes imposed by some countries.

The humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated in Myanmar since the military ousted the countrys democratically elected government in February 2021. The power grab took place following days of tension between the military and the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), which won the November 2020 elections. The military refused to accept the results, alleging massive election fraud.

Since its takeover, the military leadership has sought to suppress protests and silence critics, jailing journalists, members of civil society, human rights defenders and political opponents.

Thousands and thousands of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have been detained, Andrews said. Many of them are children. People have been tortured, including children. And we see that the brutality of this military junta knows no bounds.

Military strikes

Last month, a military helicopter opened fire on a school in the northwestern Sagaing Region, killing 13 people, including seven children. Earlier this week, the military bombed the site of a concert where hundreds were celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the Kachin Independence Organization. At least 50 people were killed.

Andrews, an independent human rights expert whose mandate comes from the U.N. Human Rights Council, delivered his annual report Wednesday to the General Assembly committee that deals with human rights.

He singled out Myanmars civil society, human rights defenders and journalists as heroes who are risking their lives to document atrocities and deserve international support. The junta, he said, has committed crimes against humanity and war crimes.

There was no response to Andrews report from Myanmars military rulers, who are not currently represented at the U.N. When Andrews presented his report, the representative for Myanmars democratically elected government, which still has U.N. credentials, spoke and echoed the special rapporteurs findings.

Andrews recommended that countries form a coalition to implement a coordinated strategy to deprive the military of arms and fuel for their aircraft, financing, and the legitimacy the junta seeks.

That includes not assisting or recognizing planned elections next year, which he said the military wants to use to solidify its hold on power. Andrews said a free, fair and inclusive vote would be impossible in the current conditions.

You cannot have an election when you incarcerate, torture and execute the opposition, he said. You can't have an election where it's illegal to criticize the junta. This is outrageous. So, it's important that governments not give any kind of legitimacy to this fraud by providing any kind of assistance whatsoever.

Foreign ministers from regional bloc ASEAN are holding a special meeting Thursday on the situation in Myanmar. In April 2021, the 10-member bloc came up with a "five-point consensus" to end the fighting and move to dialogue. Myanmar military chief Min Aung Hlaing agreed to the package of proposals but has failed to implement it.

The special rapporteur said he was encouraged that there has been some criticism within ASEAN members about the five-point consensus and that there is discussion of new strategies.

Andrews said he had not been able to establish contact with ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi or President U Win Myint, who have been jailed by the junta. He does have ongoing engagement with the national unity government. As for contacts with the military leadership, he said he had sought entry into Myanmar but had been rejected.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Wednesday the United States determination to uphold peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and to ensure that differences between Beijing and Taipei are resolved peacefully.

With regard to Taiwan, the U.S. will be "standing up for the proposition thats held for decades that these differences need to be managed and resolved peacefully; that there cannot and should not be unilateral changes to the status quo, particularly by force; and that we have an abiding interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Blinken said during an event hosted by Bloomberg News.

That's a strong basic interest in the United States, and one that we're determined to uphold, he added.

The top diplomats remarks came days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping expanded his own powers and promoted loyalists as he secured a third term as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and head of the Central Military Commission.

In his nearly 25,000-word speech over the weekend, Xi told CCP delegates that it was Chinas historic mission and an unshakable commitment to realize a complete unification and bring Taiwan under Beijings control.

U.S. military officials have said Xi may attempt to seize Taiwan by 2027, the 100th birthday of the Peoples Liberation Armys (PLA). But recently, American officials warned that China was accelerating the timeline.

When we talk about the 2027 window, in my mind, that has to be a 2022 window or potentially a 2023 window. I cant rule that out. I dont mean at all to be [an] alarmist by saying that. its just that we cant wish that away, Admiral Mike Gilday, U.S. chief of naval operations, said at a virtual event hosted by the Atlantic Council on October 19.

Officials in U.S. President Joe Bidens administration have said Washington is not seeking a decoupling with Beijing. The term refers to progressively severing economic and trade linkages between the U.S. and China and was often heard during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

Defense of values

Blinken, in his remarks Wednesday, envisioned a competitive relationship between the worlds two largest economies in the coming years, adding the U.S. is not seeking to shape internal Chinese politics.

We don't look for conflict. We don't want a cold war, he said. But equally, we're resolute in standing up for our interests, standing up for our values.

For decades, the U.S. has opposed any unilateral change of the status quo by parties on either side of the Taiwan Strait, a strategic waterway transited every year by a major share of global commerce.

"What's changed is this: the decision by the government in Beijing that the status quo is no longer acceptable, that they wanted to speed up the process by which they would pursue reunification, said Blinken.

Blinken also addressed a comment this week by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who said North Korea had finished preparations for what would be its seventh nuclear test since 2006.

Pyongyang this year has launched a record number of missiles, including a ballistic missile that flew over Japan this month.

It is fair to say that obviously, no one has succeeded in resolving the problem posed by North Korea's nuclear program and the danger it poses to the region, Blinken said at the Bloomberg event. But he said the U.S. was shoring up the defensive deterrence capacity of allies in the region, namely, Japan and South Korea.

The State Departments No. 2 official, Wendy Sherman, held a trilateral meeting Wednesday with her Japanese and South Korean counterparts to discuss the escalating threats from North Korea. Officials are warning of an unparalleled scale of response and consequences should Pyongyang go ahead with a seventh nuclear test.
The U.S. Embassy in South Africa has issued a rare warning of a possible terror attack this coming weekend in Sandton, an upmarket business district of Johannesburg sometimes dubbed "Africa's richest square mile." South Africas president has criticized the U.S. for putting out the alert and causing panic without first consulting the government.

The Johannesburg neighborhood of Sandton is one of the wealthiest areas in Africa, home to luxury boutiques, upmarket restaurants and major international corporations.

So it was a shock to many South Africans when the U.S. Embassy issued an alert Wednesday saying 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.

The embassy did not give any detail as to whos believed to be behind the threat or the exact target or expected method of attack. It advised its staff to avoid the area over the weekend, with the attack believed to be planned for Saturday.

At Sandton City, a mall directly across from the U.S. Consulate, security was beefed up Thursday, with armed guards stationed at the shopping centers entrance.

Asked if she was alarmed by the terror warning, shopper Stella Sebalo said she was very concerned because such threats are extremely unusual in South Africa.

Its a first in South Africa, hence it was like what? Its a first so Im really hoping its just a threat and nothing more, she said.

Friedrich Van Zyl, a businessman whos been attending a work conference in Sandton this week, said since hearing of the warning other attendees were staying away.

At this moment a lot of our colleagues and friends have not come to Sandton, he said.

Johannesburgs gay pride event is set to take place in Sandton this weekend, with some speculation in local media that it could be a target.

Asked at a press conference Thursday about the terror alert, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the U.S. for having issued it without first having a discussion with the government, calling it unfortunate.

"Any form of alert will come from the government of the republic of South Africa and it is unfortunate that another government should issue such a threat as to send panic amongst our people," he said.

However, Ramaphosa said the government and its agencies were looking closely at the U.S. warning.

U.S. Embassy spokesman David Feldmann told VOA he didnt have anything to add to what was already in the alert.

Many of the South Africans VOA spoke to at the mall expressed trepidation at the threat and said theyd be staying away from Sandton this weekend.

But one shopper, Preshaan Salikram, joked with trademark South African black humor that given Johannesburgs high rate of violent crime, it was the terrorists who should be worried.

No Im not worried about it at all. This is South Africa, we terrorize terrorists here...Theyll probably get robbed before they get to us, said Salikram.

Unlike other African countries fighting Islamist militant groups, including neighboring Mozambique, South Africa is at peace and threats like this are rare.
The United States is trying to make it easier for companies and organizations to bolster their cybersecurity in the face of growing attacks aimed at crippling their operations, stealing their data or demanding ransom payments.

Officials with the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) rolled out their new Cybersecurity Performance Goals on Thursday, describing them as a critical but voluntary resource that will help companies and organizations make better decisions.

"Really what these cybersecurity performance goals present is a menu of options to advance one's cybersecurity," Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters, describing the rollout as a "watershed moment" for cybersecurity.

"They are accessible, they are easy to understand, and they are identified according to the cost that each would entail, the complexity to implement the goal, as well as the magnitude of the impact that the goal's implementation would have," he added.

For months, U.S. officials have been warning of an ever more complex and dangerous threat environment in cyberspace, pushing the government's "Shields Up" awareness campaign, driven in part by Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.

They have also called attention to cyberattacks by Iran and North Korea, while warning that both nation states and non-state actors have increasingly been scanning and targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, from water and electric companies to airports, which were struck by a series of denial-of-service attacks earlier in October.

Private cybersecurity companies have likewise warned of a growing number of attacks against health care companies and education and research organizations.

While some bigger U.S. companies and organizations have been able to devote time, money and other resources to confront the growing dangers, U.S. officials are concerned that others have not.

In particular, CISA has worried about small to mid-sized businesses, along with hospitals and school systems, often described by officials as target rich but resource poor because they do not have the money or resources to defend systems and data from hackers.

Officials said the new guidelines, which focus on key areas like account security, training, incident reporting, and response and recovery, and come with checklists, are designed to ease the burden. The officials also said they anticipate the goals will change and evolve along with the threat.

The newly unveiled goals "were developed to really represent a minimum baseline of cyber security measures that if implemented, will reduce not only risk to critical infrastructure but also to national security, economic security and public health and safety," said CISA Director Jen Easterly, calling them a "quick start guide."

"[It's] really a place to start to drive prioritized investment toward the most critical practices," she said.

According to CISA, many of the new goals are already resonating, including with state and local officials running U.S. elections.

"We've been working with them to implement several of these best practices, as well as ensuring that they have the tools and resources and the capabilities to ensure the security and resilience of election infrastructure," Easterly told reporters Thursday. "I've met with election officials even just over the past few days  and they all expressed confidence in particular in the cybersecurity across all of their systems."

CISA also said Thursday that U.S. states and territories needing more help can take advantage of $1 billion in grants that are being made available over the next four years.

The grants, designed specifically to help protect U.S. critical infrastructure, were first announced last month.
The United States said Thursday it would give an additional $30 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan to support victims of recent catastrophic flooding in the South Asian nation. It brings the total disaster-related assistance from Washington to Islamabad this year to $97 million.



U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome announced the new funding during a trip to southern Sindh province, one of the country's worst-hit regions.



"We have been here for the people of Pakistan since the beginning, supporting the most vulnerable communities. With these new funds, the United States will expand upon its existing response, enabling USAID to reach more than 1.8 million people in Pakistan," Blome said.





Pakistani and United Nations officials say torrential seasonal rainfall, made worse by global climate change, has triggered floods across Pakistan, affecting 33 million people and killing more than 1,700 others since June. Floodwaters destroyed or damaged 2.1 million houses, killed 1.2 million livestock, damaged 13,000 kilometers of roads, displaced 8 million people, including 644,000 living in relief camps, and drenched one-third of the country at one point.



A U.S. Embassy statement said the new funding would provide lifesaving food, nutrition, shelter supplies, winterization kits, and health assistance to mitigate increased food insecurity and malnutrition resulting from the impact of the floods. It will also support efforts aimed at curbing the rise of diseases resulting from stagnant flood waters, it said.



The United Nations said Thursday that 7% of the land in Pakistan is still inundated, warning health perils are changing with a rise in respiratory diseases.



"Water is receding, but now there's not enough water for [operating] rescue boats. This is increasing the number of areas which are inaccessible. People are returning to nothing," noted a U.N. statement. It lamented that people in hundreds of villages are surviving on fish from the water they drink, cook with, clean in, and defecate in.



The U.N. earlier this month increased its international humanitarian aid appeal to $816 million from $160 million for Pakistan after reviewing the scale of the disaster and fearing a surge in water-borne diseases, as well as growing food insecurity, could pose new challenges for the impoverished country.



The U.N. statement noted Thursday that 23%, or $110 million, has been committed to the appeal.



"Funding for food assistance may finish by the end of the year if more funds are not received. An estimated 14.6 million people require emergency food assistance from December through March 2023," the statement said. Almost 10 million children require immediate lifesaving support, while nearly 4 million lack access to health services, it added. "The shelter is becoming more and more important as people return home and winter sets in."



Nearly 2,000 health facilities have been damaged or destroyed in calamity-hit districts where more than 8 million people need health assistance. About 650,000 pregnant women in flood-affected areas face challenges in getting access to maternal services.



Pakistan officials have estimated damage from the flooding at about $40 billion, urging the global community to do more to provide financial aid to the country of about 220 million people.



Pakistan maintains that it produces less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, but it is listed among the top 10 countries vulnerable to climate change-driven disasters.
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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed Wednesday that the Biden administration supports the people of Iran, and said there may be cooperation between Iran and Russia in dealing with Iranian protesters.

"We stand with the brave citizens and the brave women of Iran who right now are demonstrating to secure their basic rights," Jean-Pierre told reporters.

She said the United States is "concerned that Moscow may be advising Tehran on best practices to manage protests, drawing on Russias extensive experience in suppressing open demonstrations."

Jean-Pierre added that the evidence that Iran is helping Russia in the war in Ukraine is "clear and public."

Ukraine and its Western partners, including the United States, have said drones used by Russian forces to attack Ukraine in recent weeks were supplied by Iran. Russia has denied using Iranian drones and Iran has denied supplying them to Russia.

"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 sending weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians."

At the same briefing Wednesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Russia and Iran are working together to violate the human and civil rights of Iranians and to endanger the lives of Ukrainians.

"The United States stands with Iran  Iranian women and with all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery. We will continue taking action to impose costs on those who commit violence against peaceful protesters or otherwise seek to suppress their very, very basic rights."
Ukraines state energy company said Thursday it was limiting electricity use in multiple regions of the country after Russian attacks overnight targeting energy infrastructure.

Ukrenergo said damage from the strikes included equipment in the central part of the country. It said restrictions on power use are necessary to avoid network overloads and to make it easier to fix damaged facilities.

The new attacks on Ukrainian energy sites came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked workers in the energy sector for their efforts to stabilize the power grid.

No matter what the enemy does, our task is to break its plans and protect Ukraine. And this is not just someone's task, it concerns not only energy workers or anyone else. Conscious energy consumption is now needed by all Ukrainians, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address Wednesday.

A Russia-installed official in Crimea said Thursday an overnight drone attack targeted a thermal power plant in the Russia-annexed peninsula.

The official said there was no threat to the power supply there and that there were no casualties.

Nuclear exercises

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday remotely observed exercises by its strategic nuclear forces that are meant to simulate a response to a massive nuclear strike.



Russian state television showed video of Putin observing the drills on a huge television screen, with comments from military leaders. In the broadcast, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the drills involved a nuclear submarine, long-range aircraft and multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.



The White House said Tuesday that Russia had given notice it was going to stage the annual exercises, called "Grom" or "Thunder." They come as NATO began its own annual nuclear exercise, known as "Steadfast Noon," on Monday.



For several days, Russian officials have alleged that Ukraine is planning to develop and use a so-called dirty bomb in its conflict with Russia.

SEE ALSO:

Dirty bombs combine conventional explosives with radioactive material and are designed to spread radioactivity that can cause massive death and contamination.



The U.N. Security Council discussed Russias allegations at a closed-door meeting Tuesday.



Ukraine and its Western allies have strongly denied the allegations, and suspect they are being made as a pretext for some type of escalation in the war in Ukraine.



Speaking from alliance headquarters in Brussels Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the accusations absurd and "blatantly false, and he warned Russia not to use false pretexts to escalate the war.



U.S. President Joe Biden issued a similar warning Tuesday. When asked by a reporter if he thought Russia was using the dirty bomb allegations to set up a "false flag" operation and deploy a dirty bomb of its own, he said, "Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for it to use tactical nuclear weapons."



Iranian drones



Biden met Wednesday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House. Herzog had indicated he planned to share intelligence with the U.S. president about Iranian drones being used by Russian forces in Ukraine.



Herzogs office said Israel has images showing similarities between drones shot down in Ukraine and those Iran tested in 2021. Ukraine and its Western partners have said Russias recent use of drones to attack Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, involves Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones.

SEE ALSO:

Iran has denied supplying them to Russia, and Russia has denied using them in Ukraine. Kyiv has asked the U.N. to send experts to examine the debris, and the United States, Britain, France and Germany have also written to the U.N. supporting an investigation.



Russia called another meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday to discuss whether the U.N. secretariat has the authority to send experts to Ukraine under the U.N. Charter and Security Council Resolution 2231, which restricts transfers of certain items to and from Iran.



The secretariat needs to respond to requests of member states, but to act on the basis of a clear explicit mandate and the U.N. Charter, not on the basis of the desires of certain countries, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said of Ukraine and the Western states letters.



Irans envoy said his country has taken a neutral position on the war and has consistently advocated for peace.



Iran has never provided the parties with weapons for use in the Ukraine conflict, either before or after the conflict, Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told council members.



The U.N.s top lawyer told the council that the secretary-general is tasked with reporting twice a year on the implementation of Resolution 2231, including findings and recommendations.



Absent further guidance by the Security Council, the secretary-general will continue to prepare these reports in the manner that they have been prepared to date, U.N. legal counsel Miguel de Serpa Soares told the council.

The U.N. has not said it would deploy experts to Ukraine and has only gone so far as to say it is ready to assess any information a member state provides it, as in past reports.



In 2017 and 2021, the U.N. investigated allegations that Iran supplied drones to Houthi rebels in Yemen, which were used in attacks on Saudi Arabia. Last year, the U.N. team went to Israel to inspect Iranian drones that had infiltrated Israeli air space.



It is thus well-established that it is well within the authority of the secretary-general to investigate allegations of violations of Resolution 2231, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood said.



Russia has called for yet another council meeting Thursday to discuss its debunked claims that Ukraine and the United States are planning to infect migratory birds, bats and even mosquitos with lethal pathogens, and then deploy them to infect Russian troops and/or civilians.



VOAs U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Juma Majanga

KIBWEZI, KENYA  More frequent and severe droughts in Africa are hampering food production, especially in arid parts of the continent, where farmers struggle to eke out a living. A water retention system developed in the United States is helping African farmers fight the trend and improve crop yields in drought-affected areas.

Under the scorching sun in the Ulilinzi village of southeastern Kenya, farmers are engaging in unique land preparations.

They are installing in the ground specially designed polyethylene membranes that look like clear covers, to prevent the loss of moisture and nutrients from the soil.

Exacerbated by drought from climate change, the sandy soil in this area, like in most arid and semi-arid areas, has made it nearly impossible to produce abundant crops.

However, this new water retention technology developed in the U.S. is giving farmers here new hope.

Alvin Smucker is a professor of soil biophysics at Michigan State University who developed the technology.

We had a lot of government funding, going into millions and millions of dollars to put all these systems together. And then test it in Texas, Arizona, California and Michigan. And these  we  all four universities that worked with us. So, this is not something that we just put a little container in the backyard  my backyard  and now we are saying it is the best in the world. It has been tested, he said.

Shem Kuyah, a researcher at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, is one of the scientists leading the trials of the technology in Kenya.

We have tested the technology with cowpea[s]. We have also tested the technology with maize, and we realized that farms where we had installed these membranes were more productive, said Kuyah.

The technology has so far been tested in Zimbabwe and Kenya and is getting good reviews.

Florence Mutisya, a farmer in Ulilinzi village, has deployed the technology in her farm.

She said when the technology came, she was trained on how to make her sandy soil farm fertile. I saw the benefits and deployed it in my farm. And I can say that this technology is working very well because now, I get [a] good harvest.

A few meters away, Ann Mutunga is harvesting kales at her farm.

This technology is very good. She poses before she continues. I can say it is good, because when it was used in my farm for trials, I harvested a lot of maize, Mutunga explains. Even now, we are very happy because as you can see, we have vegetables which you cant find anywhere else around here, she says, beaming with a smile.

The International Center for Tropical Agriculture is among the organizations spearheading trials of the subsurface water retention technology in the sub-Saharan region and says it can bring about a green revolution in the long run, as Sylvia Nyawira, a researcher at the center, explains.

In addition to the technology, farmers, if they continue to apply, for instance, manure, retain their crop residues in the soil, reducing tillage in the soils. Then theres buildup of organic matter. So, even in five years to come, the yields that we have been witnessing in plots that have the technology are expected to be much higher.

Apart from improving crop yields, experts say the technology can also help in climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.

As you increase productivity, the crops are able to take carbon from the atmosphere and fix it into their biomass. And when this material is incorporated into the soil, it increases soil organic matter. And by increasing the organic matter in the soil, you are able to fix carbon dioxide that was once in the atmosphere. You are able to lock it into the soil, said Kuyah.

A key drawback of this new water retention technology is the high cost and labor involved. It costs between 1,250 to 2,000 U.S. dollars to buy the specialized membranes to cover one hectare of land.

The challenge now is making this technology available for farmers in remote areas who need it the most.
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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
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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
The January/February edition of TV LATINA will give you exposure at two events! Here are the FREE benefits you will receive from advertising with us in the January/February 2023 print and digital edition. This edition will be extensively distributed at the Hilton Miami Downtown during Content Americas and at the Grand Beach Hotel during DISCOP Miami. The January/February print edition of TV Latina will be mailed to our extensive circulation of media executives in Latin America, the U.S. Hispanic market and Iberia. Your advertisement will also appear in the January/February digital edition of TV Latina, which will be sent out to approximately 35,000 media executives prior to Content Americas and DISCOP Miami. The digital edition will be extensively promoted in our newsletters, websites and social media handles before, during and after the events. Your company will receive an article up front in the magazine featuring program highlights, an image of a show, a quote from an executive at the company and a headshot. We will also run your article in Diario TV Latina before the markets. The article will also run on TVLatina.tv before the markets. You will receive invaluable social media exposure by having your article tweeted to @tvlatinas followers. You will also get your complete program listings in a digital edition of TV Listings, which will be available to our online database of 35,000 readers before the markets. You can feature up to ten video clips in your own Screening Room for Content Americas and DISCOP Miami on our video portal TVLatinaScreenings.tv for two months. We will also run your complete program listings in the TV Latina App (Spanish language), available for iOS and Android. Your companys product news will receive priority treatment in our English- and Spanish-language online newsletters and websites. Please keep in mind we have the best articles, the best interviews, the best design, the best paper, the best printing, the best distribution and the best circulation. We hope the above proposal will give you the incentive to join the most important, respected and influential publishing group in international media. We can offer you the following options:  A single-page advertisement in the print and digital editions for US$2,000.

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The 14-year mystery about the killer of UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann ended Thursday when David Kahl, who had been running a door-to-door scam in Zimmermann's neighborhood the day she died, pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide.

Ben Gonring, one of the attorneys for Kahl, 56, said during a plea hearing Thursday for Kahl that last week, after a series of meetings between Kahl, Gonring and Kahl's other attorney, Guy Cardamone, "and really a lot of soul-searching from David, he let go of a secret that he had been keeping for 14 years."

Kahl told his attorneys what happened on April 2, 2008, when he was going door-to-door in Zimmermann's neighborhood, running a scam to collect money to repair a non-existent flat tire. He was really collecting money for crack cocaine, and was already high when he went to Zimmermann's apartment in the 500 block of West Doty Street, Gonring said.

"He certainly didn't go there with the intent to kill anybody or even harm anybody," Gonring said. "And she was kind. The evidence has always been clear that she was a kind-hearted person and was that day."

But once Kahl was in Zimmermann's apartment and ran his scheme unsuccessfully, Gonring said, he stepped into the bathroom for a moment and when he came out, Zimmermann was on the phone.

"He basically lost it, for lack of a better phrase," Gonring said. "He was in the throes of a lot of drug usage and was paranoid and had not been out of prison for all that long, was very worried about what was happening on the other end of that line, and then proceeded to do acts which absolutely fit the criteria for first-degree intentional homicide."

Gonring did not describe what Kahl did, but court documents state that Zimmermann, 21, died from stab wounds and strangulation.

The secret was not an easy one for Kahl to share, Gonring said, but he has "felt some relief in telling it" and will feel more relief by coming to court and pleading guilty.

Kahl said he had never told anyone the story, but that he wanted to "stop the speculation, I want to stop the false accusations that I've made over the course of time, I want people to know the truth about what happened, and I don't want people to wonder."

Kahl, of Madison, who was charged about 2 years ago with killing Zimmermann, was considered a suspect almost from the start of the case and had been interviewed multiple times. He had been set for a three-week trial that was to begin in mid-January.

Dane County Circuit Judge Chris Taylor sentenced Kahl to the mandatory life prison sentence and set a hearing for Jan. 12 to determine when, if ever, Kahl would be eligible for release on extended supervision.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors will ask that Kahl be made eligible for extended supervision consideration after serving 20 years, but Taylor can set his eligibility for any period of time after 20 years, or rule that he can never be eligible.

This story will be updated.
When war comes, governments always believe that they must boost the morale of their people by showering them with propaganda. The stakes are so high, life and death, that debates get tougher and extremist positions become popular. This is exactly what we are witnessing, or rather how we are being transformed. In this game, the ideas defended by some and others have nothing to do with their ideological presuppositions, but with their proximity to power

In the etymological sense, propaganda is just the art of convincing, of propagating ideas. But in modern times, it is an art that aims at reconstructing reality in order to denigrate the adversary and magnify ones own troops.

Contrary to a widespread idea in the West, it was not the Nazis or the Soviets who invented it, but the British and the Americans during the First World War [1].

Today, Nato coordinates efforts in this area from its Strategic Communication Centre in Riga, Latvia [2]. It identifies the points on which it wants to act and organizes international programs to carry them out.

For example, NATO has identified Israel as a weak point: while former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a personal friend of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, his successor, Naftali Bennett, recognized the validity of Russian policy. He even advised the return of Crimea and Donbass and, above all, the denazification of Ukraine. The current Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, is more hesitant. He does not want to support the fundamentalist nationalists who massacred a million Jews shortly before and during the Second World War. But he also wants to stay on good terms with the West.

To bring Israel back into line, Nato is trying to persuade Tel Aviv that in case of a Russian victory, Israel would lose its position in the Middle East [3]. To this end, it is spreading the lie that Iran is Russias military ally as widely as possible. The international press is constantly claiming that Russian drones are Iranian on the battlefield, and soon the medium-range missiles will be too. Yet Moscow knows how to manufacture these weapons and has never asked Tehran for them. Russia and Iran have repeatedly denied these allegations. But Western politicians, relying on the press and not on mere reflection, have already imposed sanctions on Iranian arms dealers. Soon Yair Lapid, son of the president of the Yad Vashem memorial, will be surrounded and forced to side with the criminals.

The British, on the other hand, traditionally excel in activating networked media and enlisting artists. MI6 relies on a group of 150 news agencies working within the PR Network [4]. They convince all these companies to take up their imputations and slogans.

They are the ones who successively convinced you that President Vladimir Putin was dying, then that he had gone mad, or that he was facing strong opposition at home and that he would be overthrown by a coup. Their work continues today with cross interviews with soldiers in Ukraine. You hear Ukrainian soldiers say they are nationalists and Russian soldiers say they are afraid but must defend Russia. You hear that Ukrainians are not Nazis and that Russians, living under a dictatorship, are forced to fight. In reality, most Ukrainian soldiers are not "nationalists" in the sense of defenders of their homeland, but "integral nationalists" in the sense of two poets, Charles Maurras and Dmytro Dontsov [5]. This is not the same thing at all.

It was only in 1925 that Pope Pius XI condemned "integral nationalism". At that time Dontsov had already written his  (Nationalism) (1921). Maurras and Dontsov defined the nation as a tradition and thought their nationalism against others (Maurras against Germans and Dontsov against Russians). Both abhorred the French Revolution, the principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and denounced Jews and Freemasons relentlessly. They consider religion as useful for the organization of society, but seem agnostic. These positions lead Maurras to become a Petainist and Dontsov a Hitlerian. The latter will sink into a varegue (Swedish Viking) mystical delirium. The next pope, Pius XII, repealed the condemnation of his predecessor, just before the war broke out. At the liberation, Maurras was condemned for intelligence with the enemy (he was a Germanophobe), but Dontsov was recuperated by the Anglo-Saxon secret services and exiled to Canada, then to the USA.

As for the Russian soldiers we see interviewed on our TV news, they do not tell us that they are forced to fight, but, unlike the integral nationalists, they are not fanatics. For them, war, even when defending their own, is always a horror. It is because we are repeatedly told that Russia is a dictatorship that we understand something else. We do not accept that Russia is a democracy because, for us, a democracy cannot be an authoritarian regime. Yet, for example, the Second French Republic (1848-1852) was both a democracy and an authoritarian regime.

We are easy to convince because we know nothing about Ukrainian history and culture. The most we know is that Novorossia was ruled by a French aristocrat, Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis de Richelieu, a personal friend of Tsar Alexander I. He continued the work of the Prince of Ukraine. He continued the work of Prince Grigori Potemkin who wanted to build this region on the model of Athens and Rome, which explains why today Novorossia is still of Russian culture (and not Ukrainian) without ever having known serfdom.

We in Ukraine are unaware of the atrocities of the interwar period and the Second World War, and have a vague idea of the violence of the USSR. We ignore that the theoretician Dontsov and his disciple Stepan Bandera did not hesitate to massacre all those who did not correspond to their "integral nationalism", first the Jews in this Khazar country, then the Russians and the Communists, the anarchists of Nestor Makhno, and many others. The "integral nationalists", who had become admirers of the Fuhrer and deeply racist, returned to the forefront with the dissolution of the USSR [6]. On May 6, 1995, President Leonid Kuchma went to Munich (to the CIA offices) to meet with the leader of the integral nationalists, Steva Stesko, the widow of the Nazi prime minister. She had just been elected to the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament), but had not been able to take her seat because she had been stripped of her Ukrainian citizenship. A month later, Ukraine adopted its current constitution, which states in its Article 16 that "preserving the genetic heritage of the Ukrainian people is the responsibility of the state" (sic). Subsequently, the same Steva Stetsko twice opened the session of the Rada, concluding her speeches with the war cry of the integral nationalists: "Glory to Ukraine!

Modern Ukraine has patiently built its Nazi regime. After proclaiming the "genetic heritage of the Ukrainian people", it enacted various laws. The first one grants the benefit of human rights by the state only to Ukrainians, not to foreigners. The second defines who the majority of Ukrainians are, and the third (enacted by President Zelensky) who the minorities are. The trick is that no law speaks about Russian speakers. Therefore, by default, the courts do not recognize them the benefit of human rights.

Since 2014, a civil war has pitted the integral nationalists against the Russian-speaking populations, mainly those of Crimea and Donbass. 20,000 deaths later, the Russian Federation, applying its "responsibility to protect," launched a special military operation to implement Security Council Resolution 2202 (Minsk Agreements) and end the martyrdom of Russian speakers.

President Zelensky and his friend, Benjamin Netanyahu. The latter is now making support for Ukraine his main election campaign theme. Netanyahu is the son of the private secretary of Zeev Jabotinsky, a Ukrainian figure who allied with the mainstream nationalists against the Bolsheviks. He tried to put the Ukrainian Jewish community at the service of these anti-Semites, but was unanimously denounced within the World Zionist Organization, of which he became a director.

Nato propaganda tells us about the real sufferings of the Ukrainians, but it does not mention the eight years of torture, murder and massacres that preceded it. It talks about "our common values with Ukrainian democracy", but what values do we share with the integral nationalists and where is the democracy in Ukraine?

We do not have to choose between one or the other, but only to defend peace and therefore the Minsk Agreements and resolution 2202.

War drives us crazy. There is a reversal of values. The most extremist triumph. Some of our ministers speak of "stifling Russia" (sic). We do not see that we are supporting the very ideas we believe we are fighting against.
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.
A Pennsylvania woman who was killed alongside her daughter in a car crash involving Wisconsins state Senate minority leader was driving at 100 mph seconds before the collision, according to police documents made public Thursday.

Among the documents is an inspection of the vehicle driven by Alyssa Ortman, 27, who was killed along with her 5-year-old daughter, Khaleesi Fink, in the July 22 crash. Details of the vehicle inspections were first reported by the Ashland Daily Press. Other documents show that state troopers reported finding a vape pen in Ortmans car that was believed to contain Delta8, a compound similar to marijuana. Results of a drug screen are still pending.

Democratic Sen. Janet Bewley, 70, of Mason, had just pulled onto a highway into the path of Ortmans car when the two vehicles collided. Ortmans car then spun across the median of a highway and into the path of another vehicle.

Police have previously reported that Bewley was distracted by a hands-free mobile phone at the time of the crash. And in an interview with police, Bewley said she had had cataract surgery on one eye the day before the crash but that her eyesight was fine. Ashland County District Attorney David Meany said Thursday his office hasnt made a decision on whether to file any charges.

Bewleys office issued a statement Thursday that didnt address the speed finding, but instead thanked law enforcement and first responders.

This has been a heartbreaking event for the community. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be focused on the individuals involved, their families and their loved ones, it said.

Ortmans mother had not responded to a telephone message left Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this month, the father of Khaleesi Fink, Brandon Fink, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bewley. He also alleged that Ortman and the driver of the third vehicle acted negligently. His attorneys declined to comment after the police inspection report became public.
100 years since Mussolini's March on Rome: what really happened and why it still matters today.

This week marks the centenary of the March on Rome but while Mussolini's fascist dream might be over, the chequered legacy of that day lives on.

ROME: 100 years ago, ragged fascist squads converged on the outskirts of Rome, ready to seize power on behalf of their leader Benito Mussolini.

In the face of the marchers supposed fascist might, the Italian liberal government had resolved to reply with force. Italys prime minister Luigi Facta hurried to the Quirinal Palace to get King Victor Emmanuel III to sign a decree of martial law. This would have deployed the army to defend the city from the fascists, but the anticipated battle for Rome did not materialise.

In what would become a historic loss of nerve, the weak King Victor Emmanuel III overruled his prime minister's request to declare a state of siege and simply installed Mussolini as the leader of the government - no actual coup detat was required.

This Friday - on 28 October 2022 - Italy will mark the centenary of the March of Rome. It is a significant milestone in Italys modern history, not least because it was the birth of the fascist dream but it also paved the way for the rise of a totalitarian evolution that would spread across Europe, and consequently, and perhaps most seriously, to Germany ten years later.

In a twist of historical coincidence, this year the event has renewed political intensity.

It falls on the week in which Giorgia Meloni assumes her responsibility as prime minister, becoming the first far-right leader of Italy since the world war two. It is a week in which Italy's fascist past seems to be colliding with its present.Sitting in his office at the National Association of Italian Partisans, ANPI, in the Prati district of Rome, Fabrizio De Sanctis says: The March on Rome is a very important day to remember. First and foremost in order that we dont have to relive it.

On sale in newsstands in Rome today not one calendar devoted to #Mussolini but two. pic.twitter.com/RtsGGrGJjC Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) October 13, 2022

De Sanctis is the president of the local Rome section of ANPI, the organisation set up by members of the Italian Resistance in 1945 to preserve the memory of the partisans' fierce battle with fascism during world war two. Today, as Italy continues to stumble through endless economic and political crises, he sees his work as important as ever.

Its vital to continue to reinforce antifascist safeguards. Fascists came to power in Italy during a deep social crisis and today we can see a very large crisis looming too, he says.

He is not wrong. In the months leading up to Mussolini's fateful power grab, the pre-Fascist political leadership had lost confidence in itself. The country was actually on the brink of civil war. Four fears of left-wing and then right-wing unrest had left the establishment, especially King Victor Emmanuel III, weary.

Italo Balbo (second from left), Emilio De Bono (third from left), and Benito Mussolini (centre) during the March on Rome, October 1922. Photo Britannica.

De Sanctis recognises that the parallels end there. Comparisons of the past often obscure the realities of the present. Nevertheless, occasional outbursts of right-wing violence, such as the assault of the CGIL trade union headquarters in Rome on 9 October 2021 and the right-wing mass media, pose new challenges to the work of antifascists like De Sanctis.

Unlike in countries such as Germany and Japan, theres often a somewhat slack, even indulgent attitude to Mussolinis fascism in Italy. The anniversary of the March of Rome is often commemorated by vigils, ceremonies and demonstrations by those on the right, as well as protests on the left.

This is partly because neo-fascists today venerate the revolutionary mythology of the day: the march represents a thread linking Mussolini to their modern reactionary and revolutionary politics.

Speaking on the phone with the president of the extreme right and proudly fascist group Azione Frontale, Ernesto Moroni, tells me that: The March of Rome is the emblem of fascism - its the revolutionary founding principle that united the country.

Mussolini addressing crowds outside Palazzo Venezia in Rome

But as recounted today, 28 October 1922 was less of a heroic revolutionary enterprise and more of a low-key excursion by a ragtag group of blackshirts who arrived mostly by train. Far from being at the vanguard of the conquest of power, Mussolini had actually hung back in Milan, ready to flee the country to Switzerland if the march failed.

For Dr Giorgio Poti, of The American University of Rome, fascist mythology presents the day as a revolution but in reality, there was almost no subversive potential in the march - it could easily have been crushed by the king...Mussolini became prime minister in perfect compliance with Italy's political system.

This is not something to underestimate. The success of the March of Rome was a large part thanks to the silent acquiescence of much of the establishment: the church, the judiciary, the army, and most importantly the monarchy, who saw Mussolini as a lesser evil than socialism.

A recent documentary by filmmaker Mark Cousins, entitled The March on Rome (2022), relates this complacency with Americas Capitol riots, and the concession that Donald Trump was hoping to force in 2021.

As we approach the hundred-year milestone, Italians are forced to reflect on the legacy of the March of Rome.

There is a conspicuous uneasiness about the anniversary. Unlike in other years, there are few planned demonstrations or public ceremonies from the far-right marking the day.

Giorgia Meloni, who once described Mussolini as the best politician of the last 50 years, is very eager to distance herself from the fascist regime. In her first speech as prime minister, Meloni issued her strongest condemnation of fascism, saying she had never sympathised with anti-democratic regimes.

It is clear the prime minister is trying to make the tricky reconciliation between her position as a stateswoman of the West with her cultural identity in the far right. In light of the historical political week, the burning question is whether she will go far enough.

In the meantime, De Sanctis and the National Association of Italian Partisans are clear, if anything discreditable happens on the day of the anniversary, we are ready to react, he says.

By Charles Seymour
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The African Union has begun a last-ditch effort to end the civil war in Ethiopia, arguably the worlds deadliest ongoing conflict. Representatives of the Ethiopian government and the dissident Tigray Peoples Liberation Front are in Pretoria for negotiations mediated by a troika of African grandees: former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

Representatives from the US and the United Nations are among the observers.

This is potentially an inflection point for Africas second-most populous country, once its most promising economy. Few expect the negotiations to end the civil war, which is nearing the close of its second year. But a return to the humanitarian ceasefire announced in the spring might be within reach.

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The outcome of the talks hinges on whether Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is prepared to give up the momentum achieved by his troops since fighting resumed in late August. The US, which helped mediate that ceasefire, should maintain pressure on Abiy to agree to another truce. But it should also prepare for the worst: A humanitarian crisis that rivals with the greatest African calamities of the past century.

The portents arent good. A year ago, on the first anniversary of the wars outbreak, Abiy swore to bury the TPLF. Now, having retaken territory in the northern Tigray province, his government is signaling its intention to deliver the coup de grace against the group, which once dominated Ethiopian politics and opposes Abiys efforts to centralize power in Addis Ababa. Even as the Ethiopian government prepared for the parleys in Pretoria, its military stepped up the offensive in Tigray, supported by the forces of neighboring Eritrea.

The African Unions track record as a mediator, in a conflict that has raged uncomfortably close to its headquarters in the Ethiopian capital, doesnt allow for much optimism. It has shown little inclination to lean on Abiy, or even hold up a mirror to the former Nobel Peace laureate for the appalling war crimes blamed on his troops. These include inflicting starvation on civilians and the sexual slavery of Tigrayan women. A UN panel has also accused the Eritreans and TPLF of abuses.

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Nor does the AU have much leverage with the man goading Abiy on: Eritrean dictator Isaias Afwerki, who nurtures historical grievances against the Tigrayans. Afwerki led his nation to independence from TPLF-ruled Ethiopia in the early 1990s, but disputes over the two countries border led to a two-year conflict in 1998-2000. Having won his Nobel for making peace with Afwerki, Abiy now relies on his support in the civil war.

The two men will be tempted to drive the TPLF from its mountain redoubts and bring the province under complete federal control. So the Biden administration must prepare for the possibility that the Pretoria talks will fail.

In anticipation, it has designated Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status, which will entitle Ethiopians already in the US to apply for work permits and deferral from deportation. But if Ethiopian and Eritrean forces continue their march into Tigray, millions will attempt to flee the province, most of them heading west toward Sudan.

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The US should rally an international effort and provide the Sudanese with the means to temporarily house and feed these people. It should put the onus of keeping them safe on the AU: If it cant make peace, it has a responsibility to protect.

The US should also subject Ethiopian and Eritrean military and government officials responsible for war crimes and abuses to the kinds of sanctions that have been slapped on Russian and Belarus commanders and officials for similar offenses in Ukraine. Some sanctions were imposed on Eritreans last fall, but the Biden administration has been loath to target top Ethiopians, perhaps in the hope that such forbearance might encourage Abiy to make peace.

The time for such consideration has ended. Having sanctioned the top Russian leadership, including President Vladimir Putin, the Biden administration should make clear that no Ethiopian official is exempt  not even a Nobel laureate. Abiy, too, should prepare for the worst.

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More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 The Worlds Deadliest War Isnt in Ukraine, But in Ethiopia: Bobby Ghosh

 Rape Is a War Crime That Goes Unpunished: Ruth Pollard

 A Putin War Crimes Case Is No Liberal Fantasy: Therese Raphael

Want more from Bloomberg Opinion? Terminal readers head to OPIN.

(Corrects description of 1998-2000 conflict in seventh paragraph.)

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Bobby Ghosh is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering foreign affairs. Previously, he was editor in chief at Hindustan Times, managing editor at Quartz and international editor at Time.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

2022 Bloomberg L.P.

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Few Americans remember when polio-stricken children relied on seven-foot-long iron cylinders to breathe. At its peak in early 1950s, polio caused more than 15,000 cases of paralysis a year and over 3,000 deaths in the US alone. In the decades that followed, a massive vaccination campaign nearly eradicated the disease from the globe. Now, a perfect storm of factors has made polio a threat once again. Eliminating the virus is still possible, but only if global leaders shake off their complacency.

Polio is a highly contagious, sometimes debilitating disease that primarily affects children under five. It passes from feces to the mouth via unwashed hands or contaminated food or drink. While most cases are asymptomatic or cause symptoms similar to the common flu, permanent paralysis is possible. Polio can be fatal when breathing muscles stop working.

In 1988, 350,000 cases of polio were recorded in 125 countries. Today, polio is endemic in just two  Afghanistan and Pakistan  and cases of wild polio dwindled to 29 so far this year. By many measures, such results qualify as a resounding success. For polio, however, even one case is a serious global threat.

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The latest outbreak in the US is a case in point. This summer, a previously healthy, unvaccinated young adult from Rockland County, New York, was paralyzed after getting infected by a mutated strain. The US hasnt had a case of wild polio since 1979.

While only one case has been recorded so far, 70 positive samples of paralytic or illness-inducing polio have shown up in nearby sewage testing, according to the most recent data. Experts estimate for each case of paralytic polio, hundreds if not thousands of others are infected without symptoms, which means the virus can spread for months before its detected.

Polios spread isnt worrying for the fully vaccinated. But longstanding vaccine hesitancy in certain communities, the rise of misinformation and the deferral of routine treatments post-Covid has created pockets of vulnerability. While more than 92% of the US population has been vaccinated for polio, that figure drops to 60% in Rockland County. In one ZIP code, the rate is just 37%.

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Unlike many other diseases, eradicating polio is scientifically possible. The challenge is mustering the will. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a five-year campaign to reach 370 million children annually, aimed to raise $4.8 billion in a drive last week. It secured a little more than half that amount, which included $1.2 billion from Bill Gates. (Bloomberg Philanthropies is a regular donor to GPEI.) Key contributors such as the UK have cut back because of shrinking budgets and competing priorities. Even Gates, while affirming his commitment, said it might not be forever.

This is troubling. Research has shown that even a small decrease in the intensity of immunization can lead to large outbreaks. Getting much-needed funding to close the vaccination gap is essential, particularly in places like Afghanistan and Pakistan, where health workers not only face vaccine aversion, but mass migration, flooding, political instability and poor nutrition, which requires more dosing. Indias success overcoming similar hurdles shows that eradication is possible.

Increased surveillance is also key. New York is ramping up its wastewater testing and encouraging more liberal screening of unvaccinated patients in certain counties. Still, testing and sequencing is conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which can create bottlenecks. Expanding the CDCs capacity would quicken local officials response time, a critical need if the virus spreads to other parts of the country.

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For years, polio seemed to be on the brink of eradication. No longer. Only through sustained investment can the world protect millions of children from a devastating yet entirely avoidable disease.

More From Bloomberg Opinion:

 What Parents Can Do as RSV Spikes: Lisa Jarvis

 Japans Maskless Tourists Trigger a Debate: Gearoid Reidy

 Better Cancer Screenings Are Coming. Can We Afford Them?: Faye Flam

The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion

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TRI Expresses Support for the IPC-CFX standard Published: 27 October 2022 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

TAIPEI  Test Research, Inc. (TRI), the leading test and inspection systems provider for the electronics manufacturing industry, participated in the launching ceremony of the EMS industry leaders to promote smart manufacturing and international standardization through the IPC-CFX-2591 standard. The ceremony was celebrated on September 27 2022, at the GIS MOTC Convention Center, Taipei, Taiwan.

Over 13 distinguished industry leaders participated in the ceremony; Jim Lin, Vice President of Test Research, Inc., attended the ceremony and expressed, TRI is committed to supporting the digitalization of manufacturing through international standards. We have supported IPC-CFX since its beginning, and TRI is to this day the company with most IPC-CFX compliant machines, which includes SPI, AOI, AXI, and ICT.

As an IPC CFX supporter, TRI is pursuing innovative cooperation with other vendors to revolutionize how Industry 4.0 SMT solutions communicate with one another. From closed-loop solutions, metrology-based inspection, and M2M communication protocols, TRI is committed to developing robust and flexible inspection solutions to meet current and future production line requirements.

About TRI

Test Research, Inc. (TRI) offers the most robust product portfolio in the industry for Automatic Test and Inspection solutions. TRI provides the most cost-effective solutions to meet a comprehensive range of manufacturing Test and Inspection requirements. Learn more at http://www.tri.com.tw. For sales and service information, please write to us at marketing@tri.com.tw or call +886-2-2832 8918.

About IPC-CFX

IPC-CFX (Connected Factory Exchange) is an industry-developed open international standard forming the foundation/backbone of Factory of the Future applications. IPC-CFX is a plug-and-play solution that simplifies and standardizes machine-to-machine communication while facilitating machine-to-business and business-to-machine applications. Learn more at https://www.ipc.org/ipc-cfx.
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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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has decried the fatal attack on Aboriginal boy Cassius Turvey in Perth as racially motivated, as a growing chorus of Indigenous leaders express frustration over the response of WA Police.

Albanese told reporters on Friday: This attack, that clearly is racially motivated, just breaks your heart.

Cassius Turvey, and in hospital (inset). His family have consented to the use of the images in this report.

We are a better country than that, and my heart goes out to the family and the friends.

Cassius was wearing his school uniform and walking with friends when they were allegedly confronted by a utility full of people while walking along a Middle Swan street around 4.30pm on October 13.

His family claims the teen was accused of smashing a car window the previous day, before he was chased down by one of the occupants of the vehicle and bashed with a metal pole.

Cassius friends who were at the scene claim the people from the ute hurled racial slurs at them.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, was earlier this week charged with murder and is due to face a Perth court next month. On Friday police added one charge of aggravated assault occasioning bodily harm and one of stealing, alleging he assaulted a 13-year-old boy who was with Cassius by hitting him with a metal pole believed to be a shopping trolley handle.

They also allege he stole the boys crutches and cap.

Read more here.
Koh Young Adds Top-Rated Lean Stream to its Sales Channel for the Northern Regions of California and Nevada Published: 27 October 2022 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

ATLANTA  Koh Young Technology, the industry leader in True 3D measurement-based inspection solutions, proudly announces a new partnership with Lean Stream for technical sales representation across the northern regions of California and Nevada.

Established in 2003, Lean Stream is a value-added manufacturer's representative and distributor based in Silicon Valley that provides world-class leadership in electronics assembly solutions to enable a Smart Factory. Effective immediately, Lean Stream adds Koh Young to its focused portfolio including other industry-leading suppliers like Fuji, Heller, Flexlink, and Vayo.

"Every manufacturer today, whether focusing on new product introduction or onshoring higher production volumes, is facing challenges with labor, speed, and efficiency," commented Robert Jones, President of Lean Stream. "Adding Koh Young, the global inspection leader, with their award-winning technical support, innovative technology, and Artificial Intelligence leadership provides our customers with the quality inspection automation needed to make everyone's jobs easier."

Lean manufacturing is taking a new level of importance with todays tight electronics manufacturing margins, continued component scarcity, and dire labor shortages. Without question, production yield is more important than ever. In simple terms, the higher the yield, the lower the cost for our customers, commented Allen Phung, Sales Manager at Koh Young America. Robert and his team have been delivering manufacturing solutions for a lean world for years. They understand what electronics manufacturers need and now have even more options for their customers to increase production yield. Koh Young is excited for Robert and his team to join Koh Young America.

If you want to learn more about the award-winning solutions from Koh Young, visit us at SMTAI at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota on 02-03 November 2022 in booth 925 or visit our regional website at www.kohyoungamerica.com.
For many, the details of health insurance can be confusing but its important that people understand what plan they have so they arent left with unexpected coverage, according to Columbus Community Hospital officials.

Community members have expressed concern over CCH not accepting Medicare Advantage (Part C).

Weve been talking about this at the American Hospital Association level. The Office of the Inspector General  the OIG  put out a report in April of 22 where we have some Medicare Advantage Organizations, where denials and prior authorization requests have raised some concerns about beneficiary access to medically necessary care, said CCH President/CEO Mike Hansen.

Whats really important is for people to really understand what theyre getting, what the level of coverage is and where they can access providers in the community and hospitals in the community and understand exactly what theyve got.

Previously Medicare Advantage was not offered in rural areas until about 2018 or 2019, noted CCH Vice President of Financial Services Chad Van Cleave.

The issue is that people see Medicare Advantage as a cost effective way to reduce their out of pocket expenses from a premium standpoint but dont understand the difference between HMO and PPO plans, he said.

HMO is a plan thats sold as a narrow network so Medicare Advantage will contract and theyll create their own networks with certain providers, whereas a PPO access allows somebody to go to a broader network of providers, he said, adding that those who have a PPO plan would have access to providers, like the hospital, who do not have a direct agreement.

Van Cleave said that CCH is a member of the Platte Valley PHO (physician hospital organization). Its a nonprofit organization that is made up of providers in the community, both hospital and independently owned clinics.

Platte Valley PHO looks at contracts and decides what to sign as community providers. Platte Valley PHO has declined to sign a narrow network agreement with any Medicare Advantage plans, Van Cleave said.

A big reason behind this decision is that while Medicare Advantage rolls Part A (inpatient and hospitalization), Part B (outpatient care) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) into a package, it essentially gets rid of supplemental insurance, he noted.

Although there are incremental increases with age, supplemental insurance helps cover the gap between what Medicare covers and what an individual would pay out of pocket.

Additionally, these plans require preauthorization/precertification, which is when a treatment or service must be approved by the health insurance or plan before needed care can be provided. Traditional Medicare does not require preauthorization. Some commercial insurance companies have this require, but it becomes an issue when this is used to deny or delay care, Van Cleave said.

An OIG report released earlier this year found that among prior authorization (preauthorization) requests that Medicare Advantage Organizations denied, 13% met Medicare coverage rules.

Having to receive preauth/precert, the number one concern of our physicians is delay or denial of treatment of Medicare patients, Van Cleave said. Some people say it was because you dont get paid, we get paid the same (whether) Medicare traditional versus Medicare Advantage. Its because we dont get to treat our patients the way that we feel medically they should be treated, even for medical necessary treatments.

In turn, increased preauthorization/precertification requests create additional costs.

It increases the cost of health care for our practices, for providers, by having to hire more nurses, physicians are spending more of their time on preauth/precert, back end billing and collecting from Medicare Advantage plans, Van Cleave said. Physicians in our community, they would estimate 20% to 25% increase in their cost of care by having to hire additional staff to manage everything with Medicare Advantage.

Van Cleave said that residents considering their options in terms in Medicare plans should find a local agent that they can trust. An agent based out of the Columbus area, even from Omaha, would not understand whats available in this community, he added.

I think the challenge that we see in our market is typically that people that are buying the Medicare Advantage plans are the ones that are trying to save money because of premiums or their supplemental, and theyre choosing Medicare Advantage not realizing what theyre buying, he said.

Notably, Van Cleave said that Platte Valley PHO has signed agreement with Medica Prime Solution for whats known as Medicare cost plans. The Medicare cost plans are similar to Medicare Advantage but do not require preauthorization/precertification and are meant for rural communities, he said.

With Medicare cost plans, there are different cost options to choose from and it does not require preauthorization.

We still recommend that every beneficiary has an individual meeting with a licensed professional who sells insurance to have that conversation that meets their needs, Van Cleave said.
Bitcoin Price Prediction as BTC Pumps Past $20,500  Where is it Going Next?

During the European session, Bitcoin remained bullish, having gained just over 0.5% in the last 24 hours to trade at $20,600. October is usually a positive month for Bitcoin, despite the slow start to the month and continuation into the last week of the month, which eventually triggered an upward trend.

During the Asian session, the cryptocurrency market took a sharp upward swing, and negative sentiment swiftly evaporated. With Wednesday's trade session coming to a conclusion, BTC's price has risen above $20,000 for the first time in several weeks. However, what does a rejection at $21,000 mean?

Messina Group CEO Bets Porsche Bitcoin Will Return to $60K

Jim Messina, CEO of consultancy firm The Messina Group, shared his optimistic outlook on cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin in particular on Wednesday (October 26).

On Fox Business, when Bitcoin was trading at around $20,000, the ex-White House deputy chief of staff discussed cryptocurrencies. Messina said:

Look, I think blockchain and crypto is one of the most exciting developments in our lifetime. I think when this is all over, were going to be known this generation for Covid and for reimagining our financial system. Im incredibly bullish on this. I think its good to have a crypto winner, getting rid of some of the BS projects that are out there.

As a result of the optimistic tweet about Bitcoin's forecast reaching $60K, we may see a bullish trend in crypto prices.

Bitcoin Price Prediction as BTC Pumps Past $20,500

Bitcoin is currently trading at $20,583, with a 24-hour trading volume of $54 billion. Bitcoin has risen by more than 7% in the last seven days.

Bitcoin Price & Tokenomics - Source: coinmarketcap

Bitcoin rose after breaking out of a symmetrical triangle pattern at $19,250. The BTC/USD pair has traded bullishly, breaking through immediate resistance levels at $19,900 and $20,430, as predicted in the Bitcoin price prediction for October 26.

For the time being, it is encountering immediate resistance at $21,000, a level extended by the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement. The RSI and MACD are still in a buying zone, indicating a bullish run; similarly, the 50-day moving average indicates buying above $19,600.

Bitcoin Price Chart - Source: Tradingview

Bitcoin's near-term support is still around $20,400 and $19,900. If the price of Bitcoin breaks through $21,000 today, BTC's next major resistance would be at $22,500. It will likely take many months before BTC can revisit its previous all-time high again.

Top Coin Alternative  Dash 2 Trade

For those traders that maybe can't wait another few months for big gains, there are a number of smaller altcoins that have been beating the market in recent weeks, with presale tokens proving particularly lucrative.

One promising ongoing presale is Dash 2 Trade  a crypto analytics and intelligence platform for traders and investors. Think of it as a Bloomberg terminal for crypto enthusiasts.

In just over a week, D2T has raised more than $2.8 million in its presale, catching the attention of crypto investors worldwide.



At a time where presales are doing particularly well, D2T is poised to continue this positive momentum.

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Four men, including one from Lancaster County, who are Jehovahs Witnesses were charged with sexually abusing children in their congregations, the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday.

One of the men committed suicide during an attempt to take him into custody, according to AG Josh Shapiro.

Shapiro announced the charges against Jose Serrano of Lancaster County, Jesse Hill formerly of Berks County and currently a Georgia resident, and Robert Ostrander, formerly of Cambria County and now a resident of New York. The AGs office was also going to charge Eric Eleam of Butler Count, but his office said Elean retreated into his bathroom upon the agents arrival at his home, and he killed himself behind closed doors. These cases are disturbing, the allegations hard to imagine, and all share one common tie: the 19 victims and the four men who are being charged with sexually violating them are all members of Jehovahs Witnesses, Shapiro said. These children deserved to be protected and grow up in peace, not to be preyed upon.

The charges stem from a grand jury regarding the cases of 19 minors, some of whom were children of those accused.

According to Shapiro, Serrano, 69, is accused of molesting six girls in 2011, and he confessed to committing many of the offenses during the grand jury. He was charged with aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children.

Hill, 52, is alleged to have used his milling business to attract boys from his congregation and lured them with promises of alcohol, marijuana and pornography for parties in the 1990s.

The attorney general said he would expose himself, grope them and force them to perform oral sex, and the office estimates Hill abuse 10 victims.

He is charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Ostrander, 56, was alleged to have abused two girls in his care, and he was charged with indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors.

Eleam, 61, was alleged to have abused one girl in his care and using sexual molestation as a form of discipline.

He had been charged with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children before his suicide.

Shapiro said all of the charges were filed in the corresponding counties of Lancaster, Berks and Cambria.

Anyone with information about child sexual abuse should report it to the Attorney Generals Office hotline at 888-538-8541.
CARMICHAELS  At the start of a campaign event in Pennsylvanias rural southwestern corner, Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano stood at the front of a church, to the backdrop of an oversized campaign sign and a towering cross.

A pastor laid hands on him in a common Pentecostal custom and asked God for protection.

We pray that you give him this courage and strength for what hes about to face, the pastor said at the gathering at Crosspoint Assembly of God. We pray against the darkness and the enemies that come against him in the spiritual realm.

Theres also religious talk in Democratic candidate Josh Shapiros appearances. In speeches and ads, he describes his faith as a motivator. A member of a congregation in the middle-of-the-road denomination of Conservative Judaism, Shapiro talks about Friday night Sabbath dinners at home and taking inspiration from an ancient Jewish maxim: No one is required to complete the task, but neither are we free to refrain from it.

Hes done his share of campaign stops at churches  including at historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Church in Philadelphia.

But in contrast to the strong conservative Christian focus of Mastrianos campaign, Shapiro has built a classic Democratic coalition of Black clergy and other progressive religious groups, including Christians and Jews, and the nonreligious.

My faith grounds me and calls me to do public service. I dont use my faith to make policy decisions or to exclude others the way my opponent does, Shapiro, Pennsylvanias current attorney general, said in an interview.

Both gubernatorial candidates bring up religion. But in starkly different ways.

Mastrianos campaign has several hallmarks of Christian nationalism, which fuses Christian and political imagery, words and rituals and promotes a belief that America has been and should be a Christian nation.

Mastriano, a state senator, has rejected the Christian nationalist label, though his political events often carry the feel of a worship service. He was introduced at a church-hosted event near Pittsburgh by a pastor who mixed Christian and political imagery: Get ready for a great blood of Jesus red wave!

Mastrianos campaign did not respond to emailed requests for an interview. He has consistently ignored requests for comment from the Associated Press and many other media outlets.

At the Carmichaels church event, a campaign staffer told a reporter Mastriano would not be taking questions. Mastriano contended that he watched various media outlets mock our faith in their coverage of his primary victory rally, which was infused with worship music and Bible quotes. My campaign has no place for intolerance and bigotry, he said.

Thats been challenged by Shapiro and others because Mastrianos campaign paid $5,000 for what it described in a financial disclosure form as consulting services to Gab a social media site popular with white supremacists and antisemites. It was on Gab, authorities say, that a suspect signaled his plans for the 2018 massacre of 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue building in Pittsburgh. It was the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

Mastriano led efforts to overturn Pennsylvanias vote for Joe Biden in 2020. He chartered buses to bring Pennsylvanians to the outdoor rally preceding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. According to a Senate Judiciary Committee report, he passed through breached barricades and police lines.

The two candidates are appealing to the contrasting religious and ethnic demographics that have supported each side in recent campaigns such as the 2020 presidential election, when a majority of white Catholics and a large majority of white evangelical Christians voted Republican while Democrats drew on strong support from Black Christians, Latino Catholics, Jews, Muslims and people of no religion.

Several recent polls have shown Shapiro with a lead over Mastriano.

A September survey by the Franklin & Marshall College suggests Shapiro and Mastriano are running about even among Protestants and Catholics overall, while Shapiro leads among followers of no religion. The poll shows Mastriano leading among self-identified born-again or evangelical Christians.

Mastriano has made no effort to soften his hardline stances to a general election electorate, said John Fea, a history professor at Messiah University and author of Believe Me: The Evangelical Road to Donald Trump.

Mastriano takes a black-and-white, spiritual-warfare view of the world, Fea said. Anyone who criticizes him is the devil. Im not meaning this metaphorically. He really believes they are working for the cause of evil. ... Thats what makes him so dangerous.

Still, some evangelicals may be disgusted by his (Mastrianos) Christian nationalism but cannot imagine themselves voting for a prochoice candidate like Shapiro, Fea said.

He said Shapiro appears to be contrasting his broader view of religious freedom in a diverse population with Mastrianos narrower one. Shapiro has criticized Mastrianos statement that all religions are not equal.

Mastriano spends much of his stump speeches denouncing a rise in crime, the incumbent Democratic administrations COVID-19 restrictions and the participation of transgender athletes in girls sports. He has called banning abortion without exception a top priority.

Shapiro has said my office is dedicated to protecting legal access to abortion in our commonwealth, where it is permitted through the 23rd week of pregnancy.

Each candidate draws supporters with a shared understanding of religions role.

At the Carmichaels church, Mastriano addressed a small but enthusiastic crowd on a September morning.

I like the fact that hes emboldened to (express) our religious values and our freedoms in the Bill of Rights, said Steven Grugin of Dunkard Township. Speaking in a church tells people that hes very much for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, he said.

The Rev. Marshall Mitchell, senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Abington, who has known Shapiro for years, said Shapiro is as comfortable in a Black Baptist church as he is in a Conservative shul or a temple or a mosque, Mitchell said. He sees the common humanity, which he believes originates in God.

Beth Kissileff, the wife of a survivor of the Tree of Life shooting, sees Shapiro as knowing how to carry Jewish values out into the world and relate to all kinds of people.

Kissileff said shes horrified that someone who paid Gab for consulting services is a serious contender for governor.

In a video interview with Gab founder Andrew Torba, Mastriano praised Torba for providing what he described as a free-speech forum, adding: Thank God for what youve done.

Mastriano also has assailed Shapiro for sending his children to one of the most elite, privileged schools in the nation, while the rest of us, were like peasants. Mastriano said if he sent his children to an expensive school, it would be major headline news.

Mastriano didnt specify that the school was a Jewish academy. But terms like elite have been used as antisemitic tropes indicating wealth and insularity, Jewish advocates say.

Thats not a dog whistle, thats an alarm bell, said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. Given Mastrianos affiliation with Gab, it does appear to be part of a troubling pattern.

Another religion theme has emerged in Shapiro ads featuring survivors of clergy sexual abuse who praised his role as attorney general in overseeing a 2018 grand jury report on abuse in Pennsylvania Catholic dioceses.
If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

- Air Products & Chemicals Inc. plans to invest a half-billion dollars to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen in New York state.

- The Trexlertown Chick-Fil-A plans to add a second drive-thru lane as part of a plan to reduce traffic congestion.

- The Harrisburg-based Mid Penn bank has opened its first full-service branch in the Lehigh Valley in South Whitehall.

- The Allentown Planning Commission put off a decision on a new Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at the site of the former Nostos Greek restaurant.

- The former Star Crete concrete plant at the intersection of Farmersville Road and Easton Avenue has been sold for $1.58 million, and that may clear the way for a medical office building.

- The local business SuperSets Gym will open its third location in Allentown's South Mall, with no opening date set yet.

- The jewelry boutique Versant will close later this year, but the business will be consolidated at Gary Werkheiser's other location in Saucon Valley Square.

- The DSW Woodmill Commons has moved to Berkshire West, 1101 Woodland Road in Wyomissing.

- Trainer Michael Melendez has opened his new Reading Extreme Boxing Club where PacSun used to operate in the Berkshire Mall.

- Frackville NAPA Auto Parts held a grand opening with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Frackville Business & Professional Association.

- Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers in North Manheim Township held a grand opening, in conjunction with the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Pottsville Business Association.

- PDC Machines, a maker of hydrogen compressors, showed off a new plant in Lower Salford.

- Maya Capital Partners has acquired Amwell Valley Self Storage, a 265-unit storage business on Route 31 in Ringoes, New Jersey.

- Norwescap is buying the former Sullivan's on the Main restaurant in Phillipsburg to renovate the building and then use it for programs to help educate and feed people.
READING, Pa.  The Berks County commissioners on Thursday followed through with their plan for the county to take control of the Reading Regional Airport in Bern Township.

But Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach noted immediately that the action was a mutual decision between the airport authority and the commissioners and is not a hostile takeover.

"I just want everyone to understand this is a good step," Leinbach said. "This has been done in conjunction with the airport authority. We could not be doing this without the authority's leadership and cooperation."

"I also want to add that we really do appreciate the dedication and work of the authority over the years," Leinbach continued. "These individuals are volunteers, and we appreciate their foresight to see that there was a better way to make the airport an even greater asset to the community."

At a special meeting earlier this month, at the commissioners' request, the authority's members resigned, but the authority first raised the idea of having the county take over the airfield's operations in 2021, Leinbach explained.

"In June of 2021, the Reading Regional Airport Authority sent a letter to the commissioners unanimously recommending the disillusion of the authority and consideration of making the airport a county department," Leinbach said. "In the early part of this year, I, representing the commissioners, went to an authority board meeting and let them know that we had hired [legal] counsel."

Leinbach said aviation experts and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were consulted to determine the best way to proceed.

"In August, I went before the airport authority to ask if there's been any change," Leinbach continued. "Their belief was that moving in this direction was the right direction, and they unanimously reaffirmed the recommendation from June of 2021."

As a result of that, the recommendation was made to the commissioners from their advisers that, at least transitionally, the best next step was to ask the airport authority members to resign and to appoint the three commissioners and the chief operations officer to serve in four of those positions.

At the commissioner's meeting on Thursday, the commissioners accepted the resignations of the authority's members: Michael Setley, Andrew Muller, Raymond Blydenburgh, Craig Lutz, Betsey Carlisle, and Pamela Shupp Menet.

The commissioners have not yet determined if the airport will be operated through an authority or through a new county department.

Until a decision is made, the commissioners appointed themselves  Leinbach, Kevin S. Barnhart, and Michael Rivera  as members of the airport authority, as well as Ronald E. Seaman, the county's chief operations officer.

The reorganization meeting of the newly-constituted authority will take place on Nov. 15 at 8 a.m. in the airport's departure lounge.

In anticipation of Thursday's action, the commissioners voted last week to form an airport tenant advisory committee.

Leinbach said every tenant at the airport will have one seat on the advisory board, and they will meet monthly with airport management.

"I can assure you, Leinbach added, "the commissioners are ready to hit the ground running."
READING, Pa.  The Berks County Board of Elections on Thursday voted to require sheriff deputies, stationed at the county's two mail-in voter drop boxes, to ask voters if their ballot is signed and dated.

Although the matter did not appear on the agenda, Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach said it was just brought to his attention that when a voter takes his or her mail-in ballot to the county's elections office, the officials check before taking the ballot to make sure it is signed and dated.

Leinbach suggested that having the deputies also check for a date and signature would reflect what is being done at the elections office.

Commissioner Michael S. Rivera agreed.

"If we're looking at consistency between the drop boxes and dropping it off at Election Services, I would be agreeable to doing that as well," Rivera said. "That way, we're making sure that what's happening at the Election Services desk is the same thing happening at the drop boxes as well."

Commissioner Kevin S. Barnhardt said he completely agreed with his colleagues but noted that it is important that the deputies not actually take or touch the envelope, and that the voter himself deposits the ballot into the drop box.

The resolution noted that stipulation.

Berks County has two drop box locations. One is located at the Berks County Services Center on Reed Street in downtown Reading; the other is at the Berks County Agricultural Center at 1238 County Welfare Rd. in Bern Township. Both have deputies stationed at the boxes during the hours that they are accessible for the public.

In another matter, the board heard a question from Anthony Orozco, Reading, asking how Election Services is preparing to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking voters and voters with hyphenated Spanish last names.

Silvia Gutierrez, the county's chief registrar, explained that the electronic poll books can function by looking up a voter by the first name, date of birth or last name. If the last name is hyphenated, Gutierrez said the search can be made using one of the names.

Rivera also noted that any polling locations that are considered to be bilingual will have interpreters on hand to meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking voters.

"If there is a polling location that someone goes to and it's not [identified] as bilingual, they will be able to call the Election Services number and there will be interpreters available to assist them over the phone," Rivera said. "Also, if someone does not feel comfortable speaking in English, they are able to take a friend or family member with them to the polls. There is a form that needs to be filled out and completed for that person to be able to go and help them through the process at the polling location."
Abortion providers across Pennsylvania urged the states highest court on Wednesday to overturn a longtime ban on Medicaid funding for the procedure.

Planned Parenthood and other providers say the 1982 law violates the states Equal Rights Amendment by treating womens health care needs differently than those of men.

Susan Frietsche, a senior staff attorney with the Womens Law Project, said the ban does catastrophic harm to poor women and women of color. She balked when Chief Justice Debra Todd suggested the case came down to a funding issue, not abortion.

It is not a case only about Medicaid funding, its about coverage of health care: Men get it, women dont, said Frietsche, who said she could not find a similar Medicaid coverage rule that harmed only men in the state.

The impact that this unfair coverage scheme exerts upon women is catastrophic. And the purpose of it  the underlying rationale of it  is to perpetuate traditional gender roles that are abhorrent to our states fundamental charter, to our Equal Rights Amendment and our equal protection provisions, she said as the court heard more than two hours of oral arguments on the issue.

Activists on both sides of the abortion debate have sought to advance their positions through state law or state court cases across the country since the U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. Congress bans the use of federal funds for most abortions, but some states use their own money to cover the procedure for poor women.

Pennsylvania allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, but bans Medicaid funding of the procedure, with a few exceptions including to save the mothers life. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the 1982 law in a unanimous 1985 ruling. Republicans control the statehouse, while Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf supports abortion rights.

A lawyer for Republican lawmakers defended the ban Wednesday, calling it settled law. He argued that it could affect some men as well, if they pay for an abortion not covered by Medicaid.

Were not talking about the actual fundamental right (to an abortion). Were talking about whether or not the state has to pay for it, lawyer Matt Haverstick argued.

The justices took the case under advisement. Four Democrats sat on the five-member panel hearing the case. One justice recused himself, and the seventh seat is vacant after a recent death.
READING, Pa.  Alvernia University in Reading is celebrating the largest grant in its history.

The Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program on Wednesday awarded the university $7.5 million for its Reading CollegeTowne campus in center city.

Alvernia will use the money to fund development of the vacant sixth floor of the John R. Post Center at Fourth and Penn streets.

The university's plans include the addition of a physician associate program, a refresh of the nursing program, the addition of a community clinic, additional engineering tracks, and an expansion of downtown housing.

The grant is the fourth of its kind for Alvernia. To date, the university has secured a total of $15.5 million in redevelopment grant resources for its CollegeTowne initiatives in Reading and Pottsville.
MUHLENBERG TWP., Pa.  Pennsylvania state Sen. Judy Schwank and other officials will take part in a telephone town hall to discuss matters surrounding the midterm election.

Attendees are invited to ask anything election-related, like questions about ballot drop boxes or voting security.

The town hall will start at 7 p.m. Thursday.

To sign up or submit questions, visit Schwank's website.
EASTON, Pa. - Pennsylvania, and the entire country, is still reeling, the day after the only Senate debate between John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Yet, the campaigns go on: Oz appeared with Nikki Haley Wednesday, and Fetterman has an event scheduled with David Matthews Wednesday night.

Social media blew up after the debate.

Both campaigns agreed to allow the Lieutenant Governor to use closed captioning as he recovers from his stroke.

"I wish him well, but at the same time, this was a job interview," said former Congressman Charlie Dent. "He didn't appear, in my view, fit to serve."

"It was heartbreaking to see a man coming through such a noble struggle," said T.J. Rooney, the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Pennsylvania. "Is he up to and capable of doing the job? The answer is a resounding yes."

Some supporters considered Fetterman's performance a win.

Yet there were members of both parties arguing the opposite, saying it was uncomfortable and wondering how his campaign let him on the stage.

"It was important for John to present himself to the voters," said Rooney. "There are fundamentally profound differences that separate these two candidates."

Oz tried to appeal to moderate voters in many answers.

Fetterman's campaign said he did remarkably well, given he was working with "delayed captions filled with errors."

The company hosting, Nexstar, refuted those claims, adding Fetterman only did one of the two rehearsals he was offered.

Dent believes the Fetterman campaign understated his health challenges.

"Look, I'm not sure if it was the stroke, or if he's a bad debater or doesn't have a good grasp of public policy issues, but that performance was really astonishing, and I would argue disqualifying. He seemed confused and frustrated," said Dent.

Dent brought up there are people who already sent back their mail-in ballots before the debate.

If you're applying for a mail-in ballot, your county election board needs it by Tuesday, November 1.
ALLENTOWN, Pa.  During its Wednesday night meeting, the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners introduced a bill to approve a reappointment of the commissioner districts.

Chairman Geoff Brace said the changes are being required by the Pennsylvania Constitution and the Lehigh County Home Rule Charter based upon the reporting of the 2020 census.

"As a result of population shifts through Lehigh County, we did have to make some adjustments," Brace said. "With the exception of District 1, all of the other districts do change to some degree to balance the population of a little under 75,000 in each district."

Brace explained the changes will make each of the districts completely contiguous, without splitting any more municipalities than necessary.

He said the proposed new map will not split any voter wards or districts, and will not move any commissioners from one district to another.

"It's impossible to create a district in any setting of government that is truly perfect," he added. "There are too many competing objectives, but I'm hopeful that the board continues to show its support for this measure."

The commissioners plan to vote on the bill on Nov. 9.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board approved a proposed Sheetz convenience store and gas station Wednesday night at city hall.

The company is proposing the store for East Fourth Street, adjacent to Emery Street. The plan calls for a 6,139-square-foot store with 12 fueling positions and 55 parking spaces. It will also have a drive-thru.

Attorney Julie Wagner Burkart, representing Sheetz, said the project would not alter the neighborhood's character nor impact adversely neighboring properties, and will have no negative community impact. The site is vacant currently.

David Smith, a senior real estate site selector with Sheetz, testified the business would operate similarly to other Lehigh Valley Sheetz locations. The business will feature made-to-order foods and roughly 30 seats for dining. Retail sales will include snacks, coffee, sodas, teas and other beverages, along with some automobile products.

The store's busiest hours are typically during lunch. During the noon to 4 p.m. shift, which is the store's peak shift, there are often between eight to 10 employees. Smith added there are always at least three employees present. When asked if the store would sell beer and wine, he replied they would like to.

Sheetz officials said the parking lot has been designed with space for an adequate number of waiting vehicles and to minimize disruptions for pedestrian traffic. Further, Smith testified the store would have no impact on neighboring residents. Should neighboring residents complain about the store, either a store or district manager could address the situation.

"We want to get along with the neighbors, and we want to work well with the community," Smith said.

Most stores have trash pickup three times weekly, and supplies are usually delivered during off hours, he added.
EASTON, Pa.  Northampton County plans to add a staff member in its Veteran Affairs office, Director of Human Services Sue Wandalowski said.



"There are just over 17,000 veterans in Northampton County," Wandalowski told County Council during a budget hearing Wednesday, and there is a staff of only two to help them. She wants to add a third.



The office now consists of Director of Veteran Affairs Alex Carrillo, who is a U.S. Army veteran, and one assistant. Their job is to help veterans get federal and state benefits they earned by serving their country. Carrillo served in the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq and Afghanistan.



"Alex and his assistant are making new appointments every day for veterans to come in and see him," Wandalowski said, and appointments are starting to stretch out weeks in advance.



Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure appointed Carrillo to lead the veteran affairs office in 2020.



That office accounts for very little of Wandalowski's $304 million budget, which accounts for 56% of projected county spending in 2023. However, most of the money comes from the federal government and the state, not local property taxes.



"Only 6% of our budget is county dollars," Wandalowski said.



The Human Services Department includes the budgets for the Gracedale nursing home, services for abused children and their families, and managed care for mental health and substance abuse.



McClure's proposed 2023 operating budget of $544.8 million is $25.5 million less than the 2022 spending plan. His budget keeps the property tax at 10.8 mills, or $540 in tax on a property assessed at $50,000. Each mill is equal to a tax of $1 per $1,000 in assessed value.



County Council, led by President Lori Vargo Heffner, has two more budget hearings on its schedule: Public Works will be reviewed Nov. 9 and budget amendments will be considered Nov. 29, with both meetings at 4:30 p.m. in the government center in Easton.



The current plan is to vote on McClure's budget at council's regular meeting Dec. 1.
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - Bethlehem Township police are asking for the public's help in their search for two thieves.

The men stole electrical devices from multiple Lowes and Home Depot stores in Bethlehem Township and Whitehall Township, according to Bethlehem Township Police. The men filled large bags with electrical devices and left the stores without paying, police said.

Police say the men are part of an organized retail theft ring believed to originate from Queens, New York.

On Tuesday evening, BTPD officers tried to stop the men, who left the Home Depot on Nazareth Pike in a Gold Buick Enclave, police said.

Authorities say the men led police on a pursuit. The men tried to run down an involved police officer while fleeing, according to township police.

Anyone who may have seen them is asked to call the police.
HEIDELBERG TWP., Pa. - A 30-year-old man was taken into custody after threatening to kill a State Police Trooper and barricading himself inside his home, according to a news release from state police.

The incident began when a trooper was sent to the Germansville Post Office at 6066 Memorial Road in Heidelberg Township shortly after noon for the report of a man harassing customers.

After going to the post office, the trooper went to the man's home on the 6000 block of Memorial Road to continue investigating, state police said.

At the home, the man threatened to kill the trooper and displayed items at the trooper in a threatening manner, according to the news release.

Troopers from both the Bethlehem and Fogelsville Station arrived on scene and created a perimeter around the residence.

The man left his residence and was taken into custody after an hours-long negotiation. He was transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.
CCTV: China released the announcement about the upcoming visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to China. Can you share more information on this visit? Whats Chinas expectation for this visit? How does China see its relations with Tanzania?



Mao Ning: Tanzania is an important country in East Africa. China and Tanzania enjoy traditional friendship. In 2013, during his visit to Tanzania, President Xi Jinping put forth the guiding principles of Chinas policy toward Africa, namely sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, which have then become Chinas basic policy on pursuing solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries. In recent years, the two countries have witnessed deepening political mutual trust and fruitful practical cooperation and have maintained sound cooperation in international and regional affairs.

President Hassan will be the first African head of state China is going to receive after the 20th CPC National Congress. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet for President Hassan. The two heads of state will hold talks and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Li Zhanshu will meet President Hassan respectively. We believe President Hassans visit will inject new impetus into the comprehensive and profound development of China-Tanzania relations and make new progress in bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Xinhua News Agency: We have noted that Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries in Beijing yesterday. This was State Councilor Wang Yis first diplomatic activity after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Can you give us more details?



Mao Ning: Yesterday, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries in Beijing. It shows the importance China attaches to ASEAN.

State Councilor Wang Yi briefed the envoys on the epoch-making significance, major achievements and far-reaching impact of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. He elaborated on the five features and essential requirements of Chinese modernization and stressed that Chinas development will bring important opportunities and huge benefits to all countries in the world. China will remain committed to upholding world peace and promoting common development and to promoting a human community with a shared future. Neighborhood diplomacy will remain of primary importance for China and ASEAN will always be a priority in Chinas diplomacy. This year, ASEAN countries will host three major multilateral meetings -- the G20 Summit, the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting and leaders meetings on East Asia cooperation. Asias moment in global governance is arriving. China looks forward to working with ASEAN to contribute to regional and global governance and show our collective robustness as Asian nations.

Diplomatic envoys of ASEAN countries extended warm congratulations on the full success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, commended Chinas opening up and development and spoke highly of Chinas contribution to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond. They expressed the desire to seize the new development opportunities that Chinese modernization will bring, deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with China and promote cooperation for mutual benefit in the Asia-Pacific region.

Beijing Youth Daily: It is reported that on October 26, at least 15 people have been killed and 27 injured in a shooting incident in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the gun attack. What is Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: China is shocked by and strongly condemns the attack. China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and supports the government and people of Iran in fighting extremists and terrorists and upholding peace and stability in the country.

China News Service: On October 26, the X8155 China-Europe freight train, loaded with 50 cars of goods including photovoltaic inverters, motor compressors and vacuum cleaners, departed from the Xian International Port Station for Duisburg, Germany. This is the first China-Europe freight train service that runs on a fixed timetable for the whole journey through China and Europe. Do you have any comment?



Mao Ning: I saw this good news. The opening of the time-tabled China-Europe freight trains will make its transportation service more time-efficient and give it another edge in the market.

Lately, Belt and Road cooperation has seen quite a few milestones. The China-Europe freight train service has run more than 14,000 trips so far this year. The sea-rail intermodal train of the new western land-sea corridor has made more than 20,000 trips. For ten months since the China-Laos railway was open to traffic, it has transported over 8.51 million tonnes of cargo. The Hainan Free Trade Port has launched the first ocean freight route to Africa. All this speaks volumes to Chinas high-level opening up.

The report to the 20th CPC National Congress underscores the imperative for us to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. China will work with all partners and commit ourselves to building an open and interconnected rather than divided and mutually-isolated world and contributing to the common development of countries in the world.

Associated Press of Pakistan: Today marks the day when India undertook a unilateral action in Kashmir and forcibly occupied the territory of Jammu and Kashmir more than seven decades ago. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: Chinas position on the Kashmir issue is consistent and clear-cut. The Kashmir issue, a dispute left from the past, needs to be resolved peacefully and appropriately in accordance with the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions and relevant bilateral agreement. Parties concerned need to avoid unilateral moves that may complicate the situation. Efforts should be made to settle the dispute through dialogue and consultation so as to maintain regional peace and stability.

Reuters: Chinese President Xi Jinping called on China and the United States to strengthen communication in a message to an event of the National Committee of US-China Relations on Wednesday. We would like to ask will President Xi attend the November G20 summit in person, and will he be meeting President Biden on the sidelines? Does China have any plans to reopen dialogue with the United States in areas including military commanders and on climate change, which is shut down in August?



Mao Ning: On October 26, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the annual Gala Dinner of the National Committee on United States-China Relations. You may refer to the Chinese sides press release.

As for the question you raised, I do not have anything to offer at the moment. There need to be favorable conditions and an enabling atmosphere for relevant communication to resume.

AFP: A question about the allegations of Chinese illegal police stations overseas. I know that your colleague yesterday already made a comment about the Netherlands specifically, but since more reports have emerged worldwide of illegal Chinese police stations, including in Canada and Ireland, I would like to know if you can confirm that China has any police operations in Canada, and if so, are local authorities aware of that?

Mao Ning: My colleague has indeed answered a similar question yesterday. If you would like to know more, I would refer you to the competent authorities. Let me stress that Chinese public security authorities strictly observe international law and fully respect the judicial sovereignty of other countries.

Bloomberg: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing was trying to speed up its seizure of Taiwan during an interview with Bloomberg. He said, Whats changed is this -- a 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. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?



Mao Ning: First of all, the status quo in the Taiwan Strait is that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China and Taiwan is part of China. It is not China that is trying to change the status quo, but the DPP authorities Taiwan independence separatist activities and US moves to distort and fudge the one-China principle.

The one-China principle is the most important political prerequisite and bedrock of the establishment and advancement of diplomatic relations with the US. It is a basic common understanding between China and the US on the Taiwan question. How to resolve the Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair. We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification; but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form.

AFP: Its been 41 days since the death of a young Iranian woman in police custody, which sparked a huge protest in Iran. Dozens of civilians and security forces have been killed in the protest. What is Chinas view on this event in Iran?



Mao Ning: We have noted relevant reports. We believe the Iranian government can properly handle relevant issues and keep the country stable.

Bloomberg: South Koreas Defense Minister said on Wednesday that his country should work to deter the use of nuclear weapons by sending North Korea a message it would bring an end to the current regime. Does the foreign ministry have any comment?

Mao Ning: We hope the parties concerned will face squarely the root cause and turn of events that led to the protracted impasse on the Korean Peninsula and do more to enhance mutual trust and address parties concerns in a balanced way.
HARRISBURG  Pennsylvania state House Republicans on Wednesday introduced a measure to impeach Philadelphias Democratic district attorney, saying they may add session days to get the job done before the two-year legislative term expires next month.

Rep. Martina White, the only House Republican who currently represents the city, sponsored the 22-page resolution aimed at removing District Attorney Larry Krasner a year after he was overwhelmingly reelected.

White and about two dozen other House Republicans announced the move at a Capitol news conference. White accused Krasner of dereliction of duty and despicable behavior and running an office with a staggering amount of dysfunction. She said Krasner is responsible for the rise of crime across our city.

Krasner tweeted just before the news conference that those seeking his removal dont allege Ive committed a crime.

They just dont think Philly has a right to govern itself.

We knew this was coming, Krasner wrote, calling it devastating to democracy, and it shows how far toward fascism the Republican Party is creeping.

These Republicans divest from communities and then grandstand about crime for political gain, he said.

Whites impeachment resolution takes aim at his management of the office, policies regarding not prosecuting prostitution or marijuana possession cases, treatment of immigration defendants, gun crimes and cash bail. Backers of his removal blame him for recent sharp increases in the citys number of killings.

His lack of proper leadership serves as a direct and proximate cause of the crisis currently facing the city of Philadelphia, Whites resolution states, alleging his policies have eviscerated the district attorneys offices ability to adequately enforce the laws of this commonwealth and endangered city residents and visitors.

The measure was sent to the Judiciary Committee. If the House votes to impeach Krasner, a trial in the Senate would require a two-thirds vote to remove him from the job.

House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, a Republican from Centre, said the House will take up the proposal as soon as it hits the floor and has been reported out by the Judiciary Committee, which appears likely.

The House is only scheduled to be back in session Nov. 14-16, when leadership contests for the coming two-year session are likely to be a major distraction. But Benninghoff said the timing of the introduction of Whites impeachment resolution has nothing to do with the election that will occur Nov. 8.

Impeachment and removal by the Legislature is exceedingly rare, occurring most recently against Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen nearly three decades ago.
DOWNINGTON, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are still searching for a 6-year-old girl they say was abducted by her mother in Chester County.

Police released a new photo of Zoe Moss, and said she has been spotted in and around Harrisburg, Lancaster, Columbia, Ephrata, Wrightsville, and York since going missing Tuesday evening.

Authorities say her mother, Venessa Gutshall, took off with her during a court-ordered, non-school-related supervised visit in the area of East Ward Elementary School in Downingtown.

The Chester County district attorney says even though the girl is presumed to be with her mother, that does not mean she is safe, as Gutshall does not have custody of her.

The 37-year-old Gutshall was last seen wearing blue sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt, police say.

She has been sighted in and around Harrisburg, Lancaster, Columbia, Ephrata, Wrightsville, and York. https://t.co/riErQul4qy  PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) October 27, 2022

She was driving a gray 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, with the license plate KXR-3699.

Anyone who sees the girl, mother or car should call 911.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. - Police in Chester County and beyond are searching for a 6-year-old girl they say was abducted by her mother.

Zoe Moss was last seen in the area of East Ward Elementary School on Washington Avenue in Downingtown at 6:10 p.m. Tuesday, state police said.

Her biological mother took off with her during a court-ordered, non-school-related supervised visit, authorities said Wednesday.

The mother, 37-year-old Vanessa Gutshall, was seen later, between 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Rivertowne Restaurant & Bar in Wrightsville, about an hour west of Downingtown, near York, police said.

STATEWIDE: AMBER Alert. Downingtown PD is searching for Zoe MOSS. Call 911 if seen. pic.twitter.com/8jJ3tmRWmc  PA State Police (@PAStatePolice) October 26, 2022

"It is imperative that we find Zoe Moss immediately because of the potentially dangerous situation she is in with her mother," said county District Attorney Deb Ryan, in a statement. "Just because her mother is involved does not mean she is in less danger."

Gutshall was driving a gray 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, with the license plate KXR-3699.

"She's presumed with her mother, Vanessa Gutshall, but it's important that everyone understands that her mother does not have custody of her," said Michael Barry, first district attorney, Chester County. "We can't presume everything is OK just because she is with her mother."

Anyone who sees the girl, mother or the car should call 911.

Moss is 3-foot-8 and weighs 50 pounds. She has light brown hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 911 or the Downingtown PD at 610-633-8810.
UPPER SOUTHAMPTON TWP., Pa. - In a news conference Thursday, the Bucks County District Attorney said a man was justified in shooting and killing two people who attacked him outside of a pub earlier this month.

Liam Hughes was justified in killing Steven Panebianco, 30, of Bensalem, and Raymond Farrell, 28, of Philadelphia, in the parking lot of the Steam Pub in Upper Southampton Township, said District Attorney Matt Weintraub.

Hughes and a friend were returning to Hughes car on the night of Oct. 7 after leaving the pub when a group of men gathered near his car, and confronted and attacked him, Weintraub said.

Three men punched and hit him in the face and head, knocking him to the ground where they continued the assault, Weintraub said. Hughes attempted to get into his vehicle but was being actively pulled out by one of the attackers, according to Weintraub.

Hughes had to reach behind with his right arm while being attacked and was able to get his hand on his weapon that was between the drivers seat and the center console. He warned the assailants that he had a weapon and told them to stop, authorities said.

The men continued the attack, and Hughes opened fire, killing two of the men and injuring a third, according to Weintraub.

Immediately after the shooting, Hughes called 911, telling dispatchers he shot at a group of men who attacked him in the parking lot of the Steam Pub, Weintraub said. Bucks County 911 received numerous other calls reporting the shooting.

Upper Southampton Township Police Department and EMS arrived at the scene and found two men dead in the Steam Pub parking lot. While on scene, police were told a third man  Richard Bowman, 24, of Philadelphia  sustained a gunshot wound and was treated at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

After calling 911, Hughes remained on the scene until police arrived and cooperated fully with the investigation, including giving a video and audio recorded interview, allowing police to review his cellphone, and consenting to gunshot residue testing, photographing, having his clothing collected, providing a blood sample, and releasing his medical records, Weintraub said. The medical records showed that Hughes suffered serious injuries. He also suffered blurry vision, sensitivity to light and nausea, authorities said.

Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorneys Office and the Upper Southampton Township Police Department conducted a comprehensive investigation that included processing the scene and recovering and accounting for all shell casings and rounds, interviewing with those involved and witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage from inside and outside the Steam Pub, examining cellphones, searching vehicles, and collecting and reviewing 911 calls.

Weintraub announced that the investigation concluded that the use of deadly force by Hughes was justified because he reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to protect himself against death or serious bodily injury and because he was unable to safely retreat.

Weintraub said there was also a presumed reasonable belief of need for deadly force because he was forcefully being removed from his vehicle.

The investigation also found that Hughes held a valid concealed weapons permit and legally purchased the firearm himself, according to Weintraub. Hughes was also considerably smaller than the men who attacked him, Weintraub said.

Weintraub met with Panebiancos family to explain his decision. Weintraub said he tried to do the same with the Farrell family, but they declined to meet at this time.

During a news conference to announce the findings of the investigation, Weintraub played surveillance footage that captured the assault and shooting, and the 911 call that Hughes placed after the shooting. In the video, Panebianco, Farrell and a third man, Michael Michell, can be seen repeatedly punching Hughes, according to Weintraub.

Weintraub said Panebianco throws the first punch that started the attack, and then also punches Hughes friend five times in the head and face. The friend fled to get help as the three men continued the attack, Weintraub said.

Michell, 24, of Philadelphia, will be charged with simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, for his role in the attack. Michell punched the victim at least four times in the head during the attack, Weintraub said.

Bowman was not charged.
WARMINSTER TWP., Pa. - A former police officer in Bucks County has pleaded no contest to sexually assaulting five teen boys.

James Carey, 54, entered the open plea Thursday to five counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, and corruption of minors; two counts each of statutory rape and statutory sexual assault; and one count of aggravated indecent assault, according to a news release from the Bucks County District Attorney's Office.

Carey, of Cape May Court House in New Jersey, committed the acts while working as a DA.R.E. officer and running a program for troubled youth at the townships recreation center more than two decades ago, the DA's office said.

Sentencing was deferred for 30 to 45 days. A judge also ordered Carey to undergo an evaluation by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification board.

Carey was arrested on April 7, 2021, following a lengthy investigation by Bucks County Detectives and an inquiry by a Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury that found Carey sexually assaulted four boys between 1989 and 2009. In announcing the arrest, District Attorney Matt Weintraub described Carey as a veritable wolf in sheeps clothing, walking among us.

The next month following the publicity of his arrest, a fifth victim came forward and Carey faced additional charges, the DA's office said. The victim in that case said he was 13 when Carey sexually assaulted him.

The DA's office said Carey used his position as a uniformed officer assigned to the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to take advantage of victims who were already facing challenges in their lives, said First Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Schorn. Schorn credited detectives and their pursuit to locate victims and praised the victims as some of the most courageous men shes ever met as a prosecutor.

At a preliminary hearing in June 2021, the victims, now in their 30s and 40s, testified about the repeated abuse by Carey. Most of the assaults happened while Carey was in uniform, the victims testified.

Carey was a police officer for Warminster Township from 1989 to 2009, and previously and briefly worked for the North Wales Police Department in Montgomery County (June 1988 to August 1988) and the Warwick Township Police Department (July 1988 to May 1989).
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.
One person is dead and three others are injured after a bridge that was under construction near Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed, authorities said.

Workers were pouring concrete on the bridge deck when it collapsed Wednesday afternoon, before 2 p.m. local time, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office.

PHOTO: Authorities said one person is dead after a bridge that was under construction near Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed, Oct. 26, 2022. (KMBC)

PHOTO: Authorities said one person is dead after a bridge that was under construction near Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed, Oct. 26, 2022. (KMBC)

The bridge collapsed on top of the workers and rescue efforts ensued, Clay County Western Commissioner Jon Carpenter told ABC News.

Four workers became trapped, the sheriff's office said. Three of them were able to escape from the collapse themselves and were transported to area hospitals with minor injuries, the sheriff's office said.

The deceased victim has not been publicly identified.

Were on the scene of a bridge collapse at NE 148th St. and Shady Grove Road. There is one confirmed fatality and several with minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/RdfYmi4dLz  Clay County, Missouri Sheriff (@SheriffClayCo) October 26, 2022

There were multiple contracting companies on the scene at the time of the collapse and no county employees, authorities said.

MORE: 5 people hospitalized after pedestrian bridge collapses onto DC highway

The two-lane bridge spans Carroll Creek at Northeast 148th Street and Shady Grove Road in Washington Township, outside of Kearney, about 27 miles northeast of Kansas City.

The bridge has been closed since 2016. Construction began in May 2021, and it was set to reopen in early 2023.

PHOTO: Authorities said one person is dead after a bridge that was under construction near Kansas City, Missouri, collapsed, Oct. 26, 2022. (IMBC)

"The Clay County Highway Department states there were no safety concerns on the project prior to today," the Clay County Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Wednesday. "An engineering contractor was on scene today inspecting the bridge before the deck was poured."

The sheriff's office said it will turn over the investigation to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

1 dead, 3 injured after Missouri bridge collapses while under construction originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A woman who was reported missing in Indonesia was found in a pythons stomach, according to officials.

The 54-year-old left to work on a rubber plantation near Jambi, on the northeast coast of Sumatra, early Sunday, Oct. 23, according to local police, KalingaTV reported. She never returned home.

By Sunday evening, the womans husband went looking for her, police said, according to CNN Indonesia. As he searched the plantation, he located her sandals, a knife, a headscarf and a jacket.

After an unsuccessful search on Sunday, villagers continued searching on Monday. Thats when they stumbled upon a 22-foot python with a bloated stomach, according to KalingaTV.

The victim was found in the snakes stomach, Betara Jambi police chief AKP S Harefa told local media outlets, according to BBC. The womans body was intact when it was retrieved.

Pythons are constrictors, so they suffocate their prey before eating them, according to the San Diego Zoo. The snake grabs its prey with its teeth before coiling around it and squeezing until the prey can no longer breathe. The python then swallows its prey whole, usually head first.

Depending on their size, pythons typically eat small animals such as rodents, birds, lizards or small mammals like such as monkeys and pigs.

A villager told KalingaTV that he estimates it took the python about two hours to suffocate and swallow the woman.
Did you know next year marks 100 years of Disney?

To mark the occasion, the House of Mouse is hosting a special EMEA event in London  where they will both look back on 100 years of Disney Magic as well as look forward to exciting future plans.

We're at the event and will be live-tweeting from 5.30pm BST  so keep eyes peeled for some special content!

The evening is said to: "look back at the first 100 years of Disney and look ahead to our next 100 years, together."

Tweets by WhatsOnStage
Sarah Crompton, WhatsOnStage



"The rise, fall and resurrection of American tele-evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker isn't the most obvious subject for a new British musical  even if it is one that arrives with blazing clouds of expectation with music by Elton John, lyrics by Jake Shears (of the Scissor Sisters) and a book by playwright James Graham. Yet Tammy Faye is clever, catchy and great fun.

"Its success, grounded in a terrific central performance by Katie Brayben, lies in the way Graham shapes a fairly straight-forward retelling of Tammy Faye's life into something richer by using it to chart the rise of the evangelical right in American politics. As rival evangelist Jerry Falwell grasps the potential of using the rise of Ronald Reagan to bring back conservative values, Tammy Faye, with her warm-hearted belief in the love of God rather than his wrath, becomes an unlikely heroine of liberal tolerance and equality."





Arifa Akbar, The Guardian



"Bunny Christie's set, meanwhile, is simple but spectacular  a TV studio with a back wall of miniature sets that double up as windows through which characters deliver comic sketches. In a nod to the Bakkers' start in children's puppetry, they bear some resemblance to The Muppet Show: one recurring conversation between Pope John Paul II (Nicholas Rowe), archbishop Robert Runcie (Steve John Shepherd) and the Latter Day Saints' president in Salt Lake City (Fred Haig) appears like a comic twist on Statler and Waldorf.

"Katrina Lindsay's gorgeous costumes change with the times, from Hairspray-inspired wigs of the 60s to the boxy suits and bat-wings of the 80s. Lynne Page's choreography is riotous, while visual humour comes in fabulously camp asides."





Andrew Rannells and Katie Brayben in Tammy Faye

 Marc Brenner





Nick Curtis, Evening Standard



"There are some shows you never expect to see, and a musical about a gay-friendly televangelist and America's Christian right in the Seventies and Eighties by Elton John, James Graham and Jake Scissor Sisters' Shears is one of them. But here it is and praise the lord, it's a religious riot.

"Katie Brayben plays the titular TV preacher with eyes full of sympathetic tears, lungs of steel, and a wardrobe and wigs from the ninth circle of hell. Elton's music wittily blends gospel and revivalist soul with the pop of Tammy Faye's heyday and some almost vaudevillian comic songs. The madcap, cartoonish energy of Rupert Goold's production sugars the serious point that religious corruption and political influence is very much still alive in America, and elsewhere."





Jessie Thompson, The Independent



"The cast deliver it all with the delirious vim that the subject matter deserves. As Tammy Faye, [Katie] Brayben looks like a nailed-on Olivier winner, giving a hugely likable performance of gentle charm and belting 11 o'clock numbers like it's easy. As Jim, [Andrew] Rannells fixes on a Ken doll-like smile to show us a man who always feels nervy, anxiously twisting his wedding ring. And Zubin Varla, who gave one of the best performances I've ever seen in Fun Home at the Young Vic, is a standout as their bitter rival Jerry Falwell, with a Javert-esque number of his own.

"Ultimately, it's hard to resist such a winning, hard-working cast. In one of the show's best lines, Jim tells Tammy why she was so good on TV. "You opened your heart and people wanted to come in! It was like the opposite of church." That's basically Tammy Faye."









Fiona Mountford, The i



"Rupert Goold directs with his customary brio, the ensemble is top-notch as they flit between supporting characters and designer Bunny Christie's bank of television screens allows for unexpected figures to pop up; a glorious three-way conversation between the otherworldly Pope, the frazzled Archbishop of Canterbury and the leader of the Mormon church frets over the huge "congregations" of the televangelists.

"The music is strong and catchy; "He's Inside Me" (sample lyric "He's inside women and he's inside men") is a cheekily suggestive encomium to the Lord and "He Promised Me" is delivered by Brayben as an impassioned foot-stomper of betrayal. The closing number, "See You in Heaven", is the evening's stand-out. Heaven might have to wait, but there is little doubt that we'll be seeing this show in venues beyond the Almeida."





Andrzej Lukowski, Time Out



"[James] Graham's book is unabashedly celebratory of Faye as a compassionate alternative to the powerful-hungry male televangelists, who we see go on to forge a cynical pact with Steve John Shepherd's ambitious Ronald Reagan. But it's also the first big biographical musical I've seen since Hamilton where the writer was clearly allowed a free hand, and not simply forced into writing a hagiography by the subject's estate. Graham's Faye is a deeply flawed woman who  spoiler alert  ends up in Purgatory rather than heading straight to the Good Place. But as much as her failings are acknowledged, she's clutched fiercely to the show's chest for her instinctive championing of LGBTQ folk: the scene that details her interview with a gay pastor with AIDS is hugely moving. Sure, her head was turned by money. But she was an infinitely better Christian and human than the awful Falwell. I'm not sure how accurate every detail is (there's surely a fair amount of simplification involved). But Graham's eye for period quirk is unmatched, and as ever with him we do actually learn something.

"[Elton] John and [Jake] Shears are not just along for the ride. In the goofier first half their songs have to set the tone: If Only Love' is a catchy, plaintive ballad that underscores the fact the Bakkers start out with a genuine love for each other, while PTL TV Theme' and He's Inside Me' are daft glam-era Elton John pastiches that absolutely hit the spot in terms of underscoring the essential silliness of the high televangelist era. (There's also a glorious cheeky interpolation of Crocodile Rock' that reminds us of the fact that for all the musicals Elton John has written, we're surely still crying out for an Elton John musical.)"





Sarah Hemming, Financial Times



"Graham, our leading political playwright, spies in this gaudy saga the roots of contemporary culture wars, with conservatives and fundamentalists raging over "woke" values and infiltrating the body politic to chilling effect."

"All this comes packaged in a larger-than-life narrative style, which fills this one-time church with a blend of zinging dialogue, religious frenzy and Lynne Page's wildly camp dance routines. John and Spears bowl events forwards with a combination of daft pastiche rock, glam-rock and rousingly genuine ballads. Best of these is "Empty Hands" before the interval, a soul-baring torch song which Brayben delivers with rafter-raising passion. And she is superb, bringing both warmth and beady intelligence to Tammy Faye, nicely contrasted by Rannells' Bakker, uncomfortable in his own skin. Slithering around them is Zubin Varla as a reptilian Jerry Falwell."





Katie Brayben with Robyn Rose, Georgia Louise and Kelly Agbowu in Tammy Faye

 Marc Brenner





Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph



"As things stand, Tammy Faye isn't a hell of a show in the wrong sense, but it's surprisingly purgatorial at points, struggling to find a strong dramatic pulse, the bland leading the bland so far as too many songs are concerned.

"The recent film, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, delved more interestingly into the flaws of Faye and her husband, Jim Bakker, as it charted their progress from sweethearts to Christian puppeteers to something like an American proto-Richard and Judy  TV being both their salvation (Praise the Lord was a satellite network that reached, and raked, in millions) and a window onto their eventual fall from grace."





Sam Marlowe, The Stage



"This new musical, with book by playwright James Graham and songs by Elton John and Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters, is a surface-skimming romp  Evita meets Jerry Springer: The Opera, by way of RuPaul's Drag Race. It prods rather gingerly at the surging appeal of the populist politics of the Christian right  the same mindset that demonised AIDS and HIV patients as victims of a "gay plague" and which engineered the horrifying overturning of Roe vs Wade this year  and which confronts us, too, with our enduring fascination with such tales of garish glory; crash and burn.

"But the show, directed by Rupert Goold with a vim and stylishness that can't quite disguise its shortage of substance, lacks Graham's usual incisive wit and grip. Nor does it quite lean hard enough into the high-camp soap-opera aspect that might have provided more biting zing. John's rather bland score  his latest in a theatrical career that includes the recent Broadway flop The Devil Wears Prada, as well as hits Billy Elliot and The Lion King  draws on the gospel, rock'n'roll and boogie-woogie, but rarely comes close to divine."





Clive Davis, The Times



"She was a larger-than-life figure, yet Tammy Faye Bakker emerges as a cipher with lots of lipstick in this tepid new musical from Elton John. In the 1980s the singing tele-evangelist and her preacher husband, Jim, achieved notoriety in the US when their lucrative Praise The Lord empire imploded amid financial and sexual scandals.

"The prospect of hearing a new set of songs by one of our greatest musicians means that tickets are in short supply. Yet for all Katie Brayben's efforts in the title role, this show  a decade in the making and fitted with serviceable lyrics by the Scissor Sisters star Jake Shears  trundles from one set-piece to another."
The German government unveiled plans for the legalization of recreational cannabis for adults on Wednesday, though many details have yet to be worked out and must be squared with European Union law before legislation is put forward.

Germanys Health Minister Karl Lauterbach announced plans to allow for controlled distribution and recreational use of cannabis among adults, which would make it one of the first European governments to do so, following the approval of the plan by Chancellor Olaf Scholzs cabinet.

The planned legislation would allow adults to possess up to 30 grams of marijuana, as well as allow limited amounts of cannabis to be grown and sold to adults in licensed specialist shops and possibly also pharmacies.

However, the health minister warned that many hurdles remained in the complex legislative process, adding that Germanys three coalition parties will now assess if the plan is internationally acceptable and in line with international law.

I could well imagine, if everything goes well, that legalization will then be achieved in 2024, the health minister added.

Berlin will propose the paper to the European Commission for a pre-assessment and will only draft the law once the Commission sanctions the plan, the minister added, according to Reuters.

If the EU Commission says no to Germanys current approach, our government should seek alternative solutions. Not just say: Well, we tried our best, said Niklas Kouparanis, chief executive at Bloomwell Group, one of Germanys largest cannabis firms, Reuters reported.

Germany should have a backup plan if the EU rejects the legalization, Kouparanis said, adding that cannabis imports should be authorized because domestic cultivation will not be able to meet demand in the short term.

Lauterbach, a trained physician, said he has tried cannabis: I can only say that I have actually tried it. I have also made that public. However, I am not a user and I would not benefit from this regulation either, because I only took it to see what it is like.

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JUNEAU  A 55-year-old Oshkosh man has an opportunity to seek treatment and avoid serving jail time for retail theft after removing two dehumidifiers from Beaver Dams Menards.

Donnie McKenzie was found guilty of two counts of retail theft in July. Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Sciascia sentenced McKenzie on Thursday to seven months in jail. He may spend that time at a treatment facility provided that he successfully completes in-patient treatment. If he fails treatment, he will be sent to jail.

In addition, a two-year prison sentence was imposed and stayed. He must pay $640 in restitution, maintain absolute sobriety, perform a work search, and undergo AODA and anger management.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Sept. 22, 2020, a call came in that a man had stolen two dehumidifiers from the store. The caller said that McKenzie had said, I suggest you stop following me unless you want to get shot, after following him out of the building. However the caller saw the car McKenzie was driving go north on Hwy. 151.

Deputies from Fond du Lac Sheriffs Office located McKenzie and took him into custody. Police spoke to McKenzie who told them that he had wanted to drive to his mothers house in Arkansas and leave his wife and two boys behind.

However he knew that she would need money to care for the kids and was told by a friend that stores in Beaver Dam were easy to steal from. He said he stole three Roomba vacuums and a fabric cutter from Walmart in Beaver Dam before going to Menards. McKenzie said he did not have a gun on him but had made the threat to get out of the situation.

McKenzie submitted to a vehicle search and the missing items were found in his Chevrolet Blazer.
Africa Human Rights Day Dialogue

Join us for a virtual dialogue celebrating the 41st anniversary of the African Charter on Human and People's Rights

Africa Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on 21 October to mark the coming into effect of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights  the founding treaty of the African Human Rights system. 2022 will mark the 41st anniversary of the adoption of this Charter.

On 31 October 2022, CALS and the Rastafari Human Rights Institute are hosting a dialogue commemorating Africa Human Rights Day and the work done by many to entrench human rights in South Africa and the African continent. The dialogue will take place over Zoom from 10:00.

Speakers are set to include:
When it was learned at the Oct. 13 Farmington City Council meeting that the city is in the process of purchasing the Big River Communications building at 101 S. Jefferson St. to be used for utility payments and serve as additional office space, it came as a surprise to many who wondered why Big River had decided to sell its building.

Was the company no longer planning to serve the city of Farmington? Was Big River going out of business?

Among those who were surprised to read the news of the pending sale in the Daily Journal was Kevin Cantwell, president of Big River Communications.

It just kind of caught people by surprise because we hadnt announced it to anybody yet, he said. We havent signed the contract. Were going to get it done, but I didnt realize the city was going to bring it out in a public forum before we got everything finalized.

According to Cantwell, moving locations is nothing new for the company that has had a physical presence in Farmington since 2001.

The next building we have in Farmington will be our fifth one, he said. Weve had four other office spaces. Its a nice transition. Mayor [Larry] Forsythe and [City Administrator] Greg Beavers came to us about two years ago and wanted to know if we had an interest in selling that building. Theyve got a big investment in that Jefferson Street Plaza. Theyve got city hall right there. Theyve got parking. I mean, were at the front door of their downtown renovation.

Being good corporate citizens, we said, Well take a look at it. Then when COVID hit, all of our employees started working from home. We didnt lose any productivity. Technology replaced some of the jobs. Then [the city] came back again and said, Really, were serious about buying your building. That building used to be the old firehouse. We completely renovated it. So, we sat down, and one thing led to the other, and we said, Sure, well be more than happy to do it. Now theyre assisting us in finding another location.

Cantwell believes that helping the city when it needed additional space made good sense from Big Rivers point of view.

Well be opening up a new retail location in town anyway, along with a place for our technicians and stuff, he said. Thats why were doing it. Ive had some customers call me about us selling the building to the city, and I said, Hey, were not going anywhere. Were not abandoning you. Weve been here for 21 years now. Were continuing to grow and go.

We started Big River Communications on Dec. 21, 2001, so weve been around a long time and continue to serve what I call our golden triangle, Festus-Crystal City down to Poplar Bluff, over to Sikeston, and back up US 67 and Highway 55. That is our service area  Fredericktown to Cape, Jackson, Poplar Bluff, obviously Farmington, Bonne Terre, Ste. Genevieve, Perryville  up and down that marketplace.

Cantwell explained that Big River is now made up of four entities.

We have our traditional telephone company, he said. We have a nationwide Voice over IP (VoIP) network in which we wholesale services to other entities who then sell our white-label product under their name. One thing people dont realize is that all of the setup now down in Florida for FEMA is provided by Big River. They call us and say, Weve got to turn on 16, 18 sights. You know, weve got the disasters, the wildfires out in California a couple of years ago, and again today, Big River is providing all the phone service for those guys. So, thats under our VoIP platform.

We own the 4G LTE network in St. Francois County  seven counties in southeast Missouri, so we put up a bunch of towers that are delivering high-speed internet and telephone over that. Then we have our latest division, which is probably 18 months old now, called Circle Fiber, in which we are delivering fiber  the highest speed internet  to premises. We built out Jackson, Missouri, were finalizing Poplar Bluff, Missouri. We have Cape Girardeau going on. Well be starting Farmington and that area pretty soon. This is the best of the best when it comes to delivering internet.

With the expected growth in technology, much of which will be found and used in homes, Cantwell is confident that Big River is going to experience substantial growth in the years ahead.

Weve been preaching the need for high-speed internet for 20 years, he said. All of a sudden, COVID hit some people with a two-by-four, and they said, I guess we really need it. Working from home, kids working from school, the advancements of telemedicine, distance learning, you know, all these new tools that need high-speed internet. A lot of people dont realize how many IoT, internet of things, they have in their house.

So, when I talk to people about it  theyve got 300 mbps, 500 mbps  and they ask, What do I need this for? I say, OK, lets talk about it. You got streaming services? You got Hulu? You got Netflix? Yeah. You got a smartphone? You have a garage door opener that has Wi-Fi? Yeah. You got a Ring? You got a computer? You got a notepad? All of a sudden, people have 15, 20 or 25 IoT devices in their home.

As more IoT devices find their way into homes, Cantwell knows there is going to be an ever-increasing need for larger and faster bandwidth capacity in both rural areas and cities like Farmington.

Fiber is the future, and were delivering that now  building that out now  in the state of Missouri, he said. Its an exciting time.
[Photo Supplied by VCG]

An increasing number of Chinese children's books  including children's literature, picture books, audio books and puzzle books  have made their way into the global market. The high-quality books have been attracting a growing number of global readers with their plots from a Chinese perspective and their ingenious character designs. The books have won extensive praise around the world. Many of the books have won international awards.

Going Global

The thriving development of China's children's book-publishing industry is due in part to the overall development and prosperity of the country, and the "going-out" strategy of Chinese culture, as well as the concerted efforts of Chinese children's book publishers over the years.

Imported children's books used to be hot items in the Chinese children's book-publishing industry. But today, the Chinese children's book-publishing sector is experiencing amazingly rapid development, astronomical economic returns, and incredibly fierce competition.

In recent years, with the development of China's comprehensive national strength, China's book-publishing industry has benefited from a new period of policy opportunities. The Chinese Government has adopted several national policies to support and boost the development of book publishing. That has resulted in an unprecedented opportunity for Chinese children's books to go global.

[Photo Supplied by VCG]

Statistics released by China Press, Publication, Radio and Television News, the copyrights of more than 4,000 Chinese children's books have been exported to other countries during the past 40-plus years since China's reform and opening-up. China's children's book-publishing industry has undergone a transformation from "being imported" to "going out."

The international children's book market also provides a favorable environment for Chinese children's books to go global.

In the context of globalization, with the growing strength of China, more and more countries and regions are eager to learn about Chinese culture and listen to Chinese stories. The children's book market is no exception.

An increasing number of international publishers have sought cooperation with their Chinese counterparts. Various models, and multiple channels, for promoting the overseas popularity of Chinese children's books have emerged, such as Chinese-foreign cooperation in the creation of children's books, and the establishment of overseas branches of Chinese publishing companies.

The quality of Chinese children's books continues to improve, and never fails to impress children and international publishers. With rich content, a wide range of subjects and novel forms, Chinese children's books attract children from all over the world.

[Photo Supplied by China National Museum of Women and Children, National Museum of Classic Books]

At international book fairs, such as the Bologna Children's Book Fair, in Italy, Frankfurt Book Fair, in Germany, and Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, exhibition stands of Chinese companies (which publish children's books) attract the attention of other exhibitors.

It has been reported that China published more than 40,000 varieties of children's books in 2018, ranking China first in the world in that segment. Chinese children's books have become an important force in the international children's book market.

China National Museum of Women and Children (CNMWC) and National Museum of Classic Books held an exhibition, Dazzling Childhood  A Hundred Years of Chinese Children's Books, at CNMWC in 2019. The organizers selected more than 100 books from among the many excellent children's books published during the previous century. The books were displayed in chronological order. Excellent children's books are not only a true reflection of the spirit of their respective times, but also children's closest spiritual friends that will be remembered for a lifetime.

[Photo Supplied by China National Museum of Women and Children, National Museum of Classic Books]

Increasing Influence

Thanks to the high level of creativity and design, as well as the various models of Chinese-foreign cooperation, Chinese children's books have drawn worldwide attention, and they have enjoyed increasing influence in overseas markets. In recent years, many of the books have won international awards.

Don't Let the Sun Fall

Chinese illustrator Zhu Chengliang won the Golden Apple Prize, during the 27th Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), in 2019, for his illustrations in the picture book, Don't Let the Sun Fall. The BIB, established in 1967, is the world's first non-commercial international illustration award. Zhu is the fifth Chinese illustrator to win the award.

[Photo Supplied by China Peace Publishing House]

Don't Let the Sun Fall, written by Guo Zhenyuan, was published by China Peace Publishing House in 2018. It is a picture book that highlights Chinese elements and childlike innocence. The book focuses on children's curiosity about natural phenomenon, such as the sunrise and sunset. It tells the interesting story of a group of animals who tried their best to prevent the sun from "falling" from the sky.

Zhu's exploration of and innovation in traditional Chinese culture gives the book a strong Chinese flavor. For example, the prototype of the cow is a clay sculpture in Fengxiang, in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and the prototypes of the bird and cat are nigugu, a kind of clay sculpture (that can make a sound) in Xunxian County, in Central China's Henan Province. The two kinds of clay sculptures are on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.

Don't Let the Sun Fall is widely considered to have landmark significance among the original Chinese picture books.

The book has earned many domestic and international awards, including Bing Xin Children's Book Award, Chen Bochui International Children's Literature Award and BIB Golden Apple Prize. Its copyright has been exported to Spain, Japan, France, Lebanon, Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea.

Lonely Elk King

Chinese author Liu Xianping (1938-2022) won a well-known Russian literature award, in 2019, for his book, Lonely Elk King. The award was established in 2015 to honor outstanding authors who write about nature and animals. The award aims to improve the social significance of contemporary nature literary works.

[Photo Supplied by People's Literature Publishing House, Tiantian Publishing House]

Liu, known as the father of contemporary nature literature in China, traveled across the country twice. His major works include four full-length novels about people exploring the wildlife world, and dozens of works about his adventures in the great nature.

Lonely Elk King was published by People's Literature Publishing House and Tiantian Publishing House in 2018. To explore the mystery of the elk's flourishing in China, Liu visited national nature reserves for elks in Shishou, in Central China's Hubei Province, and in Dafeng, in East China's Jiangsu Province. He wrote stories about the elks, and other interesting wildlife, and he conveyed the ecological concept of respecting nature and life.

Gao Hongbo, writer and vice-president of the Chinese Writers Association, says, "Liu is a writer with a strong sense of responsibility and mission. The original intention of nature literature is to arouse people's awareness of environmental protection, by means of literature, to let people consciously join in the cause of environmental protection, and to achieve real harmony with nature."

Shu Lin's Grandpa

Shu Lin's Grandpa, a children's picture book illustrated by British-Chinese artist Yu Rong, was showcased at the London Book Fair in April.

The book tells the story of Shu Lin, a Chinese immigrant girl, who overcomes cultural differences and forms friendships in her new school with the help of her grandfather. The book combines paper-cutting and ink painting with other Chinese elements to create a painting style that is both classical and modern.

Shu Lin's Grandpa, published in Chinese by Dandelion Children's Bookstore and in English by Otter-Barry Books, was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal this year. Kate Greenaway Medal, founded by the Library Association in 1955, is a prominent children's book award for illustration in the United Kingdom.

What is required to better tell Chinese stories to international readers? A pure heart, a love for traditional Chinese culture and the passion to convey Chinese stories through words or pictures, says Yu. "To make Chinese books popular in overseas markets, it is not enough to rely on Chinese elements alone, having an international perspective is also very important," she says.

"In recent years, original Chinese books have made great progress in 'going out.' More Westerners are willing to accept and understand Chinese culture deeply. But it still takes time and effort to help Western families accept original Chinese books. In the meantime, we need more talents, who understand both Western art appreciation and Chinese culture, to promote good Chinese stories in the world," Yu says.

She says she is delighted to see some books with Chinese elements, including children's books, have been placed on the shelves of British people, which shows Chinese culture is influencing Westerners in a silent way.

(Women of China English Monthly September 2022 issue)
The American River is a long river that flows for about 192 km in Northern California from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to its meeting point with the Sacramento River in the state capital Sacramento. The American River serves as a major drinking water source for the people of Sacramento and has been dammed excessively for flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power generation. The American River and its tributaries support a diverse array of fish and wildlife besides offering a number of recreational activities.

Forks Of The American River

North Fork

Aerial view of North Fork American River.

Flowing for 142 km from its source in the Sierra Nevada to its mouth at Folsom Lake, the North Fork American River is the American River's longest tributary. The river begins its journey at the Mountain Meadow Lake, close to the 2,746m tall Granite Chief peak in the Tahoe National Forest. The river initially flows in the northwest direction and then swings westwards into a gorge parallel to the Forest Hill Divide in the south. Here, it is joined by the Big Granite Creek. The river then turns southwestwards, carving its way through the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. The river abruptly turns southwards near Colfax, and about 6.4 km downstream, it meets the Shirttail Creek. After this, the river is impounded by Lake Clementine, formed by the construction of the North Fork Dam. Below the dam, the river flows southwards, passing under the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge, where the Middle Fork American River joins it. The river continues its southward journey and drains into Folsom lake's northern arm.

Middle Fork

View of the confluence of the Middle Fork and the North Fork American River at Auburn, California. Editorial credit: ZikG / Shutterstock.com

The American River's Middle Fork of the American River has a length of 100 km and begins on the south face of Granite Chief, just 2.7 km from the North Fork's source. The Middle Fork is extensively used for recreational activities, including fishing, trail running, whitewater rafting, etc. During the California Gold Rush, the Middle Fork was one of the richest gold mining areas and is recreationally mined even today. The part of the river in the Auburn State Recreation Area is one of California's most well-known whitewater runs.

South Fork

A group of people rafting on the South Fork of the American River in Lotus, California. Editorial credit: Cassiohabib / Shutterstock.com

The American River's South Fork has a length of 140 km and starts at Echo Summit in El Dorado County, south of Lake Tahoe. Between Chili Bar Dam and Folsom Lake, 20 miles of the South Fork's whitewater may be navigated by boat, making it the most approachable and family-friendly of the three forks. Whitewater rafting and motorized adventure destinations like the Rubicon Trail can be found along the South Fork.

Climate Along The American River

American River scenery in the fall season.

Due to the wide variety in elevation, the watershed of the American River cuts across several climate zones. The lower American River valley experiences a Mediterranean and temperate grassland environment. Particularly Sacramento County, where the main stem of the American River is situated, is renowned for having cold winters and hot summers with little precipitation on average. The North, Middle, and South Forks initially begin in the alpine regions along the Sierra Crest, then flow through subalpine, montane, and temperate coniferous woods. Since the majority of precipitation occurs between November and April as rain and snow, the American River area is vulnerable to seasonally dry conditions.

History Of The American River

Stamps printed in USA showing the California Gold Rush of 1849. Editorial credit: MM_photos / Shutterstock.com

The Nisenan Indians lived in the Yuba, Bear, and American River watersheds before immigrants came to the South Fork of the American River. During the California Gold Rush, the American River played a significant role. One of the biggest recorded human migrations to date began in 1848 when gold was found on the South Fork of the American River. The settlers then combed the banks of every creek, stream, and river in quest of gold.

Miners scourged the riverbanks with more damaging techniques as the gold grew harder to find. Since these harmful mining practices were outlawed in 1884, mining has slowed down, although gold is still present in the river. A final estimate of 750,000 pounds of gold was produced during the California Gold Rush. However, it also left behind terrible environmental effects: hydraulic mining utilized more than 7,500 tons of mercury, which resulted in 13 billion tons of erosion.

Wildlife Along The American River

Mountain quail, Steller's jays, western bluebirds, warblers, squirrels, chipmunks, coyotes, black bears, and mountain lions are some of the common bird and mammal species found along the river waters. The California red-legged frog, the American bald eagle, and the valley elderberry longhorn beetle are among the watershed's endangered species. The upper watershed streams offer native fish a high-quality habitat. Along the American River corridor, numerous habitats serve as the home of several wildlife species due to the topography variation and abundance of plant species.

Threats To The American River

In the coming years, the river basin's air and water temperatures will probably rise due to climate change as precipitation events become more unpredictable due to prolonged droughts. When deciding how much water to keep and release from reservoirs, water managers consider a variety of factors, including greater evaporation in the summer and changes in the timing of runoff. Future climatic pressures, including increasing sea levels, diminishing snowpack, shorter and more severe wet seasons, and warming temperatures, are predicted to make water management in the basin more difficult.
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.
A woman who claims she was in a years-long romantic relationship with Georgia Republican Senate Candidate Herschel Walker pictured on October 11, in Carrollton, Georgia says Walker pressured her into having an abortion in 1993, she announced at a press conference.
Civic ceremony to mark end of evocative Knife Angel sculpture installation in Wrexham

The Mayor of Wrexham bid a formal farewell to the Knife Angel in the city centre last night.

Completed in 2018 The Knife Angel also known as the National Monument Against Violence and Aggression has toured the country, bringing with it an awareness of the consequences caused in society by violence and crime  especially knife crime. Knife crime in Wrexham is thankfully extremely rare and is not the reason why the statue is visiting the area.

Speaking last night the Mayor, Cllr Brian Cameron, gave a speech that touched on the meaning of the installation, It gives me great pleasure to be here to join you at the end of a very successful visit from the Knife Angel sculpture. To mark the start, and then the end of its tenure in Wrexham is a real privilege for myself Mayor.

It has been a campaign that has started a much needed conversation to break taboos and bring about an end to knife crime. I have no doubt that the presence of the Knife Angel has been extremely evocative.

The volume of people stopping to look at it whilst on their daily commute or wander through town has been incredible. The floods of pictures posted online by people capturing the moments of seeing such a spectacular monument is more than just a memory shared by social media.

Again, it is a conversation piece that spreads a message, a message to say that we cannot continue to have knife crime within our societies, not just here in Wrexham, that goes for every community around the globe. This knife angel has brought much needed awareness to so many people and I hope that it is a sobering reminder of what has unfortunately happened in the past due such acts of violence.

Alfie Bradley, the artist who created the sculpture, also spoke about his creation, Im so chuffed it is here now because one of the first families that we spoke with was the Maddocks family that are here now. I know weve been trying to get it to Wrexham for years and years and years  and it is finally here now.

I really hope that the angel really put the message out there the dangers of knife crime and violence. I hope that young people or people, middle aged people, anyone thats come here has really got the message and the people are going to talk about it.

Every weapon that is on this angel, every police force in the UK gave us weapons that theyve seized or taken off the streets, or taken off crimes. So they gave us the weapons.

As the weapons came in I had to bleach them and blunt them all so theyre not sharp or dangerous anymore. Then I separated them by different coloured handles, different size blades. So as you can see on the angel, theres all the different shapes and sizes. So I played around with all the colours, and the idea is on the blades when its lit up at nighttime, itll glow differently, almost like a diamond off the angel.

Danny Maddocks spoke, Nine years ago our family lost my brother Craig. Craig was a much loved son, father, uncle, a friend to many. The shock and sadness of losing him just 34 years old, it is something as a family we have never got over. The grief was so much harder under the circumstances and the fact that he was killed by someone using a knife.

Craig was a talented boxer that never would have fought outside of the ring. He would never have fought with a knife. He had no chance to defend himself. As a family we are involved in the Knife Angel and what it stands for.

We also set up an organisation called On The Knife Edge. I wanted to do this to stop people carrying knives and other families suffering the pain what we have. I have worked alongside the Youth Justice Service and North Wales Police to educate people on the dangers of knife crime. We want less people carrying knives around Wrexham, if they dont carry them, they wont use them.

We have seen an impact already by knives that have been collected from knife banks. We will continue our hard work to keep knives out of Wrexham and other families going through what we have.

If you are willing to carry a knife you are willing to use a knife.

Remember, one night of madness can give many years of sadness.

The Police and Crime Commissioner led a minutes silence to remember those lost to knife crime  a video from that moment below via Calon FMs full stream of the event that can be found here that includes all the speeches in full.

Standing at 8.2m (27ft) tall and weighing 3.5 tons  the sculpture and is made from over 100,000 seized knives and weapons collected from all 43 Police Constabularies across the UK and has found a home on Queens Square for the last few weeks.

The Knife Angel is leaving Wrexham early next week, and will be installed in Newport in its next step around the UK.
Therapy dog and his owner win volunteer award for comforting patients

A local volunteer and his therapy dog have won an award for their dedication to support staff and patients.

Andy Williams  who you may know as a local councillor, ex Mayor, firefighter and all round superhero  and his dog Buddi, a Lhasa Apso, have been volunteering at Wrexham Maelor Hospital for many years offering comfort and support to patients across the hospital including those in the Childrens Ward and Critical Care Unit.

Andy was announced as the winner for the Volunteer Award at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Boards 2022 Staff Awards night on Friday, October 21st.

Beverley Williams, Bromfield Deputy Ward Manager at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, said: Prior to the pandemic they visited both Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Nightingale House on a weekly basis. They provide support for children having procedures, and Buddi has sat with terminally ill patients and their relatives.

They both go that extra mile, and Andy is a full-time firefighter too, his dedication and support they give to the staff and patients is really appreciated.

Buddi has sat with patients as they have been in their end stages of life, he has been with patients in critical care when they have been on a ventilator and has sat with numerous children who have been terrified of needles, requiring blood or injections.

Buddi underwent six months of training before his visits to Wrexham Maelor Hospital to help patients relax and keep calm during their stay.

During the pandemic Buddi was fur-loughed but with Andys help, he did Zoom calls with the Childrens Ward. They also both volunteer at Nightingale House and for Blood Bike Wales, a charity which provides completely free courier service to the NHS, delivering blood samples and other items.

Mark Lewis, Project Director for award sponsor Gleeds, said: There are hundreds of volunteers who have made a positive difference to patients experience of NHS services across North Wales every year, and we were delighted to be able to help recognise their efforts this evening.

Theres no doubt that Andy and Buddi are clearly extremely well thought of by both the staff and patients they support. Congratulations to them both on winning this award.

Jeremy Nash, Chief Executive Officer for overall award sponsor Centerprise International, said: I was delighted to hear the outstanding stories of kindness, care, compassion and bravery in the face of adversity shown by the finalists at the BCUHB awards.

This is the fourth year that Centerprise International has sponsored these awards, and year-on-year we continue to be amazed at the lengths NHS staff in North Wales go to to support both patients in the area and their colleagues.

Congratulations not just to tonights winners, but to everyone who was shortlisted for this years awards.
Well over 1,000 people marched in protest outside the Thyssenkrupp plant in northern Duisburg, Germany on Sunday to demand justice and an investigation into the death of 26-year-old Refat Suleyman. The Bulgarian worker was found dead Monday last week in a slag pond at Germanys largest steel company.

Suleyman was in the first days of his temp job as a site cleaner when he was sent on break on Friday morning, October 14, which he spent in a company vehicle. That was the last time he was seen alive. According to Thyssenkrupp and police, the search for Suleyman began that morning, the plant fire department employing thermal imaging cameras. Several hours later, police reported they had covered the huge steel mill site with search dogs, a helicopter and drones. Suleyman remained missing.

It was only by chance that he was found four days later, the following Monday. His body had been washed up during a filling of the slag pond. The autopsy result states that the 26-year-old had suffocated in the several-meters-deep slag basin on the day of his disappearance.

The pool is located in a covered safety area, secured by several fences, about 100 meters from the blast furnaces. According to the Duisburg criminal police, Suleyman had been carrying out cleaning work directly by the basin that day, so the young worker had authorization to enter.

It remains unclear why and how he ended up in a deep basin filled with slag, sludge and wastewater. A colleague of Suleyman's told the World Socialist Web Site that as temporary workers they are required to always move around the plant site in pairs. Whether Refat was working alone at the slag pond, and if so, why, also remains unclear.

The police have given their assurances. They are following all leads, they say, but have found no indications of foul play.

Refats friends and relatives are refusing to be put off and are demanding an immediate investigation into the circumstances of his death. On social media, the open urgent questions and corresponding assumptions are spreading quickly, there is talk of murder and a possible cover-up.

The Bulgarian news portal Filibeliler compiled some of the open questions:

Why, on only the second day of his contract, was Refat assigned to clean a pool of industrial slaga highly dangerous activity?

Why did he perform this task alone and without the supervision of his immediate supervisor?

Did Refat receive the necessary instruction on working in a hazardous environment before he was assigned cleaning duties?

Why did local authorities and the employer initially claim that Refat was hired to clean and install traffic signs at the plant site?

Is there a discrepancy between the tasks described in the contract and the actual work he performed?

Due to these inconsistencies, there were initial spontaneous protests soon after Suleymans body was found on Monday as friends and family gathered in front of the Thyssenkrupp plant to demand more information. They were told by Turkish-speaking police officers to be calm and wait for the police investigation.

However, the Bulgarian workers familys experience with the local officers and authorities makes them doubt that the police are at all interested in solving the death of young Refat.

Refats relatives and friends therefore rallied at a demonstration the following Sunday. More than 1,000 people from Duisburg and the surrounding area came to support Refats family in their grief and at the same time to demand answers. Hundreds more gathered in his Bulgarian hometown of Plovdiv to commemorate the deceased.

In Duisburg, they demanded clarification of the circumstances of Refats death on banners and in chants: We want the truth to go forward, read one banner, Not hidden and not concealed on another.

The demonstrators are also loudly demanding justice, Adalet, as it is called in Turkish, which Plovdiv residents speak fluently. They are angry about the unequal treatment and the disastrous living and working conditions of which they are all victims and which may now have killed Refat.

The demands of Sundays demonstration therefore go far beyond the immediate resolution of the death of their friend and relative. Rather, they call attention to a larger social background. They are not only demanding safety for Thyssenkrupp employees and justice for the dead Bulgarian boy. The entire temporary employment system should be dissolved, they say. All temporary workers and their colleagues employed by subcontractors should be hired or taken over by Thyssenkrupp. In this way, the two-class society in the plant between regular and subcontracted workers is to be dismantled.

People marched from the late Refats home in the Bruckhausen district to the nearby Thyssenkrupp plant gate. Here, the call for Adalet was particularly strong. Speakers from the Bulgarian community and Refats relatives spoke in front of the factory gate. They announced that this would not be the last protest.

Even if the exact circumstances of the death have not yet been clarified, one thing is certain: The system of temporary work in Germany is deadly for many workers. The massive expansion of temporary work into a modern slave labor system was initiated in 2003 by then-Federal Minister of Economics and Labor of the coalition government of Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green Party, Wolfgang Clement (SPD). As part of the Agenda 2010 economic plan, he struck several legal framework conditions for temporary work without providing alternative legislation. Clement subsequently offered his services directly to large temporary employment agencies and accepted his payment.

Since then, the corporations have used subcontractors and sub-subcontractors to undermine the improvements in wages and occupational health and safety that had been won in the struggles of previous generations. The unions and their works councils in the large corporations are two-faced. In public, they denounce this brutal system of exploitation. In reality, however, they organize the miserable wages and working conditions, for example through collective agreements on temporary work.

For example, Refat was hired out by the temporary employment agency Eleman to the temporary employment agency Buchen Umweltservice. This company carries out cleaning work at the Thyssenkrupp steelworks in Duisburg under a contract for work.

Refat was one of around 12,000 Bulgarian immigrants in Duisburg. Most of them come from one or two regions where Turkish is spoken. In the north of Duisburg they can get by without knowing German. But at the same time they are at the mercy of unscrupulous profiteers who control everything from apartments to jobs to social benefits for them and take a cut accordingly. The already low wages of the Bulgarian workers end up to a large extent in the pockets of these profiteers.

On the labor market, temporary employment providers to the large industrial companies put Bulgarian workers in particular into the most dangerous and physically demanding jobs. They are sold to the corporations like modern slaves. The workers are usually paid off with the minimum wagein the best case, this is not the rule. Often the workers are deprived of their wages due to their lack of knowledge of the language and labor laws. The temporary employment agencies, on the other hand, collect many times the wage paid to the worker. Thus, the companies and corporations profit at the expense of the temporary workers. Serious injuries and deaths are accepted.

Every year, 400 to 500 people die in workplace accidents. Last year, there were 510, with the most deaths in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, each with about 100. These dead on the labor front are the victims of the enrichment of the Groups shareholders and their associates in the temporary employment industry.

Clarification of these deaths therefore cannot be expected from the corporation itself, the temporary employment agencies or the trade unions. An independent rank-and-file committee of colleagues and friends must reconstruct the events surrounding Refats death and shed light on the legal and contractual agreements between the corporations. The disclosure of all contracts of Refat Suleymans employment is a central demands in order to identify those responsible for his death and to initiate the beginning of the end of the modern system of slavery called employee leasing.
Picket line at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Monday, October 24, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

Over 1,800 nurses at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (ABSMC) in the Bay Area launched a five-day strike Monday for improved staffing and competitive pay. Alta Bates is owned by Sutter Health, a large health care conglomerate with twenty hospitals and additional outpatient centers across California. The nurses, members of the California Nurses Association (CNA), have been working for more than 15 months without a contract.

World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with nurses on the picket line during the first day of the strike. A labor and delivery nurse said, Part of what were angry about is the short staffing. Its particularly worse in this hospital. On a daily basis, were usually short four to five nurses, which is a huge number of staff to be short.

They acknowledge that were short but keep setting it up that way. What they do is, they cancel nurses on the night shift since the end of this shift tends to be less busy. They say, If those patients arent there yet, were not going to staff. Once youve started the shift, its really hard to get staff to come in.

Its as if you said youre not going to staff the firehouse because nothings burning right now. Think about how hard it would be to get those firemen rounded up from their beds or their personal life to go put out a fire if theyre not on duty.

Asked about her experience working throughout the pandemic, she responded that COVID proved to her that hospitals all over the country were unprepared to deal with any kind of crisis. COVID has been the worst experience of our career for many of us. We feel very badly mistreated on many levels. Just as an example, at the start of [the pandemic], they told us we were not allowed to wear masks, because they said it would scare the patients.

Health care workers are now, once again, standing before a tidal wave of COVID-19 variants. In addition, flu infections and other respiratory infections such as RSV are overwhelming struggling hospital systems. Pediatric hospitals are seeing their emergency departments, hospital beds and ICUs filling up past capacity with children waiting days in the emergency room or being diverted from hospital to hospital in search of an open bed. This is a direct result of ending crucial public health measures under the Biden administration, which has falsely declared the pandemic to be over.

We are short staffed constantly, one nurse said. We train all the new nurses and then they leave to better paying facilities, usually Kaiser. We understand why they do that, but we cant maintain the numbers here. So, we have to ask for a better salary to be competitive with Kaiser so theyll stay.

She criticized the CNA for not pushing for higher wages. CNA is too afraid to go out and say, Its about money because then we look like greedy nurses, right? Jennifer was also surprised to find out CNA has a strike pay fund, adding, How come were not being paid?

All of our techs and clerks are in SEIU [Service Employees International Union]. And we wanted them to go out with us. And CNA and SEIU are like enemies. So, they would not get together and make that happen because that would totally impact them. If our techs [people] left, it would be a totally different story. They really wanted to [join], but theyre not coming out because they fear losing their jobs.

Section of the picket line at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, October 24, 2022 [Photo: WSWS]

Over 8,000 Sutter nurses are represented by CNA, representing about half of all the nurses in the Sutter Health system. But the CNA is keeping nurses within the same Sutter system separated. According to CNAs website, there are 17 separate bargaining teams. Many of the Sutter nurses with the CNA have been working under an expired contract since June of last year.

Thorild, another nurse in labor and delivery with 40 years at the hospital, said: Corporate health care is a big part of the problem. Whether they call themselves not-for-profit, like Sutter does, or not, they are all very profit-driven. And so even little things like the number of hospital beds available to a given population is not based on need. Its based on whether or not an organization thinks that there is a profit to be made.

She added: In this area, they want to close this hospital, not because there isnt a need for this hospital, but because Sutter has decided they can make more money if they consolidate services. So, if this hospital closes, that will leave no full-service hospital all the way down the I-80 corridor from Vallejo to downtown Oakland. If they close this place, thats a disaster.

We want to have a strong enough contract that can stop the ongoing hemorrhage of nurses to some of our competing facilities. The turnover rate of RNs within Sutter between 2020 and 2021 was right around 50 percent. The vast majority of nurses that have left are newly trained nurses.

Thorild continued, [Sutter] is not willing to negotiate good enough language to keep nurses and patients safe around potential violence. It happens all the time, especially in the emergency room. We have very volatile situations in my department too.

She said that the company makes decisions impacting safety, such as visitation policies, without taking the input of nurses into consideration. Instead, they have people sitting behind their computers at home, who dont do the work, making decisions that have a serious impact on us. She added, Even in the department like women and infants, we can have an unlimited number of people come and go all the time.

On the subject of the Alta Bates strike being isolated by the trade unions, Thorild said, Were making a new video now for this strike. And were trying to distribute it to nurses at the other 16 Sutter facilities. Because they all supposedly have tentative agreements, but they havent been voted on. And one of the things we were told is, Oh, its going to be so great. Were all going to be united. Well, they all settled one after another, under pressure from CNA staff. And they have shit contracts and they dont even know it.

Alta Bates nurses are taking a courageous stand for access to high-quality, affordable health care. But they cannot fight alone, as the CNA is forcing them to do. Rather than calling out its entire membership at Sutter hospitals and nearby Kaiser facilities, they have left the Alta Bates nurses to strike alone. In addition, the strike has been limited to just five days when many nurses feel an indefinite strike would be required to have their demands met.

Taking hold of this potential and ending the isolation and betrayals of the union apparatus requires the building of new structures, rank-and-file committees, to break this bureaucratic isolation and unite health care workers across different professions and hospital networks and enable nurses to enforce control over their own fight.

For more information and for discussion on rank-and-file committees, contact us by filling out the form below.
War promises profits. This is also true for the Ukrainian war. Before an end to the fighting is in sight, the dispute over the division of the spoils has already begun. Therein lies the significance of the so-called Expert Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place in Berlin on Tuesday under the patronage of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Ursula von der Leyen and Olaf Scholz welcome Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Ukraine Reconstruction Conference [Photo by Bundesregierung/Hartmann]

Huge sums are at stake. At the beginning of July, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal put the financial requirements for reconstruction at $750 billion, while the World Bank and the EU Commission cited the sum of $349 billion in September. These figures, which refer only to the first three months of the war, are now considered outdated. And they do not include the billions with which the US and Europe are supporting the Ukrainian military.

A fierce dispute is raging over how such large sums are to be raised and who will benefit from them. One thing is certain, however. The Ukrainian population will not see any of it. Whatever ends up flowing will end up in the bank accounts of Ukrainian oligarchs and Western corporations. The latter not only expect good business from the reconstruction but also a dominant influence over the Ukrainian economy. German corporations, in particular, are waiting impatiently to profit from the consequences of the war and to play the leading role in Ukraine in the future.

The day before the reconstruction conference, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal opened the 5th German-Ukrainian Business Forum. The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations (Ostausschuss der deutschen Wirtschaft), which organized the forum in collaboration with other business associations and the Ukrainian government, was pleased: The large turnout at the conference showed the broad interest of German business in getting involved in reconstruction. It was the first such conference in Germany since the start of the war, and at the same time the most high-profile event of its kind to date.

Working groups of German companies and business associations had written a dossier for the forum, Rebuild Ukraine, which encourages the Ukrainian government to strategically use allocated funds and policy decisions in a way that creates incentives for the private sector to invest and create wealth. It describes numerous investment opportunities and breaks them down into construction, logistics and infrastructure, digitalization, energy, health and agribusiness.

Ukrainian Trade Minister Yulia Svyrydenko promised the assembled business representatives to reduce the role of the state through privatization. German Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) enticed them with the prospect: Ukraine is a premium trading partner for raw materials, energy and as a supplier. It is therefore worth any commitment to bring Ukraine closer to the EUs internal market.

The following day, the conference addressed the task of raising the huge sums needed to integrate Ukraine into the EU internal market as a raw materials supplier and subcontractor.

Even though one should always be careful with historical comparisons, what is at stake here is nothing less than creating a new Marshall Plan for the 21st century, Scholz and von der Leyen wrote in a joint guest article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Under the Marshall Plan, the United States had helped Western European capitalism get back on its feet after World War II.

Reconstruction will be a big, big task, Scholz added. And we will have to invest a great deal to make it work well. Ukraine cant do it alone. Nor can the European Union do it alone. Only the whole global community can do that.

Von der Leyen also stressed that no country or union could handle reconstruction alone. Strong partners such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Britain, Australia and other countries were needed, as well as institutions such as the World Bank. Every euro, every dollar, every pound, every yen was an investment in Ukraine, he said.

However, in Scholzs global community there are highly divergent views about the division of labour when it comes to reconstruction. Washington, Brussels, Berlin and other European capitals are bitterly arguing over who pays, who decides and who benefits.

Washingtons position is that since it bears the brunt of military support, Europe must therefore shoulder the lions share of reconstruction. Germanys attempt to establish itself as the leading economic power in Ukraine is viewed with suspicion in the United States and in other European states. Washington is therefore not prepared to leave the management of Ukraines reconstruction to Brussels or Berlin.

Conflicts also exist over whether Ukraine should be supported with grants or with repayable loans. The US and Germany are in favour of grants, while most other European countries are in favour of loans.

The conference in Berlin was not supposed to make any decisions but to scope out the terrain. Scholz and von der Leyen had invited high-level economic experts, government policymakers, members of think tanks and representatives of international institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to make expert recommendations on how to proceed.

The German Marshall Fund (GMF) think tank produced a detailed study on the reconstruction of Ukraine. It advocates giving the leadership not to the EU but to the G7, the association of the seven leading Western industrialized countries, so as not to deepen the conflict with the United States.

Because security and reconstruction are mutually dependent, they must be joint tasks of the West, Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff, the head of the GMF study, writes in the Tagesspiegel. Under no circumstances should the United States take over military aid and leave reconstruction to the Europeans and other donors. Experience shows that mutual criticism would begin on day one.

The study goes on to suggest that an American with global standing be appointed as supreme coordinator. This is because only the US was capable of bringing together the necessary global coalition and building consensus among Ukraines partners.

Kleine-Brockhoff had already played a key role in provoking the Ukraine conflict in 2013-14 as director of the German Marshall Fund and as German President Joachim Gaucks chief of planning staff, about which the WSWS has reported.

The struggle for future economic control over Ukraine is just one aspect showing that this war is not about defending democracy but about imperialist interests. After a reconstruction as envisioned by Berlin, Brussels and Washington, Ukraine would not be free but a semi-colony of Western powersa source of cheap raw materials and even cheaper labour; ruled by an authoritarian oligarchic regime that pays homage to Nazi collaborators, censors the press and has banned a dozen political parties since the war began.

Yet control of Ukraine is only a secondary goal for NATO. Its main interest is Russia, its vast landmass and immense raw materials. To inflict a military defeat on Russia and bring the country under their control, the US and its European allies are escalating the war ever further, even at the risk of a nuclear catastrophe.

Rejecting NATO and its war aims does not mean supporting the Putin regime and its reactionary attack on Ukraine. The war can only be stopped by an offensive of the international working class that combines the struggle against war and exploitation with a socialist program to overthrow capitalism.
[Photo: WSWS]

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Australia will be holding an online memorial meeting to pay tribute to the life of Regina Lohr, a member of the Trotskyist movement for 33 years. She passed away on October 10, following a four-year battle with breast cancer.

The meeting will be held Saturday November 5 at 6:30pm (AEDT).

Register here to attend.
Over the past week, federal Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has been the target of a right-wing witch-hunt over the revelation that she briefly dated a man named Dean Martin in early 2021 while she was a member of parliament.

Martin has never been convicted of a serious crime. He was, for a number of years, a prominent member of the Rebels Motorcycle Club serving for a time as its president. But Thorpe has stated, without anyone contradicting her, that Martin had ended his involvement with the club years before he met the Greens Senator in the context of activism related to Aboriginal issues.

Thorpe has similarly not been accused of breaking any laws or even of contravening parliamentary regulations. Those attacking her have noted that she was on a Senate law enforcement committee when she was in a relationship with Martin, but no one has alleged that she disclosed confidential information to him or in any way compromised the activities of the committee.

In other words, the furore is a politically-motivated beat up, based on intrusions into Thorpes private, personal life which had no bearing on her activities as a political figure. The attack on the Greens Senator has all of the typical characteristics of such takedown operations: prurience, nasty insinuation and punishment without any form of due process, or in this case, even a concrete allegation of wrongdoing.

The most significant aspect of the scandal, however, is that it was set in motion by sections of the Greens, Thorpes own party, and has been facilitated by its parliamentary leadership.

According to media reports, members of Thorpes staff became aware of her relationship with Martin while it was underway, and demanded that she inform the office of Greens leader Adam Bandt. When she declined to do so, the unidentified staff members contacted Bandts office themselves, but it appears that he was not directly informed.

Then one or more of the staffers went to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, an independent body that investigates serious incidents in parliament, and disclosed the relationship with Martin. This ensured that the issue of the relationship went beyond the Greens internal channels. Last week, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on the complaint, making the matter public.

Within hours, Bandt had issued a statement, condemning Thorpe as irresponsible and compelling her resignation as Greens deputy leader in the Senate. He specifically singled out her failure to disclose the relationship to the party leadership as the primary issue. But his office had been notified, long before the ABC report, by the staffers who were at loggerheads with Thorpe.

Even more striking was the fact that Bandt told the media that he had immediately contacted the Australian Federal Police, after the media report, to discuss Thorpes relationship. Bandt said he had made the contact to see if they have any concerns with respect to disclosure of information but at the moment no one is suggesting that that happened.

That may be the case now. But it is clear if the Australian Federal Police, or any of the countrys other highly politicised intelligence and policing agencies, launched an investigation into Thorpe, they would have the full cooperation of the Greens leadership.

The revelations have been fodder to the far-right, the corporate media and the Labor government, all of which have previously attacked Thorpe, who is identified with opposition to police violence and the oppression of Aboriginal people.

Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton declared his intention to refer Thorpe to parliaments privileges committee. She preempted that by referring herself. Senior Labor government ministers have condemned Thorpe and the Greens irresponsibility, while the Murdoch media has run one sensationalised article after another on the issue.

All of this was the predictable outcome of the actions of elements within the Greens and of Bandt. The affair has further entrenched a precedent where political figures can be viciously attacked, based on innuendo and irrelevant gossip about their personal lives. Such scandals are invariably used to shift official politics further to the right and to divert attention from the pressing issues facing working people, including the bipartisan onslaught on social conditions and Australias central role in the US-led drive to war against Russia and China.

These sort of scandals, moreover, are always a means by which unstated political agendas are fought out. There can be little doubt that the internally-launched attack on Thorpe, ostensibly over her relationship to Martin, was connected to factional divisions within the Greens.

Thorpe, who has been described as a firebrand, has previously advanced positions at odds with Bandt and the Greens leadership.

Bandt and the Greens have welcomed the Labor governments policy of creating an Aboriginal Voice to parliament. The body could only be created by a successful referendum. It would function as an advisory entity, making representations to parliament and the government on indigenous issues.

As the WSWS has explained, the Voice is a reactionary fraud. It will do nothing to alleviate the horrific social crisis confronting broad sections of the Aboriginal population. Instead, its purpose, as with all identity politics, is to elevate a privileged layer of upper middle-class Aboriginals, who will be further integrated into the capitalist state that oppresses working class Aboriginal people. And it is intended to drive a wedge between Aboriginals, the majority of whom make up the most oppressed section of the working class, and other sections of workers.

Thorpe has repeatedly criticised the Voice, describing it as a waste of money that could have been used to improve conditions in Aboriginal communities. Her opposition to the proposal is rooted in the same reactionary identity politics as those supporting the Voice. Thorpe has not criticised the policy from the standpoint that it divides the working class. Instead she has warned that it could undermine Aboriginal sovereignty, and has called for a treaty between Aboriginal people and the government.

In other words, there are no principled differences between Thorpe and other Greens leaders. They are all steeped in middle-class politics and hostile to the fight for a unified socialist movement of the entire working class.

Thorpe has recently stated that she will not campaign against the Voice and has said that she does not want to be a thorn in the side of the Albanese Labor government.

Her previous statements, however, no doubt cut across the attempts by Bandt and the Greens leadership to deepen their collaboration with the right-wing Labor government, even as it imposes major austerity measures, cuts taxes for the ultra-wealthy, deepens Australias frontline role in war preparations and rejects any measures on climate change that would impinge on the fortunes of the major coal and energy corporations.

Calls for a coalition with Labor were at the centre of the Greens campaign for the May federal election. Time and again, Bandt and other senior MPs insisted that the Greens were a responsible party, ready to take a more prominent role in the corridors of power.

They harked back to their role in propping up the minority Gillard Labor government, from 20102013. That administration carried out sweeping attacks on the working class, deepening the pro-market degradation of healthcare, education and disability services and kicking hundreds of thousands of single parents off their benefits. It aligned Australia with the Obama administrations pivot to Asia, in preparation for war with China and joined in the persecution of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange for exposing US-led war crimes.

Thorpe has never differentiated herself from this record, or from the Greens continuous overtures to Labor, and at times even the Liberal-Nationals. There is little doubt, though, that she has been a thorn in the side of Bandts attempts to transform the Greens into a fully-fledged party of capitalist government.

The affair has again underscored the thoroughly right-wing character of the Greens.
The following is a press release from the Greene County Sheriffs Office:

Greene County Sheriffs Office received information about an allegation involving a crime against a child within the county. Greene County Investigation opened a case which resulted in a direct indictment of aggravated sexual battery of a minor less than 13 years old.

As a result, Rhudy S. Foutz of Ruckersville, age 75 was taken into custody on 10/14/22 and held without bond and transported to Central Virginia Regional Jail.

This is an ongoing investigation and if anyone has any information, they are urged to contact Sergeant Jason Tooley at (434) 531-0866
Three men accused of providing material support for terrorism in the plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 were convicted on Wednesday of all charges in a three-week state trial.

Joseph Morrison, 28, and Pete Musico, 44, both of Munith, Michigan, and Paul Bellar, 24, of Milford, Michigan, were found guilty by a jury in Jackson County Circuit Court of multiple feloniesincluding association with or membership in a gang and firearms violations. The convictions carry combined sentences of up to 42 years in prison each.

A right-wing protester carries his rifle at the State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan in an April 30 demonstration against Whitmer [Credit: AP Photo/Paul Sancya]

The jury deliberated for five hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, before finding that the three men were active participants in a plan to break into Governor Whitmers summer residence, take her hostage at gunpoint, put her on trial for treason and possibly execute her in the months leading up to the 2020 elections.

Morrison, his father in-law Musico and Bellar were members of a right-wing militia group called the Wolverine Watchmen that had been formed in the spring and summer of 2020 by people who opposed the limited lockdown measures implemented by Whitmer at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three convictions bring to a total of seven the number of men found guilty of plotting to kidnap the Michigan governor. The other four were convicted in federal court on kidnap conspiracy, firearms violations and weapons of mass destruction charges.

Ty Garbin and Kaleb Franks pleaded guilty and testified against four others, two of whom, Daniel Harris and Branden Caserta, were found not guilty in an initial trial last April. The other two convicted men, Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr., were tried a second time in August and found guilty by a jury. In the first trial, the jury failed to reach a verdict against Fox and Croft.

In all, fourteen men were arrested in Michigan on October 8, 2020, and charged with crimes associated with planning and training to take Governor Whitmer hostage. Their objective was to spark a boogaloo or civil war as part of a far-right plan to ensure that Donald Trump would remain in the White House regardless of the outcome of the 2020 elections.

There are five more men awaiting trial in Antrim County, Michiganthe location of Whitmers summer homeon charges related to the kidnapping plot. Jon Lewis, a research fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, told the Detroit News that it is possible Wednesdays convictions will lead to a plea deal for the remaining defendants. Lewis said, I think the challenge for the defendants is that the governments hand is as strong as it has been since charges were brought.

The members and supporters of the Wolverine Watchmenwhich was founded by Morrison and Musicoand other fascistic Trump supporters were politically mobilized by the former president, who called for the state of Michigan to be liberated during the implementation of pandemic stay-at-home orders by the state government.

As in the previous two trials, the relationship between the kidnap plotters, other right-wing groups in Michigan, state Republican Party officials, Trumps 2020 presidential campaign and Trump himself were not investigated or referred to in any substantive manner in the Jackson County courthouse.

State prosecutors relied heavily upon the testimony of an FBI informant named Dan Chappel who posed as a member of the militia and recorded conversation with Morrison, Musico and Bellar. They based themselves largely upon the previous federal convictions and showed that the three defendants were actively helping to train Fox and Croft and supporting their kidnapping plot in a significant way.

Assistant Attorney General Sunita Doddamani argued that Musico provided facilities and personnel and Morrison provided facilities, personnel and advice to Fox in preparing the kidnapping operation. For example, Morrison taught Fox about operational security, vetting potential members of the militia, recruiting and how to conduct firearms training.

Doddamani said, These three defendants had been pushing toward violence for months. Even if they werent going to do an act of terrorism themselves, they were more than happy and willing to help someone else.

The prosecutors also presented evidence that the men provided the Wolverine Watchmen with methods for purging inactive members, holding mandatory trainings, compartmentalizing information dispersion, issuing ultimatums and traveling long distances. The men also spent free time hosting in-person training sessions, communicating on Facebook and using an encrypted smartphone application.

Governor Whitmer, who is running for a second term in the election on November 8, responded to the verdict and demonstrated the ongoing refusal of the Democratic Party to identify the fascist politics behind the threat to her life and its connection to the Republican Party and Donald Trump.

In a statement Whitmer said, No threat, no plot, no rhetoric will break my belief in the goodness and decency of our people. Todays guilty verdicts are further proof that violence and threats have no place in our politics. Those who seek to sow discord by pursuing violent plots will be held accountable under the law.

Speaking in vague generalities, Whitmer added, This trial is another stark reminder that we must take an honest look at the state of our politics. Politically motivated plots, threats, and violence are increasingly common against public officials as well as everyday citizens. Offering no means of stopping or preventing these common threats, Whitmer clearly expects them to continue.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who was responsible for the prosecution of the three men and is also up for reelection in November, said, Terrorist attacks and mass shootings are not spontaneous events, they are the result of planning, plotting and amassing resources in a build-up to violent acts.

Like Whitmer, Nessel is careful to not refer to the fascistic politics behind the plot to kidnap the governor and its connection with the coup attempt orchestrated less than three months later by Trump and a substantial faction of the Republican Party on January 6, 2021, to stop the certification of Biden as president.

Neither Whitmer or Nessel referred to the fact that Morrison, Musico and Bellar were all present during the armed invasion of the Michigan State Capitol building on April 30, 2020. In what proved to be something of dress rehearsal for the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, the three men were photographed as part of a group of Wolverine Watchmen standing at-the-ready with automatic weapons outside the governors office. This took place during a vote to approve the extension of Whitmers emergency declaration/stay-at-home order due during the pandemic.

Bellar was the only one of the three men in the courtroom on Wednesday when the verdicts were read. Morrison, who recently tested positive for COVID-19, and Musico watched the proceedings via remote video stream. Judge Thomas Wilson ordered the three to be jailed and said sentencing would take place on December 15.
For more information on the campaign of Will Lehman for UAW president, visit WillForUAWPresident.org.

Workers across the US have begun casting ballots in the first-ever direct membership vote for president of the United Auto Workers union and other executive positions. Ballots have been sent out to over 1 million active and retired UAW members, with the court-appointed UAW Monitor recommending they be mailed back by November 18 to assure they are received before November 28 deadline, the day before counting begins.

Supporters of Will Lehman distribute campaign material to Stellantis workers at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in suburban Detroit [Photo: WSWS]

Support is growing for Will Lehman, the rank-and-file Mack Trucks worker and socialist candidate for UAW president who is fighting to transfer power from the UAW apparatus to workers on the shop floor. Lehman is the only candidate calling for the abolition of the UAW bureaucracy, which has allowed management to slash wages, divide workers into tiers, and impose exhausting and dangerous working conditions. Lehman is advocating for the formation of rank-and-file committees in every factory and workplace to fight to reverse these concessions and mount a struggle against job cuts.

Campaigners for Lehman visited two Stellantis (Chrysler) plants in Warren, just north of Detroit, on Wednesday to discuss the issues in the elections and ask workers who had voted for Lehman why they had done so.

Earlier this month, corporate management, with the collusion of the UAW International and Local 140 leadership, eliminated the third shift at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which makes the highly profitable Dodge Ram pickup trucks. While the company and the union claim this will result in no layoffs, hundreds of workers are being transferred to different shifts or plants, and 1,215 supplemental workers will have their hours cut by 50 percent or more, drastically reducing their incomes as the holidays approach.

Campaigners distributed a letter from Will Lehman, titled, Build rank-and-file power to fight layoffs and concessions! In it, Lehman said, If I become UAW International president and the companies seek to carry out mass layoffs and plant closures, then I would call out all workers in the UAW in a national strike with full strike pay, to fight such attacks.

Despite poor weather and the rush to get in and out of the plant during the afternoon shift change, many workers stopped and spoke with campaigners about why they had voted for Lehman or were planning to.

Caroline, a worker with 25 years, said, I voted for Will because he stands for what the UAW used to stand for, which is rank and filenot the corporationsfor rank and file. She said it was ridiculous that it took years for part-time workers to be rolled over to full-time status.

The company was blaming workers for high rates of absenteeism and defects when it was the corporate executives who had created such bad conditions in the plant that people were leaving for other jobs, she continued. You can go to McDonalds for the pay new hires are getting here, she said.

A young worker said he had voted for Will because he is for the people, and said the two biggest issues facing workers at the plant were the rollover of TPTs [temporary part-time workers] and the layoffs, which Will said had to be opposed.

Several workers repeated that Will was for the people while the UAW officials ignored their concerns. This fact was underscored by the letter issued by Local 140 President Eric Graham, which blamed workers for unacceptable absentee rates and echoed management threats to close the plant if workers did not bow to the companys demands.

John, another veteran worker with 23 years, said, For president, I voted for Will Lehman. We need change. We got to start at the top. If we bring people together, we can be as strong as we were in the 1960s and 1970s.

He said that strikes were going on right now in France and that autoworkers had to pay attention. In the UAW and the American government, he continued, We need to put the decision in the hands of the people. He also denounced the fact that the UAW was only paying $400 a week in strike pay to 1,100 striking workers at farm and construction manufacturer CNH Industrial in Iowa and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the UAW reps are voting themselves a raise. They never go on strike, they dont have to worry about it. He concluded, Power to the people, to the people.

At the adjacent Warren Stamping Plant, which has also been hit by layoffs, several workers stopped and told campaigners why they voted for Will Lehman. He seemed like the best choice, one said. Referring to the UAWs refusal to fight layoffs and plant closings, he added, I got 24 years here and I want to make it to my 30, and it sounds like he might make that happen.

Another stamping worker added, I didnt vote yet, but Im going to vote for Will. Its time for change. Im tired to see people go to jail and go to prison, he said, referring to the dozen top UAW executives, including the last two UAW International presidents, who were imprisoned for taking company bribes or embezzling union dues. Its time for a change. Ive been here for 10 years, its getting old. Referring to the job cuts, he said, You dont even know if your job is safe, so Im voting for Will.
This month, the US Armys 101st Airborne Division deployed to Europe for the first time since the Second World War as part of a major military buildup of NATOs front line along the borders of Ukraine and Russia.

NATO members are sending more ships, planes and troops to NATOs eastern flank, from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south, NATO said in a statement earlier this month.

CBS titled its profile of the deployment, The U.S. Armys 101st Airborne is practicing for war with Russia just miles from Ukraines border.

Brigadier General John Lubas, noting that nearly 5,000 troops from the 101st Airborne had joined the more than 100,000 soldiers deployed in Europe, told CBS, This is not a training deployment, this is a combat deployment for us. We understand we need to be ready to fight tonight.

A graphic created by NATO showing the military alliance's "eastern flank." [Photo: NATO]

CBSs embedded reporter concluded, If the fighting escalates or theres any attack on NATO, theyre fully prepared to cross the border into Ukraine.

The last time the unit was deployed to Europe was in the storming of D-Day during the Second World War. The 101st hasnt been back to Europe since the end of World War II, 2nd Lt. Patrick Tabor said in a statement. Now were back aligned underneath the 1st Infantry Division. Its a very unique opportunity.

The 101st Airborne is being deployed in Romania as part of the NATO battle group set up in May.

Speaking Wednesday to Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg described the extent of NATOs buildup in the region: You host one of NATOs new battlegroups in the Black Sea region. We are reinforcing NATOs presence from the Black to the Baltic Sea. Fighter jets from Canada help to keep your skies safe. And thousands of French, Dutch, Belgian and US troops are in Romania to deter aggression.

Replying to what he called Russian President Vladimir Putins dangerous nuclear rhetoric, Stoltenberg said, NATO will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraines right to self-defense.

Following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, NATO reinforced its existing four battle groups in Eastern Europe and pledged to form four additional battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

This has brought the total number of multinational battlegroups to eight, effectively doubled the number of troops on the ground and extended NATOs forward presence along the Alliances eastern flankfrom the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south, NATO said in a statement last week.

This expansion is proceeding further, with NATO allies pledging at the June summit in Madrid to enhance the multinational battlegroups from battalions up to brigade size.

In a provocative article entitled, American Troops Prepared to Engage in War With Russia, Newsweek reported, A U.S. aircraft carrier is prepared to lead an international charge should Russia escalate attacks against Ukraine and its allies.

Newsweek noted, The USS George H.W. Bush  is in the Adriatic Sea leading Neptune Strike 2022a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deployment that tests deterrence and defense in the Euro-Atlantic area.

The Neptune series is a tangible demonstration of the power and capability of the NATO Alliance in all domain operations, Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of the US Sixth Fleet and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO, said in announcing the exercise.

Neptune Strike 2022 is a prime example of NATOs ability to integrate high-end maritime warfare capabilities of an allied carrier strike group, ensuring our collective ability to deter and defend.

The exercise includes over 80 aircraft, 14 ships and approximately 6,000 personnel.

On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden met with leaders of the Defense Department, pledging to expand the size and funding of the US military.

We made clear in the National Security Strategy that modernizing and strengthening our military is a core source of our national strength and is a priority for me and my administration, Biden said.

And as we made clear in the National Security Strategy, this is a decisive decade, not because of any one of usbecause the world is changing.

On Wednesday, Russia staged a series of nuclear tests, demonstrating Russias strategic offensive forces readiness to conduct a massive nuclear strike in response to an enemy nuclear strike, in the words of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Shoigu said the nuclear test, the first since the start of the war in Ukraine, was designed to simulate a massive nuclear strike.

Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, fired a missile from a nuclear submarine and carried out tests with two Tu-95 long-range strategic nuclear bombers.

Russias drills took place at the same time as NATOs steadfast noon nuclear tests, in which US B-52s simulated dropping nuclear bombs in Europe. The drills are ongoing and will continue trough October 30.

Also Wednesday, the US launched a rocket from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, conducting nearly a dozen hypersonic weapon experiments in their rush to build new hypersonic missiles that could be used to deliver nuclear warheads.

Under these supercharged conditions, in which both the United States and NATO are carrying out nuclear weapons tests on a daily basis, the danger exists that a miscalculation or provocation could dramatically escalate the conflict.
Several students and journalists at Pennsylvania State (Penn State) University were assaulted and pepper-sprayed Monday night by right-wing thugs ahead of a university-sponsored event that featured the founder of the Proud Boys militia group, Gavin McInnes, and Republican Party operative Alex Stein.



The attack happened in full view of dozens if not hundreds of police from multiple departments who did nothing to stop the violence. Prior to the assault, Stein, a long-time fascist provocateur and close associate of Georgia congresswoman and QAnon adherent Marjorie Taylor Greene, attempted to provoke the counter-protesters by ripping up their signs and insulting them while live-streaming his antics to his followers.

McInnes and Stein billed the event as a comedic commentary and titled it Stand Back and Stand Byin itself a provocation. As is well known, these were the words uttered by Donald Trump in his September 29 pre-election debate with Joe Biden when challenged to call off his militia foot soldiers. Instead, Trump gave the military-style order for the Proud Boys to prepare to violently disrupt the orderly transfer of power should Trump lose the 2020 presidential election. This is precisely what they and other far-right groups proceeded to do in the January 6, 2021 attack on Congress.

On-the-ground video recorded by photojournalist Zach Roberts and documentarian Ford Fischer before the Penn State event was set to begin shows one of the attacks as it happened. Both Fischer and Roberts were pepper-sprayed by a fascist dressed in black. It is unknown as of this writing if the attacker has been identified or arrested.







As the video shows, after pepper-spraying up to a dozen people, the Proud Boys and their allies ran away while the police looked on. One right-wing thug is seen at the end of the clip giving a police officer a pat on the back as he flees from angry students.

Separate footage from Monday shows a Proud Boy throwing punches and lunging at counter-protesters. After a fight breaks out between the Proud Boy and students, the police engage to protect the Proud Boy.



In an article published Tuesday, the Centre Daily Times, a newspaper based in State College, Pennsylvania, reported that prior to the pepper spray assault, its reporter and photographer witnessed several masked men, including one in tactical gear and another giving a Nazi salute, provoking counter-protesters.

A Proud Boy wearing a Donald Trump hat assaults students at Penn State University on October, 24, 2022. [Photo: Wayward.streamer @StreamerWayward]

The reporters saw one man aim Counter Assault Bear Deterrent at protesters, while another hate-group sympathizer began spraying the red-orange stream at protesters, who scurried away to avoid the stinging mist. One police officer broke out his baton but stayed back as the man jogged away.



In an interview with the reporters, Chelsey Sweet, a counter-protester and member of the Democratic Party-linked group Indivisible: Mayday, recounted: I witnessed several officers smacking their batons against their hands as people, including myself, tried to warn them that a Proud Boy agitator was threatening random people with pepper spray and was about to deploy it.



She said the police heard us but turned and began walking in the opposite direction as journalists and protesters were maced. She added that the police were doing nothing to protect students from the actual threats on the scene.

Though there is no question that the violence Monday night was instigated by right-wingers, several news outlets, including the Centre Daily Times and Vice, are reporting that only one person, a student, has been arrested. It is unclear if the student was one of the hundreds of counter-protesters or one of the few dozen Proud Boys.



After the pepper spray assault, which left several students and journalists blinded, police declared an unlawful disturbance and told students and journalists to leave the area or be arrested. Roughly 10 minutes later the university announced that the event had been canceled due to the threat of escalating violence.



Video footage after the event was canceled shows police providing McInnes and Stein an escort as they exit the campus.



After making their escape, the two provocateurs recorded a brief video showing them speeding through traffic escorted by the police. So we just had the cops sneak us out the back of the college, McInnes gloats.



Confirming his ongoing relationship with and leadership role in the Proud Boys, McInnes says he knows there were Proud Boys on campus and that they were not in uniform.





I know all the Proud Boys who were here, they were in civilian clothes, he declares. He then lies outright, saying, There was no pepper spraying. Its all a lie. These are agent provocateurs who do it to themselves so they can say Look, there is violence.



Stein seconds McInnes, claiming, 100 percent agent provocateurs.

Proud Boy founder Gavin McInnes on the Info Wars program with Alex Jones, October 17, 2022. [Photo: InfoWars.com]

In a statement Tuesday, Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi blamed both the students and the fascists for the violence that led to the cancellation of the event. Bendapudi disingenuously wrote that it was unclear which individuals onsite ... resorted to physical confrontation and used pepper spray against others in the crowd, including against police officers.



She continued: 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. 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.



To say that that Stein and McInnes contributed to the violence is a gross understatement. They provoked it and initiated it, knowing full well that they had the protection of the police and the toleration of the administration.



The event was a deliberate provocation organized by elements closely linked to the Republican Party. The student group that requested that the event be held in the first place is called Uncensored America.



The phony free speech group was founded by Sean Semanko when he was a senior at Penn State in 2020. An avid Trump supporter, Semanko volunteered for the 2016 Trump campaign and was a field organizer for Trumps 2020 reelection campaign. While at the university, Semanko was also the campus chapter president of Turning Point USA, a far-right, pro-Trump student organization headed by Charlie Kirk and linked to Virginia Thomas. The latter, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, was deeply involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.



Documents show that at a September 6 meeting of the Penn State Allocation Committee, a student-run body that allocates funds from student fees to pay travel expenses and fees for guest speakers, the committee agreed to have the university spend over $1,000 on airfare to fly McInnes and Stein to State College and pay the two a $6,500 speakers fee.



For weeks, students and the wider community at Penn State protested against the universitys de facto sponsorship of the scheduled comedy show hosted by McInnes and Stein, citing the Proud Boys leading role in the January 6 coup attempt, which resulted in at least five deaths and hundreds of injuries.



The Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity (SCDS) circulated a petition calling on the Penn State administration to refuse to sponsor the fascist rally. The petition, signed by more than 3,200 people, warned that the university was inviting violence by providing a platform to fascist provocateurs.

Its authors rejected the specious claim that by funding an appearance of McInnes and Stein on campus the university was upholding free speech. They wrote: Free speech does not mean paid speech, nor does it mean platforming fascists and promoting hateful, meritless disinformation with thousands of student-fee dollars.
On Saturday, October 22, Spring Hill Baptist Church hosted an area-wide Disaster Response Team Training Workshop led by Impact Missions, a ministry of the Baptist General Assembly of Virginia. Volunteers from across the region came together to train in Mass Feeding, Chainsaw Operations, Clean-Up, Supply Distribution, Administration, and Leadership in order to be prepared to serve nationwide to provide comfort, relief, and hope to those affected by natural disasters.

Following several recent natural disasters, including heavy rains and flooding in Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia and the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian in Florida, the need for volunteers trained in disaster response is greater than ever. Disaster response comes in several stages. The initial response of mass feedings and supply distribution followed by cleaning up the debris can leave homeowners traumatized.

Impact Missions is committed to a long-term process that includes returning homeowners to safe and stable living conditions. According to Nalini Rhea, the rebuilding process is where you begin to develop relationships with those individuals. Seeing families shift from a state of loss to a state of hope and joy keeps me committed to the entire process. This is why I continue to do this.

While Impact Missions prepares people to serve nationwide, Glenn Maddox, the National Missions Director, has seen a shift in the way that people volunteer. More and more, volunteers want to serve with people that they know. The principles that we teach in Disaster Response prepare them not only to serve in mission work in disaster areas, but in ministry work back home.

For more information on serving in disaster response, look for Impact Missions at impactmissionsmovement.org.
Madison County lost a community treasure with Aroda resident Alan Spiveys sudden passing. Spivey was Madison Countys renaissance man; a farrier, farmer, fair board leader, 4-H leader and former president of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council as well as being a husband and father. Spivey leaves a long legacy of service to the community.

Spivey is remembered by those that knew and worked with him as being hard working and humble. Chris Robertson, the owner of Blue Mountain Equine, a Madison County veterinary practice worked with Spivey professionally and also with the Madison County Fair Board. Robertson lauded Spiveys work ethic, loyalty and professionalism.

As a farrier, Alan was a highly skilled professional, said Robertson of his colleague. He was different than most though. Most will shoe and trim the one and two horse clients, the difficult horses and owners until they make a name for themselves, then they quit the smaller and more difficult clients: Not Alan, he always stood by them. I asked him once why a successful farrier like him didnt let some of them go. He told me, Chris, someone has to do them, why not me- they gave me a chance and Im not going to leave them now just because Ive had a little success. Alan never quit on a customer just because he could do something easier or more prestigious. All the time he was shoeing he was also farming raising his cattle and sheep and volunteering for 4-H, the fair board and the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council. He was always learning, whether it was about horseshoeing, grazing and farming practices or anything else, Alan was always trying to be better-to learn and improve. There just arent a lot of guys like him. Hes really going to be missed.

Spivey has served as President of the Madison County Fair Board for the past six years and has served as the voice of the Madison County Fair even longer said fair board vice-president, Essie Berry.

Alan has been the voice of the fair, said Berry. He has announced the demolition derby and all the events at the Madison County Fair for years.

Spivey was also the long time voice of the state 4-H horse show and served as the announcer for over half a century. The state 4-H horse show honored Spivey for 50 years of service in 2018. In 1968,Spivey was a teenage member of the Suffolk Horse 4-H Club and a member of the horse judging team when club leader Margaret Brown made volunteering a requirement for being able to compete in the state level contests. At first, Spivey, like many of his club members, helped Brown in the stable office. After graduating high school, Spivey served as the overnight watchman for the horse barns at the state show. Spivey went on to serve in the National Guard before coming to Madison to work at Graves Mountain Lodge. Every year, Spivey came back to help at the state show and eventually found his way to the announcers booth where he served for over 40 years, so long that most volunteers and generations of 4-Hers know him as the voice of the annual event.

Local 4-H leader Julie Williamson said, People know they are at the state show when they hear his voice. Alan was part of the show staff for oh so many years and such a strong supporter of the 4-H program. He has given back so much more than he has ever received.

Sandy Arnold, the youth equine extension associate, said Spivey was a strong supporter of the 4-H horse program and gave demonstrations and lectures in addition to the countless hours at the annual show.

Alan has been a wonderful volunteer, said Arnold. He has been generous with his time and his contributions to the program are immeasurable.

Spivey also made his mark in the cattle industry and served as two time leader of the Virginia Cattlemans Association, the Virginia Simmental Association and also as president of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council. Spivey was an early proponent of rotational grazing systems for livestock and was considered an expert and often sought speaker on the topic.

After being honored for his contributions to the Virginia State 4-H horse program in 2018, Spivey shared his thoughts on volunteering.

I always find when you volunteer, you always get more than you give, said Spivey. Any time you volunteer you have the ability to network with so many people and the chance to see many new things. I always look at it as a great opportunity.
GA Supreme Court Confirms Voters Have Standing to Sue Election Officials Who Violate Law

NEWS PROVIDED BY

VoterGA

Oct. 27, 2022



ATLANTA, Oct. 27, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- The Georgia Supreme Court confirmed Tuesday what most informed Georgians have known all along. The court found that Georgia citizens, including voters, have standing to sue government officials who violate Georgia law.



The court overturned parts of lower court rulings in cases entitled Sons of Confederate Veterans et al, vs. Henry County Board of Commissioners and Sons of Confederate Veterans et al, v. Newton County Board of Commissioners. In those cases, the organization was joined by individuals who sued the county boards for voting to remove statues that are legally protected under O.C.G.A. 50-3-1. The lower courts falsely claimed that the plaintiffs had no standing to do so.



The ruling applies to individuals and organizations who have citizens, residents or taxpayers in a jurisdiction. It confirms arguments made by Petitioners in the Fulton County counterfeit ballot case known as Favorito et al, v. Wan et al. That case, originally entitled Favorito et al, v. Cooney et al was dismissed after 10 months of hearing for lack of standing. The dismissal came after Fulton hired criminal defense attorneys to prevent petitioners from inspecting ballots. The case has a pending writ of certiorari before the Supreme Court.



VoterGA co-founder Garland Favorito stated: "The voters of Georgia have been unjustly denied their Equal Protection and Due Process rights to ensure only legal votes were counted in the 2020 election. We will do everything within our power to ensure our case is overturned and all 2020 election ballots are preserved."



Key findings in the ruling include:

"..., only plaintiffs with a cognizable injury can bring a suit in Georgia courts. Unlike federal law, however, that injury need not always be individualized; sometimes it can be a generalized grievance shared by community members, especially other residents, taxpayers, voters, or citizens." [Pg 2]



"Georgia has long recognized that members of a community, whether as citizens, residents, taxpayers, or voters, may be injured when their local government fails to follow the law. Government at all levels has a legal duty to follow the law; a local government owes that legal duty to its citizens, residents, taxpayers, or voters (i.e., community stakeholders), and the violation of that legal duty constitutes an injury that our case law has recognized as conferring standing to those community stakeholders, even if the plaintiff suffered no individualized injury." [Pg 3]



"Because the Georgia Constitution is the source of the judicial power of state courts, federal standing requirements do not control our analysis." [Pg 15]



"And it is unsurprising that we have extended this logic to 'voters,' because they, like citizens and taxpayers, are community stakeholders. Voters may be injured when elections are not administered according to the law or when elected officials fail to follow the voters' referendum for increased taxes to fund a particular project, so voters may have standing to vindicate public rights." [Pg 50]

VoterGA is a non-partisan, 501(c)3 registered non-profit organization created by a coalition of citizens working to restore election integrity in Georgia. We advocate for independently verifiable, auditable, recount capable, transparent and tamper proof elections.



SOURCE VoterGA



CONTACT: Sheryl Sellaway, 404-273-5133, sheryl@righteouspragency.com


The University of Virginias Faculty Senate, facing pressure to change the way it appoints faculty members to Board of Visitors, has delayed a proposed bylaw amendment that would offer up a list of appointees for the the Board's approval.

Currently, the senate picks a member to sit on the Board of Visitors as a non-voting representative of the faculty. The Board, however, has been asking the senate to change its bylaws and to present a list of faculty members from which the Board would choose.

Even though theres no state law requirement for a faculty representative, unlike the requirements that there be a student representative, the faculty represents an important constituency within the university community, UVa Rector Whittington W. Clement said. For that reason, we have felt it beneficial to the board to have faculty input. The only difference between the process for student selection and the process requested for faculty representation is that, in the latter case, were not required to have any representation.

Student representatives apply for a position on the board before being nominated. Under a bylaw change proposed in August, UVa computer science professor and faculty senator Aaron Bloomfield suggested the senate elect a slate of three potential representatives to present to the Board of Visitors. The board would then pick from the list the faculty member of its choice.

The faculty representative would serve for one school year, keeping the same term established under current bylaws.

The current bylaw states that an individual is annually elected by the senate. The senate accepts nominations in December, and the Board approves both the non-voting faculty and student representatives in March of the following year.

The Board has been pressuring the faculty senate to make the change since 2018 and could, if members choose, decide to eliminate the faculty representative entirely.

The Board has been adamant about making this change because it wants to choose a faculty representative "that is a good fit for the boards priorities for the year," according to Clement. He said that the member would have "the experience and breadth of knowledge about faculty matters to provide good input on other faculty members positions on certain issues."

This issue has now resurfaced for the third time since the Board of Visitors started allowing a faculty representative to sit on the board in 2012.

I wont be here next year, Clement said when asked if the faculty representative may be eliminated if the senate does not comply with the boards request.

The proposal to let the board choose its faculty member did not sit well with all senators.

We should be able to choose the person we want, said senator and professor of politics and public policy James Savage.

Others say some representation is better than none.

We have two choices: We can select three potential representatives or we can give up our seat, said senator and law professor Andy Block. Rescinding the ability to hold this seat only hurts us.

The proposal was presented Tuesday to the faculty senate in a meeting that found not only conflictbetween keeping a position on the board, or battling what some see as the boards over-reachingbut the difficulty of making a major decision in a short amount of time.

Faculty Senate bylaws require that, when a senator proposes a change to a standing bylaw, it must be presented to the senate executive council before being written up and sent to the entire senate.

Once the formal bylaw is sent to the senate, the group discusses the implications of the change at a monthly meeting. The senate then meets another time to take a vote on the proposal, which requires 60% of the senate to vote in favor of the amendment.

In the case of the board member bylaw amendment, heard at a Tuesday senate meeting, the full senate did not receive the bylaw change proposals until August. Senate Chair Tish Jennings did not make time to discuss the proposed change to the election process at the September meeting; Tuesdays meeting was the first time the full senate had the opportunity to discuss and debate the amendment.

The proposal was tabled after the majority of senators present voted in favor of one senator's motion to do so. The vote served as a notable indication that the senate has not yet reached a consensus on the fifth bylaw change proposal.

Were concerned because there seem to be other motives for this, said former senator, education professor and president of the UVa chapter of the American Association of University Professors Walter Heinecke. Technically, there should have been time to discuss those four other proposals at todays meeting, but the chair didnt use enough to discuss them and that left some things unclear.

Heinecke has been helping senate and non-senate faculty members mobilize to reject changes to the election process, while rallying other Virginia academic associations to join the cause.

On Oct. 22, the Faculty Senate of Virginia Association adopted a unanimous vote that maintained its position in support of the accepted practice that faculty representatives to the Board of Visitors should be elected by the faculty.

On Oct. 24, a group 18 faculty senators along with another group of non-senate faculty sent the entire senate a letter objecting to the proposed change.

Members of the United Campus Workers of Virginia organization also attended Tuesdays meeting with signs supporting the current method of choosing a representative to the board.

"We're here in solidarity with the faculty," said UVa PhD candidate Laura Ornee. "We see the proposal from the Board of Visitors as them trying to strong-arm a faculty into diminishing real representation.

Ornee said she believes most members of the faculty senate oppose the change.

I know there's a lot of unity in that room because none of the faculty like this proposal. They're just afraid that the Board of Visitors is going to take away all representation and we are here to show that we take a strong stand against that kind of bullying," she said.

Senators who object to the bylaw change consider the outcome from Tuesdays meeting to be a win, even though the group did not come to a formal conclusion. The full senate simply did not have enough time to consider all of the proposals before them in a two-hour window.

The Faculty Senate chair is left to decide whether the group will vote on the proposed Board of Visitors representative bylaw change at the next monthly meeting or a sooner special meeting.

There is a regularly scheduled meeting of the a senate Executive Council on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. and a regularly scheduled senate meeting on Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. Anyone can attend these public meetings, either in-person or by Zoom.

After all was said and done, the senate only spent enough time discussing one issue on the agenda to hold a vote. The chair proposed that the senate adopt a resolution opposing Board of Visitors member Bert Ellis behavior and opposing his appointment to the Board of Visitors.

The statement opposes Ellis behavior, which neither reflects the mission statement of the University of Virginia nor fosters the safe space requisite for free investigation, deliberation and exploration of ideas.

The board has been in a controversial spotlight this year since Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed four new conservative members. Ellis has been the subject of criticism within the UVa community and beyond because of his discriminatory treatment of people from marginalized communities during his time as a student in the 1970s, as well as his recent comments about the universitys diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

In discussion about Ellis concerning behavior, some senators referenced a 2020 incident when Ellis approached a students room on the UVa Lawn, armed with a razor blade to cut a sign off the door that read "F**K UVa."

The senators had the opportunity to discuss the resolution at-length and are expected to conduct a digital vote that will end Friday.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer introduces Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden delivers remarks about health care at Beech Woods Recreation Center October 16, 2020 in Southfield, Michigan. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A jury on Wednesday found three men guilty in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Two other men were convicted in August in federal court for their part in the plot.

The three men face up to 22 years in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced on December 15.

A Michigan jury on Wednesday found three men guilty in connection with a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat.

The three men  Paul Bellar, Joseph Morrison and Pete Musico  were all found guilty of providing material support to a terrorist, felony gang charges, and felony weapons charges, according to The Detroit Free Press.

The jury deliberated for around five hours before returning the guilty verdict. Bellar, Morrison, and Musico face up to 22 years in prison and will be sentenced on December 15.

A federal grand jury found two other men, Adam Fox and Barry Croft, guilty of counts of conspiracy to kidnap Whitmer and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction in August for the plot.

Prosecutors said that Fox and Croft were angry over Whitmer's stay-at-home orders and mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic and accused them of planning to buy and create explosives to help them carry out their plot.

Croft was also previously convicted on one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Whitmer said in a statement that the convictions are "further proof that violence and threats have no place in our politics."

"No threat, no plot, no rhetoric will break my belief in the goodness and decency of our people," Whitmer wrote on Twitter.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) October 26, 2022

According to the Free Press, prosecutors said that the three men were founders of the Wolverine Watchmen militia, which trained Fox and Croft while they crafted their plan to kidnap Whitmer. Assistant Michigan Attorney General Sunita Doddamani told the jury that Wolverine Watchmen was "a blueprint for Adam Fox to learn from."

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"These three defendants had been pushing toward violence for months," Doddamani said in court according to the Free Press. "Even if they weren't going to do an act of terrorism themselves, they were more than happy and willing to help someone else."

According to The Associated Press, the three men held gun trainings in rural Jackson County, Michigan with Fox. Defense attorneys argued that the three men had stopped communicating with Fox by the summer of 2020 when the kidnapping plot began to take place, according to The AP.

Musico's attorney, Kareem Johnson, told the Free Press that he was "disappointed" with the verdict, but still believes Musico is innocent. Johnson told the newspaper that other members of the Wolverine Watchmen also supported Musico and wanted to testify in the trial on his behalf, but were afraid that they may incriminate themselves.

Morrison's attorney, Leonard Ballard, told the Free Press that he was surprised by how quickly the jury reached a verdict.

"Walking out yesterday I thought a not guilty verdict was coming back," Morrison told the newspaper.

Read the original article on Insider
The Academic - Photo: WOLFF (Courtesy of Capitol Records)

Irish indie rock band The Academic will release their sophomore album Sitting Pretty on February 10, 2023, via Capitol Records. This week, they released the new single off the album, Pushing Up Daisies.

Pushing Up Daisies follows their latest single, Dont Take It Personally, both of which are gritty tunes with driving melodies and bold guitars. The sound is direct yet riotousthe sound of a band ready to announce themselves to the world, far beyond the Irish neighborhoods that already claim them as hometown heroes.

Pushing Up Daisies highlights both the immovable weight and frail fractures of the young masculine ego. The Academic explains, Pushing Up Daisies is our ode to insecurity and ego in equal measure. It tackles the hectic nature of our current circumstances. The ecstatic highs and the unbearable lows of life in your twenties.

On the track, they sing, Wake up not feeling too pretty/ I need to pack it in/ Im decorated with pity

Ill take it on the chin. They continue, Ive learnt to live seeking council/ To be a better man/ Cant say its helped Im still doubtful/ But Im doing what I can.

The infectious band turns things up a notch during the anthemic chorus, singing, Im pushing up daisies and theres no tomorrow/ Please dont ask cause I might follow/ Youll be/ Pushing up daisies with me/ Pushing up daisies.

The four-piece band from Mullingar is stepping into album two with unshakable intent following the success of their self-released first album, Tales From The Backseat, which debuted at No.1 in Ireland. The upcoming album follows the bands Community Spirit EP.

The Academic is embarking on a UK Headlining tour in February of 2023. One of the stops includes the Roundhouse in London, which will be their biggest headlining show outside of Ireland.

Pre-order Sitting Pretty.

For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music.

uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG.
After opening in London, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Osaka, Aesop has now landed in Hong Kong for its free Queer Library celebrating LGBTQIA+ authors and their books.

The library has taken over Aesop's Hong Kong store located on Gough Street, featuring 45 titles curated by the brand's local staff and ZtoryTeller, a Hong Kong-based platform. Like previous renditions of the pop-up, visitors are offered one book of their choice from the library without any purchase required.

Aesop opened its first Queer Library last year, followed by launches in cities all around the world. The books in the Hong Kong library are accompanied by commissioned works of art created by queer artist Jeffrey Cheung, which are displayed in the store space. Authors highlighted include Canaan Fong, Samwai Lam and Yin Lo, in addition to a Queer Cities Guide for Hong Kong and Macau and a Pride playlist put together by Aesop's close friends in the LGBTQIA+ community.

Take a look inside Aesop's Hong Kong Queer Library above. The space is open until October 31 and will be followed by miniature versions throughout the city at Hysan Place, Gough Street and Festival Walk until November 20.

Aesop Hong Kong

G/F, Mandarin Court

16 Arbuthnot Road Central, Hong Kong
CNN is about to enter an era of noticeable change, the head of the news outlet cautioned staffers in a new memo, hinting that layoffs and a reorganization could be in store as the units corporate parent navigates a more uncertain economic climate.

There is widespread concern over the global economic outlook, and we must factor that risk into our long-term planning, said Chris Licht, the chairman and CEO of the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned outlet, in a memo. 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.

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The executive did not specify how many positions might be eliminated or in what areas of the company. Under Licht, CNN has already pared some of its workforce devoted to audio, and eliminated the streaming hub CNN+ just weeks after its launch. He indicated the work of recalibrating CNNs business operations would be completed before the start of 2023. CNN typically operates with a staff of between 4,000 and 4,500, according to a person familiar with the matter.

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, Licht said. 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 time  with more resources than anyone else. Full stop.

Video: Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo lands at NewsNation

Licht has for several months been analyzing CNNs business operations as part of a review. His tenure began in May, and he has been nudging the network toward keeping a more centrist philosophy, in the belief that CNN grew so passionate during its coverage of the Trump administration under previous chief Jeff Zucker that it is now viewed as having partisan leanings.

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CNNs search to cut costs comes as its corporate parent is grappling with some onerous business conditions. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav made a commitment to investors that the company would cut $3 billion in costs after acquiring the assets of the company formerly known as WarnerMedia from AT&T. On Monday, the company indicated in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it would have to spend between $1 billion and $1.5 billion to scrap programming already commissioned and pay out severance packages. Warner Bros. Discovery also said it expected to take write-downs of potentially more than $4 billion in pre-tax charges through 202. More than $2 billion of that would be related to charges for scaling back development and jettisoning older TV shows and movies.

The warning also surfaces as many media companies are preparing for a potential recession and possible pull-backs in ad spending. Such terrain has been tricky for some time, as big marketers move some portion of their dollars to new streaming hubs. Both Netflix and Disney, for example, are in the market to sell commercials on ad-supported versions of their namesake streaming services.

The cuts  and the internal tension likely to be associated with them  wont alleviate stress at CNN. The network is in the midst of retooling large parts of its schedule, and is set to launch a new morning program on Tuesday. It has already launched a new interview show led by Chris Wallace on Sunday evenings and has debuted two new hours of programming  led by Jake Tapper at 9 p.m. and Laura Coates and Alisyn Camerota at 10. None of the new shows have proven to be a solid ratings hit as of yet.

Most of the nations news operations are betting that the 2022 midterm elections will help to boost their fortunes. Viewership tends to fall off after a presidential election and gain new traction as another one draws near. In the third quarter, CNNs average primetime audience among people between 25 and 54  the demographic most coveted by advertisers in news programming, was off 21%, to 150,000, according to Nielsen. In comparison, MSNBCs was down 22%,t o an average of 127,000, while Fox News Channels was off 23%, to an average of 294,000.

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Athan Stephanopoulos, a digital entrepreneur who had previously been president of an upstart news company that aims for younger consumers, will take the reins of CNN as its new chief digital officer,

The role is a critical one at the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet, where the parent company recently scuttled plans for a new subscription-based streaming hub called CNN+  leaving CNNs efforts to attract a new generation of digitally-savvy news aficionados unclear. Stephanopoulos will join CNN on November 14 and report to CNNs CEO, Chris Licht.

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Stephanopoulos recently served as president of the digital-news outlet NowThis, which caters to Generation Z and millennial audience. He supervised editorial, revenue, product and technology strategy, audience development and data insights, and guided the company as it was acquired by Group Nine Media and, subsequently, when Group Nine was purchased by Vox Media in early 2022.

He is a first cousin to George Stephanopoulos, the ABC News anchor and Good Morning Anerica co-host.

CNNs digital reach around the world is truly unrivaled and its digital offering is best-in-class, and yet there is still so much opportunity for growth and innovation to move CNN into the future, the executive said.  I look forward to working with Chris and the entire CNN team to drive deeper engagement among existing audiences online, as well as expand the brands digital reach to new audiences around the globe.

Prior to NowThis, Stephanopoulos was the founder and CEO of Cliptamatic, a social video distribution platform that was acquired by NowThis in 2014. Paramount Pictures, HBO, ABC News, AMC Networks, MTV, Starz and Saturday Night Live used the companys technology to distribute video. Stephanopoulos is a lifetime member of the Council of Foreign Relations and previously served as an adjunct professor at Fordham Universitys Graduate School of Business in New York City, where he taught courses on media entrepreneurship and social media.

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Wendy Brundige, who was the interim leader of CNNs digital operations during the companys search for a leader, has been named senior vice president of the unit. She will oversee business operations, commerce and audio, in additional to continuing her management and oversight of the global digital video team. Brundige has been at CNN for eight years, most recently serving as senior vice president of global video.

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Elon Musk has tweeted a video clip of him entering the Twitter San Francisco headquarters carrying a kitchen sink. "Let that sink in," he captioned. Turns out he may have also talked to staff members and denied reports that he's going let most of them go after he officially takes over as company owner, possibly on Friday. According to Bloomberg, he told Twitter's employees that he doesn't have plans to axe 75 percent of Twitter's 7,500 workers like previously reported by The Washington Post.

Musk is still expected to order layoffs. During a Twitter Town Hall meeting in June, he said he didn't know why low-performing workers should remain employed. But job cuts were going to happen even if Musk completely backed out of purchasing the website anyway. Based on internal documents obtained by The Post, current company leadership was planning a 25 percent workforce reduction, which translates to 1,900 people losing their jobs. Executives were also planning major infrastructure cuts and data center closures.

Musk's Twitter purchase is on track to close by Friday, but it was in limbo for a long while. The executive had wanted to back out of his $44 billion purchase, accusing the company of withholding data that would give him a clearer picture of how many bots and fake accounts are on the website. Twitter, in turn, sued Musk and accused him of wrongfully breaking the agreement. Earlier this month, though, Musk decided to go ahead with the deal, and Twitter agreed with his proposal before their case could go to trial.
Elvis Costello, in partnership with Dreamcatcher Events has announced 'Elvis In Iceland', an immersive four-day musical adventure set for May 25-29, 2023 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Fans of all ages are invited to join Costello  accompanied by longtime musical associate Steve Nieve, with very special guest Nick Lowe  for four days and nights of live music and much more, all while exploring the many wonders of Iceland, from gushing geysers, picturesque waterfalls, and historical sites to Reykjaviks finest restaurants and top concert venues.

Shop the best of Elvis Costello's discography on vinyl and more.

Registrations for 'Elvis In Iceland' are available now exclusively at a 10% discount is available now through December 25 (Promo Code: ICELAND). In addition, a personal invitation from Costello is streaming now on YouTube. You can watch it below.

All registrations include an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime private performance by Costello and Nieve, exclusively for Elvis In Iceland guests, as well as prime seats for a major concert at Reykjaviks renowned Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, set for May 28. Along with 4-star accommodations at the luxurious Grand Hotel Reykjavik, all guests will take part in exclusive Q&A sessions with Costello and Lowe and receive a very special photo opportunity with Costello, Lowe, and Nieve as well as a limited-edition event poster signed by all three artists.

In addition, all 'Elvis In Iceland' guests will enjoy first-class meals at some of Icelands top dining establishments; a full-day Golden Circle tour of Icelands national parks; a half-day visit to Icelands breathtaking Sky Lagoon geothermal spa; and a sightseeing tour of Reykjavik highlighted by the state-of-the-art virtual experience, FlyOver Iceland. As if all that werent enough, Elvis In Iceland will showcase some of the countrys own leading musicians, including concerts by acclaimed folk trio, Systur (recently seen representing Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Turin, Italy).

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For many years Ive been thinking to myself, When am I going to get to come back to Reykjavik? When am I going to come back to Iceland and play for you all again? says Elvis Costello. Well, it seems that May 2023, marks the time when I will return! I will be there with Steve Nieve, a huge stack of songs, and many stories to tell you on my Elvis in Iceland trip. Ill look forward to seeing you then.

Listen to the best of Elvis Costello on Apple Music and Spotify.

For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music.

uDiscover Music is operated by Universal Music Group (UMG). Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG.
Hillary Clinton celebrated her 75th birthday on Wednesday, so, on Wednesday night, Jimmy Fallon had some guesses about the texts she received throughout the day. The late night host imagined messages from logical suspects, like Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, but he also had a few others in the mix  including Donald Trump and Adidas.

First up in Fallons list though was Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who the host suspected of planning a surprise party for Clinton. But uh, it wasnt necessarily a great surprise.

Also Read:

Fallon Imagines How the Rest of Bidens Hot Mic Conversation Went: Someone Fs With You, Tell Them to Fing F Off (Video)

Im throwing you a surprise party, where you get on a plane and I drop you off somewhere thats a surprise, the hypothetical text read, poking fun at DeSantis widely criticized move of flying migrants to Marthas Vineyard, but luring them onto the plane with false promises of where they were going.

Russian president Vladimir Putin also made the roster, along with Senator Bernie Sanders and President Joe Biden. Sanders and Bidens texts looked pretty similar, with Fallon joking that they both probably used talk-to-text to send it, resulting in bumbling recordings.

Of course, Fallon made sure to get Trumps birthday wishes in there as well, guessing that his text made a point of emphasizing Clintons age.

Happy birthday to literally the only 75-year-old woman I have ever known, Fallon joked.

Even Adidas made the list, with the Tonight Show host suggesting that the brand sent Clinton 70,000 pairs of free Yeezys, after dropping Kanye Ye West and his deal this week, following antisemitic comments made by the rapper.

And yes, Hillarys own husband Bill Clinton made the cut, with a detached Happy Birthday! Hope youve been doing well. (In reality, Bill Clinton did post in honor of his wifes birthday, but it was actually heartfelt, with the former president saying Not a day goes by that I dont feel like the luckiest man alive).

You can watch Fallons full monologue in the video above.

Also Read:

Fallon Jokes Ted Cruzs Real Hecklers on The View Were Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar (Video)
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Oct. 16DENMARK TOWNSHIP  Four people were transported to hospitals early Saturday morning when fire ripped through a home at 3637 Route 167, said Pierpont Township Fire Chief Tom Marshall.

"It was a fully involved structure fire when we arrived," he said.

Marshall said everyone was out of the home, but Jefferson Ambulance transported an adult male and three juveniles to the hospital in one ambulance.

Marshall said the fire was called in at 2:51 a.m. He said the adult male was later transported from Ashtabula County Medical Center to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

He said he did not know the status of the man's injuries, but the children were transported for observation.

"We had mutual aid from Andover, Dorset, Jefferson, Monroe and Sheffield," Marshall said. He said a combined 11 firefighters battled the blaze.

Marshall said the Pierpont Fire Department was on the scene for more than four hours and Plymouth Township assisted by returning to a rekindle around 8 a.m. and was on the scene for more than an hour.

"The state fire marshal is going to come up next week to investigate. ... We don't believe there was any foul play," Marshall said.

Marshall said the property was a total loss with an estimated value of the structure at $225,000 and $50,000 in contents. He said the family was renting the home.
The Great British Baking Show judge Prue Leith addressed the backlash surrounding the show's controversial "Mexican Week" episode.

Audiences have lambasted the season 10 episode for perpetuating racial stereotypes and cracking insensitive jokes, but in a recent interview with The New Yorker, Leith said the baking competition did not mean to offend. "There would have been absolutely no intention to offend," she said. "That's not the spirit of the show."

Later, Leith heralded the feel-good nature of the baking competition series. "The whole phenomenon of Bake Off is, to me, absolutely extraordinary," Leith said. "This is rather a cliche thing to say, but I do think that it is a force for good, most of the time. Everything we do in life is a bit stressful  we are always short of time, we're short of money, there are all sorts of horrible things happening all over the world."

THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

Everett Collection Prue Leith on 'Great British Baking Show'

Yet, Leith continued, "Bake Off is this safe space where the worst thing that can happen is somebody will drop their bake. And everybody will be sympathetic! Nobody will cheer, nobody will say, 'Oh, good, you're out of the way, and now I'm going to win.' There's none of that nastiness that you sometimes get in competitions."

In the "Mexican Week" episode in question, the bakers were tasked with preparing pan dulce, steak tacos with homemade tortillas, and tres leches cakes. The cold open, featuring hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas in sombreros and ponchos, sparked backlash for the quips that followed: "I don't feel like we should make Mexico jokes," Fielding said. "People will get upset." Lucas responded, "What? No Mexico jokes at all? Not even Juan?"

The juan and only Matt & Noel welcome you to Mexico Week!  #GBBO pic.twitter.com/A4aX43H5rd  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 4, 2022

Audiences also rolled their eyes at the bakers' mispronunciation of words like pico de gallo, while others decried the way one contestant peeled an avocado.

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There are many offensive moments in the Great British Bake Off's "Mexican week" ep, but on the very minor side, peeling an avocado like a potato is sending me pic.twitter.com/RqdTZTvoSd  Malena Carollo (@MalenaCarollo) October 7, 2022

The show previously sparked backlash back in 2020 for a "Japanese Week" episode, wherein audiences also accused the bakers and hosts of cultural insensitivity. The bakers were criticized for using Indian and Chinese flavors in their Japanese bakes, among other criticisms, and Lucas came under fire for calling katsu curry "cat poo curry."

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How should we balance a movies aims and execution, when the two very evidently diverge? In dramatizing the true story of early-aughts serial killer Saeed Hanaei (Mehdi Bajestani), who murdered 16 sex workers, director Ali Abbasi (Border) claims that his intention was not to make a serial killer movie. As he says in the films press notes, I wanted to make a movie about a serial-killer society. Misogyny everywhere breeds through the habits of people.

Among these habits, alas, is the knee-jerk objectification and exploitation of women, a practice in which Holy Spider repeatedly engages. Within minutes, Saeeds first victim is shot gratuitously nude; her murder and the subsequent ones that follow are so explicitly violent that Abbasis nobly stated goals start to reflect the depressing hypocrisy of his subject.

Whats equally dispiriting is that there were so many other ways to make the very cultural critique to which Abbasi, who cowrote the script with Afshin Kamran Bahrami, lays claim. (In fact, this is the third film on the subject, following a documentary and another drama.)

Also Read:

Oscars International Race Has an Empress, a Soldier and a Donkey  But No Front Runner

Saeed was a soldier in the Iran-Iraq war, but when he realizes that his time in the Iranian army hasnt resulted in any lasting change, his anger turns elsewhere. He looks around a community in which womens values are policed nonstop and decides that vigilantism in the name of God is his best chance at cleansing himself and the world.

Meanwhile, as he tricks one fallen woman after another into his lair, before choking her or stomping on her face, a second  and better  film is also developing. A young journalist named Rahimi (Zar Amir-Ebrahimi) wants to catch the Spider Killer, as hes been dubbed by media. She is horrified that hes become a folk hero to many who believe that he is, indeed, doing holy work. Its risky enough for her to travel to his city of Mashhad as a single woman, let alone to put herself in his sights in an effort to expose him. But as unnerving as her work is, the larger conspiracy she suspects shes up against is just as daunting.

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Bajestani is believably repellent as someone whose split lives as an obsessive loner and respected family man are disturbingly concordant. And Nadim Carlsens gritty camerawork pushes the films sense of grim social realism further still, providing a viscerally authentic horror.

Also Read:

Salman Rushdie Has Lost an Eye, Use of a Hand After Stabbing Attack, Agent Says

Abbasi doesnt seem to realize, though, that hes creating much of that horror himself. Yes, Saeed has been exposed to cruelly patriarchal mores, but the fetishistic way in which the killings unfold take us well past any social statement. Theres also a notable contrast between the films commitment to Saeed and to his victims, who appear primarily so that they can soon be excruciatingly murdered.

This makes it all the more confusing that Rahimis story  which is mostly fictional  is so well told. Much of this is due to Amir-Ebrahimis excellent performance, which goes as far as possible toward correcting the films imbalance. Were the movie shot entirely from her perspective, it may well have become the moral condemnation Abbasi intends.

Also Read:

Filmmaker Asghar Farhadi Rallies Support for Iranian Womens Rights Protestors: This Is a Human Responsibility (Video)

But eventually, as were forced to watch scene after scene with a soulless and self-deluded murderer  which surely could describe most serial killers, regardless of their religion or culture  we have to wonder why Abbasi took such a graphic approach. To shock us? Surely getting to know the victims better would have generated a deeper emotional connection. To indict us? For what, though? Engaging in the art he has chosen to make in this specific way?

As he says in those press notes, The dehumanization of groups of people, especially women, is not unique to Iran but can be found, in different variations, in all corners of the world. Hes right. Unfortunately, those corners still include far too many movie screens.

Holy Spider opens in NYC Oct. 28 and LA Nov. 4 via Utopia.
President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne praised each other and highlighted the accomplishments of the last two years in a private, virtual event Wednesday night.

"Cindy, the country needs you, and Im not exaggerating," Biden said, according to a White House pool report. "Youre one of the best persons in the entire United States Congress."

Axne thanked Biden for "showing empathy and care for this country and getting shots in arms, putting our kids back in schools and keeping money in people's pockets so we can get back to an economy that works for this country.

Biden spoke for 15 minutes about the various wins of his tenure. He pointed to falling gas prices and the administration's approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, which Biden said "no longer controls our life, although it's still important.

Rep. Cindy Axne, D-Iowa, looks on as Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie greets President Joe Biden right after Biden arrived on Air Force One at Des Moines International Airport, in Des Moines Iowa, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, en route to Menlo, Iowa.

Biden compared the Republican tax cuts, signed in 2017 by President Donald Trump, to the policy of United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss, who recently resigned amid economic turmoil.

"She wanted to cut taxes for the super wealthy  it caused economic chaos in the country," Biden said. "Well, that's what (Republicans) did last time, and they want to do it again. And they want to make that tax cut permanent  that $2 trillion."

More:Iowa Poll: Most say its best for Iowas caucuses to retain first-in-the-nation status

Wednesday's event was not open to Iowa press, and it is unclear what guests, if any, were in attendance. Biden hosted similar events for U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania and the Congressional delegation of Nevada on Wednesday evening.

They come less than two weeks before Election Day. The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll found likely voters in the 3rd Congressional District, where Axne is facing Republican challenger Zach Nunn, favor a Democrat over a Republican 49% to 48%. The House majority hinges on just a few seats  if Republicans have a net gain of five representatives, they will take the majority.

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Biden is one of many big-name politicians to weigh in on Iowa's closely competitive 3rd District. Majority Whip Jim Clyburn rallied with Axne in Des Moines last weekend, and potential 2024 contenders, like former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and conservative radio host Larry Elder, have appeared with Nunn.

Trump announced Wednesday he will hold an Iowa rally on Nov. 3 to boost Republican candidates in the state. Biden last visited Iowa in April, when he praised Axne for championing her Iowa constituents.

The Iowa Poll shows Biden is viewed unfavorably by a majority of Iowans. Sixty-one percent of Iowans say they feel unfavorably toward Biden, while 37% feel favorably toward him. Fifty-two percent of Iowans say their feelings toward Trump are very or mostly unfavorable.

More:See where Iowa candidates stand on key issues in the 2022 midterm elections

The Republican Party of Iowa criticized Biden and Axne in a Wednesday statement, taking aim at Democrats who "tried to lock us in our homes, keep our kids out of the classroom, and mandate how and when to live our lives" during the pandemic.

"It's no surprise Joe Biden is swooping in at the last minute to try to save his favorite congresswoman, Cindy Axne," Republican Party chair Jeff Kaufmann said.

Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her atkakin@registermedia.com or at 410-340-3440. Follow her on Twitter at@katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Biden holds virtual event to support Cindy Axne before 2022 election
ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 03: Rapper Kanye West performs onstage at the Power 106 Powerhouse show at Honda Center on June 3, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic)

Scott Dudelson/FilmMagic Kanye West

Kanye West turned up at the Skechers shoe company in Manhattan Beach, California, on Wednesday in the wake of his split from Adidas, according to the organization.

The rapper and his party had to be "escorted" out of the building by two of the company's executives "after showing up "unannounced," the shoe company said in a statement.

Sketchers said West also "engaged in unauthorized filming."

"Skechers is not considering and has no intention of working with West," the company added. "We condemn his recent divisive remarks and do not tolerate antisemitism or any other form of hate speech."

Representatives for West, 45, did not immediately return PEOPLE's request for comment.

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 05: Kanye West speaks at Surface Magazine's DesignDialogues No. 6 With Hans Ulrich Obrist, Kanye West And Jacques Herzog at Moore Building on December 5, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Surface Magazine)

Frazer Harrison/Getty Kanye West

RELATED: Kim Kardashian Speaks Out After Ex Kanye West's Antisemitic Remarks: 'Hate Speech Is Never OK'

His visit to Skechers came less than a day after Adidas ended its lucrative Yeezy partnership with West, noting that the company "does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech."

Financial analysts speculate Adidas could lose $240 million from the split, NBC News reported.

For more on this story, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

GAP, which had previously ended its partnership with West, also vowed to remove all products created during the defunct collaboration from its stores.

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 collapse of West's brand deals comes after weeks of outcry sparked by the Grammy winner's violent antisemitic remarks.

Over the weekend in Los Angeles, banners were unfurled on a 405 Freeway overpass by a neo-nazi group that featured antisemitic signs and referenced West.

RELATED: Adidas Cuts Ties with Kanye West After His 'Unacceptable, Hateful and Dangerous' Antisemitic Comments

A slew of celebrities  including Lizzo, John Legend, Jamie Lee Curtis and more  have publicly criticized West for his comments, while social media support for Jewish people has spread thanks to a campaign kicked off by Jessica Seinfeld.

On Tuesday, NFL star Aaron Donald and NBA player Jaylen Brown each also announced they have parted ways with West's Donda Sports agency following the rapper's antisemitic remarks.
After passages from his upcoming memoir referencing Keanu Reeves went viral for all the wrong reasons, Matthew Perry issued an apology to the actor.

On Wednesday, Variety and The New York Post shared excerpts from Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Perrys upcoming memoir about his career and struggles with addiction. In the passages, Perry discusses his friendship with the late River Phoenix, with whom he worked on the 1988 film A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon, and his reaction to Phoenixs death in 1993 from an overdose.

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River was a beautiful man, inside and out  too beautiful for this world, it turned out, Perry wrote in the book. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us? River was a better actor than me; I was funnier. But I certainly held my own in our scenes  no small feat, when I look back decades later.

Perry references Reeves again in a later passage when he recounts his reaction to the news that Chris Farley, with whom he worked on the film Almost Heroes, died in 1997, also from an overdose: His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word heroin, a fear we did not share), Perry writes. I punched a hole through Jennifer Anistons dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us. I had to promote Almost Heroes two weeks after he died; I found myself publicly discussing his death from drugs and alcohol. I was high the entire time.

Im actually a big fan of Keanu, Perry said in a statement to People Magazine. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead.

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Representatives for Perry and his publisher, Flatiron Books, did not respond to IndieWires requests for comment.

On social media, many users took offense to Perrys remarks, particularly given that Reeves and Phoenix, who co-starred in 1991s My Own Private Idaho, were close friends. Actors such as Rachel Zegler, Lynda Carter, and Rahul Kohli shared their support for Reeves on Twitter.

personally thrilled that keanu reeves walks among us  rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) October 26, 2022

Come on

Keanu Reeves is like one of those frozen cakes. Nobody doesnt like him!  Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) October 26, 2022

Nah nah nah shut the fuck up bruv, I dont care who are, Keanu is off limits.  Rahul Kohli (@RahulKohli13) October 26, 2022

Elsewhere in his memoir, Perry shared numerous other stories about his struggles with addiction, such as a 2018 opioid overdose that nearly killed him, and a medical emergency that forced him to drop out of Adam McKays Dont Look Up.

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The post All Quiet on the Western Front Is a Devastating Indictment of War: Review appeared first on Consequence.

The Pitch: Its 1917 (no, not that one), and Germany is on the back foot fighting the French in the First World War. Piles of bodies stack up in the trenches of the Western Front  hundreds of thousands, just to advance and retreat over the same few hundred yards  with new regiments of fresh-faced recruits to fill their dead comrades hastily-repaired uniforms.

One such kid is Paul Baumer (Felix Kammerer), lured to war by blustering politicians and schoolmasters who romanticize the glory theyll bring to themselves and Germany. Its not long before Paul and his schoolmates are disabused of that notion: War, as they say, is hell, and the bleak conditions and bursts of bloody violence wipe clean the innocence from their faces. Soon, it becomes less about winning the war than getting out alive.

We Have So Much To Say Its strange to think its taken this long to get an honest-to-goodness German adaptation of Erich Maria Remarques seminal 1928 novel, following Lewis Milestones Oscar-winning American version in 1930.

But Edward Bergers take on the material feels stark, visceral, and urgent, even as it streamlines the book in some ways while needlessly complicating it in others. Its a film with singular purpose: To hammer home to its audience the horrors of war, and it wants to offer that point in no uncertain terms, no matter how much blood must be spilled or how many souls must be destroyed.

Even before we meet Paul, Berger sets him up as just more meat for the grinder: In its brilliant opening minutes, we follow a soldier named Heinrich in the heat of battle, eventually shot and killed while the rest of his friends fall shouting his name.

Then, just like that, hes disposed of  his dog tags taken, his body stripped of its uniform, and the bullet holes in the fabric stitched together in a busy, noisy warehouse. (The rat-a-tat of the sewing machine takes on the repeater pattern of a machine gun, one of the films grimmest bits of sound design.) Paul gets this uniform and notices the name tag; the recruiter reassures him that it just probably wasnt Heinrichs size. But thanks to Berger, we know better.

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All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

From there, Berger takes us (and Paul) down two and a half hours of devastating, harrowing warfare, where victories are scarce and losses are high. At first, Paul finds solace in his old schoolmates and forges a particularly strong bond with an illiterate cobbler named Kat (Albrecht Schuch), who teaches him how to survive and stay sane within the long stretches of boredom. They laugh over a gambit to steal a goose from a farmer, or huddle together over double portions of soup. Paul reads Kat a letter from home, bonding over the tragic news it carries.

But in battle after battle, the mud, blood, and viscera chip away at Pauls fantasies of glory, one bullet at a time. Kammerer cuts a striking, gaunt visage for Berger to center his camera on; his wide eyes carry years of pain within them, whether hes beholding the horrifying death of a friend by flamethrower or scrambling across the fields dodging rifle fire. Berger frequently coats Kammerers face in blood, soot, and mud, caking half his face in a calcified crust of terror.

James Friends cinematography is a canvas of dust and smoke, with the occasional sunrise peeking out over the chaos to tease the life of peace these boys will never see. And Volker Bertelmanns score adds another coat of terror, a rumbling three-note melody bursting from a harmonium to herald the accompanying death march.

In the films starkest setpiece, Paul scrambles to stab a French soldier in a muddy, bombed-out crater, only to watch in horror as the man bleeds out far too slowly to ignore his humanity. Its a moment of devastating intimacy, as Pauls humanity bubbles to the surface and he rushes to save the soldiers life. Hes too late, of course, but its the up-close portrait of what it really means to wage war  not scoring points on a board, but savagely ripping apart the bodies of young men with families and hopes and dreams  that Berger yearns to impart.

And We Will Never Say It: In the films most curious deviation from the book, Bergers version often pulls away from the individual struggles of soldiers at the front to the officers and diplomats working the battle plans and negotiating tables, surrounded by ornate German architecture and elegantly-prepared feasts, their hands clean from soot and soldiers guts.

In particular, he follows German politician Matthias Erzberger (a patient Daniel Bruhl) as he struggles to get the intransigent French diplomats to sign the armistice that will bring all this fighting to the end. Its a noble gesture (akin to Kubricks treatment of class in warfare in Paths of Glory), and an understandable one: its placement within the films structure makes ever clearer how futile Pauls life-or-death struggles truly are.

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

All Quiet on the Western Front (Netflix)

But the transitions between both stories are a little awkward at times, and often feel unnecessary. After all, were plenty sympathetic to Paul, as we live in these daily horrors alongside him and see him lose one friend after another to gunfire or flames or twists of fate.

The absence of the decision-makers from the real fight is already apparent in their lack of presence at the front; in one scene, we see the cost of that as Paul and company come across a pile of dead, young soldiers who took their gas masks off too early after entering a room. No one told them better. Its the blind leading the blind, a war waged by scared kids who just want to go home. You dont need endless scenes of haughty generals in conference rooms, or negotiators packed in a too-clean train car, to accomplish that.

The Verdict: Bergers take on All Quiet on the Western Front is a searing indictment of the futility of war, one that knows the way conflict erodes the human soul and the machinery that keeps that erosion moving. Its battle scenes are as impressively staged as they are visceral to watch, despite a few hinky ropes of CGI here and there.

But the essence remains, as headshots plink off helmets and soldiers stab themselves with forks just to put themselves out of their misery: No one should ever have to experience this again. And in its final minutes, as we see another fresh-faced boy collecting dog tags on the battlefield, we hope against hope that the same fate wont befall him.

(We know it will, of course; theres a reason we call it World War One.)

Wheres It Playing? All Quiet on the Western Front tosses you in the trenches to see the horrors of war firsthand on Netflix October 28th.

Trailer:

All Quiet on the Western Front Is a Devastating Indictment of War: Review

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The agency conducting oversight of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has notified lawmakers that it is again facing obstruction into its watchdog efforts, writing that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has ceased all cooperation with its investigation.

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) in June notified lawmakers across numerous congressional committees that it was facing roadblocks from various agencies as it reviews the chaotic August 2021 military withdrawal from the country.

But an Oct. 11 email obtained by The Hill indicated that USAID and the State Department had both largely declined to respond to requests for information following the inspector generals June notice, a sign of continued resistance to SIGARs oversight efforts.

Unfortunately, since June 22, the level of cooperation and assistance SIGAR has received from State and USAID has only decreased across SIGARs entire portfolio, Robert Lawrence, the watchdogs director of congressional affairs, wrote to lawmakers.

State continues to cooperate  in a small number of areas  on a very limited basis; USAID has ceased all cooperation.

SIGAR has a sprawling mission for an inspector general office, conducting oversight of numerous agencies that had a hand in the Afghan war, a role created well before the withdrawal. But in recent months, the agency has complained prior cooperation has vanished as agencies now raise jurisdictional concerns.

Those objections are triggering further congressional action, including a request from House Oversight Committee Republicans for a briefing on any obstacles put in place by the Biden Administration.

On two separate occasions you have informed the committee that the Biden Administration is obstructing your work by failing to produce required information. This is unacceptable, ranking member James Comer (R-Ky.) and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Wis.) wrote in a letter to SIGAR Inspector General John Sopko.

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Historically, State and USAID have honored SIGARs mission. But since the Biden Administrations botched Afghanistan withdrawalwhich is in desperate need of oversightState and USAID have denied travel, delayed, obstructed, and even questioned SIGARs jurisdictional authority.

SIGAR said it expects to comply with the request.

We always comply with requests from committee chairmen and ranking members, and will do so in this case. We look forward to briefing the committee, Philip LaVelle, a SIGAR spokesman, said in a statement to The Hill.

In June, Sopko noted repeated and continuing refusal to provide information and assistance requested by my office.

Inspectors general are obligated to notify lawmakers of significant resistance to any oversight efforts.

State and USAIDs sudden refusal to cooperate is particularly surprising. After more than a decade of cooperation with my office, the agencies have now refused to provide information and assistance needed for several audits and Congressionally mandated reviews, Sopko wrote at the time.

The latest brush with the two agencies comes as SIGAR is preparing to issue a congressionally mandated quarterly report next week detailing, among other things, U.S. efforts in the country post-withdrawal.

USAID did not respond to questions for the report on its various humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan  touching on topics like democracy, gender rights and food assistance  including how the agency meets Treasury Department requirements to ensure no money reaches the Taliban.

The State Department refused to answer questions about womens rights programs, support and funding for Afghan refugees, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The State Department, responding for itself and USAID, stressed the amount of material it has provided to SIGAR.

As a general matter, the department does not comment on correspondence with Congress, a department spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.

But some of these allegations are simply false, the spokesperson continued. The State Department has provided SIGAR written responses to dozens of questions, as well as thousands of pages of responsive documents, analyses, and spreadsheets describing dozens of programs that were part of the U.S. governments reconstruction effort in Afghanistan, despite the fact that the United States stopped providing assistance for the purpose of the reconstruction of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.

But the October email from SIGAR suggests the two agencies have largely complained about jurisdictional issues in their dealings with the watchdog.

State and USAIDs consistent response to recent SIGAR [requests for information] state they are deferring their responses until jurisdictional issues are resolved  however despite the exchange of multiple letters between State/USAID and SIGAR, they have provided no indication of how or when they envision the jurisdictional issues being resolved, Lawrence wrote.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Henry Cavill, aka The Man of Steel, will once again battle for truth, justice and a better tomorrow.

Actor Cavill told of his return Wednesday evening during a conversation with MTVs Josh Horowitz at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The conversation was captured in numerous reports and was tipped in a brief cameo at the end of the Black Adam film.

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Earlier, Cavill had posted on social media about reprising the Superman role. I wanted to make it official: I am back as SupermanThank you for your support and thank you for your patience. I promise it will be rewarded.

During the Wednesday 92nd Street Y talk, Cavill talked about his emotional reaction when he donned the Supeman suit once again.

I went to Warner Bros. studio in the UK and got back in the suit, Cavill said. It was a very powerful moment for me. I wasnt sure how I would feel whether it would be something very emotionally connective because I put the Man of Steel suit back on. I chose that one in particular because of the nostalgia attached to the suit. It was important for me to be standing there and enjoying that moment. That is one of the top moments in my career. It feels great to have the opportunity to wear it again.

Cavill currently stars the Netflix series The Witcher, and received permission from the producers to take a moment to talk about his Superman role. He was walking on eggshells, though, and declined to name directors or writers involved in the upcoming Superman project.

He did confess to his feelings on the Superman role, which he first adopted in 2013.

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The character means so much to me. Its been five years now. I never gave up hope, Cavill told the audience. Its amazing to be here now talking about it again. There is such a bright future ahead for the character. Im so excited to tell a story with an enormously joyful Superman.

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Man dies after 40-foot jump off Huntington Beach Pier

Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty

Landon Holman didn't know he would be called on to save a life when he visited California's Huntington Beach pier to ride waves as the sun set on Sunday.

"I really just wanted to go out to get a paddle in, to get a workout," he tells PEOPLE. "And there were maybe about five or six other surfers out, not very many. And quite a few spectators on the pier."

The 27-year-old says that while he was on his surfboard, he noticed a woman standing on the edge of the pier's railing, seemingly preparing to jump 40 feet into the water below her. Holman tried to talk the woman out of leaping, but visitors and other surfers in the water egged her on.

"I knew she had no business being in the water, I thought she was kidding," he recalls. "Unfortunately, there were a lot of instigators outweighing my voice."

Moments later, she fell into the water.

"I knew it wasn't going to be good  I knew she wasn't going to be able to get herself into shore," Holman says.

RELATED: Man Dies After Jumping 40 Feet from Calif. Pier, Following Woman Who Returned to Shore Alive

The woman immediately had difficulty staying above water. Then, as Holman paddled over to her, a man she was with  later identified as 44-year-old Fenton Auston Dee III  also jumped from the pier.

But only one of the two, who Holman says were siblings, would survive the ordeal.

"When they both jumped in, they started screaming frantically, like, 'Help, help,' just begging and pleading for help," says Holman.

Surfer Who Tried to Save Man Who Died After Jumping from Huntington Beach Pier Speaks Out Courtesy: Landon Holman

courtesy Landon Holman

The waves were high, and Holman knew it was not going to be "physically possible" for both of them to use his board to make it back to shore. As he thought about what to do, a nearby surfer named Ryan paddled over to help Dee while Holman guided the woman with his board.

The surfers then battled the strong current as they tried to bring the siblings to shore, with Holman doing his best to instruct the woman on how to hold her breath when the waves crashed into them.

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Related video: Shark attacks surfer off southern California coast

RELATED: Man and Woman from Calif. Drown in 6-Ft. Waves While Vacationing in Maui, Officials Say

Holman and the woman eventually reached land, but when he turned back to the ocean, he saw Dee alone, he recalls.

"I immediately got back on my board and paddled back out as quickly as I could to him," Holman says. "And me and Ryan got to him at the same time and when we got to him, he was unresponsive. We just  we literally just did the best we could to get him into shore as quickly as possible, just used every ounce of energy we had."

According to FOX affiliate KTTV, Dee was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. Per the Los Angeles Times, a medical examiner will perform an autopsy and toxicology tests to determine his cause of death.

The 36-year-old woman, who told Holman her name was Heather, survived.

RELATED: Man Dies After Jumping from Huntington Beach Pier in California

Days after the incident, Holman says he doesn't think of himself as a hero for stepping in to help, but he does want to encourage others to take ocean safety more seriously.

"When you're on top of the pier looking down, it can look deceiving," he explains. "It doesn't look as gnarly, as crazy when they're looking up above. You don't know how cold the water is. You don't know how strong the rips are. It looks beautiful, man. The ocean is the most beautiful and the most dangerous place at the same time."

"I really just want to bring awareness to how magical and how dangerous the ocean can be. It's not something to be taken lightly," Holman adds. "I just really want people to think twice before they get themselves involved in that kind of situation."


Shikano Yoheis Her Beautiful Sword was on Thursday named as winner of the MPA Grand Prize at the 2022 edition of the MPA / DHU / TIFFCOM Pitching Contest. A special recognition prize was awarded to Taniguchi Mio with Nagahama.



The event is part of the TIFFCOM market that accompanies the ongoing Tokyo International Film Festival.

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The MPA Grand Prize winner is awarded a five-day study trip to the Film Immersion Course in Los Angeles., provided by the Motion Picture Association



The special recognition prize winner is invited to the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, which will be held in Queensland, Australia.



It will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for especially young filmmakers who are aiming to be get a chance to work internationally in the future, organizers said.



Now in its fifth year, the pitching event is co-hosted by the MPA, Digital Hollywood University (DHU) and TIFFCOM.



A first session involves a masterclass seminar, presented by Daniel Nettheim (The Hunter, and upcoming TV series The Messenger), a film producer and director who divides his time between Australia and the U.K. The second part was the pitching contest, in which five finalists competed.



While the bulk of the Tokyo festival has returned to in-person operations, TIFFCOM and the pitching contest were held online this year. Registered market participants will be able to view the pitching event online until the end of November.

The MPA has been a regular partner of the festival and of TIFFCOM. On Friday, it will host the 12th edition of its two-part seminar on production incentives and remedies against online piracy.

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tiktok-serial-drama.jpg - Credit: Tetra images RF/Getty Images

Either the nations most prolific serial killer was burying dozens of bodies on his property for decades undetected, or police are on a wild goose chase. Either way, the case has captured the minds of true crime TikTok  and the people want answers.

In the southwestern corner of Iowa, authorities are investigating claims made by a woman who says her father murdered as many as 70 women over several decades and buried them on their familys property. Lucy Studey, 53, has told police that her late father, Donald Dean Studey, who died in 2013, murdered five or six woman a year and forced her and her siblings to help him hide the bodies in and around a well on their five acres of rural land. She said in Newsweek she had told her story to teachers, priests, and law enforcement officers since childhood, but no one would listen.

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That changed this week, when authorities brought cadaver dogs to the property, where they located potential human remains in multiple locations where Studey had said there were bodies buried. According to Newsweek, authorities are planning their next steps. Officers from the Fremont County Sheriffs Department said this would include using sonar to search beneath the ground and potentially,  eventually  excavating the old 90-foot well, although it would be an expensive undertaking. The sheriffs department did not respond to requests for further comment, although an employee said Wednesday that they were preparing a statement.

Sheriff Kevin Aistrope told the Des Moines Register they had spent about a year locating the well and getting permission from the current property owners to conduct an investigation. He also suggested they needed more evidence of the crimes to move forward. Shes got a hell of a story but we dont have any proof of anything other than we had a cadaver dog hit, Aistrope told the Register. Weve got to have more proof than that.

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Multiple agencies have joined the investigation. A public affairs representative for the Omaha FBI, just across the border in Nebraska, confirmed the office has been contacted by Iowa authorities and has offered its assistance. A public information officer with the Omaha Police Department confirmed that they are also assisting Iowa agencies, but declined to speculate if missing persons from the Omaha area could be among the alleged victims. Since they havent actually found any bodies yet, theres no way for us to know if any of them are related to Omaha cases, Officer Michael Pecha tells Rolling Stone. Well cross that bridge when we come to it. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is also reportedly involved, according to the Register, but the department did not respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, Studeys older sister, Susan, rebutted Studeys claims. She told Newsweek the first shed heard of the alleged bodies was last year, from Studey. Their father was strict and protective, she said, but he loved his children and was not a murderer. I would know if my dad was a serial killer, she said. He was not, and I want my fathers name restored. Susan declined a request from Rolling Stone for further comment. Studey has another sister, who did not immediately reply to a request for comment, and a brother, who died in 2004.

In the meantime, Donald Dean Studey, who died in 2013, has become a hashtag on TikTok with nearly one million views. Videos began cropping up over the past day or two, with some quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of views, sharing the story of the investigation. I dont know what to call this case cause its still brand new said Mikey of the account Makingatruecrimerer, which has 2.7 million followers, before taking viewers through the details that had come out so far. He spoke over a greenscreen of a Breaking News banner and imagery from news reports. The video amassed 845,000 views in 17 hours. Another true crime TikToker, Jenna Lynn, quoted sections of a New York Post article on the investigation, speaking in a fast-talking newscaster voice over a sound called Breaking News. Ill keep you guys updated when more develops. What do you think? Drop it in the comments, she said at the end of the 38-second clip, which garnered 630,000 views in one day. Users interest isnt unwarranted. If Studeys claims are true, her fathers body count could surpass that of Samuel Little, the nations most prolific killer, who authorities confirmed had murdered 60 people before he died in prison in 2020.

Now, as the case begins to go viral, the social media frenzy quickly morphs real-life news into a mystery for web sleuths to solve. In comments, people speculate about which sisters story is true. It also seems to be striking a nerve among some of the more conspiracy-minded users. This is not as uncommon as you think. [There are] other stories about this, commented one user on an NBC News video. Jamie Slife, who has built a TikTok presence sharing her suspicions that her father could have been involved in the 2018 murder of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts, piped in to assure viewers Donald Studey was not her father, although she speculated about similarities between the two men. He buried the bodies in wells, Slife said of Donald Studey, although no bodies have yet been found. Its very eerie, similar, me and my mom have suspected my dad doing the same. Theres a well on his property. My dad digs basements. Her videos garnered around 7,000 views in less than a day. (Slife testified in the Tibbetts murder trial about her fathers alleged abusive behaviors, but he was cleared as a suspect in the case and Cristhian Bahena Rivera was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison).

In interviews with Newsweek, Studey described the alleged crimes in gruesome detail, claiming her father kept victims gold teeth as trophies after beating women to death by smashing or kicking their heads inside the trailer where the family lived. She claimed most victims were runaways or sex workers, almost all women in twenties or thirties, although she claimed to recall two men. She said theyd use a wheelbarrow in the summer and a toboggan in the winter to move the bodies and she recalled her dad saying of one victim, The bitch deserved it.

Iowa court records show Donald Studey had a history of arrests for mostly minor crimes, including a 1994 charge of assault with intent to cause serious injury. He pleaded guilty to a reduced criminal mischief charge. Newsweek reported hed served prison time for petit larceny in the 1950s and was arrested on drunk driving in Omaha in 1989. The sheriff said officers were wary of Donald Studey, telling the publication hed routinely been in trouble with authorities, and that they never visited his trailer alone. Fremont Deputy Mike Wake told a local CBS affiliate Donald Studey had once threatened to harm himself, before officers talked him down. He also said he had grown up in the area hearing rumors about bodies in a well before Studey called him about a year ago. I just thought it was worth looking into, he said.

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Corrections & clarifications: A previous version of this story included a photo and video of a house that was incorrectly identified by a law enforcement official as the past residence of Donald Studey.

THURMAN, Iowa  In a corner of southwest Iowa where locals have long avoided venturing too far up into the wooded hollow north of town, the news that a possible serial killer had lived there for decades made some shudder.

But longtime residents of this tiny hamlet nestled at the base of the Loess Hills also said they were not surprised to hear that the local recluse, who died almost a decade ago, has been accused by his own daughter of killing scores of people.

Rumors of bodies being dumped in a well near Donald Don Dean Studey's trailer had preceded the most recent claims by his daughter, Lucy Studey McKiddy, 53, for decades. And in a place that no longer has a single cafe, tavern or local cop, some said, a cantankerous and sometimes violent man was largely free to do as he pleased.

A photo of Anna Studey with her husband Donald Studey on her grave stone near Thurman Iowa, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. According to his daughter, Donald Dean Studey murdered "five or six" women a year and buried them in and around an abandoned well on his property.

Guns up in these parts are mandatory; knives are optional, said Max Johnson, a former rodeo clown and cowboy who lives in town.

Chief Deputy Timothy Bothwell of the Fremont County Sheriff's Office said law enforcement officials learned long ago not to go alone up Green Hollow Road, a sparsely populated area subject to occasional reports of gunshots at night, domestic violence, fires and other incidents involving an erratic and occasionally suicidal Studey.

Even in 1996, when I first got here, a call to Green Hollow was a two-car call, Bothwell said.

But when McKiddy shared her story in a Newsweek article published online Oct. 22, the horrible scope of her allegations triggered international media attention. McKiddy told Newsweek reporters her father could have been responsible for 50 to 70 deaths over 45 years before he died in 2013 at age 75. If her claims were to prove true, the article said, Studey would rank as one of Americas most prolific serial killers.

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Daughter said her allegations about killings were long ignored

McKiddy, who has not responded to interview requests by the Des Moines Register, told Newsweek her previous attempts to report her fathers killings over the years had been ignored by teachers, counselors, clergy and law enforcement officials in both Iowa and nearby Nebraska.

Interviewed this week, Bothwell said the sheriffs office's first heard the allegations in 2007, when McKiddy's father claimed she had stolen $16,000 from him. McKiddy, Bothwell said, denied she took the money but alleged her father had buried bodies in a disused well behind the familys property, on the former site of a county-run home for the poor.

Bothwell said he was unable to find the well she described, and the investigation stalled.

Speaking in 2021 with another deputy, McKiddy claimed a second time that her father had killed several people and that she believed he disposed of their bodies in the well. Last week, she went to the site with Newsweek and pointed out the well. Two cadaver dogs, on the site with deputies, zeroed in on specific areas, including the well, suggesting human remains may be nearby.

Another of Studeys four children, Susan Studey, has since told Newsweek that McKiddy was not telling the truth. Susan Studey said her father was strict but not a serial killer, and she wants to restore his name. A brother, Gary Studey, died in 2004. The Register, a part of the USA TODAY Network, could not immediately locate a third Studey daughter.

Southwestern Iowa sheriff: 'Im not going to let it die'

Kevin Aistrope, sheriff for 14 years in Fremont County, said this week that the FBI also had talked to McKiddy in 2021 and looked into the case more than a year ago.

He said the FBI had backed away in the last couple of weeks for reasons he would not elaborate.

So we stepped forward again, he said. Im not going to let it die. Im just not gonna let that happen.

Aistrope said he has no choice, especially after the reactions of the cadaver dogs supported McKiddy's claims.

The FBI declined to comment on the case.

"We have no information to provide at this time," Wade Greening, a spokesperson for the FBI's Omaha, Nebraska, office, said in an email.

Bothwell said Studey also approached a neighbor years ago who had been covering old wells at the former poor farm, about a quarter mile behind the Studey property. At the time, Studey reportedly told the neighbor he wanted a pipe from one of the wells. Studey also suggested to the neighbor that he might see bones in the well, but he insisted they were from cows, Bothwell said.

Both Bothwell and Aistrope said some parts of McKiddys story have changed, but others have remained consistent. Last week, she also walked right to the site of the well in question, one of the places the cadaver dogs "hit" for human remains.

Weve got to go with Lucy, Aistrope said. "No matter if they say its not true, or say shes crazy or whatever they can say, we have to look into it. We have no other choice.

Donald Dean Studey's grave near Thurman Iowa, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022. According to his daughter, Donald Dean Studey murdered "five or six" women a year and buried them in and around an abandoned well on his property.

He said representatives of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, plan to sit down in person within the next two weeks to decide how to move forward. That could include taking soil samples, using radar or drilling for core samples with the help of forensic experts. Excavating the now-covered well where McKiddy said her father dumped bodies would be difficult before winter, and Bothwell said archaeologists are needed to collect and identify any bones.

Though Aistrope said he wants to work as quickly as feasible on behalf of families of any potential victims, there is no immediate pressure to harness all available law enforcement personnel since Studey died in March 2013. Uncovering evidence from the now-private land near Studeys former home will take considerable planning, he said.

Itd be different if we had him out there today, but we dont, Aistrope said. Right now, all we have is her story. We dont even have a bone. I just want to figure it out.

Aistrope acknowledged that the last murder case he handled in the county took five years to prosecute, so the Studey investigation could continue long after he retires.

Bothwell said Wednesday the FBI would take the lead in any criminal probe.

Sheriff's office incident reports show Donald Studey was troubled

Nearly 20 incident reports the Register obtained this week from the sheriffs office, dating to the late 1990s, show Studey was a source of concern for his family and could be violent.

One from 2005 said he threatened to kill the son of his last wife, Anna Tordoff Studey, and another, from 2012, said he shot himself in one of several reported suicidal episodes. Aistrope said deputies were on the scene when Donald Studey shot himself in the arm.

Dan Tordoff, Anna Tordoff Studeys son, told the Register he called deputies in 2005 after Studey threatened both his life and hers. Tordoff said his mother was afraid of Studey, and he often was afraid for her safety before she died in 2006.

While Studey's behavior could be erratic, so have been some of McKiddy's assertions about the killings. A McKiddy account in an incident report obtained by the Register, written by Deputy Mike Wake after a 2021 phone interview, was sharply different in some ways from the story portrayed in the interview with Newsweek.

For example, McKiddy told Newsweek her father killed up to 70 people, including prostitutes and transients from the Omaha area. The article also quoted her as saying Studey sometimes forced his children to help with burials.

But in the 2021 interview with Wake, McKiddy said she knew of only five bodies in the well by her fathers home, but shed heard stories that there could be up to 15 bodies. She also alleged to the deputy that she was sometimes with her father before and after hed killed people.

Specifics in the 2021 account were horrific. She told Wake that in 1976 or 1977, she saw her father go outside with a .22 rifle and come back in the house and put the rifle up. Later, she said, she saw her dad and two other men take a body out of the trunk of a car and haul it by wheelbarrow to the 90-foot-deep well.

Not long after, in the late 1970s or 1980, McKiddy said, she was with her father in his car when he picked up a 15-year-old girl on an interstate exit, the incident report states. She said her father convinced the girl it was safe to go with them because he was a single dad with four kids, but McKiddy said she believed he raped and murdered her. The girl was gone the next morning, the incident report says.

McKiddy also said she awoke one night to the screaming of a homeless woman; her father was beating the woman and dragging her by her hair in the living room. The next morning, she said, her father told her the woman had left, but she figured she was in the well.

McKiddy said she saw a dead body by an old cellar on the family property one day around 1979, and her dad loaded it onto the wheelbarrow and took it to the well. Around the same time, she said, her father took two bags of lye to the well, where she saw that body and another of a man in his 20s lying facedown.

She said that her dad told her they were putting the lye on the bodies to help deteriorate them faster, Wake wrote in the incident report.

Afterward, McKiddy said, they went mushroom hunting.

In the report, Wake mentions that he had heard that Studey killed a man named Doug Semore and put his body in a well but we could never get any information on when or where. I believe the last time I saw Doug was in 1988.

He wrote that McKiddy thought Semore had been a witness to a local stabbing in which her dad was involved.

Whispers about Green Hollow, but no answers

In Thurman, a shrinking wisp of a town where a few families, including the Studeys, go back to the 1800s, many adults, including the mayor, still recall being told as children never to go to Green Hollow.

There were always stories about Green Hollow, said Bill Reeves, who was elected mayor in the town of fewer than 170 years ago. You just didnt go up there. Even when my dad was a boy.

Some, like Johnson, remember children teasing each other about the Green Holler Mauler, a fabled monster that roamed the woods near where Studey lived with one wife and later another, both long dead.

Now, everybody wonders if the truth will turn out to be stranger than fiction  and that there really was a monster up there to be feared.

Who knows what could happen up in them woods? asked Johnson, the former rodeo performer. Im not surprised.

Lee Rood staff photo, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021.

Contributing: Daniel Lathrop

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Sheriffs vow to get to truth about Iowa serial killer Donald Studey
A 17-year-old boy shot by a San Antonio police officer while eating a McDonald's hamburger in his car had four bullets removed from his body and suffered a pneumonia in the hospital, his family said Tuesday in their first public remarks since the shooting earlier this month.

"It's very touch and go. It's very hard," Erik Cantu Sr. said, who added his son got had a tracheotomy and is struggling to breathe without assistance from machines. "He is getting slightly better, his wounds are healing, but the wounds that hes endured, they are great, theres a lot of them."

Erik Cantu, 17, was shot by former San Antonio police officer James Brennand on Oct. 2 in a McDonald's parking lot. Brennand was fired later that week 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.

The teen had four bullets removed from his body in the hospital and one remains lodged near his heart for now, his mother said. The teen's mother, Victoria Casarez, said Cantu was wounded in his stomach, diaphragm, lungs, liver and arm. His father said he had to be cut from the middle of his chest to his stomach at the hospital.

OFFICER CHARGED AFTER VIDEO: San Antonio officer fired after shooting 17-year-old eating McDonald's burger in car; Texas DA rejects charges against teen

Attorney Benjamin Crump, third from right, addresses the media alongside 17-year-old Erik Cantu's family during a press conference held to update the public about his current medical condition in front of the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022. Cantu was shot multiple times by former San Antonio police officer James Brennand on Oct. 2.

He's just mutilated and it hurts us to see our son this way, Victoria Casarez said.

Speaking at Tuesday's press conference, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales met with Cantu's parents and told them their son was shot after he was "profiled."

Crump said the district attorney told the family the officer was looking for a Hispanic teen with a bowl haircut and profiled Cantu. The district attorneys office on Tuesday said it does not publicly comment on the facts of pending cases.

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Crump said the teen is continuing to fight for his life on life support.

NOT A STOLEN CAR: Teen who was shot by ex-San Antonio cop while eating a hamburger was not driving a stolen car, police say

MORE ON THE OFFICER: Ex-Texas police officer who shot teen eating hamburger in McDonald's parking lot arrested

Brennand had been responding to the McDonald's restaurant on an unrelated call when he spotted Cantu inside the car. Authorities said Brennand later explained he believed the vehicle was stolen and had fled from him the day before. Police have said that although registration plates didnt match the vehicle Cantu was operating, the car itself was not stolen.

Casarez said she wants to see additional charges against him, including attempted murder.

"There's more to it that is so disheartening to watch, to experience, and there needs to be something done about that," she said, telling reporters there was more body camera footage that has not been released to the public.

Multiple family members spoke at Tuesday's press conference, including in Spanish. A leader from LULAC, the League of United Latino American Citizens, also spoke and demanded justice from the San Antonio police department.

Contributing: Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Erik Cantu, teen shot eating McDonald's hamburger, still in hospital
Screenshot: Disneys The Skeleton Dance, 1929 (public domain) (Fair Use)

I am a Halloween-scholar with a PhD. in witchology from Virginia Tech*, and I want to share my knowledge with you.



These 12 Halloween facts and didya knows? cover everything you ever wanted to know about the holiday: pumpkins, black cats, and novelty music. Isnt that what Halloween is all about?



The ancient history of Halloween

Illustration: matrioshka (Shutterstock)

Its fitting that the origin of Halloween is somewhat mysterious. It originated with the Samhain celebrations of the Celts and Druids in Ireland, England, and Northern France around 2,000 years ago.

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Samhain, the Celtic New Year, was celebrated on Nov. 1, and marked the transition between summer and winter. Because neither the Druids nor Celts left a written record, what we know about how Samhain was marked is based on reports of the occupying Romans, but it apparently was celebrated by lighting large bonfires and sometimes wearing masks. The Celts believed the spirits of the dead would return to their homes during the Samhain festival too.



In the 7th Century, the Catholic church moved All Saints Day, aka All Hallows Day, from May 13 to Nov. 1, probably in an effort to Christianize the pagan holiday. The day before became known as Hallows Eve, and eventually Halloween.



The modern history of Halloween

Photo: Mobz (Shutterstock)

Halloween was celebrated in various ways in Europe throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, but it was not universally marked in the United States. Puritan settlers didnt like anything awesome, so they didnt celebrate Halloween. They didnt celebrate Christmas or Easter either.



Some European Halloween customs did live on sporadically in the more liberal colonies down south, where Halloween parties celebrating the harvest consisted of ghost stories and I assume lots of drinking. Halloween didnt really catch on until the mid 1800s, when a huge influx of Irish people immigrated to the United States and brought their folk holiday with them.

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The origin of trick-or-treating

Photo: Yuganov Konstantin (Shutterstock)

Trick-or-treating is the modern expression of a practice that dates back at least to Ancient Greece. Putting on a costume, visiting your neighbors, and expecting to be invited in for some cake or something has been a common way of celebrating various holidays and festivals since history began.

Guising, short for disguising, began to be associated specifically with Halloween in the early 1900s. The phrase trick or treat seems to have originated in Canada. It was first used in print in 1917 in Ontarios Sault Daily Star, which described costumed children going door-to-door on Halloween and promising not to commit mischief if given a treat.

Elizabeth Krebs: The cranky grandmother of Halloween



Vintage Halloween Holiday Parade 1958 Kansas USA Trick or Treat

Elizabeth Krebs, of Hiawatha, Kansas, is an unsung hero of Halloween, but she wasnt fond of children. The founder of the Hiawatha Garden Club, Krebs loved her flowers most of all, but in Kansas in the early 1900s, the local youths celebrated mischief night, the night before halloween, by running rampant through town, inevitably destroying Krebs carefully planted flower beds.

Embodying the can-do spirit of the American midwest, Krebs fought the vandals with love by organizing the first Halloween parade in U.S. history. The Hiawatha Halloween Frolic of 1914 featured a parade, a costume contest, treats, and music, all meant to distract the youth from wrecking Ms. Krebs precious posies. The event caught on, and Halloween parades and parties spread across the country, so you can thank Ms. Krebs for your local parade. Or thank the rebellious teens, I guess.

Halloween: The movie



John Carpenter - (1978) Halloween

Released in 1978, John Carpenters Halloween inspired the slasher genre that took over horror films in the 1980s. It was produced for only $300,000 and grossed over $47 million (around $150 million in today-money), placing it among the most profitable independent films ever made. Halloween has spawned 12 other official Halloween movies (although some would argue that Halloween III doesnt count; its set around Halloween, but has nothing to do with the other Halloween films) and thousands of imitators.

Christmas used to be the ghost story holiday

Illustration: Dave Rheaume Artist (Shutterstock)

Ghost stories (and their modern equivalent, horror movies) are firmly enmeshed with Halloween culture, but Christmas was actually the ghost story holiday in Victorian England.

Whenever five or six English-speaking people meet round a fire on Christmas Eve, they start telling each other ghost stories, Jerome K. Jerome wrote in 1891. Despite the most famous Christmas story, A Christmas Carol, being a straight-up ghost story, the tradition has nearly entirely died out.

Do witches/satanists sacrifice black cats on Halloween?

Photo: Evgenia Lushenkova (Shutterstock)

Until recently, humane societies and animal shelters routinely restricted cat adoptions around Halloween, especially adoptions of black cats. This was partly based on the belief that pagans, satanists, druids, witches, and/or warlocks would adopt dark kitties in order to sacrifice them in unspeakable rites on Samhain.

As awesome as it would be to live in a world where this happens, in our boring reality, it doesnt. Satanists dont adopt or catnap black kitties at this time of year either. Satanists like cats, generally, and theyre also super boring, as anyone whos ever been buttonholed by a satanist at a party can tell you. The belief probably stems from reports of witches with black cat familiars that date back to medieval times.

There is a non-folkloric reason pet adoption places sometimes give for limiting adoptions of black cats around Halloween, though: It is feared that some people adopt black cats as spooky decor for Halloween, only to abandon them on Nov. 1. I havent been able to find a documented case of this happening, though, so its probably hearsay too.

They are lying to you about pumpkins

Photo: Andrii Medvediuk (Shutterstock)

The pumpkin is not a vegetable. It is a fruit. Technically, the pumpkin is a berry.



Pumpkins are a product of the seed-bearing structure of a flowering plant, hence a fruit. Botanically, berries are defined as simple, fleshy fruit that usually has many seeds. Like a pumpkin.

Illinois: Americas pumpkin state

Photo: Michael Heimlich (Shutterstock)

Halloween is in the middle of decorative gourd season, motherfuckers, and most of Halloweens most beloved gourdspumpkinscome from Illinois, our gourdiest state. Its not a close contest, either: Illinois grows twice as many pumpkins, both the ornamental and the pie-filling kinds, as second place California.

Some pumpkins weigh as much as a Toyota Corrola

Photo: Roman023_photography (Shutterstock)

I dont want to kink-shame or anything, but there are people out there who devote their lives to growing massive pumpkins. The largest ever weighed nearly one and a half tons. Grown by Italian gourd-fetishist Stefano Cutrupi, the prize winning berry tipped the scales at 2,702 pounds at the the Big Pumpkin Festival in Peccioli, Italy in 2021. (I attend this festival yearly.)

All about The Monster Mash, Halloweens unofficial anthem



Bobby Pickett Monster Mash

Explicitly Halloween-related songs never caught on like Christmas carols, so the closest thing we have is The Monster Mash, Halloweens unofficial anthem. (Okay, maybe Rockwells Somebodys Watching Me comes close.) A product of the monster-craze of the 1960s, Monster Mash was written and performed by Bobby Boris Pickett as a way to show off his monster-impersonation skills and spoof the dance craze songs that were popular when at the time. Monster Mash hit number one on the billboard charts upon its release in 1962, and re-entered the charts in 1970 and 1973.

Pickett continued recording novelty records until the 2000s but never recaptured the original magic. Among Picketts follow-up recordings from the 1960s:

Monsters Holiday

Monster Motion

Blood Bank Blues

Me and My Mummy

Werewolf Watusi

The Monster Swim

Later Pickett recordings include 1985s Monster Rap, Its Alive from 1993, and 2005s Monster Slash.

Halloweens hottest trend: Costumes for pets

Photo: Ezzolo (Shutterstock)

I have looked toward the future of Halloween, and all I can see is a pug in a dandelion outfit. These days, everyone is putting costumes on their pets. In 2019, 17% of Americans said they planned to put an outfit on their animal, up from only 12% in 2012. Spending on costuming for pets is approaching a half-billion dollar a year, according to the National Retail Federation.



Dogs and cats in costumes are delightful to almost everyone, but some veterinarians warn agains the practice. A spokesperson for the British Vet Association said, Dressing up animals or otherwise unnaturally changing their appearance is not only unnecessary and potentially harmful, but in some cases can also prevent pets from expressing their natural behaviors and from using their body language to communicate.

On the other hand, its adorable and your cat loves wearing a funny hat, I promise.





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Photo: Jamie Lamor Thompson (Shutterstock)

I love the state of Georgia.

The people of our state represent the nations best, our diverse cultures and traditions woven together as a patchwork quilt that continues to attract newcomers from near and far. The economic opportunities across both urban and rural areas of the state are unparalleled, and a legacy of forward progress lives on as a central ethos for the individuals and institutions who call the state home.

Read more

For many  including for me  Georgia is where dreams are made.

However, todays state Republican leaders appear hellbent on instead creating nightmares for so many Georgians.

Hard-working families across the state are struggling to make ends meet while the rich enjoy tax breaks. Millions of Georgians lack access to safe and affordable healthcare, and eligible voters are being forced to jump through additional hoops to cast a ballot.

The people of Georgia have the choice to meet the moment by electing leaders who will help set the state on a path that ensures that all Georgians  regardless of background  can thrive.

One such leader is Stacey Abrams, running to be the next governor of Georgia. Her vision for One Georgia gives a Black man like me hope for the future of our state. It makes me believe in a Georgia of tomorrow in which all residents can contribute to and enjoy the benefits of our vibrant state.

This starts with helping ease the financial pain that many families across our state are feeling right now. Utilizing the states $6 billion budget surplus, Stacey Abrams will place money in pockets via the authorization of $1 billion in tax rebates and the establishment of an earned income tax credit  finally. Its time for a governor to exercise their power to put money in peoples pockets and give a state-level stimulus check to our communities. As governor, Stacey Abrams will do just that.

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We also must ensure that there are good-paying jobs available and accessible to all who seek to find them.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is set to invest billions of dollars in the next generation of Georgias infrastructure and create thousands of good-paying jobs for those who will help build it. The next governor must ensure that equity is at the center of how that money is allocated and how those jobs are created. Developing a workforce to fill these jobs means investing in skills-based educational pathways. Thats why Stacey Abramss plan includes free technical college and 20,000 new apprenticeships  all to ensure that the people of Georgia are ready to compete for good jobs and provide for their families.

While small businesses power economic mobility in communities across the state, there are significant barriers that stand in the way of Georgians  especially women and minorities  seeking to start a business. Stacey Abramss One Georgia plan acknowledges  but refuses to any longer accept  the existence of those barriers.

As governor, Stacey Abrams will create a $10 million fund to provide financial and technical assistance to aspiring founders. And, One Georgia means that companies owned by underrepresented founders will no longer be overlooked by the state when seeking contracts. Stacey Abramss vision for Georgia requires that we have the best at the table to help our state perform at its best.

These actions will promote an inclusive economy and help hard-working families all across Georgia thrive.

But to thrive, families also must have access to high-quality healthcare. For far too many Georgians, access to high-quality healthcare remains tied to financial status. Around 1.5 million Georgians are without health insurance, giving Georgia the fifth highest uninsured rate in the nation. Not to mention, the Republicans dangerous abortion ban puts women  especially women of color and low-income women  at risk.

After witnessing Republican leaders fail time and time again to expand Medicaid, Stacey Abrams has declared once and for all that every Georgian  no matter how much money they have in the bank  deserves access to high-quality, affordable healthcare.

Expanding Medicaid is central to Stacey Abramss One Georgia plan. Doing so would deliver healthcare coverage to 500,000 currently uninsured Georgians, reduce healthcare costs universally, and make critical investments in maternal healthcare. This is the prescription we need for a healthier Georgia.

A healthy Georgia must have a healthy democracy, and Stacey Abramss vision is for a state that makes it easier  not harder  for people to vote, while maintaining the security of our elections. S.B. 202 has already imposed unnecessary restrictions and challenged thousands of voters, but Georgians have proven to be determined to take their prayers to the ballot box anyway. We owe it to our friends, families, and neighbors to stand squarely against additional attempts to suppress the vote, but we can do more. As governor, Stacey Abrams will continue her fight to make voting  and registering to vote  more accessible.

In many ways, Georgia has become a tale of two states  one whose residents have money in the bank, a job, health insurance, and a seat at the table of our democracy; the other whose residents lack those things. I believe in One Georgia, and I hope that the people of Georgia will join me in electing Democratic leaders like Stacey Abrams  up and down the ballot  who will help make it a reality.

Gevin Reynolds is an incoming law student at Yale and a resident of Smyrna, Georgia. The opinions expressed herein are his personal views.

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Gov. Greg Abbott has shuffled the state budget to devote another $360 million to Operation Lone Star initiatives along the border with Mexico, with an additional $400 million going to school safety measures and $15 million to help build a new elementary school in Uvalde.

Rounding out the $875 million budget shift was $100 million to help the Texas Division of Emergency Management pay for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas has already spent more than $4 billion on Operation Lone Star, an initiative Abbott began in March 2021 by deploying thousands of Department of Public Safety officers and Texas National Guard troops to the southern border amid a sharp increase in migrants crossing from Mexico illegally or to seek asylum.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent watches near a gate in the U.S.-Mexico border wall as agents take migrants into custody last year in Abram-Perezville.

More:Six mass shootings and 90 dead. What has Gov. Abbott done and has it been enough?

Complaining that the Biden adminstration wasn't doing enough, Abbott directed the operation to focus on the arrest and detention of border crossers, prompting complaints and a series of ongoing legal challenges over the constitutionality and legality of the effort.

Abbott announced the budget moves Thursday, saying Operation Lone Star's financial gain came from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's budget for correctional security operations. Abbott is sending $339 million to the Texas Military Department for border activities and $20.6 million to other state agencies to support border operations.

A spokeswoman for the state prison agency said the lost money "will not negatively impact the agency" because it will be replaced with money for pandemic-related expenses.

The funding shifts were recommended by lawmakers on the Legislative Budget Board and approved by Abbott, who thanked legislative leaders for acting swiftly.

"Working together, we will continue boosting public safety statewide and supporting Uvalde in their efforts to heal and move forward," he said in a statement.

Uvalde school officials closed Robb Elementary School after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers shortly before the summer break was to begin in May.

Story continues

In addition to helping build a new school, a budget surplus in the Foundation School Program will add $400 million to help school districts pay to replace or improve doors, windows, fences, communications equipment and other safety measures, Abbott said.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, a member of the budget board, said the money was a "meaningful step" toward addressing school security, which will be a House priority when the regular session of the Legislature begins in January.

"These funds will continue to support the community of Uvalde in the wake of such a devastating tragedy earlier this year and will help bolster the safety of Texans," Phelan said.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas leaders shift $875 million to border, school security
This traditional fruit brandy is a delicious addition to your fall dinner spread.

Ivana Larrosa Rakia

My evening at a family-run distillery located atop Goc Mountain in central Serbia was shaping up to be a decadent affair with ample amounts of high-quality rakia, a potent fruit brandy that is ubiquitous in the Balkans. Yebiga is the brainchild of Bill Gould, a rakia fanatic and bass player for the band Faith No More; He explained that his first encounter with rakia was in May 1992 at a Faith No More concert in Budapest, when some Serbian fans brought bottles to the show. Some of those bottles found their way backstage, and Gould was hooked. He began traveling throughout the Balkans, particularly Serbia, consuming more rakia  but grew frustrated that he couldnt find any back home in California (or pretty much anywhere in the United States, for that matter). It took a couple of decades, but in 2018 Gould cemented a partnership with the Urosovic family, the clan behind the respected Tok rakia.

For centuries, rakia was ubiquitous in the Balkans in the form of moonshine. The first official, legal rakia distillery, Bojkovcanka, about 10 miles south of Belgrade, was founded in 1985, with legal distilleries trickling onto the market in the following decades. By 2012, there were about 200 registered rakia distilleries in Serbia, but, an artisanal, small-batch rakia movement has emerged in the last few years. Today, there are over 800 legal, registered rakia distilleries in Serbia alone, many of which are aging the spirit in Serbian oak barrels for five, ten, or even twenty years, adding depth and flavor to the spirit, similar to the process of aged whisky. Even on my Air Serbia flight, the only direct route from the US to Serbia, the airline offers five different types of rakias from the Belgrade-based Rakia Bar.

Yebiga is part of this Serbian artisanal movement. Made on the Urosvic family farm using organic plums and the clean, crisp mountain spring water that flows down from Goc Mountain, the brand hit the U.S. market in 2021, making it the first high-quality, artisanal rakia sold in the United States.

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Many of the bartenders and rakia makers I talked to in Serbia are excited about this movement to make higher-quality rakia, hoping Balkan spirit will be the next big thing in booze, the mezcal of the 2020s. Heres everything you need to know about this potent Balkan brandy.



What Is Rakia?

Rakia, or rakija, as its spelled in various parts of the Balkans including Serbia, is a double-distilled fruit brandy. It is made almost everywhere in the Balkans, from Albania in the south to Romania and Moldova in the north. The alcohol level of most rakias is usually between 40 and 50 percent.

Dont confuse rakia with raki, a Turkish spirit made from grapes or raisins that has an anise flavor profile, similar to ouzo in Greece or sambuca in Italy. Rakia is also not Italian grappa, which is made from the leftover grapes after wine production.



How is Rakia Made?

Rakia is distilled with local fruit, using whatever fruit in the Balkans is most present in a particular region. Along the wine-producing Dalmatian Coast in Croatia, for example, rakia takes the form of loza, a grape brandy that is made from just-plucked grapes. In Serbia, where the plum is prevalent, sljivovica, or slivovitz, is pervasive. It also happens to be the national drink of Serbia.

Rakia can also be made with quince, pear, apricot, apples, raspberries, and cherries, among other fruits. When it comes to the plum variety in particular, rakia can be unaged and transparent; When its barrel aged, it tends to be more flavorful, sophisticated, and smooth, reminiscent of a good cognac.

The fruit is picked and, in the case of plums, de-pitted. Sugar and yeast are added while liquid ferments in steel vats for about two to three weeks. Then the rakia is double distilled in a wood-fired copper still. After it goes back into the vats to rest for six to twelve months where it softens the rakia to make it more pleasant on the palate. And in many cases, theres an extra step: aging it in Serbian oak barrels for five or more years.



How to Drink Rakia

Even though it is typically served in tulip-shaped grappa classes or shot glasses, you shouldnt shoot rakia. This brandy is meant to be sipped, and is often served as an aperitif before meals. If the rakia is aged, let it roll around on your palate to pick up the fruit flavor, as well as the tones of the oak it was aged in. Bartenders in the increasingly great cocktail bar scene in Belgrade also mix it into cocktails. Filip Ivanovic, owner/bartender of Beogradski Koktejl Klub in the Serbian capital, suggests mixing it with other spirits like gin or whiskey in order to moderate the strong taste.

If you find yourself with a full glass of rakia in front of you, raise it high and toast to your drinking companions, saying Ziveli, pronounced zhee-vel-ee.





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Meet Yevgeny Prigozhin, 'Putin's chef' and founder of the brutal Wagner group who admitted that Russia was meddling in the US midterms

Yevgeny Prigozhin is a Russian businessman with close ties to Vladimir Putin.

Prigozhin claimed he founded Wagner, a Russian mercenary group that works closely with the Kremlin.

He also confided to Putin about concerns with the direction of the war in Ukraine, per the WaPo.

Yevgeny Prigozhin was reported to have shared with Vladimir Putin his misgivings about the war in Ukraine, according to The Washington Post.

Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin is shown prior to a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool Photo via AP

As reports of Russia's losses in Ukraine circulated in September, one member of Vladimir Putin's circle expressed misgivings about the Kremlin's management of the war to the president.

On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the confidant was Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, a Russian businessman, restaurateur, and longtime ally of Putin.

Prigozhin denied the report to The Post and said that he "did not criticize the management of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the conflict in Ukraine."

But Prigozhin has previously expressed criticism against the country's military leadership.

When the Chechen Republic's head, Ramazan Kadyrov, called out a Russian commander and senior officers after Russia was forced out of Lyman in Ukraine, Prigozhin echoed those critiques, according to BBC.

Here's what we know about Prigozhin:

Before amassing his wealth, Prigozhin served several years in a Russian penal colony.

Prigozhin on August 9, 2016. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Born on June 1, 1961, in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Russia, Prigozhin was convicted of assault, robbery, and fraud in 1981, according to court documents obtained by Meduza, an independent Russian publication.

He was sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony but was released in nine years around the fall of the Soviet Union.

According to The New York Times, Prigozhin started his foray into the food business soon after his release by opening up a hot dog stand.

He then opened a convenience store before he started a chain of swanky restaurants with a few partners in St. Petersburg. Putin would celebrate his birthday at the dining location, the Times reported.

Story continues

He earned the nickname of 'Putin's chef.'

Prigozhin serves Putin dinner at the Cheval Blanc restaurant outside Moscow, Russia, on November 11, 2011. Misha Japaridze/Pool/Reuters

Prigozhin founded one of his major companies, Concord Catering, in 1996 as he started his restaurant business, Wired reported.

Although not really a chef, according to The Times, he soon earned the nickname of "Putin's chef."

It's unclear when he received the moniker, but over the next decade, Prigozhin's catering business received lucrative government contracts to feed Russia's schools and military, as well as an opportunity to host state banquets.

Concord Catering served at the inaugurations of Dmitri A. Medvedev and Putin, The Times reported.

The state contracts in a span of five years were reported to be worth $3.1 billion, according to an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation that was cited by The Times.

He also heads other companies and financed one that has been accused of meddling with the US election.

Prigozhin at a foreign investors meeting in St. Petersburg in 2016. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

On top of his catering business, Prigozhin is publicly known to have founded Concord Management and Consulting Company and started his own online news service, according to The Times.

A 2018 indictment from the Justice Department also alleged that Prigozhin financed a so-called troll factory known as the Internet Research Agency.

The indictment, which included 12 other Russians and Prigozhin's Concord catering and consulting businesses, alleged that the Internet Research Agency "engaged in operations to interfere with elections and political processes."

The company did so in part by creating "false US personas" and operating social media pages discussing politics and social issues.

Prigozhin previously denied his involvement, but on November 7, he admitted to interfering in Western elections in a post on the Russian social-media site VKontakte.

"We have interfered, we are interfering and we will continue to interfere," Prigozhin said. "Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do."

"During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once," Prigozhin added, alluding to the surgical-like nature of the operation.

He recently claimed that he founded Wagner, a Russian mercenary group, after years of denial.

Prigozhin. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

In September, Prigozhin claimed to be one of the founders of a Russian mercenary group known as Wagner after years of denying involvement with the organization.

"I cleaned the old weapons myself, sorted out the bulletproof vests myself, and found specialists who could help me with this. From that moment, on May 1, 2014, a group of patriots was born, which later came to be called the Wagner Battalion," Prigozhin said through his press service, which confirmed the statement to Reuters.

Wagner was formed in 2014. It is not a legally registered entity and mercenaries are illegal under Russian law, according to The Times. But the group is still often seen as a de-facto private military service for the Kremlin.

According to BBC, Wagner troops were first deployed during Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Wagner also sent soldiers throughout Africa and the Middle East, according to The Times. UN investigators accused the group of committing war crimes in 2021.

More recently, Wagner has aided Putin's invasion of Ukraine. In March, US officials said that at least 1,000 mercenary fighters were deployed to the country.

"We know they're there," John F. Kirby, press secretary for the Pentagon, said in a briefing in March. "And we know that they want to increase their presence there in Ukraine."

Over the decades, the oligarch has earned the ear of Putin.

Prigozhin shows Putin his school lunch factory outside Saint Petersburg on September 20, 2010. ALEXEY DRUZHININ/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Prigozhin has become a confidant to Putin, even in matters of state affairs, after first getting in touch with the Russian leader through his restaurants.

With his presumed control of the Wagner mercenary group, he's also been an influential player during Russia's war in Ukraine, personally voicing his concerns about operations to Putin, according to The Washington Post.

The newspaper reported that a US intelligence report showed that Prigozhin felt that the Russian Defense Ministry depended too much on Wagner and that his organization was not receiving enough funds.

US officials believe that Prigozhin then staged a video depicting Wagner's troops complaining about the lack of resources as a way to pressure Russia to provide more money, The Post reported.

Prigozhin told The Post that he had not seen the referenced video.

Editor's note: This list was first published in October 2022 and has been updated to reflect recent developments.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is advising residents on the west side of Springfield that a mountain lion is currently roaming the area.

The cougar was detected by satellite on the west side Wednesday morning and has remained there for much of the day, mostly sleeping in a secluded area. The detection was made possible by a GPS collar that was attached to the cougar last year by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as part of a research project.

Conservation police and local authorities are currently monitoring the animal's movement and notifying people about the presence of the mountain lion. IDNR is also cooperating with biologists in Nebraska on its continued movements.

More:Theis sworn in as Illinois Supreme Court chief justice amid possible election shake-up

People are asked to leave it alone, as mountain lions are a protected species in Illinois and are illegal to kill unless they pose an imminent threat to person or property.

If they do run into the mountain lion, they are asked to stand tall, wave their arms, throw rocks or yell, while slowly backing away and keeping an eye on the animal.

The mountain lion is expected to leave the area later tonight.

It's the second time in a week that a mountain lion has been detected in Illinois, with a cougar that traveled into northern Illinois being killed by a vehicle on Interstate 88 near DeKalb last weekend.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: State tracking mountain lion on west side of Springfield
Oregonians are not afraid to think differently, which makes out here really out there.

Thats the case with paranormal activity, too  the West Coast is the birthplace for the modern mythos of both Bigfoot and UFOs after all. Those phenomena seemingly collided and combined near Albany in 1959 and 1960 with the Conser Lake Monster of Millersburg.

The creature, described as an abnormally tall humanoid, with white fur and webbed feet, and sometimes with cat-like ears, caused a frenzy. Picture an albino Wookiee sans laser crossbow.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald.

According to a farmers recollection, 100 people at once hunted for the monster, thrashing through thick brush. According to another account, residents were nearly shot when they were mistaken for the beast.

Today, despite slim and sketchy accounts, the Conser Monster still sparks the imagination of those who want to believe.

Regan Lee, a paranormal researcher from Eugene, had hoped to write a book on the creature and said she has letters in her files from residents who remember the incident.

I dont think I ever found anyone who told me they saw this thing, Lee said. Nonetheless, people seem to be moved by it, and the memory stuck with them.

Historical context

Humans are fascinated by monster stories, which exist in nearly every culture on Earth. As far back as there is evidence of writing, theres evidence of people writing about monsters, said Dan Murphy.

Murphy is a senior judge for the Linn County Circuit Court, but hes also a board member and volunteer for the Albany Regional Museum who enjoys historical research.

He was an absolute sucker for Linn Countys very own creature feature, despite scant sources to rely on  and one of them, the Albany Democrat-Herald, being dismissive.

I use the word myth to describe this event, because theres no solid proof that it did happen, and theres no solid proof that it did not happen, Murphy told attendees during the museums History Bites lecture series earlier this month.

The context for Conser Lake Monster was relatively fresh, he added.

In June 1947, pilot Keith Arnold claimed to see nine unidentified flying objects moving in and out of formation near Mt. Rainier in Washington. The term flying saucer was coined using Arnolds descriptions.

There were more and more reports, first in the Puget Sound area, and then around the world, Murphy said.

The concept of Sasquatch or similar beings isnt exactly new, of course. In Nepal, reported sightings of a large, man-like creature known as the abominable snowman or the Yeti date back centuries, and Native Americans had their own legends which they shared with European settlers and explorers.

Theres some evidence that Norse explorer Leif Erickson either saw such a monster or was told of its existence on the East Coast of the United States in 986 A.D., Murphy said.

Native Americans viewed the Bigfoot as a sacred being, though. They had no desire to hurt it, unlike teenagers in Albany, Murphy quipped.

Current Sasquatch sightings stem from a 1958 tongue-in-cheek report by a columnist from the Humboldt Times, Murphy said. That tall tale  now known to be a practical joke created by loggers  received massive attention and became accepted as gospel by some. And Bigfoot tales proliferated.

UFOs, the creature and more

Paranormal categories came together around Millersburg starting in 1959.

Residents claimed a UFO flew or crashed into Conser Lake  actually a small pond located near industrial areas in Millersburg. That story, Murphy said, is difficult to attribute to any one individual.

About the same time, theres another report of a man driving a mint truck through Millersburg who looks in his rearview mirror and sees a large creature, white in color, described as 9-feet tall or even taller, running behind the vehicle and keeping pace at 35 mph.

Like the UFO report, the truck driver is never identified, Murphy said.

In July 1960, teens hear about the incident, decide to search for the monster and bring their rifles along. There was a fair amount of shooting into the brush, Murphy said.

Worried someone would get hurt, Linn County Sheriff George Miller arrived and ordered them to leave.

According to the July 27, 1960, edition of the Democrat-Herald, A group of teenagers said that they had seen a stoop-shouldered creature, nearly seven feet tall, which made eerie noises. The figure was said to have run away when a flashlight was turned on it.

Reports differed on how the figure was dressed, but the witnesses agreed it was ghostly in appearance. No sign was found of the ghostly figure, however.

Once this hit the news, it spread like wildfire, and there were all sorts of sightings for a little while, Murphy said.

People returned to Conser Lake to look for evidence, and some claimed to see footprints. Unfortunately, they didnt take any photos.

Murphy said a writer for the now-defunct Greater Oregon newspaper claimed she was walking along with a psychic  unidentified and therefore impossible to corroborate  and that they encountered the monster, which was very tall and white in color. They also saw large, web-footed tracks in the area.

The psychic could communicate telepathically with the creature, who said his name was Flix and that there were many more like him, but they meant no harm. (Flix acknowledged, however, that he had killed hounds sent into the area to track him.)

Murphy said the UFO sightings helped explain Flixs arrival in the greater Albany area.

Immediately after the reports there was skepticism. The Democrat-Herald published a parody by a "ghost author" that featured the perspective of the persecuted and peace-loving creature.

Miller, interviewed for a 1978 Democrat-Herald story, recalled tomfoolery but plenty of deep concern.

Some of the local residents were genuinely scared. Some people got rather frantic, he said.

He received a plethora of personal calls about the monster, including a 2 a.m. report from a terrified woman who insisted that the beast was prowling around her house. It was a great big dog, Miller told the newspaper.

By 1962, there were no more sightings and the Conser Monster had faded as quickly as a dance craze.

The Democrat-Herald poked fun at the beasts disappearance in a column that year, theorizing he had been lured via generous financial offer to Timber Linn Lake to appear during the height of the Timber Carnival. Or perhaps the creature had married, settled down and was living respectably, putting monstering behind him.

In a 1962 editorial, the Democrat-Herald asserted the monster had been exposed as a hoax, in part because police discovered an illegal moonshine cache, stored in mason jars in the swamp. The UFO and monster stories were designed to scare interlopers away from the liquor, the editorial stated. Instead, the exact opposite occurred.

Where art thou, Conser Lake?

Oddly enough, just like the monster that once allegedly graced its shores, Conser Lake has proved elusive and essentially disappeared. That may be by design.

Matt Straite, community development director for the city of Millersburg, said he looked and looked for Conser Lake due to an article a few years ago, but couldnt find it.

I could not tell you where Conser Lake is. It does not exist anywhere, at least under that name, Straite said.

For fun, Straite once proposed dressing up as Flix for local parades, but the idea was shot down as too whimsical: He is not the official mascot of the city. I tried."

The city of Millersburg has no official position on the existence of the Conser Lake Monster, he added.

Murphy tried to pinpoint the lake during his research but was unsuccessful.

Where is Conser Lake? Its hard to say exactly, he told the audience at History Bites.

There are three of four or five ponds that are east of the Willamette River and west of Interstate 5. Conser Lake is one of those ponds, but I was never able to verify which one it was, Murphy said in a recent interview. A Conser family member, who no longer owns the property, also was not able to identify the lake, he added.

With the help of a longtime local, the intrepid reporter, ahem, yours truly, was able to identify a likely suspect for the pond. A representative of the property owner, when contacted, denied that the water body in question was Conser Lake.

And even if it was, they wouldnt tell anyone, because they wouldnt want kids coming out at Halloween.

Thats probably understandable, Murphy said, given the number of firearms involved with earlier monster reports.

Myth or reality?

Lee said that if the Conser Lake Monster was a fake, it wouldnt be the first time.

I have no idea what Flix was. Ive had a lot of my own experiences, so Im not willing to say its a hoax, Lee added.

She described seeing an orange orb in the sky when she first moved to Eugene in the late 1980s. People can think what they want. Im not lying, Lee said. Such incidents need to be investigated, Lee said.

Murphy said that in the case of UFOs, many sightings have been found to be man-made aircraft or natural phenomena. But he acknowledged at History Bites that a number of UFO accounts have never been adequately explained.

That mystery only adds to the mystique. Once people get enthralled with a story or idea, they have to talk about it more, Murphy said.

Still, in the case of Flix, Murphy remains skeptical, in part because of the lack of evidence, and the first-hand accounts are dubious due to various factors.

I think most of us realize that its probably just a story, Murphy said.
When Janet Folger Porter moved back to Ohio in December 2010, she invited some of her closest friends to her new home in suburban Cleveland.

Her guests sipped coffee, made small talk and shared a breakfast of bacon and eggs. Meanwhile, Porter set up a white board in front of the fireplace. On it, the hostess wrote two words: Heartbeat Bill.

Porters gathering was a business meeting. And Porter, as everyone in the room knew, was in the business of banning abortion.

This is how we can do it, she told her guests.

Porter planned to get a law passed that would ban all abortions in Ohio after about six weeks gestation, when embryonic cardiac activity can be detected. There would be no exceptions for rape or incest.

It represented a bold challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that guaranteed a right to abortion. If Porter's law passed, it also would be one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, an idea so radical that even Ohio Right to Life and the states top Republicans would spend years opposing it.

Faith2Action president Janet Folger Porter speaks in the atrium of the Ohio Statehouse in 2011.

Yet today, the bill is the law of the land in Ohio. Considering the similar bans enacted in 23 other states after the Supreme Court overturned Roe in a 6-3 decision this summer, Porters vision is no longer extreme in the world of Republican politics  its the norm.

The story of how a onetime bellwether state like Ohio led a slow, determined push to steadily weaken and then nearly eliminate abortion rights is in many ways a case study for what has happened around the country. Long before the Supreme Court reversed Roe, anti-abortion activists like Porter recognized that demographic shifts and gerrymandered statehouse districts would entrench Republican majorities and allow them to push abortion restrictions that polls show are unpopular with most Americans.

The consequences came just a month after the Supreme Courts decision, when a 10-year-old rape victim had to leave Ohio for an abortion in Indiana because her pregnancy had gone beyond the six-week limit. Nevertheless, members of Ohios Republican-dominated legislature have pressed forward with plans for a near-total abortion ban either this year or next.

Story continues

We are often viewed as a bellwether, said David Pepper, former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. I think we have become a bellwether in how an out-of-control statehouse can basically destroy your state.

But 12 years ago, as Porter scribbled ideas on the white board, Ohio was a swing state that had gone for Barack Obama and would send a mainstream Republican like Rob Portman and a progressive Democrat like Sherrod Brown to the U.S. Senate. Democrats controlled most statewide offices, including governor.

That Ohio didnt work for Porter, the founder of the right-wing Christian group Faith2Action. She was a longtime culture warrior who opposed gay marriage, promoted false claims questioning Obamas birthplace and compared abortion to the execution of children during the Holocaust.

She was tired of watching fellow Republicans settle for measures such as licensing restrictions for clinics and waiting periods for patients  moves that made it harder, but not impossible, to get abortions.

She said in a recent interview that shes been guided by the words of Martin Luther: If we are not fighting where the battle is hottest, we are traitors to the cause.

She told her houseguests it was time to take on Roe. To succeed, theyd launch what amounted to a decadeslong insurgency, a movement to change Ohio politics from the top down.

Theyd have to start with their own Republican Party. Over time, the fight would become personal, as Porter and her allies adopted tactics that some said were as divisive as they were effective.

"I wanted them to see, these people are crazy. They're not gonna quit," Porter said. We were not gonna give up until this bill became law."

Emboldened GOP allows fetuses to 'testify'

About three months after the gathering at Porters house, she sat in a packed hearing room at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus for a March 2011 hearing. The fetuses were ready to testify.

Two pregnant women would take turns on an ultrasound machine set up in the house chamber so lawmakers could see and hear inside their wombs. The hearing was among the first for the heartbeat bill, which a team of lawyers and activists Porter assembled had written in the weeks following the meeting at her home.

The bill would require people seeking abortions to undergo ultrasounds to detect cardiac activity. If it was there  and it usually was at about six weeks  a doctor who performed an abortion would face criminal charges and up to a year in prison.

Anne Renouf helps string red heart balloons along the south side of the Ohio Statehouse in 2011 in support of the six-week abortion ban, known by supporters as the heartbeat bill.

Democrats, who unanimously opposed the bill, condemned the ultrasound hearing as a shameless stunt.

But there was nothing they could do about it. The Ohio House had flipped to a 59-40 Republican majority after two years of Democratic control. Energized by opposition to the Affordable Care Act and the Tea Partys anti-government agenda, many of the new Republican members had little in common with Ohios moderate Republicans.

This new group of Republican lawmakers helped elect Bill Batchelder  a member of a conservative group of lawmakers known as the "Caveman Caucus"  as speaker of the House, and they were more likely than moderate Republicans to embrace legislation like Porters heartbeat bill.

After Obama, Republicans statewide felt ignored, said Clarence Mingo, an Ohio Republican and former Franklin County official who has pushed back against extremism in his party. The result of that was a shift to hard-right conservative thinking.

Still, the newly remade Ohio GOP was not yet strong enough to impose its will at the statehouse. Some of Porter's fellow Republicans worried the courts would reject her six-week ban as unconstitutional, potentially strengthening Roe instead of weakening it. And they feared moderate voters might object to such strict abortion limitations.

Porter had little patience for Republicans who didnt share her zeal for the cause. Theyre pro-life pretenders, she said. They use babies to get elected instead of using elections to save babies.

As the House opened hearings on her bill, Porter and her team flooded the offices of Republican lawmakers with calls and emails. In the months to come, theyd send them red balloons shaped like hearts, teddy bears that played a heartbeat recording, and more than 2,000 red roses with cards that said, Bring this bill to a vote before the roses and babies die.

But she expected that the fetus testimony would have the greatest impact.

When the hearing began, one of the pregnant women took a seat near a large video screen. She leaned back in the chair, a hospital gown covering her torso, as a nurse ran an ultrasound wand over her belly.

A pregnant Erin Glockner, left, is given an ultrasound by Julie Aber of Ashland Care Center during a committee hearing at the Ohio Statehouse in 2011. Anti-abortion advocates presented live ultrasounds to lawmakers in support of a bill that would outlaw abortion when cardiac activity can be detected.

The lights dimmed and a fuzzy, black and white image of a fetus appeared on the video screen. Someone aimed a laser pointer at the pulsing tissue in the center of the picture.

The hearing room was silent  except for a rapid dub-dub-dub that matched the rhythmic movement on the screen.

Everyone was watching and listening. Porter had a masters degree in communications and had done plenty of public relations work in her career, including for Ohios Republican governor, John Kasich. But shed rarely seen anything grab peoples attention like this. Even a Democratic House member who opposed the bill said the presentation brought back fond memories of her own pregnancy.

Porter was thrilled.

What we saw today was the beating hearts of these babies, she told reporters after the hearing.

To save those babies, she said, lawmakers needed to pass her bill.

She felt certain it was just a matter of time.

Clinic lawyer fears Ohio's turn to the right

A week later, civil rights lawyer Al Gerhardstein walked into the same hearing room to deliver a different message.

A Cincinnati resident whod spent much of his career defending abortion clinics, Gerhardstein knew Porters six-week ban violated the constitutional standard set by Roe. He also knew that was the point.

This was Ohio, after all, the birthplace of Right to Life and a frequent testing ground for anti-abortion legislation.

Cincinnati attorney Al Gerhardstein has spent much of his career fighting in court against Ohio abortion restrictions.

For years, Gerhardstein had watched activists like Porter chip away at Roe in Ohios legislature and courtrooms, imposing rules like 24-hour waiting periods, mandatory ultrasounds and limits on the use of pills to induce abortion.

This death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach was the brainchild of John and Barbara Willke, a Cincinnati couple who founded the nations first Right to Life chapter in the late 1960s. The Willkes werent firebrands like Porter. They were devout Catholic grandparents who lectured college students about abstinence, went on "Donahue" to talk about fetal development and came up with billboard slogans like Abortion stops a beating heart.

John and Barbara Willke, founders of Cincinnati Right to Life, in 2000.

But the Willkes, who mentored Porter when she was a budding activist in college, also worked behind the scenes, writing anti-abortion laws and lobbying politicians to pass them. Their mission was to keep up a steady attack on Roe  one voter, one law, one court ruling at a time.

It was a brilliant strategy, Gerhardstein said.

While he respected the Willkes approach, Gerhardstein fought them at every turn, representing Planned Parenthood and other abortion clinic operators. To him, the clinics were more than clients. They were on the front lines of a battle to protect a womans right to make decisions about her own health and body.

Born and raised Catholic, Gerhardstein appreciated the religious and moral objections to abortion, especially among Catholics who formed the vanguard of the early Right to Life movement.

Yet he also felt the government shouldnt impose those beliefs on millions of women who wanted for themselves something different.

Before his first case involving an abortion clinic in the 1980s, Gerhardstein called his mother, Carolyn, who had worked for years in Catholic hospitals as an obstetrics and gynecology nurse. He asked how she felt about him taking on the case.

He said she told him she was glad he was doing it. Shed seen many patients, before Roe, whod been victims of botched abortions theyd attempted on their own or with unqualified practitioners. By the time some got to the hospital, they were in terrible shape.

It wasnt about some abstract right, Gerhardstein said of how his mother viewed the abortion debate. It was about what she saw.

Activists like Porter were aggressively going after that right. Even John and Barbara Willke, who died in 2015 and 2013, respectively, abandoned their incremental approach and supported Porters push for a six-week ban years before Right to Life and others would follow suit.

Right to Life founder Jack Willke, left, with Faith2Action President Janet Porter in the atrium of the Ohio Statehouse in 2011.

Gerhardstein saw the rationale behind the shift. Ohio was moving to the right. Republicans now controlled not only the statehouse, but the redistricting process that would allow them to gerrymander districts and tighten their grip on power. The heartbeat bill, Gerhardstein believed, showed that Republicans planned to use that power to topple Roe at the Supreme Court.

This was the final plunge, he said. It was a direct attempt to challenge the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade.

Gerhardstein began his testimony at the hearing in 2011 by warning lawmakers the bill they were considering was unconstitutional. But he also urged them to think about the consequences if the heartbeat bill ever became law and Roe one day fell.

It would strip away a womans right to follow her doctors advice, he said, or even to follow her conscience. It would replace her judgment with theirs.

Trust women to make their decisions, Gerhardstein said.

A moderate pushes back on 'no exceptions'

When Stephanie Kunze came to Columbus as a freshman member of the Ohio House in 2013, the heartbeat bill was stuck. It had passed the House two years earlier, but thats as far as it got.

Republicans in the Ohio Senate refused to bring it to a vote, and Gov. Kasich said hed veto the bill if it ever reached his desk. They said the bill wouldnt survive a court challenge and would mire the state in costly litigation for years.

Sen. Stephanie Kunze drops off campaign literature in suburban Columbus during her 2020 reelection bid.

Kunze, a Republican from suburban Columbus, who describes herself as pro-life with exceptions, had her own problems with Porters bill  mainly the lack of exceptions for rape, incest or serious fetal abnormalities. It was, she said, an impractical way to legislate something thats important to families and women.

Kunze, the mother of two daughters, was passionate about curbing infant mortality and advocating for survivors of sexual violence. But when she arrived at the statehouse, the heartbeat bill was getting most of the attention.

Porter was lobbying hard for another vote in the House so she could try again to get the Senate and Kasich on board. She had enough votes to win, but not enough to override a Kasich veto.

That increased pressure on moderate Republicans like Kunze. Without getting them on board, Porters bill couldnt get past the governor.

Most of Kunzes Republican colleagues in the House didnt share her concerns about the bill and were in no mood to compromise.

After the 2012 elections, they didnt have to.

While Kunzes House district was politically competitive, redistricting had placed many of her fellow Republicans in safe districts, where primary elections were the only elections that mattered. In those districts, voters who represented the activist wing of the Republican party often rewarded politicians for stances that once seemed radical.

Extreme gerrymandering is so toxic, said Kathleen Clyde, a Democrat who served in the House from 2011 to 2018. It gives legislative leaders this outsized view of their own place in our government and of their own power.

But there was little Democrats could do. Republicans controlled the redistricting process, and now those same Republicans were dealing with a new political dynamic: Ohios most consequential legislative battles no longer were being fought by Democrats and Republicans, but by conservative Republicans and more-conservative Republicans.

Those fights intensified as Republican lawmakers debated Kasichs 2013 budget, clashing on issues from Medicaid expansion to a new oil tax. They then packed several new abortion restrictions into the budget late in the process, with no time for public input.

One measure required abortion providers to perform ultrasounds and predict the fetus likelihood of surviving to full term.

Ruth Clevenger waves an American flag during a protest at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus in 2013. The rally was organized to draw attention to legislation that will affect Ohio laws dealing with women's health care.

Abortion rights activists erupted. They swarmed the statehouse, shouting, Shame on you! as Republican lawmakers approved the abortion measures. They then bombarded Kasichs office with 17,000 letters urging him to veto them.

The governor let the new restrictions stand, giving abortion hard-liners almost everything they wanted. Kunze, who voted for the budget, called it one of the most pro-life budgets in state history.

But it didnt include the heartbeat bill.

That meant Porter and her allies soon would be back, trying again to flip moderate Republicans to secure a veto-proof majority.

Porter made a list. And Kunzes name was on it.

Turning up the pressure: No more 'Mr. Nice Guy'

The way Porter saw it, Republicans were wasting an opportunity. By early 2015, they held lopsided majorities in both the Ohio House and Senate, and voters had overwhelmingly sent Kasich back to the governors office for a second term. They could do what they wanted.

Yet Senate President Keith Faber wouldnt bring her heartbeat bill to a vote; Kasich still vowed not to sign it; and Ohio Right to Life still wouldnt get behind it.

Porter was sick of it. These Republicans had been running for years on anti-abortion platforms. They were, in Porters view, hypocrites and liars. No better than Democrats, who at least didnt pretend to be on her side.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich smiles while signing the new two-year state budget during a ceremony at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus in 2013.

She and her top lieutenant, Lori Viars, decided to get tougher.

Playing Mr. Nice Guy wasnt helping, Viars said. We had to make their lives miserable.

Republicans who didnt back the bill, like Kunze and Kasich, found themselves on online lists under the headline, Meet the Republicans responsible for abortion in Ohio.

Direct mail campaigns featuring photos of rhinos accused them of being RINOs, or Republicans In Name Only. Television ads and emails lampooned them, and their voicemail boxes filled with messages from Porters allies. Some faced primary challenges from candidates Porter endorsed.

Porter had helped make strict abortion restrictions a fundamental principle of Ohios Republican Party, and accusations of being insufficiently anti-abortion could be fatal in a GOP primary.

Every Republican lawmaker in the state can tell you who is their Right to Life group in their district, said Aaron Baer, president of the Center for Christian Virtue.

The primary challenges may have been Porters most effective weapon. Over several election cycles, she rounded up candidates to run at least a dozen times against members of the House and Senate in Republican primaries.

When she couldnt find someone to run in the primary against Republican State Senator Larry Obhof in 2016, Porter did it herself.

Neither she nor her endorsed candidates ever won, but that wasnt the only goal. The real purpose, Porter said, was to make abortion a campaign issue and to force Republicans to spend cash to defend seats they thought were safe because of redistricting.

They hate working to keep their job, Porter said. We made them pay for their inaction.

She also did her best to embarrass them. Her most creative attack was a 2014 TV ad that took aim at Kasich, Faber and Batchelder, who at the time was reluctant to bring the heartbeat bill up for another vote in the House.

In the ad, the three most powerful Republicans in Ohio appeared as cartoon figures unwilling to prevent the states 20,000 annual abortions.

We regulate how and where we kill babies, said the cartoon Batchelder.

Yes, said the cartoon Faber, now we only kill a stadium full of Ohio children each year!

Then all three cartoon politicians looked on happily as school buses filled with children  meant to symbolize the number of abortions performed in Ohio each day  drove off a cliff and burst into flames.

Not long after the ad ran, Porter met with a friend whod recently chatted with a House member. The lawmaker said hed always be willing to put Porters bill up for a vote.

Because I dont want a cartoon made of me, the lawmaker said.

Tactics create divide in anti-abortion movement

By early 2016, Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis had been saying the same thing about the heartbeat bill for five years: It was a good idea, but the timing wasnt right.

He knew this made Porter and her allies unhappy, because they told him so at every opportunity. He also knew his stance put him and Right to Life in an awkward spot, because arguing against a bill that would end most abortions wasnt the kind of thing anti-abortion activists usually did.

I understand the passion to want to end abortion, Gonidakis said. I want to end it yesterday.

Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis, pictured in 2022 at the Ohio Statehouse, played a central role in reshaping abortion access in Ohio for more than a decade.

The problem wasnt the bill, he said. The Supreme Court in 2016 still had a slim majority that could be counted on to uphold Roe. Gonidakis feared a defeat at the Supreme Court would further affirm Roe, making it even harder to overcome.

Hed seen it happen before, in 1992, with Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Activists hoped it would end Roe. Instead, the court upheld the right to abortion and ruled states could not create an undue burden preventing someone from obtaining an abortion.

At the end of the day, Gonidakis said, nine men and women get to make the decision on this.

After five years of debate, Gonidakis and Porter had come to represent a growing divide within Ohios anti-abortion movement, a divide created in part by the heartbeat bill.

Porter was the outsider who saw little room for compromise, an insurgent who would rather storm the palace gates than petition for change. Gonidakis was the insider, the steady hand who wanted to move cautiously and change the system from within.

After working as a lawyer, a campaign manager and a lobbyist, Gonidakis understood the system better than most. Hed run the political campaigns of two Ohio Supreme Court justices and served as a top deputy to former Republican Attorney General Jim Petro.

Hed also been appointed by Kasich to one of three seats on the states medical board not held by a doctor, a position that gave him influence over the way Ohios abortion restrictions were enforced.

Gonidakis said he and Porter were working toward the same goal, just in different ways.

Porter caused division in the movement, Gonidakis said. We just didnt believe in vilifying other pro-life people like she did. She made no friends in her approach.

As 2016 ended, though, Gonidakis and Porter found common ground in Donald Trumps surprising win over Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, a win he secured by flipping Midwestern states like Ohio. Trumps victory was the biggest of any president in Ohio since George H.W. Bushs election in 1988.

No matter which side theyd been on in the fight over the heartbeat bill, anti-abortion activists celebrated. Trump immediately would nominate an anti-abortion justice for a seat Republicans had refused to let Obama fill. And if more nominees followed, the court soon could overturn Roe and clear the way for Ohios six-week ban.

Trump transforms courts: 'It is within our grasp'

Theres a man goin round, takin names

And he decides who to free and who to blame

A band played "The Man Comes Around"  a Johnny Cash song about the fate of mankind on Judgment Day  at Cincinnati Right to Lifes annual dinner in October 2018.

It felt like a victory party. The emcee praised anti-abortion activists as patriots. A Catholic priest led a prayer thanking God for Donald Trump and his Supreme Court nominees.

Meg DeBlase, then the director of Right to Life in Cincinnati, shared the crowds enthusiasm. Porters six-week abortion ban had passed the Ohio House and Senate. In a few weeks, Kasich would likely be replaced by a new Republican governor, Mike DeWine, who had pledged to sign the bill into law as soon as it landed on his desk.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine greets a young attendee during the Greater Columbus Right to Life remembrance of Roe v. Wade at the Ohio Statehouse in 2019.

Ohio Right to Life was behind the bill now, too. Trump was making good on his promise to fill the court with conservative justices, improving the bills prospects and giving activists hope that Roe could be overturned.

DeBlase had been involved in the anti-abortion movement since she was a child. She went to the National March for Life in Washington with her parents and prayed often with protesters outside Cincinnatis Planned Parenthood clinic.

She sensed the movement had more momentum than ever. The number of abortion clinics in Ohio had fallen from 16 to 11 in just eight years, as Republican-backed abortion restrictions had made it increasingly difficult for clinics to operate.

For DeBlase and the others who attended the dinner in 2018, a total ban on abortions felt like a real possibility.

Just think about it, DeBlase told the crowd when she took the stage. It is within our grasp.

Tightening rules burden clinics and patients

Dr. David Burkons needed a better way to treat his patients.

He was struggling in early 2021 to comply with the array of rules the state had imposed on his three abortion clinics in northern Ohio. Even though Porters six-week ban was still tied up in court, the existing regulations often felt overwhelming.

Few frustrated him more than the rules dictating how his patients could receive abortion-inducing pills.

The treatment was safe and effective early in pregnancy. But Ohio law required patients to visit clinics in person, undergo an ultrasound, sign consent forms, receive a booklet about adoption, wait another 24 hours and then return to the clinic to receive the pills.

Those rules were part of the incremental change strategy the Willkes adopted at Right to Life decades earlier. Such requirements buried clinics in bureaucracy and confused patients, so much so that, by 2019, a survey found that one in 10 women in Ohio thought abortion was illegal.

Burkons didnt consider the rules medically necessary. The real goal, he believed, was to make it as difficult as possible to get abortions.

Hed been dealing with this sort of thing since graduating medical school in 1973, the same year of the Roe decision. Burkons performed abortions as part of his gynecology practice and later at his three clinics in northern Ohio.

In the years that followed, Ohio became one of the most prolific producers of anti-abortion legislation in the nation, with more than a dozen rules and restrictions covering patient care, insurance, licensing and other matters.

They kept passing rules that really had nothing to do with patient safety, Burkons said.

He considered rules governing abortion-inducing pills especially onerous. Some patients drove for hours to see him, leaving behind jobs and kids. If they missed the appointments, they risked getting so far into their pregnancies theyd need surgical abortions.

Then inspiration struck. Burkons bought lockboxes  like the ones real estate agents use to hold house keys  and put the pills inside them. He gave the boxes to his patients and told them to call the next day after the 24-hour waiting period had passed. He would then provide the code needed to open the boxes so they could take their pills without making another trip to the clinic.

But Burkons knew more obstacles would come. By the end of 2021, President Trumps three nominees to the Supreme Court had shifted the courts balance so far to the right that he feared Roe could fall.

If it did, Ohios six-week ban on abortion almost certainly would go into effect. Lockboxes would no longer be enough.

After Roe falls, a 10-year-old must leave Ohio

A few days after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, a 10-year-old girl from Ohio became a cautionary tale for life in a post-Roe America.

Shed been impregnated by her rapist and sought an abortion. But at just over six weeks, she was beyond the limit imposed by Porters heartbeat bill. She and her family traveled to Indiana for treatment.

Abortion rights activists made her case a rallying cry, and President Joe Biden lamented the cruelty of Ohios law, which went into effect now that Roe had been overturned. Republicans, meanwhile, questioned the girls story and suggested that journalists made the whole thing up.

Another lie, tweeted Jim Jordan, a U.S. congressman from north-central Ohio.

There is not a damn scintilla of evidence, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.

The girls tragic story was confirmed days later, when the man accused of raping her appeared in court.

Porter maintained that her heartbeat bill had produced a desired outcome.

"We punish rapists, not babies, she said. There's no reason to execute an innocent child for the crime of her father."

Porter noted that Ohios six-week ban allows exceptions if the womans life is in danger, but some have questioned how those exceptions would be approved and whether a 10-year-old could get one.

Lost in the uproar over this one girls case was the fate of hundreds of others whose lives had been upended by the fall of Roe and the imposition of Ohios six-week abortion ban.

After years of worrying about the threat to Roe, abortion providers struggled to adapt to an America without it. Its not theoretical anymore, said Catherine Romanos, a doctor at a Dayton clinic.

Clinics had to cancel scheduled abortions with barely a days notice. Women scrambled to find alternatives. Burkons said he had to cancel a scheduled abortion for a 15-year-old girl whod come with her mother to his clinic the previous week. She was 13 weeks pregnant. He never heard from her again.

Hes also unsure what happened to many of the patents whod left his office with abortion-inducing pills in lockboxes the day before Ohios ban went into effect. If they were more than six weeks pregnant, Burkons wasnt allowed to give them the codes to unlock their boxes the next day.

Some begged for the numbers, he said, but he couldnt help. Ohios new law wouldnt allow it.

Burkons said many of the lockboxes that were supposed to be mailed back to him never arrived.

I have a feeling there were people who took hammers and chisels to the boxes, he said.

Not done yet: Republicans consider a total ban

Today, almost four months after the fall of Roe, Ohio remains a bellwether in the nations abortion wars.

The states six-week abortion ban, still known to many as the heartbeat bill, is again tied up in court. A common pleas judge in Cincinnati halted enforcement in September, saying Ohios constitution may protect health care decisions like abortion. Yost, the state attorney general, is appealing that decision.

Mari Schoen hugs a fellow supporter as they celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbus in June.

In the days after Roe was overturned, Ohio Republicans began discussing the possibility of a total ban on abortions in Ohio. Critics of the Supreme Court's decision warned of harsher action to come and decried Justice Clarence Thomas's concurring opinion, which seemed to raise the possibility that same-sex marriage and access to contraception could be banned under the same legal principle that toppled Roe.

More recently, with the midterm elections looming, Republican politicians on the ballot have largely stayed silent on abortion restrictions. Polls show most Americans  and most Ohioans  oppose restrictions like Ohios six-week ban.

Not all conservatives are hesitant to talk, though. Porter continues to speak about the need for tougher abortion laws, while also promoting conspiracy theories about a stolen 2020 election and that Trump remains the real and rightful president.

At the Christian Patriot Rally in Houston in September, Porter spoke in front of a video screen that displayed giant, side-by-side photos of President Biden and Adolf Hitler.

For Porter, though, the political fights always are in service of her primary mission.

Theres nothing that compares with the importance of that issue, she said of banning abortions.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe, Porter threw a party in the same house where she and her guests conceived the heartbeat bill more than a decade earlier.

A celebratory banner still hangs on the wall: Roe is dead. Babies will live. Thank you, Jesus.

But the excitement that day wasnt just about the Supreme Courts ruling. It was about what comes next.

In Ohio, anything seemed possible.

This story includes previous reporting by The Columbus Dispatch, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Associated Press.

Dan Horn is a reporter for The Cincinnati Enquirer and the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at dhorn@enquirer.com or on Twitter @danhornnews. Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. She can be reached at hbemiller@dispatch.com or on Twitter @haleybemiller.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio abortion law started as a fringe idea. Post-Roe, its reality.
This article originally appeared on Outside

As an outdoor customer, have you ever wanted to attend an industry trade show to get sneak peeks at all the gear coming out next season? Soon, you'll be able to. The Big Gear Show (BGS), the exclusive hardgoods-only event created in 2020, is attempting to reinvent and revitalize the outdoor trade show model by inviting the public next June.

Moving from its former open-air location in Park City, Utah, to the Convention Center in downtown Denver, Colorado, the June 8-11 show will include two days of events for industry buyers and vetted outdoor media, and two days of a "first-of-its-kind" consumer festival, where anyone is invited to get an up-close look at new gear coming to market.

The consumer portion will not involve sales, but rather an "educational and experiential opportunity for those looking to learn and try before they buy," according to the BGS website. Consumers tickets have not been released yet, but show director Kenji Haroutunian said they'll go on sale in early 2023.

BGS is calling the event "business-to-business-to-consumer." Said Haroutunian, "Our ethos has always been to embrace both retailers and consumers, and we feel like now is the time to bring our industry to where the people are."

Haroutunian said that when his team developed the show in 2020, they envisioned it taking place in an accessible city center like downtown Denver. The pandemic necessitated moving it outdoors and staging it in an open-air format without consumers, but now, with Utah in the rearview, the show is poised to become what its creators had in mind all along.

In addition to the move, BGS is also joining forces with its sister event, (e)revolution, an e-bike trade show, to better serve buyers and consumers reluctant to fill their calendars with multiple events that require travel.

At last year's Big Gear Show in Park City, one point was repeated by many attendees: it was well run and enjoyable, but too few buyers showed up to make it worthwhile for many sellers. It wasn't entirely an unexpected challenge. During the pandemic, outdoor gear manufacturers and wholesale buyers learned to do business remotely, signing deals and creating new partnerships without hassle, time, and money spent attending trade shows.

Story continues

Despite the new way of doing business, however, shows are still relevant for in-person camaraderie and a celebration of outdoor culture, according to Haroutunian. By inviting consumers to BGS, he hopes to re-inject some value into a decidedly old-school style of event.

"So much buying has moved to digital, and brands have added studios and other measures to present their products to buyers remotely," Haroutunian said. "That said, nothing can replace a face-to-face interaction, especially in an industry that's as close as the outdoor industry. We don't want to lose that, and by inviting consumers to experience these interactions now add new dynamics for everyone."

Moving the show to Denver will also make it accessible to a larger audience. The Denver metro area is home to nearly three million people, and represents one of the most active outdoor populations in the country. The new show will be especially impactful after Outdoor Retailer moves from Denver back to its original home in Salt Lake City next year.

"The outdoor industry is a big part of our thriving economy, creating good-paying jobs, supporting our small businesses across the state, and connecting people to our world-class outdoors," Colorado governor Jared Polis said after the news was announced. "As a businessperson, I am excited about the opportunity that the Big Gear Show presents for our entrepreneurs and for our state."

As for attendance, Haroutunian is optimistic. June is a prime buying window for retailers. For that reason alone, more buyers are expected at the 2023 BGS than attended last year's late-August staging, when many season orders were already placed.

"We recognize early June is a busy time for the industry," Haroutunian said. "But we feel there is no better time than June to gather and kick off the summer recreation season."

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.
Lucy Studey accused her father of killing between 50 and 70 women that he came across in Omaha, Nebraska. Google Maps

A woman claimed that her now-deceased father killed between 50 and 70 women during his lifetime.

She added that she and her siblings were forced to move the bodies and help bury them.

Human remains have not yet been uncovered, but authorities will continue to investigate.

An Iowa woman claimed that her now-deceased father killed between 50 and 70 women over a three-decade span, prompting a police investigation, Newsweek reported Saturday.

"My father was a lifelong criminal and murderer," Lucy Studey told the outlet, continuing an accusation against her father, Donald Dean Studey, that she says she's been making for 45 years.

Lucy Studey said most of her father's victims were dark-haired white women in their 20s or 30s  with the exception of a victim who was a 15-year-old runaway. She added that the majority of the women were either sex workers or visitors that he came across in Omaha, Nebraska.

Lucy Studey said he killed the victims by shooting them, stabbing them, or smashing their heads in.

"No one would listen to me," she told Newsweek, saying she went to her teacher and local authorities regarding her father's alleged crimes. "The teacher said family matters should be handled as a family, and law enforcement has said they couldn't trust the memory of a child. I was just a kid then, but I remember it all."

Lucy Studey told the outlet that her father, who died in 2013, would have her and her siblings move the bodies in a wheelbarrow or a toboggan before he would dump them in a 90- to-100-foot well on their five-acre property in Thurman, Iowa, a city with a population of 164 people about 40 miles away from Omaha, according to the 2021 United States Census Bureau.

"He would just tell us we had to go to the well, and I knew what that meant," she told Newsweek. "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."

Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation, the Fremont County Sheriff's Department, the Omaha Police Department, and the Omaha division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation are involved in the case and the search for remains following Lucy Studey's accusations against her late father.

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"I don't feel anything for my father. Nothing at all," she told Newsweek. "I wanted justice when my father was alive, but he's gone. I just want for the families some closure and a proper burial."

On October 21, authorities began searching the area with two cadaver dogs that picked up on multiple locations in the area where remains may have been buried, according to USA Today.

"I really think there's bones there," Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope told Newsweek. "It's hard for me to believe that two dogs would hit in the exact same places and be false. We don't know what it is. The settlers were up there. There was Indian Country up there as well, but I tend to believe Lucy."

Aistrope added: "Right now, we don't even have a bone. According to the dogs, this is a very large burial site."

If authorities find the accusations to be true, Donald Dean Studey would be among some of the most prolific serial killers in the US, including Samuel Little, who was confirmed to have killed over 60 people.

In a statement to Insider, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said the investigation "is in the infancy stages with a lot of work to be completed. There is nothing more that will be released at this time."

"She's made these claims to the office and we're looking into it," Fremont County Sheriff's Sgt. Andrew Wake told NBC News. "We're trying to gather information to establish credibility and see if we can get evidence if there are bodies buried there or not."

Lucy Studey's sister Susan, however, denied the accusations that her father was a serial killer, suggesting the cadaver dogs had detected animal bones or the remains of their stillborn sister. However, cadaver dogs are trained to find human remains and places where human remains once were.

The FBI and the Fremont County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Insider sent comments for request to contact information appearing to belong to Lucy and Susan Studey.

Read the original article on Insider
President Joe Biden will visit Syracuse on Thursday to celebrate a $100 billion commitment from Micron to build a massive semiconductor hub in the area, which is estimated to bring thousands of jobs to Central New York.

This story will be updated live throughout the day as the president arrives and makes remarks.

President Joe Biden speaks at an IBM facility in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.

When, where is the Biden visit?

The president is scheduled to make remarks at around 3:30 p.m. at Onondaga Community College's SRC Arena. Classes have been canceled for the day at the college.

Biden visit expected to cause traffic delays

Drivers planning to use Interstate-81 and Interstate-690 in the Syracuse area Thursday afternoon should expect delays, New York State Trooper Jack Keller said Thursday.

Other roads may be closed or affected by the president's visit, but authorities cannot release exact locations and times for security reasons, he added.

What does Micron plan to build in Syracuse?

The Micron semiconductor facility, announced earlier this month, will be built in Clay, a suburb northwest of Syracuse.

The Boise, Idaho-based company manufactures chips for computer memory and storage uses, like memory cards and solid state drives.

USA Today Network

It is slated to begin construction on the Syracuse facility in 2024.

Micron expects to create as many as 9,000 jobs at the semiconductor hub over the next 20 years. In addition to those employees, the project is expected to create 40,000 additional jobs in construction labor, suppliers, contractors and other supporting roles.

Was Biden recently in New York?

Biden visited an IBM facility near Poughkeepsie in early October as the company announced a $20 billion investment in its sites in Poughkeepsie, Yorktown and Albany. The Poughkeepsie-area facility is the global companys hub for mainframe development and quantum computing, though IBMs footprint in Dutchess County has decreased in recent decades.

Both the Micron deal and the IBM funding are related to the CHIPS and Science Act, a federal measure signed by Biden in August that is meant to bolster manufacturing and spur on research and development in the semiconductor sector.

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Syracuse prepares for Bidens arrival

The stage is set for President Bidens arrival at Onondaga Community Colleges SRC Arena and Events Center near Syracuse.

Red, white and blue banners hang on the stage, emblazoned with the phrase A future made in America.

Press personnel and other attendees are arriving at the arena. The president's remarks will begin at 3:30 p.m.

Biden to discuss plan for economy

Bidens remarks in Syracuse will contrast his economic vision with that of Congressional Republicans, according to a White House spokesperson.

Biden and his administration have spoken of a future that will revitalize manufacturing jobs in the U.S., through legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act, which will fund research, development and manufacturing of semiconductors on U.S. soil.

The president will be joined at the event by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus.

Biden expected to land in Syracuse within the hour

Air Force One, with President Biden and his staff aboard, is expected to land at Syracuse Hancock International Airport around 1:50 p.m., according to a schedule released Thursday by the White House.

He will make his way from there to Onondaga Community College later Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, security removed two protesters from the SRC Arena area on the OCC campus to a free speech area of the campus quad, a Syracuse.com reporter tweeted.

Biden arrives in Syracuse

Air Force One touched down at Syracuse Hancock International Airport at around 2:05 p.m.

Biden deboarded the aircraft with Rep. Katko and others, and greeted Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Sen. Gillibrand, Majority Leader Schumer and Gov. Hochul.

He spoke with Hochul, Gillibrand and Schumer for a few minutes before leaving to head to Onondaga Community College around 2:20 p.m.

The scene at Onondaga Community College's SRC Arena awaiting the arrival of President Joe Biden on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022.

Micron VP Manish Bhatia explains why company chose Syracuse area

Microns Executive Vice President of Global Operations Manish Bhatia spoke at OCC prior to Bidens arrival, saying that New Yorks strong education system, resources and green energy played into Microns decision to locate in Clay.

Micron one of several semiconductor efforts around US

This summer, officials broke ground on a $20 billion Intel semiconductor plant in Ohio, and earlier this month, Biden visited IBM in Poughkeepsie to tout the companys $20 billion investment in semiconductor production and advanced technology development in the Hudson Valley.

Semiconductors help convert power from a standard outlet into the electricity needed for any given electronic device. Theyre found in many everyday devices, from smartphones to appliances to vehicles.

Micron manufactures chips for computer memory and storage uses, like memory cards and solid state drives.

President Joe Biden takes the stage at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y., on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. He was there to tout Micron Technology's commitment to invest $100 billion in a Syracuse area semiconductor facility.

Biden begins speech

President Biden mounted the stage at the SRC Arena to applause. He started with several references to the area, where he attended the College of Law at Syracuse University, earning a degree in 1968.

"We're here to celebrate one of the most significant investments in American history, and it's going to ensure that the future is made in America," he said, pivoting to touting the future Micron facility in the area. "It's part of a broader story of the economy we're building that will work for everyone."

Biden sees growth in manufacturing in US

Biden painted a rosy picture of the jobs the semiconductor sector, and other manufacturing industries, could bring to U.S. residents.

"I've never been more optimistic about America's future," he said, adding that he feels pride when he thinks of the younger generation. Where is it written the United States of America cant be the manufacturing capital of the world?

President Joe Biden takes the stage at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, N.Y., on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. He was there to tout Micron Technology's commitment to invest $100 billion in a Syracuse area semiconductor facility.

Schumer: 'You've changed Syracuse's history forever'

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., spoke after President Biden, and imagined the legacy Micron will leave for Syracuse-area residents, from the working dad to the little girl who wants to be an engineer someday.

The chips that power nearly every aspect of our daily lives will be made in America, by upstate New Yorkers, Schumer said. So yes, Syracuse has always been part of President Bidens history, but now, thanks to the presidents leadership, Mr. President, you have changed Syracuses history forever.

Micron CEO: Chips made in Syracuse will be used 'all over the world'

Sanjay Mehrotra, CEO of Micron Technology, credited Bidens work on the CHIPS and Science Act with helping to bring Micron to upstate New York.

We wouldnt be here today without (Biden's) vision and leadership on the CHIPS act, Mehrotra said. The people of Clay and this region can take pride, that what they make here will be used all over the world.

When fully built, the facility and others like it will build nearly four billion chips a year, he said, holding up a tiny chip at the podium that will contain billions of bits of information, he added.

The ability to use voice-to-text technology on your smartphone, advanced safety features in your car and precise medical imaging in doctors offices depend on fast and accurate data, he said.

Work in the memory space makes access to data easy, and therefore it is at the heart of all of these technology applications today, he said. We are the clear technology leader in memory, and were now bringing that leadership in technology and manufacturing excellence to right here, in Clay, New York.

Biden finishes event in Syracuse

Biden wrapped up his event in Syracuse at around 5:30, thanking the crowd as he left the stage. He shook hands with people in the room, snapping a few selfies with a few of them on his way out.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: President Biden visits Syracuse for Micron investment. Live updates
By Jonathan Landay

FRONTLINES NORTH OF KHERSON, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russia said on Friday it had finished calling up reservists to fight in Ukraine, having drafted hundreds of thousands in a month and sending more than a quarter of them already to the battlefield after a divisive mobilisation campaign that was its first since World War Two.

The United States, meanwhile, announced it would send another $275 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including arms, munitions and equipment from Pentagon inventories, bringing U.S. military assistance to the country under the Biden administration to more than $18.5 billion

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was working to provide Ukraine with air defence capabilities it needs, with two initial sophisticated anti-aircraft NASAMS ready for delivery to the country next month.

He said the United States was also working with allies and partners to enable delivery of their own air defence systems to Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he doubted Moscow was finished calling up soldiers.

In his nightly televised address, he said Russian forces "are so poorly prepared and equipped, so brutally used by their command, that it allows us to presume that very soon Russia may need a new wave of people to send to the war."

The divisive mobilisation drive has seen tens of thousands of men flee the country and gave rise to the first sustained public protests against the war.

"The task set by you of (mobilising) 300,000 people has been completed. No further measures are planned," Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told President Vladimir Putin at a televised meeting in the Kremlin. He said 82,000 had already been sent to the combat zone and the rest were training.

Putin thanked reservists "for their dedication to duty, for their patriotism, for their firm determination to defend our country, to defend Russia, which means their home, their family, our citizens, our people."

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Both men acknowledged "problems" in the early days of the call-up. Shoigu said initial issues in supplying newly mobilised troops had since been resolved. Putin said mistakes had probably been inevitable as Russia had not carried out a mobilisation for such a long time, but that lessons had been learned.

The mobilisation Putin ordered last month after his forces suffered major battlefield setbacks was the first time most Russians faced a direct personal impact from the "special military operation" he launched in February.

More than 2,000 people were arrested in anti-mobilisation protests, notably in parts of Russia populated by ethnic minorities who complained they were being disproportionately targeted to be sent to the front.

ESCALATION

Putin ordered the call-up when he endorsed plans to annex Ukrainian lands. The West describes those moves as an escalation in response to battlefield setbacks that showed Russia was on course to lose the war.

Western military analysts have said the call-up could help ease Moscow's shortages of manpower along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front line, but the draft's military value will depend on whether Moscow can properly equip and train the reservists.

Meanwhile, Kyiv has continued to make gains. Serhiy Gaidai, the Ukrainian governor of Luhansk province, said on Friday Ukrainian troops had practically gained full control of an important road connecting Svatove and Kreminna, major towns seen as the next big battle front in the east. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.

In the south, Ukrainian forces have advanced this month towards Kherson, the biggest city Russia has captured intact since its February invasion. It is at the mouth of the wide Dnipro River that bisects Ukraine and the surrounding region controls land approaches to Crimea, which Moscow has held since 2014.

The Ukrainian advance appears to have slowed in recent days, however, with Kyiv blaming poor weather and tough terrain.

Troops dug into muddy trench lines north of the city exchanged rocket, mortar and artillery fire.

Ukrainian soldiers manning a 120 mm mortar hidden in bushes loosed high explosive rounds in thundering bursts of flame at Russian positions around a grain silo less than a kilometre away.

Hennadyi, 51, said the Russians were using the silo for cover and observation. It poked like a finger above a vast expanse of fields, a column of smoke floating behind it.

Hennadyi said Ukrainian gunners were targeting Russian armoured vehicles and ammunition behind the silo and avoiding hitting the structure itself because of its importance to the agricultural region. But they did not have enough shells, he said.

"For every one shell that we send, they send back five," he said amid the shellfire duels. "They shoot at us most of the time."

Russia has ordered civilians out of a pocket of land it occupies on the west bank of the Dnipro, which includes Kherson city. Kyiv says the evacuation is cover for a forcible deportation of civilians by Russian forces, which Moscow denies.

Sergey Aksyonov, the leader of Crimea, said work had been completed on moving residents seeking to flee Kherson to regions of Russia ahead of Ukraine's expected counter-offensive.

Ukraine's general staff said hospital and business equipment was being removed from the area, while extra Russian forces were being deployed in empty homes.

Putin's escalation in recent weeks has also included a new campaign to rain down missiles and Iranian-made suicide drones on Ukrainian civil infrastructure targets, particularly electricity substations.

Kyiv says the strikes are intended to freeze Ukrainians in winter and an intentional war crime. Moscow says it is permitted retaliation for Ukrainian attacks including a blast on a bridge to Crimea.

In Mykolaiv, a major Ukrainian-held city close to the Kherson front line, a missile blasted a huge crater outside a bakery overnight. Staff said two people were hurt by flying glass.

"At first, we did not hear anything  probably got deafened by the blast. In time we found (each other), started calling out and found each other," Oksana Illyenko, a baker, told Reuters, recalling the explosion.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Daniel Wallis)
In a closely watched speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday railed against the U.S. and its allies and said they were playing a "dangerous, bloody and dirty" game in hopes of dominating the globe.

Putin, who spoke at a conference of international policy experts one day after overseeing a nuclear training exercise, seemed to downplay Russia's losses in its war with Ukraine and said the conflict he launched was unavoidable after years of building tension.

Despite his repeated veiled references to Russia's nuclear arsenal in recent months, Putin said he has no intention of using such a weapon in Ukraine: There is no point in that, neither political, nor military, he said.

The Russian leader also said the world order the West imposed since the Soviet Union's collapse is "coming to an end," according to a transcript by The Telegraph.

Describing the current decade as among the most "dangerous" and "unpredictable" since World War II, Putin claimed that humankind now faces a choice: accumulate a load of problems that will inevitably crush us all or try to find solutions that may not be ideal but working and could make the world more stable and secure.

Putin's speech at the Valdai Club, a think tank and discussion forum in Moscow, followed what Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called a successful training exercise Wednesday by the country's Strategic Deterrence Forces  one aimed at delivering a "massive nuclear strike" in response to a potential nuclear attack on Russia.

Russian officials have been trumpeting a claim in recent days that Ukraine is planning to use a "dirty bomb," which combines explosives with radioactive material to sow fear but not necessarily kill. The U.S. and its allies have dismissed the allegation as disinformation, and Ukraine has accused Russia of preparing to explode such a device.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Thursday the Pentagon has not seen any signs that either side intends to launch a dirty bomb.

Story continues

BIDEN WARNS MOSCOW: President says using nukes would be serious mistake'

A resident removes things that can be salvaged from a property that was damaged after an overnight Russian attack in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Oct. 27, 2022. (

Other developments:

The U.S. is sending Ukraine a new $275 million package of weapons and other aid aimed at boosting the fight to drive Russian forces out of key areas in the south as winter approaches, officials said.

A senior Russian official warned that U.S. and Western commercial satellites used in support of Ukraine would be fair game for an attack. "The quasi-civilian infrastructure could be a legitimate target for a retaliatory strike, said Konstantin Vorontsov, the deputy head of Russias delegation at a U.N. arms control panel.

Russia represents a serious threat to the U.S. and its allies, but not as much as China, and the developing partnership between the two autocratic governments poses "more dangerous challenges to safety and security at home,'' the Pentagon said in a defense strategy released Thursday.

Ukrainian authorities said another mass grave was discovered in territory recently reclaimed from Russia, this one containing up to 17 bodies of soldiers and civilians outside the city of Izium in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

A Russian drone attack struck an energy facility, causing a fire early Thursday, said Oleksiy Kuleba, governor of the Kyiv region.

Residents and officials, but maybe not soldiers, flee Kherson amid fighting

As residents and Kremlin-appointed authorities evacuated Kherson, Ukrainian forces surrounded the key southern city from the west Thursday in a continued effort to retake the province of the same name.

Russia captured Kherson during the first days of the war, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned not to trust reports that the invading forces are withdrawing without a fight.

I dont see them fleeing from Kherson, Zelenskyy said in an interview with Italys Corriere della Sera newspaper. Their most trained soldiers are in position. We see this and do not believe them.

More than 70,000 residents of Kherson city have been evacuated as intense fighting and strikes on power infrastructure have escalated, Kherson regional Gov. Vladimir Saldo said.

Included in the evacuation were monuments, along with the remains of Grigory Potemkin, the Russian general who founded Kherson in the 18th century. His remains had been kept at the citys St. Catherines Church.

Ukraine presses abduction charges vs. Russian official who may be Exhibit One

Ukrainian authorities are pursuing a criminal case against Russias childrens rights commissioner, accusing her of facilitating the abduction of thousands of Ukrainian kids to be adopted by Russian families. The case is supported by the commissioner's own words.

Maria Lvova-Belova said this week she adopted a boy taken by the Russian army in the southern city of Mariupol, which was besieged and shelled for weeks before falling to the invading forces.

Lvova-Belova has already been sanctioned by the U.S. and other Western nations over similar allegations concerning more than 2,000 vulnerable children from the embattled Donbas region.

'Evil always ends the same way,' Zelenskyy says on eve of historic date

Days after the war in Ukraine reached the eight-month mark, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted Thursday in his nightly address that Friday marks the anniversary of the country's liberation from the Nazis in World War II, and he drew a parallel between both events.

Evil always ends the same way,'' he said. "The occupier becomes a capitulator, the invader  a fugitive. War criminals become defendants. Aggression becomes a court verdict. Destruction turns into reparations. Enemy equipment becomes museum exhibits.

Polarizing TV figure with Putin ties surfaces in Lithuania after fleeing Russia

A Russian TV personality whose father was a mentor to eventual President Vladimir Putin fled the country after her home was raided and reached Lithuania.

Lithuanian officials confirmed Thursday that Ksenia Sobchak had arrived on an Israeli passport obtained through her dual citizenship. As such, she's allowed to travel through Europe's visa-free zone, known as the Schengen area, and Lithuanian authorities said she might have already left the country.

Russian reports said Sobchak and her media director, Kirill Sukhanov, are suspected of partaking in an extortion scheme. She said Wednesday on Telegram that charges against Sukhanov are either "nonsense'' or "a crackdown on my editorial office -- the last free editorial office in Russia that had to be pressed.''

Sobchak, 40, is the daughter of the late Anatoly Sobchak, who as mayor of St. Peterburg in 1990 hired Putin as his deputy. She has been critical of Putin but also accused of serving the Kremlins agenda, such as when she ran for the presidency as a liberal candidate in 2018, which critics saw as providing a democratic sheen to Putin's landslide re-election.

Zelenskyy thanks power workers as electric grid is under siege

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the countrys power workers for maintaining the electricity supply under the relentless Russian attacks on infrastructure. Ukrainian authorities have ordered rolling blackouts in many parts of the country and have asked households to limit consumption.

I thank all the workers in the energy sector: our rescuers, repair crews, officials from local government, and private companies who work diligently to maintain our energy system despite all the threats, Zelenskyy said in his nightly address late Wednesday.

Who has the advantage in a rough Ukrainian winter?

Ukrainians are bracing for winter under historically harsh conditions. Eight months of war have taken a toll on a nation that was Europe's poorest even before Russia's military belligerence damaged or destroyed thousands of residential buildings, schools, hospitals and community buildings.

In recent weeks water systems and energy plants have been the focus of Russian missiles and exploding drones. The collapse of infrastructure has put millions of people at risk of losing access to electricity, water, even shelter, the International Rescue Committee warns.

How will Russia will use the harsh winter weather to wear down Ukrainians? How is winter an advantage for Ukraine? Read more here.

 John Bacon, USA TODAY

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine updates: Putin denies intent to use nuclear weapons
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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AFP via Getty

Russians Vladimir Putin sparked the wrath of his own people by drafting hundreds of thousands to join the war against Ukraine, and now it seems some of those men were sent not to fight the so-called enemy but to snuff out any of the Russian troops who dare to retreat.

Ukrainian intelligence on Thursday released an audio recording that appears to capture in disturbing detail the mayhem and internal rifts between Russian troops on the battlefield. In the five-minute clip, described as an intercepted phone conversation between a Russian soldier and his wife, the man says he and the other men in his unit are a comfortable distance from the actual fighting.

They moved us back to the second line, theres shooting somewhere ahead of us, but were back here for now in the trenches, he says, before boasting that hed been lucky and found a Rosneft jacket covered in blood, but warm.

They brought the inmates here... from prison. But they led them somewhere way up front. And were sitting here as a retreat-blocking detachment, fuck. If someone runs back, we snuff them out.

What a nightmare, his wife says.

Thats how we have it set up. We sit on the second line, guarding the first. Behind us, theres another line. If you go that way, you also wont make it. So its impossible to run away. They shoot their own.

If someone goes [that way], you need to wipe him out, he said.

While both the purported soldier and his wife suggested theyd tried to complain about conditions with appeals to an unspecified committee, the man seemed convinced any kind of outcry would be futile, noting that Russian defense officials had cleverly listed him and other men in his unit as being in training and not on the battlefield.

Now Putins Sending Prison Rape Victims to Die on the Front Line

It was not clear where exactly the soldier was based. But there have been myriad reports of Russian commanders threatening to execute any of their own men who try to ditch the war. A Moscow resident who was called up under Putins draft last month said Colonel General Alexander Lapin had personally pulled out a pistol and held it to the head of a commander overseeing drafted troops whod retreated in Luhansk, threatening to shoot if the unit did not return to the frontline, Sota reported Wednesday.

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And amid a humiliating retreat from northern Kharkiv last month, a volunteer fighting for Ukraine in the region who spoke to The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity said his fellow volunteers and Ukrainian troops had found several dead Russian commanders with gunshot wounds to the back of their heads after top Russian military brass gave an order to gun down any fleeing troops.

While Russia has bolstered forces with thousands of newly drafted soldiers and prison inmates recruited by the Wagner Group, it would seem those reinforcements have only added to the dysfunction among the ranks.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported earlier this month that Russian inmates freed from prison to fight regularly leave their units and try to return to Russian territory after receiving their weapons. While the inmates are enticed by promises of a pardon, Putin crony Yevgeny Prighozin, the man behind the Wagner Group's prisoner-recruitment scheme, is said to have privately told the Russian president that for the majority of inmates joining Wagner, its not a reprieve but a death sentence, according to Yellow Folder, a Telegram channel ostensibly run by former members of Russias Federal Protective Services.

The Crazy Mystical Impulses Sending Putin Wild in Ukraine

And in occupied Donetsk, Putins troops appear to be hard at work battling each other. A man identified by Ukrainian intelligence as a Russian soldier was caught calling his mother to tell her how another soldier sent with reinforcements was tied up and held for ransom by fighters for the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic.

He went into the city, basically, for moonshine The commandants bashed him over the head and locked him in a basement. They sent photos [of him] to his... mother-in-law and wife. Tied him up basically and demanded money, as if he were a captive.

Good God! They thought he was Ukrainian, right? his mother asked.

They didnt think anything, he said, adding: Its fun here with us.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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By Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia and Wa Lone

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Myanmar's military government warned on Thursday that any pressure from its Southeast Asian neighbours to put a time frame on a peace plan would create "negative implications".

The ruling junta, which seized power from an elected government last year, was reacting to a meeting earlier on Thursday of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in Jakarta to discuss easing the intensifying crisis.

ASEAN remains committed to a peace plan agreed with Myanmar's military rulers, its chair Cambodia said on Thursday, even as some countries raised concerns over the failure to implement the plan agreed with the junta 18 months ago.

No Myanmar representatives were present at the special meeting of the group's foreign ministers to discuss the stalled peace plan.

Myanmar's generals have been barred from high-level ASEAN meetings since last year, after the army ousted Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in a February 2021 coup, detaining her and thousands of activists and launching a deadly crackdown that has given rise to armed resistance movements.

The junta has done little to honour its commitments to the so-called five-point peace "consensus" which includes an immediately halting violence, starting dialogue, allowing an ASEAN chair envoy to facilitate mediation and allowing ASEAN to provide humanitarian assistance.

The head of the junta has blamed the lack of progress on instability in the country and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Late on Thursday, Myanmar's military-appointed foreign ministry released a statement blaming armed resistance movements for violence and saying pressure to set a time frame will create more negative implications than positive ones.

Political analysts said the ASEAN meeting, which comes ahead of the bloc's leaders' summit next month, was disappointing and did little to move the needle on getting Myanmar's generals to cooperate.

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"Today's meeting reflects that there is no common position among the ASEAN countries, they are split in handling the Myanmar issue," said Lina Alexandra of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.

ASEAN foreign ministers and representatives agreed on Thursday the bloc should be even more determined for a peaceful solution in Myanmar as soon as possible, the chair said in a statement, noting that Myanmar's situation remained "critical and fragile".

"The foreign ministers expressed concern and disappointment over no significant progress on the five-point consensus implementation," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told a news conference after the meeting.

Recent weeks have included some of the bloodiest incidents in Myanmar, including a bombing at Myanmar's largest prison and an air strike in Kachin State on Sunday, which local media said killed at least 50 people.

"The violent acts need to stop immediately. And Indonesia has mentioned that this request needs to be delivered to Tatmadaw (Myanmar's military) immediately," said Retno.

ASEAN has a longstanding policy of non-interference in members' sovereign affairs, but some have called for the bloc to be bolder in taking action against the junta and engaging other stakeholders like the shadow government.

When asked if ASEAN representatives would meet the shadow National Unity Government, Indonesian foreign ministry official Sidharto R. Suryodipuro said: "engagement with all stakeholders includes other parties, NUG being one of them."

The top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, on Wednesday described the situation in Myanmar as "tragic" and said the United States, which has imposed sanctions on the military leadership, would take "additional steps to put pressure on the regime," but did not elaborate.

(Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia in Jakarta, Poppy McPherson in Bangkok and Prak Chan Thul in Phnom Penh; Writing by Ed Davies; Editing by Mike Harrison, Toby Chopra and Josie Kao)
A photo of Alexandria Bell rests at the scene of a growing floral memorial to the victims of a school shooting at Central Visual & Performing Arts High School, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, in St. Louis. Bell and teacher Jean Kuczka were killed, along with the gunman, in Mondays shooting.

Gun violence in this country is still way too prominent.

On Monday, a teenage shooter open-fired at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, leaving two people dead and many others wounded. The gunman eventually died at a hospital after a shootout with local police the morning of the shooting.

Read more

According to CNN, a teacher and a Black student were killed. The student was identified as 15-year Alexandria Bell and the teacher as 61-year-old Jean Kirk Kuckzka, who had been teaching health, personal finance and physical education at the high school for more than a decade. Bell died at the school and Kuckzka while at a local hospital.

Out of the seven victims wounded during the shooting, six of them were Black students and ranged from the ages of 15 and 16-years-old, according to CBS News.

St. Louis Police Commissioner Mike Sack shared during a press conference on Monday that the shooter was identified as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, a Black man, who graduated from the St. Louis high school last year and had no criminal history prior to this shooting. There is also still no clear motive as to why he decided to carry out this malicious act.

Sack later said during the press conference, The individual had almost a dozen 30-round, high-capacity magazines on him. So thats a whole lot of victims there. But because of the quick response, that suspect didnt have the opportunity to turn this into  its certainly tragic for the families, its tragic for the community, but it could have been a whole lot worse.



More from CBS News:

The shooting just after 9 a.m. at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School forced students to barricade doors and huddle in classroom corners, jump from windows and run out of the building to seek safety. Adams said seven security guards were in the school at the time, each at an entry point of the locked building. One of the guards noticed the man was trying to get in at a locked door, but couldnt. The guard notified school officials and ensured that police were contacted, Sack said.

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This year alone, there have been 40 school shootings that have resulted in deaths or injuries, the most since Education Week started tracking these kinds of incidents in 2018. This doesnt even include the dozens of other mass shootings that arent categorized as school shootings.

This can be attributed to the light gun laws that are in place in states across this country, most notably in Missouri. According to Everytown.org, Missouri has no law requiring background checks on unlicensed gun sales. State law also allows people to carry hidden, loaded handguns in public without a permit or safety training. Missouri has no laws prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns.

Basically, anyone who wants a gun can get one.

These occurrences are not outliers; they happen way too often for people in this country not to care and to pass it off as just another day in the U.S.

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A new documentary featuring scientists from Oregon State University aims to prompt solutions to the ever-worsening wildfire crisis in the West.

Its a starting point to a conversation, executive producer Ralph Bloemers said. Even with a 78-minute film, you cant cover all the ground and complexity thats out there.

The film, Elemental: Redefining our Relationship with Wildfire, includes footage from the 2018 Camp Fire in California, the 2020 Labor Day fires in western Oregon and 2021 fires in both states.

In addition to the two OSU scientists, Christopher Dunn and Beverly Law, the documentary features indigenous fire practitioners and experts in home and community safety.

Another OSU scientist, Lisa Ellsworth, was an adviser on the film project.

Directed by Trip Jennings, the film focuses on how to keep homes and communities from burning during a wildfire. Showing  in a respectful way  versus telling people what they can do is very powerful, Bloemers said.

Theyre searching for answers, theyre angry, theyre grieving, he said. One of the best remedies is moving to action.

Bloemers said the crew started the film in the wake of the 2018 Eagle Creek Fire, which destroyed areas in Oregon and Washington. After getting footage from the California fires in 2018, they were ready to roll out the then-48-minute film.

But then the pandemic hit, and the crew felt it wasnt the right time to release the documentary. It worked out that they waited, because the 2020 fires in Oregon were able to make it into the film, as well as fires the next year in California and Oregon.

People who had lost their homes invited the film crew into their fire-impacted communities to see just how devastating things looked post-wildfire.

The film also features the work of Northern Californias Yurok Tribe, who has used fire to promote forest health for centuries. After hundreds of years, the Tribe is still using fire to keep their communities safe.

All in all, the documentary took five years to film and put together. Special screenings for fire communities and firefighters began earlier this year, and Bloemers said he has been overwhelmed with positive feedback. People are relieved to have a film that lets the public know what theyve been through, so they dont have to explain it, he said.

Firefighters appreciate a film that shows the limits of what they can do, he added. It lets people reach their own conclusion.

The director, Jennings, currently works on the PBS show Weathered, and the film is narrated by actor David Oyelowo ("Selma"). In addition to arranging interviews with scientists, Bloemers was the wildlife and timelapse photographer. The documentary is expected to hit streaming platforms late spring 2023.

It has been selected for 22 film festivals so far and has premiered in Portland, Eugene, Salem, Ashland, Florence, McKenzie River, Bandon, Coos Bay, Corbett, Bellingham and Grants Pass.

The documentary is now coming to Corvallis, and will be playing at Darkside Cinema, 215 SW Fourth Street, from Friday, Oct. 28 through Thursday, Nov. 3. Fridays 6:30 p.m. showing will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A.

Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.darksidecinema.com.

It is an existential crisis facing the West, Bloemers said. What we tried to do is bring forward what the solutions are, and the actions people can take, and people are responding to that.
After making waves on an international scale, Alexey Mordashovs $500 million megayacht appears to have found safe haven in South Africa.

Nord will be allowed to dock in Cape Town, despite the fact that its Russian oligarch owner has been sanctioned by the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. South African opposition leaders had urged the government to seize the 465-footer, but the countrys current leader rejected the call, as reported by the BBC.

More from Robb Report

South Africa has no legal obligation to abide by sanctions imposed by the US and EU, Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, told reporters. South Africas obligations with respect to sanctions relate only to those that are specifically adopted by the United Nations.

Nord was spotted in Hong Kong on October 12, 2022.

Western authorities have imposed sanctions on more than 1,000 Russian individuals and businesses in response to President Putins invasion of Ukraine. South Africa has so far avoided directly criticizing Russia and abstained from several UN votes condemning the war.

Mordashovthe largest shareholder in the steelmaker Severstal and the third-richest man in Russiahas been targeted by the Western sanctions due to his ties with Putin. The billionaire maintains he has had no involvement in Russian politics and has been fighting the sanctions since May.

Nord was delivered by Lurssen in November 2020.

Mordashov lost his 215-foot superyacht, Lady M, back in March after it was seized by Italian police. Nord is believed to be his biggest yacht asset, though. Indeed, the vessel, which is larger than a football field, features two helipads, a retractable hangar, a diving center, a swimming pool and 20 staterooms across six decks. It was delivered by German yard Lurssen in November 2020.

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After leaving Hong Kong earlier this week, Nord is now en route to South Africa and is expected to moor in Cape Town on November 9, according to Marine Traffic data. The yacht was west of Indonesia as of Wednesday. You can track Nords journey via Spire Maritime.

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Families of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting victims slammed the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Col. Steven McCraw, at a public safety commission meeting in Austin on Thursday. The hearing marked the first public update since mid-July.

Brett Cross, guardian of 10-year-old Robb Elementary School victim Uziyah Garcia, said police waited outside as the children were "slaughtered."

Cross called for McCraw's immediate resignation, saying he "disgraced the state."

"If youre a man of your word, youll resign," Cross said before he read the names of the 19 children and two teachers who were killed.

PHOTO: Brett Cross speaks at a Public Safety Commission meeting on the Uvalde school mass shooting, in Austin, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022. (ABC News)

McCraw said at the hearing he won't resign.

He said if DPS as an institution failed the families, school or community, "then absolutely, I need to go." However, McCraw said, "DPS as an institution right now did not fail the community."

McCraw conceded that the gunman was always an active shooter and not a barricaded subject, citing the "post-Columbine" protocol.

"Ten minutes in, there was enough officers and information for things to be done," he admitted during the hearing.

MORE: 'I am suffering mentally,' Uvalde educator says after false blame in shooting aftermath: Exclusive

Jesse Rizo, uncle of 9-year-old victim Jackie Cazares, said at the hearing that the aftermath of the shooting was "unacceptable" and was "adding insult to injury."

"Mr. McCraw, you have all the resources in the world," he said. "Yet you come out, your staff comes out, [providing] misinformation after misinformation. And it continues to happen."

"You basically lit a match and set the town on fire," he said.

PHOTO: Law enforcement personnel guard the scene near Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

MORE: This teen lost her little sister in the Uvalde massacre. Now she's channeling anger into activism.

"All we want are answers and full transparency," he said. "Take urgency and responsibility and tell us where you and your departments are on the investigation and how soon we'll have a complete report."

Kimberley Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter, Lexi, was killed, also wants McCraw to resign.

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"DPS officers failed Uvalde students and teachers and our community," Rubio told ABC News Thursday morning. "He is the leader, and sometimes when those below you fail, you have to take responsibility for that."

PHOTO: Col. Steven C. McCraw, Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 27, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE)

Democratic Texas state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who addressed law enforcement at the start of the hearing, also called for McCraw's resignation.

The massacre "shattered" Texans' "illusion" that they could trust law enforcement, Gutierrez said at the hearing.

"These children waited 77 minutes" for help, he said. "Children trapped in a classroom had the courage to seek help by calling 911 over and over again. Law enforcement knew there were kids inside."

He went on, "We'll never know how many children could have been saved."

PHOTO: Law enforcement personnel move away from the scene of a suspected shooting near Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022. (Marco Bello/Reuters)

MORE: Uvalde school district suspends entire police force, superintendent to retire amid fallout from shooting

Gutierrez said the parents of the Uvalde victims "wake up every day from a dream thinking life's OK -- a minute later knowing that they're living in this horrible reality."

Nineteen children and two teachers were shot and killed with an AR-15-style rifle in the May 24 massacre. Nearly 400 officers rushed to the school, but didn't go into the classroom where the gunman was confined with his victims until over an hour later.

That slow response has led to a wide chorus of criticism for the responders. The school district's police chief was fired, as was one of the first Texas state troopers to arrive at the scene. A second trooper who left DPS to work for the Uvalde school system has since been terminated by the district.

Uvalde's entire school district police force has also been suspended.

Uvalde:365 is a continuing ABC News series reported from Uvalde and focused on the Texas community and how it forges on in the shadow of tragedy.

ABC News' Charlotte Greer contributed to this report.

Uvalde families slam Texas DPS chief, call for his resignation at public safety meeting originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Threats against judges skyrocketed during the Trump era, and experts are now fearing for the worst

President Donald Trump watches as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administers the Constitutional Oath to Amy Coney Barrett on the South Lawn of the White House White House in Washington on October 26, 2020. Alex Brandon/AP

The number of logged threats to judges and other officials nearly doubled early in the Trump era.

Federal judges involved in matters related to the FBI's search of Mar-a-Lago have faced threats.

The attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband underscored the threat public figures are facing.

On the campaign trail in 2016, Donald Trump took an unusual tack as he defended his namesake "university" against fraud allegations.

Rather than deferring to his lawyers, or reserving his public rhetoric for the former Trump University students behind the class-action lawsuit, Trump impugned the character of the federal judge presiding over the case.

"I have a judge who is a hater of Donald Trump, a hater. He's a hater," Trump said of Judge Gonzalo Curiel, a 2012 appointee to the federal trial court in San Diego. A month later, as Trump called for building a wall on the US-Mexico border, the future president noted the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage to question whether he could rule impartially in the Trump University case.

The remarks set the tone for what legal experts saw as Trump's politicization of the federal judiciary. Trump would go on to win the election, and during his four years in the White House, federal judges and other officials under the protection of the US Marshals Service would face a remarkable rise in threats, according to government data reviewed by Insider.

Between fiscal years 2016 and 2018, the total of reported threats nearly doubled, from 2,357 to 4,542, according to a US Marshals Service report. The total has remained above 4,000 every year since, according to the annual report for the fiscal year 2021  the latest year for which data are available.

In a statement to Insider, a spokesperson for Trump blamed the trend on the news media and liberals.

"The trend is due, nearly entirely, to a divisive media who defines every decision made by a Republican-appointed judge in partisan terms, while failing to do so for decisions made by Democrat-appointed judges," the spokesperson, Taylor Budowich, said in an email. "It is also due to the radical left activists who threaten the lives of judges to try to influence the court, like after the draft Roe v Wade decision was leaked. The media and the left have a disgusting and reckless disregard for the safety of America's judge [sic]."

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The violent assault of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, on Friday underscored the stakes of the threats facing public officials and their families. Before his arrest, the man accused of attacking Pelosi with a hammer posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about COVID-19 vaccines, the 2020 election, and the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

In an interview, former Judge John Jones attributed the rise in threats against judges to a "road-rage society," in which public figures are not confining their criticism to points of disagreement but going further to impugn the character of their perceived opponents.

"It's completely irresponsible. It's like public figure malpractice, because we're dealing with a really volatile public at this point," Jones, a George W. Bush appointee, told Insider. "I'm sickened by the fact that we can't moderate some of this rhetoric. It's literally become so toxic now that I think we're going to get somebody hurt or killed by it."

Jones, now the president of Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, wrote an op-ed in August  title: "I'm afraid a judge is going to be killed"  after a federal magistrate judge came under threat for signing off on a search warrant allowing the FBI to search Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and private club in South Florida.

Following the FBI raid, Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhardt faced an onslaught of antisemitic attacks and online threats, including some targeting the synagogue where he serves on the board.

"He and judges like him signed up for a job that entails risk, but they didn't sign up to be killed," Jones wrote in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

A month later, a Texas woman was arrested on charges she left threatening messages on the voicemail of Judge Aileen Cannon, the Trump appointee presiding over the former president's legal challenges to the FBI's seizure of thousands of records from Mar-a-Lago, Trump's resort residence in Palm Beach, Florida. In those voicemails, the woman threatened to have Cannon assassinated in front of her family for "helping" the former president, according to court filings.

That case came just months after the arrest, in June, of a man who arrived outside the house of Justice Brett Kavanaugh with a gun, knife, and zip-ties. In court papers charging the man with attempting to kill Kavanaugh, prosecutors said the man told police that he was upset with a leaded draft opinion showing that the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established a constitutional right to an abortion.

Weeks before the man's arrest, Attorney General Merrick Garland ordered around-the-clock protection for Supreme Court justices in response to the leaked draft opinion. But, as the threats to the federal judges in South Florida showed, the trend is extending down through the lower courts.

As recently as last week, a grand jury indicted a Pennsylvania man on charges he sent a letter to Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, chair of the House January 6 committee, containing what appeared to be a white powder. A message in the letter alluded to anthrax and included threats to kill Thompson, his family, President Joe Biden, and Judge Robert D. Mariani, of the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

This year, at least three packages containing suspicious white powder have arrived at the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, according to people familiar with the incidents and local officials. Hazmat crews responded each time and determined the packages  reminiscent of anthrax-laced threats sent after the 9/11 attacks  did not contain a hazardous substance.

The latest of such packages arrived in August and entered the chambers of Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly  a rare breach that unnerved judges and courthouse staff, according to people familiar with the incident. The substance in the package turned out to be baby powder, a spokesperson for the Washington, DC, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department told Insider.

A month earlier, shortly after 11:15 p.m. on July 21, police responded to the home of Judge Emmet Sullivan, who was set to preside the next day over a plea hearing in a high-profile prosecution stemming from the January 6 attack on the Capitol. In a hoax call, known as a "swatting," an unknown caller pretended to be Sullivan and claimed to police that someone had arrived at the judge's home with a weapon, according to people familiar with the incident and a police report.

Officers arrived to find Sullivan "safe and secure," according to the police report. Bloomberg first reported on the "swatting" incident.

Kollar-Kotelly, a 25-year veteran of the federal trial court in Washington, DC, declined to comment, as did Sullivan.

The US Marshals Service said it does not comment on specific incidents. But in a statement to Insider, a spokesperson acknowledged "that high-profile cases often generate increased attention, including threats." It declined to give a broader assessment for the increase in threats to judges and other Marshals Service protectees.

"The security of our federal judiciary is the cornerstone of our nation's democracy, and the Marshals take that responsibility very seriously," the spokesperson said. "Federal judges make hard decisions based on the rule of law in large part because the Marshals ensure they can make these decisions without fear, intimidation, or retaliation."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tiffanys heart tag pendant is cemented in American teen culture.

I remember when my sister had her Sweet 16, and she got a Tiffanys necklace, and it was the biggest deal in the world, recalled Hailey Bieber of the silver chain, adorned with the engraved front toggle.

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And I was like, Ugh, I cant wait until my 16th birthday and hopefully I get Tiffanys, she laughed.

Did she?

Eventually I did, said the model and Rhode founder.

Bieber was at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood, California, on Wednesday night, joined by Tiffany & Co. brand ambassadors Gal Gadot and Adria Arjona, as well as Kim Kardashian, Zoe Kravitz, Alexa Demie, Halsey, Miranda Kerr, Alexandra Daddario, Demi Singleton, Kaitlyn Dever, Giveon, Bruna Marquezine, Diego Boneta and Zoey Deutch.

Deutch, too, brought up the heart tag pendant.

It was a hot commodity at bat mitzvahs growing up, she said: The dream gift. I didnt get one, but that was the thing to get. She paused. Put in a good word for me, she joked.

She was doing just fine, sparkling in Tiffanys jewels. The actress  next starring in the romantic comedy Something From Tiffanys  had on an impossible-to-miss platinum necklace with an aquamarine pendant of more than 22 carats and diamonds, paired with matching earrings and three sizable diamond rings.

Ive also got my lock, my gorgeous silver lock, Deutch said, revealing her bracelet.

Tiffanys Lock collection was the reason for the celebration, debuting globally in September with four all-gender bracelets in 18-karat yellow, white and rose gold.

Biebers were stacked, encrusted with diamonds.

As far as jewelry goes, when you think about whats beautiful and classic and timeless, Tiffanys is the thing that really comes to mind for me, Bieber said, in a formfitting, sheer Saint Laurent dress.

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Whats her most treasured piece?

Probably my engagement ring is the most heartfelt and special and awesome thing that I have jewelry wise, she said. She has been married to Justin Bieber since 2018. Also, I love watches. I want to be able to pass them down one day to my kids or my daughter or multiple kids, who knows. With jewelry, theyre such heirloom pieces that you can keep passing down and keep passing down.

Bieber, who was enjoying catching up with friends in the room, went on: In a small and intimate space like this, youre able to see people that you love and connect and chat.Alex Arnault is really amazing. Ive just really enjoyed working with them. I love their jewelry, personally. Im at a place in life where its, like, I dont want to partner with anyone who I dont actually, genuinely love their products or their clothes or their jewelry.

Alexandre Arnault, executive vice president of product and communications at Tiffany & Co., was in town with Tiffanys president and chief executive officer Anthony Ledru to toast the occasion.

Its where we have a very high concentration of the friends of the house, Ledru said of celebrating in L.A. Guests included Gen Z stars Blake Gray, Noah Beck, Amelie Zilber and Landon Barker; Olympian skier Eileen Gu, and fencer Miles Chamley-Watson.

Its a good time of the year, Ledru continued. The weather is much better than in New York. Thats another good reason.

It feels like its happening at home, Gadot said of the evening. Theres so many wonderful people here and friends and people that Ive worked with.

As a young girl, Breakfast at Tiffanys was her introduction to the brand: It was the movie, classic and Audrey Hepburn.

She had on a row of Lock bangles on each wrist. I own one, said Gadot, who was wearing a red Givenchy dress. I love it, because its so Art Deco and timeless.

The Lock line is aimed to be the biggest launch that Tiffanys has done over the last decade, Ledru said. The last one was T. I believe its actually going to be bigger than T. The design is very universal. It talks to the world. It talks to the world in terms of design. Its pure minimalist. It talks to the world in terms of gender. Its completely genderless. And I think it talks to the world, more importantly, in terms of symbolism.It can be about protection. It goes back to our padlock. Its a very archival motif for us.The way the collection was imagined was to be very flexible. You can remove it. You can stack it. And no need for any toolbox. You can remove it very easily. And I think thats the way to go with our clients today.

Next, theres a big plan around Andy Warhol, Ledru revealed. He was an illustrator in the 60s for Tiffanys. It was one of the first collaborations we had. Its going to be about the magic of Andy Warhol in the stores on some of our facades. And the biggest thing ahead for Tiffanys for next year is obviously the reopening of Landmark [the Fifth Avenue flagship]. Itll be fireworks for the brand. And a lot more store innovations to come.

Launch Gallery: Inside the Tiffany & Co. Lock Event

Click here to read the full article.
Ben Sasse, R-Neb., who denounced the Donald Trump recently for "the way he kisses dictators' butts ... (and) flirted with white supremacists." But that kind of candid criticism remains rare.

Ben Sasse, the Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska, is positioned to become the next president of the University of Florida.

UF announced Thursday afternoon that Sasse was selected as the sole finalist for the job, following a national search of more than 700 candidates.

Sasse, 50, is in his second term in the Senate and, if approved by UF's Board of Trustees, would become the 13th president in the university's history. The board is scheduled to formally consider his candidacy at its Nov. 1 meeting.

Sasse to step down: Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse expected to resign to become University of Florida president

'He played a great role': UF students say Kent Fuchs was welcoming president, express hopes for his successor

President search: UF president in last semester, trustees say they want nationally renowned academic for job

The University of Florida is the most interesting university in America right now, Sasse said in a prepared statement. Its the most important institution in the nations most economically dynamic state  and its board, faculty and graduates are uniquely positioned to lead this country through an era of disruption."

Sasse is scheduled to visit the UF campus Monday to meet with students, faculty and other members of the university community.

Lack of transparency in search

A bill signed into law in March, SB 520, allowed UF to conduct much of the presidential search outside of the requirements of Floridas open meetings and public records laws. Under the measure, the university was allowed to keep the names of candidates secret and only publicly announce the names of any finalists.

UF reported that its search committee focused attention on a dozen candidates that included nine sitting presidents at major research universities, but that Sasse was the committee's unanimous choice. Sasse is expected to resign from his Senate seat at the end of this year after accepting the offer to become UF president.

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Paul Ortiz, a UF history professor and head of its faculty union chapter, said he was disappointed about a lack of community input on the naming of a finalist.

"Sen. Sasse is really going to have to work hard to establish trust because his name has never come up. There hasn't been any community vetting, there hasn't been any town hall meetings," Ortiz said. "This was conducted outside of the Sunshine Act because of the state law. It's going to be very challenging to take the next steps here, because when President Fuchs was appointed, for example, he already had met with a lot of people before his appointment."

Sasse spent five years as the president of Midland University before being elected to the Senate. His prior academic experience included being a faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin. He earned a PhD from Yale University and a bachelor of arts from Harvard University.

His selection comes as questions of political interference have hung over UF, since it was revealed last fall that faculty were barred from testifying in court against policies backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature.

Rahul Patel, a UF trustee and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, had previously told The Sun that the university was focused on hiring "an accomplished educator of national stature, with recognized scholarly success."

Patel told The Sun Thursday that the search committee unanimously selected Sasse "because he embodies the attributes and leadership qualities identified by the UF community, and the credentials sought by the search committee.

"This was led by the search committee, with direction from the board of trustees, as laid out in Florida statute," he said. "There was no other influence or other body involved in the search process."

Patel said that among the candidates for the job who were sitting university presidents, none of them would come forward as a finalist unless they were chosen as the one sole finalist. He said that Sasse is a "visionary and transformational leader."

If the board of trustees approves Sasse for the job, the selection will be subject to confirmation by the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the State University System.

Sasse has served as a U.S. senator since 2015. He was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former president Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial. He is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, "The Vanishing American Adult and Them: Why We Hate Each Other  and How to Heal.

Kent Fuchs, the president of The University of Florida, delivers comments during a ceremony for the unveiling of a new historical marker for the first Black students to attend and graduate from the UF, on campus, in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 15, 2021. The marker, know as the UF Integration Pioneers Historical Marker, is located in Emerson Courtyard, near where the old law school was when the first Black students graduated from UF.

Current UF President Kent Fuchs announced in January that he would be stepping down as president and transitioning to being a professor in the College of Engineering. Following the news, a 14-member search committee was created consisting of trustees, faculty, administrators, alumni and an undergraduate student. A national search firm was also hired.

In May, the search committee conducted 17 listening sessions with faculty and students about the qualities they would like to see in the next president. Among those qualities are someone with a renowned academic background.

Fuchs was provost of Cornell University before he became UF president in 2015. His tenure has included UF achieving long-sought goals such as being named among the nations top-five public universities and surpassing $1 billion in research spending.

Reaction to Sasse being selected

Donald Trump isnt a fan of the choice for the University of Floridas next president.

Sasse will reportedly resign from the Senate at the end of this year to take the job.

"Great news for the United States Senate, and our Country itself," Trump wrote on the TruthSocial app. "Liddle Ben Sasse, the lightweight Senator from the great State of Nebraska, will be resigning. If he knew he was going to resign so early in his term, why did he run in the first place? But its still great news! The University of Florida will soon regret their decision to hire him as their President."

Sasse was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict former President Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial. Trump posted Thursday on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Sasse's resignation was " great news but that the University of Florida will soon regret their decision to hire him as their President.

But not all Republicans dislike the choice.

State Rep. Chuck Clemons said he was surprised but pleased with the choice.

Clemons, R-Newberry, said he met Sasse six years ago in Washington, D.C., at a conference for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bushs education foundation. Clemons said he came away impressed with (Sasses) understanding of higher education in America.

Florida Rep. Chuck Clemons, the vice president of the office for advancement and the executive director of the Santa Fe Foundation during the dedication ceremony of the new Santa Fe College Blount Hall, off University Ave. and 6th Street, in Gainesville, April 8, 2022.

Clemons has experience in politics and higher education himself, working as vice president of Santa Fe College's Office for Advancement and as executive director of the Santa Fe Foundation. He said Sasses academic background  which includes five degrees, four from Ivy League institutions  should allow him to go toe-to-toe intellectually with university professors.

But he said Sasses political experience would also benefit UF.

We also need to have a person at the University of Florida who can navigate the political waters in the state and nationally, Clemons said.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse named finalist to land UF presidential job
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The United States will give Pakistan a further $30 million in aid to help millions of people whose lives were disrupted by severe flooding in recent months, the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said on Thursday.

"The new funding will expand efforts to address immediate needs, scaling up assistance to the most affected communities and enabling USAID to reach more than 4 million people," said a statement from the U.S. Embassy, referring to the U.S. government aid agency.

The funding would take the total in disaster-related assistance from the U.S. to Pakistan this year to $97 million.

Pakistani officials have estimated damage from torrential monsoon rains that killed over 1,000 people and displaced tens of millions at more than $40 billion.

Some Pakistani leaders have said the world needs to do more to provide financial support to the South Asian nation, which is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters despite having produced a tiny fraction of global greenhouse case emissions.

U.S. Ambassador Donald Blome said during a visit to flood-hit areas in the southern province of Sindh that the new assistance would help with food and medical support as well as providing shelter supplies for homeless citizens in the lead up to winter.

This month, the United Nations revised up its humanitarian aid appeal for Pakistan five-fold to $816 million from $160 million, as a surge of water-borne diseases and fear of growing hunger posed new dangers after weeks of unprecedented flooding.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
By Sam Tobin

LONDON (Reuters) - A Uyghur rights group told a London court on Tuesday that the British government has unlawfully failed to investigate the importation of cotton produced with "slave labour" in the Chinese province of Xinjiang.

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC), an international organisation of exiled Uyghur groups, is taking legal action at London's High Court against the state's Home Office, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and National Crime Agency (NCA).

Its lawyers say the Home Office has wrongly refused to launch a probe into the importation of foreign prison-made goods, and that HMRC and the NCA have failed to investigate whether cotton from Xinjiang amounts to "criminal property".

Jenni Richards, representing the WUC, told the court that approximately 85% of Chinese cotton comes from Xinjiang and that "putting internment camp detainees to work in factories is a Xinjiang-wide policy".

Rights groups accuse Beijing of widespread abuses of Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority that numbers around 10 million in the western region of Xinjiang, including the mass use of forced labour in camps. Beijing vigorously denies any abuses.

Lawyers acting for Britain's Home Office, the NCA and HMRC told the court that there has to be a clear link between "the alleged criminality and its specific product" to investigate whether goods are made in a foreign prison.

James Eadie, representing the three defendants, also argued in court filings that the WUC has not provided any evidence of identifiable criminal property, but that the NCA "may commence an investigation" if there is sufficient evidence.

The WUC's UK director Rahima Mahmut told Reuters outside court that she has not seen her family in Xinjiang for almost six years, saying: "I don't know what happened to them."

She added: "Although the UK Government has been very, very strong in words condemning China  there is no meaningful action."

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The WUC's case comes amid global efforts to stop the importation of products allegedly made with forced labour that originate in Xinjiang, following reports of alleged human rights abuses by China against Uyghurs and other Muslims in the region.

Draft rules drawn up by EU lawmakers would ban any products "for which forced labour has been used at any stage of their production, manufacture, harvest and extraction", while the United States last year enacted the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act.

(Reporting by Sam Tobin; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Ad against Proposal 3

LGBTQ+ groups and other civil rights advocates are denouncing an ad being run by opponents of Michigans Proposal 3, a ballot initiative that would enshrine the right to reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

The ad from Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children claims that if Proposal 3 is passed by voters this November, children will be able to receive puberty blockers without parental consent. Puberty blockers are often prescribed for transgender children.

If Proposal 3 passes, minors as young as 10 or 11 will be able to receive this prescription without the consent of their parents, the ad says.

The proposal doesnt mention puberty blockers or any other gender-affirming care, and it wouldnt override parental authorization for medical treatment, but its opponents claim there is hidden language in it.

This is hidden in the text of this amendment, and it would be a permanent change to the Michigan constitution, Christen Pollo, a spokesperson for Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children, told TV station WLNS. The group is a coalition of anti-abortion organizations, including several that are anti-LGBTQ+ as well, such as the Michigan Family Forum and Citizens for Traditional Values.

Civil rights activists say the ad is hugely misleading. The amendment states that everyone in Michigan has a fundamental right to make their own decisions about reproductive matters, not only abortion but also prenatal and postpartum care, childbirth, contraception, sterilization, and fertility treatments. It allows the state to restrict abortion after the point of fetal viability, usually about 24 weeks.

It was proposed because Michigan has an abortion ban on the books that dates to 1931. When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, states gained the right to ban or severely restrict abortion. A Michigan judge has ruled that the 1931 law violates the state constitution and cannot be enforced, but supporters of abortion rights point out that future court cases could change that.

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A coalition that includes the Human Rights Campaign, Equality Michigan Action Network, and others denounced the ad. The outright false claims in the anti-Proposal 3 ad paid for by the Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children are designed to intentionally mislead voters by spreading lies about transgender children, their health care and their health care providers, said a statement from HRC Michigan State Director Amritha Venkataraman. The LGBTQ+ community has always faced attacks from anti-LGBTQ+ politicians and activists trying to mislead voters  this is merely the latest iteration. These discriminatory ads ignore the facts, such as how Proposal 3 does not even address gender-affirming care. What were seeing today is nothing more than a new chapter in a lethal playbook that simultaneously attacks LGBTQ+ rights and abortion rights. Proposal 3 protects the right to abortion  do not fall for their lies.

In a desperate attempt to change the tide on abortion rights, Proposal 3 opponents once again turned to bogus child protections claims to misinform voters, added Erin Knott, director of Equality Michigan Action Network. The facts belie their claims, and opposition groups, like Citizens to Support Michigan Women and Children, created a campaign ad designed to trick voters, scaring them with falsehoods. Proposal 3 opponents need to answer for their transphobic scare tactic and vile attack ads, which have been repeatedly debunked by legal experts. Proposal 3 is about reproductive freedom and does not address gender affirming care for transgender youth.

Others joining in condemnation of the ad include the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, Affirmations, Gender-Identity Network Alliance, Great Lakes Bay Pride, Grand Rapids Pride Center, LGBT Detroit, OutFront Kzoo, and Stand With Trans.

Since the reversal of Roe in the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling, reproductive freedom has become an even bigger electoral issue than before, and not only as it relates to candidates positions. In August, Kansas voters roundly rejected a ballot initiative that would have changed the states constitution to say the right to abortion is not guaranteed.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include information from authorities in Texas.

The 55-year-old Texas resident charged in the 1988 murder of Helen Vogt is being forced to return to Erie 34 years after police allege he came to town on his own and fatally stabbed and robbed Vogt, his 77-year-old grandmother.

The accused, Jeremy C. Brock, of Austin, Texas, was ordered  at a court hearing on Wednesday in Austin  to be extradited to Pennsylvania and Erie. He has been jailed since Erie police and the Pennsylvania State Police arrested him on July 25 on a first-degree murder charge and other counts.

The Erie County District Attorney's Office has 10 days to pick Brock up at the Travis County Jail in Austin and transport him to the Erie County Prison. District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz on Thursday confirmed Brock's extradition and said she was making arrangements with Erie police to retrieve him.

Shown here, on Aug. 25, 2022, are materials related to the murder of 77-year-old Helen Vogt, of Erie, who was stabbed 51 times and killed in her Zimmerman Road townhouse and found dead on July 23, 1988. Her grandson, Jeremy C. Brock, was arrested on July 25, 2022, on charges including first-degree murder. Shown here are a copy of Vogt's last will and testament, copies of newspaper articles about the crime and a photo of Vogt, lower right. Police cited the will as evidence in what had been one of Erie's oldest cold cases.

Brock's arrest resolved one of Erie's oldest cold cases  the slaying of Vogt, who was found stabbed and beaten to death in her ransacked townhouse in the 2800 block of Zimmerman Road, near Davison Avenue in Erie, on July 23, 1988.

Brock was 21 at the time. Erie police and the Pennsylvania State Police used updated DNA technology to analyze blood samples and arrest him more than three decades later.

Brock refused extradition to Pennsylvania at a hearing in Austin on July 29. His challenge led Hirz to file a request for a governor's warrant in Texas for his extradition, and authorities scheduled another extradition hearing on Wednesday before a magistrate in Austin. Personnel in Texas handled the hearings, which Hirz did not attend.

Brock at Wednesday's hearing did not file a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the governor's warrant, said Hirz and a court administrator in Travis County. His lack of opposition to the governor's warrant resulted in the equivalent of a waiver of extradition, Hirz said.

The Travis County District Attorney's Office said Brock on Wednesday refused to be extradited, but the magistrate ordered him extradited  an outcome that was set once Brock declined to challenge extradition by filing a writ.

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Brock's lawyer in Texas, Jeremy Sylestine, had no comment when the Erie Times-News contacted him by phone.

Next steps include preliminary hearing in Erie

Once Brock arrives in Erie County, he will be scheduled for an arraignment and preliminary hearing, most likely before Erie 5th Ward District Judge Paul Bizzarro, whose jurisdiction includes the southeastern neighborhood where Vogt was killed.

The District Attorney's Office is also expected to ask that Brock remain incarcerated without bond because he is charged with first-degree murder, a premeditated homicide.

The other charges against him are second-degree murder, a killing committed during a felony, such as a robbery; and aggravated assault, robbery, burglary and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. The arresting officers are Erie police Detective Sgt. Craig Stoker and Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Todd Giliberto.

How DNA advancements helped crack the cold case

Erie police developed Brock as a suspect early in the case. The evidence included Vogt's will, which listed Brock as a beneficiary, and evidence that, a month before Vogt's slaying, Brock wanted his grandmother to increase the allowance of $100 a month that she was giving him  a little over $250 a month in today's dollars.

The evidence is listed in the affidavit for a search warrant police served on Brock in September 1990 in Travis County, Texas. The warrant was for his handprints and samples of his blood, hair and saliva. Police in the affidavit also cited confidential sources and alleged Brock has "a prior history of illegal drug use."

Advancements in DNA technology ultimately led police to charge Brock in July, Hirz said in announcing his arrest. Brock's DNA matched the DNA of blood found in Vogt's blood-splattered townhouse, according to the arrest records. The Erie County Coroner's Office determined that she was stabbed 51 times.

In 1988, Brock had been living with his family in Austin, according to court records. According to arrest records, he had never lived in Erie and but was known to have visited Erie in February 1988, for the funeral of his grandfather and Helen Vogt's husband, Herbert "Hubby" Vogt, 81, a well-known Erie golf pro. Police allege that Brock then traveled to Erie in July 1988 and robbed and murdered his grandmother, fled the area and returned to Texas.

Brock's extradition was all but inevitable. Though an accused person can refuse to waive extradition, the federal Uniform Criminal Extradition Act generally requires states to comply with extradition requests if the requesting state makes a proper demand, according to Texas law and Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel's summary of the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.

However, an accused person who refuses to waive extradition is entitled to a hearing at which the requesting state must present evidence on the legality of the arrest. Brock got that hearing on Wednesday, and it ended with his extradition.

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Grandson charged in 1988 murder of Helen Vogt to be extradited to Erie
Irans supreme leader has vowed to retaliate after a massacre of Shiite pilgrims, an attack claimed by Islamic State that threatens to inflame tensions amid widespread anti-government protests.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the assailants will surely be punished and called on Iranians to unite.

We all have a duty to deal with the enemy and its traitorous or ignorant agents, he said, a day after the attack killed 15 people.

Khameneis call for unity appeared to be directed at mostly government loyalists and not protesters, whose nearly-six-week-old movement is seen by authorities as a threat to national security.

Irans clerical rulers have faced nationwide demonstrations since the death last month in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman.

Iranians have called for the death of Khamenei and an end to the Islamic Republic during the protests, which have become one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution, drawing many Iranians on to the streets.

Key Points

Killers will be punished, vows supreme leader

Supreme leader and president link protests to murders

German ambassador summoned over interference'

Iranian ex-president defends right to protest

15:40 , Jane Dalton

A former Iranian president has warned that violence cannot be answered with violence, as he defended peoples right to demonstrate.

Mohammad Khatamis name and image have been banned in Iranian media since 2015 over his reformist political views, which call for changing the Islamic Republic from within.

If (the people) see that the conditions of this life are not provided (by the government), they have the right to criticise and even protest, Mr Khatami said.

This is a revolution: Protests mark 40 days since death

15:25 , Jane Dalton

In case you missed it:

Tens of thousands of Iranians across the country defied phalanxes of security forces to march and protest against the clerical regime on Wednesday, the religiously potent and politically symbolic 40th day since the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police, writes Borzou Daragahi:

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This is a revolution: 40 days after Mahsa Aminis death, protests erupt across Iran

German ambassador summoned over interference'

15:19 , Jane Dalton

Iran has summoned Germanys ambassador, accusing Berlin of interfering in the Islamic Republics internal affairs.

Some European countries, contrary to their international commitments in fighting terrorism, have become sponsors of terrorist groups, said Irans Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani, in comments reported by the semi-official Fars news agency.

Killers will be punished, says Khamenei

15:18 , Jane Dalton

Irans supreme leader has said the killers at a mosque gun attack will surely be punished.

In a statement read on state TV, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: We all have a duty to deal with the enemy and its traitorous or ignorant agents.

Khameneis call for unity appeared to be directed at mostly government loyalists and not protesters whose nearly six-week-old movement is seen by authorities as a threat to national security.

Iranian protesters have called for the death of Khamenei.

Islamic State admitted it had killed 15 worshippers. The attack was at Shirazs Shah Cheragh mosque, the second-holiest site in Iran.

Gunman seen in video

15:09 , Jane Dalton

Footage released by Iranian authorities shows a gunman with a large backpack, walking near the mosque where 15 people were killed, then later moving inside with a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle.

Barefoot worshippers inside try to flee as the man opens fire, then hunts those hiding behind whatever they could find. Blood could be seen on the mosques floor.

Riot police later captured the man, whom authorities have yet to identify.

The Islamic State group said it carried out the attack, saying an armed IS militant stormed the shrine and opened fire on visitors.

Supreme leader and president link protests to deadly gun attack

15:04 , Jane Dalton

Irans supreme leader and its president have tried to link nationwide protests to an Islamic State-claimed gun attack on a mosque in which 15 people were killed.

Irans theocracy has been unable to contain the demonstrations, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after her detention by the countrys morality police.

More than 200 people have been killed amid a crackdown in Iran, with thousands others arrested by police, activists say.

On Wednesday, a gunman opened fire on worshippers at Shirazs Shah Cheragh mosque, the second-holiest site in Iran.

State media said at least 15 people had been killed in the assault, which authorities initially attributed to multiple gunmen.

President Ebrahim Raisi described the ongoing protests as riots that allowed for the shooting.

Mr Khamenei blamed the attack on a plot of the enemies.

We all have duties to deal a blow to the warmongering enemy and its treacherous and foolish cohorts, he reportedly said.

All our people ranging from the security bodies and the judiciary body and activists in the field of media must be united against the wave that disregards and disrespects peoples lives, their security and their sacred things.
Ksenia Sobchak (AP)

The glamorous daughter of Vladimir Putins former boss has reportedly fled Russia as investigators raided her luxury Moscow pad.

Ksenia Sobchak, 40, a socialite once dubbed the Russian Paris Hilton, is believed to be in hiding after her media director was arrested on charges of extortion.

The state Tass news agency claimed Sobchak had bought tickets to Dubai and Turkey to mislead the authorities but eventually left for Belarus, from where she moved to Lithuania.

The TV star, who has often been critical of Putin, has provoked many Russian opposition figures including Alexei Navalny who have accused her of serving the Kremlins agenda.

Investigators said that the search at Sobchaks luxury home in a prestigious Moscow suburb was part of a probe into alleged wrongdoing by her media director, Kirill Sukhanov, who was arrested on charges of extortion.

Sobchak on Tuesday rejected the accusations against Mr Sukhanov as ravings and nonsense and described his arrest as part of the authorities efforts to stifle independent media.

Sobchak said on her Telegram channel that Mr Sukhanov had not been in touch with her since the morning.

Our commercial director Kirill Sukhanov has been detained. They say its for extortion, she wrote. Its just nonsense.

I and my entire editorial staff regard this as ANOTHER squeeze on journalism in the countrythey keep detaining my journalists all the time. Now they have taken up Kirill and are making up a case for him. [His] lawyer is in touch with him.

We are watching, she added.

TV host Ksenia Sobchak, daughter of the late St Petersburg mayor, Anatoly Sobchak (AP)

The reports claimed that investigators suspected Sobchak of being involved in the extortion scheme along with her media director and alleged that a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Sergei Markov, a pro-Kremlin political analyst, argued that the raid has sent a signal to members of the Russian elite that all bets are off.

If they can arrest the daughter of Putins patron ... it means there are no untouchables, Mr Markov wrote in a commentary. For some members of the elites, an arrest warrant for Sobchak is a blazing sign in the skies.

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In 2018, she became a liberal challenger in Russias presidential election, finishing a distant fourth with about 1.7% of the vote in what her critics described as a Kremlin effort to add a democratic veneer to Putins sweeping re-election.

Sobchak is the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, a liberal mayor of St Petersburg for whom Putin served as a deputy in the 1990s.

Sobchak has 9.4 million followers on Instagram, and her glamour and sharp wit and have made her both loved by many.

She got involved in politics when she joined the massive protests in Moscow against Putin in 2011-12, and later reinvented herself as a serious TV journalist and opposition activist.

Sobchak has denied serving the Kremlins agenda by running as a challenger to Putin in 2018.

But opposition leader Alexei Navalny denounced her for discrediting the opposition by joining the race, saying that she was a parody of a liberal candidate and her involvement in the campaign helped the Kremlin cast the opposition in a negative light.
Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) is leading Republican contender Bob Stefanowski by 11 percentage points, according to a new Emerson College Polling-WTNH-The Hill survey released Tuesday.

The poll found Lamont ahead of Stefanowski 52 percent to 41 percent among very likely general election voters in the state. A separate 5 percent said they were undecided.

Among the respondents who said they were undecided, when they were asked who they were leaning toward, 25 percent said Lamont while 34 percent said the Republican candidate and another 32 percent said someone else. A separate 9 percent said independent candidate Robert Hotaling.

The poll also found that respondents had a more favorable opinion of Lamont over Stefanowski. Fifty-six percent said they had a favorable opinion of the governor compared to 48 percent for the Republican candidate.

Lamont is vying for a second term, and hes likely to prevail in his race. Though Connecticut is not as reliably blue a state when it comes to gubernatorial races  it last elected a GOP governor in 2006  the nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates this race as likely Democratic.

The Emerson College Polling-WTNH-The Hill survey was conducted Oct. 19-21 with 1,000 very likely general election voters surveyed. The margin of error is 3 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FREMONT  A family missing from Fremont has been found in Wisconsin, according to the Fremont Police Chief.

The police department said the family was found at 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.

All the family members have been interviewed. Police said the family is still of the opinion that people are after them, but the elements of the investigation do not meet the criteria for protective custody.

More:Police seek missing West Michigan family of four

Anthony and Suzette Cirigliano, both 51, and their sons Brandon, 19, and Noah, 15, went missing on Oct. 16 after Anthony Cirigliano called 911 asking for protection.

It is related to Sept. 11 and people want to erase me from the face of the Earth, he told a dispatcher. I am not crazy.

The family left behind Suzette Ciriglianos mother, who has dementia and needs full-time care. She was found walking around the neighborhood around 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17. She is now in the care of other family members.

The family was spotted at a gas station in the Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 17, nearly 300 miles from their Fremont home.

Subscribe:Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage

Relatives told WOOD TV-8 that police said the family was last known to be in Iron Mountain on Tuesday and Wednesday  at the Michigan/Wisconsin border, more than 400 miles from Fremont.

The Fremont Police Department said the investigation is closed.

 We wish to thank all of those individuals who assisted in the investigation by calling in tips and sharing the information to help locate this family, the police department said in a news release.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Missing family from West Michigan found in Wisconsin
New York  Theres an elephant in the courtroom during jury selection at the criminal tax fraud trial of two of Donald Trumps companies  the former president himself, who isn't accused in the case.

Open acknowledgment of strong feelings about Trump, mostly negative, came from dozens of potential jurors, including some of the roughly 20 who made it into detailed questioning by government and defense lawyers since the screening started on Monday.

After a break in the proceedings Wednesday, jury selection resumed Thursday in state trial court in Manhattan. Twelve jurors have now been selected, four women and eight men. The selection process will continue into Friday to seat alternate jurors.

The screening weeded out several potential jurors who initially said they could put aside their feelings about Trump and be impartial. However, during subsequent questioning by attorneys, they disclosed deeper animosity that prompted their dismissals.

But can such screening identify other potential jurors who have unfaltering feelings, pro or con, about Trump, and haven't yet been identified? Seating one or more of such jury candidates could result in an unfair conviction or acquittal, and trigger lengthy appeals if the bias were uncovered after the trial concludes.

Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter

"That's one of the most dangerous things about jury selection," particularly in a case linked to Trump, who is "extremely polarizing," said Daniel Bibb, a former Manhattan assistant district attorney who now has a private criminal defense practice. "It's problematic for both sides."

Despite the potential partiality, seven jurors were seated by Tuesdays lunch break. Acting Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, a trial-level judge in New York's state court system, said he hoped five more jurors and as many as six alternates would be selected by weeks end.

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That timetable would enable attorneys to deliver opening arguments on Monday in the first criminal trial involving Trumps businesses.

The trial stems from a 2021 state court indictment that accuses two subsidiaries that do business under the Trump Organization name. The Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation are charged in a fraud scheme that allegedly paid untaxed, off-the-books payments to Allen Weisselberg, Trump's longtime top financial lieutenant, and others from 2005 to mid-2021.

The secret, no-tax-paid perks funded a Manhattan apartment for the Trump confidante, along with luxury vehicles and private school tuition for his grandchildren.

Weisselberg pleaded guilty to 15 criminal counts in August as part of an agreement that requires him to testify truthfully if prosecutors call him as a witness. But the companies pleaded not guilty and opted for trial.

Allen Weisselberg stands between President-elect Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York on Jan. 11, 2017.

When Merchan first informed roughly 130 potential jurors about details of the case on Monday, many waved their hands in the air to request private screening by the judge and lawyers about reasons they could not serve. The rationales included an estimated six-week trial length that would disrupt family or business plans, as well as strong feelings about Trump.

The judge ultimately dismissed more than half of that group by the end of the first day of questioning.

Six or more of the roughly 20 other potential jurors went through more detailed screening by the attorneys acknowledged having strong feelings about Trump. And a few didn't hold back when the lawyers probed for more detailed explanations.

"If he were a defendant in this case, I would not be able to sit in this jury," said a potential juror who identified herself during screening as a bar manager from Manhattan's East Village neighborhood. "I can't deny it. I really do not like Trump."

Henry Lewis, who described himself as a West Village resident and who holds a PhD in computer science and is a retiree from a tech career, characterized Trump as "a criminal" who "has no morals."

"I think he's done irreparable damage to this country," said Lewis.

Lewis, the bar manager and others who said they did not feel they could be fair and impartial jurors because of the Trump connection were dismissed.

Susan Necheles, one of the defense lawyers in the case, said the U.S. jury system relies on the honesty of jurors, who sometimes find it difficult to "confront and admit their own prejudices and recognize that those prejudices could prevent them from being fair."

"I am grateful to those jurors who have been honest about their feelings about former President Trump," added Necheles. "The honest jurors are not the problem. The problem is dishonest jurors, and we will do all that we can to ferret out those people."

"There may be a lot of them," said Jill Huntley Taylor, founder and president of Philadelphia-based Taylor Trial Consulting. "Regardless, it's going to be hard to find jurors who do not have a view about Trump."

Through the end of jury screening on Tuesday, no potential juror spoke openly in court of having strong positive feelings about the former president who is unpopular in Manhattan, one of the most Democratic parts of a heavily Democratic state. Joe Biden won more than seven times as many of the county's votes as Trump during the 2020 presidential election, New York State Board of Elections data shows.

"What was once home turf" for Trump "isn't home turf anymore," said Taylor.

Thursday, the screening process did identify a potential juror with positive feelings toward Trump. The prosecution used a peremptory challenge to dismiss// her.

Trump companies face criminal trial: Trump Organization companies face jury selection in Manhattan criminal tax fraud trial

Will Trump testify?: House Jan. 6 committee subpoenas former President Donald Trump

Top Trump aide meets with Jan. 6 panel: Hope Hicks, former White House aide to Trump, meets with House Jan. 6 panel, reports say

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump draws ire from potential jurors at trial of two of his companies
Joseph Kennedy makes first appearance at the Volusia County Branch Jail, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

An Oklahoma man who is a person-of-interest in the killing and dismemberment of four men in that state has waived extradition, clearing the way for his return.

Joseph Kennedy II, 67, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was being held without bond Thursday at the Volusia County Branch Jail, where he has been since his arrest Oct. 18 when he was stopped driving a stolen truck he said belonged to a friend, an affidavit stated.

Kennedy waived extradition on Tuesday according to a court document. Authorities in Oklahoma can make arrangements to pick him up at the Volusia jail and return him to that state.

Kennedy is a person of interest in the deaths of four men in Okmulgee whose dismembered bodies were found in the Deep Fork River in Oklahoma, according to the Okmulgee Police Department. The victims' bodies had gunshot wounds, investigators said.

Mark Chastain, 32, Billy Chastain, 30, and Mike Sparks, 32, all of Okmulgee were reported missing by Mark Chastain's wife on Oct. 10. A few hours later, Alex Stevens, 29, also of Okmulgee, was reported missing by his mother, police said.

Police believe the four friends left Billy Chastain's home on bicycles around 8 p.m. Oct. 9, according to a news release.

Said he was suicidal: Person-of-interest in killing of 4 Oklahoma men said he planned to jump from hotel balcony

Held without bail: Person of interest in 4 homicides in Oklahoma held without bail in Volusia County

Arrested in Daytona Beach Shores: Daytona Beach Shores police arrest Oklahoma man, person of interest in 4 homicides. What we know

Okmulgee police said they spoke to Kennedy II once, but after finding blood on a property adjacent to his salvage yard, police tried to reach him again, but he had disappeared.

In an email on Thursday, Okmulgee Police Chief Joe Prentice wrote that another agency would handle Kennedy's transportation, which would be arranged through the court system.

An investigator at the Okmulgee County Sheriff's Office said it would handle transport, but had not yet been made aware of any plans.

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Daytona Beach Shores Police arrested Kennedy about 8:29 a.m. Oct. 18 on A1A at the Botefuhr Avenue approach when a license plate reader alerted them that the truck he was driving had been reported stolen in Oklahoma.

Kennedy told police that he was suicidal, with plans to jump off of a hotel balcony, the affidavit stated.

Kennedy said the Toyota Tundra he was driving belonged to a friend, according to the affidavit. Kennedy said that about two months ago, the friend said he could use the truck whenever he wanted, the affidavit stated.

Kennedy told police he went to the Tundra owner's house on Oct. 14 and, without telling his friend, drove off in the vehicle, the affidavit stated. He said the keys were in the truck.

Kennedy told police that he intended to drive to Florida for the weekend. He did not go home like planned, and said he was suicidal, the affidavit stated.

Daytona Beach Shores police charged Kennedy with grand theft of a motor vehicle.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, help is available at 800-539-4228 or by calling a suicide and crisis lifeline at 988.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Man arrested in Daytona Beach Shores waives extradition to Oklahoma
Four weeks after missing 20-month-old Quinton Simon went missing, authorities continue what theyve described as a gruelling search for his body.

Little is known about the nature of the evidence that led investigators to the tragic conclusion that the toddler is dead, but theyve named his mother, 22-year-old Leilani Simon, as the prime suspect in the case.

The early stages of the search for little Quinton were marked by hopes that he would be found safe. Ms Simon reported him missing on 5 October, initially saying that she believed someone had come inside the home she shares with her mother, stepfather and children in Savannah, Georgia, and taken Quinton.

Just a week after the report was made, the Chatham County police and the FBI revealed Quinton was believed dead, and on 18 October the departments gave a harrowing development; Quinton was thought to be buried in a landfill after his body was reportedly disposed of in a dumpster.

As the FBI search zeroed in on the Waste Management landfill last week, Ms Simon was seen drinking tequila at a bar in the neighbouring Tybee Island with his mother, sparking outrage within the community and calls for her arrest.

On 24 October, Ms Simon made her first media appearance, saying shes not hiding and giving ambiguous statements. She said she hoped Quinton was found happy and alive  despite authorities remarks  and that she will take [herself] to the police station, if the evidence points at her.

Every day that goes by its less tears and more anger, not knowing whats happening, if thats even understandable, Ms Simon told WTOC. You wake up every day, angry, hoping that youll get a phone call, and that phone call just doesnt come.

Disappearance and early reports

Quinton went missing on 5 October from his home in Savannah, a coastal city on the border between Georgia and South Carolina, in Chatham County.

He was last seen at about 6am that day at an address in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road and was reported missing at approximately 9.40am by his mother, Leilani Simon. She told police her son was playing in a playpen when he was last seen, although earlier reports suggested Quinton had wandered off, CNN reported.

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A dispatch call by emergency service, which has been obtained by local media, suggested the front door to the family home was found open and that Ms Simon told 911 she thinks someone came in and took him.

Quintons babysitter, Diana McCarta, said she received a message at 9am asking if she knew where he was, and immediately went to the familys home to help search for Quinton before his mother eventually phoned police at about 9.40am, she said in an interview with WSAV.

A missing persons poster for Quinton Simon (FBI)

Ms MsCarta said that the family didnt want that (her help) and she had been due to look after both Quinon and his three-year-old brother that day but was told not to come at 5.30am, about half an hour before he was last seen.

He was wearing a light blue Sesame Street shirt and black pants.

Quintons mother gives ambiguous statements in televised interview

Quintons mother, Leilani Simon, broke her silence on Monday when she spoke to local news station WTOC.

Im here. Ive been here every day since this. Im not running and Im not hiding, she told WTOC. And if something does come up that I am at fault, I will take myself to that police station.

Ever since Quinton went missing, she says shes been the target of constant harassment.

It makes it hard to even process whats going around us. We get to the point where we have to barricade our own home in order to even feel safe in our backyard because we cant even process what is happening everywhere else, or even have the time to do so, she continued in her interview with WTOC.

I cant even walk out and appreciate my own sons memorial or put down gifts that I got for him. I cant even go out there and do that without harassment and negligence and everything. Its just devastating to see that this is how the outside world reacts.

Ms Simon said she hoped her son was found happy and healthy, despite local polices announcement on 13 October that Quinton is believed to be dead.

Over the weekend, three people were arrested while protesting outside the home where Quinton disappeared. Chatham County police went to the home in Savannah on Friday night after receiving complaints about protesters, who then left the scene, WJCL reported.

But later in the night, three protesters returned and blocked the driveway, preventing someone from being able to leave. The protesters - William Garrett, Wanda Boatright and John Boatwright - were subsequently charged with disorderly conduct after ignoring officers orders to move.

Police did not specify whether Quintons mother or his grandmother were home at the time.

Quinton Simon, aged 20 months, has been missing for four weeks. He is believed to be dead, authorities said (Screenshot / WJCL / Facebook / Billie Jo Howell)

Leilani Simon downed tequila shots as FBI wrapped up first day of search in landfill

Last week, Ms Simon and her mother were seen drinking in a town near where the toddler went missing three weeks ago.

As the FBI continues searching for Quintons body in a landfill in Savannah, Georgia, local news station WSAV first reported that Ms Simon, now the prime suspect in the investigation, and her mother Billie Jo Howell were seen drinking at Sting Rays, a bar in the neighbouring Tybee Island.

When contacted by The Independent, a staff member said: They were here, they drank, they left.

A server also told the New York Post that Ms Simon and Ms Howell downed tequila shots and stayed at the bar for hours on 18 October, despite other customers voicing that they were upset the pair were drinking in public in the middle of an investigation into Quintons likely death.

They were having a great time, like they didnt have a care in the world, a server told the Post. They were drinking Patron shots in the deck area, being loud and laughing. Its almost like they were trying to draw attention to themselves.

The FBI released this photo of crews collecting rakes to dig through a landfill in their search for Quinton Simon (FBI)

Leilani hasnt always done the right thing, mother says

Speaking to reporters days merely after his disappearance, Quintons grandparents said the boys mother hasnt always done the right thing, and expressed concern for the 20-month-old.

Sometimes she does really great, sometimes she doesnt, Ms Howell told ABC30. I dont know what to think right now...I dont know if I can trust her or I dont. I just know Im hurting and I want this baby home. Hes my baby.

Ms Howell reportedly lived at the same address as Quinton and Ms Simon along with her husband Thomas Howell, and her daughters boyfriend, WJCL reported.

The news outlet obtained court documents alleging an eviction despite, with Ms Howell seeking to remove her daughter and her boyfriend from the property over alleged damage and a lack of peace. This remains unconfirmed, however.

The same documents also stated that Quintons grandparents have custody of the child, according to WJCL.

Quintons mother has not spoken to reporters.

Ms McCarta, who told WSAV she babysits the two children, said in an interview on 11 October that she had previously reported the family to Georgias department of families and children services (DFCS) with concerns, but this was unconfirmed.

The department told The Independent: DHS/DFCS is bound by both state and federal law to protect the privacy of the people we serve. As such, we are unable to comment on the specifics of any reported abuse or neglect cases nor confirm or deny the existence of any abuse or neglect records.

It continued: We take seriously every report that might be made to the Department and work with law enforcement when appropriate to ensure the safety of Georgias children.

At least one Facebook post from Ms Howell, which was seen by Fox News last week, meanwhile referred to the coming calm after a storm, local reports said. It remains unclear what the message behind the reshared post was, in light of an expected update from police on the evidence found.

The @WSAV Investigative Unit has learned as federal agents were ending their first day of searching for #QuintonSimon in a dump, his mom and grandmother were taking shots and drinking at a popular Tybee Island beach bar. pic.twitter.com/iQ1nXxFSGO  Brett Buffington (@BrettWSAV) October 19, 2022

Chatham County Sheriff Jeff Hadley has said that Ms Simon was believed to be in Chatham County and that she was not a flight risk.

He added that authorities wouldnt be releasing more information about the evidence they had encountered, noting they had one shot at arresting Ms Simon.

A timeline of developments

Early into the search for Quinton, Chatham County police said they did not believe foul play was involved in his disappearance and that they hoped to find him alive, WJCL reported.

In the days after Quinton was reported missing, search warrants were carried out on a nearby pond, a backyard swimming pool and the house itself in the 500 block of Buckhalter Road in Savannah, police said.

Those areas were re-canvassed on 10 October when the pool in the backyard of the home was drained.

While it was unclear if any evidence was found or removed from it, police announced on 11 October the discovery of evidence that we believe will help move this case forward. That evidence went under analysis, police said.

On 18 October, police announced that Quinton is believed to have been buried in a landfill.

In a statement that was shared on Facebook, police said. The CCPD and the FBI have notified Quinton Simons family that we believe he is deceased.

His mother, Ms Simon, has been named a prime suspect.

Officials held the first press conference on the case on 13 October, where they reiterated the belief that Quinton is deceased.

To the Chatham County community, our heart breaks along with yours trying to comprehend what we believe happened here. The FBI along with our law enforcement agencies have followed every lead, every tip and every piece of evidence to get to this point and we will continue to do so, FBI Supervisor Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said.

Officials did not disclose the nature of evidence suggesting Quinton is dead, or why Ms Simon is the main suspect.

The FBI is supporting the Chatham County Police Department in the investigation, with law enforcement spending 18 to 20 hours a day looking for the 20-month-old child, CNN reported.

Chatham County police said in an earlier statement that it had executed search warrants and continued to interview those who might have information that could be helpful in the investigation with the help of the FBI.

Local Georgia police and the FBI think the 20-month-old was placed in a dumpster and taken to a landfill in the area, prompting a search that is now underway.

Mr Hadley said at a press briefing that we know that this is going to be a physically, mentally and emotionally gruelling task for our investigators and team.

We want justice for Quinton just like everyone else, he added.

FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke said during the press conference that we, along with our law enforcement partners, go into this process with heavy hearts.

We did not want to end up at this point. But the evidence has taken us here, he added.

Mr Clarke said that this will not be quick and it will not be easy, and the outcome is uncertain.

As the chief said, we want justice for Quinton, and we want to find him a proper resting place, he said.

Weve been following the evidence, where it has taken us and the evidence has taken us to this landfill, Mr Clarke added.

Chief Hadley said he was unable to share what evidence led the authorities to the landfill.

I cant thank the FBI enough for all that they have done, the chief said. They have been tremendous and phenomenal.

Were not ready to charge anyone yet, we still have work to do, he added. We still have an investigation to do and we are not going to do anything preemptively that would harm future prosecution.

The police chief was asked by the press how long he expects the landfill search to take.

Its kind of up to what happens, but as Agent Clarke said, this is not going to be quick, he replied. This is not going to happen within a day or so. We are here for the long haul.

The police chief was asked about the whereabouts of Quintons mother, Lelani Simon, who has been identified as the prime suspect but hasnt been arrested or charged. He said she was not a flight risk but did not elaborate in his response
Tens of thousands of Iranians across the country defied phalanxes of security forces to march and protest against the clerical regime on Wednesday, the religiously potent and politically symbolic 40th day since the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police.

In the central Iranian city of Shiraz, at least 15 people were killed in unclear circumstances after gunmen attacked a shrine, according to state media. Two alleged terrorists were arrested and another was being pursued, according to other reports.

The weeks-long movement born of Aminis death is rooted in opposition to Islamic social rules and led by mostly secular Iranians, and among observers and activists, there were doubts as to whether they would take to the 40th day mourning tradition rooted in faith.

But opponents to the regime embraced the day enthusiastically.

Mostly Iranian Kurds living in or near Aminis western Iranian hometown of Saqez in western Iran could be seen walking for miles along highways and across fields to get to her burial spot after regime forces shut down or restricted vehicular traffic and menaced residents with gunfire since Tuesday night.

Video showed a massive crowd gathered in front of the governors office in Saqez.

Dont be afraid, dont be afraid, we are all together, they chanted.

Protests broke out on university campuses across the country, including in Tehran, the capital, Mashhad, Tabriz, Hamadan, and at high schools among teenagers walking home from classes.

A woman standing on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Aichi cemetery in Saqez, Mahsa Aminis home town in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, to mark 40 days since her death (UGC/AFP via Getty Images)

Basijis get lost! Basjis get lost! women at al-Zahra University could be seen chanting, referring to the Baiji paramilitaries terrorising Iranian protesters, as they confronted officials trying to bar their movement.

Doctors and dentists, marking Aminis passing and as well as voicing anger over a detained fellow medical professional, poured into streets of Tehran, before they were chased away by regime enforcers firing teargas or shotgun rounds, according to video posted online. A shopping mall on central Tehrans Vali Asr Square was flooded with young protesters, as was the traditional Grand Bazaar that was once the seat of commercial power.

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Freedom, freedom, freedom! they chanted, according to a video posted online.

Even in the computer bazaar of Tehran, filled with Iranian Iranian yuppies who listen to western music and download the latest apps, tech workers in black beat their chests in a mourning ritual.

We will kill, we will kill, he who killed our sister, they chanted.

People march down the highway toward the Aychi Cemetery (VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS)

The country was also hit by labour actions. Workers at a refinery in Tehran went on strike, as did shopkeepers in commercial districts in many cities, including Tehran, Shiraz and Arak. Workers at the Tabriz stock exchange also staged a work stoppage, ostensibly to protest the state of capital markets.

In the Islamic and Eastern Orthodox Christian faiths, the 40th day after a death marks the deceaseds soul passing from the earth to the afterlife. It is often marked by friends and relatives returning to the gravesite to pay their respects .

In the run-up to the 1979 revolution that led to the establishment of Tehrans clerical regime, 40th day commemorations of dead protesters were marked by political demonstrations met by gunfire and deaths, and further protests 40 days later, in cycles that built up momentum that led to the downfall of the countrys monarchy.

Analysts predict more unrest in the coming days as protesters also mark the 40th days of Nika Shakarami and Sarina Esmailzadeh, two juvenile protesters allegedly killed by regime enforcers.

The 40th commemoration is tradition more than religion, said Iranian activist Sharare Mahboud, who left Iran three years ago after coming under the scrutiny of the security forces. From now on, Iranians will look for any excuse to protest, even if that protest is religious. And if they beat their chests in mourning and wear black, maybe the security forces will go a little easier on them.

State broadcast media mostly ignored Wednesdays protests even as dramatic footage of mass unrest flooded the internet and opposition satellite television channels. The front page of the website of Irans English-language Press TV featured stories about protests over the cost of living in France and Spain, but not a word about the unrest at home.

Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran (AP)

The regime has responded to the protests with calibrated violence. At least 252 protesters, including 36 juveniles, have been killed in the violence, and at least 13,533 arrested, according to Hrana, a human rights monitoring group.

The regime blames outside agitators for provoking the unrest, and has vowed to take legal action against UK-based hostile media" for supporting terrorism. In particular, it has blamed the popular Saudi-backed Iran International television network as well as BBC Persian, as well as Manoto TV, all based in London.

The UK and the whole empire of lies based in London are sowing chaos and staging psychological warfare to keep the protests going, said an editorial in the Javan newspaper, which is linked to the Revolutionary Guard.

As dusk settled, trash bins in central Tehran began burning, and streets of some quarters began turning into rock battles between security forces and citizens.

People walk across a pedestrian crossing in Valiasr square in the centre of Iran's capital Tehran (AFP via Getty Images)

This is a revolution, said Ms Mahboud, who is regularly in touch with protesters in Iran, including teens who defy their parents wishes and take to the streets daily. Maybe it will take one or two years. Probably a lot of people will die. The regime will kill anybody. They are merciless. And they have nowhere else on the planet to go.
Columbia Police Chief Geoff Jones police badge sits against his coat as he speaks during a press conference.

Columbia Police Department investigators have found the alleged perpetrator of a violent sexual assault and attempted murder from 1984.

Toni Messina, the department's communications and outreach supervisor, announced the development Thursday, joined at City Hall by Police Chief Geoff Jones and Assistant Chief Jeremiah Hunter.

The case had run cold but was picked up again in March 2020 by Detective Renee Wilbarger.

Following a review of the case and advancements in DNA technology, among other law enforcement consultations, officers located James Frederick Wilson, 59, in Mooresville, North Carolina. Wilson was 21 at the time of the alleged incident in Columbia, which was first reported on March 24, 1984.

It is believed Wilson left Columbia in 1985 or 1986. It is not known if he has any criminal history in North Carolina, Jones said. The Tribune was unable to immediately access North Carolina's state court records system.

"We are going to dig a little more into his past," Jones said. "There still is a lot of work to be done."

The department has set up a tip line of 573-874-7400 in case there are further victims or for people to provide more information. People also can email information to columbiapolicetipline@como.gov or call CrimeStoppers at 573-875-8477 to remain anonymous.

"If there are people out there who have suffered at the hands of this man, please reach out to us," Jones said, adding the department will work with wherever a person may live. "We will do our very best to hold (Wilson) accountable for anything he has done outside of what we know."

Wilson is in custody in North Carolina on suspicion of forcible rape with a weapon and first-degree assault. He eventually will be extradited back to Missouri. He was booked into the Iredell County, North Carolina, jail at approximately 11:47 a.m. Thursday. He is being held on a $1 million bond.

The victim is aware of the arrest, Messina said. Identifying information is being withheld to protect the victim's privacy. Her throat allegedly was cut during the assault, Hunter said, adding he could not say if Wilson and the victim had known each other prior to the alleged attack.

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Thirty-eight years is a long time to carry the burden, Jones said in reference to the victim, whom he called a survivor.

"We are here to stand with you and behind you through this process. You are not alone," he said.

Wilson was located through another person conducting a genealogical DNA search, Hunter said, adding several labs were consulted by Wilbarger to conduct the DNA analysis of evidence collected in 1984. The department received a call in September about a DNA profile match, he said.

A genealogical archeologist in Washington state was working on building a family tree for a client.

"A hit came open in that family tree, which identified some possible relatives of the suspect," Hunter said. "Through that, we were able to narrow it down through the help of identifying a couple people  one of them being James Wilson."

A high school yearbook photo and sketch-artist rendering of the suspect were similar enough to Wilson, he added. Through the assistance of North Carolina Bureau of Investigations, fresh DNA evidence of Wilson was acquired to serve as a comparison to what was collected in 1984, Hunter said.

The department continues to review other cold cases, some of which have a chance of being solved, Jones said.

"We're going to continue down that road. ... We don't want any of these cold cases to go without review," he said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia police make arrest in 1984 cold case
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.

___

See AP's complete coverage of the food crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/food-crisis.
(Adds context on G20 summit)

BEIJING, Oct 27 (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping said China is willing to work with the United States to find ways to get along to the benefit of both, Chinese state television reported on Thursday, ahead of a possible meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Indonesia.

As major powers, China and the United States should strengthen communication and cooperation to help provide stability to the world, Xi said in a message to an event of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations on Wednesday.

The two countries have been at odds over China's policy towards Taiwan, China's relationship with Russia and more recently, U.S. efforts to prevent its semiconductor companies selling technology to Chinese companies.

China was recently infuriated by a string of visits by U.S. lawmakers to Taiwan. China said the United States was sending "dangerous signals" on the democratically governed island, which China claims as its own..

Xi, who has just secured a ground-breaking third term as leader of the ruling Communist Party overseeing the world's second-largest economy, has denounced foreign interference over Taiwan and recently said China would never renounce the right to use force over it.

Biden on Wednesday said "the United State does not seek conflict with China".

The U.S. administration, following Xi's securing of his third term over the weekend, has stressed the importance of keeping lines of communication open with China.

Xi and Biden are expected to attend a G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November, but no information has been officially released on the possibility of a meeting between them. (Reporting by Albee Zhang and Bernard Orr; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman, Robert Birsel)
FILE PHOTO: A South Korean army soldier stands guard at the South's dismantled guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the central section of the inter-Korean border in Cheorwon

By Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - A 2018 military agreement between North Korea and South Korea designed to prevent inadvertent clashes along their shared border may be at risk after the South accused the North of violating the deal by firing artillery into buffer zones.

The so-called Comprehensive Military Agreement (CMA) was the most substantive deal to come from the months of meetings between leader Kim Jong Un and then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in.

With those talks long stalled, however, recent drills and shows of force along the fortified border between the Koreas have cast doubts on the future of the measures, which were meant to reduce tensions.

This month South Korea accused Pyongyang of violating the agreement after North Korean artillery shells fell into a maritime buffer zone that is supposed to be free of live-fire drills under the agreement.

The North said South Korea had resumed using propaganda loudspeakers at the border in violation of the agreement. South Korea denied that, but said it did use a "broadcasting device" to try to alert the North to a medical helicopter that had to fly near the border to transport a patient.

For now, South Korea says it is not calling the CMA off, but is urging North Korea to abide by its measures. North Korea has also not officially abrogated the deal, and the South's ministry of defence told Reuters that inter-Korean military hotlines are operating.

"It prevents mistakes, it prevents misunderstanding and miscalculation that can lead you to resort to hostilities," a former senior U.S. defence official who served in South Korea said of the agreement, noting a "palpable reduction in tensions" during 2018.

He cautioned that the deal's collapse wouldn't automatically mean a higher risk of armed conflict, as the armistice agreement that ended fighting during the 1950-1953 Korean War remains in effect and has prevented a return to overt hostilities so far.

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"But if they abrogated it, it'll be a message to the North basically saying okay, we're back to square one, and the 'fire and fury' of 2017," he said. "And that's not helpful."

GROWING DEBATE

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said during his election campaign before taking office in May that North Korea has been violating the military agreement, and he would urge compliance but might consider scrapping it if there is no change from Pyongyang.

Some hawkish members of Yoons conservative People Power Party have sought to reconsider the deal amid North Korea's record missile launches and signs it could resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time since 2017.

Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup, who ruled out scrapping the pact during his confirmation hearing in May, signalled a shift in the Yoon administration's thinking this month.

"It is not desirable for us alone to abide by the agreement when North Korea doesnt," he said when asked about the deal during a parliamentary hearing on Oct. 4, adding that he would "review the effectiveness" of the agreement depending on the intensity of North Korean provocations.

Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, who handles relations with the North, told parliament on Monday that there is no current consideration of cancelling or suspending any inter-Korean agreements, but that a "qualitative change in the situation in the future" could prompt officials to reconsider.

'CEASE HOSTILE ACTS'

In the CMA, military leaders from both countries agreed to "completely cease all hostile acts against each other" that are the source of military tension and conflict.

Among other measures, the two sides agreed to end drills near the border, ban live-fire exercises in certain areas, impose no-fly zones, remove some guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone, and maintain hotlines.

This year South Korea and its U.S. allies have responded to a record number of North Korean missile tests with stepped up military drills. Those have been met with more tests and drills from North Korea, including rare warplane sorties near the border.

Observers said legal and political obstacles could prevent either Korea from officially ending the deal, but its measures could increasingly be ignored.

"I think there is a chance of it sort of being abrogated by South Korea if this sort of aggressive public behaviour by North Korea continues, and specifically if there's a seventh nuclear test," said the former U.S. defence official, citing recent conversations with South Korean officials.

It's unlikely that South Korea would respond to North Korean violations in kind, but a breakdown in the hotlines or other communication would be dangerous, said former General Park Cheol-kyun, who worked on international policy at South Korea's Defense Ministry until May.

"Such channels are critical in any situation, and now things are getting very tense," he said.

Although unfortunate, a collapse of the CMA would not cause a spike in tensions or threaten stability on the Korean Peninsula, said Duyeon Kim, with the U.S.-based Center for a New American Security.

"If Pyongyang is serious about risk reduction and credible confidence- and security-building measures, then it would return to the dialogue table with South Korea and the United States," she said.

(Reporting by Josh Smith and Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
In the 90s and early 2000s, graduate business students didnt really consider retail to be a career. It was seen more as an occupation. But in 2002, the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative, which later became the Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, set out to change that.

The curriculum was focused on the business of retailing and went deep into marketing, merchandising and other related business functions. What further differentiated the center was how it convened retail executives, researchers and academics with students. But the center is most renowned for breeding innovation and leadership. The center, which is located at Tangen Hall at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, also touts an advisory board and directors council composed of the top executives in retail and fashion and are readily available for summits, ideation and programs with students  and it is all thanks to the vision of Jay Baker.

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The current advisory board includes Jay Baker, who serves as the boards chairman; Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of Alshaya Group; Laura Alber, chief executive officer of Williams-Sonoma Inc.; Tim Baxter, CEO of Express; Dorrit Bern, former chairman, CEO and president of Charming Shoppes; William P. Lauder, executive chairman and director of The Estee Lauder Cos. Inc.; Tory Burch, founder of Tory Burch LLC; Steve Bratspies, CEO of Hanesbrands Inc.; Emanuel Chirico, chairman and former CEO of PVH Corp.; Silas Chou, president and CEO of Novel Enterprises; Oscar Feldenkreis, president and CEO of Perry Ellis International; Kevin Plank, executive chairman of Under Armour Inc., and Victoria Vandagriff, president of Delta Galil USA, among many others who are all notable.

The research produced by the center spans a broad range of subjects that goes down deep into topics from consumer behavior and e-commerce platforms to executive leadership and sustainability. The universitys coursework links retail theory to practice for both undergraduate and graduate students. There are several courses across the curriculum in which faculty teach retail practice and case studies of prominent retail brands. For undergraduate students only, there is an opportunity to complete a secondary concentration in retailing.

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When the Baker initiative first launched, the retail industry was undergoing a significant transformation. E-commerce was still in its early stages, with many retailers running their web businesses out of a catalogue division. After the dot-com bust, M&A activity in the retail sector started to pick up, and the center found itself attractive to people who were in private equity or banking and were looking for a change in direction.

Amanda Baldwin, CEO of SuperGoop who held various positions at L Catterton, Dior Beauty at LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Clinique, Apax Partners and Goldman, Sachs & Co., is a Wharton graduate who serves on the Baker Retailing Centers directors council. She said the Baker initiative was attractive because she had been working in private equity and focused on consumer/retail investments.

I really wanted an opportunity to pivot into actually seeing what it was like to operate a business, Baldwin said. That was my dream for why I went back to business school, and it was why I chose Wharton. When I chose this industry, it was a little bit different, it was not quite as popular as it is now for MBAs. I have a perspective, both first and foremost as a former student, about how critical that program was setting me up with just learning the language and the lingo.

Baldwin, who graduated from Wharton in 2006, said what stands out about the center is meeting the right people and being put in these rooms that I never imagined Id be put in. It was very, very formative for me in those couple of years I was at business school. Its been very impactful for me on the other side. Its probably my most important connection back to Wharton.

As Ive evolved in my career, Ive been able to now sit on the directors council [at the Baker Retailing Center], Baldwin noted. Ive also now been able to contribute from the other side. I just hired my chief of staff, somebody who I met at a Baker event.

Baldwin and other alumni described their experience at Wharton and the center as one of a kind and a place for innovation and collaboration.

Brendan Hoffman, CEO and president of Wolverine Worldwide, serves on the advisory board of the Baker Retailing Center and previously served as president and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., Vince, Lord & Taylor and Neiman Marcus Direct. Hoffman went to Penn as an undergraduate in the late 80s, and said at the time he didnt know retail was a viable career. Hes a self-described Penn lifer who studied history and economics.

There was nothing that told me this was a career until retailers and department stores started coming on campus and talking about their training programs, he said, adding that he ended up in the May Company training program. [Later] I decided to go back to get my MBA; in part, because I didnt know if this was a real career. But at that point I had started to realize that this was something I enjoyed. So, I went back and I got my MBA at Wharton in the mid-1990s.

Tom Robertson, William Lauder and Jay Baker.

In 2002, when the Baker initiative was about to launch, it was through his boss at Neiman Marcus, Burt Tansky, that Hoffman ended up at the first meeting, not as a board member but as just a valued guestand to see what Jay was trying to do to give credibility to retail and fashion as a career, for me, was just tremendously exciting.

It was a whos who of retail and fashion that he was able to gather because of who he was and how much affection people had for him just further validated this, Hoffman explained. And then, within a few years, I was added to the board, and Ive been part of it ever since. And now, fast forward 20 years, and you see people that were early on in 2004 and 2005 who are now seasoned executives in the industry.

Hoffman said Bakers impact in the industry is immeasurable because so many of these people that are now part of this industry go through the Baker Center, they wouldnt have thought of retail as a career. They wouldve been taking their talent somewhere else and done great things, but not in our industry.

Hoffman reiterated the importance of the Baker Retailing Center as a place where researchers and industry leaders convene with students. While getting her degree, Baldwin said she attended sessions, and there was every big retail CEO in the industry attending. I would just pinch myself at the idea that I was sitting there with them, she said. Certainly I was not on the board, so I wasnt in the entire meeting, but they would invite students to come to lunch in Huntsman Hall and hear a presentation.

Hoffman and Baldwin said the center was renowned early on for fostering innovative thinking and collaboration that was action-oriented. The center remains pragmatic in its work today, thanks to Bakers vision. Jeff Raider, cofounder and co-CEO of Harrys, graduated from Wharton in 2010, and said the center brings together an amazing group of leaders and thinkers across the retail spectrum and academia and facilitates the sharing of ideas and learnings, inspires collaboration and promotes progress.

Tom Robertson, former dean and the Joshua J. Harris professor of marketing, and academic director of the Baker Retailing Center, credits Baker for the centers success. Jay has been the founder of the center and its most active proponent, Robertson said. He has been our connection to retail industry leaders and a magnet to attract these leaders to our conferences. He has been a source of wisdom and insight to help project the future of retailing. He has endorsed emerging trends while simultaneously championing the profitable evolution of traditional retail. Jay also has been a strong force behind our teaching: He loves being in contact with our students and they, in turn, admire his enthusiasm for all things retail.

Daniella Vitale, CEO of Salvatore Ferragamo, North America, who also serves on the advisory board of the center, said Baker has been an enthusiastic and dedicated partner to the industry. He puts together great programs, and summits and is present at every single one. He put together a world-class board that reflects the evolution of our industry.

Steven Silverstein, CEO and president of Spencer Spirit Holdings, described Baker as a visionary. Through his commitment and enthusiasm, he has inspired a curriculum based in the retail industry that is rare in the graduate business school world, Silverstein said. This has expanded the boundaries and definitions of career opportunities from the most entrepreneurial to world-class retailers, e-tailers and manufacturers.

Daniel McCarthy, assistant professor of marketing at the Goizueta Business School of Emory University, praised the Baker Retailing Center and said it was repeatedly an invaluable source of support for me throughout my Ph.D., both through much-needed funding and through the opportunity to present my research to their members. I had received support for four different research projects I had been working on, including research assistant funding for one project that ended up forming the core of my dissertation around customer-based corporate valuation. I couldnt be grateful enough.

Neil Blumenthal, cofounder and co-CEO of Warby Parker, is a Wharton graduate who serves on the centers directors council. Blumenthal cited the centers success in its ability to convene students, thought leaders, academics and practitioners. But Blumenthal said, It takes trust and credibility and expertise, of which theres no better institution than Wharton. And what I mean by that is to get leaders in the industry to come together, they must agree that its a good use of time, and Wharton has that credibility.

Blumenthal added that to get industry leaders and executives, for example, to speak freely they need to have trust in the convenor that not only that whats being shared will be used for good purposes and that therell be good outcomes from it.

Blumenthal said the centers advisers and councils hold dinners in New York and San Francisco, and it includes a bunch of innovators within retail. So it might be us from Warby Parker, somebody from Allbirds, but also folks that might be pioneering spirits on demand or someone outside of retail and apparel.

And were always trying to learn from each other, Blumenthal said. We might bring in somebody from Shopify to talk on, what are we seeing within pure e-commerce? And there are always some Wharton professors in the room and theyre sharing some of their cutting-edge research, but theyre also hearing ideas from us on what they should be researching. And thats how you also marry practice with research.

Blumenthal summed up the role of the center and its influence on the industry by noting that retail can be a forgotten industry almost because it hides in plain sight. Its the only industry that touches our lives every single day, multiple times a day. The Baker Retailing Center is one of the few world-renowned research institutes dedicated to the profession of retail. So I think that in itself is special and innovative. And a few of the things that the Baker Retailing Center does really well is bringing together practitioners, bring together world-leading researchers and executives from different company stages and sizes to different approaches of retail.

And the magic always happens when you have multiple perspectives together in a room, he added. And that is what makes Baker Retailing Center so special is its convening power and marrying practice and research.
President Biden on Thursday congratulated Israel and Lebanon for finalizing an agreement on a sea boundary between the two, an effort that was mediated by the United States.

Biden described the deal as historic, as it resolves Israeli and Lebanese claims to natural gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and sets the stage for a more stable and prosperous region.

Israeli and Lebanese officials jointly took part in a signing ceremony in the Lebanese city of Naqoura, at the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a more than four-decade-old peacekeeping mission that monitors the border between the two countries.

I am proud to congratulate Israel and Lebanon on officially concluding their agreement to resolve their long-standing maritime boundary dispute. Today in Naqoura, Lebanon, both Parties took the final steps to bring the agreement into force and submitted the final paperwork to the United Nations in the presence of the United States, Biden said in a statement.

As I said when this historic agreement was announced, it will secure the interests of both Israel and Lebanon, and it sets the stage for a more stable and prosperous region. The United States will continue to serve as a facilitator as the parties work to uphold their commitments and implement this agreement.

Biden added, Energyparticularly in the Eastern Mediterraneanshould not be a cause for conflict, but a tool for cooperation, stability, security, and prosperity. This agreement takes us one step closer to realizing a vision for a Middle East that is more secure, integrated, and prosperous, delivering benefits for all the people of the region.

The signing was overseen in Naqoura by Bidens special envoy for energy security, Amos Hochstein, who earlier traveled to Beirut as Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed the text of the agreement provided by the U.S. Hochstein will next travel to Jerusalem to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who had signed the agreement earlier on Thursday.

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The maritime boundary deal is nearly 10 years in the making; it began under the Obama administration, was restarted in the Trump administration and finalized in the Biden administration. It draws a boundary in territorial sea waters between Israel and Lebanon and gives each country claims to separate gas fields  Karish for Israel and Qana for Lebanon.

Supporters of the deal say that Lebanons move to sign an agreement with Israel is a monumental shift for the country, providing de facto recognition of Israel as a sovereign state that Beirut has long refused to acknowledge. The two sides technically remain at war, although Israel views as a greater threat the Iranian-backed political and military group Hezbollah, which controls Lebanons southern border and reportedly maintains nearly 150,000 rockets aimed at Israel.

While Hezbollah threatened violence against Israel amid the negotiations with Lebanon over the maritime boundary, the group, which the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization, gave its blessing for the agreement to proceed.

Lapid in a statement said that the agreement strengthens Israels security and our freedom of action against Hezbollah and the threats to our north.

The Israeli prime minister continued that the agreement is a diplomatic achievement. It is not every day that an enemy country recognizes the State of Israel, in a written agreement, in view of the international community, and added that the U.S. and France provided security and economic guarantees as part of the agreement.

Lebanons Aoun, in a statement from his office, said that the signing of the agreement is a technical work that does not have any political dimensions or effects that contradict the foreign policy pursued by Lebanon in its relations with countries, according to a translation from Arabic.

Elias Bou Saab, the deputy speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, said the U.S. mediation efforts presented a new approach that enabled us to conclude this historic agreement.

You take one side with one side against the other, contribute to reaching what we have reached today. A long time ago I heard about the Abraham Agreement, and today I think that there is a new stage, which may be titled the Amos Hochstein Agreement, he said, according to the readout, referring to the normalization agreements struck by the Trump administration that established ties between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Three-year promotion in the Kingdom of Thailand to raise awareness of high quality and sustainably produced European Dairy from Ireland.

BANGKOK, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the new campaign 'European Dairy - Ireland, working with nature' , Bord Bia  Irish Food Board exhibited at the Food Ingredients Asia trade show in Bangkok, the leading meeting place for Southeast Asia's food and beverage industry. Bord Bia introduced European dairy products from Ireland to Thailand distributors, importers and media representatives.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.prnasia.com/mnr/Sopexa_202210.shtml

To coincide with FI Asia, Bord Bia  Irish Food Board hosted a Sustainable European Dairy from Ireland Trade Seminar on October 6th. The seminar offered expert insights on how quality, safety and sustainability are at the heart of food and drink production in Ireland, and featured presentations on natural and sustainable production methods of European/Irish dairy.

Over 40 dairy industry representatives including local importers, distributors, manufacturers, and media attended the event where they learned about Europe/Ireland's capability as a supplier of high quality and sustainably produced dairy.

The opening address to the seminar was made from H.E. Mr. Pat Bourne - Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Thailand, followed by a Global Dairy Outlook from Mr. YiFan Li, Vice President of Dairy at StoneX and a European Dairy from Ireland overview by Mr. Patrick Lim from Bord Bia. Bord Bia and dairy industry experts provided the latest market research, as well as solutions and potential opportunities for Thai and European/Irish dairy partners.

Speaking at the seminar, Irish Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand H.E. Mr Pat Bourne said "I am honoured to mark the launch of Ireland's new European Dairy  Ireland, working with nature campaign, which is a significant investment in this market. Building our relationship with the Kingdom of Thailand is a high priority for Ireland, and we look forward to supporting this campaign over the coming three-years."

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Mr. Patrick Lim, Market Specialist in Bord Bia said that "Irish dairy exporters and Bord Bia have long recognised the importance of Thai market. Collectively, we strive to build on existing relationships and nurture new ones well into the future. We look forward to utilising our new European Dairy  Ireland, working with nature campaign to complement our activities in Thailand and raise awareness of the high quality, sustainably produced dairy ingredients we have to offer. "

The seminar was followed by a networking session which provided the opportunity for Thai customers to connect with Irish dairy exporters.

{Economic data} Ireland exported over 48 million worth of dairy products to Thailand in 2021, a 55% increase from 2020. Due to strong demand for milk powder ingredients, Irish dairy exports to Thailand are up 9% in value terms in the first seven months of 2022 (Source: Bord Bia https://www.bordbiaperformanceandprospects.com/).

For more HD pictures: Download at this link (https://bit.ly/3Coonjg)

About Bord Bia:

Bord Bia - Irish Food Board is a government agency within the Department of Agriculture. Bord Bia is responsible for the development of new markets and the promotion of Irish food, drink, and horticulture products internationally. The role of Bord Bia is to act as a link between Irish food, drink and horticulture companies and existing and potential customers. Bord Bia has 16 offices around the world, in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America, to promote trade in the international market.

For more information, please contact:

Sophia Bourebouhat

sophia.bourebouhat@sopexa.com

+65 88150732

SOURCE Bord Bia
The Arizona Cardinals announced some practice squad moves Wednesday. Kicker Rodrigo Blankenship was signed to the active roster and receiver Laquon Treadwell was cut, leaving two vacancies.

They added a pair of offensive linemen, signing Sage Doxtater and Danny Isidora.

Isidora was brought back after getting released earlier in October. He has spent time with the team the last two seasons.

Doxtater is 6-7 and 350 lbs. He spent the preseason with the Saints after he was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent from New Mexico State. A native of London, Ontario, Doxtater played in 51 games (47 starts) over six seasons at New Mexico State.

With both Max Garcia and D.J. Humphries not practicing Wednesday, they likely need the bodies for practice.

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One player each NFL team could trade before the deadline, from Chase Claypool to Melvin Gordon

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Stockholm, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

EasyMining receives grant to expand its resource recovery tech

The Sahara add-on technology increases the production of ferric chloride and at the same time increases the quality of sand to be used in construction industry.

EasyMining is awarded a grant of more than 3.5 MSEK (million Swedish Krona) from Swedens energy agency Energimyndigheten for its Sahara project. Working with several partners, EasyMining will further develop its technology for recovering nutrients from incinerated sewage sludge to extract more resources, like the increasingly scarce ferric chloride.

 The Sahara project was developed as an add-on to our process Ash2Phos, in which we leach sewage sludge ash to recover phosphorus, iron, and aluminium. The amount of iron recovered in this initial process was around 15%, but with Sahara, we can recover more than 98% of the iron and produce a much cleaner ferric chloride, says Hanna Landbring, EasyMinings Lead Process Engineer and Project Manager for Sahara.

The recovered iron resource is a commodity and a vital component of water treatment in the form of a coagulant which unfortunately is in short supply due to the war in Ukraine and high energy prices.

Furthermore, the Sahara project also improve the quality of the remaining sand that is left after all other resources have been extracted. Without the Sahara add-on the Ash2Phos process generates a red-brown coloured sand. With the Sahara add-on, most of the iron is removed and the sand will be grey and better suited for cement manufacturing.

Hanna Landbring and Cristian Tunsu at EasyMining.

Hanna Landbring, Lead Process Engineer and Project Manager, and Cristian Tunsu, Manager of Analysis and Quality Control and R&D Lead at EasyMining.



The project was in the initial stages of development, when it was noticed that Energimyndigheten had published a grant focusing on Circular economy and resource use within the limits of the planet.

 We realised that we could apply for funding to study this deeper and do more extensive tests than we had originally budgeted and planned for, says Cristian Tunsu, EasyMinings Manager of Analysis and Quality Control and R&D Lead for Sahara.

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Officially announced on August 15th, Sahara will receive a total of 3,57 MSEK through the grant, divided into three annual payments.

 The grant is going to help us speed up the research and hopefully take the technology to market much faster. We plan to conclude the R&D and do more engineering but also engage in having extensive business analysis and product validation tests with the final users, Tunsu explains.

Much of that business analysis and product validation will be performed through partnerships including the chemical manufacturer Feralco and the water company Sydvatten which will validate the recovered coagulant for water treatment, Thomas Concrete for validation testing of the silicate sand, IVL, the Swedish Environmental Research Institute, for life-cycle assessment, and EasyMinings parent company Ragn-Sells to workshop the chemical as a service concept, together with the Imperial College of London.

 To have partners like these contributing with substantial and relevant input, really speeds everything up. Without them, it would take much longer to get products like these out on the market, says Landbring.

About Energimyndigheten

Energimyndigheten is the government agency responsible for all matters of supply and use of energy in Sweden. The Agency is, in many aspects, leading Sweden's transition to a sustainable energy system. The organisation is regulated by the Government through the instruction and annual appropriations directives.

About EasyMining

EasyMining is an innovation company dedicated to closing nutrient cycles. We are owned by the Swedish environmental company Ragn-Sells. Our objective is to create new circular material flows in an efficient commercial way. We do this by inventing and implementing new technology that uses chemical solutions to recycle important materials.

Contact

Press Officer

Emma Ranerfors

press@ragnsells.com

+46107232416








LUXEMBOURG, October 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October marks the 35th anniversary of Eurofins (Paris:ERF). Today, the global leader in bio-analysis with 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins growth has been characterised by its steadfast focus on long-term value creation for customers, employees and shareholders. Eurofins companies have consistently invested in research and development, start-up laboratories, acquisitions, physical infrastructure and IT solutions, as part of their commitment to innovating for customers and achieving scale and scientific leadership in laboratory activities that have a direct positive impact on health and the environment.

October also marks 25 years since the initial public offering (IPO) of Eurofins Scientific on the Paris stock exchange on 24th October 1997. According to a commissioned study, since its IPO, Eurofins has delivered a remarkable total shareholder return (reflecting share price appreciation and reinvestment of dividends) of around 36,600%. Among all companies with listings in major European exchanges over the 25 year time span, Eurofins ranks highest in terms of total shareholder return, according to the research firm. A hypothetical investment of around 2,700 in Eurofins at the time of its IPO, plus the reinvestment of dividends, would be worth about 1 million today.

Dr Gilles Martin, CEO and Founder, Eurofins: "As we celebrate this milestone, I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our global workforce for their commitment and efforts and to the clients of all Eurofins companies for their trust. We will continue to refine our service offering and significantly invest in and strengthen our network. Through focussed investments in our unique laboratory network and IT solutions, R&D, acquisitions and organic growth, we intend to continue to improve and extend our capabilities to offer the best and most innovative testing services to our clients, while creating further opportunities for our employees and shareholders."

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To mark this anniversary, Eurofins has developed a book charting its development, growth and innovations over the past three decades.

Further information available here.

About Eurofins the global leader in bio-analysis

Eurofins is Testing for Life. With 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods.

Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221026005852/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations

Eurofins Scientific SE

+32 2 766 1620

ir@eurofins.com
The Great British Baking Show's Prue Leith is breaking her silence on the criticism surrounding the series' Mexican week episode.

Leith spoke with The New Yorker to promote her new cookbook Bliss on Toast, but when the competition show faced backlash earlier this month for the themed episode, which audiences have claimed is filled with offensive stereotypes, the outlet followed up with its judge.

"There would have been absolutely no intention to offend," she said, adding that the judges set the challenges for the themed competitions. "That's not the spirit of the show."

Separately, Leith also spoke about the feel-good nature of the Netflix-distributed series. "The whole phenomenon of Bake Off is, to me, absolutely extraordinary. This is rather a cliche thing to say, but I do think that it is a force for good, most of the time," she said.

RELATED: 'The Great British Baking Show' Judge Prue Leith Reveals Mother Made Her Drown a Bag of Kittens as a Child

"Everything we do in life is a bit stressful  we are always short of time, we're short of money, there are all sorts of horrible things happening all over the world," she added. "And Bake Off is this safe space where the worst thing that can happen is somebody will drop their bake. And everybody will be sympathetic!"

Prue Leith, THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF

Everett

During the episode that sparked criticism, bakers were tasked with making pan dulce, steak tacos and a tres leches cake. Hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas opened the hour wearing sombreros and serapes. "I don't feel like we should make Mexico jokes. People will get upset," Fielding said to which Lucas responded, "What? No Mexico jokes at all? Not even Juan?"

The juan and only Matt & Noel welcome you to Mexico Week!  #GBBO pic.twitter.com/A4aX43H5rd  British Bake Off (@BritishBakeOff) October 4, 2022

RELATED: 'The Great British Baking Show' Faces Backlash from Viewers After 'Mexican Week' Episode

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Throughout the episode, contestants also mispronounced words like guacamole and pico de gallo.

Author Julie Powell tweeted about the controversial episode. "Just watched the Mexican Week episode of Great British Baking Show, and god it was unbearable. Offensive on a lot of levels," she wrote.

During another part of the episode, Fielding asked, "So, is Mexico a real place?" to which Lucas responded, "I think so. I think it's like Xanadu."

Twitter user @KaibaLordYGO also criticized the episode, writing, "Coming from a Mexican this was a very offensive episode. All the jokes and stereotypes."

The Great British Baking Show: Holidays: Season 4

Netflix

RELATED: Chigs Parmar Is 'Never Going to Doubt' His Ability to Do Anything After 'Great British Baking Show' Success

Another Twitter user, @NinaNyxa, was similarly upset, writing, "well I'm never watching great british baking show ever again. other cultures aren't a joke."

The View co-host, Ana Navarro posted differing thoughts on Twitter. "I  @BritishBakeOff. @PaulHollywood is my celebrity crush. Frankly, I was not offended by the way they depicted Mexicans," she wrote. "Thought it was corny. But, I was offended by the crimes they committed against tacos & tres leches. Que horror!"

PEOPLE reached out to Netflix and Channel 4 at the time the episode aired for comment, but did not immediately hear back.

This isn't the first time the baking show caused controversy with audiences. During "Japanese Week" in 2020, many viewers expressed their disdain for remarks made by the hosts, contestants and judges.

During the episode, Lucas called katsu curry, "cat poo curry" when describing one of the competitors' bakes.

Author Kat Lieu of @subtleasian.baking drew a parallel between both episodes in an Instagram Reel. "Why I'm not surprised about the Mexican week fiasco," she wrote. "When they passed off Indian and Chinese food during Japanese Week on the Great British Bake-Off."
James Van Der Beek, celeb kids at the pumpkin patch

James Van Der Beek/Instagram

James Van Der Beek is taking in the sights of Halloween with the whole family.

The actor, 45, and wife Kimberly got a head start on their Halloween celebrations with all six of their kids as the family of eight went to the Pumpkin Nights festival in Texas this week. James documented the family outing, sharing sweet pictures from the nighttime activity on Instagram Wednesday.

James and Kimberly posed with their six kids, daughters Gwendolyn, 4, Emilia, 6, Annabel, 8, and Olivia, 12, and sons Joshua, 10, and Jeremiah, 12 months, while enjoying the lightscapes and fall scenery at the festival.

"#halloween through the eyes of a child got me SUPER emotional last night. I've been SO busy, so overwhelmed - all with 'important' (and really exciting) stuff - but this family adventure in the midst of a crazy week made me borderline weepy about my kids still being young enough to be enchanted by lights and pumpkins," James began his caption.

"Granted, @pumpkinnights was a Texas-sized extravaganza," he added, "but in the midst of so much planning and effort to build a solid future for my kids, it was #jackolanterns and spooky music that put me right back in the present and reminded me nothing is more important."

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RELATED: James Van Der Beek Celebrates 5 Years of Night Daughter Was Conceived in Vegas: 'The Best Souvenir'

Last month, James posted a video on TikTok and Instagram, celebrating five years since a night out in Las Vegas when his daughter, Gwendolyn, was conceived.

"#Flashback to 5 years ago today insane how different our life is now," the Dawson's Creek actor wrote in the caption. "But damn, that was a fun night."

"And we'll always have THE BEST souvenir to remember it by . #LasVegas #iheartradio #MadeinVegas," he continued, also adding the hashtags "#tmi" and "#tmichallenge" at the end.

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"@diplo suggested I name her after the hotel," James also said. "But @iheartradio had put us up at Planet Hollywood so, no."

After sharing the collection of photos from his time at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Festival, James wrote "9 months later..." and showed images of Gwendolyn's birth followed by funny pictures of her ever since. The video was set to Major Lazer's song "Particula."

In the comments, Kimberly teased, "@diplo this is coming around full circle when you make a song with Gwen."
Way back in 2008, when Republican John McCain was running against Democrat Barack Obama for the White House, my fellow journalists had no trouble questioning whether the Arizona senator still had the mental capacity to serve as president.

CBS News, for example, after McCain said "Iraq" when he should have said "Afghanistan" and mixed up the names of a couple NFL teams, wrote, "The mistakes raise a serious, if uncomfortable question: Are the gaffes the result of his age? And what could that mean in the Oval Office? Voters, thinking about their own relatives, can be expected to scrutinize McCain's debate performances for signs of slippage."

Slate posted this inquisitive headline  "McCains Brain: How might the senators mind deteriorate over the next eight years?"

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Reuters resorted to the old "experts say" tactic: "Experts say people of McCains age are subject to possible increased memory loss, lower energy and a greater vulnerability to aches, pains and a host of illnesses."

McCain, by the way, was all of 72 years old on Election Day 2008. The current occupant of the Oval Office will turn 80 next month.

Mainstream news outlets have gingerly addressed the potential effects of President Joe Biden's age. And Biden, to his credit, recently acknowledged that his age is a legitimate issue for voters to consider.

Focus on job performance, not age

But I'd rather see Biden judged on his job performance as president, not his age. I happen to think he has done an awful job; others will disagree. And that's what makes America great.

Something else that makes America great: honest conversations about our political candidates' strengths and weaknesses.

Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman participates in the Senate candidate debate in Harrisburg on October 25, 2022.

Yet when it comes to questions about whether Pennsylvania's Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman is physically ready to serve a six-year term five months after a debilitating stroke, many journalists have suddenly gotten squeamish:

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This month, FiveThirtyEight published a story about all the mean people asking questions about a political candidate's fitness for high office: "What Attacks On John Fettermans Health Reveal About Disability And Politics."

MSNBC sought to teach unenlightened Americans a lesson: "Why Fetterman's Senate campaign is a teaching moment greater than this election."

Teen Vogue weighed in with an after-school special: "John Fettermans Stroke Has Led to Ableist Criticism From Media, Politicians."

Opinion series on conservatism: Is GOP's 'big tent' shrinking? Traditional conservatives find themselves without a home.

Fetterman refuses to release health records

Let me get this straight: It was fine for journalists to speculate about how a war hero's mind might deteriorate if he were to be elected president. But it's not OK to ask whether a Senate candidate could serve effectively not long after suffering from a major neurological incident, especially since that candidate has refused to release his full health records.

Two weeks ago, NBC News reporter Dasha Burns reported on what she observed at an interview with Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Fetterman, his first on-camera since the stroke. The Senate candidate, Burns said, appeared to struggle with "small talk."

The pushback against Burns was fast and furious. Fellow journalists attacked Burns for doing her job. Fetterman's wife, Gisele, demanded that the reporter apologize and called Burns "ableist."

The message was clear: Questions about Fetterman's ability to serve in office are off-limits, and anyone who dares to raise the issue should brace for attack.

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Then on Tuesday came the first and only debate between Fetterman and his Republican opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz  after more than half a million votes already had been cast. The lieutenant governor struggled badly to communicate his position on issues such as fracking, and Pennsylvania voters could finally see and judge for themselves whether Fetterman is ready for the demands of the U.S. Senate.

Even then, much of the news coverage centered on whether Fetterman's camp should have agreed to the debate. He should not have debated," a Democratic strategist told NBC News. "Anyone on his team who agreed to a debate should be fired, or never work again, because that debate may have tanked his campaign."

Do political debates even matter?: Was Ryan or Vance, Walker or Warnock tougher? Who cares? Political debates are overrated.

I am not trying to discount the harm caused by ableism, ageism or any other ism. But a candidate running for the U.S. Senate shouldn't be shielded from hard questions, including whether they would have the physical ability to serve if elected.

If you want to argue that the public doesn't have a need to know about a Senate candidate's health, then fine. But be consistent.

I also know that we're less than two weeks out from the most important election of our lifetimes. And that democracy will collapse and life on the planet as we know it will crumble if the wrong party (read Republican) wins. But can we talk about a candidate's fitness for office without trying to shame each other into silence? Can we agree that a candidate's health still matters?

And if not, then can those who argue for a lack of transparency be at least a little bit more circumspect in their desire to help John Fetterman across the finish line?

Tim Swarens is deputy opinion editor for USA TODAY.

More from Tim Swarens:

Democrats are failing across the board. All signs point to a red wave on Election Day.

Republicans must move past Trump for sake of the party's future  and the nation's.

Why are Republicans angry? Progressives are good at poking the elephant.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After Fetterman, Dr. Oz debate, we need to talk about Lt. Gov's health
It didn't take long for ex-fiances Jordan Wiseley and Tori Deal to have their first emotional confrontation on The Challenge: Ride or Dies.

Three-time winner Jordan entered the game late at the end of last week's episode, and this week's episode 3 picked up right away after he walked into the elimination arena to everyone's shock  especially Tori, who had no idea she'd have to live with and play against her ex a year and a half after their messy breakup. But with six seasons, four finals, and three wins to his name, Jordan is an absolute GOAT in this game, so any season is better off with him in the cast. Complicating matters is the fact that Jordan's partnered with Aneesa Ferreira, Tori's best friend. What a tangled web this trio is weaving.

(Side note: I need to take a moment to call out how random this Jordan-Aneesa pairing is. Even host T.J. Lavin pointed out that they're more frenemies than ride-or-dies, but whatever  I'll take what I can get when it comes to returning vets at this point. And this is a very explosive pair to add into the game, so I won't complain!)

The next morning, Tori sat down with Aneesa to shed some tears and call out how difficult this will be for her. She was upfront about how Jordan was the one to end things with her, and how she slept with Faysal "Fessy" Shafaat out of spite only two months after their breakup. She took full accountability for her actions, which is not easy to do  especially since she has to live with both Jordan and Faysal in this house for who knows how long.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d-4nwzR2sY&t=103s The Challenge: Ride Or Dies SUPER Trailer  705,210 views Sep 28, 2022 The Official SUPER Trailer for the 38th season of The Challenge! Don't miss the premiere of The Challenge: Ride Or Dies WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12 at 8/7c only on MTV!  #TheChallenge38

MTV

When the cast got their night out at a bar, Tori had one too many drinks and walked up to Jordan with "a lot of questions." She was slurring her words and he laughed at first, but it was the catalyst for them to finally have their first conversation since they split up. She accused him of abandoning her at the end of their relationship, but she also apologized for what she did next with Faysal. They both ended up breaking down in tears and shared a long hug. There's clearly still a lot of love between these two, and while this seems like a healthy step forward for them, it's definitely not going to end there. We've all seen the super trailer!

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As for who got eliminated, and other notable moments in this episode:

Out of all people, I'm shocked that Johnny "Bananas" Devenanzio told Jordan he was actually happy to see him. Has hell frozen over? The rookie-to-vet ratio is so off right now that former enemies like Bananas and Jordan are being forced to work together or die together, and I love how this season is shaping up because of it. Meanwhile all the vets have their eyes on Faysal and Nelson Thomas, who should be working with the vets but are trying to play both sides and fly under the radar. They have to know that won't work!

You may have noticed I'm referring to Fessy as Faysal, and that's because Faysal himself is making that distinction this season. During this episode he revealed that he's going by his real Arabic name now; it was already on his jersey and helmet, but Kaycee Clark was still forced to have a staged "candid" conversation with him about it. What's ironic is that Faysal means "decision maker" in Arabic, and even he admitted that he's never made a good decision in his life or in his Challenge career. But thankfully Faysal is pronounced "feh-sall," which still kinda rhymes with "messy," because Messy Fessy may be gone but Messy Faysal is here to stay: He's already been caught in bed with Michele Fizgerald and Laurel Stucky just hours apart, while simultaneously pursuing two rookie women. Classic.

Faysal and his partner, Moriah Jadea, won this week's endurance challenge, forcing the decision maker to actually make a decision. He chose the "path of least resistance" and sided with the vets, putting Johnny Middlebrooks and Ravyn Rochelle into the elimination and making Horacio Gutierrez/Olivia Kaiser, Analyse Talavera/Tommy Bracco, and Kim Tranka/Colleen Schneider into the Draw. Analyse and Tommy decided to politic hard and double-deal, making promises to both of the other teams, and since they were the ones who got the safe dagger, their scheme was immediately exposed in front of the entire cast. They betrayed Horacio and Olivia and sent them in against Johnny and Ravyn. "Big Big Brother vibes" and "definitely Big Brother vibes" are only some of the comments we heard the vets on the sidelines making about this rookie team. They're making a lot of enemies very quickly.

The elimination was a double-decker Hall Brawl, and Horacio and Olivia absolutely dominated thanks to Ravyn constantly getting pushed out of her shoes and Johnny tripping and falling during one round. Horacio and Olivia keep impressing everyone, which only makes the target on their backs even larger. And now they've got a vendetta against Tommy and Analyse.

The episode ended with yet another new team entering the arena, and while the entire cast was in suspense wondering who it was, we of course already know because every "twist" late entry was spoiled in the trailer for this season. Welcome Darrell Taylor and Veronica Portillo back from All Stars to season 38 of the flagship!

Scuba Nelly T's Weekly Losing Streak Watch: He begged everyone to stop bringing it up. We will once you win, Nelson!

The Challenge: Ride or Dies airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.

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A hearing is taking place in Michigan on Thursday to determine whether Christopher Schurr, the former Grand Rapids police officer charged with second-degree murder for killing unarmed 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya, will stand trial.

Schurr shot Lyoya, a Congolese refugee, in the back of the head at close range on April 4 while pinning him to the ground. He was the first officer with the department to be charged in the death of a civilian and was fired in June.

Schurrs legal team is appearing in court on Thursday for a preliminary exam hearing, during which a judge will decide if there is enough evidence for the former officer to stand trial in the next month.

Lyoyas family arrived inside the courtroom after 8:30 a.m. Security was expected to be present  there have been confrontations at previous hearings, including a shouting match between supporters of Lyoya and Schurr inside the courtroom in June.

The shooting quickly garnered national attention, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton delivered a eulogy during Lyoyas funeral. Sharpton called on the Department of Justice to investigate the shooting, but the department has not opened its own probe.

At Thursdays hearing, Aime Tuyishme, Lyoyas close friend who described him as like a brother, and others shared further details about what happened that day.

Much is already known, thanks to footage from both a body camera and Tuyishmes cellphone. Body camera footage from shows Schurr approaching Lyoya during a traffic stop and telling him that his license plate was not registered to the vehicle he was driving.

Lyoya tried to get away from Schurr, but the officer grabbed him and pinned him to the ground, slamming his head on the grass and kneeling on his back.

Wayne Butler, another witness who took the stand, said he came outside as the struggle was just beginning. While the encounter between Schurr and Lyoya was described as a wrestling match in the courtroom, Butler said that Schurr had the upper hand during the entire encounter.

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The officer has control of Patrick the whole time. And when I say control, I mean physical control. Its like a wrestling match, but the officer is always winning 60/40, Butler said.

Schurr tried to shock him with a stun gun, but Lyoya grabbed it and attempted to block it from striking him.

Police claim that at this point, Schurrs body camera stopped working. But Tuyishme captured the shooting on his phone.

Tuyishme testified that he was inside the car when Schurr first approached, then got out and started recording when he saw Lyoya and Schurr begin to struggle.

I got out the car and I took out my phone, he said. Tuyishmes footage played in the courtroom during his testimony.

Tuyishmes video captured Lyoya and Schurr struggling. He can be heard on the video questioning Schurrs tactics as the officer took Lyoya to the ground and kneeled on his back before ultimately pulling out his firearm.

Schurr can be heard saying, Let go of the Taser. The officer then reached for his gun and shot Lyoya in the head.

An independent autopsy confirmed Lyoya was shot in the back of the head.

Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Nicholas Calati, who arrived to the scene after the shooting, also testified on Thursday. He said he told Schurr to go wait by his car while others attempted to render aid to Lyoya. Calati told prosecutors multiple officers were already at the scene prior to his arrival.

Schurrs bond was set for $100,000 and he was released from Calhoun County jail in June.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
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.
Matthew Perry is clearing the air.

Earlier this week  and ahead of the release of his new upcoming memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing  several excerpts of the book were released by Variety and The New York Post, with both outlets sharing sections where he talks about Keanu Reeves.

In one section, Perry, 53, is talking about his friendship with the late actor River Phoenix and writes, "River was a beautiful man, inside and out  too beautiful for this world, it turned out. It always seems to be the really talented guys who go down. Why is it that the original thinkers like River Phoenix and Heath Ledger die, but Keanu Reeves still walks among us?"

But the Friends actor now says he misspoke.

In a statement to PEOPLE, Perry says: "I'm actually a big fan of Keanu. I just chose a random name, my mistake. I apologize. I should have used my own name instead."

Matthew Perry visits SiriusXM Studios on March 30, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images); Keanu Reeves attends the Saint Laurent Mens Spring Summer 20 Show on June 06, 2019 in Paradise Cove Malibu, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Matthew Eisman/Getty; Neilson Barnard/Getty Matthew Perry Keanu Reeves

Reeves is cited again in the upcoming book when Perry writes about the death of comedian Chris Farley. "His disease had progressed faster than mine had. (Plus, I had a healthy fear of the word 'heroin,' a fear we did not share)," Perry writes. "I punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston's dressing room wall when I found out. Keanu Reeves walks among us."

RELATED: Matthew Perry Says He's 'Grateful' to Jennifer Aniston for Her Unyielding Support Over the Years

Come on...

Keanu Reeves is like one of those frozen cakes. Nobody doesn't like him!  Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) October 26, 2022

The statement made in Perry's book caused quite a stir on social media, with several celebrities tweeting in support of Reeves.

Lynda Carter wrote, "Come on Keanu Reeves is like one of those frozen cakes. Nobody doesn't like him!"

For more on Matthew Perry, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

West Side Story actress Rachel Zegler shared her support of Reeves, writing, "personally thrilled that keanu reeves walks among us"

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personally thrilled that keanu reeves walks among us  rachel zegler (she/her/hers) (@rachelzegler) October 26, 2022

Speaking in PEOPLE's cover story last week, Perry explained his decision pen his memoir, available Nov. 1, now

"I wanted to share when I was safe from going into the dark side of everything again," he told PEOPLE. "I had to wait until I was pretty safely sober  and away from the active disease of alcoholism and addiction  to write it all down. And the main thing was, I was pretty certain that it would help people."

Perry opens up in his memoir about his addiction issues.

RELATED VIDEO: Matthew Perry Opens Up About His Addiction Journey with a New Memoir: 'I'm Grateful to Be Alive'

When Perry was first cast on Friends at age 24, his alcohol addiction was just starting to surface. "I could handle it, kind of. But by the time I was 34, I was really entrenched in a lot of trouble," he admitted to PEOPLE. "But there were years that I was sober during that time. Season 9 was the year that I was sober the whole way through. And guess which season I got nominated for best actor? I was like, 'That should tell me something.'"

At one terrifying point during his Friends reign, Perry was taking 55 Vicodin a day and was down to 128 pounds. "I didn't know how to stop," he said. "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. I couldn't stop because the disease and the addiction is progressive. So it gets worse and worse as you grow older."

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.

While he prefers not to disclose how long he's currently been sober, he does still count each day. "It's important, but if you lose your sobriety, it doesn't mean you lose all that time and education," he says. "Your sober date changes, but that's all that changes. You know everything you knew before, as long as you were able to fight your way back without dying, you learn a lot."

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
Danielle Deadwyler, left, as Mamie Till Mobley and Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till in "Till."

As the haunting Till begins, Mamie Till-Mobley is a mother like any other, stressed and anxious about sending her fun-loving 14-year-old alone on a big trip. She buys him shoes and a wallet. They sing along in the car to the Moonglows Sincerely.

Shes apprehensive. Weve never been apart this long.

Mamie straightens her Bobos tie, packs his suitcase, pausing every so often to give serious advice: Be small down there.

By there, she means Jim Crow Mississippi, where Emmett will spend the summer with relatives.

By small, she means, be extra careful. White people in rural Money are a particularly dangerous breed.

By now, almost 67 years later, the story of what happened to Emmett Till is known in all its gruesome detail. The young Black teenager from Chicago  Mamies only child  was abducted, beaten, tortured, shot in the head and thrown into the Tallahatchie River. All because he supposedly flirted with a white woman (Haley Bennett).

Sean Patrick Thomas, left, as Gene Mobley and Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley in "Till."

Emmett (Jalyn Hall) didnt have an iPhone to capture video clips of his murder, allegedly at the hands of two white men who were acquitted by an all-male, all-white jury. But he did have a mother, and shes a force of nature. Mamie stands by her child and will not rest until she makes sure the whole world sees what they did to my boy. How Mamie helps galvanize the civil rights movement, along with her relentless pursuit of justice, is the basis for director Chinonye Chukwus gripping historical drama. Get ready to ugly cry.

ReviewColin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson are feuding friends in 'The Banshees of Inisherin'

Chukwu (Clemency), working from a script she co-wrote with Michael Reilly and Keith Beauchamp, focuses on Mamie. We see the events unfold through her eyes, rendering Till a wrenching portrait of a mothers love. As Mamie, Danielle Deadwyler (The Harder They Fall) commands attention throughout, serving as the emotional anchor. Initially, Mamie is grief-stricken, then shocked, then determined to facilitate social change. And Deadwyler nails it every time. Most memorable is the moment Mamie touches her sons swollen corpse, tracing every inch of his bludgeoned face. It is then that she insists on leaving the casket open for America to bear witness.

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Danielle Deadwyler, left, as Mamie Till Mobley and Whoopi Goldberg as Alma Carthan in "Till."

Later, as the movie shifts into courtroom drama, Chukwus camera is focused squarely on Mamies face as Deadwyler lets loose with an avalanche of emotion. She assures the packed courthouse that the boy she buried was indeed her son. It looks as if Deadwyler is having an out-of-body experience, quaking, eyes rolled back, streaming tears and snot. Its a doozy of a scene you wont soon forget. But what lingers most is how, six decades later, justice has yet to be served. Mamie doesnt stick around for the outcome of the trial because, I know the verdict already, she tells her lawyer.

'Tour-de-force'Cate Blanchett faces the music as a disgraced conductor in 'Tar'

Deadwyler is a lock for an Oscar nomination, but she benefits from fine supporting turns by Frankie Faison (Do the Right Thing) as Mamies father; Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance) as her fiance; Whoopi Goldberg as her mother; and John Douglas Thomson as her Uncle Moses. Marci Rodgers' costumes enhance the narrative, as the wardrobe cycles through a variety of palettes, beginning in bright pinks and yellows before giving way to much darker shades of mourning. Abel Korzeniowski crafts an evocative score, and there might be an original song nominee in Jazmine Sullivan and DMiles Stand Up.

Any way you cut it, Till is a gut-punch, but there is also a lot of love in its devastation. Mothering never ends. And, sadly, neither has Mamies fight for justice.

Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Mobley in "Till."

'Till'

Rating: PG-13 for thematic content involving racism, strong disturbing images and racial slurs

Cast: Danielle Deadwyler, Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison, Haley Bennett and Whoopi Goldberg

Director: Chinonye Chukwu

Writers: Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp and Chinonye Chukwu

Running time: 130 minutes

Where to watch: In South Shore theaters Friday

Grade: A-

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Film review: 'Till' is a gripping tale of the power of a mother's love
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Revenue of the Azerbaijani State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $8.7 billion in January-September 2022, Azernews reports per SOFAZ.

The Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of fields, the largest oil field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, accounted for $7.5 billion of the revenue.

The funds revenue from the Shah Deniz field, which is among the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, amounted to $1.2 billion, including $328.5 million from condensate.

The fund's earnings from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $6.8 billion in 2021, with Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) accounting for $5.9 billion of the revenue and Shah Deniz for $884.7 million.

Established in 1999, SOFAZ is a sovereign wealth fund, which accumulates and preserves Azerbaijans oil and gas incomes for future generations.

The contract for the development of the ACG oil fields was signed on September 20, 1994, and came into effect in December. The contract for the development of the ACG block was extended by 2050 in September 2017. The shareholders in the ACG project are BP (operator, 30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31 percent).

The contract on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field was signed in 1996. Shareholders of the Shah Deniz project are BP (operator, 29.99 percent), LUKOIL (19.99 percent), TPAO (19 percent), SOCAR (14.35 percent), NICO (10 percent), and SGC (6.67 percent).
NEW BEDFORD  Its what was left out of the conversations about the landscapes on display in the new exhibition at the New Bedford Whaling Museum that make a difference.

Artist Edward Mitchell Bannister was central to the Providence art scene at the end of the 19th century, and was one of just a few free-born Black landscape painters to achieve public success in the United States prior to the Civil War.

His is the only work in the exhibition by an artist of color. He was unique in that he depicted landscape when a lot of other artists during the post-Reconstruction period, especially artists of color, felt compelled to picture African American scenes. At the same time, he was an active abolitionist.

Whaling Museum curator Naomi Slipp speaks about some of the works on display at the u0022Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapesu0022 exhibit opening at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

For Bannister, it was the institutional circumstances, the structure, the systemic racism that existed that prevented him in some ways from potentially achieving greater recognition, according to Naomi Slipp, the Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Chair for the Chief Curator at the Whaling Museum.

I think absence in the exhibition hopefully speaks in some ways as much as the works that we have on the wall, she said.

'Representation matters so much': Local group for Latina business owners is launched

A vase and lamp on display at the u0022Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapesu0022 exhibit opening at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum will debut Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapes on Friday, Oct. 28, in the Wattles Gallery.

The new exhibition reveals landscape artwork typically hung behind closed doors from six regional private collections, six institutional lenders and the Whaling Museums collection, and features more than 100 items.

In curating the exhibition, Slipp took careful consideration of the roles women played in picturing nature as well as the way in which environmental degradation, federal Native American removal policies and racialization were either pictured or erased in the American landscape scenes.

Were really trying to showcase the breadth and beauty of the 19th century American landscape, but also have everyone think a bit critically about what those landscapes might have meant or what content you may not actually see in the pictures themselves, she said.

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Porcelain compliments the paintings on display at the u0022Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapesu0022 exhibit opening at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

She said they are using three lenses to engage some of those questions, and all of them relate to contemporary conversations that are happening today.

Re/Framing the View explores gender, including why there were few female landscape painters unless they were a daughter or wife of an artist, and why women often pictured nature through still life, needlepoint, watercolor and decorative arts.

Slipp said the majority of American landscape painters were men, and thats likely because they had the freedom to head out into the wilderness while most women had to stay home to manage the household and raise the children.

'I'm in the right place': How New Bedford's TDI fellow will help accelerate development

The exhibition also explores the environment in relation to historical landscapes and ecological restoration, and racial identity and how artists of color practiced their art and the limitations that they faced as well as the Native presence and absence. All the landscapes depict ancestral homelands for indigenous communities and are identified by those communities.

People can hopefully walk away with some insight that might help how they think about their lives in this moment, she said.

Curious SouthCoast: Is it Fort Taber or Fort Rodman? Why this New Bedford fort has 2 names

Paintings are not the only items on display at the u0022Re/Framing the View: Nineteenth-Century American Landscapesu0022 exhibit opening at the Whaling Museum in New Bedford.

Slipp said while getting people thinking about the history, social context and the culture of landscape painting and what it meant to certain people, the exhibition is also about exhibiting gorgeous works of art by artists from near and far that people will enjoy seeing and learning about.

The 19th century American artists are well known for their depictions of nature and the outdoors, for their commitment to creating a national school of painting, and for their documentation and idealization of scenery ranging from the imagined and pastoral to the dramatic and sublime.

A 206-page hardcover exhibition catalog Re/Framing the View is also available at the Whaling Museum, featuring essays and contributions and 123 full-color plates of the artwork in the exhibition.

The publication and exhibition have been made possible by funding from the William M. Wood Foundation, Cynthia and Douglas Crocker, Victoria and David Croll, KAM Appliances, Louis M. Ricciardi and Elizabeth M. Soares, Mary Jean and William Blasdale, an anonymous donor, and other individual supporters.

The exhibition will run through May 14, 2023.

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: Whaling Museum exhibit celebrates depictions of nature and the outdoors
PERTH, Australia, October 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives of the Robe River Joint Venture partners, Rio Tinto, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, gathered in Perth last night to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the ventures first shipment of iron ore from the Pilbara to Japan.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006171/en/

WA Premier Mark McGowan, Rio Tinto Iron Ore CEO Simon Trott, Jiro Kobayashi, Executive Counselor Nippon Steel, Motoaki Uno, Senior Executive Managing Officer Mitsui. (Photo: Business Wire)

The event was attended by past and present executives of the Joint Venture partners as well as local dignitaries including the Premier of Western Australia, Hon. Mark McGowan MLA.

The celebration marked 50 years since the Fujisan Maru departed Cape Lambert on 5 October, 1972, and set sail to Japan loaded with 68,589 tonnes of iron ore. Since then, the Robe River Joint Venture has shipped more than 1.7 billion tonnes of iron ore.

In addition to the ongoing mining operations at West Angelas and the Robe Valley, the joint venture has other major mining infrastructure in the Pilbara, including an iron ore port facility at Cape Lambert, power assets and heavy haul rail lines connecting its operations. Its activities in the Pilbara have helped establish the Pilbara mining towns of Pannawonica and Wickham. The benefits created by the joint venture have flowed beyond the Pilbara and Western Australia, helping to contribute to national and global economic growth and development.

Mitsui Senior Executive Managing Officer Motoaki Uno, said "The Robe River Joint Venture represents a remarkable achievement in the development of the Pilbara's iron ore, and Mitsui is honoured to have been a partner from the very beginning.

"It is wonderful to see how Australia and Japan at that time joined hands together to create a whole supply chain. As Mitsui looks ahead to the next 50 years, we will continue to work as a proud partner to make a positive impact on the world in terms of local communities and the environment, as well as the growth of global industry."

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Nippon Steel Executive Counselor Jiro Kobayashi, said "It is very impressive that Robe River Joint Venture has been supplying iron ore to Nippon Steel as well as other steel mills in Asia for 50 years since the Fujisan Maru set sail in October 1972.

"Iron ore from Robe River Joint Venture has made a significant contribution to our stable production of steel, which has led to the development of Nippon Steel as well as the Joint Venture. We would like to send our appreciation to the Western Australian government and traditional owners for their support of these developments."

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott, said "The Robe River Joint Venture is a remarkable partnership that has spanned half a century and is at the heart of an incredible connection between Australia and Japan, forged in a bold vision for shared prosperity.

"I also want to acknowledge all the Traditional Owners of the country on which the Robe River Joint Venture operates, the Robe River Kuruma, Nglaruma, Yinhawangka, Ngarlawangga and Yindjibarndi nations.

"Our partnership with Mitsui and Nippon Steel has been integral in our journey to being a world-class iron ore business in Western Australia and I am proud of the role the Robe River Joint Venture has also played in the development of modern Japan.

"I thank our Joint Venture partners for their trust, respect and understanding that has made this partnership so successful in delivering a secure, long-term, low-cost source of quality iron ore. In 50 years a lot has changed, but one thing that has remained consistent is the strength of this highly valued partnership."

Notes to editors

Robe River is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (53 per cent), Mitsui Iron Ore Development (33 per cent), and Nippon Steel . (14 per cent).

Operations began in the Robe Valley, near Pannawonica, in 1972 followed by an expansion at West Angelas in 2002. Iron ore is railed to the port of Cape Lambert where lump and fines product is shipped to steel producers, primarily throughout Asia.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221027006171/en/

Contacts

Please direct all enquiries to media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations, Australia

Jesse Riseborough

M +61 436 653 412

Aleysha Anderson

M +61 434 868 118

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: Pilbara
Samsung Electronics has appointed Jay Y. Lee as the executive chairman to lead the world's largest smartphone and memory chipmaker, two months after the heir received a presidential pardon that erased the 54-year-old's criminal record.

Last year, Lee was paroled from prison after serving 18 months in jail for bribing former South Korean president Park Geun-hye. The parole prohibited Lee from employment for five years and limited overseas travel. In August, Lee received a special presidential pardon, which allowed Lee to officially participate in the management, restoring his right to work at Samsung and accelerating its decision-making on major strategies from chipmaking to investment plans.

Lee, who has been vice chairman of Samsung since 2012, had been expected to take over the tech giant after the death of his father Kun-hee Lee, the late Samsung Group chairman, in 2020.

The long-anticipated appointment comes amid shrinking global demand for chips and smartphones and market uncertainty driven by the economic downturn. "The Board cited the current uncertain global business environment and the pressing need for stronger accountability and business stability in approving the recommendation," Samsung said in a statement.

South Korea's largest memory chip maker said today its operating profit for the third quarter tumbled 31.39% from the year-ago period to 10.85 trillion KRW ($7.7 billion). Earnings in its memory chip business dropped to 5.12 trillion KRW, from 10.07 trillion KRW a year earlier, due to weak demand for consumer products, mobile phones and TVs, according to the company. This is Samsung's first year-on-year drop in profit since 2019.

Samsung reported sales of 76.78 trillion KRW (~$54 billion) in the three months ending September, representing a 3.79% rise from the year-ago quarter.

The company expects demands for electronic devices and chips to recover to some extent in 2023, though macroeconomic uncertainties are likely to persist. "In the memory business, after a dampened first half, demand is expected to rebound centering on servers as data center installations resume," the company said in its statement.

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The downbeat earnings come nearly three weeks after the Biden administration announced sweeping new rules aimed at blocking China from gaining access to advanced chip items. The restrictions prevent exporting certain semiconductors and selling equipment using advanced technologies to China-based chipmakers.

Leading global semiconductor makers, including Samsung Electronics, TSMC and SK Hynix have been granted one-year permission to use U.S. technology for selling advanced semiconductor chips for supercomputers and artificial intelligence to Chinese firms. SK Hynix, which competes with Samsung in the memory chip sector, said Wednesday it plans to slash its capital expenditure in 2023 by more than 50% after reporting a 60% drop in its profits in 3Q.

Samsung sells NAND and DRAM chips used in laptops, smartphones and data storage. The tech behemoth said earlier this month it plans to more than triple producing advanced chips for high-performance computers, artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G telco and automotive. Samsung aims to start manufacturing 2-nanometer chips by 2025 and 1.4-nanometer chips by 2027.
Authorities say they have received more than 50 tips from residents across New England (and beyond) about Colleen Weaver, the girl who went missing from Raynham last Tuesday.

A vigil will be held on Thursday at the First Congregational Church of Raynham at 6:00 p.m. to pray for Colleens safe return.

The 16-year-old was last seen by a family member on Oct. 18 around 1:00 a.m. near her home in the area of Orchard and King streets. Because no one has heard from her in over a week, Raynham Police say she is believed to be in danger.

An investigation shows that Weaver may have traveled to a location about 100 miles away from her home.

Every day that goes by is heartbreaking, said Heather McNally, a family friend. Her parents are a mess, theyre beside themselves, they just want her home.

Since her initial disappearance, Raynham Police have connected with multiple local, state, and federal partners, including the FBI. Theyve also reached out to media outlets from Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire to help get the word out.

We want to thank everyone who has come forward with information that may help us locate Colleen, as well as members of the media who have helped us spread her photo and information, Chief James Donovan said. The Raynham Police Department is committed to doing everything it can to safely locate Colleen and we greatly appreciate the immense support we have received since our investigation began last week.

Anyone with information about Colleens whereabouts is asked to call police.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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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.
A State Department official on Wednesday rejected recent reports that a U.S.-led effort to send a multinational military force to Haiti is in trouble, Reuters reported.

I strongly disagree with the idea that a resolution authorizing a multinational force is in peril, Assistant Secretary of State Brian Nichols told reporters, according to Reuters.

McClatchy and the Miami Herald reported on Tuesday that the U.S. was considering scrapping a potential U.N. resolution to send an international force to Haiti because no country had stepped forward to provide troops. The U.S. has reportedly not volunteered its own troops.

However, Nichols denied the reports and said the effort remains very much on schedule.

Im confident that we will have something early in November, both a resolution and leadership for the force, he said.

Haiti is currently facing a humanitarian crisis amid a blockade of a key fuel terminal by a group of armed gangs. The blockade has led to fuel shortages, halting transport and creating food and water shortages, according to Reuters.

The U.S. and Canada sent armored vehicles to Haiti earlier this month after the Haitian government issued a call for foreign help. The U.N. Security Council also adopted a resolution on Friday, demanding an end to the violence and sanctioning the leader of the alliance of gangs known as G9.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Welcome to the 2022 Portage County Voter Guide.

This guide is a joint project of League of Women Voters and Record-Courier.

This article lists all of the ballot issues appearing across Portage County. To find issues and candidates appearing on your specific ballot, visits vote411.org.

Issue 1  Ohio criminal bonds

To require courts to consider factors like public safety when setting the amount of bail, the proposed amendment would:

Require Ohio courts, when setting the amount of bail, to consider public safety, including the seriousness of the offense, as well as a persons criminal record, the likelihood a person will return to court, and any other factor the Ohio General Assembly may prescribe.

Remove the requirement that the procedures for establishing the amount and conditions of bail be determined by the Supreme Court of Ohio.

Issue 1 explained: What to know about bail issue on November 2022 ballot

Issue 2  Ohio elections

To prohibit local government from allowing non-electors to vote, the proposed amendment would:

Require that only a citizen of the United States, who is at least 18 years of age and who has been a legal resident and registered voter for at least 30 days, can vote at any state or local election held in this state.

Prohibit local governments from allowing a person to vote in local elections if they are not legally qualified to vote in state elections

What is State Issue 2? Ohioans to decide on noncitizens' voting rights

Issue 3 - Springfield Local School District

New tax levy: An additional tax for the benefit of the Springfield Local School District for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 3.9 mills for 5 years. The annual new cost per $100,000 of assessed property value would be $136.

Issue 4 - Stow-Munroe Falls City School District

New tax levy: Shall a levy be imposed by the Stow-Munroe Falls City School District for the purpose of providing for the emergency requirements of the school district in the sum of $7.9 million with a levy of 6.93 mills? The annual new cost per $100,000 of assessed property value would be $243.

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Issue 5 - Waterloo Local School District

New income tax: Shall an annual income tax of 1.5% on the earned income of individuals residing in the school district be imposed by Waterloo Local School District, for 5 years, beginning January 1, 2023, for the purpose of current operating expenses?

Waterloo issue:Schools asking voters to support income tax to avoid $2.5 million deficit

Issue 6 - West Branch Local School District

New income tax: A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. Shall an annual income tax of 0.5 per cent on the earned income of individuals residing in the school district be imposed by West Branch Local School District, for 5 years, beginning January 01, 2023, for school district purposes?

Issue 7 - WVFD Joint Fire District Windham Twp. and village

Replacement and Increase: A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. A replacement of 2 mills of an existing levy and an increase of 1.79 mills to constitute a tax for the benefit of the WVFD Joint Fire District for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire and emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 3.79 mills for each one dollar of valuation for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

Issue 8 - Portage County Combined General Health District

Renewal: A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Portage County Combined General Health District for the purpose of current expenses at a rate not exceeding 0.4 mill for each one dollar of valuation for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

Issue 9 - Local Liquor Option Ravenna City 1A

Shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by F.O.E. Aerie 2164, Ravenna an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a fraternal organization at 812 Cleveland Road, and Patio, Ravenna, in this precinct?

Issue 10 - Local Liquor Option Ravenna City 1A

Shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages be permitted for sale on Sunday by Proserpine Vineyard & Winery LLC dba West Main Street Winery an applicant for a D6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of a winery, brewery at 234 W Main St, Ravenna, in this precinct?

2022 Portage electionKent voters to decide marijuana issue; charter changes on Streetsboro, Ravenna ballots

Issue 11 - Proposed Charter Amendment Ravenna City

Shall Article IV, Section 4(b) of the Charter of Ravenna City be amended to clarify the responsibilities of the Mayor and Council regarding presentation and approval of the annual budget?

Issue 12 - Proposed Charter Amendment Ravenna City

Shall Article X, Section 5 of the Charter of Ravenna City be amended to add a paragraph allowing Council meetings to take place in person, virtually, or through a hybrid manner?

Issue 13 - Proposed Charter Amendment Ravenna City

Shall Article X, Section 11 of the Charter of Ravenna City be amended to provide for the annual review of employee salaries and bonds?

Issue 14 - Proposed Charter Amendment Ravenna City

Shall Article XVIII, Section 1 of the Charter of Ravenna City be amended to reduce the composition of the Charter Review Commission and require a Commission Secretary?

Issue 15 - Proposed Charter Amendment Ravenna City

Shall Article XVIII of the Charter of Ravenna City be amended to add Section 3, which would provide for a Chairperson for the Charter Review Commission?

Issue 16 - Local Liquor Option Kent City 5A

Shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by 175 Main, Ltd., dba All Folked Up (Kent Stage) an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a concert venue/bar at 175 E. Main, Kent, in this precinct?

Issue 17 - Proposed Ordinance (By Initiative Petition) Kent City

Shall the proposed ordinance to lower the penalties for misdemeanor marijuana offenses be adopted?

Issue 18 - Proposed Zoning Amendment Aurora City

Shall the proposed amendment of the Aurora City Zoning Map amending the zoning of approximately 25.42 acres located on South Chillicothe Road/State Route 43 be revised from its current classification of R-4: Residential to an amended classification of I-1: Manufacturing, Processing and Wholesaling District be adopted?

Issue 19 - Proposed Zoning Amendment Streetsboro City

Ordinance No. 2022-110, passed July 25, 2022, approving an amendment to the city zoning districts map by rezoning property located at Page Road Permanent Parcel No. 35-027-00-00-013-000, totaling 16 acres, from I-1 (industrial, research and office) to R-1 (low density urban residential), in accordance with the Future Land Use map contained within the 2019 Comprehensive Master Plan adopted by City Council in Ordinance No. 2019-63. Shall the zoning map amendment as proposed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and approved by City Council be approved?

Issue 20 - Proposed Charter Amendment Streetsboro City

Shall Section 18.03 of the Streetsboro City Charter be amended to modernize the purchasing and contracting functions of the City, by requiring the creation of a Board of Control, requiring competitive bidding for purchases, specifying the authority of the Mayor, the Board of Control and the Council in awarding contracts, prohibiting the evasion of contracting requirements, and requiring City Council approval for certain non-purchase contracts?

Issue 21 - Proposed Charter Amendment Streetsboro City

Shall Section 14.06 of the Streetsboro City Charter be amended to exempt the City's Downtown District, as defined in the 2019 Master Plan and the 2021 Core Concept Plan, from the requirement for voter approval of changes to zoning district classification and density regulations?

Streetsboro election:City asks voters for two changes to charter on November ballot

Issue 22 - Proposed Charter Amendment Village of Mogadore

Shall Section 4.02 of the Charter of the Village of Mogadore be amended, effective January 1, 2023, to prevent the Mayor from holding any other elective office, public office, or any other employment with any other local, state, or federal government body, except volunteer positions with any political subdivision for which he or she receives no compensation?

Issue 23 - Proposed Charter Amendment Village of Mogadore

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. Shall Section 10.01 of the Charter of the Village of Mogadore be amended, effective January 1, 2023, to remove the requirement that one member of the Board of Zoning Appeals be a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission and replace it with the requirement that one member of the Board of Zoning Appeals be a member of Council, who will serve for the remainder of his/her term on Council and, in the case of a vacancy of that member, the vacancy shall be filled by Council appointing a different member of Council to serve for the remainder of his/her term on Council?

Issue 24 - Local Liquor Option Brimfield Township A

Shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages be permitted for sale on Sunday by Aldi, Inc., Ohio, dba Aldi 83 an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of operating a grocery store at 110 Brimfield Ridge Circle, in this precinct?

Issue 25 - Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal) Franklin Township

Renewal: A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Franklin Township for the purpose of road and bridge construction and repair at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 5 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2022, first due in calendar year 2023?

Issue 26 - Local Liquor Option Freedom Township A

Shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages, spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by CVJK LLC DBA Shortie C's Bar & Grill an applicant for a D6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of restaurant/bar at 6857 St Rt 303 Windham, in this precinct?

Issue 27 - Local Liquor Option Rootstown Township D

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage. Shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages or spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by NEW MILFORD CAFE LTD an applicant for a D-6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of food services and beverage sales at 4927 Greenwood Road, Rootstown, in this precinct?

Issue 28 - Proposed Tax Levy Rootstown Township

Renewal: A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Rootstown Township for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire and other emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 1.5 mills for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

Issue 29 - Local Liquor Option Shalersville Township B

Shall the sale of beer, wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor be permitted by DIRTY MINER DISTILLERY LLC, an applicant for an A-3A liquor permit who is engaged in the business of a locally owned microdistillery and tasting room at 3425 1/2 Frost Road, Mantua, in this precinct?

Issue 30 - Local Liquor Option Shalersville Township B

Shall the sale of wine and mixed beverages and spirituous liquor be permitted for sale on Sunday by DIRTY MINER DISTILLERY LLC an applicant for a D6 liquor permit who is engaged in the business of a locally owned microdistillery and tasting room at 3425 1/2 Frost Road, Mantua, in this precinct?

Issue 31 - Proposed Tax Levy Suffield Township

Renewal: A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Suffield Township for the purpose of providing and maintaining fire and emergency medical services at a rate not exceeding 1.25 mills for 5 years, commencing in 2023, first due in calendar year 2024.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 2022 Election: 31 issues on Portage County ballots
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said there would soon be good news for Ukraine as heavy fighting with Russia continues in the southern and eastern regions of the country.

Zelensky said in an address that Ukrainian forces were holding the line and pushing back against Russian troops in key battles.

Generally, we are strengthening our positions all over the frontline, reducing the invaders capabilities, destroying their logistics, and preparing good news for Ukraine, Zelensky said.

Much of the heaviest fighting is taking place around the towns of Avdiivka and Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region.

Ukraine has repelled ongoing attacks from Russian troops in those towns and others in the Donbas, according to an update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia has hammered cities in the Donbas with missile strikes, targeting civilian infrastructure and housing. The relentless strikes are part of an aerial onslaught employed by Russian President Vladimir Putin amid his mounting losses in the war.

On Wednesday, Zelensky noted the missile attacks and said, Our soldiers who hold positions in these directions in Donetsk region are simply heroes.

The craziness of the Russian command is now most visible there: day after day for months, they drive people there to death, concentrate the maximum power of artillery strikes there, the Ukrainian leader said his address.

In the southern region of Kherson, Ukrainian troops are pushing forward against a crumbling Russian line, according to an update this week from the Warsaw-based Centre for Eastern Studies. But Ukrainian forces are facing stiff resistance in the towns of Davydiv Brid and Dudchany.

Russia is reportedly bracing for a battle over the regional capital of Kherson, with Ukraine looking to take back the first major city captured by Russian forces at the start of the war eight months ago.

Ukraine has won a number of decisive victories against Russia after its invasion, pushing invading troops back from the western region of the country over the spring and then launching a massive counterattack taking back swaths of the northeast and the south last month.

Zelensky this week said Ukraine will eventually take back the Crimean Peninsula and all the territory Putin has illegally annexed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Contrast fluid shortage over

Around the same time the nationwide blood supply reached a critical low, so did contrast fluid, an imaging tool used by radiologists to identify veins, arteries and other systems within the body.

The shortage was caused by the temporary shutdown of a General Electric plant in China, which produces a majority of the world's contrast fluid, following a COVID-19 outbreak.

Officials at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital say their supply of contrast fluid has returned to normal.
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He adds that police officers from Sokoka went to the site accompanied by a local prosecutor, who supervised activities necessary before launching an investigation to determine the cause of death.

The body is suspected to be a 23-year-old Sudanese man

The police did not provide any official information about the identity of the deceased person.

- There were no documents with the body- adds Mr. Krupa. Thus, for the moment, the man is referred to as "John Doe". The body has been transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine, where the experts will determine, among other things, when and how the man died.

- It is most likely the Sudanese man we were looking for- says Piotr Czaban, a citizen journalist who runs a YouTube channel "Czaban robi raban" [Czaban makes a rabble], and is an activist associated with the Podlasie Volunteer Humanitarian Service. All the details coincide with the story he was told by the Sudanese nationals who accompanied the missing 23-year-old and later notified the activists about his death.

REKLAMA

All of them together - in a group of four - crossed the border from Belarus in early October (probably October 2). While crossing the border river Swisocz, one of them lost balance. The heavy backpack he was wearing probably dragged him under the water. The man was a poor swimmer. He has never surfaced.

Of the remaining three Sudanese men, two were pushed back to Belarus. Only one of them managed to make it to Poland - he is now in the Guarded Center for Foreigners in Przemysl, and from there, he is doing everything he can to call attention to the tragedy of his deceased companion.

Okolice granicy polsko-biaoruskiej. Koniec potu granicznego - dalej zaczyna sie rzeka Swisocz. Ukryte namioty zonierzy pilnujacych tego fragmentu granicy Fot. Agnieszka Sadowska / Agencja Wyborcza.pl

It was not until Tuesday (October 25) afternoon that the border guards notified the police about the body they have discovered.

REKLAMA

- Im in touch with the Sudanese mans family and I will do everything I can to confirm the identity of the body that was found in the river- Mr. Czaban adds. - The president of the Sudanese minority in Poland is doing his part as well, and he promised to involve Sudanese diplomats in the effort.

The real number of migrant deaths remains unknown

According to official statistics, it is already the 19th casualty of the humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border. Another corpse was fished out of the Swisocz river on July 29. It was identified as Mr. Mahmoud from Egypt.

Recently, the border guard reported that a person was spotted lying on the Belarusian side on October 1. It was only after several hours and multiple reminders that authorities and the media arrived on the scene. Migrants who managed to arrive in Poland confirmed the information about the death of the black man. He would have been the 18th victim. However, the real number of migrant deaths at the border remains unknown. According to the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights, about 200 people went missing at the border.

***

REKLAMA

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.
YORK  Officials with the City of York, Nebraska Public Power District, GRNE Solar, the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, York County Development Corporation and others gathered in the heart of the communitys new solar field to cut a ribbon in celebration of the field to be up and running.

They also celebrated York becoming the first (and currently only) NPPD wholesale city in Nebraska to take 100% of the output to power all the city, county and school facilities, as well as the Holthus Field House at York University. Yorks solar field is also the third largest of the community fields in NPPD communities.

NPPDs Craig Vincent and York Mayor Barry Redfern noted it was Sept. 18, 2021, when the ground was officially broken on the 17 acres of city-owned land that had been vacant on the landfill property.

Yes, it was just a little over a year ago when we stood out here in an empty field and its really a wild moment when you get back in here, in the heart of it, Mayor Redfern said.

It is a wildly different atmosphere there now, especially when standing in the heart of the 9,648 solar panels. As far as the eye could see were solar panels on steel structures, with alfalfa and grass growing underneath. While the solar field was in complete operation at that moment, there was no sound. And there was no glare, as the panels are in constant yet non-visible motion as they follow the sun in order to absorb the rays.

NPPD has always been a great partner with York, and weve had that same experience with GRNE Solar, Redfern said. The great this about this, too, is that all the power coming from here will take care of all the energy for the city, the schools and the county facilities, and for the fieldhouse at York University. When we were approached about how we wanted to use our solar shares, we wanted it to be spread among the public entities, so this will save the taxpayers some money also. Thanks for bringing this to us  wow, this is really cool.

Without the three partners  the city, NPPD and GRNE  this would not have happened, said Vincent. This is solely a benefit for York, Nebraska.

Pat Hanrahan from NPPD echoed Vincents sentiment. This is really about partnership. We want to thank the city. I look back to July, 2019, when we started talking about what this could be. Thank you to the city council, the mayor and Sue Crawford, the city administrator. And to the GRNE team for making it all a reality.

He also noted that now the solar field is up and running  and producing those solar shares to power up all the local facilities  there will be educational opportunities on site as well.

GRNEs Jess Baker noted the weather, at that moment, was a perfect solar today and we cant thank everyone enough, to NPPD and the city for fostering this. This directly benefits the communities where these are located. Its great to see how this works in this renewable space.

Baker also explained that Yorks solar field is a single axis tracking system and the bifacial solar panels allow us to collect reflective light. In other words, when there is snow cover on the ground on a cold February day, the reflective light will make a big difference.

And another cool feature on this site is that we have a charging station here where the technicians can charge up their vehicles when they need to be here, Baker added.

Audience members asked how the solar panels fared during last summers devastating hail storm  amazingly, Baker said they had no hail damage whatsoever, which shows how durable and resilient the material is.

The field, officials say, generates 3.2 megawatts  in comparison, the one located in Kearney is 5.78.

There will be no livestock grazing on this city-owned site  as it is on landfill property  but special native grasses will accompany the alfalfa thats already naturally growing there now.

This is really amazing, Mayor Redfern said as he walked among the panels of Yorks first solar field. Again, this is really pretty cool.
Goa has got two bulletproof vehicles, which will be utilised for VVIPs and VIPs visiting the state. As seen in the images shared on Twitter, both the bulletproof vehicles are modified Toyota Fortuner SUVs. Modified bulletproof vehicles are popular in India as VIPs, Politicians and Businessman use them for daily commuting. A bulletproof vehicle is different from an armoured personnel carrier and is a regular vehicle, that is customized for additional safety.

"We have launched two bullet resistance vehicles. Earlier, whenever VVIPs used to come (in Goa) we used to hire these vehicles from other states. In 2019, we purchased two vehicles which were sent for bulletproofing process. As the process is completed, we have now handed it over to the protocol department," Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said here.

With this new development, the Chief Minister said that now whenever VIPS and VVIPS visit the state, the government will not need to depend on other states.

Panaji | Goa CM Pramod Sawant today flagged off two bullet-proof cars for the VIPs. Earlier Goa Police use to get neighbouring state's bulletproof cars for the protection of VIPs. The CM also launched a coffee table book for the Goa police and Goa Police Manual. pic.twitter.com/YQ66YRK4mi  ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2022

"Now, protocol department can use these vehicles for VVIPs," he said. Many VVIPs and VIPs visit the coastal state during the government programmes, Christmas and New Year. During that time, the coastal state government used to hire bulletproof vehicles from neighbouring states.

Typically, a bulletproof vehicle, depending on its level of protecting (designated by AR) can save passengers from close range and assault gun attacks, some level of bomb shielding, anti-deflation wheels among other features.

With IANS inputs
The Bengaluru to Pune, Mumbai road trip remains one of the most frequent ones for people living in these cities. Well, there's good news for those who are common on this route, as Silicon Valley and the financial capital of the country will now be connected via a new expressway that will cut down the duration of the journey by roughly 7 hours. Resultantly, the new expressway will bring these cities closer than earlier. The new Mumbai, Pune-Bengaluru expressway will cost around Rs 50,000 crore for construction. Well, it is anticipated that NHAI will receive a formal proposal from authorities by December this year after the completion of the DPR (Detailed Project Report).

The construction of the highway will start after the acquisition of land, whose process might start after this year. The project is anticipated to be completed by 2028. The expressway will make its way through 12 districts, out of which nine are from Karnataka, while 3 are from Maharashtra. The list includes - Belagavi, Davanagare, Tumakuru, Satara, Sangli, Pune, Chitradurga, Vijayanagara (Ballari), Koppal, Bagalkot, Bengaluru Rural, and Gadag.

Also read - Top 10 electric cars in India: Nexon EV, ZS EV, Kona Electric, EV6 & more

As per reports, the expressway will pass via Kanjale from Pune Ring Road to Muthagadahalli on the Satellite Ring Road in Bengaluru. Also, the expressway is expected to bring business to these districts. Keeping in mind the future expansion, the meridian will be 15 metres in width, while there will be 55 flyovers on the course. Also, plantations will be there on both sides of the expressway, in addition to amenities and other infrastructure.

The Mumbai/Pune-Bengaluru expressway will be a visual delight as it will be full of beautiful landscapes. The expressway will cross roughly 10 rivers - Yerala, Nira, Chand Nadi, Krishna, Agrani, Ghataprabha, Tungabhadra, Malaprabha, Chikka Hagari, and Vedavath. In fact, the overall landscape in the region will further make it a pleasing drive for users.
Mumbai: Expressing her happiness and contentment over her recent role played, actor Rakul Preet who received an overwhelming response for her performance in the latest release `Thank God`, which also stars Sidharth Malhotra and Ajay Devgn. In the film, she essays the role of a cop.

Sharing how her parents reacted to the film, Rakul said, "This is the earliest my parents have seen any film of mine let me tell you so they called me at 12 in the morning and my dad said this is your best film so far and I was like what really? And my dad felt that this generation would love this film and that families would love the film because it`s so true to our Indian families and culture. He took the number of my director and left him a long message saying thank you for doing this for this generation."

Rakul also had the opportunity to see the audience`s reaction in theatres and was ecstatic with the response. She added, "Thank God I did surprise theatre visits and the audiences have come up to us emotional. They didn`t expect us in the theatres and they walked up to us stating how everyone really liked the film and how they are emotionally connecting with the film. All I can say is Thank God right now."

Watch the trailer here

The family entertainer minted Rs 8.10 crore on day 1 of the release, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh. "ThankGod relied completely on spot bookings on the biggg #Diwali holiday... Although Day 1 biz is not proportionate with the names attached, the biz gathered speed towards evening onwards... Needs to grow/jump in the long, *extended* weekend... Tue Rs 8.10 cr. #India biz," Adarsh posted on Twitter. Thank God is directed by Indra Kumar. It is the official remake of the Danish flick, Sorte Kugler.
New Delhi: 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.
New Delhi: Chhath Puja is one of the biggest festivals of Bihar and is also celebrated in the states like Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The festival is all about rituals, and worshiping the Hindu Sun God for a period of four days. During these four days, most devotees observe fast.

As per the traditions, the festival is observed twice a year. While Kartik Chhath is performed in the month of October-November, Chaiti Chhath is celebrated in the early months of summer. This year, Chhath Puja will be celebrated from 28 to 31 October. According to the Hindu calendar, it falls on the sixth day of the Karthik month.

Here is all that you might not know about Chhath Puja:

The festival is celebrated to worship the Hindu God Sun. The one who observes a fast during chhath is called vrati. Chhath sees devotees praying at the riverbank during sunrise and sunset. During this time, the solar energy has lowest level of ultraviolet radiations. The first day is referred as nahai khai. It starts by taking a dip in holy Ganges and worshiping the Sun God. Later, kaddu-bhaat (pumpkin curry and rice) along with channa dal is cooked and consumed. On the first day, devotees are not allowed to eat anything except the morning meal and it is continued until the next day's evening (kharna) when they eat kheer, chapatis and fruits. The second day is referred as Lohand. The third day is called pehla argha/sandhya argha. On this day, people observe fast and do not eat anything for the whole day. The sun is worshiped and argha is offered in the evening. The final day - doosra argha/suryoday argha  witnessed devotees giving argha and worshiping the sun early in the morning. Afterwards, devotees break their fast (paran) by consuming the Chhath Prasad including kheer, sweets, thekua and fruits. Rice, wheat, fresh fruits, dry fruits, coconut, nuts, jaggery and dollops of ghee go are used to prepared traditional chhath meals as well as Chhath Prasad. Onion and garlic is neither cooked nor eaten during these four days. Meals, especially the Chhath Prasad, are prepared strictly without onion, garlic and salt. The festival also celebrates the new harvest and Surya Devta is offered fruits and food prepared using the fresh harvest.

Happy Chhath Puja to all!
As per a recent report published on Reuters, Tesla Inc is facing a criminal investigation in the United States over self driving claims over the company's electric vehicles. As per the available data, the U.S. Department of Justice is probing the world's most valuable automaker for the claims that the company's EVs can drive themselves. More than a dozen Tesla EVs were involved in crashes in 2021 alone, some of them fatal. Most of these cars were running on the Teslas driver assistance system Autopilot, which was activated during the accidents.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Silicon Valley automaker once described the Tesla's autopilot as probably better than a human driver. Tesla has been rolling out 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. Despite all these tall claims, the automaker also has explicitly warned drivers that they must keep their hands on the wheel and maintain control of their vehicles while using Autopilot.

An autonomous vehicle is designed to assist the car with steering, braking, speed and lane changes depending on the level of autonomy. As part of the latest probe, prosecutors are examining whether Tesla misled consumers, investors and regulators.

Previous Tesla probes

August 2021: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into a series of crashes, involving Teslas equipped with Autopilot.

July 2022: California Department of Motor Vehicles accused Tesla of falsely advertising its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving capability.
AP EAMCET Counselling 2022: Andhra Pradesh State Council of Education, APSCHE will be releasing the AP EAMCET 2022 Counselling seat allotment today, October 27, 2022. Candidates are urged to take note that the AP EAMCET Counseling allotment list will be made public today notwithstanding the delay. When it is issued, it will be accessible on the official websites, eapcet-sche.aptonline.in and cets.apsche.ap.gov.in. The allotment list was supposed to be made public yesterday, October 26, 2022, in accordance with the comprehensive announcement sent out for EAMCET Counseling.

However, APSCHE has altered the time and made a formal announcement on the release of the EAMCET allotment list today.

AP EAMCET 2022 seat allotment result: Heres how to check

Visit the official site of AP EAMCET at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in.

Click on AP EAMCET 2022 seat allotment result link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and click on submit.

Your seat allotment result will be displayed on the screen.

The allotment list for the Final Phase of AP EAMCET 2022 Counseling has NOT been made public by APSCHE. Beginning today, October 27, 2022, the allotment list will be made available. Candidates may check the list online at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in and cets.apsche.ap.gov.in after the AP EAMCET Counseling allocation list is published. To view their seat allotment, candidates must input their AP EAMCET roll number and other information.
RAMPUR: Senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was convicted by the Rampur court in an alleged hate speech case. The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence for the influential Samajwadi Party leader at 3 pm today. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been found guilty in a hate speech case filed against him over his comments against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2019.

Samajwadi Party's senior leader Azam Khan convicted by Rampur court in a hate speech case. Quantum of sentence to be pronounced at 3 pm today.



(File photo) pic.twitter.com/TLlESFQaKn  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) October 27, 2022

The case against Azam Khan was registered at Milak Kotwali in Rampur on April 9, 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against CM Yogi Adityanath and IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, the then DM, under Sections 153a (promoting enmity between two groups), 505-1 (statement conducing to public mischief) of IPC along with sections 125 of the Representation of People Act 1951.

Samajwadi Party's Rampur legislator has been charged in over 90 cases including extortion, criminal conspiracy, and theft. Khan, the influential Muslim face of the party, was arrested by police in 2020 and was in jail for 27 months before being released on bail.
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has been convicted for 3 years in jail by Rampur Court, Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party leader has been found guilty in a hate speech case filed against him over his comments against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in 2019. Apart from 3 years imprisonment sentence, Azam Khan along with 2 other accused has been slapped with a fine of Rs 2,000 in the hate speech case.

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan & 2 other accused sentenced to 3 years in prison along with a fine of Rs 2000 in the hate speech case of 2019. pic.twitter.com/TZGRB5j6FO October 27, 2022

However, the Joint Director Prosecution Incharge, SP Panday has informed the media that Azam Khan can get bail in case he applies for it. He further informs that the MLA position may be forfeited if the imprisonment is longer than two years.

UP | If Azam Khan applies for bail, he can get it. If the imprisonment is longer than 2 years, there is a danger to the MLA post. He's sentenced to 3 years in prison, says SP Pandey, Joint Director Prosecution Incharge, Rampur pic.twitter.com/l7wUZNAuJJ  ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

The case against Azam Khan was registered at Milak Kotwali in Rampur on April 9, 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against CM Yogi Adityanath and IAS Aunjaneya Kumar Singh, the then DM, under Sections 153a (promoting enmity between two groups), 505-1 (statement conducing to public mischief) of IPC along with sections 125 of the Representation of People Act 1951.

Samajwadi Party's Rampur legislator has been charged in over 90 cases including extortion, criminal conspiracy, and theft. Khan, the influential Muslim face of the party, was arrested by police in 2020 and was in jail for 27 months before being released on bail.
New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday decided to hand over to the NIA the probe into the recent blast near a temple in Coimbatore, officials said. The decision came after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin recommended an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the Sunday blast in which an engineer was killed.

"The Union home ministry decided to hand over the Coimbatore blast case to the NIA," an official said.

The Tamil Nadu government said the decision to recommend the probe handover to the central anti-terror agency was taken as there is the involvement of factors "extraneous to the state" and "possible international links".

On Sunday, a car loaded with two gas cylinders exploded near a temple in Coimbatore. It was being driven by one Jameesha Mubin, a 29-year-old engineering graduate.

Mubin had attempted to get past a police check post near the temple, but fled after failing to do so, state police chief C Sylendra Babu told reporters on Monday.

Police have arrested five people who had been in contact with Mubin, and charged them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Mubin was under the NIA radar in 2019 in the aftermath of the Easter bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, but no case was filed against him, police said.

BJP trying to politicise Coimbatore car explosion: Tamil Nadu Minister

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to blow out of proportion the car explosion in the city to take political advantage for the 2024 Parliamentary elections. Talking to reporters after reviewing the law and order situation with senior district and police officials, in the aftermath of the incident on October 23, the Minister clarified that there was no bomb inside the car and the explosion was due to a cylinder blast.

To prove his point, he said nails and marbles were strewn separately and cylinders were kept separately indicating that there was no bomb in the car.

Asked how BJP State president K Annamalai gave details of the incident even before the police could, the Minister said "he should be interrogated by the NIA in this regard." Is he involved and knew about the incident, he asked.

He said that by announcing a bandh on October 31, the BJP was trying to create unnecessary tension and fear among the citizens only to take political advantage for the 2024 Parliamentary elections.

The Electricity Minister asked how many leaders who were raising the explosion issue had reacted to the death of the first Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in Coonoor in Nilgiris district last year.

On allegations by BJP leaders that Stalin was taking political revenge and neglecting Coimbatore, by not visiting the city after the explosion, he said the DMK government was giving special attention to the district and allotted more funds, including for road and airport expansion projects.

Stalin had visited Coimbatore five times in the last one and half years and had interactions with industrialists to solve their problems, he said.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals party has sharpened its attack on Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena a day after he cautioned the AAP chief against "misleading" and "premature publicity" regarding Chhath Puja celebrations in the national capital. AAP on Thursday hit back, objecting to the crass language used by the Delhi LG for the CM.

The AAP said, "We strongly object to the language used by L-G for Hon`ble CM." The party alleged that the L-G was lowering the dignity of the chair that he occupies by publicly abusing the CM every day.

The LG had on Wednesday approved to celebrate Chhath Puja at designated ghats on the Yamuna while advising Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal against "misleading and premature publicity" over the issue.

Reacting to this, the party said, "We strongly object to the language used by L-G for Hon`ble CM. He is lowering the dignity of the chair he occupies by publicly abusing the CM every day. CM is an elected representative who has been elected for the third consecutive time with historic margins."

The party further said that L-G Saxena "has no business to publicly reprimand CM every day". "The LG is hungry for cheap publicity and wants to see his name in newspapers every day," the party alleged.

"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 statement from the LG office said on Wednesday after approving the Chhath Puja at the designated Ghats on the Yamuna Bank.
New Delhi: The most auspicious festival of people from Bihar, Jharkhand and Eastern UP, the Chhath festival, is beginning tomorrow. Like every year, women who celebrate the festival pray to the sun for prosperity by taking a dip in Ghats. In Delhi, one of the prominent sources of water body, Yamuna is considered the prime spot for devotees to celebrate the festival. However, the deteriorating condition of Yamuna can be seen in last years pictures of women taking dip in foam-laden Ghats. Like every year, there is a barrage of claims in Delhi in the name of preparations for Chhath Puja without devotees getting any benefits and facilities about it.

In today's DNA, Zee News' Rohit Ranjan makes an analysis of the preparations for this year's 4-day Chhath festival, the condition of Yamuna Ghat and Yamuna.

As much as there is reverence among the devotees about this festival, there is as much negligence within the Delhi government. The Delhi government has been claiming to have made great preparations for the Chhath festival for the last several years. But these claims prove to be airborne every year. The ghats of Yamuna where devotees reach to celebrate Chhath have not even been cleaned even after a year ago, Kejriwal claimed to clean the Yamuna water in a year and bathe in it. A clear picture of Kejriwals claims and reality can be seen every year with the filth-laden Yamuna Ghats in Delhi.

Over the elections, Arvind Kejriwal has made huge promises about the Yamuna and its ghats. Be it the 2015 elections or the 2020 assembly elections, cleaning the water body has been an issue in the name of which they seek votes. AAP supremo also mentioned making world-class ghats in their 2015 and 2020 election manifesto. However, the condition of the ghats is getting poorer year after year. Given the situation in the Yamuna today, it can only be said that the Chhath devotees will again be forced to stand in the poisonous and dirty water of Yamuna, worship, and feel cheated.

Watch tonight's edition of DNA for more in-depth information and other details.
New Delhi: Highlighting that efforts are on to get Hindi recognized as an official language at United Nations, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday, October 27, 2022, said that though progress has been made in that direction it will take some time. "You would know Hindi is being used in United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). As far as the use of Hindi in its headquarters is concerned, we have an MoU with them, they are using it in social media and newsletters. It will take some time in expanding this. It is not so easy that a language is introduced in the UN process," Jaishankar said at the 12th World Hindi Conference held here in New Delhi.

"Work is being done on it, progress has been made and it is our expectation that this will move forward," he added.

#WATCH | As far as the use of Hindi in UN HQs is concerned, we have an MoU with them, they are using it in social media & newsletters. Work is being done on it, progress has been made & it is expected that this'll move forward: EAM on recognising Hindi as official language at UN pic.twitter.com/N4D3ei6W7K  ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar also launched the logo and website of Vishwa Hindi Diwas along with V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Permanent Secretary for Fijian Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts Anjeela Jokhan. Fiji will be hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference next year from February 15-17, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said at the event.

Also Read: S Jaishankar to make maiden visit to Moscow since Russia-Ukraine war, to hold talks with Lavrov

Speaking at the event, Anjeela Jokhan said that Fiji is privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host the prestigious event and hailed the partnership with India. "We are honoured to have been nominated by the Indian government as the next year`s host for the World Hindi Conference as this platform will provide us with a wonderful opportunity to promote and celebrate Hindi, one of our country`s main languages. Indeed, Fiji feels blessed and privileged to be the first country in the Pacific to host this prestigious event," said Fijian Secretary Anjeela Jokhan.

"We will do our best to make this conference a grand success. Fiji Hindi is in fact enshrined in the Fiji Constitution as one of our official languages. Not only this we also teach Hindi in our primary and secondary schools. While it is compulsory for students of Indian origin in primary schools, it is an optional subject in secondary schools. Hindi is also taught in our universities," she added.

Fiji-India ties

Jokhan noted that the partnership with the government of India has grown from strength to strength over the past 52 years and the people of our nations have been deeply enriched through our bilateral interactions and engagements.

The official added, "Our two nations have an undeniable bond which can be seen in mutual understanding and respect that we have for each other`s sovereignty, common development and shared prosperity."

"It is based on our shared history which is rooted in age-old ties of culture. In Fiji, we have a very cordial relationship with the High Commission of India that enables us to celebrate together many events such as Yoga Day, World Hindi Day, and so forth. In fact, in 2020 we held Regional Hindi Conference in Suva", she continued saying.

Further highlighting the contribution made by the Fijian scholars towards developing Hindi, she said that the country looks forward to hosting the event. "With a significant portion of our population having Indian heritage, we have worked together to ensure the protection and promotion of our languages, traditions, and culture. We are proud to say that Fijian scholars have made a contribution towards developing Hindi not just in Fiji but across the world via the Fijian diaspora.

"Fiji looks forward to hosting this event from February 15-17, 2023, she highlighted and said, "We look forward to hosting this significant event in our country. We know that we will receive the Indian diaspora from a number of nations and this will give our people the opportunity to develop networks and friendship." The three-day conference would be held in the Fijian city of Nadi.
Hyderabad: Rejecting the charge that his party was trying to poach Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay on Thursday said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has scripted the raids at a farmhouse and demanded a probe by a sitting judge. The BJP chief said that if KCR is not responsible for this then he should come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God.

"Story-Screenplay-Direction by CM KCR at Moinabad Farmhouse Boomeranged and is laughable. It`s TRS` farmhouse, TRS complained, TRS are victims, TRS are criminals. KCR if you haven`t scripted this, come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God - You fix time and date," said Sanjay.

The BJP leader alleged that the TRS leaders are staying at a hotel for the last three-four days.

"Do you have the guts to fully release CCTV footage of the last 3-4 days in Deccan Kitchen Hotel? TRS leaders have been staying there for 3 days. The accused MLA goes to Pragathi Bhavan every morning and stays till night. Release Pragati Bhavan`s CCTV footage and let the facts come out," he said.

Sanjay also questioned, "Why was the statement of MLAs not recorded? Why weren`t they taken to the police station but left for Pragathi Bhavan? What were MLAs gunmen doing? The key role of the police officer in this drama will be exposed. In past, this police officer has shown zeal on a false murder attempt on the minister."

He said that TRS MLA himself accepted that KCR sketched this drama.

"Whom did Swamiji meet when he recently performed pooja near Parigi. If KCR has guts, he should reveal the call list of four MLAs, Swamijis and the accused. TRS MLA himself accepted that KCR sketched this drama. There are reports of negotiations in Bangalore, all of them have to be disclosed," he further said.

"The entire drama should be investigated by a sitting judge. Some TRS leaders are overreaching, at Telangana BJP will expose you publicly. Your political career is on its way to the graveyard," Sanjay added.

Meanwhile, Cyberabad Police late Wednesday raided a farmhouse in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, and detained three people for allegedly attempting to poach MLAs of the TRS with the promise of huge amounts of money.

Following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988.

The three accused have been identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy.

In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP.

According to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP.

The raids were conducted on Wednesday after Police received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured and added that they noticed the presence of the three persons, who were subsequently detained.

"We received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured, by money, contracts, and posts. We raided the farmhouse and noticed three persons. We will initiate legal action and carry investigation into the luring matter," Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Stephen Raveendra said.
Surajkund: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a gathering two-day Chinta Shivir in Surajkund, Haryana on Thursday, October 27, 2022, said that it is the collective responsibility of states and the Centre to effectively tackle trans-border crimes. "In our Constitution, law and order is a state subject...But we can be successful against trans-border or borderless crimes only when all states sit together to ponder over them, make a common strategy and (make) efforts to curb them," he said while addressing the gathering.

Addressing the inaugural session of the 2-day Chintin Shivir in Surajkund, Haryana, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says "This Chintan Shivir will help in planning a joint plan to deal with cyber crimes, narcotics, cross-border terrorism, sedition and other such crimes..." pic.twitter.com/cGWvPnPJHQ  ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

Amit Shah said that the BJP governments have made significant changes in the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) and said that the changes were implemented to give them more power.

"We have made important changes in the NIA (National Investigation Agency) and UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) to give more powers to the agency," Shah said.

Stressing on NIA, Shah said that the investigating agency has been given extra-territorial jurisdiction, along with other powers. He also said that decisions have been made to set up NIA branch in every state by 2024.

"The agency has been given extra-territorial jurisdiction. The agency has also got powers to seize properties of a terrorist. We have decided that every state will have a NIA unit to develop a strong anti-terror network," he said.

NIA has been given extraterritorial rights. We have decided to set up NIA branches in every state by 2024: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at the inaugural session of the 2-day Chintin Shivir in Surajkund, Haryana pic.twitter.com/ZXXKW7n7MB  ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2022

The Union Home Minister was addressing a two-day 'Chintan Shivir' organised with the objective to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech.

The home minister said it is the collective responsibility of states to effectively tackle crimes operating from across the country's border or states' borders or regional crimes to make society free from fear.

Also Read: Amit Shah takes part in Jan Utthan Rally in Haryana, praises Khattar govt for ending corruption, goondaism

The 'shivir' can become a good platform to discuss strategies to counter cyber crimes, narcotics and cross-border terrorism, among others, and to exchange good practices in law and order. Shah said that "we will have to focus on rationalisation of resources".

The Modi government has recorded success on all fronts of internal security be it Jammu and Kashmir, the northeast or narcotics smuggling, he said. The minister said that all states will have National Investigation Agency offices as a strategy to counter-terrorism.

"Our internal security is considered strong," Shah said also noting that "35,000 police and CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces) personnel have laid down their lives to keep the unity and integrity of the country intact".

Prime Minister Modi will address the 'Chintan Shivir' through video conferencing on October 28. Development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, modernisation of police forces, increase in usage of information technology in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed at the event.

(With Agency Inputs)
New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that 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.
Hyderabad: Telangana ministers and leaders of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) staged protests in different parts of the state on Wednesday night to protest against what they called an attempt by the BJP to buy TRS MLAs. TRS leaders staged a dharna at Choutuppal near Hyderabad on the Vijayawada highway. Ministers Gangula Kamalakar and Indrakaran Reddy participated in the protest.

The protesters raised slogans against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They alleged that the saffron party was trying to pull down the TRS government by luring its MLAs with offers of money and posts.

The protest led to a traffic jam on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway. Similar protests were organised by the ruling party leaders in other districts. Earlier, police claimed that it caught three persons while they were trying to `buy` four MLAs of TRS. The four were detained during a raid at a farmhouse 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. Cyberabad Police Commissioner Stephen Ravindra said the deal could be to the tune of Rs 100 crore.

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. Those detained are Ramachandra Bharati alias 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.

Meanwhile, four MLAs met Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the chief minister. Ministers KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao were also present. In the meeting, KCR discussed the latest developments with ministers and other party leaders.

Hitting back at the ruling TRS, Telangana BJP leaders DK Aruna and the BJP MP from Nizamabad, D Arvind, said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his party organised the "horse-trade drama" to distract attention from Munugode. "It is a drama. KCR understood that the TRS is losing in Munugode. So they orchestrated this drama," BJP leader Vivek Venkataswamy said.
Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Congress President Pratibha Singh on Thursday, October 27, 2022, lashed out at the ruling BJP government for leading the state to bankruptcy in the last five years and claimed that the debt burden has reached Rs 70,000 crores. She accused the government of misusing its powers and alleged that unemployment has also increased, crossing the 10 lakh mark.

Pratibha Singh also compared Congress and BJP and remarked that the state has always been developed in a balanced manner by Congress, whereas the BJP has made a major shift. She asserted that the BJP has only inaugurated schemes that were started during the previous Congress government led by the then-chief minister and her late husband, Virbhadra Singh.

Singh, however, claimed that if voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls, Congress would restore the old pension scheme for the state government employees.

"Himachal Pradesh is facing a debt burden of Rs 70,000 crore and the data of unemployed youth in the state has crossed the 10 lakh mark under the BJP rule," Singh said while addressing a rally in Shimla district's Rampur for the November 12 elections.

The Congress leader reiterated her party's poll promises of restoring the old pension scheme for state government employees, providing Rs 1,500 per month to every woman and free 300 units of electricity to domestic consumers.

The Election Commission of India on October 14, 2022, announced the schedule for assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh. The voting for all 68 seats will take place on November 12 in a single phase. The counting will be done on December 8, according to the schedule released by the Election Commission of India.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India has taken suo moto cognizance of a media report and served notice to the Government of Rajasthan on the reported auctioning of girls on stamp papers and the refusal thereof resulting in the rape of their mothers to settle disputes on the diktats of Caste Panchayats in the State as per a press release. Whenever there is a dispute between the two parties, especially when it comes to financial transactions and loans, the girls aged 8 to 18 are auctioned off to recover money. These girls are being trafficked to UP, MP, Mumbai, Delhi, and even foreign countries, where they are subjected to physical abuse, torture, and sexual assault.

According to the statement, media reports have documented the ordeal of many victims of such heinous crimes. The Commission has determined that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to violations of the victims' human rights. As a result, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan, requesting a detailed report on the matter, as well as an action taken report, pertaining to measures already taken or proposed to be taken to prevent such heinous incidents.

Also Read: 'Would PM Modi say anything on this?': Kharge on falling rupee, declining forex reserves

The report must also detail how the State Government is ensuring the functions of the Gram Panchayat in accordance with the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj Law in order to eradicate the caste-based system that impinges on the human rights and dignity of girls and women in the State. A notice has also been issued to the Rajasthan Director General of Police to submit a detailed report mentioning the initiation of criminal prosecution against the perpetrators of such crime and their abettors/sympathizers. It must also include the status of cases, such as the filing of FIRs, the filing of charge sheets, any arrests in such incidents, and the mechanism put in place to apprehend those involved in such systematic crimes of flesh trade in the state.

Also read: Arif Mohammed Khan is a 'disgrace' to Constitutional position he holds: Congress attacks Kerala Governor

(With ANI inputs)
New Delhi: A gas tanker overturned in Jharkhand's Dumka district. It caught fire, destroying at least three buses parked nearby on Thursday afternoon. According to Superintendent of Police Amber Lakra, the incident occurred on State Highway 17 in the Dhavatand area near Hansdiha. The tanker was on its way to Haldia in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district when it overturned and exploded, catching fire. According to police, the fire destroyed at least three buses parked nearby as well as several trees. There was no immediate casualty report. "There was an explosion after the tanker overturned. Three buses that were parked nearby and several trees also caught fire," police inspector of Hansdiha Naval Kishore Singh said.

A similar accident occurred on October 25, two people were killed when the bus they were riding in caught fire in Ranchi, Jharkhand. According to them, the incident occurred around midnight in one of the state's busiest terminals at Khadgarha in the Lower Bazar police station area. Police are investigating the cause of the fire, but they believe it was started by burning candles inside the bus. The victims were identified as Madan Mahto, 50, the bus driver, and Ibrahim, 25, the helper. According to police, Mahto was from Gumla district, and Ibrahim was from Chaibasa in West Singhbhum district.

Also Read: 15 UP labourers returning home for Diwali killed in accident in Rewa, MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan expresses grief

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had corrected Jawaharlal Nehru's "blunders" regarding Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India by nullifying Article 370, the BJP said on Thursday. It has also demanded an apology from Congress. During a press conference marking the 75th anniversary of the region's accession, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that the first prime minister made five mistakes, including delaying action on the region's king Hari Singh's accession proposal. He claimed that Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the country as a whole, had to pay a price for allowing Pakistan to capture a portion of the region (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).

Hitting out at the Congress, he said, "If timely action was taken, then there would be no part of the state under Pakistan's occupation. The Congress since then spread lies and suppressed truth about the issue." Nehru then took an "internal issue" to the United Nations, making Pakistan a party, he added. Bhatia cited Nehru's statement to claim that the king first proposed the idea in July 1947, but the then-prime minister dithered and allegedly prioritised his and his friend's interests, a reference to Sheikh Abdullah, over the country's. The BJP leader also denounced him for floating the idea of a plebiscite, claiming there was no provision for it in the Independence Act under which hundreds of princely states merged with India.

Also Read: Arif Mohammed Khan is a 'disgrace' to Constitutional position he holds: Congress attacks Kerala Governor

Special provisions were also granted to Jammu and Kashmir, which is now a union territory, under Article 370, and the country paid a high price for it, according to Bhatia. Claiming that then-home minister Vallabhbhai Patel was opposed to Nehru's policies, he stated that if Jammu and Kashmir were merged with the country like other princely states, there would most likely be no "jihadi terrorism." Modi has corrected those errors, and his strong leadership is now pointing the way for the rest of the world, he said. Bhatia also used comments made by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Lok Sabha in 2019 during a debate on a resolution to nullify Article 370 to attack the opposition party.
Srinagar: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday attended the `Shaurya Diwas` programme on the 76th Infantry Day organized by the Indian Army in Budgam. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was also present at the programme. Addressing the 'Shaurya Diwas' event, Rajnath said "Our resolve will get completed only when India will get the whole of its Jammu and Kashmir including Gilgit Baltistan back". He addressed from same place where Indian army fought their first battle and pushed out the kabali intruders from jammu and kashmir. Singh said "I bow my head before all the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives to liberate this land from the brutal attack of raiders". He said, "Pakistan showed his true colours soon after the partition of India of Pakistan took place. We had not imagined that Pakistan will stoop so low and attack Jammu and Kashmir".

Rajnath Singh slammed Pakistan for committing atrocities against people in its occupied Kashmir and said they 'will have to bear its consequences'.Hinting at retrieving Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), the minister said the goal of overall development in the twin Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh will be achieved "after reaching Gilgit and Baltistan".

Also Read: After US, Rajnath Singh WARNS Russia against nuclear option in Ukraine war

"We have just begun our journey of development in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. We will achieve our goal when we reach Gilgit and Baltistan," Singh said addressing the 'Shaurya Diwas' event.

Speaking on the occasion of Shaurya Diwas in Srinagar

https://t.co/TPNryPblLv  Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 27, 2022

Infantry Day is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the Indian Army repelled the first attack on Indian soil on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley.The victory was accomplished by the personnel of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment.

Ahead of assembly polls in J&K, Rajnath took a jibe at regironal parties, he said" Due to the self-centric politics of some leaders here, the people of Jammu and Kashmir couldn't get all the benefits provided by the central government".

        ,            ,                    ,         ,    : RM October 27, 2022

"The terrorists used the name of religion and Kashmiriyat to rein terror on the people of Jammu and Kashmir and when they killed people, they didn't see the religion they targeted all".

"In Jammu and Kashmir when forces targeted terrorists and their associates, some so called Human rights activists in the country start crying and when these terrorists attack our forces I don't know where all the activists vanish. Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed the black era in early nineties in the shape of ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits", Singh added.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (October 27, 2022) spoke to Rishi Sunak and congratulated him on assuming charge as the UK PM. In a tweet, Modi informed that they also agreed on the importance of an early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

"Glad to speak to Rishi Sunak today. Congratulated him on assuming charge as UK PM. We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA," he said.

Glad to speak to @RishiSunak today. Congratulated him on assuming charge as UK PM. We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2022

Sunak, 42, took charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Excited about what India-UK can achieve: Rishi Sunak to PM Narendra Modi

Rishi Sunak also took to his Twitter account and thanked PM Modi for his "kind words".

"The UK and India share so much. I'm excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defence and economic partnership in the months & years ahead," he said and shared a picture of him speaking on the phone to Prime Minister Modi.

Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your kind words as I get started in my new role.



The UK and India share so much. I'm excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defence and economic partnership in the months & years ahead. pic.twitter.com/Ly60ezbDPg  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 27, 2022

According to Sunak's office, the two leaders discussed shared global challenges and he praised Modi's leadership in tackling climate change.



The two leaders also looked forward to meeting in person at the G20 in Indonesia.

Known as one of the wealthiest politicians in Westminster, Rishi Sunak is also the country's youngest leader in modern times - and its third in less than two months.

After being chosen as the new UK PM, Rishi Sunak, a Hindu, told the country it faced a "profound economic challenge".

"I will unite our country, not with words, but with action," 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.



Watch my speech from Downing Street pic.twitter.com/diOBuwBqXc  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 25, 2022

Sunak, who took over from Liz Truss, also said, "I pledge that I will serve you with integrity and humility; and I will work day in, day out to deliver for the British people."

Rishi Sunak's India connection

Rishi Sunak is the UK-born son of Indian-origin general practitioner father Yashvir and pharmacist mother Usha. His family migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s.

Born in southern England, Rishi Sunak rose through some of the world's top educational institutions - Oxford University and Stanford University, where he met his wife Akshata Murthy, the daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of outsourcing giant Infosys Ltd.

ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murthy's combined net worth is double that of King Charles

During the last campaign, Sunak had also spoken extensively of his migrant roots and referenced making history by lighting Diwali diyas at 11 Downing Street as the first Indian-origin Chancellor of the Exchequer.

He is a regular at the temple where he was born in Southampton and his daughters, Anoushka and Krishna, are also rooted in the Indian culture.

Ive placed our rangoli outside No.11, the mithai are set to be delivered and the family Zoom is booked in.



I know things will feel a bit different, and its hard not to be able to see family, but we will get through this together.



Happy Diwali everyone! pic.twitter.com/4lDI8bH1HJ  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) November 14, 2020

Today I visited the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple with my wife Akshata to celebrate Janmashtami, in advance of the popular Hindu festival celebrating Lord Krishnas birthday. pic.twitter.com/WL3FQVk0oU August 18, 2022

Sunak's political career began with winning a safe Tory seat of Richmond in Yorkshire in 2015 and from junior roles in the Treasury he was suddenly catapulted to the post of Chancellor of Exchequer when his former boss, Sajid Javid, resigned in February 2020.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal slammed the Haryana government on granting parole to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh who is serving a jail term after being convicted of rape and murder cases."Ram Rahim is a rapist and murderer. He is given life imprisonment by Court but Haryana government gives him parole whenever they want. He is organising `Satsang` and the deputy speaker and Mayor of the Haryana governmnet are attending these events," the DCW chief said.

However, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar earlier on Wednesday said he has "no role" in the parole granted to the Dera chief. She further claimed that the leaders who attended his Satsang were Ram Rahim`s decent devotees. Maliwal further appealed to the Haryana government to cancel Ram Rahim`s parole and sentence him to jail.

Ram Rahim Singh on October 19 organized a virtual `Satsang` which was attended by many political leaders including the Karnal Mayor and many Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, sparking a fresh controversy.Dera Sacha chief Ram Rahim was recently released from the Sunaria jail on 40-day parole.

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.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.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make his maiden visit to Moscow since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will have talks with External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar on November 8 in Moscow," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"The ministers will discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the international agenda," she added.

There, however, is no official announcement from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on the proposed visit of Jaishankar.

Since the Ukraine conflict began in February this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times.

In a phone conversation with Zelenskyy earlier this month, Modi had said that there can be "no military solution" and that India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts.

At a bilateral meeting with Putin in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on September 16, he had told Putin that "today's era is not of war".

India, notably, has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Ukraine battles intensify as Russia eyes space retaliation

Meanwhile, the Moscow-appointed authorities have fled the capital of southern Ukraine's Kherson region along with tens of thousands of residents as Ukrainian forces attacked Russia's hold on the city on Thursday while fighting also intensified in the country's east.

Amid the battles, a senior Russian official warned that Western commercial satellites used for military purposes in support of Ukraine were a "legitimate target for a retaliatory strike".

Ukraine has pushed ahead with an offensive to reclaim the Kherson region and its capital of the same name, which Russian forces captured during the first days of a war now in its ninth month.
Snow west of Denver caused parts of Interstate 70 and CO 82 to close Wednesday night, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Srinagar: A terrorist was killed in a brief encounter in the Kausarnag area of Kulgam district on Thursday, the police state. Kashmir zone police in a Tweet said that the encounter took place at Asthan Marg in the KausarNag area today. Police said that one terrorist was killed in the encounter and a search operation was still going on. An encounter took place at Asthan Marg in the general area of Kausarnag, Kulgam district in which one terrorist got killed. The search still going on. Further details shall follow, police tweeted.

Meanwhile, in Encounter in Baramulla which broke out yesterday in the forest area, the operation is still going on an army soldier who got injured yesterday in the initial firefight succumbed to injuries. Identified as Rifleman Kulbushan Manta succumbed to his injuries while fighting terrorists at Baramulla on 27 October 22. Twits army. ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said a Pakistani terrorist also got seriously injured in the encounter so far. He said there is no fresh contact between terrorists and forces but a massive search operation to locate the hiding terrorist is going on as the area is a dense forest area so there is difficulty in the operation.

Also Read: Big terror attack plot foiled, bag with explosives, 18 detonators found near Jammu Railway Station

Baramulla LeT terrorist held alive, Foreign Terrorist being pursued

A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) local terrorist has been arrested during an encounter that broke out yesterday evening in the Wanseeran area of Taripora forests in Baramulla district north Kashmir. A police spokesman in a statement said that acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in the Wanseeran Taripora jungle area of PS Sheeri, District Baramulla, joint teams of Police, Army 52 RR, 46 RR and 53 Bn CRPF launched a cordon and search operation in the area.

Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir: Over 63000 people to attain self-employment under 'Back to Village Programme'

During the search the terrorists taking refuge in the said area fired upon the search party, which was retaliated triggering off an encounter, police said, adding that in the ensuing encounter, one jawan of 52 RR got injured and was evacuated for medical treatment, who later on attained martyrdom. One militant of LeT namely Nisar Ahmad Bhat S/O Mohd Akbar Bhat R/O Shrakwara Kreeri, District Baramulla was apprehended alive. police said, adding that another terrorist of LeT, Usman of Pakistan, who is wanted in various cases, is being pursued. One modified AKS 74u, one magazine, and 28 rounds among other incriminating materials have been recovered from the apprehended militant, the statement said. The area is still under cordon and searches are going on in the area.
KOLKATA: In more trouble for TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya, who has been arrested in connection with the multi-crore West Bengal teachers recruitment scam, the Enforcement Directorate has now summoned his close aide Tapas Mondal for questioning on November 2. The central financial crime probe agency had earlier summoned Mondal for interrogation on October 20.

Tapas Mondal, who owns a teacher training centre, was asked to bring bank account documents of teacher training centers to the ED office. ED had earlier conducted searches at several places in Kolkata, including Mondals residence near Kamakhya Balak Ashram and his office, in connection with its probe into the recruitment scam in West Bengal, where some of the top leaders of the ruling TMC are under the lens.

Along with crucial documents and land deeds, a hard disk, two mobile phones and two pen drives from Mondals office were recovered by ED during the search operation. Along with ED, officials from the Income Tax department also searched Mondals residence and training institute.

The ED had already arrested Manik Bhattacharya, a former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, in connection with the case. Earlier, ED had arrested a very influential but now suspended, TMC leader and former industries minister Partha Chatterjee in the alleged SSC scam. His close aide, Arpita Mukherjee, was also arrested in the same case after close to Rs 50 crores in cash was recovered from her various premises.
New Delhi: In the midst of a surge in anti-India activity in Canada, High Commissioner Cameron MacKay stated that the Justin Trudeau government supports India's sovereignty and territorial integrity."Canada supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India," MacKay, responded to a question by ANI on Thursday (October 27). This appears to be a clarification of his earlier remarks. The envoy was asked about the measures the Canadian government was taking to deal with the Khalistani outfit, which is banned in India while visiting the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in the national capital. In response to how Canada was dealing with increasing anti-India elements in his country, MacKay said earlier today that all faiths are welcome in Canada. When asked how Canada was dealing with rising anti-India sentiment in his country, the High Commissioner stated, "In Canada, we love people of all faiths."

India recently served as a demarche to the Canadian government, requesting that the proscribed organization's November 6 referendum in Ontario be cancelled. The Centre has asked the Canadian government to take action against those who incite terror and violence against the world's largest democracy. When asked about the so-called referendums organised by anti-India groups, High Commissioner MacKay stated, "All faiths are welcome in Canada" and repeated the statement once more for the third time. Earlier, responding to a media query, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said the issue of the so-called referendum conducted by separatist groups has been taken up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and as well as with the Canadian authorities.

Also Read: Khalistan, Indian supporters clashed in Canada's Mississauga on Diwali night, say reports

He stated that India has made it clear that it will continue to raise these concerns in New Delhi, Ottawa, and elsewhere. Meanwhile, India issued an advisory last month to its nationals and students in Canada to remain vigilant in the face of rising crime and anti-India activities in the country. According to an external affairs ministry statement, Indian missions have raised these incidents with Canadian authorities and asked them to investigate these crimes. According to the MEA, there has been a significant increase in hate crimes, sectarian violence, and anti-India activities in Canada."In view of the increasing incidences of crimes as described above, Indian nationals and students from India in Canada and those proceeding to Canada for travel/education are advised to exercise due caution and remain vigilant," the statement added.

Also Read: Russia used 400 IRANIAN DRONES to attack Ukraine, claims Volodymyr Zelenskyy

(With ANI inputs)
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also in charge of the home department, will not attend the two-day meeting of home ministers of states convened by the Centre at Surajkund in Haryana. A senior West Bengal government official said the Mamata government will not send Home Secretary B P Gopalika or Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Malviya but will assign Additional Director General (home guard) Niraj Kumar Singh to attend the 'Chintan Shivir' from Thursday.

West Bengal Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, Ram Das Meena, will also attend the meeting, he added.

"This is festival time and there are several functions lined up. Bhai Phota (Bhai Dooj) will take place on Thursday and 'Chhat Puja' will take place soon. It will not be possible for the chief minister to leave the state. Our home secretary and DGP will not be participating in the Chintan Shivir for the same reason as that of the chief minister," the official told the news agency PTI.

Centre convenes 2-day Chintan Shivir in Haryana

Development of an ecosystem for cybercrime management, increase in usage of IT in the criminal justice system, women's safety, coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed at the two-day 'Chintan Shivir' of home ministers of states at Surajkund in Haryana on October 27 and 28.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the 'Chintan Shivir', whose objective is to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, an official statement said. PM Narendra Modi will address the 'Chintan Shivir' through video conferencing on October 28. Various topics will be discussed in the six sessions in the 'Chintan Shivir'.

The role of 'Nari Shakti' is important to achieve the goal of 'Developed India by 2047' and special emphasis will be given to the safety of women and creating a safe environment for them. The aim of the conference is also to facilitate national policy-making and better planning and coordination in these mentioned areas.

On the first day, issues such as home guards, civil defence, fire protection and enemy property will be discussed. The next day matters such as cyber security, drug trafficking, women's safety and border management will be discussed, the statement said.

The purpose of the sessions is to encourage and ensure the participation of state governments on these issues. Home Ministers of all states and Lieutenant Governors and administrators of Union Territories have been invited to the 'Chintan Shivir'.

State home secretaries, director generals of police and director generals of central armed police forces and central police organisations will also participate in the programme.

(With Agency Inputs)
Chandigarh: A day after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to print images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes, Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday asked him why Bhimrao Ambedkar's photo should not be taken on a new series of notes. The AAP national convener's demand has drawn sharp reactions from both the BJP and Congress with latter's Punjab unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja accusing Kejriwal of resorting to "competitive Hindutva" to outwit the BJP in poll-bound Gujarat.

Reacting to Kejriwal's statement, Tewari, a Congress MP from Punjab's Anandpur Sahib, tweeted, "Why not Dr Babasahib Ambedkar's photograph on new series of currency notes? On one side the great Mahatma (Gandhi) the other side Dr (B R) Ambedkar." "Non-violence, Constitutionalism and egalitarianism fusing in a unique union that would sum up the modern Indian genius perfectly," he said in the tweet.

Why not Dr BabaSahib Ambedkars photograph on new series of currency notes ? One side the great Mahatma the other side Dr Ambedkar. Non violence,Constitutionalism & egalitarianism fusing in a unique Union that would sum up the modern Indian genius perfectly.@ArvindKejriwal https://t.co/ZKCHLS0ETC  Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) October 27, 2022

During a media briefing on Wednesday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes. "Despite trying our best, sometimes our efforts do not fructify if the gods and goddesses are not blessing us. I appeal to PM (Modi) to have images of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi on our currency (notes).

"If there is an image 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.

Hitting out at AAP chief, BJP spokesperson and leader Sambit Patra said that Kejriwals uncanny appeal is the height of a U-turn and he is now trying to be a Hindu to divert peoples attention from his partys otherwise anti-Hindu stance.

Calling his appeal a political drama, 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. The BJP spokesperson also reminded that Kejriwal had once spoken against the construction of the Ram temple and said a hospital should be built at the site in Ayodhya.

Patra 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 an AAP leader, in the Delhi riots.

(With Agency Inputs)
Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has promised that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024. In a Diwali speech organised by the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump, 76, told a gathering of about 200 Indian Americans that he shared a great relationship with Hindus, India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said he would nominate RHC founder Shalabh Kumar as his ambassador to India if he gets elected as the US president in 2024.

A video of Trump's speech at the Diwali reception last Friday was released by RHC on Tuesday, in which the former president says that he has not yet announced if he will run, but if he does, and goes on to win in 2024, he has certain commitments towards the Indian American community.

Hindu Holocaust memorial

We had support from the Hindu population, the great Hindu people both times (2016 and 2020) and great support from India, people from India. I fully endorsed the idea of building a Hindu Holocaust memorial in (Washington) DC. I think it's the time! We are going to get that done, Trump said.

His remarks came days ahead of the crucial mid-term polls on November 8. Trump said he probably would not have won in 2016 but for the support from the Hindu community in the battleground States. He vowed that he will take America's relationship with India to the next level again if he wins the presidential election in 2024.

Also Read: Donald Trump-owned Boeing 757 luxury jet worth Rs 900 crore takes a flight AGAIN after 3 years hiatus

In his remarks, Kumar said Trump has been a strong friend to the Hindu community and the RHC is proud of the achievements it has made throughout the years to empower and embolden the diaspora in America.

Diwali is a time for all of us to reflect upon the victory of light over darkness, and to look towards a new year of prosperity and peace, he said.

US-India strengthened relationship

Under Trump, US-India relations had never been stronger, as both sides fostered a relationship rooted in facing common threats from Pakistan and China and with respect and admiration for each other, the RHC said in a statement. Indo-US relationship made great strides in 2017, with President Trump keeping his electoral promise of being the best friend of India inside the White House.

India was the only country for which the Trump administration came out with a 100-year plan; an honour not accorded to even America's top allies. Not only did the Trump administration rechristened the Asia Pacific region as Indo-Pacific, much to the anxiety of China, giving a greater role and space for New Delhi in the entire region, but also for the first time the United States stated in clear terms that India is a key player in Afghanistan.

As Trump announced his South Asia Policy - giving India a key role in bringing peace in the war-torn nation - in August, for the first time a US president aligned himself with New Delhi's position that terrorism emanates from Pakistan.
Bareilly: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan was convicted on Thursday (October 27, 2022) in a hate speech case and sent to three years in jail by a Rampur court, and faces disqualification from the state assembly. The MP-MLA court in Rampur has granted bail to the MLA in the 2019 case, government lawyer Ajay Tiwari said. The Representation of the People Act says that anyone sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more shall be disqualified "from the date of such conviction" and remain disqualified for another six years after serving time. The Speaker can start the disqualification proceedings either suo motu or after receiving an application. According to the government counsel, the Election Commission could also take a decision on this.

The Rampur MLA was booked in April 2019 for making inflammatory remarks at an election meeting in the district's Khatanagaria village. The speech went viral on social media.

He had levelled allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and local officials.

The Rampur court convicted Khan under section 153-A (inciting religious feelings) and 505-A (making a false statement intended to create feelings of hatred or animosity) under the Indian Penal Code.

He was also found guilty under section 125 (promoting animosity between different classes) of the Representation of the People Act.

The court sentenced him to three years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on him, advocate Tiwari said.

Khan could file an appeal against the sentence in the Rampur district and sessions court, he told PTI.

Emerging from the court after the verdict, Khan said bail is a mandatory provision of the law. "I have firm belief in justice," he told reporters.

Khan was released from jail earlier this year after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail in a case of cheating. He had then spent about two years in jail.

The SP leader faces nearly 90 cases, including that of corruption and theft.

The veteran politician won the Rampur Sadar assembly seat in the recent UP Assembly polls for a record 10th time. He then gave up the Rampur parliamentary seat, which he won in 2019.

There was a large security deployment outside the court and in other Rampur areas on Thursday, as the court pronounced the sentence.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya welcomed the court order, saying those in public life should maintain decorum in their language while speaking against opponents.

"Azam Khan's political history is known for making poisonous speeches against the BJP and society," he tweeted.

SP national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said the party would comment after seeing the court order. He, however, accused the ruling BJP of doing "injustice" to Khan in the earlier cases against him.

'While all hate mongers are roaming free...': BSP MP voices support for Azam Khan

BSP MP Danish Ali on Thursday voiced support for Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who has been convicted in a 2019 hate speech case, saying that while all hate mongers are roaming free, "Azams" will be convicted and thrown out of legislatures.

Reacting to the development, Ali said, "Two operations seems to be running parallel in India - 'Opposition Mukt Bharat' and 'Muslim Mukt legislature'. Three-year jail for Azam Khan is a mockery of justice."

"While all hate mongers are roaming free, 'Azams' will be convicted and thrown out of legislatures," the BSP MP from Amroha said.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 6,000 on Rampur MLA Khan, advocate Ajay Tiwari said.

The case was registered against Khan in Rampur in April 2019 for levelling serious allegations against administrative officials posted in Rampur and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during an election meeting.
New Delhi: Nysa Devgan, the daughter of Bollywood biggies Ajay Devgn and Kajol is one of the hot topics for netizens today. Star kids always remain in the magnifying glass of the audience, this is why they are often questioned and trolled. Now, Nysa is facing major backlash after Diwali for her plastic surgeries and resemblance with Janhvi Kapoor.

Last week, Nysa was snapped while arriving at many celebrity Diwali parties. Kajol's daughter was massively trolled for looking like 'plastic' in many spotted videos. Many fans even said that she looks almost like Janhvi Kapoor, 'maybe their surgeon is same...'

Nysa attended designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla's Diwali bash in a light green, embroidered lehenga.

Netizens took a dig at the Starkid for getting plastic surgeries and looking almost like actress Janhvi Kapoor. Some comments read, "Janhvi and her surgeon are the same", "Nysa or Janhvi? How come their noses and face structures look so similar?" "Nose job, lip fillers, skin lightening, and whatnot, they all look the same now," wrote a social media user.

Despite all this, Nysa has a decent fanbase on social media and her fans absolutely love her for who she is.

On the other hand, Janhvi will be soon seen in the survival-thriller 'Mili.' Helmed by Mathukutty Xavier and produced by Janhvis father and actor, producer Boney Kapoor is all set to premiere on November 4 this year.
New Delhi: On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, 'Har Har Mahadev,' which had become one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year ever since the release of its trailer, finally opened in theatres. The audience who were already intrigued by the story of the film, now add to that, the makers are here with the new video of the film featuring the powerful voice of Shree Raj Thackeray to heighten the audience's already palpable excitement.

The voice of the president and the founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has helped amplify the roar of this encouraging tale. Here is the video released by the studios:

A true fight conducted by the legendary Maratha warrior Baji Prabhu is highlighted in Har Har Mahadev. Chanting the powerful chant of "Har Har Mahadev," Baji Prabhu Deshpande fought against Siddi Jauhar's army and gave his life to sanctify the horse. In the movie viewers will experience the story of Baji Prabhu's warrior Karari Bani in a very big and divine shape.

Produced by ZEE Studios and directed by Abhijeet Deshpande. The film stars Subodh Bhave, Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, and Sayli Sanjeev in the leads. The film, which was released on the 25th of October, is available to a mass audience across the nation, being Marathi cinema's first multilingual film.
New Delhi: Hoping everyone is ok as an earthquake of 5.1 magnitude hit in the San Francisco Bay Area in the US, Tech giant CEO Sundar Pichai has shared a screenshot of earthquake alert he had got in his smart phone before the shake.

Sharing the screenshot on his official Twitter handle, he wrote, The alert came just before, felt like a long one, hope everyone is ok," tweeted Pichai referring to the earthquake alert.

The alert came just before, felt like a long one, hope everyone is ok pic.twitter.com/mUzLFkkWxz  Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 25, 2022

The screenshot shared by Sundar Pichai has written that there is an Earthquake at 11:42. You may have felt shaking and it is estimated M4.8 about 23.8 miles away.

What is ShakeAlert?

It is an earthquake early warning (EEW) system that detects significant earthquakes so quickly that alerts can reach many people before shaking arrives. Its not earthquake prediction, but it warns people that an earthquake has begun and shaking is imminent.

How does it work?

The app works along with the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) with a coalition of State and University partners. The USGS and its partners are continuing to expand these applications in coordination with state agencies in Washington, Oregon, and California. The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services has funded the app thus far.

Pichai shares YouTube new updates

Some new @YouTube updates including ambient mode, updated dark theme, pinch to zoom (up to 8x!) and precise seeking to help you get to an exact part in a video https://t.co/p6N4rlLWbU  Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 24, 2022

YouTube has been revamped to provide excellent user experience and seamless immersion in the world of videos for people around the globe. Sundar Pichai shared the blog of YouTube update and wrote, Some new @YouTube updates including ambient mode, updated dark theme, pinch to zoom (up to 8x!) and precise seeking to help you get to an exact part in a video.
Benins state-owned infrastructure firm SBIN (Societe Beninoise dInfrastructures Numeriques) has entered the countrys mobile market as its third player.

Managed by Senegals Sonatel (which in turn is part of the Orange Group), the new provider will be branded Celtiis, and has already claimed that its commercial network covers 80% of Benins population at launch. This area includes the major cities of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou and Porto-Novo, along with the 12 regional capitals. Coverage will be expanded in the future.

Celtiis network will provide voice and high speed data services based on GSM and 4G+ (LTE-A) technologies, and will offer mobile number portability from launch  making it easy for customers of rival operators MTN Benin and Moov Africa Benin to switch providers. The operator has begun offering three fibre broadband packages as well as a mobile money service, Celtiis Cash.

Local news outlet Afro-Impact quoted SBIN Managing Director Therese Tounkara as saying at the launch event: It is extremely rare for a new mobile network to cover 80% of the population. She also talked up the operators value proposition, with low-cost voice and data tariffs as well as a 1% withdrawal fee for Celtiis Cash, undercutting its rivals.

TeleGeography reports that SBIN was founded in 2020 to oversee the transformation of defunct state player Benin Telecoms into a mobile player. The countrys Council of Ministers (CoM) awarded the management contract to Sonatel in March 2021 and finalised the agreement two months later, before approving the issue of a third mobile licence to SBIN on 30th June 2021.
New Delhi: Realme has announced that the Realme 10 series will go on sale in November. The smartphone may debut in the company's domicile country China first before making its way to other country's marketplaces, including India, within a few weeks. There have been rumours about the new series for some time, and we can anticipate that the lineup will feature both a regular model, most likely to be dubbed the Realme 10 and a Pro variant.

According to several rumours, the normal model will be joined by a Realme 10 Pro+ model. Realme has not yet made the precise launch date official. Madhav Sheth, the head of Realme India, indicated that the upcoming Realme 10 series would include an octa-core CPU and a flat-edge design while simultaneously sharing the announcement on Twitter. (Also Read: Post office scheme: Invest Rs 100 daily in THIS plan, get more than Rs 2 lakh in 5 years)

The latter might only apply to the normal model, as a top business executive recently indicated that the Realme 10 Pro+ (or Pro) might receive a curved display. Another reliable tipper who goes by the name Ice Universe confirmed that the Pro model would have a curved display. (Also Read: Redmi Note 12 lineup launch date CONFIRMED; check specs, price, processor, camera & more)

The tipper added in a tweet that the majority of smartphone OEMs are currently considering curved displays or extremely thin bezels for their upcoming models. Samsung, on the other hand, is apparently switching back to a flat-screen design with wider bezels.

In the meantime, the main specifications and design of a Realme phone thought to be the Realme 10 Pro+ have recently been discovered on China's TENAA certification website.

According to rumours, it will have a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Customers may also have the option of an 8GB RAM/128GB storage model. Additionally, a 4890mAh battery with 65W rapid charging capability may be included in the smartphone. The next Realme 10 Pro+ is expected to have an OIS-enabled main rear camera, similar to the Realme 9 Pro+ of last year.

On the other hand, the Realme 10 is said to have a MediaTek Helio G92 processor and 33W fast charging. A 120Hz LCD could be used in place of the AMOLED panel. There is still a lack of clarity around pricing, but shortly further specifics are anticipated.
Iran: At least 13 people were reportedly killed and 21 others injured in a "terrorist attack" at the Shahcheragh religious shrine in Iran`s southern city of Shiraz. One woman and two children were among the victims, semi-official Fars news agency said in a report, adding that investigations showed that the security forces of the shrine were also targeted in this attack on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Although the earlier reports said three terrorists were behind the attack, the police commander of Fars province said there is one attacker and the one has been arrested.

According to Fars, the perpetrator of this attack is an element of Takfiri groups. The attack comes as thousands of protesters took to the streets of a northwestern city to mark the watershed 40 days since the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Earlier, In April, a 21-year-old man of Uzbek origin stabbed two Shiite clerics and wounded another at the Imam Reza shrine, which honours one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam.

The killings happened during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when large crowds of worshippers had gathered at the shrine, in Iran's second-largest city Mashhad.
Ottawa (Canada): As many as 400 to 500 people clashed in the Canadian city of Mississauga Monday evening during the Diwali celebration, police said. Mississauga-based online news outlet Insauga said the fight took place in the Malton area, a video of which is making rounds on social media. The video shows Police officers trying to separate crowds at a Diwali celebration. "One group can be seen waving Indian flags, while the other held banners supporting the Khalistan referendum movement," according to Insauga. Peel Regional Police said officers received reports of a fight in the area of Goreway and Etude drives on Monday night. Police said they received reports of hundreds of people fighting in a local parking lot.

"FIGHT - Goreway Dr / Etude Dr #Mississauga - #PRP responded to reports of 400-500 people fighting in a parking lot - #PRP located one person with injuries - Male being assessed by @Peel_Paramedics- #PRP remaining in the area as things have calmed down - C/R 9:41pm - 22-0357908," Peel Regional Police said in a tweet.

Also Read: India sends strong message to Canada over Khalistan referendum. Details here

Police officers told Global News that fireworks were set off in a mall parking lot. However, Peel police were not sure if this led to the altercation. No arrests have been made, the Canadian publication added.

FIGHT

- Goreway Dr / Etude Dr #Mississauga

- #PRP responded to reports of 400-500 people fighting in a parking lot

- #PRP located one person with injuries

- Male being assessed by @Peel_Paramedics

- #PRP remaining in the area as things have calmed down

- C/R 9:41pm

- 22-0357908  Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) October 25, 2022

Not too long ago, India asked Canada to stop the so-called "Khalistan Referendums" by the anti-India elements on November 6 in Ontario. The Centre has asked the Canadian government to act against those who promote terror and violence against the largest democracy in the world. Responding to a media query,

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the issue of the referendum conducted by separatist groups has been taken up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and as well as with the Canadian authorities.

India has made it clear that it will continue to voice these issues both in New Delhi, Ottawa and elsewhere."We have taken it up with the Canadian High Commission in Delhi and also in Canada with the Canadian authorities. We will continue to take up these issues both in New Delhi, Ottawa & elsewhere," MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated on so-called "Khalistan Referendums" in Canada.
London: Newly-appointed British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his family will be returning to live in a smaller flat above No 10 Downing Street as they were "very happy there," his spokesperson has said. No 10 Downing Street has been the residence of British prime ministers since 1735, says the government's website. It has three functions - the official residence of the Prime Minister, their office and where the prime minister entertains guests from world leaders to royalty. Sunak, along with his wife Akshata Murty and two daughters, stayed in the flat when he was chancellor to former prime minister Boris Johnson.

Many Prime Ministers of recent years - especially those with children - have lived in the larger flat above No 11, officially designated for the chancellor.

Asked why Sunak has opted for No 10 instead, a Downing Street spokeswoman said on Wednesday: "They were very happy there."

The residential areas inside Downing Street, are generally kept away from the public eye.

ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murthy's combined net worth is double that of King Charles

Speaking to the Times newspaper in August during the hectic summer leadership contest, Sunak said the family would "probably just move back into the flat where we used to live, to be honest" if elected.

"We have already decorated it and it's lovely," he said.

Several predecessors including Johnson elected to live in No 11 because the four-bedroom flat there is much larger than the one above No 10, the BBC reported.

Tony Blair and his wife Cherie and their family were the first to make the switch, swapping home with the then unmarried Gordon Brown. The Blairs turned the space into a family home, it said.

The prime minister receives an annual public grant of 30,000 pounds to spend on living quarters.

Asked whether Sunak and his family will redecorate, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: "Not that I'm aware of."

In April, before Sunak resigned as chancellor, his family moved out of Downing Street to their west London house to be closer to their children's school.

In his final few months as chancellor, Sunak split his time between the family home and his official residence.

In the interview with the Times, Sunak insisted that the move from Downing Street in April was because his eldest daughter was in her last term of primary school and was meant to be able to walk to school by herself every day.

It is much larger than it appears from the front, with a warren of rooms and staircases spreading from the hall with the chequered floor immediately behind the front door, the BBC report said.

Sunak on Tuesday took charge as Britain's first Indian-origin Prime Minister.

The 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.
Kyiv: Russia's military targeted more than 40 villages around Ukraine over the past day, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday, killing at least two civilians 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, might try to detonate a so called dirty bomb, a device that uses explosives to scatter radioactive waste in an effort to sow terror, or could go even further and tap its nuclear arsenal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday monitored drills of the country's strategic nuclear forces that 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 was intended to simulate a ?massive nuclear strike? launched in retaliation for a nuclear attack on Russia. The Joe Biden administration said it received advance notice of the annual drills. NATO is also carrying out its own long-planned annual nuclear exercises in northwestern Europe.

Shoigu on Wednesday also called his counterparts from India and China to share Moscow's concern about possible Ukrainian provocations involving a dirty bomb, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Shoigu first made that allegation in calls with British, French, Turkish and US officials. Britain, France, and the United States rejected his claim as transparently false. Ukrainian authorities warned that Moscow might be preparing to use such a device in a false flag attack.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday called Russia's 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.

He underlined that the 30-nation military organisation will not be intimidated or deterred from supporting Ukraine's right to self-defense for as long as it takes. Despite the Western dismissals of the Russian claims, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisted Moscow had information about "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.

More conventional forms of warfare continued Wednesday in Ukraine. A Ukrainian official reported 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 wartime burdens of low-income households in Ukraine.

Missiles struck several buildings and neighbourhoods in 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 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.

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 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."
Kyiv [Ukraine]: Amid the escalation of war between Moscow and Kyiv, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said that Russia has used nearly 400 Iranian drones against the civilian population of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian media publication The Kyiv Independent. The Ukrainian President claimed that about 400 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones were used in multiple explosions that took place in Kyiv and targeted the country`s civilian population."Russia has used about 400 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones against Ukraine`s civilian population," Zelenskyy said. Earlier on October 17, Russia initiated a brutal attack on Ukraine with 43 drones. Later, Moscow`s forces used 28 drones to attack Kyiv that day, killing five people, The Kyiv Independent reported.

As ties continue to deepen between Tehran and Moscow as Iran continues to deny supplying weapons to Russia, the action has received widespread condemnation from across the globe.

Also Read: Iranian troops 'directly engaged in Crimea' to support Russia's drone strikes on Ukraine: US

Ukraine`s capital city Kyiv was rocked by multiple explosions earlier on October 17 by "Kamikaze" drones and several residential buildings were damaged during the attack following which Kyiv claimed Moscow used Iranian-supplied drones in the strikes against major Ukrainian cities in recent weeks and pleaded with Western countries to step up their assistance in the face of the new challenge.

The war between Russia and Ukraine has only escalated after a truck recently exploded on the Crimea road bridge, causing seven fuel tanks of a train heading to the Crimean Peninsula to catch fire. Three people were killed in the blast, which also led to the partial collapse of two spans of the road bridge.

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. The 19-kilometre bridge, which runs across the Kerch Strait and connects Crimea with mainland Russia, consists of a railway and vehicle sections. It became fully operational in 2020.Earlier, the transport ministry had said the bridge, which consists of two parallel routes for automobiles and trains, will possibly open to trains by 8 pm Moscow time (1700 GMT) on Saturday.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has instructed the local units of Airtel and MTN to repeal the tariff increases that they imposed last week.

NCC public affairs director Reuben Muoka said that both operators had already increased voice and data rates by 10% despite only receiving provisional approval to do so from the regulator. In a statement, Muoka said: even though the tariff adjustment was proposed and provisionally approved by the NCC management pending the final approval of board of the commission, in the end, it did not have the approval of the board of the commission. As a result, it is reversed.

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isa Ibrahim Pantami added: As much as there is an increase in the cost of production, the provision of telecom services is still very profitable and it is necessary that subscribers are not subjected to a hike in charges. The Commission will carry further consultations with all industry stakeholders on the best approaches that will protect and uphold the interest of both the consumers and service providers.

Earlier this year, Nigerias Association of Licensed Telecom Operators (ALTON) proposed to the NCC that the costs of operating in the market merited a tariff increase of 40%. The NCC did not approve the proposal.

ITWeb Africa reported that neither MTN nor Airtel provided any comment on the NCCs order.
Two recent Nokia deals, in Indonesia and Azerbaijan, emphasise network enhancement and improved customer experience but also, the vendor says, offer the potential for cost savings for operators.

Nokia has announced that Indonesian operator Moratelindo has deployed its optical transport solution to boost network capacity to three terabytes in Jakarta and two terabytes in Java Island, scaling the network beyond 24Tb, and covering over 52,000km of fibre across the Indonesian archipelago.

This deployment, rolled out in June, together with another link of 3.2 terabytes toward Singapore, will enable Moratelindo to provide improved bandwidth to end users and allow the operator to monetize its network as network-as-a-service (NaaS).

Nokia's solution will also allow Moratelindo to integrate its existing network with newer traffic modules, thus saving capital expenditure and increasing the life of the installed infrastructure.

Powered by the Nokia Photonic Service Engine V (PSE-V) technology, the modernized optical transport network will enable Moratelindo to minimize its footprint while addressing a growing capacity requirement. Nokia's solution includes the 1830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) to help Moratelindo maximize the reach and capacity of the transport network.

Nokia has also expanded its long-term strategic relationship with Delta Telecom, a leading provider of advanced network communications and technology solutions in the Azerbaijan and Caucasus region. Nokia will provide a nationwide core IP and Optical DWDM network enhancement with 400G-capable architecture to ensure Azerbaijans largest network has the capacity, flexibility and reduced power consumption to deliver the best possible customer experience for the future.

Delta Telecom will modernize and launch a 400GE-based IP/MPLS backbone in the Baku metropolitan area and will also modernize its nationwide IP/MPLS network with 100GE capacity to accommodate a rapid traffic increase in the Caucasus region. This will be the first 400GE IP technology deployed in the region.

The joint project with Nokia will, the partners say, allow Delta Telecom to provide its customers with improved SLAs, full end-to-end services resiliency, 5x higher bandwidth capacity, and faster services reconvergence.

For the modernization, Delta Telecom selected Nokia's 7750 Service Router platforms, powered by Nokias innovative FP4 chipset, and, as in Indonesia, the 1830 PSS optical platform with Nokias Photonic Service Engine technology, to expand capacity across its core routing and transport network for future services.

Delta Telecom will also be able to automate its network with Nokias Network Services Platform (NSP), resulting in easier management, lower costs and increased network responsiveness and resiliency.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan and Hungary have discussed the opportunities for cooperation within the Southern Gas Corridor, Azernews reports.

The discussion took place during the meeting between Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and Hungarian Ambassador Tamas Torman.

During the meeting, the parties emphasized that energy cooperation is an important part of the relations between the two countries,

Parviz Shahbazov briefed about the favorable investment environment in Azerbaijan's green energy sector and the work done on the implementation of large-scale projects with the attraction of foreign investments.

He noted that it is planned to export a certain part of the electric energy to Europe, which will be produced at the expense of renewable energy sources in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the large capacities to be created on offshore wind energy.

For his turn, the ambassador expressed Hungary's interest in active cooperation in the field of both traditional and renewable energy, as well as the participation of Hungarian companies in the restoration of Azerbaijan's liberated territories and transformation into a green energy zone.

The sides exchanged views on a number of other issues arising from cooperation in the energy sector.

The diplomatic relations between the two nations were established on November 27, 1992. The Hungarian embassy in Azerbaijan was established in January 2009, while the embassy of Azerbaijan was opened in Hungary in September 2004.

Around 50 documents have been signed between the two countries. Azerbaijan and Hungary have also had fruitful cooperation within international and regional organizations. Hungary signed a strategic partnership agreement with Azerbaijan on November 11, 2014.

The trade turnover between the two countries totaled $35.1 million in 2021.
DALEVILLE  A strong relationship with local communities is among Fort Rucker Command General Maj. Gen. Michael McCurrys priorities, United States Aviation Center of Excellence Chief of Staff Col. Whitney Gardner told those attending the Association of the United States Army meeting held at the Daleville Cultural and Convention Center Thursday.

Its not lost on us in uniform what a powerful force this local chapter is, said Gardner, who was keynote speaker at association meeting that rotates quarterly between the cities of Enterprise, Dothan, Ozark and Daleville.

And the feeling is mutual.

Voice for the Army, support for the soldier, is the motto of AUSA, said Wiregrass Chapter President Doug Wynn. AUSA supports soldiers, their families, and Army civilians, provides a voice for the Army and honors those who have served.

Gardner gave the AUSA crowd an overview of the challenges facing todays military forces.

As the Army emerges from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and refocuses efforts on the pacing challenge of China and the acute threat posed by Russia, Army leaders are directing the most significant reorganization and technical innovation since the end of the Cold War, Gardner said. Were ensuring that our adversaries cannot outrange or outpace us on traditional battlefields like in Ukraine, or the new frontiers of space and cyberspace. The world is changing, and the Army is changing with it.

On the battlefields of the future, the Army of 2030 must acquire sensors to see more, farther and more persistently than our enemies, Gardner said. The Army must concentrate highly lethal, low-signature combat forces rapidly from dispersed locations to overwhelm adversaries at a place and time of our choosing.

This Army must deliver precise, longer-range fires as part of the Joint Force to strike deep targets and passing enemy forces and the Army must protect our forces from air, missile and drone attacks, Gardner said. It must be secure from enemy cyber and electronic attacks in order to reliably communicate and share data with ourselves, sister services and coalition partners and the Army must ensure we can sustain the fight across contested terrain and over time.

The Armys top priorities are people, readiness, and modernization, Gardner said. The Armys first priority is prioritizing soldiers, civilians, and their families.

Gardner said that Army recruiting did not meet its goal last year. Those of us in the Army have been challenged to tell the Army story, highlighting the opportunities that the Army presents, he said, encouraging high school counselors and parents to tell the military story to youth.

Were looking towards the future, but we are capitalizing on the strengths we have right now, Gardner said.
On Oct. 19, students from Abbeville Christian Academy toured the Abbeville Fiber facility during a Forestry Field Day as part of the Alabama Forestry Associations Alabama Woods to Goods Week.

While at the mill, students got a firsthand look at how a sawmill operates, the work performed by the employees at the mill, and how many people the facility employs in the community.

Representatives from the mill including Jeremy Whiddon, Brian Tooke, Matt Barkley, Brad Williams, and Ryan Blalock helped guide the tour and gave students insight on the sawmilling processes.

Forestry Field Days are designed to expose high school students to the various careers in the forestry and forest products manufacturing industry that are available to them in their local communities by giving them the opportunity to interact with forest industry professionals in the workplace. They also aim to educate students on the sustainable nature of the forest and forest products industry.

Alabama Woods to Goods Week is a week-long promotional event to celebrate forestrys professionals, products and industry. This years celebration is sponsored by the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils.

Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed the third week in October as Alabama Woods to Goods Week which coincides with National Forest Products Week.

The Alabama Forestry Association is celebrating across the state with mill tours, log site visits, forest product donations and many other educational events to highlight the industrys environmental, community and economic impact.

To learn more visit, www.alwoodstogoods.com/.
October 26, 2022 | 08:00 pm PT

URC Vietnam Co., Ltd. has been recognized as one of the 5 most prestigious non-alcoholic beverage firms in 2022 by Vietnam Report Joint Stock Company (Vietnam Report) .

The Top 5 prestigious beverage companies list is an annual ranking in the field of food and beverage published by Vietnam Report, conducted in collaboration with Vietnamnet e-newspaper and based on independent research, using three criteria: financial capacity, media reputation and the survey of users (including experts and consumers).

"The award is the recognition of professionals and consumers for URC Vietnams unremitting efforts over the past 19 years to provide customers safe and quality products," a representative of URC Vietnam Co., Ltd said.

URC Vietnam Co., Ltd. has constantly invested in technique, researched technology and carefully selected each source of ingredients to ensure the best, and safest product for consumers. The company has invested in modern production lines in all five factories nation-wide, after nearly 20 years in Vietnam.

The quality and food safety management system among the Company's factories is strictly in compliance with international standards, achieving ISO 9001:2015 certifications on Quality Management Systems and FSSC 22000:2005 on Food Safety Management Systems.

URC Vietnam also owns a central laboratory for research, development and application of new products.

URC Vietnam has been honored in the Top 5 prestigious beverage companies - non-alcoholic beverage industry group in 2022. Photo by URC



In the context of international economic integration, the application of international standards has helped URC Vietnam Co., Ltd. affirm its position, increase competitiveness, and expand export markets to reach out to the world.

Popular products URC Vietnam Co., Ltd. supplies to the domestic and export markets of Japan, Korea, and Taiwan include C2 bottled tea, Red Dragon energy drink, Cream-0 biscuits, and Dynamite candy.

Modern technology applied in all processes not only helps ensure product quality, but also makes control and traceability easier, which is considered a plus point for URC among its partners.

URC Vietnam Co., Ltd. is constantly expanding its product category to meet this tendency. Specifically, with the main product line of C2 bottled tea, the company has launched many versions with diverse flavors including lemon, peach, litchi, apple, and milk tea.

Not only diverse in taste, the C2 bottled tea product line is also produced via modern processes to help preserve nutrients and freshness. Accordingly, the ingredients are brewed 100% from natural tea leaves grown in Vietnams specialized tea areas, then processed and bottled within five hours to ensure purity.
Vietnamese king's 11-kg gold seal to go under hammer in France

French auction house Millon will auction off an 11-kg gold seal of Nguyen Dynasty's King Minh Mang later this month for 2-3 million euros ($1.96-2.95 million).

The imperial seal of Emperor Minh Mang (1791-1841) will be put up for auction along with 329 artifacts during a sale on Oct. 31 (Paris time).

According to the French auction house, the square-based seal is 10.4 centimeters tall and weighs 10.78 kilograms.

The handle is in the form of a coiled dragon with five claws and the head is raised and the character "Vuong", meaning king, is incised on its forehead.

Each of the dragon's four legs has five claws. Its scaly body is adorned with a bulging dorsal ridge, and the head is covered with stag horns, exposing the lion's muzzle and teeth.

The imperial seal of King Minh Mang. Photo courtesy of Millon

The phrase "Hoang De Chi Bao" (Treasure of The Emperor) appears on the imperial seal.

The auction house claims this seal was used exclusively for important documents under Nguyen Dynasty rule.

More than a hundred seals were created during the 143 years of the Dynasty. Models were made in gold, jade, ivory, silver and bronze and used by the various members of the royal family according to their rank, as well as officials. Fifteen jade and gold seals were created during the reign of King Minh Mang.

Authorities and specialists at home are demanding the artifacts be returned to Vietnam.

A spokesperson for the Department of Cultural Heritage stated that upon learning the news, it had recommended the quick verification of a number of details regarding the item, including the previous owner, legality, expected selling price, and the ability to negotiate direct purchase without auction.

Following verification, the Vietnamese delegation will recommend a course of action for safely returning the item to Vietnam.

The ministrys Department of Cultural Heritage said that if the seal was the real "Treasure of The Emperor", then it had been used for public and political activities throughout a historical period and carried significant cultural value.

Nguyen Phuong Hoa, director of the International Cooperation Department under the culture ministry, said the agency is currently checking to see if the artifact is real or not.

"To depend solely on the auction house's information would be a mistake. We need the assistance of the Vietnamese embassy in France before we can move further," she said.

According to antiquities expert Tran Duc Anh Son, he had heard about the seal's auction through a friend. Through research and comparison with historical documents, he was able to verify the authenticity of the artifact described in Millon's description and said he strongly believes it is the real seal.

He had later told Nguyen Van Doan, director of Vietnam's National Museum of History, to figure out a method to bring the artifact home. The museum officials have since met with officials from the federal agency responsible for cultural preservation to discuss the issue.

"The Nguyen Dynasty placed a high value on the seal, thus its return to Vietnam would be greatly appreciated," he said.

A golden bowl from of Nguyen Dynasty's King Khai Dinh. Photo courtesy of Millon

Millon also offers for sale a golden bowl, which has an image of a dragon, from the time of the Nguyen Dynasty's King Khai Dinh (reigning 1916-1925). The bowl is estimated to fetch between 20,000-25,000 euros.

There has been a rise in the popularity and presence of Vietnamese antiquities in international auctions.

In June, a jade bowl owned by Tu Duc, the fourth king of Vietnams last royal dynasty, went under the hammer for 845,000 euros at an auction in Paris.

In October last year, a Vietnamese Mandarin cap from the Nguyen Dynasty sold for 600,000 euros in Spain.

Founded in 1928, the Paris-based Millon Auction House also has offices in Nice (France), Brussels, and many other European cities.
By Azernews

By Ayya Lmahamad

Azerbaijan has exported about 230 million francs ($232.8m) worth of crude oil to Switzerland, Azerbaijani Ambassador Fuad Iskandarov said at a press conference in Geneva, Azernews reports per Trend.

The ambassador noted that 70 percent of crude oil supplies to Switzerland are hydrocarbons from Azerbaijan, coming through Italy.

Touching upon Azerbaijan's plans to double gas supplies to the EU by 2025, he underlined that this would be useful for Switzerland as well.

Armenian destruction of Azerbaijani cities

Fuad Iskandarov also stated that Armenia completely destroyed Azerbaijani cities during the period of their occupation.

Noting that the post-conflict settlement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is on the agenda, he emphasized that there are a lot of relevant issues.

"It is necessary to move forward in the negotiations," he said.

Moreover, speaking about the damage caused by Armenia during the period of occupation of Azerbaijani territories, he noted that a lawsuit is being prepared.

"A criminal case may be initiated against Armenia demanding payment of reparations," 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.
Vietnamese in Cambodia return to their home country through a border gate in Tay Ninh Province, September 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan

Over 800 Vietnamese workers have returned to Vietnam from Cambodia through border gates in the southern province of Tay Ninh since Tuesday.

Le Hong Vuong, head of the Tay Ninh border guard forces, said Thursday that the number of workers returning to Vietnam from Cambodia has risen dramatically of late.

Many of them worked in casinos in Cambodia and had no legal papers with them, he added.

The return of Vietnamese citizens from Cambodia was due to a widespread crackdown by Cambodian authorities on companies exploiting illegal, undocumented workers, Vuong said.

Border gates between Vietnam and Cambodia, situated in the southern provinces of Tay Ninh, Long An and An Giang, have been receiving large numbers of Vietnamese citizens returning, many of them after being rescued from casinos and other businesses. Most of them had been tricked to go to Cambodia as illegal workers.

On Monday the Xa Mat border gate in Tay Ninh received 171 people rescued by Cambodian authorities from gambling businesses. A fortnight earlier, over 80 Vietnamese had returned through the Moc Bai border gate.

It is estimated that since the beginning of this year, around 1500 Vietnamese citizens have managed to return home from illegal work facilities in Cambodia.
Le Thi Ngoc Anh, a specialist at the Communist Party's external relations commission. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Public Security

A specialist of the Communist Party's Central Commission for External Relations has been arrested for her involvement in the Covid-19 repatriation flight bribery scandal.

Le Thi Ngoc Anh, 38, a specialist of the commission's Reception Department, was arrested to be investigated for "obtaining property by fraud," spokesman of the Ministry of Public Security To An Xo said Thursday.

Tao Duc Hiep, 46, director of the Vietnam Railways Trade Union Tourist company, was arrested the same day to be investigated for "giving bribes."

The arrests are the latest developments of a Covid-19 repatriation flight scandal involving bribery and fraud that involved officials in multiple ministries and other governmental entities. Over eight months of investigation, 25 people have been arrested, including then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung.

Police are gathering records on the organization of all repatriation flights, including operating carriers and quarantine hotels.

The Ministry of Public Security said in June that each repatriation flight earned profits of several billion Vietnamese dong (VND1 billion = $43,600) after deducting costs.

Vietnam had operated around 400 repatriation flights to bring home residents stranded overseas.
Certain dry shampoo products that may contain carcinogens have been imported into Vietnam, the Drug Administration of Vietnam said Thursday.

The announcement was given following a notice from Health Canada about Unilever recalling certain dry shampoo batches branded as Dove, TRESemme and Bed Head this month for containing elevated levels of benzene, a carcinogen.

Unilever dry shampoo products that contain benzene. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The recalled products were TRESemme Fresh & Clean Dry Shampoo, TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo and Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo, all produced in the U.S. The Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo has not been imported since 2020, and the TRESemme products since 2021, according to the drug administration.

"The administration has requested Unilever to clarify the recall and the distribution status of products in Vietnam, as well as proposing ways to handle the problem and issuing relevant recommendations," Hung said, adding that the administration has yet to receive a detailed report from the company.

The administration is also cooperating with other drug administrations in relevant countries to verify Unilever's reports and to deal with the issue if such product batches are in circulation in Vietnam.

Unilever Vietnam has yet to give a statement regarding the matter, and has not confirmed whether the imported products belonged to the recalled batches in the U.S. and Canada.

Benzene is classified as a carcinogen in humans. Contact with the substance may lead to blood and bone marrow cancer, as well as certain blood disorders that can be life-threatening.

Unilever in the U.S. said the recalled products were produced before October 2021, including products with brands like Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI and TRESemme.
A cancer patient is treated at the HCMC Oncology Hospital 2 in Thu Duc City, May 13, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Vietnam will promote R&D into new technologies combined with traditional methods to produce a cancer vaccine, according to a government decision.

According to a national program to ensure vaccine supplies until 2030 approved by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on Tuesday, Vietnam will produce 10 types of vaccine by 2025, including the 5-in-1 vaccine, which is being given to all infants to provide protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio and Hib disease (Haemophilus influenzae type B).

By 2030, Vietnam will produce 15 types of vaccine, including one to prevent cancer.

To promote the production of vaccines, specific policies will be issued, and regulations on licensing, bidding, procurement, and supply deployed.

The government promises to support the transfer of new technologies in research and production of vaccines. Domestic and foreign experts on vaccine production will also be trained.

In addition, Vietnam will attract investment and support from countries and international organizations in human resource training, studying and mastering technology to produce vaccines against emerging, dangerous, highly infectious diseases or not yet included in the Expanded Immunization Program.

The national expanded program on immunization is providing immunization to 12 vaccine-preventable diseases in Vietnam.

Current compulsory vaccines used in the program include those for hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping-cough, tetanus combination vaccines, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type B, measles, Japanese B encephalitis, rubella, cholera and typhoid fever.

Le Van Quang, director of K Hospital in Hanoi, a leading medical facility for treating cancer in northern Vietnam, said more than 300,000 Vietnamese people are living with cancer. In 2020, 122,000 people had died of the disease.

Every year, the average cancer death rate in Vietnam is 73.5% compared to the global average rate of 59.7%, heard an international conference held in Hanoi this August.

According to data from the Global Cancer Observatory in August, Vietnam's new cancer incidence rate in 2020 rose nine places to the 90th position out of 185 countries, with 165,000 new cases recorded in 2018 and 182,000 in 2020. The cancer death rate rose six places to 50th out of 185 countries after two years.
Gangs usually transfer drugs from the Golden Triangle to Vietnam and Laos either for consumption or transport to other markets, police said.

They choose Vietnam and Laos because both countries share a long border of 2,300 kilometers and neighbor China, Thailand and Myanmar, facilitating drug trafficking, officials said at a conference on drug prevention and control of Vietnamese and Lao police held Wednesday in Hanoi.

Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, told the conference that drug traffickers have taken full advantage of the policy to open borders to boost socio-economic development between Laos and Vietnam and operate more actively than before.

Drugs from the Golden Triangle, an intersection of China, Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar and the world's second largest drug-producing area behind the Golden Crescent in South Asia, were transferred to Vietnam and Laos for consumption or transport to other markets, he said.

Both Lao and Vietnamese police told the conference that the common trick gangs use is set up a closed line with the mastermind never in sight, even when it comes to transferring money to transporters.

They communicate mostly through social media and avoid using phones as much as possible. During the transport process, those gangs have their own rules to communicate and are armed with AK 47 rifles, sniper rifles, and grenades.

Once they get the drugs, they often hire local people living in border areas to transport it across the border via illegal and small trails. To avoid police, they usually hide the drugs in boxes of agricultural products like dried bamboo shoots and rice.

A collaborative operation between Vietnam and Laos has identified four routes via which drug mules usually transfer shipments from the Golden Triangle into Laos and then to Vietnam. Police in both countries have also set up a map of several spots along the borders that usually act as drug transport hubs.
An aircraft takes off from Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, April 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

International air passenger numbers through Vietnamese airports have only recovered half of pre-pandemic levels as resumption of regular flights to some key markets remains challenging, an aviation official said.

Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, told a meeting early this week that the resumption of regular flights to some key tourism markets like China still faces challenges due to ongoing Covid entry restrictions.

"Aviation officials in Vietnam and China are in talks to restore regular flights between the two countries," he added.

China is one of the few places in the world that have been tightening Covid entry restrictions.

Though some markets like South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan have reopened tourism and relaxed Covid restrictions, travel demand remains disappointing, Thang said.

Aviation officials expect the number of international passengers going through Vietnamese airports this year to reach 10 million, or around 24% of pre-pandemic levels.
Quang Ninh wants to open more direct flights to Southeast Asia, South Korea

Aircraft park at Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Cuong

Authorities in Quang Ninh Province, home to world heritage site Ha Long Bay, proposed to launch new direct routes to some tourist destinations in Southeast Asia and South Korea.

There should be direct flights connecting Van Don Airport near Ha Long Town with Gangwon in South Korea, Tuv province in Mongolia, Sarawak in Malaysia and Cebu in the Philippines to boost tourism potential, Nguyen Tuong Van, chairman of Quang Ninh, told the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum held in Ha Long.

Quang Ninh authorities hoped to open direct air routes with Luang Prabang in Laos and Siem Riep in Cambodia that are home to world heritage sites, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Representatives from Laos and Cambodia backed the proposal, saying the opening of these direct flights would help attract tourists from the U.S. and Europe.

East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum was founded in Gangwon Province in South Korea in 2000 with an aim to boost the travel industry.

Currently, EATOF has 12 member provinces including Vietnams Quang Ninh Province.

Van Don, inaugurated in December 2018, is 50 km from Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO-recognized world heritage site.

The heritage bay has found a spot on the global tourism map, with travel bloggers and filmmakers hailing its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone pillars topped by rainforests.
Passengers wait at Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC, January 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Taiwan's China Airlines is all set to resume services from HCMC to Kaohsiung and Taichung after a two-year hiatus.

There will be one flight a week between HCMC and Kaohsiung from October 30 and four on the HCMC-Taichung route from November 18.

Visitors to Taiwan are no longer needed to furnish a negative Covid test result or make a medical declarations before boarding.

In recent years Vietnam has been among the biggest source of visitors for Taiwan, which has been enjoying a tourism boom.

In 2019, the year before the onset of Covid, it received over 777,000 Vietnamese tourists.

That year Vietnam saw a 30% rise in visitor numbers from Taiwan.

Vietnam reopened its borders and resumed pre-pandemic visa policies on March 15.
On September 30, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced Russias attempted annexation of four Ukrainian regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya. None of them were fully under Russias control. Putins announcement quickly followed staged, transparently sham referenda purporting to show that Ukrainian citizens living in these areas agreed with Russias attempted annexation.



As in 2014, [when Putin announced Russias purported annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula,] Russia is testing the resolve of the world to stand up for the core principles of international law, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield in mid-October, during a Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Russias invasion of Ukraine.

How else do you explain the flagrant disregard of the values of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and peace and security? How else do you explain the horrific attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure that weve seen this week? How else do you explain the saber-rattling from Putin and his veiled threats of deploying nuclear force? These are threats against this institution. They are threats against all of us.

Speaking in the run-up to a vote on a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling on countries not to recognize Russias attempt to annex these four regions of Ukraine, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said that Russias actions have no place in our modern world.

That is why this resolution calls for peace, and it calls for de-escalation. But it also makes clear that we reject Russias attempted annexations, that we reject this affront to territorial integrity, to national sovereignty, to peace and security.

The Resolution passed with 143 member states in favor, 5 against and 35 nations abstaining from the vote.



The resolution sends an enormously important signal to Moscow and to everyone, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.



It does not matter if you as a nation are big or small, rich or poor, old or new. If you are a UN Member State, your borders are your own and are protected by international law. And that goes for every single country in the UN. They cannot be redrawn by anyone else by force.



[The] vote has a practical effect. It means that in the eyes of the world and the United Nations, Ukraines borders remain the same, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.



As Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said, Kherson is Ukraine. Zaporizhzhya is Ukraine. Donetsk is Ukraine. Luhansk is Ukraine. And Ukraine remains Ukraine.
ELKO  Rotarians Helen Hankins and Michael Mauser returned to Elko this month after a 28-day trek across Central Italy. Along with Jim Ludwick, another Rotarian from Las Vegas, they walked more than 300 miles from Florence to Rome to raise awareness and funds to eradicate polio forever. Polio is an incurable disease that primarily affects children below the age of 5, killing them or crippling them for life.

Hankins said the trek was difficult in the initial days while hiking in the Apennine Mountains. She added that the opportunity to meet with Italian Rotarians in Florence, Assisi and Rome made the trail challenges worth it. Several Italians and Italian clubs were supportive of and contributed to the One Step Closer Campaign to eradicate polio.

Since launching its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985, Rotary International has contributed more than $2 billion to fight polio. In 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was formed by Rotary International and its partners, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (The Gates Foundation and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance later joined.) Today, only one strain of wild poliovirus (wild poliovirus type 1) remains in circulation. Types 2 and 3 were eradicated in recent years. It is possible that we are only a few years away from eliminating this disease altogether.

Mauser expressed appreciation for the generous support of the Elko Desert Sunrise Rotary Club, the Rotary Club for Global Action, the Rotary Club of South Florence, the Yelm Rotary Club as well as Rotarians from several clubs and locations. In addition, he said, many local individuals in the Elko area, as well as family and friends have made this campaign a success.

Polio eradication will be one of historys greatest public health achievements, with polio following smallpox to become only the second human disease eradicated from the world.

The One Step Closer Campaign ends October 31. The campaign has raised $28,500. With the generous match of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this will provide nearly $90,000 to support the fight against polio. Funds will be used for immunizations, environmental monitoring, contact tracing and other purposes.

There is still time to move Rotary one step closer to eradicating polio forever. You can contribute to this effort at: https://raise.rotary.org/michaelwmauser/fundraiser. For more information, contact helenhankins@gmail.com.
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

The Azerbaijani National Defense University rector, Lt-Gen Heydar Piriyev, has led a delegation to Gori, Georgia, for a scientific-practical conference on the topic "NATO Priorities and Caucasus - Status Quo and Changes", Azernews reports, per the ministry.

Piriyev's remarks on the topic "Military Aspects of the Second Karabakh War" at the conference, hosted at Georgia's Davit Agmashenebeli National Defense Academy, piqued the attendees' interest, the ministry said.

Various Azerbaijan army members delivered speeches both in-person and online modes during the conference.

Relations with NATO started in 1992 when Azerbaijan joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. This forum for dialogue was succeeded in 1997 by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, which brings together all allies and partner countries in the Euro-Atlantic area.

Bilateral cooperation began when Azerbaijan joined the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 1994. Thanks to regular participation in PfP activities, Azerbaijan has been able to contribute actively to Euro-Atlantic security by supporting NATO-led peace-support operations.

In 2018, Azerbaijan asked NATO to also involve the Military High School, a pre-commissioning school, in DEEP.
RENO  A new study by researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno documents that hunting generates millions of dollars in economic impact in Nevada, especially in rural communities where wildlife is plentiful, including Elko, White Pine and Lincoln counties.

The study, led by researchers in the Universitys Department of Economics, Extension and Experiment Station, found that hunters spent about $380 million in 2020 on hunting in Nevada, on both travel and hunting expenses, as well as big-ticket items such as off-highway vehicles, firearms, ammunition and campers. Spending in 2020 was almost identical to spending in 2019, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers worked with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the state agency tasked with conserving wildlife and managing sustainable, hunting opportunities in Nevada, to find out how much hunters spend on hunting licenses and tags each year.

In addition to using NDOWs administrative data and figures from the Big Game Hunt Stats, researchers worked with NDOW to distribute an expenditure survey to gather spending on hunting activities from 2,000 hunters. The result was two companion reports: Hunting-Related Economic Activity in Nevada and Hunter Expenditure in Nevada.

The reports were produced in partnership with Extensions Nevada Economic Assessment Project, which aims to provide county, state and federal agencies and their partners, with quantitative and qualitative baseline data and analyses to better understand trends in each countys demographic, social, economic, fiscal and environmental characteristics.

The timing of the research, which used data from the 2019 and 2020 hunting seasons, wasnt planned to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic, but ended up allowing the researchers to look at spending on hunting during different economic conditions.

More people want to hunt big game animals here in Nevada than there are available big game hunting tags, said Michael Taylor, a co-author of the reports. Thats what makes hunting kind of a recession-proof industry. There are so many people who want to go, that demand stays strong even during an economic downturn.

Hunting is a unique and sought-after experience, and hunters are committed to being outdoors and having a connection with the landscape and wildlife, Taylor added. If hunting opportunities werent available in Nevada, hunters would likely seek out hunting or other outdoor activities in other states.

Taylor is associate professor of economics in the Universitys College of Business. He spent two years collaborating on the research project and co-authoring the two reports with three University colleagues: Alec Bowman, economics research scientist and lead author of both reports; Tom Harris, economics professor, Extension specialist and Experiment Station researcher; and Buddy Borden, community and economic development associate professor and Extension specialist. Extension and the Experiment Station are part of the Universitys College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources.

The team found that the majority of hunters in the state live in Washoe and Clark counties, but that the economic impact of hunting is greatest in counties where the most tags are issued  Elko, White Pine and Lincoln counties  and that economic impact varies based on the type of tag issued. For example, on average across counties, an increase of 10 hunting tags for antlered mule deer will increase total economic output by nearly $4,500, but an increase of 10 tags for antlered elk will increase total economic output by $19,000.

Thats not to say that more tags will become available to boost the economy, as the number of tags available to hunters each year is not influenced by the economy or revenue in any way. Tag quotas are set by the Nevada Wildlife Board of Commissioners through a public process, and recommendations for the number of tags available each year from NDOW are based on survey data and population modeling to manage for a sustainable, harvestable surplus, which benefits conservation and supports healthy wildlife populations.

Bobby Jones, the outdoor connection coordinator for NDOW, said the hope is that information from the report will help small businesses, county commissioners and other decision-makers better understand how conserving Nevadas natural resources and providing sustainable opportunities for Nevadans to hunt, fish, hike and camp supports the states economy.

Our goal is to simply share this information broadly so Nevadans can make more informed decisions that best serve their communities when it comes to conservation, outdoor recreation and hunting, he said.

Jones said there just wasnt much information on the economic impacts of hunting in the state before this research.

Generally, people are aware that hunting exists and support legal, regulated hunting, but are not hunters themselves, and even hunters might not sit down and pencil out exactly what they spend on hunting each year, he said. Before this report, there was not enough information available to show exactly how hunting in Nevada impacts our economy.

And although hunting isnt going to be a transformational driver of economic development, it does create a substantial number of jobs in some of the states rural communities, Taylor added.

Its not agriculture, its not mining, but its a nice industry bringing people into these counties, he said.

Taylor said he and his colleagues are now following up on the first survey to look at the economic benefits for hunters. Jones added that NDOW may look to conduct more follow-up surveys with the University in the future as well.

In comparison to this report, most national survey data severely underestimate hunter spending in Nevada, Jones said. Knowing this, were curious to know if that is the same for other outdoor pursuits, or not. If hunting generates almost $400 million per year, are fishing or wildlife viewing bigger economic drivers than we realize? Possibly, but we cant know without moving forward with a similar effort if we want to know for sure.
ELKO  For more than 10 years, Great Basin College has offered inmates with the Nevada Department of Corrections the opportunity to start a new life after life on the inside. The Second Chance Pell Grants program has given inmates an opportunity to receive funding toward education at the Lovelock Correctional Center, and now the program has been expanded to include Ely State Prison.

The goal is to lower recidivism amongst inmates. Studies show that those who participate in such programs reduce the chances of re-entering prison by 40%.

A lot of students recognize when they get out their career options will be limited, said Professor Becky Coleman of the Winnemucca branch of GBC. This is an opportunity to come out with credentials to help convince employers to give them a second chance.

Her 26 students are eager to learn and develop that sense of professionalism needed to succeed on the outside.

Many of them even want to prepare for entrepreneurship and self-employment, so we are helping prepare them to become business owners. Coleman said.

Educators have been doing most of the training in person at the prisons because there are limited slots available for use of interactive video teaching. Nevada Department of Corrections guidelines maintain integrity and safety of everyone involved and must keep inmate classes separate from the rest of GBC students.

The availability of instructors and equipment is limited at this time, and currently there are five classes running in which participants can receive an associate of applied science and business administration degree.

NDOC is hopeful they will have better access by summer 2023, which will open more options and increase educational opportunities for working on bachelor degrees. Many inmates have already shown an interest in advancing their degrees.

The prison system is working to expand the ability for inmates to access the internet to grow their abilities to meet deadlines and research topics pertinent to their assignments. It is a difficult process that must be handled delicately as safeguards and access blockers must be put in place to ensure the only accessible sites and resources pertain to inmates education, and no other harmful or unnecessary things may be accessed.

Teachers do face an extra workload undertaking these programs. In order for them to be able to teach within the prisons they must undergo a rigorous background check and be approved by NDOC. They must do additional training and a take a two-step TB test.

All students in the program are held to the same standard as any other student currently enrolled at GBC. All of the classes are equally as rigorous, its just done using old-school practices.

Currently, all research materials must be printed out and provided or books must be given to the prison library systems for inmates to check out.

Just going out there to teach you cant even have a Powerpoint, Coleman explained. So when I go out to teach, its me and a whiteboard.

Educators view these obstacles in different lights. While some must adjust to the standard practices that have long since changed in light of modern technologies, others welcome the deviation from new ways.

Dr. Jonathan Foster, GBC history professor, explained how he prepares for his work with the Ely Correctional Center classes.

It really doesnt add any extra stress. If I were teaching in class I would still have the papers to grade, he said. The only difference is I record the lectures to give the students. There isnt any extra work to it or anything, the one difference is the communication is written instead of asking in person.

Foster explained how he treats these classes on the same level as classes on campus.

Its not much different than teaching an online class as far as communication and grading, he said in undertaking his first semester in the program.

The instructors said students in the program feel this is the opportunity they need to prove they can change, and they are finally being given the chance to prove to themselves they can.
ELKO  In 2005, the Elko County Retired School Employees Association created a scholarship with the Great Basin College Foundation. The Elko County Retired School Employees Scholarship funds full-time students from Elko County as they pursue a bachelors degree in Education. The scholarship is awarded in two $500 increments for a total of $1,000 per year.

We are so grateful for our continued partnership with the Elko County Retired School Employees Association. Its humbling to see how many students have benefited from their scholarship, said Hillary Fruge, Associate Director of Development for the Great Basin College Foundation. With their support our students may not have to worry about the additional cost of books or food, and we are thrilled be able to facilitate getting their generous donations to the students who need them most.
CARSON CITY (AP)  Aubrey Rowlatt is retiring early after one term as Carson City's clerk-recorder, having seen drastic changes in the way elections are administered and scrutinized in her small county office and across Nevada.

Rowlatt's job duties go far beyond running the county's elections, but she said she had to put much of her other work on hold in the lead up to the 2020 vote because theres no way Im going on Fox News because I missed an election deadline. It turned out to be a recipe for burnout.

Across Nevada, those in charge of elections have started to resign at increased rates. Ten of the states 17 counties have had turnover in clerk or voter registrar positions from the 2020 election through the midterms, according to an Associated Press tally.

In Storey County, one of former President Donald Trumps so-called fake electors who signed certificates falsely stating Trump won in Nevada is now running elections after two other clerks resigned early.

In Elko County  where county commissioners might try to do away with machine voting after this election  the longtime clerk decided to run for reelection at the last minute, after considering stepping down.

The resignations include the secretary of states elections department, where internal records show three of 11 employees have remained since the 2020 election. The department says another five have come and gone in that span  a result of both election fatigue and better opportunities elsewhere.

Its a trend seen across the country yet amplified in this Western swing state where toss-up races across the ballot feature GOP candidates who have cast doubt on election security and vote-counting. Five of Arizonas 15 top elected officials are new this cycle, according to a new report, and nearly half of South Carolinas top election officials have left since 2020.

In many ways, its going to have a very significant impact on our communities, Humboldt County Clerk Tami Rae Spero said of the turnover.

Some officials in Nevada are facing increased skepticism as their once-quiet jobs have been thrust into the spotlight. They cited harassment due to election conspiracies and in some cases a lack of support from county commissioners. One received death threats that included an email saying count the votes as if your life depends on it because it does."

But for many clerks in rural counties it is the culmination of frustrations stemming from a misunderstood office  by distrustful voters as well as the Democratic-controlled state Legislature. Some have trouble balancing myriad duties from managing decades of public documents to safeguarding millions in public funds. Others have struggled to keep up with new voting laws passed by the Legislature to increase election accessibility.

We dont have staffs of 500 people. If they would just get in the weeds a little, come visit the rurals and actually talk and see how our offices run, I think they would get a clearer picture (of) just how many hats we wear, Rowlatt said of state lawmakers.

No county clerk position is as complicated as in Carson City, which combines the job of county clerk, recorder and public administrator. As recorder, Rowlatt digitizes centuries of historical records. As public administrator, she takes on the estates of residents who die without anybody to inherit them, filing their tax returns, settling their debts and selling or distributing whats left.

In her office sit election manuals, estate records, boxes of cremated remains and a shelf of yellow Nevada statute books. She calls the office the underbelly of local government  the elections, licensing and records management in Nevadas 55,000-person capital surrounded by sagebrush and cattle.

It was this versatility that attracted her to the position  and it's partly whats prompting her to leave.

Baseless claims of voter fraud  even by county officials  have also taken a toll on county clerks.

Its kind of disheartening when you work so hard and our staff works so hard and people just dont want to believe what were doing is right, Elko County Clerk Kris Jakeman said of election skepticism.

Since the state shifted to all mail-in ballots, the number of paper ballots the Elko County Clerks Office sends out has increased from 2,500 to 26,000, but officials have replaced just eight of the 13 employees who left since 2021. Three have left solely due to election stress, Jakeman said.

Spero, who has been on the job in Humboldt County since 2003, is now the states longest-serving clerk. Former Nye County Clerk Sam Merlino resigned in July after two decades when the board of commissioners voted unanimously to recommend counting all ballots by hand.

Spero said she used to have experienced people she could lean on.

And so now Im the one people reach out to, and that can be a little intimidating, too, she said.

Taking their places are a mix of new clerks with their own ideas.

Amy Burgans started as Douglas County clerk in early 2021 and implemented one of the first livestream broadcasts of polling locations on YouTube. She deals daily with unfounded skepticism about Dominion voting machines but sees that as an opportunity. In the rural county of just under 50,000 people, she tries to be a more public-facing figure by showing up at local fundraisers and meetings.

Other new clerks distrust voting machines themselves.

A Nevada Republican Party leader, Jim Hindle in 2020 signed illegitimate electoral certificates in an attempt to certify Nevadas electoral votes for Trump. Hindle won the race for Storey County clerk over then-interim clerk Doreayne Dore Nevin, who had taken over after another clerk resigned. She stepped down before the end of her term, putting Hindle in charge of the 2022 election.

In Nye County, clerk Mark Kampf is implementing hand-counting and all paper ballots alongside machine tabulators, working with GOP secretary of state candidate Jim Marchant, who is one of the America First Secretary of State Coalition candidates who deny the legitimacy of the 2020 election and vow to scrap early voting and vote-counting tabulators. In February, Marchant told voters at a forum your vote hasnt counted in decades.

What will be their first election will be the last for Rowlatt, who thought about how distant 2018 seems, when she expected to serve two or three terms.

The converging challenges she faced that eventually burned her out  statewide redistricting, an election during COVID-19, a slew of new voting laws and a special legislative session  were also what made her tenure memorable.

I feel like I was placed here for a reason, Rowlatt said. But Im also very sure that Im being given an out for a reason."

Gabe Stern is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Follow APs coverage of the elections at: https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections

Check out https://apnews.com/hub/explaining-the-elections to learn more about the issues and factors at play in the 2022 midterm elections.
While much of the state is focused on the U.S. Senate and Nevada Governors offices, another race needs to have the attention of rural Nevadans. That is the race for Regent in District 8.

I am John Patrick Rice, and I am running for Regent in District 8 of The Nevada System of Higher Education. Regent District 8 is the traditional rural regent seat. Now, with redistricting, nearly half the voters in the district live in Clark County  specifically, in North Las Vegas and Las Vegas proper. Rural Nevada has a lot at stake in this race. My opponent, a good person with a desire to serve, is from Las Vegas. The Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education needs a smart, professional rural voice and I am that voice.

But my credential as a rural Nevadan is just one of many reasons to vote for me for Regent, District 8. As a professional in higher education for nearly 30 years, I am eager to bring my experience to the Board. Having worked as a professor, administrator and leader in higher ed, I have unique skills and perspectives that will enhance the education of Nevadas college students. The future of Nevadas workforce, professional education and research needs to be stewarded by a professional like me, committed to guiding NSHE into the second quarter of the 21st Century.

To assure the strength of higher education throughout Nevada I will work to promote access in rural and urban communities with capital investment in both brick and mortar and online learning infrastructure. Online instruction cannot be the default for rural students. Rather, we must continue to invest in in-person instruction in order to provide professionals in health care, education and mining in rural Nevada. We must also strengthen the partnerships established with rural school districts to assure quality dual-enrollment opportunities for qualified high school students. Continued investment in broadband capacities at rural campuses and centers will increase the effectiveness of instruction throughout rural Nevada.

Because of the excellent work of the faculty and staff at Great Basin College, NSHE has in place a world-class distance education program. GBC already instructs students in every Nevada county, in nearly 40 states in the US, and in several countries across the globe. NSHE can capitalize on GBCs accomplishments in distance learning and increase its world-wide reach.

NSHE can leverage millions of dollars in capital investment the City of Elko and its private-sector partners are making in high-speed fiber-optic broadband. With all of the infrastructure in place, Elko is an obvious choice for the creation of the Nevada System of Higher Education Center for Distance Learning. The expansion of Distance Learning on the GBC Elko campus can bring good, high-paying jobs to our community. It will also bring additional revenues to NSHE that can enhance its brick-and-mortar operations.

In the last few months conversations about consolidating operations of GBC with UNR have been at the forefront. I see these conversations as a good starting point to better serve not only rural Nevada students, but students throughout the state more effectively. To assure the preservation of the mission and resources of Great Basin College and NSHE in general, we will need a Regent with a strong sense of the needs of rural Nevada college students and the political skill and courage to protect rural Nevada interests in higher education.

I have served Elko and rural Nevada responsibly as a leader, a teacher, and a good citizen for nearly thirty years. Elko voters have trusted me in the past to be a good steward of public resources and I will do so as your Regent as well. Please, cast a vote for me for Regent, District 8, in early voting or on November 8.
'Chinese modernization' highlighted as a key takeaway by foreign experts

Behind the translated versions of General Secretary Xi Jinping's report to the 20th Communist Party of China National Congress this year was a group of foreign experts from different countries whose job is to help the world to better understand the Party's top political document.

One of these experts is Sean Slattery from Ireland, who was involved in copyediting the report's English translation.

"I think it shows how much importance the Party placed on communicating with the outside world, how it wants to deliver its message to people abroad and tell them how the Party is going to develop and how China is going to develop going forward," he said in an interview with China Global Television Network.

"As for my own role, I feel very privileged to be involved in presenting China's voice to the world. But at the same time, there is also a lot of pressure, because there is kind of a big workload and the timeline is very tight, so there are these two feelings mixing together," he added.

It was not the first time that the CPC invited foreign experts to help translate the report into various languages.

In 2017, foreign experts participated in the translation work of the report to the Party's 19th National Congress, thus becoming the first foreigners to read the report.

This year, nine foreign experts were invited to be involved in the report's translation work, presenting the world with high-quality translated versions in English, French, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, German, Japanese and Lao.

"The report shows great vision, but it's very practical as well," said Slattery.

"It's going to have a big influence on China's development going forward."

"Chinese modernization" was deemed by most of the foreign experts to be one of the main messages that readers would get from this year's report.

Describing Chinese modernization as of "great importance" to the world, Slattery said its special characteristics are distinctively different from the paths that other countries have chosen in the past when pursuing modernization.

He said that achieving modernization for the country's 1.4 billion people is a huge step forward for humanity.

"By pursuing its own path of modernization, China is underscoring the importance of every country pursuing modernization through a path that is suited to their own conditions and that their people will accept and support," Slattery said.

"For other developing countries, Chinese modernization offers a new choice for achieving modernization, based on their own conditions and more international cooperation, rather than plunder, war and blood," said Yahia Mustafa who was responsible for editing the Arabic version of the report.

Peggy Cantave Fuyet has always wanted to know what the world's largest socialist country looked like. The report offered her an insight.

"People", "the environment "and "peace" were her key takeaways from the report.

For the French-language expert, the words indicate that Chinese modernization is a modernization that benefits everyone in the country instead of just a few.

They also indicate that China will honor its words in achieving the goals of peaking carbon emissions and becoming carbon neutral, and that the path China has chosen is not imperialism, colonialism or hegemonism, but a path of peaceful development, she said.
Phan Dinh Trac (L), Politburo member and Chairman of the CPV Cental Committees Commission for Internal Affairs, meets with Argentinian Minister of the Interior Eduardo Enrique de Pedro. (Photo: VNA)

During the stay in Argentina, Trac, who is also Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomena Prevention and Control, and Standing Vice Chairman of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform, met with Axel Kicillof, Standing Vice President of the Justicialist Party (PJ)  the key party in the ruling left-wing coalition, and Governor of Buenos Aires province; and Federico Angelini, Standing Vice President of the Republican Proposal (PRO)  the key party in the centre-right coalition that ruled from 2015 to 2019.

He also held talks with Jorge Kreyness, Politburo member and Secretary in charge of external relations of the Communist Party of Argentina (PCA) Central Committee; and had working sessions with Minister of Defence and senior adviser to the Justicialist Party Jorge Taiana, and Minister of the Interior Eduardo Enrique de Pedro.

Speaking at these meetings, Trac applauded the thriving traditional friendship, cooperation, and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina, especially when they are about to mark the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023.

The official stressed that the two countries share many common values and have unceasingly intensified cooperation and mutual support at international forums. They have also provided timely assistance for each other in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trac called on both countries step up ties in all areas, especially politics, economy, culture, defence, security, crime fight, and other potential fields, and work closely to organise activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, especially high-level visits by leaders of Vietnam and Argentina.

For their part, the Argentinian officials spoke highly of Vietnams enormous achievements and growing reputation in the world, saying that the CPV delegation's delegation would help promote the friendship and all-round cooperation between political parties of Argentina and the CPV, as well as between the States, Governments, and people of the two countries.

PJ Vice President Kicillof noted that his party wishes to further enhance its traditional ties with the CPV.

At the meetings, the two sides agreed on measures to develop bilateral relations in a more practical and effective manner, including increasing mutual visits, sharing information and experience, coordinating with and supporting each other at international forums, and boosting communications and education about the Vietnam - Argentina ties among younger generations.

They also discussed many international and regional issues of common concern./.
Workers debug a robot that is capable of performing maintenance work on the electrical grid in Tianjin. [Photo/Xinhua]

LONDON -- 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: GSY
South Africa: Denel's R3.4m injection to revitalise business

Denel says it is ready to move into the next phase of its strategic drive to strengthen its business and create a long-term, sustainable future based on improved business efficiencies and growth.

This after the decision announced by Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, in his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to re-capitalise the State-owned aerospace and defence company with R3.4 billion.

Denel has described the move as a critical step in rebuilding the State-owned entity, which is led by the Chief Restructuring Officer, Riaz Saloojee, who plays a critical role in ensuring the successful turnaround of Denel.

According to the Group CEO of Denel, Mike Kgobe, the States decision to recapitalise the entity is a vote of confidence to stabilise the company as it emerged from a sharp downturn, caused by mismanagement, State Capture and governance failures.

This will enable us to proceed with the streamlining of the business and establish a base from which we can significantly grow our order book and access new revenue streams, he said.

National Treasury, the Department of Public Enterprises and the Denel Board of Directors will monitor the R3.4 billion injection, which is attached to strict conditions.

Government, as the sole shareholder, clearly recognises the strategic importance of Denel as a commercially-driven aerospace and defence company and the immense value we can add to the economy in terms of innovation, creation of intellectual property and export revenue generation to contribute to the balance of payments, said Kgobe.

The immediate actions by management with oversight of the Board, according to the entity, is to exit non-core assets and realise cash inflows towards the R1.8 billion that will contribute towards its turnaround plan.

In addition, the company is proceeding with actions to align the costs of running the business with the current revenue base while retaining core capabilities for growth.

The focus is now shifting to a critical stage in which we need to sustain the new business model which is emerging, said Kgobe.

In this phase, Denel will also reduce the current operating divisions from six to four to continue to deliver world-class products across the spectrum of aerospace, defence and related technologies.

This includes traditional domains of the battle space of land, sea and air, to new domains of cyber and civil security.

Kgobe acknowledged that the previous business structure of Denel was unsustainable, which required a fundamental restructuring and a reduction of the cost base to affordable levels.

The company will now begin to reduce its geographic footprint, rationalise its facilities and implement a shared services model in areas such as supply chain management, human capital and development, information and communication technology as well as finance and public affairs.

Kgobe mentioned that the recapitalisation by the shareholder would help to accelerate processes and enable Denel to achieve stability and sustainability.

I am confident that a sustainable business model will enable us to focus on growth, said Kgobe.

There is still significant global interest in our battle-proven products in the fields of artillery systems, infantry weapons, small to medium ammunition and infantry systems as well as aeronautical solutions of manned and unmanned aircraft and landward combat vehicles with armoured protection.

He said the entitys reputation for excellence and quality has not been dented.

There is still an appetite for partnerships with local and global companies in the aerospace, defence and technology sectors.

In the coming months, Denel said it will embark on new revenue streams and explore further market opportunities for its strong range of existing products and advanced technology sectors of systems integration, command and control and cybersecurity.

Denel said this move will also help retain and attract some of the best brains that are emerging in the country.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Giorgia Meloni.

Dear Ms. President,

I extend my sincere congratulations to you on your taking office as President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic.

We attach special importance to the overall development of Azerbaijani-Italian relations based on good traditions. Italy is a friendly country and reliable strategic partner for us. The regular high-level political dialogue, our mutually beneficial cooperation constantly enriching with new content, as well as our day-by-day expanding relations in economic and trade, energy, and humanitarian fields are among the main factors characterizing our multidimensional strategic relations.

I am pleased to note that economic ties between our countries are on the path of dynamic development. Italy is Azerbaijans and Azerbaijan is Italys key trading partner in the South Caucasus. Italian companies have been heavily involved in Azerbaijan for a long time and play a crucial role in the development of our relations. This cooperation is also being successfully implemented in our liberated from the occupation areas.

At the same time, our fruitful and productive joint activity in the energy sector, which plays an important role in ensuring energy security of Europe and is one of the priorities of our cooperation is commendable.

I believe that through our joint efforts, the Azerbaijani-Italian friendship and strategic partnership, as well as our cooperation both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union will continue successfully.

I wish you the best of health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and achievements in your future responsible activities for the prosperity of the friendly people of Italy.

Sincerely,

Ilham Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Baku, 26 October 2022
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)

Editor: WXY
CANBERRA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Top Australian medical bodies have warned that a planned change to the hospital funding model will have a "devastating" impact.

The federal government has confirmed the 50-50 coronavirus-related health funding deal with state and territory governments will expire at the end of 2022.

State and territory health ministers had called for the split funding arrangement to be extended through to 2025 and the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for it to be made permanent.

The federal budget for 2022-23, which was handed down by Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday night, confirmed the end of the scheme and the return of the annual growth cap on hospital funding.

The cap limits the overall growth in federal funding for public hospitals at 6.5 percent annually.

Steve Robson, president of the AMA, said that even with the additional federal funding the hospital system was already at "breaking point."

"The virus is unlikely to respect a 31 December budget deadline, and if these measures end it will only put more pressure on our already logjammed hospitals," he was quoted by the Guardian Australia as saying.

His comments echoed the sentiment of Brad Hazzard, health minister of Australia's largest state of New South Wales, who said the end of the agreement "spells disaster for the frontline staff and patients."

It comes as experts warn Australia could face a spike in new coronavirus cases within weeks.

Adrian Esterman, head of biostatistics at the University of South Australia, said the budget assumed "COVID is over."

"It's nowhere near all over," he said.

"We have declining immunity and new subvariants hitting Australia," he said. "(It's) already happening in New Zealand."

Editor: WJH
Ukraine expects the next tranche of EU macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR2.5 billion in November this year, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko told Interfax-Ukraine.

"We received EUR3 billion from the macro-financial assistance that we signed for EUR9 billion. Now we expect EUR2.5 billion in November and EUR500 million in December," the finance minister said.

According to him, with regard to another EUR3 billion, there are internal debates in the EU, in what form they should be provided.

"Of course, we say that we need them," Marchenko explained Ukraine's position regarding the said last EUR3 billion of macro-financial assistance.

The updated deadlines for the next tranches of EU macro-financial assistance - EUR2.5 billion in November and another EUR500 million in December - were confirmed on October 26 by Gert-Jan Koopman, Director General of the European Commission's budget department, during a discussion organized by Bruegel.

According to him, the European Commission is already planning to finance Ukraine for the next year according to the targets announced by President Ursula von der Leyen: EUR1.5 billion monthly and EUR18 billion for the whole year, which would cover almost 50% of Ukraine's financial needs announced by the Ministry of Finance.

"Most of the assistance will be in the form of loans. There is an opinion that grant assistance is better. However, it should be emphasized that we are only considering loans with a very long repayment period and a long grace period," Koopman said.
Metinvest Mining and Metallurgical Group is negotiating with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Office of the President on streamlining the legislation and regulations in order to ease the fiscal burden on operating enterprises in wartime and increase production capacity utilization.

CEO of the company Yuriy Ryzhenkov said in an interview within the framework of the Forbes Ukraine special project "Country of Heroes," the current year is becoming the worst for the entire existence of the company.

"But the beginning of the year was normal - in January-February the situation on the markets was quite attractive for metallurgy. But now we have a big problem, first of all, with the loss of enterprises, the loss of people. The second is the loss of supply chains that we have already built. There are serious difficulties now," the top manager stated.

According to him, Zaporizhstal steel plant is now operating at 45-50% capacity, Kametstal is operating at 30% capacity in October, but can increase the load to 60-70% if the market situation is positive.

"Also, if we can find regulatory solutions within the state that will allow this enterprise to increase capacity utilization. So, for example, now there is law No. 5600 on rent increase. Now, for example, rent is taken from the Chinese price, when we cannot even drive our ore to the port. And we cannot not only send it to China, but we cannot even deliver it to all European consumers. Therefore, this decision is incomprehensible for the wartime period. And therefore, we are now in dialogue with the Ministry of Economy, with the President's Office - we need, at least for the period of the war, to postpone this," the CEO said.
Unblocking relations with Russia is possible if it respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"Regarding the signals from the Russian side that Mr. President [of Guinea-Bissau] conveyed: he said that Russia wants to set up bridges and dialogue. I told the President [of Guinea-Bissau] what is happening here. It is very important. I said that there are bridges between these or those states  it is necessary that the infrastructure is not undermined. Then it will be possible to talk about something in the future. And who to talk to," Zelensky said at a briefing with the President of Guinea-Bissau.

According to him, Russia also conveyed to Zelensky that it was necessary to unblock relations.

"I also say: you need to unblock. Let's start unlocking at least our Black Sea. We need to start with some kind of unblocking," Zelensky said.

"Third, everyone is afraid that there is a nuclear threat. Lately, you know, everyone is talking about some kind of dirty bomb. So, all this rhetoric comes from the Russian side. The threat is coming from them. They occupied our nuclear power plant [of Zaporizhia], threaten to undermine the hydroelectric power plant [Kakhovska], etc. We have what we have," the President of Ukraine added.

Therefore, Zelensky noted, in order to start any dialogue with the Russian Federation, it is necessary that Russia respects the sovereignty, borders and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"It is necessary to respect in order to start any dialogue, and in order to talk about some kind of dialogue, it is necessary that one state respects the other. Respect territorial integrity, sovereignty and borders. I think that it is from such simple fundamental things that anything begins. So far, there is no such thing," Zelensky said.

At the same time, he called Putin's desire to start a conversation with Ukraine "nothing more than planned rhetoric that should work for the internal audience of the President of the Russian Federation and for the audience of those states that have not yet isolated politics between their state and the state called Russia."
Head of Mykolaiv Military Administration reports on approach of kamikaze drones to region

Head of Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Kim has said Russian occupiers have launched two kamikaze drones from the sea.

"Two mopeds from the sea," Kim wrote on Telegram on Wednesday evening.

He also urged citizens to take care of themselves and listen to the sounds in the sky.

Later, Kim reported that three groups of kamikaze drones were approaching in the direction of Mykolaiv region.

"We see three groups of mopeds. The front consists of eight pieces," the head of the Administration said.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky noted the "fiercest battles" that continue in Donetsk region.

The fiercest battles are in Donetsk region: Bakhmut direction, Avdiyivka. The craziness of the Russian command is now most visible there: day after day for months, they drive people there to death, concentrate the maximum power of artillery strikes there. All our soldiers who hold positions in these directions in Donetsk region are simply heroes, he said in his traditional video address on Wednesday night.

According to him, active actions in other directions continue. Today I would like to mention the soldiers of the 25th Airborne Brigade for their bravery in liberating the occupied territories in Luhansk region.

Today, during the day, the air raid alerts sounded several times over most of the territory of our state. The Air Force has results  another helicopter of the occupiers was shot down, another drone, he noted.

According to the president, the total number of downed Russian helicopters is already approaching 250. The Russian occupiers have already lost as much equipment  aircraft and other  as most of the world's armies simply do not have and will never have in service. Russia will not be able to recover these losses.

I thank all our fighters for such a gradual and irreversible demilitarization of the enemy. Glory to all who fight and work for the freedom of Ukraine! Zelensky said.
Acting Head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk says that in investigating the incident with the Crimean bridge, the Russian investigation is demonstrating its lack of professionalism.

In an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, answering a question of whether the SBU has anything to do with the 'cotton' [explosions at Russian facilities] and 'self-liquidation' of collaborators in the occupied territories, the service's acting head said: "It's just that we, Ukrainians, love cotton very much... Even in my office it is in a vase. But are we to blame that Russians do not know how to handle it correctly?"

According to Maliuk, the Russian side is demonstrating its lack of professionalism in investigating the incident on the Crimean bridge. "I am talking about the pseudo-investigation that they are conducting regarding the incident on the Crimean bridge. In their 'investigation' they came to the conclusion that my colleague in the security department Kyrylo Budanov and the Main Intelligence Agency of the Defense Ministry as a whole were allegedly involved in the blowing up of the bridge. I assure you that this is not so. We understand that Russians are generally far off the mark," the SBU head of the said.

Maliuk said: " In the temporarily occupied territories here and there something explodes. Some people drink poor quality coffee, some use low-quality fuel. It is clear that some processes are taking place. And on the Crimean bridge, probably, the wrong fuel fueled some truck, and have what they have."

The SBU acting head also said he could not yet reveal the cards and tell how such incidents occur and who is behind it, since this could endanger caring patriots. "Everything has its time  after the victory we will talk in detail," he said.
Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets invites foreign colleagues to discuss new approaches to work, including the issues of visiting places where prisoners of war are kept.

"I propose to start a dialogue. In order to start a discussion at the level of world ombudsman organizations and between us, perhaps, the creation of new approaches, new missions to visit places of detention of prisoners of war, discussion of the consequences of any aggression that occurs in the world, primarily... on the territory of Ukraine," Lubinets said at the conference of ombudsmen and national human rights institutions titled "The battle for human rights. Crimea. Ukraine. Peace" in Zagreb on Wednesday.

According to Lubinets, Ukraine sets an example of decent treatment of Russian prisoners of war and the International Committee of the Red Cross can check this at any time.

"While Russia does not allow any representatives of the UN or representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross into the places of detention of Ukrainian prisoners of war. And we always raise this issue: if Russia violates the Geneva Conventions, please, international organizations, fix it, show it, talk about it. Under the guise of neutrality, unfortunately, we are bleaching the actions of aggression," the Ukrainian ombudsman said.

Lubinets drew attention to the fact that the National Committee of the Red Cross of Russia openly collects assistance to the military of the Russian army, thereby violating one of the basic principles of the international Red Cross community - neutrality.

"What is the reaction? No. Even words of condemnation do not come from the lips of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent," Lubinets said.

He recalled that there was also no reaction when, after the annexation of Crimea, the Russian organization of the Red Cross stole the property of the Red Cross of Ukraine.

"You either fight for human rights, or by your neutrality you justify the actions of the aggressor," Lubinets said.
Metinvest mining and metallurgical group within the framework of the Steel Front military initiative of Rinat Akhmetov has acquired 15 satellite artillery fire control systems for Ukrainian defenders, donating about UAH 9 million for modern equipment.

According to the company's report on Wednesday, Metinvest systematically supplies the front with reconnaissance devices and modern devices for conducting special operations.

At the same time, this equipment is used to adjust artillery fire. They are equipped with satellite communication devices, thermal imagers, range finders, and GSM modules. One system costs about UAH 600,000, and the batch is worth around UAH 9 million.

"There are just a few such devices left in Europe. It took us four months to bring this equipment from different countries. Metinvest Group is well aware of how important it is to help Ukrainian defenders. Thus, Rinat Akhmetov's Steel Front military initiative buys for our combatants exactly what gives them a material advantage on the battlefield," Oleksandr Vodoviz, Head of Metinvest Group CEO's Project Office, is quoted by the press service.

In turn, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said that the accuracy of fire requires modern equipment, which is still missing on the front lines.

"Both intelligence officers and mortar/artillery fire spotters need it. The Ukrainian Armed Forces also use it to direct aircraft to enemy targets. Therefore, this equipment is exactly what our military need to perform their combat missions," Yusov said.

According to the press release, Metinvest systematically and regularly helps with the provision of equipment for the defenders of Ukraine. So, recently the company handed over 110 modern thermal imaging sights worth UAH 11 million to representatives of the Defense Intelligence. In total, since the beginning of the war, the company has provided UAH 1.3 billion to support the army and the military.
President Ilham Aliyev approved the agreement "On air communication between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Israel".

According to the agreement, passengers, luggage and cargo in direct transit through the territory of one participating state and not leaving the area allocated for this purpose at the airport will undergo only simplified control, with the exception of aviation security measures, as well as the parties will render each other all necessary assistance to prevent any threat to the security of civil aviation.

The document noted that the agreement signed on June 30, 2022, in Tel Aviv in order to establish air communication between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State of Israel, consists of 25 articles and additions.

The provisions of the agreement are also subject to the provisions of the Chicago Convention applicable to international air traffic. According to the agreement, the contracting party has the right to designate in writing one or more airlines to perform the agreed services on the established routes.
On Wednesday evening, October 26, air defense systems of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down 19 Iranian "kamikaze" drones and a Kh-59 missile.

"From 22.00 to 00.00 on October 26, more than two dozen Shahed-136s were fired. Some 17 drones were destroyed by the air defense forces of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Two more Shahed-136s destroyed other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine," the AFU said.

The Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said 15 Shahed drones were destroyed in Odesa, three in Mykolaiv and one in Vinnytsia region.

"High efficiency of combat work was shown by the weapons provided to Ukraine by Western partners. Thanks to the allies," the AFU said.

It is also noted that in the area of the Skhid (East) task force, an anti-aircraft missile unit destroyed a Kh-59 guided missile.
A Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter and a Su-25 attack aircraft were shot down in the sky over Kherson region on Thursday morning, according to the Telegram channel of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"At about 08:00 on October 27, a unit of Kherson Anti-aircraft missile Brigade of the Pivden (South) Air Command shot down a Russian Ka-52 attack helicopter. And at about 08:40, a unit of Odesa anti-aircraft missile brigade of the air command Pivden of the Air Forces shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft," the report says.

As reported, over the previous day, air defense units shot down a Ka-52 helicopter, an X-59 missile and 17 attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Russian occupiers.
Germany hands over five MARS II MLRS, 14 Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers to Ukraine

Germany has supplied Ukraine two more MARS II multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) with rockets in addition to three that were supplied earlier, according to federal government data.

Thus, Kyiv has already received five such systems.

In addition, Ukraine received four more Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers in addition to 10 supplied. A total of 6,100 155mm rounds and 186,000 40mm mortar mines were also delivered.

Early October, Germany delivered the IRIS-T SLM air defense system to Ukraine. Delivery of three more such systems is planned.

Last week, Ukraine also received 16 Zuzanna self-propelled howitzers. The firing range of 155mm howitzers reaches 41 km.

In September, Germany handed over to Ukraine six Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, bringing their total number to 30 units.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine received 59,000 rounds for the Gepard anti-aircraft guns, five 227mm M270 MARS multiple launch rocket systems. In addition, 12 155mm PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and 10,500 rounds for them were transferred to Kyiv in the summer.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine also received 3,000 Panzerfaust 3 anti-tank missile systems, about 15,000 anti-tank mines, 54 M113 infantry fighting vehicles, and 3,200 portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

To date, Germany's military assistance to Ukraine is estimated at more than $1.5 billion.
Electricity deficit in Kyiv due to serious destruction of region's energy infrastructure may reach 30%  YASNO

As a result of severe destruction of the energy infrastructure of Kyiv region, caused by Russian attacks on the night of October 27, the power shortage in the capital could be almost a third, so the power outages will be longer and will affect more consumers, outage schedules are not yet relevant, the electricity supplier company YASNO said.

"Tonight, Russian terrorists again attacked the energy infrastructure of Kyiv region, the destruction is serious. Therefore, we have a sharp deterioration in the situation with energy supply. Electricity shortage in Kyiv can be 30%," YASNO explained on its Facebook page on Thursday.

"Usually Kyiv consumes 1,000-1,200 MW. Now the estimated capacity is 60-800 MW. That is, almost half of Kyiv may be left without electricity," the company described the situation.

They warned that the distribution system operators (DTEK Kyiv Electric Grids and DTEK Kyiv Regional Electric Grids) would limit electricity consumption on the instructions of NPC Ukrenergo in order to prevent a complete blackout.

"Unfortunately, the outages will be longer and will affect a much larger number of consumers. The schedules of probable stabilization outages are not yet relevant," the company explained.

Consumers were urged to be patient, remain calm and turn off energy-intensive appliances to help power workers.

"Special services are already working on the restoration of objects attacked by the enemy," the company assured.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the information disseminated in Russia about a possible withdrawal of the Russian troops from Kherson is "an information operation."

"I don't see them fleeing from Kherson. This is an information attack so that we go there, transfer troops there from other dangerous directions. It was an information operation," he said in an interview with Italian publication Corriere della Sera, published on Thursday.

"They are not ready to leave Kherson. But they know that if we succeed, they will not have the opportunity to leave," Zelensky said.

The head of state called the displacement of the population from Kherson "a theatre".

"Their most trained soldiers are in their places. We see this and do not believe them," the president said.
There are enough leftover medicines in Ukrainian hospitals for at least six months - deputy minister

The available leftover medicines in Ukrainian hospitals will be enough for at least six months, predicts Deputy Minister of Health Petro Yemets.

"There are enough leftover medicines in the regions in all directions, the leftovers will be enough for six months," he said at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on public health, medical assistance and medical insurance in Kyiv on Thursday.

According to Yemets, Ukrainian hospitals currently have medicines worth about UAH 6.9 billion.

At the same time, he said that the main supplies of medicines purchased with funds from the 2022 state budget will be carried out until March 2023, and by this time about 85% of the purchased drugs will be delivered.

"Continuous supply of necessary medicines will be ensured in all directions," the deputy minister stressed.

As reported, at present, purchases have been made and contracts have been concluded in the amount of UAH 6.2 billion, which is about 90% of the procurement plan. About 700 types of medicines and medical equipment were purchased: medicines for the amount of UAH 4.9 billion, medical equipment - for UAH 1.3 billion.
On Monday, October 31, at 12.00, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency's press center will host a discussion entitled "How war affects social and political situation in near future. Participants include Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; political scientist and co-founder of the National Platform Dialogue on Peace and Safe Reintegration Oleh Saakyan (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
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.
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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Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir said on Wednesday that "Egypt will never sell its ports," but "aims to develop them through establishing partnerships with the private sector and international operators in the field of management and operation."

El-Wazir's remarks came during a symposium entitled Egypt: A Logistical Hub held as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of Egypt-UAE relations.

His statements echoed remarks made earlier by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly who stressed that the government's announced plan to exit from some economic sectors over the coming three years - according to the recently-approved State Ownership Policy Document - does not mean that it will sell its assets but will rather seek more cooperation with the private sector.

According to Madbouly, the exit plan includes listing assets on the Egyptian Exchange for citizens to trade in stocks as well as granting the rights to management and operation to the private sector.

Minister El-Wazir said Egypt plans to become an international commercial and logistics hub.

He said the government is developing its 18 commercial ports and building new ones to take advantage of 3,000 kilometres of coastline.

El-Wazir added that the government plans to establish a network of dry ports and logistics areas that will be linked to seaports through multiple means of transportation.

This plan aims to boost commercial activities in the ports and increase the volume of trade.

On this note, the minister invited the business community to invest in Egyptian ports such as Sokhna, Port Tawfiq, Al-Adabiya, Alexandria and Gargoub.

He cited the construction of the dry port in the 6 of October City as a successful model for in partnership between local and foreign busniess partners.

He added that more dry ports and logistics hubs will be presented to investors in New Sohag, New Damietta, Alexandria, and Sokhna.

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Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz heralded Thursday a new era in his country's overt security ties with Turkey after a decade-long rupture, marked by a whirlwind visit to Ankara.

Gantz's one-day trip to the powerful NATO member came two months after Israel and Turkey renewed diplomatic ties.

"For over a decade there were no formal security ties," Gantz said, following meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.

"Today we're changing that, in a responsible and gradual process that serves Israel's interests".

Turkey in 1949 became the first Muslim-majority nation to recognise Israel.

But ties soured under Erdogan, who has moved away from his country's secularism since he became paramount leader in 2003. Bilateral relations began to fray in 2008, following an Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Relations then froze in 2010 after the deaths of 10 civilians following an Israeli raid on the Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, part of a flotilla trying to breach a blockade by carrying aid into the Gaza enclave.

A brief reconciliation lasted from 2016 until 2018, when Turkey withdrew its ambassador and expelled Israel's over the killing of Palestinians during a conflict with Gaza.

Following months of diplomatic warming, Israel and Turkey announced on August 17 the full restoration of relations and the return of ambassadors to both countries.

'Find solutions'

Erdogan has meanwhile maintained relations with Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the densely populated Gaza Strip.

Akar, Turkey's defence minister, said that closer ties would help "find solutions to some current topics we think differently" about, including Palestine.

"We believe that the development of our relations and cooperation with Israel will also contribute to regional peace and stability," Akar said.

Addressing the presence of the militant Palestinian movement on Turkish soil, Gantz said that "the issue came up on our talks", and that Israel was constantly engaged with Turkish security organisations.

"This is the first strategic security meeting after many years, you can't take too big a bite out of what you bring into one meeting," he said.

Gantz said he believed "a lot more can be done together in order to reduce the influence of those who destabilise our regions, by supporting or conducting terrorism against innocent civilians."

"This also applies to the Palestinian arena," the Israeli minister said.

Gantz also met with Erdogan, where they discussed "strategic issues and reiterated their commitment to promoting stability, prosperity and security in the Middle East and East-Med Regions," a statement from Gantz's office said.

The visit came less than a week before a general Israeli election, the fifth in less than four years, with Gantz hoping to see his centrist National Unity faction remain a central player in a future coalition.

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Mahmoud Mohieldin, the UN High Climate Change High Level Champion for Egypt and UN Special Envoy on Financing 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, stressed on Wednesday the importance of localizing development to enhance community engagement in climate action.

Mohieldin's remarks came during a speech delivered at an event entitled Empowering the South: Green Economy and Climate Change Adaptation that was organized by Enroot Development Organization and the MASAAR Programme. The event was attended by Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat.

In his speech, the climate champion indicated that the community must participate in the process of development, citing the National Initiative for Smart and Green Projects as the first national initiative of its kind launched at the level of governorates.

Mohieldin explained that this initiative confirms the community's participation in the great work related to COP27, the largest event globally in terms of mobilization and representation.

Meanwhile, he praised the Dutch government and the embassy of New Zealand's support for the projects and startups in the initiative as well as the support of Enroot Development Organization.

Mohieldin also stressed the importance of combating poverty throughout Egypt, particularly Upper Egypt. "From the very beginning we have seen how Decent Life initiative seeks to combat poverty, support women and develop ways of living in villages and in small towns ," he said.

He said that he was pleased that Decent Life initiative attracted the attention of the United Nations as a unique initiative in terms of speed and timing, wishing it success in the coming months and years

Mohieldin also noted that Egypt's presidency of the climate summit provides an excellent opportunity for adopting some of the National Initiative's projects.

He pointed out that the joint work will start with Sharm El-Sheikh summit.

"I am still receiving invitations from the British government to participate in some climate-related activities. We will start from Sharm El-Sheikh summit, inaugurating a great work, and I hope that there will be communication between representatives of non-governmental institutions, civil society and the private sector, in order to communicate in various activities over the course of the next year," he said.

Mohieldin honoured the graduates and owners of start-ups. During the event, 34 start-ups at the universities of Sohag, South Valley, Luxor, Aswan and Assiut were launched. All the start-ups work on environmentally friendly projects within the framework of "MASAAR" business incubators in Upper Egypt. The start-ups include Aquawise, Rihan and Luffa Derma.

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Al-Sira fi Al-Manfa (Biography in Exile) by Bahaa Taher, Bardia Publishing and Masr El-Arabia Publishing, Cairo, 2017. 137 pp.

Typically novelists who decide to write their memoirs don't opt to dictate them. This unusual approach is the one taken by Bahaa Taher with his latest book, titled Biography in Exile. This offering has drawn the broad outlines of what may be a more comprehensive autobiography.

Biography in Exile was dictated to a young man named Adham Al-Aboudy, who is from Luxor, Tahers birthplace. According to the introduction penned by Taher, Al-Aboudy isnt simply a close friend but is rather akin to a son. Al-Aboudy has indicated that the memoir is drawn from a "long recording which lasted for hours and hours." He adds: "My only role was to transcribe the recording to paper. He narrated to me an eloquent literary text, though he did so using an oral tradition."

The author is one of the most prominent members of Egypt's 1960s literary generation. He has written novels, short story collections and translations, and has received a number of prestigious awards, including the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (known as the "Arabic Booker"). His stature over the course of his career has brought his works to the attention of international publishers. Many have been translated, often into several languages.

Perhaps the most defining experience of the author's life was his self-imposed exile in Europe after the late President Anwar Sadat launched a repressive campaign against the Left in 1971. The focus of this campaign was on the media, and Taher was fired from his work as Deputy Head of the Cultural Programme, for many years an influential radio programme. Taher was also prevented from writing and publishing. Due to his newly inhospitable conditions, Taher decided to emigrate. He subsequently became a translator at the United Nations European HQ in Switzerland. He was estranged from his homeland for more than quarter of a century.

Biography in Exile focuses on this period, during which the real and figurative significance of Taher's alienation occupied a central place. During his period in exile he first became acquainted with a colleague named Stifka, a Russian translator he would fall in love with and marry. Despite the marriage, when Taher ultimately returned to Cairo from exile he did so alone. Taher indicates that Stifka preferred to continue in her work, so they arranged instead to live together between Cairo and Geneva. Stifka worked for another ten years at UNESCO HQ. Upon retirement she settled with Taher in Cairo.

Throughout the nineteen short chapters, Taher spoke to Al-Aboudy in conversation. This atypical style of dictation meant that the work did not cohere as memoirs typically do, using a more traditional narrative structure or time sequence. There is deliberate silence concerning certain aspects of Bahaas personal life, such as his former marriage and two daughters. He is also silent on certain aspects of his public life, such as the Culture Ministry intellectuals sit-in which hastened the downfall of the Muslim Brotherhood. He further forgoes extensive detail of his creative experiences. Taher passes over these matters with quick hints and little more.

As for the writers childhood, Taher elaborately evokes it for the first time. His father, who studied in Al-Azhar and graduated from the Faculty of Dar Al-Uloom, Cairo University, was appointed a teacher and due to this spent long years moving from one place to another until he settled in Giza. This is the place in which Taher spent his childhood and youth. The writers mother was keen to pay short visits to Luxor annually. If the relationship between Bahaas family and his birthplace was marred by distance and almost severed, the writer was eager to catch any opportunity to revive his relationship with Al-Karnak, his familys birthplace.

Several years ago Taher donated a small piece of land on which a cultural palace was built and inaugurated with the author in attendance. He has expressed his immense joy at this event in words that combine sorrow and childish innocence. Taher appears to consider this event one of the most important in his life.

It is noteworthy that Biography in Exile brings a light touch to the incidents of the January Revolution. Taher joined the uprising immediately after it broke out and witnessed firsthand the subsequent unfolding of events. His lack of commentary is astonishing. Even more astonishing is that he makes no mention of the intellectuals sit-in that lasted for a whole month, and at which he was one of the primary participants.

Finally, the reader will notice that there is a mystic sense that permeates the lines of Biography in Exile. This has given the work a special unity, as if it is a slightly extended memory of years in which he has lived through and novels and short stories he was dedicated to.

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US President Joe Biden and Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday discussed the growing threat to Ukraine from Russia's Iranian-supplied war drones, as Israel comes under pressure to help Kyiv.

Herzog told reporters at the White House after his talks that they "mainly" discussed Iran's nuclear program, the crushing of protesters demonstrating against strict Iranian religious laws, and the issue of Tehran's drone sales to Russia.

The weapons are "killing innocent Ukrainian citizens," Herzog said.

Israel has been reluctant to get involved in a US-led alliance helping pro-Western Ukraine to repel a bloody Russian invasion.

But Herzog's trip to Washington underlined Israeli concern at the growing role of Iran in the conflict, with Tehran accused of supplying fleets of deadly drones used by Russia against Ukrainian civilian targets.

On Tuesday, Herzog met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and announced he was sharing intelligence to prove that Iran has been supplying military drones to the Russians.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed this Wednesday, saying "this is a positive trend in relations with Israel.... After a long pause, I see us moving forward."

Biden and Herzog also discussed Iran's ongoing tussle with the international community over its nuclear program, which it insists has only civilian goals. Israel opposes a push by the Biden administration to salvage a deal that would reinstate international inspections in Iran in exchange for sanctions relief.

"They consulted on a wide range of global and regional issues of mutual concern, including the threats posed by Iran and its proxies. The president emphasized his administration's pledge to ensure Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon," the White House said in a statement after the talks.

Maritime border "breakthrough"

Sitting alongside Herzog in the White House Oval Office, Biden praised Israel for reaching a long-delayed accord with Lebanon on their sea border. The deal was brokered by the United States.

Biden hailed the "historic breakthrough."

"It took a lot of courage for you to step up and step into it," he told Herzog. "It took some real guts. It took principled and persistent diplomacy to get it done."

Biden said the newly agreed border would allow both countries to develop energy fields, and it would "create new hope and economic opportunities."

However he pressed the Israeli president on the need to "deescalate" the violent standoff in the Palestinian West Bank and "underscored that a negotiated two-state solution remains the best avenue to achieve a lasting peace" with the Palestinians, the White House readout said.

Biden "underlined the need to take continued steps to improve the lives of Palestinians, which are critical to peace, security and prosperity."

Herzog indicated that Biden would be attending the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month -- something not yet confirmed by the White House -- and said the climate crisis "can serve as a common denominator for so many nations."

Herzog's visit comes days ahead of Israel's fifth election in less than four years. 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.

"We have elections in Israel and you're having midterm elections in the United States but one thing is clear -- I think this visit epitomizes that our friendship, our strong bond transcends all political differences," Herzog told Biden.

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Ahmed Abdel-Latif, director-general of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding, says that Egypt is seeking to ensure efforts to tackle climate change and to advance peace work in tandem during COP27.

Speaking a common language

Climate Responses for Sustaining Peace (CRSP), a COP27 Presidency initiative, will be launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh against a backdrop of increased climate impacts with far reaching effects on sustainable peace and development, particularly in Africa.

Early on the Egyptian COP27 Presidency identified climate, peace, and development as overlapping areas ripe for an initiative. While climate change is not a direct cause of conflict it is increasingly seen as a potential risk multiplier that can aggravate vulnerabilities and structural weaknesses, said Ahmed Abdel-Latif, director-general of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding.

An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report published earlier this year underlined the urgent need to act on the nexus between climate adaptation and peacebuilding. The report was followed in June by the third edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development (AF) which discussed how to advance sustainable peace and development in Africa at a time of cascading risks and climate vulnerability. The issue is also addressed in the recently released African Union Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-32).

Aiming to move from analysis to action, Abdel-Latif explained that CRSP seeks to mobilise leadership at COP27 to promote climate responses that contribute to sustainable peace and development, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings in Africa.

The initiative, based on four pillars, envisages scaling-up action based on national ownership, bearing in mind context specificity and in line with the focus on implementation at COP27.

The actions under the pillars address some of the policy, knowledge and operational gaps across the interface between climate, peace and development, said Abdel-Latif.

Through this initiative, we want to ensure they work in synergy and speak a common language. Investments in climate adaptation can help strengthen peacebuilding and vice versa.

The second pillar of CRSP is sustaining peace through climate-resilient food systems.

We have a dynamic, Abdel-Latif explained, where conflicts spur food insecurity and food insecurity then feeds into conflicts and this is all exacerbated by increased climate impacts like, for example, the unprecedented droughts we are witnessing in the Horn of Africa. Now, more than 20 million are at risk of starvation in this region.

The third pillar is about advancing durable solutions to the climate displacement nexus. The World Bank estimates that by 2050 more than 100 million Africans will be displaced due to climate change.

Our societies are not equipped to deal with this large-scale phenomenon which will have huge impacts on the stability of our continent. Under this pillar, we want to look at how we can develop the tools and policies that reinforce our preparedness to address this, including through improved early warning capacities, the subject of other important COP27 Presidency initiatives.

The final pillar is accelerating climate finance for sustaining peace. Finance is an important priority for COP. Africa receives just four per cent of global climate finance though it has contributed least to causing the climate crisis and is the continent most vulnerable to its devastating effects. COP27 President Designate Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri has emphasised the need for greater climate justice in this context and has called for an increase in the scale of finance pledges  especially for adaptation  at COP27.

CRSP will also pay careful attention to the needs of women, youth and communities in vulnerable situations because they are the ones most adversely impacted by both climate change and conflict. The initiative will be taken forward through a broad range of partnerships.

CRSP will be launched at COP27 on 12 November, said Abdel-Latif, and will be the first time in the history of COP that the presidency puts forward an initiative on climate and peace. The initiative is aligned with the priorities of COP27 in its focus on implementation, moving to action, scaling up support particularly in terms of adaptation and finance and making sure that we provide holistic and integrated responses to the challenges ahead.

Abdel-Latif pointed to other COP27 Presidency initiatives that relate to CRSP, including the early warning initiative with the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and initiatives on food security and water.

Strengthening the capacities of African countries to address the impacts of climate change on efforts to advance sustainable peace and development is a key priority of CRSP and also a focus of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) whose main mission is to reinforce the capacities of developing countries across the gamut of peace and security activities.

In 2019, the centre started a programme on climate security and development with the aim of strengthening awareness and understanding of the issues among African officials. To this end the centre developed a course on climate programming for sustaining peace in Africa and is now finalising core training materials.

CCCPA is the Secretariat of the Aswan Forum (AF) for Sustainable Peace and Development, a high-level African platform to strengthen interlinkages between peace, security and sustainable development which Egypt launched in 2019 when it was chair of the African Union.

Given that Egypt will be hosting this years COP, it was natural that the third edition of the forum should focus on the impacts of climate change on efforts to achieve sustainable peace and development in Africa, explained Abdel-Latif,

Asked about how COP27 might benefit from the conclusions reached during AF, Abdel-Latif pointed to this years examination by the Forum of how climate change impacts the peace and security landscape in Africa, particularly in terms of climate adaptation, displacement and the water-food-energy nexus, and how it underlined the need to address climate impacts on sustainable peace and development through better prevention, preparedness and integrated solutions and responses to strengthen resilience.

The AF is based on partnerships. In this context, we work with strategic partners such as Japan, Sweden and the African Development Bank, and supporting partners such as the EU and International Organisation for Migration, as well institutional partners such as the UNDP, the World Bank and UN, said Abdel-Latif.

Within this framework, we are looking at operationalising AF conclusions, including at COP27 with a dedicated discussion, and will be working closely with partners.

Addressing the interconnected crises, he added, requires collaborative efforts from all stakeholders to advance long-term solutions that strengthen resilience and the ability to address increased climate impacts.

CCCPA is an African Union centre of excellence and the only civilian training centre on peacekeeping in the Arab world. It was established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and its board of directors is chaired by Egypts foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The Ministry of Education and Technical Education has announced that previously banned private lessons centres can reopen.

Last week, Minister of Education and Technical Education Reda Hegazi announced an end to the ban imposed by his predecessor Tarek Shawki on private lessons centres. According to Hegazi, the decision aims to provide better services to students at a reasonable cost.

Hegazi made his announcement during a plenary session of the House of Representatives, after the new academic year had already begun. He explained that the centres will only be allowed to operate at the end of the school day and will do so under the eyes of his ministry.

The ministry will establish a company to manage and monitor private lesson centres. The private centres will have a supplementary role that will never replace schools, he said.

Hegazi promised steps will be taken to ensure private lesson centres are well-managed and explained that fees will be set according to guidelines set by the ministry, centres must follow the ministrys curricula and employ only teachers approved by the ministry.

Making sure that all teaching centres have been approved by the ministry should reassure students and parents, said Hegazi.

Shadi Zalata, Ministry of Education spokesperson said work was ongoing to improve the standard of the teaching support groups schools provide for students at the end of the school day to enable them to compete with the centres and argued that the licensing of private lessons centres should not be perceived by the public as a failure on the ministrys side.

Public reaction to the surprise reversal of the earlier ban was mixed. According to Dalia Darwish, a TV presenter, some parents have expressed concern that the ministers decision will almost create a parallel education system.

It is unacceptable for us as parents, she said. We cannot substitute schools with private centres.

Darwish argues it would have been better for the ministry to focus on improving the performance of schools and ensure they are adequately staffed, with efficient teachers and all necessary infrastructure.

Darwish is far from alone in sharing worries over the possibility of a large increase in fees for private lessons and access to teaching support groups and urged the ministry to offer reassurances over the amount parents will be charged.

Housewife Gehan Said welcomed the decision to reopen the centres and argued that the direct supervision of the ministry will ensure fees are reasonable and the quality of education offered is high.

The education minister told MPs that private lessons in Egypt generate LE 47 billion annually in untaxed income.

School teacher Mohamed Ibrahim thinks the creation of a dedicated entity to supervise the operation of support groups could be an attempt to create a system that is attractive to qualified teachers.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 27 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The White House said Tuesday Russia had given notice that it was going to stage the annual exercises -- called "Grom" or "Thunder." They come as NATO began its own annual nuclear exercise, known as "Steadfast Noon," on Monday.

Russian state television showed video of Putin observing the drills on a huge television screen, with comments from military leaders. In the broadcast, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the drills involved a nuclear submarine, long-range aircraft and multiple practice launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday remotely observed exercises by its strategic nuclear forces that are meant to simulate a response to a "massive nuclear strike."

The UN Security Council discussed Russia's allegations at a closed-door meeting Tuesday. Ukraine and its Western allies have strongly denied the allegations, and suspect they are being made as a pretext for some type of escalation in the war in Ukraine.

Speaking from alliance headquarters in Brussels Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the accusations "absurd" and "blatantly false," and warned Russia not to use false pretexts to escalate the war further."

U.S. President Joe Biden issued a similar warning Tuesday. When asked by a reporter if he thought Russia was using the "dirty bomb" allegations to set up a" false flag" operation and deploy a dirty bomb of its own, he said, "Russia would be making an incredibly serious mistake for the use of tactical nuclear weapons."

Biden is scheduled to meet later Wednesday with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House. Herzog has indicated he plans to share intelligence with the U.S. president about Iranian drones being used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

Herzog's office said Israel has images showing similarities between drones shot down in Ukraine and those Iran tested in 2021. Ukraine and its Western partners have said Russia's recent use of drones to attack Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, involves Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones. Iran has denied supplying them to Russia and Russia has denied using them in Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for lunch Wednesday, with the leaders hoping to pare back differences on energy and defense and revitalize the European Union's key double act.

Both leaders were all smiles as Scholz climbed out of his black Mercedes in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace to shake hands, although the German appeared to sidestep Macron's attempts to put an arm around him.

Hackles have been raised on both sides since Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- less than three months after Scholz took office last December -- prompted crisis decisions taken under the pressure of the war and its knock-on effects.Berlin's move to spend up to 200 billion euros ($200 billion) subsidizing soaring gas prices and refusal to consider an EU-wide energy price cap nettled Paris and other European capitals, who fear the effect on their energy costs.

And France also sees commitments to cooperate on defense procurement floundering, given Germany's plans for a shared missile shield with other NATO nations using American equipment. Longer-term projects to jointly develop new fighter jets and tanks also face reluctance from big arms companies, which has worsened since war broke out.

The depth of the differences was laid bare by the recent delay to a regular joint cabinet meeting between Paris and Berlin, which would have been Scholz's first as chancellor.

And limited expectations for Wednesday's talks were clear from the schedule released by Macron's Elysee Palace office, which did not provide for a joint press conference. "The two leaders will continue their talks on defense, the economy and energy with the aim of strengthening Franco-German cooperation," the presidency said in a statement.
Senate Republicans have signaled discontent about the amount being requested for the COVID funding. They contend that federal spending on the virus needs to be ending, not increasing. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt, a member of the Republican leadership team, said people can pay for their own vaccines just as they do for parts of their health care.

Among those funds, requested in September, is $4 billion for global assistance in vaccination, therapeutics and diagnostics. That money hangs in the balance in this deeply divided legislature, where Republicans have criticized and opposed Biden's COVID funding requests.

Biden also castigated members of Congress who, he said, "want to move beyond COVID, but they don't want to spend the money to do it." "We can't have it both ways," he said. "The funding we seek is critical to continue the work to develop and purchase the most effective treatments and vaccines against COVID."

"We're here with a simple message: Get vaccinated," Biden said, before rolling up his left sleeve to receive his booster shot.

President Joe Biden got his fourth COVID-19 shot Tuesday and urged all Americans to do the same, as White House officials urged Congress to approve their request for $22 billion to fund U.S. and global COVID response.

And most GOP lawmakers are sticking with the view that dedicating more money to the countrys COVID response should be paid for by cutting spending elsewhere.

The White House's top COVID-19 coordinator said global demand for vaccines has declined  and the White House told VOA that the U.S. has delivered about 600 million doses of its pledged donations. He urged Americans to support continued global assistance.

"Beyond self-interest, you know, America is a country that is deeply engaged in the world," Dr. Ashish Jha said. "The president has restored American leadership on global health in a way that was very different than the previous president. And so, for a whole set of reasons it's very, very important that America continue to lead. $4 billion is a small investment to make to better protect Americans and better protect the world."

Health experts agree. "The end is really palpable," Dr. Krishna Udayakumar, director of the Duke Global Health Innovation Center, told VOA via Skype. "But if we don't take the right steps now, we're really at risk of going backwards instead of forwards. We need to make sure that we're still committing additional dollars, including the funding that's been requested as supplemental aid to make sure that the global response can continue."

Udayakumar added that the nature of the response needs to evolve along with the pandemic, which is in a different stage now than two years ago. "There's very little we need to do right now to purchase more vaccines, we actually have purchased more than is needed, we now need to make sure we're turning vaccines into vaccinations to actually get shots in arms," Udayakumar said.

"In addition, we do need to purchase more of the oral antivirals because very few of those have been purchased for use outside the U.S. And we also have to invest in building the capacity in the health systems that need it so that patients can actually get tested and get access to treatments that will hopefully prevent severe disease, prevent hospitalizations and prevent deaths."

But whether that gets funded depends on elected officials. Voters head to the polls in coming weeks to fill all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, and 35 of the nation's 100 Senate seats.
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 nation's 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 Amini's 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.

VOA's Persian service reported protesters also gathered in Tehran, where they chanted "Down with the dictator" and "Don't be afraid, we are all together."
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has signed a Decree amending the Presidential Decree No. 586 of February 8, 2012 on the application of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan amending the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On identification document of citizen of the Azerbaijan Republic ".

Following the decree, the legal entity selection with international experience in the relevant field and the signing of a corresponding agreement with it to prepare new identification documents for citizens of the Azerbaijan Republic, is entrusted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

Before this, the corresponding power belonged to the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan.
The shortage in some less lucrative medical fields is already at a point where some hospitals can no longer offer pediatric emergency services.

A survey by the Chosun Ilbo has found that emergency rooms at only six out of 10 largest general hospitals in Seoul are capable of providing full pediatric care. Emergency rooms at some university hospitals accept no pediatric patients after midnight, while other hospitals accept only critical cases.

This is also the case outside Seoul. According to a hospital ER portal, emergency rooms at hospitals in Ansan, Osan, Pyeongtaek and Uiwang in Gyeonggi Province provide no pediatric care on holidays or at night on weekdays. That means parents must travel to another area to get emergency care for their kids.

In Seoul, Hanyang University Medical Center's emergency room does not accept child patients on holidays or between 5 p.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays, and Chungang University Hospital accepts no child patients after midnight.

In Busan, Inje University Paik Hospital accepts only pediatric patients with abdominal pain, and Donga University Hospital receives no child patients on holidays or at night. Emergency rooms in three of the five large university hospitals in Daegu, such as Kyungpook National University Hospital and Yeungnam University Medical Center, provide no or limited services for pediatric patients.
The city of Daegu in southeastern Korea is hosting an expo offering a glimpse into the future of mobility.

The Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo (DIFA) opens Thursday and runs until Saturday, featuring the latest developments and future technologies encompassing electric vehicles, batteries and urban air mobility.

The biggest expo of its kind features about 1,000 booths from some 171 companies.

Hyundai is showcasing its Ioniq 6 electric sedan and eco-friendly bus Elec City, while its affiliate Kia is displaying its all-electric EV6 SUV, which can accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in just 3.5 seconds, along with multipurpose vehicle Niro Plus, which can be turned into a camper.

Among foreign carmakers, Audi and BMW are participating to promote their flagship models with test-driving offers.

LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and Daegu-based L&F are among the EV parts makers participating in the expo.

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo said, "By hosting the expo, we will continue to strive to transform Daegu into a hub for future mobility."
Korean e-commerce giant Coupang is extending its business to Taiwan in its first foray into the overseas market.

Coupang said Wednesday it has started its overnight delivery service in the East Asian island country.

With a population of 23 million on some 36,000 sq.km of land, "Taiwan has a high population density and its internet penetration rate is now over 90 percent. Its e-commerce market grew 24.5 percent last year, reflecting its growth potential," Coupang said.
Hyundai has finally broken ground on its first U.S. plant solely dedicated to manufacturing electric vehicles.

The plant located in Bryan County, Georgia, close to the port city of Savannah, will have a capacity to manufacture 300,000 EVs a year with production set to begin in early 2025.

Hyundai invested US$5.5 billion to build the plant and will recoup about 30 percent of the cost in tax credits.

Hyundai chairman Chung Eui-sun vowed to turn the plant into a "world-class" facility at a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, which was also attended by Georgia state officials.

U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement, "My economic agenda passed by Democrats in Congress to rebuild our manufacturing and infrastructure here at home continues to pay off for the American people, this time in Georgia." Biden added, "This plant was announced during my trip to [Korea] in May, and I am excited the groundbreaking is happening months ahead of schedule. Hyundai's commitment to invest more than $5 billion and create more than 8,000 jobs making electric vehicles and batteries will help boost the entire community around Bryan County."

The plant will produce five to six EV models, starting with the carmaker's Ioniq 5 SUV.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 27, 2022 - 21:28 | World, All

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed Thursday to seek a consensus in making any decision to address violence in Myanmar, which has been under military rule since a February 2021 coup.

"The meeting unanimously agreed that decision-making in ASEAN shall be based on consultation and consensus...to address the situation in Myanmar," a chair's statement released after their half-day special meeting in Jakarta said.

They underscored, however, the need to further strengthen the implementation of the so-called five-point consensus, which refers primarily to ending violence against the junta's political opponents and civilian protesters, "through concrete, practical and time-bound actions."

ASEAN has long imposed a noninterference policy in its members' domestic affairs. But human rights organizations and other countries have called on the group to rethink the policy and take stronger actions against Myanmar.

Indonesia and Singapore have pushed hard to convince other member states to block Myanmar in all sectors, not only in politics, according to ASEAN sources while others have argued that such an action will harm the 55-year-old ASEAN consensus and noninterference policy.

The meeting, proposed by Indonesia and chaired by Cambodia, also deliberated "key recommendations" to be submitted to their leaders at an annual ASEAN summit next month in Phnom Penh, according to the statement.

The Thursday meeting was held to discuss how the 10-nation bloc should respond to the junta's noncompliance with the five-point consensus, which was reached by the leaders of ASEAN, including Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, at a special summit in April last year.

Although Min Aung Hlaing has said some of the points will be implemented this year, it remains uncertain whether the junta will take any action to comply with the agreement.

The meeting took place without the presence of any officials from Myanmar's junta, although a seat was prepared for a nonpolitical representative from the military-ruled country if it opted to send one.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, who is also ASEAN's envoy for Myanmar, told eight other foreign ministers from the association that "the situation in Myanmar remains very critical, fragile and unpredictable."

The crisis in Myanmar, according to Prak Sokhonn, "requires a huge dose of practicality and patience in order to bring about a peaceful solution."

During a press conference after the meeting, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that during the meeting, some ASEAN member countries expressed their concerns, disappointment and frustration over the lack of progress on the five-point consensus.

Retno stressed the importance of an immediate engagement with all stakeholders as mandated by the consensus, stressing the engagement with the military junta "is conducted only as a part of engagement with all stakeholders."

"Approaches to keep problems under the carpet shall not be an option any longer in the working mechanisms of ASEAN," she said.

Myanmar's military toppled the democratically elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021 and has since violently suppressed pro-democracy protesters.

In the latest incident to spark tensions, the junta launched on Sunday an airstrike on a concert held to celebrate the establishment of the political arm of the Kachin Independence Army, a local ethnic rebel group.

The attack, which was swiftly condemned by the United Nations, killed at least 50 people, including concert performers and civilians, according to local media.

The junta confirmed the airstrike did take place and said a rebel commander and his deputy were among those killed.

ASEAN's annual summit and other related meetings are scheduled to take place Nov. 11-13 in Cambodia.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 27, 2022 - 13:07 | World, All

Australia on Thursday passed legislation entitling workers to 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, enabling victims to find new homes for themselves or their children without risking their jobs or income.

More than 11 million Australians will be eligible for the universal entitlement from February, including casual and part-time workers.

Employment minister Tony Burke described the legislation as a long overdue change that will provide individuals with the means to escape violent situations without risking their financial security.

"This bill will not by itself solve the problem of family and domestic violence, but it does mean no employee in Australia will ever again be forced to make a choice between earning a wage and protecting themselves and their families," Burke said in parliament before its passage.

Domestic violence is a major problem in Australia, where on average one woman is killed by an intimate partner every 10 days, according to a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology's National Homicide Monitoring Program.

Unions and activists welcomed the move after a decade of campaigning, saying lives would be saved as a result.

"It cannot be understated just how important winning paid family and domestic violence leave in the National Employment Standards is," said Australian Council of Trade Unions President Michele O'Neil. "Economic security is a key factor determining whether a person subjected to violence at home can escape a dangerous relationship or not."

A survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2016 showed one in four Australian women had experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15.

New Zealand, which has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the developed world, passed a similar law granting 10 days of paid leave to workers in 2018.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 27, 2022 - 16:56 | All, Japan

A Japanese court ruled Thursday that the up to 3.03-fold vote disparity in July's upper house election was in "a state of unconstitutionality."

But the Sapporo High Court rejected calls to nullify the poll results in the Hokkaido constituency as sought by the plaintiffs.

The ruling is the fifth to be handed down among 16 lawsuits filed across the country at 14 high courts and their branches by two groups of lawyers who claim the vote weight disparity in the House of Councillors race violated the Constitution's requirement for fair elections.

In the ruling, the high court said it was "in a notable state of inequality that produces issues of unconstitutionality," but it also stated that "improvements to the electoral system must take place incrementally, and it cannot be said that this contravenes the Constitution."

So far, high courts in Osaka and Tokyo have deemed the disparity in a state of unconstitutionality, while the Nagoya High Court and the Matsue Branch of the Hiroshima High Court ruled it constitutional. The last high court ruling is set for mid-November, after which the Supreme Court will give its decision on the issue.

While the Supreme Court has never nullified a House of Councillors election result, nor has it labelled one unconstitutional as such, it did rule the respective 5-fold and 4.77-fold disparities in the 2010 and 2013 contests as in a state of unconstitutionality, and decided the 2016 and 2019 races were constitutional.

In the most recent House of Councillors election held on July 10, Kanagawa Prefecture had the largest number of voters per seat in the election, while Fukui Prefecture had the least, leading to a 3.03-fold vote disparity. The vote weight gap was larger than the 3.00 disparity in the previous upper house election in 2019.

Related coverage:

Court rules Japan's July election vote gap in state of unconstitutionality
KYODO NEWS - Oct 27, 2022 - 10:51 | All, World, Japan

The United States said Wednesday it will work with Japan toward exporting small nuclear reactor technology to Ghana, with the two nations promoting the advanced power generation method to help other countries meet their clean energy goals.

In an initial step to support the deployment of a so-called small modular reactor in the West Africa country, a feasibility study is planned to be conducted by companies including Japanese heavy machinery manufacturer IHI Corp., plant builder JGC Corp. as well as NuScale Power LLC, a small modular reactor developer based in the United States.

Small modular reactors have a power capacity of up to 300 megawatts per unit, about a third of the capacity of conventional, large reactors. Such reactors can be factory assembled and transported to a location for installation, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Through the project, Ghana will have the opportunity "not only to demonstrate leadership in advancing energy security and climate action globally, but also establish itself as a regional center of excellence in Africa for the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies," the U.S. State Department said.

The department also said the United States, Japan and Ghana are committed to "upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation."

In 2021, the United States launched an initiative to support the use of small modular reactor technology. Countries such as Japan, Britain, Estonia, Ghana, the Philippines, Romania, South Korea and Ukraine are also engaged in the initiative, according to a joint statement issued in August this year.

More than 80 small modular reactor designs are under development in 19 countries and the first such units are already in operation in China and Russia, the IAEA said in August.
Risks due to improper use of registered trademarks

Using a mark in a form different from the one in which it was registered - Risk of infringing on another's trademark

The use of a mark means the act of affixing a mark to goods or means of service in order to assist consumers in distinguishing goods/services of the same type produced/produced by different entities. Thus, the mark's primary role must be to identify/distinguish the commercial origin of the goods/services bearing the mark.

After being granted registration, the owner has the right to "affix" the mark to the goods/services registered under that mark to conduct commercial activities in Vietnam.

The defendants in all three of the preceding cases have registered their marks in Vietnam. Thus, from a legal standpoint, these defendants have the right to use their registered marks to commercialize their products in Vietnam.



However, the use of the mark must be within (or fall into) the scope/extent of the trademark protection. The scope of protection of a trademark registration depends on

The mark image as registered and

The list of goods/services identified in the trademark registration certificate.

This means that the marks use must not exceed the scope of protection afforded to it by law; therefore, even if the mark is registered, misuse of the mark may make the mark go beyond the scope of legal protection.

It would be wrong to think that, as long as the trademark is registered in Vietnam, you are free to use it in whatever way you want. Vietnamese law does not specifically provide that the owner must use the mark as it was registered. However, if the use of a trademark (even if registered) exceeds the extent/scope of its protection, exposing the relevant consumers to the risk of confusion, you may be exposed to many risks. Its worth noting that, in addition to administrative sanctions (Enforcement agencies such as Market Management Bureau, Economic Police, Science and Technology Inspectors... may seize and destroy the infringing goods and impose monetary fines of up to VND 500,000,000), the right holder also can seek compensation for material and moral damage, apology, public correction via civil route. No one wants to bet (or to risk) a company's reputation or lose customer loyalty to a brand only due to improper trademark use.

Using a mark in a form different to the one in which it was registered - Risk of losing trademark rights

Improper use of a trademark can put you at risk of losing your trademark rights. A third party may petition the Vietnam IPO to cancel a registered trademark if such mark has not been used by the trademark owner or by the person authorized by the trademark owner for a period of 5 consecutive years from the date of registration. Using a trademark that is dissimilar to the registered one may mean that you have not used the registered trademark. Therefore, in this state, proof of use of the mark (as distinct from a registered mark) may be rejected by the Vietnam IPO, putting your registered trademark at high risk of being canceled for reasons of non-use.

Using a mark in a form different to the one in which it was registered - Risk of losing trademark rights

What is the proper use of trademarks?

The trademark owner is obliged to use the mark for the registered goods/services. Use of a trademark for goods related/similar to the goods registered under the mark is not considered appropriate and admissible evidence to establish that the mark has been used on the registered goods (see case HAICNEAL vs. DIACNEAL).

Vietnamese law and practice do not have a clear definition of "proper use of trademarks". However, as a party to the Paris Convention, for the proper use of the mark, one can refer to Article 5.C.2 of the Convention, which provides for the use of the mark as follows:

"Use of a trademark by the proprietor in a form differing in elements which do not alter the distinctive character of the mark in the form in which it was registered in one of the countries of the Union shall not entail invalidation of the registration and shall not diminish the protection granted to the mark". Thus, in principle, the trademark owner can use a mark in different form, provided that such a mark does not "alter the distinctive character of the mark in the form in which it was registered ", it will not "entail invalidation of the registration and shall not diminish the protection granted to the mark".

In other words, using the mark in a manner other than that of the registered one still constitutes the use of the registered mark as long as the distinctive character of the mark is not altered.



The purpose of this legislation is to enable trademark owners to modify their marks without impairing their unique character, thereby adapting the mark to the marketing and promotion of connected goods or services.

However, the alteration must be in indistinguishable elements, and the sign(s) used in practice and the registered trademark must be fundamentally the same.

Is it mandatory to use the mark exactly as registered?

This question comes from the fact that when using trademarks in commerce in Vietnam, trademark owners tend to:

Change the design/color or stylization of the registered trademark;

Remove an element in the registered trademark;

Add some new elements to the registered trademark.

Many trademark owners think that the most critical aspect of their trademark is that it is registered. Therefore, making some changes to the mark will have no adverse effect or risk of infringing the mark of another organization/individual or causing the registered trademark to be invalidated. The truth is that this is not the case.



The four examples above illustrate the risks that trademark owners face when they use a mark that deviates from the registered trademark. However, does modify the mark for actual use or employing a sign in a form different from the registered one entail the same risks? The following examples illustrate how a trademark owner may utilize a mark on a form different from the registered one.

Change the layout/color or stylization of the registered trademark

No. Registered mark Mark in actual use Proper use? 1 The layout is changed, but the distinctive elements are not altered. The actual use may be deemed use of the registered mark. 2 GERIVAN The registered mark is utilized in color and remains identifiable in its current form. As a result, such use does not impair the distinctive character of the registered mark. The actual use may be deemed use of the registered mark. 3 INSAN The layout is changed, making the mark quite different with the verbal element facing a risk of being perceived as IN-S-AN. => High risks of being deemed improperly used. 4 Not proper use because the mark in actual use has created a new concept (the big fish eating the small one). Such actual use has altered the distinctiveness of the registered mark. 5 Not proper use because the mark in actual use has not maintained the distinctiveness of the word GERIVAN and shark device as registered.

Comment: In general, a trademark owner can make some changes in typeface, stylization, design, and color to a registered trademark without negatively affecting the validity or scope of protection of the mark if such changes do not alter the registered mark's distinctive character.

Adding new elements to registered trademarks


On October 26, 2022, the Ministry of Transport issues Decree No. 87/2022/ND-CP defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency

Accordingly, the Vietnam News Agency is a government-attached agency that performs the function of a state news agency in publishing and broadcasting news and official documents of the Party and the State...collects and provides information through various types of press and multimedia communications.

The organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency includes 28 units:

1- The Editorial Secretariat and External Affairs Department. 2- The Office; 3 -The Organization and Personnel Department; 4-The Planning and Finance Department; 5- The Domestic News Department. 6- The Domestic News Department. 7- The World News Department. 8 - The Photo Department. 9- The Economic News Department. 10 - The Information-Documentation and Graphics Center. 11 - The Vietnam News Agency Television Center. 12 - Tin Tuc (News) newspaper. 13 - The Thao - Van Hoa (Sports and Culture) newspaper. 14 - VietnamPlus online newspaper. 15 - Vietnam News newspaper. 16 - Le Courrier du Vietnam newspaper. 17 - Vietnam Law and Legal Forum magazine. 18 - Vietnam Pictorial. 19 - Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Region Pictorial. 20 - The Vietnam News Agency Publishing House. 21 - The Vietnam News Agencys Southern Bureau. 22 - The Vietnam News Agencys Central and Central Highlands Bureau. 23 - The Vietnam News Agencys resident bureaus in the provinces and centrally run cities established in accordance with law. 24 - The Vietnam News Agencys overseas resident bureaus established in accordance with law. 25 - The Vietnam News Agency Technical Center. 26 - The Vietnam News Agency Training Center. 27 - The Vietnam News Agency Communications Development Center. 28 - The Vietnam News Agency International Cooperation Center.

Within that, the units specified in (1) thru (4) of this Article shall assist the General Director of the Vietnam News Agency. The units specified in (5) thru (24) are information units. The units specified in (25) thru (28) are information service units.

New organizational structure of the Vietnam News Agency (Illustration)

The Office includes 06 divisions, and the Planning and Finance Department includes 04 divisions.

The Vietnam News Agency is headed by the General Director and no more than 04 Deputy General Directors.

The General Director and Deputy General Directors of the Vietnam News Agency are appointed and relieved from office by the Prime Minister in accordance with the law.

The General Director shall take responsibility before the Government and Prime Minister for all activities of the Vietnam News Agency. Deputy General Directors shall assist the General Director in, and take responsibility before the General Director and law for, their assigned tasks.

Compared with Decree No. 118/2017/ND-CP, the new organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training no longer includes 02 units, including: the Examination Department and the Informatics Center.

Decree No. 87/2022/ND-CP takes effect on November 01, 2022.
By Azernews

By Burak Dogan/ Rabia Senol

Turkiyes Istanbul city is hosting Saha Expo Defense, Aerospace Industry Fair, Yeni Shafak reports.

The Saha Expo 2022 Defense Aviation and Space Industry Fair, which kicked off on October 25 at the Istanbul Congress Center, demonstrates Turkiye's achievements in the defense industry sector. The international fair, which will continue through October 28, drew over 1,000 domestic and foreign enterprises from 57 countries. For the first time, 126 new products from 35 different companies are being displayed at the fair.

Ilhami Keles, Secretary-General of Saha Expo, said that the exhibition offers a worldwide venue for game-changing, innovative technologies that highlight Turkiye's brand value. Turkiye continues to cement its defense capabilities with homegrown products, reducing its reliance on foreign suppliers. In the past 20 years, the percentage of domestic production in the military industry has reached 80 percent.

Keles underlined that both local and foreign items will be promoted at the fair, adding that the fair is not a marketplace for foreigners to sell their products, but rather a venue for international interaction.

Roketsan General Manager Murat Ikinci stressed that the fair provides a good opportunity for Turkish military industries to demonstrate their capabilities and the company will introduce a new product at the expo.

Our primary objective as Roketsan is to expand through exports. In this context, the Turkish military industry's interest in missile technology, particularly smart ammunition employed by unmanned aerial vehicles, indicates that we will attain these aims relatively fast in years to come, he emphasized.

STM General Manager Ozgur Guleryuz, on the other hand, stressed that Saha Expo provides chances for new business opportunities. A good atmosphere has been created for Turkish enterprises to serve the development of the defense and aerospace sectors, as well as analyze their foreign commercial prospects.

We are currently attempting to bring the manned submarine, codenamed STM 500, to the forefront due to the fact that the employment of unmanned submarines is still rather limited. Communication is the most difficult issue at sea. Unless the communication problem is solved, the unmanned submarine must be connected or come out of the water at regular intervals to communicate with a satellite or UAV, Guleryuz said.

The fair is attended by 268 official delegations from 57 nations, including a foreign prime minister, 11 foreign ministers, and 60 delegations from 37 countries. Some 112 trade delegations from 25 countries, 390 foreign companies, as well as 567 local enterprises are taking part in the event. There will be nine international panels hosted throughout the exhibition. A symposium on space advancements and research in Turkiye will feature two keynote speakers. Many companies will be able to introduce new products. Programs will be broadcast through five separate satellite frequencies from various locations across the fair.

Saha Expo, sponsored by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, and supported by 207 sponsors, is established on an area of 60,000 square meters in six halls. Everything in the area has been designed for the convenience of businesses and visitors. The Silk Road system has been specifically constructed to allow guests easy access to the stands.

The exhibition will feature 126 new goods from 35 firms for the first time this year. Sarbot, an unmanned armed robot, produced by Sarsilmaz Arms Industry, is one of these products.

Oner Ozyildiz, Deputy General Manager of Sarsilmaz Arms Industry, said that Sarbot is a robot, which has been developed for the unmanned war concept of the future. Emphasizing that Sarbot can carry a weapon of any caliber, Ozyildiz said that "we can also develop versions that can carry ammunition for the use of our army".

The fair-specific software, Saha Match has been developed to analyze company characteristics and select the best-suited firm, facilitating interaction between the companies.
AMMAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ministers in the Jordanian government submitted their resignation to Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh on Wednesday to pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

The upcoming cabinet reshuffle will be the fifth under the Khasawneh government. In October 2020, a Royal Decree was issued approving the appointment of Khasawneh as prime minister and minister of defense.

According to local media reports, the reshuffle is expected to include 5 to 10 ministerial portfolios. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) --- At least 13 people were killed and 21 others injured in a "terrorist attack" at the Shahcheragh religious shrine in Iran's southern city of Shiraz on Wednesday, semi-official Fars news agency reported.

One woman and two children were among the victims, the report said, adding that investigations showed that the security forces of the shrine were also targeted in this attack.

Although the earlier reports said three terrorists were behind the attack, the police commander of Fars province said there is one attacker and the one has been arrested.

According to Fars, the perpetrator of this attack is an element of Takfiri groups. 
* Eyeing China's huge and more open market, comprehensive industrial system, and improved business environment, many foreign-funded businesses are doubling down on their investments in the world's second-largest economy.

* China's green drive and ensuing enormous investments in clean energy are offering huge business opportunities for Flender, a leading global supplier of mechanical drive systems.

* Over the years, China has been striving to open its doors wider to the rest of the world with an ever-improving business environment.

TIANJIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Foreign-funded enterprises remain upbeat about investment prospects in China despite uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and battered global economy.

China remains a hot investment destination. In U.S. dollar terms, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland, in actual use, expanded 18.9 percent year on year to 155.3 billion U.S. dollars in the first three quarters of 2022, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

Eyeing China's huge and more open market, comprehensive industrial system, and improved business environment, many foreign-funded businesses are doubling down on their investments in the world's second-largest economy.

HUGE OPPORTUNITIES

Achieving carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 is a requirement for China's high-quality development and its solemn commitment to the world.

China's green drive and ensuing enormous investments in clean energy are offering huge business opportunities for Flender, a leading global supplier of mechanical drive systems.

"We know that half of the world's wind turbine market is here in China. That requires even more investment," said Martin Kaufung, director and CFO of Flender Ltd., China, adding that the China subsidiary has become Flender's largest gearbox manufacturing base outside Germany.

"We are quite confident that we are in the right market at the right place," said Joerg Sieber, general manager of the Wind Turbine Gearbox Division, Flender Ltd., China.

A staff member works at a workshop of Flender Ltd., China, in north China's Tianjin, July 29, 2022. (Xinhua/Yang Zichun)

The German firm recently launched the 10th phase of its capital increase and expansion project in its Tianjin subsidiary. The latest investment of 300 million yuan (41.9 million U.S. dollars) came after an over-400-million-yuan capital increase in 2021.

"Flender has never wavered its confidence in the Chinese market or its resolve to take root in China," said Gou Jianhui, chairman and CEO of Flender Ltd., China.

Airbus is also upbeat about the Chinese market. "Driven by Chinese people's consumption upgrades, the Chinese aviation market has huge potential," said George Xu, CEO of Airbus China.

"We believe that China will continue to be the world's largest market for new aircraft over the next two decades, and that gives us assurance," Xu said.

China remains Airbus' largest single-country market globally. Commercial aircraft deliveries in the country accounted for more than 23 percent of Airbus' total global deliveries in 2021, according to Airbus China.

Earlier in July, Airbus confirmed the signature of orders with Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines for 292 A320 family aircraft.

Airbus delivered the 600th A320 family aircraft assembled at its Asia final assembly line in Tianjin on Sept. 23. The company inaugurated the final assembly line in Tianjin in 2008.

Staff members work at Airbus' Tianjin final assembly line for the A320-family of jets in north China's Tianjin, Feb. 24, 2022. (Airbus China/Handout via Xinhua)

In a few months, Airbus is expected to deliver the first A321 aircraft assembled at its Asia final assembly line in Tianjin. "This is our latest step in China, showing our unwavering support for the Chinese market," said Xu.

BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND MORE

Over the years, China has been striving to open its doors wider to the rest of the world with an ever-improving business environment.

China will optimize the investment environment and deepen the implementation of the negative list for foreign investment to transform opening-up policies into concrete projects, according to a document jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission and five other government organs earlier this week.

The document urged facilitating the entry and exit of executives and technicians of multinationals and foreign-invested firms and their families to the country, under the premise of sound COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

"China has been firmly committed to its reform and opening up policy. It's significant. We prefer to invest in a market that is safe, stable, and with bright prospects, which China can provide," said George Xu, CEO of Airbus China.

Besides, China has world-leading infrastructure, a complete set of supply chain and production systems, and a labor force with comparative advantages. "I think all of these factors attract many foreign enterprises to invest in China," Xu added.

"You cannot call yourself a global enterprise without investing in the Chinese market," said Gou Jianhui, chairman and CEO of Flender Ltd., China. "Over the years, Flender has gained a firmer footing in China, especially in Tianjin, so we are more and more confident. A stable and predictable business environment is the most important factor for investors," Gou said.

Global healthcare giant Novo Nordisk currently has seven new investments ongoing at its Tianjin plant, according to Niels Laurbjerg Nielsen, corporate vice president of Novo Nordisk Site Tianjin.

A staff member works at a workshop of Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in north China's Tianjin, Sept. 22, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

Since 1995, Novo Nordisk has expanded its investment in its facility in Tianjin eight times to boost its local presence. The Tianjin facility is not only one of its strategic manufacturing sites but also its only provider of durable insulin injection devices and its largest insulin production site.

"We will continue to relax market access and improve the system for promoting foreign investment to cultivate an environment that attracts, facilitates and stabilizes businesses," said He Zhineng, deputy director of the Tianjin Commission of Commerce.

(Reporting by Shao Xiangyun, Li Kun, Zhang Yuqi, Liu Weizhen, Liu Runzhi, Li Shuai, Yang Zichun, Li Baojie; Video reporters: Deng Bingxue, Yang Zichun, Liu Weizhen, Hao Jie, Li Shuai, Liu Runzhi, Fang Jinyang) 
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud preside over the fourth meeting of the political and diplomatic sub-committee under the China-Saudi Arabia high-level joint committee, Oct. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud presided over the fourth meeting of the political and diplomatic sub-committee under the China-Saudi Arabia high-level joint committee, on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, highlighted the significance of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, noting that the most important achievement of the congress was the election of a new central leadership with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.

With General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping continuing to steer the course, China will firmly brave all difficulties in the right direction and surely achieve the development strategy and goals set by the 20th National Congress of the CPC, he said.

Wang said that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Saudi Arabia relations and puts Saudi Arabia at a priority position in China's overall diplomacy, its diplomacy with the Middle East region in particular.

China appreciates Saudi Arabia's adherence to the one-China principle and the country's long-term and firm support on issues concerning China's core interests, including those related to Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong and human rights, Wang said.

China appreciates Saudi Arabia's support for China's Global Development Initiative and welcomes Saudi Arabia's active participation in its implementation, said Wang, adding that China also appreciates Saudi Arabia's pursuing of an independent energy policy and making active efforts to maintain the stability of the international energy market.

Wang said China supports Saudi Arabia in playing a bigger role in international and regional affairs. China stands ready to step up communication and coordination with Saudi Arabia on hotspot issues in the Middle East, jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, and strengthen coordination with Saudi Arabia on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the G20.

Faisal offered congratulations on the success of the 20th National Congress of the CPC. He said Saudi Arabia always puts its relations with China at a priority position among its relations with countries around the world, adheres to the one-China principle, firmly opposes interference in China's internal affairs and firmly resists politicizing the human rights issue. 
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- A lack of funding threatens assistance for most of the 575,00 refugees in Chad, the largest number of refugees in West Africa, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

"The World Food Programme (WFP) may be forced to drastically cut assistance for up to 300,000 refugees from Sudan, the Central African Republic, Nigeria and Cameroon," said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"This means that by November, only 10 percent of the refugees WFP is targeting for assistance could receive food assistance due to the funding shortfall," Dujarric said.

In addition to the 575,000 refugees as of last month, he said that the number of people displaced from their homes in Chad has more than doubled, from 169,000 in 2020 to 381,000 in 2022.

The spokesman said Chad also suffers from the worst flooding in recent years, impacting more than 1 million people. In support of the government's National Response Plan for the floods, WFP provides food and cash assistance to affected families.

Chad is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

"The agency is telling us they need 102 million U.S. dollars to continue providing emergency assistance to cover the next six months to refugees and displaced men, women and children, as well as people most impacted by the floods," said the spokesman. 
DAMASCUS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday condemned attacks carried out by protesters supporting a Kurdish militia on United Nations offices in the country's northeastern city of Qamishli.

In a statement, the ministry said such attacks obstruct humanitarian work in Syria, urging the United States to pressure the Kurdish militia to stop such attacks.

Last Wednesday, a group of people supporting the Kurdistan People's Workers' Party (PKK) attacked World Health Organization facility and other UN buildings in Qamishli during their demonstrations against Turkish attacks on the PKK militants in northern Syria. 
AMMAN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian king approved a reshuffle in the government of Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh on Thursday, a day after previous ministers submitted their resignation, according to a royal court statement.

The latest cabinet reshuffle involves 10 ministerial portfolios, in which Nasser Shraideh was appointed as deputy prime minister for economic affairs and minister of state for public sector modernization, Wajih Azaizeh as minister of political and parliamentary affairs, and Zeina Toukan as minister of planning and international cooperation.

The new ministers had been sworn in before the king, the statement said.

This is the fifth cabinet reshuffle under the government of Al-Khasawneh, who was officially appointed as Jordan's prime minister and minister of defense in a royal decree in October 2020. 
JERUSALEM, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government approved on Thursday a maritime demarcation deal with Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid's office said in a statement, setting for the first time a border between the two countries, which have been in an official state of war since 1948. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (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).

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni sent his sincerest and warmest congratulations on Xi's election on behalf of Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, the royal family and the Cambodian people. He is confident that Xi will better unite and lead the CPC and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to advance the cause of building a modern socialist country in all respects, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.

The king said he looks forward to working with Xi to carry on bilateral traditional friendship and promote the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.

China has scored remarkable achievements in the past decade under Xi's strong leadership, said leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, expressing his belief that the 20th CPC National Congress will open a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Sierra Leone and China.

Xi's election fully demonstrates the Chinese people's trust and confidence in him, said Chairperson of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, wishing Xi a greater success in leading the country and serving the people.

Yoweri Museveni, chairman of Uganda's National Resistance Movement and Ugandan president, said he expects to work with Xi to continuously promote the common development and prosperity of the two countries, so as to bring benefits to their people.

China is striding forward on a new journey to realize its Second Centenary Goal, said Daniel Ortega, secretary-general of the Sandinista National Liberation Front and Nicaraguan president, and Vice President Rosario Murillo, adding Nicaragua is willing to work with China to push for continuous progress of human society, and build a better world.

Under Xi's leadership, China has made remarkable achievements in various fields, said Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, adding that he highly cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries, and believes the Kuwait-China strategic partnership will achieve greater development.

Under Xi's leadership, China will take bigger strides toward the Second Centenary Goal of building the country into a great modern socialist country in all respects, said Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

She hopes that China will realize its aspiration for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation at an early date, and looks forward to a higher level of friendly cooperation between Nepal and China.

Comorian President Azali Assoumani said he believes Xi will lead China to continuous prosperity and a bigger role on the international stage.

Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan wished Xi a success at this noble position, and hopes the friendly Chinese people will achieve continuous progress and prosperity under Xi's leadership.

Under Xi's leadership, China has made historic achievements, noted Roosevelt Skerrit, leader of the Dominica Labour Party and prime minister of the country, saying that Xi's election reflects the strong support for him from the party and the Chinese people, and that he expects the CPC to play a bigger role in global affairs.

President of Vanuatu's Vanua'aku Pati party and Prime Minister Bob Loughman said he firmly believes that the CPC will unswervingly lead the Chinese people to realize high-quality development and comprehensive modernization.

He expressed his willingness to work with Xi to lift the friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the two parties to a higher level. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan's upcoming visit to China will inject new impetus into bilateral relations and encourage new progress on friendly bilateral cooperation, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan will pay a state visit to China from Nov. 2 to 4.

Spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that President Hassan will be the first African head of state to be hosted by China after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Noting that Tanzania is an important country in East Africa and China and Tanzania enjoy a traditional friendship, Mao said the two countries have deepened political mutual trust, cooperated pragmatically with fruitful results, and have maintained good cooperation on international and regional affairs in recent years.

The principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith put forward by President Xi during his visit to Tanzania in 2013 has now become the fundamental principle guiding the cooperation between China and other developing countries, Mao added.

During President Hassan's visit, President Xi will hold a welcome ceremony and a welcome banquet, and the two heads of state will hold talks and jointly attend a ceremony for the signing of cooperation documents, according to the spokesperson.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet President Hassan respectively, Mao said.

"We believe President Hassan's visit will inject new impetus into the comprehensive and profound development of China-Tanzania relations and make new progress in bilateral friendship and cooperation," said the spokesperson. 
By Azernews

By Suayip Alabay

The mass production of Turkiyes home-grown electric car - TOGG will kick off on October 29 with a spectacular inauguration ceremony, Yeni Shafak reports.

Preparations are underway at TOGG's Gemlik facility for the ceremony, which will be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and about 3,000 guests, including heads of state. Work is being done in and around the facility at a breakneck pace. Landscape work is being carried out meticulously as the highway providing access to the facility is being built.

Road signs have already been installed to provide easy access to the facility. The factory's entrance was marked with 'Welcome' signs in both Turkish and English and the main entry gate of the complex was completed.

Gemlik facility covers an area of 1.2 million square meters and has been developed with the hard labor of 5,000 employees over a two-year period. The complex is divided into several divisions, ranging from the test track to the battery plant, and from the paint line to the assembly line. A technological center has also been constructed within the plant for citizens to test the car. When completed, the plant will have 4,500 employees.

TOGG's technologically advanced electric car in the C-SUV segment is expected to sell 100,000 units in the first year. Vehicles that will be built by the end of 2022 will be submitted to various nations across the world for approval. Following the debut of C-SUV cars in March 2023, sedan, MPV, hatchback, and B-SUV car production is set to commence. By 2024, the facility, which is aiming for maximum capacity, will be producing 175,000 cars per year.

TOGG will first be offered at the home market before being considered for export. Its exports are estimated to take 15 months depending on the success in Turkiye. Germany and France will be the first to benefit from exports. The cars will thereafter be sent to Scandinavian nations where electric vehicles are widely used. TOGG export will be prioritized based on the predominance of electric vehicles in other countries.

Turkish and foreign companies have also rolled up their sleeves to be a part of the project. Many partners, ranging from start-ups to global conglomerates, are involved in cooperation with TOGG. Along with thousands of big and small solution partners, Aselsan, Vestel, THY, TUSA, TAI, Shell, Trendyol, Hopi, Miles&Smiles, Paycell, Etiya, SmartIX, BlindLook, Bosch, Farasis, and Pininfarina are among the firms involved in the cooperation.

The C-SUV with serial number 01 will be brought off the assembly line at the event and is expected to be presented to President Erdogan. According to the statements, the state has guaranteed the purchase of 30,000 TOGG vehicles. TOGG CEO Gurcan Karakas earlier stated that the state's purchase guarantee would not be fulfilled immediately, but that 30,000 cars will be supplied over a 15-year period.

The world-renowned olive orchards around TOGGs Gemlik Factory attracted attention. The industrial management declared the olive tree as TOGGs symbol and planted several olive trees within and outside the facility. Olive trees, which are widely known as a symbol of peace, represent that the home-grown initiative will bear fruit for a long time. It is also intended to use the olive tree and its derivatives as natural materials in TOGG production in the future.

TOGG's domestic supply rate will be 51 percent in the first stage, with local suppliers accounting for 75 percent. The company is expected to reach a 68 percent domestic supply rate in three years.

We shall work hard to make strategic technologies locally. Our investments in this area have also begun. TOGG will provide Turkey with 50 billion euros with over 7 billion euros to the current account deficit, Karakas stressed.
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian police have seized 725 kg of heroin in a cargo in the southern province of Hormuzgan, the IRIB News Agency reported Thursday.

The packaged heroin is the heaviest of its kind seized over the past 10 years in Hormuzgan Province, Gholamreza Jafari, the provincial police commander, was quoted by the report as saying.

Two smugglers were arrested on a trailer transferring the heroin in 723 packages, Jafari added. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday sent a congratulatory message to the annual Gala Dinner of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.

Xi congratulated Evan Greenberg, vice chair of the national committee and chair of Chubb Limited and Chubb Group, on receiving an accolade at the gala, and extended his appreciation to the committee and its members for their longstanding dedication to the growth of China-U.S. relations and the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various areas.

Noting that the world today is neither tranquil nor peaceful, Xi said closer communication and cooperation between China and the United States, both as major countries, will help bring greater stability and certainty to the world, and promote world peace and development.

China stands ready to work with the United States to find the right way to get along with each other in the new era on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, which will benefit not only the two countries but also the whole world, Xi said.

Xi said he hopes the committee and all those who care for and support China-U.S. relations will continue to play an active role and help bring the bilateral relations back to the track of sound and steady development.

Also on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden sent a congratulatory message to the Gala Dinner of the committee. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (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).

Megawati Sukarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and former president of the country, expressed the expectation that China will play a bigger role in the international arena and jointly push for the establishment of a peaceful and just international order.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, China has made significant achievements in economic growth and improvement of people's living standards, and the country has increasingly become a respected and important force on the international stage, said Robert Fico, leader of the Direction-Social Democracy party and former prime minister of Slovakia.

Former Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said he believes that Xi will continue to lead China to greater development and to play an important role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

Saying that he highly admires Xi's foresight and strong leadership, former Slovenian President Danilo Turk said he hopes Xi will lead China to continuously achieve new progress and make greater contributions to promoting world peace and development.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is not only of epoch-making significance in Chinese history, but also has made important contributions to the progress of human civilization, said Vlad Batrincea, executive secretary of the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova and deputy speaker of the parliament.

Xi has led the CPC in achieving China's great development achievements in various fields and becoming a model for political parties in various countries to learn from, said Jose Luis Gioja, vice president of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina.

He expressed the firm belief that the CPC will continue to follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and march forward bravely to achieve the Second Centenary Goal.

Those also sending congratulatory messages include:

Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan, secretary general of the Mongolian People's Party, minister of Mongolia and chief of Cabinet secretariat;

Ahmad Majdalani, secretary general of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front and minister of Social Development of Palestine;

Jibril Ibrahim, chairman of Sudan's Justice and Equality Movement and minister of finance and economic planning;

Katerina Konecna, leader of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, member of the European Parliament;

Vladimir Voronin, president of the Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova, former Moldovan president;

Sitiveni Rabuka, leader of the People's Alliance of Fiji and former prime minister;

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, leader of Samoa's Human Rights Protection Party and former prime minister;

Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, former Chilean president;

Adrian Nastase, president of the Titulescu European Foundation and former Romanian prime minister;

Ulugbek Ormonov, leader of the Ishenim parliamentary faction of Kyrgyzstan;

Saparmyrat Ovganov, chairman of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan;

Daoui Mohammed Ben Abdelkader, president of Al-Karama Party of Algeria;

Dogu Perincek, chairman of the Patriotic Party of Turkiye;

Korneliya Ninova, chairperson of the Bulgarian Socialist Party;

Elizabeth Rowley, leader of the Communist Party of Canada;

Betero Atanibora, chairman of Kiribati's Tobwaan Kiribati Party;

Saleh Rafat, secretary-general of the Palestinian Democratic Union;

Salah Adly, general secretary of the Egyptian Communist Party;

Luis Valdez Farias, secretary-general of the Alliance for Progress party of Peru;

Aleksei Sokol, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus;

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council;

Craig Isherwood, national secretary of the Australian Citizens Party;

Fausto Pinato, president of Brazil-China Parliamentary Front of the Brazilian National Congress, among others. 
A Lebanese navy patrol boat is stationed next to a buoy marking the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel in the Mediterranean sea waters off Lebanon's southern Naqoura near Rosh HaNikra in northern Israel on Oct. 27, 2022. The Israeli government approved on Thursday a maritime demarcation deal with Lebanon, setting for the first time a border between the two countries, which have been in an official state of war since 1948. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli government approved on Thursday a maritime demarcation deal with Lebanon, setting for the first time a border between the two countries, which have been in an official state of war since 1948.

The "historic" agreement would strengthen Israel's security and economy, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told a government meeting, adding that 17 percent of the profits from Lebanon's Qana natural gas field in the disputed area would be shared with Israel.

Earlier Thursday, Lebanese President Michel Aoun signed a letter approving the deal.

The deal, first announced on Oct. 11, lays out a demarcation line between the two countries in the disputed zone in the eastern Mediterranean, where several natural gas fields are located. 

A Lebanese navy patrol boat is stationed next to a buoy marking the maritime border between Lebanon and Israel in the Mediterranean sea waters off Lebanon's southern Naqoura near Rosh HaNikra in northern Israel on Oct. 27, 2022. The Israeli government approved on Thursday a maritime demarcation deal with Lebanon, setting for the first time a border between the two countries, which have been in an official state of war since 1948. (Ayal Margolin/JINI via Xinhua)
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The resolution on an amendment to the Constitution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was adopted at the closing session of the 20th CPC National Congress on Oct. 22.

The approval was announced by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

This is the ninth amendment to the CPC Constitution since China's reform and opening up.

Over the past 40 years, the Party has timely incorporated its new achievements in theoretical innovation and practical development into the Party Constitution, so that it plays a crucial role in guiding the development of the Party and the country.

During the past few years, many Party members and organs have suggested a revision to the CPC Constitution at the 20th CPC National Congress, in accordance with the changing situations and in light of the needs for advancing the Party's work and enhancing Party building.

Similar suggestions were also received in January this year when the CPC Central Committee was soliciting opinions for its report to the congress.

On May 27, at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presided over by Xi, the decision was made to amend the CPC Constitution and a special group was established for the draft amendment.

Three days later, the first meeting of the group marked the official beginning of the work on the revision of the Party Constitution.

The group followed principles set by the CPC Central Committee to make sure the amendment fully reflects the latest achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, and the new ideas, new thinking, and new strategies on national governance put forward since the 19th CPC National Congress.

Fully encouraging intraparty democracy and pooling the wisdom of the entire Party is also one of the principles. It is a hallmark of the process of drafting the amendment.

In July and September, the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and its standing committee held meetings to deliberate the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

Xi paid great attention to soliciting opinions from various sectors. From early June to late August, he presided over five symposiums, hearing relevant opinions from leading officials of various regions across the country as well as the military, and discussed the matter with them.

A unanimous suggestion put forward by the regions and departments when they were asked to offer opinions was to incorporate new developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the Constitution of the CPC.

During the 20th CPC National Congress, the draft amendment was further improved after absorbing opinions and suggestions put forth by delegates to the congress.

The incorporation of the new developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into the CPC Constitution reflects a collective and earnest aspiration of the Party as a whole, the entire country, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, according to the delegates. 
This photo taken on Oct. 22, 2022 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the capital of China. (Xinhua/Chen Jianli)

BEIJING, Oct. 27 (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).

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni sent his sincerest and warmest congratulations on Xi's election on behalf of Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, the royal family and the Cambodian people. He is confident that Xi will better unite and lead the CPC and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to advance the cause of building a modern socialist country in all respects, and to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization.

The king said he looks forward to working with Xi to carry on bilateral traditional friendship and promote the building of the Cambodia-China community with a shared future, so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.

China has scored remarkable achievements in the past decade under Xi's strong leadership, said leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party and Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, expressing his belief that the 20th CPC National Congress will open a new chapter in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Sierra Leone and China.

Xi's election fully demonstrates the Chinese people's trust and confidence in him, said the Chairperson of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, wishing Xi greater success in leading the country and serving the people.

Yoweri Museveni, chairman of Uganda's National Resistance Movement and Ugandan president, said he expects to work with Xi to continuously promote the common development and prosperity of the two countries, so as to bring benefits to their people.

China is striding forward on a new journey to realize its Second Centenary Goal, said Daniel Ortega, secretary-general of the Sandinista National Liberation Front and Nicaraguan president, and Vice President Rosario Murillo, adding Nicaragua is willing to work with China to push for the continuous progress of human society, and build a better world.

Under Xi's leadership, China has made remarkable achievements in various fields, said Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, adding that he highly cherishes the traditional friendship between the two countries, and believes the Kuwait-China strategic partnership will achieve greater development.

Under Xi's leadership, China will take bigger strides toward the Second Centenary Goal of building the country into a great modern socialist country in all respects, said Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

She hopes that China will realize its aspiration for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation at an early date, and looks forward to a higher level of friendly cooperation between Nepal and China.

Comorian President Azali Assoumani said he believes Xi will lead China to continuous prosperity and a bigger role on the international stage.

Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan wished Xi success in this noble position, and hopes the friendly Chinese people will achieve continuous progress and prosperity under Xi's leadership.

Under Xi's leadership, China has made historic achievements, noted Roosevelt Skerrit, leader of the Dominica Labour Party and prime minister of the country, saying that Xi's election reflects the strong support for him from the party and the Chinese people, and that he expects the CPC to play a bigger role in global affairs.

President of Vanuatu's Vanua'aku Pati party and Prime Minister Bob Loughman said he firmly believes that the CPC will unswervingly lead the Chinese people to realize high-quality development and comprehensive modernization.

He expressed his willingness to work with Xi to lift the friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the two parties to a higher level. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Thursday strongly condemned a deadly terrorist attack on a religious shrine in the southern city of Shiraz.

Making the remarks in a letter extending condolences to the victims' families, Khamenei said the cruel crime saddened everyone, vowing to get those behind the crime punished, according to the leader's website.

The Iranian top leader also urged "decisive and prudent" actions in response to such "disastrous and tragic" events.

The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the Wednesday attack that killed 15 and injured 19, including one woman and two children, according to IRIB news agency and semi-official Fars news agency.

Preliminary investigations showed that the security forces of the shrine were also targeted in the attack, said Fars.

Fars Province's Police Chief Roham Bakhsh Habibi said the attacker opened indiscriminate fire on pilgrims inside the shrine before being wounded and arrested by security forces.

Three days of public mourning have been announced in Fars Province and a funeral for the victims is set to be held on Saturday in Shiraz.

Other top Iranian officials have also vigorously condemned the attack and vowed revenge for it, including President Ebrahim Raisi, Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Hossein Salami, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Mohammad Baqeri and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. 
BEIRUT, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah announced on Thursday the end of his party's "exceptional" mobilization against Israel after Lebanese and Israeli leaders finalized a maritime demarcation deal.

"The mission was accomplished," Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech, adding what happened is considered a great victory for Lebanon and its population.

Lebanese authorities were careful not to take any steps that may be perceived as normalization with Israel, Nasrallah noted. Technically, Lebanon and Israel have remained in a state of war.

"What was signed by President Michel Aoun is not an international treaty, and it is not a recognition of Israel," the Hezbollah leader said.

Hezbollah is a Lebanese armed group and political party backed by Iran.

Lebanon and Israel on Thursday finalized the U.S.-brokered maritime demarcation deal after lengthy negotiations.

After signing the agreement earlier in the day, Lebanese President Michel Aoun pledged that the deal with Israel is purely "technical work" without any political dimensions. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers are deliberating a draft amendment to China's Legislation Law to improve the system for the recording and review of normative documents.

The draft amendment was submitted to lawmakers at the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, on Thursday.

The draft stipulated that special committees of the NPC and working offices of the NPC Standing Committee shall proactively review the administrative regulations, local regulations, autonomous regulations, and separate regulations that are reported for the record; and when necessary, may conduct a targeted review on the normative documents mentioned above.

The recording and review organs under the state council shall proactively review the local regulations, autonomous regulations, separate regulations, ministerial rules, and rules formulated by provincial-level governments that are reported for the record, as read in the draft.

The draft also added provisions for establishing and refining a coordinating mechanism for the recording and review of normative documents. 
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia received more than 1.2 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2022, up 861 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a Ministry of Tourism report on Thursday.

During the January-September period this year, neighboring Thailand topped the chart of international tourist arrivals to Cambodia, followed by Vietnam, China, the United States and Indonesia, the report said.

"Based on this latest figure, Cambodia is expected to attract from 1.5 million to 2 million international tourists in the entirety of 2022," Tourism Minister Thong Khon told Xinhua.

He attributed the significant rise to the kingdom's full reopening of its borders to all travelers, tourism development strategies, and high COVID-19 vaccination rates.

Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism Top Sopheak said the number of international tourists to Cambodia is expected to reach the pre-COVID-19 pandemic level in 2026 or 2027.

In the pre-pandemic era, the Southeast Asian nation registered 6.6 million international tourists in 2019, generating 4.92 billion U.S. dollars in revenue.

"Cambodia's tourism sector has significantly recovered and is forecast to attract about 7 million international tourists in 2026 or 2027, and up to 7.5 million in 2028," he said.

The kingdom is famous for its three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province.

Besides, it has a 450-km pristine coastline stretching across four southwestern provinces. 
By Trend

Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati, accompanied by a delegation, is attending the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Saudi Arabia, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News.

The three-day FII, which began yesterday, will continue until Oct. 27 in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

During the event, bilateral talks will be held with government officials, representatives of multinational companies and international finance companies to brief them on the state of the Turkish economy, the Turkiye Economy Model and the investment environment in the country, the Treasury and Finance Ministry said in a statement.

FIIs sixth edition will be taking place under the theme of Investing in Humanity: Enabling a New Global Order, where delegates will address the most pressing economic questions.

Over the three days, industry leaders, CEOs, policymakers, young leaders and investors will convene to discuss the role of businesses and investment in the future of technology, health care, food security, environment, geopolitics, cybersecurity and sports.

The conference will host four immersive summits and 180 sessions by global leaders from different sectors.
Photo taken on Aug. 27, 2022 shows a man and a herd of cows standing in the sandstorms in the town of Laisamis, Marsabit County, Kenya, Aug. 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui)

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.

NAIROBI, Oct. 27 (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.

Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), speaks at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Aug. 26, 2022. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua)

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.

A woman carrying a child is seen at a camp on the outskirts of Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, Jan. 13, 2022. (Photo by Hassan Bashi/Xinhua)

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. 
VALLETTA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Malta's Health Ministry on Wednesday launched a strategy that aims to beef up the country's workforce in the health sector which is struggling to cope with departures and a lack of new recruits.

The strategy, stretching to 2030, seeks ways of attracting, developing and retaining an inclusive, diverse and resilient workforce through supportive human resource management.

The ministry acknowledges that globalization, coupled with a severe shortage of professionals in certain categories, has brought about an increased dependency on foreign workers in the health sector.

It suggests a number of measures that could help attract and retain health sector employees. These include a program to help foreign workers adapt to Malta's culture; the digitalization of the healthcare system; investment in artificial intelligence; the promotion of telemedicine; and improved and more flexible working conditions.

Language is one of the main barriers as 11 percent of the country's healthcare workers are foreigners, mainly from India and Pakistan. The strategy also proposes more remote working, building on the experience gained during the COVID-19 pandemic. This could work well for non-patient tasks, such as writing and reviewing clinical notes, accessing laboratory and radiology results, writing referrals and prescriptions, and other administrative work.

"A robust healthcare workforce is the cornerstone to building a health service fit for purpose today and in the future. It aims to shape the future healthcare workforce in Malta," the strategy says. 
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Xu Baoyi, former deputy general manager of China Grain Reserves Group (Sinograin), has been indicted on charges of bribery, dereliction of duty by personnel of state-owned enterprises, and insider trading, said the procuratorate authorities.

Xu's case has been filed with the Datong Intermediate People's Court in north China's Shanxi Province.

Prosecutors have accused Xu of taking advantage of his various positions to seek benefits for others and accepting a huge amount of money and valuables in return.

He was also accused of being irresponsible as an employee of a state-owned enterprise and causing massive losses to state interests.

The indictment also charged him with illegally obtaining stock exchange transaction information before its publication and instructing others to conduct related transactions. 
DHAKA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A 63-hour search and rescue mission has concluded with the recovery of the eighth and last body from a sand-laden dredger that sank off the coast of Bangladesh's Chattogram district, some 242 km southeast of capital Dhaka, in the wake of cyclone Sitrang.

Fire service and civil defense's deputy assistant director in Chattogram, Abdullah Harun Pasha, told journalists Thursday that eight workers out of nine onboard the dredger are now confirmed dead.

"Bodies of all the eight missing workers have been retrieved," he said.

According to the official, divers cut open several sections of the dredger to recover the bodies from inside.

The dredger capsized in extremely rough waters due to the cyclone on Monday.

Only one of the nine workers onboard the dredger reportedly heeded calls to return to shore, while the others reportedly decided to stay put.

At least 35 people were killed as cyclone Sitrang slammed Bangladesh's coastlines and weakened to a tropical depression in the early hours of Tuesday.

With high winds and heavy rains, the cyclone erased houses, crops and infrastructure in a vast swath of the country while most of the casualties were caused by falling trees. 
WARSAW, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Polish government will provide aid of 5.8 billion zloty (1.23 billion U.S. dollars) to companies hit by rising energy prices, the country's development and technology minister Waldemar Buda announced on Wednesday.

The first tranche of 800 million zloty (170 million U.S. dollars) has been allocated to 92 large energy-intensive companies, Buda said, as part of a wider support scheme. The beneficiaries are the most important companies for the economy, and often the largest employers in their regions, he added.

The aid has been approved by the European Commission, and will benefit companies in industries including metallurgy, chemicals and the paper industry, according to Buda.

The second tranche worth 5 billion zloty (1.06 billion U.S. dollars) will be allocated to small and medium-sized companies. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Wednesday rejected "baseless" claims of Iran's supplies of drones to Russia, expressing Tehran's readiness for talks with Kiev on such allegations.

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a joint press conference with his visiting Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei in Tehran.

"We strongly dismiss the baseless claims of some countries on Russia's use of Iranian drones in the war against Ukraine. We invite Ukrainian authorities to attend a bilateral meeting of experts, and present any evidence supporting the accusations," he was quoted by Press TV as saying.

Iran's principled policy is to oppose arming either of the parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine, he added, reiterating Tehran's opposition to the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine and Western countries like the United States have in recent weeks accused Tehran of exporting suicide drones to Moscow for use in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Noting cooperation in different fields including defense between Iran and Russia, Amir-Abdollahian said Monday that "in the past, we have taken weapons from Russia and given it weapons as well, but not during the Ukraine war." 
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L), accompanied by North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski (R), inspects the guard of honor in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)

SKOPJE, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday.

The energy support package will help the whole Western Balkan region to invest in energy connections, energy efficiency and renewable energy, said Ursula von der Leyen at a joint press conference with North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.

She said the first batch of 80 million euros (80.6 million dollars) out of the total 500 million euros will help North Macedonia to address the impact of high energy prices.

Earlier in the day, von der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of an agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and North Macedonia.

The agreement will allow Frontex to assist North Macedonia in its efforts to manage migratory flows, counter illegal immigration and tackle cross-border crime.

The European Commission chief will also visit Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro on her Western Balkan tour. Endtiem

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (L) speaks during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in Skopje, North Macedonia, Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister (not pictured) in Skopje, North Macedonia, Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister (not pictured) in Skopje, North Macedonia, Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a joint press conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister (not pictured) in Skopje, North Macedonia, Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen (R), accompanied by North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski (L), inspects the guard of honor in Skopje, North Macedonia, on Oct. 26, 2022. The European Union (EU) will provide 500 million euros (504 million U.S. dollars) in grants for the Western Balkan countries to tackle energy crisis, European Commission chief said here Wednesday. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN peacekeepers joined the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) troops to protect villagers after rebel militias killed nine civilians in the country's east, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

The UN mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, reported heavy fighting between the M23 armed group and Congolese national forces, said Farhan Haq, deputy chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The clashes occurred in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province.

Haq said MONUSCO reported that at least nine civilians were killed Wednesday during clashes near communities around 8 to 16 km from Rutshuru. The mission and security forces seek to deter armed groups and engage actors at national and regional levels to restore peace and stability.

He said the clashes follow a series of attacks by the militia band on villages in the area, which prompted the Congolese armed forces to respond and, with the support of UN peacekeepers, protect the targeted communities.

The mission reported that its humanitarian partners estimated the continuing clashes had displaced 34,500 people, Haq said. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Thursday that Iran's expansion of economic and trade ties with Belarus can help minimize the impact of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and West on both countries.

Qalibaf made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei in the capital of Tehran, reported the Iranian official news agency IRNA.

He also urged unity of all the countries under the cruel sanctions of the U.S.-led West.

Qalibaf noted that in the wake of the economic war that has been waged by the West, the Eurasian Economic Union member states are required to expand cooperation among themselves, and to this end, practical steps are needed and cumbersome bureaucracy and paperwork should be eliminated.

"We are witnessing the West's double-standard behavior as terrorists are perpetrating acts of terror in the Middle East. This comes as the West and the United States were the ones to have created the Islamic State in the region," he said, pointing to a "terrorist attack" on a holy shrine in southern Iran on Wednesday that killed 15 and injured 19.

For his part, the Belarusian minister condemned the attack, calling for punishing those behind the attack.

Makei noted that Belarus, which adopts independent domestic and foreign policies, is opposed to imposing sanctions and illegal pressures on any countries.

Belarus sees Iran as its friend and will make efforts to move toward forming a more strategic partnership with Tehran, he added. 
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday urged the international community to take climate actions on all fronts, warning the window to limit global temperature rise is closing fast.

Guterres made the remarks in a video message on the release of the latest Emissions Gap Report by UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which shows that under current Nationally Determined Contributions, the climate action plan to cut national emissions, the world is headed for 2.8 degrees Celsius of global heating by the end of the century.

"As today's report makes clear, we are headed for economy-destroying levels of global heating," he said. "We need climate action on all fronts -- and we need it now."

Guterres called on the international community to act to end reliance on fossil fuels, avoid a lock-in of new fossil fuel infrastructure and invest massively in renewables, citing the UNEP report's recommendations.

Developed countries must lead in boosting their national climate plans, the UN chief said, noting that emerging economies need financial and technical support to step up their climate actions. 
By Azernews

By Vugar Khalilov

Firidun bay Kocharli, who dedicated 40 years of his life to the education and progress of his nation, enjoys a special place in the history of Azerbaijani literature.

Kocharli, who made exceptional contributions to the growth of literary studies in the XX century, is one of the philosophers revered by Azerbaijanis today. He will be remembered as a theorist, translator, pioneer in the press and theater sectors, educator, and, most significantly, a wonderful citizen and devotee driven by national ideas.

Born on January 26, 1863, in the city of Shusha, Firidun bay Kocharli received his primary education at Mirza Karim Munshizada's school. His father Ahmad bay's great interest and passion for science, education, and enthusiasm encouraged his son to study at a best school of his time.

Despite his father's wishes, Firidun bay entered the Russian school in his hometown. He grabbed the attention of Russian pedagogue A. Chernyayevsky, who was traveling across the Caucasus at the time, gathering promising young people for the Gori Teachers' Seminary. Firidun bay studied at the seminary from 1879 to 1885. After graduating from the seminary, he taught at the Erivan gymnasium for a while.

In Erivan, he was recognized for more than just being a teacher. Firidun bay, a Gori Teachers' Seminary graduate, arranged theater performances in Erivan at the age of 23. As an educator and cultural figure, he organized literary nights with local intellectual Mirza Mohammad Gamarli in Erivan for almost 10 years, bringing together young people interested in poetry and literature, and educated them.

Firidun bay, who worked as a translator while also teaching at the Erivan gymnasium, began translating Pushkin, Lermontov, Koltsov, and others' works into the Azerbaijani language. Kocharli was the first person to translate Mirza Fatali Akhundzada's short story "Deceived Stars" into Russian. He also wrote the first comments on the relationship between Azerbaijani and Russian literature.

After leaving Erivan, Kocharli returned to the seminary where he had studied and taught from 1895 to 1918. In 1910, he was hired as a temporary lecturer in the Gori Teachers' Seminary's Azerbaijani department. The Teacher's Seminary in Gazakh was established thanks to the lengthy efforts of Firidun bay Kocharli, who assisted his compatriots in studying at the seminary throughout the years he worked there.

Thanks to his broad knowledge of classical Azerbaijani literature, strong scientific-theoretical understanding, and exquisite taste, Firidun bay was able to assess each writer's originality in his unique way. He also authored several studies on poets, such as Muhammad Fuzuli, Molla Panah Vagif, Gasim bay Zakir, and Seyid Azim Shirvani. He wrote interesting works that reflect his literary-critical and realistic views on poets and writes, such as Mirza Fatali Akhundzada, Jalil Mammadguluzada, Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli, and Mirza Alakbar Sabir.

The eminent literary scholar's scientific endeavor is regarded as one of the most important chapters in Azerbaijan's history. Kocharlis research "Azerbaijani literature" is one of the works that played a significant role in the development of the nations literary studies and has not lost its relevance even today.

Firidun Bey was a dedicated intellectual of his country. He worked tirelessly day and night to educate Azerbaijan's young generations. Therefore, the enemy was concerned about his contributions to the nation's fate.

In May 1920, Kocharli, along with other Musavat Party functionaries, were accused of "treason", "inciting national division", "seizing land and property" and acting as proxies for the previous administration. According to the Kazakh revolutionary committee's presentation to the Ganja emergency committee, the decision was made to shoot Firidun bay without questioning witnesses or taking into account the justifications presented in his favor. The decision was upheld, and the punishment was carried out.

The enemy extinguished the light of the 57-year-old intellectual's life, but it was unable to extinguish the light of his dreams and deeds. The young generations continue to benefit from that light even today.
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Central Military Commission (CMC) on Thursday held an executive meeting on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

It was noted at the meeting that all levels of the armed forces must align their thinking and actions with the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and CMC Chairman Xi Jinping.

The meeting also stressed strengthening the theoretical and political awareness of upholding the leadership core and obeying commands, adding that being able to fight and win should be the most pragmatic test of the learning and implementation.

Zhang Youxia, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, presided over the meeting.

It was also attended by He Weidong, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC. Other attendees were Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua and Zhang Shengmin, who are all CMC members. 
Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani (R, front) and his cabinet members are sworn in at the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 27, 2022. The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved the new cabinet lineup and the government program presented by Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. (Iraqi Parliament/Handout via Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved the new cabinet lineup and the government program presented by Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani.

Up to 253 lawmakers attending the session raised their hands to show approval of the new ministers when Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi read out their names one by one.

The parliament voted with an absolute majority to grant confidence to 21 ministers out of 23, as the voting for the ministers of environment and housing was postponed due to political disputes.

The parliament voted in favor of Fuad Hussein as deputy prime minister while keeping his position as minister of foreign affairs. They also voted for Hayyan Abdul Ghani Abdul Zahra as deputy prime minister and minister of oil, and Mohammed Ali Tamim as another deputy prime minister and minister of planning.

Al-Sudani read out his government program, which includes combating administrative and financial corruption, addressing the unemployment problem, supporting the poor, vulnerable and low-income people, as well as improving public services.

It also includes economic reforms, especially in the agricultural, industrial and banking sectors, in addition to supporting the private sector.

The program also focuses on addressing the outstanding issues between Baghdad and the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.

Al-Sudani promised to exert every effort to succeed in end their suffering, while pledging to build a strong economy capable of achieving qualitative change in services.

After the new cabinet was approved, al-Sudani and the cabinet members were sworn in before the parliament.

For his part, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid congratulated al-Sudani and expressed confidence in the latter's ability to face the challenges in the country.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) issued a statement that hailed the approval of al-Sudani's cabinet and reaffirmed "its steadfast commitment to supporting the government and people of Iraq."

On Oct. 13, Rashid tasked al-Sudani with forming a new government after al-Sudani was nominated by the Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary alliance and an umbrella group of Shiite parliamentary parties. 

Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani and his cabinet members are sworn in at the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 27, 2022. The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved the new cabinet lineup and the government program presented by Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. (Iraqi Parliament/Handout via Xinhua)

Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani (R, front) and his cabinet members are sworn in at the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 27, 2022. The Iraqi parliament on Thursday approved the new cabinet lineup and the government program presented by Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. (Iraqi Parliament/Handout via Xinhua)
Xi Jinping visits the site of the Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

YAN'AN, Shaanxi, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday stressed promoting the great founding spirit of the Party and the spirit of Yan'an, and striving in unity to fulfill the goals and tasks set by the 20th CPC National Congress.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, led Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, in a trip to Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

The first stop for Xi and the other leaders on Thursday was the site of the Seventh National Congress of the CPC.

The congress held in 1945 is of milestone significance in the history of the CPC, marking the Party's becoming more mature politically, ideologically and in terms of its organization, Xi said.

Politically, the entire Party was united under the banner of Mao Zedong, and ideologically, the guiding role of Mao Zedong Thought for the whole Party was established and Mao Zedong Thought was incorporated into the Party Constitution, Xi said.

Their next stop was former residences of Mao Zedong and other revolutionaries of the older generation.

Comparing the revolutionary sites in Yan'an to a book worth reading forever, Xi said that they served as witnesses to the glorious journey of the Party in leading the Chinese revolution and exploring ways to adapt Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times during the Yan'an period.

A guide gave an introduction about how the well-known revolutionary song "The East is Red" was written and became popular.

Such songs extolling the Party and Chairman Mao were all created by the people spontaneously, which showed clearly that the people chose Mao Zedong and he enjoyed their support, Xi said.

Thereafter, Xi and the other leaders arrived by vehicle at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall to visit an exhibition on the 13 years of the CPC Central Committee in Yan'an.

From 1935 to 1948, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, of which Yan'an was the center, was the seat of the CPC Central Committee. It served as the center of political guidance in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, and the general rear area of the Chinese people's struggle for liberation.

In an important speech delivered after visiting the exhibition, Xi hailed Yan'an as a holy site of the Chinese revolution and the cradle of New China. He noted that it was in Yan'an that the Party's Central Committee and veteran revolutionaries, including Mao Zedong, led China's revolutionary cause from a low point into an upsurge, reached a historical turning point, and transformed the prospects of the country.

Xi said he lived and worked in Yan'an for seven years, and his father also had worked in Yan'an.

The spirit of Yan'an highlights the firm belief in the correct political orientation, the guiding principles of freeing the mind and seeking truth from facts, the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly and the enterprising spirit of self-reliance and hard work, Xi said.

The spirit, and the glorious traditions and fine conduct developed and promoted during the Yan'an period, are all precious assets of the Party, and should be passed down from generation to generation, Xi stressed.

He called on all members of the Party to promote the fighting spirit, strengthen the fighting capacity, resolutely overcome various difficulties and challenges ahead, and harness the indomitable fighting spirit to open up new horizons for the cause of the Party and the country. 

Xi Jinping delivers an important speech after visiting an exhibition on the 13 years of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in Yan'an at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Xi Jinping visits an exhibition on the 13 years of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in Yan'an at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

Xi Jinping visits a former residence of Mao Zedong in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Xi Jinping visits a former residence of Zhu De in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Xi Jinping visits an exhibition on the 13 years of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in Yan'an at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

Xi Jinping visits an exhibition on the 13 years of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in Yan'an at the Yan'an Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2022. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, led members of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau on Thursday to visit Yan'an, an old revolutionary base in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was accompanied by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese spokesperson on Thursday said that the U.S. side must eliminate negative factors affecting relations between militaries of the two countries if it really intends to strengthen military communication with China.

China attaches great importance to its military-to-military relationship with the United States and is willing to carry out communication with the U.S. side, Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a press conference.

However, he said China has its own principle when developing military relations with the U.S. side, adding that the U.S. side is totally to blame for the serious difficulties in current bilateral military relations.

"If the U.S. side really intends to strengthen military communication with China, it must match words with actions and show sincerity, respect China's interests and major concerns, and eliminating negative factors affecting the military-to-military relationship between the two countries," he said. 
Photo taken on Oct. 27, 2022 shows a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York. The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year, till Oct. 31, 2023. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to renew the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year, till Oct. 31, 2023.

Resolution 2654 won the support of 13 of the 15 members of the Security Council. Kenya and Russian abstained from voting.

The resolution emphasizes the need to achieve a realistic, practicable, enduring and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara based on compromise.

It calls upon the parties to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN secretary-general without preconditions and in good faith, and to demonstrate political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue in order to advance negotiations.

Western Sahara was partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania at the end of Spain's colonial rule in 1976. When Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979, Morocco moved to occupy that sector and has since asserted administrative control over the whole territory. Fighting broke out between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is fighting for the independence of Western Sahara.

A cease-fire was signed in 1991. MINURSO was deployed that year to monitor the cease-fire and to organize, if possible, a referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. 
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 13 African countries have reported 6,883 monkeypox cases since the start of 2022, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) disclosed on Thursday.

According to data released by the Africa CDC, 173 deaths and a case fatality ratio of 2.5 percent have also been registered during the same period. The continental health agency noted that out of the 6,883 cases, 5,992 are suspected cases while 891 are confirmed cases.

The monkeypox cases were reported from eight endemic and five non-endemic countries. The eight endemic countries are Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria; the five non-endemic countries are Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa and Sudan, according to the Africa CDC.

Following the announcement by the World Health Organization that declared monkeypox a global public health emergency of international concern in July this year, the Africa CDC has been calling on African countries to strengthen laboratory diagnostic capacities and genomic sequencing capacity for monkeypox.

The continental health body also called on African states to develop and distribute both general and tailored risk communication messages for communities and vulnerable population groups.

Monkeypox, first detected in laboratory monkeys in 1958, is assumed to transmit from wild animals such as rodents to people, or from human to human. It is a rare viral disease usually transmitted through body fluids, respiratory droplets and other contaminated materials. The infection usually results in fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. 
WINDHOEK, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta on Wednesday urged African countries to lay down concrete and result-based actions on adaptation and mitigation including means of implementation, particularly the provision of adequate, new, and predictable finance to address climate change.

Speaking at the 10th Conference on Climate Change and Development in Africa in Windhoek, Namibia's capital, Shifeta said while Africa has done her part in presenting ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), financial resources, access to technology, and availability of technical expertise remain unmatched to these ambitions.

"Africa, owing to its special needs and circumstances, shall demand its fair share on climate finance, including technology transfer and capacity building, to pursue efforts toward decarbonization and build resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change," he said.

According to Shifeta, despite its relatively small share of the global greenhouse gas emissions, African economies continue to bear the brunt of the adverse impacts of climate change and this is in addition to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine conflict, which increased debt burdens, reduced fiscal space and heightened security risks in the continent,

"Climate change is threatening Africa's communities, ecosystems, and economies. It places our developmental gains, our prosperity, and the aspirations of Agenda 2063 in jeopardy. We must respond, collectively and boldly, to the challenges presented by climate change. We must work together, both within Africa and with our international partners, not only in addressing the threats posed by climate change but also in leveraging the opportunities of a just, inclusive and equitable transition to an African green economy," he said.

In his view, partnerships are critical to an effective African climate response, and such partnerships will need to span beyond ministries, the public and private sectors, and across regional and national borders.

"Africa shall ensure that green investments are inclusive and flow in a win-win situation. We shall pursue vigorous long-term economic diversification policies and strategies that will safeguard the interest of our continent, particularly, in consideration of the continental aspirations, goals, and targets of the Agenda 2063," he said. 
RABAT, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan police on Wednesday arrested 23 people in the northern city of Nador and surrounding areas on suspicion of smuggling migrants to Europe, official news agency MAP reported.

The arrested people, including four from sub-Saharan Africa, were involved in an organized criminal ring active in human trafficking in northern Morocco, it added.

Two jet skis, two pleasure boats and ten cars were seized in the police raid, in addition to 125 outboard motors, eight dinghies, and large quantities of nautical instruments including GPS, life jackets, gasoline cans and logs, the report said.

The police also dismantled a place for producing the dinghies involved in the crime in the town of Selouane, Nador province, it said.

The Moroccan city of Nador which borders Melilla, a Spanish enclave in Africa, witnessed a deadly stampede in June when more than 2,000 sub-Saharan migrants tried to breach the border fences.

Morocco has long been a popular transit country for African migrants seeking to reach Europe. 
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan continues to face a growth in the number of dengue fever cases as two more deaths were reported from the disease in the South Asian country.

Both deaths were reported from the eastern Punjab province, the provincial health authorities said on Wednesday.

Punjab reported 293 new cases. Its capital Lahore reported 142 new cases, followed by Rawalpindi city with 59 cases. The total number of dengue cases in Punjab this year has now gone up to 13,742.

In northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, 397 more people were diagnosed with the mosquito-borne disease, the provincial health department said on Wednesday night. The number of active cases in the province currently stands at 1,514 while the total number of cases this year has reached 17,244.

Sindh reported 220 new infections, the provincial health department said on Wednesday evening. The worst-hit area was Karachi, the provincial capital, which reported 130 new cases.

With the newly-reported dengue cases, the October figure to date for the province has risen to 7,817, bringing the total local tally to 17,971 this year.

The national capital Islamabad reported 64 new dengue cases in the last 24 hours, the health authorities said on Wednesday night. The city's total tally has risen to 4,552 this year. 
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a wreath-laying ceremony on Tuesday at the Friendship Tower in Pyongyang to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of China's sending the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) to the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea.

Sun Hongliang, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese embassy in DPRK, and staff members of the Chinese embassy attended the ceremony.

Kang Yun Sok, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), was among senior DPRK officials who attended the ceremony.

After solemnly performing national anthems of China and DPRK, the wreaths, in the name of the Chinese embassy and in the joint name of the Workers' Party of Korea Central Committee, the SPA Standing Committee of the DPRK and the cabinet of the DPRK were placed at the friendship tower, in tandem with echoing wreath-laying music.

The Friendship Tower was built in 1959 in Pyongyang to commemorate the martyrs of the CPV. 
By Trend

New requirements for the registration of biologically active additives in Azerbaijan have been defined in the law On food safety, which will come into force on January 1, 2023, the Azerbaijani Food Safety Agencys Chairman Goshgar Tahmazli said at a press conference dedicated to the ongoing measures to ensure food security in Baku on October 27, Trend reports.

Tahmazli noted that in accordance with the new law "On food safety", documents confirming the registration of a facility for the production of biologically active additives imported to Azerbaijan will be required from January 1.

He also said that doctors who indicate the additives in medical prescriptions as medicines will be held administratively liable.
HERAT, Afghanistan, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least five health personnel were killed and several others wounded in an attack in Afghanistan's western Herat province on Thursday, the defense ministry confirmed.

"A group of unidentified armed men attacked a coaster-type van carrying health personnel of 207 Al-Faruq Army Corps early Thursday morning, killing five people and wounding several others," the ministry said on its Twitter account.

A local security official, on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that the incident happened in Pul-e-Khaima Duzan area of Herat city.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the ministry said a search operation has been conducted.

In a separate attack on Wednesday, a senior hospital surgeon, Asadullah Shariq, was killed and his driver wounded in an unknown gunmen's shooting in Afghanistan's northern Balkh province. 
WELLINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A 57-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday, being suspected of attacking the electoral office of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in Auckland.

According to the emergency services including firefighters called to the scene, Ardern's office was targeted and attacked by a sword which was seen on the ground outside.

The woman was spotted smashing the office's front doors using the sword and throwing stuff into the building, which led to smoke, a neighbor was quoted as saying.

The attack was still being investigated. So far, no injuries have been reported, according to the emergency services.

Ardern was in Antarctica at the moment for a four-day visit celebrating the 65th anniversary of New Zealand's Scott Base, the country's only Antarctic research station, and will return on Friday.

Media reports said earlier that the suspect was a man. 
GENEVA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Swiss Federal Council has formally confirmed that the country will continue to adhere to political neutrality despite the changes in the international situation.

"Current neutrality practice provides sufficient scope to use neutrality as an instrument of Swiss foreign and security policy in the present international context," the Swiss Federal Council said in a statement after a meeting by its seven members on Wednesday.

The Council said its latest announcement is a response to a group of Parliament members calling for "clarity and guidance on neutrality policy" as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues.

After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict this year, the Alpine nation has adopted European Union sanctions designed to punish Russia and in response, Russia classified Switzerland as an unfriendly country, saying Switzerland was no longer neutral.

According to the statement, the last time the Swiss Federal Council addressed the topic in detail was in the context of the 1993 White Paper on Neutrality.

"The Federal Council has therefore concluded that it will continue to adhere to the practice of neutrality established in the 1993 White Paper on Neutrality. The Federal Council wants to retain neutrality as an instrument of Swiss foreign and security policy. In doing so, it aims to safeguard security, independence and prosperity while working for a peaceful international order based on international law, human rights and democracy," the statement said.

Local media Swissinfo said Thursday that Switzerland's current policy of neutrality means it doesn't take part in armed conflicts and doesn't support any warring party. As a neutral country, it also acts as a diplomatic go-between when states partially or fully break off relations.

However, the Swissinfo article said, in Switzerland, a domestic debate is raging over how to interpret neutrality policy in two opposing camps.

"One is conservative, mainly represented by the rightwing Swiss People's Party, and wants to keep to a strict interpretation of neutrality. The opposing, more liberal camp, which represents a majority of the government, is pushing for a more active role in international politics," said the Swissinfo article. 
ANKARA, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would be pleased to host new Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Turkiye during a phone talk between the two leaders on Wednesday, after months of tension with the Nordic country over its NATO bid.

Erdogan told Kristersson that it is in the "common interest to prevent terrorist organizations from taking Sweden's NATO membership and its bilateral relations with Turkiye hostage," the Turkish presidency said in a statement.

Ankara was ready to enhance bilateral relations with the Swedish government in every field, the Turkish president said.

Erdogan also conveyed his congratulations to Kristersson for being elected as the new prime minister of Sweden, according to the statement.

Finland and Sweden's NATO bid was initially blocked by Ankara, which accused them of supporting anti-Turkiye groups as they rejected Ankara's extradition requests for suspects affiliated with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulen movement.

On June 28, Turkiye, Sweden and Finland agreed on a trilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) ahead of the NATO Madrid summit.

In the MoU, Finland and Sweden pledged to support Turkiye's fight against terrorism, and agreed to address Ankara's "pending deportation or extradition requests of terror suspects expeditiously and thoroughly."

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades.

The Gulen Movement is led by and named after the U.S.-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen. The Turkish government accuses the movement of masterminding the 2016 failed coup in which at least 250 people were killed. 
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) addresses the upper house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 26, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

ROME, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin.

The final tally in the Senate was 115 votes in favor of confirming Meloni's government, 79 against and five abstentions.

On Tuesday, the government easily won approval in the lower house of parliament, with 235 votes in favor, 154 against and five abstentions.

The two confidence votes are a step required by the Italian constitution for a new government to become fully operative.

Meloni, Italy's first female prime minister, told the parliament ahead of the confidence vote on Wednesday her policy goals, including curbing high energy costs, sparking stronger economic growth, continuing support for Ukraine and strengthening the office of prime minister.

Meloni's Brothers of Italy party was the top vote-getter in Italy's Sept. 25 general election with over 26 percent of the ballots cast. She had run the campaign with her two coalition allies, the Forza Italia party and the League, both of which gained over 8 percent of the votes.

The new government formed by Meloni was officially sworn in on Saturday. 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (2nd L, 2nd Row) addresses the upper house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 26, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the upper house of Italy's parliament in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 26, 2022. The new Italian cabinet led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni won a confidence vote on Wednesday in the upper house of Italy's parliament by a comfortable margin. (Photo by Alberto Lingria/Xinhua)
KIEV, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Black Sea ports have shipped 9 million tons of foodstuffs under a key grain deal signed in July, the country's Infrastructure Ministry said Thursday.

A total of 397 vessels loaded with agricultural products have departed from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny since the deal took effect on Aug. 1, the ministry said on Facebook.

On Thursday alone, seven vessels carrying 102,000 tons of foodstuffs left Ukrainian ports for countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, it said.

On July 22, Ukraine and Russia separately signed a deal with Turkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea.

The agreement is due to expire in November, and Ukrainian officials have said that Kiev is interested in extending the deal and expanding the range of goods for exports. 
William Paterson University (WP) President Richard J. Helldobler delivers remarks during an international symposium "Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City" at WP in Wayne, New Jersey, the United States, on Oct. 26, 2022. Known as U.S. "Silk City," Paterson, in the northeastern U.S. state of New Jersey, was considered to be the final stop for China's historic Silk Road that connected civilizations of different parts of the ancient world.

This is one of the themes of an international symposium that opened Wednesday morning online and in person at the William Paterson University (WP) in Wayne, New Jersey. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

WAYNE, the United States, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Known as U.S. "Silk City," Paterson, in the northeastern U.S. state of New Jersey, was considered to be the final stop for China's historic Silk Road that connected civilizations of different parts of the ancient world.

This is one of the themes of an international symposium that opened Wednesday morning online and in person at the William Paterson University (WP) in Wayne, New Jersey.

The City of Paterson, about 6 miles from the WP campus, was a major hub for production of silk fabric and earned the moniker of the U.S. "Silk City" in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Hosted by WP's Center for Chinese Art, "Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City," running through Thursday, gathered together experts from the United States, Britain and China examining the role of the ancient trade route in the development of the United States and China in culture, art, industry and commerce since the 18th century.

Keynote speakers included Feng Zhao, honorary director of the China National Silk Museum; Ben Marsh, professor with the School of History in the University of Kent, United Kingdom; and Stephen Hahn, professor emeritus of English with the William Paterson University.

"Cross-cultural academic exchanges are an integral part of a diverse, modern university's educational mission, whether in the home country, abroad, or in ... virtual education," said WP President Richard J. Helldobler in his opening remarks.

The symposium and the companion exhibits in the university galleries together illustrate the spirit of the mission of the WP's Center for Chinese Art and the university, said Helldobler, adding that since its founding in 2009, the center has been a wonderful conduit for these exchanges and for the enrichment of WP students and faculty, as well as participating artists and scholars.

"The Silk Road from China to America" and "A Durable Thread" exhibits "capture the mutual global influences of China and the United States through one of the most historically valued materials and its tremendous impact on regional industry and commerce, labor, global trade, and of course, art," said Helldobler.

Huang Ping, the Chinese consul general in New York, expressed his hope that "the heritage and spirit of the Silk Road -- peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit -- will be carried forward for the well-being of our two peoples and the common prosperity of the whole world."

"I also hope the Silk Road spirit that once helped shape the world in the past, could continue to help shape the world in the future and bring peace and prosperity," said Huang, adding that he has confidence in the resilience of the China-U.S. relationship, based on a long history of cooperation and a sound foundation of person-to-person and city-to-city exchanges.

"The symposium has built up a platform for professional communication, mutual understanding and cooperation between China and the United States," said Huang, adding WP's Center for Chinese Art is "actually working hard to build a new cultural silk road."

During the two-day event, two exhibitions are on view at WP. A Durable Thread: The Silk Road from China to America reimagines the Silk Road by connecting China to the "Silk City" of Paterson, bringing together a world of silk objects from Asia, Europe and North America from the 17th to the 20th centuries.

Textile Arts from Guizhou of China brings together a selection of traditional textiles and new artworks by artists who are renowned for utilizing resist dyeing, also known as batik, as well as embroidery and metalworking to create a distinct visual language that continues to evolve in the hands of contemporary designers.

Meanwhile, an online exhibition "Silk and the Silk Road," organized by China National Silk Museum, WP's Center for Chinese Art and the Paterson Museum, is executed on the Silk Road Online Museum "Online Curating" platform, featuring 84 artifacts from 41 museums in 15 countries.

Co-organized by the William Paterson University Galleries and the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, the symposium is co-sponsored by the China International Culture Association, Guizhou International Cultural Association, City of Paterson, Nantong Municipal People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Chinese-American Art Faculty Association, China National Silk Museum, the Paterson Museum, Nantong University, Yangzhou University, Guizhou Minzu University, Guizhou University of Commerce, and Qiandongnan Vocational and Technical College for Nationalities. 

Huang Ping (1st L), the Chinese consul general in New York, views exhibits at an exhibition "Textile Arts from Guizhou of China," which is on view during an international symposium "Across Time and Space: The Silk Road and the Silk City," at the William Paterson University (WP) in Wayne, New Jersey, the United States, on Oct. 26, 2022. Known as U.S. "Silk City," Paterson, in the northeastern U.S. state of New Jersey, was considered to be the final stop for China's historic Silk Road that connected civilizations of different parts of the ancient world.

This is one of the themes of an international symposium that opened Wednesday morning online and in person at the William Paterson University (WP) in Wayne, New Jersey. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)
U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 27, 2022. Biden on Thursday marked the four-year anniversary of the attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. Biden said in a statement that "we grieve this deadliest act of antisemitism in American history." (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday marked the four-year anniversary of the attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue.

Biden said in a statement that "we grieve this deadliest act of antisemitism in American history."

Eleven people were killed and six more were wounded, including four police officers who responded to the scene, at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, synagogue on the morning of Oct. 27, 2018, when a gunman stormed the building.

Four years on, Biden warned, "we witness an ugly increase in antisemitism in America."

He also vowed to tackle "the scourge of gun violence," saying that his administration is seeking to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in the United States. 

U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 27, 2022. Biden on Thursday marked the four-year anniversary of the attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. Biden said in a statement that "we grieve this deadliest act of antisemitism in American history." (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

U.S. President Joe Biden walks on the South Lawn to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 27, 2022. Biden on Thursday marked the four-year anniversary of the attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. Biden said in a statement that "we grieve this deadliest act of antisemitism in American history." (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The New York Post blamed an employee for "the vile and reprehensible content" from its website and social media accounts on Thursday.

The Post said in a statement that its "investigation indicates that the unauthorized conduct was committed by an employee, and the employee has been terminated."

"This morning, we immediately removed the vile and reprehensible content from our website and social media accounts," the newspaper added.

The rogue employee fabricated tweets and headlines relating to several notable U.S. politicians.

Published in New York City, the Post is a conservative daily tabloid. 
Tehran: In the midst of the ongoing Muslim women's movement against the hijab, terrorists fired indiscriminately at a Shia shrine in Iran. 15 people have died in this terrorist attack, while 40 have been injured. The terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack took place on Wednesday (26 October) at the Shah Cheragh shrine located in Shiraz, southern Iran.

Terrorist organization Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack via Telegram channel, saying that "at least 20 Shias were killed and dozens were injured in the attack." At the same time, according to local media reports, 15 people have lost their lives in this attack. Iran's state-run news agency Irna quoted the Justice Department as saying that three armed terrorists entered the shrine at 5:45 pm local time. According to reports, the armed terrorists started firing indiscriminately as soon as they entered the shrine. Enforcement agencies have caught two terrorists, while the search for the third is on. Local media say that the attackers are not Iranian citizens.

Let us tell you that the terrorist organization Islamic State has already attacked Shia mosques and dargahs. In 2017, terrorists attacked the Iranian parliament building and the mausoleum of the country's former supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini. At that time, Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi had said that he would not spare the perpetrators of this attack.

'Hatred will be eradicated only by following path of Ram-Sita,' says New York Mayor

Irfan Pathan turns 38, read this interesting story related to his life

Ireland did another miracle in T20 World Cup, now defeated Eng after WI
By Trend

The construction and installation work at Khojasan ground station and Khojasan electric depot of the Baku Metro has been already completed, Deputy Board Chairman of the Baku Metro CJSC Hidayat Mammadov told reporters at an exhibition dedicated to the metros 55th anniversary on October 27, Trend reports.

According to Mammadov, the testing work is currently underway at the station.

"Its planned to commission the station until the end of this year. The organization of train traffic is at the final stage. The station will be open to passengers after completion of the whole work, he added.
Washington would respond to any Russian attack on US satellites, White House says 27 October, 11:24 PM The White House (Photo:REUTERS/Al Drago)

The United States will retaliate in response to potential Russian attacks on U.S. infrastructure  satellites included  White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Oct. 27, as reported by Reuters.

Kirby was responding to a question from journalists on how the United States would react to Moscow potentially destroying or disabling U.S. commercial or government satellites.

A senior Russian Foreign Ministry official earlier said that Western commercial satellites could become legitimate targets for the Russian military, if they are used to supply Ukraine with battlefield intelligence.

Video of day

According to Kirby, even publicly-available information suggests Russia is developing anti-satellite weapon systems.

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ReportLinker

The Global Brake System Market size was estimated at USD 22. 98 billion in 2021 and expected to reach USD 24. 60 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 7. 33% to reach USD 35. 14 billion by 2027.

New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Brake System Market Research Report by Product, Technology, Actuation, Distribution Channel, Vehicle, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337014/?utm_source=GNW





Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Brake System to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Disc Brakes, Drum Brakes, Hydraulic Wet Brakes, Hydrostatic Brakes, and Regenerative & Dynamic Braking.



Based on Technology, the market was studied across Antilock Braking Systems (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Traction Stability Control (TCS).



Based on Actuation, the market was studied across Hydraulic and Pneumatic.



Based on Distribution Channel, the market was studied across Aftermarket and Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).



Based on Vehicle, the market was studied across HCV, LCV, Off-highway, and Passenger Car.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Brake System market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Brake System Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Brake System Market, including ADVICS Co., Ltd., Audi AG, Batz Group, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, LLC, BWI Group, Cardolite Corporation, Continental AG, Haldex AB, Hyundai Motor Company, Kor-Pak Corporation, KSR International Inc., Mando Corporation, Miba AG, ProTech Friction Group, PVI Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, TE Connectivity Ltd., TMD Friction Holdings GmbH, and Trimat Limited.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Brake System Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Brake System Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Brake System Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Brake System Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Brake System Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Brake System Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Brake System Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337014/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress where more than 1200 cardiovascular specialists and allied health professionals have gathered, Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer and Interim Vice-President of the Infectious Diseases Programs Branch, announced funding to support a pan-Canadian study of the clinical and functional outcomes of adults and children who experienced myocarditis and/or pericarditis after receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society Logo (CNW Group/Canadian Cardiovascular Society)

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) will receive $1,6 million from the Government of Canada to conduct the study. As a national organization representing more than 2300 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and other heart health specialists across the country, and with a broad network, the CCS is well positioned to lead this initiative.

"Myocarditis and pericarditis occur rarely following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination," says Dr. Nathaniel Hawkins, Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation at the University of British Columbia and the project's scientific lead. "Most people recover quickly and well, but the long-term health effects of these heart conditions are unknown."

The information collected through this study can significantly impact confidence in vaccines, particularly among young adults, children, and their parents. The study will provide critical information to support informed decision-making about vaccination and guide public health agencies in development of vaccine programs for boosters and new variants.

The CCS will involve its members and cardiac centres across Canada as well as collaborate with researchers, established research networks, patients, and public health authorities from across the country throughout the project. Adults and children from across Canada who experienced post-mRNA myocarditis and/or pericarditis will be asked to participate in the study.

"The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the ongoing health and safety of Canadians. One way we can do this is by expanding on our already robust post-market vaccine safety surveillance systems, including surveillance related research to help better understand the long-term outcomes of vaccination, including relatively rare events such as myocarditis and pericarditis. This is an important way to equip Canadians with additional information so that they can make informed decisions to protect themselves and have the confidence in doing so."

Story continues

Dr. Howard Njoo

Deputy Chief Public Health Officer and Interim Vice-President of the Infectious Diseases

Programs Branch

"The Canadian Cardiovascular Society is excited to lead this important study into the health outcomes of myocarditis and pericarditis following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination. As the national voice for cardiovascular clinicians and scientists, the CCS is extremely well-placed to undertake this study. By engaging the expertise of our membership and Affiliate organizations, we will address a critical knowledge gap and make a valuable contribution to public trust in vaccine safety."

Dr. Marc Ruel,

President of the CCS

About Canadian Cardiovascular Society

The CCS is the national voice for cardiovascular clinicians and scientists, representing more than 2,300 cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and other heart health specialists across Canada. We advance heart health for all by setting standards for excellence in heart health and care, building the knowledge and expertise of the heart team, and influencing policy and advocating for the heart health of all Canadians. For further information on the CCS visit: https://www.ccs.ca/en/.

What are myocarditis and pericarditis?

Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle. Pericarditis is inflammation of the lining surrounding the heart muscle. Symptoms of these conditions can include pain in the chest and rapid or irregular heartbeat. There are many different causes for myocarditis and pericarditis including COVID-19 infection.

Additional information:

https://sporevidencealliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/COVID-END_SPOREA_Myo-and-Pericarditis-after-COVID-vaccination_UPDATE2-2022.09.26.pdfIn 2021, the Canadian Journal of Cardiology published Myocarditis and Pericarditis After COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination: Practical Considerations for Care Providers

SOURCE Canadian Cardiovascular Society

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/27/c1089.html
ReportLinker

The Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market size was estimated at USD 27. 93 billion in 2021 and expected to reach USD 30. 02 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 7. 72% to reach USD 43.

New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market Research Report by Agent Type, Industry, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337355/?utm_source=GNW

66 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Chemical Auxiliary Agents to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Agent Type, the market was studied across Dispersing Agents, Separation Agents, and Solvents.



Based on Industry, the market was studied across Construction, Paint, Paper, and Textile.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Chemical Auxiliary Agents market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market, including Archroma, Camex Ltd., Cosmo Specialty Chemicals, Covestro AG, Croda International Plc, Dow Chemicals Company, Evonik Industries AG, Fibro Chem LLC, Fineotex Group, Huntsman International LLC, Kemin Industries, Solvay SA, and ZSCHIMMER & SCHWARZ Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Chemical Auxiliary Agents Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06337355/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




HONG KONG, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883, SSE: 600938) today announced its operating results for the third quarter of 2022.

CNOOC Logo (PRNewsfoto/CNOOC Limited)

In the third quarter, the Company has achieved remarkable results by seizing the favorable oil price cycle, to step up the efforts in exploration and development, to increase reserves and production, and to improve quality and efficiency. The Company has managed to keep its cost at a competitive level and witnessed significant improvement in profitability.

For the first three quarters of the year, the Company completed a total net production of 461.5 million barrels of oil equivalent ("BOE"), representing an increase of 9.3% year over year ("YoY"), hitting record high for the same period of previous years. In the third quarter, the net production reached 156.8 million BOE, representing an 8.8% growth. The net production from China increased by 6.8% to 106.9 million BOE, mainly attributable to the production of Shenhai-1 large gas field, Liuhua 21-2, Lufeng 14-4/14-8, Bozhong 19-4 and onshore unconventional fields. The net production from overseas increased by 13.5% YoY to 49.9 million BOE, mainly attributable to the production from Liza Phase II in Guyana and Buzios in Brazil.

For the first three quarters, the Company made 14 new discoveries and successfully appraised 20 oil and gas structures. 6 new projects were put into production, and the other 7 projects planned for 2022 are progressing steadily. In the third quarter, 5 new discoveries were made and 4 oil and gas structures were successfully appraised. Among them, the discovery of Liuhua 28-2 West in offshore China will help drive the development of the small and medium-sized gas fields in the Liuhua 28-2 Tectonic Belt; and the discovery of Yacheng 13-10 will contribute to the reserves replacement of Yacheng 13-1 gas field. The proved gas in-place of Baodao 21-1, China's first deep-water deep-stratum large gas field, was recently certified by government authorities. It contains over 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas, which will boost the construction of a gas production base of trillion cubic meters resources in the South China Sea. In overseas, the two new discoveries of Seabob and Kiru Kiru were made in the Stabroek block in Guyana, further demonstrating the exploration potential of the block.

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For the first nine months of the year, the Company achieved an unaudited oil and gas sales revenue of approximately RMB265.89 billion, rising 67.6% YoY, mainly due to the higher international oil prices and increased sales volume. Net profit attributable to equity shareholders of the Company reached RMB108.77 billion, representing an increase of 105.9% YoY. During the first three quarters, the Company's average realised oil price rose by 55.8% YoY to US$101.40 per barrel, which was in line with the trend of international oil prices. The average realised gas price was US$8.14 per thousand cubic feet, representing an enhancement of 20.2% YoY, primarily due to higher prices in a tight market. The all-in cost was under effective control, and stood at US$30.29 per BOE for the first three quarters. The Company's capital expenditures for the first nine months reached approximately RMB68.69 billion, rising 20.6% YoY, mainly as a result of the increase in workload.

In the third quarter, the Company made good progress in scientific and technological innovation. The first set of deep-water subsea production system and shallow-water subsea production system, independently developed by the Company, have been successfully put into use or completed installation. Both are of great significance to the effective development of offshore oil and gas fields in the future. At the same time, the Company has advanced steadily its green development. The jackets of the Bozhong-Kenli oilfields shore power project were installed, which is the largest scale shore power project in Chinese waters. Its Husbandry-Photovoltaic-Hybrid Project started construction in southern Gansu province, China.

Mr. Zhou Xinhuai, CEO of the Company, said: "In the first three quarters, the Company successfully accomplished the targets set for production and operation, and attained excellent operating results. In the fourth quarter, the Company will continue to maintain its high-quality development, to implement the operational plan to achieve the full-year targets."

Notes to Editors:

More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com.

*** *** *** ***

This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, macro-political and economic factors, changes in the tax and fiscal regimes of the host countries in which we operate, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, environmental responsibility and compliance requirements, the Company's price forecast, the exploration and development activities, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

*** *** *** ***

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Ariel Wang

Media & Public Relations

CNOOC Limited

Tel: +86-10-8452-6832

Fax: +86-10-8452-1441

E-mail: mr@cnooc.com.cn

Mr. Bunny Lee

Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group

Tel: +852 3150 6707

Fax: +852 3150 6728

E-mail: cnooc.hk@pordahavas.com

Cision

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SOURCE CNOOC Limited
Collide's Founding Partners, Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins, have helped build and scale two of the largest Black entrepreneurship ecosystems in the world, AfroTech and BLCK VC.

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Collide Capital , one of the largest Black-owned first time funds, is supporting intersectional founders solving the next generation of global challenges. Today, Collide Capital announced the close of its $66M Fund I. To date, Collide has backed over 40 companies, of which more than 80% are led by Black, Latinx, or Female Founders.

Collide Capital, one of the largest Black-owned first time funds, is supporting intersectional founders solving the next generation of global challenges.

Collide is the first venture fund to be simultaneously backed by Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter, and is also anchored by the University of California Endowment. Additional LPs joining the fund include Bank of America, Citi, Northwestern Mutual, Bain Capital, Insight Partners, and Lightspeed Venture Partners, among others.

"At Alphabet, we invest in companies and people who are passionate about using technology to change how we live for a better future," said Jeremiah Gordon, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at CapitalG, Alphabet's growth equity fund. "Aaron and Brian are building a powerful ecosystem that connects us to the founders who are working to solve the next generation of global challenges, and we are excited to bring the resources of Alphabet to their diverse portfolio of founders. This Fund I is just the beginning for Collide Capital, and we're excited to see what the future holds for them."

Collide Capital's mission is to direct investment from leading technology and financial institutions to the founders most prepared to build generational companies. With institutional training from Goldman Sachs, Bain & Co, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business, Collide founders Aaron Samuels and Brian Hollins want to give their communities of under-networked founders a sizable advantage through their connection to VC-funding, knowledge, and hands-on operational support.

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"Aaron and Brian bring investment acumen and operator expertise to their portfolio, coupled with a demonstrable track record of funding diverse and women-led teams," said Jon Chen, VP of Corporate Development & Strategy at Twitter. "As Twitter continues to prioritize its investments in the teams, companies, and funds that represent diverse and underrepresented groups, we're proud to support Collide Capital's Fund I and join them in the pursuit for a more diverse and inclusive tech industry."

"Brian and Aaron are building an innovative venture capital fund that represents the future of the VC industry," said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, Chief Investment Officer of the UC Regents. "Our investment in Collide Capital supports their vision, and we hope that students in the University of California system and beyond are inspired by this work. It's truly remarkable."

Collide Capital will usher in a new era of venture capital where resources and opportunities are directed toward the most deserving founders by backing a high-performing portfolio led by a diverse array of founding teams who have the lived experiences, courage, and grit to create solutions for the next generation. Samuels and Hollins believe great investors are strongly rooted in the communities they source deals from, and Collide Capital has proven experience building leading systems of change, including two of the largest Black tech ecosystems, AfroTech, co-founded by Samuels, and BLCK VC, where Hollins serves as a founding board member. Samuels also co-founded and served as COO at Blavity Inc., the largest global Black media company for millennials and Gen-Z.

"We believe that storytelling and community building are necessary tools to reshape the world into a more just and equitable place," said Aaron Samuels, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. "But after a decade as a poet and entrepreneur, I now believe that we also need one additional fundamental tool: capital. Collide Capital is a natural extension of the work that both Brian and I have been deeply engaged in, and allows us to place dollars behind the next generation of diverse founders."

"Collide is the culmination of a decade-long journey identifying and supporting the most talented founders we know," said Brian Hollins, Founder and Managing Partner of Collide Capital. "Aaron and I have spent years bringing recognition and resources to deserving innovators, and we're thrilled to now add capital to that equation to ensure those founders have the financial support they need to win."

To learn more about Collide, visit https://collidecap.com .

About Collide Capital:

Collide Capital believes that great founders are intersectional in nature and will demand that their investors will be equivalently so. Building off of the success of their top-quartile proof of concept fund, the Collide Capital team is now publicly announcing the close of their oversubscribed fund of $66M to invest in founders with the lived experiences, courage, and grit to create solutions for the next generation. Collide Capital is Black-owned and led by two founders under the age of 35, Aaron Samuels who co-founded AfroTech, and Brian Hollins who is a founding Board Member of BLCK VC.

Collide Capital is led by two Black GPs with institutional training from Goldman Sachs, Bain & Co, Harvard Business School, and Stanford Graduate School of Business. Collide Capital is anchored by the University of California Endowment, and the first fund to be simultaneously backed by Amazon, Alphabet, and Twitter. To date, Collide Capital has backed over 40 companies, of which 80%+ are led by Black, Latinx, or Female Founders.

+++

Media Contact:

BAM for Collide Capital

CollideCapital@bamtheagency.com

Cision

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SOURCE Collide Capital
WATERLOO, ON, Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Definity Financial Corporation ("Definity") (TSX: DFY) will release its third quarter of 2022 results after the market close on Thursday, November 10, 2022. It will be made available at www.definityfinancial.com/English/investors/.

Definity Financial Corporation (Definity) (TSX: DFY) will release its third quarter of 2022 results after the market close on Thursday, November 10, 2022. It will be made available at www.definityfinancial.com/English/investors/. (CNW Group/Definity Financial Corporation)

A live webcast and conference call are scheduled for Friday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m. (ET) where Rowan Saunders, President and Chief Executive Officer; Philip Mather, Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer; Paul MacDonald, Executive Vice-President, Personal Insurance and Digital Channels; and Fabian Richenberger, Executive Vice-President, Commercial Insurance and Insurance Operations will discuss the results, followed by a question-and-answer period with analysts.

The conference call is available by dialing 416-764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 (toll-free in North America). Please call ten minutes before the start of the call.

The archived webcast will be available at www.definityfinancial.com/English/investors/events-and-presentations following the call. A replay of the call will be also available on November 11, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. (ET) and available until midnight on November 18, 2022. To listen to the replay, call 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (toll-free in North America), passcode 781211.

About Definity Financial Corporation

Definity Financial Corporation ("Definity", which includes its subsidiaries where the context so requires) is one of the leading property and casualty insurers in Canada, with over $3.4 billion in gross written premiums for the 12 months ended June 30, 2022 and over $7.7 billion in assets as at June 30, 2022.

SOURCE Definity Financial Corporation

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DUBAI (Reuters) - BitOasis, a Middle East-focused cryptocurrency exchange based in the United Arab Emirates, said on Tuesday it had signed an agreement with Mastercard to launch payment cards linked to cryptocurrencies, they said in a joint statement.

The cards will allow BitOasis customers in the Middle East and North Africa to make purchases at points of sale or online, "thereby adding consumer protection - such as provisions for dispute resolution and refunds - which doesn't exist today when paying with a digital asset," the companies said.

"Currently, cryptocurrency payments and cash-outs are considered cumbersome, with the overwhelming majority of merchants not accepting such payments directly," the statement said.

"The partnership will address these pain points and further drive customer awareness and crypto adoption in the region."

The Middle East and North Africa is the region with the fastest-growing adoption of cryptocurrency in the world, with the volume of crypto received there jumping 48% in the first half of 2022, blockchain researcher Chainalysis said in a report earlier this month.

The UAE, with ambitions to become a global crypto hub, has been pushing to develop virtual asset regulation to attract new forms of business as economic competition heats up in the Gulf region, particularly with Saudi Arabia.

Dubai, one of the UAE's seven emirates and the region's business hub, in March adopted its first law governing virtual assets and established VARA as a regulator for the sector.

BitOasis, founded in Dubai in 2015, said in June it laid off nine of its staff, as the crypto sector faced a steep downturn and market turmoil.

(Reporting by Yousef Saba; Editing by David Holmes)
EDF

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2022

SALES UP 77% org. (1)

SHARP DROP IN NUCLEAR OUTPUT IN FRANCE

IN A VERY HIGH MARKET PRICE ENVIRONMENT

DRAFT DOCUMENT RELATING TO THE SIMPLIFIED TENDER OFFER

FILED BY THE FRENCH STATE WITH THE AMF





Highlights



D raft document relating to the simplified tender offer filed by the French State On 4 October, filing by the French State with the French Financial Market Authority (AMF) of the draft document relating to the simplified tender offer at 12 per EDFs share and 15.52 per convertible bond





Nuclear Stress corrosion phenomenon: repairs completed on the circuits of the 6 reactors (3 of which had no signs of stress corrosion), 4 reactors under repair and investigations ongoing on 5 reactors. ARENH appeal: filing of a legal claim on 9 August with the Conseil d'Etat and of a claim for indemnification with the French State for an amount estimated at that date at 8.34 billion





Renewable s Saint Nazaire offshore wind turbines installed (480MW): first GWh injected into the grid





Customers Return of customers to EDF (net gains of more than 939,000 contracts over the last 12 months) with a negative impact in EBITDA because of the purchase on the market of the corresponding volumes at very high prices Launch of the sobriety plan: promotion of load shedding and modulation offers, relaunch of Tempo option and communication campaign on useful gestures





Financing Senior bond issue on 5 October in 3 tranches for a nominal amount of 3 billion, including a green tranche for 1.25 billion, with a 12-year maturity





















2023 Ambitions (2)



Net financial debt/EBITDA: about or slightly higher than 3x

Adjusted Economic Debt/Adjusted EBITDA (3): about 5x





















Change in EDF Group sales

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) (1) France  Generation and supply activities 23,151 34,000 46.8% France  Regulated activities 12,371 13,037 5.4% EDF Renewables 1,223 1,598 23.5% Dalkia 3,178 4,310 36.5% Framatome 2,360 2,937 18.7% United Kingdom 6,790 10,119 51.5% Italy 6,529 22,350 241.1% Other international 2,101 3,717 61.2% Other activities 2,653 14,162 438.0% Inter-segment eliminations (3,296) (4,704) 42.7% Total Group 57,060 101,526 77.3 %

Group sales were up sharply compared with the first nine months of 2021. They were supported by the strong rise in prices on all wholesale markets on sales prices as well as in the resale of purchase obligations in France. Trading activities also benefited from the high volatility of commodity prices.

Operational performance

Nuclear output in France stood at 209.2TWh during the first 9 months, 59TWh lower than at the same period in 2021. This decrease can be explained by the lower availability of the nuclear fleet, mainly due to investigations and repairs carried out on the reactor circuits following the discovery of stress corrosion indications, despite fewer unplanned outages and the optimisation of the generation schedule.

Based on the estimated nuclear output in France for 2022 at the lower end of the 280-300TWh range and the 2022 forward prices on 7 October 2022, the estimated impact of the decline of nuclear output on 2022 EBITDA is reassessed at around -32 billion euros (2). The Group experienced social movements in France in October, their impact being assessed.

Hydraulic generation in France amounted to 24.9TWh (3). The 8.6TWh decline compared to 2021 is explained by historically low hydropower conditions.

In the United Kingdom, nuclear output amounted to 33.2TWh, up by 2.7TWh compared to 2021 (despite the closure of Hunterston B in January and Hinkley Point B in August), due to a good availability of the fleet and a less busy maintenance program than in 2021.

The Group's renewable output (excluding hydropower) amounted to 18TWh, representing an increase of 2.8TWh compared to the same period in 2021. This development is explained by the commissioning of new capacity in 2021 and during the first nine months of the year for 1.4GW gross. At the end of September, the Group had 13.2GW of net installed renewable capacity and 7.5GW gross under construction (excluding hydropower).

In Belgium, wind development continued with a net installed capacity of 603MW (4) at end-September 2022.

The carbon intensity amounted to 50gCO 2 /kWh, i.e., +3gCO 2 /kWh compared to September 2021, due to the decrease in nuclear and hydraulic output.



Change in Group revenue by segment

France  Generation and supply activities





(in millions of euros) 9M 20201 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (5) 23,151 34,000 46.8%

The growth in sales was mainly due to favourable price effects:

The impact of the increase in the regulated sales tariff on 1 st February 2022 for end customers and the increases in sales prices for professionals in the context of a sharp rise in energy prices was estimated at 4.5 billion.





The resale of purchase obligations was up by an estimated 4.1 billion in connection with the price rise (no impact in EBITDA).





Finally, the price rise had a positive impact on aggregator and gas sales. However, the impact in EBITDA was limited.





Sales also raised by an estimated 0.6 billion due to the supply of additional ARENH volumes, at 46.2/MWh, defined by the March 2022 decree detailing the regulatory measures to limit price increases in 2022.

In the first nine months of 2022, the Group was in a net buying position due to lower nuclear and hydropower generation, in contrast to the same period in 2021 when it was a net seller. The impact in Group sales was estimated at -1 billion.

France  Regulated activities (6)





(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 12,371 13,037 5.4%

Sales growth was mainly due to positive price effects, particularly in connection with the indexation (7) of TURPE 6 on 1st August 2021 and 1st August 2022. These effects were partially offset by a decrease in volumes distributed due to milder weather in 2022.



Renewable Energies

EDF Renewables

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (8) 1,223 1,598 23.5%

The increase in sales was mainly due to higher generation, especially in Europe and North America as a result of new commissioning, favourable wind conditions and higher prices, in particular in the United Kingdom.

Group Renewables excluding hydropower output in France

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 1,911 2,722 36.9%

The rise in sales was mainly attributable to the 18.4% increase in generation thanks to commissioning in 2021 and 2022. A positive price effect in Italy and the United Kingdom also contributed to this growth.



Energy Services

Dalkia

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (9) 3,178 4,310 36.5%

The growth in sales was due mainly to a sharp increase in energy prices. Commercial activity in the United Kingdom also contributed to this rise.

Group Energy Services ( 10 )

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 4,256 5,657 35.4%

The increase in sales was mainly due to higher gas prices, which had a very limited impact in EBITDA, particularly for Dalkia and Edison.



Framatome

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (11) 2,360 2,937 18.7% EDF Group contribution to sales 1,323 1,523 4.8%

The increase in sales is attributable in particular to a growing sales volume for the Installed Base activity in North America.

This trend was limited by deliveries of certain types of fuel assemblies in 2021 without equivalent in 2022.

United Kingdom

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 6,790 10,119 51.5%

The growth in sales was mainly due to higher electricity and gas prices. However, the price increase was not fully passed on to regulated tariffs for residential customers (+54% at 1st April).

In addition, the rise in nuclear output led to the sale of additional volumes in a context of high prices.

The takeover of the Utility Point and Zog portfolios in 2021 under the suppliers of last resort (SoLR) mechanism contributed to the growing number of customers at the end of September 2022.

Italy

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 6,529 22,350 241.1%

The strong rise in gas prices accounted for most of the increase in sales in the gas activities. However, the impact in EBITDA was limited. This trend is also explained by an increase in volumes sold.

The growth in sales of electricity activities was also linked to the very sharp increase in market prices, with a limited impact in EBITDA.



Other international

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (12) 2,101 3,717 61.2% of which Belgium 1,448 2,920 85.6% of which Brazil 454 559 6.4%

In Belgium (13), sales grew as a result of higher electricity and gas prices in all segments, reflecting the rise in wholesale markets.

In Brazil, the increase in sales was attributable mainly to the revaluation in November 2021 of 17.6% of the Power Purchase Agreement price linked to the EDF Norte Fluminense plant. During the first nine months, the currency effect was favourable (appreciation of the Brazilian Real against the Euro).

Other activities

(in millions of euros) 9M 2021 9M 2022 Organic change (%) Sales (1) 2,653 14,162 438.0% of which gas activities 1,163 9,463 713.7% of which EDF Trading 1,116 4,481 295.8%

The evolution of sales of gas activities was explained by a sharp increase in wholesale gas market prices and by the rise in volumes sold thanks to the significant activity of the Dunkirk LNG terminal. However, these effects had a limited impact in EBITDA.

EDF Tradings sales continued to benefit from the performance of activities in Europe and the United States, against a backdrop of very high volatility in all commodity markets.



Main events (14)

after the release of 2022 half-year results

Governance

Proposal for the appointment of Luc Remont as Chairman and CEO of EDF (see PR of the Presidency of the Republic of 29 September 2022)

Modification of the composition of EDF Board of Directors (see PR of 2 September 2022)

Renewables (15)

Anglo American and EDF Renewables agree to renewable energy partnership in South Africa to form Envusa Energy  launching 600MW of wind and solar projects in first phase (see PR of 4 October 2022)

Final stretch before the commissioning of France's first offshore wind farm off Saint Nazaire (see PR of 22 September 2022)

Fecamp offshore wind farm - laying the gravity foundations (see PR of 2 August 2022)





EDF Energy (16)

EDF provides update on UKs existing nuclear fleet (see PR of 22 September 2022)

EDF announces further support for customers amid worsening cost of living crisis (see PR of 22 August 2022)

A new dawn as Hinkley Point B ends generation (see PR of 1st August 2022)





Edison (17)

Edison: the Greece-Bulgaria interconnection pipeline (IGB) starts commercial operations to contribute to Europes energy diversification (see PR of 1 st October 2022)

Edison acquires a 66 MW wind power plant in Campania from Axpo (see PR of 28 July 2022)

Framatome (18)

Framatome completes acquisition of CETh and strengthens its welding skills (see PR of 5 September 2022)

Framatome announces investment in Global Morpho Pharma for nuclear medicine development (see PR of 29 July 2022)

Other

EDF announces the success of its senior multi-tranche bond issue, including a green tranche, for a nominal amount of 3 billion euros (see PR of 5 October 2022)

EDF announces to have reached agreement to sell its interest in the 870MW Sloe CCGT in the Netherlands (see PR of 27 September 2022)

A consortium with EDF, KEPCO and Kyushu Electric Power Co., finalizes the financing of a strategic power transmission project with ADNOC and TAQA in the United Arab Emirates (see PR of 26 September 2022)

Information note (see PR of 15 September 2022 on the announcement of the cap on tariff increases in 2023)

Increase in electricity and gas prices limited to 15% in 2023 (Cf. Elisabeth Borne's press conference of 14 September 2022)

Legal claim concerning the allocation of additional electricity volumes at a regulated price for 2022 (see PR of 9 August 2022)

As a key player in the energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated energy company, active in all businesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy trading, energy sales and energy services. EDF Group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, having developed a diverse production mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support the energy transition. EDFs raison detre is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group helps provide energy and services to approximately 38.5 million customers (1), of which 28.0 million in France (2). In 2021, its consolidated sales reached 84.5 billion. EDF is a company listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

(1) Since 2018, customers are counted according to delivery site; one customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and one for gas.

(2) Including ES (Electricite de Strasbourg).

This presentation is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to sell or buy instruments, part of the company or the assets described here, in the US or any other country.

This presentation contains forward-looking statements or information. While EDF believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time they were made, these assumptions are fundamentally uncertain and imply a certain amount of risk and uncertainty which is beyond the control of EDF. As a result, EDF cannot guarantee that these assumptions will materialise. Future events and actual financial and other outcomes may differ materially from the assumptions used in these forward-looking statements, including, and not limited to, potential timing differences and the completion of transactions described therein.

Risks and uncertainties (notably linked to the economic, financial, competition, regulatory and climate backdrop) may include changes in economic and business trends, regulations, as well as those described or identified in the publicly-available documents filed by EDF with the French financial markets authority (AMF), including those presented in Section 2.2 Risks to which the Group is exposed of the EDF Universal Registration Document (URD) filed with the AMF on 17 March 2022 (under number D.22-0110), which may be consulted on the AMF website at www.amf-france.org or on the EDF website at www.edf.fr, as well as the half-yearly financial report at 30 June 2022 available on the EDF website. The quarterly financial information is not subject to an auditor's report.

EDF does not undertake nor does it have any obligation to update forward-looking information contained in this presentation to reflect any unexpected events or circumstances arising after the date of this presentation.

This press release is certified. Check its authenticity on medias.edf.com

Only print what you need.











EDF SA

22-30, avenue de Wagram

75382 Paris cedex 08

Capital of1,943,290,542

552 081 317 R.C.S. Paris







www.edf.fr



CONTACTS







Press: +33(0) 1 40 42 46 37







Analysts and investors: +33(0) 1 40 42 40 38









(1) Organic change at comparable scope, accounting standards and exchange rates.

(2) See press release on 15 September 2022 with an estimated impact of -29bn

(3) Hydropower, excluding island activities before deduction of pumped volumes. Total cumulated hydropower excluding pumped volumes represented 19.8TWh during the first 9 months of 2022 (29.7TWh during the first 9 months of 2021).

(4) Net capacity at Luminus scope

(5) Breakdown of revenue across the segments before inter-segment eliminations.

(6) Regulated activities including Enedis, ES and French island activities.

(7) Indexed adjustment of TURPE 6 distribution tariff of +0.91% on 1st August 2021 and +2.26% on 1st August 2022.

(8) Breakdown of revenue across the segments before inter-segment eliminations.

(9) Breakdown of revenue across the segments before inter-segment eliminations.

(10) Group Energy Services include Dalkia, Citelum, IZI Confort, IZI Solution, Sowee, Izivia and the service activities of EDF Energy, Edison, Luminus and EDF SA. They consist in particular of street lighting, heating networks, decentralised low-carbon generation based on local resources, energy consumption management and electric mobility.

(11) Breakdown of revenue across the segments before inter-segment eliminations.

(12) Breakdown of revenue across the segments before inter-segment eliminations.

(13) Luminus and EDF Belgium.

(14) The full list of press releases is available on our website: www.edf.fr

(15) The full list of press releases is available on our website: www.edf-renouvelables.com

(16) The full list of press releases is available on our website: www.edfenergy.com

(17) The full list of press releases is available on our website: www.edison.it

(18) The full list of press releases is available on our website: www.framatome.com

(1) Organic change at comparable scope, standards and exchange rates.

(2) See press release on 15 September. On the basis of the scope and exchange rates at 1 January 2022. In a constant regulatory environment (ARENH ceiling at 100TWh), with a 2023 forward price assumption on 13 September 2022, and taking into account 2022 and 2023 French nuclear output estimates as given in the press release of 18 May 2022.

(3) At constant S&P methodology.

Attachment




South Africa: President Ramaphosa comments on US terror alert

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africans should be best informed by the South African government on matters of State security.

The President said it was unfortunate that the United States government issued a terror alert on Wednesday without discussing it with the South African government.

It was quite unfortunate that the US government issued that type of warning without having had deep... discussions with us.

Following that, we were able to engage them and to get to understand precisely where this warning or this information has come from. We are in the course of doing precisely that because warnings such as those do send a lot of panic amongst our people and South Africans should be best informed by the South African government, the President said.

President Ramaphosa was speaking during a media briefing following bilateral talks with his Spanish counterpart, President Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, at the Union Buildings on Thursday.

He said that government is working around the clock to verify and look closely at the message that came from the United States.

Our agencies, as they are getting better at their job of securing our people, are alert and are looking very closely at this type of threat and they continue to do so. Any form of alert will come from the government of the Republic of South Africa.

Earlier in the day, International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, called on the global community to collaborate in combating terrorism.

She said government was concerned about the terror alert issued by the US Embassy about a possible attack in the greater Sandton area this weekend.

Terrorism is always a big threat that the global community must collaborate on. We are very concerned about terrorism after the alert the US embassy informed us about. Clearly our security organs are paying attention to this matter.

All countries have to unite to combat terrorism. Its exacting a terrible toll in the Sahal region and whatever we can do together, I think that we must all pull our security capacities into a united force against terrorists.

On Wednesday, the US embassy issued a communique on its website, warning that it had 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.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Saudi Arabias Public Investment Fund (PIF) will set up five firms aimed at investing $24 billion in Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Oman and Sudan, PIF announced at the sixth edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII).

The newly set up FII Institute also announced investments in two innovative tech solutions designed to drive sustainability in agriculture and fishing. The first is a $579,430 investment in Dogtooth Technologies, a UK-based tech start-up that develops and sells autonomous fruit picking robots, helping to reduce crop wastage and cut CO2 emissions arising from fruit production.

The Institute is also investing $500,000 in Seafood Souq, featured in the United Nations Ocean Decade Special edition. Seafood Souq is a technology company offering a vertically integrated digital solution for global seafood trade, traceability and financing in support of the Blue transformation.

Membership Programme

In addition, the Institute launched its new exclusive Membership Programme, giving global investors and change makers a chance to join its growing community.

The FII Institute Membership Programme will provide members with exclusive access to its knowledge platform, which includes a wide range of reports and world-leading research from global universities and organisations.

Moreover, it announced the launch of the 'Algoritmi Prize' with support from global research publisher Springer Nature. The annual science and technology prize will celebrate artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics research that has the potential to produce real-world solutions that address global challenges.

15 firms take part in carbon credit sale

PIF and Tadawul Group announced the results of the VCM carbon marketplace to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral future, which is integral to Saudi Arabia's efforts to achieve net-zero goals by 2060. Fifteen Saudi and regional entities took part in the largest-ever carbon credit sale, and credits were purchased by companies including Aramco, Olayan Financing Company and Saudi Arabian Mining Company.

The second day of FII opened with a conversation between CEO of the FII Institute, Richard Attias and Founding Partner of Trian Fund Management, Nelson Peltz, about how to ensure long-term success throughout the ongoing global changes.

The conversation was followed by a plenary discussion titled "The Pulse on Global Macrofinance" where Mohammed Al Jadaan, Saudi Minister of Finance; Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahraini Minister of Finance and National Economy; and Steven Mnuchin, Managing Partner of Liberty Strategic Capital, shared their thoughts on how globalisation is impacting global markets.

The sixth edition of FII will conclude on Thursday October 27 with wrap-up discussions on sports, fintech, sustainability and the future of Africa.-- TradeArabia News Service
TORONTO, Oct. 27, 2022 /CNW/ - The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) protects the public by promoting safe nursing practice. This includes registering nurses, whether they are educated in Canada or internationally, who have the knowledge, skill and judgment to practice safely in Ontario.

CNO Logo (CNW Group/College of Nurses of Ontario)

The Ontario government has approved new registration regulations to help increase the number of qualified nurses available to provide safe patient care in the province. CNO's Council unanimously approved the proposed regulations at its meeting on Sept. 29, 2022.

The regulations change the requirements for applicants to register in the Temporary Class. They also make it easier for nurses in the Non-Practising Class and retired nurses to reinstate and return to practice.

"In a year where we're breaking registration records, these regulation changes will enable CNO to build on this success," said Silvie Crawford, Executive Director and CEO. "These changes not only support the increase of safe, qualified nurses into the health care system, but they also ensure public safety."

In addition to the regulation changes, CNO continues to actively collaborate with system partners to respond to the needs of our health care system. Initiatives like the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership and changes to Language Proficiency requirements continue to increase the number of nurses becoming registered in the system.

Visit our Registration Totals at a Glance and Applicant Statistics regularly for ongoing updates.

SOURCE College of Nurses of Ontario

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2022/27/c5373.html
Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research

The global hydrogen compressor market size was valued at USD 1.67 billion in 2021. It is projected to reach USD 2.08 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.5% during the forecast period (2022-2030). Europe's market for hydrogen compressors has grown significantly in forecast period.

New York, United States, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hydrogen compressors are slowly gaining ground in terms of their demand and popularity. International organizations and various economies have been moving towards alternative energy generation sources, and hydrogen proves to be a suitable alternative due to being eco-friendly. Economies in South Asia and Southeast Asia, such as India, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, are anticipated to emerge as the fastest-growing nations in demand for hydrogen compressors. Japan is expected to dominate the regional market and hold a significant share in the global market.





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Impact of COVID-19

The global pandemic due to the COVID-19 has resulted in a considerable collapse of the international supply chain and has halted global trade substantially. The clean hydrogen sector has now reached its pre-commercialization phase and is ready to play its essential role in decarbonizing the economies. The economic crisis that has resulted from the spread of the COVID-19 will cause a significant delay in the adoption and commercial roll-out of the clean hydrogen . Furthermore, it might even permanently endanger the clean hydrogen sector's capacity to take up its role as the missing link in the transition towards clean energy. However, economies such as Germany, the U.K., Spain, the Netherlands, China, Japan, among others, will continue to be leaders in utilizing hydrogen for various end uses. These factors are foretold to aid in stabilizing the hydrogen compressor market.





Report Scope

Report Metric Details Market Size USD 2.08 Billion by 2030 CAGR 2.5% (2022-2030) Historical Data 2019-2020 Base Year 2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Forecast Units Value (USD Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Technology, Hydrogen Pressure, Type, End-User, Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, LAME and Rest of the World Key Companies Profiled/Vendors Ariel Corporation, Atlas Copco AB, Siemens Group, Linde PLC, Corken, Inc., Gardner Denver, Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd., Burckhardt Compression AG, Hydro-Pac, Inc, HAUG Sauer Kompressoren AG, Kaishan Compressor USA Key Market Opportunities Evolving Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology Key Market Drivers Increasing demand for hydrogen for energy generation

Rising use of hydrogen in an array of industries

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Story continues





Regional Analysis

The Middle East is foreseen to focus on hydrogen production as global voices for using hydrogen as a clean energy alternative gets stronger. North Africa is also expected to be one of the significant growth drivers for the hydrogen compressor market owing to its partnership for hydrogen generation with Europe. However, the market is expected to see some restrictions in its growth rate due to the backing out of the U.S. from the Paris treaty. The U.S. is one of the major regional markets for the hydrogen compressor. This shift in its policy is envisaged to impact the growth of the hydrogen compressor market negatively.





Key Highlights

The global hydrogen compressor market size is projected to reach USD 2.08 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 2.5% during the forecast period (2022-2030).

The market is divided into multi-stage and single-stage segments based on technology .

The market is divided into segments according to the hydrogen pressure , which ranges from 200 bar to 900 bar. Other segments include 350 bar, 400 bar, 500 bar, and 700 bars.

The market is divided into oil-free and oil-based hydrogen compressors depending on type .

The market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Africa based on geography .

Due to the significant transition in the region's energy consumption from fossil fuels to alternative fuels, the market for hydrogen compressors in Europe has seen tremendous expansion in recent years.

Top Key Players

Ariel Corporation

Atlas Copco AB

Siemens Group

Linde PLC

Corken, Inc.

Gardner Denver

Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd.

Burckhardt Compression AG

Hydro-Pac, Inc

HAUG Sauer Kompressoren AG

Kaishan Compressor USA, LLC

KAJI Technology Corporation

Kobe Steel, Ltd.





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Hydrogen Compressor Market: Segmentation

By Technology

Multistage

Single Stage

By Hydrogen Pressure

200 bar

350 bar

400 bar

500 bar

700 bar

900 bar

By Type

Oil-Free Type

Oil-Based Type

By End User

Oil and Gas Sector

Chemical and Petrochemical Industry

Other





TABLE OF CONTENT

1 Introduction

1.1 Market Definition

1.2 Market Scope

2 Research Methodology

2.1 Primary Research

2.2 Research Methodology

2.3 Assumptions and Exclusions

2.4 Secondary Data Sources

3 Executive Summary

4 Market Overview

4.1 Report Segmentation and Scope

4.2 Value Chain Analysis: Hydrogen Compressor Market

4.2.1 Vendor Matrix

4.3 Key Market Trends

4.3.1 Drivers

4.3.2 Restraints

4.3.3 Opportunities

4.4 Porters Five Forces Analysis

4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.4.3 Threat of Substitution

4.4.4 Threat of New Entrants

4.4.5 Competitive Rivalry

4.5 Environmental and Regulatory Landscape

4.6 Forecast Factors and Relevance of Impact

4.7 Macro-Economic and Geopolitical Scenario

4.8 Parent Market Overview

4.9 Technology Landscape

4.10 Market Share Analysis

4.11 COVID-19 Impact Analysis

4.11.1 Pre and Post COVID-19 Scenario

4.11.2 Market Recovery Timeline and Challenges

4.11.3 Strategy to be Adopted by Players

4.11.4 Quarterly Growth Forecast (2022-2030)

4.12 Regional Price Trends

4.13 Raw Material Trends

4.14 Cost Structure Analysis

4.14.1 Labor Cost

4.14.2 Consumables

4.14.3 Maintenance Cost

5 Technology Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.1.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

5.2 Multistage

5.2.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

5.3 Single Stage

5.3.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6 Hydrogen Pressure Overview

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.2 200 Bar

6.2.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.3 350 Bar

6.3.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.4 400 Bar

6.4.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.5 500 Bar

6.5.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.6 700 Bar

6.6.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

6.7 900 Bar

6.7.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

7 Type Overview

7.1 Introduction

7.1.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

7.2 Oil-Free Type

7.2.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

7.3 Oil-Based Type

7.3.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

8 End-User Overview

8.1 Introduction

8.1.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

8.2 Oil and Gas Sector

8.2.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

8.3 Chemical and Petrochemical Industry

8.3.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

8.4 Other

8.4.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

9 Regional Overview

9.1 Introduction

9.1.1 Market Size and Forecast (Value and Volume)

9.2 North America

9.2.1 Economic Overview

9.2.2 Market Scenario

9.2.3 The U.S.

9.2.3.1 By Technology

9.2.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.2.3.3 By Type

9.2.3.4 By End-User

9.2.4 Canada

9.2.4.1 By Technology

9.2.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.2.4.3 By Type

9.2.4.4 By End-User

9.2.5 Mexico

9.2.5.1 By Technology

9.2.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.2.5.3 By Type

9.2.5.4 By End-User

9.3 Central and South America and the Caribbean

9.3.1 Economic Overview

9.3.2 Market Scenario

9.3.3 Brazil

9.3.3.1 By Technology

9.3.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.3.3.3 By Type

9.3.3.4 By End-User

9.3.4 Argentina

9.3.4.1 By Technology

9.3.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.3.4.3 By Type

9.3.4.4 By End-User

9.3.5 Columbia

9.3.5.1 By Technology

9.3.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.3.5.3 By Type

9.3.5.4 By End-User

9.3.6 Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean

9.3.6.1 By Technology

9.3.6.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.3.6.3 By Type

9.3.6.4 By End-User

9.4 Europe

9.4.1 Economic Overview

9.4.2 Market Scenario

9.4.3 Germany

9.4.3.1 By Technology

9.4.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.4.3.3 By Type

9.4.3.4 By End-User

9.4.4 France

9.4.4.1 By Technology

9.4.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.4.4.3 By Type

9.4.4.4 By End-User

9.4.5 The U.K.

9.4.5.1 By Technology

9.4.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.4.5.3 By Type

9.4.5.4 By End-User

9.4.6 Italy

9.4.6.1 By Technology

9.4.6.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.4.6.3 By Type

9.4.6.4 By End-User

9.4.7 The Rest of Europe

9.4.7.1 By Technology

9.4.7.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.4.7.3 By Type

9.4.7.4 By End-User

9.5 Asia-Pacific (APAC)

9.5.1 Economic Overview

9.5.2 Market Scenario

9.5.3 China

9.5.3.1 By Technology

9.5.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.3.3 By Type

9.5.3.4 By End-User

9.5.4 Japan

9.5.4.1 By Technology

9.5.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.4.3 By Type

9.5.4.4 By End-User

9.5.5 India

9.5.5.1 By Technology

9.5.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.5.3 By Type

9.5.5.4 By End-User

9.5.6 Australia

9.5.6.1 By Technology

9.5.6.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.6.3 By Type

9.5.6.4 By End-User

9.5.7 South Korea

9.5.7.1 By Technology

9.5.7.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.7.3 By Type

9.5.7.4 By End-User

9.5.8 Rest of APAC

9.5.8.1 By Technology

9.5.8.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.5.8.3 By Type

9.5.8.4 By End-User

9.6 The Middle East

9.6.1 Economic Overview

9.6.2 Market Scenario

9.6.3 Saudi Arabia

9.6.3.1 By Technology

9.6.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.3.3 By Type

9.6.3.4 By End-User

9.6.4 The UAE

9.6.4.1 By Technology

9.6.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.4.3 By Type

9.6.4.4 By End-User

9.6.5 Qatar

9.6.5.1 By Technology

9.6.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.5.3 By Type

9.6.5.4 By End-User

9.6.6 Oman

9.6.6.1 By Technology

9.6.6.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.6.3 By Type

9.6.6.4 By End-User

9.6.7 Turkey

9.6.7.1 By Technology

9.6.7.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.7.3 By Type

9.6.7.4 By End-User

9.6.8 The Rest of the Middle East

9.6.8.1 By Technology

9.6.8.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.6.8.3 By Type

9.6.8.4 By End-User

9.7 Africa

9.7.1 Economic Overview

9.7.2 Market Scenario

9.7.3 Nigeria

9.7.3.1 By Technology

9.7.3.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.7.3.3 By Type

9.7.3.4 By End-User

9.7.4 South Africa

9.7.4.1 By Technology

9.7.4.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.7.4.3 By Type

9.7.4.4 By End-User

9.7.5 The Rest of Africa

9.7.5.1 By Technology

9.7.5.2 By Hydrogen Pressure

9.7.5.3 By Type

9.7.5.4 By End-User

10 Competitive Landscape  Manufacturers and Suppliers

10.1 Competition Dashboard

10.2 Industry Structure

10.3 Ariel Corporation

10.3.1 Business Overview

10.3.2 Financial Performance

10.3.3 Recent Developments

10.3.4 Product Portfolio

10.4 Atlas Copco AB

10.4.1 Business Overview

10.4.2 Financial Performance

10.4.3 Recent Developments

10.4.4 Product Portfolio

10.5 Siemens Group

10.5.1 Business Overview

10.5.2 Financial Performance

10.5.3 Recent Developments

10.5.4 Product Portfolio

10.6 Linde PLC

10.6.1 Business Overview

10.6.2 Financial Performance

10.6.3 Recent Developments

10.6.4 Product Portfolio

10.7 Corken, Inc.

10.7.1 Business Overview

10.7.2 Financial Performance

10.7.3 Recent Developments

10.7.4 Product Portfolio

10.8 Gardner Denver

10.8.1 Business Overview

10.8.2 Financial Performance

10.8.3 Recent Developments

10.8.4 Product Portfolio

10.9 Hitachi Industrial Products, Ltd.

10.9.1 Business Overview

10.9.2 Financial Performance

10.9.3 Recent Developments

10.9.4 Product Portfolio

10.10 Burckhardt Compression AG

10.10.1Business Overview

10.10.2Financial Performance

10.10.3Recent Developments

10.10.4Product Portfolio

10.11 Hydro-Pac, Inc

10.11.1Business Overview

10.11.2Financial Performance

10.11.3Recent Developments

10.11.4Product Portfolio

10.12 HAUG Sauer Kompressoren AG

10.12.1Business Overview

10.12.2Financial Performance

10.12.3Recent Developments

10.12.4Product Portfolio

10.13 Kaishan Compressor USA, LLC

10.13.1Business Overview

10.13.2Financial Performance

10.13.3Recent Developments

10.13.4Product Portfolio

10.14 KAJI Technology Corporation

10.14.1Business Overview

10.14.2Financial Performance

10.14.3Recent Developments

10.14.4Product Portfolio

10.15 Kobe Steel, Ltd.

10.15.1Business Overview

10.15.2Financial Performance

10.15.3Recent Developments

10.15.4Product Portfolio

11 Conclusion and Recommendation

12 Acronyms and Abbreviations





Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/hydrogen-compressor-market/toc





News Media

South Asia Anticipated Being One of the Fastest Growing Regions in Hydrogen Compressor Market

Increasing Demand for Energy Efficient Devices is Driving the Global Metal Hydride Market Growth





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Adroit Market Research

For broader comprehension of worldwide Matcha Tea market trends and opportunities, the report has been broken up into various sections such as product types, end-use software in addition to regions.

Dallas, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matcha tea is a form of green tea which is made by picking young tea leaves and ground into a bright green powder to make matcha tea . It comes from the Camellia sinensis plant and is loaded with important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols, which have positive health effects. Matcha tea has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics that help lower cholesterol, strengthen bones, and encourage the skin's collagen formation. Additionally, it helps to support liver health, reduce the development of cancer and diabetes, improve brain function, protect the liver from toxins buildup, enhance energy, and support weight loss.

A favorable market outlook is being produced by the widespread product uptake in the food and beverage (F&B) industry worldwide. Oatmeal, latte popsicles, salad dressings, smoothies, iced tea drinks, and desserts are just a few examples of dishes that frequently use matcha tea. Aside from that, the rise in lifestyle-related illnesses including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease as well as the expanding knowledge of the health advantages of matcha tea drinking can be linked to the rising trend in customer preference for the beverage.

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Matcha tea Market Scope

Metrics Details Base Year 2022 Historic Data 2020-2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Growth Rate CAGR 9.79 % by 2030 Key Players The AOI Tea Company, Vivid Vitality Ltd, Ippodo Tea Co By Grade Ceremonial, Classic , Culinary By Applications Regular tea, Personal care, Matcha beverages, and Food

The global matcha tea industry is expanding extremely quickly owing to its several health benefits. This market is fueled by the product's ability to reduce cholesterol levels in the body as well as the fact that many health-conscious businesses urge their customers to take it daily. The matcha tea industry is expanding due to the wide range of products it offers consumers worldwide. The population's evolving lifestyle also influences the market.

Story continues

Matcha tea-infused savories are being created by manufacturers of desserts all over the world. It is a dependable dessert choice because of its revitalizing scent and health advantages. Due to its uses in sweets, dessert experts are optimistic about the growth of matcha tea sales. Matcha tea has also been immensely popularized in ice cream, popsicles, croissants, pastries, doughnuts, and lattes. All of these elements have increased the demand for matcha tea.

The matcha tea market was estimated to be worth USD 4.00 billion and is anticipated to increase to USD 6.69 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 9.79%.

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According to grade, the best grade is premium matcha in vivid hues. It has a very delicate structure in contrast to other classes. The prices for the Cafe and Premium grades are also more than for the Classic grade. The best matcha powder on the market is ceremonial grade. It's an expensive tea. The traditional Japanese tea ceremonies require this tea. The flavor of matcha is strongest when the leaves are young. The veins and stems of the plant must be removed because they are useless. In reality, this part of the plant contains the most flavor and minerals.

The Asia Pacific area is predicted to have the highest CAGR during the projection period. This is mostly attributable to Matcha's aromatic appeal and novel preparation methods, which have contributed significantly to its popularity in the food and beverage industries of numerous non-native regions and nations. Green teas can be made into matcha by choosing young tea leaves and then grinding them into a fine powder.

Table of content for global Matcha tea market:

Chapter 1. Executive Summary

Chapter 2. Research Methodology

Chapter 3. Market Outlook

Chapter 4. Global Matcha Tea Market Overview, By Type

Chapter 5. Global Matcha Tea Market, By Application

Chapter 6. Global Matcha Tea Market Overview, By Region

- North America

- US

- Europe

- Germany

- UK

- Asia Pacific

- China

- India

Chapter 7. Company Profiles

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ReportLinker

The Global Medical Carts Market size was estimated at USD 2,891. 23 million in 2021 and expected to reach USD 3,407. 89 million in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 18. 12% to reach USD 7,854.

New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Medical Carts Market Research Report by Product, Types, Material Type, End User, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339766/?utm_source=GNW

76 million by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Medical Carts to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Product, the market was studied across Medical Storage Columns, Medication Carts, Mobile Computing Carts, and Wall-Mounted Workstations. The Mobile Computing Carts is further studied across Documentation, Equipment, Medication Delivery, and Telehealth Workstation.



Based on Types, the market was studied across Anesthesia Cart, Computer Medical Cart, Emergency Cart, and Procedure Cart.



Based on Material Type, the market was studied across Metal Type and Plastic Type.



Based on End User, the market was studied across Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Hospitals & clinics.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Medical Carts market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Medical Carts Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Medical Carts Market, including Advantech Co., Ltd, Altus Health Systems, Armstrong Medical Inc., Capsa Solutions LLC., Cardinal Scale, Enovate Medical, Ergotron, Inc., GCX Corporation, Harloff Manufacturing Co., Hergo Ergonomic Support Systems, Inc., InterMetro Industries Corporation, ITD GmbH, JACO Inc., Lakeside Manufacturing, Market Lab, Inc., McKesson Medical-Surgical Inc., Medline Industries Inc., Midmark Corporation, Omni cell Inc., Parity Computers Limited, Performance Health Holding, Inc., The Bergmann Group, and Touchpoint Medical, Inc..



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Medical Carts Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Medical Carts Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Medical Carts Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Medical Carts Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Medical Carts Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Medical Carts Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Medical Carts Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339766/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

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CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




ReportLinker

The Global Mineral Water Equipment Market size was estimated at USD 56. 92 billion in 2021 and expected to reach USD 61. 51 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 8. 32% to reach USD 91.

New York, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Mineral Water Equipment Market Research Report by Equipment, Technology, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339957/?utm_source=GNW

98 billion by 2027.



Market Statistics:

The report provides market sizing and forecast across 7 major currencies - USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, AUD, CAD, and CHF. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2020 are considered as historical years, 2021 as the base year, 2022 as the estimated year, and years from 2023 to 2027 are considered as the forecast period.



Market Segmentation & Coverage:

This research report categorizes the Mineral Water Equipment to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets:



Based on Equipment, the market was studied across Blow Molder, Bottle Washer, Filler & Capper, Filter, and Shrink Wrapper.



Based on Technology, the market was studied across Chlorination, Filling, MF, RO, UF, and Washing.



Based on Region, the market was studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas is further studied across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The United States is further studied across California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The Asia-Pacific is further studied across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Europe, Middle East & Africa is further studied across Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom.



Cumulative Impact of COVID-19:

COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, and the long-term effects are projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report delivers insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecasts, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market.



Cumulative Impact of 2022 Russia Ukraine Conflict:

We continuously monitor and update reports on political and economic uncertainty due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Negative impacts are significantly foreseen globally, especially across Eastern Europe, European Union, Eastern & Central Asia, and the United States. This contention has severely affected lives and livelihoods and represents far-reaching disruptions in trade dynamics. The potential effects of ongoing war and uncertainty in Eastern Europe are expected to have an adverse impact on the world economy, with especially long-term harsh effects on Russia.This report uncovers the impact of demand & supply, pricing variants, strategic uptake of vendors, and recommendations for Mineral Water Equipment market considering the current update on the conflict and its global response.



Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Mineral Water Equipment Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario:

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitors strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles:

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market, including A. O. Smith India Water Products Pvt. Ltd., Apex water systems & Lab Equipments, Blue Star Limited., Bluevua Inc., Brio Water, ByWater Services., Canadian Clear, Eureka Forbes Ltd., Havells India Ltd., Hindustan Unilever Limited., Hindware Appliances, Hyperfilteration, Innovative Water Technologies, Kent Ro Systems Ltd, LG Electronics., Livpure Smart Homes Private Limited, Piramal Sarvajal, SimPure, Unitech Water Solution, V-Guard Industries Ltd., and Zhangjiagang city Filltech beverage Machinery Co.,LTD.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Mineral Water Equipment Market?

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06339957/?utm_source=GNW



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Story continues

CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001




Transparency Market Research

The global market for molecular diagnostics is expected to grow rapidly due to improved awareness about molecular diagnostics and climbing demand for individualized health care

Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Oct. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Transparency Market Research Inc.  In 2020, the value of global molecular diagnostics market stood at US$ 14.99 Mn. It is predicted that the market will progress at 11.1% CAGR during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2028. It is also estimated that global molecular diagnostics market will attain valuation of US$ 37.19 Bn by 2028. Firms in the molecular diagnostics market are anticipated to spend on promotion of tests to raise knowledge about their benefits for early disease detection as well as boost R&D to allow early disease detection. Alternately, the government's emphasis on healthcare investments, which strengthens the biotechnology industry, is estimated to be responsible for Germany's rapid rise in molecular diagnostics. Additionally, it is expected that the country's growing number of biotechnology firms will stimulate the German market.

Due to increasing government funding for molecular diagnostic tests, North America is estimated to be the world's largest market for molecular diagnostics. The regional market is likely to expand as a result of the rising prevalence of cancer and unhealthy lifestyles that cause serious infectious illnesses. The market in North America is anticipated to be boosted by additional factors including the high elderly population and rising desire for customized pharmaceuticals.

Get Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of Molecular Diagnostics Market  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1783



Key Findings of Market Report

Based on revenue, the PCR & real-time PCR segment dominated the global market in 2020 with a considerable molecular diagnostics market share. It is one of the key is one of the important segments of molecular diagnostics market. Given that the PCR technique is an affordable method of replicating or amplifying minuscule segments of DNA or RNA, the market for this category is anticipated to increase significantly throughout the forecast timeframe. During the recent pandemic, RT-PCR tests have been in extremely high demand, which is expected to drive future market demand for molecular diagnostics market.





The automated extraction, amplification, and data collection and analysis processes are made possible by these molecular diagnostic systems. These systems provide a number of benefits, including improved productivity, accurate data, and a reduction in the amount of time needed to get results. All these benefits are anticipated to present considerable growth opportunities for the key players of molecular diagnostics market.





Each cancer kind demands a different course of therapy. As a result, the demand for molecular diagnostics is anticipated to increase throughout the forecast timeframe due to the rising cancer prevalence and demand for customized therapy. Given that the market is still in its infancy, this is anticipated to present considerable potential to the market players.





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Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Key Competitors

Becton Dickinson and Company

F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.

Abbot Laboratories

Danaher Corporation

Siemens AG

Global Molecular Diagnostics Market: Segmentation

Technology

PCR & Real time PCR

Hybridization

Microarray

Transcription-mediated Amplification

Next Generation Sequencing

Others

Application

Infectious Diseases

Oncology

Blood Screening

Microbiology

Genetic Testing

Women's Health

End User

Hospitals

Diagnostic Laboratories

Blood Banks

Academics & Research

Others





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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:

Mice Model Generation Market: The global mice model generation market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 918.4 Mn by 2031 at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2022 to 2031.

Cancer Biomarkers Market: The global cancer biomarkers market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 31.4 Bn by 2031 at a CAGR of 9.9% from 2022 to 2031.

Analytical Standards Market: The global analytical standards market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 2.29 Bn by the end of 2031 at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2031.

Mice Model Technologies Market: The global mice model technologies market is anticipated to reach US$ 3.2 Bn by 2031 at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2022 to 2031.

Soft Tissue Allografts Market: The global soft tissue allografts market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 6.3 Bn by the end of 2031 at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2022 to 2031.

Animal Genetics Market: The global animal genetics market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 9.1 Bn by the end of 2031 at a CAGR of 6.7% from 2022 to 2031.

DNA and Gene Cloning Services Market: The global DNA and gene cloning services market is anticipated to reach more than US$ 9.5 Bn by the end of 2031 at a CAGR of 13.7% from 2022 to 2031.

Anti-aging Market: The global anti-aging market is expected to surpass the value of US$ 284.8 Bn by the end of 2028 at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2021 to 2028.

About Transparency Market Research

Transparency Market Research, a global market research company registered at Wilmington, Delaware, United States, provides custom research and consulting services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insights for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools & techniques to gather and analyse information.

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.

For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit Our YouTube Channel and hit subscribe for Future Update - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ



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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.

Only Natural Diamonds Logo

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."

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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

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

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-diamond-council-global-ambassador-lily-james-visits-botswana-301659963.html

SOURCE Natural Diamond Council
Osisko Metals Incorporated

MONTREAL, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osisko Metals Incorporated (the "Company or "Osisko Metals") ( TSX-V: OM ; OTCQX: OMZNF ; FRANKFURT: 0B51 ) is pleased to announce additional drilling results from the Mount Copper Project, located in the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec. A total of 25,665 m of the 30,000m infill drilling program were completed at the Mount Copper deposit at the end of September. Results from ten holes are reported below: Four of the reported holes are within the immediate Mount Copper area that tested the grade and the oxide content of this poorly drilled area, and the other holes are located along the margins of the historical open pit. Six of the ten holes have extended mineralization beyond the 2022 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) Block Model, and none of the holes intersected significant oxide mineralization.



Highlights:

Drill hole 30-1004, located on Mount Copper collared within the modelled pit shell, intersected 102.0 metres grading 0.57% Cu and 2.20 g/t Ag, representing a better grade than that modelled within the current 2022 MRE Block Model.

Drill hole 30-0999 located east of the historical Mount Copper open pit extended mineralization significantly outside the 2022 MRE Block Model and intersected 334.7 metres grading 0.21% Cu and 1.32 g/t Ag .

Drill hole 30-1008 intersected 272.0 metres grading 0.39% Cu and 2.69 g/t Ag within the 2022 MRE Block Model.



Robert Wares, Chairman & CEO, commented: This first infill drill program at Mount Copper continues to increase the known mineralization envelope and will allow better quantification of the oxidation levels within the modelled pit shell. So far results are very satisfactory around Mount Copper itself where the previous drilling was relatively sparse. Sulphide mineralization increases towards the center of the deposit, below the historical pit, and we now look forward to results from directional drilling holes that were oriented to provide infill drilling below the bottom of the historical open pit mine, into the heart of the deposit.

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DDH 30-996, collared on the eastern margin of the pit, did not intersect significant mineralization to a depth of 168 m where the hole was discontinued for technical reasons.

The objective of this definition drilling program is to provide data to upgrade the 2022 MRE to Measured and Indicated categories in preparation for an eventual Feasibility Study, as well as test Mount Coppers oxidation levels to determine if the mineralization can all be processed using conventional flotation.

The Mount Copper drilling results are thus far within or above expectations with respect to the 2022 MRE and oxidation levels are significantly less than what was initially modelled. Oxidization is now deemed to be controlled by sub-vertical N-S fractures (malachite, chrysocolla and limonite mineralization) and remains proximal to these fracture zones. Metallurgical tests are underway to determine recoveries and concentrate quality of non-oxidized material within the 2022 MRE Block Model.

Two long (+1200 m) directional drill holes were successfully completed and were designed to test, at very low angles, higher-grade mineralization below the historical open pit. Assays are pending.

Table 1: Composites of intersected mineralization

Hole Name



Area



From To Drill Width Cu Ag (m) (m) (m) % g/t 30-0989 Mount Copper 277.5 321.00 43.5 0.18 1.06 30-0993 Mount Copper 61.5 139.5 78.0 0.29 1.59 And 177.0 250.5 73.5 0.21 1.60 30-0994 Mount Copper 4.50 34.5 30.0 0.0.31 1.60 And 63.0 196.50 133.5 0.31 1.70 30-0995 East margin 172.5 430.5 258.0 0.29 2.78 30-0999* East margin 307.5 333.0 25.5 0.43 3.48 And 495.0 829.70 334.7 0.21 1.32 30-1004* Mount Copper 7.50 109.5 102.0 0.57 2.20 30-1006* West margin 358.5 576.0 217.5 0.41 1.61 30-1007* West margin 304.5 419.0 114.5 0.39 1.65 30-1008* NW margin 345.0 617.0 272.0 0.39 2.69

*Intersections outside of the 2022 MRE block model.

Table 2: Drill holes Collar Locations (UTM (NAD83) Zone 20)

Hole Name Deposit Easting Northing Elev. (m) Azm. Dip Length (m) 30-0989 Mount Copper 315831.8 5426297.8 662.8 90.0 -50.0 321.0 30-0993 Mount Copper 316029.0 5426157.0 678.0 65.0 -80.0 279.0 30-0994 Mount Copper 316155.4 5426121.3 690.7 65.0 -80.0 255.3 30-0995 Mount Copper 316310.0 5426580.0 692.9 245.0 -45.0 435.0 30-0996 Mount Copper 316310.0 5426580.0 692.9 245.0 -65.0 168.0 30-0999 Mount Copper 316313.0 5426819.0 684.3 245.0 -48.0 830.0 30-1004 Mount Copper 316278.9 5426103.5 689.5 65.0 -80.0 300.0 30-1006 Mount Copper 315131.1 5426977.3 595.3 110.0 -60.0 595.0 30-1007 Mount Copper 315131.1 5426977.3 595.3 110.0 -45.0 420.0 30-1008 Mount Copper 315274.9 5427119.6 591.0 135.0 -65.0 771.0

Qualified Person

Mr. Jeff Hussey is the Qualified Person and the President and COO for Osisko Metals Incorporated. He is responsible for the technical data reported in this news release and he is a Professional Geologist registered in the Province of Quebec.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control

Osisko Metals adheres to a strict QA/QC program for core handling, sampling, sample transportation and analyses. Drill core samples from the Mines Gaspe project area are securely transported to its core facility on site, where they were logged and sampled. Samples selected for assay are shipped to ALS Canada Ltd.s preparation facility in Sudbury. Pulps are analyzed at the ALS Canada Ltd. facility in North Vancouver, BC. All samples are analyzed by four acid digestion followed by both ICP-AES and ICP-MS for a multi-element suite with a 1% upper detection limit for base metals.

About Osisko Metals

Osisko Metals Incorporated is a Canadian exploration and development company creating value in the critical metals space. The Company controls one of Canadas premier past-producing zinc mining camps, the Pine Point Project, located in the Northwest Territories for which the 2022 PEA has indicated an after-tax NPV of $602M and an IRR of 25% is based on the current Mineral Resource Estimates that are amenable to open pit and shallow underground mining and consist of 15.7Mt grading 5.55% ZnEq of Indicated Mineral Resources and 47.2Mt grading 5.94% ZnEq of Inferred Mineral Resources. Please refer to the technical report entitled Preliminary Economic Assessment, Pine Point Project, Hay River, Northwest Territories, Canada dated July 30, which has been filed on SEDAR. The Pine Point Project is located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories, near infrastructure, and paved highway access, and has an electrical substation as well as 100 kilometres of viable haulage roads already in place.

The Company is also in the process of acquiring, from Glencore Canada, a 100% interest in the past-producing Gaspe Copper Mine, located near Murdochville in the Gaspe peninsula of Quebec. The Company is currently focused on resource evaluation of the Mount Copper Expansion Project that hosts a NI43-101 Inferred Resource of 456Mt grading 0.31% Cu (see April 28, 2022 press release). Gaspe Copper hosts the largest undeveloped copper resource in Eastern North America, strategically located near existing infrastructure in the mining-friendly province of Quebec.

For further information on this press release, visit www.osiskometals.com or contact:

Robert Wares, CEO of Osisko Metals Incorporated

Email: info@osiskometals.com

www.osiskometals.com

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Any statement that involves predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and constitute forward-looking information. This news release may contain forward-looking information pertaining to the Pine Point Project, including, among other things, the results of the PEA and the IRR, NPV and estimated costs, production, production rate and mine life; the expectation that the Pine Point Project will be a robust operation and profitable at a variety of prices and assumptions; the expected high quality of the Pine Point concentrates; the potential impact of the Pine Point Project in the Northwest Territories, including but not limited to the potential generation of tax revenue and contribution of jobs; and the Pine Point Project having the potential for mineral resource expansion and new discoveries. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, in light of managements experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including, without limitation, assumptions about: favourable equity and debt capital markets; the ability to raise additional capital on reasonable terms to advance the development of its projects and pursue planned exploration; future prices of zinc and lead; the timing and results of exploration and drilling programs; the accuracy of mineral resource estimates; production costs; operating conditions being favourable; political and regulatory stability; the receipt of governmental and third party approvals; licenses and permits being received on favourable terms; sustained labour stability; stability in financial and capital markets; availability of equipment; and positive relations with local groups. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects 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 are set out in the Companys public documents filed at www.sedar.com . Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.




Roots Analysis

The current demand for safer, easier to use administration technologies along with the industrys efforts to reduce costs and increase efficiency are expected to drive the growth of the prefilled syringes market in the foreseen future

London, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roots Analysis has announced the addition of Prefilled Syringes Market (6th Edition), 2022-2035 report to its list of offerings.

With rising prevalence of chronic disorders and growing need to administer injectable medication on a more frequent basis, there is a notable rise in preference for self-administration of drugs / therapeutics. As a result, several drug delivery devices, such as prefilled syringes, pen injectors, autoinjectors and large volume wearable injectors, that can be used for self-medication have been developed and introduced into the market.

To order this 900+ page report, which features 315+ figures and 349+ tables, please visit https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/prefilled-syringes-market/284.html

Key Market Insights

Over 35 companies are engaged in the development and manufacturing of prefilled syringes

The market landscape is currently dominated by very large (more than 10,00 employees) and large (1,001-10,000 employees) firms, which together constitute more than 60% of the total number of industry stakeholders. Further, majority of the companies (47%) have established their manufacturing facilities in Asia-Pacific; of the total, 40% the facilities are located in Japan.

110+ prefilled syringes have either been approved or being developed for a range of drug molecules

The market features various glass-based single chambered prefilled syringes available in a packaging volume of 5ml. Majority of the prefilled syringes are equipped with the luer needle system; of these, more than 80% have luer lock needle system. Further, prefilled syringes are available in several packing sizes, ranging from 0.5 to 20 mL, depending upon the targeted application.

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Patents filed for prefilled syringes have increased at a CAGR of more than 35%, since 2015

Of the total, around 60% of the patents were applications, followed by those that have been granted approval. It is worth mentioning that, specifically, the contribution of industry players in the overall patent filing activity has increased at a significant pace (37%), during the period 2015-2021.

Currently, over 190 prefilled syringe combination products are marketed / under development

More than 50% of the combination products are antibodies, of which, 64% products are focused on autoimmune disorders. It is worth mentioning that, in 2021, the maximum number of drugs received approval for delivery via the prefilled syringe.

16 drug developers are likely to forge strategic alliance with prefilled syringe manufacturers

Around 45% of the drug developers which are likely to be collaborate with pre-filled syringes manufacturers are based in Europe, followed by those based in Europe (40%). Of the total, 17% of the drug developers were established during the past two decades.

More than 85 drug candidates have the potential to be developed as prefilled syringes

Over 90% of the drug candidates that are currently under development are anticipated to suitable for delivery via pre-filled syringes. Of these, about 5% of the candidates are most likely to be marketed in the prefilled format. Further, 40% of the approved candidates have high potential to be marketed in the prefilled format.

Several initiatives have been undertaken by prefilled syringe developers, during 2019-2021

Majority of the initiatives (50%) reported in this domain were focused on expansions, followed by partnerships (33%) and funding (10%) instances. It is worth highlighting that over 85% of the partnerships were inked for the development of the component and safety system associated with prefilled syringes.

Plastic based prefilled syringes are anticipated to capture over 5% of the market share in 2035

At present, the aforementioned type of syringe is likely to capture close to 17% of the total share. It is worth mentioning that the syringes associated with the dual chamber and luer lock system is anticipated to grow at a relatively faster pace (6.3%).

To request a sample copy / brochure of this report, please visit this link

Key Questions Answered

Who are the key players engaged in the development of prefilled syringes and its components?

What are the most adopted configuration / attributes associated with the prefilled syringes?

Which companies are actively engaged in offering fill / finish services for prefilled syringes?

What is the relative competitiveness of different prefilled syringes that are currently available / under development?

What are the key recent initiatives undertaken by players engaged in the manufacturing of prefilled syringes?

How has the overall patent landscape related to prefilled syringes evolved over the past few years?

What is the cost burden associated with needlestick injuries and its preventions?

What is the regulatory landscape for the approval of prefilled syringes across different geographies?

Which companies are actively engaged in the development of combination products using prefilled syringes?

What are the most prominent therapeutic areas being targeted by prefilled syringes?

Who are the key opinion leaders in this domain?

Which players are likely to partner with prefilled syringe developers in order to offer combination products?

What are the crucial factors that are driving the prefilled syringes market?

Which drugs are likely to be considered for administration in the prefilled syringe format?

How is the current and future market opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments?

The financial opportunity within the prefilled syringe market has been analyzed across the following segments:

Therapeutic Area

Blood Disorders

Infectious Diseases

Metabolic Disorders

Autoimmune Disorders

Oncological Disorders

Neurological Disorders

Ophthalmic Disorders

Other Disorders

Type of Syringe

Specialty Syringes

Other Syringes

Type of Material

Glass

Plastic

Number of Chambers

Single Chambers

Dual Chambers

Type of Drug Molecule

Antibodies

Proteins

Vaccines

Small Molecules

Peptides

Others

Key Geographical Areas

North America

Europe

Latin America

Asia-Pacific

Middle East and Africa

The report features inputs from eminent industry stakeholders, according to whom, the prefilled syringe market is primarily driven by the increasing demand for such devices, for use in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The report includes detailed transcripts of discussions held with the following experts:

Matthew Young (Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Oval Medical Technologies)

Kirti Maheshwari (Chief Technical Officer, Intas Pharmaceuticals)

Gregor Kawaletz (Ex-Chief Commercial Officer, IDT Biologika)

Tibor Hlobik (Senior Director, Product Technology Services) and Kevin Cancelliere (Ex-Directors, Pharmaceutical Delivery Systems Marketing)

Marco Pederiva (Head of R&D and Product Strategy, Lonstroff)

Jesse Fourt (Design Director, IDEO)

Anonymous (Chief Executive Officer, Small-sized Medical Device Company)

The research covers detailed profiles of key players (listed below); each profile features a brief overview of the company, its financial information (if available), along with details on its product portfolio, manufacturing facilities, partnerships, recent developments (such as expansions), and awards received by the firm, as well as an informed future outlook.

Becton Dickison

Pfizer Hospital

West Pharmaceutical

Gerresheimer

Ompi

Schott

Nipro

Taisei Kako

For additional details, please visit

https://www.rootsanalysis.com/reports/view_document/prefilled-syringes-market/284.html or email sales@rootsanalysis.com

You may also be interested in the following titles:

CONTACT: Gaurav Chaudhary gaurav.chaudhary@rootsanalysis.com Roots Analysis A430, 4th Floor, Bestech Business Towers, Sector 66, Mohali, India sales@rootsanalysis.com +1 (415) 800 3415 +44 (122) 391 1091 Web: https://www.rootsanalysis.com/ LinkedIn: https://in.linkedin.com/company/roots-analysis Twitter: https://twitter.com/RootsAnalysis




Alstom, a global leader in green and smart mobility, has announced the opening of its new regional office in Saudi capital Riyadh.

It will serve as a hub for the development of Alstoms operations across the Gulf and the wider region, providing marketing, tax and finance services to the region, in addition to railway maintenance services, supplier quality development and monitoring.

Within this new regional office, Alstom will bring its condition-based and predictive maintenance solution, HealthHub to Riyadh to support the railway infrastructure innovations in Saudi Arabia.

The kingdoms HealthHub digital centre will start monitoring a fleet of 748 cars in real-time for Riyadh Metro, Jeddah Airport People Mover, and Haramain High-Speed Train.

According to Alstom, The centre will be operated by a team of rail mobility engineers and data scientists with an opportunity to provide advanced expertise and digital services to both Alstom and non-Alstom rolling stock, infrastructure and signalling in and outside of the Kingdom.

It will also serve to further leverage Saudi Vision 2030 to encourage regional talent development, and actively build localized capability in the Kingdom, in alignment with Alstoms growth.

"Saudi Arabia has been a home for Alstom for over 70 years, and Alstom is proud to be fortifying its presence in the kingdom. Establishing the HealthHub digital centre and a new regional office in Riyadh will provide Alstom with the opportunity to access high-echelon talent and contribute to the next chapter of the Kingdoms development," said a company spokesman.

Launched in 2014, HealthHub is Alstoms proven solution for condition-based and predictive maintenance, continuously monitoring the health of railway assets, maximising availability and reliability, while optimising lifecycle costs.

"HealthHub anticipates faults before they occur, avoiding over-maintenance, reducing the need for physical inspection, and decreasing train downtime by up to 30%. Today, HealthHub technology monitors over 18,000 cars from 90 different fleets around the world including in the UAE, Morocco, and Algeria," he stated.

Alstom first arrived in Saudi Arabia in the 1950s. Since then, Alstom has become a key contributor to the advancement of the region's transport infrastructure.

"It is providing operation and maintenance services for Lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Riyadh Metro. For the Haramain high-speed rail line between Mecca and Medina, Alstom supplied Talgo with the Mitrac TC 3300 propulsion equipment and Flexifloat high speed bogies for the powerheads of the 35 very high-speed trains as well as the VIP train for the 450km line and is contracted with the maintenance," said the spokesman.

Additionally, Alstom is responsible for the construction of King Abdullah Financial District's monorail transit system, he stated.

Finally, Alstom is the supplier and operation and maintenance provide of the turnkey Innovia APM 300 automated people mover system at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
SalMar ASA

Frya, 27 October 2022

An extraordinary general meeting of SalMar ASA (SalMar) was held today on 27 October 2022. The extraordinary general meeting approved all items on the agenda, including the removal of the deadline for the merger between SalMar and Norway Royal Salmon ASA..

Minutes of the meeting is attached hereto and made available on the Company's website www.salmar.no . The merger plan for the merger is also available at the Companys website.

For further information, please contact:

Hakon Husby, Head of Investor Relations

Tel: +47 936 30 449

Email: hakon.husby@salmar.no

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

About SalMar

SalMar is one of the world's largest and most efficient producers of salmon. The Group has farming operations in Central Norway, Northern Norway and Iceland, as well as substantial harvesting and secondary processing operations in Norway, at InnovaMar in Frya, InnovaNor in Senja and Vikenco in Aukra. In addition, the company is operating within offshore aquaculture through the company SalMar Aker Ocean. SalMar also owns 50% of the shares in Scottish Sea Farms Ltd.

See www.salmar.no for more information about the company.

Important information:

The release is not for publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States (including its territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the District of Columbia) or any other jurisdiction where such publication or distribution would violate applicable laws or rules. This release is an announcement issued pursuant to legal information obligations and is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. It is issued for information purposes only and does not constitute a notice to a general meeting or a merger prospectus and as such, does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or purchase, or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities, in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"). The securities may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act. Copies of this announcement are not being made and may not be distributed or sent into Australia, Canada, Japan, the United States or any other jurisdiction where such distribution would violate applicable laws or rules. Neither SalMar ASA nor Norway Royal Salmon ASA, or any of their advisers assume any responsibility in the event there is a violation by any person of such restrictions. The distribution of this release may in certain jurisdictions be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this release comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

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No adviser of SalMar ASA or Norway Royal Salmon ASA is acting for anyone else than SalMar ASA or Norway Royal Salmon ASA, respectively, and will not be responsible to anyone other than such party providing the protections afforded to their respective clients or for providing advice in relation to any other matter referred to in this release.

Forward-looking statements:

This release and any materials distributed in connection with this release may contain certain forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Attachment




Stantec

UN effort aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent, and in every ocean

EDMONTON, Alberta and NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TSX, NYSE:STN



Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has been named a partner in the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, solidifying Stantecs position as one of the foremost global ecosystem restoration firms.

The UNs Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which runs 2021 through 2030, is a global compact signed by 70-plus countries. It aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems around the world. This effort also plays a critical role in achieving the UNs 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In support of this global call to action, the UN developed a partnership framework inclusive of eight participation categories. The UN partnership committee approved Stantecs application as an actor partner in that framework. Stantec is the first design and engineering firm to be named an actor partner by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration team.

Actor partners are private sector entities that develop restoration programs and advise, support, or facilitate restoration activities on the ground. Actor partners sign a declaration statement about adhering to the UN Decade on Restoration principles and are committed to several expectations outlined by the UN over the course of the decade, including serving on its Science Taskforce.

Its an honor to join with the UN to help restore ecosystems that are essential to addressing climate-change impacts, said Susan Reisbord, executive vice president for Stantecs Environmental Services business. Located throughout the world, our multidisciplinary ecosystem restoration teams are trusted technical advisors helping achieve our clients restoration goals at nearly any scale or location in the landscape.

Over its nearly 70-year history, Stantec has developed a large in-house team of more than 1,000 ecosystem restoration professionals worldwide including ecologists, restoration specialists, and technicians.

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Stantecs work has benefited both clients and communities through the restoration of:

More than 40,000 acres across North America, in over 50 states and provinces, and

More than 1,000 miles of rivers and streams across the globe

In its ecosystem restoration work, Stantec works with clients to reduce their carbon footprint by restoring forests and wetlands that sequester carbon, improve coastal resiliency through the restoration of estuaries and coastal wetlands, meet corporate sustainability goals through nature-based solutions, restore prairies and forests to create pollinator habitat, and meet mitigation needs and improve water quality and aquatic environments by restoring streams and wetlands.

About Stantec

Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. Thats why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we servebecause they're our communities too. This allows us to assess whats needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision whats never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

Were designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the initiative described above. Forward-looking statements also include any other statements that do not refer to historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. There is a risk that the initiative described above may be delayed, cancelled, suspended or terminated. This could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made in this news release. Except as may be required by law, Stantec undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of giving information about the initiative referred to above and their expected impact. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Media Contact Investor Contact Ashley Warnock Jess Nieukerk Stantec Media Relations Stantec Investor Relations Ph: (403) 472-0122 Ph: (587) 579-2086 ashley.warnock@stantec.com jess.nieukerk@stantec.com

Design with community in mind




Adroit Market Research

The report Healthcare Contract Management Software Market with COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Component (Consulting, Software, Services, Implementation, Support and Maintenance), Product, Display Size, Installation Location and Geography - Global Forecast to 2030.

Dallas, Texas, Oct. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The increasing use of cloud computing, investments made by market participants, digitization of the healthcare industry, and the need for operational efficiency are the main factors propelling the global healthcare contract management software market. Increasing regulatory compliance requirements, the need for cost-effective contract process automation solutions, and advancements in healthcare IT technology are some of the additional major drivers anticipated to drive market expansion in the years to come. Two major factors that are boosting the growth of the global market are the growing demand to maintain regulatory compliance and the growing desire to minimize operational expenses (while increasing the operational efficiency of healthcare organizations). In addition to product innovation, strategic alliances and collaboration have also fueled market expansion.

This report centers about the top players in global healthcare contract management software marketplace:

 Aaveneir

 Agiloft

 Apptus

 CLM Matrix

 CobbleStone Software Conga

 Concord

 ContractWorks

 ContractsWise

 Coupa

 Determine

 DocuSign

 IBM

 Icertis GEP

 HighQ JAGGAER

 SAP Ariba

 Synertrade

 Trackado and

 Zycus

Request for a sample report here: https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/1081

In recent years, it has been more important than ever to safeguard thorough contract documentation for all contracts in the contract repository and to improve contract lifecycle processes. This element is leading to considerable sales opportunities for businesses in the healthcare contract management software market. Likewise, it is anticipated that the healthcare contract management software industry would expand due to the rising requirement to cut operational expenses. A popular tool to help healthcare payers manage payments and claims processing more effectively is contract management software. Furthermore, healthcare payers are becoming more and more interested in lowering the risks associated with regulatory compliance. The healthcare contract management software industry is anticipated to be appealing to participants for each of these factors.

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Pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and makers of medical devices can all benefit from software that can properly handle their relationships with the healthcare industry. Additionally, it guarantees that the healthcare organization complies with stringent data compliance standards, which is a component of a healthcare contract management professional's regular responsibilities. The global healthcare contract management software market was valued at USD 968.3 million and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 24.6% in 2030, reaching USD 5167.29 million.

Software accounted for the highest share of components in 2021. End-users including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and payers are increasingly using healthcare contract management software, which is responsible for this.

Global Healthcare Contract Management Software Market

Metrics Details Base Year 2022 Historic Data 2020-2021 Forecast Period 2022-2030 Study Period 2020-2030 Revenue forecast in 2030 USD 5167.29 million Growth Rate CAGR of 24.6% during 2020-2030 Regions Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America

The subscription-based segment had the highest share in 2021. It is expected to rise rapidly over the next few years. Demand is anticipated to be high throughout the projection period as market participants offer unique subscription-based prices to fit clients' needs according to their budget and organization size.

Ask our Expert if You Have a Query at: https://www.adroitmarketresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/1081

The largest share over the projection period was held by North America. Government requirements like Meaningful Use (MU) and the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act, as well as the favourable reimbursement policies, are credited with the increase (HIPPA). The HIPPA statute is focused on ensuring the privacy and security of health information, including information in electronic health records. MU allows the electronic exchange of patient information, files claims electronically, and produces electronic records for patients (EHR). The market in this area is being driven by the existence of stringent regulatory standards and the demand for process efficiency.

To handle Moda Health's numerous provider agreements and to guarantee regulatory compliance, for instance, Icertis launched its Contract Intelligence (ICI) platform in September 2020. Icertis secured USD 80 million in Series F investment in March 2021. This increased the company's funding to a total of USD 280 million.

Table of content for global healthcare contract management software market:

1. Introduction

2. Research Methodology

3. Market Outlook

4. Competitive Landscape

o Company Ranking

o Market Share Analysis

o Strategic Initiatives

 Mergers & Acquisitions

 New Product Launch

 Others

5. by Component, 2018-2032 (USD Million)

 Software

 Services

 Consulting

 Implementation

 Support and Maintenance

6. Regional Overview, 2018-2032 (USD Million)

North America

 US

 Canada

Europe

 Germany

 France

 UK

 Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

 China

 India

 Japan

 Rest of Asia Pacific

South America

 Mexico

 Brazil

 Rest of South America

Middle East and South Africa

7. Company Profiles

8. Appendix

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Adroit Market Research is a global business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps.

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Among the participations were emigrants from Ukraine, the Kosovan and Slovakian Ambassadors to Israel, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Benjamin Netanyahu and Nir Barkat.

JERUSALEM, Oct. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight, Thursday, October 27, 2022, an event in support of the Ukrainian people was held at the Friends of Zion Media Center in Jerusalem.

A support event for the Ukrainian people in FOZ Jerusalem (Photo Credit: Yossi Zamir) (PRNewsfoto/Friends of Zion)

The event was attended by dozens of emigrants from Ukraine who made Aliya to Israel in recent months, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman; the Kosovan and Slovakian Ambassadors to Israel; Former Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat; and former Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Nir Barkat thanked Dr. Mike Evans and Michael Evans II, founder and president (respectively) of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center, for their work on behalf of the citizens of Ukraine. "Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, both Dr. Evans and Michael have been going to and from Ukraine, providing over 1400 tons of food, medicine, generators, and supplies for refugees in the war zones," Barkat said. "I believe that the State of Israel should stand by Ukraine along with the Western world, the USA and European countries."

Michael Evans II said, "When I see firsthand on the front lines the unspeakable pain that Ukrainian homeless refugees are experiencing, I know that what we are doing at Friends of Zion, as friends of the State of Israel, is so very important."

Dr. Mike Evans is the Founder of the Friends of Zion Heritage Center in Jerusalem, a number one best-selling author, and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee for a lifetime of combating antisemitism. He and his son Michael have been working in Ukraine for more than a decade, feeding hundreds of Holocaust survivors and Jewish orphans. In the last year, Evans has been assisting in bringing Ukrainian children and Holocaust survivors to Israel.

In Jerusalem, Evans built a community center for Ukrainian Holocaust survivors, and beautiful apartments for them at the Friends of Zion Heritage Center campus. In addition, Evans and his son feed several thousand Holocaust survivors each week in Israel, along with organizing parties and events for them, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies at the Kotel for Survivors who never had the chance to celebrate theirs. Evans also sponsored this year's Miss Holocaust Survivor beauty pageant, at the Friends of Zion campus.

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For inquiries, contact Tal Marom Spokesperson for FOZ tal@marompr.co.il

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1931916/Friends_of_Zion.jpg

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-support-event-for-the-ukrainian-people-was-held-today-at-the-media-center-of-the-friends-of-zion-museum-in-jerusalem-301661859.html

SOURCE Friends of Zion
ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse has taken measures to reduce risks and improve its capital situation, Swiss banking supervisor FINMA said on Thursday after the bank unveiled a sweeping overhaul.

"It is clear that FINMA will continue to monitor that all the supervisory requirements are met during the implementation phase of the new strategy," it said in an emailed statement in response to a Reuters query.

Credit Suisse had said earlier that it had experienced significantly higher withdrawals of deposits in the first two weeks of October "following negative press and social media coverage based on incorrect rumors". These outflows had since stabilized to much lower levels.

"While these outflows have partially utilized liquidity buffers at the Group and legal entity level, and we have fallen below certain legal entity-level regulatory requirements, the core requirements of the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) at the Group level have been maintained at all times," the bank said.

Asked about the liquidity situation, FINMA said: "The general principle is that (liquidity) buffers are there to be used in appropriate situations. That is precisely why they are built up. And that is what the legislator intended them to be used for.

"It is clear that a credible plan must exist for how the buffers can be replenished within a reasonable period."

(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Noele Illien)
(Adds Energy Pacific LNG) Oct 25 (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 Bilbao Knutsen 136,000 Oct. 25 Peru Dragon 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 Kmarin Diamond 152,000 Nov. 18 Malta South Hook BELGIUM Aamira 261,000 Oct. 24 (A) Qatar Zeebrugge Nikolay Urvantsev 169,000 Oct. 25 N/A Zeebrugge Umm Al Amad 206,000 Oct. 27 Qatar Zeebrugge Gaslog HongKong 174,000 Oct. 29 United States Zeebrugge Maran Gas Troy 157,000 Nov. 4 Qatar Zeebrugge Energy Pacific LNG 173,000 Nov. 11 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS LNG Schneeweisschen 177,000 Oct. 24 (A) Unites States Gate Flex Vigilant 174,000 Oct. 26 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 Transgas Force 174,000 Nov. 28 United States Eemshaven Sources: Ports, AIS Live ship tracking, Refinitiv Eikon data. (^) Partial unload (*) Arrival date estimated based on flows data (Reporting by Nina Chestney)
Jerry Ryals lost his job, became estranged from his wife and was shunned in his community after being charged for his role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Now the Trump supporter from Fort Gibson is losing his freedom.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered him to spend nine months in prison and pay $2,000 in restitution for his role in the attack. No appeal is planned.

"Mr. Ryals feels and expressed sincere remorse for his actions on Jan. 6 and has already suffered considerable consequences as a result of his felony conviction," his attorney, Jay Mykytiuk, said after the sentencing last week in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Jerry Ryals posed for this photo after breaking into an office at the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors told a judge in a memo for his sentencing last week.

"Mr. Ryals engaged in no advance planning and no acts of physical violence, and his sentence appears inconsistent with others who engaged in activities similar to his," the attorney said. "That being said, at this point there does not seem to be a basis for appeal, and it is unlikely that one will be filed. Mr. Ryals plans to serve his sentence and then move on with his life."

Ryals, 28, pleaded guilty in May to a charge of civil disorder.

He acknowledged during his guilty plea that his actions "impeded and interfered" with police efforts to protect the Capitol.

They are tear gassing, throwing flash bangs, pepper spray, but we will not concede, he said in a video from the bottom of the Capitol steps before going inside.

In another video, he said, We definitely have enough people to overthrow this (expletive). They dont stand a (expletive) chance. ... Were working our way in slowly but surely.

Once inside, he and others used their shoulders to break through a locked door and enter an office after he tried to use an entrance sign as a battering ram, according to surveillance video. "The office the rioters entered was, thankfully, unoccupied," prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. "While inside, Ryals took a photo of himself enjoying a seat."

Story continues

Ryals acknowledged in May he was in the first time for 10 to 15 minutes, went back inside a second time but was forced out and then went inside a third time for about 30 minutes.

Capitol police fired pepper balls at rioters during his second time inside, hitting him in the shoulder.

The next day, Ryals posted on Facebook that he and other patriots "reclaimed our Capitol."

"It is our responsibility to handle this at all costs. We are not animals, we are not barbarians, we are the heart of this country and the last ones to stand up for your freedom," he wrote. "#GodBlessAmerica."

Prosecutors told the judge in the sentencing memo that "each rioter's actions were illegal and contributed, directly or indirectly to the violence and destruction that day." They had asked the judge to give Ryals six months in prison.

"Jerry Ryals participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol  a violent attack that forced an interruption of the certification of the 2020 Electoral College vote count, threatened the peaceful transfer of power after the 2020 Presidential election, injured more than one hundred law enforcement officers, and resulted in more than 2.7 million dollars in losses," they told the judge.

His attorney told the judge in a sentencing memo that Ryals drove from Oklahoma with two like-minded friends to hear then-President Donald Trump speak.

"He believed his President, who told him that the election was stolen from him. He was given permission by his President to walk down the street to the Capitol and show his discontent. He was surrounded by those who believed as he did, that their cause was righteous."

With Ryals in Washington, D.C., was his then-boss, Anthony Alfred Griffith Sr., who operates an electrical business in Fort Gibson.

In this photo, Anthony Alfred Griffith Sr., at left, is seen inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Ryals is now pursing his electrician's license with a new employer, his attorney revealed in the sentencing memo.

The attorney also told the judge Ryals "lost his wife," and many in his community have shunned him. Ryals, an avid hunter, also is prohibited from possession of a firearm because of his conviction and can no longer vote, "a right he cherished deeply," the attorney wrote in the memo.

Ryals originally was charged last year with five different counts. Those have been dismissed.

Griffith, 58, also went inside the Capitol, the FBI alleges. He is scheduled for trial in March in Washington, D.C., on four misdemeanor counts.

Griffith told the FBI that he witnessed people trying to break down a door of the Capitol and first went inside "because he thought the Capitol police were letting people in," according to a court affidavit. He told the FBI he went in a second time and took pictures.

More than 900 people have been arrested during the ongoing investigation of the riot that delayed the formal counting of the Electoral College votes that had Joe Biden winning the presidential election. Nine have been from Oklahoma.

Ryals is the second Oklahoman to be sentenced to incarceration. He will be on supervised release for three years after getting out.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Trump supporter sentenced to prison for role in Capitol riot
If the medical experts are right, you might want to stock up on Kleenex and aspirin because it could be a sneezy, runny-nose kind of winter.

With the flu, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and the latest strain of COVID floating through the air (not to mention the common cold), this may be the winter you want to hide out on some isolated desert island.

But are these three the only culprits? My 11-year-old granddaughter has been sick for nearly a week, and she tested negative for all the above. Still, she had all the classic symptoms: headache, 103-degree fever, sneezing, runny nose, no appetite.

Whatever this stuff is, it is hitting kids hard. According to news reports, about 1,000 students were absent at Stafford High School last Friday. Thats a lot of sick kids.

Half my granddaughters fifth grade class was absent Monday and 11 of 15 fifth graders at one area private school (as well as about 25 percent of the teachers) were also sick that day. The private school closed for at least two days.

During a recent visit to an urgent care, the nurse told me that the office had been swamped with flu cases. This is early for that pestilence. Flu usually hits hard in January, February and even March. In fact, many doctors dont recommend getting the flu shot until late November to make sure you are protected for any late winter barrage.

Not this year. The flu is starting early and Im getting my shot this week. Im not taking any chances. Yes, the flu shot only has a 50 percent chance of protecting you against this seasons most prevalent strain of the virus, but thats better than no protection at all.

The Omicron strain of the COVID has been rearing its ugly head lately. A month ago, I came down with it and was in the bed for almost four days. Even for the vaccinated and boosted, that stuff packs a wallop and I still get worn out after four or five hours of physical labor. And the head congestion just wont go away.

Yes, everybody from kids to older adults seems to be getting some kind of respiratory virus this fall. As I said, get your supply of Kleenex before there is a shortage.

In retrospect, this sickly winter was bound to happen, and I even foresaw this outbreak in a column almost two years ago. It was easily predictable that children would be hit hardest.

Why? Because kids have been masked up for almost two and a half years. Meanwhile, the flu and other viruses have been out there lurking, just waiting for those masks to come off so they can find a host.

Kids like my granddaughter usually bring home some childhood virus every school year. Each one helps build up their immunity to the next so that by the time they reach adulthood their body has at least some resistance to all but the most virulent strains.

For almost three years during the COVID outbreak, kids wore masks at school and some parents kept children away from stores and highly congested areas.

This year the masks came off and kids  and adults, for that matter  returned to their pre-COVID routines. Now all the viruses we didnt get during the pandemic are seeking us out. And because of masking, we have a lower resistance to germs and viruses.

Should we mask up again this winter? If we do, well just delay contracting those viruses another year. They arent going away and the quicker we build immunity to them the sooner society will get back to normal.

Yes, almost three years later (COVID began in November 2019 in China) we are still dealing with this virus and its after-effects. COVID will not go away.

Thanks to flu, RSV, COVID and the common cold. It may be a long, sneezy, feverish, runny-nose winter.

The old folks always said a good snow would kill germs. If thats the case, we need a blizzard.
Thirteen people, most of them residents of Colonial Beach, were arrested this week as the result of a nearly yearlong investigation into drug distribution in Westmoreland County, police said.

Westmoreland Sheriff C.O. Balderson said the Tri-County Drug Task Force conducted investigation. The task force includes narcotics detectives from Westmoreland, King George, Caroline, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Virginia State Police.

Nearly all of those arrested are accused of dealing varying amounts of cocaine, except for one suspect charged with distributing N-ethylpentylone and one woman charged only with obstruction of justice. One cocaine suspect was already in jail when the warrants were served.

Balderson said police also have warrants for five other people who had not been apprehended as of Thursday.

Charged with cocaine-related offenses are: Donnie Bullock III, 24, Clifton D. Foster, 51, Dorrell M. Gray, 42, Wayne H. Johnson, 68, Wayne M. Shanklin, 63, Phylis A. Smith, 67, Demarco O. Smith, 21, and Earl Sylvester Turner, 65, all of Colonial Beach; Lamtilva L. Crawley, 31, of Kinsale; Daniel R. Fulcher, 61, of Hague; and Warren A. Mahoney, 62, of Mt. Holly.

Jessica N. Hahn, 37, is charged with distributing N-ethylpentylone and Manana C. Morton, 24, of Colonial Beach is charged with obstructing justice.

Balderson said money, drugs and related paraphernalia were seized during the arrests.
Nearly 60 acres of forest and wetlands were officially added to Crows Nest Natural Area Preserve during a Wednesday morning ceremony held at a clearing in the woods in Stafford County.

Travis Voyles, acting secretary of natural history and resources, told the guests while Gov. Glenn Youngkin is working to grow Virginia, conservation plays an important role.

Conservation efforts in this area of the commonwealth are very critical, Voyles said. The continued growth that we see in this area is important, but its also important that we balance that with continued conservation efforts and I think this is a perfect example of that.

Dubbed the Accokeek Bottomlands, the heavily wooded parcel lies on the west side of Raven Road and runs parallel to the same creek its named after.

The Bowling family previously owned the land.

It just appealed to us to keep it intact, said Karen BowlingBarth, daughter of the original owner. To let it stay the way it was, it seemed better to have it where someone else down the line can go and see the naturalness of it.

Alan Rowsome, executive director of the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust, said the Bowling familys decision to make the parcel available to Crows Nest also prevented residential sprawl from popping up close to the southern Stafford wildlife preserve.

If it werent for their generosity and their willingness to work with us to get a deal done, we wouldnt be here and that property right next to Crows Nest would be, potentially, a good number of large home units, Rowsome said.

Rowsome said portions of the 59-acre acquisition will eventually be incorporated into the preserves network of walking trails by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.

That continues to be the plan, Rowsome said. Some of the trail structure is going to go over the road now and give you some different opportunities, but (DCR) is going to take some time to get it all planned out right.

Matthew Wells, director of the DCR, said the purpose of his organization is to preserve the best examples of the states unique biodiversity.

Our total preserve system now totals 60,268 acres, which makes it one of the largest and certainly one of the most biodiverse state preserve systems in the United States, Wells said.

The DCR originally eyed the Bowling parcel in its long-range plans as a way to help maintain the natural view along the Crows Nest peninsula corridor. DCR asked the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust to help acquire the land through loans and grants.

Our involvement in this process was to really make sure that we could acquire this property quickly when the Bowlings were ready to move forward with the real estate transaction, Rowsome said.

BowlingBarth said the events leading up to her fathers acquisition of the bottomland property began around 1950, when her father was running a sawmill in the same forest thats today called Crows Nest. He and his family lived with two additional families in a two-story house that once stood on the property. Eight to 10 loggers who worked at the Bowling family sawmill also lived in the house, which didnt have many modern-day features.

A census taker came by one day and asked my Dad if he had running water, BowlingBarth said. He said yes, about a mile down that way.

BowlingBarth said about 10 years after her father came to Stafford, he purchased the 59 acres that was dedicated Wednesday.

He logged Crows Nest, BowlingBarth said. He spent several years logging that.

Accokeek Bottomlands boasts the largest tulip poplar within the Crows Nest Natural Area Preserve. It has an impressive base of about 7 feet in diameter.

The tulip poplar is incredible, and its pretty much worth going to see, Rowsome said. Over time, I think theyll be able to interpret the trail to probably go near that tulip poplar and allow people to see it.

The densely wooded parcel also holds a small man-made pond, a small private beachfront area along Accokeek Creek and the site where another old lodging structure once stood.

BowlingBarth said her father would drive to Beaverdam on Mondays to bring back workers who remained at that lodge until their return trip home on Fridays. Although that structure was demolished almost 20 years ago, BowlingBarth said a pile of beer, wine and whiskey bottles still remain nearby.

Opened in 2008, Crows Nest features nearly 900 acres of wetlands loaded with countless species of fish and over 2,000 acres of mature coastal plain and hardwood forest. About 60 species of migratory songbirds live in the area that can be enjoyed along 8 miles of wooded walking trails on land that once played a historic role in early American history.

Wednesdays acquisition of Accokeek Bottomlands brings the size of Crows Nest Natural Area Preserve to 3,115 acres. The bottomlands will protect habitat for several populations of rare plants, waterfowl, migratory birds, bald eagles and great blue herons.

Two years ago, the great blue heron nesting site at Crows Nest nearly tripled in size with a 113-acre acquisition by the NVCT. Grants and donations helped the Annandale-based group secure funds to purchase the wetlands adjacent to the 70-acre Potomac Creek heronry.

Stafford is another partner in preserving Crows Nest. Just over three years ago, the county transferred 123 acres to the DCR to serve as a buffer area for Crows Nests Potomac Creek heronry.

The Crows Nest peninsula still has about 30 small, privately owned parcels that Rowsome said he would eventually like to see incorporated into the preserve. He said those parcels are remnants of the once-anticipated Crows Nest Harbour subdivision that was first approved by Stafford supervisors in 1973 but never developed. Since the Crows Nest preserve was created, most Crows Nest Harbour lot owners transferred their development rights, but some lots remain as holdouts or cannot be transferred for other reasons.

People live far and wide now and thats an interesting story trying to find them all, trying to see what their price would be to acquire them, Rowsome said. Youve got second- and third-generation people that have these lots in wills and estates. They dont even know they exist or now live 2,000 miles away.

Visit nvct.org or dcr.virginia.gov for more information.
Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi has signed a three-year agreement with Safeen Group, the marine arm of AD Ports Group, for operation, management and maintenance of a marine research vessel to be launched by EAD this year.

The deal was signed in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EAD.

Sheikh Hamdan also witnessed the signing of three agreements between EAD and UAE University, Khalifa University and Abu Dhabi University, that will see the three co-operate in research and development and the support for the vessels environmental mission.-TradeArabia News Service
Spotsylvania School Board member Nicole Cole on Wednesday filed a complaint with the county Circuit Court asking a judge to prevent the installation of Mark Taylor as division superintendent.

Her complaint is separate from the lawsuit attorney Charles King filed earlier this month in Richmond Circuit Court on behalf of Cole and another Spotsylvania parent. That petition asks the court to void the superintendent's license issued to Taylor by the state Board of Education.

"Plaintiff's central argument is the Board of Education either overlooked or ignored the licensing requirements contained in [Virginia Administrative Code section] 8VAC-390-10, which requires all division superintendents to have five years of satisfactory full-time administrative or supervisory experience in public schools," King wrote in a letter accompanying the complaint filed Wednesday. "Mr. Taylor cannot satisfy this requirement."

King said Wednesday that he expects a hearing on the request to be scheduled "in a few days."

Taylor is set to begin the job Nov. 1, according to the contract he and School Board Chair Kirk Twigg signed last month.
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While it seems like Hollywood is releasing a new superhero film every other month, its rare that we get to see the antihero in the lead role. Such is the case in Black Adam, based on the DC Comics character who is far from a knight in shining armor.

The film begins over 5,000 years ago in Middle Eastern-like Kahndaq. Teth-Adam (Dwayne Johnson) is a former slave turned champion who receives his powers from the Council of Wizards, as hes deemed worthy. Those whove seen Shazam will notice the similarities here.

The problem with Teth-Adam is, hes not one to negotiate with his enemies. He kills first and asks questions later.

Needless to say, as punishment for abusing his powers, the wizards hold him captive with no intentions of ever letting him free.

Now in present day Kahndaq, its more of a metropolitan city, but it still has its issues. The city is being overtaken by a crime organization known as the Intergang.

Adrianna (Sarah Shahi), a freedom-fighter and professor seeking a better life for her and her son Amon (Bodhi Sabongui), is in search of the fabled Crown of Sabbac. In the wrong hands, or more specifically in the hands of the Intergang, could lead to the complete destruction of Kahndaq.

While Adrianna finds the crown, she also releases Teth-Adam from his 5,000-year prison sentence. Teth-Adam takes care of several members of the Intergang tailing Adrianna and Amon, and his new mission in life is to protect his rescuers at all costs.

This is admirable in a sense, but not everyone sees it that way. From stage left enters the Justice Society of America that includes: Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Doctor Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) and Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell). Someone as powerful as Teth-Adam, who destroys anyone who gets in his way, doesnt exactly fit the JSAs code of conduct.

In order to stop the Intergangs leader, Ishmael (Marwan Kenzari), from wearing the Crown of Sabbac and taking his self-righteous place as a demonic tyrant of Kahndaq, Teth-Adam and the JSA will need to find common ground of some kind. Otherwise, Ishamel and the Intergang will ensure there is nothing left to fight over.

In many ways, Black Adam is the character Johnson was born to play, as the ex-wrestler and Hollywood star looks the part arguably more than any actor weve ever seen in a superhero film.

In other ways, though, its a dramatic turn for Johnson. His Black Adam character is stoic, fierce and hardly cracks a smile throughout the entirety of the film.

Then again, this is a DC product. Its dark, bleak and the humor is scarce. For some, it will be a bore to sit through. For others, it will be an action-packed CGI extravaganza with the volume turned up to 100.

With beloved characters scattered throughout the film, including a mesmerizing Doctor Fate by an impressive Brosnan, the film will fly by as fast as Black Adam himself. And many wont be able to contain themselves with a mid-credits scene setting up an exciting future for the franchise.

Having plenty of action, fan-service layered everywhere and a solid origin story, Black Adam does the job it set out to do. While it may not soar to the sky, it will entertain the masses and leave the smiling to them as opposed to the titular antihero.

Grade: B+
No one was injured in an early morning fire at a Fremont apartment complex and a fire official is grateful for a sprinkler system which extinguished it.

Fremont firefighters were dispatched at 4:09 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, after an automatic alarm activated at the Cambridge Apartment complex, 2425 N. Buckingham Road. The complex is north of 23rd Street.

Minutes after the call, fire crews were alerted that sprinklers were activated and possible victims were trapped.

When they arrived, firefighters learned that everyone in the 24-unit complex had evacuated, said Lt. Terry Luthy II, acting captain.

They were able to get out of the doorway without any injuries, Luthy said. Everybody went to their cars before we got there and were sitting in their cars once they realized there was smoke in the building.

Firefighters saw smoke through windows in a stairwell hallway.

When the first crew made entry, they had light smoke and as they went up the smoke got thicker, Luthy said.

Firefighters went upstairs to a third floor apartment, where the fire had started in a couch.

Luthy said the sprinkler system had extinguished the fire in the couch by the time firefighters arrived.

Thankfully, there was a sprinkler system that was able to contain the fire and keep it under control, Luthy said. Had that not been there, we would have had a pretty large fire. The sprinkler system did its job.

Luthy believes people in two apartments were displaced. Fire crews also removed a dog with no apparent injuries from the building.

The American Red Cross was called to help the displaced apartment residents.

Fremont Fire Command indicated that an electronic device charging cord appears to have caused the fire.

The Nebraska State Fire Marshal determined the fire to be accidental in nature.

Damage and loss from the incident is estimated at $50,000.

Luthy said seven on-duty firefighters responded. Firefighters from A and B shifts were called back. Midwest Medical answered a rescue call at another location while the incident at the apartment was occurring.
Downtown Fremont businesses saw a record turnout for Halloween Hysteria, which took place Oct. 20.

I have spoken with several business participants, and they are estimating between 2,500 and 4,000 people were downtown for the annual Halloween Hysteria hosted by MainStreet of Fremont, said Sam Heineman, MainStreet board member in a press release. Many believe this was the best turnout the event has ever had.

Downtown streets were lined with people dressed in Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating at numerous businesses passing out candy.

Participants also included the Fremont Police Department, the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Fremont Rural Fire Department.

Melissa Powell, MainStreet executive director, extended her thanks to downtown businesses that participated in the event.

It is a significant commitment of time and resources, Powell said. The record turnout was wonderful to see.

Powell expressed appreciation to the Downtown Business Improvement District and the Dodge County Convention and Visitors Bureau, who provided additional funding for the event and which she said allowed MainStreet to spend more on promoting the event than in previous years.

She appreciated the partnership with Dodge County hosted Spooky Alley at the courthouse during the event.

Fremont Mayor Joey Spellerberg and his family attended the event.

It was wonderful to see the downtown filled with people, Spellerberg said. I know between my three girls and their group of friends, there were lots of smiles that night as they walked around.

Spellerberg said the cooperation between Dodge County and MainStreet of Fremont shows what can be done when people work together. He thanked the Fremont Police Department, Fremont Rural Fire Department for setting up the event, as well as the Dodge County Sheriffs Office for providing the Spooky Alley.
First Company Theatre at First United Methodist Church will present "Wait Until Dark," the 1966 play that inspired the 1967 thriller film starring Audrey Hepburn. In it, a recently-blinded woman must fight back against three thugs who come after a diamond-stuffed doll she's innocently obtained.
Democrats held leads in three of the four seats up for grabs on the State Board of Education this year as of 9 p.m. on Election Day.
Colorado's insurance premiums will increase by double digits in the small group pool and by a substantial amount in the individual market next year, rate changes the state released on Tuesday show, leading the trade association for health insurers to argue that the Polis administration "chose politics over math.
Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden), the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East, is one of the largest purchasers of carbon credits from the first Mena Voluntary Carbon Market auction.

The auction, the largest in the world, was held at the 6th edition of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh.

The auction offered high-quality Corsia-compliant and Verra-registered carbon credits, with 15 Saudi and regional entities participating in the sale.

Meaningful reductions

Commenting on the milestone, Robert Wilt, CEO of Maaden, said: As the world moves towards net zero, we need to do our part to ensure meaningful emission reductions in value chains. We are proud to support this world-leading initiative by Saudi Arabia, which reiterates the nations commitment to net zero ambitions.

Wilt continued: Maaden is committed to being an ESG leader in the kingdom as the mining industry grows in prominence and becomes a key player in powering the energy transition. We will continue to decarbonise our operations as we seek to build the mining industry into the third pillar of Saudi economy, in line with Vision 2030.

Key strides

Maaden has made significant strides in its efforts to decarbonise its operations, with the goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Other initiatives include a commitment to build the worlds largest solar process steam plant in Ras Al Khair, which will reduce Maadens emissions by 600,000 tonnes annually, and a commitment to plant 20 million trees by 2040 to contribute to the Saudi Green Initiative. Maaden has planted over 3 million trees since 2013.-- TradeArabia News Service
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.
A judge on Thursday ruled that a man accused of killing and raping a homeless woman will undergo an evaluation to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

Gregory Alan Whittemore's defense attorney, Shimon Kohn, requested for the evaluation to take place at the state hospital rather than at jail because he argued it would be a better environment to determine competency.

Kohn also noted that Whittemore, 39, had been found incompetent to stand trial in previous court cases, but did not elaborate on which ones.

The Gazette previously reported that Whittemore has a history of violent sexual assault and criminal activity in numerous states.

He told police he is a convicted sex offender and was on parole for a case involving the attempted murder of a female in 2012 in Colorado Springs. According to online court records, Whittemore was charged with a slew of violent assault and sexual assault counts in connection with that case and was convicted of fourth-degree felony sexual assault.

Sometime during court proceedings in that case, Whittemore escaped to Mount Pleasant, S.C., in 2016 as a wanted sex offender and was found living out of his car with a 16-year-old runaway girl, according to reporting by the Post and Courier in Charleston.

The newspaper reported that Whittemore had brought the girl, who at the time was listed in the National Crime Information Center as a missing person from Colorado, across the country and encouraged her to "break into several motor vehicles at multiple locations and steal items" as well as use stolen credit cards around Mount Pleasant.

On Oct. 10, police responded to a call from Whittemore's roommate that there was a body in the garage of their residence in the 500 block of Erie Road near Memorial Park in Colorado Springs.

The body, which was found in a storage container in the back of the garage, was identified as 27-year-old Allison Scarfone. According to an affidavit, Whittemore told his roommate he met Scarfone and offered her clothes because she was homeless, but the interaction turned hostile when she began to accuse him of being a "rapist."

Whittemore then reportedly choked the woman, who called him a rapist again after she recovered, the affidavit said. This "triggered" him and sent him "into a rage" that led him to hit Scarfone, cut her clothes off, then rape and suffocate her, arrest records state.

Court records show Whittemore is facing 10 charges in Scarfone's death, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault and sexual assault. If convicted of the first-degree murder charge, Whittemore would be sentenced to life in prison.

Following Judge Monica Gomez's ruling for the competency evaluation, a review hearing was scheduled for Jan. 19 to discuss the status of the evaluation.

If Whittemore is found incompetent to stand trial, he will be treated at the state hospital until his competency is restored, Gomez said.

Whittemore is being held in the El Paso County jail without bond.
Colorado Springs police are hosting a drug takeback day at four locations. Takeback day is a joint effort with the Drug Enforcement Administration on Saturday.

The public is welcome to stop by the following locations between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.:

 Police Operations Center, 705 S. Nevada Ave.

 University of Colorado Memorial Hospital North, 4050 Briargate Parkway.

 Security Fire Station 1, 400 Security Blvd.

 King Soopers, 7915 Constitution Ave.

This effort is the DEAs response to the drug overdose epidemic, according to a news release, which is a public health, public safety and national security threat. Removing unneeded medications from homes is one safety measure everybody can take in preventing medication misuse and addiction.
An El Paso County judge on Wednesday set a 2023 trial date for David Mitchell, the man accused of killing his wife in Colorado Springs and driving her body to the county jail before turning himself in.

Mitchell, 51, is scheduled to face a jury trial on Feb. 6. He has entered a not guilty plea to the single charge of first-degree murder that he faces.

However, Mitchell's attorney, David Donnelly, told Judge Erin Sokol that he was still in talks over a potential plea agreement with the prosecution.

Donnelly suggested that a new plea hearing and sentencing date could be scheduled in the coming weeks.

If no plea deal comes to fruition, Mitchell will return to court next on Dec. 21 for a motions hearing.

Mitchell is accused of killing his estranged wife, Melody Horton, after disputes over money caused him to be "stressed," according to an affidavit.

On June 24, Mitchell picked up Horton, 44, under the ruse of taking her to pay off their phone bill together, the affidavit said. Instead, moments after picking her up in his car, Mitchell shot her several times, killing her, according to police reports.

Mitchell then drove himself and Horton's body to the El Paso County jail, where he initially planned to kill himself in the parking lot to ensure their bodies would be found, according to the affidavit.

However, when Mitchell arrived he decided to walk inside the jail and turn himself in, reports said. Police records indicate Mitchell told deputies he "could not muster the courage to shoot himself."

Mitchell remains in El Paso County jail with no possibility of bond. If found guilty of the first-degree murder charge, Mitchell will be given a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
Sabic, a global leader in the chemical industry, will introduce a thinner gauge of its Elcres HTV150A dielectric film at the PCIM Asia Conference 2022 being held from October 26-27 in Shanghai, China.



This new product can be used for capacitors in the traction inverters, onboard chargers and electrical compressors of hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles (xEV).



The 3-micron (m) film is 40 percent thinner than Sabics previously announced 5 m film, enabling further volume and weight reductions and greater design flexibility through enhanced energy density for the capacitor. Like the 5 m Elcres HTV150A film, this exceptionally thin film maintains stable performance at high operating temperatures up to 150C and addresses the critical performance gap experienced by traditional polypropylene (PP) films above 135C.



This new level of thermal performance helps customers increase the adoption of SiC power modules, improving inverter efficiency. A smaller package size with a thinner gauge film reduces weight while providing improved performance such as range and acceleration desired by xEV consumers.



Sabic will conduct an oral presentation at the PCIM Asia Conference 2022 titled, Reliability Evaluation of New Generation High Temperature Capacitor Films for Inverter Applications, which is part of the Packaging and Reliability session. Yuan Zhou, lead scientist, Technology & Innovation, Sabic, China, will present on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 12: 20 pm in conference room 2F201.



When we launched the five-micron Elcres HTV150A film last year, we committed to develop thinner gauges to meet requirements for different capacitor voltages  and weve delivered on that pledge, said Greg Stoddard, technical director, Resins and New Chemistries, Sabic.



Our new three-micron film can help customers design smaller package sizes that potentially avoid the use of active cooling systems associated with films that perform at lower temperatures. As OEMs design electric and hybrid vehicles to operate at specific voltages, the new three-micron film can help with differentiation by providing tailored properties. Segmentation of voltage performance aids automakers to match capacitor performance to the needs of different vehicles in their product lines.



Higher temperatures, thinner gauges

Elcres HTV150A dielectric film is the first capacitor film in the industry to be engineered for stable performance at operating temperatures of -40C to 150C and frequencies up to 100 kHz, while offering stable capacitance, high insulation resistance and good dielectric performance (dielectric constant (Dk) of 2.9, dissipation factor (Df) of 0.0017).



Other key properties include high breakdown strength over the full temperature range, good self-healing and excellent adhesion to aluminium and zinc. The film has been validated by customers for use with both film-foil and metalized electrodes. Capacitors built with 3 m and 5 m metalized films pass standard electrical and life tests at 150C for 2,000 hours with low capacitance change and stable insulation resistance.  TradeArabia News Service
Shipsy will showcase how businesses in Saudi Arabia are leveraging its platform to reduce carbon emissions by shrinking distance travelled per package, making miles greener and optimising logistics costs at Seamless KSA 2022.

At the event from November 2 to 3, Shipsy, a leading smart logistics management technology provider, will showcase how its platform enables businesses in the region to deliver on skyrocketing online delivery demands and expedite digital transformation goals by scaling and optimising end-to-end logistics operations.

KSA remains a crucial market for Shipsy. The region accounts for over 40% of logistical activity in the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). However, due to the current supply chain challenges, theres a growing need for businesses to embrace mission-critical logistics solutions. This is where Shipsy comes in.

Real-time logistics visibility

At Seamless KSA 2022, we will demonstrate how businesses globally are leveraging AI, ML and automation to reduce their carbon footprint by minimising miles traveled, using eco-friendly delivery means, increasing delivery success rates and gaining real-time logistics visibility, says Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-founder, Shipsy.

According to the Ecommerce Survey, the market in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow by 23.85% annually to reach $17.5 billion in 2022. This growth in the eCommerce sector will significantly intensify logistics activities in KSA, especially in the last-mile, resulting in growing trip volumes and miles traveled per package. Hence, increasing the carbon footprint of delivery activities.

Embracing a smart logistics management platform can efficiently address this concern. Such a platform can easily prioritise greener means of executing deliveries, like EVs and bicycles. Its advanced route planning and optimising capabilities significantly reduce miles traveled per package and boost delivery productivity. It also enhances the accuracy of customer location and improves communication between rider and consumer to reduce fuel consumption by increasing first-attempt delivery success. By accurately identifying non-delivery reasons, it drastically mitigates return-to-origin events, further reducing miles travelled and emissions.

Eliminate RTO instances

A smart logistics management platform empowers businesses to eliminate RTO instances by 18%, boost deliveries per rider by 14%, shrink last-mile delivery costs by 14%, reduce customer complaints by 28%, curb distance travelled by 5%, boost vehicle capacity utilisation by 31% and decrease trip volumes by 6%.

Businesses can easily commit to driving a change by utilising AI-powered tools to build sustainable logistics practices. Moreover, this also enables businesses to increase their delivery productivity and keep and keep a check on carbon emissions. By reducing fuel consumption and manual interventions, businesses can reap fantastic economic benefits too, says Chokshi.

To catch Shipsys smart logistics management platform in action and understand how its empowering businesses to expedite logistics sustainability goals and optimise delivery costs, meet their experts at Booth R60.-- TradeArabia News Service
Reporter

Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism.
For dinosaur museum curator Anthony Maltese, a quarter-century spent scouring thousands of miles of fossil fields in the American West had yie
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.
A federal judge is contemplating whether to allow Garfield County and a group of Glenwood Springs residents to proceed with their lawsuit against the federal agency that manages public lands, which allegedly has allowed illegal mining to occur for years at a quarry near the city.
commercetools, a global leader in next-generation digital commerce solutions, will show how modern, flexible eCommerce technologies facilitate business growth at Seamless Saudi Arabia 2022 from November 2 to 3.

The creator of the term headless commerce commercetools can assist businesses in improving their eCommerce platforms, in response to the increasing customer demands.

The companys participation at the conference, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh, will be in line with the expansion of the eCommerce industry in the region. A thought leader and prominent speaker, Ahmed Rashed, Commerce Lead Mena at commercetools, will also share his insights at one of the panel discussions, titled Offering a Seamless Commerce Experience: Catering to the Needs and Interests of Your Online Visitors with Modern Commerce.

eCommerce growth

According to reports, The Saudi Arabia eCommerce market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12.56% during the forecast period 2022-2027, as more online businesses are stepping into the country. This growth can be attributed to various factors like rising usage of smartphones, social media, and internet consumption. Similarly, the nation's B2C eCommerce Gross Merchandise Value, estimated at $14.1 billion in 2021, is also projected to increase to $31.7 billion by 2026.

Rashed said: This is a great opportunity for us to establish our mark in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia markets, as eCommerce businesses are thriving, and consumer demands have increased. Today, businesses place a high value on meeting customer needs and delivering seamless experiences. This gives us the perfect setting to present our solutions and raise awareness about the cutting-edge technologies required to help them operate more effectively and accelerate their business growth. Moreover, we believe Seamless Saudi Arabia will give us the chance to network with potential clients, and we look forward to contributing our ideas to the conference and forming new and effective alliances.-- TradeArabia News Service
Halloween is designed to be scary sometimes, but the fact children are more than twice as likely to be hit and killed by a car that day is truly frightening.

Still, there are dozens of things parents can do to help ensure their kids have a fun and safe Halloween.

Dr. Bryan Taylor, a family medicine physician at MercyOne Medical Center of North Iowa, and the National Safety Council are here with some commonsense tips.

Taylor said there are guidelines for the age children can generally be trusted to trick-or-treat on their own.

"Kids over 12 can go trick-or-treating on their own, but parents should always use their judgment," he said. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

If those older kids do head out on their own, be sure to have a route planned out that avoids highways and busy streets. Agree on a time to return home by and tell them never to enter a stranger's vehicle or home. Also, stay on the sidewalk and only cross the street at crosswalks.

It's also important that costumes be visible when it gets dark outside. In fact, getting that yummy candy while it's still light out is a better way to avoid a potential accident.

"One of the big things that can help is incorporating reflective material into your costume," Taylor said. "If you're not able to do that, then doing things like making sure kids have flashlights or glow sticks, something to make them more visible to any drivers."

The National Safety Council also recommends using face paint instead of masks to increase range of vision and making sure all costumes, wigs and accessories are fire resistant.

Staying safe isn't just the responsibility of kids and parents. The National Safety Council urges drivers to watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs. Enter and exit driveways and alleys carefully, and encourage young or inexperienced drivers to stay off the road.

Taylor said once that bag of treats makes it home parents should inspect each piece and throw away any suspicious items, especially if the wrapper looks to have been opened or tampered with. It's also not healthy to binge on the candy.

"It's trick-or-treating, it's a lot of candy," he said. "But really you should only be eating the same amount of sweet treats as any other time of the year."

Taylor suggested giving children the amount of candy the parent is comfortable with for the night and doling out the rest of the course of the next few days or weeks. He added that looking out for potential choking hazards is important.

"Especially with the little kids. Watch out for the jawbreakers or those little gum balls," Taylor said.

There has been chatter in the media and a release from the DEA warning about "rainbow" fentanyl that has been confiscated from drug dealers. Experts have pointed out that a drug dealer's goal is to make money, not give away product.

"Of course, we should always be cautious. Check the candy. Don't eat anything that looks like it has been opened up and things like that," Taylor said.
Talon Development held a groundbreaking event Thursday for its second apartment development in Mason City.

The four-story, 93-unit apartment complex will be located a block north and west of the The River apartments, along the banks of Willow Creek. The building is set to open in fall 2023.

The complex, The River II, will have floor plans ranging from studio up to two-bedroom units. As stated in a media release, apartment amenities will include in-unit laundry, stainless steel appliances, a community room, a parcel room, and a fitness center.

Josh Kruger, Talon Development President, said up to 80% of the development site is situated within the 100-year flood plain. So it's been a little bit more difficult for developers to make sites like this work, he said.

It has taken 20 months of coordinated effort between his team, Mason City engineers and the North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation. Iowa Economic Development Agency (IEDA.)

Talon also worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in remediation efforts of the brownfield, or potentially contaminated ground, on this site. Its been a lot of work, but its going to be rewarding, Kruger said.

Last time we were in an empty, underutilized parking lot. Now weve got this incredible investment, this incredible amenity thats attracted people to our downtown, said Chad Schreck, President and CEO of North Iowa Corridor Economic Development Corporation. Now, were standing in what was a former brownfield, that was designated by the DNR as a place to stay away from. Its looked that way for a long time, but these guys were fearless."

Schreck said the Iowa Economic Development Authority put a $1.5 million Brownfield Tax Credit into this project, which made it viable and successful. "These kinds of sites would not get developed without that," Schreck said.
GREENSBORO  A new Northwest Middle School is among nine construction projects Guilford County Schools leaders are eyeing for their next wave of renovating and replacing schools in poor shape.

The others are the rebuilding of five elementary schools and renovation of three more.

The elementary replacement projects are Sumner, Northwood, Joyner, Vandalia and Bessemer.

Renovations would take place at Shadybrook and Lindley elementaries, and at whats currently Swann Middle School. That school would become the new Swann Center and would house various magnet programs and be for grades 6 to 12 after the renovation.

The county has secured permission from voters to borrow up to $2 billion to fund the construction, which came from two school bond referendums.

Thus far, the district has broken ground on six construction projects. Its still working on securing a place to put a new K-8 school in the southwest part of the county in addition to plans on how to best renovate Greensboros Archer Elementary into a Montessori school.

Design work has been approved, but not started, for two more: Allen Jay and Sternberger elementaries.

Angie Henry, a senior adviser to the superintendent, told a joint county-schools facility committee on Wednesday that the district plans to seek a $44 million project ordinance from county commissioners in November or December to begin planning and design work for nine more projects, alongside Allen Jay and Sternberger.

The $44 million is actually one of three project ordinance requests that school leaders said Wednesday they plan to bring to the commissioners for a vote by the end of the calendar year.

Another is $48 million for safety improvements and building repair across the district.

The third is for additional funds to complete the construction and design of the initial 10 bond projects  between $130 to $170 million  which leaders hope to fund solely with the first $300 million bond passed in 2022. That one will also need to pass the school board before it goes to the commissioners.

School leaders have pointed to faster-than-expected construction costs and design changes prompted by experiences with the pandemic as contributing factors to the roughly 50% increase in their estimates of what it will take to complete construction of the 2020 bond projects.

Chief Operating Officer Michelle Reed and Henry said Wednesday that the district has made some cost-saving changes to its designs for the 2020 bond construction projects, including getting rid of a planned third floor for the new Brooks Global Studies building.

County Manager Michael Halford said in a brief interview he expected to recommend in favor of the districts requests because of approval from voters in May and from North Carolinas Local Government Commission to borrow $1.7 billion, in addition to the $300 million already approved.

Money from the $1.7 billion, he said, could be used to supplement whats lacking for the projects originally slated for the $300 million.

Facilities committee members didnt debate the merits of authorizing the funding during Wednesdays meeting, instead using their time for questions for school leaders and the county manager and to give suggestions about improving communications with the public about the status of the projects.
Tawal, a leading integrated ICT infrastructure provider in Saudi Arabia, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) under which Tawal will acquire all the towers owned by the city, as well as the In-Building Solutions (IBS).

As part of the agreement, Tawal will manage and operate these assets for telecom service providers and will provide ICT infrastructure solutions to be used within the city. These solutions will improve the efficiency of KAECs telecommunications network through the application of best practices and international standards.

The agreement was signed during the Future Investment Initiative summit  which was held in Riyadh from October 25 to 27  in the presence of Tawal CEO, Eng Mohammed Alhakbani, and KAEC CEO Cyril Piaia.

Eng Alhakbani expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the management of King Abdullah Economic City, noting that this partnership reflects the importance of the services provided by Tawal as it is strengthening its strategy to expand its geographical operations footprint to all regions of the Kingdom.

Piaia said: We are pleased to be partnering with Tawal. Together, we will establish a world-class telecommunications network in King Abdullah Economic City the Economic City  a network developed and implemented in accordance with the highest approved standards. Set up to empower operators and experienced specialists to contribute to the development of KAEC, we will distinguish this network as a ready platform fully geared to achieving our desired development goals.  TradeArabia News Service
What does an artist do when her inspiration and creative passion disappear without warning?

Find out in Tango with Torment, a new one-act Short Cut play thats part of this years Last Chance New Play Fest.

Eleven new, original productions will premiere at the festival by the Experimental Theatre Cooperative that runs 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 13, at Helena Avenue Theatre.

Its an annual grassroots event, launched in 2015, that celebrates the works of local and regional playwrights. Were the longest continuous running (play) festival in the whole state, said executive director Rebecca Ryland.

Now in its ninth year, one of the favorite features of the New Play Fest is the Montana Short Cuts, a series of 10-minute plays all written on the same theme.

This years theme is Altered State.

Each playwright has their own creative take on the topic.

Tango with Torment, written by new playwright Lily Hoelscher, a theater major at Carroll College, focuses on an altered state of self.

What happens to an artist when something big happens?, said Hoelscher. Where does our creative fire come from? Its an allegorical play about the struggles of an artist when a tragedy happens.

Others saw Altered State as a spark for comedy.

Bobby & Dale, written and directed by Bruce Hall, is described as Bewitched: Spook House Shenanigans Baffle Bewildered Couple.

While Rebecca Ryland s comedy Beautiful Day, has the tagline, Oh Roe is Me! It takes place after a protest right after Roe was overturned by the Supreme Court.

Ross Peter Nelsons Sweet Dreams, is a comedy about a future  where potential screen writers dont write scripts, said Nelson. They go in and are connected up to an AI that harvests their dreams.

An oddly cheerful deposed King Lear is wandering the heath in Steve Palmers comedy, Somewhere Before Act V. Lears typically joyous fool is down in the dumps. Palmer likes to call this comedic take, King Lear the Day After.

The synopsis for Barry Stambaughs drama, Pantomime, reads  Row row row your boat through dementia. Merrily dunk dunk your Oreo in the milky way.

In Chantal Maries Fanny the Fox, a veterinarian and vet assistant are tested when a client shows up with an unusual case.

Two other projects join the Short Cuts. The first is a full-length comedy, Charlotte, by Ryland pitting senility, prejudice, and sex against a case of stolen diamonds. Its inspired by real events you can hardly believe are true, said Ryland, which goes to show truth is stranger than fiction.

The other project, Indy One-Acts, includes three short works:

The Rodeo Clown (Steve Palmer, 30 min)  One man recounts his road to becoming a rodeo performer;

Invisible Web (Elucidance, 30 min)  An experimental combination of dance and improv addressing our connections to one another; and

The Beepis Show (various, 15 min)  Short travel and observation videos.

Hoelscher said that having her play accepted has been a great affirming experience that I can write scripts.

Some earlier writing efforts hadnt gone well, and shed never finished the scripts.

I learned a lot about my writing style, she said, and began thinking about what she as an actor would want to see in a script.

Its been a huge expansion of my own creative journey as an artist. It was an affirmation that this is something I do want to continue doing.

I just feel extremely blessed to be here at this point, she said.

And its playwrights like her that are one reason the new play fest was created in the first place.

But its also a chance to see new works by veteran actors and playwrights such as Bruce Hall, who joins the fest this year as writer and director of Bobby & Dale.

Hall started his acting career decades ago at Helenas old Brewery Theater and went on to found the Brewery Follies, was artistic director of the Virginia City Players and composed and directed for Broadway and Off-Broadway.

The Play Fest has had to overcome plenty of challenges over the past few years  from dragging its theater equipment to various venues to set up to riding out the pandemic.

This year, Rylands play, Charlotte, lost three of its eight actors in recent weeks, but the play rebounded with Ryland stepping in to take a major role and the recruitment of a talented local actress, Rayna Cozzens.

Shes marvelous, said Ryland, adding that Cozzens studied acting at Montana State University, where she appeared in two plays. Shes great!

The festival, although still recovering from pandemic setbacks, has much to celebrate.

We thought that last years Short Cut plays were the best quality theyve ever been, said Palmer, who is an associate producer of the festival along with Nelson. Ryland is its executive producer.

Weve been getting more and more submissions  almost twice as many as what was needed, he added.

Theyve also had more directors step up than in previous years.

One reason people should see it, said Ross, is theres always something new. Its not like youre seeing the greatest hits of the last 400 years of theater  Its whats happening right now.

Tickets for individual performances are $18 (adult) or $15 (student/senior) and are available at the door or online. $30 Fest passes, which admit holders to any performance throughout the Fest, are also available. Tickets for the fest can be purchased online at https://buytickets.at/lcnpf. Performances are at the Helena Avenue Theatre, 1319 Helena Ave.

The fest is sponsored in part by a grant from the Montana Arts Council. Other sponsors include Mountain View Meadows, NorthWestern Energy and Opportunity Bank of Montana.

A list of all the projects, writers, and actors, along with the full schedule is at http://www.experimentaltheatrecoop.org/2022 or in the Fest Guide, available at the Fire Tower Coffee House.

Follow the Fest on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/helenaFringe.

For more information, visit ETCs website at www.ExperimentalTheatreCoop.org.
MISSOULA  A federal trial to determine whether Montanas vaccine discrimination law should apply to nurses, hospitals, private physicians and other health care providers wrapped up Wednesday.

The law, signed last year by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, prohibits most businesses and other employers from mandating vaccinations. Democrats and health care providers have argued that rather than protecting individuals from discrimination, it makes medical facilities and other workplaces less safe. The trial began Monday.

Justin Cole, an attorney with Garlington, Lohn & Robinson, PLLP, gave the plaintiffs final arguments at the close of the three-day trial, which was overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy in Missoula.

At times individual liberty must yield to public health and safety, but this law does the opposite, said Cole, who represents the Montana Medical Association, providers and patients who challenged the law a year ago. It elevates individual choice over public health and the publics good, wellbeing and safety.

The defendants, state Attorney General Austin Knudsen and Commissioner of Labor and Industry Laurie Esau, were represented by a legal team lead by Deputy Solicitor General Brent Mead. In his closing, Mead reiterated his argument that the Republican-dominated state Legislature was well within its authority in drafting House Bill 702, which also bars employers from requiring staff to disclose their immunization status.

"We have to be able to balance risk to patients ... as well as protecting the individual autonomy of health care workers," Mead said. " That choice rests with the Legislature. House Bill 702 is the product of that process.

The plaintiffs have cited several federal laws that, they allege, override the states prohibitions on vaccine mandates and on providers obtaining immunization status from their employees.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees who have disabilities. Being unable to determine the immunity status of their coworkers makes it difficult, and potentially impossible, for medical providers to follow those federal requirements, Cole argued.

The ADA also requires employers to make those accommodations for people seeking services, including patients seeking medical care.

Diana Jo Page is a breast cancer survivor living in Kalispell. Testifying Tuesday, she said shes avoided medical care out of fear of contracting COVID-19 from an unvaccinated health care worker and passing it to her husband, who is currently going through cancer treatments.

She suffers from asthma, and recalled an asthma attack earlier this year so severe that she lost consciousness, and her daughter and husband urged her to go to the emergency room.

I said, Im not going to do that, she said. His (white blood cell) counts were so low, I just didnt feel that I could go to the emergency room.

As a patient, she said she feels like she should be able to expect health care providers to be vaccinated.

They take an oath that says to do no harm, and I just cant imagine that a medical facility who is treating people who are vulnerable would not take every precaution they can to keep their patients safe," Page said.

On the ADA claims, Mead argued that none of the plaintiffs witnesses had requested an accommodation and been unable to receive one. An immunocompromised worker, in one instance, asked for a leave of absence during the early months of the pandemic, and was able to get one until vaccines were widely available. Another was able to work in a room isolated from others.

The plaintiffs also allege the vaccine law runs afoul of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, which requires employers to mitigate workplace hazards. Vaccine-preventable diseases are among those included in the act.

Mead argued HB 702 does not conflict with any of those federal requirements. He noted that prior to the Biden administrations controversial emergency standard for larger businesses, the agency had never created rules requiring workplace vaccinations.

The standard, which allowed employees to wear masks and get tested weekly if they didnt want the COVID vaccine, was subsequently enjoined by the U.S. Supreme Court, and OSHA ultimately walked it back.

The Montana Nurses Association is a plaintiff-intervenor in the case. The organization's CEO, Vicky Bird, testified Tuesday that immunization requirements are accepted by the majority of nurses, aside from the existing medical and religious exemptions to mandatory vaccinations.

"Thats all just a part of the job," Bird said. "You know that coming in when you take the position."

But Mead also pointed out that the MNA, which is also a union representing thousands of nurses in the state, had successfully included a clause shielding nurses from mandatory flu vaccines in past collective bargaining agreements.

Bird had, in her testimony, likened vaccines for nurses to hard hats for construction workers: "You cant say you dont want to wear a hard hat. Youd have to look for a different job."

Mead referred to that line during his closing.

If that analogy is true, he said, the nurses collectively bargained for no hard hats in the workplace.

The plaintiffs also allege that HB 702 violates their equal protection rights under both the Montana and U.S. constitutions, by treating three groups of health care providers differently: nursing homes and other long-term facilities; offices of private physicians; and hospitals.

The varying levels of exemptions for those different providers violate their equal protection rights, they argue, because the state lacks a rational basis for treating them differently.

By treating these facilities differently, the law also treats the patients who receive care at these facilities differently and also treats the nurses who work in these settings differently, Cole said, noting that virtually all health care settings treat immunocompromised patients as well as elderly patients.

But Mead argued those different types of providers are distinct, and provide distinctly different types of care to different groups of patients. He noted that in the spring of 2021, when HB 702 was enacted, residents at nursing homes had been disproportionately ravaged by waves of COVID compared to other providers.

That is certainly a rational basis to look at those statistics, Mead said. ... that those types of congregant settings, and the types of people living in these facilities who tend to be elderly, who tend to be at higher risk, that there were special circumstances to those kinds of facilities. Thats why they were exempted.

And he referred to testimony from expert witnesses called by the plaintiffs, who noted that the types of infrastructure for higher-risk patients, like negative pressure rooms and neonatal intensive care units, would not be found in a private physicians office.

The Montana Constitution also protects the right to seek health, another protection that the plaintiffs argued is violated by the vaccine discrimination law. The defense has argued that the state has broad authority to advance other interests that may conflict with that right.

House Bill 702 is clearly and uniquely a nondiscrimination law, Mead said. That legislative purpose is what drives the legal analysis, and sets the framework for the case  (the states police power) is an expansive authority to govern how we function in society.

Mead also argued that the plaintiffs never built enough of a case to implicate the state Constitutions right to seek health. He referred to testimony from the previous two days, in which several immunocompromised patients testified that they continued to receive care after HB 702 was enacted, and that they couldnt show whether they had contracted COVID or any other communicable disease from a provider.

But calling the new state law antithetical to public health, Cole argued that it failed to achieve that balance.

The plaintiffs in the case are asking Molloy to permanently bar the state from enforcing the vaccine discrimination law against health care providers.

Mead argued this is the wrong remedy to the issues the plaintiffs have with the law.

Its just not here, and its just not this case, Mead said. Its two months from now, when the Legislature reconvenes in Helena.

Molloy didnt give any firm time table for a decision.

Its likely to not be a great deal of time, but its not going to happen tomorrow, he said.

In the meantime, a preliminary injunction Molloy issued earlier this year, barring the state from enforcing HB 702 against CMS-certified providers, remains in effect.
Montana is signaling it might step away from an innovative way of setting the prices its public employee health plan pays hospitals for services, an approach that has saved the state millions of dollars and become a model for health plans nationwide.

The plan gained national renown among employers and health care price reform advocates when, in 2016, it established maximum amounts the health plan would pay for all inpatient and outpatient services. Those amounts were pegged to Medicare reimbursement rates. The adoption of that model, known as reference-based pricing, has saved the state tens of millions of dollars. Taxpayers help fund the medical plan, which insures public employees and their families, for a total of about 28,800 people.

Montana didnt invent reference-based pricing, but the state made waves by having a health care plan of that size set prices for all services, not just certain procedures, such as knee replacements.

Now, Montana is positioning itself to tweak its model, just as more states and employers, seeking to cut costs, consider adopting it. That has health economists and those working to lower hospital prices elsewhere wondering whether the state is once again moving ahead of the curve  or setting itself up for a setback.

We look to Montana for the success story, said Gloria Sachdev, president of the Employers Forum of Indiana, a nonprofit that tries to improve health care pricing. Now that its doing something new, I think a lot of eyes will be on Montana.

In September, the state awarded Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana a contract to take over administration of the public employee health plan starting next year. The contract calls for using Medicares rates as a baseline to set overall targets for the amounts the plan will reimburse hospitals. It gives Blue Cross the ability to meet those goals with reference-based pricing  but also by negotiating deals with individual health care providers using a mix of reimbursement models.

The state said in a news release announcing the contract that its new reimbursement targets will save $28 million over the next three years. But the details in the contract on how that will be achieved are vague.

Blue Cross, one of Montanas largest insurers, wont elaborate on its plans while Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, the public employee health plans current administrator, challenges the states contracting decision. Allegiance had held the contract since the state adopted the reference-based pricing model.

John Doran, a Blue Cross spokesperson, said state officials instructed company officials to direct all questions to the Montana Department of Administration.

Asked how upcoming changes will affect the health plans existing model, Montana officials pointed to the states contract with Blue Cross. According to that document, Blue Cross can create custom alternative payment arrangements with providers with state approval.

In the states news release, officials said the goal is to modernize its six-year-old reimbursement strategy. Department of Administration Director Misty Ann Giles said in the release that the state picked a vendor to help it become more flexible to reach its goals efficiently.

The U.S. has struggled to respond to the rising cost of health care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimated that in 2020, health spending grew nearly 10%, reaching $4.1 trillion, or $12,530 per person. More than 160 million people in the U.S. have employer-sponsored health insurance. Historically, the prices that employee health plans pay have been privately negotiated between health care providers and third-party administrators like Blue Cross, with negotiations often starting at the prices that hospitals propose.

That process has exacerbated the lack of transparency in the cost of care and has contributed to wide variation in the prices that private insurance plans pay. In a study of medical claims data from 2018 to 2020, think tank Rand Corp. found that private insurers in some states, such as Washington, paid hospital prices that were less than 175% of what Medicare would have paid for the same services at the same facilities, while in other states, they paid prices that were 310% of the Medicare rate or higher.

In 2016, Montana took a bold leap. Instead of negotiating down from hospitals listed prices, the state set a range for what hospitals can charge for services, establishing maximum costs as a set percentage above Medicare rates. If hospitals refused to negotiate through that model, they risked losing access to the patients insured through the states largest employer.

Marilyn Bartlett, who led the change to reference-based pricing when she worked for Montana, said that at that time, the plan had been losing money for years and risked its reserves dropping into the negatives. By 2017, Bartlett said, the plans reserves had accumulated more money than the states general fund, and the premiums state employees paid stayed level.

We had flattened the price curve, and in fact we had a negative, said Bartlett, now a senior policy fellow with the National Academy for State Health Policy advising other states on how to lower health care costs. That was unheard of.

Dr. Stephen Tahta, president of Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, said that while Allegiance was administrator of the health plan, it saved more than $48 million.

Hospital representatives have said a growing number of employer-based plans are considering increasing their reliance on reference-based pricing.

In recent years, Californias retirement plan that offers insurance benefits to public employees has worked to expand reference pricing for certain medications.

And the state of Colorado joined a purchasing alliance to negotiate with hospitals over pricing for its public employee medical plan this year, seeking to use Medicare rates as a baseline. Bob Smith, executive director of that alliance, the Colorado Business Group on Health, said that while major health systems have bucked that process so far, patients also have a health care price comparison tool to pick providers that charge reasonable prices and offer high-quality care.

The American Hospital Association opposes reference-based pricing, saying it can increase the amount patients must pay for care. One way that could happen is through balance billing, when a provider charges a patient for the difference between the cost set by the plan and the amount the provider charges.

Those advocating for pricing reform have said that hospitals initial prices before negotiations can be arbitrary and that Medicares rates are a fair starting point. Medicare reimbursements can be adjusted if a provider faces steep expenses such as operating in a rural place or hiring staffers to offer specialty care.

In the contract awarded in September, the state set a ceiling of no more than 200% of Medicare rates for the amounts the Blue Cross plan would pay providers overall in its first year. The contract says Blue Cross will target reimbursing providers an overall rate of 180% of Medicares rates by year three of the agreement.

The state left it to Blue Cross to find a way to reach those goals.

After KHN shared Blue Cross reimbursement details in the state contract with Chris Whaley, a health economist and policy researcher for Rand, he said its hard to know how the new approach will work out. Blue Cross plan doesnt say how often the company will negotiate deals with providers outside of reference-based pricing. Whaley said that could lead Montana to lose focus on its reimbursement strategy.

It seems like the model is already working really well, Whaley said. Is the reference-based pricing model something thats going to be developed and improved upon? Or is it something that is maybe going to be stripped down and not have the same impact as before?

Allegiance is alleging that the contract was awarded through an illegal bidding process and that it could end up raising health care costs for state employees and taxpayers.

Belinda Adams, a Department of Administration spokesperson, said state officials are reviewing the issues raised by Allegiance but believe the hiring process was fair and legal.

The state has 30 days from when Allegiance submitted its protest to issue a decision on the companys claims if the two sides dont reach an agreement that settles the dispute. In the meantime, Adams said, Blue Cross is preparing to take over administration of the public employee health plan in January.
Public comment sought for FWP meeting

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment through Nov. 18 on several proposals slated to go to the Fish and Wildlife Commission in December.

After public comment, commissioners can offer amendments to the proposals as they see fit. The proposals and supporting documents, commissioner amendments and collected public comment will be available on the FWP website Dec. 2.

The commission will make a final decision on these proposals at its December meeting, which is scheduled for Dec. 16.

Approved commercial bait seining waters, 2023-24

For 2023-2024, FWP proposes 10 changes to the approved commercial bait seining waters to clarify where commercial seining can occur, add commercial seining opportunity and to remove some waters based on population abundance or overall fishery conservation concerns.

Adjustments to big game regulations for 2023 season

FWP is proposing amendments to license-permit type quotas and quota ranges and hunting district boundaries listed below.

Proposed amendments to quotas or quota ranges for:

Antelope license-permit types 340-30, 350-30 and 370-30

Elk license-permit types 380-01 and 380-02

Mule deer license-permit type 370-01.

Proposed amendments to boundaries for:

Antelope HD 360

Deer/Elk HD 360

Moose HDs 330, 332 and 333

City of Lewistown Urban Deer Management Plan

FWP supports approval of Lewistowns Deer Management Action Plan.

Rock Creek (Paradise Valley) water right lease

FWP proposes a water right lease agreement on Rock Creek in the Paradise Valley. The lease would benefit Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Big Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) addition

FWP proposes purchasing about 115 acres adjacent to Big Lake WMA. The property provides valuable habitat for waterfowl and would benefit management of the entire WMA, reducing the workload for both FWP and the neighboring ranch.

To comment and for more information on these proposals, go online to https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/commission/december-2022-meeting.

Applications taken for trails program

Applications for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP) will be accepted from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.

RTP is a federally funded grant program administered through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks that awards about $1.5 million annually. Eligible activities include construction or maintenance of motorized and nonmotorized trails or trail-related facilities, purchase of trail equipment, and development of trail education or ethics programs.

Applicants may request up to $100,000 with a 20% required match. Grant applicants may include federal, tribal, state, county or municipal agencies (including school districts), and private corporations, including nonprofits. An organization can submit only one grant application per grant cycle.

A webinar training and a question-and-answer session will be held 9 a.m. Nov. 9. This session is highly recommended for new and returning applicants. The training will provide helpful information on program requirements and tips on writing a competitive application and using the grant management software. Interested parties must register for the free training to receive a meeting link. To register, go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdlqtx9SD7sdfLzswvmRKzl-AzRwhaXgJdrCBZwDa_yvdM__Q/viewform

For more information, visit the Recreational Trails Program webpage at https://fwp.mt.gov/aboutfwp/grant-programs/recreational-trails. For questions, contact RTP Program Manager Stephanie Clemen at stephanie.adamsclemen@mt.gov.

'Protect the Hunt' promoted

In Montana, good relationships between hunters and landowners are integral to our opportunities, lead to proper wildlife management and ensure that our hunting traditions continue.

Landowners play an important role in sustaining healthy wildlife populations, contributing to our economy and communities by creating jobs, and providing valuable habitat and treasured open spaces. But the relationship between hunters and landowners can start to fray when just a few hunters abuse the privilege of hunting on private land.

To promote the importance of hunter ethics and improved hunter behavior, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is partnering with other conservation and agriculture organizations to protect the hunt.

The campaign is focused on hunter responsibility and respect for private land and the access landowners provide. The slogan is: Its up to us. Respect access. Protect the hunt.

Through programs like Block Management, Montana ranch families provide free public hunting experiences across the state. We ask sportsmen to remain diligent in their actions and to protect access by respecting the places they hunt and holding one another accountable, Jim Steinbeisser, Montana Stockgrowers Association president, said in a news release.

While hunters in Montana enjoy a wealth of hunting opportunity on our public lands, private lands in the state offer irreplaceable hunting access and vital habitat for our public wildlife. But access to private lands is a privilege that can be swiftly taken away from us, said Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Montana Coordinator Kevin Farron. We must show the utmost respect for these properties and their owners, know  and follow  the rules, and thank landowners for providing access whenever we can.

While excellent hunter behavior might be the norm in Montana, poor behavior, like not following landowner rules, trespassing, abusing access privileges, littering and a host of other offenses, can lead to a decline in access opportunities. In fact, many hunters dont know that not following rules for a Block Management area can result in a citation for hunting without landowner permission.

We all know that most hunters do it the right way. Thats why its up to us, FWP Director Hank Worsech said in a news release. Improving hunter and landowner relationships by promoting hunting ethics will enhance the critical relationships between hunters and landowners and allow us to better manage wildlife. Its good to see both hunters and landowners stepping forward to make it happen.

Along with an outreach campaign, hunters and landowners can visit the FWP website for more information on hunting ethics, working with landowners, and to link to all the partners involved.

FWP seeks input on Fish Creek watershed recreation

ALBERTON  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is working with the University of Montana (UM) to develop a framework for managing recreation on its lands in the Fish Creek watershed, located approximately 30 miles west of Missoula. To provide early input into the process, complete an online survey between now and Dec. 20, 2022.

FWP's key Fish Creek sites include Fish Creek State Park and Wildlife Management Area and Big Pine and Forks fishing access sites. The Alberton Gorge, which offers opportunities for whitewater boating and other recreation, and state lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) are also being considered as part of the planning effort.

This is the first time that FWP managers and partners are taking a comprehensive look at recreation across the Fish Creek watershed. The planning team is considering the areas important fish and wildlife habit, historic and cultural resources, communities, private lands, and unique recreation opportunities as it plans for the future of the area.

A short survey, open to anyone interested in sharing their perspective and ideas, is available through Dec. 20, 2022. Complete the survey and find out more about how to engage with the planning process in future meetings or reviews of draft documents by visiting: fwp.mt.gov/conservation/fish-creek-watershed-recreation-planning.

The final framework for managing recreation in the area will consider perspective from the public, alongside input from management agencies and other stakeholders.

Temporary fishing closures to be lifted on Big Hole River

WISE RIVER  Temporary fishing closures on some sections of the Big Hole River will be lifted this week.

On Thursday, the Big Hole River will reopen for fishing in two sections:

 From the rivers confluence with the Beaverhead River up to Tony Schoonen Fishing Access Site

 From Dickie Bridge up to the rivers confluence with the North Fork Big Hole River

On Friday, the Big Hole River will reopen for fishing in this section:

 From the rivers confluence with the North Fork Big Hole River up to Saginaw Bridge on Skinner Meadows Road

These temporary closures were implemented due to low river flows as outlined in the Big Hole River Watershed Committee Drought Plan.

A yearly fishing closure remains in place from Brownes Bridge Fishing Access Site up to the Bureau of Land Managements Maiden Rock boat launch. That closure takes effect on Oct. 1 and lifts on April 1 to protect spawning brown trout. See the current fishing regulations for a full list of annual regulations and restrictions for the Big Hole River.

For a current list of temporary fishing restrictions and closures, visit fwp.mt.gov/news/current-closures-restrictions.

-- Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
ARTHUR  Illinois Amish Heritage Center will host a barn raising event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28 and 29, at the Illinois Amish Heritage Center campus on Illinois Route 133, between Arcola and Arthur.

Tickets at the admission gate will be $10 per person or online in advance.

An authentic German breakfast with pancakes, liverwurst, sausage and more will be served from 7 to 9 a.m. Saturday.

The weekend will feature a traditional Amish barn raising as well as local Amish food, demonstrations, and craft vendors.

Demonstrations will include an apple cider press, buzz saw demonstrations, blacksmithing, glassblowing, rope making, shingle making and other activities.

For more information, call 217-254-4012 or visit the Illinois Amish Heritage Center website at illinoisamish.org and on Facebook.
DECATUR  The price of inflicting terror in a series of Decatur home invasions is 33 years in prison for Dondrion L. Austin.

He was sentenced Thursday in Macon County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to home invasion and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.

Judge Jeffrey Geisler handed down an 18 year sentence extended by an extra 15 years because a gun was used in the commission of the offenses.

The charges date to a wild night of crime on Nov. 20, 2018 when Austin, now 22, was a teen member of an armed gang that forced their way into three homes to rob the families inside.

Decatur police sworn affidavits described victims being clubbed and pistol-whipped. One 6-year-old boy had a gun barrel shoved into his mouth while the gang threatened to kill him if the childs grandfather didnt tell them where his money and valuables were.

The 66-year-old grandfather was among several victims who gave victim impact statements in court. He asked Geisler to remove Austin from society so that he is not allowed to do this again.

The childs weeping mother said her boy had been permanently damaged by what was done to him and was left struggling to sleep, frightened and withdrawn.

Imagine touching your childs shoulder to wake them and have them wake up screaming and swinging because they are afraid you are here to take them, she said.

He is constantly terrified; no child should have to go through life like this.

Austin, handcuffed and wearing a Macon County Jail jumpsuit, rose to apologize for what he had done and said he had changed.

I made mistakes but I am not the same person I was when I committed these crimes he added, pleading for leniency.

His defense attorney, Caleb Brown, said there was a 21 year minimum sentence under the terms of a plea deal and he asked for a 22 year sentence. He said even that was as long as his client had been alive.

He said the offenses committed were terrible, but pointed out that no one had died as the result of Austins actions.

There were no lives taken in this case and although the psychological damage is real, I think the court has to balance this sentence compared with sentences it gives in other serious cases, such as murder.

Special Prosecutor Kate Kurtz said Austins night of terror deserved a total sentence of 45 years and said the lasting harm he had caused had to paid for. She said he had robbed the victim families of the comfort and security people should expect in their own homes.

And that is something they can never have back which is, honestly, terrible, she added. (Home) is the one place you should be able to go and have peace, and they dont.

Passing sentence, Geisler said: This was a night of terror for these families and I dont think they will ever get their lives back; I am fully aware of that. These were senseless acts of violence that were committed to three families who did nothing wrong but be in their houses on that occasion.
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Sunny. High near 75F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Rain showers early with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. Low 61F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF has announced the establishment of the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company in partnership with Saudi Tadawul Group.

In the new entity, PIF will be holding 80% majority stake, while Saudi Tadawul Group will have the rest of the 20% stake.

Announcing the new venture, PIF said the company will offer guidance and resourcing to support businesses and industry in the region as they play their part in the global transition to net zero, ensuring that carbon credit purchases go above and beyond meaningful emission reductions in value chains.

This comes following last year's announcement by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Prime Minister, Chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PIF, for the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) initiative.

He had then highlighted Saudi Arabias leading role in contributing to the reduction of the impact of climate change and encouraging institutions to reduce their carbon emissions as part of several initiatives that were launched in that regard.

Headquartered in Riyadh, the companys announcement will help facilitate the efforts of the worlds largest-ever carbon credit auction being held today (October 25) at the 6th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh.

The auction will involve a total of one million tonnes of carbon credits and will offer high-quality credits including Corsia compliant, Verra registered certificates.

Yazeed A. Al-Humied, Deputy Governor and Head of Mena Investments at PIF, said: "We are delighted to announce the establishment of the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company, which coincides with the auctions announcement  a major milestone for the Middle East and North Africa region."

"We are passionate about the potential for voluntary carbon markets to deliver additional carbon reduction benefits throughout the region, thereby ensuring the Mena region is at the forefront of climate action and that Saudi Arabia is a leading force in solving the climate challenge," he stated.

According to him, the new firm will play an important role in PIFs wider efforts to drive the investment and innovation required to address the impact of climate change and support Saudi Arabias efforts to achieve net zero by 2060.

Engineer Khalid A Al Hussan, CEO of Saudi Tadawul Group, said it had an important role to play in championing Saudi Arabias efforts towards a sustainable future.

"We continuously work towards encouraging the adoption of ESG disclosures in the Saudi capital market, to advocate for a better, more transparent future. We are delighted to be an integral part, strategically and operationally, in the Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Company," stated Al Hussan.

"We believe it will be instrumental in supporting Vision 2030 and in further realizing the Groups vision of being a gateway to the Mena region for global investors," he added.

Riham ElGizy, Director of VCM Initiative, said the inaugural auction represents the first step towards becoming a leading presence in the global voluntary carbon market ecosystem.

"With an expected one million tonnes of carbon credits available to trade, we predict that our auction will be the largest carbon credit auction to date," he noted.

The companys establishment is a continuation of PIF initiatives to support Saudi Arabias green agenda and follows previous announcements by the Fund, including the completion of its $3 billion inaugural green bond, and the various renewable projects PIF is spearheading as part of its commitment to develop 70% of Saudi Arabias renewable energy capacity, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.-TradeArabia News Service
Has corporate Australian finally woken up to the risk of cyber breaches? Photo: Shutterstock

Businesses are girding corporate communications teams with cyber security specialists as executives watch the cyber security disasters at Optus and Medibank play out in front of their eyes  and consider how they would manage the public fallout from a similar incident.

The impact of the recent spate of breaches is evident at the ANZ Banking Group, which is recruiting an incident communication advisor  technology, cyber security and data whose primary role will be to keep ANZs customers and employees informed during major technology, cyber security incidents, data regulation events, and planned outages.

Based at ANZ headquarters in Docklands, Melbourne, the role will involve developing and testing strategies for communicating with affected customers and other stakeholders during and after incidents  for example, drafting public statements and key messages for distribution to the public, and to staff via the banks intranet, Yammer, email, and other communications channels.

It also involves acting as a liaison between the technical staff within ANZs Command Centre (Technology) and Data Event Response Team, and the business leaders that need to stay apprised of revelations from ongoing breach investigations.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is also bolstering its cyber security team, this week calling out for several employees with the title senior manager cyber defence GRC and findings management  specialist cyber security analysts responsible for evaluating the relationship between cyber security issues and the banks governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) obligations.

That means evaluating the business risk of critical security findings identified by the penetration testing, red teams, and blue teams  teams within the CBAs Cyber Defence Operational unit that regularly probe the banks security architecture  and working with business leaders to explain and manage their impact in plain English.

On the front foot

Recruiting cyber security specialists to liaise between technical, staff, business people, and the public is a new approach for a business community that has typically relied on corporate communications staff to handle incident responses.

Such staff work furiously behind the scenes to manage stakeholders, but previously provided little more information than sporadic, tersely-worded website updates that often came months or years after the breach.

However, the magnitude of recent incidents  including the distressing and still-evolving Medibank data breach, as well as the recent breach of Optus customer data, which each involved many millions of Australians  seems to have shifted the narrative.

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin took the bull by the horns early on, fronting the media the day after that companys data breach  which was found to include the sensitive identity details of at least 2.1 million Australians  was discovered.

Were informing customers as quickly as we can, in a very different way from what has been done with previous cyberattacks, she said.

We know that in these situations time can be of the essence, so we contacted the media less than 24 hours from when we learned that this incident had occurred.

Our front-footed approach, and the speed with which weve responded to this, doesnt allow us to have all the answers  but if you ask away, I will tell you whatever I can.

Full disclosure

Such public mea-culpas by CEOs have been rare in the past, but amidst data breaches growing intensity and impact  and a regulatory climate that is pressuring executives to be personally invested in cyber issues  it seems Bayer Rosmarins repeated apologies are setting a new standard for incident response.

Medibank CEO David Koczkar has taken a similar approach, publicly apologising and admitting that this latest distressing update will concern our customers [but] we have always said that we will prioritise responding to this matter as transparently as possible.

Even as the company progressively revealed ever more distressing details about the hack  including recent revelations that hackers wanted to negotiate over the stolen data, and that all of its 3.9 million customers data had been compromised  the federal government was promoting a policy that would dramatically increase the fines that breached companies could face.

Professionalising the management of revelations about breaches early will help avoid the rolling chaos that can encompass companies once a breach is made public  and that, along with the increasing GRC burden on executives, could well make cyber incident communications specialists increasingly common.

In the wake of a cyberattack, there are a lot of moving parts, security firm Cymulate noted in a report highlighting the results of a global survey of 858 senior executives that found 22 per cent of businesses will have to handle the regulatory mandate of public disclosure, which can cause even greater damage if it isnt handled with sensitivity and expertise.

In 39 per cent of cases, the study found, security teams need to bring in outside specialists in legal, finance, and the C-suite to handle the fallout while 35 per cent of respondents noted the importance of third-party consultants in handling breaches.

Planning a coherent breach response well in advance, and meeting regularly to reinforce it, was associated with fewer breaches overall amongst survey respondents.

Indeed, in companies where leadership and cyber security teams met at least 15 times per year, there were zero breaches reported.

By contrast, Cymulate found, businesses that met less often  under 9 times annually, on average  reported suffering 6 or more breaches in the past year.

A reactive approach is a costly gamble, the firm noted, and being proactive about cyber security could eliminate this added cost altogether.
ACS congratulates Johnny Serrano, winner of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) 2021 Presidents Award.

Receiving this award has been humbling because of what it represents in our industry, he told Information Age.

Ive been quite fortunate to make a living out of what I do and obviously its given me a lot of success.

So for me, its very important that I always give back and help others wherever I can.

When he was a young child, Johnnys family moved from El Salvador to Australia to flee a decade-long civil war and start a whole new life.

Growing up in Townsville, Johnny was closely connected with First Nations communities throughout school and has maintained a drive to improve digital literacy for all Australians.

Johnny has been involved with See IT Be IT, a joint program between ACS, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation (QATSIF) and Substation33 to source second-hand devices for First Nations people in Queensland.

For Johnny, programs like See IT Be IT are about opening the door for more people to have successful careers in the technology industry.

Innovation comes out of diversity, he told Information Age. We have some of the best talent here in Australia and its about harnessing that and getting it out there.

Johnny has proven the power of diversity for innovation. As Chief Digital Office for geo-safety company Groundprobe, Johnny regularly features in CIO 50  a list of Australias most recognised heads of IT  and chalks his success up to a diverse company culture.

As Australia looks to meet tech talent shortages, Johnny thinks all organisations should look to bring more people into the IT fold and aim to raise digital skills across the population, not only for the next generation.

We still have a lot of people in Australia who need to be skilled up. I dont think digital literacy is not as high as it could be, in general, he said.

The next generation already have many of these skills, but I think the generation prior is at risk of being left out.

If were going to transition the workforce, I think we should be looking at some older Australians, maybe those who are semi-retired and want to get back into the workforce.

ACS President Dr Nick Tate said Johnny demonstrates the societys values and was a deserving winner of the award.

I congratulate Johnny Serrano as the 2021 ACS Presidents Award winner and commend him for his efforts to improve IT professionalism and diversity, he said
As Norma Thornton, 78, scraped the bottom of her last pan after serving food to about 26 people in need at a park in Arizona, two police officers arrived.

As one officer speaks with a commander, he says I think this is a PR nightmare, but OK, according to body camera footage obtained by the Institute of Justice.

The officer then approaches Thornton.

Heres the bad news. Youre under arrest for violating a city ordinance, the officer says in the video. Good news is Im gonna get your fingerprints, all that stuff. And I will bring you right back here.

The encounter that unfolded March 8 at Community Park in Bullhead City, Arizona, led to a federal lawsuit being filed on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

The ordinance the officer refers to makes it a criminal misdemeanor to share prepared food in a public park for charitable purposes without a permit. The ordinance does not, however, require a permit for serving prepared food for social events at a public park, a news release from the Institute for Justice says.

Its on these grounds that Thornton and the Institute of Justice filed the lawsuit against Bullhead City, asserting that the ordinance violates her civil rights.

The ordinance, the lawsuit says, discriminates against individuals handing out prepared food to those in need while allowing others to serve the same food at social events.

The city has made it very clear that I can have a party and host up to 100 people with no consequence at all, so long as I am not feeding the homeless, Thornton said in the video from the Institute for Justice.

The lawsuit seeks for a federal judge in Arizona to declare the citys ordinance unconstitutional.

City says ordinance is lawful

The city maintains that its ordinance is lawful, according to a statement posted on Facebook on Oct. 25, and that it does not prevent a charitable act from anyone desiring to help others in a city park or assisting others in their own home, church or private property.

Additionally, the statement says, it still allows for people to serve sealed prepackaged foods readily available from retail outlets and intended for consumption directly from the package.

Those who want to serve hot food must apply for a food handlers permit, the city says.

The City takes the safety of its vulnerable populations seriously, and works to ensure that the food provided to the homeless, as with other members of the public, has been prepared, handled, and served in a safe and responsible manner, the statement says.

Bullhead City first passed the ordinance in February 2021, the lawsuit says.

The ordinance was created in response to years of complaints from families who desired to utilize City parks, the statement says.

Each violation of the law is punishable with a fine of up to $1,431, 120 days in jail and 24 months of probation, according to the Institute for Justice.

After the ordinance was passed, the Bullhead City Police Department said it spent nine months educating and warning the public about the law with no enforcement, according to an Oct. 25 Facebook post.

When incidents like this occur, where citizens, even well meaning, violate the law, it becomes counterproductive to what we are trying to accomplish with this vulnerable population, the post says. We want them to get help to get out of their situation, not keep them in it.

I am not enabling homelessness

This is not how Thornton, who moved to Bullhead City in 2017, sees her actions. The town is located in northwest Arizona, about 100 miles south of Las Vegas, Nevada.

I am not enabling homelessness, Thornton said in a video published by the Institute for Justice. I am enabling these people to survive.

After noticing the poverty in the area, she decided to keep herself busy by contributing to her new community, the lawsuit says.

Im not making a big impact. Its not that much. But at least some people have enough food to survive, she said in the Institute for Justice video.

For about four years until the day she was arrested, Thornton, who owned a restaurant in Alaska before retiring to Bullhead City, used a public park to share home-cooked meals with those in need, the lawsuit says.

Norma saw a way to provide a private solution to a major issue in her community, and she must not be punished for helping these people, Suranjan Sen, one of Thorntons attorneys, said in a news release.

After her arrest, Thornton was issued a citation to appear in criminal court, the lawsuit says.

The city prosecutor offered Thornton a plea deal, however, she refused, as she did not feel she was guilty of anything, the lawsuit says.

The city ultimately dropped its charge against her, the lawsuit says, though the City clarified that it would prosecute Norma should she violate the ordinance again.

The city of Bullhead has made it a crime to feed the needy  it makes me really, really angry to put it bluntly, Thornton said in the video.

Thornton continues to feed those in need  now in an alley, not a city park  according to a news release from the Institute for Justice.

Im never gonna stop feeding em, Thornton said in the video. Never.
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 Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) has set up a 6 MW ground-mounted solar power plant 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, said.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.
Taiwanese electronics company Elitegroup Computer Systems will showcase its productsthe Leet gaming series, Liva Mini PC family, and its all-in-one PCfrom 2-4 November at the Infocomm SEA 2022 exhibit in Bangkok, Thailand.

Leet gaming motherboard and PC

ECS will launch the new Leet gaming seriesthe gaming motherboard Z790H7-A and gaming Barebone PC B660.

Leet Z790H7-A supports Intels 12th and 13th gen processors for LGA 1700 socket, dual channel DDR5 RAM up to 128GB, PCIe 5.0 slot, and 2.5Gb LAN.

The Leet B660 lets users build their own PC much easier. It features a B660H7-M20 motherboard supported by the Intel 12th gen processor for LGA 1700 socket, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 30 series graphic card or AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphic card and a power supply up to 650-watt into a 26-litre system case.

Liva Mini PC designed for diversified applications

The ECS Liva Mini PC family includes the Q, Z, and One series. This PC line provides various models for a wide range of solutions for smart retail, smart transportation, digital signage, video conferencing for business, intelligent edge computing for AI solutions, and home computing for remote work and education.

ECS Liva Q3D and Q3H is built in the Intel Jasper Lake processor. It boasts eMMC up to 128GB and three USB ports in ultra-small size.

Liva Q3D series features the HDMI CEC remote control function for use to control the PC on and off via TV remote controller while Liva Q3H comes with one HDMI-in port to easily connect with a guest PC.

ECS unveils the new generation of Live One seriesOne H610 and One B660 Barebone Mini PCwhich is ideal for various applications such as project research, thin-client, edge computing, gateways, terminals, and smart signages.

Liva all-in-one PC G24-MH610

Powered by Intels 12th Gen processor and expandable memory/storage design, the Liva G24-MH610 offers computing performance and large storage capacity.

With the full HD 23.8-inch LED display, the Liva G24-MH610 can present images and contrast under full HD resolution. To provide users the best viewing and operating experience, the Liva G24-MH610 features 178 degrees wide viewing angle and 10-point touchscreen on display.
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.
include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?> The Disney Company announced it plans to back the Florida Teachers Union teaching of sexual self identity to kids and to racially and sexually diversify Disney characters. As part of the studio's new mission for ethnic diversity Disney just created a plus-sized sister for Tinker Bell. Her name is Taco Bell.

 The Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage will be celebrating its fortieth anniversary in two weeks with a banquet at the Esmeralda Hotel. My stay in November 1986 opened my eyes for good. The greatest day of my life was the day I discovered that I don't need alcohol in order to make bad decisions.

 Barack Obama urged Democrats last week to drop the Woke agenda, stop trying to control speech on social media and stop making every issue about race. Nevertheless Netflix is reported to have just made casting changes in The Crown to make it more inclusive. Arianna Grande will play Queen Latifah.

 The Washington Post reported violence in India between Moslems and Hindus Monday while in America Kanye West is promising to go Def Con 2.0 against the Jews. It's a lucky for me that I'm Christian. It's the only religion on earth that I can make fun of without getting killed within six minutes.

 Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak is the new Prime Minister in Britain. One of my fraternity brothers told me his family in London is exhausted. His daughter has lived through four chancellors, three home secretaries, three prime ministers, two monarchs and she's only four months old.

 British Tories threw out Liz Truss as prime minister and chose Rishi Sunak as prime minister weeks after they threw out Boris Johnson as prime minister. Stay with me here. The next general election in Britain is in two years, or when they run out of conservatives to be prime minister, whichever comes first.

GET ARGUS' DAILY SMILES to your inbox. Sign up for the JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

 The London Daily Mail reports that Rishi Sunak at age forty-two is not only England's youngest PM in 200 years, as a South Asian he's also the first PM of color. Tuesday morning Joe Biden got a call, saying it was Rishi Sunak. Joe apologized saying he doesn't know one Jewish holiday from another.

 President Biden drew praise from human rights activists for pardoning everyone in federal prison on marijuana convictions. Legalization has unforeseen consequences. Las Vegas recently passed a local ordinance legalizing pot smoking, putting an end, once and for all, to the All You Can Eat Buffet.

 President Biden issued a public warning to Vladimir Putin Tuesday not to use a nuclear bomb on Ukraine. Now Putin will be humiliated in front of his right-wing generals UNLESS he goes radioactive in Ukraine. The joke will be on Putin if the Chernobyl nuclear accident gave Ukrainians herd immunity.

 China's leading chipmaker fired its U.S. workers after Apple agreed to comply with Biden's order to stop importing memory chips from China. Biden's order showed extraordinary courage. Because for President Biden to cut off memory chips means that in just a few gigabytes he's going to be on his own.

 North Korea's Kim Jung Un caused alarm in the northwest Pacific launching his recent round of missiles tests aimed at the Sea of Japan. Everybody thinks that Kim is insane to keep firing missiles into the ocean but think about it. He could be the only one who's been holding back Godzilla for years.

 The Border Patrol reported a record number of illegals have crossed the border this year. Many of them are highly motivated people willing to work hard to achieve the American dream. I never dreamed growing up that I could someday get paid for being a functioning idiot but here I am, killing it!

(COMMENT, BELOW)
MATTOON  The City of Mattoon's fall leaf collection for all residential properties within the city limits is scheduled to start on Monday, Oct. 31, and conclude on Dec. 2.

Residents will have weekly collection opportunities. Leaves will be collected on Mondays on the northwest side of town, from 19th Street west to the city limits and Western Avenue north; on Tuesdays on the northeast side, from 19th Street east and Charleston Avenue north; on Wednesdays on the southeast side, from the Canadian National railroad east and Charleston Avenue south; and on Thursdays on the southwest side, from the railroad west and Commercial and Pine avenues south.

Leaves must be in 30-gallon paper yard waste bags to be collected, not plastic bags. Residents must place their leaf bags within 10 feet of the curb of a public street by 7 a.m. to ensure pickup on their scheduled day. Anything placed after 7 a.m. may not be picked up until the following week.

Residents are welcome to take their leaves to the city's yard waste facility along the east side of North Logan Street. The yard waste facility is open daily during daylight hours. Leaves must either be in paper yard waste bags or dumped loose on the leaf pile there.

The city reported that mowing leaves into lawns is an easy alternative to disposing of leaves. The University of Illinois Extension provides information on leaf mulching online at www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/hortihints/0010a.html.
A 19-year-old male and a woman were injured Wednesday following a domestic disturbance in Quarry Park, authorities said.

The incident happened at 7:42 p.m. when the man attempted to break up the disturbance, which involved people whom he knows, police Lt. Tyler Walley said.

Thats when the man was shot in the arm, Walley said. The man drove from the park, but a suspect followed him in a car and continued to shoot at the victim.

The gunfire resulted in shots hitting a house on Argonne Boulevard, and grazing a woman in the home, Walley said. She received minor injuries.

The man was later found on Waughtown Street and Reynolds Forest Drive, police said. Walley didnt identify the injured man and woman.

The gunfire from the suspect also resulted in shots being fired into a womans car, but the women wasnt injured, Walley said.

Shell casings were found at Quarry Park, which is off Reynolds Park Road, police said.

Officers are looking for the shooter and a blue passenger car, Walley said.

The Winston-Salem Police Departments gun crime reduction unit is investigating the incident.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is honoring National First Responders Day on Friday with a free original glazed doughnut and free brewed hot or iced coffee.

Eligible first responders include law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics/EMTs, emergency operators, dispatchers, and search and rescue personnel.

They can redeem the free doughnut and brewed coffee when they show a valid ID or badge at participating Krispy Kreme shops.

Its our pleasure to show our appreciation for first responders with a free treat on National First Responders Day, said Dave Skena, global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme.

We are thankful for all those who protect and serve communities across America.
Sulzer Pumpen (Deutschland) GmbH has marked its 150th anniversary by holding a celebration at its pump factory in Bruchsal. Gathering local dignitaries and colleagues, the event showcased the rich history of the company and its goals for the future.

The facility in Bruchsal is world-renowned for the design and manufacture of pumps used in industrial applications worldwide. Furthermore, its production capabilities are utilised by Sulzers global network of service centres, to ensure OEM parts are delivered quickly to customers.

Pumps manufactured at the facility have been a popular choice in the energy industry for decades, with models such as the GSG also being adopted for CO2 capture and storage. As well as reducing the environmental impact of customer processes, the recent installation of a photovoltaic plant at the site is expected to save up to 176 tonnes of CO2 emissions and generate 300000 kWh of renewable electricity annually.

Company heritage

David Pistor, Managing Director at Sulzer Pumpen GmbH, kicked off proceedings with a lively presentation on the heritage of the company. Looking to the future as well, he explored on-going energy saving projects at the facility and for customers across industries.

The Mayoress of Bruchsal, Cornelia Petzold-Schick, then gave a speech, celebrating the incredible milestone achieved by the Sulzer team in Germany. Sulzer can trace its roots in Bruchsal back to 1952, when Rudolf Ernst Weise first opened the pump manufacturing facility in the city.

Guests of honour at the event included Andreas Weise, descendant of the founder family, and Hubert Groll, founder of the German Service Organisation - both warmly welcomed by attendees.

Two senior management representatives of the local energy provider, EWB, also joined in the event. Armin Baumgartner and Sebastian Heilemann delivered a presentation on how they collaborate with Sulzer and other companies of the region to support key energy infrastructure.

State-of-the-art pump manufacturing facility

Visitors were also treated to a guided tour of the state-of-the-art pump manufacturing facility. Sulzer experts highlighted advanced manufacturing technologies to attendees, who got a chance to see pumps being assembled on the production line.

Pistor concluded: A big thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this incredible milestone. Id like to extend my gratitude to the Mayoress for visiting us on the day too. Since 1872, Sulzer has been delivering engineering innovations in Germany, and we will be continuing this long into the future. Im grateful to our customers, colleagues and the local community for contributing to this amazing achievement.-- TradeArabia News Service
Altria Group Inc. needed just a week after ending its U.S. joint venture for one heated cigarette product to form another  this time with Japan Tobacco for its Ploom brand.

The manufacturers announced Thursday they will attempt to market and sell Ploom heated tobacco sticks in the U.S. through the joint venture.

Meanwhile, Altria is including "our expanded pipeline of wholly owned products" featuring Marlboro consumable products. Marlboro is the No. 1 U.S. tobacco brand, foremost from its traditional combustible cigarette products.

On Oct. 20, Philip Morris International Inc. placed a $2.7 billion wager on the future of U.S. heated cigarettes sales by reaching an agreement with Altria to gain full rights to Altrias IQOS products in the U.S. as of April 30, 2024.

However, the IQOS product hasnt been available in the U.S. since November because of a legal dispute involving Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. that does not affect PMI. PMI is expected to begin U.S. production as part of re-introducing IQOS domestically.

Japan Tobacco International is providing products that include: a tobacco heating device intended to heat the consumable without combusting; and a consumable that meets the definition of a cigarette under the U.S. Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act.

Each company will make their branded products in the joint venture, with Ploom gaining access to Altria's more than 200,000 U.S. retail network.

However, it could take until mid- to late-2025 to gain approval from the Food and Drug Administration for the Ploom products, and additional years to launch production.

The manufacturers said they expect to combine their scientific and regulatory expertise to jointly prepare Food and Drug Administration filings for the latest version of Ploom products.

"The parties currently expect to submit pre-market tobacco product applications for these products in the first half of 2025," according to a news release.

Barclays analyst Jain Gaurav said it could be until 2027 before U.S. customers are able to purchase Ploom products.

"We have written in our June note that a partnership between Altria and Japan Tobacco could be beneficial and could solve a number of strategic issues that each of these companies faces individually," Gaurav said.

"However, we do not expect commercial benefits anytime soon, as Altira intends to submit products for PMTA review only by 2024 or 2025, implying market launch only in 2027 assuming the FDA takes two years to review the PMTA."

With Altria releasing its U.S. rights to IQOS in April 2024, it could give PMI as much as a three-year head start on U.S. sale over Ploom that could be pivotal in establishing tobacco consumers' preferences.

The details

The Altria-Japan Tobacco joint venture is known as Horizon Innovations LLC.

The ownership stake will be 75% Altria and 25% Japan Tobacco. Altria will make an initial $150 million investment, after which investment costs will be split between the manufacturers.

We believe this relationship can accelerate harm reduction for adult smokers across the globe," Billy Gifford, Altrias chief executive, said in a statement.

We believe Moving Beyond Smoking in the U.S. requires multiple FDA-authorized products within each smoke-free category to appeal to a diverse range of adult smokers.

"We believe that our joint venture and pipeline of heated tobacco products position us well to increase adoption of smoke-free products.

Altria and Japan Tobacco also signed a long-term, non-binding global memorandum of understanding "to explore commercial opportunities for a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products.

An overlooked aspect of the Altria-Japan Tobacco partnership is Altria gaining access to Japan Tobacco's global distribution network for its own heated cigarette product, known as HTC1.

Cowen & Co. analyst Vivian Azer said final product design for HTC1 is expected by the end of 2023, with an FDA filing expected by the end of 2024. She said the manufacturers "will test HTC1 in an international market in late 2024/early 2025."

Were very enthusiastic to launch our Ploom brand in the U.S., the worlds largest reduced-risk products market in value, through our partnership with the market leader, Altria," said Masamichi Terabatake, JT Group chief executive and president of the Tobacco Business.

Terabatake said the agreement to collaborate on other non-combustible products "will increase the global harm reduction possibilities for adult consumers and drive incremental value for the JT Group and Altria."

Both manufacturers stressed their belief that the heated tobacco category "remains largely undeveloped in the U.S."

"Our extensive U.S. adult smoker research indicates that heated tobacco products can appeal to adult smokers who are seeking satisfying smoke-free products that contain real tobacco.

"We also believe that other adult smokers interested in heated tobacco will prefer a product format that is different from traditional cigarettes, such as a heated tobacco capsule product."

PMI initiative

PMI said it believes "our commercial plans include full-scale launches in key cities and regions with rapid progression to a national presence, and we believe that IQOS heat-not-burn products could account for around 10% of total U.S. cigarette and heated tobacco unit volume by 2030, PMI chief executive Jacek Olczak said in an Oct. 20 statement.

The new agreement will provide PMI will full commercialization rights to IQOS, but it will lose access to market the products as Marlboro, the No. 1 U.S. tobacco brand.

PMI paid $1 billion in cash to Altria as part of the new agreement, with the remaining $1.7 billion, plus interest, due by July.

We are ready to invest behind IQOS to bring it to market at scale across the U.S., leveraging the proven capabilities of our outstanding commercial engine, which we will deploy domestically during the transition period to April 30, 2024, Olczak said.
Q: With the year winding down, I was wondering how long I should keep important documents. Im running out of room and need to start throwing some of the old ones away.

M.B.

Answer: Different documents should be held for different lengths of time. Here are some recommendations from the Internal Revenue Service and Better Business Bureau.

Generally, you must keep your records that support an item of income, deduction or credit shown on your tax return until the period of limitations for that tax return runs out, the IRS says.

Keep records for three years unless you dont report income thats more than 25% of the gross income that you reported. Keep those records for six years.

If you dont file a return or you file a fraudulent return keep the records permanently.

Lechelle Yates of the Better Business Bureau of Central and Northwest North Carolina provided information about the retention of other types of documents.

Keep these records permanently:

* Major financial records.

* Birth and death certificates.

* Social Security cards.

* Marriage licenses.

* Divorce papers.

* Military discharge documents.

* Life insurance policies.

* Wills and living wills.

Keep the following documents for one year:

* Regular statements, pay stubs.

* Keep either a digital or hard copy of your monthly bank and credit card statements for the last year.

* You should also hold on to pay stubs so that you can use them to verify the accuracy of your Form W-2 when tax season arrives and receipts for large purchases.

* The Federal Trade Commission suggests holding on to your paid medical bills for a year before throwing the bills away.

The BBB recommends keeping documents that support the information that you provided on your tax return for three to seven years.

They also recommend keeping brokerage statements, tuition payments and charitable donation receipts for three to seven years.

The BBB also recommends keeping utility bills, and bank deposits and withdrawals for a month until you can verify that the transactions have cleared.

Tax preparation volunteers needed

The AARP Tax-Aide program does free individual federal and state tax returns during tax season.

Volunteers are needed to prepare the returns. Volunteers should be computer proficient, have good communication/interpersonal abilities, be detail oriented, and have a willingness to learn.

Volunteers are also needed to schedule appointments and to verify identification and taxpayer information before assignment to a tax preparer. Training is required, and tax preparers must pass an exam to be certified.

To complete an application, go to www.aarp.org/taxaide and click on the Become a Volunteer button.

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

For more information, call Paul McElroy at 336-955-1062 or Andy Surasky at 336-777-6189. Leave a message with your name, phone number and the reason you are calling.
A teenager was shot and wounded during a robbery at a ballfield Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police responded at 2:43 p.m. to the 3600 block of Wyandotte Avenue on a reported shooting, police said.

When officers arrived on the scene, they found Randy Alexander Sanchez, 18, suffering a gunshot wound to his arm and lying in a yard on Wyandotte Avenue, police said.

Sanchez was taken to a local hospital, where he was being treated for a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

Investigators determined that Sanchez met two other teenagers in the ballfields at 810 W. Clemmonsville Road, police said.

The suspects robbed Sanchez of his money, police said. A physical struggle between Sanchez and the suspects then followed over the money.

One of the suspects revealed a handgun and shot Sanchez in his arm, police said. Sanchez and the suspects then ran from the scene before the officers arrived.

Officers used a police dog to search for the suspects, but they were not found, police said.

The Winston-Salem Police Departments gun crime reduction unit is investigating the shooting.

Anyone with information about this shooting can call Winston-Salem police at 336-773-7700, Crime Stoppers at 336-727-2800 or its Spanish line at 336-728-3904.

Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County is on Facebook.

The Text-A-Tip program at 336-276-1717 allows people to text tips, photos and videos to the people.
Gwen Zelda Crawford lived in Winston-Salem barely five months before she died in January, her brother, Jacky Jones said Wednesday.

Crawford, 60, grew up with six brothers and one sister and had three children, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren at the time she died, Jones said. She had spent most of her life in Birmingham, Alabama but moved to Winston-Salem in mid-September so that Jones, a nurse, could take better care of her. She died Jan. 8 of this year at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where she had gotten open-heart surgery.

On Tuesday, Forsyth County District Attorney Jim ONeill said Johnathan Howard Hayes, a former nurse at the medical center, murdered Crawford and another patient, Vickie Lynne Lingerfelt, in January by giving both women lethal doses of insulin. ONeill said Hayes almost killed another patient, Pamela Jean Little, by giving her a near-fatal dose of insulin. Hayes, 47, is now charged with two counts of murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder.

Littles mother declined to comment to a Journal reporter on Wednesday. Little, 63, died of cirrhosis of the liver in May. Lingerfelts family members could not be reached.

All three women were in their 60s. ONeill declined to give specific information about the case but said Tuesday that Atrium Health officials conducted an investigation and presented their findings to him and Winston-Salem Police detectives on March 21. Police then launched their own investigation, leading to the charges announced on Tuesday. Hayes, who worked at the hospital for 15 years, was fired March 18.

He made his first appearance in Forsyth District Court Wednesday morning and is being held without bond at Forsyth County Jail. His next court date is Nov. 10.

Crawford had a number of health issues and had been on dialysis for 14 years. She was also confined to a wheelchair because one of her legs had been amputated.

Jones said his sister had adjusted quite well to Winston-Salem. She had found friends, and people loved her. She was making her dialysis appointments.

Then in late December, after Christmas, she had chest pains while at a dialysis appointment. She was rushed to the hospital, Jones said, where doctors determined she needed open-heart surgery.

Jones, who said he was his sisters medical power of attorney, talked to his sister and his doctors about the procedure, and Crawford agreed. The surgery went well, and she recovered for five days in the ICU before being sent to another less-intensive floor. Then she got sicker and was moved back up to the ICU, Jones said.

At some point, Jones asked his sister if she wanted the doctors to do everything to save her life. His sister said no. On Jan. 8, she died.

According to a timeline provided by ONeill, Hayes gave the lethal dose of insulin to Crawford on Jan. 5.

Jones said no one from the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office or the Winston-Salem Police Department contacted him. He found out two months after she died that foul play was suspected.

Her son said investigators had told him that Crawford was given 20,000 units of insulin.

When he told me that they were telling me that a nurse had given a lethal dose of insulin, my initial thought was disbelief, Jones said.

Jones said he couldnt fathom his sister surviving several days if she had been given that much insulin.

How do you get a hold of 20,000 units of insulin? he asked.

But Jones said Wednesday he is not focused on Hayes arrest in his sisters death. He and his sister were close, only 13 months apart in age. And the only thing that concerned him was his sisters happiness, he said.

One of the highlights of her day while she lived in Winston-Salem was rolling her wheelchair down to her brothers garage and awaiting the arrival of Jones son, who is now 8, from his school bus around 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. She would give Jones son a huge hug.

She lived  to get that hug from her nephew every day, he said.

The thing that gives him peace is knowing that his sister was happy in her last days in Winston-Salem, Jones said.

I know that my sister was loved, I know that my sister was happy, he said. It doesnt matter what anybody say, do, find, point fingers at, theyre not going to change thatthats the reason why I dont care about all that other stuff. All I know is my sister was content.
Forsyth County and Winston-Salem are poised to join forces in an effort to lure German motor maker Ziehl-Abegg Inc. to the city as a base for its North American operations with the granting of economic development incentives to the company.

Its a deal that could bring 200 existing jobs to Forsyth County from Guilford County, add another 300 jobs, and then over a 10-year period possibly grow to a workforce of 800, according to economic development officials here.

And the jobs would have an average wage of about $60,000 per year. The company is described as wanting to move quickly and be in operation by the end of 2023.

On Thursday, the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing and vote on whether to grant up to $430,000 in incentives to Ziehl-Abegg, which already has a manufacturing plant in Greensboro.

Winston-Salems Finance Committee has endorsed a proposal to grant up to $632,947 in economic development incentives to the company under the name Project Bluefin, but Forsyth County documents in the agenda packet for Thursdays meeting identify Project Bluefin as Ziehl-Abegg.

Winston-Salem is scheduled to vote on city incentives on Nov. 1.

In both cases, the amount of the incentives is tied to the amount of property tax the company would pay. The countys incentives would be spread over five years, and the citys over seven years. In each year, and for each government, the incentive payments to the company would be no more than 50% of the net new tax revenue.

The incentives are tied to both job production and capital investment. Taxable capital investment is expected to total $50.5 million over five years, including $4.5 million in building improvements and $46 million in machinery and equipment.

Ziehl-Abegg produces motors for ventilation systems, including food storage, cold storage, clean rooms in hospitals, schools, governmental buildings, data centers and agricultural systems. Headquartered in Germany, the company has 4,700 employees worldwide and 108 sales offices around the globe.

When Mayor Allen Joines discussed the industrial prospect with members of the Winston-Salem City Council, he took pains to point out that he had vetted the citys offer with Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan. The cities have a standing agreement not to poach each others companies, Joines said, but in this case he said the company had approached the city over its prospects here.

Still, officials with Greater Winston-Salem Inc., the citys chamber of commerce and business recruiter, told city officials during a recent presentation that the city has fierce competition for the company, which is also said to be looking at locations in other parts of the state and in South Carolina and Tennessee.
In 1993, Alan Schuster got a tip from a colleague  go to Torontos Harbourfront Festival and check out a new show from England that had performers tearing around the stage, banging on trash cans, boards, buckets and each other with sticks and their hands.

That show was STOMP." And off-Broadway producer Schuster immediately knew what he wanted to do: get it to New York.

I thought it was fantastic, Shuster said. With a little negotiation, we brought it to the Orpheum Theatre a few months later. Its been running at the Orpheum since 94. Itll be 29 years in February. We started the first tour that fall with the original company. Weve been coming to Lincoln every three, four years since then.

The return of the U.S. touring company of STOMP to the Lied Center for Performing Arts for two shows beginning Thursday is a special stop for Schuster, whos got a theater degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, married local woman Patrice Kamas and has spent plenty of holidays in the Capital city.

A native of Peoria, Illinois, Schuster came to Nebraska from Drake University, where hed been studying political science and worked on Robert F. Kennedys 1968 presidential campaign.

After Kennedy was assassinated, Schuster turned away from politics and began studying theater at NU, spending hours in the Temple Building, honing his crafts.

I worked primarily at the (Nebraska Repertory Theatre), he said, The standards at the Rep were pretty professional in those days. I worked as an assistant director, and acted quite a bit.

Schuster moved to Los Angeles, where he landed some bit parts in movies. When he and Patrice saw a production of A Midsummer Nights Dream, he knew he wanted be a part of the theater world.

Moving to England for a year, the Schusters returned to Lincoln, where he finished his degree and she got a teaching certificate. Then came the move to New York, where a Nebraska connection paid off for Schuster.

I got a job through Bob Hall, who was the artistic director of the George Street Playhouse at the time, Schuster said. Hall introduced Schuster to the theaters director, who hired him to run George Streets children's theater program  I ended up hiring a lot of Nebraksans through that program, he said, adding that many of those Nebraska have met regularly since then and post-pandemic Zoom meetings.

While driving from his home in Manhattans East Village to George Street in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Schuster would pass a building with a banner theater for sale. He bought the building and started his off-Broadway run, presenting, over the years, more than 50 productions, starring the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, William H. Macy and Rob Morrow and operating a half-dozen theaters.

When he brought STOMP, to his Orpheum Theatre, Schuster was both producer and presenter.

I was a landlord and I was a producer, he said. As a landlord, you try to be programmatic. As a producer, you have to fall in love. As a landlord, I thought this should run. Did I think it would run 29 years? No. As a producer, I thought, `This is fantastic.'

STOMP won Obie and Drama Desk awards for the most unique theatrical experience in 1994 and the cast was featured on Quincy Jones Qs Juke Joint album the following year. In 1996, Jones used the STOMP cast in one of the musical numbers on the Academy Awards telecast, exposing the show to a huge worldwide audience.

Then came countless high-visibility appearances on everything from Mister Rogers Neighborhood and Sesame Street to the closing ceremonies of the 2012 London Olympics, making STOMP one of the worlds most widely recognized theatrical productions.

Its part of the zeitgeist, Schuster said. Saturday Night Live has done a number of bits on us. Weve been on every interview show you can imagine. Its one of those things where you can say something about it and people instantly know what youre talking about.

STOMP, Schuster said, has had its three-decade run for multiple reasons  because it was groundbreaking, its instant accessibility and, after a few years, its intergenerational appeal.

When we started, it was at the cutting edge of performance art, Schuster said. Its non-verbal, its about the beat, so its easy to follow. It uses common objects so its understandable. Its all about the rhythm. When the performers get the hand-clap call-and-response going, the audience gets it and gets engaged. Youve got them.

The people who were 10 or 11, 20 years ago and saw it now have kids that are 10 and 11 years old, coming to it. Were now in the third generation thats coming to see the production. Its no longer on the cutting edge, but it still captures the public imagination.

Even as it closes in on 30 years, STOMP remains fresh, Schuster said, largely because its creators, Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas are still involved with the show, working in new ideas and instruments into the production.

Schuster, one of the executive producers of STOMP, which has U.S. and European touring companies along with the Orpheum, where it has been performed more than 10,000 times. In that role, he visits the road company on a couple stops each year.

So hell be in Lincoln, watching one performance from the audience and one from the side of the stage. And hell take some time to wander around the campus and stop in at the Temple Building, where his career began.

Schuster said "STOMP" is likely to be back in Lincoln in a few years as the tour, like Bob Dylans, may turn out to be never ending.

As long as people want to see us, well be seen, Schuster said. In terms of the shows that go out in the world, were inexpensive for the presenters and have a strong, loyal audience. Because of those two things, people want to have us back on a cycle and we also go to new places. Well happily play the Lied Center any time.
A 24-year-old Lincoln woman was arrested Wednesday after she fled an attempted traffic stop on Interstate 80 and ultimately crashed into a field near the Lincoln Airport, the Nebraska State Patrol alleged.

Troopers tried to stop Sarah Norton near the 27th Street exit of the interstate just before 3 p.m. Wednesday after clocking her Toyota Highlander speeding westbound at 96 mph, the State Patrol said in a news release.

When a trooper initiated the traffic stop, Norton accelerated, the agency alleged.

Three miles later, Norton lost control of the vehicle, striking the median before driving into a field near the airport and coming to rest in a creek bed, according to the State Patrol.

Troopers arrested the 24-year-old on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, a pair of drug possession charges and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Norton was taken to Bryan West Campus for treatment of minor injuries sustained in the crash.
Fifty-five years ago on Wednesday, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of a group of students at Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia and asked them a question.

What is your life's blueprint?

So, it seemed like destiny to Bobbie Ehrlich then, that on the anniversary of that famous speech, her former students would find their answer in the Belmont Community Center gym.

On Wednesday, Doane University announced a new scholarship program for eight former Belmont Elementary students whose journey preparing for the annual MLK Youth Rally and March as part of the school's TRACKS mentorship program was captured in an Emmy-nominated documentary.

"What are you going to do with your blueprint?" Ehrlich said, echoing MLK after the scholarships were announced in a surprise ceremony. "You just got the opportunity to have the most amazing experiences unfold."

The Belmont Eight Scholarship Program will allow the eight seventh graders  Eveline Ungery, Alejandra Moreno, Mohamed Sabiel, Jevon Paynre, Kenadee Broussard, Alex Morris, Leriya'h Clay and Payton Craine  to visit the campus, attend leadership classes and eventually attend Doane for free.

"It was an easy decision because you bring so much talent, so much vision and your future is limitless," said Luis Sotelo, Doane vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The scholarships, funded by Doane, will provide "culturally responsive educational experience" annually for other students as well. Starting in sixth grade, students will be offered a number of leadership and service opportunities, and those who successfully complete the program will be admitted to Doane for free.

"It kind of surprised me," said Morris. "I just hope that everyone who gets this opportunity, they do good stuff.  Like, we're the first and I hope we're not the last."

Ashley Morris, Alex's mother, said her son has already visited Doane and "loved it." She was "so proud" and "excited" when he was offered the scholarship.

"I had no idea it was going to be of this magnitude," she said.

The eight Belmont TRACKS scholars were featured in the 2021 documentary "We Will Not Be Silent," which tracked the then-fifth graders as they prepared for the MLK Youth Rally and March, an annual gathering of students in Lincoln honoring MLK and other civil rights leaders' legacies.

Nearly every crop of TRACKS scholars had done the same thing: Take a book about the civil rights movement and transform it into a performance piece.

But the pandemic had arrived. The 2021 rally  an important one with the social unrest of the year before fresh on everyone's mind  was in jeopardy.

"Many of our kids, our Black and brown scholars, already are not receiving equitable opportunities, and COVID expanded that," said Pete Ferguson, a youth development coordinator at LPS, who helped start the TRACKS program. "We'd be doing a disservice if I and the other community members" canceled the rally.

But they didn't.

Instead, the 2021 rally went virtual. Brian Seifferlein and David Koehn of LPS's media services decided to document the unusual journey. The two ended up shooting hundreds of hours of footage parsed down into a one-hour, black-and-white documentary.

The movie was shown at the Lincoln Community Playhouse and later nominated for a regional Emmy.

Then Marilyn Johnson Farr and her colleagues reached out.

Doane University wanted to air the movie at the Crete college for prospective teachers to see and hear voices of students that they would soon serve in the future.

The showing was in October, and when it was over, Ferguson got on the stage and made a pitch: Let's not let the story end here. Don't let these students walk away empty-handed.

"He just made a very moving request," Johnson Farr, a professor of education.

The college students were so moved  by Ferguson and the film both  they wrote letters in support of the scholarships.

The idea eventually came before President Roger Hughes, who jumped on board.

"Immediately he was like, 'Let's do it,'" Ferguson said.

The scholarships are paid for by Doane and will cover the cost of undergraduate tuition, but it will require an investment of time on the part of the scholars, Johnson Farr said. They'll visit the campus, take part in educational camps and meet with Hughes.

In essence, the foundation will already be laid by the time they graduate so they'll come to college prepared.

"It's a great beginning," Johnson Farr said.

The TRACKS program dates back to Ferguson's time volunteering in a fourth grade classroom more than 20 years ago.

Ferguson, who was working for Leadership Lincoln at the time, proved so popular with the students that each fourth grader wanted him as his mentor.

Instead, the school picked students from every class based on nomination letters and staff input.

Thus, TRACKS  which stands for talent, respect, ambition, commitment and knowledge  was born.

The mentorship group is seen as a way to give young, diverse students a leg up, much like Doane's scholarships will aim to do, too.

"There was a family with me and I wasn't alone," Mohamed Sabiel said about his time in the program.

Kenadee Broussard said the program allowed her to meet more people and opened up doors for her.

Like on Wednesday, when she and her peers began to draw their own blueprint.

"This is amazing," said Kip Broussard, Kenadee Broussard's brother. "I don't know if they realize what an amazing opportunity they truly have in front of them right now, but they will."
A $2.5 million gift from the Johnny Carson Foundation will create a new endowed directorship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln center that bears the former entertainer's name.

Megan Elliott, the founding director of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts, will be the first recipient of the endowed position, UNL said in a news release.

The endowment provides the director an annual salary stipend, as well as funds to support research, programs or other strategic initiatives.

There are 125 students enrolled in emerging media arts programs at UNL this fall, in everything from artificial intelligence to virtual production.

"Johnny was a pioneer of the emerging technology of his day  television," UNL Chancellor Ronnie Green said. "By supporting an endowment to create this Johnny Carson Endowed Directorship, we ensure that the Carson Center will continue to be led in perpetuity by transformational leaders like Megan Elliott."

The gift from the Johnny Carson Foundation  the Norfolk native's philanthropy with UNL dates back to 1978  comes during the week of what would have been the late-night host's 97th birthday.

Members of the Johnny Carson Foundation will be in Lincoln this weekend to meet with students and faculty at the Carson Center and celebrate Carson's legacy at the university, UNL said.

After establishing the Johnny Carson Scholarship Fund in 1978, Carson also provided a gift in support of construction for the Lied Center for Performing Arts in 1988. The Johnny Carson Theater within the Lied Center bears his name.

In 2004, Carson donated $5.3 million to support theater and film programs at the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, which helped renovate and expand the Temple Building at 12th and R streets.

After Carson's death in 2005, his estate gifted $5 million to UNL to expand support for theater, film and broadcasting programs. In turn, UNL renamed its Department of Theatre Arts to the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film.

The Johnny Carson Foundation was also instrumental in the creation of the Center for Emerging Media Arts, giving a $20 million gift to establish the center that opened in 2019 and provided $5 million more to create the Johnny Carson Opportunity Scholarship Fund in 2021.

Andy Belser, the dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, said UNL has a special relationship with the Johnny Carson Foundation, which has created a "vital hub of interdisciplinary research and creativity."

"The Johnny Carson Foundation understands our need to both recruit and retain top talent for the position of director of the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts like we have now in Megan Elliott," Belser said.

Allan Alexander, president and a director of the Johnny Carson Foundation, said the foundation was happy with the work Elliott has done in leading the center.

"In just a few short years, and faster than expected, she has transformed the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts from a dream to a reality," Alexander said. "She is a world-class leader, and it is our great pleasure to provide her with this endowed directorship with the hopes that she will remain at the Carson Center well into the future."
Hong Kong: Catering trade restrictions to be lifted

The Government announced today that it will ease some social distancing measures from November 3, including lifting restrictions on the operating and dine-in hours for catering businesses and scheduled premises.

Other measures to be relaxed include rescinding the requirement of patrons wearing masks during photo-taking on stage at events held at catering business premises, premises where events are held and other scheduled premises.

Moreover, barbecue sites managed by the Government will be reopened. Relevant departments will gradually reopen their facilities starting November 3.

Noting that the epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains stable, the Government said the number of new cases hovers at around some 5,000 per day and the figures of severe cases and deaths have not recorded a marked increase amid the emergence of new mutant strains.

On the premise of containing the epidemic, more extensive daily activities should be allowed with a higher number of participants so as to return the lives of citizens to normal in an orderly manner, it added.

Click here for details.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Saudi Tourism Authority has held a promotional meeting in Egypt, with the participation of more than 35 entities representing the most important components of the Saudi tourism system.

The meeting shed light on the enormous potential, facilities provided, and investment opportunities by Saudi Arabia's tourism sector.

The meeting is a reflection of Saudi Tourism Authoritys efforts to promote the kingdom's tourism and attract a larger number of tourists from regional markets, in addition to supporting and empowering the private sector by concluding important agreements and building fruitful partnerships, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

Saudi Tourism Authority also invited key travel and tourism companies in Egypt to participate in meetings with influential authorities in the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia.

The organisations taking part in the meeting included the Tourism Development Fund, the Royal Commission for AlUla, Saudi Cruise and MDL Beast, in addition to many major companies operating in the tourism sector, including airlines, hotels, and tourism agencies, as well as the "Nusuk" platform, one of the initiatives of the pilgrim service programme.
Patrons were dining inside a Maryland restaurant after a woman's dead body was found in the bathroom, news outlets reported.

The body was found in the womens restroom of Jaspers Restaurant, an American fare establishment in Prince Georges County, on Oct. 12, Fox 5 reported.

First responders arrived on the scene in the evening and said the woman likely died from a heart attack, according to Fox 5.

The womens bathroom was closed to customers, but the mens room stayed open for all customers to use, according to a police report. But otherwise the restaurant continued to operate normally.

The body remained in the restaurant for hours, WUSA 9 reported.

In a statement on its website, the restaurant said that upon discovering the body, employees quickly alerted authorities and listened to their instructions.

Last night one of our customers tragically passed away within our establishment, the restaurant said in the statement. On behalf of our ownership, management and staff we send the sincerest and most heartfelt support and condolences to the deceaseds family.

The incident sparked a discussion on Twitter after a post criticizing the restaurant went viral.

Lets talk about how the establishment didnt close the restaurant and let her body stay in the bathroom until closing..NEVER GOING THERE AGAIN, one person said on Twitter.

The body was later removed through a side entrance, according to news outlets.

The Prince Georges County Police Department told WUSA 9 it was investigating the death.
GRAND ISLAND  A Texas teen charged with killing his mother, whose body was found in the trunk of a car he crashed in Nebraska, has been released from the hospital and faces a hearing to be sent back to his home state, authorities said Tuesday.

Tyler Roenz, 17, was discharged from a Nebraska hospital last week and is being held in Hall County, where he faces an extradition hearing on Friday, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a news release.

The teen has been charged as an adult with murder in Texas in the death of his mother, 49-year-old Michelle Roenz, according to Harris County Sheriffs Deputy Thomas Gilliland. The two were reported missing from their home in Harris County on Oct. 13 by the teens father.

The next day, Michelle Roenz's body was found in the trunk of car that her son crashed during a police chase in Nebraska, authorities said. Investigators have said Michelle Roenz died from strangulation and blunt force trauma.
Last year, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services received an appropriation to come up with a plan for a halfway back house, a structured environment for parole violators short of returning them to prison.

During that 2021 session, the Legislature also mandated a comprehensive facilities study and a study to determine whether inmates were being properly classified based on security and programming needs.

Back in 2015, lawmakers required the department produce an electronic medical records tracking system and study the effectiveness of its rehabilitation programming.

As of now, none of the studies, plans or systems has been produced.

That failure to produce the reports last week led senators to rightfully question whether the troubled, recalcitrant department has intentionally ignored directives. The situation very likely will place it under even more scrutiny for failed policies and inaction that have contributed to Nebraska having the countrys most overcrowded prison system.

Interim Corrections Director Diane Sabatka-Rine, who had been on the job for just four days at the time of the Judiciary Committees public hearing on the failure to deliver the reports, had a handful of excuses and explanations for the departments inaction that seemed, frankly, unconvincing.

The facilities study, she said, will be done by the end of year and the inmate classification study by March, both more than a year after they should have been completed. The 2015 programming study was launched but never completed due to staff turnover, another chronic Corrections Department issue.

Most troubling of all, the department has reported that it will create 96 beds of transitional housing for parolees, changing, without authorization, the Legislature's intent to create the halfway back house.

The latter is simply open defiance of a Legislative mandate and should be reversed.

The delays, Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha suggested, appear to have been deliberate. The practical impact was the withholding of information and analysis from the public while senators debated earlier this year the need for a new $270 million, 1,500-bed prison to replace the Nebraska State Penitentiary.

Senators set aside money for a new prison, but, wisely, did not appropriate it. So the issues of a new prison, overcrowding and the need for sentencing and corrections reform are sure to return to the Legislature in January.

That will be a new session with a new Legislature, which, we hope, will, unlike its predecessors that repeatedly kicked those cans down the road, take meaningful action to address the issues.

There will also be a new administration in the Capitol next year, a change that, again, we hope, will produce a more cooperative and transparent relationship with the Legislature and public than that of the Ricketts Administration and former director Scott Frakes.

And, importantly, the reports and studies must be completed and made public before the Legislature considers any bills, has any debates or takes a single vote on corrections matters.
KENOSHA  Carthage College hosts the all-day Lakeside Band Festival Saturday, Oct. 29, offering high school students the chance to interact with college musicians.

The festival finale is a free concert 7 p.m. Saturday in A.F. Siebert Chapel, during which the participants perform with Carthages Wind Orchestra, directed by Professor James Ripley.

Highlights of the festival include:

Guest Conductor/Composer Andrew Boysen Jr. is the first guest to return to lead the Festival Honor Band.

He was last featured as our guest at the third Band Festival, back in 2002, said Ripley, the director of this years event. His return 20 years later will include a program comprised largely of his own compositions, including one of his newest, composed for solo classical guitar and band. Senior music and marketing major Sophie Shulman will be playing this work, titled Tarantula and based on the Italian dance, the tarantella.

Participants come from several high schools: Tremper and Indian Trail in Kenosha, plus high schools in Oak Creek, Waterford, Slinger and Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Illinois high schools participating are Zion-Benton, Niles West and Libertyville.

There are two selections that fit the Halloween theme: Tartantula and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The Wind Orchestra will play an accompaniment to a short film animated in a graphic novel style, telling the story of two super-heroes who fall in love.

Carthages chamber winds group, AMATI will be performing a transcription of one of the true gems of the orchestral repertoire, Maurice Ravels Mother Goose Suite, Ripley said.

Over the years, the Lakeside Band Festival has brought musical talent from all over the United States, Australia and the Netherlands to Carthage.

Admission to the 7 p.m. concert is free, and everyone is welcome. Tickets are not required.
RACINE  An Illinois man allegedly broke into Lathrop Food Mart and stole $309 from the scratch-off machine.

Kevin W. Cartwright, 52, of Gurnee, was charged with felony counts of burglary of a building or dwelling and possession of burglarious tools and misdemeanor counts of obstructing an officer, theft and criminal damage to property.

According to a criminal complaint:

At 3:30 a.m. on Monday, officers were sent to Lathrop Food Mart at 1347 Lathrop Ave. for a man banging on a window.

Upon arrival, officers found the front window shattered and hanging out of the frame. They found the suspect on foot and identified him as Cartwright. He had $309 in his pocket.

Officers went into the business and found a scratch-off machine which was opened and the money was emptied. They spoke to a witness who said he heard a loud banging and saw a man in a dark coat banging on the window of the food mart. The man then broke the glass and entered. Surveillance footage showed Cartwright break in and then try tampering with the camera. He broke the window with a crowbar and pried open the scratch-off machine to steal the money inside.

Cartwright was given a $500 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is on Nov. 3 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show.
RACINE  It has been a month since Hurricane Ian swept across Florida, but the historic damage and recovery efforts have largely been overshadowed by other news.

For the people of Florida, the aftermath goes on largely out of the spotlight.

Jeff Berard, director of the Journey Disaster Team, serving Racine, Kenosha, and Walworth counties, has been in continual contact with national partners about what they may need to help the people of Florida recover.

The team was able to send a semi-truck loaded with supplies to an area near Fort Myers last week, thanks to their many partners  including Amazon and Burlingtons Boss Services LLC, who donated the semi that transported 23 pallets of necessities.

We loaded up that truck full of critical supplies that were needed in the area, Berard said.

Supplies included non-perishable food, diapers, baby wipes, Gatorade, energy drinks and gloves for the cleanup.

Members of Journey Church raised the $4,000 for fuel.

This is the second natural disaster the Journey Disaster Team has responded to this year. In January and February, members of the team traveled to Kentucky following deadly tornadoes.

In Florida

Pastor Wendell Smith provided a written update from Hardee County, Florida, a rural area that was hit with a Category 2 hurricane and winds up to 105 mph.

He said the hurricane hit at about 8 p.m. Wednesday night and the effects lasted until the morning hours. He described the wind damage and flooding as significant. They were without power for seven days.

Cutting Edge Ministries Food Bank, an effort by Faith Temple Church of God, was ready Saturday morning to begin passing out food and drink.

Smith said 3,600 people were served from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., with the help of volunteers and local authorities.

Even with our church damaged and flooded, we moved and activated assistance to families, Smith said, adding they distributed supplies to over 9,000 people with the first two weeks.

He sent his thanks and appreciation to the Journey Disaster Response Team for that semi of supplies.

Thanks to God for his protection and our preparation to be ready to help people, Smith wrote. We received food and products even after to continue to help families with the truckload of supplies from Journey Church and their partner network with the heart to drive from Wisconsin to (the Florida city of) Wauchula.

Get involved For more information visit: journeydrt.com

Infrastructure

The Journey Disaster Team works with national partners to aid in the disaster response to other regions. The partners include Christ in Action and Convoy of Hope.

These are well-established, highly-regarded disaster relief teams, Berard said. Theyre very good at what they do.

Christ in Action volunteers are already on the ground in Florida distributing supplies and helping with the cleanup.

Berard said there is a lot of debris removal and demolition that still needs to be done. Homeowners need help removing the drywall from the interior of their homes, so the structure can dry out.

Volunteering with homeowners is a rewarding experience, Berard said. The service is free of charge to the homeowner to help them recover from the disaster.

This saves homeowners a tremendous amount of money, time and effort, he said. Thats what these organizations do ... Volunteers are there to make sure they can bless that family who is already experiencing a huge amount of devastation and are really fighting to figure out how theyre going to recover.

No more water please One of the items Journey Disaster Team did not send to Florida was water  because those affected were largely prepared and had water.

Many hands

In order to assist their national partners, the Journey Response Team is conducting outreach to recruit more volunteers.

Berard explained not every job is removing drywall or removing fallen trees. There are a number of volunteer opportunities that do not require heavy lifting. As one example, volunteers are also needed to prepare meals and sort the donations coming in.

This is a massive operation with historic damage, which will take many months or longer before these people recover, Berard said of those impacted by Hurricane Ian. Theres a large amount of help thats going to be needed to cover the amount of work there is to do.

Volunteers can serve in Florida as long as theyre able  whether that be for a few days, weeks or months. Additionally, clubs, organizations, corporations and church groups may also participate and send volunteers.

Plenty of people in this area just have huge hearts and they just want to help, Berard said. We want people to know we are the contact for those with questions about serving. We can connect them to the right people.

As a regional team and the point of contact for this area, wed like to see whos interested, and who has the ability to go down there and help, he added. We can provide information and get them to Florida to serve, if thats what they want to do.

Campaign

In addition to recruiting volunteers, the Journey Disaster Team has launched a campaign to raise funds for the response.

Getting people and supplies to Florida  and taking care of the volunteers while they are there  is expensive.

Berard said the team will be working to get the support of individuals, businesses and corporate sponsors to help fund the effort.

All the money raised, he continued, will be restricted to funding the response to Florida.

The people of Florida do need help from southeast Wisconsin communities, individuals, businesses and corporations, he said. We really need to come together, so we can help these folks.
If you go

A ceremony for the induction is to be 3 p.m. on Nov. 2 at Picnic Area 6.

A plaque is to be presented to Racine County Parks staff followed by a "short interpretive hike" showcasing the forest. Both events are open to the public and will take place, rain or shine.

Go to oldgrowthforest.net to learn more about the Old-Growth Forest Network.
RAYMOND  Six months after voters cast their ballots in a Raymond School Board election, one of the campaigns hottest issues appears to have been decided belatedly in favor of defeated candidate Jillian Berman.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has ruled in Bermans favor on the issue of whether she was a legally registered voter in the Village of Raymond while running for school board.

Raymond village officials, however, are appealing the ruling and continuing the debate over Bermans residency in a civil lawsuit filed against the state in Racine County Circuit Court.

Bermans husband, Mitchell Berman, said Raymond residents should know about the expenses being incurred in an ongoing effort to challenge the couples residency and to prevent them from registering to vote.

All in an attempt to disqualify my wife from getting a school board seat, they (village officials) illegally disenfranchised us for two elections and spent taxpayer money in doing so, Mitchell Berman said.

His comments came in an email that he sent before village officials decided to continue the fight by suing the state. The couple declined to comment further.

The Village Board has hired the Waukesha law firm of Arenz Molter Macy & Riffle in an effort to overturn the state election commission decision. The villages appeal was filed Oct. 21.

Village President Kari Morgan defended the decision to file suit, while casting doubts on the state election commission, which is a bipartisan panel empowered by state lawmakers to implement election laws.

Referring to the Village Board, Morgan said, The board is a big proponent of voting integrity, and we are ensuring that the laws are being followed as listed in the state statutes and not being interpreted by a commission that is not elected by the people.

The dispute stems from the fact that the Bermans registered to vote at an address where they were building a new house in Raymond. The couple ran into construction delays and were staying temporarily with friends elsewhere, having already sold their previous home.

Using their new address on Eight Mile Road, the couple enrolled their children for school, signed up for utilities, got new drivers licenses, started getting mail and licensed their pets.

But when Jillian Berman filed to run for school board, fellow candidate Gwen Keller challenged Bermans voted registration and joined others in the community in stirring questions about Bermans residency.

Keller ultimately came out on top in the April 5 election, while Berman finished out of the running and lost her chance to serve on the school board.

Keller declined to comment about the election commission ruling dismissing her challenge. She also would not say whether she owes Berman an apology.

Village Clerk Linda Terry conducted a hearing on the matter in February before agreeing with Keller and invalidating the voter registrations for Berman and her husband. The couple then appealed to the state election commission.

The state commission found that the the village clerk wrongfully stripped the Bermans of their status as registered voters. The state ordered the village clerk to reinstate the couple as registered voters at the Eight Mile Road address.

Noting that even homeless people in Wisconsin have a right to vote, the commission found that denying the Bermans registration in the Village of Raymond would make it virtually impossible for them to vote anywhere.

The couple was not permitted to vote in the April 5 school board election, even though Jillian Berman was on the ballot.

State commissioners said the village clerk based her decision on an erroneous interpretation of the law that ran contrary to the fact that the Bermans were physically at the Eight Mile Road construction site daily, and that they intended to reside there once the new house was finished.

A difference on any of these points, the decision stated, could have changed the commissions decision.

The ruling was issued Oct. 3. The Village Board held a special meeting three days later, voting to take the matter to court.

The suit seeks an order overturning the election commission ruling or remanding it back to the commission for reconsideration. The suit also seeks reimbursement for the villages costs in the suit.

No hearing has been scheduled yet in the matter.

Terry, who has been the village clerk for 12 years, is named as the plaintiff, although the village is making the appeal and paying the costs.

Terry said she has taken steps to reinstate the Bermans as registered voters, but she still defends her earlier decision to invalidate them.

I feel that I did what I was supposed to do based on the information that I received, she said. Asked if her actions resulted in denying the Bermans their right to vote, Terry said, People can read it how they want to read it.

The voter registration dispute contributed to residency questions that created a shadow over Bermans eligibility to join the school board during the April campaign.

The school district considered removing her from the ballot, but officials decided against such a move.

Keller was joined by school board member Art Binhack in distributing fliers that questioned Bermans legitimacy as a candidate. Another board member, Audrey Kostuch, expressed similar questions on social media.

Besides the residency issue, the election was an exceptionally rare one for Raymond School. In the two prior elections, there had been no contested races. In 2022, there had to be a primary since there were six candidates that needed to be narrowed down to a field of four, of whom two were elected to the board in April.

Voters on April 5 elected Keller with 535 votes and Janell Wise with 478 votes, while Binhack and Berman fell short with 464 votes and 334 votes respectively.

School board members serve three-year terms at a salary of $2,350 a year.

Kostuch declined to comment about the election commissions ruling, and Binhack could not be reached for comment.

School Board President Jeremy Childers said he did not take sides in the debate about Bermans residency, and he does not know whether the issue affected the outcome of the election.

Childers, however, said he hopes that Berman remains active in the school district, and that she considers running for school board again.

It was pretty contentious back and forth on both sides, he said. Its unfortunate that she went through that.
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


The womens wing convenor was asked to delete all the social media accounts that the wing holds. Members have called the decision arbitrary and unilateral.

Sana Ejaz | TwoCircles.net

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NEW DELHI  Seven years after its formation, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) dissolved its womens wing on October 11 with many members calling the decision arbitrary and unilateral.

AIMPLB launched its womens wing in 2015 on the advice of Maulana Wali Rahmani, then general secretary of the board. It was created to expand social reform activities among Muslim women. The role of the womens wing was to provide basic education, vocational training self-employment and legal aid to women in the light of Islam. The womens wing played an important role during the triple talaq issue; the wing had focused counselling workshops for social development in Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the wing worked to solve women-related queries through its helpline number.

In a conversation with TwoCircles.net, executive member Kasim Rasool Ilyas said it is a temporary suspension.

We are finalizing rules and regulations for the womens wing and it will be revived soon. All our committees have their terms of reference, but the womens wing doesnt have any terms of reference. Something happened that goes against the parameters of the board. Hence, the decision was taken that we will frame the rules and revive it again.

On October 11, AIMPLB General Secretary Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani wrote a letter to Dr Asma Zehra, Convenor of the Womens Wing informing her about the suspension and asking her to delete all the social media accounts that belonged to the wing. Rahmani also restricted holding any programs under the wings banner.

The board has not clarified the exact cause and as per some members no proper justification was given by the board members for such action.

On October 24, Dr Asma Zehra released a statement on the dissolution of the womens wing. We feel we have been treated unfairly. In a meeting on October 23 in Delhi, they held me responsible for all the damage and I was told to give a statement in order to fix the matter. I havent done anything that goes against the rules, and none of our team members did anything wrong. We have followed the guidelines set up by the board right from the beginning, she said.

It is said that it all began with the hijab controversy in Karnataka. The board and the womans wing had different views on the issue. The board viewed the hijab controversy as a way to gather political gains ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls, which the womens wing differed with.

Dr Shaista Amber, founder, and president of the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB) told TwoCircles.net that with this decision the rights of our women were taken away.

Do women not have understanding or women dont have talent, or do they not trust women? In this way, gender equality is over. When women cant even speak, when they cant open their mouths, then where is freedom? The talent of the women has been humiliated, Amber said.

When women wing members point out any issue and give our suggestions, they (the board) think we are going against the norms of the board, she added.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Neelam Ghazala, a women-rights activist and a member of AIMPLBs womens wing said, Whatever happened is the result of lack of mutual understanding and enmity between two people whose names I will not reveal.

Ghazala said, the board has given a vague reason for suspension of the womens wing.

They didnt provide us with a list of complaints, she said, and added, They have said that the womens wing was going out of the parameters of the board and Dr Asma Zehra was breaking the rules.

Ghazala maintained that if the board was of the opinion that Dr Asma was breaking the rules, the board should have stopped her and action should have been taken only if she hadnt listened. But the decision to suspend the womens wing did not follow this process. We were told directly that the wing has been suspended and the board will arrange a meeting and give the members of the wing a chance to speak.

Women rights activist Kaneez Fatima said that the decision to suspend the womens wing impacts the representation of women.

A single woman was handling the whole womens wing and no one else was allowed to move forward. There were some internal issues also and I think thats why the step was taken, Fatima said.

Fatima said the board will represent women in other committees, and if women representation was not done in other committees we will move forward and raise the question.

Sana Ejaz is an independent journalist from Bihar. She tweets at @SanaEjaz_
BEAR CREEK

PAT CHRISTENSEN

Carol Finstad from Arkdale, Pat Christensen from Rome, Carol Rusnak and Darlene Tralmer from Tomah met in Tomah on Thursday to help Carol Finstad celebrate her birthday.

Grandad and gram Christensen accompanied Cardell, Emily and Laylah Potter from Wisconsin Rapids to Marshfield on Monday afternoon.

Ken and Sue Olsen and house guest Carol Henkes from Georgia went to Kylie Prielipps volleyball game on Monday. Tomah won two out of three games.

Ken and Sue Olsen and Carol Henkes from Georgia played cards at the Senior Center on Tuesday.

Shirley Nauman and Sue Olsen spent Wednesday in La Crosse  a girls day away.

Ken and Sue Olsen went to Kylie Prielipps volleyball game on Thursday and Tomah won. This is middle school volleyball.

Oakdale Electric Cooperative had its annual appreciation day on Saturday at the headquarters building in Oakdale. The morning started out with a pancake breakfast, and there were things going on for kids and adults. Pat and Leroy Christensen from Rome, Ken and Sue Olsen and Carol Henkes from Georgia, Bonnie Hedding and her mom, Kate Batten, from Shennington attended.

Kylie Prielipp spent Saturday overnight with Ken and Grandma Sue Olsen.

Carol Henkes from Kennesaw, Georgia, went home from Ken and Sue Olsens on Sunday.

Stay warm.

SOUTH SIDE

MYRNA FAUSKA

Living in Wisconsin is an adventure. Just a few days ago we had snow falling from the skies, and this past weekend summer returned for a last hurrah before the predicted return to more normal late October weather. Some of the neighbors were able to take advantage of the fine weekend, while others of us just continued to appreciate the beautiful fall scenery as we travel about.

Here at the Feisty Fauskas the week began on Tuesday, when Christopher Young of Hillsboro and I went to La Crosse for medical appointments for me and we dined at the Family Restaurant while we were there. Moving on to Friday, we enjoyed the fish buffet at Flippys Bar and Grill in Kendall then attended the library-sponsored movie Where The Crawdads Sing at St. Johns churchs fellowship hall. Sunday after church we met Dave and Pam Strike for brunch at The Elroy Eatery, where the omelets are fluffy and the bacon is crisp.

Ron and Arlene Garvens were among the throng enjoying the Friday night movie with popcorn and beverages.

Friday afternoon Guy Parkhurst came up from Janesville to see Grandma Mary Parkhurst then went over the hill north of Kendall to go bowhunting at his grandma Elaine Woodards. Saturday Debbie Parkhurst arrived from Lexington, Kentucky, to spend some time with her mom, Mary Parkhurst.

Chip and Mary Marty and offspring spent the weekend camping at Dewey Nelson State Park, and Layla, Brett and Mya donned costumes for the Halloween celebration there.

The west-end gals were busy as usual as they had their flu shots at Wilton on Tuesday, then Sally Dana stayed for lunch at the Senior Dining Center, while Lynette Vlasak headed back east to her job as the Kendall Library Director. Wednesday Sally joined the regular mah jong players at the library, and on Thursday the gals joined Allan and Heather for a get together with the Zellmers in Johnnycake Hollow as cousin Craig Dasse of Fort Worth, Texas, was visiting. Friday evening Lynette and Sally hosted the movie night at St. Johns, and Sunday evening they introduced cousin Craig to the good food and neighborhood ambiance at the Tabor Bar & Grill.

As I grow older I find that more of the friends of my age are widows and are awaiting the grand reunion with our beloved spouses as we meet Jesus face to face. I find joy and comfort when I look through my husband Daves Bible and see his notes and comments from his studies. Its only been two years, but I still feel his presence and my prayer is for all widows to have a similar blessing and that includes the men who have also lost the loves of their lives. Jesus is the answer to our needs, and we will live with Him in our next life as He promised in John 5 verse 24, Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life. What a great promise!
After a two-year hiatus, Valley Stewardship Network is happy to announce the return of its environmental presentation series Conservation on Tap on the First Tuesday of the upcoming winter months. The first presentation is Climate Change, Flooding, and Stream Manipulation in the Driftless Area, with Jason Freund, a lecturer in biology at UW-La Crosse. The event will take place at The Historic Fortney, 100 N. Main St., Viroqua, Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m.

Freund will talk a bit about what we have seen from climate change in the Driftless Area and about flood events, particularly the damage from the August 2018 flood event. Hell also discuss our native plant communities, the history of human disturbances, and how we can reconnect streams and their floodplains to minimize the effects of flooding.

Freund is a native Wisconsinite, having grown up in Waterloo  near Madison. After pursuing his undergraduate degree at UW-Platteville in biology, he worked at the University of WisconsinMadison Agronomy department for a couple of years before heading to West Virginia for graduate school where he earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Forest Resource Science/Fisheries Ecology and Management. Since then, he spent a couple of years in Oklahoma and then southeastern Wisconsin before moving to La Crosse. He is also active in Trout Unlimited, including the local chapter, the Coulee Region chapter. His interests are in stream ecology, fish/habitat interactions, and landscape/watershed influences on streams and their habitats.

The Noble Rind next door will be open that night until 7 p.m. for dinner.
Wisconsin voters have seen that Ron Johnson went overseas and endorsed Putins words over the words of our intelligence agencies, denied science and endorsed horse medicine for COVID, voted to strip authority of our scientific agencies putting clean water and the environment at risk, advocated making Social Security discretionary or fixing it by tying it to the stock market. He sought to throw out our legitimately cast Wisconsin votes in favor of fake electors in 2020. His weekly votes in the Senate illustrate his extreme rigid and partisan position. He consistently votes in opposition to confirmations and any bills proposed by Democrats, even on bipartisan bills that many or most of his party endorsed. His judgement with our democracy, tax dollars, and national integrity has been wrong.
A Viroqua man has died as the result of a single-vehicle rollover accident on State Hwy. 56 near Elm Drive in the town of Liberty on Oct. 25. Its the countys fourth traffic fatality this year.

According to a press release from the Vernon County Sheriffs Office, at 11:08 p.m. the Vernon County Dispatch Center received a call about the accident.

The driver, Eiliv E. Ellefson, 42, was alone and traveling west on State Hwy. 56. The vehicle left the roadway, traveling on the side of the road about 160 yards before overturning and coming to a stop against an embankment. Ellefson was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. Life-saving measures were performed on scene before he was transported to Vernon Memorial Healthcare where he was pronounced deceased.

The Viroqua First Responders, Viola EMS, Viola Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Vernon County Coroners Office assisted at the scene.

This accident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriffs Office and the Vernon County Coroners Office.
The Evers-Barnes administration made a pledge four years ago during their campaign to cut in half the prison population. They released over 1,000 convicted felons. They have about 10,000 more to go if you do the simple math on 21,000 people being incarcerated in Wisconsin. And of those, about 300 are convicted murderers/attempted murderers. Forty-four are child rapists.

Tony Evers & Mandela Barnes have released 270 murderers and attempted murderers from prison.

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and the Republican candidate for governor, Tim Michels, have made a point of criticizing their respective Democratic opponents, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Gov. Tony Evers, for allegedly releasing violent felons on parole.

Their source is a series of articles called Freed: Evers killers & rapists, by the right-wing news website Wisconsin Right Now, which reports that it used public records requests and publicly available information to compile a list of 883 felons released on parole from 2019 through 2021 before their mandatory release dates, including more than 270 murderers and attempted murderers, and more than 44 child rapists.

Lets deal with Barnes first.

Barnes has voiced support for cutting the state prison population in half, such as in a September 2018 interview when he agreed when an interviewer asked if that could happen over a period of years.

Its not something that happens overnight, Barnes said. If you stop sending more people back to prison, if we reduce our recidivism rate, if we address the way that we sentence nonviolent offenders, over time the prison population will be half of what it is now.

Less clear is why any Wisconsin lieutenant governors views on the prison population or parole are relevant when under state law and the state Constitution, the lieutenant governor has only two substantive duties: to act in the governors stead when the governor cannot perform his or her job, and to serve on various boards as the governors representative.

Johnson spokesperson Alec Zimmerman didnt point to any specific instance in which Barnes has been involved in parole policy.

But he said the medias standard has been to attribute the actions of (a lieutenant governor) to the governor they served with and pointed to a Nov. 2, 2021, PolitiFact article that rates as true an assertion by Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys that former Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch worked with (former Republican Gov.) Scott Walker to sign five abortion restrictions into law that took away services and threatened doctors with prison time for providing safe and legal abortions.

Barnes campaign said he has not been involved in parole decisions, and Evers campaign declined an opportunity to weigh in on the matter.

Evers has also endorsed the idea of halving the prison population. In a 2018 primary debate, he called it a goal thats worth accomplishing, albeit with the caveat: We have to stop ... incarcerating people for nonviolent crimes.

But Evers ability to affect parole is technically limited to appointing the chair of the Wisconsin Parole Commission, which technically makes parole decisions independently.

Evers named Racine City Council member John Tate II as Parole Commission chair in May 2019, after the position was vacant for two years under Walker. Like other Evers appointees, Tate was never confirmed to the position by the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Tate resigned at Evers request in June, after the family of a murder victim objected to the commissions decision to grant the victims killer, Douglas Balsewicz, parole. Balsewiczs parole was subsequently rescinded.

Some background

Three things are worth keeping in mind when it comes to the melding of politics and parole.

First is that only a small fraction of Wisconsins prison population is eligible for parole because of a change in state law that took effect at the end of the last century

. People sentenced to prison for crimes committed before Dec. 31, 1999, can be paroled after serving 25% of their sentence, and must be paroled after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

But people who committed crimes after that date must serve all of their sentence, with some exceptions for completing certain rehabilitative programs. The Parole Commission has no say over their fates.

Only 8.8%, or 1,784, of those in prison in Wisconsin were eligible for parole as of Sept. 30, according to the Department of Corrections, although DOC spokesperson John Beard said that number could include some who are also serving sentences under the current sentencing system and thus would not be eligible for parole for those post-1999 crimes.

Second is that parole is common under governors of both major parties. During Walkers two terms from 2011-19, the Parole Commission released nearly 1,400 people on or before their mandatory parole dates.

And third is that while Wisconsins prison population increased by about 1,800 inmates during Walkers tenure, the prison population in the United States as a whole

even before the COVID-19 pandemic,

. The federal prison population, for example,

and

, a 28% reduction over nearly nine years.

Since Evers and Barnes took office, Wisconsins prison population has dropped from 23,562 to 20,388 as of Oct. 21, a decline of 13% over nearly four years.

To recap

So whats the rest of the story?

Evers and Barnes have expressed support for halving the states prison population, but not all at once or necessarily by releasing violent offenders.

Evers has no direct control over who is paroled, and Barnes has no say in parole matters.

The vast majority of people in Wisconsin prisons are not eligible for parole.

Prison populations have been declining for years, even before the pandemic.
Local faith leaders, activists, law enforcement officers and politicians gathered in Kenosha Thursday to decry hate speech, antisemitism and racism.

Attendees gathered at Grace Lutheran Church, 2006 60th St., for a rally organized by Leaders of Kenosha in response to recent incidents involving flyers and pamphlets.

Attacks on any individual or group in our community due to their race, religion, sexual orientation or gender will not be tolerated in our community, said LOK Executive Director Tanya McLean. This type of hate, darkness, divisiveness and racist activity only unifies us across all of our differences and strengthens our resolve of hope, courage, tolerance and love.

On Saturday, Anthony Davis, president of Kenosha and Racines branch of the NAACP, said his wife found a dead bird on top of a U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson campaign pamphlet on their Pleasant Prairie property.

In a Facebook, Davis said his wife found the bird and flyer, which featured an attack on Johnsons opponent Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is Black, on their front porch when checking on a delivery, and questioned if the bird had been purposefully placed when the door hanger-type pamphlet was delivered.

I was upset, I was in disbelief in how it upset my wife, Davis said. You can campaign however you want to. You can put signs up, I dont have any problem with that. But when you come to my home  the way that looked (was terrible). Ive seen birds that have died but never on a campaign flyer on a porch. I called the police department in Pleasant Prairie and they came out. We had a conversation. We talked to my neighbors. Thats where we are right now.

There should be respect in everybodys campaign, whether its Democratic, Republican or Independent. Were in a volatile season right now, and I understand that, but be respectful. Thats the only thing I ask, Davis said.

Under investigation

Pleasant Prairie Police are investigating the incident but so far have few leads. Davis said he has installed a camera system, both for his familys safety and to potentially catch any potential future incidents.

Pleasant Prairie Police Chief David Smetana attended Thursdays event.

It was an unfortunate incident that occurred on Saturday, it was a rare incident for the Village of Pleasant Prairie, Smetana said. We know that around these election times theres a lot of emotion and passion involved; theres supposed to be. But we need to remain civil, as Mr. Davis mentioned before, and respect each others political views.

I would imagine theres a difference of political opinion with the people up here standing behind me. We can all find that and set that aside and have a common discussion about respect for each others property and respect for each others opinions, Smetana said.

Antisemitic flyers

Those attending Thursdays event pointed to antisemitic flyers that have been placed throughout Kenosha neighborhoods for months. In August, Kenosha Police issued $4,301 in citations to a 56-year-old Kenosha man accused of spreading hundreds of anti-Semitic flyers across the city.

Throughout the year, such flyers that spread falsehoods about Jews were placed in bags of rice.

Rabbi Dena Feingold, who leads the Beth Hillel Temple in Downtown Kenosha and is co-president of Congregations United to Serve Humanity, said the racist incidents must be called out.

CUSH stands with its partners this morning in unity and strength as we decry all forms of bias, discrimination and hate, Feingold said. We emphatically state that this community will not be cowered by hate-filled messages, whether anti-Black or antisemitic.

Kenosha Police Chief Eric Larsen, also in attendance, said city libraries have also been receiving mailings from white nationalist organizations.

Most recently, firehouses and libraries have been receiving mailings from white pride organizations. While this isnt illegal, it isnt necessarily wanted. You can save your postage. Were going to continue investigating that which we can investigate and enforcing that which we can enforce, Larsen said. In the last couple of years weve been working hard on building community relations. Instability does nothing to advance this.

Also in attendance Thursday were Ald. Anthony Kennedy; state Reps. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, and Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha; Adelene Greene, a founding member of the Kenosha Coalition for Dismantling Racism; the Rev. Jonathan Barker, pastor of Grace Lutheran; and members of Congregations United to Serve Humanity.
Authorities in Excelsior Springs, Missouri, have launched an investigation into the death of an Amazon delivery driver after he was found dead with possible dog bite injuries.

Officers were called to the scene at around 7 p.m. Monday after they were told an Amazon delivery truck had been parked in front of a residential house for several hours.

Authorities discovered the driver's remains, a German Shepherd and a Mastif behind the gate of a fence located near the delivery truck. The owners of the home were not present at the time, according to Ray County Sheriff Scott Childers. The county is located about 30 miles northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

One of the deputies shot and injured one of the dogs. The two dogs ran into the home, according to the sheriff. Once Childers arrived on the scene, he walked into the house and the dogs remained aggressive toward him.

"They continued to be aggressive, and I had to kill them," said Childers.

All evidence on the scene was collected, including the driver's remains and the two deceased dogs. An autopsy and necropsy will be performed on the driver and the dogs within the next coming days, according to Childers.

It's not clear if the dogs caused the death of the unnamed driver, but Childers noted the driver's remains had extensive injuries.

"We do not know the cause of death yet, but the Amazon driver did have a substantial amount of damage to his body very similar to that of canine bites."

Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski offered her condolences for the driver and his family.

"We're deeply saddened by tonight's tragic incident involving a member of our Amazon family and will be providing support to the team and the driver's loved ones," she said. "We are assisting law enforcement in their investigation."
Phoenix Congressman Gosar Steps Up, Invites Putin and Zelenskyy To Hold Peace Talks in Arizona

Oct. 26, 2022 (EIRNS)If there is not one leader in our politics or our military who will attempt to end this war without unthinkable global death and destruction, then I must. This is my letter to Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, inviting them to Phoenix, Arizona to engage in peace talks, Arizonas Rep. Paul Gosar announced Oct. 25, Tuesday evening, in releasing that letter publicly on his Twitter site.

Global political and military leadership refuse to even attempt to deescalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Instead of engaging in peace talks, warmongers, neocons, and the Biden Regime seem hellbent on bringing a potential nuclear World War upon all of humanity, he explained.

Let us deescalate nuclear tensions, terminate this war, and end the death and destruction plaguing both nations. Peace must prevail.

Gosar has voted against endless U.S. funding for arming Ukraine, with a handful of other Republican members of Congress. Recently, he has been warning of the danger of nuclear war. Here, he makes clear that because of that danger, he has decided he must act in a dramatic fashion which should spur others to join him.

His letter, addressed to both leaders, explains:

Im not a diplomat. Im a mere member of the U.S. Congress. But Ive seen enough death and destruction among your countries. Its untenable. Ive gone from troubled about the lack of peace efforts to now feeling compelled to act.

The death and destruction caused by the war is bad enough, but the conflict is becoming
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 27, 2022

Schiller Institute Conference for World Peace Convenes To Stop the Danger of Nuclear War

Oct. 26, 2022 (EIRNS)Former and currently serving elected officials and citizen leaders from the Americas and Europe will convene today in the Congress of Mexico in Mexico City and via Zoom videoconference, from 10:00 am to 1:00 p.m. EDT, to rally citizens across every continent to join them in bringing the world back from the brink of nuclear war. They are acting on the principle that the cause of humanity is one and the same for all, that of securing an international order in which every nation, and all people, can live in peace and growing prosperity. Both security and economic development are indivisible.

The decision to organize todays Schiller Institute conference was made only three weeks earlier, by the group of six former and prospective legislators from the Americas who participated with Helga Zepp-LaRouche on Oct. 7, in a dialogue on how legislators from Latin America and the Caribbean could take leadership in stopping world war. The legislators insisted at the end of their discussion, that their dialogue must be followed by more such dialogues, between more people, from more countries. They urged, in particular, for Europeans to step forward and join them.

Today, three weeks later, the 15 legislators and citizen leaders who will participate in this dialogue with Zepp-LaRouchedouble the number from three weeks agoincludes prominent European participation.

These Schiller Institute dialogues exemplify a change in attitude which is gaining force across the Western world. Legislators and citizen leaders are beginning to realize that there is no hope of survival if we sit around begging Western governments and their controllers in the City of London and Wall Street to defend people from war, poverty and disease. With the reality dawning that NATOs unipolar war drive has brought us to the point of nuclear war, local leaders are realizing either they step up, or we all may die.

Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar exemplifies this change in attitude, taking it upon himself to offer to host peace negotiations between Presidents Putin and Zelenskyy in Phoenix, Arizona, a place far enough away from the conflict, and away from the entities that are currently urging more war, to be a productive location.

If there is not one leader in our politics or our military who will attempt to end this war without unthinkable global death and destruction, then I must, he wrote in releasing a joint letter he had sent both of those two Presidents. Global political and military leadership refuse to even attempt to deescalate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Instead of engaging in peace talks, warmongers, neocons, and the Biden Regime seem hellbent on bringing a potential nuclear World War upon all of humanity. Let us de-escalate nuclear tensions, terminate this war, and end the death and destruction plaguing both nations. Peace must prevail, he declared.

The importance of Gosars initiative is not whether it will work as proffered, but in his assertion through action that going along to get along with the ways things are will get us killed. Peace must prevail, and individuals have to take responsibility to ensure that happens. His action may rally others in the Republican Party, in particular, to act; it certainly adds to public loathing for such pathetic slaves to the warmongers as the members of the Democratic Partys Progressive Caucus in the U.S. Congress just proved themselves to be.

Fear of nuclear war is creating fissures in all institutions in the West. Case in point: the attempt to black out Diane Sares independent candidacy for U.S. Senator from New York is cracking, as demonstrated by Ballot Access News, which covered the scandalous attempt by Spectrum News cable network to exclude legitimate candidate Sare from its New York U.S. Senate debateand called out the rigging by the polls being used to do so.

Another case in point: The Franco-German alliance around which Europe has been organized in the post-war era has collapsed; President Macron and Chancellor Scholz met on Oct. 26 to keep up the image of a unified Europe, but could not even hold a joint press conference afterward.

And another from Europe: The Prime Minister of NATO member Norway, Jonas Gahr Stre, told his nations parliament on Oct. 25 that there is nothing good in isolating Russia. It is alarming that today there is so little contact and direct communication with Russia. It weakens the possibility of finding a negotiated end to the war, at a time when we are now in the most demanding security policy situation since World War II.

For any who think we exaggerate about the nuclear war danger, we recommend they read the response given by Russias Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov to Newsweek about reports that 101st Airborne Division commanders camped out on the Romanian border with Ukraine are itching to move in:

We do not intend to put up with the situation when military threats increase on the Russian borders, Ambassador Anatoly Antonov stated. The direct involvement of the U.S. military in combat will lead to catastrophic consequences. I am convinced that further escalation of the situation is not in Washingtons best interests.

Let me remind you that 60 years ago, at the most acute phase of the Caribbean crisis, our countries approached the threshold of a devastating conflict, but at the last moment they managed to take a step back. Russian-American relations have hit the bottom again. It would be insane to push the relations between the major nuclear powers further down.
The U.S. Commerce Department announced a series of new trade restrictions earlier this month that banned the export of some computer processing chips to China.

The restrictions affect not only U.S. businesses selling to China, but also any company whose products contain American chip technology. The U.S. government action has many companies considering how to move forward under the new rules.

Bloomberg News recently reported Chinas government had held emergency talks with Chinese chip manufacturers to discuss how the restrictions would affect their businesses.

Companies that depend on imports of high-quality chips have been considering possible harms the U.S. policy could cause.

Numerous American technology companies doing major business with China are facing possible severe damage to their profits. Other companies that manufacture technology products in China are having to withdraw U.S. employees because the ban also bars "U.S. persons" from supporting technology covered by the ban.

Internationally, large chipmakers are reconsidering their business with China as they explore how deeply the new rules will cut into their sales.

James Lewis is a senior vice president and director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. He told VOA the new restrictions seem to be "reshaping the market."

"The Koreans, the Taiwanese and some American companies are really nervous about it, Lewis said. I mean, everyone's asking, 'What can I still sell to China?' And in some cases, the answer is 'nothing,'" he added.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has described the import ban as a national security measure. It says cutting off advanced chips from China will help limit the development of Chinese weapons and spying tools. U.S. officials have said such technology could help China create weapons of mass destruction and tools to abuse human rights and strengthen its military.

But experts note that the same technology that goes into Chinese weapons systems is also necessary for other products, such as electric vehicles.

It remains unclear exactly how the U.S. will enforce the ban. The policy mainly targets the most advanced chip technology available. This means that older and less-developed chip technologies are not affected.

Technology experts have suggested the ban represents a clear strengthening of U.S. efforts to keep China from being able to advance toward technological equality with the United States.

In Britains Financial Times newspaper, U.S. national editor and columnist Edward Luce wrote that "Joe Biden this month launched a full-blown economic war on China."

China reacts

Speaking at the Chinese Communist Party's five-year congress on Sunday, President Xi Jinping did not speak directly about the ban. But he did promise to increase investment in areas that would help his country reach "technology self-reliance."

"China will move faster to launch a number of major national projects that are of strategic, big-picture and long-term importance," Xi said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said he sees the ban as a U.S. move to use its own technological strengths to limit technology growth in less developed markets.

"The U.S. probably hopes that China and the rest of the developing world will forever stay at the lower end of the industrial chain, Liu Pengyu said. The U.S. action, he warned, will harm the world supply chain, with the final result hurting (the U.S.) and others.

So far, chip companies have reacted carefully to the ban. While recognizing the government's concerns, they have noted they were not given a chance to discuss the policy with U.S. officials before it was announced. Some businesses have also said they have not been informed about how the ban will be enforced.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, Reuters and VOA News reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

chip  n. a small piece of semiconducting material used to make parts that help power computer processors

advanced  adj. having developed or progressed to a late stage

full-blown  adj. completely developed

self-reliance  n. the quality of not needing help or support from other people

strategic  adj. helping to achieve a set plan

supply chain  n. the system of people and things that gets a product from its place of manufacture to the person who buys it

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Japans government wants more people to sign up for digital identification cards (IDs), but the idea is unpopular.

The government is asking people to apply for plastic My Number cards which have microchips and photos. The cards connect to drivers licenses and the public health insurance plans. Health insurance cards now in use, which do not have photos, will no longer be used in late 2024. People will have to use My Number cards instead.

That change has created strong disagreement. An online petition demanding that the current health cards continue got more than 100,000 signatures in a few days.

The digital card system began in 2016, but people have been slow to use it. Many Japanese worry their information might be stolen and that the digital ID violates their right to privacy.

There are other reasons people are against the digital cards. Some Japanese prefer paper and in-person meetings. Many Japanese do business in person, using cash, and many offices require people to bring paper documents. Japanese traditionally value quality work done by hand, and many also carefully save documents, keeping them in well-organized files.

Some say the current health insurance card system has been working well for decades and that going digital will create more work.

Koichi Kurosawa, secretary-general at the National Confederation of Trade Unions said people would be happier with digitization if it made their work easier and shorter. However, he said that was not the case in many Japanese workplaces.

Privacy concerns

After leaks of private information and other mistakes, many Japanese do not trust the government. They worry about the government having too much power. This is partly because of the history of authoritarian government before and during World War II.

Kurosawa said people are worried it will lead to tighter surveillance.

Saeko Fujimori works in the music copyright business. She said she is supposed to get My Number information from the people she deals with, but many refuse to share the information.

There is a microchip in it, and that means there could be fraud, said Fujimori, who has a My Number but doesnt plan to get the new card. If a machine is reading all the information, that can lead to mistakes in the medical sector, too.

Changing to digital

Getting an existing My Number digitized takes a lot of time and uses paper. People must fill out and mail back documents. Last months deadline was extended, but only about half of the Japanese population have a My Number, the government says.

They keep failing in anything digital and we have no memories of successful digital transformation by the government, said Nobi Hayashi, a technology expert.

Hayashi says the governments effort to get more people to get digital cards needs to be more vision-driven.

They dont show a bigger picture, or they dont have one, Hayashi said.

Yojiro Maeda is a researcher at Nagasaki University who studies local governments. He thinks digitization is needed, and My Number is a step in the right direction.

You just have to do it, Maeda said.

Japans Minister of Digital Affairs, Taro Kono, said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that more is needed to persuade people of the benefits of going digital.

Kono said, We need to win peoples understanding so that My Number cards get used in all kinds of situations.

Im Andrew Smith.

Yuri Kageyama wrote this story for the Associated Press. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

apply v. to ask formally for something such as a document, or a job or admission to a school

license n. an official document that gives the holder permission to do something

petition n. a document that people sign to show that they want a person, organization or government to do something

cash n. money in the form of paper or coin

decade n. 10 years

authoritarian adj. requiring people to obey rules or laws; not permitting personal freedom

surveillance n. the act of watching carefully or spying on someone or something

fraud n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something of value

sector n. an area of an economy that includes certain kinds of jobs or industries

deadline n. a date or time when something must be finished

transformation n. a complete or major change in someone or something

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Facebook parent company Meta has built a technology tool designed to directly translate spoken speech from one language to another.

Meta recently released a video that demonstrated how the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tool can translate between English and the Hokkien language.

In the video, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg explained that the project required different, unusual development methods. That is because Hokkien is mainly a spoken language. It does not have a widely used written form.

Generally, developers of translation systems train AI models on very large amounts of written text in the target languages. This arms the system with many different language examples and combinations in an effort to produce the most correct results.

In general, AI-powered translation systems have improved greatly in recent years. It is now easier than ever to get translation help online or on devices to make international communication better.

But one problem with such systems is that there are delays linked to the translation process. For example, when the system records spoken speech, the words are first converted into text and then translated by an AI system. Then, the translated words are converted back into speech so they can be heard.

The unusual part of the Meta project is that the development team did not have large amounts of Hokkien language text to feed into the AI system.

Hokkien is a version, or dialect, of Chinese. It is spoken by millions of people in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian. It is also spoken by many people in Taiwan and some communities in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. The language is generally passed down through generations of families.

Meta notes that Hokkien is one of nearly 3,500 living languages that are mainly spoken and do not have a widely used writing system. The company says its AI developers are aiming to create speech-to-speech translation tools that would cover most of the worlds languages.

Earlier this year, Meta announced two new AI projects. One is called No Language Left Behind. Zuckerberg said in a video that effort is designed to create translation systems to cover hundreds of world languages.

The other is called the Universal Speech Translator. The goal of that project is to build a system that can produce speech-to-speech translation across all languages, the company said in a statement. Metas latest system involving Hokkien was developed as part of its Universal Speech Translator project.

The ability to communicate with anyone in any language  thats a superpower people have dreamed of forever, and AI is going to deliver that within our lifetimes, Zuckerberg said.

Meta said it used several different methods to create the new system to translate to and from Hokkien and English. The team trained its AI models on written text examples from another version of Chinese, Mandarin, which is similar to Hokkien.

In addition, Meta developers used an encoding tool designed to compare spoken Hokkien to similar English text. The team also worked closely with Hokkien speakers to make sure the results were correct.

Meta said it aims to use the same methods used for Hokkien to create speech-to-speech translation systems for many more languages in the future.

The company said, however, that its Hokkien translation model is still a work in progress. It noted that the system is currently only able to translate one full sentence at a time.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from Facebook, Google and the South China Morning Post.

Quiz - Meta Demonstrates AI-Powered Speech-to-Speech Translation System Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

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Words in This Story

translate  v. to change words from one language into another

artificial intelligence  n. the development of computer systems with the ability to perform work that normally requires human intelligence

text  n. written words

convert  adj. to change the appearance, form or purpose of something

encode  v. to represent complex information in a simple or short way

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The United Nations is using satellites to follow what Russia is doing to Ukraines historical buildings and its cultural heritage. The organization said there are more than 200 structures that have been damaged or destroyed during Russias invasion of Ukraine.

UNOSAT, the satellite agency, and UNESCO, the educational, scientific and cultural agency, announced the effort recently. The UN agencies are completing a database of places that have been damaged by comparing before and after images from satellites.

These images will be used to inform experts and the public about the destruction of Ukraines cultural heritage.

Its important for us to document the damage, but also to make sure we have the information available before the recovery, said Krista Pikkat. She heads the culture and emergencies department at UNESCO.

Pikkat said early work began months ago. We actually realized that, this wealth of information, we needed to put it on a platform for our experts so that we can monitor the situation.

As of Wednesday, about 205 sites were listed. None of Ukraines seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites had been affected. The sites are a listing of some of the worlds most important cultural objects.

The process is like the one used in Syria where the countrys civil war has destroyed many historic sites, monuments and artifacts. UNESCO said it first follows Ukrainian culture ministry warnings about damage to cultural places. Then, it tries to confirm those findings using social media and other sources. If necessary, UNESCO calls on UNOSAT to try to get satellite images.

Places with confirmed damage are marked with red dots on a digital map and are included in a searchable database. Areas like Mariupol in the south, areas around the capital Kyiv, and eastern Donetsk were filled with red dots.

In time, cultural experts from UNESCO and other groups will try to visit the area to see the damage for themselves, which is not easy during a war. UNESCO experts also cannot enter areas held by Russian forces or Russian-supported separatists, such as in Mariupol.

The effort is the latest by the U.N. to understand the effects of the war on Ukrainian soil and to document the damage on lives and livelihoods.

Im Dorothy Gundy.

Jamey Keaten reported this story for the Associated Press. Hai Do adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

heritage n. the traditions, deeds and beliefs that are part of the history of a group of people or a nation

platform v. a system that lets someone share information with a large number of people

monitor v. to watch, observe or listen to someone or something for a special purpose over a period of time

artifact n. an object made by people in the past

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The African nation of Zimbabwe said it is close to reaching its largest-ever wheat harvest.

The countrys agricultural leaders say the harvest should produce 380,000 tonnes, an 80,000-tonne increase from 2021. The amount is also 20,000 more tonnes than the nation requires, which would leave a small supply for future use.

Zimbabwe began to farm wheat in 1962.

Agriculture deputy minister Vangelis Haritatos spoke with the Associated Press by telephone.

A lot of countries are facing shortages, but the opposite is happening in Zimbabwe, he said.

However, wildfires and expected rains remain a threat to crops yet to be harvested.

The war in Ukraine has hurt many African nations who depend on wheat imports from that country and its invader, Russia. A United Nations report says African nations import 44 percent of their grain from Russia and Ukraine.

Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa has described the war as a wake-up call.

The countrys agriculture ministry went to work. Haritatos said Zimbabwe asked hundreds of small farm owners to work together to start growing wheat. The government then worked to improve water availability and provide fertilizer for the farmers.

Wheat has taken over some of the farmland normally used for winter corn. Zimbabwe believes it has enough corn stored to help with any future shortages.

The country wants to see 100,000 hectares of farmland growing wheat next season, a 25 percent increase.

Haritatos said Zimbabwes success in growing wheat this year came because of the small farms. He said many countries do not believe that operators of small farms can add much to overall production.

We organized them into clusters and convinced them it was possible, he said, adding that the war made Zimbabwe realize that we shouldnt rely on other countries for food we can grow on our own.

While the country is celebrating the upcoming harvest, which runs through December, there are still concerns.

Farmers are worried about damage that could come from heavy rains expected soon. Until then, the dry weather creates the threat of fires. Fires destroyed about $1 million worth of wheat in just one week earlier this month.

In an effort to get the wheat harvested faster, the government is deploying harvesting machines called combines to farmers.

Im Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press.

_______________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

cluster n. a group of things that are close together

rely v. to need someone or something else for support

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We listen to local police and fire departments scanner traffic, but sometimes miss crimes, wrecks, fires or other incidents, especially if they happen overnight. If you know of something were not covering yet, please let Managing Editor Jeff Pownall know by emailing him at jeff.pownall@lufkindailynews.com, or submit a news tip online by visiting lufkindailynews.com/tips.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- China announced Wednesday that it has started giving its citizens a COVID-19 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.

An inhaled vaccine could appeal to someone afraid of needles, and the concept of priming the area of the body where the virus often enters is another advantage. Vineeta Bal, M.D., 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 Shanghai social media account.

An earlier nasal vaccine, developed in the United States, has been approved by regulators in India but has not been 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.
The Dane County medical examiner has confirmed the name of the man who was shot and killed by a sheriffs deputy in the village of Oregon on Sunday as 21-year-old Jose C. Jimenez.

Earlier this week, people who knew Jimenez told the State Journal that little in his conduct suggested he might have been in trouble with the law.

Authorities havent released the name of the deputy who fatally shot Jimenez.

It was the second time this month a Dane County sheriffs deputy has shot and killed someone. On Oct. 13, Deputy Cody Woods fatally shot 46-year-old Quantaze D. Campbell during an investigation of a stolen vehicle outside a Super 8 hotel in Windsor.

Both deputies have been placed on paid leave pending investigations by the state Department of Justice.

In a statement Sunday about Jimenezs death, Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said his office got a 911 call about 11 a.m. about a weapons violation on Jefferson Street, and deputies and assisting agencies began searching for a person in the area.

Jimenez, who was alleged to have committed several weapons violations in recent days, was believed to be in the 5200 block of Highway CC, according to the DOJ.

Officials set up a perimeter in the area, and Jimenez ran, the DOJ said. A deputy made contact with him at about 3:15 p.m. and shot him. Jimenez died at the scene.
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.
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.
Police were called to a fight involving seven students outside Madison West High School over lunch Thursday, Madison School District officials said.

Principal Dan Kigeya said staff responded to the incident quickly, and due to the large number of students involved, requested support from the City of Madison Police Department.

Students reported afterward that a weapon might have been involved, but a search of the area with a police dog didnt turn up one.

Madison School District spokesperson Tim LeMonds said two police squad cars responded to the altercation but no citations were issued. Kigeya, who is in his first year at West, said in his email that we are working with the students involved and have been in contact with their families and will determine consequences following the districts Behavior Education Plan and identify any restorative options.

Madison police had not responded to an email seeking information about the incident.

Large fights and other incidents requiring police at some of the districts four main high schools marred the first fully in-person school year in 2021-22 after the COVID-19 pandemic mostly closed schools to in-person learning for about a year before that. While the district is not quick to share information with the larger community about behavior issues in the schools, there appear to have been fewer of those problems this school year.

The School Board in June 2020 voted to remove police officers, known as school resource officers, from the high schools in response to the nationwide uproar and racial-justice activism following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes has proposed as part of his departments budget next year to assign a police officer to the neighborhoods around each of the four main high schools.
Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette has taken many walks around the state Capitol over his 10 consecutive terms in office, but it was a little over a year ago that he was struck by the fact that there is no plaque accompanying the bust of his famous distant relative, Robert M. La Follette, in the rotunda.

La Follette, who finds himself in a tight race for his 11th consecutive term against a Republican who wants to have the office oversee elections, on Thursday unveiled a plaque that could soon adorn the bust of Fighting Bob La Follette, describing him as a founder of the progressive movement and champion of the Wisconsin Idea.

I noticed that here was Robert M. La Follette, probably the most famous politician ever to be in Wisconsin, and there was nothing explaining who he was, La Follette said standing next to the bust in the first-floor rotunda. The average person would have no idea.

Doug La Follette Secretary of State Doug La Follette holds the plaque to be added to the state Capitol's bust of his distant relative Robert "Fighting Bob" La 

La Follette, who said he is a first cousin, twice removed, to Robert La Follette, said the State Capitol Executive Residence Board earlier this month signed off on the plaque, but on the condition that the $2,742 price tag be covered through fundraising. If the goal is reached, La Follette said the plaque will be installed in the next three or four weeks.

Robert La Follette was a progressive governor and 1924 presidential candidate who also spent just over 19 years in the U.S. Senate. La Follette was one of five individuals to be memorialized as the famous five, a collection of the five most outstanding former senators, by a U.S. Senate committee led by John F. Kennedy.

The committee described La Follette as a ceaseless battler for the underprivileged and a courageous independent who never wavered from his progressive reform goals, according to a profile on the U.S. Senate website.

Ive always thought Fighting Bob was a great person, a hero of mine, for what he stood for, La Follette said. I think the fact that he fought for the little person, that was his philosophy.

La Follette, a 35-year incumbent Democrat, is running for another term against state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, R-Clinton, Neil Harmon, a Libertarian, and Sharyl R. McFarland, of the Wisconsin Green Party, in the Nov. 8 election.

La Follette has said he is running to stave off a GOP push to claim the largely powerless office and transfer to it power over state elections, as Loudenbeck has proposed. A recent CNN poll found 49% of respondents supported La Follette, and 49% backing Loudenbeck.

La Follette raised almost $109,000 in the first eight months of the year, compared with about $176,000 raised by Loudenbeck, according to campaign finance reports.

Wisconsins secretary of state hasnt been in charge of elections since 1974, and the offices powers have been whittled down over the years by the Legislature. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker removed the offices power to publish bills after La Follette delayed publishing the former governors Act 10 collective bargaining law in 2011.

The offices budget and staffing have also been reduced over time, and the office currently has just a few duties, including processing annual requests to authenticate documents for trade, travel, adoptions and education.

Eliminating the office  an idea teased by Republicans in the past  would require voter approval to amend the state Constitution. Giving the office more duties related to elections would need to be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature and governor.
BEIJING - The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the revised Constitution of the CPC on Oct 22.

CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA

Revised and adopted at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China on October 22, 2022

General Program

The Communist Party of China is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation. It is the leadership core for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and represents the developmental demands of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation for China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the Chinese people. The Party's highest ideal and ultimate goal is the realization of communism.

The Communist Party of China uses Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guides to action.

Marxism-Leninism reveals the laws governing the development of the history of human society. Its basic tenets are correct and have tremendous vitality. The highest ideal of communism pursued by Chinese Communists can be realized only when socialist society is fully developed and highly advanced. The development and improvement of the socialist system is a long historical process. By upholding the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism and following the path suited to China's specific conditions as chosen by the Chinese people, China's socialist cause will ultimately be victorious.

With Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, Chinese Communists developed Mao Zedong Thought by combining the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism with the actual practice of the Chinese revolution. Mao Zedong Thought is the application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China; it is a body of theoretical principles and a summary of experiences, proven correct in practice, relating to China's revolution and construction; and it is a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China. Under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, the Communist Party of China led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in the long revolutionary struggle against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, securing victory in the new democratic revolution and founding the People's Republic of China, a people's democratic dictatorship. After the founding of the People's Republic, the Communist Party of China successfully led the people in carrying out socialist transformation, completing the transition from New Democracy to socialism, establishing the basic socialist system, and developing a socialist economy, politics, and culture.

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, analyzed both positive and negative experience gained since the founding of the People's Republic, emancipated the mind, and sought truth from facts. They shifted the focus of the whole Party's work onto economic development and introduced reform and opening up, thereby ushering in a new era of development in socialism; they gradually formulated the line, principles, and policies for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, brought clarity to basic questions on building, consolidating, and developing socialism in China, and thus established Deng Xiaoping Theory. Deng Xiaoping Theory is the product of combining Marxism-Leninism's basic tenets with practice in contemporary China and the particular features of the era; it is a continuation and development of Mao Zedong Thought under new historical conditions; it represents a new stage for the development of Marxism in China; it is the Marxism of contemporary China and a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China; and it guides the continuous progression of China's socialist modernization.

After the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, through developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in practice, deepened their understanding of what socialism is and how to build it, and what kind of party to build and how to build it, and gathered valuable new experience in governing the Party and the country, thus forming the Theory of Three Represents. The Theory of Three Represents, which is a continuation and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and Deng Xiaoping Theory, reflects new demands that the developments and changes in today's world and in China have placed on the Party and the government in their work. A powerful theoretical tool for strengthening and improving Party building and promoting the self-improvement and development of China's socialism, it is a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China and a guiding ideology that the Party must uphold in the long term. Always ensuring the Theory of Three Represents is practiced is the foundation of the Party's own development, the cornerstone of governance by the Party, and the source of the Party's strength.

After the Party's 16th National Congress, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their chief representative, continued to take Deng Xiaoping Theory and the Theory of Three Represents as their guide. On the basis of the new demands of development they forged a deep understanding of and answered major questions, including what kind of development to pursue and how to pursue it in a new situation, thus forming the Scientific Outlook on Development, which puts people first and calls for comprehensive, balanced, and sustainable development. The Scientific Outlook on Development is a scientific theory that continues in congruence with Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the Theory of Three Represents, while advancing with the times. It fully embodies the Marxist worldview and methodology on development and represents a major achievement in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. It is a crystallization of the collective wisdom of the Communist Party of China and a guiding ideology that must be upheld long term in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Since the Party's 18th National Congress, Chinese Communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, have provided sound answers to major questions of our times, such as what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics the new era requires us to uphold and develop and how we should uphold and develop it, thus giving shape to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Thought is a continuation and development of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development. It is the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century, embodying the best of Chinese culture and ethos of this era. It represents a crystallization of the practical experience and collective wisdom of the Party and the people, an important component of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a guide to action for the entire Party and all the Chinese people to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and must be upheld long term and constantly developed. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to carry out a great struggle, develop a great project, advance a great cause, and realize a great dream, ushering in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fulfilling the First Centenary Goal, and embarking on the new journey to accomplish the Second Centenary Goal.

Ultimately, the fundamental reason for all of China's achievements and progress since reform and opening up began is that the Party has forged a path, formed a theoretical system, established a system, and developed a culture for socialism with Chinese characteristics. All Party members must cherish deeply, uphold long term, and continue to develop this path, this theoretical system, this socialist system, and this culture, which the Party has developed through great hardship. All Party members must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, have firm confidence in its path, theory, system, and culture, carry forward the fighting spirit and build up our fighting ability, implement the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic policy, and strive to fulfill the three historic tasks of advancing modernization, achieving China's reunification, and safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and realize the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

Since its founding, the Communist Party of China has remained true to its original aspiration and founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. Through its endeavors over the past century, the Party has fundamentally transformed the future of the Chinese people, opened up the right path for achieving rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, demonstrated the strong vitality of Marxism, profoundly influenced the course of world history, and made itself a forerunner of the times. Based on long-term practice, the Party has gained valuable historical experience in the following respects: upholding the Party's leadership, putting the people first, advancing theoretical innovation, staying independent, following the Chinese path, maintaining a global vision, breaking new ground, standing up for ourselves, promoting the united front, and remaining committed to self-reform. These points are a rich source of inspiration that the Party and the people have created together. We must cherish them, uphold them over the long term, and continue to enrich and develop them through practice.

China is currently in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time to come. This is a stage of history that cannot be bypassed as China, which used to be economically and culturally lagging, makes progress in socialist modernization; it will take over a century. China's development of socialism must begin from China's own circumstances, follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and comprehensively promote national rejuvenation through the path of Chinese modernization. At the present stage, the principal contradiction in Chinese society is that between the ever-growing needs of the people for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. Owing to both domestic factors and international influences, a certain amount of class struggle will continue to exist for a long time to come, and under certain circumstances may even grow more pronounced, however, it is no longer the principal contradiction. In building socialism in China, the basic tasks are to further release and develop the productive forces and gradually achieve socialist modernization and, to this end, reform those elements and areas within the relations of production and the superstructure that are unsuited to the development of the productive forces. The Party must uphold and improve the basic economic systems including the system under which public ownership is the mainstay and diverse forms of ownership develop together, a system under which distribution according to work is the mainstay while multiple forms of distribution exist alongside it, and the socialist market economy. It must encourage some areas and some people to become well-off first, gradually realize the goal of common prosperity for all, and on the basis of developing production and social wealth, keep meeting the people's ever-growing needs for a better life and promote people's well-rounded development. Development is the Party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country. The Party must commit to a people-centered philosophy of development. It should have an accurate understanding of this new stage of development, apply a new philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development, accelerate efforts to foster a new pattern of development that is focused on the domestic economy and features positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows, and pursue high-quality development. The general starting point and criteria for judging each item of the Party's work are that it must benefit the development of the socialist productive forces, be conducive to increasing socialist China's overall strength, and help to improve the people's living standards. The Party must respect labor, knowledge, talent, and creativity and ensure that development is for the people and relies on the people, and that its fruits are shared among the people. In accordance with the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Party must promote coordinated economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement, and coordinate efforts to build a modern socialist country in all respects, comprehensively deepen reform, fully advance the law-based governance of China, and strengthen Party self-governance in every respect. On the new journey in the new era, the strategic objectives of economic and social development are to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035 and build China into a great modern socialist country by the middle of this century.

The basic line of the Communist Party of China in the primary stage of socialism is to lead all the people of China together in a self-reliant and pioneering effort, making economic development the central task, upholding the Four Cardinal Principles, and remaining committed to reform and opening up, so as to see China becomes a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful.

In leading the cause of socialism, the Communist Party of China must continue its commitment to economic development as the central task, and all other work must take an ancillary role and serve this center. The Party shall implement the strategy for invigorating China through science and education, the strategy on developing a quality work force, the innovation-driven development strategy, the rural vitalization strategy, the coordinated regional development strategy, the sustainable development strategy, and the military-civilian integration strategy. It shall give full play to the role of science and technology as primary productive forces, the role of talent as the primary resource, and the role of innovation as the primary force driving development, draw on advances in science and technology, improve the quality of the country's workforce, and ensure higher-quality and more efficient, equitable, sustainable, and secure development of the economy.

The Four Cardinal Principlesto keep to the path of socialism, to uphold the people's democratic dictatorship, to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and to uphold Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thoughtform the foundation for building the country. Throughout the whole course of socialist modernization, the Party must adhere to the Four Cardinal Principles and oppose bourgeois liberalization.

A continued commitment to reform and opening up is the path to a stronger China. Only through reform and opening up can we develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism. The Party must comprehensively deepen reform, improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and modernize China's system and capacity for governance. The Party must fundamentally reform the economic structure that constrains the development of the productive forces and uphold and improve the socialist market economy; and in congruence with this it must undertake political structural reform and reform in other fields. The Party must uphold the fundamental national policy of making China open to the world and embrace and learn from all achievements of human society. In carrying out reform and opening up, the Party should be boldly explorative and brave in breaking new ground; the Party should improve the scientific nature of reform-related decision making, pursue reform in a more systematic, holistic, and coordinated way, and pioneer new approaches through practice.

The Communist Party of China shall lead the people in developing the socialist market economy. It shall be firm in consolidating and developing the public sector of the economy and shall remain steadfast in encouraging, supporting, and guiding the development of the non-public sector. It shall give play to the decisive role of market forces in resource allocation and ensure the government plays its role better, and establish a sound system for macroeconomic regulation. The Party shall work to balance urban and rural development, development among regions, economic and social development, relations between humankind and nature, and domestic development and openness to the world. It shall adjust the economic structure, transform the growth model, and advance supply-side structural reform. The Party shall promote the synchronized development of new industrialization, information technology application, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, and shall build a new socialist countryside, take a new path of industrialization with Chinese characteristics, and build China into a country of innovation and a global leader in science and technology.

The Communist Party of China shall lead the people in developing socialist democracy. It shall preserve the organic unity of Party leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance, follow the Chinese socialist path of political development and the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, expand socialist democracy, develop a socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics, and build a socialist rule of law country, thereby consolidating the people's democratic dictatorship and developing a socialist political civilization. It shall uphold and improve the people's congress system, the Communist Party-led system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the system of public self-governance at the primary level. The Party shall develop a broader, fuller, and more robust whole-process people's democracy, advance extensive, multilevel, and institutionalized development of consultative democracy, and act in earnest to protect the people's right to manage state and social affairs and to manage economic and cultural matters. It shall respect and safeguard human rights. The Party shall encourage the free expression of views and work to establish sound systems and procedures for democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, administration, and oversight. It shall improve the socialist system of laws with Chinese characteristics and strengthen the implementation of law, to bring all the work of the state under the rule of law.

The Communist Party of China shall lead the people in developing advanced socialist culture. It shall promote socialist cultural-ethical progress, ensure the practice of the rule of law in combination with the rule of virtue, and work to strengthen the thinking and morality as well as the knowledge of science and culture of the whole nation to provide powerful ideological guarantees, motivation, and intellectual support for reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, and develop a strong socialist culture in China. It shall strengthen the system of core socialist values, uphold Marxism as its guiding ideology, foster the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote a national spirit to which patriotism is central and a spirit of the times centered on reform and innovation, cultivate and practice core socialist values, and champion the socialist concept of honor and disgrace. It shall work to strengthen the people's sense of national dignity, self-confidence, and self-reliance, protect against the corroding influence of decadent capitalist and feudal ideas, and eliminate all social ills, endeavoring to see that the people of China are people of high ideals and moral integrity and are cultured and disciplined. It must better educate its members of the great ideal of communism. The Party shall strive to develop educational, scientific, and cultural undertakings, promote the creative evolution and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture, carry forward our revolutionary culture, develop an advanced socialist culture, and enhance our country's cultural soft power. The Party shall hold firmly the leading position in ideological work, constantly consolidate the guiding position of Marxism in the realm of ideology, and cement the common ideological foundation which underpins the concerted endeavor of the entire Party and all the Chinese people.

The Communist Party of China shall lead the people in building a harmonious socialist society. In accord with the overall demands of democracy and the rule of law, equity and justice, honesty and fraternity, vigor and vitality, stability and order, and harmony between humankind and nature, and in line with the principle of building together and sharing together such a society, the Party shall work to solve problems of the greatest, most immediate, and most practical concern to the people. In doing this, it shall focus on ensuring and improving living standards. It shall work to ensure the fruits of development are of greater and more equitable benefit to the people, help them gain an increasingly stronger sense of fulfillment, and strive to see that all people realize their potential, find their proper place in society, and live together in harmony. The Party shall strengthen and develop new approaches to social governance. It shall strictly distinguish between and properly handle contradictions between us and enemies and contradictions among the people, these two different types of contradiction. It shall strengthen comprehensive measures to maintain law and order, and work with firm resolve and in accordance with the law to combat criminal activities that endanger national security and national interests, or threaten social stability or economic development, and will bring criminals to justice, maintaining lasting social stability. The Party shall pursue a holistic approach to national security, promote development while ensuring security, and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The Communist Party of China shall lead the people in building a socialist ecological civilization. It shall strengthen the philosophy underlying ecological civilization that nature should be respected, adapted to, and protected; fully understand that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets; follow the fundamental national policy of conserving resources and protecting the environment; uphold the principle of prioritizing resource conservation and environmental protection and letting nature restore itself; and take a positive path to development that ensures increased production, higher living standards, and healthy ecosystems. The Party shall strive to build a resource-conserving, environmentally friendly society, implement the strictest possible environmental protection systems, and work to shape spatial layouts, industrial structures, modes of production, and ways of life that are conducive to resource conservation and environmental protection, creating good working and living environments for the people, and ensuring sustainable development for the Chinese nation.

The Communist Party of China shall uphold its absolute leadership over the People's Liberation Army and other people's armed forces; implement Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military; strengthen the development of the People's Liberation Army by enhancing its political loyalty, strengthening the military through reform, science and technology, personnel training, and running the military in accordance with the law; build people's forces that obey the Party's command, can fight and win, and maintain excellent conduct; elevate our people's armed forces to world-class standards; ensure that the People's Liberation Army accomplishes its missions and tasks in the new era; and give full play to the role of the People's Liberation Army in consolidating national defense, defending the motherland, and participating in socialist modernization.

The Communist Party of China shall preserve and develop socialist relations among ethnic groups based on equality, solidarity, mutual assistance, and harmony; work proactively to train and select officials from ethnic minorities; help ethnic minorities and areas with concentrations of ethnic minorities with economic, cultural, and social development; foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation; and ensure that all ethnic groups work together for common development and prosperity. The Party shall fully implement its basic policy on religion, and encourage religious believers to contribute to economic and social development.

The Communist Party of China shall urge all workers, farmers, and intellectuals, and all other political parties, persons without party affiliation, and the patriotic forces of all ethnic groups in China to further develop and expand the broadest possible patriotic united front embracing all socialist workers, all those working for the socialist cause, all patriots who support socialism, all patriots who support the reunification of the motherland, and all patriots who are dedicated to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Party shall work continuously to strengthen the unity of all the Chinese people, including compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and in Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese. It shall promote long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macao, resolutely oppose and deter separatists seeking "Taiwan independence," and achieve the reunification of the motherland by fully, faithfully, and resolutely implementing the policy of One Country, Two Systems.

The Communist Party of China shall uphold an independent foreign policy of peace, follow a path of peaceful development, continue with the win-win opening up strategy, consider both domestic and international situations, and actively foster relations with other countries, endeavoring to develop a favorable international environment for China's reform, opening up, and modernization. In international affairs, it shall hold dear humanity's shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, safeguard China's independence and sovereignty, oppose hegemonism and power politics, defend world peace, promote human progress, work to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and advance the building of an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity. It shall develop relations between China and other countries on the basis of the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual nonaggression, mutual noninterference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Party shall constantly work to develop good neighborly relations between China and its surrounding countries and work to strengthen unity and cooperation between China and other developing countries. It shall follow the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and pursue the Belt and Road Initiative. The Communist Party of China shall develop relations with the Communist parties and other political parties of other countries in accordance with the principles of independence, complete equality, mutual respect, and noninterference in each other's internal affairs.

To lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to realize the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, the Communist Party of China must follow its basic line; uphold and strengthen the Party's overall leadership; exercise self-supervision and strengthen self-governance in every respect; champion the Party's great founding spirit comprised of the principles of upholding truth and ideals, staying true to the Party's original aspiration and founding mission, fighting bravely without fear of sacrifice, and remaining loyal to the Party and faithful to the people; strengthen its long-term governance capacity, its advanced nature, and its purity; and, in the spirit of reform and innovation, make comprehensive moves to press ahead with the great new project of Party building. It must take enhancing its political building as the overarching principle and make comprehensive efforts to ensure that the Party's political work is stressed, ideology is strengthened, organizations are consolidated, conduct is improved, and discipline is maintained, institutional development is always emphasized, and the fight against corruption keeps going, thus building the Party more effectively in all respects and using the Party's own transformation to steer social transformation. It must uphold the principle that the Party builds itself in the interests of, and exercises governance for, the people, and see that its fine traditions and positive work style continue to thrive. It must constantly work to improve the way it exercises leadership and governance and strengthen its ability to resist corruption, prevent moral decline, and withstand risks. It must constantly strengthen its ability to purify, improve, reform, and excel itself. It must constantly strengthen its class foundation, expand its mass base, enhance its creativity, cohesion, and readiness to meet challenges, and build itself up as an ever-learning, service-oriented, and innovative Marxist governing party. The Party should thus be able to forever stand at the forefront of the times and become a strong core capable of leading all the people of China as they continue to advance along the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In building itself, the Party must work with firm resolve to meet the following six fundamental requirements.

1. Adherence to the Party's basic line. The whole Party must use Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the Party's basic line to achieve unity in thought and action, and must resolutely continue to do so in the long term. The Party must ensure that reform and opening up are carried out in unity with the Four Cardinal Principles, put its basic line into effect in all fields of endeavor, and combat all mistaken tendencies of the "Left" and Right, maintaining vigilance against Rightist tendencies, but primarily defending against "Leftist" tendencies. The entire Party must improve the capacity for political judgment, thinking, and implementation and become more self-motivated and resolute in implementing the Party's theories, lines, principles, and policies.

2. Commitment to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and being realistic and pragmatic. The Party's line of thinking is to proceed from reality in all it does, to integrate theory with practice, to seek truth from facts, and to verify and develop truths through practice. All Party members must uphold this line of thinking, actively exploring and boldly experimenting, breaking ground and making innovations, and working with creativity; never cease to study new situations, reflect on new experiences, and solve new problems; and enrich and develop Marxism through practice and advance the adaption of Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of our times.

3. Adherence to the Party's organizational line for the new era. The Party must fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; focus on improving the organizational system to train high-caliber officials who are loyal to the Party, clean, and responsible and to bring together talented people from all fields who are patriotic and dedicated; and select officials on the basis of both moral integrity and ability, with greater weight given to integrity, and on the basis of merit, so as to provide a strong organizational guarantee for upholding and strengthening overall leadership of the Party and upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The whole Party must work to improve the political and organizational functions of Party organizations, train and select the good officials that our Party and people need, cultivate a large team of personnel who are capable of shouldering the mission of the times and well prepared to carry on the socialist cause, and bring together the brightest minds from all over, thus ensuring organizationally that the Party's basic theory, basic line, and basic policy are fully implemented and applied.

4. Dedication to wholeheartedly serving the people. Besides the interests of the working class and the broadest possible majority of the people, the Party has no special interests of its own. It shall, at all times, give top priority to the interests of the people, share weal and woe with them, and maintain the closest possible ties with them. It shall exercise power for the people, demonstrate concern for them, and work in their interests, never allowing any member to become disengaged from the people or to behave as if they are above them. The biggest political advantage the Party has is its close ties with the people while the biggest potential danger it faces as a governing party is becoming distanced from them. Party conduct and the Party's ties with the people are of paramount importance to the Party. In its own work, the Party shall follow the mass line, seeing that everything is for the people and everything relies on the people, exercising the principle of "from the people, to the people," and translating the correct ideas of the Party into the voluntary action of the people.

5. Resolve in upholding democratic centralism. Democratic centralism combines centralism built on the basis of democracy with democracy under centralized guidance. It is both the Party's fundamental organizational principle and the application of the mass line in everyday Party activities. The Party must fully encourage intraparty democracy, respect the principal position of its members, safeguard their democratic rights, and give play to the initiative and creativity of Party organizations at every level and all Party members. Correct centralism must be practiced; all Party members must keep firmly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, uphold the leadership core, and keep in alignment, and firmly uphold the authority and centralized, unified leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, so as to ensure the solidarity, unity, and concerted action of the whole Party and guarantee the prompt and effective implementation of the Party's decisions. The Party shall strengthen and regulate political activities within itself; make intraparty political activities more politically oriented, up-to-date, principled, and effective; cultivate a positive and healthy intraparty political culture; and foster a sound political ecosystem featuring honesty and integrity within the Party. In its internal political activities, the Party shall conduct correctly criticism and self-criticism, engage in debate over matters of principle, and uphold truth and rectify mistakes. The Party shall work hard to create a lively political situation featuring both centralism and democracy, both discipline and freedom, and both unity of will and personal sense of ease.

6. Firmness in exercising strict self-supervision and self-governance. Ensuring full and rigorous Party self-governance is an unceasing endeavor and that self-reform is a journey to which there is no end. Under the new circumstances, the tests the Party faces in governance, reform and opening up, the market economy, and the external environment are protracted, complicated, and serious; the dangers of a lack of drive, incompetence, disengagement from the people, inaction, and corruption are more pointedly confronting the whole Party. The Party shall see that strict standards and measures are applied throughout the process and in all aspects of its self-supervision and self-governance. The Party shall ensure self-governance is carried out in accordance with regulations and both symptoms and root causes of problems are addressed. The Party must constantly improve the system of Party regulations, give top priority to ensuring compliance with Party discipline, help its members become more organization conscious and have a stronger sense of discipline, and work to see that every member is equal before Party discipline. The Party shall ensure the principal and oversight responsibilities for full and rigorous Party self-governance are assumed; oversight of leading Party organs and of Party members in leadership positions, particularly those holding principal leadership positions, is strengthened; and the internal oversight system is constantly improved. The Party shall step up efforts to improve conduct, build integrity, and combat corruption; apply a zero-tolerance policy on corruption; and make integrated efforts to ensure that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt.

Leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the greatest strength of this system. The Party is the highest force for political leadership. It exercises overall leadership over all areas of endeavor in every part of the country. The Party must adapt to the demands of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, remain committed to practicing scientific, democratic, and law-based governance, and strengthen and improve its leadership. The Party must, acting on the principle of guiding the overall situation and coordinating the work of all sides, assume the role of leadership core among all other organizations at the corresponding levels. The Party must concentrate on leading economic development, organize and coordinate the strengths of all by uniting hearts and actions to focus work on economic development, and promote all-around economic and social development. The Party must practice democratic and scientific decision-making; formulate and implement the correct lines, principles, and policies; carry out its organizational, publicity, and educational work to proper effect; and give play to the exemplary and vanguard role of all Party members. The Party must act within the scope of the country's Constitution and the law. It must ensure that the legislative, judicial, administrative, and supervisory organs of the state, economic and cultural organizations, and people's organizations work actively on their own initiative, independently, responsibly, and cooperatively. The Party must strengthen its leadership over trade unions, the Communist Youth League, women's federations, and other people's group organizations, ensure they preserve and strengthen their political consciousness, advanced nature, and orientation toward the people, and give full play to their roles. The Party must adapt to developments and changing circumstances, improving its leadership system and style of leadership and strengthening its capacity for governance. Party members must cooperate closely with people outside the Party, endeavoring together to build socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Chapter I. Membership

Article 1: Any forward-thinking Chinese worker, farmer, member of the armed forces, intellectual, or person from any other social strata who has reached the age of eighteen and who accepts the Party's program and Constitution and is willing to join and work actively in one of the Party's organizations, carry out the Party's resolutions, and pay regular membership dues may apply for membership to the Communist Party of China.

Article 2: Members of the Communist Party of China are vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class who possess Communist consciousness.

Members of the Communist Party of China must wholeheartedly serve the people, be ready to make any personal sacrifice, and dedicate their lives to realizing communism.

Members of the Communist Party of China shall be forever ordinary members of the working people. No Communist Party member shall pursue any personal gain or privilege beyond the individual interests and the powers attached to their job afforded through laws and policies.

Article 3: Party members must fulfill the following obligations:

1) Conscientiously study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, study the Party's lines, principles, policies, and resolutions, acquire a fundamental knowledge of the Party, study the history of the Party, improve their general, scientific, legal, and professional knowledge, and work diligently to strengthen their ability to serve the people.

2) Strengthen consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. Implement the Party's basic line, principles, and policies, take the lead in reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, encourage the people to work hard for economic development and social progress, and play an exemplary and vanguard role in production, work, study, and social activities.

3) Adhere to the principle that the interests of the Party and the people come before all else, subordinating personal interests to the interests of the Party and the people, being the first to bear hardships and the last to enjoy comforts, working selflessly for the public interest, and making a significant contribution.

4) Consciously observe Party discipline, with utmost emphasis placed on the Party's political discipline and rules, set a fine example in abiding by the laws and regulations of the state, strictly protect Party and state secrets, execute Party decisions, comply with Party decisions on job allocation, and readily fulfill the Party's tasks.

5) Uphold Party solidarity and unity, practice loyalty and honesty toward the Party, ensure their actions are true to their words, firmly oppose all factional and clique activities, and oppose feigning compliance and other double-dealing behavior and scheming of any kind.

6) Engage in genuine criticism and self-criticism, have the courage to reveal and correct statements and actions violating the Party's principles and shortcomings and mistakes in work, and resolutely combat corruption and other forms of misconduct.

7) Maintain close ties with the people, share the ideas of the Party with them, consult with them as issues arise, keep the Party up to date on their views and demands, and defend their legitimate interests.

8) Promote new socialist customs and practices; lead the way in practicing core socialist values and the socialist concept of honor and disgrace; champion Communist ethics; advocate traditional virtues of the Chinese nation; and, the moment any difficulty or danger arises, step forward and fight bravely without fearing sacrifice to defend the interests of the country and the people.

Article 4: Party members shall enjoy the right to:

1) Attend relevant Party meetings, read relevant Party documents, and benefit from Party education and training.

2) Participate in discussion on questions concerning Party policy at Party meetings and in Party newspapers and periodicals.

3) Make suggestions and proposals regarding the work of the Party.

4) Offer well-founded criticism at Party meetings of any Party organization or any member; responsibly expose or report to the Party any disciplinary or legal violation by any Party organization or member; demand disciplinary action be brought against a member known to have violated discipline or the law; and call for the dismissal or replacement of any incompetent cadre.

5) Participate in voting and stand for election.

6) Be present and plead their case at discussions held by Party organizations to decide on disciplinary action to be taken against them or to appraise their work and behavior; other Party members may also bear witness or argue on their behalf.

7) Make a statement of reservation and present their views to a Party organization at a higher level, up to and including the Central Committee, in case of disagreement with a Party resolution or policy, on the condition that they resolutely implement the resolution or policy in question while it is in force.

8) Submit a request, appeal, or accusation to a higher-level Party organization, up to and including the Central Committee, and request that the organization concerned issues an accountable reply.

No Party organization at any level, including the Central Committee, has the right to deprive a Party member of the aforementioned rights.

Article 5: New Party members must be admitted through a Party branch, for which political integrity must be upheld as the primary criterion and the principle of individual admission must be adhered to.

An applicant for Party membership must complete an application form and be recommended by two full Party members. The application must be accepted at a general meeting of the Party branch concerned and be approved by the Party organization at the next level up, and the applicant must undergo observation for a probationary period before being granted full membership.

In recommending an applicant, a Party member must endeavor to understand the applicant's thinking, character, personal record, and performance at work and explain to the applicant the program and Constitution of the Party, the criteria for membership, and the rights and obligations of members, and must accordingly report responsibly to the Party organization.

The Party branch committee shall, in relation to the applicant for Party membership, solicit the opinions of relevant persons within and outside the Party, carry out thorough checks, and, on believing the applicant to meet Party criteria, submit the application to a general meeting for discussion.

Before approving the admission of an applicant for membership, the Party organization at the next level up must appoint Party members to talk with the applicant in order to get to know him or her better and help deepen his or her understanding of the Party.

In exceptional circumstances, the Party Central Committee or the committee of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the central government may admit a new Party member directly.

Article 6: A probationary Party member must take an oath of admission before the Party flag. The oath reads: It is my will to join the Communist Party of China, uphold the Party's program, observe the provisions of the Party Constitution, fulfill the obligations of a Party member, carry out the Party's decisions, strictly observe Party discipline, protect Party secrets, be loyal to the Party, work hard, fight for communism for the rest of my life, always be prepared to sacrifice my all for the Party and the people, and never betray the Party.

Article 7: The probationary period of a probationary member is one year. Party organizations should act in earnest to guide and observe probationary members.

The obligations of a probationary member are the same as those of a full member. With the exception of the right to vote and stand for election, the rights of a probationary member are the same as those of a full member.

Upon completion of the probationary period of a probationary member, the Party branch should promptly discuss whether he or she may be accepted as a full member. A probationary member who conscientiously performs his or her obligations and meets the criteria for full membership shall have their status changed to full member at the end of the probationary period; in the event that continued observation and education are deemed necessary, the probationary period may be extended, but by no more than one year; in the event that a probationary member has failed to perform his or her obligations or to meet the criteria for full membership, his or her probationary membership shall be revoked. Any decision to grant a probationary member full membership, extend a probationary period, or revoke a probationary membership must be discussed and passed at a general meeting of the Party branch and approved by the Party organization at the next level up.

The probationary period of a probationary member shall begin on the day the general meeting of the Party branch passes the decision to accept him or her as a probationary member. Length of Party membership shall be counted from the day he or she is granted full membership, having completed the probationary period.

Article 8: Every Party member, irrespective of position, must join a branch, group, or other given unit of the Party; participate in the regular activities of the Party organization; and accept the oversight of the people both within and outside the Party. Party members in positions of leadership must attend meetings of Party members in leadership positions held by their respective Party committees or leading Party members groups. There shall be no special Party members exempted from participation in the regular activities of the Party organization or from the oversight of the people within and outside the Party.

Article 9: Party members have the freedom to withdraw from the Party. In the event a Party member requests a withdrawal, the Party branch concerned shall, after discussion at a general meeting, announce the removal of his or her name from the Party roll and report the withdrawal to the Party organization at the next level up to be put on record.

In the event that a Party member is found to lack revolutionary will or to be failing to fulfill Party-member obligations or the criteria for Party membership, the member's Party branch shall require him or her to undergo education and rectify the situation within a stipulated time frame. If there is no change following attempts at education, he or she shall be urged to withdraw from the Party. In the event that a member is to be urged to withdraw from the Party, the matter shall be discussed and decided on at a general meeting of the Party branch concerned and submitted to the Party organization at the next level up for approval. Should a Party member urged to withdraw be adamant that he or she will not do so, the case shall be submitted to a general meeting of the Party branch concerned for discussion to decide on the removal of their name from the Party roll, after which the decision shall be submitted to the Party organization at the next level up for approval.

A Party member who, without good reason, fails to take part in the regular activities of his or her Party organization, pay membership dues, or carry out work assigned by the Party for six consecutive months shall be regarded as having given up his or her membership. The Party branch concerned should, through a general meeting, decide on the removal of their name from the Party roll and report it to the Party organization at the next level up for approval.

Chapter II. The Party's Organizational System

Article 10: The Party is an integral body organized under its own program and Constitution and on the basis of democratic centralism. The Party's basic principles of democratic centralism are as follows:

1) Individual Party members defer to Party organizations, the minority defers to the majority, lower-level Party organizations defer to higher-level Party organizations, and all organizations and members of the Party defer to the National Congress and the Central Committee of the Party.

2) Leading bodies of the Party at all levels, with the exception of their dispatched representative organs and the leading Party members groups in non-Party organizations, are generated by election.

3) The highest leading bodies of the Party are the National Congress and the Central Committee which it elects. The Party's local leading bodies are the Party congresses at each level and the Party committees which they elect. Party committees are responsible and shall report their work to the Party congress at the same level.

4) Higher-level Party organizations shall listen regularly to the views of lower-level organizations and rank-and-file Party members, and respond quickly to the problems they raise. Lower-level Party organizations shall report on their work to and request instructions from higher-level Party organizations; at the same time, they shall handle, independently and responsibly, matters within their jurisdiction. Higher- and lower-level Party organizations shall exchange information and support and oversee each other. Party organizations at all levels shall practice transparency in Party affairs in accordance with regulations, helping Party members to be better informed of internal Party affairs and enabling them greater opportunity to participate.

5) Party committees at all levels shall function on the principle of combining collective leadership with individual responsibility based on the division of work. Decisions on all major issues shall be made through discussion by the Party committee concerned in accordance with the principles of collective leadership, democratic centralism, pre-meeting contemplation, and meeting-based decision making. Members of Party committees shall act in earnest to fulfill their respective obligations in accordance with the collective decisions made and the division of work.

6) The Party proscribes all forms of personality cult. It shall be ensured that the activities of Party leaders are subject to oversight by the Party and the people, while at the same time upholding the standing of all leaders who represent the interests of the Party and the people.

Article 11: The election of delegates to Party congresses and members of Party committees, at all levels, shall reflect the will of the voters. Elections shall be held by secret ballot. Lists of candidates shall be fully deliberated and discussed by Party organizations and voters. The method of nominating a greater number of candidates than the number of persons to be elected may be adopted to directly carry out a formal election, or this method may first be used in a preliminary election to generate a list of candidates for the formal election that is to follow. Voters have the right to inquire about candidates, request a change in candidates, decline to vote for any of the candidates, or choose to vote for someone who is not a candidate. No organization or individual shall in any way compel a voter to vote or not vote for a candidate.

If the Party Constitution is thought to have been violated in any way during the election of a delegate to a local Party congress at any level or to a Party congress at the primary level, after investigation and verification, the Party committee at the next level up shall issue a decision to declare the election invalid and take appropriate measures, and report this decision to the Party committee at the next level up to be checked and approved before it is formally announced and implemented.

A tenure system shall be adopted for delegates to Party congresses at all levels.

Article 12: The Central Committee and local committees at all levels shall, when necessary, convene a conference of delegates to discuss and make decisions on a major problem that requires prompt resolution. The number of delegates to attend and the procedures for generating the list of delegates shall be determined by the Party committee convening the conference.

Article 13: Every instance of a new Party organization being formed or an existing Party organization being dissolved must be decided on by a Party organization at a higher level.

When the congress of a local Party organization at any level or the congress of a primary-level Party organization is not in session, the Party organization at the next level up may, when it deems necessary, transfer or designate the persons responsible for the lower-level Party organization.

The Party's Central Committee and local committees at every level may dispatch representative organs.

Article 14: The Party's Central Committee and committees of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall implement the discipline inspection system, and shall, within their term of office, carry out inspections of the Party organizations of all localities, departments, enterprises, and public institutions under their jurisdiction.

The leading Party members groups or Party committees of the departments and offices under the Party Central Committee and the State Council shall carry out inspections in response to the needs of their work.

City (including prefecture and league) and county (including county-level city, district, and banner) Party committees shall establish a discipline inspection system.

Article 15: When making a decision on an important issue affecting a lower-level organization, a leading body of the Party at any level shall, under normal circumstances, solicit the opinions of the lower-level organization. It shall be ensured that the lower-level organization is able to exercise its functions and powers as usual. Except in exceptional circumstances, no higher-level leading body shall interfere in any matter that ought to be handled by a lower-level organization.

Article 16: Only the Central Committee of the Party has the power to make decisions on major national policies. The Party organization of a department or locality may make suggestions to the Central Committee with regard to such policies, but shall not make any decision or express their views outside the Party without authorization.

Lower-level Party organizations must resolutely implement the decisions of higher-level Party organizations. In the event that a lower-level organization believes a decision of a higher-level organization to be unsuitable for the specific circumstances of its locality or department, it may request that the decision be revised. If the higher-level organization decides to maintain its original decision, the lower-level organization must carry out the decision and refrain from publicly voicing any differences of opinion, but reserves the right to report the matter to a Party organization at the next level up.

Newspapers, periodicals, and other media used in publicity run by Party organizations at all levels must feature information on the lines, principles, policies, and resolutions of the Party.

Article 17: In discussing and making decisions on a matter, Party organizations must uphold the principle of the minority respecting the majority. When a decision is being made on a major issue, a vote shall be held. Serious consideration should be given to the differing views of a minority. In case of disagreement on a major issue where the numbers in support of each view are closely matched, except in an emergency when action must be taken according to the majority view, the decision should be delayed and further investigation, research, and exchange of opinions should be undertaken before another vote is held. In exceptional circumstances, the disagreement may also be reported to the Party organization at the next level up and a verdict requested.

In the event that an individual Party member is to express a view on a major issue on behalf of his or her Party organization that goes beyond the scope of the organization's existing decisions, the content must be referred to that organization for prior discussion and a decision, or referred to the Party organization at the next level up for instruction. No Party member, whatever his or her position, may act alone in making a decision on a major issue. In case of emergency, when a decision by an individual is unavoidable, the matter must be reported to his or her Party organization immediately after the event. No leader may make decisions arbitrarily or place him or herself above his or her Party organization.

Article 18: Organizations of the Party at the central, local, and primary levels must all give serious attention to Party building; regularly discuss and examine the Party's promotional, educational, and organizational work, discipline inspection, its work with the people, and its work related to the united front; and carefully study current thinking and political trends both within and outside the Party.

Chapter III. Central Party Organizations

Article 19: The National Congress of the Party shall be held once every five years and convened by the Central Committee. In the event that the Central Committee deems it necessary or more than one third of provincial-level Party organizations put forward a request, a National Congress may be convened early. Except in unusual circumstances, it may not be postponed.

The number of delegates to the National Congress and the procedures governing their election shall be determined by the Central Committee.

Article 20: The functions and powers of the National Congress of the Party are as follows:

1) to hear and examine the reports of the Central Committee;

2) to examine the reports of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection;

3) to discuss and make decisions on major issues concerning the Party;

4) to revise the Constitution of the Party;

5) to elect the Central Committee; and

6) to elect the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Article 21: The functions and powers of the National Conference of the Party are to discuss and make decisions on major issues and to replace members and elect additional members of the Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. The number of Central Committee members and alternate members to be replaced or newly elected shall not exceed one fifth of the respective totals of full and alternate members elected to the Central Committee by the National Congress of the Party.

Article 22: The Central Committee of the Party is elected for a term of five years. In the event that a National Congress is convened early or postponed, the term shall be shortened or extended accordingly. The length of Party membership of Central Committee members or alternate members must be a minimum of five years. The number of members and alternate members of a Central Committee shall be determined by the National Congress. Empty seats on the Central Committee shall be filled by alternate members in order of the number of votes they were elected by.

Plenary sessions of the Central Committee are convened by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and are to be convened at least once annually. The Political Bureau shall report on its work at the plenary sessions and accept their oversight.

When the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee shall carry out its resolutions, direct all Party work, and represent the Communist Party of China in external relations.

Article 23: The Political Bureau, the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, and the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party are elected at the plenary session of the Central Committee. The General Secretary of the Central Committee must be generated from among the members of the Political Bureau's Standing Committee.

Between plenary sessions of the Central Committee, the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee shall exercise the functions and powers of the Central Committee.

The Secretariat of the Central Committee is the working body of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and its Standing Committee. Members of the Secretariat are nominated by the Political Bureau's Standing Committee and must be approved at a plenary session of the Central Committee.

The General Secretary of the Central Committee is responsible for convening meetings of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee and shall preside over the work of the Secretariat.

Members of the Central Military Commission of the Party are decided on by the Central Committee; Chairperson of the Central Military Commission assumes overall responsibility over the work of the Commission.

Central leading bodies and leaders elected by a Central Committee shall, when the next National Congress is in session, continue to preside over the day-to-day work of the Party until new central leading bodies and leaders have been elected by its successive Central Committee.

Article 24: Party organizations in the Chinese People's Liberation Army shall carry out their work in accordance with the instructions of the Central Committee. The Central Military Commission is responsible for Party work and political work in the armed forces, and shall prescribe the organizational system and organs of the Party in the armed forces.

Chapter IV. Local Party Organizations

Article 25: The Party congress of a province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government, city divided into districts, autonomous prefecture, county (banner), autonomous county, city not divided into districts, or municipal district is to be held once every five years.

Each local Party congress is convened by the local Party committee at the corresponding level. In exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Party committee at the next level up, a local Party congress may be brought forward or postponed.

At every level, the number of delegates to a local Party congress and the procedures governing their election shall be determined by the local Party committee at the corresponding level and reported for approval to the Party committee at the next level up.

Article 26: The functions and powers of a local Party congress, at every level, are as follows:

1) to hear and examine the reports of the local Party committee at the corresponding level;

2) to examine the reports of the local commission for discipline inspection at the corresponding level;

3) to discuss and adopt resolutions on major issues within the scope of its local area; and

4) to elect the local Party committee and commission for discipline inspection at the corresponding level.

Article 27: The Party committee of a province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government, city divided into districts, or autonomous prefecture is elected for a term of five years. The length of Party membership of a member or alternate member of such a committee must be a minimum of five years.

The Party committee of a county (banner), autonomous county, city not divided into districts, or municipal district is elected for a term of five years. The length of Party membership of a member or alternate member of such a committee must be a minimum of three years.

In the event that a local Party congress, at any level, is brought forward or postponed, the term of the committee elected by the previous congress shall be shortened or extended accordingly.

At every level the number of members and alternate members of a local Party committee shall be determined by the corresponding Party committee at the next level up. At every level empty seats on a local Party committee shall be filled by alternate members of that committee in order of the number of votes they were elected by.

Local Party committees at every level shall convene a plenary session at least biannually.

Local Party committees at every level shall, when their local Party congress is not in session, carry out the directives of the Party organization at the next level up and the resolutions of the Party congress at the corresponding level, direct work in their own local area, and report on their work at regular intervals to the Party committee at the next level up.

Article 28: Local Party committees at every level shall, at their plenary sessions, elect standing committees, secretaries, and deputy secretaries, and report to the next higher-level Party committee for approval. Local Party committee standing committees at every level shall exercise the functions and powers of the local Party committee when it is not in plenary session. The standing committee shall continue to preside over day-to-day work during the next session of the local Party congress until a new standing committee has been elected.

Local Party committee standing committees at every level shall regularly report on their work at the plenary sessions of their Party committees and accept their oversight.

Article 29: A prefectural Party committee, or the equivalent organization, is a representative organ dispatched by the Party committee of a province or autonomous region to a prefecture covering a number of counties, autonomous counties, and/or cities. It shall lead work in its given prefecture as authorized by the Party committee of the province or autonomous region.

Chapter V. Primary-Level Party Organizations

Article 30: A primary-level Party organization shall be formed in any enterprise, villagers' committee, government organ, school, hospital, research institute, subdistrict and community, social organization, company of the People's Liberation Army, and any other primary-level work unit where there are three or more full Party members.

Primary-level Party organizations shall, according to the requirements of their work and Party member numbers, and with the approval of higher-level Party organizations, establish primary-level Party committees, general Party branch committees, or Party branch committees. A primary-level Party committee is elected through a general meeting or a meeting of delegates and a general Party branch committee or a Party branch committee is elected through a general meeting, and in nominating candidates for these committees, the opinions of both Party and non-Party members shall be widely solicited.

Article 31: A primary-level Party committee, a general Party branch committee or a Party branch committee is elected for a term of three to five years. Results of elections for the secretaries and deputy secretaries of primary-level Party committees, general Party branch committees, and Party branch committees shall be reported to higher-level Party organizations for approval.

Article 32: Primary-level Party organizations play a key role for the Party in the basic units of social organization; they are the foundation for all the Party's work and for its capacity to take on challenges. Their main tasks are:

1) to communicate to the public and carry out the Party's lines, principles and policies, the resolutions of the Party Central Committee and other higher-level Party organizations, and their own resolutions; to give full play to the exemplary and vanguard role of Party members, to excel in their work, and to unite and organize Party officials and non-party officials as well as Party members and non-party members to fulfill the tasks of their work units.

2) to organize Party members to conscientiously study Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; regularize and institutionalize the requirement for all Party members to study the Party Constitution, Party regulations, the Party's history, and General Secretary Xi Jinping's major policy addresses and to meet Party standards; study the Party's lines, principles, policies, and resolutions; acquire a fundamental knowledge of the Party; and improve their general, scientific, legal, and professional knowledge.

3) to guide, manage, oversee, and serve Party members, improve their caliber, deepen their commitment to the ideals and convictions, strengthen their Party spirit, and ensure they participate regularly in Party organization activities; to carry out criticism and self-criticism activities, and maintain and implement Party discipline; to see that members conscientiously fulfill their obligations, and protect against infringements on their rights; and to improve migrant Party member management.

4) to maintain close ties with the people, regularly seek to understand their criticisms and opinions of Party members and the Party's work, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and effectively carry out work related to their political thinking.

5) to give full play to the initiative and creativity of Party members and the people, to discover, nurture, and recommend people with outstanding talent from among them, and to encourage them to contribute their skills and intelligence to reform, opening up, and socialist modernization.

6) to guide and train active applicants for Party membership, to attend to routine work related to member recruitment, and to attach great importance to recruiting Party members from among those in the forefront of production and work and from among the younger generations.

7) to ensure that Party officials and all other personnel strictly observe state laws and regulations and the state's financial and economic statutes and regulations on personnel, and that they do not infringe on the interests of the state, collectives, or the people.

8) to encourage Party members and the people to consciously resist unacceptable practices and resolutely fight against all violations of Party discipline or state law.

Article 33: Primary-level Party committees in subdistricts, townships, and towns and Party organizations in villages and communities shall provide overall leadership over all primary-level organizations and over work in all areas in their localities to enhance community-level social governance, and support and ensure the exercise of functions and powers by administrative, economic, and people's self-governed organizations there.

The leading Party members groups or Party committees of state-owned enterprises shall play a leadership role, set the right direction, keep in mind the big picture, ensure the implementation of Party policies and principles, and discuss and decide on major issues of their enterprise in accordance with regulations. Primary-level Party organizations in state-owned or collective enterprises should focus their work on the operations of their enterprise. Primary-level Party organizations shall guarantee and oversee the implementation of the principles and policies of the Party and the state within their own enterprise and shall support the board of shareholders, board of directors, board of supervisors, and manager (or factory director) in exercising their functions and powers in accordance with the law. They shall wholeheartedly rely on the workers and office staff and support the work of workers' representative congresses; and they shall participate in making decisions on major issues in the enterprise. They shall strengthen their own organizational development and lead work on political thinking, efforts toward cultural-ethical progress, work related to the united front, and work on trade unions, Communist Youth League organizations, women's organizations, and other people's group organizations.

Primary-level Party organizations in non-public sector entities shall implement the Party's principles and policies, guide and oversee their enterprises' observance of state laws and regulations, exercise leadership over trade unions, Communist Youth League organizations, and other people's group organizations, promote unity and cohesion among workers and office staff, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of all parties, and promote the healthy development of their enterprises.

Primary-level Party organizations in social organizations shall communicate to the public and carry out the Party's lines, principles, and policies, exercise leadership over trade unions, Communist Youth League organizations, and other people's group organizations, guide and manage their Party members, lead and serve the people, and advance the cause of the Party.

Primary-level Party organizations shall play a key role in public institutions under the charge of administrative leaders. Primary-level Party organizations in public institutions under the charge of administrative leaders led by a Party committee shall discuss and make decisions on major issues and, at the same time, ensure that the administrative leaders are able to fully exercise their functions and powers.

Primary-level Party organizations in offices of the Party or the state at every level shall assist chief administrators in fulfilling their tasks and improving their work; they shall guide, manage, and oversee all Party members, including chief administrators, but shall not direct the work of their work units.

Article 34: Party branches are the basic organizations of the Party; they are responsible for directly guiding, managing, and overseeing Party members and for organizing, communicating with, uniting, and serving the people.

Chapter VI. Party Officials

Article 35: Party officials are the backbone of the Party's cause and public servants of the people, and shall be loyal to the Party, clean, and responsible. The Party shall select officials on the basis of both their moral integrity and their professional competencegiving greater priority to the formerand on the basis of their merits and not their origins; it shall select officials who put the Party's cause first and who are impartial and upright; it shall oppose favoritism; and it shall endeavor to develop a contingent of officials that is more revolutionary, younger, better educated, and more professional.

The Party attaches great weight to the education, training, selection, assessment, and oversight of its officials, and considers the training and selection of outstanding young officials to be of particular importance. The Party shall work actively to achieve progress in reforming the cadre system.

The Party attaches great importance to the training and promotion of female officials and ethnic minority officials.

Article 36: Party officials at every level must hold firm convictions, be committed to serving the people, be hardworking and pragmatic, take on responsibility, and be clean and honest. They must set a good example in carrying out their obligations as Party members as prescribed in Article 3 of this Constitution and must meet the following basic requirements:

1) Have the necessary understanding of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development to be able to perform their duties; take the lead in applying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; endeavor to use Marxist positions, viewpoints, and methods in analyzing and solving practical problems; demand of themselves commitment to study, political integrity, and rectitude; and be able to stand the test of any hardship or difficulty.

2) Have firm conviction in the high ideal of communism and in socialism with Chinese characteristics, resolutely implement the Party's basic line, principles, and policies, demonstrate determination in pursuing reform and opening up, devote themselves to the cause of modernization, work hard in building socialism, foster the right view on performance evaluation, and make solid achievements that stand up in practice, in the eyes of the people, and over the course of time.

3) Maintain a commitment to the emancipation of the mind, seeking truth from facts, advancing with the times, and breaking new ground and innovating; carry out investigations and research diligently, enabling Party principles and policies to be combined with circumstances in their localities or departments and ensuring work is done to excellent effect; be truthful, do practical work, and seek tangible results.

4) Be dedicated to the revolutionary cause and have a strong sense of political responsibility, have practical experience, and have the organizational ability, general education, and specialized knowledge necessary to excel in leading posts.

5) Exercise the power vested in them by the people as it should be exercised, be principled, handle matters in accordance with the law, practice honesty and integrity, work diligently for the people, lead by example, work hard and live plainly, maintain close ties with the people, uphold the Party's mass line, consciously accept the criticism and oversight of the Party and the people, strengthen their moral self-cultivation, espouse the Party spirit and high ethical standards, be a role model, exercise self-respect, self-reflection, self-caution, and self-motivation, combat the practice of formalities for formalities' sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and oppose privilege-seeking mindsets and practices and any act of abusing power for personal gain.

6) Uphold the Party's democratic centralism, work in a democratic way, keep in mind the bigger picture, and be good at uniting and working with other comrades, including those whose views differ from their own.

Article 37: Party officials should be able to cooperate well with non-Party officials, respect them, and be open-minded in learning from them.

Party organizations at all levels must be good at discovering, and recommending for leadership positions, talented non-Party members with practical learning, and ensure that they enjoy authority commensurate with their positions and can fully play their roles.

Article 38: Party members in leadership positions at every level, whether elected through democratic procedures or appointed by a leading body, do not hold posts for life and can be transferred from or relieved of their posts.

Officials whose age and health make them unfit to continue working should retire according to state regulations.

Chapter VII. Party Discipline

Article 39: Party discipline refers to the codes of conduct that must be observed by Party organizations at every level and by all Party members. It is a guarantee for safeguarding Party unity and solidarity and for ensuring that the tasks of the Party are accomplished. Party organizations must strictly observe and maintain Party discipline. Communist Party members must consciously accept the constraints of Party discipline.

Article 40: Party discipline mainly consists of political and organizational discipline and discipline regarding integrity, the public, work, and life.

For members who have violated Party discipline, Party organizations shall reprimand and educate them, order them to conduct self-examination, admonish them, or take disciplinary action against them, depending on the nature and seriousness of their mistakes, in keeping with the principle of learning from mistakes to prevent recurrence, treating the illness to save the patient, exercising strict discipline enforcement, holding every violator accountable, and discovering problems early and correcting them when they are nascent. The four forms of oversight and discipline enforcement shall be exercised, ensuring that those who have committed minor misconduct are made to "redden and sweat"; that penalties and organizational adjustments to official positions are employed as important means of Party self-supervision and self-governance; and that those who have committed serious disciplinary and/or criminal violations are expelled from the Party.

It is strictly forbidden within the Party to take any measure in contravention of the Party Constitution or state laws in dealing with a member, or to retaliate against or frame another person. Offending organizations and individuals must be held accountable according to Party discipline and state laws.

Article 41: There are five forms of disciplinary action for Party members: warning, severe warning, removal from a position within the Party, probation within the Party, and expulsion from the Party.

Party members shall not be placed on probation within the Party for a period of more than two years. A Party member under probation shall have no right to vote or stand for election. A Party member who has undergone a period of disciplinary probation and genuinely rectified his or her mistake(s) shall have his or her rights as a Party member restored. A Party member who refuses to show remorse shall be expelled from the Party.

Expulsion is the ultimate form of disciplinary action within the Party. In deciding on or approving an expulsion, Party organizations at every level shall look into all documentation and opinions related to the case with circumspection.

Article 42: Any disciplinary action to be taken against a Party member must be discussed and decided on at a general meeting of Party branch, and reported to the primary-level Party committee for approval. In the event that the issues involved are important or complicated, or if a member is to be expelled from the Party, the case shall be reported to a Party commission for discipline inspection for examination and approval at the county level or above depending on the specific circumstances of the case. In exceptional circumstances, a Party committee or a commission for discipline inspection at or above the county level has the authority to decide directly on the disciplinary action to be taken against a Party member.

Any decision to give a member or alternate member of the Central Committee a warning or severe warning shall be examined by the Standing Committee of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and then submitted to the Central Committee for approval. Any decision to give a member or alternate member of a local Party committee at any level a warning or severe warning shall be submitted to the commission for discipline inspection at the next level up for approval and reported to the Party committee at the same level as the commission to be put on record.

Any decision to discipline a member or alternate member of the Central Committee or a local committee at any level by removal from his or her position within the Party, disciplinary probation, or expulsion from the Party must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote at a plenary meeting of the Party committee to which the member or alternate member in question belongs. When the plenary meeting is not in session, the decision may be taken first by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee or the standing committee of a local Party committee while awaiting confirmation at the plenary meeting of the Party committee. The use of such actions in disciplining a member or alternate member of a local Party committee at any level is subject to examination by the standing committee of the commission for discipline inspection at the next level up and shall then be submitted by the commission for discipline inspection to the Party committee at the same level as the commission for approval.

The expulsion from the Party of a member or alternate member of the Central Committee who has committed a serious criminal violation shall be decided upon by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee; the expulsion of a member or alternate member of a local Party committee at any level who has committed a serious criminal violation shall be decided upon by the standing committee of the Party committee at the corresponding level.

Article 43: When a Party organization is deciding on disciplinary action against a Party member, it should investigate and verify the facts as objectively as possible. The Party member in question must be shown the disciplinary decision and the facts it is based on, and be given the chance to offer an explanation and speak in his or her own defense. If the member does not accept the decision, he or she may appeal, and the Party organization concerned must promptly manage or forward the appeal, and must not withhold or suppress it. Those who persist with mistaken views or unjustifiable claims shall be subject to reprimand and education.

Article 44: Should a Party organization fail to uphold Party discipline, it must be held accountable.

In the event that a Party organization seriously violates Party discipline and is unable to rectify the mistake on its own, the Party committee at the next level up should, after establishing and verifying the facts, make a decision to reorganize or dissolve the organization based on the seriousness of the case, report this decision to the Party committee at the next level up for examination and approval, and then formally announce and execute the decision.

Chapter VIII. Party Organs for Discipline Inspection

Article 45: The Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection shall function under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Party. Local commissions for discipline inspection at every level and primary-level commissions for discipline inspection shall all function under the dual leadership of the Party committee at the corresponding level and the commission for discipline inspection at the next level up. A commission for discipline inspection shall strengthen its leadership over the lower-level commissions for discipline inspection.

The Party's commissions for discipline inspection at every level shall serve a term of the same duration as Party committees at the corresponding level.

The Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection shall elect, at a plenary session, its standing committee, secretary, and deputy secretaries, and shall report the election results to the Central Committee for approval. Local commissions for discipline inspection at every level shall elect their standing committees, secretaries, and deputy secretaries at their plenary sessions. Election results must go through the Party committee at the corresponding level and be reported to the Party committee at the next level up for approval. Whether a primary-level Party committee should set up a commission for discipline inspection or simply appoint a discipline inspection commissioner is to be determined by the Party organization at the next level up in light of the specific circumstances. Committees of general Party branches and Party branches shall have in place discipline inspection commissioners.

The Party's central and local commissions for discipline inspection shall dispatch discipline inspection teams to all the Party and state organs at the corresponding level and to state-owned enterprises and public institutions as required by relevant regulations. The leaders of such discipline inspection teams shall attend relevant meetings of the leading Party organizations in the work units under inspection. The leading Party organizations in the work units concerned must support their work.

Article 46: The Party's commissions for discipline inspection at every level are bodies specifically charged with the responsibility of conducting internal oversight, whose main tasks are: to defend the Constitution and other regulations of the Party, to monitor the implementation of the lines, principles, policies, and resolutions of the Party, to assist their respective Party committees in ensuring strict Party self-governance in every respect, improving Party conduct, and organizing and coordinating efforts to combat corruption, and to improve Party and state oversight systems.

The duties of the Party's commissions for discipline inspection at every level are to exercise oversight, enforce discipline, and ensure accountability. They shall work to keep Party members educated about their duty to observe Party discipline and shall make decisions about maintaining Party discipline; they shall oversee the performance of duty and exercise of power by Party organizations and Party members in leadership positions, accept and handle complaints and reports made by both Party members and the general public, hold cautionary talks, and carry out oral or written inquiries; they shall examine and deal with important or complicated cases of violations of the Constitution or other regulations of the Party by Party organizations or members and decide on or rescind disciplinary action against the Party members involved; they shall pursue accountability or propose enforcing accountability; they shall deal with complaints and appeals made by Party members; and they shall safeguard the rights of Party members.

Commissions for discipline inspection at every level shall report to the Party committee at the corresponding level on problems encountered in handling and the outcomes of particularly important or complicated cases. Local commissions for discipline inspection at every level and primary-level commissions for discipline inspection shall, at the same time, also submit reports to commissions for discipline inspection at the next level up.

If a commission for discipline inspection at any level discovers a violation of Party discipline by a member of the Party committee at the corresponding level, it may take preliminary steps to verify the facts and, if it is necessary to file a case, should simultaneously report the matter to the Party committee at the corresponding level and the commission for discipline inspection at the next level up; if a member of the standing committee of the Party committee is involved, the case shall be reported to and subject to preliminary verification by the commission for discipline inspection at the next level up and, if it is necessary to investigate the case, the commission for discipline inspection in question should then report it to the Party committee at the corresponding level for approval.

Article 47: Higher-level commissions for discipline inspection have the power to examine the work of lower-level commissions and to approve or revise their decisions on a case. If the decision to be revised has already been ratified by the Party committee at the corresponding level, the revision must be approved by the Party committee at the next level up.

If a local commission for discipline inspection at any level or a primary-level commission for discipline inspection disagrees with a decision made during the handling of a case by the Party committee at the corresponding level, it may request that the commission at the next level up re-examines the case; should a local or primary-level commission discover a discipline violation by the Party committee at the corresponding level or by any of its members, and if the Party committee fails to address or addresses incorrectly that violation, the commission has the right to appeal to a higher-level commission and request assistance in dealing with the matter.

Chapter IX. Leading Party Members Groups

Article 48: A leading Party members group may be formed in the leading body of central or local state organs, people's organizations, economic or cultural institutions, or other non-Party organizations. Such a group shall play the leading role. Its main tasks are: to ensure that the Party's lines, principles, and policies are implemented; to strengthen leadership over Party building within its work unit and fulfill its responsibility for exercising strict Party self-governance in every respect; to discuss and make decisions on matters of major significance within its work unit, to manage officials to proper effect; to discuss and decide on important issues including adjusting the setup of primary-level Party organizations, admitting new Party members, and disciplining Party members; to encourage non-Party officials and the people in fulfilling the tasks entrusted to them by the Party and the state; and to exercise leadership over the work of the Party organizations of the work unit and those directly under it.

Article 49: The composition of a leading Party members group is decided on by the Party organization that approves its establishment. A leading Party members group shall appoint a secretary and, when necessary, deputy secretaries.

A leading Party members group must accept the leadership of the Party organization that approves its establishment.

Article 50: Party committees may be set up in state departments which exercise centralized leadership over the work units beneath them and in leading organs of relevant work units. The Central Committee of the Party shall stipulate the specific procedures for their establishment and define their functions, powers, and tasks.

Chapter X. Relationship between the Party and the Communist Youth League of China

Article 51: The Communist Youth League of China is a people's group organization of forward-thinking young people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China; it is a school for vast numbers of young people to learn through practice about socialism with Chinese characteristics and about communism; it is an aide to and reserve force of the Party. The Central Committee of the Communist Youth League functions under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Party. Local chapters of the Communist Youth League come under the leadership of the relevant Party committee at the corresponding level and of the higher-level organization of the League itself.

Article 52: Party committees at every level must strengthen their leadership over Communist Youth League organizations and pay attention to the selection and training of League officials. The Party must give firm support to the Communist Youth League as it carries out its work in a vibrant and creative way which suits the characteristics and needs of young people, and give full play to the League's spearhead role and its role as a bridge linking the Party with younger generations.

Those secretaries of League committees at or below the county level or in enterprises and public institutions who are Party members may attend the meetings of Party committees or of the standing committees of Party committees at their corresponding level as non-voting participants.

Chapter XI. Party Emblem and Flag

Article 53: The emblem of the Communist Party of China is composed of a hammer and sickle.

Article 54: The flag of the Communist Party of China is a red flag emblazoned with a golden Party emblem.

Article 55: The Party emblem and the Party flag are the symbol and sign of the Communist Party of China. Party organizations at every level and all Party members shall protect the sanctity of the Party emblem and the Party flag. Party emblems and flags should be made and used according to regulations.
Members of Madisons Urban Design Commission and residents expressed major doubts Wednesday night about a $90 million, four-building apartment development that would vastly alter the area next to Tenney Park along Sherman Avenue and the Yahara River.

Misgivings around the development put forth by Vermilion Development, of Chicago, included increased traffic, aesthetic changes to the neighborhood and environmental impacts.

The project would raze a two-story office building at 1617 Sherman Ave. to make way for 445 market-rate apartments that would offer many tenants a view of the Isthmus and Lake Mendota.

But commission member Christian Harper called the developments design so in your face that it was a non-starter for approval.

Who wouldnt want to live in those Sherman Avenue facing apartments with beautiful sunsets across the lake? Harper said. But I just dont think the city should be sacrificing what the potential is for this site for 50 or 60 people to have beautiful sunset lakeside views.

Another commission member, Lois Braun-Oddo, noted the current site is an area where groundwater settles.

Youre displacing a lot of capacity for groundwater in an area very susceptible for flooding, Braun-Oddo said, adding she was aghast at the density of the project relative to the size of Sherman Avenue.

Wednesday nights meeting was purely informational. Vermilion Development introduced its concept for the site earlier this month.

The development would consist of one six-story, U-shaped building facing the lake and another four-story rectangular building that would face the river and park, each with parking garages and rooftop decks.

Two slightly smaller three-story buildings would be located on the interior of the 8.6-acre site. The housing would include a mix of studios and one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

Doug Hursh, design director for architecture firm Potter Lawson, which is working alongside Vermilion, said the developments larger front-facing balconies and terraces would imbue the street with ample activity and livelihood. The architecture team also floated a potential cafe or wine bar at the corner of the development where Sherman Avenue would meet its entrance.

With Madison streets facing new and under-construction housing developments seemingly left and right, increased traffic was a repeated concern for residents who spoke against the development Wednesday night.

To add a thousand more residents across the street from these single-family homes, I think, is absolutely doing a disservice to the city of Madison, said Lisa Shapira, who lives near the proposed development.

I dont think this is a good fit for the neighborhood, she said.
Students: How would you use $200 to help someone in need?

As it does each year, the Wisconsin State Journal is inviting children and teens to write a brief letter about someone in their community who could use a helping hand during the winter holidays. Readers ages 18 and younger are asked to explain what they would do if they had $200 to help someone else.

Helping Hands coordinators will choose some of these letters and help carry out the writers plans to aid a classmate, friend, neighbor or community member. Letters are carefully screened to make sure these gifts are being sent to people who are among those who need them the most. The selected entries, edited for length and to avoid identifying recipients, will be published in the State Journal in December.

Heres how to submit a letter to Helping Hands:

Email it to helpinghands@madison.com, or mail it to: Helping Hands, Attn: Gayle Worland, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8056, Madison, WI 53708. Families, classes or other groups may submit entries individually or in a single envelope.

Include the following: The writers first and last names, age, grade, school and community/city name, plus a parent/guardians name, email address and phone number in case we have questions. Teachers and group leaders, please also include your name, email address and phone number so we can contact you. Whenever possible, please include the name and city of the person or family described. This information will not be published.

The deadline for entries is Monday, Nov. 21. All emails and postal mail should be received by that date.

Please email your questions to helpinghands@madison.com. Were happy to help.

The Helping Hands program is supported by the State Journals Empty Stocking Club and the generosity of our readers. To support Helping Hands, please donate online at emptystockingclub.com or mail a check to Empty Stocking Club, Wisconsin State Journal, P.O. Box 8056, Madison, WI 53708, and write Helping Hands in the subject line.
What if the way to break through our polarized politics was to reward those willing to cross the partisan divide for the greater good?

America is mired in a dysfunctional stew of hyper-partisanship. Too many view members of the opposing political party as enemies and not fellow Americans. Not to mention this environment can make it difficult to govern. A multitude of books have been written about how we ended up this way. Some of those books have even offered suggestions on how we can move beyond this hyper-partisan doom loop.

In her book Uncivil Agreement: How Politics Became Our Identity, Lilliana Mason writes that it was not that long ago that the two parties were demographically and ideologically hard to tell apart. It feels as if those days are long gone. Americans social identities have grown increasingly linked with their political party as has their dislike for the opposition. A 2016 Pew Research survey found that for the first time in more than 20 years, majorities of Democrats and Republicans held very unfavorable views of their partisan opponents. I imagine that number has only grown.

This type of hyper-partisanship is rewarded in primary elections, when ideologically pure primary voters tend to dominate. Compromise, which is a requirement for effective governing, becomes a victim to a polarized electorate. Many elected officials who have worked across the aisle are punished for it. Maybe, just maybe, the incentives can change during general elections to benefit a wider range of voters.

There are several examples of patriots who are willing to cross partisan lines for the good of their citizens, constituents and the country.

Alaskas Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says she plans on ranking (Alaska uses ranked-choice voting) Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola first in the U.S. House race. Murkowski, seeking reelection, will also be on the ballot. Murkowski told reporters that she has been a Republican since registering to vote at age 18, and that she still believes in party tenets of limited government and strong national defense  but feels no obligation to stick to partisan orthodoxy.

I know that bothers some people who want me to be that rigid, partisan person, and Im just not. Im not, havent been, and I wont be, Murkowski said. I do not toe the party line just because party leaders have asked or because it may be expected. My first obligation is to the people of the state of Alaska.

In solidly Republican Utah, the Republican and senior senator, Mike Lee, is facing a worthy challenger in his fight for reelection. Former Republican Evan McMullin, who has built a broad coalition, is running as an independent to unseat Lee. Utah Democrats, aiming not to split the anti-Lee vote, strategically decided to back McMullin rather than nominate a Democrat. Texts have been released showing Lee telling then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that he was deeply engaged in an attempt just before the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection to somehow find a way to declare Donald Trump the winner of 2020 presidential election winner.

In Arizona, nearly 50 Republican and independent leaders, including elected officials, small-business owners, and community leaders, launched Republicans for Kelly, endorsing Democratic Sen. Mark Kellys reelection campaign. Kelly, the former astronaut and businessman, is running against Republican Blake Masters. The election-denying Masters recently scrubbed his website of controversial topics.

The Pennsylvania governors race pits Democrat Josh Shapiro against Republican Doug Mastriano. Nearly 20 prominent Pennsylvania Republicans have come out publicly and endorsed Shapiro. Included in that list is Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security secretary under President George W. Bush. Chertoff has said, I dedicated my career in public service to upholding the rule of law and defending the Constitution. Right now, we all have a responsibility to support candidates of whichever party who will stand up and defend our democracy.

Closer to home, St. Louis County voters will have the opportunity for some of the same. Katherine Pinner won the GOP primary in August for St. Louis County executive but dropped out of the race in early September. After a special meeting, the county Republican Central Committee convinced Democrat Mark Mantovani to switch parties and run as the GOP candidate against the incumbent Democrat Sam Page. The local Republicans deserve credit for their selection of Mantovani since he is really not a typical Republican. The committee had enough forethought to offer St. Louis County voters a palatable option, a candidate who is committed to solving the problems facing the county.

All of these heroes have chosen country, state or county over party. In an us versus them climate, these examples show the U.S. how to be just us. They deserve our praise and maybe even our vote.
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.
Editors note: This column first ran October 11, 2012, in the Times-News and at Magicvalley.com.

History is full of myths and conspiracy theories  and one of these myths pulled into town on the rails and never left.

Shakespearean actor and Confederate secret agent John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln in 1865 at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Most historians  but not all  agree that Booth was tracked down and killed two weeks later in a barn in Virginia. Booths body was buried in Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore.

Others say that government agents killed the wrong man in Garretts barn.

Rumors of his escape from the barn began to circulate even before Booths body was cold. Some say the body was hastily buried to cover up the governments mistake.

Nearly 40 years later, a man claiming to be John Wilkes Booth committed suicide in Enid, Oklahoma.

This isnt the story youll find in textbooks, said Valerie Bowen, then director of the Cassia County Historical Museum in Burley.

The man claiming to be Booth turned out to be a drifter who called himself David E. George. George bore a striking resemblance to Booth and could spout Shakespeare at the drop of a hat.

Some folks in Enid took Georges confession seriously. An undertaker embalmed the body, fully expecting that someone from the government or Booths family would claim it.

But the body  which eventually became mummified  remained unclaimed until an old friend came for it.

The friend, Finis L. Bates, had heard Georges story before. Twenty years after Lincolns assassination, George (who then went by the name John

St. Helen) was ill and thought that he would soon be dead. George confessed to Bates, who was a lawyer.

After George recovered, Bates notified the government of St. Helens confession, but no one seemed interested.

After hearing of Georges suicide and mummification, Bates asked a judge in Oklahoma for the body. The judge agreed, thinking that Bates would give his friend a decent burial.

Instead, Bates wrote a book called The Escape and Suicide of John Wilkes Booth  Written for the Correction of History and put the mummy on tour. They say that the mummy made more money on tour than John Wilkes Booth ever did as an actor.

Eventually, the mummy  affectionately known as John  was leased to William Evans, the Carnival King of the Southwest. Evans paid a $40,000 bond, plus a fee of more than $2,000 a year, to display John what he called the greatest freak-animal show in the country.

After a train wreck destroyed his carnival business, Evans traveled from town to town in a luxury Pullman rail car, charging folks a fee to see the mummified body of John Wilkes Booth in a coffin.

Evans later retired and moved John and the Pullman car to a small potato farm in Declo. He eventually left town with the mummy, but Evans left the Pullman car where it sat.

Evans Pullman car has come a long way, Bowen said. Since it was sold, the rail car has been used as a barber shop, a residence and a pig pen.

The rail car was moved from Declo to the Cassia County Historical Museum in Burley a few decades ago, where it was cleaned up and remains on display.

Its not the plush private car it used to be, Bowen said, but its not a pig pen anymore.

The mummy was last seen publicly in 1976 before it was sold to a private collector.
TWIN FALLS  Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, allowing Magic Valley residents to safely dispose of unneeded medications.

The event, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will take place at the following locations:

Lynwood Shopping Center, 1203 Filer Ave. E., Twin Falls

Walker Center, 605 11th E., Gooding

Smiths, 937 E. Main St., Burley

The National Library of Medicine said keeping expired or unwanted medicines can increase the risk of taking the wrong medicine due to mix-ups, accidental poisoning in children or pets, overdose and misuse or illegal abuse.

Drug Take Back Day makes it easy to take this step for our familys safety, Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office spokesperson Lori Stewart said.

All prescription drugs will be accepted at the events, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and veterinary medications. All locations will also accept vape pens, cartridges, and other e-cigarette devices (with batteries removed). Needles will not be accepted.

The South Central Public Health District is partnering with the DEA, the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office, the Twin Falls County Treatment and Recovery Clinic, the Gooding County Sheriffs Office, the Cassia County Sheriffs Office, Weinhoff Drug Testing and the Idaho Office of Drug Policy to host the events.

If someone is unable to attend the event, the National Library of Medicine gives tips on disposing of unneeded medicine. Most medicines should not be flushed down the drain because that can pollute water resources. Flushing, however, is OK if the label says so.

Most medicines can be safely discarded in the trash, but it advises people to take the medicine out of the bottle, putting it in a resealable bag and discarding it with unpleasant garbage such as kitty litter or used coffee grounds.
BURLEY  Heres a list of what Minidoka County and Cassia County voters will find on their ballots during the general election on Nov. 8.

In Cassia County, voters will cast their ballots for two seats on the county commission. Republican Robert J. Kunau is running for the Second District four-year term and Kent R. Searle is running for the Third District two-year term. Both candidates are unopposed.

Republican Joseph W. Larsen is unopposed for Cassia County clerk.

Republican Laura S. Greener is unopposed for Cassia County treasurer.

Republican Martin K. Adams is unopposed for Cassia County assessor.

Republican Craig J. Rinehart is unopposed for Cassia County coroner.

Cassia County voters will also vote to retain Blaine P. Cannon as magistrate judge.

A portion of Precinct 118 Parsons will have Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District temporary override levy in the amount of $725,004 per year for two years on the ballot.

In Minidoka County, Republican Dan Schaeffer is unopposed for county commissioner in the Second Districts four-year-term.

Republican Jared Berkeley Orton is unopposed for the Third Districts two-year term.

Republican David C. Pinther is unopposed for Minidoka County sheriff, a two-year-term.

Republican Tonya Page is unopposed for Minidoka County clerk, a 4-year-term.

Republican LaVonna Dayley is unopposed for Minidoka treasurer.

Republican Janice West is unopposed for Minidoka County assessor.

Republican C.V. Lucky Bourn is unopposed for a four-year term as Minidoka County coroner.

Minidoka County voters will also vote to retain Douglas G. Abernroth as magistrate judge.

Two write-in lines are available, but no candidates are running for district supervisor for Minidoka Soil & Water Conservation District.

Residents in both Minidoka and Cassia counties will vote for candidates in the following races:

Independent Scott Oh Cleveland, Republican Mike Crapo, Democrat David Roth, Libertarian Idaho Sierra Law (also known as Carla Reale Sierra) and Constitutionalist Ray J. Writz are running for U.S. senator.

Republican Mike Simpson and Democrat Wendy Norman are running for U.S. Representative for Idahos Second District.

Republican Brad Little, Libertarian Paul Sand, Independent Ammon Bundy, Constitutionalist Chantyrose Davison and Democrat Stephen Heidt are running for governor.

Constitutionalist Pro-Life (a person formerly known as Marvin Richardson), Republican Scott Bedke and Democrat Terry Pickens Manweiler are running for lieutenant governor.

Republican Phil McGrane and Democrat Shawn Keenan are running for secretary of state.

Republican Brandon D. Woolf, Democrat Dianna David and Constitutionalist Miste Gardner are running for state controller.

Democrat Deborah Silver and Republican Julie A. Ellsworth are running for state treasure.

Republican Raul R. Labrador and Democrat Tom Arkoosh are running for attorney general.

Democrat Terry L. Gilbert, and Republican Debbie Critchfield are running for superintendent of public instruction.

Independent Bill Drury and Republican Kelly Anthon are running for Legislative District 27 senator.

Republican Douglas T. Pickett is unopposed for Legislative District 27 representative Position A. Republican Clay Handy is unopposed for Legislative District 27 representative Position B.

Voters will vote for an Idaho Constitutional amendment measure requiring the Legislature to commence on the first Thursday of December after the general election and providing for the expenses of the session.

Voters will also approve or disapprove of the state of Idaho using record budget surplus to refund $500 million to Idaho tax payers and cut ongoing income taxes by more than $150 million, put more money in classrooms by increasing education funding by a record $410 million.
JEROME  Family members of an elderly resident were first made aware that his finances were in disarray when they received a notice that his truck was going to be repossessed.

The truck was paid off, and the title was in the possession of his son. Why would a collections agency be coming for the truck?

The 83-year-old Jerome resident had fallen prey to a scam.

The story the scammer told him was that he had won a cash prize sweepstakes. Millions of dollars would be his, but first he had to pay the taxes on the prize up front.

The man, who is on fixed-income of Social Security, uses a walker to get around, and uses an oxygen tank, went around to at least six same-day lenders in Jerome and Twin Falls, trying to scrape together enough money to pay the taxes on his prize. He even obtained a lost title from the DMV to use his car as collateral for a $1,000 loan that would end up costing him $2,800 to pay back.

Convinced that he was about to finally strike it big, the 83-year-old man, who uses a walker to get around and is on oxygen, was able to obtain multiple quick loans from at least six same-day lenders in the Magic Valley.

His daughter-in-law said the scammer developed a relationship with him, called regularly and virtually befriended him. He even gave the man the names of nearby fast-money lenders for him. He was, after all, so very close to getting his prize money.

Over a period of six months the scammer was able to convince the man to take out several small loans from same-day lenders, eventually racking up more than $11,000 of debt.

The prospect of being just a few steps away from a million-dollar payout was irresistible. To get nearly $6,000 in loans, the man paid out nearly $5,000 in interest and fees on top of what he borrowed: About $11,000 in total.

Scams such as this continue to be frequent occurrences and, in early October, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Idaho announced that it was expanding the Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force to increase efforts to combat scams originating overseas.

U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit said the District of Idaho offices were committed to investigating and prosecuting elder fraud in the state.

We will not hesitate to use our resources to track down those who prey upon older Americans through online or other scams, even when the criminals are not in Idaho, Hurwit said in the statement.

Over the last year, Department of Justice personnel pursued approximately 260 cases involving more than 600 defendants.

As part of Idahos elder fraud efforts, it engages with the community and industry to raise awareness about scams and exploitation and preventing victimization, including regularly meeting with local law enforcement and financial institutions about elder fraud scams in Idaho.

The Idahos elder justice coordinator, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol, will continue to work with state and local law enforcement partners and stakeholders to effectively educate elders and prevent elder abuse, but also to investigate and prosecute when necessary.

Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults.

Two ways are available to report scams targeting people over 60. First, the National Elder Fraud Hotline, 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps.

Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. More information can be found on the Department of Justices Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.

Hurwit also invited Idahoans to contact his office directly at 208-334-1211 and ask for Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Mazorol to report incidents of fraud directed at older Americans in Idaho.
Every state in the West has some type of law declaring that its waters belong to the public. But what this means is disputed, and several state supreme courts have had to decide cases that pit streamside landowners against paddlers and anglers.

Recreational users have won most of these cases in the Rocky Mountain states, as courts have decided that public ownership of water gives the public a right to access the states waters.

Colorado was the first to put such language in its constitution, and several others followed suit, including Wyoming, New Mexico and Montana. Other states, including Utah, have such language in statutes.

But the beds and banks of many Western streams belong to the owners of adjoining lands unless the land along a stream is government-owned. That leads many landowners to see a stream as part of their property, while paddlers and anglers view it as a public resource.

Recently, the New Mexico Supreme Court further defined access, ruling that the public has the right to stand on privately owned streambeds to boat through or fish  a loss to landowners who want to exclude the public.

New Mexico decided the first case about recreational use of water that flows through private land in 1945, when its supreme court ruled that the public has a constitutional right to float on waters that are owned by the public. Dissenting judges complained about destroying property rights, but the precedent was set.

Other state courts have reached similar decisions about their states public ownership laws. First, Wyoming, then Idaho, Utah and Montana all found that the public has a right to float the states waters because the public owns them. But specifics vary, especially about public rights to touch privately owned streambeds. For example, there is a right to wade in Montana but not Wyoming.

Only Colorado rejected public access, as a divided court in 1979 saw public ownership of water as less meaningful than ancient property rules favoring landowners. Because Colorado has no public right to touch private streambeds, an angler is suing to have the upper Arkansas River declared navigable  meaning the state would own its beds and banks.

This issue flared up in New Mexico when the State Game Commission under then-Gov. Susana Martinez (R)) adopted a rule allowing a landowner to close off waters flowing through their property if the commission approved the landowners petition.

The rule was always legally dubious, but it took New Mexicos recent Supreme Court decision to overturn it. The court ruled unanimously that the right of public access includes walking and wading on privately owned streambeds as reasonably necessary for fishing and other recreational uses.

Not surprisingly, New Mexicos recreation community loved the recent decision, while landowners did not. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) seemed relieved that the issue was decided, though not necessarily thrilled with the outcome.

Her spokesperson told the Albuquerque Journal that the ruling provides needed clarity on the issues of stream access. The governor had not advocated for public access, and was widely seen as having axed two Game Commissioners for their pro-access positions.

State elected officials and agencies have rarely led the charge for public access in the Rocky Mountain states. Except for the early New Mexico case, all lawsuits have been brought by recreational users, not state agencies. Sadly, elected officials are often reluctant to support access despite the popularity of outdoor recreation, perhaps because of the influence of wealthy streamside landowners.

That leaves the courts to play a crucial role, although they do not always get the last word. In Utah, the legislature soon curtailed the public rights recognized by its supreme court in 2008.

Disagreements continue about what waters are, and should be, open to the public. But except in Colorado, the Rocky Mountain courts have not allowed landowners to exclude recreational users, largely because the law declares that water belongs to the public.

The recent New Mexico decision is the latest to affirm that public ownership means public access.
Coca-Colas lemon drink Sprite has become a billion-dollar brand in India, the beverage company has said in its third quarter 2022 results. The growth has been driven by the success of locally adapted, occasion-based global marketing campaigns and screentime, the company said.Sharing other India-specific information, the company said, We drove 2.5 billion transactions in India at affordable price points through the expansion of returnable glass bottles and single-serve PET packages.In India, we continue to strengthen the first half of the year as we gain share in sparklings offerings. Trademark Coke delivered strong growth through effective execution and occasion-based marketing. Sparkling soft drinks grew 3%, driven by growth across all geographic operating segments, primarily led by India, Mexico and China. Trademark Coca-Cola grew 3%, driven by growth across all geographic operating segments. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew 11%, driven by low double-digit growth across developed markets and high single-digit growth across developing and emerging markets. Sparkling flavors grew 3%, led by Asia Pacific and Latin America, the company said.Nutrition, juice, dairy and plant-based beverages were even, as growth led by Minute Maid Pulpy in China, Maaza in India and fairlife in the United States was offset by declines primarily in local brands in Eastern Europe, the company said further.
TODAYS WORD is promulgate. Example: One of Annas main objectives for the week was to promulgate the news that team trivia competitions take place every Monday.

WEDNESDAYS WORD was incumbent. It means necessary for (someone) as a duty or responsibility. Example: It is incumbent of all people with English degrees that focus on literature to have read many of the classics.

Privacy pods

Are the days of people disturbing other library patrons with their loud cellphone conversations finally coming to an end?

The Blue Ridge Regional Librarys Martinsville and Patrick County branches each have added a privacy pod for use by reservation. The pod provides a private soundproof area for a quiet workspace.

They are intended to allow for library patrons to have private phone calls, video conference meetings and focused work sessions. The pod looks like a giant black rectangular box with a glass window on the door and a wooden handle for opening. There is a desk and a chair inside.

They were funded due to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.

Happy reunions

For three weeks folks in Fieldale and Stanleytown have been feeding and trying to catch and help a mysterious tall, lean and long brown dog who had been wandering around. Essie Hollandsworth led the efforts in reuniting him with his family. Good news: He finally was caught in a trap lent by the county. His breed is Azawakh, and he had been returned to the breeder by an owner who had had him for three years. The American Kennel Club describes the Azaqakh as a West African sighthound which excels as a companion, guardian and a lure courser. The sighthound family are canine sprinters that rely on keen vision and blazing speed to fix and course their prey.

As opposite as dogs can be in terms of looks are that short, stocky bulldog that showed up at Bulletin Editor Holly Kozelskys house last week and didnt leave. He was reunited Wednesday morning with his family, who live in a neighborhood on the other side of a large field. The intense searched involved a Sunday Bulletin column and mention in the Stroller and Facebook posts which were shared more than 800 times and about three dozen people offered to take this popular fellow in if his owner were not found. She also reported him to all area veterinarians, the SCPA and Animal Control. However, it was good old fashioned going door-to-door with flyers that found his family.

WEDNESDAYS TRIVIA ANSWER: Trash Trouts are a brand of stormwater litter traps that sit in urban creeks, streams and rivers and catch manmade trash to keep it from entering main waterways. They can withstand heavy rain events but do not disturb the local water wildlife.

TODAYS TRIVIA QUESTION: Where do Halloweens origins date back to?
Today is Thursday, October 27, the 300th day of 2022. There are 65 days left in the year.

In the Henry Bulletin in 1922: An informal meeting of the rural school teachers was held last Saturday in the Martinsville school auditorium. There were about 105 teachers present, who represented practically every school in the counties. The principal reason for calling the teachers together was to give out school supplies, also instructions as to how to make a physical examination of each pupil.

1947: This ad: Open for your Refreshment Pleasure! Though we have been serving a great many customers with our ice cream products, this announcement marks our official opening. This is your invitation to visit our new ice cream plant.  New customers in our wholesale department are being added as fast as new ice cream cabinets are available. Ice Cream packed in dry ice by special order. Drive out at your earliest convenience. Boaz Ice Cream Company, Inc., Roanoke Road, Collinsville. Dial 9506.

1972: Sorry, TPA wives, but youre not invited to the Post I banquet tonight at Forest Park Country Club. We erred in a safety section story Wednesday by saying that several hundred members and their wives were expected to attend the Travelers Protective Association event. The fraternal organizations annual event here, however, traditionally excludes women. We hope none of the wives went rushing out to buy a new frock to wear.

1997: The Old Dominion Cloggers had their audience believing they danced for a living at the recent Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival, said the manager of the part-time dance troupe from the Henry County-Martinsville-Patrick County area. When we were leaving people would come up to us. They wondered, Where are you going next? said manager Rick Fain.

Today in Martinsville-Henry County history: Wednesday, Oct. 26 1922, Man killed by train on way home from the fair; 1947, 14-year-old Alfred Stegall dies of diphtheria; 1972, peace in Vietnam close; 1997, Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. awarded.
The governments of Mozambique and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will cooperate in the fight against terrorism by exchanging information on the actions of extremist groups, the Mozambican executive announced.

Collaboration between the two countries in the fight against terrorism is part of a memorandum signed this week between Maputo and Abu Dhabi, as part of the visit that Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi made to the Arab country.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the visit, Nyusi said that Mozambique wanted to benefit from the UAEs experience in combating violent extremism in order to step up the fight against this phenomenon in the African country.

The neutralization of cells linked to Islamic extremism and combating the financing of terrorism are also other objectives targeted by the memorandum of cooperation signed by the two countries in this area, added Nyusi.

Also as part of the visit of the head of state to the UAE, the two governments signed an agreement for business facilitation and another on training of Mozambicans in that Asian country.

Mozambique and the US also expressed their intention to cooperate in the areas of renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and air transport.

The signing of the memorandum of understanding on counter-terrorism comes at a time when Mozambique, particularly the province of Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, has been ravaged since 2017 by the actions of armed groups described by the authorities and external entities as terrorism.

The insurgency led to a military response a year ago with support from Rwanda and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), liberating districts near gas projects, but new waves of violence have emerged in the south of the region and in the neighboring province of Nampula.

In five years, the conflict has left one million people displaced, according to the UNHCR, and about 4,000 dead, according to the conflict registration project ACLED.
The Social Front of Guinea-Bissau, which represents health and education unions, will maintain the strikes planned for November, despite the meeting with the government, said the spokesman of that structure.

There was no negotiation. It was a meeting to ask for a certain margin, said Yoio Joao Correia, president of the Guinean Nurses Union and spokesman for the Social Front, which represents two unions from the health sector and as many from education.

The Social Front met on Tuesday with the Minister of Education, Martina Moniz, and the Minister of Health, Dionisio Cumba. According to a posting on the Guinean Ministry of Educations Facebook page, the meeting served to the ministers to try to convince the Social Front not to go ahead with the second wave of strikes in those social sectors.

The Social Front has scheduled a new strike for the period between November 7 and 11.

This is the second strike called by the Social Front, after the one held between the 10th and 15th of this month. They promised that next week they will appoint a team to follow up on the demands, said Yoio Joao Correia.

When asked if a negotiation process would start, the Social Front spokesman said he hoped so, but stressed that the strike is still on. There is no reason to suspend it, he concluded.

Workers in the education and health sectors are demanding the application of the career statute and the payment of salaries and allowances in arrears, as well as the improvement of working conditions.
As the world scrambles to secure energy supplies, South Africa has once again emerged as one of the leading exporters, as its coal exports to the European Union grew by a whooping 582.7% during the January-September period.

Global coal trade has steadily improved this year, and has now fully recovered to pre-Covid levels, shipbroker Banchero Costa said in its latest weekly report. South Africa is the worlds fifth largest seaborne exporter of coal, after Indonesia, Australia, Russia, and the United States. It accounted for 5.4% of global coal exports in the Jan-Sep 2022 period. Export volumes from South Africa had steadily declined in the past decade, as it was penalized by declining coal demand in the Atlantic basin, the countrys distance from the more resilient East Asian markets, as well as limitations on output and railway and port capacity.

The report also said that South Africas coal exports to the European Union surged by +582.7% y-o-y in Jan-Sep 2022 to 9.6 mln tonnes, from just 1.4 mln t in the same period of 2021. The EU is now again the second largest destination for South African coal after India, with a 20.0% share. Shipments from South Africa to South Korea also surged by +237.7% y-o-y to 5.0 mln tonnes, from just 1.5 mln t in the same period of 2021.

As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on, the EU has been desperately searching for alternative energy sources. Geography and its abundant reserves puts Africa in a prime position to increase energy exports to Europe, but experts say the continents energy sector needs urgent reforms and help.
The United Nations Security Council adopted this Thursday a resolution extending the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara, MINURSO, for one year, and enshrining, once again, the preeminence of the Morocco-proposed autonomy initiative to resolve the regional dispute.

The Security Council decides to extend the mandate of MINURSO until 31 October 2023, reads Resolution 2654, authored by the United States. The resolution was adopted by 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.

In this new resolution, the executive body of the United Nations reaffirmed its support for the autonomy plan, proposed by Morocco in 2007, as a serious and credible basis on which the regional dispute over the Sahara can be resolved, as enshrined in several previous Security Council resolutions.

The members of the Council also reiterated their support to the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General aimed at relaunching the political process towards a realistic, pragmatic, lasting and compromise-based solution.

In the resolution, the Security Council emphasized again the decisive involvement of Algeria in the dispute.

Actually, Resolution 2654, strongly encourages all parties  including Algeria  to engage with the Personal Envoy through the duration of this process, in a spirit of realism and compromise to ensure a successful outcome.

The Security Council insisted in the majority of the resolution paragraphs that a solution to the dispute is only possible through the engagement of all parties to the dispute.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also shattered Algerias lingering hope to shirk its responsibility in the dispute in his recent report on the situation in the Sahara, where he argued that a solution will be only possible provided that all concerned [parties] engage in a good faith and there is continued support from the international community.

This new language carries a clear message to Algeria and the Polisario Front, which have been promoting narratives to challenge and defy the UN recommendations.

The report also recalled Moroccos commitment towards the UN-led political process, shown in its position favoring the relaunch of the roundtable talks that former UNSG envoy Horst Kohler initiated, convening all parties to the dispute, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario.
Nucleus of a liver cell from a healthy mouse (left, stained blue); liver from a mouse infected by murine hepatitis virus with arrows pointing to expression of the protein TMEM176D. Credit: Maite D. Veja et al.

An article published in Science Advances suggests that a type of cancer treatment known as immune checkpoint blockade may be beneficial in certain cases of severe COVID-19. The creators of this therapy, which can successfully activate the immune system to fight cancer, won the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The findings reported by the authors were based on experiments involving cells from patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) after being infected by SARS-CoV-2, and mice infected by MHV-A59 (murine hepatitis virus A59), another betacoronavirus.

"PD-1 blockade is one of the known immune checkpoint therapies and one of the therapies we analyzed in the study. It tells T lymphocytes [a type of white blood cell] to stop responding to infection after a time so that the response is not excessive. In cases of cancer, sepsis and severe COVID-19, however, PD-1 makes T cells stop functioning even before the disease has been resolved and must therefore be blocked," said Pedro Moraes-Vieira, one of the leaders of the study. Moraes-Vieira is a professor at the State University of Campinas's Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP).

"These are very expensive treatments, but we believe it could be a viable option because there aren't as many critical patients as there were at the start of the pandemic, provided further research confirms that it's safe for COVID-19 patients," Moraes-Vieira said.

Murine coronavirus

The hypothesis tested in the study arose when Uruguayan researchers (co-authors of the article) observed that mice that did not express the protein TMEM176D responded more acutely to infection by MHV-A59. This protein regulates inflammasomes, protein complexes deployed by the innate immune system to trigger inflammation as a weapon against tumors, viruses and bacteria.

Inflammasome activation is more intense without TMEM176D. More inflammatory cytokines are released, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1), which is known to play a role in severe COVID-19.

"Excessive release of IL-1 leads to T lymphocyte dysfunction, which we call T cell exhaustion," Moraes-Vieira said. "These cells are so strongly activated that they can no longer respond adequately. This is common in chronic viral diseases like severe COVID-19, as we found in a study conducted early in the pandemic."

An article on the study in question, published in 2020 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, is one of the most cited articles published in this journal in the last three years and motivated the Uruguayan team to propose a partnership.

In the trials involving mice, treatment with a PD-1 inhibitor restored T cell functionality. In addition, the researchers had access to blood from healthy donors and COVID-19 patients hospitalized at two institutions in Montevideo, Uruguay's capital.

Experiments involving healthy cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 were conducted at UNICAMP's Laboratory of Emerging Virus Studies (LEVE) headed by Professor Jose Luiz Proenca Modena, a co-author of the article

In trials involving human blood samples, only cells that came from patients in intensive care benefited from the administration of atezolizumab, a PD-1 inhibitor used in the study. This was because of inflammasome overactivation leading to exhaustion and dysfunction of adaptive immunity in these patients.

The findings should be considered with caution, the researchers warn. Studies involving cancer patients who were treated in this manner before contracting COVID-19 showed no benefits or pointed to negative results.

In one study, administration of the therapy before viral infection did not lead to an improvement in COVID-19. In another study, involving 423 patients, there were more cases of hospitalization and severe disease among those who had been given the inhibitor. On the other hand, a clinical trial of PD-1 inhibitors in sepsis patients showed the therapy to be safe. More research will therefore be needed to glean a deeper understanding of the effects of the treatment in the context of COVID-19.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

New research from King's College London has found that seeing or hearing birds is associated with an improvement in mental well-being that can last up to eight hours.

This improvement was also evident in people with a diagnosis of depressionthe most common mental illness worldwideindicating the potential role of birdlife in helping those with mental health conditions.

Published in Scientific Reports, the study used smartphone application Urban Mind to collect people's real-time reports of mental well-being alongside their reports of seeing or hearing birdsong.

Lead author Ryan Hammoud, Research Assistant at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, said: "There is growing evidence on the mental health benefits of being around nature and we intuitively think that the presence of birdsong and birds would help lift our mood. However, there is little research that has actually investigated the impact of birds on mental health in real-time and in a real environment. By using the Urban Mind app we have for the first time showed the direct link between seeing or hearing birds and positive mood. We hope this evidence can demonstrate the importance of protecting and providing environments to encourage birds, not only for biodiversity but for our mental health."

The study took place between April 2018 and October 2021, with 1,292 participants completing 26,856 assessments using the Urban Mind app, developed by King's College London, landscape architects J&L Gibbons and arts foundation Nomad Projects.

Participants were recruited worldwide, with the majority being based in the United Kingdom, the European Union and United States of America.

The app asked participants three times a day whether they could see or hear birds, followed by questions on mental well-being to enable researchers to establish an association between the two and to estimate how long this association lasted.

The study also collected information on existing diagnoses of mental health conditions and found hearing or seeing birdlife was associated with improvements in mental well-being in both healthy people and those with depression. Researchers showed that the links between birds and mental well-being were not explained by co-occurring environmental factors such the presence of trees, plants, or waterways.

Senior author, Andrea Mechelli, Professor of Early Intervention in Mental Health at IoPPN, King's College London said: "The term ecosystem services is often used to describe the benefits of certain aspects of the natural environment on our physical and mental health. However, it can be difficult to prove these benefits scientifically. Our study provides an evidence base for creating and supporting biodiverse spaces that harbor birdlife, since this is strongly linked with our mental health. In addition, the findings support the implementation of measures to increase opportunities for people to come across birdlife, particularly for those living with mental health conditions such as depression."

Research partner & Landscape Architect Jo Gibbons, of J & L Gibbons said: "Who hasn't tuned into the melodic complexities of the dawn chorus early on a spring morning? A multi-sensory experience that seems to enrich everyday life, whatever our mood or whereabouts. This exciting research underpins just how much the sight and sound of birdsong lifts the spirits. It captures intriguing evidence that a biodiverse environment is restorative in terms of mental well-being. That the sensual stimulation of birdsong, part of those daily 'doses' of nature, is precious and time-lasting."

The study, "Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife" was published in Scientific Reports.

More information: Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife', Scientific Reports (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20207-6 , Journal information: Scientific Reports Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife',(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20207-6 , www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20207-6
Image of a mouse pancreatic islet, regions in the pancreas that contain beta cells which secret insulin. The HASTER regulatory element has been knocked out in this mouse, resulting in changes to beta cell function that cause diabetes. Credit: Miguel A Garriga/CRG

Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) and Imperial College London have found a switch that regulates the activity of a gene that causes diabetes. The findings, published in Nature Cell Biology, highlight potential new vulnerabilities in the disease and could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies.

HNF1A is a gene that provides instructions for making a protein called hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha. The protein is expressed in many tissues but is particularly important for the pancreas, where it plays a role in developing beta cells. Beta cells produce the hormone insulin, which regulate blood sugar levels.

Mutations in HNF1A cause cells to create a protein that doesn't work normally, which in turn affects the function of beta cells. This results in individuals developing a disease known as maturity-onset diabetes of the young, where symptoms such as high blood sugar can appear before individuals reach the age of 30.

Though this disease accounts for just 1% of all types of diabetes, it is high in terms of absolute numbers due to the high prevalence of diabetes amongst the worldwide population (5-10%). HNF1A is also known to play a key role in the susceptibility for the more common form of the disease, type 2 diabetes, in concert with other genetic and non-genetic factors.

Understanding how the HNF1A gene is switched on or off in beta cells could have important implications for understanding why defects in this gene lead to diabetes, or how it could be harnessed to correct the underlying problem. Using a combination of mouse and human models, researchers have now focused on an enigmatic part of the genome near HNF1A that has a unique function that has not been described before.

This DNA regulatory element works like as rheostat; if the HNF1A gene transcribes too much it dials it down, if the gene is slacking it dials it back up.

"We coined this a stabilizer, in contrast to other DNA regulatory elements such as enhancers, promoters and silencers, and call this particular element HASTER, for HNF1A stabilizer," explains Jorge Ferrer, Senior Researcher at the CRG and Group Leader at CIBERDEM.

The vast majority of RNA molecules synthesized inside cells do not code for proteins. HASTER controls the production of a class of these RNA molecules known as long non-coding RNAS, (lncRNAS).

"This is intriguing because there are tens of thousands of lncRNAs in the human genome, most of which have no known function. It very likely that that there are many lncRNAs in our genome with a similar function to HASTER. If so, they could play a significant role in human disease," says Dr. Anthony Beucher, first author of the study.

The researchers showed that mutations in HASTER cause diabetes in mice. "This is important, because it proves that this type of element is critically important, the consequences of deleting HASTER are comparable to deleting HNF1A itself. HASTER could be a useful handle to manipulate HNF1A therapeutically" says Dr. Ferrer.

The study is an example of how studying the non-protein coding sequences in a genome can yield new ways to understand and treat disease. Just 1-2% of the human genome consists of protein-coding sequences. The remaining 'dark matter' is thought to include tens of thousands of regions that regulate gene expression.

By showing that changes to the function of gene regulatory elements such as HASTER can drastically change cell function akin to disrupting the gene itself, the researchers pave the way for future studies that explore the role of non-protein coding sequences in promoting disease.

"A lot more space in the human genome is devoted to regulating genes than to the genes themselves. In this study we have experimentally validated just one region to ascertain its function. It's likely this is just the tip of the iceberg," concludes Dr. Ferrer.

"Although noncoding RNAs were initially considered to be degradation products of RNA turnover and metabolism, and were often neglected, increasing evidence has demonstrated their regulatory and functional roles in diverse cellular compartments and macromolecular structures and in a wide range of contexts spanning differentiation, disease and metabolism," says an accompanying editorial printed in Nature Methods.

Provided by Center for Genomic Regulation
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In just the month of October in France, a 67-year-old woman died in Brittany, a 33-year-old mother and her two children were shot in the legs in the Rhone region, and a 62-year-old mushroom picker was shot in the abdomen and had to be helicoptered to Marseille.

The link between these gruesome incidents? They were all caused by careless hunters.

All the more timely, then, is the French Senate's report released in September, which called for a ban on alcohol and narcotics while hunting alongside for a spate of measures similar to those applied to drink-driving. On 25 October, the government released a policy roadmap comprising some of these suggestions, including restrictions on drinking. "Hunting involves an arm. Like driving, it is not compatible with a high blood-alcohol concentration," the secretary of state for ecology, Berangere Couillard, said. The Elysee is now awaiting to hear feedback from hunting federations with the view to formulating decrees by early 2023 at the latest.

The president of France's National Hunters' Federation (FNC), Willy Schraen, has retorted that "a drunk guy on a bike is dangerous, too," apparently forgetting French drink-driving laws also apply to cyclists.

The French hunting chief's remark would not hold water in other countries, where representative organizations advise hunters to abstain from alcohol. Absent an EU-wide legislation on the matter, national legislation in states such as Spain, Belgium and Germany restrict drinking while in possession of a firearm. Or take, for example, the official website of a US agency for hunting education, which states that "consuming alcohol before or during the hunt increases the risk of incidents because it impairs coordination, hearing, vision, communication, and judgment."

This may seem like common-sense advice, but alcohol is still integral to the world of hunting, both in France and farther afield.

Hunting while drunk

In the United States, where the general population consumes 20% less alcohol than in France, a recent survey carried out on a representative sample of 2,349 young adults found that 23% of male hunters had at some point hunted while inebriated.

And in France? Although there is an absence of hard data, the Senate report tentatively ventures that a "small minority" of people have hunted while under the influence of alcohol. However, the senators offer more precise statistics regarding deaths and serious accidents in hunting, 9% of which are attributable to a hunter's state of inebriation.

Unfortunately, the report ignores most international data available on the topic, failing to mention that in the US, drunkenness is involved in 15% of hunting accidents. Also overlooked is an extensive Danish study of 1,800 hunters, which revealed the risk of firearm-related accidents was directly proportional to the hunters' alcohol intake.

Moreover, the recent Senate report does not clarify how alcohol significantly raises the risk of accidents. But we have managed to pinpoint three contributing effects of inebriation.

Locomotion and motor coordination

A study conducted at a Swiss A&E service showed a third of the hunting-related injuries there resulted from fallsfor example, when shooters tumbled from tree-stands. Alcohol is conducive to this type of incident, particularly by interfering with the inner ear and cerebellum, which regulate balance. This has a negative impact on the hunter's anticipation and motor coordination skills.

Other research demonstrated that when individuals were instructed to avoid obstacles while walking on a treadmill, their reaction times were significantly longer, even at low levels of alcohol intake.

Visual and hearing impairment

Alcohol also impairs peripheral vision, thus affecting judgment and accuracy in angles of fire. This is what causes double vision and blurred vision, by disturbing the action of muscles that control visual focus. It enhances glaring, by slowing down the muscles responsible for opening and closing the pupil in response to surrounding light levels.

Over the long term, high alcohol intake alters color perception and promotes the emergence of chronic diseases, such as cataracts. It can lead to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition characterized by damage to the central region of the retina.

Alcohol even deteriorates our hearing. In one study, subjects who had consumed alcohol were found to have significantly poorer hearing abilities compared to those who had not.

Errors of judgment

Once the extent of alcohol's effects on sight and hearing are better understood, the range of stories that pop up in local newspaperssuch as the man who ended up riddled with buckshot when his hunting companion mistook him for a harebecome less of a surprise.

According to France's Biodiversity Agency (OFB), hunting accidents are often the result of carelessness and bad judgment. The OFB reminds hunters that, once fired, the projectiles can reach a distance of up to five kilometers (three miles). When a target is far away or moving, how can a hunter guaranteedrunk or soberthat their bullet doesn't hit a mountain biker, a ten-year-old girl playing by the river or a young hiker ?

Drinking makes for riskier decision-making

The choice of whether to pull the trigger or hold fire is dependent on another dimension. According to the Senate report:

"More than two thirds of accidents result from gross misconduct that contravenes basic safety rules. Moreover, some one hundred incidents per year lead to devastating consequences, whereby shots are fired at vehicles or homes."

Assessing risks and perceiving the consequences of our actions are two processes that are notoriously affected by inebriation.

A 2015 study demonstrated this effect using a straightforward method, which involved presenting two jars filled with cards to bar patrons, aged 18 to 43. The subjects were told that they could earn a prize if they found a winning card. In the jar on the right, 50% of the cards were winners, whereas the probability of winning was not given for the jar on the left. The results showed that the drunk men (but not the women) more often chose the riskier option. Could this be likened to the scenario of taking a shot in the dark in the hopes of hitting a target?

A major factor in human aggression

By directly affecting the prefrontal cortex, alcohol disturbs executive cognitive functions, which are involved in our ability to consider or maintain multiple options simultaneously in order to solve problems, as well as our attention skills, our action inhibition skills, and our ability to control aggression. In fact, alcohol is the psychoactive substance most often linked to human aggression on a global scale.

Of course, it's not alcohol but hunters who have shot 400 people dead in the past two decades in France and injured thousands more. (And it should be noted that alcohol is responsible for almost a million deaths in instances not related to hunting).

Given that alcohol has clearly been identified as an avoidable risk factor, however, it seems wise to ban its consumption for those using rifles and shotguns in woodland areas frequented by the public. When consuming alcohol, hunters threaten the lives of others, and their own as well.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The best way to get back to feeling more normal after breast cancer surgery is to get moving, experts say.

One surgeon offers some post-surgery suggestions for arm stretches and light aerobic exercise.

"People who return to everyday activity sooner after surgery tend to heal better and have fewer complications," said Dr. Alastair Thompson, section chief of breast surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"If you have had surgery to the chest wall, the breast or the armpit, exercising the arm gently is a good way to improve shoulder mobility and reduce swelling," he said in a college news release.

Thompson recommends gentle stretches. Start by touching the top of your head. Reach behind your back. Reach toward the ceiling.

Yoga may also provide helpful stretching, but Thompson said it's important to remember that the area around the surgery site may be less flexible.

Aerobic exercise can stimulate the muscles, bones, heart and lungs.

"Walking is a good light exercise, and you don't need anything other than a pair of comfortable shoes to do it," Thompson noted. "It can be on the treadmill or around your neighborhood, as long as the area is well-lit, and the path is safe under foot."

If you're a runner, take some time to work back to your usual pace. Give yourself at least five to seven days to recover, then start with a gentle walk and increase from there, he suggests.

"Try to do a bit more each day to get back to normal, but don't overdo it," Thompson said. "Everyone is different, so use your own judgment. Be in charge of your own recovery."

Patients should check with their own doctors about exercising after surgery. Those who are struggling with mobility may be referred to a physical therapist.

More information: The American Cancer Society has more on The American Cancer Society has more on breast cancer surgery

Copyright  2022 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
PhD student Grant Bruno with his wife Margaux, two-year-old daughter Evelyn and seven-year-old autistic son Anders. Bruno served on an Indigenous advisory committee for a new national report that reveals an evidence gap on rates of autism among Indigenous people in Canada. Credit: Noella Steinhauer Photography

The formula seems simple: Take evidence-based research, add patient input and highly trained professionals plus adequate resources, and you get accessible, appropriate health care.

But what if there's no data on the patients or their needs, few trained professionals and no agreement on the best model to deliver care?

That's the situation for autistic First Nations, Metis and Inuit people, according to a new national report assessing autism services across Canada.

All of the barriers non-Indigenous autism patients faceand they are considerableare exacerbated by colonization and related intergenerational traumas and leave Indigenous autistic children, adults and their families in limbo, say two researchers in the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry who are working to help fill that gap.

"Our primary conclusion is that to substantially address these issues, the work needs to be Indigenous-led," says Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, pediatrics professor, director of the Autism Research Center and chair of the national report completed by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences at the request of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

"The report was predicated on the ability to integrate existing evidence with lived experience, and the reality is there's just not a lot of published evidence in this area," Zwaigenbaum notes.

Grant Bruno, parent of two autistic boys and a member of Nipisihkopahk (Samson Cree Nation), is a Ph.D. student studying autism within First Nations communities in Alberta and served on the Indigenous advisory committee for the report. He says it's not surprising there is little community-based research available.

"Colonialism, poverty and all the trauma that came from residential schools mean our communities are in survival mode. And if you're in survival mode, you can't pursue grad school and research, because you're worrying about groceries or the boil-water advisory," Bruno says. "I've been trying to get more opportunities for our communities to engage in research in really good ways."

Missing data

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects sensory processing, communication and behavior. About two percent of the Canadian population has ASD, according to the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth from 2019, although families on First Nations reserves were not included. Prevalence studies are usually the first step in planning for services, according to Zwaigenbaum.

"It's notable that the most recent Canadian data on autism prevalence specifically excluded families that were living on reserve, so there's a perpetual gap in knowledge, even of the basics of how many children need to be supported," says Zwaigenbaum, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation Chair in Autism and a Stollery Science Lab Distinguished Researcher.

For the national study, Zwaigenbaum and his team reviewed 6,500 research papers and received input from nearly 1,700 autistic people, along with nearly 1,500 family members. The goal was to inform the federal government on gaps in research and services for autistic Canadians, with an emphasis on equitable access to diagnoses and health care, inclusion in education and employment opportunities, and ways to address stigma.

The report's authors concluded that while each of the hundreds of First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities in Canada is different, there are "unique inequities" experienced by most Indigenous people, including difficulty accessing culturally responsive, evidence-informed diagnosis and services, especially in rural or remote communities. On-reserve health care is the responsibility of the federal government, but most autism services are delivered by provincial health authorities.

Pediatrics professor and autism researcher Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, who chaired the national report on autism services in Canada, says Indigenous-led approaches are needed to address a lack of community-based research on autism among First Nations, Metis and Inuit people. Credit: Alberta Health Services

Mistrust and misdiagnosis

Bruno currently resides in Edmonton due to the lack of services for his children on reserve and travels to Maskwacis weekly for his research and to stay connected with his culture. He notes that families in his community usually have to travel to the city to have their children tested and diagnosed. Often First Nations autistic children are misdiagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) due to biased training and assumptions on the part of health-care professionals, Bruno says.

"A lot of Indigenous health research is deficit-oriented," Bruno says. "And so when you're reading this over and over and over again, you start to build up certain stereotypes towards Indigenous people, that we're all alcoholics or we're all dealing with some sort of addiction. I've even heard we have a different pain tolerance, which is completely untrue."

Bruno, whose work is supported by the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation through the Women and Children's Health Research Institute, found only 20 evidence-based research papers about autism within First Nations, but thousands on FASD. He discussed the implications of this on a podcast entitled, "The Realities of Autism in First Nations Communities."

Difficulty with access and fear of bias means some families refuse to have their children tested. Bruno lauds the Maskwacis Education Schools Commission for providing specialists like speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists to work with children who don't have a diagnosis. The downside is that going without a diagnosis may limit those children's access to services once they become adults.

Both Zwaigenbaum and Bruno say the broader community has much to learn from the approach to autism taken by some Indigenous communities, where each child is viewed as a gift and autism is seen as a different way of thinking rather than a deficit-based disability.

"One thing my community does really well is autism acceptance, much better than anybody else in Canada," says Bruno. "I'm trying to share that message because when I talk to the autistic community more broadly, they say, "I identify more with that than the deficit-oriented medical model that's often pushed on us."

"When you talk to autistic people, they just want to be themselves. They don't want to be changed into something else."

Zwaigenbaum sees this approach as strengths-based and focused on inclusion of neurodiversity.

"There are themes that Grant has identified around appreciation of differences and the importance of community leadership, building trust and empowerment that resonate for all autistic individuals and families," Zwaigenbaum says.

Building strengths through culture

Bruno has set up an autism advisory circle for his own research that includes Elders, autistic people, service providers and educators. One of its projects is to organize a sensory-friendly round dance for next year. Bruno stresses that such culturally appropriate services are needed for autistic Indigenous people and their families.

He sees the power of his Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) culture every morning in his living room. Before serving breakfast to his four children, he lights sage for a smudge. Sitting in a circle, each child takes a turn holding an eagle feather and praying aloud. When it is seven-year-old Anders' turn, the boy says, "I want to pray for Mom and Dad and my brothers and my sister and nohkom (my grandmother) and nimosom (my grandfather) and myself."

Until recently, Anderswho was diagnosed as autistic at age fourdidn't communicate verbally. His words sounded like gibberish to his father. But with support from his parents and specialists, and immersion in cultural practices such as ceremony, powwow dancing and drumming, he has started using full sentences.

"When he's speaking with that feather in his hand, he does it a lot longer," says Bruno, whose 12-year-old son Marshall is also on the spectrum.

"I've learned that for our children, the more connected they are to the culture, the better their well-being is, so I make it a priority in my house."
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

For many women, having uncomfortable conversations with their mothers or a health care professional about menstruation was a rite of passage. Today, there is a lot of education available for girls, but what still is lacking is education around menopause.

Mayo Clinic experts hope to change that.

Dr. Stephanie Faubion, a women's health expert at Mayo Clinic and medical director of the North American Menopause Society, is focused on educating women about menopause and the value of having conversations long before that stage of life arrives.

By 2030, the world population of menopausal and postmenopausal women is projected to increase to 1.2 billion, with 47 million new entrants each year.

Early Discussions

"I would argue that women should be starting to have this conversation with their providers at the age of 35 or 40so, much earlier than one would expect, because women may start to have symptoms related to the menopause transition six to 10 years before their last menstrual period," says Dr. Faubion.

She adds that for women in their late 30s or early 40s, this can be challenging to discern, since symptoms can vary and include subtle variations in their menstrual cycle length, as well as hot flashes, night sweats, joint aches, vaginal dryness, and mood and sleep disturbances. "This is not something they would even think might be related to the beginning of the menopause transition. It is a big surprise when they begin to experience symptoms that are the same as women who are already in menopause," says Dr. Faubion.

"It's important to have conversations proactively with their providers to say: 'Help me understand what it might be like for me. What can I do about managing symptoms when they start? And what is out there in terms of technology that can be helpful in bridging that care gap that women may be experiencing?'"

It can be even more challenging for a woman to know who to connect with, as they might not have a designated menopause expert.

Where to start

Dr. Faubion suggests starting with your local internist, family physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant or other members of your health care team. Certainly, it could be an obstetrician, gynecologist or other specialist.

The challenge is that education is lacking about menopause. As such, she recommends women visit the North American Menopause Society website at menopause.org and search its "locate provider" tab to find experts certified in menopause management. "You need to be your own patient advocate. And you need to understand that if you don't feel it's right and you're not getting the answers that you need, you may need to look for another provider," says Dr. Faubion.

She notes that patients often wonder about why it's important to have a specialist certified in menopause management. "The value is that individual will have additional training and awareness about the latest therapies and treatments available to guide women before, during and after their transition into menopause," she says.

Is HRT right for you

This is particularly relevant when women want to understand hormone therapy and if they are a candidate. Cultural disparities often have women believing they are not candidates for hormone therapy, which can increase the gap of care.

Hormone therapy is something many women hear aboutand it may be valuable to somebut there are many options, including lifestyles changes, that can assist with the management of symptoms. Speaking to an expert and utilizing new technology can provide additional benefits to women as they navigate the transition, notes Dr. Faubion. The Midday app, launched by Lisa Health, a digital health company, uses Mayo Clinic technology and artificial intelligence algorithms to assess the severity of menopause symptoms and provide education.

"One of the biggest benefits of the Midday app by Lisa Health is that it eliminates some of the barriers to care that woman might experience. And it would give them the information specific to their health risks. As well, it can give them information about whether they might be a candidate for hormone therapy," explains Dr. Faubion.

Being proactive about menopause can help ensure a woman's quality of life long before the transition occurs, notes Dr. Faubion, adding that the effects of menopause are far-reaching. She says that lost work productivity and increased health care utilization due to menopause is estimated to be in the billions of dollars in the U.S. alone.

The bottom line: "Women don't have to suffer. There are solutions out there and doing nothing doesn't have to be the answer," says Dr. Faubion.

2022 Mayo Clinic News Network.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As we are all so very well aware now, a novel coronavirus, latter dubbed SARS-CoV-2, which causes a potentially lethal form of pneumonia as well as having other disparate and desperate effects, emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. It spread rapidly during the following weeks despite efforts to control it, and a lack of early information and insight about its behavior and characteristics may well be to blame for its rise. It reached pandemic proportions at some point in the first quarter of 2020 at which point the World Health Organization officially declared the global COVID-19 pandemic.

It was well recognized that as far as the Western world was concerned, Italy was hit hardest and fastest, with the news media full of images of overcrowded hospitals and the tragic sight of coffins stacked high. New research in the International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics, looks at a technological aspect of the early dissemination of information regarding the spread of the virus in Italy as the pandemic was growing. The findings, concerning search trends at the time on Google, might help researchers better understand what happened in the early stages of this pandemic as it began to grow in Europe and perhaps offer insights that could help us defend ourselves better when the next lethal pathogen emerges.

Paolo Brunori of the London School of Economics, U.K., Giuliano Resce of the University of Molise in Campobasso, and Laura Serlenga of the Universita degli Studi di Bari "Aldo Moro" in Bari, Italy, explain how difficult it was for the authorities to monitor the spread of the coronavirus in the pre-pandemic stages. There were no readily available test kits to allow people to check whether they were infectious or not at any given time. Moreover, official figures proved incredibly unreliable and perhaps delayed the implementation of social distancing, lockdowns, and quarantines. Indeed, the mode of transmission remained ambiguous and what restrictions and controls had been put in place in various places were not necessarily effective.

The team has now investigated how Google Trends, the nature and frequency of search terms being used by the public, might allow the trajectory of the pandemic to be predicted. Fundamentally, the details of the historical Google Trends contain useful information that correlated with the number of patients being admitted to intensive care units, the number of deaths and excess mortality in Italian regions at the time. Such information and correlations will not only allow us to model this pandemic and to see where policy failed and where it succeeded but more critically they could be used to predict the trajectory of a future pandemic and perhaps allow policymakers to implement the necessary controls and restrictions more purposefully at an earlier stage in the spread of that next emergent disease.

More information: Laura Serlenga et al, Searching for the peak: Google Trends and the first COVID-19 wave in Italy, International Journal of Computational Economics and Econometrics (2022). Laura Serlenga et al, Searching for the peak: Google Trends and the first COVID-19 wave in Italy,(2022). DOI: 10.1504/IJCEE.2022.10047365
Patient treatment timeline. AMS: altered mental state; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid; CTH: computed tomography of the head; ENC2: encephalopathy, autoimmune/paraneoplastic evaluation of spinal fluid; IVIg: intravenous immunoglobulin; LP: lumbar puncture; NMDAR: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor; OSH: outside hospital; OT: occupational therapy; PLEX: plasma exchange; PT: physical therapy; VEEG: video electroencephalography. Credit: EMJ Neurology (2022). DOI: 10.33590/emjneurol/22-00096

The prognosis for the sick child, who hadn't responded to standard treatment, was dire. But a team of Rutgers physicians believed there might be hope despite the conventional wisdom against pursuing any further treatment.

What happened over the course of the next few weeks in that autumn of 2020described as a case study in the EMJ Neurologywas notable and representative of a newer approach in successfully treating a mysterious disease, the physicians said.

The study highlights the medical case of a 5-year-old girl suffering from anti-NMDAR (N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) encephalitis, a rare, difficult-to-diagnose malfunction of the brain. Unresponsive to treatments, the child had been transferred to a rehabilitation center and been in a catatonic state for three months when a team of Rutgers physicians were called in to help.

The autoimmune disease believed to be triggered by both environmental and genetic factors has also been the topic of a bestselling book by New York Post writer Susannah Cahalan. She described her medical ordeal suffering from anti-NMDAR encephalitis and recovery in her 2012 memoir, "Brain on Fire." The title of the book, and the 2016 Netflix movie that followed, comes from a phrase used by Cahalan's treating physician to describe the catastrophic brain inflammation that ultimately rendered the reporter trance-like until she was cured.

"With autoimmune diseases, the body attacks a specific system it mistakenly identifies as foreign," said Vikram Bhise, an author of the case study and an associate professor of pediatrics and neurology and director of the Division of Child Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. "In the case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, the body attacks the NMDA receptors in the brain. This causes a massive malfunction exhibited by a combination of psychiatric, cognitive and motor problems." (NMDA receptors are brain structures that play an important role in learning and memory.)

Bhise and two other Rutgers physicians entered the case after the child's mother requested a second opinion and the family's attending physician reached out to Bhise. The mother told the Rutgers team that after a rapid phase of degeneration of mental state and body function, the child had remained immobile and unresponsive.

Generally, time is of the essence in treating autoimmune diseases and the standard of care dictates that no treatment is useful if too much time has passed, Bhise said. Most of the time, any damage caused by the disease can't be undone.

Bhise arranged for the child to be admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and decided to try one more treatment.

"I said, 'You know, a lot of time has gone by. But I think you still have to try these things,'" Bhise recalled.

The child had been given a course of steroids, pooled antibodies and a long-term immunosuppressant. Bhise and his team decided to administer a series of blood plasma exchanges designed to reset the immune system by cleaning out all the inflammation in the bloodstream.

They saw progress almost instantly.

"Within one or two exchanges, the mom said, 'Hey, I think something's a little different,'" Bhise said. "I mean, no one knew this child better than her mom."

As they continued with the treatment, ultimately with nearly a dozen more plasma exchanges, the child improved steadily until she had made a full recovery.

"I think the lesson that we've learned here is that you can still treat this disease after time has passed," Bhise said. "You shouldn't stop trying. This is important to know so that other folks in the field do not prematurely give up when they see childrenand probably adults as wellwith difficult-to-treat anti-NMDAR encephalitis."

Other Rutgers physicians who were members of the medical team and authors of the case study included Yisha Cheng, a resident physician in pediatric medicine and a 2020 graduate of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; and Dalya Chefitz, a physician in the department of pediatrics and director of the division of pediatric hospital medicine at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
Identification of specific anatomical tracts using tau-PET seeds from each clinical group. Credit: J. Therriault, et al., Science Translational Medicine (2022)

New imaging of patients with Alzheimer's demonstrates how a telltale protein spreads throughout the brain based on the phenotype of the disease, i.e., whether the condition is dominated by forgetfulness, or atrophy in a specific brain region. The research offers a host of illuminating clues that ultimately may inform new treatment strategies.

The protein is known as tau and a large multi-disciplinary team of brain researchers at McGill University in Montreal has been able to trace the protein's patterns in living patients via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Alzheimer's disease is intimately linked to tau, which can form tangles in the brain that irrevocably damage neurons.

The patterns detected by McGill scientists apparently are unique to the phenotype of Alzheimer's afflicting the patient. This staggering finding opens an intriguing new window into the molecular mechanisms of the disease. And while many features of Alzheimer's are the same from one patient to the next, phenotypes are a hallmark of the condition. Tracking tau patterns is a specialty of the scientists at McGill, who found that the intrinsic connectivity of the human brain itself provides the scaffolding for the aggregation of tau in distinct variants of the disease.

"Although some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are conserved among patients, multiple phenotypes exist," writes Dr. Joseph Therriault of the Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory at McGill University, and lead author of the tau-imaging research. "Alzheimer's disease phenotypes might result from differences in selective vulnerability [of each patient]," Therriault contends.

In the research, published in Science Translational Medicine, Therriault and his McGill colleagues defined the phenotypes of Alzheimer's as amnestic, referring to memory loss; visuospatial, the inability to process information about 3D shapes; language-oriented concerns, referring to word-usage problems. This would include difficulty choosing or recalling the right word. Language problems can progress, experts say, causing impairment in patients' ability to express themselves. A specific form of language-usage problem in Alzheimer's is referred to as logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, or lvPPA.

Patients with lvPPA have increasing trouble thinking of the words they want to say. As Alzheimer's progresses, these patients have more trouble getting the words out, which eventually causes them to speak slower.

Another category outlined in the research is the behavioral and dysexecutive phenotype. Behavioral concerns can include any number of issues, covering a wide range.

The National Institute on Aging, a division of the National Institutes of Health in the United States, defines common behaviors as: Getting upset, worried or angry more easily; being depressed and uninterested in activities that were once enjoyed; hiding things or thinking that other people are hiding things; imagining things that aren't there; pacing; wandering away from home; or showing unusual sexual behavior.

The dysexecutive phenotype refers to more of a syndrome in which an individual's ability to multitask, organize and plan is lost. The Canadian team defined still other Alzheimer's phenotypes: people with posterior cortical atrophy and progressive aphasia.

How the tiny protein tau plays a role in such complex Alzheimer's phenotypes is the scientific question fueling the years-long McGill investigations. The researchers are illuminating tau's role in the slow unraveling of the human mind.

Structural connectivity of the cognitively unimpaired elderly brain, alongside tau variance in amnestic Alzheimers disease. Credit: J. Therriault, et al., Science Translational Medicine (2022).

Therriault and colleagues used MRI scans to track the spread of tau in the brains of patients with four types of Alzheimer's disease: amnestic (28 patients); behavioral/dysexecutive (15 patients); posterior cortical atrophy (19 patients), and logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (11 patients). As a comparison, the team also performed MRI scans on 131 age-matched controls who were cognitively unimpaired.

The scientists linked each phenotype of Alzheimer's disease to specific patterns of tau aggregation and found that tau "seeds" often appeared in areas of the brain that act as connective hubs.

Tau is actually an acronym that stands for tubulin-associated unit. There is a family of about six of these proteins, and when healthy, all are endowed with roles of maintaining the stability of microtubules, which are tough polymers, shaped like tubes. Microtubules make-up the structure of healthy cells, something cell biologists refer to as the cytoskeleton. Tau is abundant in neurons, and the brain's cerebral cortex has the highest concentration.

But Therriault and colleagues tapped into the darker side to tautoxic tauaberrant proteins that are present in various neuro-inflammatory brain disorders, including Alzheimer's, other forms of dementia and Parkinson's disease.

"Each Alzheimer's disease phenotype is associated with a distinct network-specific pattern of tau aggregation, where tau aggregation is concentrated in brain network hubs. In all Alzheimer's disease phenotypes, regional tau load could be predicted by connectivity patterns of the human brain," Therriault added. "Furthermore, regions with greater connectivity displayed similar rates of longitudinal tau accumulation."

Tau isn't the only deleterious protein in Alzheimer's disease. Many people are familiar with the term "plaques and tangles" as a description of the pathology defining the Alzheimer's brain. Plaques refer to the gummy wads of amyloid protein; the neurofibrillary tangles are the aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau.

Although a fiery debate has raged for decades as to whether it is the plaques of amyloid-beta or the tangles of tau that trigger Alzheimer's, neither has been declared the primary suspect. The McGill research tips the balance in favor tau, a misfolded protein with prion-like behavior.

Prions are misfolded proteins that cause a wide range of devastating mammalian brain diseases. Nobel Prize-winning neurologist Stanley Prusiner earlier this month predicted Alzheimer's eventually would be defined as a prion-triggered disease. Prusiner, director of the Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and professor of neurology at the University of California, San Francisco, made the claim during the 5th Annual Constellation Forum, a symposium sponsored by Northwell Health, New York State's largest health care system.

Previous preclinical research has suggested that tau can spread from neuron to neuron along synapses in the brain, similar to how prions spread through the brain in infected mammals, such as cattle overcome by so-called mad cow disease.

Understanding the spread of tau may eventually inform new treatment approaches for Alzheimer's disease. "Our results have implications for the development of the next generation of anti-tau therapies," Therriault asserted.

More information: Joseph Therriault et al, Intrinsic connectivity of the human brain provides scaffold for tau aggregation in clinical variants of Alzheimer's disease, Science Translational Medicine (2022). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Joseph Therriault et al, Intrinsic connectivity of the human brain provides scaffold for tau aggregation in clinical variants of Alzheimer's disease,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abc8693

 2022 Science X Network
A relative adjusts the oxygen mask of a tuberculosis patient at a TB hospital on World Tuberculosis Day in Hyderabad, India, March 24, 2018. The number of people infected with tuberculosis, including the kind resistant to drugs, rose globally for the first time in years, according to a report issued Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022 by the World Health Organization. Credit: AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A., File

The number of people infected with tuberculosis, including the kind resistant to drugs, rose globally for the first time in years, according to a report Thursday by the World Health Organization.

The U.N. health agency said more than 10 million people worldwide were sickened by tuberculosis in 2021, a 4.5% rise from the year before. About 1.6 million people died, it said. WHO said about 450,000 cases involved people infected with drug-resistant TB, 3% more than in 2020.

Dr. Mel Spigelman, president of the non-profit TB Alliance, said more than a decade of progress was lost when COVID-19 emerged in 2020.

"Despite gains in areas like preventative therapy, we are still behind in just about every pledge and goal regarding TB," Spigelman said.

WHO also blamed COVID-19 for much of the rise in TB, saying the pandemic "continues to have a damaging impact on access to TB diagnosis and treatment." It said progress made before 2019 has since "slowed, stalled or reversed."

With fewer people being diagnosed with the highly infectious disease, more patients unknowingly spread tuberculosis to others in outbreaks that may not have been spotted in countries with weak health systems.

WHO reported that the number of people newly identified with TB fell from 7 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020.

WHO also said COVID-19 restrictions, including lockdowns and physical distancing protocols, also hampered TB treatment services and may have prompted some people to skip going to health facilities for fear of catching coronavirus. Officials added that the downturn in the global economy was also a factor, saying that about half of all TB patients and their families face "catastrophic total costs" due to their treatment. WHO called for more countries to cover all TB diagnosis and treatment expenses.

After COVID-19, TB is the world's deadliest infectious disease. It is caused by bacteria that typically affects the lungs. The germs are mostly spread from person to person in the air, such as when an infected individual coughs or sneezes.

TB mostly affects adults, particularly those who are malnourished or have other conditions like HIV; more than 95% of cases are in developing countries.

According to the WHO report, only one in three people with drug-resistant TB are receiving treatment.

"Drug-resistant TB is curable, but alarmingly, cases are on the rise for the first time in years," said Dr. Hannah Spencer, who is with Doctors Without Borders in South Africa. "It's urgent that shorter, safer and more effective treatments are scaled up now."

Spencer called for lowering the prices of TB treatment so a complete treatment course costs no more than $500.

WHO also said ongoing conflicts in eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East have worsened the options for patients seeking TB diagnosis and treatment.

Ukraine had one of the world's worst TB epidemics even before Russia invaded the country in February. Health experts fear the inability of patients to get treated could fuel the rise of more drug-resistant TB across the region.

While TB patients displaced by the war can seek care in Ukraine, the country has seen a shortage of key medicines and authorities face challenges in keeping track of patients.

 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
THE DELEGATION of the European Union to the Philippines, together with its humanitarian partners and the Cultural Center of the Philippines ...
Hong Kong: Govt rebuts false US accusation

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today said it strongly opposed the US Government's untruthful accusation against the court verdict on the fraud case involving Lai Chee-ying, which was given in accordance with the law.

While noting it would not be appropriate to comment on the details of the case as the legal proceedings are ongoing, the Hong Kong SAR Government said in a statement that it strongly objects to the US Government's remarks which deviate from the truth and are purely politically oriented.

All law enforcement actions taken by the law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the people concerned, and have absolutely nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation, the statement said.

The Department of Justice controls criminal prosecutions free from any interference by virtue of Article 63 of the Basic Law, and all prosecutorial decisions are based on objective assessment of all admissible evidence and applicable laws. The Judiciary exercises judicial power independently in accordance with the law, and everyone charged with a criminal offence has the right to a fair hearing.

The Hong Kong SAR Government has been steadfastly upholding the rights and freedoms enjoyed by its residents as protected under the Basic Law and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights, including press freedom and freedom of speech, the statement noted.

It also pointed out that, as internationally recognised, freedom of speech and press freedom are not absolute, and people who claim to be engaged in journalism, like other people, cannot be exempted from their obligation to abide by the law, in particular criminal law.

Foreign politicians who deliberately turn a blind eye to the reasons for the court verdict and make unfair and biased comments on it based merely on the outcomes of cases that are not in line with their political interests, not only reveal their ignorance, cowardice, unfairness, arrogance and disregard of the law, but also make their attempts futile, the statement added.

The Hong Kong SAR Government said that since the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the US Government has been exploiting different incidents and making up excuses to slander the security law and attack China and the Hong Kong SAR in their dutiful, faithful and lawful implementation of the security law, laying bare its overbearing and domineering attitude.

The thinking of the US Government that to repeat a lie numerous times will turn it into a truth simply reflects its malicious and ill intent, the statement emphasised, adding that since the implementation of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has moved from chaos to stability, and is steadily heading from stability to prosperity.

Hong Kong has the irreplaceably distinct advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. Any attempt by external forces to undermine its prosperity and stability by slandering the rule of law and freedoms in the Hong Kong SAR will only expose their weakness and faulty arguments.

The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to discharge its duty to steadfastly safeguard "one country, two systems" to better serve our citizens and promote Hong Kong's progress, it added.

This story has been published on: 2022-10-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
A classic story reinterpreted opens Bare Bait Dances season this week.

Red is an evening-length re-imagining of Little Red Riding Hood as a queer love story about survival, with contemporary movements by a New York company, said Hannah Garner of 2nd Best Dance Company.

Theyve included characters from the original tale as well as new ones, and cycle through them in a gender-fluid way.

Red is Garners first evening-length solo production. She choreographed, wrote and directed the work, which premiered in 2019. The next year, she was named 25 to Watch by Dance Magazine.

The production appealed to Joy French, Bare Baits artistic director and founder, because of its melding of narrative and dance. That dovetails with some of Bare Baits work: contemporary modern dance that is challenging but accessible and playful.

This blend of dance and theater is really edgy and really interesting, French said. Theres a lot of work being created in dance epicenters like New York thats open to any sort of tool available, she explained, where permission to do anything and everything is granted. When French was looking for companies to invite to Montana, those qualities stood out.

Membership in the core group has held since they started up in 2016, with Garner and Courtney Barth, Will Noling and Ryan Yamauchi, all of whom are performing here in Missoula. All four are trained contemporary dancers, so their work always starts from movement, Garner said. Narratives, meanwhile, are a way to bring human elements into play, such as failure and making mistakes.

The movements can vary from virtuosic partnering work to pedestrian-style gestures. For instance, two dancers might bump into each other and acknowledge that as a moment in a way that people might not expect to see on stage.

They improvise together and write text together as well, and try to make room for humor. The show has instances where they play a character and other times in which they interact as themselves.

The music ranges from a Chopin nocturne to Brenda Lees Im Sorry and ABBAs Dancing Queen. The costumes feel like a mashing of textures and warm colors, that feel maybe more human as opposed to leotards or unitards, French said.

Chairs and phones will serve as props, but theyre mostly using the performance space as a backdrop. Garner said they like to acknowledge that its a performance. One portion might have a showpiece number, another might bring things back down with audience participation. They dont force anyone to take part, though.

Theyre performing Red here as part of a short tour, and for the first time since 2019.

Anniversary season

The show officially kicks off Bare Baits 12th anniversary season. Theyre marking this as the one to celebrate, rather than their 10th, due to the pandemic.

At the start of 2022, they moved into the Westside Theater, a high-ceiling flexible performance space. Theyve continued to work on the infrastructure and also get more comfortable seating. The 2021-22 season closed out with When the Dust Settles, an evening-length work by French that sold out its full run.

Hello Winter! (Nov. 26-Dec. 4): A holiday-themed work that includes choreography by French and guests Nicole Wolcott and Faith Morrison.

Kinetoscope 10: (Feb. 11-12): The 10th annual film festival at the Roxy focus on dance film, a melding of choreography and cinematography. It includes blocks of Montana movies, new releases and encores from the past.

re/play (April 7-23): The company will perform works from Frenchs choreographic back catalog to mark the anniversary.
It looks like a dumpster fire in the forest.

A new take on disposing of small trees and branches cut down during forest-thinning projects aims to turn the material into "biochar" that locks carbon into the ground and enhances dirt. It all depends on a massive "Carbonator," an incinerator resembling an industrial garbage bin on tank tracks that can drive into the forest.

It's unclear if the method will make any money or save any soil at scale. Nevertheless, a variety of land management agencies, stewardship groups, scientists and landowners believe it shows promise.

By locking carbon into the ground, with the added bonus of enhancing water retention and crop yield, growers applying biochar could begin earning income from carbon sequestration efforts. Before the method can be put into wide use in forests, local land managers, stakeholder groups, ranchers and scientists involved in this demonstration project must first figure out whether it's even viable.

According to proponents, using a Carbonator to create biochar produces significantly less smoke than the typical burning of slash piles. That could greatly reduce pollution in nearby airsheds and expand the burn window into times when slash burning isn't allowed.

The project is funded by the federal Wildfire Adapted Missoula Joint Chiefs Restoration Program and the state Montana Forest Action Plan Implementation Fund.

Biochar production, which uses a specialized incinerator to create charcoal in place of the conventional open-burning of slash piles, is being tested in a thinning project near Gold Creek northeast of Missoula. The project area is a mixture of parcels owned by The Nature Conservancy, which is spearheading the project, and lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Much of the land was formerly logged by Plum Creek Timber. None of the project land is being commercially logged.

On Tuesday, private landowners and representatives from the University of Montana, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, Blackfoot Challenge and a forestry company gathered at the site  amid snow flurries and braving a muddy logging road  to see biochar production in progress.

Biochar is "basically any organic material you heat up in the absence of oxygen," according to Barry Dutton, a soil scientist contracted by the Blackfoot Challenge to help analyze the project. "Biochar is essentially charcoal. It's almost identical to charcoal."

Biochar greatly increases water retention and crop yield of treated soils through microscopic pockmarks that hold water and nutrients. It's mixed into soil either by tilling it into the ground or broadcast-spreading it on the surface. But it's not a fertilizer.

Results can take a few years to materialize, rather than offering same-season results from an annual application. The Blackfoot Challenge is coordinating biochar application with ranchers around Potomac who will test the material on plowed and unplowed fields, irrigated and unirrigated fields, grazed and ungrazed fields, and in varying amounts  either 5 or 10 tons per acre.

Dutton theorized that someday, as efforts to combat climate change increasingly monetize carbon sequestration, biochar production and application could be a "significant part of a future farmer's income and one more way to keep agriculture alive in western Montana."

The land in the project area features dense conditions with a lot of small trees, according to Mike Schaedel, The Nature Conservancy's western Montana forester who is coordinating this project. Coupled with a warming climate that has intensified and lengthened wildfire season, he said, the landscape is a recipe for "large-scale, high-severity fires in places where we wouldn't normally see them." The project is also considered wildland-urban interface, and is at risk of insect disease.

The goal of the thinning project, he said, is to restore the forest to its state before clear-cut logging and the advent of full-suppression firefighting in the 1930s. Areas that currently have 2,0003,000 trees per acre, with thousands of small trees of varying age between larger trees, would be thinned to have about 200300 trees per acre, with mostly the larger trees remaining. The theory is that, once thinned and largely devoid of so-called ladder fuels that bridge fires from the ground up to tree crowns, less-intense "disruption" and "maintenance" fires can burn in the area and consume ground fuels without becoming raging crown fires that consume whole stands of timber.

Because the large, older trees that normally offer timber products will mostly remain, Schaedel said, "there's no forest products that come out of this (thinning) work."

What does come out of the work is a massive amount of smaller trees and woody debris that gets fed into a 92,000-pound Tigercat 6050 Carbonator, a type of incinerator made specifically for producing biochar on-site in the forest. The Carbonator on the Gold Creek demonstration is the first ever made by Tigercat, a Canadian forestry equipment company, and bears serial number 1, according to Kevin Cotton of Torgerson's LLC, a farm equipment dealer. The device, which is self-propelled on tracks and controlled remotely from a following truck, cost $650,000 in 2019, he said, and is one of only about seven in the U.S. It's the largest portable biochar incinerator made, he said.

Tom Elder of Greenside Construction, who owns and operated the Carbonator, said that the fire in the device is hand-lit each morning and doesn't rely on petroleum fuel. The machine does use diesel to propel itself and to operate fans that blow over the open top to trap smoke inside  an "air curtain" similar to those found blowing air down in the open entryways of commercial buildings in winter to keep warm air inside.

The incinerator burns at 2,5003,000 degrees and features a grate with 2-by-3-inch openings that allow burned biochar to feed into augers that move the material out the back end of the machine.

Water flowing through the augers cools the biochar. The machine goes through about 5,000 gallons of water daily.

Once piled up and dried, the biochar can be distributed to ranchers, although it's unclear how best to spread it on fields. Manure spreaders and gravel spreaders are a possibility, landowners and Dutton said.

One landowner, Potomac rancher Denny Iverson, who is also a Blackfoot Challenge board member, was concerned about the presence of unburned sticks and pine needles in the biochar. In large enough numbers, consumption of needles could cause cattle to abort calves, he said.

"But," he said, sifting through the natural charcoal by hand, "all in all we're really excited to try it."
Missoulas ongoing code reform process has the opportunity to remedy a long-identified impediment to affordable housing if it focuses on freeing up multifamily housing opportunities, members of Montanas Housing Task Force reported to the Missoula City Council this week.

Rep. Danny Tenenbaum and former Rep. Adam Hertz analyzed the first report from the governors housing task force during a city council committee meeting Wednesday.

When we decided to form this task force to address Montanas housing crisis, we did not want to just start fresh, said Tenenbaum.

Instead, the task force looked at historical data reaching back well over a decade, and the same trend seemed to emerge throughout the years: Obstacles to multifamily housing have been hamstringing affordable housing solutions.

Tenenbaum cited a Fair Housing Report produced by the city in 2010, which first identified a problem with wealthy areas speaking out against multi-family development. Then, in 2014, Tenenbaum found the same observation, along with a recommendation to encourage multifamily housing throughout the city. Again, in 2018, the Making Missoula Home report by the Missoula Organization of Realtors led to the same conclusions.

But a city steering committee that convened the same year rejected the recommendation of pursuing multifamily housing. The group cited concerns over unpredictability and the cost of rezoning. Members of the steering committee advocated instead for what they felt were more effective ways to address the problem of housing affordability.

Consequently, A Place to Call Home in 2019 laid out a series of alternative recommendations, many of which have gone into place in Missoula, like creating the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and legalizing Accessory Dwelling Units across the city.

Still, the need for multifamily housing remains.

Tenenbaum cited a 2021 presentation to the state Legislature by the Pew Charitable Trust that repeated the multifamily housing mantra.

It really just emphasizes the same problems that were identified by city staff prior and the same recommendations that were identified by city staff, Tenenbaum told council Wednesday. You see the same things over and over again.

Tenenbaum insisted small multifamily housing, the type of housing that produces the most affordable rents, is the kind that is often prohibited by local zoning.

Tenenbaum also pointed out real estate investors stand to benefit from constricted markets with little multifamily housing. He envisioned a future where more permissive zoning would lead landlords and property management companies to vie for tenants.

On the for-sale side of the housing market, Hertz identified larger developments as a solution that could encourage affordability. Hertz explained its hard to create affordable new construction because of financing challenges, but larger units spread those costs out more effectively.

And, he pointed out, new units can free up lower-priced units, which in turn helps renters move into homeownership, a phenomenon he called the migration chain.

The new units being built dont necessarily need to be affordable to create more affordable housing opportunities for people in the market, said Hertz.

Despite the potential to allow for the suggested developments through Missoulas code reform process, members of the City Council raised potential problems that could continue to plague housing affordability. Those included capacity in the Planning Office, environmental impacts of the developments and whether the task forces suggestions  at this time merely recommendations with no legal backing  will have any teeth.
Missoula County could owe millions to the Missoula County Sheriff and detention officers as the local government enters litigation in a lawsuit stemming from pay discrepancies.

Reep, Bell & Jasper P.C., the law firm that represents the sheriff and detention officers in the suit, estimates the county owes $2 million to $3 million in unpaid wages, plus potential wage penalties that could total an additional $2.2 million to $3.3 million. Should the county lose the suit in litigation, wage laws also require a losing employer to pay the employees attorneys fees and costs.

The suit, filed in Missoula County District Court on Oct. 14, alleges the county owes back wages for three years worth of work to the sheriff and between 80 and 90 detention officers.

We value, respect and appreciate the relationship weve worked to build with the sheriffs office over the past several years, and its unfortunate were in this disagreement now, the county commissioners said in a statement Thursday.

Attorneys for the sheriff and detention officers believe an illegal wage practice employed by the county gave elected officials raises without corresponding raises to the detention officers as required by law, a press release from Rob Bell and Lance Jasper states.

In other words, an increase in other elected officials salaries must, as a matter of law, trickle down to detention officers and deputies, the press release reads.

But the county commissioners attribute the tie between sheriffs pay and detention officers wages to their collective bargaining agreement, not state law.

Missoula County previously settled a separate $3.45 million wage claim suit in June for back pay owed to Missoula County Sheriff deputies.

Starting in FY 22, Missoula County replaced the parity adjustment that spurred the June lawsuit with longevity pay, which essentially awarded elected officials for staying in their positions. The longevity pay scheme was not extended to the sheriff or detention officers, even though state law requires elected officials salaries, including the sheriffs, to be uniform.

Gallatin County lost a wage claim in 2010 when it attempted the same type of scheme.

We believe the recommendations from the compensation board complied with the Montana law and are consistent with the way most other Montana counties compensate elected officials, the commissioners statement reads. Missoula County will not litigate this case in the media but instead will work with the courts to reach a conclusion as efficiently as we can and with as minimal impact to taxpayers as possible.
FORT PECK RESERVOIR  Its an in-the-boat ballet.

Long-handled dip nets held upright, Heath Headley, Bill Viste and Matt Baxter stand shoulder to shoulder at the front of an aluminum boat. Dragging in the water ahead of them are the octopus-like tentacles of electrodes sending out 8 amps of electricity to temporarily stun chinook salmon that have arrived in Duck Creek Bay to spawn.

Minutes of unfulfilled anticipation pass on the cool but clear October morning. Geese and sharp-tailed grouse fly overhead. Seagulls circle. The three Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks employees pose at the ready, searching the waters for fish, as Jordan Frye slowly pilots the boat.

When the netting starts, its a quick eruption of action as the men strain to collect the fish that, although stunned, arent lifeless. Lifting up a net loaded with a thrashing fish averaging around 10 to 15 pounds isn't easy. The salmon are transferred into a large livewell until its full. On this day, the crew collects 10 females and six males in less than an hour by cruising through the small bay.

Spawn on

When the spawn is on, its on, says Headley, fisheries biologist for Fort Peck.

That typically occurs when the water temperature nears 55 degrees in October. When that happens, it doesnt seem to matter what time of day it is, the fish are cruising into the areas where they were planted three to four years ago. Unfortunately, they cant successfully spawn in the lake waters, so FWP captures live fish for transfer to the nearby Fort Peck Hatchery. Like other salmon, chinooks will die after they spawn.

The agency used to utilize fish ladders to collect salmon, but it was labor intensive, Headley says. About 12 years ago they started electro-fishing for salmon, allowing the crews to be more mobile when seeking fish.

FWP caught more female salmon in the first few weeks of this year than all of last year, Baxter notes. About 40 females were caught in 2021, compared to 149 so far this year.

Love shack

When the livewell is full, Frye pilots the boat back to the beach. A hatchery truck loaded with water is backed down the boat ramp and the fish are transferred for transport, females on one side, males on the other.

Welcome to the love shack, Baxter jokes as he climbs atop the truck to unload the salmon into separate raceways back at the hatchery.

Once all the tools are ready  like a scale to weigh the fish, bowls for the eggs and a UTV loaded with ice to chill dead fish  a different ballet begins.

Ripe males are pulled from the raceway first, quickly killed with a thump to the head and then milked of their milt. The sperm of five to eight males is mixed together into a plastic bottle to fertilize the eggs, ensuring a genetic variety.

Once milked, the males are transferred to Headley who weighs and measures each fish and then makes a hacksaw cut just behind the fishs skull to remove the otolith bones, tiny scale-like flakes that reveal the fishs age.

Egg take

Likewise, ripe females are removed from the raceway, killed and taken to a portable meat hook. While hanging immobile, a needle attached to an air compressor is inserted into the fishs stomach. With a little air, the salmon eggs come pouring out into a net. Each female may produce around 4,000 eggs on average, says Wade Geraets, hatchery manager.

After the eggs are transferred from a small net to a large stainless steel mixing bowl, Geraets adds a squirt of milt and fish culturist Lars Sorensen gently stirs the mixture with a turkey feather. The process is timed for two minutes to ensure the eggs are properly fertilized before they are placed in separate mesh containers floating in a large tub of water.

The addition of water hardens the eggs, Geraets explains. Theres also a tincture of iodine in the water to kill off any disease. Once the work is completed, the eggs are transferred to plastic tubes that are continually flushed with fresh water.

It will take anywhere from 30 to 45 days for the fish to eye up  when eyes become visible inside the egg. In comparison, walleye take only about 10 days to reach the eyed stage, Geraets says. Then it will take another few weeks for the salmon to hatch, compared to four days for walleye.

After hatching, the fish are transferred to eight outdoor concrete raceways. The hatchery has capacity for about 500,000 salmon eggs. Any amount collected above that amount may be transferred to hatcheries in South Dakota and North Dakota.

The small fish are released into Fort Peck Reservoir in the spring. Last June, 53,232 5-inch chinook salmon were planted for anglers.

Weigh-in

So far this fall, the female salmon were averaging 15 to 18 pounds, with the largest a 23-pounder. The males tend to mature earlier and are therefore often smaller, about 14 to 15 pounds with some bigger 4-year-old fish, Geraets says.

Theres not many other places anglers can have that opportunity, Headley says. Twelve to 14 pounds, that is tremendous growth in only three years.

The hatchery crew finished up the salmon season with a total of 785,344 eggs, the third-most chinook eggs collected since the salmon program began. Headley says the quality of the fish eggs and amount of fish available determine when FWP's spawning effort should finish.

As a bonus, after the spawning work is conducted, the hatchery gives away the whole salmon for free to the public at 3 p.m.

You put that word free in front of it, and they go fast, Viste said.
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.
Napa County is suing Hoopes Vineyard winery for allegedly breaking wine country rules over visitation and similar activities.

The Napa Valley winery is located between the city of Napa and Yountville. The lawsuit filed in Napa County Superior Court accuses it of failing to heed code violation notices.

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At the root of the lawsuit is the countys claim that Hoopes winery has hosted visitors for tastings and had various events at its 6204 Washington St. property, the former Hopper Creek winery that Hoopes Vineyard bought in 2017.

Most county wineries entertain visitors, but numbers are usually capped under use permits granted by the county Planning Commission following public hearings. Permit conditions do such things as limiting water use and sometimes requiring road improvements.

In this highly regulated wine country world, the county lawsuit portrays Hoopes as avoiding oversight.

The lawsuit asks the court to bring the property into compliance with county code and impose a fine of $1,000 per violation per day, as well as additional penalties. The filing didnt total up the requested fines.

The Napa Valley Register on Tuesday spoke with Lindsay Hoopes of the winery. She said she had not yet been served with the lawsuit, which was filed Oct. 20, and cannot comment on something she hasnt seen.

All of this has a history that predates Hoopes acquisition of the winery.

The winery operates under a small winery exemption from the 1980s, the lawsuit said. This exemption, no longer granted by the county, allowed small wineries to open without discretionary review if they met certain conditions.

Small wineries under the exemption cannot produce more than 20,000 gallons of wine annually, hold public tours or wine tastings, sell wine-related items or hold social events of a public nature.

Thirty-four wineries have this exemption, of which 28 are operating, a 2019 county report said. They have no use permits and must apply for one if they want to host tasting room visitors and marketing events.

Obtaining a use permit is a lengthy and expensive undertaking and could require an older winery to be brought up to todays standards, the report said. The county subsequently took streamlining steps to try to cut at least some of the red tape for these small operations.

In early 2020, the county Code Compliance Division received a complaint against Hoopes winery. On Feb. 14 of that year, the county sent the winery a notice of apparent violations that told it to cease holding tours, tastings and marketing events, the lawsuit said.

In addition, the winery had exceeded its allowed square footage by including two Airstream trailers and had a two-piece connected shed that needed a building permit and floodplain permit, according to the suit.

These unlawful uses continued as of this month, the lawsuit said. In fact, the county added to the list, saying Hoopes winery has done such things as host yoga classes, have an animal sanctuary and provide food services.

The Hoopes Family Vineyard website describes how Spencer Hoopes founded the operation near Oakville. Lindsay Hoopes grew up on the family farm and took over the operation in 2012.

In 2017, Hoopes Family Vineyard bought the Hopper Creek Winery at 6204 Washington St. south of Yountville to be its home. It is this property that is the focus of the countys lawsuit.

Lindsay Hoopes, in an August article by Visit Napa Valley that appeared in the Register, described her vision for what she called Oasis by Hoopes. The property has an animal sanctuary and scavenger hunt. Children and parents learn about regenerative farming and Napa Valleys agricultural roots, the article said.

Todays consumer wants to spend quality time with the whole family. And that means children, too, Lindsay Hoopes said. As a working mom, who spends time away from her own family, I created Oasis by Hoopes to respond to this trend. Its a place where Napa Valleys multi-generational farming community is on display for all.

Agriculture is also at the root of the countys lawsuit against Hoopes. The lawsuit talks of protecting the countys Agricultural Preserve where farming is to be the dominant use.

Because most commercial uses and services are directly at odds with this agricultural purpose, permissible land use in the agricultural preserve district, even at Napa Countys most famous wineries, are quite limited and are carefully spelled out in the countys zoning code, it said.

Napa Countys code enforcement efforts rarely result in the county suing a winery, with most cases being resolved before reaching that point. A high-profile exception was a 2017 county lawsuit against Bremer Family Winery that resulted in a settlement.

There was much public speculation about five years ago over how many wineries might be violating their use permits for visitor and wine production caps. Some people said the countys responses encouraged wineries to seek forgiveness rather than ask permission.

In response, Napa County took a new approach.

The county in 2019 offered businesses violating county laws a one-time chance to step forward voluntarily without facing penalties. These businesses could continue uses that didnt jeopardize public safety while seeking to legalize them, with no guarantees they could win Planning Commission approvals.

About 46 businesses stepped forward, almost all wineries, though not Hoopes winery. The Planning Commission has resolved about half the cases.

Napa Countys voluntarily compliance program came with a caveat  wineries not stepping forward by a March 29, 2019 deadline would face penalties.
LOS ANGELES  Some California childrens hospitals are straining under a surge of RSV, a respiratory illness that can cause babies to struggle to breathe.

At least three major childrens 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 its unusual for there to be such high levels in October.

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The increase in RSV, which stands for respiratory syncytial 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 Childrens 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 hasnt always been able to because of capacity constraints in its emergency room, Stein said.

In the last week at Rady Childrens Hospital San Diego, nearly 200 children tested positive for RSV. Thats 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 havent 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 Childrens Hospital Oakland.

The hospitals 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 doesnt get much attention, but this year its 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.

Which COVID-19 variants will break through next in the Bay Area? The new variants are coming. And right behind them, our third COVID-19 winter. But were unlikely to see the ghosts of Christmases past, say experts, because these newcomers look a lot like the current virus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Bidens chief medical adviser, said Saturday on ABCs Good Morning America that were seeing a surge of RSV. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, cases of RSV might have been spread out over time, but now were seeing a concentration of them.

Were seeing the rise of three respiratory viruses, all of them going up around the same time  thats concerning, said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White Houses 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 health care system and it just makes it better for everybody.

With many people reverting to pre-pandemic behaviors, were 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 dont have immunity.

Many children contract RSV and other viruses without experiencing severe illness and dont 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 theyre 2 years old. But because of the pandemic, some of the kind of standard patterns have been disrupted, so were 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 months  especially 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, its 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 Childrens Hospital Stanford.

Are they breathing faster? And are they using their muscles  their rib muscles, neck muscles or diaphragm muscles  to 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 cant feed and they get dehydrated, Schroeder said.

If a baby cant 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 state 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 health care, child care and nursing home employees from working while sick even if theyve 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 health care providers give high-risk infants and young children  such as those born prematurely or have heart or lung disease  the 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: Were 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 wouldnt take my young infant  a newborn  out 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 dont 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.
The first 30 minutes of CBS' new primetime drama "Fire Country" are enough to give any Californian a bad feeling about the direction of the show.

As a raging wildfire bears down on a town, three characters find themselves trapped in the burning forest. Although they're moments from disaster, two of the characters decide to get into a shouting argument  and then a physical fistfight  over a girl who died off-screen. After some punching in the midst of Camp Fire-level conflagration, they make it back to safety while, seemingly without reason, the wildfire peters out.

"Fire Country" purports to show a dramatization of Cal Fire firefighters on the job. But it's so inaccurate that even before the series debuted earlier this month, Cal Fire released a statement disavowing it.

"This television series is a misrepresentation of the professional all-hazards fire department and resource protection agency that Cal Fire is," Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler said in May when the trailer dropped.

As a quick plot summary: For those familiar with cop/firefighter procedurals like "9-1-1," "Fire Country" follows a similar format, mixing problem-of-the-week disasters with interpersonal drama. Max Thieriot, who grew up in the Bay Area and co-writes the show, plays Bode Donovan. Donovan has committed some felonies of the generally forgivable sort  he's the protagonist and heartthrob, after all  and in an attempt to shorten his prison sentence, he volunteers for California's inmate firefighting program. He's sent to his hometown of Edgewood, which is a vaguely Humboldt-y place where almost everyone knows him and is not a fan of his checkered past. Wildfires, love triangles and interminable conversations about one character's Olympic diving career ensue.

It's not entirely clear who this show is for. It's certainly not for people who live in areas that regularly see wildfires. Close-up shots of fires are real, actual fires, and long shots of whole mountainsides ablaze are achieved with an uncanny valley CGI. In addition to the stressfulness of seeing real and faked fires, Californians are pretty well-versed in fire lingo: acreage, containment, evacuation orders. When a massive, uncontrolled wildfire strafing across dry, rugged terrain is declared "60% contained" by the end of the pilot episode, it's impossible not to roll your eyes at how quickly it was extinguished. In the same episode, Cal Fire battalion Chief Vince Leone (played by Billy Burke, the dad from "Twilight") begs for a new dozer by invoking the Hanley Fire, which broke out in Santa Rosa in 1964.

"Y'all don't remember the Hanley Fire, but I do," he says. The actor, who was born in 1966, certainly doesn't. And most Bay Area residents probably don't either, because we have dozens more devastating events in recent memory  like the Tubbs Fire, which happened recently in the exact same town and would have made a much better reference point.

By episode two, small missteps have become full-blown absurdities. A dry lightning storm  another wildfire-sparking phenomenon familiar to Californians  strikes Edgewood. Over the course of a single day, one lightning strike obliterates a 40-foot tree, literally shattering it into a million tiny pieces in a single blow, and another blasts a hole through a van and inexplicably creates a crater the size of a cow in the road. (The driver of the van ends up with a chunk of molten-hot asphalt seared to his abdomen. "It's cooking him!" one of the firefighters says while pouring bottled water on the man and the asphalt. The physics and medical value of this are unclear.)

It should come as no surprise that a show that can barely handle basic wildfire lingo also struggles to sensitively discuss one of California's most controversial programs: Conservation Fire Camps. Much has been written about inmate firefighters. They're paid just dollars a day, and, up until recently, even though they were officially trained, many could not become full-time firefighters afterward due to their status as convicted felons. But none of the ethical dilemmas or poor future prospects come up on "Fire Country." Instead, we're treated to an inspirational tale of how one of the professional firefighters came from the inmate program (unlikely) and how another inmate believes he'll be able to buy a food truck with his Conservation Camp earnings (even less likely).

But if everything about "Fire Country" was perfect, it would still have a glaring problem: Who in wildfire country wants to relive the horrors of the past decade?

There is not a single person in California who is untouched by fires. Some have lost loved ones and homes. Others have lived through the terror of midnight evacuations, sometimes year after year. And everyone has endured the choking smoke and poor air quality that studies have shown are shortening our lifespans and making us sicker. Watching a poorly animated CGI fire rip through the landscape is not a fictional thrill for any of us. Would CBS have made "Hurricane Country," showing people dying and losing their homes to hurricanes every week? I'm betting not, but somehow California's wildfire season was deemed romantic and intriguing enough for the masses.

There is one scene, though, that Californians won't quibble with the writers of "Fire Country" on. In the first episode, the massive wildfire is triggered when a woman crashes her SUV into a power line. The power line starts sparking like a mid-sized firework on the Fourth of July, catching the dry tinder alight and ripping up the mountainside.

At last, I thought, something we can all agree on: No one trusts PG&E.
California has an overabundance of crises that could be fairly described as existential.

We have critical shortages of water, electrical power and housing, our homelessness and poverty are the worst in the nation and out-of-control wildfires consume thousands of homes each year.

There is another crisis that threatens Californias future, not as in-your-face evident as the others but potentially just as devastating  shamefully low levels of learning by the states nearly 6 million public school students.

Before COVID-19 hit and authorities closed schools to limit spread of the deadly disease, Californias students were largely failing to meet the states own standards of skills necessary for productive adult lives, as well as faring poorly in nationwide testing. That was particularly true for the 60% of those children classified as poor or English learner.

On Monday, both federal and state governments released results from the latest tests, indicating that the pandemics makeshift efforts to teach homebound students reduced learning even more and widened the already yawning achievement gap.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Tony Thurmond, the state superintendent of schools, tried to put positive spins on the test results, saying in essence that the declines could have been worse, but sugarcoating them doesnt alter the fact that California has a serious educational crisis that threatens to undermine its social and economic future.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results on 4th and 8th grade reading and math came out first and once again California was among the lowest achieving states, 12th from the bottom and below national averages in all categories.

Newsom cherry-picked the data to claim that Californias students experienced less learning loss than those in most other states during the pandemic but conceded that the results are not a celebration but a call to action  students are struggling academically and we need to keep getting them the resources they need to thrive.

Newsom neglected to mention that students in the two red states he often singles out for scorn, Florida and Texas, scored much higher in the NAEP tests.

Florida was 6th highest overall and Texas was well above national averages.

State-by-state data also indicated  not for the first time  that there is no direct correlation between academic achievement and school spending.

New York, the nations highest-spending state on education, came out lower than California, while several states on the low end of the spending list are leaders in achievement. Wyoming, No. 2 to New York in spending, is No. 1 in academics while neighboring Utah, the lowest spending state, is No. 5 in achievement.

Californias education establishment, and most of its politicians, tend to confine the debate over academic achievement to money, but clearly there are other factors at play.

Later Monday, Thurmonds Department of Education released results from last springs Smarter Balance tests. Initially, Thurmond planned to delay release until later in the year, but when results of individual school districts showed declines in results, Thurmond faced media pressure to issue them earlier.

Statewide, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards declined by 4 percentage points (from 51% to 47%) for English language arts and 7 percentage points (from 40% to 33%) for mathematics from the last pre-pandemic tests in 2018-19.

As with Californias other crises, academic achievement is trending in the wrong direction, and just throwing more money at it probably wont make it better. We need to learn from other states and from California school districts that, against the odds, are succeeding.

Failure to reform will have calamitous outcomes for the kids and for the entire state.
Next Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about whether considering race as a factor during the admission process is lawful  a decision that could have a big impact on the admissions practices of private colleges in California and the institutions outside the state that many Californians attend.

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California banned affirmative action in its public universities in 1996 through Proposition 209, but there are high stakes for Californians in the Supreme Court case, said Michele Siqueiros, president of The Campaign for College Opportunity.

Some maybe think that this national conversation about affirmative action in college admissions doesnt affect our state because of the Prop. 209 ban, but they are mistaken for many reasons, she said Monday during a media briefing on the case.

She noted that private colleges in California serve as many students as the University of California does  over 356,000 undergraduate and graduate students in 2020, according to the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities. Private universities and colleges in California are allowed to consider race as a factor in admissions, but that could change if the Supreme Court sides with a plaintiff who has sued Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.

Additionally, 10.5% of college-bound students in California  or over 31,000 students  attended school out of state, according to the most recent data from the California Department of Education for the class of 2018.

A number of private and public institutions of higher education signed amicus briefs in support of using affirmative action during the admissions process. That includes California institutions, such as Stanford University, Pomona College and the California Institute of Technology. The deans of several law schools, including some in California, also argued in favor of affirmative action.

The court is being asked whether it should overrule its 2003 opinion in a case brought by a white student rejected from the University of Michigans law school. That is one of a series of cases that established that institutions can use race as a factor in admissions. The latest case, brought by Edward Blum of Students for Fair Admissions, argues that affirmative action penalizes white and Asian American applicants, violating their federal civil rights.

Stanford University joined the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and IBM in a brief stating that holistic, race-conscious admissions processes remain essential to achieve the benefits of student body diversity, particularly in STEM programs  and no race-neutral alternative currently provides a workable means of achieving this critical objective.

Overwhelming online demand is reshaping California's community colleges The demand for virtual classes represents a dramatic shift in how instruction is delivered in one of the nation's largest systems of public higher education.

Its a conclusion also outlined by the University of California in its brief to the court. The UC system stated that it created race-neutral outreach programs that have been extremely costly but ineffective, particularly at recruiting Black and Native American students. Diversity at its campuses dropped precipitously when the states ban on affirmative action went into effect in 1998.

Caltech signed on to a brief from some of the countrys most selective institutions, arguing that a ruling against affirmative action would mark an intrusion of the courts long and established tradition of granting universities latitude to make educational judgments and respecting their academic freedom.

These institutions said that building a diverse student body contributes to the development of knowledge. The brief describes the role of Black and Indigenous students at Cornell University in reshaping the field of archaeology.

As a white archaeologist with Greek and northwestern European heritage, Ive felt challenged by Black and Indigenous archaeologies to learn how modern history impacts where we are today in the Mediterranean, said Rebecca Gerdes, a Cornell doctoral student who spoke about the research on a podcast last February.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University were able to improve electroencephalograms, a medical technology that measures brainwaves through electrodes placed on the scalp. The technology didnt work well for those with curly, coarse hair, but a team of researchers that included a Black undergraduate developed a new kind of electrode and a braiding technique that allows Black patients to receive care.

Students For Fair Admissions argues that race-conscious policies diminish the value of admission for students of color. But institutions said that race is just one of numerous individual factors that they consider in admissions, including socioeconomic background, parents education, what language was spoken at home, whether a student went to a school that was public or private, large or small, religious or secular. A race-conscious admission process shouldnt inspire prejudice more than if a college seeks to admit students from various states.

All admitted students  regardless of geographic, racial, or ethnic background  are selected because in the universitys best judgment, those particular students are expected to contribute most to the university community, the brief said.

Small, highly selective liberal arts colleges, including Pomona College in Claremont, said that the benefits of racial diversity  improved learning, a decrease in prejudice, pedagogical innovation  are especially pronounced at institutions where smaller class sizes lead to greater engagement among diverse students.

A large group of Catholic colleges and universities, which includes Santa Clara University, Franciscan School of Theology and Mount Saint Marys University-Los Angeles, signed a brief stating that racial and ethnic diversity is important not just for its academic, but also for its religious mission.

The education that students receive in a diverse environment, including a racially diverse environment, serves Catholic values of respect for universal human dignity and divine creation, and in turn creates alumni equipped to contribute to Catholic goals of leadership in service, the brief states.

Thomas Saenz, the president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said that he worries about the chilling effect that the decision could have on the admissions process or the college experience. He points to Californias own experience in banning affirmative action. When Prop. 209 passed, there was an overinterpretation in many parts of higher education that had nothing to do with admissions, he said. Many in California concluded that even a discussion of racial disparities in admissions was off-limits, he said. Some lawyers advised institutions that they could not at all seek to address racial disparities in admission guidelines, Saenz said.

There were many policymakers on boards who concluded they could not discuss race at all, he said.

Whatever the outcome of this decision, the legal implications should only affect the ability of institutions to consider race as a factor, he said. It should not apply to employment or contracts, as well as programs on campus aimed at racial and ethnic minorities. Discussing race in admissions, studying it and seeking to address continuing disparities in admission rates should not be barred, he said.

The overreach of the affirmative action ban even extended to how students could describe themselves. Sally Chen said that her high school counselor in San Francisco tried to dissuade her from writing about her experience growing up in a working-class Chinese immigrant community. Chen ignored that advice and was admitted to Harvard. She has since graduated and now serves as an Asian American education equity advocate for the group Chinese for Affirmative Action. She worries about the messaging that may come out of a decision against affirmative action. Some prospective students may feel like they dont belong or should hide aspects of their experience and identity.

Saenz worries that should the court rule against affirmative action, poorly trained high school counselors may try to dissuade students from talking about their race or ethnicity in their application.

Theyre going to, in effect, advise students not to be themselves, Saenz said.
According to information published by Yabiladi on October 27, 2022, the Moroccan government has given the green light to a loan of 95 million euros for the future patrol boats based on the Avante 1400 OPVs.

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Artist rendering of the patrol boat Avante 1400 (Picture source: Navantia)

This step in the construction of the FAR patrol boat by Navantia had been eagerly awaited for months by the company's management and employee representatives.

Indeed, the president of the Spanish public company, Ricardo Dominguez had hoped, two weeks after the April 7 summit in Rabat, between King Mohammed VI and Pedro Sanchez, that the project could benefit from the new stage in relations between Rabat and Madrid.

The Moroccan order was announced on January 8, 2021, by the Spanish Minister of Finance, Maria Jesus Montero. The socialist was pleased, then in statements to the press, that the contract provides jobs for 250 employees in the region of Cadiz for at least three years.

For the record, it was in January 2020 that the Spanish public company Navantia had proposed to Morocco the construction of two patrol boats worth 260 million euros.

About the Avante 1400 OPV

The Avante 1400 has a length of 80 meters, a length of 11.5 meters, and a maximum draft of four meters, with a fully loaded displacement of 1,500 tons and a maximum speed of 22 knots.

It can carry a crew of 35 people, plus an additional 29. As regards armament, it incorporates 76 mm and 35 mm pieces and 12.7 mm medium machine guns.

Among the sensors, there is a fire control system, surveillance and navigation radars, and electronic warfare equipment. It also incorporates a helicopter deck and space for semi-rigid vessels.
YEREVAN.  Hraparak daily of Armenia writes: According to the [Armenian] authorities circles, the trilateral meeting to be held in [Russias] Sochi on October 31 [between the Armenian, Russian, and Azerbaijani leaders] will not be groundbreaking; it will be just another [meeting].

[Armenian PM] Nikol Pashinyan announced to his narrow [political] team that he will not sign the Russian version of the "peace treaty" [between Armenia and Azerbaijan] under any circumstanceseven if they threaten with a change of power in Armenia.

Pashinyan said that the people [of Armenia] are with the [countrys] authorities, and he is not afraid of threats of the RF [(Russian Federation)].

Moreover, he said that the [aforesaid peace] treaty, in fact, will not be signed in the near future, as [Azerbaijani president Ilham] Aliyev is also against the Western version, and it is more because of him that the Western version [of this treaty] is being aborted.

The president of Azerbaijan hopes that, by maintaining tension, he can reach the desired corridor, and that is the reason for aborting the versions being proposed.
A U.S. aircraft carrier is ready to lead an international attack if Russia escalates attacks against Ukraine and its allies, Newsweek reported.

The aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) is in the Adriatic Sea as part of the NATO exercise Neptune Strike 2022.

Allied and partner nations participating include Albania; Canada; Croatia, Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Italy; Lithuania; North Macedonia; Poland; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sweden; Turkey; the United Kingdom and the United States.

'Neptune Strike 2022' is a clear demonstration of the power and capabilities of the Alliance in all areas of operations, said Vice Admiral Thomas Ishee, commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and NATO Support Forces.

Neptune Strike 2022 is a shining example of NATO's ability to integrate the high-tech maritime combat capabilities of an allied carrier strike group, ensuring our collective deterrence and defense capabilities.

The deployment includes more than 80 aircraft, 14 ships and about 6,000 troops from 24 NATO allies and partners, including Finland and Sweden.

As part of the exercise, U.S. Navy F-18s flew from an aircraft carrier to Lithuania in recent days, working alongside France, Latvia and Hungary. Before that, the same fighter jet reportedly joined Canadian fighters for patrols over Romania.

U.S. Navy spokeswoman for Europe and Africa Captain Tamara Lawrence confirmed to Newsweek in that the aircraft carrier is participating in the Neptune Strike program.

Admiral Dennis Velez said he saw two Russian warships observing NATO exercises, both entities acting in accordance with international law and on their own initiative in international waters.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the aircraft carrier on Tuesday, calling it a demonstration of U.S. capabilities and commitment to the alliance.

This exercise is a great example of transatlantic communication, of Europe and North America working together within NATO, Stoltenberg said.

He also warned Russia not to use false pretexts for further escalation.

Hans Christensen, director of the Nuclear Information Project of the Federation of American Scientists, warned that Russia might test nuclear weapons at the same time as the NATO Steadfast Noon nuclear exercise.
U.S. and Western officials are finalizing plans to cap Russian oil prices amid a World Bank warning that such a plan would require the active participation of emerging market countries to be effective, Reuters reports.

Officials said the price range had not yet been determined, but one source familiar with the process said the cap would be determined in line with the historical average of $63 to $64 a barrel, a level that could be a natural upper limit. That level is consistent with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's recent comments that a price cap in the $60 range would give Russia an incentive to keep producing oil.

President Joe Biden's administration saw the price cap as a way to reduce Russia's oil revenues while maintaining Russian oil supplies and avoiding price spikes.

The actual price will be set in the coming weeks ahead of the European embargo on Russian oil scheduled for Dec. 5 and related restrictions on offshore oil transportation and insurance.

A senior Biden administration official said the claims about any price range were incorrect, but declined to go into detail.

U.S. officials denied a Bloomberg News report that they had been forced to cut back on plans to cap prices, with fewer participating countries and higher prices.

The administration had been telling reporters for weeks that the price cap was already taking its toll, allowing countries to demand bigger discounts from Moscow.

Bloomberg also reported that South Korea has privately told G7 countries that it plans to comply, and G7 officials have also tried to get New Zealand and Norway to participate.

Earlier this month, Yellen told reporters that the coalition advocating a price cap includes the G7, the European Union and Australia.

Western diplomats say the price cap already gives India and other buyers of Russian oil more leverage in negotiations with Moscow, allowing them to get good discounts.

The World Bank said the G7 oil price cap could affect the flow of oil from Russia, but it is an untested mechanism and needs the participation of large emerging markets and developing countries to be effective. The WB recalled that Russia said it would not trade with countries participating in the price ceiling.
The United States has accelerated the deployment of a more calibrated version of a nuclear bomb at NATO bases in Europe, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable and two sources familiar with the matter.

The deployment of the upgraded B61-12 bomb, originally scheduled for next spring, is now scheduled for December this year, U.S. officials told NATO allies during a closed-door meeting in Brussels this month, Politico reported.

The move, which involves replacing old weapons with a new version in various depots in Europe for potential use by bombers and fighters from the United States and its allies, comes amid heightened tensions over Russian threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine and growing concern that the West needs to do more to deter Moscow from crossing that line.

The modernization of the B61 program has been openly discussed in budget documents and public statements for years, and Pentagon officials have said it is necessary to ensure the modernization and security of the arsenal.

Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said, the modernization of the U.S. B61 nuclear weapons has been underway for years, and the US plans to safely and responsibly replace the old weapons with an upgraded version of the B61-12, which is part of a long-planned modernization. It has nothing to do with the current events in Ukraine.

The arrival date came as a surprise to some longtime observers, who fear it could further exacerbate an already dangerous situation in Europe. The announcement at the Brussels meeting came days before NATO began its annual nuclear exercise, known as Standing Noon. The two-week exercise ends Sunday and includes about 70 aircraft. And on Wednesday, Russia held a nuclear exercise that the defense chief called a simulated massive nuclear strike in response to a nuclear attack on Russia.

Two people familiar with the issue of the upcoming shipment to Europe confirmed the accelerated timeline.

The B61 is a family of nuclear bombs first developed in the early 1960s and originally demonstrated in underground nuclear tests in Nevada. A dozen versions were developed over the decades, and most have since become obsolete.

The $10 billion B61-12 life-extension program is managed by the Department of Energy and is designed to replace several earlier versions, including about 100 bombs stored at air bases in Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Turkey.

The new version is also designed so that U.S. and allied bombers and fighters, including B-2 and B-21 bombers as well as F-15, F-16, F-35 and Tornado fighters, can carry the weapon.

The warhead itself is one of the most versatile in the U.S. arsenal because its explosive power can be increased or decreased depending on the target, making it a low- or medium-power weapon.
The biggest foreign threat to the Unites States is not Russia and it's not China. It's the European Union and its member states, Newsweek reported.

"This is not to say that Europe is an enemy of the United States or a serious geopolitical competitor. While Europeans like to complain about the vulgarity of American culture, they consume it constantly, en-masse, and relations between the two continents are defined more by a sense of mutual friendship then animosity," the article said.

Beneath the friendly banter, however, a real geopolitical problem has blossomed that is becoming increasingly obvious, though the Europeans are too proud and the U.S. too nostalgic to admit it.

It began in the 1990s with the breakup of the former Yugoslavia, which was supposed to be a small regional conflict that could be managed by the major European powers, especially France and a reunified Germany. Alas, it was U.S. intervention that led to peace in 1995 and then again in 1999, after the crisis involving Serbia and Kosovo.

After the war in the Balkans, Europeans settled into a post-Cold War world ruled by the hegemonic US power that provided security for free. While it was, and still is, fashionable to whine about American domination in European newspapers and university faculties, it was actually an incredibly enjoyable affair. Instead of spending money on defense, Western Europe could use the dividends of American defense to build its generous welfare states.

As a result, the very issue of tough geopolitics was a thing of the past, cared for only by belligerent Americans and their sinister military-industrial complex. According to a 2009 article in the renowned Foreign Policy magazine, Europe was a "classy," "metrosexual superpower," while the U.S. was "fumbling" around the world. And fears about international security faded away.

Now Germany was barely meeting its financial obligations to NATO, which worried both Trump and Obama, although it reflected the attitude of many Europeans: no more threats and rivalries, only economic interests and comfortable lives. It is no coincidence that it was during this period that the now famous Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were planned and built.

"As we're learning now, this was wasn't just laziness. It was lunacy," the author noted.

The U.S. provides twice as much aid to Ukraine as the EU and its member states combined, demonstrating that even now Europe has not woken up from its geopolitical slumber, into which the luxury of U.S. protection has driven it.

Washington, on the other hand, seems still unwilling to send its European friends the wake-up call they need, turning them into millstones around America's neck, threatening to drag the US into a sea of geopolitical turmoil. The time has come for the U.S. to free its European satrapies, not out of spite, but in the interest of both sides.

No relationship can work with unilateral dependence, which leads only to resentment and weakness. The U.S. is still strong, but it is not strong enough to face all the major threats from Asia to Eastern Europe alone, and it is time for the EU to take responsibility for its neighborhood.

It would be ridiculous to expect Brussels to intervene in the problems of Mexico or Venezuela, since we intuitively understand that geographic proximity makes Latin America a problem for the United States, not for Europe. Similarly, we should understand that the problems of the Middle East and Eastern Europe should be solved by the EU, not the U.S.

Some tough love from Washington might help. It might be tough, but it's still love.
The Human Rights Defender of Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan, held a meeting with the Batonnier of the Lawyers Order (Ordre Des Avocats)/Chamber of Advocates of Montpelier, Nicola Bedel de Buzareingues, and representatives Luke Kyghkyashaghyan, Amin Faraj, and Naira Zoroyan.

The Defender welcomed and thanked the representatives of the Chamber for their work to protect the rights of Armenian Prisoners of War, and presented the Defender's functions, role and mandate, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The Defender referred to the visits and monitoring conducted in closed institutions, and informed that the activities conducted during the year are summarized in the reports of the Human Rights Defender.

The Defender referred to the applications received by the citizens, and underlined that in recent years, the number of applications that received positive solutions through the intervention of the Defender has been increasing: Our goal is not to say that a violation of a right has occurred (by a state body), but to work to restore the violated right noted Grigoryan.

The Defender mentioned about the situation of human rights and democracy in Armenia, emphasizing security issues.

The Defender mentioned the consequences of the September 13-14 Azerbaijani military attack on the sovereign territory of Armenia, presented the continuous violations of rights and war crimes, which were registered in the ad hoc reports of the Defender.

Grigoryan pointed to the trials of Armenian prisoners of war in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, stressing that they are artificial and aimed at terrorizing their family members and the Armenian society.

The Batonnier of the Lawyers Order (Ordre Des Avocats)/Chamber of Advocates of Montpelier, Nicola Bedel de Buzareingues, thanked the Defender for the reception, noting that it was very important to be informed about the situation in Armenia, and to present it to the international community.
Today is the 23rd anniversary of the deadly shootings in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia.

NA speaker Karen Demirchyan, Prime Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, NA vice-speakers Yuri Bakhshyan and Ruben Miroyan, MPs Armenak Armenakyan, Henrik Abrahamyan, Mikayel Kotanyan, as well as Minister of Operational Affairswho actually performed the functions of Deputy Prime MinisterLeonard Petrosyan were killed as a result of this crime that took place 23 years ago.

The leader of the gunmen was Nairi Hunanyan. Later, Hunanyan testified and stated that he had had terrorist plans at the state level in 1991, but he could not implement them then due to circumstances.

The verdict of the court in the "October 27" case was issued on December 2, 2003. Accordingly, 6 people were sentenced to life imprisonment, and one personto 14 years in prison.

Nairi and Karen Hunanyan, Derenik Bejanyan, and Ashot Knyazyan are still alive from among those sentenced to life. According to the official version, Vram Galstyan committed suicide on April 27, 2004 in his prison cell. Hamlet Stepanyan, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison, died in May 2010 from a heart attack. Norayr Yeghiazaryan has died before the announcement of the verdictand as a result of electric shock in his prison cell. And Eduard Grigoryan died on November 3, 2017 in a Yerevan hospital.

The defendants were found guilty under the Criminal Code articles on usurping state power; murder of a state, political or public figure; attempt to usurp power; terrorism; illegal deprivation of liberty; and illegal acquisition, sale, and carrying of weapons.
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In recent months, the European Parliament has been working on the Implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations report for the years 2023-2026, where, among other urgent issues, the protection of Nagorno-Karabakhs (Artsakh) cultural values has been highlighted for the strategy of effective implementation of the global cultural policy. Armenian News-NEWS.am learns about this from the website monumentwatch.org, which monitors Artsakh's cultural heritage.

As a result of the discussions of Armenias representation in the EU with the colleagues of the European Parliament, a decision was made to submit an amendment which would refer to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament in March 2022 on the destruction of cultural values in Nagorno-Karabakh, in which there are clear and critical messages directed at Azerbaijantaking into account the decisions on the destruction of cultural sites carried out by the ISIS/Da'esh terrorist group on April 28, 2015 and on the destruction of cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh on March 10, 2022.

The deadline for submission of amendments (September 16) coincided with Azerbaijan's aggression against Armenia on September 13, and Nathalie Loiseau (French Member of the European Parliament) also submitted a separate amendment with the following editorial: "Condemns Azerbaijan's continued policy of erasing and denying Armenian cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh and its surroundings, violating international law and the court decision of December 7, 2021. Condemns Azerbaijan's renewed aggression against Armenia, which further endangers the Armenian cultural heritage, calls on the EU to actively pressure Azerbaijan to end hostilities and participate in efforts to protect endangered cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular by deploying mechanisms to facilitate UNESCO's fact-finding mission.

Another amendment was submitted by a Greek and eight Cypriot MEPs of the EPP faction, "calling on the Turkish authorities to fully respect the historical and cultural nature of cultural and religious monuments and symbols, especially those included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, calls on Turkey to fully respect its international obligation to protect monuments of Christian, Armenian, Pontic and Jewish origin."

On the eve of the vote, on October 12, the new report of Caucasus Heritage Watch was sent to the factions of the European Parliament. The case of destruction of the St. Sargis Armenian church in Nagorno-Karabakhs Hadrut has been presented in this new report.

At the October 13 session, the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) of the European Parliament adopted by the majority of votes the amendment regarding the reference to the previous resolutions, as well as the 106th and 137th amendments.

The adoption of the above-mentioned amendment 106 was important at this time not only due to its clear condemnation of Azerbaijan's aggression against Armenia on September 13, but also the reaffirmation of the AFET position condemning Azerbaijan's policy of destruction of Armenian cultural values in parallel with the development of reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan. After the adoption of the resolution on the destruction of cultural values in Nagorno-Karabakh in March 2022, Azerbaijan has been actively campaigning against the "one-sidedness" of the said resolution, monumentwatch.org added.
YEREVAN.  Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan of Armenia 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, to hold concluding discussions.

The deputy FM thanked this mission for visiting all provinces of Armenia affected by the recent Azerbaijani military aggression, the foreign ministry of Armenia informs Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The members of this OSCE mission presented the work they carried out, the meetings they had with the provincial leaders and the commanders of the Armenian Armed Forces corps on locations, and the damages recorded as a result of the aforesaid Azerbaijani attack.

The deputy FM, in turn, highlighted the engagement of the OSCE, as a pan-European security organization, in the prevention and settlement of conflicts.
YEREVAN.  Within the framework of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly events in Uzbekistan, speaker Alen Simonyan of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) on Thursday met with speaker Tanzila Narbaeva of the Senate of Olij Mazhlis of Uzbekistan.

The sides documented that Armenia and Uzbekistan consistently develop the political dialogue, at the same time stressing that the potential of cooperation is not fully used, thus there is need for making additional efforts, the NA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. In the interlocutors opinion, the key role of bilateral relations belongs to the parliamentary cooperation.

The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia highlights the development of cooperation with the colleagues of the parliament of Uzbekistan, as in bilateral format, so in the international parliamentary structures, which can be effective in terms of the systemized approach of voting and mutual support of the parliamentarians of both sides in the international arena, Alen Simonyan noted.

The colleagues highly appreciated the role of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly as an important platform dialogue and collaboration of parliaments.

The RA NA President touched upon the manifestation of the Azerbaijani aggression in Armenia on September 13 and the events following it. He noted that Azerbaijan denies withdrawing its armed forces from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and returning prisoners of war, hostages and other held persons. We are resolute in building peace in our region. We actively work with our international colleagues, and we hope that the Republic of Uzbekistan will also remain part of it, Alen Simonyan concluded.

At the meeting a reference in detail was made to the Armenian community. According to the last data, about 80,000 reside there. The Armenians mainly are concentrated in the cities of Tashkent (50,000) and Samarkand (25,000).

The city of Samarkand as a crossroad of cultures, was inspiring our compatriot, Armenian impressionist and the Peoples Artist of the Uzbek SSR Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan. In Samarkand he created more than 400 art works. I would like to mention with pride the role of Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan in the formation of fine arts of Uzbekistan at the beginning of the 20th century. He took part in the creation of the Union of Artists and founded Association of Fine Arts Workers, Alen Simonyan underlined.

The Head of the Parliament of Uzbekistan requested Alen Simonyan to share advanced experience of our country in the World Trade Organization and in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

At the end of the meeting the sides conveyed invitations of official mutual visits to each other.
The withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the sovereign territory of Armenia is a priority on any platform for the Armenian side. Andranik Kocharyan, a member of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction in the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia and chair of the NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security, said this during the traditional press briefings at the NA Thursday.

According to him, the withdrawal of these Azerbaijani troops is a "red line" and Yerevan's demand.

"Regardless of the course of the negotiation process, what belongs to Armenia is not subject to discussion. The presence of any foreign military in our sovereign territory cannot be considered acceptable in any way. They must leave our territory pacifically," said Kocharyan.
Armenian Americans called on Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz to end his complicity in Turkeys Armenian Genocide denial, at a protest timed with the televised debate between Dr. Oz and his opponent, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

Protesters shared their concerns with local, national, and international media in the run-up to the debate, noting Dr. Ozs refusal to properly characterize the Armenian Genocide, his close ties of Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and concerns that a Dr. Oz victory would open the door to foreign influence in the US Senate.

Dr. Ozs opponent, Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, on the other hand, has issued a series of statements outlining his support for Armenian Genocide affirmation and education as well as a broad range of Armenian American concerns.
Creating a gas hub would be beneficial for all the parties: Russia, Turkey, Europe and Azerbaijan, Head of the Board of Directors of Gazprom Viktor Zubkov told the press behind the scenes of Eurasian Economic Forum in Baku, RIA Novosti reported.

"Everybody benefits from it - Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Europe, etc. It is necessary to understand that it is profitable and to address this issue seriously. It is very good that Turkey agreed to establish such a hub," Zubkov said commenting on what relation of Azerbaijan, being a country-partner of Russia, to the Russian idea to create a gas hub on the border of Turkey and the EU.

He noted that Russia and Azerbaijan continue to work within the framework of gas exchange operations.

"It (Azerbaijan - ed.) has always been our ally," Zubkov added.

However, when asked whether there is interest in the project in Europe, he said, "That's a second question. In fact, the gas will be impersonal."

Presidents of Russia and Turkey Vladimir Putin and Tayyip Erdogan earlier instructed to work in detail and quickly on the issue of creating a gas hub in Turkey, through which, in particular, Russia could move the transit of gas from the Nord Stream to the Black Sea region and Turkey. Erdogan believes that Europe can receive Russian gas through Turkey.

Now gas is supplied to Turkey through the Turkish Stream pipeline with a projected capacity of 31.5 billion cubic meters per year. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the system has the potential to be expanded if necessary.
Armenia continues to remain in the dynamics of decline in agriculture. This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Cabinet session of the government Thursday, adding, however, that significant growth has been recorded in the country in other domains.

"In January-September of this year, we had a 0.7 percent drop in agricultural production; one of our daily works should be to increase the productivity of agriculture, Pashinyan said.

By and large, the economic situation in our country is good. In September 2022, we recorded an economic activity index of 14.6 percent, and in January-September14.1 percent. The amount of industrial output increased by 10 percent, the amount of constructionby 14.3 percent, tradeby 14.5 percent, the amount of servicesby 27.1 percent, the amount of electricity productionby 16.9 percent. Exports increased by 63.8 percent, importsby 61.6 percent," the PM added.

According to Pashinyan, if the optimistic forecasts come true, it will turn out that the average economic growth of 7 percent in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 has been maintained in Armenia.

"This year's high economic growth creates certain risks for us, next year we must ensure another 7-percent economic growth at this high rate; that is our commitment," he said.

Pashinyan emphasized that this September, Armenia set a new record of jobs with income and wages. "In September 2022, we had 691,087 jobs, which is 10,000 more than the previous record," he said.

According to him, since 2018, a total of 108,000 new jobs have appeared and been created in Armenia.
Syria condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly terrorist attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in the Iranian city of Shiraz. The ATS Foreign Ministry said the attack shows that terrorism has become one of the main tools of the U.S. policy of destabilizing countries.

"Syria condemns in the strongest possible terms the despicable terrorist act in the Iranian city of Shiraz, for which ISIS has claimed responsibility. This terrorist attack shows once again that terrorism has become one of the main tools of the U.S. policy to destabilize countries and undermine peace in them in order to subjugate them to the U.S.

Syria reaffirmed solidarity and full support of Iran in the fight against this cowardly terrorist attack and conspiracy against IRI, and expressed its sincere condolences to the Iranian leadership and the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to the victims," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement quoted by the Syrian state news agency SANA.

Anarmed man opened fire at the temple of Ahmad bin Musa al-Qasem (Shah Cherag) in the Iranian city of Shiraz, killing at least 15 people, including women and children, and wounding 27 others.
Australia will send 70 soldiers to Britain to help train Ukrainian troops and send another 30 armored personnel carriers to Kiev, Reuters reported.

"We expect this now to be a protracted conflict," Defence Minister Richard Marles told ABC television. The latest package takes Australia's support for Ukraine to about A$655 million ($425 million) since the conflict began in February.

"We're mindful that Ukraine needs to now be supported over the longer term if we're going to put Ukraine in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms," he said.

Marles said the Australian military, which will arrive in Britain in January, will join a British-led international exercise but will not enter the war zone in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Australia for the latest assistance. "(The Bushmaster) armoured vehicles have shown excellent results on the battlefield and we requested more of them. We will always remember Australia's support!," he tweeted.
The opposition in Armenia plans to take active actions in the near future, opposition MP Gegham Manukyan stated during the traditional press briefings at the National Assembly Thursday.

In addition to rallies and protests, the opposition plans to visit Armenias provinces, meet with the people, and actively engage in legislative activities.

According to Manukyan, public debates were held during the last month and a half.

"After the start of the autumn session in the National Assembly, we launched wide-scale discussions with experts outside the walls of the parliamenton political and socioeconomic issues. All this remained unfinished due to the Azerbaijani [military] aggression of September 13. You will see many of our colleaguesMPs, party figures, activistsin the provinces in the near future," said the opposition lawmaker.

Manukyan, however, did not note specific timeframes.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on Wednesday met with the heads of diplomatic missions of European Union (EU) member countries accredited in Baku. This is stated in a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijanand which was disseminated by the Azerbaijani media.

Thus, it is reported that an exchange of views took place between Azerbaijan and the EU regarding the current agenda of cooperation in political, economic, energy, investment, education and some other domains, as well as regarding the situation in the region.

Bayramov spoke about the role of Azerbaijan in ensuring Europe's energy security and diversification of energy supply. In this regard, the importance of signing the memorandum of understanding on July 18which envisages the doubling of Azerbaijani natural gas transportation amount to the EU, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the development of alternative energy sourceswas emphasized.

According to the Azerbaijani FM, there is a broad energy potential in the "liberated" territories, and Azerbaijan is already implementing a number of projects for the effective use of this potential.

Also, Bayramov pointed to the potential of cooperation in investments and trade, and noted Azerbaijan's efforts to develop the East-West transport corridor.

"In this context, Bayramov noted that the steps taken by Azerbaijan to open communications in the region, including the launch of the Zangazur [(Zangezur)] corridor, contradict Armenia's non-constructive position. The minister informed the attendees about the processes of normalization of relations, the signing of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, steps aimed at the reintegration of the Armenian population living in the region," the aforesaid press release adds.

In response, Peter Michalko, head of the EU delegation in Azerbaijan, noted that "high-level contacts play an important role in the development of cooperation. In this regard, they expressed confidence that the early completion of the draft of the new agreement between Azerbaijan and the European Union will make an important contribution to the further development of relations," the Azerbaijani MFA added.
Moscow was perplexed by the information about the ban for Konstantin Zatulin and Margarita Simonyan to enter Armenia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"As for their motivation, I mean those who banned Konstantin Zatulin and, incidentally, Margarita Simonyan from entering Armenia according to her own statement, with this please to the relevant country. We were perplexed by such statements or reports. Let me remind you that we are talking about the deputy of the Russian State Duma and the editor-in-chief of the Russian media. We immediately applied to the Armenian side through diplomatic channels for official confirmation and explanation. We proceed from the premise that this kind of information, if confirmed, is difficult to qualify as a friendly step consistent with the allied nature of our relations. When we receive an official response from Yerevan, then we will decide our further actions, reactions and so on," Zakharova said, recalling that both Zatulin and Simonyan advocate all-round strengthening of Armenian-Russian allied ties, contacts between people. "I don't think there should be any doubt here. I have not heard any statements of a different nature from them. I would not like to see any artificial reasons in the current situation when the West intentionally tries to rock the situation in South Caucasus and to drive a wedge into the relations between Moscow and Yerevan," Zakharova said.
Azerbaijan clarified its position on the proposal of the Armenian side to open several checkpoints.

Yerevan stated its intention to open three checkpoints on the border with Azerbaijan. After prolonged silence, Baku responded to this generous proposal.

"Armenia's proposals to create three checkpoints on the border with Azerbaijan is an imitation of implementing the provisions of the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020," Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev said.

According to him, the roads emanating from the points proposed by Yerevan are not suitable in terms of topography and climatic conditions for transport communication with Nakhchivan and international transit traffic for most of the year.

"In addition, the checkpoints should be opened by agreement of the parties, symmetrically. However, Armenia has not conducted any coordination with Azerbaijan," the Azerbaijani official said.

In Mustafayev's view, Armenia's proposal is formal to evade the Nov. 10, 2020 agreement to establish communications between western Azerbaijan and Armenia.

In violation of Point 9 of the trilateral statement, Armenia has never presented the best option for transport communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, Mustafayev said.

Meanwhile, the appeals to "coordination of the parties" look very strange, taking into account that a couple of months ago, it was Azerbaijan itself without any coordination - at least the public knows nothing about them - that demanded and achieved to change the route of Berdzor-Lachin corridor. Even more interesting is the reference to point 9 of the statement. "In violation of point 9 of the trilateral statement, Armenia has never presented the best option for transport communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan," Mustafayev states. In fact, the paragraph reads as follows: "All economic and transport connections in the region are unblocked. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the security of transport communication between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to organize the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles and cargoes in both directions. The transport communication is controlled by the border service bodies of the Federal Security Service of Russia". The Azerbaijani official "slightly adjusted" the document, changing the word "freely" into "optimally," with an obvious allusion to the notorious "Zangezur corridor." There is no mention of the "corridor" or the "optimal" route in the document.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolence to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi on the death of people in a terrorist attack near the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz, the press service of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reported.

The message reads:

"Your Excellency,

I learned with sorrow about the terrorist act near the Shah Cheragh shrine in the city of Shiraz in the Islamic Republic of Iran, which resulted in the death of over a dozen innocent citizens.

Armenia condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

I express my sincere condolences and send my words of support to the families and relatives of the victims, as well as my wishes for the speedy recovery of all the injured."
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan discussed in a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov the preparations for an extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council, the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.

"Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with Armenian Foreign Minister A.S. Mirzoyan on October 27. The foreign ministers discussed a number of topical issues of Russian-Armenian relations, preparations for an extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and upcoming bilateral contacts at the highest level," the statement said.

The extraordinary session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be held on Friday, 2022. During the session, it is planned to discuss the results of the CSTO mission sent to Armenia on 15 September 2022 in accordance with the decision of the CSTO Security Council in connection with the deteriorating situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

The session will consider joint measures to assist the Republic of Armenia.
Tehran will not allow its national interests and security to become the plaything of terrorists and those who carry out foreign interference in Iran's internal affairs, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Thursday.

"This crime has fully clarified the ill intentions of those who support terror and violence in Iran. There is credible evidence that enemies have developed a multi-layered project to foment instability in Iran...Undoubtedly, we will not allow Iran's national interests and security to become a toy in the hands of terrorists and those who interfere from abroad, claiming to (protect) human rights," Abdollahian wrote on his social media page, commenting on the attack on the Shah Cheragh Mausoleum.

Earlier, a number of Iranian media reported that three unidentified men opened fire at the Shah Cheragh Mausoleum in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz. Tasnim news agency reported that only one attacker acted, but Iran's state television channel noted that there was also a second terrorist who was near the mausoleum. As a result of the terrorist attack, according to the media, 13 people were killed and 45 others were wounded.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russians and Ukrainians are essentially one people and partially agreed with the view that what is happening now in Ukraine could be called a civil war, Interfax reported.

"The fact that Russians and Ukrainians are essentially one people is a historical fact," he said, speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai international discussion forum.

Asked whether this means we can now talk about a civil war, Putin said: "In part, yes."

According to the president, "we find ourselves in different states, unfortunately, for a number of reasons."

Putin is convinced that "attempts to divide the united Russian people" began in the 19th century. "In the 19th century, this began to happen, acquired greater and greater scope, supported, including by the West," he said.

As Putin noted, "in part of the population it was cultivated, someone began to like it."

"The principle of 'divide and conquer,' there is nothing unusual here. Well, it reached certain goals," said the head of state.

"Then it manifested itself in cooperation with Hitler during World War II," he added.

"The only real, such serious guarantor of Ukrainian statehood, sovereignty and territorial integrity could be only Russia, which created today's Ukraine," Putin said.
Seoul's decision to supply arms and ammunition to Ukraine is destructive to relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"We have very good relations with the Republic of Korea. And we have always been able to have a dialogue with both the Republic of Korea and the DPRK. But now we know that the Republic of Korea has decided to supply weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. This will destroy our relations," he said, speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Forum.

"And how would the Republic of Korea feel if we resumed nuclear cooperation with North Korea?" the president of the Russian Federation wondered.
African American studies faculty at Emory University are energized as they begin the rollout of a new PhD program that will be the first in the Southeast and the first at a private university in the South.

I couldnt be more excited or more proud that we are launching our African American studies PhD program, says Carla Freeman, interim dean of Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Our faculty have invested years of strategic planning, imagination and bold ambition to develop the curriculum and recruit top scholar-teachers working across the humanities and social sciences in this vibrant interdisciplinary field.

The new program had no trouble getting the word out; an announcement on social media earlier this fall received some 20,000 shares. The program is currently taking applications, with the first doctoral students set to enroll in fall 2023.

African American studies has a long history at Emory, which established the first undergraduate major in the interdisciplinary field in 1971, making it the first degree-granting African American studies program in the South.

The PhD program in African American studies is something that we have worked so hard for and is so necessary, given the situation where we are right now in terms of understanding the inequities in America, how we got here and how we get out, says historian Carol Anderson, Charles Howard Candler Professor of African American Studies.

Anderson, former chair of the department and who is on leave for the 2022-23 academic year, has been a major force in championing the program, and momentum, along with hiring, has been building for the past half-decade, says Walter Rucker, professor of African American studies and history, and chair of the faculty committee that shepherded the program from proposal to implementation.

Independent of any other events in the wider nation or world, we already knew that an African American studies PhD would be a profound thing for Emory, says Rucker. He points to faculty who have joined the department in the last six years, among them former directors of graduate studies and scholar/researchers who have trained graduate students at top programs across the country.

Having that critical mass [of faculty] and knowing we could be the first PhD program in the Southeast, we realized we had an opportunity to create something unique, he says.

With 14 core faculty and 40 more affiliated faculty throughout the university, Emory will have the largest graduate faculty of any African American studies PhD program in the nation, says Rucker, adding that the program is a unique and unrivaled configuration that will provide a rich intellectual space and training for doctoral students.

The new programs core faculty includes scholars with research specializations in a broad range of fields, including American studies, anthropology, art history, comparative literature, creative writing, educational studies, English, history, music, political science, religious studies, sociology and womens, gender and sexuality studies.

The programs affiliated faculty are based across the university, from Emory and Oxford colleges, to Emorys Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Rollins School of Public Health, Goizueta Business School, Emory School of Law and Candler School of Theology.

The size, interdisciplinary breadth and depth of that talented pool of faculty cannot be overstated, says Rucker.

Dianne Stewart, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Religion and African American Studies and interim chair of the department, says the goals in planning for the new program were to synergize the intellectual expertise of faculty in the department, and to translate our vision in such a way that would feature our programs distinctiveness as well as its integral contributions to Emorys Laney Graduate School and the wider landscape of African American studies PhD programs across the nation.

The program intends to be cutting edge, says Stewart, with faculty and students engaging in vital theoretical conversations and debates that are happening now. These include: What does it mean to train for a PhD in African American studies? What does it mean to become a public scholar?

The mission of African American studies from the disciplines inception has been to produce original knowledge in service of both the academy and communities of African descent across the nation and the world, says Stewart.

Each student in the program will receive specialized training in one of three fields: gender and sexuality; social justice and social movements; or expressive arts and cultures.

What is so powerful about this PhD program is that it not only trains scholars, but also trains people to work outside the academy so that they can bring that expertise to public policy positions, to cultural arts positions, to NGOs. Emory has as one of its core principles harnessing our intellectual firepower to positively transform society, and the PhD in African American studies is well within that tradition, says Anderson.

We want to make sure we pour as much mentoring and advising as we can into each student, says Rucker. The program will include professional development workshops that are created and orchestrated by the programs core faculty. We want to make sure that students have real engagement with alternative career pathways from the very beginning.

One of the signatures of this program is its recruitment of faculty who are true builders, says Freeman. They are not just intellectual leaders, they model the inextricable connections between graduate and undergraduate education, and between scholarship, teaching, campus leadership, civic engagement and social justice. That these faculty will mentor the next generation of leaders is truly inspiring.

Emorys mission is to create, preserve, teach and apply knowledge in the service of humanity, says Kimberly Jacob Arriola, dean of the James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies and vice provost for graduate affairs. Our doctoral program in African American studies truly brings that mission to life. We cannot wait to see all the ways in which these scholars will go out and change the world for the better.
Early voting for Georgias 2022 General Election started on Monday, Oct. 17  including at the polling location on Emorys campus, at 1599 Clifton Road. For Emory students, faculty, staff and surrounding community members who are registered to vote in DeKalb County, its making early voting easier.

In fact, thats where three generations of Mina Rhees family cast their votes.

Rhee, associate general counsel at Emory, made her voice heard this week, alongside her mother, Haesun Rhee, and her son, first-year Emory student Jesse Fineman.

This is the first time all three of us are voting together, so thats super exciting, Rhee says. I usually assist my mom, but this is really symbolic of the legacy of my parents efforts to become citizens and passing down our responsibilities to participate in the democratic process, first to me and now from me to my son.

Rhee explains that her parents were refugees from North Korea during the Korean war and that her mom hasnt missed voting in an election since she was naturalized in 1963. Rhees late father, Rev. Syngman Rhee, a Presybterian minister and faculty member at the University of Louisville during the civil rights movement, also marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to fight for equality among all Americans, including voting rights, regardless of race. They saw firsthand what it looks like to lose the ability to participate in decision-making about the direction your country is taking, she says.

While the three had planned to vote last week, they had to reschedule due to an accident. Haesun fell on Wednesday and was treated in the ER for a broken arm and facial cuts. Right after we left the ER, Rhee says, she asked when she could early-vote!

Although it was Finemans first time voting in a General Election, he accompanied his mom to the polls throughout his childhood.

I would take my kids to the polling place, and they would come in with me and watch me do the whole check-in process and then get a sticker, Rhee remembers. To prepare for Finemans first time voting, the two printed sample ballots, talked through the issues and candidates, watched debates and attended campaign rallies.

So why didnt they wait until Election Day on Nov. 8?

Rhee explains that access to early voting is one important way to ensure equity, as not everybody has the luxury to take time to vote on Election Day. Im a big proponent of early voting. Elections truly are a season, so they should generate excitement and offer flexibility for voters.

I early-vote because its a good way to participate without a lot of pressure and to be part of a wave that leads up to the election, Rhee adds. Maybe it even has the potential to encourage somebody to vote who wouldnt have otherwise.

Shes certainly not alone. More than 130,000 Georgians cast ballots on the first day of early voting  the previous midterm first-day record was 72,000.

Early voting continues through Nov. 4, Monday through Friday 7 a.m.7 p.m. Early voting is also available this Saturday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m.6 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 30, 125 p.m. Any registered DeKalb County voter can cast an early ballot at 1599 Clifton Road; parking is free.
Do you remember the first time you voted? Its a simple question that evokes varied emotions for Americans from generation to generation.

For Laura Gafnea, director of community engagement at Oxford College, voting in the 2002 presidential election infused a huge sense of pride.

As a Cuban immigrant, Emory NAACP chapter president Alvaro Perez holds his right to vote dear, because his family was unable to do so back home.

Hannah Joy Gebresilassie, program coordinator for the Emory Votes Initiative (EVI), cast her first vote in 2012 along with her mother, who migrated to the U.S. from Ethiopia.

"I remember feeling overjoyed and nervous at the same time taking in the process, says Gebresilassie. At the end, it was like oh, thats it? because the process wasnt as complicated as I thought. I felt proud and ecstatic to cast my vote for the first time and get that vote sticker with my mom. Since then, my mother and I have made it a tradition to vote together."

The journey to the ballot is a uniquely American story, and the right to vote is the cornerstone of democracy. The nonpartisan Emory Votes Initiative works to make voting easy for faculty, staff and students by sharing important dates, hosting voter registration drives, providing voters with mock ballots and more.

During the spring semester and preorientation, EVI also takes students to the Georgia Capitol to see how the state legislature works.

Get out the vote

One of EVIs signature programs is voter registration. Student workers table every week during Wonderful Wednesday to get their peers registered to vote. They also share information about how students can vote on campus or apply for absentee ballots.

Mike Sandifer, a student in the Rollins School of Public Health, is EVIs first graduate fellow and also a 2022 Campus Vote Project fellow. Growing up in McComb, Mississippi, Sandifer saw the impact elected officials have on health care outcomes. For major medical issues, residents of Pike County, Mississippi, drive 90 minutes to New Orleans because the regional hospital is often slammed with patients. This inspired him to pursue a degree in public health to make a positive difference.

That commitment to community is in his genes. Sandifers father volunteered with the Pike County Democratic Committee. His grandfather was involved with the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) and served as a poll watcher during the Jim Crow era. For his part with EVI, Sandifer encourages his peers to understand the power of their vote.

"Millennials and Gen Z make up the majority of the population, but when it comes to voting, were letting older people outdo us, says Sandifer. Its not a diss at the older population, but in conversations with my parents and grandparents, they dont always vote for my best interest. Why would the older lady down the street vote for student loan forgiveness when shes worried about Medicare? I try to tell college students that we have a large voice as a collective."

Like Sandifer, Ismael Karim got involved in his community at an early age. Karim grew up in inner-city St. Louis, the son of a mother from the Canary Islands and a father from Pakistan. Until they became U.S. citizens, they were unable to vote, and Karim says he saw the consequences of his community not having a voice. When U.S. Rep. Cori Bush ran for office, he volunteered with her campaign by knocking on doors in his neighborhood and phone banking. He also volunteered on the campaign for Tishaura Jones, who is now the first Black woman mayor of St. Louis.

Karims internship with EVI is sponsored by the Georgia Muslim Voter Project. As he gets to know the Emory community, he says he is looking for ways to increase Muslim voter turnout by helping people understand how to register in Georgia.

"The process for people who are from the state and the process for people who are not from the state are very different, says Karim. It can already be off-putting because of how [Muslims are] talked about or neglected in policy matters. The lack of Muslim candidates can disengage us as a population, but I try to let people know that voting is an outlet to fix things in the community."

Heed the groundswell

Before there was an EVI, individuals on the Atlanta and Oxford campuses were doing voter education and registration work. In 2018, this collection of grassroots individuals and organizations reached critical mass and formed EVI.

Regardless of political affiliation, EVI aims to have 100% voter participation among the Emory community. The university participated in the National Study of Voting, Learning and Engagement distributed by Tufts University. In 2012, the study showed that the university had a voting rate of only 43.3% among undergraduate students on the Atlanta and Oxford campuses. The national rate was 52.9% at the time.

As of the 2018 election, Emory has doubled the number of students who are registered to vote and tripled the number of students who participate in elections.

"Initially, we were just trying to harness all the interest around campus for the [2018] election cycle, but it was clear we had identified a huge need and desire for Emory to be a more civically engaged campus, says James Roland, senior director of civic and community engagement. As a result, a steering committee was formed that has students, staff and faculty representing both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses that meet throughout the year on a biweekly basis. Although the makeup of the steering committee has changed over the years, every member has helped EVI become an institutional presence and garner national recognition for its work."

Now, EVI has a permanent staff position on campus.

Gebresilassie, along with student volunteers, engages the campus community in a variety of ways. In addition to tabling, they speak to classes and at sorority and fraternity meetings to make sure students understand the importance of voting. They also host panel discussions and direct students to reliable information where they can learn more about the issues on their states ballot. For non-Georgia voters, EVI aims to ensure that students have the voter information they need for their respective states.

Because of their efforts, Campus Vote Project and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators named Emory a Voter Friendly Campus for the 2021-22 academic year.

Earlier this year, EVI supported the Office of Government and Community Affairs to help Emory become a DeKalb County polling place. Kendra Price, associate director of community programs, led the charge and was instrumental in working with DeKalb County to bring the polling site to life while getting the campus ready to vote; and Gebresilassie worked to generate enthusiasm among students, faculty and staff about the fact that they may now vote on campus.

"Because Emory University now serves as a polling location, it allows a convenient and accessible opportunity for the Emory community and the voters of DeKalb to cast their vote, says Price. Ive enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with DeKalb County Voter Registration and Elections Office and Emory leadership to make this polling location a reality."

DeKalb County residents can participate in early voting in the 1599 building on the Atlanta campus. During the general election period, students who are registered in Georgia and DeKalb residents for whom Emory is their assigned polling place can also vote on campus.

As part of community engagement, we encourage our external community to have access to our campus, says Cameron Taylor, vice president of government and community affairs. Likewise, we seek to foster our campus engagement with the broader community in which we all live, working to meet our external community in the ways in which they most need and want Emorys participation and engagement. This polling site is important for both of those reasons.

Collaborate early and often

Collaboration has been key to the success of EVI. The Emory chapter of the NAACP is a frequent collaborator, and Perez and his fellow officers have their eyes on Nov. 8. They have hosted several events aimed at increasing voter turnout. In addition to tabling at Wonderful Wednesday, they cohosted a National Voter Registration Day event where they gave out farmers market vouchers and swag, as well as had a photo booth and DJ.

Perez, who is an anthropology and biology dual major, says that his passion for social justice inspired him to get involved with the NAACP to fight against racism. As president of the Emory chapter, he wants to create a community where people feel empowered.

"Voting is one of the biggest tools that we have as citizens to make a change," says Perez. "Doing so in community helps people feel more inspired to vote and like theyre making a difference. When people see that theyre not the only one, they feel like they are not alone." Alvaro Perez, president of the Emory NAACP chapter

Similarly, Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Activists (APIDAA) at Emory hosts events aimed at increasing voter turnout across the Asian diaspora, both on and off campus. Anhhuy Do is the organizations chief of staff. A third-year political science major and history minor from Nashville, Tennessee, he became politically involved in high school as a member of the Nashville Mayors Youth Council. That experience helped him realize the power of his voice, and he wants others to know their power as well.

Specifically, in the Asian American community, language barriers and economic hurdles often keep people from voting, which is why APIDAA collaborates with Asian Americans Advancing Justice and New American Pathways to push voter education in metro Atlanta.

I never had a strong realization of the power of my racial identity until I came to Emory, says Do. I am appreciative of that, because theres a lot of empowerment that comes from working within racial and multiracial coalitions. Communities are affected by laws and codes on how neighborhoods are structured or immigration. I think Emory students coming together allows us to develop political power, recognize flaws in our society and engage our public officials.

Both APIDAA and the NAACP, along with Fair Fight Action, will collaborate with EVI for Party to the Polls on Oct. 28 to mark the nationally recognized civic holiday Vote Early Day. Starting at 2 p.m. on Asbury Circle, there will be food, music by DJ Labonita and signs for people to carry. At 2:30 p.m., they will start walking to the 1599 building to vote.

Reach beyond the gate

A strong sense of engagement is not limited to the Atlanta campus. At Oxford, Gafnea and Donald Beaudette, assistant professor of political science, and a group of student ambassadors work on the Oxford Votes Initiative (OVI). Like EVI, OVI is nonpartisan and focuses on voter education and registration.

They work with the Newton County Board of Elections to recruit students, faculty and staff who may be interested in serving as poll workers during this election cycle. They have also partnered with students and faculty on the Georgia State University Newton Campus to make human resources onboarding and training available to their students and Oxford students who want to serve as a poll worker.

My parents would take me with them to vote, says Schocket. They watched the news in the morning, and I heard them talk about current events. I grew up assuming a certain level of engagement and attention to political issues. Its a natural part of my day.

OVI is hosting a voter-education event on Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. on the Oxford Quad. There, students will be able to eat, see mock ballots and experience performances from the dance teams on campus. She says the goal of the event is for students to feel more prepared when they go cast their ballots.

Vote for your future

As election day approaches on Nov. 8, volunteers on both the Atlanta and Oxford campuses are doing everything they can to increase voter turnout. Banners on light poles ripple in the breeze to encourage people to vote. Student organizations continue to table outside of dining halls to make sure that their peers have a voting plan.

Tufts Universitys Center for Information Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found that half of youth 18-29 voted in the 2020 election, showing that young people have the power to shape democracy.

Skip carousel Students attended a fun voter-registration event in the fall, complete with a DJ, snacks and photo booth. At Homecoming, Gebresilassie and students set up a tent on the Quad to educate students and alumni about the Emory Votes Initiative. Hannah Joy Gebresilassie, program coordinator for the Emory Votes Initiative, encourages students to vote at a registration event in September. PreviousNext

With several civil liberties on the line, Gebresilassie says, I vote because I see how everything is interconnected and voting is one powerful tool in our toolbox to make a positive impact. It can and will make a difference in addressing problems in our society, of course paired with other tools and actions.

She adds that she would like to see EVI continue to grow as a national leader in voter mobilization and civic engagement. I see EVI being a local, national and global resource hub for communities.

Events

Oct. 26, 68 p.m.  OVI event on the Oxford Quad

Oct. 28, 2 p.m.  Party to the Polls on Vote Early Day

Nov. 8, 69 p.m.  Emory Election Watch Party sponsored by EVI and Emory Political Science at Harland Cinema
Following an extensive international search, Emory University announced today that Ravi I. Thadhani, MD, MPH, has been appointed executive vice president for health affairs (EVPHA). Thadhani also will serve as executive director of Emorys Woodruff Health Sciences Center and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors. He will begin his tenure at Emory on Jan. 1, 2023.

Dr. Thadhani is a dynamic and innovative leader for Emorys Woodruff Health Sciences Center, says Emory President Gregory L. Fenves. He has deep experience in delivering the highest-quality health care, advancing biomedical research, training health professionals and serving the public to improve the health of all. He will inspire Emorys talented doctors, nurses, frontline staff, faculty and researchers to reach new heights of excellence. In his many years of academic health system leadership, he has never stopped his research and clinical work, which is a testament to his lifelong commitment to serving patients and improving community health. I cant wait for him to get started at Emory.

Thadhani currently serves as chief academic officer and dean for faculty affairs for Mass General Brigham and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, both in Boston, Massachusetts. At Mass General Brigham, he is a member of the executive leadership team and oversees graduate medical education, professional development and a $2.3 billion research enterprise. Previously, he served as vice dean of research and graduate research education at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (2017-2019), associate director of research at Mass General Brigham (2012-2017) and chief of nephrology at Massachusetts General Hospital (2013-2017).

I am excited to be coming to Emory University and honored to be joining its outstanding leadership team, says Thadhani. Emorys commitment to serving the Georgia community is impressive and is the driver for its international reputation as a leader in health care delivery and health sciences research, discovery and innovation.

As EVPHA, Thadhani will oversee Emorys academic health sciences center, the Woodruff Health Sciences Center (WHSC), and in this position will shape the next era of research, training and health-care delivery innovation. Founded in 1966, WHSC includes Emorys schools of medicine, public health and nursing; Winship Cancer Institute; Emory National Primate Research Center; Emory Global Health Institute; Goizueta Institute @ Emory Brain Health; Emory Global Diabetes Research Center; and Emory Healthcare.

Emory Healthcare, with more than 24,000 employees, 11 hospital campuses and 425 locations, is the most comprehensive academic health system in Georgia. As EVPHA and vice chair of the Emory Healthcare Board, Thadhani will provide oversight of Emory Healthcares CEO and leadership team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care focused on supporting the health and well-being of patients around the state.

As a physician leader and researcher, Dr. Thadhani understands the needs of patients and how those needs translate to the mission of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, including Emory Healthcare, says John Rice, chair of the WHSC Committee of Emorys Board of Trustees and chair of the Emory Healthcare Board of Directors. He has a vision for the future that will support our community to address complex health care needs not only in Atlanta and Georgia but around the world.

With more than 30 years as a general and specialized internal medicine physician, Thadhani has extensive experience in patient care, research and clinical trials. He has led a successful research lab with continuous federal funding for more than 25 years, with a focus on kidney disease and developing diagnostics and therapeutics for patients with preeclampsia. Thadhani has performed several clinical trials focused on effective treatments and preventative measures for preeclampsia, which is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

He is the author or co-author of more than 300 scientific manuscripts and has published in top-tier journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet and Journal of the American Medical Association. Thadhani has been inducted into several honor societies, including the American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, American Epidemiological Society and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He also serves as a board member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a research organization that convenes a community of researchers from across many disciplines and partner institutions  MIT, Harvard and Harvard-affiliated hospitals.

A recipient of several distinguished national awards, Thadhani has an extensive track record of recruiting and mentoring women and underrepresented staff, trainees and faculty. He has been honored with the Harold Amos Faculty Diversity Award from Harvard Medical School, the Alumni Award of Merit from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the John P. Peters Award from the American Society of Nephrology.

Thadhani earned his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1991. He received a master of public health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a bachelors degree from the University of Notre Dame. He also completed the LEAD Innovation Certificate Program in 2020 at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

This is an exciting time at Emory, and I look forward to supporting the tripartite mission of education, research and clinical care of the Woodruff Health Sciences Center and advancing its commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, says Thadhani. There is no limit to what we can accomplish with the remarkable faculty, staff and students at Emory.
The strength of Miami Law's moot court team is a key reason it was ranked 17th in the U.S. in 2021-22 and ranked 25th for 2020-21 out of all 200 ABA-accredited law schools. The John T. Gaubatz Moot Court Competition is only open to second- and third-year students who have demonstrated excellence in written and oral advocacy and have achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher 2Ls or 3.0 or higher for 3Ls by the registration deadline. Membership is then extended to the top 25 2L and 3L law students who rank in the top 25 competitors overall.

This years winners

The Gaubatz Competition is comprised of both a written and an oral component. Competitors register in pairs, file an appellate brief, and argue in at least two oral rounds. After this years challenging competition, the finalists were Team 2: Gabriella Pinzon, Gisell Landrian (Petitioner) and Team 28: Kelsey McCarty, Ethan Arrington (Respondent).

Gabriella Pinzon, Gisell Landrian took home first place. Pinzon is a junior staff editor of the University of Miami Law Review and serves as a volunteer law clerk with the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of Florida. She also won the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in fall 2021 for Civil Procedure I. This award recognizes excellence achievement by law students in their studies and is given to the student with the highest grade in the class. A native of Cuba, Landrian has served as an intern in the Center for Ethics & Public Service, has worked as a Judicial Intern to the Honorable Chief Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres, and is a member of the Inter-American Law Review.

Celebrated Miami Law moot competition

The Charles C. Papy Jr. Moot Court Board, Miami Laws oldest and largest advocacy program, hosts the Gaubatz Competition to determine the incoming class of board members. All competing teams must draft and submit appellate briefs and argue in at least two oral rounds. The top 16 teams then compete in a bracketed competition, culminating in the final round, hosted October 18 at the Shalala Student Center.

Named in memory of Miami Law Professor John T. Gaubatz, who directed both the graduate LL.M. program on estate planning and the Philip E. Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, the competition provides an excellent opportunity for Miami Law students to practice real lawyering in a simulated setting.

Praise from judges

In the final round of competition, McCarty and Arrington squared off against fellow classmates Pinzon and Landrian in front of three very distinguished judges. On the bench sat Justice John D. Couriel of the Supreme Court of Florida, and Judge Roy Altman and Judge Beth Bloom, J.D. 88, both of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

The two teams argued their perspective positions involving a fictitious case on the City of West Elm versus the United States which focused on the relationship between the federal and state or local governments. Competitors argued what limits exist on the federal governments power to compel states to cooperate with federal immigration policy. Each team argued fiercely, leaving the judges with a difficult decision.

This year, more than 150 judges and practitioners, many of whom are around the country, volunteered to help make the competition a successful event.

List of Winners and Members

Winners: Team 2: Gabriella Pinzon and Gisell Landrian (Petitioner)

Best Brief Award: Carly Herskowitz (the competitor with the highest brief score)

Best Oralist Award: Mitchell Koch (the competitor with the highest oral argument score)

Humberto Pena Best Advocate Award: Thomas Webb (the student with the highest individual score [includes both brief and oral argument scores])

New Moot Court Members:

Joely Arai

Thomas Armiger

Gabrielle Argimon

Ethan Arrington

Sarah Boger

William Brandyburg

Grace Castillo

Austin Edwards

Sierra Epke

Taylor Evans

Destini Fernandez

Cameron Gittler

Carly Herskowitz

Zachary Kaufman

Ashley Knoblauch

Mitchell Koch

Gisell Landrian

Caleb Liberman

Alexis Masciarella

Kelsey McCarty

Gabriella Pinzon

Amanda Rosenberg

Marina Rubio

Zachary Sherman

Brandon Shinder

Bari Steel

Thomas Webb

More about Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution at Miami Law
The University of Miami School of Law recently received a $1 million cy pres award as part of the distribution of a settlement fund relating to fuel economy for gasoline-powered vehicles.

The School of Law will use the funds to support the work of the Environmental Justice Clinic and the Environmental Law Program.

Judge Charles R. Breyer of the U.S. District Court Northern District of California accepted the class plaintiffs' proposal to distribute the remaining settlement funds for environmental remediation on May 16, 2022.

Miami Law's expanding environmental law efforts

The Environmental Justice Clinic advocates for and empowers marginalized communities by combining civil rights, environmental, poverty, and public health law with community lawyering principles. Miami Law's Environmental Law Program is unique due to its South Florida location, enabling the focus on the prism of issues affecting the environment  from maritime to real estate to land use to the cruise industry to environmental law to law of the sea. The program also offers unique intersectionality with other University of Miami graduate programs in marine affairs, land use, architecture, and business.

"Our environmental justice clinic works directly in our South Florida communities to battle environmental harms," said Professor Jessica Owley, director of the environmental law program. "This award will let us continue our fights to secure a healthy environment.

"The environmental degradation and climate change are some of the most pressing problems facing the world today," Owley said. "This award will help us continue to prepare our students for careers that will make a difference while also helping our local communities."

Cy pres funds explained

Courts have long recognized the concept of cy pres distributions. It allows for distributions of remaining funds in settlement class actions when direct distributions to class members are not feasible  either because class members cannot be reasonably identified or because distribution would involve such small amounts that, because of the administrative costs involved, such distribution would not be economically viable.

The term cy pres comes from the Norman-French phrase Cy Pres comme possible, meaning "as near as possible," requiring the parties to identify a recipient whose interests reasonably approximate those pursued by the class.

"We are proud to receive this cy pres award." said David Yellen, dean of Miami Law. "We are grateful to Judge Breyer for recognizing Miami Law's environmental law and justice advocacy and engagement."

More on studying environmental law at Miami Law
Ice cream factory commissioned by Kim Jong Un opens

Kim Jong Un had "personally initiated" the ice cream plant's construction, so that North Koreans can have better ice cream, state media says. Image: KCNA

A North Korean ice cream factory, which was personally commissioned and had its construction fast-tracked by leader Kim Jong Un, has opened in the capital Pyongyang, according to state media.



Official broadcaster KCNA described the factory as "modern" and that it will provide the people with better desserts, in a bid to improve the people's livelihoods.



An official who opened the factory  located at the foot of the Taesongsan mountain  said leader Kim Jong Un had "personally initiated" the plant's construction, so that people can have better ice cream.



Jon Hyon-chol added that the factory was built quickly thanks to "special measures" taken by Kim to speed up the project.



Jon, who is chairman of the budget committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, stressed the "project for improving the welfare of the people cannot be delayed regardless of how severe the hardships are".



According to South Korea's Yonhap News, Taesongsan is on the outskirts of the capital, with major attractions, such as amusement parks, swimming pools and a zoo.



It added that North Korea has recently been boosting efforts to improve its people's livelihoods amid food shortages and global sanctions.



The opening of the ice cream factory came as officials from the US and its allies Japan and South Korea said they suspect North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test.



This year alone, the north has launched more than 20 ballistic missiles at unprecedented pace, including one that flew over northern Japan in early October. (Agencies)
The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday said that it had apprehended three Bangladeshis, who had crossed over into India illegally, in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on late Wednesday night. The three arrested have been identified as Kutubuddin Sheikh, Miraj Sheikh and Jasim Sheikh, all three residents of Shibganj area in Bangladesh's Chapai Nawabganj district. Later, the BSF handed the three persons to the local police, who have presented them before a local court. BSF sources said that their men are trying to track the exact route through which these three Bangladeshi citizens crossed the border illegally as well as their intentions behind their illegal crossover. On Wednesday night, personnel of BSF's 115th Battalion saw some persons, including the three, arrested moving suspiciously in a village extremely close to the international border. The BSF personnel challenged them and the three could not furnish any documents related to their Indian citizenship. Thereafter, the three were arrested and after interrogation, accepted that they were Bangladeshi residents and illegally crossed the borders. This is the second major arrest of Bangladeshi residents illegally crossing the borders and entering India in Murshidabad district. In August this year, the personnel of the same 115th battalion arrested four Bangladeshi residents from Samserganj area in Murshidabad district after they illegally crossed the borders. The four arrested persons were identified as Naim Sheikh, Rabiul Ali, Rahman Sheikh and Sohel Sheikh, all residents of the same Chapai Nawabganj district. --IANS src/vd ( 254 Words) 2022-10-27-19:50:06 (IANS)
The government's fertilizer subsidy bill could increase by Rs 40,000 crore this financial from the already-announced allocation of Rs 2.15 lakh crore because of the continued surge in the prices of the key raw material - natural gas-- for manufacturing urea, rating agency CRISIL Ratings said on Thursday. The rating agency said any delay in increased allocation and disbursement would lead to higher working capital requirements and moderate the credit metrics of fertiliser makers. Notably, the government has been proactive in addressing the subsidy requirements of the industry. In addition to Rs 1.05 lakh crore approved in the Union Budget for this fiscal, an additional subsidy of Rs 1.10 lakh crore was announced in May 2022 to offset surging feedstock and product prices. While it seemed sufficient to meet this fiscal's requirements, continued surge in the price of gas has necessitated further subsidy, the rating agency opined. "The price of imported urea, which accounts for the balance 15 per cent volume, remains elevated at over USD 650 per metric tonne, almost double the historical levels. Together, this could mean overall subsidies rising to Rs 2.55 lakh crore this fiscal," said Naveen Vaidyanathan, Director, CRISIL Ratings. Joanne Gonsalves, Team Leader at CRISIL Ratings said the current budget could be exhausted in the next 1-2 months and termed increased government allocation and timely disbursement as crucial. Meanwhile, amid shooting global prices of fertilizers, India protected its farmers by providing them with additional subsidies to ensure that they were not overburdened, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. "It is not just the elevated prices of fertilizer and energy, but the availability of these commodities too are challenges," Sitharaman said while addressing a gathering at the Brookings Institute in the US. The finance minister highlighted the risks that are "extraneous" to the Indian economy amid the ongoing external headwinds. Further, while talking about how India dealt with the rising fertilizer costs the union minister said: "Last year we had to give 10x the price to import. And obviously, Indian farmers are not really large farmers...But they really need fertilizers at an affordable price. So I can't raise the input costs by saying I am importing it at this price therefore it is yours to take the burden as well," she said adding that the central government had shelled out the additional on behalf of the farmers. "The farmer pays what he had paid in 2018, 2019, 2020 and even today he pays that price in spite of the international prices going up," she had said. Moreover, to tide over the current headwinds, Sitharaman said the central government has been making sure that credit facilities are available for businesses and farmers at an affordable rate and interest subventions wherever needed. (ANI)
Social media giant Meta India's Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan at a Delhi-based think tank event on Thursday lauded the Indian government and its policy, regarding the Internet and its security. "We welcome government regulation. In India, the government has been vocal about holding companies accountable for internet safety and we are fully aligned with this agenda," Ajit Mohan said. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, among other products and services. It was formerly known as Facebook Inc. "The way the Indian government has promoted internet services in the country and practically digital services... it is a remarkable work and it is a matter of recognition," the head of Meta India mentioned in his conversation that is how India is the power of wireless. "What we have seen in India is the power of wireless. The digital transformation in India had started even before the Covid-19 pandemic. Low-cost 4G has been the key catalyst for the digital revolution," he said. India's digital revolution is not limited to social media and internet services, rather it has transformed into big businesses and creating vibrant opportunities in the field of startups, entrepreneurs and transactions through high-quality internet services. "The pandemic exposed people to a more digital way of living. We are now at a stage where more than a billion people in India have access to high-quality internet which will change the way we experience most services. The digital economy has led to a boom in entrepreneurship and the way business is conducted in India," Ajit Mohan said during the discussion. "We have found that if we build a platform that enables small business, it also leads to multiple benefits for us. We differentiated ourselves by serving small businesses and not just large clients," he added. Recently, several social media giants have faced criticism across the country regarding data compromise and hate speeches, with the Meta India chief clarifying how Meta and its companies are complying with the laws. "We look at content moderation through two lenses: Adhering to public guidelines suited to local conditions and compliance with local laws. Our economic incentives are aligned with safety and security; marketers don't want to advertise on unsafe platforms," he said. In his last comment, he said how Meta was making it more transparent for its consumers and had clearly mentioned about transparency policy. He said there was value in moving towards more transparent algorithms and allowing for more explicit choices from consumers. "We are trying to work out mechanisms to allow for more transparency," he said. (ANI)
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." --IANS mani/arm ( 198 Words) 2022-10-26-20:14:03 (IANS)
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. --IANS aa/srb ( 202 Words) 2022-10-26-21:06:06 (IANS)
"I am saddened to hear of the passing away of the evergreen actor Nipon Goswami. I was blessed to be in the presence of one of the best actors of Assam while acting in the film 'Kakadeuta Nati Aur Hati' as a child artist," tweeted CM Sarma.

https://twitter.com/himantabiswa/status/1585496381040607235

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also extended condolences over the demise of Nipon Goswami.

https://twitter.com/sarbanandsonwal/status/1585495905524158465

Sharing a picture of Nipon Goswami from the actor's younger days, the Union Minister wrote, "The polestar of Assamese cinema is no more. Deeply saddened to learn about the demise of veteran actor Nipon Goswami. A star since the 1960s, Nipon da had captivated the hearts of audience and his death brings an end to a golden era."

The 75-year-old actor was suffering from heart ailments and was admitted to a private hospital in Guwahati on 24 October and passed away today.

He made his acting debut in 1957 as a child artist in Phani Sarma's directorial 'Piyali Phukan.' (ANI)
Actor Ranveer Singh will receive a special tribute at Marrakech International Film Festival. On Thursday, the organisers announced that Ranveer along with Scottish actor Tilda Swinton, American filmmaker James Gray, and Moroccan director Farida Benlyazid will be felicitated at the 2022 Marrakech International Film Festival. In recognition of their "brilliant careers", the quartet will receive the Etoile d'or (Golden Star) at the festival, scheduled to be held from November 11 to 19 in the Moroccan city. Elated on receiving the honour, Ranveer said, "I'm deeply humbled and thrilled to be receiving a tribute which recognises my body of work along with this very, very special honour, the Etoile d'Or! The Marrakesh International Film Festival is one of the most respected film events in the world, bringing together the best of cinema from across the world, especially Asia and Africa, which have universal appeal. As such, I'm extremely grateful for this distinctive recognition and the prestige bestowed upon me by the festival." He added, "It will be exhilarating for me to be celebrated in Morocco, in the presence of lovers of world cinema and the esteemed jury members of the festival this year. I thank the Marrakech International Film Festival Foundation for honouring me with bowed head and folded hands. I have always aspired to be a significant contributor to the realm of the arts and this validation will give me immense motivation, inspiration and impetus to create more and more. " Prior to Ranveer, the particular award was previously received by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan in Bollywood. (ANI)
The chilly weather was a challenge to shoot in, especially for Jasmin who was in tears.

Recalling shooting in London, Jasmin, who is best known for appearing in 'Bigg Boss 14', said, "I'm someone who is always all smiling on set but the weather in London brought me to tears. At times it was almost unbearable and it was funny for the others to watch me shiver and cry on set."

Jasmin's co-star Gippy Grewal also opened up about the London shoot.

"The weather in London was colder than what we expected and most of us had a tough time filming there. However, Jasmin couldn't bear it and she would be shivering on set but hats off to her professionalism because she didn't let her discomfort come through on camera," he added.

Directed by Amarpreet G S Chhabra and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Harman Baweja, Krishan Kumar and Vicky Bahri, 'Honeymoon' released on October 25. (ANI)
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.

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.

--IANS aal/pgh

( 209 Words)

2022-10-26-20:20:04 (IANS)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday conducted a detailed review with the Health Department officials on the status of dengue and containment initiatives being undertaken in the state in the wake of the outbreak of the viral fever. In the meeting, the Chief Minister directed department officials to take preventive measures for dengue and other communicable diseases, and ensure that beds, medicines and other essential facilities are provided in the hospitals. "We have to constantly be on alert as far as dengue is concerned - Information, Education and Communication (IEC) strategy must be adopted to prevent the spread of the viral fever," adding, "Creating awareness among the public is a must to rein in the dengue menace." A few days back, Chief Minister Yogi directed the Health Department to set up isolation wards in all medical colleges and district hospitals of the state for dengue and communicable diseases and to maintain special vigil in view of the ongoing festivals. Issuing directions to the Principal Secretary of Health, the Chief Minister said that the Health department will have to be constantly vigilant. "There should be no shortage of beds in hospitals. Also, make sure that medicines are available in plenty in hospitals and the patients receive proper treatment in time", he added. The Chief Minister also stressed on regular vaccination of children, especially in the identified high-priority districts. "Along with fixing accountability for it, there is a need for more focused and speedy vaccination. Vaccination of every child should be ensured and where vaccination has not been done so far, this programme should be carried forward along with monitoring on a mission mode," said the UP CM. He has also given important instructions regarding Tuberculosis (TB). He said that arrangements for early detection and treatment of TB should be ensured under the Nikshay Yojana. Besides this, the Chief Minister also stressed on linking eligible patients with Nikshay Mitra. (ANI)
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. --IANS avr/bg ( 300 Words) 2022-10-26-20:52:02 (IANS)
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."

--IANS ans/vd

( 98 Words)

2022-10-26-22:38:03 (IANS)
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. --IANS ms/pgh ( 408 Words) 2022-10-26-23:14:01 (IANS)
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. --IANS sq/vd ( 588 Words) 2022-10-26-23:20:06 (IANS)
Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson P. Satheedevi on Wednesday said that the commission has taken cognizance of the case where the victim of an alleged sexual abuse case was threatened by Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly. "It has come into notice that the victim in Eldos Kunnappalli MLA sexual abuse case has been threatened continuously," P. Satheedevi said. She further said that the commission has taken this to the notice of the Police already. "We assure all support to the victim," she added. A woman had recently filed rape and attempt to murder case against the Perumbavoor MLA.The court granted anticipatory bail to Eldhose Kunnappilly on Friday. Further, he appeared before the investigation team for interrogation on Saturday. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran has suspended rape accused Perumbavoor MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly from KPCC and DCC membership for six months. "The KPCC leadership has assessed the explanation given by the MLA was not satisfactory. Considering the concessions given by the court in its verdict allowing anticipatory bail and the need to perform his duties as a legislative member in his constituency, KPCC has suspended him from KPCC's and DCC's day-to-day affairs for a period of six months. Party will observe him in this period and further action will be decided accordingly," the suspension order cited. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court recently dismissed the bail plea of a person who allegedly abducted and robbed a man of Rs 65 Lakh along with his co-accused impersonating as police personnel from Uttar Pradesh. A case was registered at Lahori Gate police station in April 2022. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail plea of Rahul Kumar Pal considering the seriousness of the offence and the nature of the charges. The bench said that this is not a fit case for a grant of bail, at this stage. The High Court noted, " The applicant and his associates are visible in CCTV footage at the spot. Call Detail Record (CDR), prima facie, discloses his presence at the place of the incident." Moreover, the applicant did not join Test Identification Parade (TIP) on the ground that the complainant knows him. The complainant has identified the applicant in the CCTV footage, and the bench further noted in the order of October 20 this year 2022. The bench also noted that the applicant is involved in two cases of similar nature registered at Agra's Hari Parbat police station of Uttar Pradesh. The brief facts are that the applicant along with his four associates impersonated himself as a police official of Uttar Pradesh Police and abducted the complainant in a white Scorpio and thereafter, robbed an amount of Rs. 65,00,000 along with other articles. The complainant Rahul Ravinder Pandey had lodged a complaint on March 31, 2022, after which an e-FIR was registered at Lahori Gate Police Station on April 4 this year. The petitioner was arrested on April 4 and a charge sheet was filed under sections 365, 395, 342 and 170 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The counsel for the petitioner submitted that since the petitioner was arrested, he is in Judicial Custody. It is submitted that the petitioner was arrested in this case only on the basis that the Scorpio car which was allegedly involved in this case was recovered from the applicant. It was also submitted that the complainant had filed a complaint after five days of the alleged offence and the statements of the complainant on April 4 and 7, 2022 are contrary to each other and the whole story of the complainant is concocted. On the other hand, Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) for the State submitted that a charge sheet has been filed in the present case and an offence punishable under Section 365, 395, 342 and 170 IPC is made out against the accused. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday will visit Srinagar to participate in the "Shaurya Diwas" programme organised by the Indian Army. Later in the day, the Defence Minister will visit Leh on a two-day visit to the Union Territory of Ladakh. "Today, 27th October, I shall be in Srinagar to attend the 'Shaurya Diwas' programme organised by the Indian Army. Later in the day, I shall be reaching Leh on a two-day visit to Ladakh," said Singh in a tweet. On the 76th Infantry Day, the Defence Minister also extended greetings and warm wishes to the courageous infantry personnel and their families. "On the 76th Infantry Day, greetings and warm wishes to our courageous infantry personnel and their families. Indian infantry has been associated with utmost courage and professionalism. The nation salutes their bravery, sacrifice and service," he said. The Indian Army celebrates October 27 every year as the 'Infantry Day', as it was on this day that the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment landed at Srinagar airbase and displayed resoluteness and extraordinary courage to thwart the evil designs of the Pakistan Army, who had invaded Kashmir with the help of tribal raiders in 1947. That is why every year on October 27, the Indian Army celebrates it as 'Infantry Day'. This year both the Indian Army and the Air Force are going to celebrate this special day as "Shaurya Diwas" because Thursday is also the golden jubilee celebration of the Indian Air Force's Kashmir Air Base. Infantry Day is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the Indian Army repelled the first attack on Indian soil on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir valley. The victory was accomplished by the personnel of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment. Rajnath Singh will be the second top Union minister to visit Jammu and Kashmir this month. Earlier, Union Home minister Amit Shah was on a three-day visit to the Union Territory from October 4. During his visit, the Home Minister launched and laid the foundation stones of projects worth Rs 2000 crore in Kashmir and Rs 1900 crore in the Jammu region. Shah sent a clear message that J-K is a priority for the Centre and leaders of three political parties, who ruled J-K for 70 years, can no longer dictate terms to New Delhi, nor can they hoodwink the gullible people of J-K as the times have changed. He termed the turning of Kashmir from a "terrorist spot" into a "tourist spot" as one of the major achievements of the PM Modi-led regime and assured the people that J&K will keep on flourishing under PM Modi's leadership. The Union Home Minister had come to Jammu and Kashmir to tell the people that the government is aware of their needs and stands by them in all their endeavours. His assertion that laptops have replaced stones and strike culture has ended in Kashmir was a snub to all such leaders, who used to claim that Kashmir would burn once Article 370--a temporary provision in the Constitution--is scrapped. (ANI)
The Dibrugarh district police have initiated a suo moto case against the trio for attending the prayer and peace meeting in an area under Namrup police station in the Dibrugarh district with a tourist visa.

"They came to Assam by using a tourist Visa, but they had attended a religious (prayer and peace) programme in an area under Namrup police station in Dibrugarh district," Additional Superintendent of Police (Dibrugarh), Bitul Chetia told ANI.

The Dibrugarh ASP further said that the three-day religious programme was started on October 25 and the trio attended the programme with a tourist Visa.

"We have registered a suo moto case and produced them before the court and they were found guilty under the Foreigners Act," Chetia added.

The police officer further said that as per the court's direction the accused will have to pay a fine and they will be sent to Guwahati on Thursday and subsequently deported to Sweden. (ANI)
The Jawans of Indian Army''s Durga Battalion on Thursday celebrated Bhai Dooj with women and girls at Line of Control (LoC) in Gulpur sector in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Women applied ''tika'' on the forehead of the army personnel and performed other rituals. "Our Battalion is posted here at Loc and today is the festival of Bhai Dooj. Our sisters are at home and we can''t meet them but here the sisters of Poonch celebrated the festival with us," said an Army officer. Another Army Officer posted here at LoC said that the sister of Poonch has come to celebrate Bhai Dooj with them so that they don''t miss their own sisters. "We want to celebrate this festival like every year and wish that our country continues to celebrate freedom in this way and we can give a befitting reply to the enemy," he added. A woman who came to celebrate Bhai Dooj with Indian Army personnel said that wished for the long and healthy lives of the jawans. "All the women of Poonch are here to celebrate Bhai Dooj with Indian Army soldiers. We celebrate Bhai Dooj at our home every year but we are here to apply tilak to the jawans who are proud of India. We wish them a long and healthy life," she added. Bhai Dooj is a festival symbolizing the love of brother-sister, which traditionally marks the bond between the siblings. On this day, sisters pray for their brothers to have long and happy lives by applying ''Tika'' on the latter''s forehead. Both brothers and sisters exchange gifts and sweets on occasion. This year the festival is celebrated for two days. In some parts of the country the Bhai Dooj was held yesterday and in some parts is also being celebrated today. Bhai Dooj is also known as Bhau Beej and Bhathru Dwithiya. As per Hindu traditions, it is believed that Goddess Yamuna fed her brother Yamraj on Kartik Dwitiya at her own home. Since then this day is also known as Yama Dwitiya. On the second lunar day of Shukla Paksha in the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar or of Shalivahan Shaka calendar month of Kartika, people celebrate Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Phonta. Sisters apply tilak to their brother''s foreheads and follow other rituals such as fasting and puja on this day to wish them a long and prosperous life. In return, brothers give their sisters a gift and promise to protect them always. Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj are quite similar up to an extent, however, on Bhai Dooj, sisters do not tie a thread or Rakhi on the wrists of their brothers like they do on Raksha Bandhan. Numerous ancient Hindu scriptures have mentioned Bhai Dooj as a celebration of bond and eternal love between brothers and sisters. There are several tales associated with the origin of the occasion and the most well-known are those of Lord Krishna and Yamraj. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu state BJP president K Annamalai on Thursday said the Tamil soil has become a heaven for all anti-national elements to take refuge. Speaking to ANI in the wake of the car blast in Coimbatore on October 23, in which one person was charred to death, Annamalai said, "We are happy that the case is going to National Investigation Agency (NIA). The tentacles of this terror are much deeper. It has spread across Coimbatore." "We are worried about the mindset of this government. The case was of such seriousness and ramifications but the state government denied admitting it and even forced the DGP to call it a cylinder blast... Such kind of thing never happened in the history of Tamil Nadu. We have never seen this kind of incompetent government, " the state BJP leader said. He alleged that the ruling DMK government was completely clueless about internal security and law and order. "Tamil soil has become a heaven for all anti-national elements to come and hide here. The intention of the attack was to kill thousands," said the BJP leader. Annamalai also alleged that DMK government forced the state DGP to term the terror attack a cylinder blast for appeasement politics. He alleged that the police force were restrained by the state government to take action against terror activities. "There is political pressure on the police officers not to divulge this (that it was terror a module). The CM has to take responsibility for maintaining a very poor security apparatus in the state and more importantly doing minority appeasement politics," Annamalai said. "Just a month before, a bomb was hurled on 32 BJP office bearers by the PFI (Popular Front of India). The DGP called it a minor 'minor skirmish' They even denied that PFI was behind the attack. Terror attacks do not differentiate between Hindu, Muslim or Christian. In the name of minority appeasement, they are not going to get minority votes also," he added. The Tamil Nadu BJP chief on Tuesday said that state police should accept the incident as a "suicide attack." He said the Tamil Nadu BJP has written to home minister Amit Shah seeking a transfer of the case to the National Investigation Agency. Addressing a press conference here Annamalai had said, "A day before Diwali, a car exploded in Coimbatore. Raids by NIA and arrests have shown that Coimbatore has become a den of terrorists. Police have recovered 50 kg of ammonium nitrate, potassium, sodium, fuse wire and 7-volt batteries from the residence of Jamesha Mubin (who died in the accident). Police have not disclosed this till now." "On October 21, Jamesha Mubin posted a WhatsApp status similar to that of ISIS," Annamalai said. 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 on Wednesday regarding the ongoing investigation of the case. 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 incident of snatching was reported on Wednesday, Delhi Police said.

Initial investigation revealed that the woman was going by rickshaw when the miscreants coming on a scooter tried to snatch the woman's bag. In reaction, the woman while protesting the thieves fell down from the rickshaw.

The woman was the accused and was taken to a hospital where she succumbed.

Delhi Police said many teams have been formed and soon they would be arrested. (ANI)
Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday approached the High Court seeking the transfer of a case pertaining to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs' poaching allegations against the party, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to carry out a fair probe into the matter. In a writ petition filed by BJP State General Secretary Gujjula Premendar Reddy, he claimed that the "bias and unfair investigation" being carried out is with a "sole intention to frame the leaders" of his party. This comes a day after the TRS alleged that the BJP is attempting to poach the MLAs luring them with money and contracts. The Telangana Police arrested three persons who were found at the farmhouse in Ranga Reddy on Wednesday evening, after being informed by the TRS MLAs about the poaching bid, which the leaders alleged belonged to the BJP. The three accused were identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy. The BJP has moved to the Telangana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the allegations. "The above writ petition is filed complaining of bias and unfair investigation being carried upon by the respondents in FIR.No.455/2022 on the file of Moinabad PS with a sole intention to frame the leaders of the petitioner political party and damage its reputation at the instance of the ruling party dispensation as being illegal, arbitrary and in gross violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India and also contrary to settled principles of free and fair investigation," the petition said. The BJP linked the poaching allegations to the upcoming Munugude by-polls that are slated to be held on November 3, and said that the TRS has been "trying to disrupt the campaign" of the BJP while also making "several efforts to thwart the campaigning in the constituency". Calling the complaint "politically motivated", the petition stated that it has been made with a motive to "defame and demoralise" the BJP in the by-election of the Munugode Assembly constituency. The petition alleged that the complaint was lodged at the behest of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and other state ministers and senior leaders of the TRS Party. "The true facts and motive behind the above lodging complaint can only be unearthed by the conducting an enquiry by CBI or Special Investigation Team (SIT) as constituted by this Hon'ble court and in failing to do so, the petitioner party would suffer irreparable loss and hardship and would also impact on the mandate of the people in the ensuing by-election at Munugode Assembly," the petition stated. Earlier today, rejecting the charge that his party was trying to poach Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has scripted the raids at a farmhouse and demanded a probe by a sitting judge. The BJP chief said that if KCR is not responsible for this then he should come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God. "Story-Screenplay-Direction by CM KCR at Moinabad Farmhouse Boomeranged and is laughable. It's TRS' farmhouse, TRS complained, TRS are victims, TRS are criminals. KCR if u haven't scripted this, come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God - You fix time and date," said Sanjay. Meanwhile, following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988, The three accused have been identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy. In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP. "Ramachandra Bharati of Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the BJP, met the complainant and negotiated with him to not to contest as a candidate from the TRS party and to join in BJP by resigning from TRS party and to contest in the next elections from BJP for which they offered him an amount of Rs 100 crore and also offered to give central government civil contract works and other high central government positions for monetary benefits and lured him to join the BJP," the FIR reads. According to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP. (ANI)
As per reports, the jailed foreigner, identified as Fergus Iain Mcleod is a national of the British Indian Ocean Territory and a senior executive of Saudi Aramco, who travelled to the valley of flowers and used an unauthorised satellite phone here.

The banned satellite phone used by the foreigner belongs to the Thuraya company, involved in making satellite phones.

Notably, the Thuraya satellite phones are banned within the Indian territory under the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.

A notification on the website of the Department of Telecommunications says, "Satellite phones are permitted: (i) With specific permission/ NOC from Department of Telecommunications, Government of India; or (ii) As provisioned by M/s BSNL in accordance with the license granted to M/s BSNL for provision and operation of satellite-based service using Gateway installed in India."

Chamoli Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) told ANI that information was received late on July 10, this year that a foreign national has gone to visit the Valley of Flowers and a banned satellite phone has been used by him. Following the searches in Ghangaria, Pulna and Govindghat, the foreign national, namely, Fergus Iain Mcleod was arrested.

Fergus Mcleod was arrested in July and later released under sections of the Indian Telegraph Act and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act.

The police are investigating the matter and further information is awaited. (ANI)
C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force will be manufactured by Tata-Airbus at Vadodara in Gujarat, the foundation stone of which will be laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 30, said Defence Ministry officials. Apart from making 40 aircraft, this facility at Vadodara would be manufacturing additional aircraft for Air Force requirements and exports, as per Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar. IAF officials said the first Indian Air Force squadron of C-295 transport aircraft would also be based in Vadodara. According to Defence Ministry officials, 96 per cent of the work that Airbus does in its facility in Spain would be done in the Indian facility and the electronic warfare suite for the aircraft would be done by public sector Bharat Electronics (BEL). Noting that this would be having one of the highest indigenous content, the defence officials added that the aircraft built in India would be supplied from 2026 to 2031 and the first 16 aircraft will come between 2023 to 2025. IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh underscored that the Indian Air Force would ultimately become the largest operator of this C-295 transport aircraft. Defence Secretary Aramane Giridhar said there is no ban on imports. "The policy is that whatever can be built in India would be built here. There's an aggressive push to promote make-in-India items for Defence Forces. Operational preparedness isn't compromised and operational readiness is at forefront of our minds," he added. India has signed the deal for this project as per the defence procurement procedure 2011 under which the tender for the project was issued. The contract was signed on September 24 in the defence ministry between India and Airbus. Airbus has signed a contract with Tata as its production partner in India. On September 8 last year, Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of fifty-six C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space S.A., Spain for the Indian Air Force. C-295MW aircraft is a transport aircraft of 5-10 Tonne capacity with contemporary technology that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The aircraft has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para dropping of troops and cargo. Earlier, after the deal was signed between the Defence Ministry and Airbus of Spain, the partner companies announced that the over Rs 15,000 crore deal would help in the creation of 15,000 direct and 10,000 direct jobs in the high-skill sector. "We have looked at many locations and the process is still going on. We are yet to finalise the location. There are multiple stakeholders in the project and all aspects have to be looked into. We are hoping it would be done soon," Tata Advanced System Limited Head Sukaran Singh had said.He had also added the project was one of the last projects on which the former Tata group chairman had worked. Singh said he was sure that from the fifth year of the project, the Tata group would have learnt significantly about aircraft manufacturing. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and two other accused were sentenced to three years in prison along with a fine of Rs 2,000 in a hate speech case filed against him over his hate speech against state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The Rampur court today convicted the Samajwadi Party's senior leader. A case was registered against Khan in Rampur in April 2019, for allegedly making provocative remarks against the Uttar Pradesh CM and the then District Magistrate of Rampur, Aunjaneya Kumar Singh. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday stayed the order passed by the Central Information Commission (CIC) directing the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to provide information related to the issuance of Lookout Circular (LOC) against the respondent. IB has sought the quashing of the order terming it illegal. The bench of Justice Yashwant Varma issued notice to Jayesh Vishnu Parab on the petition and directed them to file a reply. The CIC's order has stayed. The matter now has been listed on February 11, 2023. Why has IB moved? It is in your favour, the court asked. Advocate Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, standing counsel for IB submitted that the reasoning, I believe is very flawed; it defeats the purpose of LOC. If I give details that LOC is for a,b and c they will leave the country in some other manner. The Court said that a citizen has the right to travel. Why does he not have the right to know that? There has to be some rationale Let's not go down that road. The IB has challenged an order passed by CIC on August 31, 2021, directing it to provide a revised reply on the application of Parab. The CIC had directed the petitioner to issue a revised reply to the respondent, whether any Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against the applicant, date of issuance of LOC, and date of expiry of the said LOC, in furtherance of the respondent's application dated September 13, 2018. It is submitted by the IB that the CIC in its order has held that the information sought by the respondent does not fall in the exemption afforded to the petitioner under Section 24 of the RTI Act, 2005. The CIC has passed the said order primarily on the ground that the denial of the information sought by the respondent would lead to a violation of his fundamental right to life and liberty and thereby will not be covered by the protection granted under Section 24(1) of the Act, the plea stated. IB also submitted that the said order is ex-facie illegal and non-est in law. The CIC has passed the same in blatant disregard of the exemption and protection afforded to the petitioner by Section 24 of the Act. The learned CIC has erred in law by holding that Section 24 would not be applicable in the instant case as the denial of the information sought by Parab, the petition stated. (ANI)
Stating that the Uttar Pradesh government is making rapid strides in the creation of a medical system that ensures equitable and affordable access to quality healthcare keeping in mind the progress of medical science, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday inaugurated the state's first Department of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Vascular Surgery and Asia's first 'Pathogen Reduction Machine' in the Department of Transfusion Medicine, King George's Medical University. Addressing the occasion in the state capital, CM Adityanath said, "We are progressing with the intent to ensure progress in every field and not deterioration. Today, these three important achievements of KGMU bear testimony to the fact that the state is dedicatedly working to develop the medical infrastructure, ensuring that no person is deprived of access to quality healthcare." The CM during the inauguration congratulated Professor Shailendra Kumar, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Professor Ambrish Kumar and his entire team, and Professor Tulika Chandra, Head, Department of Transfusion Medicine. Maintaining that 'organ transplant' is the biggest requirement of Uttar Pradesh, Adityanath said, "This is innovation for UP in the field of organ transplant, which is the biggest requirement of the state. Now, the state will be seen leading this field as well. KGMU has been the institution of 'trust' when it comes to health and recently completed its 100-year journey. The journey is the medium to assess and evaluate its contribution." He went on to say, "Happy to see that some of the faculty here have been recognized as 'learned' scientists in the world, however, we still have a long way to go. I urge all those serving as doctors in the district hospitals to develop their skills as specialists and engage in writing research papers, and publications and generating patents. The skilled faculty is required at all the medical colleges developing under 'One District One Medical College' by the government." "If we fail to develop ourselves to suit the present-day needs, society will always look down upon us with questionable eyes," he remarked. Stressing the importance of the development of medical facilities in smaller districts and far-flung areas, the CM said that the State Health Department should try to provide the treatment in the place itself. No patient should be referred to Lucknow before trying to treat patients in the place itself. "I assure the KGMU family of all possible assistance to support the institution in any kind of initiative aimed at improving the presence of medical facilities in the state," concluded the CM. (ANI)
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) served notice to the Government of Rajasthan on the reported auctioning of girls on stamp papers and the refusal thereof resulting in the rape of their mothers to settle disputes on the diktats of Caste Panchayats in the State. NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report, said a press release. Reportedly, whenever there is a dispute between the two parties particularly involving financial transactions and loans etc, the girls aged between 8-18 are auctioned to recover money, added the press release. These girls are being sent to UP, MP, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries and subjected to physical abuse, torture and sexual assault in slavery. The media reports have documented the ordeal of many victims of such horrendous crimes, as per the statement. The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, amount to human rights violations of the victims of such abominable practice. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of Rajasthan calling for a detailed report on the matter, along with an action taken report, qua measures already taken and if not, proposed to be taken to prevent such gory incidents. The Report must also contain how the State Government is ensuring the functions of the Gram Panchayat, as per the constitutional provisions or Panchayati Raj Law to eradicate the caste-based system impinging the human rights and the right to dignity of girls and women in the State. A notice has also been issued to the Director General of Police, Rajasthan to submit a detailed report mentioning the initiation of criminal prosecution against the perpetrators of such crime and their abettors/sympathizers. It must also contain the status of cases, including the registration of FIRs, charge-sheet, arrest, if any, in such incidents and the mechanism initiated to apprehend the people involved in such systematic crimes of flesh trade in the State. The report must also mention steps being taken or proposed to be taken against the public servant(s), who purported to have neglected perpetually prevention of such incidents. The response from both the Chief Secretary and DGP is excepted within four weeks. The Commission, in the meanwhile, has also asked its Special Rapporteur, Umesh Kumar Sharma to visit and inspect the affected areas, within the State of Rajasthan, and submit a comprehensive report on the incidents noted and the prevailing practice in the area, at the earliest, preferably, not later than three months. According to the media report, carried out on October 26, 2022, the Caste Panchayats in Rajasthan are committing this crime like in Syria and Iraq where the girls are enslaved. Reportedly, in Bhilwada, whenever there is any dispute between the two parties, they instead of going to the police, approach the Caste Panchayats for its settlement. It becomes the starting point of making the girls slave, if they are not sold, their mothers are ordered to be raped. The news report further reveals that in order to pay off Rs. 15 lakh dept a Caste Panchayat force a man to sell his sister first and even after this when the debt was not cleared, he was forced to sell his 12-year-old daughter. The buyer purchased the girl for Rs. 8 lakh. After that, all five sisters became slaves but still their father could not pay off his debt. In another incident a man was forced to sell his house and further take a loan of Rs. 6 lakh for the treatment of his wife, who later died, he took Rs. 6 lakh more for the treatment of his mother. In order to settle the loan, he sold his small daughter for Rs. 6 lakh to some people, who took her to Agra. She was sold three times and became pregnant four times. (ANI)
Surajkund (Haryana), October 27 (ANI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced to open branches of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in all states across the country by 2024 as part of the Centre's plan to build an anti-terrorism network. The Home Minister made the announcement while speaking at the two-day 'Chintan Shivir' of Home Ministers' of all states here to prepare an action plan for the implementation of the Centre's 'vision 2047'. "Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and NIA and other agencies are being strengthened to achieve a decisive victory. Efforts are being made to build an anti-terrorism network by setting up NIA branches in all States before 2024," Shah said. The Home Minister further pointed out that the 'Chintan Shivir' will provide a platform to face all challenges before the Nation in unison taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Minister mentioned that areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, Jammu and Kashmir and the North East, which were once hot spots of violence and unrest, are now becoming hot spots of development. Noting that cyber-crime is a big challenge before the country and the world today, Shah said the Ministry of Home Affairs is committed to battle against it. The Home Minister also said that the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting the three C's approach-- Cooperation, Coordination and Collaboration--- under 'Whole of Government' and 'Team India Approach'. He later mentioned that Modi-led government is determined to save the country and the youth from the menace of narcotics and our policy is showing results, under which drugs worth more than Rs. 20,000 crores have been seized so far Pointing that nature of crime is changing in today's world and crime is becoming borderless, the Minister stressed that the states should formulate a common strategy to fight against it. The chief ministers of eight states and home ministers and deputy chief ministers of 16 states gathered at the event, which is being chaired by Amit Shah. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the session on Friday through video-conferencing. "In our Constitution, law and order is a state subject...but we can be successful against trans-border or borderless crimes only when all states sit together to ponder over them, make a common strategy and (make) efforts to curb them," Shah said in the address. The 'Chintan Shivir' has been organised with the objective to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'Vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech. The two-day event will see state leaders discussing cybercrime management, modernisation of police forces, increase in usage of information technology in the criminal justice system, land border management, coastal security, and other internal security issues. "The role of 'Nari Shakti' is important to achieve the goal of 'Developed India by 2047' and special emphasis will be given to the safety of women and creating a safe environment for them. The aim of the conference is also to facilitate national policy-making and better planning and coordination in the above-mentioned areas," the ministry earlier said in a statement about the 'Chintan Shivir'. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar-- both having charges of the Home Ministry of their states-- skipped the event in which the development of an eco-system for cyber crime management, modernization of police forces, increase in usage of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security and other internal security issues will be discussed. The event, which will culminate on Friday, was attended by Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Kerala, Assam, Goa, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Manipur and Tripura-- all having charges of Home Ministry in their respective states. Besides, Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra and Nagaland; Governor of Rajasthan; Home Ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Telangana; Finance Minister of Jharkhand among others took part in the event which is organized with the objective to prepare an action plan for the implementation of 'vision 2047' and 'Panch Pran' announced in the Independence Day speech of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (ANI)